An update on my goals

So far I think I've made quite good progress on my goals.

My goals for 2015 are:

Lose weight

Lead a more healthy and active lifestyle

Complete a first aid course

Read one book a month

Complete Cancer Research UK's Race for Life

Improve my photography

Learn to speak Italian

Spend more time outdoors

With regard to losing weight and leading a more healthy and active lifestyle, I think I've done quite well so far.

I've lost 3lbs this week, took part in my first ever spin class and I've definitely been more active mainly because I've spent a lot more time outdoors then usual. More about this below!

Making Progress

I was planning on starting my healthy eating on Monday, but I started yesterday.

I won't tell you what I eat everyday, but today I had Special K with semi-skimmed milk for breakfast, tuna and light mayonnaise pasta for lunch and two chicken drumsticks with rice for tea.

Snack wise I had some dried strawberries and a yoghurt. If you have any tips for me and eating healthily I'd love to hear them!

Moving forwards and I will be adding more fruit and vegetables to my diet.

Spin Class

I'm all ready for my first spin class on Monday! I'm both excited and nervous!

If you're following me on Twitter (@mummysretreat1) you may have already seen this photo.

My husband bought me a pair of Adidas Galaxy EliIte trainers, Nike Dri Fit Leggings and a gym bag for my birthday as well as some other presents.

I just need to buy a good sports bra and top for the gym too.

Starting Weight

My starting weight is 10st12. Eek!

My target weight is 9st7. 

Here I am.

Bleurgh!

I can't believe I've just put that picture on here!

Hopefully though in a few months time it will be good to look back on to measure my progress.

I'd like to lose weight, tone my tummy and arms too. I'd also like to tone my legs up a bit too. 

The Plan

Initially my first goal is weight loss. This will then be followed with toning up.

I'm going to try a range of different classes from spin, kettle bell, circuits and more to legs, bums and tums!

My final aim is to start running too! I'd like to run 5k without feeling like I'm on my last legs!

One book a month goal

I've started reading my book for this month which is 'The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out Of The Windoe And Disappeared'.

I'm really enjoying it so far! 

It's about a man called Allen who lives in an old peoples home.

He's sat in his room waiting to be collected for his one hundredth birthday party.

Allen has other plans though and as the title suggests he climbs out of the window and makes his escape!

I'm on chapter four now and I've really not been able to put this book down!

So far Allen has turned out to be quite a mischievous man! Aside from escaping from the old peoples home, he's also stolen someone's suitcase and hopped on a bus to a place he's never been before with no idea where he'll be spending the night!

I'm intrigued as to what's inside the suitcase and I don't think it'll be long before I find out! 

Diary Writing

In a recent post on my other blog I explained that I would be starting a diary this year so that I can write in it every day about our family life. 

I chose a diary I liked (from Paperchase) and my sister bought it for me for our birthday. 

The idea is that should anything happen to me (touch wood) my girls will have something to look back on when they're older and not just photos. Although I do have a lot of photos!

So that's my progress for now!

I have also seen that my local NCT group is holding baby and child first courses in my area in March so I'll be signing up for that too. 

Healthy Eating Week 1. Meal Planning.

I've decided to follow the NHS Live Well 12 Week Plan.

This worked well for me at the beginning of the year which is why I'll be following it again. I'm not going to start this diet until January, but I like to plan ahead so I've been looking into meals and the best things to eat.

According to the NHS Live Well plan I should be consuming 1,400 calories a day. The best way to do this is as follows:

• Breakfast: 280 calories
• Lunch: 420 calories
• Dinner: 420 calories
• Other food and drinks: 280 calories

Week one is about filling up on fibre. Wholegrain breakfasts, beans, fruit, vegetables etc.

My main problem with my eating habits is snacking. I snack far too much on things that I shouldn't. Chocolate, crisps, honey on toast! The phrase 'everything in moderation' just isn't in my dictionary! 

I also tend to eat more in the evenings when our girls are in bed. From January onward I will have a 'no eating after 7pm rule'!

I haven't weighed myself yet, so I'll write another update on the day that I start my new healthy eating plan with this information, but for now here is meal plan for week one.