Level 2 - HIT IT!

So I admit it, I've been rubbish blogging!  This is most likely because I have been very, very guilty...I said I was picking it back up, and I didn't fully.  I could list lots of excuses in this post, but I wont, ill just move forward!

Last night I hit Level 2 30 day shred as I figured, even though I hadn't done 10 days straight of level 1, I did it at least 15 times!  So I figured it was about time I moved on!!  And I'm very glad I did! It felt awesome to push myself that bit further, I was a sweaty mess by the end, but I was very glad of it!  I followed the shred with Blogilates stretching which I love!  I can even tell I'm able to stretch further and harder, which is great! I did the level 2 tonight too, and it felt just as good!

Ive also been eating really well for the last few days and I think thats helping too.  I downloaded My Fitness Pal













If you're not familiar with this app, it basically logs your height and weight etc. then you fill in your daily food intake and exercise and it lets you know where you are with your calorie intake for the day.  You set your own goals, and admittedly, mine are probably a little low (1320 per day) but I figure if I aim low, then I wont go too high (if that makes sense!) Well Ive kept below it in the last 2 days, when you factor in the exercise!  Ive cut out carbs and am eating lean meat and veg/salad/fruit and also trying to drink lots of water.

Tomorrow, as usual on a Saturday, Im heading to the salon in Retford, and I'm arming myself with a shopping list.
- measuring tape
- firming cream
- body brush

I did take my measurements again, well Gemma did it for me, and I'm not entirely convinced they were accurate, hence the measuring tape (we measured using string and a ruler!!) but, ill post them anyway, there are some slight differences from the last time, some good, some not so much, which is why I wonder if they are right, but here they are...

bicep - 37cm
chest - 110cm
waist - 84cm
hips - 120cm
thigh - 64cm
calf - 42cm

That was the other day, maybe Monday, so ill keep you updated, may do them tomorrow when I have the tape!!

Bye for now!

Movie and dinner!

So, as I admitted this morning, the shredding was a no-go today! I got in from work, later than usual and Gemma said she was going to take me to the cinema, well I'm not saying no to that! So chiseled abs can wait!! Besides, my gym stuff could do with a wash (gross I know).

We're off to see Man of Steel at chesterfield, Wednesday bonus of 2for1 on cinema tickets AND the viewing is on D-Box! For those of you who haven't heard of D-Box, basically it's cinema, supercharged!! Your seat moves with the movie, and with a movie like Man of Steel, I'm sure it'll add to the experience!

Not only are we going to the movies, we're also going for tea (well I had to be a nice fiancé back!) not sure where we'll go, but I'll try and make good food choices...probably!

Bikini bod...bikini bod....bikini bod... Maybe if I say it enough it'll remind me that I want it!!!

Confessions from the BQQ...

Got up yesterday morning, laboriously pulled on my gym clothes and blooming got on with it.  That is the British way!  It was bloody hard as well!  What is not so much the British way, is the 25 degree heat that we had throughout the night!  It made getting up even harder as I had barely slept either!  Also, slaving away alongside Jillian Michaels at 6:30 in the morning in such heat, whilst rather tired was something of a chore!  Having said all that, I did it, and am damn proud I did too!

So...having decided I needed to start the '30 days' again, I have now made it through day three.  And although day 1 felt hard, it is a lot easier a lot faster this time around, despite having the pesky cough and cold hanging around like unwanted belly fat.

As previously mentioned, we are currently experiencing some rather un-British British weather, which means its hot, sunny and glorious, and us Brits, not really knowing what to do when such a phenomenon occurs, naturally grasp at anything summer related we can get our pale little paws on.  So you see men (not particularly fit, young or good looking ones) strutting their stuff around Donny town centre with their pale, hairy nipples and beer bellies on show for all to see.  You get every female, their dogs and their mothers out and about in questionable mini-skirts.  A bar-be on every street corner and every beer garden full to the rafters with said questionable characters.  So naturally, we jumped on the bandwagon and invited nearest and dearest down to join in with the celebration of burning sausages over hot coals.  So, despite killing myself keeping up the morning shred, was all progress lost after my burger?  I'm not sure, but you can't have it all right?

So this morning...well its 7:10am and im sat with my cuppa writing this post, so you can guess that this morning has not been one such morning and I haven't done my shred. (Guilty face).

Maybe i'll do them tonight....

Here's hoping....

Guilty...

Yes,yes I know...weeks have passed by it seems and not a post in sight. And I'd love to say that in that time I've moved onto level 2, have lost 10 inches and am in a size 12...but alas, not is the case. 

Instead, I'm still getting over a rather crappy cold and lots of stress at work!

So this is the score, on Sunday I started again. Level 1. Day 1. I want to be absolutely sure this time that I'm going to do it. I want to change, I need to look half decent in holiday in a month and I refuse to be beaten by a bit of fat!  

Last time I said I was awaiting my measurements, this time, as I have effectively started again, I'll actually post them:

Bicep 36cm

Chest 111 cm

Waist 88cm

Hips 119 cm

Thigh 71cm

Calf 42cm

There's a lot if measurements there i grant you, but I am hoping for a fast change somewhere, so I figure the more measurements, the more likely! But we'll have to see. 

So...in conclusion, it's now DAY 2 ...again!!!!

Day 10

30 day shred + full time job + a business to run is quite hard some mornings, and today was such a morning!

Things are quite stressful, anyone who is a teacher will know, this time of year you've got reports to write, meetings to have and next year to think about.  I'm also doing a course caller the OTP or Outstanding teacher program, which is taken a lot of my time, as well as being helpful.

so im pretty much feeling thusly:

And to be honest - this is a pretty accurate portrait too!!

So I think tomorrow needs to be a new start - I need to get up, shake off the tiredness and get on with it!  ooh, there is also an app for Jillian!  Might have to have a nosy!

Until next time (and hopefully after a bit more success!)

Day 8

Good morning to all out there!  Feeling good this morning!

Got in from work last night and because Gemma hadn't done her workout, I joined her, which meant that I did 2 30 day shred workouts yesterday! And to be perfectly honest, it wasn't that hard either! After completing shred, I then did the bubble butt workout from the blogilates and then the stretching video.  Now if shred is getting easier, blogilates isn't! I found bubble butt to be very tricky and some of the moves I wasn't able to do properly! I can't be the only one out there who feels, even though it says for beginners, it really isn't!! 

Anyway, having said that the stretching is getting a little better and I can feel myself able to get deeper into the movement than I could before, so that's encouraging!

Back to day 8. It was hard, as I did feel the double workout from the day before, but I got up and did shred with Gemma! Enjoyed it too! Well, to be honest, the enjoyment definitely comes post-workout!or at least in those if al stretches!

Some excellent news too, and a firmer goal to work towards, heard from the wedding venue yesterday and the entertainment license came through, which means, it's officially on! Very exciting!

Until next time

Kx

Day 6... Wait, day 7!

As you can probably tell, there was some confusion yesterday as to what day I was actually on!  This is for the simple reason that on Tuesday I missed a day of the exercise. Now, before you jump on me, let me explain myself.  On Monday, I did the 30 day shred level 1, and some blogilates first thing in the owning, I was so proud of myself, I had managed to get up and do my workout before my morning coffee, result! Unfortunately for me, then I was at a course all day long, which meant I basically sat in a room, on a chair all day! Not good! I was so stiff and sore I couldn't walk down the stairs without flinching in pain.  So, Tuesday (what would have been day 5) was a day I had to skip!

After having missed a day out, I felt suitably guilty to say the least. But I resumed again on Wednesday and it felt great, the stretching out was great and the exercise felt good and I felt very proud of myself! Yesterday, day 6, I did the exercise after school and felt so much better for it!

This morning, which is now, day 7! Was great! I got up this morning, and with a little internal pushing, I did it! And this morning at work I feel great!

So...what's the lesson here? Morning exercise works! It may be hard at first, but you feel so much better all day!

Day 5

So, day 4 went well. I got up early, did my 30 day shred and blogilates exercises and all before 7:15am!! I felt great for it too! Had a kind of energy about me all day! Someone even commented that I had a glow and looked well! So I would say a great success.

I'm also starting to feel a bit trimmer too. I haven't done my measurements yet (which I must, must do!!!) but I think if I did do them, it would be starting to come off. I k ow its still early days, but I suppose I had some to come off and for sure some muscles to time up!

So day 5... Well it's certainly not started as well as day 4. I got up, half past 6, good intentions. Thought I'd start with blogilates this morning. Bad idea. I began the beginners workout and it just wasn't getting me. My heart rate wasn't elevating enough and I felt that I wasn't working hard enough. Now, I'm not blaming the video for this. It's just, at that time in a morning, half asleep I think I need a more firm, energising approach, which the 30 day shred offers a little more that blogilates. The verdict? Home early from work and do the 30 day shred FOLLOWED by blogilates!!

Until next time
Kx

Making good choices...

Well, the course food wasn't too bad, and I think that my food choices were good enough, I had jacket potato and a little cheese and table spoon of coleslaw and plenty of salad, then...a muffin!  Well, it could've been worse, there were donuts and chocolate cakes and everything!

So onwards to dinner.  Just had a snack of chicken breast with a little feta and mint, very nice and curbed the hunger while I wait for dinner.  Dinner is consisting of new potatoes, green veg and a piece of fillet steak!  Not exactly lean protein, but not too bad all in all.  Oh, and we have a twirl for later!  I'm sure this could be better too!! Maybe one day i won't feel the need for pudding....maybe not!

Maybe I need to try something like this instead of a twirl...

1 synn from slimming world

Day 3

Up this morning bright and early at half 6. Late start at work as I'm in a course so was able to easily get the 30 day shred in as well as a stretch video from blogilates.

So, feeling good and very proud of my self! Hardest thing today? Eating well!! This course is renowned for 'yellow foods' I.e sausage rolls, bread etc. so I need to try and choose clean foods! Breakfast choices were ok, managed to get some fruits and granted, some pancake things, but after 40 mins workout, I need some carbs!

Until lunch!
Kx

Bucket list

Before I start, I feel that I should confess something...I had the sunday roast, and the sticky toffee pudding.
---I know, I know, but in my defence, I had the chicken, no skin! And then lots if veggies, one or two new potatoes and thats it, so not too bad!  Well, ok, the pudding was bad, but you can't have everything!  I need to remind myself to eat clean!

Anyway, to the task in hand...
I've just tidied my house, which always inevitably leads me to think what I want out of my life.  I know it's a little peculiar, but candles on, favourite tv programme on and a tidy living room can't help but bring on these thoughts.  So, with my fitness (and almost) my diet in hand, I feel I need to think about what else I want out of my life.

Some things are in hand, granted.

1.  Get married:

Bohemian style...

There are many things that I want from my wedding; bohemian style, babies breath flowers, grass, outdoors, gardens... yes, yes, im an old romantic and also love the outdoors and all things country, so this is my wish number 1!










2.  Go coast to coast via route 66!

Route 66

So, this one is almost in the bag too.  Gemma and I are planning to go coast-to-coast for our honeymoon.  So far, we have decided to start in Las Vegas (so I can see Celine Dion!) and then maybe go and see the Grand Canyon and then head out onto the open road...it's still in the early planning stages, but it's certainly one for the list!



3.  Open my own business:

Giraffe

It's certainly something that's been in the pipeline for a while.  Last year, Gemma and I went on a business course as we were interested in opening a patisserie.  Nothing really took off.  However, in January, circumstances or fate brought along the purchase of a Hair Salon in Retford.  Capelli is absolutely great and we're loving the challenge of running our own business and it certainly has been a challenge at times!  Still, the hope of owning our own restaurant is still there and we haven't given up yet!  Recently, we were sat in Giraffe in London, just behind Selfridges.  It's always been one of my favourite places to eat around there.  Anyway, we were sat having a burger and a milkshake, and it suddenly occurred to use that Retford doesn't have anything like this.  In fact the nearest place really would likely be in Doncaster, which is more than 20 miles away.  So this is the idea, growing slowly, but surely.  It definitely makes the list!

4.  Trivial, but decorate my home;

Home decor

It's been a year now since we moved into our new home.  It's great, but at the minute its very impersonal.  It's quite new and there was a man in it before and it has that, well, feel.  I'm loving this vintage, rustic home look, quite hard to achieve in a new house, but not impossible I don't think, there's certainly things I can take from some of these ideas!





So, that's it for now, until next time...
kx

The thousand dollar food question

Well that's it isn't it. So I'm at a restaurant (waiting for dad to arrive so not being totally rude) and I'm weighing up the food options. Is it salad and 'eating clean' as Cassey Ho puts it. Or is it a Sunday dinner and treacle sponge?

At one time the decision would have been simple! Roast lamb and roasties would've won hands down no question. Now...well, I'll be honest, they're still winning in my head! How am I going to get that bikini body!? I hear myself cry! Well, maybe the lean meat choice, plenty of veggies and a tiny bit of gravy? Can I then have treacle sponge?!

Who knows bloggers. Time will tell if I cave...
Kx

Day 2

Day 2

I know the obvious place to start would of been Day 1...but I wasn't convinced I'd actually make it into Day 2...not because it hurt or was too hard, just because I am one of these people that is very good at starting something, not so good at finishing it!  Now, of course, 2 days does not make a finished project as it were, but i've dabbled for months in Slimming World and healthier eating etc. and at some point must commit to change.  I have 2...no 3 main motivations:

1.  Im getting married in just over a year and will not be a beach-whale bride.
2.  I am going on holiday this summer and, well, see reason above.
3.  I refuse to go into my 30's (2 years away) still battling with myself and feeling fat!!

Oh, and I suppose I should add a forth to that:

4.   To regain some confidence and feel better about myself!

So, where did I begin?  Well my parnter and I have giving up smoking, and an unfortunate side-effect of this is that you tend to eat more.  Who knew!?  Yeah, I know, highly expected.  Anyway, with eating more comes weighing more and that's where we both find ourselves.

My partner, Gemma, she's opted for the Level 1 30 Day Shred, of which there are 3 levels altogether, spanning ... well, 30 days!  Myself, well, I came across Cassey Ho some time ago and her blogilaties had inspired me then, though (as mentioned in my first sentences) it never really caught on at the time.  Now however, i've printed off her beginners calendar and i'm away to go!  It very simple in principle, there are 30 days worth of videos to follow, all based around Pilates movements, though I think it gets more cardio based as you move through it.

So, how has it gone so far?

This pretty much sums up how I feel today!

Yesterday was relatively ok, though my abs were killing after the pop pilates total body workout for beginners.  Today, well, that killed!  I could barely perform any of the moves properly from the day 2 videos as they were abb focused and mine were already hurting!  So stupid me decided, after struggling with the moves on the Pilates so much I felt I hadn't done a fair workout, i'd try the Level 1 30 Day Shred as well.  Suffice to say, I am a shaking, sweaty wreck!  But, I did it!!
I'm yet to do my measurements, but I will update when I have those.  I've done a 'before' shot, but you can get stuffed if you think im posting those online!!

Until next time:
kx