So lent is here...! We've never been particularly into giving stuff up for lent in our family, but in the past few years it has just seemed the right thing to do to try and 'take something up' instead. As someone who can be a teensy bit obsessive about 'life changing decisions' it's good to have a small time span to really try and stick at something for more than 48 hours, and it is a great chance to feel like you're improving your life just a bit at a time. It's nice to be given a set period of time to work in and the 40 days of lent seems a good opportunity to make a bit of a difference without being too daunting.
The only time I've really given anything up was when I as about 13 and I had a general crisis and decided to try take control of my life by giving up meat, which sort of spiralled and I was a vegetarian for 5 years which was a bit of a suprise to everyone..!
So this year I have decided to get back on track with life and particularly take a bit more control over my weight and general fitness. Since being ill I have put on a shocking 3 stone...I know I'm not getting up and about as much as I used to and am definitely not able to exercise anywhere as much but it's probaby not quite as much of an excuse as I make it! I'm also going to blame a little bit on living at home! It's just too easy being nursed by a loving mummy who is big on the treats but very much in her defence she did drag me out of bed every morning to go swimming, so yeah, it's probably just all my fault really for not looking after myself!
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I thought that probably the best way to do this was going back on the My Fitness Pal app that I used at the beginnning of last year. I felt it was really good for getting in control of my life and just being more aware of what it is that you're eating on a day-to-day basis. I don't necessarilly cut things out when I'm using it, I don't not eat carbs or not eat cheese or anything but it means that you have a little bit more awareness and it seems to filter through! And yes, it helps you lose weight slowly and healthily...I found anyway.
Also as part of this I downloaded the Pacer app. I did have Moves on my phone as a pedometer for a while but it just used to drain the battery and generally wasn't that great, so I fancied a change. Also Pacer syncs with My Fitness Pal and records the calories burnt and distance walked etc across the two programmes which is great.
Even better, having downloaded the app, I also discovered they have a brilliant section for recording goals, taking a couple of days a week and breaking each area down.
I have chosen...
Gluten free Day - 2 x p/week
Go to the Gym - 3 x p/week
No Alcohol - 3 x p/week - which I might actually, worryingly struggle with...I know it's ridiculous, but you get into the hang of having a glass of wine in an evening or a pint of cider at the pub quiz. Not unhealthy amounts but it all adds up I guess. Life in cornwall is pretty cider orientated..)
Drink more water - 4 x p/week
6000 steps - 4 x p/week - there is a basic setting for doing 10K steps a day but honestly, that is a little optimisitc for me at the moment so I have gone for pushing myself to 6000 a day which hopefully might be better. Not sure how that will go but we'll see
Anyway, day one went well... I may post a little update later in lent so I can gloat about what a new person I am but probably, honestly, to just say all the times I'm slipping :P
Fingers crossed! :)
Abel x
