Part of the reason I kept the horse magazines all those years wasn’t for the horsey articles but the ones about rider fitness and exercises specific to riding. I’ve even spent hours trawling the Internet looking for a poster I saw once about exercises to do at the yard. So letting go of them was more about accepting, I’m not going to get fit from a book.

I am terrible for thinking that fitness comes from a bottle, even as the magazine’s were burning I had two 6minute toning books on order. Ok they were free through my Andrex puppy points. But still they now sit on the shelf with the free Pilates DVD I was enticed into ordering the last time. Thinking hey that’s what I need, even if I only did it once a week it would help. Yep it’s never even been played.

The only piece of equipment I have brought recently and would recommend, is the balance board. I first saw this at Hoys -hang on that’s not true last year I actually wanted one that had a marble run on it. I remember squeaking to hubby about it- it must of gone out of my mind though, until I saw the think like a pony team have them at there stand.

I rather sneakily headed over on the pretence of being interested in thinking like a pony. Just so I could give it a go. I think the girl gave me some blurb about it helping to engage your core and being aware of your balance etc. I quickly ended it there, I didn’t want to end up being blindfolded holding onto a head collar. And I had worked my legs enough walking up to our seats.

I managed to pick one up from tesco for ten pounds. Which when I think of the money I have spent in the past actually isn’t that bad. It sits beside my desk and every so often I stand on it. It does give you a work out. And you can feel it in your core and legs, apparently you can do some more complex moves with it which I’m not quite at that stage just managing to stand straight is enough at the moment.

As much as I would recommend the balance board. I think the thing for me is I need to get out with the dogs walking again. Luckily the poor things have four acres to run around, and my old boy likes his home comforts. Saying that though he is the first one to the door if he thinks they are going out, he’s also the first back to the car when we have been out.

The mental block I have is though is one it hurts to start walking again, but what’s worse is the frustration of not being able to walk for the distances we were. In fact I doubt we would be able to get from the car park to the beach front without some whining. And of course we’re not use to the elements any more. All those months hibernating in front of the TV really haven’t done us any favours.

But we need to start somewhere. Well more specifically I need to start, I’m sure the boys would just lump it. I’m the one that puts these barriers up and I’m the one that has to break through them. I’ve made changes to my diet recently and to how I’m doing the horses, now it’s time to get back out with the dogs….

And two my sweet tooth has got out of control once again, I even found myself dreaming about it. And whereas before I could have some and that be enough to last me now it’s almost like the second I’ve finished one bar of chocolate I’m thinking about another.

You should see the empty wrappers in my car! I noticed last night as I was picking up one of the boy’s school friends for a party. There were wrappers everywhere it was almost like I had ransacked a sweet shop. Which I suppose you could say I did.

So yesterday was it my first day of cutting out all sweet things (fruit, yogurt and mints excluded) but you get the idea no chocolates, no biscuits cakes desserts and certainly no more pancakes. This isn’t going to be forever only until I am back in the saddle so to speak.

I know there is no good day to start, but I certainly tested my resolve yesterday at the kiddie party. I said no to the homemade flapjack and delicious looking birthday cake. And I also managed not to eat any of the savoury treats on offer; sure I had about ten strong mints.

What really helped me make it through though were thoughts of the Thai we were having later.

The annoying part was no long after eating I was hungry! That sort of thing just isn’t fair, still thoughts of my beef and mushroom baguette for lunch today carried me through the evening, so yep I am feeling a bit chuffed with myself.

AS for the exercise aspect of it, I have gone over and over different forms of exercise but I just no I won’t find time for them I find it hard enough giving Nas more than a cursory look some days.  So the obvious solution will be combining family time with walking the dogs again J

Oh and I am definitely going to look through my magazines for some stretches, I can do when in front of TV etc. I also thought I would go back to using gloves and a bucket to muck out rather than using my speed skip that way I get to stretch the back of my legs.

I generally just need to get a sense of movement into my life again, the more I eat the more sedentary I come, and vice versa. It’s one of life’s vicious circles. And even though I am busy  most days it’s pretty full on from when I get up at 6am I don’t actually push myself out of my comfort zone that often.

I also want to get back to the point where exercising is enjoyable and not a chore

I’m not one of your manic cleaners if anything I do border on being a bit of a slob. Hence I always have to keep myself in check. Plus with animals and lil ones things quickly become out of hand. – Bear in mind then that while I’m typing this, I should really either be a: out mucking out, b: tidying and cleaning or c: walking the dogs. I have though chosen none of the above and my own…: sit and type whilst enjoying a rather tasty coffee…

My current weight is 22st3lbs. Which I’m pleased with because I haven’t been particularly good to warrant a drop or particularly bad to warrant a gain either. Other than the hobnobs and bowl of cereal yesterday. I was quite good, I’ve even got use to sharing my dessert with Horatio when we eat out and also fully expect him to eat more. now normally that would put me in a very bad mood, but seeing as he’s my son I can’t really plus I was getting fed up of buying him something of his own only to watch him leave it and still try to eat mine.

we did go for a walk along the beach much to Horatio’s protests, and we had a run around in the water which was fun and I really wish we had on video… there was me Steve and Horatio with the three dogs -Huggy,Mardy,Norbit- all going crazy in the water… I know it’s a cliché but what a difference the sun makes to your mood. I was a little bit on edge because it was warm and Nas had sweated up in the field (time to clip) but he was fine when I got home.

I’m not sure how long this warm patch is going to last but I know I will enjoy it whilst it’s here. Hence why I had my legs out yesterday eugh! They look horrible. There was a point when I was walking loads that they were really beginning to tone up. But since moving other than the stroll along the beach and a couple of times I walked the dogs close to home I really haven’t done much.

Again it’s to do with my head being a jumble and not being in a proper routine… I said to Steve last night that I was looking forward to some down time other the next few weeks and he gave me a funny look like what are you on about. And sure we haven’t been running around as much as usual, but it has still been constant pressure to get the house straight for visitors, get into a routine with Nas – if I don’t muck out first thing even if it’s tempting to chill with family I still have to do it and it plays on your mind.

Also the biggest thing has been getting into school mode for Horatio, as much as I love the extra time and Horatio enjoys the time with new friends. It’s still a big chunk of your week gone. And whereas before if we didn’t do something one day we always knew we could do it the next. Well now we can’t and to add to it we’re not popping distant from a town anymore to go anywhere is an hour to hour and half trip. Which is a big chunk if you want to get Horatios dinner and not too late into bed.

These are all things that have plus sides as well… Nas can stay out longer now, the dogs aren’t so desperate for a walk because we have the garden and fields and they can follow me around when I poo pick. And with Horatio at school it is less tempting to just go out, and hopefully that will mean we spend less and I get more time with Nas. So what I was trying to say was I was looking forward to more quality family time as well as more time for me.

Over the last week or so I’ve found more time to sit down and read a book with Horatio, or watch a film with him and still cook dinner. The next thing is to find some quality Nas time and then everything will be perfect, just as soon as I stop worrying about the what if’s…

I then walked the dogs before lunch, we did 1.5miles in 42mins. I’m kind of pleased with that seeing as I was trying to keep the dogs under control while sussing out a new area. the path is tough going in places and there is one hairey scarey place as you have to walk down the main road without a path. Luckily a kind farmer has left a track along his field and you can hop behind the hedge.

Again I am a stress head and worry a farmer will catch me and shout at me – Can you tell i come from an era where you respected/feared 3 types of people  your yard owner, local farmers and policemen – if the worse happens then i wont be able to do that walk, but for now I will keep trying to do it on a daily basis.

Diet wise, has been good I had brunch at midday scrambled eggs on muffins. Then about three ish we had tea and cake. I’m just about to cook dinner, it was going to be pork in white wine and sage sauce. but then i just noticed the fajita packet and some coleslaws in the fridge. oh the choices lol.

Of the move, the animals had had enough much the same as us lol. We had spent most of the day cleaning our old place and packing up some more boxes.

We didn’t get the horsebox until late and then we headed straight to newmarket to pick up a bed. We didn’t get to bed until 11pm poor Horatio was knackered.

Day three again was manic, I was up at 6am to clean the oven. By this time the dogs definitely new something was up ESP when we loaded the sofas (their beds) lol.

Huggy decided he was coming with them. Mardy slept most of the day by the drivers door, and norbit just followed me everywhere like glue all day.

We decided to work flat out on the second run and get it all in, including the dogs. We got to the new house about 9pm where we unloaded before collapsing.

Food wise we actually managed to stop in the morning for a rather tasty breakfast. The rest of the day was crisps and chocolate when I found five mins.

Silly Mardy thinks the new turf is actually a comfy dog bed.

Norbit thinks the sudden appearance of the sun, is too much.

I don’t blame him, the thunderbugs are annoying.

 I might of been able to jump straight back on the diet wagon… the fitness one is taking a little more effort. Not quite sure what the problem is, my symptoms are… Breathing heavier than normal (putting this down to the beginnings of hay fever). Hips have been playing up recently (putting this down to sleeping funny). General aching and fatigue of the muscles in my legs (putting this down to need either a nice massage or a long holiday). Obviously I would prefer the latter lol.

 Seriously though I have found it a struggle to walk the dogs around my basic mile walk recently in fact so much so I have cut it back down to the half a mile quick one around the field. Admittedly this is also due to being tight on time. And the weather has been particularly crappy the last week or so. I’m hoping to get them out on a long one this afternoon, once I find out what everyone else is doing on the yard.

 I’ve also got to work Nas today, we did a basic lunge session with side reins yesterday, and today I was going to try long reining with the Claire lilley feeline, think I will end up using the pessoa on him, that way he can have a good workout today, a bit of a rest tomorrow. Before I hopefully get back on him again on Friday. As I said yesterday I haven’t been back on him for a couple of weeks and I got into a bit of a funk about it… when I was sitting on sofa the other night thinking hmm what can I munch, I looked at my phone and saw the picture of me riding him. And I just thought hey that’s what makes me happy that’s what I want to be doing right now, even at 10 o clock at night.

I’ve not had time for much exercise so far this week; i lost a couple of days just tidying Horatio’s bedroom up. It’s funny how when you focus on one thing the rest seems to go to pot. So today i have to go through rest of house. And spend some time with Nas, (that shouldn’t be too hard the sun is out today). I’ve managed to walk the dogs again properly and have worked out a longer route to do. Again i will try that today.

Hoping to be ultra good today and stick to it to get a loss on the scales tomorrow, its getting silly now. i just want to get below 320 and then start work on the next 10lbs. as i said it looks like it will be a nice day, its always easier for me to be good on days when its bright and i can hear the birds singing lol. Talking of singing, I,m going to have a hunt through itunes for something upbeat, maybe it will help me put a bit more oomph into the day.