The guys at Famously Fit have recently provided us with snazzy Timex heart rate monitors. I was really thrilled as I had always wanted one. The instruction book was so vast because it does so much - I have to admit I waited until Stu had got himself all clued up on how to use it and then I got him to sort mine out. My plan worked and now we are both using them loads.

Although it is obviously possible to exercise without such luxuries I really think (as does Stu) that having a heart rate monitor makes a huge difference. I think I push myself harder and for longer than I would ordinarily.

The Incredible Daily Changes

I have also started to cycle to and from work which is fantastic exercise. It wakes me up in the morning and actually takes less time than the tube and bus. We are really trying to make significant changes to our lifestyle. We both try to ditch buses, tubes and taxis in favour of walking, cycling or running wherever possible.

The Gym

Our sessions in the gym are still good fun. I know I’ve said that before but it is so cool working out together as we really motivate and push each other that bit more.

I think my favourite session of all is when we use the boxing gloves and pads. I can’t rave enough about it. Boxing is a cracking exercise - it gets your heart racing and your muscles pumpin! I just laughed out loud as I typed that because that sounds like such a cliché but it’s true!!

I think I’m actually quite tough and reckon its hard work for my big tough guy Stu to keep up with me. He thinks he’s the one with all the muscle power but I give as good as I get when I get those boxing gloves on. We add the boxing into a mini circuit session with skipping, press ups, sit ups, squats, tricep dips and bicep curls.

At other times, we do a gym circuit, with cardio and weights. I am really proud of what I am now doing with the chest press – look at those weights!!!!

And the Grub!

When I last reported back we had been in the process of changing our eating habits slowly but surely.

For a while Stu and I were both relying on protein shakes for a quick convenient breakfast. Our nutritionist, Ann Mather, advised us however to just use this option occasionally when we weren’t able to eat something natural and fresh.

As I’m really not a morning person I had to replace this with another breakfast that was equally as convenient. We now have natural yoghurt, cottage cheese, oatmeal and almonds all mixed together with a pinch of cinnamon and some fruit. I prepare it the evening before and pop it in the fridge over night. It looks like wallpaper paste, and doesn’t sound too great but really does taste “yummy” and is quite satisfying, filling me up until lunchtime.

We try to have packed lunch most days to avoid the temptation from all the tasty sandwich shops around our work places. Lunch is usually salad with cold meat, tuna or eggs. Again this always does the trick and fills the belly until dinner.

Dinner is our present challenge; we are trying to ensure our portions are correct and that we are not loading up on too many of the heavy dense carbohydrates in the evening…..watch this space.

Until next time….Famously Belle