THAILAND TODAY!!!

Well, it is 12.08am.  Alarm goes off at 4.45am...........for me to get up, dressed, to head out the door to be ready for my taxi at 5.30am which takes me to the airport!

Have vacummed and tidied up a bit.  I bought a pair of new comfy Teva's, (sport/beach sandals, - better than jandals for climbing over rocks etc).  Hope I have packed right.  I think the only thing missing from the list is binoculars, (haven't got those!)  Not sure if my long light weight trackpants with a long sleeved shirt is suitable enough for visiting a temple but it's what I have got for now!  And I have a nice hot pink luggage tag!

I had sent my sleeping bag back to NZ with all my luggage, - bought a light weight summer sleeping bag for $12, - think I'm 4-5 nights camping!  We have a 3 day trek near Chiang Mai up north in the hills, visiting tribes, (4-5 hours trekking a day so not too major)  and a 3 day kayak near Krabi with camping each night as part of my trip.  Other days have bike riding/visiting temples/scenic areas etc.  A couple nights accommodation is in an overnight 'sleeper train', - another night on a 'floating raft'! Otherwise at a guesthouse or hotel. 

On a grading of 1-5, (1 the easiest and 5 being challenging fitness wise), - mine is a 3.  It's an active tour, - but I believe it doesn't matter if you're not superfit!

Some meals are provided on tour, - some aren't.  I have 2 days either side of the tour which I have no plans for at this stage, however my accommodation for these nights is booked and paid for.  I am staying at the hotel which my tour company G-Adventures uses as their starting point for tours out of Bangkok.  I have paid for a G-Adventures rep to meet me at Bangkok and transfer me to the hotel so I will see if this happens!

I have bought a travel adapter for Thailand, so hope to charge phone up and use the Wi-Fi to do the
odd facebook update where possible! 

Hopefully I have some awesome fun stories and photos to share on my return :-)

I return to Perth on 6 Nov, - so will prob have an update done on 7 Nov!

Bye till then!

Pip :-)

A Few Pics from Boddington visit 14/10/12!

 

 

 

 

 

Pics from today at Boddington!  There are a few more I took that are on facebook, but time prevailed with uploading to the blog!  These pics are on a walk down near the Hotham River in Boddington, WA.  During 2005 and half of 2006 I lived in Boddington and a common run route I did was the track as pictured here down by the river!

Today I got a ride into Boddington where I caught up with some relatives and friends I hadn't seen in years!  But first thing first, - I took a walk with my camera down where I used to go running many years back! :-) 

Pip :-)

WELL TEAM....................

The older I get, the longer the yo-yo drops, the grumpier I sure get :)

I am really peeved at myself that I haven't got my shit together permanently,  - ie got myself to an awesome fitness level/size/shape where I stayed at, (within a small range) permanently!

In the zone, - where my 'ideal' destination feels close, I feel invincible, - no WAY will I let it slip, (not that I've ever followed a 'diet' or have been overly 'strict' with anything, but eventually.......at some point.......it happens!  Long term maintenance still eludes me!

Right now, I am probably the biggest I've been in years, - since 2008 or 2009 (for a short period then)anyway, - still am keeping away from the scales.  I feel like I'm pretty much bursting out of my few size 16 garments I have, - a far cry from the fit and toned size 10 I was mid last year!, - would say I'm up about 20kg on that.  Not a place where I ever imagined I would be again or ever hope to be in again!

As for last weeks contract, - I was using a kinda 'ease in' approach rather than anything overly strict.  I did OK for a few days, - but a few drinks last weekend turned into a few too many, then too much food, then I caught a sore throat/cold, - all the best when I'm heading off to Thailand Friday next week!  It had better not develop into anything nasty, - and had better go away.  Trip sorting out is getting there, but STILL everything is not finalised.

I have been biking and walking alot, (such as 40k rides or 15k walks in a day) haven't been overly indulgent since not working, (just a bit) but most of the damage while I had my work routine.  Am loving not working though!

Am now in the process of just having have started a little mini detox till I leave for Thailand, - no caffeine, no alcohol, no soft drinks/diet soft drinks or confectionary sugar, no deep fried or pastry food.  Pretty much will stick to the same nutrition guidelines as I did for my kinda recent 29 day challenge, - except give up the coffee as well.  My reasoning for that is I don't want caffeine withdrawal headaches on my tour where there won't be cappucino machines, - and also in NZ I won't be able to have a cappucino machine at my beck and call!  I won't give up coffee for good, - just make it a couple of times a week thing instead of once or twice a day!  Will keep up the walking/riding/gymming, - will add resistance work back in again.  My recent sore back didn't help me keep momentum, - but I have dragged it out as an excuse for too long!

Well, - shedding the 20kg(ish).....to get to my 'awesome form' and attaining a fitness level I'm proud of again will probably be a 6 month(ish) project!  I really hope my body responds, - I know it is slower off the mark as it's getting older, - hope I don't have loose skin etc either, - I feel bad for my body that I keep stressing it!  I still think I have it in me to attain new PB's that I never have before!  To stay focussed long enough to do 2 full chin ups, the splits, get my running speed back there, and really develop my cycling and swimming........but all that feels a good way down the track at the moment!  The lifestyle NEEDS to be kept, -off zone CAN'T creep in.  I have announced the lifestyle I want and aim to lead beyond that!  For sure, - I realise maintenance isn't about 'going at it hard' all the time but some standards need to remain!

For now:
The focus is on being 'on track' till Thailand!  Food wise, dropping the caffeine as something new and working out!

In Thailand, - all bar 4 days I will be on a tour.  Some meals are provided, - some we are left to decide to our own devices. First goal will be no bingeing.  Secondly, - main thing will be considering food safety, - (ie not getting some stomach bug if poss).  Maybe no exotic seafood, (I luv seafood), I have been advised not to eat salad as it's maybe washed in contaminated water.  Maybe cooked vegetarian options and fruit which can be peeled is safest.  Will choose mainstream tour options rather than go out my usual way and be adventurous I think!  And drink bottled water, (no ice in drinks).  It is an active tour with cycling, hiking and kayaking.  I am looking forward to the trip, - just wish I felt fitter and leaner in myself which for me equals more confidence and energy etc! 

I hope to get lots of good photos and learn lots about the culture and lifestyle of Thai people.  Hope to give a really good blog account of this trip when I return!

That is it for now,

Talk soon :-)

NICE THINGS OF LATE...........

Hello all!  Just thought I would give you a post/update of things I am really currently enjoying.

A week ago, I was coming to the end of my foundation so was on the lookout for a newbie.

I did once have a nice Lancome one I liked but at $68...........no I wanted to go cheaper!
My last Revlon liquid one was average, the colour consultant matched me up etc, the coverage was prob quite thick, - but all in all, - ok, not great but I bought it as it was only $28.95 on special.  I remember I once liked 'Body Shop' liquid foundations which are priced in the $30's so I cruised in a local shop for a look.  The sales consultant was very helpful, asked me what I was after etc, - then in the end showed me this compact 'mineral' makup as pictured.

She then matched my colour up, applied it and I fell in love!  I have had mineral makeup 'powder' before, (therefore was sceptical), it frustrated me as all the loose powder somehow flew onto white vanity units, all through makeup bags making atrocious messy stains DESPITE me closing the damn lids firmly, - and it took ages to get the 'look' I liked, (I don't spend ages with makeup, like it light and natural) so I decided liquids and even tinted moisturisors with sunscreen were easier.

BUT I wanna tell you, I think the pictured Body Shop mineral makeup foundation is AWESOME!  It ISN'T a powder, it comes with a decent brush for application, it can be applied to the coverage level required but never looks caked on and it has an SPF 15.  It is priced quite expensively at $48.90 I think but is NICE!  I guess I can just recommend that one gets the right colour for their skintone!

The next pic is of my new Clinique perfume, (nice subtle clean fresh everyday scent) as I ran out of my old perfumes bought 2 years ago.  I bought the small size, - and by buying this and some Clinique 'City Block' SPF 30 facial sunscreen I could get a 'free gift', - hence the colourful filled cosmetic bag below! 

If I ever buy any more 'expensive' cosmetic products, (ie not supermarket cheapest stuff on special or BodyShop stuff), I make sure I purchase at a time of the year where I get a 'decent free gift' for spending $60 or $70! 

This year the 'gift' was magical!  I received the cosmetic bag, a nice black mascara, a  'repairwear uplifting cream', some 'repairwear laser focus wrinkle UV damage corrector cream', some moisturising lotion, some foaming cleanser, a beaut natural lip gloss, 2 fashionable eye shadow colours in a nice compact with applicator!  I must say that 'travel' sizes have become more generous of late, - will last me a while!  MOST importantly with Clinique, the lids/caps seem to stay on everything well, ie no nasty stains in or through my nice cosmetic bag!  My challenge is to see how long I can keep it that way!!!

The last pic is the earrings I received as a leaving gift from my workmates when I called in for my final stuff this last Friday.  Stirling silver with amethysts, - I feel VERY lucky, - luv them!!!!!

Am definitely enjoying not working!  However once I hit NZ I know things will get busy for me, I have quite a bit to see to on my agenda.

Till next time,

Pip :-)

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

Well peeps, I am someone who has luved fitness for years, - ever actually!, - fought hard to attain great new fitness levels and health, and have had many highs of new PB's.  When 'in the zone' I love it, never feel I'm what I would consider 'overly obsessive' though, have NEVER followed any type of 'strict' dietplan.  However when 'in the zone' I do really push myself with my workouts as I like to see new fitness results/improvements etc FAST!  I always say 'this is it', - I will never take a big fall.

However until now, - the enivitable is that I do,  at some point, eventually fall, - to the point of weeks/months of ummm, bingeing or out of the zone behaviour where I gain a heap of kilos and lose a heap of fitness at lightening speed and all that it entails.  When 'out of the zone', restarting at a much lesser level, - again- is demotivating plus getting rid of the newly formed sugar addiction, cheesy overindulgences etc which don't even appeal when 'in the zone'.  But as we know, - the re-starting HAS to be done, the sooner the better! 

PLUS, the ideal is 'in the zone', needs to be a permanent lifestyle for me, not a few days, weeks or at best a few months.  Another valid point is that on 'full time in the zone' lifestyle doesn't mean going hard for it every year, 52 weeks a year!  There will be times when we 'go for it' in our training toward whatever we are striving for.  There will also be short periods where we train in a more maintenance or active recovery type of way as we allow other important things to occur in life.  I do believe that 'in the zone' controlled eating/food choices we feel comfortable with need to remain a constant permanently.  'In the zone' doesn't have to mean perfection, - basically it means keeping to a controlled standard that we are happy with as individuals.  Each individual is different.

I am disappointed that at my age, I am still fighting this.  Yes, - I took some horrid bikini pics as I said I would yesterday and they look as I expected them to.  Yes, extra fat feels not so good to carry as well.  However my BIGGEST concern is what all this carry on is doing to my long term health.  I intend to get this in order permanently and hope to be helpful to others in the future with similar issues. 

For me it is about living a life in alignment with my core values.  It is not about trying to please or meet other people's expectations.

The picture above is a contract I typed myself today.  It mentions *GOALS*. then *REALITIES OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE KEPT IN CONTROL, (LIFESTYLE)!!!  I have signed it, dated it.  And it's underway and effective now.

By the way I am still determined not to weigh myself for a good while, ideally not this year!  I took bikini pics yesterday, my proposition is to take a new set of bikini pics every 4-6 weeks of me front, side and back on.  Going by them, fitness levels, habits, how I feel, clothes will determine progress.

The one thing I KNOW and am DETERMINED about this time is THIS IS IT! The permanent zone is here for good!  In the event of an uncontrolled slip/binge, (which ideally will never happen), - I MUST be back to my controlled zone, within 24 hours later.

I will say again, this is about controlled choices I am happy with, not necessarily perfection all the time.

Pip :-)

NEW DIRECTIONS!!!............

Today is a Public Holiday, (Queen's Birthday) here in WA!  It has been a fun weekend!  I finished work on Friday!, - had a few drinks!  Watched the AFL Grand Final on Saturday, then ordered in Pizza in the evening, (thin and crispy base and lots of veg on the pizza, but still takeout pizza where I ate too much and drank too much alcohol prior!)  With no car I bike everywhere now, but *could* of organised myself better, - much better!

Yesterday I attended a part'ae!  Some pics are on facebook!  Parties are always fun.  It's great catching up with mates, relaxing, dressing up, (if even only a little)!  Using a road bike to get to traino, - I opted not wear a dress or heels, so am wearing a loose top and black shorts, just above knee length, thongs and toe nail polish!  26 degrees yesterday and 34 today in Perth so one can do that! 

Seriously though, - I am about the fattest I have been in a few years.  I am determined not to get on the scales to attach a number with it right now, but do feel it is in the vicinity of the early 80's, - could even be heading toward the mid 80's if I jumped on scales when overfull!  I am probably not dis-similar to when I started my 29 day challenge not long back, - I was 81.0 after 4 intense well on track days of that!

I did buy some new French Connection Black shorts which sit just above the knee last week, quite nice but simple ones.  I took a 14 and 16 into the dressing room, as I can tell by looking at me now that I am not a 10 or 12!  I put on the 14's.  They got done up, weren't too bad but even through a loose fitting top I could see the bulgy *muffin* sitting above those shorts!  I tried on the 16's then.  Maybe they were a tad baggy around the bum, but they sat just under my belly button level and the *muffin* looked like it had less cling.  I bought that pair as I needed the shorts to fit NOW, not possibly in 3-4 weeks!  Yesterday I was walking around in those shorts.  My hips are smaller in comparison to my waist, (apple shape) so shorts were falling down  due to some stomach pressure.  However as shorts were sitting lower, inner upper thighs were rubbing together when walking, - another sign of carrying too much fat!  I always must make sure my tops are long enough if carrying too much weight or sight wouldn't be nice, (my chest grows with my stomach as well!)

I still feel determined to turn this around FOR GOOD, - and not be a slave to the scales to determine progress.  I thought about methods to do this which could even serve as visuals to help others in the future. 

I have come up with taking a bikini pic of me monthly, - front and back!  That bares it!  A month is a time where it is possible to see *progress or *disprogress.  My pics don't need to be exactly a month apart, can be anywhere from 4-6 weeks, - but will record dates.

It feels awesome not to have to put my alarm on for 4:45am tomoz, - but don't you worry, tomoz will be productive! :-)

Pip :-)