RED January - How did I do?

Well not quite the 100% achievement I was aiming for scuppered by a nasty migraine which knocked me out for several days early on, then a few other foot niggles prevented quite as many determined efforts as I had wished but broadly speaking I did OK I guess, and held myself publicly accountable via my Instagram account.

So managed 25 days out of the 31 for a minimum 30 min walk each day which is certainly better than if I'd not signed up to this challenge.

Also my red laces look kinda cool in my grey trainers!

RED Week 1

Successfully completed week 1 of the Run Every Day (RED) challenge albeit with walking and not running but I am pleased with the progress I have been making and whilst my foot injury is making itself VERY known after each walk it's worth it for the feel good factor afterwards. On to week 2 we go :)

RED January 2019 - Goal for the month

I have signed up with MIND to RED January  which standard for Run Every Day. I can't run at the moment due to an injury but I will be walking every day, where I hope to do at least 30 active minutes a day, only resting a day if my foot injury really plays up.

Made a good start today with a leisurely hour long stroll with hubby and the boys over the local park which certainly blew away a few cobwebs and was a great start to the year and this challenge.

Well I do like a challenge!

After a few months of not really putting myself first, or looking after myself much since losing mum I have decided I needed to kick myself up the behind! I lost over 3 stone 2 years ago, with regular gym days, I completed a swimathon of 100 lengths, and I walked 2 night-time marathons.  I was eating better and making sure I took care of myself, the person who is responsible for taking care of several others and usually put herself towards the bottom of the list! The weight has crept back on lately, not all of it, but a fair amount and it is not helping me fell like me.

Well it's time to climb back up the list, I have been back in the gym, I have been striving to achieve my 10,000 daily steps and I have signed up for a 15km night hike in May and another 5km Race for Life Pretty Muddy run in July (well I did enjoy last years!!). The local Mayors fun run will be early September (only a 3k or a 10k - yet to decide if I think running 10k is mad!!) and the Shine Marathon is the end of Sept which I am strongly thinking of doing again so I can focus my training during the summer.

And this is one of the photographs from last year that I have yet to scrapbook so it will be printed off soon and added to my take-away pile for the forthcoming A Trip Down Memory Lane retreat. I am teaching two classes (one Fancy Pants and one Crate Paper) and a make and take card.  I finished the last class this evening :) and am actually rather happy with it! Sneak peaks to follow next week and of course I will share the final creations after the event. In the meantime here is a layout of one of those two walking marathons I completed, just to remind myself I am awesome and I can do this!!

Running man

After a year of watching his brother run Jamie finally turned 8 last month and was old enough to join the local running club too. Last Saturday saw his first time trial, a race held monthly over a 2.25km distance where runners are encourage to improve on their time each month. He was so excited to be racing and even borrowed his brothers spare club running top! For his longest ever run without stopping (though he admits he walked a tiny bit) he ran 12:47.

For someone so young waiting another month before he can "compete" again is too long but he does have 4 weeks of training in the meantime to look forward to!

Throwback Thursday

Another Throwback Thursday - this photo makes me smile so much! A little burred I know but captures the cheeky smile and twinkle of mischief of my youngest Jamie, taken in 2009 just before his 2nd birthday. Hard to believe he turns 8 next week! Where does the time go?

I have been rushing around this week trying to get together bits and pieces for his birthday next Monday. Means I hit my target of 10,000 steps a day this week and achieved my bronze and silver body magic (exercise) awards at slimming world yesterday.

Now if I could only stop the bad snacks between my healthy meals.

I need more fruit & veg to shrink my inches!!

Up for a challenge

Well I have not been the greatest at blogging this month - probably because I have been living in the gym! I signed up to a six week nutrition and exercise plan and have been in the gym 4/5 times a week and preparing healthy food every evening to ensure I stay on track. I had a very successful first 2 weeks losing half a stone but haven't lost any weight since though my body fat has reduced by 6%.    If I am honest it is definitely the eating habits that I struggle with most - I am either 100% focused or I'm not and I cheat myself. So today I have been good (well it is Monday) and hope to have set myself up for a good week ahead. I also started two additional exercise challenges this weekend and today completed day 3.

The first is a plank challenge - I can hold for about a minute at the moment but decided to undertake the challenge from day one to build up my stamina. I fully expect to be struggling with this challenge by day 12!

The second challenge is a squat challenge from this website. I found this link on Pinterest and rather than have my Active Board  full of nice images I thought I had better rise to a couple of the challenges! Day 3 completed today and yay... no squats tomorrow!

Hope these may inspire you to join me (or you can simple read and laugh knowing the pain I am putting myself through!!)

30 Day Green Smoothie Challenge

Well I didn't quite make a Jan 1st start but I did commence my 30 day Green Smoothie challenge on Jan 4th. Like many of you who have seen them or read about them I thought "yuk!" How can anyone drink something spinach flavoured for breakfast, no matter how healthy it is supposed to be? ,. BUT, and it is a HUGE BUT... they don't taste of spinach!!. Indeed the first smoothie I made was so delicious I wanted to make it again straight after I had finished the first! Don't get me wrong I love spinach, I love fruit and I love (most) veg, but I cannot eat it for breakfast - not even a banana cut up on my cereal or a handful of berries in my muesli, just no! It is too early and I cannot stomach it. But these smoothies I can honestly say I am almost excited to get up and make! I am getting out of bed just those few minutes earlier, prepping the night before to make sure I don't miss out on my treat! and yes I like them that much!

So today I had Banana Berry Blast:
1 cup of Almond milk (I need to find unsweetened next time)
1 banana
1/2 cup of frozen raspberries
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup spinach

I added a teaspoon of Chai seeds (to keep me fuller for longer), a scoop of vanilla protein powder (to make it last as a breakfast) and another 1/2 cup of almond milk as it was a little too thick. I could have added water, or waited a few minutes as it thinned out once the fruit started to defrost a little - I just needed to be a little patient!! Another tasty success though and I can't wait for tomorrows which contains Coconut milk, lime juice and pineapple - sounds more like a Pina Colada to me!!