I can hardly believe we are now in the final month of 2013! Does anyone else start to do that ‘life assessment’ thing about this time of year? I’ve started thinking about what I have and haven’t achieved and what I would like next year to bring, but I’m getting ahead of myself!
November was a pretty good month for me, although at times I do feel like it’s been a bit of a roller coaster – more on that next week! I’ve spent some time with my family and we had a fantastic time at the Durham Lumiere festival:
We had our trip to Brighton which was just brilliant and exactly what I needed!
It was fantastic to see Christina again and so lovely to meet Lucie.
I’ll be talking more on this in a later post, but despite some of the ups and downs this month, I’ve been feeling so good ‘in myself’. Despite eating a shit tonne of sugary treats in Brighton, I didn’t actually gain too much weight, and I’m feeling very comfortable and confident in my body at the moment. I actually feel like making more of an effort with my outfits!
Exercise wise, I have been stuck in a gym rut, which to be fair I shouldn’t really call a rut as it’s been doing the job. I just know I would benefit from some different workouts, especially yoga and hula hooping, so maybe need to refocus on those next year.
The HRM has been a useful tool in making my gym workouts effective and enjoyable.
When it comes to food I’ve been loving my chilli!
My Turkey Taco Chilli and Simple Veggie Chilli have been made at least once a week, such a perfect healthy and comforting meal for this time of year.
I shared a few new recipes with you including my Raw Salted Caramel Sauce, Slow Cooked Thai Chicken, Pumpkin and Spinach Curry and Stir Fried Brussels and Squash with Spicy Peanut sauce.
I’ve had a great time blogging in a different way using the Dayre app too. My fave posts from this month include my vlog on tips for overcoming evening snacking and the post I did all about the mood and food connection and how to try and get ahead of the game with SAD.
Ok, it might seem a bit ridiculous to have to pledge to yourself that you will enjoy December, so give me a moment to explain! In the past I have struggled to find a balance in December with all the food around basically. I have been either overly restrictive and therefore missed out, or have indulged too much, felt like crap and guilty as hell. This year I just want to enjoy it! I’m challenging myself to find a balance, continuing from where I am with things at the moment really, just enjoying food without stressing about it!
I absolutely love this time of year, and in addition to the fabulous food, I’d like to take every opportunity to enjoy whatever comes up. I have a few nights out planned and I’m sure that some things will have to be put on the back burner to make way for them (and maybe the resulting hangover!) and I need to remind myself that is fine. I just want to prioritise my time with friends and family and have a really good time!
I can’t wait to spend some time in the kitchen as well, I have a little list of recipes old and new that I’d like to make. I’ve even been spending some time putting my favourite Christmas recipes into a free e guide for my newsletter subscribers so if you’d like that as a freebie just sign up here before the end of the week!
How was November for you? Do you have a pledge for December?
I think pledging to enjoy December is a great idea! I pledge to slow down and enjoy the time with my family.
I think slowing down is a great sentiment for this time of year!
Sounds like you’ve had a great month! My pledge for December is also to just “enjoy” it – I sometimes have a hard time comparing my Christmas to other people’s and being a blogger makes it even harder when your entire blog roll is filled with “perfect” Christmases, I’m going to try to have as much fun as possible, not use any event as an excuse to stuff my face with junk and also say “no” to things that I’m not 100% wanting to go to so that I can save energy for the events I do want to go to! x
That’s a really good point, I think there is that comparison in the blog world but you are right to just enjoy it. Definitely with you on the saying no to some things to maximise the enjoyment of the things you’d really like to go to!
Think that’s a great December pledge. Hope you have a great month!
Thanks Lauren, hope you have a great December too!
I can totally see your point there. I feel like often at this time of year I end up tired, stressed and run down as we try to fit in seeing sets of friends, work nights out, Christmas shopping, time with family etc etc, and there is just not enough time for it all. So I am going to make sure I prioritise things I want to do, and if there are people I can’t see I will make up for it in the new year instead.
Yeah it can get a bit full on can’t it. I definitely think prioritising is the way to go, hope you have a great December!
Great pledge. I feel like people hugely stress over Christmas about food and drink. I think that the important thing is to have fun when you’re supposed, eat what you never get a chance to normally eat, and relax as much as possible!
November sucked for me if I’m honest. Not being able to run, deciding not to run the marathon, work getting so busy and Ben working so much abroad…it just kind of flopped. SO December will be better! Lots of lovely friend visits and Christmassy events and family coming down – it will be great!
I agree! Sorry to hear November was so crap, but at least it’s over with now – you’ll be fighting fit and running again in no time!
Mine is to relax, recover from October and November, not get ill, not get overwhelmed by Christmas (cooking Christmas dinner for meat-eaters, a veggie and a vegan, across 2 houses is an exercise in logistics), and be relaxed when the insanenss of January starts.