By Virginia Winder
Poor Heather.
She's my friend with a road bike who agreed to go out for a ride with me today. It was an uphill climb and she was way ahead of me all the way.
At times she had to wait for me and she greeted me with kind words.
"You're doing great," she said when I caught up to her.
Despite my slow speed, I loved it. The burning thighs, the pounding heart, the sweat, the countryside...
Downhill was even better.
We cranked up our gears and sprinted. "Thanks for letting me bike in your slipstream," she yelled, directing me when to change gears.
Once, we got up to 40km/h, but now I want to go faster. Much faster.
Definitely, I want to go faster uphill, but reckon I need to do a bit of practice working those gears. And yes, I'm going to have to get those biking shoes back on.
This evening I swam 30 lengths in the outdoor pool and my shoulder felt OK.
Swimming is all about cruising for me at the moment until I feel good again. Need to go back to my wonderful physio Jacinta Harrison who has made me a gym programme. She, by the way, won a trip to a Tahiti at the Wells Taranaki Ironman last weekend. Fantastic stuff!
Met with Coach Clint this week and am now going to focus on long, slow bike rides and long, slow walk/runs. Still going through the transition phase, but definitely picking up the running.
If you've been wondering why I've been so useless at my blog writing, it's because:
A: Family has come first lately - and I wouldn't have it any other way. We've had my sister and brother-inlaw here for just 10 days, had my father-in-law's 80th birthday and our daughter Clementine's 18th birthday and party (including a visit from noise control at 10.22pm!).
B: I had too much work, but have now cut back to a normal workload and have a wonderful position doing marketing and communications at Puke Ariki. I love it! Yes, I'm still doing my freelancing feature stories, but finally I'm getting some balance.
C: I have been focusing on illness not wellness. After getting sick with that sore throat, which lingered and lingered, I decided I was not well enough to train. It's probably true to be honest, but my energy has returned now and I'm back in to it.
Life is good, the weather is fine, training is great and I have a patient friend called Heather.
Today, I:
Biked about 20km
Swam 1.5km
Ate 3 fantastically nutritious meals
Drank lots of water
Drank 2 coffees
Drank 1 protein shake with a banana
Worked for 2.5 hours
Slept for 9 hours (deep wonderful sleep!)
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
On to the next goals... Pt Chev here we come
By Virginia Winder
It's a new week and a fresh focus.
Oh and the things I have learnt on the way...
No 1: It's not a great idea to train or compete if you aren't feeling well. It took me four days in bed to recover from that nasty sore throat and it's still lingering. When you are pushing your body to the limit you have to be kind to yourself. Listen to those symptoms - don't be so focused on the end result that you have a hideous journey. That "no pain, no gain" saying doesn't work when the body needs time to recover.
No 2: Be kind to others - always. This has nothing to do with exercising, but everything to do with life balance and not judging others. Here's an example. You might get a check-out operator in a supermarket who's not so friendly to you, but there may be a reason - they have just been dumped by a boyfriend, found out their mother has cancer, or lost a loved one. Or a grumpy customer might be stressed about something in their life and preoccupied by their own thoughts. Think about that for a moment and then let it go. Treat those under stress with great kindness and warmth - there's always a reason they are like that.
No 3: Say thanks with grace - then change the subject. When you lose weight people constantly tell you how amazing you look. Thanks so much for the kind words! However, I'm beginning to think I must have looked hideous before. But I didn't feel ugly and that's the truth. I love the compliments, honestly I do, but I'm still just me.
No 4: Always have a goal. Once, when I interviewed Sir Edmund Hillary I asked him what he was thinking when he stood on the summit of Mt Everest. His reply was something like: "I looked around and thought what mountain am I going to climb next." OK, so my tri wasn't Mt Everest, but Sir Ed was right about always having something to aim for.
No 5: Always remember how far you have come. Pollyanna, one of my childhood role models, used to play The Glad Game by counting all the things she was glad about. Do that in your life, especially if you are on a path to health and fitness.
No 6: Have a fan club. They are your close friends who text you (thanks Spike, Callie and Susan), others who turn up and cheer for you (Cheryl and Irena) and, of course, your family members, who back you all the way and boy, do I have a heap of them - they stretch from here to Wellington and across to Perth in Australia. And then there are all my mates on FB, like Kim in Sydney, my namesake in Kansas and the dozens of people who tick the "like" box and make comments. Those uplifting comments are as good as endorphins.
So, on to the next four fitness goals.
No 1: Go to Auckland to compete in the Contact TriWoman race at Pt Chevalier in Auckland on April 22. (My daughter and niece are in the draw for a car, so we have to go!)
No 2: To be able to run properly for that race.
No 3: To be down to 80kg for that Auckland race.
No 3: To start a serious cycling regime.
No 4: Get back into full pool training.
No 5: Do gym work to strengthen me for pool work. This is recommended by my BounceBack Physiotherapist and swimmer Jacinta Harrison.
Today, I:
Went for a 25-minute walk/run in Pukekura Park
Went to the movies
Worked for 5 hours
Slept well for 6 hours
Ate two great meals (breakfast and dinner), but had some popcorn and jaffas and had spaghetti on toast for lunch with grated cheese on top (need to take care not to fall into old ways)
Drank 2 coffees (now for those people thinking I am cutting down - a big coffee day for me has always been 3, so trust me, I'm not trying to cut down my coffee)
Drank a moderate amount of water
Yesterday, I:
Ate two great meals (but missed lunch, so not good)
Worked for 6.5 hours
Went for a long brisk walk
Slept badly, for hardly any hours
Drank 2 cups of coffee
Drank some water
It's a new week and a fresh focus.
Oh and the things I have learnt on the way...
No 1: It's not a great idea to train or compete if you aren't feeling well. It took me four days in bed to recover from that nasty sore throat and it's still lingering. When you are pushing your body to the limit you have to be kind to yourself. Listen to those symptoms - don't be so focused on the end result that you have a hideous journey. That "no pain, no gain" saying doesn't work when the body needs time to recover.
No 2: Be kind to others - always. This has nothing to do with exercising, but everything to do with life balance and not judging others. Here's an example. You might get a check-out operator in a supermarket who's not so friendly to you, but there may be a reason - they have just been dumped by a boyfriend, found out their mother has cancer, or lost a loved one. Or a grumpy customer might be stressed about something in their life and preoccupied by their own thoughts. Think about that for a moment and then let it go. Treat those under stress with great kindness and warmth - there's always a reason they are like that.
No 3: Say thanks with grace - then change the subject. When you lose weight people constantly tell you how amazing you look. Thanks so much for the kind words! However, I'm beginning to think I must have looked hideous before. But I didn't feel ugly and that's the truth. I love the compliments, honestly I do, but I'm still just me.
No 4: Always have a goal. Once, when I interviewed Sir Edmund Hillary I asked him what he was thinking when he stood on the summit of Mt Everest. His reply was something like: "I looked around and thought what mountain am I going to climb next." OK, so my tri wasn't Mt Everest, but Sir Ed was right about always having something to aim for.
No 5: Always remember how far you have come. Pollyanna, one of my childhood role models, used to play The Glad Game by counting all the things she was glad about. Do that in your life, especially if you are on a path to health and fitness.
No 6: Have a fan club. They are your close friends who text you (thanks Spike, Callie and Susan), others who turn up and cheer for you (Cheryl and Irena) and, of course, your family members, who back you all the way and boy, do I have a heap of them - they stretch from here to Wellington and across to Perth in Australia. And then there are all my mates on FB, like Kim in Sydney, my namesake in Kansas and the dozens of people who tick the "like" box and make comments. Those uplifting comments are as good as endorphins.
So, on to the next four fitness goals.
No 1: Go to Auckland to compete in the Contact TriWoman race at Pt Chevalier in Auckland on April 22. (My daughter and niece are in the draw for a car, so we have to go!)
No 2: To be able to run properly for that race.
No 3: To be down to 80kg for that Auckland race.
No 3: To start a serious cycling regime.
No 4: Get back into full pool training.
No 5: Do gym work to strengthen me for pool work. This is recommended by my BounceBack Physiotherapist and swimmer Jacinta Harrison.
Today, I:
Went for a 25-minute walk/run in Pukekura Park
Went to the movies
Worked for 5 hours
Slept well for 6 hours
Ate two great meals (breakfast and dinner), but had some popcorn and jaffas and had spaghetti on toast for lunch with grated cheese on top (need to take care not to fall into old ways)
Drank 2 coffees (now for those people thinking I am cutting down - a big coffee day for me has always been 3, so trust me, I'm not trying to cut down my coffee)
Drank a moderate amount of water
Yesterday, I:
Ate two great meals (but missed lunch, so not good)
Worked for 6.5 hours
Went for a long brisk walk
Slept badly, for hardly any hours
Drank 2 cups of coffee
Drank some water
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Uplifting cheers from friends and whanau worth gold
 |
| The Crew: Daughter Clementine (left), me (VW) and Rebekah wearing our pretty pink triathlon medals. Photo: Warren Smart |
By Virginia Winder
First goal ticked off.
Completed the Contact TriWoman New Plymouth Triathlon this morning and the pink medal is now hanging beside my desk.I didn't do brilliantly, mainly because of my slow running, but I did what I said I was going to do.
My swim time says 12 minutes something, but actually, I was eighth out of the water.
But 37 women passed me in the transition from beach to bike.
Never mind, because I succeeded in my goal to stay on my trusty red steed going up the hills into a westerly wind. I passed a few women pushing bikes up those steep rises, but there was no way I was going to allow myself to walk. No reflection on those other women, honestly, I don't blame them at all, but my personal goal was to ride all the way.
So I gritted my teeth and began self talk: "I love hills, I love head winds, I am strong and powerful."
There was one part there, I was dry retching but I pushed through it.
Then came the run/walk.
I mostly walked, but did a bit of jogging, just like in my Pukekura Park training.Yes, the inner runner in me was frustrated, but the word "restraint" screamed in my head every time I thought about pushing it. I'm not ready to do that yet, am still too heavy to stride out like in the old days and don't want to end up snapping an Achilles tendon.
So I got through the triathlon uninjured, but not unscathed.
"You didn't do yourself any favours by doing it," the doctor at Phoenix told me after looking down my throat.
"So working and training last week wouldn't have helped much either?" I said meekly.He agreed.
"Drink lots of fluid and get lots of rest," he said kindly, but sternly, handing me a certificate for two days off work and a script for antibiotics for a nasty throat infection.
But I had to quickly write this before heading to bed (for two days) because I want to say a big "wow" to some of the amazing women in the race.
There were others who managed greater feats than mine, who reached personal goals, who gutsed it out on those gruelling hills up Centennial Drive past Paritutu and down and up past the tank farm and towards Omata and back again.
One of those was my daughter, Clementine, who did the bike section in a team with my niece Rebekah, who did an amazing swim time and great run. Clementine just kept going and going, despite having a bike that wasn't built for racing. She showed true determination.Another was the woman who was last to cross the line after finishing her duathlon. We go to Contours gym together and she is the most upbeat, energetic and supportive person imaginable.
It was also great to have people cheer me on, say "well done" and "keep going" and to be uplifted by my personal champions, husband Warren, French daughter Camille, the wonderful Irena Brooks (this is sounding like an Oscar speech now isn't it?), dear friend Cheryl with Sam and Evie, Clementine and Rebekah and Coach Clint holding son Finn.
When I finished, I felt like I'd just won a gold medal.
It's so important to celebrate and think, "Yeah, I did it."
Now it's time to rest - and drink lots of fluid.
Today, I:
Completed the Contact TriWoman New Plymouth Triathlon
Friday, January 27, 2012
Hit by that nagging feeling of guilt and tiredness
By Virginia Winder
Come blog-writing time, I've turned tail and headed to bed.
Yes, I've been absolutely sapped of energy.
Let me tell you though, the final Big Day Out was a great workout. Got up a sweat dancing, jumping, arm punching and running up and down steps from stage to stage.
It wasn't a terrific nutrient day though, mainly because I had way too many coffees and, dare I admit it, energy drinks. My actually food choices were good and I didn't have any alcohol, but I didn't get any sleep because of caffeine overload.
It was a full day too, one that began with a visit to Otara Market (a great place for lycra bike shorts).
Later on we went swimming in a tiny bay off Jervois Rd near where my brother used to live in Auckland before he moved to the heat of Perth.
The following day, I did a two-hour workout at Long Bay Beach, where I went for a walk-run and a swim.
We had a great time staying with long-time friends and came home on Monday feeling replenished, but yes, with a nagging feeling of unwellness.
Back in New Plymouth, I went for a walk-run after my radio show on the Most FM and on Wednesday easily managed 20 lengths of the outdoor pool with only a slight niggle in my left shoulder.
Oh this getting older thing is a pain!
I do my best to ignore the fact I'm just shy of 50 and am reintroducing my body to hard training after nearly two decades of physical slumber (does serious concert-going count as hard exercise?), but those strange twinges still keep happening.
Anyway, nothing is going to stop me.
Well nearly nothing.
Yesterday, I came home from work at Puke Ariki and went straight to bed and slept.
Last night we got bad news, which I won't go into here, but I didn't sleep well after that. Just lay there thinking about life and families and how precious people are.
I've also been thinking about our health and how we work so hard at our careers, but not at keeping well. That was me. I got my priorities all mixed up and now my own health comes first.
None of us are any good for anything if we're sick, are we?
So it all comes back to balance and already those demands of life and work are coming at me.
Incredibly I said no to a job this week because I couldn't fit it in.
Elton John sang "sorry" is the hardest word. I reckon it's "no".
Now, the big news is that on Sunday I'll be doing my first triathlon.
It's just a wee one and I hope I'm going to be able to manage it.
I'll make a judgement call when I wake up tomorrow, but am pretty positive all will be well!
I will, I will!
Today, I:
 |
| Early morning: Long Bay on the North Shore with Rangitoto in the distance. Photo: Warren Smart |
Yes, it's been too long and I've had people nagging me to write.
Fair enough, but wait, I do have an excuse.
I have started a new/old job at Puke Ariki, been training and battling tiredness and a sore throat.Come blog-writing time, I've turned tail and headed to bed.
Yes, I've been absolutely sapped of energy.
Let me tell you though, the final Big Day Out was a great workout. Got up a sweat dancing, jumping, arm punching and running up and down steps from stage to stage.
It wasn't a terrific nutrient day though, mainly because I had way too many coffees and, dare I admit it, energy drinks. My actually food choices were good and I didn't have any alcohol, but I didn't get any sleep because of caffeine overload.
I mean none.
Not surprisingly, the hint of a sore throat appeared the next day. It was a full day too, one that began with a visit to Otara Market (a great place for lycra bike shorts).
Later on we went swimming in a tiny bay off Jervois Rd near where my brother used to live in Auckland before he moved to the heat of Perth.
The following day, I did a two-hour workout at Long Bay Beach, where I went for a walk-run and a swim.
We had a great time staying with long-time friends and came home on Monday feeling replenished, but yes, with a nagging feeling of unwellness.
Back in New Plymouth, I went for a walk-run after my radio show on the Most FM and on Wednesday easily managed 20 lengths of the outdoor pool with only a slight niggle in my left shoulder.
Oh this getting older thing is a pain!
I do my best to ignore the fact I'm just shy of 50 and am reintroducing my body to hard training after nearly two decades of physical slumber (does serious concert-going count as hard exercise?), but those strange twinges still keep happening.
Anyway, nothing is going to stop me.
Well nearly nothing.
Yesterday, I came home from work at Puke Ariki and went straight to bed and slept.
Last night we got bad news, which I won't go into here, but I didn't sleep well after that. Just lay there thinking about life and families and how precious people are.
I've also been thinking about our health and how we work so hard at our careers, but not at keeping well. That was me. I got my priorities all mixed up and now my own health comes first.
None of us are any good for anything if we're sick, are we?
So it all comes back to balance and already those demands of life and work are coming at me.
Incredibly I said no to a job this week because I couldn't fit it in.
Elton John sang "sorry" is the hardest word. I reckon it's "no".
Now, the big news is that on Sunday I'll be doing my first triathlon.
It's just a wee one and I hope I'm going to be able to manage it.
I'll make a judgement call when I wake up tomorrow, but am pretty positive all will be well!
I will, I will!
Fingers crossed this throat will be better and my energy will be back.
Can feel the healing powers of sleep calling.
So, hi ho, hi ho, off to bed I go...
Worked for 8 hours
Did no exercise
Have felt unwell
Ate three nutritious meals
Had 1 cup of coffee
Had 1 chai latte
Drank a few glasses of water
Slept about 12 hours (but 8 fitfully)
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
El Camino and the lost child
By Virginia Winder
I defy you to listen to The Black Keys' album El Camino and not want to dance.
Dance. Go on, let yourself go.
Remember, I also play Spongebob Squarepants... "It's the best day ever..."
Music, as I have mentioned many times before and will again, is my great motivator.
I would even say it's my Muse.
That works for both writing and exercise. It's my way of tapping into the great beyond, so to speak.
So, if you see me before a sports event, warming up with earphones in, barely acknowledging anybody, don't be offended, I'm just doing my Jonah Lomu thing.
OK, so I'm not comparing myself to the rugby-playing great, however, I will be gathering myself in the same kind of way. Hyping myself up, focusing, visualising and all that.
One of my greatest sporting heroes used to do that. Her name is Sheryl George and no, she's not the New Plymouth District Council member, but one of the most amazing sportswomen I've ever seen in action.
She was a New Zealand champion surf lifesaver at beach sprinting, ironwoman, tube rescue, board - she was the ultimate all-rounder in the water and on the sand. But she was also a Silver Fern and a Tall Fern, which is amazing in itself.
Before racing on the beach, Sheryl would go inside her head. Simply withdraw.
I was the nervous people pleaser and it's only now, looking back over the years, that I understand what my rival was doing and why she was a champion.
Sheryl was focused, visualising her efforts and already winning that race.
So it's taken me a bit longer to learn all this and probably way too late to take any major titles, but I'll still do my best.
Don't worry, I haven't turned into a sports snob or anything - I'll be as friendly as anything after a race, but not before. I will be inward, thinking about transitions and what I have to do.
That happened at the Sunday Farmer's Market the other day.
I was on a mission to get something before it closed and I only had a few minutes to go. A lovely woman stopped me and I was caught, mid-stride, and know I was extremely vacant.
Poor woman. She probably thought I was unfriendly and a bit rude, but I realise that's what I'm like on task, on deadline; I kind of blank everything else out.
It comes from 29 years of this journalism gig, I guess.
So apologies to anyone, especially those who phone me during pressure times.
Or those who want to chat while I'm out training.
I won't be stopping, sorry, but I will wave, smile and call out "gidday".
When I'm out walk-running it's all go, but sometimes I do chat at the end of the pool while swim training. On the bike, you can talk with the person you're riding with - if my husband can keep up - hah!
Have been for some great walk-runs, some long walks and some testing bike rides.
Am sitting here in my new Sarah Ulmer Brand (SUB) bike pants that I got for my birthday and eating my breakfast as I write. Love those summer nectarines. Mmmm.
On the food front, I've just been enjoying everything that summer has to offer. Salads, barbecues, watermelon, corn on the cob, roast garlic, basil, tomatoes and avocados. The latter are eaten at nearly every meal in our household because they contain everything damn fine - good oils, vitamins, mineral and protein. They are, in short, the perfect food and yet people still shy away from them and think they are fattening.
They aren't!
I am living proof of this.
Yes, I have lost more weight.
The other day I was at the beach and a friend got me to pick up her daughter.
She felt heavy and even hurt my ailing shoulder (which is now getting better). She weighed 26kg, which is how much I have now lost.
My eyes filled with tears, my throat clogged up.
"I was carrying you around all the time," I said to the bewildered 11-year-old.
Then I beamed.
"But not any more... not any more!"
Today, I:
Biked for 14km (lots of uphill)
Swam 10 lengths of a 50 metre pool (first swim back after shoulder injury)
Drank lots of water
Ate 3 fantastic nutritious meals
Drank heaps of water
Had 2 cups of coffee
Had 1 cup of peppermint tea
Worked for 6 hours
Slept for 7 hours
Had a leg massage
Yesterday, I:
Walked for 45 minutes
Swam in the sea for 30 minutes
Drank lots of water
Worked for 6 hours
Had 3 cups of coffee
Slept for 7 hours
Went to physio for shoulder
Monday, I:
Worked for 13 hours (bad, bad, bad)
It was a rest day for exercise
Ate pretty well, but did clean up all the chocolate macadamia spread in the house
I defy you to listen to The Black Keys' album El Camino and not want to dance.
Put it on the stereo - up loud - and get grooving.
Dance. Go on, let yourself go.Now, if you have an iPod, an MP3 player or any other portable device that plays music and you've been lacking motivation to get moving, El Camino will do it. So put those headphones on and head into the great outdoors with a beat in your step.
Inside your head you'll be a cool cat, so when those teens look at you with haughty scorn, you can give a sneer back, because, hey, you're listening to The Black Keys. OK, so they've probably never heard of them and are more than likely still in Bieberty, but street cred is all in your own mind anyway.Remember, I also play Spongebob Squarepants... "It's the best day ever..."
Music, as I have mentioned many times before and will again, is my great motivator.
I would even say it's my Muse.
That works for both writing and exercise. It's my way of tapping into the great beyond, so to speak.
So, if you see me before a sports event, warming up with earphones in, barely acknowledging anybody, don't be offended, I'm just doing my Jonah Lomu thing.
OK, so I'm not comparing myself to the rugby-playing great, however, I will be gathering myself in the same kind of way. Hyping myself up, focusing, visualising and all that.
One of my greatest sporting heroes used to do that. Her name is Sheryl George and no, she's not the New Plymouth District Council member, but one of the most amazing sportswomen I've ever seen in action.
She was a New Zealand champion surf lifesaver at beach sprinting, ironwoman, tube rescue, board - she was the ultimate all-rounder in the water and on the sand. But she was also a Silver Fern and a Tall Fern, which is amazing in itself.
Before racing on the beach, Sheryl would go inside her head. Simply withdraw.
I was the nervous people pleaser and it's only now, looking back over the years, that I understand what my rival was doing and why she was a champion.
Sheryl was focused, visualising her efforts and already winning that race.
So it's taken me a bit longer to learn all this and probably way too late to take any major titles, but I'll still do my best.
Don't worry, I haven't turned into a sports snob or anything - I'll be as friendly as anything after a race, but not before. I will be inward, thinking about transitions and what I have to do.
That happened at the Sunday Farmer's Market the other day.
I was on a mission to get something before it closed and I only had a few minutes to go. A lovely woman stopped me and I was caught, mid-stride, and know I was extremely vacant.
Poor woman. She probably thought I was unfriendly and a bit rude, but I realise that's what I'm like on task, on deadline; I kind of blank everything else out.
It comes from 29 years of this journalism gig, I guess.
So apologies to anyone, especially those who phone me during pressure times.
Or those who want to chat while I'm out training.
I won't be stopping, sorry, but I will wave, smile and call out "gidday".
When I'm out walk-running it's all go, but sometimes I do chat at the end of the pool while swim training. On the bike, you can talk with the person you're riding with - if my husband can keep up - hah!
Have been for some great walk-runs, some long walks and some testing bike rides.
Am sitting here in my new Sarah Ulmer Brand (SUB) bike pants that I got for my birthday and eating my breakfast as I write. Love those summer nectarines. Mmmm.
On the food front, I've just been enjoying everything that summer has to offer. Salads, barbecues, watermelon, corn on the cob, roast garlic, basil, tomatoes and avocados. The latter are eaten at nearly every meal in our household because they contain everything damn fine - good oils, vitamins, mineral and protein. They are, in short, the perfect food and yet people still shy away from them and think they are fattening.
They aren't!
I am living proof of this.
Yes, I have lost more weight.
The other day I was at the beach and a friend got me to pick up her daughter.
She felt heavy and even hurt my ailing shoulder (which is now getting better). She weighed 26kg, which is how much I have now lost.
My eyes filled with tears, my throat clogged up.
"I was carrying you around all the time," I said to the bewildered 11-year-old.
Then I beamed.
"But not any more... not any more!"
Today, I:
Biked for 14km (lots of uphill)
Swam 10 lengths of a 50 metre pool (first swim back after shoulder injury)
Drank lots of water
Ate 3 fantastic nutritious meals
Drank heaps of water
Had 2 cups of coffee
Had 1 cup of peppermint tea
Worked for 6 hours
Slept for 7 hours
Had a leg massage
Yesterday, I:
Walked for 45 minutes
Swam in the sea for 30 minutes
Drank lots of water
Worked for 6 hours
Had 3 cups of coffee
Slept for 7 hours
Went to physio for shoulder
Monday, I:
Worked for 13 hours (bad, bad, bad)
It was a rest day for exercise
Ate pretty well, but did clean up all the chocolate macadamia spread in the house
Drank lots of water
Had 3 cups of coffee
Slept for 6 hours
Sunday, I:
Went for a 60-minute walk (endurance!)
Ate three nutritious meals
Didn't drink enough water
Had 2 cups of coffee
Worked for 2 hours
Slept for 8 hours
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Pip and Rebecca get me back on track
By Virginia Winder
Met an amazing woman in Centre City yesterday.
I was waiting to have lunch with daughter Clementine, a couple of Tank salads before me, when I got chatting to a woman beside me.
Right this minute, Pip from Waitara is biking around Mt Taranaki - 150km.
She's been doing 40km training sessions four times a week and a longer one at the weekends, but today she is out there, head down, biking in a fierce and changeable southwesterly wind.
At times there have been showers, but not many on the northern side of the mountain.
I thought of this 40-something woman at first light because this, she said, is the biggest thing she's ever attempted.
She was determined yesterday and I know she will be today.
People like her make me feel incredibly humble and inspired.
In the short time I chatted with her, I recognised an indomitable spirit; gutsy, vivacious and just a little bit naughty. Yeah, a kindred spirit.
As I'm writing this in the comfort of my warm home, I am mentally pushing her along, gritting my teeth for her and sending her strength, telepathically. I have no doubt she'll make it, but on a wild day like this it won't be easy.
"Go Pip!"
There's another woman I want to tell you about.
Her name is Rebecca and she has also succeeded in returning to place of health and fitness.
But she admits that it takes ongoing discipline and hard work.
Her three key words to success are: Structure, discipline and endurance.
Rebecca’s yoga teacher says it is easy to improve but difficult to maintain exercise.
“I’ve noticed this because currently I no longer have a goal and have become lazy again. Previously, I was learning how to run and then running a half marathon.”
Now, she is focused on another project that is not exercise based and says her life is out of balance. “I have a natural inclination to focus on one project at a time. Some may call it having an addictive nature.”
Aware of this, she is now back those three key words:
With everybody on holiday, the strange weather and odd, intermittent working hours I’m keeping, my training has been up and down too. I think I’ll go for a bike ride and then a raging storm will happen. I plan a walk-run and a thunderstorm rumbles in and as for swimming, well my physio has strapped up my shoulder and strictly banned me from the pool for now.
With that my food intake has gone to pieces a wee bit too.
Just a wee bit though and it’s not showing on the scales – no increases at least and down 1kg, so that’s not so bad.
So thanks Rebecca, I will be adding all these things in to my programme, putting up big words by my desk and starting over today, with Pip from Waitara fresh in my mind.
Go Pip!
Met an amazing woman in Centre City yesterday.
I was waiting to have lunch with daughter Clementine, a couple of Tank salads before me, when I got chatting to a woman beside me.
Right this minute, Pip from Waitara is biking around Mt Taranaki - 150km.
She's been doing 40km training sessions four times a week and a longer one at the weekends, but today she is out there, head down, biking in a fierce and changeable southwesterly wind.
At times there have been showers, but not many on the northern side of the mountain.
I thought of this 40-something woman at first light because this, she said, is the biggest thing she's ever attempted.
She was determined yesterday and I know she will be today.
People like her make me feel incredibly humble and inspired.
In the short time I chatted with her, I recognised an indomitable spirit; gutsy, vivacious and just a little bit naughty. Yeah, a kindred spirit.
As I'm writing this in the comfort of my warm home, I am mentally pushing her along, gritting my teeth for her and sending her strength, telepathically. I have no doubt she'll make it, but on a wild day like this it won't be easy.
"Go Pip!"
There's another woman I want to tell you about.
Her name is Rebecca and she has also succeeded in returning to place of health and fitness.
But she admits that it takes ongoing discipline and hard work.
Her three key words to success are: Structure, discipline and endurance.
Rebecca’s yoga teacher says it is easy to improve but difficult to maintain exercise.
“I’ve noticed this because currently I no longer have a goal and have become lazy again. Previously, I was learning how to run and then running a half marathon.”
Now, she is focused on another project that is not exercise based and says her life is out of balance. “I have a natural inclination to focus on one project at a time. Some may call it having an addictive nature.”
Aware of this, she is now back those three key words:
- I STRUCTURE my days so I can have it all. Delete the frills and focus on the big picture.
- DISCIPLINE. My alarm is set for 6am. If I don’t exercise in the morning it never gets done. Also I feel better during the day, especially if I’ve gone for my walk, run, swim or cycle meditation. Some like to sit – I like to physically flow while I’m meditating. Discipline leads to routine, which leads to habit.
- ENDURE. I just have to keep going and ignore my body saying no and the mind saying I should sleep in and all the interruptions that can easily lead me astray.
With everybody on holiday, the strange weather and odd, intermittent working hours I’m keeping, my training has been up and down too. I think I’ll go for a bike ride and then a raging storm will happen. I plan a walk-run and a thunderstorm rumbles in and as for swimming, well my physio has strapped up my shoulder and strictly banned me from the pool for now.
With that my food intake has gone to pieces a wee bit too.
Just a wee bit though and it’s not showing on the scales – no increases at least and down 1kg, so that’s not so bad.
So thanks Rebecca, I will be adding all these things in to my programme, putting up big words by my desk and starting over today, with Pip from Waitara fresh in my mind.
Go Pip!
Today, I:
Refocused myself completely!
Went for a 40-minute walk-run
Went for a 40-minute bike ride
Drank 3 coffees
Drank heaps of water
Worked for 5 hours
Ate three incredibly healthy meals!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Inspired by real thing at the Mount
By Virginia Winder
Haven't had a great food day and it's made me grumpy.
Had nachos for lunch because everyone else was having it and I was hungry. Not a great excuse, I know, but there it is.
As for dinner, I had a Thai takeaway and it was delicious, but once again I didn't choose the healthiest option from the board.
I'm not perfect, but because I have made such great choices lately I do feel a bit disappointed with myself.
Oh well, tomorrow is a new day.
I begin each morning with untoasted muesli soaked overnight and then throw in blueberries and whatever in-season fruit there is available. At the moment it's strawberries. Then I add yoghurt and some walnuts and get munching.
It's such a great start to the day - natural grains for slow-release energy and blueberries and walnuts for brain food.
On the exercise front, I have been greatly inspired.
At the weekend, Warren and I went to Mt Maunganui to watch the half-ironman.
When we first got there I was completely overwhelmed by all the bikes set up in the transition area. But where were all the athletes?
In the water!
They were already in Pilot Bay, where the men were wearing blue swimming caps; the women wearing pink. A friend says they look like lollies bobbing about and they do.
We watched all the changeovers, saw how people got on and off bikes, put their gear on, how long they took, found out about all the tricks of the triathlon transitions and soaked it all in.
I stood on the sidelines encouraging strangers and telling them how good they looked. "Don't feel it," or "You're lying," were some of the replies.
But they did look great, especially those who had been out there for more than five hours and still had a spring in their steps.
Instead of being put off by watching the race, which I'll be doing next year, I felt buoyed. "I can do this," I said quite often to my sidekick, who is also getting keen on triathlons himself.
There's nothing like watching the real thing to get inspired.
We stayed with our mates Susan and Glenn, who are also tri-hards. That sounds mean, but yes, they too are going through their own midlife exercise, let's-do-it-all phase. I won't call it a crisis like mine because they have always been lean.
My own exercise is going just fine.
Have been walk-running, doing a bit of body-surfing and went for a glorious bike ride today.
Reckon I'll be back in the pool tomorrow, at least doing kick work and drills with my good arm. My left shoulder is coming along, after all I did catch a couple of waves tonight.
Another great thing has happened, I have stumbled upon an excellent masseur - a Czech man called Jan. I had my first massage on Monday and after he left my feet felt so good it was like walking on cushions.
So, apart from one not so great day of food, this health and fitness quest of mine is going extremely well.
Now I have a confession about the bike. When I went out today, I didn't wear my cleats. I went out wearing running shoes so I wasn't stuck to my bike and I felt much braver and more confident.
Think it will be awhile yet before I venture out clipped on to my bike.
One step at a time, eh? One step at a time...
Today, I:
Slept for 9 hours
Biked for 40 minutes (including a big hill)
Went bodysurfing at Oakura (big waves)
Worked for 2 hours
Drank 2 cups of coffee
Drank some water (but needed more)
Haven't had a great food day and it's made me grumpy.
Had nachos for lunch because everyone else was having it and I was hungry. Not a great excuse, I know, but there it is.
As for dinner, I had a Thai takeaway and it was delicious, but once again I didn't choose the healthiest option from the board.
I'm not perfect, but because I have made such great choices lately I do feel a bit disappointed with myself.
Oh well, tomorrow is a new day.
I begin each morning with untoasted muesli soaked overnight and then throw in blueberries and whatever in-season fruit there is available. At the moment it's strawberries. Then I add yoghurt and some walnuts and get munching.
It's such a great start to the day - natural grains for slow-release energy and blueberries and walnuts for brain food.
On the exercise front, I have been greatly inspired.
At the weekend, Warren and I went to Mt Maunganui to watch the half-ironman.
When we first got there I was completely overwhelmed by all the bikes set up in the transition area. But where were all the athletes?
In the water!
They were already in Pilot Bay, where the men were wearing blue swimming caps; the women wearing pink. A friend says they look like lollies bobbing about and they do.
We watched all the changeovers, saw how people got on and off bikes, put their gear on, how long they took, found out about all the tricks of the triathlon transitions and soaked it all in.
I stood on the sidelines encouraging strangers and telling them how good they looked. "Don't feel it," or "You're lying," were some of the replies.
But they did look great, especially those who had been out there for more than five hours and still had a spring in their steps.
Instead of being put off by watching the race, which I'll be doing next year, I felt buoyed. "I can do this," I said quite often to my sidekick, who is also getting keen on triathlons himself.
There's nothing like watching the real thing to get inspired.
We stayed with our mates Susan and Glenn, who are also tri-hards. That sounds mean, but yes, they too are going through their own midlife exercise, let's-do-it-all phase. I won't call it a crisis like mine because they have always been lean.
My own exercise is going just fine.
Have been walk-running, doing a bit of body-surfing and went for a glorious bike ride today.
Reckon I'll be back in the pool tomorrow, at least doing kick work and drills with my good arm. My left shoulder is coming along, after all I did catch a couple of waves tonight.
Another great thing has happened, I have stumbled upon an excellent masseur - a Czech man called Jan. I had my first massage on Monday and after he left my feet felt so good it was like walking on cushions.
So, apart from one not so great day of food, this health and fitness quest of mine is going extremely well.
Now I have a confession about the bike. When I went out today, I didn't wear my cleats. I went out wearing running shoes so I wasn't stuck to my bike and I felt much braver and more confident.
Think it will be awhile yet before I venture out clipped on to my bike.
One step at a time, eh? One step at a time...
Today, I:
Slept for 9 hours
Biked for 40 minutes (including a big hill)
Went bodysurfing at Oakura (big waves)
Worked for 2 hours
Drank 2 cups of coffee
Drank some water (but needed more)
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