A few years ago a friend of mine who had a significant amount of weight to lose came to me asking for advice on how to lose a large amount of weight. I had recently lost 20kg in about four months through extremely healthy eating and exercise and she was just looking for a bit of inspiration/motivation.
This conversation came back to me last night as I looked at myself in the mirror in some horror, noticing some of my problem areas are really becoming more of a problem than they have been for about four years. Yikes. I seriously was on the verge of a panic attack. Negative thoughts about how I was going to end up back where I started - overweight and miserable - and have to start all over again.
After taking a series of deep breaths I decided freaking out was not going to help matters AT ALL, and what I needed was to take steps to get back on track. Step one was to jump on the scale to see the damage. It's really NOT that bad, but the problem is all the weight is sitting on my stomach and thighs - my problem areas - and that's where I always look. It's about 3kg that I want/need to lose, nothing too drastic I guess but on my short frame it makes a big difference.
My second step was to think about the advice I gave my friend. Basically, it was not to think too much about losing X amount of weight, rather it was breaking it all down into days. Each day - when I was on my first mission - I would barely permit myself to think about where I would be in a month or at the end of the month, I only thought about getting through the day - eating healthily, eating clean, going for a run/to the gym etc. For me, this worked because I didn't freak out about how HARD the weeks and months might be, I just thought about each day.
I apply a similar approach to running. Right now, I don't think I could run a half-marathon. Or, if I could, I would struggle badly and suffer even more badly the next day. However, if I focus on doing my weekly track sessions, one long run a week (increasing by 10 percent each week) plus a tempo run, a cardio session, weights session (times two) each week, I can handle it much more easily and don't freak out. Further, I break the week down - Monday is (at the moment) a 5km tempo run with some biiiig hills, Tuesday is Pump, Wednesday is my track running session, Thursday is cardio plus Pump, Friday is my rest day, Saturday is my long run plus weights and Sunday is a cardio recovery session plus a swim. Plus I try to do a core workout every second morning - just for 15 minutes or so - plus stretching my ITBs and hamstrings every day.
This is what's manageable. I just need to calm down and turn things around.
So, there you go, I'm taking my own advice. Any other advice/suggestions greatly appreciated.
Thursday, 25 February 2010
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
Endings and new beginnings
I did my fifth and last official ocean swim for the season on Sunday, rounding it off with the 2km race at the Cole Classic. The weather was dreadful, raining and windy. The swell at Manly Beach, where the race was supposed to be held, was huge. So dangerous that the beach was actually closed, and the race was moved to the much more protected Shelley Beach. Which was all good with me!
I had arrived early for the 1km race because some of the less confident swimmers in our group were hoping for people to swim along with them. The weather kept a few of them away, however, so I didn't have to! I was secretly relieved as I was feeling a bit run down and tired, so I'm not sure I would've been especially helpful to them!
It was an absolutely massive day though, something like 4,300 people had registered for the race, but on the day I think there were less than 4,000 finishers as people opted to stay inside rather than brave the rain. My wave - the women 30-39 - was huuuge. It wasn't a tough course, mainly because the water was relatively calm for most of the race, but there were SEVEN cans/buoys to locate and swim around. Gah! It was ridiculous, constantly looking up and trying to see where I was swimming next. Thankfully I don't I swam TOO far off course, although a good extra hundred metres or two.
The finish, however, was the highlight. I tried out a technique I'd read about on a triathlon website, somewhere, about what to do to prevent the jelly legs feeling after a swim. Basically, you kick REALLY hard to get the blood flowing back into your legs, and breathe more frequently, taking in lots of extra oxygen. It worked! No jelly legs for me. I felt like I powered up the beach, feeling great. And the cheers from the CanToo crowd were fantastic! It felt amazing to be part of such a great organisation raising $$ for cancer research. We've recently hit the $4m mark, how awesome is that!
I cheered on my friends and training buddies, feeling somewhat bittersweet about it all. It was like "yay, we've finished" and "damn, we've finished" because there is no more swim program. Boo hoo. We had a BBQ at Manly Wharf afterwards and I think we were all feeling very emotional, such a relief for it to be over but we were sad that we weren't going to see each other as much. I'll admit, that I went home, had a shower and sat on the couch in my PJs for the afternoon. Something I rarely do! Made the somewhat catastrophic mistake of watching some Disney-esque family movie with Tom Selleck (helloooo) in it, with a very happy ending ... baah, cue waterworks. Managed to pull myself together though. Damn hormones.
So, that was the ending. I am still feeling sad about the swim finishing, despite the fact that in about four hours the run program starts! With the CanToo crew again, I am addicted! It's quite obvious, ha ha. A lot of my former running and swimming buddies will be joining me and I am looking forward to really challenging myself. I mean, every half marathon program is a challenge but I really think I can have a good running year if I can stay healthy and injury-free. My goal is to run four half-marathons this year, and at least one in under 1hr 55mins. My closest was 1hr 57mins and I nearly killed myself in the process. Well, no, not true. I actually was running on target until the 13km mark when I was hit by a terrible case of ... self loathing I think you could call it. I caught a glimpse of myself in a shop window and a range of horrible and negative thoughts flooded my brain.
I would also like to lose a good 5kg I think. I was analysing myself this morning and I think 5kg will put me where I'd like to be. It's healthy eating 101 here. No junk, just wholegrains for breakfast, fruit, salad etc and all homemade stuff. Slight slip up this morning with vegemite toast on turkish bread ... and just had a low-fat smoothie which I probably didn't really need.
Also going to start doing at least two spin classes a week plus three Bikram classes. Both in the mornings to free up the evenings for running and Pump. Let's see how we go!
I had arrived early for the 1km race because some of the less confident swimmers in our group were hoping for people to swim along with them. The weather kept a few of them away, however, so I didn't have to! I was secretly relieved as I was feeling a bit run down and tired, so I'm not sure I would've been especially helpful to them!
It was an absolutely massive day though, something like 4,300 people had registered for the race, but on the day I think there were less than 4,000 finishers as people opted to stay inside rather than brave the rain. My wave - the women 30-39 - was huuuge. It wasn't a tough course, mainly because the water was relatively calm for most of the race, but there were SEVEN cans/buoys to locate and swim around. Gah! It was ridiculous, constantly looking up and trying to see where I was swimming next. Thankfully I don't I swam TOO far off course, although a good extra hundred metres or two.
The finish, however, was the highlight. I tried out a technique I'd read about on a triathlon website, somewhere, about what to do to prevent the jelly legs feeling after a swim. Basically, you kick REALLY hard to get the blood flowing back into your legs, and breathe more frequently, taking in lots of extra oxygen. It worked! No jelly legs for me. I felt like I powered up the beach, feeling great. And the cheers from the CanToo crowd were fantastic! It felt amazing to be part of such a great organisation raising $$ for cancer research. We've recently hit the $4m mark, how awesome is that!
I cheered on my friends and training buddies, feeling somewhat bittersweet about it all. It was like "yay, we've finished" and "damn, we've finished" because there is no more swim program. Boo hoo. We had a BBQ at Manly Wharf afterwards and I think we were all feeling very emotional, such a relief for it to be over but we were sad that we weren't going to see each other as much. I'll admit, that I went home, had a shower and sat on the couch in my PJs for the afternoon. Something I rarely do! Made the somewhat catastrophic mistake of watching some Disney-esque family movie with Tom Selleck (helloooo) in it, with a very happy ending ... baah, cue waterworks. Managed to pull myself together though. Damn hormones.
So, that was the ending. I am still feeling sad about the swim finishing, despite the fact that in about four hours the run program starts! With the CanToo crew again, I am addicted! It's quite obvious, ha ha. A lot of my former running and swimming buddies will be joining me and I am looking forward to really challenging myself. I mean, every half marathon program is a challenge but I really think I can have a good running year if I can stay healthy and injury-free. My goal is to run four half-marathons this year, and at least one in under 1hr 55mins. My closest was 1hr 57mins and I nearly killed myself in the process. Well, no, not true. I actually was running on target until the 13km mark when I was hit by a terrible case of ... self loathing I think you could call it. I caught a glimpse of myself in a shop window and a range of horrible and negative thoughts flooded my brain.
I would also like to lose a good 5kg I think. I was analysing myself this morning and I think 5kg will put me where I'd like to be. It's healthy eating 101 here. No junk, just wholegrains for breakfast, fruit, salad etc and all homemade stuff. Slight slip up this morning with vegemite toast on turkish bread ... and just had a low-fat smoothie which I probably didn't really need.
Also going to start doing at least two spin classes a week plus three Bikram classes. Both in the mornings to free up the evenings for running and Pump. Let's see how we go!
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
The Big Swim
On Sunday, 31st of January, I completed the 2.7km Palm to Whale Beach swim that I have been training for since November 2009. The conditions were pretty good, all things considered, but it was still one of the hardest things I've ever done.
The swell was pretty big, with two to three metre waves ... which if you're just bobbing around, is great. But when you're swimming out and around a headland it's exhausting. Like being on a rollercoaster and you have to work extra hard going up and over the waves. Nothing, however, compares to when you actually get to the headland. It was like being in a washing machine, smashed by the waves on the left side of your body, and then the water was all churned up from the backwash of the waves hitting the headland.
It took me just under an hour, which is what I was aiming for, so I was happy in that regard. I was lucky because I didn't get sea sick which some of my teammates did. Urgh. Cannot imagine anything worse.
Anyway, I have one last race on Sunday which is 2km and not nearly as tough as it's in a sheltered beach rather than swimming out into the open water. I am looking forward to it, but I am quite relieved that swim season is about to end and running will start. I have really bulked up around the shoulders and chest! None of my tops fit ... well, a lot of them don't, and I feel like a man. I am going to keep swimming, but will keep it more around 1km a session rather than 3km or so. Really just more as recovery than fitness.
In general, everything has bulked up! More muscular legs and back. My core is stronger, but everything seems bigger! The scales haven't really moved though, so not sure if I've lost fat and put on muscle or if I'm just imagining things.
No rest for the wicket, however, as I've signed up to do my Bronze Medallion with the Newport SLSC. Should be a huge challenge, because clearly I don't like setting myself huge challenges (ha ha). On top of two sessions for that a week, I am also starting training for my first half-marathon for 2010 next week. I am really looking foward to that too ... going for 1hr55min again. Got so close last year!
I've been reading up on boosting your metabolism, naturally. Still very confuzzled by it all. Think I might try seeing a new nutritionist. But then, I figure I should be able to work it out all by myself.
The swell was pretty big, with two to three metre waves ... which if you're just bobbing around, is great. But when you're swimming out and around a headland it's exhausting. Like being on a rollercoaster and you have to work extra hard going up and over the waves. Nothing, however, compares to when you actually get to the headland. It was like being in a washing machine, smashed by the waves on the left side of your body, and then the water was all churned up from the backwash of the waves hitting the headland.
It took me just under an hour, which is what I was aiming for, so I was happy in that regard. I was lucky because I didn't get sea sick which some of my teammates did. Urgh. Cannot imagine anything worse.
Anyway, I have one last race on Sunday which is 2km and not nearly as tough as it's in a sheltered beach rather than swimming out into the open water. I am looking forward to it, but I am quite relieved that swim season is about to end and running will start. I have really bulked up around the shoulders and chest! None of my tops fit ... well, a lot of them don't, and I feel like a man. I am going to keep swimming, but will keep it more around 1km a session rather than 3km or so. Really just more as recovery than fitness.
In general, everything has bulked up! More muscular legs and back. My core is stronger, but everything seems bigger! The scales haven't really moved though, so not sure if I've lost fat and put on muscle or if I'm just imagining things.
No rest for the wicket, however, as I've signed up to do my Bronze Medallion with the Newport SLSC. Should be a huge challenge, because clearly I don't like setting myself huge challenges (ha ha). On top of two sessions for that a week, I am also starting training for my first half-marathon for 2010 next week. I am really looking foward to that too ... going for 1hr55min again. Got so close last year!
I've been reading up on boosting your metabolism, naturally. Still very confuzzled by it all. Think I might try seeing a new nutritionist. But then, I figure I should be able to work it out all by myself.
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Confuzed
If any random person reading this can help me ... please do!
How much should I be eating? Last year I saw a nutritionist in an attempt to trim down ahead of my first half-marathon for 2009. Her advice was a low GI diet, with around 1300 to 1500 calories a day. In terms of exercise, on an average week I do:
3 x running sessions (two 30-40 mins, one 60mins)
3 x swimming sessions (three pool, one surf)
Pump x 2
Bikram x 2
Obviously I double up sometimes :)
Anyhoo, I spoke to a friend of mine who is a PT who worked out my base metabolic rate (or something) and she said based on those figures (which included height, weight, activity level, age) I should be eating more like 2,000 calories a day!
What the? And she suggested that I wasn't eating enough, which was slowing my metabolism down, which was why I was having trouble with random weight gain.
Does this sound vaguely plausible? I'm so confuzed. Situation normal really, but if I'm doing the absolute wrong thing, I'd love to know!
Argh.
How much should I be eating? Last year I saw a nutritionist in an attempt to trim down ahead of my first half-marathon for 2009. Her advice was a low GI diet, with around 1300 to 1500 calories a day. In terms of exercise, on an average week I do:
3 x running sessions (two 30-40 mins, one 60mins)
3 x swimming sessions (three pool, one surf)
Pump x 2
Bikram x 2
Obviously I double up sometimes :)
Anyhoo, I spoke to a friend of mine who is a PT who worked out my base metabolic rate (or something) and she said based on those figures (which included height, weight, activity level, age) I should be eating more like 2,000 calories a day!
What the? And she suggested that I wasn't eating enough, which was slowing my metabolism down, which was why I was having trouble with random weight gain.
Does this sound vaguely plausible? I'm so confuzed. Situation normal really, but if I'm doing the absolute wrong thing, I'd love to know!
Argh.
Monday, 11 January 2010
The de-clutter
I am now ready to face the new decade (don't start with me about it not being the new decade, I am calling it the new decade - the end!) after spending a good chunk of the glorious weekend cleaning up my flat.
I should say, that at no point is it ever terribly dirty. It's just messy because it's tiny and I have a lot of stuff. Plus, I tend to be quite sentimental with things so find it hard to throw them away. Not on the weekend! I did have reinforcements though, in the form of my mum and dad. Ahh yes, it's sad but I think they quite enjoyed it - especially bossing me around! I didn't work them too hard, but they helped me to be more objective about things. I got rid of old linen and towels, or at least got them out of the house. I did a major clothing audit and got rid of anything that was old, didn't fit (either too big or way too small), I didn't wear for whatever reason etc etc. It was impressive. I did the same to my rather impressive shoe collection, and threw out seven pairs! Most of them were old, or ones that I had bought on the spur of the moment and ignored the fact they were inappropriate/uncomfortable etc.
Ahh, brilliant. Then I gave the house a major clean from top to bottom, including borrowing my mum's fancy steam mop to do the bathroom and kitchen. Both are tiny, so it took about three minutes to do. But it feels great.
I feel totally cleansed! I also ordered some new bookshelves, which are coming this weekend, so I can finally sort out my books. I love books and refuse to throw them away, but they are currently scattered through-out the house. One small bookshelf, two boxes, and a stack of about 15 next to my bed.
Phew.
So, running has been converted to swimming for a little while until the running training season starts properly in February. I did a 2km ocean race at Newport last weekend. The weather was HORRENDOUS. Windy, raining, cold and a big heavy swell with 2m waves that were dumping right on the beach. I may be mad, but I loved it. Aside from anything else, it was warmer in the water than outside it - especially when in a swimming costume. About halfway through I found myself marvelling at the amazing feeling of going over the big hump of a wave, being lifted up and gently sliding down it. Feeling fit and healthy, swimming 2km at 10am on a wet and cold Sunday morning when a good proportion of Sydney-siders were still tucked up in bed or, at the very least, inside enjoying a hot cup of tea or coffee.
I hate swimming much less than I did two months ago, but I am still really looking forward to getting back into serious running. I've been picking it up a bit myself, and have a fair way to go to get as fit (in terms of running) as I would like to be before training starts.
Anyway, here's to a de-cluttered 2010 and decade.
I should say, that at no point is it ever terribly dirty. It's just messy because it's tiny and I have a lot of stuff. Plus, I tend to be quite sentimental with things so find it hard to throw them away. Not on the weekend! I did have reinforcements though, in the form of my mum and dad. Ahh yes, it's sad but I think they quite enjoyed it - especially bossing me around! I didn't work them too hard, but they helped me to be more objective about things. I got rid of old linen and towels, or at least got them out of the house. I did a major clothing audit and got rid of anything that was old, didn't fit (either too big or way too small), I didn't wear for whatever reason etc etc. It was impressive. I did the same to my rather impressive shoe collection, and threw out seven pairs! Most of them were old, or ones that I had bought on the spur of the moment and ignored the fact they were inappropriate/uncomfortable etc.
Ahh, brilliant. Then I gave the house a major clean from top to bottom, including borrowing my mum's fancy steam mop to do the bathroom and kitchen. Both are tiny, so it took about three minutes to do. But it feels great.
I feel totally cleansed! I also ordered some new bookshelves, which are coming this weekend, so I can finally sort out my books. I love books and refuse to throw them away, but they are currently scattered through-out the house. One small bookshelf, two boxes, and a stack of about 15 next to my bed.
Phew.
So, running has been converted to swimming for a little while until the running training season starts properly in February. I did a 2km ocean race at Newport last weekend. The weather was HORRENDOUS. Windy, raining, cold and a big heavy swell with 2m waves that were dumping right on the beach. I may be mad, but I loved it. Aside from anything else, it was warmer in the water than outside it - especially when in a swimming costume. About halfway through I found myself marvelling at the amazing feeling of going over the big hump of a wave, being lifted up and gently sliding down it. Feeling fit and healthy, swimming 2km at 10am on a wet and cold Sunday morning when a good proportion of Sydney-siders were still tucked up in bed or, at the very least, inside enjoying a hot cup of tea or coffee.
I hate swimming much less than I did two months ago, but I am still really looking forward to getting back into serious running. I've been picking it up a bit myself, and have a fair way to go to get as fit (in terms of running) as I would like to be before training starts.
Anyway, here's to a de-cluttered 2010 and decade.
Friday, 1 January 2010
Happy New Year!
I have waved goodbye to a very challenging year and welcomed in a fresh new one from Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour. It was an awesome evening. Didn't drink too much, just a moderate amount. Camped out under the stars, which was just lovely - mild night, light breeze to keep the air fresh. I decided to just sleep on a yoga mat, as it was easier to carry than an air mattress or similar. Wish I'd taken a better pillow though, just used a fleece top which didn't really do much. Means today is pretty much a write off as my neck is soooo unbelievably sore and I'm so tired from no sleep. I did a 1.8km swim yesterday morning though, and have done a fair bit of walking today so it's not so bad.
Christmas with the family was fantastic. Naturally we all ate far too much food, but it was good and Christmas only comes once a year ... thank god!
I am trying not to be disappointed with myself at the moment. I'm starting the year off pretty much where I was at the beginning of 2009, about 5kg heavier than where I want to be! I feel like I should give myself a break though because I'm still struggling to develop a functional routine around my new work hours AND get used to my new job. I haven't been going too crazy, but I think I'm just the type of person who cannot afford to slack off at all. I just need to get back to much lighter eating.
I initially freaked out a bit and started looking at detox diets, nothing too crazy, and diet plans etc but then I realised I know this stuff! I know what I'm doing wrong/right etc and all I need is a bit of extra planning, motivation and focus.
Main focus is to have a "good month". Just one month of eating right, getting MUCH more sleep, more regular exercise and especially need to get back to the gym.
Speaking of sleep... it's time for an early night.
Christmas with the family was fantastic. Naturally we all ate far too much food, but it was good and Christmas only comes once a year ... thank god!
I am trying not to be disappointed with myself at the moment. I'm starting the year off pretty much where I was at the beginning of 2009, about 5kg heavier than where I want to be! I feel like I should give myself a break though because I'm still struggling to develop a functional routine around my new work hours AND get used to my new job. I haven't been going too crazy, but I think I'm just the type of person who cannot afford to slack off at all. I just need to get back to much lighter eating.
I initially freaked out a bit and started looking at detox diets, nothing too crazy, and diet plans etc but then I realised I know this stuff! I know what I'm doing wrong/right etc and all I need is a bit of extra planning, motivation and focus.
Main focus is to have a "good month". Just one month of eating right, getting MUCH more sleep, more regular exercise and especially need to get back to the gym.
Speaking of sleep... it's time for an early night.
Sunday, 20 December 2009
A year in review
Like most people, at this time of year I'm really assessing 2009 - what I achieved, what I didn't and what I want to do in 2010.
In 2009 I: ran three half-marathons, made some great new friends through CanToo and strengthened friendships made in 2008 in CanToo, did a 40 classes in 60 days Bikram challenge, was made redundant, got a fantastic new job that I love and feel lucky to have landed, and last weekend I swam in my first ocean race!
On a more personal side, I met a married guy who wanted to have an affair with me, I finally broke ties with an ex who - while being a pretty good guy - was bad for me and my self esteem/confidence, gave internet dating a red-hot go, went through a range of good and bad emotions about myself and where I am in life and where I want to be, and turned 31!
I feel like 2009 was a bad year really. A lot of ups and downs emotionally, more than one night crying like an idiot (over men, generally) and doubting myself. I was made redundant from a job that I didn't really like, but worked extremely hard in and was only made redundant due to a personality clash with the boss. From all this, however, I feel like I've really managed to make the best of it, learn and grow. I feel like I am so much stronger for all the sh*t that went on, and in 2010 will use all this experience to drive me.
Naturally, my number one goal for 2010 is to increase AND MAINTAIN fitness. At the beginning of 2009 I went on a huge clean eating and exercise mission, dropped a good dress size/5kg or so and felt fantastic. Around the middle of the year, however, it started slipping. My eating started to slip as I made excuses to eat not so much junk, but the food I just cannot handle - more highly processed stuff basically, and too much sugar/fat and just too much in general. The result was, of course, weight gain, loss of fitness and constantly fighting fatigue.
Of course, you can only do what you can. I was working 10 hour shifts with no break, under a lot of pressure at work and as the company's merger was announced in February but the results/outcome of this weren't known until August I feel like I spent far too many months worrying about the future. I feel like I did the best with the free time I had, but in 2010 with my new job and more civilised hours I can do better.
So, here we are again. Resetting goals. I've been working for the past month or so on rebuilding a fitness base. On Saturday I finally felt like it was working and reminded myself of why I want to get to that higher level of fitness. I went on a 10km run with some of my running group, which has broken up for the swim season. We'd run 9km and I was coming up the last and not insignificant hill, having run up a pretty monstrous hill already without stopping or losing too much speed. About a third of the way up the hill, a break-through, I got a surge of energy! I seriously did, I picked up my pace and powered up that hill feeling fresh and alive. Whoo hoo. I then powered the final km home.
After that, we went off to swim training at Manly beach. We did about 2km, swimming from South Steyne to Shelly, then to Half-Way beach and back. While I was by no means in the front of the pack, I was definitely in the top third of the group. More than that, about 1km into the swim I found myself actually relaxed and enjoying the fact I was swimming well and feeling good. Until Saturday I'd found myself really tense in the water with almost strained breathing, on the verge of panicking or getting upset because I didn't feel good.
So I was stroking along and gave myself a big pat on the back. I've only been swimming again for about five weeks, prior to that it had been about 10 years since I'd done any serious swimming training. As a kid/teen I did a LOT of swimming. Four or five sessions a week, plus surf life saving on the weekends. I had a lot of pressure from my parents to keep doing it and to improve and compete at a higher level. The more pressure they applied, the less I wanted to do it until they finally stopped pushing and I gave up.
But here I am again, almost enjoying swimming training. I still hate the pool sessions, there is nothing to look at but the black line and the chlorine is drying out my skin, hair and irritating my eyes. At the same time, I really like feeling that fitness level come up again. So, I am definitely going to keep swimming while doing my other stuff. I feel like it's really strengthened up my back muscles and is great for all over fitness.
Soooo, that was all a very long winded way of saying that I look forward to regaining that real feeling of fitness. The feeling that your body is just bursting with energy and health and that you can do just about anything. Run, swim, weights, yoga etc etc.
Oh, and I look forward to fitting into my skinny jeans again! Not skinny leg style jeans, that would just be obscene as I have heavily muscled legs and am far too short to pull it off. But obviously I mean my smaller sized jeans that have alluded me since August!
I'm not putting any kg loss target on myself, although secretly if I could lose about 7kg I think I would be at my prime fighting weight and ready to consider the full marathon in September. I know what I need to do to get there. It's not about crazy dieting, for me, it's about much more careful eating and training. And sleep. I must remember to sleep. As I'm not a spring chicken anymore, not that I'm ancient, I need my sleep more than ever before. Gone are the days when I could sleep for four or five hours and expect to feel fantastic. I need at least seven hours to wake up feeling fresh.
More than that, it needs to be good sleep. No eating an hour before bed or sleeping in later to catch up on sleep.
I think it's going to be about routine ... or if not routine, but a rhythm.
While I love my new job, I am still struggling to get myself into that rhythm due to increased travel times and stuff. I can't do a class at 6am, arrive home at 7am and be on the train 20 minutes later. I really need to consider finding a gym closer to work. I am considering getting a personal trainer to show me the right way to do weights. I've done a lot of pump, but I don't think this is really targetted enough for me. The problem, I've seen, with PTs is that there are a lot of them out there and they're not all created equal. While there are some good trainers at Fitness First, a lot of them just don't really care about you or your goals - they just want to get paid.
I've hard a friend of a friend is opening up a very private gym basically half-way between home and work and I think she might be the right fit. I've got a few friends who are PTs, but I really need someone who I have no emotional connection with right now, as I want to be pushed hard and do not want it to affect any of my friendships. I have no problem with working hard, but I don't like the idea of my friends telling me what to do.
Soooo, the goals for 2010. Get fitter, stay happy, stay focussed on my goals, stop doing things I don't want to do because others want me to do it and not feel guilty for making myself my number one priority.
A clear plan of how to do all this is yet to emerge, but it will!
Does anyone have any tips for staying motivated and enthusiastic? When I lost my first amount of weight, four years ago, I took what I called a day by day approach. I didn't think about the next week/month etc, I really broke things down to one day at a time. I would wake up in the morning and make sure every decision I made about food and exercise was "on goal". If I had a bad day, I didn't let if affect the next and, similarly, if I ate something bad I didn't just give in and let it mean I had a bad day or week. I think this is the key for me. Keep the focus really tight, one day at a time. In 2009 I really lost this as I was setting myself big goals for the future and then worrying about how I would get there and panicking about it.
So I think this is what I need to do. Work out a vague plan of attack, and take things one day at a time. Think more about what I'm doing during the day ... so often I just simply forget about what I'm eating and find myself munching away on the stuff I wanted to avoid. Like bread rolls or high sugar yoghurts or big handfuls of nuts.
So, farewell to 2009 a year of ups and downs but ultimately a lot of personal growth. I am acknowledging what I've achieved, but I refuse this time to rest on my laurels and bask in that glory. I know I can do more if I stay focussed.
In 2009 I: ran three half-marathons, made some great new friends through CanToo and strengthened friendships made in 2008 in CanToo, did a 40 classes in 60 days Bikram challenge, was made redundant, got a fantastic new job that I love and feel lucky to have landed, and last weekend I swam in my first ocean race!
On a more personal side, I met a married guy who wanted to have an affair with me, I finally broke ties with an ex who - while being a pretty good guy - was bad for me and my self esteem/confidence, gave internet dating a red-hot go, went through a range of good and bad emotions about myself and where I am in life and where I want to be, and turned 31!
I feel like 2009 was a bad year really. A lot of ups and downs emotionally, more than one night crying like an idiot (over men, generally) and doubting myself. I was made redundant from a job that I didn't really like, but worked extremely hard in and was only made redundant due to a personality clash with the boss. From all this, however, I feel like I've really managed to make the best of it, learn and grow. I feel like I am so much stronger for all the sh*t that went on, and in 2010 will use all this experience to drive me.
Naturally, my number one goal for 2010 is to increase AND MAINTAIN fitness. At the beginning of 2009 I went on a huge clean eating and exercise mission, dropped a good dress size/5kg or so and felt fantastic. Around the middle of the year, however, it started slipping. My eating started to slip as I made excuses to eat not so much junk, but the food I just cannot handle - more highly processed stuff basically, and too much sugar/fat and just too much in general. The result was, of course, weight gain, loss of fitness and constantly fighting fatigue.
Of course, you can only do what you can. I was working 10 hour shifts with no break, under a lot of pressure at work and as the company's merger was announced in February but the results/outcome of this weren't known until August I feel like I spent far too many months worrying about the future. I feel like I did the best with the free time I had, but in 2010 with my new job and more civilised hours I can do better.
So, here we are again. Resetting goals. I've been working for the past month or so on rebuilding a fitness base. On Saturday I finally felt like it was working and reminded myself of why I want to get to that higher level of fitness. I went on a 10km run with some of my running group, which has broken up for the swim season. We'd run 9km and I was coming up the last and not insignificant hill, having run up a pretty monstrous hill already without stopping or losing too much speed. About a third of the way up the hill, a break-through, I got a surge of energy! I seriously did, I picked up my pace and powered up that hill feeling fresh and alive. Whoo hoo. I then powered the final km home.
After that, we went off to swim training at Manly beach. We did about 2km, swimming from South Steyne to Shelly, then to Half-Way beach and back. While I was by no means in the front of the pack, I was definitely in the top third of the group. More than that, about 1km into the swim I found myself actually relaxed and enjoying the fact I was swimming well and feeling good. Until Saturday I'd found myself really tense in the water with almost strained breathing, on the verge of panicking or getting upset because I didn't feel good.
So I was stroking along and gave myself a big pat on the back. I've only been swimming again for about five weeks, prior to that it had been about 10 years since I'd done any serious swimming training. As a kid/teen I did a LOT of swimming. Four or five sessions a week, plus surf life saving on the weekends. I had a lot of pressure from my parents to keep doing it and to improve and compete at a higher level. The more pressure they applied, the less I wanted to do it until they finally stopped pushing and I gave up.
But here I am again, almost enjoying swimming training. I still hate the pool sessions, there is nothing to look at but the black line and the chlorine is drying out my skin, hair and irritating my eyes. At the same time, I really like feeling that fitness level come up again. So, I am definitely going to keep swimming while doing my other stuff. I feel like it's really strengthened up my back muscles and is great for all over fitness.
Soooo, that was all a very long winded way of saying that I look forward to regaining that real feeling of fitness. The feeling that your body is just bursting with energy and health and that you can do just about anything. Run, swim, weights, yoga etc etc.
Oh, and I look forward to fitting into my skinny jeans again! Not skinny leg style jeans, that would just be obscene as I have heavily muscled legs and am far too short to pull it off. But obviously I mean my smaller sized jeans that have alluded me since August!
I'm not putting any kg loss target on myself, although secretly if I could lose about 7kg I think I would be at my prime fighting weight and ready to consider the full marathon in September. I know what I need to do to get there. It's not about crazy dieting, for me, it's about much more careful eating and training. And sleep. I must remember to sleep. As I'm not a spring chicken anymore, not that I'm ancient, I need my sleep more than ever before. Gone are the days when I could sleep for four or five hours and expect to feel fantastic. I need at least seven hours to wake up feeling fresh.
More than that, it needs to be good sleep. No eating an hour before bed or sleeping in later to catch up on sleep.
I think it's going to be about routine ... or if not routine, but a rhythm.
While I love my new job, I am still struggling to get myself into that rhythm due to increased travel times and stuff. I can't do a class at 6am, arrive home at 7am and be on the train 20 minutes later. I really need to consider finding a gym closer to work. I am considering getting a personal trainer to show me the right way to do weights. I've done a lot of pump, but I don't think this is really targetted enough for me. The problem, I've seen, with PTs is that there are a lot of them out there and they're not all created equal. While there are some good trainers at Fitness First, a lot of them just don't really care about you or your goals - they just want to get paid.
I've hard a friend of a friend is opening up a very private gym basically half-way between home and work and I think she might be the right fit. I've got a few friends who are PTs, but I really need someone who I have no emotional connection with right now, as I want to be pushed hard and do not want it to affect any of my friendships. I have no problem with working hard, but I don't like the idea of my friends telling me what to do.
Soooo, the goals for 2010. Get fitter, stay happy, stay focussed on my goals, stop doing things I don't want to do because others want me to do it and not feel guilty for making myself my number one priority.
A clear plan of how to do all this is yet to emerge, but it will!
Does anyone have any tips for staying motivated and enthusiastic? When I lost my first amount of weight, four years ago, I took what I called a day by day approach. I didn't think about the next week/month etc, I really broke things down to one day at a time. I would wake up in the morning and make sure every decision I made about food and exercise was "on goal". If I had a bad day, I didn't let if affect the next and, similarly, if I ate something bad I didn't just give in and let it mean I had a bad day or week. I think this is the key for me. Keep the focus really tight, one day at a time. In 2009 I really lost this as I was setting myself big goals for the future and then worrying about how I would get there and panicking about it.
So I think this is what I need to do. Work out a vague plan of attack, and take things one day at a time. Think more about what I'm doing during the day ... so often I just simply forget about what I'm eating and find myself munching away on the stuff I wanted to avoid. Like bread rolls or high sugar yoghurts or big handfuls of nuts.
So, farewell to 2009 a year of ups and downs but ultimately a lot of personal growth. I am acknowledging what I've achieved, but I refuse this time to rest on my laurels and bask in that glory. I know I can do more if I stay focussed.
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