New Year, new resolution, *new* *thread*: healthy living and positive thinking in 2009

[eemie]

Welcome to 2009 everyone.

This is where we try to support each other to eat healthily, take better care of ourselves and think positively.

It used to be called a 'bootcamp' but it's really more forgiving than that, especially if you're poorly or you've just had a baby.

Everyone is welcome (I would put that in capitals but don't want to shout).

Our suggestions:-

Eat healthily;
Exercise regularly;
Drink plenty of water/other clear fluids;
No alcohol during the week;
Use body lotion/hand cream/extract of donkey testicles regularly;
Get enough rest;
Focus on three (well, at least one) positive achievements, however small, every day and try to post it/them here.

Have I missed any?

Happy new thread, everyone

We can do this Feetheart - am back to hard bootcamping (which has worked so well in the past - still will not give up). Dh is joining me for a while, which should make things easier (although he can seem to lose a stone just by cutting out the odd snack or beer) and I am going to stop torturing myself with the task of finding dresses I can wear in summer until I can at least fit into the ones in my wardrobe (although still need to get my black tie one for 4 weeks' time)

The big positive for me is that my fitness at last seems to be actually improving. I did 4 runs in the gym last week, all more than 30 continuous mins, and on Saturday ran for 4.5 miles continuously for the first time ever (still doesn't help me lose weight though, ho hum).

Positives

1. Feeling fitter.
2. Legs still very very wobbly but can detect a minute firming in the thighs, I think.
3. Only working on Friday this week.

Right then [grits teeth and rolls up sleeves], we do not have the excuse of Easter, summer hols a fair distance yet - no excuses now!

Moonshine - yes, we can do this though there may be some whinging and complaining along the way
Good news on the feeling of improved fitness, hopefully that works as a good motivator.
I'm very impressed at the distances you are running too. My aim is to get to 5k, I am a long way off at the moment!

First day back on track has gone well - I managed to reduce snacking to a sensible level and got out for a run. Sadly the chesty lurgy has taken its toll and I definitely needed to go back to Week 3 of the programme (I had got up to Week 5) but at least I got out am on the way back to where I was

So positives for today:

1. Ordered cheap MP3 player, decent 'stick in your ears and don't fall out' headphones and a posey (but useful) armband bag thing to keep MP3 attached to me when I run

1. Had eyebrows waxed for first time - they look half decent!!

1. Got some boring but essential jobs done whilst children were more than happy to entertain themselves

It is now 10.30pm and I am going to bed (smug emoticon needed )

Oh yes I like a good whinge - something I am champion at .

Tbh it has taken me months and months to be able to run more than 30/35 mins continuously. And there is no way on earth I could have done a minute of it without being plugged into my MP3 player! I try to change the songs around regularly and always add real stomping ones, even if they might be considered 'embarassing' (I shall confess to Breakaway by Tracey Ullman - fantastic for a sprint!) as I find a 'surprise' tune can suddenly motivate me to do a few more hundred yards . But I need to get some weight training in I think but just can't seem to combine the 2 successfully at the gym.

Wish I had eyebrows to wax . Mine have all but dropped out in the past year and I'm left with just the odd stupid-looking clump.

Dcs have a 'double' play date and the 4 year-old has just 'drank' some soap - eek!
..........

Ok back now, having sorted that out (he is running round). Had brief visions of having to phone his mum to tell her he was on his way to A&E. Thought he'd be way past that stage now .

Positives are:

1. Did not poison friend's ds.

1. Managed to do some squats and lunges.

1. After months of searching have finally found some comfy non-VPL pants in M&S and the thought of not having to wear my other crotch-cutters is bliss!

Moonshine - glad you didn't poison child. I also succeeded in keeping friend's two alive this afternoon though they were thoroughly bossed about by tired DD - DS knows the score and bailed out to the safety of the living room and 'Cars' video

Cheap (and tiny weeny) MP3 player arrived today but haven't been able to play with it much as children keep wanting to 'help'. Am going to stick a completely ramdom selection of songs on it to start with and see how I go. Slightly concerned I may strangle myself with wires though, any tips?

Well done on comfy pants, it does make SO much difference. I had done well with La Sensa but they seem to have gone all teenagery, might venture back to M&S.

Not done as well today though I blame friends! Went to see one this morning with birthday present for her daughter and was fed an ENORMOUS slice of rather solid birthday cake. Felt duty-bound to eat it as my 2 asked for it, picked at the icing then left it Also had to fight chocolate craving this afternoon - think it was a score draw in the end, 1-1 possibly!!

Positives for today:

1. DS managed his first night without pull-ups (proud Mummy emoticon needed)

1. Got my hula hoop out and did 5 mins in the hope that I might rediscover a waist!

1. DS ate a parsnip!!!! Have been in the toddler 'refusal to try anything' phase for too long now.

Not quite a 10.30pm finish but close enough!

Quickie as its already after 10.30pm and I need a decent night's sleep - DS has taken to sleeping on his front with his hands tucked under him and is waking up (a lot) with pins and needles!

Not a brilliant day food-wise - decorated Easter eggs with sweets with the children and we all ate more than we put on the eggs Still finding the need for a sugar-fix overcomes all sense of healthy eating.

Still lots of positives:

1. Took home-made jam and various cards DD had made to surrogate grandparents up the road as they have had a rough few weeks and we have been full of colds so couldn't visit or help much (surrogate grandpa is on oxygen most of time now so any infection is serious)

1. Spent ages on ebay with DD helping her find Playmobil stuff to spend her £10 birthday money on - think she has settled on 2 Playmobil fairies

1. Made delicious and superfast dinner (idea stolen from Nandos menu!) which disappeared in short order.

Looking forward to good w/e weatherwise so should be out and about a lot - possibly the zoo again!
Hope you enjoy yours.

Very quiet w/e in the end but spent most of it in the garden doing garden-type things so feeling quite good. Sadly this means that the house is in an even worse state as it has been completely ignored

Positives for today:

1. Went for a run at 7am as didn't think I'd fit one in otherwise - so much for glorious sunshine, it was thick, cold fog!! Did mean I started the day feeling very smug though

1. DD and I went charity shop shopping in the nearest well-heeled town to us whilst DS was back at pre-school. We had a lovely few hours and she spent most of her hard-earned £6 acquiring even more fluffy toys/strange-looking dolls/dinosaur-related books

1. DH and I got a chance to talk over stuff about work, the future, etc. Whatever happens its going to be an 'interesting' year

10.32pm - bedtime!!

Eek, hadn't realised I hadn't posted for a week. Been a bit of a 'getting back to normal' week, the weather was too good to be inside on the computer and the washing machine died!!
I also discovered the Food Focus website and have been spending ages logging stuff! It may be the kick up the bum I needed and after scaring the bejesus out of myself by scoffing around 3000 calories the day I started I have been very good - I may have found my motivator

Positives for today:

1. Went for a run this morning before everyone got up and whilst the weather was still lovely

1. Spent nice time playing games with DS this afternoon

1. Got DD (with DS in tow) to and from her swimming lesson this evening without ANY shouting - big result

Sorry I haven't posted for a while but thought I'd pop my head in to say I am still (sort of) here but mil close to death out of nowhere (although she is old but still a shock) so life is all topsy turvy atm.

I love you determination Feetheart. Come what may, Normal Life must go on, even if only surreally atm, so will be checking in on you (wags finger) but maybe not so positive for a wee while.

Anyway don't want to bring the thread down - I'll be back!

Wow, I really did kill this thread. Oh well, I have always been one for flogging a dead horse and I need to get back on track as life, despite all, has to get back to some sort of normality.

My work event was a great success, I wore a long black comfortable and reasonably flattering dress from Coast in the end - expensive but worth the fit. I have, however, been incredibly ill with proper flu and a throat infection for 2 weeks now and, even today, it has mutated into a head cold which I still can't shake off. I nearly collapsed at work last week as, even with a raging fever, I had to put in 12 hour days [martyr emoticon].

So no exercise for weeks, have been drinking every day this week to, ahem, help with the cold and have relaxed on what I am eating. My wieght has yoyoed (due to some not been able to eat and now eating comfort food) but am trying to console myself with the fact that I'm still 2lbs lighter than 3 weeks ago (every little helps!)

And today is my first day off in weeks, although my f*twit of a dh managed to lock me out of the house and had to come back to borrow a ladder and climb through a tiny window which, thank God, I had left open this morning.

So, am pushing myself back on the wagon as I always live in hope......can't do much about fitness but shall try and eat better (although this morning had to have a cappuccino and chocolate twist to calm myself whilst waiting for dh to come home ), I have actually walked about 2 miles this morning, and my hand and feet nails are filed and painted for the first time in ages, so not quite so manky.

Anyone else game?