Finding Fitness | Running

I'm sure one of the most popular New Years resolutions must be 'get fit' or 'lose weight', 'be more active', 'join the gym' or something along those lines.  Being fit and healthy is always something on a lot of peoples list of the thing to devote more time too.  And I'm no different.  I've spoken before about losing weight and being more active and I've vowed to stop weighing myself and I definitely challenge you to do the same.  Since I've stopped getting on those scales I definitely feel better about myself.

But this isn't January and this isn't a resolution it's a change of mind set.  I don't want to get out of breath running for the bus (I don't actually ever catch the bus, but you see my point). I want to enjoy the exercise I do and I know that I enjoy running.  I've done it before and it fits in with my busy lifestyle as a full time worker, full time single mum, part time blogger and YouTuber.  I can get up half an hour earlier some mornings, throw on my trainers and go.  I can go when I've finished work and Mini Greenoid's at a friends or out at some activity. It just fits.  And it has the added benefit of really clearing my mind.

When I run I like to track my progress.  I think it helps me.  It encourages me, spurs me on to push harder.  I've been using the Runkeeper app on my iPhone and I've been really loving it.

Runkeeper shows your route, distance, approx. calories burned, split times, allows you to take a photo and add it to your run stats and allows you to write notes on the run.  If you're like me and enjoy numbers and knowing how far you've gone and how fast you went I'd definitely recommend it as, not only a tracker, but a motivational tool.

As well as running I tried to incorporate walking more into my daily routine. For example walking to nursery to pick the kids up instead of driving.

Here's my progress after 1 week.  The comments are from what I wrote in the note section immediately after the run. 

Day 1 - 30 minute steady pace 2.55 miles (Morning run)

Wow that was tough!  Can't believe I managed a whole 30 minutes of running though.  Very proud of myself.  Promptly walked through the door and was a tiny bit sick - yuck!  My right groin ached slightly throughout and my left knee started to ache around 25 minutes.
 

 

Day 2 - 30 minute steady pace 2.49 miles (evening run)

Was very tempted not to run as my inner thighs were quite sore from yesterday.  Not sure if I'll be able to walk tomorrow.  I need to make sure I do lots of stretching to help with the aches and pains.  The actual run itself felt easier than the first one and there was no throwing up so that was a bonus.

Day 3 - 1.96 mile walk

A walk to nursery with the pushchair. Really enjoyed it. Definitely want to do more often if the weather allows.

Day 4 - 30 minute steady pace 2.44 miles (morning run)

Felt good today.  Did a completely different route.  Can't believe how many people are out and about at 6:30am.

Day 5 - 1.6 mile walk

Walk to nursery.

Day 6 - 30 minute steady pace 2.41 miles

Hard! Really struggled with that one!  I was ready to give up after 5 minutes. Really pleased with myself that I battled though it.

Day 7 - rest day

I challenge you to move more today.  Go for a run if you feel up to it.  If not, go for a walk.  Just move more.  I guarantee you'll feel better for it. 

   

High 5 4 Friday

So it's Friday morning, 6:00am to be precise and it's still dark outside and that kinda makes me sad.  In true British fashion, every time I see someone lately the topic of conversation has been about how Autumn is well and truly here and the cold, dark nights are drawing in. I'm not sure I mind the dark nights so much as the cold, dark mornings. Who on earth wants to get out of their cosy, warm duvet in the dark to be greeted by freezing temperatures - I know I don't!

It is Friday though so let's look back on a few things that have made me happy this week.

 

 

1. Running. Oddly as I'm lying in bed writing this I should be out running but something in me just couldn't motivate myself this morning. But in general this week I've really enjoyed running and generally being more active. I'm trying to run every other day, I'm not quite managing it but that's ok. I've ran sporadically throughout my adult life and the reason it's been sporadic is because I've been too hard on myself if I missed a run, I felt awful, gave up for a few months, then started again, missed a run, felt awful, gave up for a few months.... You know how it goes from here.

There's something really great about running that you can do it anytime, anywhere, all you need are your trainers. I find it really helps clear my mind too. I don't listen to music. I just run. Sometimes I listen to Spanish as learning Spanish is something else I've done sporadically throughout adulthood. I'm clearly a sporadic kind of person.

2. Getting back to work. As I've mentioned before this is my first week back in work after the 7 weeks summer holidays and wow it's been hard! It's funny how your body just gets completely used to being lazy. But I've so enjoyed it. It was lovely seeing the kids I hadn't seen in those 7 weeks and just getting back into some sort of routine.

3. Pulling up my carrots. I try and grow a bit of my own veg. I'm so gardening whiz by any stretch of the imagination but I do enjoy growing a few things each year.  This year was the first year I've tried carrots. I've no idea if this week was the right time to pull them up but I just felt like doing so, so I did.  They were knobbly and odd shapes and sizes but it's so satisfying knowing I grew them.

4. Playing The Sims 4. As well as beauty and fashion and all things typically girlie, I also love gaming. I hadn't played The Sims for years and years but when 4 came out I knew I had to get it. I'm loving it so far. Check out my lets play series on YouTube.

 

 

 

5. Sitting in bed reading. I'm not a huge reader. Its not something I'm proud of it's just a fact. When I go on holiday I love sitting by the pool or on the beach with a good book but when I get home I just don't find the time to read. I ordered #Girlboss to take on holiday with me but I forgot it and it's a book I really want to read so this week I started it. I prop myself up in bed with loads of cushions around me, snuggle under the duvet and read. It's been really amazing just to shut off from technology for a short time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What I Ate Wednesday | A Day Of No Fruit

 

 

And in a blink of an eye it's Wednesday again! It's so cliché but how the heck does it happen each week? 

 

I'm back in the swing of normality here, back from hols, back to work, back on the school runs - you know the deal.  I have to say I'm quite enjoying it though.  Give me another week and I'll be screaming out for another holiday. 

 

As it's Wednesday let's crack on with #WIAW    

 

Breakfast

Like I said, I'm back to work now so my mornings are kinda rushed.  I don't have to be outta the house super early or anything but I just like to faff about  take my time in the mornings leisurely showering and doing my make-up, making Mini Greenoids lunch, maybe a quick play on Farmville on my iPad (there's no maybe about it, I have to have a quick fix in the mornings before I'm ready to go!) 

 

Work comes to me, in the form of kids getting dropped off at my house.  They all arrive around 8am so once they're here I can pretty much forget about doing anything else.

 

Whilst shopping the other day I was browsing the 'healthy' section and saw these Nakd. bars and thought I'd try them.  I bought 1 in each flavour including Cocoa Orange, Apple Pie and Banana Bread.. I think they're all wheat and daily free and some of them, like the Cashew Cookie are gluten free too. 

 

I had the Ginger Bread this morning which was really tasty.  I'm not normally a fan of so called health bars as I tend to think they're not really as healthy as they say they are but I quite like these.  They are simply nuts and fruits cold pressed with no added sugar or syrups.  That's gotta be good, right?  

 

 What do you think of so called health bars? 

 

  

Lunch

 Oh wow, lunch was a stressful event at my house today.  I'd forgotten what it was like trying to actually make myself something to eat with little children and babies to look after!

 

I've returned to my faithful, trusty avocado and tomato on toast.  This week I served it slightly different.  I'd roasted a load of tomatoes in the oven with balsamic vinegar, Worcester sauce, squeeze of honey and olive oil.  Normally I blitz this up and use it as a pasta sauce and add veg or chicken but this time I thought I'd use it on my toast.  I didn't blitz it up first and just placed on my amaranth/quinoa toast with slices of avocado, bit of cheese on top and under the grill.

 

 

Tea

This tea was delicious! It was some of my blitzed up tomato sauce with pasta with chargrilled courgettes and peppers.  I served it with 2 small slices of garlic baguette.  I love garlic baguette, it's one of my real guilty pleasures and could happily eat the whole thing but I controlled my urges today.

 



What are your food guilty pleasures?

 



 

 

 

It was only writing this I realised I hadn't eaten any fruit today.  There was probably a little fruit in my Nakd. bar but no actual fruit. 

 

Do you get a lot of fruit in your diet?

 

 

     

LIFE | End of #Summer2014 :(

 

 

So my lazy summer has officially ended!  It's Monday evening after my first day back at work and I'm sat here trying to keep my eyes open.   I've enjoyed a wonderful summer with 7 weeks off work, with 3 of those being in Spain at our family villa.  I visited Barcelona with a friend which you can read about HERE and HERE.

 

 

 

 

I had a slight break from blogging whilst I was away, only doing WIAW posts, which wasn't by choice, it was due to the complete none internet at the villa.  I could only post when I was at a restaurant.  Which to be honest, was quite a lot, but there was food to be eaten and vino to be drank!

 

#WIAW Holiday Eats

#WIAW A Healthy Holiday?

#WIAW A Day In Barcelona

 

When my alarm clock (iPhone) went off this morning at 6:30am I felt like dying! (Is that a tad dramatic? Probably, but that's how I felt) I'd already decided the night before I was going to go for a run so I jumped out of bed, yeah that's right jumped, as soon as the alarm went off, slipped on my trainers and off I went for a 30 minute run.  

 

The rest of the morning was spent dragging Mini Greenoid out of bed for his first day back at school, making packed lunches, breakfasts, taking Mini Greenoid to school (I soooo haven't missed the school run), taking 2 kids to their first day of nursery and what seems like a million other chores. 

 

The day was hard!  Looking after kids for a living means you just have to be on your game every day.  I had such a fun day though and quite looking forward to getting back into work, blogging regularly and YouTubing regularly for my gaming channel.

 

I'm sad to be saying goodbye to summer though as I really enjoy the hot weather and the chance to get outside more.  But Autumn is here and soon the leaves will be falling off the trees and the cold, dark nights will be drawing in.  Noooooo

 

What's your favourite season?

 

I'm gonna go and take myself off to bed in a bit.  Is 9:00pm too early?  Probably but I don't care.  I'm goosed! 

 

Returning to work after holidays is HARD WORK! 

 

 

 

 

GAMING | Addicted to Sims4

So my social life has officially gone out of the window!  I bought Sims 4.  I knew I'd become obsessed so I tried to resist buying it but I just had to have it.

 

I thought I'd do a YouTube series on my adventures.  If you enjoy gaming check out my gaming YouTube channel.

 

Here's the first episode in which I create my first family which includes... well I'm not going to tell you! You'll have to watch the video to find out ;)

 

 

If the embedded video doesn't work for you click the direct link HERE

 

 

 

Do you play video games?

 

What's your all time favourite game?