M.I.A.

I've been M.I.A. lately - well I was in Sydney early last week for a course (freezing my butt off too!) so with the change in weather, sitting on a plane next to people coughing and sniffling, and then people at my own office dropping like flies with colds and flu's, I got sick! Yes, once again I am snot queen!

So since I've been sick I haven't been training. And since I havent been training I havent had much to blog about.

Now I'm a big believer in thinking positively, and positive self talk and all that... so I've been using this approach over the last week. I could be spotted at work or at home muttering to myself "C'MON - FIGHT THIS COLD!!!!" or "YOU CAN BEAT THESE GERMS!!" and just generally giving myself pep talks, telling myself I'm not gonna get sick etc. I've even been thinking about the nasty little germs in my body, and imagining the good bacteria as little army men with machine guns, and them shooting down the bad germs.

After using this approach I woke up this morning with swollen glands in my throat, and sore inner ears. I guess I'll go back to the salt-water gargles instead!!

So... not much else to report! I took a sickie today and have just finished watching "Miss Potter" on DVD, what a lovely/weepie movie. We are hoping to go see Transformers this weekend, everybody seems to be raving about it at the moment.

Well thats about it, have a wonderful week everyone!

A few pics...

Lounge room before carpet

Lounge room after carpet... (with one posing puddy-cat)

Our bedroom during construction - this was the gyprocking/insulating stage...

Our bedroom, after!! We need a new bed as it does not match the carpet! The Walk in Robe and ensuite aren't done yet.

My new hairdo. The non-stripey side.

Feeling good

I had a fantastic weekend this weekend.  So proud of myself for staying 100% on plan, and didn't really have a free meal.  Actually my "free" meal was a stir fry with rice (dont normally have carbs at dinner) so I did well.  I was feeling so great on the weekend - after a week of niggling stomach pain and reflux it was sooooo good to have no pain!

I woke up on Saturday morning with a plan of attack.  I have decided to try a low-gluten lifestyle and see how this makes me feel.  I did say LOW gluten, not gluten-free.  I bought some gluten free stuff on Saturday, and I'm feeling pretty good so far!  I dont eat a lot of bread/pasta anyway, but I have noticed that when I do have one of these stomach attacks, I've usually eaten wheat.  Anyway, it cant hurt, so we'll see how it goes.

I have also cut out all coffee, tea, chocolate, spicy food, citrus fruit and tomatoes - as these all increase stomach acid.  Yeah I'm going to be a misery to be around!!  LOL!

So the rest of the weekend was great - we got a great deal on an inverter air-conditioner for the new bedroom.  We got our feature (brick) wall in the lounge lacquered so its GLEAMING.  On Sunday we went to visit my parents and scored some of their 3 year old carpet (mum's decided she wants timber floors - so we got free carpet!), and tomorrow we are getting some brand new carpet laid in our bedroom and lounge room, and they will lay the freebie carpet in our new 4th bedroom.  Once the carpet is laid we are moving back in to our main bedroom... I cant wait... the bedroom is HUGE!! (6m x 6m!)  Will post pics as soon as I can.

Other than that, nothing new to report.  I have to go to Sydney next Sunday for a two day training course - which is a shame cos otherwise I would have been going down to Melbourne to watch the comp.  But... you cant knock back training opportunities I guess.  Maybe I'll get to go again next year - last year was such a blast!

Anyway, have a great week everyone, stay strong!

My hair

Since I got my hair cut a few weeks ago, I've had some interesting comments. I didn't think it was that different - its just a bob which is longer at the front than it is at the back, with an orange stripe down the right side. I have just been told that its a "Pob" aka Posh Spice's Bob.

One older woman at work thought she ought to tell me that the hairdresser had forgotten to put an orange stripe down the OTHER side. I thought she was joking... she was serious.

Another woman came up to me and asked "I HAVE to ask you, is your hair a little bit... well... um... it looks like it might be a little bit longer at the front than at the back...". I assured her that it was cut that way deliberately. She then said "OH that's good - I was a bit worried that you might not know!!" Ummmm ... seriously?

OH doesn't like it that much - he liked it long. After I got it cut he smirked sarcasticly when I asked him what he thought, and then said... "it looks... nice" *smirk* One night at dinner he was staring at me, and said "I've just remembered what your hair cut reminds me of." I replied "Dont tell me if its going to upset me". He said "Its a 'Pulp Fiction' hair cut. Like Uma Thurmans hair in that movie". I didn't know how to take this comment, and I still dont!!!!

I've been thinking about some of my wilder hair-do's that I've had in the past. I havent done anything outlandish for a few years. I always had a blue or red stripe, or coloured my whole head purple. I think the only colour I haven't had is green. I'd grow it long then cut it all off. Or I'd get it bleached white blonde, and then 2 months later decide that I wanted it black. People used to ask me if I'd got it done that way "as a dare?" LOL!!! I changed it constantly for years! OH used to say that he loved it because he felt like he was getting a new girlfriend every 3 months! Although I did have some shockers. I remember one time I wanted to have hair like Halle Berry in Swordfish. It was really REALLY short - it really suited her - but unfortunately it did nothing for me. In fact, it was awful. I think I cried.

But anyway, it grows, thats the main thing. I think I'm getting old though - suddenly I care what people think of my hair and I seem to be losing my adventurous streak. Although I do love my orange stripe...

I'm having a fantastic week this week - this morning I did back and chest. Last week I struggled to do all the sets and reps, this week I reached goal reps on almost all exercises! We're going up in weights next week! Woo! Have a wonderful day!

Week 7 already

Wow my challenge is now in week 7 already!!  How fast is this year going?!!

Despite a few stumbles in the last few weeks, and that week of not training due to my stomach problems, I'm still ploughing along.  My weekend was VERY controlled food-wise, and my only issue was not drinking enough water.  Only 1.5 litres each day - terrible, terrible.  Still, this no-alcohol thing really helps me stay on track.  I find it hard though - I LOVE a glass of wine on Saturday night!    I did my measurements this morning and the damage isn't too bad.  No earth shattering results, but at least I havent gained centimetres.  Weight is about the same.

It was 6 degrees outside when I got up for gym this morning, and it was 13 degrees in my kitchen (a house under renovation is not a warm house).  I have taken to wearing a scarf to the gym but I draw the line at gloves.  It takes a full 5 minutes of driving for my car's heater to warm up, and by then I'm only another minute or two away from the gym - just enough time to defrost!!  I did legs and shoulders this morning - I did another PB on leg press - 130kgs, 3 sets of 10.  I was so impressed with myself, but I think I strained something in my hammie as a result - well something went "twaaaang" in my leg.  I was really grunting though this too, but I felt strong.   I'm surprised at how much I've increased in weights in leg press lately - a couple of weeks ago I would have told you that I couldn't lift more than 100kgs.  Its funny how we are actually a lot stronger than we think - its just a matter of pushing yourself further than you think you can.  I wish I had a training partner, a spotter would really help.

Anyway, looking forward to have a great week - my goal is to do 3 weights and 6 cardio sessions this week!  Happy Monday everyone!