I AM sorry to say I have been a bad gym bunny over the last few weeks.

A trip to Brazil and family commitments meant my gym visits dwindled considerably.

In an effort to get me back on track, my health mentor Richard Webb suggested I come in for a personal training session and speak to some of the experts on hand.

In-house nutritionist Fran Penberthy talked me through the best kinds of foods to eat to keep healthy and even had a demonstration table of the types of snacks to aim for.

I admitted I hardly ever eat fish and she explained we should be eating about three portions a week for brain-boosting Omega 3 oils.

I discovered the five pieces of fruit and veg a day government guideline is a bare minimum “to ward off scurvy” and I should be aiming for more like 10.

Another useful tip was to stock up on whole grains so porridge for breakfast is a good idea – also recommended by last weeks’ Fat Family Tree programme which showed a woman getting rid of her type II diabetes through diet alone.

She told me my traditional banana with porridge could be improved – with frozen berries instead – because these fruits are not broken down as quickly as the body so you keep feeling full for longer. 

I am also going to try Nuffield Health’s online seasonal recipes (next month’s is smoked mackerel and warm potato salad).

I also had a postural screening with Nuffield Health physiotherapist Kieran O’Dea who uncovered any weak points through a series of exercises.

It appears my right hand side is actually weaker than my left so he showed me how to practice various strengthening techniques.

Surprisingly, my core muscles are not as hopeless as I had thought because I can do a plank exercise for 30 seconds and am advised to build up to an minute.

Afterwards I had a personal training session with Richard which was great because I tried proper boxing for the first time. He showed me how to throw punches and it was incredibly therapeutic.  

For the rest of the day, I felt buzzing with energy and I am determined to make a more consistent effort. Through lunchtime walks and healthier eating, my weight is still half a stone less than when I started the blog.

Next month the Meet our Experts event focuses on getting a good night’s sleep. The sessions are open to all (you do not need to be a member).

The sessions take place on June 17, 19 and 21 at Nuffield Health Gym Bromley in Hayes Lane.

For more information, visit nuffieldhealth.com/fitness-and-wellbeing/meet-our-experts/june-2013-sleep-event

Do you have tips on how to keep to a gym routine? Let us know in the comments section below.