Wednesday 1 February 

The challenge is over. For the past month The Artful Diner has attended a personal training session each week with strength and conditioning coach Jezz Wilcox, from The Third Space health and fitness club. Regular training has been matched with healthy meals at some of the finest restaurants dotted around London. The objective was to lose 10lbs… and the result was a weight loss of 7lbs! Here’s a quick insight into the final training session with Jezz, lessons learnt and how not to pile back on the pounds.

The final hour

My last session with Jezz was a combination of the three workouts we’ve done over the past month: boxing routines, power work and sprints. I’ve got a new leash on life now when it comes to exercise and how to keep fit. And a lot of it comes down to having a personal trainer to show you the ropes, keep you motivated and suggest fun forms of exercise that actually see results.

From here on in

Rather than slogging it out in the gym three days a week on the treadmill (boring!) for 40 minutes, I’m now going to mix up my routine both in and out of the gym to ensure I avoid piling on the pounds I’ve just lost. One day I’ll do a spin class, the next a personal training session with Jezz and then maybe a yoga class to stretch out. Each week I’m going to try something new too. Take, for example, a cool new craze I’ve heard about ­– No Lights, No Lycra: a weekly one-hour, non-guided dance class in the dark. That’s in the diary for next week!

Food for thought

As far as my diet goes, Jezz’s advice has been invaluable. In our first session he advised that you should never be afraid to ask what’s on a menu in order to make sensible eating choices. Throughout all the restaurants I’ve visited over the past month, from Notting Hill’s Kensington Place to Angel’s lovely Almeida restaurant, I’ve done just this. The waiters have kindly informed me of the healthiest meal choice on the menu and I’ve been more than delighted with the dishes I’ve been served.

Of course, it’s everything in moderation, and Jezz says it’s ok to treat yourself every now and then. So, in following his advice, I did just that last night at an indulgent chocolate and wine-matching event at Blueprint Café. There’s nothing like a glass of bubbles to cap off a month-long health kick!

Here’s to a healthy year!

Further information

If you want to shed some extra pounds too, pop into The Third Space club in Soho and see how you can get beach-body ready for summer.