2012 is turning out to be an eventful year!

Great North Run completed in 2hours 23mins! I am soo pleased with that, even more so that at times it was so difficult to pass people that I had to drop the pace for a while so I know I have it in me to do better. My next half marathon is on the 17th Feb in Brighton again, a nice flat, less populated route so I am aiming for around 2hours 10mins. Scary, but I know I can do it!

After a week without exercise me and the other half went and did the Yorkshire 3 peaks challenge, a walk of 3 700m mountains in under 12 hours. Despite the huge bogs and sore feet we managed it in 11 hours 50 mins, so chuffed with that and proud of Nick for doing the whole thing :) I'll pop some pics in below.

Weight has crept up a bit since the GNR but that doesn't really bother me, now I can get back to normal healthy eating and start running again slowly. I also plan to get to the gym this week since I have a week off, maybe even a class or two, but nothing too strenuous.

I have signed up for the Gunpowder Plod on the 5th November. A 5k race and firework show in York. It has been a while since I have done a 5k race so some speed work is needed to get to my aim of 30min or under.

Everything  is done for my second year in Nursing. Eeeek! Third year begins soon and I become one of those people I looked up to when I first started Nursing, how scary is that?!

Tent was covered in ice!

Half way up the first peak, Pen-y-ghent

Boggy boots!

Half way point, going towards Whernside, the second peak.

Half way up Ingleborough, the final peak!

Only one mile to go! 23 miles done!

Lovely sunset looking towards Pen-y-ghent

Too much thinking, not enough working!

Work and Play
I am almost halfway though my nurse training, and I need to get my act together! This is because I just cannot find the motivation to start/continue with the all the essays I have to write, two of which are due in April so I really need to kick my bum into gear if I am going to get a good degree.

My reasons..
Apart from the motivation issue, I just get soo distracted by other things. Like making meal plans or organising my time so it is balanced between my fiance, workouts, nursing (placements and theory) and part time working.

(A little off topic but...I have just seen my the first wasp of spring hitting my window. ARG! Is it that time already?!?)

Maybe if I actually sit down and make a proper plan of my time to include everything I might actually get round to getting some work done! However it is difficult to plan at the moment due to my bar work as I only find out what I am working during the week on the Monday. A little pain when it comes to trying to plan...anything. I usually only work some Wednesday evenings and Saturdays (can be all day!) but I can be put down for any evening. I am just scared of changing my availability in case my boss gets mad. Yes I am a wuss. This WILL change. Soon. Hopefully. It needs to be done if my stress levels are going to remain anywhere near normal. :)

Going Veggi...again
Yupp, it's that time of year again :P, haha! My reasons for giving up last time (some time last year) I started to get dizzy, possibly due to iron levels? I had my blood taken (but of course by the time this happened I had started eating meat again to be on the safe side) and it came back fine. So my iron level will be something to pay attention to this time round. I only plan to try it for a week, to see if it makes any difference to my weight loss at slimming world. I am doing a meal planner, so I don't buy what I don't need and so I make sure I good a good varied diet!

Slimming world
Lost 1 lb! YEY! I honestly didn't expect to lose any, in fact just before I went my Wii Fit told me I weighed the same as last week. The cheek of it! Anyway I am VERY pleased! That takes me to 10st 8lb! I am REALLY amazed! I also got my Club 10 award at slimming world (lost 10% of my body weight). New target of 9st 7lb. 9st 7lb?!?! It's a dream!! But an achievable one ;).

Exercise
I have had my gym induction this week, so I am clued up on how to use the weights! I even have my own weights plan for when I go to the gym. I am excited to see the results of this in a few weeks time! This week I have also done more zumba which I love! I'd like to go swimming sometime soon, just need to buy a new costume. The uni is on its Easter break at the mo for 5 weeks, (not for us nursing students tho! Our WEEK is next week) when they all come back I am thinking about joining Pole Exercise. I would love to try it, I just still don' have the nerve!

Oh.My.Gosh
I am very very very possibly going to see Bill Bailey in May. BILL BAILEY!!! I may have to restrain myself from wanting to get out of my seat and stroke him :P.


...that wasp is bothering my window again.....it's HUGE

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!