Ok, I am reinstating this blog after a long lull. Yep, I’m back and this time I want to be fit for 40!!!

But there is more to this blog than just being physically fitter (and thinner) by the time I turn 40 in August 2017. It is also about being mentally fitter. 2016 has been a tough year mentally, I suffered a bout of emotional exhaustion in October which saw me off work for 3 weeks. I still am not fully recovered. It had never happened to me before, I didn’t recognise the signs until my world crashed in. Since then I have made some moves to tackle this, but not really. So after a restful Christmas break with family I finally have some emotional clarity and feel ready to tackle things properly.

I’ll probably muse over my emotional collapse in later blog posts. But in a nutshell I am a mother of two small people aged 7 and 4, I work full time; manage the school and nursery run; travel regularly for work; my husband is out three + nights a week and half the weekend, when he is home he is working on his laptop until 10 at night; I sit on committees that eat into weekends and evenings. So life is full pelt. Then add in a work restructure where my job was at risk and I ended up with a worse, bigger job (no more money), a negative working environment and being passed over for a long overdue promotion (which shocked everyone in my team) and I hit a wall. My confidence and motivation were broken. Over the past year I have neglected my diet, fitness and quality time for me. 

So what am I doing to try and change things?

Dry January

Following my success in Sober for October 2015 I decided to do Dry January to kick start my year. My wine o’clock habit wasn’t helping my emotional state, or my waistline. I’m 8 days in and feeling good. Having successfully done this before I actually feel pretty happy this time, no need to constantly reassure myself and motivate myself. I may even stray into February with it!

30 Day Shred

Yes, I am turning to the goddess Jillian Michaels. I have tried before and never got past level 1. But I figure if I can be so solid on dry January, then I can absolutely do this. Today was day 1. I admit I nearly died so rubbish was my fitness level. But I puffed my way through and pretty much managed all of it (admittedly the modified moves).

MyFitnessPal

I have wasted so much money on slimming clubs over the years. I know what I need to do so I figure as long as I track then that should help me focus. And I save money!

Fitbit Alta

I have had a Fitbit flex for a couple of years, admittedly I wear it but am a bit erratic. My last one fell off and got lost before Christmas so I have just ordered a new Alta. It talks to MyFitnessPal so fingers crossed I take this one more seriously!

Water water everywhere!!!

Yep, I am erratic here too! When I do drink my 1.5-2 litres a day I look and feel great, but then I forget and survive on tea, wine and gin! So let’s see if I can get this nailed!!!!

Beauty time every day

It may seem simple but 15-30 mins each night to do something. Nails (mine are a state), legs, facial, pedicure. All these things I have neglected and it makes me feel crappy. 

Digital detox

Each night I waste time on my iPad. I have the tv on, play games, browse websites. I don’t focus on anything in particular and my concentration is suffering. I stay up late doing nothing at all, prevaricating. So I’m going to limit my evening iPad activity to 1 hour……eeeeep!!!!!! Which brings me to my final one….

Go to bed earlier!

Yep, 10.30pm at the latest! Hopefully with less booze, technology and more water my sleeping will improve!!
That is a pretty big list! I’m not sure if it is too big and I should focus on a few things at a time, but let’s think big, be audacious! Notice I’m not setting a weight goal. I’ll take anything. Right now If I’m honest I am a UK size 20. I pretend I’m an 18 but I’m not. By the time I turn 40 in 8 months it would be great to be in a U.K. 14, but if I only manage a 16 I can live with that, as long as it is smaller and I am fitter!!!

I’ll no doubt muse on each of these as I go along, but this is a good place to lay it all out so I can check back.
Wish me luck staying on this wagon!!!!!!