We Are The Champions - a perfect soundtrack

By Virginia Winder
Saw a special sight when I was striding along the coastal walkway this morning.
A bloke was on the beach wearing an All Black shirt and cap, but the best accessory was his dog. It looked like a golden labrador and was trotting along with a wee All Black flag tucked into its collar.
I was wearing one of my husband's long-sleeved All Black supporter T-shirts and so I called out to this kindred spirit, who was so proud to honour the new rugby world champions, and we gave each other the thumbs up.
In my ears at that time, I was listening to Queen singing We Are The Champions, so that little exchange had the perfect soundtrack.
Last night, was the most tense I've ever been watching a match. But I know I wasn't alone; it appears the whole of New Zealand felt like that.
Weirdly, the more stressed I got, the calmer I became.
The only other time I've felt that was at Movie World on the Gold Coast when I took the Lethal Weapon ride about six times straight. At the end of those rides I wasn't a nervous wreck, but in a zen-like place of utter calmness.
That's how I felt during the last 10 minutes of the game.
But when that final whistle went, oh the joy, the relief and the swelling of pride and the feeling of rightness. Woohoo!
So there it is, the Rugby World Cup over for another four years - and it's ours. I use the collective "ours" because it did feel like the entire country was behind our boys last night.
My sister sent me a text from Australia that used words I can't repeat here, but it gist was of relief and happiness. I had sent a few texts to my brother, a rugby coach, in Perth, but he didn't answer. Concerned, I asked if his heart was alright - and how was he? His answer came in one word: Tears.
Just before midnight our French daughter, Camille (who had been an exchange student with us), contacted us on Skype and we learnt she was one of the 10,000 who gathered outside the town hall in Paris to watch the game on a big screen.
She was sad her team didn't win, but happy for the All Blacks. She has a soft spot for Dan Carter, you see.
So my exercise today was a 6km fast walk to powerful music thinking about triumphs and personal goals. My playlist included Queen, Eminem, Michael Franti, Muse, MC Hammer, Kasabian, Pink, the Black-eyed Peas, Proclaimers and Violent Femmes.
Now I'm off to plan my week, which is what a good friend of mine recommends doing to help de-stress herself and stay on top of things. She plans exercise and her work week, so everything can be fitted in.
Am feeling a bit better, than Thursday and Friday, but still a little fragile.
What I do know is that giving to others helps, which I have done this weekend. But I've got this policy not to talk about any kind things I do, unless it's to help promote someone else's cause. That's because my mum taught me not to talk about your good deeds.
But from a healthy mind viewpoint, doing things for others does stop you focusing inward.
This week will definitely be outward.
It's not about me... it's about those victorious Men In Black.
Good on ya Richie and the boys.
You made me and my whanau cry with pride.


Today, I:
Walked for 6km
Had a protein smoothie for breakfast and salad for lunch and dinner
Drank a moderate amount of water
Had no cups of coffee (ah, that's why I've got a headache!)
Had 1 chai latte
Worked for 2 hours
Slept deeply for 8 hours

Winder versus the All Blacks

By Virginia Winder
I'm shrinking.
Went to the gym tonight for an appointment with a personal trainer and she was terrific.
This young woman listened to my stupid fears about exercising among others, like how gawky I think I look, and also adjusted my routine to protect my fragile neck.
Did an exercise test and, according to the results, I was average. That's apparently pretty good first up, but am determined to hit the excellent mark.
But the best news came when she measured me.
All over I have lost about 34cm, including 15cm just under my bust! She was blown away, I was blown away, but so encouraged.
Yes is my success meagre compared with last night's victory by the Men In Black?
So pleased I ran to that puddle yesterday - I'm sure that was the entire reason the All Blacks won. It's OK, I'm not deluded or superstitious; I know it was actually my singing the national anthem that did it, with hand on heart, AB flag flying behind like a superhero cape...
Or perhaps Israel Dagg's brilliance, maybe Cory Jane's high catches or the sheer bloody guts of Brad Thorne, Jerome Kaino, Ma'a Nonu and Keven Mealamu. Oh yeah, and I suppose the leadership skills of Piri Weepu and Ritchie McCaw might have had a hand in there somewhere too.
So there you have it - my fitness, weight-loss successes versus New Zealand beating Australia 20-6 in a Rugby World Cup semifinal. Which effort is the most inspiring? The most momentous? The most life-changing?
From my perspective, the answer is simple: All Blacks - you bloody beauties!

Today, I:
Ate three nutritious meals
Snacked on some unroasted nuts and dried cranberries
Drank about six glasses of water
Had two cups of coffee and one chai latte
Went to the gym for a session with a personal trainer
Slept for six hours
Worked for 11.5 hours

Dan, downsizing and advice from the Laude

By Virginia Winder
Felt like crying today.
Not for me, but for Dan Carter. Imagine being so close to the Holy Grail of rugby and getting injured.
OK, so I did have a few tears watching the national anthem and the haka. Kept putting myself in Dan's boots.
But a team is not just one man and the All Blacks looked magnificent against Canada - especially Jerome Kaino and Zac Guildford.
Now I'm sitting here with the laptop watching the NRL final. Go the Warriors!
Haven't been sitting around watching TV all day.
Went for a 55-minute walk tonight and my pace has improved greatly. However, my left Achilles tendon is niggling me. Thought about jogging a couple of times, but pleased I didn't! Don't want to snap the jolly thing.
Tried on some jeans today that I haven't been able to wear for two years! They fit just fine.
Put on another pair and they were way too big for me.
They will go into my pass-on pile - I'm not keeping any clothing that is too large for me.
There was another period in my life when I lost some weight. Just hovered around the 100kg mark, but never got lower. That time I kept my bigger clothes - just in case.
This time there will be no going back and I look forward to ceremoniously discarding.
Always to a good cause - anybody who wants them or to the Taranaki Hospice Shop. Hey, and my clothes are pretty cool, so if you're keen, make contact. I'm giving away only (not selling).
Had an offer of some smaller clothes from a friend who has also down-sized herself. So good to have some in-betweens until I get to my goal weight.
Have no idea what size clothes I'll end up wearing. Started off at size 22 or 2xl, so will keep you posted. Got some 24, 26 and 3xl in there too, so if you're keen...
The only clothing I'm allowed to buy now are bras, undies (necessities, that I won't buy second-hand), sports shoes and socks.
Size 20 and 18 hand-me-downs in other clothing will be gratefully accepted!
So were some words of wisdom from Fred Laude, the owner of Petit Paris.
"You know why French woman don't put on weight, don't you?" he asked today, while I was buying bread.
"No," I shook my head.
"It's because we start a meal with a green salad that lines the stomach and gets the enzymes working."
Must investigate that, but will give it a go.
Fred also recommends finishing with cheese and a bite of something sweet.
Will give the cheese a miss (that was one of my greatest downfalls), but a square of chocolate works for me.
Always.

Today, I:
Walked for 55 minutes
Discarded 3 pairs of jeans
Worked for 30 minutes
Hung out with whanau
Slept for 8.5 hours
Ate three great meals, but discovered I don't like polenta
Drank 3 cups of coffee
Drank lots of water
Drank 1 chai latte

Friends, supporters and All Blacks - a love story

By Virginia Winder
Yay the All Blacks!
Some people have been moaning about the Rugby World Cup, but not me.
I love it, especially when the Men in Black win games like tonight's clash with the French. The final score was 37-17. Allez le noir!
Captain Richie McCaw just played his 100th test for the All Blacks - the first to do so.
My feats today were miniscule in comparison.
Biked to town and back and it was so easy - on the way there.
It was a bonus not having to pay parking fees, but the wee hills on the way home were a tad tough. Haven't mastered my gears yet and don't feel particularly confident on the roads, but still it was a great feeling of freedom using self-powered transport.
Wore a bright orange hoodie and a colourful backpack, so at least I was highly visible.
Went to the supermarket later on and met two woman who were extremely encouraging about my quest for health, fitness and life balance. Both said they are reading my blog.
Even better, more women are considering joining me in the Tri-Women triathlon on January 29. Rebekah, Cheryl, Chrissy... I'm outing you.
Met another woman on a similar quest to me and she is doing fantastically! It's so inspiring hearing other people's stories.
One mate has come up with some great book recommendations - Younger Next Year: A Guide to living like 50 Until You’re 80 and Beyond by Chris Crowley and Henry S. Lodge. I've read a lot of this and these men pull no punches. The upshot is that you have to trick your body into believing it's still growing, rather than decaying and the only way you can do that is by exercising six times a week (four aerobic and two strength).
My friend also says Body For Life by Bill Phillips is a great read.
Went for a 40-minute walk tonight too and am now tackling hills. Strangely, it's going downhill that I find most difficult.
Have had an up and down food day.
For breakfast I had a raspberry brioche from Petit Paris and a coffee. I was still out at lunchtime so went to another cafe with my daughter, niece and mate. I ordered an open chicken sandwich and when it came the meat was fried, like KFC. Barely ate any of that.
But for dinner, Warren (my live-in nutritionist) created an incredible salad topped with scallops. His meals are so healthy and delicious, he's soon going to start the Just Got 2 Do It! recipe blog.
That's it for tonight - have I mentioned I love the All Blacks?!

Today, I:
Biked 2km
Walked for 40 mins
Ate one healthy meal
Drank lots of water
Didn't work at all
Hung out with my niece, daughter and best mate
Got heaps of support from people
Watched the All Blacks beat France!

Cheesy, corny love songs

By Virginia Winder
I love the All Blacks.
The haka stirs me, sends shivers down my spine and makes my eyes well with pride. Yeah, I'm soppy.
Just watched the Men in Black annihilate Japan in a Rugby World Cup match.
Let's hope they can do the same to France next weekend.
Am loving the World Cup and there's such a buzz around the place and people are talking spontaneously about rugby and the excitement of this international sporting event.
New Zealand might be energised, but today I've felt slow. Might have been the mid-week band gig and then the USA versus Russia game and weeks and weeks of hard slog at work.
Went out for a three-course lunch at our local polytech, WITT, and only had two courses. My first course was a salad and my main was a vegetable curry, but I couldn't eat it all. Wow, my stomach must be shrinking!
This afternoon I had a sleep to conquer a headache (it worked). I adore mid-afternoon naps and they revive me incredibly. At 4pm I had a massage, which was divine. So relaxing!
When the women masseur asked me to get changed, I just stripped off. She offered to leave, but I wasn't bothered because I'm not ashamed of my body. I don't hate how I look or myself. Yes, I'm out of shape, but the truth is I love myself.
That may sound conceited, but let me explain. I have hated myself in the past, but that was when I was depressed and the world looked endlessly bleak. When you're in that state of mind the chances of making major positive changes are slim; you need to be well to do that.
So, it's only when I'm strong and have healthy thought patterns that I can go forth and rewire myself. You need a catalyst though; a tipping point that forces that change. My wonderful doctor was the one who pushed me and I thank her for that.
Yes, she was the one who questioned me, forced me to be realistic and think about other futures. She also laid down a challenge and I couldn't resist it. If I prove her wrong, I know she will be the most delighted of all. Well, after me of course.
Today's message then is about learning to love yourself.
If you need a soundtrack, listen to George Benson singing The Greatest Love of All.
Yeah, I'm having a corny moment, a sugar-coated Pollyanna pause. Perhaps my niece says it all: "Aunty Virginia, you're so cheesy..."
You bet!

Today, I:

Ate three healthy meals
Walked for 40 minutes (new shoes great)
Checked out a gym with plans to do the fitness classes and yoga
Had a massage
Worked for 5 hours
Had a 1 hour afternoon nap

Note to self:
Drink more water!!!