Liv's Blog

  What week are we on? 4? Yeah, 4. And that folks, is how I am feeling. I have to be completely honest...motivation to write this has dwindled a tad tonight. It's 10.30pm, and truth be told, I want to go to bed. (Yawn). But here I am, writing... Well, I'm actually sat here staring at my Calathea ('prayer') plant thinking how well it is doing. Three weeks ago it was dried up, half-dead and colourless. Right now it's looking the happiest it's ever been.  Ok, well not as happy as when I first bought it home from Homebase...when it was a metre tall and actually dark green/purple. Before it was subjected to the neglect, overwatering and lack of proper nutrition. Poor thing has had over 18 months freezing it's tits off in the lonely, north-facing window-light of my flat and losing the will to live. It's also had me pruning it to within an inch of it's life and drowning it every week - because apparently I believe that if we just cut the brown bits off and ...

The title of this week's post is exactly how I hope I'll be able to describe this journey at the end. Or rather, when I reach where I want to be (there is no 'end', it's going to be a lifestyle). So this week, I didn't 'start as I mean to go on'. I actually started pretty pitifully. A blip. A 'wobble', if you will.  Day 1: Wednesday  Bodyjam day. Yay!  I am definitely starting to feel better...and have noticed it most at the gym.  I don't know why, but for the last few years or so, I've developed a weird paranoia about going to (and being in) particular places. The worst 3 being namely: 1. The Royal Priors (don't ask me why); 2. The Supermarket. Particularly ASDA; 3. and last but definitely not least, The Gym. It doesn't happen when I'm with people. I can go anywhere and do anything with someone by my side. But for someone who works with new people and various people from all walks of life every single day, chairs meetings wit...

  Week 2: So far, so good. Firstly, thank you all so much for the love and support from the last post. I had a beautiful inbox message from my brother who told me never to think I'm anything but beautiful, inside and out..."do it for health but don't ever think you are not beautiful"...which meant a lot.  Also, absolutely HUGE thanks to Stu Van Zeller for offering his support by way of some generously discounted personal training support. I was only joking about the cheeky free sessions but there you are being an absolute legend and offering your time and efforts regardless. As I'm starting my mission, he's starting his mission to develop his personal training business. For someone that I've always known to be a cheeky, sarcastic guy who doesn't take life too seriously... he was extremely professional (funny story coming up...read on) and I was really impressed.  As you know, last week I set myself on this mission and promised myself I'd do at leas...

'Week One: I can, I will, I promise...' It's no surprise to anyone that knows me that I've struggled with my weight. For as long as I can remember I've yoyo-ed from relatively chunky to 'no bones' about it - absolutely chunky. I come from an entire family of fatties. It's a running joke that if we're chunky, we're definitely a 'Crossie'. When the next generation start getting chubby - we act like it's a badge of honour, stamp of approval, DNA confirmed, "one of us". But the reality is that I also come from a family where premature death, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and various other weight related health issues are a thing.  The first time I had a surge of motivation strong enough to do something about it was at age 22. I was a size 16, working in catering and making the most of all the freebie food that came with the job. I put on a pair of size 16 work trousers one day in October, 23rd Birthday approaching, and they wer...