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!

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!

Couch to 5k - Week 1 - Complete!

I have completed the first week of the Couch to 5k program! 

I'm going to be brutally honest here, when I did the week 1 podcast which involved: 
- 5 min walk (warm up) 
- 8 x 60 seconds jogging followed by 90 second of walking 
- 5 min walk (cool down) 
the first time, I thought it was easy peasy (despite getting up at 6am, so it was completely dark and of course it was raining)! I have just finished my last one, and I honestly felt like the one today was harder than the first one? 

Obviously it wasn't in that it was still 60 seconds of jogging followed by 90 seconds of walking, but I tried to do it all a bit faster. In fact I was hoping to do my usual loop three times instead of my usual two! Error - I still only did two loops, and was close to tears by the end. 

My lesson, when Laura (podcast voice person) says to pace yourself so that you can complete, do as you are told and don't try to show off! 

I'm really pleased to have finished my week 1 of the program and looking forward to week 2!

I think I may have recruited both of my sisters to start doing the Couch to 5k program, and I even think my partner Alex is considering it! Although we won't actually be doing the runs together - my sisters aren't in the same city, let alone country as me! I believe Alex will be doing his runs in the afternoon/evening, whilst I will continue to do mine in the early hours of the morning! Its still fun to know you're all in it together!

Couch to 5k!

I have seriously neglected the exercise part of my Self Improvement Project. I had been going to the gym a little, I did a couple of classes, but then the trial membership I had ran out. Truth be told by the time I've finished work in the evening I am usually too tired to exercise, or at least very happy to use that as my excuse. 

My new mini mission: Complete the NHS Choices Couch to 5k (http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/c25k/Pages/couch-to-5k-plan.aspx)

It's a 9 week program designed for people looking to start jogging. Each weeks podcast needs to be completed 3 times, with a day between each session. Strictly speaking you could complete each week after 6 days. 

I have completed 2 sessions of week 1, which is a very gentle introduction. If I do find it getting more difficult I may choose to increase the number of session I do for a particular podcast, but I will just see how I go! I will do every podcast at least 3 times, with at least 1 day in between! 

As always I will let you know how I get on - wish me luck!