2012 Project 52 – Week 15

8^th – 14^th April

I love finding new music that motivates me to exercise or dance around the house. 

So this week...I totally love Carly Rae Jepsen’s ‘Call Me Maybe’

Think it through first

Disclaimer: I am not a parent, but I have nieces, nephews and have close relationships with my friend’s children. I am a strong advocate for one parent (mum or dad) being able to stay home with their child/children before they get to school age, but understand that this is not always possible.

Nevertheless, I have a HUGE problem with people that keep having children when they are already struggling financially.

I understand that unexpected pregnancies occur and certainly do not expect people to terminate those pregnancies. I also fully appreciate that people’s circumstances can change suddenly with the loss of jobs or the break-up of a relationship. However (in my opinion), to knowingly bring a child into the world when things are already financially tight is irresponsible.

I often hear some people saying “I cannot afford to stay home with my child” or “it is so tough with food prices/the recession etc.” when people are NOT willing to downsize or make changes to their lifestyle to allow for changes in family size. Yes, downsizing is tough and a steep learning curve but it is totally achievable.

Why should taxpayers or the government foot the bill for people not willing to change?

Personally, I think that people can afford to live on one salary especially if it fairly reasonable. Families managed to do this when I was growing up. Mark told me his mum used to save the small family allowance she received from the government to use for bigger things i.e. to help pay for a present or new pair of shoes etc. I think this generation wants things now and are not often prepared to wait and save for it.

Call me naïve but I do not know why we cannot learn from our parents (and grandparents) generations. Surely, being at home with your children is worthwhile to teach them values and spend time with them?

There are plenty of ways to look at how you can cut costs and still enjoy life. Last year I wrote a blog about what people have done to reduce the cost of living. While it is not always easy it is something that people are doing to achieve what they want in life whether it is a new baby, buying a home or just trying to get into a better financial position.

I still do not think there are enough resources out there for people to use. I think that we need to be talking to our friends, family and communities to see what others are doing to see if it would work for us.

What do you think?

Obsessed

I feel like I am obsessed with food.

I feel obsessed with:

• What I eat
• What I cannot eat
• Calories in and calories out
• Tracking calories
• My last meal. My next meal. My next snack. What is for dinner, lunch etc.

I think about food constantly and I am so over it. The only time I do not think about food is when I am frantically busy.

I think that boredom has a lot to answer for as well. I am bored, what shall I do? EAT!

Sometimes I wish that I had a personal chef who made me yummy, nutritious meals. Then between meals I could focus on other things rather than when my next meal is.

Perhaps when I start to think about food or am bored I need to take myself for a walk or to the gym or have a big drink of water. 

Food is fuel, but it is not the be all and end all.

Surely I am not alone?

2012 Project 52 – Week 14

 

1^st – 7^th April

 

I love that this is my 200^th post on this blog.#AchievementUnlocked

Years ago I started this blog for me. I did not think anyone would really read it, but apparently they do so thank you. I had a lot that I wanted to say and get off my chest and felt that putting it out into the blogosphere was the way to do it. I am a really open person and if you ask me about things and my life I will be honest. I love to write and I want to be able to write well.

Over the past couple of weeks I have been trying to come up with ideas to make my blog even better. I have streamlined it in terms of colours etc. and I am constantly reading other people’s blogs with their suggestions on how to change things. What is it about blogs that makes you love or hate them?

One thing I struggle with is things to write about. I used to have a list of blogs that I wanted to write, but I have written most of them. I also try and regularly write on my fitness blog which is going quite well.

Is there anything you want me to write about?

Easter Weekend

I did make it to the gym twice to do an hour on the Cross-trainer which was really good. Even my calves hurt the next day. Not as much exercise as I would have liked, but better than nothing.

I have agreed to ride Taupo on the 24^th November, 2012 with Liz and Pauline. Apparently, with focussed training it is definitely achievable. It is 160km of pure hell and I am a little freaked out. I have told the girls that there will definitely be some tears along the way but Pauline said to me this morning that there will also be loads of laughs too. We also want to raise money for a charity so will be setting up a fundraising page ASAP. Can we please have pink t-shirts????

The reason I am nervous is that I have never biked more than 30km in one go and I expect that a bit of that 30km was me walking and feeling sorry for myself. So I will start with a 10km ride this weekend and see how I go.

Both Liz and Pauline have explained that the use of your gears while riding is really important, so Pauline is going to show me how to use my gears.

I have redone my training schedule to start from Monday 8^th April and to incorporate a mid-week ride and a longer weekend ride. I probably need to add some RPM into the mix as well.

I also signed up for the Run Auckland series starting on the 15^th April and I have put myself down for 10km for each of the 6 events. It cost a bit; but that is motivation not to waste the money right??

Goals for this week:

Stick to my training schedule

Track all my food on MyFitnessPal

Get an RPM class in at the gym

Try alternatives to sugar i.e. frozen banana with nut butter and other fruit etc.

End of Daylight Savings

This week started out very well and then Tuesday night it kind of fell over a little when I did not go for my evening walk.

However, the good thing is, is that it is not the end of the week yet. It is the last day of the work week and we are spoilt with a 4-day weekend. I have decided that I am going to hit the gym for the next 4 days in the morning and then enjoy some slightly longer walks in the late afternoon. I am excited about this.

My eating is still a bit out of control. I am constantly craving sweet things and pasta. So the best thing I think is to just go cold turkey until I can get over craving shitty food. Avoid my triggers. Make sure I eat enough protein.

I came across a fantastic blog the other day which resonates with me; 6 Ways to Kick ThoseSugar Cravings to the Curb. So I am going to fill our freezer with beautiful, chopped frozen berries and banana. The cupboards will be full of lovely, healthy nuts, dates and I will give Quinoa another try.

There are 14 weeks until Rarotonga and I will be damned if I am going to weigh as much as I do now (incidentally that is 146.6kg as at 4^th April). I want to be fitter, healthier and happier when I hit the beach in Raro and ideally I would like to be 129kg, which means losing approximately 1.2kg per week.

So the next 14 weeks will be full of exercise and healthy eating. It also means probably watching less TV, more sleep, less social media and writing my blogs faster.

March Photo a Day

Finished another Photo a Day challenge. It is so much easier with the prompts for the month!! I think I only missed 3 photos this time. 

Now for the April Photo a Day challenge.