keris stainton

March Madness conclusion

Well I failed miserably at updating every day, didn't I? But we would all have been so bored if I had.

As an experiment it's been incredibly successful and informative. In my opinion anyway (which, let's face it, is the one that matters!). Although I haven't managed to do everything I planned to do. Let's see.

Drink two litres of water per day.

Yes. I've found this surprisingly easy plus it's made a massive difference to the way I look and feel and to the ease with which I get up in the mornings so I'll definitely be keeping it up.

Eat five portions of fruit or vegetables per day.

I've managed this on most days - at least on days when we've had fruit and veg in. Easier than I thought it would be: berries with breakfast, some sort of veg/salad with lunch and dinner, plus a mid-afternoon fruit snack and a fruity dessert in the evening. Again, I noticed the difference to my skin, hair and energy levels, so I'll be keeping this up.

Meditate every day (for a minimum of five minutes).

Once. Once I managed to meditate. I may have to give up on this as something that's ever going to fit into my life. I do love the Meditainment guided meditations, but I can't access them because the US site doesn't accept my crappy UK card. Also, they're pretty long so they'd need to be a once a weekly indulgence, rather than a daily essential.

Exercise every day (minimum 20 minute walk)

Um. Kind of. I did well for the first couple of weeks, but then the pox and the cough kicked in and so ... not so much the last two weeks. I've been doing Diva Yoga whenever I get the chance and I love it (although having Harry hanging off me tempers the relaxation aspect somewhat). I'll keep up the yoga, but I definitely need to do the 20 minute walk every day too.

Drink no more than three cups of tea (my drug of choice) per day.

This has really surprised me because I haven't missed tea at all. I've been drinking more fruit and herbal tea, but some days I haven't even had three cups. I think I'll probably try and cut it down to two in April.

Avoid crap chocolate, i.e. I can eat "good" dark chocolate in small amounts, but no Mars/Cadburys, etc. 

Again, surprisingly easy and I'll definitely be keeping off it. Yes, there was the Toblerone frenzy, the Lindt bunny and a Maltesers Easter egg I haven't told you about (have you tasted the Maltesers eggs? Gorgeous!), but apart from that...

Floss!

Like exercise - managed it for the first couple of weeks then ran out of floss and never got around to replacing it. Think I will though. Didn't notice any difference, but it wasn't too much trouble and I know it's good for me...

Have more sex.

Yep. :) Will also be keeping this, um, up.

I will do my best to eat when I'm hungry, stop when I'm full and eat more consciously.

Ha ha ha ha ha. No. Not at all. One for April, I think (and, you know, the rest of my life). Funnily enough, this was a lot easier on days when I'd drunk enough water, eaten the fruit and veg and avoided sugar, so I know a lot of it is blood sugar related, so that's something to work on.

Computer off at 7pm at the latest. No exceptions.

Hmm. Well, Harry being off school and so clingy put a bit of a spanner in this one (yeah, I know I said "no exceptions" but I hadn't predicted the pox!), but I've certainly managed it I'd guess 75% of the time. And it's been brilliant. I'm going to pull it back to 6pm for April.

Thanks for all your encouragement. I've got another project for April so stay tuned! (Don't worry, I'll try and keep up the regular blogging in case you're already bored with my "projects".)

March Madness update 8

Okay, so yesterday not only did I fall off the wagon, the wagon then ran over me. Yes, I only had two cups of tea, but I don't think I had two litres of water and I didn't have any fruit or vegetables at all. Unless the tomato sauce on a pizza counts. Does that count? I also ate two (small) Toblerones and left a Lindt bunny with no ears and a very startled look on its face.

Why? Well first of all there was the fact that I spent the day running around like a mad thing and looking after a sorry-for-himself 3-year-old. But that's no excuse (it was just a lot easier to shove a Toblerone into my craw than to actually make breakfast). There was also the distinct lack of provisions in the house because although I finally got paid (woo-hoo!), I couldn't go to the supermarket thanks to the pox. Oh and there's a reason they call Cadbury's "crackbury's" - once I'd started the day with a Toblerone, the rest was inevitable.

But it's all good. Why?

Because I feel like shit. Now I know most of you will probably have worked this out before the advanced age of 36, but although I knew that eating well would make me feel better and eating badly worse, I always thought of it as a long-term thing, not an instant thing. But last night as I lay awake in bed with Harry, I had time to contemplate that my stomach was dodgy, my head felt fuzzy, my mouth was gloopy and my joints were aching. Specifically my hands, which have given me so many problems in the last few years. In the last few weeks? Not so much. Could the problem have been sugar all along? Why yes, I believe it could.

So this morning I dragged myself out of bed - and I do mean dragged, Harry was so exhausted, but equally so determined to get up, that he had to have a little nap on the landing before tackling the stairs, and he slept way more than me - and was determined to go back to healthy ways today. And that's the difference. Usually, if I feel like this I'd be having toast for breakfast and countless cups of tea to get me back up to speed. Thanks to "March Madness" I know that's just going to make me feel worse. And so I've had Special K with blueberries and water.

Yes, it is bleedin' obvious, I know. But it's taken me 36 years to work it out.

March Madness update 7

I know I haven't updated, but things happen. I fell off the wagon a bit last week, but I'm pretty much back on it now.

I know this isn't news, but it's a lot easier to eat and be healthy when you've got the time and money to do it! I'm struggling with the fruit and veg, because we just haven't got any, but I'm doing well with the tea and water.

I've lost another three quarters of a pound - woo! I think, anyway. It's now *cough* stone and 3.75lbs. (That's one good thing about the Very Expensive Scales, they measure in quarter lbs.) I'm happy with that because I didn't get so much exercise done in the past week.

One amazing thing - and I know this isn't going to be news to most people, but it was kind of news to me - on Sunday I had crappy food: a cooked breakfast and a Chinese for dinner, and on Monday morning when I woke up I could feel it. I could feel the difference. So I lay there like a berk thinking "Ah, so what I eat actually affects the way I feel ... interesting."

I've also found that this challenge is helping me make better choices. In fact, not just that, it's making me *want* to make better choices. So I think "Hmm, I'll make a cup of tea and eat some biscuits" and then I think "Oh no, I haven't had enough water or fruit, so I'll have a glass of water and a banana instead." And it's given me the feeling I've been striving for, which is that making that choice feels like a positive thing rather than deprivation. Amazing.

March Madness update 6

Yesterday I had four cups of tea. On Monday mornings I'm doing this parenting course (long story) and then I went to a friend's for lunch. Many teas were offered. Many teas were accepted. But then I didn't have any more for the rest of the day, which is so unlike me. The funny thing is, I felt kind of jittery after the four teas. Four teas make me jittery? Surely there's minimal caffeine in four cups of tea?

On the upside, I drank my water and had tons of fruit and veg. Lunch with my friend involved melon, salad, beetroot and pineapple (in the cottage cheese - yes, she's on a diet). David made his delicious curry for dinner and that featured courgette, sweet potato, peppers and aubergine.

I exercised, but didn't manage to meditate. I'm going to have to make sure I do it early in the day or apparently it doesn't get done.

Oh and flossing with the stupid teeny toothbrushes is ridiculous. I finally worked out that I'm not supposed to drag them down between my teeth like floss, but poke them through the gap at the gum. But some of my teeth don't have gaps at the gum! I much prefer floss.

March Madness update 5

Yesterday went marginally better than Saturday ... except that I had one extra cup of tea. Between Amazon and the Torvill and Dean people I really needed it.

No meditation or exercise of course. And those of you who received emails from me around 9.30 last night will know that I didn't manage to leave the computer at 7pm either, but we were watching Man Stroke Woman and it kept buffering so what was I supposed to do? Just sit there? Talk to David? Pah.

Anyway, I got weighed this morning and my Very Expensive and Intelligent Scales said I'd lost 3 stone and needed to gain a stone to be back within the healthy range for my height. Despite my dedication to health over (most of) the past week, I thought this unlikely so I moved the scales into Harry's room, tried again and discovered that I've lost in the region of 2lbs in the past week. I think it might actually be 2.5lbs, but since I can't remember what I weighed last week, that's probably wishful thinking. (The stupid Very Expensive and Intelligent Scales were supposed to do the remembering for me! Pah!) (In case they fail next week too, this week I weighed *mumble* stone 4.5lbs.)

March Madness update 4

When I said "every day" obviously I meant every weekday since weekends are a bust around here. Friday was fine (except I fell off the chocolate wagon - long story - but I had a Ripple and I didn't even enjoy it, they're very "cloying" aren't they?) and yesterday I managed the tea, water, and flossing, but we didn't have enough fruit and veg for me to get 5 (I got 4) and I forgot the no computer rule and, after we'd watched a film on the computer, clicked over to Amazon to finish an order I'd placed earlier in the day.

Just to set the scene, I'm currently waiting for a couple of payments and so we are skint. Like £50 in the bank until I get paid (and who knows when that will be) skint. But I had a £40 Amazon gift certificate, which I decided to use to cheer myself up.

After a lot of fussing and price comparisons, etc., I had a basket full of inspiring, exciting books and one utterly fabulous DVD that I used to have but loaned to someone who never returned it. I added my gift certificate. I ticked a little box that said I wanted to apply the gift certificate to my order, clicked order and then read the little message that said "Your order has been charged to your debit card". After doing one of Monica's "Noooooooooo!" screams, I logged on to my bank account to find that, yes, Amazon had taken £40 and we now have £10 to last us until I get paid (and who knows when that will be).

After a little cry on David's shoulder, I sent Amazon a furious email. They replied with "We apologise for any inconvenience caused" and told me that gift certificates can't be applied against Marketplace orders. "Wouldn't it be a good idea to tell people that before they place an order?" I asked. "Yes, it would. We will consider doing so in future," they replied.

What was my point? I'm not sure I had one. I think I may have just wanted to rant about Amazon. But then again, this may serve as a heads-up that until I get paid (and who knows when that will be), when things run out they won't be replaced and that will impact on March Madness. Already I've flossed my last, but I've still got those tiny leetle interdental toothbrush thingies the dentist sold me last time I went, so they'll do to be going on with.

Frankly it's a good job I'm off the chocolate (and can't afford to buy any anyway), because it's times like this I could merrily eat myself into a sugar stupor.

On the plus side, physically I still feel great and I'm finding it much easier both to get up in the mornings and to bounce wildly on Harry's bed singing, "Maisy! Maisy! Maisy, Maisy, Maisy. Maisy! Maisy! Maisy, Maisy Mouse. Maisy, Maisy Mouse." With Harry, I mean, not on my own.

March Madness update 3

All done yesterday! Fruit and veg, yep. Water, yep. Tea, yep. No chocolate, yep (incidentally, I haven't had *any* chocolate, not just no crap chocolate). Meditation, yep. Exercise, yep.

But do I feel any better?

Actually, I do! I really do! I feel more awake and energetic. I mean, I'm not leaping up the stairs two at a time, but I'm no longer crawling up them on my hands and knees! And my skin looks better too! It really does!

Do you know, I'm starting to think there might be something in this healthy eating/drinking malarkey after all...

March Madness update 2

First of all I want to address some things in the comments. Maz compared this regime to that of Gillian McKeith. Well, I've never watched any of her shows (too much focus on poo), but from what I've heard she's much stricter than I'm being. The only dietary restriction is crap chocolate! I can literally eat anything else I want (and, sadly, have been doing so). I can even eat non-crap chocolate. I'm certainly not surviving on mung bean salads and mixed seeds!

Jonathan questioned the cut down on tea. I know that black tea is good for you, but it seems to have an ill effect on me. I have milk and sugar and it makes me feel sluggish. I also often just drink it out of habit. Someone says, "Fancy a brew?" (as they do round here) and I say "Go on then" and don't even enjoy it. Plus what's the point of tea without biscuits? A cup of tea is, for me, never just a cup of tea...

So yesterday went well. I didn't manage to meditate and I'll tell you for why. The guided meditations that I like to listen to are on the computer. I didn't get home until after 7pm and I'm not allowed on the computer after 7, am I?!

In fact, I got home at 8pm and still hadn't exercised. I thought about cheating, but then I thought about blogging and so on went the sports bra and the Dancing With the Stars DVD and I was actually really glad I did it. See, this blogging's paying off!

March Madness update 1

I managed everything yesterday and, in fact, only had two cups of tea instead of the planned three (or the usual four or five...).

Struggled a bit to get all the fruit and veg in, mainly because we haven't got much in apart from berries and I'm not wild about berries. I've already found that five isn't that difficult to achieve (previously, I'd be surprised if I get five portions in a week!). If I make sure I have one portion with each meal then I can have one as a snack and another as dessert in the evening.

I had an appalling night's sleep last night. So appalling that I've ordered new pillows. Again.

I'm not sure where I'm going to get my exercise in today - I've got the car so there goes the walking (it's freezing out there, I'm not walking if I don't have to). I won't be home in time for the DivaTV yoga. Think that means it's a DVD for me. But when? The thing that's great about this month's plan is that, usually, I'd say 'Ah well, can't exercise today", but now I know I *have* to ... and so I will.

Thank you for your support (I'll always wear it)

For a while now I've been feeling a little sluggish. And by that I mean literally like a slug. My skin and hair are dull. I haven't got much energy and I'm a terrible sleeper. While I haven't really had a good night's sleep since conceiving Harry (I'm not exaggerating - it's not his fault, he sleeps like a dog - I just can't seem to get comfortable and I wake up with dry mouth, dead arms, or Too Many Thoughts), it definitely seems to be getting worse and I'm sick of it. And I'm not going to take it anymore.

Don't worry. I have a plan. I read a magazine article [Carol Mithers, A Month of Living Perfectly, O March 08], in which the journalist chose to live for a month in accordance with all the heath advice that's constantly trotted out in magazines, etc., to see if it was doable and if it made a difference.

As soon as I read it, I knew I wanted to do that too. Then I wondered who I could pitch it to. Then I felt a sinking feeling, which reminded me that I don't want to write for magazines anymore. But I kept thinking about it.

You see, for some reason, I am a total approval whore. When I lost weight after having Harry, it was because I was seeing a naturopath and there was no way I was going to see him each week and tell him I'd failed to do what he'd told me to do. (He wasn't particularly effusive with his praise - a simple "Good" made me truly proud and happy.)

So what to do? And then I remembered my blog. While it's probably rather easy for me to cheat if I'm only writing on my blog, I'll only be treating cheating myself (woah, Freudian slip, anyone?). So ... for the month of March I will...

1. Drink two litres of water per day.

2. Eat five portions of fruit or vegetables per day.

3. Meditate every day (for a minimum of five minutes).

4. Exercise every day (minimum 20 minute walk)

5. Drink no more than three cups of tea (my drug of choice) per day.

6. Avoid crap chocolate, i.e. I can eat "good" dark chocolate in small amounts, but no Mars/Cadburys, etc. (When I told David this he said, "Shame it's Easter, isn't it." Crap.) 

7. Floss!

8. Have more sex. I'm not going to tell you how much we're having or how much we should be having. You'll just have to trust me on this one. (I love the idea that I'll be able to say to David: "Come on, we've got to have sex ... it's for my blog!")

9. I will do my best to eat when I'm hungry, stop when I'm full and eat more consciously, but this has historically been the hardest thing for me, so I'm not making any promises (except that I promise to do my best!)

10. Computer off at 7pm at the latest. No exceptions.

No dieting, because I no longer believe in diets (the proof is in the two stone weightgain!). Plus I'll try to make this an additional post each day so I don't bore you all to death with details of my broccoli consumption and the resulting poos (I'm joking - I won't write about poo unless I absolutely have to!)

And, yes, I know it's the 4th, but it was Sunday by the time I realised it was March (the time! where does she go?!), but I stuck to all of the above yesterday except I forgot to floss.

Wish me luck!

Let's get physical

A couple of weeks ago, I saw this Rosemary Conley DVD on the front of one of the trashy mags. Oh, I did laugh. Look at that "before" picture - have you ever seen Coleen Nolan looking like that? Wearing a dress like that? And the expression on her face. Brilliant. But then there's the "after" picture. First of all, I've never seen Coleen looking like that either (and I don't just mean the swimming costume). And I saw her on Loose Women a couple of days ago and, while she looks great, she's not a size 10. Allowing for the camera adding 10 lbs, I'd say she's a 14 (cos she looks like a 16 to me).

And while I'm on the subject of celebs lying about their sizes, I read recently that before her weightloss, Fern Britton was a "generous 16". I'd say she's a generous 16 now. Again, she looks great, so why lie?

Look at this Tricia Penrose cover too. Again, she looks fabulous after, but she never looked like that "before" picture. Do they think we're stupid? She's slumping, she's leaning, she's pushing out her belly. This is the pose I do in front of the mirror when I'm trying to get myself to stop scoffing. It's the "god, look how fat I am!" pose. But then you stand up straight, pull your stomach in and your shoulders back and you're a lot closer to the "after" picture. Just to be clear, I still look a lot more like the "before" picture, I'm just saying it's not a realistic representation.

A-ha! Now this Vicky Entwistle one is much more realistic ... sort of. The "before" pic is an unposed paparazzi shot, so it's a fair representation of what she looked like before (why, oh why did she wear that unsupportive bikini top?), it's the "after" pic that I've got a problem with. It's alleged - not by me, by a certain newspaper - that Vicky didn't get that teensy figure by doing this DVD, rather she worked out for something like six hours a day for something like six months.

And yet every year women go out and buy these DVDs thinking that by doing them, they'll be able to transform their bodies in the same way. Why do we buy into it? I've done it myself (most recently with Eastenders' Charlie Brooks - who I saw on Loose Women promoting the DVD and, while she was definitely smaller than in the past, she looked more like her pale and spotty "before" picture than the tanned and glossy "after").

I'm not giving up buying exercise DVDs altogether - I've got two stone to lose and I don't like to leave the house unless absolutely necessary, so I can't - but I'm going to buy the ones that are about fun rather than recreating a totally fake "ideal". I've got Dancing With the Stars. I've got Strictly Come Dancersize and I'll be buying the Dirty Dancing Dance Workout too (learning that dance will make me so happy ... though I don't know how David's going to feel about lifting me over his head...).

I'm dancing with the stars!

Read my Dancing With the Stars review and Strictly Come Dancing review. Go on!

One of the (many) things I bought in Borders in New York* was this Dancing With the Stars exercise video. Featuring Maks, Kym and a woman I don't know, it includes Paso Doble, Cha Cha, Samba and Jive and can all be done without a partner (which is essential since David would rather poke his eyes out than Cha Cha).

Yesterday I did the warm-up and the Paso section and it was fantastic. The trouble I usually have with exercise videos is that I get bored. Of course, they need to teach you the basic steps before going on to the routines, but then you have to plough through all the basics each time you do the routine. Yawn.

But not on this DVD! (I sound like an infomercial...) They launch straight into it. So it's really hard (and possibly quite dangerous if you're not sensible about it), but it also means it's challenging and I like to be challenged.

My first go of the Paso, I probably managed to do maybe 40% of it, but I really enjoyed it and I was laughing as I did it, not just because I was making such an arse of myself (there was no-one there to see me), but because it was just such fun to be doing the Paso moves I've been watching on TV for so long!

It's going to take me ages to learn the routines, so I'm confident this DVD will keep me going for a while. Plus, even though I didn't manage half the moves, I was knackered at the end of it (it probably only took about 20 mins) so it's got to be good exercise too.

Later, Harry wanted to do some "dancing" so I put it on again and did a bit of the Cha Cha:

Me: This is hard!
Harry: It's hard, Middy! Well done!

Heh. Thanks, kid.

*Stupid pooter on the blink again. Well, not on the blink, it's full. I need to free up 20mb (?) of space in order to run the photo software. I'd like to delete some photos, but I can't without the photo software...

New York update

Thank you so much to everyone who has sponsored me. I'm so touched by all your support, I really am. Much as I appreciate all the blogging friends I know and love sponsoring me, it boggles my mind that I've been sponsored by people I've never heard of! You're all so lovely and I'm well on the way to target.

Of course, if you haven't sponsored me yet ... what are you waiting for? :)

If you don't or can't afford to sponsor me (or even if you have and can!) there's another way you can help:

I've been completing surveys for YouGov for a while now and I've got about £25 (you generally get 50p per survey), but you need £50 to be able to withdraw anything ... unless you get friends to join in. Which is where you come in ... if you sign up here, not only will you earn money for surveys you complete, but I will too (for your first three months).

If and when I get to £50, I'll be donating it to The Childrens' Society as part of my sponsorship, so your help would be appreciated! Thanks!

The Return of Keris Gump

No, you're right, I still haven't got round to reinstalling the scanner. I might upload another video of Harry later, but then again I might just spend the rest of the day trying to catch up on NaNo and drinking wine. Who can say?

But. But! Yesterday I went for a run. I know! You see, my weight's been creeping up for a while and in the last couple of months it hasn't been so much creeping as legging it up behind me and kicking me in the back of the knees. And, yes, I did join a gym, thanks for reminding me, but the thing is .. I hated it. Next time I say I'm joining a gym can you please point out that I really hate gyms and every time I join one it ends this way? Thanks.

So since running was the only thing that has ever had any sort of weightloss effect, I thought I'd try it again. I have to admit, I wasn't keen, but then I discovered this. Honest to god, whoever invented podcasts is a genius (was it you, Diane?). You see, when I was "training" for the 10k last year or whenever it was, I got a training plan that said stuff like 'walk for 5 minutes, run for a minute' or 'walk for 3 minutes, run for 2 minutes', but it's incredibly difficult to run while also trying to keep an eye on the time. Plus the constant checking of your watch makes that minute seem pretty long. But with the podcast my new running buddy Robert says, 'Your 5 minutes are up, it's time to run, remember to stay loose,' etc., and in between plays funky music (mostly - some of it is that kind of cheesy gym techno, but still). Genius.

So off Robert and I went yesterday and I did a circuit of the park. I couldn't actually manage all 8 intervals - yep, I couldn't manage 8 minutes of running, how sad is that? - but I did 6 and then ran home all energised and proud.

Dancing Divas my butt!

Yes, I bet you've been wondering how I've been getting on at the gym, haven't you? Well .. I haven't been all that much. I've been away! I've been to a couple of yoga classes that were fine if a little underpopulated (five of us at the first, two of us at the second) and I've been swimming, but I hadn't taken in any of the other classes. I decided tonight was the night for "Dancing Divas". Cos, you know, I like to dance (I'm not a diva, though. Oh no.).

I arrived after the class had started because for some reason my membership card never works and they have to make me a new one each time I go. There were four people in the class and right away it didn't look promising. The instructor was basically walking up and down and not even in time to the music, plus she kept changing step so it'd be left one two three right one two three four left one two three four right one two and everyone was kind of blundering about looking a bit bewildered.

And, oh, but did it get worse. There was no dancing! The instructor had no rhythm and seemed to struggle with the counting. After 10 minutes someone left. After 15 minutes I was doubting the instructor was really an instructor and started looking around for Beadle-style hidden cameras. Between each boring, tired old aerobic step (grapevine! spotty dog! jumping jacks! box step!), you could actually see the instructor trying to think of what to do next. She's obviously got the first Tae Bo DVD cos we did a lot of that. We ran around the room. We walked up and down. We did many, many squats. She looked at the clock a lot. But not as much as me.

But you know, I sweated, it wasn't Dancing Divas, it was far from fun, but it was a workout. At the end (the sweet, sweet end!) the "instructor" said - 'I'm sorry, the proper instructor's off sick! This class is meant to be really good, usually! I'm not an instructor, I just work at the gym. I've only been here a couple of weeks, I couldn't believe it when they rang and asked if I could come in and take a class'. And then, as an afterthought, 'I am a qualified instructor, though!' Er, no. She was sweating more than me.

Runnin' and swimmin'

Yes I have been going to the gym. Well, I've been once this week (and three times in all). But it's not entirely my fault. All the classes I want to do are actually courses and they don't start again for 5-6 weeks (of course they didn't mention this fact when I joined). And the drop-in yoga class on Monday was cancelled because of the bank holiday. And I couldn't do Saturday's pilates drop-in because I was in Glasgow.

But night before last I loaded my iPod with a virtual treadmill class thing I downloaded from iTrain. You see, my problem is that I'm very lazy. I'll get on the treadmill and as soon as my legs start to ache or I feel a little short of breath, I get off again. But this iTrain thingie meant I kept going for 20 minutes. It's sort of like an exercise class directly into your ears. There are levels for walking, jogging and running and the instructor tells you what gradient and speed to set the treadmill at and then changes it every couple of minutes. There's music too and she occasionally shouts 'encouragement' like, um, 'Let's rock!' and 'You can do it!'* And, at one point, 'Left! And right!' Now leaving aside the issue of someone who needs to be told 'left and right' while on a treadmill**, it was very good. Really motivating. And I was knackered by the end.

But not so knackered that I couldn't go for a swim. I've never been one for swimming in the past. I loved it when I was pregnant, but getting changed and then swimming up and down and then having to get changed again is way too much effort. But the pool at this gym is so fantastically relaxing I actually look forward to going. I know! And then there's the jacuzzi. I've never been in a proper jacuzzi before, but this one is as hot as a bath and the jets are so ferocious I feel like I've had a massage. If it wasn't for the Hairy Man, it'd be perfect.

The Hairy Man has been there on both occasions. He not only has long dark hair and a long dark beard, but is pretty much entirely covered in hair everywhere else too. (I seem to have become rather body hair obsessed lately. I apologise.) He seems friendly enough, but he doesn't get into the pool. He chats to people, showers poolside and sits in one of the (two!) jacuzzis. The other night I was in a jacuzzi by myself and he crouched down and said something I didn't catch. I thought he was asking if I minded him joining me, which would've been quite considerate of him. I said I was getting out and he smiled, shrugged and wandered off to the steam room. Which makes me think he'd been planning on talking to me. Talking to me! At the gym! God, if there's one thing I do not need it's people talking to me at the gym. I don't even like making eye contact.

At the gym I used to go to I once had a chat with this woman and then she stripped off and danced around the changing rooms. Naked! Everything was jiggling and bouncing and she was still chatting and I didn't know where to look! Jeez, people. Gyms are not for socialising!

*Which reminded me of this:
JACK: "Stake it" is my workout catch-phrase, and in addition to being a motivational tool, it is also a stylistic flourish that sets me apart.

**Which reminded me of this.

Keris Gump - the Return!

I joined a gym.

I had planned to keep running, but since it's almost a year since the Race for Life and I've been for about three runs, I've realised I've been kidding myself. Plus, whenever I see people out running, I think 'what are you doing that for?' rather than 'I should be doing that!'

So then I planned to do exercise DVDs in the house. Joanna Hall (great), Charlie Brooker (intensely annoying), Davina McCall (murderous), but weeks would pass without me ever picking them up.

So I joined the gym. They have a lot of different classes at different times so I can go in the day or evening or weekend. And they've got a pool. The main problem is that it's quite far from my house so either I have to walk for half an hour to do an exercise class and then walk half an hour back again. Or I need to drive or get the bus. Seems totally ridiculous to drive to a gym, run on a treadmill and then drive back home (why not just run to the gym and back?) but motivation is the key and paying gym membership should be enough to motivate me. Shouldn't it?

Anyway, I went for the first time on Sunday morning. I had planned to do a Tai Chi* class, but the timing was wrong so I just went on the machines. I really hate gym machines. Actually, I like the treadmill, but loathe everything else. When the guy (named Blake - Blake!) showed me around he pointed out that the exercise bikes and that thing where your legs go round and your arms go back and forward had their own TVs with satellite. Turned out they had an Italian channel, a French channel, an Indian channel, and MTV (which wasn't working). So much for my plan to watch Will & Grace on the rowing machine! So I listened to my iPod and tried to ignore the "dance" "music" thundering out of the speakers.

I quite enjoyed it. I realise I'm going to have to have an "induction" and get a "programme" because every now and then I'd sit on one of the weight machines, move the peg so it was set to the absolute lowest weight, but then realise I didn't know how to use it and have to get off again. Embarrassing. But really I'm only going for the classes. And the pool. And the beans on toast £1.95 in the cafe.

*David seems to think Tai Chi is a martial art and keeps doing Hong Kong Phooey style motions while shouting "Tai Chi!" at me.

Woo-hoo!

Can I just clarify that I probably already do read at least 52 books in a year, I just wanted to formalise things and blog about them. Okay then. (My first book is the Sarah Mlynowski and I'm not enjoying it at all - typical!)

I got weighed today and it was one of those scales that measures your height as well. I've been on those type of scales a few times and on this particular one a couple of times before and I've always been the same height - 4 foot 11 (if you can even call that a height). Well, today, I was 5 foot!!!!!!! There was me thinking that at the age of 34 I'd done all the growing I was going to, but no! Although it could be that I've put so much weight on I've actually gained an inch on the soles of my feet. Or something.

Anyway, the upshot is that, since I've been working from home and breaking up my busy day's sitting in the office by sitting on the sofa drinking tea and eating biscuits, I've put on a stone. And I'm quite confident about losing it (though God knows why) and I thought about maybe posting my little weighing receipts on here to keep me motivated. But what do you think?

I've been reading lots of anorexia/bulimia blogs for an article I'm pitching and it's got me really depressed about our obsession with weight (particularly women) so I don't really want to contribute to that, but, at the same time, I think posting them here would keep me on track and I really do need to lose some weight if only for health (since I'm so small my acceptable weight range goes from 7 stone something to 9 stone something, I'm merrily munching peanut butter on toast on the way to 10 stone - and then there's the fact that I've split both the in-seam of my favourite jeans and the bum-seam of my favourite pajama bottoms).

Let me know. If it would disturb you all unduly then let me know.

Clown

I've come to realise that my health, fitness, wellbeing, whatever, is like a circus act: juggling or keeping plates spinning. If one thing goes, everything goes. I feel best if I drink plenty of water, limit tea and coffee to maybe two cups a day, eat a snack mid-morning and mid-afternoon, keep away from refined carbs and sugar, run, and do a bit of yoga.

But if, say, I don't drink enough water or - and this is the biggest one - eat too much sugar, everything comes crashing down. And I find myself in the position I'm in now: not drinking enough water, drinking too much tea, craving chocolate and bread and pasta, hungry all the time, not exercising at all (I haven't been for a run since the Race for Life) and feeling like crap. My arthritis is bad too.

I'm hoping that once I pick up one of the plates, or bats (or whatever you imagine I was juggling with, maybe owls!) it'll be easier to get the rest back in the air. So this morning I put poor H in his walker (which he hates) while I did five minutes of yoga, I'm having muesli for breakfast (instead of the toasted muffins of the weekend) and I'm only going to allow myself a cup of tea if I've first drunk a full pint of water. I need to go for a run and - amazingly - I want to go for a run, but I just can't run in this heat. All the more reason to get everything else back on track.

Argh!

It's all gone wrong!  For some reason the pictures didn't post - if you click the link you can see them, but argh! 

And - and! - it's all changed colour!  I was planning to move Harry's site to typepad too and it was Harry's site that I wanted to change to blue and three-column, not mine.  So now I'm not going to bother moving it.  Can't have it tampering with mine!  Pah!  I haven't got time for this! 

Oh, and I forgot to mention that - though it was painful - I managed the 5k in exactly 30 minutes.  Result! 

Loser

Take your finger and thumb, put them in a right angle and hold them on your forehead: 

You can see the picture here. 

The article makes me sound like a victim of workplace bullying.  And a fat knacker.  But I shouldn't imagine you'll be able to read it unless you've got a magnifying glass (or bionic eyes) so not to worry. 

The run itself was an utter nightmare.  Far harder than the 10k.  I don't really know why apart from the fact that it was so hot.  But every step was a conscious decision.  And I weed a bit at the end. 

Barry Bethell

The photographer came around yesterday.  And so I doubt I'll be posting the article here ... he had me pose reclining behind my trainers (!), leaning against a tree (!!), running towards the camera (mm, that'll be a nice one) and leaping in the air like the Slimmer of the Year (he showed me that one; I did not look like Slimmer of the Year). 

Now everyone in the park thinks I'm a dork.  And they're right. 

In other news, I'm a bit worried about even managing to do the run.  I ran again on Sunday and was, again, knackered.  Sigh. 

Born to run, my arse!

I went for a run yesterday.  It was so, so painful.  I don't know whether it's because I'm not eating well enough or that I'm drinking too much tea and not enough water or because I'm not sleeping so well because I keep waking up with sodding "pitch" ideas*, but I'm finding the running really, really, hard.

But of course, now that I've got the local paper involved there's no way I can get out of it, so I'm going to have to do some extra training.  Yesterday I ran for 'Don't Stop Me Now' then 'Yes' by McAlmont & Butler (one of the world's most uplifting songs) and then I had to walk for a bit.  I know!  I must've only run for 8 minutes.  May I remind you that less than a month ago I ran for 8 minutes - and then another hour as well?! 

So then I varied my route thinking I might be a bit bored.  I ran across the grass and up a path, but there was no-one else there so I felt a bit scared.  Then I ran around the pond but there were some youths there and I was worried about getting happy-slapped so I had to go back to the path.  But at least by then I'd finished 'Born to Run' (ha!) and I managed to drag myself the rest of the way to the tune of .. god, I can't even remember I was so exhausted. 

I listened to Madonna's best ever song 'Take a Bow' on the way home to comfort myself. 

* Actually, it probably is for these reasons. 

Oh arse

It's possible I have lost my mind.  I've just agreed to take part in a Manchester to Blackpool cycle ride.  62 miles.  At least that means I can swap a ride for a run once a week (for now).  And I'll have to get my bike fixed.  And a helmet.  Ooh, lovely ...

And it'll take me up to (hopefully) passing my driving test, after which I can start trampolining classes. 

An epiphany

Yesterday I finally caved in and went for a run. I wasn't going to, I was just going to power walk up the hill, but I had long jeans on and, with my trainers, they would've dragged on the ground, so I put my trackie b's on. And then I thought, even power walking I should wear my sports bra, so I changed into that and a vest too. And then I set off. And since I was wearing my full running gear I thought I may as well just run. So I ran.

I ran the same route I always ran and I just kept thinking about the points on the route where I'd had to stop and walk when I first started training. I got tired and wanted to walk, but since the route is less than a mile, I knew I was perfectly capable of keeping going. So I kept going. And I did it. And felt better for it.

So then I started thinking about applying the same to my writing. If I don't feel like writing I don't have to write. I'll just switch on the computer, open the file, and if I still don't feel like writing, then fine (but I probably will). And I shouldn't think of my novel as a 10k, I should just try and write a little bit more each day.

There's a quote I love from E. L. Doctorow: "Writing is like driving at night in the fog with your headlights on - you can only see a little bit ahead of you but you can make the whole journey that way." I need to remember that.

I did it!

I'm so proud of myself, I could puke. And I didn't even find it that hard!! Unbelievable.

I was barely out of breath at the finish. My legs are pretty stiff and I suspect my left knee will be the size of my head tomorrow, but other than that I'm fine.

So. We set off and within about three minutes people had started walking so I knew at least I wasn't going to be last. I put my iPod on and looked around at everyone waving and cheering and thought - "Bugger me! I'm doing the Great Manchester Run!" The bit down Chester Road was nowhere near as bad as I expected (mainly because I had been thinking of an entirely different road!) but it was a bit disconcerting to see some of the professionals heading back (someone reached the 5k point in 13 minutes!). I kept going, thinking I'd walk a bit at the 5k mark where there was due to be a 'feed station' with water.

Just before I got there I started to feel really hot and thought about taking my top off (don't worry, I had another one underneath) but then there was a giant shower to run through which felt fantastic. I got my bottle of water and decided to stop for a wee. In a portaloo, not just at the side of the road. I wasn't sure if I wanted one or not, but I thought I'd better had rather than find myself regretting not going. I ran over to the loos and then, when I stopped, my legs were like jelly. When I set off again I walked for about a minute, but my legs seemed to want to run - they were behaving very strangely - so I ran again.

Then I saw the 7k mark and thought - only 3 more? I can do that! I started thinking - just one more song and I'll be at the next marker. And then, when I wasn't, just one more.

The last kilometre was pretty hard work, but once I could see the finish I knew I was going to get there and almost wanted to sprint. But I didn't. Finishing felt amazing, but it was also a bit of an anti-climax because I was by myself and I just ... stopped running. It made me think of the episode of Friends when Rachel finishes the crossword and there's no-one to share it with. But I just kept thinking, "I've done it. Me. Who can't run. I've just run more than six miles." It felt great.

Oh, and by the way - my time was 1 hour and 8 minutes. (I could tell you my ranking but the website's down.) Yay! Go me!!

Arrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!

It's tomorrow! Tomorrow!! Surprisingly, I'm looking forward to it. But mainly because then it will be over.

I'm not supposed to train this week so I haven't been running, but I did do a Joanna Hall "Metabolism Booster" workout on Tuesday and I've strained my left calf a little. Idiot.

Preparation-wise I've fake-tanned my lower leg (since I'm wearing cropped leggings); I've got to make sure I drink loads of water and I'm having pasta for my tea (yay! pasta!!). Tomorrow I'm having muesli for breakfast as usual and then a banana when I get into Manchester.

You can see the route here and you can watch it on the telly at 4.30pm (BBC2).

Wish me luck!!

P.S. The final playlist is over there >>> Some are untested, but I thought I might like a change (I can always skip them if they send me mental).

Woo-hoo!

I did it! 21 minutes 18 seconds!!! And I could've gone further. If I'd really dug deep. It was great.

I know I'm going to have to run for a lot (a lot!) longer than that on Sunday (Sunday!) but still - finally! - more than 20 minutes! Woo-hoo!!

P-tooey!

I did the hoovering. But I've postponed the sanding til tomorrow ...

I went for a run and decided to stick with the hill plan, horrible as it is. By the top of the first hill I could already taste blood and I wanted to spit. But I didn't.

I ran past a group of teenagers eating chips outside a shop. I got beeped at. When you jog no-one takes any notice, but when you run people look at you funny. At the top of the third hill I stretched, put Jamiroquai on and ran back down. I thought it might only take me five minutes, but it took longer so I listened to Shake It by J C Chasez too. It was good. Sounded like Prince.

For the first time today I was running without thinking about running. I suddenly realised that I'd been thinking about my driving lessons, about J C Chasez, about Prince, and then I thought - huh! - I'm running. And, all the while, my legs kept moving. It was great.

Wheee!

Just been out on my bike. Still haven't fixed the seat or the brakes, but I love it.

When I got weighed last Friday I realised I was only two pounds away from losing a stone. A whole stone! I'm not sure, but I don't think I've ever lost that much weight before so I'm very excited about it. So this week I'm determined to make sure I lose those two pounds.

So today I've done a Joanna Hall lower body workout, turned over the front garden, walked to town and back (50 minutes) and been on my bike ride. Tomorrow I'm going to hoover (!), go for a run, and sand down the woodwork in the spare room.

One worry is that my left knee which always hurts the day after a run, really hurt during my ride and now seems to be clicking as I walk. Hmmm.

The Hills Are Alive ...

... with the sound of me vomiting.

Running uphill is soooo hard! I went out on Thursday in the rain, no less! I know!! And I promised myself that since I was running in the rain I didn't have to go as far as usual. But then I took a turn and found myself running uphill. I powered through, thinking that since I wasn't going as far I should make it more difficult. Well, I was barely running. I could definitely have walked quicker. If I'd seen me I would've yelled abuse (in my head). But I was glad when I'd done it. And then I finished with a fast run, which I love. It feels great. (As did the shower after.)

So today, since The Run is only two weeks away and since I can't seem to crack the fifteen minute thing, I thought I'd go with the hill idea. Now, years ago when I tried running it made my teeth hurt. Since I've been running this time (i.e. training for The Run) this has never happened. Until today. Uphill running makes me teeth hurt. It also makes me feel sick.* And it makes my spit taste of blood which David tells me is lactic acid (which he knows from reading lots of sport books) rather than it meaning that my head is going to burst (although that could still happen).

Oh and apart from the possible head-bursting there was another tragedy! The Call wouldn't play on my iPod. Noooo! God knows why, but whenever I tried to play it it just flicked straight past. And then later I found I had the same problem with The Jacksons. Noooo! So instead of the Backstreet Boys I started with Queen. That song is so fantastic. I should listen to it every morning just to get me going. I couldn't time myself exactly today because I walked a lot (at the end of each hill) and did a few fast runs too. But I did at least 15, I'd say. I finished running to Jamiroquai Canned Heat which I didn't intend to (and wouldn't have done if I'd known it was five sodding minutes long), but played in lieu of Can You Feel It. And then I cooled down to Bluetonic by The Bluetones which has one of my favourite ever lyrics:

When I am sad and weary
And all my hope is gone
I walk around the house and think of you with nothing on.

(I also love Space:
I first met you hanging knickers on the line
From that moment on
I knew there'd only be one outcome
Me and you against the world forever)

*My sister tells me she's heard that thinking you're going to throw up is the sign of a good workout. So .. erm .. yay!

Don't Stop Me Now

I went running in New York with my sister and it was great. I've only been running with her twice in my life. The first time was in Central Park, Wallasey. The second in Central Park, New York. It was so good. Just thinking 'I'm running in Central Park' was enough to inspire me to run. And it was 8am. And it was raining (a bit). And I was on holiday. Hee. There were loads of other people running too. We worried that we were making all sorts of rookie running faux-pas - like running the wrong way on a one-way track, or something - but no-one said anything. Ah, it was fab.

In other news, I had planned on the race day to just run as far as I can and then get my breath back and run and get my breath back and run, etc., but I read that that's a mistake. I read that, unless you're capable of running the whole thing - which I'm not - you should run for a bit, walk for a bit, run for a bit. So I decided to try that in training today.

I updated my playlist and ran for The Call and then walked for about a minute. Then I ran for Don't Stop Me Now but I had to stop because I got a fly in my eye. Ow. Once I'd finished running that song, I walked for a bit then ran for Abba's Angel Eyes (great song). By the end of that I was knackered but once I'd got my breath back I ran for Growing On Me by The Darkness. Nothing like a song about pubic lice to get those legs pumping. Then an Old English Sheepdog went for me but its owner pulled it back ("She's just being friendly!").

By the end of that song I felt like awful. Faint. Sick. Aching. Hot. So hot that I seriously considered taking my top off and running in my bra. I must've been delirious. I stretched and then Can't Take My Eyes Off You by Andy Williams started. What? Since I felt so awful I thought I'd just jog feebly. Barely faster than walking. But then as the 'da-da da-da da-da-da-da-da' bit started I had an idea. And for the 'I love you baby!' bit I ran like fury. Like that sheepdog was chasing me wanting to hump me into next week. And then I once I'd recovered I did it again. It felt great. I thought I was going to die. But in a good way.

Incidentally, my training plan calls this interval run/jog business 'fartlek'. Fair enough.

I'm really proud of myself, but if you add the song times together, ignoring Andy 'Fartlek' Williams, it's still less than 15 minutes running. What am I going to do to break that barrier? Well. I should've been running three times a week, but I've usually only gone twice. I've decided that, in these last weeks before the run, I'm going to go every other day. Probably. And on the days that I run I can have a glass of wine. Thank god. I'm off to pour it now.

Hoist by my own catarrh ...

Turns out I'm actually more ill than I thought. Cough is now a full-fledged cold. I'm not sleeping very well and I'm certainly not up to exercising. This couldn't have come at a worse time since it's only a month to the run and I'm in New York this weekend (I love saying that).

But I have a cunning plan. I'm going to travel in this trackie bottoms-white vest-red cardigan combo that sounds weird but looks nice. I'm taking my trainers with me and I'm going to go for a run in Central Park. I might even run like Phoebe, you know, as a tribute. I can't think of anything more likely to inspire me to run than the idea of running in Central Park. Yay!

Did I mention the fact that Something Beautiful didn't really work for me? I've added Christina Aguilera now. Can't Hold Us Down works, but I'm not sure about Dirrty yet. I think I'll check out JC Chasez's album in a min. I've heard it's v funky.

Cough

I've got one. A cough. A horrible nasty cough. And a sore throat. And the cough wakes me up at night so I'm tired. So tired. So I decided it wouldn't be wise to go running today. It's possible I was just using the cough as an excuse, but I have been known to push myself when I'm not well and end up getting sicker, so I thought it was best to err on the side of caution, with New York next week and all.

But I didn't want to do nothing and waste the day (just in case I'm not as sick as I think I am) so I went for a ride on my shiny new bike.

It's lovely. I can't get the seat to stay up high enough, so when I ride it I look like Homer at Clown College and the right brake isn't working and the seat is quite pointy and has possibly done permanent damage to my undercarriage. But it's lilac. Pretty.

And I'm not quite sure of the gears, so I found it quite hard work riding round the park. So my legs are aching. And, for some reason (possibly that I'm pixie-sized) it's a bit of a stretch to reach the handle bars. So my arms are aching. So I'm going to have a nice hot bath.

Good grief ...

I've signed up for the Race for Life. It's exactly a month after the Manchester run and it's right by my house so it seemed rude not to. I don't know what's wrong with me.

In other news, you can sponsor me online. See! Over there!

Please do, even if it's just a quid or something. If I can actually raise some money it will make all this worthwhile.

(One thing I'm not doing though is running in the rain. It's raining now. If it's still raining at run time I'm not going. I'm drawing a line and putting my foot down. In fact I'm putting my foot down on the line, that's how strongly I feel!)

I'm so proud ...

I went for a run in the park today. The last couple of times I've run around the path and then it's taken me the entire walk home to recover. Today, as I was getting to the end of the path I knew I could go further. I decided on a bench (about 30 seconds away). I got there and decided I could go further. I ran back to meet David who was walking Harry and then I stopped running and walked a little. But I knew I could run more - and Like I Love You was still playing so I ran again to the end of the song. I've just worked out I was running for four seconds off 13 minutes. So not that much longer than last week, but it felt so much easier. I could've kept going, I really could! It felt great!! And recovery was so much quicker too.

And I'm thinking of signing up for the Race For Life too. Just to ensure that I don't stop running as soon as I've done the Manchester Run. We'll see. (And then I'm going to sign up for Race For Life New York next year. Either that or the Avon Marathon Walk - one of them will be my reward.)

iPods rule!

Today I ran about 50% further than I ever have before. And I owe it all to the iPod. I can't stop running during a song, I have to wait to the end. So I walked down to One For Sorrow, ran to The Call (once I'd finally remembered to swich shuffle off), My First, My Last, My Everything and Jordan Knight's Give It To You. Then I almost got run over by a bus which cut the corner causing me to dive into a hedge. I'll have to add the times up so I know exactly how long I can run for (clue: still not very long).

Then I walked back to Can You Feel It. It's so great. The only problem with it is that it makes me do a sort of funky walk. And then I have to restrain myself from doing a full 'walking to the dancefloor' walk (as demonstrated by Peter Kay). Every time I feel my hips start to swing I have to stop myself or else I'd have the men in the white coats dancing behind me (which might be quite cool, like a Bjork video).

In fact, at the end of the Jordan Knight song there's a sort of fairground music bit and I was trying to push myself a bit further so decided to run in time to the music. I ended up sort of tilting from side to side, nodding my head, and if anyone had looked out of their window they would have thought .. well, I don't know what they would have thought, but it wouldn't have been flattering.

Ooh, and also, my trackie bottoms are too big now! They were falling down as I was running. Which is great. But then, when you add it to the lollopy fairground dance/run ... yeah, I'm going to have to find a different running route.

Shuffling

I've just been for my first run avec iPod. It was bloody great. Although, if you set a warming-up song (One For Sorrow - Steps), a starting-to-run song (The Call - Backstreet Boys) and a warming-down song (The Blower's Daughter - Damien Rice) then remember to turn the shuffle feature off. Or you'll find yourself running to your warming-down song which is just no good at all.

I ran a tiny (and I mean a very tiny) bit further than Sunday, but I didn't feel as shagged afterwards. In fact I walked home to Can You Feel It by The Jacksons and carried on dancing to it when I got in (just like on the iPod ads!). But then I defy anyone not to dance to Can You Feel It. Ooh, I'll have to get I'm In The Mood For Dancing by The Nolans too!

In other news: my bike arrived! Yep, I ordered a bike off t'internet. Ånd, yes, it is a child's bike, get over it. Eek. I'm excited and, since I haven't been on a bike for years, a little nervous.

If I was a horse ...

... they'd shoot me.

Went running yesterday in the park wearing my smart new pedometer (99p on ebay plus £4.99 postage). The park was full of horses. Horses everywhere. Some sort of gymkana (don't know how to spell that). I ran twice as far as I've run in the park before. Partly it was because I was looking at the horses and so I didn't get bored and partly it was because I made myself. And god I was knackered. And the stupid pedometer doesn't even work properly when I'm running, only when I'm walking. Pah.

And then when I got home my face was bright red and I went straight up to the shower, dried, dressed, came downstairs and my face was still bright red. Argh.

Still not sure ...

I went running with my sister on Sunday and managed to run for five minutes (continuously) as suggested by my training plan. I should be much further on in the plan, but the lack of food has hampered efforts slightly. Still, I did it.

Then yesterday I went out again and did five minutes walking, five running, five walking. I should've then run for another five, but it was uphill so I only managed one minute running, one walking, one running, and then walked the rest of the way.

Worrying thing is next week I'm supposed to run for ten minutes. Never going to happen.

Good news from the dietician/acupuncturist today though - I'm now allowed brown rice. Carbs! At last!

Oh dearie me ...

Now I'm starting to worry. I still can't have carbs and the two times I've tried to run I haven't been very successful. On Sunday I ran to the paper shop. About, erm, two minutes ... I was okay and I recovered quickly, but it's not exactly decent preparation for a 10k, is it?

I'm going out again tomorrow and I'll just have to run as far as I can and then walk to recovery and run again. As well as I can. I'm buying a bike at the weekend so at least I'll be getting some sort of cardio exercise. Oh dear.

Two steps forward ...

... and I need a bit of a lie down. Well I had the week off and then yesterday I thought I'd better get out there again. I walked for about 15 minutes and then walked and ran and it was hard work. Yeah, I'm still not eating much, but still ...

So I think I'm going to have to go out each day and walk briskly instead of a walk/run every other day. At least until I'm back on carbs (whenever that may be ...)

On the plus side, did I mention being able to wear a belt that I couldn't wear before? Well I've moved it up a hole - yay! ("Moved it up a hole"? I'm sure you know what I mean ...)

Week off ...

No running this week - yay!

Because I've got arthritis - boo ...

I'm going to write about it on the main page, probably tomorrow.

Do some for me!! *

I ran in the park yesterday and enjoyed it. Sort of. I'm really proud that I'm doing it still - every time I've tried to run before I've only managed to go about three times before giving up.

And I've already noticed changes in my body. I'm wearing a belt that I bought not long after having Harry and was never able to get on. Yay me!

* A woman shouted this yesterday as I ran past - ha! ha!

No way, Jose!

I am not going running in snow. No way, no chance, no how!

I've rung the gym and, if I pay £20 for an induction, I can use the gym for £4.05 per session. Birrova rip off I feel, but needs must. I'll look in to it when we take H swimming at the weekend.

News Quiz? Snooze quiz ...

Saturday: I never knew five minutes was such a long time. Until I tried to run it on a treadmill. Especially since the gym had a TV programmed to "show" only Radio 4. So I ran to the beat of Jeremy Hardy's whimsical humour. Something I won't be doing again. But I did it.

I walked for 5, ran for 5, walked for 5. Strangely, when I run outside my lungs give up before my legs do, but it was the opposite on the treadmill. I was breathing okay, but my legs were screaming for mercy. At least now I know I can run for five minutes.

I read that the biggest mistake people make when they start running is to try and run too fast. The advice was that you should lean forward a little and sort of 'trot', hardly lifting your legs at all. So turns out the biggest mistake I made was listening to my husband. I should've known. So yesterday I went out taking that advice and ran about twice as far. It was great! Where before I did run-walk-run-walk-run, yesterday I did run-run-run-run-run on the same route!! I know!!!