I started walking to work this morning without my pedometer and it felt really strange…. like a piece of me was missing …sniff! L

The past ten weeks have flown by and I’m proud of what I have achieved and what everyone else has achieved too. All in all the challenge has been a massive success, and I think that was echoed in the results of the final health checks. Even though I’d been on holiday and put on over half a stone, I still managed to weigh a few pounds less at the end of the challenge than when I started it. Considering walking is my only form of exercise at the moment, I think it’s had an amazing affect on my wellbeing health and fitness.

It’s been difficult at times to maintain the 10,000 steps a day – but if you use it as a guide you can’t really go wrong. It’s a great way of making sure you’re getting some exercise in to each day and it’s so much cheaper than joining a gym. It’s also been a fab way of seeing this beautiful city and discovering new routes around it.

I’ve found walking can be contagious too. A lot of my friends have said how proud they are of me, and they’ve applied for pedometers to see how many steps they’re doing in their day. Doing the challenge has restored my drive to get fit and healthy and now I feel confident to try new things.

I’ve decided I’m going to try cycling in to work for a while and see how that goes, but I’ll always love walking and enjoy the freedom it gives you. I’m so pleased to have been part of a fantastic challenge, and I’m looking forward to seeing who’s won!!

My blog is short and sweet this week I’m afraid and it’s been the most difficult out of all of them. I’ve found it so hard to get motivated and to find the time in the evenings to get out and about. I haven’t done anything exciting, so I don’t really have an awful lot to talk about. I’ve been trying to walk to work via a different route and I’ve been trying to speed up my steps. I’m looking forward to doing the healthwalk at the weekend as I haven’t had a chance to do one just yet. I can’t believe how quickly the ten weeks have flown by, but I think the best bit about this challenge is the fact that it’s made me get sooo much fresh air and it’s inspired me to try different forms of exercise. I’ve decided that once the challenge is over I’m going to try cycling to work instead of walking and try and get my fitness up that way. The thing that Brighton and Hove has, that is pretty unique, is a fantastic cycle network and the city is so geared up for public transport and encouraging people to walk around.

I’m looking forward to seeing how everyone has got on with the challenge. I’m positive that everyone has given it their all, and it’ll be great to exchange stories about the highs and lows of the last 3 months!

On Friday I was working on an outside broadcast at Worthing Hospital to celebrate 60 years of the NHS. We were filming in the hospital wards and I noticed the nurses running around, and it got me wondering how many steps they must tot up in one shift! I did over 15 thousand on that day, just running from ward to ward, so I expect they must get really fit doing their job!

Then on Friday evening, I was talking about my challenge over dinner and I inspired two of my friends to go on to the Journeyon Website and claim a free pedometer. They were amazed how many steps they could do in a day and as both of them already walk to work it got them wondering just how many steps they are totting up without even realising. My dad had sent me two pedometers as spares (because I lost mine last week) so I gave my friends those to tide them over until they can get a Journeyon one…. I did find my pedometer though – it was at the bottom of the washing basket – whoops! Although, the battery had gone flat, so it was quite good timing to get a new one!

Sunday has been my favourite day of the week – but it was also the wettest. I still managed to do over 11 thousand steps even in the torrential rain!

I borrowed my friends dog Ruby for the day and took her along to the Pride Companion Dog show. I was working, admittedly, but I still had a fantastic time. I walked over to my friend Jemma’s house in Brighton to pick Ruby up, then I walked up the Old Shoreham Road to Hove Rugby Club where the event was being held. I was surprised how much running around I had to do and also how much fun having a dog really is! I wish I could have one of my own, I can see it’s a brilliant way of making sure you do lots of walking!

Also I’ve noticed over the last week how much money walking to work has saved me. I cleared out my wallet and found bus tickets. Over the course of a week, if I walk to work everyday, I can save myself a total of £8.50. Also, I’ve tried to make sure I don’t have any money in my wallet so that I’m not tempted to jump on the bus. However, today was so wet and horrible, and I was late for work, so I walked half the way there then jumped on the bus. At least I’m using public transport though!

I can’t believe the end of the challenge is approaching, It has gone soooooo quickly! I still haven’t managed to do any of the Healthwalks, or the Urban Walks yet – each week seems to be flying by. But I’m determined to do a couple before the challenge is over!

It’s the first time I’ve been able to sit down properly and read everyone’s blogs. I’m so impressed! Then I read my own again. It seems each one I’ve written has started on a low…. so now I’ve decided to start this one on a high.

I love walking! I can’t remember the last time I travelled in the car to go somewhere socially and I feel guilty when I get on the bus. My car has been scrapped and is on its way to car heaven. Now I’m going to do everything in my power to avoid getting a new one. I try to walk whenever I can, and yes it can be hard sometimes, but I’m getting there.

I really, really enjoy walking to work. It’s me myself and I. I can put the world to rights before I step foot in my office. I feel brighter, more awake – a little hot and sweatier but I can cope with that.

Walking has also inspired me to do other things. I got on my bike for the first time in two years the other day. I cleaned off the rust, pumped up the tyres and peeled the lock (that I’d bought in 2006) out of its packaging and went on my way. I couldn’t believe how quickly I got into town. Yes, getting back was a killer but Rome wasn’t built in a day and the more I do the easier it’ll become.

I’ve also booked into have a chat with a trainer, to give me an extra boost up the bottom. I want to get fitter now and I know that eating right and walking is a big step in the right direction but I think I’m in the right frame of mind to get really fit, and enjoy it too! And my boyfriend and I are thinking of joining a yoga class. I think I’ve inspired him to get fitter too! We live in such an amazing place with the sea, parks and downs on our doorstep - I just want to be out in the open! Gyms are rubbish. Who wants to be in a room full of sweaty people when you can be outside!

With regards to the mini challenge…. I only managed to go on a super long shopping trip this week. I wanted to go to the downs, but my boyfriend was working this weekend, and my two closest friends who would normally have jumped at the chance were away on holiday. I didn’t really fancy going on my own, so I don’t have any quirky little stories to tell about that. There’s a possibility of going camping this weekend so I’m hoping to do an extra challenge then. I feel gutted that I couldn’t do more. But I walked into town and walked for most of the day – up and down the high street, through the lanes etc. My legs were aching by the time I finished and my wallet felt a little lighter too.

I’m tired…. soooooo tired. I don’t know if it’s the walking that’s knackering me out or the lack of sleep. My enthusiasm has waned this week too and I’ve struggled again! It didn’t help that I’ve spent all week at a court case so it’s been a really difficult week to be active. Also I forgot to take my pedometer with me at the weekend AGAIN – I keep forgetting to swap it over from my work clothes to my normal clothes when I come home on a Friday night!

I’m looking forward to this weeks challenge though, all my friends are on hols this week, but I’m sure my boyfriend and I will be able to take part in a little adventure.

This week has probably been the dullest in terms of activities, so I’m going to sign off now before I being to waffle. I will really try and do something exciting between now and next week.

Over and out!

Week 5 started off badly. Work got in the way of my walking, so I didn't quite manage to walk my full 10 thousand on Monday and Tuesday but Wednesday onwards was brilliant. My plan originally was to borrow a dog, but I did't get a chance to this week. It's still my plan to do so before the challenge is up though.

The highlight of this week, by far, was taking part in the Martlets Hospice Midnight Walk with Francesca. It was a very surreal experience getting ready for a half marathon when my body thought it was bed time. It was a fantastic opportunity for me to see the city by night, and I was astonished how many people took part.

We managed to walk the 13 miles in just over 4 hours, which I didn't think was too bad. We walked at a good pace and although the last few miles were tiring, I felt fantastic the next day knowing I'd done nearly 30 thousand steps in one night, and had managed to raise over £300 for a good cause! I found it difficult to sleep when I got home though, which had a bit of a knock on effect for the rest of the weekend. By Sunday night I was shattered and only managed 5 thousand on that day. But I'm hoping this week will be just as good and I'm looking forward to trying a health walk or an urban walk to try and spice things up a bit!

I think this week I've really noticed a difference in my fitness and general well being. I feel like I've had more energy and I just feel a lot healthier. So I'm really pleased. This walking thing must be doing me some good!

But now I’m back in Blighty there is no excuse, and I’m actually glad I’ve got the challenge to force me to exercise, especially as I’ve put on 9 lbs on holiday…..

Today was my first day back at work and although I got the bus into work this morning, I’ve managed to do over 8 thousand already while filming for the 10,000 steps challenge. I’ve enjoyed being out and about on the seafront, and I’ve made sure I’ve walked up and down the 3 flights of stairs to my office each time I’ve returned. I think I’ve done it about 4 times today so far!

I think this week will strangely be a lot easier for me. But I’m hoping to vary my steps slightly. I’m going to walk to the cinema, to the pub and I’m going to try and do a bit of running to shake things up a little bit – exciting!

Also, I’ve realised it’s only 8 weeks until my best friends wedding so I’m hoping the challenge will help me get back in to shape, and will enable me to fit into my bridesmaid's dress. Otherwise, I’m going to have a very unhappy bride on my hands!

I hadn't realised quite how little I would normally do on holiday until I came away, knowing I had to try and walk 10,000 steps a day.
Last week I was led into a false sense of security... I thought to myself ' This walking malarkey is pretty easy really, and quite possible to fit into daily life'.... that was until I arrived in Crete. It's been 30 degrees at it's coolest. The swimming pool and bar are within 100 yards of my apartment and the beach is right there, ready for me to roll out of bed and straight on to a sun lounger. It would be so easy for me to walk as little as possible and do absolutley nothing! Well, that's what people go on holiday to do isn't it? Nothing, Nada, nowt! But I've had a job to do - walking 10,000 steps a day.
 
I'm not going to lie. This week has been incredibly difficult. The temptation to lie by the pool all day with a beer has been immense, but my boyfriend and family have been really supportive of this challenge and we've tried our best to go for as many walks as we can to try and make the target. But there have been days when the heat has got too much, and on those days I've not done my quota. The worst part has been remembering to take off my pedometer when I've gone for a swim - and working out where to put it when I'm wearing a dress. One night I even strapped it to my boyfriend's waist when we went out for dinner. I figured we would both be walking the same distance, so I didn't think it was cheating :)
I think when I return to Brighton and go back to work I'll find the challenge alot easier, but I'm going to try my hardest next week to make up for the steps I've missed.