Team Friday

Linking up with Stacey-Lee at Get On With It Already who has taken over the linky for Friday from B.

My exercise this week consisted of personal training for 30 mins last night.  I didn't want to go.  We had had to cancel on Tuesday night because the trainer was working.  He had suggested Wednesday night instead but I just couldn't face training - I felt lousy not doing anything and am wondering if maybe the lack of exercise is partly to blame for my low mood.

Anyway, last night I got home from work, fiddled around for a while and then we went.  I really enjoyed it.  I felt like I was accomplishing something.  I felt like I had achieved something for the day.  I know it isn't a lot given what I was doing most days, but in the scope of where I am right now, it was great.

After that we went back home and I had a client booked in for a massage.  Well, by the time A got home at about 9.30, I was feeling so much better.  I had spent the time between my client and A arriving home crocheting for the homeless / under privilege / less fortunate than I am, and that always makes me feel good - being able to do something for someone else.

Stacey-Lee, I hope you enjoy hosting the Team Friday linky !

Have the best Friday ever !

TFTD : Most do not understand the wonderful opportunities life gives ........until they are looking back.

Fitness Friday

Linking in with bbeingcool for Fitness Friday for the last time to bang on about the race tomorrow !!!  (I have to say that I felt very special when she asked if I would comment on blogs for Fitness Friday in her absence - thank you B !!  I hope you have an amazing time in Sydney at blogopolis - so jealous and wish I was going but then I would miss out on my run tomorrow and that would be sad !!!!)

Well due to the stupid back injury that I picked up (excuse the pun - totally unintended) moving furniture at work on Thursday, my training this week has been soooooooooooo much less than I wanted it to be, not helped in the least by the cr*ppy weather we have been having here.  This is the Gold Coast people - it is supposed to be sunny and warm and all things wonderful - not cold, raining, windy and bloody miserable !

Anyway, my only run this week was 5.14kms on Sunday in 32:44 and two PT sessions for 30 mins a time.  A far cry from the 25-30kms plus the PT sessions I had planned !!!  But, what can you do - no point in going for a training run that aggravates an injury to the point where I can't take part in the race.

On Wednesday I was working up at Inala the whole day (was supposed to only be for 3-4 hrs in the morning but dragged on and on until nearly 4pm) - just before we left there, I got a phone call from one of the guys on the Logan Motorway to say that there had been an accident so we landed up going the back roads which probably took longer than if we had sat in the traffic !!!  It was just before 5.45 before I got home.  In my head I HAD to run - having only done that one run on Sunday I really felt like I had to get out there.  I called A as I was leaving Yatala to tell him I was on my way home and said I was going to run.  He was "I don't think so - it is pouring and blowing gales" - "Well I do think so - I HAVE TO, LOVE" - "OK, whatever you want" !  A few kms later I called my Dad - the font of all running  knowledge having done all the races he has in his life time - his comment "Don't be silly - you have done enough for the race on Saturday and really, whatever you do this week isn't going to make a difference anyway.  In this weather, I would say stay home and keep warm."  So, being the good daughter that I am, I listened to him and stayed at home and stayed warm (nothing to do with it suiting me to listen to him THAT time !!!)

After training tonight A took me down to the Convention Centre to pick up my number.  If the whole race is run as efficiently as the number collection was, it is going to be a slick race !!!!  This is my number so if anyone sees me and waves, I apologise in advance if I don't wave back - when I run, my head is down and I don't look up much at all !!

I am quite nervous already and just wish it was all over BUT I know that it will come and before I know it, it will be over and done with and I will wonder what I was nervous about !!!!  I have booked dinner at Charlie's tonight - a GREAT Italian restaurant just down the road from us so I can carbo load - I believe this is what I am supposed to do anyway !!!! 

I am thinking about what my next race is going to be - can't be running with no aim now can I ????  Maybe the Bridge to Brisbane although that is the weekend after we get back from 2 weeks holiday in NZ where I don't imagine I will be doing much in the way of training given the following temps over there today :
Christchurch 0
Dunedin -2
Invercargill 1
What I can imagine is that maybe we need to go and buy another pair of thermals each - one pair is not going to be enough for two weeks !!!!!

We (A, K and I) have entered The Stampede on 8th September at Woodford so that will be exciting.  We have entered the 5km race just so that we can see how we manage. 

If anyone is looking for some assistance with their blog or web page, I can recommend Liz from Mumstrosity.  She has been a huge help to me with my blog and my web site. When it comes to techno stuff - I am totally useless.  In fact, most times you could be talking English yet it sounds like a foreign language to me so I admire those people who know what they are doing especially when they deal with me because I make it really difficult for them by not having a clue what they are talking about !!!  Thank you so much for your help Liz - I really appreciate it !

Have the best Friday possible - take care and catch you next time !

TFTD : Sometimes we don't forgive people because they deserve it.  We forgive them because they need it, because we need it, and because we cannot move forward without it.

Team Friday

Today is Friday which means I get to link in with B from bbeingcool about what I have been up to this past week.
Saturday 15.03km run - yes I ran all bar one lamp post - 1h 45m 04s
Monday 6.05km run - 40m 24s
Tuesday 30 mins personal training
Wednesday 30 mins personal training
Thursday forced rest day as I hurt my back at work moving furniture

As you can see from my first activity this week, it was a big week for me - mentally to be able to do that sort of mileage was amazing.  I did battle the last two kms and I blogged about it here but I did it and I was very proud of myself as were my family and my support team (thanks guys !!!!)

I was disappointed when I left work yesterday as my back was twingeing quite badly.  By the time I got home I knew that if I ran last night I may not be able to run next Saturday so I treated the one client booked in and felt awful when I was finished with him.  A soak in Epsom salts and a wheat pack gave me some relief but this morning I am off to the osteo because I cannot stop my training now.  I need to be able to run from tonight.  I have a training schedule for the next 8 days and I can't afford to just let it all go.

Once next Saturday is over I am going to have to sit down and work out where I take my running from here. I need to have a goal to aim for - I really battle to run every week when I am not aiming for something but I don't know how far I want to go - a friend in encouraging me to do a half marathon but I don't know if I can do that mentally given how much I battled with the 15kms last weekend.

But, something will come up and it will all be good.  Have the best weekend and take care !

Have you been up to anything interesting this week ? 

Share it across at bbeingcool with Team Friday !

TFTD : Life is sometimes confusing.  It takes sadness to know happiness, noise to appreciate silence and absence to value presence.

Fitness Friday

Trying to get a head start on this post given I know that I won't be able to post at work tomorrow !!!  Linking in with B at bbeingcool (in anticipation that she will be hosting the meme this week as she always does !!!!)

I didn't quite achieve what I wanted to fitness wise this week - my effort consisted of :

Friday - 5.15km run 34:17
Tuesday - 5.16km run 33.:22
Wednesday - 30 mins personal training
Thursday - 5.13km run 34.:41

My goal for the long weekend was one long run of between 13-15km - I did nothing !  In fact, on Monday I didn't even get out of my pyjamas !!!!  And the reason for that was the weather - it was miserable - but not only miserable, it was cold and raining and windy and, while I did think about going out there, sanity prevailed and I stayed under the doona with the rest of the family !!!!

We did manage a big cook up on Saturday / Sunday.  Now I have a freezer full of slow cooked meals that I need only take out in the morning to defrost, put some rice on to cook before I go exercising in the evening and voila, we have a lovely home cooked meal for dinner.  I love being this organised so that I know that while I am exercising I am also eating well, and not damaging the good that I am doing with my exercising by eating badly.

Last night our trainer had us doing walking lunges while holding 10kg weights in each hand.  I cannot believe that I used to walk around carrying more than that in extra weight - how did I manage it day in and day out ?  Needless to say, my glutes can feel it today and my legs felt really heavy, tired and stiff on my run tonight.  I had planned on running 6.25km but just couldn't manage it - I still battle with not meeting the goals that I set for myself but part of me does realise that, while my head may think I can achieve a certain goal, sometimes my tired old body won't comply - and that is OK !!!

I am planning on a long run this weekend (the one that didn't happen last weekend) - will let you know how it did (or didn't) go next week !!!

Have the best Friday possible and an ever better weekend !

TFTD - Giving up doesn't always mean you're weak, sometimes it means you are strong enough and smart enough to let go and move on.

Fitness Friday

Gosh, how quickly does Friday come around - it seems like I am only posting one or two blogs a week lately but that is OK because it means that I am interacting more with my family which is what living is about.  Isn't it ?????

Anyway, linking in with B at bbeingcool who has been sick this past week and I hope is well on the way to be fine again soon !!!!
My exercise for this week was :
Friday - 5.12km run 32:56
Sunday - 8.32km run 54:48
Tuesday - 30 mins personal training
Wednesday - 12.16km run 1:26:56 (my first long run with only 2 x 10m walks in it !!!)
Thursday - 30 mins personal training

I should have run on Monday but I got home, had a client and when I was finished with her I just couldn't be bothered - I felt tired and so I decided to give my body a rest which I believe was the best thing I could have done.  I did the long run on Wednesday night which I may not have done if I had of run on Monday night.

Once again my eating has not been great - why, why, why can't I get my head in the right head space - where it used to be when I was doing so well with my food ??????  Is it because A's work is all over the show - sometimes home, sometimes not, sometimes working at night, sometimes during the day - I don't know from one day to the next whether he is going to be home or not because their plans change to frequently.  Who would think that a company the size they are could be so disorganised.  On the up side he has his finish date - 31 August - times in really well with us getting back from holiday on 24th August - 5 days left for him to clear up any loose ends.  Alternatively, he will have found something else to move to and can come back from holiday and start at a new company.  Whichever way it goes, it will be fine.

I think I am just using his work as an excuse for not being a*sed about meals and I need to get myself back on track - soon !  Cheese on toast or a tin of soup have become staples for me for dinner !!!  I will try this long weekend to get more organised with my meals but not making any promises !!!!

GC Suns play St Kilda tomorrow - definitely not a game I think we have any chance of winning unless St Kilda turn up with only half a team.  It really is becoming frustrating that the Suns can't get a win under the belt - just a couple for the year would be fantastic guys !!!!

Have the best Friday possible - I will try to get around to other Fitness Friday blogs as soon as I can !

TFTD : Take up one idea.  Make that one idea your life - think of it, dream of it, live on that idea.  Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone.   This is the way to success, that is the way great spiritual giants are produced - Swami Vivekananda Quotes  (Maybe this is what I need to do about my food / eating !!!)

Fitness Friday (one day late)

This is a rainbow that I saw on my way to work during the week.  I have been seeing the most amazing rainbows lately but haven't always been able to take a photo of them which is rather sad.

Anyway, linking in with bbeingcool for Fitness Friday (albeit a day late !!!) - this is what I have managed to accomplish this week with regard to my exercising :

Friday - 4.12km run (26:28)
Sunday - 10.05km run (1:08:11)
Monday - 5.97km run (33.57)
Tuesday - matrix 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 push ups, sit ups, squats, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 push ups, sit ups, squats
Wednesday - 5.14km run (35:19)

Some runs were better than others.  I was really pleased with my 10km run on Sunday - need to try to up this to 16-18kms so that I know I can finish the 10km run on 30 June (figure if I can manage 16-18km run, a 10km run will feel so much easier on the day) - I may be wrong on this but I can only try.

On Saturday I bought a couple of long sleeve tops to run in - saw some at Lululemon for $89 but couldn't justify spending that amount of money on a shirt to run in.  Went to KMart - they didn't have any.  Went to Target and got one there for $17.  Then Mountain Detail had another one for $24.  My run on Sunday was in the top from Target and it worked so well I went and bought another one - they have really made a difference to how much warmer I am when I run now !!

While we were at Helensvale, Al made me try on some new jeans saying that the ones I was wearing were too big for me - I bought two pairs of size 10 jeans - I reckon their sizing is wrong because there is no way that I am a size 10 - but it was a nice feeling when I did they up and they fitted !!!

Of late my eating has not been good - nor has my drinking - unless Pepsi Max and Amarula count as good drinking - well they do in one sense but not from a health point of view !!!  Fruit and veg have been non-existent and junk food has crept into my eating plan which is a little sad given how well I was eating up until a few weeks ago. I really need to get more organised and plan my meals better than I have been.  I will try to do that this week.

Yesterday there was a multiple car accident on the motorway home so, as I only had 1/4 tank of petrol, I thought I had better fill up as I was going to take the back roads to get home from where I was working at Inala.  When I went to pay for the petrol, I also bought a packed of Pods, just in case I got stranded somewhere !!!!  Yeah right !!!!  About 15 mins later, the pods had all been eaten scoffed down and the evidence hidden in my bag !!!  I only had a couple of hot chips for dinner but I did manage to make headway with a bottle of Amarula.  The drive over Mt Tamborine in the rain and mist on narrow winding roads with a drop down the mountain on one side of me was enough to send me to the bottle !!!!  (I must add that I did do a 5km run before I hit the bottle !!)

Today has been a rather relaxing day - washing done, catch up with a friend, watching some movies (Dolphin Tale and Red Dog) and catching up on recorded TV shows.  K is baby sitting and A is stuck out at Warwick - hopefully it will be raining tomorrow and they will come home early as the work they have to do is all outside and they won't be able to do any of it !!!!

On that note, I am going to watch Iron Lady.  Have a great Sunday everyone and take care !

TFTD : Improvisation is the first step to improvement.

Fitness Friday

Today I am linking in with B at bbeingcool for Fitness Friday.

My week has been a good one from an exercise point of view - this is what I managed to accomplish :
Friday 6.93km run (47m11s)
Saturday I met the lovely A from Coloursofsunset where SHE had just run a 5km timed run - WITH NO WALKING !!!  I was so pleased for her - next time I go down I will take part as well - this was a look see visit.
Sunday 22.14km cycle (1h07m59s)
Monday 4.04km run (no walking 26m19s)
Tuesday personal training 30 mins by myself at home as trainer was away and K was being sookie sick
Wednesday 5.95km run (39m24s)
Thursday SHOPPING

Part of me did feel a bit guilty about not training last night but another part of me had so much fun I figured the world wasn't going to end if I didn't train PLUS I do advocate one rest day a week - that may just turn into being my rest day.

I am so motivated by what I am reading of the accomplishments of others - it really helps me when I am feeling like I can't be a*sed to get out there and do something.  Tonight may be a little different - the weather is miserable and raining but on the up side, at the moment, although it is raining it isn't cold and, as I have proved to myself before, a little rain never killed me so if I get home and it isn't pelting down, I promise to get changed and run - even if it is only 4-5kms.

Have a fantastic Friday and take care !

TFTD : In life, sometimes everything falls into place, and sometimes everything just falls to pieces.  The key is to begin creating with these fallen pieces.  By improvising, you'll create something magical that might be the best thing you've ever accomplished - Tori Amos

Fitness Friday

Linking up with B from bbeingcool for Fitness Friday and Dorothy from Singular Insanity for Things I Know.

This is what I managed to get done this week starting with the MDC on Sunday :
MDC 4.2km in 24:27
Monday 5.6km run in 38:23
Tuesday 30 mins personal training
Wednesday 5.6km 36:57
Thursday 30 mins personal training

The start of the week was bloody cold and I so didn't want to run but I knew that if I didn't get out there one day could become two days could become the end of my training.  So I braved the cold and the sore chest from breathing in the cold air and just ran.  The good thing about the cold is that I tend to run more than I walk because it is too cold to walk !!!!!

I am really happy with how my training is going.  Three people this week have asked how much more weight I have lost and I haven't lost any more weight - I have maintained my weight for about 7 weeks now and I am happy about that. I have strategies for dealing with small gains.  I have strategies for dealing with a run of making bad choices - I know I can do this and I am going to keep on doing it because it is working for me.  I think that if I stopped training I would have to change my eating habits but for now it is working so I am going to stick with it.

Onto something more uncomfortable - I am sick and tired of these bloody hot flushes that I keep having !  Even taking the wild yam, I am still getting them - although I think they would be worse if I wasn't taking the wild yam.  How long are they going to go on for ?  My research on the internet says 2 - 10 years - I cannot do this for that long.  I am tired of having to strip down to the bare essentials multiple times during the evening/night and then having to get dressed again.  If anyone has any suggestions for combating these, I would love to hear from you.

Wishing you all the best weekend ever !

TFTD : You will not find fulfillment where you have been taught to look for it.  You will only find it where it lives, right where you stand - Alan Cohen

Fitness Friday

Linking in with katesaysstuff  for Fitness Friday and bbeingcool for Team Friday.

I am really happy with how my training is going - this is what I have done over the past week :

Friday : 7.28km run in 52:55 mins in the rain at times
Saturday : Rest day
Sunday : 14.95km cycle in 48:09 mins in cr*ppy weather
Monday : 6.06km run in 40:43 mins
Tuesday : 30 mins personal training
Wednesday : 5.82km in 40:16 mins (hurt my calf)
Thursday : 45 mins matrix at home by myself - 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 reps of push-ups (knees mostly), sumo squats, sit ups, 600 punches, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 reps of push-ups (all knees) sumo squats, sit ups, 600 punches

I think that I may be able to run most of the MDC next Sunday and if I can't, well I will just give it my best shot on the day.  I am realising very quickly that some days I get out there and feel like I can run forever and others days I'm not that good - my breathing isn't right, my legs feel heavy, I just don't feel as comfortable - but I will continue to get out there and do it because I am loving feeling fit and healthy !

Have the best Friday ever - to those in Queensland, enjoy the long weekend.  Al and I are off to Angourie Rainforest Resort this afternoon and I can't wait.  Mind you, I have packed my running things, we have our tennis racquets (we have only played about 3 or 4 times since we arrived here over 12 years ago) and we have our bicycles so I hope the weather is good to us and allows us to be outside enjoying the great country air !

TFTD : Courage is the discovery that you may not win, and trying when you know you can lose - Tom Krause

Fitness Friday !

You may be wondering why I have a picture of  The Matrix for Fitness Friday (I never even saw the movie !!!) but I have it because on Tuesday night my trainer did a matrix with me.  Then, as he was away last night, I did it by myself at home.  I can definitely feel that I used muscles in a way I haven't used them for a while because I had a wonderful case of DOMS yesterday - not so much today but that may be because air boxing isn't quite the same as real boxing !!!

This is how it goes :

2 push ups

2 squat jumps

2 V sit ups

Then increase by 2 for each exercise so you do 4, then 6, then 8 then 10 reps of each exercise.

After that you do

50 straight out punches each arm

50 unders each arm

50 straight out punches each arm

Then go back to the above starting at 10 reps for each exercise, then 8, then 6, then 4, then 2.

Then you do the punches again.

As I said, last night I didn't find it quite as strenuous as Tuesday night - maybe because it was a little cooler and maybe because doing 600 air punches is nothing like doing 600 actual punches although I did concentrate on relaxing my shoulders, tightening my core and keeping my balance.  (I so hope the neighbours weren't listening or peeking over the top of the fence from their kitchen as they would have wondered what on earth was going on.  His neighbours are used to us huffing and puffing and hitting our way through our half hour of training twice a week at his house !!!!)

When I got home from work yesterday I really didn't want to exercise.  K was going to exercise with me but she is still fighting off a cold and was complaining of a crampy stomach so had begged off exercising with me.  I was eager for A to get home and eventually thought that would pass at least 20 mins of the time so I did it - and I was glad because I would have hated to use my one training free day of the week when A wasn't even home.  Now I can still pull that card out tonight or tomorrow or Sunday - maybe tonight if this bloody rain doesn't stop !

I am pleased that even though I didn't really feel like exercising I just did it - mainly to do with 'the girls' in my head so thanks to all of you !!!!  Without you there motivating and cheering me on I don't think I would have been a*sed and I would have just sat on the couch and read my book waiting for A to arrive home !!!  He is at home today - I wish I could have stayed at home too !!!!  Never mind, just now I will get to go home and spend the evening curled up on the couch watching footy or baseball and just enjoying having him home again.

Linking in with Kate from katesaysstuff for Fitness Friday on the blog hop except I have absolutely no bloody idea how to load a blog hop so please hop across to her and blog hop from there !!!

Have the best Friday ever - wherever you are !

TFTD : A friend is a gift you give to yourself.

Fitness Friday

Well my post today isn't so much about fitness from what I have done but more about fitness from what I haven't done ! 

I went for one cr*ppy run on Monday night and that is all I have done courtesy of a tummy bug that I have had since Tuesday lunch time !  I have done no training and the amazing thing is that, on some level for me, that is OK.  I have finally come to the realisation that sometimes training is not the best thing I can do for my body - sometimes resting is the best thing I can do for my body and that is what I have done this week.

Tomorrow will be a big walking day - K and I are planning to go to Brisbane, park at Southbank and walk across to Queen Street Mall.  Walk around there and shop if the need arises.  Then walk back to the car - drive across to the Gabba - or at least to a parking within walking distance of the Gabba.  Find somewhere to eat.  Go to watch the Suns (very possibly) beat the Lions.  Then walk back to the car and come home.

Sunday is the first day that I am looking at to get running again.

Sometimes rest is better for me than exercise - at least this week it was !

Linking in with a blog hop at katesaysstuff (even though I don't know how to load the blog hop but ask that you hop across and blog hop from her !!!)

Have the best weekend possible !

TFTD : You don't have to make anything happen.  Just align with what wants to happen and let it.