Finding health... ha

After two good weeks, I spent this week in bad health.
Considering I've been teaching snotty-nosed kids to swim for 5 1/2 months now, I'm surprised it took that long to pick something up!
I only called in sick one day, so had to endure it all week.
I learned something:
Head-colds and swimming don't mix.
It's miserable!
On top of that, my shoulder has Bursitis.
It's easily fixed with an injection of Cortizon, or so my doctor said.
But after yesterday's shot, my shoulder hurts worse than it did before!
Before I could at least function, it was just a dull pain, an irritant.
Now, I have to be very careful which way I lift my arm or I get sharp pain.
I'm hoping it's just because of the needle, which will heal in a couple days.
I hope I hope I hope!

Diet.
Today I have a few hours during the day.
I'm going to plan meals for a few scenarios (day schedules) that I can foresee.
Back-up plans too.
I need to do this for real.
Tired of back-tracking after something irregular pops up.

Exercise.
Eh..... not so good. That's okay, I'm working on it :)

Waking up from Winter Hibernation

I have been very quiet on blogger,
very active in life.
After gaining over 15 lbs this winter (by being a couch potato with my sister, don't regret a moment!)
I've now decided to start making the most of this life.

I now teach swimming at three different pools,
about 16 hours a week, broken up into 7 shifts, 6 days a week.

I am also on 3 different volunteer committees at the kids primary school.
1. Playground (we're building a new one)
2. Library (we're upgrading the old one)
3. Garden (there's 4-7 major projects coming up in the next two years).

And last, but certainly not least, I'm losing weight!
Actually quite funny, I'm following in Annie, the Amazing Shrinking Girls' footsteps, and building muscle!
My old Bootcamp trainer, Brad, has earned his official "MP Trainer" certificate.
It's all about building muscle so your metabolism burns energy.
It also includes eating 6 meals a day, each meal including a balance of carbs, protein & omega-3 fats.
Which type of carb (there's a list) depends on when you work-out, and what type of work-out you preform.
Pretty much, I'm cutting out breads and high-GI carbs for every meal unless it's 3 hours after a Resistence Training (weight-lifting) session.

So far (1 week) I've lost 3 lbs!
Silly me was pretty disappointed about day 4 with what felt like no results.
Today I'm feeling it in my slightly-looser clothes! YAY!

So there it is. My busy life in a nutshell.
I'll check in at least weekly and let you know how I'm going.
In the mean time, if you want to find a MP trainer in your area click here.
It's working for me :)

Dear diary

Dear diary:

Just spent the last couple of hours "In the zone".
At first, I was determined to set up one thing: A work-out appointment schedule with myself.
Check.
But I have this niggly feeling that there's more...
So I've done it...
Fasting here I come.
To God be The Glory.

PS. Just realised that big fat Tuesdays are popular with posting lately! Thinking about keeping it that way... Weekly Tuesday posts... Hmmmm... Sounds too good to be true :)

Exercising Consistently! Go me :)

Funny.
Usually I avoid blogging when I'm not doing well with my health and exercise efforts.
This time, I've just been busy.
Busy with work, and with exercise!
I have also been very conscious about what goes into my mouth.
I've been exercising every second day.
I feel so much more fit, even though the scale won't budge.
I've started lifting weights again, in hopes that more muscle mass will increase my metabolism.
Then I won't have to count calories, or decrease my meal sizes.
Just make better food choices, and keep exercising!
Consistency is working this time, I just need to keep up the momentum.
Cheers!

Difficult Tattoo

I just finished my Week 2, Day 1 C25K!
I was born for running.
I did enjoy the gym, but to be honest, it did become a chore.
But each and every time I decide to run - I find Joy!
I can't help but smile at friendly faces, blossoming Spring trees, and the gently breeze along the Brisbane River.
I can't help but feel
Blessed.
Free.
Loved.

I've also decided that I will be successful in my weight-loss effort, if I put just as much time in my life, if not more, for God.
I refuse to make this about more "me-time".
I love Christ, and He deserves to have me-time too.
So, I've been reading my Bible nightly.
I started going to church again.
I've been giving my kids bible study & conversation time each morning.
And I've been contemplating the design of my new tattoo.
Yes, that's right - Tattoo.

"Everything is difficult before it gets easy."

This quote certainly pertains to running.
And also to this tattoo!
This tattoo is proving to be more difficult than it should be.
I've wanted another one for a very long time - 10 years in fact.
But it has to be just right, meaningful, and beautiful.
I only have one card-sized one, a flower, on my ankle.
It was pain that was difficult to bear.
But I do love it - even 11 years on, still love it.
And I figure, nothing compares to the pain Christ bore for me.
I can do this.

This tattoo will be on my back left shoulder.
Over my heart (on my back).
For a long time I had my heart set on a tree design.
A tree with deep roots.
Rooted in Christ "planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." - Psalm 1:3.

I was nervous about this tattoo idea, because it would have to be perfectly drawn - beautiful.
It would imagine that a tree would be rather difficult to make beautiful.
I'd imagine it being described more as "pokey" and "stick-like", rather than "beautiful".
 I kept thinking, and praying.

This week, I've come across a better idea.

I've always wanted this tattoo to be large, and a testimony for Christ.
How about a bible verse...
But which one?
I searched them all...
Google image search for "Bible verse tattoo"
But in the end, it was God who lead me to the right verse during a late night Bible flick.

I know that my Redeemer lives. Job 19:25

I'll find a fancy font, and add some artistic flavour with a Cross and perhaps a flower.
Or a flower-y Cross.
:)

I'll let you know!

Much better today.

Today was definitely better.
Still no exercise, but much better food choices.
8am Home-made bacon and egg sandwich for brekky.
Then "work" at the pool ;)
11am snack: Picnic peanut bar... not really a good choice, but it could have been another Hungry Jacks incident, so I'm not going to feel too guilty over this...
1:30pm Subway swch (6") & 2 handfuls of potato chips for lunch.
On the road all afternoon.
6:30pm Chicken quesadillas (home-made) and garden salad for dinner.
3 beers with dinner.
Going to bed.
Tomorrow: Stradbroke Island!

Tuesday's Shame

Here's my first "Honesty Blog Post".

Today, I didn't eat breakfast.
Then I had...
*Deep Breath*
{I do NOT want to admit this,
 but I have to be honest with myself, and out loud if I want to move on}
Then, for lunch, I went to Hungry Jacks (that's Burger King guys).
I had a Whopper Meal, with medium "chips" (fries) and a Diet Coke.
LOL Diet?.... Freakin' Hell...

Then I went home, and finished off a bag of corn chips from yesterday.
30 minutes later I ate the rest of a white chocolate bar my mom bought me (thanks mom).
Now I'm now on my 3rd beer.

This week (right now) my kids are spending 3 nights with my mother and mother-in-law....
So my husband and I are going out to the movies tonight.
So I was just getting ready.
And I'm wearing my glasses, instead of my contacts,
So I hate my face.
And my hair is pretty crap, as I'm in chlorinated water 6days/week.
And the last haircut was over 6 months ago.
And my pants don't fit.
I'm trying to sort out a long enough shirt so I can wear my jeans undone, covered with a big-ass (literally) belt.
I should be... I'd be comfortable a size 16-18.
I weigh 184 lbs.
I did absolutely NO exercise today.
Or yesterday.
Or last week...
HELL... I cannot remember the last formal bit of work-out I've done this year!
Probably June... perhaps May... April?

How's that for honest.