Well, I'm off on holiday today ! Mum and I are going on a cruise around Italy !  But I won't be slacking... there is a gym on board and a running track.  I will also be doing the hike up Mount Vesuveus and walking the city walls of Dubrovnic.  Becky has just rung me to say that there is a big article about the Challenge on page 13 of this weeks Wilts & Glos Standard (Cotswold Edition) - so be sure to check it out !  Haven't seen it myself yet....

I will be back and blogging on 14th August, hopefully I will be able to get the odd blog in while away....

Best wishes to you all, Abs X

Well, yesterday was absolutely amazing !  I was quite nervous in the morning, but got going bang on 11am !  A photographer from the Wilts & Glos Standard came in about 11.30 and we did a photo-call.  Ian, the Gym Manager, joined in and I think we got some good pictures... (check out the pictures posted) A few people popped in during the day to say Hello and actually the time went quite quickly !  My friends, Becky and Bridget, were there to support me the whole time and were trying to encourage people to part with their cash !  The last hour was amazing and the Staff at Le Spa came in to cheer me on for the finish line !  The last piece of music was the theme to St. Trinians and a huge cheer went up at 5pm !  Then, after a good stretch I relaxed in the hot-tub outside with a glass of 'something fizzy'.  I really enjoyed the Spin-a-Thon, it was definitely blooming hard work and certainly not something you could do on a regular basis - unless you are completely mad - but it hasn't put me off and will remain part of my training for the other challenges.  Next stop, Kilimanjaro !!!

I would like to say a HUGE 'thank you' to all the Staff at Le Spa, Cirencester.  Firstly, for letting me do the Spin-a-Thon and for all their support and encouragement.  And, of course, another HUGE 'thank you' to all my friends and colleagues who have spurred me on !!!

Had some really good news yesterday evening.... My good friends and neighbours, Beth & John V, have been approved to adopt a little boy and they will become his parents next month - how fabulous is that !!!!

So, until the next blog.... Abbey X

What a crazy week !  Since my last blog, my dentist is really pleased with me ! Because of the Herbalife diet I haven't been eating all the usual junk and my teeth and gums are much better - less pain !!!  After that I headed off to Le Spa for a workout - I did 5hrs on the spinning bike, so I'm confident for the Spin-a-Thon on Friday.  Yesterday, I was going to go the gym again, but my body was soooo tired.  I popped into Cirencester to see my friend Joan at Crystal Springs then picked up some food and headed home for a rest... Curled up on the sofa with Basil, my mini dax.  One of my closest friends, Sally, came over in the evening and we spent our time trying on clothes and were totally excited cos we could both fit into a pair of size 8 jeans I have from Next !!! This time last year I wouldn't have been able to get them over my knees !!! 

I did get some bad news on Tuesday evening... While chatting to Ian Blythe, the Gym Manager at Le Spa, he told me that he has been made redundant and his last day is Friday.  Ian has been so supportive, enthusiatic and encouraging.  He is an excellent Trainer and he will be greatly missed.  I wish him every success and happiness for his future.

So with just over 24hrs to go, I'm off to work this afternoon.  I am assessing a group of First Aid students - as usual I'm expecting the standard will be very high !  Then I'll head to the gym....  So, untill tomorrow evening, if I have the energy, I'll put up another post to let you know how the Spin-a-Thon went and hopfully a couple of pictures too !

Best etc, Abagail X

Blimey, it's Tuesday already ! It's absolutely pouring with rain today and to top it all I have to go to the dentist !  Then I will be heading to the gym.... Need to try to do 4hrs on the bike today, same tomorrow too.  I did 3h 10m on the bike on Sunday, but only did 2h 30m yesterday.  I won't go to the gym on Thursday, my body will need a day off and I have to do some of that 'work' stuff too !  I'm looking forward to the Spin-a-Thon on Friday, but I'm sort of dredding it too !

Till soon, Abs x

Hello, I'm Abagail.  I am an Instructor and Assessor for the St. John Ambulance in Gloucestershire.  Last year I trekked on the Great Wall of China and raised just over £5,000 for the Charity.  Things are a bit different this year... I was meant to be going to Peru in September to trek to Machu Picchu on the old Inca Trail, however it proved not to be financially viable so I've come up with something else... That's what 'Abbeys Challenge' is all about.  My aim is to raise £20,000 to split between the St. John Ambulance and Marie Curie Cancer Care (because they looked after my Dad sooooo well before he passed away in November 08).  I'd like to present both Charities with a large cheque each in time for Christmas 2010.

A lot of this has been made possible because I have been through some big changes since Christmas 08.  I was very unhappy in my own skin and wanted to do something about it... at 5'8" I weighed 13.7 stone and wore size 16 jeans.  One morning, early December, I saw an advert in my local 'What's On' - 'I can help you lose weight', so I rang the number and spoke to a lady called Melissa.  She came to my house that evening to introduce me to Herbalife products.  I figured I had nothing to lose except lbs so I signed up.  I haven't looked back yet !  I now weigh 11 stone and wear a size 10 jeans !!!!  In April this year I joined a gym - Le Spa in Cirencester, where I am doing the Spin-a-Thon.  All the staff have given me so much support and encouragement and helped me to get my fitness level up.  One of my friends, Beth, helped get me into 'running' and I go 'rollerblading' too !!!  I've had to try and fit some of that 'work' stuff in too !!! 

But my training is going well, my average work-out in the gym is 30 mins on the treadmill followed by 2(ish) hours on a spinning bike, finishing with 20 mins of Pilates and a good stretch !!!  Yesterday I did 3 hours on the bike after a 30 min run on the tread-mill !!!

So, this blog is to let you know how my training is going... if you've got any tips or advice please let me know !!!