08/03/06

It's exactly four months to my wedding.  Today, I decide to try on my beautiful wedding dress in advance of next month's fitting and disaster, it doesn't fit!  Despite pulling my stomach in, holding my breath and pleading with my mother to somehow do it up, the fairytale dress I chose in January simply will not fasten.  I don't know what to do. 

'Exercise,' says my ever-practical Mother. 

'How?' I bleat.

'Ring the trainer whose ad you saw.  Get motivated. Call her'

I ring Clare.

16/03/06

A week later and here is my first consultation with Clare.  Am feeling very anxious but I had no need to worry.  Clare listens carefully, is wonderfully reassuring and encouraging.  We talk through my lifestyle and diet and she is sure she can help me.  She puts me through a series of tests to get a sense of my level of fitness (or lack of) and we set my goals:  to lose 9.5lbs by wedding day on 8^th July, taking me back to an optimum weight of 9st 7lbs, and for me to be able to run for 20 minutes constant.  We set an interim goal of losing 3.25lbs by 18/04/06.  There seems a mountain to climb but I am motivated and encouraged.  I know I'm going to enjoy working with Clare regardless of results.

20/03/06

My first session with Clare - oh dear.  I wake up nervous and sick to my stomach.  And it is as bad as I fear.  I manage to run for only 1 minute.  It's is horrendous and I have no idea why I signed up for this torture!  I find the session very difficult and exhausting but Clare is so motivating and supportive, I promise to work hard over the next week, using the specially prepared programmes Clare has set me.

28/03/06

Somehow I manage to gain 1lb this week - definitely not in the plan.  However, I have exercised on my own since the last session so am feeling more at ease at the thought of training again with Clare.  My new Nike trainers are helping to make me more comfortable too.  Today, we run for 3 bursts of 2 minutes and it feels far better than last week, although is still very hard.  Every bit of me screams out to stop!  Clare cheers me on at every turn and somehow convinces me that I can do this.  She is very easy company and we chat all the way round our training circuit - well she chats, I gasp for breath!

03/04/06

Aaarrrghhhh! A week later and the weight is still coming on despite my supposedly healthy diet of fruit and lots of protein.  This really is not how it is supposed to be!  Clare spends a lot of time talking to me about calorie control and explains that she thinks I do not realise how many calories I am actually consuming.  She recommends some books to read and the discussion is so helpful and uplifting, I vow to work really hard to stick to her recommendation of a strict 1300 calorie a day intake for the next week.  She's tough on me but I trust her expertise implicitly.  You can't fail to be inspired by her.  I manage to run 6 x 2 minutes so I tell myself I've run for 12 minutes - that feels good!

10/04/06

I have lost 3.5 lbs! Yipppeeeeee!  The penny has dropped that I am actually eating too much!  Being very strict with myself and reducing portion size has really, actually, tangibly worked!  Today we run 4 x 2 minutes and 2 x 3 minutes.  In the following week, I am so inspired I run 2 x 5 minutes on my own.  I text Clare, with delight, to tell her about this amazing achievement!  She is thrilled for me!  I have 1.5lbs to lose before the first goal deadline of 18/04.

19/04/06

Sadly, I've missed the goal by 1.25lbs but I've still made lots of headway and am already beginning to feel fitter and notice a difference in my body shape.  We set a new goal to be 9st 9.25lbs by May 22^nd.  Today we run 4 x 4 minutes with approx 2 minutes walking in between.  It's getting easier, so much easier.  The memory of that first awful minute of running just over a month ago is fading.  During the course of the next week, I text Clare tell her that at my wedding dress fitting, it didn't just fit – they actually decided to take it in!  That really is an amazing result.  I could kiss her!

24/04/06

Only 0.75lb weight loss this week but every little helps.  Have been working really hard between training sessions with Clare and on pushing myself today, I manage to run for 11 minutes non-stop!  Clare throws her arms around me when we stop!  I am really chuffed with myself.

04/05/06

Regular exercise is doing so much for me.  My skin is brighter, my waist neater, am feeling so much better.  This week I've lost 1.25 lbs.  Today we run 3 x 10 minutes which is a huge leap forward.  The first 10 minutes are hard but the sense of accomplishment at the end is immense.  Clare is a superb training companion.  She runs every step of the way with me, cheers me on, keeps me going.  She has got me to this point.  Amazing!

08/05/06

The British summer descends and it's pouring with rain so we do circuits at home.  I have felt pretty tired since my spectacular '30 minute' run of last week!  Still I plod on as Clare sets up boxing and step exercises to make the circuit training more fun.  The boxing is really fab.  I love thumping the hell out of the pads Clare holds !!

15/05/06

Today we run 2 x 12 minutes.  Clare's impact is so important, I'm not sure I could do this on my own.  My blood pressure is up at today's test and has been for some time.  Clare recommends I see my GP.

22/05/06

I run for 2 x 13 minutes today and it feels ok!  GP has given me the all clear on the blood pressure readings after a 24-hour monitor was recommended.  So I am fully relaxed and enjoying training in this wonderful weather whilst we natter all the way round about wedding plans, friends and family.

29/05/06

Today, I run for 22 minutes and it feels absolutely awesome!  We have broken the 20 minute goal a month early.  I've now lost 5.5lbs in total and am feeling great!  I am very, very pleased with myself!

01/06/06

I run for 22 minutes today and Clare suggests I keep on until I can run no more.  I keep going and ask to stop but Clare asks me to carry on just a tiny bit longer.  My legs are heavy and I am very tired but I do run for a couple more minutes.  We finally stop and I ask how long I've gone for - she pushed me to 35 minutes!  I have just run 5k!  In just over two months, I have gone from being hardly able to run for 1 minute to running for 35 minutes and with the weather easing, it feels good once again to get out and run.  We finish with a big hug.

08/07/06

Today is wedding day.  My dress fits a treat and feels beautiful.  I am slim, some 9.25 lbs lighter than when I first met Clare four months ago.  As well as continuing to train, I am also thinking of signing up for a 5k race too to test out my new running skills when we are back from honeymoon and Clare has said she will run with me.  It's a magical day and I have Clare to thank for being so inspiring, encouraging and motivating me to feel my best.  She has been a consummate professional and has become a good friend.