Friday, September 29, 2006

My new thing

My gym is running a 12 week transformation challenge - with PRIZES! I really need something to push me past this months-long plateau and get me to goal before Christmas. PLUS I want to be really toned.

I've signed up and I start tomorrow.

Reading the supplied material, the challenge is pretty much based on Body for Life.

So, no stuffing around, I'm going to do the full-out Body for Life programme for 12 weeks. I really like the approach this programme takes to exercise - meticulous planning and recording, high intensity, very disciplined. It's all about quality and constantly pushing yourself harder, rather than working out for longer and longer periods of time. Basically it's just three 45 minutes resistance workouts and three 20 minute cardio sessions a week. Almost sounds like not enough to me!

The eating side of the programme doesn't appeal to me as much, but I'm sure I can stick to it for 12 weeks. After that I intend to go back on NoCount. Having a free day every week will be interesting though...

The great thing about doing it as part of the gym challenge (apart from the lure of PRIZES) is that I get the support of my fitness consultant, Dale. He's been so good with my gym work all along, so I know he'll be a huge help with this. He was the NZ Bodybuilding champ in his weight class last year - this boy knows his stuff!

And in my usual tradition of being a complete sad-arse, I'm having my assessment with him tonight, after I get back from Auckland. That's right folks, I'm going to the gym on a Friday night!

On my promises for the last week I've been a bit average. Exercise has been pretty good (and Laser Strike last night was a HUGE workout) and food has been a bit average. All that and my period have meant a 200 gram gain. Trying not to get frustrated about my inability to stick things properly...

My promises for next week? Well, quite simply, seven full days of sticking absolutely to the new programme. No slips, no skips.

And I've got lots of lovely tracking forms and spreadsheets to help me.

Sigh, such a geek.

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Swwwwooooooosh BUMP!

That's the sound of me losing my footing on the slippery slope of temptation and falling in the slough of despair!

Okay, slightly melodramatic, but probably not a bad reflection of how I felt last night.

I left work about 5 to drive to an aqua class. On the way I decided I really couldn't be arsed and drove straight home instead.

Once there, I ate two pieces of cheese on toast and a bowl of ice cream.

I blame those bastards at the coffee shop. And my period.


However...new and exciting challenge coming soon, to create a fab summer body. Watch this space.

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Gonna be a tough adjustment

I've always prided myself on my ability to cope with change. Believe me, in my job I have to. For instance, my latest work role came about when the boss rang me about 8 o'clock one night and said 'Can you do a few days a week in Auckland for the next few months?'.

But one thing I'd prefer you not to muck with is my coffee.

Because coffee can set the tone of the whole day. Really.

I've managed to train the coffee shop in Parnell - they now know that I drink Wellington flat whites - in Wellington a flat white always has a double shot, in Auckland it's just a single. A bit like drinking dirty milk.

But the really bad thing that's happened to my coffee? The coffee shop I go to in Wellington has been sold. And the new people took over this week.

I loved that coffee shop. Okay, it's a bit small and often crowded. But they knew all the regulars' names and were nice enough to sound interested in our lives. I held lots of meetings there because I don't have a space for that at work.

Most importantly - the coffee rocked! Strong without a trace of bitterness, a lovely rich blend.

I've just had my first coffee from there - new owners and new barista (although at least they haven't changed the beans). It was decidedly average. Clearly one of the first things they did was reduce the number of beans going into the grind.

I'll give them this week, then vote with my feet.

Saturday, September 23, 2006

Early start

I know I always say sleep is over-rated, but 4am on a Saturday!

It's not like I was getting up to watch a live rugby match from the other side of the world or something important like that.

No, the man is racing at Manfield today. So I got up with him at 4am, made him lunch and a thermos of coffee and helped him load the bike on the trailer.

Now he's driving north and of course there's no way I'll go back to sleep. I must go back to booking him a motel in Palmerston North and sending him off the night before!

Of course, the payoff is that I get the house all to myself for the day...

Friday, September 22, 2006

The week that was - broken toe and all

It's been a pretty busy one. I have been lurking around your blogs, but not left many comments and haven't been up to any posts of my own.

It has been lovely to have most of the week at home, and I'm not going to Auckland again until Thursday - the boys will be sick of the sight of me hanging around the house!

I have managed to injure myself. Last night I knocked a large glass vinegar bottle out of the pantry. Luckily it didn't land on the tile floor and smash. No, it landed right on my fourth toe on my left foot! The toe is clearly broken - swelling straight away and looking very bruised and swollen this morning.

But will this slow Sue down? Hell, no! I'm so tough, I laugh at pain. Actually, that's a lie - I had some nerves removed from both feet a few years ago (neuromas) and can't feel a thing in that toe. It's completely numb.

I've had a good week on my promises. Hit all my exercise targets except the aqua class - a scheduling glitch on my part. Food has been good too, except maybe that coffee friand...

I had a 400 gram loss, which finally gets rid of that big gain I had a few weeks back.

And for next week? The only social event planned is a Laserstrike challenge in Auckland on Thursday night. That might sound like a boring week to some of you, but to me just now it sounds like bliss. And I figure Laserstrike will give me a bit of exercise and earn me a drink afterward!

My promises for the week:
Exercise - planning a bit of a recovery week. Even though I have lots of time, I'm feeling a bit weary.
3 x HIIT at 10 minutes (during 30 minutes on the treadmill)
2 x 45 minute walks
2 x resistance workouts
Food - I'm just planning to stay on track, really, but allowing myself a maximum of five drinks.

Friday, September 15, 2006

Promises update

How did I go on my promises this week?

Exercise - underpromised and overdelivered.
3 x HIIT at 8 minutes. Done.
1 x resistance workout. Done.
4 x 45 minute walks. Done.
Extra exercise - 1 x 20 minute treadmill run, 1 x 20 minute crosstrainer, running up and down Parnell Road during the scavenger hunt on Wednesday, large amounts of drunken dancing on Wednesday night.

Food - still not quite living up to my promises.
Pretty much fine all week, didn't worry about it Wednesday night, as planned.
Thursday - hopeless. Hangover eating. Cooked breakfast was okay as it was all vegetarian. But then we had (a lot) of yum cha for lunch. And grazed on rubbish all day - lollies, gingernuts, a couple of choccie biscuits.

Result - 100 gram loss.

If I'd managed to control myself yesterday it would have been so much better. Learn from that and move on.

So, how bad was the hangover yesterday? Mine certainly wasn't as bad as some of the others - I think the last of them got to work about 1pm.

I got to bed about 1am and slept very poorly, as is usual when I am boozed. But at least every time I woke up I drank more water! Got up at 5.30 and went for my 45 minute walk. That might sound excruciating, but I think it was the best thing I could have done. Got to work about 7.15 and went straight out for breakfast. Flew home last night and was in bed before 9!

Just as an indication of how much alcohol this debauched bunch of printers can put away - the bar tab was over $4000. For fewer than 25 people.

So, my promises for next week. I'm in Auckland Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday night I'm going to the public dress rehearsal of the WORLD OF WEARABLEART. This is always a great show - one of my sisters is the children's co-ordinator and a niece is in the show. All this means it's not too busy, so I want to have a well-disciplined week.

Exercise:
3 x HIIT at 9 minutes
3 x resistance
1 x 30 minute aqua jog
1 x deep water aqua class
2 x 45 minute walks

Food:
I'm promising myself an on-plan week. NoCount meals all the way. Only fruit and vegetables for snacks. No alcohol (having consumed about three months' worth this week). One treat each day, of no more than two points value.

As is often the case with me spending so much time away, the fridge and pantry are absolutely EMPTY! Which means I need to go supermarket shopping on a Friday night. Such an exciting way to spend the evening. I've just copied the great recipes Ails posted and will make sure I get the ingredients tonight. I might need to replace the noodles in the spring rolls with chicken so I can get my boys to eat them.

Have a great weekend, everyone.

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Huge night out

Significant hangover.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

I can never resist a list

As a bit of a list-lover, I just had to swipe this from Kate's place. And then I had to add the occasional bit of commentary...

Copy and paste the list and bold what you have done....Just bold the things you have accomplished in your life:
1. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
2. Swam with wild dolphins
3. Climbed a mountain
4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
5. Been inside the Great Pyramid
6. Held a tarantula Not ever going to happen
7. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
8. Said "I love you" and meant it
9. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped What are you, nuts?
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights Actually, the Southern Lights, but I'm a Kiwi gal so that should count
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg A guy called me one, once
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby's diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne Just don't ask me to count how many times
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was shit faced
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country I don't dance
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them

54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow Not by hand
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero I don't need to pretend
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Posed nude in front of strangers But there's still time for this one
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain Naked
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain

65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken

69. Toured ancient sites In NZ, if it's over 100 years old, it's ancient
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight I'm not a geek
72. Gotten married Never felt the need
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced Refer to 72
76. Gone without food for 5 days Yeah, right
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest

79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River But at least I can find it on a map!
82. Been on television news programs as an expert
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage

85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Eaten fugu (pufferfish)
89. Had a one-night stand
90. Gone to Thailand
91. Bought a house
92. Been in a combat zone Does a no-nukes demonstration with riot police count?
93. Buried one/both of your parents
94. Been on a cruise ship
95. Spoken more than one language fluently
96. Performed in Rocky Horror Picture Show Fishnet stockings and all
97. Raised children Child
98. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking Another uncountable one
103. Had plastic surgery Not that I haven't considered it, but I get keloid scarring
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived
105. Written articles for a major publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
And then some!
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Petted a stingray
110. Broken someone's heart
111.Riden a bike

112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone Actually, 13!
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
The cause of one of my broken bones
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet There are none in NZ
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
That's easy, as I've never been to any US states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat Skippy burgers, yum
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school

131. Parasailed
132. Petted a cockroach That's just disgusting
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad and The Odyssey
135. Selected one important author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions But it would have been a good idea
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language Like I said, I'm not a geek
141. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair Terracota pots
146. Dyed your hair Blonde, brown, red, orange, (and green and purple at the same time - the colours of the suffragette movement)
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head Looked like a kiwifruit
149. Caused a car accident But no-one was hurt
150. Saved someone's life

Monday, September 11, 2006

Just skiting

Having promised eight exercise sessions for the week, I have already done six of them - and I have more than three days to go. Plus I did an extra 20 minute run on the treadmill yesterday.

My food promises are going well, too, having only given in to steal a couple of Mark's jelly babies on the walk to the rugby yesterday.

Of course, all the hard work is really just in the hope that the shindig on Wednesday won't result in a gain!

And in other news...

It was lovely to catch up with Karen last week. Pregnancy suits her very well, and whatever weight she has put on certainly doesn't show in her smiling face.

Very nice to have my man home from Fiji. It's funny how much I miss him when he's away, considering how much I travel myself. I think it's got to do with the reassurance of knowing he's always here when I get home.

I broke with tradition for the teenagers' poker game on Saturday afternoon. Instead of the standard 3 dozen sausages and 2 loaves of bread, I served a huge pile of wedges and 2 kilos of cheerios. Only apparently we're not allowed to call them cheerios anymore, because some bloody company has trademarked the name and unless I put the little TM after the word I have to call them cocktail sausages. More undermining of Kiwi institutions. (By the way, offshore readers, these cheerios are not to be confused with the breakfast cereal, which has only just reached our shores).

Jake has the whole week off to 'study' for mock exams. But he only has two exams and they're both on Wednesday, so it's a free week for him. And of course NOW the weather is beautiful.

I feel a frock coming on...I have a VERY posh ball to go to in Auckland in mid-October. Mark can make do with the usual rental tux. I, on the other hand, will go out and spend an outrageous amount of money on something truly splendid. No ideas yet, but it won't be black!

Friday, September 08, 2006

Discipline, not so much

Haven't done so well on my promises to myself this week.

Excercise was okay - I did my 3 HIITS and 3 resistance workouts. Aqua was cancelled so I aqua-jogged for 45 minutes instead. Didn't do either of my walks but did an extra hour of cardio at the gym.

Pretty good.

Food, well, hmmmm. Lots of 'just one' and other extra sneak eating - morning tea muffins, off plan meals, that sort of thing.

Pretty average.

Managed to lose 200 grams.

Undeserved.

So, my promises for this week. I'm in Auckland for three days again, and on Wednesday we have a rare gathering of all our contract teams. That will be three hours of work and many hours of food and alcohol.

Exercise
3 x HIIT at 8 minutes
1 x resistance
4 x 45 minute walks

Food
I'm giving myself a total free pass from after lunch on Wednesday until breakfast on Thursday.
To make up for that, I'm going to be super-strict for the rest of the week - no alcohol, no sweets, no treats. Just straight out NoCount plan.

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

New experiences

I got to meet Emily last night, which was just lovely. We talked lots and had a couple of drinks and a meal before I had to be a geek and go back to work. She is an open, friendly woman and I consider it one of the great side-effects of blogging that I got to meet her.

These blogger meetings are a slightly surreal experience. We're meeting people we know lots of information about, but don't actually know at all. It's almost like the character in a novel coming to life.

Of course, there's very little chance any of you lovely bloggers would turn out to be complete tossers or axe-murders, but you never know!

Saturday, September 02, 2006

September week one

So, how did my warm-up run at keeping promises to myself go?

Food:
All good on the breakfasts.
Eating out (which turned into three nights, not two) was mostly good. Two of the meals were at other people's places, which removes some of the control, but both served lovely healthy meals. I didn't exceed my wine allowance, had a couple of scorched almonds after one meal and the worst indulgence was some garlic pita bread at Cezanne on Thursday night.
Avoided the chocolates and other sweets, except for a piece of chocolate cake when the boss had his birthday shout. Well, it would be rude not to! (actually I know that's not true, he wouldn't have worried about it at all) At another morning tea I had half a bran muffin.

Exercise:
All good. Did 2 x HIIT sessions, a 60 minute walk and 30 minutes on the cross trainer in my four days.

And the outcome - 1kg lost.

So, now it's September, although it's still not feeling much like spring. I have a calmer week ahead of me, but Mark is away all week. This poses the difficulty that I will be at home on my own in the evening quite a bit, with all the temptations of the pantry at my disposal. My promises for the next week are...

Food:
All main meals to fit with NoCount, except I will allow myself takeaways one night. Emily and I will encourage each other to eat well on Monday night. On Tuesday night I have rugby prizegiving - if the food we serve doesn't fit with the plan, I'll have dinner when I get home.
No more than 5 glasses of wine in the week.
All daytime snacks to be fruit and vegetables. Each evening I can have snacks totaling no more than 2 points.

Exercise:
I'll have time for a good week this week.
3 x HIIT, 7 minutes each
3 x resistance at the gym
1 x aqua class
2 x 45 minutes walks