Wintry Richmond and Alexander McQueen

Today was a wondrous winter's day in Richmond and another occasion where I felt like I had walked into a Dickension novel.  We were up and out early for a walk around Richmond Park after I completed my morning workout tabata training (11 minutes of mountain climbers, 20 seconds on 40 seconds off).  Below is the view of Richmond Gardens opposite my flat. It looked beautiful and was so nice to see families sledging down the hill, it always makes me feel so lucky that I live here.

After the walk, I was starving but it was only 10.00 am and I had to wait until half 11 for my first feed so I threw on a Pashmina and headed down the hill to see if I could try on the Alexander McQueen coat that I had been eyeing up in the window of Vintage Rose for the past two weeks...

I am wearing: Tesco headband / HnM Snood / Pasmina from John Lewis / Lusso London Cashmere gloves / Armani exchange leather and cotton trousers / Ash biker boots / Topshop jumper and Longchamp handbag.

       

Alas it fitted and what's more they knocked a further £25 off for me, making it a steal compared to what it should have been full price! The pictures of it are above, I cannot wait to wear it out!!

I then headed over to Hampton Wick near Kingston to get my nails done and immediately felt a lot better for it.  There is nothing worse than having chipped nail varnish, especially when it's gel and you just want to peel it off (something my manicurist told me off for, oops!)

OPI GEL, You don't know Jacques

I have really struggled to avoid caffeine today.  It's so cold, exactly the sort of afternoon for coffee and a cake! I've had to really push through and stick with the peppermint tea when all I really want to do is head to a coffee shop and have a big mug of coffee and a piece of chocolate cake!!  I did weigh myself this morning though (which is apparently not allowed, so my scales have now had the battery taken out of them by my husband) and I am 3lbs down in 5 days which is a great incentive to push through! Just another half a stone to go until I'm back at my wedding weight!!

I am going to have a power nap now to stave off the hunger pains before doing the second workout and having dinner followed by a movie off sky box office...detoxing is so not rock 'n' roll!

Bracing myself for the weekend!

Woohoo! I have made it through 5 (pretty stressful) days at work on the detox plan and this weekend is the first big test.  After the week I've had the first thing I would normally do is crack open a bottle of red or some of the fizzy stuff and go out for dinner but not tonight!!

I'm tired, achy and in a bit of a grump at the moment (having to abstain from alcohol when I know everyone else is in the pub!) but I am also proud that I have completed 5 days and I am digging my heels in to push through.  Not even the fact that I had psyched myself up to buy the Alexander McQueen coat in the window of the vintage shop on my street and it was shut due to snow can tempt me to fall off the wagon.  Besides, there's always tomorrow!

If this coat is in my size I am treating myself to it tomorrow morning (The McQueen on the right, not the Chanel!)

So tonight, I'm going to have a nice bath and relax and enjoy the fact that tomorrow I don't have to set my alarm for 5.30! In fact, I am going to set it for 8,30 and then head to the gym before going to get my nails done with a friend. I cannot wait!

The view from the School Terrace at 11.00 am 

After a full eight hours of snow, I donned my hunter wellies and trekked home along the river.  I could really feel my calves as I walked up Richmond Hill for the last stretch home but school to my house is exactly 40 minutes which fitted in nicely with the 40 minute of low intensity exercise as instructed on the plan.

Here's to a weekend of self-discipline and strong resolve!!