Night In

How I love a night with the house to myself! Or a day! Or... anytime really.

My parents are visiting my grandmother, who is, thankfully, getting better. She has her good days and her bad days, but the good seem to outnumber the bad now. I'm so grateful she wasn't hurt worse than she was.

So, with my parents out of town, I have the house to myself today/tonight/tomorrow morning. So, after working the lunch shift (which I don't normally do, but the money will be helpful), I did a quick detour on my way home to see about ordering some yellow roses for my grandmother. I'm hoping I can get over to see her next weekend. She loves yellow roses, and of course, they're the ones you can't always get, but the florist said she should be able to order some in, so I'll call in early this week and order a bunch for her. I also bought a few more notebooks for my uni study that starts again next week, and a few snacky things. I love red frogs :D

So, after I got home, I spent at least 2 hours re-organising my study and getting all my uni stuff sorted and put back into place. I burned my new scented candle (can't do that when dad's here, he's sensitive to it), turned my music on, and lost myself in printing, and organising, and labeling, sorting folders and papers, and notebooks. I also went through some older notebooks, throwing out pages I no longer need, finding things I thought I'd misplaced, just generally making my space feel more study orientated, rather than the mess it's been since exams a month ago.

Then, a wonderfully long hot shower where I did all the things I don't always have time for (or the hot water, coz I think our water heater is on the way out). I shaved my legs (thanks god for fair body hair, and not a lot of it so I don't have to do it very often), exfoliated, used a face mask, washed my hair and used a treatment, and relaxed under the hot water.

Following that I slathered myself with body lotion, foot lotion, hand cream, face creams, and settled in with a very yummy dinner to watch Pirates of the Carribean. I love that movie :D Then I painted my nails (toes in a wonderfully vibrant red, fingers in s clear hardener). Love these days.

I'm currently sitting in my PJ's, with a cup of milo, watching Batman Begins. Love it.

The other thing about having night on my own that I love? It gives me time to reflect on me, myself and I. It allows me to look back on the past month, or 6 months or year. It allows me to look back on this time and work out what I want out of the next month/year etc. This time on my own has come at a good time... the end of the month... the end of the first 6 months of 2013. I find that this is a great time to reflect on the first half of the year and to decide how you want the rest of the year to go.

Did your first 6 months of the year go the way you wanted it to? Did you achieve what you set out to do? What are your plans for the next 6 months? How close are you to your goals?

Me? My first 6 months went kinda to plan. I didn't really have a complete set out of what I wanted to achieve this past 6 months, but I did achieve some things. Not everything, but I've come to realise that that's ok.

Firstly, I went back to study as you all know. I've decided to study a Bachelor of Sports Science (Clinical Exercise Physiology), and this first semester has involved studying things I haven't even looked at for at least 8-10 years (wow that makes me feel old). Chemistry, biology and maths. I passed Chem and bio, but not math. I'm amazed that I passed chemistry because I really struggled all semester, and I felt terrible walking out of the exam. Biology I was ok with. I have a basic understanding from previous studies and I knew I wouldn't have a great mark (spent all my time on math and chemistry), but I knew I had done enough to pass. Math... I struggled with it throughout the semester (as I did in high school), but I thought I had done enough to pass the exam. Although, the exam was worth 70% of my grade so... I'm not too upset. I may have the chance to sit another exam in October (have to email my lecturers on Monday) and if not, then I just sit it again next year. No biggie.

Weight/fitness wise... disaster. While I haven't put on any weight, I haven't lost any either. I started really strongly with going to the gym a few times a week and running on a regular basis, but I just couldn't get my eating in line. Then, when the last few weeks of term came around, and exam stress, the exercise fell over too. So, I need to get back on the wagon in this regard too.

I also need to save some money :D I think this, like the weight/fitness goal, is an ever moving goal post, but that's ok too.

So, looking ahead to the next 6 months:

Study:

• I want to really get a study timetable sorted out, and stick to it. 
• I have to make sure that I don't get carried away studying my exercise science, and sports psyc units, and neglect chemistry, which I know will be even harder this term.
• Focus on my time management, and get my assignments done BEFORE the day they're due! I'm a horrible procrastinator, so it's something I need to work on.
• I would like a distinction in psychology and exercise science, and a pass in chemistry. While I would love to get a distinction in chemistry, I'm all about being realistic, and I just don't think it's gonna happen. I just struggle to get my head around some of the concepts, and I don't want to put the bar too high.

Weight/Fitness:

• Get the junk back out of my diet. It's crash landed, hard, back into my diet and I am feeling horrible. I'm tired, sluggish, and just feeling off. I know I feel better when I eat fresh, and whole and healthy, and I need to get back into it.
• I need to get back into the gym. I want to go 5 times a week; 3 strength, 2 cardio days, and go for a run/walk on the 6th day with a rest day thrown in there somewhere. My fitness has suffered lately, and this will fix it. I'll start slow though, and go with 3 times a week to start.
• Also, trying to get to bed before midnight on school nights. I've been staying up way too late, and that just has a ripple effect on everything else in my life.

Money:

• This all comes down to saving. I need to save more money, and spend less. Not that I've been spending a lot, but I do need to save more.

Morag and I are moving at the end of the year. (Notice I say we are, not we want to). We've booked in 2 weeks at the end of November to go job hunting and house hunting, and then we're moving to Sydney. We both just need to get out of this town, and out into the world. We need to start living our own lives without our families breathing down our necks. I'm so excited, I can't wait. As usual, I'm counting down:

Uni starts on Monday

8 weeks of uni

2 weeks of break/res school

5 weeks of uni

2 weeks of exams

then about a month between the end of exams and when we have the time off. I'm going to use that month to job hunt, set up interviews etc, and search the housing websites so we have something set up for when we get to Sydney. And of course sorting accommodation for the 2 weeks we'll be there. And set up some stuff for us girlies. Maybe a show, some clubbing, some relaxing at the beach. Lots to plan, lots to anticipate.

The next 6 months are going to be AMAZING!!!!

What are your plans for the next 6 months?

I Hate Math!!!

Yep. *nods emphatically

I really, really do. I handed in my first assignment this afternoon, and while I *mostly* understood the first 3 (lots of 2-3) questions, the last set really stumped me. I didn't get math when I was in high school, and I'm not sure I get it now either. Oh well, I'll just keep plodding along with my notes, and textbooks. :)

So, the weekend was filled with moving what's left of my sister's stuff around, so I can fit a desk into her room to study. YAY!!! No more moving my stuff every day/night/few hours!!! *does happy dance*

So, on Saturday I moved Holly's stuff around, then cleaned everything, then moved in this huge table (we use it for parties, but I've taken it hehe), and then moved in all my study stuff... textbooks, printer, folders, pens/pencils/highlighters, paper, notebooks etc, etc. Then I went to work, but I felt good because it had all at least been moved in and *somewhat* organised.

Before the printing. It's got a few more things on it now

Sunday was more organising, and a lot of printing. Oops. I kinda feel bad about the amount of paper I use printing everything out, but I'm a hard copy kind of person. I like to have the lecture notes, unit guides, assessment schedules, etc on hand so I can refer to them whenever I need them, rather than going through all of my study files on my computer. I also like to have the lecture notes printed out, then I transcribe the lecture podcasts/slideshows just like I would if I were actually in the lectures (helps me remember things better). I like to be able to write all over things, highlight the important stuff etc.

So, a lot of that stuff was printed, and either blu-tacked to the wall, or put into sleeves into the respective class folders. And I feel super organised.

After lunch (which really wasn't great for me), I printed out a Color Run 'learn to run' schedule (it gives me something to work at for cardio), and some pictures/quotes for a motivation wall. I've been really slack with the eating and exercise for the last few weeks, and I've put on some weight, so I really need to get back on track. So, it's back to tracking my food, and busting my arse at the gym/home/run 3-5 days a week. I'd like to do more but I have to study/sleep/work in there somewhere.

My motivation wall (No pick of the study wall)

I hit the gym with Alix (my co-worker) this morning. I pick her up on my way back into town from taking my PT sessions, and we go then (about 7-7.30am), 2-3 times a week. It's good then. There aren't a lot of people in the gym (most have gone to work, or are just finishing up and leaving to go to work), and it get's it over and done with. I'm not really someone who has a 'best time for exercise' mentality. I go when I feel like it (time wise) and when it fits into my schedule. Mornings (Mon-Thurs) fit at the moment. And on days when I'm really tired I can come home, shower, and nap for an hour or so, and I haven't lost my day.

On the downside, my HRM needs a new battery. It told me I only burned 68 cals in 50 minutes, and my heart rate was from 0-210 bpm. Umm... I don't think so. I estimated my cals to be about 400 for the 50 mins, so I'm pretty happy with that. I just need to get the new battery now and it'll all be back on track. I'm a little addicted to the numbers, and with mine, you can't see the cals as you work out, only when you stop it and go back, so it's interesting to see how many you burn on days you don't put a lot into it vs days you really push yourself, and strength training days vs cardio days. On average I burn 6-10 cals/min, so I feel the 400/50 mins is ok.

I would have loved to have napped today but between finishing my math assignment (I think it broke my brain), and heading to Singleton so Holly can get her last teaching prac sorted (she's studying High School history and english teaching), I really didn't have time for a nap. So I think it'll be early to bed for me tonight. These 4am mornings, and 10pm bed times (sometimes later if I can't sleep) are really wiping me out.

We're going around to my sister's and her Bf's tonight for dinner. Homemade hamburgers... yum!

I'm done with the internet for today. I think my brain might explode, so I think it'll be mindless tv and/or a book tonight. I don't think I can look at a screen anymore, and I definitely can't look at anymore study.

Hope your week's off to a great start

D xo

I Left You Again, Didn't I..?

I really didn't mean, too, it just happened. You know, life just has a way of getting in the way lately. 

I can't believe it's been nearly 3 weeks!!! *eek, but in my defense, I have been really busy. Between work and study, the internet really has become a little less important.

So.. I can hear you asking all the way from here... just what have you been doing?

Well, mainly working and studying. I've been working at the pub (as you all know) and that's been my nights gone. I don't start til 6, but it's enough to throw my whole afternoon/evening out of whack :( I haven't even been working a huge amount of hours each night, but I am definitely a night/afternoon owl, so I actually just get into my study rhythm, or something (cleaning, cooking etc), and I have to pack up (which is such a pain in the ass when you have as many books/notebooks/textbooks/pens/pencils/highlighters etc as I do), shower, eat and go to work. Then when I get home, the last thing I want to do is study. I just want to go to bed by then.

Officially uni started last Monday, but, as you know I've been studying for a few weeks now. I'm glad I have been because Math is kicking my ass. Chemistry, I understand. Biology, I really haven't looked too much at. Math??? It's the subject I really wish I didn't have to do, but it's also compulsory. Ugh! But I'll get through it. Slowly. Somehow. I may not have any hair left by the end of it, but damn it, I will pass this course!!! haha

Via cbspeerblog.wordpress.com

That picture, the one up there, that's what my dining room table looks a little like. Only, mine has 3 high school textbooks (2 math, 1 chemistry), 1 Chemistry textbook, 3 lecture notepads, 6 or more mini note pads, a dozen highlighters, more pens (blue, black, red and coloured) than you can count, post it notes, mini post it notes for page references, and probably a few other things I've forgotten about. Now imagine moving all of that everytime dinner comes around. It's exhausting. And my parents don't seem to understand why I need the entire table, but I do. I just do!

Speaking of moving, my sister and her boyfriend moved into their rental property last weekend (not yesterday). So, I spent a lot of time the week before helping H move stuff into the house, unpack it, clean it, put it away. Or what we could of it anyway. Her bf and his mates bought all the big stuff (bed, fridge, bookcases, lounges etc) on the truck on Saturday. I don't have any pictures of Saturday (it was raining so I felt no need to go and actually move them in that day. There were more than enough of them), but I do have a few of the week prior to that when we moved lots of little stuff in. (Some aren't so great. They were all taken on my iPhone)

My sister. That's the kitchen behind her

Empty kitchen. The kitchen looks over the back deck and the backyard

Not so empty kitchen. Most of the stuff they were given by friends/family for birthdays/Christmas. They have more coffee cups and cutlery than they know what to do with

The front door, living/dining room. There is another deck out the front. My sister's best friend Jess, with her boy Aston. He's a very happy kid  

Bathroom

More Kitchen

The front of the house.

Master bedroom wardrobe

My sister's car

My car

The clock I gave them as a housewarming present. It' says Paris underneath the 12

The view from the front door

It was actually pretty fun moving her into the house. But it really hit home to me, just how ready I am to move out. And not into a place with other people so much, but a place of my own. Sigh. I'll get there. I just need to get through uni first.

I have also picked up some personal training 5 days a week. It makes for very early mornings (4.15am) because I'm driving 30+ minutes each way, but it's good. I'm getting paid, and I'm using my training. And I enjoy it. Maybe not the 4am alarm, but the teaching, and the training part.

I kinda went on a DVD shopping spree on the weekend too. There were sales on at Sanity. There were 'buy one get one free' deals on Disney so I got:

and

Then there was a '4 for $50' deal so I also got:

and

I thought I did pretty well considering. I am really bad when I go into bookstores/DVD stores. I find so many things I like, and I just want to buy them all.

I also managed to make it to the Organic store. Ahhh! So much to buy, so little money. I could have wandered around for a while, but were were on a schedule, so I only bought myself 2 things:

The jar is raw, organic cacao powder, and the bag is a raw, organic mix of cacao powder and maca powder. I just wanted the maca but they were out of stock, so I bought what I could. I'm going to put them into my smoothies. I just have to be a bit more organised. I'll probably start next week. But maybe later this week. We'll see how we go.

But, I must go to bed. I have to be up in 5 hours.

Hope you are all well in the blogosphere

Danni xo

Oh! My! God!!!

I need to get a routine!!!

I know I've said this before, but I really, really, really need to get a routing. I'm a typical Taurean in this regard. I don't like things to be set in stone (I like a little flexibility, and I don't go crazy if my routine is interrupted), but I like to have a framework for my day/week/month. This is why I have to do lists and goals. It makes my life easier and it makes me feel better.

Friday and Saturday I ate fairly well. However, I was waaayyy under my cals on both days (by just over 300 cals and nearly 500 cals respectively. I had 1172/1500 and 1007/1500). I just wasn't hungry. The fact that I had a dentist appointment on Friday and the entire right side of my face was numb didn't help on Friday, but I have no such excuse on Saturday.

Sunday I was within range (I try to get between 1200-1500. If I'm over one day then under the next it's fine, as long as it kinda evens out). I ate 1335 cals, but I finally went to the gym. I only did cardio but yay for finally getting my ass to the gym. 25+ mins on the cross trainer (I was playing with my phone and didn't realise the machine was still asking for info like weight/time etc), 5 mins on the stair master (or torture by the end of it), and 25 mins on the treadmill. *Note to self, run before the stairmaster/cross trainer not after!!

By the end of, including cool down/stretching I was there for 1hr 6 minutes and burned 731 cals. So technically I still had nearly 900 cals to eat to hit 1500 but I'm not eating them back atm. As long as I get to 1200 cals eaten min before exercise, I'm not worried about eating them back. Especially as I wasn't hungry then anyway.

Then came yesterday... boo!

Yesterday was a complete blow out. I've been craving chips for some reason. I have no idea why. I haven't eaten them in ages, then last week I had a huge craving and I bought a few bags of them. And proceeded to eat my way through them. Then on Monday I had another dentist appointment (why put fillings in my wisdom teeth when I just want them taken out anyway???), so once again my mouth was numb (left side this time). And I was again craving comfort food, so I bought more chips. I've eaten one bag, thrown another one out, and there's a third one sitting here mocking me. 

I did however, on my little shopping trip, buy the stuff to make meatballs and pasta, and some bananas.

So today I made the meatballs and pasta. Fairly quick, easy to make, little mess (unless you're like me and spill the pasta sauce on the bench, then on your white shirt), and yummy. I split it into 8 serves instead of the 4 on the sauce bottle, or 5 on the pasta packet. My mince/carrot mix (I grate carrot into the mince mixture with an egg, and usually zucchini but I didn't have any today). made 17 tablespoon size meatballs, but I think next time I'll make them half tablespoons. They didn't look so big when I made them, but they are when you eat them. So glad I decided on 8 servings. It came to 397 cals (I had 3 meatballs when I would normally have 2), and was very filling.

I'll have an orange, and maybe a glass of milk before I go to work. My vitamin c and calcium has been pretty low lately, so I'm working on that.

And the study just isn't happening either. I've downloaded all the available Math and Biology notes/lectures/assessment info/class info etc. Class doesn't officially start til the 25th, but I've been trying to get a head start on everything. I just find it so boring!!! And I know, I have to get through it to get to the fun, interesting stuff. And I have been. Math mainly because it's the one worrying me, but I'm getting there. Excel textbooks for math have been a great help.

So, schedule/routine. Must include gym and running (I have done neither since I went to they gym on Sunday despite my best intentions), study, work, me time and sleep. Hopefully my sleep will improve and then everything else will start to fall into place. Will work on that.

Gotta run. Need to eat, shower and head to work.

Cya

Merry Christmas!!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas filled with family and love. Eat too much, drink too much, stay safe and happy.

This is more like my Christmas. 40 degree summer day. And although I won't be on the coast, surfing in the water, I will be spending it with family under the coolness of our air conditioner.

Everything is organised this year. Presents are bought and wrapped, decorations are set up, our ham and turkey is all ready to be carved, the seafood is set and the prawns just need to be peeled. Tomorrow mum and I will make the seafood cocktail sauce, dip cherries and strawberries in chocolate, and make mini pavlova's, and dad will peel prawns. Then, after lunch, when my sister and her bf get here, we'll open presents, and eat and drink some more and then probably nap from the food coma we're all in.

Just the way Christmas should be. No stress, no travelling (for us anyway. My sister and her bf have to drive 4 hours), just food, drink and family.

May you all have a safe and happy holiday season.

Here's to 2013. I hope it's a wonderful year for everyone.

Danni xoxo

Job Hunting Sucks

Well it does. I've sent out dozens of resumes and cover letters over the last 2 weeks and nothing. Nada. Zip.  And I know 2 weeks isn't a long time to be job hunting. And I know people who have worked over here and it took them a month to find work but I WANT A JOB NOW!!!!

Ok, now that I've got that out I feel better. 

A little.

I just want to be paid. I hate dipping into my savings all the time just to buy stuff. And I want to be able to afford to go to a gym, or kickboxing, or dance, or yoga, or all 4, but I don't think I'll be able to do that, even once I get a job. My rent is $150 a week, so to be able to pay that, and eat, and still have some money, I'll need to work about 40 hours a week.

So... 

Good food it is. 

I went looking on Robson St yesterday. Not for anything in particular, just to get out of the Hostel, and into the sunshine. (Yes, the sun was out, it was magnificent.)I found lots of shoes I'd love to buy (I'm loving all the colour that's out at the moment), but (and you'll be very proud of me), I didn't buy a single pair. Even with so many pretty things on sale.

So, I was in a good mood. The sun was out, the shops had sales, I was happy looking. All was good.

Then I went into American Eagle. I love this place. I don't know why, I really don't. I found it when I lived in South Lake Tahoe (I shopped in San Francisco). And they had a sale on as well. (I think just about every store does atm). So I wanted a pair of shorts. Not short shorts, just shorts. Plain, denim shorts. And maybe a few shirts. A pair of 3/4 jeans. The usual. So I found a few things I liked. And then I headed into the dressing room.

BAD IDEA!!!!!

I knew I have put on weight since I got here. I haven't been eating that well and I haven't really exercised. I mean, I've been doing some walking around, and taking the stairs instead of the elevator, but I haven't done some serious exercise since before I left home.

So, I pulled on a one shoulder shirt. I like it. I bought it. Now I'll wear it when I lose a couple of kgs. I don't need to lose a lot, it fits as is, but it will look a lot better when I lose a little bit. 

Then I pulled on the shorts. In a size 12. AND THEY DIDN'T FIT!!! Could barely pull them up past my thighs. I think they were laughing at me as I contemplated the zip and button. There was no way I was going to get those shorts done up, and if I did I better not move. Not even breathe. So I took them off and 'threw' (as in hung them back on the hanger, and then slammed the hanger on the hook). 

I was annoyed with myself by this point, so I grudgingly tried on the 3/4 jeans. They're boyfriend, so they're supposed to be baggy. The 12's fit. In fact they were a little loose. So I tried on the 10's. They fit too. Cue a little bit of smiling. Until I looked at myself in the mirror. The pants only emphasized (to me) how much weight I have to lose. Baggy jeans look good on thin girls. On me... not so much.

But I bought them. And I'm wearing them as I type this. They are comfortable, which is what I need right now. But, they did highlight that I've let my eating get out of hand again. And that I need to exercise more. So I guess that's a good thing? Right?

So, as I sit here, typing this, and looking at more job vacancies, and sending resumes (I can multi task) I am eating baby (organic) carrots (from this fruit and veggie market on Davie St that I love), and some strawberries. My bottle of water is sitting beside my laptop. (I may use the laptop cord to strangle the guys who are yelling and laughing at the top of their voices like they're in a noisy pub, not a quiet dinning room). 

And, I've been making lists too. Goals lists if you will. Goals for the month of July. Goals for the next 6 months. Plans for if I stay, and plans for if I don't. I am nothing of not organised. 

I just hope that once I move into my house on Sunday things will settle down. I can buy food without the worry of eating it (someone took my cheese, and the leftovers of mine and Min's pizza from Monday), and I can start to exercise. I'm already planning running/walking routes and I've been looking at gyms, yoga studios, kickboxing classes, and dance studios to see what's around, and how much it'll cost. 

Good thing I don't like to party. Hopefully I'll get a job soon and meet people. I'm kinda lonely here at the moment. I miss everyone. 

Going to have an early dinner in a minute. Need a break from looking at the screen. 

xo

Work Woes

I hate not being able to have a routine. How I would love to be one of those people who worked a set number of hours a day, a set number of days a week, the same days week in week out. But I don't. I work casual. At a supermarket. My days aren't the same 2 weeks in a row. My hours aren't the same 2 days in a row. I might only get the required 10 hours between when I finish work, and when I start again the next day.

All in all... it sucks.

Take last week. My roster said 5am-1pm on Friday. 5am-3pm on Saturday. And 3pm-8pm on Sunday.

This is what it was supposed to be. This is what it was when I left work on Thursday afternoon at 2pm.

When I arrived at work at 4.50am on Friday, it was to be told that I was not in the deli, but in the bakery. Same time, different department. Like someone couldn't have told me. Then, a few hours later I was told by my deli manager that my Saturday shift was changed to 3pm-9pm because one of the girls wouldn't work nights and to start on Sunday at 11am. Then I was told by one of the guys in the cash office that I was now finishing at 8.30pm because I had too many hours.

That was fine. Then I went grocery shopping on Saturday morning. I was served by my 2IC. She told me that I was to finish at 8 so I didn't need a lunch break. Fine with me. So, I had lunch. Had a snack before I left for work. Was organised enough to know what I was having for dinner when I got home.

Soooo, off to work I went.

To be told, 45 minutes after I started, that my manager wanted me to stay until 9pm, and start at 12 on Sunday, because she doesn't trust the guy I was working with to do his job properly.

HOW IS THAT MY FAULT?!!!

So, I worked it out. 3 shifts. 3 days. 7 SHIFT CHANGES!!!!!!

Can you believe it? And not once get a phone call! It seems they can only call when they want me to start early.

Like today.

I got up early to take a PT session. But, because of my hours and non-routine that I have, I was so tired that I went back to bed. When I woke back up at 9.30, I planned to have breakfast, clean up, get my butt to the gym and cook my dinner so that I could eat it at 9pm when I got home from my 4-9 shift.

I had breakfast. I started to clean up. Then I got a phone call. 'The bakery is short a person, so we've put your 2IC in there, and can you come in at 12 and cover for her?'

Ahhh, no, I can't come in at 12. It's 11.20 right now. I'll be in at 1. Still go home at 9. Come back in at 7am tomorrow.

That didn't happen.

It's now after midnight. I signed out of work at 11.33pm. I'll be back at 9.33AM.

Tonight wasn't anyones fault. A lady I was working with has been having ex husband issues and she had to go home. Not her fault. But we couldn't get anyone to replace her. So I closed, essentially on my own. My manager helped (a little. Like kinda doing the washing up.) But I did everything else.

So, I get my 10 hours break. Which is crap. The 10 hour break is 10 hours from signing out to signing back in. So, an hour each side to come home/go back to work. I need to eat. I need to shower. I need to sleep.

All in 10 hours. I don't think so.

This has been so hard on my 12wbt thingy. I'm not sleeping. I'm not eating properly. I'm not exercising. I don't have any routine.

And I'm not sure how to fix it.

Sorry for the rant. I just had to get it out.

12wbt pre-season task 2

via pinterest

One of the pre-season tasks for the 12wbt is to find all of our excuses, and then find ways around them, ways to stop them ruiling your life. We need to find ways to stop that irritating little voice inside your head. You know the one, the one that tells you you're too fat, or stupid, or tired, or it's too late to start now so why bother trying at all. The one that tells you that you're doomed to fail.

SO, here, for all the world to see are my excuses, and my rebuttals.

I'm too tired: go to bed earlier, get up earlier, training will give me more energy. It will make me sleep better, and therefore I will be less tired. If I work the afteroon/nights, I need to train of a morning. If I work the morning/lunchtime shift, I will take my clothes to work with me and go to the gym on my way home.

I'm too busy: But really I'm not. If I have time to be on the computer/internet/phone/with my head stuck in a book etc, I have time to train. I have time to eat properly, and exercise. And I can make more time if I cook/prepare my meals/snacks ahead of time.

I can't be bothered today: WHAT THE HELL?!! I can't be bothered to take some time out to take care of myself? If this were a client (pt or counselling) I would wonder what had happened to this person to make them think that they are unworthy of their own time. So, why can I talk sense into my clients and not to myself? Well, no more! I managed a university degree in psychology. I have my master trainer in fitness. I could be bothered to go back when I failed my exams both at uni and for pt. If I can do that, then I can be bothered to take an hour or so out to look after myself.

I'm a procrastinator: I am and always have been. I remember when I was at school, I would always tidy up my room and/or desk before starting my homework, even if it wasn't necessary. My mum used to say I was the most disorganised organised person in the universe. This habit followed me a little to uni. If it was a class I wasn't interested in, I would put off study for a while, and concentrate on a subject I did like. I don't put everything off, and I need to put myself into the list of things I don't procrastinate about.

I don't know what to expect when I get to goal: I wasn't always a size 14. I used to be a size 8-10. But I haven't been that was since I was 16. I don't know what it will be like when I get there again. My friends don't have a problem with the way I look, and I've never really had an issue with it. (This might change when we get to the photo/measurements day). I am comfortable whith myself at this stage, but, when I get to goal I'll be just about to move to Canada, so I will be out of my comfort zone anyway. May as well be out of my comfort zone and thin and healthy.

I have to work: In part, this is one of those external, out of my control, excuses. Because I don't work set days or hours, my plans can change at the last minute, throwing my whole day off. I need to work, I need the money, but I need to take time out for myself too. I need to organise my day so that I can fit my exercise in. I need to use my diary and compromise on what I am doing. If I haven't exercised that day, can I fit it in before/after work? If yes, then get out there and do it. If no, then work that much harder/longer tomorrow and be really good with my eating that day.

Most of these are internal excuses. I've never really been one to talk down to myself. I've never had a problem with self image or self doubt. I've never been one to tell myself that I'm too fat, or that I can't do something. And my parents have always been supportive, and told my sister and I that we can do anything, and that belief has followed me into adulthood.

However, I do use the 'it's too hot, too cold, raining' etc excuses. I have a gym membership. I have a car. I have workout dvd's. There is absolutely no reason why I can't get a workout in, one way or another.

I'm sure this list will be added to at some point. I'm sure there are more excuses that will rear their ugly heads as I work my way through these pre-season tasks, and the 12 weeks.

via weheartit.com

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

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*:

• 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.

*Please remember that I am not a medical professional. These are just my theories.

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