New trainers are amazing!

Hi guys and girls

Firstly I need to apologise for taking so long in writing my next blog, I don't really have an excuse apart from being slack......just being honest xx

Well the new trainers are amazing I bought a pair of brooks and I really didn't realise the difference a proper fitted pair of trainers make I know that sounds stupid and even how to lace them and tying them the proper way so your feet don't slip and ever wondered what the extra hole was for on the very top hole of your trainers well google it and find out as what a difference it makes! 

Training has been going well I have to say I have even started running not far and not fast more like a slow jog and I can't believe how much I actually like running after months of moaning to mark and Jane at pressfit about how much I hate running and would moan and tut when they would make me do it lol but my longest so far is about 4-5 miles but I do stop a couple times to nearly die lol

The walking is going well I still do my little short faster walks through the week with my dog obviously and my long walk on a Sunday but Sunday has been a bit lonely as my friend Aimee who was walking with me has picked up a injury and also it means she now can't do the parish walk!...bad times so it's just been me and my boy on a Sunday but I'm happy walking on my own listening to the music and probably talking crap to the dog who I'm sure is thinking is this walk ever going to finish! Lol 

I also competed in a charity walk on Sunday called the harbour2harbour was a lovely 10 mile walk from port Erin to port St Mary and finishing at Castletown but didn't take the dog this time as I wanted to try up my pace and keep it steady rather than stop start like I do When I have steel with me and was great as I even got to walk with the famous Robbie callister haha who was very encouraging helping people and chatting along the walk it's nice to see the pros in action lol However for all of the race I walked with a girl from pressfit called Rachel charker and she was brilliant to walk with really kept me at a good steady pace and I even think I have persuaded her to sign up for the parish and she is going to walk with me which is great as she really will help and encourage me through the laughter and the tears I'm sure. 

Well will leave it there for now as I have circuit training soon as I am still doing my training at pressfit 5 days a week as well as the walking and running helps keep me fit and healthy something we should all strive to be! 

Well will write again soon will stop being such a lazy arse and get fingers to iPad and write to keep you updated

Take care guys 

Sharon xx 

Bad things happen but the journey must continue 💕

Hi guys
I know it has been along time since I last write my blog but unfortunately me and my family had have a terrible time as my nan passed away to cancer over Xmas and we only had a couple weeks notice then sadly a man who was like a brother to me passed away also over Xmas in a car accident so it's been a tough couple of months! So I am really sorry that it's been so long since I last wrote.

Well over Xmas I did go off track a little I found it really hard to get myself back to "normal" what ever that is but with the amazing support from Mark and Jane at PressFit who could see I was struggling They helped me find the light again!

So I have been very busy with my indoor training doing 5 days a week now but unfortunately I have not been doing as much walking as I would like during the week maybe just a hour a day as the weather has been terrible and I wasn't well for a couple weeks but I have been going out for long Sunday walks with my friend aimee doing between 12 and 15 miles we even challenged the sloc which to be honest I found great however we had only walked about 4 miles before not like on the day! Lol but it was good to try the challenge of it to see how it felt however Sunday just gone was the hardest walk yet with lots of Steep hills very steep hills lol worst was we had to battle in the wind, rain, snow sunshine I actually think we walked in all elements of the weather that day 😨 but as they say you have to walk in all weathers so I reckon I have now 😃.

I have also been busy meeting with Lesley Turnbull from the charity Wiah Upon A Dream for whom I am raising money for as the charity is amazing it aims to make the dreams and wishes of terminally ill children Come true so please if you would like to donate I can be found on facebook "sharon sloan-okeeffe" and donate anything you can as this charity touched my heart and in talking to Lesley she is a truly amazing women for the hard work and effort she makes and does not ask for a penny in return if only there was more people like her in the world! 💖

Also this weekend I went to see Chris at up and running in Douglas to buy some new trainers for the parish and what a true gent so professional I was in there 1 1/2 hours and learnt so much in this time with his amazing advice and knowledge and it very high tec buying trainers in there he makes you walk on a treadmill to see how you walk and decide which trainers would be best suited to you but he also sells amazing clothing, food he has everything you could possibly want! I would defiantly recommend anyone to go to up and running as they were so friendly which I also found helped when you haven't got a clue like me! Lol

Well guys I will leave it there for now but I promise and I mean promise I will write more now I'm sorted so to speak oh and I will let you know how the new runners are going.

Love and best wishes
Sharon xx

When times get hard!

Hey guys and girls I am sorry I have not been blogging much but unfortunately we have received some very sad family news recently so things have been hard and it's not going to get easier!

However since my last blog I have continued with my regular training after taking with Mark at PressFit we decided that we would get christmas and new year out of the way and then sit down and but a training programme together for the parish whilst getting ideas from past parish walkers so be warned I will be asking lots of questions! Lol
I also need to be looking at getting some new trainers which after chatting to a few people the best place to go is up and running in Douglas so I really need to do this sooner rather than later to wear the trainers in so this is a must after new year well that's if Santa doesn't bring me any!
I have to say after competing in the Sid quirk half marathon I have learnt a lot as I suffered bad with my feet and was unwell for couple days after and this I have put down to not drinking enough water while on the walk and my trainers I had tied too tight but it is all a learning curb and as I am a novice at this I can only grow with training, knowledge and guidance.
My training since the marathon has been my usual 4 days a week with Mark and Jane at PressFit who have been great fitting me in around my job at the post office as it so busy this time of year but as normal they understand this and have been amazing. I have also been out lots walking with my dog steel which I have been trying to squeeze in around work generally walking 5-6 miles before work just to keep the legs going it's so very hectic but after new year it will be much easier.
Well I would like to wish you all a very happy christmas and a happy new year xx

I thought I would show you a before and after picture as you can see in my before picture I was so big I couldn't even fit in the photo! x

Well here it goes my very first blog so I apologise now if it's not up to scratch! Lol 
I suppose I better introduce myself and tell you why I am here, my name is Sharon Sloan-O'keeffe I live in Colby, I'm 37, happily married but sadly no children. 
This is my journey.................14 months ago I weighed a whopping 25 stone however I am writing this today 10 1/2 stone lighter at 14st 7lbs something I never thought possible. 14 months ago I decided it was time to do something about my weight after being let down by the NHS after waiting 6 years for a gastric band and no support it was going to be another 2 years before I was to have the operation and with this wait my biological clock was ticking! I have always wanted children but sadly this was not possible with the weight that I was and also having PCOS syndrome I was told having children was very unlikely. So I decided that the only person going to help me was ME so I started on a diet called the ActiDiet which was amazing but I didn't do the diet like your suppose to I made this diet work for my life style and not the other way round. So as I embark on this diet I am suddenly losing weight I had dropped my calorie intake dramatically to something more balanced and after a few months I had lost 4 stone I suddenly had confidence something I lacked before not that you would think it as I was always the life and the soul a very good act I was playing as really I wasn't like that deep down but I would never tell anyone that just keep smiling I would say to myself! So with this hit off confidence I joined a Zumba class in colby with Sherrie as I love to dance and she made me feel so welcome people of all shapes and sizes was great, I then also started aqua aerobics and before long I had lost 6 stone then my amazing journey really started I decided I needed to do more and I knew about a fitness gym in Castletown called Press-Fit which is run by a husband and wife team Mark and Jane Preston, Mark I already knew from years back so I sent them a message saying what I had achieved so far and could they help and of course they could......I went and seen jane and she was amazing she showed me such kindness and support really made me feel like I was worth something again they did a programme for me got me off the diet gave me help and advise in clean healthy eating and I was loving it and I really couldn't have done it without the support and encouragement from them. I am now fitter than I ever thought possible I still have a long way to go but I will get there with Jane and Mark helping me all the way. I now train 4 times a week with them doing 2 circuit training sessions, a weight training session and a boxing session they have helped me tone my body and I have muscles in places I never thought possible! I also have a dog which I walk...a lot! Lol so this is where my parish walk comes into play Mark and Jane encouraged and help me train for the syd quirk half marathon on Sunday 23 November which I finished in a time of 3 hours 9 minutes and I was delighted never would I have thought this time last year I would be doing this but I am! So they then set me my next challenge the parish walk which I have always talked about but never thought I could do it but I know anything is possible so my challenge is to walk to Peel in my very first parish walk yes I am very nervous even slightly scared but with the help from Mark and Jane at Press-Fit and the support I get off my husband, family and friends especially my mum who has been my rock as she once did the parish and the London marathon So knows what I will go through I know I will complete this and make everyone proud. Well thank you for taking the time to read my blog and I will keep you posted with how my training is going both the ups and downs xx