Fitness update 2

These last two weeks I have started to go jogging with a friend despite the fact I was convinced I hated running, but I thought I would give it a shot as I have heard you will eventually love doing it.  I always question my decision to go running(during the run lol), but that feeling after you have completed the run and pushed yourself makes it worthwhile. It's a great way to set targets and push yourself. So far my friend and I have been running just under 4km and each run we try and set  a target such as running faster and taking fewer walking breaks. Our first aim is to be able to run 5km straight at an average (or below?) time! Hopefully we keep this up, it's getting very cold here! x

Back to Uni! New Challenge

I've been back to uni-year 2 for two weeks now. Recently I have been thinking about ways to make the most of my time at university, as during the summer I had so much free time to do what I wanted and also my amazing trip to China! I have come up with a little challenge. The aim is to plan an activity/day or night out once a week and to do something different/I have never done every fortnight. Hopefully this will stop me wishing more exciting times and events came sooner such as my birthday, Christmas, holidays etc and get me focusing on enjoying the present. The aim is to use this blog to help me keep track!

Get Fit With Me: 30 day fitness challenge

As I am trying to create lifestyle of healthy eating and regular exercise, I decided to start of with a 30 day fitness challenge, which has ended today! I'm going to take my measurements once a month to track my progress through this journey.

My exercise routine for my fitness challenge has been a combo of workout DVDs: Jillian Michael's 30 day Shred and Turbo Fire. I think I will do a review of the 30 day shred, Turbo fire is a fun but very intense cardio workout programme

Overall, I would say I have found it very hard to eat healthy, I just can't seem to resist all the foods I should be trying to give up, in particular fast food! I've worked out that I've had more 'bad' days (where I have not been clean eating) than 'good' days this past month. I've tried to get into a routine of eating clean everyday except one day a week-my cheat day.. That way I won't be depriving myself of anything that I am craving to eat but also to discipline myself to make better daily decisions.

However, I have to focus on the positives! So I've made a list..

• Even though I haven't eaten great this month, that's still a big improvement for me when I compare this month to every month this year!
• I have been exercising 6 days a week, motivating myself to work out in the mornings was hard at first, but I have definitely got into the routine of things and I am now starting to enjoy it :)
• I haven't given up...I normally do!

I still have a long way to go! Join me on my journey to a healthy lifestyle!

06/07/2013 (Before 30 Day fitness challenge)

Waist: 29.4 inches (29.1)

Thigh: 22.2 inches

Arm:10.6 inches

Hip: 32.6

09/08/2013 (After 30 Day fitness challenge)

Waist:29.3
Thigh: 21.4
Arm:10.6
Hip:32.6

In Need for a Healthier Lifestyle

For the past two years on and off , I have tried different ways to lose weight, tone up and get healthy. I haven't ever been successful and give up for many reasons. But I'm noticing physically and mentally how much it affects me if I eat rubbish and don't exercise. So I've decided its time to change my lifestyle. Instead of looking for quick fixes, I'm going to make this a lifestyle change. This means exercising regularly and (for me, the most difficult) eating healthy. Eating healthy has always been the challenge but I'm determined to make and maintain  this transition to a healthier lifestyle x

I'm going to China!

Ahhhhhhh. I've finally got something to do this summer! During the Easter holiday, I applied to a programme called the Study China Programme. It's basically a 3 week trip to a host university in China. You stay at the university and have lectures on the history, culture and politics and I also get to learn Mandarin! We get the evenings and weekends off to explore china ourselves and some trips have been organised for us. I'm so happy I've got accepted on to this, I really wanted to make the most of a 3 month summer holiday! Accommodation and food is provided for free, so I just have to pay for flights :). I'm still in shock to be honest, hopefully this will be a great experience.

MAC Lipstick-Ruby Woo

MAC- Ruby Woo

I love this colour! I've seen a lot of positive reviews for this so thought I should try it for myself.It is probably the only red lipstick I have bought and really loved! I'm not a big fan of shiny red  lipstick, so I like the fact that this Lipstick is Matte. I would definitely recommend this to anyone that likes bold colours but not too bold!

January Wishlist

1. Asos-£12.99
2.MAC, Ruby Woo- £14.99
3. Topshop, Gold metallic trousers-£36.00
4. Asos-£10.00
5.Asos-£55.00

OOTD

Back to Uni
Denim Shirt-Primark
Jacket/Coat-Primark
Scarf-H&M
Maxi skirt-Topshop

Goodbye 2012...

So, 2012? It has been a year of of big decisions, mainly revolving around university; did I want to go to uni?What course would I study? For me, it was like the first major step in deciding what I wanted to do for basically the rest of my life. I look back now and I realise that it's okay to change my mind but it's good I put a lot of thought into it!  Like many, the grades I got in my ALevel exams determined whether I went to university or not (no pressure) which meant due to work(school) and exams, a large period of my year was quite stressful. But, it has also been a year of new experiences, the biggest being that I started my first year of university and my first holiday with friends. So there have been great moments in my year too!

As I go through my Facebook looking for photos to upload to this post, it seemed my life was pretty much non-existent from January to June ha. Life for me was a pretty, standard and boring routine: Wake up, School, Home, Homework, Bed.  So, fast forwarding to May/June, I took my final set of exams..and the stress of it was finally over (well kinda, I still had to wait for my results). June 28th came along and I was FREEE!! 

I have put together a small photo timeline showing the highlights of the rest of my year...

This was the very last day at school. Surprisingly, I wasn't as sad as I thought I would be. It felt like the goodbye to this 'chapter' in my life was overdue and even though I would miss seeing my friends everyday, classmates and school of 7 years, it was time to move on. Hopefully, the people I cared about most would be in this next chapter, which was comforting :)

My school leaving prom. 

At the airport for a much needed holiday to Turkey!

Dinner at a Turkish restaurant.

Boat trip.

Hotel

My summer holiday was basically spent relaxing, playing tennis, enjoying my free time with family and friends and then results day came. Hard work had paid off and I got the grades to go to university!

Week 1

Bonfire Night

This year has had its ups and downs, but I'm thankful for all the experience it has given me. Good bye 2012!
Marian x