Marie's week of running and home workouts

Running and ThinqFitness video
workouts offer a great all-round fitness mix

Marie decided to write herself a fitness plan for her second week of our Thinqing About Fitness diary. She wanted to challenge herself to keep to her programme of cardio and toning workouts.  This week her ThinqFitness workouts included Lincoln's Legs and Bum Blast on Monday and Friday and Anna's Summer Body Blitz on Thursday.

She says: "This was my last week before my gym's creche closes for a while and so I wanted to make the most of the time that my daughter Livi is being cared for. With my husband away with work quite a lot I have to grab the opportunities I can for exercise. 

"While Livi is in the creche I can go to the gym or go out for a run. So this week I had a good week with my running and managed a 5k run on Tuesday and an 11.2k run on Saturday.

"Around this I did three ThinqFitness video sessions. I had hoped to manage two Body Blitz sessions but I didn't quite fit all that in. Next week I promise myself I'll do the two Body Blitz workouts. 

"I did do two of Lincoln's 10-minute Legs and Bums Blast workouts this week though. I think these are great workouts and they offer great toning potential for such a short session.

"I'm really enjoying the videos and I can see me using them a great deal more in the coming weeks as I will be more tied to my home with Livi."

Tips to learn from Marie's week:

* Having a weekly programme to stick to is helpful because you then know the sessions you should be doing and if it's written down you are less likely to find excuses.

* Pin the fitness programme up in a prominent place, such as on your fridge door.

* Mixing cardio and toning workouts over a week is a great way to lose weight and improve muscle definition. 

* Exercising both indoors and outdoors is ideal for motivation (the different workouts prevent you from becoming bored with routine) and also for boosting mental health. Research shows that just five minutes of exercise outdoors each day can reap big benefits for self-esteem and improved mental health. 

* If you have children then home video workouts are a great way to keep-fit while children sleep, play or join in.

Find out in her next blog how Marie did in week 3 of her Thinqing About Fitness diary.

Zoe goes for the Body Blitz Workout

Anna Lovelock's Summer Body Blitz 

fitness workout from ThinqFitness

Zoe's first week on her Thinqing About Fitness programme included Anna's Summer Body Blitz.

Zoe says: "I started later in the week than I hoped but the Summer Body Blitz workout more than made up for what I didn't do earlier! This is one great, all-round workout and I definitely felt that it did some work on my tummy and legs. I could still feel my muscles aching two days later!

"I really liked the mixture of exercises in the video class - and the variety really kept my interest and kept me going. I find it is easier to be motivated by good music and the music tracks in this video were great.

"My only down point for this fitness class was that I wished I'd put on a fan before I started. My goodness was I hot once I got going with this workout!

"Anna the fitness instructor is really good at keeping participants motivated and reminding you to hold in your tummy muscles as you work out. This is a good point as I normally forget to hold in my tummy and so a mention from Anna made me remember.

"I'm looking forward to trying out the other ThinqFitness videos in the coming weeks."

Marie's three times a week fitness video workouts

Anna's Abs workout is only 10 minutes long

Marie got off to a great start with her ThinqFitness workouts. In the first week, she managed to fit in  Lincoln's Legs and Bum Blast on Monday, Anna's 10-minutes Abs workout on Wednesday and Anna's Summer Body Blitz on Thursday.

Marie says: "None of the videos were too easy. I'd say they were about right for my level of fitness and gave me a really good work out. 


"Lincoln's Legs and Bum Blast is only eight minutes and while it gets to all the right places, that is my legs and bum where I am keen to tone up, the workout was also a lot of fun. I am pleased I started the week with this one because it gave me the incentive and motivation to continue with the other workouts. 


"Anna Lovelock's Abs workout was quite a hard workout but I felt it had an instant effect. I liked the way she gives instructions as they are simple to follow and she also shows you what not to do. Anna's timely reminders to breathe come just at the right time for me! Again this workout was short at 10-minutes but it was more than enough for my first go.

"Then came Anna's Summer Body Blitz. This is much longer and more of a cardio-style workout. I found it quite hard going but I still made it to the end. The way my whole body ached the next day I knew I had had a total body blitz! I think two of these sessions each week will be really beneficial so that's my aim for next week. 


"Having the workouts to do in the privacy of your own home is great and I could fit them in around all my other commitments. I can really see the advantage of this type of fitness training. Week two here I come!"

Introducing Zoe, 33, who works very long hours

Zoe needs an exercise regime that
she can fit into her busy working life

I'm a marketer and hardly have time for anything much other than working. But I know I need to lose a bit of weight and my aim is to shed a stone while also toning up all those "female problem areas", the thighs, bum and tum. 

One other thing I'd like to improve is my fitness in relation to my breathing.  I find I get out of breath and hot and bothered, as well as suffering with rosy cheeks, all too easily. I think I'm one of those people who holds my breath without realising when I'm concentrating. So I'm keen to improve my breathing techniques.

I can find it hard to get motivated for exercise after work – and also it's difficult to attend classes when I'm working long hours. So the idea of being able to do fitness sessions at home with ThinqFitness is very appealing. 

So little time for keeping fit

I'm hoping that the ThinQ videos at home will help me to fit in some exercise before or after work without the need to buy expensive equipment. And rather than just buy one exercise DVD I will have a choice of lots of classes to do each week. I will be able to pop on the Playstation3 and stream the videos on the Internet and play them full screen on my main TV. 

Additionally to ThinQ classes I'm going to continue doing a 7am spin class at my local gym on Wednesdays.

I'll keep you up-dated as to how I go.

Introducing mum-of-one Marie, who is 34

Marie and daughter Livia

Any kind of fitness activity has to fit around my daughter Livia because my husband David works away from home most of the week (Monday to Thursday). I manage to run and get to the gym a couple of times a week because they have a creche facility but this is due to close at the end of this month so I confess I'd become a little anxious about what I'd do instead. It is really hard being a mum and trying to squeeze in a few keep-fit sessions a week.

So the chance to test-drive ThinqFitness could not have come at a better time for me. I really need a fitness regime that I can fit around Livia - and one that I can do from home is perfect.

Over the last year I have been on something of a mission to lose weight. I felt out of shape, especially after being pregnant, and slowly but surely I have been shedding the pounds these last 12 months. The gym has helped, as has a better diet and the running. So far I've lost 2st 9lb.  

ThinqFitness
starter blocks

Running is an ideal way to get fit if you have someone else to look after your child. It's flexible and time sensitive but I usually have to wait until David is at home to go out for a run. So far I have completed one 10k event and I plan to do two more this year and then a half-marathon.

But I do like to have a bit of variety in my fitness schedule and I'm still keen to shift a couple of inches off my thighs and bum, which are refusing to budge! I bet loads of women say this!

I am a nice size 12 but would LOVE to be a size 10. If i get there I  will treat myself to some Victoria Beckham jeans ! The husband has been warned!

I have had a quick look at the ThinQfitness site and a couple of the videos look fun and I can't wait to get started. I'll be keeping you all posted as to how I get on.