Burning calories in the snow

It seems that the basic principle of moving more and eating less really does work, I mean, who knew?
Following a week which included three decent training runs and continuing my diet of cous cous, lettuce and porridge, I stepped up on the scales for my regular Saturday weigh in, and it turns out I’ve lost a whole stone since Christmas, 14 little lbs that have dropped into oblivion somehow.
Very pleased with progress as I’m hoping to lose about a stone each month, so slightly ahead of the game now. However I have been a bit worried this weekend that the snow would knock my training plan off course, as I have tried to run in the snow before and looking back it was a particularly stupid thing to do given the potential for falling and breaking bones.
However, the ‘white stuff’ may have put paid to leaving the house by car over the past two days (thanks to the wonder of email and telephone I could carry on my important work in PR), but we were able to have a great schlep through woods on foot instead.
Living in the country as we do now, sort of, we are blessed with some amazing walks around Leigh Woods and Leigh Court, where we had a ramble this afternoon. Stunning views and yes, it did feel like Narnia, and all those other cliches. It was very difficult not to find the nearest horse cart and start dragging it through the drifts like in Rocky IV - great training montage here.

Leigh Court in the snow

Leigh Woods

Leigh Woods

So, whereas I had hoped to run for an hour or so today and get to 4.5 miles, instead we walked through the snow for more than two and-a-half hours and according to the Run Keeper app covered over seven miles and burned 1200 calories. Result! Now I’m preparing a pan full of bolognese and warming the garlic baguettes to enjoy a spaghetti feast completely guilt free tonight, and maybe a glass of wine or two to celebrate shifting the first stone off my backside. Cheers!