Race For Life 2013 - 5km.

This year, July 14th, I took part in my local 5km Race For Life, to raise money for Cancer Research UK. As always, it was a great turn out and Hudson's Field was a sea of pink! I was number 436. The message on my back was "I race for life for everyone affected by cancer. (Laura's Aunty Barb & Aunty Val)". I offered to add my friend, Laura's, Aunties on my sign as she was unable to run the RFL herself this year.

I was really hoping to beat my personal best time that I achieved last year (32 minutes, 29 seconds), but I didn't quite manage it. I arrived a couple of minutes late and slightly hungover (went to a birthday party the night before) so it was hard to keep an eye on my start time. But my overall time was around 37ish minutes, I think. Of course I'm a little disappointed, but I guess it's not too bad considering I ran/jogged alone this year and the weather was beyond scorching! I had little heat blisters all over my shoulders and almost collapsed in a heap of exhaustion after I crossed the finish line. I could hardly stand up! I didn't manage to run/jog the whole thing without stopping this year, but I was kind of expecting that with the heat.

Although I didn't beat my personal best time for completing the RFL, I beat my personal best on how much sponsorship I've ever raised. Most years I only manage to raise about £20-30, but this year I raised a total of £65! Makes me happy that I've raised that much money for such a great, well known charity.

Well done to everybody who took part in the Race For Life this year! Same again next year? ;)

Doing the 30 day squat challenge.

I have heard so much about this "30 Day Squat Challenge" lately, especially on Facebook, that I have decided to give it a go for myself. I am now on day 13 out of 30. Why have I decided to join everyone else and put myself through this leg-and-bum-torture? Because my boyfriend, Jago, & I have booked a last minute holiday and we leave in just 13 days! We're going to Mallorca Rocks, Magaluf, for a week and I am battling for my bikini body back, which I had last year when I went to Turkey (click here for the blog post). As I haven't been able to attend the gym lately (recent health issues), I need something to make me feel like I'm working out and making an effort. I'm aware that I'll only get to day 26 before actually leaving for our holiday, but that isn't going to stop me. Ideally I'd like to be at the same weight as I was before I went to Turkey, but the likelihood is that's a bit unrealistic with the amount of time I've got to do it, but that won't stop me trying my hardest!

Here's a scan of my notepad with the whole challenge written out. I need to write it out myself rather than continuously keep looking up for it online each day, otherwise I probably won't do it. The first 3 days were by far the most painful. By Day 3, stairs were out of the question! I'm quite shocked at how much it actually raises your heart rate and how sweaty you get just by doing squats! From Day 5 onwards, I actually have to stop for a few seconds between every 10-20 squats as I just get so hot and bothered I can't seem to push myself up from the bottom of the squat, haha.

I didn't take a before photo, so I don't know how I'll be able to compare any real difference. I'm just going to have to try and take a photo of how it looks now (at Day 13), and then take one when it's over and see if there's any noticeable change. I'll post the results at the end of the challenge. If there is a noticeable difference, I may give myself a bit of a break and then restart the challenge all over again from the beginning.



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Race For Life 2013. I've signed up, have you?

Today I signed myself up for this years local 5km Race For Life (Sunday July 14th 2013)! I normally leave it pretty last minute to sign up, but I decided to do it well in advance this year so I can try and get the most sponsors I possibly can. I've only set myself a small target of raising £30.00 to begin with. I know it's quite low, but I know from previous years that not many people seem to sponsor me. I've decided this year to sign up earlier and try starting off with a lower target. I'll aim for that target and then gradually increase it. Hopefully, if this new tactic works, I will smash the first £30.00 target by the time the event actually arrives.

Please sponsor me on my JustGiving page: http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/JessicaRobertson.

Sponsoring me through JustGiving means the money gets donated straight to Cancer Research UK. If you're a UK taxpayer, don't forget to tick the "Gift Aid" box, which will increase your donation by 25% at no extra cost to you!

I participated in the Race For Life last year too (click here for the blog post) and I did better than any other years I've done it! I jogged the whole thing non-stop last year - even the really horrible hill near the very end (hopefully they'll purposely miss that bit out this year, as it was an absolute killer). I am not a runner nor a jogger, so it was a pretty big confidence boost for myself completing it non-stop. I finished it in 32 minutes and 29 seconds, so I will hopefully beat that this year!

I am a lot more active than I was last year, but I mainly lift weights at the gym nowadays. I don't do much cardio at all.. I guess I'll have to try and incorporate more cardio into my gym routine to prep myself for this! I will be gutted if I finish at a really bad time compared to last year. But even if I do, it's the raising money that counts. So please sponsor me! Every sponsor, no matter how big or small, will help this amazing cause and will be greatly appreciated!

If you are interested in joining in, go onto the Race For Life website to see if there are any events near you. There's a small fee to sign up, but it is all for Cancer Research - so a fantastic cause! Please don't be put off or embarrassed if you think you can't run/jog it. Just because it's called a "race", doesn't mean you're actually racing. You can walk the whole 5km if you want to! It's just a fun day out for all the family! Only women can participate though (which is a little unfair in my opinion, as men can get breast cancer too, but hey ho..), but feel free to bring your male family members, partner and friends to come cheer you on in the sidelines!

Spread the word about Race For Life 2013 and get all of your friends and family involved.

LETS SHOW CANCER WHO'S BOSS!

Weight & measurements update.

My current weight: 8 stone 13.75 lbs (125.75lbs).

I've put on almost 1 lb since joining the gym at the beginning of last month.. I'm a little disappointed, but I'm really hoping it's because "muscle weighs more than fat". I guess I'll just have to wait and see the next few measurement/weight updates I do to see if there's any kind of pattern to it. I don't mind gaining weight as long as the measurements improve as a result of it.

Measurements updated (in inches / cms):

Bust = 29.75" / 75.5cm
Waist = 28.25" / 71.5cm
Hips = 32" / 81cm
Neck = 13" / 33cm
Left bingo-wing = 10" / 25.5cm
Right bingo-wing = 10" / 25.5cm
Left thunder-thigh = 21.75" / 55cm
Right thunder-thigh = 21.75" / 55cm

New measurements:

Shoulders = 21" / 53.5cm
Right forearm = 9.25" / 23.5cm
Left forearm = 9" / 22.5cm
Right calve = 13.5" / 34cm
Left calve = 13.75" / 35cm

A couple of these measurements have improved since the last time I posted which is great! But a couple have increased in size, which I'm a bit annoyed with. Although the "bingo-wings" have probably increased because they've now become a little muscular compared to before.

I have noticed, since starting the gym, I have slightly more defined muscles now, especially my biceps and calve muscles (still no six pack though, haha). I love showing family and friends the mini muscles I've developed - a bit weird, I know, but I thinks it's probably because I never thought I could do it and actually stick to attending a gym for longer than a week, and seeing little results is such a great feeling. I've been going to the gym for over a month now and I really feel great for it. Some days are harder than others, but I drag myself there no matter how I feel. :)

Sorry I haven't taken a photo for this update. I really can't get a good photo.. I need to find a long mirror I can place a bit further away from the edge of my bed. The place where I take my photos from at the moment is such an awkward, unflattering angle - makes me look like I've haven't improved since starting, when I know I have! I'll try and sort the mirror situation out when I have some money and time to do it.

I've joined a gym! Plus an update on me.

On the 9th January, this year, I joined a local gym. I was a bit hesitant at first, because the last time I joined a gym, I lost interest pretty quickly, wanted to quit, but ended up having to pay £26+ once a month for a whole year as it was a yearly contract.. But this gym is very different. It's only a 5 minute walk from where I work, so pretty convenient for me really. It's a rolling contract, rather than a yearly one - at any time I no longer want to go, for whatever reason, I can give one months notice and leave, with no further payments! Also it's the cheapest gym in town - £15 per month, plus two one-off payments of £20 - can't go wrong with that really. It's not too big or two small, it's well equipped, it's open 7 days a week, and the staff are incredibly welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable. It's a very laid back atmosphere, which I really like. It also offers lots of different classes per day (such as spin, pilates, zumba, self defence, boxing, etc.), which are free to MyGym members - so I've been taking full advantage of those since joining. On the whole it's one amazing gym that's great value for money (an absolute bargain in my eyes).

Since joining I have been to the gym about 4 times and I have really enjoyed myself. So far, I have tried classes such as spin, LBT (legs, bums & tums) and boxing basics - I enjoyed them all but my favourite is definitely spin! It's hard work but makes me feel really great afterwards. I spend a lot of my time in the gym on the crosstrainer, the treadclimber, the exercise bike, the rowing machine and sometimes the stepping machine. I went to lunch with my friend, Tom, and he helped me decide on some kind of routine to stick to, to begin with. He has also advised me on good foods to eat before/after workouts. Tom, along with my boyfriend and family, are supporting my decision to do this all the way, which is great and helps to keep me going! :)

Starting weight/measurements:

My starting weight for the gym is: 8 stone, 13 lbs.

I put on weight after my first week at the gym - I was NOT a happy bunny. But I didn't let it get to me too much and I've already lost all of the weight I'd put on! :)

My starting measurements for the gym are (in inches / cms):

Bust = 30" / 76.2cm

Waist = 28" / 71.1cm

Hips = 32" / 81.3cm

Neck = 13" / 33cm

Left bingo-wing = 9.7"/ 24.6cm

Right bingo-wing = 9.7" / 24.6cm

Left thunder-thigh = 21.5" / 54.6cm

Right thunder-thigh = 21.8" / 55.4cm

The majority of these measurements have improved ever so slightly since my last measurements (click here for post), but one has actually increased and one has stayed exactly the same. Finding this out was a little heart breaking as I worked so hard all year to get these measurements down.. But oh well. I will measure up again soon and update you all on any changes.

Starting/"before" photo:

I want to lose the bit of fat at the bottom of my tummy and I want my thighs to be a lot smaller, as they are a part of my body that I particularly dislike. I then want to tone up absolutely everything. I WILL acheive that bikini body this year! I've got this far with next-to-no exercise, so imagine what I can do if I introduce it into my healthy lifestyle (this thought is my main motivation)! I will post updates on how my body changes after a while of going.

An update on me:

What I haven't mentioned is this last week or so I have been feeling extremely weak and over-exhausted on such a low amount of calories (1200 per day, plus slightly more with exercise), since getting back into my calorie counting super strictly again at New Years. Well I had to go to the hospital for blood tests because I was feeling so bad and looking so ill and very pale. But I found out that my blood tests came back perfectly fine, and it's probably being caused by anxiety.

But before receiving my results, I had a chat with my spin instructor about my health, what I'm eating, my calorie intake, my sleeping pattern and such alike.. He advised me to up my calorie intake to at least 1500 per day (well he actually said he'd prefer me not to count them at all any more, but I just can't break the habit). He also said to turn my TV off at night to help me sleep as I should be getting at least 6 hours of sleep per night to be able to go to the gym (I usually sleep with the TV on and only get around 4-7 hours sleep a night). He also said to eat 5 meals a day rather than my usual 2-3, as my body will start to starve itself otherwise and I need the energy if I want to go to the gym regularly (I've attempted this change but I'm only managing around 3-4 meals most days). I also need to eat a meal, full of protein, within 1 hour after finishing any work out (this is the one step I'm struggling most with).

Since I've tried applied these changes, as much as I can, I have been feeling slightly more energetic than usual and I no longer look really ill and pasty all the time. I feel my body has a bit more power, to push myself further, when I go to the gym. I'm still counting calories religiously, but I have upped my daily allowance by 300kcal, from 1200 to 1500 (this has been extremely hard to get used to)! So hopefully making all of these small changes will help me get bigger and better results from the hard work I put in at the gym.

BOOM Sportswear!

'BOOM Sportswear' is a new fitness clothing brand that a good friend of mine has started. It started up in June 2012, and in such a short space of time a lot has happened for him and I've heard that he's received some great news for the brand that will be happening in the near future! I've even spotted someone who came into work wearing one of his tops! So far it's been a big hit with his friends and people who work out with him at his gym - but he's eager to expand his sportswear to a much wider audience.

BOOM Sportswear started out by just selling shirts, but that got very popular very quickly. So he's now introduced vests and hoodies into the clothing range. And I'm sure many more different items of clothing will become available as it becomes more well known. BOOM Sportswear stock both men and women's clothing, in sizes S to 3XL.

http://www.facebook.com/BoomSportswear

http://www.boomsportswear.co.uk/

I am now the proud owner of my very own pink BOOM Sportswear vest! Yay! :)

Pole dancing/fitness - love it!

Earlier this evening I went along to an hour long 'Pole Fitness' class. This was a very, very last minute decision. I literally decided I wanted to go and left my house about 15 minutes before the lesson was due to start!

I previously went to 'Pole Dancing' classes, back in late 2010/early 2011 (the photo is of me back then - I look very different..). But I had to quit going when they raised their prices up, as I couldn't afford it at the time.. I was gutted. With my Christmas money/my wages I purchased myself my own pole to put up in my house! But as I was no longer going to lessons, I ended up completely losing motivation and inspiration and not using it. So it eventually got taken down. I've been dying to go back to classes ever since!

So today was the day.. I borrowed £8 from my Mum (as I'm skint at the moment) and went along. It was held at a local school and it's run by Girls Love Fit. There wasn't as many people as I was expecting, but I think that was because there was a communication error between some people about where it was being held tonight. It was pretty daunting to begin with.. I think that was mainly because I didn't know anybody there. But I soon got comfortable and got into it. After a good warm-up, we learnt the beginning of a routine! The song we did it to was "El Tango de Roxanne" - Moulin Rouge - an unusual but amazing song to dance to! It's very different from the pole dancing class I went to before. The one before mainly focused on the tricks and moves rather than dancing/routines. I do prefer doing the routines though. My favourite move of the routine was the headstand against the pole.

My weekly schedule is due to change drastically as of this Monday (I will let you all know why in a post I am planning to write soon) so I'm worried I won't be able to continue the classes.. But I'm hoping things will work out in my favour and I'll be able to go again each week/most weeks and be able to afford it each time.. Fingers crossed! If I do get to go back I will try and get some photos, if I'm allowed to take them. :)

Pole fitness/dancing is such a fun, unique way of getting fit! Very different from the conventional ways of working out, such as going to the gym or work out DVDs.. It helps tone muscles, improve flexibility and core strength! And it also helps build self confidence. People normally associate pole dancing with strippers wearing next to nothing.. But it's not like that and it's not just for them - why let them have all the fun?! Anybody of any age, weight, height or sex can do it! If any of you get the opportunity to have a go, please take it - you will love it! And if you don't, atleast you can say you gave it a try! :)

Race For Life 2012 - 5km.

On Sunday 1st of July, with the worst hangover ever and about 1 hours sleep, I did the 5km Race For Life (equivalent to 3 miles)! It was held at Hudson's Field in Salisbury. I was number 928. The message on my back was "I race for life for all those affected by cancer" - I have 1 or 2 people in my family that is affected by it personally, but I wanted to do it for everybody.

I signed up for this back when I decided to take up running/jogging back in April (blog post here). I have been a bit naughty and not trained overly much, but I decided to attempt jogging the whole thing anyway. The longest time I had ever jogged for before this, without stopping and dying in a heap on the floor, was 13 minutes. I have done the Race For Life a couple times actually, a few years back, but I always walked them - never jogged. My quickest time back then, that I remember, was just over 45 minutes, I think. I was just too big, unfit and self-concious to even think about jogging it. But look at me now!

Thousands of people turned up - it was like a sea of pink everywhere you looked! The only bit I don't like about the Race For Life is reading all the sweet messages on the back of people's tops.. I don't not like it because I don't think they should do it - of course they should, but it just gets me really upset. The sweetest, saddest message I read was on the back of a man's back. He had dressed up, jokingly, like a woman - wearing a pink wig, tights and skirt/shorts. His message said "I race for life for my wife, my friend, my soul mate. R.I.P". I'm so glad he didn't see me! I was almost in tears! I am far too over-emotional.

On completion of the race I was given a little goody bag, which had some coupons in and a mini box of Dorset cereals breakfast stuff in - which I'm sure I will eventually try. I was also given a Race For Life 2012 medal, which I can now add to all my others ones from previous years.










This years' medal I am way more proud of though. I probably raised a lot less money than I usually do (not many people would sponsor me because they sponsored me for the skydive I did in May) but I managed to jog the WHOLE race, non-stop - even up all the stupid amounts of hills they decided to include in the course!!! I started the race at 1 minute 33 secs (as joggers were in the middle so we had to wait for all the runners to go through the start first) and I crossed the finish line at 34 minutes 02 secs - which, if you do the math, is a total of 32 minutes 29 secs!! When I got there in the morning I was so convinced I was going to have to take a break every 5 minutes, but no. I did it all non-stop! I even managed to get the tiny amount of energy I had left to sprint across the finish line! 5km is such a massive distance for me compared to my usual 'jog to the park and back again'! I just can't believe I pushed myself to do it! I am actually so proud of myself!

I am definitely signing up for next years' Race For Life and I am going to be aiming to SMASH my personal best of 32 minutes 29 secs! I'd love to get it under half an hour if I can.. But we'll see. ;)

Well done to all the girlies all over the country that took part in the Race For Life this year and raised money for this brilliant cause! You should all be so proud of yourselves! :)

Mini-gym!

Look what I haveee! We are being lent an exercise bike and a rowing machine, long-term, by my Grandad. So now I can work out more often, and in the comfort of my home - yay! He used to have a "mini-gym" in his house, but has now changed it to a small spare bedroom, so he's letting us borrow these! He also has a treadmill, but I'm not too keen on those, plus it's a lot bigger to store than these two are. Hopefully, by going on these 2-3 times a week, I may actually start toning up my yucky, flabby body a little!

Yesterday I did 35ish minutes on the exercise bike & about 15 minutes on the rowing machine. And the day before I did roughly 20 minutes on each of them. I'm not sure if I'll do any today or not yet.. I might give my legs a rest. But I shall be doing another load tomorrow, for sure.

I find purchasing your own equipment is a lot cheaper than any gym membership! You only pay once and if you look after the equipment properly, it should last years! Where as a gym membership, you pay £30-£40ish every month and hardly ever get your money's worth of exercise before the next payment is due! I would like to purchase my own exercise bike, I have wanted to for a while, but I just haven't had the money. So I guess I'm just lucky to know someone who could lend us one!

TIP: A great way of making the exercising a little less boring is by sticking the equipment in the living room, which is what I have done! That way you can watch television, watch a movie or listen to music channels whilst you're working out!

Motivational reads.

Bought myself some reading material to help me get more motivated to exercise - especially with my jogging, cos the rain lately has really made my motivation to do it drop a lot.. I bought the Bodyfit magazine (http://www.bodyfitmagazine.co.uk/) from Tesco for £4.99, which came with the 'Get running & blast fat' magazine for free! And I bought the book, 'Run Fat B!tch Run' by Ruth Field on Amazon (http://www.amazon.co.uk/) for only £6.59 - bargain!

I haven't had a chance to read any of the book yet.. When I do read it and eventually finish it, I will attempt to write a mini book review on it for you guys (never wrote a book review before though, so it could go terribly wrong)!

I've quickly gone through and read a few articles in the Bodyfit magazine. One article I've really found interesting is the 'Supermodel Secrets' (page 18) which is an interview with Helena Christensen - one of the original supermodels and an icon to women around the world for the past 20+ years! She's apparently 43 and she looks INCREDIBLE! What I would do to have a body like her's.. She seems to swear by "Reebok easytones" (which she's wearing in her photos. I like the black ones!). These are crush trainers (I think) that help tone your legs as you walk. I'm pretty sure I saw some in my local Sports Direct store last time I was there.. So next time I'm near by, I am definitely going to go in and try a pair on! Maybe even buy myself a pair, depending on the price. 

There's also lots of low-kcal meals, diet plans, meal/snack ideas, food tips, etc. in there to help shed the lbs! One recipe that really caught my eye is the 'Classic Watercress Soup' (page 103) - mainly because of how low kcal it is. It makes 3 servings and according to the magazine it's only 100 kcal per serving! I may have to attempt this recipe soon. I've never made a soup before.. I've always wanted to but never really knew how to go about making one or had a recipe for one that sounded tasty enough to try.

The magazine's full of tips, advice and great exercise moves and routines. It is a great and interesting read - very motivating and informative! I recommend all of you exercise fanatics or even people who really want to get into exercise but don't have that motivation or little push they need to get out there and do it to PURCHASE THIS MAGAZINE! 

Training myself to run.

I have never been a great runner. I did cross country whilst at school, once - when I was about 12ish - and I honestly thought I was going to die. But lately, for some reason, I have had the urge to go out and run, even though I can't run to save my life. So I've decided to train myself to do it. For the last 5 days in a row I have gone out for a jog/walk. Jogging as much as I could and then walking when I needed to catch my breath and then jog again. It's seems to be getting harder and harder everyday, but I've probably pushed myself a bit too much too soon. Today I met up with my friend, Simon, and we went for a jog together. It was hard but I managed to push myself a lot harder than the other 4 days when I went jogging alone. I managed to go a further distance and went longer before I had to stop and walk. I'm hoping training myself to run will help boost my weight loss further, hopefully tone my body a bit, make my thunder thighs/tree trunk legs smaller! These are some views I saw in the last few days whilst out on my jogs -

 

Also I bought some new running shoes today! My older 'Fila' ones are really worn out and knackered now. My new ones are called 'Nike Pegasus 28' and they are sooo comfy and very lightweight! I love them. Also I can get away with buying children/junior shoes because my feet are only a UK size 3.5/4, which means I can buy them so much cheaper! I managed to get them for £27.99 from Sports Direct - bargain!