Spring is sprung,
De grass is riz,
I wonder where dem birdies is?
De little birds is on de wing,
Ain’t dat absurd?
De little wing is on de bird!
Well, spring will be sprung tomorrow. Hallelujah to that.
I can tell it’s nearly spring, because I wake up every morning with a sore throat – which means there’s lots of pine pollen floating about.
And I can tell it’s nearly spring because people are more active, more positive and more motivated.
We finally feel like the long haul of winter is coming to an end (and we Wellingtonians can pretend we don’t know it will now blow forty bastards till Christmas).
Take advantage of that upsurge in motivation that spring brings, exploit it for all it’s worth. Get those bodies into the great outdoors and get moving!
And for you northern hemisphere readers facing the slide down to winter – tough shit.
Have a nice weekend everyone.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Fitness focus
Last night after work Craig went to have a couple of beers with one of his sons, so I went for a walk on my own for a change.
I needed some stuff for dinner, so walked to the supermarket in Thorndon (instead of the one straight across the road), and walked there the looooong way, which took me half an hour.
With my backpack weighing an extra 5 kilos or so, I then walked back a different way - 40 minutes this time, with plenty of hills as well.
While walking, I found myself doing those things I used to do when I was really committed to fitness and weightloss. You know, things like taking the longer way around, or choosing the route with the big hill in it, or skipping the slow song on my ipod because I always inadvertently slow down.
And I felt really great when I got home - I could feel how hard I'd worked - even if I didn't move my butt like M.
I needed some stuff for dinner, so walked to the supermarket in Thorndon (instead of the one straight across the road), and walked there the looooong way, which took me half an hour.
With my backpack weighing an extra 5 kilos or so, I then walked back a different way - 40 minutes this time, with plenty of hills as well.
While walking, I found myself doing those things I used to do when I was really committed to fitness and weightloss. You know, things like taking the longer way around, or choosing the route with the big hill in it, or skipping the slow song on my ipod because I always inadvertently slow down.
And I felt really great when I got home - I could feel how hard I'd worked - even if I didn't move my butt like M.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Resources
One of the great things about the electronic age is the number of resources we now have right at our fingertips. You can find information about just about anything on the Internet - in some cases way too much information! Healthy living is a perfect example of this. There is so much you can find about exercise and eating and associated topics, I think if it was all printed out we'd have to chop down every tree on the planet to do it.
Of course, a vast amount of this information is absolute shit. Anyone can put anything they like on the Internet, no matter how ill-informed they are, no matter how flawed their research, no matter what their own personal (or corporate) agenda.
So, the new trick is not getting information, but working out if it's any good.
I think it's one of the good things about blogs. Everyone has their own opinion, everyone has access to slightly different resources, lots of people have tried lots of different things. Instead of trawling through 432 million web pages (75% of which are actually thinly disguised porn sites), I can read the blogs of people I know have similar interests to me. Then I can take the pieces of information that interest me, choose the things I think might work for me, and include them with my own research and experience - and come up with my own vastly ill-informed opinion!
It's very interesting to watch trends in blogs, too. We all reach plateaus, lose motivation, get lazy or generally lose our way at different times. At the moment, lots of people seem to be searching for ways to kick-start their weight loss. This has brought some interesting fads (go on, you detox girls, you know I'm talking about you...), some of which work for some people. Not all things are right or wrong for all people, it's just a matter of figuring out what works for you.
I still think the best thing about blogs is the sense of community. Think of all those people out there who you would have never otherwise had any contact with - people who you know are interested in what you're doing, who care about your ups and downs, who are in turn either inspired by you or giving you inspiration. People from NZ, Australia, Scotland, Canada, America, Spain.....
In my long-winded way, I'm just saying thank you to you all.
Of course, a vast amount of this information is absolute shit. Anyone can put anything they like on the Internet, no matter how ill-informed they are, no matter how flawed their research, no matter what their own personal (or corporate) agenda.
So, the new trick is not getting information, but working out if it's any good.
I think it's one of the good things about blogs. Everyone has their own opinion, everyone has access to slightly different resources, lots of people have tried lots of different things. Instead of trawling through 432 million web pages (75% of which are actually thinly disguised porn sites), I can read the blogs of people I know have similar interests to me. Then I can take the pieces of information that interest me, choose the things I think might work for me, and include them with my own research and experience - and come up with my own vastly ill-informed opinion!
It's very interesting to watch trends in blogs, too. We all reach plateaus, lose motivation, get lazy or generally lose our way at different times. At the moment, lots of people seem to be searching for ways to kick-start their weight loss. This has brought some interesting fads (go on, you detox girls, you know I'm talking about you...), some of which work for some people. Not all things are right or wrong for all people, it's just a matter of figuring out what works for you.
I still think the best thing about blogs is the sense of community. Think of all those people out there who you would have never otherwise had any contact with - people who you know are interested in what you're doing, who care about your ups and downs, who are in turn either inspired by you or giving you inspiration. People from NZ, Australia, Scotland, Canada, America, Spain.....
In my long-winded way, I'm just saying thank you to you all.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Oops!
Weight crept up by 100 grams this week. Not really a big surprise - that big night of drinking followed by a day of over-the-top eating obviously caught up with me. So, just need to be a bit more disciplined this week.
Auckland sister was down yesterday, so we got to see her and Wellington sister and the two Wellington nieces for dinner last night. Craig copes remarkably well with all those women - we're having Christmas Day at our place, so he probably needs the practice. At least there will be a couple of other blokes there for Christmas though.
Had planned to make a curry for dinner, so I just made it a bit bigger to cope with the four extras, and sent the girls over to the supermarket to grab some roti to go with it - evil, fat-filled stuff that it is...
We didn't have time for the gym, so went for a 45 minute walk instead, including the evil steps. Both of us coped much better with them than we did a few weeks ago, so the exercise really is helping.
Monday food:
Breakfast - cereal and yoghurt
Lunch - roast vege salad with smoked chicken and spinach
Dinner - red chicken curry with rice and three quarter of a roti
Snacks - two trim flat whites, bean sprouts, dried cherries (yum, I love dried fruit but I think I need to banish it from my pantry), two greengages, a mandarin
Auckland sister was down yesterday, so we got to see her and Wellington sister and the two Wellington nieces for dinner last night. Craig copes remarkably well with all those women - we're having Christmas Day at our place, so he probably needs the practice. At least there will be a couple of other blokes there for Christmas though.
Had planned to make a curry for dinner, so I just made it a bit bigger to cope with the four extras, and sent the girls over to the supermarket to grab some roti to go with it - evil, fat-filled stuff that it is...
We didn't have time for the gym, so went for a 45 minute walk instead, including the evil steps. Both of us coped much better with them than we did a few weeks ago, so the exercise really is helping.
Monday food:
Breakfast - cereal and yoghurt
Lunch - roast vege salad with smoked chicken and spinach
Dinner - red chicken curry with rice and three quarter of a roti
Snacks - two trim flat whites, bean sprouts, dried cherries (yum, I love dried fruit but I think I need to banish it from my pantry), two greengages, a mandarin
Monday, August 27, 2007
Weekend wrap-up
Hmm, let’s see, what have I been up to for the last three days?
Friday
The work do was fun. Didn’t eat too much, but drinking was definitely WAY over the top. Of course, the three large bourbons while we were getting ready wouldn’t have helped!
Saturday
Was a very, very slow day. Had planned to go for a nice long ride. Luckily the gusty wind gave us a good excuse, because the hangovers (something I hardly ever have) were definitely not flash.
Made it to a local café for brunch about 11.30 – I even indulged in a big breakfast. Wandered about doing some shopping for new exercise gear (cheap running shoes and expensive running tights from Rebel) and then off to the stadium for the 5.30 rugby game.
Went to the Black Harp to watch the Shield challenge after that, and have roast pork for dinner.
Finally felt better just in time for an early night – and not the best food day!
Sunday
Definitely the highlight of the weekend.
Rode to the gym, did a one hour workout then rode home.
Met all the blog girls for brunch at 10.30. Boy, we all can talk. Then off to the lifestyle expo (thanks Helena). That was fun – everything from gyms, financial advisers and walking tours, through fudges, soaps and waxing to condoms, Tupperware and a rather odd looking gadget that was apparently for helping strengthen those muscles – it looked more like a cross between a vibrator and a medieval torture device.
Then just a quiet night in for Craig and I, with steak and roast veges for dinner.
All ready for another week.
Friday
The work do was fun. Didn’t eat too much, but drinking was definitely WAY over the top. Of course, the three large bourbons while we were getting ready wouldn’t have helped!
Saturday
Was a very, very slow day. Had planned to go for a nice long ride. Luckily the gusty wind gave us a good excuse, because the hangovers (something I hardly ever have) were definitely not flash.
Made it to a local café for brunch about 11.30 – I even indulged in a big breakfast. Wandered about doing some shopping for new exercise gear (cheap running shoes and expensive running tights from Rebel) and then off to the stadium for the 5.30 rugby game.
Went to the Black Harp to watch the Shield challenge after that, and have roast pork for dinner.
Finally felt better just in time for an early night – and not the best food day!
Sunday
Definitely the highlight of the weekend.
Rode to the gym, did a one hour workout then rode home.
Met all the blog girls for brunch at 10.30. Boy, we all can talk. Then off to the lifestyle expo (thanks Helena). That was fun – everything from gyms, financial advisers and walking tours, through fudges, soaps and waxing to condoms, Tupperware and a rather odd looking gadget that was apparently for helping strengthen those muscles – it looked more like a cross between a vibrator and a medieval torture device.
Then just a quiet night in for Craig and I, with steak and roast veges for dinner.
All ready for another week.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Do the Friday dance
Oh yeah, here's comes the weekend!
Craig had an early start today, so I'm getting my post done before I go to work. Usually I have an 8am meeting on Fridays, but that was canned (due to lack of interest) today, so I feel like I've got all the time in the world.
Busy day coming up though. Still got far too many meetings for a Friday. Tonight we've got a work do at Monsoon Poon, partners included, to celebrate our great year-end result. Might be a bit slow getting to the gym tomorrow morning.
Had my favourite kind of breakfast meeting yesterday morning - a non-work one! Met up with Helena. Always such a treat to see her, and boy is she on fire. But pretty on edge too, understandably, so if I catch anyone being mean to her they'll have me to answer to. AND, YES, I AM SCARY WHEN I'M MAD!
Craig and I went for a lovely 15km ride after work last night - I just love these clear winter evenings and exercising outside always beats the gym hands-down.
And the food list was:
Breakfast: yoghurt and fruit with honey (with Helena)
Lunch: leftover pasta
Dinner: salmon with potatoes, beans and spinach, fruit salad
Snacks: banana, apple, mango, yoghurt, two trim flat whites
Craig had an early start today, so I'm getting my post done before I go to work. Usually I have an 8am meeting on Fridays, but that was canned (due to lack of interest) today, so I feel like I've got all the time in the world.
Busy day coming up though. Still got far too many meetings for a Friday. Tonight we've got a work do at Monsoon Poon, partners included, to celebrate our great year-end result. Might be a bit slow getting to the gym tomorrow morning.
Had my favourite kind of breakfast meeting yesterday morning - a non-work one! Met up with Helena. Always such a treat to see her, and boy is she on fire. But pretty on edge too, understandably, so if I catch anyone being mean to her they'll have me to answer to. AND, YES, I AM SCARY WHEN I'M MAD!
Craig and I went for a lovely 15km ride after work last night - I just love these clear winter evenings and exercising outside always beats the gym hands-down.
And the food list was:
Breakfast: yoghurt and fruit with honey (with Helena)
Lunch: leftover pasta
Dinner: salmon with potatoes, beans and spinach, fruit salad
Snacks: banana, apple, mango, yoghurt, two trim flat whites
Thursday, August 23, 2007
No, I don't go nuts for donuts!
It's that time of year. Everyone around me at work is flat out raising money for Daffodil Day. There are lots of raffles, golf putting competitions, bike-a-thons - and people selling food!
The won tons are safe - bought a few dozen and put them in the freezer. But yesterday someone was selling donuts! The best approach for me is to tell myself I don't like them. I bought half a dozen for Craig and didn't even have a bite myself. Pat on the back...
But then one of my guys brought in some chocolates to give to the clients! Little bugger! Got me at weak moment - and I ate three. And, boy, they were good.
Apart from that, had a good day yesterday. 25 minutes cardio at the gym and a lower body workout - have to make sure the legs are strong for riding.
Food-wise:
Breakfast: cereal and yoghurt
Lunch: chicken, walnut and blue cheese salad with mango chili dressing
Dinner: pasta with chicken, mushrooms and snow peas
Snacks: two trim flat whites, banana, carrots, yoghurt, two apples and the bloody chocolates.
And it's a beautiful day today.
The won tons are safe - bought a few dozen and put them in the freezer. But yesterday someone was selling donuts! The best approach for me is to tell myself I don't like them. I bought half a dozen for Craig and didn't even have a bite myself. Pat on the back...
But then one of my guys brought in some chocolates to give to the clients! Little bugger! Got me at weak moment - and I ate three. And, boy, they were good.
Apart from that, had a good day yesterday. 25 minutes cardio at the gym and a lower body workout - have to make sure the legs are strong for riding.
Food-wise:
Breakfast: cereal and yoghurt
Lunch: chicken, walnut and blue cheese salad with mango chili dressing
Dinner: pasta with chicken, mushrooms and snow peas
Snacks: two trim flat whites, banana, carrots, yoghurt, two apples and the bloody chocolates.
And it's a beautiful day today.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Ow, ow, ow!
Went on my first bike ride last night since...hmmm...I think March.
Finally got my bike fixed (last ridden by Jake, appeared to be missing some bits) and Craig has just got one, so we rode to the Zephyrometer and back - about 12km on the flat, around the edge of the harbour. Bit chilly, but so nice to be out in the fresh air.
Now I remember how different from the bike at the gym this is! The main bits to suffer are my wrists and shoulders - my upper body strength has always been crap. And it hits the bottom part of my thighs, rather than right in the middle.
So, better make sure I get some push ups and shoulder presses back into my routine, especially as we plan to take the bikes to the South Island with us this summer.
Ate well yesterday:
Breakfast: bircher muesli
Lunch: chicken soup
Dinner: tortilla pizza with pumpkin, smoked chicken and prosciutto on it and a green salad
Snacks: 3 (!) trim flat whites, pear, banana, carrots, handful of wasabi peas
Finally got my bike fixed (last ridden by Jake, appeared to be missing some bits) and Craig has just got one, so we rode to the Zephyrometer and back - about 12km on the flat, around the edge of the harbour. Bit chilly, but so nice to be out in the fresh air.
Now I remember how different from the bike at the gym this is! The main bits to suffer are my wrists and shoulders - my upper body strength has always been crap. And it hits the bottom part of my thighs, rather than right in the middle.
So, better make sure I get some push ups and shoulder presses back into my routine, especially as we plan to take the bikes to the South Island with us this summer.
Ate well yesterday:
Breakfast: bircher muesli
Lunch: chicken soup
Dinner: tortilla pizza with pumpkin, smoked chicken and prosciutto on it and a green salad
Snacks: 3 (!) trim flat whites, pear, banana, carrots, handful of wasabi peas
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
New scales, new weight
Just couldn't stand those old, whirring scales anymore, so went and bought some new digital ones - these ones even do body fat percentage!
Of course, this means I can't squint up my eyes and make the numbers appear kinder than they are. Or round down to the nearest kilo.
Official weight is now - 80.8kg.
First goal - in the 70s by the end of August.
Body fat percentage - 30%. That seems huge to me (I've never done the body fat thing before), but apparently the range for my age is 24-36%, so I guess it's not too bad...I'm looking at it more out of interest than with any aim to hit a certain number.
Another good workout at the gym last night - no weights, just a good cardio blast. 20 minutes on the cross trainer, 15 minutes on the bike, 15 minutes on the treadmill (with 4 x 1 minute running intervals). Burned 560 calories.
And food was good, too.
Breakfast: bircher muesli
Lunch: lamb salad
Dinner: chicken and udon noodle soup
Snacks: 2 trim flat whites, 1 banana, 1 pear, some grapes, a carrot, a yoghurt and a little piece of fruit toast (with no butter or anything on it)
NO ALCOHOL! YAY ME!
Of course, this means I can't squint up my eyes and make the numbers appear kinder than they are. Or round down to the nearest kilo.
Official weight is now - 80.8kg.
First goal - in the 70s by the end of August.
Body fat percentage - 30%. That seems huge to me (I've never done the body fat thing before), but apparently the range for my age is 24-36%, so I guess it's not too bad...I'm looking at it more out of interest than with any aim to hit a certain number.
Another good workout at the gym last night - no weights, just a good cardio blast. 20 minutes on the cross trainer, 15 minutes on the bike, 15 minutes on the treadmill (with 4 x 1 minute running intervals). Burned 560 calories.
And food was good, too.
Breakfast: bircher muesli
Lunch: lamb salad
Dinner: chicken and udon noodle soup
Snacks: 2 trim flat whites, 1 banana, 1 pear, some grapes, a carrot, a yoghurt and a little piece of fruit toast (with no butter or anything on it)
NO ALCOHOL! YAY ME!
Monday, August 20, 2007
And now it's Monday again
And it really feels like Monday! Not only did I have to drag my sorry butt out of bed this morning, now it's hailing!
Made it to the gym both days this weekend. I really like weekend gym sessions, as I have plenty of time and can have a full body workout AND do lots of cardio. No crowds either - I guess everyone else is out having a life...
I have the exercise thing well and truly sorted now (last week was four visits to the gym, two 'planned' walks and lots of other walking - like to the gym and back, to the movies, that sort of thing). The food thing - not so good.
So, this week, for the first time in who knows how many months, I've written a food plan for all my meals for Sunday through to Thursday. Friday I've just planned the first part of the day and Saturday will have fend for itself.
Hopefully this will mean the kilos starting to come off again, rather than me just maintaining.
And it's definitely time I went back to no alcohol during the week...
Made it to the gym both days this weekend. I really like weekend gym sessions, as I have plenty of time and can have a full body workout AND do lots of cardio. No crowds either - I guess everyone else is out having a life...
I have the exercise thing well and truly sorted now (last week was four visits to the gym, two 'planned' walks and lots of other walking - like to the gym and back, to the movies, that sort of thing). The food thing - not so good.
So, this week, for the first time in who knows how many months, I've written a food plan for all my meals for Sunday through to Thursday. Friday I've just planned the first part of the day and Saturday will have fend for itself.
Hopefully this will mean the kilos starting to come off again, rather than me just maintaining.
And it's definitely time I went back to no alcohol during the week...
Friday, August 17, 2007
How much do I love the weekend?
Lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and, yeah, quite a bit.
It's amazing how rarely I work in the weekend now - got lots of motivation not to. Craig and I just spend as much of our time together as we can - soppy, I know!
Tonight we're off to the movies - Die Hard 4 - for some mindless drivel.
Forgot to mention, one of my lovely sisters and two of her girls were in Europe last month and had a few days in London, so they caught up with my boy. Yes, I was insanely jealous, but here's a nice photo.
It's amazing how rarely I work in the weekend now - got lots of motivation not to. Craig and I just spend as much of our time together as we can - soppy, I know!
Tonight we're off to the movies - Die Hard 4 - for some mindless drivel.
Forgot to mention, one of my lovely sisters and two of her girls were in Europe last month and had a few days in London, so they caught up with my boy. Yes, I was insanely jealous, but here's a nice photo.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Gee thanks, you lot!
Thank you, everyone who managed to point out to me how warm it is where they are!
It's not that I mind the cold, but when it's constantly accompanied by howling wind, driving rain and the occasional hail storm, I'm definitely over it! That, and the fact winter now feels like it lasts 9 months of the year...
I think I can only last one more winter in Wellington. I love this city, but maybe it's getting close to time for a change. My beloved coffee capital will always be here to come back to.
80kg again this morning, so no loss or gain this week. No worries.
It's not that I mind the cold, but when it's constantly accompanied by howling wind, driving rain and the occasional hail storm, I'm definitely over it! That, and the fact winter now feels like it lasts 9 months of the year...
I think I can only last one more winter in Wellington. I love this city, but maybe it's getting close to time for a change. My beloved coffee capital will always be here to come back to.
80kg again this morning, so no loss or gain this week. No worries.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Officially useless
Posting once a fortnight really isn't up to scratch, is it!
So, what have I been doing in the meantime?
Had a great trip to Queenstown. Got really cheap (Wellington to Queenstown direct for $69) flights off grab-a-seat a while back, so Craig and I flew down Tuesday morning and back Thursday afternoon. Got cheap accommodation off wotif too, so that left me heaps of money to spend on clothes and fabulous Central Otago pinot noir!
The weather was fabulous - typical South Island winter days where the temperature stayed under 10 degrees, but it was so still and sunny it didn't matter. We spent most of time just wandering around and stopping for coffee, but did get a car one day so we could go to Arrowtown and visit a few vineyards as well.
Loved it so much we're going to head back down that way for a couple of weeks after Christmas and do some camping.
Craig has joined the gym too, so now I'm back into much better exercise habits. Last week we managed three visits to the gym and two nice long walks.
Food - mostly good. Weighed dead on 80kg last Tuesday, so I've managed to shave off a kilo.
Rugby has now finished for my lot for the season. I was at the stadium to watch Tana's last game on Saturday too - yes, I did cry when he left the field. Sook!
That's about all the (minor) excitement in my life.
So, what have I been doing in the meantime?
Had a great trip to Queenstown. Got really cheap (Wellington to Queenstown direct for $69) flights off grab-a-seat a while back, so Craig and I flew down Tuesday morning and back Thursday afternoon. Got cheap accommodation off wotif too, so that left me heaps of money to spend on clothes and fabulous Central Otago pinot noir!
The weather was fabulous - typical South Island winter days where the temperature stayed under 10 degrees, but it was so still and sunny it didn't matter. We spent most of time just wandering around and stopping for coffee, but did get a car one day so we could go to Arrowtown and visit a few vineyards as well.
Loved it so much we're going to head back down that way for a couple of weeks after Christmas and do some camping.
Craig has joined the gym too, so now I'm back into much better exercise habits. Last week we managed three visits to the gym and two nice long walks.
Food - mostly good. Weighed dead on 80kg last Tuesday, so I've managed to shave off a kilo.
Rugby has now finished for my lot for the season. I was at the stadium to watch Tana's last game on Saturday too - yes, I did cry when he left the field. Sook!
That's about all the (minor) excitement in my life.
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