Onwards and downwards...

jwil

I decided we'd mainly eat from the freezer this week, to try and clear them out a bit. So I went and did a bit of shopping, and still spent £25 :eek: I've barely bought anything. I really need to get myself organised and do some meal planning.

I feel so disorganised and out of sorts at the moment.

HairyHandofDartmoor

You're probably tired Jwil. Take it easy over the weekend and hopefully you'll feel better.

jwil

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

You're probably tired Jwil. Take it easy over the weekend and hopefully you'll feel better.

Thank you HHD, I'm in a foul mood today, so it hasn't improved :rotfl:

jwil

We took the kids out on Saturday, we went to Okehampton and took them on the Dartmoor Railway. Met up with a friend and had a picnic in the park. Then a drive back across Dartmoor. I love it there

Yesterday we made a last minute decision to sell at a local boot sale. We did quite well considering it's a fairly quiet one. We took the van so we managed to get everything out and see what we had, and do a bit of condensing. After we've done another couple it will be time for a cull and some stuff will head off to charity.

When we got home I defrosted our second freezer. Decided while it was hot, I'd do it as it should be quicker. There was a serious build up of ice! Luckily that's all done, I've done an inventory and we are going to try and eat down some of the food and replace it with fresh now.

Not much movement on ebay, 5 parcels posted today, only one was mine. Hoping sales will pick up once the weather gets a bit cooler and the kids are off.

I've started my final week of couch to 5k today. Only 2 walks left, then I hope to restart with running. However, my knees are aching a lot at the moment, so not sure if I will have to put it off for a bit longer.

jwil

Moany post alert

I'm really out of sorts at the moment, I don't feel like I'm achieving anything. I'm skint and there's so much needs paying out. I really need to revisit my SOA and start a spending diary to ensure it's accurate.

I've nearly KM'd all of my stuff, (I keep stalling at photos), but need to revisit it. The house is still a mess though, mostly with DH's stuff :mad: He knows it is annoying me, but is full of even more excuses than me He keeps pulling stuff to go from the garage and loft, which is fine, and I appreciate, but it's not the cause of the day to day hassle with stuff everywhere. I don't go in the garage or loft, so they don't affect me. He's got a week off soon, so I'm hoping he'll make some progress.

Little jwil told me yesterday he wants to look through his toys and decide what he wants to sell so he can have the money He's a ruthless mercenary, I'll be surprised if anything is left :rotfl:

I've spent the last 9 weeks doing the couch to 5k, and don't feel like I've achieved much. I've definitely improved my general fitness, but my knee is bothering me so I still feel like I'm creaking. Where I can now run a bit (subject to knee), I am really bad at brisk walking and am quite slow. Does anyone have any tips for speeding up? I try and walk briskly but just gradually get slower without really being aware of it. At least if I run, it's a constant effort. I just can't seem to make the same effort with walking.

I'm also trying to lose weight, but it costs a lot more and takes a lot more effort. I've done quite well with reducing my snacking, but am struggling to stick to a decent budget, even taking into account I'm not buying the chocolate etc! I'm struggling for lunch ideas at work. I'm bored of salads and sandwiches.

That got that off my chest, sorry if you read all that. I guess for most of it I just need to sit down and spend some time sorting myself out, sort out my SOA, and do some proper meal planning.

AdventureWanted

Hi Jwil, sorry you're feeling out of sorts at the moment. I sympathise with how you feel about your house, as it's exactly how I feel about ours. My DH also has a desire to sort out the loft and garage rather than areas which will ease our day to day living. I don't really have any advice, other than to say you are doing brilliantly decluttering and you must have made such a difference to your house since you started. I know that doesn't really help when you feel you've still got more to do, but you are making great improvements all at the same time as working and looking after a family.

As for the walking, could you try listening to a faster song when walking so that it helps increase your pace? Alternatively have you tried hiit workouts (e.g Joe wicks the body coach or Kayla Itsines bbg workouts)? They are usually only 20 mins and are an all over workout. You might find it gentler on your knee.

Anyway, just wanted to pop by and say you are doing brilliantly. I hope that the rest of the month treats you well.x

brizzlegirl

Me too. Its hard when you dont feel like youre making progress. Yes listen to a fast track or just try and and pick up your pace so you are out of breath. That should help. Maybe also pound the stairs in the evening? A few flights up and down should help (if your knee can take it!)

My OH also has blind spots. Maybe just relax? (Know easier said than done..) Am sure he will come round. Maybe vocalise it and say how much it would mean if he made your living space more liveable in...telepathy is not as common a skill as one might hope :rotfl:

brizzlegirl

PS..top marks to little jwil...am liking his style

jwil

AdventureWanted wrote: »

Hi Jwil, sorry you're feeling out of sorts at the moment. I sympathise with how you feel about your house, as it's exactly how I feel about ours. My DH also has a desire to sort out the loft and garage rather than areas which will ease our day to day living. I don't really have any advice, other than to say you are doing brilliantly decluttering and you must have made such a difference to your house since you started. I know that doesn't really help when you feel you've still got more to do, but you are making great improvements all at the same time as working and looking after a family.

As for the walking, could you try listening to a faster song when walking so that it helps increase your pace? Alternatively have you tried hiit workouts (e.g Joe wicks the body coach or Kayla Itsines bbg workouts)? They are usually only 20 mins and are an all over workout. You might find it gentler on your knee.

Anyway, just wanted to pop by and say you are doing brilliantly. I hope that the rest of the month treats you well.x

Thank you The house definitely is better, I must remember that. It's just the slow progress (and not doing the bits which matter!) which annoy me.

I will try and come up with some faster music, good suggestion. I'd really like to do the c25k, but I won't want to go out once the mornings are dark, so I will look up those workouts - that's exactly the sort of length I'd like, and I could do with some all body workouts. Brilliant, thank you :j

brizzlegirl wrote: »

Me too. Its hard when you dont feel like youre making progress. Yes listen to a fast track or just try and and pick up your pace so you are out of breath. That should help. Maybe also pound the stairs in the evening? A few flights up and down should help (if your knee can take it!)

My OH also has blind spots. Maybe just relax? (Know easier said than done..) Am sure he will come round. Maybe vocalise it and say how much it would mean if he made your living space more liveable in...telepathy is not as common a skill as one might hope :rotfl:

Great suggestions Brizzle, thank you I don't think my knee would take the stairs as that's when it is most painful, but we've got a shallow step in the garden, that might be a little easier to do some stepping on and then I could progress to the stairs. We've also got a big hill at the back of the house, I've been adding it on to my walk periodically, I should do that more often

You are right about DH. He comes from a family of hoarders, so I need to be more patient. He is trying. He knows my thoughts about the house, I vocalise it regularly in rants :rotfl: :cool: however, if I sat down and actually requested something specific he'd probably respond.

Actually, he's very supportive of my exercising, maybe if I asked him to clear the space in the front room so I could have enough room to do the DVD, that might work :think: It would also mean we've got one clear room which would be lovely!

brizzlegirl wrote: »

PS..top marks to little jwil...am liking his style

Me too He can be harsh when he's decluttering! That's my boy

Anyway, thank you both, I appreciate the suggestions and you've both given me food for thought.

jwil

I'm feeling not so grumpy today

I got up early and decided to get organised. 3 parcels posted. I put pork in the slow cooker for pulled pork, and microwaved some jacket potatoes so they can be finished in the oven this evening. Cereal, yoghurt and fruit for breakfast, with tuna and egg salad for lunch.

Hung out 2 lots of washing.

I'm going to find a notebook later to use as a spending diary. I plan on starting that from next month.

I'm going to dip into my emergency fund to pay for the holiday club for little jwil. It will relax me knowing it's paid, and I will replace the money once DH transfers me some. Childcare is a real anxiety thing for me, as we have no one to help, so once I know it's confirmed and paid then I can relax a bit.

If I get a chance I will try and get some listing done later, and hope that someone buys something!

As well as the suggestions from AW and Brizzle above, I have worked out a 2.5k 'lap' of my walk. I have decided I am going to do two laps whilst on my walk so I can compete against myself time-wise. The couch to 5k app just gets you running for a certain amount of time, so being slow, I haven't hit the 5k. Hopefully that will encourage me to speed up a bit as I will want to do the 5K within the time. It will also mean I do the uphill bit twice which should help with my fitness.

So that's my initial plan.