Here we go a new chapter has begun and I am more determined than ever to start seeing progress towards my fitness and weight loss goals. The plan going forward is to use the first year of my 30's to really dial in and make some progress in the right direction for a change. Going into the final few months of 2024 I am nowhere near where I want to be in terms of the weight being shown on the scales and my fitness levels for football so the plan is to make the changes needed and really knuckle down to smash my goals, essentially the weight loss is now going to be a big priority for the next 12 months, no more excuses and better choices will be being made.

I know that I am more than capable of hitting my goals I just need to keep reminding myself just how much I want to achieve them. A positive thing now though is Liam is fully on board and is on his own little fitness journey which should also help me stay on track as we can work together and make better food choices together for a change. I am also making sure to plan ahead for a change, this will be planning meals, workouts and evenings where I am going out so I can work into my calories so I can stay on track. I am also not 100% focusing on the scales either as I know my progress comes in terms of measurements and clothes fitting too something which I never really took into account before as I was more focused on the scale number.

So here are some of the goals I am setting myself both weight and size wise for the next 12 months...

Drop 3 stone in the next 12 months

Right those scales will have dropped massively in the next 12 months and with the amount of time to achieve this goal if i knuckle down and really make this journey a priority I could easily smash this goal and also have the potential to lose more weight if things went to plan.

Fit into medium size clothing

I am currently sitting comfortably in an XL / large in most stores and I know if it prioritize the journey this could easily take place towards the start of 2025. The goal is to be in a medium in most stores comfortably as I know most stores sizes can really vary. I think I might even buy something in this size to use as a marker point but we shall see. 

Fit into size 14 trousers & jeans

This one might be a tough one as I am currently an 18/20 in most places but a goal for the next 12 month is to be comfortably in a size 14. This will mean the inches are dropping off the place that I am not happy with the most and will help me see the progress physically. I am really hopeful that by knuckling down I can hit this goal by next October.

Lose 15cm's off my waist

I need to measure where I am now and then the goal is to be 15cm's down by next September. I think this is a realistic goal however, if all the above goals go to plan then we might see an even bigger drop than 15cm's. My waist is a really big problem area for me so that is why it is a big focus point. 15cm's is the big target but any drop from that area would be perfect.

I am also setting myself some goals for running too as I am determined to incorporate plenty of this into my routine to help me with my goals. If I can get into running consistently I will not only see myself improve physically but I know mentally I will be much better too. So here are the running goals I have set for myself...

Complete the couch to 5k

I have started the couch to 5k and then forgot all about it so now I am determined to set myself a goal of completing the course by the end of 2024. It is 9 weeks so if I get started ASAP I should be able to get this completed with no issues at all so fingers crossed I can literally hit the ground running with this one. 

Run a full 5k

Now if I complete the couch to 5k I will definitely be able to do this. The goal is to be able to run a consistent 5k rather than being so stop start like I currently am. This should be completed pretty soon after that couch to 5k goal and I can't wait to prove to myself I am more than capable of running consistently.

Go to 5k park runs

Once I am running a consistent 5k I want to be heading out to do some of the local park runs, now if I can complete one 5 times in the next 12 months I will be more than happy. I have done one previously and enjoyed it even though I was so stop start so if I can challenge myself to hit some PB's that would be great.

Run a 5k in under 45 minutes

That previous 5k I mentioned I did that in just under an hour so within the next 12 months I would love to improve on my time and eventually be running 5k in under 45 minutes which with a bit of training and consistency I think it should definitely be achievable. Who knows I might be able to make even more progress and make it towards the 35 minute mark however, 45 seems more realistic. 

Sign up to do a 10k

I usually have a challenge booked for myself by now but for some reason I just haven't settled on one for 2025 just yet. The plan though is to book a local 10k race, which is most likely to be the Leeds 10k. This would be the furthest I had run yet and would mean plenty of training so other goals would definitely have to be hit to complete it so it could be the perfect challenge for me.

It isn't just running I want to set myself some goals for though as I am also hoping to really get into lifting and push myself to hit some higher weights rather than holding myself back and staying in my comfort zone. So here are my lifting goals...

2 sessions every week

I want to be getting 2 weight lifting sessions in each week for the next 12 months as I know that this will massively help me on my journey. The plan is to create 2 hours over the course of the week where I can head into the home gym uninterrupted and just work on my lifting and hopefully see some progress. I know already that I love lifting so it is time to add it into my routine more often.

40kg dead lift

I am going to need some heavier weights to do this however, I am determined to be hitting this in the next 12 months. I have noodle arms so this is going to be a case of improving on a low starting point but I am sure if I am hitting them 2 sessions a week as a minimum I will be able to do this over the course of the next 12 months.

40kg squat

Just like my arms my legs are basically noodles too so a goal is to be able to squat 40kg in the next 12 months. Again I need to buy some heavier weights to do this but I know that this goal is super realistic and I should be able to hit it in the time frame I have set myself. 

30kg chest press

The chest press is an exercise that I have always struggled with so I am setting myself a nice realistic goal of 30kg to lift on this one, again once I get those heavier weights. I am really hoping I can push myself with this one and hit it way before the 12 month mark but I guess only time will tell.

Of course when a goal gets hit I will be treating myself to a bit of a reward and I already have a few rewards in mind for some of the goals although I am sure more will crop up as the next 12 month progress. Some of the rewards I have in mind are...

Heavier weights

To hit my lifting goals I am going to need to purchase some heavier weights as my current set only goes to 25kg. I have my eyes set on a few weight sets so once I hit a goal or two off this list I am going to bite the bullet and finally get those heavier weights.

New workout clothes

If all goes to plan the weight will be dropping off me and my size will certainly be changing so when a goal is hit I am going to treat myself to some new workout clothing that fits me just right. I can see a lot of Gymshark orders taking place over the next 12 months if I am hitting these goals so let's see if it all goes to plan. 

New football boots

Do I really need a new pair of football boots? Definitely not but if I tick off a goal on this list I am going to treat myself to a new pair of boots as boots are the perfect treat for me as I have a bit of a collection going. No doubt by the time I hit a goal I will have my eyes on multiple pairs so it could be a tough choice when it comes to it.

New running shoes

If all those running goals get hit or even a few of them I am going to need some more suitable footwear so a reward I am setting myself is a new pair of running shoes that are perfect for me. The plan is to hit a running goal or two then go for a gait analysis to find what shoes would be ideal and eventually make the purchase to ensure I am less likely to suffer a running related injury.

Those are the only rewards I have in mind currently for the goals over the next 12 months however, as I said earlier I am sure more will be cropping up over time so keep an eye on social media where I will be sharing what goals I hit and what reward I treated myself to. I still have a very long way to go on my journey but these goals are certainly going to help me make plenty of progress by this time next year.

Now let's get cracking on and try hit some of these goals sooner rather than later. I wonder which one will be hit first?

 Here we go pay day again and I honestly couldn't be more grateful as the past few weeks have been very expensive for numerous reasons. The plan with Septembers pay is to keep adding to the Christmas gift pile that seems to be growing nicely for family members whilst also working on getting my wardrobe ready for the change in seasons at long last. This pay day the wish list really does focus on those changes I am wanting to make style wise whilst also looking at picking up a few other things that are going to help me out a bit going forward. So here is what I am hoping to pick up out of my September pay...

Random items

Ralph Lauren Travel Mug

Oh look the travel mug is still on the wish list and who knows maybe this month I will bite the bullet and finally get this ordered. The Nespresso machine is back up and running now and the dark mornings are rolling in so this could mean I finally take a coffee with me on those cold morning walks to work with the dog. 

Dongle for Memory Card

Well it is time to upgrade the dongle that transfers my memory card images direct to my phone. I never thought about the connection changing when I upgraded my phone so now it is a case of finding one that fits once more. This purchase should help me be more consistent with Instagram too so let's see if it goes to plan.

The theme lately has been all about change and with a new chapter opening in September it is only right we carry on talking about this topic and discuss some other things that will be changing. Along with changing my style I am also planning on changing things I do and also what I buy. I feel like I am just realising now that previously I have been coasting through life but now as new chapters begin it is time to dial in and make them changes to really improve my life all round. So here are some of the things I am going to be stopping doing...

Life

Throughout various aspects of my life there are a few things I want to change and I know that by stopping doing these things things will certainly change my life in various ways. Nothing is really a major change either so there is no reason these things can't happen sooner rather than later.

Saying yes to everything with family

I am a sucker for just dropping plans to nip out with my family for a few hours after work but looking at it now it is meaning I have less time wit Liam, jobs around the house aren't taking place and I am not having the time I would like to have to work on content. Granted I won't always be stopping saying yes, every now and again a bit of extra family time is needed but if I want to really make a go of my content once again I know those unplanned nights need to be cut right back. It is time to focus and keep those nights as planned.

Stop neglecting my health journey

Things started off so well with my weight loss & fitness journey but then things took a turn and somehow the journey just came to a halt and I started going backwards rather than progressing. I will 100% be stopping neglecting my journey and making it one of my most important things by focusing on the foods I eat and making sure I am moving a lot more. If I plan to work my 9-5 and then go home and work on content a lot of my day will be spent sat down so the plan is to stop being lazy and get up early to have a good breakfast and prep my meals for the rest of the day. Once this is done it will be all about planning my day ensuring I am adding walks into my day and 1 hour of exercise there is no excuse for not having 1 hour a day to work on my fitness. By planning and stopping neglecting my journey I feel like I could make some serious progress for the rest of 2024 and maybe even hit my big goal in 2025 but I guess we will see if it will all go to plan over time.

Stop paying too much attention to other peoples opinions

This one is a big one that I need to stop doing as it is having such a negative impact on me overall. It is no secret I am wanting to change my style and dress how I want to however, I am constantly letting other peoples opinions delay this process. I am listening to peoples comments on my style and size and it is really wearing me down in all honesty. The plan is for me to learn ways to block the negativity out and start to focus on myself and my own opinions for a change. At the end of the day if I am comfortable and confident in clothing then that is all that should matter to me and as for my size well I have just mentioned how my fitness journey is going to be a priority going forward.

Stop procrastinating 

I am a procrastinator that is for sure and I will do anything but work on the task at hand and then the procrastinating turns into negitivity as I feel like I have let myself down. The plan going forward is to work on my procrastination and turn it into productivity. So many content ideas get neglected due to the procrastinating and other projects I have in mind so the plan now is to get rid of the procrastination and smash on with working towards to life I want to live and get done all those ideas that have just been sat there.

Style & beauty

In terms of the style and beauty aspect of my life there are plenty of things I need to stop doing that will help me finally achieve the style I am wanting in life and finally look like I am put together rather than everything being all over the place like it currently is.

Stop rushing to get ready

This is a big one at the moment as I am giving myself about half an hour to get out of the door and it is just not working as my outfits look terrible and my skin and hair are definitely not benefiting from it. I need to stop rushing and designating time on a Sunday to get all my outfits for the week sorted so I know exactly what I am wearing and when the outfit is required for. I also need to set aside over an hour to get showered do a skin care routine and hair routine to make sure I am going out the door looking my best for a change. 

Stop buying everything men's

Now sometimes an item from the men's department may work for me but I don't need every item to be from the men's section like it currently is. These items really won't suit my new style so I just need to stop heading to that department and look for female alternatives instead. This goes for footwear too as the men's options are a bit too bulky for what I require. There is also toiletries the scents just don't do it for me and the skincare is not suitable for me so it is time to step away and get bits from the women's section instead. 

Stop following trends

The style I want to go for is more smart and totally opposite so I need to not get sucked in to buying trends which don't fit what sort of outfit I am going for. The trends like baggy jeans which I got sucked into and I barely wear as I don't want that sort of style, or the printed t-shirts that I actually used to love but aren't that much of a fan of currently. It is time to stop following trends and start dressing how I want for a change not like everyone else dresses.

So we have just spoken about the things I need to stop doing but there are also plenty of things I need to stop doing as I am constantly wasting money which is becoming a bit of an issue as it means I am not putting the money to one side for the items I really do want or for those much needed jobs that need doing around the house. I really do need to become better with my finances and stop buying for the sake of it so here is what I am going to try stop buying...

Trainers I am never going to wear

Now this is a big one for me as I get pulled in by the hype of trainers, see them at a reasonable price and then buy them. They then end up just sat in a box as I don't want to ruin them and feel like I have wasted my money if they get destroyed which in reality I am wasting the money by not wearing them. The plan going forward is to only buy trainers I really like and I know I am going to wear.

Clothing with big logos

I am over the days of the graphic t-shirts and big logos like Supreme etc. The plan going forward is to dress smarter and my clothing purchases need to reflect that so big logos and prints are out and small logos or plain items of clothing are in. The subtle look is something I want to opt for now and I know by eliminating those big logos and prints I will actually save money too as I won't be buying a few every time I go shopping.

Things I am never going to use

I know this may seem like a bit of a broad spectrum but I guess that is exactly what it is. There are so many things I buy whilst I am out and about for the sake of it and when I look around to things in packaging that I know I am never going to be bothered about I question why I got them in the first place and wonder just how much I could have saved the money instead. Buying for the sake of it is stopping now and I can only buy things if the are a need or have been on my shopping wish list for a while but more on that topic another day.

I just know if I can stop doing all these things mentioned my life will improve so much and if I stopped buying all the things mentioned my finances would allow me to do so much more so let's see if I can finally put all these things into practice and really change how life is and see what I can make of it. 

Keep an eye on social media and here to see if these things do change or if things are going to be the same but I can honestly say 110% effort is going to be made to make sure things now change as I enter a new chapter in my life. 

See you soon

Lucy

How on earth are we in September already? This year is going by a lot faster than others and September is bound to go just as fast if not faster as it is going to be a very busy month. September sees the start of my football season where I will once again be testing to see if my body can carry me through a football season. It is also the month where I turn 30! There are going to be plenty of celebrations throughout the month so it is going to be a case of trying to squeeze everything in whilst also having a super productive month. The goals I am setting myself are pretty realistic for how busy the month is going to be so I can feel like I am smashing the month. So here are the goals I am setting myself...

Fitness

Buy more autumn pieces

Autumn finally rolls around in September and it is safe to say it is my favourite season to dress for. With the style changes I am going through I have identified some gaps in my wardrobe for the season so the plan in September is to get those gaps filled an build my ideal autumn wardrobe for when the weather changes.

Make an effort with my outfits

Right September is time for me to stop being lazy and actually make an effort when it comes to my outfits. This means making sure I am wearing items that fit me right, that aren't losing colour and actually go together rather than throwing any old outfit on. This also means making sure all clothing is dog hair free and freshly ironed too as I am sick of being lazy with my clothing.

Keep decluttering my wardrobe to lean towards my new style

Slowly but surely I am getting more confident to wear the new style I am aiming for although I do have a long way to go and find myself reaching for my old faithful outfits more often than not. The plan in September is to keep on decluttering my wardrobe so that I have no option but to head for the new style. By decluttering the wardrobe I will finally free up a bit more space for those new items I am bringing in and can finally streamline my wardrobe. 

Invest in more basics

Whilst I am adding to my wardrobe I want to make sure I am adding some basics that are going to last me a while & also see me through autumn whilst working with other pieces I already own. The sort of things I am going to be investing in are t-shirts both long & short sleeved, vest tops for layering. I am also planning on investing in some better socks as the Nike's don't cut it anymore I need some nice neutral dress style socks and some thicker ones for the colder dog walks.

Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize with every outfit

Something I have realised lately is that accessories can really make an outfit. The times I have added accessories too I have felt so much more confident so I know that I really need to do it daily. I have plenty of accessories already and plan to add a few more to my rotation soon so I have no excuse to not be doing this daily. 

Life

Find a balance for everything

As I said earlier September is going to be a busy month so I setting myself a goal to find a balance in the month to avoid the dreaded burnout so I can enjoy myself. The plan is to put together a routine where I can balance work, family life, celebrations and football whilst also working on content and feeling somewhat human once the month comes to an end. 

Go on more dog walks

I have been slacking when it comes to the night time dog walks and have been leaving them all to Liam. The goal for September though is to get out on a lot more of the night time walks with Liam and the dog & also spending more time walking with them on a weekend, I know I will benefit from the fresh air so let's hope this is a goal I smash.

Read a book

These days of me reading daily are well and truly gone however, I really do want to start reading more often again so I am making it a goal for September to actually sit down and read a book. I feel like it is time to sit and read one of the many fiction books I have got gathering dust. 

Create a morning routine

I am determined to stop being lazy in September and with the month being a month of change I feel like it is time I sat and worked out my perfect morning routine. I am currently being super lazy and mornings are rushed however, I want to get it so on a weekday I can get up have a coffee whilst sorting social media posts for the day, who knows it will hopefully help me become more consistent. I also want the routine to create a much slower start to the day on both weekends and weekdays but we will talk about that when we get the routine nailed.

Kick start my 30's in the best way

My 30th birthday is towards the start of the month so I am determined to use the rest of the month to make sure my number age category gets underway in the best way possible. If all these goals on this post go to plan I think it is safe to say my 30's will be starting in the best way but I guess only time will tell. 

Home

Keep the house spotless post party

In the run up to my party at home we are decluttering and tidying room by room, we have then booked a cleaner to come in and get the house looking its best before the actual party. The plan post party is to give the house another good clean and then finally start to keep on top of jobs rather than letting our standards slip like we have been doing. I am really hoping this is a goal we can tick off as I am sick of the house at the moment.

Declutter the bathroom shelves

As I said earlier we are going room by room decluttering and we are almost done however, a goal for the month is to go through and declutter the bathroom shelves and get them spotless without keeping hold of things for the sake of it like we have been doing. If we are ruthless with this we will gain so much space on the shelves at long last and we can restock products we are actually going to use whilst condensing how many products we actually have.

Keep on top of the washing & ironing

The wash baskets have been ridiculous lately as they have been overflowing just due to laziness. That is going to change by the end of September as I am determined to get everything washed, decluttered and put away at long last, gone are the days of letting things pile up for the sake of it. Plus with the new chapter the ironing is have to be done regularly to make sure our clothes are looking the best at all times.

Get more quotes for the hallway works

We have had one quote for the hallway so far which was plastering with an option to decorate after, let's just say the price shocked us a bit so we know it might take a while to get the works underway. We need to sort out the sort of budget we need though so the plan is to try get at least a joiner quote in September as this will be possibly the biggest cost. If we got a rough estimate for the flooring too that would be great but let's just see how things go shall we.

Keep saving towards the hallway works

I guess this one kind of comes and in hand with the above goal but the plan in September is for me to not dip into my savings and actually save towards the hallway works. I have told myself it is going to take twice as long if I don't knuckle down and save now and as it is a job we really want doing it is time to step things up a bit.

Content

Post on the Edge of the Area Instagram daily

Football season is back in full swing in September as by the end of the month all the women's leagues will be underway. I guess this has shown me just how much I have been slacking on all things Edge of the Area so the plan for September is to start showing up on social media once more and actual put content out seen as last season I totally lost love for it all.

Post more regularly on TNG Instagram

I finally know the direction I want to take the TNG Instagram account in so the plan in September is to be a whole lot more consistent with it. Granted I am not sure if daily posting will take place just yet however, even 2 or 3 posts a week will be a win for me for this one.

Post every weekday on TNG website

Right the plan for the month is to have 5 posts going up each week, which means 1 post every weekday. If I just get a routine sorted out and get a bit more organised I should easily be able to get this done. I have enough ideas of what I want to write so fingers crossed by the end of the month there will be a bunch of new posts on here.

Post more on TikTok

Social media has been well and truly neglected so fingers crossed all the goals above will help me become a bit more consistent with it. I really want to push on with my TikTok account as I know there is a lot of potential if I was a lot more consistent with it. Let's see how this one goes as I have a few ideas for it.

Get the TNG Media accounts posting more often

I want to have a big push for creating for TNG Media during September as I really want to get some ideas off the ground. The plan is to just push out products I have created so far just to get the account seen whilst also working on ideas in the background. A post a week would keep me happy at the moment but let's see how it goes.

So there you go there are my goals for the month of September, I am determined to have a very good, productive month so let's see how many of these goals are ticked off as completed by the time the 1st of October rolls around. I am very hopeful that the new chapters opening through the month are going to help with the productivity levels so let's see how it plays out.

See you soon

Lucy

Well pay day has finally happened and it couldn't have come any sooner. The plan with this pay day is to save, save, save however, with my birthday falling in this time frame I have a fair few party expenses to pay out. That being said though I feel like this wish list for the month is a nice mix of items that are going to take me through the change of season towards the end of September and also help me get back on track with my weight loss journey but I guess we will see with that. So here is what has made it onto my August pay day wish list...

Random items

These items fall into the random items category as they aren't fashion or fitness based but are items I have had my eye on for a while now. I will hopefully be treating myself to a fair few of these pieces throughout the month...

Ralph Lauren Mug

Our mug cupboard is currently going through a big declutter as a lot are worse for wear. The plan is to upgrade the mugs slowly over time with some nice looking ones, rather ones where prints wash off. I keep getting drawn towards a few different Ralph Lauren ones, so I need to work out which one I really want to pick up. I love the football one but I also love the Ralph's coffee one, who knows I might end up getting a few of these but for this pay day I am going to try settle for just the one. 

Ralph Lauren Travel Mug

With the cold weather coming I am preparing ahead and the plan is to not have half as many drinks out as we did last year and instead take drinks out with us. I would love to pick up a Ralph Lauren travel mug for those walks to work and the long dog walks we will definitely be going on. This might be expensive at first but I am more likely to get the use out of it if I like how it looks.

New Perfume

I am 100% using some of my August wage to pick up a new perfume as I am very slowly running out of current perfume so an upgrade is required. I am thinking something a bit fancier than usual and something that is going to work well in the darker months too. Chanel No5 is drawing me in the most at the moment so I have a funny feeling that this going to be the one I end up purchasing.

Skincare

I need to sort my skin out once and for all so I know that a fair bit of August's pay is going to go on bits to help me get my skin back into a good condition. I have been looking into the CeraVe range a lot lately so I feel like I will end up with a few bits from them and maybe a few other brands. It is time to build up a good morning & night time skincare routine.