We've changed our minds (of course!) about just hanging about at the coast for Xmas.
So we'll still go to Paekakariki on Boxing Day (or even Christmas afternoon) and stay for New Year's Eve. Then it's off to Taupo on the 2nd. We were going anyway as we have tickets to Gin Wigmore and Dave Dobbyn. But instead of just whipping up there for a night we are taking the caravan and staying for two nights.
Then (drum roll please) we're off to Whitianga to stay with Helena and Craig at the camping ground they run! We're really excited about catching up with them, and about spending time on the Coromandel - the kayaks and bikes will certainly be must-pack items.
We'll leave there on the 9th or 10th and wander back down the North Island - not sure what route yet - so we get home in plenty of time to start work again on the 18th.
I finally did my first swim today, at the local outdoor pool (it's 30m and supposedly heated). The 300m took 10 and half minutes, so I don't feel to bad about that. I only did breast-stroke and I'm thinking I'm better off just working on my speed at that, rather than trying to master freestyle.
Now that we've got firmer plans for our holiday, I better start working on the travelling triathlon training plan.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Glug revisited
Just over 4 years ago I posted this about how badly I SUCK at swimming. Nothing has changed since then.
I haven't yet hit the water to train for this triathlon - but I plan to on Sunday. I'm going to swim 300m, no matter how long it takes me. At least then I can aim to improve!
I haven't yet hit the water to train for this triathlon - but I plan to on Sunday. I'm going to swim 300m, no matter how long it takes me. At least then I can aim to improve!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Poised
I'm ready to start my 'proper' training programme tomorrow. I've been doing some training in the last week, but now it's time to get serious.
My PT and I have worked out a three phase approach based on what's happening with the holidays etc - things are a bit all over the place in 9 weeks from now till the triathlon on 6 February.
First there's the plan to get through from now till when I finish work on the 23rd. Then there's the stepped up version for while I'm on holiday till 18 January. Then I'll have three weeks of fine tuning when I'm back at work (and the gym) again.
So, for the next almost three weeks it works like this:
Monday: PT session with Karl, concentrating on the muscles needed for the various triathlon disciplines.
Tuesday: 5-8km ride on the roads near home
Wednesday: 3km walk/run (run as much as I can and walk the rest)
Thursday: Ride again
Friday: rest
Saturday: walk/run again
Sunday: swim - working on building distance up as much as possible
He wants me to do all my running and riding on the road instead of in the gym - no matter what the weather!
On days when I'm not training in the morning I'll use the Wii to do yoga before work, just to get a really good stretch.
Phase two will have much more concentration on swimming (going for every second day) as that's where I'm weakest.
Craig and I are planning to spend most of our break in the caravan, probably at Paekakariki (but if the weather's crap we'll head elsewhere), so at least I'll have a good beach to swim at.
I want to set a real goal for the triathlon (rather than just to finish), but I need to do a couple of swims first so I can work out what time to aim for.
My PT and I have worked out a three phase approach based on what's happening with the holidays etc - things are a bit all over the place in 9 weeks from now till the triathlon on 6 February.
First there's the plan to get through from now till when I finish work on the 23rd. Then there's the stepped up version for while I'm on holiday till 18 January. Then I'll have three weeks of fine tuning when I'm back at work (and the gym) again.
So, for the next almost three weeks it works like this:
Monday: PT session with Karl, concentrating on the muscles needed for the various triathlon disciplines.
Tuesday: 5-8km ride on the roads near home
Wednesday: 3km walk/run (run as much as I can and walk the rest)
Thursday: Ride again
Friday: rest
Saturday: walk/run again
Sunday: swim - working on building distance up as much as possible
He wants me to do all my running and riding on the road instead of in the gym - no matter what the weather!
On days when I'm not training in the morning I'll use the Wii to do yoga before work, just to get a really good stretch.
Phase two will have much more concentration on swimming (going for every second day) as that's where I'm weakest.
Craig and I are planning to spend most of our break in the caravan, probably at Paekakariki (but if the weather's crap we'll head elsewhere), so at least I'll have a good beach to swim at.
I want to set a real goal for the triathlon (rather than just to finish), but I need to do a couple of swims first so I can work out what time to aim for.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Milestone
Nothing to do with weight or fitness this one.
Tonight is my boy's 21st party. Jake actually turned 21 last month, but we decided to have the party after all the varsity kids got back to town.
I couldn't ask for more in a son - he is a kind and loyal man who cares deeply about his family and friends. Of course he is a bit of a larrikin, too.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Elbow epiphany
This may be the strangest analogy I've ever come up with.
I was at a function last night - not a particularly fascinating one. At one stage I was standing with a group of people listening to the speaker. I was in my standard 'not really into this' pose - my arms were crossed. Because I was wearing short sleeves, at some stage in my trance of boredom I noticed how smooth my elbows are now.
The skin on my body easily becomes dry and flaky (love that crocodile skin look!), so I make sure I put body lotion on at least once a day. My elbows in particular can become very dry and patchy - they will become quite sore and cracked if I don't look after them.
But for years they have stayed soft and smooth - that's because when I put lotion on my arms I put it first on my elbows and then spread it out from there. I do this without even thinking about it - it's totally automatic.
OK, I know you're bored now - where the hell is Sue going with this?
It's all about habits. I trained myself to have smooth elbows; it's just part of my daily routine. Somehow, I must be able to train myself to make healthy food choices - not having to think about each and every bite, but just automatically eating what is good for me.
I was at a function last night - not a particularly fascinating one. At one stage I was standing with a group of people listening to the speaker. I was in my standard 'not really into this' pose - my arms were crossed. Because I was wearing short sleeves, at some stage in my trance of boredom I noticed how smooth my elbows are now.
The skin on my body easily becomes dry and flaky (love that crocodile skin look!), so I make sure I put body lotion on at least once a day. My elbows in particular can become very dry and patchy - they will become quite sore and cracked if I don't look after them.
But for years they have stayed soft and smooth - that's because when I put lotion on my arms I put it first on my elbows and then spread it out from there. I do this without even thinking about it - it's totally automatic.
OK, I know you're bored now - where the hell is Sue going with this?
It's all about habits. I trained myself to have smooth elbows; it's just part of my daily routine. Somehow, I must be able to train myself to make healthy food choices - not having to think about each and every bite, but just automatically eating what is good for me.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Bounding back into action
I feel like a bit of a fraud.
I made such an effort to lose all that weight and get fit, and yet I'm only really just hanging on to it by the skin of my teeth.
Quick recap:
Turned 40 in 2005, weighing just over 132kg
Started WW in April 2005
Did a triathlon in February 2006
Lost 50kg by April 2006
Got down to 76kg (very briefly) in October 2006
Since then my weight has slowly crept up so I am now at 89kg
I just don't seem to be able to keep any momentum. Yes, I am still pretty fit, but my eating is all over the place.
Discipline is very clearly part of the answer - and given all the personal changes I've been through in the past few years (only child leaving home, my leaving my long-term partner, me falling head over heels in love with a new man...), I suspect there's some emotional stuff tied up in that.
I know that setting goals and making plans is something that makes a big difference to me. It's very easy for me to just drift along if I'm not aiming for something.
Discipline affects so much of what I do. My work, my home life, my health and my emotional well being. Going easy on myself should not be an option - it doesn't help me in the long run. I let myself off the hook when my weight wandered up over 80kg, then up and down and up again and again over 85kg. I cannot continue to do this, or next it will be over 90kg and who knows where that will stop (or not stop).
So, how am I bounding back into action?
First - I have signed up for another triathlon (6 February 2010). Yes, I know said last year I had retired from running, but I can change my mind about that one. This triathlon is about two things - one is to have a goal. The other thing is in my first triathlon the weather was so vile the swim was cancelled (we waded through the waves instead), so I've always kinda felt I didn't really do a triathlon.
Second - the return of regular posts. This is to keep me on track, not for the entertainment of others. Just weekly posts, but every week. Maybe more than once a week, but never less.
Third - eating. I still haven't got my head around how to cope with this. I know I can't go back to counting points or any other form of tracking; this doesn't work for me and is more likely to make me eat poorly after a few days. It is partly about setting limits and partly about doing some planning. I'll put more thought into this yet, but it starts with no alcohol during the week and planning at least my breakfasts and lunches. Dinner will be less formal but will certainly involve restrictions on the size of protein servings.
And the end goal? Same as always - 72kg.
I made such an effort to lose all that weight and get fit, and yet I'm only really just hanging on to it by the skin of my teeth.
Quick recap:
Turned 40 in 2005, weighing just over 132kg
Started WW in April 2005
Did a triathlon in February 2006
Lost 50kg by April 2006
Got down to 76kg (very briefly) in October 2006
Since then my weight has slowly crept up so I am now at 89kg
I just don't seem to be able to keep any momentum. Yes, I am still pretty fit, but my eating is all over the place.
Discipline is very clearly part of the answer - and given all the personal changes I've been through in the past few years (only child leaving home, my leaving my long-term partner, me falling head over heels in love with a new man...), I suspect there's some emotional stuff tied up in that.
I know that setting goals and making plans is something that makes a big difference to me. It's very easy for me to just drift along if I'm not aiming for something.
Discipline affects so much of what I do. My work, my home life, my health and my emotional well being. Going easy on myself should not be an option - it doesn't help me in the long run. I let myself off the hook when my weight wandered up over 80kg, then up and down and up again and again over 85kg. I cannot continue to do this, or next it will be over 90kg and who knows where that will stop (or not stop).
So, how am I bounding back into action?
First - I have signed up for another triathlon (6 February 2010). Yes, I know said last year I had retired from running, but I can change my mind about that one. This triathlon is about two things - one is to have a goal. The other thing is in my first triathlon the weather was so vile the swim was cancelled (we waded through the waves instead), so I've always kinda felt I didn't really do a triathlon.
Second - the return of regular posts. This is to keep me on track, not for the entertainment of others. Just weekly posts, but every week. Maybe more than once a week, but never less.
Third - eating. I still haven't got my head around how to cope with this. I know I can't go back to counting points or any other form of tracking; this doesn't work for me and is more likely to make me eat poorly after a few days. It is partly about setting limits and partly about doing some planning. I'll put more thought into this yet, but it starts with no alcohol during the week and planning at least my breakfasts and lunches. Dinner will be less formal but will certainly involve restrictions on the size of protein servings.
And the end goal? Same as always - 72kg.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
More on Tahiti
It is an absolute must in any overseas country to get at least mildly drunk in a local bar, watch the locals and make up fantastic tales about their lives.
We managed to achieve this in Les 3 Brasseurs - a micro brewery/bar near the waterfront in Papeete. They make four types of beer and I can highly recommend the 'ambre'.
There were plenty of locals coming and going, including what looked like the guests from a wedding stopping for drinks on the way to the reception (presumably while the bridal party was off somewhere for the photos). They were all very stylish and cool, even the kids, although the French fashion flair seemed to have deserted one couple who had dressed themselves and their two children in colour co-ordinated clothes - watermelon pink isn't a colour that suits many men.
We managed not to get as drunk as this man, who was incoherent at 9am, spotted while we were having coffee at Le Retro. As a coffee snob, getting decent coffee is a real challenge when travelling - the best trick here seemed to be to drink espresso only. Any coffee with milk in it was vile.
For our last day on the main island, we did a half day tour of the coast. Tahiti Nui is only 120km around (Tahiti Iti is a smaller attached island), so it is quite an easy drive.
We had a lovely French driver/tour guide - and we were the only ones on the tour, so it was very chatty and personal. We saw all the usual sights - marae (temple), the Gaugin museum (very few original works but interesting all the same - I particularly liked his bronzes), a waterfall and a blow-hole (the weather was too calm for this to be exciting). The general sight-seeing was the best part of the tour - the coastline is very impressive. There were a large number of what looked like 'ghost suburbs'. Apparently the government is building subsidised housing to encourage people to move out of the city - but it doesn't look like anyone is very keen.
Next stop, Moorea. Oh, and check out this cruise ship. Craig is convinced they get their lifeboats off TradeMe (ebay to the non-Kiwis) - not one is the same!
We managed to achieve this in Les 3 Brasseurs - a micro brewery/bar near the waterfront in Papeete. They make four types of beer and I can highly recommend the 'ambre'.
There were plenty of locals coming and going, including what looked like the guests from a wedding stopping for drinks on the way to the reception (presumably while the bridal party was off somewhere for the photos). They were all very stylish and cool, even the kids, although the French fashion flair seemed to have deserted one couple who had dressed themselves and their two children in colour co-ordinated clothes - watermelon pink isn't a colour that suits many men.
We managed not to get as drunk as this man, who was incoherent at 9am, spotted while we were having coffee at Le Retro. As a coffee snob, getting decent coffee is a real challenge when travelling - the best trick here seemed to be to drink espresso only. Any coffee with milk in it was vile.
For our last day on the main island, we did a half day tour of the coast. Tahiti Nui is only 120km around (Tahiti Iti is a smaller attached island), so it is quite an easy drive.
We had a lovely French driver/tour guide - and we were the only ones on the tour, so it was very chatty and personal. We saw all the usual sights - marae (temple), the Gaugin museum (very few original works but interesting all the same - I particularly liked his bronzes), a waterfall and a blow-hole (the weather was too calm for this to be exciting). The general sight-seeing was the best part of the tour - the coastline is very impressive. There were a large number of what looked like 'ghost suburbs'. Apparently the government is building subsidised housing to encourage people to move out of the city - but it doesn't look like anyone is very keen.
Next stop, Moorea. Oh, and check out this cruise ship. Craig is convinced they get their lifeboats off TradeMe (ebay to the non-Kiwis) - not one is the same!
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