tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45567989562268014602024-03-06T09:59:35.400+10:00Healthy from 25 to 100Spring Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122505632533994205noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556798956226801460.post-44565779002387602652009-10-07T08:51:00.003+10:002009-10-07T09:18:54.815+10:00Back at the beginning on a different board gameSo here I am again and I don't mean on the blog. Oh yes, I suppose I am here again, but I mean this place or at least this me. The sense of deja-vu is slapping me over the head each day. 'Here' is where I've always been. Actually, I spent most of my life 'here'. My perspective has just changed a little, although evidently not enough.<br /><br />Let me explain. No, in my absence I did not undo all the work I've put in during the year. I continued and I progressed. As the hint of spring faded from the air, I took every opportunity to wear my favourite pants. Oh yes, because now I fit into them even sitting down. The last time that happened was almost 5 years ago.<br /><br />As I approached the marvelous possibility of wearing them again I was totally thrilled with the way I looked. Hey, at the start of the year I would have done anything to be getting down to this size. Yet, as soon as I did, all I could see was the few extra kilo's that are still hanging around. That's exactly the same feeling I had when I returned home 5 years ago. I knew I'd done a great job then of having slimmed down, but all I could see was that I could stand to lose a bit more.<br /><br />Actually that's how I've felt since I can remember. Except in my teenage years, before I gained any weight I was convinced I was huge. That's where the perspective comes in - in retrospect, I was never huge there were just those couple of extra kilo's that needed to go.<br /><br />And those couple of extra kilo's are what's haunting me today, just like they have for the last 15 odd years. So I suppose that leaves me with a choice - progress or accept. One thing I know is I don't want to be 'here' any more.Spring Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122505632533994205noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556798956226801460.post-70499567634972954522009-08-31T06:45:00.002+10:002009-08-31T06:45:00.071+10:00I'm not really here<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7M93dKH01ZMKuGlk8aHm-oJfa3SaLSrMqF63LRLnk-R9EzSX7eTppGlpgx6uwhyI1tSwe53ROZTZoBzJo_f4PVPYedUZiVJNsl1OL7bn3tH1z1Q5N9lV7WKJt84IyWwYiPxejCb1u5i8/s1600-h/Gone+Skiing.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 385px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7M93dKH01ZMKuGlk8aHm-oJfa3SaLSrMqF63LRLnk-R9EzSX7eTppGlpgx6uwhyI1tSwe53ROZTZoBzJo_f4PVPYedUZiVJNsl1OL7bn3tH1z1Q5N9lV7WKJt84IyWwYiPxejCb1u5i8/s400/Gone+Skiing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374490246081278098" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Please let it snow. Please let it snow. Please let it snow. Thank you.</span><br /></span></div>Spring Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122505632533994205noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556798956226801460.post-47034558477843148682009-08-26T18:54:00.003+10:002009-08-26T19:07:51.816+10:00Get down and give me 50I think I'm going to rename this blog the "Muscle Discovery Blog". That's if the last few posts are anything to go by. The only problem of course is that in a few weeks I will probably fall head over heels for something new. My attention span is like that.<br /><br />Now about my favourite topic; muscles. A few weeks back when I did my assessment at the gym I had to write down some goals. Three to be precise because the form only had enough space for that many. I meant to post them as motivation, but clearly I was more interested in discussing other things at the time, so here they are.<br /><br />1. Get down to a ridiculously low body fat percentage. It seemed achievable until I found out my current percentage, then it became ridiculous. Anyhoo...<br />2. Run 5K in under 25 minutes. Personal best...umm the only time I timed it...was 31.5 minutes. But you know running is soooo last month. Which brings me to;<br />3. Muscles - be able to do one proper, real, not-sissy-on-my-knees push-up and same for pull ups. I didn't have high standards which is why I would been utterly thrilled with one.<br /><br />I've tried again and again, just to see if maybe by some miracle I could manage either. With push ups I could get down, but up was not so good. And pull-ups? They are just about hanging on the bar right?<br /><br />Until today. Yes, she formerly with no upper body strength can do a full push-up! So take that trainer who said I couldn't do it without the gym. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go feed my muscles and gently rub 'em and tell them how much I love 'em :-)Spring Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122505632533994205noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556798956226801460.post-86345009812389681732009-08-25T08:22:00.005+10:002009-08-25T17:21:04.049+10:00Digging out the dirt<span style="font-weight: bold;">6+2=8</span><br />I counted wrong, or maybe it was wishful thinking but there were 8 holes to dig. They are the footings for our brand new deck which should be finished in time for summer. Hooray for cocktails and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">barbeque's</span> and summer. Shortly after reaching depth, they were filled with concrete and stirrups and it's funny just how much faster a hole is to fill than to dig.<br /><br />Now I could wax lyrical about how much I love exercise and strength training - wow was that a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">back flip</span>!? - but suffice to say that I have found the reason why I train. And it has nothing to do with looking hot. It's all about being able to do stuff - fun stuff like kayaking or slightly less fun stuff being Bob the Builder's apprentice for the weekend.<br /><br />In any case I love the feeling of raw power and of being useful and having the energy to keep going all day alongside my husband.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Quit with the moaning</span><br />The weather gods clearly thought it would be a wicked good idea to give us summer in the middle of winter. Apparently they've been listening to me moan from my frozen like state for long enough. So the weekend was unseasonably hot at over 30 degrees C. That's like a million degrees <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Fahrenheit</span>. I kid.<br /><br />Hot days working in the sun just beg for a bad attitude to come out. Did it? Nope. We watched "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073765/">Sunday Too Far Away</a>" a movie from the golden era of Australian cinema about the life of sheep shearers. In comparison what I was doing by digging a few holes seemed minor as opposed to the back breaking labour of shearing? Nothing at all. So I decided that not a peep would escape from my mouth about heat, sweat or tiredness. The only thing to be heard from me was some off key singing.<br /><br />And hats off to a good attitude. I so <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">thoroughly</span> accepted the fact that I would be exhausted by the end of Sunday that I ended up feeling no where near that bad. So instead of driving we walked to my mom's for dinner. And then I wouldn't shut up the whole time. Attention seeking? Moi?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Conclusions</span><br />Good attitudes are wicked cool.<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Whining</span> is draining.<br />It's been two days since I worked my muscles. Guess what that means!?!Spring Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122505632533994205noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556798956226801460.post-76205086808786039752009-08-21T16:32:00.003+10:002009-08-21T16:52:48.324+10:00I'm crazy about muscleThe warm weather is persisting to my delight. There is nothing I like better than the feel of spring in the air, which would be when it's warm enough to stand in the shade wearing a breezy top and still be warm. So the definition of spring is when the mercury is at 28 degrees.<br /><br />This means that all around the country writers must be furiously typing away at their keyboards with the one article title that screams summer is just around the corner - "Get a bikini ready body." Well whatever. <br /><br />They always say that you should dress to flaunt your best assets. And with a couple of singlet wearing days already behind me, I figure that this year's swimsuit will have to be arm/shoulder/bicep highlighting. Cover everything else up, but show off those arms! It's actually sun smart too.<br /><br />Yup, I'm smitten. The one who just a few months ago whined bitterly about how boring strength training was is now constantly flexing 'em, you know just to make sure they're still there. In fact, this week I've kept having to slowly back away from the dumbbells while rationally reasoning with myself. Less is more...one step backwards...less is more...another step towards the door.<br /><br />So my arms are aching from yesterday and yet I dream of tomorrow. No, I will not be grabbing the dumbbells at dawn - yeah, like I'd get up at dawn! Nope tomorrow I get to dig 6 large holes and if that won't make my biceps bulge, I don't know what will. Bring on summer. Have a great weekend!Spring Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122505632533994205noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556798956226801460.post-64165865131900850822009-08-19T12:55:00.003+10:002009-08-19T13:39:46.111+10:00Either food or coherent thoughtsThese last few days I haven't been able to string together more than a sentence. Usually at this point my brain screams 'ok, that's 14 words, now give me food!' And so begins the down part of weight loss.<br /><br />Other than to say that the body adjusts very, <span style="font-style: italic;">very</span> quickly to things, I won't go further for fear of sounding silly and spreading misinformation.<br /><br />It's like this; two weeks ago I started eating more on the recommendation of the trainer at the gym. Embarrassingly, for fear of eating too much I started logging kilojoules. Not only did I feel full - very full some meals - <a href="http://livinghealthyfrom25to100.blogspot.com/2009/02/reality-and-its-unfortunate-association.html">my pants</a> felt looser, like almost wearable except for the sitting down part.<br /><br />Then we were away and on the pretext of needing to eat more, I heartily dug into the wine, cheese and scones. Taking note of the fact that after those 5 days my pants still felt loose I continued to eat happily.<br /><br />And then this week, I decided to do something stupid. I figured if the 28 degree days are anything to go by, then I won't have much hope of wearing my beloved pants at all this winter.<br /><br />So knuckling down and getting serious I went back to eating the amount of food I was two weeks ago. Except what seemed like a feast then, now feels like the start of a massive famine. I'm hungry all the time. <br /><br />And here's the bit I wanted to avoid writing because I don't know what I'm talking about. My knowledge is cobbled together from the glossy pages of magazines and numerous strolls through bloggyland - most notably <a href="http://www.leighpeele.com/">Leigh Peele's blog</a>.<br /><br />Right, so I think have just done <a href="http://www.tomvenuto.com/asktom/starvation_diets_and_fat_loss_plateaus.shtml">a re feed</a>, by fooling my body into thinking that the famine was over and it had begun raining cheese again. Now that the sun has come out, my body is pleading for more cheese (and preferably some wine to go with) while working it's way through the spares it had put aside for a sunny, non-cheese raining day. Eventually it will work out that the cheese drought has started and it will become more efficient with the resources it has. Which is the point I started at two weeks ago.<br /><br />Now, when I first read about re feeds I thought they sounded like an awesome idea especially created for gluttonous weekends full of cheese. But in fact, this is actually more painful than I had expected. There is one motivating factor however, which is the fit of those pants which I can now sit down in AND breath. Bargain. Just the small price of constant hunger to pay for it.Spring Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122505632533994205noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556798956226801460.post-35132749623342336122009-08-14T20:49:00.003+10:002009-08-14T20:57:59.788+10:00So that's what a Camelbak is good for<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYePJld1-HLp9wNl0AMq89fO_oDZc27bxYASEJws7anBr4ciViuCCHQvbNfz3QSJvAwciHIq0-nfPcbypkUExV7qNU6fnrEtpH1Ytlr6FjyBXCkgv_c_S-iXVAJxL1yXHgHjD4m1SgZOI/s1600-h/Port+barrel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 283px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYePJld1-HLp9wNl0AMq89fO_oDZc27bxYASEJws7anBr4ciViuCCHQvbNfz3QSJvAwciHIq0-nfPcbypkUExV7qNU6fnrEtpH1Ytlr6FjyBXCkgv_c_S-iXVAJxL1yXHgHjD4m1SgZOI/s320/Port+barrel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369770200183675666" border="0" /></a><br />....look, it's going in a glass first, it's not like I'm drinking it <span style="font-style: italic;">straight</span> from the barrel....<br /><br />....well how else do you suggest I get it out when the tap isn't co-operating??...<br /><br />....Aged? It's been stuck in there for two years....ok, a little less...but not much...<br /><br />....No, I don't think I should be left home alone either :-)Spring Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122505632533994205noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556798956226801460.post-51185040629273683402009-08-13T08:59:00.011+10:002009-08-13T10:26:45.753+10:00Weekend awayI've been away camping the last 5 days. I always mean to write that in advance, but somehow blogging instead of packing on Friday night would not have been cool. Something about pulling my weight or some such nonsense.<br /><br />I wanted to be a tourist in my own country. We never do that, instead flying overseas (or Tasmania, either way) to look at historic buildings, gorgeous gardens, drink wine and eat cheese. So I googled and googled and googled and ended up with a list easily to fill in 10 days.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD7KnZx5jb70HU4395mbvSM3BGIMW5kM2J1LRNu5OFcIMYqMI5z0NNhgzudyE6oU-1bh3thni5uYXyyvWXoB4ahOZQgdUFIdRoHR-cAoP-rL4lum6b7tcVZy5W5XDwJepPsU3fxRWINIs/s1600-h/Sheep+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 175px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD7KnZx5jb70HU4395mbvSM3BGIMW5kM2J1LRNu5OFcIMYqMI5z0NNhgzudyE6oU-1bh3thni5uYXyyvWXoB4ahOZQgdUFIdRoHR-cAoP-rL4lum6b7tcVZy5W5XDwJepPsU3fxRWINIs/s320/Sheep+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369218746691097938" border="0" /></a><br />We patted sheep - they are <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cRKKwHN5Yo">soft and curly</a>! Yeah, city girl, I know.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMlG-DfSVgXfpA_ZlEm3_jVzMxk5iqZvIf4b0A70U9L9Im8S3tZ7r1XznDMqerr_7VF9Vz10knxtE_6NNdywnzCRdOR7v25NqENpgAJ8NBUtJ_qu3Ov1W3lbz8J2ydiMhBQ8oWmc-8Zs/s1600-h/Shearing.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMlG-DfSVgXfpA_ZlEm3_jVzMxk5iqZvIf4b0A70U9L9Im8S3tZ7r1XznDMqerr_7VF9Vz10knxtE_6NNdywnzCRdOR7v25NqENpgAJ8NBUtJ_qu3Ov1W3lbz8J2ydiMhBQ8oWmc-8Zs/s320/Shearing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369218754343633410" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">Watched em' being shorn and herded, while listening to a yarn or two.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQ6K3FoevsbvwBvF2r74n4fdGDR9ApNDJFx2bwQp3YIgJV-jkFPLZ2-TmC4UMCQajqQSocuEMfrd_CRU1Q8YD3SGDu4Emg6mdDZfu4ZZfIYTCAg3pBSdpfjbEqaV98KbQoO4g_tA5B_0/s1600-h/Wine+1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 168px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQ6K3FoevsbvwBvF2r74n4fdGDR9ApNDJFx2bwQp3YIgJV-jkFPLZ2-TmC4UMCQajqQSocuEMfrd_CRU1Q8YD3SGDu4Emg6mdDZfu4ZZfIYTCAg3pBSdpfjbEqaV98KbQoO4g_tA5B_0/s320/Wine+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369223017360224770" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCW5E-anh9k3f4-iiAW9m0wmrFLK2ZXnPHMHRV7ToXnlu0Y_XMzApZ9kxri3ym3UORkVwDNbZrvvTSN9hZdzD4PGd_HIms_eofTaa-OspLu1NBWbFWmsWlHQM_JAS61-LmMYJ-LeWC7J8/s1600-h/Wine+2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 168px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCW5E-anh9k3f4-iiAW9m0wmrFLK2ZXnPHMHRV7ToXnlu0Y_XMzApZ9kxri3ym3UORkVwDNbZrvvTSN9hZdzD4PGd_HIms_eofTaa-OspLu1NBWbFWmsWlHQM_JAS61-LmMYJ-LeWC7J8/s320/Wine+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369223029523458722" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMaD0jMHSUP5D0v4M3n6OUokFtjs2P4MeXDT_OrAAC_KVpBXmtUadT_quRIG2WJVLodICwyYXV1wW-SoVcTpxdAPpa_1BNkjipI_AY0-CK_W7vm9bsA-lsjk6UeNz_y5xrXOM4NyhsfuQ/s1600-h/Wine+3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 126px; height: 168px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMaD0jMHSUP5D0v4M3n6OUokFtjs2P4MeXDT_OrAAC_KVpBXmtUadT_quRIG2WJVLodICwyYXV1wW-SoVcTpxdAPpa_1BNkjipI_AY0-CK_W7vm9bsA-lsjk6UeNz_y5xrXOM4NyhsfuQ/s320/Wine+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369223036215892258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div>We tasted loads of wine, savoured cheese platters and wandered around looking at gardens, vineyards, wetlands and even (alleged) mountains.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggRD1c905S-09xOva6TRxh1RdQ75r44juigAfRtf7JKCKbbo77d7A2ucJKhwTnZ5mafN31HxQLaHgI5gDzw0IzlA6VTARYt0Dwlt2AVgqj4GE713u5KSzlSsyrCTKWig-fYFxRZIgZrts/s1600-h/Critter.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 231px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggRD1c905S-09xOva6TRxh1RdQ75r44juigAfRtf7JKCKbbo77d7A2ucJKhwTnZ5mafN31HxQLaHgI5gDzw0IzlA6VTARYt0Dwlt2AVgqj4GE713u5KSzlSsyrCTKWig-fYFxRZIgZrts/s320/Critter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369225749837774450" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOCXk4pEOqnh5pUqDD0MILcdSwPB9GOFfAAQaiw_T7SvSKujnOYCCTjRsoquY__GvmEO1_Hbb-_vY_2bq5bLj1dPSLeicjxOMg7ZYs2n-BrvztqNAS_w5pGnovmz5xQ-fvv38brZZf_c/s1600-h/Tree+hugging.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 175px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOCXk4pEOqnh5pUqDD0MILcdSwPB9GOFfAAQaiw_T7SvSKujnOYCCTjRsoquY__GvmEO1_Hbb-_vY_2bq5bLj1dPSLeicjxOMg7ZYs2n-BrvztqNAS_w5pGnovmz5xQ-fvv38brZZf_c/s320/Tree+hugging.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369225766010340338" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHG4KY9gtofs3ef8i-vXdiGmEY7Qs_ZW2GENcixVSrAXzdk4VcDhyogBuMQbpujUdJaQZ1Qtv8iA-0LeMrOOPZ8fzTveACrWGCIwy3F8q3cTy5bJ2Hm1xM5ojiJpqgmZQFrFRk34zFWdQ/s1600-h/Kookaburra.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHG4KY9gtofs3ef8i-vXdiGmEY7Qs_ZW2GENcixVSrAXzdk4VcDhyogBuMQbpujUdJaQZ1Qtv8iA-0LeMrOOPZ8fzTveACrWGCIwy3F8q3cTy5bJ2Hm1xM5ojiJpqgmZQFrFRk34zFWdQ/s320/Kookaburra.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369225754761286450" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Oh and walked avoiding these critters, hugged trees and gazed at the stars.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGUO1XMvV0Q-f_xtzN7egUqwA-b60T2IpHMm3KlerOXsjOU0leDKO1Kzbhq82aONXQSQ6FqT3H_AcQ86-zUNbRSFvdwBRYpiIhdnpc9zm9R2-waF3egcLnenmm7EGd0rXJXUNLjSzbpt8/s1600-h/Tunnel.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 207px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGUO1XMvV0Q-f_xtzN7egUqwA-b60T2IpHMm3KlerOXsjOU0leDKO1Kzbhq82aONXQSQ6FqT3H_AcQ86-zUNbRSFvdwBRYpiIhdnpc9zm9R2-waF3egcLnenmm7EGd0rXJXUNLjSzbpt8/s320/Tunnel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369228902710709570" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinnnfbJKSaIh5N3o-_YrgfOTh9_r1guOUdonhrjuN5PepmL6xuxw8srJiu6IWUE9i8y-f1ALIcP10d1zb9dauKmlxtxtXp9H8Lkn8Mxam-QXvp0aw9ffnqWkXgrIiVNb4JQTGZdWehjTY/s1600-h/Lavender+scones.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 155px; height: 207px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinnnfbJKSaIh5N3o-_YrgfOTh9_r1guOUdonhrjuN5PepmL6xuxw8srJiu6IWUE9i8y-f1ALIcP10d1zb9dauKmlxtxtXp9H8Lkn8Mxam-QXvp0aw9ffnqWkXgrIiVNb4JQTGZdWehjTY/s320/Lavender+scones.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369228916229239426" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjByDNh9aKi-Yyqud8ibm2G9fF4T86X6zKj49QbSWuovr9uujcuEA_S6iTNEAUJ30MxtZZ-T4f8aNPxdjlwP3obIll2cVywfwwyJrtNrlfqkiivoSjJ2hy6Gu396ka0GFCa1dHKaoza88/s1600-h/MTBiking.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 155px; height: 207px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjByDNh9aKi-Yyqud8ibm2G9fF4T86X6zKj49QbSWuovr9uujcuEA_S6iTNEAUJ30MxtZZ-T4f8aNPxdjlwP3obIll2cVywfwwyJrtNrlfqkiivoSjJ2hy6Gu396ka0GFCa1dHKaoza88/s320/MTBiking.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369228926572520866" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Saw the light at the end of the tunnel, before eating some heavenly lavender scones and hitting the MTB trail.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDPfetPPyMZhcPkEnaQsa3oXBEP3FYt40Kxc6zn1Srk4sb75pjXrdj5OVOBCTJRV0MfoBvhcYVWAnT1QhJvHaLQcQpB1met2UZM559skC2x2K_8i8DjPdjdnF1gTMQRQpBlAmA6bxq-o/s1600-h/Cheese+ball.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDPfetPPyMZhcPkEnaQsa3oXBEP3FYt40Kxc6zn1Srk4sb75pjXrdj5OVOBCTJRV0MfoBvhcYVWAnT1QhJvHaLQcQpB1met2UZM559skC2x2K_8i8DjPdjdnF1gTMQRQpBlAmA6bxq-o/s320/Cheese+ball.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369229928799581666" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLKD2RagiMhW6g35GsMioiJWQ_GPJMTxEAc3w6ISfpPTiHc37FVc6NL8QRsG8wtY_inqe5l753dcE1Lo2j9tMGq4q_0wc0ymNzsTaUpA9m2LDKdRO0MUl2rs40qaScBZ7J5Fk7tcKHo8/s1600-h/Jimbour+Veggie+Garden.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLKD2RagiMhW6g35GsMioiJWQ_GPJMTxEAc3w6ISfpPTiHc37FVc6NL8QRsG8wtY_inqe5l753dcE1Lo2j9tMGq4q_0wc0ymNzsTaUpA9m2LDKdRO0MUl2rs40qaScBZ7J5Fk7tcKHo8/s320/Jimbour+Veggie+Garden.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369229958192370450" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YTUnhYYQ7ob3QsUu07AL9zkC6XbDKpcbQU_nhqSe2_jVKRN7mYwdo7dxDaa7u1c9LeLrwbujDHp_BOHpbD5RmJM8VibrPQv-XxUYxpCPCnTD-_dd57kXgXnXkdzsKNFBKqB_I-GF4CY/s1600-h/Jimbour+Garden.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YTUnhYYQ7ob3QsUu07AL9zkC6XbDKpcbQU_nhqSe2_jVKRN7mYwdo7dxDaa7u1c9LeLrwbujDHp_BOHpbD5RmJM8VibrPQv-XxUYxpCPCnTD-_dd57kXgXnXkdzsKNFBKqB_I-GF4CY/s320/Jimbour+Garden.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369229944247749826" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ate a cheese ball...after trying some more wine and looking at another wonderful garden.<br /><br />The best bit? Forgetting about fat, health and fitting in exercise. Moving all day long. Eating when hungry, mostly often and a lot. Not having cravings. No mirrors - lucky since I forgot to bring a comb; fingers are a wonderful invention. Forget about goals or plans for where I want to be in 6 months time.<br /><br />In the car on the way we talked about <a href="http://mizfitonline.com/">MizFit's 'Unapologetically Myself'</a>. Leaving everything behind a few hundred kilometres of bitumen, I decided to live it. Be in the moment. Feel comfortable in my skin. Accept all my peculiarities.<br /><br />It felt amazing. Now the challenge is to carry that feeling forward today, tomorrow and next week.Spring Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122505632533994205noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556798956226801460.post-45912763419381205942009-08-06T08:59:00.004+10:002009-08-06T09:24:57.385+10:00Saying bye to crazy thoughtsIt's the fourth day of eating more and amazingly I haven't turned into a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">gigantasaurus</span>. Yet. Well if it hasn't happened in <span style="font-style: italic;">3 whole days</span>, I suspect it probably won't. Usually you can see yesterdays 3 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">pieces</span> of cake right...<span style="font-style: italic;">there</span> on my hips. So <a href="http://livinghealthyfrom25to100.blogspot.com/2009/08/other-extreme.html">my freak out</a> was unfounded.<br /><br />But, I've been following my food intake closely. Like counting kilojoules. Oh yeah. Apparently I'm happy to do it when trying to eat more, not so great when trying to eat less. Then again I don't need much help with that! It also helps that the dialogue goes something like this:<br /><br />- I'll eat this, this and this today. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Hmm</span>, not enough.<br />- <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Ok</span>, I'll eat this too! Still not enough.<br />- How about this? Well, I could still do with a little more.<br />- What else can I eat. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Damn it</span> there's not enough food in this house!<br /><br />Would you be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">surprised</span> to know that I don't have sugar cravings much? That I'm starting to feel hungry all the time again? That cycling was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">eeeasssy</span> the other day? That my biceps look like they've grown?<br /><br />Speaking of spending inordinate amounts of time in front of the mirror admiring my biceps. I had some crazy thoughts the other day that needed squelching and fast. I've pretty much settled on two strategies that work well for me:<br /><br />1. Appeal to my vanity. Stand in front of the mirror and admire all the bits that I like about myself. Point out all the changes, the muscles that are growing and sometimes even laugh a little at the jiggly bits, because they're a part of me too, so I try to do that lovingly. Try on clothes that now fit and ones that used to but now fall off. The other option;<br /><br />2. Stop thinking about it. Do something else. Especially something creative where I can't think about feeling bad. It's so easy to spend hours worrying and wondering (and dare I say, reading about new exercises or wonder foods) how the next few kilo's will come off, as well as weighing and measuring. At the end of the day, the hard work comes from <span style="font-style: italic;">doing</span> not worrying- eating well, exercising regularly. It doesn't <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">actually</span> take long to do those things, you know, 3-6 meals per day and half an hour of exercise. Less is more with weights. Sometimes it's better to do what needs to be done, then step away and not think about it. Good things come to those who (put the hard work in then) wait.<br /><br />There you go, my strategies for pressing the "crazy <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">thoughts</span>" off button. They're polar opposites depending on what is appropriate. Both make me feel good about myself. So what do you do to make yourself feel better when the crazy thoughts come knocking?Spring Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122505632533994205noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556798956226801460.post-58200643391287795552009-08-05T14:19:00.002+10:002009-08-05T14:26:57.657+10:00A difficult day for JenI'm just thinking about <a href="http://www.priorfatgirl.com/">Jen</a> today. You never expect a tragedy like this to occur to yourself or someone you know in the flesh or not. It's a shock and there are no words to express it or words that can heal their pain. So today I just wanted to send out a prayer for her and her family.Spring Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122505632533994205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556798956226801460.post-3631461439541050772009-08-04T10:51:00.002+10:002009-08-04T12:16:11.320+10:00The other extremeThe only time someone has ever told me that I'm not eating enough was my grandmother. She'd served up soup, followed by an enormous plate of pierogi -a yummy Polish potato dumpling dish drizzled with melted butter - and then some pastries which I had to refuse because I couldn't move. Well, my aunt has actually said the same thing after meals of similar epic proportions. But let's say that outside of Poland, no one has ever said I don't eat enough. Except for <a href="http://livinghealthyfrom25to100.blogspot.com/2009/07/i-shouldnt-be-training.html">the trainer</a>.<br /><br />When he told me I should add in some food to what I eat daily, apart from protein shakes that is, I got anxious. If I eat more I'll put on weight right? So I ignored what he said for the most part until Friday when feeling full of spite I worked my upper body as hard as I could at the <a href="http://livinghealthyfrom25to100.blogspot.com/2009/03/city-of-no-excuses.html">outdoor gym</a>. Upon returning home I ate a 'huge' recovery snack and immediately felt sure that I had eaten so much that I wouldn't fit into my pants the next day. So I got busy calculating and found that he was <span style="font-style: italic;">right</span>. I'm generally not eating enough, at least by rule of thumb calculations for women. <br /><br />What's weird is that it happened in a fairly natural way. Originally I started eating a little less and kept going with that approach which made me feel great. Then I noticed that I wasn't getting as hungry as I used to. In fact these days I'm rarely hungry which seems like a blessing. I also fill up very quickly so it's not hard to eat less. I thought everything was going rather well.<br /><br />Obviously it's a big deal performance and fat loss wise, but what frightens me most is that I'm scared to eat more. That seems really bad and alarm bells are ringing inside my head. There's some nasty thoughts coming back into my head about my body image as well. <br /><br />So what to do except eat more, lift more and press the "crazy thoughts" off button.Spring Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122505632533994205noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556798956226801460.post-36965074315806757762009-07-30T19:13:00.003+10:002009-07-31T11:40:51.264+10:00I shouldn't be trainingAfter extolling the virtues of seeking professional advice at the gym last week, I figured it was time I took a dose of my own medicine. So I signed up for an assessment and dragged myself to the gym yesterday.<br /><br />I don't know what I was hoping to achieve, other than find out my body fat percentage and maybe do a fitness test that would earn me a shinny gold star acknowledging my incredible cardio fitness *cough, cough*.<br /><br />Well, we didn't get off to a great start when the trainer perused my goals and exclaimed 'you want to get down to <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span> body fat. That's low. That's what I'm at'. Embarrassed silence ensued. My consternation only grew as I stepped on the little scale that analysed all my deepest, darkest bits and spat out the analytical truth about me. .<br /><br />A few months back I'd played with a friend's bio electrical impedance scale so I had an idea of where I was at then and where I should be now. I was horrified to discover that the fat percentage had remained the same. Instantly I felt huge, like I'd just gained back about 5kg as the number flashed up in front of me. As soon as I got home I had to try on my measuring pants. They still fit, but that doubt that I am fat didn't.<br /><br />When it was my turn to ask questions, I wanted to know about post workout nutrition. I hope he didn't notice my glazed over eyes as he went into a long analysis of the various protein powders.<br /><br />Then we moved onto my strength goals and what I needed to do to achieve them. I mentioned that I'm not a fan of sitting in the gym lifting weights and would prefer body weight exercises. Coincidentally, my two strength goals are being able to do push ups and chin ups. 'Impossible' he told me. In fact, apparently if I am not willing to devote 2 half hour sessions a week to strength training <span style="font-style: italic;">at the gym</span> then I may as well not train at all :-(<br /><br />I haven't changed his words at all. I'm serious. <span style="font-style: italic;">I may as well not train at all</span>. Now that's not very helpful. Hey, I'm willing to change, I've proven that to myself this year. What I am not prepared to do is blindly follow. If it's the last resort, I'll suck it up and go to the gym twice a week, but I still cling to the notion that strength training can be done in a way that I enjoy. In fact I will build a crazy gym in my yard with ropes and ladders and bars before I will do another program at the gym.<br /><br />I drifted off from the conversation at the point where he suggested getting a personal trainer so I would have someone to push me hard enough. After that I think he spoke at length about his own experience as a body builder training for competition while I drifted off into my sad little world wondering how on earth I was going to achieve my goals.<br /><br />Those feelings of being defeated have turned to defiance. I will prove at the next assessment - about 6 weeks - all that I can do. Now, I just need to do a little research to work out how I'm going to get there ;-)<br /><br />Anyone had a similar discouraging experience with a trainer? Anyone else rely mostly on body weight exercises or know a good reference point?Spring Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122505632533994205noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556798956226801460.post-46723103584015791642009-07-29T10:18:00.005+10:002009-07-29T14:56:39.797+10:00A private raceI picked up a copy of the latest <a href="http://www.runnersworldonline.com.au/default.aspx?s=home">Runner's World</a> from the library the other day. It's not exactly that I need to add more to my reading pile, rather a glimmer of hope of resolving my love/hate feelings towards the sport. Running seems very charming on the surface, but dig a little deeper and I can see all the faults. Yet one flicker of a smile from Running and I keep coming back. Running has even made my best friend Walking seem slow and cumbersome, so while out Walking I can't help but think about Running.<br /><br />Next week I am free of Running's schedule, so I am growing desperate to know if there will be another date or if our relationship is over. By sitting down for a moment with the running community I had hoped to find my answer I guess. What is it that Running had infected others with that they keep coming back?<br /><br />I haven't found the answer in those pages, but instead I found another of Running's virtues. At the end of a few of the articles after the author's name was listed their personal best time. Apart from feeling shocked at how quickly 5K could be run (the women's world record is 14:11 held by Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibba) I didn't think too much about it until the following day.<br /><br />We were discussing what we thought of as success after finding out what some old high school buddies have been up to in the last 10 years. It's easy to say that success is dependent on the individual, but harder to not feel average in comparison to your peers when they have been recognised for their talents. And yet, not everyone has the same talents and interests that they can be recognised for and therefore measure up against their peers. I thought about my own current interests and I thought about running, about personal best times.<br /><br />Sometimes I have felt embarrassed reporting with great enthusiasm that I've just run for 25 minutes. After all, some of you have done half or full marathons so what's 5K in comparison? Then I would remind myself that for me, it is a big deal because I have never been able to run that far. I am my own benchmark.<br /><br />While in many aspects of life I strive to keep up with my peers or meet expectations, running and fitness in general is not one of them. What a relief it is to just run for my own enjoyment and watch my own improvements without measuring up against anyone else. Unless I'm out to win a race there is no reason to compete, because everyone has their own story of how they came to be where they are. And even in the feature stories in Runner's World few people talked about winning the marathon, instead focusing on accomplishing their own goal, whether to qualify for another marathon or aiming for a personal best. It's as though they were running alone on an empty road and all that mattered during their race was them and the pavement.<br /><br />So I like that running is all about me, all about my body and my limits. I like pushing my own boundaries and seeing how far I can go to become fitter, stronger, faster and better looking. I like that I am finally in control and becoming who I want to be. While I won't exactly be posting my accomplishments on Facebook, I can still be proud of myself for my achievements.<br /><br />How about you. Do you work towards a personal best or winning the race? Do you like a bit of friendly competition to keep you motivated?Spring Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122505632533994205noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556798956226801460.post-75298879738732226512009-07-28T11:12:00.003+10:002009-07-28T11:41:11.514+10:00If laughter is the best medicine......Then there are a whole lot of healthy people around after this weekend. After 2 months of weekly rehearsals where we delivered our lines and then scratched our heads wondering if anyone would actually be laughing, we finally had an audience. And we had them in stitches.<br /><br />The evening consisted of four one act plays, three of which are locally written the other is "<a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8908622153579785434">Dinner for One</a>". Although they were supposed to be short plays two of them run for nearly 40 minutes, so being last we worried that everyone would be bored by the time they got to ours.<br /><br />But no. After an hour and a half of humour, the audience particularly on Saturday night was well lubricated for our play. They didn't stop laughing almost the whole way through our play which made it difficult to deliver lines. Then again, can you go wrong with a play where the two male actors dress up as women mid way through?!<br /><br />Friday with all it's wonderful opening night nerves was flawless. Seriously. Oh except when a cast member forget his line, but that was okay because he just started taking out his 'fake' breasts - socks - to buy some time. Ah yes, he was wearing a dress and my super high heels at the time!<br /><br />I loved the experience so much that the only bad part of the performance was that it went so quickly. I was on such a high afterwards that I ate a huge piece of chocolate cake at the after cast party!<br /><br />Saturday night was not so great. I spent all day so hyperactive in anticipation of being on stage again that by the evening I was totally worn out and all I wanted to do was snuggle up and watch a movie at home. Apparently I wasn't the only one, because it just wasn't a great night. Sure we got heaps of laughs, more than on Friday and I allegedly (because I didn't hear anything) got 'wohoo's' from the blokes when I appeared in my knee high boots, fishnets, leather jacket, mask, whip and itsy bitsy skirt (yeah, given the outfit that was really hard!) but the energy just wasn't the same as the previous evening.<br /><br />Apparently more seasoned actors say this is normal and things will improve each night from now on. Sadly, that is only another two performances this coming weekend. It would seem that this is a week of endings, because it is the last days of the <a href="http://www.c25k.com/">Couch to 5K</a> programme also. Then what comes next? All I can say is that I hate endings.Spring Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122505632533994205noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556798956226801460.post-62838543334957984862009-07-24T15:24:00.003+10:002009-07-24T15:52:02.282+10:00It's show timeTonight is opening night of the play. Yesterday I was bouncing off the walls, I couldn't keep still I was so excited. Today, not so much. The butterflies have arrived and the idea of an audience is making them flutter around in my belly. Ok, so what's the worst that could happen anyway? I could forget my lines or my entrance cue, but hey 'making stuff up as you go along' is a skill in itself right? I could accidentally hit one of the audience members with the tip of my whip when I crack it, but that's cool too because it would just make it more interactive for the audience which is fun. I doubt I will fall off stage - I worried about that before my uni graduation and that went by pretty uneventfully. <br /><br />At least I won't be wearing my costume upside down tonight. After the dress rehearsal two nights ago the director approached me and in a whisper told me that I was wearing my <a href="http://livinghealthyfrom25to100.blogspot.com/2009/05/because-i-look-good-in-leather.html">corset</a> the wrong way around. And all that time I couldn't work out why there were these pouch bits on my belly. Ahh, Le Booby holders! Oops.<br /><br />The one thing I can't believe is that I haven't joined a theatre earlier. Even on the cold evenings we've been having lately, when all I wanted to do was stay home and snuggle up under the doona I've been coming home from rehearsals beaming from ear to ear, unable to fall asleep from excitement. Me thinks I love acting! Seems so silly now to have <a href="http://livinghealthyfrom25to100.blogspot.com/2009/04/what-are-you-waiting-for.html">waited so long</a>. But no regrets - the show must go on!<a href="http://watrd.wordpress.com/"><br /></a>Spring Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122505632533994205noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556798956226801460.post-73754935461776399462009-07-22T09:51:00.003+10:002009-07-22T10:39:28.149+10:00Sweet temptationSweets. My ultimate weakness. Well that and staying snuggled up in bed each morning until I absolutely have to get up. But health wise it's cakes, cookies, desserts, chocolate - you name it and if it has sugar in it I want it. So when I set my <a href="http://livinghealthyfrom25to100.blogspot.com/2009/07/time-for-new-goals.html">goal for consistency</a>, the number one dot point I wrote in my diary was to consistently eat less sweets. Seeing as I can count on a plentiful dessert on Sunday night each week I thought perhaps I could limit myself to just that.<br /><br />So I patiently shared my goal with he who shares my house and gently suggested he do what he can to help me with my resolve. Nothing huge, no change in his routine just perhaps not planting the remains of last nights dessert in a prominent place in the kitchen and asking if I want some. <br /><br />So within half an hour of our conversation, without saying a word, the creamy apple pie from the day before was on the bench, with one slice carefully plated up. As I got ready to go to rehearsal the entire pie remained on the bench, untouched while he sat right next to it surfing the web.<br /><br />Upon returning home around 10pm, the plate with the slice had vanished but the rest of the pie still sat in the same spot on the bench. Now that seemed like in your face temptation to me. And yet, in a bizarre un-me like state, I wasn't tempted. Apparently I had made up my mind to stick to my goal in that special way, the one in which I can't be talked out of my decision even by the sweet siren call of creamy apple pie.<br /><br />Now I can only explain my sweethearts behaviour as either; a) male complete absent mindedness or; b) he's worried soon I shall have more muscle definition than him. The most likely option is <span style="font-style: italic;">a</span> however upon returning home yesterday he started doing chin ups and push ups. I'm sure that has nothing to do with me walking around the house proudly pointing out my biceps and gloating. <br /><br />Well so far I have remained consistent, but what if my resolve falters at some point? How can I encourage more helpful behaviour from others? Does it actually make any difference or should simple resolve be enough? Have you gotten others to help you with your goals and how?Spring Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122505632533994205noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556798956226801460.post-73221097767791685592009-07-20T09:29:00.005+10:002009-07-20T10:54:02.985+10:00Time for new goals<span style="font-weight: bold;">Egg yolk creation</span><br />Thanks very much for the suggestions for egg yolk recipes. It occurred to me yesterday that there is a thing called google with tons of recipes when faced with a recipe dilemma. Actually, it reminded me of my mom who always asks us to find the information she wants for her - a google phobia perhaps? Anyway, I will probably keep referring back to the answers regularly, because I constantly end up with an oversupply of either egg yolks or whites.<br /><br />After "borrowing" my sisters latest <a href="http://www.vogue.com.au/vogue+magazine/vogue+entertaining+travel/">Vogue Entertaining + Travel</a> and drooling, I mean looking at the pages I came across a brilliant recipe for a creamy apple pie that required egg yolks. Yet again I was asked to make dessert on Sunday so I tried the recipe. It was the most wonderful dessert I think I have ever tasted. And you know that equation fat sugar fat, well this one had a slight variation of fat sugar apples sugar fat. It was probably the most unhealthy thing I have ever made but holy crap it tasted good. Oh look is that a flying saucer at the window.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shaking things up</span><br />Despite the cold overnight temperatures, I found myself back in a singlet this weekend as I painted door frames. Yes, this is my idea of winter - clear skies, sunshine and warm days! I figured that my fears over the approaching summer are not entirely unfounded seeing as soon the evenings will be warm again and it will be time to hit the beach. Now that I feel like I'm being <a href="http://livinghealthyfrom25to100.blogspot.com/2009/07/guilty-truth.html">honest</a> about where I want to get in the next 6 months I've decided it's time to set some new goals.<br /><br />My <a href="http://livinghealthyfrom25to100.blogspot.com/2009/02/reality-and-its-unfortunate-association.html">aim to begin</a> with was to lose about 10% of my body weight in 6 months which I did. Then I started running and I am now nearing the end of the Couch to 5K being at week 8 (out of 9). If this was all simply about the way I felt I would be perfectly happy not to do anything more and just maintain, but it's been my dream to one day be in <span style="font-style: italic;">my</span> best body. I have never in my life been anything approximating lean so the definition of 'best' is yet to be seen as well as being proportional to the amount of effort I am willing to put in.<br /><br />The first 6 months were rather laid back - after all 6 months to lose about 7kg or 15lbs is a long time. But for the first time ever, it actually worked because I never had to be perfect. I could happily take 2 steps forward 1 back and learn along the way. The last few weeks with all the sweets made me realise that my approach was really successful for me in part because I didn't gain any weight which I take as I sign that I've learnt to balance out what I eat intuitively. No, I realise it's not healthy when I substitute calories from healthy food for sugar. <br /><br />Now though, I'm getting bored with being constantly in 'I'm trying to lose weight' mode. It's time to shake up my relaxed approach a little and finish what I started. Each time I think about that I freak out and wonder if I should be following some kind of nutrition plan or start counting calories or go <a href="http://www.marksdailyapple.com/">Primal</a>. I am really scared of not being able to move past the point that I'm at now.<br /><br />Still, I've come this far on the principle that I figure out what is best for me at a given time, so I am not ready to hand over the reins and follow just yet. And besides I'm fairly confident I know what I need to do to reach my goal. <a href="http://mizfitonline.com/">MizFit</a> talked about it last week on <a href="http://www.priorfatgirl.com/2009/07/bittersweet-mizfit-post.html">Jen's blog</a> - consistency. That is something that I am not. Over a long time frame that wasn't too much of an issue, but in the shorter term consistency is crucial to achieve a deficit.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Goal</span><br />So from today for a period of 6 weeks my goal is to be consistent with regular strength training and eating in a way to achieve a calorie deficit. Seeing as I don't like keeping a food journal, I'm going to steal <a href="http://tippytoediet.com/">Cammy's</a> idea of writing down splurges. Hopefully that will be a whole lot less work! And so far today, nothing to report.Spring Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122505632533994205noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556798956226801460.post-6846697911747681062009-07-17T10:06:00.004+10:002009-07-17T11:09:37.479+10:00A bowl of lonely egg yolksSince the end of June, life has been very unsettled. Seeing there was nothing I could do to <a href="http://livinghealthyfrom25to100.blogspot.com/2009/07/just-keep-running.html">console their grief</a>, I turned to the only thing I could remember that helps at times like these - food. I started doing an inventory in my head of everything I have cooked and especially all the sweets that I've made in the last two and a half weeks. Quite apart from the hospital visits and funeral arrangements, we've had three birthdays in the family and one of a good friend. I could write a whole essay about how important food is in nourishing the body as well as bringing comfort, but most importantly I think in the last few weeks it's brought people together and it has given me a purpose. Anyway here is an inventory of the sweets.<br /><br />It all started on the last Sunday in June when my sister gave us the leftovers of a pound cake, a puff pastry chocolate slice and cheesecake she had made. The following day, pound cake and the puff pastry chocolate slice just seemed like a good idea at 2am on return from the hospital. Sleep deprived the next morning and armed with a packet of traditional German gingerbread cookies for all and sundry, the sweets slowly started to vanish from the fridge.<br /><br />The following day was cheesecake (leftover from Sunday) for my birthday along with tiny caramel mud cake muffins that we gave away to my brother in-law the following day for his birthday. That night we had mandarin parfaits.<br /><br />On Saturday the third course was stewed pears with rhubarb and cream. For our usual Sunday night dinner my Mom made custard with fresh strawberries. The following night was Viennetta at my mother in-laws and on Tuesday was a friends birthday. Her partner had forgotten completely so again I tried to heal with food - this time I opted for low fat chocolate cake and <a href="http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/760/passionfruit+melting+moments">passionfruit melting moments</a>.<br /><br />Wednesday at the in-laws was carrot cake followed by two days of reprieve. The remaining melting moments may or may not have been eaten during this time. Realising the fact that the sweets were going to continue to be made I started to opt for healthier options especially after Tuesdays chocolate cake success. Saturday, dinner with the in-laws and a low fat walnut, chocolate and date pudding. Again on Sunday my parents came around and this time I tried <a href="http://www.marksdailyapple.com/dairy-free-custard/">Mark's Primal Custard</a>.<br /><br />Tuesday and again dinner with the in-laws. This time I made low fat lime cheesecake. Finally yesterday; my husband's birthday and a whole plate of chocolate orange cupcakes with maple frosting all for him (and me). I don't know if I hopped that writing this down would help dull my cravings for more sugar. If that was the intent, it has certainly worked, but now I have another pressing issue.<br /><br />The problem with the low fat desserts has been the leftover egg yolks. I can think of two things to do with them - hollandaise sauce or custard. Have you got any suggestions?Spring Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122505632533994205noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556798956226801460.post-70494477192038405592009-07-15T09:38:00.004+10:002009-07-15T14:59:08.973+10:00The guilty truthI didn't quit. I did the full run because even though I told myself that I could stop when it got too much, I didn't. I couldn't. Once I was there doing it, I pushed on to the end because I really wanted to finish this programme flawlessly. And as if to add an extra incentive the universe conspired to put a $20 bill across my path in the last 10 seconds of my run. There was no one else around. If I had quit I wouldn't have even gone down that path.<br /><br />I've found a strength training programme that I really like. It's the '<a href="http://valerie-waters.blogspot.com/2008/02/get-action-hero-body.html">Get an Action Hero Body</a>' from Valerie Waters. Despite the seemingly easy, low weight exercises, I sweat more doing one set of each circuit than when running.<br /><br />I started doing it in the first place because of a lingering fear - summer, bikini season. It was 10 degrees Celsius inside the house this morning and I'm scared of a bikini. That seems so stupid to me, as does the nagging doubt that I might fail and that this summer might end up being no different than every other. And yet, I've been twisted up inside for months now about my vanity - it shouldn't matter what I look like; it's about being healthy; don't hold yourself simply to how you look in a bikini.<br /><br />These fears sit so uncomfortably next to the idea that I can accept my body the way it is. Honestly the less there is of it the more I like it and I still wish that it could be firmer, slimmer, stronger, better. So I love my body, but......Unconditional self love? I don't think so. It feels so wrong to admit the truth that a big part of what I <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> want is to look better.Spring Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122505632533994205noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556798956226801460.post-34938792979871185272009-07-13T10:46:00.003+10:002009-07-13T10:58:09.385+10:00Having my ass kickedMy husband has a shirt from New Balance that reads:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Enjoy sitting on your butt.<br />Because I'm gonna<br />kick it in a few hours.<br />- <span style="font-style: italic;">RUNNING</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Mostly I really love this shirt but these last few days, not so much. It was the first 25 minute run last week and my butt officially considered itself whipped. Now it's a whole new week of all 25 minute runs. I'm terrified.<br /><br />Last week was awful. The wind was strong and I felt incredibly weak - I barely made it. Now I'm trying to put off the runs for later in the week. Actually I feel like quitting. I feel like it's all too much for me, that maybe I was delusional in thinking that I could ever run.<br /><br />I was mesmerised by one of the frequently asked questions on the Couch to 5k website - <a href="http://www.c25k.com/finishing.htm">why do people drop out during the C25K</a>? Now I have the answer.<br /><br />Still, it's better to be challenged and push through it, then give up the minute the going gets tough. That's not the new me....I hope.<br /><br /></div></div>Spring Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122505632533994205noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556798956226801460.post-5854052805952999342009-07-07T08:57:00.004+10:002009-07-07T09:39:58.162+10:00Half way<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNyO3MHud03Wl4FZZhKQCxUEbDY8cyg3VQ2AfaZQsvIxLEVDqUYoBXtmggBj8pgJw4uSfEZtZ0I9gAmBfIEavbBnYGESLsGnG8bwEFrKJuVnJLTRYp_bD-osocUY_iw4Jz4hn-RoKiJqc/s1600-h/Bridge+in+Morocco.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNyO3MHud03Wl4FZZhKQCxUEbDY8cyg3VQ2AfaZQsvIxLEVDqUYoBXtmggBj8pgJw4uSfEZtZ0I9gAmBfIEavbBnYGESLsGnG8bwEFrKJuVnJLTRYp_bD-osocUY_iw4Jz4hn-RoKiJqc/s320/Bridge+in+Morocco.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355495675867413666" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">In the middle of a bridge in Morocco</span><br /></span></div><br />Last week was the middle of the year. It was the middle of my running program. My birthday. I wanted to do an update, a wrap up of the first half of the year. A look towards new goals. A new blog design. Life intervened. It does that sometimes.<br /><br />I've been thinking a lot about health the last week. Spending time in a hospital does that. I realise there are no guarantees in life.<br /><br />We talk a lot about health here, creating lasting change. Are we talking about a better life? Does health in the way we speak of it do this for us? Looking back at the last 6 months, I answer with a resounding yes.<br /><br />These months have changed me not just my body. I live the way I do because it feels great. I've improved my quality of life. My fears of what I would need to become to be healthy were unfounded. But I don't do this for health, I do it because I love it.<br /><br />Fear does not bind me to health. I don't try to control the way I live because I fear that my actions will make me sick or fat. Sometimes a date with a cake makes me happy. I forgive and that is health. This is a peaceful place, this is bliss.<br /><br />The last week has made me realise that I wouldn't change anything. How about you?Spring Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122505632533994205noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556798956226801460.post-16744490394149775762009-07-06T08:27:00.003+10:002009-07-06T08:54:30.510+10:00Just keep runningA relative is very sick in hospital. Our lives are paused, watching, waiting at his ups and his downs. Monday already. A week since the phone call. Witnessing the pain and grief, so many thoughts and unanswered questions about life, health, the soul, even love float through my thoughts. <br /><br />I wake before dawn each morning. Just keep running, I remind myself. Today before the hospital, the day after from the hospital. Do what needs to be done, then run. Mark the passing days by when you last ran.<br /><br />A burst of endorphin filled joy at the first 20 minute run. Quelled. Too much pain in the faces of those close to me. A small success that seems suddenly <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">insignificant</span>. More questions about hopes, goals and failure.<br /><br />Food. A shared meal and a laugh. No one should be alone. Do something to help. You can't take away their pain, at least feed their body. Walk, run, take them outside to bathe in the last rays of the sun. A glowing red sunset - a reminder of life as we witness the quiet embrace of death.<br /><br />Just keep running, today and the day after.Spring Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122505632533994205noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556798956226801460.post-10789241393648675462009-06-25T14:29:00.000+10:002009-06-25T15:46:47.734+10:00Healthy living can be easyHave you ever bought a magazine because it promised that just overleaf lay a diet and exercise program that would give you the body of your dreams? Each spring just as the days start to get warmer in September and the cold Westerlies have stopped blowing the magazine racks beckon with these promises. Spring brings that feeling of anticipation and the excitement that summer is just ahead. Day dreams are filled with picnics under the shade of cool trees, summer storms and hot days at the beach. Anything seems possible when the lull of winter is almost past.<br /><br />I've bought into the dream almost every spring, believing that if I can just manage to stay on the program for the three months, I would have the body of my dreams. Just three short months and I would achieve my goal right? Of course the plan would need to become a lifestyle but by working hard anything was possible.<br /><br />Healthy living is a matter of following a few simple principles - exercise regularly, eat clean, relax. But that can seem really hard when the starting point is at the polar opposite. Two of those principles disagreed with me and it wasn't the last one. I was scared of having to work really hard to reach my goals by turning down food that I loved simply because 'it wasn't good for me' or having to run regularly even though I hated running (yeah, I know). I could never willingly embrace what I saw as depriving myself of the joys of living for supposed health benefits or even a bikini ready body.<br /><br />I doubt that I was alone in my unwillingness to change, because people tend to create an identity for themselves based on habits. We then describe ourselves as being the person with the insatiable appetite or the gym junkie. I for example am feeling very comfortable identifying myself as 'a runner' whereas in the past I was the one with the huge appetite and that is what I was proud of being. Healthy living threatened that identity which left me wondering who I would be; perhaps the sprouted greens and salad girl? I fought against becoming that person by not trying because being healthy seemed so hard. I chose to believe that if I found the right plan I could avoid becoming salad girl and still have the body of my dreams.<br /><br />But what no generically written diet and exercise programme can do in all it's black and white glory is reflect real life. Reality is full of shades of grey and nuances where things change with time. Life is about stages and being ready to take the next step at the right time whether it's ramping up a fitness routine or enjoying eating sprouted greens and salad. By slowly adjusting your lifestyle over time you can grow into it so that it's more unpleasant to go back to old habits than continue with new ones. By tackling it in stages without surrendering an essential part of oneself it is possible to evolve a healthy lifestyle. When you are at the centre of the process, catering for your needs at each stage and adjusting when you are ready, then healthy living can be easy. Once you start, the evolution takes a course of it's own and all that is required is putting <span style="font-style: italic;">your</span> feet, one in front of the other and things will change. <br /><br />Except of course it's not as quick as a three month plan. But then, is it really possible to get an ideal body in three months? I read a blog by a body builder who had worked for years on his physic. That admission surprised me since I had always thought such a transformation would take many months perhaps, but not years. So maybe there is no express lane to a bikini ready body and it was never in our reach in the first place. What do you think?Spring Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122505632533994205noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556798956226801460.post-45818141496637842662009-06-18T12:50:00.000+10:002009-06-18T13:53:53.877+10:00Run, run, run<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0dj7YwsElJZLkp-_P7wEezlzlOjOZHvU6dT1LaFYJruibkVT3oUcOvLxmgzmrDFQH1WVZWoa4eF7sRI5qJOQtVrMXu0h01GOMvpYg5M2Wg8O1aLkOVLcDhJYF0hIo7w5kQMovvGOXU8/s1600-h/three+backpacks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0dj7YwsElJZLkp-_P7wEezlzlOjOZHvU6dT1LaFYJruibkVT3oUcOvLxmgzmrDFQH1WVZWoa4eF7sRI5qJOQtVrMXu0h01GOMvpYg5M2Wg8O1aLkOVLcDhJYF0hIo7w5kQMovvGOXU8/s320/three+backpacks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348509388612100770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Oh no! They left without us. </span><br /></span></div><br />Some days bloggyland makes me feel like the luckiest person around. Why? Well, apart from all the thoughtful comments you guys leave me, I can share with you my new found love that the people in real life are sick and tired of hearing about. Running of course! Each time I come in here to post I keep thinking that I could write a really thoughtful post on ageing gracefully or maybe how to get more calcium or various health philosophies. Instead I think, I know I'll write something about running! Won't that be interesting.<br /><br />For example, I'm now onto week 3 of the C25K and oddly enough it seems easier than week 2. My theory is that running for 3 minutes continuously is easier than two intervals of 1.5 minutes. If anyone knows why, please enlighten me as I would love to know the physiology.<br /><br />Next fascinating running fact is that I would have though that by the end of each week the workout should get easier, but it never seems to. What I have noticed however is that my recovery time is much shorter than when I started. Again, any explanations?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4eGtpOjI8HPA46_QKBguj8MpugE5PNOBcQR2rGKM5FhDe6W_YGH6CQ7sudDFLvGhtJyaHWOzxFH_aozarYFFAS9-zy0NT5iMalACna1QdaEa9lawRJ5CugJo1XKwAuQEoJ8X0QKG6sxs/s1600-h/Crossing+the+river.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4eGtpOjI8HPA46_QKBguj8MpugE5PNOBcQR2rGKM5FhDe6W_YGH6CQ7sudDFLvGhtJyaHWOzxFH_aozarYFFAS9-zy0NT5iMalACna1QdaEa9lawRJ5CugJo1XKwAuQEoJ8X0QKG6sxs/s320/Crossing+the+river.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348509393407503474" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Hhhmmm. Where next?</span></span><br /></div><br />Exciting yes? Actually, very few people in the real world know I have even started running as I am being very secretive about it. Perhaps one day when I get the opportunity to slip it into conversation I might just discuss that 5K that I will have run on the weekend.<br /><br />But perhaps it shouldn't be so. One of the very few people who do know is my husband's colleague who lives locally and happened to be out at the same time I was on a run. When he was in the army he used to regularly run 5K in under 25 minutes and apparently I'm inspiring him to get out there and back in his running shoes. He's hoping to get his wife involved and we even talked about entering a team into the race I am planning to do at the end of August. And that is a wonderful feeling, to think that through my efforts I may encourage others to get active again. It will definitely help ward off the grumpiness on the next run.<br /><br />And now that I've started this whole spread the feel good fit feeling, do you have any more advice on inspiring other (not so enlightened souls) in the real world to get fit?<br /><br />PS Yes, the images are totally unrelated.Spring Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122505632533994205noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556798956226801460.post-22333486371945903542009-06-18T11:32:00.000+10:002009-06-17T16:23:24.071+10:00My, what a bad attitude we have hereI've never been good at pushing myself physically. My motto has always been "when the going gets tough, start whining and preferably quit alternatively complain more". But somehow I thought I was past that with all the positive things that I had <a href="http://livinghealthyfrom25to100.blogspot.com/2009/04/be-your-own-cheer-squad.html">written</a> about previously. I suppose I should have heeded the signs that all was not figured out though. Each time I was on the last interval of the Couch to 5K I would swear that I would never be doing this again because it's just too hard.<br /><br />The problem is that it is the opposite of what I would love to do more of in life. See adventure magazines make me drool, I can get lost in outdoor shops for hours dreaming up crazy ideas of exploring the wilderness and those huge posters of people '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">livin</span>' the dream'? They stop me in my tracks each time. I'm not content to simply be an armchair traveller. I want to be one of the them paddling, hiking or cycling in the great outdoors and loving the challenge. There's just always been one tiny little thing standing in my way, which makes my companions duck for cover (or they resort to bribing me with chocolate - can't whinge when my mouth is full!) - a lousy attitude.<br /><br />Once I could have argued that I wasn't physically fit, like the time when we <a href="http://livinghealthyfrom25to100.blogspot.com/2009/03/brilliant-idea-408-975-271-adventure.html">cycled in NZ</a>. But last weekend on the overnight hike, I really had no excuses. I felt fitter than ever before and yet at the end of the first day I declared to my husband that I would never, ever accept another invitation to go walking again. Sure I would love to travel the world and hike the best trails on the planet, but walking just for the sake of it was not something I enjoyed doing and everyone had better start accepting that that is just who I am. Needless to say, the following day I didn't have a walking companion as he stayed well ahead of me.<br /><br />After talking about my attitude with him a few days later, I felt ashamed at how much impact my negativity can have on his experiences. He never gets the self-satisfaction and elation at the end of the day after I've clobbered him over the head with my foul mood. So what of our travel plans for the future? At the moment I sure wouldn't want to walk the Inca Trail or hike to Base Camp at Everest (two of my favourite ideas) seeing as there is a high chance of me getting tired and grumpy.<br /><br />So for me, I need to learn to push myself physically and be able to deal with that mentally so that I can finally reconcile my love of the outdoors and my aversion to pain. I want to be able to get the most out of my body and push my limits. For my husband, I want to get rid of my lousy attitude so that I can be a good companion so that he can finally enjoy a trip even when the going gets tough. I guess I should start with my very next run.<br /><br />Any tips for leaning how to deal with the mental aspect of pushing yourself? Is it something that can change or do some people have more resilience than others?Spring Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122505632533994205noreply@blogger.com5