Ready to get shredded!!

I've been a little quiet on blogger. My excuses are moving to Newcastle and having a baby. With buying a house thrown into the mix!! 

I'm starting to get back into an exercise and healthy eating pattern. Since my last lifestyle post, there's has been an improvement on tech to help with keeping fit. For Christmas I got a Fit Bit  https://www.fitbit.com/uk/charge 

I'm also relying on my Weight Watchers app to log my food. The app is also connected to my WW app and let's me know how may activity points I have earned using my FitBit. Now I have no excuse!! 

Being back at work has also helped by keeping me away from temptation and being on my feet all day. 

I'm going to try the 30day shread by Jillian Michaels. I know I won't get to exercise everyday, so I'm aiming for every other day. Making it the 60 day version. I'm not after a quick result, so doing it slower will hopefully still get the same results. It will be a major improvement on eating cake and walking everywhere with the buggy to keep fit. 

Seeing as you've read my post. Here is my Mr Pops, 1 in 3 weeks. 

Dishoom Dishoom!

I can't even begin to tell you how much I love eating!  This is made worse when I read on twitter about new places opening.  I want to visit every place in London.

Dishoom has been on my raydar for a while now.  After visiting the Covent Garden branch a few years ago I've been a fan of it's simple, but tasty Indian food.  It's very similar to my family's style of cooking so I know I will love everything on the menu!  I visited the pop up on the Southbank a few times and knew they had the right formula to expand.

The Facebook page announced an East London branch opening soon, so when this came up on my news feed I was going! I'd already mentioned to my friends the new restaurant and we all really excited about visiting the new branch.

It was a lovely afternoon to spend sampling the menu.  The 50% offer was great, as were able to taste new dishes.  We decided to eat tapas style so we could try everything!  The food arrived quick and the staff were great!  We all kept picking things at different times and they were happy to advise us on our choices.  My favourite was the Vada Pau, which reminds me of my last visit to Mumbai, where I ate 4 in one sitting!  It tasted just as good!

The chai is lovely and we managed to knock a few back between us.  The black dhal is perfectly buttery and great scooped up in a piece of Roomali Roti.

I can't end the blog without mentioning the decor.  It was really well thought out and really authentic.  The railway doors, the family album screen and even the taps in the toilet are brilliant!

I'm going again in 2 days, so I can sample a few more item before the soft launch ends!  I'm pretty sure I'll be going again after that!

DISHOOM Shoreditch
7 Boundry Street
London
E2 7JE
http://www.dishoom.com

Spintastic

In my ever lasting plight to lose weight and get fit. I've heard about the benefits of Spinning and really wanted to give it a whirl. Wiki had a great description

"Indoor cycling, as an organized activity, is a form of exercise with classes focusing on endurance, strength, intervals, high intensity (race days) and recovery, that involve using a special stationary exercise bicycle with a weighted flywheel in a classroom setting."

It's been over six months since I started spinning. That's 2 session most weeks, which is a 6am start. It's not so bad during the summer, when it's light. The winter is worse. I've really noticed the difference in my shape. I'm getting toned! I really didn't think it would work, but it does. My ongoing back problem, also means I can't to exercise with impact. Spinning is perfect, as it strenthens my lower back and my glutes.

The gym uses The Sunnto Fitness Solution for it's spin classes. Which is a heart rate belt linked to some software, that shows you on a big screen your heart rate and your fitness levels during the class.

This is the screen you see during the class with your colour coded heart rate levels.

The added bonus of the system is that you get an email with your stats at the end of the session!

Here is today's stats.

It's worth the effort even if I do feel exhausted start afterwards. I sweat loads during the class. I know I don't put the same effort into a regular gym session. It's perfect for 45minutes.

POINTS are not ProPoints. Help!!

Monday 8th November. To most of us it was a average rainy Monday morning, but for people following the Weight Watchers plan it was the day of an exiting new programme (their words not mine).

At last Friday's weigh in. I was handed a piece of paper with a set of times for the introduction meeting. Monday at 8.30am in The Kings Arms, the pub next door to the church we weigh in at. Friday was Diwali, so I knew it was going to be a difficult week to loose weight. Diwali is celebrated like Christmas, eating and drinking.

After a weekend of eating everything that was handed to me I wasn't looking forward to anything weight related. I walked into the end of the last meeting and was directed towards to scales! I'm wearing jeans, this isn't going to be good. I honestly thought I would be told about the new plan and that would be it. Instead, I was weighed given a sheet with the number 29 on and told to wait for the next talk. At that point I went into a state of shock. I didn't hear anything all that was going through my head was 7lbs in 36 hours! I'm a glutton.

OK, this is going to be ok. I've just got to concentrate through the talk and it'll be fine! Lots of changes and I still really don't get it! The main thing is POINTS are now ProPoints and all the values are different. Instead of the 18 I was on I'm now allowed 29 ProPoints. There is an added bonus of using 49 ProPoints for a blow out or spending them out throughout the week. AND fruit now is 0 ProPoints! Is it just me or am I gonna put loadsa weight back on! Surely you can't be allowed to eat!

After a little online search I found this article, which explains it slightly better.

This week was a weight gain, but from today I will do it proper promise ;-)

Girl Geek Dinners - Tech Journalism

Last night me and the boy went to a Girl Geek Dinners event. I've been to a few recently and really enjoy the discussions. I don't think of myself a geek as such, but I have a few gadgets and like to know about tech things, so I dunno really!

This talk was held at the headquarters of ThoughtWorks in the Soho.
First up was Angela Saini is an independent journalist based in London, who spoke about a career in Journalism in general and mainly spoke about ethics. I wasn't too sure I agreed with her, but she did have a few interesting points to make.

Next was Connie St Louis, who is the Director of the Science Journalism MA at City University. She's been in the industry a few years and knows her stuff, she was a good speaker, who made the course sound like something worth pursuing if you wanted a career in Technology Journalism. The course has a very high employment rate and students are assisted in gaining employment. Impressive.

Lastly and the most interesting was Ramaa Sharma is a Senior Multi Media Journalism Trainer at the BBC College of Journalism. She emphasised the importance of being multi skilled, with the ability to shoot edit and upload your material. She also showed us a selection of video cameras the course uses and showed as a few microphone, tripod which are light and cheap for your work.

As the BBC are having their funding reduced, it makes sense to become multi skilled, this is a parallel in the publishing industry too. As a picture researcher I am also expected to contribute the website, and have to source, edit and upload image galleries onto the work website. This goes along side my normal print/publishing picture research.

I'm Back!!!

Apologies, for not posting earlier. Since Junathon ended I'm not sure what direction to take the blogging. I still haven't decided, but seeing as a few exiting things have happened since I last posted, I thought as update was in order.

I have finally got my Weight Watchers 10% key chain, which was my mini mission. I've decided I need to loose around 10lbs to reach my goal weight. That still leaves me in the overweight BMI category, but I think I would look rubbish skinny!

I've started running again too. I've managed to run for a full 30minutes the other day, which according to my Nike+ was 5k but I'm not sure if that was right, because the treadmill said 4.5k. Spinning is my new thing. I've been to 1 session and I really liked it and will be going again next week. My thighs are aching, but I like the I've done loadsa exercise pain.

A few months ago, I was looking at courses on the Open University website and found a few courses I was interested in. I thought I should look at the short courses as I've not done any type of studying for a long time and it might be a shock to the system. I opted for the Understanding Human Nutrition course as I think I will get the most out of it. The course starts in 1st September and I will probably do the longer version and hand in my course work in January 2011.

9 Days is Too Long!

I've been meaning to blog for a couple of days, but I was enjoying the sun and not doing any exercise! It's not because I've been lazy, it's due to the medical advise. Well really my Osteopath, who said I should not run for a least a week. I made it to 8 days, so I reckon that's a good effort not to run. Yesterday I got a mini weigh in fear and had to do some exercise.



I've had a boozy week. Monday I was invited to a Press Launch on boat. It was such a nice day and with free drinks and a 3 course dinner, how could I refuse. It was for the Discovery Channel's Autumn preview. I got a phone call from the Picture Editor, asking if I wanted to join them, as they had a cancellation. I was more than happy to go along!



Thursday was my try out the back at the gym day. I was a little worried, as I have struggled with various aches in realtion to the pain, but I was determined to test it out. I can't not visit the gym, it's part of my weekly routine! I got on quite well. Managed 20 minutes on the Cross Trainer, 10 minutes walking briskly and 5 minute gently run. It did start to feel a little achy afterwards, but I'm glad I tired it out.

I was really in 2 minds this morning. I didn't want to go to the gym, but I knew with the lack of exercise and extra portion of pasta last night I needed to make an effort!!

I stayed the same weight this week, which in itself is impressive. AND it still means I have 0.5lb to loose before I get my keychain. I think you would be right in saying I'm a bit lame at this weight loss rubbish! Anyway. It's the sunniest day of the year so far, so yay for drinking rose at lunch!

Juneathon, DONE!

I don't like that this is my last blog for Juneathon. I'm already thinking about next year! Slightly sad that I didn't run the whole 30 days but I did manage 22, which I'm really proud of.

Today I swam, I noticed that I'm getting better. 10 minutes after work isn't easy as I was hot and achy. The back is improving every day, so as the Osteopath has told me to avoid the gym for a week. I'm going to take a few days rest! Actually I'll probably go swimming on Friday morning, as it's weigh day.

As I few Juneathoners have mentioned their weights, I will too! As I'm following Weight Watchers too, I should have lost something. I've lost nothing! Exactly the same weight as I started. Interesting and annoying. I think my eating what I like at the weekends is the reason.

I've been avoiding the total stats information, as I really don't like numbers and having to total create a decent set of understandable stats something I can do easily.

As I've done more then 1 activity on some days I just counted the running or the main activity.

Here are my 30 days of stats.

22 Days - Running

5 Days - Swimming

2 Days - Pilates

1 Day - Walking

TOTAL KM: 56.86 km

I'll miss reading everyone's blogs, but seeing as I've also learnt to use blogger and google reader I will still be able see what you're all up to.

Stats

Activity - Swimming

Time - 10 minutes

Distance - 12 lengths.

Only One Day Left

Slightly exhausted after a fun weekend celebrating my birthday, I wanted a lie in.

This is my conversation with Chris morning:
C: You going gym?
D: No
C: When you going gym?
D: Never!
C: Idiot, you've only got 2 days left.

So I guess I'm going gym. After 28 days of Juneathon and a back that doesn't like running, I had to do the last 2 days. Sometimes the boy is right. As swimming is the only thing I can manage and paying to go to the Leisure Centre isn't really a good idea at £4.85 a go. I had to use Market Sports.

First I had to see the Osteopath and get my back worked on again. He cracked and manipulated the poorly bits. Then I waddled off to work.

I went to the Market Sports after work and went swimming. It was busy and I didn't want to undo the Osteopath's work by pushing myself too hard. I did 10 minutes.

Stats
Activity - Swimming
Time - 10 Minutes
Distance - 12 Lengths

Happy Birthday Me

As it's my birthday (did I mention that yet) I've taken the day off work. I wanted to spend the day away from London, so we decided on Whitstable in Kent.

After the drinking session in the pub yesterday, I honestly thought I would end up with a massive hangover. Instead I was up at 6am wanting to open my cards and pressies. I'm really lucky and got some lovely things, including the iPad (from Chris) which I'm using now to type this. Chris and I always sit in front of the telly with our computer devices, now I have my own.

Juneathon today was a 4 mile walk from Whitstable to Herne Bay it's called the Saxon Sea Way. It took us just over an hour. The gps thingy on Chris' phone stopped recording after 40 minutes, so I don't have proper stats, just old fashioned wrist watch and my memory of a google search telling me it was 4 miles.

It was a lovely walk along the coast, but the heat way horrid. We spend a lot of time discussing why we thought it was a good idea. I blame Juneathon.

The journey back home was interesting. A few crazy characters made me feel happy I don't like in Kent. (sorry iliketocount and jogblog)

Stats
Activity - Coastal Walk
Time - 75 minutes
Distance - 4 Miles

Sent from my iPad

Sunday Lunch in the Pub

It's my birthday tomorrow (sorry another mention), so I've organised a Sunday lunch at The Waterpoet. Only there is a certain World Cup game on too. England v Germany. I've had to change my booking to 1pm as the pub is not going to be serving food during the game.

I made Chris come with me to the leisure centre, so we could both go swimming. We've been meaning to go for a weekend swim for a long time.

I managed a full 20 minutes in a full sized pool , so I reckon I did well!

Anyway, have to get to the pub, so hopefully England will have a good result and ll will be right in the world (doubt it , but the football is taking over everything, this summer!

And I can I mentioned, I'm not jealous that I'm not at Glastonbury...

Stats

Activity - Swimming

Time - 20 Minutes

Distance - 14 lengths

Today I Cleaned

My activities are going to be a little stretched for next few days. The back isn't very good, so I've stopped running. This time I mean it. Yesterdays running effort made the back ache more.

Seeing as I've not used cleaning as a Juneathon activity, I figured it wasn't a bad thing. I've not done any proper cleaning in June, so I think on day 26 it's more than required! Chris had already left the house to buy someone (ie ME) a birthday present. It took me 30 minutes to do the whole house. I live in a terraced 2 bed house, so I had stairs to do too! To make it a scientific effort I attached the pedometer to my dressing gown. It clocked 67 steps and 0.03miles. Brilliant! That's a rubbish set of stats. I had an appointment in Hampstead Heath, so I had to get ready to leave.

On the way home, I wondered through Stratford Shopping City. We have a great collection of cheapo shops like Poundland, 99p stores, Wilkinson and Poundstretcher. Next year is gonna be great. Westfield is opening!! yay!

Chris was cooking, when I got home. We have ratatouille for lunch and a Spanish tortilla for dinner. He also whipped up a meringue! That guy is a good, when he gets the energy!

I had a think about what my next activity would be. I have a few celeb exercise DVD's at home as well as the Lateral Thigh Trainer. I know they might be a bit much. I remembered that I had recently bought a Pilates book that came with a DVD. I did 30 minutes. It was quite hard, but luckily I knew the exercises. I don't think a person new to it would have been able to understand. Anyway it meant I have an activity completed for day 26.

Stats
Activity1 - Cleaning
Time - 30 minutes
WW Activity points - 1

Activity2 - Pilates DVD
Time 30 minutes
WW Activity Points - 1

Running again, just!

Weigh in day and an attempt to run is today's agenda.

I wanted to try out Slim Jim's Gym (catchy name) today, as it the other gym I can use with my menbership. I'm lucky that all 3 gyms are within my work area and Liverpool Street station. It's a 'city' gym, which is open 24hours Monday to Friday and it's closed at weekends.

I wondered down to the changing rooms, which are massive and have hair and make-up stations. I was so impressed I took a picture!

I've now drunk 2 large glasses of rose, so my blog is gonna be a little squiffy!

I started running and after 10 minutes, my back really started to hurt. I carried on for the full 15 and I'm now starting to wish I had finished. My back really hurts. I'm can't sit at my desk for long and even with a few glasses of wine, it still hurts. I have a birthday weekend, so I'm not going to think about it and drink until it stops hurting! (not really, but it makes me sound hardcore)

Stats
Activity - Gym Running
Distance - 2.41km
Time - 15.01 mins
Calories - 169
Pace - 6' 12"
WW Activity Points - 2

A Calm Juneathon Day

Since I've been struggling with the old back ( I gonna be 32 in 4 days!) today is a Pilates only day.

To increase my activity today I walked to Stratford which is a mammoth 0.7 miles and then walked to work from Liverpool Street Station via the Millennium Bridge. I passed a very long line outside the London Wall branch of o2. Crazy people wanting their iPhone on the first day. I don't understand why, but I do own alot of Apple products.

I had my lunch Pilates class today. I told my Mel about my back and she kept an eye on me throughout the class. It wasn't too bad and I managed to do all the exercises. It's always rubbish going back to work after Pilates, I always want to have a siesta!

Chris met me after work and we both walked to Liverpool Street. The route we walk totals 1.7 miles.

It's gonna be a hot night, so I hope the crazy rasta across the road doesn't spend all night shouting and drinking his can of red stripe! I called the nuisance neighbours line last night, they said he is know to them and that they will follow up my complaint. Result!

Stats
Activity1 - Pilates
Time - 60 Minutes
WW Activity Points - 2.5

Activity2 - Commuting Walking
Total Time - 1 hour and 10 minutes
Distance - 6.89 km
WW Activity Points - 3

Football Crazy Football Mad

Todays Activity was swimming. My back is too painful, for me to go running. I don't want to be left with bad back, so I think it's best to stick to swimming. I like swimming and I've not been able to swim for long until recently, my fitness has improved immensely because I've been running

It's a lovely morning and we walked to Stratford to get the train. I headed left to the gym and Chris went right towards Southwark. I like the mornings, when we can chat and catch up.

The pool wasn't too busy and I shared the lane with 2 other people. I managed 20 minutes and 21 lengths of the pool. I felt sweaty and hot, so I knew I had done enough.

Because of the England V Slovenia game being at 3pm UK time. We were told we could watch the game, if our work was done. Everyone was exited and a few people had brought in wine to drink while watching the game. It was like the last day of school, nobody was doing any work.

This is my office during the final minutes of the game.

I had my appointment with the Osteopath, straight after the game so I hobbled off down the road to London Bridge. My Osteopath, Robin Kirk is good. I explained the hurty back and he went to work. He's brilliant. I think I counted 6 places, where he cracked by back! It felt good straight away. He told me I may need to go back, but I should see how it get on.

When I got home, Chris was in the garden putting the clothes on the line. I had a look at the veg we have growing and noticed the berries along the back. They've grown loads. I picked a load and ate a few, delicious!

Stats
Activity - Swimming
Distance - 21 Lengths
Time - 20 mins
WW Activity Points - 1

I'm a Mayor

The back is still not good, so today is the last time I run. I have an appointment to see the osteopath tomorrow, so I'll be swimming for the rest of Juneathon. I don't want to give up now. I've done 3 weeks! My gym still has cold water and no air conditioning, so going to another gym will be nicer.

This mornings foursquare checkin meant I am now the Mayor of Bankside Heath Club hurrah! According to the stats, it only took 12 checkins. If I'd have know that I would have been mayor ages ago!

The run today wasn't bad and my back didn't hurt while I ran, but sitting down at my desk has made the pain come back. :-(

I have a pile of washing to sort out tonight, so I thought I would get my post done this morning. Now for my morning cuppa.

Stats
Activity - Gym Running
Distance - 3.25km
Time - 20.09 mins
Calories - 277
Pace - 6' 11"
WW Activity Points - 2.5

Hurty Back

Since yesterday morning my back has been giving me a bit of trouble. I did run on it yesterday and It wasn't too bad. After the long drive it went back to hurting again. I wasn't sure if I would be able to do today's run. I decided to wait until the evening to see how it felt.

It felt better than yesterday morning and I didn't struggle to get my trainers on either. Chris was working late, so it was the perfect time to go for a run. I didn't want to push it too far so I kept an even pace. The park was quite busy, as it was sunnier than last Monday. Lots more people to try and dodge. There were a lots of pairs, who took up most of the path. A few times, it was a test to see who would move for whom. I won 3 out of the 4 encounters, purely because I was running and they were walking.

I'm a bit disappointed that I'm not able to run for longer than 15 minutes in the park. Now that, I've have been in the park a few more time, I'm getting more confident. Juneathon has been brilliant for me.

While I showered, Chris made Aubergine Wraps for dinner. They were really good. We saw the recipe on telly a few weeks ago. He's not a bad little cook.


Stats
Activity - Park Running
Distance - 2.19km
Time - 13.01 mins
Calories - 153
Pace - 5' 55"
WW Activity Points - 1.5

Today I Ran and Mowed the Lawn

This morning my mum just asked if I was going to go running and then asked me what I wanted for breakfast. Maybe they think running is a phase. I didn't explain Juneathon, as I would then have to explain blogging. My parents are great with the Internet and eBay, so they would have understood. I was just being lazy. My dad was amazed with my Nike+.

The sky was looking grey and it looked quite windy, but I quite like the run in the cool weather yesterday, so I was looking forward to the run. I set my Nike+ to run 15 minutes as I wanted to see, if outside running with a time goal would make me run differently. I started from the other path and soon realised that I missed a grassy path yesterday. It took me through the long glassy bit where the horses were grazing. I enjoyed seeing new parts of a park I have not visited in over 10 years. I did full circuit of the park and a bit more, so I could do my full 15 minutes.

As it was Fathers Day I offered to mow the lawn. My parents garden isn't very big, so I knew it wasn't going to take long. It took 30 minutes to do the whole lawn. I wasn't allowed to use the streamer, as it was my dad's new toy. It's petrol powered and loud! I got to have a break, while he did the edges and then I tidied up. Sweeping is a hard job! I reckon I must have earned my self at least 2 WW points!

Stats
Activity1 - Park Running
Distance - 2.36km
Time - 15.14 mins
Calories - 165
Pace - 6' 27"
WW Activity Points - 2

Activity2 - Mowing & Sweeping
Time - 50 minutes
WW Activity Points - 2

Sleepy Aryan

Appleton Park Run

This weekend I'm visiting my parents in Leicester. I wasn't sure how I would get my run in, but I figured it would be easier to do it in the morning, so I could spend the rest of the day playing with my nephew Aryan.
The park near my parents house is called Appleton Park. I remember it being 'created' as a park when I was younger. I learnt to ride a bike in the same park.

When I mentioned to my parents I wanted to go for a run, they just looked at me. They didn't get it. Exercise in my family, isn't something that occurs to them. I've tried over the years to get them to move more, but they don't get it!

The park is not used very much and hasn't had much good press. My mum wanted to come with me. I convinced her, to stay at home.
I didn't know what the park was like for paths, so I just followed on which lead to a dead end, so I went back and took another path, that was also dead end. This path came to a overgrown field with 4 horses in it. Tomorrow, I'll take my phone, so I can take a picture of the horses. I decided to run along the edge in a small circuit. I did that twice. The run was over! Hurrah.
Tomorrow, I'm going to run to the park and then to my brothers house. Aryan looks like he's going to wake up, so I better finish. Too Late, his awake. He's on my lap as I finish


Stats
Activity - Park Running
Distance - 1.90km
Time - 10.48 mins
Calories - 133
Pace - 5' 40"
WW Activity Points - 1