Sunday, September 12, 2010

Finally!

No this entry is not about weight loss but my favourite band.  Linkin Park have finally released a new album - A Thousand Suns.  I have waited a long time for this!  New song Catalyst - it will grow on me, a slightly different sound, but still definitely Linkin Park!  Bring on the tour!!!

Thursday, July 29, 2010

When you just need a smile....

In a week that I would like to forget ever happened, an ad was brought to my attention that made me smile.  And what use is it if you can't share it!



And just because Neil Patrick Harris is AWESOME!


Sunday, May 30, 2010

Weight loss!!! :)

I weighed myself for the first time in 3 weeks and surprisingly - I had lost 2.7 kilos!  Yay!  Something I am doing is working :)

Still only managed 4 out of 7 exercise days this week - other commitments, tiredness, and horrible weather dampen the enthusiasm.  The cold I can handle, but the constant rain and darkness are hard to deal with.  Just makes me want to warm myself infront of the fire.  I manage a PT session (hard out), two lots of zumba, yoga, and walks with furry ones.

My main issue as I know with other people is actually just getting out there.  I know once I'm out I can keep going (like the gym)...its just getting past the procrastination stage.

The less bread regime is going good.  Have not had more than 2-3 pieces a week since I reduced the intake.  Its good, but damn it still smell and tastes good.

Below is one of my favourite clips on Youtube.



Makes me laugh everytime.

Now goals for this week.  Make it through the week.  Do exercise 4 out of 5 work days this week.  This coming weekend is a long weekend - soooo hanging out for it!

Not a lot more to say this week.  Lets hope for a more sunny one ahead :)

Sunday, May 23, 2010

The full body what??

Well exercise was the focus of the week.  I managed 4 out of 7 days exercising.  Wanted a little better, however excuses, courses and feeling down deterred me a few of the days.  On the plus side, it was more than what I have done most weeks.

Two sessions were Personal Training sessions - My trainer Clayton doesn't tend to take shit from me (this is a good thing).  The first session on the Tuesday almost....made me cry.  But didnt.  It involved many versions of squats, free weights with squats, flipping rugby bags, exercycles, and pressups.  Needless to say...achey the next day, but then later that afternoon I had another session.  I thought it may be easier, but NO!  It was basically the same work out.  Clayton refers to it as the metabolism jump start or....the full body fuckup.   No pain no gain...right???   I do feel slightly virtuous once I have done it, and it is good knowing the aches aren't because I am old.

The other exercise was dog walking on the beach on the first fine day in a long time, and today a cardio workout (treadmill, cross trainer, and exercycle plus a few arm exercises, stretches and medicine ball crunches).  Good workout.

I found a couple of photos of before pics when doing a weight loss challenge earlier this year (didn't suit me - poor mans weight watchers).  I fully hate them but hope it will inspire me to look better. If I can put improved pics on for comparison, I think that will boost my motivation.
The next two are from a family wedding in Auckland a couple of weeks ago.  Again photos I cannot stand - use them to motivate myself.

So this weeks goal - do six days of exercise, and no morning tea from the tea lady or ones that are put on (unless there is a healthy option...after all those ones are free).

I am also going to look for some celebrity pics I can use as motivation and are semi realistic.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Bye bye bread

So after a week, my first challenge was to eliminate something from my diet.

I chose bread and bread products.

Bread is my weakness, and I do love it so.

How did I cope.  Well I managed a week without bread.  I have to say my energy has been better and have not been feeling so sluggish and bloated.  I do wonder if I have slight gluten intolerance.  My proudest moments in bread avoidance was avoiding the oh so tasty cheese scones that the tea lady sells, not eating sandwiches and not eating any of the homemade garlic bread with a dash of mustard seasoning at a dinner party.

I can't say I could avoid it forever, but I do see the benefits of cutting right back, especially with energy.

The week was harder by having a cold...damn snotty noses and sneezing.  Exercise suffered so that will be the next goal for this week.

My motivation for the journey is still a work in progress.

With chances of pregnancy being less than positive, the whole issue is still something I have to deal with.  Some days good, some not.  This weekend has been a not phase.  I just feel no one understands.  Im not coping that well, but may be next week will be better. My Dad and others tell me not to let it get to me or it will eat me up....my question is...how do you do that?

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Watch this space.....

I am going to resume my weight loss journey - with a few differences this time. 

I feel now I am in a better place with a clearer mind to focus on this.

I will blog more often - this will be one of the requirements.

More will be revealed in the next week....so watch this space :)  or the cuties above...awwwww

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Gone too soon

I was about to launch into my second memoir 2001.

I then had to check my facebook briefly...you know how it goes.

A student at the College I teach at passed away today succumbing to the wrath of cancer. This was the third student death I have encountered during my career. The first two were suicides.

My memory of this student was positive. I remember him dressed as Scooby Doo at athletics day. While I never personally taught him, he used his illness in a positive way - to help others. There was never a point where he wanted sympathy. Instead, he campaigned to get funds to help others with cancer. This included the sale of Canteen bandanas at school (not normally allowed due to gang affiliations). All students got right in behind it and the school was a rainbow of colours for a week. He was on Good Morning for his cause. When it became known that there was nothing more that could be done, he still came to school, went to classes and continued on as normal as can be.

My last memory of him was at the leavers dinner last year, when the Principal thanked him for his strength, and his spirit. He lived his life to the fullest.

Life is precious. We must remember to live each day as if it was our last.

R.I.P David

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Memoirs of the last decade....2000




Although there are arguements on when the new decade actually begins, I am taking the view that 2010 is the start of the 10's (does it then become teens in 2013?). For myself, a lot has happened in the last decade to shape me the way I am today so Im doing a concise memoir of each year with personal events as well as notable other events in the world.

The Year 2000

Do you remember this campaign??



The stress that the computers would not be able to deal with going from 1999 to 2000, and the campaign that followed where we had to have emergency supplies for 3 days. I remember my parents going to extremes of sorts, and am sure we would still have supplies today left over. I also remember my Dad getting cranky when I said to my friends to come on over if they were stuck - they should be more organised and look after themselves -oookkk. Y2K was a non event - nothing happened out of the ordinary and life went on.

For New Years I was in the Octagon with Frances, Fiona, and Dana (not sure if anyone else). I also remember walking to the waterfront in Dunedin and watching fireworks on the harbour, then waiting hours and hours outside Pak 'n' Save for a taxi with achy feet.


In 2000 I was in my last year of Uni. I had completed my BA in Anthropology in 1999, and was finishing my BSc in Zoology and discoved geography which I loved - especially Climatology. I finished the BSc, and applied for Teachers College all over the country - getting into every one. This involved me going to the North Island for the first time (Yes - I was 22). As I went to interviews in Wellington, Auckland, and Palmy with Davanea taking me everywhere. I saw the Sky City tower and watch the Matrix on the giant MAX screen.



In the world....



2000 was the Year of International Peace





Vladimir Putin was elected President of Russia





A preliminary draft of the Human Genome Project was completed





There seems to have been a lot of plane crashes




Sydney hosted the 2000 Summer Olympics




George W Bush defeats Al Gore in one of the more dodgy elections I have seen, as Florida could not count their voting papers properly



New Zealander Alan MacDiarmid won a Nobel Prize in Chemistry (came from Masterton)