23.4.13

Black & blue

Hi everyone,

Sorry it's been a little while since my last post - I had a pretty busy weekend and work has been hectic too so haven't had much time to post.

Today's post has the title 'Black & blue' for two reasons. Firstly because as I mentioned in my previous posts I am making one hell of an effort to improve my fitness levels and overhaul my body. It is a sad fact that once you reach a certain age as a woman, you need to work harder at keeping fit if you still want to enjoy good food. I never used to be active when I was younger and was quite over-weight as a result (trust me, there are photos to prove it!)  but eventually I got fed up with feeling tired, lethargic and out of breath if I ever had to run for the bus and sad that my clothes didn't fit me the way I wanted them to. So I embarked on a 10 year period of yo-yo dieting which usually left me feeling miserable but helped get rid of the weight.

Then one day I decided enough was enough, I needed to learn to enjoy exercising then I could eat whatever I wanted (within moderation). Don't get me wrong, I work hard in the gym, in the pool, playing rugby and running and I do this at least 5 times a week so that I can afford myself a couple of treat days where I don't need to worry about what I eat/drink. I also eat as healthily as I can 80% of the time without compromising on quality or flavour.

This post isn't designed to be a propaganda piece on 'skinny', at a healthy size 12 I am not skinny and nor do I long to be. There are many women out there who aren't secure or confident in their own skin and take being thin for aesthetic reasons to extremes and that is sad and harmful. My motto is strength, my aim is to be toned, lean and muscular - all the better to perform to at my best in my chosen sports. But all this hard work can sometimes leave me feeling like I'm bruised black and blue!!

I go through periods of being obsessed (literally) with Pinterest then not looking at it for months. Lately I have found it useful for health and fitness inspiration - whether that be fashionable gym wear or mottos and quotes to help keep me focused.











All images above courtesy of Pinterest.
 
The weather over the weekend was b-e-a-utiful wasn't it?! I got up to quite a bit....
 
With the first signs of Spring I love to fill my house with flowers so I bought some daffodils.

 
The girls I used to live with came over for dinner on Friday night and bought me some beautiful roses.


I went to get my shellac re-done on my nails.


I opted for a really zingy watermelon hue.


I ran 4.2 miles in the lovely sunshine


I needed Lucozade and Grazia afterwards!
 
On Saturday night 'Mister Whatlisawrote' and I went for a date night at Wagmamas then the cinema to see Evil Dead.
 
Yasai Yaki Soba - my favourite.



On Sunday I went to my parent's house and took my bike out for a 12 miler, it was a fairly relaxed ride as I'm still recovering from a whiplash injury I suffered just over a week ago so I can't go too mad on the exercise front, booooo.


I spent some quality time with Bertie who was all tired out after playing all morning with the Labrador at the stables my Mum keeps her horses at.



 
And finally, the other reason for the title black & blue! Those were the colours in my outfit today.





 
Dress - H&M
Cardigan - Topshop
Belt - Primark
Jacket - H&M
Bag - Fiorelli
 
Hope you all had a lovely weekend and enjoyed the sunshine.
 
Lx


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