Good Thursday...

Every time I run past this field lately I say to myself...

YOU HAVE TO COME BACK WITH YOUR CAMERA

Today I did just that....

I took a walk up to the spot that always catches my eye and captured it!

I had a good day again today...

Still sticking to my plan ( Yes, I know its early days still )

This morning at 9am I did a 30mins weight workout with the kettlebell...

Biceps, Triceps, Shoulders and a few squats.

No swings besides for the front and side shoulders.

( LOVE Kettlebell )

Then as the weather was perfect, I had to run...there was no ways I could stay at home and miss out on a perfect day for running. I moan so often that I cant run due to the weather....

As I did a 14km ( 8.6 miles ) on Monday

Ran a 9km ( 5.5 miles ) yesterday

I wanted to do a slow, recovery kind of run...

Alas, the first 3km ( 1.8 miles ) of today's run was all uphill and tough.

Ran 6km ( 3.7 miles ) today in 25 degrees ( 78.8 ) which was hot for a morning run.

This afternoon I took my neighbors son for a walk by pushing him in his pram for 35 mins. while she did a 5km run...it once again was uphill to start with ( I puffed and panted ) and then downhill back home..

So another good active day under my belt.

Breakfast

Greek yogurt, 1Tsp flaxseeds ( crushed ) 30g muesli, 1 kiwi, blueberries ~ Green tea

Snack

Kefir with 1 scoop Protein powder

Lunch

Small chicken breast, cauliflower, Apple ~ coffee

Snack

Activia yogurt

2 thin cracker breads, peanut butter, 1 slice Goat's cheese ~ Green Tea

Dinner

Tuna Salad

Quark

Green Tea

The way I see it, isn't necessarily the way you see it.

All going to plan ~

Taking part in a challenge to do ONE burpee a day, dedicated to a young woman in America who is fighting cancer....

I didn't have time to update my blog yesterday as was pretty busy ~ well for me that is!!

I did a 30 min upper body workout in the morning then later I had a client over for a Kettlebell workout....which I do with her....then went off to have my nails done, home to prepare dinner and hubby's lunch for today....and then off to teach my * Power Ladies * as they call themselves.

So worked out for 2 and a half hours yesterday.

My eating was not 100% where I wanted it to be...

I had 4 fruits instead of 3, one was a banana as I needed energy for my class.

I didn't eat my 2nd snack......was no time.

Other than that...I kept to my plan.

Today....All going well

I did a run this morning with my neighbor....8.8km in 53.29 mins, burned 778 calories

My HR was very high ~ 139 ~ 196....due to the intervals we started at the 6km mark.

Boy did that kill me...

One minute of running fast and 30 seconds of recovery, but no walking.

We reached 5km at 29 mins, which I was happy about.

I did chose a road run this morning with very little inclines.

Now that I've decided to do the Half Marathon on the 4th September, I am really motivated to get my training done ~ will not be running everyday...but every 2nd day.

On waking I had warm lemon water and coffee....both made and brought to me while in bed by my hubby!! ( he spoils me )

For breakfast I ate something new I bought from the American shop....Creamer something...not oats..with 1 Tsp Flaxseeds

Tasted okay....will have it once a week...and then had a banana for energy ~ Green Tea

Snack was Kefir with 3tsp protein powder

Lunch was Fish with cauliflower and coffee

Snack will be ~ Greek yogurt with Blueberries and Green tea

Dinner will be ~ Chicken, veggies ~ sweet potato and Green tea.

The way I see it, isn't necessarily the way you see it.

New Day, New Week, New Month

I took this photo of myself...after my run this morning ...we had to post a picture of ourselves on group today, the start of August.

Great that its a Monday and the beginning of August, good for new beginnings.

When I looked out my bedroom window at 6am I saw that it was going to be a good summers day...finally...some sunshine. Am praying the whole of August will bring on the good weather as June and July were terrible with so much ran, I never got to run outdoors much.

A few months ago I set out to do a Half Marathon on the 4 September in Fulda, but with not getting to train the longer distances, it was never longer than 10 km ( 6.2 miles ) I decided I had left it too late and was not going to run it anymore.

After sharing this with my neighbor who said she would do it with me, she has about 4 half marathon's under her belt, she has motivated me to do the marathon saying I'm running fit and just need to do a few longer runs and will be ready.

So today I ran 14.11km ( 8.7 miles ) without walking and felt good...it was harder in the beginning that the end as the first 7 km ( 4.3 miles ) is mostly uphill...

I plan to do 16 km ( 9.9 miles ) next week. the following week 18 km ( 11.18 miles )

The last week 18/20 km ( 12.42 miles ) and then I will be ready...for the 21 the next Saturday

In between I will do shorter and faster runs...

I know I will be fine...I saw today that I felt great and could have gone further.

My new training program started today...

Day one was all cardio....my run of 1 hr and 34 mins

Tomorrow is weights and I teach a class tomorrow night for fun....

Today my eating was just where I wanted it to be.

Breakfast ~ 2 boiled eggs, 1 slice wholewheat toast, Apple, Green Tea

Snack ~ 100ml Kefir with 1 scoop protein powder

Lunch ~ Fish and Salad

Snack ~ Greek yogurt, flaxseed and 1 tsp of organic peanut butter

Dinner ~ Chicken pieces cooked with onion and mushrooms, broccoli and cauliflower, 2 Tsp Quark.

Had 2 cups of Green Tea, still got one to go before bedtime

2 Coffee's

Over 8 glasses of water.

The way I see it, isn't necessarily the way you see it.

Weeks recap

My weeks training results.

I trained in total of 9.5 hours this week

I trained 13x

I mixed it up again by:-

Rope skipping

2x Ab workouts

Indoor cycling

Power Walking

Taught Aerobics/Boxing class

2x Kettlebell workouts

All workouts included interval training...

Ran 4x

1. 8.7km

2. 12.4km

3. 6.28km

4. 6.21km

Total of 33 km

NO WALKING at all ~ all running

I'm happy with my weeks eating and training and getting ready for the new 6 weeks plan which will start tomorrow...Monday!

The way I see it, isn't necessarily the way you see it.

My new fitness toy

As I'm focusing on interval training to boost my metabolic rate, which will in return burn more body fat while I train and continue for a while after my workout, I bought this little contraption which will beep when my minute is up, instead of me doing the exercise and trying to peep at my watch :) ( you should see me doing this )

I've seen it being used by a few trainers online and by the trainer I follow for new kettlebell idea's.

I've not tried it as yet as it arrived this morning.....Hubby set it up for me, so I'm ready!!!

As you can see....its PINK ~ hot pink!

As most of you know I have an online group with a few ladies where we share our journey on a more personal level with entries and photo's that we would do on our blogs. I love this group as each is at a different stage of their journey and all are always ready to motivate each other. I love this....Its the one place where no nasty comments or hurtful words are spoken and on this I insist...we all fall off the wagon and we all need motivation and encouragement, even if the others do it over and over again...That's life and not one of us is perfect.

I shared my blogger friend Syl's journey with the girls a month ago....Everyone was totally blown away by Syl's weight loss journey and it gave hope to so many of the ladies who are trying to lose the weight. Syl like many others has been a wonderful example that one can lose the weight and maintain...but it takes daily work...

The ladies of group have all joined a website where we log in our daily training....Its wonderful as we a closed group of members only ( the only non member has since left ) and we can keep a check on what each other is doing, give praise to keep them motivated to do a little more.

Everyone thrives on praise ~ Everyone wants to be noticed ~ Everyone has a voice that wants to be heard

I'm working on next weeks menu....have got the plan all in my head, but now need to put it on paper.

I chatted to Hubby this morning ( picked him up after his business trip to South Africa ) told him what I'm thinking and he is very keen..

He wants to continue running, he has he's first 5km race coming up next month which I will do with him and a few of his colleagues from work, he also wants to start Kettlebell.

I need to work out a training program for us both...as we will do our runs together besides my Sunday run I do with the ladies from my street. He will go to gym to do his weigh training and I will do Kettlebell at home.

Am going to plan it weekly for now...

In 6 weeks time I have my sisters wedding in Italy....so we want to look as good as possible for that. My one sister has not seen me in person for over 2 years, so has not seen me since I lost 24kg's ( 50lbs ) I want to wow her....I want to be as toned and lean as possible. Not thinner, that's not what I'm looking for....lower body fat percentage.

Today is my rest day.....

Tomorrow if no rain I will run with the other ladies ~ finding my pace is so much faster than the others and struggling to keep myself back...Yesterday we all went for a run, 6,28km. I had to run ahead at my normal pace, then slow right down for them to catch up with me, and this is how I did my run....in the end on the final 1.5km home's I took off.

I have to tell you this.... while running I thought to myself...LOOK AT ME, 49, THE OLDEST and the fastest ...hahaha, it felt good...honestly this time will pass, the others will be faster than me as I get older, so right now for a girl who hated running and has been diagnosed with MS ~ I'm so impressed with ME!!!

The way I see it, isn't necessarily the way you see it.

Planning a new plan

I did complete the 17 days.....Ended on Wednesday

I didn't update my blog for a few days due to a few personal things going on in my life...

But, I'm back and here to update.

The whole purpose of my doing the 17 days for the 2nd time, was not to lose weight, if I did lose, it was an extra bonus, but my focus was to get my eating under control

I have explained in my other entries that I fell off the Good Eating wagon for most of June and part of July.

I didn't gain weight as I kept my training schedule going during this time

I needed to feel in control again, and having a plan gives me control.

I feel I am back on track...where I like to be.

And I lost weight over the 17 days.

I am back to tracking all meals

Every other day counting my calories to see if I am within

Weighing in 2x a week ONLY

Training daily for an hour

Eating protein with every meal and snack

Added protein powder to my kefir and probiotic yogurts

Drinking 8 glasses of water

3 Green tea's a day, but also 2 cups of coffee a day.

Yesterday was my first day off the 17 days

I stuck to the plan except added 30g of muesli to my breakfast

Today I had 30g of muesli again and a wholewheat sandwich with smoked salmon and avo

This evening will have Baked Salmon and salad for dinner....no carbs.

I'm going to spend this weekend working out a new plan for myself, based around cycle 2 where you add 2 good carbs to your plan every other day....

I want to revise my training program

one day weights, one day cardio....

And then I want to add one day of eating whatever I want to eat...

Thinking of making it a Saturday or Sunday.....

On this day I will have an ice cream,glass of wine, chocolate, bread...whatever...but one day where I can be free of being on a plan.

I have done lots of research and this seems to be the way to go when one is in maintenance ...

6 days you on plan and one day you not!!

The way I see it, isn't necessarily the way you see it.

Days Twelve and Thirteen ~ 17 Days

I took photo's on Friday, but not Saturday and today ( Sunday )

It was my weekend with my hubby before he heads off on another weeks business trip, so we did lots of things today!

My eating was as per usual over the weekend according to the 17 days plan, but I did break it last night when I drank a glass of red dry wine with my meal of Salmon and veggies.

On Friday I had a Rye Organic Fresh roll

Saturday a Banana with my breakfast

But really not too concerned as I am maintaining my weight with Clean Eating and using these 17 days to get me back in control of my eating after it went off a little in June and part of July.

I know I repeat this, but in case someone comes to this blog to see what they are able to eat on the program I want them to be aware that I am not following it 100% and my reasons why.

My Training for this week :- 10 hours

INDOOR CYCLING ~ 2x

KETTLEBELL ~ 5x

RUNNING ~ 2x

AEROBICS CLASS ~ 1x

POWER WALKING ~ 1x

ROPE SKIPPING ~ 2x

ELLIPTICAL ~ 1x

I have been trying to mix up my training daily, not to get stuck in a rut with doing the same thing day in and day out.

Next week I am going to work on my metabolism with my eating and training...I want to fire it up so that my body becomes a burning machine :)

Interval training and weights...thats the key to achieve this.

The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn....

The way I see it, isn't necessarily the way you see it.

Day Eleven ~ 17 Days

Breakfast

Warm lemon water on waking

Coffee in bed made by my hubby

1 tub Greek 2% yogurt

1 Tsp crushed Flaxseeds

Hand full of Blueberries

Green Tea

Snack

Activia yogurt

Lunch

Chicken and veggies ( left overs )

Apple

Green Tea

This is the Green Tea hubby brought me from South Africa that I love.....

I drink this in the afternoons.

Snack

Banana with tsp organic peanut butter

Flaxseed

Protein Atkins bar

Coffee

Dinner

Last of the left overs of chicken and veggies

Salad

Tea

Trained

I walked down to town to have photo's developed for a new wall hanger and then back.....I did not calculate the time I stood in the shop ~ only my walking there, and walking home. 35 mins. I find fast walking exhausting, I often wanted to break out in a run, but thankfully with my jeans and handbag hanging over my shoulder, I had to WALK...and it was all up hill back home.

Taught an Aerobic Dance and Kettle bell class for an hour.

Not in Cycle ONE

Banana

Protein Bar

The way I see it, isn't necessarily the way you see it.

Day Ten ~ 17 Days

Breakfast

Warm lemon water on waking

Coffee while in bed

Tub Greek yogurt

1 Tsp Flaxseed

Strawberries and Blueberries

Green Tea

Snack

Activia yogurt

Nuts

Lunch

Sushi ~ 7 pieces

Water and 2 cups coffee

Snack

Apple

1 Tsp Organic Peanut butter

Tea

Dinner

Chicken breast cooked with onion, mushrooms and Green pepper

Steamed cauliflower and broccoli

3 tsp Quark

Tea

Training

Did one hour of Biceps, Triceps and Shoulders with Kettlebell

Abs and stretching.

Not in cycle one

Sushi

Peanut butter

Nuts

As I am at goal weight ( two years now ) and don't need to lose weight I have added a few other foods to these 17 days...The purpose behind me doing the 17 days is to get my eating on track after eating without control for most of June and part of July...This was a way I saw I could get my eating back on track with Clean Eating!

I have not added carbs to my plan besides the few sweet potato strips for dinner the other evening. I'm staying away from my weekend bread rolls, my much loved muesli for breakfast, whole wheat pasta once a week ~ after the 17 days I will add it back to my menu ~ right now its all about getting my control back and staying off sugar in foods....

The way I see it, isn't necessarily the way you see it.

Day Nine ~ 17 days

Breakfast

Warm lemon water on waking

Coffee...brought to me by my hubby

Tub 2% Greek yogurt

1 Tsp Flaxseed

Strawberries and Blueberries

Green Tea

Snack

Healthy None Salted Nuts

Lunch

Left over Chicken and veggies from last nights dinner

Apple

Green Tea

Snack

Activia yogurt

Flaxseed

Blueberries

Dinner

Salmon

Salad

3 tsp Quark

Tea

Training

I had a heavy training day.

I cycled for 30 mins

Then personal trained for an hour

Ran 10km in 1 hr 4 mins...NO WALKING

Taught a Dance Aerobic class.

The way I see it, isn't necessarily the way you see it.