Boxing Day run (and two years ago, I would never have needed that phrase!) accomplished. I'm managing to run slower, and in much longer sections now, almost feel like I'm actually becoming a person who runs, rather than just staggers gasping around the block.
I'll stick with my 5.1km loop until I can run round it without walking. Then I'll try running it in the other direction as that puts the uphill bits in a different place, and once I can do that I might be a 'runner.'
In other news, the diet + exercise regime is paying off. I've lost 18kg this year (and no, that's not a typo!), mostly since August. Mr redshift has lost considerably more, and fortunately we're both enjoying what we're eating, and eating much better. I have about 3kg to go to get into the 'green zone' for BMI based on my height / weight, and that will give me some wiggle room if we fancy a pub lunch and some beer!
For those interested the rules are:
1. Nothing is forbidden, but the calories must be accounted for.
2. We aim for 1200-1400 calories per day, maximum. He's losing faster than me, but that's expected. We aim for 1-2kg per week.
3. Er, that's it. Thank-you, NHS website.
In reality, there are many days when we both tally below 1000 calories, because the the overall effect has made us more conscious of what we're eating, and we usually end up with <something tasty> surrounded by big piles of homemade salad/veg and pickles.
I should also say that the biggest difference has been made by me stopping work. I know that's a privileged position but the last two years taught me to pay attention to my health and change my priorities, and 60-90 minutes each way plus 12-hour shifts was killing me, so I stopped.
Merry Crimble, and here's hoping that next year is better than this one!
