G'day!
I will give an update, can say I am up to day 11......binge free, sugar free, alcohol free, pastry/deep fried food free and diet soft drink free very successfully at the moment. Yippee, haven't swapped one less than desirable habit for another.
To make that even better, - I have exceeded my training objectives. Have been getting in a decent amount of running, - both outdoors and on the treadmill covering well over 20k a wee over a few runs. Am also getting in a good ride of at least 30km each weekend, (40k last Saturday). Am also doing a good bit of resistance training too. An objective is to work toward doing pull ups, (or at least see myself able to go up levels on the resistance pull up machine over time). I am still working on the shoulder press, tricep dip machine, leg press, leg extension, amongst many others. Then there are always the good ol' push ups of various styles, plank, crunches, lunges etc, - I even make myself do a circuit of them with ski jumps, run knee ups etc inbetween while watching the Olympics to get warm instead of turning on a heater at least a couple of times a week!
I find the hardest bit, - is having no alcohol, - that is no wine, beer etc :-( lol! And I can't even chug down on a coke zero or two to feel 'good' about not indulging in my wine urge! The first 3 days or so, - the food bit was harder but that is feeling pretty routine and simple now.
Now one may ask, 'WHY am I doing this'?
Answer: Last year I reached my main objective which was to get and stay under 68kg, (I did for a few months anyway). 62kg for some reason had always been my 'ultimate' target but I didn't know if it was still a realistic target or not. However I was excited to get under 68kg, - kept up what I was doing and about 8 weeks later I hit 62kg, I was super excited, size 10 etc! I was eating healthy food, fresh etc, doing a reasonable amount of running, plus a bit of swimming and bike riding and the odd few resistance exercises on the floor. However some weeks I seemed busy and only got 2 good sessions in, others maybe 4 or more.
For whatever reasons, (mainly enjoyable habit built over a LONG time, (many years actually) I was drinking what I considered too much wine, - that (embarrassed to admit), being a maybe a bottle a night for a good few nights in a row. A bottle is 3 large glasses, I may have had the first while cooking tea and then sipped the other 2 over the evening while on the internet/cleaning etc. Of course sometimes I cracked down and had an alcohol free 3-4 days or so in a row, - occasionally longer (or made myself wait till Thurs or Fri where a good indulgence then took place, or had a beer or sometimes 3-4 instead of wine). Occasionally even a second bottle of wine the same evening was opened. Reality: - I just loved/love wine, - mainly sauvignon blanc, dry sparkling etc. Sometimes I stuck to my goal of only either one or two glasses, - then couldn't wait to finish the bottle the next day/it was on my mind like open chocolate would be if I was 'outta the zone', (but more often I had the bottle). I kidded myself, (although I knew) that a bottle was just 3 large glasses, (however generally 7-8.5 standard drinks) where as my ex-partners maybe 3 midstrength beers were 3 standard drinks.
I kept 'meaning' to reign in the wine habit, or started/but went back to square one. However I still got to my goal weight, kept up a reasonable amount of running and fitness and went about life as normal. I finished my last blog as I had got to a goal weight and wanted to quit blogging about that and move to a more fitness/hobbies/travel/lifestyle focus. But I still felt guilty about my wine consumption, - particularly if I want to work in the fitness/health.wellness industry.
Unfortunately overeating/dare say bingeing took place, lifestyle changes etc and I put on quite a bit of weight, (15kg over 3 months) but up until a couple of months ago kept going up and down by a few kilos depending whether I felt I was 'in the zone' or 'out'. So from October till early June I fluctuated between about 72.5-78kg but went backwards and forwards a few times.
However up until 11 days ago, the previous few weeks had been a bit dangerous. My last previous weigh in was the day after 'Run for a Reason', - about 24 May and I remembered being 72.5. Since then I lost focus and allowed 'sugar addiction' to take place, - and on day 4, (last Tuesday arvo so after almost 4 days on track) I decided to brave the scales for the first time since. I knew it wouldn't be good, I am limited to my elastic waisted trackies, I was HOPING under 80, (as I hadn't seen 80 since 2009) but thought it was a 50/50 chance. I had tried on a couple of bras in a shop and looked ghastly around torso, (worse than ages) and also took a few 14DD's they were all much too tight around the back, and also in the cup, need more like a 16E. Anyhow last Tuesday the number 81.0 flashed up when I got on the gym scales, no shoes on either. Yesterday after being totally on track for 6 days I got on them again, - saw 80.2. I don't seem to get the 3-4kg losses in a few days like I could a few years back when over 80 and work hard!
I have taken this blog link off facebook, hopefully no-one has written down the link to go/check on me other than regular bloggers. So yes, - I want to improve on all aspects of fitness, - strength, cardio etc, maybe even be fitter than ever. I would love to get my resting heart rate down. I want to shed this fat, reduce body fat, fit size 12/ideally 10's again. I want to study Exercise Science but feel like a fraud somewhat unless I live to my core values.
I actually like having a sugarfree diet, (confectionary sugar free) and aim and want to keep it this way except for the rare and special social occasions where total avoidance is a lil attention seeking feeling and hard. As for alcohol, - the hope is not to quit it totally, but to keep it to social occasions, (mostly keeping it to 2 drinks max which is 3-4 standard drinks anyway at least 80% of times socially.) I am sure there still will be the odd special social occasion where a little more is consumed but it'e to be a matter of every few weeks/months instead of almost daily. And the biggest culprit is drinking without company! I didn't choose to do it cause I was depressed or anything, - more so it was a relaxing indulging habit I had formed for all it's reasons and I've been doing it for years, (over 10 years) sometimes off/on. I feel the need to place a total ban on drinking alone, (or replacing drinking with coke zero or bingeing or another undesirable habit either). Drinking seems to also postpone other important things that need doing like house maintenance, training and study next year. I am a people pleaser by nature, - sometimes try to be a 'goddess' for others.
And when 'in the zone eating/training wise' I tend to drink and want to drink more so wine also became an indulgent way to relax after pushing myself in each aspect all day so I kept telling myself! If 'out of the zone', with more food, sugar, overeating, cheese, diet soft drink, etc in my diet the urge for wine wasn't quite as strong.
So there we have it. One small thing I have noticed regarding hitting 80kg this time is that my fitness hasn't dropped off too dramatically. I was pushing the weights quite hard a few months back and don't seem to need to drop back at all toward the level I was in January when I joined the gym so am working on further increasing my strength without it having had taken a dip. Cardio, run speed has dropped off a bit. But still am much fitter than in January at 77kg. Rower effort hasn't dropped off at all, can still push self to do over 2.3k on level 10 in 10 mins!
That is long enough for a night, gotta go!
Pip :-)
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Monday, July 23, 2012
Recent Doings plus the Up and Comings!!!
G'day readers!
Just a quick update today. I am typing from an internet cafe as I thought I had my laptop sorted, however, - it's bummed out again with the internet not working. We don't have a home phone and the coverage out where I live for my mobile isn't the best which means that when I start the process of ringing regarding my internet connection, I get placed on hold for ages and if the phone doesn't cut out then, it does when someone answers the call. The time I did get my laptop working last time was when I took laptop into city where phone coverage is better, then called, was on hold a good while and transferred to about 3-4 people before it got fixed, looks like I need to do this again!
Righty: It was my birthday last week and over the last few weeks I have spoilt myself a bit. I need to stop spending money, - but it's fun.
Purchases include: - * a Fossil light camel leather handbag, * an Amazon Kindle e-reader, * a Garmin 910 Forerunner also with a heart rate monitor, - (it's a GPS multisport watch), It can tell one our current pace, how many km's we have done, our average kmph on the 'cycle' function and our run pace such as 5:45 min average kmph while running. I haven't used it swimming yet. I also bought a red soft Kathmandu jacket and some black polar fleece Kathmandu trackies in a recent sale. Due to my own doings I am not in a shape or at a fitness level where I would have fun buying high fashion pieces, - infact with too much slackness/putting stuff off and overeating I have allowed self to gain a few kg and it feels uncomfy at the moment. While the jacket and trackies fit now, they will also be fine if I lose 10 odd/plus kg!, - can just pull the trackies in and wear them baggy instead of firm fitting and can wear the jacket over jumpers, (necessary in NZ and if I go hiking one day), not just a singlet or fitted T!
Since I have succeeded in completing Febfast this year, (regarding having NO booze for the month) I set myself another challenge which I started on Saturday. The new challenge is to go 29 days until my housemate is back with a): - no booze b): - sugarfree, (to the point of no sugary confectionary c): no emotional overeating Diet softdrinks aren't allowed either! d): get my planned workouts in however if there is what I consider a valid reason not to, that is fine, just not disorganisation or slackness or hangovers or the like! e): -remember that pastries and deep fried products aren't helpful f): - keep away from pastry and deep fried stuff, (cheese is fine as long as I'm happy I am practising moderation). I am up to day 3/29, successful so far.
Basically really I need to keep living similar to this if I am to keep to my core values. However for social occasions I don't like to be overly strict and like to feel able to choose to enjoy whatevers going as long as I keep it in control to my satisfaction and just keep it to one meal or party. But in the next 4 weeks I don't know of any major parties/gatherings so this should not be too hard to string together. When again at maintenance level, I may loosen things up just slightly but can't lose the main principles. Infact I made a nutritious sugarfree carrot cake, had a bit for a mini meal yesterday, again today, it's delicious! I also made a chicken mine/veg loaf and a salmon/veg loaf. All items I portion up and freeze. After a couple of days of feeling a lil deprived with the option to gorge on chocolate, caramel sauce, cake, icecream, cheese etc dismissed, better choices and control are something I find relatively easy. However when eating in a more nutritious way, I find the real urge/desire for wine, in particular but alcohol is strong for me, (sometimes a chilled crisp beer too)! If I didn't allow alcohol, it used to be coke zero or the like. If I overeat on more 'junky' types of food the desire to drink alcohol is a bit less!
So as you see, not substituting one less than ideal behaviour for another less than ideal behaviour to me is the key as I hope to study exercise science and work in the health/fitness industry somewhere. I am working on being slightly more inventive with healthy sugarfree recipes, some including lots of veg as well!
Kumuka has gone under, I need to organise a tour with another company for Thailand in October. Gear is now on ship heading for NZ. At the moment, my intent is to study up on basic anatomy of the body to try and get a headstart for next year haha!
Till next time!
Pip
Just a quick update today. I am typing from an internet cafe as I thought I had my laptop sorted, however, - it's bummed out again with the internet not working. We don't have a home phone and the coverage out where I live for my mobile isn't the best which means that when I start the process of ringing regarding my internet connection, I get placed on hold for ages and if the phone doesn't cut out then, it does when someone answers the call. The time I did get my laptop working last time was when I took laptop into city where phone coverage is better, then called, was on hold a good while and transferred to about 3-4 people before it got fixed, looks like I need to do this again!
Righty: It was my birthday last week and over the last few weeks I have spoilt myself a bit. I need to stop spending money, - but it's fun.
Purchases include: - * a Fossil light camel leather handbag, * an Amazon Kindle e-reader, * a Garmin 910 Forerunner also with a heart rate monitor, - (it's a GPS multisport watch), It can tell one our current pace, how many km's we have done, our average kmph on the 'cycle' function and our run pace such as 5:45 min average kmph while running. I haven't used it swimming yet. I also bought a red soft Kathmandu jacket and some black polar fleece Kathmandu trackies in a recent sale. Due to my own doings I am not in a shape or at a fitness level where I would have fun buying high fashion pieces, - infact with too much slackness/putting stuff off and overeating I have allowed self to gain a few kg and it feels uncomfy at the moment. While the jacket and trackies fit now, they will also be fine if I lose 10 odd/plus kg!, - can just pull the trackies in and wear them baggy instead of firm fitting and can wear the jacket over jumpers, (necessary in NZ and if I go hiking one day), not just a singlet or fitted T!
Since I have succeeded in completing Febfast this year, (regarding having NO booze for the month) I set myself another challenge which I started on Saturday. The new challenge is to go 29 days until my housemate is back with a): - no booze b): - sugarfree, (to the point of no sugary confectionary c): no emotional overeating Diet softdrinks aren't allowed either! d): get my planned workouts in however if there is what I consider a valid reason not to, that is fine, just not disorganisation or slackness or hangovers or the like! e): -remember that pastries and deep fried products aren't helpful f): - keep away from pastry and deep fried stuff, (cheese is fine as long as I'm happy I am practising moderation). I am up to day 3/29, successful so far.
Basically really I need to keep living similar to this if I am to keep to my core values. However for social occasions I don't like to be overly strict and like to feel able to choose to enjoy whatevers going as long as I keep it in control to my satisfaction and just keep it to one meal or party. But in the next 4 weeks I don't know of any major parties/gatherings so this should not be too hard to string together. When again at maintenance level, I may loosen things up just slightly but can't lose the main principles. Infact I made a nutritious sugarfree carrot cake, had a bit for a mini meal yesterday, again today, it's delicious! I also made a chicken mine/veg loaf and a salmon/veg loaf. All items I portion up and freeze. After a couple of days of feeling a lil deprived with the option to gorge on chocolate, caramel sauce, cake, icecream, cheese etc dismissed, better choices and control are something I find relatively easy. However when eating in a more nutritious way, I find the real urge/desire for wine, in particular but alcohol is strong for me, (sometimes a chilled crisp beer too)! If I didn't allow alcohol, it used to be coke zero or the like. If I overeat on more 'junky' types of food the desire to drink alcohol is a bit less!
So as you see, not substituting one less than ideal behaviour for another less than ideal behaviour to me is the key as I hope to study exercise science and work in the health/fitness industry somewhere. I am working on being slightly more inventive with healthy sugarfree recipes, some including lots of veg as well!
Kumuka has gone under, I need to organise a tour with another company for Thailand in October. Gear is now on ship heading for NZ. At the moment, my intent is to study up on basic anatomy of the body to try and get a headstart for next year haha!
Till next time!
Pip
Thursday, July 5, 2012
LONG TIME........NO BLOG.........
G'day!
It sure has been a while since I have blogged here! So lets see.......
In all honesty, - I'd rather keep some of my doings of the last couple of months private! This blog is public and linked to facebook where I am friends with lots of great people I have met from all walks of life so I prefer to keep things general!
So.........in regard to where I am at now:
* 3.5 months till my holiday in Thailand!
* I haven't booked the date yet but in about 4.5 months I will be living back in my new home in NZ!
* Have e-mailed the Institute where I plan to study next year in NZ, - am strongly considering the diploma in Exercise Science which takes a year! If successful with that I have option of doing another year for a higher level diploma and another year on top of that for the degree.
* Oh yeah! In my online Introduction to Nutrition Course I Achieved a High Distinction! I could have got either a fail, a pass, a credit, a distinction or high distinction! Got 93%, pass mark being 60%.
* I've been to the MCG!, - saw a game at random! - and saw the Freo Dockers beat Richmond to the disgust of lots of disgruntled passionate Victorian supporters!
* My discipline to keep fit has been a little on/off/on/off. However I definitely prefer when on form/in zone and staying there consistently now needs to be priority! I made some nice progress for a bit, but then had a few slack weeks so lost some form. Am revamping that one yet again, - it just HAS to stay stuck!
* Am looking into shipping stuff over to NZ. Or even selling a couple of items and posting over the important stuff, - hmmmmmm, got only a couple of days max to decide that one.
Basically that's it for now! Look forward to exploring some more photography soon, Thailand will be interesting!
Talk soon,
Pip :-)
It sure has been a while since I have blogged here! So lets see.......
In all honesty, - I'd rather keep some of my doings of the last couple of months private! This blog is public and linked to facebook where I am friends with lots of great people I have met from all walks of life so I prefer to keep things general!
So.........in regard to where I am at now:
* 3.5 months till my holiday in Thailand!
* I haven't booked the date yet but in about 4.5 months I will be living back in my new home in NZ!
* Have e-mailed the Institute where I plan to study next year in NZ, - am strongly considering the diploma in Exercise Science which takes a year! If successful with that I have option of doing another year for a higher level diploma and another year on top of that for the degree.
* Oh yeah! In my online Introduction to Nutrition Course I Achieved a High Distinction! I could have got either a fail, a pass, a credit, a distinction or high distinction! Got 93%, pass mark being 60%.
* I've been to the MCG!, - saw a game at random! - and saw the Freo Dockers beat Richmond to the disgust of lots of disgruntled passionate Victorian supporters!
* My discipline to keep fit has been a little on/off/on/off. However I definitely prefer when on form/in zone and staying there consistently now needs to be priority! I made some nice progress for a bit, but then had a few slack weeks so lost some form. Am revamping that one yet again, - it just HAS to stay stuck!
* Am looking into shipping stuff over to NZ. Or even selling a couple of items and posting over the important stuff, - hmmmmmm, got only a couple of days max to decide that one.
Basically that's it for now! Look forward to exploring some more photography soon, Thailand will be interesting!
Talk soon,
Pip :-)
Monday, May 14, 2012
EDITING PREVIOUSLY WRITTEN POSTS!
Hello! Just want to say I've edited a couple of posts I've written a few months ago. Because of the editing I did today a few posts I wrote a few months ago have gone to the top......saying I wrote them today, (just cause I edited them!) I can't figure out how to change that easily so apologies!
Pip
Pip
DECIDING.........GYM OR CONTINUED NO GYM!!!
It's a small current dilemma for me!
My objectives are:
* Increase running firstly, then cycling and swimming strength and speed!
* Increase my strength and flexibility
* Ideally do some short 'stop', 'start', 'sprint', 'stop', drills or plyometrics
* Meeting more people is always good.
* OK, I want to say fatloss and lifestyle habit improvement ever, - ok, the fittest ever in my life!!!!!
I have been running outdoors, kinda early morning at weekends, (like 8am to 9am) and after work a few times on weekdays. While I love the heat, - Perth summers mean the temps are often in the 30's, (often high 30's and even occasionally reach the low 40's in summer. The latest I can leave home in summers is 6am so getting a run in, showered, brekkied up etc isn't an option I want. Normally I finish work between 3-4pm. I like a run around 'The Bridges', (a 9.6km lap around Swan River in Perth). But I don't want to hang around too long to do it. There aren't too many roads and it's an undistracted good run. Once in half marathon training I did it twice.....will in the future but once is sure enough for now. I like the extra daylight and love the heat.........but the run is a good challenge, even with a water bottle once the temp climbs too far into the 30'at my current fitness level if I am to strive to improve my times. I can wait till I get home in the evenings, then wait a bit and head out between 6.30 and 7.30. It could work but I would need a 4pm good snack......not tea, then a light snack after run to perform well. I need to be up by 5am.
Ideal would be to join an outdoor bootcamp, stop, start, different, plyometric style, chance to make new bootcamp buddies and all!, - but........they seem to run at times inconvenient to me like 6am or evening ones are in ultra busy locations where I would need to survive peak hour traffic to get to in the evenings. A good cost but prob worth it if I could commit to all the sessions.
A tri club would be great......just similar issues to timing and traffic as 'bootcamp' option.
If I don't join the gym the target is to carry on with early type outdoor runs and bikerides at weekends, and runs/bikerides/push-ups
My objectives are:
* Increase running firstly, then cycling and swimming strength and speed!
* Increase my strength and flexibility
* Ideally do some short 'stop', 'start', 'sprint', 'stop', drills or plyometrics
* Meeting more people is always good.
* OK, I want to say fatloss and lifestyle habit improvement ever, - ok, the fittest ever in my life!!!!!
I have been running outdoors, kinda early morning at weekends, (like 8am to 9am) and after work a few times on weekdays. While I love the heat, - Perth summers mean the temps are often in the 30's, (often high 30's and even occasionally reach the low 40's in summer. The latest I can leave home in summers is 6am so getting a run in, showered, brekkied up etc isn't an option I want. Normally I finish work between 3-4pm. I like a run around 'The Bridges', (a 9.6km lap around Swan River in Perth). But I don't want to hang around too long to do it. There aren't too many roads and it's an undistracted good run. Once in half marathon training I did it twice.....will in the future but once is sure enough for now. I like the extra daylight and love the heat.........but the run is a good challenge, even with a water bottle once the temp climbs too far into the 30'at my current fitness level if I am to strive to improve my times. I can wait till I get home in the evenings, then wait a bit and head out between 6.30 and 7.30. It could work but I would need a 4pm good snack......not tea, then a light snack after run to perform well. I need to be up by 5am.
Ideal would be to join an outdoor bootcamp, stop, start, different, plyometric style, chance to make new bootcamp buddies and all!, - but........they seem to run at times inconvenient to me like 6am or evening ones are in ultra busy locations where I would need to survive peak hour traffic to get to in the evenings. A good cost but prob worth it if I could commit to all the sessions.
A tri club would be great......just similar issues to timing and traffic as 'bootcamp' option.
If I don't join the gym the target is to carry on with early type outdoor runs and bikerides at weekends, and runs/bikerides/push-ups
Thursday, May 10, 2012
UPDATE..........
G'day,.............well, life sure can get a bit crazy!
OK......the challenge, - now I am midway through week 5! Am doing not too badly but unfortunately haven't quite kept up the '6 day a week' intense training schedule. Am more at the moment keeping up an active lifestyle, lots of incidental activity and work related movement but only 3-4 intense sessions a week. I consider that an 'acceptable' maintenance level......but still could be organising myself better to 'up the ante'! Down about 4-4.5kg over the 4.5 weeks so far, definitely fitter, faster AND STRONGER strength wise. Am infact enjoying resistance training more than ever before really to complement running, cycling, swimming. I'm working toward more muscle definition, can see a small improvement there! I have a love/hate relationship with the stationary rower......am up near 2.3km in 10 mins on level 10 but I really cane myself with it! But I feel the benefits! Eating wise, - not to bad either in all honesty for my goals at the moment, could be better but I'm not ashamed! Personal organisation and time in bed each night are areas to improve in.
Have sent away assessments for my correspondence Nutrition Course.......I completed everything and I guess I will find out in the next few weeks whether I passed successfully. I enjoyed the course, but finding time to work full time, (and a little extra), commute, more commuting to gym, complete training sessions, study, have a social life, keep on top of personal organisation such as cooking, washing, cleaning etc, have some downtime and then to get to bed on time is sure challenging! I know it's nothing worse than what most deal with but life to me felt busy enough before study! Adding study and deadlines I sometimes felt overwhelmed. Then there is all the planning for the NZ move!
Well, - I leave for Thailand on 19 Oct which is only just over 5 months away and all paid for! Only about 5 months left of work at current job! I am excited for Thailand! I bought a Mountain Designs travel pack earlier this week!
I have had many temptations and thoughts of leaving work even a month earlier, (say in 4 months) and then either taking a quick round the world trip, or even just a week or 2 in Hawaii! I have wanted and talked about doing lots of overseas travel, (holidays and adventures) for years. But I figure a trip, accom and activities etc in Hawaii would cost at least $5000, money I should prob not spend right now! Europe, America, Canada even worse. Maybe a long term aim to work toward.
In July or August I will need to organise for my big items and most of my stuff to be shipped to NZ and picked up from current address. Therefore the last few months I will be living minimally.
Oh yeah, I went to watch the footy a couple of weeks ago. Haven't decided if I will enter the HBF Run for a Reason in a few weeks. Only thing holding me back is that I know I'm no-where near as fast as I was last year, and (for me) last year I achieved a cracker finishing time. This year I know I would be at least 10 mins slower if not close to 15 mins slower over 14km......which could mean rather than being happy to finish...........I'd feel annoyed which is not the best way to finish a race! I'm also thinking about the City to Surf on last Sunday of August, - entering that in either the 12k aiming for a PB or knuckling down and attempting the half marathon...........in an attempt to go under 2 hours in a 'half' finally! But the 'half' plan would require lots of focus from now! Full marathon..........outta the question! Just not that dedicated and am enjoying the cycling, swimming and weight training too!
I'm sure there will be a few social gatherings in the next few months, - will definitely miss Perth as I think Perth and WA is an awesome place to live!
Talk soon
Pip :-)
OK......the challenge, - now I am midway through week 5! Am doing not too badly but unfortunately haven't quite kept up the '6 day a week' intense training schedule. Am more at the moment keeping up an active lifestyle, lots of incidental activity and work related movement but only 3-4 intense sessions a week. I consider that an 'acceptable' maintenance level......but still could be organising myself better to 'up the ante'! Down about 4-4.5kg over the 4.5 weeks so far, definitely fitter, faster AND STRONGER strength wise. Am infact enjoying resistance training more than ever before really to complement running, cycling, swimming. I'm working toward more muscle definition, can see a small improvement there! I have a love/hate relationship with the stationary rower......am up near 2.3km in 10 mins on level 10 but I really cane myself with it! But I feel the benefits! Eating wise, - not to bad either in all honesty for my goals at the moment, could be better but I'm not ashamed! Personal organisation and time in bed each night are areas to improve in.
Have sent away assessments for my correspondence Nutrition Course.......I completed everything and I guess I will find out in the next few weeks whether I passed successfully. I enjoyed the course, but finding time to work full time, (and a little extra), commute, more commuting to gym, complete training sessions, study, have a social life, keep on top of personal organisation such as cooking, washing, cleaning etc, have some downtime and then to get to bed on time is sure challenging! I know it's nothing worse than what most deal with but life to me felt busy enough before study! Adding study and deadlines I sometimes felt overwhelmed. Then there is all the planning for the NZ move!
Well, - I leave for Thailand on 19 Oct which is only just over 5 months away and all paid for! Only about 5 months left of work at current job! I am excited for Thailand! I bought a Mountain Designs travel pack earlier this week!
I have had many temptations and thoughts of leaving work even a month earlier, (say in 4 months) and then either taking a quick round the world trip, or even just a week or 2 in Hawaii! I have wanted and talked about doing lots of overseas travel, (holidays and adventures) for years. But I figure a trip, accom and activities etc in Hawaii would cost at least $5000, money I should prob not spend right now! Europe, America, Canada even worse. Maybe a long term aim to work toward.
In July or August I will need to organise for my big items and most of my stuff to be shipped to NZ and picked up from current address. Therefore the last few months I will be living minimally.
Oh yeah, I went to watch the footy a couple of weeks ago. Haven't decided if I will enter the HBF Run for a Reason in a few weeks. Only thing holding me back is that I know I'm no-where near as fast as I was last year, and (for me) last year I achieved a cracker finishing time. This year I know I would be at least 10 mins slower if not close to 15 mins slower over 14km......which could mean rather than being happy to finish...........I'd feel annoyed which is not the best way to finish a race! I'm also thinking about the City to Surf on last Sunday of August, - entering that in either the 12k aiming for a PB or knuckling down and attempting the half marathon...........in an attempt to go under 2 hours in a 'half' finally! But the 'half' plan would require lots of focus from now! Full marathon..........outta the question! Just not that dedicated and am enjoying the cycling, swimming and weight training too!
I'm sure there will be a few social gatherings in the next few months, - will definitely miss Perth as I think Perth and WA is an awesome place to live!
Talk soon
Pip :-)
Saturday, April 21, 2012
WEEK 2 UPDATE, Day 14/84
Hello all!
Firstly, I notice 'blogger' has changed on me! New set ups and all today! That's a way to keep me on my toes! n I will have a good look through the new content when I have more time!
Have had more good efforts, (by my standards) with training this week. Here goes what I did below:
MON: Treadmill run as far as I could go in 30 mins, - incline 0.1. I don't have my notes right beside me but think I did 5.2km, I remember being BUGGERED! However before the run I completed 100 pushups over 4 sets of 25, - managing the first 6 of each set on toes before dropping to knees. Between pushup sets I did a 1 min plank, 15 tricep dips, 20 bicycle ab thingies so each of these got repeated 3 times before I pushed out the last 25 pushups. After the run, some de-puffing and stretching I was in mood to hit the weights machines, - shoulder press, tricep dip machine, one for the back......all 3 sets of 12 as challenging as I could go. I finished off with the ab crunch/curl up machine! Firstly a set of 10 there, then a rest and a second set of 5 till I was totally done!
TUE: 5.8km outdoor hilly run in dark. Didn't time self. Couldn't be bothered with run however did it :-), but speed didn't feel too bad and I'm sure I hit close to a 10 in effort. Also 100 power lunges, set of 40, then 30, then 30 with 1 min plank between each set.
WED: Last week as I added an extra run to my original workout, - I felt the need to do the same today. As last week I wanted to see if I could possibly struggle through 12kmph pace and do 2k in 10 mins (succeeding with a struggle), - I decided today to go for 2.4km in 12 mins! Another struggle today, and I gradually increased the pace the last couple of mins to really kill me......I got 2.43km in 12 mins! Ouch! Had 5 mins to stretch, drink more water before starting Bodypump! I was pleased with my doings, weights, effort and form in Pump. However I just couldn't get into the chest track! I kept wondering why I felt lopsided, un-co etc! At the end of the track I noticed I had a 1.25kg plate less on one side of the bar than the other.......BIG difference! First time in years I've done that, never again! The interchanges are quick! After PUMP I still had my 10 min rower machine effort to endure ;-(! Last week I managed 2.08km in 10 mins on level 8. This week I hesitantly put it up to the top level, (level 10) to see what I could do. It hurt......but 2.24km on rower in 10 mins! Next as I saw 'The Biggest Loser' was on the gym TV's I went to elliptical for a 10 min (more casual) workout, - but still ended up pushing relatively hard getting HR to 175BPM while watching the show. I know I'm a freak, but I can get my HR to well over 200BPM in my runs. Then DONE!
THURS: After work it was another 9.6km lap around the 'Bridges' run in Perth city around the Swan River. PB last year for that run was 49:26. Last week it was 1:02:45. This week: - 1:02:50. I didn't look at time till end of run. However that's OK.....been working hard, work has been busy, full on so am happy with effort!
FRI: - DAY OFF TRAINING, - busy work day!
SAT: - 25km bike ride (included to and from gym from house), - good purposable pace. Yoga class at gym, - new to me but felt efficent. Decided on another silly run on treadmill.....to see how far I could go in 15 mins, to see if I could make 3km! It was tough......but I did, infact increased speed in last few mins to make me REALLY uncomfortable, anyhow managed 3.03km in 15 mins! Next.............was swimming a km at pool at gym. Did that! And felt I was finally working out how to become a little more efficient in regards to stroke and speed. I did the km all freestyle.
SUN: - Was 'supposed' to be a casual 5km run. I ended up having a glass of wine in a pub before the footy yesterday, then 3 midstrength beers at the footy......which I deemed to be too much to try and drive from train station to my house last night. I thought about taking train up to station.......then getting a cab from there but I never trust the cab system in Perth. Therefore I decided to pay $60 for a cab to take me from city to my home. This morning my proposed job was to take a 6km run to train station to pick up my car! I was a slacker today! I jogged the first 2km, felt flat possibly due to yesterdays alcohol. Then due to all waiting at lights, carrying keys, cards in pockets etc.....I stopped and broke into a walk till I reached car. All in all......a good week! Really need to watch alcohol levels in weekends as I seem to have curbed all weeknight drinking for a few weeks of late! 2 drinks, (maybe 3 standard drinks) weekend day OK, but more than that seem to affect training efforts for the next day. Still need to do better with sleep objectives.
Oh.....just to mention.....I've started reading the book Pat Farmer wrote on his run from the North to the South Pole! Roughly took 10 months, his accounts are very awe inspiring. He started April last year finishing in Feb this year! Through the Arctic he and his team were trudging through 20km a day in terrifying conditions. Once he made it to Canada, USA, Mexico, South America etc he was averaging 84km running a day......every day! Imagine that! 2 marathons a day, rain, hail or sunshine everyday.......day after day! The main point of his run, (or one of them) was to raise money for the Red Cross! While it takes the exceptional person to have a desire to achieve that or similar..........(or be able to arrange to take time out of their everyday lives to do so)............... I think it's very beneficial to make sure we are utilising our own time to ways we are happy with. And if our goals are a 5k run, even a 10k run, a 1k swim, a weight training circuit to keep us feeling on form.......suck it up! To finish, if that means reducing our alcohol intake and increasing sleep time......all good :-)
Diet, pretty good for me I think.....no excesses, even no confectionary for 2 weeks. Not missing or wanting it! Approaching 32 doesn't mean you are over the hill in regards to striving for the fastest times and/or best strength results ever achieved ;-)
MON: Treadmill run as far as I could go in 30 mins, - incline 0.1. I don't have my notes right beside me but think I did 5.2km, I remember being BUGGERED! However before the run I completed 100 pushups over 4 sets of 25, - managing the first 6 of each set on toes before dropping to knees. Between pushup sets I did a 1 min plank, 15 tricep dips, 20 bicycle ab thingies so each of these got repeated 3 times before I pushed out the last 25 pushups. After the run, some de-puffing and stretching I was in mood to hit the weights machines, - shoulder press, tricep dip machine, one for the back......all 3 sets of 12 as challenging as I could go. I finished off with the ab crunch/curl up machine! Firstly a set of 10 there, then a rest and a second set of 5 till I was totally done!
TUE: 5.8km outdoor hilly run in dark. Didn't time self. Couldn't be bothered with run however did it :-), but speed didn't feel too bad and I'm sure I hit close to a 10 in effort. Also 100 power lunges, set of 40, then 30, then 30 with 1 min plank between each set.
WED: Last week as I added an extra run to my original workout, - I felt the need to do the same today. As last week I wanted to see if I could possibly struggle through 12kmph pace and do 2k in 10 mins (succeeding with a struggle), - I decided today to go for 2.4km in 12 mins! Another struggle today, and I gradually increased the pace the last couple of mins to really kill me......I got 2.43km in 12 mins! Ouch! Had 5 mins to stretch, drink more water before starting Bodypump! I was pleased with my doings, weights, effort and form in Pump. However I just couldn't get into the chest track! I kept wondering why I felt lopsided, un-co etc! At the end of the track I noticed I had a 1.25kg plate less on one side of the bar than the other.......BIG difference! First time in years I've done that, never again! The interchanges are quick! After PUMP I still had my 10 min rower machine effort to endure ;-(! Last week I managed 2.08km in 10 mins on level 8. This week I hesitantly put it up to the top level, (level 10) to see what I could do. It hurt......but 2.24km on rower in 10 mins! Next as I saw 'The Biggest Loser' was on the gym TV's I went to elliptical for a 10 min (more casual) workout, - but still ended up pushing relatively hard getting HR to 175BPM while watching the show. I know I'm a freak, but I can get my HR to well over 200BPM in my runs. Then DONE!
THURS: After work it was another 9.6km lap around the 'Bridges' run in Perth city around the Swan River. PB last year for that run was 49:26. Last week it was 1:02:45. This week: - 1:02:50. I didn't look at time till end of run. However that's OK.....been working hard, work has been busy, full on so am happy with effort!
FRI: - DAY OFF TRAINING, - busy work day!
SAT: - 25km bike ride (included to and from gym from house), - good purposable pace. Yoga class at gym, - new to me but felt efficent. Decided on another silly run on treadmill.....to see how far I could go in 15 mins, to see if I could make 3km! It was tough......but I did, infact increased speed in last few mins to make me REALLY uncomfortable, anyhow managed 3.03km in 15 mins! Next.............was swimming a km at pool at gym. Did that! And felt I was finally working out how to become a little more efficient in regards to stroke and speed. I did the km all freestyle.
SUN: - Was 'supposed' to be a casual 5km run. I ended up having a glass of wine in a pub before the footy yesterday, then 3 midstrength beers at the footy......which I deemed to be too much to try and drive from train station to my house last night. I thought about taking train up to station.......then getting a cab from there but I never trust the cab system in Perth. Therefore I decided to pay $60 for a cab to take me from city to my home. This morning my proposed job was to take a 6km run to train station to pick up my car! I was a slacker today! I jogged the first 2km, felt flat possibly due to yesterdays alcohol. Then due to all waiting at lights, carrying keys, cards in pockets etc.....I stopped and broke into a walk till I reached car. All in all......a good week! Really need to watch alcohol levels in weekends as I seem to have curbed all weeknight drinking for a few weeks of late! 2 drinks, (maybe 3 standard drinks) weekend day OK, but more than that seem to affect training efforts for the next day. Still need to do better with sleep objectives.
Oh.....just to mention.....I've started reading the book Pat Farmer wrote on his run from the North to the South Pole! Roughly took 10 months, his accounts are very awe inspiring. He started April last year finishing in Feb this year! Through the Arctic he and his team were trudging through 20km a day in terrifying conditions. Once he made it to Canada, USA, Mexico, South America etc he was averaging 84km running a day......every day! Imagine that! 2 marathons a day, rain, hail or sunshine everyday.......day after day! The main point of his run, (or one of them) was to raise money for the Red Cross! While it takes the exceptional person to have a desire to achieve that or similar..........(or be able to arrange to take time out of their everyday lives to do so)............... I think it's very beneficial to make sure we are utilising our own time to ways we are happy with. And if our goals are a 5k run, even a 10k run, a 1k swim, a weight training circuit to keep us feeling on form.......suck it up! To finish, if that means reducing our alcohol intake and increasing sleep time......all good :-)
Diet, pretty good for me I think.....no excesses, even no confectionary for 2 weeks. Not missing or wanting it! Approaching 32 doesn't mean you are over the hill in regards to striving for the fastest times and/or best strength results ever achieved ;-)
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