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

Tone It Up Bikini Series 2014 #CreateYourSummer

As part of the Bikini Series, I have put together a list of goals that I would like to achieve over the course of the Tone It Up Bikini Series.

I am starting the Bikini Series late... The Tone It Up Girls launched this year's Bikini Series at the end of April, but I don't care... I'm doing 8 weeks of Bikini Series from 12th May 2014 until 6th July 2014. 

This is what I want to achieve during that time... I will update as achieve them :)

• Lose weight consistently
• Tone Up - reduce measurements as much as possible
• Go camping
• Attend a swing dance lesson
• Sing on Karaoke
• Go on a road trip
• Have a bonfire
• Go to the forest
• Take afternoon tea
• Go hiking
• Visit the beach
• Eat ice cream
• Go roller skating
• Visit a lake
• Have a picnic
• Do some yoga
• Bike rides!
• Go swimming
• Buy a new dress
• Buy some new sexy sandals
• Play tennis
• Have a girlie weekend
• Date nights with the hubs <3
• Eat sorbet and berries
• Go canoeing
• Visit the open air theatre

I am so excited for the Bikini Series to start tomorrow. I'll be good and post my stats... and maybe even a photo if I'm feeling very brave!

There is loads of support over on Twitter and Instagram. Check out the hashtag #CreateYourSummer and be inspired!

See you soon!

Clare xx
@TIUClare