Allergic to exercise???

I have never been one to exercise, except coming up to my wedding I went to the gym everyday so that I would be good for my wedding day (which I was, I still smile when I remember the zip on my dress going up so easily :) )

I did go through a phase of going to the gym for about a year. I still have the membership. It is costing me too much! So I have promised myself that I will get back into it. I also seriously want to lose some weight for my health.

Just as I was thinking about this flylady started posting about Jonathan (NEWO) running the Boston Marathon and his challenges running up to this. So I am taking part.

So far, I have walked further to the car a few times (and parked further away at work), scheduled when I am going to go to the gym in the next 30 days (I am not going to put myself under too much pressure but build a habit - so next week only once as my schedule permits), and bought a new water bottle so that I keep hydrated.

On top of this I am going to give up cake for lent... Hopefully a healthier me by Easter :)

lots of holidays?

One of the thing that I hate is when people tell me that it's okay that I work long hours because I also get long holidays.

We have got to the end of one of those 'holidays' and I am feeling miserable. I have a list to do for work the length of an A4 page today. There are also so many other things that I haven't done. So to try and lift my mood I am going to try and count what I have done (in the nature of counting your blessings):

• had the in-laws to stay
• meal out with my husband
• meal out with a friend
  
• shopping with a friend and my goddaughter-to-be
• coffee with friends (4 times!! -different friends each time)
• took a friend's daughter out for the day
• read 2 books
  
• chose flooring for new kitchen
  
• moved furniture to prepare for kitchen
  
• washing and ironing (all caught up :) )
• detailed dusting in the lounge
• went into work and caught up on some filing
• decluttered a bit (still more to do but there always is!)
• WHB at the beginning of the week and again at the end
• Marked some work

Now seeing it all written down, I don't feel quite so bad that I have 'only' done 8 hours work, and still have a lot to do. I haven't wasted the holidays :)

edit: I realise that some people might think I'm moaning about my holidays. I'm not. it's just that I'm beating myself up over wasting them. I often leave a lot of jobs to the holidays, as I am working 50-60 hours every week, and then get annoyed when I don't manage to do them!

The start of the Kitchen remodel

In 4 weeks time the builders will arrive to completely demolish the inside of our kitchen and put in a new one. It will be about a 6 week process. At the same time they will re-plaster our hallway and re-do our cloakroom.

With 4 weeks to go DH and I decided that it was about time to get ready. That's right. Not the week before, 4 weeks in advance! So yesterday we moved out furniture from under the stairs. It fits nicely at the top of the stairs, and now there will be room for a fridge and a freezer with a piece of worktop over the top. -A makeshift kitchen. We will do that the weekend before they start.

Today my plan is to pack up one box of things that I won't need over the next 10 weeks. I'm doing it slowly. But I'm glad that I'm not trying to do it all at once. Much less stress!

2011 -the year of me!

It's been about 4 weeks since my last post. I have continued with these things:

• getting up earlier and having quiet time
• eating more fruit and veg -beginning to slowly lose weight
• making my lunch the night before, so not buying food at lunchtime

So it's been just over 7 weeks. I'm not noticing these things now so much as they are becoming ingrained habits. I'm feeling quite determined that this is the year when I really get myself sorted. The year of me!

I have also been keeping up with flylady routines, I'm moisturising my face every morning, and sometimes the evenings. Evenings are something that I need to work on, but it really is one step at a time. I'm trying to not burn out with these things but take them slowly!

New year, New me

Sorry, no update for ages. Thought I'd squeeze one in now. Since January 1st the following transformation has happened:

• getting up earlier and having quiet time
• eating more fruit and veg -beginning to slowly lose weight
• making my lunch the night before, so not buying food at lunchtime

Small things but they are beginning to roll into each other! Hoping I can get a routine going. 3 weeks is good so far. Especially as I didn't make any new year resolutions!

Got to look after myself and getting up earlier is taking it's toll. So at 8:40pm I am going to go and pamper myself and get to bed really early.

hope you are also doing well.

update

Had a busy week, got up earlier every day which did help at work but I often found myself actually managing to complete a morning routine when I'd usually miss something (laundry etc). Getting to work earlier meant I was less stressed (and less stressed driving in!). I didn't gain anything in the evenings because of how much work I had (some evenings I was working until 10pm) and the BBR needs some work. I'd like to add getting laundry ready for the morning into the evening.

Violin wise, I did do some practice at the weekend, which is better than none. I need to step it up now as I have been asked to play in a school assembly.

Feeling very tired this morning, but that is probably because of a new dose of medication. I will keep trying to get myself into a better place. It does help!

twist and shout

Today I spent a lot of time on flylady chat. I think that this is a good thing as I get motivated. Today it was definitely useful. I was introduced to a game called "twist and shout" you write a numbered list of 5 things (one of which is a pamper mission) and someone calls a number. you then do the thing associated with that number. it takes 10 mins then you rest for 5. I certainly felt like I was getting a lot done. I used my violin practice as a pamper mission and really enjoyed it.

I had issues today when the car wouldn't start and my dad had to come and help. That upset my plans. So I am going to have to do some work tomorrow, as I lost a couple of hours. :( so much for work-life balance.

I wrote down everything I ate today and made healthy(er) choices. Just need to keep it up!

I definitely feel more relaxed, and like looking around me and being pleased with what I see. In the couple of hours I played the game I certainly made a dent. Need to keep this up! Thanks for the encouragement, here's to continually making life more peaceful! :)