Countdown: 120 days!

I did okay with my goals this week although not perfect:

Yoga:  4/7 days.  Because I want to do this first thing in the morning, I have to remember to actually do it before breakfast (since I don’t like yogaing on a full stomach).  This week I want to get 7/7 days.

Follow exercise plan:  I had a rest day planned for Saturday but then didn’t do anything on Wednesday because of the bad weather.  Then today just didn’t work for me.  I work up super early then dicked around, planning to go back to bed but then my sister wanted to go to the movies – she got some movie tickets from Mum for her birthday this week (they expired at the end of June so we had to use them – WTF?  Plus they were for Village so the only cinemas we can go to are Jam Factory or Crown.  Nice one mum). 

We went to see Prince Caspian.  Boring and a waste of time.  But at least I didn’t overindulge on movie snacks.  Then we went to Borders.  Borders in the Jam Factory was a nightmare.  Full of annoying people and, at the cafe, we got cupcakes which were stale and had about a centimetre of icky icing on them.  I stupidly ate mine then totally regretted (never eat while reading, you don’t realise the food is crap until you’re finished!) Plus they didn’t call out my name for my coffee order (or didn’t call it very loud) so by the time I realised, my coffee was half cold.  Arrrggghh!

When I got home, I felt sick – prolly from the stale, sickly cupcake – and v tired so had a nap, then woke up feeling sicker.  Hence, no exercise today.  That’s only 5/7 days.  Not good enough.  Next week I want to get 7/7 (with rest day counting as a tick since rest days are an important part of the plan).

Track Food: didn’t do it, at all.  I thought I could keep a tally in my head which works okay during the week but not so great at weekends.

Japanese study: got heaps done. I think I’ve been a bit random though, I’ve got all these Japanese words buzzing around in my head like flies.  This week I want to concentrate on numbers and time.  I think it’s important to master numbers so if someone says a price, I’m not looking like an idiot for 5 minutes trying to work it out.

Body firming lotion:  remembering to put it on every day after my shower.  Not sure if it’s working.

I’ve added another goal this week since I’ve decided to join the 100 push up challenge.  I did the initial test today and thought I’d be able to do 2-3 pushups.  I did 14!  Oh yeah… hey wait, that means I have to do even more on the program… boo! 

J-122 Days: Arrrggghhh!

I got on the scales this morning and I’d put on half a kilo!  WTF????  Damn you scales.  Surely it’s just bodily fluid weight. 

I’ve been a slacker today, meaning to go out for a run but putting it off.  Now I’m going to go to the gym and do some hill intervals on the treadie.  That’s what you get for being slack – yes, you have to be lone loser at the gym on a Saturday night!  Actually I don’t mind it so much, at least it’s quiet.

I got a bargain yesterday – I went into GNC to get some Slim Secrets bars after the gym and remembered they are cheaper if you buy a box of 12.  Then, because they are having a sale, I got an extra 25% off.  It worked out to just over $2 a bar instead of around $3 at the supermarket.  Yum, I love those bars and they are so handy to have in the drawer at work.  I might go get another box before the sale ends. 

Having all those bars didn’t stop me from buying a brownie at the cafe last night though – surely one brownie doesn’t make you put on half a kilo? 

Run

Since we missed out on our run yesterday, I met up with Simon tonight instead.  It’s the first run we’ve had together since Apollo Bay (well apart from a mainly walk in Hobart) so it was good to catch up and talk our usual running gibberish.

I’ve been loosely following a program that was in Runner’s World mag this month for building your base fitness between training for events.  Today’s run was 3 x 3min fast, 3 min slow.  Too easy, it’s only 3 minutes, right?  Ummm, no.  Three minutes can be an awfully long time!

The worst bit was catching the tram home – I hate catching PT in running gear, esp since it was cold and I had to wear my leather jacket over the top.  I don’t want ppl to think I dress like that on purpose!  I’m totally opposed to wearing ‘training’ clothes as casual gear at the best of times – I might leave the house in my pjs but NEVER in trackys or runners unless I’m actually doing a workout.

I tried Jaykay’s advice and had a banana before my run – no feeling weak tonight, just good fatigue

Oh yeah, and I had a run in with my housemate tonight.  He called me a moron.  Yes, I was called a moron by a person who enters the house via their bedroom window cos they are too stupid to know how to use a key!

Other than that, the new job is kinda boring.  The work is on demand so has frequent slow periods.  I was told today to fill in my time by surfing the net.  You’d think that’d make me happy but it really worries me.  I don’t handle boredom well.  Tomorrow I’m taking my Japanese stuff so I can study.

ETA: I’ve booked my pretty room in Tokyo!

Yah! It was a harrowing process – the site wouldn’t translate then it wouldn’t accept my details.  Apparently you can’t put more than 14 chars in the name field!!!!  I didn’t have to pay though and that kinda worries me but I have a confirmation email.

Day ???: I’ve got my days mixed up now so I’m making it J-124!

I didn’t get out for my run yesterday.  All the talk of gale force winds put me off plus the lower back soreness, I figured I’d move my rest day.

I did get to the market for my shopping (Preston Market that is).  I spent around $50 and go a truckload of fruit and vegies plus some meat and homemade pasta (yum).  I got gravy filled meat balls – how good do they sound?  Andy got over $30 of steak – how blokey is that!

When I got home, I started cooking.  I made a huge pot of bolognese sauce (well a vegetable/meat sauce), a huge pot of stew and stewed rhubarb and pears (those fancy red pears at that).  By the time I finished that, I was way sick of cooking but I’d taken out a packet of chicken mince to make meatballs so had to keep going.

I’m starting a new contract today – scary stuff.  It goes for a month and my goal for the month is to save $4000.  It’s going to be tough, but I have some extra $$$ coming in from loans etc as well as wages.  I figure if I wasn’t working, I’d have to live on the dole which is around $250 a week so I can survive on that while I’m working. 

If I do this, then technically I’ll have enough money to go to Japan even if I get no work after I finish (only technically, because if I’m not working for 3 months, it’ll really cut into my savings).  It’s going to be challenging, saving that agggresively, but I love a challenge.

BTW I’m back to the weight I was before I got sick.  I think it’d be lower but I’m having toilet issues again.  I really need to eat more fibre! 

Day 7 (I think)

Yesterday went well – I got out for a run then came home and did some yoga/stretching then went to the cafe for lunch and Japanese study.  My sister met me there after she finished work so we got heaps of studying done. 

At the moment, I’m only studying conversatonal Japanese because I think that’s the most important thing before we go away but eventually I’d like to learn to read and write in Japanese.  It’s just so overwhelming though, the thought of having to learn all those characters.

I feel a bit sore today.  Mostly from the kettle bell class I think.  At the beginning of the class, my technique was dodgy and I can really feel it in my lower back.  Tight, tight muscles.  Then yesterday I decided to run along the Merri Creek.  I haven’t done that for ages and I’d forgotten the reason why is that the track is concrete.  Not good on the legs.  I think I’ll take it easy today – I’m meeting Simon for a run tonight but won’t be pushing it.

I’ve added another item to my star chart — remembering to use my body firming lotion every day.  It says it’s clinically proven to firm your skin if used regularly for six weeks.  I am so tempted to just put it on one half of my body for six weeks to prove that for myself, except it might just work and I’d look plain wrong.

The plan for today is to go to the market and get fruit and veg then come home and have a big cook up, so much easier with the housemates at work.  Just got to avoid all the yummy treats at the market.

Day 6: muscles

I think the kettle bell class was worth it cos I can feel the muscle building in my arms. Seriously, they feel so much harder than they did yesterday (well apart from that wobbly underneath bit!).  Surely it couldn’t work that fast?

I’m happy – I think I’ve found a place to stay in Tokyo!  We had somewhere worked out, a decent looking, cheap backpackers then decided we’d rather pay more and stay closer to the action.  I mean, we only have a week in Tokyo and I’d much rather stay someone convenient even if it costs much more.  We’d looked at a few business hotels that seemed okay but today I found the cutest place - plus they have “I’m excited” dim sim banquet! 

I really should go out for a run.  I’ve been planning to all day but keep putting it off.  But it’s not going to run itself.  I’m between jobs atm – until Thursday when I start my new contract.  I didn’t get the job I interviewed for yesterday but had this one lined up anyway so wasn’t too fussed.

Okay, the plan is run, get lunch and coffee, study Japanese.

Day 6: Headline Evades Me

I didn’t do too good on my star chart today.  I forgot to do my yoga and my Japanese study (well I left my notebook at home so couldn’t study on the tram).  I did do exercise, not the boxing class I planned since I finished work early but a kettle bell class.

If ever you are sitting around thinking “what I really need in life right now is more PAIN” then I strongly suggest doing a kettlebell class.  It hurts when you’re doing it and, while it doesn’t hurt right now, I’ve got a distinct feeling it will tomorrow.

The worst bit was the feeling after the class.  I didn’t just feel exercise soreness but an overall weak-as-a-kittenness!  Seriously I didn’t think I could walk from the City Baths to Melbourne Central (that’s a very small city block for non-Melbournites).  That freaked me out for a while, then I remembered I’d felt that way before – when I first started exercising seriously and was still taking my diabetes medication, I’d get big blood sugar slumps after exercise. 

I’d eaten plenty of calories today but mostly in the form of latte!  When I figured out I should really eat something, I was at the train platform with only crap options so decided to wait to get home.  I had a lot of trouble walking from the train as well but felt spiffy after I had half an apple.

I think from now on, I’ll make sure I have something in my bag for these situations.

Half the reason I was so caffienated was because I got a coffee to have on the way to the city then got to my interview at 9.00 am and it was held in a coffee shop so had another one.  Then got into work and was on the phone to my boss (who works out of the office) for 2 hours.  In the end I told him I had to get coffee just to get off the phone.  Then I felt obligated to get coffee, even though he didn’t know and couldn’t see me.  Damn my inability to lie.

Then since I started work late, I only grabbed an egg sushi for lunch (plus had an apple for arvo tea).  Prolly not enough food for before exercising!

Anyway, today’s result: food and exercise, good; Japanese learning and yoga, bad.

Day 5: Genki :D

This morning I went to the gym then met up with a bunch of the blogging girls for lunch.  We went to the food court at Southpark so kept it nice and healthy.  Good to catch up with people and meet some bloggers I’d never met before. 

On the way back to the train I stopped at the market for some cupcakes (thanks Jadey for putting the idea in my head…lolz).  OMG too awesome.  I think I’ll be back for more.

Job interview then work tomorrow then no more work until Thursday – yahs!

I’ve made up a schedule/star chart for the week.  My goals are

• 10 mins yoga a day (I figure that’s more realistic and helpful than trying to get to a yoga class because I never end up going anyway)
• follow exercise plan – this isn’t really a weak point but I figured I’d chuck it in there anyway
• Track food
• 30 mins of Japanese study a day.

Keeping it simple and realistic. 

When I started planning to go overseas, I decided to reward myself for every 5 kgs lost.  Since then I put on  2-3 kgs.  Now the big question is – do I reward myself when I lose 5 kgs from my highest weight or 5 kgs from my start weight? 

Day 5 of 134: Run

Yesterday wasn’t so great.  The only exercise I got was working to work since I had to meet my sisters to go to the footy after work.  A few too many treats at the football too.

Today I’m planning on going out for a run, maybe this arvo when it warms up a bit

In between trips away and being sick and other stuff, it’s been over 6 weeks since I’ve had a free weekend.  I can actually get this mess around me into some kind of order!

Day 2 of 133: Exercise bikes – not just for airing laundry!

I’d planned to go for a run with Simon tonight but he’s sickly so didn’t want to go if it was raining.  Then I planned to go to the gym and use the treadie but I had to get straight home to sort out stuff about a potential job.  Walking home from the train, I remembered that big, hulking thing covered with clothes in the corner of my room: the exercise bike (the one I hired then tried to send back months ago and they still haven’t picked up!).

So tonight I did a circuit thing since I won’t get a chance to go to the gym until at least Saturday – 1o mins bike intervals + some bodyweight exercises X 3.  I’m sure it did lots of good cos it felt tough!

My sis shouted me dinner so I had a steak.  I don’t often have steak but this was superb, it had a raspberry balsamic sauce on it mmmmm!

In other news, we’ve found out our fave J-Pop band could be playing in Korea while we are in Japan.  I think that’s a sign that we should go.  We checked out Tokyo-Seoul airfares and they were more than the flights to Japan!  But we can go on the hydrofoil!  And that means heading through Hiroshima and other interesting places (since we are buying a JR pass anyway, we may as well use it).  I do love an epic quest.  The only problem now is buying tickets to an overseas concert in a foreign language.