Here Comes The Rain Again

Along my weight loss journey, the biggest and most poignant moment was the decision I made to start running. By my own admission, I am probably the worlds worst runner. I start and I stop, but this time I intend to see it through until the end. I sometimes make every excuse under the sun (or rain) not to go out and run. So far I am on a 5 day winning streak, and while writing this post, I am already thinking of the benefits of going for a run today - hey the clouds and rain have even disappered and the sun has come out - is that a sign or what!

I made a decision to run (something that at well over 105kgs in weight I never thought I could do). I purchased a pair of expensive trainers, and for this I used a professional running store. They measured my gait (the position my foot lands when I run), and advised me on the best pair to get. I still cannot bear to throw my first pair of running shoes away!

I downloaded an app - I can highly recommend this, and it was great until I got to around Week 5. I moved countries, to a much hotter one and I stopped running. Up until this point, in only 5 weeks, the difference I saw in my body shape was astounding, and everybody else noticed it too.

Moving countries was a big hindrance to my weight loss, I missed home, and was adapting to my new surroundings and trying to settle in. In reality, I should have continued with my running to give me some sense of normality. My other half is a marathon runner, he runs like a gazelle and I feel totally inadequate next to him, so this threw me off kilter also. If I learned one thing, it is be yourself, no one else will lose weight like you, so stick to your guns. If it works, then do it.

I began to use everything as an excuse, the weather was too hot, it was raining, I was tired. If I had still been at home in the UK I would have been running. The point I am trying to make here is that only you can make a difference, and you have to do some kind of exercise. When you exercise make sure that you push yourself to your limit.

Have a goal - find a local race and enter one that is around 8 weeks away, and start small. I have ran a 5k and now have two 10k races under my belt. This was something that I never thought I would do. I am writing a separate page on running tips, but if you have lots of weight to lose, then this is a serious contender in assisting your weight loss - rememeber to consult your GP if you are severely overweight though - all running guides will recommend this. Anyway, I am heading for the great outdoors now - please comment if you have found any of my posts interesting or inspiring so far!

Me Before I could Run for 1 Minute

Me completing my 1st 5km race in Birmingham, UK

Day 4- Keep on Running

After yesterday's little mishap, I felt more determined today than ever. So, after cleaning the house from top to bottom - a great way to burn a few calories, I donned my running gear and went out for 7.5km. It was a beautiful day today, and although part of me really did not want to go, I ignored the niggles and ventured outside for some fresh air and exercise.

I have started using a running app again - which combines running and walking. The pace picks up in every session and gets you working harder and longer. A great way to introduce yourself to running, and there are plenty of apps out there to chose from. The one that I use is great as you can have some great up tempo music as well as hearing the voice instructions from the coach. Use your favorite search engine to find the right one for you.

I am feeling much better after 5 continous days of healthy eating and exercise, and am hoping for results in my weigh in on Monday!

Day 3 - Had a Bad Day?

No one said it was going to be easy, so even if your day did not go as planned, learn from your mistake and start again. Having said that, it does not exercise (pardon the pun) your right for you to binge-eat for the rest of the day. Give yourself a break, dust yourself off and start again immediately.

My mistake today was total lack of preperation. I knew we were going out into town for the day, full of bakeries, souvlaki houses and temptations galore. I skipped breakfast as I was late getting ready, so when I got to town I was hungry.

I sat and had a coffee - I ordered a capuccino without even thinking about it, instead of black coffee and ordered a sweet dessert. By some sheer luck, he forgot my dessert, and I had the willpower not to remind him. I did my business around the town, visited some family in law, avoided their high fat lunch of fried potatoes, but then on my way home, hunger pangs got the better of me and I ordered a pita gyros (meat, tzatziki, tomatoes, onions and fries all wrapped up in a pita). A whopping 600 calories spent on one meal, and to be honest, I did not even enjoy it!

When I got home, I made sure I did a 7km walk and run to at least compensate for it, and I burned around 590 calories and made sure I was fairly good for the remained of the day. So the moral of today's story is...

Day 2 - The Eye of the Tiger

So, its almost the end of Day 2. It is approaching the time of day that I like to call 'Danger Hour'. Where all of the good work of the day can quickly be undone. Around 9pm - I really crave something sweet. This thought becomes all consuming, and all I can think of is eating mainly chocolate. These cravings are all in the mind, or in my case, mouth, and if I can find the willpower to distract myself long enough, surely, in time, it goes away. Last night I put a movie on, and made sure that I had nothing tempting in the kitchen cupboards. At around 10pm, I had a Peppermint Tea with a tea spoon of honey in it - hey presto my sweet craving was cured and I also had an intake of water - something that I find is very important when I am trying to lose weight.

Today, my distraction is blogging, and I may even shift this permanently to 'Danger Hour' to take my mind from my chocoholic tendencies. This craving will only last for around a week, and if I can break the habit now, from next week onwards, it will be so much easier! It is so easy to undo a days good work in a second. I am really going to focus on my goal of being slim, it seems so much more appealing to have a delicious bikini body than a delicious bar of chocolate :-)

Thought of the Day!

Today's Highlights:

• 90 minutes cycling through hilly terrain
• Low calorie Hot Chocolate as a treat
• Larger breakfast to compensate for my exercise, I had 2 x slices of 24g Granary Toast and I swapped my usual butter for a teaspoon of honey, along with around 150g of 2% Greek Yoghurt
• Black coffee - having given up milk and sugar in all hot drinks - use honey if you just cannot go without!

Day 1 - Happy :-)

So, today is the first day of my battle against the bulge. I woke up this morning and forcefully banished all negative thoughts of the day. By 9.00am I had my trainers on, and was ready to face the world. I began my workout with a glass of water and this 6 minute cardio warm up by 'Biggest Loser' trainer Jillian Michaels.

Next, I went for a 5 minute abs workout challenge, before heading outdoors for some fresh air and the start of my exercise regime. I have been trying to master running for around a year and a half, but every attempt has been sabotaged, mainly by myself and my thoughts that I cannot do it. This time will be different. I downloaded a lose weight by running app on my phone and pounded the streets to some fantastic upbeat tunes, and guess what, it really made a difference. 9km later, with my fastest kilometre run under my belt, I was back home and feeling amazing. I never used music before, but boy I wish I did, the tempo of the music made me want to move, even in the walking phase.

Download the app today, and get out there running - you can do it. Slowly and surely is the key and build up the stamina by combining running with walking. Lace up those trainers people and move!

Absolute Beginners

Trying to start a diet in the age of fast food is every girls and guys nightmare. There isn't a diet I have not tried and failed, I get it, I'm with 99.9% of you out there thinking the same old question - Why Can't I Lose Weight. I am now totally convinced that a diet alone will categorically not make you lose weight, it is a state of mind, and no diet book seems to tell you this.

Today I weighed in for the zillionth time in my life, and am 100% sure that this will be the last time I see the number on my scales. It has to be - and guess what... There is no big secret, no fad diet, no cabbage soup, just me, listening to my body and keeping myself on track.

This blog is going to me about my journey - I know it won't be easy, but I am hoping that people will want to join in and come on my journey and we can keep each other going. I want to hear from you, so feel free to leave comments and tell me about your journey, good and bad! No one is here to judge you - we've probably seen and made the same mistakes as you. So one more question...

Who's with me!! 

Start Me Up...

Welcome to a brand new blog for the every day woman trying to lose weight.

Two years ago, I took a life changing decision to move to Greece. This accompanied a further decision to make a final effort to lose weight that I had gained during my early 30's, for those of you that have tried, tried and tried again will know that it is no mean feat. I have convinced myself that I have been looking at it from the wrong angle, and so I wanted to share with you my thoughts, opinions and journey to inspire anyone out there that faces the same daily struggles.

I hope you enjoy my journey, and hope to see you along the way!