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...

Challenge #3 - Update

Day 2 of Challenge #3, so far so good, I've done 50 sit-ups a day. The thing is I'm not exactly sure I'm doing them right...I also don’t thing I should be doing the 50 sit-ups in one particular way? 

I'm currently doing the sit-ups in bed, which seems to make them both harder and maybe easier at the same time! 

Anyway, I really want to make sure that this Challenge, apart from having the gratification of being able to complete it, will also have an affect (should that be effect? I always confuse the two!) on my stomach…even if it is just a little! 

Time to do some research into this! I will report back on my findings - I will also look into the grammar of effect and affect, seems rather important in this project!

The Self Improvement Project - Day 40

Stats update

Weight: 68.5kg 
Loss: 2.0 kg in 1 month and 9 days - or 40 days...

So my diet isn't going great - I've been cheating on the dukan diet and binge eating as a result. I am soo frustrated of being a "yo-yo dieter". I really wish I could be more sensible and look after myself better. I've just seen some pictures of myself, taken at the weekend - disgusting! The worst part is, it always takes me by surprise... 

I always forget just how big I look, so I'm going to print out some of those pictures and put them around the flat - any visitors I have will think I'm a freak...and maybe I am! 

I know the challenges have been going really well. Little, small goals are really working for me. The logical thing for me to do would be to create mini, very realistic goals...which I guess my "11 pound (5kg)" weight loss pledge is...I just keep wanting it to happen sooner and get really furstrated with myself that it isn't happening! 

I just want it soo bad, I can't submit to this weight loss taking longer...this probably seems crazy to anyone else but myself...a freak and crazy! 

I'm hoping the focus on exercise will help me get to where I want to be...maybe I should incorporate that into my next challenge? I really need to give myself a reality check - I am very much on route to achieving my goal of loosing 11 pounds (5kg) by Christmas - I just need to focus!! Focus, eyes on the price and BE PATIENT!

Challenge #2 - Progress

I am proud to report that Challenge #2 is going very well - I have walked to and from work every single day this week! Even when I have been running very late - trust me - there have been some very close shaves! All in all though I am actually enjoying my little walks every day. I've actually been listening to an audiobook (Ok, ok, this may be slightly going outside my desired Reading List...but I didn't want to buy the books AND the audibook...that just seemed silly!) Back to the audiobook, I've just finished "I've got your number" by Sophie Kinsella. I really love all her books, this is the first time I've listened to one and it was great!m I have now officially read or listened to all of her books (including the ones written as Madeleine Wickham). 

So Challenge #2 is going to plan and its just confirming to myself that I love this little two week challenges - I think its the fact that I am succeeding  Oh and did I mention I'm wearing make up today? Yep, I like wearing make up again, and even wear it when I'm running late!