Time flies...when you get a new job!

It's been a while since I have last posted - I have lots to report!

I have a new job!

I've been in my new role for 4 months now and although it is very time intensive, I absolutely love it! I never thought I would find a job (that I actually get paid to do!) that I would love. It wasn't easy to find this job, and it really happened very quickly, but it has made me realise just how important it is to love what you do.

Completed Couch to 5k!

I can't believe I've done it! But I did! My fitness levels are significantly better than they were!

Ditched "Diets"

I love loosing weight quickly, but I have learnt something about myself - if I deprive myself of something, eventually I crack and do much worse than I would have done if I had just had it in the first place. I am no longer open to going on diets. I am looking to change to something that will last forever. As a result I am eating more veg and even a tiny bit of fruit. I still have chocolate and I still eat carbs, I have just reduced the quantity.

Weightloss 

My weightloss has been really slow - my heaviest weight to date has been 72kg - thankfully I didn't stay there long. 

At the beginning of my new "change" I weighed 70kg. Since ditching diets & increasing my exercise I have lost about 1.5kg in a month - very slow to say the least. I don't think my body likes me very much. It must be very confused after nearly 3 years of yoyo dieting.

Fitness

Since completing the Couch to 5k programme, I have kept up my running. I can now jog for 7km - admitedly still very slowly - but without stopping! 

The last 3 weeks I have been doing 1-2 workouts a day with one rest day. I vary between 60 minute hot yoga classes and jogging. I have done a few kettle bell workouts at home - but I can now tell that I really need to ramp up my effort with weights - after all the dieting and lack of exercise, my lean muscle mass is incredibly low - probably making my metabolic burn rate low - hence the lack of weight loss.

What now?

- 1-2 workouts a day - 1 rest day per week

- Eat less processed food

- Eat more veg

- Eat less processed carbs

- Drink 2 litres of water a day

- Need to find a good way to get a strength workout that will really hurt the next day...

A New Year = A New Me?

Happy  New Year!

The New Year is full of new resolutions; things we want to start doing, stop doing or both! It's nearly the end of January and I think I am finally happy with my resolutions...but rather than resolutions I've decided to have a list of 5, sort of like a 2013 "To Do List", some of which are very easy to achieve, others more difficult!


Sophia's 2013 To Do List:

1. Find a four leaf clover 
2. Run/jog 5k 
3. Go for a picnic
4. Find my dream job
5. Reach 58kg

My 2013 list explained

I fondly remember trying to find four leaf clovers as a child, the frustration of not being able to see any, to finally finding one!

I've been reading Gretchen Rubbin's The Happiness Project, I really like some of the things she comes up with, for example taking pleasure in simple tasks, remembering things we enjoyed doing as a child etc. Hence the finding a four leaf clover (I want to frame it and hang it in our small kitchen) and going for a picnic. I've told Alex about these two and he is game! He loves the idea!

Running/jogging 5k - well as you know I had started the NHS Couch to 5k program, but then broke my toe! I'm not going to let that stop me. I am simply going to start again. The real aim of this one is to complete the program and regularly (at least once a month) run 5k to keep fit! (Well in my case get fit, then to keep fit!)

Finding my dream job is ambitious and a dream, not to say it isn't realistic, but I am aware that its more of a journey, sometimes we have to take the right steps to reach our dreams - which is exactly what I plan on doing. This may mean that I try a couple of new jobs and just see if I can discover what will be best...this item on my to do list scares me most...well that and the weight loss...

Reach 58kg - yep, I've done it! I've added it to the list and I'm worried about it. I want to succeed, yet I know it's very ambitious. I'm breaking it down into smaller targets and I will be happy with every target I hit! Current weight 70kg+ (I'll update the exact figure later...did I mention I got scales that measure fat percentage for Christmas?!) Weight targets: 65kg, 60kg, 58kg.

As always, I'm looking for good things to stick!

The day I broke my little toe...

...it was silly. I was dancing the night away, having a fabulous time with friends, such a good time in fact, I took of my shoes to dance some more. Then someone kind of kicked my little toe, as soon as it happened I thought it was bad. I went home shortly after, luckily everyone felt it was home time so I didn't need to mention my toe.

The next day, I knew it was broken. I couldn't move or touch it and it was agony. Now I know breaking your little toe isn't that uncommon - I believe some people don't even notice! Trust me, I noticed!

Apart from it being painful and inconvenient, I am most annoyed that I can't continue my running (ok, fine - jogging/walking at the moment!) It's so frustrating to have started something, done well with it and even enjoyed it to the extent where I look forward to the mornings I do my little runs, and now because of my stupid toe I won't be able to do it for a while!

Apparently it can take up to 6 weeks to heal - I'm really hoping for 1 week tops - I will keep you updated - in the mean time, I'm the one with an awkward limp...

Challenge 3 - failed!

It's happened...I've failed my first challenge of the project. I haven't done my 50 sit-ups for the last 3 days...

Maybe it was inevitable, but I like to think all of the challenges are realistic. This challenge was realistic, I just forgot! I know, how can you forget your challenge?!

Weirdly I've just been reading about enjoying failure in the "Happiness Project" book - I'm not sure I agree with everything Gretchen Rubin says on the topic, but I do think failure is something we have to accept, but I won't let it defeat me!

I am starting this challenge again! I will let you know how I get on!

Couch to 5k - Week 2 - Run 1

Ok, ok, calling it a run is probably a tad ambitious, but it's much easier to say and write!

I've just comeback from my first session of the Week 2 podcast for the NHS Choices, Couch to 5k scheme.  I woke up this morning, couldn't find my usual running trousers (which weirdly are actual winter running trousers I bought from Aldi nearly 4 months ago and then never wore! I knew they would be usual, must remember to tell Alex I was right!) 

Anyway, after getting dressed I then saw Alex still in bed, all warm and snuggled, so decided to get back into bed - should never do that - and nearly didn't go for the run! 

Thankfully I hate waking up earlier than I need to, so I HAD to go, otherwise waking up would have been a waste of effort!

The session consisted of (or at least I think it did!):

• 5 minute warm up walk
• 90 seconds of jogging (that's a 30 second increase from last week) followed by a 2 minute walk (also a 30 second increase from last week) x 5 (I think, I mean I did count, but I can't be sure that I didn't lose count whilst trying to distract myself - that should be a new fine art form - stay focused whilst trying to distract yourself!)
• 5 minute cool down walk

I must look really funny when I go for this session. I mean I usually wear the running trousers from Aldi, as I couldn't find them today I had to wear my baggy yoga pants, my Aldi waterproof jacket with a fleece thing in it (which I think does the job perfectly!), in fact I even have actual running shoes, nice black sketchers, probably the most expensive trainers I ever bought and I actually hadn't intended to use them for jogging, I just thought they looked nice!

The bits that might have looked for interesting are the white faux furry, Russian style hat (sadly I don't resemble the model in the image I have used!) and if people can see them at that time of morning, my delicate, chocolate brown, leather gloves! Oh well I will treat myself to new stuff once I'm up and running 5k on a weekly basis, that and when Christmas is over!

Challenge #2

As per usual I haven't been updating my blog in time with what I am doing - but at least I am doing something! 

I really liked my sister's challenge for the past two weeks, so I have decided to give myself one for the next two weeks (I already started on Monday!). 

The challenge: Walk to work rather than being driven in/back. 

My walk to work really isn't that far and takes around 15-20 minutes. Tantalizingly though by car it is a mere 4-6 minutes by car, depending on traffic. So I have been lazy over the last couple of months, allowing myself to be driven to and from work since getting our new car. It was so new and exciting, plus I got to chat to Alex in the morning for 5 minutes we didn't usually have. But that is over now, just as its getting darker and colder I have decided to reclaim my feet and walk! It is also very Dukan of me - extra little bonus! 

Talking about Dukan - it's going well, I have lost 2.4kg (5 pounds) not bad for a week + 1 day! That's also how long I haven't had chocolate - I still miss it! Apparently that will stop...doubtful, very doubtful, but I am loving my Dr Pepper Zero - totally allowed and a life savior at this point!

Let the listing begin...

So like I said I find it impossible to narrow things down, there are always so many things I want to do simultaneously, so here goes nothing.

1. I want to loose 2 stone
2. Start an online business
3. Get fit
4. Eat healthily
5. Save money
6. Dress better
7. Improve my hair
8. Do my make up
9. Stop wearing trainers all the time
10. Improve my posture
11. Sew, make things from scratch
12. Blog
13. Stop eating out
14. Read a list of books I've been meaning to read
15. Watch a list of must see films

OK, so that's 15 items which I have literally just listed without organizing them what so ever. Some of them can probably be grouped together, others will probably emerge as I make them more specific.

Reading through them the over all categories should be:

A) Health + Fitness

B) Books

C) Fashion + Beauty

D) 'Mini' Projects

E) Films

These categories don't carry equal importance to me, but I still like to list everything, some things will have time lines, others...well lets just say I'm not as fussy.

Health + Fitness

• Loose 2 stone; I have gained an incredible amount of wait over the past couple of years, mainly through mindless eating, some times even knowingly over eating...I can't explain it, but I do want it to stop!
• Get fit - I want to feel physically well and on top of my game. I guess it ties in with the above.
• Eat healthily - I really eat for pleasure at the moment without a thought about what the food is doing or not doing to my body. I need to educate myself and eat nutritiously - again that should help with my number 1 aim!

Interim goal: loose 11 pounds by Christmas.

Books

I have just finished reading any possible book that Sophie Kinsella (or Madeleine Wickham) has ever written and I have loved them. I also read a lot of self-help style books on various topics from weight loss, to business to financial investment. I tend to buy these books in frenzies and some times don't get round to reading them all. There are also books that I get recommended by family and friends that I really want to read - I am officially committing to these books for this project and will read them in the following order:

• The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, recommended to my by a friend, seems kind of crazy that I haven't read it before writing this...what did I tell you about me wanting to do everything at once? Even I know it doesn't make sense...so this will be my next book that I will read!
• Still Alice by Lisa Genova, another recommendation, a novel, don't really know much about it other than it's one I have to read.
• What French Women Know by Debra Ollivier, again, this was recommended to me, I am really intrigued by this one and cant wait to get to it!
• The Tools by Phil Stutz & Barry Michels, I bought this after an Amazon frenzy, it was a bestseller and just seemed to call my name, I started reading it, then never finished...I'm easily side tracked!

There will probably be more to add, but these four are on the to-do list!

Fashion + Beauty

I used to make an effort with my appearance, but have got to the stage where I just don't care. Personally, I blame the weight gain, which has just made me want to give up - anyway the whole point of this is to improve!

• I am going to wear trainers less (I still want to walk to work in trainers or boots now that it's getting cold!) and wear nicer shoes.
• Wear make up and take it off in the evening (may be obvious to some, I find it a faff!)
• Dress better - honestly my clothes are atrocious, but (I know, there is always a 'but'!) I don't want to invest in new clothes before loosing some weight, so the interim goal will have to be to make the best of what I have and mix it up, rather than sticking to  my favourite few pieces.
• Hair - I always were my hair down, or in a pony tail, usually depending on when I last washed it. I am going to put some effort into some new hair do's, this will have to include some research into easy, effortless hair styles...

'Mini' Projects

Honestly, I'm not sure how mini these really are, more sub-projects of The Self Improvement Project - the ultimate project!

• Start an online business - I'm not sure what this will be yet, but I wanted it to be on the cards.
• Sew - I have bags, cushions and other projects I want to do. The cushions should really take priority as I need them. I really like the idea of making things, recycling clothes and turning them into something new. It's a chance to be creative.
• Blog! Keep writing about The Self Improvement Project and make sure I am doing enough to blog about!

Films

There are quite a few films I would really like to see. I quite fancy the idea of creating a list of films for me to watch, I'm going to draft in some friends to help me create this list and post it later.

Well this should outline the project - most entries wont be  as long as this one - at least now I can refer back to this list...scary thought.