Something new...

No food tracking today. A bad thing on my part. But although I have eaten more then I should have it has all been (mostly) healthy stuff.


Good news!
I bought the NoMeatAthele Marathon roadmap to help with my marathon training!

It is a PDF pack with tonnes of info about running on a meatless diet (I am thinking about removing fish again, but it needs more thought). I have run into a problem of paying for it and not being directed to the download page so I don't actually HAVE it yet. Though I have emailed the site and hopefully this will be sorted out soon!

Onto other exciting news...

I have never been nominated for anything before but Amie over at Running On Healthy has nominated for me for the Liebster Award.

Here's what needs to be done (taken from Running On Healthy):

• When you get the award, you post 11 random facts about yourself and answer 11 questions from the person who nominated you.
• Pass the award onto 11 other blogs (make sure you tell them you nominated them!) and ask them 11 questions.
• You are not allowed to nominate the blog who nominated you!
• Make sure the blogs you choose have 200 or less followers.
• Include a link to the person who nominated you & let them know about your post

Unfortunately, I don't have enough followers to send it out to 11 people, but I will send it to who I can.

So, 11 random facts about me:

• I have a weird obsession for pokemon and unicorns. Don't judge.
• I HATE lateness. I always try to be early by at least 10 minuets. Something I think is important in the nursing profession.
• I would love to be vegan but I need to have the motivation to cook more.
• I am REALLY shy/ a naturally quiet person. I am getting sick of people telling me this so I am working on it.
• I love 'weird health foods' as my other half calls them.
• I am not musical at all, I have tried guitar a few times and it has never worked out.
• I love sitting in with good food and a movie
• I love cooking and baking - i just wish I had more time!
• I am a final year student mental health nurse = lots of working and writing!
• I luuurve cupcakes! Mostly to look at, they are soo pretty (and yummy too!)
• I love neon colours

My 11 questions:

1. What are you reading currently?I could be a pain in the bum and say this...
   But no, I am currently reading The Hunger Games number 3.
   
2. Do you have any embarrassing old screen names from email or MSN?My old Myspace name was FingerLickin'Good. OH.DEAR.GOD.
   
3. What is your favourite summer time memory?I used to do Viking re-enactment and one time we went to Holy Island (or Lindisfarne) in Northumberland and we swam in the sea and saw the most amazing night sky. Because the area was so dark and the sky was so clear, we could see everything.
   
4. Blackberry, Android, or Iphone?None. I have a blackberry look alike from Samsung. If I had to choose I'd choose Android.
   
5. Favourite food to cook?Anything that looks good! I recently made a thia coconut curry which looked and tasted amazing. I would also love to get into more vegan cooking.
   
6. Favourite workout?Don't know if could pick one. The top ones are Running, Spinning and Yoga...Oh and maybe Zumba too!
   
7. If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go and why?I would really like to go to Iceland or Australia. They both look like beautiful places to go.
   
8. What is your biggest pet peeve?Lateness and loud eaters. *Shudders*
   
9. What is your favourite quote or mantra?The one I use during my running is 'Pain is temporary, Pride is forever'. My Sister saw it during the Great North Run and she said it kept her going, so since then I've kept it.
   
10. Have you ever climbed a mountain? Which one?I have done the Yorkshire 3 peaks. I have also been up others in the Lake District. I'd love to do more!
    
11. Favourite outdoor activity?Camping and walking! (of course running too!)

My Nominees

Sarah at ramblingmadhatter

You are the only one! Lucky you!
Other blogs I have, have been inactive for around a year. This is something that needs updating!

My Questions to you!

1.  What is your favourite colour?
2. If you were stuck on an Island what 3 items would you take?
3. What is your favourite exercise?
4. What is your favourite item of clothing?
5. Your current favourite song?
6. Best thing about you?
7. Most embarrassing memory?
8. Favourite pass time?
9. Favourite food?
10. What new activity would you like to try?
11. Best thing you have baked?

Broken Record...

Today was one of those days.

I say broken record becauce I always feel like I am repeating myself with what I'm about to write:

The ones where you can't stop eating, part of you is willing you to stop but you go back for more. This could just be me but JEEZ. There was toast, Christmas cake, apple, crisps, biscuits. All pure crap.  I kept telling myself it is okay because it is the hardest day in the XtrainFit at Home series and I expected to burn 600+ calories. But still, that's not the point, its bad food, it does not supply me with the goodness my body needs to function well.

Anyway its over and done with, tonight I am going to create a new meal plan to help with the control, at least it will be one less thing to worry about now placement has started and I have a dissertation and currently 2 essays to write, plus I now have a bank support worker job so that will take up some weekend time. Oh and add training for a half marathon in there too. O_O

I am now sat here with some lemongrass tea from teapigs, if you haven't heard from them you should really check them out their tea is AMAZING. So many different kinds and they do a sample box for just over £12 and you can pick 12 different samples of 2 tea bags and they send them in cute little boxes.

 They focus on whole leaf tea and even have a special range called matcha, a strong version of green tea that can help with raising energy and helping with weight loss, among many other benefits, I'll talk about that more once they have arrived but for now check 'em out here


So...

X-trainFit at Home http://www.xtrainfit.co.uk/
Well what can I say... It is really good! You get a lot for your money, 8 workout DVDs, so one for each day and 2 workouts (for the first 3 weeks) on one day (don't worry the extra one is a stretch DVD..very nice!)
It is a 12 week program and comes with a workout info booklet, where you can store you pre-program stats and a wallchart where you can check off workouts and add a before and after pic of yourself.
The first 3 weeks are mainly cardio based so the focus is on fat burn then weeks 4-9 the circuit training increases and the cardio reduces then the final 10-12 weeks are about toning the new body!
The instructor is great, it is a real life, down to earth workout with real sweat and pain. It is almost like working out with friends and there is great support from the X-train team and the instructor herself on facebook.
All workouts (besides stretch) are around an hour long and I am managing to fit it in with every else going one, just takes effort and motivation.
Best of all?
It is only £16.50! :D winwin!
First week done: down 0.5lb and 0.5inch off those hips!







And to the snow
Anyone have any tips for running in the snow/ice?
Or how to keep treadmill entertaining for longer runs?