Hello Dear Reader,
For anyone who has been reading for a while or is in the slightest bit interested, I thought I would give you a health and fitness update. In January, I decided that I had been miserable about my physical state for long enough and decided to do something about it.
Like many January health revivalists, I hit the gym.
In the beginning, all I could do was walk on the treadmill.
Soon, I could walk on the treadmill on an incline and I began to use the rest of the equipment. Now, I exercise daily and ‘go hard’ for an hour a day. I’ve kept going.
Today, I had to go any buy new work trousers and even the size 14 were loose and I had to go down a size I haven’t lost weight in ages but have continued to get slimmer and feel a lot better about myself.
My gym costs me £10.99 a month, or 54p each time I go as I go twenty times a week. It’s my investment in myself.
Life begins at the end of your comfort zone
My approach to weight loss and fitness is exactly the approach I took to losing £45K of personal debt. Stick at it. Stick at it when it pisses me off, bores me, or I don’t want to do it! Stick at it in the holidays, in the heat, when it’s cold and wet or I just can’t be bothered. I stick at it when people share their excuses and I stick at it when people try to make me feel guilty for spending time and money on my well being.
I now no longer work out to be slim or slimmer, I work out to be strong and fit and I now have the strength, fitness and confidence I never thought I would have. I’m not proud of my body but I’m proud of what my body can do. I started this year as a size 18 and I’m approaching the end of it at size 12 and I want to end next year as an athlete.
For all of you who thinks that personal goals are unobtainable, they are not. It will be shitsville along the way to getting there but you will get there. You might hate it on some days and I do! You might ache on some days and I do! You may be lonely doing some days and I am. You might even miss it when you don’t do it and I do. Whether it’s sticking to healthy eating, walking more, running, going to yoga, using the gym membership, reducing your portion sizes, giving up biscuits or chocolate, or paying off debts or the mortgage……………what ever it is, stick at it as it will make a difference to your life.
I read the following most days - I make no excuse for the language as I don’t effin’ care!
What works for me? I tell myself everyday to do it. I tell myself everyday to get on with it. I tell myself every day that I can get through what ever life gives me and I will come out a better person. It’s lost me friends along the way as I’ve chosen a different path.
I am now debt free.
I am healthy and strong.
I am 2.5 stone lighter.
I’m on the way to the life of MY choosing.
“I didn’t say it would be easy. I said it would be worth it”
Over to you. Who else decided that this was the year that they would make a difference? Who has stuck at it? Who needs to pick themselves up and get back at it? Who needs to start as it’s never to late. Leave your pledge in the comments and make this the day that you are going to stick at it.
Until tomorrow,
Love Froogs xxxxxxxxxx
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Your fitness goals and attitude are amazing. Well done.
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Fantastic effort! I have been doing things differently this year. In the past most of my time and energy has been spent on my job and my family. This year I have been paying down my mortgage, not buying any clothes, decluttering and getting healthy. I love the line “you can remain unhealthy and continue to gain weight”. It's your choice.
I want to be like Ilona, the Meanqueen, and go on walking holidays and be debt free in my 60s.
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Adding to say, Froogs, this month I am doing Droptober. I am dropping the fatty, sugary things like biscuits, cakes, slices, sausage rolls, pudding, ice cream, waffles, etc etc that I eat on a too frequent basis. They were daily treats. And a daily consumption is not a treat. So after October they will be special treats for special occasions to make those occasions feel special! Like it was growing up.
And as a result of Droptober, I have lost half a kilo in two weeks. I am sure my cholesterol is also benefiting.
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decided to stop blaming everyone else, pick myself up and get on with it.
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Such an inspiring post. Well done to you, I'm going to print off a copy of this to encourage me. Thanks - Liz
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What a brilliant achievement - well done! I have also lost quite a bit of weight recently - just over 1 and 1/2 stone by cutting processed sugar out of my diet completely. I think sugar is addictive and cutting it out is really hard to start with but now I don't miss it at all!
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I'd like to say that you didn't lose all your friends, just the ones that weren't really friends at all. You have been and continue to be one of my daily inspirations. I cheer you from the sidelines, wave HM bunting, and thank God for your strength and love. Xxx
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Go Froogs. You are an inspiration to us all. X
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After my twice yearly blood test to monitor diabetes, and being told that my blood sugar is far too high, and I've actually gained 1 kg in the last 6 months despite being told to lose some (again) and did I realise that I was heading for injecting if I didn't control my weight / food intake a bit better and I'm getting the strongest dose of pills I can have, and I need to get some excercise, etc, etc.(the diabetic specialist in my practice doesn't pull any punches) I decided she's right and have started a much stricter eating regime and a daily morning walk.
Right, it's hard, especially when it's getting colder and raining, but having dropped 2 kg in 3 weeks and blood sugar levels down, it seems to be working, so hopefully it'll get easier
.
Not easy, but as you say I hope it's worth it.
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Oh, well done, Froogs. It makes such a difference to your energy levels, doesn't it? I think tenacity is the name of the game. Whenever you mess up just shake it off and get right back to it. And that's what you've done all along. As someone who was 15 st 7lb in June 2012 and is now 11st 10 reducing from size 22 to a 12-14, I cannot adequately describe what getting fitter and healthier has done for me and because its taken me over a year to do it I have learned valuable lessons in what does and doesn't work for my body. I was heaving myself upstairs by hanging on for dear life to the banister this time last year, and now, at age 56, I can run up and down and my poor knees hardly ever ache any more. Like you, I also did it to get healthier rather than for looks. And I am nearly at the weight I want to be (about 1 st still to lose) after slogging it out and picking back up every time I had a few days of 'can't be bothered'. So well done again and keep up the amazing work.
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Well done you, exercise is sometimes difficult and a commitment. I made a decision to lose weight this year when I saw photos of me last New Year's Eve. To date I have lost three and a half stone and through encouragement from my family have started exercising for the first time in my 56 years! I now go to Zumba 3 times a week - I've still got two stone or so to lose but I'm loving my life now! Good luck with your house move. XX
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You are truly inspirational Froogs. Thank you x
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I've given the Versatile Blogger award to you: http://unbalancedresearcher.wordpress.com/2013/10/15/wow-unexpected/
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So good to hear how you have stuck to it,a real success story.
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what a fantastic achievement , well done , of and on for years i have been on one diet or another now i am at the size you were to begin with health issues and money troubles being the cause of my over eating (comfort eating) i was doing well and lost a stone and two dress sizes with healthy eating and exercise , its very easy to turn to food when you are down , what made me go off the rails was the photographs off our daughter wedding in august by body did not fit the image i had in my head and i really went of the wagon, back to square one , my joint pains are worse now so i know the weight not helping , this post has truly inspired me to change the way i approach getting fit and healthy and now i am ready to go full steam ahead , maybe i will record my starting weight and progress on my blog like you , thank you so much for this post, Eileen xxxx
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As a person who has never had to worry about her weight, I am now at the age where I am getting out of shape and have put on weight where I never had it before. I still eat good, nutritious meals like I always have but I have become lazy about getting enough exercise and when you reach menopause, your body changes and now I have to concentrate on doing more activity. Your recent post has made me think I better do something about it fast! You have really stuck with the program and have done such a great job with exercising and eating sensibly. I applaud you! Thanks for reminding me that we can all achieve what we want by not giving up. You look fab by the way.
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Good for you and I love that quote you posted.
I actually stopped buying and using sugar. For baking I use extra spices and for tea I use honey. It has actually cut our sweet tooth back and I am hoping makes a difference in my cholesterol levels when I get them tested. I do try to go to the gym three mornings a week and it feels great when I go. I am with you about focusing on fitness instead of focusing on trying to being skinny. You get there much quicker when you aim to do it to feel good.
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Congratulations Froogs…I have been battling with my weight for over 15 years now and I so admire your determination..it is bloody crap having to sacrifice to lose the weight, but it so SO worth it as you have discovered…I am also aiming for a size 12 and I am nowhere near that but I have lost 12 pounds and down a size so you are a huge inspiration! thanks for sharing….small steps lead to big goals!!!!
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Congratulations on your hard-won achievement!
This has been my 'get fit' year, too. When I went to part-time work after Easter, I decided that I would take up running. I'd not been on an athletics track for nearly 40 years, and was rubbish then, so this was a brave decision ;). We have a beautiful, perfectly-maintained local authority track just a short walk away, and it is entirely free for local residents to use, so it seemed too good an opportunity to pass up.
Anyway, ever since then I have faithfully gone for a run 5/6 mornings out of 7 - I'm normally on the track by just after 7am. From being barely able to make it round a circuit, I am proud to tell you that I now run 3Km each time - a massive achievement for me!
Needless to say, I am fitter and far, far stronger than I have been for years. It's done wonders for my back pain and blood pressure and I have got my balance back as well (who knew?).
As you say, it is not always easy and I have had to drag myself out swearing in the cold and rain and, now, in the dark as I start running before dawn. But, by heck, you're right it's worth it!!
Jane
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This was such a motivational post. Congratulations for achieving such a wonderful weight loss so far. Your dedication is truly admirable. Have a lovely day.
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20 times ….that's commitment!!!
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You have done incredibly well! What an achievement, and ppoh to those people who don't support you in the way you have decided to live your life.
We don't have an affordable gym near here but I have downloaded a walking app for my phone, and set up my TV so I can work out to Youtube videos. With that and cutting sugar out of my diet I hope to build strength, increase my fitness level and look leaner.
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Well done froogs, you have done amazing. As a single parent working and everythign else, I don't have the time for the gym, I cannot afford the extra each month, nor do I have anyone to watch my youngest while I go. I have to work out at home in the snatches I get in between everything else, I am still at it, not as sucessful as I want to be, but not giving up either, I am in it for the long haul, for my health and my well being, I will get there in the end
Sharon x
http://www.onelifeand3kids.blogspot.co.uk
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Great stuff and well done on gaining pounds yet still managing to lose them 🙂 Frugal Queen- Life Coach! xx
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Thanks froogs and thanks for the nudge. I have lost 4 st in the last 18 months but am struggling to lose the last 10lbs. you have inspired me to just get on with it! i will read your pledge and DO IT!
well done on your achievements x
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Great post, well said. I too have lost around 2 stone and am now buying clothes two sizes smaller, although I did it a bit slower than you (and have not exercised much more so am still a bit flabby) but it does feel great and I have more confidence than before. I love the motivational picture, it is very honest, and like much more in life worth it in the long run. I too may copy this for inspiration. Well done you. X
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Well done Froogs! It's great to read a post like this and just like your other ones it is inspirational. I have just recently started working out at home. Nothing major…just for a few minutes in the evening. And after a hard day it feels wonderful. Here's hoping I keep it up! ~ Pru
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20 times a week? How is that possible? I have just joined a gym and consider it an achievement to have managed 3 times this week and lost 2 lbs. How do you have the time?
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My mistake should read 20 times a month - I go every week day - will amend
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Absolutely well done Froogs. An amazing year for you and it sounds like your head is in a really good place right now. If we can't invest in ourselves who can we invest in.
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A very inspiring post, I bloody HATE exercise, was always crap at sport at school and it made me miserable. 5 years ago I had breast cancer, the chemo saved my life but punted me into menopause. I am overweight and miserable about it, think about it every day. Your post might just give me that push I need to get off my fat bum and do something - thank you x
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