training for the beach: motivation needed

Summer 2012 and Summer 2014

One of the goals on my list of things to do before I'm 30 is to get a bikini.  And then, y'know, wear it. This might seem like a simple goal to accomplish and at a basic level, all that's needed to complete it is to simply go out an purchase the item in question.  But actually when I set myself this goal, I envisaged more to it.  I want to slim down and be healthier.

Since setting myself this goal, I have lost three stone, and that's taken me well over a year.  I didn't subscribe to a diet or do anything crazy, but I did reduce my portion sizes, cut out some of the junk food that I'm so fond of and generally try to clean up my diet a little bit.  I still ate out, and if I'm paying for a meal out, I refuse to go and order a salad, so on those occasions, I would eat what I liked, refuse to feel guilty, and accept that I may not lose any weight that week, and may even gain some.  I suppose without occasions like that, it may have been quicker to shed the pounds, but I LOVE to eat, and by having treats sometimes, it made it easier to say no to cake at other times.  

While the summer has been in full swing, I have given myself a break, and I decided that as long as my weight didn't go up over the summer, I wouldn't concern myself about trying to get it to go down.  Well, the holiday has now ended, and my weight hasn't gone up (or down, which probably has a lot to do with deep-fried macaroni cheese) and I am back to thinking about that bikini goal.  

It's worth pointing out that I am never going to be willowy or slender.  That's not my build and I'm completely fine with that, but I did decide that I wanted to be healthy, and I want to get the best I possibly can out of my figure. And I look forward to shopping for a bikini that will flatter my figure, especially as I've never owned or worn one before.

What I'd like to achieve now is to slim down and tone up a little. Which means that sadly, the time has come to exercise.  I have joined a gym, and I have two overriding thoughts about that: 

a) I hate exercise when it's not fun

 b) The gym is not fun.

I appreciate that not everyone will share these opinions, and I don't hate being active at all.  I like to run around and shriek and play games... but this isn't particularly regular, sustained or targeted exercise.  I have huge respect for those that run or train regularly but I simply don't enjoy it.  Exercising would be simpler if I did. I am however determined and I have joined a gym with the express intention of being a member for two months and working hard at it, even if I continue to hate every wretched minute.  The most important thing is to keep my eye on my motivation, and I draw this from a number of places:

1) A holiday in October which will hopefully involve a beach and a bikini and the fulfillment of a goal

2) I will be fitter and healthier

3) The fact that I have decided to post about it here will help keep me accountable.

4) The end is definitely in sight.

To keep track of my progress, I'm going to keep a running total of exercise hours here. My goal is to reach a solid 24 hours of exercise. (That seemed nicer than tracking volume of sweat produced!) I'm only going to count specific exercise-for-the-sake-of-exercise hours, rather than the walk to the station in the morning and that sort of thing.  That's all good stuff, but I'm going to track the exercise that is hard work, and then anything else is a bonus! I started a week ago, as I thought it would be good to establish an exercise routine before I go back to work.  At the moment my arms and legs ache, but at the end of the first week of gym membership, I still hate it but I can run for 30 minutes without stopping on the treadmill (albeit slowly), I am determined to make use of the pool and some of the exercise classes and I am contemplating having a personal training session.  

Finally, I have a bit of request for feedback: is anyone out there an exercise enthusiast who can share any tips? Or does anyone have any good ways of motivating themselves to exercise?  Any tips for effective methods of exercise?  Has anyone ever had a personal trainer session - was it effective? Wish me luck!

Kisses xxx

P.S. Exercise24: 2 hours, 25 minutes

P.P.S. If you're in the habit of seeing me regularly or even occasionally, please bully me into going to the gym.  My reply might well be: "No thanks, I like cake, not running" but don't accept that as a valid response.