Small steps

First week of my new fitness lark and it hasn't been too bad. This is all relative - in five days I've been jogging twice and horse riding once. The running thing wasn't as bad as I expected, bearing in mind the (non healthy) things I've put my body through over the years. I had the support of Team B - the Mutt running along with me and my Top Son on his bike shouting encouragement like 'see those old women who've just gone past, they're going much faster than you'. Cheers Son! I'm sure we looked an impressive outfit, as if preparing for the 2012 Olympics, me well out of breath and gasping after a few hundred metres (and still no sports bra), Mutt soaked from jumping into every bit of river/ puddle/ flood he could find, and son zooming past waiting for no woman or dog on his bike shouting his supportive comments.

Indeed Son has turned into Mr Motivator (some would say he's just very bossy, no idea who he gets that from...) as I got home after work and a supermarket trip after 7pm one night and really did not feel like going running. But my lack of enthusiasm was met with a disgusted look and comments of 'But you said you were going to get fit and do this run really well.. you'll never do it if you don't practice'...etc. It was enough of a telling off and echo of things I might say to him, to make me pull on those trainers and trackie bottoms for another Team B outing. delighted when Son told me the gadget on his bike said I'd done a mile, bit disappointed when he said this was actually the total - and it'd been half a mile there and half a mile back. Never mind, small steps...

Also done the horse riding thing again... and much less face redenning than last time (that definitley was the sun!) A bit nervous going along to a group session as I feared it would be filled with young daft girls all really good riders and show offs, so I was relieved and pleased to find its only a small group and we're all of a similar age and just there to enjoy it. The others same as me rediscovering something they enjoyed 20+ years ago. I was worried that if I didnt enjoy it I'd be put off going again, but was great fun and great company, so think the Tuesday Trotters will be a regular thing. Best get myself hat, boots and stuff now so i don't let the group down in the style stakes!

Should improve the eating habits a bit more I think... trying but must do better i think the phrase would be. As an instance, the other day had a healthy salad for lunch and snacked on fruit during the day (very good), then finished work, dashed to pick up son, pick up friend and then onto the cinema to see the rather long Harry Potter film. We got home after 10pm. As a result my dinner consisted of salted popcorn and two scoops of ice cream (very nice but not very healthy).

But I've discovered M&S do something v nice called Blueberry Wine Cooler, which looks like a bottle of wine but isn't really - its only 4% alcohol & obviously has lots of fruit in it eg blueberries-so it must be healthy. Bought lots of this as have decided that this is an acceptable substitute for proper wine. at least during the week. Small steps, after all.