2012 challenge - Great South Run

My weightloss reached a plateau when I went back to work so I decided to up my exercise regime. I knew I need more cardio exercise and the best cardio workout for me is running. The problem with this is that I hate running. I mean I REALLY HATE RUNNING!!!

I'm very lucky in that I have a lot of "fitness" friends. My personal trainer friend, Liz (LC Healthy Living) has just set up a running club for beginners with Catalyst Personal Training.
I was very nervous on our first session. We took things very gently to start with, running for a couple of minutes and then walking for a couple of minutes. Liz was great in giving us lots of tips about technique, what to eat before and after a run, how to warm up and how to stretch properly before and after.

The hour went very quickly and I even (gasps) had fun!!
We were given homework to do. Running 2 evenings in the week with a couple of rest days in between.

The second week was a little harder. Running for 5 minutes, walking for 3. FIVE MINUTES!!!! We even ran uphill. My legs felt like jelly trying to get up that hill, but we all did it.

My homework that week went well, despite forgetting Liz's advice about eating. Apparently eating an apple 4 hours before exercising isn't enough and I had heavy, wobbly legs on treadmill.

I decided I needed a goal.

Sooooo......... I decided to enter the Great South Run. 10 miles!!!

What have I done?? Liz has assured me that it is perfectly achievable with the right attitude and training plan. After all, the event isn't until October so I have 9.5 months to train.

I'm going to be running for two charities; Asthma UK and a Southampton based Homelessness charity, The Society of St James

My fundraising pages are:
Asthma UK : http://www.bmycharity.com/LJAsthmaUK
SSJ: http://www.bmycharity.com/lucyjurdSSJ
Thanks for your support xx

Weigh in Wednesday

I forgot to post last week -sorry! This was partly due to recovering from a nasty bout of tonsillitis.
This week I'm very excited to announce that I have lost 3 lbs. This has been an awesome week :-)

I'm still spurred on by my new found passion of cycling. My theory is that the less I weigh then the easier getting up the hills will be. I'm also still going to pilates and have been 100% food optimising following the slimming world guidelines.

I'm starting feel better too. I have  loads more energy and confidence. Especially when clothes feel too big or when I manage to do the zip up on a skirt that hasn't seen the light of day for a couple of years.

That target is getting closer!

1 stone 6 lbs (20 lbs) in 13 weeks.
Current weight: 10st 12lbs 5oz

Weigh In Wednesday

I didn't post last week as I was away on holiday. In my week away I managed to gain a pound, despite cycling and swimming everyday. Admittedly, I wasn't sticking to the food optimising plan so that could explain the weight gain. A friend of mine did suggest it was a pound of pure muscle from all the exercising. I'd like to believe that, but realistically....er......no.

So this week I have gone back to the Slimming World food optimising plan (except for a couple of momentary weaknesses) and also kept the momentum going with the exercising. I got into some "good" habits on holiday and have really been enjoying cycling and running. I'm hoping to do some swimming again this week too. (My own mini triathlon!)

My biggest motivation at the moment is how much easier the running and cycling is becoming now that I'm carrying less weight around. I no longer have to push the bike up hills or stop to walk half of my running route. Its little things like those that really spur me on.

1 stone 1 1/2 lbs (15 1/2 lbs) in 11 weeks.
Current weight: 11st 3lbs 2oz

Weigh-in Wednesday

2 1/2 lbs this week which means I have lost a whole stone.
A few of my friends have commented that you can tell I've lost some weight, which to be honest, means more to me than what the scales say. I've also started to notice that my clothes are feeling a lot looser now.

I still have another stone to go so I'm going to hold off on that shopping trip until then.

14lbs (1 stone) in 8 weeks.
Current weight: 11st 4lbs 2oz

Weigh-in Wednesday

Not much to say really...... Haven't lost anything.
On the plus side, I didn't gain any weight either.

The Excuses
I know perfectly well why I didn't lose any weight. It's because I spent most of Monday afternoon stuffing my face with cake my friend's baby showers.

The Plan
That was last week. I just need to focus this week and try to have some self control.

12lbs in 7 weeks.
Current weight: 11st 6lbs 7oz

Weigh-in Wednesday

Another 2lbs off.

Despite my plans last week to do lots of exercise, it didn't quite happen! I have been walking everywhere but I didn't get to the gym, haven't managed pilates this week and haven't been swimming. In fact I've been a bit of a lazy bum!

I did, however, manage to not drink any wine this week so I'm now thinking that the wine is to blame for my slow weight loss.

My goals for the week ahead is to try and do some exercise, ideally a run or a swim.

12lbs in 6 weeks.
Current weight: 11st 6lbs 8oz

Post natal Pilates

Since February I have been attending post natal pilates classes with this lovely lady.
There are 3 of us who regularly attend the classes, although this is about to increase to 7.

We bring our babies with us and we can pop in and out of the class as and when our babies need a feed or a change. Sometime the babies come into the studio with us, and sometimes Priya's husband becomes "Daddy day-care" and looks after them.

While Pilates alone won't help me lose weight (only aerobic exercise and a healthy diet will do that) it does tone muscles. Pilates focuses on your core muscles, and I've found over time that my posture has really improved. I'm now standing taller and straighter. It's also helping me to become aware of my body, posture and core muscles when I'm doing my other exercises, especially when I go for a run.
The other thing I love, is how invigorated and refreshed I feel afterwards. It really spurs me on and motivates me to exercise more.

But if I'm honest, what I love the most about these classes is the good company. As we are all mummies with similar aged babies, it's great to exchange stories and share handy hints and tips while we work on toning up our post pregnancy tums!

Weigh-in Wednesday

Another pound off.
I'm a bit disappointed though. I was hoping for more as I have been pretty good with the food. I think wine is still my major weakness and I'm not exercising anywhere near as much as should be.


This week my plan is as follows:

• Only drink wine at the weekend (and only 1 small glass in the evening)
• Go for a run/jog/walk at least twice
• Try to walk as much as possible instead of taking the car
• Go swimming once. (Taking Esme for a bob around the pool doesn't count) Aim for 40-50 lengths.
• Go to post natal Pilates.

Next week my target is to try to lose 2 lb. Just think in a couple of weeks I may well have lost a stone and reached my first big milestone. 

That thought shall be this week's motivation. 

10lbs in 5 weeks.
Current weight: 11st 8lbs 6oz

Weigh-in Wednesday

Another pound and a half gone!

Again, I am surprised (in a good way!).
I've been sticking to the slimming world extra easy plan during the day, however, in the evenings I've been allowing myself a couple of glasses of wine. Wine is not good for dieters. On the slimming world plan it is 8.5 syns for 175ml of red wine. You are allowed between 5-15 syns a day.

I also find breakfasts difficult, usually sticking to Bran flakes with skimmed milk. This uses up my healthy "a" and "b" choices on the plan. So this week I've been trying different things.

Good options:

• 28 g Porridge oats with skimmed milk, blueberries and a little bit of splenda sweetener (I have a sweet tooth)
• Fruit with fat free fromage frais or yogurt.
• Baked beans on 1 slice of wholemeal toast (NO BUTTER)

I find it helps to have a good variety of foods, otherwise I get bored and then start to fall off the wagon.

I've been struggling to do any "proper" exercise this week, so I've been trying to walk to the shops rather than using the car. I've also been doing some yoga stretches in the morning.
I'm hoping that next week I'll be able to do some jogging and maybe even go swimming.

I suppose it does go to show that some small changes to your diet and a little bit of exercise, really CAN make a difference - slow and steady.

9lbs in 4 weeks.
Current weight: 11st 9lbs 6oz

Weigh in Wednesday

It's Wednesday, which means weigh day.
I was not expecting much this week as I've not managed much exercise this week as Thomas has been in hospital. We've also been eating pretty rubbishly as well, grabbing sandwiches when we can and even ordered in pizza a couple of days ago!

So today's weight is 11 st 11lbs a weight loss if 1 pound.

Again, it's not great, but all going in the right direction.

shedding the baby weight...and then some!

I managed to lose a couple of stone (28 lbs) for my wedding in 2006, but since then the weight has gradually piled back on.

I didn't put too much weight on during my pregnancy with Esme, but I was already a bit overweight. A couple of weeks ago I decided it was time that all the weight had to go!

So to give myself a bit more motivation Im making it public.

I joined slimming world 2weeks ago and it has been going well... so far. I've also been out jogging a few times, doing aerobics and going to post natal pilates.

overweight and heavily pregnant

Here's the weight loss so far.

May 11th 2011 12st 4lbs
May 18th 2011 11st 13lbs
May 25th 2011 11st 12lbs


to be continued........