My weekly running plan: week 4 + shopping list

This week I've been back on track and

I have finally tackled those four minutes of running.

I'm not going to lie, it has been hard on me.

Luckily fitness improves fast and I am finding it easier

every time I step on the tread mill.

So here's what I've been doing this week:

Warm up: 5 minute brisk walk

Minutes 1 and 2: run

Minutes 3 and 4: walk

Minutes 5 and 6: run

Minutes 7 and 8: walk

Minutes 9, 10, 11 and 12: run (hard four minutes!)

Minutes 13, 14 and 15: walk

Minutes 16, 17 and 18: run

Minutes 19, 20 and 21: walk

Minutes 22, 23 and 24: run

Cool down: 5 minute brisk walk

This week I will be continuing this and adding another 4 minutes of

 running, slowly building up until I am ready to run for FIVE minutes.

So apart from running I've also been eating more healthy.

Later on I'm going grocery shopping.

                                              I always make a shopping list and stick to it.

I usually sit down and make a weekly menu plan first.

That way I can see exactly what I need to buy. I also check my

cupboards and fridge/freezer to see what we still have so I don't overbuy.

Here's this weeks menu.

I do add loads of snacks as the days go by,

but usually they are quite healthy snacks such as

fruits, yogurts or rice crackers.

You may also notice that I eat the same breakfast every day.

I just find the porridge (Oat so Simple with sultanas, raisins,

cranberry and apple) very tasty and filling. I usually have this with

a coffee and have my grapefruit later on in the morning...it makes for a

delicious mid morning snack.

On the other side I write down my shopping list

I like to categorise my items by aisle, it just makes it so much more

easier to shop and I don't find myself running back and forth between the

aisles and getting distracted by other items.

 It also makes shopping a lot quicker.

I NEVER go shopping on an empty stomach.

I did once and bought a whole load of stuff I did not need.

Mainly freshly baked pastries...so hard to resist the smell

of chocolate croissants when hungry.

Linking up

Have a healthy happy week my friends

xxx

My weekly running plan: week 3

This week I only ran once!

very disappointing, I know.

I had a good reason (excuse) though, my husband

had surgery and was in hospital all week, so after

running back and forth between the hospital, picking kids up

from school, cooking dinner, helping with homework,

bathing kids, bedtime stories and housework I was pretty

exhausted.

I know I could have probably squeezed in  half an hour

in the mornings...

I just felt I didn't have the time.

Excuses right!

Maybe I should have titled this post

excuses, excuses

as this is exactly what I'm going to talk about this week.

1. I don't have time! (my excuse)

Make little adjustments to your every day tasks, that

way you can "save" some time for exercising.

You could also try to break up your exercising time, for example if you

normally exercise 30 minutes (like I do), do 15 minutes in the

morning and 15 minutes in the evening. Your body still gets the

same benefits.

You could do some of you errands running or run while playing

with the kids.

Turn the TV off and exercise instead or go on the treadmill

while watching your favourite programme.

2. I'm too tired!

When you are tired it's hard to get motivated, but going

for a run will energise you. You will feel less

tired the more you exercise and feel a lot fitter.

If you feel tired at the start of a run just start slowly and

build it up.

3. The weather isn't on my side!

Dress appropriate. Lot's of layers when it's cold,

a wind and waterproof jacket when it rains and remember to take a

water bottle when it's hot.

4. I don't like running in public!

Don't worry about what others think and be proud of

yourself for exercising and doing something healthy.

If you don't like running by yourself you could find a running partner.

If you don't like running outside use a treadmill and run in

the comfort of your home.

5. Running gets boring!

Listen to your favourite music while running and

if you run outside look around and enjoy the scenery.

Try and shake up your run by taking new routes.

You could join a running group or go running

with a friend.

Just remember

I'm ready to start a new week and am ready to

tackle those 4 minutes I was talking about last week.

No more excuses for me!

Have a happy, healthy week everyone!

xxx

Linking up here today

My weekly running plan: week 2

I've had another really good "running" week!

You may remember me saying in last weeks

post that I had to run for three minutes and found it really hard,

but did it anyway.

Well, this week I've continued on from that and

focused on those three minutes.

I'm just so amazed at how much easier I'm finding it now

and at how fast my fitness levels are improving.

Considering I didn't do ANYTHING before,

it's all going so well.

I'm very proud of myself!

So here's what I've been doing this week.

Warm up: 5 minute brisk walk

Minute 1: run

Minute 2: walk

Minutes 3 and 4: run

Minutes 5 and 6: walk

Minutes 7 and 8: run

Minutes 9 and 10: walk

Minutes 11, 12 and 13: run

Minutes 14, 15 and 16: walk

Minutes 17, 18  and 19: run

Cool down: 5 minute brisk walk

This week coming I'll be trying 4 minutes.

On top of all that I'm finding that I'm eating a lot less chocolate.

Who wants chocolate anyway after a run right?!

Instead I've been munching this

DELICIOUS!

Have a happy, healthy, fit week everyone.

xxx