And so 2014 begins

I guess you were all expecting a positive New Years quote on Jan 01st, or at least in the first week or so.. 

Hmm, sorry about that - I figured most people would fall into the categories of New Years Resolutioners, those feeling guilty about their overindulgences at Xmas, or those already bombarded by the 'guilt spreaders and fun squashers'.

Either way, you didn't need me telling you to SYM MYA in the last fortnight, as I'm sure you were harder on yourself than I would have been..

Life happens. Remember? Be gentle with yourself. Make plans, but be open to alternatives.

Now, I'm not necessarily a New Years Resolution maker, I prefer to make goals at all times throughout the year, as you all know. But, this New Years Eve found me amongst new friends, away from home and familiar surroundings, enjoying a soda water or two whilst watching the fire works. People all enquiring about New Years resolutions, and sharing their goals for this year. 

I got around to thinking about my Grand Plan for 2014. Earlier in the day, I had checked my 2013 list - kind of  a small tradition for me each New Years Eve, and there I discovered one thing I hadn't managed to tick off the list. A small thing, which I had forgotten about, and because I didn't have these goals up anywhere obvious as I usually do, I had overlooked it. 

Now, on a large scale, its no big deal, but for a person like me who is Borderline OCD, it has really pissed me off. If I took the time to check my list, this task could have been completed at any stage during the last few weeks of the year. It was as simple as cleaning out a particular cupboard,  but I took my eyes off the goal. And as a result, I had an entry on 2014 slate that didn't need to be there. Needless to say it was one if the first things I completed when I arrived back in Qld. I feel much better already, oddly enough. Unfinished business is now taken care of, phew.

I'm sure you know that I am a huge believer in writing a list- of things to do, of places to visit, exercise classes to attend, people to see, and books to read. And usually, when I concentrate, I achieve all of them. 

Someone said something to me at New Years, that has made me think.  My 2014 list is gonna be different. 

Di is a vivacious, fit, healthy lady in her 60's who recently lost a brother in law. We were talking about my dream of walking the Way of St James, across Spain, and she said "I'd love to do that, I might only have 20 years left and I can only hope they are good years, so I'm making the most of it!" 

What surprised me was she wasn't bitter, or morbid about it. Di said this with such conviction, like an all knowing truth. She has faced the fact. Life is way too damn short to be sitting inside watching the cricket on TV.

So, in light of Di's revelation, This year I'm adding things that scare me. Things that make me feel uncomfortable. Things I've been meaning to do for years. Like ghost tours, and 50k push bike rides. 

It's time I stepped out of the safety cocoon and into the moment. 2014 will be a year of saying yes to opportunity, of jumping at chances and to making the most of the time I have been allotted.

This year I will do something I enjoy every day. Every single day. Like reading, or running, or watching a movie that makes me think differently, or writing this blog sitting by the river rather than in the office. 

So far I've managed a Ghost tour of a psychiatric asylum at night, a 46 kilometre push bike ride through the winery district of northern Victoria, visited my hometown, and my Dad's grave, hugged some very special people, watched a great movie, and had a dinner date with a friend I've not seen in 33 years. At this very moment, I'm sitting by the river, in the shade, blogging and fishing for barramundi. 2014 is off to a great start. 

Tomorrow, gym classes start again. New Year, new timetable, new challenges. Bring it on. I'm ready. I've missed it during the break. 

Unbelievably, a fortnight has already gone from the time we are given in 2014, leaving just 25 left to achieve any set  goals. Write your plan of action and keep your eyes on the prize. 

What are you waiting for? The time is right now. For booking a trip, for catching a fish, for reading that book, for getting fit and feeling great. 

You have 25 fortnights and your time starts now...

 Oh and I've just caught a barramundi!!!! 

I have an addiction...

Hello my name is Wendy. 

And I have an addiction. Or ten.

I am addicted to notebooks and to pens that write smoothly. I find notebooks all over the house, in every room I use,with snippets of info I have read, or ideas that I have had and will forget if I don't write down. Trouble is, I then can't remember where I put the book.

I am addicted to medjool dates, which until this year I had never eaten in my life.

I am addicted to laughing, and to bargain shopping. 

I have also now realised I am addicted to exercise class. 

Yesterday, for a number of reasons, I didn't schedule class into my morning. I work from home most days, and can usually please myself about how I schedule my day when Hugo is away, but Wednesday I volunteer my services at the local PCYC. Hugo will be home from work next Monday, so I need to have everything I had planned ( in a notebook ) completed prior to his return. Hence, the haste. I am a very hard task master... And I plan to achieve so much in the time he is away, so I can spend my down time with him when he is home.

I got dressed into my "going to the office" clothes, and off I went. Ready to spend the morning reviewing compliance and then head home to tackle my list of things to do. I had a plan, and I was sticking to it. 

I arrived at PCYC just as class was starting, and I was a little disappointed that I couldn't join in. The usual suspects were all there, happy and ready to tackle Kylie's class. i copped some good natured ribbing about being a scaredy cat in not attending. 

Then I discovered that my PCYC work partner was actually away, so I had free reign over my hours instead. I then was faced with a choice, head saying get home and get your jobs done, heart saying, get home, get some gym clothes on, and join in...I knew my every growing list was waiting, so I let my head win out and came home to tackle the office work. 

I really was flat out, I filed, I emailed, I net searched, I paid bills, I created invoices, for hours.. I got hot and cranky, and annoyed at every interruption. I was out of sorts all day. 

At 5.30pm I had had enough and decided to go to an evening exercise class. I lifted weights and did circuit training twice. I squatted and stretched and planked. I hurt. A lot. 

But, I came out of that class rejuvenated. I felt sore, but exhilarated. I realised that missing class yesterday morning was the reason I was out of sorts. I needed the exercise. My body was not looking for passive movement such as office work yesterday, she was looking for running, for lifting, for sweating.

I guess it is true about what you do often becomes a habit. Just like one glass of wine turns to two and three.. I now don't crave chocolate and lollies, and if I have a bite of the kids treats, it doesn't have that YUM factor that it used to. And if I'm really honest, I don't enjoy those things much at all. I now know bread makes me very unwell, even just one slice of toast will give me a reaction strong enough to put me in bed for hours. 

My body has become addicted ( or very much attached to) exercise. Who would have ever thought? 

Ten years ago, if you had of told me that I would be a 50 year old fit, healthy woman that didn't drink and ate dates instead of chocolate.. I would have laughed. Not because it wasn't what I really wanted to be, but because it was soooo far from the realms of possibility, it seemed just incredulous. Add in the fact that I now write a blog and spend hours helping other women achieve their goals, and I would have been looking for a straight jacket for you! 

Yep, 50. Fit. Happy. Healthy. On the verge of a new beginning as a Life And Wellness Coach. And yes, I'm still pinching myself. 

Recently I got told that a women I used to know, a beautiful, tall, self confident, resilient woman just wants to be like me. WTF? SHE Wants to be like me? Wow. It was flattery at its very highest. This gorgeous, vivacious woman strives to do as I do? 

I have come a very long way...

Who am I?

Some one asked me today "who are you and what do you believe in"? 

Easy enough question I guess.. But I couldn't use the old standards, oh I am a mine site safety, training and compliance officer, with a beautiful partner, and 10 healthy kids between us.. I had to talk about me. 

Not what I did, or who my kids were, or how fabulous Hugo is. Me. Who am I? 

After a few minutes, I worked out I had no damn idea. When you take what I do, who I know, where I volunteer, and who I gave birth to, out of the equation... It was a very hard question upon which to ponder.

And so I begin.... 

I am a youthful 50 year old woman, who loves to travel, to experience new worlds and new cultures. I love to read. I read travel books, and murder mysteries. 

I have laugh lines, lots of them. They create part of my character. I'm told I have a twinkle in my eye, but I think that's just my mischief meter..

I am five foot five of enthusiasm, of ideas, of random thoughts. I've no intention of slowing down, of retiring, of settling in to watch the paint dry on the walls of an over 50's village! I plan to be active, to be  constantly changing my views, challenging my mindset to push the boundaries, learning things about other cultures, other worlds, other lives. 

I enjoy restoring old furniture. I am a homebody these days, and guard my down time closely. My home is my sanctuary, and i have come to really appreciate the time I spend here. I like things to be tidy, neat, orderly. When the house is tidy, I feel like my mind is tidy.

I love meeting new people, introducing them to town, welcoming them to my part of the world. This special place I call home at the moment. The beautiful Emerald City. 

I also I love to work out, I love being able to feel those muscles telling me that "hey, you've not used us for a while, thanks for the workout". I love the camaraderie we have in gym class, and how encouraged and alive those girls make me feel. I am healthy, I am fit, and I am inspired to do more, to be more. 

I am a list writer, a planner, a goal setter, and a perfectionist. I'm a lifelong learner. I like to experience new things, and some of them I write about.

I feel that my heart is at peace now, for the first time in a very long time, I feel centred, settled. Happy. In love. Smitten. 

I have plans on becoming a life coach, and volunteering more of my time to read books to patients at the aged care home. I want to volunteer at the Visitors Information Centre.

I love helping people, making a difference in someone's day. Making people smile. Making overweight people overcome the struggle, overcome that need to spend  money to get healthy. Understand their worth. 

I'm enrolling in Uni when I'm 90.

 I want to gather up a photo of my kids, Hugo and a change of clothes and spend a year or two wandering about in the world.

I believe the world really is a magical place, and we can make a difference. Each and every one of us. 

I believe in love, and that one special someone that everyone has waiting for them. I waited 48 years for Mr Right and all that while I didn't know that all the Mr Wrongs weren't right. Now I do. 

I believe in Santa. I believe in God. I believe that the universe provides us with everything we ask for.

I believe that positive thoughts create positive change. I believe that every word we speak has the power to change everything. Our minds hear everything we say. Be gentle on yourself.

I believe in the innocence of babies and the simplicity of children's thought. I believe we complicate our own lives, why, I'm not real sure. 

I believe in what we focus on, gets bigger. I believe that we should all focus on what we want, not what we don't want.. (Eg, being healthy rather than loosing weight.)

I believe in kindness, and in compassion. I believe in Karma. Big time! 

I believe that sugar is poison, I believe that preservatives are too. I believe in eating natural foods as much as possible, not buying or using any mass produced man made products. I believe that eating healthily shows through the skin.

I believe that my kids are the most handsomely, clever creatures that have ever been created, and they are my my proudest achievement. 

I believe in simplicity. There is much more to life than increasing its speed. Slow down, relax, breathe, enjoy.

And I believe that writing a list of goals and dreams, works. I'm now proof of that.

Other than that, I am a mine site safety, compliance and training officer with a fabulous partner, and ten beautiful healthy kids between us. :)

And you?

Today, I give up.

Thats it. 

 I give up. I'm over trying to loose weight, watch what I eat at every moment, weighing myself religiously. Attempting to loose weight does my head in. So I'm done. Dusted. It's over.

Every day, I wake about 4.30am and most days I go for a run. I come home, strip off for a shower, and weigh. Some days I am down a kilo, somedays I am up 2! When that happens, it just affects my whole day! I find myself getting so down.... And cranky!

2 months ago, I stopped weighing. I took measurements and a photo. I tried one pair of pants and one top on, they just fit. I measured bust, midriff, waist, hips and tops of my thighs. I wrote the measurements in my diary, and stuck in the photo.

My behaviour didn't change. Other than weighing daily, I did nothing different. I ran, I went to gym, I did weights, I rode a bike ( a tiny bit.)

One month later, I measured again. I tried my pants on. I took another photo. I was kinda smaller.

Today, I measured again. I slid my pants on without undoing the zip. I am more than 11cm smaller (total cms). And guess what? I am still around  the same weight as I was 60 days ago. 

And you know something? I don't care! 

I am leaner, fitter, stronger and so pleased that I don't spend all day worrying about what I'm gonna eat next. 

I have taken the focus away from what I eat, and placed it on getting healthy. And I couldn't be happier. I feel better, I look better, apparently, according a new gym buddy.. " I radiate happiness", all this time I thought that was sweat I was radiating. 

I eat when I want, and whatever I feel like. My body now craves fresh fruit salad with Greek yoghurt, instead of toast. It craves green tea most of the day,instead of strong black coffee. My fridge is full of good healthy food. 

But, I've learned to listen, to be thankful and honour this physical body that carts around my soul. I now nourish it. Feed it good food, and exercise it. 

I want it to be around a long time, and to be honest, I've given it a very hard time for a very long time. It's time now, to look after it. Care for it, like I would a classic car.. Use the right fuel, a bit of panel beating, and good buff up, and she comes up all right! 

So, that's another tip, stop worrying about "loosing weight" and just get healthy... It's so much easier, less stressful and much more fun.

Emotional eating

I used to be an emotional eater, or so I thought. 

I thought that was way behind me. These days, I am a strong, healthy minded individual in charge of life.. Making healthy choices, exercising, drinking lots of water and just loving life. Till today.

You all know I have 5 kids. You may not know that Hugo also has 5. Thankfully, these kids are grown and some even starting to have families of their own. So they are minimal worry to us. They are on track, relatively happy, and making inroads into their lives. They have focus, a purpose, goals and dreams.

Sometimes those goals don't quite go to plan, and they get hurt. They get let down, misled, and disappointed. They make mistakes, they make bigger mistakes, and sometimes they are just in the wrong place at the wrong time.. A lot. :(  

This is what's happened this week. There is nothing more painful than seeing your children make the wrong choices, and not be able to help. It's a learning curve that they must travel themselves in order to learn the lesson from it, but it hurts. As a mother, it breaks my heart to see, to feel their disappointment, their pain and their confusion at how they ended up where they are. 

Thankfully it doesn't happen often, but when it does, I can't sleep. I can't focus, I can't relax. I eat shit. Immediately. It's like the very moment the adrenaline in my body is called to act, it wakes up and says.. "Mate, can't help you till you throw some chocolate flavoured fat in your face". It springs into action craving crap. I worry, I pace, I wring my hands together, I eat anything that has a high fat content. I want chocolate and I want salt. NOW!

Because Hugo and I ordinarily lead such a stress free lifestyle, this really came as a shock to me today. I have not had these feelings in such a long time, it was really hard to resist. I tried diversionary tactics. I went to exercise class as planned, even though my brain was wanting to rip the pantry apart looking for chocolate chips.

I went for a walk, I drank lots of water, I fed and watered the neighbours dog, I cleaned out the linen press. I drank more water, I watered the plants. It was really hard work trying to divert my emotions to something else. And all day I was cross at myself for being like this. I am usually so together, so strong willed, and single minded. Today, I struggled. Heaps.

I remember when Chuck got diagnosed with his brain tumour, I walked out of the surgeons office and to the service station over the road, I bought a king size cherry ripe.. And almost inhaled it. What's real weird is, cherry ripes are not even my vice of choice, so I don't know where that even came from. But, at the time, I gave in, and started making logistical plans of how I, a single mum of 5, was going to manage a child in dire need of emergency surgery in Brisbane. The Cherry Ripe must have given me some kind of super power, because we survived the surgery,the living away from the other kids and the aftermath that ensued.

Today I didn't give in. I ate nuts, peanut butter, even had a small half teaspoon of butter, but I did not eat chocolate. I did not eat Maccas, or KFC, or Gloria Jeans. I drank soda water, I drank water, I drank green tea, I drank black coffee. But I did not eat chocolate. And although none of this will take away my pain and worry at watching a teenager struggle with the real world, it makes me kinda a teeny bit proud of myself inside. I stood strong. I may have cried, and wasting the majority of a working day, but I didn't, for once in my life, eat shit.

And I'm pretty pleased about that.

Nike Ads

Some days I feel like a walking Nike Ad.

Not because I resemble a super tall African American basketball player, lol, far from it. It's because I subscribe to their belief. Their under pinning attitude to life. Yep, those Nike advertising executives have me convinced. 

Just do it.

Just put down the remote, get off the coach, pop on your runners and sports bra, and do it. Now.

Yeah, I know we have all been there, been at that point where our intentions to exercise outweigh the reality. I've brought the exercise machine inside in the past only to end up using it to hang ironing on. I've got a new bike and parked it in the shed after a week. We've all done it. But what we have to change is the fact, if we want to be fit, and healthy, we have to just do it.

Just get up every morning in our gym clothes, and run, or go to exercise class, ride a bike, ride a horse, ride a bloody unicycle.. Whatever your chosen activity, just do it. Regularly.

To get healthy, you gotta sweat. You gotta get hot, and uncomfortable. Deal with it. As I've said before, better sweat running down your back in exercise class, than down your thighs whilst shopping. Make a goal, write your plan, and just do it. Every day. Schedule it, like you would a dr appointment. Make it a priority. Then just get it done.

Following from yesterday's post - here is a sample of my day yesterday,

Breakfast- black coffee and hot banana. You must try this, it's delicious and so easy. Chop a banana into chunks, cook in a small amount of coconut oil, and sprinkle with cinnamon whilst cooking. Cook for a minute or two, top with a small amount of Greek yoghurt, sprinkle with coconut flakes and cinnamon... Yummo!

Boxercise class at 9 am for an hour. Was a great class run at the PCYC by Kylie. She does a great job.

Morning tea/ lunch was an apple and a handful of nuts. Not for any other reason than, I was on my way to work. If you have time to make a salad for lunch, do so. No need to eat 'on the go food' if you've time to prepare better.

Afternoon tea: medjool dates.. Yummmmmmmm.. That's all I can say about those.

Circuit class at 5.30pm. It's designed for the over 50's, but it was a great workout for the evening. 

Dinner was a chicken breast cut into chunks and cooked in some Moroccan spices. Rustled up a simple salad, plonked the cooked chicken on the top and done. Easy, delicious.

I don't usually eat so much chicken, night after night, but I had defrosted a large tray, forgetting it was just Cate and I at home this week.. I'm pretty sure we will start sprouting feathers sometime soon.

Loosing weight, getting healthy is easy, once you get your head into the game. Today I feel great. No bloating, no itching, no fluid retention and best of all no hot flushes. There is nothing hard in this. It's a simple process. It takes the hard work out of it. No points counting, no payment plans, no trying to plan your life around the ability to heat up prepackaged meals. Easy.....

Think about what you have to loose here, and all the things you have to gain- and just get it happening. Now.

 

Trips, formals, graduations, Schoolies......

Three weeks have gone by since I last posted! Where on earth have I been for that long? Sorry, I've been missing in action, again..

Spent ten days zipping around Victoria, for work and catching up with some long lost friends.. Spent last week preparing for Chucks graduation week, attending the formal, Pre dinner drinks here with the parents and lastly the graduation ceremony on Friday. 

Amongst that time, we gardened, we cleaned, transformed the area behind the shed, we tidied inside, all so the kids could take photos here before the formal. I was really proud of the yard, the light rain we had worked wonders, and the gardens looked lovely. We prepared platters of paleo, natural food to share, and chilled the bottle of champagne I had been keeping for a special occasion. It was a really festive week. 

We finished by preparing for Schoolies on the Gold Coast, giving last minute instructions.. Text me daily so I know you're alive, do not get on the news, in the paper,on the 7pm project or involved with police. Be ready early for the trip home. All good survival tips for a teenager. 

Phew. 

I feel like this week has been the first time I have been able to stop and think for a month. It's like, okay that's done, exhale. Take a big breath before the Xmas rush starts. 

It's been great being able to get back into morning jogs, mid morning gym class at PCYC. The lifestyle I lead at the moment makes it difficult to get into a definite rhythm, so I have to make the most of the time I get. Cate has been coming as well, it's her exam block, so the early morning exercise does wonders for waking up the brain and preparing it for the day ahead.

I get asked so many times about what I eat, how I eat, how much do I eat. Sometimes it just does my head in, telling people over and over. It is not hard. Stop over thinking it. It is simple. Move more than you eat. Don't buy processed food. And SYM MYA, of course.

There's no shakes, no Pre, Post, During workout shakes or supplements. There's no special time to eat, there's no limit to how much healthy food you can eat. Just buy good healthy natural food. Eat when you're hungry. 

Is it because its too simple, or because its too hard? Too hard because you've no one to blame but yourself if it doesn't work. Is it because you have to take responsibility for your health rather than saying " oh those tablets disagreed with me"? 

It's easy. You just have to decide you actually want to do it. Do you really want to be healthy? Or is being over weight, out of condition, and unhealthy suit your lifestyle at the moment? 

If you're at the turning point, start today. Don't put it off till Monday, till New Years Day, till 2019.. Start today, it's the perfect time.

Step one - Clean out your pantry cupboard, throw away all the food that's processed. I do keep canned tomatoes, spices, tins of salmon and tuna. But everything else, chuck it. Put it in a bag and donate to the homeless Christmas appeal. 

Step two - go shopping. Buy fruit, salad, veges, meat, fish, chicken, Greek yoghurt, coconut oil, dates etc.

Step three - google paleo cooking, clean eating, cooking with natural food... Whip up a storm!

Eating like this is a lifestyle change, the whole family will benefit. There's no need to have to cook different meals for each person in the house. Life was meant to be simple. Relaxed. Easy. 

Food is your medicine, listen to your body, and eat what it's craving. Sweet? Have a banana or some dates. Savoury? Have a lightly curried egg. Salty? A small handful of cashews. As requested, I'm going to post my daily foods here, to give you guys an indication of how easy being healthy is..

Yesterday- 4 km jog at 6am

breakfast- two eggs whisked together, dash of milk, and the remainder of last nights salad. It had mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, olives,pear, lettuce. Cooked like scrambled eggs, but you could cook then grill the top, and make a yummy omelette. Black coffee - which is the way I drink coffee, not because I'm depriving myself of milk. If you have milk, throw a splash in the top. Ease up on the cappuccino though.

Morning tea at about 11-30. Banana

Missed lunch because I was busy, and my body didn't ask for food.

Afternoon tea about 3-30pm- handful of mixed nuts ( no peanuts ) and a boiled egg

Dinner- chicken breast and salad.

Simple. There is nothing that takes huge amounts of preparation, nothing that is difficult to create, or source the ingredients. 

Exercise class at 6pm for 45 minutes.

I still struggle with drinking enough water, I know when I drink 2 or more litres a day, I loose weight and feel great, so I leave a 2l jug on the bench and pour a glass each time I pass. Visual reminder, works well.

Once again, I'm sorry for being gone so long, I get people messaging asking where I am, what I'm doing, asking if I've lapsed back into eating crap and embarrassed to be here... Nope. I'm still here, just busy. Yes, I've eaten the odd chip or two when I was away, and I may have snuck in a Canadian club or cider as well, but like I say, life goes on. So long as it isn't the norm, it's fine.

.. I must make this a priority in 2014, thinking of creating a you tube channel with cooking tips... Lol, it would be like Big Brother making it in my kitchen. Can you imagine? Lol.