Building up my strength with GI Jess

I think it’s easy with everything going on around us to feel somewhat defeated. South Africa’s Covid-19 infection rates continue to spike, we take risks every time we leave the house and it’s enough to make you do some serious comfort eating and sit there all depressed. However, I’m drawing a line in the sand and trying to make some positive changes in my life over an area where I can have some control – my heath. At a time where we need to build up our immune system and look after ourselves, it’s a perfect opportunity to try out a fitness and nutrition program at home and build ourselves up emotionally as well at the same time.

When I saw Jess Mouneimne’s post in the SA Blogger’s network looking for bloggers for her program, I knew I had to do this for myself. I am embarking on something called #MyNine which is a nine week personalised transformation program. (Jess also features in the August 2020 magazine Woman’s Health)

We started off with a call where she asked me a bunch of questions and I also filled in a form on the app.

So far the plan is:

Workout:

• Full body burn on Monday
• Upper body and abs on Wednesday
• Lower body burn on Friday
• Yoga on Saturday

Nutrition:

• Cut down on carbs
• Cut down on sugar
• Use recipes in the Bad Ass Boss Bible recipe book
• Eat within the 10-12 hour window i.e. not at night

So how has it been going?

The exercise program is all on videos in the app and it’s convenient to do it in my own time.

The workouts are brutal, though, I must admit. I am tremendously unfit. The part I am struggling with is to lift my body weight up with the sit throughs and the Commodos. While Jess effortlessly moves her body in all directions I’m taking some deep breaths and attempting to do it the easy way! But I will work up my strength and not give up.

Jess also makes use of weights. Well, I don’t really have weights and it seems that many of the shops are sold out. So I’ve been using some creative options. I’ve been using milk cartons (which are only 1kg and Jess recommends 3kg) but I’m working up to that. I did manage to find a single 3kg weight so will use that and maybe some potatoes in a backpack. We will figure it out!

Nicky has started going back to school but it’s only on alternate days so he is also around still to encourage me and get his Dinosaur in on the action.

I really enjoyed the Yoga this morning. I find with Saturday mornings I’m often feeling a bit down and doing this routine helped me feel calm and centred and dropping off food parcels after also helps me feel a bit positive like I’m doing something.

Food wise I will be eating more of the recipes next week but I have so far tried the Chocolate Protein Oats (which is basically oats, cacao powder and protein powder and almond milk). It’s quite filling.

I also ate her Tumeric Scrambled Eggs this morning which included a lot of spinach and I know that the leafy green vegetables are doing a good work in me.

Jess has been incredibly supportive and I have been texting her all week. We also had a coaching call on Friday. She is full of suggestions and encouragement. One thing I like about her is her encouragement of a positive mindset even if you fail – to keep the conversation in your head uplifting instead of judging, and to work with what you’ve got to produce measurable results.

I think the ulitmate goal for me is to get into a better exercise routine and feel stronger and fitter. If I can feel emotionally stronger as well that will be a bonus.

So watch this space!

Check out Jess’s website here and you can also follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

Disclaimer: I have been provided with the program in exchange for the posts.

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