Well, I can safely say that my lower tummy muscles are definitely feeling the first yoga session!

Now, normally, I don't like anyone, even my husband seeing me exercise - being a red, sweaty lump is hugely unattractive!  However, I've realised that I've got to get over myself, and I have just finished my second work out on the bedroom floor, whilst hubby was having an extended lie in.  I guess he got board of the instructor, so he got up, showered and went downstairs.

The second workout was tougher.  Slightly longer at 30-ish minutes, it focused on thighs, hips and bums, whilst also giving those abs another run for their money.  I also couldn't consistently manage the 'jasmine vine' exercise, which was laying on your back, raising your legs to the ceiling, and then scissoring them as you raise and lower them to the point you can manage.  However, I'm not giving up and am looking forward to seeing how many sessions it will take before I can do everything she was asking for on this work out.

Here is the vid - if you're going to try it too, please let me know how you found it:

Of course, I must remember that my blog is also about crafty stuff!  So, with that in mind, later I'll post pictures of a chunky scarf that I started on yesterday - it's already working up a treat and I hope that we'll actually get some cold weather for me to actually wear it!

That's all for now folks - see you later!

Right, I'm going to do this thing!

Am not waiting for Jan - I want a head start.  What is it they say?  A year from now, you'll wish that you started today . . . .

So, I'm overweight - but who isn't after Christmas eh?  I have managed to put on half a stone over December, and I was already overweight before that.  Obviously, I don't want to stay this way, so I'm going to chart my progress as I try out methods of losing weight and gaining a better shape than a sack of potatoes, which is prety much what I am right now.

On Christmas day, I saw this video . . . . . .

This . . . . it inspired me!

I loved this guys attitude - he couldn't manage everything, but rather than give up and accept his size for the rest of his life, he accepted that he was at the beginning of his journey and each day he'd do a little better than the day before.  He lost 21 stone in 15 months!!!!!

I thought about it - we had the whole in-law family around - a house of 10 people, 4 of which were kiddies, and to be honest, there was no way I was going to do anything on Christmas day, or Boxing day, and the 27th was a visit to my folks for more food and happy meetings. One thing I have agreed with myself is that life is to be lived, so I wasn't going to stint myself too much!

But today was the day to begin - my parents-in-law left this morning, and we had a lazy few hours after that, getting used to being just 4 again.  So I dug out the mat I bought when Wii Fit was the fashion, took it to the bedroon and found this video:

I managed pretty much the entire work out, and can feel it now in my tummy!  I look nothing like the lovely lass in the video, of course, but I really enjoyed the workout.  And, it's a start.

She has 3 work outs at this level, and I plan on going through them all, doing one a day, for the next couple of weeks.  It's only 20 or so minutes a day, and I can already feel that it's working my muscles.

Anyway, I'm going to chart my progress here - tomorrow I'm going to be brave, take photos and take measurements - I want to see the changes myself!

However, I'm also going to be brutally honest - I'm not perfect, and life has the potential to be very short, so I'm typing this whilst outside a few glasses of white wine.

Honestly, I will be drinking fairly frequently, and not always eating healthily, but I will be working harder at being good than 'normal' and still trying to achieve the goal of weight loss and a better lookin body.

One thing I do believe is that life is to be lived, and I don't want my last thought to be - I wish I hadn't said 'no' so often.  There are delicious things to eat, drink and experience and I want to make the most of all of them, but still do my best to not turn into a human dumpling!

See you later on the journey . . . .

A hat. Or two . . .

Have been busy with lots of jobs recently, but have managed to squeeze in some making for my birthday trip to Scotland this weekend.  The lovely hat pattern I linked to a couple of posts ago was lovely and easy to make, but didn't suit me at all.

So, I found this one - what do you think?

This was made with two strands of Hayfield Aran - 20% wool so lovely and warm.

In fact I liked the pattern so much, and it worked up so quickly, I made another:

This one is made with two strands of the lush and lovely WI Soft and Smooth Aran - no wool but such a delight to work with.

You can get the pattern here:  Slouchy Peaked Hat

If I get time, I think I'll make up a flower or two to add to the finish.

So excited about the trip - we've just found out that the Spirit of Speyside Festival is taking place this weekend too, so in addition to whale watching and whisky tasting, we've got the option for loads more activities to keep everyone amused.

Jam and Jerusalem? Don't mind if I do . . .

I've been looking forward to tonight with some real anticipation!

Ok, I'm one of those sad mummies who doesn't actually get out much.  If I hadn't of joined my kids schools PTA, I would get out even less.

So, when I came across a post on FB, about a new chapter/branch(?) of the WI starting up in my town, I thought, damit, I'm going to sign up!

The lovely ladies who decided to start it all, had no idea that well upwards of 120 ladies would turn up - although I think they got closer to 200 at one point as ladies were out on the street with no room to get in!  I'd been lucky enough to grab a lift with another school mum friend, and we arrived early enough to get a seat at the front.  10 minutes later and there was standing room only, and 30 minutes later, after the meeting had started, women were still turning up!

Obviously a need in the local area is being filled by this.

What am I hoping to get out of it?

I'd like to get to know other mums/ladies out there.  I have made friends with a small core group of lovely ladies that I learned to quilt with.  Our classes don't run anymore, but we still make the effort to meet up roughly every month at each others houses and catch up on crafty stuff - quilting, general sewing, crochet, and gossip!

I want more of that!  I want book clubs - with a heavy SFF bent!  I want crochet and knitting clubs, with, as someone said this evening, meetings held in the local pub.  I want chats by inspirational people, who don't let life get in their way, and who inspire me to be more . . .  me.  And I want, selfishly perhaps, friends!  More friends.  I like friends!

I know it's not going to be the old fashioned 'Jam and Jerusalem' days, but I also don't mind finding out about jam-making!  The first 3 speakers - Wine Tasting, Coffee tasting, and Conspiracy Theories should be great fun - most of my boxes ticked right there!

So, today has been a good day.

Except, after having too much wine last night, I didn't run this morning.  I didn't feel bad about it at the time, but do now.  What I am loving is that even experienced runners are showing me a bit of respect for trying to run up the hills I'm attempting - and they're not being kind about it - well, not completely.  However, doing it only twice doesn't really count for much if I don't keep it up.  So, I plan to run again in the morning.

However, this red wine is tasting rather delicious right now . . . . . .

I did it, I did it!

*dancing and excited little jig*

I did it!  I got up this morning, put on training outfit #2, and was out the door by 6:02!

So pleased with myself for actually doing it.  However, I was so excited about the prospect of getting breathless again, that I've been mostly awake since about 3:30 this morning, after dreaming about going running.  Seems my subconscious wanted to make sure I wouldn't sleep through my alarm, and so I remained lightly dozing, until I fell into a deep sleep just before the alarm went off.  Typical.

Of course, 2nd time in wasn't really any better than the first.  Things to note - there are a lot of dog walkers out at that time in the morning, but less cars.  It was very cold and frosty too, so my desperate panting was far more obvious to all than it had been last night.  I didn't have the small folk with me as an excuse.  And, the highlight for me was passing a lady and her dog at the bottom of my hill, and meeting her again at the top - it had taken them the same time to walk up my road as it had for me to 'run' up the next one.

Still, every adventure has to start somewhere, and mine is beginning by learning just how unfit I really am, and trying to make it slightly less so, a bit each day.

I hope to run again tomorrow morning, and then see how we feel by Wednesday when the weather is supposed to turn.  Perhaps then, I'll turn to the other thing that should make a difference, which is free weights and lots of squats. (I know the theory, I just haven't put it into practice for months!)

In the mean time, #1 son didn't make it into school today - he didn't feel great at bedtime last night, but despite having to be woken this morning, he seemed quite perky until we walked into school.  It's about a 15 minute walk, and mostly downhill on the way there so they both glid in on their scooters.  Normally he's up in front, but today he stayed close, and slowly doubled up as his tummy cramped up and he felt sick.  A lovely friend gave us a lift home, and he's now snuggled back up in bed whilst I crack on with the activities of the day.

Re the hat - had to frog it a few times last night due to wrong hook and not paying attention enough, so didn't quite get it finished.  Really need to today, as it was apparently snowing in Keith last night - the place we're going to next weekend!  Apparently they should be experiencing a 'high' for our visit, but that means the temp will be somewhere between 5-7C.  I think I'll be packing my thermals!

Well, here we go!

A little background - I'm a very-nearly 40 year old mummy to two kiddies, a 9 year old son, and a 7 year old daughter.  I love crafts, creating and crochet. My family is pretty active, with DS doing extra sports 5 days a week, and daughter doing twice at the moment.  I, however, am not naturally active, preferring to snuggle in my corner of the sofa, surrounded by yarn, and creating lovely things!

However, over the last few weeks, (OK - years!) I've become more and more aware of the need to do something as my lack of activity is causing me to sag and spread across the sofa.  I could wish that crochet burned more calories, but even if it did, the glass or two of wine that is occasionally (ok, often!) enjoyed with it in the evening more than cancels it out!

So, as I was watching the London Marathon whilst sipping my second coffee this morning, I pondered my lack of activity.  Snuggled up under a cosy blanket, in a comfy armchair, I watched cheerful people looking forward to running for the next few hours with what looked suspiciously like excitement.

Mmmmmmmm . . . . .

Before Christmas, I signed up to the Fabletics website, and ordered an outfit, which has of course spent the subsequent months languishing deep in the cupboard where it can't see the light of day.  At the beginning of April, I'd forgotten to 'skip' the month, so now had the credit for another - which of course I rushed to buy, so the first outfit wasn't so lonely.

I have a lot of lovely mummies in my circle of friends who run.  Many of them run in our local park run that takes place every Saturday morning.  Unfortunately, I've been unable to take part as DD has had gymnastics at the same time, and has now switched to tennis.  Shame, huh?!

However, we were chatting over our usual post-school-run, Friday morning coffee, and they were all talking about how you get started, and how hard it is at first, but how it becomes a habit soon enough. Some run nearly every day, some only once or twice a week. But they're all looking great on it, and the 'I can't' part of my brain was slowly being pushed to the back by the 'Maybe I can' part.

I'd actually had a dream last night that I went running around the block with my kiddies.

And the vision of that dream rose again as I watched the pre-run interviews with the nervously excited participants.

'That's It!' I decided.  'I'm GOING to do this!'  . . . . . . .

But, given that the stairs do sometimes make me catch my breath, I figured that I'll keep it easy-ish, to just going round the block.  Although, I have point out here, that we live on a pretty steep hill, that takes most people by surprise so although on a map, the block is small, it's far from easy!

I also decided to enroll the kids, as I realised that I wouldn't be able back out with them nagging me.  So this afternoon, we agreed to play a game of monopoly until half-past 4, and then I would get changed and we'd go!  And, with the encouragement of my family, I duly dug out one of my outfits, pulled myself into the lycra second-skin, and marvelled at how flattering it can be when it's at sporting strength - most magic pants have nothing in comparison!

I came back downstairs to both kids in their street clothes of jeans and a fetching leggings/dress combo, with their trainers on.  And, we were off!

Blimey - glad I took them with me as they were the obvious excuse for those times when I had to walk!  I am SO unfit!  Chest burning, knees and one hip screaming, we jogged and walked up the hill, and managed to run the last bit downhill to home.

Staggered inside, gulped down a glass of water and tried to talk to my husband without gasping in a desperately unattractive fashion.  He tried to control his amusement, but couldn't help a little laugh when I realised that from the moment I left the Monopoly game to get changed, to getting back into the kitchen and trying to catch my breath had taken just 20 minutes .

Pretty pathetic on the one hand.  Perhaps.

But, I've got to start somewhere, and I'm proud of myself for actually doing something for once, and not just thinking about it in my head before settling in on the sofa for a nap.

Now that I've caught my breath, showered, eaten dinner and am looking forward to making a hat for our trip up to Scotland next weekend, I'm actually contemplating getting up early tomorrow morning and doing it again.  I think I can manage 20 minutes in the morning.  I know it's not far, and it's not much.  But if I can do it 2-3 mornings this week, I know I'll feel like I've actually achieved something.  Hopefully that will spur me on to go further in the not-to-distant future.

And the hat I'm looking at making - it's from a pattern by a lovely designer on Ravelry - I wanted something very quick and easy, that I can work up before Friday, and this fits the bill!  Have already made the matching wrist-warmers, and they were lovely and easy so hope the hat is too . . .

Super Chunky Hat



Please note - this picture is from the original design on the Ravelry page - not mine!  I will post mine when I get it finished!

So, wish me luck for tomorrow morning . . . . . . .