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The Slinky Project

Powering On

Off having my walk
Off having my walk

I have been walking and cutting down extras in my diet, so starting to feel good about it all. How have you been going if you are trying to tone up or lose some weight? I do find it is hard to keep it all going. I only need something to happen, an event like a kid getting sick or bad weather and it is not as good as it was before. I am sure this happens to all of you as well. I must try and make exercise part of my everyday.

Do you manage to make exercise part of your everyday? If so send in tips and tricks to how you make sure you fit it all in. I must admit I was so much better at it when I had no kids, and that can be said for the housework and getting all things done. I hate being interrupted and find it is difficult once you get stopped to continue on especially when looking after little people.

Oh well, must get back to the tidying, but wanted to say hi to you all and to see how you are all going on your own journey of fitness.  I am keen to find out if what I have been doing is making a difference. I went to weigh myself the other day but the Wii Fit is not connected up to the new digital TV system, so will have to wait till hubby sets it up. No rush as I am thinking I might be about the same as before or even worse more! I am trying to be positive and believe it will be less than I was before.

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The Slinky Project

Wild Flowers

Today I walked for 40mins and burnt  445 kcal. I even picked some wonderful wild flowers that are now making my kitchen sunny. I wanted to share the lovely sunshine that the flowers are giving me. Also I am pleased that I got the flowers for free!

Wild Flowers
Wild flowers that I picked on my walk today.
Flowers looking happy in the kitchen
Flowers looking happy in the kitchen

Have you managed to get something while on a walk and it made your day? Years ago I picked up 2 kids chairs that were sitting on the side of the road for council clean up (this is when the council picks up your rubbish and takes it to the tip rather than you paying for it) this was a good find as I needed 2 chairs and they twins love them and use them all the time. Let us know what you have found? Was it something useful or just a pretty bunch of flowers? Send in your comments.

 

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The Slinky Project

Sun, Exercise and Swimming

Yesterday it was such a lovely day and both girls especially Julia were bugging me to take them swimming.  If I was to drive to the pool mummy would get no exercise, the kids are not ready to just leave on their own so I can do laps, so I need to supervise and I love doing that but wanted to at least have some exercise for me.  What should I do?  I know, put the kids in the pram and walk to the pool!

This sounded like a great idea but then doing it I did have moments of why the hell I did this, what a crazy lady I am! It was the hills and the fact that some areas don’t have a footpath that posed some issues. Also with the kids chanting faster, faster and so on did not help when I ran out of steam at various points, mostly with the hills and making sure I hung on downhill so not to have the pram get away from me. With the fact that the girls are bigger now, there is more weight in the pram, so if you do go down a hill no matter how small it tries to get away from you. Not good, but we managed and I think next time I do this, if I do, I will choose a different way that will hopefully be easier.

After walking for ages, we all arrived at the pool, getting in after a hot walk was wonderful. The girls were kitted out with their backboards and just loved jumping and playing in the pool. They were very independent and I only helped if they needed their goggles on or fixed and of course if they were in danger.

The girls are doing very well with their swimming since we have not been to a paid lesson for a while. Lillian was doing the strokes like freestyle and Julia was on her back and kicking very well and of course Lillian did this as well. They discovered how fun it was jumping into the water at the deep end, it was giggles, laughing and joy was had by all of us.  One lady mentioned that they need a level removed from their backboards as they are doing very well with 4, so they would need to work harder with 3. Soon they will not need it at all, and what a day that will be.

After the pool, we had to walk home, and we faced more hills and no footpaths. Oh why can’t this be easy! My body was tired and over the walk but we had to get home. I kept on thinking I did this to myself and I was crazy at deciding to walk there, I had no one else to blame but me.  All three of us ended up home but I was the only one huffing and sweating from the experience.

Just to give you an idea of what distance I travelled, here is the breakdown:

Home to Pool – 2.8kms

Pool to Post Office – 1.8kms

Post Office to home – 1.7kms

Total kms walked: 6.3kms

Have you decided to do something that sounded like a great idea and then while you were doing it you thought, why am I doing this? Am I crazy for this? I should have driven to the pool. The Slinky Project ™ is one of the reasons that I am motivated to incorporate more exercise into my day. My May deadline will be here soon, so I have to power on until then.

Send in your comments, what have you done that while you were doing it you wish you choose the simple way to get it done? I do know I will be better for it in the long run, but you cannot help think all sorts of things when things get tough and tiring when in the process or the exercise.

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4 years and beyond The Slinky Project University Study

Time Dilemma

I went for a nice walk and jog or otherwise known as cross training yesterday. I felt great and good that I did it and my body was alive. I was all set to do it again today when my nose will not stop running and eyes are watery. I know another excuse but the other issue is that I need to complete a university assignment that is due today. I need to focus on the university assignment as this is my second last subject and I need to pass or at least better than that so that I can graduate next year. I am so happy about the graduate part, but need to do well or else no graduation, right? I am just keen to get it all done, then the time will by my own again. Aside from kids and other things.

It is hard when you have a lot on and it all happens at once, especially when you just want to shut the door and be left alone to concentrate. Do you find that this happens when you have something rather important to finish? I do. I know I am not the only one.

I will put the pram in the car and the kids and I will go for a walk this afternoon after school, this way I will be able to do my study and fit in some exercise. It is such a glorious day today, sunny and so warm it would be a shame to miss out on the great weather.  Don’t fear, I am still working towards The Slinky Project ™.

What do you do when you have so much on? Are you very organised and have it all scheduled? I do try and I get a lot done, however when I do need to spend my time at the computer for long stretches with uni it is hard to get all things done, especially while they are at pre-school. It makes me think that my post about “Cloning me would fix everything”, my other selves could do all the other things around the house, laundry, cleaning, and I would be left to do uni work and study? Or maybe some sewing?

Send in your tips and tricks for what works best for you. Why not continue the discussion on our twitter or facebook pages.

 

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The Slinky Project

The Slinky Project

Hi all, I have been trying to lose weight and tone up. I am not that bad but don’t feel comfortable and would feel better if I lost more weight, I suppose most people are in this boat.  It is hard with kids, study, the house to maintain and other things in your life. I know these are all just excuses and other people manage it. The issue I have is that I cannot just take a walk as I have two kids that need to come with me. I do try and put them into the pram but then it limits where you go, at the end of the day if I am walking with kids in the pram it is better than not walking, right?

So my plan is to get fit and wonderful by my birthday. Yes I have a deadline and thought I would expose it so I will get motivated to keep to my timeline, good idea right? I hope so! Now if I fail, I will fail publicly. Maybe it will help me stick to it. My birthday is in May so I have about 7 months to have a good go at it. I have a number of kilos that I would love to lose, pounds or stones depending on where you live. However I would rather just see what the outcome is and if I lose my targeted amount that is just the icing on the cake.

So I have decided to start The Slinky Project™, it is a project to get me fit, toned and by the time of my wonderful birthday next year, looking like a new and improved woman. Some might call me a yummy mummy by this stage, well I can live in hope.

To ensure success this is what I will be doing to for The Slinky Project™:

  • Try and exercise a bit each day, walking, jogging, zumba, swimming, or aqua aerobics (anything that gets me moving)
  • Lower portion size
  • Eat less meat
  • More lean protein
  • Less sugar – no treats or only on special occasions
  • Hardly any alcohol (yes I know I do like a glass of wine sometimes for dinner)
  • Will try and get up early to fit in some stretching – find this hard due to loving my sleep, but will try as need to get motivated
  • Look at more vegetarian meals and recipes, so if you have some send them in!

So this is the start of the new me, or actually a new and improved me. I am still me, just would like to have less of me if you know what I mean.  My issue is finding time to exercise all the time, hubby works late and then he does not get home till late, so I cannot just leave the kids to go off and exercise. Thank goodness for daylight saving, more daylight and hopefully more opportunity to walk in great weather.

What do you do to make sure that you have time for exercise? Does your partner or family help you? Do your kids join in with you when you exercise or do kids helping make exercise redundant?  Has having a deadline for your weight loss goals helped you? Send in your tips and tricks.

Why not continue the discussion on our twitter or facebook pages.