Running Goddesses!

Feeling tired after a busy weekend.  Yesterday had a lovely lunch with two friends at the Wine Bar in Winchcombe.  Super venue, excellent food - as always - and even better company.  I wore tan Top Shop skinnies, knee high flat brown and black Top Shop boots, beige cardigan with elbow patches from Primark and my tweed jacket.

Yesterday afternoon I went for a run with my friend Heather.  Even though it was a couple of hours since I'd eaten lunch it wasn't very comfortable running but we did it!

Last night Rich and I went to see the Spanish Riding School at the NIA in Birmingham.  I have to say I don't like the NIA its such a pain to get to, so busy, and even more of a pain to get out of.  The Spanish Riding School was OK but I'd probably rather have been at home watching X Factor.  It took an hour to get out of the car park.  Rich slept though the second half of the show and most of the way back down the motorway.  I was driving I hasten to add!!!!!

Today has been catching up on stuff at home and grocery shopping as well as another run with Heather.  We started running back in April.  I joined Cleeve Ladies 10 week beginner course.  The idea was you can run 3 miles by the end of 10 weeks.  In fact I'd done it by week 5 or 6.  Heather couldn't join the group but did all the practising with me between sessions.  We have tried to keep it up since then.  We have had the odd few weeks where life has got in the way but we haven't given up. 

This week we have run four times and each time about three and a half miles so about 14 miles in total.  We are going to up some of our runs to four miles next week.  I have done a few five and a half mile runs but it's time consuming and hard on your joints.  We very often don't feel like going out on dark winter nights but once we have done it we feel so good about ourselves!

In the summer we were also doing Kettlercise.  We really enjoyed it but I injured my shoulder and was advised by my physio to rest it.  I'd like to get back to it but there's only so many evenings you can be out exercising!

We were debating the benefits of joining a gym.  Especially one with a pool.  I think it would need to be somewhere that you didn't have to sign up for an annual contract.  I figure there may be lots of offers on in January.  I hate being tied in though because we all start with the best of intentions and a few months down the line those intentions have fallen by the wayside.  Usually in there place is a beautifully chilled bottle of Sauvignon Blanc and a bag of Galaxy Counters!

Obviously if you like clothes staying slim (ish) is important. Especially if you are like me and constantly beating yourself up about being fat.  I know it's crazy.  I have friends who wear a bigger dress size than me and they look fab.  Our friend Claire always looks amazing!!  I think she just knows how to dress for her shape.  And she is always immaculate!

I'm constantly on and off diets.  I hate that feeling when you go to your wardrobe and wear the same few outfits all the time because you're scared if you try something else on it might be too tight!  I hate the scales too.  I weigh heavier than people imagine so it can be soul destroying when the scales flash up some mammoth figure at me!

Running is really good exercise but it doesn't tone up your flabby, wobbly bits!  I think in January I'm going to have to address this!  I'm a size 12.  I tend to be a size 12 whether I'm feeling fat or thin!  I very rarely get into a size 10 and don't that often have to upgrade to a size 14.  But I do get those horrible rolls of fat that bulge out from every place where there's an escape route.  I have no idea where they come from.  It can't be the amount of Sauvignon Blanc I drink and surely has nothing to do with Galaxy Counters, Giant Buttons, Ripples, Milky Bars or my love of deserts.  It must be those greens Rich is always banging on about!

Body Shape?

Hello again!

This is a picture of me and the girls taken earlier this year.  We range in age from mid forties to early sixties.  We all have completely different dress sense but more importantly completely different body shapes.

I'm sure we all watched Trinnie and Suzannah feel countless pairs of boobs and pronounce people a fashion disaster. And we are all supposed to know our own body shape.  And I do. I'm an hour glass.  Big boobs, small (ish) waist and big hips.  I go in and out.  If I wear loose clothes I look like a tent or pregnant.  Neither of which I find desirable looks.  So I have to wear fitted clothes that show off the smallest part of my body - my waist.  I have to wear scoop necklines so as not to accentuate my boobs - which I wish were smaller.  I have to avoid anything that's puffy or overly fussy on the shoulder as I have broad shoulders and it makes me look completely out of proportion.

The thing is knowing the rules doesn't help in choosing the right clothes.  You can still wear clothes that are designed for girls half your age!  And I do!

So, before I give you a glimpse at some of the things I wear I'm going to tell you what I don't wear.  I don't wear dresses more than once a year.  I don't wear skirts.  I don't wear smart suits.  I don't wear elasticated waist trousers - yet!  I don't wear puffy, lacy or flouncy.

What do I wear?  . . . Well, trousers.  Not very inspiring I know!  And quite worrying as the festive season approaches and one of the girls (who looks good in dresses) will announce - "Lets all wear dresses on our girlie Christmas supper."  Great!!!  Another shopping dilemma!

So tune in tomorrow and lets talk trousers! xxx