Back and ready to crack on with life!

mumblingtaff

Well done on the second run Joey - you're right to go back to where you feel comfortable, the biggest danger is struggling too much and giving it up as a bad job. It will get much easier really quickly.

Bit of a drama at home in Wales - mum's back has completely gone - they've been to A&E but it was a 6 hour wait so came home again even though she's in total agony. Parents!
Will ring again in an hour and see how they are - if needs be I can make a very early start and drive down tomorrow to help dad out a bit for a day or two. Not ideal but they're in their 70s and have my disabled sister and a puppy (!!) to manage as well. Fingers crossed .....

mumblingtaff

Well it's been a funny old day - took the dog to the park early on and met the bloke that owns my hairdressers - had a nice walk and chat with him - he's recently split up with his partner too and it was good to talk to someone in the same boat. I've known him for years but never really had more than a passing chat. A nice start to the day.
Spoke to dad about mum - was told night to go home last night, that things were fine - things had deteriorated overnight and he was taking her to the hospital this morning. Spent all day waiting for updates - she's home again now and drugged up to the eyeballs - dad has forbidden me from going home tomorrow as I have to drive all the way back again on Sunday for work on Monday (8 hour round trip). Don't normally listen to him but he's right - I'll see how things are and maybe go next weekend if there's no improvement.

During all the waiting around, went off to the gym and did a 5k run at a faster pace than normal to try to ultimately speed up my 10k pace. Hard work but I did it, followed by a cycle and rowing session.

Couldn't go on the walking group walk as I was waiting around for the call so took the dog out for a big walk after tea instead. Have watched the first few episodes of Messiah on Netflix - it's really good, enjoying it so far.

So, all in all, a day when all the plans went out of the window, but on the positive side, my house has been cleaned again, I've spent nothing, read another chunk of my book, done another day of exercise and stuck to Dry January. Silver linings and all that....

Happy_Monday

Oh no MT your poor mum, hope she’s feeling a bit better. I didn’t realise they had a puppy too, sounds like they’ve got a lot on. Hope your pup is feeling better.

Sounds like you’ve had a busy and productive couple of days. Are you getting ready to go back to work on Monday?

I was at running club last night, managed to knock a couple of minutes off my 5k PB, and I’m doing my first Park Run tomorrow, I’m a bit nervous but looking forward to it.

Hope you have a lovely weekend x

mumblingtaff

Hi Happy - how did the park run go?
Well done on the PB!

Mum seems a bit better but being typical mum won't accept any help offered by anyone, including her friends...
My pup is pretty much better now - back to his naughty self

Had a good day today - walked the dog first thing, then went to the gym and did an easy session of running, cycling and rowing. Want to do a more difficult session tomorrow - last one before I go back to work. It will be do much more difficult to run as often - certainly not every day - with the injustice of having to work all day

Did a shop at Aldi and spent £23 on lots of nice fresh stuff and no naughties. Got lots for the money - I'm always surprised at the end total.

Also been out all afternoon with the women only walking group and the dog - had a lovely time, met some new people and we chatted away as if we'd known each other for years. Really glad I've joined the group - I'm really enjoying the company and just getting out there and doing something different.

Been watching the new Netflix series called Messiah - it's really good, don't quite get what's going on but it's certainly one of those that you want to watch the next episode to see what happens. 3 to go so will know soon!

A bit of good news - I've booked a summer sun holiday! Just 6 nights but I'm really looking forward to relaxing in the sun and just chilling out. It's not until August so the summer plan is turning out nicely - going to Devon with the dog for 4 nights, home for a week or two, then off to the sun in Turkey and back in time for the GCSE results then another week off before going back to work properly. Sounds like a plan!
Both holidays are really reasonably priced and the majority of the cost is already saved up in the holiday account. Both had low deposits and the abroad holiday is half board so most of the meals are also included. I need to pay the balances in May and June so plenty of time to save the rest and some spending money.

I feel like things are really starting to come together and am content and happy for the first time in ages.

Happy_Monday

Ahhhhh MT what a lovely post, so great to hear how positive you are feeling, great news after your tough year last year. And fab news about your holiday too, I feel really excited for you.

Park run was, well it was tough to be honest. It felt a lot longer than 5k, and there were over 400 people there so I started off way to fast in the first surge. But I had a good time which I was pleased with. Did some yoga stretches and relaxation after to try and unravel my tight muscles, which felt good. Next run is Tuesday, something to look forward too!! Your gym session sounds good, I miss working out at the gym, but I do enjoy the convenience of working out at home.

I spent the rest of the afternoon on the settee watching Brittany runs a marathon, which I really enjoyed, thanks for the recommendation! Just watching Bancroft now.

Hope you have a lovely rest of the weekend, and hope your mum continues to improve x

Honeysucklelou2

It's great to read about your summer holidays plans and your feeling happy and content. Hope the new term is a good one;).

mumblingtaff

Thank you Honeysuckle and Happy. I really do feel like life has turned a corner
Well done on the park run Happy - I'm not a mad fan of running in the mud but do need to do one soon.
Talking of running, I've gone mad and am now going to run the Manchester 10k Great Run in May for the Dogs Trust. I did it for a hospital charity last year and really want to do better this year. All registered and the charity pack is on its way so there's no backing out now. The first 10k is on March 1st so that will be a good marker of progress. I'm toying with doing one in April too - there's a nice fairly flat one about 10 miles away that looks ok but I'll think about it for a week or two before taking the plunge.

Went to the gym this morning to use the fancy weighing machine and this week I've lost 2.1 kg of body fat (4.5 lbs!), my body fat has gone down by 2.8% and my BMI down too but I've only lost half a lb in total weight. I'm happy with that though as I'm obviously losing fat but gaining muscle. I can definitely see the difference in my underwear - will be interesting to see how my work suit trousers feel. Will try them on later.
In the school Xmas holidays I've lost a total of 6.5lbs in weight and 3kg of body fat and my BMI is down from 30.1 to 28.6.
I have to keep reminding myself that's it's just 2 weeks - the real measure of success will be at the end of January, fingers crossed. I haven't counted calories or followed a diet plan, just cut out booze completely, pretty much eliminated sweets and crisps (apart from a bit over Xmas and Boxing days) and done plenty of exercise. It will be much harder to keep up when I'm at work but I'm going to try.

I didn't stay at the gym (just popped in to weigh) because I wanted to try a run with the dog. If he takes to it it will kill two birds with one stone some days after work when I don't want to go out and leave him in the evening. Only did 3km as a trial go but he loved it and got the hang of not trying to stop and sniff all the time eventually.

So, it's the last day before work and there's quite a bit to keep me busy today....
1. Run - done
2. 2 loads of washing - done
3. Approx 3-4 hours of school work - done
4. Long dog walk later - done
5. Ironing -done
6. Quick Hoover and dust downstairs - done
7. Sort eyebrows and nails
8. Pop to the shop for bits not available in Aldi - done
9. Ring mum - done
10. Get clothes ready for the week and organise new work handbag - done

Right, better get on with things

Happy_Monday

Brilliant news on the weight loss and change in body composition MT, especially during the Christmas period, very impressive. There were quite a few runners at park run running with their dogs, they had a waist strap and lead attached to it, it seemed to work really well. Couple of mums with running buggy’s too!

Your to do lists always inspire me........off to write a list so I don’t waste the rest of the day!

Hope first day back at work goes ok for you x

mumblingtaff

Thanks Happy!
I'm looking into a running harness and waist strap for the pooch. We're practicing for a bit first though
Had a busy day, got almost everything on the list done - just nails and eyebrows to go and will do them watching a bit of telly this evening.
Watching Olympus has Fallen while waiting for tea to cook - fancied a bit of Gerard....
Done a wodge of school work and feel ready to go back - it's an INSET day tomorrow though so a nice gentle start with no kids

mumblingtaff

So back at work today.....
Went ok but there aren't any kids in yet, that's tomorrow.
No meeting tonight (moved to tomorrow instead) so left fairly early and took the pooch for a nice long 4km walk in the rain. Got back just as it started to chuck it down thankfully.
Had a nice surprise this morning though when I put a pair of trousers on I haven't worn for a while - they were quite loose and I had to move the belt up a notch:) Started the day well at least .....

This evening will involve a nice soak in the bath, another shortish dog walk and maybe a bit of work if I feel the urge. I managed to finish my book yesterday so fulfilled my goal of getting one read over the holidays. It was called Blood Orange by Harriet Tyce - very good, would recommend it. I have plenty of others to choose for the next one so have no excuse not to carry on.

I've also managed to stick to the healthy eating today too, taking breakfast and lunch to work and waiting for a nice but sensible tea to cook now. No booze either - to be honest I haven't really missed it and don't know why I didn't cut it out earlier, guess I just wasn't ready to with everything else going on.its almost three weeks now