20 Feb. 14

So… Sunday came and went, and I forgot to update the table of my weightloss.  And I only want to make this a quick note because I’m on the laptop and left the charger at work.

Two things, related to the same.  I mentioned last post that I have started going to dance classes again?  Mondays and Thursdays.

I just want to share with the world that even though I was tired I had such a good class tonight J

This comes at the end of a long week.  A very hot and humid week (average temp 31*C/88*F), where I didn’t get to lunch until 3.30pm at the earliest (and twice I missed out altogether), traffic was shocking – 25min to drive 5km (3.2mi) anyone? and had three meetings called last minute before work (Tue-Wed-Thu).

Despite all these things, I still had a great lesson.  I haven’t felt so good about a dance class in ages.  I don’t know what it was, but I was on form tonight.  I’m without a doubt the only overweight person there.  Being 5’8” too, means I really stand out.  I normally feel so clunky and awkward, even though these are familiar moves to me.  But tonight I had great strength in my arms, I had better footwork, my neck felt loose, my sharp movements were sharp, my slow ones were beautifully controlled. *shivers* it all just worked. 

So that felt really good.

And then, walking home from the train station, I need to cross a major road (the same one I always talk about).  A car pulled up at the lights on the road parallel to where I walk and need to cross.  Sometimes it takes a long time for the lights to change, sometimes not.  Tonight was a short change.  Because I didn’t feel like waiting through another whole set of light changes, I decided I’d run to the corner to catch up to the lights as I saw they were changing orange.  My cross light was on red, because I didn’t reach it in time to press it before the parallel street went green, so I had to make the commitment to either run it or stop and wait. 

I know this is bad form, but I ran it.  I made it clear of the lights going green on the main road (which would have run me over).  In all, I probably ran about 75m (82 yards).  And that’s full pelt run-run, not just shuffle-along-quickly-run.  I didn’t even raise my heart rate.  I thought that was pretty good and what a surprise!  I didn’t feel the exertion of that at all.  Probably because it’s such a short distance, but usually, I would still need to catch my breath after such a dash.

So those are my two pieces of news I wanted to share.  :D  Please feel free to criticise me for running across the road, I had to tell you so there was a context to my running. 

And now, for dinner!

What? February already? Since when?

Ack!  So long without posting.  Especially a real post.  Crazy town!

Still on the highway, no wrong turns for me! :)  Admittedly, my walking has slowed and/or stopped lately.  I think the last proper walk I went on was Sunday 1st Feb?  Holey Colander!! Really? WHOA.... Oh no, it's okay, I checked my Nike+ Account and it turns out it was 4 Feb - so only a week ago.  But evidently it feels like a really long time, probably because of BUSY!

I have to admit, I haven't felt busy like this in a few years, and at this point in time, I'm liking it. : D

So I haven't been walking for a week, and I won't until Friday at this stage.  That's okay though.  Because on Thursday nights, I've been going to a dance class again.  YAy!  This is is the same one I was enrolled in last year on Thursdays - but I ended up stopping in August because I felt overly busy at work. And then never got back to it... Whoops!  But in any case, my teacher was more than happy to take me back this year, so yay again!

On top of that, I've picked up another dance class on Monday nights.  It's in the same vein as Thursday, but with a different group.  Still fun and exciting and I'm enjoying it.  First one was this week.

So, not so much walking in the last week or two.  But, keeping on the food journalilng and logging onto MFP.  I have been diligent in making lunch and breakfast the night before also - that I think was one of the big downfalls for me in last year.  Once I become only a little disorganised, that's it... it starts a downward slide and it takes me four to five days to get back on it.  So far, I've had one slip I think, on a weekend and it came from missing a lunch one day so when I got home I was starving and I couldn't wait for anything to heat up or put anything together so I ate lots of junky stuff.  But, it was just the weekend, so that was fortunate and I was able to pull myself back together.

On Mondays, I'm still weighing in, first thing in the morning.  I've got to make time on a Sunday soon to make a table and a graph of how my weight is going.  I have lost a little, I just want to keep it to myself right now.  I know, I know, accountability, put it print, all that... but.. meh.  you'll see.

Other than that, sleep and water intake is some good some bad.  I have trouble getting in enough water during the day sometimes so I get to 8-9 in the evening and I find myself thirsty and trying to drink 1.5 litres in 1 hour.  My stomach feels full of water but my mouth feels dry.  Urgh! So frustrating!  But, can only keep trying until I get it right, right? : )

Anyhow, I'm nodding off here as I write this, so I am posting and ending it here.

Again, some sporadic posting, not sure when I'll get back on to post again.  I'm still trying to catch up and read everyone else's blogs too when I can.  I'll get there!

2 Feb. 13

Just a quick update to let you know that I am still blogging and looking after myself and working towards getting healthier and fitter.

Work has been really busy.  Still trying to get my feet on the ground.  Lots to learn.  I’m in a much bigger organisation than I was.  However, because I’m new, I don’t have to have as many responsibilities, which means getting to go home sooner – yay!  My client workload is about the same, however, there are more people to bounce ideas off, which is great.

We had awful weather last weekend.  The remains of a cyclone had tracked its way down along the coast and caused a lot of localised flooding, power cuts, trees over roads and so on.  It was a mess.  Also, unbelievable that so much damage could come from an ex-cyclone.  I don’t ever want to be caught in a real one!  Horizontal rain was not an exaggeration. 

It was also impossible for me to get to Aqua Aerobics on Monday night because of the rain and storms.  So disappointed.  But I can’t wait to go again this Monday.  I have even been swimming for nearly two weeks and I’m really missing it.  I found swimming quite relaxing and meditative even though I was pushing myself to swim stronger.  I need to get myself a routine happening so that I can get to the pool before work.  Either that, or remember to pack my swimming gear into the car, because I have a key for the pool at work.  That would only be an after work thing I think though.

Roads cleared enough by Tuesday that I was able to go my dance class on Tuesday.  Only 1 other girl from last week came back.  I don’t know whether it wasn’t what they expected or what, but I was kind of expecting them to not come back.  I could kind of tell from last week, that they weren’t as into as they should have been.  On the other hand, there were four other ladies there.  And they seem like they’re going to come back which is cool.  Also, the teacher convinced me to come along to the intermediate classes.  *Rolls eyes* Two lessons at beginner level and I’m already intermediate.  Go me!

Thursday night was another dance class.  Different style to Tuesday’s.  Tuesday’s dance class is faster and more aerobic while Thursday is slower and more muscular.  In fact Thursday s two classes back to back.  So, two hours of dance – yay! 

I may or may not be trying to make up for the fact that I missed out on dancing for the last five years by now cramming four hours of dance in a week.  J Honestly, I’m very happy about it.  I probably shouldn’t take up any more hobbies or activities at this point though, not if I still need to keep the house clean (and finish unpacking.  I have two rooms still full of boxes! O_O), and meal plan and go grocery shopping and cook dinner on the nights when I’m not dancing…

Weekends are my time to relax.  So I’ve spent all day catching up on webcomics, blogs and watching the Twilight movies. 

Tomorrow, I’m going for an early morning swim and then shopping for some more professional work clothes.  Everyone dresses in a far more corporate style here. 

Yet another reason to keep working on getting fitter, healthier and losing weight J

Two New Things Today!

Whoa!  What a full on day today has been. 

Today, I attended the welcome luncheon for new staff at my workplace.  It was a little daunting to say the least.  Preparations started at 8 am – ironing my outfit, washing my hair, packing my bag so I look professional and dedicated, cleaning off the scabby bits of last week’s nail polish, filling out the forms I was sent last year to be brought today... A lot!  I was so nervous about being late that I was ready early for once (I’m notoriously poorly organised and run late for everything).  Once I started driving, I figured out that it was the first time I had ever driven the route to my workplace I had only ever seen it on the map before.  This may or may not have led to minor panic on my part, thinking I wasn’t going to see my turnoff!  But I made it.  In fact, the journey took only 10min.  I’m sure in peak hour it will be more, but wow!  That was a nice easy drive!

The luncheon was alright.  Lots of new staff, so that’s going to be a relief.  I didn’t get to meet my direct supervisor, she was away, but I did meet my line manager, my department manager, and many of the other managers including the executive manager – Eep!  He knows my old manager – so I hope I do well.  Tomorrow is a whole staff professional development day.  And then Thursday, Friday I, and the other newies will continue to undergo specific training and go over policies and procedures relevant to our positions.  How not fun.

 

My second new thing for the day was the dance class I went to this evening.  Beginnners class, but actually really small.  There were only 5 of us students, when in the intermediate class immediately beforehand there was probably closer to 30.  I haven’t danced for 5 years because there just was nothing available where I lived, so this was extra exciting for me  : )    Turns out, I remembered many of the basic steps and positions and I didn’t manage to pick up any bad habits in my absence.  : )  Also, weird fact, the dance teacher here in Bris, is acquainted with my old dance teacher from where I went to uni.   And the teacher thinks I may actually be better suited to the intermediate class, where it’ll challenge me, rather than go through the painfulness of beginner’s classes again.  Reality of life: Sometimes, people catch onto things faster than you and you feel frustrated that you can’t do it.  Beginners’ classes are often full of these people who struggle and struggle and just can’t get there.  Poor things.  Just need to breathe it out, try it again slowly, and laugh about it.

 

Anyhow, it’s late enough for me and I’ve got a full day of work ahead.  Am I packed?  Yep.  Am I ready? Nope.

 

 

 

P.S.  Did I say I went to AquaA yesterday?  Because I did.  And it was hard work.  And still so much fun. : )