Bleurgh

Well, having got back on track with my exercise, and now I've been hit with a stinking cold.  Typical!

Not only that, but I have four days worth of finance decision management revision course starting tomorrow, which is going to be deathly enough as it is without feeling rubbish as well!

Oh well, I was supposed to be spending today studying too to go over some of this stuff, but I now have a great excuse not to do anything at all except catch up on some episodes of Desperate Housewives and Ugly Betty!

Hubby's off to work at 4pm this afternoon until probably midnight tonight, so I foresee a hot bath and lots of telly coming up!

General update

Well, nothing major to report really ... I've got back into exercising (just been swimming), I'm on track with my swimming challenge and I've been sneaking in cycle rides every now and then. 

I've also joined the local running group a couple of times - they run around 5 miles on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, starting not far from me.  This is great, apart from the fact that it's really hard for me to get back in time - I have to sneak out of work at 4.30pm (supposed to finish at 5pm or 5.30pm)   It's not a major trauma as I usually start early and work through lunch ... but as I'm the boss it doesn't set a very good example to my team!  Oh well ...  

The other thing that's a bit annoying is that there's quite a bit of walking and talking that goes on as well, rather than just running for 50 mins.  Not the end of the world, I'm just not used to it.  The nice thing is that they do run around the same pace as me, so talking means that I have to work that extra bit harder!  As I've decided to sign up for a half marathon, that won't hurt at all!! 

I can't see myself doing a marathon (too much time spent running), but I reckon I could cope with a half - after all, I ran 9.5 miles at the weekend, and it's not too far off that.  There's one the weekend after my birthday in Feb, so the prospect of doing that might see my motivation levels kept up through winter.  I haven't signed up for it yet, so we'll see!

I hope everyone else is doing well - all this training is leaving me little time to catch up on others' blogs.  Also, hubby's working weird hours (starting work tomorrow at 1am so I haven't actually seen him today) so when our paths do cross I'm not likely to be on t'internet!

Think I made up for some of last week

Well, I just managed a 9.5 mile run ... and after yesterday's bike ride, that's a flippin miracle! 

The first half hour was really sluggish, and my legs just weren't having it ... then something happened - I think my muscles just stopped resisting it!  That's not to say that it was easy, the hills were still hellish, and I started seizing up a bit around 6.5 miles and had to stop to stretch, but I'm still pretty impressed with myself!  Thoroughly enjoyed it too. 

I told hubby what I'd achieved, and he sensibly said "Why?  F*cking crazy woman."  To be fair, I can kind of see his point - but I am also beginning to understand why people go in for marathons.  I never got why anyone would want to run for miles and miles every week - still don't think I'd go in for a marathon, it's just too much commitment (and I'm not sure my knee would take it), but I am coming round to the idea of a half marathon ...

I'm also coming around to the idea of going back to buy that skirt I tried on yesterday - how fab would it be to say that I have a size 10 skirt I can get into!  This is all the more poignant as I have, let's say, fairly voluptuous hips in comparison with the rest of me!

Oh dear ...

Well, so much for staying on track.  I've managed to completely avoid any exercise all week (including walking to work or having a lunch break), and have eaten like the proverbial horse - honey roast nuts, chocolate, biscuits, you name it.  And so, I appear to have put on 3lb.  What a surprise!!

I tried to turn it around a bit yesterday by going for a long bike ride (28 miles - longest yet, did it in 2hrs 7 mins so quite pleased with that) ... but then ate more nuts, biscuits, ice cream ...

So.  Today.  Out for a run shortly - except that my insides are now complaining bitterly about the treatment they've had all week and I'm worried I'm going to get runner's trots! (nice - sorry!)  That'll teach me I guess.  Well, actually it probably won't, but it'll serve me right certainly!

I did at least have a reasonable (ish) reason for being so rubbish this week - I was out at the theatre on Monday night (The Glass Menagerie with Brenda Blethyn - absolutely spellbinding), and then at the opera in London on Tuesday night.  Not something I'd usually go to, but I sort of went to keep Mum company.

That wasn't supposed to happen - Dad was meant to be going for a special day out with Mum, but he was taken into hospital on Sunday in severe pain.  They kept him in until Friday - it appears to have been a gall stone that either slipped or was missed when they took them out a few months ago.  Poor thing - very painful!  And poor mother, left with a ticket for an opera that she really wouldn't enjoy going to on her own ... and as I was in London anyway (and couldn't find anyone else who wanted the ticket), I decided to go with her.

Actually, it was great fun - definitely different - even though I'm not a huge fan of opera.  The production had really gone to town on the sets and stage direction, making it great fun to watch as well as to listen to.

Anyway - must stop rambling and get my running shoes on!  I managed to avoid studying all day yesterday too, so I have an exciting day ahead of me ...

Oh yes - one other thing - I went into Fat Face yesterday to try on some clothes as they had a sale ... and for the first time in years tried on a short skirt.  The 12 didn't fit me, but the 10 did!!!  OMG - I've never been a size 10 in my life!!!  If that's not going to get me back on that wagon, I don't know what will.

Update

I've just done my monthly measurements - while I haven't lost that much weight this month because it's slowed down now, I have lost 1.5" from my waist, and an inch from my chest and hips!!!

I saw a friend last night who was always very slender and fit, but who stopped being so a while ago when she got an Italian boyfriend, and then had a baby ... she's done little exercise since, and said (in slightly shocked tones) that she'd always been a size 8 (UK), but is now a 12. 

For her that is pretty shocking, and actually it really doesn't suit her as she has a tiny frame.  I said that if it helped her feel better, as she'd said there was "nothing of you up top!" (thanks buddy - not quite the compliment I'd hoped for ), I had been a size 20 and was now a 12 too!

Boy am I happy about that though - I don't think I've ever been this small (if so, only once when I lost weight before and then piled it back on) ... and I think I stand a real chance of getting into size 10s shortly, if I keep up with the exercising!

(I'll stop gloating now)

OMG - GOAL!!

I know weigh in isn't until tomorrow, but I took a sneaky peek at the scales this morning ... and yep, 9st 7lb dead on, no wavering, no 1/4lbs here or there - just GOAL!!

How pleased am I?    You can see the cheesy grin for miles!

Now I just have to remember that all this effort has made me feel so much better about myself:

• I can try clothes on that fit me, and actually think "yeah, that looks pretty good on me"
• I can look in the mirror and not be repelled by the sight in front of me
• I'm still a bit saggy in places, but if that's the price I pay for having been so fat, then it'll serve as a reminder to me ... but the rest of me is getting toned up nicely
• Hubby tells me I'm sexy!  Haven't heard that in a while 
• Swimming has got rid of my 'bingo wings'
• The post-swim steam room seems to be sorting my skin problems out , which is a massive bonus
• My running is better and faster now I'm lighter - when I went out with the running group I was actually overtaking most of the ladies
• I don't feel like I'm 'on a diet' any more, and haven't done for months - the gradual loss and plateau now is due to eating sensibly, which should be easier to maintain
• I'm more able to make healthy choices because I feel good about myself (mentally, physically and emotionally)
• The exercise I'm doing has more or less got rid of the terrible PMT I used to inflict on everyone before TOTM (didn't notice it at all this month - effing miracle!)
• I'm loving the cycling!

So - my challenges now will be as follows:

• Keep up the exercise levels - three runs, two swims and one bike ride a week (although not beating myself up if I miss one or two every now and then!)
• Keeping that up while trying to find time to study ... not so easy
• Not slipping back into my old foodie ways - a Chinese takeaway is fine, but don't pick one of everything on the menu!
• Keep the exercise interesting - either through challenges, or just switching things about a bit
• Swimming lessons - I want to learn to do something other than just breaststroke!
• Half marathon - I've decided that this would be a really good goal for me to aim for, but it'll have to be Spring next year I think, or Summer depending on study plans
• Triathlon - somehow I'd like to do this, but I need to work out how to get around the open water bit that I a) am terrified of, b) need the above mentioned swimming lessons to learn crawl, and c) have no open water anywhere near me!
• Oh yes ... and I have no triathlon or winter sports kit, and no money to buy any with ... I've come this far though, I'll think of something!

So - all good, all positive stuff!

Right.  Now I've said all that, I'd better head out into the pouring rain and howling gale for my Sunday run!!

Wind, rain, cycling ... cycling??

Yep, cycling.  It's horrendous weather outside, but I really had my heart set on going out for a ride this weekend as I haven't had a chance to get out on my bike since August.  So, I bit the bullet and went out in my scary yellow waterproof (no-one would miss me, put it that way!).  Hubby says I'm a "sad little woman" - he may be right!

I've just come back from a very testing but enjoyable 2hr ride - 25 miles in the wind and rain!  I swear if I'd stopped pedalling on the downhill parts I would have stopped moving it was that strong!  I feel great for it though, and my odometer tells me I burned off 673 cals - so that has to be a good thing!

I believe it's due to be even more miserable weather tomorrow, so I think I'll stick to a short run and a swim ... followed by a long session in the steam room.  LUSH .....

I can't believe how dark it is now, both when I leave the house in the morning and when I get home at night - much too dark to go running on my own now.  I ran on the treadmill on Tuesday night, and it felt really difficult - definitely used to running outside now!  I never thought I'd say that ...   So, on Thursday night I thought I'd join the local running club.  They're actually based in the next village (that I can't get to), and start earlier than I'm usually home (7pm - I'm not usually home from work till 7.30pm).  I left work early for it, and joined their 'social' run of the week - a run/walk/chat session, but still running about 5 miles in total.  I think they do another run on Tuesday nights where they just run, so I might try that - I find the whole stop/start thing a bit difficult to handle!

I hope everyone's doing well - I'm going to try to catch up a bit more on friends' blogs over the next day or two as I finally have a bit of time!  Should be studying really, but never mind

Slooooooooow

I don't know about anyone else, but ever since the new upgrade my page (and others) has been unbelievably slow to load.  I therefore haven't been able (ok, haven't had the patience) to flick through the other blogs of my cyber-friends.

Sooo ... I've changed the template in the hope that any quirky settings I may have had that disagreed with the new system have been removed.  The smilies and pics are still troublesome, but I guess if I keep posting they'll all fall off the page eventually!!

3.5lb off - 1lb from goal!

I seem to have kick-started my metabolism ... either that or my scales are showing a freak leap - 9st 8lb!!!  WOOHOOOOO!!!

I having been logging anything I've been eating this week, or counting steps as my Fitbug ran out of battery while I was away and I haven't got around to replacing it yet.

It just goes to show that exercising, eating healthily and not concentrating on what I'm eating can work for me!

10k personal best!

Once again, I've run out of time to catch up on my EP friends ... I really will do so this week!  It's been a bit crazy around here though.

In weighty news, I put on a couple of lbs last week but didn't update EP as I didn't trust it not to add another stone on for good measure.  It seems to have fixed itself now, but it's still taking my blog an absolute age to load.  Good news though is that I think the binging last weekend woke up my metabolism - I have since weighed in (this morning) at 9st 8.5lb!!!!!

In the meantime, I raced today - 10k at Hampton Court Palace in aid of Cancer Research - just under 63 minutes!  Very, very happy with that time, particularly as I was in the '60+' wave of runners, and a lot of them were very slow ... mix that in with a narrow path, and you'll find a lot of dodging going on!  It was also on grass a lot, and rather uneven.  So - next time I'll aim for under 60 mins and join the faster group with rather more confidence that I would have had first thing this morning!

A pic for you ... at last, I don't mind posing in my running gear!!