Project 52: week 1

It’s 2024 and already my camera roll is full of photos like this. Bertie seems to have a new-found love of photography. Shame it’s all blurry selfies and unflattering photos of me feeding Barnaby!

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I have big plans for 2024. I already started my 101 in 1001 challenge, and I’m also planning on a new challenge – project 52. The original challenge I’ve signed up for was project 365: share a photo from every day of the year. But I don’t feel like that would be doable for me, what with going back to work and learning how to balance working mum life with 2 kids.

So I’ve created my own version: Project 52. And here are my rules:

• A weekly round up of photos and a snippet about what’s been going on in our lives
• Weekly focus. Make a small change every week to become a better version of me. A new thing every week to focus on which will combine throughout the year to help me to become who I aspire to be

Simple really. Hopefully! I’ve had a little brainstorm and Google of “glow ups” and of course have my own ideas, and have crafted a list of challenge ideas that I can pick and choose from each week. Hopefully this will be a more sustainable way to make the changes I want to see in myself than doing it all in one go and wondering why I’ve failed for the 63rd time.

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Week 1

Monday: kickstarted the week with a family walk round the park. Brett remembered Bertie’s scooter was in the boot so he had lots of fun scooting around. Actually, we all had to take turns (Barnaby excluded!). Barnaby had his first go on a swing. Lots of fun. Lots of mud.

Tuesday: went to Brett’s mums to exchange New Year gifts. Bertie made gingerbread, tasted fab.

Wednesday: Bertie had a play date with his friend at a local role play place. Loved it. Barnaby stayed home with Brett. They both napped. Very jealous. Bertie fell asleep watching TV which meant he didn’t sleep until 10. Nightmare.

Thursday: despite the late night, Bertie was still up early. Tired. De-Christmased the house. Remind me to do this while the boys are out of the house or asleep next year. Barnaby learned to climb the stairs. We now have to keep all doors closed.

Friday: lazy morning then spent the afternoon upstairs trying to get some work done. Bertie invited himself to join me and took another million photos on my phone.

Saturday: braced ourselves and went to the shops to stock up on Pepsi. Surprisingly quiet. Bought a subway to eat at home, thoroughly enjoyed. Bertie got new vests. He’s over the moon. Worked while Barnaby napped. Watched the new TMNT film with Bertie.

Sunday: Bertie woke up at 4. He decided everyone else should also be awake at 4. He fell asleep at 8. Brett and I took turns to nap. I couldn’t sleep. Brett took the boys to his mums so I could finish up my work. Actually enjoyed the peace and got lots done. Made stew and it was a beauty.

Bertie hasn’t been able to let go of Christmas and is still making his own sleigh and reindeer on a daily basis.

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Journey to a better me

This week my focus was on calories. I got really upset with myself and the way I look over Christmas. I didn’t want to be in any photos and none of my clothes fitted me so I felt rubbish daily. I decided I didn’t want to spend another year feeling this way and I was going to get serious about losing weight and nourishing my body better.

Step one towards this was to find out how many calories would put me into a calorie deficit. I went back to using nutra check and logged every single thing that entered my mouth.

I’ve learned that the meals Brett and I eat aren’t too bad. They’d benefit from some more fruit and veg (a handy focus for another week!) but calorie-wise they’re fitting in nicely without too many changes. The problem is (and I knew this deep down) with binging.

I never thought I’d call myself a binge eater but there it is. With any excuse I say “I need chocolate” or “I need ice cream” or “I need cake”. Then I’d proceed to eat a family sized chocolate bar without a second thought, and then reach for the biscuits.

Having cut right back on snacking, and making better choices when I do snack, I’ve stuck within calories most days. The days I’ve done over have been made up for by the days I’ve been under. I’ve done lots of reading and I feel like a weekly goal is best for me. That way, I can distribute calories unevenly if needed when I know we have something coming up, like a birthday!

Lost 5.8lbs in the process! I aren’t expecting every week to be such a big loss, but it’s certainly given me the motivation to keep up with the calorie counting and making sure I stick within my allowance through the week.

Next weeks focus: movement and closing the rings on my Apple Watch. Every. Single. Day.

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