Getting myself back on track.

That slump I talked about over 6 weeks ago? Yeah, it continued, until now. I have piled on weight over the winter, and not been active at all. The time for excuses is over, I know I can do better, and feel happier as a result. Last weekend I bit the bullet and signed up for the 10K at the Edinburgh Marathon Festival, which is on the 24th of May. When I first started running last year I vaguely chose this as a goal, but then all but gave up on it as I hit my slump. I decided to sign up for it anyway, with the sole goal of finishing the race. The website states that the sweeper bus comes along at 1hr 45 mins, so as long as I can do it faster than that, i'm all good! Already the promise of shiny medals in pulling me in like a magpie, and I am thinking of doing a 5k and 10K in Glasgow in May as well! The 5k is the race for life, which is for a good cause and should be fun as well. The 10K is the women's 10K, which I think a lot of women walk, so it will be a no pressure run, and hopefully will show me that I can do it!

With that goal in mind, I have dragged myself out of the slump, and got moving. I had planned to run yesterday, but was aching from 2 busy 12hr shifts at work. So, I rested, and then got straight into it today. I am quite pleased with myself today, I've exercised, ate healthy foods, and not napped. My sleep pattern has been terrible recently, not sleeping well at night, then napping, and so on. I started today with a driving lesson, which went ok actually. I then came in, and had a protein shake, as it was only 11, too early for lunch, and I didn't have much other food in.

Loving my pink blender bottle!

At this point it was absolutely pouring with rain, so I really wasn't up for going for a run as I had planned. I figured there was no point going out and being miserable. I decided to wait it out and see if the weather picked up. For lunch I had a yummy salad-

It had spinach, cherry tomatoes, yellow pepper, avocado, olives and feta. I have decided to start getting spinach instead of lettuce, as its tastier, and I think better for you. I am going to try sautéing it next.

After lunch I did some laundry, then battled in my head wether to walk into town and go to the gym, or go for the run I had planned. As the weather was a bit better, I wrapped up in my thermals and hit the pavement.

Thats me on the riverside, where it was really really windy. I think I would have been better doing my circular route the other way, as I wouldn't have been running into the wind. I did a mix of running and walking, nothing amazing, but a start.

I was pleased with the result, 480 cals burnt!

I feel much better with myself for getting out there, and doing something to change the way I look and feel. Now I just need to keep it up!

What healthy foods do you enjoy?

Stuck in a Winter slump

I am here to confess. I've been very lazy. I've hardly done any exercise, not blogged at all, not done much really. I don't know if its the time of year (a touch of SAD maybe?), or related to the fact I changed jobs yet again. I am settling into my new job now though, and am much happier. The shifts are long, 12 hrs, which doesn't leave much time for exercise or anything else once I get in. However, the benefit of the shifts is that I get more days off in which to do things. The added complication of the new job is that it is in Glasgow, and I live in Dundee. So, I stay at my parents when working. My gym membership is in Dundee, along with my bike and other fitness equipment. I have taken running things to Glasgow, so in theory I can run when I have days off there.

The only thing I am missing is motivation! I really need a boot up the bum, some get up and go, a bit of oomph! If anybody has some spare, send it my way. I hope by writing this post I can shame myself into doing something, as I can feel myself putting on weight, and generally feeling meh.

How do you get over a lack of motivation?

Getting back out there and my Lidl compression socks

I talked before about the knee pain I got when I started running. I think I didn't have enough rest and that made it worse. So, I had a word with myself, and properly rested. This seems to have done the trick, as I have managed runs and gym sessions since with no pain. Once that hurdle was dealt with, of course I came down with a horrible cold. I didn't do any exercise when it was at it's worst, but the eased back in with a gym session. I managed the bike, cross trainer, and did intervals on the treadmill. The ones in my gym have a handy feature where you can set a slow speed and a fast speed, and change between them at the touch of a button. This is great as no panicking when you start to tire out and want to slow down. I managed 15 mins of alternate walking and running. I find I can run for longer continuos periods on the treadmill than I can outside. Does anyone else find this?

Today I went out for a run, trying to get back into my Zombies 5k training plan. I did week 3 run 2, and was pretty knackered. I still enjoyed it though. I think the knee injury has made me appreciate running, and only fuelled my desire to run.

When shopping for bargains in Lidl the other day (£3 rump steak, yum), I spotted these-

Compression socks for £2.99! Since getting into running I have read lots about compression socks but wasn't sure if I really needed them. They are supposed to help with muscle pain during and after running. I don't think i'll be wearing these bad boys out though! I have them on just now, and they do feel nice, like a little leg hug. I spose time will tell if they actually help.  My favourite thing about them though? This-

Just in case you forget what you are doing, or have been doing. Good old Lidl. Also, they look super cool-

Do you use compression socks?

Where did you get yours?

My favourite fitness apps

Now I don't know about you, but I love an app. I have apps for all sorts of things, and health and fitness is no exception. I thought I would give a quick run through of the apps I use and then give my favourites more in-depth blog posts of their own. I have an iphone, but alot of these apps are available for android phones as well.

Nike apps-I haven't actually used these apps much. The first one is used with the nike + sensor that I have in my shoes, and the second just uses the gps in your phone. These apps track runs, giving times, calories and all sorts of other things. I do like the look of the these, so will give them a proper go once I have finished my 5K training app. The nike + website is pretty good as well, as other people have uploaded run routes. More info here. Price- Free

Absolute Abs- Another one downloaded with good intentions not really followed through. This app looks really good though. It has different work out options (abs, fat burning and ultimate), and then easy to follow pictures of the moves. You play the workout, and the move is read out, with timings for the reps. I really should try this! Find it here. Price- Free (paid version available)

BMITracker- This is a simple wee app from the NHS which works out your BMI. Its easy to use as you can use metric or imperial measurements. I measure my weight loss in metric, I think because I use metric at work (I'm a nurse). With this app it immediately tells you which zone your BMI is in (It was a happy day when I got into healthy!) and you can also view a graph of your progress. You can also use this app to do quick calculate, and I use this at work when I can't find a chart and need to work out a patient's BMI. Find it here. Price-Free

MyFitnessPal- A well known one, and one I used alot in the past and need to get back into to give me a boot up the bum! Its an online calorie and activity tracker, and is great.  The app is very handy, but you can use this online without a smart phone. I'll do a more in depth review of this. Find it here. Price- Free (paid services available)

Fitbit- I LOVE this. Its the app to go with my Fitbit one, which is an amazing little pedometer and sleep meter. I got mine for Christmas last year, and haven't looked back. This will be my next post. Find out more here. Price varies depending on fitbit device, mine was £79.99.

MapMyFitness- Another well known good 'un. Its a GPS sports tracker, which you can use for running, walking, cycling, amongst others. I use this for walks and cycling, as I am interested in distances. The website is good for planning routes in advance to work out distances, as well as searching for routes others in your area have done. Find it here. Price-Free (paid services available)

Zombies 5K- Another one I LOVE. Its the beginner version of Zombies run, and is a 5K training app. Its all based on a story, with voiceovers and run/walk drills designed to train you for a 5K. I've been using this for my running and will do a full review of this as well. Find it here. Price- £1.49

Tracker Lite- This is a really simple app, basically a calendar which you can track something on. You can set a goal and tick every time you do something. I tick when I exercise, and have set a goal to exercise 20 times, then I can treat myself to some new exercise clothes. Yes, I need to bribe myself. In the free version you can only track one thing, but can track multiple things in the paid version. I may splash out in future. Find it here. Price- Free (Paid version available)

LFconnect is an app for the machines at the gym which I haven't got working yet. Price- Free

Nike Training- Is another on the 'to do' pile. It has loads of work outs for free, and looks really good.  I have this on my ipad too, as it will be easier to watch the video's on that when working out. Find it here. Price- Free

Wow, that took a while! I hope it has been of some help to you, and please come back for the more in depth reviews.

What are your favourite health and fitness apps?

Starting over

So I set up this blog a while ago with all the good intentions of getting fitter and eating better. That didn't go brilliantly, but now i've started over. I've started running, joined the gym and bought a bike! I've been really enjoying my running, and have been using a new app that I will blog about soon. We have a brand new gym in our city, so I have joined there and have been using the bikes, cross trainer, treadmill and even some of the previously scary weights machines.

The only problem with all this new found enthusiasm for exercise is that my knees don't seem to agree. After a week or so of short runs they began to ache and are now agony after any running. I need to get this sorted as its holding me back! I am going to try swimming and gym, and hopefully the lower impact will help it mend. Otherwise its off to the Dr's I go.

I have been using a few apps and products since I started exercising so will be reviewing these on here soon.

Do you have any tips for knee pain?