Angelyn

Hey all!apologies for going super quiet. Here is an update. Basically I've officially got back on the horse! Unfortunately we are implementing a new software system at work and our go live date is march. So this past week I've done 2 eleven hour shifts and spent the whole of sunday at work..not to mention I will be there again this sunday. I'm sure there will be plenty more to come!! Time is scarce for me at the moment and I'm spending 11 hours working on a computer.Needless to say I haven't wanted to turn my computer on when I get home, so apologies for being super quiet. On the plus side I am now in a habit of never taking the lift.YAY!!!So I'm giving myself an A there. My bf has bought a new iron drink and I get him to remind me to take mine....so I'm giving myself a B.. I didn't quite stick to my 3 workouts a week but I think I gave it a good go so I'm giving myself a B.. At the moment my priorities are trying to de stress after work since I find it reallly hard to turn my brain off and trying to fit exercise in where I can:) I don't want to lose all my progress. I probably won't be able to do another quest until after march but I may create a daily battle log and put a weekly update in there. I know its poor but I'm really short on time:( Just want to say thank you to alll of you for checking in on my quest, all the encouraging words and great pics!! Congratulations to us all for doing our first quest..I'll be sure to try and follow your progress:)

Oh Strudi I'm so sorry! That is horrible news..I can't believe someone would do something like that. I'm glad she has that lawyer friend atleast..is there any way she could stay with that friend for a while until she gets help? I wish that all countries in the world would adopt an NHS like England. I'm originally from South Africa. Today I'm sending my younger sister (who still lives there) money to go to the doctors and buy medicine. She's coughing up blood so I suspect she has pneumonia again. When I lived there it cost a weeks worth of wages for antibiotics plus whatever you had to pay to actually see the doctor.You can buy medical insurance over there but it cost more than I used to earn in a month and long term conditions were excluded from the policy. I can remember having pneumonia and being turned away from the nearest hospital because I didn't have a grand to pay them.(Weak chests run in my family) Luckily I knew a nurse there and she snuck me in to see the doctor. I still had to pay the normal rates though but the doctor said I actually was so ill I needed hospitalization. He helped as much as he could though. I know this may not be ethical, but once I was ill and needed to go to the doctor. My friends mum took me and pretended I was her daughter. They had medical insurance so I was able to get treated. Is there anyway your friend could do that? Hopefully no one will criticize this but I will just say: What would you do if it was you or your children that needed urgent medical attention...You would do absolutely anything and everything you can. I'm sending you and your friend a big hug.

Heheheh yes, if there weren't 5 flights I wouldn't take them lol..We have 24 steps between levels and I'm on level 5..I think level 3 would be nice, cos then I won't get to the top huffing and puffing.. And yes I'm sure it all helps to a super hot booty!!Maybe it's what Beyonce's secret is!!

Ohh noo I fear I may have mislead you all..Er in our studio there are two moves they call neck hang( imaginitive I know). Here is the one I can do: and here is the one that I wish I could do:

Another update: Well this week I've only done 2 workouts...(I skipped cardio hahahhahha). I won't count those 4 minute tabata things I did as a warm up.I suppose two workouts a week is better than none. Yesterday aerial was brutal though! We worked on putting moves together on hoop. I did in sequence: Straddle Mount on Back leg on/front leg off extension Stand on hoop and arch Double Knee hang on top hoop Split from double knee hang at top Arch over from splits into "fang" position at top Neck hang Swing legs back on for mermaid pull one leg off and behind head Put legs back on to do backstar Birdsnest Single knee hang Finish with pike off On Silks we did climbing, hip locks,that crossback crucifix that totally knackers you out and a move that follows on from it. I couldn't do the follow on move because I was soooo tired!!I was jelly! No trapeze yesterday. Iron intake..erm I may have been forgetting to take the iron pills so I need to work on that again Stairs going well. I've now done 2808 stairs since start of quest. Not bad going for one month

Wow thanks for posting that!! That video is amazing.I would also like to do all those things. I loved the one with the two women doing a roll on the pullup bar. Post more if you find any

Wow you have got to post pics when you go to that party. I think a girl Bane would look awesome. I'm going to a Dr Who party in November.( I'll be going as Jenny Flint, a Victorian butt-kicker )

Beesknees that thing is awwwwwwwwwwesome!! Thank you for posting!! I shall be practicing..woo! *rushes off to try out acrobatics*

Ahh Aishine, I'm so glad the chiropracter helped Woo!! I love what you said about feeling smaller-I think that makes all the difference really, despite what the scales say is how you feel about your body. When you said "but my body has been so dependable and strong my whole life! I an grateful for my body, and I want to stop judging it based on fat percentage" I was so pleased!Afterall like I keep telling a few people, you only get one health in this life!Sounds like this quest has maybe changed the way you are thinking of your body. Heheheh Carbicide, well I can't take credit for that term.Someone at work heard what I ate in one go and came up with the term but I think its perfect. Well done on your quest, I'll be sure to follow your next ones.Ummm..send me a message when you start your new one as I don't want to miss it!

Well done for going to that gym class..I know they can be intimidating if you'v never done one before. Glad bf's knee is better and hope he didn't fall down again I would highly recommend taking measurements. The scale may stay the same ish or you may weigh even more if you are replacing fat with muscle, but when you measure you will have inches lost. A long time ago when I went to a gym, they measured you as you started off and it turned out that my right arm is like an inch bigger than the left one Apparently that's because I'm right handed (armed?)..So if nothing else you will atleast find out that yes, your left arm is weak as kittens lol

HahahAh!!!!yes I wondered the same thing...Hatter Ithink you may need to post a pic to drop our feet touching our foreheads inappropriately!!hehe

Yay!!glad to see you are keeping positive!I love the poser pictures!!Hehehe "swag "...I think you are super brave to post them..ps I don't think your arms look bad..but I know we can see ourselves different to how other people do....The protein powder I use is called Phd diet whey..its vegetarian so no slaughterhouse stuff..eeeuuuw!!!!if you do try it the chocolate flavour is good..I like to use my hand blender and blend protein powder with raspberries..mm chocolate raspberry doesn't taste like health food shake!!!

Haha yes i get spoon betrayal often..I also get carrot betrayal...when you are chopping it and bits shoot off into space or hit you in the face... Never seen a man doing any pole/aerial in real life...although I did once see a man do some trapeze on an open evening..

Aw you poor thing!!that sounds really painful...I hope you feel better soon

Hardly a noob...running a 10k- wow that is so awesome!!!

Omg hatter I am soooo jealous!!!Literally green with envy..Tell him he has fans in UK..also I'll try that tip about hands and feet lol..I find it hard enough knowing where my limbs are normally..never mind in strange positions!!

Ok I just found another amazing youtube video to try out..Erm sorry to anyone who isn't a woman..I think there is a male version floating about(go check it out and feel your jaw drop) but I was very excited to see a(more acheivable) female version.

Today's been a good day. I warmed up using 8 minutes of tabata training.I did most of the core stuff in that video called "Keskartalovoima2011" that I posted earlier. I have no idea what any of the moves are called and the video is in another language!!If anyone can translate it that would be great Admittedly I didn't go half as fast as she did in the video or lift my arms and legs as high..I can dream though!And here it is: Lying on back: lift both arms 10 lift both legs 10 lift all arms and legs 10 hollow body 10 count roll knees to side(can't do straight leg) plank?er..it's like a plank on your elbows with butt off the floor 10 swing legs each side(one at a time, can't do both together) 10 mini leg lift( again...can't do both) 10 high leg lifts( not both at same time) Lying on front Lift both arms 10 Lift both legs 10 lift all arms and legs 10 hold in that position 10 count 10 sets of (lift opposing arm and leg each side and then both arms and legs together) 10 crunches in windscreen wiper motion 10 swinging legs in windscreen wiper motion 10 roll knees to side Lying on side 10 lift both arms 10 lift both legs 10 lift all arms and legs 5 side plank raise and lower on each side And thanks to Mad Hatter I've got a foam roller and also did: 10 little rolls 10 big rolls Hip flexor stretch on roller Thoracic area stretch on roller Chest stretch on roller Did some stretching lunges Practiced Headstand against wall, focusing on bending knees in to chest and lifting with core Practiced Bridge..not quite sure how to walk around in it yet but giving it a go! Tried backbend walking down wall..At this point I nearly hyperventilated..I used to be able to practice them this way no problem..ever since I broke my nose though I get really really nervous when something is so close to my face. I then went onto YogaJournal.com and tried the crane pose..laughable effort here.I also tried the firefly pose and it turns out that I can do it!!Woo!!I don't think it requires as much arm strength as it looks like it does..so if you can get to that point where your hands are near your feet then you are nearly there!Here is the vid..I'll get bf to take a picture when I can hold it a bit longer. (That is officially my new Zen smiley) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgxtWOz_2FI

Hmmm...I bought a pair of "oasics" brand trainers..I'm not sure if you have a sports direct near you but I got mine for like £30 instead of £80..Might be worth a try..I get all my sporty stuff from them..Also I would take the advice with a pinch of salt..maybe the lady was hoping for a sale? I think there's like three types of running shoes..er..neutral ones, ones for people who over pronate... rather than listen to me who is no expert..this article explains: http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/shoes/choosing-a-shoe-the-very-basics/481.html Sooo if the lady in the shop said for example that you need a shoe to stop you from over pronating, you may be able to find a shoe that does that but doesn't cost the earth! On a side note..DOMS always hits me 2 days after..I find the only way to get rid of it is to exercise again..

Keep it up!! Sounds like you are doing well..Soon you will be a blood drinking,demon beating, river running debt free orc At that point I wouldn't want to mess with you!!

Hatter, I've bought a foam roller..It was only a tenner from Argos..I would like to join the foam roller revolution. I tried some of those exercises you recommended and wow..If anyone has ever seen that episode of futurama where Professor Farnsworth gets a massage..that is how I feel...It is amazing!! I'm so sorry about what happened..I would have stopped too..the bastards!!

Aww!!don't get despondent..I got really down when I hurt my back earlier this year..I couldn't turn over in bed without help,I couldn't be in a sitting position...and even trying to walk round it would just give way. I thought "OMG I'll never get back to aerial".I also developed a new found respect for elderly people who struggle with mobility..Just give your body whatever rest it needs and think about how you are going to kick ass when you start again It will come! And with the food;it sounds like you are taking good lessons out of it anyway, even if you can't go full paleo..It's like when I was vegan I found all these new foods..quinoa/tofu/buckwheat..even though I'm not vegan anymore, I still eat those foods ...After looking at paleo stuff I'm going to incorporate more nuts and seeds in my diet.. Chin up!PS...I love the term "sucks pumpkins"!

Hah yes..the flapjack doesn't taste like health food at all! Also, I was inspired by the list of exercises Mad Hatter recommended and I found this awesome video for core work:

I think you've described perfectly how I injured my back this year!!Since I went back to aerial after that I've had to be so aware of where my body is in space(not easy for me). Thank you for taking the time to post those exercises for me. I think they will help a lot!!Note to self-buy foam roller!I think your sentence on using muscle strength instead of collapsing the back is especially applicable to me.I'll be trying out these exercises..Maybe see if I can get bf to take pics of progress Yoga-yes I tried two different classes...there was altogether too much breathing for me(Too many things to concentrate on) and it seems like yoga is a whole extra discipline on its own and I don't have the time to dedicate to it. But I will defo have a look at that yogajournal and start working towards some poses. (Hope there's no yoga experts shaking their heads at this )

I've made some awesome food today.Here is a peanut butter/berry flapjack thingy: And here is the pesto from Thug Kitchen(Atlhough mine has cheese in as well)