Friday 27 September 2013

Fit Before 40 - The First Ten Weeks

As I get that little bit closer to turning 40 (18 months to go) I have been thinking about my health and fitness levels.  After so many years being pre natal, post natal and a very tired mother of preschoolers, time to exercise was limited.  Also since moving to our village three years ago I seem to walk less.  Before when we lived in a town I would walk the children to school, which was almost a mile away, walk to the town and not even think of it as exercise.  This helped me trim down after having my youngest but now we live in a more rural setting the distance to school isn't quite so far.  Although my husband and I have a rule that we don't drive to somewhere in the village unless it's raining or very cold.  So the children walk to school, to brownies and guides, to panto rehearsals and the park.  But working from home made us live a more sedentary lifestyle.  

So starting my course last year made me think about my lack of exercise.  Obviously living a active healthy life is better for us and this becomes even more obvious in my new career.  Active and fit people tend to cope better with treatment. So in my last few weeks of clinical practice before the summer I was so tired and felt so unfit I decided to spend my summer getting fit. Seeing several people share the 30 Day Shred DVD on their Instagram feeds and Facebook pages and they were seeing results, I decided to give it a try.  

Ten weeks on I can say I feel a lot fitter, stronger and more toned.  I am not wanting to lose weight particularly, just to be fitter and toned, fit not thin, yet I have to admit I am a little slimmer, even other people have said!  Now I don't manage to workout everyday, but I do aim for four times a week.  Yes it means getting up half an hour earlier to fit it in and yes that can be hell.  But afterwards I feel good, taking time for me and looking after me.  This is something so many of us forget to do. Working mothers, whether we work at home or away from home, we rarely take time for ourselves.  Guilt and time restraints make us focus on the home, the family and forget that we are the motor that keeps all this going.  If we get poorly, are not taking care of ourselves, then things don't run quite so well.  This is of course true for women in general, we juggle so many things, children or no children, that often exercise isn't high on our list of priorities.  But I think we all need to find something we enjoy, whether it's taking the dog on a long walk, circuit training, running,yoga or swimming, then make time to do it at least three times a week.  As one of the big sportswear brands says 'Just Do It'!

I will be writing every so often about my progress, in a bid to get fit before I'm forty.  I plan to do a 10k race before I turn forty, but need to workout how to fit in running to my week! I also really want to do the Moonwalk in London next year, but need to persuade a friend or two to join me, as I really don't want to do it on my own.  

Have a fab weekend and until next time take care.
Zoe
x

Saturday 14 September 2013

Help I have a magazine addiction

In between reading journals and textbooks I still love to read magazines and other books.  I guess my love for magazines grew when I was a freelance writer, but I can honestly say it goes way back before my writing days.  As a little girl I loved that my mum had Twinkle delivered for me with her newspaper and I then grew older and read Mizz, J17 and moved onto More as I progressed through my teens. Then Cosmo and Marie Claire were favourites of mine during my uni days.  Then at 23 I had my first child and I found myself reading parenting magazines and somewhere along the line discovered my favourite ever women's magazine, Eve. Sadly this magazine hasn't been in print for a few years and I now subscribe to Red, for my women's magazine fix.

Yet since those early days of motherhood and marriage we have moved to the countryside and so of course one of my monthly reads is Country Living.  This is one of my mainstay magazines and I know I will be reading it still in twenty years time.  Combining my love of the countryside and interiors I also reguarly read Country Homes and Interiors. I especially love this magazine in Autumn and leading up to Christmas as it always seems so cosy in their pages! 

The past couple of years has seen a surgance in craft magazines, but my favourite is still Mollie Makes.  Every page is a complete delight to read and every month I excitedly await it to land on my doormat. The crafty makes are always fab and my daughters and I have spent many afternoons making things and I love to read about  the designers lives and homes.  Obviously being a huge fan of Mollie Makes it was a natural progression to start reading The Simple Things, from the same publishing company.  I actually think I love this magazine even more than its sister mag! 

I may not read as many fashion and interiors magazines anymore, since leaving my career as a writer, but as you can see there are some magazines I simply cannot live without.  So what makes a good magazine, one that makes me want to subscribe, to read it forever?  A good page layout, images that speak to me, my lifestyle, stories that ignite interest or capture my imagination, pages that make me want to sit down or snuggle up with a cup of tea.  So what makes a good magazine for you? Do you have any favourites, past and present or ones you know you want to read forever?

Until next time, take care.
Zoe
x

Friday 13 September 2013

Reluctant to Pack Away My Flipflops

Yes it is true I am reluctant to pack away my flip flops just yet.  I want Summer to stay and play for a while longer.  I am not quite ready for beef stew although we have readily enjoyed blackberry crumbles made with our haul from the bush at the bottom of the garden.  But warm fires and mugs of hot chocolate seem a far away thought.

It is too soon to hide the picnic basket into the back of the cupboard as I hope for just one more warm summery day on the beach.  I know it's September and I should consider taking a jumper, as there is a chill in the air, but I want to be free of several layers for just a little longer.

Yet I love driving through the lanes and seeing the trees change colour, greeted with the warm russets, orange and yellows.  The pheasants plumply toddle across the road and the tractors are busily finishing the harvest for another year.  Saturdays in the late autumnal sun beside the rugby pitch, wrapped up in a warm coat and scarf, cheering on my sons, watching through my fingers as they almost get sqaushed in the scrum.  Sunday afternoons spent crafting and playing scrabble, eating warm cake or crumpets. Maybe autumn isn't quite so bad?  But please just one more day of warm sun, so we can have one more picnic on the beach.  Then I will pack away my flip flops.

Until next time, take care.
Zoe
x

Thursday 12 September 2013

Settling into the New Term

After a lovely warm summer we all headed back to school last week and thankfully it seems to have gone smoothly. The downside is tired grumpy children as they settle back into routines but insist that times for bed are still in holiday settings! Of the joy of starving children meeting you in the playground at the end of the school day.  Fortunately after a plate of crackers and cheese and a glass of juice my little darlings are revived.  Yet the older three can almost eat a meal when they arrive home from the school bus ride and then still eat their dinner.  Honestly I am not sure where they put it all, but at least they are all very sporty and active so there are no fears of wider middles here!

Well I am almost at the end of my second week of the new academic year and boy what a difference being a second year makes.  The workload seems enormous, with plenty of extra reading to be done.  Yet the subject areas we studied as first years are now being explored in more detail and if I am honest, I am actually really excited about this.  Projects and assignments have been set and I am really looking forward to getting stuck in.  Having covered the basics in year one I feel that now it's time to get serious and I have already raided the library at uni. So much to learn and do but I couldn't be happier.

I hope you have all had a good start to the new school year, with happy, if a little more hungrier, children.  That new teachers are a welcome change and that the homework schedule isn't too gruelling just yet.  

Until next time, take care.
Zoe
x

Wednesday 4 September 2013

Another School Year Begins

This morning four of my children have headed back to school. Lucy has one more day, a day to enjoy some time with me as I also have a day off.  A new school year always holds so much anticipation.  Weighted down with high hopes and expectations, promise of fresh starts, new teachers and shiny new school shoes.  With my eldest starting in Year 11 today we enter the next level of schooling, GCSE's next summer, thoughts of choosing A level subjects and the task of attending sixth form open evenings.  For us this all new territory and I have to admit a little scary.  When did my little boy get so big and so close to heading out into the big wide world on his own? I want to treasure every moment even more so now, as I know very soon my nest won't be quite so full.

As well as looking at sixth form options we also have to chose and apply for Amber's high school place . She has headed off this morning as the eldest girl in her school, starting Year 6 with a mature attitude but always with a glimmer of fun in everything she does.  My beautiful fourth child will this time next year be dressed in a new uniform, entering a new school and making new friends alongside reuniting with old friends from her last primary school, having changed schools three years ago when we moved.  Again I want to press pause, just hold onto to these moments just a little bit longer.

My other three children all have exciting years ahead as well, Jack starts his GCSE years, entering Year 10, Lucy is no longer in the first year of high school and starts Year 8 and Kitty starts her last year in KS1 as she enters Year 2.  We are all excited to see what this new school year brings, many proud mummy moments I am sure.  

For everyone with children heading back to school this week I wish them luck, send virtual hugs and tissues to those with little ones starting school for the very first time.  I was devastated when one of my children headed off to school for their first time.  And for parents getting ready to deliver their children to a new city for the start of term at university, I send strength as I dread that day, when my children fly away to new beginnings without me.  Although I know they will live every moment to its fullest and when they need their washing doing will arrive home for the weekend!  

Until next time, take care.
Zoe
x

Monday 2 September 2013

Starting my Second Year

Well here I am sat at uni, ready for the start of my second year.  I can't quite believe the summer is over and feel a little disgruntled that I have returned to class before my own children, but hey ho that's just the way it is.  Studying for a medical or health degree does not give you the benefit of lovely long holidays as there is so much to fit in the three years.  However the biggest benefit I can see is that I will leave university with a qualification that will just about guarantee a job.  I will also be doing something I love, that will benefit so many people, so heading back to uni now isn't so bad.

I can't quite believe that I made it to the second year.  Believe me there were days when I almost threw in the towel.  But thankfully I have a rock of a husband, a fantastic clinical lecturer and a supportive mentor.  Without these three people I am not sure I would have made it this far.  Retraining is a huge change, so if you are contemplating heading in a new direction with your career be prepared for days when you question everything you are desperately trying to achieve.  

So here I go at the start of another roller coaster year that I know will be exciting, scary and bloody hard work! But I wouldn't want it any other way.

Until next time, take care.
Zoe
x