Like a lot of you I am beginning my diet and fitness regime today. I am fed up of eating rubbish and feeling fat! Although I won't be feeling like this in a week or so and will be craving chocolate!!!
I've weighed myself but I do find that the scales are not always a friend to me. They never say what I want to hear. People will tell me I've lost weight but the scales don't necessarily agree. I think I build muscle fairly quickly and as we all know muscle weighs heavier than fat but takes up less space. With this in mind I have also taken my measurements: bust, waist, hips, thigh, calf and upper arm. Hopefully this will give me a truer reflection of what's going on.
I'm not completely ready for my new regime as I haven't yet cleaned out the fridge and cupboards to get rid of all temptations. I haven't been to the supermarket to do a healthy shop. I haven't signed up to a gym. But I do intend to eat sensibly and to exercise and within the next few days address all the above tasks.
I bought a running magazine which gives you an exercise plan to lose body fat. I have thought for some time that running - even three or four times a week - is not enough if you always run at the same pace. The plan supports this. Sometimes its ok to do this but sometimes you need to do quick sprints for short bursts and then recover and do it again and again . . . Also you need to do strength training.
I'm adapting this plan to work for me. I want to use the strength training to tighten my core (which should give me a flatter stomach), bum and arms. I also want to do some swimming because that works well on the stomach. Alongside this I intend to ride a couple of times a week and walk the dog 4 times a week.
I'm not going on one of these diets where you only eat nutritious shakes and lettuce leaves or cabbage soup. I have an app on my phone called Livestrong where you can track everything you eat. I find it's the best way. Otherwise you conveniently forget that mid morning cereal bar you had, etc. If you create a profile where you input your age, sex, height, weight and how many pounds you want to lose a week it works out how many calories you are allowed each day. So you just have to enter everything you eat and it tells you how many calories you have used and how many you have left. You can also track your exercise and how many calories you have burned.
I think it's important to allow yourself the odd day off from your diet too. So, for example, if I'm going to a girlie supper I will have pudding and wine but then the next day get straight back to being good again. That way it's not so hard. You don't feel like you are denying yourself all your favourite things. The hardest thing is when Rich has wine with dinner. Nothing looks as good as a large glass of Sauvignon Blanc!!!
I hope to reach my target weight by the end of February.
Showing posts with label fitness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fitness. Show all posts
Wednesday, 2 January 2013
Saturday, 29 December 2012
Over indulgence!!!
Well Christmas is that time when we all over indulge - in spending, socialising, eating and drinking and under indulge in exercise and fitness! I have to say I can't wait to start my healthy eating and exercise plan. I feel so lethargic and fat compared to how I feel when I'm watching what I eat and running regularly!
I missed my evening runs with my running buddy, Heather. And I've hated feeling so full. It hasn't stopped me eating though. We still have loads of chocolate which I feel obliged to eat before 2nd January as that's when I will start my diet! Also drinking so much wine leaves me feeling not so good. Not hung over but not as fresh and alert as usual. I feel like not drinking any more but I know I will! Especially as we are out on New Year's Eve. I probably won't even last until then!
Also Ive been haphazard with my beauty regime! Usually I cleanse, tone and moisturise morning and evening. I also exfoliate twice a week and put on a face pack once a week. A lot of that has not been happening over Christmas. I think it's really important to do that at my age!!! Lack of beauty regime, unhealthy diet and no exercise is not an ideal combination! It doesn't make for glowing, youthful skin!
I've been giving my New Year's resolutions some thought and definitely my main one will revolve around diet and exercise. Heather and I have already resolved to do three 10k races in 2013. Running is great but it doesn't tone up your bingo wings or your stomach so I need to do something else too. I was doing Kettlercise earlier in the year which is fabulous but I injured my shoulder and am reluctant to put it under pressure as it was so painful for so long.
I'm on the look out for a cheap gym membership for a couple of months. I don't want to sign up for a year just to give myself a boost to start the New Year. Once the nights get lighter and the weather improves (if it ever does!!!) I tend to run more, ride more, walk the dogs more so I don't need on- going gym membership.
It's interesting though looking back at the photos I've posted during the course of this blog. On some I look reasonably slim and on some I look positively chunky!
I missed my evening runs with my running buddy, Heather. And I've hated feeling so full. It hasn't stopped me eating though. We still have loads of chocolate which I feel obliged to eat before 2nd January as that's when I will start my diet! Also drinking so much wine leaves me feeling not so good. Not hung over but not as fresh and alert as usual. I feel like not drinking any more but I know I will! Especially as we are out on New Year's Eve. I probably won't even last until then!
Also Ive been haphazard with my beauty regime! Usually I cleanse, tone and moisturise morning and evening. I also exfoliate twice a week and put on a face pack once a week. A lot of that has not been happening over Christmas. I think it's really important to do that at my age!!! Lack of beauty regime, unhealthy diet and no exercise is not an ideal combination! It doesn't make for glowing, youthful skin!
I've been giving my New Year's resolutions some thought and definitely my main one will revolve around diet and exercise. Heather and I have already resolved to do three 10k races in 2013. Running is great but it doesn't tone up your bingo wings or your stomach so I need to do something else too. I was doing Kettlercise earlier in the year which is fabulous but I injured my shoulder and am reluctant to put it under pressure as it was so painful for so long.
I'm on the look out for a cheap gym membership for a couple of months. I don't want to sign up for a year just to give myself a boost to start the New Year. Once the nights get lighter and the weather improves (if it ever does!!!) I tend to run more, ride more, walk the dogs more so I don't need on- going gym membership.
It's interesting though looking back at the photos I've posted during the course of this blog. On some I look reasonably slim and on some I look positively chunky!
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| AVERAGE |
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| FAT |
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| SLIM |
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| SLIM |
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| SLIM |
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| AVERAGE |
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| FAT |
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| FAT |
 |
| SLIM |
 |
| AVERAGE |
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| AVERAGE |
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| AVERAGE DO YOU AGREE??????????? |
Sunday, 18 November 2012
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!
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!
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