Day 31

Last day. I walked part of the way into town for my knit and natter group, about a mile or maybe a little more. After knitting and nattering I walked round town and across town shopping then to visit a friend for more nattering. Another nice relaxed day.

Reflections on Janathon:

• I have enjoyed the challenge.
• It has made me do a lot more exercise in January than I would normally have done.
• The 'no processed sugar' thing that I did for the month was a lot easier than I expected.
• Given my venerable age, excess weight and existing level of fitness, I think 6 or 7 days exercise every week is overdoing it even when I varied the type and intensity of exercises undertaken.
• I lost 2 kg weight. Initially I was disappointed with this BUT thinking about it, by taking out sugar and doing more work I have been able to eat lots of fresh, home prepared food and not ever felt hungry or deprived :)

Where next?

• I will continue with MFP
• Do exercise on 5 days per week, including the two high intensity sessions I have.
• Re-introduce sugar ie puddings as an occasional treat, but keep within my MFP limit, therefore, do more work or eat less of everything else (does this sound nice and basic or what? It has only taken me 50 years to figure it out :/ ).
• There is a 200 mile challenge on MFP which runs from 1/2/14 to 31/3/14 where you do miles and tot up the totals to get 200 by end of March. This can be anything, walking, running, cycling swimming, treadmill etc. this is too far for me but I can aim at 100 miles and keep tally on this blog.
• Finally, I will keep up my blog. I know it's boring and not chatty but I like it and it is helping me keep on track.

Thank you Janathon

Short term goal is still to be able to run 5k in 45 mins by the end of March so I need to include more running (I need the weather to improve just a little bit, pleeeease)

Long term goal is to be able to run 10k by October no time limit just be able to run that distance

Day 30

Well no exercise today, Thursday is rest day and I need it after running on Wednesday. My computer was broken but a nice man came and fixed it for me this morning and I had quilting class this afternoon so a fun and restful day :)

Day 29

Running day today, did about 15 minutes brisk walking and dynamic stretches to wake up my legs then we did 35 mins of jogging with seven 'sprint' sessions included. Then a brisk 5/10 minute walk to cool down. My legs are dead! 

I missed yoga because I got home late from running, I could just about have made it to the yoga class except that I was dripping wet and muddy so I needed a quick shower. I did 20 minutes of yoga leg stretches instead.

Day 28

Had a fairly good day today but went over my calorie allowance on MFP by 32 calories and went over my sugar for the first time this month extra bread and fruit did it :(

For 45 minutes I did Sy Chen's upper body workout that I've recorded off the telly but I notice it is for men (presumably that's another reason it is very hard). If I end up looking like Conan the Destroyer it will certainly mess up my BMI calculations :)

We enjoyed ourselves at Dunelm and bought a few bits, we went into the cafe but I had toast and butter (no jam) instead of cake. Probably not totally good but I tried.

Day 27

Did half an hour cardio at the gym before seeing my trainer. We (I) did a lot of bodyweight strength exercises today and they are HARD! Sammy works me till I can barely stagger out of the gym - still that's what I pay her for and I can see an improvement in how much I can do :) This afternoon I went round to a friend's house for a natter and a cup of tea, no biscuits.

Going with friend to Dunelm tomorrow, that will be a test, we usually have a cup of tea and a cake :/

Day 26

Nothing much of interest today, weather horrid so spent a lot of time sewing. Did 20 squats with 2 x 2.5 kg weights; 20 lunges (10 each leg); 5 modified burpees ie very slow; 10 of each bicep curls and tricep things with the weight lifted up and down behind my head.

Day 25

No formal exercise today but I worked on both the allotment and the garden for a couple of hours, moving soil (very wet and heavy), tidying and cleaning. We had an amazing storm this afternoon it went really dark then we had thunder and lightning and hail, glad I was inside by then.

Day 24

Played inside today, finished making a birthday card and rang round for van insurance, some very silly quotes so may end up renewing with my usual company. This afternoon I did an hour of core strength with Bob Harper, it is nearly as hard as Insanity! No sugar still going well :)

Day 23

My muscles are very weary today but nothing in particular hurts so that's a good thing after my busy day yesterday. I have declared today my rest day as I had some quilting 'homework' to do before this afternoon's class. In class I made a flower with just my sewing machine and thread and learned how to use a few of the feet that came with my machine. Very enjoyable day :)

Day 22

I've had a busy day today I went running this morning, ran for about 35 minutes including 7 sprint bits so that was hard work. I then went straight on to a new yoga class for 1.5 hours. Came home had a rapid shower and then picked up my friend and we went for lunch, very enjoyable lunch and a long natter. No pudding, so still managed no sugar :)

The no sugar thing includes no alcohol so I haven't had anything alcoholic this month either. I don't drink a lot so thathasn't been very hard :)

Day 21

Walked to the hairdressers this morning about a mile then home again which was a bit further as I made a detour to the leisure centre to ask about a yoga class. On the way home I also carried 4.5 kilos of shopping. Got home and did 30 mins of yoga stretches to loosen me up for tomorrow's running.

No processed sugar is still going well I'm pleased to say.

Day 20

Back to Monday and the start of a new week. I did 30 minutes on the cardio machines (treadmill and rower) at the gym then, with my trainer, 30 minutes of TXR/TRX? not sure what it's called but it's a suspension strap that you use for pitting your own body weight (mine is large) against your muscles (mine are small) so it was a seriously intense workout! 

For lunch I had a quesidia made with leftover stir fried veg and a bit of cheddar. The ratio of cheese to veg wasn't quite right so it didn't stick together, it was challenging to eat politely but tasted very good  :)

I worked in the garden as well doing some tidying and digging, this is more of an activity than exercise but it is still moving and not sitting.

Day 19

Busy day today, cleaned downstairs etc then cooked a Mexican meal for 4 of us. It was fun to do and very tasty. No energy left so I've just done 20 squats with 5 kg weight (2 x 2.5 kg) a bit of a cheat really :)

DAY 18

I said I was weary, well I slept 10 hours last night, I usually manage around 7 hours so hopefully that will have done me good :)  My calves are quite sore from the sprints yesterday but we shifted 8 large slabs today, one at a time, from a garden down the street to our garden (yes, the owner did know) I did all the lifting and shifting OH held the sack barrow and wheeled them up the street. It took us about 30 minutes then we did a bit of planning and sorting in the back garden which needs a total revamp this year. I'm calling that my exercise for today!

Day 17

I did my running this morning, 7 'sprints' and some ordinary running. I'm sure that Usain Bolt doesn't have anything to worry about at the next Olympics!

I've been to Knit and Natter this morning and I'm about to do a bit of housework so a nice full day :)

Day 16

No exercise today :( I'm just really weary and I have running tomorrow morning. I did some quilting this morning and went to quilting group this afternoon. I'm doing textures and made a block called trumpets, it came out well and I'm pleased.

Day 15

No running this morning, my running lady is sick and I didn't want to go out running by myself (no confidence ) so I did 45 minutes of a dance DVD instead. The latin american type music cheered me up on a grey morning. I'm going to a U3A meeting this afternoon to see if I like it, I'm not sure about it and, now that have a lot of other activities, I don't have a lot of time but it is only once a month so we'll see.

No sugar is still going well except that I had baked beans for breakfast and they were 'low sugar' not 'no sugar' serves me right for not cooking from scratch as that seems to be the only way to avoid sugar.

Day 14 part 2

Had a slight change of plan because I couldn't find a spare size 5 crochet hook! My mother said she felt she wanted to crochet again but had no hooks or wool. I said I'd send her both in the post. I had wool but no spare hooks so I went into town to get a couple. I walked about half way there then got the bus the rest of the way and of course walked the half mile from the bus stop home. Once I'd made up a parcel for her I walked to the post office to send it so altogether I've walked at least 4 miles and probably a bit more. Then I did some leg stretch yoga stuff. Not a bad day in the end. I'm now going to cook some meat for OH for the freezer and tidy up the kitchen, which is a tip.

Day 14

Had a real fight with myself this morning about sugar - actually about home made jam on my toast. Naturally I couldn't lose but the 'no sugar' me won :) It's a lovely day and I'm sore from seeing Sammy yesterday so I think a brisk walk to keep me warm, maybe a bit of garden tidying and some yoga stretches for me today.

Day 13

I've got a busy day today so a quick note to say I did 30 mins of cardio on the machines at the gym and then 30 mins of weight training with Sammy my trainer. I'm a bit weary but hopefully all my other tasks today will help keep the lactic acid clearing from my muscles :)

Day 12

Still going quite well. We did some DIY this morning and I was getting up and down to the floor for ages - that is exercise in itself but I also did an hour and a bit of yoga, 55 minutes of all over body yoga and 20 minutes of runners yoga. Some of it is very hard even though I am fairly flexible so it was a good workout. Sammy and half an hour of cardio at the gym tomorrow and I've found a new yoga class to try on Tuesday :)

Day 11

I haven't done any exercise today, declared my rest day for the week. Went to a quilting day and started making a bag. Not been home long absolutely worn out from concentrating all day.

I've still had no processed sugar although I was tempted today as there was lemon cake on offer and it's really good. I went and made myself a cup of tea so I was out of the way until it was gone :)

Day 10

Made up for yesterday's idleness by walking into town this morning for the Knit and Natter group. Came to 4.49 miles there and another 0.55 miles home from the bus stop. In addition I walked from one end of town (Fenwicks) to the other (Wilkinsons) so a very generous 5 miles claimed. Tomorrow it's an all day quilting event so will be rest day, unless I wake up early full of go. 

Knit and Natter was fun and Lynn and Mary have invited me to lunch with them next week. Lynn has also invited me to a U3A meeting next Wednesday afternoon to see if I like it.

Day 9

Didn't do much proper exercise today :( Had to some sewing this morning ready for quilting class this afternoon, so I just went to the library and round to a friends house this morning after I'd finished my sewing. Just a bit of walking.

Going to knit and natter tomorrow so I'll walk into town and find the distance by Endomondo, it's about 4 miles I think.

Day 8

I had 2 minor triumphs today: I worked with my running lady and, after quite a long warm up, I managed to run 2 miles without stopping, including some sprints and I haven't been running for 3 weeks. Secondly I went shopping and didn't buy anything with sugar in, the temptation was strong but I managed to overcome it :)

After I got home from shopping I did 30 minutes of yoga to stretch out my leg muscles, which are definitely feeling the strain.

Day 7

I've got very boring titles for my posts :)

Today I've done Sy Chen 45 minute upper body workout again as I'm saving my legs for running tomorrow.

I've also sorted out another 2 carrier bags of craft stuff to go to the charity shop and a bag full of paper for recycling.

So far blogging is helping to keep me on track :)

Day 6 Flying start

I've made a flying start to the week, I've done 30 minutes cardio on the gym machines then 30 minutes work using free weights with Sammy my personal trainer. I stagger out of the gym when she's finished with me.

I've resurrected my MFP page and put in my breakfast so I'm set up for my few weeks of no processed sugar.

For the rest of the day I'm giving downstairs a good clean, now that Christmas has gone it all looks a bit dusty, then changing the sheets and sorting out my seeds to see if I need to order anything ready for spring sowing.

Day 5

No formal exercise today, it is rest day before I see my trainer tomorrow. I know for Janathon I should do something every day but my overweight and no-longer-young body won't cope with that. 

I have been busy most of the day though. I've unpicked, washed and ironed some bits of fabric and put them in the quilting box. I've sorted out yet more stuff to go to the charity shop and we went to the tip to get rid of three black bags full of rubbish and some recycling.

I've cooked and put some steak in the freezer for OH and sorted out a small cross stitch project to try as I've never done cross stitch before

I've also packed away all the Christmas decs ready to go back in the attic until next year.

Day 4

Today I have done Sy Chen's 45 minute beginners upper body workout that I recorded off the TV. Glad I chose light weights, it was challenging. I've sorted out some crockery that I don't use and it will go to the charity shop.

I've done some leg stretches and I will do a yoga DVD later to relax before I go to bed.

Day 4 ouch

My soleus muscle (I think) is a bit sore today so I'm recording an upper body workout off the TV to do later and I'm just going to do that and a 30 minute yoga session today to stretch me out and give my legs a rest. Sunday is the finish of the 12 days of Christmas so all decs down, and, from midnight Sunday, for the rest of this month no sugar which includes alcohol, puddings, ice cream :( etc etc. There it is written down and I will see it everyday that I log on here :) I am sure I can do it for the rest of the month. 

Day 3 still on track

Went to knit and natter this morning then walked part of the way home, about 2 miles I think. Later I did a 30 minute dance exercise DVD and sorted out some more stuff, mostly paper, for shredding or recycling.

Sunshine

Today we went and did the monthly shop and got that job out of the way then I did 35 minutes Insanity cardio DVD followed by 25 minutes of yoga stretches in the hope that I'll be able to move tomorrow. Insanity really is insane.

After lunch I went for a stroll down to the allotment to make sure nothing had blown away and the shed was still intact. It's only a mile there and back so doesn't really count as exercise.

I'm now going to sort out some more 'stuff', I know it is only Day 2 but I'm quite enjoying the challenges I've set for myself; let's hope it lasts for the whole month.

Good start

I feel like I've made a good start to my month. Did some exercise today, sorted out 'stuff' and managed to put a picture on here.

I sorted 2 bags of rubbish, one not in photo, 2 bags for charity shop and one bag for recycling; if I can do a bit every day my house will be empty by the end of January :)

Happy New Year, horrible weather

OK, done the bits of housework and jobs I needed to do. Wednesday is usually my running day but there is no group today because of the Bank Holiday and I'm not running outside in the wind and rain by myself, too much like masochism. I was going to do half an hour of Insanity DVD (incredibly hard) but chose to do an hour of Bob Harper's core fitness which I recorded off the TV instead. It was hard so I suppose it must be doing me good.

I'm having a general reorganisation of my life so this afternoon I need to start sorting and throwing out some 'stuff' and choose a new knitting project to take to my knit and natter group. The project needs to be fairly simple so I have plenty of time to natter, no complicated patterns and counting stitches here :)

Options for later: 
have a go with my new yoga DVD 
try to post a photo on here