Well after a lack of updates here we are at week 6 of the get fit for football series and things are finally starting to take shape. We are finally seeing the mental improvements alongside the scales finally showing a change in the right direction. Week 6 started off so well however, towards the end of the week things changed pace and I started to drop of the pace which is a bit frustrating as the weeks stats could have been a whole lot better if I kept up the same as the start of the week.

So here are the stats for the week...

Previous weeks weight 100.4 kg

Week 2 weight 99.8 kg

Difference     - 0.6 kg

It might not be a full kg down but finally I am under that 100 kg mark but more on that later. To say how badly Wednesday to Saturday went I am pleased with this loss as I 100% expected to see a gain on the scale. I am hoping that seeing this drop is going to motivate me even further to reach that next mini goal as soon as possible. It just goes to show a mix of a week can still show the results. Now it is time to get back on track though and have a full week the same way I started week 6, I am sure that will bring some results in the right direction.  

 There were a few highs in the week but not half as many as I would have hoped for. The first high definitely has to be getting under that 100 kg mark, this is something I have wanted to do for a long time now and finally the time has come. As we approached the end of the week I really didn't think I would be able to hit this so to weigh in and see those scales say 99.8 kg was brilliant. Now I just need to keep it off and push towards the next mini goal I have set myself. 

Another high for the week is definitely the fact I managed to play a full 50 minute game of football. I am used to doing about 12 minutes then coming off for a bit before going back on for a bit longer however, I managed to do the full 50 minutes this time around and I am certainly proud of that. Granted as the game progressed my tracking back declined due to very heavy legs however, they managed to carry me through the full game and even my chest seemed to hold out which was a bit of a surprise, I did manage to get my inhaler during a few breaks in play but I did do better than I expected in that area too as I thought my chest would mean I had to sit out for a bit. 

As with every journey I also suffered a few lows in the week one of which was going off track with my food. I was smashing it at one point, having nutritious meals but then I was offered a different lunch at work and things went down hill from there as I started to eat out a lot more and although I stuck within my calories I just wasn't fueling my body correctly and the food choices weren't as beneficial as others would be, I definitely need to work on resisting the temptation and sticking to the planned meals. 

My workouts didn't go to plan either as I didn't get to my weight lifting class and missed a full body session due to not being 100%. I am a bit disappointed that I missed these however, I know that the rest will be more beneficial for me in the long run and if I am not feeling well I shouldn't push myself too far like I have previously done. 

Mentally I am noticing a bit of a difference within myself, I have felt a lot more positive throughout the week even when things weren't really going to plan. I also feel like I am a little less bloated than I have been in recent weeks which is certainly a difference. 

Now looking ahead to the new week, I want to be prepared and ready to work towards that next mini goal. That is why Monday is going to be a rest day as my legs are still heavy from football Sunday and a rest day is certainly needed. Tuesday will be football training which I am already looking forward to. Wednesday is going to be a full body session then Thursday is going to be that weight lifting class. Friday will be another full body session whilst Saturday will either be a rest day or the start of my couch to 5k journey. The week will finally end with another football match if all goes to plan. If all these workouts take place we should be on track for another good week. 

As always with a new week comes new goals and here are my goals for the week...

- Do a food shop 

- Attend football training

- Play a football match (if it goes ahead) 

- 2 full body sessions

- Attend the weight lifting session

- 8,000 steps a day

- Minimum of 2 meals out

If all these goals are complete I am sure that the scales will be showing a number in the right direction and towards that 15 kg goal overall. These goals will also help me push on that ultimate fitness goal which is definitely going to help me through those football games in future as one full game was a struggle but I managed it. Just imagine what games will be like when that fitness falls into place. I can't wait to see what week 7 holds for me...

Start weight 100.8 kg

Weight now 99.8 kg 

Lost so far  - 1 kg

Still to go for goal of 15 kg : 14 kg

Check back next week to see how week 7 went let's hope for another good week where a lot more goals have been ticked off...

The weather is slowly starting to change and it is making me realise that my is desperately in need of an upgrade. I am really trying to add what I really need as I am on my weight loss journey however, there are now gaps starting to appear especially as my style is slowly changing. The plan is to add the essentials that are going to be super handy in spring and can be carried forward into the summer so I am getting my money worth out of each item. I will also only be adding bits that go with the new style I am opting for to ensure I am not buying pieces that are going to sit with the tags on for far too long. So here are those pieces that make up my spring wish list...

Clothing 

Vest Tops

It is going to be a layering season for me with vest tops underneath open shirts so I want to make sure that I have plenty of options to rotate through. I already have a few in my wardrobe but to ensure I am covered for all basis I want to a few different styles to be able to rotate between.

Striped T-Shirts

I only have plain or graphic t-shirts in my rotation at the moment and to be honest I am sick of only having those options. Some striped t-shirts would be a great addition to the spring wardrobe as they could be worn with a variety of other pieces I already own and will just be a nice change to wear. I think some nice neutral colours would work perfectly for me and work well going into summer too.

Striped Shirts

I absolutely love a good striped shirt and I have a few in my wardrobe already however, I can never have enough so this spring I would love to add a few more into my wardrobe. I have a lot of blue ones but now I think it is time to add a few different colours and materials into my rotation. These are great as we go into the summer too so I would definitely get my money worth. 

Cardigan

Instagram has made me want a cardigan, something I never thought I would want. The more I see them the more I realise they will suit my new style a whole lot more than my current tracksuit jackets. I am thinking a nice grey one that is a little thicker to get me started and seeing how I get on with it before possibly adding more into the wardrobe.

Rain Coat

As I keep on saying my style is changing and the coats I own don't really flatter that change. The only two I have at the moment are a Gymshark one and a Nike one so that plan is to get a nice smart looking rain coat that isn't going to ruin how my outfits look. I have seen a few options mainly in New Look and Primark so I think I will have a shop around and see what I can find that suits it best.

Grey Trousers

I am still on the hunt for some grey trousers and I am determined that this Spring I will finally have some to wear. I have actually found my ideal pair in Primark however, they never have them in my size so I am going to keep on shopping around just in case another pair catches my eye. 

Sneakers

Low White Converse

I have just added the hi-top version into my rotation so now the plan is to add the low version as an alternative. I used to love wearing my low Converse however, I haven't really had an option for a while so I think it is about time I bit the bullet and got the classic white pair. 

Vans Old Skool

I could really do with upgrading my Van's this spring as my current pair are a little worse for wear now. These have been a staple for me for a while now but I started to wear them for my lifting classes at the gym so they aren't in the best of conditions. A new pair would be great though as they really do go with anything in my wardrobe and I know I definitely get my wear out of them. 

Birkenstock mules

The more I see these the more I fall in love with them. I think they would be perfect just to through on to nip to the shop or quickly walk the dog. However, they look like they would be fun to style too so the possibilities are endless. The Birkenstock ones are pretty pricey so I think until I know I would get my wear out of them I would opt for a cheaper dupe.

White sneakers

It is time, I need to pick up a new pair of all white sneakers. I have been putting this task off as I can't find the perfect pair and with the cost I want to make sure I am only buying what I really want and that I am going to get the wear out of. So far I have narrowed it down to a few Nike options so let's hope this spring these come off the wish list and are finally purchased. 

Accessories

Baseball caps

Now my hair is growing out I am finding that caps suit me that little bit more so I want to pick up a few this spring. At the moment all the ones I have are more sporty so the plan is to pick up some smarter more plain ones to add to the rotation just to give me options based on the outfits I am wearing throughout the season.

Sunglasses

Do I need another pair of sunglasses? Definitely not. However, it isn't spring/summer for me without purchasing a new pair of sunglasses so these are right there on the wish list. I tend to just pick up my sunglasses from Primark although this year I am thinking of getting a pair that is a bit more expensive or simply replacing my Ray Bans which are getting a bit worse for wear now. 

Jewellery

I have said it before and I will say it again, my jewellery collection needs some new additions and what better time to do it than for spring/summer where the jewellery can really make an outfit. I am thinking of adding some nice new silver rings and necklace into my collection for the warmer months as I feel they will really add to some of the outfits I have in mind. Let's see if I actually get around to it or not this time.

Fragrance

All my fragrances are still on the heavier side so it is time to change that I think. The hope is to pick up something a bit lighter that matches the spring & summer weather well, I just don't really know where to start as there are so many options out there. Fingers crossed I can find something though as it is about time I got a new fragrance.

Bag

It is about time I purchased a bag as my pockets just aren't cutting it for everything I need to carry these days. I am thinking a nice black cross body bag might do the trick and it will be reserved for days out. Then another cheap one for dog walks so I aren't getting my day to day one ruined. Now I just need to see if I prefer a men's or women's one, I think plenty of shopping around will be taking place.

It is about time I started actually purchasing pieces off this list rather than just wishing I owned them as each piece will certainly help elevate the spring outfits. There are a fair few bits on this list however, I am quite pleased that there aren't as many as there usually is plus a lot of these will roll into summer which is even better as I am definitely going to get my money worth out of them. 

For now though I can't wait to start adding these pieces to my wardrobe but which do I get first...

Can some one please remind me why I signed up to do the 12k Total Warrior this summer? Every time it pops up on my social media I ask myself why as I can't run 1k let alone 12 with some very brutal looking obstacles thrown into the mix. The countdown is well and truly on for the event though and with under 3 months to go I am feeling the need to step up training for it as I am feeling hugely under prepared for what is due to take place.

I really need to step things up as it is a 12k course with 25 obstacles thrown into the mix with a fair few involving water, climbing and of course a lot of mud, I think the only part I am looking forward to it Plunge, the ice bath style obstacle. This event is definitely going to put pressure on my body and prove to be a big challenge which will involve a lot of upper and lower body strength which I currently don't have and seriously need to work on. I also feel like I could do with a fair bit of weight coming off in the run up to this just to help with my fitness levels and so I am not lifting as much as I weigh now over the course, a little less weight should surely be a little bit easier. As the event edges closer though there are so many areas I could do with working on to get me around the course and just help me get in better shape in general so here is the plan...

Work on my nutrition 

I have mentioned a fair few times lately that it seems like my nutrition is what is letting me down this year so a big focus is going to be on changing what I eat. I am going to start fueling my body right, eating the right sort of foods before workouts and after to make sure I am preparing myself for what is ahead alongside eating what is going to aid my recovery process. I also want to try cut back on the amount of junk food and processed foods I tend to opt for currently, there is always a healthier alternative available to create so I am going to try make sure I am doing that, the same goes for takeaways, those are going to be cut right back and we shall be opting for more fakeaways going forward. Obviously there will be times in this where I am eating out due to family trips etc so I am going to make sure I am picking better options off the menu rather than the biggest burger on the menu.

Even when it comes to snacking I want to start having better choices, I don't need to power through a share bar of chocolate or tube of Pringles there are much healthier things I could sit and snack on whilst watching TV or whilst I am out and about. Finally for this section I want to make sure I am drinking my 2.5 to 3 litres of water a day as I know that staying hydrated will be a huge benefit for me too plus I don't need all the fizzy drinks I have been having lately.

Cardio

Getting some cardio sessions in will really help me get around that overall course length so I am hoping to increase these as we head towards the event. I am doing a couch to 5k style programme with my coach Emma which should hopefully see me be able to do some solid running rather than walking the course. My step count daily is also going to be increasing so that my legs are getting used to moving more and my overall heart rate hopefully improves due to the increase in movement. Football is also going to be a good way of improving my cardio so I am aiming to attend as many training sessions as possible whilst also playing in as many friendlies as I can in the run up to the Total Warrior event. 

Weights 

At the moment I have no upper or lower body strength and I know that by hitting the weights more often this will improve, granted in the time frame I currently have I might not get as strong as I hope to however, the training will help me work towards being strong enough to do the obstacles in the event and work towards progressing as the year goes on. The plan for the weights section of the training is to make sure I am doing my two full body sessions set by Emma each week and going to as many of the weight lifting sessions as I can each week. These 3 weights sessions each week will surely help me progress and if I push my self with some progressive overload I should see some big improvements by the time June comes around.  

Recover

It is all well and good throwing myself into these sessions but I also need to make sure I am recovering properly so that I am not putting too much pressure on my body. That is why on rest days I won't be being lazy, I will be getting myself out walking to hit my step target and keep my legs moving. The foam roller and massage gun will also be becoming my best friends no doubt as I try keep the aches and pains away. I will be getting the ice bath all set up too as I know mentally some time in here will do me the world of good. Finally recovery wise I will be making sure I am getting a good 8 hours minimum sleep each night as I know this will give my body the time it needs to recover and also help me feel more refreshed the following day.

The countdown is now well and truly on for this event and I know I could really be doing with making a lot of progress before this takes place. All I do know is that I am really excited to see any differences I can make in my body in the run up to the event as if I stick to this plan I should soon start to see a big difference. 

As I say this is going to be a huge challenge and a big step out of my comfort zone but I am looking forward to seeing how I get on.

 

Well that is week 2 done on my journey to get fit for football and I have to admit I am frustrated with myself. I threw myself into working out and getting my body moving however, my nutrition really derailed things and as you will see the week has been a mixture of things and the scales have gone up rather than down.

So here are the stats for the week...

Previous weeks weight 101.8 kg

Week 2 weight 102.4 kg

Difference     + 0.6 kg

A 0.6 kg isn't too bad but it is certainly frustrating as I thought my movement increase would have gone in my favour but I guess it goes to show you can't out train a bad diet and this is something I need to remember. I am also thinking the bit of a gain could be due to having played football yesterday and me weighing in with heavy legs but I guess we will see if that is the case as I weigh in over the course of the week. 

As I said at the start of the post I have well and truly thrown myself into my workouts and although I didn't do as many as I would have liked I still got plenty done and pushed myself in what I did. I started the week off on Monday with an at home full body workout, this certainly got the week off to a good start and I could feel myself working harder than before. Then the week got busy so a few days rest took place before taking the dog on a nice long walk, 1 hour 20 minutes and I racked up plenty of steps whilst tiring myself out more than dog. I followed the long walk with a trip to the gym to complete another full body session where I hit some new maximum weights and finished with a little bit of cardio, I certainly pushed myself to my limit in the session and felt great afterwards. I was due to go for a run on Saturday morning however, my legs were super heavy and took the day to rest up as I was playing a football match on Sunday. The game on Sunday was frustrating for me as I felt like it just highlighted how unfit I am and I am not happy with my performance lately so it is time to step all this up a gear so I feel way better than I did at full time on Sunday. 

I certainly burnt plenty of calories throughout the week however, what surprised me the most was the fact I ticked off 64,572 steps over the course of the week when previously I would have struggled at 40,000. I even managed to stick to my allocated calories every day however, they were nutritious choices and were more for convenience which is something I really need to stop doing and start fueling myself correctly.

There were a few things I was happy with other the course of the week though which is always good to look back at. One of the big things is getting that long dog walk in, normally I would leave these to Liam out of pure laziness however, I really enjoyed doing this even if I was ready for a nap after. 

I am also happy that I managed to get back into the gym as this is something I had been putting off due to laziness and confidence. Once I got in there I actually really enjoyed myself and found myself powering through my programme without worrying what others could possibly be thinking, I really need to start using my membership more as it isn't that bad.  I am also really happy with how I managed to up my water intake and reduce the amount of fizzy drinks I was having. The Pepsi Max Cherry became a bit too much of a habit so I reduced it to a can a day and focused on drinking more water throughout the day and it worked a treat.

As always there were also some things that I weren't so happy with and one of those things is the fact I didn't get as many football sessions done as I would have liked to due to other commitments, granted I still got moving but there is no better workout for me than football. The final thing I wasn't too happy with my food choices, I might have been sticking to my calories daily however, the choices I was making didn't benefit my body as I would have hoped. I really need to start opting for more fruit and vegetables in my daily routine and I know these will work wonders for me and get the scales heading in the right direction.

Overall size wise I haven't noticed much difference within my weekly measurements or progress pictures but I guess that will come over time and as we push towards that new season I am hopeful the pictures will have some noticeable changes in them. I did feel a bit deflated at the end of the week though with the gain which is obviously going to happen from time to time however, I thought the result was going to be a bit better.

We pick ourselves back up though and look ahead to a new week which is going to be absolutely chaos with so much taking place. I am determined though to keep going with the movement from last week whilst also working on what I am eating instead of just opting for the quick and easy option, I want some nice balanced options for a change. So here is the workout plan for the new week...

On Monday I am planning on starting the week off in the right way just like I did last time around, an at home full body session is on the cards and I will be pushing myself once more in this one. On Tuesday Bradford City finally don't have a home game so I am back to football training and again I am going to be throwing myself into this session and giving it my all. Wednesday is a bit up in the air at the moment, I could possibly be at football again or it could be another type of workout, I just need to see how things go on this one but either way I will be getting moving. Thursday is a rest day as I have an appointment to attend and I would much rather relax after it. If I can workout Friday I will be making sure that after a nice long dog walk I am getting my final full body session in for the week, if I can't workout though it will be another rest day. Saturday and Sunday will also be decided after Thursday's appointment however, I am also away on those days so whilst I am hoping I can run on those days we will have to wait and see.  

As always with a new week comes new goals and here are my goals for the week...

- Don't waste days off & still hit my steps target daily

- Pack my workout clothing for holiday just in case

- 1 Run on holiday if possible

- Complete both full body sessions

- Focus on the food I am eating

- 8,000 steps a day, minimum of 56,000 in the week

If I manage to hit all these goals I am hopeful that by the time I am writing this post next week I will be writing about a loss but I guess only time will tell with that one and with me being away until Tuesday we will have to see what the week 3 post next Wednesday has in store but fingers crossed it is much more positive.

As for week 2 I am so glad I got back into the gym and completed both full body sessions as it has been a long time since I last did that. We also saw a bit of nicer weather which has made me excited for the Spring weather to fully arrive as it should be easier to get those steps in. Week 2 has also shown me how much I need to push on now as the 15 kg to lose has turned into 16.6 kg which is a bigger task at hand but if we sort that nutrition out we could soon see a change in the direction of the scales. We know what we need to work on now so bring on week 3...

Start weight 100.8 kg

Weight now 102.4 kg 

Lost so far  + 1.6 kg

Still to go for goal of 15 kg : 16.6 kg

Check back next week to see how week 3 went let's hope for a good week...

At the end of last year I left a football team and had a bit of a break from the game but now I am back with a new team and although we are not in a league yet we are currently playing friendlies which have helped me come up with today's post which are all the goals I am setting myself in anticipation for the new season. 

I want my first competitive season with my new team to be my best in a long time, I want to go into it confident in my body by being in much better shape than I am currently in. I also want to see a huge improvement within myself fitness wise as currently that is really slowing me down at the moment and I struggle quite early on in the game. I also want to be better within the technical aspect so my on the ball skill is better, I have more chance of scoring and more chance of assisting whilst overall being able to play for longer which is the big aim.   

At the moment we are currently playing friendlies when we can and I am using these games and the training sessions to set myself some benchmarks for where I am currently at fitness wise and where I would like to get to by the time the real competitive season rolls around. I am really hoping that I am going to start seeing progress towards these goals as we head into the real preseason & the start of the league later in the year. 

So here are some of the goals I have set myself...

Lose 15 kg

Improve my fitness

Improve my strength

Improve my touch on the ball and accuracy

As you can see there is going to be a lot of hard work involved in achieving these goals but here is the plan to help me work towards each goal and really see the benefits... 

Sort my nutrition out

It is about time I started eating properly and that starts now. Gone are the days of eating out as often as possible and those takeaways for convenience that soon start to add up and aren't filling or giving me the nutrition I require. I will be meal planning weekly and meal prepping at every given chance to make sure I am eating the food that fuels my body. I will also be sticking to a high water intake daily and starting the day with some vitamins (more on those in a post another day). 

2 Full body sessions a week

If I manage to stick to 2 of these sessions a week then I should not only see the weight drop off me but also see my strength on the rise. The full body sessions are a nice mix of workouts that will help me work on plenty of areas of my body, it will be interesting to see how the weights in these exercises change over time if I stick to all these scheduled sessions.

Complete the couch to 5K 

Now this one I am looking forward to as it is something I have wanted to do for a long time. I am determined that by the time the season starts I can run a solid 5k and to do this I need to complete the couch to 5K. The running side of things will definitely help me in terms of fitness levels improving so I am looking forward to seeing how I get on with this one.

Weight lifting once a week where possible

I am really enjoying my lifting sessions even if my body aches for days after. I know they are benefiting my journey really well too and are aiding my weight loss and fitness journey as I am certainly getting stronger. I want to be hitting every session possible in the run up to the new season, the only way I will be missing them is if I am ill or the session is not on. No more picking trips out over the sessions it is full steam ahead.

Football training

The plan is to hit every training session possible in the run up to the season starting too however, I know there are a few sessions that I will be unable to attend due to family members birthdays or Bradford City games but in the grand scheme of things there are a lot of sessions I can 100% make it to and with the opportunity for 2 sessions a week I am sure most weeks I will be at the minimum of 1 session.

Play in friendlies

Up until the start of the new season we are going to be playing friendlies to make sure we are getting game time, previously I played in as little friendlies as possible however, this time around is going to be different as I am planning on hopefully playing in as many as I can. I am hoping that there aren't many that clash with any time away and let's hope those silly little injuries stay away too.

Train alone in the garden

The plan is to get the side garden all cut and ready for the lighter nights as this space is going to be my very own football training area. I have an agility ladder, cones, re-bounder and some goals for this area and it is somewhere I can take myself out to for 30 mins or even an hour and just work on some basics alone which I am actually quite looking forward to. 

Recover right

To make sure I am hitting the goals and being able to carry out all the bits above I need to make sure I am recovering properly to keep those little niggles away. The plan is to make sure I am stretching properly before every exercise I do plus stretching after to reduce the injury risk. I am sure the massage gun is also going to be my best friend, especially after the weight lifting sessions. The plan is also to get the ice bath set up ready to aid the recovery and also help with the mental side of things.

I am really looking forward to seeing just what difference there is in myself by the time the new season comes around, if I really stick to all the above there should be a big difference however, I guess only time will tell. I will be doing weekly updates on here every Monday with the sort of workouts I have done in that previous week and how the weight is looking, I am really looking forward to doing these updates too as it will show me the progress and what does or doesn't work for me.

The start weight today is 100.9 kg and the goal is to reach 85 kg by the time the new season begins in September / October (we will aim for September though as this is when we should be kicking off) so let's push on and see how much of a difference we can make...

How are we already in March? Every year seems to fly by quicker and quicker, I guess that is just a part of getting older though. February was a pretty good month however, I am determined to make March even better. I am determined that March is going to be the month where at least 90% of these goals are ticked off and things are finally sorted around the house rather than putting things off like I have been doing. So here are those goals I am setting myself for the month ahead...

Fashion

Empty the wash baskets at long last

Once these wash baskets are empty the last of the clothing will have been decluttered and I will know all of the items I have and what needs replacing. I also think it will give me a sense of accomplishment as it is a task that has been needed for a long time but has just been put off. I am so ready for a fresh start when it comes to clothing and this is a good place to start.

Accessorize outfits a lot better

Now the wardrobe are redone I have a lot of my accessories out and easily accessible so there really is no need for me not to be adding these to my outfits. I want to put some time to one side each morning to piece the right jewellery with the outfits I am wearing and the right fragrance rather than just rushing around like I currently do. This is such an easy way to level up an outfit so I need to start putting it to the test.

Sort out my Spring footwear rotation

Spring is right around the corner even if the weather isn't starting to reflect that just yet. This means I need to sit and go through my footwear to pick out those perfect pieces for the Spring season. I am determined that I will be mixing up what I wear so by selecting a clear rotation should really help me get wear out of different styles of footwear that work well with the different outfits I am piecing together for the season.

Go on a shopping trip to pick up the basics

As I mentioned earlier I am looking for those gaps in my wardrobe now that it has been decluttered and I am determined that in March I will be going on a shopping trip to fill in those gaps with some nice basics and Spring pieces. I am going away at the end of March too so I need to get a few of these bits for my holiday and maybe a few accessories for me to take too but we shall see on that last part. 

Get the wardrobe Spring ready

This is almost done and I guess if all the goals above go to plan it will be successfully completed. I want to make sure everything is good to go ready for the change of the season as I am sick of buying items out of season then not being able to wear them for a long time. I want to get everything and be able to wear it all straight away.

Life

Get out on the nightly dog walks

I usually just leave all these to Liam especially when I have had the dog all day. I really want to start going out on these walks with Liam and the dog though as I think it will do me the world of good and it will be nice to spend that little more time together as that time has dramatically reduced lately.

Finish the bedroom

There was a lot of progress on the bedroom in February so in March we only actually have a few finishing touches to do. There is the new skirting that needs to go on, decor to be added and a few touch ups needed on the paint along with a few bits of furniture needing to be built but all in all these jobs shouldn't take too long and the room will finally be done.

Start on the next job

Now this is where things get tricky as after seeing the progress in the bedroom and finally getting those long over due renovations done I want to keep the momentum going and make a start on another job in March. There is talks of the gym work finally starting and this is going to be a big job in the grand scheme of things however, we are relying on other people for that so there is a chance it may not get done in March. I would also love to make a start on the spare room/office as there isn't actually that much cost involved in the room and we can do it without relying on others really so we need to sit and work out which is the next project and then hit the ground running with it.

Sort the bathroom shelves

The bathroom shelves are absolutely over run at the moment and it is about time they were sorted once and for all. There are empty products, out of date products and items we are just never going to use so the plan is to remove everything and sort through it only putting back what we are going to use. This should make finding this so much easier especially if we go ahead and organise the shelves properly.

Learn to balance my time better

This is actually a big downfall for me and I know I could achieve so much more if I just balanced my time better. I need to learn to say no to going out all the team and actually spend time at home, I also need to learn to switch off and spend more time with Liam and the dog as I feel like I have been neglecting them. The goal for March is to spend more time with them and less time on my phone but also make sure the time is balanced so I can be productive on the websites and get things done around the house but we shall see how that goes.

Content

Post daily on the Edge of the Area Tik Tok 

I am determined to see this account grow and I know that with a bit of consistency this should take place. I have plenty of ideas for the content I want to create on here so it is just a case of actually filming the pieces, editing them and posting them. I posted quite a bit in February so lets hope more can be done in March. 

Post twice a week on the TNG Tik Tok 

Again I really want to try grow this Tik Tok account so to make sure I am not overdoing it for myself I am planning to start off in March with a few posts each week just to see what content works and doesn't work. We will see how this one goes especially with me doing so much for Edge of the Area however, I am quite hopeful I can get it done.

Start filming reels for TNG Fitness account

Now this is something I have wanted to do for a while however, my confidence just hasn't been there for it. Throughout March though I want to push myself and post 1 reel a week on the account, it could be a mixture of topics and I haven't settled on a set group of ideas yet but we will see how this one plays out as I am hopeful this is something I can complete.

Start looking for a new tripod & camera bag

If I am starting to film more content I want to make sure the gear I am using is suitable for what I require. My current tripod and bag are very cheap and if they are heading outdoors for periods of time I don't think they will be able to withstand the elements. There is also the fact I have a trip coming up this month where I want to take my camera so I need a better way of transporting it to keep it safe.

Start saving for a new camera

The final goal of the month is something I have wanted to do for ages now but have kept putting off for various reasons aka I have been wasting my money instead. I am determined though that in March I will finally put some money to one side to start saving up for a camera that is much better suited to my needs. I want something that is better quality for video so whilst I am shopping around for the perfect camera I may as well start saving for it. 

So there you have it those are my goals for March, I am really hoping it is going to be a super productive month where the majority of these goals will be ticked off however, I guess only time will tell for that so make sure to check back at the start of April to see just how I did get on. 

What are some of your goals for March?

Well February was a pretty good month in some aspects whilst being not so good in other ways however, it is done now and we are looking ahead to a new month which will hopefully see even more goals ticked off the list which will be coming in a post tomorrow. For now though it is time to take a look and see how many of the goals I set myself for February played out...

That is the shortest month of the year over and done with but it has been a busy month filled with plenty of fun filled activities. It looked like it would be a quiet month to begin with however, things really started to pick up and things got busier than I ever expected. Thanks to it being busy though I have discovered a fair few new favourites whilst also rediscovering old ones, so here is what made the cut for February's favourites...

Seeing what I own 

Thanks to redoing the bedroom I have finally had to sort out the dreaded wardrobe. I am so glad that I have had to do this though as it has helped me find clothing items that were long forgotten about and that would be beneficial for the style I am hoping to achieve from now on. This has meant that I don't actually need to buy as much as I first anticipated which I am pleased with as it will save me a fair bit of money until I need a restock due to sizes.

Sneakers

Adidas Forums

I said that I wouldn't be wearing these sneakers everyday however, I have worn them most days still as I am absolutely loving them. They are so comfortable and the velcro strap adds a little extra to the outfits. I am definitely needing to move away from these soon though as they don't really go with the style I am opting for once I put a bit more effort into outfits plus they are now starting to look worse for wear and need an upgrade if they are going to be worn as much as they currently are.

Fitness

Back on the football pitch

After a bit of a break from the game I am finally back playing but for a new team this time. We are only training and playing friendlies at the moment but it is so good to be back on the pitch finally enjoying the game once more. Being back on the pitch has led to me enjoying creating football content too so everything is finally falling into place at long last and I am loving it. Now to start performing better on the pitch again as I am a bit rusty. 

Lifestyle

Getting through jobs

After what felt like the most unproductive year in 2023 I am so glad that we are making good progress in 2024. February's favourite is definitely getting through the jobs that got put off last year as there is no need to delay things any longer. The bedroom just needs a few finishing touches and the gym planning is already underway. We have also started making plans for the spare room so we can jump straight into the next jobs once the previous is done. We have even started putting together a list of other jobs that we want to get done in between the bigger jobs so we can make as much progress as we can.

Book

Fangirl

I have put Alex Scott's book to one side for a little bit to give myself a break as I fancied reading something a little different. I have had Fangirl sat on my bookshelf for so long now so when it came to picking a book to take to the spa there was no other option for me. I haven't got too far in the book just yet due to me now juggling two books however, I am actually enjoying what I have read so far and can't wait to spend more time with this book. 

Podcast 

What's Good Games

What's Good Games had been on a break for a while however, it has finally returned thanks to a recent PlayStation State of Play. I had really been missing listening to the podcast so to have those regular episodes back is fantastic and I am back to looking forward to catching up on latest episodes on weekends after their Friday release. Let's hope there are no more extended breaks from the podcast any time soon.

Overall highlight of the month 

Mentality changing

February has been another month where I have noticed an improvement in my mentality. I am not letting things get to me if they aren't going to plan anymore and I am keeping a positive attitude even when I am being tested which to be honest isn't as much as it previously has been. The mentality change is definitely helping in many aspects of my life and I am really hoping that it is here to stay and can only get better.

Favourite thing I have learned

Slow and steady wins the race

Previously when doing jobs around the house I have wanted everything done as soon as possible however, with the bedroom work I have realised that slow and steady wins the race. By breaking the jobs down and taking them nice and steady things are getting done properly and with a better finish. Even taking time to pick out the accessories is making the room come together better as we are looking at details rather than buying for the sake of it. Let's hope I can keep reminding myself of this as other jobs take place in the house.

It is safe to say February was a short month that was packed with plenty of fun things to make it another great month. I am really impressed with how the year is going so far as it is certainly 10 times better than 2023 was. Now let's see what March has in store for me...

What were your favourite things from February?

We are slowly but surely making our way around the house redoing all the rooms we rushed to get done when we originally moved in nearly 6 years ago now. The spare room is basically the box room of the house however, it has become one of my most used areas in the house as this is where I keep all of my football things and where I create all my content whether it is for social media or the blog. With this area being multi use I really want to maximize it's potential and I will be more or less splitting the room in half. One side will be for content creating, blogging and everything football whilst the other side is going to be more of a dressing room vibe, I will do another post in the future detailing the plans and how things are progressing but for now today's post is going to be all the things I would love to add to the room. 

It is all about making this room a nice space to be in and making it easy to create content in whilst still making it easy to keep clean & tidy. So here are the items I would love to add...

Longer floating shelves

At the moment the shelves in this room are tiny and you can barely fit anything on them. The plan though is to get some much longer ones that run across the smaller wall in the room, if I could fit 4 in here that would be great as I can have a few for Lego displays and maybe a few for football things however, until they are up and the room is decluttered the only guaranteed shelves are those Lego ones.

Longer clothing rail

For the dressing area of the room I want a clothing rail mounted to the wall that is a bit longer than my current one. I want somewhere where I can hang my clothing for the week and any bits I need to shoot content for, it can also be for hanging in those new in bits that I need to take pics of so I know exactly where they are.

Somewhere for my hats

I have a lot of baseball caps and it is about time I found somewhere to store them properly so I am thinking of maybe having a few hooks on the wall to cover these. I am not sure whether to just keep my favourites hung up or current rotation with the excess going into a storage box ready to be easily accessed. I am just fed up of these getting ruined as some have cost a fair bit of money. 

Shoe rack

Now this one will only be small and will go under the clothing rail and up against the Alex drawers. I won't be filling this though as it will be reserved for the footwear that makes up the current rotation at the time. Hopefully this will also mean I rotate the footwear I wear rather than wearing the same pair day in day out like I do currently. 

Storage baskets

I have a Kallax unit that holds all my football shirts but the plan is to condense how many sections I use for this so I can add some more of the storage baskets in here. These baskets will hold some football memorabilia and so blogging accessories such as notebooks or paper work. It just means everything will be in one spot rather than being all over the place. I am also going to keep one for all my football training things such as shin pads and bag fillers which I use every game day alongside my training clothing. I am also thinking a nice basket for under my desk where I can put in all those new in bits I need to take pictures of so that everything is again in one place.

Frames for the football shirts

This one I already have the frames for however, I haven't sorted them yet as I wanted to wait until the room was redone so I weren't having too many holes in the wall. I have 4 or 5 frames so this should cover the football side of the room well without it being too crowded and will house all my special shirts. Over the years I have picked up a fair few signed shirts and it is about time I displayed them so they were looked after too.

IKEA pegboard

Every time I go to IKEA I get drawn over to the pegboards and have the ideas going round in my head for what I want to include on the board if I did get it. The plan for this is to get a board and have it for all the little tech bits that I constantly lose such as the adapters for my Macbook and cables. I am really hoping I can get one to fit in the room as it would be very beneficial.  

I am determined that this room is going to be a nice mix that isn't just football like it currently is and fingers crossed it flows nicely throughout. There are so many more plans to make for this room but it is 100% guaranteed to be completed in the first half of this year which means the jobs in the house are well and truly going to plan. I am sure there will be plenty of posts about this room as things progress but for now I need to get the bedroom finished before moving onto project number 2.

2024 is the year where the biggest day to day focus is going to be on my fitness and weight loss journey. I am determined to absolutely smash my goals in this category and see myself heading towards that end weight I set myself way back when. January was always going to be the month of building a new routine and working out what actually works for me and doesn't. I went into the new year with a much better attitude than I had in the whole of 2023 and let's just say that new attitude paid off and I have had the best start to the year. So here is January's journey wrap up 

Start weight : 104.5 kg

End weight : 101.3 kg 

Total lost : 3.2 kg

I can honestly say that I did not expect to see myself recording a 3.2 kg loss in the first month, I thought I would be lucky to get to 1 kg at one point as the scales have been very inconsistent. Stepping on the scales on the 31st and seeing that final number though was just absolutely fantastic and shows that it all works out in the end and it left me entering February on a high ready to keep up with the habits to hopefully see another great change by the end of the month.

Gym sessions attended : 2

I had two great gym sessions in January however, I really do wish I had got to more but for a variety of reasons this didn't take place. At some points in the month I wasn't well so the last thing I wanted to do was go to the gym around other people. Then there were also some sneaky last minute changes that led to plans changing last minute and me not being able to attend. 

Football sessions : 4

This number is also not as high as I would have liked it to have been but this is due to a number of reasons again. One big reason was the weather, a few times it was called off duty to snow and ice which is typical around January time. There was also the illness factor again which spoilt a few sessions for me. 

Weight lifting sessions : 0

Unfortunately the first few weeks classes weren't running and then I fell ill so I didn't manage to hit any of the sessions I had hoped to. I am really hoping to get back to these classes asap though as I am missing them and I know they will really benefit me on my journey. 

I have really been working on my nutrition in January too and the meals out have been massively reduced meaning I have spent more time in the kitchen for a change which is something I am really not used to. One of my favourite things to make has definitely been a simple dish of turkey bacon, egg, spinach & mushrooms. This meals keeps me feeling full for ages and even though it takes so simple it is really nice. Plus it is super quite to make so within 10 minutes you have a lovely filling meal ready to go. I have also stopped myself from ordering McDonald's breakfasts far too often and instead I have been making my own take on a sausage McMuffin. Again this is really quick to make and is not greasy like a McDonald's so I consider this a healthier alternative.

Throughout the month there have been so many high points and I am really pleased with how many I have actually had. So here are the two biggest high points...

Seeing the scale drop

Obviously this was the biggest thing I was hoping to see in January and I saw it drop more than I could have ever imagined. I was worried that things weren't going to move at one point but I kept on pushing and the results started to roll in. It just goes to show for me a bit of patience goes a long way and the results will soon roll in. I don't think any other months will have such a high drop but we shall see.

Learning not to let the negative thoughts in

A big reason I believe I ruined my progress in 2023 is by letting the negative thoughts in and letting them bring me down meaning that I didn't want to do anything and just binge ate instead. Throughout January I have been working on not letting those thoughts creep back in and instead I have been working on adopting a more positive attitude which has really helped me achieve that drop. 

Of course as with any journey there have been some low points too but I am happy to report that those haven't been too low and have actually been out of my control. So here are two of the low points from January...

Getting ill

Unfortunately around the middle of the month things started to go down hill and I spent a few days in bed unwell however, thanks to me learning though about those negative thoughts I allowed myself some proper rest and recovery and in the end I was ill for a lot less time than usual. So it may be a low point but it wasn't too low.

The weather

I am putting it down to the weather for why I got ill in the first place however, it also caused a fair bit of disruption. It meant football was cancelled a few times and in some cases it also meant that I was unable to get to the gym meaning a few sessions were missed. I can't help the weather though so we go again and just plan better next time around.

After the success of January though it is time to set myself some goals for February, another month which I am hoping to smash and see some brilliant progress on my journey. Fingers crossed that I can start picking up some of the rewards I have set myself soon too as the progress is going that well. So here are the goals I am setting myself for February...

Get under the 100 kg mark 

I have 1.3 kg to go until I hit the 100 kg mark but I think with a good push I can get myself into the 99 kg bracket by the 29th of February. This would help keep me heading in the right direction for the end of the year goal but will also give me a bit of a confidence boost I think. The 99 mark is a more realistic goal however, 98 kg I believe would mean I am 1 stone down so I would be over the moon if I achieved that.

Limited the eating out

I did really well in January when it came to eating out and I am determined to keep the momentum going in February. I have a few things coming up in the month however, I want to try to just stick to these events for the eating out rather than constantly adding more days out to the list. If I want to see that progress I can't be reverting back to old habits. 

Gym twice a week

I have two full body sessions per week that I need to head to the gym for so I need to make sure I am getting there twice a week no excuses. By going twice a week I should be able to get into a nice routine without neglecting other aspects of my life too which is a win, win situation.

Football 6 times

Before February started I had chance to sit down and work out realistically just how many football training sessions I could get to and the answer was 6 so we are going straight in and aiming to hit every session possible within the month. These sessions will definitely help me on my journey but also get me back into the game I love and I really can't wait to attend the sessions.

Smash my first reward goal

My first reward goal is at half a stone down and I am hoping to smash that in February so I can go buy myself some new shin pads but I also want to be well on my way towards the 1 stone mark which will really push me towards the 3 stone by 30 goal. 

Feel great going into my first friendly

My first game with my new team is on the 18th so I really want to work towards feeling good about myself by then. I want to feel confident heading back onto the pitch as I have had a long time out and put a lot of weight on since the last time. I know that if I feel good heading into it I am more likely to perform better on the pitch so fingers crossed.

So those are my goals and now onto the things I am wanting to change going into the new month to help me push on even further. First up I want to be more organised, I know that more organisation will lead to me hitting more sessions as I won't be double booking or burning myself out. I am also hoping that cutting out the late starts on a weekend will also help me along, by getting up a few hours earlier I will have more time to get on with my day and that extra hour could determine if I work out or not. Finally I plan on making sure I am hitting those full body sessions, there is no need to keep putting them off and I know I will see a big change in my body if I get them done.

Overall I feel absolutely brilliant with how my progress is going and I have surprised myself with how well I have done in month 1 I didn't think I would be capable of a 3 kg lost in just one month but I guess that self doubt can disappear now. The progress in January has definitely more determined to keep going in February so let's see what the month holds for me...