Healthy week...

In trying to make up for my particularly drunk weekend last weekend I am having an extremely healthy week!! I will consume no alcohol this weekend and I have stuck to my diet really well all week... Now we just need to see if I've lost any weight!!

Anyway, to avoid drinking I am distracting myself with tele!! I am addicted to three new shows, Bitten (kind of a werewolf version of True Blood which I love!), Once Upon a Time (I have 4 seasons I catch up on) and Community (which I have 5 seasons to catch up on).  Therefore I should be kept busy enough to not want a drink :) fingers crossed!!

I have been stepping up my training with double Wobble sessions and Zumba classes, I'm aching from head to toe but it's a good thing and I feel great!!  I can see a different in the mirror and my stomach is soo much flatter than it was before and I'm not nearly as hungry as I usually get!! Finally, I found a brilliant range of food from M&S called Fuller Longer which are balanced carbs and high protein so they fit into my diet perfectly!! I had the Venison Meatballs with mash and braised red cabbage and it was amazing :) 

The New (Drunk) Me!!

Well so much for the promise 'I will do this every Sunday!!' in my defence it was my Nephews birthday and I had a rotten hangover :-/  Plus I was ill yesterday so Tuesday it is!!

So, The New (Drunk) Me - I bloody love her!!  She has confidence (even after only losing a few pounds), she enjoys having her photo taken, particularly when they come out like this:

She meets men (most of which she doesn't like) but she enjoys being approached (but not stroked on the arm which one bloke seemed to want to do a lot!!)  She laughs hysterically and dances like no one is watching.

If you hadn't guessed already, I had an amazing weekend!!  First was a well needed and muchly deserved night out with Louise, the highlight of which was this:

and the music and photo booth in Pop world  (sounds horrendous but the music was AMAZING, like being at a family party!!) which both prompted these:

This was followed by a second night out that included copius amounts of cocktails... Starting with homemade (very strong) piña coladas:

Chased by Prosecco and crisps:

Followed by more cocktails (cosmos and Long Island ice teas):

Plus apparently we made some new friends (I can't say I remember!):

2014 so far......

So, this is a little delayed - if I'm honest I haven't posted because I have been too busy living!! 2014 has started off fantastic and it can only get better:

Dieting and Exercise
So the diet has started off well, 4lb off in the first 2 weeks and much better muscle mass and water levels.  My new diet (high protein, limited carbs) means I have much more energy throughout the day and I'm not nearly as tired (usually, today is a exception to the rule!!) but I can feel myself getting stronger during training and I'm excited to train now, which is where I needed to get back to!  I've brought new gym gear and weights and I'm trying Herbalife shakes for a kickstart in the weight loss department - I'll let you know how they go!

I have taken a before and after photo so far (unfortunately I'm in my underwear so I won't be sharing on here, but believe me you can see the change :-)

Blogging
I'll admit I have been a bit lax on the blogging front, but that is going to change.  I think rather than bullying myself into blogging everyday, I am going to do a weekly round up on a Sunday covering my travels, weight loss, diet and anything else that is going on in my life!1 Hopefully this is something I can stick to...

Travels
No international travel to speak of this year so far, although I have been given my schedule for the year and it looks like I will be going to some interesting places, Frankfurt, Geneva, New Orleans, South Africa, India and Dubai to name but a few!  I will update on them once I know more but I can tell you I am VERY excited!!

I went to Camden for a weekend away with my friend from University to go to a club night.  The night was fantastic but I'm the kind of person that goes clubbing from 8pm - 2am NOT Midnight - 6am and I couldn't cut it - I left early and was in bed by 3am watching the Hollyoaks Omnibus!!  However, I did get to meet up with my college friend who moved to London a while ago and we found the most amazing food market, that sold every kind of food you can imagine, its was incredible.  We had chickpea curry with rice and halloumi wrap which were lovely!  We must go back because there is so much we didn't try!!

Countdowns
There is lots to countdown to this year, Brogan Beau's first Birthday, Graduation, Graduation Party, Holiday of a lifetime take two as well as all my work travels, my birthday and saving to buy my own house.  2014 is going to be EPIC!!  Plans are finally being laid for the party and the trip - I couldn't be more excited now!  Plus I have linked the party to the trip by having an American theme :-)

TV and film
Well so far this year at the cinema I have seen 12 years a slave (brilliant but hard to watch it places), American Hustle (loved Jennifer Lawrence, scene stealer by far!) and The Hobbit (looooong slept for the first 20 minutes but loved the rest, glad to see Legolas back ;-))

More importantly is the tele that I've been watching - I am loving (and fully addicted to) The Tomorrow People and Community (luckily I have 4.5 seasons of the latter to keep me sane!).  I have also finally started Breaking Bad which is as amazing as everyone suggested it was.  Plus my friend tricked me into watching Sherlock, which I am now fully in love with but still have a fair few episodes of catching up to do.

I am seriously behind on a few good series, Supernatural and Arrow for a start as well as Bates Motel and Downton Abbey!!  Lots of tele to watch, fortunately, I have no studying to get in the way of it!

Cuddles with my favourite girl
I have had lots of cuddles from Spud so far this year, but this has to be my favourite (although technically it was last year!!)

HAPPY NEW YEAR

No resolutions this year just changes in general!! All the usual stuff though, stop having the odd cigarette, lose weight, exercise more, work harder etc etc

My priority though is my weight loss and keeping up with my Happy Jar, it was so lovely to open on 31st December and see all the good things that happened!!

I am also going to set up a second blog for my three week trip to the States with my dad so we can post on there daily (not sure I trust my Dad with my main blog!) but I will be sure to share the link on here. 

I have intentions of being my ideal size/weight etc by 1st May so I can buy a dress for my birthday for my Graduation party - that is 4 months to lose approximately 2.5 stone - completely doable if I am focused and strict on myself!!  Treats are where I fall down.

Wish me luck!!

xx

Final blog of 2013 (posted a little late!!)

So, this is my final post of 2013 (which I thought had posted but it seemed it hadn't!!).  Considering in January I thought this was going to be a crap year, it has been amazing!!!  To name but a few of the good things that have happened, I got a First-Class Honours in my Business Studies degree, 6 long years of hard work has paid off and I couldn't be happier!  The arrival of Miss Brogan Beau Yates my darling Niece who I would do anything for.  That little face has her wrapped around my little finger (I dread to think what a sucker I will be when she can talk!!).

I completed my happy jar - by far the best thing I did this year!  I couldn't believe how many happy memories, nice things and funny moments I had in 2013 and I hope there will be a lot more in 2014!!

Here are a few of my favourites:

2014 should be an amazing year so much to look forward to:

• Graduation
• Brogan's first birthday
• Graduation Party
• Three week holiday in the States (better start planning!!)
• Lots of work travels to all sorts of amazing places including New Orleans, Singapore, India and more trips to Dubai
• Finally reaching my happy place with my weight
• Looking at both my happy jar and my 'Picture a day' facebook album at the end of 2014 and realising how lucky I am
• Saving for a house (growed up and everything!)

2013 was an amazing year but 2014 is going to be EVEN BETTER!!!