For anyone who knows me, it is evident that I am a confectionery FIEND!

I remember distinctly when I went on my first gym related nutrition overhaul and the realisation that I could drop my calories, stick to the macros, but that I needed a starburst allowance in the regime as well!

The thing that I love about Pick and Mix, is that there are a palette full of flavours, textures and tastes that keep the whole sweet experience, so satisfying! You can dip your hand into the bag and have a different experience each and every time. Pick and Mix is best when you select a bag of all of the ones that you like – whilst I wouldn’t turn down pre-packaged selections, there is always the chance that you will get something your not keen on. Besides, the clue is in the name.

Whilst Pick and Mix is great for a quick sugar fix, I realised that for a long time, gym work had been a Pick and Mix of exercises, training styles and approaches, but was it best serving what I was trying to achieve?

When you start out on your fitness journey, TURNING UP is the key. You have to get yourself there and ready to train. What you do once you’re there will determine your trajectory, but the most important thing is that you show up.

The stage that followed next for me, was to programme my workouts around the things that I knew how to do – that way I wouldn’t look stupid?! So I jumped on the treadmill and began a cardio heavy programme where occasionally I would watch others on various machines and pick up the technique to use them. I felt good to be there and learning some new skills, but I wasn’t seeing any noticeable change. The routine stayed the same, but I got bored. Rather than the excitement of the Pick and Mix, I was eating Haribo where all of the flavours are essentially the same!

Then I would pick and mix my way through workouts, a shoulder exercise here, a calf raise there, picking machines based on my mood rather than understanding how the muscles work together. occasionally I would mix it up with a run or some abs, but the strategy was poor.

When I began to work with personal trainers I began to understand the importance of setting goals. I didn’t know at the time how much my trajectory would develop with a goal in mind. Furthermore, how more effective a specific goal is. Something that you can picture, that is tangible – that’s where your goals start making you motivated. Don’t just choose to “lose weight” or “build muscle” instead choose to reduce your waist size by two inches so that you can wear your favourite jeans out for your birthday in three months time, or aim to build your cardio so that you have the stamina to complete a 5K or the dad’s race at this Summer’s Sports Day. Those are much more tangible, because you can see them, hear them, feel them. It’s much more effective than just your body being engaged with those goals.

With a goal in mind and some expertise from my trainers, I have been able to venture further from a Pick and Mix approach to the gym and instead motivate through seeing results AND meeting my goals.

This year Pete Burnside (who is a legend and a champion BTW) challenged me to set myself goals throughout the year to keep me engage in my journey. when 15th of December comes around, it will be the first time ever that i have completed all or my New Years Resolutions. and i wont have just achieved them, I will have smashed them to smithereens!

So for now I am saying no to the Pick and Mix, both in the gym and in my belly! Keeping consistent is the key and for now I know it will be a temporary hiatus from the gummy sweets and the reward will be worth it. But know this – I will sure as hell be treating myself when 16th of December comes around!