mini crisis

Yesterday was the sad loss of a dear friend - my pedometer. I was getting out of the car and looked down and there was my pedometer on the seat broken - have no idea whats happened to it. But I feel lost!

Talking about lost - I'm putting posters around the area about my daughters bunny.

Friday is now only 2 nights away and I am planning an early get away friday morning about 5am (my excuse is need to get out before the monsters awake so they don't get upset) and on my drive will go past snowdon for a gander and then onto somewhere else for a walk. I'm looking at Hebog at the moment from the Trail Routes website. Have just installed memory map on the computer so will have alook what routes are on there.
I have to take full advantage of any time that I can grab to myself to get out there. And strangely Hubby is quite happy to let me go up a mountain on my own (maybe he is trying to get rid of me - or just that I won't listen to him if he say's no?)

One of my neighbours who i haven't seen for a while told me yesterday that I look like I've lost weight and hubby told me the same over the weekend.
Prehaps binning the scales was the best thing that I've done!

Panic Over!!

have spoken to Claire and we are ok

WALES IS STILL ON!!!!

keeping Fingers crossed

I have just been on the Bremex website, they are the group that is taking us out on the weekend and it says that all courses are cancelled.

So in dismay I have sent an email to Claire and am hoping that it doesn't mean us - but I will keep you all updated.

been out today for a wander with Elli in the Macpac and also took my eTrex. So we had great fun. Only did 2 miles but with 2 stone on your back I'm sure that it's really 10 miles or something like that. But as I didn't do as many steps as I would have liked - I came home and did my LTT and clocked up over 10000 steps again today.

The exercise, water and good diet are the only way I am coping with very little sleep at the moment.
My daughter has had a bunny from Tesco since she was born (2 1/2 years ago) and yesterday it was lost from the Macpac whilst going up the shop.

URGENT REQUEST FOR HELP: IF ANYONE HAS A PINK BUNNY OR KNOWS OF SOMEONE THAT DOES PLEASE CONTACT ME - MONEY PAID!!

It is a serious request she has been waking up at 2am crying out for bunny!! Breaks my heart.

Had a play with the eTrex today and it was great fun set waypoints and gotos. Will put the software on ready for the weekend and hopefully if all goes well will get to try in the hills!!

managed to get into my new craghopper trousers today - they have an awful cut but are a size 14 short - result. By the end of this I will be a 12 (if not less) but I am feeling fitter and it's not about losing all the weight (although that is a bonus)

have found a 40 mile walk around the bedfordshire area which I am going to do at the end of feb over a few days - getting ready for the 4 peaks.
have now over 10 people joining me for the 3 peaks challenge.

Will now await Claire's email - will probably have rung her by 9.15 tomorrow morning.
Worse case scenario - the trail academy still go and meet up and have a laugh on the hills!
Watch this space

So jealous!!

Emma, Take some photos for me please!!

I have to admit I am jealous of Emma, the ability to just take off and go to North Wales (I remember those days).

But I wouldn't swap my two little ones for anything - I would prefer though to live closer to some mountains and my family. But needs must, and they dictate that we live in the South East for a few more years yet.

But my goals are keeping me going - although still waiting for an email from MK2-30 RA.

Anyway going out tomorrow to try out the rucksacks and the GPS, plus just refresh my map reading skills.

Only 7 days to Wales !!!

And I just got a new case for the etrex - i love goodies

No offence!

having a blonde moment
Forgot the link

www.bbc.co.uk/wales/info/charities

More white stuff please!!

Snow - what a lovely wake up call that was.
I was meant to be on a seminar yesterday but was going to call off it and go on that hill scramble in Aylesbury - by the time I got up the Nursery to frop the kids off, the snow had melted and I had a ton of paperwork to get through - boohoo!! But only 2 weeks to go and that hill will be mine!

I am also going to see if I can get into my new walking trousers for next week in wales. 8 days to go and I will be there!
Both my little monsters have colds at the moment so I am averaging about 4 hours of solid sleep and the rest is broken and I feel bleugh at the moment - thank god for water!

My GPS is coming for its first trip to Wales for a play next week - it is very excited and wants a case to keep it nice and warm. Ebay here we come!

If anyone wants a good laugh click on to www.bbc.co.uk/wales/info/charities and I am there with my chubby cheeks!!

Only 15 days to my move :)

happiness arrives again!

Ok, so having a good week so far - steps haven't been brilliant (apart from shopping expedition that is!)
But I have had lots of new and shiny things arrive over the last week:
1 MacPac Vamoose
2 A Shewee
3 A OL17 Map
4 A spork
5 Whistle
6 Orange Bivy bag
7 Thermal blanket
8 A pair of Bloc Sunglasses

If thats not enough to keep me motivated Paul bought me a Garmin Etrex!!

Now we all now I am moving and having been sat in the car for 5 hours today travelling to the Nursery and back I can't wait to get up there - so I have made myself some goals (apart from continuing with my stepper)

1 join the MK 20-30's Ramblers Association
2 sign up for the climbing course
3 swim twice a week
4 cycle twice a week
5 volunteer for a local charity
6 promote my business and set the other 2 up

so just a few things to keep me going with

I have also signed up for a seminar with business link which follows Steve Redgraves principles or something about happy life / happy work / happy everything

So all in all I feel very happy knowing all this can start in 2 weeks time.
meanwhile really looking forward to Wales - bring it on!!

Scales may not have been broken!

Yesterday I weighed myself in Boots and was most disappointed they tallied up with the scaled that I binned!!

So now I have no idea of what I weighed when I started the academy and how much I've lost or put on.
So I'm starting from yesterday not sure if I am brave enough to admit my weight yet live on the web.
I've been devising my own eating plan as I know that I am going to struggle to get out regularly over the next 3 weeks with moving and Paul being away.

So this weekend we'll be taking the Macpac out for a test run (lots of thanks to Macpac and Claire for organising it for me). Claire also sent me a copy of Matt (the editor) taking his son up Snowdon at 7 months - I am not quite brave enough for that yet, maybe a nice 300m hill instead to start off with (especially as we'll be taking 2!!)

So please can everyone keep an eye on me and make sure I don't stray from my healthy eating. I realy don't know what went wrong because I did lose weight over christmas - so sad really :(

it arrived!!!

My Macpac came yesterday and what a fantastic bit of gear it is.
It puts my mothercare one to shame (no surprises there) So Elli (my eldest) gets a shiny new one (all 2stone of her) and Ioan is more than happy in his one.
Will be telling Paul later that we are going out on the weekend and trying it out. Am currently looking out for some waterproof gear for the kids. There is quiet a few bits on ebay that I am watching.

Had the kit list for Wales - really looking forward to that now. It'll be great to get some fresh air and meet up with everyone again. Seeing as the next 3 weeks I am going to be stuck in the house packing boxes.

So I treated myself today to an OL17 Map and a Shewee (don't want to get caught out on the mountains)
Also it's only 10 weeks to my 1st charity challenge, the 4 peaks in the Lake District, so carrying on with the training and will notch it up a few gears when we move - yippee

tip of the day
give yourself a goal, whether it be a charity event or just going higher - goals give you something to work towards

PS I also need names for 2 businesses so if anyone has any ideas please (training and web design)

Throw the scales away....

Well according to my scales I have put on 1 stone in 3 days!!!!!!! In the bin they are going.

My clothes are looser, I feel better - my scales are lying I know they are. I will go and get myself weighed properly over the next few days and I know they will be less than last week - but never mind.

I have finally found a house , so will be moving to Leighton Buzzard in the next 4 weeks - bleugh - I hate moving,

On another good note Paul is taking me for a little bit of shopping next week in Cotswolds (sorry Blacks - but the trail offer is 20% discount)

Have not done marvelously on the steps this week - I'm keeping active in lots of other ways with the packing and stuff. Will get out and about tomorrow and this week as my mum is coming down to stay for the week.

It's really hit me this week that my Dad only passed away 7 weeks ago, that with alot of other things means that I have been rather tearful!

The good thing about moving to Leighton Buzzard means that I will have babysitters! So I can finally book myself that climbing course I've been on about for ages and prehaps join a walking club (if there isn't one - I'll make one)

On the 4th March Iam doing a sponsored 7 mile walk for a local hospice in Milton Keynes (Willen Hospice) with children on back!

No sign of my Macpac yet.

I must admit that I hadn't read the article in Trail about us properly til a few days ago and well I'm torn. There was alot of stuff I was expecting in it - that wasn't there. And far too many it's only Loughrigg Fell (and not just in our article), but mainly was it necessary to mention all that about Sarah. I hope she stays on as and comes to Wales with us. I feel that I've made a friend in Sarah and would be gutted if she left.

Trail did send me some great photos that Tom did, they have gone to the BBC but I'm going to put them on here. In one I look like a chipmunk (the chubby cheeks will shrink) and the other one is really cool

Oohhhh - I'm famous!!!

Wow!!

Trail was out today, so off to Tesco's at 9am it was. Couldn't believe it we were on the front cover and the mag is full of amazing stuff this month. Really want to get out in the snow, but not sure if I will get the chance until the winter this year, but one thing I do know is that with the stuff that I'll learn from Trail - I won't be apprehensive!

Slightly frustrated with lots of personal stuff today and my business - everything kinda getting on top of me - so my trusty stepper will be getting a pounding later as I take my frustration out on that instead. Been really hectic today so hopefully will sit down later with a glass of wine and relax abit.

Much say that drinking all the water is really helping with keeping me perky and also my skin has never been so good.
Also after I have done my exercises at night - I feel fab!!!

So anyway - no matter how bad things are - exercise it does make you feel better!

Exhausted!!

Where do I start??

Yesterday spent all day house hunting and did we find anything - nope, by the time I got home, it was time to get ready to go to see Celebrity Big Brother Big Brain Live. What a pants show but the experience was good - got home at 1am (I've not been out so late in years and if you think I'm joking - I'm not!)
So only clocked up 6000 steps, will make it up over the week.

Then today was interviewed by BBC Wales which was fantastic, Trail are even letting them use some of the photo's from the Lake District and they are great - so not so worried about the mag coming out tomorrow now!!

Am going to do my exercises now, even though I am exhausted, but if I don't do them tonight there will some reason why I can't do them tomorrow and thursday etc etc.....

On a good note my average stepcount last week was 10552 - woohoo!!!!

By the way photos to follow but practised my climbing skills at a soft play area today with Elli - who needs fancy mountains?? (ME!!!!) :)

Lost Marbles??

I have found a way to do 10000 steps before breakfast.

Yup get up at 6.30am and go on a 5 mile walk. The weather wasn't great and it was dark, only a few hills involved, but it cleared the cobwebs away.
Felt like I need to do something abit more than normal today as will spend most of tomorrow in a car house hunting.

I wanted to catch the train the Betws-Y-Coed in feb, but would believe there are no trains on a sunday. I was looking forward to chilling out, reading a book and listening to some newly downloaded tunes on my i-pod. Now looks like going to be stuck in the car - bleugh!!

Sorry Blacks, but have had to buy some new gloves as the ones we had are too big and bulky for me. Didn't fancy doing any scrambling when I can't feel what I'm grabbing (prehaps not such a bad thing then).

I've just been reading Sarah's blog and I really admire her, she gets out there and does walks in beautiful cornwall over the winter and although she'll probably hit me for saying this - she may moan about doing it - but she stills does it and doesn't give herself enough credit for her achievements. Sarah I think you're a STAR!!!

another 1lb off!!

Woohoo!!!! lost another lb, bringing the grand total up to 10lbs since we started the fitness academy. So how am I feeling - pretty motivated, i am drinking my 2lts of water a day, but may have to up it as i drink it all during the day so it stops me snacking but not at night. Been hitting 10000+ steps most of the week, apart from yesterday, children not going to bed till 10pm (i'm not a bad mummy honestly - but all parents will know that you get some days like that) and to be honest I just didn't want to do any more exercise that time of night. But Paul is off for 4 days now, so we are going out for a walk tomorrow, or if it's raining it'll just be me!

I am being interviewed by BBC Wales on Tuesday for all the fundraising that I am doing this year for the Hopsice - how exciting is that - I will be mentioning Trail and the Fitness Academy.

I've just read Emma's blog and saw her videos - I am so envious that she gets to go to these places regularly! Prehaps I should be moving closer to my family rather than further away.

Going house hunting in Milton Keynes on Monday - I wonder how close I will be to some mountains then?

We are obviously off to North Wales in the beginning of Feb - to say that I am excited is an understatement!
We are going to be doing some scrambling - I really enjoyed that last time and also some map reading and navigation. Plus they say we'll be going to new heights!!
I'm going to go and have a look at Snowdon whilst I am there as we'll be doing that for the 3 Peaks.

So Tip of the Day
Are you struggling to drink all that water - invest in a groovy water bottle (i have a pink camelbac it holds 750ml) and if like me you live in the south and the tap water is disgusting, buy Tesco Still Water for about 19p - it tastes great. Fill up your water bottle and you'll be suprised by how quickly 2lts will go during the day, plus you can take it out with you.

Charity Website

www.charitywalkers.co.uk

This is the website I have made for the fundraising this year, it's a work in progress!

All good things come in 3!!

Well I have no idea where to start today, firstly we are off on a weekend of mountain skills with Trail, I can't wait!!
Secondly I've also got a new baby rucksack coming a Macpac Vamoose, can't wait to get out with that - means both Elli and Ioan can come on longer trips now.
Thirdly, whilst trying to get audience tickets for Top Gear I applied for some celebrity big brother big brain thing. Never expected to get in, but low and behold guess who is going to the live show on Monday!! I have to say that when I got the tickets I thought never mind, then I remembered that my sister-in-law loves Dermot, so much so that she has got the time off work!

So far today have drunk my 2lts of water and made a beautiful stew packed full of veg. Now when Elli goes to bed in the next 5 mins, I will be able to do my stepper to get me over my 10000 steps and then I can watch Green Wing - Yipppeee

So watch this space, the way my luck is going, I may just win the lottery

keeping those good intentions up!

well it's day 3 of the new year and since monday I have managed to do 10000+ steps daily, done the exercises that Darren gave us and drank at least 2lts of water - I'm feeling pretty proud of myself so far.
was going to go out for a walk today but had to start packing things away so will be going out on the weekend with paul and the kids. So I have been getting my steps up by using my LTT. I must say that I am definetly feeling all the better for it.
Got to do a video and send some photos to trail by tomorrow. tried 3 times to do the video earlier but the little ones were screaming all the way through it, so will try again tomorrow.
feeling abit down at the mo, having to move in 6 weeks time, and dad only dying 5 weeks ago I can't help but think I really have too much on at the mo. It means that i have to take a step back from the running of the nursery as i can't travel all the way up there but that will get easier when I move.
Take care all :)

talk about opening your eyes!

http://www.livingto100.com/

I just watched "change the day I die" on Sky 3 and well I did the calculator and was pleased to get 84, so click on the link above if you want to give it ago.
This man was 51, morbidly obese and was given just another 7 years to live. He was drinking over 120 units a week.
what surprised me the most was that his diet took 11 years off his life and exercise just 2 years.

Nothing like a good way to start the new year.

I have done 10000 steps plus today so far, drank over 2lts of water, did 20 mins on my stepper and the exercises that Darren gave us.

Am planning mine and Sarah's next jolly, there are a few walks in Wiltshire so maybe one of those.
Also planning something for me and paul, just got to sort the kids out the day and night - any volunteers?

Happy New Year!

Cor, 2007 already, is it just me or do the years go faster as you get older.
Well yesterday my step count was appalling - although I did manage a 20 minute bike ride with the monsters and Paul. Initially I dropped my bike with Elli on it (she is nearly 2 stone) but I did ok with Ioan,but the heavens were opening up - so it was back home to cook the Roast Chicken dinner that Paul wanted after our trek up Pen-Y-Fan.

Well I have 7 weeks to pack up my house and move up towards Milton Keynes way. I am dreading it, Paul is back in work and the kids are demanding to say the least.
Well my average step count this week was 8164 so very happy with that as I planned only 7500, think alot of it was to do with the mountain.

Was going to take the kids out on a 9 1/2 mile walk today, but discovered that there was lots of stiles. Seeing as I was going on my own with an all-terrain buggy and one in the rucksack - I had to abandon all hope. may take Paul on Wednesday before he starts nights.
Note to Trail; how do I combat the stiles on my own with the kids and also can you get childrens (i mean the really small ones) walking boots? and if so where from? I think Elli may appreciate them.

As it's the 1st January it's only fitting to start my resolutions - not to have one because you only give up!!

But my goals are to hit 8000 steps average
start darren's exercises
keep drinking 2lts of water
do at least 30mins on my LTT (lateral thigh trainer)
all this daily!

But today I will do some more packing and finish off my website for the charity events this year. (yes I have recently done a web design course - so am putting it to good use) so hopefully it should be live by tomorrow or wednesday.

hopefully we will all get what we want this year - for me one of the things is going to be a healthy, fitter me!