Friday 28 February 2014

28 February 2014

Its nice when ppl recognise that you have done something well, or have been trying hard at something.

Today two of the ppl I work with congratulated me on how much weight I have lost, how well I am looking and how much fitter they think I am now.

I was pleasantly surprised, cos other ppl I work with have mentioned it, but they never have.

I have worked hard over this past year, so I am glad ppl can notice.

What about you?  Do you like it when ppl point out ur weight loss?

At the start I hated it, I felt like ppl were staring at me, and commenting on me and I got quite annoyed.  But I am proud now of how far I have come.

I am proud that I can run for a mile now without stopping.  Proud that I can finish a 5k.  Proud that I have lost over 4stone and 3 dress sizes.

Thursday 27 February 2014

I think I might be a runner

So last night I ran the 3 miles, 5km, whatever!!

I finished feeling energised and totally buzzing.

This morning I got up early and went for a run.  I ran a mile before getting ready for work.

I am going to try and do it every day.

Wish me luck!!

Wednesday 26 February 2014

26 February 2014

Hi folks,

So today I found out that my little C25K programme is running with the intermediate group tonight.  We are running outside of the park, and as such I will be far away from the safety of the park.  It is still only 3 miles, I can run three miles, I did it on Monday, but I have run 3 miles by doing laps of a 1 mile course.

This is 3 miles on proper roads, with cars and people and houses on it.  Far, far away from the safety of the park.

I need someone to tell me to calm down and relax!!

It should be fine, but the big part of me is just panicking!!

So anyhow, I will let you know how that goes later.

In other news there is not much happening in my world.  It was baby girl's bday yesterday.  We took the day off work and went shopping, then collected one of her friends and went for dinner. 

Friday 21 February 2014

Sunflowerfest 2014 Acts so far

Confirmed as playing the Tubby's Farm, Hillsborough event are Grainne Duffy, CoCo and the Butterfields, Echo Raptors, Venus Rollergirl, The Dandy Horses , Sal Vitro , King Modo, Linley Hamilton and Taylor Made Quartet, Radioactive Grandma, Zombified, Randall Stephen Hall, Run From The Cure, Chelsey Chambers, The Hot Sprockets, FoxE and the Hands, Baleful Creed, Punch Face Champions, New Secret Weapon, Little Miss Stakes, Scorpion Jack, The Akabane Vulgars on Strong Bypass, Sandrunners.

Thursday 20 February 2014

I'm going on holiday

I am going on holiday to the Chicago area in June.  I have no idea what I should see and do.

If anyone has any ideas, please feel free to e mail me or comment below. 

Thank you

Wednesday 19 February 2014

19 February 2014

I have to get organised.  I have to get to a point in my life that I know what is happening, apart from what gym session I have that evening and if I am going to work or not.

I never know what I am making for dinner, or lunch, or breakfast. 

I don't know what I am wearing the following day.  (To be honest I don't even know if I have clean gym clothes for tonight)

I would love to know what I was going to be posting on this little blog of mine.

And then I read this post and got to thinking I should do things like that.  Everytime I have a wee bit of time I could write a few ideas down for my blog, try and decide where to post them, and when, and then I wouldn't be faced with this feeling of dread when I realise I haven't posted anything in a few days.

So thank you Steph from Venus Trapped in Mars.  I shall be using ur ideas.

If I get organised ;-)

Friday 14 February 2014

Why we work

We work because he makes me feel like I am the only girl in the world.

We work because he is the only man for me.

We work because he never lets me down.

We work because he picks me up when I feel bad, and brings me back to earth when I get above myself.

We work because he loves baby girl and accepts she comes first.

We work because I go to his archery with him.

We work because I don't like flowers for Valentines Day.

We work because he knows that the gym is important to me.

We work because he kisses me and hugs me every day.

We work because we say "I love you" every day, and we mean it.

We work because I laugh at his jokes.

We work because he doesn't get jealous when other men buy me Valentines gifts.

We work because God made us for each other.

Wednesday 12 February 2014

12 February 2014

Today I type with sore chest muscles and shoulders, and tops of arms too.

I have been doing a bit of weights for my upper body, and boys a dear I can feel it!!

Do u lift weights when you train at the gym?  Or do u just do cardio?

I do a mixture, start with a bit of cardio (10-15 mins) then weights (about 30 mins) then cardio to finish off (About 5-10 mins).  Or I do cardio (30-45 mins) and no weights.  Or I try to run (2-3 miles).  I have one day off a week where I do nothing.  Well, honestly I still get out and about but that is my "rest day".

I can see my arms really starting to tone up, and my legs.  My sides are starting to come in too...my body shape is changing slightly, I know the more I work at it the better it will be.

I'm just not sure if Joe Bloggs off the street would be able to notice all this toning yet!

R was laughing at me this morning.  I was complaining that my arms etc were sore from lifting the weights, then I managed to rip the zip right off my boots.  He says I may be sore but I have gained superhuman strength!  I was not impressed.  I liked these boots and now they have no zip!

The weather has been cold and rainy here recently, but I look around the weather news from other places and feel very lucky.  We haven't had the snow and ice that America has, we haven't had the floods that England has.  Yeah its chilly and wet here in Northern Ireland,but its not too bad.

Tuesday 11 February 2014

11 February 2014

Make Small Commitments. Get Big Changes.

Excerpted from Rules of the Hunt
Taking Care of You
Drink plenty of water.
Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper.
Eat more fruits and vegetables and eat less that is manufactured in processing plants.
Avoid eating food that is handed to you through a window.
Live the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
Play more games.
Read more books than you did last year.
Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
Sleep for 7 hours.
Take a 10-30 minute walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Your Outlook
Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
Don't have negative thoughts of things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
Don't overdo. Keep your limits.
Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
Dream more while you are awake.
Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
Forget issues of the past. Don't remind others of their past mistakes.
Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
Learn a new word every day.
Smile and laugh more.
You don't have to win every argument.

Your Relationships
Call your family often.
Each day give something good to others.
Forgive everyone for everything.
Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
Try to make at least three people smile each day.
What other people think of you is none of your business.
Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will. Stay in touch.

Your Life
The worst promise you can break is one made to yourself.
Do the right thing!
Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
You don't have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.
However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
The best is yet to come.
When you awake alive in the morning, thank God for it.
Your Innermost Self is always happy. Follow it.
No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

Tuesday 4 February 2014

4 February 2014

Last night we took that C25K and went right out of the park.  Now I don't know about you, but I was scared enough when I was running in the park, in the dark, where no one could see me.  When the trainers told us yesterday that we were leaving the park to run on the streets I kinda freaked a little.  People were out there, possibly people I know.  They might see me!!

But I pulled my big girl pants up and decided to go for it.

Me and my running friend were at the back of the pack, as usual, its where we like to be, and we were taking it easy.  We ran the first part of it in the park, then we came to the gates...it was time to GO OUTSIDE.  But we just did it, we continued chatting, then one of the trainers caught up with us and chatted for a while.  The trainers are so super encouraging, getting us to run a little further, or try a little harder.  We were going along nicely when we came to a hill.  It was a steep enough hill that I used to struggle walking it.  But I jogged it.  Right up it.  And I wasn't even wrecked when I got to the top.  The trainer had walked up it with my running buddy and when they got to the top they were all "Well look at you who ran up the hill".  I was buzzing!!!

We ran on and caught up with a friend who completed the C25K programme last time round.  She had heard, I still don't know how, that I had ran up the hill and was so excited for me.

Its great having support.  The people who are training us, and the people who went through the programme last time round are so encouraging, it just makes things a little easier.

If you are thinking about running, my advice is JUST DO IT. 

Yes it can be hard, yes you will be in pain, but take it at your own pace.

Don't go too hard, too fast or too much.

You can do it.

Cos I can do it.

And believe me, if you saw me you would appreciate that statement a whole lot more.

I am not the fittest person in the world, I am not the slimmestt person in the world.

But I try my hardest, I work at it, and I am getting there.

This isn't a race to be won quickly, its not a sprint.

This is an endurance challenge. 

I am changing my whole life.

I am becoming fitter every day.

I am running three times per week.

I will get there.

PS me and my running buddy are thinking of doing our first 5k race on 15th February.  EEEEKKKKK 

Monday 3 February 2014

3 February 2014

Sometimes on rainy days I just don't want to get up and do anything.  My bed is cosy and warm, and I have everything I need within easy reach.  But work has to be done, so I get up and leave my warm bed and go out into the rain and cold.  I know we are lucky here, we haven't had all the snow and cold that America has been getting.  We also haven't been affected with the flooding that many parts of England have had, along with other parts of the UK.

However it doesn't make it any easier getting up out of bed!

On Sunday R and I went for a run.  He bought me luvly new trainers and running clothes as an early Valentine gift.  So we had to make use of it.  We ran about 1 1/2 miles on Sunday and it was exhausting!  He is fitter than me and he does nothing.  It is both annoying and brilliant at the same time.

Brilliant cos then he can keep me at it, encouraging me and not letting me give up.

Annoying because he doesn't get tired.  I have been going to the gym for a year now, and running for four weeks.  And he is better than me!!

AAAARRRRGGGGHHHHH

It is week five of the C25K programme tonight, and whilst I definately feel I am getting there, I am not there yet.  However the trainers in the programme think we are all about 2 weeks ahead of schedule, which is kinda good. 

I am beginning to like running.  I'm not good at it, but it makes me feel good to complete the small goals I set for myself.  Just run to that next lamppost, just run until you reach the gate, just run until you feel you can't run anymore.....I hope that one day in the not too distant future I will be telling you all how I have run a 5k, I registered today with Parkrun, but that doesn't mean i am ready to do it just yet.  However R has said he will do it with me when I do decide to go for it.

It is so great having a supportive husband.