A day in my life: Saturday December 19th 2009
Thoughts:
Thursday morning I woke up and this is what we saw: snow! It doesn’t snow here very often so it’s kind of special. However I’m already bored with it. I’m not a snow person. And besides snowing it’s really cold also, something else we’re not used to.
Thursday morning:
Thursday night:
Today, looking from my bedroom window:
Well I have to admit that I was paying less attention to my eating and exercising with the excuse that it’s the holiday season. I didn’t count Points on Thursday and Friday and I can tell you I ate too much. I thought well I’ll try to maintain and see on January 2nd how I did. But then yesterday something happened.
I had a Christmas lunch at work where I didn’t eat too much and skipped the dessert buffet. I was wearing one of my new dresses with my high heels of 10 cm (4 inches). First I was talking to a female co-worker of mine who said that she has took a picture of my back. So I said to her that that wasn’t very flattering. No, no she said, I took the picture because your back is beautiful, your body line is perfect. I blushed and thanked her for the compliment.
Later I was talking to a guy between 20 and 30 years old and he told me that he and some others had been talking about me. So I asked why they were talking about me. Well they were amazed by my legs how long and perfect they were. And so I blushed for the second time.
I was so happy with all the compliments (got a lot on the dress too) and I told R. about it when I got home. I told him that he might not see that I lose weight but others do. He sees me everyday and I lose slowly so it’s difficult for him to see the change. He than told me that he was looking at pictures of us from 2 years ago in Barcelona and that he could see from that picture and how I look today that I did lose weight.
All these things together made me think: I WON’T GIVE UP! I’ve worked so hard this past few months and I won’t gain it all back due to some holidays. So I still try to maintain the weight, I don’t have to lose these last two weeks but I will keep tracking my food (except for the 2 Christmas Days and New Year’s eve and day) and I will workout as much as I can.
I’ve got inspired by Jill from Finishing is winning who made a workout goal plan for 2010. I’m going to make that too and will post that before New Year.
And last but not least: I’ve got a Christmas bonus at work so I’m definitely going to buy the Garmin Forerunner 305 this week.
Exercise:
No exercise on Thursday, couldn’t run due to the snow and didn’t feel like doing something else.
Yesterday no exercise either but this morning I went to the gym and did a Matt Roberts workout for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
The Ultimate Diet Log:
By the numbers: 6: Number of weeks humans can survive without food. 7: Number of days we can survive without water, our most important nutrient.
Nutrition tip: To save time, make nutritious foods in double batches. Grill extra vegetables and refrigerate them for use later as a pizza topping, omelet filler, or sandwich layer. Use the black beans from tonight’s chilli for tomorrow’s salad or soup.
Positive today:
Had a great workout today.
Daily Tip/Quote:
A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity, an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.
Winston Churchill
A day in my life: Monday December 7th 2009
Health week 49:
Goal 1 (lose weight every week):
Weight result December 3th:. : -0.8 kg / -1.8 lbs.
Current weight: 80.5 kg / 177.5 lbs
Goal 2 (eat healthy every day):
Weight Watchers daily points: 29
Free points: 49
Earned active points: 25
Monday: 26,5 points
Tuesday: 24 points
Wednesday: 31,5 points
Thursday: 34,5 points
Friday: 29,5 points
Saturday: 56 points
Sunday: 41,5 points
Used free points: 48
Used active points: 0
Goal 3 (work-out 5 times a week):
Monday: Lunchwalk for 30 minutes.
Tuesday: -
Wednesday: 4.5K/2.8 miles run in 30:31 (8.8K /hour, 6.46 /km)
Thursday: -
Friday: -
Saturday: Matt Roberts weight loss plan, week 4, training 2, 1:14
Sunday: 7K/4.3 miles run in 51:30 (8.2K /hour, 7:21 per km)
Goals week 49:
1) Workout 5 times -> no, 4 times
2) Get at least 5 pink days -> not relevant anymore
3) Get 7 hours sleep a night -> done!
Thoughts:
This is how spend our Saturday nights: fire in the fireplace, burn some candles and watch some TV or read. As we both have busy jobs for us spending a quiet Saturday night at home is what we love the most.
My first WW Propoints week is finished. As you can see I had 5 days where I used more than my daily 29 points. I used up a lot of points during the weekend so there is a big improvement to achieve. I had 1 free point left by Sunday night. I like the new program, I enter my daily intake at night because I don’t want to think about food all day. I can evaluate afterwards where I could have made better choices.
I’m having a doctor’s appointment tomorrow afternoon and I’m nervous about it. For birth control I have a IUCD (Mirena) placed. I have had it for 5 years and now it has to be replaced by a new one.
Only 5 years ago putting it in was a nightmare. Because I was frightened by a prick while the speculum was still in me, I closed my legs in a reflex which damaged my inside. I’ve had stomach pain for a few weeks after that. And I passed out afterwards, I think because of the tension before.
So you could probably imagine I’m not looking forward to this tomorrow.
The fact that I only had my period for about 4 times in the past 5 years and my hormones aren’t bothering my anymore is the reason I’m going through this again. Wish me luck!
Exercise:
Yesterday morning my bed was so warm and I didn’t want to go out for a run. First I surfed to Syl of Live, smile, run. She ran a 5K Saturday in the snow and at a very low temperature. You should visit her blog, this woman is amazing! How many of you would go out in that kind of weather and run? I know I wouldn’t.
Anyway: after reading Syl’s story I decided to go running because we hadn’t had snow or a low temperature so no excuses: just go! And it was a good run. I ran 7K/4.3 miles. Weather was dry but again a lot of wind. This seems to become the story of my running life: wind J
Today I went to the gym after work, I had a cardio workout to do from my Matt Roberts plan. I finished level 1 today and will continue with level 2 which exists of 12 workouts (just like level 1).
What’s for dinner:
Yesterday vegetable soup with bread. I often make soup on Sunday’s because I don’t feel much like cooking then.
Today sauerkraut with mashed potatoes and sausage.
The Ultimate Diet Log:
Fitness Factoid: Setting your daily exercise goal in terms of steps, rather than miles or minutes, can help with motivation. In one study, woman instructed to take 10,000 steps per day averaged 10,159 steps, whereas those told to take a 30-minute walk accumulated 8,270 steps.
Quote: “The biggest seller is cookbooks and the second is diet books – how not to eat what you’ve just learned how to cook” – Andy Rooney.
Positive today:
Had a good day at work and a great workout.
Daily Tip/Quote:
Everyone who has run knows that its most important value is in removing tension and allowing a release from whatever other cares the day may bring.
Jimmy Carter
A day in my life: Saturday December 5th 2009
Thoughts:
The musical yesterday was (also for the second time) fun to watch. We went there by train and before the show started we had coffee at Starbucks at the train station.
This afternoon I’ve been reading the whole new program of the Weight Watchers online and started planning my meals. I already did that for dinners but now I’m also using their breakfast and lunch suggestions as much as possible from the book I’ve bought at the meeting. I also entered all my food since last Monday.
This weekend we don’t have many plans, just relaxing at home. I’ve planned to go for a run tomorrow morning but further no plans.
Exercise:
Yesterday no exercise as we were going out.
This morning I went to the gym to do a Matt Roberts training. It took me 1.14 for the cardio and strength exercises. I ran into my friend K. at the gym who’s a member there too (in fact she brought this gym to my attention). Afterwards it felt good, it was a good workout.
What’s for dinner:
Yesterday’s dinner was a bit the same as Thursday but with more vegetables so I didn’t take a picture of that.
The Ultimate Diet Log:
Food Factoid: Though brown-shelled eggs often cost more than eggs with white shells, they have the same nutritional content. The color of an eggshell is purely a cosmetic feature.
Nutrition tip: To minimize spending and maximize taste, buy produce in season. Enjoy asparagus in April, apricots in June, blueberries in July and pears in November.
Positive today:
Great workout at the gym.
Daily Tip/Quote:
There is just one life for each of us: our own.
Euripides
A day in my life: Monday November 23th 2009
Health week 47:
Goal 1 (lose weight every week):
Weight result November 19th:. : gained 0.4 kg/0.8 lbs.
Goal 2 (eat healthy every day):
Monday: Pink, Tuesday: Orange, Wednesday: Pink, Thursday: Purple, Friday: Orange, Saturday: Purple, Sunday: Purple
Pink (my favourite colour) day = good day. I only eat healthy food and exercised.
Purple day = okay day. I did eat healthy but didn’t exercise or I didn’t eat completely healthy but did exercise.
Orange day = I’m in trouble. I didn’t eat healthy and I didn’t exercise.
Goal 3 (work-out 5 times a week):
Monday: Matt Roberts weight loss plan, week 3, training 3
Tuesday: -
Wednesday: 30 Day Shred, level 1, day 8
Thursday: -
Friday: -
Saturday: 4K Run
Sunday: 30 Day Shred, level 1, day 9
Goals week 47:
1) Don’t have a dessert at the 2 dinners out I have this week. -> no, did have dessert at both dinners.
2) Eat only 1 piece of pie at R.’s birthday. -> no, ate 2 pieces
3) Workout 5 times -> 4 times
Not such a good week: only 2 pink weeks and didn’t hit one of my goals! Here’s a chance to do better this week.
Thoughts:
Thanks for all the comments on especially the sleeping part in my last post. I have to say that I don’t have any sleeping problems. As soon as I’m in my bed I fall asleep. The point was that I went to bed too late. I’ve been watching this over the weekend and am not tired anymore. So I’ll try to get my 7 hours of sleep every night from now on.
Saturday night I had a nice dinner with R. I did eat to much but as he’s having a birthday once a year I could live with that.
So yesterday was R’s birthday. Our birthday’s have exactly 6 months in between which means mine is on May 22nd. 6 months in which I will focus on getting a lot of the goals I write down every week in my weight challenge. Since I’ve started blogging I did well on the weight loss and work outs but the past few weeks I felt it slipping through my fingers and I need to refocus on my goals and work towards them. I won’t let the holiday season, or being busy at work, or being tired stand in my way anymore. I’m going to work to reach my goals and hope that you will be here to support me, motivate me or give me a kick at the but if needed. 6 months!
Birthday cake of which I had 2 pieces!
We went to a concert last night of a Dutch artist called Ilse de Lange (see you tube links). R. is more a fan of her than I am so every once and then we go to a concert of her. I have to see that yesterday’s concert was very good.
Exercise:
Saturday I went out for a run and at the first steps I felt this wasn’t going to be my run, I was tired. So I decided to try and see how far I would come, after all the weather was great to run outside.
I made it to 4K (2.5 miles) but had to walk 4 times in between. After entering my time online it seemed I had run 8.2 per K which is fast for me.
It feels like I’m losing it, that I can’t run any further than approx 6K even though I did 10K only 2 months ago. So while running I decided to watch carefully what I eat so I’ll lose more weight and feel better and get enough sleep. I’m not giving up: I will run a 10K again and faster than the last one!
Sunday morning I got up on time and did day 9 of level 1 of the Shred. This way I had my workout of the day before our family came for R’s birthday.
Today I went to the gym straight from work and did the Matt Roberts weight loss plan, week 4, training 1. 30 minutes of cardio followed by strength training and crunches. I feel good now.
What’s for dinner:
Saturday night we went out for dinner. For starters I had a Greek salad.
Main course was veal with pesto cream sauce.
For dessert I had tiramisu. It was good but I have to say mine is better J
Yesterday tomato soup with bread and tonight kale and saucage.
Itunes shuffle playing right now:
Ilse de Lange – Puzzle me
Positive today:
Went to the gym and had a great workout.
Daily Tip/Quote:
You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage – pleasantly, smilingly, nonapologetically – to say ‘no’ to other things. And the way to do that is by having a bigger ‘yes’ burning inside. The enemy of the ‘best’ is often the ‘good.’
Stephen Covey
A day in my life: Wednesday November 18th 2009
Exercise:
Monday I went to the gym straight from work and did Matt Roberts weight loss plan. Have 3 more workouts to go before I can go to the next level.
Yesterday no exercise, had an appointment.
Today I had plans to go for a run but there has been a southwester storm all day with force 8 to 9. Even though I like a bit of wind while I’m running this was too much. Nearly blew out of my pants while walking Roussy. So instead I did day 8 of the 30 Day Shred.
What’s for dinner:
Monday we had sauerkraut with mashed potatoes.
Yesterday a dinner with my management team. I didn’t take pictures because none of them knows I’m blogging and I want to keep it that way. We had a menu so I’ve had something with halibut for starters, something with fresh tuna in between and something with tenderloin as a main course. For dessert a small mousse of blueberries with a little bit of icecream made of white chocolate, I found that too sweet.
Tonight we had naan bread filled with hummus, chicken brest and mangosalsa.
Thoughts:
So yesterday was a goodbye dinner for our Buying Director who’s got a new job in our company. I’ve been working with him all the 7 years I’m working there and we can get along together very well.
As there was no budget for an assistant in his new job he asked our Managing Director whose my boss if I could keep working for him and I could. It’s busy but I’m happy we can still work together.
So at the dinner we gave him some bottles of wine we bought with the other managers and he had a thank you word for everybody. He saved me for last and he said so much sweet things, I was totally blushing. He said that at a job like his it’s important that your wife supports you but that a good secretary is important too and that I helped him in so many ways especially in busy times and that he was/is happy to work with me. It made my day I can tell you that.
While changing my lifestyle by eating more healthy, losing weight slowly and workout more I was getting bored with my haircut. I’ve been styling my hair the same for many years now and as the new me is getting more and more confident I decided to cut it. My hairdresser cut half of it off today. I’m very happy with the result. So here’s the new me …
Itunes shuffle playing right now:
Stevie Wonder – For once in my life
Positive today:
Had my hair done: happy with the result
Daily Tip/Quote:
It’s not who you are that holds you back, it’s who you think you’re not.
Author Unknown
A day in my life: Tuesday November 10 2009
Week November 1-November 10:
Lose at least 6 kg / 13 lbs, starting weight 09/23 182.8 lbs.
This week -1.7 lbs, total loss during the hot 100: -4.8
Reduce fat% with 2 points (09/23: 43.3).
Final result at December 31th
Exercise at least 4 times a week with at least 2 runs in a week.
Su 1: Maple Leaf Cross run: 6K
Mo 2: Matt Roberts Weight Loss plan: week 3, training 1
Tu 3: No exercise
We 4: Planned to exercise but no energy
Th 5: 6K run
Fr 6: No exercise
Sa 7: 30 day Shred, level 1, day 7
Su 8: No exercise, body hurts through fall Saturday night
Mo 9: Matt Roberts Weight Loss Plan: week 3, training 2
Tu 10: Planned to exercise but no energy
Complete the 30 day shred between September 23th and December 31th.
Started on October 2nd, 7 days finished
Finish 2/3 (=24 workouts, total=36) of Matt Roberts 90 days weight loss plan
Completed 8 out of 24 workouts.
Sleep at least 7 hours a night.
Tu 3: no, bad night and went to bed too late.
Su 8: went to bed too late and didn’t sleep well, was awake many times.
Exercise:
After a day of rest I went to the gym yesterday. I really didn’t feel like it because I’m tired since a week or so. But just before I shut down my computer at work I read a tweet from Marcelle in which she said she was going to the gym and I thought “well why don’t I” so I did and felt good afterwards.
However today I’m even more tired, haven’t slept well 2 nights in a row, and I skipped my planned run today. I will do that one tomorrow. Think I’m going to get stuck on 4 workouts this week.
What’s for dinner:
Yesterday I’ve had a steak, unpolished rice and broccoli.
Today whole-weat pasta with chicken, mushrooms, leek and some herbal cream cheese.
Thoughts:
Well my colleague was at work again today and guess what: she had a great weekend and apparently still enjoying it because she hasn’t complained all day so there was no need to say anything today. We’ll see how it goes tomorrow.
Had also an appointment with the dentist for my 6 months check-up. I’m afraid of the dentist because I’ve had so much trouble with my teeth when I was a child. She removed tartar and I still have sensitive teeth: blah!
R. is coming home late tomorrow night so I won’t be seeing him late Thursday night as I will be asleep when he comes home. He will still be sleeping when I go to work on Thursday and I won’t be home for dinner Thursday night as I have a dinner date with one of my best friends K.
I’m worried about my other friend Y. who will have surgery on Thursday. She has a first stage of cervical cancer and they have to remove the bad cells on Thursday. She’s nervous and so am I. Unfortunately we live an hour drive away from each other so it’s difficult to just drop in to give her a hug. Please say a little prayer for her on Thursday, I know I will.
Itunes shuffle playing right now:
Madness – It must be love
I never thought I’d miss you
Half as much as I do
And I never thought I’d feel this way
The way I feel
About you
As soon as I wake up
Every night, every day
I know that it’s you I need
To take the blues away
It must be love, love, love
It must be love, love, love
Nothing more, nothing less
Love is the best
Positive today:
A nice talk with lots of laughs with K.
Daily Tip/Quote:
If suffering brought wisdom, the dentist’s office would be full of luminous ideas.
Mason Cooley
A day in my life: Wednesday November 4 2009
Exercise:
Monday I went to the gym immediately after work and did the Matt Roberts work-out, week 3, training 1. Felt good and went well.
Today I was supposed to go again but had to finish something at work and decided to do the shred. But when I got home I had no energy left (see thoughts). Maybe I’ll catch up on this one later this week.
What’s for dinner:
Monday I’ve made “nasi”, it’s a Chinese meal but then the Dutch way. They don’t eat it like this in China, that’s for sure J
Yesterday an oven dish of minced meat, mashed potatoes and red cabbage.
Tonight we ate kale hotchpotch.
Thoughts:
At work I share my office with a female colleague. She works on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
She doesn’t get along with the manager she works for so she’s very negative, lately it seems to get worse and worse. I don’t try to pay much attention to it because I’m extremely busy right now and I do love my job and the managers I work for. But I’ve been noticing lately that I have no energy left on Tuesday and Wednesday when I come home after work. She soaks up my energy.
The Thursday’s that I work I’m usually in a meeting most of the day so I don’t see/talk with her much.
I hate confrontations but I know I have to put an end to this because it’s using up my energy. My boss knows I’m no good at confrontations and he also knows about my problems with her so he will coach me in this. The problem is that she’s sweet and nice to everyone and I’m the only one who notices this.
Today I’ve asked her if she still likes her job. First she said “no, not right now” and after that “I do like my job but not my manager”. I answered that those two are connected but she didn’t say much to that.
Today the oldest brother of my dad died at 75. He had a stroke and has been in a coma for 4 days. I’m not a family person so I don’t see them much. I saw him and my aunt every now and then when they visited my mom. He looks exactly like my dad who passed away in 2000. I won’t go to the funeral, I have been to way to many in my life already but I will offer my condolences together with my mom on Saturday evening.
Itunes shuffle playing right now:
James Blunt – 1973
Positive today:
Can’t think of anything today.
Daily Tip/Quote:
Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.
Confucius
A day in my life: Tuesday October 27 2009
Exercise:
Yesterday after work again to the gym for the Matt Roberts plan: week 2, training 3.
Today no exercise.
I’ve changed my work-out plan a bit. Since work is so busy and will be till somewhere next year I find it hard to go to the gym three times a week. So I’ve decided to go running twice a week, go to the gym twice a week and do 1 home work-out every week.
For my running I’m going to try something else. In the odd weeks I will do speedwork on a weekday, in the even week on my day off I will run 5K, next week 6K and the week after that 7K and then start from the beginning.
In weekends I will do a 8K, then 9K and then 10K and start that also all over again. I’ve made routes last night so I have different routes every time. I hope this makes me faster eventually by changing the distance every time.
Next Sunday I have a 6K run. It’s in the woods which I don’t have where I live so I’m looking forward to that. It has also some hills which will be the first time for me. My mom is coming with me, she wants to see me running.
What’s for dinner:
Sunday the high tea, we had also sandwiches and quiches, mini pizza’s but I forgot to take pictures of that because we were talking so much.
Yesterday we ate spaghetti carbonara.
And today … ai … look for yourself. I was so tired when I went home so I choose take away food.
Thoughts:
The high tea was great, we laughed, we talked and we had delicious things to eat.
Tonight I’m going to have my nails done, I do that every 4 weeks.
Tomorrow I’m out of the office. We’re having a day with presentations for our suppliers. I didn’t have to organize this one, my colleague did that but I do have to help her. These days are very tiring but usually fun too because it’s something different than doing the regular stuff at the office.
I hope I have enough energy left to do a speedwork training tomorrow night, if not I will do that Friday.
Itunes shuffle playing right now:
4 Non Blondes – What’s up
This song is special to me, first sentence: “25 years and my is still trying to get up that great big hill of hope for a destination”. When I first heard this song I was 25 years old and in a car somewhere between LA and San Francisco while I was there for a holiday all alone far from home and R. whom I’ve met just a few months before.
Positive today:
Worked really hard but went home satisfied with the work I’ve done.
Daily Tip/Quote:
The nice thing about teamwork is that you always have others on your side.
Margaret Carty
A day in my life: Sunday October 25 2009
Exercise:
Yesterday I went for a run, had no goal so I just started and did 6.29K/3.9 miles in 46 minutes.
It was dry but before and after my run it was raining so my timing was perfect. I love running in Autumn because I don’t like running in hot weather.
My new tights arrived in the mail yesterday so I could try them out and they fit perfectly!
I found some fun races to participate in. First there is the “Third Christmas day” run. In Holland Christmas is celebrated for 2 days. This run is the day after that: great way to burn the calories of Christmas.
Then I found one that is on December 31, the “Sylvester cross”.
And one next year which is for woman only, men are not allowed to participate. It’s called the “Marikenloop”. And finally a run across a circuit where normally car races are held.
I don’t know if I will participate in all of them but I think I will do the one on December 31. For me that’s a great way to close a year in which I finally started living healthy and exercising.
This morning I went to the gym for my Matt Roberts training. Gym opens at 9 am on Sunday so I was there at 9 am sharp. But it was busy! I got to do my running, my biking and my strength exercises but then I had to do 10 minutes on the elliptical: they were all occupied! So I did my last exercise: crunches first and checked again after that: still busy. I hate it when that happens. So I skipped this one and did my cooling down exercises. While doing that I saw the rowing machine and said to myself I will do that next time if something else is not available.
What’s for dinner:
I didn’t make pictures of the buffet Friday night.
Yesterday I made a sandwich of rocket salad, carpaccio, pesto and some old cheese. Delicious!
Thoughts:
The party Friday night wasn’t much fun. There was no atmosphere. The band wasn’t very good. And as we have a law against smoking in public buildings everybody had to go outside if they wanted to smoke and as a lot of the people there smoked it seemed more like the party was outside.
The food was very good, I had a little plated with some meat and French fries and a little plate with dessert. I drank only 2 glasses of wine since I was the one to drive home. We were home at midnight.
This afternoon I’m meeting 5 friends for a high tea. We all met on the woman’s forum I write on and every now and then we meet in real life. None of them lives really close by but I “talk” to them every day at the forum. I’m really looking forward because their great and fun women!
Itunes shuffle playing right now:
Rod Stewart – I’ll stand by you
Positive today:
Went to the gym to burn calories before high tea this afternoon with lovely friends.
Daily Tip/Quote:
Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.
Albert Camus
A day in my life: Monday October 19th 2009
Exercise:
So there I was yesterday morning: all dressed up for a morning run but first I had to let the dog out.
Oh my goss: it was freezing outside and there I stood in my summer morning clothes. I have to admit that I turned around and went back inside.
I had already plans to go to an outlet centre for running clothes so I changed into my normal clothes and went. I’ve bought two sets of winter clothes, each with 2 shirts underneath the jacket and I’ve paid only € 90,- ($ 134.-). If I bought it in a store it would have cost me € 600,- ($ 895.-) so I was very happy.
Today I went to the gym, again straight from work, to do the first training of week 2 of the Matt Roberts plan, it’s the same workout as last week, program changes every 4 weeks. And I enjoyed it.
Oh and I did go for a lunchwalk of 30 minutes with my best friend/colleague, we try to do that every Monday so we can talk over the weekend.
What’s for dinner:
No pictures from the dinners on Saturday (sandwich with egg salad, cucumber and bacon) and Sunday (vegetables soup with bread).
Today we had a piece of pork meat with mushrooms and a salad with backed potatoes, pear and walnuts.
Thoughts:
Not so much to tell here: work’s busy, life’s boring (but that will change soon) with no appointments. Just the usual stuff.
Itunes shuffle playing right now:
Nick & Simon – Verloren
Positive today:
Had a great workout at the gym.
Daily Tip/Quote:
Everyone smiles in the same language.
Author Unknown
RSS - Posts