March: Meals, Miles, Books and Looks

Meals

I've been hosting my parents for most of March so meals have been a mixture of home cooked and restaurant meals.

We went for a day trip to Puhoi and when we were there we visited the cheese factory shop and purchased some very nice cheeses, so the following evening we had a cheese and wine, with mixed olives, artichoke hearts, semi-dried tomatoes, oat cakes and crackers.

We had some quorn BBQ fillets in the freezer so I made those with some mixed veges and some mini corn cobs my Dad had left.  Mixed up some sriracha and butter and coated the cobs in it and it was delicious! :)

Also pictured is some tomato, garlic, basil and olive oil mix piled on top of toast which is so good to eat at any time.  And my famous chilli which I made for my parents using some of Kanes freshly harvested chillies.

At one of our restaurant visits I had this pear, blue cheese and walnut salad and it was so amazing!  I will need to try and recreate this at home sometime.

Miles: 19.9km

I decided I was going to buy a one month membership to a yoga studio when they changed their plans and I got an even better deal - included in the membership is full access to the gym downstairs and you can bring a friend every time for free!

With access to treadmills I decided that I would start on the couch to 5k program again.  Treadmill running is much easier than outside running because you have a nice cushioned surface to run on, the treadmill does some of the work for you by dragging your leg back rather than you having to push yourself forward and you don't have to worry too much about hills or temperature control.  This little bonus gym membership means that I'm able to start running without compromising my main goal of stretching out and loosening up my muscles - really happy about this!

Books

I had to give Delirium back to the library before I had finished it :( and then I finally got too angry at Outlander (aka Cross Stitch) by Diana Gabaldon.  There were many occasions where I got angry at this book and had to stop, but then convinced myself to push on but when I came the whole wife beating incident that the beaten wife seemed to forgive very quickly followed by what I think is about to become martial rape I just stopped and I can't think of any reason to continue with this.  I hate having to give up on a book, but I think I'll skip to the last chapter or two to get some kind of closure.

I'm currently reading Knit One, Kill Two by Maggie Sefton.  Actually the book I have is Double Knit Murders and has two stories in it, this one and Needled to Death.  Can you tell they are knitting mysteries? :)

I haven't really done too much reading this month and there are a few books on my list that I really want to get to reading.  I think I'll check out what audio books are available at the library so I can listen to these when I'm at the gym.

Looks

Apart from my Taylor Swift Keds it was all about Lululemon this month!

The wunder under crops are brilliant but its the towel and the bang buster headband that have made the biggest difference to my hot yoga experience.  When I couldn't find my bang buster headband I ended up battling with sweat getting in my eyes and when my towel was in the wash I found my hands slipping on the mat without it. 

I still need to get more workout wear but I can't justify the price of getting everything from Lululemon.  I hope to get another pair of wunder unders eventually and the rest I'll buy budget from the Warehouse.

Also, March is officially the start of autumn so I've been trying to wear more demin, plaid and boots but it's still pretty hot during the day - we're looking at 23/24 degC this week!

What are your meals, miles, books and looks of March?

Weekend Recap

My parents who have been staying with us for 3 weeks left on Thursday evening so the rest of Thursday was spent veg'd out on the sofa binge watching TV shows.

Friday I did the last run for week 2 of the couch to 5k program and then did some foam rolling and wrote up my blog post about that.  The rest of the day was spent doing a little laundry and cleaning and generally just chilling out.

On Saturday I made us blueberry pancakes which we had with maple syrup and they were so tasty if I do say so myself!  Then we headed out to do some grocery shopping from the UK and North American stores.  We go to these two stores about 4 times a year.  Lanes Foodmarket, formerly The English Corner Shop, imports and sells lots of UK products and a few specialty Scottish products like macaroon bars, Irn Bru and Tunnocks caramel wafers.  We go there to stock up on Quorn and Linda McCartney products - during spring and summer its mostly BBQ foods, but during autumn and winter we make sausage casseroles, cottage pie, quorn curries and such like.  Martha's Backyard sell North American products like Kraft dinner, Sriracha, Vlasic dill pickle.  I picked up some of the red velvet oreos - OMG so yum!

Saturday evening took us to see RNZBs ballet, Don Quixote.  We had actually seen Don Quixote by the Russian Ballet exactly 1 year ago, but the RNZB always does such a fantastic job and the set and costumes were a feast for the eyes.

On Sunday we went to the Great Pumpkin Carnival and had a lovely day looking at the pumpkins and wandering around Hamilton Gardens.  We had lunch at the gardens cafe and I had to have the pumpkin roulade!


We wound up our weekend by watching the first episode of The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

Couch to 5k: Week 2

I have just finished up week 2 of the couch to 5k program and now I'm heading into week 3!

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

• Couch to 5k: Week 1
• Couch to 5k: The Start

Week 2 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: 2 min Repeat 4 times	Run: 1.5 min Walk: 2 min Repeat 4 times	Run: 1.5 min Walk: 2 min Repeat 6 times
Run: 1 min Walk: 1 min Repeat 2 times	Run: 1 min Walk: 1 min Repeat 2 times
Cool Down: Walk 5 min	Cool Down: Walk 5 min	Cool Down: Walk 5 min
Total time: 28 min	Total time: 28 min	Total time: 31 min

So, first lets review week 2.  The first run of week 2 went really well, but then an action packed weekend followed by my cat being unwell meant that the second run was 5 days later and also I did not make any yoga classes this week.  I did however manage to fit in some foam rolling and a little stretching so I think I'm making progress.  In case you were wondering, my cat is much better now after a course of antibiotics :)

Week 2 also taught me the importance of keeping on top of the laundry!  Especially if I want to be getting my sweat on every day.  I have discovered that the light sport load setting on my washing machine is nice and quick for all my technical fabric kit, but I should probably get a few more outfits so that I don't have to run the machine every day!

Week 3 Plan

On to week 3 and as you can see from the table below, some of the run segments jump by a full minute and on the last run of the week they have doubled in size!  This seems like quite a big jump and I would happy continuing to add 30 seconds to my current run segments, but I'm going to keep with the program and maybe I'll surprise myself.

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

This weeks Goals

Since I'm still trying to get the stretching, foam rolling, yoga and running all happening in the same week, I think this will continue to be my goal for the next 2 weeks.

Also, to encourage myself with something to work towards, I intend to enter the Blackmores XTERRA Auckland Trail Series!

Couch to 5k: Week 1

Last week I started with an 8 week couch to 5k program.  Here is a link to that blog post if you missed it:

• Couch to 5k: The Start

Week 1 Recap

Day 1	Day 2	Day 3
Warm Up: Walk 5 min	Warm Up: Walk 5 min	Warm Up: Walk 5 min
Run: 1 min Walk: 1.5 min Repeat 6 times	Run: 1 min Walk: 1.5 min Repeat 8 times	Run: 1 min Walk: 1.5 min Repeat 8 times
Cool Down: Walk 5 min	Cool Down: Walk 5 min	Cool Down: Walk 5 min
Total time: 25 min	Total time: 30 min	Total time: 30 min

The first week went very well.  I was mindful of my intentions and I did 4 yoga classes, one of which was a yin yoga class which worked on stretching out the hips and lower back.  I also remembered to try to run with good form and when I do this it makes me feel good.

The workouts have been done on a treadmill to keep impact and hills at a minimum.  I don't go very fast yet, I walk at 5kph and run at 9kph and this feels really good.

There is still a very slight twinge in my calf which happens either during the warm up walk or the first run/walk segment but then quickly goes away.  I am certain that this is tight and cold muscles complaining.

Confession: I have been very bad and not properly stretching out afterwards and I've still done no foam rolling!

Coming Up

Week 2 is going to be about yoga and foam rolling as the run segments start to creep up to 90 seconds.

Week 2 of the couch to 5k program:

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: 2 min Repeat 4 times	Run: 1.5 min Walk: 2 min Repeat 4 times	Run: 1.5 min Walk: 2 min Repeat 6 times
Run: 1 min Walk: 1 min Repeat 2 times	Run: 1 min Walk: 1 min Repeat 2 times
Cool Down: Walk 5 min	Cool Down: Walk 5 min	Cool Down: Walk 5 min
Total time: 28 min	Total time: 28 min	Total time: 31 min

Overall I'm really happy with how week 1 has gone.  Its reminded me that I love running, but also that I have a long way to go and I can't afford to lose any flexibility, but losing a bit of weight would definitely help.

Is anyone else doing or has done a couch to 5k program? How has your workout week been?

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Currently in ... March

Reading: Delirium by Lauren Oliver and Knit One, Kill Two by Maggie Sefton.

Watching: I have house guests so we're not watching a huge amount of TV, just the odd movie but I did manage to catch up on the Blacklist last night.

Thinking: About how much I enjoyed yoga last week.

Anticipating: A fun car rally organised by the BHB-Lynfield Lions that should take us through some nice spots in west Auckland.

Listening to: Style by Taylor Swift, I'm thinking I should just buy the album!



Planning: Some fun activities and a road trip.

Working: On baking some tasty treats for the car rally morning tea.

Wanting: Pretty much everything from Lululemon and the money to buy it!

Needing: More workout clothes.

Loving: The new Keds I got at the weekend!

Image from Hannahs

Grateful: That Cyclone Pam has passed and we have beautiful blue skies again.

Monday Meeting: Healthy Living

Here we are at the start of a new week.  Firstly, lets review last week and then plan for the upcoming week.

Last weeks workouts:

Hot power yoga x 4
Yin yoga x 1
Couch to 5k x 1

Last weeks calorie intake:

Total calories consumed = 14396

What worked well:

• Using Myfitnesspal to track my food intake
• Making and freezing sandwiches in bulk
• Using the special Sport load setting on my washing machine!
• Freezing bite size mars bars

What didn't work so well:

• Having guests staying - too many meals out.
• Buffet meals - I'm not good at exercising control!
• Having a Tank for lunch - it was almost 800 calories!

On to this week!

Planned workouts:

Hot power yoga x 3
Couch to 5k x 2

Planned meals:

Breakfast - toast or cereal
Lunch - sandwiches *make these in bulk today*
Dinner - *draft a meal plan today and go shopping*, restrict eating out to Fri, Sat, Sun

Things to try:

• Keep using Myfitnesspal
• Portion out snacks
• Try to restrict eating out to weekends
• Make a list of quick recipes

 

Couch to 5k: The Start

I purchased the headband and towel and also a pair of wunder under roll down crops from Lululemon.  I'm really happy with my purchases and I tested them out at hot yoga last night.  The towel definitely stopped my hands from sliding and the headband stopped sweat from going in my eyes.  At first I though maybe I wasn't sweating as much, but I did have to give my face a pat down with the towel during class.

Yoga is very much a challenge right now and I can feel how tight my body is and how unbalanced it is.  I was trying to get an idea of how much I should be doing and how long until I see results and most sites I looked at recommend 3 classes a week, plus daily 10-20 minutes of sun salutations and I should begin to notice the difference in 2-4 weeks.  I have a feeling it's going to take longer than that before I start to notice any change, but I'm so looking forward to the day when I'm not a big ball of tightness anymore.

Since I had some free time before the class started I decided that I may as well have a go on the treadmill.  It seemed like a good a day as any to start the couch to 5k program.

Here is the first week of the program and I've completed day 1 so far.

Day 1	Warm Up - Walk 5 minutes	Run - 1 minute Walk - 1.5 minute repeat 6 times	Cool Down - Walk 5 minutes	Total time: 25 minutes
Day 2	Warm Up - Walk 5 minutes	Run - 1 minute Walk - 1.5 minute  repeat 6 times	Cool Down - Walk 5 minutes	Total time: 30 minutes
Day 3	Warm Up - Walk 5 minutes	Run - 1 minute Walk - 1.5 minute  repeat 8 times	Cool Down - Walk 5 minutes	Total time: 30 minutes

During the first run minute I felt the old familiar twinge in my right calf.  It went away when I entered the first walk segment and didn't come back, but it still concerns me.

My number 1 goal is to loosen up.  As I said in my last post, I'm all out of whack and I don't want to build and strengthen muscle in the wrong places. I think my past attempts at running without proper stretching and recovery has helped to accelerate me to the tight mess I'm in now so I'm approaching the run training a bit differently this time:

• Running isn't my top goal - and if I feel like my main goal is getting compromised in any way then I just have to stop and reassess.
• Stretching out every day and after every run - mostly in the form of yoga.
• Foam rolling - I can't say I've done any of this yet but it's a necessary evil that I have to make my peace with.
• Run on the treadmill - it's more cushioned and I can run on the flat making it easier on my calf muscles.
• Focus on form over speed - this is quite challenging because I've been so lazy for so long.  I find it hard to walk with good form so it takes a lot of focus to keep it up.

The 5k program consists of 3 sessions per week for 8 weeks.  I'm excited to see how I progress over the next 8 weeks but also realistic and mindful of the results I want to achieve, so if it takes longer and I have to repeat weeks then so be it.  I don't have a deadline on this but I would like to enter the Unitec Run & Walk Series starting in July.

Are you already doing running or yoga?  Or are you thinking about starting a new exercise plan?  Let me know how its going!

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Hot Yoga

So I went to my first hot yoga class at the studio and it was great!  I quickly realised that I'm a big ball of tightness and it's going to take a lot of yoga to get back any sort of flexibility.

Studio
Image from Abundance

 The studio was pleasantly warm and it was a dry heat.  I think they heat it to about 30 degC, but it didn't feel uncomfortable.  It didn't take much movement to get the sweat flowing and I had to wipe it from my eyes a couple of times so I was glad I had a towel with me.  I saw another girl had a wide headband on and she also had a thin towel on her mat and I think these are great ideas to manage sweat so I'm going to Lululemon to purchase a towel and headband.

Image Lululemon Headband

Image Lululemon Towel

I initially set up my mat in the corner, but I realised that was where the heat source was, so I moved to the middle of the room in front of the instructor.  There were about 8 of us in the class, which felt like a nice number, one of which was a male who was about as inflexible as me so I was glad he was there.  I think next time I will set up my mat over by the mirrors so that I can watch my positioning in the postures though.

I left the class feeling light on my feet and much more aware of my body and I felt really pleased with myself for going.  The mind creates a lot of reasons for inaction but it sure does love it when you take action!  Anyway, my new found body awareness has detected some postural imbalances that I'm hoping yoga will correct.  I was going to start doing some strength training, but I might leave this for a month or so and give yoga a chance to work it magic.  I'll still do the odd barre class and I might give pilates a go too but I don't really want to build muscle if I'm building it in the wrong place.

Anyone ever tried hot yoga? and did you like it if you did?  Do you strength train? and if you do, do you have any recommendations?

Barre Class

Being keen to get value out of my studio membership I went to a Barre class yesterday.  I've been to this class once before during my trial membership and I found it enjoyable and challenging and yesterdays class was no different.

Image from Abundance

The instructor was fun, energetic and helpful and the class totally kicked my ass!

In case you don't know what a Barre class is, its a workout based around a ballet barre with other props like small hand weights, pilates magic circle, small pilates ball and resistance bands.  It's a mix of ballet moves, aerobics, pilates and a bit of yoga done in a high energy kind of way to music but its low impact.

I'm quite overweight (ok, technically obese urgh) and not terribly fit so I find the movements to be enough cardio to get a sweat on.  I also have tight leg muscles and the outsides of my lower legs start to burn when we are doing work on our tip toes so I can't always manage a full set.  The arms and shoulders work done with the pilates magic circle are challenging and I really feel it there and also in my glutes today!  I'm surprised I don't feel it more in my abs because we did planks and then core work on the mats.  I did love the stretching we did on the barre and on the mats and I wish we could have stayed in the stretches longer.

I really enjoy this class and I'm looking forward to the next one but it's clear that I need more yoga (and the evil foam roller) in my life too so I can really get these tight muscles sorted.

I joined a gym

I've been reading a few blogs and fitness sites lately and I've particularly been inspired by Amber over at GirlWithTheRedHair.com and Rhona at RedWineRunner.co.uk and I'm quite keen to start yoga, body pump and running.
Every morning this week I have been trying to do some sun salutations and I can see this will be a long road.  I was reading an article by Kino MacGregor on Yoga Journal and in it she mentions that it might take 10 years to accomplish the jump through!  So I better get started huh?

One day this will be me!
Image from kinoyoga.com

I decided to bite the bullet and join a yoga studio I had done a trial week with in January and as luck would have it they have recently joined up with the gym in the same building to offer a deal where you get a gym membership for free!  So I signed up.  Unfortunately this took longer than just paying for a class so I ended up missing the yoga class I was going to, d'oh.

The gym also offers a Body Pump style class and of course access to treadmills.  It also has a tiny little sauna the size of a shower cubicle that I'm keen to use.

I'm very aware that I don't always have the best track record when it comes to gym memberships, but it was such a good deal that as long as I go to a class once a week I'm breaking even and I'm not signed up to a contract or anything so I can give up my membership at any time.

Until next time .. Ommmmm ...