KEY POINTS:
I confess. When it comes to going to the gym, I'm fantastic - at coming up with other things to do. Just like commitment. I'm great at finding ways to avoid it. So to address these minor issues, I joined Les Mills' fitness programme "Look Better Naked" which involved being committed to going to the gym three times a week for six weeks. Surely I could stick to that?
What appealed was that I would be working out in a small group with five other women and a shared personal trainer, in my case Cindy Cornwall. I also liked the reports that the six-week programme got results: A 3 per cent average decrease in body fat (with some women losing up to 8 per cent) and a body weight decrease on average of 3kg across each group taking part. What I didn't know was to get those kind of results would involve hard work.
The six-week programme is designed to work and shape all parts of the body, plus we're expected to fill out a food diary and meet with Cindy every fortnight to confess our sins. By the end of the first week I can barely sit down, my thigh muscles are in so much shock. The Friday session comprises the 100s Club. Run up and down the full length of the gym 20 times with a mix of running backward, sideways and with knee-raises. Then, with a partner, throw a medicine ball back and forth, with a full squat in between, 20 times. Run up and down the gym twice, repeat the sequence twice until you've done 100 ball-throws. Then, following the same format do 100 medicine ball bounce-throws (feel those muscles in your back and shoulders), 100 sit-ups holding that damn medicine ball, 100 push-ups (don't forget you're running up and down the gym every 20 turns) and, finally, 100 heel-raises (to really get those calf muscles burning). Go the colour of beetroot, try not to throw up, and smile with feigned pleasure as Cindy high-fives me because "I've worked so hard and busted my gut!" You can say that again.
We're a mixed group ranging in age from mid 20s to early 50s, our levels of fitness are diverse. As the weeks pass there's a growing sense of camaraderie as we cheer each other on or share groans behind Cindy's back as she ups the ante.
But it is Cindy who is the star of the group. She has a strong belief in all of us and our potential and, in her quiet but firm way, helps you to find an inner strength you didn't know you had. As you push through the pain barrier and out the other side with a surge of achievement, she looks on with a knowing smile before suggesting you now "tiger crawl" around the gym a couple of times.
As the weeks pass, there's a wonderful sense of feeling stronger and fitter. With Cindy constantly working on our technique and posture, I notice a lifetime of bad habits slowly slip away.
By having different workouts each day throughout, there's never been the chance to get bored. And the proof, as they say, is in the pudding (although I think it was fruit salad not tiramisu), as on the last day when we line up to check our measurements there are smiles all round. Everyone has seen results. And, do I look better naked? Apparently, yes!
The next series of Look Better Naked sessions start on Saturday and are open to gym members and non-members. Ph 379 9550, ext. 0 or see their website.
