30 Day ABs Challenge: Day 5

Waking up was easy, I had some soap opera/Sunset Beach type dream that ended on a cliff-hanger before my alarm went off so I was already up. Getting out of bed was a little hard though. First thing was laughter after dream, next thing was groaning in pain. Was a little worried about my right hip so said a silent prayer that it be ok (back story: a few years ago I was seriously into the exercise thing and then had a mystery injury on my right hip, woke up one morning to no movement without excruciating pain. It took a little while to recover, apparently years of not walking properly, my shoe scruff confirms this, and all the exercise aggravated it. All good now but there is a certain fear that lingers).

'Day 5 of 30 ABs Challenge: Did some extra stretching today beforehand, some old folks were in my usual area, I gave them the side eye, I don't like these kind of changes to my routine. Jogging started off a little stiff.  I knew it'll be a tough one after Day 4 but rather proud of myself as at no point did it occur to me to stop, a couple of more brisk walks were added on though. I've noticed that the shin thing gets bad at certain in the jog...I'm not sure if it's to do with length of time but I'm leaning towards the fact that there's a certain part of the park that becomes very uneven. I think the unevenness causes problems. I actually push through this time not letting it stop me (yay!!) but by the end it was actually screaming at me...I did finish though. Realised hip was fine by the end of jog so smiles all round

On to 300 jumping jacks; according to the challenge, well my calculation (I'm a maths buff didn't you know), I need to do 200 per day but I've decided to stick to 300 as much as possible. First 50 were beautiful, all done no pause, next 50 a little harder but still ok. Then the 50 to take me to 150,urrrmmm...that became a little bit tough...I managed it though while keeping an eye out on a dog that was trying to play near me. It's a little one, I think I can take it if it tries to attack (have I mentioned I'm af...skeptical of these things?). That actually keeps me going, I figure it'll only be encouraged to come even closer if it comes near me. I think the dog owner knows I have ill feelings towards it's pet cos she picks it up while giving me the evil eye. Back to jumping jacks, by 200 I was rethinking my life's philosophy and why I'm foolish to want to do 300, this leads me on to wondering exactly what my life's philosophy is other than 'cake was created for happiness' (did I mention I can be easily distracted). At 250, I needed at least a minute break but I managed the last 50, hate to admit it but it wasn't easy.

On to the abs challenge. The first couple of sit-ups felt very good. I got very happy and started thinking "oh, it's not so bad, I can add 10 easily", feeling rather pleased with myself. By 20, I decided I really should stop thinking foolish things and adding numbers to this challenge. By the time it came to 30, I really wanted to stop...but I'm a woman of my word (as much as possible)...even if it's just a word with myself. 
The rest were not so bad...leg raises were a little harder...I actually paused after 20 when I had only 2 left. Planks are now up to 40secs, hooray for me!!! All in all progress is being made (I think, I hope)

I wasn't in a bad a state as I thought I would be after yesterday. Day 5 down, see you tomorrow!xx'

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30 Day ABs Challenge: Day 4

Ignored all my alarms at woke up my 7am. My body is actually aching, didn't expect that but as was told, probably my body being woken up again.

Day 4 of 30 ABs Challenge: Today is actually REST day, yay!!! But that's only rest from the abs challenge, I'm still doing bits of exercises so decided to update anyway. Jogging today was hard, mostly because of the shin thing. I have been advised to massage it so I'll be doing that daily, hopefully it should make it better.
Jumping Jacks challenge went quite well. I should have been down to just 200 a day now but figured I should carry on with 300, seeing as I can do it. I think it's doing something for my arms....we'll see about that.
In addition to all that, thirtyafterthirty.com has organised exercise sessions twice a week and today was the first day. I was a little apprehensive, I always prefer my own pace but that also means I may not push myself so much.
It was a great session, definitely did not feel easy but I have the feeling the instructor was being nice to us as it was the 1st time. I don't think the next one will be quite as tame and I am looking forward to it with both excitement and dread. I am definitely dreading the aches & pains tomorrow...not sure I'll be able to move from my bed. 

Rest day?? What rest day? Back on abs challenge tomorrow. I definitely will be dragging myself out of bed...I just don't know what state I will be in. See you tomorrow!xx

Get involved, lets suf.....enjoy together

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30 Day ABs Challenge: Day 3

Got woken up at 4:45am, so wasn't in the best of moods when it came to workout time. Slow start

'Day 3 of 30 AB Challenge: Woke up a little stiff & to small aches and pains. realised I have not been stretching after exercise so lesson for today is 'STRETCH PROPERLY PLEASE!'
Jog and jumping jacks went without incident...there was a dog that looked a little too hungry for my liking, that gave me a pause for a few secs but other than that it was all good. Shins still a problem but it'll just have to get use to this.
Abs challenge went better today, sit-ups felt better than yesterday (stretching beforehand definitely made a difference) and I'm addin 10 to everything to have some kind of order to what I'm doing...as time goes o I'll try to add more.

I've been Yve, it's been day 3, tomorrow is rest day so I'll see you the day after!xx
(did I mention my bum looks fab in my jogging bottoms? That's motivation in itself to get me wearing them daily ;) )'

Get involved, lets suf.....enjoy together

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30 Day ABs Challenge: Day 2

This is day 2, getting out of bed a little tough...late night drinking wine does that to a person.

Day 2 of 30 AB Challenge: As usual I decided to do cardio before the abs challenge (well not really  as usual, it's only day 2). I saw a jumping jacks challenge* (I think the word 'challenge' excites me...only explanation for this madness), 6,000 jumping jacks in 30 days. I figured because of this, I'll only go round the park once, jumping jacks, then abs challenges. My old man  (see how I've claimed him) is not there today and the place is full of dog walkers, I've made a mental note to do this earlier in the day, I'm skeptical about these creatures. Today is better than yesterday,  less rest, no weird stitch, but my shins hate it even more than they did yesterday...I think it's a stretching thing. A woman running in front of me gives me the giggles, then the thought that I may look like than while jogging makes me stop laughing. I see a man with his little daughter jogging together, an 'aww' moment. Yes, my kids will suf...enjoy exercise with me when the time comes.

On to the jumping jacks challenge....should be 200 a day but as I've missed yesterday, it'll be 300 per day for the first 2 days. I have a moment of thinking it should be 300 per day for 30days in line with the 'thirtyafterthirty' theme, then I decide that was the devil (thought) briefly trying to kill me. First 50 are fine, by 100 I'm wondering if I can do 200 easily, at 180 I'm thinking if I should just stop at 200, trying to calculate if indeed I need to do all this to complete the challenge at the end of the month (& forget the last 100). By 250 I get second wind, at 280 I wondered where the second wind went. I did 300, feeling rather proud of myself.

Now the actual abs challenge: the sit ups seem harder today than yesterday, needed a bit of padding for tail bone, I did not go over the 20 in the challenge, the crunches also seem a little harder but I do more than stated, same with the leg raises and plank (I'm going over 30secs with it). I do them as much as still feels good to me, to be honest as long as I don't do less than is stated & my form remains good, I'm not really counting.

Day 2 of 30 done...please forgive the long posts/rants!! See you tomorrow!xx

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*Jumping Jacks challenge with Eights And Weights @eightsnweights

30 Day ABs Challenge: Day 1

So taking a break from the angst, the emotions, the teasing and the sex (apologies but I'll do something real soon). I'm bring something a little different I'm involved in. My gorgeous friend over at http://thirtyafterthirty.com is doing a whole series of challenges, some crazy, some hard work, all fun. I will be involved with some of them and will be posting what I do here. Below is my entry on the facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/Thirtyafterthirty) for Day 1 of the ab challenge (see pic):

'So I decided to do the abs challenge with the gorgeous one over at thirtyafterthirty.com and I also saw it as a way to get back into the fitness thing after time off (injury then laziness). As I've flirted with exercise I figured just abs isn't enough so I decided to do some cardio 1st.

Commence jog around the park. I've decided it's bigger than a football field. I don't know the actual dimensions of a football field but it looks bigger than what I see 22 (or more) men running around in. Started off well...then went downhill...my shins hated it, I got a very weird stitch/cramp below my stomach, to the side of my pelvis (can you guess where yet?) but there was a lovely old man who cheered me on (I hope he's there tomorrow, I think I'll need him). Cardio done, on to the challenge...I did more than stated...not on purpose, but I was counting without paying much attention to the numbers...it felt good to get back to it.

Bloody hell, this tuned into a long post when all I really want to say was I'm on this...day 1 down, bring on the 29!!!! See you tomorrow!xx 

Get involved, lets suf.....enjoy together

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Senses Of You

I don’t let them look into my eyes

They don’t see me like you do

The light behind the dark

See my soul catch fire

I don’t let their words seduce me

They don’t sound like you do

Sounds melting me from hard ice to hot liquid

Heating up from embers to volcano

I don’t savour their many flavours

They don’t taste like you

Exquisite sweetness of life

Trying to satisfy the insatiable

I don’t let their touch linger

They don’t feel like you do

Caress sending chills across my skin

Touch that calms and excites me  

I don’t let them in my bed

They don’t smell like you do

The Waking Hour*

I wake up and my first thought is, “yeah, I overslept again”.  I may have been a little too friendly with the snooze button this morning.

My next thought is, “Coffee!” which excites me for a second, then I remember I’m supposed to be off the brown nectar at the moment; healthier body, healthier mind...all that malarkey. This is not a good week to be without my favourite vices, my usual calm is being threatened from all sides.

I lay back down as green tea does not feel me with much excitement, and think about those things that I try to dwell on only at late nights and early mornings, before letting the day consume me. Lately though those thoughts have been spilling into the day, affecting things I’d rather it didn’t, no longer contained. I don’t like that; things should stay in their boxes.

I say my morning greetings to my whatsapp and online family, some people I would never have thought I’d be as close to as I am, but I’m learning bonds can come from the most random, surprising places, when you least expect it. Now I just embrace and relish in it.

My phone shows me the missed call from Nigeria, “why do they call so early?” I think.  I sigh in relief it’s not Mum but I’m reminded that there is an important decision to be made. I’ve been stalling, hoping the Universe takes control but I think she’s handed me the reins on this one.

I think about the day’s plan, trying to decide on things. We finally have good weather and I should take advantage. Living at home and working from home can get a little claustrophobic. Being outside allows some air, some breathing space, freedom for my thoughts and letting it wonder away from me. Besides my sister has been dropping some major hints about peppersoup which means there is shopping to be done.

I leave the comfort of my bed reluctantly; decide a little extra joy is needed as I fill the kettle. A sigh of pleasure escapes my lips as I take a sip, I’ll get back to my healthy body and mind tomorrow.

*written for the 3six5 Nigeria project @ http://the3six5ng.wordpress.com/