Prioritising My Life

Hi girls! 

Firstly, I have to apologise because I haven't posted here since JULY 2014. That is just terrible but it's also a symptom of what has happened with my Tone It Up Journey. Basically, it halted, then it has gone backwards. I've gained weight and I'm miserable and inactive. The solution? Get back into the lifestyle!! 

So, I'm back and I'm ready to start living again.. I want to look forward, not backward, so I'm going to be meal planning, prepping and I'll be checking in again a whole lot more!!!! 

I've missed my Tone It Up girls! I want to reconnect with you all again and start feeling awesome again. 

I promise to do better!!

C xxx

Motivation Monday ~ Strive for Progress, Not Perfection!

It is already Tuesday! Monday has simply flown by!

I started my Monday with the Tone It Up Jump Your Heart Out workout - it is an HIIT workout that has you skipping / jumping rope and then keeping that heart rate up with lunges, squats and tricep dips. It was really hard! I managed to get through the three rounds and was definitely sweating by the end of it! I wish I had had my heart rate monitor, though because I'm sure I made a number of fat cells cry!!

I'm proud that I completed 3 planks. The first I managed to hold for 40 seconds, the second one for 30 seconds and the third and final one for another 40 seconds. I am really pleased with these results because I haven't done a plank since 2013 before my neck / disc issues started! By November, I really want to be able to hold a plank for 5 minutes.

Food was also bang en pointe today and I finished the day with a big green surplus! Any readers who are on MyFitnessPal will know what I am talking about! One of my friends on MFP showed concern that I wasn't eating enough to fuel the increased exercise and that I risked damaging my metabolism. I fully agree with the sentiment and was touched that this person cared enough to bring this to my attention. However, because I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), my Endocrinologist has told me that I need to drop my calories really pretty low (on average, 1000 calories per day, much lower than what is usually recommended) in order to combat the PCOS and to ensure that I am dropping weight. As you already know, I'm looking to have lost around 50lbs by the time November rolls around. The pressure is on!! It means that I need to lose about 10lbs a month. Next weigh-in day is Friday 1st August, so I will keep you posted on any changes! I'm pretty excited for August's weigh in because I really feel like I've been making progress through July. We will see if my efforts are rewarded by the scale... here's hoping!

There were so many opportunities yesterday when I could see an improvement in my fitness and my attitude towards this journey. I'm trying so hard to focus on enjoying the journey, rather than becoming hyper-focussed on the end goal.

My friend Amy and I went to the local leisure centre and did a 90 minute yoga class. It was hardcore! I was sweating so much!! It definitely made a few fat cells cry! Randomly, I had really sweaty knees... who knew that yoga could do that to a person?! 

Despite it being quite hard, I actually really enjoyed the class. It pushed me to my limits and then pushed me some more! The best moment was having a chance to do an inverted pose - downward dog into handstand against the wall. I only managed a couple of seconds because my arms were shaking like mad, but I did it. I didn't think I would have been able, but I ignored the negative self-talk and just did it. So proud of myself haha!

To recover from the yoga class, Amy and I took to the pool. We took turns using the pull buoy and I think we swam about 12 lengths each with the float and another 12 while the other person was using it. I'm really beginning to look forward to Monday night workouts with Amy! Consistency is key and now that we have been brave enough to sample one yoga class, I'm sure we will be looking for more!

What were your favourite moments from Motivation Monday? What Non-Scale Victories (NSVs) have you experienced lately?

My advice for this week is to take the proverbial bull by the horns, ignore the negative self-talk and get out there and do it. Challenge yourself physically and mentally. You might just surprise yourself - you can do so much more than you know!

Making Progress and Loving It!

Last night my husband kindly helped me to check my measurements. The last time I had checked my measurements was 2nd July 2014. I'm happy to report that my body is changing for the better!

Following the Tone It Up Nutrition Plan and working out regularly each day is really working. I'm so excited!!!!

 

My left calf has gone down by 0.5cm, my left thigh has gone down by 1cm, my hips have gone down by 0.5cm, the largest change has been my waist, which has gone down by 2.5cm, my abs have gone down by 2cm and my right arm has gone down by 1cm. 

I'm so pleased to be able to see that things are finally working! I will be checking my weight and my measurements again on 1st August, so hopefully I will have more good news to report!

I think that banning the scale was a very good idea. It means that I am more inclined to stay on track because I don't want to inadvertently undo my hard work! 

I have really been focussing on my nutrition and really trying to get a hold on the bingeing. So far, I am on day 6 binge-free! I think this is because I am taking part in the July BED Challenge on MyFitnessPal as well as doing a Shoot Your Food challenge that has been set up by Brooke (a.k.a. CrazyRunningMom). I'm posting the foods I eat each day on my Instagram page, so come and follow me on there if you don't already!

This journey I'm on is one of physical, emotional and spiritual change and I feel so blessed to finally be able to show myself enough love to make positive changes. If I can do this, you can definitely do it too.

Mixed Bags

Happy 4th of July!

Today has been rather a mixed bag! This morning went well - I had the (absolutely delicious) apple & carrot muffins that I made from the TIU Nutrition Plan (I didn't have any cardamom, so I substituted mixed spice) for Meal 1. Meal 2 was non-existent because I was waiting for a hospital appointment. Meal 3 was a Tuna Salad courtesy of the NHS catering team at the hospital. Despite buying some very sensible hummus & veggies to have for my Meal 4, I (for psychological reasons yet to be analysed) I chose to ignore the hummus and veggies and instead opted for a binge on ham sandwiches, tomato soup, sensation crisps and chocolate...Erm, yeah. I am definitely paying for that now - my digestive system is punishing me for my stupidity. Meal 5 was a tiny bit of Turkey chilli because I didn't want to have to admit how rubbish I was feeling but...

...for the sake of accountability and being honest with myself... this is the mammoth amount of food I  managed to consume:
10 slices warburton's Tiger Bread = 900 calories
10 slices wafer thin ham = 100 calories
2 x Heinz Tomato Soup = 346 calories
1 x Yorkie = 299 calories
1 x Walnut Whip = 171 calories
1 x Thai Sweet Chilli 150g bag = 755 calories!!!! WTF?!
BingeFail Total Cals = 2571 calories oh my good goddess

In short, I think we can safely assume I shan't be losing any weight this week!  (Not that I'm getting anywhere near any scales, but still). 

It's a new day tomorrow and I will work harder to stay on track with my eating and with my workouts. I did do one cardio workout today, but fely really quite unwell (this was before the binge), so I only did one workout instead of two. If I had stayed the course, it would have been much better - not to mention, I might have avoided bingeing if I had stuck to the workout plan... that didn't happen. I need to stop doing this to myself.

Tomorrow morning I will be going for a run - I'm going to put my trust in Brooke, also known as CrazyRunningMom, who has been giving me some beginner running advice. I am going to take myself off for a morning run and start my day off right. If you aren't already familiar with Brooke's YouTube channel, then please check her out. Her videos are honest, informative, motivational and inspiring.

Another great running YouTube channel is TheGingerRunner - amazing videos, amazing and inspiring. Please go and show both Brooke and Ethan some love because they both have excellent channels which promote running and active lifestyles.

Never give up your dreams (even if you're the only person in the way of them becoming a reality)

xx

A Good Day...!

Happy Monday lovely TiUers! 

Today's check-in: M1: oatmeal, cinnamon, apple = delicious (and I don't like oatmeal...), coffee with dairy-free milk, M2: Cinnabon Smoothie, decaff coffee with semi-skimmed milk, M3: 5 x Black pepper oatcakes, 100g wafer thin turkey, cucumber, tomato, carrots, pukka detox tea, M5: 2 x lamb loin chops, rocket salad, beetroot, carrot, spring onion, curly kale. Having my Meal 4 Nakd bar for dessert :)

Feeling really proud about today because food has been totally en pointe - no binge in sight! 

I have also worked out so hard, today! 

This morning I completed day 2 of week 1, couch to 5k. I did this on the treadmill at the gym and followed it with 30 mins on the elliptical and then walked home. This afternoon I did 40 mins of yoga (Yoga with Adriene on YouTube) then I did the Bikini Body Routine and the 4th July workout. I've racked up 9 miles towards my #250towedding (brother's wedding in November).

Good times. 

Today has been a good day.

The New Gym...

Today I was introduced / inducted to my new gym. I had an appointment with one of the trainers who put together a low-impact cardio and conditioning programme for me which I need to do at least 3 times at week. The programme consists of the following:

10-15 minutes on the treadmill, 1% incline, 2.5-3mph (all the machines measure in miles rather than kilometres).

10-15 minutes on the recumbent bike followed by 10-15 minutes on the elliptical machine, level 3

I then have some conditioning work to do...

3 sets of 15 reps each of the following:

Lower Back Machine, oblique work...

TRX reverse fly, TRX bicep curls, left and right, TRX tricep pushes, left and right.

Swiss Ball work - squats with arm raises

10-15 minutes on moonwalker.

I am also planning on doing some classes and will be keep up with the couch to 5K programme, as well as the TiU workouts! I need to push through to keep mobile - my neurologist is pleased that I am prioritising my health and fitness. I am pleased too!

My nutrition still needs some work - like remembering no dairy or carbs after Meal 3 etc., and I need to make sure I'm not sabotaging my hard work.

When I write it out, it seems so stupid that I struggle to respect myself and yet I do struggle. Time and time again. This is a very interesting journey upon which I have embarked and I am learning so much about myself along the way.

I'm stronger than I realise. I have to remember that.

First Week of Summer!

The first week of summer is here! How quickly did that go?! I'm so pleased that summer has finally arrived and I get to spend more time outdoors!

Keeping myself active is one of the weapons I have in my arsenal from overeating / eating the wrong things. The more active I am, the more I get out of the house, the less time I have free to dwell on unhealthy ideas such as bingeing.

I have banned the scales from my house and I have decided to only weigh myself very sporadically. I'm not sure yet if I want to know the number on the scale or not. The reason I banned the scale was because I was weighing myself multiple times a day and I was getting so hung up about the number! I was missing the whole point of this journey, which is to build my health and fitness levels - the weight loss should actually only be a side effect of  me feeling awesome. The problem was, even when I was eating right and exercising well, the number on the scale dictated whether I felt awesome or rubbish. Sadly, it was usually the latter; so the scales have been banned.

It was actually very refreshing to begin my week completely clueless about my weight and to just eat well because it felt good! I stuck to my plan all of yesterday, only lean, clean and green passed my lips. It was a pretty heavy workout day though, so my calories did go over 2000. I'm not letting that worry me though, since I started my day with a little yoga, swam solidly for 30 minutes, then completed week 1 workout 1 of the couch to 5K programme (it was killer).


I want to spend this week focussing on making myself feel better - physically and emotionally and I think that removing those dastardly scales from my life may just have been the first baby step in a long journey.