New Year, New You?

A new year is a fresh start for many of us. We set ourselves goals, create lists of ways to improve ourselves as partners and parents and we think of ways to better our lives in general.... so, what are your resolutions for 2014?

My word for 2014 is GIVING.

Giving more to others

Giving more to myself

Giving more to my family

• I plan to exercise more frequently, improve my diet and indulge a little more when it comes to pampering. I definitely haven't taken care of myself as much as I should've the past few years so it's time to give up neglecting myself and give back to my body.

• 2013 was amazing in terms of family fun. We had several camping trips, holidays, days out and we got stuck in with plenty of baking and crafts. I want this year to be equally as good, if not better, and I'm already booking activities in to look forward to. Giving time to family is so important.

• I'm raising funds for the Lullaby Trust (they provide support for families that have lost a baby) for January by not consuming alcohol or chocolate until February. I'll be doing a variety of things throughout the year to help other worthy causes and I'll also be arranging a raffle for charity.

If you would like to sponsor me you can do so here: www.justgiving.com/theminimesandme2014

What are your hopes for this year?

Make 2014 a Better Year for Someone

Our New Year’s resolutions are always the same, aren’t they? Get fit, lose weight, give up smoking…

Self-improvement is all very well and good, but what if you could do more? What if you could make someone else’s life better in 2014? 

With child sponsorship, you can do just that, and bask in the satisfaction that at least one of your resolutions will be going to plan. 

Charities all over the UK use child sponsorship programs to help change the lives of children worldwide. Being a child sponsor gives you a unique insight into the life of a child in a developing country, and over time you will be able to watch your sponsored child benefit from your kindness and generosity as they continue to improve their lives. 

Letters, photos and reports from your sponsored child and charity will help you see the difference you are making in that child’s life and the impact your contribution has. 

You are free to write to your sponsored child and see how they are doing. In fact, most charities encourage this, as the letters help to improve the child’s literacy skills and help you to establish a connection with your sponsored child. Also, reading a letter from someone miles away who cares about them and is willing to support them is priceless to these children, and can help to motivate them in their ambitions. 

Start off the New Year by making an immediate improvement to a child’s life. When you sign up for child sponsorship, you will be given the choice of sponsoring either a boy or a girl. You will receive a profile of your sponsored child as well as photos of them and their family. You will also receive guidance on writing to your sponsored child as well as writing materials. 

Just knowing that someone else cares about their fate and is sending some of their hard-earned cash to help them improve their lives means a great deal to these children and their families. For the minimal cost of 50 pence a day, you could help change a child’s life forever. 

The money you donate goes towards projects that will best benefit your sponsored child and the needs of their community, be it agricultural training, renovating wells for clean water, building and restoring schools or providing immunisations. Most importantly, the emphasis is placed not on hand-outs, but on helping the community to take ownership of these projects so they can help themselves out of poverty and become stronger as a community for the benefit of themselves, their children and future generations. 

Make your New Year’s resolution one you won’t give up on this year, and help change the lives of a child and their family for the better. Your contribution will make a difference not only today, or for the next year, but for many years to come due to the projects that your generosity can help fund and sustain. 

Visit http://www.plan-uk.org/sponsor-a-child today.

*Sponsored Guest Post*

Weekly weigh in #5

Another 1lb off this week which is great news, however I feel quite bloated today from a large intake of diet coke at the weekend so I imagine it would've been a bigger loss if not for that. It was better to drink diet coke though and offer to drive, while at a pub quiz on Saturday, rather than consume calorie packed wine and spirits so I made the right decision. I'm hoping for a 3lb loss next Monday!

I need to really push myself and put some effort in if I want to reach my target of 7lb per month... I lost 4lb during January.

• I've started the 30 day shred which is going well so far, even though I've spent a few evenings aching in my legs. No pain no gain!

• I've managed to avoid alcohol and snacking in the evenings.

• I've been walking the dog and enjoyed it more now the sun has made an appearance.

• Sleep can help greatly when it comes to weight loss so we have actually ordered a new TV bed, mattress and memory pillows for an ultra comfy bedtime. Neither the Mr or I have been sleeping well recently so we felt it was a necessity to replace our current bed - plus we are decorating our room at the moment anyway so it was perfect timing!

• I've been having a smoothie every day which is 2 of my 5 a day straight away each morning.

Weigh in #3

I had some really bad headaches last week, possibly caffeine deprivation, so the majority of my exercise was simply walking the dog - although this was in deep snow at times. I did however eat reasonably well and when I weighed myself on Friday I had lost 1lb just since the Monday which I was really pleased with!

I haven't weighed myself today, my official weigh in day, as the kids are off school due to the snow and I had already eaten my breakfast before realising so I shall just carry on through until next Monday.

How have you done this week?

Weigh in #2

After a week of long walks with the dog, aerobics in my lounge and calorie counting I was looking forward to getting on the scales this morning. I felt positive for the first time in what felt like forever that when I stepped on the Wii fit board to see the damage it wouldn't say 'one at a time please' to me in horror. 

I have lost 3lb this week and I am very pleased with that.

I still had the odd treat like a few mini eggs and a can of coke here and there as I find if I deprive myself completely I will have a massive binge eating session and raid the fridge like Pac-man! I've found it's all about moderation and the odd slice of cake is acceptable if I have put the effort in 95% of the time and burnt some calories off too exercising.

How have you done this week?

What motivates you?

Are we too hard on ourselves as parents?

We all want the best for our kids, right? While thinking of ways to improve myself as a mummy this year for my resolutions and coming up with the idea that I need to spend more time outside with the Mini Mes, it made me think of other things that I could adjust too....

Read to them more frequently

Ensure they get their 5 a day every day

Go on more day trips as a family

the list went on

But then it made me think that perhaps not only was I being slightly unrealistic in my targets, there are only 24 hours in a day after all and I don't have an endless supply of money, but that I was being hard on myself and my expectations of being a good mum.

Is this something that we all do? 

I know thinking back that there has never been a time when I have thought to myself that I am a fantastic mum. I am far too critical and always comparing myself to other families, what they have and what they do, rather than focusing on the good things that I do, the fun we have and what I am able to provide for my children.

We have holidays and days out, lots of fun baking and making things, spend time outside and inside playing and they have lots of toys and books. I get them to have some fruit and veg each day and try to provide healthy meals. They are intelligent and happy children so surely that should be enough to show that I am doing a good job? Or is criticising ourselves beneficial?

Perhaps I should think more on how good I am instead of thinking too much about what else I can do. I think a lot of it roots back to when I had my first child, Minxy, and some other parents would comment on methods of feeding/dressing/weaning/toilet training/co-sleeping etc which makes you doubt yourself and your abilities as a parent and makes you wonder if you are doing things correctly - I imagine this is the case for a lot of us.

Are you critical about your parenting? 
Do you feel you are too hard on yourself at times?

Weigh in #1

The first week of 2013 went well with a lot of salad, fresh fruit smoothies and not a drop of alcohol but with a few Christmas goodies left in the house temptation did take over on a few occasions!

With the Mini Mes back at school today I'll have some spare time each day before work to exercise and I intend to give it 100%, these pounds won't shift themselves unfortunately.

With squinted eyes I climbed onto the Wii Fit board to weigh myself this morning and this is the result...

I wasn't expecting to lose anything this week with getting back into the routine of calorie counting after the Christmas festivities and very little exercise so I'm OK with today's result of staying the same. I think I'll find it easier from today to stick with 1,300 calories a day and an average weekly weight loss of 2lb to reach my goal. I intend to look at the picture above every time I crave chocolate to remind me that nothing tastes as good as being slim again will feel. I've already done aerobics this morning after the school run.

How do you stay focused when losing weight?

How many pounds did you lose this week?

2013 - promises to myself

Each December I think of resolutions, improvements for myself as a person, as a partner and as a parent to try to achieve an even better year than the one previous. At times they can be difficult to stick with for one reason or another, afterall chocolate can be a little too tempting at times can't it and time isn't always on our side, but this year I'm hoping I can reach my goals and by writing them down I think it will keep me motivated.

Have more fun outdoors
I love the sunshine so popping on flip flops and going for a stroll in the summer is never an issue but when it's cold, windy or wet I'm not usually as keen. However, after a few recent trips out in the rain I've realised it is actually really fun to puddle jump and to get stuck in mud so I'm planning on spending a lot more time in the great outdoors as a family regardless of the weather.

31st December 2012 - Ending the year as we mean to go

Spend more quality time with the Mr

We get weekends together and every evening and although it's nice to watch a movie together and have a glass of wine I would really like to try to make that time more special. I want to play more games, have a giggle, get out together more frequently for date nights, paintballing etc as a couple. Just enjoy eachothers company a little more without technology getting in the way.

Lose weight

This one tends to pop up most years! In order to lose weight I'm on a mission to reduce sweets and chocolate, eat healthier and exercise more. I'm aiming to work out 3 times a week for 45 minutes either Zumba, a DVD or popping on the cross trainer but keeping active links in well with my other resolution to get outdoors more too which should help!

For January I am also raising funds for Cancer Research by not drinking alcohol. All sponsorship is greatly appreciated for this worthy cause so if you can help out, then please do!

What are your resolutions this year? 

How do you plan to stick to them?

This is my entry for the ‘Get Fit Feel Epic’ competition hosted by Kate on Thin Ice