Look back

I know everyone says that we shouldn't look back because the past is the past for a reason, but sometimes it is good to look back.

I think as women we focus so hard on where we want to go, and what we want to acheive that we sometimes forget to look back at what we have already done.

We think, I haven't lost that stone I wanted to loose, I still haven't got a boyfriend, my job sucks, my house could be nicer, I want better hair, etc etc etc

We forget to see that every single step we take along that road gets us further than we were before.

Yes I didn't lose all the weight I wanted to this year, in fact I only lost about 1/2 stone, but I did get fitter.  I can lift more weight than I could at the start of the year and I can now do push ups and am getting much better at pull ups (assisted ones still at the minute, but I'm getting there!).

I have made some lovely new friends this year, and strengthened some relationships.I didn't fall out with anyone.  So thats GREAT!

I learned new skills.  I joined the Magnus Vikings, so I learnt how to row a viking longship, I am learning how to fight with a sword and sheild, I learnt some battle training, I learnt some self defense/fighting skills, I learnt how to make a sheild wall.




The Magnus Vikings out on Strangford Lough

 

I passed my archery leaders course, and can now teach archery.

Archery!  Look at me go!!

I travelled a lot this past year too.  I went to America, to Portugal, to Majorca, to Scotland.

DunCarron Village in Scotland





Portugal

   



Chicago

 





  

The Caves of Draque, Majorca



Portugal




Majorca



I celebrated my second wedding anniversary.

Cheers

I watched my daughter grow up and secure herself a permanent job, and thrive at that job.

I completed my first 5k race, then learned that I shouldn't run as I have problems with my knees.

I completed the Color Run.

I went to Sunflowerfest (the best festival in Ireland).



Facepainting at Sunflowerfest

 

Lets play dress up

I spent a weekend a few weeks ago in Scotland, playing dress up with a whole bunch of other people who like to dress up, play with swords and shields and shoot with bows and arrows.

And it was fun!!

Yes, there is an element of being embarrassed when the general public (the ones not in full kit) see you, but that gets old pretty quick.

The kids have so many questions, and its a blast to encourage them to think about the past, and why the world is the way it is now.

It was a Viking weekend and after passing my Archery leaders course last week I was finally teaching 'officially'.  I have been taking "have a go" archery for a few months now, but its only this past week that I have qualified!

There was camping for those who wanted it (but not for me, I stayed in a friends house) and plenty of socialising.

What do you do for fun?

#DiabetesDay

Check this out.

It could save a life

http://www.womenwithdiabetes.net/

How do we chose our profile pictures

Checking through Social Media (Facebook) I see lots and lots of profile pics.  I have a mixed age range of friends from teenagers right through and it amazes me the pics that we chose to put forward for the world to see.

From the teenage girl with her "selfie" looking pouty and possible showing cleavage, to the twenty something with their "look at me I'm in a couple" pose, to the family person with pics of their kids, to the "I love my pet" person.  This is the image we chose to show the world, the first one they see when they see our name, and how much effort goes into picking it?

At the minute I have a cartoon up on my profile.  Usually I have a pic of myself, or a random collage of a few pics I really love.

What am I saying with this?

At the minute I am declaring my love of Christmas, and possibly trying to annoy those baa humbug people out there! That is why I picked my profile image.

When I put up a collage its because these things have happened recently and I want to share them with everyone.

Or a pic of my wedding day when my anniversary comes round.

In all of this though, I try to pick images when I look good, and anyone else in the pic looks good too.

But I wonder sometimes does anyone else care about that.  Look down the side of your facebook wall.  Look at all those pics, that the individual has personally chosen to have as their profile image, are they looking good?  Would you have chosen that image if you were them?

Just a thought.

4th September

Food:

Breakfast:
Wholemeal bagel with jam
Lunch:
Cheese salad, two slices wheaten bread, chutney
Dinner:
Chilli, two slices wheaten bread

Exercise:
Half hour walk
Half hour weights
45 minute spin class

Yesterday

Food:
Sausage bap, can of sugar free energy drink
Tomato soup, 2 slices of wheaten bread
4 chicken goujons, 2 handfuls of chips, 2 slices of wholemeal bread, glass of wine

Exercise:
Half hour walk
Walked stairs instead of taking lift every time in work

There is no time like now, no better day than today

Thats it!

I have been FAR TOO LAX this summer.  I looked back at pics from last year and I haven't changed a bit.

NO MORE.

I want to be fitter, be stronger, be healthier.

So I am commiting to exercising every day at least a half hour.  Whether that is a class at the gym, a workout with weights or a run/walk I will be doing something every day.

I am committing to eating better.  My diet has been terrible since the start of the summer and I can feel my clothes starting to get tight again.

I do not want that.

So from today I will be posting everything I eat and the exercise I do for the next four weeks.

It will be the kick up the ass I need to get me back on track.

Feel free to shout at me to encourage me, and to kick me when I slip.