Ellestar commits to consistency

[Ellestar]

Hello all,

 

I'm Laura (Ellestar) and I've given this a go a few times before but always seem to relapse into unhealthy habits. I found NERD fitness a few years ago and have followed on and off since. My nerdy interests include Lord of the Rings, various YA fantasy and I'm a trained librarian.

 

I'm turning 40 in April and have decided that it's now or never! I want to be fit in my 40s. Also I have booked a trip to hike Kilimanjaro in July/Aug this year and I need to be fit for that.

I have OK residual fitness from general everyday activity and past years of exercise, however in the last 2 years my eating and exercising have suffered so I need to get back to a good routine and a good fitness level, as well as losing a fair bit of weight.

 

Big Picture Goal (Main Quest)

To be fit for Kilimanjaro

To lose 30+ kilos and have a healthy BMI

 

S.M.A.R.T goals

Keep my diet healthy - no chocolates/sweets/alcohol

Gym/Swim minimum 3 times a week

Yoga with Adrienne - Dedicate - every day

Hill walk at least once a week

 

I am ready to do this!

[Craftyviking]

I like those goals. Kilimanjaro is so cool, I'd love to go sometime. 

[Ellestar]

Thanks!! Yeah I decided to treat myself for the year  turn 40 and this seemed like an epic yet achievable challenge.

All the best to you too.

[JessFit]

Ahhhh, thats such a cool reason to reach for these goals. I can't wait to see you smash your goals this challenge. 

[Ellestar]

Thanks 

[Little Miss Camouflage]

You will *love* Kilimanjaro. What a brilliant motivation. Good luck :-)

[RES]

Welcome to the rebellion! and to your 40's, it's been my best decade so far! (of course I turn 50 this year so that may change  )

I love this goal! Good luck!

[Ellestar]

Went to a Barre class at the gym tonight. Ballet style exercises - it was tougher than I expected but really good! 

I've done my yoga every day so far and my eating has been on point! 

Feeling positive! 

[Ellestar]

@Craftyviking

Thanks! I hope you make it there one day too! 

@JessFit Thank you! I'm definitely ready to smash it! 

@Little Miss Camouflage Have you been? I'm very excited 

@RES Thank you! I'm hoping my 40s will be the best too! 

[Little Miss Camouflage]

Yes, a bit randomly several years ago, my OH & I got the chance to go at fairly short notice so I'd a month to train up. I spend a lot of lunch hours tramping up and down the stairs at work and that seemed to do the trick.

 

Summiting was a brilliant experience. Sadly the weather wasn't kind to us to we only got a brief glimpse of the stunning views between clouds. But it was great.

 

 

[BardicGarlic]

Wow, exciting main goal! Good luck. 

[Craftyviking]

Yeah it looks like a very cool area to travel to. How are you finding the yoga challenge. I am thinking about doing some yoga for my next one

 

[Ellestar]

@Little Miss Camouflage - AMAZING!! I may well pick your brains in months to come about kit etc. Sounds like your training worked well though. So exciting that you've done it! I'm planning on walking up Arthur's Seat at least once a week, unless I can get to hills further afield.

 

@BardicGarlic  Thank you! All the best with your too!

 

@Craftyviking I'm loving the Yoga. I did Yoga with Adrienne TRUE Yoga challenge in January last year and absolutely love it. I meant to continue but kind of fell off the wagon. So this year I've committed to the 30 day DEDICATE challenge this January and it's just as good as I remember. The videos are from 15 - 40 mins and I like her style. It's not too "yoga bunny" but very realistic and encourages you to just do what you able and comfortable with. Have a look and see what you think

[Craftyviking]

@Ellestar That is so great to hear. I have a bit of a weird mental thing about yoga. I feel so clumsy and extra fat with my belly in the way. But it is funny because in my training with the the local mma group we do some yoga stretches once a week (not a full on yoga session but some stretches) and people tell me I am flexible. But I don't feel that way normally

 

[Ellestar]

On 1/9/2019 at 10:30 AM, Ellestar said:

Hello all,

 

I'm Laura (Ellestar) and I've given this a go a few times before but always seem to relapse into unhealthy habits. I found NERD fitness a few years ago and have followed on and off since. My nerdy interests include Lord of the Rings, various YA fantasy and I'm a trained librarian.

 

I'm turning 40 in April and have decided that it's now or never! I want to be fit in my 40s. Also I have booked a trip to hike Kilimanjaro in July/Aug this year and I need to be fit for that.

I have OK residual fitness from general everyday activity and past years of exercise, however in the last 2 years my eating and exercising have suffered so I need to get back to a good routine and a good fitness level, as well as losing a fair bit of weight.

 

Big Picture Goal (Main Quest)

To be fit for Kilimanjaro

To lose 30+ kilos and have a healthy BMI

 

S.M.A.R.T goals

Keep my diet healthy - no chocolates/sweets/alcohol

Gym/Swim minimum 3 times a week

Yoga with Adrienne - Dedicate - every day

Hill walk at least once a week

 

I am ready to do this!

 

Just tracking so far.

My Week in Mon - Sunday (I know some US friends start theirs on Sun)

 

So far I have:

• Nailed my diet - no chocolates, sweets or alcohol and lots of veg and lean protein. Cooked all meals at home and brought my lunches in to work.
• Gym on Wed for Barre class and booked Sat for Pump and Sun for Yoga
• YWA - missed Mon but did Mon and Tue sessions on Tue to "catch up". AM on track with all Dedicate sessions so far.
• Planning a walk up Arthurs seat sometime on Sat (or Sun morning if weather is better then)

Feeling good so far. Have a what's app group with some friends who also want to eat healthily.

 

So far, so good!

[Little Miss Camouflage]

What a great start. May I suggest... if you're doing a Pump class on Saturday (doesn't sound like a class you can coast?!), maybe save Arthur's Seat for Sunday? The forecast suggests the wind might be a wee bit stronger but I'm sure you've got a good bunnet? Might be nice to stretch your legs the next day after your pump? Arthur's Seat will be great training for you. I'm sure you know but Kili is just a long trek. It might depend on your route, but ours only had a tiny wee section of scrambling up some rocks. The rest was all about putting one foot in front of the other. Again and again and again. Up and down the Seat will build those muscles a treat :-)

 

 

[Ellestar]

@Little Miss Camouflage

Yeah I decided to wait until tomorrow for Arthur's seat. Pump was good.

Hope the weather holds for tomorrow. 

I've read quite a few blogs about Kili so hoping building endurance will be the way forward. 

[Little Miss Camouflage]

It's pretty blustery here now, but nothing too major. Just don't go too close to the edge of AS!

 

You're definitely right about endurance. If you can walk, you can make it to the summit. Not sure how you prepare for this but maybe have a thought about the mental side too? I didn't get altitude sickness but I lost my appetite completely. It's hard to keep going and to force food down coz you know you need the energy but you can't face eating. Even just being prepared for this as a possibility might help. I knew about the altitude sickness risk but hadn't thought about loss of appetite. In saying that, lots of people were just fine too :-) I'm the sort of person who likes to think about *all* the possibilities in advance so I don't get surprised.

 

Do you use hiking poles when you walk?

 

[Ellestar]

Checking in after week 1

 

I did 2 gym classes - Barre and Pump 

My diet has been good - sticking to my rules. 

Walked up Arthur's Seat this morning. 

 

Reflection:

I'd like to get some morning gym sessions in as my evenings are busy and I'd like to get into the habit of getting up earlier. 

Yoga with Adrienne is going well. Doing it every day and loving it. 

Made it a priority to walk up Arthur's Seat this morning, so glad I did. It's a small hill but felt like a good start to Kili training, especially if I do it regularly. 

 

Carry on with the same for week 2!

 

@Little Miss Camouflage It was a bit blowy up Arthur's Seat but otherwise a nice morning. Thanks for the info about appetite etc. I feel like often long distance stuff is mind over matter. 

 

[Little Miss Camouflage]

23 hours ago, Ellestar said:

 

 

@Little Miss Camouflage It was a bit blowy up Arthur's Seat but otherwise a nice morning. Thanks for the info about appetite etc. I feel like often long distance stuff is mind over matter. 

 

Yes, totally mind over matter :-)

[Craftyviking]

Don't knock the getting up on hills, we start somewhere. I am still on the  hill part myself and it is still wonderful to stand at the top and feel awesome. Love that feeling and use it to encourage you to climb every hill you see. Soon the hills will get larger and larger

[Ellestar]

@Craftyviking I agree! It certainly beats trundling away on the treadmill or stair master. I love the reward of the views from the top too. I was a lovely way to start my Sunday

[Craftyviking]

So true. I am looking forward to the summer and longer days when I can do it after work as well as weekends

 

[BardicGarlic]

You are going for the long hall, literally. Pretty cool update!

[JessFit]

Hills are hard, good for you! What do you think of barre? I've wanted to try it but haven't done so yet.