Every little counts

At the risk of jumping on a cheesy Tesco tagline, I'm really mindful at times of approaching life one little step at a time.

Today I weighed myself and finally I've lost two pounds!

No, not a huge weight loss or anything monumental, but it's progress and wow was I craving that.

The odd thing is - as I've likely said before, I never learn! - I'd started to get a bit more relaxed and had been eating 'badly'. Then miraculously the weight starts to move.

I read an interesting article this week about why your weightloss might be slow, it suggested that in fact you can end up eating more by obsessing over eating less.

And a recent TV documentary suggested exercising can indeed also lead to eating more than you need as you gear yourself up to needing the extra calories or indeed being deserving of eating more/consuming more calories as a reward.

Guilty as charged!

Being strict with my diet and exercising most days was tiring and I wasn't sleeping too well. When I jumped on the scales and saw no movement - well no positive movement - I was really starting to feel disheartened.

On Sunday we had our parents over for a meal. We had tea and biscuits and alcohol and nuts before the meal. Then we sat down to wine with dinner and three courses:

Mozarella, prosciutto Parmesan, oil and vinegar and bread to start.   

Duck breast with a plum sauce, mash, sugarsnap peas, baby corn and asparagus for main.

Ending with either apple crumble or chocolate brownie cake with cream.

I thoroughly enjoyed it all. I'd been to an rpm class in the morning but I didn't calorie count and I had a good chat and catch up with family. 

Surely I should put on? I'd been for lunch out Friday and cocktails on Friday night too. 

But no today I lost weight. 

I have no idea why but I am thankful. And I'm remembering every little counts.

It was the little boost I needed to stick at it, but also enjoy socialising and eating and drinking too. And not agonising if I don't exercise constantly.

Tomorrow I'm going to a talk by Jillian Michaels (my 30 Day Shred hero) and I hope she'll be more than a boost to my current mindset and diet and exercise  approach.

For now I'm making the most of the little steps in the right direction and I'll let you know how the talk goes.

It's her Maximise Your Life tour. Here's to minimising my body fat and maximising my progress! 

Day 4: Ouch ouch ouch

Well it's my fourth day of healthy eating and exercising, trying to get back in shape.

I am so so achey.

Yesterday after doing my workout DVD my legs were wobbly as I walked up the stairs, like jelly. And today I'm in pain.

It's hurt sitting down, walking up stairs, walking in general in fact. 

I know this is good and I'm feeling the burn. Right now I just feel exhausted!

However, I am feeling pleased, I started aiming to get back on track on New Years Day and have stuck within calories allowed for four days. 

I've done one 60 minutes spinning class and gone back to my old faithful 30 Day Shred. 

The plan was to do the workout DVD tonight and tomorrow evening too, but I got home pretty late from work and am just aching too much.

I'm eating so much less than I was over Christmas that I'm hoping tonight's break from exercise won't be too big an issue.

Although I have got two 'cheat' days  approaching this week so I will need to stay on track as much as possible the rest of the week.

Apart from being in agony today I am feeling a lot better already. I must admit I am not enjoying the constant getting up in the night to go for a wee from all the water I'm drinking!! (Too much information??)

I'm going to try keep updating the blog to keep myself accountable too. And my fiancé started his diet today too so hopefully we'll help each other along.

Four days down, I imagine lots lots more to follow! 

Comfort food

This post may surprise you. 

No I'm not writing about chocolate, crisps, pizza, pasta and ice cream or drinking wine. 

I'm taking comfort from food and exercise. 

Things are going a bit off track with the house purchase (don't ask!) and I've realised I can't control any of it.

So what have I done? Returned to my trusty old friend food and exercise.

I can control what I eat and how often I try and work out.

And as I said I'd blog my progress with the 30 Day Shred here I am writing about it.

I've been completely stressed out all week, tired out and had a banging headache.

As is always the case when you get yourself into exercise you always feel better for it. 

Exercising this week has helped me de-stress and switch off temporarily. 

Tomorrow I am weighing myself to see what progress I've made this week.

I'm really hoping to see something positive.

This week I've stuck to eating healthily, within my recommended calorie allowance to lose weight, for all seven days of the week.

In terms of exercise I've done my workout DVD (30 Day Shred) for five of the seven days. 

Fingers crossed as well as benefiting me to help relax, this week's food and exercise efforts have helped me lose weight and get fitter too. 

Until tomorrow's weigh-in...

The sort out continues!

Last Saturday I decided to stop making excuses and get myself sorted out - whether that be trying to exercise again, eat healthily or get my flat sorted for valuations. 

This morning I'm off to a bit of a slow start, but today I'm making sure I stick to this approach again. 

Starting with my weekly weigh in and a healthy breakfast.

I've eaten healthily for 4 of the 7 days this week and exercised for 3 of them. Not great, but like I've said previously slowly but surely! 

And this week I've lost 1lb. Not a huge record breaking result, but I have to say I'm pleased given the fact more of the week has been unhealthy.

Hopefully now I can lower the 'bad' food days and increase the exercise days and start to get back to the shape I was beginning to be happy with. 

I'll be hitting the 30 Day Shred as soon as my breakfast has settled and then getting back on the flat sort out. Next up is finishing the lounge and all the hundreds of CDs, DVDs and photo albums I've accumulated. 

If I get time I'll be braving my bedroom and the Narnia that is my wardrobe...

The mysteries of weight loss

I know I've blogged about this topic before, but as I'm lying here in bed debating whether to go to spin this morning (third day in a row), I'm completely baffled.

The last three weeks I've lost 5lbs in weight (3lb loss, stayed the same, 2lb loss). This is great and really keeps me going trying to get in shape.

However, it doesn't seem to make sense. Over said three weeks I've been eating lots of fattening foods, drinking alcohol and not exercising as much.

Yet weeks where I've been super strict with diet and exercised almost every day I've on occasion not lost or put on?

I appreciate I am guilty of overanalysing my progress somewhat and should just be happy I'm doing well, at my lowest weight now. Being someone like me who likes to be in control and know what's happening though I find I want to understand how to keep making positive progress, perhaps by noticing patterns and following them moving forwards.

How on earth you do that when trying to lose weight and get fitter is beyond me right now. Nothing seems to make sense.

I'm having a BBQ today and alcohol and am currently debating whether or not to go spin. Do I have a break - as I have done well - as a treat and also give my body a chance to rest (particularly before a pressured week ahead at work)?

Or am I viewing it all wrong and should keep up with my spinning and start the week off as I mean to go on?

Sitting here feeling tired, a bit stiff from yesterday's session and also somewhat dehydrated from the sun yesterday I know what answer I'm veering towards.

If only I knew what impact it was going to have...but that's never going to happen with this mystery surrounding weight loss!

Sizing up my progress

Why is there a picture of a random pug cushion on my blog you may be wondering.

Well for those of you that don't know I have a slight obsession with pug dogs right now and I really really want a real pet pug of my own. Living in a flat that's not really an option right now, but imagine how excited I was to discover this super cute cushion. For now this adorable little feature in my flat is going to be my way of having a gorgeous pug to look at every day until I live in a house and can have a little real life doggie of my own!

This - sad as it may seem - has brought a massive smile to my face today. But no of course I am not writing a blog just to tell you how excited I am to own this cushion. No there is another reason today to have a smile on my face.

Today something amazing happened. I needed some new jeans since the ones I've been wearing since losing weight have got a little too big now, the top gapes out and the bum area just sags - not very attractive and not the best way to highlight my new figure.

So today I decided to eventually see if I could get some new jeans that fit a little better. I used to always have light denim jeans, dark denim jeans and black jeans. I was hoping to do that today, but wasn't holding my breath.

What happened? Well, my boyfriend reminded me last week I had achieved a longstanding weightloss goal I had been aiming for since I first started trying to do something about my weight back in 2008. Then my boyfriend bought me a Wii and some time after I bought the Wii Fit game and realised how big I'd actually become! On and off since 2008 I have been trying to sort my weight out and eat healthily and exercise more. I wanted to try and lose three stone.

Finally last week I had knocked off that 3 stone from my heaviest weight! Something randomly my boyfriend had to remind me of - I've been setting myself lots of mini goals since last year again and am at my lowest weight that I think I must be since before my 20s!

Anyway I've gone off on a tangent as usual, back to today. I went shopping and decided to try and get some jeans.

People have been saying to me I should wear tighter, more fitted clothes to show where I've lost weight and if I'm honest I'm still a bit stuck in how I was before, so I find it hard to wear tight clothes, thinking I am too big to wear clothes fitted like that. Today I decided enough was enough jeans should be fitted and snug to you, not baggy and saggy.

I went off into the changing rooms and to my shock I've ended up coming home not just with my super cute pug cushion, but also with three pairs of jeans, two skinny style jeans and one slim leg style. That in itself I'm happy about, but why I'm even happier? They are a size 12! I can't remember the last time I've had size 12 bottoms - whether it be a skirt, shorts or trousers and particularly in a fitted/skinny style.

Finally I have something concrete (as well as what I weigh) to show I definitely have lost weight and my body is changing shape.

So yes, this week I don't feel I've done enough exercise and I've had a few 'cheat' days where I've eaten lots of fattening food and drunk lots of alcohol. The result probably being that tomorrow morning when I do my usual weekly weigh in I'm expecting to put on weight - something which really does impact my mood.

However, after my purchases today, something tells me I'm going to find it a little easier to cope with a weight gain if it happens this time round and I definitely won't let it knock me back that's for sure...

Losing weight but gaining confidence

I know I've done it again, I've not posted a blog for a long time and certainly not one about my thoughts/feelings rather than a review of a book. Hey, what can I say? I read a lot!

In fact, on checking GoodReads - I have read eight books this year already. Yes eight books over nine weeks, not bad going really.

Anyway, for once I'm not meant to be typing about books and my love of reading. No, this time I'm back to another favourite topic of mine - weight loss, fitness and health.

I've known some people argue they only blogged when they were a bit fed up or bored and in fact they blogged less when they were happier with life. Well, I'm not too sure how much I agree with that logic. One thing I can say though is I am certainly pretty happy at the moment.

Finally - after a very long time, well okay most of my adult life so far - I am starting to feel a boost in confidence. Don't get me wrong I still have things I'd like to change, but this time around of losing weight/getting in shape/getting healthier, I actually am getting a bit more comfortable with my body.

I know, I'm sorry to any men reading this, I appreciate I'm being a stereotypical female here and getting obsessive about appearance. Apologies if this comes across a tad dull, but I have to be honest here, I have only just started to feel a bit happier about how I look.

Finally something has clicked and - I think - I may have managed to find a balance between being 'good' and having treats. The majority of the time I aim to stick to a healthy diet and try to exercise whenever I don't have plans. However, if I have plans which involve alcohol or a fattening meal I go out and enjoy myself and allow myself something different for a change.

So far this year it seems to be working and since the start of the year I've lost seven pounds/half a stone and am at my lowest weight I can ever remember achieving.

I'm enjoying life and socialising/eating out (granted not regularly), but also keeping on track on other days and the weight is steadily dropping off, and what I've noticed moreso this time is that I'm getting more toned too.

Also - as someone who dreaded P.E. at school and used to fake notes/forgetting my kit to get out of it - I am shocked how much I genuinely enjoy and feel better for exercising. As you'll all know from my cringey blog posts I really love spinning at the gym and I've also now found I enjoy running (well don't get me wrong I still probably go at tortoise-pace compared to most people and I can just about do a 5k!)

Moreover if I don't do any exercise for a few days I can feel the difference, I feel stiff and achey, lethargic and I genuinely miss it. Yes friends who've known me for years as someone seemingly allergic to exercise and a Uni student who didn't even properly know where the gym was on campus this may seem a little odd. But it's all true.

It's funny, a few people I know are turning 30 this year, all are female and all have raised how scared they are of hitting the big 3-0. I have told them all (and meant it) that if I'm honest if anything I've felt happier since being 30.

2013 has been a mixture of a year already for a variety of reasons, with ups and downs already. However, overall I can feel a positive change - feeling healthier, looking healthier, enjoying new things. I've discovered I like more types of music than expected, I can enjoy all things a bit more cultured like ballet and exhibitions, as well as plays at the theatre.

Who knows maybe this is just how us girls feel when we hit thirty, maybe it's just a new year and revived sensation I'm getting as we're still early in the year. It may not be the weight side of things, but right now I feel the longer I manage to keep losing the weight/keeping it off in general I'm likely to have a smile on my face!

An early Christmas present

Today week six of my healthy eating and exercise started.

This of course meant weigh-in day.

Last week or rather week five I managed five visits to the gym. Two lots of spinning, two 5ks and one running and x trainer mix.

It also involved two lunches out, a meal out (but eating off the diet menu), a three course home cooked meal for my parent's anniversary and some alcohol (well LOTS of alcohol on one of the days!)

Last night I went to bed feeling bloated and expecting to be disappointed this morning.

However I stepped on the scales and...I'd lost three pounds! This means a total weight loss of 13lbs in five weeks!

This also means I am now down to the lowest weight I achieved last time I managed to lose lots of weight back in 2010 and 2011.

I was so happy this morning, as sad as it may sound I felt like crying, I was so pleased with the results!

This week I've got two client lunches, my work Christmas party and a Christmas meal/party out with friends. Obviously this is going to mean lots of food and lots of booze.

I'd love to lose a pound this week to get my weight loss down to a whole stone in six weeks! However I'm not stupid, this week is going to push things and there's not much time to exercise!

If today is anything to go by I'm probably already putting the pounds back on. I've already packed my bag for spinning on Thursday to try work off some of the calories!

Today I went to Hix Mayfair. What a lovely meal! I started with Dorset snails with lardons and black pudding. Then moved on to hay-baked shoulder of lamb with new potatoes and curly kale. Lastly I indulged in the best chocolate melt in middle pudding I've ever tasted complete with homemade mint-choc ice cream.

The meal was delicious, but it's now five hours since I left the restaurant and I'm still stuffed! I even walked home from the station tonight to try and feel a bit more comfortable!

For now though I'm just going to enjoy my early Christmas present of losing so much weight and doing so well on my healthy eating and exercise. Let's just hope I feel a bit less full soon ready for tomorrow's fun and games!

Day 10: germs and gyms

My office at work right now sounds like a doctor's surgery, everyone is coughing and sneezing.

I'm no exception I'm still full of germs, although I can speak and my cough is now not as tickly or regular.

I've been adamant I will stick to my plan regardless of how I'm feeling. I'd rested on Sunday and Monday in a bid to shift the cough, but then have been back in the gym yesterday and today.

Both times I've gone for a 5k on the treadmill but have obviously added more walking in again as I clearly want to shift this bug and not feel ill forever!

Helping me out last night my boyfriend made spicy prawn Thai noodle soup - something we've tried before when feeling under the weather (see first photo below). Touch wood cough wise it seems to have helped a bit.

Tonight after getting in from the gym I wanted something quick and easy so I've had quorn chicken style pieces in low fat honey and mustard sauce, with brown rice, pictured below.

One thing I've been pleased about is a change in attitude. Typically as soon as my throat starts to get sore I'd be rushing to the supermarket to grab the nearest tub of Ben & Jerrys! Not this time, I'm staying on the healthy options.

Fingers crossed I'll be able to achieve 5, maybe 6 days of exercise this week. Work is super busy right now so I'm hoping to not feel unwell much longer and in fact am finding exercise helps to clear my mind and relax after a hard day. How long this will last who knows...

Week 2: losing weight but gaining germs

I've had to write this blog post, since I'm going insane sleeping, watching daytime TV and resting up. I'm also going crazy with this flipping cough!

Every time I get slightly hot or sit a certain way I cough, non-stop. To make matters worse my voice is still gone, just when I think it's coming back I start to croak and wheeze my words out.

This has led me to getting stressed on two levels - I was due to have clients in at work today for training and of course after yesterday's break I was planning on getting back in the gym after work. Obviously not being able to stop coughing, nor able to speak, both options had to be cancelled.

As a result I'm sat at home feeling sorry for myself and panicking about work.

However, it's not all bad. Ill or not I knew Monday meant weigh in day, so I stepped on the scales first thing before crawling back under my duvet to cough my guts up!

An amazing sight appeared before my eyes, after my first week on my healthy eating and diet I have managed to lose five pounds. I'm so so pleased. This result has made me even more determined to get myself back in shape.

I'm a person who likes to see results and it feels great to have worked so hard last week and achieve such a strong weight loss.

This has also made me so annoyed to be unwell as I don't want to go off track at all. I want to carry on exercising and eating healthily. I'm not silly obviously I won't achieve this sort of number every week, but it is a welcome start.

Last week I managed to achieve nearly four and a half hours of exercise - completing four sets of 5k at the gym and two sets of spinning, attending the gym six days in a row. I also stuck to my healthier diet for all seven days too.

Now I'm keeping everything crossed that this stupid cough and these germs disappear asap so I can get back to work, back in the gym and try hard to lose some more weight for next week!

Six days in a row Saturday

Hooray it's the weekend!

I didn't get loads of sleep last night due to a tickly cough (thankfully it seems to be a nighttime/early morning thing). When me and my boyfriend heard the alarm go off this morning I think we both were feeling like staying in bed rather than getting up to exercise. I was also a tad achey since I've been the gym everyday so far this week.

After a hot drink and a banana off we went to the gym. I was in a panic, as when we left we only had 15 minutes until my spinning class started.

We got stuck in some traffic, so as we pulled up outside I hurried into the gym and changing rooms. I rushed into the studio and realised I needn't have worried.

You can tell we're getting close to Christmas and people are coming into hibernation mode. Our Saturday morning class is normally packed, today in total once everyone turned up there were about 10 of us there - about a third of the usual numbers.

So I survived the 60 minutes spin class (despite some tough routines and somebody close by deciding to break wind part way through - not the best when you're in a small room with no aircon and sweaty bodies!)

Then I came back to a nice hot lunch of beans on wholemeal toast and a cup of tea which was much needed.

I've got my Auntie coming over tonight for dinner and a catch up, but for now it's time to relax. I've already watched some extreme weight loss programme and flicked through Zest magazine to keep me inspired.

Let's see if I can make day seven out of seven...

Friday night fitness

It's Friday night and I was due to be going out tonight with friends drinking and to watch a local band. I've been pretty tired out this week and keep feeling like I'm coming down with a cold, so I took the safe decision (for once!) and decided to give it a miss.

This also meant I could make sure I still stuck to my healthy eating (and no alcohol). After my day at work I felt like I needed to clear my head and decided I'd use my evening wisely and hit the gym before heading home.

A run on the treadmill focussing on improving my time and listening to some of my favourite fast tunes nice and loud was the perfect medicine. A short way in I did start to think I might be too tired to make 5k tonight, but I forced myself on.

Granted I felt pretty sad when we finished work, everyone planning to meet friends, go drinking and similar and little old me heading out with my gym bag over my shoulder. It's Friday night!!

Once the treadmill got ever closer to the 5k mark I started to feel a bit better about missing out on a social life tonight.

When I finished my 5k and realised I'd knocked over a minute off the time I achieved on Wednesday I felt even better!

I've come home and had a healthy dinner (of course weighed out on my trusty scales again!) and am now relaxing on my sofa.

Now of course I'm not saying I'm never going out and enjoying alcohol again. What I am realising though is how much better I'm feeling this week and the fact my body is working more effectively not having to deal with loads of booze and junk food.

As someone who loves a nice big glass of wine and a good night out, I'm going to have to find a balance. Who'd have thought it though this Friday night fitness actually isn't all bad!

Day Four: Portion control

Busy day at work today and I still felt a bit rubbish from my messed up sleep pattern if I'm honest. I knew it was going to be a bit of a struggle.

However I managed to stick to it, eating healthily and drinking lots of water (getting a bit embarrassing now though nipping to the loo so much in the office!)

I was also successful in getting out on time so I made it to spinning. My fourth day at the gym this week.

What also bought a smile to my face is that finally my legs are moving more at spin and going faster, more like they used to. I found I managed to go to the beat a lot more again too. Hooray!

Don't get me wrong there's still a long way to go and I appreciate this, but it's so good to feel changes (even if they are small) so quickly.

I'm also trying to keep a closer eye on my portions. I noticed looking at some of the meal pictures I've posted they might look really huge. I should add I'm following that tip again of using a smaller plate to make you feel you've got more to eat (see pic below to give you an idea, I'm of course having dinner off the smaller one).

I'm not being super strict with portions like allowing yourself a small fistful of pasta for example, but I am (finally!) using my kitchen scales so I can make an effort to think a bit more about how much I'm eating and not just what I'm consuming.

I guess the only downside is these stupid cold symptoms which keep coming and going.

I'm so keen to keep going though I've already packed my gym kit for tomorrow! I've decided to end a crappy busy work week and let off steam by gyming it, even if it is sad for a Friday night!

I've had a lovely dinner of Quorn pork style and apple sausages, with mash and beans. Real comfort food but so low fat! Now time to sit back and relax, I can't believe it's Friday tomorrow already and day five...

Day 2 of getting back in shape

Well I managed to survive day one of trying to get myself back on track so I guess that’s a start! Unfortunately when I went to sleep I felt like a sore throat was creeping on – how does that work? You eat more healthily and drink more water, you exercise...and then you seem to get ill. Makes no sense to me!

Anyway I woke up this morning feeling fine – I’d had quite a lot of sleep as I’m working ‘from home’ (my parents) again Tuesday evening through to Wednesday morning for work. Starting work later today did me a favour as it meant I could pop to the gym in the morning (well okay, let’s be honest about 1130am). I had a quick small banana to eat before leaving and then decided to do another 5k on the treadmill.

Mission accomplished I left the gym pretty sweaty and tired (told you I was unfit right now!) although pleased I’d managed to cut my time down again. However, on getting home my throat started to hurt and if I’m honest it’s burning and feels super swollen right now. I’m starting to wonder if I’m allergic to the gym!

The other piece in this jigsaw is obviously healthy eating and again I tried to stay on track by having my banana breakfast and then a salad for lunch. Pictured below my salad had mixed leaves, a bit of orange pepper, seafood sticks (I love them!) and a tablespoon of reduced fat seafood sauce. I decided to wash this down with a glass of orange juice to try and push back against the germs setting up home in my throat. For snacks I had an apple and a low fat chocolate yoghurt.

Working from home and working in the night I admit I do find it tough to stick to this, not so much eating healthily but not over-eating. Sitting in a room on your own throughout the night in silence typing and staring for hours at a computer screen does tend to make me want to snack (if only to stay awake and alert!)

Lucky for me my Mum was making me dinner (an old Rosemary Conley recipe I think it is. For those of you who are too young, she’s a blonde haired older woman who used to do lots of exercise videos and diet books quite a few years back). Ginger chicken. I love it! Chicken pieces grilled in the oven in a ginger sauce marinade, served with salad and jacket potato. Yummy! Although we all know what Mums are like so I’m expecting a rather hefty plate full to be presented in front of me.

To help me try and stay on track I’m using a mixture of methods tried and tested before, which seemed to work so hopefully they’ll be helpful this time.

My Fitness Pal, which lets you track your calories consumed, your weightloss progress and your exercise (and what really helps me randomly is the water tracker where you log how many glasses of water you have a day, something for some reason I find hard to do).

A food diary – just a little notebook where I note down all my food/drink consumed that day, I seem to find keeping a log of what I have and seeing it in front of me makes me realise how much I really do eat/drink and also stops me eating lots as the time goes on.

As part of this food diary I use Weight Watchers Points (a combination of the very old system my Mum used to follow many years back and a slightly more up to date system thanks to a points book my boyfriend’s Dad gave me). Again I don’t follow this to every last little point, but I use it to stay on track and highlight where I need to cut back/where I’ve gone wrong.

I’m also going to try and blog on here regularly to make me take things more seriously – and hopefully be embarrassed when messing up because I have witnesses, which in turn will make me stick to the plan.

I’ll do my regular Monday morning weigh in and again will note this down in my little notebook (along with the exercise I do).

I was very conscious this is a tough time to try and ‘stay good’ since I’ve got lots of plans coming up for the festive season. I’m going to still stick to those and have fun (I’m concerned about becoming a bore who just bangs on about exercise and food, which I KNOW I’ve been guilty of before). However, I’ve done a little chart (notice the sad anal theme running through here? Little Miss List that’s me!) so I can see days that will be write offs and so hopefully plan the good days in between and around them.

Thankfully my boyfriend is going to try do the same and I hope we can act as support for each other as we go along.

Have to say right now my planned trip tomorrow to the gym is starting to worry me somewhat as my throat feels more and more like a volcano has set up inside it and that I’m developing some sort of third world goitre on my neck/glands. Nice.

Fingers crossed I will keep drinking water and after tonight’s shift get a good rest so I don’t get a flipping cold/tonsillitis which I seem so prone to! Every year I seem to forget having a flu jab does not mean I’m not going to catch any germs for the whole of winter.

I’ll be back for Day Three...

Time for a break

Next time I write this blog I'll be 30. I'll have also been on what (I hope) will have been one of my best holidays ever.

I am so excited today, in five hours my parents will pick me and my boyfriend up and take us to the airport.

I'm also pleased because for once in my life I seem to have actually learnt to pack light and my case seems well under weight!

Moreover I started my day with a big smile as I weighed myself one final time before our holiday. I've managed to lose just under three pounds in weight.

This figure now means I'm one stone and nine pounds lower in weight than I was when 2012 began.

In typical female fashion I'm still not satisfied and wish I could have got down to a lower weight. However I can't deny I'm really pleased with what I've achieved and feel I can hit that beach with a bit more confidence.

Whether my body rebels once the dieting stops and the spinning subsides who knows. Though I have been assured by people who've been to Thailand before that I'll likely stay in shape what with the humidity-induced sweating and the sorts of foods we'll be consuming.

It's odd, I always find I get a bit emotional near my birthday. One of my Granddad's birthdays was the same day as mine so I do often think of that. I always seem to think about things a lot more.

Embarrassingly it's already started and I've found myself overly emotional over a number of things. A kind gesture by work friends, feeling worried about my parents whilst I'm away and - I cannot believe I'm admitting this - I saw a clip of Eastenders last night and seeing even flipping Ian Beale homeless and helpless made me sad.

Thank goodness I am off for sun, new sights and relaxation before I turn into a complete sap!

So this will be my last blog for a little while and as with other holidays I hope to have a complete relaxing break - no phone, no blog, no social media (Facebook friends and Twitter followers will be relieved of the break I'm sure!)

I'll see you when I'm back!!

My five day challenge

This weekend was so much fun, I caught up with friends, let my hair down and gave myself a break from the healthy eating. Big time.

To give you an idea I indulged in the likes of five bottles of wine over the two days (shared with another girl both times) and I munched my way through stir fry, prawn crackers, spring rolls and chocolates one night and Turkish feta parcels, a super oily cheesy, tomatoey lamb dish, rice and fresh bread on another.

I went to spinning last week - Tuesday, Thursday and then on Sunday with a hangover. Of course as we know alcohol is not too great when you're on a health kick - it impacts on your metabolism and stops you performing as well when exercising.

Unsurprisingly when I stepped on the scales this morning I'd put on weight. Granted this was only one pound, but still, it put me further away from my goal weight for Thailand.

Like the spinaholic I am, I had already been looking at the studio timetable and wondering what I could fit in before my holiday.

On weighing myself today, my initial ideas of potentially spending most of this week spinning started to seem a strong and sensible option.

So I've decided to try and set myself the challenge of completing five days in a row of spinning. I did an hour yesterday and then 45 minutes tonight.

Now I plan to go again tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday.

I won't lie, tonight was tough after getting up at 445 this morning for an early start at work. To make myself go back out after getting home was a struggle. As always though I felt better for it.

Even yesterday on forcing myself to go to a 1030am class after going to bed at 3am on Friday and 2am on Saturday (and with a bit of a hangover), I was pleased I went by the end.

Now I've put it on here I'm also more accountable in sticking to my challenge. I'm hoping by knowing I've bleated on about it on here, on Twitter and Facebook it will help me stay strong and attend all the classes, we shall see.

All I know is I've got to get in a bikini in less than a week and if that means I need to move my legs non stop, cause my quads to throb and my abs and arms to ache, so be it!

Calorie counting and exercise vs fad diets

Whenever I am eating healthy and trying to get back on track with my weight I have Monday morning as my weigh in day. I like to ensure I weigh myself at around the same time each week to avoid any differences which could influence the result. I’ve also got scales which show your body fat and BMI which help let me know if I do put on weight whether it is through fat or muscle.

Today I weighed myself and was pleased to see after my good efforts this week I have been rewarded with a 2lbs weight loss!

On Saturday there were 6 weeks to go until we jet off to Thailand (so exciting!!) and so I am trying to be well behaved – diet and exercise-wise – until then. During this time I had my Dad’s birthday and I also have my boyfriend’s parent’s joint 60th birthday party. This means food and drink. I am going out for a girl’s night this weekend too which means food and lots of drink!

However, I’m hoping if I crank up my exercise I should hopefully beat away those sneaky calories and fat, before they get a chance to settle. It did seem to work this week.

I’m still 8lbs away from my lowest weight I’ve been (when I lost nearly three stone) and it’s bugging me I can’t get down to it. I’m hoping with the diet and exercise I followed last week though I can get closer to it before my break.

So what am I eating? I’m trying to keep my calories and fat intake down, but still eat things I like (well healthy things).


Breakfast
During the week – porridge (Oatso Simple, various flavours)
Weekends – low fat cereal either Weetabix or Raisin Wheats

Lunch
During the week – homemade salad with low fat salad cream, pieces of chicken, olives and pepper or low fat tin of soup with 2 dry ryvitas

Weekend – Saturday I had my Dad’s birthday so had a huge roast dinner! Sunday I had a seafood stick salad with low fat seafood sauce

Afternoon Snacks – I try to have two different types of fruit as my snacks during the week in the afternoons (or if I run out a packet of Special K mini bites or a Weight Watchers mini chocolate swiss roll bar)

Evening Snacks – I have either a Shapers low fat chocolate dessert pot or a bowl of dry branflakes and a mug of Cadbury’s Highlights low fat hot chocolate (if I’ve got calories spare and I’m hungry I’ll have both!)

Dinner
During the week – a choice of either fish, veg or salad and some form of carbs, or chicken with veg or salad and some form of carbs


Of course I strayed slightly last week as on Thursday I had Nando’s after spinning (although again I had water to drink, half a chicken medium spicy, spicy rice and corn on the cob). Then for my Dad’s birthday I ate a starter, a huge roast dinner and a big slab of gorgeous carrot cake (clearly not low fat!).

However in that week I did my workout DVD numerous times (high intensity cardio/weights), horse riding and spinning. Clearly in this instance my exercise helped burn off all those calories on the days I did stray. Fingers crossed that will work for this weekend…

I’ve started thinking about my diet today after conversations with friends who are either also entering into healthy eating, or running with a diet plan. The latter is what has grabbed my attention – fad diets.

We all know and have been told these fad diet plans are not good for you – but they are so tempting. When you are sticking to a healthy diet and exercising your butt off and see no weight loss, then your friend who is drinking shakes drops a ton of weight, it does make you wonder. I admit I was starting to think this yesterday (before weigh in) and wondering how bad can these fad diets be? Surely if I wanted to follow it just to get slim for a holiday it wouldn’t be so bad?

Or do you get addicted? Do they just mess up your metabolism. Sure, you lose fat, but your fitness won’t improve.

I’ll be honest, I’m torn. I know reading this my boyfriend – former personal trainer – will go mental at the fact I would even dare consider such an option as he’s drilled into me how bad these plans are. If I hadn’t lost weight today I do wonder if I’d have started to look down the quick fix route instead.

For now I am going to try and stick to the self-made plan I’ve been following and try to get fit as well as lose weight ready for my holiday. However, if those around me start to see amazing results, I really can’t promise right now I won’t get swayed…

Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred

“No resting”. “I want you gargling your heart”. “I want you to feel like you’re going to die” are not typical phrases people would traditionally pay to listen to. However, if you decide to take on Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred Workout DVD this is exactly the sort of message you can expect to hear.

I’m now on day 8 of the plan – I skipped a day on Saturday since my calves were so tight and I knew I was horse riding the next day for the first time in about 17 years so I thought I better give myself a fair chance to actually get on the horse!

Whether you should take a break or not seems to be a bit of a debate online between fellow fitness followers with some arguing you should do 3 days on, 2 days of cardio and repeat, whilst others have stuck to it for a whole trail of days in a row. Me, I am going to try and follow a pattern of 5 days on and 1 day rest, unless I feel fine on the sixth day and then I’ll carry on.

The way the plan works is based over three levels and each level has Jillian and her two ‘helpers’ - one who is for beginners and the other for more advanced/fitter participants. At around 20 minute per workout you are probably thinking I’m a bit of a wuss finding this tough. Believe me these are a hard and long 20 minutes.

Jillian works on the 3-2-1 plan (she created this I believe), whereby you do 3 minutes strength, 2 minutes cardio, 1 minute abs. In addition, she likes you to work big muscles along with smaller ones to allow for the greatest fat burn possible. The types of exercises include jumping jacks, jump rope, bicycle crunches, butt kicks and strength moves which work combinations of chest and abs, biceps and calves, thighs and shoulders and so on. Oh and you get a brief cool down at the end.

When I last started this workout when I first bought it back in January I used soup tins for weights but I’ve since bought small light weights and for comfort I’d recommend using a mat for the floor work. I find in each workout I don’t have a chance to stop for water as no breaks are allowed (only 5 seconds if you’re really struggling) and I am dripping with sweat by the end.

At the moment I’m still on Level One – the idea being you move up a level as and when you feel ready. My logic is 10 days on each level. In the past when I’ve done the workouts just as part of exercise I’ve been on level one for a bit and then mostly followed level two, with one go at level three! Now as I reached sessions 7 and 8 I found my body has pretty much adapted to the first level and I’m thinking it may be time to move on. However, I’m going to try and follow my planned structure and do 2 more sessions on this first level just in case.

I’ve tried a few workout DVDs over the years – like most females I’d imagine – and I have to say I really like the style of this one. Things like the 10 Minute Solution workouts I find the trainers too ‘American’ and ‘cheesy’ in their approach. I really enjoy the Pump It Up Ministry of Sound DVD I’ve had for years, but don’t find it has major results.

However, Biggest Loser USA’s trainer Michaels has a good style, of course the odd cheesy line creeps in there “You strong. You can do anything”. In the main though this trainer has a good approach I think and her tough ways do push me on despite the fact it’s just a voice on a DVD at the end of the day.

I’ll keep you updated as I progress with the sessions and when I move up a level. Funnily enough when I do the workout my aches and pains from horse riding (I can only now just about sit down comfortably) fade somewhat.

The problem I’m having now is when I sit down and rest and then get back up again, I feel like I have a heavy medicine ball between my legs stopping them moving properly or meeting together! The result is me waddling a tad duck-like along the road until the pain eases. Not a great look.

As the week progresses I hope the pain will subside and I’ve decided to carry on with the 30 Day Shred regardless for now. Only issue is just as the pain goes, I’ve got my next riding lesson on Sunday so it’s probably going to come right on back again…

BMI Battles

I just can't seem to get back on track.

A few weeks ago now I fell off the dieting and exercise wagon and I haven't been able to improve things since.

This always happens to me, a holiday or lots of social events and I'm there eating and drinking my way off of my diet!

Yet again though I've found myself baffled by weightloss. As you may remember I weigh myself each Monday and have done since the start of the year. In total I've lost a stone, no more, since I've been putting on weight some weeks and then losing it again on another.

This Monday saw me weigh myself and despite no exercise and a diet consisting of far too much takeaway, chocolate and ice cream, I've lost weight! How does that make sense?

I've also found myself so lethargic. So this week I've decided I need to try and get back on track. However this is going very slowly so far. I'm managing to get my diet leaning more towards fruit, veg and health rather than fat, grease and stodge.

When it comes to exercise I've not been able to get into gear sadly. I planned to do my workout DVD yesterday, not a chance. My excuse being I was on the tail end of a cold.

Then tonight it was time to have a brief workout when I got in. Did I? Nope, I pulled on my PJs and put the dinner on!

I hope I can force myself to do something tomorrow, although realistically I have set my sights on a double gym visit this weekend. We shall see.

On the other hand my boyfriend has now nearly lost 2 and a half stone since the start of 2012. He has had a flu bug and run two marathons so I guess it's understandable, but still I want to get figures like that!

I guess there's only one thing for it, I need to stop pigging out and put those new trainers and gym top I bought at the marathon expo to good use! Now if I can just avoid that bottle of wine in the fridge and KitKat Chunky peanut butter in the cupboard...

Light(er) at the end of the tunnel

Well we're now on week 12 of our healthy eating and exercise plan and I have to say things have progressed very nicely. I am 1 stone and 2lbs down weight wise and my man is a whopping 1 stone and 13lbs lighter!

So far so good.

Those of you who've followed the blog for a while will also know at the same time as trying to get in shape my partner has been trying to get back into work after losing his job 6 months ago.

Well finally there is some light at the end of the tunnel! He is currently weighing up all the options on not one, but TWO job offers and both are doing what he loves - helping people with their health. I couldn't be happier for him or prouder.

As if keeping fit and looking for work wasn't enough he's also in training for TWO marathons this year and being the person he is they are just a week apart! The Brighton Marathon on Sunday 15th April and the London Marathon on Sunday 22nd April. Amazing (or mad, you pick!)

Rather than seeing the person I love shrivel up and mope this year due to the situation he's in, I've instead witnessed him become more determined, focussed, ambitious, get healthier and fitter and generally become more positive and proactive in life.

A key factor in this does seem to be the healthy eating and exercise, it seems mad to me that changing your diet and getting up and doing something more often can have such a big impact but it really truly does. Obviously there has been lots of support along the way but I honestly feel the exercise and diet change has been the biggest factor in keeping him on track.

We've also got a little competitive between the two of us and are currently on a bet - if I lose two stone by the middle of May I have to buy him a PS3 game (men! Do they ever grow up?!) If I don't manage to make that weightloss then he has to sponsor a monkey for me (random I know but I love chimpanzees and it'd be so cool to have one you could - sort of - call your own!)

We both seem to have now found a way to incorporate exercise easily into our weekly routines too, today he's off to the gym and then watching football at his brother's after a healthy dinner at mine. I on the other hand will be doing my workout DVD after work and tucking into a healthy dinner whilst watching trashy TV - perfect!

So as the sun shines brightly in the sky today things are finally brightening up for me and my man it seems - healthier, slimmer, happier and slowly getting back on track!