Will o Wisp

So I did get my ass to the gym last night. It wasn't too busy, my workout was 20 mins of cardio and some light weightlifting. At the time I was tired and grumpy and it was raining. But afterwards I felt great, I'm going to look into my workout for next week as this week I'm off for a walk with my friends in the hill. Let's see what happens next.

So I used Nerd Fitness for a bit a few years ago but stopped after a while when Uni became all consuming. In that time I've put on more weight and my willpower has decreased, I've tried multiple times to lose weight but it's never stuck. I feel like a hamster stuck in a wheel, just going around and around, doing the same things and nothing working. Thinking back to when I had my largest and most stable weight loss, it was here, on Nerd Fitness. So I'm going to try again and I'm going to start now. I'm off to the gym in a few minutes, I've got a slight plan in my head not the best I know but if I spend any more time trying to figure out what I'm going to do I'll never leave my house and spend the rest of the night indoors, eating leftovers and watching Netflix. Over the coming days I'm going to up my game plan but for now I just need to open the door and start my new adventure. See you when I get back.

Right so I started my journey over a month ago after I had enough with my growing waist line and general fitness. I cut out all fizz drinks (which were a big problem), I started to go to the gym with a friend and managed to lose about 6lbs and a few inches of my waist in just over two weeks, but then life got in the way. I'm in my last year of uni so there's a lot of stress with coursework, I had a slight falling out with friend (it was a miscommunication) and I had a death in the family. All this stress hit in the same week and I broke. I forgot to eat one day and ended up drinking a fizz drink pick me up which was the beginning of the end. All my good habits went out the window and I started to tell myself I'll respawn next week but that never happened, until today. I basically decided to step on my scales, something I've been putting off and saw that I had lost a pound during my fall from grace. In that moment something clicked and I realized I can still fix this. So right now I've decided to cut all the fizz drinks out my life again, I felt so much better for it last time and I think that's were my weight loss can from and fix my current diet. I have quite a sensitive stomach and when I'm stressed it gets worse so for the pass week it's been very bloated and sometimes cramping when I eat the wrong things. I don't know if I will have time to hit the gym right now as I'm hitting crunch time for my uni deadlines but I'm planning to go once they are in. So here we go, again. Hopefully this time I can keep going for a bit longer and pick myself up a little bit sooner if I fall.

Week 12-18 One week down, was busy most nights so I forgot to update the log, oops, Also didn't go to the gym this week, double oops. But I went swimming - so points to me, Ended up doing 50 laps in 50mins, could have gone quicker but didn't want to push it. I hadn't gone swimming in a while so I took a few breaks every now and again. Still haven't had any sugary drinks so far, it seem to becoming slightly more difficult at times - when the cravings hit it's so difficult just to walk past. Taking into account that in my work space a lot of people seem to drink fizzy juice I've started to buy fruit juice or smoothies when I get a severe craving. I always check the sugar count first but it's been helpful when I'm stressed. This was weigh in day anyway so, Weight Loss 3lbs (12s 7lbs)My weight is still going down at a quick rate which I'm obviously happy with, still thinking that it's just sugar weight but that nothing to complain about. Slightly worried whats going to happen when it stops, I normally struggle to lose weight after 12st so I'm starting to create workout plans and looking up new recipes to get through it.

Sunday 11/10/15 So one week without any fizz juice, yay. I'm feeling a lot better for it, my skin is clearing up and my energy levels feel more stable. I weighted and measured myself today and I've lost 3lbs (weight is now 13st)2inches of my waist (now 33 inches)1 inch of my hips (43 inches)I'm really happy with that, slightly worried it just because its the first week and it's just water weight. This has been the biggest loss in inches I've had, which I'm putting down to mainly not going to grab a can of juice every time I'm thirsty. I think the next area that I want to think about now, seeing that I am feeling alright at the gym now is my diet. There are days that I am very good with what I'm eating, but there are also days that I am terrible - so that needs to be fixed. I'm going to make up a diet plan tonight for this week and sees how it goes.

Wednesday 07/10/15 Feeling a lot better in comparison to Tuesday, think I just needed have a proper sleep. Also the first day that I didn't crave sugary drinks which I didn't realize until now. Went for a half a hour walk to make up for not going swimming which included going up an extremely steep hill, which killed my calf muscles.

Tuesday 06/10/15 Really tired today, I think some of it is from not having the same levels of sugar as I normally have. On top of which I think the a game jam I attended over the weekend - with a lot of fizz juice which I'd rather not think about - and the gym yesterday really knocked me out. Napped for over 3 hours but feeling better now, still haven't had any sugary drinks keeping to the water, so on track.

Monday 5/10/15 ​So the beginning of the week, Sugar Free: Didn't drink any fizz juice today, it was tough though. I mainly drink during lunch and late at night, so I was having major cravings at these times, managed to work through it though by drinking a lot of water. Ended up going to the pictures with my friends to see the Martian, (it was really good) there was so much temptation. I had to almost run passed the popcorn and drinks instead of waiting for my friends. ​Exercise: Headed to the gym in the afternoon, didn't spend too much on cardio apart from warming up. I really hate cardio on machines, they always make me feel sick. So I spent most of the hour on strength, focusing on arms and legs - I need to work on my core more as I think that's my weakest area but I'll put all my effort on that on Thursday. Overall I think I had an alright day, I can't go swimming on Wednesday but as long as I go to the gym on Thursday I think I'll be fine.

So I've started this journey about a year ago and did alright for a bit but then my uni started up again. As such my health got put to onside without releasing it. This is my last year at uni and I would like to leave healthy for the next stage for my life. I also have a secondary goal of cosplaying at a local event next year as FemShep from Mass Effect, the main problem right now is that I'm not built like a space marine. How am I suppose to keep up with Turians and battle Geths if I can't even do a press up. Battle Plan: Halloween is this month so I'm aiming to try and lose some weight by then while also kicking some bad habits. Sugar Goals: I drink far too much fizz juice so my plan is to try and go for 30 days without drinking any. I've identified when I'm most likely to drink so hopefully I can break the habit. Exercise: I've started to go to the gym twice a week on Monday and either Thursday or Saturday, focusing on strength training. When possible I also go swimming on Wednesday. I'm also planning to keep a note of food and anything else that comes up. Hope this month goes well and I keep my battle log updated.

Sorry meant to update before now but I've been up in the Scottish Highlands visiting family and well the internet connection has never been good up there. Main Goal: Lose 4 lbs Haven't weighted myself planing on doing it tomorrow but I'm going to be too busy to update. I've got a sword tournament to watch before heading home for myself and my brother's birthday (no we are not twins my mother just has excellent timing). Go to the gym/swimming pool once a week Haven't been up to the gym the past week but I've been walking up and down hills for most of it and I've been running when given the chance (I say running it was more like a jog) Increase Flexibility I can now pretty easily touch my toes and securely clasp my hands behind my back. Not sure how close I am to getting my toes to touch the back of my head, although I swear I felt them brush my hair the other day. Don’t buy sweets/crisps and limit fizz drinks to one can per day Haven't touched any fizzy drinks this week and only had two small desserts (which were both fruit based, so no chocolate) when I was with family so all good on that front. Operation Clean, Furnish and Repair So finally got into my own place it was a bit of a state when I moved in since the previous tenets only left the night before but I spent a good three days cleaning it before I left for the north. As for furnishing haven't really gotten round to it apart from a few blankets that i got from family, going home for my birthday however so I'm planning to grab some items while I'm there to bring back up. Still got a list of things to fix however including a cupboard, the vacuum cleaner, the toilet and I need to repaint the walls since someone went a bit wild with the blue tack and pins in my room. Overall I properly should have done better the past few weeks however since returning home from the highlands I have noticed a change in my outlook when it comes to food and exercise. I pick up healthy food without thinking about it, the sweet aisles might as well be invisible to me and just little things like walking long distances or going up several staircases are now easier. I'm not overly sure how much healthier I've become since starting this journey but I know mentally I've gotten better and I think that will help me when I'm approaching the next challenge I put in front of myself. Again thanks for the support and I hope everyone is doing well in their own challenges and life

So I've moved into my flat and the internet is working as is the gas and electricity. Achievement Unlocked: Life Goals (yay ). Haven't really had time to think about diet or exercise but moving everything up and down those stairs might qualify as a workout. However since I'm only half way through is challenge I'm planning to add an extra section onto the life goal which is Clean and Fix. As the previous tenets only left the night before and the place is grimy, I know the batcave or any dark hideout is used to a few cobwebs but this is more than a few, I've already gotten some clean products and I'm getting some help so as soon as that is done I can get on to decorating and unpacking.

Good Luck, I'm exactly the same when it comes to strength, to the point that I've become the butt of everyone's jokes in my family. You've got some great goals for you to work towards and I hope everything goes well.

Main Goal: Lose 4 lbs So I've lost a pound so I must doing something right, I probably would have lost more if it wasn't for those baked goodies. I'm happy though and I just feel better, I don't feel as bloated anymore and I'm not hungry all the time. Go to the gym/swimming pool once a week Went to the gym on Sat for a 45 mins for cardio and my arm workout. Came home and did my leg and core workout partly because there was a group of people in from the mirror and I'm still working on my bodyweight squats before I start using a bar. I'm still trying to workout what I can do and how to get the best of my workout but I now have a baseline that I can work on. Increase Flexibility Still stretching away and still able to touch my toes the biggest increase I've noticed is my flexibility in my back and shoulders. I'm not able to hit my flexibility goals with them yet but just overall I'm not noticing as much ache in them any more and just general movement has improved as well thanks to the stretches I'm doing. Don’t buy sweets/crisps and limit fizz drinks to one can per day Haven't eaten any sweets or crisps this week at all and I've drank about a 1/4 of fizzy drinks that I allowed myself, instead I've been eating loads of fruit. The main fizzy drink that I used to drink was Irn Bru which is a bright amber orange colour that practically glows in the dark, now every time that I have a craving a drink I've been eating oranges and now I've noticed that I'm craving oranges a lot now. Sort out utilities and pack all belongs in advance of move I'm moving out this week so I've been cleaning and packing all this weekend. Can't wait to move out and make it my own batcave. So this week has been alright, just mainly working out the final details for the move and I'm currently trying to make a meal plan for the next few weeks as I'm emptying my fridge and doing a large shop this week. Hopefully this week will go well, also planning to go to the gym twice this week instead of once. Hope everything is going well for you guys and that you're all keeping on top of you're goals.

So this week turned out a lot busier than I planned, I've had one birthday party, two leaving parties, one Game of Thrones night, a Midsummer barbecue and the family came to visit. The plan did go out the window to an extend while I was running around but I don't think it was a complete loss. Main Goal: Lose 4 lbs I haven't checked my weight this week, will most likely do it once this week is done. I used to have the problem of stepping on the scales almost everyday which didn't help at all and neither did checking once a week. So I've moved it to once a fortnight. Go to the gym/swimming pool once a week I did go to the gym in the beginning of the week but have't been again. Something seemed to pop up every time, although I've tried to make up for it by walking everywhere and taking the longer routes home. Increase Flexibility The ability to touch my toes has been achieved (although only after stretching for a good 10 mins). This is the one task that I've been able to keep to quite well, the amount of time spent on stretching has varied but I have done some every night. I no longer have any issues with my wrists or feet anymore since I began stretching them every night which is lovely. Don’t buy sweets/crisps and limit fizz drinks to one can per day Kind of cheated on this one, I didn't buy any sweets or crisps this week however going to so many parties did bring up my Achilles heel - home baking. In comparison to how much baking was presented to me over the week I didn't eat that much but I still feel annoyed at myself for what I did eat. As for fizz drinks I've drank less than what I had planned for, swapping them for water, fruit juice and smoothies, also I never kept it in the house so if I wanted a drink I would of had to walk for 20 mins to get a can. Sort out utilities and pack all belongs in advance of move I sorted out all of my utilities this week and packed about half of my belongings. I'm planning to check in with my landlord this week to make sure everything is alright and to see if I've missed anything. Overall kind of a mixed week, I'm happy that I can now touch my toes again but my diet took a bit of a hit with what was happening this week, hopefully this week will be clearer and will allow me to refocus on my goal. Also planning to update more often this week because I do think it helps a lot. Thanks for the support.

So today is actually going quite well, firstly went for the weekly shop and didn't even look at the sweets or crisp. I only got real food and also swapped my normal milk for the almond type because why not, it wasn't until I was on my way home that I realize I hadn't even bought any fizz juice so haven't had any of that today. Also been to the gym, only stayed for 45 mins and tried to make the best of it. Today was also the first time I ventured into the free weights part of the gym only to discover no one was there, everybody else in the gym was working on the machines and I had the entire section to myself (although I don't think my arms are too happy about it at the moment). So overall a good start, I'm just going to stretch for a bit and I would like to thank everyone who has commented so far it does mean a lot, hopefully I can keep this going and not slip up.