Walking and the joys it brings!

Hello little blog,

Again, it seems ages since I last wrote - this time it is definitely my Bipolar's fault, as I'm pinging from severely depressed to slightly 'buzzy.' Thankfully I've only had a couple of hypomanic days since my big episode last summer, but I've managed to do the severely depressed really really well, which is annoying for a number of reasons. Firstly, when I'm that low I'm no longer able to function as a human being - I end up living in my jammies, eating only if food is put in front of me and sleeping around 10-15 hours a day - not very helpful when you have 2 kiddies that need you! What is worse though is the second thing, in that where I mentally want to do everything, but my body goes into 'shut-down' mode, I have to watch my poor mum struggling to cope with looking after me, my dad, my 2 kiddies and trying to fit her work in at some point in the day as well.
Anywho, don't want to dwell here, on to nicer things!

So, my new found love of walking came about when I set myself the challenge of running a marathon to raise money for people that suffer from MS, like my dad - as I got a spinal injury a few years back, I can't run as the impact hurts too much, so I power walk instead 😊
As part of my marathon training, I do one long power-walk a week, between 5K and 10K depending on how I feel on the day. I have a route that takes me into the next town over and then looping back home again. I love plugging in a bit of Spotify and stomping off into the sunset - I tend to go in the evenings when the kids are in bed, as I just can't seem to find time during the daytime. It's also brilliant if my kiddies have been little sods at bedtime, as I can blare out some music and stomp off for a few hours - true bliss!

Lately though, because I had to give my driving license back to the DVLA; thanks to my bloomin' bipolar, and the fact that at the moment I'm too unstable to be safe to drive (I wasn't driving by choice anyway, but it hurt having to physically post my actual license back 😢 The other sucky thing is that  I had just sorted the lease on a lovely little Fiesta for 3 years, which for the time being, can only be driven by my mum - sob!) So unless I catch a ride with friends or mum, I am choosing to walk places and I can't believe what an eye-opener it's been!

When I'm walking just for the purpose of getting home; eg from dance class or group therapy sessions (both in the next town over) I stop to take things in! They both link onto my fav power-walking route, which is handy! I do occasionally find myself going down side roads, or mini detours - just so that it varies the scenery and adds to the Kilometers I manage for that day 😉😊
I spent my walk back from group therapy taking in all the gorgeous flowers and plants that I could see along the way home (that nearly made me late picking up the kiddies from school - oops! 😂)
Here are just a few of my favourite ones:

scenes on my walk home from Newbury

Would you believe that these photos were taken as I walked through an industrial area - full of large trade warehouses and offices!

It struck me today as I walked home from group therapy, just how much I was missing when I used to do the same journey in the car! 

💜 I totally forgot that there is a mini waterfall in the green area in front of one of the warehouses! 

💜 I got to process what we had discussed during the therapy session - I don't usually have time to do that if going in the car

💜 I smiled at every single person I passed - some were in their own bubble and not interested, but others gave me great big smiles back, which I just loved!😊

💜 I also got to walk past the queues of traffic stacked back on both of the roads i walked down - all those busy folk heading off to find some lunch - I must admit, during the bits when the sun was out, I totally didn't envy any of them being cooped up in their box-on-wheels! 😂😂

When I got a little closer to home, I took a short-cut through one of the local parks (it has a massive field there) and I got chatting to a lovely old gent as I had stopped to tell him how gorgeous I thought his dog was! The dog looked like a mini version of a 'Lassie Dog' (afraid I can't remember the exact breed name he said) his name was Toby. His owner Norman and I chatted happily for around 10 minutes or so, then I let him get going as big black clouds were rolling in! (I was very happy that I had remembered to put my umbrella in my bag, as I didn't have a coat!) 

I wouldn't have enjoyed any of these experiences if I hadn't started my fundraising Marathon Challenge, (plus having my driving license taken away! sob, again😉) Nor would I have met Toby and his owner! So as much as I'm desperate to be allowed to drive again (I have to be consistently 'balanced out' for 3 consecutive months for that to happen!) as I want my independence back! I do think that I will keep walking home from places much more that I used to .

It's also better for the environment and my weight loss journey - I call that a total win-win situation! 😄

Reading Half Marathon!

Hey little blog! 

I know it's been a while again, but sooo much has been going on lately!

By far  the most challenging and scary, was taking part in my first ever race - Reading Half Marathon! As the main focus of my fundraising project '4mydadTony' (raising money to help people who suffer from MS like my dad) the BIG challenge is the Marathon in 2020 and I set myself the smaller challenge of running a Half Marathon in 2019!

Well, I'm pleased to say that I have now had my first experience of taking part in a Half Marathon and I loved it!!! 😄

I was really luck and grabbed a lift in with a friend (Paul) who was also taking part - he's done a few half marathons with his wife (who unfortunately was too poorly to take part this time round) so it was nice to be able to chat on the way - my anxiety had been growing steadily for weeks, as Reading is a place that I fear - it's too big, with too many people and too much noise, so I usually have panic attacks if I have to go there 😉

I met up with the ladies from the Berkshire MS Therapy Centre - the charity I was running for this time round. They took the following photo: 

just arrived at Madejski Stadium!

The ladies, Yvonne and Rachel, then came and joined me in the race village, where we chatted - mostly about pets, as I was picking Yvonne's brain about dogs as she's a dog groomer and behaviouralist (so awesome tips on good dog breeds for first time owners and families!) I was very grateful, as I had just broken my headphones, so would not be able to 'run' like i normally do with the music that calms my anxiety 😟

lining up in the Pink Zone, waiting to start!

Soon it was time to line up with all the other runners. I chatted to a lovely south african lady on the way to the Pink Zone (for the slowest runners, like me) who was giving me lots of tips and encouragement 😊

I met up with my friend Paul again and also another friend Nicky and we all walked and talked for the 35mins that it took to finally cross the start-line - we had started at the back of the Pink Zone you see, so with around 17,000 runners, it took a while for us to 'officially begin' 😉

As I can't technically 'run' (due to my spinal injury a few years ago) i was soon overtaken until i was the last person, power-walking as fast as I could. Unfortunately, all of the crowds and noise was too overwhelming for me and I had 2 panic attacks! I kept going though - helped along by a lovely bloke called Dave - who walked along beside me and gave me some tips and encouragement - he was impressed by my technique - arms swinging are a good thing apparently! He gave me some last quick tips before I got my head down and dug deep to get up the bloomin' big hill that I had come upto!

Well, I managed as best I could to keep going, but after 6 miles, when I was on the road leading upto the University, a decision was made to scoop me up. Just before that happened, the safety guy Andy, has shot past me to head off a car that was coming my way! I still have no idea how the driver got past all of the road blocks, but very grateul  to Andy.

It was Andy who suggested that for my safety and so that I didn't get lost when I made it to un-maned stations, I agreed to get onto the 'sweeper' van - I did cry at the guy from the van, Steve, as I was so desperate to complete the race, as it was for charity. He agreed that I could get out and complete the last mile, which I was happy with, so I sat back and enjoyed the ride, whilst sipping the Lucozade Steve had given me.

It was a good laugh on the Sweeper Van - Steve had marshalled races up in Nottingham for years (I am def going to look into doing that one!) and the driver Carol had also helped in a few races as well. We picked up a poor guy who had twisted his ankle, and enjoyed cheering on the runners just infront of us - I nicknamed them the 'pink ladies'  (they had those posh walking pole thingies and all had pink tops) there was 'grandad' a guy who was older, wearing a yellow top and then Jaqueline who was doing a great job too!

My back started to cause me problems, sitting in the van, so I begged Steve to let me out, so that I could walk the rest of the way. I asked if I could keep pace with 'grandad' would that be ok and he agreed. The injured guy decided to hop out too, so that we could both do the final 3 miles of the race.

Well, as Andy in the black safety car said t pick up the pace, I soon shot past 'Grandad' down the rod next to Prospect Park, onto the A4 and round the corner, keeping up with the others, when I stopped. There was no way that I was going to let 'Grandad' walk across that finish line all on his own! So, I started walking back to him and caucght up with him - there was a bit of confusion and worry that I wasn't ok, but I just kept to his pace and explained how lonely I had been at the back for the first 6 miles, so didn't want that for him. 

Turns out his name was John, he was 79 and this was his 20th and final race! He gave me some great tips, like the 'traffic light' focus - spy one in the distance, then keep your head down and when you look up again you can be really happy that it's loads closer! I kept pace with him and there was a lot of 'Left, left, left right left' and 'come on John, we've got this' which helped keep both of us moving! 😊  He held my hand for the final mile and that was how we crossed the finish line! Magic moment!

I was surprised that I was still allowed a medal, even though I only completed just over 9 miles, but overjoyed doesn't do justice to how happy I was to finish! 

4mydadTony Fundraising challenge

Hello little blog,

Sorry it's been a while since I last wrote - lots of things have been going on, but the most exciting has been to do with my Fundraising Challenge, to help people with MS!

You may remember that I wrote about my New Big Goal, which was an awesome starting point! Things have taken a slightly different direction, in light of my bipolar diagnosis, so I thought I'd share a little update with you all.

The original plan was for me to raise £22K to help pay for a big Wheelchair Accessible Car (WAC), that would fit all of the family and my dad comfortably. Well, now that I am probably not going to be moving out of my parents house for some time (well, not until a lovely fella comes along and sweeps me off my feet 😉) we had a re-think about how best to spend the money raised - the big WAC would no longer fit the needs of everyone. So we decided on a new plan - my parents would get a much smaller WAC, that would fit both of their mobility issues and I will save for a family car myself.

My dad hasn't been on holiday for over 2 years now - he either has to go into respite care or have a live-in carer stay with him, which I hate, as i feel so sad having to leave him behind, while we all go off for a fun family holiday. So, some of the money raised is going to go on a lovely family holiday - for my dad and the entire family to enjoy!

Then we had the job of deciding what to do with the rest of the money raised. Well, I met a friend of a friend whose wife also has MS like my dad and she attends a therapy centre for people with MS! So, that is where the remainder of the money raised is going, The Berkshire MS Therapy Centre!

I have already had a couple of fundraising events to help 'kick start' the money raising efforts -
Firstly I held an online Facebook Auction - I asked all of my creative friends if they would be willing to donate any pieces for the auction - to say that I was blown away with their generosity is a total understatement!! The auction went really well and overall raise £264! I have decided to hold another auction in December, perfect timing for some unique Christmas Gifts!

Some of the items donated!

 Next fundraising event, was a pamper evening that I held at a local Hotel. It was a really nice evening, with lots of different stallholders from massage therapists, to nails and skincare products 😊 the only downside was that where I had been so ill for 3 months, all of the final organising was crammed into just a few weeks! It was def a big learning curve and I have already got plans for another similar event next year! That event raised £261 and that was only with a few people there - plus all of the money from selling jewellery that a friend and I had made (we're going into business together - more on that another day!!)

If you fancy checking out my progress, I have a Facebook group called 4mydadTony - I've been uploading my progress and sharing videos of my fitness progress - did I tell you that I have signed up for Reading Half Marathon next Spring!?! I have found a personal trainer who is going to help me on the running side of things - I've been building my fitness levels with HIIT classes, aqua fit and walk/jogs, but I still have a long way to go before I'm Half Marathon Ready! So excited though! 😄

Oh and before I go, I just thought I'd share one little thing extra that I've done recently - I pledged that when my fundraising pot reached £750, I would dye my hair rainbow colours! Well, with generous friends and the online auction, we smashed that goal and so I got a hidden rainbow - which I LOVE!

My next milestone is £2K - then I will get all of my hair rainbow coloured! 😄

My new BIG GOAL!

Hello little blog!

I am sooo excited about my latest challenge I decided to set myself, that I just had to share with you all!

One of the things that I have been encouraged to do since joining the Forever family is to set myself some goals!
To start off with I set myself the challenge to earn £200 in profits a month. I created a lovely dream-board so that I could have a visual reminder of what I am working for. It had things like new clothes (some of mine are older than Little Man and he'll be 9 in July!) new trainers and boots, plus things like family fun days out and saving up for our first family pet - a rescue dog or puppy! 😄

Although the motivation was sort of there, after a flying start in December, I had quite a quiet January and February. I didn't really have that burning desire to achieve those targets. It didn't really matter enough whether I hit them or not.

Well, over the course of one weekend back in February, all of that changed!
I went to a networking breakfast with my sponsor on the Friday at the Madejski Stadium in Reading. It was my first ever 'event' and I got talking to lots of different people, plus ran into a friend who I hadn't seen in ages (small world!!) it was really good fun!

One of the guest speakers was absolutely AMAZING! He spoke about how he set out to run a marathon to honour his father who had sadly passed away. He was just so inspirational and down to earth! I just got one of his books through the post today 'The Unnatural Networker' by Charlie Lawson - can't wait to start reading it!!

The very next day my sponsor and I headed off to a Success Event at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry! I HAD THE BEST DAY EVER!!!
Throughout the day we were given top tips and ideas to help us run our businesses, but by far the best bits of the day were getting to see the FBOs (Forever Business Owners) walking across the stage to receive their awards for all their hard work! There were people who had made it to Manager Level; there were people who were being recognised for their recruitment achievements; our top manager of the team I am part of was the number 8 business there!! Amazing day!
I also loved to hear the stories and journeys of some of the top FBOs in the UK - every story was unique, but all showed that with hard work and consistency, EVERYTHING is possible!

Well when I got home and started to process some of the information I had experienced over those two events, I suddenly realised what my WHY was! The reason WHY I needed to get up and do some work every single day! I couldn't believe that I hadn't thought of it before! My WHY was my DAD!!

For those of you who don't know, my dad has MS. He was diagnosed when I was around 16 years old (I just turned 36 😉) and he has been extremely lucky in that his MS has been very slow progressing.
The last few years has seen a dramatic change though; he's now wheelchair bound completely, is hoisted in and out of bed and has carers to help him morning and night.

The one place he still struggles the most is having to  transfer using a plastic 'banana board' so that he can get in and out of the car. Then either I or my mum have to get his heavy wheelchair into the boot of the car (he's 6ft 4, so has an extra large wheelchair to accommodate his long legs, bless him!)
It's not the easiest task - much harder for mum who has mobility issues of her own and I worry a lot about her struggling with dad's wheelchair when I'm not there.

So, inspired by Charlie Lawson's story, I decided that I was going to raise money to buy my dad a WAC (Wheelchair Accessible Car) From all of the amazing people I had heard from that weekend, I knew that I was going to have to do something BIG if I was going to achieve this! So, I have set myself the challenge of running in a MARATHON in 2020!! Not only that, but I am going to run in the Reading Half Marathon in 2019!

This may not seem like a big deal to lots of you, but what you have to bear in mind is that currently I am a couch potato! I am 19stone 10 (horrifying to actually admit that!!) and wear size 24 clothes!
I like to see this as another step in my 'get fitter and feel better' challenge that I have embarked upon this year. Also if I don't reach my goal amount (around £22K - I'm not doing anything by halves me heehee!) at least I will be a damn sight fitter than I am now! 😄

I have already taken steps to get me going!
I have started making healthier choices in my food intake - I figure good 'fuel' will help me more than just eating whatever - celery and carrots are now my new 'best friends!' 😉
I have also booked myself an appointment to see a personal trainer, as with the spinal injury I got a few years back, I know I need to be careful with what training I do!

So, if you're local to me, don't be surprised to see me puffing (and probably sweating - sorry if TMI!!) to the lakes and back - prob 2-3 times a week!

Wish me luck! Hugs xxx

Trying to Get Fitter Challenge!

Hello lovely little blog!

I'm aiming to try and write an entry a week, then I won't feel guilty for being neglectful like I did with my old blog 😉

Well, Little Miss turned 5 on Saturday! (don't know where that time has gone!?!) she had a lovely little birthday party at our local pottery painting place, with some of her friends and family.
We've enjoyed loads of party food and an amazing cake (from Costco!) so now the fun is over, time for me to get down to the serious business - my 'Get Fitter Challenge'

It's safe to say that although I'm not the heaviest I've ever been, I'm definitely not happy with my current weight! I have too many wobbly bits too (sorry if TMI 😉 ) and so have decided that there's no time like the present to start making changes!

After getting diagnosed with gallstones and a fatty liver last year, we made some changes in our diet as a family - swapped to brown pasta and rice. My mum and I eat mainly brown /rye / multi-seed bread now, or rice crackers. Mum and I have swapped the big bars of chocolate that we would share every night for single small bars (like Freddo's!) Some nights, I don't even bother with them at all!
Those steps have all helped, but not enough!

So, to give me a good 'kick start' on my journey to becoming a 'fitter, healthier me' I have decided to do a 14 day shake challenge! (started yesterday - Sunday 7th January)


For the next 14 days, I am going to try to;
- have a shake for breakfast and another for lunch
- try and have only healthy snack if I need them (carrots, celery, special 'protein bars' that should help fill me up and fruit)
- try and go for a 30 minute walk every day (rain or shine!!)
- eat a healthy dinner with the rest of the family every night
- swap my latte coffees with 2 sugars for a cup of hot lemon and a spoonful of honey

I already had a very 'naughty' moment last night, where having been good all day, I gave into my urges and had a piece of Little Misses birthday cake and some cookies! Felt very bad, but I think if I'm going to make it through the next 14 days, I'm going to have to practise showing myself a little kindness! If I slip up, then I'll try again the next day!

I did manage to stomp up to our local lakes and back before dinner last night, so that was something 😊 took me about 40mins to do the 2.2 miles in total, as with one arm still in a sling, my balance is surprisingly off! I couldn't walk straight, or swing both arms to help me keep going!
I also learnt that the best way to keep my headphones in was to turn them upside down and have the wires trailing down behind my ears! (I learn something everyday!)

I'd love to hear from any of you about your new years challenges!
Or have any of you got any tips on how to keep hunger at bay, when trying these shake / other weight management challenges?? I need all the help I can get! 😉😊

Hugs xxx