Resolution Roundup

Hi everyone! Sorry it's been so long since my last post, the world outside of blogging has been pretty intense and I was forced to take a break for a little while. But I'm back today hoping you'll all forgive me, and with a little Resolution Roundup for you all!

This time last year I set myself some New Year Resolutions, and to be honest I haven't really revisited them since. So we're well overdue a progress up date on them.

To get fit and healthy

This was definitely a very cliche resolution to make. I wonder how many other people made this resolution and how many actually achieved it?

I must admit, I probably didn't do too badly with this. I had spells where I was really good, kept up exercising regularly and ate healthily, but there were other spells where I was really naughty. I suppose that happens to even the best of us. I can't complain though, I did loose weight and drop a dress size, and I do feel a lot better in myself because of it. Just need to get back into my good spell again and keep it up for as long as I can.

Pass 4 more CIMA exams

Woo, this one I achieved! But it wasn't easy by any means. I finished off my final 2 management level exams by May 2015 and sat the first of my strategic level ones in September. All passed on the first attempt. The second strategic one I sat I wasn't so lucky with. I failed on the first attempt. BY ONE MARK! I still haven't got over that even if it was over 2 months ago. But on the second attempt I passed.

In total now that's 9 exams down (4 in 2015) and only 2 more to go! My aim of completing my qualification before turning 25 and ticking it off my list is on track.

Make more effort on my blog and in the blogging world

For the most part of the year, I did quite well on this. I was post regularly. I give my blog a whole new look. I came up with some new content ideas. I did more promoting and interacting through social media. I participated in some blogger chats. I worked with a few brands. I was getting there. And then work and exams became overpowering and blogging took a major back step. This is the one thing that isn't on my 25 before 25 list that I'd like to carry forward into next year. Make more effort with my blog. Even if it's just regular posting (once a fortnight at least) and keep my social media going. Then I don't feel as bad if work does get too much and I have to take a break. Lets see how it goes.

Read more books

Not including college books, I read 12 books this year. I achieved my goal!!!! The books I've read are: My Side of Life by Shane Filan, Now and Then by Brenda Rothert, Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes by Denise Grover Swank, The Homecoming Masquerade by SpencerBaum, The Festival of the Moon by Spencer Baum, The Rose Ransom by SpencerBaum, The Bonding Ritual by Spencer Baum, Looking for Alaska by John Green, Off Balance by Terez Mertes Rose, GoneGirl by Gillian Flynn, Paper Towns by John Green, Turning Pointe by Katherine Locke. I really need to learn to start doing my book reviews as soon as I've finished reading something. I did a few, and I've linked them above if you're interested, but I didn't get round to the others. I should really catch up on them all.

* * *

I'm not setting myself any resolutions for 2016 as I'm still working my way through my 25 things before 25 list. But there will be a new post within the next week or so welcoming in 2016 and detailing some of my plans for the New Year. I hope you'll all stick around to enjoy them with me.

Happy New Year to you all, and thanks for putting up with my recent absence.

Love Sarah x

100 Happy Days...Day 66

Day 66 - Seeing Progress

Despite not having the greatest of months, I've seen a lot of progress this week in regard to my body. Yesterday I found a pair of trousers in the bottom of my drawer I bought 2 summers ago, and thought I'd give them a try and see how they fit. Last time I did so I struggled to get them fastened, yesterday they went on with no problems and were surprisingly comfortable.

Today, I went for a pair of trousers I bought at the start of the year. They're a very skinny cut so when I got them they were quite snug...but they were supposed to be. Every time I've moved today they've fallen down a little bit further and I've spent half the day pulling them back up again. I may have lost some weight, but I'm surprised I've lost enough to see this big of a difference in my clothes.

Yesterday I finished my 30 day challenge, so today I took my review photographs and sent them to my boyfriend for his views on my progress. The quality wasnt great but his comment when he saw them was "The line on your stomach doesn't look as prominent that means you've lost weight", I'm taking that as a good thing.

I've still got a long way to go, I can definitely tell myself that my stomach is flatter, but I'm going to continue with the challenge through May to make the difference even greater and my stomach even stronger.

Weigh In - 21st April

I'm always very surprised to see the scales drop, especially after a few very bad days. I dropped another 0.5lb which I'm really chuffed with after my bottle of wine, cakes and chocolate I've enjoyed these last few days.

My plan to cut back on the amount of diet coke I was drinking didn't go too good. I managed until Wednesday as work didn't have any diet coke for me to buy, and then I gave in when it came back in stock and started drinking again....I blame this new system testing, it's pushing me over the edge. Tomorrow is a new work week though so I shall give it a go and see how I get on.

I missed dancing a lot last week, I only managed 2 workouts and the second wasn't as good as it should have been. I really do think dancing is what keeps me going, I might look into options for taking a second class...force me to do that extra hour. Maybe after my exam.

Being off work today has meant that my Monday night gym session hasn't happened, the major downside to where I live, it's so far away from everything I do. Not long now until I'll be able to go whenever I want. I'm actually quite excited at the thought of being able to go on weekends, late at night, or before work on a morning. I just hope this enthusiasm carries on and I'll actually put a bit more effort in over the summer.

Today is day 21 of my 30 day challenges. I'm loving the abs one, it's such hard work but I can definitely see it paying off. I'm struggling a lot with the Plank challenge though, for some reason my ability to hold a plank for more than 90 seconds has gone and I cannot keep up with the timings I'm supposed to do now. I'm going to keep trying but I may restart the plank one properly next month and concentrate on getting my form right in the mean time. I'm not enjoying the squat challenge as much as the abs, largely because I really don't like squats. I'm persevering though.

I've taken some photos to show my progress through the challenge, once it's completed I'll post them all and we can see if there's a difference. I do think there is but maybe I'm just being optimistic.

Happy Easter Monday everyone! Hope you've all enjoyed your chocolate.

Weigh in - 17th March

After my weekend of celebrating and drinking I'm not surprised the scales didn't drop again this morning...but at least they aren't going up!

Last week was good up until I started the birthday celebrations. I did my little gym routine on Monday and Tuesday, and then dancing again on Wednesday. I'd planned on a third gym session on Thursday but that never came about.

Dancing on Wednesday was great fun, as always. I much prefer being in the studio to being in the gym but unfortunately that isn't an option. As I said the other day, I found out I was going to be in a dance show at the end of June which has motivated me more to work a bit harder and stretch more.

I've been good today and declined an offer to go out for food tonight and went to the gym instead. And before bed I will be doing some stretches with my theraband. I'm determined this week is going to be a very good week. Gym again tomorrow night, dancing on Wednesday, gym Thursday and then on Friday I will resist ordering takeaway with my boyfriend and will make us something nice and healthy instead. I might even be very dedicated and go to the gym on Sunday after college...let's see how I get on.

On my run today I managed to get up to 6 mins non-stop, another little step forward towards my 10 min target. I still don't particularly enjoy running but it was nice to know that is probably the longest I've run in one period for a very long time. If only I could control my breathing better and then maybe I'd find the run a bit easier.

I don't quite know why but I really struggle with breathing when I'm running. I do my best to try and control how I breath and when but that seems to make it worse...the more I think about it the worse it gets. I also struggle with breathing when I'm stretching...to the point my boyfriend and dance teacher have both had to shout at me and remind me to breath because I just seem to forget. Strange, I know, but it happens. So if anyone has any tips on breathing whilst exercising please let me know, I'd really appreciate it.

Anyway, theraband time!

100 Happy Days - Day 21 - My doggy

My little doggy is almost 17 years old and may be really struggling at times, but she can still have her half hours of madness and make me smile. After a mad little dash around the house tonight she cuddled up next to my seat wanting an ear scratch and a belly rub...such a therapeutic thing for both me and her. Love you Gemma.