The gym

As 2012 hit my ability to exercise increased, before Christmas I was unable to do much because I had an operation on both my feet so could just about walk let alone exercise! 
It was very hard for me because I am someone who likes going to the gym and I could do nothing for about 3 months. 
I had the normal worries that girls get about putting on weight because for at least 4 years I have been going to the gym, whether consistently or not, so having 3 months not being able to go was a bit nerve racking as I wasn't sure how much weight I would put on without the gym. Luckily for me it was only about 3 pounds, it was just more the ability and fitness I actually missed.
Anyway, I think it is because of this lack of anything that people have noticed how much I now get down the gym. It isn't new, I always used to go but now I am being more consistent about when I go and it is more important to me now to try and get down there as much as I can when I can. 
I am lucky to have a gym at work and work in a role where I can get down to the gym on my lunch break and at the end of the day. I have classes that I attend weekly and find it very frustrating when I have to miss them. 
People think I am obsessed because by Wednesday I have usually been to the gym 5 times. Twice Monday, twice Tuesday, once Wednesday. I totally get that seems excessive BUT my argument is this - on a Thursday I am in London so cannot get to the gym, on Friday I am usually busy because of the Thursday out of the office so I go once maybe. The weekend is normally written off with other things so technically I actually only work out 5-6 times a week. Fairly average. 
I am not obsessed. I know it probably seems like I am, and I do feel horrid if I miss a class and can't get down as much as I would like but there are various reasons for this. 
1 - I suffer from IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and going to the gym really helps my stomach problems, which at the moment I have every day. 
2 - I get very tired and going to the gym in the afternoon really perks me up for the rest of the day and gives me an energy boost.
3 - I am a bad sleeper and the gym wears me out so that by bed time I am tired. I sleep better. 
4 - The gym makes me feel good, I can eat what I want and I don't put on weight, I keep myself to a size I am happy with and I don't worry about if I go out for dinner and have a lot of food. 

I would expect most gym goers have similar reasons for going, about feeling good and about being able to enjoy food? If I have a dirty pudding for dinner and I know I am going to a class the next day I don't worry or get paranoid about getting fat. But maybe I would feel bad if I wasn't exercising and then I wouldn't be enjoying my food - which would be the end of me as food is the best thing ever.... 

Anyway my moto when it comes to the gym is 'You will regret it more if you don't' - this is what I say to people if they say 'should I go to the gym tonight?'. I don't know many people to go to the gym and come out saying 'I wish I hadn't gone' but I know most people who don't bother going regret that decision. 

Not everyone is like me, I totally get that and I don't judge people for not getting down the gym. I do ask this of everyone I know that is a little concerned about my 'obsession'. Please don't worry, I don't skip meals, I don't starve myself, I don't go to the gym and work out to the point of exhaustion and I don't exercise every day. Every girl wants to feel happy with their body and I am just making sure I am the happiest I can be without surgery! (a whole other convo - not that I am planning to have surgery by the way) :)

Don't sweat the small stuff

A friend of mine was diagnosed with Cancer in September last year; she has been blogging about the whole experience and is just plain amazing.

She started a blog so that family and friends could see what she was going through and keep up with her treatments, but this blog became so popular and Laura has since been in newspapers because of it.

The reason I am blogging about this is because she is on her last bout of Chemo and then she is waiting on the results. I am just so surprised at how quick it has been to get to March and how happy I am for her that she is now so close to the end of this challenge.

She got me thinking, and I would guess a lot of people would have the same thoughts, how would I do if that happened to me?

I don’t think I would be all that brave about it, and I definitely would be moaning A LOT!

You don’t know how you will be unless you are going through it and everyone reacts differently but I just can’t see myself being as composed as Laura is about it all.

Laura says sorry in her blog a bit, sorry for moaning about how hard it is, sorry for moaning about putting on weight, sorry for swearing... I keep thinking ‘you are SO not moaning!’.  Jeez she is the most positive person with a few, understandable, little upsetting blogs about being in pain and it being unfair – and when I say a few, I mean a few! She had a huge fear of needles – she got through that, she lost her beautiful hair she got through that AND posted loads of pictures. I always think she should be moaning all the more from what she is going through and she doesn’t. I think this is why her blog is a big inspiration, because she is so brave and open and positive.

I think everyone can learn a lot from Laura, she is so young and look what she has had to go through but she has never let it stop her. We moan about these little insignificant things in our lives when people are really dealing with things beyond most of our comprehension. And I know it is completely natural for us to moan and those things don’t feel insignificant at the time but I guess it is about looking at the big picture and realising what is really going to affect you and what is just not all that important. I moan a lot but it is when I read Laura’s blog that I realise that moaning does nothing, It doesn’t really help.

The saying ‘Don’t sweat the small stuff’ really does run true – we just need to learn how to block the small stuff from the worry section of our brains! J

If you want to read more on Laura, I would really recommend it!
http://lymphylaura.posterous.com/

Fingers, arms, legs & toes crossed for the 22nd!
xoxox

Lent

So last week we had pancake day, formally known as Shrove Tuesday, and like most people in the country I had pancakes! They weren't the best but got to keep the tradition alive :) 
Anyway when you get to pancake day you know it is almost lent. The time to give up something for 40 days and 40 nights.
Obviously this is a religious tradition so not everyone partakes and to be honest I have never done anything for lent before. Last year my little sister gave up loads for lent and made it the whole 40 days without giving in, so she was my inspiration for this year! 
We have both given up Cakes, Biscuits, Sweets and Chocolate. This might seem a lot but to be honest I don't ever eat anything in excess so it seemed more of a challenge to give up all rather than just the one thing. 

It does make me laugh how people have said I shouldn't give it all up... I don't see why not. Surely it isn't much of a sacrifice if I give up something that won't really affect my life and I can find an alternative of? If I just didn't eat cake I could have chocolate for dessert if I needed something sweet... not really a hardship. If I give up all the above things I will find it hard to overcome a sugar craving so it will be much more of a challenge for my willpower to push through. Isn't that the point? 

It is tough, doesn't help that my boss has brought in biscuits twice since lent! But I have stayed strong. I will get through lent and make it out the other side without giving in because I am too proud to say I will do something and then admit I wasn't strong enough. The thought of not doing this now I have told people makes me feel horrible - I will just be letting myself down if I don't do it. 
I feel like life should be about these little challenges, you should push yourself to do the things that you don't really want to, like give up something for a period of time, going to that gym class you didn't want to, run a marathon. It is something you can take pride in when you have completed it. 

I like to challenge myself to prove that I can. In 40 days I can eat as much cake, chocolate, sweets and biscuits I like, but for now it is cold turkey! 

I just hope I don't get drunk at my friends 30th and eat cake! :o) 

Ps - this picture is what I intend to eat on the 7th

Telephone...

Last week I did my 3rd day with PR, second office based, and it was a different sort of day. 


Didn't start well. Forgot my log-in and the IT guy wasn't in until 10 and I was meant to check a paper for relevant stories and then send round the team by 10 - didn't happen. 


Anyway did a lot of things with papers which was fine BUT then I got asked to do, probably, my worst job. Call people! I know I know, if I might be interested in a career in PR I need to be able to ring around a lot but I first need to concur this bloody fear. 


Seriously is a fear. I get a bit of panic when I have to call someone I don't know about something I am not entirely sure on. 


Luckily for me there were plenty of barriers in the way so I didn't actually get around to it until right at the end of the day but by 5.30 I couldn't put it off any more and had to 'bite the bullet' and call. 
Great start, the first two people were none answers, the last two I couldn't locate numbers for... only 1 actually answered. I messed up what I was meant to say but actually the call went fine, as I knew it would, and all was sorted. Yey to me. 


The reason I am writing about this is I want to know if I am the only person who gets like this? Get real nerves when faced with calls? I worry so much about what the call will involve, will the person ask questions I won't know the answer too, will they get angry, will I make things really bad for everyone, will the world end... you know, normal worries. 


I was proud that I did call. I forced, and I mean forced, myself to pick up the phone and do my job. The thing is, you can only be proud to an extent when the fear is something you know is stupid and is something you need to do. 


I also know that the way to get passed this weird aversion to calls is to make calls and answer calls all the time without thinking and get myself used to it. I used to do that, I worked in a role where I was always on the phone and had no problem with it but it had taken me a time to get to that point and when I changed company the fear came back and worse. 

I know it is a worry of not knowing the information needed and being embarrassed and made to look stupid but the thing is, I actually haven't had a call like that so not sure why I am so crazy about it! 

Weddings

Weddings

There is a real wedding boom happening for me at the moment. So many people in my close group of friends are engaged and planning weddings. I have 6 this year (mine included) and already have 3 for next year! It is a busy time but SO exciting as these are some of my best friends getting married and it is so amazing we have all got to that next step in our lives.

Saturday was the first of my very close friend’s weddings; my lovely friends Lisa married her boyfriend of about 10 years Logan. They had a church wedding and then reception in Windsor which was just stunning. The weather was perfect, blue sky, sunny with some snow on the ground. Just what you would want from a winter wedding. The pictures will come out looking beautiful; I am just amazed that Lisa went the whole time without covering up! She must have been freezing but didn’t look it. Bride determination J

She had 4 bridesmaids, 2 flowers girls and a page boy who all looked brilliant. And the Groom and the grooms’ men all looked so smart and dapper.

The colour theme was pink and purple and the bridesmaids were in a pinky purple gown.

The reception was beautifully decorated, little favours for everyone with sweets inside and handmade place settings. The table themes were wedding movies, I was on the ‘Bridesmaid’ film table. The food was amazing, literally ate everything they gave me! Wine was flowing and the table conversation was great. First dance went off beautifully to a song I wouldn’t have even thought of but was just perfect. The reception afterwards was great, lots of shots; dancing, laughing and general merriment was had by everyone there (the ‘Sexy Beasts’ all got wrapped up in some carpet and had a bundle – we were very respectable guests J). Safe to say that Mr and Mrs Lloyd had a great send off into their married life.

The only thing I kept thinking was - it is almost over. It just flew by. Something she had been planning for 6 months (she had a short engagement) went so quick it was difficult to take it all in and before we knew it, it was over and we were leaving.

I have been planning my wedding to Dan on and off for two years so far. We have been completely laid back about the whole thing, which is a major change in our personalities as I can’t say we are usually so chilled! We have another 9 months to go and before I was counting down but now I just keep thinking I need to take it all in, enjoy all the planning, all the build up, everything because when the day gets here it will be gone in no time. I know that no matter what, when that day is over I will want to be doing it all again because we have worked so hard for it and it has been a big part of our lives for so long!

So the point is, I am going to stop wishing the year away and start focusing on what is to come throughout this year and get excited about the many celebrations I have before W day.

2012 – This is THE year. I want to make it the most memorable of all.  

Valentines Day

Valentine’s Day (hence the red)

Not long until Valentine’s Day... if that means anything to anyone anymore?

I always love the thought of Val day every year but not too sure why. Think it must be the fact that Dan and I always get a curry and watch a film together... not much different from most nights to be honest (well the curry is). We make a bit of effort and get each other a card but that is about all for us. Do people give presents anymore and make a big deal out of the day?

Other than the acknowledgement of the date I don’t really buy into the Valentines thing. I think you should show you love someone more often and without command! If Dan forgot to get me a card on the 14^th February I wouldn’t be upset, the date means nothing to us as a couple. I know it is viewed as slightly cynical not to do anything on Valentine’s Day and it’s a bit harsh if you don’t buy your partner something to commemorate the day but why? If you don’t spend money on the person you love on Valentine’s Day does that mean you love them less?

I remember that sometime last year, during saving all our money and never going out, I got a random delivery of roses to work from Dan. The card read ‘Just because we are saving doesn’t mean I can’t send you something to say I love you’. The fact they were spontaneous and unexpected made them all the more special to me. Getting flowers on Valentine’s Day is lovely but it is sort of expected.

Dan proposed to me in February 2010, he did it on the 10^th. If you are like me and are with someone and know that one day marriage is on the cards then all big dates flag up as that possible date of engagement. I didn’t think Dan would propose because we had only been together 15 months but I did think of Valentine’s Day and wondered if maybe... The clever boy took me completely by surprise and did it 4 days before when I had absolutely no expectation. I was in complete shock, to the point of him having to prompt me to answer him J So now, to us, the 10^th is actually a more important date than 14^th.

Basically my point is, the surprise is the nice part of getting treated, getting a declaration of love. Valentine’s Day is great but it is staged and obvious. Isn’t it?

I know that some people think that Valentine’s Day is a nice day and there is no harm celebrating it... I totally agree, but I don’t think there should be the pressure to buy into this corporate holiday that is just there to make people spend more money.

Maybe you should be different and go and do something special for the person you love today rather than waiting for the 14^th?

Any day could be YOUR Valentine’s Day. It is up to you.

Oh Sweetie Darling...

Oh Sweetie Darling....   

Remember that, from Absolutely Fabulous? Well the reason I titled this blog with that is because yesterday I became a, part time, PR girl! Basically I currently work in my companies marketing department but I am not sure what area I want to get involved in... Luckily I have a very good boss who has decided the best thing for me to do would be to spend time working on everything at different times and deciding how I feel about each of them.

So far I have worked, pretty much continuously, on CRM (email marketing mostly) which I enjoy and have a qualification in (well Digital marketing but its relative) and as the team PA. For a few months I worked with Events and now it is my PR time. One day a week I will be working from our London agency and doing all things PR, starting with the very basic stuff (as I am a complete beginner!).

  

First day down and I LOVED IT! I mean it was fairly simple and I wasn’t given anything stressful or hard but I had such a good day and can’t wait to for next week when I can hopefully do more. If I really like it and am good at it, who knows, this could be something I would want to do more frequently.

The reason I am so excited about this is because I have never known what I wanted to do as a career, I have always wanted to know and always felt jealous of those people that KNOW what they want to do. I am happy in my role and love my team but would be nice for me to find that part of the job that I know I want to continue in.

I am not saying that PR is that part but it is the closest I have got at the moment and I have only done one day, so got to be a good sign right?

Watch this space.