A new blog series

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I love the different seasons and the different fun things that each one brings.  As a northern European, it got a bit confusing at times when I first moved to the Southern Hemisphere - I didn't realise just how much I needed those seasonal cues to help me remember things like peoples birthdays!  And celebrating Hallowe'en in the spring and Christmas in the summer just isn't the same!

Over the years I've experimented with different ways to celebrate the holidays, creating new traditions and moving others.  I thought that I would start a new series on my blog about monthly traditions and seasonal celebrations.  It sort of fits in with the whole living intentionally thing.

Kicking off with May, I'm going to let you in on the little and big things that I look forward to each month of the year!

April: Meals, Miles, Books and Looks

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The weather has been a real mixture this month with some gorgeous hot days, a few rainy days and the odd chilly night.  When I made the bed the other day I thought it might be about time to put the electric blanket on and add a light duvet  under the comforter.  I failed to check the electric blanket when I put it on the bed and it was on the whole day - my cat Lazuli spent the whole day on the bed lying stretched out on his back with the biggest smile on his face, I don't think I've ever seen him as happy!

Meals:

I think the changeable weather is reflected in my meals of this month.

Lentil and Vegetable Soup: I had a real craving for some hearty vege soup.  I grew up with my Mum and Dads versions of this soup so I don't make it from a recipe and I never measure anything.  The ingredients I use are:
* red lentils
* 2 stock cubes
* 4 diced or sliced carrots
* 2 grated carrots
* 4 - 6 diced potatoes
* 1 diced turnip or swede
* 2 diced or sliced onions
* a lot of salt and pepper

and I added in some soya bacon flavour pieces because I had some to use up.  My parents always made this recipe with a ham bone so the bacos make it more nostalgic for me.

Chilli Cheese on Toast: I had sourdough toast with chilli cheese melted on top and served with hot chips and baked beans.

Duxelle Fettuccine: Duxelle stirred through the cooked fettuccine and then topped with sliced and sautéed green beans and portobello mushroomsThis was an amazingly quick and tasty meal.

Tomato and Avocado on Sourdough Toast: I had this for lunch but it could also be a nice breakfast meal.

I also indulged in some very tasty treats this month!  My scales tell me I have over indulged, but I love this time of year!

Kane and I biked to the pub and had a sneaky wee Guinness.

We took a trip to Safka, the continental shop and bought lots of wonderful things including the Marabou chocolate and Glögg mulled wine concentrate pictured.

I've been enjoying a few cups of spiced apple cider drink whilst watching the leaves fall from my trees.  Side note, my cat Azzy loves to chase the leaves that fall onto the raised deck.

I saw these Lays Cucumber Flavour crisps at the Chinese supermarket and was curious - they are quite nice and I'll certainly have them again. 

Another strange crisp flavour was the Cinnamon & Sugar Pringles I picked up and the North American supermarket. I tried to save them for winter but I caved in and ate them this month and they were quite nice.  I'll get them again if they still have them.

Miles: 19.9km

Ha! That's the same mileage as last month.  I've been doing a couch to 5k program which I've been blogging about here > C25K and I hit a bit of a blip with some hip/glute pain that I've been in physio for.  I've been doing yoga, hip and glute stretches and strengthening exercises so I'm hoping to make this sort of pain and injury a thing of the past!

Books:

Delirium by Lauren Oliver


//Image from Goodreads

I managed to get another copy of this book so I could finish reading it.  It ended up being a pretty quick read and I enjoyed it.  I didn't realise that it was the first in a series so it doesn't have quite the satisfactory ending a more stand alone tale would have but it was enough of an ending that I'm not in any hurry to continue with this series .

The Death Cure by James Dashner


//Image from Goodreads
I enjoyed the first two books in the series and this was a very action packed conclusion to series.  I've seen the movie of the first book, the Maze Runner and unlike Divergent, I'm pretty keen to see the movie versions of the Scorch Trials and the Death Cure.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon - I don't know why I'm still listening to this audio book its such a chore.

Double Knit Murders by Maggie Sefton - I haven't got passed the first few chapters but I have renewed it from the library so I have to finish it in May.

Looks:

I'm really terrible at this section!

Earlier this month we went to the Counting Crows gig, I dug out my German army shirt that I used to wear a lot back in the day :)  Of course I didn't take any outfit pictures!

We also went for short hike in the Waitakeres, and I got a chance to try out my new Buff.

And when I remembered I needed to get a picture for the blog, I got a shot of my red gilet I got from Gap last December, its finally the right time of year to wear it and I wear it all the time!

I did make a bunch of new purchases this month though.

Ice skating has started back so I went to Lululemon (I might have an addiction!) to get a couple of outfits.

I bought a pair of brushed Wunderunder pants that feel amazing.  I tried them out at ice skating and they were really great and I didn't feel cold at all.  The pants were a bit too long for me and bunched up in my skates but Lululemon has a free hemming service so I've taken my pants back into the store and I'll get them back in a week.

I also got 2 of the Cabin Yogi jumpers which I tried out one of them at ice skating and the other lounging around the house and they are becoming firm favourites.

And I haven't worn the run swiftly half zip yet.

I have been wearing my new Sketchers though.  I bought them for going back and forward yoga and ice skating, but I've been wearing them all the time lately!

 

Couch to 5k: Physio

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Here are the links to the previous posts in case you missed them:
Well just what I didn't want to have happen - I got injured!  This week I haven't been running and I've been seeing a physio.  I think I strained a muscle in my glutes and the physio has been giving me acupuncture to unknot it and promote healing. 

The underlying issue is that I have weak glutes and particularly on my injured side so the physio has given me some specific stretches and strengthening exercises.  I've avoided strength training up until now because I was concerned about building muscle in all wrong places but now I have some specific exercises to do I can start adding them into my training.

The stretching exercises I have to do include the Pigeon Pose which I'm to do for 1 minute 3x a day

Image from fitness.com
As for strength building, I'm to do this exercise called the Clam every day.  My glutes are so weak that I can't lift the leg very much at all and it is very difficult to stop the leg muscles from helping out.
Image from queenstownphysio.co.nz
I've also been instructed to give the leg press machine at the gym a go which I'm happy about because it's one of my favourites.  I'm also to keep with yoga and try adding in a core strength exercise 3x a week.

As for running I'm to take it easy, try to make no noise and make sure I stop if I feel any pain.  Since I've taken a week off running I don't feel ready to take on week 5 of the program just yet so I'm repeating week 4 and I'm doing it at a slower speed on the treadmill too.  I've done Day 1 so far and it felt good.

Week 4 Again


Day 1 Day 2 Day 3
Warm Up: Walk 5 min Warm Up: Walk 5 min Warm Up: Walk 5 min
Run: 3 min
Walk: 2 min
Run: 3 min
Walk: 2 min
Run: 3 min
Walk: 2 min
Run: 4 min
Walk: 3 min
Repeat 2 times
Run: 5 min
Walk: 3 min
Repeat 2 times
Run: 5 min
Walk: 2 min
Repeat 2 times
Run: 3 min
Walk: 2 min
Run: 3 min
Walk: 2 min
Run: 3 min
Walk: 2 min
Cool Down: Walk 5 min Cool Down: Walk 5 min Cool Down: Walk 5 min
Total time: 34 min Total time: 36 min Total time: 34 min

Goals

This week my goals are:
  • Daily stretches
  • Daily strength exercises
  • Weights at the gym at least once
  • Week 4 of the C25K plan
  • Yoga class at least once this week 

Currently In ... April

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I went for my first run since starting physio and it was ok.  I'm repeating week 4 since its been a full week without any running and I didn't feel like I could take a step forward in my training just yet.  I'm pretty happy with my efforts today and looking forward to moving on to week 5.

Reading:  Double Knit Murders by Maggie Sefton. 

Watching: Suits, Castle, Greys Anatomy, Grimm, Agents of Shield and Game of Thrones is back!

Feeling: A little frustrated at not making as much progress with running as I would have liked.

Anticipating: Returning to ice skating this week and a new choir is starting up and I've signed up for it.

Listening to: The audiobook of Outlander.  It's quite terrible and I've fallen out with it so many times - I actually blogged about giving up on it in March's MMBL but for some strange reason I'm still listening to it :/

Planning: My workout schedule to include some strength training as directed by the physio.

Working: On getting my garden under control a little at a time.

Wanting: New clothes and a new bag.

Needing: To get my nutrition under control.

Loving: Autumn and apple things like spiced apple cider, spiced apple tea, apple cake.

Couch to 5K: Week 4 - Half Way

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Half way there!

Here are the links to the previous posts in case you missed them:

Week 4 Recap


Day 1 Day 2 Day 3
Warm Up: Walk 5 min Warm Up: Walk 5 min Warm Up: Walk 5 min
Run: 3 min
Walk: 2 min
Run: 3 min
Walk: 2 min
Run: 3 min
Walk: 2 min
Run: 4 min
Walk: 3 min
Repeat 2 times
Run: 5 min
Walk: 3 min
Repeat 2 times
Run: 5 min
Walk: 2 min
Repeat 2 times
Run: 3 min
Walk: 2 min
Run: 3 min
Walk: 2 min
Run: 3 min
Walk: 2 min
Cool Down: Walk 5 min Cool Down: Walk 5 min Cool Down: Walk 5 min
Total time: 34 min Total time: 36 min Total time: 34 min

I was really pleased with my efforts on day 1 and went into day 2 feeling a bit more confident in my abilities.  Day 2 was really hard for me and I started to feel some little niggles in my right leg from hip to knee to foot.  And then boom, I strained my hip and had to make an appointment with the physio.

I rested for 4 days and then ran day 3 which was really hard but not too sore.  I've got another appointment with the physio and we will come up with some sort of action plan so if I'm allowed to continue to run I'll move onto week 5. 

Week 5 Plan

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3
Warm Up: Walk 5 min Warm Up: Walk 5 min Warm Up: Walk 5 min
Run: 5 min
Walk: 3 min
Run: 5 min
Walk: 3 min
Run: 8 min
Walk: 5 min
Run: 6 min
Walk: 3 min
Run: 8 min
Walk: 3 min
Run: 8 min
Run: 5 min Run: 5 min
Cool Down: Walk 5 min Cool Down: Walk 5 min Cool Down: Walk 5 min
Total time: 32 min Total time: 36 min Total time: 31 min

Goals

My goals for this next week is to obey the rules set by the physio.  Hopefully that will include yoga and running.

Weekend Recap

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It is Monday morning and it is dull, grey and raining.  It's a far stretch from the wonderful weekend I've just enjoyed with my husband.

Friday

On Friday evening we had planned to go to the rugby but instead decided to take back a library book and then go to Revive for dinner since I had coupons.  Unfortunately it wasn't open so we had to come up with a plan B and decided to get some Sushi from the Sushi Factory.  (The next day some coupons came up for the Sushi Factory so even though we've just been I couldn't pass it up!).

Saturday

The weather was absolutely glorious all day on Saturday.  I wanted to head to the farmers market because I hadn't been in a while and I was hoping that the vineyard would be doing their mulled wine.  It turned out to be too early in the year still for mulled wine and the temperature was really too warm to be drinking mulled wine anyway.  We got some coffee and croissants for breakfast and wandered around the market.  We got a good haul of fresh groceries for the week.  I'm not quite sure how it happened but I managed to spill coffee all the way down my front!

The farmers market I go to is the Oratia Farmers Market and its right next to Artisan wines so even though it wasn't a mulled wine day I still decided to purchase a couple of bottles of wine :)

Once we were home we finished doing some housework, had dolmades for lunch and then spent the afternoon in a corn maze which was great fun and something we plan to do next year too.  We got home about dinner time and I made some tricolore fettucine with the duxelle I got at the farmers market and I sliced up some portobello mushrooms and some of the beans I got at the market and sauteed them in olive oil and garlic pepper and served them on top of the pasta.  It went very well with a glass of red wine.  After dinner we watched the movie Snowpiercer which turned out to be a bit of a disappointing film.


Sunday

For breakfast I toasted some of the sourdough bread I got at the market and spread with avocado and chopped tomatoes and basil.  We had already planned that we would either go for a walk in the Waitakeres or get some hardware things we need for the garden depending on the weather.  The weather was fairly overcast but not raining even though it looked like it might.  We waited until after lunch to see what the weather was going to do and decided that we would do the easy Auckland City Walk.  We did this at very leisurely pace stopping to look at the kauri trees and read the flora information signs and it took us about 40 minutes.  After this we went to the Arataki Visitor Centre took some photos of the vistas and grabbed some maps and info leaflets about more walks in the area.

It was coming on dinner time when we got home so we made dinner of Quorn turkey style steaks, roast carrots, brussel sprouts and beet root and watched a couple of TV shows we had recorded.  Then I had a nice bath while catching up on Once Upon A Time using the TVNZ on demand app on my iPad.

I was so relaxed I think I only managed about 2 paragraphs of my book before I fell asleep.  It was a pretty great weekend.

Couch to 5k: Week 3

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And that's week 3 under my belt!

Here are the links to the previous posts in case you missed them:

Week 3 Recap

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3
Warm Up: Walk 5 min Warm Up: Walk 5 min Warm Up: Walk 5 min
Run: 1.5 min
Walk: 1.5 min
Run: 1.5 min
Walk: 1.5 min
Run: 2 min
Walk: 2 min
Run: 2.5 min
Walk: 2.5 min
Repeat 2 times
Run: 2.5 min
Walk: 2.5 min
Repeat 2 times
Run: 3 min
Walk: 3 min
Repeat 2 times
Run: 1.5 min
Walk: 1.5 min
Run: 1.5 min
Walk: 1.5 min
Run: 2 min
Walk: 2 min
Cool Down: Walk 5 min Cool Down: Walk 5 min Cool Down: Walk 5 min
Total time: 26 min Total time: 26 min Total time: 30 min

The first run of week 3 went really well and the 2.5 min run segments just flew by.  My calf gave no sign of any bother and it was a brilliant run.  The second run, which was the same format as the first was also great running wise, but not so great from a running outfit point of view - let me tell you what happened.  I had packed by bag for yoga on Tuesday but a slight mishap trapped my clothes in an airing cupboard and led me to miss my class, so my bag was still packed with yoga clothes when I went to the gym for my run.  The pants I had packed are only just usable for yoga but are really rubbish for running in and I spent the whole time trying to stop them falling down!  I actually had to pause the treadmill to pull them up as the cropped bottoms had just about reached my ankles - it was bad!

The last run of the week was the toughest.  I did feel some slight niggles from both legs but nothing that some stretching won't fix.  The 3 min run segments felt the toughest not because they were hard, but because I was battling my brain and the 2 hot cross buns I had for breakfast.

Week 4 Plan

There's no messing around in week 4 we get straight in there with 3,4,4,3 min run segments and then up the ante to 3,5,5,3 run segments for days 2 and 3.  This makes me nervous!  My plan to tackle this is to take it easy, try to keep the body relaxed and focus on form.  I certainly need to respect my body and the training and fuel up appropriately - maybe a hot cross bun after a run and not before!  I'll really need keep on top of the foam rolling especially since I won't be able to make a yoga class until the end of the week.

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3
Warm Up: Walk 5 min Warm Up: Walk 5 min Warm Up: Walk 5 min
Run: 3 min
Walk: 2 min
Run: 3 min
Walk: 2 min
Run: 3 min
Walk: 2 min
Run: 4 min
Walk: 3 min
Repeat 2 times
Run: 5 min
Walk: 3 min
Repeat 2 times
Run: 5 min
Walk: 2 min
Repeat 2 times
Run: 3 min
Walk: 2 min
Run: 3 min
Walk: 2 min
Run: 3 min
Walk: 2 min
Cool Down: Walk 5 min Cool Down: Walk 5 min Cool Down: Walk 5 min
Total time: 34 min Total time: 36 min Total time: 34 min

Races

In other news, I bit the bullet and entered the Unitec Run & Walk series, the Auckland 12k and the Blackmores XTERRA Auckland trail series!  The first of these events is a 6.5k trail run on the 17th May which is only 6 weeks away eep!

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