Is It Working? (Part I)

Even though June 1st doesn't quite mark the halfway point of the year, it often feels like it is. It's the perfect time to really sit back and take a look at the past 5 months and evaluate how things are going -- has everything that I've been doing over the past few months been helping me towards achieving the goals I set on New Years?

After rereading my goals, I think I'm doing alright, but I know I could be doing a lot better.

Adopting the attitude of 'just do it' instead of obsessing over plans and making sure that I'm working in 'perfect' conditions has really, really helped. At the same time, lack of proper structure (especially now that I'm on summer vacation) has left me feeling a bit lost and a bit anxious.

I need structure. Without having to go to work, I need to establish my own structure and routine. I may not have lessons to plan or papers to grade, but I still have a lot of work that needs to be done.

My summer travel plans are also leaving me a bit nervous. Last week's impromptu trip to London was great (even though we lost the play-off final, ouch!), but it really messed up my routine in terms of exercise, food, and sleep - the 3 key components to making sure I reach my goals.

After getting back, I just felt tired and drained. I didn't want to do anything. Part of my issue is that I'll be traveling again in 5 days. It feels like that's not enough time to set up a proper routine ... but I know that's just an excuse. I've just got to get the work done. The only way to beat my frustration is to work as hard as I can so that I at least help myself move forward, even if it is a millimeter at a time.

Trip #1

I wasn't supposed to travel until the first week of June, but things happen -- such as D's football team making it to the Championship Play-off Final (if they win they get promoted to the Premier League) -- so I'm headed to London tomorrow to for Monday's match!

Today was spent packing and doing a few pre-travel errands. I've outlined a workout plan for my trip and I'll try to stick to it. Flying to London for just 4 days (actually just 2 full days) makes it a little bit awkward but we'll see how it goes. Of course my main concern is food -- but then, I'm always concerned about food, even when I'm home!!

So, no workout this morning. I definitely benefited from that extra rest. I had Kajukenbo class at night. It went really well. I'm really enjoying it :)

I had a late breakfast/early lunch (brunch) at home -- leftovers from last night (the remaining half of my salmon over the rest of the quinoa and salad)

Dinner at a new restaurant, Le Sushi Bar, with friends tonight -- it was incredibly delicious. I had 2 different Maki rolls and some edamame.

Lead Legs

First of all, thanks so much for all the great comments from my progress picture post! I was really touched! Thank you, thank you, thank you! xx

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Last night I could barely walk -- I think waddle is a more accurate description. My legs were SO sore! This morning, after a good night's rest, I did feel better ... however, I was still feeling really stiff and achy. I usually only do Body Balance on Wednesdays, but since I knew I wouldn't be working out later in the day, I headed to the gym a bit earlier to do some cardio.

When I got on the treadmill, I could barely move my legs. Running was out of the question, so I just put the incline up to 1% and walked for 1/2 an hour (3 km). It wasn't much, but I knew I needed to move to loosen up those muscles.

Body Balance was painful - again, my legs were so stiff that it was hard for me to ease into the poses like I normally do. However, by the end of class I felt much better.

It was an afternoon of grocery shopping and cooking for me. Last October I met with two friends while I was on the Whole Life Challenge. We talked about my eating, and while it did seem like I cut out a lot of things (ok, I did cut out a lot of things) I wanted to show that it was possible to eat healthy and have your food taste delicious. So, tonight was my night to cook a CLEAN meal for them - and hope that they enjoy it! I think everything came out great, and it was nice to see them leave with leftovers too :)

Dinner

Appetizer: Hummus with veggies

Main course: Quinoa w/peas, carrots, and red bell peppers; Salad w/tomato, yellow bell pepper, and diced sweet potato - baked in the oven to make them crispy - balsamic/olive oil dressing; Salmon - baked in the oven with herbs and spices [I only ate half the salmon]

Dessert: Greek vanilla yogurt with sliced strawberries (pictured below)

Other food I ate throughout the day:

Breakfast: Scrambled eggs with avocado; Lunch: same as yesterday; Snack: protein shake; Dessert from above pictured here

One Year Progress Picture

I wanted to post this picture on Instagram, but I chickened out. In the picture that was taken last year, I had already lost 16 kg (35 lb). I was so happy with the progress I had made. Now I look at that picture and think, holy shit. I was still so huge. It makes me sad. It also makes me paranoid that the picture that I have now (another 15 kg lighter - 33 lb), is not as good as I think it is (thought it was). I stared at this before and after shot for ages. I asked a friend if I should post it, and he said yes, but I still couldn't. I was so embarrassed at how big I got, especially knowing that this isn't even me at my biggest ... I'm pleased at my progress, but knowing that I have 8 kg (18 lb) left to reach my goal weight freaks me out and makes me really, really anxious. Will these mental demons ever disappear? So ... I couldn't post it on Instagram, but I'll go ahead and post it here on my blog. (My squinty eyes in the new pic bug me too!)

May 2012 - May 2013

one year of consistent clean eating and hitting the gym - no gimmicks; no shortcuts

weight loss: 15 kg (33 lb)

Eat Clean, Train Dirty

This has definitely been the motto that I've been trying to follow. I think I've done a pretty good job so far, though the eating could always be cleaner, and the training could always be dirtier! I'm workin' it out!

I though I'd be more relaxed during summer vacation, but the days have been really busy. I'm a bit behind on my food pix, so here they are from the past 3 days.

Sunday

I felt the lingering effects of Saturdays carbs and sugar today. I wish I hadn't had the tuna fish sandwich for lunch coz' I really should have skipped the bread, but it was there and I ate it. I had the usual breakfast - banana, date, and peanut butter - with a slightly different presentation! I was getting tired of the other picture! Lunch: tuna fish sandwich. Dinner: baked salmon over quinoa salad. Snack: Papaya - the whole bowl. Not pictured: a cup of green tea

Monday

Ok - today was slightly different. I had a bigger breakfast first (the egg white omelet pictured below for Tuesday) and then in the afternoon I had the banana/date/protein combo (also pictured below). Dinner was at a friend's house - grilled chicken with salad. 

Tuesday

I thoroughly enjoyed my food today! Banana, date, peanut butter in the morning, an egg white with mushroom omelet with a side salad and some green tea post-workout, some grilled chicken with half an avocado and some cherry tomatoes for lunch, baked fish in a spicy sundried tomato sauce over vegetables. Not pictured: a protein shake

Trying to Train Dirty

Topsy Turvey

Day 1 of my summer holiday - what a joy! My goal was to sleep in until 9 a.m. (I had a late, late night on Saturday) and then go about my day. I don't know what I was thinking! I woke up at 5:45 a.m. feeling frantic. Not anxious frantic, just busy - omg I have so much to do - frantic. So I started tidying up the house. Once I got started with that, I had a hard time stopping ... and consequently I did not make it to the gym in the morning. 

I did, however, do 100 burpees and 135 squats (Day 14 of the squats challenge) and I got a whole lot of stuff done at home. 

I think my frantic-ness of the day was caused by a sugar/carb-crash following what I ate the night before. Although it may not seem like a lot, when you don't eat that kind of food on a regular basis at all, I think your body reacts to it much more quickly. These are the consequences -- I gotta live with them. 

On my way to acupuncture in the morning my car battery light went on. I was already overdue going for its servicing, so I freaked out a little (the last thing I wanted was an overheated car!) so off to the garage I went, and then I was car-less. Ugh. How annoying!! 

D was a sweetheart and came home by 4 p.m. so that I could take his car to Kajukenbo at night. 

We did some circuit training before our martial art workout. I can really see the impact of my CrossFit & weight training paying off here. While all the other girls were totally out of breath (one even vomited - she was new to the class) I was feeling the effects, but I could keep on going without much difficulty. It felt good. I felt strong! 

By the time I got home, washed up etc. I was exhausted. I had just enough energy to watch the Arsenal match and then I was pretty much ready for bed (and it was only around 8:45 p.m.). I lazed on the couch for a bit and was in bed before 10. I was SO tired! 

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Headed out of the house early this morning to get my car. The car was ready yesterday, but I had to make a decision - get my car or go to Kajukenbo? Kajukenbo won. I had them keep everything ready for me so that I could get it first thing this morning. I was so happy to see it parked right at the entrance of the garage ready for me :) 

Off to the gym --- though I met with a friend for breakfast first. We hadn't caught up in a while, so once again my morning workout didn't go as planned (I feel like such a slacker!!) but we both went in for Body Balance so at least I got that in! 

This afternoon was my last CrossFit class until August. I'll be traveling soon and then the schedules will be topsy turvey because of everyone else's travel plans for the summer. I'm ok with that as I still have the gym. However, I will miss CrossFit. 

Today's WOD left me completely breathless. OMG what a killer. We were supposed to do 3 rounds, but our coach stopped us after 2 coz' it was just deadly - lots of burpees, deadlifts, mountain climbers, push-ups etc. Definitely left me with a workout to remember for the rest of the summer! I'm hoping that while I'm in the States I'll get a chance to try out a CrossFit box or two. We'll see how that goes. 

I've got a birthday dinner to attend tonight. They're all gym buddies so I'm pretty sure that the food will be healthy. 

Picture post tomorrow! 

My Day in Pictures

Breakfast 

(the usual + a cup of green tea - not pictured)

Yoga on the Beach 

(practicing my wheel pose)

Cardio at the Gym 

(1 hour on the cross-trainer)

Lunch

(just veggies + 1 tablespoon of pine nuts)

Dinner 

(my best friend's baby shower - I knew it would all be bread & I was right; I ate, I tried to stick to the least harmful things; I enjoyed what I ate, and most of all, I shared a wonderful evening with my best friend)

Quinoa Salad 

Plate of Carbs

Yes - A Cupcake

Best Compliment of the Day 

"I'd like to congratulate you on your amazing new body; I'm so proud of you because I know you've worked your ass off and you look incredible." 

I was taken aback, slightly embarrassed, but also really happy :)