Health stuff and what I want more of this year

Okay, here's what I want more of this year.

Now, onto the health stuff.

1. I finally scheduled that extraction and implant simply because it had been hanging over my head, filling me with dread. Now at least I need only think of it the day before and the day of.... (currently 8 March)

I actually had it scheduled for 1 March but a conference came up and I have to go to this one because the alternative is farrrrrrrrr away. And you all know how I "love" driving. So no.

The most important item on my to-do list for today was my mammogram. I asked the doctor lots of questions and apparently, from age 40, you're supposed to go every year. Cancers grow aggressively if they develop between ages 40 and 50, so best to catch them quickly. This was my first one 🙈 and thankfully, everything's fine! 〰 #mammogram #planneraddict #planning #lists #health #womenshealth #happier2017 #annualscreening #selfcare

A post shared by Marcia Francois (@organisingqueen) on Jan 25, 2017 at 4:09am PST

 

2. Then I had a mammogram (my first! should have been my third!) in the last week of January. I spoke to the doctor and you're supposed to go every year from 40, and start earlier if you've had issues or have a family history. The biggest medical aid in SA only pays for 1 every 2nd year, but that doesn't change the health professionals' view, just by the way.

Oh, it was all clear!

3. This morning I have my annual gynae check-up and Pap smear. I think this is the least dreaded of the 3! This one was supposed to happen in December last year... I just ran out of time.

These 3 were on my list for the year and I'm going to be thrilled when they're all done!

In very sad news, a lady I used to work with who is a close friend of a friend of mine died at the end of January from breast cancer. Like me, she has two young kids (7 and 9) so it is very tragic, and to be honest, threw me completely when I heard the news!


How are you doing with your health things?

New Year's Day, favourite drinks and weighing less

It's about time I started blogging about the new year.

The kids slept at Granny's house and we went over for lunch, and to fetch them.

They were running through the sprinklers to cool off, and then used towels to make themselves costumes.
 



 This is me coming outside and seeing someone (Kendra, I think?) with my camera!




I thought for a minute that this pic was in the wrong folder because surely the light wasn't that amazing after we arrived home.



Yes it was - this photo was taken at 6.16. CT folks won't know what I'm on about but for the light to still be that amazing this late... it's high summer here!

Also, I love my mason jar glasses. If you want some, Mr P Home has them for about R130? in a set of 6. My favourite drink at the moment is cold water with a squeeze of lemon juice from the bottle. My kids are into this too, so much that we're buying a 500 ml of lemon juice every two weeks :o

What's your favourite non-alcoholic drink at the moment?

And then on the matter of goals, my four main focus areas this year are God, relationships, health and fitness, and my word of the year, joy.

I go into it all a lot more here.

But on that health and fitness bit, I joined Weigh-Less on 2 Jan, went on holiday (!) and have gone back every week since. My goal is to lose 1 kg this month while holidaying and getting back onto the eating plan.

I am going to have to be VERRRRY good for the next two days because the first half of the week was a bit hit and miss.

What are you doing differently for your health this year?

Let's talk health and fitness

So I was doing the Financial Analysis (that's how I think of it - in caps) for 2015 the other day. Part of my process is to see which categories I spend the most money in, etc.

Anyway, we've only spent R1510 on medical for the kids this year. R1200 for the two six-year-old injections and R310 for Kendra who was a bit fluey during winter.

And I paid R1200 for the gynae because by the time I go, the MSA is all done. 

So big picture, this has been a great year, health-wise. Which is awesome.

Everything was fine at all the health professionals - gynae, dentist, optom. Oh, and my bone density is super excellent, which is nice to hear.

2 130 201 - the number of steps I walked last year (average 5836 per day) I'm a little disappointed by this number because I know, know, KNOW it would have been higher (my goal was at least 6000 steps per day) if not for the horrible heat since Sept. As it is, if not for those 9 days of slightly cooler weather in November, and the 2 days in December, I wouldn't have reached my 52 walks in 2015 goal.

0.4 kg - I am that much heavier than I was at this time last year.... and have joined Weigh-Less again. But basically I'm horrified.



55 - the number of walks I ended up going on

46 - times I worked out at the gym

50-something - times I had Spanish classes and/ or practised at home in prep for exams



7:03 The average amount of sleep I've had per night tracked over the entire year. This was an interesting stat - I average around 6.5 hours during the work week and over 8 on the weekend, and somehow it comes out at 7:03. I'm still aiming for 7 hr 30 but I suspect this is where my body wants to set itself.

This year I want to lose weight, strengthen my core (I need to add another gym class into the mix somewhere), sleep a little bit more and stress less.

How was your health and fitness last year? Any health goals?

I'm obsessed with the fitbit

So yesterday I saw a post on Elise's site and I so loved her review I decided there and then I need one of these things.

Of course we have to pay much more for them in South Africa but I decided for all those lovely stats and things (and you know I'm super motivated by numbers), I have to have one.

I've used pedometers very successfully in the past (amazing how just wearing something makes you park far away from the shopping centre entrance and take stairs voluntarily!!!) and currently use a sleep app. I will be writing about that again soon on the other blog because there are some unintended consequences of having your phone under your pillow.

Nevertheless, I was crunching numbers left right and centre...

• we get 20% back if we buy at the istore
• what do I have in the discovery mall (a measly R65)
• what do I have in ebucks (R408)

and I'm busy buying one now.... except.... I decided half way (once I'd paid the ebucks) that I want it in teal instead of lime.

And of course, I now have a support ticket into their people :)

Things are never straightforwad with me (I call it "making life interesting").




What are you obsessed with at the moment?

PS I thought about getting it for my birthday (to Marcia from Marcia) but instant gratification won. So I'm calling it my "Congrats on your Freedom" gift :)

I joined Weigh-Less today

It was one of my February goals that I just didn't get to because I miscalculated and thought February Saturdays hadn't run out yet :)

Nevertheless, goal 1 of March is done.

see the beautiful light in my study in the afternoons? this is what the table is for - so these two can do their thing and I can get one or two quick things done :)

The fact is since I was sick with the flu two months in a row last year (Aug and Sept), I seemed to pile on 3 kgs (in about 6 weeks) and try what may, I couldn't shake them. Another kilo has also crept on the last two months so enough is enough.

Today, Connor's practically bald. The boys went to get their hair shaved for the Cansa Shavathon and they went too short - I'm still cross.

The girls at work were putting together a Weigh-less group but nobody's actually doing it and before you say, "you should do it!", I normally would but I don't want any extra responsibilities for now because I need to be AWESOME when I get this new job (notice the faith speaking) and I need to have my head 100% in the game.

So last night I set my alarm on my iphone (I noticed that no alarms had been set before - what? I haven't needed an alarm to wake me since 27 Nov?) and got myself to Weigh-Less. The group leader still remembers me from my two previous attempts at this venue. I must say they make it easier and easier each time I join - this is number 5 for me. I'm a B profile (mostly can stick to a plan but I do go a bit wild at socials and at weekends.......).

they and I love this toy

Anyway, the group leader said something key to me. I told her I'd like to weigh x but will be happy with y, and she said, "well let's put y because sometimes those last few kgs could mean the difference between easily maintaining and you getting demotivated and falling totally off the bandwagon". SO TRUE! So I have 6.4 to go. I'm horrified! I thought it would be 5....

Tonight I sat down with my diary, menu planning pad and my Weigh-Less file and I planned all our meals for the whole week. A bit time-consuming but I'll get used to it again. And it will all be worth it next week when she says "good job. You lost ____" :)

Today hasn't been bad... but it's also been a really good day and I'm definitely an emotional eater.

Are you an emotional eater?

Remember my cooking frenzy last weekend?  Just cooked another two meals. Technically one is new but since I just made a weigh-less version of that indonesian chicken curry, I don't feel like I can count it. However, if it tastes good, I will post the recipe. And then I made a chicken casserole for D and the babies.

Speaking of presents, today I treated us to some beautiful new linen. New duvet, sheets and pillow cases. Oh Mr P Home, you are not helpful with the budget! D asked me if I was going mad and I said, "I feel like I deserve it". Ha! Will take pics next week when I get my A into G and dress the bed :)

The Mandys and I are doing it this week. Are you joining us?

And this is why I don't buy clothes!

taken this evening on our walk

taken this morning - this nail polish reminds me of the blue Tippex we used to use yonks ago. And this grey sleeveless T was one of my absolute favourite T-shirts ever... bought in Thailand 6 years ago and the only thing I still have from there.

I've been thinking about that new fashion blog a lot, just because first impressions do count no matter what anyone says, and I want to get back to who I was at work despite the weight I need to lose.

So last week Thursday off I went to Woolies because that's where I traditionally get my work clothes.

I walked around just grabbing things that took my fancy and went into the fitting room with 8 items of clothes - a dress (just for you guys!), two skirts and pants.

Any guesses as to how many of those items fit?

2! Size 12s.

I was very despondent and promptly went to buy 3 pairs of shoes. Lovely yellow flip flops and two pairs of work shoes.

Again, this is why I buy bags!

Then I went to Pick and Pay (have you ever looked at PnP's clothes? I love it!) and saw SUCh a lot of great things I just bought and bought and bought... to the tune of about R1200.

The size 12 jeans from Woolworths wouldn't close (I now have the belly as well as the bum I've always had!) so at P&P I took size 14.

I fitted all the stuff on at home and this time only took back 4 items. The one thing I'm very sad about is a yellow striped T-shirt (I've totally given into my yellow obsession..... and it all started with a
frivolous yellow bag) that was too big in a large. They had no mediums.

The one pair of capri jeans is PERFECT and even makes me look thin (a dark rinse) and the other pair is okay but is getting looser by the day....

So, bottom line - I have a ton of new clothes and the only things I can wear to work? One pair of black pants (elasticated but it looks much more classic than it sounds!) and two pairs of shoes.

Have you bought any clothes lately you just love?
Are you also freaked by the number?

I really am trying not to be... for now. But the one thing I am looking forward to is getting back to Weigh-Less. The exercise? Not so much. But I've booked with a new personal trainer.

PS I've been very good - cooked both meals today! Tomorrow we're breaking loose though :) and eating out.

A bit of a wake-up call

I had my vitality assessment last month and everything was fine except the recommendation is that I increase my exercise and increase my veggie intake a tad.

This I know so it's no big surprise.

Then my company had a wellness fair last week. A bit late for my liking but it's right there and it would be foolish to not use the facilities at your disposal, right?

Anyway, first I went to the Herbalife stand because of a HUGE sign that said, "lose weight now!". This woman got me onto her scale and I was slightly horrified at how much jeans weigh because I weigh myself at home in the mornings, in underwear.

Her scale told me I have the stats of a 50-year-old.

Of course I'm cynical and think their scales are rigged to make everyone seem worse so that they can sell us thousands of rands worth of product.

By the way, I was the 4th person on that sheet of paper and we all had the stats of 50-year-olds, despite us all having very different physiques. In fact, I think I was the thinnest.

However, the marketing machine worked on me (and I'm desperate) so I ordered one of her R330 milkshakes and very politely declined her other two recommended products (R256 plus R300).

Moving on.

I got the usual stuff tested with the proper medical professionals. My blood sugar is perfect, blood pressure is perfect but my cholesterol was 5.7 (it should be 5 or lower).

The lady wasn't that concerned but that was a yellow flag for me.

I'll get myself tested again in a month of eating better and see if it moves down.

And then I went to input my stats on the computer.

My Discovery age (an age based on how healthy you are) was 41.

I'm 38 and every single previous year for the last 9 years I've been two years younger than my actual age.

Big wake-up call.

I don't know what their rating engines look like but I know I'm heavier so my BMI is out of whack (27,5 where I should be below 25).

All other stats were great so is the slightly elevated (!) BMI plus the cholesterol enough to increase my age by 3 years?

(As you can see, I don't take the Herbalife lady seriously at all)

I don't know but it's enough of a wake-up call for me.

And so I've decided to make a few changes:

1. I will force myself to go to gym at least twice a week until it feels easy again. And just generally move more.
2. I need to eat more prunes (!), drink at least 1 mug of herbal tea and more water every day. Of course the office is a fridge so it's going to be challenging.
3. I'm going to start watching my diet like a hawk again.
4. I'm really doing my best to not eat a thing after supper. But those Christmas mince pies call my name...

This week I've been taking the stairs all the time (except when I have the ginormous laptop bag with me - I really don't want to fall down those beautiful stairs) and last night I went to gym, pretended I'm 18 and danced my heart out (as if I was auditioning). I sweated like crazy and it felt good. Both during and afterwards.

I even took these very embarrassing before pictures.

the last little dip is a mistake - I jumped off the scale too quickly. And my next reading wasn't taken into account.

By the way, the Herbalife shakes make me feel a bit weird so I'm not sure I'll continue beyond this jar but for now, I'm on one shake a day (no change to my weight yet).

So how's your health and fitness?
Does anybody have similar goals? What are you doing that's working for you?

Gym, party priorities and driving through Jhb

1. I said to D last night when he asked if I really had to go to gym...


1. it's the only time I'm making it these days...
2. it's good for Connor and me to have some alone time
3. it forces the whole house up and dressed early instead of us lounging around in pjs til 11.


So we went.


I loved the class and I think it's the teacher. There are two that alternate. The one takes her craft very seriously and is technically perfect but I'm never sure she's having fun...


This one from today has a BALL and so do we. She laughs at herself, at us and just really makes us have fun! She'll be there on Monday night too so I'll go again.



2. My babies turn 3 in exactly two weeks time. How's this for my prioritities this year?

I have all the party favours on my guest bed in the study and 4 packs are actually ready (for pics!). I need to get them done because the kids, despite trying to "help", have fingers that are all too busy and involved!

I kind-of have a photographer booked for their actual birthday (I say kind-of because she mailed me back to say yes she was free but when I asked about forms, deposits, etc. I've heard NOTHING) but not for the party. I'm going to be bossy and leave a list of things I want pics of and trust my lovely friends to grab my camera and get those shots.

Nothing food has even been thought of nor a shopping list made. But I do have paper plates, serviettes and paper cups (from previous shopping trips - don't be impressed).

I'm living on the wild side :)

3. Mandy and I set some accountabilities for ourselves this weekend so I'm knee-deep in photo organising.

Fortunately, once I get going, I'm on a roll so I've already finished the stuff I wanted to do and I'm on the bonus stuff now :)

As I was looking through my pics, I remembered I haven't yet posted on Elevate the Ordinary. That post will come this week- I've really had to elevate the very ordinary because Jhb is beautiful in winter, yes (especially our skies - look out for that post too but you've seen my many sunset pics - just gorgeous), but it's dry and brown and uninspiring unless you REALLY look and are willing to be totally uncomfortable (cold!).

More on that this week.

But for now some random pics taken while going home one evening (D was driving!). Please remember the car was moving for most of these :)

look at the lady on the right wrapped in a blanket. Yes, it's that cold

Louis Botha Avenue - if you can drive here, you can drive anywhere. I quite like this pic.

Leaves and graffiti

more graffiti

I love how this dude's giving me a weird look :)

oh, sunset!

10 degrees!

last bits of sunset

and we arrive home - Nanny S is holding them back because they want to open the door and run outside

Did you enjoy driving through Jhb with me?
Which was your favourite pic?

I'm still not a morning person but...

Today is the 2nd Saturday Connor and I went to gym.

This time there were no tears. He is a star. So sweet rushing in and going to play. We're just waiting for Kendra to feel like she's missing out so she wants to join in.

Did I tell you they take their backpacks (oh, I have a thing for little kid backpacks - they have 2 each and I bought another 2 each besides the 2 each they received for birthday presents last year...it's like bags for babies!) and pretend they're going to school?

After all my pre-school decisions!

So the one day I decided to test them and I said, "babies, do you want to go to school?" Connor said an emphatic "Yes!" and Kendra said, "No! Kenna stay with V"

Too typical of the two of them.

Back to today.

I woke at 8:25 and the class starts at 9 so there was a mad rush to get me ready, grab Connor and go.

We were 5 minutes late but that's still very good for me.

The best thing about getting dressed and out so early (that's early for me!) is the day feels so long.

I still don't take anything in before 10 am but at least I'm being productive.

I love having the one-on-one time with Connor. D takes Kendra with him to do the grocery shopping (I may have to take back the grocery shopping because he's starting to be too "loose" with the budget. Then again I spent 3 X our weekly allocation the last time...) and somehow we both arrive home within 5 minutes of each other, both Saturdays.

Today when we finished at gym, Connor and I were chatting in the car and I said, "we're going to go home and then you'll have a nice sleep and..."

Connor           No, Mummy, go shop for croissants ---->>> he remembered from last week

Me                 Connor! We can't go buy croissants every week (thinking of one croissant undoing an hour of Zumba)

Connor            Yes, Mummy! Yes!

And he was so cute I gave in.

I've said it before but I'm still amazed when they're individually such GOOD kids just because they're without their twin.

He then can't wait to get home and get out his plate for his croissant while I have breakfast (!) at 10:30.

After I tidied up the kitchen a bit and the kids had 2nd mini-breakfasts, we went to look for beds for them.

We were reading on their beds the other night and I told D the mattresses are really feeling too thin.

Of course we could have bought two mattresses at a total of R400 but instead we went to kit out their rooms!

And, in usual Marcia style, I went a bit wild.

"Yes, we'll have two of those, plus two mattresses and a childguard and a thing under the bed that rolls out" and I just about caught myself in time remembering we already have a cute bookshelf.

So in 6 weeks, our kids will have big beds!

I'll have to get busy selling at least one of the cots because I want to do this with the second one.

Source: ohdeedoh.com via Marcia on Pinterest

Not sure that it will work properly for us because I have two lovely big drawers (that I LOVE - best, best, BEST purchase ever to get my cots - I seriously love them) on our cots...or that we have the space to keep a big desk like that.

On another note - I went to read the original post and some commenters are just so nitpicky.

I really do want to keep at least one cot. Am thinking of getting rid of the double bed in the study and then making a daybed like this

Source: aubreyandlindsay.blogspot.com via Marcia on Pinterest

Now this one would work with the cots beautifully!

Anyway, enough rambling.

But I just realised everything I pin on my Home board is either 

1. bright coloured furniture 
2. photo wall projects 
3. hutches (the hutches are, of course, in nice colours too :))or
4. rooms in a cupboard/ armoire

This afternoon I had a heat headache - the first since those two days in Ballito - darn good going in our week of 30 + weather - and even through two Panado and a little nap, it still remains...

I'm going to finish up my budget now and then start a new book.

How was your Saturday? What are you looking forward to for the rest of the weekend?

Me? budgeting (or getting on top of things!), preparing some cards for posting and sorting out Connor's clothes!

One of the worst nights of my life

I'm going to be away from home for 29 hours and this didn't bother me one bit.

However, D has been stressing. He says he can't remember everything (yes, I've made notes) and what if he does things wrong and what if the kids won't go sleep.

Granted, the kids take little to no chances with me but they do give him a 30-minute runaround at bedtime on my gym days.

Moving on.

I think because of this (D!) I've been a wee bit anxious.

On my gym days I prep the kids too because the first time I went after months had elapsed, they would not settle and kept saying, "where's Mummy?" over and over again.

So these days I tell them, "tonight I'm going to gym and Daddy will put you to bed. Okay?" and of course they say it's okay.

D asked me today if I told the kids I"m going away.

I mentioned it but they can't remember the detail, can they?

So he gives them this long talk this morning about how Mummy's going to work tomorrow and they must say good-bye nicely, tell me they love me and give hugs and kisses (they are not as into the hugs and kisses as he and I are).

I said, "the way you're talking it sounds like I'm going to die".

!

Anyway, all that was to set the scene.

So I had slight feelings of anxiety (very slight, mind) but I tend to read blogs and indulge in the internet when I need some escapism.

I spent slightly too much time on the computer last night and felt some twinges in my back.

Also, because of the party, I was hauling my kids in and out of cars, and in and out of the little car and airplane at the party, etc. and the last time I did that I also needed to take a Norflex for back pain.

That, coupled with sitting at the computer too long, was me overdoing it.

I took a Norflex about an hour before I went to bed.

By the time I was in bed my back was throbbing and I tossed and turned so much I woke D.

Went to take another Norflex and it's like it just wouldn't take effect.

That pain was excruciating.

I eventually fell asleep at about 2:30 (thank God) because I was THIS close to getting in my car and driving to the hospital so someone could jab a needle in me and relieve me of the pain.

Those who know my needle phobia (yes, despite two IVFs) will understand how bad that pain must have been.

D left me to sleep til 9:15 this morning so I missed gym again...

I took it relatively easy and only got dressed at 2 pm.

When I emerged, dressed and cute again, Connor said, "Mummy going to work". I hope that doesn't mean he thinks I only look decent when I'm going to work. LOL

But I'm determined to get to bed by 11 tonight... that's in one hour's time. And I'm going to take a Norflex now just to make sure there's no preventing me from sleeping because I was hauling kids around again today.

We went to church tonight (same service as the two tomorrow morning) and we were about to drop ours in their class at children's church when I heard one teacher say to the other, "has that child stopped vomiting?" D and I looked at one another and hightailed it out of there to the family room :)

As D said, if one gets sick it ends up being R2000 because of consults and meds and number of kids/ parents.

How well do you sleep, on average? Do you get enough sleep?

I'd say 10 out of 10 because I fall asleep within seconds (sometimes I don't even finish my thought) and I sleep like a log for 7.5 - 8 uninterrupted hours a night.

Good news and a wake-up call

Last week Thursday I had my annual gynae appointment.

I was kept waiting for 40 minutes which does not impress me in the least, but that's not the point of this story.

When I eventually got into his rooms, this is how the conversation goes:

Him So how are you doing?

Me Fine

Him Is there anything you're worried about in your life?

Me (thinking) well, I'm 150% sure you don't want to hear about my business woes and my website that's constantly getting hacked. even my friends don't care

Me Um, a few things

Him Well, your blood results came back from the lab and your ____ levels are elevated.

Me (eyebrows shoot up) WHAT?!

Him Well, let's have a look and then we'll talk.

So he examined me, did my Pap smear, took blood pressure, checked b**bs, whatnot.... and he says, "oh, there's a cyst" (almost like a pleasant surprise - what's with that?!) when he scanned me "but otherwise you're a very healthy young lady".

(I'm loving how people call me, a 37-year-old, a young lady)

But that's good.

Anyway, so I put all my clothes back on and go have the chat.

On the bright side, the endo is under control.

So even though the birth control patches make me slightly pudgy, they are keeping the endo at bay which is FABULOUS.

I've had 4 gynaecological surgeries aside from the C-section and all of those were for endometriosis. Obviously I'm very keen to not have any more unnecessary surgeries if we can keep the endo at bay with birth control.

He feels the same as I do.

But here's the interesting thing.

Despite me thinking I'm all cool and being zen about this website/ business thing, my blood is telling another story.

Not only that, but that cyst is because of stress.

I'm quite amazed.

Amazed that there are all these other symptoms of things going on so there's no more pretending.



The cyst is not serious and will probably disappear again because those ____ levels are not crazy high, just elevated to above normal.

But I took that as a wake-up call.

I don't want other stuff going on in my body (we won't mention those other scary words!!!) when I can do something about the stress, for instance.

I need to relax more.

Last week Tuesday night I looked at my business to-do list for the week.

I'm very ambitious and love pushing myself hard to achieve. ALL self-imposed, of course.

But I thought, "I actually just want to read and relax tonight".

I had things to do though. What I did do is work out a new time schedule for the week.

I've cut down my business hours by one-third so I can build in more time to relax. And I'm taking a three-day weekend except for quick sales fulfillment that literally takes less than 5 minutes because I have my systems set up.

And since I made that decision last Tuesday, I tripled my weekly sales and got a new client.

Hmmm. Do you think God's trying to tell me something?

So that's it.

I'm going to still set my weekly goals (what is Marcia without goals?!) but once my allocated time is up for the week, then it's time to relax.


How well do you listen to your body?


Is this too woo-woo for you?




P.S. What do you think of the new blogger interface? Hmmm, I'm still finding my way around but I don't like that it looks like WP because I hate WP with a passion. One thing I'm loving is seeing how many page views vs comments I'm getting :) (the cry baby linky got 203 page views vs 18 comments)

Maybe I'm just a prude

I go to a Zumba class on Wed nights at the gym.

Well, that's the aim, anyway.

By the way, my medical aid sent me a rude letter to tell me I need to go 4 times by the end of Sept or I will revoke my membership so I have to get more diligent with this.

There's this thing they do in class - a move where your elbows are at right angles to your body and you pump your hands outwards (boom boom) while you do this move with your hips and bum.

Do you Zumba girls know the move I'm talking about?

For me it just feels so lewd.

I don't do it properly on purpose - I just do the arms.

Oy.

You know what else I HATE about these dance classes?

When the instructors make you grab a partner and dance together.

I am HUGELY independent in these situations and hate 1) touching other sweaty people (I know what I feel and smell like...) 2) trying to dance with people who are all there for a laugh because I don't follow well and I need someone REALLY good to lead me.

What I really want to do when they say, "grab a partner" is hightail it out of there.

But I don't want to be rude (or miss out the rest of the lesson) so I look around and get the nearest good person.

There was a girl there tonight who just totally ignored the instructor and carried on dancing all by herself.

And she was really good so it's not like she was scared.

I admired her chutzpah tremendously so at a break in the class (drink water while he changes CDs) I told her, "I LOVE the way you're just doing your own thing".

She smiled and said, "you mean instead of playing along with these ridiculous games?"

We both laughed!

Good to know I'm not the only one who hates those partnering things.

Do you dance? Even if you don't, do you like partnering with people?

This week's me time

I've been in a strat session from 8:30 - 6 pm today.

By the way, the clock in my car is 10 minutes fast. That is part of the title of the CD I'm listening to, and yes, 3.5 degrees celsius.


We'd all agreed to go in and not come out til we got something sorted out, no matter the time, so yes, a long day but decisions made and lots of action items.

I love leaving strat sessions with things decided!

Especially when I see sunsets like this...


Absolutely gorgeous :)


Anyway, I have such a lot to talk about but I'll keep it easy. I was going to start my blog featuring thing today but you'll have to wait for tomorrow.

But first, how did I take time for myself this week?

1. Well, despite this week being the coldest week of the year (there was snow in some parts of SA, or so I hear), I braved the elements and went to gym not once, not twice, but THREE times.

I feel so virtuous.

Every single time I told myself that I must be the maddest (most mad?) person in the city to be out in this cold but I went.

Two of those were personal training sessions and one was a dance class.

The dance instructor is a new girl (well, new-to-me since I haven't been in over 2 months) and I was sweating and exhausted, and when I checked my watch, only 15 minutes had elapsed.

!

Somehow I made it and I felt AWESOME afterwards. I forget in between but I SO love dancing!


2. Then I hired a new coach this week. We had our intro session last week, I felt we connected and when she sent me details of her packages, I picked one (a weekly coaching package which I'll transition to monthly after 3 months, or maybe not, if I'm enjoying the weekly accountability), paid and am signed up.

It's for my business but we're going to focus on spiritual and family goals too. Woohoo.

I did my goals form last night - all 3 pages and emailed them through and we start next week.

3. Tomorrow I'm going to the hairdresser to get my hair blowdried and I can't WAIT!

4. My nails were painted purple earlier this week but I wasn't loving the colour so Wed night I took off the colour and painted my nails with clear polish. The next morning when Kendra came for snuggles, she goes, 'where's the purple?" Hilarious! This child notices everything!

What did you do for yourself this week? Did you have a fun one?

PS new post here

A sliver of hope

Hope is such a wonderful thing - it can perk you up when things feel blah and dull.

Yesterday I went into the pause area we share with two other departments on this floor and this one lady, who is known for her tactlessness, rubbed her tummy, looked at me with eyes raised and said meaningfully, "how ARE you?"

I was very insulted and said, "no, A, I'm not pregnant" and off I stormed.

(it is funny now I think about it but at the time I was miffed)

Then my lovely friend, Natalie, came to have a coffee with me (why do we say "coffee" when we actually drank water? Lest you think we're saints, we had carrot cake and a muffin) and she told me that I was looking lovely (thinner) and lots of other nice things.

So I cheered up a bit.

But then, last night after my Zumba class at the gym, I went to weigh myself on those machines that take your BP and body fat too.

This is my weekly ritual so that I have a record of my weight progress.

And............ the scale read 59.8.

It must have been a mistake as that is 2 kg less than I actually weigh.

So I jumped off and got on again.

Still 59.8.

I still think that scale was faulty but it was a lovely little glimmer of hope to keep pressing on toward my health and fitness goals.

Also, my calves are already looking better and my arms are slightly less flabby!

What do you need to feel hopeful about today? Share in the comments.

P.S. I'm going to be in a real print book on motherhood (who would have thought?!) that will come out in May. I wrote my piece last night, D is editing it and I will submit tonight.

Not so perky

I met the new personal trainer yesterday and had my first session with her.

Her name's Sara, by the way.

And... thankfully she is not as perky as she appeared on the phone.

She is VERY young though (around 22 - I will ask as I get more comfortable with her) and full of energy.

I sent her the goals I'd sent through before but amended them slightly to be a bit more specific. And this time I took out all mentions of me doing yoga :)

She weighed me and............. I've lost 1.9 kg in the 11 days since I'd last been weighed.

I can't really see it but my pants have felt more loose.

Onwards and upwards :)

4 sessions down; 20 to go (or at least that's what I'm telling myself) to get to all my goals.

Although I am loving working out with someone pushing and challenging me.

I'm such a group person that I've never been able to work out by myself because I find it dead boring.

But with her next to me and us chatting ... and her encouragement - it feels totally different.

And of course, I'm not tempted to slack off because I think of my thin (Thailand) self and push through.

I can see how some people become addicted to working with a personal trainer. Really I can.

There's a lady who works at our company (mid-forties) who has a truly
GORGEOUS body. Good legs, b**bs, and toned, but not overly so.

Apparently she'd been training with personal trainer number 1, 3 times a
week for the last year.

I tried to justify it and said to him, "she's been thin way before
that" but I get that the reason she continues with him is so she doesn't ever
slack off. And can keep that gorgeous, toned body.

The only thing that puts me off is spending all that money.

BUT I have to remind myself that I'm getting results and I wasn't doing that before even though I knew how to do all the exercises.

And that is worth every single rand.

I suppose it's like when people coach with me - some of the things they do know to do, they're just not doing it. Like my two clients writing their books. They have the expertise, I just coach them around working their time better and so on... and those books are done.

I think it's because if you know you're paying, you're going to darn well do all your homework and you will get results :)

And now I need to go make a salad to go with the tuna and rice bake I made earlier :)

***********************

Oh, I do a thing on the organising blog where I choose 4 organising tasks for the month (one per weekend). They can be small things like tidy up a pile of paper or bigger things like sorting through the babies' summer or winter clothes or even the dreaded decluttering your wardrobe.

Whatever takes your fancy.

So who's joining me? Write a post on your blog and set your intention with the 4 tasks. And then do one small thing this weekend.

Tomorrow I will post my "after" pics (because I forgot to take "before" pics) and you can all link up.

And now I really need to go make that salad!

P.S. I wanted to post a pic but I'm on the slowest computer in the world as mine is at the computer place and I am pulling out my hair.........

I lost a follower talking about church

On one level I hate it... even though I'm being authentic and on another level, I'm the teeniest bit tickled.

Because this means I'm being the slightest bit controversial.

Poor me - I so enjoyed seeing 70, a nice round number :)

***********************

So yesterday I went for my personal training session and the PT announces that that was our last session together.

Freak out!

Since I'm now starting to enjoy it - I like being pushed and challenged by the PT. Who knew?

Something to do with him getting into an argy-bargy with the gym manager over having to take unexpected time off because of his modelling.

Hate it!

And first thing this morning (well, for me, that's 9.15-ish) I get a call from a new, very perky personal trainer.

I don't do very perky - it exhausts me.

She already doesn't listen as I said twice that I train at 3.30 and she phoned me back a 2nd time to ask again.

On the bright side, I am really, really sore today and can barely walk.

I realised yesterday I'm getting stronger - it only took me 2 minutes to first feel some pain on the rowing machine and usually I feel pain within 10 seconds (no joke).

And I did "the plank" - where you prop yourself up on your elbows and your body is raised from the floor in a straight line - for a whole 30 seconds yesterday.

It's the small things, isn't it?

***********************

Right, the macaroni cheese.

Remember this is me - I don't measure, I just throw things in. I call it being creative.

Some margerine, flour, salt... make a paste.... add milk, stir, stir, stir and then I added 3 carrot cubes, pureed (I follow The Sneaky Chef so I always have green and orange cubes to make something more healthy) and about half a tub of low-fat cottage cheese (about 125 g/ 4oz), and then at the end some real cheese, I think cheddar. Salt and pepper to taste.

Hope that helps.

And Julia, I use chickpeas the same as I use kidney beans. I cook (too cheap to buy canned) about a cup of dried chickpeas/ kidney beans (a legume is a legume, right? :)) make a sauce with about 2 cans tomato, onions, mushrooms, something green (I like Swiss Chard), lots of garlic, salt and pepper, and a bit of sugar for all that tomato. A dash of worcestershire sauce and you're good.

We then eat this over pasta or baked potatoes and it is yum. I "invented" it after I had such a lot of veggies to get in me every day. One portion is easily 1 low fat protein and 2 - 2.5 veggies :)

***********************

It was this etsy seller's blog that had me up til 11.40 on Sunday night.

Can you guess what I bought from her shop?

***********************

And then, these are the little bags I bought from this shop.


And now, back to work :)

How's your week going so far?

P.S. I get so frustrated when people leave cryptic messages on FB and when you ask about it, they're all "oh can't/ don't want to talk about it". Then don't say it. Or is this just Curious George Marcia?

Expectations & weigh less

I specifically wrote that post last night because I've been thinking a lot about expectations.

How days like birthdays, anniversaries and Christmas can be less than because of our expectations.

Or rather, my expectations.

I build the occasion up in my mind so that when the actual day happens it is nowhere near what I wanted it to be and I'm disappointed.

Well, I'm tired of living with disappointment so I'd prefer to expect almost nothing, just lots of ordinary moments.

I've also been known to expect people to treat me the way I treat them, which of course, doesn't happen.

I've been thinking how I actually have FABULOUS days all the time and I need to celebrate them more.

I do think one of my good qualities is that I can see the bright side in almost any situation and I do that, but I need to do it with the special occasions too.

My friend, Nat, had a birthday earlier this month and when I phoned her (just for you, Mandy P) to wish her a happy birthday, she said she's been LOVING her birthday.

People phoning the whole day, interrupting her lunch with her hubby, etc. Having a ball.

I remember thinking, "now that's how it should be" and so I think this year I will celebrate if just one person remembers me.



Then, in other news, today was session 2 with the personal trainer.

And... it went much better. That could either mean I'm getting used to working so hard or it wasn't as sore because we worked on different areas of the body.

Either way, it's all good.

He also weighed me and his scale is a horribly lying one. Then again, it was 3:45 and I'd already eaten quite a bit today.

However, no excuses.

I've decided that I'm not working so hard at the gym only to mess things up here at home by being all loosey goosey with my food.

Don't you love that word?!

So at supper time, I hauled out my Weigh-Less file to check portion sizes (always my issue) and weighed exactly 140 g of pasta to have with my healthy bolognaise sauce (with lentils).

And I'll be planning my meals properly from now onwards, like I used to when I very successfully lost 5 kg on WL.

My spreadsheet is ready and waiting :)

The "funny" thing is last time my start weight was 59 and I ended on 54. This time I'll be happy with 59 and very happy with 56 - 57.

How perspective changes things!

How was your Monday?

P.S. I'm on a course at work for two days and I haven't done the pre-work but on the bright side, my inbox is empty and I'm good at making things up on the spur of the moment. Should be fun.

Torture for a purpose

I had my first session with the personal trainer today.

I thought he may go easy on me seeing as how it's only the start of our "relationship" but no.

Boy oh boy.

He seriously worked me hard.

Took no excuses and when I stopped before we'd reached 30 of something or other, made me start all over again.

I kept visualising my 54 kg self (my Mondo goal is only 57 kg), this pic in Kuala Lumpur and at one point I told him I'd be bringing a "thin" pic to put on the treadmill (I hate treadmills). I think he thought I was joking.

I am so not.

It's on my list for tomorrow to have a thin pic printed because seeing my skinny (for me) thighs will definitely motivate me to keep going.

This is Victoria Station in London - I was 56 kg under that jacket in May 2008 and had crept up to 59 after all the fertility meds in Oct/ Nov. So 59 is my pre-pregnancy weight but my goal is 57.

BTW, that luggage is for 3 weeks in the UK :)

The good news is... he says we should reach my goals in LESS THAN 3 months! That will make me very, very happy and I can't wait :)

I plan to book a mini photo shoot with Jeanette for just D and me in April - a funky, arty one in Newtown to celebrate our 16 years of marriage.

On another note, out of nowhere, the personal trainer says to me, "is your husband white?"

I was shocked* but blurted out, "yes.........how did you know?"

He says, "I just sensed"

What that means only he will know.

I was chatting to some clients today and I realised that D & I have only spent 1 night away from the babies (my birthday last year). They were horrified that we haven't escaped more :)

How many nights have you spent away from your babies/ kids, especially in the first two years?

P.S. * I am what we call coloured in SA. Basically mixed race. Both D and I honestly don't see our "differences" - we haven't ever had issues, even right at the beginning.

P.P.S. Tomorrow I need to write about some of Connor's naughtiness. And the bad thing is I just laugh which I don't think is the best thing in the world to do...

Getting back in the swing of things

The whole of Jhb is certainly back at work now, judging from the traffic and the MILLIONS of emails from people wanting to discuss their business ideas.

Both yesterday and today I worked until just before 5.

Those who were reading in 2009 when I went back after my maternity leave will remember I had a deal with Wonderful Boss that I'd only work 6 hours a day (in the office) and then finish up at home later.

That worked so, so well but it's been getting later and later.

First, 2:30, then 3:00 for quite some time, then 3:30 since about September last year.

And now it's 4-ish up to 5.

Simply because I can't come home and work here while the kids are awake.

It is impossible.

They bang on the door and shout, "Mum-mum-mum" (C) and "Mummy" or "Mommy" (K, depending on her mood).

So, impossible to work.

And since they pay me to have my head in the game, I just prefer to work at work til done and then come home to clean, sweet-smelling, bathed babies.

We got about 8 - 10 white cotton babygrows for Connor from my friend Michelle in size 18 - 24 months and I love them - I have my baby back when he's in there. He can be a little guy walking around during the day but come 5:30 he's a baby again :)

So then I went out and bought about 6 pink babygrows for Kendra (months ago when she was peeing through everything).

Love the baby-ness.

Anyway, the point of all this is I've gotten lax since getting back after my leave (28 December onwards) because I realise I am faffing more at work and at home and I need to get my act together.

This is the good thing about coaching time management - I can get back on course quickly and I feel like I have to lead by example so I do, mostly.

I finally booked my sessions with the personal trainer (it still kills me to pay someone to torture me! but if he gets these 5 kg off, I will KISS him!) and paid him for the rest of January. I am cheap and hate wasting money so this will ensure I drag my butt to the gym.

Because of this, I will have to be super efficient again as I will be leaving work at 3:15 twice a week to "enjoy" the personal training.

I've also been very lazy in the evenings - for about 4 evenings over the last week, I've been at the computer til 11 - 11:30, and that has got to stop.

I need to be off the computer at 10 and put "read blogs" as the last thing on my computer to-do list instead of the first. *ahem*

How's your productivity been at work, (if you work outside the home - look at me being all PC) and at home on the computer?

P.S. Of my 10 goals for January, 4 are done!

Sometimes I am very, very slow

this is me in Kuala Lumpur 4 years ago when I weighed 54 kg. That lovely tan is from laying around at the pool in Thailand :)

My usual thing is to go to gym twice a week. Some weeks I don't even make it twice.

I really need to up the ante so this weight can come off once and for all.

I don't think it's about motivation; it's about creating the time and space to set you up for success.

And that's what I'm trying to do.

We have a gym at work but the problem with that is I don't like to shower at work (I am very private and all the girls walk around na.ked, not me though) and you kind of have to after a lunch time class.

Oh, have I mentioned I only do classes? I find working out by myself very, very boring. I need the group energy and, dare I say it, competition, to spur me on.

Just last night, I went to my first class in over a month.

It was a Zumba class and there was a can-can song which I loved. I pretend I'm on stage and dance my heart out. It helps to push through the pain :)

Back to why I'm slow.

The only time I have to go to extra classes are either during the day or on the weekend.

So I've decided to join the gym at work and hire a personal trainer.

My intention is to do 2 sessions a week with him (at the end of the day so I can drive straight home and shower here), one class by myself at lunch (I'll have to run around with my towel for one day a week), and one to two classes at my regular gym.

So really it's just one day that will seriously inconvenience me but I will do it to reach my goals. I put up with IVFs, didn't I?

These are my goals for the next 3 months:

1. build upper body strenth (my triceps are getting flabbier which has got to stop)
2. reduce the abdomen, bum and thigh fat (I want muscles again and for my clothes to fit better)
   
3. strengthen my back muscles (I have taken far too many Norflex over the last 2 - 3 months from picking up the kids) and increase flexibility - this is the class I'll do at the work gym by myself, Yoga. I don't have a good relationship with Yoga/ Pilates-type stuff but I will persevere
4. strengthen my core
   
5. increase my physical fitness (the two cardio dance classes should help here)
6. lose some weight (I'm giving him my Mondo number - 57 - so he works for his money :))
   

I love how the weight is number 6, and I didn't even plan it like that!

I am taking this list with me later this afternoon when I go see him to set goals and work out my plan.

Do you have health and fitness goals?