Knuckling Down!

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Well, I've been back on Spark now since New Year's Day and...for the first time in my life I seem to be sticking to a New Year's Resolution! I decided that I wanted to complete a Couch to 10K 'Learn to Run' program. I searched Google to find a plan and...lo and behold I was led straight back to Sparkpeople! Thanks for STLMary for sharing your plan

Tomorrow, I start week four of my training. Despite the fact that I'm not really enjoying it yet (and barely enduring it half the time!) somehow I find myself pulling on my trainers for each scheduled run/walk and getting out on the streets. I've been out in light, dark, wind, rain, ice and cold so far and nothing's made me give up!

I've also kept up with my regular gym classes - Zumba and Body Combat. I haven't yet been able to get to Pilates this year but that's been for genuine reasons so I'm still happy with myself.

On Monday, I'll start tracking my food & drink...this is going to be a challenge! January, in my family, is another celebration month with mine and my Mum's birthdays and Chinese New Year. Our Chinese feast is tonight, which means leftovers tomorrow! On Monday, it's time to cut the portions down and reduce my rubbish intake. This won't be easy as there's temptations and peer pressure everywhere but it's necessary and I am going to commit 100% to getting healthy and fighting the flab!

As always, my wonderful Spark friends and this amazing web community is inspiring me...you are all so awesome and positive, it's impossible not to be infected by the can-do healthy attitude on here - so THANK YOU so much for reading and for sharing your journeys with me, I KNOW that I couldn't do this without you xxxx

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

RUARUGBYNUT2 1/27/2012 4:10PM

Good luck with your run in march, fat what fat you look great keep that tracking going it certainly helps. Report Inappropriate Comment

Ouchy!

Friday, February 11, 2011

Hi All,

My restart on Spark had a bit of a false start with regard to tracking (we're re-doing our kitchen, so my laptop's been gathering dust!) but all's been going ok. I've lost 2lbs, which I'm really happy with and had been enjoying the gym....until Tuesday.

I woke up with a slight 'pull' in my right upper-thigh and by the time I got home from work the pain was getting bad and I couldn't bend to get my shoes off. After an awful night trying to sleep I saw my doctor who diagnosed a severe groin strain (I'd probably pulled the muscles in the gym and then pushed them over the edge by sleeping in an awkward position). I've been prescribed lots of strong pills and advised to steer clear of the gym until I can walk without limping - which should hopefully take about a week. If I'm not seeing a significant improvement after the weekend, I'll need physiotherapy but I'm hoping it won't come to that.

The pain is being nicely dulled by the painkillers and anti-inflammatories but I'm still a slow moving hopalong! Trying to be patient though as I've been advised not to push it.

It is no fun when you have to ask for help just to get into bed or put your socks on and so hard to keep a smile on your face when you're shoved out of the way in the rush for the train home - so one positive thing I will take from this is an even higher respect for people who have to deal with pain and mobility problems permanently.

I have a lovely evening out with two of my best friends planned for today. In true Spark fashion I've checked the restaurant's menu online and have selected the best available choices - still far too fatty but at least I'm going for the salmon so there's plenty of 'good' fats! It should be a great start to the weekend.

Tomorrow though won't be quite so healthy - I'm off to my Mum's belated annual Chinese New Year feast - I'm not even gonna try to track! But hey, it is only once a year

Hope you all have a wonderfuly weekend,

Love Beccy xxx

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

PATJ7084 2/11/2011 4:41PM

Hope you are soon pain free Report Inappropriate Comment

DAVEYSHADOW 2/11/2011 7:17AM

to hear about your muscle pull, I am working through a hamstring pull this week, it is really frustrating. Well done on the planning for tonight and my advice for tomorrow, just reduce the portion sizes on the other meals for the day to help compensate - I also normally advise adding in an extra 10 mins of cardio, but that won't help you ! Report Inappropriate Comment

Light bulb! (sorry guys, this is a bit of a long one!)

Saturday, June 19, 2010

I've always thought of myself as someone with a healthy outlook on life and, for the most part, I am. However, over the last couple of weeks I realised that my attitude had become a little skewed.

When I started my Spark journey a couple of months ago, I'd just lost a few pounds but was still another few over my 'happy weight' (the weight I never had to try to be at until I turned 30!). When I set up my account I set a goal of getting down to 112 pounds - my happy weight is 117 - but I thought, well, I'll lose a bit extra, so I've got some pounds to play with.

Since I joined, I've been eating better and exercising far more than I have in years. As a knock on effect, I've found myself sleeping better, with more energy and with an almost undentable positive outlook on life.

With my newfound sense of wellbeing, I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised that a couple of things have happened recently that have caused me to re-evaluate my goals:

1. One evening I was sitting in front of my computer catching up on celebrity gossip (I know, I know, total trash but hey, I'm a girl with very few other vices!). I found myself looking at pictures of Cheryl Cole. Cheryl is an undeniably beautiful woman with a figure I suppose, subconsciously, I've aspired to. Suddenly, it really was as though a light switched on in my head - the woman is too thin - I DO NOT WANT TO LOOK LIKE THAT! I contrasted these pictures with some of Katy Perry, a very slender woman, no doubt but one with muscles and curves who looks like she could fight off a cold or dance all night. Hmmm....interesting, I thought.

2. A few days later I was putting on my training shoes to go to the gym. As I tied my lace my leg tensed and I noticed that I had....a calf muscle!!! I've only been flabby (whether big or small) for as long as I can remember so this was big news to me - and I was so happy with it!

I had never thought of myself as one of those women who's scared of muscle but, I started to realise, that's exactly the way I had been. I'd wanted the 'lollipop' look, impossibly skinny with no discernible muscle tone - what was I thinking?!

3. With my new opinions on muscle, I went along to try a Body Pump class. This class is on a Friday morning, so very quiet. In fact, there were only three other people in attendance. The first was a young woman I've seen a lot in the gym, she joined about 18 months ago. I remember seeing her and admiring her commitment. She was heavy and out of shape; she'd come in, set the treadmill on a slight incline and walk - red in the face and sweaty - she never gave up. I started missing the gym so went I went back a few months ago, I was shocked by the change in her - she looked like an athlete and was working out as hard and fast as one ! I remember thinking to myself that she must have worked out and dieted sooo hard. It had never occurred to me that weight training might have played a part in this. I got talking to her and, to my surprise, she told me that she credited a large part of her 50 pound weight loss (and keeping it off) to pumping iron! When I got a close up look at her I realised, yes she's tiny but she is all (extremely feminine) lean muscle.

The other two people were a lovely, retired couple who helped me set up my barbell and explained the format of the class. When we got started, I was not surprised that athlete-girl could lift far heavier weights than me but I was surprised that the older couple were too....as was the instructor (fair enough, you might think, but I should add that she is seven months pregnant!!). I had to stick with the warm-up weights for the entire class - I'm a weakling!!! But am I embarrassed? Nope, not really, just glad I've found out and hugely inspired to stay a healthy size and get strong, rather than skinny!

I'm now at my happy weight and, thanks to the mental strength Spark has given me, I don't want to go below it. Instead I'm starting on a new phase of my journey, focusing on eating right and getting strong. I never in a million years want to look masculine or like a bodybuilder, but I sure don't want to look like a lollipop either!

Thanks for reading, hope you're having a wonderful weekend,

Beccy xx

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

JOHNTJ1 6/19/2010 5:14PM

It's always amazing how wonderful it is when we find things out about ourselves. It's like finding tiny presents or treasures along the path of life that are full of delights. I think you are discovering what most of us knew all along: you are an amazing and wonderful person Much love John Report Inappropriate Comment

MOM2PACO 6/19/2010 10:55AM

Wow sounds like that lady is doing wonderful things for herself as you are for trying out a new class and TRYING. keep up the good work and I hope you can maintain where you are now at your happy weight! Report Inappropriate Comment

Thanks!

Friday, May 28, 2010

Hi All,

I'm enjoying some Spark time this evening - the last 10 days have been so hectic I've only had time to log my food & exercise so have been missing catching up with you all.

It's a Bank Holiday weekend here in the UK (so we won't be working on Monday). I have Fridays off too so I'm super happy! Started the weekend off well with a great gym session, a wonderful massage and a Spark Recipe for dinner.

I'm really feeling strong and fit at the monent, I've never stuck to being healthy this long before and it's all down to the inspiration I get from my Spark Buddies, so thanks to you all. I'm making the most of my motivation and have booked into a Body Combat class on Sunday morning - never tried it before, was always too scared to look silly but that just doesn't bother me now! My gym's also running a special 9am Zumba class on Monday morning so I'm going to that too - now I can tell my left from my right I think I'm becoming a Zumba addict!

Thanks for your support and inspiration guys, I hope you all have wonderful weekends

Love Beccy xxxx

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

SEXYVIXEN2 5/31/2010 9:06AM

Have a great weekend Beccy. Well done with your healthy living and fitness. Staying motivated is definitely the key. Sp is a great place for help and inspiration and as John says 'contagious'. Addictive too Best wishes, Angela Comment edited on: 5/31/2010 9:07:23 AM Report Inappropriate Comment

PATJ7084 5/30/2010 5:33PM

You are doing great Report Inappropriate Comment

MOM2PACO 5/28/2010 6:11PM

What a great blog!! Thanks for sharing. I want to try Zumba as well but you know i've been having healthy issues and i can't try it yet!! I will soon though!! Enjoy your long weekend!! Report Inappropriate Comment

JOHNTJ1 5/28/2010 5:37PM

And thank you for being you!!!! Glad you are having a good experience here. I have found that once you fall in with this crazy group of people it's contagious. You just cant help but enjoy yourself. Enjoy your weekend Love John Report Inappropriate Comment

ABCs

Friday, May 14, 2010

If you are reading this, you have the honor of copying all these goofy questions and writing your own responses! Paste these instructions in the body of your blog.

A - Age: 32

B - Bed size: Double

C - Chore you hate: Washing dishes

D - Dog's name: Saffron (RIP baby xxxx)

E - Essential start your day item: Water

F - Favorite color: Purple

G - Gold or Silver: Silver

H - Height: 5' 4"

I - Instruments you play: None - but I do sing!

J - Job title: Compliance Officer

K - Kid(s): None

L - Living arrangements: 3 bedroom house

M - Mom's name: Rosalyn

N - Nickname(s): Bec, Becs, Becsy

O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: None (lucky me!)

P - Pet Peeve: Noisy eaters

Q - Quote from a movie: He slimed me!

R - Right or left handed: Lefty

S - Siblings: One younger brother

T - Time you wake up: 6:30am

U- First word that comes to your mind for U: Unicorn

V: Veggis that you hate: Avocado

W - Ways you run late: Checking the locks

X - X-rays you've had: Teeth, arm

Y - Yummy food you make: Chocolate cake

Z - Zoo favorite: Don't like zoos, but do like bears

Copy and post in your blog...fun to get to know each other!!!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

JOHNTJ1 5/15/2010 7:01PM

I am left handed also. i knew there was a reason i liked you so much love john Report Inappropriate Comment

SEXYVIXEN2 5/15/2010 12:18PM

Hello Becs, pleased to get to know you better. Will post a reply over next few days Report Inappropriate Comment

CHARITY_DAWN 5/14/2010 5:39PM

might have to just do this one Report Inappropriate Comment