Dissapointing Vegans

There seems to be a trend lately of people giving up on veganism. It's really dissapointing :(

I don't give a crap what anyone else eats, it's your body not mine. However I've been following certain blogs for a while now and at least 2 of them have started not just eating dairy but meat too! Under the idea of 'listening to your body' basically saying if your body craves meat then it's ok to eat it.
I'm begining to think the people didn't really grasp what veganism is in the first place. I mean come on now..what the fuck?!

Personally I don't buy into the veganism for health idea, veganism is no more healthy than a balanced omnivore diet. For me being vegan is an ethical choice, always has been and always will be!
How these people can believe so strongly in the cause and then turn their backs to the suffering they know is happening is just so dissapointing. So it's ok for an animal to suffer and die in misery so you can enjoy some chicken wings after training..what a crock!

I read recently that Natalie Portman and Zooey Deschanel have turned their backs on veganism too. Was gutted to read that Natalie Portman gave up on veganism since she became pregnant, which promotes the myth that it's unhealthy and considering the campaigning Natalie has done over the years for PETA (a company for another blog post!) it's just a giant slap in the face.

I guess I just don't get it. I've only been vegan for just over a year but I can't imagine ever going back to eating dairy let alone meat. I'm not out to make everyone in the world vegan, far from it. It has to be a choice and you have to make it for yourself.

There is a lot more I could say on this subject but I'm having a hell of a long day & the headache that turned into a migrane on Sunday night is still kinda lingering so I'm going to leave that here....for now.

Studying!!

My brain is buzzing with so much information. I've started my pre-learning study for the Personal Trainer Course. I've managed to get myself onto the August course so I only have 2 weeks to prepare!!
It's been kinda fun though, I think because I'm actually interested in what I'm studying it doesn't feel like a chore.

I have no other news really. I went to see Captain America last night and really enjoyed it. I really didn't expect to like it as much as I did. Didn't get back hom till after midnight and didn't get to bed till gone 1am so I had a cheeky lie in this morning (which I havn't done since I was made redundant, was determined to keep getting up at a resonable hour) so that was nice.

 The weather has been so hot recently it's made running hard but I'm determined to keep it up. I've already noticed an improvement in my stamina. It's funny how I hate the first 10mins or so but then I really get into the swing of it. This kind of weather makes me want to swim! When am I going to win the lottery so I can have a pool??? :)

xxx

A Step in the Right Direction

Sooooo..it's been a while eh?
So much has happened it's hard to know where to start.

Well, let's start with this. I made a decision about my future and my decision was this : I'm going to become a Personal Trainer! Yeah, that's right...ME a personal trainer.

I'd been thinking about it for a while but had no idea how to even get the first step on the ladder for something like that. So I did a bit of research and I found a course that I've applied for. It's a 6 week full time intensive course that by the end will qualify me as a PT (personal trainer - just saves me having to re-type that every time)
It's very exciting, I'll have to learn about anatomy and nutrition etc but I am super keen and I KNOW this is something I'd be good at. let's face it, I lost a lot of weight on my own and did it the sensible way, so I know what I'm talking about. Plus, since I've started coaching my roller derby team I've discovered this whole other side to myself that I didn't know I had.
There is so much I can do with the qualification too. My plan is to work for a gym for about 6months to a year and then hopefully i'll have built up a client base so I can step out on my own.. Am hoping to set up some evening classes too. I can maybe even specialise in something..like antenatal health and fitness or disablity or rehabilitation of an injury.

This is a pretty big deal for me, not even couting the fact that I'm a former fatty and if you'd asked me a few years ago if I'd ever consider a career in health and fitness I'd have laughed in your face! BUT this is a career too...a career...never thought I'd have one of those. I have quite happy bimbling along doing basic shop jobs, almost hoping that something better would just happen to me. Never considered actually making something happen for myself!

I just know this is the right thing for me to do...or at least I hope so - ignore that IT IS the right thing for me.
I register this Friday and so will hopefully find out if there is a space left on the August course or if I have to wait till September. Eeeeeeeek! Am so excited.
 This is only the begining.

xxxx

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

I think I'm becoming Jillian Michaels bitch! I've been doing her 30 Day Shred DVD. You do 10 days at level 1, 10 days at level 2 and then 10 days at level 3..I'm on day 4 of Level 2 and I'm still loving it!!
I even got a copy of her NO More Trouble Zones and managed to complete it in one go, it was tough but I was proud of completing it.
I feel like since I've been out of work I've been trying to stay positive & exercise has been a huge help. I feel so proud of myself after completing a workout. When I lost a lot of weight a few years ago I was exercising by walking so I never toned up..but I feel like while I have all this free time to myself I should use it wisely. Let's face it when we work it's so easy to make excuses to not exercise..too tired, not enough time etc

I've been calorie couting, like I used to. I write everything I eat & drink down in my food journal & I've really been trying to keep my calories maximum at 1500 a day. Some days I go over, some days under but to be honest I know that my real problem lies with the keeping active not so much my eating, so if i go over I'm not over the moon about it but I really try not to beat myself up over it.

Soooo, I had my 2nd interview for the job I want. I had to spend 2 hours in the ***** shop & see how the back office runs etc It went really well but I'm not going to find out if I got the job or not till Monday-ish. I hate the waiting..but I guess I should look at it as teaching me to be patient for the things I want. That's SO not me! My god..am I growing up?!

xoxox

Positivity

Ok , so I've just completed day 6 of Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred & I'm LOVING it!!!
I've found that the workout is getting a little bit easier each day but not only that the workout seems to fly by now..I feel like even though I'm sweaty and breathing hard..i ould carry on for a bit longer. Am sure I'll change me mind about that come day 1 of level 2. I skipped ahead yesterday after my workout just to see what level 2 was like.....I'm scared!! haha

The 30 Day Shred has been so enjoyable so far that it's really made me have a serious think about Open University courses etc
Being the coach for my roller derby team is a big deal for me and I'd rerally like to have some proper sports, health and fitness knowledge behind me. I'd like to make our warm ups even better than they already are.
Courses and training is expensive though :( It kills me whenever I think about the skating coach course I was booked to go on that got cancelled earlier this year. I really hope they organise it for another time.

I think for now I'll just try to educate myself on health and fitness as much as I can. There is a lot of conflicting advice out there so I'll need to find the best possible resources and try to study it as much as possible.

I havn't done much crafting recently, although I have crocheted two hats since I was made redundant. Have spent every day looking for work and I have an interview this .(fingers crossed!!) Job hunting is pretty soul destroying, my lovely husband keeps telling me that not getting an interview is no reflection on me and i've only been out of work for 10 days but..I hate it. I hate knowing that I'm not getting paid at the end of the month, I miss the books, I miss getting out of the house every day.
I just have to remain positive and KNOW that I will get a job soon and hopefully it'll be worth the wait.

"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort."  ~Herm Albright, quoted in Reader's Digest, June 1995

xxxxx 

30 Day Shred

Well bugger me..I found my mojo!
I don't know if it's a reaction to being out of work and now having a lot of time on my hands but I've been a lot more active and have started writing down what I'm eating again.
I also started the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred and I LOVE IT!! I'm only on day 2 of level 1 but hey, we all have to start somewhere..and I really want to lose the half a stone (7lbs) I've gained recently.

My muscles ache..and I mean EVERY muscle in my body, how I'm going to cope with a 3 hour roller derby session tomorrow I really don't know..and I have to work in the shred on top of that too - madness!!
I really hope I stick with it, I feel so good after doing the DVD.

So, last night I hooked up with a girl I've only met once but she had a spare ticket to see Dylan Moran, the highly amusing Irish comedian :) So we hooked up and went together.
I normally feel a bit anxious when meeting up with someone I don't know very well (hell, who am I kidding it happens with people I know really well too) but it didn't happen. The girl is an alternative model and as it turns out we know A LOT of the same people & local (ish) bands. I had a great night, only had 3 drinks and managed to work them into my calorie allowance for the day :)
Have made plans to meet up for a drink again sometime soon.

Today has been great so far except my neck is still giving me problems. I had my first session of physio last week and by god it was BRUTAL. The woman who I saw gave me some exercises to do and she told me she wasn't concerned, no nerve damage blah blah blah BUT I've been in a fair amount of pain today, since I woke up. I also forgot to pick up my perscription today so if I get any sleep tonight it will be a miracle!
I havn't taken any painkillers for my neck is quite a while but I'm very tempted to tonight.

xxxxx

What's your favourite scary movie?

Today, was a very important day..for months well about a year really I have been waiting.....for Scream4! It came out today & although my neck is killing me now (or at least it was - can you hear the rattle of the meds?) it was totaly worth it - I really enjoyed it. I would say if you liked the first 3 (and why wouldn't you?) You'll like it.
People give the Scream films and horror a bad rap and it's so undeserved. Yes there are some truly awful horror flicks out there but there are so many fantastic ones too..which really is the subject of another blog for some other time.

In other news (ha!) I had a lovely visit from my Mother-in-Law this afternoon. She brought me flowers (lillys) Green & Blacks 85% dark choc & a diet red bull. She knows my pain, she's had a trapped nerve before too and knows how miserable it can be.
Whilst I have a lot more movement in my neck today, it's felt more stiff than sore but I still had to take a couple pills when I got back from the cinema. I probably shouldn't have gobe but it's SCREAM4 people..sometimes you gotts risk the consequences.

p.s On the subject of Scream4 (YOU WILL FIND NO SPOILERS HERE...EVER!) I really liked Hayden Panettiere, I wasn't all that keen on her before. i loved the first season on Heroes but then I lost interest pretty quickly into season two & I'll admit I painted her with the annoying average teen girl. Hoping she'll get some better roles now.

I am soooooooo cold today, no idea why, it's really not that cold outside, well it's 11degrees now but I'm sure it was warmer earlier but i've been freezing all day. Maybe it's because i've not been eating that much recently. I've been alseep so often over the past two weeks i'm sleeping through lunch most days and havn't been snacking much recently, but I havn't lost any weight so ..gahhh I dunno..point is I'M FREEZING!!

I'm gonna have a cup of tea then toddle off to bed & read some more of my book.

Night x

Derby Derby Derby!

Well, what a weekend..the best part about it has been all the Roller Derby action!

But let's start with Friday shall we...

This Friday was Red Nose Day ..if you're not from the UK Comic Relief is a charity that relies on public donations to help support children in underprivileged countried but also does a lot of work for children in the UK too. Point is, every year we are encouraged to "do something funny for money" to help with their efforts to raise a lot of money. I havn't done anything to raise money since I was at school (too long ago to remember) so this year I wanted to get involved.

So, I wore my Roller Derby gear to work (including skates) and raised over £60!! Now, £60 may not sound like anything to get that excitied about, but when you hear that just £15 can pay for up to 40 babies to receive a course of malaria medicine it really puts that money into perspective.
I'm really glad I did my bit to help...also raised the profile of my Roller Derby team too which is always great!

Looking good right ?
I had so much fun wearing my skates at work..props to my boss who allowed me to do it! If only I could wear this to work every day *sigh

After a great day at work, I went round to a friends house for an early birthday celebration of dinner & lots of pink wine - yum! Had a delicious meal ( bless her, my friend was a little intimidated at cooking a vegan meal, don't know whym she did an excellent job!) and I provided some vegan chocolate cupcakes, my husband & I read her kids a bedtime story and then after a few too many glasses of wine, my husband & I made our way home.

Saturday was the day of the London Rockin' Rollers Bout...what a game! The Tiger Bay Brawlers put up a great fight but the Rockin' Rollers pipped them to the post 112-73 and in the 2nd game of the day The Rockin' Rollers crushed the Leeds Roller Dolls 172-31, but those Dolls were still great, they put on a good show.

Will post some pics from the bout a little later (hopefully today)

Today, I've been getting my craft on while the Glasgow Roller Girls play against Central City Roller Girls on Roller Derby UK tv I love that site, they stream love Dery bouts in the UK pretty much every weekend. If there's a bout..those guys are there! It's a really good quality streaming site too, very few interuptions. I'd highly recommend if you like your derby that you check them out.

Am currently waiting for my husband to get home so I can get dinner on...was super hungry earlier & thought to myself, I'll just have a wee snack to tide me over - I ended up having a bit of a binge on hummus & pitta bread - oops!

well....my crochet won't finish itself ..if only it could ;)

xxxx