Featured Slider

A bit of an autumn & winter footwear wish list

Going forward I am starting dressing for myself and to be honest a lot is changing as I am on the journey of finding myself through my style. For years I have opted for the hype footwear but that is no longer happening and going forward I am going to be opting for pairs that work with the clothes I am going to be buying and what I like not just what is popping up on my Instagram feed. I am not 100% just what my style is going to be just yet but I do know it is going to be smarter than it currently is and my shoes need to work to make outfits look smart not brining them down like some pairs I have currently do.

I have been shopping around, finding inspiration from Pinterest and accounts I love on social media at the moment and have come up with a list of footwear I would love to add into my autumn & winter rotation and those pairs are...

Vans Authentic

You will notice a bit of a theme with the sort of footwear I want and it is going back to my early 20's a little bit but the love for Vans is well and truly back. I have never had a pair of the Authentic's before so it is now time to change that and I know I would 100% get my wear out of them with the sort of clothing I am currently leaning towards. I don't want a black or white pair of these though, I fancy something a bit different like the beige pair in the image above.


Vans Knu Skool

I have been considering buying these Vans for a while now but I have let others talk me out of getting them, that isn't happening anymore though and I plan to add a pair into my autumn & winter rotation ASAP. I can already see these working well with some of the jeans I already own and pairs I am looking at picking up in the near future so I know they would be worth the money in the long run. I think a simple black pair will work best too so I might have to keep an eye out on the price dropping on these.


Vans Old Skool

My current pair of Old Skool's are now about 5 years old and are starting to fall apart so I think a nice fresh pair is required to replace them now. It took me a while to get these broke in at first but then they became a favourite in my rotation and the fact they have lasted me so long I don't mind branching out for another pair if they last again. I already know I get my wear out of these and I know they go with basically all of my wardrobe.


Vans Sk8-Hi

I have always loved a good Hi Top shoe however, I haven't had one for a long time so it is finally time to change that. After a bit of shopping around I think I am settled on the Vans Sk8-Hi's as I think that these will again work with my outfit choices going forward and will work for all 4 seasons not just the two colder ones. The best thing about these is that you can usually find them on offer too so I won't be breaking the bank picking them up. 

Converse Comme Des Garcons

I recently got two pairs of the Converse throwback's and they have brought the love for Converse back. They are just so easy to style and basically go with everything in my wardrobe and the future purchases I have in mind. To mix it up a bit though I am thinking of adding a pair of the grey Comme Des Garcons into rotation. These are just different to a classic pair of Converse and will add a little extra to outfits going forward.


Timberland Boat Shoes

I got some Next boat shoes on the cheap to see if they worked for me and they certainly did so now I feel like I can justify paying the price for the Timberland ones I have been longing for. These are on the pricy side of things but with some of the jeans and trousers I have been buying recently these will work perfectly and hopefully I can add a pair into my autumn & winter rotation although I think if I did get them they would work for spring and summer too. I just love the vibe these give off and can't wait to get styling a pair.


Clarks Wallabees

Oh look it is another pair of shoes I am yet to pick up as others have told me not to bother and turned their noses up at, but now I am not bothered about what others think it is time to purchase a pair. These again are on the pricier side of things however, I don't own anything else like them and I just think they will smarten outfits up a bit for me. I am thinking nice trousers or smarter looking denim, these shoes and a nice button up shirt. These would be ideal for work too as they are smarter than the Nikes I normally rock up in.


Adidas Samba's

I definitely need to add some smarter looking trainers into my rotation and to be honest I am going off Nike's as they just don't seem to last me any more. I know the hype for the Samba's has gone however, I still love them and think they are just a smarter looking trainer, to go with the smarter looking outfits I am going for. I am hoping I can get a pair of these and look after them so they last me a while as I won't be wearing them daily just when I fancy a bit more of a casual comfy look. 


Adidas BW Army 

Ok so I may have been influenced by Instagram with these ones but I just love them and again they look like a smart trainer not a dress down one. I am picturing the outfits now, these trainers some wider leg trousers and a nice shirt or a simple t-shirt. This would look smart without being too smart and that is what I am here for these days. I know these are a lot like the Samba's however, the colours on these are just that bit muted and the lack of the 3 stripes on the side just elevates them a bit more.

Dr Marten Adrian Tassel Loafers

I recently got the bar version of these and I love them (and I saved a fortune on them which is always a bonus). I have noticed that my footwear rotation is full of loafers with gold or silver bars across them and I don't have a pair of tassel loafers so these would fill that space nicely. To me these are just a more relaxed pair of loafers where as my others look smarter and the fact that they are all black apart from the yellow stitching just makes them a bit more versatile. I already have the outfits in mind for these as I have been wanting to pick up a pair since early summer so maybe it is time to bite the bullet and make the purchase.

Dr Marten Oxford Shoes 

I don't actually own any 'shoes' just loafers or trainers and I think it is about time I added some shoes into my rotation. These have been a wish list item for a while but again others didn't like them so I didn't pick them up. Well I am putting my opinions first and I think these are going to be purchased for work as they will definitely add a smarter element to the outfits day to day and will make a nice change from loafers or trainers. 
Dr Marten Lowell Leather Moc Toe

Finally on the list we have another pair of Dr Marten's but this time it is a bit of an out there choice. These Cherry Red Moc Toe's keep drawing me in and I think I need to cave and pick up a pair especially for the autumn months. These with some jeans or chinos would be just what I have been picturing for my clothing going forward and again they could be easily dressed up or down. 

There you have it those are the pairs of footwear I am hoping to pick up for the autumn & winter footwear rotation however, all of these could easily be year round pairs making each purchase that bit more worthwhile. There are going to be plenty of fashion posts coming up as I am on a journey to find my style so get ready for those, whether they are styling posts, wish lists, pick ups or anything else fashion related as I finally start wearing what I want and wearing clothes for me for a change.

See you soon, 
Lucy
Posted by No comments
Labels: ,

Operation 95 Kg by the end of the year

 

September is my birthday month and also the month where I like to fully reset and that is exactly what I am doing. My weight loss journey really hasn't gone to plan in 2026 for multiple reasons but that is going to change as this month I am locking in on the journey in the hopes of making great progress by the 31st of December so I am heading into 2027 on the front foot.

I haven't been making the journey a priority however, something has clicked in me recently and I am really wanting to shift this weight to improve my life all round and so I can finally feel more confident and comfortable within my body. I have a bit of a crazy end goal weight and I want to be very close to achieving that goal by my 33rd birthday in September next year! As I say the goal is pretty far off where I am now however, my plan is to break it down into smaller chunks to make it sound a little less daunting and keep me focused. 

My first broken down goal is to hit 95 Kg by the 31st of December which is going to be a big ask as I am currently sat at 107.1 Kg meaning I have a total of 12.1 Kg to lose in 4 months! With Christmas thrown in the mix I know that I need to really focus to make this achievable but if I really want it I need to make sure my eyes are on the goal at all times.

The loss is an average of 3 Kg each month which if I lock in and nail the basics should be realistic I just need to remind myself what I am doing all this for. Some things are going to have to be sacrificed, I am going to need a lot of patience as the scales aren't always going to be my friend but I am sure with my current mindset I am more than capable of achieving this and getting 2027 underway in the right way.

So here are a few things I am going to do to help me along with my journey...

Reduce my alcohol intake

I don't drink loads however, my weight spikes when I do drink and it takes me a while to get it back down so between now and the end of the year my plan is simple, cut back on drinking just because I am out. My birthday trip will involve a few drinks but not loads, a family party will be alcohol free and Christmas may include a few drinks if progress has been made by then. By reducing alcohol the spikes will reduce but I can still enjoy myself. 

Reduce eating out and takeaways

Takeaways have been too much of a convenience for us and we have fallen back into old ways with them but that all changes now. One or two may be allowed each month but only if it is really necessary, my plan is to do fakeaways and just make more time for cooking at home as I know this will help reduce the weight as I will know exactly what I am eating without any hidden extras. Plus I have felt awful after our last few takeaways so are they really needed? As for eating out again this provides spikes due to hidden extras in oils etc so I am aiming to massively reduce this. I will be eating out on my birthday trip and may try limit meals out to one a month, this again should help the scales drop.

Control the binge

I am terrible for demolishing a bar or bag of chocolate in one go and bags of crisps but that also needs to change. If I feel the need to binge I will opt for something low calorie or some fruit, these choices will stop me getting in my own head for ruining my progress and should also help me snack without gaining weight.

Overhaul the diet

I am not going to cut everything out in one go however, over the next 4 months I am planning on overhauling the diet as it is terrible at the moment, convenience food is daily and there is a lack of nutritional value. The plan is to massively cut back on ultra processed and sugary foods and even go back to the occasional vegan meals as these helped my journey before.

Focus on my steps

Going into this with a fresh mindset is really helping and I know just how crucial getting my steps in daily is going to help. To begin with I am going to aim for 8,000 steps a day as I know this helps me massively however, once that seems easy I am going to up the steps gradually. With the weather turning this may mean treadmill walks to achieve the targets but I am looking forward to working towards this and seeing how the steps really do benefit me going forward. 

Workout a minimum of 3 times a week 

I know that my strength sessions are a big help for the weight loss so I am locking in and ensuring I am doing a minimum of 3 a week, if possible I will aim for 4 but I don't want to over do these. The past few weeks I have actually enjoyed getting in the home gym and just getting on with my sessions and the mental benefits are starting already. I can't wait to be able to see the benefits of these sessions showing in my body as the weight starts to drop.

Up the cardio 

I am smashing the strength sessions however, the cardio has dropped and I want to change that ASAP. Cardio is going to be a big help for making those scales drop and I am looking forward to seeing the benefits of upping the cardio. This might be from being on the treadmill or the bike but either way my body and overall fitness will thank me for this one.

Get a good amount of sleep

My sleep really hasn't been the best recently so my plan is to get some better quality sleep in to help aid recovery and help me wake up feeling much better than I have been doing. Getting sleep in has always been key for me as if I wake up still tired the day is gone, I don't want to do anything where as if I wake up fully refreshed I am onto a winner and can get loads done including working out and eating right.

So that is what I am planning on doing to help me with the journey and to hold me that bit more accountable I will be doing a monthly check in here where I can see what is working and what needs to change to see if I am on track for the 95 Kg before the end of the year or not. The monthly check in will also feature some goals and a wrap up of those the month before.  

So here are the goals I am aiming to hit in September...

> Hit 102 Kg 

> Only drink on my birthday day out

> Cut back on the food at the football

> 8,000 steps every day

> 3 Litres of water daily 

> Take my new supplement daily

Now let's see how September goes and see how many of these goals can be ticked off to set things moving in the right direction.

See you soon, 

Lucy

Posted by No comments
Labels:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)