OMG Ladies: Are you aware of how close summer is? Time to get that body ready for the beach and your cute bikinis! My secret weapon to staying in shape is called Jenny from My Body Toning and she is finally back in Zurich after a break. I used to be a couch potato before I started to work out with Jenny, simply because she is a highly motivating and challenging trainer who changed the way that I look and to my surprise made me discover that I do enjoy sports.
If you are in Zurich, you can join me in the best bootcamp in town now: From the 4th of June to the 14th of July, My Body Toning is organizing a bootcamp in the Seefeld with a mix of Pilates, Barre and Functional Exercises that will tone your body and improve your posture. You can lose some kilos which you gained during the cold season while having fun with the girls, indoors and out.
Tuesday & Thursday 7.30 to 8.15 pm & Saturday 9
to 10 am. Book the complete six weeks (18 sessions
for CHF 490) or pick single sessions (CHF 29).
There are only ten spots available, so sign up fast. with writing an E-Mail to jenny(at)mybodytoning.com
The Ladies Bootcamp is gonna happen here: My Body Toning, Feldeggstrasse 4, 8008 Zürich
It was exactly one year ago when I experienced a sudden need for change: I felt that my lifestyle could be improved and it was time to take better care of myself. Long hours for my job at a branding agency and on top being model, photoshop wizard and girl for everything for my blog had left his marks.
I didn’t feel as fit as I wished, even if I never had issues with overweight. A glass of champagne at endless blogger events, compensation of stress through chocolate and my main exercise being a few steps to the bus were just not the best I could do for my future. Besides, as a fashion girl, it just matters to me that I fit into all crazy dresses and they look good on me.
Before I had a concrete plan, the plan found me: My blogger friend Jesca Li released a post, about her experience with a program at Atlas Transformation in Zurich that combines one-to-one EMS personal training (electrical muscle stimulation), a metabolism cure and weekly semi-personal training group sessions (once or twice per week training with 3-8 attendees). What convinced me was the proof in form of her before and after pictures: The difference is just remarkable and I thought if she could do this, I could too. Before I had second-thoughts I booked my first appointment.
When I arrived at the gym which is at a very central location very close to Bellevue I was positively surprised: Atlas Transformation turned out to be nothing like the gyms I’ve known, but a small and sophisticated studio that makes you feel comfortable whenever you step in. My trainer Jenny and I had a lovely chat about my goals and right from the beginning I felt in good hands and still love her encouraging and positive way.
I started with EMS and the Barre Fusion class, both once a week. In the beginning, the training was very challenging for me: I never did a plank before and my coordination was just a disaster. But the newly found motivation kept me going and it also helped to get in touch with the girls from my group training to exchange experiences. I love the EMS training because of its effectivity: The electrical impulses target muscle reactions while you train and that’s what makes a short 30 minutes feel like an hour of regular workout. I usually do the EMS during my lunch break. That they have amazing plant-based healthy snacks such as a delicious acai bowl is very handy then.
During the personal training sessions, Jenny is always generous with inspiration, as an example, it was her who made me fall in love with smoothies and say goodbye to alcohol almost completely. All she needed was to tell me once: No pressure, no sinister words of warning, just motivation! Being a vegetarian since I was fourteen I also decided to go fully plant-based and it was extremely helpful that a wholesome plant-based diet is part of the Atlas Transformation philosophy.
It didn’t take long until I saw results and that hooked me up for more. I kept my curves but my body changed and I even fit into the clothes I used to wear when I was 17, omg! And indeed my metabolic age went from 22 to 19, I dropped my weight by 5 kg, decreased my body and visceral fat with keeping my muscle weight at the same time. I reached my finetuning goals for my shape, gained posture improvement and increased my body awareness through this training combination.
But the probably most surprising part of my change is that I started to enjoy exercise. I didn’t want to admit it in the first place because I carefully built the image of being the pale fashion girl who despised sports, but now it’s time to get rid of that old me: New me feels better, healthier and happier and you just can’t keep her from going!
And here comes my before and after picture, just unretouched and without tricking with perspectives and clothing:
Get 20% discount on an EMS and/or semi-personal training package with the code SaraIsInLoveWith. Book online
Valid for 10 or 20 sessions Personal Express Experience 30 min and 10 or 20 sessions Personal Training Groups packages till 31.7.2018.
Two months since my revelation about starting sports. You might still be surprised by my change, and if not I am for sure.
But hey: I discovered an unknown discipline and rarely miss to go to my training twice a week. When I can’t go for a really good reason (bad weather, telly shows, and my cat must have stolen my gym shoes doesn’t count), I try to go running instead. Running is something you can do all the time, no matter where you are, even when you travel.
To be honest, I think it’s an entirely dull activity, so I have to trick myself into liking it better with wearing a lot of pink and listening to a cool soundtrack. When I run, I always have to think of Simon Pegg in Run Fatboy Run. The British actor plays a guy who left his bride at the altar only to realize – when she has another boyfriend – that he wants her back. He tries to prove that with running a marathon even if he is not sporty at all. Just like me, but I’ll not give up, fight my lazy nature and run away from my weaker self.
This movie character encourages me not to give up, to just place one foot in front of the other and go on, even if it’s just a few steps further than last time.
Sad but true: Bodies don’t come with a restart button. This is the reason why I decided it’s finally time to take better care of mine.
Despite knowing better, I used to cheat myself with the sweet illusion that if I eat crisps in the dark and finish my bar of chocolate without leaving evidence, my body wouldn’t betray myself. The fact that I have been a Vegetarian since my teenage years helped me to stay in shape and people were often surprised when I told them that I don’t do any sports. But with the years I realized it would get harder to stay in shape and even more important: Healthy. So time for a rapid change!
A little bit more than a month ago, in a sudden rush of motivation, I picked a personal trainer. This was the trigger to more than I thought: I am doing sports twice a week with a discipline that astonishes myself, and for the first time in my life I miss something when I have to skip a lesson (which only happens if there is a very good excuse).
I exchanged cereals and marmalade bread with smoothies, stopped drinking almost entirely, and my diet turned (almost) Vegan. I find a lot of pleasure in discovering the new (and therefore exciting) world of sports clothing and healthy nutrition.
I am still struggling with certain exercises, but it fills me with pride when I master something I wouldn’t have a few months ago. My boyfriend says he can already see a change – and I am very motivated to go on and feel good in the meanwhile. I’ll tell you more about my training schedule soon, now I’m off for a run, of course, dressed in pink and purple 😉
Go Sara go!
My Outfit:
Sports Bra and Trousers: Tchibo, Shoes and Socks: Nike, Bag: American Apparel (other colours here), Cap: Hutspot, Sunglasses: Craig & Karl x Le Specs
