No training tonight as I have a dodgy stomach and all I want to do is go home, put on my flannelette jarmies and get into bed - only an hour to go and then I will be out of here.
Take care and have the best evening possible !
Tuesday, 17 April 2012
It's Changed !!!
Baaa Humbug - blogspot has changed !!! Just when I was used to where I had to go to do things, they change it all around. Hopefully it won't take too long to get used to it.
No training tonight as I have a dodgy stomach and all I want to do is go home, put on my flannelette jarmies and get into bed - only an hour to go and then I will be out of here.
Take care and have the best evening possible !
No training tonight as I have a dodgy stomach and all I want to do is go home, put on my flannelette jarmies and get into bed - only an hour to go and then I will be out of here.
Take care and have the best evening possible !
Sunday, 15 April 2012
Self Sabotage - AT.IT'S.BEST !!!
Since Friday I have done my very best to self sabotage the journey that I am on. I have done my very best to stuff up the hard work that I have put in over the past 6 or 7 weeks. I have done my very best to treat my body with disrespect and horror and yet it still loves me and gave me results that absolutely astound and amaze me.
Fridays are often difficult days because I am generally in the office on my own which means that it is easier to eat things I shouldn't because there is nobody there watching me (or so I feel anyway - I bet nobody in the office actually gives a rats bum about what I do or don't eat). The problem for me is the jar of solid Easter eggs that is on the receptionist's desk - which I 'hid' in the pantry cupboard on Wednesday - but seeing as I was the one who hid them, they were pretty easy to find on Friday. One egg became two eggs became four eggs became six eggs before I went enough is enough. Actually - in between the six eggs was three scotch fingers.
Then, because I hadn't had enough sugar for one day given how little sugar I have eaten over said 6 or 7 weeks, when I went to the shops after work and had to wait for my car to be ready, I stopped at the local Japanese bakery (I wish they wouldn't keep opening up in local shopping centres - I find it EXTREMELY difficult to walk past and not buy anything) - I bought a donut and a coconut cake (because I am actually allowed coconut !!!! - Not sure about the whole cake thing though !!!) - and a Coke Zero - and I proceeded to sit in the food court and read my book and eat my purchases.
Needless to say by the time I finished eating them I felt very, very green around the gills. So off to get my car and come home. I KNEW that, as much as I didn't want to run in the rain, I had to get out there to counter-act the cr*p that I had eaten during the day. But, it was raining, and I didn't want to run in the rain. Lots of head talk happening about whether I should or shouldn't run in the rain but eventually one part of me reminded me that I wouldn't melt in the rain and it would just mean that I would have to run without my glasses which could be a little dodgy - so if I offended the two cars who hooted as they went past by not waving back, I'm sorry - but I couldn't see who you were and I don't wave at strangers !!!!! I had set an interval training session on Runkeeper of 1m running, 1m 30s walking - after the first interval I realised that they were the wrong way around and so I changed them to running 1m 30s and walking 1m. And I ran. I ran all the way to the round about at Paradise Point - and then realised that I was going to get home too soon - so took a detour - big mistake. I did well until I hit the 4.5km mark - then I got tired - but I carried on until I got home at 6.32km in 48:34 mins.
The amazing thing is that even though I am not supposed to be eating sugar or carbohydrates - I was still down on the scales the next day. Had an early start to collect my folks from the airport so no breakfast until after we had dropped them at home and sat chatting for a couple of hours - then too lazy to make a smoothie so bought two croissants from the local bakery and had those for breakfast. By lunch time I was still feeling lazy so had a piece of cheese and some nuts for lunch !!!
We were going to the Suns game on Saturday night so had 1/3 of a quiche Lorraine that we had bought from Woollies. It was such a great game that, even though we lost, we got home and celebrated by eating some more solid Easter eggs !!!!!!!
Saturday was my rest day so no exercise which probably didn't make me feel better but I have come to realise that rest days are even more important when exercising than the exercise itself.
This morning I woke up and jumped on the scale - and I was down again - taking me to the lowest weight I have been since 2007. I was really pleased although totally puzzled as to how this is happening. Listened to the weather and it was raining. I had planned to cycle this morning before going out to meet friends. Part of me wanted to cycle and part of me thought that the sensible thing to do was not cycle. Thank goodness the sensible part of me won that debate - I could be writing this from hospital if it hadn't !!!!!!!
I had so enjoyed those croissants yesterday I was very tempted to have them again today but then realised I was just being lazy - so I made my strawberry and blueberry smoothie and was on my way. At Robina I went past The Cookie Man - well actually I didn't go past - I stopped and I bought 3 macaroon biscuits and 3 brandy snaps - why - because I was starving. Why didn't I make a better choice ? I have absolutely no idea. Am I feeling invincible ? Not really - I enjoyed them but not so much that I couldn't have done without them.
I met up with another friend at the centre instead of the park where we were going to meet because the weather was so cr*ppy and then landed up having chicken burgers from Grill'd (they do make the best chicken burgers)
I got home at about 4.40 and all I could think about was getting on my bike and trying to burn some calories off. I had a great ride - it was a little windy
So, over the past three days I have done everything I can to sabotage my weight loss journey - and I have no idea why. I have been in such a great head space lately and I can't work out why I feel the need to go out and BUY things that I know I shouldn't be eating - because it isn't as though they make me feel that good in the first place. I know that it is going to come back and bite me on the butt sometime soon - I just don't know when. Maybe if I can stick to my exercise plan of exercising 6 days out of 7 - maybe I will burn off the excess calories - maybe not - time will tell. Until then, tomorrow is a new day which I will tackle with more respect for my body and my journey.
Have the best week ever - not sure how I am going to handle working 5 days this week - it is going to be hard !!!!! Hopefully I won't have to use food to get through it. (Not sure if my TFTD is that I shouldn't worry about the 'extras' I have eaten over the past three days - maybe I have to just put them behind me now and move on !!)
TFTD : What would you be doing differently if your first priority was living today to it's fullest ?
Fridays are often difficult days because I am generally in the office on my own which means that it is easier to eat things I shouldn't because there is nobody there watching me (or so I feel anyway - I bet nobody in the office actually gives a rats bum about what I do or don't eat). The problem for me is the jar of solid Easter eggs that is on the receptionist's desk - which I 'hid' in the pantry cupboard on Wednesday - but seeing as I was the one who hid them, they were pretty easy to find on Friday. One egg became two eggs became four eggs became six eggs before I went enough is enough. Actually - in between the six eggs was three scotch fingers.
Then, because I hadn't had enough sugar for one day given how little sugar I have eaten over said 6 or 7 weeks, when I went to the shops after work and had to wait for my car to be ready, I stopped at the local Japanese bakery (I wish they wouldn't keep opening up in local shopping centres - I find it EXTREMELY difficult to walk past and not buy anything) - I bought a donut and a coconut cake (because I am actually allowed coconut !!!! - Not sure about the whole cake thing though !!!) - and a Coke Zero - and I proceeded to sit in the food court and read my book and eat my purchases.
Needless to say by the time I finished eating them I felt very, very green around the gills. So off to get my car and come home. I KNEW that, as much as I didn't want to run in the rain, I had to get out there to counter-act the cr*p that I had eaten during the day. But, it was raining, and I didn't want to run in the rain. Lots of head talk happening about whether I should or shouldn't run in the rain but eventually one part of me reminded me that I wouldn't melt in the rain and it would just mean that I would have to run without my glasses which could be a little dodgy - so if I offended the two cars who hooted as they went past by not waving back, I'm sorry - but I couldn't see who you were and I don't wave at strangers !!!!! I had set an interval training session on Runkeeper of 1m running, 1m 30s walking - after the first interval I realised that they were the wrong way around and so I changed them to running 1m 30s and walking 1m. And I ran. I ran all the way to the round about at Paradise Point - and then realised that I was going to get home too soon - so took a detour - big mistake. I did well until I hit the 4.5km mark - then I got tired - but I carried on until I got home at 6.32km in 48:34 mins.
The amazing thing is that even though I am not supposed to be eating sugar or carbohydrates - I was still down on the scales the next day. Had an early start to collect my folks from the airport so no breakfast until after we had dropped them at home and sat chatting for a couple of hours - then too lazy to make a smoothie so bought two croissants from the local bakery and had those for breakfast. By lunch time I was still feeling lazy so had a piece of cheese and some nuts for lunch !!!
We were going to the Suns game on Saturday night so had 1/3 of a quiche Lorraine that we had bought from Woollies. It was such a great game that, even though we lost, we got home and celebrated by eating some more solid Easter eggs !!!!!!!
Saturday was my rest day so no exercise which probably didn't make me feel better but I have come to realise that rest days are even more important when exercising than the exercise itself.
This morning I woke up and jumped on the scale - and I was down again - taking me to the lowest weight I have been since 2007. I was really pleased although totally puzzled as to how this is happening. Listened to the weather and it was raining. I had planned to cycle this morning before going out to meet friends. Part of me wanted to cycle and part of me thought that the sensible thing to do was not cycle. Thank goodness the sensible part of me won that debate - I could be writing this from hospital if it hadn't !!!!!!!
I had so enjoyed those croissants yesterday I was very tempted to have them again today but then realised I was just being lazy - so I made my strawberry and blueberry smoothie and was on my way. At Robina I went past The Cookie Man - well actually I didn't go past - I stopped and I bought 3 macaroon biscuits and 3 brandy snaps - why - because I was starving. Why didn't I make a better choice ? I have absolutely no idea. Am I feeling invincible ? Not really - I enjoyed them but not so much that I couldn't have done without them.
I met up with another friend at the centre instead of the park where we were going to meet because the weather was so cr*ppy and then landed up having chicken burgers from Grill'd (they do make the best chicken burgers)
I got home at about 4.40 and all I could think about was getting on my bike and trying to burn some calories off. I had a great ride - it was a little windy
So, over the past three days I have done everything I can to sabotage my weight loss journey - and I have no idea why. I have been in such a great head space lately and I can't work out why I feel the need to go out and BUY things that I know I shouldn't be eating - because it isn't as though they make me feel that good in the first place. I know that it is going to come back and bite me on the butt sometime soon - I just don't know when. Maybe if I can stick to my exercise plan of exercising 6 days out of 7 - maybe I will burn off the excess calories - maybe not - time will tell. Until then, tomorrow is a new day which I will tackle with more respect for my body and my journey.
Have the best week ever - not sure how I am going to handle working 5 days this week - it is going to be hard !!!!! Hopefully I won't have to use food to get through it. (Not sure if my TFTD is that I shouldn't worry about the 'extras' I have eaten over the past three days - maybe I have to just put them behind me now and move on !!)
TFTD : What would you be doing differently if your first priority was living today to it's fullest ?
Friday, 13 April 2012
The Right Stuff
A has always been of the opinion that if you are going to do something, you should have the right tools to do it. Me - not so much. I am a make do kind of girl.
When we first moved to Australia, and we were renting, we used to spend a lot of weekends hiking through the local national parks / forests. We loved it. And we were kitted out for it - we had decent hiking shoes, clothes that breathed and wicked sweat (even though I had no idea what that meant when we bought those shirts !!), we had camel packs in back packs, we had light weight rain jackets - just in case we got caught in a shower. We packed lunches and ate them by the sides of rivers and waterfalls.
When we started cycling we used to cycle without knicks. We realised very quickly that, while we may not really want to wear them, they truly are crucial for cycling. So we bought them. Then we bought gloves because they really help your hands. We got water bottles and speedo thingies that tell us how far and how fast we are going. We bought lumious jackets so that when we cycled early morning or at night, we were more visible to motorists.
So, as you can see, A makes sure that we have the right equipment to do whatever we are doing.
I have always walked - not always regularly - but we have walked - lots - especially after we got the dogs. A has a dodgy knee from when he broke his leg two weeks before we got married and so is not able to run anymore. While he was working away from home towards the end of last year, while I was walking one night I thought "I wonder if I can run half of this block ?" - and that was how my running started. I have always worn a sports bra when exercising - mainly because my boobs have travelled south a lot quicker than I would have liked and nothing (short of surgery) is going to have them heading north again - and I CANNOT stand them bouncing at all - EVER !
WhenA and I were up the north side of Brisbane one day and we stopped off at a shop called Harris & Scarfe (I think that's the name) and while we were looking around there, I came across a Berlei sports bra that had been marked down from $80 to $49. It was really comfortable and so I bought two - a grey/pink one and a red one. And I LOVE them. And the best part is that they do their job so well I don't even know they are there !!!
Last week after I had bought my new shoes (which are just amazing I have to add - again !!) we were walking and I decided to run half a block - just to see how my knee would hold out. My knee was fine but I was wearing one of my old sports bras - man, that was a mistake !!!! I didn't say anything to A but a few roads later he asked me if I was going to run again - told him I couldn't because I hurt too much after the last little run !
Now that I am exercising 6 days a week, I have decided that I need a few more of those bras - so have just been online and bought myself another two - for $49.90 each.
I used to run in T-shirts. They got heavy and cold and were horrible to run in. But I didn't realise how horrible they were until one day I saw some active type tops at KMart for $10 and we bought a couple to see how they went. After running in one the next day, I will NEVER run in a T-shirt (or similar) again. What a difference they make to my comfort during exercising.
The long and the short of this post is that if you want to exercise - it really DOES make a difference if you have the right gear !!
Have the best weekend ever. I know that I am going to - on Saturday morning I get to get up at 5am so I can go to the airport to collect my folks - I am so happy. They have been on holiday for 5 weeks and I have missed them heaps. Then K and I get to share the day together because the baby sitting she was supposed to be doing has been cancelled. Sunday I am off to meet the lovely Julie and her daughter, and then off to meet a girlfriend and her two children. Enjoy yours !
Linking in with katesaysstuff for Fitness Friday blog hop - so hop over and check out other bloggers who are doing the fitness thing if you like.
I am also trying to link up with Fitness Friday at [Fitness, Health and Happiness] (but as I have no idea about how to get the little linky things into my blog, I am going to have to ask you to click on the links to get to their blogs !!! Thanks)
TFTD : Be yourself. Everybody else is already taken - Oscar Wilde
When we first moved to Australia, and we were renting, we used to spend a lot of weekends hiking through the local national parks / forests. We loved it. And we were kitted out for it - we had decent hiking shoes, clothes that breathed and wicked sweat (even though I had no idea what that meant when we bought those shirts !!), we had camel packs in back packs, we had light weight rain jackets - just in case we got caught in a shower. We packed lunches and ate them by the sides of rivers and waterfalls.
When we started cycling we used to cycle without knicks. We realised very quickly that, while we may not really want to wear them, they truly are crucial for cycling. So we bought them. Then we bought gloves because they really help your hands. We got water bottles and speedo thingies that tell us how far and how fast we are going. We bought lumious jackets so that when we cycled early morning or at night, we were more visible to motorists.
So, as you can see, A makes sure that we have the right equipment to do whatever we are doing.
I have always walked - not always regularly - but we have walked - lots - especially after we got the dogs. A has a dodgy knee from when he broke his leg two weeks before we got married and so is not able to run anymore. While he was working away from home towards the end of last year, while I was walking one night I thought "I wonder if I can run half of this block ?" - and that was how my running started. I have always worn a sports bra when exercising - mainly because my boobs have travelled south a lot quicker than I would have liked and nothing (short of surgery) is going to have them heading north again - and I CANNOT stand them bouncing at all - EVER !
WhenA and I were up the north side of Brisbane one day and we stopped off at a shop called Harris & Scarfe (I think that's the name) and while we were looking around there, I came across a Berlei sports bra that had been marked down from $80 to $49. It was really comfortable and so I bought two - a grey/pink one and a red one. And I LOVE them. And the best part is that they do their job so well I don't even know they are there !!!
Last week after I had bought my new shoes (which are just amazing I have to add - again !!) we were walking and I decided to run half a block - just to see how my knee would hold out. My knee was fine but I was wearing one of my old sports bras - man, that was a mistake !!!! I didn't say anything to A but a few roads later he asked me if I was going to run again - told him I couldn't because I hurt too much after the last little run !
Now that I am exercising 6 days a week, I have decided that I need a few more of those bras - so have just been online and bought myself another two - for $49.90 each.
This is the dark mocha one I have just bought
The long and the short of this post is that if you want to exercise - it really DOES make a difference if you have the right gear !!
Have the best weekend ever. I know that I am going to - on Saturday morning I get to get up at 5am so I can go to the airport to collect my folks - I am so happy. They have been on holiday for 5 weeks and I have missed them heaps. Then K and I get to share the day together because the baby sitting she was supposed to be doing has been cancelled. Sunday I am off to meet the lovely Julie and her daughter, and then off to meet a girlfriend and her two children. Enjoy yours !
Linking in with katesaysstuff for Fitness Friday blog hop - so hop over and check out other bloggers who are doing the fitness thing if you like.
I am also trying to link up with Fitness Friday at [Fitness, Health and Happiness] (but as I have no idea about how to get the little linky things into my blog, I am going to have to ask you to click on the links to get to their blogs !!! Thanks)
TFTD : Be yourself. Everybody else is already taken - Oscar Wilde
Thursday, 12 April 2012
Thankful Thursday
- being able to run again
- that I have an iPhone with Runkeeper that can track my progress
- that A is so supportive of me and my exercising
- that he is happy coming with me to The Athletes Foot to get measured for shoes
- that he was more than happy to spend $240 for a pair of running shoes for me
- and then spend another $100 the next day because we found the same pair of shoes at DFO for less than half the price
- that I am able to motivate myself to exercise when A isn't around
- that I LOVE exercising
Wishing you all the best Thursday ever !
TFTD : And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it - Paolo Coelho
Tuesday, 10 April 2012
This Is What Motivates Me
Katesaysstuff posted about this the other day and until then I hadn't realised just how much I liked the numbers. I LOVE the numbers (wonder if that was why I became an accountant ????) but I digress - again ! I must confess that I am probably the least competitve person I know - I have no ambition to compete against anyone, I have no desire to be better at something than the next person, I have no sense of wanting to beat someone BUT I do love to see the numbers that I can post for myself. When I started running last year, all I wanted to do was improve my time and it was a strange feeling because it was such a foreign concept for me to grasp. It was never something that I worried about. When I played sport - I played for the exercise - I couldn't care less about who won - mostly it wasn't me and that was OK - I went out there to exercise and that is what I did. If I/we were lucky enough to win - good, but the sun still came up the next day if we didn't.
When I started to run last year - I would run and then have to cycle the route to see how far I had run and my times were in round minutes. This was never really good enough but it was all that I had so I had to make do. Then we bought our Nike shoes and they came with the Nike + sports dongle thingy and that told me distance and time - down to seconds - and I loved it EXCEPT those are the shoes that stuffed my knee up so I wasn't that happy with them !!! And, because the dongle thingy goes inside the sole of the shoe, it meant that I couldn't track what I was doing if I wore another pair of shoes. A had ideas of putting it in a money bag and tying that on my shoe lace - not happy about that idea Luv, thanks all the same. So then when I ran he would cycle with me and try to keep track of how fast I was going (except that the bike works in kph rather than mins/km so it got a bit confusing at times). Then I got my new beaut shoes and so started to look at watches that tracked distance, pace, speed, calories etc. Of course the basic watch wouldn't do that, you had to go up a couple of models and they started at $280 and I was saying that, while it is nice to know, I didn't think I needed it THAT much. So I shelved the idea.
Then I got my phone and have recently started to look at the applications that are available - man I love the applications !!!! I have loaded Runkeeper (see pic above) and I JUST LOVE IT !!!! I love that it tells me how far I ran / cycled - and gives me a map of where I ran / cycled - what my pace was, what my speed was, what I ran in each minute, how long each km took me, how many calories I burnt - the only thing it doesn't tell me is how stuffed I am when I am finished exercising (and I probably don't need it to tell me that because I already know !!!!!) It seems that the numbers are really what motivate me. I love seeing my statistics - how fast I went, where I slowed down, where I seemed to tire and then get a second wind.
I love being this motivated to get out there and exercise that I land up going for a run around the block before I go to personal training just because I can. I love having a plan of attack for my exercise regime and that I can be flexible with what exercise I do each day. I know that there is no training on Thursday so have decided to cycle if the weather is good or do one of the circuits that Jane posts on her blog every so often. No matter what happens - there is going to be some exercise happening.
Even if all this exercise doesn't help with my weight loss because, as the naturopath explained to me, when I weighed 62kgs, I wasn't exercising much and didn't have much in the way of muscle tone. Now that I am exercising so much more, I have more muscle tone and better developed muscles therefore, I have to weigh more given that muscle weighs more than fat. This is not an excuse to not lose any more weight but rather a realisation that, realistically, at age 46 and 5'7", if I lose much more weight, I am not going to look as good as I do now. I have noticed that the texture of my skin has changed and is no longer the smooth looking skin it used to be. And, I think that if I lose more weight I will probably look a lot older because I will be a little more gaunt and a lot more haggard. All in all, I am closer to accepting that I may never see the 60's again - and that is OK. I am not longer repulsed by seeing myself naked - yes I could do to lose the love handles and the hips, but, A and I are the only people who see that (oh, and the osteo but he's about 25 and, I am sure, couldn't care what I look like - or at least only cares as to the impact that my weight has on my body !!) and A loves me no matter what my weight and I am starting to love me as I am, so really how important are those numbers on the scale ? I am trying to make them less important than they used to be. A work in progress !!!!
I love that I am now self motivating myself and not having to wait for A to say "Let's cycle or go for a walk" - which is good because now that he is away for however long he is away for, I wouldn't do much if I couldn't get myself motivated !!! I love the inspiration that I take from Lyndal, Aroha, Jane and Kate. While I couldn't run, I was almost jealous when reading of what they were doing because I so wanted to be out there running - I didn't want to walk - I wanted to run. Now that I can run, I hear them in my head when I am running - the times when they wanted to give up but didn't, the times that they didn't want to exercise but they did - and it makes me push myself just that little bit further - thank you my wonderful online friends and motivators !
Have the best 'rest of the week' possible - I know I am going to !
TFTD : I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning to sail my ship - Louisa May Alcott
Monday, 9 April 2012
Finally - A Cycle
This is how I felt today when I was cycling - happy enough to wave to anyone who was around (of course as we were cycling by ourselves on Easter Monday, there were no crowds lining the streets cheering us on but that was OK - we encouraged each other to continue and keep up the pace).
It has been far too long since we cycled but I loved every minute of being on the bike. Fantastic weather helped as well as I hate cycling when it is too windy. My butt is feeling it now. Since losing weight I can fit into my smaller cycling knicks but man, there is a lot less padding there now and my butt bones certainly noticed the difference when we were out there this morning. We landed up doing just over 18kms which wasn't bad given how long it has been since we have had the bikes out and operational. So much so I had to pump my tyres up before we left !!!! Always an indication of just how long it has been since I have had my butt in the saddle.
I want to get in touch with our trainer before tomorrow night as I would like to focus on strengthening my legs in preparation for the running that I am going to start doing. We went to see friends last night and she showed me the Couch to 2km program - I would love to give that a try except I don't have 9 weeks until I run the Mother's Day race. Some tips she gave me from there were - only run 3 days per week and don't run 2 days in a row.
So, my plan is this :
Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Saturday - run the 5.25 interval training that I have set up on Runkeeper
Tuesday, Thursday - training with PT
Friday/Saturday (whichever I don't run) - rest day
Sunday - cycling
Interchangeable as required depending on availability of PT as he has started a new job and occasionally isn't able to make it
Here's to success with the above training so that I can achieve my goal of running 4kms on 13th May (coincedentally - one day after my baby says goodbye to her teen years - how did those 20 years go by so quickly ?????????????????????). A leaves for Townsville tomorrow and will be away 2-3 weeks so I am going to have to really make sure that my self motivation levels are high - he is often the one who really manages to get me out there, doing what I want to do - there are times I just need a little bit of outside encouragement !!
Enjoy the last day of the Easter long weekend - whatever you are doing and wherever you are - go safely !
TFTD : People who love themselves are far more attractive than those who try to become attractive. Self-acceptance is perfectly compelling. - Alan Cohen
I want to get in touch with our trainer before tomorrow night as I would like to focus on strengthening my legs in preparation for the running that I am going to start doing. We went to see friends last night and she showed me the Couch to 2km program - I would love to give that a try except I don't have 9 weeks until I run the Mother's Day race. Some tips she gave me from there were - only run 3 days per week and don't run 2 days in a row.
So, my plan is this :
Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Saturday - run the 5.25 interval training that I have set up on Runkeeper
Tuesday, Thursday - training with PT
Friday/Saturday (whichever I don't run) - rest day
Sunday - cycling
Interchangeable as required depending on availability of PT as he has started a new job and occasionally isn't able to make it
Here's to success with the above training so that I can achieve my goal of running 4kms on 13th May (coincedentally - one day after my baby says goodbye to her teen years - how did those 20 years go by so quickly ?????????????????????). A leaves for Townsville tomorrow and will be away 2-3 weeks so I am going to have to really make sure that my self motivation levels are high - he is often the one who really manages to get me out there, doing what I want to do - there are times I just need a little bit of outside encouragement !!
Enjoy the last day of the Easter long weekend - whatever you are doing and wherever you are - go safely !
TFTD : People who love themselves are far more attractive than those who try to become attractive. Self-acceptance is perfectly compelling. - Alan Cohen
Sunday, 8 April 2012
The Journey of A Thousand Miles
begins with a single step.
And that is why I am going to sign up for the 4km Mother's Day Classic Run on Mother's Day this year. Al is happy to take me and cheer me on while I am running. While I realise that it is only a 4km race - I don't want to tackle anything too big to start with until I see how I go.
This morning I got up while everyone was still sleeping and went for a walk/run at 0.5km intervals. My knee has been relatively pain free with only just a twinge today while I was running. That was mainly because I had moved into the road to run rather than up and down a heap of pavements where we have some short blocks and the road had quite a steep camber - my right knee got really sore so I crossed back to the pavement and the pain went away. My left knee twinged a little when I went from my first section of running back to walking but after that it was fine. I can't tell you how happy I was when I got home - I had made it walking/running with better times than when I was running before I hurt my knee. I think that Runkeeper is a little more reliable / accurate than the Nike pod that I was using previously.
The other week I went to The Athlete's Foot and was measured and fitted with shoes that do EXACTLY what I need them to do for the way that my feet roll. While Nike have a great name - I have heard from too many different sources (plus my own experience) that their shoes are built for comfort and not for functionality. And that is fine - I am just sorry that we spent $150 on shoes that really aren't suitable for running !!!
The Saucony's that I bought from TAF cost $240 and a couple of days later we saw them at DFO for $100 - Al wasn't in the least bit phased about that price difference - he says that we paid for the knowledge and information that we got from the lady at TAF. She was really good and the next time we are down that way I am going to go back to the shop and tell them how they helped to get me on the road again. He was so confident that they would do the job he bought a pair at $100 so I have a back up pair for when these give up the ghost. While I would love them to last forever, I would also like to say "Hey, I ran so much I had to get another pair of shoes !!!!!!"
While I was never that fussed about having an iPhone, I just LOVE the apps that are available. Now whether something similar was available on BB, I never found out. I love that with Runkeeper, it does it all for me - tracks distance, speed, pace, route, calories burned - and gives me heaps of info that I can use to work out when I seem to get tired and when I am going well. Al and I walked the dogs this afternoon and I used it to track how we walked. When we got home I showed him the Runkeeper reports and he was amazed at the info that it gave me. This is the type of tool that I find EXTREMELY motivating and is the sort of thing that will help me when I get home to put my shoes on and go for a run. Especially now that Al is leaving again to go up to Townsville / Magnetic Island for 2-3 weeks as they have 8 sites to be installed. I am going to miss him but hope to be able to rack up the kms while he is gone. Need to make sure that K loads the songs I have chosen onto my phone as it was very boring walking/running this morning with no music !!
I am hoping that a side effect of the running will be some weight loss but if it isn't, that will be OK. Right now it is about exercising and getting out there.
On that note - wishing everyone a very blessed Easter.
TFTD : If you are capable of perceiving it, you are capable of living it - Bashar
Friday, 30 March 2012
DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness)
I'd love to say this a photo of the new me but that would be telling a porky - I am not blond, I don't have long hair, I don't have a flat stomach or butt and I certainly can't lift weights that look that big - 5kg is my maximum right now !!!! But, this is what I was doing on Wednesday night - 3 x 20 Arnie's with said 5kg weights, skipping, walking lunges with 10kg weights in each hand (no lifting involved so he pushed the weight up !!!), ab work using the fit ball amongst other things. I did stretch afterwards, but yesterday I could still feel that I had had a decent workout, one that made me happy I had paid my money and gone to training. The steps at work were a great reminder - just in case I had forgotten at any point during the day ! It made me feel like I had got my money's worth and that he had really worked me well.
This morning - I'm not so sure. My obliques, my triceps, my glutes, my lats - are all screaming at me - but in a nice way !!!!! While I didn't train last night due to other commitments, I am really pleased with my effort this week - despite everything that has been going on. I love that DOMS feeling two days after training - it reinforces that I am pushing my body just a little bit harder each time and the absence of it lets me know that I was a slacker and should work harder at the next training !!!!
I recently went to Athlete's Foot and, after a lot of discussion with the lady and walking and trying on shoes, I found a pair that felt like they were made just for me. They are supportive in the right places and they cushion in the right places. They were $240. I baulked. A didn't even blink an eye - he said "We'll take them thank you." Two days later we were at DFO and a shop there had exactly the same shoes for $100 - I nearly cried. He didn't - he said "If we hadn't got the advice and tapped the knowledge that the lady had at AF, we never would have known that these were the right shoes to buy for you." and promptly bought me another pair so that when I run out the first pair, I have a second pair waiting for me !!!! How much more incentive do I need to get out there ? Tonight I am hoping to try them out to see how they/I go !!
After 23 days of no soft drinks I was absolutely hanging out for Wednesday when I was going to have an ice-cold cold drink - I hadn't decided if it was going to be Coke Zero or Pepsi Max - such a difficult decision after 23 long days of water only. The time came and I took a Coke Zero - opened it - I love the shoooosh as a can is opened - I savoured the smell. Something I had missed for over 3 weeks !!! And I took my first sip - it was lovely. Just as good as I imagined !!! I was in heaven (well nearly anyway). And then I took another sip and another. And 4 sips later I said to A - would you like this, I can't drink anymore !!!!! It was the strangest thing - it just didn't do it for me like it used to. Yesterday I only drank water at work and had a couple of sips of a Pepsi Max in the evening - can't finish a whole can - can't even finish half a can actually. This is definitely a positive because I know all the bad things that are in those cold drinks but have always said, that is my one vice and I will deal with the consequences. Maybe I am going to have to find myself another vice !!!!!!
Have the best weekend ever and take care, whatever you are doing !!!
I want to blog hop with katesaysstuff but don't know how to so if you want to - hop on over to her blog and go from there !!!!
TFTD : When you want what's inside of you more than what's outside of you, you will have it all.
Thursday, 29 March 2012
Thankful Thursday
I think we all know how hectic life can get and it is sad when it gets so hectic that you lose touch with people who care about you. That is how I have been over the past week or so - busy with stuff that couldn't wait or someone else couldn't do. But in amongst all the chaos that has been my life, there were two amazing women who took the time to contact me to find out if I was OK because they hadn't seen me around the social media for a couple of days. To say that I was absolutely blown away when I read their messages of care and concern would be an understatement - tears popped into my eyes as I was reading. These are two ladies whom I have never met but who took the time to find out if I was OK.
This post is not a grouch because other people didn't wonder where I was. This post is not about looking for people to check on me if I am quiet for a while. This post is to honour my two friends for caring enough about me, someone they haven't met, to get in touchto see how things were in my world. I have family who have never done anything like that !!!!!
I am deeply touched by the support that I have found, not only from them, but from all my social media friends. While some people may think it strange that others make friends over the internet who they may or may not meet, I love the fact that there are people out there who care enough to take time out of their hectic lives to check up on someone else. Who think of others and not just themselves. Who I hope one day to meet and give BIG hugs to because their thoughts mean more than they will ever know.
This post is not a grouch because other people didn't wonder where I was. This post is not about looking for people to check on me if I am quiet for a while. This post is to honour my two friends for caring enough about me, someone they haven't met, to get in touchto see how things were in my world. I have family who have never done anything like that !!!!!
I am deeply touched by the support that I have found, not only from them, but from all my social media friends. While some people may think it strange that others make friends over the internet who they may or may not meet, I love the fact that there are people out there who care enough to take time out of their hectic lives to check up on someone else. Who think of others and not just themselves. Who I hope one day to meet and give BIG hugs to because their thoughts mean more than they will ever know.
And, because it is Thursday I am going to link in with Kate Says Stuff for Thankful Thursday because I am truly thankful to have such wonderful friends !
Wednesday, 21 March 2012
How Do I Change My Head ?
That title probably reads a little more cryptically than I would like but I can't come up with anything better right now.
As you are probably all know, my weight loss (or lack thereof) is a big part of my life. While it doesn't define who I am, it certainly impacts on how I feel and how I act. I have been trying really hard to lose these excess kilos as we were planning a winter holiday in Canada/USA and I figured that being bundled up in snow gear would already add 10-20kgs onto me never mind if I was 20 kilos heavier to start with - which would see me looking 30-40kgs heavier than I actually am.
So the quest began. The LnE was in full force Monday - Friday and I was really careful about what I ate on the weekend and the weight started to move - nicely. Then Christmas hit and, while it is only one day, A and I were both off between Christmas and New Year and we indulged - a little too much and some of the weight came back (as it does). And then the battle started - over the period of 6 weeks I lost the grand total of 0.3kgs. This was on top of doing LnE and exercising for 60-75mins 6 x week. I was demotivated and frustrated and, on one hand wanted to pack it all in, but on the other hand knew I couldn't because of those bloody photos that would be taken.
I went and spoke to my Dr and spoke to her about coming off the pill and she recommended the low calorie diet that I am on. I made the appointment with my naturopath and she told me what I had to do and I have been doing it - for 15 days and have lost 6.5kgs. I go back to her next Monday to start the next phase of this diet.
What is doing my head in is the numbers on the scale. I would LOVE to say that I don't care what they are so long as my clothes fit me but I would by lying - I DO care what they are. I DO have a number in my head that I want to see on those scales. But right now, with clothes on, I look at myself in the mirror and think that I DON'T look that bad. A and K both say how good I am looking and that I don't look like I am over-weight BUT it doesn't help to change that number in my head.
When I got married I weighed 45 kgs - yes at 5'7" I was too thin. I liked to be around 50-52 - I felt healthy and I felt good in whatever I wore. I don't want to say that because I am closer to 50 than 40, it is OK for my weight to be closer to 75kgs than 65kgs - those were obscene numbers for me when I was younger and I think that there is still a part of me that thinks those numbers are obscene and doesn't want to see them on the scale.
Why can I not get my head around the fact that IT IS ONLY A NUMBER ? Why is it so important to me WHAT THAT NUMBER IS ? Why will I try to kill myself to get to that number when, in all likelihood, I will not be able to maintain that weight when I get there and then I feel like a total failure when I bounce right up to a number that my body feels it can sustain ? Sometimes it is those last few kilos that nearly kill me and I don't want to go there again - I want to be able to indulge occasionally without feeling like I have to deprive myself for the next week. I want food NOT to be the whole focus of my being. I want to accept that my body will never look like it did 26 years ago - AND THAT IT IS OK TO ACCEPT THAT. Why can't I get my head around this - it shouldn't be this hard !!!!!
Sometimes things are just too difficult !
As you are probably all know, my weight loss (or lack thereof) is a big part of my life. While it doesn't define who I am, it certainly impacts on how I feel and how I act. I have been trying really hard to lose these excess kilos as we were planning a winter holiday in Canada/USA and I figured that being bundled up in snow gear would already add 10-20kgs onto me never mind if I was 20 kilos heavier to start with - which would see me looking 30-40kgs heavier than I actually am.
So the quest began. The LnE was in full force Monday - Friday and I was really careful about what I ate on the weekend and the weight started to move - nicely. Then Christmas hit and, while it is only one day, A and I were both off between Christmas and New Year and we indulged - a little too much and some of the weight came back (as it does). And then the battle started - over the period of 6 weeks I lost the grand total of 0.3kgs. This was on top of doing LnE and exercising for 60-75mins 6 x week. I was demotivated and frustrated and, on one hand wanted to pack it all in, but on the other hand knew I couldn't because of those bloody photos that would be taken.
I went and spoke to my Dr and spoke to her about coming off the pill and she recommended the low calorie diet that I am on. I made the appointment with my naturopath and she told me what I had to do and I have been doing it - for 15 days and have lost 6.5kgs. I go back to her next Monday to start the next phase of this diet.
What is doing my head in is the numbers on the scale. I would LOVE to say that I don't care what they are so long as my clothes fit me but I would by lying - I DO care what they are. I DO have a number in my head that I want to see on those scales. But right now, with clothes on, I look at myself in the mirror and think that I DON'T look that bad. A and K both say how good I am looking and that I don't look like I am over-weight BUT it doesn't help to change that number in my head.
When I got married I weighed 45 kgs - yes at 5'7" I was too thin. I liked to be around 50-52 - I felt healthy and I felt good in whatever I wore. I don't want to say that because I am closer to 50 than 40, it is OK for my weight to be closer to 75kgs than 65kgs - those were obscene numbers for me when I was younger and I think that there is still a part of me that thinks those numbers are obscene and doesn't want to see them on the scale.
Why can I not get my head around the fact that IT IS ONLY A NUMBER ? Why is it so important to me WHAT THAT NUMBER IS ? Why will I try to kill myself to get to that number when, in all likelihood, I will not be able to maintain that weight when I get there and then I feel like a total failure when I bounce right up to a number that my body feels it can sustain ? Sometimes it is those last few kilos that nearly kill me and I don't want to go there again - I want to be able to indulge occasionally without feeling like I have to deprive myself for the next week. I want food NOT to be the whole focus of my being. I want to accept that my body will never look like it did 26 years ago - AND THAT IT IS OK TO ACCEPT THAT. Why can't I get my head around this - it shouldn't be this hard !!!!!
Sometimes things are just too difficult !
Tuesday, 20 March 2012
We're Off To See The Wizard
Milford Sound
the wonderful wizard of Oz - oopsie - wrong country !!! We are off to New Zealand for two weeks in August. The plans for our 25th wedding anniversary have changed somewhat !! We were planning on going to Canada and having a white Christmas and celebrating our anniversary over there. Then work issues happened and we couldn't do the train trip through the Rockies plus it is out of baseball season so we couldn't catch any games.
A came up with a suggestion that we go to NZ in winter and then to Canada/USA in summer next year. K and I shot that idea down in flames very quickly. While he was away in Gladstone, K came to me and said "What about ....." and gave me that same scenario - I said to her - Dad suggested that you and didn't like the idea. She said "Now I have warmed to it more - can you warm to it to ?" And I could because I think it might be cheaper to go in summer than winter although we will then have to pay for the train trip but figure it isn't every day you get to celebrate being married for 25 years !!!!
So that is what we are doing - full steam ahead planning for two weeks in the south island - we just LOVE it over there (sorry to any people in the north island who might be reading this !!). I am waiting to talk to the travel agent we have dealt with before tomorrow and then we can book our flights. We booked our week in Wanaka today - a whole week for $163 for both of us.
This is our plan so far - fly into Christchurch Thursday night. Drive down to Wanaka on Friday. At timeshare probably 5 maybe 6 nights. Then drive to Invercargill (because we have never been there) - stay there over night and then drive to Dunedin the next day. Probably spend two nights there and then take two days to drive up to Christchurch on the coastal road. Spend a couple of nights in Christchurch and/or surrounds and then fly home in time to spend the weekend at home before going back to work.
If anyone reading this thinks that any of the above won't work - please pretty please let me know - we are used to driving big distances so that isn't an issue but I do know from the last time we were there that the distances travelled and the time taken are very different to here.
Lots of planning and googling and booking and phone calls - all very exciting !!!!!!
Here's to a fantastic break in August.
TFTD : When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt ! - Henry J Kaiser
Wednesday, 14 March 2012
I'm so Happy
Sorry - that is bigger than I wanted it to be but don't know how to make it smaller !!!!
This is the same flower that I had in my wedding bouquet nearly 25 years ago - a day that made me very happy. Today I am happy for different reasons - firstly because A came home last night (late last night but last night none the less) and this morning I got up and put on a pair of pants and shirt that I haven't worn in I don't know how many months (a couple of years maybe ?) and I felt good. I felt confident. I felt like I could go out and conquer the world.
Isn't it amazing how the shift of a few kilos (I still have 6-8kgs to go) can make such a difference - just being able to wear these clothes, for me, is amazing. I want to try a few more out that I have in my cupboard because if I can fit into these, I might be able to fit into them.
My goal is to fit into a T-shirt I bought quite a few years ago that says "You are just jealous because the voices don't talk to you" - one of my favourite sayings !!
Have the best evening possible !
TFTD : Those who see themselves as whole make no demands - A Course In Miracles
Tuesday, 13 March 2012
If You Don't Have Anything Nice To Say ......
don't say anything at all ! (As a child I listened to the Bambi record I don't know how many times and can't remember how many times I have thought it since then.)
Recently there seem to be quite a few occasions where I have read comments from people and thought to myself 'Why did they write that ?'. It was mean spirited or unkind or rude. People, if you haven't got anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all.
When I write a blog post, or post on FB or twitter - if you don't like what I (or anyone else for that matter) is saying - close out of the post and either don't come back or come back knowing that you may not like what I have written. If you don't like what I post on FB or twitter - defriend me or stop following me. At the end of the day, this is my blog and, while I hope that I don't offend people or post anything that is totally out there, it is still my blog. It is also the reason that I don't get on with my brother - he stuck his nose in where it wasn't needed, didn't give me a chance to say anything, and maybe 4 years later, I still can't get over it. Rightly or wrongly, it hurts that he listened to someone else and didn't listen to anything I had to say. The incident I had written about was what happened - I didn't make it up, I didn't exaggerate it and I can't change it - what has happened, has happened and hopefully at some point I will get over it.
My blog is where I go because I like to type - and there are only so many letters / e-mails I can write to people. I like to put down in words (not very well because I am not as eloquent as other bloggers that I read, I acknowledge that and I am OK with that) things that have happened or how I feel or what gets me up or when things get me down. I find typing very cathartic - have no idea why, but I do. So when I read nasty comments it really gets to me because we all blog for different reasons - but that isn't to say that it gives anyone the right to make a derogatory remark about what has been written, criticise the choices or decisions made - until you have walked a mile in that bloggers shoes - keep your nasty comments to yourself.
In all likelihood, the people that this post is targeted at will not read it but I feel better for having got it off my chest because it annoys me when I see it happening on other blogs and it has been worrying me that people are not considerate of others.
Onto happier things - A is on his way home and should be home in a couple of hours. I am very excited and can't wait to see him again. At this stage we don't know when/if he is going to have to go away again. Tomorrow he is having some cancers cut out of his nose and ear and then is off work until Monday so he will have a good couple of days at home to rest up - this past job in Gladstone has been physically draining, largely due to the heat and humidity and he is really looking forward to a short break - I'm just sorry I can't take any days off to be with him.
Have the best Wednesday possible !
TFTD : Life is too precious to quibble over details.
Recently there seem to be quite a few occasions where I have read comments from people and thought to myself 'Why did they write that ?'. It was mean spirited or unkind or rude. People, if you haven't got anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all.
When I write a blog post, or post on FB or twitter - if you don't like what I (or anyone else for that matter) is saying - close out of the post and either don't come back or come back knowing that you may not like what I have written. If you don't like what I post on FB or twitter - defriend me or stop following me. At the end of the day, this is my blog and, while I hope that I don't offend people or post anything that is totally out there, it is still my blog. It is also the reason that I don't get on with my brother - he stuck his nose in where it wasn't needed, didn't give me a chance to say anything, and maybe 4 years later, I still can't get over it. Rightly or wrongly, it hurts that he listened to someone else and didn't listen to anything I had to say. The incident I had written about was what happened - I didn't make it up, I didn't exaggerate it and I can't change it - what has happened, has happened and hopefully at some point I will get over it.
My blog is where I go because I like to type - and there are only so many letters / e-mails I can write to people. I like to put down in words (not very well because I am not as eloquent as other bloggers that I read, I acknowledge that and I am OK with that) things that have happened or how I feel or what gets me up or when things get me down. I find typing very cathartic - have no idea why, but I do. So when I read nasty comments it really gets to me because we all blog for different reasons - but that isn't to say that it gives anyone the right to make a derogatory remark about what has been written, criticise the choices or decisions made - until you have walked a mile in that bloggers shoes - keep your nasty comments to yourself.
In all likelihood, the people that this post is targeted at will not read it but I feel better for having got it off my chest because it annoys me when I see it happening on other blogs and it has been worrying me that people are not considerate of others.
Onto happier things - A is on his way home and should be home in a couple of hours. I am very excited and can't wait to see him again. At this stage we don't know when/if he is going to have to go away again. Tomorrow he is having some cancers cut out of his nose and ear and then is off work until Monday so he will have a good couple of days at home to rest up - this past job in Gladstone has been physically draining, largely due to the heat and humidity and he is really looking forward to a short break - I'm just sorry I can't take any days off to be with him.
Have the best Wednesday possible !
TFTD : Life is too precious to quibble over details.
Monday, 12 March 2012
Things I Love
The other day I was driving home from work and as I turned into our cul-de-sac I slowed right down because there were a heap of children on their bikes and scooters and skateboards in our road - all playing together - the older ones looking out for the younger ones (I hope !) and it reminded me of where I lived when we grew up. While it was in a different country, when we were little we also lived in a cul-de-sac - we lived about half way down the hill and the cul-de-sac was at the bottom of the hill. We spent so many hours riding our bikes up and down the hill, playing hop scotch and sitting on skateboards down the hill (well I did anyway because I was a ninny and thought I would fall off if I stood on the skateboard !!). We had so much fun there and would all skadaddle to the side of the road when a car came down and either turned in the circle or went into a drive way. Everyone knew everyone and while there was the occasional fight between the boys, we all got on really well even though there was a wide range of ages.
When we first moved into the neighbourhood, we were the second family with a child. Our neighbours had a daughter who was about 3 yo, K was nearly 8 and the rest were people who had retired and were waiting for God or waiting to go into a retirement home. Most of them have now moved on (either to God or the retirement home) and we have a lot of younger families with children who have moved in - I LOVE seeing children outside playing instead of being cooped up inside in front of the TV or computer or similar.
YAY and a huge round of applause to those parents who encourage their children to play outside !
This weekend I went walking again - it has been far too long since I walked - for lots of reasons - not wanting to walk by myself, not having time, not being home because I was at the hospital - really all just excuses for being lazy and not just getting out there and DOING IT ! I walked on Saturday morning from about 9.30 and thought it would be better to walk earlier in the day before it got so hot. I was planning on walking at about 8am on Sunday but K woke up and we spent a great 90 mins talking and laughing and fooling around and so it was after 9.30 by the time I got out the door - I wouldn't give up those 90 mins to walk earlier for anything. I treasure every minute that I get to spend with her - most especially when she is in such a great mood !!!!!!
While I walked on Saturday and Sunday, I recalled how I used to run - before the injury - and I ran little bits BUT my knee is still dodgy and not ready for me to run on. I HATE that I can't run. I HATE that for so many years I never ran because I thought I couldn't, instead of just getting out there and doing it because I could. Nobody ever told me I couldn't except myself and now I am telling myself I can and my knee is bloody talking back saying it can't !! It's not fair. But that is life I guess and I will just have to deal with it !
Well these are the two things this week I have realised I really love.
What things in life do you love ?
TFTD : In real love you want the other person's good. In romantic love you want the other person - Source unknown
Saturday, 10 March 2012
Found my mojo (I think)
Firstly I want to thank all the new bloggers who have popped by and left comments - I can't tell you how much your thoughts mean to me.
I think I have found my mojo (see symbol above !!!). The past couple of weeks have been difficult ones what with Dad's diagnosis, my issues with trying to lose weight, my lack of motivation to exercise when only days before I had been so motivated - but things are back on track - and I am happy about that.
My Dad's operation was a success - or as successful as they expected it to be. They removed 14 lymph nodes and two were cancerous. My folks leave for South Africa tomorrow afternoon - so really only a postponement of a couple of weeks for their trip although we could definitely have done without the reason for the postponement !
I started the low calorie diet that I mentioned in a previous blog and have lost 4kgs in 5 days. It hasn't been easy but then I never expected it to be easy. The main thing is that I am motivated to continue.
Other than the training that K and I do twice a week (only once this week) I have done no exercise, but, motivated by my friend at coloursofsunset, this morning I went for a walk and felt so good, it reminded me of how much I enjoyed walking. The one down side was I remembered that the doctor had said that I need to do more than walking - I had to do cardio work - so am going to have to get working on that BUT the main thing is that I, once again, feel like I want to exercise, something I haven't felt like for a while.
A is working in Gladstone now so I have had a lonely day at home. K went off to work while I went for a walk before coming home and doing the laundry (just put on the 5th load for the day - who would think that there are only two of us in the house ?????), then I watched the very cheesy Strictly Ballroom which I have wanted to watch since first hearing about it on Dancing With The Stars - am glad I have seen it but certainly wouldn't say to anyone that it is a must see !!!!!
Have you got anything exciting planned for the rest of this weekend ?
TFTD : Do not follow in the footsteps of the wise. Seek what they sought - Basho
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