Mud Madness Challenge

This is the scene that greeted me early on Sunday morning. 

I was not impressed, if I was afraid before now I was dreading it.  What had I let myself in for?  Little did I know that actually that little bit of mud was NOTHING and by the end of this day I was to be covered almost head to toe in mud (well at least I hope it was nly mud, but I'm not too sure)

This was me in the middle of a 3 mile run, mucked up to the knees and still thinking it wasn't too bad.  That was until I had to jump into and climb thru 6 or 7 chest deep pools of muck!

Before and after, note just how dirty I was...and this went right thru to my skin!!

It wasn't dirty enough for them, so they sprayed us with something...we hoped it was only water, but that doesn't look too clear..does it??

Just one of the obstacles.


So Sunday was a bust!

We met people there who had been doing this challenge for the previous 4 years...can I say that I won't be doing it again.  It wasn't my idea of fun!!

How did you spend your weekend?

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.

:-)

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.

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.