Gym Gin Game of Life

Love is in the….correction Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon & Carbon Dioxide is in the air

~ lorz83 ~ Leave a comment

Obviously there have been an abundance of cards, flowers and gifts sent to me…….not that I’ve actually seen them yet, perhaps the postman couldn’t carry all the cards and Interflora have left all the bouquets outside someone else’s house?!? Tomorrow sees the day that society has labelled the day of love, blah! If you’re with someone you should love them everyday of the year and declare and show this to them too, there shouldn’t be a designated day. I mean us singletons don’t have a dedicated day in the diary for National Singles Day, oh wait apparently there is, S.A.D Single Awareness Day on the 15th February; I guess they’ll be lots of reduced (overpriced just a few days before) stems of roses available in Waitrose on Monday, perhaps I’ll treat myself.

The 14th of February is just a day in between the 13th and 15th – Give me Valentino Rossi over Valentines day.

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I do actually have a date tomorrow, however not in the traditional manner. Affectionately called the ‘Petulant Little Sister’ I’m playing third wheel with my lovely friends who have invited me to join them at The Anvil to see Adam Hills. I did point out that it is Valentines day and I didn’t want to gate crash and was told that it’s no big deal, it’s only a big deal if I make it one. So I’m going and really looking forward to it having fun and a bit of a giggle.

I’ve not had a very good week gym wise. I went Monday for my PT session, and then again Tuesday for slow, painful stint on the bike. Wednesday’s are family night so didn’t go, then I’d forfeited Thursday for an meal out with a friend; but she cancelled which was really annoying as I didn’t bring my gym kit with me so instead of driving home and back into town to Nuffield my sister invited me round for dinner so I had a lovely evening with my sissy. I did go for my regular Friday date and managed to go on the treadmill, bike and rower, but felt completely pathetic at how knackered I felt as I listened to Greg James on Radio One after he’d completed his fifth and final Triathlon or #Gregathlon – Seriously he’s an amazing human being, he ran, swam and cycled 246 miles raising £816,808 for Sports Relief (check out www.sportsrelief.com or you can text GREG to 70703 to donate)

I spent some of today going through my clothes, which is like a workout if I’m honest. I currently can’t actually see my bed under the mound of dresses, skirts, jumpers and bras piled high on there. Good news is that even my pathetic efforts at the gym are paying off and new items of clothing I’ve purchased (but not cut the tags off of) are now zipping up nicely, fitting me perfectly and really flattering my ever changing curves which puts a smile on my usually mardy face. Ooh and I have a confession to make, I ordered a new pair of boots yesterday from River Island (although I’m slimming down, I’m still curvy and curvy girls buy shoes and handbags – its our thing) so I’m excited about picking them up in the week.

My sister and I still haven’t booked our holiday in Florence yet, although we did start browsing the internet on Wednesday evening. We’ve found a few hotels we like the look of, the main issue is our snobby flight requirements – We’d like to fly with BA or Alitalia, preferably from Heathrow, Gatwick if we have to, and we’d ideally like a mid-morning flight to maximise our girlie getaway (not too much to ask really?!?). I’ll continue to search, my sister is leaving it to me to organise (she’s said she’ll provide the credit card though) and hopefully we’ll have something booked in the next week or so. Eek exciting.

That’s me done for tonight; wishing all you loved up folk a fab time tomorrow and fellow singletons remember you’re loved by many people every day of the year.

L x

Smug Me

~ lorz83 ~ Leave a comment

I’m currently sat here watching (in between typing) the Ireland Vs Wales RBS 6 Nations match (as well as being into the bikes, I’m a rugby fan too!) although I must admit I’m a little less interested since Gordon D’Arcy has retired from International games.

So I’m feeling pretty pleased with myself this week as I actually managed to get my Kim K to the gym five times this week! Yep I had my PT session with Phil on Monday (I had joked that this post may be called RIP Phil – Death by Kettlebell – after he had me kettlebell swinging amongst other hideous workouts). I then had my usual Tuesday stint where I went on the bike, which I swear is getter harder and tougher the fitter I become – What’s that all about? Wednesday’s are usually saved for dinner with my sister, however I had arranged to meet with some friends, but as we weren’t meeting until 7:45pm I had time for a gym sesh; so straight from work I headed to Nuffield did 40 minutes on the bike, 5 minutes on the rower, 10 minutes on the cross trainer and then one my besties came in and she got us set up with some weights and we did a little circuit together. Its always easier and more fun to work out with someone else, to learn new things and support each other. I then did solo bike and cross trainer work Thursday and Friday. Oh and Monday through to Thursday I went on lunch time walks, clocking up around 10 to 12 miles. Smug Laura.

Following on from Wednesdays workout I met up with my girlfriends for dinner. I’ve not seen the girls since before my holiday in September, so it was really lovely seeing them and having a good old gossip. After faffing around showering, drying and straightening my hair and sorting my face out, I was a little late arriving at the restaurant. The first thing my friend said was “Undo your coat – I need to see how much weight you’ve lost” I’ve said before that I don’t really think that I’ve particularly lost weight or changed in appearance but both my gorgeous friends on Wednesday evening seem to think I have, so I’m bagging the compliments (which I don’t normally accept) and using them as my motivation to stick with the gym and progress through ‘Mission Love Me’. As a reward for my gym visit earlier in the evening I did treat myself to a cheeky G&T (slimline tonic) oh and I also had a piece of Tiramisu (I had only had a salad as my main – Hell I don’t need to justify myself!)

Yesterday evening was full of giggles as my sister and I went to Henley on Thames to see BYP’s production of Rock of Ages at the Kenton Theatre. We had been told not to expect a Tony Award winning performance, however parts of it were really well done, with great comic timing, others looked as though random people had just wandered on the stage.  Due to the atrocious weather last night we only stayed for the show and then headed home, however I must say I clocked a number of extremely good looking men in a bar we walked past, so I think perhaps Henley may be calling me for a Gin & Tonic or two.

L x

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MOT Pass – Advisories – Body work requires some work

~ lorz83 ~ Leave a comment

So Friday evening I had another date with gym; as I said last week things are getting quite serious, and these dates are certainly helping with mission ‘Love Me’

Before my hot and sweaty session this week I had an MOT, yep like a car, I was checked and tested to see if I’m in good condition and working order. Good news is I passed, it would appear that both my PT and solo workouts are paying off – Yay! Internally I am apparently in tip top shape, fantastic, however there was an advisory, boo, which basically says my body work needs some work (tell me something I didn’t already know) So there’s obviously only one thing for it, I’m going to have to seriously up my game and as Nike preach “Just Do It”

With advisories for your car you’ve got a year to fix any issues, I’m giving myself 20 weeks to panel beat my exterior. In 20 weeks time my sister and I will been sunning ourselves, enjoying pizza, pasta, fine wine, gelato and that wonky tower in Pisa, on a girly holiday in Florence. Although no flights or hotels have been booked yet I am very excited!! Those who know me will know that for me to have to wait 5 months before jetting off somewhere will be tough – I love a holiday. I usually have at least two a year; last year me and one of my best friends had a girly weekend in Paris, then Mum and I had a 6 day break in Barcelona, primarily for the Catalunya MotoGP, but we also saw lots of the iconic sights and ate some amazing food (anyone going to Barca has to visit Uma http://www.thefork.com/restaurant/uma/48497 it’s fab) and then my final holiday of 2015 (yes sadly I only jetted out of the country 3 times, well twice actually plus 1 Eurostar journey) I went to Sharm El Sheikh in September.

On one hand September seems forever ago, on the other it seems like last week. I can honestly say that my week in Sharm was one of the best weeks I’ve had. I went on my own (the price a holiday loving singleton has to pay when all her friends are married or attached) well I say alone, I went back to a hotel my friend and I had stayed in a few years ago, a friend we met there in 2013 was working at the hotel so I knew I wouldn’t be completely on my own (although I hadn’t banked on his girlfriend, Polly Pocket, being there so that did change the dynamics somewhat)

With Polly kiboshing the holiday I thought I was going to have, I did what I love doing and I networked. I mingled and made friends and had a fantastic time. My new friends adopted me, we’d meet by the pool after breakfast, have some giggles into between swimming and sunbathing and then we’d have dinner together and drinks in the bar. They even managed to get me on the stage doing karaoke with them, taking me so far out of my comfort zone! Monday evening was Pool Party night – So much fun. We drank cocktails with every spirit known to man in, and topped it off with giant measures of Ouzo. I somehow managed to walk back to my room (after announcing to my new friends that I was going to the bar because I felt the party had finished too early, only to change my mind and zigzag my way across the complex to my room) which was freezing because I’d foolishly left the aircon on, doh! I dropped the towel that was wrapped around me and crawled into my bed, damp bikini still on, contact lenses still in and the next thing I knew the sun was shining and its Tuesday morning – Come on, that’s a good night and sums up the weeks shenanigans. Thank you The Greens & The Kenleys for my holiday memories.

I’m not sure I’ll be able to wait until June for my next holiday, and with the emails from Secret Escapes, Voyage, BA and Monarch (email subject “Fancy a little city break”) sitting in my inbox I’m certain my passport will see the light of day in the next few months! Anyone fancy a little trip with me?

L xSharmParisImage-1

Friday night, date night

~ lorz83 ~ Leave a comment

Date night with…….

Gym! Yes yes that’s right, you have read this correctly, there is no typo. I had another hot and sweaty date with Gym, the fourth date in the space of 5 days in fact. It’s early days and pretty intense but I think this relationship is really hotting up and I can see myself in it for the long haul.
*NB I have noticed a few fit fitties in the gym over the past few evenings – This will surely only help my new love blossom 😝*

I must admit after a long week a G&T would be very much welcomed, however after my date tonight I just don’t have the energy to slice a lime to accompany the Bombay and Fever Tree. My apparent love for gym has temporarily tainted my love for gin.

So on Monday I had another PT session. I’m not going to lie it was another tough sesh but as Kelly Clarkson likes to sing “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” so although I left there feeling half dead I am still very much alive and building up my muscles nicely 💪🏻
My intention was to go to the gym every night this week but I failed early on by missing Tuesday’s visit (I somehow managed to detour into the retail park enroute and accidentally walked out of New Look with a new top, cardy and skirt 🙊 Oopsy)
I think I have redeemed myself however by going Wednesday evening, last night and again tonight (15 and a half miles in an hour on the bike, not so shabby)

I am now pretty shattered (combination of the exercise bike & old age) and my bed is calling me, so until next time I shall say good night and wish you all sweet dreams 😴

L x

 

 

 

Gym, Gin & The Game of Life

~ lorz83 ~ Leave a comment

Welcome to my blog!

Hi! I’m Laura, 32 and single.  At the end of last year I decided that 2016 is going to be the year I learn to love myself, one step towards achieving this was going to the gym so I thought I’d journal the highs and lows of ‘Mission Love Me’
I’ve never really written in a diary, I think the last time I did Bridget Jones was on at the cinema, so I would have been around 18 (jeez that was a long time ago!) Unlike Miss Jones my tipple is Gin (and of course wine) so it only seemed fitting that it features in my blogs title “Gym, Gin & Game of Life”

Like most girls I have continuous battles with my weight and size, which is emotionally exhausting – hence why the gym often feels like such an effort and chore.  I rejoined the gym back in 2014 and I religiously went 4 or 5 times a week for a good few months; then of course something pops up, a holiday or a cold and before I knew it I wasn’t going, I’d fallen off the wagon.  My membership continued and I would go through phases of being a gym bunny to not even knowing where my trainers were collecting dust!  In September I decided things had to change and in order to become a ‘Bad Ass with a Good Ass’ I got myself a Personal Trainer – Eek!!

I had my 14th PT session on Monday and I swear each week he is trying to kill me!  My personal trainer is Phil – I used to work with him (obviously not in a gym) before he became a trainer.  I’m not sure if Phil being a friend is a good thing or a bad thing; does he push me harder or is he a little softer on me?!?  With an array of different coloured kettlebells at various weights, TRX ropes, step boxes our sessions go something like this:

Phil: Are you warmed up? Right I’m going to push you really hard tonight.  Me: Eugh!! Phil: Right you’re going to do 10 x deadlifts then 10 x squats followed by 10 x blah blah blah (that’s what I hear at least) Me: Oh I hate these. Me: These are the worst. Me: Hideous! Me: Seriously this is the worst week!

It’s no wonder I feel like he’s killing me – I’d want to kill me after all my moaning, wincing and whinging.  I think Phil might actually be a Saint and I’m really thankful to him for putting up with me.  At the end of each session we head over to the mats (best part of the hour workout) and he always tells me I’ve done really well.  I always think he’s lying, but as friends and family have begun telling me the gym is paying off, perhaps I should start believing them all.

So that’s the ‘gym’ covered in brief.  ‘Gin’ is gin and doesn’t really need much of an explanation.  It’s my tipple of choice these days, an acquired taste that my palate only became accustomed to at the age of 28/29.  Which just leaves ‘Game of Life’ which again doesn’t really need explaining – My view is that life, especially ones love life is somewhat a game.  Take dating as an example, or should I say the search for a date.  Shamefully I have Tinder and POF installed on my phone, classed as dating apps but really should be listed as games.  Swipe left, swipe right….Snap! Oh I mean ‘It’s a match’  Often that’s as far as the game gets and its ‘Game Over’ before any things happened, sometimes however things progress and the game commences and you work your way through the levels; this will for sure be a topic I cover frequently on this blog…..so until I type again, thank you for reading my first ever post.

L x