Dumbells

Dumbells...not a fan!
Today Jon threw dumbells into the mix...I nearly smashed them into V's light fittings...by accident obviously! We were training indoors again due to the dreadful weather and we had to lift them above our heads and then out to the side. I couldn't actually even manage to hold two out simultaneously and circle them, I had to go one at a time! So I add another thing to my "dislike" list but the good news is that I did manage to hold "the plank" for thirty seconds which may not sound much to you but for me it's on a par miracle wise with the visitation of the archangel Gabriel to Mary!

Bend and Flex

At the moment I am meant to be working on my flexibility...I have none! I am as a rigid as a brick wall! Jon has given me 12 exercises to do in circuit fashion which is meant to improve this situation. The noise my knees make as I bend is really quite disconcerting! As with most of this new challenge I'm attempting...we live in hope!

Victoria Sponge

Today the lovely Jon was poorly so V and I were left to our own devices! V was slightly ahead of me as she went out for a jog on Saturday afternoon! She texted me to see if I wanted to join her but as I was in a cafe in Oxford stuffing my face at the time...
So today I vowed I would go out and do some exercise on my own in the afternoon as small child was firmly esconced in school till 4:30pm thank goodness for tennis club! The problem was that I had friends coming for lunch...so this morning I made a Victoria Sponge cake...a big one...with fresh cream! Having finished lunch and sent my friends on their way I dressed for the artic, grabbed my phone and tried my new app which is a stopwatch! I set the timer for three minutes and ran for 3 then walked for three...did that three times each and then went back home and did exercises in front of Location, Location, Location.
It is quite hard to watch tv whilst doing squat thrusts but I managed it! I definitely entertained the kids next door as they came home from school because I'm not normally doing jumping jacks in front of my lounge window! So all in all quite pleased wit myself until teatime when that cake came calling my name again!!!!

Baggy Trousers

Well yesterday we had training again...oh dear was so not in the mood! Perseverance is definitely the name of the game and Jon helps with that he is always cheerful even when the weather is ming!
So back to the less enthusiastic V and me...we started off with some warm ups, running from side to side and back again and this is where the problems started...my joggers were too big and kept falling down! Try doing shuttle runs in the mud whilst holding up your trews...hard work! The problem was exacerbated by Jon deciding that everytime we ran back to the middle we had to do a squat thrust! Regular readers will know that I do not enjoy the squat thrust exercise and yesterday did nothing to change my mind. Squat thrusts with trousers which will not stay up are simply not a good idea! Jon's response to the trouser issue was merely to congratulate me on having lost enough weight to merit baggy trousers rather than suggest I called it a day as I was secretly hoping he would...well it was cold out there! My favourite bit of the session was the running round the football pitch bit...straight forward jogging while holding up your trousers is a lot easier than holding them up whilst doing jumping jacks! There was a hilarious moment when V had a mutiny and refused to do anymore squats because she could barely stand and the two of us collapsed in a heap on her sofas at the end of the session  probably entertained Jon for the rest of the day. The only good news...at least I get to go shopping for more joggers that actually fit!!!

Smug

I am (finally) two stone lighter and a great deal smugger than I was in March of this year. The last two pounds have been really tough to shift but I have got there in the end!
Sadly at 13stone I have another two stone (28 pounds) still to shift but hey halfway is not bad right?!

Especially for Lou

Today I was firmly admonished by the beautiful Lou for not blogging!

Sorry hun x

Here we go:

I have now done two sessions with the brilliant http://jongloverfitness.co.uk/ and I can safely say there is a long way to go!

I love our sessions we have a right laugh; my friend V and I do like to giggle as we suffer! One of my favourite moments so far was when we entertained the local teenagers during half term by doing our session in the park one evening...in the dark! You'd think the dark would help cover our inadequacies but no the local youth made sure that we knew we looked ridiculous!

So far my total unfavourite excercise is the squat thrust...I can't do more than two at a time without collapsing! I do quite like shuttle runs...although "like" is relative I mean I like chocolate and wine too but they are on a different scale! 

After my first session I felt quite good and was ridiculously smug which came back to bite me on the bum or should I say quads after the second session where I could barely drive let alone walk they hurt so much!

This week due to crazy schedules we are not training which is bad as I am not very motivated to do my home training schedule without having to prove to Jon I am following it! However the idea of the pain that will follow next week's session if I don't may prove to be enough for me to pull my finger out!

the thing I like most about our sessions is working outside which is odd but true, the combination of the outdoor scenery and fresh air make the whole experience a lot more pleasant than a sweaty gym or stuffy church hall which is where I have previously carried out any forays into exercise! Having a good instructor helps too, someone whose aim is not ritual humiliation of their clients is so important! Jon is very patient which he needs to be...like I said there's a long way to go!

Disappointing

Today is a disappointing day...I was meant to have my first training session with www.jongloverfitness.co.uk and my marvellous friend V this morning. Alas the pitfalls of being a running Mummy have struck and I am instead stuck indoors with a poorly five year old! So training is put off until next week, I intend to pop out for a jog tonight once the hubby is home and I have lost another pound in weight so it's still looking good on the whole. If I attack the housework with vigor today I might be able to tone some muscles that way!

Milestone

Good day today it's my first milestone and I haven't started running yet! Today I discovered I have officially lost 25lb in weight since March of this year! I set that target and it felt impossible...25 is such a big number but I've done it and now there is slightly less of me to haul around the 10K course! Now I am officially just "overweight" and not obese I might have more chance of finishing! Yay me!

In the beginning

This blog is all about my quest to run a 10K in 2013 which will be to raise funds for www.gloucesterlittlebundles.org
It is a fabulous local project which helps local families in need by taking donated preloved items of baby clothing and equipment as well as brand new toiletries and nappies and redistributing them to local families in need through a referral only system. I volunteer for this group and am keen to help them raise more money to continue to secure their future and help more families!
I will only be able to achieve this goal with the help of the brilliant http://jongloverfitness.co.uk/ who is not afraid of a challenge and is helping me with a training plan and fitness session each week.
Those of you who know me well will know that this challenge which is achieved by thousands of people all the time will be a big ask for me...but that it is why I'm going to do it...a big ask means big money hopefully and my target is £800 so please start thinking now about whether you can financially support me on this challege. more fundraising details to follow.
This blog will be a diary of my training so you can see how I'm doing and follow my progress.
I look forward to sharing the journey with you!
Laine