Wednesday 21 December 2011
Saturday 17 December 2011
Christmas is here!!!
It's strange. Last year, I was saying that Christmas was so over commercialised, that we need to make Christmas something that isn't celebrated before Halloween (even though we don't celebrate Halloween in Aus). This time last year, Christmas carols had been on rotation continuously since the beginning of November. I was over it.
Jump ahead 12 months. This year, there have been barely any carols playing in the shopping centres. There are fewer decorations out. The Christmas spirit just seems to have died a little. Whether that's because I don't have contact with little kids (those who are old enough to be so taken with the magical time that is Christmas) or whether it's just because Christmas seems to have snuck up on me I'm not sure.
For me, Christmas is about spending time with family and friends, giving gift (although I like to do this anyway. There's nothing better than knowing that something so small brings such a smile to peoples faces, and a little bit of brightness to their day), hot weather, the sun, good food, fresh seafood, lollies etc. But for some reason it's just not doing it this year.
So, here I am, curled up on my couch, watching Carols in the Domain, with a glass of wine, hoping that Christmas Carols, and seeing the faces of all the kids enjoying it, will get me into the spirit.
I really want to do Carols in the Domain at some point. Maybe when I have kids of my own.
Off to watch the Carols now. I'll let you know how it goes.
Jump ahead 12 months. This year, there have been barely any carols playing in the shopping centres. There are fewer decorations out. The Christmas spirit just seems to have died a little. Whether that's because I don't have contact with little kids (those who are old enough to be so taken with the magical time that is Christmas) or whether it's just because Christmas seems to have snuck up on me I'm not sure.
For me, Christmas is about spending time with family and friends, giving gift (although I like to do this anyway. There's nothing better than knowing that something so small brings such a smile to peoples faces, and a little bit of brightness to their day), hot weather, the sun, good food, fresh seafood, lollies etc. But for some reason it's just not doing it this year.
So, here I am, curled up on my couch, watching Carols in the Domain, with a glass of wine, hoping that Christmas Carols, and seeing the faces of all the kids enjoying it, will get me into the spirit.
I really want to do Carols in the Domain at some point. Maybe when I have kids of my own.
Off to watch the Carols now. I'll let you know how it goes.
Sunday 4 December 2011
New Month, New Challenges
Happy December Bloggers!
I know, I have been AWOL for a while, but I do apologise. Life has been very, very very busy for me this past month or 3. I managed to forget about my 70kg by December goal, and am still sitting at around the 80kg mark. But that's ok, I'm not going to make myself depressed over it. Life happens. In my case, life involves 2 jobs with almost opposite work hours, with anything up to 16 hour days, and very little sleep. I have been managing to get to the gym a few times a week (with the exception of last week). I have also upped my spin classes. I have cut back my work at the gym to just be a PT and group fitness class instructor. That means that I am no longer on the floor (only every 3rd weekend) but that I teach 3 spin classes a week (Tues morning and Wednesday and Thursday arvo's). This, unfortunately is playing havoc with my knees, but I deal with it. For the time being.
This month I am going to take things week by week. Ok, ok. I can hear you all rolling your eyes at me. And for anyone who knows me knows that I can't just do one thing. I have to have 3 or 4 balls in the air at any one time. Just take a look at my WIPs folder of writing on my laptop :D
But I am. I am going to take things week by week. Along with a to do list, but that is a completely different post.
This week I am just going to concentrate on taking my tablets. I have 4 that I take on a daily basis. One is my pill (fairly standard for most women I think). The second is a once a day multi-vitamin. Again, fairly standard. Then I take (twice a day) silica tablets, and a hair, skin and nails multi. I am usually pretty forgetful about all but the first one. So, my challenge for myself is to take my tablets every day for a week. Anything else I do health and fitness wise is a bonus.
I'm going to take this one step at a time. It is Christmas season after all. That involves too much food, especially the bad stuff, too much alcohol (which reminds me that I still have 1/4 bottle of pink in the fridge. Maybe I'll drink that tomorrow night). Christmas parties and get togethers. Running ragged trying to find the perfect gift for people etc, etc, etc. It might not be the best time to start a health and fitness regime, but it is the perfect time to get started on all the small things. Like taking your vitamins etc. Just to get you started.
Anyone else in for the ride?
D!
I know, I have been AWOL for a while, but I do apologise. Life has been very, very very busy for me this past month or 3. I managed to forget about my 70kg by December goal, and am still sitting at around the 80kg mark. But that's ok, I'm not going to make myself depressed over it. Life happens. In my case, life involves 2 jobs with almost opposite work hours, with anything up to 16 hour days, and very little sleep. I have been managing to get to the gym a few times a week (with the exception of last week). I have also upped my spin classes. I have cut back my work at the gym to just be a PT and group fitness class instructor. That means that I am no longer on the floor (only every 3rd weekend) but that I teach 3 spin classes a week (Tues morning and Wednesday and Thursday arvo's). This, unfortunately is playing havoc with my knees, but I deal with it. For the time being.
This month I am going to take things week by week. Ok, ok. I can hear you all rolling your eyes at me. And for anyone who knows me knows that I can't just do one thing. I have to have 3 or 4 balls in the air at any one time. Just take a look at my WIPs folder of writing on my laptop :D
But I am. I am going to take things week by week. Along with a to do list, but that is a completely different post.
This week I am just going to concentrate on taking my tablets. I have 4 that I take on a daily basis. One is my pill (fairly standard for most women I think). The second is a once a day multi-vitamin. Again, fairly standard. Then I take (twice a day) silica tablets, and a hair, skin and nails multi. I am usually pretty forgetful about all but the first one. So, my challenge for myself is to take my tablets every day for a week. Anything else I do health and fitness wise is a bonus.
I'm going to take this one step at a time. It is Christmas season after all. That involves too much food, especially the bad stuff, too much alcohol (which reminds me that I still have 1/4 bottle of pink in the fridge. Maybe I'll drink that tomorrow night). Christmas parties and get togethers. Running ragged trying to find the perfect gift for people etc, etc, etc. It might not be the best time to start a health and fitness regime, but it is the perfect time to get started on all the small things. Like taking your vitamins etc. Just to get you started.
Anyone else in for the ride?
D!
Wednesday 14 September 2011
Sports Bras
Ladies, if you take one thing from this blog, just one, I want it to be this: every woman needs to wear a sports bra when exercising. Every woman. In every size and shape. For every exercise whether it be running, cycling, yoga, horseback riding, walking etc. Regardless of whether you are fit, lean, overweight, pregnant, tall, short, curvy, pretty much flat chested, whatever, you need to wear one.
It amazes me, every day, that I walk into the gym, whether I'm there for my own workout, or for work, to see women exercising in just an ordinary bra. I know that we, as women, like our pretty, frilly, 'does this make my boobs look better?' bras, and they have their place, but in an exercise setting is not it. Wear them on dates, wear them because they make you feel good about yourself, hell, wear them to work, but DO NOT WEAR THEM EXERCISING!
Sports bras are a little tighter than normal bras, They stop your girls from bouncing around like frisky puppies in a sack (I've seen this, I can definitely say that this is waht some women's chests look like.) They can stop the painful pull you get at the end of an exercise session. However... this is the main reason to wear one:
We've all seen a woman who's breasts flop chaotically from side to side, and up and down, when they're running on the treadmill. Here's why. Women's breasts don't have alot of support. Unlike your arms and legs, your breasts are mostly made up of fatty tissue, not bones and muscle. You can't control how your boobs move. They can seem to go off in their own directions, with minds of their own. This can be embarrassing, and painful.
I don't need to tell you that if youpull a rubber band continually out of shape, it will, at some point, fail to spring back into it's original circular shape. The same thing happens to the skin, tissue and ligaments of your boobs when they're not properly supported during exercise. And once they're stretched, you can't 'unstretch them' unless you want to go the painful, and expensive surgery route. This is true no matter what your cup size. So all you women with small breasts, you can't just sit back and say "I'm ok, because I only have small boobs". Sorry, doesn't work that way.
Prevention is better than a cure
Wearing a sports bra is a great idea. But you need to find the right one for you. All brands are made differently, and ones that are made for yoga, won't be great for running. So you need to find the ones that are comfortable for you, and are suitable for the type of exercise you are doing.
Your breasts move in three dimensions during physical activity.
They move:
Compression sports bras are the most common. They attempt to reduce the movement of the breasts by pulling them close to the body (compressing them). These stop the 'up and down bounce' movement, but not so much the side to side movement.
The second type of sports bra, Encapsulation bras, surround each breast individually much like an everyday bra. They have individual cups. This helps to limit the side to side motion as well as the up and down motion. A bra that makes use of both compression and encapsulation is the best choice.
Make sure that, whatever bra you decide on, it fits properly under your boobs without being uncomfortably tight. And remember, you're not going to the gym to show off your cleavage. You're in the gym to workout, hopefully, you don't need to look sexy doing push ups or the like. It's a pet peeve of mine to see women completely done up in full hair and make up. It's not a fashion show, it's the gym. Make sure there are no bulges. The shoulder straps should not dig into your shoulders. Like any bra, the primary support comes from the band, not the straps.
When wearing a sports bra, there should be lest bounce than in a regular bra. When trying them on in the fitting room, jump up and down, and check yourself out in the mirror. If your boobs are still flying around, get a new one. And don't be afraid to ask the shop assisstants for help. It's what they're there for after all.
If you feel you need 2 bras, the sports bra you're wearing isn't supportive enough. You should never feel the need to wear more than one.
And remember, it's not a fashion show. (I know I said it just before, but I'm just repeating myself. You don't need to look pretty walking in and out of the gym. You're there to workout. Even celebrities have been snapped coming out of the gym looking completely unglamourous. If you want to feel good about how you feel without your hair and makeup being done, buy some nice workout clothes, and some new workout shoes.
You wouldn't step out onto a sports field without the correct gear, so make sure a propper fitting sports bra is packed in with the rest of your gym gear. Your girls will thank you for it in years to come. Gravity doesn't need a helping hand ladies.
Later.
Dxo
It amazes me, every day, that I walk into the gym, whether I'm there for my own workout, or for work, to see women exercising in just an ordinary bra. I know that we, as women, like our pretty, frilly, 'does this make my boobs look better?' bras, and they have their place, but in an exercise setting is not it. Wear them on dates, wear them because they make you feel good about yourself, hell, wear them to work, but DO NOT WEAR THEM EXERCISING!
Sports bras are a little tighter than normal bras, They stop your girls from bouncing around like frisky puppies in a sack (I've seen this, I can definitely say that this is waht some women's chests look like.) They can stop the painful pull you get at the end of an exercise session. However... this is the main reason to wear one:
'Failing to wear a supportive and properly fitting sports bra during exercise can lead to permanent breast damage whether you’ve experienced pain or not, and even if your breasts are very small'.You might be thinking how?
We've all seen a woman who's breasts flop chaotically from side to side, and up and down, when they're running on the treadmill. Here's why. Women's breasts don't have alot of support. Unlike your arms and legs, your breasts are mostly made up of fatty tissue, not bones and muscle. You can't control how your boobs move. They can seem to go off in their own directions, with minds of their own. This can be embarrassing, and painful.
I don't need to tell you that if youpull a rubber band continually out of shape, it will, at some point, fail to spring back into it's original circular shape. The same thing happens to the skin, tissue and ligaments of your boobs when they're not properly supported during exercise. And once they're stretched, you can't 'unstretch them' unless you want to go the painful, and expensive surgery route. This is true no matter what your cup size. So all you women with small breasts, you can't just sit back and say "I'm ok, because I only have small boobs". Sorry, doesn't work that way.
Prevention is better than a cure
Wearing a sports bra is a great idea. But you need to find the right one for you. All brands are made differently, and ones that are made for yoga, won't be great for running. So you need to find the ones that are comfortable for you, and are suitable for the type of exercise you are doing.
Your breasts move in three dimensions during physical activity.
They move:
- 1) up and down 2) side to side 3) in and out So, finding a bra that limits motion in all directions will provide the most protection from sagging and pain.
Compression sports bras are the most common. They attempt to reduce the movement of the breasts by pulling them close to the body (compressing them). These stop the 'up and down bounce' movement, but not so much the side to side movement.
The second type of sports bra, Encapsulation bras, surround each breast individually much like an everyday bra. They have individual cups. This helps to limit the side to side motion as well as the up and down motion. A bra that makes use of both compression and encapsulation is the best choice.
Make sure that, whatever bra you decide on, it fits properly under your boobs without being uncomfortably tight. And remember, you're not going to the gym to show off your cleavage. You're in the gym to workout, hopefully, you don't need to look sexy doing push ups or the like. It's a pet peeve of mine to see women completely done up in full hair and make up. It's not a fashion show, it's the gym. Make sure there are no bulges. The shoulder straps should not dig into your shoulders. Like any bra, the primary support comes from the band, not the straps.
When wearing a sports bra, there should be lest bounce than in a regular bra. When trying them on in the fitting room, jump up and down, and check yourself out in the mirror. If your boobs are still flying around, get a new one. And don't be afraid to ask the shop assisstants for help. It's what they're there for after all.
If you feel you need 2 bras, the sports bra you're wearing isn't supportive enough. You should never feel the need to wear more than one.
And remember, it's not a fashion show. (I know I said it just before, but I'm just repeating myself. You don't need to look pretty walking in and out of the gym. You're there to workout. Even celebrities have been snapped coming out of the gym looking completely unglamourous. If you want to feel good about how you feel without your hair and makeup being done, buy some nice workout clothes, and some new workout shoes.
You wouldn't step out onto a sports field without the correct gear, so make sure a propper fitting sports bra is packed in with the rest of your gym gear. Your girls will thank you for it in years to come. Gravity doesn't need a helping hand ladies.
Later.
Dxo
Thursday 1 September 2011
Spring is Here!!!
And I, for one, am glad. I know that the spring equinox isn't until the 23rd but, thanks to the British, who don't know how to handle the Aussie heat, they decided that our seasons will start on the first of the month. So, being the 1st of September, it's finally Spring. And what a day to start. The sun is shining, it's a clear blue sky outside, very little breeze, and the air is warm. I'm loving it.
But, this post isn't about the beauty that is Spring. Unfortunately.
It's the first of September, so that means an update on my stats for my weight loss/exercise health and fitness challenge. But first I have a confession. I did so well that first week, then I hit the weekend. And had a minor (or not so minor if you read my LJ), breakdown. I went on a huge binge eating rotation for about 2 weeks. Chocolate, chips (crisps), lollies (candy), the works. And no exercise. It has only been this last week or so that I've gotten back on track. I'm going to be upfront about this. There's no point in lying to anyone, especially not myself. There's a few things I need to clear up for myself. Reasons why I went on a binge, and the feelings that I had around that. But, until I get that sorted out in my own head, I won't post anything on here.
But, being the first of Spetember, here are my measurements for today:
Weight: 81.3kg or 179.235 lb
Calf: 37.5cm or 14.7637 inches
Thigh: 66.5cm or 26.1811 inches
Hips: 110cm or 43.3070 inches
Abs (belly button): 86cm or 33.8582 inches
Waist: 83cm or 32.6771 inches
Chest: 95cm or 37.4015 inches
Bicep: 32cm or 12.5984 inches.
Overall I've lost 0.6kg or 1.32277 pounds. For someone who really didn't do anything I'm pretty amazed. Ok, so I have been doing something. Once a week (and twice last week) I teach a 50 minute spin class. But that's about the only exercise I've been doing.
I have also lost 9.5cm or 3.74015 inches. So I'm pretty happy about that. I have re-evaluated my original goals though. I said 12kg in about 12 weeks. Clearly that's not going to happen. Not only that, but I won't be able to afford to go to the Gold Coast in November, so I'm not so focused on a specific date. I'd still like to be at or under 70kg or 154.323 lbs by December. That's the start of our summer period.
This coming week I want to get my exercise under control. I don't care too much about my eating at the moment. I find if I focus on too much at the same time, everything goes out the window, so I need to focus my attention on one thing and one thing only. This week it'll be about my exercise. Once I get that under control, I will then turn my focus onto my food, with exercise only needing a little focus.
I love this picture! This is what spring is about for me. New life, new beginnings, and new opportunities, even more so than the New Year.
Enjoy your spring southern hemsiphere. I know I will.
But, this post isn't about the beauty that is Spring. Unfortunately.
It's the first of September, so that means an update on my stats for my weight loss/exercise health and fitness challenge. But first I have a confession. I did so well that first week, then I hit the weekend. And had a minor (or not so minor if you read my LJ), breakdown. I went on a huge binge eating rotation for about 2 weeks. Chocolate, chips (crisps), lollies (candy), the works. And no exercise. It has only been this last week or so that I've gotten back on track. I'm going to be upfront about this. There's no point in lying to anyone, especially not myself. There's a few things I need to clear up for myself. Reasons why I went on a binge, and the feelings that I had around that. But, until I get that sorted out in my own head, I won't post anything on here.
But, being the first of Spetember, here are my measurements for today:
Weight: 81.3kg or 179.235 lb
Calf: 37.5cm or 14.7637 inches
Thigh: 66.5cm or 26.1811 inches
Hips: 110cm or 43.3070 inches
Abs (belly button): 86cm or 33.8582 inches
Waist: 83cm or 32.6771 inches
Chest: 95cm or 37.4015 inches
Bicep: 32cm or 12.5984 inches.
Overall I've lost 0.6kg or 1.32277 pounds. For someone who really didn't do anything I'm pretty amazed. Ok, so I have been doing something. Once a week (and twice last week) I teach a 50 minute spin class. But that's about the only exercise I've been doing.
I have also lost 9.5cm or 3.74015 inches. So I'm pretty happy about that. I have re-evaluated my original goals though. I said 12kg in about 12 weeks. Clearly that's not going to happen. Not only that, but I won't be able to afford to go to the Gold Coast in November, so I'm not so focused on a specific date. I'd still like to be at or under 70kg or 154.323 lbs by December. That's the start of our summer period.
This coming week I want to get my exercise under control. I don't care too much about my eating at the moment. I find if I focus on too much at the same time, everything goes out the window, so I need to focus my attention on one thing and one thing only. This week it'll be about my exercise. Once I get that under control, I will then turn my focus onto my food, with exercise only needing a little focus.
Picture from: http://www.hiren.info/desktop-wallpapers
I love this picture! This is what spring is about for me. New life, new beginnings, and new opportunities, even more so than the New Year.
Enjoy your spring southern hemsiphere. I know I will.
Sunday 7 August 2011
Ahhhh August...
Why must you taunt me with days of sun and warmth, just to turn around and rain, and be cold and miserable. I want my warmth back! *just imagine me stamping my foot, crossing my arms and pouting, ala a 2 year old that doesn't get her way.
Today is the last day of my first week and it's been very bad. I should not have bought all that crap yesterday, because now I'm eating it. I devoured a bad of bbq chips (crisps) yesterday, along with a cherry ripe. Then today, I have devoured most of a bag of chocolate licorice bullets, and a bag of sat & vinegar chips. And now I feel like crap.
I skipped breakfast this morning. I really didn't get lunch. I worked 11-4, and now I just feel like I have no energy. Plus I feel like I'm coming down with a cold.
Argh! I just feel like s&%t!
I did, however, do alot of cleaning at the gym today, so I got a little bit of exercise in today.
This week really just didn't happen the way it was supposed to.
Today is the last day of my first week and it's been very bad. I should not have bought all that crap yesterday, because now I'm eating it. I devoured a bad of bbq chips (crisps) yesterday, along with a cherry ripe. Then today, I have devoured most of a bag of chocolate licorice bullets, and a bag of sat & vinegar chips. And now I feel like crap.
I skipped breakfast this morning. I really didn't get lunch. I worked 11-4, and now I just feel like I have no energy. Plus I feel like I'm coming down with a cold.
Argh! I just feel like s&%t!
I did, however, do alot of cleaning at the gym today, so I got a little bit of exercise in today.
This week really just didn't happen the way it was supposed to.
Friday 5 August 2011
TGIF
It really isn't as bad as I'm making it out to be, but I can't wait until Tuesday, when I have my next day off.
Today was supposed to be a day off, but I had to cover for my boss. That's ok, more hours means more money for me. YAY!!! I can do with all the money I can get.
I slept in a little late this morning, so I didn't get a workout in today either. I really think this week is just going to be a whitewash. But I have kept up with my good eating. I had breakfast this morning. I kinda skipped lunch, I had a little bit to eat but not much. I made a chicken salad for dinner, and off to work I went.
I really need to be more organised, because I have pretty much almost run out of healthy snacky things. I was pretty much starving by the time I got home tonight.
I'm so tired right now, and I think I'm coming down with a cold.
Heading to bed now.
Enjoy your weekend.
Today was supposed to be a day off, but I had to cover for my boss. That's ok, more hours means more money for me. YAY!!! I can do with all the money I can get.
I slept in a little late this morning, so I didn't get a workout in today either. I really think this week is just going to be a whitewash. But I have kept up with my good eating. I had breakfast this morning. I kinda skipped lunch, I had a little bit to eat but not much. I made a chicken salad for dinner, and off to work I went.
I really need to be more organised, because I have pretty much almost run out of healthy snacky things. I was pretty much starving by the time I got home tonight.
I'm so tired right now, and I think I'm coming down with a cold.
Heading to bed now.
Enjoy your weekend.
Thursday 4 August 2011
Long, long day.
I have been looking at houses. Not to buy, well, they're for sale, but I, as of right now, have nowhere near the amount of money I would need to put a deposit on one of these beauties. And I'm not even talking multi-million dollar places. *sigh. Why does overseas travel have to take so much of my money? Oh, that's right, I like to buy clothes when I go. And makeup. And shoes. Usually I need to buy a second suitcase too. So that's where it goes. Hmmm. Oh well. I like to travel and see the world and a pair of heels from New York, or a pieve of jewellery from LA is much better than some cheap souvineer that I'll throw out in a year or so's time when I get sick of dusting it.
Anyway... I like to look at houses and apartments. I'm reaching hte stage, (actually, I've been here for a while, I just haven't had the means to do it, nor the job to support me), where I am ready to move out of my parents house, and into a place of my own. Don't take this the wrong way, living with my parents can and, on alot of occassions has been, really good. There's the rent free place to stay for a start. But then there are the downsides. My parents still, alot of the time, treat me like I'm a kid. Not someone who is nearly 25. My dad in particular always wants to know who I'm talking to, or where I'm going. He does it to my sister too. And then when we mention a name, he doesn't know who we're talking about. Because both my sister and I have been, or currently are, at university, so we know hundreds of people. And while we may not talk to them all the time, or about them alot of the time, mentioning names of random people to my parents doesn't help them know who they are. Or you tell them something about someone and they forget within the hour anyway. So then we get frustrated with them, they get frustrated with us, and you have a big ball of tension in the house.
Other than my parents (I'll come back to what I have discovered about myself and my relationship with them later), my sister is at home too. She lives on campus at the uni about 3.5-4 hours away, but she's studying high school teaching. So she spends more time at home (on prac) than she does at the uni. Which means that we spend entirely too much time together and we rub each other the wrong way. For some reason my sister is 21 going on 14, with a whole lot of boy troubles, and friend troubles, and she gets cranky with me when she asks for my advise and what I give her isn't what she wants to hear. Along with that, my parent's need to know everything about everything (my dad mainly), causes her to get cranky because dad always has something negative to say, which then just makes the whole house cranky because he makes mum cranky, and when she's cranky, everyone's cranky. It's a never ending cycle.
So, back to the house looking. I want to get out. I need to get out. But I can't affod to buy just yet. And I don't really want to rent. That, and I have just started a new job and I'd like to get some money behind me before I think about moving cities. Doesn't mean I can't look to get a feel for the market and what's out there, and how much it looks like it's going to cost me. Plus it allows me to look at how much of a possibility it is that I'm going to have to do some renovations. Generally it's the bathroom or the kitchen that I decide need to be re-done in some way. Or the place is in need to some bigger, or just more, windows. So even more money needed.
Ahhh, to dream.
Anyway, back to reality.
I didn't get my exercise in today. I was just lazy. Yep, you read that right, I, the personal trainer, skipped a workout today, because I was lazy!
I had every intention of going. I had a personal training session (a client of mine, not me being the client), this morning at 10am. Then at 11am we had a photo thingy for our local paper. I was organised. I had my new runners on. I had a change of clothes in my bag so I could go and workout straight after I left work. I had over 5 hours before I had to be back there to actually work.
But I didn't go. I went home. I sat on the couch. I looked at houses I can't afford. I checked my emails. I had lunch. I'm not sure what else I did but it wasn't much.
Then I went to work, cleaned every piece of equiptment we own twice. I vacuumed our stupid floor with our stupid vacuum cleaner that doesn't like to work 3 times. I moved benches and weights etc around. So I felt like I had done something. Just not enough.
I'm not too worried though. I know I've set a precedent for the week and I probably wont get another workout in, but I don't really care too much. I've been eating well, and drinking at least 1.5lt of water a day. That's a good enough start for me, especially when I'm working with clients and hauling gym equiptment around.
Gotta shower and head to bed. Covering a shift for my boss tomorrow. And it was supposed to be my day off too. I was going to pamper myself. Oh well. Money's good too.
Enjoy your Friday.
Anyway... I like to look at houses and apartments. I'm reaching hte stage, (actually, I've been here for a while, I just haven't had the means to do it, nor the job to support me), where I am ready to move out of my parents house, and into a place of my own. Don't take this the wrong way, living with my parents can and, on alot of occassions has been, really good. There's the rent free place to stay for a start. But then there are the downsides. My parents still, alot of the time, treat me like I'm a kid. Not someone who is nearly 25. My dad in particular always wants to know who I'm talking to, or where I'm going. He does it to my sister too. And then when we mention a name, he doesn't know who we're talking about. Because both my sister and I have been, or currently are, at university, so we know hundreds of people. And while we may not talk to them all the time, or about them alot of the time, mentioning names of random people to my parents doesn't help them know who they are. Or you tell them something about someone and they forget within the hour anyway. So then we get frustrated with them, they get frustrated with us, and you have a big ball of tension in the house.
Other than my parents (I'll come back to what I have discovered about myself and my relationship with them later), my sister is at home too. She lives on campus at the uni about 3.5-4 hours away, but she's studying high school teaching. So she spends more time at home (on prac) than she does at the uni. Which means that we spend entirely too much time together and we rub each other the wrong way. For some reason my sister is 21 going on 14, with a whole lot of boy troubles, and friend troubles, and she gets cranky with me when she asks for my advise and what I give her isn't what she wants to hear. Along with that, my parent's need to know everything about everything (my dad mainly), causes her to get cranky because dad always has something negative to say, which then just makes the whole house cranky because he makes mum cranky, and when she's cranky, everyone's cranky. It's a never ending cycle.
So, back to the house looking. I want to get out. I need to get out. But I can't affod to buy just yet. And I don't really want to rent. That, and I have just started a new job and I'd like to get some money behind me before I think about moving cities. Doesn't mean I can't look to get a feel for the market and what's out there, and how much it looks like it's going to cost me. Plus it allows me to look at how much of a possibility it is that I'm going to have to do some renovations. Generally it's the bathroom or the kitchen that I decide need to be re-done in some way. Or the place is in need to some bigger, or just more, windows. So even more money needed.
Ahhh, to dream.
Anyway, back to reality.
I didn't get my exercise in today. I was just lazy. Yep, you read that right, I, the personal trainer, skipped a workout today, because I was lazy!
I had every intention of going. I had a personal training session (a client of mine, not me being the client), this morning at 10am. Then at 11am we had a photo thingy for our local paper. I was organised. I had my new runners on. I had a change of clothes in my bag so I could go and workout straight after I left work. I had over 5 hours before I had to be back there to actually work.
But I didn't go. I went home. I sat on the couch. I looked at houses I can't afford. I checked my emails. I had lunch. I'm not sure what else I did but it wasn't much.
Then I went to work, cleaned every piece of equiptment we own twice. I vacuumed our stupid floor with our stupid vacuum cleaner that doesn't like to work 3 times. I moved benches and weights etc around. So I felt like I had done something. Just not enough.
I'm not too worried though. I know I've set a precedent for the week and I probably wont get another workout in, but I don't really care too much. I've been eating well, and drinking at least 1.5lt of water a day. That's a good enough start for me, especially when I'm working with clients and hauling gym equiptment around.
Gotta shower and head to bed. Covering a shift for my boss tomorrow. And it was supposed to be my day off too. I was going to pamper myself. Oh well. Money's good too.
Enjoy your Friday.
Wednesday 3 August 2011
I Have New Shoes!!!
I now actually own runners. Not cross trainers, but actual running sneakers. This may not sound like such a huge deal but let me explain...
From the time I was about 3 or 4 (when I was old enough to hold a tennis raquet) I have worn plain old, ordinary, everyday sneakers or cross trainers. I always played some sort of sport, or participated in some sort of group fitness class while also running. I may have mentioned this before but I have played tennis, field hockey, netball, soccer, touch football, and numerous other field sports over the past 20 odd years. Plus I have done just about every Les Mills group fitness class. When I was at university I practically lived in my sneakers (particularly in the winter). So, as you can see, it was more practical for me to have cross trainers. I also have shoddy ankles (thank you netball and gymnastics) so the extra protection was worth it. Now, I only run/go to the gym. No sports. No group fitness classes. Although I do miss both. But, no need to have cross trainers. Hence the acquisition of new runners.
They're so much lighter than my other sneakers. It's amazing. I'll be able to run so much better without the weight of my shoes holding me back now :D... maybe.
Anyway... I bought these yesterday on my shopping trip. You can't really see too well in the picture, but they're a silver colour with pink highlights (if that's the right word). I don't like white shoes. At all. No matter what they are. I don't like them. Anytime I buy shoes that have white parts I scuff them up almost immediately. But I don't have to do that with these ones. They can stay nice and clean and new looking for longer because I'm not stepping all over them, or scuffing them in the dirt so they don't look so blindingly white. Yay!
Today I was sort of lazy. My food has been good. Pretty much no processed foods. I made a cheesy pasta bake with chicken today before I went to work. I had some for lunch fresh out of the oven fully planning to go to the gym when I had somewhat digested it, but somewhere time ran away and before I knew it it was time for me to get ready for work.
I don't feel too guilty for it though. I did instruct an hour long spin class tonight too. I may have had a serve of the pasta bake for dinner too though. I was starving! I really haven't had alot to eat today. I really should go tomorrow though but between a pt session in the morning, a photo thingy for the local paper at lunchtime and working tomorrow night, I'm not sure I'll get there. I'll see.
If you have never done a spin class I beg you to go and try a few out. Notice I said a few. Unfortunately, spin does take a few classes to get into, not to mention the bike seats are uncomfortable, so you really can't just do 1 and say "I don't like it". You need to give it a few goes, and even try a few instructors out, to see what you like. Every instructor is different, and if you do freestyle classes, every class is different. I know my classes are always different. I only have basic instructions written down for each song, so I play it by ear a little and each class is different, if for no other reason than I can't remember what I said the last class.
It's also a great cardio burn. You really shouldn't ache too much the next day either. I remember my first spin class, and I came out thinking that I wouldn't be able to walk the next day, but it was my bum that hurt, and that was from the seat. You're legs may ache a little but nothing major. I find that I would ache more from a bodycombat class than spin.
That's it from me tonight. I'm off for a hot shower, and bed. Night
Tuesday 2 August 2011
Shopping, shopping, shopping...
Ok, so no formal workout in today... just like I said there probably wouldn't be.
BUT... I did do alot of walking, and trying clothes and shoes etc on so I think I got a decent cardio workout in. I really should invest in a pedometer to see how many steps I take everyday. It would make me feel less guilty when I don't get a formal workout in. Does anyone else get like that? Guilty when they don't do something on their 'to do' list? I do. Maybe it's just me.
I, stupidly, skipped breakfast this morning because I was running late. I had to pick M up at 8.30am, and I was at the pertol station at that time filling up my car. Petrol's getting so expensive. I'm glad I don't do alot of travelling long distances. I wish that it wasn't so cold or dark when I leave work at the moment because I'd walk to work instead of driving. Maybe as it gets warmer. Except the odd days when I have to open or close. It's creepy when I have to open or close the gym. It's quiet, and dark, and super creepy. I keep expecting someone to be hiding in the shadows between the buildings or hiding in the toilets when I lock up. Especially when we park out the back and there's only one spotlight off the building.
Anyway... back on topic. So I missed breakfast and I ended up pulling into McDonalds and getting a bacon and egg mcmuffin (which I felt a little bad about) and a hot chocolate (because I don't really like or drink coffee). M wanted a hot chocolate too so I probably wouldn't have stopped if I was on my own.
When we finally made it to our shopping destination (a little under 2 hours later. Sometimes I hate living in small towns) the first place we hit was The Body Shop. I love this place. Everything is so luxurious and good for the world. So much free trade, and it's so good for you too. It's a little expensive, but I've come to the conclusion that sometimes you're better to pay a little more for some things. I bought a day lipstick... something I've been wanting to buy for a while. I needed a colour I could wear during the day that wouldn't look overdone. I don't work in an office or the like, so I needed something that wouldn't look out of place, something that was natural but just a little more colour. I found my colour. And it's such a nice lipstick to put on too. It just feels nice, not sticky or heavy or anything like that.
After that we hit an underwear shop. And I spent a small fortune. I needed it, and I bought lots of pretty stuff. Who cares that I'm the only one going to see it (except for my neighbours when I hang it on the line. The joys of being single), I deserve something pretty, so I decided that I was going to buy something pretty. I bought lots of pretty. And I tried on so many types and brands and styles. It's amazing how your sizing can change depending on the style and materials. I will have to do alot of throwing out of stuff from my underwear drawers later. But it was worth it. I tend to keep stuff until it's falling apart of the like before I buy new stuff. I'm going to have to get over that and just buy new stuff and throw the old stuff out.
I got a start on the throwing stuff out over the weekend actually. I went through my drawers and closet and now have a garbage bag of clothes and shoes I no longer wear to go to charity. It makes me feel better that they're going to charity, and there's a little more room in my closet.
After my hour+ I spent underwear shopping (and spending enough to make M laught at me because when I couldn't decide between 2 I bought both) we headed to the food caught for lunch. I am in love with Sangas and Spuds. It's sooooo good. I had a Ranch Salad. Not quite as healthy as it sounds but still alot healthier than alot of stuff in food courts, and healthier than M's McDonalds. Basically a ranch salad is lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cheese, croutons, shredded bacon, onion, chicken (either grilled or crumbed) with ranch dressing. This time it had a little more dressing than I usually like but it was still sooooo delicious. I wish I knew exactly which Ranch dressing they use though because I've never tasted one like this one. There's just something different about it.
After lunch, and a nice long girly discussion (you have to have those) we headed to the shoe store. Unfortunately it wasn't for heels or the like, but for a new pair of runners. And an actual pair of runners rather than cross trainers. They're so cool... I will post pics later. Possibly tomorrow.
After a look through JB for movies and music (and neither of us bought anything) and a me buying a dress that I got for half price because of all the discounts I had lying in the bottom of my handba,g it was time to go home.
It was so nice on the way home with the sun streaming in through the front windshield. I wanted to be like a cat and curl up in the sun somewhere and nap for a while. It would have been such a nice thing to do. I remember the cat I had as a kid (we had to put her down when I was 19. We'd had her for 15 years) would curl up on the window sill in the sun. I want to be able to do that. Curl up in a sunny spot not fit on the window sill.
It was so nice to have a day off and not have to stress about work or what I need to do or what I wil be doing tomorrow. Things like that. It's nice to have a day of fun and relaxation. I will have to do this more often, although with a lower price tag. ALOT lower haha.
All in all food wasn't that bad today. Dinner was simple: chicken schnitzel and oven fries. I should have had something green in there, I haven't really had alot today, but I just wasn't feeling it. Cleaning and work tomorrow so I'm going to go and have a nice, hot shower, and curl up in bed with a good book.
Night
BUT... I did do alot of walking, and trying clothes and shoes etc on so I think I got a decent cardio workout in. I really should invest in a pedometer to see how many steps I take everyday. It would make me feel less guilty when I don't get a formal workout in. Does anyone else get like that? Guilty when they don't do something on their 'to do' list? I do. Maybe it's just me.
I, stupidly, skipped breakfast this morning because I was running late. I had to pick M up at 8.30am, and I was at the pertol station at that time filling up my car. Petrol's getting so expensive. I'm glad I don't do alot of travelling long distances. I wish that it wasn't so cold or dark when I leave work at the moment because I'd walk to work instead of driving. Maybe as it gets warmer. Except the odd days when I have to open or close. It's creepy when I have to open or close the gym. It's quiet, and dark, and super creepy. I keep expecting someone to be hiding in the shadows between the buildings or hiding in the toilets when I lock up. Especially when we park out the back and there's only one spotlight off the building.
Anyway... back on topic. So I missed breakfast and I ended up pulling into McDonalds and getting a bacon and egg mcmuffin (which I felt a little bad about) and a hot chocolate (because I don't really like or drink coffee). M wanted a hot chocolate too so I probably wouldn't have stopped if I was on my own.
When we finally made it to our shopping destination (a little under 2 hours later. Sometimes I hate living in small towns) the first place we hit was The Body Shop. I love this place. Everything is so luxurious and good for the world. So much free trade, and it's so good for you too. It's a little expensive, but I've come to the conclusion that sometimes you're better to pay a little more for some things. I bought a day lipstick... something I've been wanting to buy for a while. I needed a colour I could wear during the day that wouldn't look overdone. I don't work in an office or the like, so I needed something that wouldn't look out of place, something that was natural but just a little more colour. I found my colour. And it's such a nice lipstick to put on too. It just feels nice, not sticky or heavy or anything like that.
After that we hit an underwear shop. And I spent a small fortune. I needed it, and I bought lots of pretty stuff. Who cares that I'm the only one going to see it (except for my neighbours when I hang it on the line. The joys of being single), I deserve something pretty, so I decided that I was going to buy something pretty. I bought lots of pretty. And I tried on so many types and brands and styles. It's amazing how your sizing can change depending on the style and materials. I will have to do alot of throwing out of stuff from my underwear drawers later. But it was worth it. I tend to keep stuff until it's falling apart of the like before I buy new stuff. I'm going to have to get over that and just buy new stuff and throw the old stuff out.
I got a start on the throwing stuff out over the weekend actually. I went through my drawers and closet and now have a garbage bag of clothes and shoes I no longer wear to go to charity. It makes me feel better that they're going to charity, and there's a little more room in my closet.
After my hour+ I spent underwear shopping (and spending enough to make M laught at me because when I couldn't decide between 2 I bought both) we headed to the food caught for lunch. I am in love with Sangas and Spuds. It's sooooo good. I had a Ranch Salad. Not quite as healthy as it sounds but still alot healthier than alot of stuff in food courts, and healthier than M's McDonalds. Basically a ranch salad is lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cheese, croutons, shredded bacon, onion, chicken (either grilled or crumbed) with ranch dressing. This time it had a little more dressing than I usually like but it was still sooooo delicious. I wish I knew exactly which Ranch dressing they use though because I've never tasted one like this one. There's just something different about it.
After lunch, and a nice long girly discussion (you have to have those) we headed to the shoe store. Unfortunately it wasn't for heels or the like, but for a new pair of runners. And an actual pair of runners rather than cross trainers. They're so cool... I will post pics later. Possibly tomorrow.
After a look through JB for movies and music (and neither of us bought anything) and a me buying a dress that I got for half price because of all the discounts I had lying in the bottom of my handba,g it was time to go home.
It was so nice on the way home with the sun streaming in through the front windshield. I wanted to be like a cat and curl up in the sun somewhere and nap for a while. It would have been such a nice thing to do. I remember the cat I had as a kid (we had to put her down when I was 19. We'd had her for 15 years) would curl up on the window sill in the sun. I want to be able to do that. Curl up in a sunny spot not fit on the window sill.
It was so nice to have a day off and not have to stress about work or what I need to do or what I wil be doing tomorrow. Things like that. It's nice to have a day of fun and relaxation. I will have to do this more often, although with a lower price tag. ALOT lower haha.
All in all food wasn't that bad today. Dinner was simple: chicken schnitzel and oven fries. I should have had something green in there, I haven't really had alot today, but I just wasn't feeling it. Cleaning and work tomorrow so I'm going to go and have a nice, hot shower, and curl up in bed with a good book.
Night
Monday 1 August 2011
Hellooooo August
Can you feel the sun starting to peek through the clouds? Can you feel the winds starting to pick up? Can you feel the heat starting o arrive and the coldness starting to leave? Well, if you're in the southern hemisphere you possibly can. For those of you in the northern hemisphere enjoy what you have left of the warm weather. I can't wait for it to appear on a more permanent basis here. After a horribly windy, and cold week, I'm loving the re-emergence of the sun.
In honour of the emerging sun, and the warmer weather starting to make an appearance I have decided to embark on my own health and fitness/weight loss challenge. Spring is just a little over 4 weeks away, summer a little over 4 months away. The weather is starting to get warmer, meaning less clothing, less coverage, and more skin. Less clothes, and more skin = slot more self consciousness. I'm not someone who is overly concerned about how I look, but there looks like there's going to be a Contiki reunion on the Gold Coast in November, so that means bikini's and shorts. So... yeah...
I'm going to limit the crap in my diet, notice I said limit not eliminate, and exercise like crazy. Or... more than I have been lately. And I'm going to post it all for you here. Everyday. For at least a week. What I eat and what exercise I do. For the next month. At least once a week, hopefully more than once a week, I will post what I do exercise and food wise. Just to show you what personal trainers do. To prove to you that we're not perfect. There are days that we struggle to eat properly. Days we struggle to get out of a warm bed and into the gym, or pool, or out for a run. I am going to share my struggles and successions with you.
And... I am going to be a little brave. Although you guys can't actually see me, and I'm safely hidden behind my laptop screen and my blog name, it's still a big deal...
Deep breath and here I go...
I am going to post my stats here for the whole world to see. My weight and my measurements. I won't update that every week. I like once a month, probably on the 1st. There's more to see that way. It takes more than a week to see good, decent results.
So, here are my stats for Monday, the 1st of August.
Weight: 81.9kg or 180.558 lb
Calf: 38.5cm or 15.1574 inches
Thigh: 67cm or 26.3779 inches
Hips: 112cm or 44.0944 inches
Abs (belly button): 86cm or 33.8582 inches
Waist: 84cm or 33.0708 inches
Chest: 97cm or 38.1889 inches
Bicep: 35cm or 13.7795 inches
There, that's out in the open. It wasn't quite as scary as I thought. But still... seeing those numbers there in black and white definitely put a fire in my belly. Both my weight and my measurements are higher than I would like.
In the next 3 months (by the end of October) I would like to be down to 70kg. That gives me 12kg or 26 pounds to loose over 12+ weeks. It's deinitely do-able.
So, here's what happened today:
My food was pretty good. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were all pretty healthy. However, I did eat some lolly banana's so that was my bad thing for the day. I'm not too stressed about it. It's only day 1.
I managed to do day 1 of week 1 of the c25k program. I've done this program before, and I really like it. I probably don't need to start right at the begining, but it's been about 3 months, give or take, so starting from scratch allows me to ease back into it.
After a run, I also managed about 30+ minutes of weights. I was in a little bit of a rush because I had to run off to work, but I hit every major muscle group: hams, quads, calves, abs, back, shoulders, biceps and triceps. However, I didn't manage a long stretching session. I love my stretching sessions. My background is in gymnastics, so I like to take a really, really, really long time to stretch everything out. I love the feel of really stretching everything out. It wakes me up and calms me down at the same time. I usually spend 30 minutes at the end of a session. However, today I only had 10 minutes before I had to rush out the door, shower and head out for work.
Tomorrow I'm doing some shopping. And the fun sort of shopping, the one that involves clothes and shoes (sneakers not heels unfortunately) and maybe some makeup. Fun. There will be no formal workout tomorrow. I think shopping, driving and walking will be enough after today.
Have fun. Will update tomorrow.
In honour of the emerging sun, and the warmer weather starting to make an appearance I have decided to embark on my own health and fitness/weight loss challenge. Spring is just a little over 4 weeks away, summer a little over 4 months away. The weather is starting to get warmer, meaning less clothing, less coverage, and more skin. Less clothes, and more skin = slot more self consciousness. I'm not someone who is overly concerned about how I look, but there looks like there's going to be a Contiki reunion on the Gold Coast in November, so that means bikini's and shorts. So... yeah...
I'm going to limit the crap in my diet, notice I said limit not eliminate, and exercise like crazy. Or... more than I have been lately. And I'm going to post it all for you here. Everyday. For at least a week. What I eat and what exercise I do. For the next month. At least once a week, hopefully more than once a week, I will post what I do exercise and food wise. Just to show you what personal trainers do. To prove to you that we're not perfect. There are days that we struggle to eat properly. Days we struggle to get out of a warm bed and into the gym, or pool, or out for a run. I am going to share my struggles and successions with you.
And... I am going to be a little brave. Although you guys can't actually see me, and I'm safely hidden behind my laptop screen and my blog name, it's still a big deal...
Deep breath and here I go...
I am going to post my stats here for the whole world to see. My weight and my measurements. I won't update that every week. I like once a month, probably on the 1st. There's more to see that way. It takes more than a week to see good, decent results.
So, here are my stats for Monday, the 1st of August.
Weight: 81.9kg or 180.558 lb
Calf: 38.5cm or 15.1574 inches
Thigh: 67cm or 26.3779 inches
Hips: 112cm or 44.0944 inches
Abs (belly button): 86cm or 33.8582 inches
Waist: 84cm or 33.0708 inches
Chest: 97cm or 38.1889 inches
Bicep: 35cm or 13.7795 inches
There, that's out in the open. It wasn't quite as scary as I thought. But still... seeing those numbers there in black and white definitely put a fire in my belly. Both my weight and my measurements are higher than I would like.
In the next 3 months (by the end of October) I would like to be down to 70kg. That gives me 12kg or 26 pounds to loose over 12+ weeks. It's deinitely do-able.
So, here's what happened today:
My food was pretty good. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were all pretty healthy. However, I did eat some lolly banana's so that was my bad thing for the day. I'm not too stressed about it. It's only day 1.
I managed to do day 1 of week 1 of the c25k program. I've done this program before, and I really like it. I probably don't need to start right at the begining, but it's been about 3 months, give or take, so starting from scratch allows me to ease back into it.
After a run, I also managed about 30+ minutes of weights. I was in a little bit of a rush because I had to run off to work, but I hit every major muscle group: hams, quads, calves, abs, back, shoulders, biceps and triceps. However, I didn't manage a long stretching session. I love my stretching sessions. My background is in gymnastics, so I like to take a really, really, really long time to stretch everything out. I love the feel of really stretching everything out. It wakes me up and calms me down at the same time. I usually spend 30 minutes at the end of a session. However, today I only had 10 minutes before I had to rush out the door, shower and head out for work.
Tomorrow I'm doing some shopping. And the fun sort of shopping, the one that involves clothes and shoes (sneakers not heels unfortunately) and maybe some makeup. Fun. There will be no formal workout tomorrow. I think shopping, driving and walking will be enough after today.
Have fun. Will update tomorrow.
Monday 11 July 2011
Food, Food, Food, Food...
Well, maybe not quite just food, but that is the idea behind this post. As I said in the last post, I get asked regularly about what I eat, so I thought I'd give you an example of what I ate over the weekend. As I said, I chose the weekend just gone because, not only did I work both days, but I also went to the movies with a gf of mine.
Kung Fu Panda 2 is awesome! I may have a slight attachment to kids movies at the moment. Oh well...
So, here's what I ate on Saturday:
B: 2 weet bix with skim milk, boiling water, 1 tsp sugar
1 cup of tea with a little skim milk and 2 tsp sugar.
S: fruit and nut mix. Sometimes I make this at home with almonds, peanuts, wallnuts, cashews etc, and some dried fruit. I was lazy on Saturday, so a bought fruit and nut mix was what I had. Still really good though.
L: 1/2 chicken breast, and diced bacon, cooked in some garlic, with some salad. Usually I just throw whatever I have around the house into it. Today it was tomatos, cucumber, lettuce, fetta cheese, carrot, and some bok choy with some balsalmic vinegar.
2 whole boiled eggs.
S: 1 apple. Sometimes I find that apples on their own make me hungry, but it got me through the afternoon.
D: 1/2 a pub size serving of pasta with chicken and bacon tossed in a creamy sauce.
S: 1/2 small popcorn, 1/2 small coke, some maltesers. You have to have some junk at the movies, it's just the way it is.
As you can see, my day was pretty light during the day so I could have my pasta and junk food at the movies. I don't really think about it too much, it just becomes habit after a while.
So, this is what I ate on sunday:
B: same as Saturday. This is a fairly standard breakfast for me during the winter. It's warm and it fills me up.
S: 1 apple and sml box of mixed nuts.
L: Ham, cheese and salald sandwich. I managed to get lunch in before I started work at 11.30.
S: Strawberry yoghurt. I'm on a yoghurt kick at the moment. I'm trying so many different brand and variety's.
D: Baked vegetables and roast lamb. We have one of those convection overn thingy's where you plug it in to the wall and you don't need any oil or anything to cook it. It makes boiled veggies so nice and crispy on the outside without all that fat and grease.
So again a fairly light day food wise again.
I'm not strict with what I eat. I firmly believe int he 80/20 rule. If you eat well 80% of the time, you can afford to have a bag of popcorn at the movies, or a beer at the pub, or a piece of birthday cake. Life is meant to be enjoyed, not picked to pieces.
I do, however, need to be a little more organised with making food to take with me to work at the gym. At the moment we don't have any hot water or microwave to heat things up. I'm considering buying a kettle that we can hide in the cupboard so we can at least have tea/coffee etc of a morning when it's so cold. Inly having a refrigerator limits my meal options alot so I do have to be more organised.
Have to go get ready for work. Have a great week guys.
Kung Fu Panda 2 is awesome! I may have a slight attachment to kids movies at the moment. Oh well...
So, here's what I ate on Saturday:
B: 2 weet bix with skim milk, boiling water, 1 tsp sugar
1 cup of tea with a little skim milk and 2 tsp sugar.
S: fruit and nut mix. Sometimes I make this at home with almonds, peanuts, wallnuts, cashews etc, and some dried fruit. I was lazy on Saturday, so a bought fruit and nut mix was what I had. Still really good though.
L: 1/2 chicken breast, and diced bacon, cooked in some garlic, with some salad. Usually I just throw whatever I have around the house into it. Today it was tomatos, cucumber, lettuce, fetta cheese, carrot, and some bok choy with some balsalmic vinegar.
2 whole boiled eggs.
S: 1 apple. Sometimes I find that apples on their own make me hungry, but it got me through the afternoon.
D: 1/2 a pub size serving of pasta with chicken and bacon tossed in a creamy sauce.
S: 1/2 small popcorn, 1/2 small coke, some maltesers. You have to have some junk at the movies, it's just the way it is.
As you can see, my day was pretty light during the day so I could have my pasta and junk food at the movies. I don't really think about it too much, it just becomes habit after a while.
So, this is what I ate on sunday:
B: same as Saturday. This is a fairly standard breakfast for me during the winter. It's warm and it fills me up.
S: 1 apple and sml box of mixed nuts.
L: Ham, cheese and salald sandwich. I managed to get lunch in before I started work at 11.30.
S: Strawberry yoghurt. I'm on a yoghurt kick at the moment. I'm trying so many different brand and variety's.
D: Baked vegetables and roast lamb. We have one of those convection overn thingy's where you plug it in to the wall and you don't need any oil or anything to cook it. It makes boiled veggies so nice and crispy on the outside without all that fat and grease.
So again a fairly light day food wise again.
I'm not strict with what I eat. I firmly believe int he 80/20 rule. If you eat well 80% of the time, you can afford to have a bag of popcorn at the movies, or a beer at the pub, or a piece of birthday cake. Life is meant to be enjoyed, not picked to pieces.
I do, however, need to be a little more organised with making food to take with me to work at the gym. At the moment we don't have any hot water or microwave to heat things up. I'm considering buying a kettle that we can hide in the cupboard so we can at least have tea/coffee etc of a morning when it's so cold. Inly having a refrigerator limits my meal options alot so I do have to be more organised.
Have to go get ready for work. Have a great week guys.
Friday 8 July 2011
I'm Back!!!
I apologise once again for how long this blog has sat not being updated. As I have said in previous posts, I have been on a wonderful holiday in the USA, and have been back only 2 weeks. A very hectic 2 weeks at that.
I have started a new job as a pt/gym instructor at the new gym in the town I live in, and I'm still trying to work my head around all the new precedures etc that I have to learn. I've been there a little over a week and I'm really enjoying it. I'm still technically employed at the supermarket too, so I'm also trying to work that one around the gym schedule. Very trying on my brain at the moment. I also spent some time with my grandmother which was nice. I don't do it nearly enough. Other than that, I spent alot of my first few days at home catching up with family and friends, adjusting back to the time change (always harder coming back to Aus, than going anywhere for some reason) and reaclimatizing to the winter weather. Ouch.
Unfortunately, all this 'newness' has left me with little motivation to exercise. But, yesterday I did it. I made myself have some lunch, get ready, and I put in a little ove 1.5 hours at the gym. My chest and shoulders are feeling it today, but I kinda like it. It's always a nice feeling being sore from a good workout.
However, with the change in location has come another change in diet and my body has decided to revolt against it with headaches, nausea, bloating and some horrible stomach cramos. At first I thought it might have been ttom, but that has been and gone, so clearly not that.
So... what do I do to try and fix the problem..?
Firstly... I'm going to up my water intake. I haven't been drinking nearly enough water, and I'm hoping that by drinking more, I'll flush whatever is playing havoc with me, out of my system. It's a pretty easy fix too. I just have to remember to take a litre water bottle with me. If I forget, the drinks fridge is right next to the desk at the gym.
Being a PT in a new gym I get asked alot of questions about what I do myself. What do I eat? How much do I exercise? What exercises do I do? How much reading and research do I do? So I've decided, in the coming weeks, to share with you what I do, eat and read. I hope this shows you that most pt's aren't perfect (I know of only one that is close to perfect and that's for her own health reasons) and we all struggle with the same things everyone else struggles with: time, energy, work, family commitments etc, that derails your good intentions when it comes to food and exercise.
On sunday I'll post my food diary for saturday. I'm choosing saturday because, not only is a weekend day, but it's a saturday where I'm at work for 8 hours, them I'm heading to see Kung Fu Panda 2 at the movies with a girlfriend after dinner. So it's a really good example of a weekend day for me, because weekends are when most people go a little off the rails for various reasons. Then on monday I'll show you what I did on sunday to make up for saturday. I would have posted about today's food except that I can't actually remember what I ate. As I said in a previous post, I'm not very observent about what exactly I eat.
Over the next week I'll also post some of my workouts plus recipes and photos of what I eat and some of my personal nutritional and workout tips.
Enjoy your weekend. I will.
I have started a new job as a pt/gym instructor at the new gym in the town I live in, and I'm still trying to work my head around all the new precedures etc that I have to learn. I've been there a little over a week and I'm really enjoying it. I'm still technically employed at the supermarket too, so I'm also trying to work that one around the gym schedule. Very trying on my brain at the moment. I also spent some time with my grandmother which was nice. I don't do it nearly enough. Other than that, I spent alot of my first few days at home catching up with family and friends, adjusting back to the time change (always harder coming back to Aus, than going anywhere for some reason) and reaclimatizing to the winter weather. Ouch.
Unfortunately, all this 'newness' has left me with little motivation to exercise. But, yesterday I did it. I made myself have some lunch, get ready, and I put in a little ove 1.5 hours at the gym. My chest and shoulders are feeling it today, but I kinda like it. It's always a nice feeling being sore from a good workout.
However, with the change in location has come another change in diet and my body has decided to revolt against it with headaches, nausea, bloating and some horrible stomach cramos. At first I thought it might have been ttom, but that has been and gone, so clearly not that.
So... what do I do to try and fix the problem..?
Firstly... I'm going to up my water intake. I haven't been drinking nearly enough water, and I'm hoping that by drinking more, I'll flush whatever is playing havoc with me, out of my system. It's a pretty easy fix too. I just have to remember to take a litre water bottle with me. If I forget, the drinks fridge is right next to the desk at the gym.
Being a PT in a new gym I get asked alot of questions about what I do myself. What do I eat? How much do I exercise? What exercises do I do? How much reading and research do I do? So I've decided, in the coming weeks, to share with you what I do, eat and read. I hope this shows you that most pt's aren't perfect (I know of only one that is close to perfect and that's for her own health reasons) and we all struggle with the same things everyone else struggles with: time, energy, work, family commitments etc, that derails your good intentions when it comes to food and exercise.
On sunday I'll post my food diary for saturday. I'm choosing saturday because, not only is a weekend day, but it's a saturday where I'm at work for 8 hours, them I'm heading to see Kung Fu Panda 2 at the movies with a girlfriend after dinner. So it's a really good example of a weekend day for me, because weekends are when most people go a little off the rails for various reasons. Then on monday I'll show you what I did on sunday to make up for saturday. I would have posted about today's food except that I can't actually remember what I ate. As I said in a previous post, I'm not very observent about what exactly I eat.
Over the next week I'll also post some of my workouts plus recipes and photos of what I eat and some of my personal nutritional and workout tips.
Enjoy your weekend. I will.
Tuesday 7 June 2011
Food and Exercise on Holiday
Good food? Basically non existent. Exercise? Some, but not enough. As I said in the previous blog here, I spending 5 weeks on Contiki tour from LA to New York City. I have been on the go for a little over 3 weeks (25 days to be exact) and I think I have hit the wall. You know the one, when your body just goes 'enough is enough'. It can be to do with bad food, no sleep, to much alcohol, not enough down time or rest. Even just on a night out when you hit that time of the night when you are just suddenly so tired you just want to go home to bed and sleep for 12 hours straight. That wall. I have well and truely hit it.
I have been on the go since I landed in LA on the 14th of May. Early mornings, late nights, breakfasts where the options consist of sugary cereal, toast and jam, bagels, muffins, and on a few memorable mornings... donuts. Yep, you read that right... the hotels are offering us donuts for breakfast. Needless to say, I've skipped breakfast more times than I've eaten it. Which is playing havoc with my body because I always, always, always eat breakfast. Even at 4am when I have an early shift at work and the last thing I feel like doing is eating. It's just something I have to do.
I've been healthier in the last 4 or 5 days. I'm in Florida at the moment, so it's more salads etc on the menu, but dinner has been based on carbs most days. It's been alot of pizza and pasta options, and meats with rice. I generally (probably 80-90%) of the time, cut my carbs out from about 3 or 4pm. Not because I think it's a good way to lose weight, but because it's what works for my body. I'm a big believer in everything in moderation. Last night I had a chocolate ice cream, mixed with marshmallow whip and almonds in a waffle cone as I walked along the beach and I enjoyed it. I didn't feel guilty about it at all. I'm on holiday. But I am feeling more bloated, and less energetic due to the carb overloading I'm doing at the moment. I try to do what I can, but when dinner options are pizza or pasta (like they were tonight) I can't really do too much about it.
Exercise wise there are days where I do nothing but walk. I spent an entire day in Disneyland. I spent an entire day at Universal in Florida. I spent a day walking around Miami. I have done alot of walking. But, in saying that, there are days where we spend alot of time on the bus, ust driving from one place to another. Those days I feel so lethargic. But I can't make myself get up early to exercise because we're having late nights, and we need to be up, packed, and on the coach, most days, by 7.45am. Doesn't leave alot of time for anything else.
The lack of sleep is probably my biggest problem. I only need 6-7 hours of sleep a night, but most nights I'm lucky if I get 4 or 5 and it's finally starting to hit me. Alot of people sleep on the bus during the day but I am finding that I can't actually sleep. I doze for an hour at most, and then I'm awake again. That's probably the worst part of this whole trip.
I don't think I've put any weight on during this trip, but I certainly haven't lost any either. Unlike one of the guys on this trip, I'm not too concerned with what I eat, and trying to be healthy 100% of the time. If I want a margarita, I'll have one. If I want a slice of pizza I'll have one. If I can get a salad, usually I'll have that because I know that not all options will be healthy later on. I'm on holiday, I'm here to have a good time, not worry about every single thing I put in my mouth.
Sorry this post isn't very health and fitness focused. When I get back to Australia and get back into my eating and exercise routine, this blog will go back to being about health and fitness.
Heasing off the bed, need to be up in 7 hours.
D!
I have been on the go since I landed in LA on the 14th of May. Early mornings, late nights, breakfasts where the options consist of sugary cereal, toast and jam, bagels, muffins, and on a few memorable mornings... donuts. Yep, you read that right... the hotels are offering us donuts for breakfast. Needless to say, I've skipped breakfast more times than I've eaten it. Which is playing havoc with my body because I always, always, always eat breakfast. Even at 4am when I have an early shift at work and the last thing I feel like doing is eating. It's just something I have to do.
I've been healthier in the last 4 or 5 days. I'm in Florida at the moment, so it's more salads etc on the menu, but dinner has been based on carbs most days. It's been alot of pizza and pasta options, and meats with rice. I generally (probably 80-90%) of the time, cut my carbs out from about 3 or 4pm. Not because I think it's a good way to lose weight, but because it's what works for my body. I'm a big believer in everything in moderation. Last night I had a chocolate ice cream, mixed with marshmallow whip and almonds in a waffle cone as I walked along the beach and I enjoyed it. I didn't feel guilty about it at all. I'm on holiday. But I am feeling more bloated, and less energetic due to the carb overloading I'm doing at the moment. I try to do what I can, but when dinner options are pizza or pasta (like they were tonight) I can't really do too much about it.
Exercise wise there are days where I do nothing but walk. I spent an entire day in Disneyland. I spent an entire day at Universal in Florida. I spent a day walking around Miami. I have done alot of walking. But, in saying that, there are days where we spend alot of time on the bus, ust driving from one place to another. Those days I feel so lethargic. But I can't make myself get up early to exercise because we're having late nights, and we need to be up, packed, and on the coach, most days, by 7.45am. Doesn't leave alot of time for anything else.
The lack of sleep is probably my biggest problem. I only need 6-7 hours of sleep a night, but most nights I'm lucky if I get 4 or 5 and it's finally starting to hit me. Alot of people sleep on the bus during the day but I am finding that I can't actually sleep. I doze for an hour at most, and then I'm awake again. That's probably the worst part of this whole trip.
I don't think I've put any weight on during this trip, but I certainly haven't lost any either. Unlike one of the guys on this trip, I'm not too concerned with what I eat, and trying to be healthy 100% of the time. If I want a margarita, I'll have one. If I want a slice of pizza I'll have one. If I can get a salad, usually I'll have that because I know that not all options will be healthy later on. I'm on holiday, I'm here to have a good time, not worry about every single thing I put in my mouth.
Sorry this post isn't very health and fitness focused. When I get back to Australia and get back into my eating and exercise routine, this blog will go back to being about health and fitness.
Heasing off the bed, need to be up in 7 hours.
D!
Saturday 14 May 2011
USA
I apologise profusely for the length of time this blog has sat not being updated. I really don’t have an excuse. Except lack of time really. I had a blog written just after Easter, but my internet was not in a good mood and crashed, taking my latest entry with it.
I am currently writing this from a plane on my way from Sydney to LA. That’s right; I’m flying to Los Angeles. I am embarking on my first actual holiday since I was 15. That’s the age I was when I started working. Since then, I have juggled working with, firstly school, then university. Every school break was spent working. But, didn’t I spend 3 months in the US, just a little over 2 years ago? Yes, yes, I did. But, I worked the entire time (give or take a week). So, you see, I really haven’t had a vacation in a long time. So, now I am embarking on a 5 week USA holiday, Contiki style. Should be a lot of fun.
But, back to the blog. About health and fitness. Mental, physical and emotional.
It feels strange to be writing about health and fitness when I currently have a cold. Yes, you read that right, I have a cold. Not a very severe one. Not even one where I feel like coughing up a lung. No, just one of those annoying ones where my throat hurts in cold weather, and first thing of a morning, and my nose is rather stuffed of a morning. That sort of cold. Thank god I’m heading to warmer climates.
I have a friend from work, M, who I think is the sort of friend everyone should have. She’s the type of friend to knock on your front door as she walks in. She’s the type to turn up unexpectedly. She’s the one who will phone and say ‘a movie starts in 30 minutes, do you want to go?’ She’s also the type of friend who will hit you over the head if he thinks you are being ridiculous.
Comparing myself to anyone and that if I do I’m stupid. She told me other things too, but they really aren’t fit to post here. But see what I mean about everyone needing a friend like her? Thought so. I really believe that we all need a friend to give us a reality check when we get like that.
Which leads me to what my deleted post was about: comparing ourselves to others and how that impacts on our mental health.
The next time you compare yourself to others, be it that you think you look better or worse than the person you are comparing yourself to, think about how you feel, mentally, about yourself.
I have been trying to do that over these last few weeks, and I’ve noticed some things.
Firstly: I compare myself more often than I think I do. Even something as simple as ‘she has the same shoes as me’.
Secondly: Who I compare myself to, and whether it’s in a negative or positive light, is dependent on what my mood is like. If I’m in a negative mood, I tend to compare myself in a negative way, and find very thin people to compare myself too. Things like ‘she’s so much thinner than I am,’ and the like. On the flip side of things, if I’m in a positive mood, I tend to compare myself in a much more favourable light. More like ‘She’s so thin, but I’m glad I’m not quite that small,” etc. I compare myself to make myself feel better or worse, depending on whether I’m in a good or bad mood.
Thirdly: comparing myself to people makes me more aware of what I want, in life, for my body, in looks etc. I want to be thinner (an Aus size 10), so I compare myself to people who are that size or smaller. I want to move out of home, so I compare myself to people around my age who are already out of home. I wish I hadn’t dyed my hair blonde a few years ago, which in turn made a lot of it fall out, so I am envious of people with thick hair like I used to have.
Essentially, I am comparing myself to people who have what I want.
This is not always a bad thing. It can drive you to try harder to get the things you want, give you focus when you start to stray. Just remember to use them as motivation, and not just as the end goal. It’s all about remembering that everyone is different, and that what works for someone who has what you want, or what you think you want, may not actually work for you, or in reality, may not be what you actually want or need at all.
Take the time over the next week or so, to notice who you compare yourself to, and in what light. Think about how you feel about yourself when you compare, and after you’ve done it. Then think about why you’re comparing in the first place. Are you jealous? Do you want what they have? Or is there some other reason?
I’m going to kick back and watch a movie now. Then maybe try and sleep a little before I land. Got my bottle of water, my lollies, and my ipod. I’m all set.
Enjoy your week. I know I will.
Dxo
Monday 2 May 2011
I'm Back!!!
Apologies for the lack of posts recently. With the completely odd hours at work, the Easter break, and my sister being back at home, blogging time dwindled to nothing. Not that I'm making excuses, I'm not. But, as it seems to do, life gets away from you.
Just a quick little note to tell you all that I'm still alive. I made it to the gym last week... twice. I even took my mum with me once. And I worked out over the Easter weekend too. I overdid it with the chocolate (surprisingly, not until after Easter had passed), but I didn't, and still don't, feel guilty.
See, I can work on this mental health thing too.
Firstly, I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday period, not matter what you celebrated. I hope you all had a wonderful time, and for the Aussie's, I hope you, like me, enjoyed your 5 day long weekend (even though I worked 3 of 5 days.)
Secondly, I hope that any readers in North America are all safe and well, and that, if you do live in the areas that are being battered by the tornados, that you and your families are all safe and healthy. Mother Nature is really being destructive this year isn't she?
In keeping with the mental health train of thought, everyone should have a friends like M in their lives. As I have said before, I generally don't compare myself to other women. They aren't me and I'm not them. We don't have the same live, situations, or experiences.
But, the other day M and I were talking about bodies, and how we feel about them etc, and I said that that particular day I felt fat. As you do. I was bloated, and I felt horrible and huge, and just yuck. I also happened to mention that one of the girls who is coming on the tour of the US with me is a (Aus) size 8 model, and it makes me feel just that little more self conscious about how I look.
I thought she was going to hit me. She ranted and raved about how you don't compare yourself to anyone else. EVER! She went on to list reasons and do a little more ranting and raving. Then she proceded to tell me that if she ever heard me talking like that again she was going to thump me. Hard.
I got such a giggle out of that.
Everyone needs someone like her to bring you back down to earth when your thinking gets out of hand.
Like I said, I normally don't, but every so often we can't help ourselves, and we compare ourselves to everyone we see. Whether tha person be a famous actress/songer/model on the cover of some glossy magazine, fitness people and athletes we see out exercising, or just the random person on the street. We compare ourselves to people, both big and small, and we do it depending on our moods.
Try this...
The next time you are feeling good about how you look, take a look at who you compare yourself with and why. I know I always compare myself to those larger people I see in the supermarket who are buying bags of lollies, chocolate, and chips. It makes me feel better about myself. I do it even though I know that, rationally, they could be buying those things for their child's birthday party, and that, more than likely, they aren't going to go home and stuff themselves full of junk food.
The reverse is true too. When you are feeling low about how you look, who do you compare yourself to? Id it the opposite to who you compare yourself to when you feel good? I always end up comparing myself to those stick thin people I see. Those people I see in skinny jeans with very thin legs (something I know I will never have, it's just not my body shape) or those who have clearly been doing some sort of exercise and who are buying fresh fruit and vegetables. It always makes me feel like I am less of a person.
And when I realise I'm doing this I always feel terrible. Terrible for judging people I know nothing about. Terrible for thinking that what I see in magazines is actually, 100% real. But most of all, I feel terrible about criticizing myself. Because really... that's what we're doing when we're comparing ourselves. We are picking what we feel bad about with ourselves and projecting it onto someone else, so we can bag them out and not ourselves. At least not consciously.
The next time you find youself doing, work out what you're trying to discover about yourself. When I criticise people who are running around in exercise clothes, it's usually when I feel guilty because I haven't been. When I 'hate' someone for having thin legs, it's really because I know I will never have them outside of liposuction and surgery (like I said before, it's all genetics) and will never get to wear tiny shorts.
So there you have it.
The next time you criticise someone think about why you're doing it. Think about how you feel, and if what you're criticising is actually your insecurities coming to the surface, to be directed at somone else.
Just a quick little note to tell you all that I'm still alive. I made it to the gym last week... twice. I even took my mum with me once. And I worked out over the Easter weekend too. I overdid it with the chocolate (surprisingly, not until after Easter had passed), but I didn't, and still don't, feel guilty.
See, I can work on this mental health thing too.
Firstly, I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday period, not matter what you celebrated. I hope you all had a wonderful time, and for the Aussie's, I hope you, like me, enjoyed your 5 day long weekend (even though I worked 3 of 5 days.)
Secondly, I hope that any readers in North America are all safe and well, and that, if you do live in the areas that are being battered by the tornados, that you and your families are all safe and healthy. Mother Nature is really being destructive this year isn't she?
In keeping with the mental health train of thought, everyone should have a friends like M in their lives. As I have said before, I generally don't compare myself to other women. They aren't me and I'm not them. We don't have the same live, situations, or experiences.
But, the other day M and I were talking about bodies, and how we feel about them etc, and I said that that particular day I felt fat. As you do. I was bloated, and I felt horrible and huge, and just yuck. I also happened to mention that one of the girls who is coming on the tour of the US with me is a (Aus) size 8 model, and it makes me feel just that little more self conscious about how I look.
I thought she was going to hit me. She ranted and raved about how you don't compare yourself to anyone else. EVER! She went on to list reasons and do a little more ranting and raving. Then she proceded to tell me that if she ever heard me talking like that again she was going to thump me. Hard.
I got such a giggle out of that.
Everyone needs someone like her to bring you back down to earth when your thinking gets out of hand.
Like I said, I normally don't, but every so often we can't help ourselves, and we compare ourselves to everyone we see. Whether tha person be a famous actress/songer/model on the cover of some glossy magazine, fitness people and athletes we see out exercising, or just the random person on the street. We compare ourselves to people, both big and small, and we do it depending on our moods.
Try this...
The next time you are feeling good about how you look, take a look at who you compare yourself with and why. I know I always compare myself to those larger people I see in the supermarket who are buying bags of lollies, chocolate, and chips. It makes me feel better about myself. I do it even though I know that, rationally, they could be buying those things for their child's birthday party, and that, more than likely, they aren't going to go home and stuff themselves full of junk food.
The reverse is true too. When you are feeling low about how you look, who do you compare yourself to? Id it the opposite to who you compare yourself to when you feel good? I always end up comparing myself to those stick thin people I see. Those people I see in skinny jeans with very thin legs (something I know I will never have, it's just not my body shape) or those who have clearly been doing some sort of exercise and who are buying fresh fruit and vegetables. It always makes me feel like I am less of a person.
And when I realise I'm doing this I always feel terrible. Terrible for judging people I know nothing about. Terrible for thinking that what I see in magazines is actually, 100% real. But most of all, I feel terrible about criticizing myself. Because really... that's what we're doing when we're comparing ourselves. We are picking what we feel bad about with ourselves and projecting it onto someone else, so we can bag them out and not ourselves. At least not consciously.
The next time you find youself doing, work out what you're trying to discover about yourself. When I criticise people who are running around in exercise clothes, it's usually when I feel guilty because I haven't been. When I 'hate' someone for having thin legs, it's really because I know I will never have them outside of liposuction and surgery (like I said before, it's all genetics) and will never get to wear tiny shorts.
So there you have it.
The next time you criticise someone think about why you're doing it. Think about how you feel, and if what you're criticising is actually your insecurities coming to the surface, to be directed at somone else.
Sunday 17 April 2011
The Power of Thoughts and Words
It amazes me how negative we, as a society, are to, not only the people around us, but the world in general.
Working in a supermarket (hopefully not for much longer), I'm regularly bombarded with the negativity society breeds. Everything from the headlines on the glossy magazines touting break ups and cheating, to how to lose weight, and feel good about yourself; parents talking down to, or at their children instead of just to them; to the bitching that occurs between collegues about other collegues (which is normal to some extent) or just general bitching.
Even in the news it's always one person blaming another for something. Particularly politics. One party says something about the other, the second one retaliates. Some days it's like watching a tennis match, heads twisting back and forth as insults are slung from one side of the fence to the other.
Looking at all this, is it really any wonder that young people in particular are so depressed. One week you are told something is good, the next it's bad for you. One week your favourite celebrity is too skinny, the next they've put on weight and are starting a diet.
There's no middle ground. It seems that we, as a society, aren't happy unless we are tearing someone down. There must be something to pick at. Is it any wonder people have low self esteem, eating disorders, exercise disorders etc? No-one seems to be happy to be 'just average' anymore. What's wrong with being the average size? Or not having an opinion one way or the other on a topic you're not interested in? (The only occassion this bothers me is when I have a conversation with someone who seems to have no opinon in anything!)
Thanks to having stumbled upon these wonderful blogs I am really taking a good look at myself, and what I say and think. Not only do we need to be careful of what we say and how we say it to other people, (I am regularly told to lose the lecturing tone of voice I seem to naturally adopt when I'm talking about something I'm passionate about. I'm working on it), it's just as important to take a look at what we say, and even more importantly (in my opinion), those thoughts that don't get spoken aloud, about ourselves.
Think about this for a minute...
How many thoughts a day do you have about yourself that are negative in nature? 3 or 4? Maybe 10 or 11? I'm not just talking big thoughts that are easy to catch like "I'm fat and ugly. Nothing's going to look good on me!" (I have had this internal thought in many a dressing room with unflattering lights and mirrors). How about simple things like "I can't", Or "It wont work"? How many times have you internalised a conversation about yourself/other people after someone's said something nasty to you or criticised you?
It's these thoughts, things that seem small and inconsequential that do the most damage. Simple remarks you make to yourself about you and those around you that can affect you more than you think.
How many times have you had something 'bad' happen in the morning and it ruins the rest of the day for you? Maybe you spilt your coffee over your morning newspaper. Maybe you slept in and are late for work. Maybe you got stuck in traffic. Do you think in these situations "the rest of the day is going to be just as bad now"? And when you think something like this, does this actually occur?
I know it does for me. Days I wake up and something goes wrong, if I think "the day's just going to be like this now isn't it?" the rest of the day follows the morning's patterns. If I can laugh it off, find something good out of it (even if it's just the excuse to sing along with the music in my car when I'm stuck in traffic), I find that the rest of the day isn't as bad as it could have been.
It's similar to going into new situations and expecting disaster and then getting it.
The way you think, tends to be thrown back at you in actions. If you are sad/unhappy/angry etc, the world will work with that mood and keep you there. If you're happy, same thing.
Of course, bad things happen to people who are eternally optimistic. Good things happen to perpetually angry/sad people.
The difference..?
The way they look at the world. If you are optimistic/happy etc, and you get hit with a hurdle of some sort, you don't look at it like it's the end of the world. You don't let it ruin your day/month/year. You don't dwell on it. You tackle the problem, and move on with your day/week/month etc.
Example:
A few years ago my Grandmother (who is now 70) had a hip replacement. She is one of the mentally strongest, stubborn, people I know. The week before she had her hip done, another lady had her's done. She was telling my Grandmother about all the things she struggled to do, and how hard a time she was having of it.
Now, my Grandmother lives alone. She has done for many, many years (with the exception of her Grandkids coming to visit, and sometimes stay). She knew she couldn't afford to lay around feeling sorry for herself for weeks on end, while she waited to fully heal.
She only ever used a walking stick type thing. No crutches or anything of the type for her. When she found she couldn't bend over to pick things up off the ground, she bought herself a grabby thing that could do it for her. She found ways to do her washing and get it from the washing machine to the clothes line in her backyard, hang it out, and get it in again. She found ways to do anything she had to do.
She was told she was not to drive for 6 weeks after her surgery. 4 weeks after the op, she drove herself to my aunt's place so my aunt could drive her to the doctors for her check up. Just so her doctor didn't know she was driving so soon after the op.
After 4 weeks she was walking about 5km (3 miles) everyday or there abouts. She wasn't actually supposed to, but she felt well enough to do it, and she did it at a pace that suited her. She didn't push herself, but she didn't lay about feeling sorry for herself either.
The other woman? The one who lamented about how hard it was? Was still finding it hard to walk after 4 weeks.
Then, last year, she was diagnosed with Gall stones, and she had to have her gall bladder removed. She woke up in incredible pain in October. She was told not to eat fatty things, it would just irritate the stones, and put her back in a world of pain. She got her gall bladder removed in March.
In 5 months she rarely ate anything with fat in it. She was very sensible in what she ate. Not thinking about it. No but I really like ice cream/chocolate etc for her. No I'll have it once a week. Just I can't eat it now so I wont. She said that she would rather have 3 children naturally, one after the other, than go through that again. She also lost 11kg (or there abouts) as a bonus. She can now wear her engagement and eternity rings again.
My point..?
If you put your mind to it, you can do or be anything. It all comes back to your thoughts, and thought patterns. If you put out negative energy into the world, you'll get negative energy back. If you're a happy, bright person, you'll get good things come to you. I'm nat saying that good, happy, vibrant people don't have negative things happen in their lives, we all have things we have to face and overcome, but they deal with them in a way that is totally different to those who are negative. If you're someone who has no direction, no idea of where they want to go and what they want to do, you tend to flounder and just keep doing the same thing over and over again.
After reading through those wonderful blogs I mentioned earlier, I'm vowing to take action on my thinking.
I vow to be careful with what I think/say. I vow to stop any negative thoughts in their tracks, and any I miss I vow to amend with something positive.
Look at this post of inspiring words. They might just help get you started on your journey to bringing more positivity into your life.
What mantras do you live by?
Working in a supermarket (hopefully not for much longer), I'm regularly bombarded with the negativity society breeds. Everything from the headlines on the glossy magazines touting break ups and cheating, to how to lose weight, and feel good about yourself; parents talking down to, or at their children instead of just to them; to the bitching that occurs between collegues about other collegues (which is normal to some extent) or just general bitching.
Even in the news it's always one person blaming another for something. Particularly politics. One party says something about the other, the second one retaliates. Some days it's like watching a tennis match, heads twisting back and forth as insults are slung from one side of the fence to the other.
Looking at all this, is it really any wonder that young people in particular are so depressed. One week you are told something is good, the next it's bad for you. One week your favourite celebrity is too skinny, the next they've put on weight and are starting a diet.
There's no middle ground. It seems that we, as a society, aren't happy unless we are tearing someone down. There must be something to pick at. Is it any wonder people have low self esteem, eating disorders, exercise disorders etc? No-one seems to be happy to be 'just average' anymore. What's wrong with being the average size? Or not having an opinion one way or the other on a topic you're not interested in? (The only occassion this bothers me is when I have a conversation with someone who seems to have no opinon in anything!)
Thanks to having stumbled upon these wonderful blogs I am really taking a good look at myself, and what I say and think. Not only do we need to be careful of what we say and how we say it to other people, (I am regularly told to lose the lecturing tone of voice I seem to naturally adopt when I'm talking about something I'm passionate about. I'm working on it), it's just as important to take a look at what we say, and even more importantly (in my opinion), those thoughts that don't get spoken aloud, about ourselves.
Think about this for a minute...
How many thoughts a day do you have about yourself that are negative in nature? 3 or 4? Maybe 10 or 11? I'm not just talking big thoughts that are easy to catch like "I'm fat and ugly. Nothing's going to look good on me!" (I have had this internal thought in many a dressing room with unflattering lights and mirrors). How about simple things like "I can't", Or "It wont work"? How many times have you internalised a conversation about yourself/other people after someone's said something nasty to you or criticised you?
It's these thoughts, things that seem small and inconsequential that do the most damage. Simple remarks you make to yourself about you and those around you that can affect you more than you think.
How many times have you had something 'bad' happen in the morning and it ruins the rest of the day for you? Maybe you spilt your coffee over your morning newspaper. Maybe you slept in and are late for work. Maybe you got stuck in traffic. Do you think in these situations "the rest of the day is going to be just as bad now"? And when you think something like this, does this actually occur?
I know it does for me. Days I wake up and something goes wrong, if I think "the day's just going to be like this now isn't it?" the rest of the day follows the morning's patterns. If I can laugh it off, find something good out of it (even if it's just the excuse to sing along with the music in my car when I'm stuck in traffic), I find that the rest of the day isn't as bad as it could have been.
It's similar to going into new situations and expecting disaster and then getting it.
The way you think, tends to be thrown back at you in actions. If you are sad/unhappy/angry etc, the world will work with that mood and keep you there. If you're happy, same thing.
Of course, bad things happen to people who are eternally optimistic. Good things happen to perpetually angry/sad people.
The difference..?
The way they look at the world. If you are optimistic/happy etc, and you get hit with a hurdle of some sort, you don't look at it like it's the end of the world. You don't let it ruin your day/month/year. You don't dwell on it. You tackle the problem, and move on with your day/week/month etc.
Example:
A few years ago my Grandmother (who is now 70) had a hip replacement. She is one of the mentally strongest, stubborn, people I know. The week before she had her hip done, another lady had her's done. She was telling my Grandmother about all the things she struggled to do, and how hard a time she was having of it.
Now, my Grandmother lives alone. She has done for many, many years (with the exception of her Grandkids coming to visit, and sometimes stay). She knew she couldn't afford to lay around feeling sorry for herself for weeks on end, while she waited to fully heal.
She only ever used a walking stick type thing. No crutches or anything of the type for her. When she found she couldn't bend over to pick things up off the ground, she bought herself a grabby thing that could do it for her. She found ways to do her washing and get it from the washing machine to the clothes line in her backyard, hang it out, and get it in again. She found ways to do anything she had to do.
She was told she was not to drive for 6 weeks after her surgery. 4 weeks after the op, she drove herself to my aunt's place so my aunt could drive her to the doctors for her check up. Just so her doctor didn't know she was driving so soon after the op.
After 4 weeks she was walking about 5km (3 miles) everyday or there abouts. She wasn't actually supposed to, but she felt well enough to do it, and she did it at a pace that suited her. She didn't push herself, but she didn't lay about feeling sorry for herself either.
The other woman? The one who lamented about how hard it was? Was still finding it hard to walk after 4 weeks.
Then, last year, she was diagnosed with Gall stones, and she had to have her gall bladder removed. She woke up in incredible pain in October. She was told not to eat fatty things, it would just irritate the stones, and put her back in a world of pain. She got her gall bladder removed in March.
In 5 months she rarely ate anything with fat in it. She was very sensible in what she ate. Not thinking about it. No but I really like ice cream/chocolate etc for her. No I'll have it once a week. Just I can't eat it now so I wont. She said that she would rather have 3 children naturally, one after the other, than go through that again. She also lost 11kg (or there abouts) as a bonus. She can now wear her engagement and eternity rings again.
My point..?
If you put your mind to it, you can do or be anything. It all comes back to your thoughts, and thought patterns. If you put out negative energy into the world, you'll get negative energy back. If you're a happy, bright person, you'll get good things come to you. I'm nat saying that good, happy, vibrant people don't have negative things happen in their lives, we all have things we have to face and overcome, but they deal with them in a way that is totally different to those who are negative. If you're someone who has no direction, no idea of where they want to go and what they want to do, you tend to flounder and just keep doing the same thing over and over again.
After reading through those wonderful blogs I mentioned earlier, I'm vowing to take action on my thinking.
I vow to be careful with what I think/say. I vow to stop any negative thoughts in their tracks, and any I miss I vow to amend with something positive.
Look at this post of inspiring words. They might just help get you started on your journey to bringing more positivity into your life.
What mantras do you live by?
Friday 8 April 2011
Sickness..?
Not the post I was planning on posting today. While I was in the shower I had this whole blog planned on the Biggest Loser. But, the best laid plans. I'll discuss in another post.
Right now, my little sister (I say little but she's 21), is home from uni for the holidays, and 3 weeks of prac teaching. It'll be amazing if we don't kill each other. We get on, don't think we don't, but at the same time we fight like cats and dogs alot of the time too. One wrong word can set H off into a bad mood and a bad temper. To make this worse, this year seems to be her beligerent and hostile phase, (something I don't think I went through to the extent she is), and seems to have hit her rebelious phase a little late. She's in her 4th year of uni but this year seems to be the year she's lost her head. Partying 4-5 times a week, not knowing what time she's getting home, the girls she lives with being on an alcohol ban and her flat being inspected everyday because another of her flatmates complained about it not being cleaned (she lives on campus), laying in the middle of the road, drunk, at 4am! It's not like her. Now I know everyone is entitled to party and have a good time, but mum and dad are paying for her to be at uni, so they're not impressed.
Anyway... the reason for this entry as opposed to me professing my love for all things Biggest Loser...
She's sick. Right now I can hear her, down the hall, coughing like she's trying to expel her lungs. This happens. Everyone gets sick. But lately, I've been running into more and more people who are sick all the time. H is sick at least 3-4 times a year (although she does get hayfever so that has something to do with it in the warmer months.) Another girl I work with has been sick about 5 times this year and it's only the 4th month of the year. Everything from whooping cough to a cold. You name it, she's probably had it.
This lead to a discussion on sickness the last time I worked with her (what else do you have to talk about at 5am?) She was talking about how it was only her 4th Friday shift with the department because she'd been sick so many other times. Which led me to say (stupidly in hindsight) that I don't get sick.
Ever!
But it's true. I don't. The last time I was really sick was in 2005. My first year of uni. My boyfried at the time, J, and I were home for the Easter holidays. We went to a party for a school friend of mine's birthday. I felt fine when we got there. By the end of the night I was sick. Physically. I thought maybe I had food poisoning, and settled in for a night of cramping and generally feeling horrible (I've never actually had food poisoning so I have no idea what it's like). It wasn't feed poisoning. By the next morning I was still being physically sick but there were also... other... things. Anyway. It took me about 3-4 days to get over it. 3-4 days of me not being able to eat anything besides ice blocks and vegemite on toast (the best thing for an upset stomach). 3-4 days of reading Stephen King's The Dark Tower series, and sleeping. Then J caught it and cried like a baby until we took him to the on call doctor to get him a shot to make him stop throwing up. Sook.
Anyway...
Before that I think I was about 7 and was sent home from a Brownie camp in Sydney because of how sick I was. Mum and dad had to come and get me and I didn't want to go home. I wanted to stick it out. But in the end the adults won out (I managed 2 days before I gave in and let them call my parents). It wa a good thing they did. All I did was lay on the couch in a pile of blankets and watch cartoons, my trusty toast and vegemite, and ice blocks close at hand. Then the other girls caught it. Oops.
Point is... I don't get sick. Sure I get the occassional cold, but other than that I don't get sick. Even with a cold it's some vitamin c, garlic and horseradish tablets, and I keep going.
But all this running into sick people has made think. Why do some people get sick more than others? What is it about some people that make them susceptible to illness than others? (I should probably point out that I'm not allergic to anything either. H calls me an anomaly because she's allergic to bees and a penicilin equivalent. I've also never had the chicken pox even though it went through my extended family I was close to at the time, my primary school, and then 3 times through the college I was living at while at uni.)
I have always thought (and science seems to be catching on) that all this germ killing we do is actually harming us. If children are kept in a bubble, away from anything that might make then sick, how is there immune system supposed to know what it's supposed to fight and what is harmless? It's one of the reasons I think allergies are on the rise too. It's why these antibiotic superbugs are in existance. It's why, I think, so many people (young people in particular) are getting sick.
Now, I'm not saying don't vaccinate. I actually think that you are stupid if you don't vaccinate your kids. If you can protect them from something like the chicken pox from killing them, why wouldn't you. But it's things like wiping everything down with an antibacterial wipe that I can't understand. We didn't and we survived.
I remember, growing up, doing things like playing in the dirt and the mud. Playing touch (and sometimes tackle) football with my cousins and friends. Swimming in rivers and dams and lakes as well as the pool. Playing with the dogs, then running my hands under water and saying they were clean then going to have something to eat. Climbing (and falling out of) trees, and riding my bike. Learning to rollerskate (and later ice skate).
As kids, on the weekends and holidays, we had breakfast and were then sent out to play. We would come back to someone's house and have lunch. Then go play and then go home for dinner. And it was fun. Getting dirty and having fun was what being a kid was all about. It wasn't about computer games or the TV. Sure, H and I had an Atari when we were little, then later, a computer. But we never played it. Only on occassions we couldn't go outside. And even then, only sparingly. We would draw, colour, read books, watch movies on days were were stuck outside. We never wanted the latest PlayStation, or XBox. We had friends who had them, and we would use theirs, then come home. Even now, the only gaming console we own, as a family, is a Wii. And I still can't use it (unless it's the WiiFit or something similar) for too long without getting bored. It's the way we were raised.
Back to the sickness...
I believe, in my non scientific taught brain, that this is the reason kids are getting sick more often, and with superbugs. Is it any surprise that superbugs thrive in streile environmnents. It's why staph was only found in hospitals. Bugs, viruses etc, just like us, adapt to their surroundings. If you keep throwing antibiotics at a bug, it's going ot get stronger and more resistent to the drugs we use to beat it.
It is, I think, common sense.
I believe we need to go back to not worrying too much about germs and bugs. Obviously take care of things like cuts and other wounds. Cover then during the day, let them air out at night. Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough. If you've got something contagous, or a cold etc, stay at home for a few days and get better. Have a shower everyday and clean yourself, wash your clothes, clean your house. But don't wipe up every spill with antibacterial wipes. Don't worry too much about using anything other than soap and water. It's actually the best cleaning method there is.
If you let yourself, and your kids, be exposed to these sorts of, relatively harmess, germs, they will acutally get sick less. If you stop pouring medication down their, and your, throats everytime you get the sniffles, you and they, will be sick less often. Your immune system needs something to fight against to get stronger. It's the use it or lose it scenario. If you don't use your immune system, when something big comes along, it won't know what to do.
A lot of this comes down to exercise and nutrition too. If you look at healthy people, people who don't get sick, they tend to exercise and eat well. Now you don't have to be perfect, but even just 5 serves of veggies, 2 serves of fruit every day will go a long way to helping you feel better, even if you don't get sick. Some exercise, even walking for 30 minutes a day, will get your heart pumping and lift your mood. It will make you feel better.
And this eating better and exercising (especially outdoors) will expose you to new things, prompting your body to assess it and decide if it's harmless or harmful. It will make your immune system work and do the job it's supposed to do.
So my view on this*:
I hope this has led you to think about your own life and what you do, or don't do within it. It did for me.
D xo
Right now, my little sister (I say little but she's 21), is home from uni for the holidays, and 3 weeks of prac teaching. It'll be amazing if we don't kill each other. We get on, don't think we don't, but at the same time we fight like cats and dogs alot of the time too. One wrong word can set H off into a bad mood and a bad temper. To make this worse, this year seems to be her beligerent and hostile phase, (something I don't think I went through to the extent she is), and seems to have hit her rebelious phase a little late. She's in her 4th year of uni but this year seems to be the year she's lost her head. Partying 4-5 times a week, not knowing what time she's getting home, the girls she lives with being on an alcohol ban and her flat being inspected everyday because another of her flatmates complained about it not being cleaned (she lives on campus), laying in the middle of the road, drunk, at 4am! It's not like her. Now I know everyone is entitled to party and have a good time, but mum and dad are paying for her to be at uni, so they're not impressed.
Anyway... the reason for this entry as opposed to me professing my love for all things Biggest Loser...
She's sick. Right now I can hear her, down the hall, coughing like she's trying to expel her lungs. This happens. Everyone gets sick. But lately, I've been running into more and more people who are sick all the time. H is sick at least 3-4 times a year (although she does get hayfever so that has something to do with it in the warmer months.) Another girl I work with has been sick about 5 times this year and it's only the 4th month of the year. Everything from whooping cough to a cold. You name it, she's probably had it.
This lead to a discussion on sickness the last time I worked with her (what else do you have to talk about at 5am?) She was talking about how it was only her 4th Friday shift with the department because she'd been sick so many other times. Which led me to say (stupidly in hindsight) that I don't get sick.
Ever!
But it's true. I don't. The last time I was really sick was in 2005. My first year of uni. My boyfried at the time, J, and I were home for the Easter holidays. We went to a party for a school friend of mine's birthday. I felt fine when we got there. By the end of the night I was sick. Physically. I thought maybe I had food poisoning, and settled in for a night of cramping and generally feeling horrible (I've never actually had food poisoning so I have no idea what it's like). It wasn't feed poisoning. By the next morning I was still being physically sick but there were also... other... things. Anyway. It took me about 3-4 days to get over it. 3-4 days of me not being able to eat anything besides ice blocks and vegemite on toast (the best thing for an upset stomach). 3-4 days of reading Stephen King's The Dark Tower series, and sleeping. Then J caught it and cried like a baby until we took him to the on call doctor to get him a shot to make him stop throwing up. Sook.
Anyway...
Before that I think I was about 7 and was sent home from a Brownie camp in Sydney because of how sick I was. Mum and dad had to come and get me and I didn't want to go home. I wanted to stick it out. But in the end the adults won out (I managed 2 days before I gave in and let them call my parents). It wa a good thing they did. All I did was lay on the couch in a pile of blankets and watch cartoons, my trusty toast and vegemite, and ice blocks close at hand. Then the other girls caught it. Oops.
Point is... I don't get sick. Sure I get the occassional cold, but other than that I don't get sick. Even with a cold it's some vitamin c, garlic and horseradish tablets, and I keep going.
But all this running into sick people has made think. Why do some people get sick more than others? What is it about some people that make them susceptible to illness than others? (I should probably point out that I'm not allergic to anything either. H calls me an anomaly because she's allergic to bees and a penicilin equivalent. I've also never had the chicken pox even though it went through my extended family I was close to at the time, my primary school, and then 3 times through the college I was living at while at uni.)
I have always thought (and science seems to be catching on) that all this germ killing we do is actually harming us. If children are kept in a bubble, away from anything that might make then sick, how is there immune system supposed to know what it's supposed to fight and what is harmless? It's one of the reasons I think allergies are on the rise too. It's why these antibiotic superbugs are in existance. It's why, I think, so many people (young people in particular) are getting sick.
Now, I'm not saying don't vaccinate. I actually think that you are stupid if you don't vaccinate your kids. If you can protect them from something like the chicken pox from killing them, why wouldn't you. But it's things like wiping everything down with an antibacterial wipe that I can't understand. We didn't and we survived.
I remember, growing up, doing things like playing in the dirt and the mud. Playing touch (and sometimes tackle) football with my cousins and friends. Swimming in rivers and dams and lakes as well as the pool. Playing with the dogs, then running my hands under water and saying they were clean then going to have something to eat. Climbing (and falling out of) trees, and riding my bike. Learning to rollerskate (and later ice skate).
As kids, on the weekends and holidays, we had breakfast and were then sent out to play. We would come back to someone's house and have lunch. Then go play and then go home for dinner. And it was fun. Getting dirty and having fun was what being a kid was all about. It wasn't about computer games or the TV. Sure, H and I had an Atari when we were little, then later, a computer. But we never played it. Only on occassions we couldn't go outside. And even then, only sparingly. We would draw, colour, read books, watch movies on days were were stuck outside. We never wanted the latest PlayStation, or XBox. We had friends who had them, and we would use theirs, then come home. Even now, the only gaming console we own, as a family, is a Wii. And I still can't use it (unless it's the WiiFit or something similar) for too long without getting bored. It's the way we were raised.
Back to the sickness...
I believe, in my non scientific taught brain, that this is the reason kids are getting sick more often, and with superbugs. Is it any surprise that superbugs thrive in streile environmnents. It's why staph was only found in hospitals. Bugs, viruses etc, just like us, adapt to their surroundings. If you keep throwing antibiotics at a bug, it's going ot get stronger and more resistent to the drugs we use to beat it.
It is, I think, common sense.
I believe we need to go back to not worrying too much about germs and bugs. Obviously take care of things like cuts and other wounds. Cover then during the day, let them air out at night. Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough. If you've got something contagous, or a cold etc, stay at home for a few days and get better. Have a shower everyday and clean yourself, wash your clothes, clean your house. But don't wipe up every spill with antibacterial wipes. Don't worry too much about using anything other than soap and water. It's actually the best cleaning method there is.
If you let yourself, and your kids, be exposed to these sorts of, relatively harmess, germs, they will acutally get sick less. If you stop pouring medication down their, and your, throats everytime you get the sniffles, you and they, will be sick less often. Your immune system needs something to fight against to get stronger. It's the use it or lose it scenario. If you don't use your immune system, when something big comes along, it won't know what to do.
A lot of this comes down to exercise and nutrition too. If you look at healthy people, people who don't get sick, they tend to exercise and eat well. Now you don't have to be perfect, but even just 5 serves of veggies, 2 serves of fruit every day will go a long way to helping you feel better, even if you don't get sick. Some exercise, even walking for 30 minutes a day, will get your heart pumping and lift your mood. It will make you feel better.
And this eating better and exercising (especially outdoors) will expose you to new things, prompting your body to assess it and decide if it's harmless or harmful. It will make your immune system work and do the job it's supposed to do.
So my view on this*:
- Don't worry about germs so much. Keep things clean, but not evey spill has to be wiped over with an antibacterial. Leave these for the medicine cabinet.
- Don't get medication unless you really need it. There's nothing you can do for a common cold, just rest and take care of yourself. Doping yourself up on anything other than asprin is just wasting your money.
- Eat well. Make sure you get a variety of fresh foods in your diet everyday.
- Exercise. Outdoors if you can but a gym is just as good. Even just 30 minutes a day. Get your heart pumping and your blood moving.
I hope this has led you to think about your own life and what you do, or don't do within it. It did for me.
D xo
Tuesday 5 April 2011
Oh Gym... How I Have Missed You...
But tonight there were just too many people for my liking.
I will admit, I am somewhat selfish when it comes to my space at the gym. I like to have a treadmill/cross trainer/bike etc spare between me and the next person. I like to be able to use, if not the weights I want to, then another weights machine I want. I like to have room when I stretch, and not feel cramped in like sardines. And I like that I can do it with people not watching/glaring when I walk up next to them.
I get in a kind of zone when I'm exercising on my own. I can't do it in a gym class etc, but when I'm on my own, be it at the gym, on a run, outside, whatever, I just turn my music on and let my mind wander. Most of the time I don't even know what I've been thinking about when I finish. When I warm up I go through what I want to work on. When I cool down/stretch, I think of what I have left to do that day or something similar. In between... I have no idea. But I always feel lighter when I finish. Maybe my brain works through some problems or something without me noticing, but I always feel like something has been lifted off me.
I can't get into this space when I have people within close proximity to me, particularly in a gym setting. Their pace on the treadmills plays with mine, I have to hope that the machine I want next will be available and if not, what else can I use. I have to hope that noone is going to take that last space to stretch when I'm on my last set etc.
But more than that...
I notice when people aren't doing exercises properly. And I just want to walk over to them and correct them. But they're usually people who give off a 'stay away from me' vibe. So I just do nothing. It's probably a bad thing for a trainer, but I'm not employed by the gym I use so...
Take a couple tonight. While I was stretching they were doing ab work. They started doing scissor legs, then onto the plank. Neither of them were doing either of the exercises right, (I will explain both of these in a later post), but it was the plank that annoyed me most. The woman was the worst of her and the guy she was with. She had her butt so far in the air she almost made a V, not a plank. He was straighter than her, but still not great.
I think they possibly caught me looking coz they both kept throwing dirty glances in my direction. So I just left them to it. If they want to do something that really isn't going to help them, and intimidate people who want to help them, they can.
This, this is the reason I go of a morning or during the day. Less people. But I hadn't been today, so I went tonight after dinner. I have complained about this before, and I should have been more organised, but I was waiting on a phone call back about my flights from LA to Sydney, so I wanted to wait around for that. It never came. I will be calling again tomorrow.
Trainer's Tip: Exercise when YOU FEEL is the best time! There's so much information out there about when's the best time to train. Some say early of a morning before you eat. Other's say early of a morning but eat just something small. Other's say during the afternoon because your muscles are at their warmest, therefore at their most flexible, making you less prone to injury.
All these ideas have merit. And they all work. But if they don't work for you, what's the point? You might naturally be a morning person, so working out at night might be impossible for you. You might have children, so the night might be better for you because you have someone to look after them for an hour or so. Maybe you have kids at school, so you can exercise sometime during the day.
Point is, if you don't fit in exercise when it fits WITH YOU, you won't do it. End of story.
So tonight... was actually quite a light night. A 5 minute warm up on the treadmill before hitting some reasonably light weights for my arms, chest and back. Some body weight single leg squats. 5 minutes of intervals on the rower. Then 5 minutes of abs work then about 15 minutes of stretching. All in all about 60 minutes.
It wasn't my best workout, and it definitely wasn't my hardest workout. But it was a workout.
Only got in 1 outdoor workout last week. Work was insane so my exercise suffered. I didn't make it to the gym at all, but I did get in a circut workout at home. Not nearly enough, but better than nothing.
Off to bed now. Sleep is important too.
I will admit, I am somewhat selfish when it comes to my space at the gym. I like to have a treadmill/cross trainer/bike etc spare between me and the next person. I like to be able to use, if not the weights I want to, then another weights machine I want. I like to have room when I stretch, and not feel cramped in like sardines. And I like that I can do it with people not watching/glaring when I walk up next to them.
I get in a kind of zone when I'm exercising on my own. I can't do it in a gym class etc, but when I'm on my own, be it at the gym, on a run, outside, whatever, I just turn my music on and let my mind wander. Most of the time I don't even know what I've been thinking about when I finish. When I warm up I go through what I want to work on. When I cool down/stretch, I think of what I have left to do that day or something similar. In between... I have no idea. But I always feel lighter when I finish. Maybe my brain works through some problems or something without me noticing, but I always feel like something has been lifted off me.
I can't get into this space when I have people within close proximity to me, particularly in a gym setting. Their pace on the treadmills plays with mine, I have to hope that the machine I want next will be available and if not, what else can I use. I have to hope that noone is going to take that last space to stretch when I'm on my last set etc.
But more than that...
I notice when people aren't doing exercises properly. And I just want to walk over to them and correct them. But they're usually people who give off a 'stay away from me' vibe. So I just do nothing. It's probably a bad thing for a trainer, but I'm not employed by the gym I use so...
Take a couple tonight. While I was stretching they were doing ab work. They started doing scissor legs, then onto the plank. Neither of them were doing either of the exercises right, (I will explain both of these in a later post), but it was the plank that annoyed me most. The woman was the worst of her and the guy she was with. She had her butt so far in the air she almost made a V, not a plank. He was straighter than her, but still not great.
I think they possibly caught me looking coz they both kept throwing dirty glances in my direction. So I just left them to it. If they want to do something that really isn't going to help them, and intimidate people who want to help them, they can.
This, this is the reason I go of a morning or during the day. Less people. But I hadn't been today, so I went tonight after dinner. I have complained about this before, and I should have been more organised, but I was waiting on a phone call back about my flights from LA to Sydney, so I wanted to wait around for that. It never came. I will be calling again tomorrow.
Trainer's Tip: Exercise when YOU FEEL is the best time! There's so much information out there about when's the best time to train. Some say early of a morning before you eat. Other's say early of a morning but eat just something small. Other's say during the afternoon because your muscles are at their warmest, therefore at their most flexible, making you less prone to injury.
All these ideas have merit. And they all work. But if they don't work for you, what's the point? You might naturally be a morning person, so working out at night might be impossible for you. You might have children, so the night might be better for you because you have someone to look after them for an hour or so. Maybe you have kids at school, so you can exercise sometime during the day.
Point is, if you don't fit in exercise when it fits WITH YOU, you won't do it. End of story.
So tonight... was actually quite a light night. A 5 minute warm up on the treadmill before hitting some reasonably light weights for my arms, chest and back. Some body weight single leg squats. 5 minutes of intervals on the rower. Then 5 minutes of abs work then about 15 minutes of stretching. All in all about 60 minutes.
It wasn't my best workout, and it definitely wasn't my hardest workout. But it was a workout.
Only got in 1 outdoor workout last week. Work was insane so my exercise suffered. I didn't make it to the gym at all, but I did get in a circut workout at home. Not nearly enough, but better than nothing.
Off to bed now. Sleep is important too.
Sunday 27 March 2011
I'm Coming Clean...
I have an obsessive personality. Only mild, but it's still there. It's in the way I either do something or I don't. It's in the way I learn everything about a subject that interests me and have to force myself to learn about something that doesn't. I think it's why I got such great marks in Criminal and Torts law, but not in Constitutional law. It's the reason I know the lyrics to so many songs, from so many genres, and so many decades. (It's also why I have so many songs on my itunes that I have to cull my playlist everytime I change my ipod settings, but that's a different post).
It's the reason don't count calories. It's the reason why I never will. 'I've eaten 1600 cals but I've exercised off 600, so I need to eat 200 more so my body doesn't go into starvation mode' is something that will never come out of my mouth (or be typed by my hands). It would be so easy for me to fall into the obsessive calorie counting cycle and the pitfalls and dangers that come with that.
Now, I'm not saying don't ever count calories. It's a great starting point for those wanting to lose weight, especially for those who have no idea about that they're eating. But it won't work for me.
Why?
It takes the fun out of things. I like food. I say all the time that I could never be anorexic because of that simple fact. Food is not the enemy. It's something to be enjoyed. Food is to be looked at as fuel for your body. I don't eat it continuously, and I generally only eat when I'm hungry. I only overeat when there's something like a random movie night with friends I haven't seen for a while, or a birthday or family/friends get together. Things like family BBQ's when the home cooked comfort foods like mum's potato bake, and my aunt's fried rice, come out. Things that we don't get very often becuase they're really not that good for you. (my mum's potato bake includes potatoes, diced bacon, cream, 3 cheese sauce mix, and a layer of melted cheese on top. I have a very, very large extended family and 90% of them know how to cook so there's always great food on these occassions).
I do occassionally read the nutrition labels on the back of things. I know that there's 6 teaspoons of sugar in a can of Coke, and I know there's just as many in a glass of apple juice. I know what your body needs and why it craves things at certain times. I know that a serving size and what they put in a packet are 2 different things.
BUT...
I don't worry that I ate a chocolate bar, or a small packet of potato chips at work during my breatk. I am on my feet for anything up to 10 hours a day. My job is physical. It involes a lot of bending, twisting, pushing, pulling, reaching etc. I generally don't eat those sorts of things on my (very rare) day's off and I usually get soem sort of 'other' planned exercise in on my working days anyway.
I can stop at one piece of birthday cake. I only drink alcohol on occassions. I don't eat alot of desserty things. I don't eat cheesecakes, or pavlova (a travesty in Australia I know). I don't like custard (which rules out a lot of things), and I don't like caramel (which narrows the dessert field even more). I'm a person with fairly simple tastes in food. I like chocolate (and almost anything chocolate flavoured), I will pick salt & vinegar potato chips over pretty much anything else, I'm not a huge fan of creamy foods so I'll pick something like spaghetti bolognaise over something like a carbonara pasta. I prefer to season my foods with herbs and spices thatn with soy sauce or fish sauce. I don't add salt or salty sauces to anything I eat (unless the recipe calls for it) and I don't eat butter or margarine.
Actually margarine is one of those 'I do it or don't' situations. I was 8 and one morning (at my Grandmother's) I woke up and decided I wouldn't eat it anymore. I have no idea why. I ate my toast without it that morning and I haven't eaten it since. The only exclusion is with vegemite on toast. Just a little to soften the bread and that's it. I can't eat it on anything else. I specifically ask for sandwiches made without it, and if I forget and they use it, I can't eat it.
I was taught, at an early age, that certain things happen at certain times of the year when it comes to food. Things like the stone fruit I love so much (like the plums that we used to pick from the tree in our nextdoor neighbours yard, nectarines and peaches) are a summer thing and to savour them when I can get them. That the oranges are a winter thing, just like when we play netball. Things like my mum's salmon rissoles are made for Good Friday because we don't eat meat that day. So, the salmon rissoles became something special, something to look forward to. (I now know how to make them, and do, but they're never as good as mum's). My sister and I always got chocolate eggs for Easter. We always got a bit but the best part was that we always got 1 bunny. A Red Tulip bunny. One that stands up, and is hollow on the inside. It was the highlight of the Easter weekend. It didn't really matter what other chocolate we got, or how much, it was the rabbit that was the part we looked forward to. It was the bunny that was eaten last, after everything else was gone. And mine always lasted longer than my sister's. She eats what's in sight. I can resist. Even now, when my sister and I can choose between money or chocolate, we always have to think about it. Because the easter chocolates only come out once a year (even though it's out for longer, we still don't eat it until Easter), it's still something special.
It's like the bon bon candy that my Grandmother has in her house at Christmas. It's the Christmas fruit cake and the pudding my aunt makes (different to the one that makes the rice, other side of the family). They're things that only happen at that special time, so that makes them even more special.
It's why I don't calorie count. Who wants to know the calorie content of evey bite of a chocolate bunny they eat, when they only eat it once? Who wants to know how long in the gym it's going to take to burn off the mound of potato bake you ate at your sister's birthday dinner? Who wants to agonise over whether to have a piece of their own birthday cake because it's chocolate mud cake with chocolate ganash icing, and cream in the middle? Not me. I'd much rather think 'I over indulged over the weekend, so I'll just eat healthier this week and exercise a little more to make up for it. But it was a great weekend.' Doesn't that seem a little healthier than obsessing over every morsel you put in your mouth?
Life is to be celebrated. Things like proposals, and weddings, graduations, and new jobs, moves and children, birthdays and anniversaries. Even commiserations like funerals and the end of a relationship. These things in life are important. They are to be celebrated with good food, drink, and laughter. With fun times and friends. Not with being worried about whether that scoop of ice cream, or that last maragrita will follow you on your thighs for the next week. Life is to be enjoyed.
One of the goals of this blog is to show my journey on the road to being healthier and fitter than I am now. That includes mental health, and, for me, calorie counting is not conductive to that. As a psychology student, I have studied obsessive disorders, as well as eating and exercise disorders, and they wreck so much havoc on the lives of the individuals who battle these diseases, as well as their families and friends that, to me, it just doesn't seem worth it.
Ok, moving on...
It's been over a week since I updated here. It's a bad thing. Life kind of got away from me.
I've been working crazy hours. There's days when there's been only 10 hours between when I clock out and when I come back the next morning. I've been going from nights to mornings and back. Every day I go to work I get asked to stay late, or come in early the next day, or come in on my days off. It's driving me up the wall. It's screwing with my sleep schedule, it's screwing with my exercise (or lack of) and with just about everything else.
Last week started out well in terms of nutrition. I was eating well. Until Thursday when it all went out the window, and then down the drain. I feel flat and unmotivated and just essentially yuck. And when my nutrition suffers so does my exercise. I have done barely anything. On Thursday I went to the pool. I swam for about 30 minutes. The Friday before (the day after my last post) I went to they gym after I finished work. I came home at 8pm, watched the end of Biggest Loser, got changed, and hit the gym for 30 minutes of cardio. May have been a bad idea.
I slept in on the Friday morning. I was planning on getting up early and going to the gym, but I valued my sleep more. I worked a 10 hour shift that day, 10am - 8pm. I was tired when I got home but I knew I wouldn't sleep. So I did something productive. I went to the gym. I did 20 minutes of running intervals on the treadmill. Then I did 5 minutes of intervals on the rower. When I went to stand up, I nearly fell over, my legs were like jelly. I did a 5 minute cooldown on the eliptical and then went home.
That's all I've done this week. Until today...
Today I went for a run. Well, run/walk. From my house, past the netball courts, and back towards the primary school I used to attend many years ago. (They've fenced it off properly now so I can't get in to take advantage of their open grassed area or their stairs). Then through the reserve, and back to my place. Takes about 45 minutes. Longer if I follow the path through the reserve I normally take rather than the shortened version I took today.
I love to run. The burn in my legs, the feel of moving myself across the ground, the breathlessness that comes with a good, hard, long run. It's been a while since I ran outside. Since I did any real physical activity outside. Even the swimming pool is indoor now (it's a 25m heated pool, the 50m Olympic size one has been shut for the winter season).
It's a different feeling when you run outside. It's just... more. It's more of a burn in your legs (my calf muscles especially). It's more invigorating than running on a treadmill. I don't know if it's the wind in your face, the fresh air, the scenery, the noises or what. It's more of an effort to get from point A to point B without the help of that little black belt that helps move your feet. It's more of a calorie burn. It's different, and for me personally, it's better.
Any sort of outdoor exercise is better for me. I work inside, in an air conditioned workplace. With no windows to see the outside world, just bright lights, and cold coolrooms. To be outside, in the natural environment is better for my mental health. There's nothing worse that getting up before the sun is up, going home mid afternoon, and not takign advantage of the sun. Autumn has started now, so the days are getting shorter. It's now dark when I get up at 4am to start work. It's dark at 7pm. If I finish at 3pm, I get only 4 hours at most with the sun. If i work 7-5/6, I barely need my sunglasses for the drive home, and definitely don't need them for the drive to work.
Tomorrow is Monday. I don't know why but that always seems like I good day to start anything new.
So, the plan for this week... (part of my obsessiveness is my continual need to write and tick things off, to do lists):
*Get an outdoor workout at least twice this week. It can be a run, it can be interval training, it can be an outdoor strenght workout. Anything. As long as it lasts at least 30 minutes and is outside! (Weather permirtting. It's rained all over the State this last week except for here. And there are rain clouds outside now.)
* Drink 2lt of water every day. This is normally not so bad, but with the cooler weather coming in, it's getting harder to do.
*Get a strength training workout in 3 times this week. Easy. I think.
*Get my nutrition back on track. I just feel better when I eat better. Especially when I cut out my carbs of a night. It's just a personal thing.
Have fun
It's the reason don't count calories. It's the reason why I never will. 'I've eaten 1600 cals but I've exercised off 600, so I need to eat 200 more so my body doesn't go into starvation mode' is something that will never come out of my mouth (or be typed by my hands). It would be so easy for me to fall into the obsessive calorie counting cycle and the pitfalls and dangers that come with that.
Now, I'm not saying don't ever count calories. It's a great starting point for those wanting to lose weight, especially for those who have no idea about that they're eating. But it won't work for me.
Why?
It takes the fun out of things. I like food. I say all the time that I could never be anorexic because of that simple fact. Food is not the enemy. It's something to be enjoyed. Food is to be looked at as fuel for your body. I don't eat it continuously, and I generally only eat when I'm hungry. I only overeat when there's something like a random movie night with friends I haven't seen for a while, or a birthday or family/friends get together. Things like family BBQ's when the home cooked comfort foods like mum's potato bake, and my aunt's fried rice, come out. Things that we don't get very often becuase they're really not that good for you. (my mum's potato bake includes potatoes, diced bacon, cream, 3 cheese sauce mix, and a layer of melted cheese on top. I have a very, very large extended family and 90% of them know how to cook so there's always great food on these occassions).
I do occassionally read the nutrition labels on the back of things. I know that there's 6 teaspoons of sugar in a can of Coke, and I know there's just as many in a glass of apple juice. I know what your body needs and why it craves things at certain times. I know that a serving size and what they put in a packet are 2 different things.
BUT...
I don't worry that I ate a chocolate bar, or a small packet of potato chips at work during my breatk. I am on my feet for anything up to 10 hours a day. My job is physical. It involes a lot of bending, twisting, pushing, pulling, reaching etc. I generally don't eat those sorts of things on my (very rare) day's off and I usually get soem sort of 'other' planned exercise in on my working days anyway.
I can stop at one piece of birthday cake. I only drink alcohol on occassions. I don't eat alot of desserty things. I don't eat cheesecakes, or pavlova (a travesty in Australia I know). I don't like custard (which rules out a lot of things), and I don't like caramel (which narrows the dessert field even more). I'm a person with fairly simple tastes in food. I like chocolate (and almost anything chocolate flavoured), I will pick salt & vinegar potato chips over pretty much anything else, I'm not a huge fan of creamy foods so I'll pick something like spaghetti bolognaise over something like a carbonara pasta. I prefer to season my foods with herbs and spices thatn with soy sauce or fish sauce. I don't add salt or salty sauces to anything I eat (unless the recipe calls for it) and I don't eat butter or margarine.
Actually margarine is one of those 'I do it or don't' situations. I was 8 and one morning (at my Grandmother's) I woke up and decided I wouldn't eat it anymore. I have no idea why. I ate my toast without it that morning and I haven't eaten it since. The only exclusion is with vegemite on toast. Just a little to soften the bread and that's it. I can't eat it on anything else. I specifically ask for sandwiches made without it, and if I forget and they use it, I can't eat it.
I was taught, at an early age, that certain things happen at certain times of the year when it comes to food. Things like the stone fruit I love so much (like the plums that we used to pick from the tree in our nextdoor neighbours yard, nectarines and peaches) are a summer thing and to savour them when I can get them. That the oranges are a winter thing, just like when we play netball. Things like my mum's salmon rissoles are made for Good Friday because we don't eat meat that day. So, the salmon rissoles became something special, something to look forward to. (I now know how to make them, and do, but they're never as good as mum's). My sister and I always got chocolate eggs for Easter. We always got a bit but the best part was that we always got 1 bunny. A Red Tulip bunny. One that stands up, and is hollow on the inside. It was the highlight of the Easter weekend. It didn't really matter what other chocolate we got, or how much, it was the rabbit that was the part we looked forward to. It was the bunny that was eaten last, after everything else was gone. And mine always lasted longer than my sister's. She eats what's in sight. I can resist. Even now, when my sister and I can choose between money or chocolate, we always have to think about it. Because the easter chocolates only come out once a year (even though it's out for longer, we still don't eat it until Easter), it's still something special.
It's like the bon bon candy that my Grandmother has in her house at Christmas. It's the Christmas fruit cake and the pudding my aunt makes (different to the one that makes the rice, other side of the family). They're things that only happen at that special time, so that makes them even more special.
It's why I don't calorie count. Who wants to know the calorie content of evey bite of a chocolate bunny they eat, when they only eat it once? Who wants to know how long in the gym it's going to take to burn off the mound of potato bake you ate at your sister's birthday dinner? Who wants to agonise over whether to have a piece of their own birthday cake because it's chocolate mud cake with chocolate ganash icing, and cream in the middle? Not me. I'd much rather think 'I over indulged over the weekend, so I'll just eat healthier this week and exercise a little more to make up for it. But it was a great weekend.' Doesn't that seem a little healthier than obsessing over every morsel you put in your mouth?
Life is to be celebrated. Things like proposals, and weddings, graduations, and new jobs, moves and children, birthdays and anniversaries. Even commiserations like funerals and the end of a relationship. These things in life are important. They are to be celebrated with good food, drink, and laughter. With fun times and friends. Not with being worried about whether that scoop of ice cream, or that last maragrita will follow you on your thighs for the next week. Life is to be enjoyed.
One of the goals of this blog is to show my journey on the road to being healthier and fitter than I am now. That includes mental health, and, for me, calorie counting is not conductive to that. As a psychology student, I have studied obsessive disorders, as well as eating and exercise disorders, and they wreck so much havoc on the lives of the individuals who battle these diseases, as well as their families and friends that, to me, it just doesn't seem worth it.
Ok, moving on...
It's been over a week since I updated here. It's a bad thing. Life kind of got away from me.
I've been working crazy hours. There's days when there's been only 10 hours between when I clock out and when I come back the next morning. I've been going from nights to mornings and back. Every day I go to work I get asked to stay late, or come in early the next day, or come in on my days off. It's driving me up the wall. It's screwing with my sleep schedule, it's screwing with my exercise (or lack of) and with just about everything else.
Last week started out well in terms of nutrition. I was eating well. Until Thursday when it all went out the window, and then down the drain. I feel flat and unmotivated and just essentially yuck. And when my nutrition suffers so does my exercise. I have done barely anything. On Thursday I went to the pool. I swam for about 30 minutes. The Friday before (the day after my last post) I went to they gym after I finished work. I came home at 8pm, watched the end of Biggest Loser, got changed, and hit the gym for 30 minutes of cardio. May have been a bad idea.
I slept in on the Friday morning. I was planning on getting up early and going to the gym, but I valued my sleep more. I worked a 10 hour shift that day, 10am - 8pm. I was tired when I got home but I knew I wouldn't sleep. So I did something productive. I went to the gym. I did 20 minutes of running intervals on the treadmill. Then I did 5 minutes of intervals on the rower. When I went to stand up, I nearly fell over, my legs were like jelly. I did a 5 minute cooldown on the eliptical and then went home.
That's all I've done this week. Until today...
Today I went for a run. Well, run/walk. From my house, past the netball courts, and back towards the primary school I used to attend many years ago. (They've fenced it off properly now so I can't get in to take advantage of their open grassed area or their stairs). Then through the reserve, and back to my place. Takes about 45 minutes. Longer if I follow the path through the reserve I normally take rather than the shortened version I took today.
I love to run. The burn in my legs, the feel of moving myself across the ground, the breathlessness that comes with a good, hard, long run. It's been a while since I ran outside. Since I did any real physical activity outside. Even the swimming pool is indoor now (it's a 25m heated pool, the 50m Olympic size one has been shut for the winter season).
It's a different feeling when you run outside. It's just... more. It's more of a burn in your legs (my calf muscles especially). It's more invigorating than running on a treadmill. I don't know if it's the wind in your face, the fresh air, the scenery, the noises or what. It's more of an effort to get from point A to point B without the help of that little black belt that helps move your feet. It's more of a calorie burn. It's different, and for me personally, it's better.
Any sort of outdoor exercise is better for me. I work inside, in an air conditioned workplace. With no windows to see the outside world, just bright lights, and cold coolrooms. To be outside, in the natural environment is better for my mental health. There's nothing worse that getting up before the sun is up, going home mid afternoon, and not takign advantage of the sun. Autumn has started now, so the days are getting shorter. It's now dark when I get up at 4am to start work. It's dark at 7pm. If I finish at 3pm, I get only 4 hours at most with the sun. If i work 7-5/6, I barely need my sunglasses for the drive home, and definitely don't need them for the drive to work.
Tomorrow is Monday. I don't know why but that always seems like I good day to start anything new.
So, the plan for this week... (part of my obsessiveness is my continual need to write and tick things off, to do lists):
*Get an outdoor workout at least twice this week. It can be a run, it can be interval training, it can be an outdoor strenght workout. Anything. As long as it lasts at least 30 minutes and is outside! (Weather permirtting. It's rained all over the State this last week except for here. And there are rain clouds outside now.)
* Drink 2lt of water every day. This is normally not so bad, but with the cooler weather coming in, it's getting harder to do.
*Get a strength training workout in 3 times this week. Easy. I think.
*Get my nutrition back on track. I just feel better when I eat better. Especially when I cut out my carbs of a night. It's just a personal thing.
Have fun
Thursday 17 March 2011
Water, water everywhere
And I haven't had enough to drink. I can feel the headache brewing behind my eyes.
I am usually (like 99% of the time) really, really good with drinking water. I pretty much don't drink anything else. A little orange juice or tea. Very occassionally some coke or other fizzy soda. I just don't want it, and I don't like how it makes me feel.
But today, my water consumption is very very bad. I was only supposed to work a 6 hour shift today, so I didn't take my water bottle. I always take a water bottle to work with me. But today I didn't. And instead of a 6 hour shift, I got a 9 hour shift. I was on my feet for 8 hours today, and we were busy. No time to sneak off to the taps to drink something.
And when my water intake is bad, my food is bad. Today it included 2 chocolate bars, and a McFlurry from Macca's (McDonalds). Very, very bad.
I am, unfortunately, one of those people who suffer from migraines. And debilitating ones at that. The sort of ones that leave me curled up around the toilet for 2 reasons: 1: I'm not sure if I'm going to throw up or not, and 2: the floor is cold. Migraines make me really hot and I find it hard to cool down. This is bad for me because I don't feel the heat. I also can't take even the slightest bit of light or noise. Even the tiniest noise makes my head feel like a jackhammer is quite happily hammering away at my brain, and light makes me feel like someone is trying to slice out my eyes and my brain with a knife. It's not pleasant. Neither is the fact that the slightest bit of movement makes my head ache, and my stomach roll. It's like the worst hangover you've ever had, without the fun part.
I'm lucky that I don't get them very often. Maybe once or twice a year. Usually if I'm stressed, but if I've had very little water, and I can feel a headache starting, like I can right now, it can quickly turn into a migraine if I don't take immediate action. This usually being 2 asprin (or ibuprofen depending on the severity) and at least a litre of water. If I'm not fast enough with that it involes my bed and trying to sleep it off. At the moment, asprin and water seems to be doing the trick.
So, trainer tip for you: DRINK LOTS OF WATER!!!!! I try and drink 2lt (67+ ounces) a day. More if I'm exercising, or it's really, really hot.
So, I didn't get a walk in yesterday. I know, I know, I swore I was going to. But I took my washing off the line abotu 30 seconds before we were hit with a drenching rain. Unfortunately it did nothing to stop the heat. But it did prevent me from going for a walk. And I'm not one of those people who is overly enthusiastic about going to the gym if I'm just doing cardio. So, I didn't go. But I didn't feel guilty either.
So, today I planned on going after work. Which I was supposed to finish at 12pm. But M twisted her ankle bad enough to need crutches last night, so I worked an extra 3 hours. She very bravely tried to come to work today, and lasted 4 hours sitting down before the pain got to her and I drove her home. In her car. Which means mine was left at work (about 5-10 minutes walk).
So I planned to go after I finished work at 3. But when I dropped M home, we got sidetracked. So I walked to get my car (up 2 hills) and drove her to get something for lunch (which she hadn't had). We ended up at Macca's (hence the McFlurry) and then back to her place to watch Tangled. *I want the chameleon and the horse :D
So basically, I left my house at 5.45am, and got back at 7pm. Needless to say I didn't make it to the gym. But I did only have a salad with chicken and bacon for dinner (lettuce, cucumber, tomato, green capsicum, a little danish fetta, 1/2 a chicken breast fry fried and a little diced bacon). It's my go to meal. It's easy, quick and filling.
Then after dinner (and watching the Biggest Loser, and if that's not motivation I'm not sure what is), I got on the Wii fit for 30 minutes. I haven't been on it for nearly 2 months *hangs head in shame. Oops. It was mainly balance work tonight. A little boxing to warm up, alot of balance games (I have bad ankles from years of gymnastics and netball and I really need to strengthen them and this is a great way to do it), and then some yoga to cool down. It was actually pretty good. I'm very competitive so I like to beat my best score (or get to the end in the Bubble Balance games. I haven't managed it on the Wii Fit Plus version yet. The bee's keep busting my bubble).
So I got a little exercise done, and ate lightly for dinner to make up for the terrible snacking I had today.
Going to drink some more water and then head to bed. Got the alarm set for 6am tomorrow. Going to get my gym session in before work (working 10am-8pm) because I know I won't get it in afterwards. Especially when I have to be at work at 6am on Saturday.
Night
I am usually (like 99% of the time) really, really good with drinking water. I pretty much don't drink anything else. A little orange juice or tea. Very occassionally some coke or other fizzy soda. I just don't want it, and I don't like how it makes me feel.
But today, my water consumption is very very bad. I was only supposed to work a 6 hour shift today, so I didn't take my water bottle. I always take a water bottle to work with me. But today I didn't. And instead of a 6 hour shift, I got a 9 hour shift. I was on my feet for 8 hours today, and we were busy. No time to sneak off to the taps to drink something.
And when my water intake is bad, my food is bad. Today it included 2 chocolate bars, and a McFlurry from Macca's (McDonalds). Very, very bad.
I am, unfortunately, one of those people who suffer from migraines. And debilitating ones at that. The sort of ones that leave me curled up around the toilet for 2 reasons: 1: I'm not sure if I'm going to throw up or not, and 2: the floor is cold. Migraines make me really hot and I find it hard to cool down. This is bad for me because I don't feel the heat. I also can't take even the slightest bit of light or noise. Even the tiniest noise makes my head feel like a jackhammer is quite happily hammering away at my brain, and light makes me feel like someone is trying to slice out my eyes and my brain with a knife. It's not pleasant. Neither is the fact that the slightest bit of movement makes my head ache, and my stomach roll. It's like the worst hangover you've ever had, without the fun part.
I'm lucky that I don't get them very often. Maybe once or twice a year. Usually if I'm stressed, but if I've had very little water, and I can feel a headache starting, like I can right now, it can quickly turn into a migraine if I don't take immediate action. This usually being 2 asprin (or ibuprofen depending on the severity) and at least a litre of water. If I'm not fast enough with that it involes my bed and trying to sleep it off. At the moment, asprin and water seems to be doing the trick.
So, trainer tip for you: DRINK LOTS OF WATER!!!!! I try and drink 2lt (67+ ounces) a day. More if I'm exercising, or it's really, really hot.
So, I didn't get a walk in yesterday. I know, I know, I swore I was going to. But I took my washing off the line abotu 30 seconds before we were hit with a drenching rain. Unfortunately it did nothing to stop the heat. But it did prevent me from going for a walk. And I'm not one of those people who is overly enthusiastic about going to the gym if I'm just doing cardio. So, I didn't go. But I didn't feel guilty either.
So, today I planned on going after work. Which I was supposed to finish at 12pm. But M twisted her ankle bad enough to need crutches last night, so I worked an extra 3 hours. She very bravely tried to come to work today, and lasted 4 hours sitting down before the pain got to her and I drove her home. In her car. Which means mine was left at work (about 5-10 minutes walk).
So I planned to go after I finished work at 3. But when I dropped M home, we got sidetracked. So I walked to get my car (up 2 hills) and drove her to get something for lunch (which she hadn't had). We ended up at Macca's (hence the McFlurry) and then back to her place to watch Tangled. *I want the chameleon and the horse :D
So basically, I left my house at 5.45am, and got back at 7pm. Needless to say I didn't make it to the gym. But I did only have a salad with chicken and bacon for dinner (lettuce, cucumber, tomato, green capsicum, a little danish fetta, 1/2 a chicken breast fry fried and a little diced bacon). It's my go to meal. It's easy, quick and filling.
Then after dinner (and watching the Biggest Loser, and if that's not motivation I'm not sure what is), I got on the Wii fit for 30 minutes. I haven't been on it for nearly 2 months *hangs head in shame. Oops. It was mainly balance work tonight. A little boxing to warm up, alot of balance games (I have bad ankles from years of gymnastics and netball and I really need to strengthen them and this is a great way to do it), and then some yoga to cool down. It was actually pretty good. I'm very competitive so I like to beat my best score (or get to the end in the Bubble Balance games. I haven't managed it on the Wii Fit Plus version yet. The bee's keep busting my bubble).
So I got a little exercise done, and ate lightly for dinner to make up for the terrible snacking I had today.
Going to drink some more water and then head to bed. Got the alarm set for 6am tomorrow. Going to get my gym session in before work (working 10am-8pm) because I know I won't get it in afterwards. Especially when I have to be at work at 6am on Saturday.
Night
Wednesday 16 March 2011
Last Night's Workout.
Just a quick post while I'm waiting for my washing to finish and I can take advantage of the amazing weather and hang it out. (I hang it out most of the time, unless it's raining, so I guess it's not really taking advantage of it. I love the smell of washing that has been allowed to air dry outside. BUT it is autumn now (or fall) and soon the weather will be getting colder, daylight savings will end, and the sun will start to hide away a little, so I take what I can).
Managed a gym workout last night. That's a big thing for me 'coz I'm not someone who really likes to workout of a night. I don't like that it's crowded with people coming from after work, I don't like women who sit on the bikes or walk on the treadmill while reading a book or flicking through a magazine for 30 minutes or so, but are barely getting a workout. (I mean, if you're going to make the effort to go to the gym, you can at least make the effort to actually do some work.) Or people that talk on their phones while working out. I really don't need to hear your conversation while I'm running next to you. Or some men who glare at you when you want the free weights, or the pull up machine. Women use weights too. Deal with it.
I prefer to work out in the afternoon. Between 1-3pm. There's practically noone in the gym at that time. Or early, like 6am. I'm not a morning person so that's harder for me, especially when I have to start work at 5am (my gym is a 24 hour one so I could get up at 3 and go, but I'd much rather go after work at 3pm). That way it's done and out of the way when I finally get home and I don't have to convince myself to get out of the comfy chair and get into the gym. I find that if I take my workout clothes with me and get changed at work I just go and do it. Then when I get home I can just laze about for the rest of the day/night. Working a job where I'm on my feet all day, the last thign I want to do when I finally sit down, is to go and work out. I'm sure alot of you can relate.
I went to the movies with M yesterday afternoon. It was only kinda planned. We went and saw Rango and really, not that great. And I love Johnny Depp. But again, not that good. But I did see the previews for Hop, and for Kung Fu Panda 2, so there were some positives to come out of it. (I'm slightly obsessed with kids movies lately. They're so much better than alot of the M or higher rated movies coming out lately). And movies always involve some sort of junk food. Usually it involves popcorn, and chocolate, sometimes lollies (candy) and potato chips. And of course the movie soft drink. BUT yesterday I was semi good and only had a medium bucket of popcorn (which I couldn't eat all of) and a medium coke (which I drank all of and could have had more, oops). That is all :D And no McDonalds on the way home (another movie ritual).
So, after all that salt and butter (I don't use butter/margarine myself, not for anything) I felt slow and sluggish and horrible and decided on the way home that a gym session was in order. I'd only gone for a swim on Monday so I was in need of a full workout. I planned to go for a full workout on Monday but after a late night on Sunday, and an early wake up call on Monday to go to the pool I showered and went back to bed. When I got up a few hours later my legs and butt were sore so I skipped the gym.
I hit the gym about 7.30pm and there were more people there than I expected but I didn't have to fight anyone for anything I wanted to use. *does happy dance. So, after a 5 minute warm up on the eliptical (I normally use the treadmill but they were taken so the eliptical it was) I hit the weights. I don't have a typical routine for weights, alot of it depends on what isn't in use, and how I feel on the day. Yesterday I felt good so I started with the assisted pull up machine. From there it was the leg extension and the leg curl, and the seated row (3 sets, 12 reps each machine). Then onto the free weights. I tend to use 4-5kg (about 10-12lbs) dumbells for the free weights. It's enough to give me a workout without incapcitating me for work the next day (I do alot of lifting, pushing and pulling at work). So with a stability ball I did chest presses and shoulder presses (3 sets, 12 reps) and then some walking lunges (10 each leg) and some one legged squats (8 each leg). I always plan my workouts like this: back, front, legs. So if you work the chest, you work yout back, if you work your triceps, you work your biceps. And always work your legs. Squats, lunges, machines, just do something. They're the biggest muscles in your body.
Then it was onto cardio. I was planning to use the rower, but there was someone on one and I don't like to use the second one when someone's already on one. The same with any of the cardio equiptment. I like to have a machine between me and the next person. *shrugs. I'm not sure why. So, rower out, I hit the eliptical again. Was planning on using the treadmill this time but my ankle was playing up (old sports injury) and I didn't want to aggrivate it.
I like the hill progressions on the treadmill and the eliptical so that's what I chose last night. Cadence hills was my choice (up the hill then down it in steps) and the plan was to keep my speed to almost the same while going up the hill, and then increase it going down, then slower on the flat. So basically it was to keep my speed above 10 on the flats, above 12.5 on the inclines, and about 15 on the declines. I also varied whether I had the weight on my toes, heels, or on the balls of my feet. Where you put your weight changes the workout each muscle gets (I'll go into this in more detail later).
I did a 5 minute cooldown on the treadmill (I made it eventually :D) and then onto the floor for some abs workouts and some stretching. I'm not a fan of abs workouts but they are a necessary evil. I have a very strong back, but not so much a strong stomach, so it's something I work on out of necessity rather than choice. I always do crunches, and planks and usually a few different things like reverse crunches and leg lifts but last night I hadn't eaten before hitting the gym (silly me) so I kept it to the crunches and the plank.
Stretching is probably my favourite part of a workout. I just find it really realxing. I participated in gymnastics for years, so alot of my stretches are things I learned there. Obviously stretch the muscles you have used in your workout. At the very least it'll help with muscle sorness the next day. I use it as a way of keeping, and improving, my flexibility.
Will make sure I fit in a walk this afternoon (legs are sore so won't push it for a run today). Dad and I are having Chinese takeaway for dinner tonight while mum's away on a work thing, but will try to make it relatively healthy. Chicken and veggies here I come :D
I can hear the washing machine beeping, so I'm off to hang the washing out so I actually have something to wear to work tomorrow.
Have fun
Managed a gym workout last night. That's a big thing for me 'coz I'm not someone who really likes to workout of a night. I don't like that it's crowded with people coming from after work, I don't like women who sit on the bikes or walk on the treadmill while reading a book or flicking through a magazine for 30 minutes or so, but are barely getting a workout. (I mean, if you're going to make the effort to go to the gym, you can at least make the effort to actually do some work.) Or people that talk on their phones while working out. I really don't need to hear your conversation while I'm running next to you. Or some men who glare at you when you want the free weights, or the pull up machine. Women use weights too. Deal with it.
I prefer to work out in the afternoon. Between 1-3pm. There's practically noone in the gym at that time. Or early, like 6am. I'm not a morning person so that's harder for me, especially when I have to start work at 5am (my gym is a 24 hour one so I could get up at 3 and go, but I'd much rather go after work at 3pm). That way it's done and out of the way when I finally get home and I don't have to convince myself to get out of the comfy chair and get into the gym. I find that if I take my workout clothes with me and get changed at work I just go and do it. Then when I get home I can just laze about for the rest of the day/night. Working a job where I'm on my feet all day, the last thign I want to do when I finally sit down, is to go and work out. I'm sure alot of you can relate.
I went to the movies with M yesterday afternoon. It was only kinda planned. We went and saw Rango and really, not that great. And I love Johnny Depp. But again, not that good. But I did see the previews for Hop, and for Kung Fu Panda 2, so there were some positives to come out of it. (I'm slightly obsessed with kids movies lately. They're so much better than alot of the M or higher rated movies coming out lately). And movies always involve some sort of junk food. Usually it involves popcorn, and chocolate, sometimes lollies (candy) and potato chips. And of course the movie soft drink. BUT yesterday I was semi good and only had a medium bucket of popcorn (which I couldn't eat all of) and a medium coke (which I drank all of and could have had more, oops). That is all :D And no McDonalds on the way home (another movie ritual).
So, after all that salt and butter (I don't use butter/margarine myself, not for anything) I felt slow and sluggish and horrible and decided on the way home that a gym session was in order. I'd only gone for a swim on Monday so I was in need of a full workout. I planned to go for a full workout on Monday but after a late night on Sunday, and an early wake up call on Monday to go to the pool I showered and went back to bed. When I got up a few hours later my legs and butt were sore so I skipped the gym.
I hit the gym about 7.30pm and there were more people there than I expected but I didn't have to fight anyone for anything I wanted to use. *does happy dance. So, after a 5 minute warm up on the eliptical (I normally use the treadmill but they were taken so the eliptical it was) I hit the weights. I don't have a typical routine for weights, alot of it depends on what isn't in use, and how I feel on the day. Yesterday I felt good so I started with the assisted pull up machine. From there it was the leg extension and the leg curl, and the seated row (3 sets, 12 reps each machine). Then onto the free weights. I tend to use 4-5kg (about 10-12lbs) dumbells for the free weights. It's enough to give me a workout without incapcitating me for work the next day (I do alot of lifting, pushing and pulling at work). So with a stability ball I did chest presses and shoulder presses (3 sets, 12 reps) and then some walking lunges (10 each leg) and some one legged squats (8 each leg). I always plan my workouts like this: back, front, legs. So if you work the chest, you work yout back, if you work your triceps, you work your biceps. And always work your legs. Squats, lunges, machines, just do something. They're the biggest muscles in your body.
Then it was onto cardio. I was planning to use the rower, but there was someone on one and I don't like to use the second one when someone's already on one. The same with any of the cardio equiptment. I like to have a machine between me and the next person. *shrugs. I'm not sure why. So, rower out, I hit the eliptical again. Was planning on using the treadmill this time but my ankle was playing up (old sports injury) and I didn't want to aggrivate it.
I like the hill progressions on the treadmill and the eliptical so that's what I chose last night. Cadence hills was my choice (up the hill then down it in steps) and the plan was to keep my speed to almost the same while going up the hill, and then increase it going down, then slower on the flat. So basically it was to keep my speed above 10 on the flats, above 12.5 on the inclines, and about 15 on the declines. I also varied whether I had the weight on my toes, heels, or on the balls of my feet. Where you put your weight changes the workout each muscle gets (I'll go into this in more detail later).
I did a 5 minute cooldown on the treadmill (I made it eventually :D) and then onto the floor for some abs workouts and some stretching. I'm not a fan of abs workouts but they are a necessary evil. I have a very strong back, but not so much a strong stomach, so it's something I work on out of necessity rather than choice. I always do crunches, and planks and usually a few different things like reverse crunches and leg lifts but last night I hadn't eaten before hitting the gym (silly me) so I kept it to the crunches and the plank.
Stretching is probably my favourite part of a workout. I just find it really realxing. I participated in gymnastics for years, so alot of my stretches are things I learned there. Obviously stretch the muscles you have used in your workout. At the very least it'll help with muscle sorness the next day. I use it as a way of keeping, and improving, my flexibility.
Will make sure I fit in a walk this afternoon (legs are sore so won't push it for a run today). Dad and I are having Chinese takeaway for dinner tonight while mum's away on a work thing, but will try to make it relatively healthy. Chicken and veggies here I come :D
I can hear the washing machine beeping, so I'm off to hang the washing out so I actually have something to wear to work tomorrow.
Have fun
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