Well that f*cking sucked

W1R3 was disaster.

Actually the run was great; faster, feet worked better. It was quite warm though. Anyway, runs done and into cool-down walk, I started to get a seizure warning. I had my first seizure in 2003. I got medicated, and had a 6 year gap until October last year. I tried c25k then, and had a seizure part way through W1R3. I never repeated it. So I was anxious for this attempt, but after 2 straightforward sessions I figured I was good.

Apparently not. Luckily Hubby comes with me just incase, so he did a stellar job of taking care of me. I'm ok, scraped knuckles are the only injury. Physically at least.

I'm sad, angry and disappointed. It's a bloody nuisance condition. Apparently it's uncommon for people with a seizure disorder to be triggered by exercise. I'm just lucky I guess(!)

Most likely it was due to eating/drinking/very little sleep, so those are all factors to address. I don't want to give up!

We ended up skipping Parkrun which I'm gutted about. Ah well, maybe next week.

Fitspo?

I can honestly say til today I had never heard of Fitspo (fit inspiration). I am a bit of a social media addict, but somehow it's slipped past me. However, I came across this article http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/5574150?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063 that opened my eyes.

Actually, I probably wouldn't have bothered if I hadn't seen lots of "I hate hearing people boast about their running/gym/exercise sessions just to rub it in other people's faces" comments. As if the people boasting about their jobs, house renovations and holidays AREN'T rubbing it in people's faces, it's only those who are choosing to participate in physical activity who are smug bastards. Yup, I currently talk about c25k ALOT. But do I do it to shame those who aren't active? Hell no. Your arse, your business! Wanna sit on it? Fine by me, it doesn't affect my body at all. I don't think about whether that makes you lazy or too cool for exercise, I'm too busy thinking about changing what I want to chance about MY body and lifestyle!

So, I went to look up Fitspo. The sheer fact that I was immediately bombarded with reasons why Fitspo wasn't Thinspo, the age-old encourager of eating disorders, didn't bode well. It seems to be a varying scale from encouraging "You don't have to go fast, you just have to go" slogans (which I like) to pics of very very slim and toned women with text about not eating cake if you want to be thin, and similar implications that you need to have these "perfect" bodies to be healthy.

And that for me is the rub, because there are a lot of medically healthy people who AREN'T slim and toned. There are lots who workout bloody hard, and are in great shape, even if that shape isn't this media/Fitspo ideal. For example, Julie from www.toofattorun.co.uk doesn't fall into what fitspo seems to be recommending, but I'd bet there are plenty of women who are the "correct" size and shape who couldn't run like she does.

Health and beauty aren't the same, and just being what modern society deems attractive doesn't mean someone is healthy, and vice versa. Unfortunately, Fitspo, as with everything on the internet, can be taken to extremes and be hurtful. You don't have to be perfect. You don't have to be healthy if you don't want to, though tbh it's worth considering for the sake of a long, hopefully (medically at least) easy life.

I want to get healthy and be around as long as possible. I like helpful motivation, everyone deserves a "You got this!" to cheer them along. Channeled for good, Fitspo could be a great motivator for some people, people like me included. But I know my own mind enough not to be subtly bullied by images of bodies I neither want nor will have. I don't want a thigh gap, or a bikini bridge, or whatever the new thing is this week!

In this day and age of media and peer pressure, I'm not so sure Fitspo gives the right message to teens/young women. Its hard enough growing up anyway without being told that not only can you not be fat, you also cant be skinny unless you're toned. No doubt the margins of acceptability for our wonderful, varied bodies will become even tighter as the media, body snark and the competitiveness between women to be superior continues to increase.

Fitspo as it appears to me is just part of a wider problem: that we can't be happy with who we are so drag each other down to compensate. And that is a big problem.

Just my two cents.

SW week 13 :D

I've finally done it this week, I've achieved my 1.5st award! That's 21lb off in 13wks so just over 1.6lb a week :) I'm really happy with this as I'm starting to get towards some milestones:
**   1 more off will take me to the lowest weight I've been since 1999
**   1.5 more off will take my BMI from "obese" to "overweight". I've only been "overweight" for about two months in the last 15 years (since I was 15/16).
**   7.5 off will take me to my half way point.
So lots to look forward to.

I actually lost 2lb this week and got Slimmer Of The Week :D This is my second one and was utterly unexpected, but I'm really pleased.

We voted for Woman Of The Year tonight. It was bloody hard as there's lots of ladies in my group who inspire me, and I'd love to have had a chance to write something nice about each of them. I did get chance to talk about c25k, my current passion, which was good too.

I've even reined in the Tuesday evening off plan as I want to see another fab loss next week.

A brief review

Not where I review briefs ha ha!

I was after some running bottoms as sharing with hubby makes it harder for him to run two days in a row. After a cursory glance to eBay for bargains, which I didn't really find, I remembered seeing some workout gear in Primark back along. As it turns out, they had a small corner dedicated to gym kit. I opted for plain black Capri leggings/tights for £7 :D I was tempted by the shorts for £5 in the same design but I don't think I'm quite there mentally yet. They also had t-shirts for £6, jackets for £12 and some bras. After finding my lovely Nike dri-fit for £3.95 in brand new condition in a local charity shop, I didn't stop to check prices on the Primark version!

They fit fab in the 14 :o shocked as I was an 18-20 before slimming world in April. They don't feel any different than Hubby's Karrimors but are much more flattering on my shape. They also have the nifty pocket at the back. Such a bargain! I'd definitely buy again.

Inspirations

I have a few current inspirations

My hubby: He's recently completed couch to 5k and had been totally inactive before. His determination and improvement inspire me hugely. I am very lucky to have him coach me and support me.

My friend R: After a back injury left her paralysed for a spell, she's fought damn hard to regain her mobility and freedom. She also juggles two kids and self-employment. Where I'd have been sulking and feeling sorry for myself, she's pulled on her big girl pants and got the f*ck on with it. She is so much stronger than I could ever be, and thinking of her always motivates me to put my big girl pants on too. Life's too short to wallow.

My friend L: She loves her fitness and has recently qualified as a cross-fit instructor. She's my go-to when I need any advice because I know she knows her stuff. She's a great support and guide. She inspires me with her passion and knowledge.

Julie from www.toofattorun.co.uk: Her success and passion for promoting running for plus sizers is inspiring. There is a lot of great info there as well as on her blog The Fat Girl's guide to running that helps me along :)

WeightLossBitch: This lovely blogger inspires me to stick to SW and to keep going even when it seems too hard. She's hilarious and serious at the same time. Well worth a read.

My slimming world consultant: Kate is a great lady and is always ready to help me along my journey. She's a fab consultant and is never afraid to admit her own hurdles and drawbacks during her journey.

These people help me stay on track and focused, something everyone needs :)

Week 1 Run 2

After a great first session I was feeling excited for run 2. I'd done some kettlebell in between as I need half hour a week of strength exercise for my Gold Body Magic for Slimming World. The previous run and the squats had made my inner thighs feel a little sore and tight but I didn't think about it much til the first minute's run. It didn't feel great, and I was dubious. But I ploughed through, even going a little faster than on Friday. The last couple of runs were quite hard, and my legs definitely had had enough, but I was determined to complete it, which I did. The full outing (inc walking there and then home) was 3 mins faster than when we did W1R1.

I was pleased to have done it, and not hugely surprised it was harder because of my thighs. I did feel very flat footed and stompy by the end which I need to work on.

This was my last chance workout as tomorrow is weigh in. Even though c25k is usually 3 times a week, I'll only be doing Mon & Fri so that hubby can still run twice a week for himself to move up from 5 to 10k.

Wish me luck!

Couch to 5k

((A brief note, still on SW,19lb down))

I started c25k on Friday. This is my second attempt after last time the first run resulted in collapsing (possible seizure after 6 years of medication control) and going to A&E. I lost a lot of confidence that day, not just from a running/fitness standpoint, but generally. I was back at square one after six years, driving license gone (it was only a provisional though, I'm a hideous driver!), afraid to be out alone, medical alert tags...

So getting back on the horse with c25k has taken me 9 months. In that time my lovely hubby has indeed gone from couch to 5k. He's generously offered to be my coach/safety net, so I've accepted. We bought a dirt cheap 3 wheeler so our 2 year old boy can join us. Scheduling time around him is a big challenge as he's not a good sleeper, I don't have much evening freedom. Being able to take him has made it infinitely easier.

Off we went, and apart from a wheel falling off (wasn't clicked in enough) a fab time was had. It was warm and sunny, and our local trail is perfect for exercise. But the best bit was achieving it! I got through the run with no health problems at all. In half an hour the damage to my confidence was mostly undone. I felt bloody awesome! It was nowhere near as hard as I expected.

On we go!