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So, I’ve fallen behind a little! Thankfully though, I haven’t fallen off the wagon totally. Not every day has been as healthy as it could be but moves on right direction are definitely being made.

My weight has plateaued around 13st 7 – 13 st 9 so I’m trying to remain positive and keep up with the Garmin challenges before starting back running. I achieved all of the available challenge badges I went for in February.

The 10k steps a day has now just become the norm and is relatively easy to achieve on work days, the days I’m not in work, I’ll get a brisk 3-5 mile dog walk in. With February being the short month, it fell into March before I got some other Garmin steps achievements but proud to earn these last night:

In addition, there is a “one mile a day” challenge split onto three month stages stages I achieved that this morning (91 miles between 1st January and 31 March and I didn’t start until a month later!)

Whilst I could have perhaps made some better food choices, I’m really happy with my fitness achievements so I’m focusing in the positives and will work harder this month on keeping with calories and making healthier changes.

Sundays are really active and I wonder if my body is holding onto water a little for muscle repairs and the scales aren’t always an accurate reading on Monday morning so, in March, I’m going to weigh on Friday mornings instead and see how that reflects. I haven’t taken any measurements for a coupe of weeks but I haven’t noticed any huge difference so I think I’m going to drop that down to everyone fortnight, possibly every month. I’ll see what Friday’s look like and judge from that.

I got up to 27 days on the plank challenge but struggled to hold 120 seconds. I can definitely see some abs definition though so I’m going to take a “before” photo and restart it. It goes up by 10 seconds intervals so I’m planning on doing 2 days, taking a rest day, doing the last of that stage then two days on next stage, take a rest day and move up like that and hopefully achieve the 120 seconds but over 40 days rather than 40 and on both full arm and elbows!

I’ve joined some walking and steps challenges on both Garmin and Strava so March’s goals are set (and well on the way to being achieved on the third day in … let’s see what the next 28 days brings.

Not been doing well keeping this up to date with a week of annual leave and decorating!

I’ve managed to stay on track with calorie counting, stuck to my 10k steps a day and continued the 30 Day Plank Challenge. I had a sneaky step on the scales on Wednesday morning and came in at 13st 9 so I’m REALLY happy with that.

Wednesday was climbing, as was today. I’m definitely feeling stronger and more able to tackle the harder climbs, currently about 4+/5. It’s feeling good to see some progress.

I’ve had a couple of days where I haven’t been regimental with calorie tracking, today being one of them, I succumbed to French bread pizza, strawberry trifle AND some mini Reeces peanut buttercups but everything in moderation.

Tomorrow is back to work and a more consistent routine, 5.00am start is going to be a killer after all these 9.00am lie-ins. I’ve got some leftover French bread pizza for lunch so I think an early dog walk is in order! The weather has been fairly crazy with one storm after another but hoping it quietens down later in the week so I can fit a couple of trike rides in.

Tomorrow is measurements day so hoping I continue on a downwards trajectory!

A whole weekend to catch up on! I’ve managed to stay on track with calorie counting and that translated onto the scales again this morning, 13 stone 11lbs, another 2lbs off!

Chest: 43″

Waist: 35″

Hips: 39″

Total loss: 7.5lbs / 6″

Saturday

A long car ride to Leeds and back for the football so I got out early for a walk to Aldi to grab some healthy snacks for the car and to make lunch (pasta and salad) so I didn’t succumb to chips and hot chocolate.

I have joined a couple more Garmin walking challenges, one is is 300k steps in February and 91 miles in the first quarter. I missed January but determined to get their before the end of March. I’m also well over halfway on the 300k challenge.

Sunday

Sunday was a great active day with an early dog walk, nearly 12 mile bike ride ride through an afternoon of climbing so a fab calorie deficit!

Monday

This morning was an early start with weigh-in and measurements measurements then a dog walk to get through steps in early before shopping. I’m on annual leave this week so some healthy food choices including smoothie for breakfast and homemade leek and potato soup for lunch. There’s also a slice of homemade coffee and walnut cake with my name on it … that won’t go on the tracker

This week’s activity has definitely taken its toll, last night I slept for nearly 9 and a half hours!

Today was an active rest day so just 10k steps to get in today. It was a rough-ish hormonal day so took some motivation to get out but managed it about 8pm!

Another busy weekend planned with a road trip up north for the football so a little planning needed for healthy snacks/lunch so I don’t succumb to hot chocolate and chips!

Working from home days are usually the worst for laziness and poor eating. As it was the teenager’s birthday today, I knew cake would be involved at some point and that was the incentive to get me out of bed at 5.00am!

Nearly 12 miles covered with the cycling but that obviously doesn’t add any steps so after work was a long dog walk around the lake again, along the river for a change of scenery.

The evenings are definitely starting to stretch out a little and I’m looking forward to when the warmer sunshine makes an appearance! I’ve noticed the mornings becoming a little lighter too and the daffodils are just starting to poke through by the lake.

I’ve been hitting my water intake target every day since I started, filling up on about 2.5 litres of dilute juice every day and have, so far, manged to keep up with the plan challenge doing both extended arms arms on elbows. Today was up to 50 seconds so that was mind over matter to push through on tired arms from climbing last night. My legs are also screaming a little too so tomorrow will be an active rest day with just the plan to hit steps goal and calorie deficit. Today wasn’t a great day for food intake but I’m reminding myself that I promised no deprivation and, as long as it’s tracked, I can’t have it if I want it.

Alarm went off at 5.00am and I totally wasn’t ready for it so it got snoozed so no dog walk today.

Today was the last day in the office before two days working from home and nine days off. I’m conscious of the fact that I naturally gravitate towards unhealthier food at home so blogging and tracking are going to be invaluable the next week and a half! I’m also hoping to fit some long walks in, cycling and some extra climbing sessions.

Yesterday, I downloaded the “Hike” app for Garmin and trialled it today and it works great. Registered the walk to climbing and the walk back to the bus station.

Climbing was tiring tonight. Broke early for a Uni tutorial which ended up not going ahead and couldn’t get back into the swing of it afterwards but still happy with almost 4000′ ascent!

Alarm is set for 5.00am again and hoping to squeeze a decent bike ride in before work … but we’ll see 😉

Not going to lie, today has been tough! Succumbed to too much food so sadly didn’t end with a calorie deficit but it wasn’t as bad as it could have been!

I managed to start the day at 5am with a dog walk. Did a little jog to test the ankle but it’s definitely not ready for running yet. My left ankle has been niggling a little so I’ve taped that tonight and I’ll see how I go.

I hit my steps goal again and gained the “Step into February” badge with Garmin, 100000 steps in the first 8 days of the month, not bad going!

Finally found an app on the Connect store that will record “walking” on the Forerunner so I’ve set the alarm for 5.00am again and I’ll give that a try and hopefully manage to get some miles on the Garmin Step challenges.

One more day in the office this week but luckily, it’s at a site that has far less options for poor food choices! Climbing tomorrow night and, working from home the rest of the week, means I can get a nice long ride in on Thursday morning! And maybe a longer walk on Friday morning or afternoon … weather permitting! 🤞

One week done! Ecstatic to say the hard work translated to the scales and tape measure.

Chest: 44″

Waist: 35″

Hips: 40″

Weight: 13 st 13lbs

Total loss this week is 6.5lbs and 4″!

To say I’m happy is an understatement and just the spur I need to keep me going.

I was going to do an hour on the crosstrainer but bed won when the alarm went off so today’s plan was to hit steps target and keep a calorie deficit, both achieved!

However, when I got home, I had a major bout of procrastination over Uni work so found a virtual video, hopped on the trainer and did a 5k, more of a very brisk walk than a run!

It’ll be Thursday at least before I can get out on the trike so must find some motivation tomorrow morning for crosstrainer or a dog walk … 3 miles is the aim together with another calorie deficit and 10000 steps.

As anticipated, the weekend ran away with me so I’ve done a joint post for Saturday and Sunday. I’ve stuck religiously to calorie counting all weekend, even the delicious alcohol-free mango lager at the gig on Saturday!

Physio was happy with my ankle progress do it’s a case of keeping up with the exercises, upping the walking and seeing how it all feels. My Sketchers are the least sexiest shoes ever but sublime for walking in so I’ll be loookg for something with similar cushioning for reufr

Sunday morning started with what should have been an 11.5 mile bike ride but got a puncture a minute or two in and couldn’t fix the inner tube so cue a trip to Halfords for more inner tubes and a proper puncture repair kit! Time had ticked by psst through point of getting out and back before climbing so settled for two and a half hours on the walls.

Overall, it’s not been a bad week! I’m looking forward to stepping on the scales tomorrow and see what progress I’ve made! I’ll also take updated measurements. I calculate a weekly cumulative calorie deficit of 4124 calories so hoping to see that translate into a pound or two off 🤞

I’m adding some recipes starting tomorrow so he

Friday comes around so soon! I was in work early this morning so initially planned to drag the crosstrainer out tonight but I’ve had a cold brewing all day so tonight has been all about resting and napping!

I found these “breakfast toppers” in Aldi last night so mixed them up with some oats and milk for breakfast this morning, as a die-hard Reeces fan, I have to say the peanut butter one did NOT disappointment!

Generally, I’ve noticed I’ve been feeling tired the last few days but I’m chalking that up to early mornings and increased exercise. It’s definitely a different kind of tired to usual though … more tiredness than lethargy which I’m pleased about as that’s when I fall into the vicious trap of eating junk because I’m too tired to cook which leads to me feeling more lethargic so eating more junk and the downward spiral continues. I was tempted to reach for the junk food while feeling ill but managed to stick to Linda McCartney burgers so healthy but easy!

I think the weekend will definitely be a test of my resolve. That’s when I’ve previously had “cheat days” which just get out of control and ruin any work I’ve done during the week. I have a walk planned for Saturday and then we’re at a local gig on Saturday night (I’ve already sworn off alcohol!) and hopefully to take Trev out again Sunday morning for another 11.5 miles and then climbing Sunday afternoon so another big calorie burn day.

I was tempted to step in the scales earlier but holding out until Monday morning and will update stats then … fingers crossed everything is a bit smaller 🤞