I can safely say that after a week of following the Lidl 30 Day Fitness Challenge, I thought of myself as a bona fide health and fitness fanatic. Not because I was suddenly slinky, or had abs. Simply because I stuck to it, and for anyone who has tried New Year’s resolutions before, you’ll know that staying committed to your original plans can sometimes be the biggest challenge. So I downloaded a copy of the calendar and I’m relieved to see that the first week’s exercises look hard but they don’t look complicated. I have absolutely no upper body strength, so looking through the plank, push-ups and kettle bell swings, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a tiny bit anxious. Battling on ahead with the plan, I was at least grateful that nobody was trying to prise actual food out of my hand for a watered down soup or juice diet. I love my food – that would not have ended well. So instead, I attempted each exercise, sweated through my tshirts and looked ridiculous in my apartment while following the circuit plan. Missed the plan? You can check out week one (and the calendar in full) here. Why not grab a friend to take the #LidlFitness Challenge with you to make sure you both stay motivated? But I did complete it. Granted, it took a little bit longer than normal, but I’m blaming my lethargy on the post-holiday indulgences. I’m not going to lie, I felt a few twinges that I had to battle through by Wednesday, but where there’s a will there’s a way. I also cooked some pretty high protein, low-calorie meals that helped keep me on the straight and narrow. I used healthy fats, good carbs and yes, there were some salads, but I stretched beyond my usual ham rolls and boiled egg and went online to see what sample recipes I could find to keep my hunger pangs from taking hold. I was going to post images of my actual cooking, but they don’t look half as fancy as the pictures that were taken by a real professional: What I can guarantee was that they tasted pretty good though. And yes, you can eat a salad, feel full and keep going about your business. Will you be tempted to wash it down with a cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit? Of course. But you don’t have to. You just need to make sure you have some good snacks on hand for when those cravings do kick in. The plan is all about making small, easy-to-adjust-to changes, that will help you feel fitter and healthier as the month continues. A great guide for making those small changes is the Tips and Tricks Page that Lidl have here. All of them are doable for anyone looking to get that bit fitter and healthier this January. So far, I can safely say I’ve weaned myself off the sugary soft drinks, I’m swapping my festive chocolates for fruit and nuts and I’m being more original with my dinner than sticking a freezer pizza into the oven. As for the exercise, it’s taking a bit of discipline to manage to complete the exercises every day as scheduled. What I have done though is approach my exercise routine the same way I plan my meal options. I look at the day ahead, see what I have planned timing-wise, and work out where I can spare 45minutes to work on me. Not for a tiny waist, or for approval from the outside. But for me. To feel healthier, fitter and to give myself a kickstart to a more productive 2016. Need some motivation? If you’re finding it hard to unwind on your first week back in work, why not check out this video featuring yoga for beginners? Remember, when starting any exercise plan, being comfortable while taking on your new challenge is half the battle. And leaving the Nutella on the supermarket shelf. Yes, it hurts, but you’ll feel better in the long-run. We promise.

Want to take part in the action? Feel free to send us any tips, updates or how your own exercise regime is working out for 2016. You can mail our writer here: liz.mchugh@her.ie, or tweet us @lidl_ireland

All of the products needed will be available in-store from this Thursday, (January 7th), so get out, get active and take the #LidlFitness challenge to make this year your healthiest yet!

If you’re looking for some motivation or healthy eating guidelines, check out the Lidl website here.