Gillian's four weeks on Level 2 — "don't overthink it, just get the workout done"

The Core Buddy Effect — Edition #04

Gillian, on the right.

Gillian Weatherhall is a busy mum, works full time, and averages somewhere around 16,000 steps a day before any training goes on top of it. Last month she took on Level 2 of the core levels.

"I wasn't really sure what to expect, but I was excited to get started and see how I got on."

Here's how the four weeks went, in her own words.

Week one

"I thought they were great. I was actually surprised by how manageable they were and how easy it was to fit them into my day."

That's the bit that matters when your days are already full. Her take on the ten minutes:

"I'm a busy person, so I didn't dread the thought of having to fit it into my day. I knew 10 minutes was something I could realistically commit to, and I think that really helped me stay consistent."

One of her regular routes. The steps go on top of the ten minutes, not instead of them.

The whole setup. Out in the living room, done before the day starts.

One morning in week one nearly didn't happen. Worth reading why:

"I almost missed a day because I hadn't had much sleep and was absolutely knackered. But I still had to get up for the kids and go to work, so I made sure I didn't start making excuses for myself. I got up, got it done and felt much better for doing it afterwards."

No sleep, the kids, work, and she still got it done. That's the whole month right there, on day five.

She rated the week a seven. And she wasn't keeping it to herself either:

"I've told quite a few people. I've really enjoyed it so far and thought they might want to give it a go too."

Week two — the sessions get longer

The sessions stretched out this week, and something shifted in how she was training:

"Having the extra time gives me more opportunity to focus on and perfect my form for each movement. I feel like I'm becoming more aware of how I'm doing the exercises rather than just getting through them."

That's the difference between getting through a workout and actually training. Two weeks in.

"Some mornings I do have that thought of not wanting to do it, but once I start the exercises, I'm back in the zone and enjoying it again."

22,249 steps and 16.54km. A Tuesday, as far as she was concerned.

Rings shut by the end of the day, most days.

And the knock-on effects were showing:

"I've definitely noticed that I have more energy, and I'm sleeping better too. I think that's a really positive change to notice already."

She gave the week a seven. Stronger, but still challenged, especially on the leg work.

Week three — where folk usually drop off

Week three is where most people quietly stop. I asked Gillian what kept her showing up:

"I keep saying it's because I have a holiday next month, but honestly, it's more than that. I don't want to drop off and disappoint myself. I feel better knowing I'm being accountable, and being part of the group really helps. When you're having an off day or just can't be bothered, seeing everyone else saying they've done their workout gives you that little push to get yours done too."

That's the group doing its job. Nobody's chasing you up and nobody's keeping count. You just see other folk ticking theirs off and it gives you the nudge.

The mat comes out and so does he. Every morning, apparently.

She felt a cold coming on this week and was more tired than usual. Rated it an eight, and still did every day.

"It's definitely becoming a routine now."

Conker season got in the way of a few walks. No complaints from anyone.

Her no-chance move that turned into actually-alright was the side plank leg lifts. Legs are her weak point, and she's doing more than she could before. And what would week-one Gillian not believe?

"I don't think Week-1 me would believe that I've managed to stay this consistent, especially with how busy I am. I'm also genuinely enjoying the workouts now, which I definitely didn't expect."

The stuff I didn't ask for

These just landed in my messages through the month:

"That was my Sunday chill day but ended up walking the length of the harbour god knows how many times."

The harbour in question. The fishing is the excuse, the walking is the point.

A chill day, and she's up and down the harbour. Her watch tells the same story. 14,000 steps one day, 22,000 another, a half-hour incline session on the treadmill, an 8.86km afternoon walk on Strava. The core work isn't replacing her life. It's sitting on top of an already full one.

14,140 steps and 10.29km in a day, before any core work.

And the half-hour on the treadmill. Ten incline, no comment attached.

The afternoon walk. 8.86km and 54 metres of climbing, in one hour 42.

Stops like this are why the walks take an hour 42 rather than an hour.

Where the walking actually happens

Sixteen thousand steps a day has to go somewhere. This is most of where it went, sent over through the month with no explanation attached to any of them.

Swipe through.

The food side, which I never asked about

I didn't set Gillian anything to follow on the food. No plan, nothing to count, and I never once brought it up with her.

It's shifted on its own through the month anyway. That's nearly always the way of it — the training settles in first, and the eating follows along behind it when it's ready. Push both at once and you usually get neither.

One of hers, sent without comment, same as the step counts.

And lunch out, which is the bit most folk think they have to give up.

And one grabbed on the go, which counts every bit as much.

Week four — Level 2 done

"I'm honestly really chuffed that I've completed it. I've proved to myself that I can stay consistent even with a busy lifestyle, and that's probably the biggest achievement for me. It's shown me that the programme really does work when you stick with it and make it part of your routine."

Her overall rating for Level 2: a seven out of ten.

"It's definitely challenging, but it's also very doable and doesn't take up loads of time in your day. I actually really like getting it done in the morning because it sets me up for the day and gives me that feeling of having already achieved something."

And she's not done:

"Definitely Level 3. I'm looking forward to seeing how I progress with that. I'm also going to start incorporating more weights through the app, as I feel ready to challenge myself a bit more and build on what I've already achieved."

If you're staring at day one

Her advice for anyone thinking about next month:

"Stick with it. It definitely feels like a step up to begin with, but if you stay consistent, you'll notice that it gets easier and eventually just becomes part of your routine. Don't overthink it — just get the workout done and keep showing up."

Gillian didn't clear her diary for this. The kids, work, 16,000 steps a day, and about ten minutes of core work every morning that set her up for the rest of it. Better sleep, more energy, a move that went from no chance to actually alright, and Level 3 next.

If your days look anything like hers, that's rather the point of it.