Fitfarms Day 2

Day 2 - Saturday 10th May
Rudely woken by a whistle being blown outside our bedroom window. I rolled over to check the time on my mobile to find it was 5.40am, I didn't even know that 5.40 happened twice a day! Now I understand how Usky feels waking so early. At least mine was only for a week.

My weigh-in was not until 8.25am as I had craftily (or so I thought last night) swopped with another lady for my 6am slot. If I'd known I could physically be awake at 6am I wouldn't have swopped. I struggled to get dressed and made my way downstairs to be greeted by several other bleary eyed tracksuited ladies, and Sian who chirped 'GOOD MORNING ' with a huge smile. How anyone could be so cheerful so early was beyond me.

I had slept surprisingly well, and even though I was shocked by last nights portion size I was not actually hungry. I tried a cup of fennel and nettle tea, it didn't really taste of anything but having a hot drink was good.

I was weighed in at 12st 12.5lbs (on mums scales I am 13st 5 so some variance there). My waist and hips measured 43 inches and my body fat was 40%. Apparently 'healthy' is under 30%. Ooops. My own target to lose this week was 7lbs, but the 'realistic' target I had set for me based on my size etc was 4lbs.

Went through to the dining room, breakfast was a bowl of the type of muesli that I would usually avoid with a large broom, but knowing this was it until lunchtime I sat down to try it. My first mouthful was reminiscent of chewing on cardboard. Then I found a raisin which made it more palatable. Each spoon took an age to chew - not like my usual soggy cornflakes - and suddenly I found myself enjoying each mouthful and thinking "oh, I could buy this".

The fitness assessment was a 3 mile walk/run. I was dreading this, finding out exactly how unfit I really am. The target time was 55 minutes for those new to exercise, or under 40mins for those who already do exercise. We loaded into the minibus and drove to the middle of nowhere. Got out and did stretches, and then with the beep of a horn we were off!

I started off well, jostled towards the front of the pack, jogging at quite a pace. My mistake! Soon slowed to a fast walk and watched people who had started slower zoom off ahead of me. Quite demoralised but more determined. I tried to jog in places, mainly down hill, and fast walk the rest. I really wanted to come in ahead ot the time targets. Every sign telling us 1 mile down made me feel upset, but the first mile was the worst as I have no idea of distance.

After the first mile the aches seemed to disappear a little, I relaxed and enjoyed the countryside, picking up pace from time to time. Then I went around another bend and spotted the minibus! Such sweet joy that I turned round to shout to the person behind me 'the bus, the bus, the bus is there' before finding a sudden burst of energy for the last 100 metres. I ran the last few metres with my arms up in victory, proud that I had managed 3 miles. My time? 37 mins 40 seconds. Sweet.

Our midmorning snack was a handful of nuts and dried fruit. Literally - an apricot, 6 cashews and two raisins in mine. There were different varieties but because I am allergic to brazil nuts mine had to be made up separately so I couldn't pick and choose. Surprised because I would've had maybe twice as much to keep me going on a normal day when I just sit at my desk and I've just done 3 miles. Later we were told that we were the first group in some time where everyone had completed inside an hour.

At 11.30 we had a session called Carry your Excess. We watched Sian do step ups really quickly, then she put on a rucksack and weights were added; 2lbs, 4lbs, 1stone and 2. Each time Sian had to do the same step ups but you could see her back bending and her breathing becoming more laboured as the weight got heavier. Then we were offered the chance to feel the 2 stone rucksack. F*%k me it's heavy, and how much extra I'm carrying around! Can't believe how much extra strain I'm putting my body through.

Anyway, we'd been told to bring rucksacks and around the room circuit training was set up. We all had to carry our target weight in weights whilst doing these exercises, so we could feel the strain. The second time around we did it without the rucksacks, the relief was huge. Knowing how much better I could feel after losing 4lbs was a motivator.

Lunch was a consomme in a mug, which had a layer of grease on top, most people refused to drink it as it tasted vile. Then I discovered celery salt. Added a tiny bit to my soup and it tasted much better. Word spread and celery salt became a valuable commodity for the rest of the week.

We also had a chicken wrap which had not much chicken in. It was alright, not memorable, and on the first of many beds of lettuce.

After lunch was Tummy Toners and then a free hour to kip before Cardio Burn - an almost aerobics class with a bit of yoga and pilates chucked in. I cried during this session - partly in anger, partly in frustration. I've always hated aerobics, but nothing ventured nothing gained.

Surprised that despite tiny lunch and lots of activity I wasn't yet hungry. I don't remember dinner, but we had Iron Arms next - arm exercises obviously, followed by a game of rounders on one of the lawns.

Showered and to bed, I set an alarm for 5.35am the next day. Suddenly remembered Uskys weekend teaser - but no web access. By 10pm we were all asleep.