I was Gone and Now I'm Back

I'm sure that is a lyric from a song but for the life of me I can't remember which one! Anyhoo, it neatly sums up my blog absence in one sentence.

Basically, I haven't not been trying to lose weight, it just hasn't been my main focus for the past few months (some relationshippy-stuff got in the way) but now the tides have turned and out of everything I have realised that I am the only person who can make myself happy, truly happy. And I'm feeling better about everything already!

After a layoff of a few months I made my grand re-entrance to la gym (well I may have exaggerated slightly - I just ended up trudging in all bleary eyed and hating myself for getting up so early). I have started the C25K plan for the six millionth time - I swear I will finish it one day!

That afternoon whilst in work I perused the gym timetable and saw my much beloved Zumba class was a) now free (GET IN!!) and b) was now on twice a week (DOUBLE GET IN!) So that evening I trudged back to the gym for the second time that day to get my Zumba-on. I bloody loved it! There is a new tutor (who I love) but she did seem content to kill us by making us do every type of squat to one song! But then anything to 'downsize' the thighs - I'm all over it!!

With the C25K plan being based over 3 days per week, the Zumba classes fit in perfectly to fill in the two other days. I also would like to try the pilates class on a Saturday morning (didn't make it today but ended up doing a killer pilates DVD in its place). So my proposed workout schedule will look something like this:

Monday: C25K.
Tuesday: Zumba class.
Wednesday: C25K.
Thursday: Zumba class.
Friday: C25K.
Saturday: Pilates class or DVD.
Sunday: Thy day of rest!

Let me know your exercise plan - because I'm nosey like that ;)

Oh to think like Eva Mendes!

I have just this minute read a quote from Eva Mendes, which goes like this "I feel absolutely no pressure about anything in my life." Dude, seriously?! I need some of what she's on!

Anyhoo, I came on here to post about my week etc yadda yadda, but that quote just sidetracked me for a min!

WI result on Sunday yielded a loss of 1lb, whoop! I am now 13lbs away from the 13s and my (less than) 12 week challenge goal.

After not going past the door all weekend (what?! I like to hibernate in this cold snap) I thought I would make myself useful by making some cheese and broccoli tarts - a WW recipe. They were fairly easy to make and were lush! I did take a photos but it really didn't do them justice! They came out at 6.5 points per tart. I had one (as they are quite big) plus a big salad, v.filling. Although I will have to recalculate everything as the new Pro-Points is finally available!

I had a quick look at the Pro-Points at lunchtime in work, then have had a more in depth look now. It's looks fairly simple, will just take time to get used to the new point values. Looking forward to it - especially as most fruit is 0 points, that helps with my work snacks!

And fiiiiinally...I have ordered the Zumba fitness pack, wohoo! Can't wait for them to arrive. I figured that I love it that much and seen as my instructor isn't going to be doing her classes for a month over Christmas...aaaaand just because I fancy treated myself, I bought them! :)

Ooh and deffo finally...a quick update of my two-left feet challenge. I LOVE the 10 min hip hop dvd, addicted to doing all the routines, but sadly I have not yet re-visited the Strictly dvd (out of fear!) I did, however, try a bit of the second Strictly dvd with Kelly and Flavia - and I got annoyed as Kelly is rubbish at giving instructions and looks amazing while I looked like a right clod hopper! Anyways, must persevere with it. Updates to follow.

Seasons Change Yet I Remain the Same

The change in seasons always affects me and I hate having to get up for work when it is still dark outside, then by the time you are finished and ready to go home it is dark again! Booooo. I'm not even going to mention how cold it is and the various cold germs flying around the office...

Because of all of the above I have failed to go to the gym for quite a few weeks. Getting up at 6am to toddle off to the gym just ain't gonna happen if I have to de-frost my car, all bleary-eyed, beforehand. However, I have maintained my Zumba classes twice a week. Now, if I can get up off my arse at 8pm (when I have already worked all day, had my tea and started to settle down) brave the dark and cold, drive 30mins and go sweat it out for an hour - why can I not do this for the gym? Answer: gym is boring, Zumba is fun!

I know I need to exercise more than twice a week and I should probably do more toning, BUT I just cannot be bothered. My distaste for the colder seasons may seem like a weak excuse, and I would forgive you for thinking that, but it is a reality. I. Just. Cannot. Be. Arsed. My motivation for something I don't particularly find enjoyable has completley waned.

I've been going to a gym for a couple of years now and always have this problem in the lead up to Christmas - it's just hibernation time and it seems so alien to be getting into a t-shirt to go for a run. The only way to get myself out of my gym rut is to just go. Go and don't even think about it.

Anyways, onto the fun things, I LOVE zumba, would do it every night if it wasn't so pricey (£3.50-£5.00 for an hours session - JEEZO!) I actually decided that I would order the Zumba dvd pack that you can find on the official Zumba website. I've been thinking about it for a while and got a bonus from work last week so though, what the heck! Unfortunately the sodding website has that extra credit card protection thing, of which i'm locked out of mine (because I forgot one of the million passwords you have to remember in today's modern life) so I couldn't order it. Not that I was annoyed you understand (DBSKFBEWDBFSebfasklnkJBvbsufbvasofibasd fkldsnfSWLKM!!!!!!!!) Ahem. I should really ring the credit card up to get it unlocked but to be honest it can wait. So no Zumba dvds for me...yet.

Reaaaaally trying to give myself a pep talk into doing one of my exercise dvds but.....ugh....how do other people manage to do this schiz?!

Mrs Inspired from Inspiredville

Woah. Anybody see the final of the Biggest Loser series 8 on Sky One last night? I settled down for the double episode and was just astounded at the amount of weight all the contestants had lost and how good they all looked. I especially thought Rebecca looked amazing and was so inspired by her as she is my age and I really identified with her.

The marathon that the four contestants had to run in the final week really struck a chord with me. I remember seeing them do it in the last series and it had a huge impact too. Now, I am not a runner, never have been. But seeing them, all shapes and sizes and ages, pushing through to complete the 26.2 miles really got me thinking. If they can do it, I can do it. It's all mind over matter (oh, and a hell of a lot of training!) I've always said I want to run a marathon before i'm 30 and that is exactly what I intend to do! I'm going to re-start running at the gym and build from there, small baby steps but I have plenty of time to work my way up.

I felt really good after watching BL and it stayed with me all of today. I even went to my Zumba class even though I had a few excuses lined up in my subconscious as why I couldn't go. I went and I am now buzzing! This also got me thinking back to my WI dissapointment on Sunday. I figured that if exercise makes me feel this good, then I need to try to not get hung up about results. I need to drum it into my head that I do it because it makes me feel good, rather than I exercise because it works off X ammount of cals which means I should lose weight.

Oh, and apparently there is a Zumba fitness game being released on the Wii (in November in the US, so hopefully not long after over here). That will definitley be on my Christmas list!

So Far, So Saintly...

Well maybe a slight exaggeration there but I am being quite good :)

Monday I completed level one of Shred (sweat much?!), Tuesday I started a new Zumba class (where only me and my friend turned up! Dedicated much?!), yesterday I admit I didn't do anything after work (ooh, thou aren't being saintly much?! ...eh?) and tonight I am currently in my gym gear waiting to go to the gym for my usual Zumba class tonight (Zumba fangirl much?!)

Still tracking every day as per usual. On that point, has anyone else seen all the talk about the new WW plan that is going to be introduced? Apparently it's this new Pro Points thing where the way points are calculated is going to change, to include carbohydrates as well as calories and saturated fat. Fruit and veg will all be free now. The new plan hasn't officially been launched but I checked out a link on the forums to a Dutch WW version which explained it - have a look (will need to translate page). What does everyone else think? Personally I think it's going to be initially hard to get used to but counting the amount of carbs can only be a good thing as I don't think WW takes that into consideration enough, the same with sugars and salt...

...anyways best get off here and get my bum down the gym! :)

Nowt. Nada. Zip...and eating Dinosaurs.

STS (stayed the same). Thought I would just get that news out of the way. I am dissapointed I haven't lost anything this week as I had intended to cane it at the gym while I was off work and aim for a bigger weight loss (than my usual 1lb per week) but thinking about it, I have probably eaten more being at home - yet stayed within my point allowance - and I kind of think that last week has caught up with me. So looking at it that way STS is a pretty good result. Just need to surge ahead as per usual now.

I've been thinking that I need to mix up my work outs a bit now, in terms of trying different kinds of ways to exercise that I enjoy. I've already mentioned that I tried Zumba last week and really enjoyed that so will be doing that class once a week, along with my regular pre-work gym sessions. Pilates is something I used to do at my old gym last year, and I really loved that class. It is something I want to start up again but the class at my gym is on a Saturday morning (10am) and the thought of getting up early on a weekend is just unbearable, unless I am feeling super motivated that day! I have a couple of pilates DVDs so will try and get back into it through them first. Also, I should really get back to doing the Davina DVDs as I think they really do make a difference (well you can certainly feel the after-effects!) and would compliment the gym sessions by adding a toning element - so by doing all that I should have all bases covered...just need the will and energy for it all now! But like they say - how do you eat a Dinosaur? Piece by piece...

Zumbaaaaaa!

I don't have a weigh in result, any particular goals achieved or new challenges to report but I just felt really compelled to post...so here I am!

I attended my first Zumba class on Thursday night and have to say that I am now a huge fan! It was so fast, and got my heart beating accordingly (and I don't even want to mention the sweat...) but it was also the most enjoyable hour I've ever had exercising. The tutor was really enthusiastic (and a bit mad) and made the session so fun. It didn't matter that I was out of step half the time! The music really wanted to make you move with it and some of the moves are so silly (like running round in a circle like a little kid, or the big "mixing bowl" action) that you just have to surrender to the fact that you will look a bit ridiculous - but have such a laugh whilst doing it!

I cannot wait for my next lesson :)

Oh, also I wore my brand new ASOS dress (£13 in the sale - barrrrrrgain...) out in town last night and felt brilliant. The dress was so comfortable and flowed perfectly on me that I felt really confident. Usually i'm pulling at a dress here and there constantly, which then makes me really self-conscious, but not this time. I think we have a winner for my V festival dress (oooh of which the tickets arrived today, whooop!)

My mum felt the need to photograph me in my new dress - so I thought that I would start up a gallery page on this blog and will try and keep it updated with outfit posts. I've been meaning to do this for ages, as a visual record for myself, but instead of using horrendous front/sideways shots in my casual (not to be worn outside clothes) I think the more flattering "dolled up" pics will be better...well better for me and my ego anyway!

Another pound bites the dust...

So, I haven't posted anything for a wee while, mainly because after having a hard week at work last week the last thing I wanted to do was to come back on the computer!

Anyways...I weighed in on Sunday and lost 2lbs! I was so pleased with this as I was almost resigned to the fact that I may not have lost anything - due to the nature of the week (stress, conference food, lack of gym time, pizza on Friday, a bit of over-indulging on weekend). I am now 15st 9lbs which Is 1lb away from my 5% WW goal.

I am off work this week and intend to do longer, more intense workouts all week to try and push past that 5% goal (and perhaps even further). So far so good, I went to the gym yesterday and this morning. Will be going again tomorrow and Friday, but Thursday I am going to try the Zumba class with a friend - eek! It looks very high energy in the videos i'e watched, but i'll report back at how it went!