Friday 31 January 2014

31 January 2014

Spin class done and dusted, with a wee bit of ab work and then into work.  And all before 8.30am.

And my big news today (big to me anyway) is that I have lost another 3lb.  That brings my total weight loss, in 13 months to 4st 5lb.  I am happy beyond belief.

Yes, I realise that people can lose weight a lot faster than that, and that is a really long period of time, but I believe that it took a long time to gain the weight, why should losing it be any quicker? 

I have steadily and consistently lost weight.  I have not put any back on. 

I am working out and gaining fitness.

I am changing my life.

And I love it.

It is hard work, I won't lie to you.  Anyone that says differently either doesn't have that much to lose, or is lying.  But when I see those scales going down, when I see I have to buy a smaller size pair of jeans, when I see that I can go further on the treadmill, or go faster up the stairs at work, every minute of working out, sweating like a pig and feeling hungry is worth it.

If you are on this journey too I take my hat off to you.  Keep going.  You can do it.

And if you wanna talk, drop me a line.  I would be more than happy to speak to you about it.

Tuesday 28 January 2014

28 January 2014

Last night I ran for one mile, without stopping.

One mile.

I didn't run fast, but I did run the whole way.  Well, I jogged, but that's just running slowly.

I remember starting to think about running last year when I joined the gym.  After six months at the gym some of the girls were thinking about running the marathon, and I thought to myself, I wish I could do that, even just run one leg of the relay.  But I wasn't fit enough.  I was very overweight and I jut couldn't run the length of myself, let alone run for 6 miles.

I kept working at the gym, I improved my fitness.  I am still overweight, but less so than before.

This year I joined a C25K programme.  They told me by the end of ten weeks I could run a 5k.  Thats 3 miles.  I laughed, and said, "Nope, not me, but I will try".  And I have tried.  I have went every Monday and Wednesday and each time I try a little more.

On Wednesday I was running for four lampposts and walking for two.  Then on Friday I went for a run with R.  He pushed me hard, and I ran for longer than I had before without stopping. 

So on Monday past I decided to see if I could run for a bit, we run along the avenue in Wallace Park, its about 1/2 mile.  I decided to try to run the length of it, and when I got to the bottom, I just turned and kept running.  I ran a mile and was so excited.  I then walked/ran for another two miles.

Me....three miles of running and walking/running.

Thats practically 5k. 

I think I can call myself a runner now..don't u?

Tuesday 21 January 2014

21 January 2014

Short and sweet update for you all.

Yesterday was the most miserable day of the year so far, I hope you found something worth smiling for.

The 5th session of the C25K programme was last night, I upped my game (slightly) to running for three lampposts, walking two, for about half of the 23 mins.  It was hard, but I reckon I can push myself harder.  Next time (Wednesday) I am going three running, walking two for the whole thing.  It is 25 mins on Wednesday...EEEKKKK  I need to be running more than I am walking soon.  (Or I will never get there)

Have you ever tried running?  What are your tips for a novice?

My diet is going terribly, I am still so tired and grumpy all the time.  And hungry!!  All I do is crave carbs.  But i am putting my big girl pants on and trying again, trying harder and lets see a real difference this week.  I can do it for a week...can't I??

Update you all soon.

:-)

Thursday 16 January 2014

16 January 2014

The fourth session of the C25K programme was last night.  I rocked it!  LOL no not really but I am definately getting better.  I am pushing myself further and longer and just feel like I have more energy.

I have totally found that I work better when I have set myself specific goals, so training to do the Mud Challenge and to do a leg of the relay in the Belfast Marathon has given me something to train for.  And something to get fit for.

Talking to a girl today in work I was explaining how in three months I have only lost 2lb.  This is disheartening for anyone trying to lose weight.  I have to keep telling myself that I have lost nearly 4st now.  4 stone of blubber that is no longer around my organs or weighing me down.  No wonder I feel more like running. 

On the one hand not losing anything is hard, but on the other hand I haven't put any on either.

My clothes fit better.

I have more energy.  (usually, but this diet plan is making me tired)

I want to do more.

I know I am getting fitter.

So I am telling myself not to worry about the non weight loss.  When it is ready it will come off.  I am not on a diet, I am changing my whole life.  My fitness levels are increasing and I am creating a healthier person.  I will live longer.  I will live healthier.  So, if it doesn't come off straight away, that's okay.  It took a few years (like 20) to put on, if it takes a few years (like 2 or 3) to come off then that's okay with me.  At least it is coming off.

People in work keep telling me how much of an inspiration I am to them, me, the girl that sat on her ass on the couch eating for way too may years, has now become a fitness nspiration to others.  My answer is always the same "I'm not there yet, but I am getting there".

I like that I can jog up the three flights of stairs in work without feeling like I need an oxegen mask at the top.  I like that I can even contemplate doing a 5k run.

I am getting there.

It feels so good.

Find your good thing.

Find the exercise that you don't hate.

Find the goals that stretch you, but don't make you feel bad for not getting there.

Don't set specific weight goals, set fitness goals.  In four months you want to be able to.......run 5k?.....squat 30kg?......benchpress 60kg?

Find a goal, tell people, then just do it.

If I can, anyone can.

:-)

Wednesday 15 January 2014

15 January 2014

Hi folks

Well it is official, my diet plan is made to make me hungry.  I don't know if I can continue this, I am starving.  No carbs except in the evening time, and even then it is only a palm of the hand sized amount.  Loads of green veg, and plenty of protein.  And that is basically it.

I get that it is good for me.  I get that it has all the nutrients my body needs.  But I am HUNGRY!!

It is not going to be sustainable for me in the long term.  There is no way that I want to continue eating like this for the rest of my life.

I am on day three and all I can think of is on Sunday I get to eat a cheatmeal. I am planning every last morsel of that meal.  I am allowed to eat for an hour, after that I must leave the table.  An hour.  A full hour of eating.  Bring on the carbs!!!  I am thinking of going to get BBQ food at Bubbacue.

Bubbacue #cheatmeal
On the otherhand I am still in training for the 5K.  I am doing a couch to 5k programme and tonight will be the fourth night.  Twice a week we jog/walk/jog/walk building up the time and the distance, until at the end of a ten week programme we should be able to run 5k.  I can definately see that I am improving, but I am a long way off running 5k without at least 100 breaks in the middle of it!!

I love that my attitude toward exercise has changed.  We were talking in work the other day and were discussing PE class at school.  Then all we wanted to do was get out of class, to be excused from doing any type of exercise.  Now I go to the gym 4 or 5 times a week and have started a C25K programme.  Where did that come from??

I have indoor trainers and outside trainers.  I own hiking boots and outdoor waterproof clothes.  I have climbed a mountain and am in training to do a 5mile mud challenge assault course in April.

Life is good.


Friday 10 January 2014

10 January 2014

The PT session last night kicked my ass.  I have been going to the gym for a year now, so I figured I knew how to squat, and deadlift, but no, it seems I have been doing it all wrong and in fact, I haven't been lifting anywhere near large enough weights.

So last night, instead of squatting 15kg, I was squatting 27kg.  And instead of deadlifting 10kg, I did 25kg.

Is it any wonder that my legs and knees are crippled today?

I also did 80kg on the leg press, and some serious stepping up on the step.

And after that then she says, "Just jump on the treadmill Tina and we will do some jogging".  HAHA!!

My legs were like jelly, and I managed 1 min jogging, 3 walking, 1 jogging, then 2 walking.

And I thought I would die.

The shower afterwards felt bloody good tho!!

This morning I woke up a little stiff and sore in my thighs, but nothing I couldn't handle. But somewhere between making breakfast, and sitting down to eat it, my knee has decided to give way. I am in PAIN.

But you know what, no pain, no gain.

The next time I see her is Thursday, but by that time I will have completed a week of the program she has set me.

Each week she wants me to lift heavier weights, and run further on the treadmill.

I haven't been pushed this hard since giving birth!

Wednesday 8 January 2014

8 January 2014

Everyone needs a treat every so often, don't they?

Last night, after spin class I decided that I would treat myself so I rang R and asked him to meet me for dinner.

We went all out, starters, main and a desert.  We even split a bottle of wine.

It was heaven.

I had brushetta, followed by pork three ways with a brownie and ice cream to finish.

R had crab cakes, salmon and mash, followed by pannacotta and pear and berries.

It was the nicest meal we have eaten out this year :-)

I'm not looking forward to telling my PT about it tho!  She says I am supposed to be trying to be good with my diet!  But once in a while is okay, isn't it?

Tuesday 7 January 2014

7 January 2014

Last night I went to the C25k program.

I was expectting it to be hell, as I haven't ran/jogged/done anything like running since I was in school (25+ years ago).  However my year of going to the gym must be doing something, as it wasn't as hell as I thought it was going to be.  In fact it was okay.

We did some talking, where the guy taking the 50+ of us who turned up for the first session, in the cold and wind, explained what would be happening.  He explained that we will only ever have to go at our own pace.  He explained that it won't be the instructors pushing us, but we will be pushing ourselves.  He explained how if we commit, after three weeks (of twice a week) we will see a big difference in our fitness levels.  He talked to us about now going too hard.

He stated there are three paces of running:
1. An easy pace where you can carry on a normal conversation with someone beside you.
2. A steady pace where you can carry on a conversation, but it is hard and you only speak in 1 or 2 words at a time.
3. A fast pace where if the guy next to you starts a conversation you want to punch them.

I laughed, so did most of the people there, but I figured I was never going to be at a point where I would be running that hard.

Then we did some stretches and then we set out for a jog.

He stated that we could walk the distance, jog the distance or do any combination, but to keep at a pace where we could chat to someone next to us.

It was a 10-15 minute distance, and I think I jogged about half of it, walking the rest.  It was hard, but not too difficult and to be honest I didn't push myself too hard.  I definately could have worked harder, but it was my first time so I didn't want to kill myself. 

After that we went back to the start position (and I wasn't last back, YAY!!) and we did more stretches and that was it.  My first hour training for the C25K programme.

Its hard to see that after 10 weeks I could actually run 5K but we shall see.

Have you tried this programme yet?  What do you think of it?  I'd love to know. 

Monday 6 January 2014

6 January 2014

So I did it, I got myself a personal trainer. 

After talking to her at my first session I realised it is not enough for me just to go to the gym, I need to be working toward a goal.

When training for something I work harder, so thats what this next year is going to be.

I have signed up to a Couch to 5k programme, so my first 5k run should be in ten or so weeks time!  EEEKKKK

I have also signed up for the Mud Challenge, which is a 2 lap assault course, in mud and rivers etc, which is 5miles long. (Thats in April)

I am also planning to sign up to do a part of the relay for the Belfast Marathon. (Thats in May)

I am hoping that this time next year I will be telling you that I am planning to run an entire marathon, but I don't know, lets see how this year goes first.

She has got me keeping two diaries...one for EVERYTHING I eat and drink, the other for the exercise I do.

Its very interesting so far, but it has only been a few days.

She also wants me to keep a note of how I feel each day.  Maybe this will correspond to what ttype of food I eat, or what exercise I have done that day, but so far my feelings have been "hungry", "okay" and "fine".

I meet her again on Thursday so hopefully then she will have a program drawn up for me, and perhaps some kind of diet plan.  She said she would work out a plan where I know how many calories I need each day, and give me tips as to the best way to eat those calories.

I have kinda started thinking recently that I need more protein in my diet, and perhaps some vitamins so maybe she will tell me more about that.

My talking about what i am doing here, I am trying to make it so that I can't back out.

Thank you for being my sounding board.  Its nice to know there are people out there going through the same thing and giving me support.

Thursday 2 January 2014

2 January 2014

Feels weird writing that date!!

But anywho...

What did you all get up to for NYE?  Was it everything you hoped for?  Did you get your sparkle on?  Was the night full of fireworks, new romance and excitement?  Or was it like 99% of the population and was it basically another night of the year, not too bad, but nothing terribly exciting either?

I went to a good friend's house for a desert party.  We all brought a drink and a desert and sat around eating, drinking, chatting and listening to music.  I met a few old friends, met a few new people and generally the night was fine.

At midnight we switched on the TV to watch the fireworks and the big countdown, then we let off partypoppers and a few (everyone else except for me) people sang Old Lang Syne (is that even how it is spelt?).

After that we went into her garden and lit chinese lanterns and set them off into the sky. 

This was where the trouble started!!

One of them took off okay, but then landed squarely in the tree of the next door's garden, and proceeded to catch fire.  Needless to say in the excitement of that nobody noticed how perfectly mine and R's took off right up into the still night sky.  Well we stood and watched it floating off, smiling to ourselves, all loved up, and everyone else panicked.

Then as I looked around I realised our car was parked underneath that same tree so I panicked a little too. 

The lantern fell from the tree into the hedge (totally missing our car) and was soon pulled off the hedge.  We all ran into the house giggling like teenagers!!

Me and R then said our goodbyes and went home to snuggle up and watch some Dr Who.

New Year's Day was spent either cooking dinner, eating or snuggling in front of the fire.

Today we are back to work.

Another year over, a new one just begun....