I finally have my mezzanine floor!

Published July 17, 2016 by fitflo

For those of you that have been wondering about what I’ve been up to instead running over the past 9 months, I thought I’d share the pics of my house transformation. We’ve lived in our house for 16 years and I think I’ve been planning this extension for 10 of them! I’d quite often show sketches of various floor plans I’d come up with to friends, and would always get blank or quizzical stares when I talked about a mezzanine floor! So what you see below is the product of my imagination, realised with the help of a great architect (kjgdesign) and a fantastic builder (AM builders).

It’s been a tough but rewarding process, the 3 months we spent living in the bedroom (over Christmas) were well worth it and we’re delighted with the end result.

TIP – if you click on a picture you can view as a slide show.

Now the house is done, it’s onto me!

 

 

 

3 days in

Published May 3, 2016 by fitflo

So 3rd training session completed tonight and my TrainAsONE plan is starting to look like a better fit – oh, didn’t I mention that before? TrainAsONE has been set up by an experienced medical surgeon (and keen runner) with the goal of providing tailored training programmes geared to ensuring you achieve optimum results, in the most efficient way and minimising injury risk. I registered aaages ago to be part of the beta testing, and received a rather well timed email 10 days ago saying there was space to join and get a completely personalised and free training plan, that learns as you improve. Hell yes, I said, where do I sign up?

After I’d uploaded todays run (via runkeeper – other apps are available) my plan was refreshed and the pace aims came much more in line with where I am right now. I’m interested and rather excited to see how the plan develops, although the goal I entered was for running a marathon, so in the later stages I may add some in between runs to get used to back to back days. Initial thoughts are that after 3 runs it already seems to know what I can do, and the plan over the next few weeks is going to push me a little at a time. I’m aiming for 4 runs a week, with some cross/strength training to augment it.

My biggest challenge right now is my weight. I’ve gained 30lbs over the last 8 months whilst our build has been going on, which is just shocking. I’m slowly cutting my sugar intake and total calories, but I know I have a looooong road ahead – to complete Dopey I need to be at least 50lbs lighter than I am now, otherwise it’ll just be too much for me – I was 25 lbs lighter when I ran London and that was a struggle… I can’t imagine having to do nearly double the distance!

I’m using myfitnesspal and rather than following a specific plan am just trying to eat more fruit and veg and fewer carbs. Anyone out there lost a large amount of weight? What tips and advice would you give me right now?

 

 

 

The Dopey Challenge

Published May 1, 2016 by fitflo

Sooooo, I’m BAAAAACCK!!

‘Lo everyone, thought I’d have a revamp and come back to the blogosphere so I can share the trials and tribulations of the next 8 months as I train for the Dopey Challenge.

48.6m in 4 days

Day One = 5k

Day Two = 10k

Day Three = Half Marathon

Day Four = Marathon

Day Five = Eat and sleep

Yup I’m mad – but so are Rachel and Alma who are doing it with me! At least they’re running at the moment, todays training run was my first in about 3 months – we’re coming to the end of an extension/complete house renovation and I just haven’t been able to think about anything but that. Rubbish excuse I know – I’m paying for it now…

Anyhoo, here I am, I’m going to catch up with all your blogs over the next week as well so we can have a two way thang going on…

For those of you that are interested I’ll also be doing a before and after house blog, nothing at all to do with running but a good way to share with family and friends that are nosy want to see how we’ve done!

Todays training

2 mi truffle shuffle

 

 

Home HIIT

Published January 3, 2016 by fitflo

Day 3 and we spent this morning with friends and their 4 kids which I’m sure should count as exercise! 

Anyway I had a little snooze when we got home, then spent the rest of the afternoon alternating between thinking about going for a run (read slouching on the sofa reading with a cat on my lap) and prepping my breakfast and lunches for the next couple of days – home made Bircher muesli, juice and feta salad if you’re asking. 

Come 7pm I realised I hadn’t done an ‘official’ exercise, and it’s really important to me that I complete this Janathon in full, so I decided to do a home HIIT session. I did a circuit from front door to bedroom window and incorporated some squats and lunges and lifts (tidying and laundry and putting away!).

20 mins, 154 calls burnt and a max heart rate of 148 – pretty good huh!?!

If you haven’t yet done your Janathoning for today there’s still time so get up and go find some stairs! 

Today: 20 mins, approx 30 flights of stairs

Jan total: 135 mins 5.5m 

Wardown Parkrun

Published January 3, 2016 by fitflo

Day 2 of Janathon saw me at my home Parkrun – Luton Wardown Park. It’s a soul destroying 3 and a half laps, fairly flat other than the slight incline which by the 4th ascent feels like Mount Everest!

It took me 8 minutes longer than my 5k PB – I’ve got a long way to go to regain my fitness so I’ve joined Julia Buckleys online gym to help out – here’s the link if you’re interested. http://juliabuckleyfitness.com/

In 2013 I followed her 12 week Fat Burn Revolution programme and dropped 2 dress sizes in 12 weeks, so I’m looking forward to starting the bootcamp challenge. She’s offering 70% off for life om memberships at the moment which makes it just £8.30 a month to join – well worth it!

Today: 38 mins 3.1m

Jan so far: 1h 15mins 5.5m

 

 

Happy New Year!

Published January 1, 2016 by fitflo

It’s been a while since I’ve exercised more than two days in a row and like most I’ve over indulged at Christmas. Thankfully, Janathon is here to save us all from the excesses of the festive season, and this mornings outing for me was a typical 1/1 effort. 

 In my head I was planning a 45 minute run with a sprint finish, and returning home to husband and hearth with a healthy glow, to consume a freshly squeezed juice and quinoa….

The reality was a 37 minute run walk, hampered by a nosebleed, and returning home to a grumpy Hubby full of cold and a full English fry up.

Welcome to the real world!

Stats

Today: 37mins 2.4m

Four, Five, Six

Published June 6, 2015 by fitflo

if it wasn’t for Juneathon…when my friend said we’d got our days mixed up for regiment fitness this morning, I’d’ve crawled home to bed. However it was 7am, sunny and I was up so I made her get up too and we went for a lovely walk with her dog, discovering new footpaths and putting the world to rights. 

I also did 75 squats as per the plan. My knees were creaking and I was almost sitting down each time by the end as it hurt so much. I’m not sure how many more of those I’m going to be able to do.

Thursday was a rest day so I did a lunchtime walk, Friday was 70 squats and then after work I dragged hubby out with the promise of beer – we walked 4 miles and had 3 pints which was really quite restrained for us!

Squats done: 310!

Juneathon days nailed: 4

Juneathon days blagged: 2

Three

Published June 3, 2015 by fitflo

If it wasn’t for Juneathon…I’d’ve mugged off my 7.15am alarm this morning and had another hour in the land of nod. Instead I dragged myself out of bed and to the gym for a 45 minute HIIT and weights workout, followed by todays are-your-knees-still-working 60 squats. I also plan to drag my Mum out for a 3-5 mile walk tonight. She’s not going to know what’s hit her :-)BOOM!

Squats done: 165

Juneathon days nailed: 2

Juneathon days blagged: 1