Back and ready to crack on with life!

Buffythedebtslayer

Hello XXX Welcome back, I was a bit sad you went away! toooo tired tonight for anything that makes sense. Happy exercising XXXXXX

mumblingtaff

Evening all and hello to Buffy and Honeysuckle!

I've finally managed to get the car tyre sorted - cost a bl**dy fortune but needed. Was a bit of a faff, went back after school as requested to be told that they wouldn't be able to do it right there and then and to leave the car with them.... Got a taxi home, had a little sit down and then walked the dog the 3.5 miles back to collect it. At least it's done now and it killed two birds with one stone combining the dog walk and a chore.

I didn't get home until after 6 so any thoughts of going to Slimming Wirld tonight went out of the window .
Have spent the early evening wrapping presents for the people I line manage and the lovely dog walker (using left over paper and gift bags etc from last year) having a bath, making lunch for tomorrow and having a bit of a tidy round. I'm quite tired today - I didn't sleep well, I think I was still a bit revved up from the gym.

On the money front, apart from the tyre I haven't spent anything for the past two days. No big plans for tomorrow evening either so it should be a low spend or no spend day.
Have checked the banking and transferred some money to pay for the tyre and the dog walker that will need paying on Thursday (got the cash out on the big walk this evening).

It's will be an early night tonight - one more full day to go.....

mumblingtaff

I am so tired!!! Work was bonkers today - you can definitely tell there's just one day left to go....
We finish at 12.30 when the kids go home but staff have a buffet at 1pm - hoping to be out by 2pm but we'll see, fingers crossed.
On the plus side, I've spent absolutely nothing today and it's now pouring down so I'm not going anywhere else tonight.
Since getting home around 4pm I've taken the dog for a big walk (getting me to 10000 steps for the day), cooked tea and cleaned the kitchen, hoovered and dusted and cleaned the wooden floors, had a little soak in the bath and sorted stuff for tomorrow.
I've put the dog walker's card, money and present ready for her - she's so good with him - for example, he was with her for 2.5 hours today, even went to the pet shop with her, and I pay her for one hour a day. Worth every penny.

Had a quick look at the finances and budgets and everything is on track and the £300 extra I've paid off the loan has cleared so it's nice to see it going down. Just £3500 left to go now and 24 months officially left - am aiming for 18 months - that would be just an extra £50 a month so it's doable, probably not ambitious enough but I don't want to over stretch myself and not reach my target and give up. Reverse psychology- I might get there even sooner by stealth.....

I have a hair appointment on Saturday - it's desperate so will be money well spent (budgeted for). I had it cut into a chin length bob a few months ago and it looks so much better - shiny, thick and healthy - but I need my roots doing regularly and a trim to keep it looking respectable.
I also have big group dog walk on Sunday morning (my birthday) and a meet up on Monday to look forward to.
I'm going to attempt to go to the gym for 3 out of the 4 days between tomorrow and Sunday too. Need to get stuck in properly to more training if I'm doing the 10k in just over two months time.

I have 5 days before Xmas Eve when I go to my parents and am trying to make the food that's in last until then - there's no point in buying for things to sit in the fridge going off. I'll need a few small fresh bits but not a proper shop. I gave myself a grocery budget of £200 and am down to £171 left so the just under three weeks to cater for should be easily doable with what's left.

Am feeling quite positive about things (if not knackered)......

mumblingtaff

Hurrah!! I'm done for Christmas:)
And not a minute too soon.....I'm absolutely knackered.
We finished at 1ish and I managed to get away about 1.30 after a staff buffet. There was loads left untouched (trays and trays of catered food not even opened) so on the way home I made a few calls and then took it all (a car boot full of food) to a local group for adults with learning difficulties that are having their Xmas party this afternoon. They were chuffed to bits with it - my good deed for the day.

I've been very lucky and have been given some presents by staff and students including 4 bottles of good wine, chocolates, some little gifts and a lovely book about dogs. A good haul.

I'm really tired so am going to walk the dog when it stops raining, maybe make a quorn spaghetti bolognese and have a long soak in the bath and watch some telly, maybe a film.
I just need to start winding down - this term has been nothing short of mental and I'm feeling it. A couple of days off will see me right though.
I'll probably be looking for things to do in an hour or two.., in the meantime its feet up with a glass of wine - how decadent on a Thursday

mumblingtaff

Morning all! Feeling quite positive today despite a rubbish sleep.

Got up around 6.30 - the pup hasn't cottoned on to the fact that we are on holiday yet - at least he went back for an hour after the usual 5.15 get up time. Didn't sleep well but that's my own fault - 3 glasses of wine and a takeaway to celebrate finishing work aren't a great preparation for a proper rest. Never mind - we live and learn..... A long walk in the park first thing with a happy pup blew away the cobwebs though.

So...... I'm turning over a new leaf, starting today. I'm fed up of feeling fat and bloated, tired and generally bleurghh. It's mainly due to the menopause but I'm not helping myself.
I exercise regularly, always walk at least 10,000 steps a day but eat poorly, drink too much wine and still smoke sneaky fags. There - I've said it outloud. I am an ageing Waynetta Slob
I'm 48 on Sunday and don't want to feel like this anymore.

I've been listening to a load of podcasts about menopause, running during middle age, motivation and general wellbeing and they've given me the kick up the bum I needed.
Today is the start of the new me. I'm determined to change - even if it is slowly. I'm now single (happily so, even if it's taken a bit of time to realise that), have a good job that's hard work but I generally like, am financially fairly stable, have a pup that I love to bits and who makes me happy and am slowly rebuilding a social life. There's a lot to be thankful for.
It's now time to focus a bit more on me - not selfishly so but just to be a better me if you know what I mean.

So, with this all in mind I finally plucked up the courage to get on the fancy weighing machine thingy at the gym this morning. It didn't make for a pleasurable experience but it's a baseline and the only way is up (or down if you think about it in that way ).
I now know my exact weight (which was half a stone heavier than I thought it was ), body fat and BMI. So, weight wise my first target is to lose 20 lbs and see how that feels. My fitness isn't too bad but could be better - I ran 5km, cycled vigorously for 15 mins and then did 10 mins hard rowing this morning, burning 630 cals in total. But, I've signed up for a 10k run in two months so increasing the running distance needs to be my next goal.
I'm toying with the idea of having one or two personal trainer sessions just to get a proper programme sorted but will think it over before taking the plunge and spending the cash.

Food needs to change too. I've realised that I eat way too much sugar and have learnt that it's due to hormonal fluctuations (and being a bit greedy) and drink needless wine, not enough to be drunk but two big glasses here and there adds loads of calories, ruins my already poor sleep and leads to more eating.

So - time for a fresh start, even if it is just before Christmas. I don't have any social plans that involve eating and drinking (other things planned though) so rather than waiting until after Xmas I'm starting today and allowing Christmas and Boxing Day with family to be relaxed then getting back on it.

I put aside some treat money from my tax rebate last month and have spent a bit of it on some new make up and a pair of shoes in the sale but the rest of it is still sitting there so I'm going to to pop out this afternoon to Sports Direct to buy a few new bits of inexpensive exercise wear. Mine is getting a bit tatty and some nice new things might help motivate me a bit. I'll pop into Aldi too for a few fresh bits to get me through to Xmas eve.

Getting my hair done tomorrow too so that will make me feel a bit more presentable.

Right, I'm sweaty, smelly and frankly a right state so I'm off into the bath to spruce myself up a bit.

janb5

Hi I remember your posts from before and well done for ditching the ex...he was draining your soul!

Often there are incentives/reductions from SW at the beginning of the New Year so maybe wait until then?

mumblingtaff

Thanks Jan!

Well, the positivity remains....
Bought some new running/gym wear yesterday and managed to keep within budget, popped to Pets at Home for dog food and treats but decided to not bother with Aldi and try to cobble things together from what's already in. Made a big spag bol last night for tea - 2 more portions in the fridge so at least one of them will get used up before Xmas.
Watched Elizabeth is Missing on the I-player last night - very sad but good and worth a watch. No booze or treats yesterday so did ok with the eating too.

Have had a little lie in this morning (until 7.30) and then walked the dog and went to the gym before I found a reason not to. 5km run (faster than yesterday by a minute), cycled and rowed. Felt good during and afterwards surprisingly.
I'm off to have my hair sorted out at lunchtime - will make me feel much better. I'll do a face mask later this evening too and sort my nails out.

The house needs a good clean but will walk the dog again after my hair appointment and then do it so he's not traipsing mud back in to a clean house.
Right better get clean again - they wouldn't want me anywhere near the hairdressers the way I look now

mumblingtaff

Morning all.....

Just back from a really long lovely dog walk with the dog walking group. Miraculously, it stayed dry but was very muddy. The dog thoroughly enjoyed it though and is now in a very contented puppy coma.
It's good to get out with other dogs and people from all walks of life that I wouldn't have met otherwise. Really starting to get to know them now.

So, it's Sunday and I don't have other huge plans - going to go to the gym this afternoon when my legs have recovered and I've had something to eat. Not aiming for a big session as I've done two long ones in a row, but would like to run 6km today rather than 5km to start the build up for the 10k on March 1st. That will be enough for today as I've already walked 5km this morning and will need to do another dog walk later on.
Other than a few chores in the house and some present wrapping that will be my day.

I've put petrol in this morning ready for the Xmas journey home and will use up food in the house so I don't need to spend anything else.

Happy_Monday

Great to see you back MT, I wondered how you were getting on with your new puppy and how things were going with ex OH. I’ve subscribed and will catch up shortly on the rest of your diary.

Are you still running? You’ll not remember me posting before but we are a similar age, and you inspired me to start running again. I’ve joined a running club and am back up to 5k, hoping to up that to 10k in January x

mumblingtaff

Hello Happy!! Thank you for stopping by!

Yes I'm still running - had a bit of a break during the break up time but am back on it. I'm doing a 10k on March 1st so am training towards that. Just over 6km done today, felt surprisingly ok.

Have had a bath since and am currently sitting with a face mask on. The eternal battle of fighting back the years.....
Food and no booze is also going well - no naughties at all. Trying to keep it up until Xmas day and Boxing Day then will get back on the wagon. To be honest, Boxing Day might be dry too as I think my parents have dog walks at the sea side planned rather than the usual afternoon in the pub.

Ended up watching a film last night on Netflix and came across another that I might watch later - think it's called The Two Popes. There's absolutely nothing on normal telly - really feel for older people that don't have access to things like that, subjected to the rubbish they put on terrestrial TV at this time of year.

Going to have some tea and settle in for the evening now the last dog walk of the day is done.