Body Project *Diary* Round Up

10000 steps
This week has been so busy, I haven't had the chance to keep a proper diary, so here's a quick round up for ya;

Steps Update

Thursday 22/01; 11,376 – Home > Station, Lunch walk, Station > Home

Friday 23/01; 13,248 –  Home > Station, 35 min Lunch walk & 30 min walk to the Bank & back, 10 minute walk Stockwell Station to Catwalk Practice

Saturday 24/01; 15,738 – Home > Station, Walked the length of Oxford Street 3 times

Sunday 25/01; 2,481 – Not an active day; no additional exercise – Only walking; shopping @ Tesco & to & from the car!

Food Update

Thursday 22/01; Breakfast: OK Lunch: Good Dinner: Good

Friday 23/01; Breakfast: Bad Lunch: Good Dinner: Good

Saturday 24/01; Breakfast: Bad (None) Lunch: Good Dinner: Bad

Sunday 25/01; Breakfast: OK Lunch: Bad (None) Dinner: Bad

Key
OK - Moderately healthy - no points taken
Bad - OBVIOUSLY bad - no points taken
Good - Healthy enough to claim 1 point

*Overview of the week*

This week has been tough & inconsistent, I will try and make a conscious effort to make less slip ups this week.

We are meant to weigh in every two weeks and I'm super glad about that cos Aunt Flo is in town and I am carrying a lot of excess water.  Weigh in next week, I really hope the scales & measuring tape is my friend!!

Current Points total as of Sunday night - 41

Here are my tracked stats of the night before the BP started & my "before" pictures.

Hopefully I will be able to notice a visible difference at the end of this 10 weeks!





The Body Project *Diary* - 21/01/2015

10000 steps
Given the fact that I felt so poorly on Tuesday night I wasn’t feeling that adventurous food-wise on Wednesday morning and I was still tired in the morning (which is surprising given the extreme early night the night before!) 
I didn’t leave myself enough time to prepare my scrambled eggs for breakfast so I opted for toast with a thin layer of jam & a cuppa instead. (1 point)
I didn’t take anything with me for lunch for the same reason and come lunch time I was ready to try something simple.  I went to Tesco with the intention of picking up a plain ham sarnie, but there were none left, there wasn’t much left to be honest!  I grabbed a sausage & egg sandwich this weighed in at 380 calories – which fell under the calorie allowance of 400 calories for lunch (1 point)
For some of you reading this you may be thinking the things she is eating aren't on the BP recommended food list; that's true they aren't listed as a meal option, however if you know me and my recent food habits you would understand & agree that for me these food choices are leaps & bounds healthier than a Sausage & Egg McMuffin, a full fry up or a bowl piled high of sugar-heavy cereal.  My thoughts on this is that instead of following the BP meal plan (although it's recommended) I will count my calories with Andy on My Fitness Pal and use the BP recipes as a guide to portion sizes & inspiration on food ideas mainly for dinners.  I really do think that the introduction of more movement into my days is proving beneficial; clothes seem to fit a little looser and I feel good for it. 
Leanne & I went on a great walk during her lunch, we walked for nearly 55 minutes at a leisurely pace all over the surrounding areas. We even tried a new route to spice it up a little. 
Leanne managed to prevent my inner demons from leading me astray again. On our walk I had entered a corner shop with the full intention of buying a chocolate bar. My only justification when asked why was "..because I'm upset!" She quite rightly questioned further, "but do you really want it???"  That was enough to make me think we'll,  no I actually don't. So we promptly left and I felt really proud of myself for changing my mind and grateful to Leanne for checking me. Kat: 1 Evil Inner Chocolate Demons: NIL!!!
It was my friends’s birthday, so there were two cake options; a gorgeous looking mousse cake from Paul and an M&S lemon sponge roll.  As delectable as the moussey number seemed, I opted for the lighter option and treated myself to a sliver of the lemon sponge roll.
I walked back to London Bridge which enabled me to hit my steps goal (BP: 4,000 – target smashed! Personal target smashed: 14,070 steps taken) (1 point)
For dinner I had a lovely small salmon fillet in sweet chilli sauce with pilau rice & mixed veg for dinner (1 point), I had planned to do my 30 minute workout after dinner, but I managed to burn two of my fingers quite badly whilst picking Andy’s dinner off the stove!  Needless to say I spent the rest of my night with my fingers in a glass of cold water just to alleviate the stinging sensation, I’m sure you know the one I’m talking about.  Even going to sleep I had to cover the fingers in Sudocrem then bandage them up (to stop the cream going everywhere) then wrapped with a cold flannel & towel just so that I could bear taking my fingers out of the water!  I hate burns – they are a major inconvenience!


On the plus side, today was another alcohol free zone (1 point) and having ur fingers stuck in water makes you relatively immobile, so meditation was a breeze! (1 point)


Total for today = 6

Running total = 21


*My thoughts on my progress*


A bit bummed that I didn’t get to do my work out but overall – I’m quite pleased with today.  If I can manage to do all the same, minus the finger burning & minus the cake then I’ll be winning!!



Picture credit: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/156711262003658267/

The Body Project *Diary* 20/01/2015

10000 steps
Today was not a good day. I started the day perfectly; I woke up early, refreshed and all "gung-ho" about the day ahead. I made myself scrambled egg on toast for brekkie (1 point ) and I packed my bag full of healthy snacks to get me though the week.


Southern Railway heavily impacted my mood when they announced severe delays and that was further ruined by being held outside Victoria underground in the freezing cold for 20 mins due to congestion & overcrowding. Needless to say, I was late to my destination! Never a good start to the day!!

I shook off those bad vibes and settled into my busy day. I drank my 2 litres of water (1 point) I ate a jacket potato with no butter & just a can of tuna in spring water with a tablespoon of mayo. (1 point) 
Throughout the day I snacked on cucumber & reduced fat red pepper hummus & mango slices.
I went for my lunchtime walk around London town with Leanne on her lunch, only 36 minutes though.
I was so proud of myself; I had managed to do the whole day without any chocolate cravings but something changed on the route home.
I felt awful. I stood up the whole journey home.  I felt weak and just like my body was struggling on what I had fed it.  I was suffering with sharp pains in my stomach/abdominal area and I was sure I was gonna throw up right on the train!
I resisted the temptation to jump in cab home and pushed through the discomfort to make sure I hit my own personal target of 10,000 steps. (BP target for today; 8,000 steps; smashed! 1 point)
Today was another alcohol-free zone (1 point)
I cocked it all up when I wandered into Sainsbury’s on route home. I thought maybe my body was going into some sort of shock from the cold turkey style removal of sugar. Please bear in mind I have recently gotten into a habit of eating something sugary (be it a chocolate bar, something from Pandora or a doughnut) every day in some cases more than once. So my rationale was maybe the discomfort was fuelled by the lack of sugar. My inner demons won! I caved and bought a Wispa & devoured that whilst walking home! Whilst it was immediately satisfying, I actually felt worse. My stomach was still cramping and now I was riddled with guilt over my bad choice.
When I got home I couldn't muster the strength to complete my workout. So I switched on the mindfulness video and completed my meditation for 10 minutes (1 point) 

After that I retired to bed & curled up in the foetal position wrapped around a hot water bottle. I felt low and the stomach pain was overbearing; whatever was wrong with me!?
As I had skipped dinner I was made a slice of toast with jam to eat.  I didn't feel like eating it but I was urged to eat something rather than nothing. (By MFP’s standards, my calorie intake was well under, so I will class that as an acceptable dinner to get my 1 point for a healthy dinner; it would have been less healthy to skip dinner completely *apparently*)
Where I conked out – I forgot to snapshot my points, but totting these up amounts to 7 points today.

Running total = 15.

*My Thoughts on my progress*
Today I struggled, feeling unwell was clearly a trigger to eat badly and I am gutted that I technically ruined a good days work by letting my cravings get the better of me.

All I can do is try harder.

I refuse to be totally demoralised,  I see my efforts especially towards the exercise aspect of this challenge as a positive achievement and I accept there will be days I eat worse than others.   I have to just accept that it’s gonna be hard but no one said it was gonna be a doddle!

 :)
If any of you are signed up to "My Fitness Pal" add me as a friend and you can view my food diary! My name is Kattrinn
 

The Body Project *Diary* 19/01/2015

10000 steps
Day 1; 19/01
Good start, as I had such a busy weekend I didn't get the chance to do any food shopping.
I lost out on a point by eating Coco Pops for brekkie (you get a point for avoiding all refined or processed carbs all day) but I picked up a Grab & Go (recommended lunch pick up for emergencies) from M&S for lunch and had a tasty piece of steak for dinner with a few potatoes & a mountain of veg.
I drank my 2 litres of water and achieved the BP goal of 4,000 steps (I actually smashed this target but taking over 19,000+ steps) I did a bit of shopping on route home so I could have some healthy snacks to chomp on.
I am not a big drinker and only have a tipple on special occasions so I got my point for being alcohol free all day.
Came home & plunged into my recommended 30 minute workout. Now it wasn't nearly as daunting as I'd imagined. The aim is to raise your heart but doing at least 3 x 30 minute sessions of cardiovascular exercise per week.  I was nervous that I wouldn't be able to keep up but it really eased me in gently and 10 minutes in I was sweating like a pig and my heart rate was definitely raised. The type of exercise was aerobic based movement so the steps were simple enough to follow. You are encouraged to set your own pace based on what you are comfortable with but you're aiming for 30 secs intense movement followed by 15 secs of active recovery. There were times when I was lagging and times when I was really going for it and I really do think it pushed me to better my ability each time. It was hard work not gonna lie, but totally worth it. 
I got another point by taking 10 minutes to just do NOTHING & meditate.
No night time snacking.
With all the steps and activity I did, I managed to burn a fair amount of calories today!!
I finished the day with 8 points.
*My thoughts on my progress*
Really positive and rearing to go...I think sticking to the meal plan provided by BP will be hard as I would need to consider the time it will take to prepare and potentially cook two meals each day. I will use their meal plan as inspiration and make my own meal plan that works for my family.  My main issue at home is portion size so I will need BP to guide me on quantities.
My GP wants me to keep a food diary and as Andy follows it too, I am also tracking my calories on the phone app; "My Fitness Pal"
Here's how I did today...

My Bucket List

before I die
2015 is hereby dubbed the "Yes" year for me so I'm gonna do something I have never actually done and that's write my bucket list;
Here goes...In no particular order...
*See the Northern Lights & capture the moment in a photo.
*Travel to see my family in Canada, South Africa & Mauritius.
*Drive Route 66 in a super fast convertible.
*Walk the Great Wall of China.
*Drive from Lands End to John O'Groats.
*Ride on a Sleigh pulled by Huskies.
*Meet Santa
*Raise a Northern Inuit from a puppy.
*Drive an Aston Martin DB9/Ferarri/Buggatti.
*Go horseriding again.
*Skinny Dip in a lagoon with a waterfall.
*Audition for The Voice or something similar.
*Choreograph & Organise a Dance/Talent show for local kids.
*Build my own house.
*Move to a different country but only if my Parents weren't around.
*Record my own album.
*Perform Live at a Festival.
*Become a Plus Size Model.
*Catwalk.
*Run my own Beauty Salon.
*Watch my Baby graduate.
*Get Married.
*Have another baby.
*Go to Bora Bora.
*Go back to Kurumba in the Maldives.
*Swim with Dolphins.
*Hear my first single played on Radio.
*Pack out the O2 arena and hear the crowd singing a song you wrote.
*Go on a *short* Cruise (scared of drowning)
*Shopping in NYC.
*Fly with Captain Gray over the Grand Canyon.
*See The World's most popular sights.
*See the 7 wonders of the World.
*Float in the Dead Sea.
*Go to Disneyworld.
*Be on the cover of a magazine.
*Do a World Tour.
*Meet at least one of the people who inspired me to start my Blog.
*Stay in a log cabin in Aspen or Whistler or somewhere of the like.

I know it's a bit long & I'm sure there's more too! By the time I'm old & wrinkly I want to have at least ticked off 75% of this list.
What's on your bucket list??

Milestones

2015
A couple of milestone markers for you...

26/11/2014; marked my 2 month New Smile anniversary! I am doing well, little/no pain these days.  I get the occasional sore spot but other than that I have really settled into my new gnashers.  Now I can start counting down to the 6 month marker when I go back to the dentist to get my permanents done.
The choices I made to fix my smile have done nothing but boost my confidence tenfold.  I love my smile, where I have hidden behind a closed mouth smile for so many years it is so awesome to be able to laugh and smile and talk and....sing without fear of judgement!


28/11/2014; Today was my last day at my work place.  Mixed bag of emotions, I will miss my colleagues & my clients a lot but I am so excited to be closing that chapter of my life to turn a page on a new challenge. 
Things seem to be looking up for me and I am really looking forward to 2015.  It's got promise!!