Mrs Smith & the Smith Machine

Hello Fudgey Friends,

How is everyone?
I'm good really good. Trained 3 days out of 4 so far this week and feeling so much better for it already.

Today's Session
was great and I got to try some new things too including that scary looking thing called the Smith machine but it is ace.

Today's session consisted of the following:

3 x superset of 2 minutes on vario machine at level 10 speed above 96 followed by 10 swiss ball passes

3 x superset of squats on Smith machine (first set 10lb each side & other 2 sets 15lbs each side) & 20 oblique cycles. Totally different sensation doing squats on the smith machine rather than the olympic bar - but really good & as it was new to me a little challenging.

3 sets of 12 calve raises again on smith machine 10lb each side - calves were burning.

3 supersets of overhead lunges with 12.5kg barbell 16, 14 & 12 (8, 7 & 6 each leg)& 30 second swiss ball plank roll outs. I'm not quite at this stage yet - but here's a clip / demo of the lunges

& session finished off with 3 sets of wood chops first set 20kg & other 2 sets I managed 25kg.

I feel I'm getting fitter and stronger and healthier all the time and I love it.

My wonderful personal trainer Colin also got me my Bannatynes world cup workout t-shirt and is going to write me a new programme - I hope with stick man drawings!

Wonderful Hubby
Mr Fudgey as ever is great and has been encouraging me to get back into my fitness routine - it makes all the difference when you get support from those closest to you & I am very lucky to have Mr Fudgey and the rest of my fudgey family and friends.

And that my fudgey friends is all for today - I'm off to make omlettes.

see you soon
love
Fudgey
xxx

Life after Fudgey's EHM Countdown

Hello Fudgey Friends,

How is everyone?

Well as I posted the other day the EHM Countdown has come to an end :-(

Looking forward
But there's plenty to look forward too. On the running front: Race for Life, Glasgow half Marathon & Scottish Kilomathon. On the social front: Smurfy's dinner party (I have a fab dress already), trip home to Benbecula & Margaret Mary's Christening & our first wedding anniversary fast approaches. There hopefully will be other exciting developments in the world of Mr & Mrs Fudgey & the fury fellas sooner rather than later....so keep following.

New Look - New Title
I realised I couldn't keep my blog title as Fudgey's EHM countdown so was trying to think what to change it do & have now decided on Little Running Wife....this is what Mr Fudgey calls me since I lost 6 stone and got mildly obsessed by running.
Last night I was playing around with my blog and giving it slightly different colours & a new photo, but Mr Fudgey worked his magic again & did the fabby new graphic that you now see. Isn't he the best? I'm now wondering if I could get this on a t-shirt!

Taking it Easy
Monday I had a complete rest day, though I did have to walk half way home from my Slimming club. I still go most weeks even though I've been at my target weight since September.
Tuesday I decided to go to the gym with Smurfy at lunchtime. I ran on the treadmill for 10 minutes, then 10 minutes on the bike & 10 minutes of stretching. I felt great when I went back to work but by 4pm was feeling stiff again & my right calf was really tight. Thanks to the wonders of a tennis ball, my own thumbs & a tube of Avon Cooling leg and foot gel I managed to release the tight muscle and have felt great ever since.
Wednesday I had another complete rest day - I can't believe how tired I have felt all week. I decided best to take enough recovery time before starting to train for my upcoming events.

Back in the Saddle....Spintastic
After weeks of no classes at the gym due to EHM training and lack of time in my schedule, I've been looking forward to getting back to Body Pump, Circuits and Spinning and today was my first spin class in weeks. It was made even better that the class was taken by my amazing personal trainer Colin. It was only a 30 minute spin express class but we worked hard and Smurfy & I were both dripping sweat by the end. The hardest part for me though was taking my jelly legs downstairs afterwards :-)
We need to talk KMac into joining us one day next week if all our diaries & work allows as we've not been to a class together in ages - and we always have such a great time & gossiping on the way there & back!


Well that's all for this evening folks - I'm hoping to get to the gym in the morning to do my programme but I'm not going to force it as I have been pretty tired this week. Already looking forward to freedom from the alarm on Saturday.

Take Care everyone

love
Fudgey
xxx

Exciting Times in Fudgey Land

Hello Fudgey Friends,

A quick update on the rest of the week's training before I fill you in on the exciting times in Fudgey Land.

Thursday: I joined my lovely friend Mandy for a spin class at lunchtime. I love spin but have been concentrating so much on my running of late that I've not been to many classes at all. My fantastic personal trainer Colin took the class on Thursday lunchtime. It was a brilliant 30 minute workout & the legs certainly were feeling it on Friday.

Friday: 5km Run 28 minutes 57 seconds. This run was really tough going but I stuck with it & am still consistently sub 30 minutes so looking pretty good for the meadows 5k in a couple of weeks.

The ITB is feeling brand new :-)
though I have been very careful and not run more than 7km yet but think this week coming I will be back to normal.

Saturday - had a lovely trip to North Berwick with Mum & Dad in Law & hubby. Thanks all for a lovely day out x

Decided to take a rest day today instead of my usual long run.

Total distance run this week 18km
Total running time 1 hours 32 mins 12 secs


Exciting Times in Fudgey Land
Those who know me will tell you I've haven't always been a lean mean Fudgey running machine - back in 2007 I weighed 6 stone more than I do now and I've been on a journey of weightloss since June 2007 till I reached my target weight September 2009.
It's not always been easy but I've had loads of encouragement and support from everyone around me, especially the amazing Mr Fudgey.
Anyway I was absolutely ecstatic when Scottish Slimmers emailed me to invite me to a photo shoot. So tomorrow I will be getting my hair & my make up done, styled & photographed.
I've also been approached by a freelance journalist who is keen on doing an article about me and my journey from Fudgey Big to Fudgey Small.
I'm not just pleased at the recognition for myself but also for everyone who has supported me and hopefully I will be able to inspire others too.
I also want to say a HUGE public Thank you to my boss Neil for allowing me the time off tomorrow - the 2 of us are in for a busy week with the rest of the team being on holiday. Thanks Neil - you're the best ever x

So for those who don't know me so well or didn't know me 3 years ago.
I've transformed from this:

to this:


I am really looking forward to my photo shoot. I'll update you all next week on how it goes, and of course on the running training.

Hope you have all had a great weekend.

Porridge, Pasta & Personal Training

Hello Fudgey Friends

Hope this finds you all well & coping with the sub zero temperatures....I can't believe how cold it is.

I thought I'd give you an update on my week so far ahead of my winter wonderland adventure - The BUPA Great Winter Run tomorrow.
The course has had to be changed to a flatter 4km rather than the planned 5km round Arthurs Seat due to the icy conditions.....but KMac & I will still be there

Monday 4th Jan saw me back to work & back to some kind of normality though it was still very quiet as here in Scotland we also have a holiday on Jan 2nd & most people took this in lieu since this fell on Sat.
Caught up with the effervescent KMac over our usual morning trip to our Starbucks counter....non stop chatter there & back....It's good to be back.

Tuesday 5th Jan saw hubby return to work too. Really back to normality now.
I tested the M& S Instant Porridge sultana & apple flavour...Amazing :-) At 90p a tub a bit pricey but when you are as conscious about what you feed your body as I am....well worth it. I also had a wild sweet orange Tazo tea from Starbucks ;-)
This was also my first lunchtime gym session since Christmas eve.....I popped down at lunchtime to grab a quick 20min run on the Treadmill & it felt great to be back....it was good to see a few of the regular faces too & I had a quick chat with my fantastic personal trainer Colin

Wednesday 6th Jan - up & out to hit the gym for 7am & managed a 10km Treadmill Run....my time was slow 67mins 13 secs but I had committed a cardinal sin......'Running on Empty'....well actually 3 mouthfuls of tea. This is not something I'd recommend & I must discipline myself to get up earlier & eat something as I increase my training for the half marathon. Hubby, Colin & KMac if you read this please don't give me a row....I gave myself one.
Once I got into the office I tried another portable porridge, this time from Asda. Flahavans Instant Oats 45p ....not as yummy as the M & S one but still pretty damn good & just what I needed after my run. I also had a Tazo Passion tea.

Thursday 7th Jan Up & at the gym again for 7am for my first Personal Training Session of the year. I started having sessions back in May when my weight loss stuck & I'm so glad I did...I would have reached my goal eventually without it but I wouldn't have been as fit or have the body shape I do now. I love my sessions with Colin, he pushes me really hard, constantly challenges me, but also makes sure I don't overdo it either.
In this session we worked upper body & abs which was strange as recently we've been working so much on the legs & training for the half marathon but I had run on Wed & need fresh legs for Sat. The hour as always just flew by.

Friday 8th Jan A rest day in more ways than one. No gym for me today saving myself for the run tomorrow. I also didn't make my packed lunch as usual. I am normally very very strict during the week about what I eat & don't leave home without my fudgey pink lunch bag of supplies but today I treated myself. I had an amazing salad from the canteen of cous cous, chicken, red onion, green olives, beetroot, cherry tomatoes, balsamic dressing & seeds.
The afternoon saw some quality girly chat with KMac & Mandy. They kept making me laugh which wasn't funny as I kept telling them 'Don't make me laugh....Colin broke my abs yesterday' KMac, Mandy - you guys are the best I am still chuckling thinking about the chat & the calories burnt discussions!!!
This evening I made wholewheat spaghetti with onions, garlic, bacon & half fat creme fraiche - one of the brilliant Scottish Slimmers recipes.

I feeling fabby I'm feeling fudgey & the fresh legs are starting to twitch and can't wait to run tomorrow.


If anyone is there tomorrow KMac & I will be the ones wearing the pink plastic ponchoes & leg warmer combo & probably talking non stop right up to the start.
Hubby I thank you so much in advance for coping with us & supporting us....I'll try not to cry at the end this time!

We'll both update you tomorrow with how we get on.

Stay Safe & Stay Warm

love
Fudgey xxxx