2015 - A Year of Health and Happiness

C

carolinef

New member
Hi there.

I had a very productive, positive 2014 where I made a lot of life changes for the better. I still have a long way to go, but I plan on making 2015 even better than last year when it comes to health and fitness.

I still have a lot of hangups about food, and while I try to maintain a reasonably healthy diet, I also still eat a lot of foods that I could do without. I am going to work on this for the year, avoid alcohol for the next 5 weeks, and get back into training in the gym bigtime.

I feel a little overwhelmed today and slightly sad at the fact that I need to get a lot stricter with myself if I want to see results. I lost roughly 2 stone last year, and losing another 2 stone this year would bring me into optimum shape. It's just that I have a feeling this next 2 stone will be a little trickier to shift and will largely depend on diet, whereas I lost the other 2 stone by mostly exercise and cutting down a bit on food, but not a huge amount.

Anyway, so far today, I had porridge and milk for breakfast, lemon and ginger tea, and now I'm drinking hearty tea.

I'm cooking chickpea curry with chicken for dinner, and will have an avocado omelette for my tea.

I'm heading to the gym at 6 for an abs workout, which I am dreading after the Christmas, and a quick run on the treadmill.

Here's to a great year ahead!
 
Hi Carolinef, & welcome to the forum. Congratulations on losing 2 stone in 2014! :D Don't be sad about still having another 2 stone to go. You will have made so many positive changes to your lifestyle, that tweaking them a little and changing things about, diet-wise, will set you up even more for a healthy future. Eating better will make you feel better. It is amazing the difference it can make to your general sense of well-being when you cut down on processed foods for example & sugar. Look forward to keeping up with your diary. Feel free to share your disappointments & doubts, as well as your successes. You'll find great support in this forum. Cheers, Cate
 
Hi Cate, thank you for your kind words. I have had a few bumps already, so you'll get to hear all about them!

Man plans and God laughs.

So, there was no gym yesterday and I ended up going to the cinema with my friends Tim and Lisa instead. Which was great, but I ended up eating one of those giant bags of Maltesers. Luckily, I weighed in this morning and there was no major damage done (still 12 stone 2 pounds - could be worse).

I didn't bother making the omelette yesterday, instead I had a sandwich with ham and coleslaw for lunch and two pieces of giant Toblerone. I did cook the chickpea curry though, it was fairly bland but super healthy, so I got enough vitamins in anyway.

Today, I still have absolutely zero motivation for the gym, but it's still only 10:30, so plenty of time to find some. I'm going to have a bit of porridge for breakfast and a slice of brown bread, and I might make some turnip and kale soup for lunch. I think we're having salmon for dinner. I still have a huge desire to eat rubbish, I think it's because I'm still so tired from all the late nights over the Christmas, and my body just needs energy. Alcohol has a lot to answer for.

Going off to make breakfast now, talk again tomorrow.
 
Tomorrow is New Years Day here, so a fresh start for all of us. Alcohol does have a lot to answer for. I plan on really cutting it down in the new year as I see it keeping me 5kg more than I should be. 2015....I'm looking forward to it! Cheers, Cate
 
Hi Cate, yes, a new year, a new start.

Yesterday was not a good day food wise. I think it is because it's a new year that I feel I can go mad, because these days 'don't count'. That's what got me so overweight in the first place, so I know that it is dangerous to think like that. Every day counts.

I had my soup and salmon for dinner, all good. But I also drove to the gym, and instead of going in, I went to Starbucks instead, got myself a hot chocolate, and drove home again. Am I a simpleton or what? I also had a scone with jam and cream, 2 fig rolls, 3 celebration sweets, a piece of chocolate biscuit cake, and 2 pieces of Toblerone to supplement my healthy meals. God, Christmas. Disaster.

Friends of mine are going away for the night to celebrate New Year's. I decided yesterday to go with them, but now I am completely gone off the idea for the following reasons: 1. Hangover tomorrow 2. Smoking loads tonight 3. Having a terrible start to the new year. Having said that, I will probably end up going, as sitting at home watching telly for New Year's isn't exactly an inspiring start either. You just can't win in this world. I think this could be my last night out for the next few weeks though, so I may as well enjoy myself.

I weighed in this morning at 12 stone 1 pound, which was a miracle after all the junk I ate yesterday, but I know that feeling healthy is more important than the scales at times, and I have loads of spots on my face and a general feeling of lethargy today. Blah. Happy New Year. Grumble, grumble.
 
So, I went out and partied last night, not feeling too bad today though. I'm not even going to get into how much I ate and drank - let's just say it was a lot.

I've been getting all philosophical today about life and my constant desire to live a healthier lifestyle and get my dream body. If I really followed the healthy eating plan that I have wanted to follow for years now and kept up my routine in the gym, I could easily get that dream body in 3 months. Which is no time at all. But why do I find it so difficult? What is it that's stopping me? I honestly think it's fear that even if I achieved that, I still wouldn't be happy. Or that I'd have to find something else to occupy my every minute of the day. Sigh. I don't know. Why is staying away from eating crap so difficult? Why do I use food as a coping mechanism? What other coping mechanisms can I employ instead that won't have a detrimental effect on my health and self-esteem? I know that nobody is perfect, and eating only healthy foods and not drinking for the rest of my life isn't realistic, but even a week to me seems insane.

What can I do? When will it finally click in? I have one more party tomorrow night that I really shouldn't go to, but I probably will, ruining Saturday for myself (as all you want to do after drinking is eat salty, crappy foods) and then having only one day to get back on track before my return to a really stressful job on Monday. I just don't know.

Life is a challenge. I need to get my shit together.
 
Weighed in at 12 stone 4 this morning, then had a fight with my mum. :banghead:

I woke up feeling angry, frustrated and annoyed. I don't know what to do to turn this feeling around.

I don't think I'll go to the party later. I would rather get up in the morning and go to my spinning class.

I'm feeling really lost today, I don't know what to do with myself. I think it might be a good idea to get out of the house anyway. I don't really feel like shopping or anything though. Blah. It's just one of those days. I have huge anxiety about going back to work because I am still not comfortable in my job.

I watched The Secret last night, which is all about the law of attraction, so according to them, this post is attracting all of the wrong stuff into my life. You can't win. I did really enjoy it though. I do believe in it to a certain extent. It's just getting into that attitude of gratitude and feelings of belief and positivity that are challenging for me.

I really am fed up.
 
Get out of the house & get some exercise sweetie. Go for a great big walk & just check out the scenery. The secret is just a TV show & doesn't warrant agonising over. Everyone has a bad day. It will get a little better if you consciously eat well & get some fresh air & exercise. Give your mum a hug when you get back (even if she's at fault) xo Cate
 
Hi Cate. My mum and I cleared the air and are friends again. I didn't go for a walk, but I went into town and spent some money, which I think helped!

I'm feeling a lot better today. I ended up going to the party and drinking/smoking/eating snacks, but it was the last hurrah and I don't regret it. I am ready for a looooonnnngggg break though. I think a few of us are going for a 3 mile run tomorrow, which I haven't done in a while, so it should be interesting to see how my fitness has held up over Christmas with very little exercise.

I weighed in this morning at 12 stone 1, which cheered me up as well. I know it's a little dehydration from the alcohol, but if I don't go too mad with the food today, it should be okay. I am happy that I haven't put on anything over Christmas really. I got my break, I enjoyed my food, but it didn't get into crazy territory. One thing I have improved on so much from last year is not going to the shop and buying a few bars of chocolate at a time. That is a habit that I have nearly eradicated from my life. I still eat biscuits or sweets if they're around, but I'm not buying them as much myself anymore.

I am kind of looking forward to getting back into an exercise regime this week. My week looks something like this:

Monday - Abs, treadmill
Tuesday - Tennis, swim, steam room (I loooove the steam room. You really feel like you're sweating out all the gunk.)
Wednesday - Spinning/abs
Thursday - Tennis
Friday - Spinning
Saturday - Spinning
Sunday - Spinning/toning, tennis with my dad

It might seem like a lot, but it is quite varied, and it makes me feel really good. Plus I sit at a desk all day, so I think it is important to counteract it with as much exercise as possible in my spare time, without going too bananas. I have reached a level of fitness where the classes aren't killing. They're tough, but for the most part enjoyable, so I'm not putting my body under strain. And I love tennis, it's so good for you on numerous levels. You really have to concentrate when playing, and it clears your mind of all the crap.

Anyway, that's enough for today. Not sure what my plans are, probably go for a shower now, then maybe get a coffee somewhere and watch a film later. Nothing too taxing.
 
I don't have much time to write as my friend is about to collect me for my first run of 2015. Go motivation! 5 of us were meant to go, but 3 dropped out, so I feel all smug and superior. I will make this my fittest year yet!

I weighed in this morning at 12 stone 3, which is a tiny bit blah, but not a disaster. The lightest I've got to since losing the weight last year is 12 stone, so only 3 pounds off from that. I think my average weight in college was 11 stone, and I'd probably need to be around 10 stone to get that perfect bikini body. But to be only a stone and a bit away from a normal weight is fantastic. I still am thrilled when I put my clothes on now and I look well in them, as opposed to trying to cover up all the bulges. Now, I feel I am more 'curvy'. Although I'm under no illusions - I'm still a bit too big. But big in a more attractive way.

Yesterday wasn't great foodwise, but I enjoyed it. I had a scone with butter and marmalade for breakfast, then I took my mum out for dinner. I got a burger and fries, and malteser cheesecake for dessert. Then later, my dad took us out for a drink. I had two pints of Heineken and some mixed nuts.

We have my mum's cousin visiting us today. She's a bit of a lunatic and hard-going at times, and we're having a huge turkey and ham dinner again, with of course some kind of dessert, so it's a bit annoying for my last day off when I just want to eat soup and try to keep my calories low. Oh well. She's nearly 70 and lives on her own, so I guess I should find the Christmas spirit and try to enjoy the day a bit.

Back to work tomorrow, just looking forward to that routine again! I hope it goes ok!!
 
I had a really great day today. I am simply thrilled.

I had Weetabix and cornflakes for breakfast, a turkey and ham salad for lunch, healthy snacks of an apple and greek yoghurt, blueberries and almonds, and another salad for dinner with a slice of toast. Okay, I did have 4 Jaffa cakes as well, but they were small, and I waited till the end of the day.

I also did spinning class after work, delighted to be back in the thick of it!

My run yesterday went brilliantly, I ran 3.5 miles without stopping, so happy. So, so happy that my fitness levels did not deplete entirely over the Christmas period.

I'm home now, reenergised after the gym and looking forward to an early night. Fingers crossed the scales will be kind tomorrow. Weigh-in today was 12 stone 4 pounds, very blah, but I ate loads yesterday. So I'm hoping tomorrow will be good.
 
Welcome to the forum! Great run! Like Oaks said, happy to have another. Oaks and i just finished a 36 day run streak which was a first for both of us.

I'm 19 stone 8 pound. I've never converted my weight to stones before, but I guess I passed a big milestone (get it?) 6 pounds ago.

I look forward to seeing your successes!
 
Hi Oaks, yes, I run, sporadically, but I run. I think my friends and I are going to make it a regular thing every Sunday now.

Hi Quercus, congrats on reaching your milestone - I get it! ;) My next milestone is under 12 stone now, it seems so far away all of a sudden.

Hi BlueBean, thank you, yesterday was a particularly good day. Today - not so good.

I weighed in this morning at 12 stone 5. 12 stone fecking 5. Gutted. It kind of set me on a crash course of feeling sorry for myself for the day. Suddenly work wasn't so bright and cheery. I went out for lunch with some of the girls and ordered some kind of chicken thing with loads of sauce and roast potatoes. Not my finest hour.

I DID go for a swim after work though, even though I didn't feel like it. When I got home, I was very blue and unmotivated, so I played the piano and sang along for 20 minutes and it cheered me up enough to get my booty moving. Music + exercise are my therapies.

Going for some yoga tomorrow evening and bringing in my lunch so I am not tempted by crap food.
 
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Hi there.

The good news: Weighed in this morning at 12 stone 3.

The bad: Am really sick with a cold and aches and pains. I feel awful. Also, there was a terrible incident at work today. It didn't affect me personally, but it felt like I had been punched in the stomach when I heard it. Very upsetting stuff.

I managed to go to my yoga class and do 12 minutes on the treadmill despite being ill, but my nose was dripping during yoga, so I wouldn't recommend it.

I have a big day in work tomorrow, praying I recover fast and it goes well.

Adios.
 
Hey Quercus, thanks. Work wasn't much better today, I guess it's just one of those weeks.

Thanks Cate!

Today: Thursday
Mood: Gloomy
Weight: 12 stone 1 (the good thing about being sick is that I'm not hungry)

Still feeling fluey and awful. Struggling with whether to go in to work tomorrow or not. I guess I'll go to bed soon and see how I feel in the morning. I'm just really paranoid that they think I'm not doing a good job, and not going in would be a black mark against my name. I'm ridiculous.

Went to tennis and my coach even noticed how terrible I looked. I enjoyed the class though, despite feeling rotten. I'm getting better!

Food today was only alright, I had porridge and sunflower seeds to start, a banana as a mid-morning snack, tuna salad for lunch, then I felt horrible, so decided to treat myself at the coffee place across the way. I got an americano and one of those tiffin squares. For tea, my dad made lasagna, but I only ate half of it. And I drank a bottle of Lucozade for energy.

Anyway, going now to sleeeeeeeeeeeeeep! Please let this blasted thing be gone tomorrow.

Night.
 
Hope you're feeling better today, Caroline. You must love your tennis to still go when you're feeling crook :)
 
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