Discovering Music

I recently bought myself an iPod (I know, finally I joined the rest of you!) and have just come back from my first gym session with it. Yesterday, I made a playlist - mixing some really fast tracks with some other upbeat ones - with a slow starter (to get me in the mood as I climb the stairs to the gym!) and one to cool down to on the way back down.

Can't believe how much harder I worked, or how much less effort it seemed - I think my iPod will be an essential part of my gym kit from now on - along with big knickers and structural underwear!

Back on the regime

Back on the regime and it's more Chinese inspired food for me.

I decided to go for a swim tonight, with an Adult's only swim session from 6-7. As it was about 5pm when I decided to go, I thought I'd prep dinner before I left so that I wouldn't be tempted to have a sandwich when I got back.

So this is what I left for myself - tuna steak (fresh from Bury market today, yum!) with lots of fresh veg and asian condiments.

I swam for about 30 mins - but much harder and faster than I used to. In one way, it's a bit more difficult than it used to be as I don't float as well now that I don't have an inbuilt lifejacket - but on the other hand I have much more energy.

I felt very virtuous when I got back home, and very glad that my dinner was almost ready - it took me about 5 mins to stir fry the veg and sear the tuna, which I rolled in 5 spice powder first for an extra kick.

The veg was bolstered by some fresh garlic and ginger, and then some oyster sauce, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar and some fish sauce (1 Tbsp of each). No carbs, but with the protein of the fish it's very filling!

Exercise

Been thinking about getting more different forms of exercise and when I saw this I wondered if I should take up wiff-waff - it burns 80 cals in 15 mins...

...but then hubby reminded me that I have absolutely no hand eye co-ordination, so mostly I would just be picking up the ball up off the floor and not actually playing, and he's not sure that would burn that many calories.

Keeping fit today

Went to a yoga class today - haven't been for over a year with one thing and another, but thoroughly loved it. Felt all stretched and lean and relaxed afterwards.

Made the most of my warmed up muscles by then having a swim, so I'm also feeling very virtuous!

Love this pic of Kermit I found - it looks more like me doing yoga than any of those skinny models you usually see!

Lunchtime Haven

Today's lunchtime walk took me up the street to St Stephen's Church, which was having an open day (every Wednesday apparently). I thought I'd have a look inside.

I'm not a particularly religious or spiritual person, but I do love churches. I love the architecture, the monument to human effort and the sense of tranquility they provide. And St Stephen's was no exception.

There were volunteers on hand to talk about the church, it's recent renovations and the preparations for harvest Sunday. And there were offers of tea, cake and biscuits (which I politely declined). It was nice to be reminded that there are places like this, full of people who are ready with a kind word and a kind deed for a total stranger. Somehow, despite not having a cup of tea, I feel more refreshed after my walk today.

Except that I discovered my favourite red shoes are a bit too big.

Striding into the sunset

Went for a lovely walk tonight as it was such a nice evening. Got home, changed, trainers on and back out while the sun was still out.

I walked to the library and back, which was about 1 1/2 miles and took about 40 mins (some is quite uphill!)

My cat did the first little bit, and then waited for me in someone's garden - he doesn't like the road (which is good) and he's a bit of a wuss!

So, walk done, omelette made for tea, tomorrow's tea taken out of the freezer - I'm all sorted - pat on the back!

Lunchtime Walk

Just been for my (as advertised) lunchtime walk. It's a lovely day today, so I did a circuit of the football field next to the office. Have to keep your eyes out though, it's mostly dog do and daisies!

I did, however, find some great conkers, which are now on my desk reminding me that I have to go outside more often, because there is life outside the office walls.

Actually, I feel all invigorated for having 20 mins of fresh air and brisk exercise - and I'm sure I'll concentrate better this afternoon.

So, pat on the back for today's task.

Take a walk

Today's task in my CBT diet book is to plan some exercise into my schedule. Whilst I do a bit of exercise now, it's a bit haphazard and not enough. So here's my new plan...

Each lunchtime I'm going to have a 5 - 10 min walk, outside if it's lovely like today and inside if it's raining (there are enough corridors and stairs at work to keep me busy!). Then on either Friday or Saturday I'm going to swim or do yoga (depending on visiting family, which will either be Fri or Sat). On Sunday have a swim and then go to the gym at least one night during the week. So I will get in 3 x 45 min sessions in a week, plus the lunchtime bits.

If I get into this routine now, then by the time I finish Alizonne (and get an extra evening free) it should be more of a habit and easier to maintain.

So, I just had my first lunchtime walk, in the sunshine and the wind, on the playing field near work. It was lovely to get away from my desk and get a bit of fresh air. Not sure I liked the accompanying clicking noise from my arthritic knee though, sounded like I was being followed by someone snapping twigs every other step! But still, when the weather decides what it's doing, my knee will stop clicking and I can have a peaceful walk. Roll on summer...

Swimming in the dark

Just back after a full moon swim in Hatchmere. Really am going to have to get a new wetsuit soon, the water is getting decidedly cool - 16.8 degrees tonight.

It was lovely though, in the moonlight in a lake, with skeins of geese flying overhead honking in formation. This is us crowded round the lights having a lovely warm drink afterwards - some of us still wearing our glow sticks (not from the rave, but so we can find each other in the water in the dark!)

So, shopping list for sometime in the next couple of weeks:
- new (smaller) swimsuit
- new (smaller) wetsuit

Back in the water

Thursday was such a lovely day, I went for a swim in Pickmere, with some other likeminded souls. We were all swimming without wetsuits - which was just as well, as mine is way too big for me now! I'll have to get a new one in the spring, and see if I can last this year without needing one.

Still, at least when I do come to buy a new one, I should just be able to get a normal size one that fits - instead of buying one for a 6 ft 4 man and chopping half the arm and leg lengths off! My current one looks a bit strange, the knee pads are near my ankles!

Gym Bunny

I'm a gym bunny and have the ears to prove it! There they are, on my head during an Easter Sunday Swim! (Oh, don't think I added those to this blog, might have to go back and put them in!).

Anyway, went to the Gym on my way home today. 5 mins on the rowing machine and then 25 mins to walk a mile uphill. Quite enjoyed it!

Then went to mum's and WALKED HOME - it's 2.8 miles, and the last .8 is uphill! Mark Knopfler kept me company all the way, the sun was nearly shining, it was warm and I even enjoyed it! Noticed lots more along a route I must drive 6 or 8 times a week, just for being closer and slower.

Hopefully, I won't ache too much tomorrow and can go back for a bit more!

Not digging this

Went for my weigh in tonight - oh no! I've put a pound on!
I'm sure it's all that digging, it's given me muscles (which as every dieter knows is much heavier than fat!).
So my plan is to stay very still this week, and hope all the muscle atrophies really quickly back into fat and then gets gobbled up by my pancreas.
Either that, or I'll have to go to the gym and do some proper fat burning excercises.

Digging for the last bit

Sunday morning, raining, and I'm digging again!
So, you may ask, why is it that I look so happy? Have you seen the size of that coat? That used to fit me (just) and now it buries me. I also put on some waterproof trousers later and they looked like clown pants - hilarious in one way, but very worrying in another. How did I ever let myself get that big? Still, doing something about it now, so feel much better.

Speaking of feeling much better, can't believe how hard I've worked this weekend - lots of really hard physical graft - and although I ache, I didn't really get tired, and did far more than I ever would have done previously.

Feeling quite proud of myself this weekend!

Digging it again

Having dug the drainage ditch last weekend, this weekend it was time to bury some huge drainage cells in the garden - so this is the start - and that's me with a spade instead of a wrecking bar for a change!
I'm sure it must be good for my bingo wings!

Digging for victory

I had intended to go for a swim this afternoon, but went to our outdoor gym instead!
We started digging this ditch (for some drainage we need for the new drive) at about 10 this morning. It's a meter deep, through stones, soil and sub-soil. Heavy going with a spade and a 15 lb wrecking bar. That's me weilding the wrecking bar - it feels really heavy, can't believe I've lost the equivalent of 3 of those in the last 3 months - what a weight to lug around!

David took this picture, and it's probably the first one of me working that I don't instantly want to throw in the bin - my bum doesn't look enormous!

So, after the full workout (not only digging, but also lumping all the bags of spoil to the tip, along with the old gates and gate posts) which didn't finish until half four, I had a lovely bath, and an extra sachet of food!

I'm sure I'll sleep well tonight

Playing Games

Had a bit of a trauma last night, thought I'd share...

Lovely night out in Leeds with some other Alizonne Ladies (who are just wonderful!) followed by a very pleasant drive back home over the pennines along the M62. The sun was setting, the stereo was turned up - you get the idea.

I got in the house about 10.30, elated, excited and generally a bit bubbly (my dad would have called it garrulous in his day!). Hubby was in the bath and the cat was lying full stretch on the living room floor.

But he wasn't moving

First I thought the worse, then I noticed he was breathing, but staring really strangely and the TV cupboard.

Then he dived under the cupboard!

Now you may have seen pictures of my 6.5kg cat - he's a big boy, and our cupboard is not so high off the floor. He flattened himself like a black furry pancake with legs.

Something was under the cupboard.
Something small and squeaky!

There then ensued an hour long game of cat and mouse, with me, hubby, cat and the tiniest mouse I've ever seen. I got a wooden sword from the hall (best place to keep them) and was poking about behind the cupboards. Hubby got out of the bath and came into the living room wearing a bathrobe and brandishing a wooden sabre (from the hall where the sword was of course). We kept driving the mouse out from behind furniture. The cat kept catching it, then letting it go again. He obviously had a differnt idea of the end game to me (in my version, the cat catches and then kills the mouse). Sometimes the mouse would run away again, sometimes he'd turn and face the cat, rear up on its hind legs and waggle it's paws in the air. I swear it was saying "Come on then you wuss"!

The cupboards got moved, the world's heaviest sofas got moved, the pewter fire fender under the sofa got moved (don't ask). Everything that was on the floor got put onto the sofas - we looked like we'd been done over. It's probably one of the best workouts I've had in ages.

Every now and then the mouse would run under the clock (as if he was aufait with children's nursery rhymes and felt this would save him). Every now and again my useless cat would flop down and stop playing.

I have a cat shaped door stop in the living room that made a better job of catching and keeping hold of the mouse that the whiskers muncher did.

In the end, we got a mousetrap out, baited it with peanut butter (mmmm... peanut butter) and went to bed (it was 11.30 by this time, and we were shattered).

The cat was put out in disgrace - we're not feeding him anymore to see if hunger improves his skills any.

This morning the trap was empty, no sign of mouse, and the cat was curled up asleep on the sofa.

What can you do?

So, I spend the hour before bedtime brandishing my wooden rapier at a teeny weeny mouse and trying not to fall over my idiot cat.

Have a good day everyone,

Help... I'm sinking

I've just been for a swim (v. proud of myself, another 50 lengths!) but I found out something's changed.

It used to be that when I wanted a rest, I just stopped. I could hang vertically in the water, with my head above the surface, quite easily - just like a fishing float. BUT NOW I SINK! I had to paddle like mad to keep my head above the water and not drown today!

I'm going to call it progress, which sounds much better than "nearly drowning". Another little victory on my way to slimness.

Swim, Swim, Swim

Decided that I should do more excercise (or at least some - I haven't done any for about 2 months, so "more" is perhaps over-egging it!). Thanks to all those on the Alizonne Forum who have planted the seed, watered it, given it growmore and can see it now fully germinate into a trip to the Sports Hall!

So, I've just been for a swim - about 50 lengths (50 mins). My swimsuit still fits (i.e. it's not too big yet) but it's so much easier to get on - hardly had to wiggle to get into it at all!

Took a bottle of orange and pineapple with me, and drank some every 10 lenths to keep me hydrated.

Felt a bit lightheaded at the end, but finished off with 2 lengths of full power backstroke, which might explain it.

Not sure if my hair is falling out, or if some got broken with my goggle straps - but there was definitely more on my comb than normal - will have to keep on eye on that.

Anyway, feeling great, not really tired but very pleased with myself!

Great Salford Swim

Did the Great Salford Swim today. I'm shattered!

It was 1 mile in the very cold water of Salford Quays, in the rain and wind. It took me an hour and 20 mins - and I hurt my back about 5 mins in, so was in agony most of the time. Still, I did it, and raised over £1,500 for Dr Kershaw's Hospice.

I took some food with me for before the swim, and a drink for afterwards. But when I got home I felt so rough - shaky and queasy - and then I was sick. Not a good day really.

Once I'd thawed out I felt much better though, and got on with cooking dinner for my support team. My sister and mum bought some food with them too, so we had a buffet dinner - just green salad for me though!