I need to vent. I soooo want to move house. There is nothing really holding me back aside from economic rationalism. I rent from a friend, who gives me a VERY good/cheap rate on his one-bedroom flat. It's obscene, I should literally be paying $100 a week more. It is, however, in the middle of nowhere! I moved there nearly two years ago and just feel like I need a change. I haaate moving, but I am sick of being in the 'burbs, I miss the hustle and bustle of Newtown, where there are weird and wonderful sights to be seen every night and it only costs $15 in a taxi to get home. $20 tops.
I would be looking at paying at least $250 to $300 in rent, plus all the same bills, and I would have to spend more time travelling to work, travelling to where my running group trains. So I'm really best of staying put for a while.
But my feet are itching!
Ohh well. For now the economic rationalist in me will keep me where I am ... but for how long!?
Thursday, 20 August 2009
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
Not dead ... but refocussed!
Have finally got over the maddening poison-ivy itching and my tan is, alas, fading.
The only thing remaining from my fab Hawaiian holiday is my gut! Although a better description is some extra padding around the stomach. Damn that food. I have been struggling badly with jet lag and loss of routine since I came back but I'm finally starting to feel like I'm regaining some sort of control. Helped by the fact I've had the last two days off work, as part of the roster not on annual leave, and I've caught up on a heap of washing and cleaning. And food shopping.
Going on a bit of a sugar-free diet. Well, refined sugar-free anyway and processed food-free. Although I hate the word diet. Rather, I'm just trying to cut out a heap of rubbish. It's all fruit, veg, plain yoghurt, nuts and seeds and green tea. Basic meal structure has been: 1/2 cup organic muesli with 2 tabs plain greek yoghurt and 1/4 cup organic skim milk; piece of fruit for a snack; either a salad with egg or tuna or sandwich with burgen bread with much the same; dinner has been 1/2 cup Doongara (LowGI) rice/Quinoa or pasta/soba noodles with either grilled or oven baked chicken or fish and a load of veggies. Only using fresh herbs and spices to season.
So far ... urgh, I'm a bit tired but that could be from a range of things! Not drinking alcohol for about three weeks either ... or for as long as I can hold off for anyway. A glass or two is alright, but no big nights until Friday 25th of September.
Race is five weeks away. Don't think I'm on track for 1hr 55min but if I can get under 1hr 57min I will be happy. Although, I really enjoyed running the Gold Coast half-mara with no real goal beyond under 2hours so I might just stick with that again. Frankly I'm not some super star athlete, and I don't think there's anything wrong with running something for enjoyment rather than to two a minute or two off your time. I'm in this running gig for the long run, not short term, so I think enjoyment is far better than results. For now.
I've entered though! Yikes! Roll on September 20th. I want to lose a good 5cm off my waist by then. Think once I bash off the holiday bloat it will all trim down quite quickly. It's all those refined carbs that have pumped me up! Oh, and the booze.
Things at work are a bit hairy right now ... find out about my job (ie: if I still have one) in about a week and a half. Just carrying on with business as usual until then. But man, fingers, toes, legs and eyes crossed! Do not want to have to start looking for a new job right now!
The only thing remaining from my fab Hawaiian holiday is my gut! Although a better description is some extra padding around the stomach. Damn that food. I have been struggling badly with jet lag and loss of routine since I came back but I'm finally starting to feel like I'm regaining some sort of control. Helped by the fact I've had the last two days off work, as part of the roster not on annual leave, and I've caught up on a heap of washing and cleaning. And food shopping.
Going on a bit of a sugar-free diet. Well, refined sugar-free anyway and processed food-free. Although I hate the word diet. Rather, I'm just trying to cut out a heap of rubbish. It's all fruit, veg, plain yoghurt, nuts and seeds and green tea. Basic meal structure has been: 1/2 cup organic muesli with 2 tabs plain greek yoghurt and 1/4 cup organic skim milk; piece of fruit for a snack; either a salad with egg or tuna or sandwich with burgen bread with much the same; dinner has been 1/2 cup Doongara (LowGI) rice/Quinoa or pasta/soba noodles with either grilled or oven baked chicken or fish and a load of veggies. Only using fresh herbs and spices to season.
So far ... urgh, I'm a bit tired but that could be from a range of things! Not drinking alcohol for about three weeks either ... or for as long as I can hold off for anyway. A glass or two is alright, but no big nights until Friday 25th of September.
Race is five weeks away. Don't think I'm on track for 1hr 55min but if I can get under 1hr 57min I will be happy. Although, I really enjoyed running the Gold Coast half-mara with no real goal beyond under 2hours so I might just stick with that again. Frankly I'm not some super star athlete, and I don't think there's anything wrong with running something for enjoyment rather than to two a minute or two off your time. I'm in this running gig for the long run, not short term, so I think enjoyment is far better than results. For now.
I've entered though! Yikes! Roll on September 20th. I want to lose a good 5cm off my waist by then. Think once I bash off the holiday bloat it will all trim down quite quickly. It's all those refined carbs that have pumped me up! Oh, and the booze.
Things at work are a bit hairy right now ... find out about my job (ie: if I still have one) in about a week and a half. Just carrying on with business as usual until then. But man, fingers, toes, legs and eyes crossed! Do not want to have to start looking for a new job right now!
Monday, 10 August 2009
I'm back
No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth! I have crossed the dateline twice though on my trip to Hawaii. Which was ... mixed. I will report back about that later.
I managed to gain about 2kg in 8 days due to dodgy eating and probably moreso drinking practically every day. Some days one beer, some days several cocktails (too many!). Ahhh, but I enjoyed it all.
Now, back to reality! Skinny jeans still fit JUST, but would not wear them just yet. Time for two weeks of serious hardcore clean eating and exercising. Arrived home at 9.10pm last night, in bed by 10.30pm and woke up at 6am this morning to hit the gym. Today's challenge is to stay awake (hello, coffee run approaching), get some food in the fridge (emptied it out before I left) and find a place to put all my new-found goodies!
Did some AMAZING and gorgeous runs over there, including Diamond Head in Waikiki. It's a volcano crater that has a track up - winding around it a bit - 11km up. I didn't quite run all the way to the top ... only because there was a group of army boys (US army that is) doing some sort of training that looked evil. Running up and down from the summit to near where I was (at a lookout) with what looked like very heavy packs. But I think I got about 3/4 of the way up. A good 90minute run, with about 30mins of that UP this serious mountain/volcano. Man, it hurt BAD. And strained my calf in the process so for the next two days was grimacing a bit. But I did it!
Was sooo lovely to be hot and sweaty again, without having to go to the Bikram studio! Can't wait for summer. Today is a rude shock - it's currently 5C where I live. Winter woolies and uggies ahoy! Brrrr.
Anyway, just wanted to log a bit of a 'commitment' to healthy eating. The food was dreadful, very high GI so found myself eating high calorie meals that burnt up very quickly and left me hungry two hours later. Need lots of veg, salad, fruit and lean fish/meat. No more pineapple. Urgh, ate enough to cover about 10 Hawaiian pizzas. So different over there! So much sweeter.
Gotta get out running this arvo - have new running shoes! So long as it doesn't rain it will all be good.
I managed to gain about 2kg in 8 days due to dodgy eating and probably moreso drinking practically every day. Some days one beer, some days several cocktails (too many!). Ahhh, but I enjoyed it all.
Now, back to reality! Skinny jeans still fit JUST, but would not wear them just yet. Time for two weeks of serious hardcore clean eating and exercising. Arrived home at 9.10pm last night, in bed by 10.30pm and woke up at 6am this morning to hit the gym. Today's challenge is to stay awake (hello, coffee run approaching), get some food in the fridge (emptied it out before I left) and find a place to put all my new-found goodies!
Did some AMAZING and gorgeous runs over there, including Diamond Head in Waikiki. It's a volcano crater that has a track up - winding around it a bit - 11km up. I didn't quite run all the way to the top ... only because there was a group of army boys (US army that is) doing some sort of training that looked evil. Running up and down from the summit to near where I was (at a lookout) with what looked like very heavy packs. But I think I got about 3/4 of the way up. A good 90minute run, with about 30mins of that UP this serious mountain/volcano. Man, it hurt BAD. And strained my calf in the process so for the next two days was grimacing a bit. But I did it!
Was sooo lovely to be hot and sweaty again, without having to go to the Bikram studio! Can't wait for summer. Today is a rude shock - it's currently 5C where I live. Winter woolies and uggies ahoy! Brrrr.
Anyway, just wanted to log a bit of a 'commitment' to healthy eating. The food was dreadful, very high GI so found myself eating high calorie meals that burnt up very quickly and left me hungry two hours later. Need lots of veg, salad, fruit and lean fish/meat. No more pineapple. Urgh, ate enough to cover about 10 Hawaiian pizzas. So different over there! So much sweeter.
Gotta get out running this arvo - have new running shoes! So long as it doesn't rain it will all be good.
Sunday, 19 July 2009
Getting Sorted
A not-so-bad week in terms of food and exercise. Had a larger than anticipated Sunday night, watching a friend's band in the Rocks, and spent Monday feeling slightly tired and hungover doing major house-works. How the hell do I have so many bloody clothes and nothing to wear? Argh. Must do some chucking and eBaying of stuff that's too big, too small or whatever.
Did 1 x 8km run, 2 x Pump, track running session with 8x400m sprints (sucks ass) after a 2km warm-up, then yesterday did 10km trail run. I love/hate trail running. It's actually much more of an all-ove body work out because the uneven surface means you have to hold your core in much more than with usual running. Plus the trail we run has some truly shocking bits where you're constantly watching where you're going and planning each step. All good of course, but meant that after 10km yesterday I was shattered! Today bits of me are sore that are not usually sore - must be a good thing.
Counting down to Hawaii. Less than two weeks. Need to continue good/careful eating and exercise. But frankly will not go on about it too much. Next weekend doing two races - one 10km and the other 11km (Sutherland to Surf) on separate days. Both won't be at full 'race pace', but will give them both a good 85% effort.
Today I'm also 'getting sorted'. Sunny weather means catching up on huuuge washing backlog. Hate not having a dryer as it means things like sheets and towels can often build up while I'm waiting for a sunny day where I'm not working. Today! Whoo hoo. Determined to clear the 'big stuff' backlog. Also just need to do general de-clutter and chuck out of stuff. Looking forward to it. Just having a nice quiet coffee while the first load of washing finishes.
Went on second RSVP date last night with Mr P. He's sooo nice. Smells good too. Was unfortunately a little bit tired so was not really in top form. But will definitely see him again! Was so f'n cold that at the end of dinner just had to give each other a quick hug and run away, no time for standing around for potential 'first kiss'. God, so juvenile I know. Was also busting for the loo and wanted to get home asap. Next time, there's gotta be some action!
Work is an uncontrollable beast right now, feel like I'm just sitting on top of it and hanging on for dear life - putting out spot fires where I can and barely keeping ahead of the huge mass of work surging behind me. I am, however, surviving and will continue to do so!
Did 1 x 8km run, 2 x Pump, track running session with 8x400m sprints (sucks ass) after a 2km warm-up, then yesterday did 10km trail run. I love/hate trail running. It's actually much more of an all-ove body work out because the uneven surface means you have to hold your core in much more than with usual running. Plus the trail we run has some truly shocking bits where you're constantly watching where you're going and planning each step. All good of course, but meant that after 10km yesterday I was shattered! Today bits of me are sore that are not usually sore - must be a good thing.
Counting down to Hawaii. Less than two weeks. Need to continue good/careful eating and exercise. But frankly will not go on about it too much. Next weekend doing two races - one 10km and the other 11km (Sutherland to Surf) on separate days. Both won't be at full 'race pace', but will give them both a good 85% effort.
Today I'm also 'getting sorted'. Sunny weather means catching up on huuuge washing backlog. Hate not having a dryer as it means things like sheets and towels can often build up while I'm waiting for a sunny day where I'm not working. Today! Whoo hoo. Determined to clear the 'big stuff' backlog. Also just need to do general de-clutter and chuck out of stuff. Looking forward to it. Just having a nice quiet coffee while the first load of washing finishes.
Went on second RSVP date last night with Mr P. He's sooo nice. Smells good too. Was unfortunately a little bit tired so was not really in top form. But will definitely see him again! Was so f'n cold that at the end of dinner just had to give each other a quick hug and run away, no time for standing around for potential 'first kiss'. God, so juvenile I know. Was also busting for the loo and wanted to get home asap. Next time, there's gotta be some action!
Work is an uncontrollable beast right now, feel like I'm just sitting on top of it and hanging on for dear life - putting out spot fires where I can and barely keeping ahead of the huge mass of work surging behind me. I am, however, surviving and will continue to do so!
Sunday, 12 July 2009
One More Kick
Went to the gym after work yesterday. Felt great as I walked out, despite shocking food intake while at work. So here is my final kick for this weekend. Simple equation - eat clean/healthy + exercise + enough sleep = feel great. Eat junk + no exercise + no sleep = feel like bit blobby mess.
Duh!
Duh!
Saturday, 11 July 2009
Someone kick me in the butt
At work, blah, won't go on about that. Need to kick myself up the butt. Must get out for a run this afternoon. Just read an article that said eating just 100 calories too many per day can lead you to put on four kilograms in a year! Eeeek. What if you eat, say, 400 calories too many in a day. Haven't been strict calorie counting, but I know I've been going over. Chocolate effort on Wednesday would been several hundred too many! And I just ate a muffin! Oops.
So here I am, kicking myself in the butt! Get a move on woman, Hawaii in THREE weeks.
So here I am, kicking myself in the butt! Get a move on woman, Hawaii in THREE weeks.
Thursday, 9 July 2009
Arggggh focus
Just need a pep talk. Have really slipped these last three days or so. Yesterday ate more chocolate than any person should! Felt soooo desperately ill and today I have a food hangover, tired, headache and the rest.
Whyyy do I do this to myself? I manage to keep focussed and stay "on the path" for so long, and then in just four days I undo all my hard work. I mean, obviously it won't undo ALL of it, but I just feel dreadful and it will take me X amount of days to feel human again. After the junk food fest that was my Geelong trip it took me two weeks to feel good again!
Anyway, I'll get over it. Off to the gym this arvo for some bike work and then Pump. Body feels like it's ready for Pump again. Will have tomorrow off, 8km run on Saturday and will try to get to a Pump class in the arvo, run on Sunday too. Monday will be early AM bikram and evening Pump.
But really, it's all about eating. Need two weeks of clean eating - fruit, veg, lean meat, wholegrains etc. Damn chocolate! Sugar cravings are going to kill me for the next two days.
No RSVP news, too tired from Sunday's 22hour stint to date. Maybe next week.
Whyyy do I do this to myself? I manage to keep focussed and stay "on the path" for so long, and then in just four days I undo all my hard work. I mean, obviously it won't undo ALL of it, but I just feel dreadful and it will take me X amount of days to feel human again. After the junk food fest that was my Geelong trip it took me two weeks to feel good again!
Anyway, I'll get over it. Off to the gym this arvo for some bike work and then Pump. Body feels like it's ready for Pump again. Will have tomorrow off, 8km run on Saturday and will try to get to a Pump class in the arvo, run on Sunday too. Monday will be early AM bikram and evening Pump.
But really, it's all about eating. Need two weeks of clean eating - fruit, veg, lean meat, wholegrains etc. Damn chocolate! Sugar cravings are going to kill me for the next two days.
No RSVP news, too tired from Sunday's 22hour stint to date. Maybe next week.
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