Often and forever.

What a difference a day makes!  What a massive life thumping change six weeks has made!

In the time it takes kids to make friends, break friends and bruise knees on their school holidays my little world has been positively and irreversibly transformed in so many ways.

It seems ridiculous almost, to be making these declarations when I’m not even half way through my adventure. There are many things on my important stuff list that I am yet to conquer but that almost doesn’t seem to matter. (Although don’t think for one second come the 18th June I won’t have ticked every one of them off!)

I am different.  My life is different.  What makes me happy has changed.

I wake up energised and want to fill my tummy with food that will make my body happy.  I stop eating when I am full!  This is from the girl who hoovered down food like a Dyson and whose big toes no matter how full could always find room for more.  And did… often!

I drink water.. ALOT of water.  I hated water!

I haven’t had a take away; chocolate bar; packet of crisps since I started and I genuinely have no desire to have them. I would turn them down if you offered them to me without a second thought.

I wake up on a Saturday morning ready to thrown a small round yellow ball at people in a church hall whilst screaming like a Banshee!

I feel fabulous nearly all of the time and have re discovered clothes that haven’t seen the light of day for at least 12 months.  Matching undies are the norm and I am walking tall and smiling wide.

I get excited knowing I will be hearing Stu’s ever so chipper knock on my front door at 6.30am and that  I am going to become a big sweaty; face pulling mess, as I learn how to do magical things with kettle bells, bulgarian bags & TRX.  Stuff I never thought possible I am doing.  It sometimes kills me but I do it and I love it.  And it’s making a difference.  After 3 weeks I’d lost over 3% body fat!

Most of all I have made a whole heap of the most amazing new friends that have welcomed me with open arms into their world.  We have trained together; twittered together; danced together, laughed more than I thought possible together and screamed and shouted at people to keep running together.

You are funny, inspirational and awesome and I feel completely privileged to be your friend.   You know who you are. THANK YOU!

I am completely energised, content and happy.  It’s working and I love it!!!

 

 

Walk tall!

Tonight the clocks go forward signifying that spring has officially sprung.

The air is full of hope, new life, new beginnings!

My spring happened a little earlier than most.  As the mornings started to lightened & with the snow falling heavy in the North, 14 days ago,  I found a new sense of purpose.  A bounce appeared in my step & smile firmly on my face.  A taller walk, a more connected me.  Since then the feeling has intensified into an overwhelming one of control and contentment. Balance.  This is a new experience for me and a word I don’t use lightly.  It has never resonated. It does now and I’m genuinely loving it.

It hasn’t all been plain sailing. Who knew drinking 8 glasses of water and rocking matching underwear would have been, so far, the most channelling things on my important stuff list!  The second has been the topic of many flabbergasted workplace  conversations, with woman giving me a knowing secret nod and men utterly perplexed that I don’t necessarily don agent provocteur every day or are completely shocked that Marks & Spencers sell pants that don’t have matching bras.  Who knew one male colleague said to me at a work do last week.  One of my favourite emails of the last week has been from a close friend she wrote:-

In honour of operation banish slug today I am matching top & bottom and feeling fabulous!

You have to love that!

The journey so far has been remarkable, I’m playing Dodgeball once a week at a church hall at the end of my street and it’s the best fun ever.  Food isn’t a issue, I’m eating well & thinking about what I have, not what I can’t have.  I have an army of virtual supporters in #FitTeam13 and Stuart Amory my personal trainer who inspires me everyday to work harder and reach higher.  I am also learning that relaxing is good and just as important as all the other stuff! Excellent news!

#Operationbanishslug is rocking my world!

Team power!

Most days it’s me against the world.  I know I can do it, so I dig deep and do.  It’s made me strong, independent and capable.  It can also be isolating, a bit boring and occasionally lonely.  There are only so many hours the cat will pretend she is interested.

Today for the first time in a long time I feel part of something, not just anything something powerful, amazing and inspiring.

Something that will ensure I’m accountable for the things I said were important and will absolutely support me in ensuring I nail them, with no excuses and no get out of jail free cards.

It’s a group of amazing people who live in the world of Twitter, they are part of #FitTeam13  the brain child of the super positive personal trainer Stuart Amory (even his door knock is chipper) who has accepted the challenge of helping me banish the slug.  This group of virtual possibly bonkers but definitely inspiration folk have welcomed me into their team with open arms, welcoming tweets, masses of support and brilliant advice.  They don’t know me, we’ve never met but they have already filled me with the passion, energy and motivation to man up and get on with it.

There is no way I am prepared to let them or Stuart down.  They set the bar high and I plan to help them raise it!

#FitTeam13 you are awesome!