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

Bikini Series 2014 Week 1 in Review (May 12-18 2014)

What to say about this week? There have been highs and there have been lows and lots of new things!

I want to remind you all that the 2014 Tone It Up Bikini Series officially began in the last week of April, so I am behind the Tone It Up website. My Bikini Series started on Monday May 12th and is due to finish on Sunday 13th July 2014.

Food-wise I have fallen off the bandwagon a fair couple of times this week, which is why I am not expecting a weight loss when I weigh in tomorrow. I am very much an emotional eater and I suffer from compulsive overeating;  something that I am hoping to be able to control better as I get further into the Bikini Series. The support on Twitter and at the Tone It Up Community has been amazing and I want to say a big thank you  to all the Tone It Up girls who have been cheering me on this week - particularly Lauren!

I am proud that I have worked out every single day this week - if even just for 30 minutes. I have been particularly en pointe with my workouts and even on those days when my nutrition was far from perfect, I still made sure to exercise.

The Tone It Up girls have challenged us to achieve #100bysummer (or #150bysummer for TIU veterans). Each 10 minutes of cardio exercise you do counts as 1 mile towards your #100bysummer. This week's exercise breakdown is as follows:

Monday 12th - 64 minutes
Tuesday 13th - 97 minutes
Wednesday 14th - 164 minutes
Thursday 15th - 61 minutes
Friday 16th - 31 minutes
Saturday 17th - 225 minutes
Sunday 18th - 26 minutes

Total Week = 668 minutes

668 minutes divided by 10 = 66.8 miles towards my #100bysummer !!!!

I'm amazed that in one week I'm already past the halfway mark! 

Even though I'm assuming there will be a gain on the scales in the morning, I'm really hoping that my measurements will have gone down because I really have tried hard all week long with the exercising!

I've done my first ever pilates workout! I've done the Bikini Body routine twice this week! I've tweeted more this week than I think I have ever done!! There are so many amazing women out there who are empowering each other to live better, happier and healthier lives and I really am loving that aspect. 

I've also vlogged a couple of times this week over on my YouTube channel:

What are my goals for Bikini Series Week 2 (May 19-25 2014)

• Minimise bingeing / Give it 100% to stick to my food plan
• DRINK MORE WATER - minimum of 3 litres daily
• Be grateful for every day!
• Exercise every day for at least 30 minutes
• Daily Wii Fit Body Tests
• Compliment someone every day
• Carry out at least one random act of kindness
• Follow the TIU and Blogilates Workouts and calendars

What are your plans for the week?

Slip Ups and Roll Ups

Today has been a funny old day and I'm writing this post after midnight, so maybe that should be 'yesterday'... whatever. The past few waking hours have been strange.

I started off really strong and had the original Meta D and made myself an omelette (2 whole eggs) with tomatoes, mushrooms and celery. I had my meals planned out. All was well with the world. 

I showered. My husband left for work.

"Aha!", shouted my brain. "You're alone. You've given up smoking. What else can you do that is rebellious? EAT. EAT like you've never eaten before. Literally".

I am a slave to my brain. Eat I did. I don't want to call it a binge, but yeah, it was a full on, total knockout BINGE. Gah!

If you want to avoid the list of food... then scroll now!

I consumed:
1 chip shop chicken breast
2 spam fritters
1 chip barm
1 small bar Bourneville chocolate
1 can diet Coke (oh, the irony)
1 can Fanta
1 bag salt 'n' sweet popcorn

With all those fizzy drinks, I think my subconscious was plotting a binge-and-purge session, but I am pleased to report that there was no intentional purging (although my body did get its own back somewhat later). 

I have decided not to freak out about this. I decided that instead, I would plan out my meals for the rest of the week and plan in my workouts for the remainder of the week and the weekend. So, I buried my guilt, got out my planner and PLANNED. I checked this afternoon's Tone It Up workout and it was supposed to be the Cowabunga Routine. After reviewing the video, I realised that there were quite a few moves I'm not yet able to attempt, due to my neck, so I went hunting for something more suitable. I opted for Blogilates POP Pilates for Beginners - Total Body Workout. I had watched the video a few days ago and thought that there was no way that I would be able to get through it. Tonight, though, motivated by the Guilt of the Binge, I gritted my teeth and pressed play. 

As a side note, I have a Sony Experia and it means that I can use the YouTube app on my phone and route it to my TV via the Playstation. I hadn't realised that I could do that, so that was quite the revelation! 

Anyway... I pressed play. I swore at Cassie Ho. I did some more. I swore more. I sweated. My abs started to shake, my legs started to shake... I swore more at the TV, then... then it was over. I had done it! I'd only bloody well gone and finished the 26 minute beginner routine for the first time. 

Oh, glorious days - I am now writing this in a state of pure elation, whilst drinking my Detox Tea and taking my evening medication. 

Upon reflection, I think I may have actually enjoyed the Blogilates video. Given that I desperately need to work on my core, it may be worthwhile incorporating pilates into my routine as an opportunity to improve core strength and flexibility. As I have Multiple Sclerosis (more about that here), pilates may be very useful for combatting any muscle atrophy. 

So there. Like I said, it's been a funny old day.

Tomorrow is Friday - the day of love; so tomorrow I'm going to learn to love myself, my body and my foibles.

Good night xxx

http://blogilates.tumblr.com/post/5538757671/look-at-me-im-wearing-the-muffin-tops-are-for