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Thursday 30 June 2011

Day 29 & Day 30

So, It's over!

Yesterday was just abs.

Today a run outside for 30 mins http://runkeeper.com/user/Kimivory/activity/41387485 .

I did nearly every day of Juneathon, I think only a couple of misses, and I have lost 4lbs.  I'd like to have lost more, but 4 lbs = 1lb per week which is what you're supposed to lose if you're doing it sensibly.

I am definitely much more toned up v. flat tummy and when I ran last weekend in the sun, I dug out my old Camelbak running belt with water bottle, and I had to take it in by 2 ins round the waist.. I haven't worn it for months, but I'm obviously slimmer than I was back then!

Half Marathon training now until end of September.  I'm doing the Jeff Galloway programme which allows running and walking which I think will suit me best.

I'm also going to copy Cake of Good Hope http://cakeofgoodhope.blogspot.com/ and try the 100 pushup challenge http://hundredpushups.com/index.html  to get lovely toned arms like Jennifer Aniston.

If anyone wants to be Facebook friends you can catch me at http://www.facebook.com/kim.ivory

Good Luck to everyone who is training for a big race, especially http://fortnightflo.wordpress.com/ who is doing the same HM as me.

I'll probably update this from time to time as I quite like blogging now.

Maybe catch up again at Janathon! xxxxx

Wednesday 29 June 2011

Day 28

30 mins on treadmill. HATED IT.  It's funny how sometimes it's easy then other times it's just hard work!
Wasn't helped by the fact that I  ran for the first 10 mins on an incline of 10.  I usually walk for 3 mins on a high incline to stretch my legs out, then zero the machine and start my 30 mins.  Forgot to lower the incline this time, and it was really hard.

Later added weightlifting to my activity.

Place the handlebar post spacer (48) onto the pivot shaft welded on the right side or the main frame. Attach the right handlebar post bracket to the pivot shaft and secure in position with a hex head bolt (50) and washer (49)........... 


That was the first page of the instructions for putting Mum's treadmill together.  It was like reading Chinese.  In fact it was reading Chinese.  The thing was made in China (what isn't?) and some of the instructions were v. bonkers.  It was especially confusing, when on page 3 a random sentence from page 1 was reprinted for no good reason, which threw me right out.


Anyway got it all put together with only 2 screws left over.  Woke up in middle of night worrying about the 2 spare screws.  What if aged mother is on treadmill and the thing falls to bits because I've missed screwing something together. Spoke to her this morning and told her to read instructions again and see if I missed anything out. 


It's actually quite hard work to make it move.  It's not motorised and it does make your legs work.  Mum was planning on doing an hour a night on it while watching TV, but I think that 5 mins will be more than enough to start with.


Only 2 days to go! Hoorah!  



Monday 27 June 2011

Day 27

So explain this to me. After I did all that running yesterday how come I've put on weight this morning?????

Beloved husband maintains that it is something to do with the 2 bottles of wine I managed to neck during the course of yesterday afternoon. (I was dehydrated wasn't I!?!?)

You'd have thought though that the running might cancel the wine out so I'd have at least remained the same weight.

Life is sometimes very unfair.

V. impressed with new trainers.  No foot or leg ache at all today.  NB1226 it says they're very cushioned and they are!

Swimming today 33 lengths while it's nice weather.

Sunday 26 June 2011

Day 26

Yesterday I did....nothing.  it's not often that Bad Kim really digs her heels in, but Yesterday I mumbled something about better go and do something Juneathony and Bad Kim just said "NO".  I cajoled myself, and that is harder than it sounds, but she said "Bugger it, I'm not doing anything today and you can't make me!" So I gave in and had a day off.  BAD KIM!

Today I ran 7.31km in 56.37 mins  http://runkeeper.com/user/Kimivory/activity/40824910,  It was really nice, lovely warm weather and I went to Caldecotte Lake which is a gorgeous place to run.  Lots of other people out running as well so there was a nice feel about the place.  No-one else ever seems to look so red and hot as I do though!

I should have gone a tiny bit further as I ran 56 mins instead of 60, but I sort of ran out of places to go as I was back at the car and short of running in circles I was stumped. Still v. please with myself as I did 6.58km in 60 mins last week.

ALSO, tested out my new 1000 Mile tactel trainer socks, and am v. pleased to report that I do not have a blister where a blister ought to be after running that distance!!!  Usual blister under left big toe joint is absent!!  Excellent!!!

Feet and new shoes seem to have arrived at a truce and no more aches from them so everything is falling into place nicely at the moment.

ALSO - huge excitement.....I have a follower at last!!!!! Thank you Rachel! x

Having a little BBQ this p.m. as the weather is SO fab.

Is there a collective noun for a glut of cucumbers?

















I think it should be called an Embarrassment of cucumbers.  I don't know what to do with the things.  This was only yesterday's picking, there are zillions more little ones ripening!!

Friday 24 June 2011

Day 24 - I have competition

Done my statutory 30 mins on treadmill. Each time I'm going a tiny bit further and faster, so I think that the slower running is paying off.   By end of Sept, I should have built up both speed and stamina. (Well that's' the plan).

Received an email from my mother last night.  Mum will be 81 next month.  She has bought herself a treadmill!

She's fed up with eating nothing but salads and still not losing any weight, so she's bought a small treadmill that will fold up against the wall, which she is going to keep in the lounge, and walk on while she watches TV in the evenings!  Well Good for her I say!

Had fun and games this morning.  Some nice men came and offered to tarmac our drive for cash earlier this week.  They finished this morning, lovely job, and then surprise surprise, said they wanted £2000 more cash.

Husband declined, and after some rowdy banter they left threatening dire reprisals.

Have photos of them and both their vehicles.

Thursday 23 June 2011

Day 23

Excellent 30 mins of cardio, enough to get hot, but hopefully not so much I'll knacker myself like last week.

Ages ago someone told me that you shouldn't do "aerobic" type stuff wearing running trainers, because they are designed to propel you forward and all the sideways movements in aerobics could cause you to damage your knees or ankles.  Remembered that today so I dug out a pair of old plimsoles and used them and..........it was MUCH better.  Far easier to move around.

Have put a new page up top giving a bit of detail of how and why I got started in running for anyone interested.

Buster to hairdresser this afternoon,  booo, I love him all fluffy.





Buster before hairdresser fluffy and cute!



Wednesday 22 June 2011

Day 22 - New Shoes!


Finally my new trainers arrived!!!  New Balance 1226.
Done 30 mins on the treadmill.  Pain in right foot arch and right knee.  Pain in left shin.  I think that's OK for a new pair of shoes while the highly technical features of the expensive shoe, and my highly unique running gait try to battle eachother into submission. My feet WILL win!

Old trainer gave gasp of joy to see replacements.
"Will you finally retire us??"  they cried
"NO, I don't want to get lovely new trainers dirty and covered in sheep poo like you guys, so will continue to use you on fields and will use lovely new ones on treadmill and tarmac."


Look what else I've done!!!








Day 21

Today did walking, mainly because I thought I'd lost the dog.

His Dad was out cutting thistles in the fields on his big boys mowing machine, and Buster likes to do that as well sitting on Dad's lap on the machine.  Due to rather spectacular accident couple of years ago we now discourage this so Bus was confined to barracks.

I went out to water hanging baskets and left gate open thinking that if he came out he'd stay with me.  Shortly afterwards heard barking from up the drive.  Drat, has gone out to look for Dad.

Walked up drive could not find him. Went to next doors dogs who he usually visits.  Not there.  Oh Bum, has gone for wander to find Dad.  So I set off in pursuit.  Mile and half later no sign of him.  I went indoors, and voila, good dog was indoors and had been there all along.  Juneathon Done!

Monday 20 June 2011

Day 20

Oh I'm so tired.  I can't be bothered to talk about it.  I'll update tomorrow.

OK. It's tomorrow now.

So, let's start with a confession.  I did no activity on Sunday :(

I think that I overdid it a bit for a few days with Juneathon, starting my half-marathon programme, and the diet for Venice.  The half- marathon programme calls for rest days which I didn't take because of Juneathon and I've been v. v. good about food and I think it all took it's toll Sunday.

When I woke up my legs were like cooked spaghetti and I felt really shaky.

I was supposed to do a 60 minute run for the HM prog, but I just didn't.  I wouldn't have been able to do the whole hour and I'd have felt so demotivated that I'd probably have given up altogether.

Husband's daughter phoned up unexpectedly to say they were popping round to say hello for Father's day, I had to go to Luton to get my own Dad and the morning just ran away.   Took Dad and husband out for lunch, then Dad stayed over.

What fun.  Husband finds father a tiny bit difficult to deal with, Dad is 83 and quite inactive/lazy take your pick. So for rest of day and Monday I was running around, Where's Dad? watching TV, where's Mike?  in his 'Pub' in the garden.  Where's Dad?  in Conservatory, where's Mike?  in kitchen.  Where's Dad in kitchen, where's Mike ??  Seems to have left home.

Anyway, Monday I felt a lot better so went out for the 60 minute run.  Did it, was v. pleased with myself.  Went round the fields up the hills down the slopes, diagonally across neighbour's wheat field what has a lovely track cut through it, and then it all went wrong.  I looked at the edge of the wheat field and thought that I could run along the edge of it all the way round.

I was incorrect. I was running/stumbling through thistles, long grass, stray wheat,  and who knows what else, but whatever it was I was v. allergic to it.  My legs and arms came up in intensely itchy hives see photo above.

Got home decided to go into swimming pool to soothe itchy limbs, swimming pool is salt water. Ow bloody ow ow ow ow!

Couldn't take Piriton as was taking Dad to chiropodist.  I'd caught sight of his feet which more than resembled cloven hooves so made emergency appointment for urgent restoration work.

Did that, took Dad home, went back to my home, took multiple Piriton for the rash had glass of wine and was overcome with tiredness due to drugging myself with excess anti-histamine.

Good news - was 9 stone 11lbs  this morning!!

Saturday 18 June 2011

Day 18

Did walking carrying weights.
OK OK some people might call it shopping, but I walked all around Milton Keynes shopping centre which is v. big, and I carried lots of things I'd bought.

Was supposed to meet Ashleigh at the Apple Store at 11.50 as she had an appointment.  I was there. She was not.  She phoned and said she was stuck in traffic and could I tell them she'd be 15 mins late.

Went for a bit of walking went back at 11.05 - No Ash.  Hung around until 12.30 then texted her to let me know when she arrived and went off for more walking.  Eventually met up at 13.10!  I'd done a lot of walking in that time, then we did more walking all the length of the centre and back.  Weights got heavier as we progressed.

Running for 60 minutes tomorrow. Not sure I can handle the treadmill for that length of time.  Might do 30 on treadmill then 30 round fields if it's not raining.

Friday 17 June 2011

Day 17

Core and Cardio fitness.  Have done every variation on the crunchie that could possibly be achieved without super-powers.

Piddling with rain.  Lord I. out at golf again, will not be happy.

Have decided to win the Euromillions lottery tonight.

Something had a party on the lid of our hot tub last night.   It did a lot of poo, here are pics of poo.  Can anyone identify??



Thursday 16 June 2011

Days 15 and 16

OK, I'm going to get in trouble for this but yesterday's activity was not a sport.  I did however lose 1lb when I weighed myself this morning, and I ache in places I'd forgotten could ache.

What did  I do????  Housework!  I hate housework and usually do the bare minimum to stop us suffocating under the dust. However, husband was a a golf jolly all day yesterday so I had the day to myself, and resolved to Spring Clean (ok bit late).

It's a big house and I did all of downstairs completely from ceiling to floor. Threw rugs outside and shook them. Set vacuum cleaner on fire (don't ask, I think it was trying to commit suicide). Washed kitchen down.  Even did all the ironing.  Bonus, window cleaner came yesterday as well, so sparkly windows too!  

It took from 9.00 a.m. until 7.00 p.m. and everything is now sparkling.  So, not sport, but definitely activity.

Today 30 mins on treadmill, 4.03 km.  Running slowly is really working for me,  I started off at 7.7km/hr, and gradually increased the speed so I was at 9.7 for the final minute and a half. Usually I run at 8.9 from scratch and I get really uncomfortable and out of breath but this was a breeze.  Finally after 2 years, I figure out how to do it!!!  Just need to work out how to pace myself when not on a treadmill as I run too fast altogether and then have to walk a bit.

Tuesday 14 June 2011

Days 13 and 14

Day 13 - I FORGOT about Juneathon!  Thought about it just before bedtime.  Lay on landing at 10.00 p.m. doing crunchies.  Was going to do 200, but made myself do 250 as punishment!


Day 14 - Slow jog on treadmill.  Today is the first day of my training for the half-marathon I've entered in September.  That will be my longest distance so far.

Realise that if I actually go slower I can plod along forever without having to walk at all, but if I do my usual and start off at a faster pace I have to have a walk break after about 10 mins.  The general aim is to actually finish the race.  I don't care what time I do it in.

WEIGHT STILL UNDER 10 STONE!
View from the Treadmill

Sunday 12 June 2011

Day 12 5k race

Did it!

It was p'ing down all morning, but loads of people turned up and it was a lovely race through the grounds and deer park of Woburn Abbey.

Best bit was where tiny fawn decided to join in and was running alongside us for ages.  Thought it was going to go to finish line for a medal.

I was glad to finish at 5k thought, the rain was not nice and when I saw the people who were going round for the 2nd lap I didn't envy them.

Runkeeper messed up again and paused itself after only 2.something k.  Thankfully the edit facility has let me put in exactly where I ran, and I noted the times so this is where I was  http://runkeeper.com/user/Kimivory/activity/39063498

V. wet and cold. Really thought that Mother could have done the decent thing and run around with me holding umbrella! :)  She and Buster stayed in car with binoculars........ and didn't see me.  I got back to car and there she was staring at the runners through the bins and jumped out of her skin when I opened the door.

"I thought you couldn't be THAT far back" she said in a way that suggested that she thought I would be somewhere near the back.

Anyway Day 12 done well.  Down to pub now!

Saturday 11 June 2011

Day 11

Excellent Indian last night.  Have not even bothered to go near scales today.

Did swimming again today.  Not so good.  1) Cold! 2) Spider!

Have major problem when swimming in pool in that I can't bear to see things drowning, so end up doing zig-zag lengths collecting assorted flying ants, beetles etc. and swimming one handed to sides to offload soggy cargo.

Spider (massive, nay MASSIVE!) was on wall of pool above water line.  Resolved to ignore it.  Do not do spiders.

Inevitably spider got washed off wall into water due to waves created by powerful swimmer (ha!)

WHO KNEW SPIDERS COULD WALK ON WATER!!???????

Not happy but no way could 'save' spider and put it out.  Decided that if I swooshed it to the far side of the pool,  gave it a name and pretended it was my friend, I might be able to tolerate it.

Named it Jesus (obviously) told it to keep to it's half of the pool, and carried on bravely.

Jesus did not keep to the rules, scuttled rapidly towards me.  Was glad that no-one was outside listening as I was screaming "Back off Jesus" whilst creating new record for length of pool.

Finally had to get out of water, find net, and hoik his Holiness out of pool.  Using a dimly remembered lacrosse throw, propelled Jesus far across lawn.

WHO KNEW JESUS COULD FLY!!??

****************

5k at Woburn Abbey tomorrow for British Heart Foundation. Weather forecast Rain!

Friday 10 June 2011

Day 10+

Felt guilty and did the rest of the 500m of swimming.

Concocted cunning plan to thwart major problem - forgetting how many lengths I've done during swim.

Put one bowl full of wine corks and one empty bowl at starting end of pool, then, each time back at that end transferred 2 corks from full bowl to empty bowl! Clever Eh?!    (There is no need to go into question of how I got so many wine corks)

Total lengths today 34 = just a little over 500m. V.Good. Well Done Me!

Am starving.  Should I  a) wait until this evening for Indian, so I can eat it all, or
b) eat something healthy and filling now so I won't eat so much later???

Day 10

What a horrible night!

Woke up at 02.30 aching all over.  Bottom of feet, ankles, shins, knees, thighs, abs, neck, shoulders, arms, wrist and hands all really hurting a lot. Could hardly turn over.

Lay there just aching until husband got up at 05.30 then got 2 Ibuprofen which worked wonders and in 20 mins it was all OK.  I rarely take painkillers.  No idea what that was all about.  Ache a little bit today but no more than I'd expect to after doing all this exercise, but last night was something else.

Maybe ALL my muscles are growing.  Will wake up in a few days looking like Incredible Hulk.  Would prefer to be pink or purple than green though if allowed to choose.

Had hot tub this morning then a little swimming.  Better not overdo it, but going out for Indian tonight so might have to do a bit more later just to allow for extra calories!

Thursday 9 June 2011

Day 9 Done!

Tennis!

Forgot how much running was involved.  Legs killing me more now.

One of my calf muscles is really hurting......... Muscle????  but I don't have any calf muscles!!!

WOW, maybe one is GROWING????

Would really like to do swimming tomorrow, but only if weather is nice. Quelle quandry, need rain for sheep, but need sun for Juneathon!

I know I could swim in the rain, but what if a lightning bolt hit the pool??   Exactly... fried Kimmy!

Am going to have chicken and vegetables for dinner and hope that weight is still under 10st tomorrow.  If not don't care if lightning hits pool when I'm in it!!

Not quite Day 9.......

I LOVE YOU JUNEATHON!!  For the first time in 6 weeks my weight has gone below 10stone!!!

My legs however are absolutely killing me from yesterday's aerobics.  Squat lunges ow! Arabesque with pulses ow ow ow!

Would walking about in Fit Flops all day count as an activity???

Probably not.

Can't do much at the moment though.

Hopefully come up with something leg friendly later on!

Wednesday 8 June 2011

Day 8

Well I can't believe that I've done an activity every day for over a week.  That's a first.

1 hour of cardio aerobics.  Did it OK, but just look sooo stupid when I see myself in mirror.  Today looked like a daddy long legs with boobs.

Got super strong sports bra and still was bouncing about like a bouncing thing. My calf muscles do not exist and have long skinny legs and arms, do have good abs, but cannot see them as still need to lose flabby area around stomach.  Not Fair!

Mother has insisted on sponsoring me for Sunday so no way out now. I know it's only 5k, but just feel a bit shy about doing a race on my own. Perhaps Mum will come to support.

Have ordered a new pair of trainers.  New Balance 1226.  Hope they arrive before Sunday because a 5k race will be a good test of if they rub or not.

Tuesday 7 June 2011

Days 6 & 7

Monday felt horrible.  Nothing specific just completely fuggy.  Did abs just to get some sort of activity done.  Nothing great.

Tuesday ran outdoors.  Sheep banned from one big field to let grass grow, so I did some circuits of it with dog.

Used Runkeeper.    http://runkeeper.com/user/Kimivory/activity/38451098

BAD Runkeeper!  It paused itself!  It was giving me voice alerts every 500m and after 2k I was waiting and waiting for the next 500 and it didn't come.  Thought I was running v. slowly.  Came out of field ran down drive, round house and garden thinking any second now another 500m will be done but no!

In the end gave up looked at iPhone and saw what had happened.  Have edited map and found I did just over 3k before giving up.

I run a lot faster outside than on the treadmill.  Think I'll be fine for 5k on Sunday.

Here is nice recipe for muesli

200 g Porridge Oats
50g oat Bran (optional)
Large handful of Sultanas
Large handful of Almonds or Hazelnuts
500 ml Apple juice.

Mix the above together in large bowl and leave in fridge overnight


Then add
250 ml plain, low fat live yoghourt
2 grated apples.
Mix together - add more apple juice if needed.

Serve as is, or add some berries or banana on top.

A small bowl of this will last you all the way through to lunch!

This will last about 4 days in fridge.

Sunday 5 June 2011

Day 5!

I sooo didn't want to do anything today, but it's only Day 5.  Can't give up yet.  (yes you can yes you can whisper the 'voices')

Decided it had to be something easy so tried barefoot running for the first time since I was a child.  (Mainly because I couldn't be bothered to put my trainers on.)

It was good because I didn't run so fast and that made it easy.  I did a fraction over a mile and will see what my ankles, shins and knees have to say about it in the morning before I decide whether to try it again or for longer.

I know, LAZY LAZY LAZY, but at least I did SOMETHING.

This time next week I'll have done a 5k race, I hope, so I'd better be feeling a bit more motivated by then!

Looked on internet this morning at life-size cut-out's.  Could get one of me in bikini now (Lardy) to compare with me by end of July when going to Venice (Slinky Slim)! Only worry is if kill myself doing all this exercise, husband might have cut-out standing at front of church for service.  Not a good look to be remembered by!

Saturday 4 June 2011

Day 4 - done! ZUMBA!

2nd Attempt at ZUMBA!

Oo la la.  I have the grace of a brick.  

Arms and legs all wrong, but on the few occasions was doing it right it felt good.

However badly was doing it though still worked up a sweat so it's done me good.

V. pleased this morning to find I've lost a little bit of weight since Juneathon started!

Friday 3 June 2011

Day 3 Still doing it!!

Decided I had to get on the treadmill today. Got on it, then had a think about turning it on.

Live on a farm so have lovely fields to run round, but poor sheep are starving due to lack of rain and no grass growing, and didn't want to frighten them and make them run about , they haven't volunteered for Juneathon after all is said and done.

Did treadmill for 5k, hoorah! Good for me!  Used Audiofuel to help me along (Rollercoaster) http://www.audiofuel.co.uk/   thank you Sean.   http://www.audiofuel.co.uk/our/files/Message-to-self.php   Actually did not call Sean nice names or say anything like 'thank you' during run.

Now going to go in hot tub for relax of poor old bones.  Hot tub ought to count as activity as at 40 degreesC it really raises the heart rate.  Don't think I'd get away with it for Juneathon though.

Can see hottub from treadmill, husband lying in it during my whole run.  Poor thing is exhausted now and asleep in sunshine like big old dog.

Race pack arrived for next week's Woburn Run for BHF.  Will probably only do the 5k not the 10 k unless fitness levels raise dramatically in next 8 days!

Today is Friday, pub this evening, what will I do tomorrow that will not kill me???

Thursday 2 June 2011

Juneathon Day 2

Had to go shopping/post office/supermarket and didn't want to get all hot and sweaty and have to wash my hair etc, so decided to do activity later on.

Got back home still with nice hair and make-up and still didn't want to get all hot and sweaty so persuaded myself that swimming was the answer!

Figured that 33-34 lengths of pool = half a kilometre, so set off.

Didn't think I'd do it as I thought I'd be bored, but actually enjoyed it and did 34 lengths of breaststroke! V. pleased with myself and smug. Not bad as I don't usually do lengths in the pool, just splashing around.

Nice man arrived halfway through with parcel delivery but dog showed him where I was so he came to edge of pool for me to sign and I didn't have to interrupt my epic swim.

Do have to do running tomorrow though as have entered a 5 or 10k (will decide on the day) on June 12th.

Wednesday 1 June 2011

Day 1 Juneathon

I'm doing Juneathon as I want to lost 10lbs before July 28th, when my Husband is taking me to Venice on the Orient Express then 4 nights in Venice.  I want to be able to eat my way round Venice, ice creams every day etc. without feeling at all guilty so this is the price I have to pay.

As I kickstarted my Juneathon weight loss with a curry last night (obviously a back-kick) I decided to try something new for my first day of fitness so I did ZUMBA!

O.M.G. !

I've watched my friend's 12 year old make it look soooo easy.  It isn't. It was worse still when I caught sight of myself in the mirror,  heaving around in the wrong direction arms and legs flailing about looking not at all cool and groovy.

However after an hour of it I'm v. hot and sweaty and I did find that I was grinning so It can't be all bad.

Running tomorrow.