How I Lost Almost 10 kg: Lagree, Cardio and the Montignac Method

Today I am sharing how I managed to lose almost 10 kg in a few months. There was no miracle method, just several things working together: Lagree, cardio, incline walking, skipping and a few changes to the way I eat with the Montignac method.

It is simply what worked for me, what I still do today and, most importantly, what helped me feel much better in my body.

I had tried Reformer Pilates a few years earlier and never really clicked with it, so I assumed Lagree would feel similar.

It did not. I have written a full article about the difference between Lagree and Reformer Pilatesif you are interested.

Finally Finding a Workout I Genuinely Enjoy

I've always struggled to find a sport I genuinely enjoyed.

Except for boxing.

I did some boxing in Avignon and loved the training side: the punch bag, skipping and cardio. The competition and being hit, rather less so. 😂

Team sports are not really my thing either. I like being in my own little bubble, putting on my music and getting on with it.

So for a long time, I mostly did heavy bag work, skipping rope and cardio on my own.

But I wanted to combine that with something else.

As I mentioned, I had tried Reformer Pilates and found it interesting, but not energetic enough for me.

I need to feel that I have worked out properly, and to complain the following morning because every muscle aches.

And then I discovered Lagree.

How I Discovered Lagree

I discovered Lagree in Les Angles, near Avignon, at KOSM. A friend of my sister-in-law has a studio there and that's how I tried it.

I will be honest: I was sceptical at first. I looked at the machine and the very slow movements and wondered where the workout was.

Then I tried it. I was properly sore for the next two days and quickly wanted to go twice a week.

The difference I noticed in less than a month was honestly mad.

The First Changes I Noticed in My Body

Muscles I had genuinely never seen before began to appear. My legs looked slimmer, my hamstrings and calves became more defined, and my arms changed too.

And my triceps... honestly. I had what I called my bingo wings for years, and they were so difficult to shift.

That’s one of the first areas where I saw a difference.

My whole body became noticeably leaner.

I even have a thigh gap now, which is definitely new for me. 😂

I still do Lagree twice a week because it is the workout that gave me the quickest and most visible results.

And it is all done in 45 minutes.

What I Do Alongside Lagree

Alongside that, I do cardio three to four times a week.

I mainly alternate between brisk incline walking and skipping.

For walking, I set the treadmill to an incline of around 12 to 14 and a speed of 5.5 to 6.5 km/h, then walk briskly for about 35 to 40 minutes.

And I love that.

Since then, I've even dedicated an entire article about brisk walking uphill. This has become my favourite cardio and I'm going to explain in detail why I completely stopped running, my treadmill settings and the routine I still follow today.

I put on my music, stay in my own bubble and work up a sweat without having to run a marathon or trigger my asthma.

Skipping: Effective, but Not Every Day

I usually do around 20 minutes of interval skipping.

You do need to be careful with skipping, though. Doing it every day can be quite hard on the body.

I can be stubborn: once I start something, I tend to go all in. I tried doing too much, sometimes every day, and ended up with shin splints.

So now I alternate.

For me, the combination of Lagree, incline walking and skipping works incredibly well.

The Montignac Method

Around the same time, I was having quite a few digestive problems. I often felt bloated and absolutely hated the feeling.

The worst is eating in the morning, then feeling so bloated that you no longer want to get dressed.

Even though you know full well your belly isn't normally like that.

It is just incredibly uncomfortable.

One day, my mum gave me a book about the Montignac method. I read it, then decided to try it.

What I Actually Eat on the Montignac Method

The basic idea is to avoid certain food combinations.

For example, if I eat eggs, meat or fish, I tend to have vegetables with them. I avoid adding pasta, potatoes or other carbohydrates at the same time.

If I fancy pasta, I tend to have it with vegetables without necessarily adding a large portion of animal protein.

It may sound slightly restrictive, but I do not feel deprived. I simply eat differently.

The biggest difference for me was digestion. I felt far less heavy after meals, less bloated and generally much lighter.

Cutting Down on Sugar

Well, that is a huge topic.

I am the sort of person who reaches for chocolate whenever something is wrong.

Have I got a headache? Chocolate.

Am I tired? Chocolate.

I’ve had a bad day? Chocolate.

Otherwise, sweets.

Basically, sugar had become my answer to everything.

The first four days of properly cutting down were honestly quite difficult.

You suddenly realise how often your body asks for a little sweet treat.

Then the craving passes.

That little reset made me feel so much better.

I have not stopped eating sugar completely, of course. I simply eat far less of it and no longer reach for it automatically. Most importantly, I try not to finish the entire packet.

And I think that played a huge part.

I Also Reduced My Portion Sizes

That made a real difference too.

I used to serve myself as though somebody might come along and steal my plate.
Well, I’ve got several brothers and sisters, so I’ve had plenty of practice defending my territory.

Even so.

My portions were enormous, and I felt guilty if I did not finish everything.

But if you are no longer hungry, you can simply stop eating.
That's all.

I know. Revolutionary.

It took me a while to properly understand that. I pay much more attention to my hunger now.
I eat when I am hungry and stop when I am full.

Two Meals a Day Suit Me

I also realised that I didn't necessarily need three meals a day.

Personally, two meals a day suit me very well. I feel lighter this way.

I no longer eat simply because it is midday or because I was always told I needed breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I genuinely think you have to find what works for your own body.

Some people need three meals, others prefer two, while some feel better eating several smaller meals.
These days, two proper meals are more than enough for me most of the time.

Was Lagree Responsible for My Almost 10 kg Weight Loss?

Not by itself.

That is important to say. Lagree changed the shape of my body enormously.

It is what helped me become stronger and leaner, but the weight loss came from the full routine.

• Two Lagree classes a week.
• Three to four cardio sessions.
• Brisk incline walking.
• Skipping.
• Less sugar.
• The Montignac method.
• Much more reasonable portions.
• Most importantly, a routine I genuinely enjoy.

That is often the problem with exercise: if you hate what you are doing, you are unlikely to keep it up.

Personally, I've finally found a combination that really suits me.

And I still follow it today.

Altogether, I lost almost 10 kg in a few months, but the biggest change was how different my body felt and looked.

I am slimmer and much stronger. I feel lighter, less bloated and far more comfortable in my clothes.

And frankly, that's what matters most!