Pushing through and forgetting about the crocodiles....

Today was my 3.5 m Easy + 1 m @ level 7 run. Since we had quite a few errands this morning, I went out around 6 this evening, when it was 80°F (around 30°C). Oh, it was a hot and humid struggle. I managed the 3.5 miles in 37:08 at a pace of 10:37, not without a great deal of huffing and puffing, and a few rests in between. I got back home to do the last mile on the treadmill. I do not yet have the 'legs' to run at level 7 for a mile consistently on my own, so the treadmill is a good training tool in helping me build up the endurance needed for that pace. Even so, level 7 was just a wee bit too fast as I felt a bit knackered, so I did the mile in 9:13 at level 6.5. My total time for 4.5 miles was 46:21 and the breakdown turned out to be:

Mile 1: 10:23
Mile 2: 10:40
Mile 3: 10:54
Mile 3.5: 10:22
Mile 4: 9:13

When I run outside, I usually run sans ipod. However, I took my ipod with me today, and whilst I would prefer to run without it, as it is quite hard for me to override the uncomfortable sensation of running slowly, I thought it was worth a try to attempt to get the right beat. I started with Come on Baby Light my Fire and ended with Asereje. It's ok, but I am not easily distracted by music when I run outside. On the treadmill it's fine, as I really think about the songs, whereas outside I actually concentrate on the matter at hand! Still, I am going to try this a few times and see if this actually has an influence on the quality of my running.

Stuart went out for a run as well, and naturally we were starving afterwards. I had not prepared anything before hand, and needed something quickly. Step in Trader Joe's Meatless Meatballs. This is a lifesaver! These meatballs are pre-cooked, so all I needed to do was to make a quick tomato sauce, and add the meatballs. I left to simmer for about 15 minutes and everything was ready in 30 minutes. I started boiling the whole wheat pasta when I added the meatballs. It usually takes around 12 minutes as whole wheat pasta takes a few more minutes to cook. Strain, add to the sauce immediately, and grate the parmesan cheese (takes me about 2 minutes to grate enough for both of us), and voila' it's done. A glass of Bordeaux, and we had a very yummy dinner.

Serving Size 6 meatballs:
Calories 140 Calories from Fat 50
Total Fat 6g 9%
Saturated Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 560mg 23%
Total Carbohydrates 8g 3%
Dietary Fiber 4g
Sugars 1g
Protein 16g

I think these meatballs are actually quite amazing.  They are delicious, very healthy and you can whip up a great meal in 30 minutes.  We have a very small freezer, so I cannot make a few meals and store them, but I am going to try and make a batch of this, some ragu' and some pesto tomorrow.  That way, I only have to boil the pasta if I don't feel like cooking.  Have a great Sunday!

Today might be the day.........

.....that I turn a corner! More a psychological, than a physical one, though I have been enduring a rather annoying little ailment which is finally getting better. This means a pain-free run! So tonight is 5 miles. I was up rather late last night reading anthropology blogs, so this morning was a washout. BUT, and dare I say it?! Yes, OK, I think I might finally be feeling hopeful again, and that really impacts my running tremendously. I have never been one of those people who can run through personal hells and back again. For me, that refuge has always been in reading. So I have been reading a lot of science fiction lately, and have just finished:

Lots of it is very cleverly written, but I have always loved the anthropological aspect of it all.  I think I will dedicate a post just to this topic, but for now, I am just happy to be looking forward to my run tonight.  Have a great day everyone!

Bye bye week 4

I have had a few physical ailments this week which have slightly derailed my training plan. I still did the training, but had to break the session up into 2, otherwise there is no way I could have finished it. I had to skip a mid-week 3 mile run, but I will make that up this week by just adding a mile on to the regular programme. Anyway, it really was a long pain-filled week, but I am hoping that this week improves - and certainly the signs are good!
Yesterday's run was fantastic: 3 miles easy + 1 at level 7. I got up to 10 minute miles with the 3E, and the final mile was done in increments, finishing the last half mile at 6 and a half minutes. Considering the terrible week, I was happy. Today was a long run of 6 miles. It was not too horrible, but I did struggle, as it was hot and humid, and after having shepherd's pie for lunch, I still felt the pie in my stomach!
So this brings me to the next topic: food, glorious food. Stuart and I have now started having totally different meals. He is pretty good with vegetarian, but I think now there might be a bit of a rebellion going on. Things finally came to a head when I made some red quinoa tossed with spinach and steamed green cauliflower florets for dinner. Admittedly the quinoa does look like rather large red ants, and it did look slight inaesthetic. Long story short, I am going to try and make a few meat-based dishes a month, one of which was the shepherd's pie today. I have my own healthy version recipe if anyone is tempted by a classic British dish.
So I start week 5 tomorrow, which is a rest day. I also got a bit more organized and signed up for 2 half marathons as part of my long run training plan. The first is Salem's Wicked Half on 25 September. And yes, in case you are wondering, it is in THE city of Salem, made infamous by the witch trials in 1692. It is a beautiful city, and I have good memories, having done a triathlon there last summer. The second half is on 17 October, the Baystate Marathon in Lowell, not too far from here. I am looking forward to both, and am hoping to improve everything, considering that the last half I did....
Since the week had been quite hectic, I took advantage of the tax-free weekend in Massachusetts, and bought a few things. I ordered a jolly looking frock on the net, now I wonder if the frock is a bit too jolly, as I intend wearing it to work. I have never owned anything in yellow, so I thought this might be a nice change, but hmmm....maybe a bit too bright? Any thoughts anyone?

The wages of processed foods are......not pleasant

I have done a very silly thing. In an effort to vary my diet, and still eat healthily, I turned to the Weight Watchers products this past week. I used to share a house with a woman who was on this system, so I got to know how it works quite well. I have also read a few peoples blogs who also follow this system, so I thought I really had the hang of it.
I bought a load of WW cheese (hey it's only 1 point), snacks (which were awful as they were full of aspartame) and other stuff which was all low-calorie and low in points. I ate this stuff for a week, and on Saturday, I started feeling slightly ill. Nothing serious, just a really dry mouth, heat waves sweeping over me and feeling out of sorts, like being in a sugar overload. Come Sunday and I was in full crisis.
Clearly I do not want to blame the WW products. I still eat pizza, and come Thanksgiving, I become a glutton with the Whole Foods blueberry pie. I think however, the problem came with the QUANTITY of processed food I consumed this past week. Most of my food is eaten raw, and this sudden overdrive of sugary 1 point treats left me tired, cranky and wanting more. Sunday I was just violently ill, and today was not much better. When I got home, rather than having some Finn crisps with WW cheese, I had them with proper Brie. Nothing too dramatic happened. However, all this has been a serious lesson to me - indeed my eating habits may be boring, but it is the perfect fuel for me. I do not want to go through this again, and I can say that it will take a lot to tempt me to eat something processed!
I was lucky in that Saturday was a rest or a cross training day. Because I felt so terrible, I had a rest. I do not know by what miracle I managed 6 miles on Sunday, but manage them I did. Clearly they were not the best 6 I have ever done, but I am still on track with my training. Thankfully today was also a rest day, as I almost left work at lunch time. But I stuck it out and things have slowly started improving. Tomorrow is 4 miles with 6x30 sec repeats. I am doing this on the treadmill, but I am determined to do it - even if I have to split the session in 2. Has anyone else had a similar experience?!

HR: 3miles E w/4x10sec HR - Check!

This morning was hard to get out of bed! It usually takes me an hour to realize who I am, but since I was late and was not going to miss my run, I had an espresso, and off I went. It was around 80°F around 7am, so this was a very sweaty run. It was pretty good and I can see that my fitness is slowly improving. Nothing much to report, just that it felt good to start and finish this run.

I did not make any lunch for work, as I was going out to a Thai place with a colleague. However, I did manage to make a bottle of Green Monster to share with my colleagues. When I drink this at work for breakfast, I have been greeted with "What the hell is that?" to "God, how can you drink that?" So, I brought some in to work for a tasting, and this is the reaction from my colleagues:

Notwithstanding their expressions, everyone was surprised at just how good it tasted, but were unanimous in feeling that they could not go another round in the morning drinking this.  I still have a few more colleagues who want to try this, so I might yet get a few converts to the Green Monster Movement!

Progress

As I blogged this morning, my goal was to do a short stair climb after work today, as cross-training. Well, the day started off well. After my run I made a "Red Monster"for breakfast.

So a red monster has 3 tomatoes, 2 carrots, a stick of celery, a handful of spinach, a third of a raw beetroot and a chunk of fresh ginger.  Frullee' and you have a glass of joy.  I think I got the proportions a bit muddled in my enthusiasm this morning, and I ended up with a very thick concoction that I had to eat with a spoon!

Still, it was very good, and I will try changing the portion sizes next time.  Given my terrrible food day yesterday, I was organized, and made my lunch.  A big salad, and a protein sandwich with cheese.  So, since moving to the US, I  discovered a most wonderous thing - Ezekiel 4:9.  In fact, I call it holy bread, even though it's not really bread.

So this is flourless bread, and because it is made from spelt, barley, millet, lentils etc., it is pure protein.  I toasted 2 slices with a slice of cheese and had that with my salad.  It was the perfect lunch.  In fact I also had some for dinner with soup.  You will find it in the freezer at Whole Foods or Trader Joe's.
The stair climb was not exceptional.  I only did 60 flights of stairs in 20 minutes (walking, not running), and I did some strength training for another 20 or so minutes.  Then I tackled that which I most resist: abdominals.  Nothing fancy, just a few planks and bicycles which I don't dislike.  Tomorrow is a 3 mile run before work - I think I will go back to my usual green monster for breakfast though!

Week 3

I did a 5 mile long run on Sunday, and that finished week 2. Monday was a rest day and Tuesday was 3 miles E + 4x20 sec S. I did not manage the run yesterday, so did it this morning instead. Since today is a cross training day, my plan is to fit in some stair climbing this evening, and hey, maybe even a few weights!
I was annoyed at missing yesterday's run, but I got up too late, and the choice was to do my Buddhist meditation or go for a run. I chose the former, thinking I could do the latter after work. Well, after work I ended up going for a coffee with a colleague and was exhausted by the time I got home. I was in bed by 9pm!
Up early this morning, and did that run, will have time for a smidgen of meditation, but I can do it with calm tonight! So, you may remember that I have done two stair climbs since moving to Boston. I usually do them as a vertical run. Well, my goal for next year's climb is to race it competitively!
Stairs are hard work, but there is a certain delight in the agony, and it is fun too. Well, off to sort some lunch out. Yesterday was a disaster.....I did not make any lunch and ended up eating half a wilted salad at work and a bag of crisps. Yikes! It got worse. I had a rather large slice of banana and nut bread with my colleague, and for dinner three quarters of a box of chocolate covered peanuts. All in all, it was a nightmare. I felt sick and had to have large handfuls of Citrosodina...which has quite a salty taste. So new day, and no more rubbish!

Saturday at last!

It has been a long week at work, and I was really looking forward to Saturday. My plan was to treat myself well. I started the morning off with my favourite breakfast....a green monster smoothie. I got this recipe from Angela's blog, and it is truly yummy.

Take 2 cups of organic spinach, 1 banana, 1 cup and a half of almond milk and a teaspoon of flax seeds. Put all the ingredients into a blender and whizz until you have the perfect glass of joy.  Whilst it might sound a bit challenging at first (especially if you are not used to drinking spinach first thing in the morning), this is a wonderful drink, and keeps me going until lunchtime.  I also have one of these when I need some energy for a run.  It is the perfect fuel.  I have also tried this with 3 kale leaves instead of the spinach, and a cup of blueberries.  I have learned that it is not a good idea to add chia seeds as it makes for a rather gelatinous concoction which you have to eat with a spoon, which prompted one of my colleagues to ask, "What the hell are eating?".  Still, odd mistake aside, these green monsters are amazing power drinks.  I do not add ice to mine, as I am not a fan, but add it if you prefer a more chilled drink.  It takes me 5 minutes to make.

I managed to fit in a 45 minute run, and a 20 minute cycle on the stationery bike.  The run was at a sustained pace, and although it was not too long, it was good.  The weather here in Boston has been in the 90s (around 34°C) for a good few weeks, with up to 80% humidity.  Since I got up a bit late, (7am), the sun was already beating down quite strongly, and I did not have the bottle to  go outside, so I ran on the treadmill.  However, my marathon training starts soon-ish, and that will definitely have to be done outside - or at least a large portion of it!
I really did treat myself on Saturday, and lunch was a standard favourite:  a whole wheat wrap, hummus, rucola and jalapeno peppers.  An Eastern peach served as dessert and I was set.  This is a delicious

hummus made of chickpeas, with kalamata olives and artichokes.  The whole meal works out to under 300 calories, and is highly nutritious, though I need a snack around 4pm! Although the weekend was not very dense with running activities, it was very relaxing, and I feel that I am more 'in the zone' mentally, to start running with more commitment!
Well, Monday is the start of a new week, and my goal for this week is to try and run every day - using different distances, and to do 3 stair climbing sessions.  Hope you all have a great week too!

                                                                                                                                                                

The Elixir of Life

This tea from South Africa is the elixir of life. Let me explain: 'rooibos' literally means 'redbush'. And anyone who has read Alexander McCall Smith's The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency, has met Mma Ramotswe, will know of her penchant for redbush tea.  It is a cool refreshing drink, but the reader never discovers whether this is in fact 'rooibos' or an imposter, since  the rooibos only grows in the Western Province.  Be that as it may, I only discovered this tea when I started university.  At home we drank Earl Grey, Lapsang Souchong and of course Ceylon tea.  Initially I used to drink it with a little bit of honey, but that soon ended, as this tea has such a refreshing taste.  All my friends agreed that Freshpak rooibos is the best brand (off the supermarket shelf), and although I have tasted some rooibos teas here in the US, they have been quite horrible.  So, Freshpak has been a staple throughout my migrations.  Any friends visiting from South Africa know to bring along a couple of boxes.  Unfortunately customs do not like leaf tea, so teabags have to do.
On my last visit to SA, I brought back 10 boxes of rooibos.  Eight hundred teabags might sound a lot, but they disappear very quickly.  I try and drink at least 2 large glasses of this per day.  This tea is naturally caffeine-free, and it's health benefits are huge!  From insomnia to colic, from it's anti-aging properties to soothing the tired tried soul, this tea is truly the elixir of life!  I usually leave the bag in, so as to drain every last ounce of vitality from this tea.  On my last visit, I also had another great find - rooibos yoghurt!

Let it be said that this was fantastic as well!  It was a double whammy of rooibos AND yoghurt.  Whilst it is not so easy to find fat free and unsweetened yoghurt in SA, (plain or Greek are usually the only options), this was a great find.  Having said that, I am sooo impressed with the wonderful range of yoghurts on offer here in the US.  Possibly the most sinful has to be the 'chocolate underground' by Stoneyfield.  Although it is fat-free, I suspect it has a rather high sugar content.  Anyway, nuff said on this.  A tall glass of rooibos is the perfect drink after a run, when you are relaxing on the sofa.

What food 'rules' do you live by?

The picture above is one that I have on my desktop, and look at almost everyday.  It is a picture that I really like, and it reminds me more of an Arcimboldo, than a Van Dijck still-life.  This post is generated by Tricia's question on her blog today: "What food 'rules' do you live by"?
In case it has not been obvious, I have a slightly conflicted relationship with food.  I grew up in a vegetarian family, with my mum following the tenets of ayurvedic cooking.  It was even worse when we had family come and stay with us.  There were even stricter variations on this, and my mum ended up having to cook several separate meals, with separate utensils.  One of my cousins had lived in an ashram in India for a couple of years, and he did not eat garlic or onions as they are Tamasic foods, "provoking mental dullness". Going on holiday was an experience as my mother would take her own pots and pans with her - the same with cutlery.  We never ate out, as no restaurant could follow the strict dietary  principles and tenets my family adhered to.  Food was a necessity, a fuel rather than a luxury, and 'treats' were never food-related.  So what changed?
Well, I moved to Italy and discovered the Mediterranean diet.  When I used to tell people I was a vegetarian, they really struggled to come to understand what exactly that meant - after all, this was Italy in the 1980s, and vegetarianism had not yet become mainstream.  Being invited to people's homes was always dramatic, as people just did not know what to make for me, and always felt that I "hardly ate anything".  My parents however had always encouraged me to try new things and have an open mind, so I decided to try all these things I had never eaten - salami, proscuitto, carpaccio etc etc.  It was fine, and I enjoyed it all immediately, as being a vegetarian was never really about 'ethics', though I guess it is the basis of ayurveda anyway.  However, my family never banged on about that aspect, so I really was free to make that leap.
When I left Italy and went up to Oxford, I went back to being a vegetarian.  Then, when we moved to Geneva things were no longer so black and white - my perception of food as fuel had changed and food was also now a luxury.  In Italy one spent hours talking about food and wine which is such an integral part of la bella vita.  I could not just undo all that.  Living such a focussed life in Oxford made sticking to a vegetarian diet easy, but once back in the 'real' world, it was hard to get the jack back into the box.    Food is part of a cultural backdrop and it is quite hard to now think of it as strictly 'fuel'.  Let me also add that Stuart has been very good about all of this, and he enjoys the vegetarian diet.  He can take ayurvedic cooking in small doses, but like me prefers a wider variety of world vegetarian dishes.  My bible in the kitchen is Madhur Jaffrey's World Vegetarian Cookbook, but I vacillate wildly between Italian and Vegetarian cooking.  I just cannot choose.  In my mind I would like to go the vegetarian way, but how could I forget about all the other meat and fish-based dishes?
In addition, other issues have crept in: fast food and other stuff.  I had never eaten a McDonald's until I moved to Italy.  Firstly McDonald's did not exist in South Africa and secondly with all the ayurvedic goings-on, it was the furthest thing on my mind.  In Siena, there was 1 McDonald's in the whole town, and hardly anyone went there.  The only people who went there were the boys in the military because they had very little money to do anything else.  Mind you, a menu meal was about 6 Euros (about 8 USD).  Still, it quite a novelty to have it.  In Geneva, they send you free coupons in the post, so we used to wait for those to have a McDonald's.
But back to the original question in Tricia's post: What food 'rules' do you live  by?  I cook everything, we rarely eat out, pizza is a once a week treat.  McDonald's never happens.  I still struggle with crisps, chocolate, biscuits and nuts.  I try not to have them, because it is like opening the floodgates - once I start, it seems impossible to stop, so I just do not buy them.  The idea behind this is that if I want something, I am going to have to walk to the shops to get it.  Naturally, this plan does not always work, and some weeks I do buy stuff and think I can control it....   I have just had a quick chat with Stuart halfway through writing this post, and he has come up with a wonderful idea.
Stuart has suggested that I add another item to my 101 things: have a vegetarian week a month for 6 months, then have 2 vegetarian weeks for 6 months.  That will bring me (us) up to a year, and then I can decide what I want to do after that.  When friends come around we can still offer them meat etc, as I do not believe in foisting my choices upon others.  I love that idea of a vegetarian week a month, so watch this space for an update, and I love Stuart for being so supportive with my dilemmas!  So let me extend Tricia's question to everyone: What food 'rules' do you live by?

                                                    

Fourteen Miles

I have just finished week 8 of 18 in my marathon training programme.  Today was a 14 mile run, but after the run I realised that I had in fact done next week's run - this week I was supposed to do 10.  Well never mind, I can just do 14 again, should be good for building up the old endurance.

This week was ok, but I missed Friday's run. Reason being that I went out on Thursday night and had a few cocktails that completely screwed up my system.  I was really annoyed with myself, as I really felt off on Friday.  I felt like I had poisoned my system, and the effect was still the same today.  The long run was long and hard!  Well, no more cocktails - it's just too much hassle.

I tried out the new super compression tights today, and boy are they tight!  They do hold the muscles in, as well as the knees, which started feeling a bit wobbly around mile 12.  I actually ran for a mile and then had to go home and change as I was wearing an under armour base layer, and I was baking after 5 minutes.  The thought of running 14 miles in this condition was too much to bear, so I ran home and changed.

I also decided to have lunch and go out a bit later.  Long story short, it took more than 9 miles before I started feeling comfortable.  I felt full and it was tough pounding out those miles.  Still, one day I will nail this nutrition business.  I have no idea why I did not have a banana or a power bar, but chose the remainder of my pizza from dinner.  Still, I am chalking it all up to experience.  Hopefully I will make fewer of these mistakes in the future.

At the end of my run, I could 'feel' my legs, and walked for 20 minutes on the treadmill when I got home, then stretched and had a glorious shower.  I am pleased with my run, but think it could have been a lot better.  I need to be a bit more organized and thoughtful about what I need to do, rather than just doing it.

Shopping at Triathlete Sports

Triathlete Sports were having a sale, with 10% off all purchases, so to celebrate my first half marathon, I ordered some stuff.  I love capri length tights, so I ordered a pair from Orca.  The reasoning behind buying Orca was that I tried out their 2XU wetsuit this summer, and it was awesome!  So, naturally when I saw they made running tights too, I thought I would try a pair.
The sportive tight is made from Orca Form which provides muscle support.  Indeed when I tried it on, it felt like getting into a wetsuit.  These tights are tight!  I have only tried them on once, but they feel and look like they have been sprayed on.  They are well elasticated around the waist, and have quite a few reflective strips and logos, which make them ideal for running in poor light.  I saw a pair of Zoot tights, but since I wanted a black pair, I thought to go with Orca.  The verdict is still out, as I have not yet been for a run in them, but watch this space.
My second purchase was a present for my dear friend Kathy.  Kathy is a fabulous runner who still runs, but no longer does any marathons.  For her I chose a Louis Garneau top from their 2010 collection.  It is in a gorgeous turquoise colour with black panels and reflective strips.  The fabric is wonderful and Kathy loved it!
My third and perhaps most important purchase was a box of GUs.  I had tried almost all the flavours, and  had come to the conclusion that I only liked the Espresso GU.  After 2 of them though, I feel quite hyperactive.  I had also been through the range of hammergels, and did not bond with any of their flavours.  I had tried taking kitkat 2 finger snack bars with me on long runs, but the taste is quite awful, even though they are useful when you do not have any alternatives around.  I admit that I bought the chocolate outrage flavour blindly - I have never seen this in any of the shops I have visited (and believe me, I have been to many, in various states), so I have never tried it.
So I was waiting for the weekend to try out both capris and GU.  When the weekend finally came around, it was raining all the time.  Since I had another engagement on Sunday, I swapped my long run and rest day, and went out for a 10 miler on Saturday.  I had a GU before I left, but nothing could have prepared me for the taste of heaven that is their chocolate outrage offering.  It is divine....not unlike chocolate icing, but without the stultefying sweetness.  Super yum, I found my running fix!
Since it was raining heavily when I left for my run, I wore long running tights to keep my legs a bit warm at least.  And it was a wonderful run.  Very few people were out, so I could hear myself running through puddles and the squishing sound of trainers on water-logged grass.  It was the first time I actually managed to run on the grass around the Charles River, as it is usually taken over by doggies and small children.  I was a bit tired at the end, but I had also run at a much increased pace than last week.  This gives me hope for a sub 2 half one day......
Triathlete Sports are a great online resource.  They ship within 24 hours and you get exactly what you ordered.  I have bought stuff from them in the past, and have been very satisfied.  Excellent customer service, and they keep some great lines such as KSwiss, Louis Garneau, etc.

A Good Week

Yes, this past week was a good one!  I think I must have reached the point of no return with my diet, and when Stuart proposed going to do the shopping on Monday, I did not lazily refuse and order online.  I hauled myself out of the house and off we went to Whole Foods.  Once there, it was a joy to reconnect to actually touching the fruit and veg, and think about what I was buying.

It was simple and easy - I bought things which we usually buy anyway, only this time I did not get any 'treats'.  When we were living in Switzerland, we would have a treat once a month, that consisted of us sharing a pizza.  Now we have a treat every week, that consists of us having a pizza EACH! My nemesis is  the blueberry pie baked by Whole Foods.  Well, I can certainly see the results, and whilst I am still the same size, my clothes are feeling decidedly snug.  So no blueberry pie.

What I did get though, was an old favourite: Black and Green's Dark Chocolate.  Yes, since moving here I discovered Dunkin Donuts and the worse trap of all - fat free items.  I knew better, but it did not stop me from trying out 'fat free' ice cream, and 'fat free' cheesecake.  The list could go on, but the point is, the fat is taken out and sugar is added instead.  Before discovering all this fat free stuff, I would eat everything, just in small quantities.  Still, so far so good.  Where it really started coming apart at the seams, was when I started doing bricks (triathlon 'bricks' that is).

I was too lazy to work out exactly what my energy needs were, and to divide my daily calories according to my schedule.  Instead I started 'guestimating'.  No good could come from this, and indeed the chickens have come home to roost.  On the one hand I am cross with myself as all this uncontrolled nutrition has made me feel off-balance and cranky.  However, I am also pleased that I have the opportunity to challenge myself again, lose a few pounds and perhaps encourage someone else who is struggling with a similar issue.

Make no mistake, it is hard to break the cycle.  The challenge does not lie with not ordering pizza or donuts - that is easy; I just walk past the shop or supermarket aisle.  The issue is about getting back into organizing my meals, calories and life!  It does take an enormous amount of energy, especially if like me, you have gravitated towards treats such as 100 calorie packets of shortbread biscuits.  Believe you me, they do not work.  I need at least 2 packets with a cup of tea after work.  I find it easier not to have any, than having to suffer the 100 calorie fixes.  These give the illusion of control because you feel you are having what you want, but are in control because of the fixed quantity.  Wrong!  I need to think about what I want and decide whether to have it or not.  For some people the 100 calorie deal is perfect, but it does not work for me.

So once I could clear all that up, the next step was to admit that good nutrition is not automatic.  I once read that it takes 30 days for an action to become a habit.  I knew how to eat nutritiously 8 months ago, but that is no longer a habit.  Therefore it is a behaviour that has to be relearned.  And it will take 30 days.  Spelling it out like this is quite important because it reminds me that the results of my new eating habits will not become apparent tomorrow.  However, maybe in 30 days time I will be feeling more like the old me.  I am also curious to see what the scale will show on Thursday 15 October!

"Snacks", "Breakfast" and a confession.

My nutritional woes have worsened this past week. I get up early and usually have porridge with almonds and an apple for breakfast, and in the past this has stood me in good stead until midday. When I get to work I will have a coffee and sometimes a piece of fruit or yogurt mid-morning.  Now however, I suddenly find that around 9 I am starving, despite having had breakfast. I can stave off the pangs with water, but around 10:30 they become unbearable and so I go and get a croissant and another coffee.
Lunch usually consists of soup or a chicken salad, with another piece of fruit or yogurt mid-afternoon. Now I find I am starving mid-afternoon and am making trips to the VENDING machine! The worse of it is I cannot break out of this nightmare cycle that seems to have started.
Two weeks ago Stuart and I went on holiday to Seattle. On going to a Mariners game, I discovered "garlic fries". Yes, a pound of these fries with kosher salt, parsley and garlic all for a few dollars! Being a big garlic fan, I decided to live rashly and consumed a pound of it myself! I usually steer clear of "fries" and have salad. Well, the fries were followed by ice-cream and the rest of the holiday was spent sampling the culinary delights Seattle had to offer. Going off to remote Neah Bay did not deter me either.
It now seems as all this has opened the proverbial floodgates, and I seem unable to get back into my old eating habits. Truth be told, they were on a slippery slope already, but it seemed to be a slope I had reasonable control over. Now it's the wild wild west, and total anarchy!
I have put on at least 5 pounds, and need to get rid of them not least because my clothes are starting to feel snug!  In need of help, I am going to join weightwatchers - reason being, their system of portion control is excellent. Indeed, I am struggling with getting my nutrition under control and I know when I need help. I used to accompany a friend to weightwatchers in the UK as she did not want to go alone, and I know a bit about that system. It works very well, and I learnt lots of useful things - most of which I seem to have forgotten.
I know that exercise alone is not going to do it for me, and besides I want to get back into the habit of enjoying what I eat. I do not enjoy crisps from the vending machine or biscuits - yet I seem unable to stop myself and I have no idea why. Well, Thursday is the day of the meeting, so let's see what happens....