Major Life update

I am not going to start this blog post with apologies or excuses of why I have been away and not posted since last year. I am not sure that many people read my posts anyway and since this blog was just a project to make myself happy there are no apologies necessary. So, life update since the 27^th of October and hopefully this is the start of a new reel of blog posts- if life allows.

Our Half Term Getaway

My last post back in October was about our escape to the countryside. We drove up to Penrith and stayed in a converted Shepherd’s hut in a woodland clearing of our very own. Our site was called Blencathra named after one of the local mountains. Our bedroom was in the hut, we then had a wooden lodge with a canvas door which doubled as a kitchen and bathroom and the toilet was a composting one in a standalone shed. We really did go back to basics. It truly was one of the best experiences I have ever had and I shall remember it forever. The views were stunning and it was simply wonderful to be cut off from the world in our own woodland haven. We had log fires in the bedroom, kitchen and bathroom which we had permanently lit. We drunk cider while playing board games, we read books, cooked wholesome soups and stews on the wood burning stove and enjoyed the local area. We took day trips to Keswick, Penrith, Ullswater and Windermere where we explored, ate and drank in good pubs and made the most of what the area had to offer. We played crazy golf, went out on Lake Windermere in a rented motorboat, went on walks and even had a decoupage session in a craft shop where we both decorated our own pieces- Alex’s was a dinosaur and mine was a stags head. It was the best holiday I have had since I was a kid and I would recommend it to anyone seeking some peace and quiet and an escape from the everyday hustle and bustle. The video of our getaway can be found on YouTube here – http://youtu.be/9zGcmDHh5EA

East Lancashire Pilates

It has been a dream of Alex’s for a while to set up our own Pilates classes. After training and successfully gaining his Level 3 Matwork Pilates certification we really wanted to do something that would be our own project that we could brand any way we wanted. So we created East Lancs Pilates. We cover locations in Blackburn and Clitheroe doing Matwork and Chair Based Pilates classes. We launched our first class in November and it has really taken off. I am so proud of Alex and all we have accomplished. He is a really talented instructor and it is great for me as I get to attend the classes and learn as well. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, just search East Lancs Pilates.

Christmas & New Years

We had so many plans for this Christmas and New Year’s but unfortunately Alex was in a lot of pain and we ended up in hospital on Boxing Day for an impromptu surgery for Alex. He is fine now and has recovered well but it did put a downer on the Christmas festivities. We still managed to see friends and we went out once he had recovered from the surgery. New Year’s Eve was hosted at ours with music, games and pizza with friends and we still went to my parents on Christmas day but it is hard to have fun when you know that your other half is in pain. Luckily our main party was hosted towards the start of December where I planned a Vintage Festive Afternoon Tea for all my family. My Grandma, Aunty and Uncle had yet to see our home and since we have lived there over a year I felt it was time that changed. We also invited Alex’s grandparents and a great time was had by all. We had our Christmas tree up and all our decorations and Bing Crosby crooned carols over vinyl. I adorned the table with little cakes, mince pies, macaroons and savoury treats. I wore a lindy bop 50’s dress with my heels and paired the ensemble with a vintage apron! 50’s housewife alert. It was lovely to show off our home though as we have worked so hard on it recently.

Slimming World

Now for the big life update and perhaps a bit of a preach. Just before Christmas in November I decided I had had enough of feeling unhealthy, flabby, podgy etc. It was time to get my butt into gear! I looked back at pictures of us on holiday and although I had an incredible time I didn’t look my best and I didn’t feel my best either. I needed to change how I was treating food and how I was treating my body. I decided to brave the embarrassment and join Slimming World. The first weigh in came as a shock. I had put 2 stone on since I met Alex! This is the problem with loyal boyfriend’s girls; they keep telling you that you look beautiful and sexy so you believe them. You get too comfortable, you leave home and you are cooking for yourselves and guess what, mum and dad aren’t there to police your food shop or what you cook or how much cheese you sprinkle on your pasta. And the pounds start to creep up and before you know it you are 2 stone heavier and starting to wonder why your pants are so tight! So since November I have worked hard and there have been small gains and weeks where my weight hasn’t changed but overall I have lost 10lbs and find out tomorrow if I have another loss or not. I weigh in every Tuesday and the group I go to is so supportive and funny. We have each other’s back. I have learnt so much about my eating habits and they have changed dramatically but I tell you, it is not a restricted diet where you have just celery and water and have to exercise as you live and breathe. Slimming World is about changing your lifestyle, enjoying the food you eat, learning about wheat foods to have in moderation and what foods you can indulge on. I eat and snack more now than I ever did before, but it is the right foods! I don’t miss out on anything and if I am going out then I am extra good leading up to it to create a happy balance for my body. I am also reading The Goddess Revolution by Mel Wells which has changed the way I see myself and has made me want to nourish my body and feed it the good nutrient rich food it deserves. I now want to take care of myself and I now value myself and put that above anything else. As Mel says, “I have made peace with food, I am now loving my body and reclaiming my life”.

I sit here and the snow is falling pretty heavy now, I just want to wrap up warm and watch Netflix but instead I am on my lunch break at work eating a wholesome and delish Slimming World Curry.

I promise to post soon.

Love,

Blue Sky

x