Yesterday was my first workout at the gym since before New Zealand. This means it’s been 3 weeks since I did any proper cardio or weights training, and in the meantime I have eaten a fair amount of cake and enjoyed quite a lot of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. As you can imagine, I was a little apprehensive about how my fitness levels have changed, and what my post-holiday weight would be- I refuse to have weighing scales at home!!

I nearly talked myself out of going at all, having had a long day at work. But I managed to convince myself that as it was a Monday, (and the first one in January) I needed to start the week right!

My first pleasing moment was at the weighing scales.

I had prepared myself for some movement in the wrong direction on the scales, having indulged in daily ‘cake time’ and more than one wine tasting in New Zealand. Therefore I was really pleased to find that I had only put on 0.1kg whilst away!

07/01/13: 66.1kg

I still have some way to go before reaching my goal weight, but I have successfully kept off the 3kg that I lost last year which is progress.

My plan at the gym was to ease myself gently(ish) with a PowerPlates classing- how bad could 15mins be?! Apparently, our instructor decided to jump start our January workouts with a full on 30mins on the PowerPlates including 2 X 4mins of back to back exercises. My thighs and arms were burning! I love the PowerPlates for a relatively quick full body workout, perfect after work or during a lunch break.

Whilst in New Zealand, I read about one of Jillian Michael’s fitness tests in her book ‘Making the Cut’ and was intrigued to see where my fitness levels were at the moment. The test included;

•  3-minute step-ups followed by a Heart Rate test
• 1 minute of sit ups
• 1 minute of press ups
• wall sit 

What exercise/fitness books do you use? Any you recommend? I am loving my new Kindle and want some new reading material to get me motivated!