If you don't like how things are, change it! You're not a tree - Jim Rohn

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.

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.

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.

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

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.