Juneathon Day 8: But I Don't Have A Bike?

What a day...

Something good happened today - the plumber came! The upstairs radiators now turn off when the heating does, which means no more sauna bedroom! While the plumber was still working away I had to head off to my own job.

After walking to work, being on my feet all day, then walking home all I could think about was getting in bed and reading - but then Facebook reminded me there was something important I needed to do first, Juneathon! 

I had written on the Facebook group asking for suggestions before leaving for work, but the one I had received before leaving was to run home from work as seeing as I'd forgotten to bring a spare change of clothes and had fake converse rather than trainers it didn't seem appropriate. When I got snug in bed though I saw a comment on the Facebook page of a different suggestion and that reminded me to get my arse in gear.

Ash Medhurst had suggested that I do bicycle crunches, but my initial thought was 'I don't have a bike', I Googled it though just in case and discovered I didn't need one.

I watched a How-To video on YouTube (twice) and then cleared a space on my warm-but-no-longer-boiling bedroom floor. The first task of the exercise was to lower myself into a lying down position, and even that hurt. I bent my legs, interlocked my fingers behind my head, then lifted my head up and the video instructed and begun riding my imaginary bike. I counted each elbow-to-knee touch as one and set a goal of reaching 50.

After 35 I have to stop for a breather, then again at 45 then at 60 I stopped. I started writing this then thought, 'I can do better than that!' so I got on the floor and did 40 more. Making that a total of 100.

I am now worried I will ache tomorrow at work. Although, I am starting to get used to being constantly achey and in pain!

With each day this challenge gets harder and harder, but you can make it easier for me by sponsoring me for my efforts. Each donation will make me happier, thus making the challenge easier and easier. Cheer me on: http://www.justgiving.com/Shelby-Juneathon

Juneathon Day 7: A Down Day

Today was not a good day...

I woke up hot and sweaty again and have now contacted my landlord as I think there's something wrong with my radiator (happy days), and then realised I have finished all of series two Orange is the New Black which has left me feeling empty, but I did manage to sort of clear off my desk and organise a little!

I spent most of the day feeling sorry for myself and looking for jobs online to no avail, and feeling really down. I forced myself to sit in the sun and make the most of my day off in an attempt to cheer myself up but basically ended up crying while eating an ice lolly.

Perhaps I should do 100 Happy Days again, that made me feel great it even made me decide there was no such thing as a bad day - which I definitely need to remind myself of today so... Pros of today: it was sunny, spoke to my mum who cheered me up, found a Budweiser in the fridge (major win) and ordered Chinese takeaway with my housemate, Emily. . . That's better.

I read somewhere that exercise is supposed to release the same endorphins as chocolate, but I have yet to feel any evidence of this... especially today when I need those endorphins, or just chocolate, most.

While waiting for the Chinese to arrive I decided to do some exercise. I had very little enthusiasm today for anything, let alone Juneathon - but somehow I managed it. Today I did 70 sit ups, 60 leg raises and a very poor 30 second plank. I did the sit ups and leg raises with short breathers throughout, but the leg raises required more breaks and kept making my thigh bones click! The plank was difficult as it made me whole body shake - why does it have to cause pain to do good, can't it just feel good!

The exercise was all washed down with the refreshingly cold Bud and will soon be followed by a Chinese (basically undoing all the work). Damn.

Please please please take a moment to sponsor me - anything amount will make me happy and help Macmillan continue their great work: http://www.justgiving.com/Shelby-Juneathon

Juneathon Day 5: A Step Up

And breathe...

What a day! My first one back at work post-holiday and probably the sweatiest and out-of-breathest yet. 

I annoyingly awoke before my alarm had even asked me to and pottered about on the internet until I had to get dressed and ready to leave. Luckily I have a knight in shining armour in the form of my best friend, Alice, who sent me a "You can do it" themed text this morning and then drove me to work! I love her.

Another plus was that the shift was only a 5 hour one, phew. After getting out at 2pm I did some much needed food shopping and walked home - which is basically the only exercise my body is actually used to (if only I could claim this as my Juneathon for the day, but alas that wont bring the sponsors in!).

Naturally the enthusiasm I had planned to have for unpacking and tidying had disappeared on arrival home and Orange is the New Black was much more appealing (even despite the beautiful weather). I asked Facebook what I should do today and Hayley Stock ever so kindly suggested I should go "Up and down the stairs 50 times by the end of the day" - and I thought we were friends? 

While at work today I was aching pretty much everywhere, especially in my rear (those Burpess have a painful after affect). Despite this though, I decided to defeat the stairs, and all in one go. Although I had probably walked up and down them ten times already and undoubtedly would again as my bedroom is upstairs, I decided to do 50 all in one go as otherwise I felt like it would be cheating.

At about 5 I heard my house-mate leave and I eagerly jumped up and began to get ready, but then I heard the door go and another house-mate had returned (5 bedroom house, currently four of us living here). I decided to just do it anyway and it kind of helped having a witness.

I took a short breather after twenty, then thirty, forty and forty five (it got harder!) then smashed the last five and ran back down and straight to the kitchen for some water.

I have 14 steps on my staircase, and they've now been conquered! I even ran most of the time, and only had to clutch hold of the handrail a few times...

Here's a well-earned staircase selfie, enjoy: 

Luckily I have a day off tomorrow (from work, not Juneathon boo!) but I will more than likely spend most of it in pain (thanks Hayley!) and maybe, just maybe, I'll get some unpacking done! See ya...

P.S pleeeeassseeee sponsor me here: http://www.justgiving.com/Shelby-Juneathon

Juneathon Day 4: Finding Motivation

I am writing this blog post as I catch my breath and sweat runs down my forehead (attractive imagery, right?). 

I haven't had a very productive day. It has mostly been spent milling about, packing, travelling back to Canterbury, starting to unpack and procrastinating by watching more Orange is the New Black (I have an addiction).

Yesterday, as I am sure you've read, my Juneathon exercise was a kick-boxing cardio workout, and while at the time I felt okay (albeit slightly out-of-breath and sweaty) today I certainly felt it. Again, my abs (it feels weird calling my flabby belly this) ached and while carrying my suitcase down the steps onto the platform at Chatham train station my legs felt as if they'd been replaced by jelly.

I returned to a room hotter than the one I has stayed in at the hotel in Majorca. It had been locked since I left on the 27th May with the windows closed. My lovely bedroom was now a sauna - I struggle to breath in saunas. Being already hot and sweaty it was a struggle to find the motivation to convince myself to exercise - but I found it, on my JustGiving page!

I received my second donation today! It reiterated to me the phrase "No pain no gain". All this pain is worth it when I receive a donation, thank you.

So I looked at the list of suggestions and chose one suitable to my environment, i.e my sauna bedroom (I wasn't going to risk my house-mate walking into the lounge and seeing me in all my sweaty-exercising glory). I chose to do a Burpee (thanks for the suggestion Tanya Louise Alice Harris) - whatever that is...

After searching and watching a How-To video on YouTube I was ready(ish). I cleared my half unpacked suitcase out of the way, put on my Workout Playlist on Spotify and began.

My house-mate may not have been able to see what I was doing, but from the sound of me banging about I can only wonder what he thought was going on! As seems to be a running theme, the Burpees started off okay and I cockily thought 'This is okay actually', then the breathlessness joined me and the sweatiness multiplied.

Tanya didn't suggest an amount so I aimed for 50. I fought past the breathlessness, facing my mirror and staring myself down as I completed the task.

Undoubtedly I now look stunning, see: 

Note the shiny-sweaty face? Mmm. Please give me more motivation and donate here: http://www.justgiving.com/Shelby-Juneathon

See you tomorrow...