2013 review and 2014 begins!

My goals for 2013 included:

• Running a marathon
• Completing the Coast to Coast
• Doing 2 half marathons in under 2hrs 15mins
• Getting a degree
• Find a weight I am happy with

Well I am proud to say I did them all apart from the half marathons in under 2hrs 15 but I DID do TWO half marathons, one without much training, awful weather and obscene hills, and I still managed a decent time! Oh and finding a happy weight didn't happen, in-fact I have gained 1.5stone since my smallest weight. But don't fear, that is changing this year! Aside from my goals I even tried pole dancing something I defiantly want to continue!

My marathon went well getting a less than decent time but one I am proud of considering again my lack of training. 

I am now a fully qualified mental health nurse with a 2:1. I am graduating this month! I can't wait!

2014

I started Insanity on Monday 30th December (who needs a new year to start something good?)

Holy WOW. It is tough but defiantly do-able! I am almost a week in and enjoying it! I am also following the meal plan although over the last 3 days that has been on and off with dipping into the Christmas chocolate stash. Damn cravings.

I also have plenty of races planned for this year! So onto my goals for 2014..

• Brighton Half in under 2hrs 20 (it was under 2 hours but I'm unsure)
• Finish The Nutty Challenge! 14k of obstacles!
• Complete the 2nd Yorkshire Marathon in under 5 hours (previous 5hrs 40)
• Finish the Beachy Head 10k
• Start my first nursing job!
• Begin pole fitness again
• Get to my goal weight of 53kg
• Do a pull up!
• Plan a wedding!!

So just a few things to keep me occupied! 

November Vegan Challenge and Pile on the Miles 2013

First of all, October:

I completed the marathon in 5hour 41mins and 39sec. Not a fast time but considering I only did up to 15miles in training I'll say that went pretty well :). Multiple times during the race I just felt like crying, not necessarily from pain but from exhaustion! Would I do it again? Probably!

All Finished!

The losing weight didn't happen.
I didn't do any Yoga.
But I did get back to bootcamp :)


November Challenges

30 day Vegan Challenge
Yep! That old chestnut! This time its official, done by Animal Aid, you can check out the challenge at govegan.org.uk.
From this I have been invited to an open day down in Kent for one of the animal sanctuary's that save animals from harm, I am really looking forward to this and it is taking place at the end of the month!
I have already started eating vegan and have been for about a week now. I am loving it, despite the fact that I am currently eating more than usual, probably due to my mind subconsciously thinking I wont eat much food but in reality of course I will. I am hoping it will calm down once I am more confident with knowing what I can and can't eat.

Pile on the Miles 2013
A challenge over at runeatrepeat.com, where you set a mileage goal and get there beat it. Since I am still trying on keeping runs easy I have set myself a target of 80miles over the month of November.

Other November Goals:
Attend Spin class, I have found one that is pay as you go, one problem, it is at 06:30am! Yikes! I will try and get there at least once before the month is over.
Go swimming! I have been wanting to do this for a while just never had the confidence!

Right! Lets get on it!

October goals

I thought I'd get this one in early. I have had some new found motivation to lose the regained pounds oer the past week. Me and my friend are going to Costa Del Sol in Spain. Its official, it has been booked!

She was saying that she would feel bad if one of us ended up going without our ideal bikini body and since she is doing really well in her weight loss I really need to step mine up a notch. However, I did lose 1.6kg this week (wooo!) but I need to remember that it doesn't mean I can go all out and eat everything in sight all over again.

So here are some goals to keep me motivated through October:
Complete the marathon - pooping myself over this. I really can't wait till its done!
Lose 3.5-4kg in total over the month - Prize some new Soap and Glory items. I love their stuff!
Add in Yoga once per week
Get back to bootcamp

I have now finished uni and now looking for a job as a nurse. I have an interview coming up so fingers crossed!

May Goals!

So today started the 7 Day Vegan Challenge. It is going really well, or shall I say it was going well till the other half (bless) thought it would be a good idea to bring home 5 doughnuts from Sainsburys along with the hummus and peanut butter I asked him to get. So 2 and 1/2 yummy round diet destroying balls I am craving everything under the sun!

...its nice to know I can binge eat and still be vegan... ¬_¬ LEARN SOME SELF CONTROL WOMAN!

Anyway...

In other news I ordered some resistance bands and they arrived today YEY. They were really fun to have a play with and I am looking forward to doing a proper workout with them soon.

My Ballet Conditioning DVD arrived today too!

Only £5 from amazon, it is like a beginners guide to the basics of ballet training. On the surface it looks fairly simple but one I got into it my arms/legs/abs were in PAIN. I'm hoping I will be able to feel it tomorrow that way I know its done some good!

So May goals:

Lets start off with that it is going to be a pretty scary month as my dissertation is due in on the 20th. O_O.

• Finish and hand in dissertation
• Complete ballet conditioning DVD at least once per week
• Keep up with marathon training plan which begins on the 6th May (I am still planning on following the No Meat Athlete plan)
• Lose 5lb
• TRY and control my mad eating when home alone!

They will do I think!

Oooh what an eventful evening!

This is what happens when I mull about on my laptop! I have...

• Signed up for the Great North Run 2012!! 
• Confirmed my place on an organised walk to do the Yorkshire 3 Peaks!

The Great North Run (13.1 miles) is on the 16th September and I am aiming to beat my first time of 2 hours 38mins. I am running it for Mind, a charity that supports those who have mental health problems, I have spent some time with them during my nurse training and they really do an amazing job! I have to raise £300, but I am not capping it at that, I'd love to raise as much as I can! Here comes the cheeky bit... If you wish to support me (which would be far greater than amazing) my donation page is http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/EmilyRichardson

The Yorkshire 3 Peaks has been organised by a charity at my university HYMS Marrow. Helps find bone marrow donors to help people with blood cancers. Again an amazing chartiy working hard. For this walk I have to raise £40 by April 14th. Shouldn't be too difficult. I have thought about becomming a marrow donor maybe I'll sign up soon. It is 24.5 miles over Pen-y-ghent (694 metres - 2,276 feet), Whernside (736 metres - 2,415 feet) and Ingleborough (723 metres  2,372 feet) all in one circular route ( info from http://www.3peakswalks.co.uk/) .

So there will have to be lots of training! Both running and walking! Wish me luck!

Oh, and today I made a slimming world half syn cake. Basically a cake with no flour, instead it is made from Quark, sweetener, vanilla essence and eggs. Sound horrid? Its actually nice. It is half a syn for the whole thing! Considering you can have 10 syns a day that is pretty good going! I made 2 with a fromage frias and strawberry filling (also both free on slimming wolrd!) So thats one syn in total, and I have only eaten half. Yummy!

Anyway thats enough rambling for now I think! :)

Smiles x

Wow...its been a long time!

So since November I have done sooo much!

• Joined Slimming World (So far lost 12lb!)
• Ran a Half Marathon
• Dropped a jeans size :)
• Turned 21
• Got a Wii and Wii fit 
• Joined a gym

Not bad if I do say so myself! But this is all a working progess, my goal weight is 9st 7lb, I am currently 10st 12lb, 1st 5lb to lose!
My BMI at the mo is 26.7, so I am classed as overweight, but hey considering I was (at my highest) a BMI of 32, again that is something else I am proud of!

I completed my first half marathon in Brighton on the 19th Feb in 2hr 38min! I really thought I'd be closer to the 3 hour mark due to complete lack of training before hand. I think the biggest distance I covered before the race was about 7miles! I havn't been running since, taking a nice long break (I still have a purple toe. ICK!) But I have been going to the gym about 3 times a week and since my birthday on friday I have been on my Wii and Wii fit. I LOVE the zumba, it is great fun :). I am hoping to get out running again soon!

I do have some new fitness goals that I would like to achive this year..

• Run the Great North Run 2012 (September)
• Another 10k or two
• Do the coast to coast walk (Summer time)
• Walk the Yorkshire 3 peaks in under 12 hours.
• Join pole exercise (optional).

Now to make it all happen! :D

The pole exercise thing is optional, mainly due to money and time but it is something I would love to get round to trying at some point!

I have found this blog called Running on Healthy, it is the main reason why I started up this blog again. But it has given me a good idea to set weight loss goals and incetives for when I get there. I will try and put this somewhere a little more permanent on my blog but I will pop it here for now....

☐ 10st 10lb (1 Stone loss) - Hair dye / Nice shower gel
☐ 10st 3lb - Paw prints tattoo
☐ 9st 13lb - Hair cut/ Try a Pole class
☐ 9st 10lb (2 Stone loss!) - New outfit
☐ 9st 7lb GOAL one :) - Weekend away with the Fiance <3

That will do for now, these may change, but it looks pretty good now now! They are quite small but the weight loss is quite slow and steadt at the mo so these should work out well :).

As for the nuring training... I am about half way through my second year and I love it! I am learning how to assess and my mock exam was today ek! It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, though it does not help that I have a small fear of CCTV cameras (weird.. I know). Next placement is in April on an Elderly ward, I can't wait! I'd love to get on to the bank for HCA but so far I have had no luck due to the lack of experience I had before my nurse training (none!). At the moment I am working at a bar, which isn't great hours regarding the course but it gets me through the month abit easier!

Feel free to follow/join! It is always nice to know that there are others out there! ^_^

Smiles!