This morning was back to regular workouts -up and in the gym by 6. After my lower body weight work I had an itch to seriously sweat and I hopped on the arc trainer and put on a favourite psytrance CD of mine...and for the first time since I used to run "it" happened. About 5 minutes in, I closed my eyes, kept up to the rhythm of the music and just moved and enjoyed the music and grinned. At ~140 bpm I was flying and breathing and...wow. I went off into "that" zone where you move and breathe and feel and before I knew it my workout was over.
Bliss.
I didn't think I'd ever get that without a run...I'm so glad about that. It's so very zen for me to get lost in the music like that. The kind of thing that makes you glad to be alive. The same feeling I get sometimes dancing. This is my favourite kind of music. A bit odd for most I know, but nothing makes me move like this...
*grin*
Have a great day everyone.
I know I will...today I get to relax after work with my luv, spend some time with my Dad tonight and bake cookies.
I can't wait...me hee !
Music to get lost to: Hallucinogen - Lone Deranger
Ah!
Bliss is mine.
The semester is over.
After a week of crazy and a weekend of study study study and the odd meltdown I have written my exam and think I did OK on it. And, best of all...all things are in and my academic duties for this semester are OVER! Sure I can do stuff here and there on my project, but I have survived the insanity. I can hardly believe it. I have my life back! My Dad is in town visiting for a few days and so now I can relax and visit with him for a bit before he flies to my sister's on Wednesday. I can bake cookies...
you know...normal people stuff :)
This morning, because of my exam, I didn't come in to workout, I did my old trusty ball DVD at home and had a big bowl of Fibre One cereal for breakfast while I looked over my notes for the last time. The DVD seemed really easy. Too easy. I guess that means I'm doing OK fitness wise :) I'd like to have gotten more in, but it is the way of things. Tomorrow is another day and I can be back at things, so it's no biggie. I have a healthy lunch and I feel...happy.
I'm not sure how I expected to react at the end of all things, but I'm just so glad to be done everything. If I goofed up on the test I don't know about it, so I did as well as I could have.
That is enough. :)
Speech in my pajamas
I got up this AM for my arms and cardio workout. Upper body + 30 minutes on the arc trainer. Then cottage cheese with pineapple and blueberries for breakfast. YUM.
After much meetings, and finishing up my last paper that is due (he hee) I have to give my speech today for my MSc that was rescheduled. I think I'm ready. When I missed my bus the other day I picked up an awesome pair of cords, and they fit perfectly. I've gotten compliments all day on how I look... and many comments on the thinness. It's kind of creeping me out actually. Oh well...I do feel all posh and smart in my new comfy stretch cords and a nice black sweater. The cords look great but feel like pajama pants. So nice...
Hopefully the speech goes well. Then I can hand in my paper...and THEN...study all weekend . Oh joy. :) 4 days left! Meep!
After much meetings, and finishing up my last paper that is due (he hee) I have to give my speech today for my MSc that was rescheduled. I think I'm ready. When I missed my bus the other day I picked up an awesome pair of cords, and they fit perfectly. I've gotten compliments all day on how I look... and many comments on the thinness. It's kind of creeping me out actually. Oh well...I do feel all posh and smart in my new comfy stretch cords and a nice black sweater. The cords look great but feel like pajama pants. So nice...
Hopefully the speech goes well. Then I can hand in my paper...and THEN...study all weekend . Oh joy. :) 4 days left! Meep!
The one where I missed all the buses
Last night was a comedy of errors.
A bunch of us from work met for drinks after and I managed to get there a bit late, and then missed my bus to leave, so I sat with a coworker for a bit until his ride came and then caught the next one 30 minutes later (the bus service here is not stellar). I had to run some errands and got stuck talking to someone that wouldn't stop (I have no skills to shut that sort of thing down when I have to leave)...finally got away and tried to go home....and missed the bus. So I went inside the mall and went shopping a bit - found a nice pair of cords (size 5!) and came out...and missed my bus again. So...bit more unsuccessful shopping and finally made a bus to get home about an hour after I'd planned...I did about an hour of studying but then I kept falling asleep so I just gave in and went to bed. I must have needed it as I fell asleep in seconds and I woke up this morning feeling very rested. Unfortunately I didn't get in half the studying I had hoped, but I'm thinking the sleep did me more good...knock on wood.
AND today is another day, and J is picking me up after work so there will be no bus issues. :)
Tomorrow I have a meeting and my MSc presentation...so I have to go over that a bit tonight and then study study study. (always with the studying)
Think I'll wear my new pants tomorrow for my speech. They fit fantastic. I really can't believe it's me in them. :)
Well. To work. But first...cottage cheese with blueberries and pineapple. Mmmmm....
A bunch of us from work met for drinks after and I managed to get there a bit late, and then missed my bus to leave, so I sat with a coworker for a bit until his ride came and then caught the next one 30 minutes later (the bus service here is not stellar). I had to run some errands and got stuck talking to someone that wouldn't stop (I have no skills to shut that sort of thing down when I have to leave)...finally got away and tried to go home....and missed the bus. So I went inside the mall and went shopping a bit - found a nice pair of cords (size 5!) and came out...and missed my bus again. So...bit more unsuccessful shopping and finally made a bus to get home about an hour after I'd planned...I did about an hour of studying but then I kept falling asleep so I just gave in and went to bed. I must have needed it as I fell asleep in seconds and I woke up this morning feeling very rested. Unfortunately I didn't get in half the studying I had hoped, but I'm thinking the sleep did me more good...knock on wood.
AND today is another day, and J is picking me up after work so there will be no bus issues. :)
Tomorrow I have a meeting and my MSc presentation...so I have to go over that a bit tonight and then study study study. (always with the studying)
Think I'll wear my new pants tomorrow for my speech. They fit fantastic. I really can't believe it's me in them. :)
Well. To work. But first...cottage cheese with blueberries and pineapple. Mmmmm....
Just call me Busy Bee
This morning is a chilly one. I woke up with a killer headache - I think I've been up too late too much working on homework lately. It was another late night, but we went grocery shopping and are stocked up on all kinds of yummy healthy stuff. We even have persimmons :).
I came in today to do 36 minutes on the arc trainer and then some core and ab work. The gym is so quiet these days. It's nice. I'm sort of dreading what I expect will be a January rush. Usually it's a challenge to find an outlet to plug in your dryer to. This morning I had my pick of them all...
After a nice breakfast I'm ready to go... I'm hoping tonight I can finish my paper so I can study for my monday exam. Busy busy busy. Bee bee bee.
But soon. Soooooon! Muahahaha!
Music to work out to: Freestylers - Pressure Point.
I came in today to do 36 minutes on the arc trainer and then some core and ab work. The gym is so quiet these days. It's nice. I'm sort of dreading what I expect will be a January rush. Usually it's a challenge to find an outlet to plug in your dryer to. This morning I had my pick of them all...
After a nice breakfast I'm ready to go... I'm hoping tonight I can finish my paper so I can study for my monday exam. Busy busy busy. Bee bee bee.
But soon. Soooooon! Muahahaha!
Music to work out to: Freestylers - Pressure Point.
Taking a compliment
crossposted on my other blog...
Mmm...I just finished my breakfast of cottage cheese and peaches. I can still taste it. Yum...just yum. I still can't believe that that is one of my favourite breakfasts. Strange how things go like that...
This morning I crawled out into the cold cold world and came in to do my upper body weights workout and then 35 minutes on the treadmill nice and fast at incline 2. I admit to breaking into a run for 2 minutes near the end during a favourite song and then reigning myself in again. It's so hard. I'm one of those nutters that LOVES to run...it just isn't good for my knee and I know it. And I must be good, because my knee, for the first time in a LONG LONG while, is utterly and completely normal. In fact, it's better than normal. I've been doing one legged lunges the last few weeks with no complaints and last night I bounded up the stairs to get something at home. In the past this would have elicited a twinge or pinch.
Now? Nothing. Because I'm achieving my goals. My legs are strong. The muscles supporting my knee are strong. I used to only be able to do one set of leg raises of 10 lbs before my knee would complain and ache. As of yesterday I can do 3 sets of 40. Yes...hard work and attention to form has given me back the active, strong legs I have been wanting and I couldn't be more happy about it. I can do everything I need to do...and my butt is really coming together :P
Being the hermit I have been with school lately I've sort of not noticed the changes in my health and overall body shape over the past few months. Nose to the grindstone. Really it's only my annoying lack of fitting clothes that's given me any signals that I'm really changing my body. The last week or so, going to Christmas gatherings a few people have come up and asked me what I'm doing to make such a good change. It's a bit embarrassing for me as I still don't know how to take a compliment, but it really pleases me that it's noticeable. I mean, I see myself nekkid and I know about all the muscle tone I have...and I have passed the grinning husband test. I'm not doing this for other people...and yet knowing it's visible to others is really encouraging. It's the same reason why if I think I should pay a stranger a compliment I do...I know how it feels :)
I'm really struggling with finishing up my last assignment (it's one of those make work sort of things) and studying for my exam. It's been over 10 years since I've written a final exam...and I don't quite "get" all the material I need to to completely understand it all (it *is* biostatistical analysis methods...not exactly a cake walk, but still...I've got a nerdy brain. This stuff usually comes easily to me). If I can finish up my final assignment tonight I'll have 5 days left to study. I'm hoping it will be enough to mush things around in my head and come up with a decent understanding of what i need to know. Maybe I'm being a bit hard on myself, but I really want to know that when I walk into that test, whatever mark I get is the best I could get. If I blow it, so be it. At least I will have tried my best. Then there is no regrets and I can go on with life. It's been one long frigging difficult semester and I'll be damned if I give up with 1 week left :).
Well, I must be off. Lots of lab stuff to do...later taters!
Workout tunes: Fatboy Slim - Greatest Hits: Why try harder
Mmm...I just finished my breakfast of cottage cheese and peaches. I can still taste it. Yum...just yum. I still can't believe that that is one of my favourite breakfasts. Strange how things go like that...
This morning I crawled out into the cold cold world and came in to do my upper body weights workout and then 35 minutes on the treadmill nice and fast at incline 2. I admit to breaking into a run for 2 minutes near the end during a favourite song and then reigning myself in again. It's so hard. I'm one of those nutters that LOVES to run...it just isn't good for my knee and I know it. And I must be good, because my knee, for the first time in a LONG LONG while, is utterly and completely normal. In fact, it's better than normal. I've been doing one legged lunges the last few weeks with no complaints and last night I bounded up the stairs to get something at home. In the past this would have elicited a twinge or pinch.
Now? Nothing. Because I'm achieving my goals. My legs are strong. The muscles supporting my knee are strong. I used to only be able to do one set of leg raises of 10 lbs before my knee would complain and ache. As of yesterday I can do 3 sets of 40. Yes...hard work and attention to form has given me back the active, strong legs I have been wanting and I couldn't be more happy about it. I can do everything I need to do...and my butt is really coming together :P
Being the hermit I have been with school lately I've sort of not noticed the changes in my health and overall body shape over the past few months. Nose to the grindstone. Really it's only my annoying lack of fitting clothes that's given me any signals that I'm really changing my body. The last week or so, going to Christmas gatherings a few people have come up and asked me what I'm doing to make such a good change. It's a bit embarrassing for me as I still don't know how to take a compliment, but it really pleases me that it's noticeable. I mean, I see myself nekkid and I know about all the muscle tone I have...and I have passed the grinning husband test. I'm not doing this for other people...and yet knowing it's visible to others is really encouraging. It's the same reason why if I think I should pay a stranger a compliment I do...I know how it feels :)
I'm really struggling with finishing up my last assignment (it's one of those make work sort of things) and studying for my exam. It's been over 10 years since I've written a final exam...and I don't quite "get" all the material I need to to completely understand it all (it *is* biostatistical analysis methods...not exactly a cake walk, but still...I've got a nerdy brain. This stuff usually comes easily to me). If I can finish up my final assignment tonight I'll have 5 days left to study. I'm hoping it will be enough to mush things around in my head and come up with a decent understanding of what i need to know. Maybe I'm being a bit hard on myself, but I really want to know that when I walk into that test, whatever mark I get is the best I could get. If I blow it, so be it. At least I will have tried my best. Then there is no regrets and I can go on with life. It's been one long frigging difficult semester and I'll be damned if I give up with 1 week left :).
Well, I must be off. Lots of lab stuff to do...later taters!
Workout tunes: Fatboy Slim - Greatest Hits: Why try harder
Chilly day
This morning I was up and to the gym to do my legwork and ab work and 30 minutes on the bike. It's a chilly morning today but the sky is crystal clear...stars were very bright. Orion's in the horizon as I walk to the bus. Gorgeous.
This weekend I got a lot of work done, but also lots of relaxing. It was J's christmas thing with the people he works with and we got all poshed up and went out for turkey dinner and bowling (bowling in a skirt is not easy...). Then some tipsy rock band at a coworkers house. I'm embarrassed to say I curled up on the couch and napped at the end...it's been a long week. They just kept on without me and made sure I was comfy :)
This weekend I ate my very first persimmon. It's pretty much not in season for all other fruits at the moment except for apples or bananas (and I can't have any oranges...*sigh*) so I grabbed one to try. Yum. I love it. It's a very different flavour...I think I'm hooked. I'll definitely get some more.
I have exactly 7 days to persevere until I can relax and spend a few days with my Dad...I can't wait. I just have to be diligent. It's hard. I just want to nap and drink eggnog and put up lights :) It's my reward - I get to put up lights when classes are done. I can't wait :)
This weekend I got a lot of work done, but also lots of relaxing. It was J's christmas thing with the people he works with and we got all poshed up and went out for turkey dinner and bowling (bowling in a skirt is not easy...). Then some tipsy rock band at a coworkers house. I'm embarrassed to say I curled up on the couch and napped at the end...it's been a long week. They just kept on without me and made sure I was comfy :)
This weekend I ate my very first persimmon. It's pretty much not in season for all other fruits at the moment except for apples or bananas (and I can't have any oranges...*sigh*) so I grabbed one to try. Yum. I love it. It's a very different flavour...I think I'm hooked. I'll definitely get some more.
I have exactly 7 days to persevere until I can relax and spend a few days with my Dad...I can't wait. I just have to be diligent. It's hard. I just want to nap and drink eggnog and put up lights :) It's my reward - I get to put up lights when classes are done. I can't wait :)
The end of the week...yeah!
This morning was my last day of classes for the semester :). I was up late finishing a paper, but I still got up and braved the cold to make it in to work out. The gym was rather empty. Made me wonder if it'll be that way until exams are over...and wonder how full it will be in the spring with everyone resolutioning...hope it doesn't get too crowded.
I did my upper body today. I bumped up from 8Lb dumbells to 10 lb ones. Owie. A challenge :)
I hopped on the bike for 30 minutes and then did some ab work...
I really am getting msucles in my legs now. In fact I am getting a bit concerned that some of the exercises I'm doing to my lower body are making my outer thighs larger than I'd like so I'm going to do a bit of research into what exercises don't make for bigger thighs but will still strengthen my knees.
I am excited that we got our contract signed at work so we got a bit of backpay...so I can go shopping for a few new clothes, which will be great. I'm lacking in fitted pants and clothes period at the moment. It's a good thing healthwise, but really frustrating when you want to wear anything that fits and everything is baggy. I'm not a fashionista - I just require my pants to stay up! So next week while I'm christmas shopping a bit I'll also see what I can find for me. I'm envious of people who have always been one size...how many clothes you must have to choose from. I'm relishing the thought of shopping and having everything fit...I will have choices. :)
Have a great weekend!
I did my upper body today. I bumped up from 8Lb dumbells to 10 lb ones. Owie. A challenge :)
I hopped on the bike for 30 minutes and then did some ab work...
I really am getting msucles in my legs now. In fact I am getting a bit concerned that some of the exercises I'm doing to my lower body are making my outer thighs larger than I'd like so I'm going to do a bit of research into what exercises don't make for bigger thighs but will still strengthen my knees.
I am excited that we got our contract signed at work so we got a bit of backpay...so I can go shopping for a few new clothes, which will be great. I'm lacking in fitted pants and clothes period at the moment. It's a good thing healthwise, but really frustrating when you want to wear anything that fits and everything is baggy. I'm not a fashionista - I just require my pants to stay up! So next week while I'm christmas shopping a bit I'll also see what I can find for me. I'm envious of people who have always been one size...how many clothes you must have to choose from. I'm relishing the thought of shopping and having everything fit...I will have choices. :)
Have a great weekend!
Last day of classes!
Hello :)
This morning I crawled out from under my fluffy winter duvet (I just pulled it out...so fluffy....) and came in to do my legwork. I tried the 1 leg lunges again...whew! Because I just thought "boring!" when I looked at the bike today I hopped on the treadmill, turned on the iPod to some Prodigy, ramped the incline up and walked as fast as I could (about 7.4 kph) for 35 minutes. It felt great...it was tough to not break into a run because it is just what feels right to me, but I enjoyed it SO much. The movement. The flow. Something about moving my arms naturally along with everything else makes it so very zen for me. Add to that one of my favourite cooking shows on the gym TV for me to peek at and learn how to make wine glazed plums and custard (hello Christmas dessert!) and it's been a great morning so far.
Today is my last official day of classes and so from this point on there are only 2 assignments left, my MSc meeting/speech which was (grrr) rescheduled from Monday and an exam. My Dad is coming to visit in there somewhere too for a few days so it'll still be busy, but a different kid of busy. More time to breathe. Time to cook a bit...feel more like a human and less like a robot.
I'm looking forward to it.
I've just snarfed my yogurt and granola and banana and am going to take another whackload of coffee with me and get going with my day. For those of you who asked, a whackload is a few whiffins less than a tonne, give or take a few schlorps :)
Have a great day everybody!
This morning I crawled out from under my fluffy winter duvet (I just pulled it out...so fluffy....) and came in to do my legwork. I tried the 1 leg lunges again...whew! Because I just thought "boring!" when I looked at the bike today I hopped on the treadmill, turned on the iPod to some Prodigy, ramped the incline up and walked as fast as I could (about 7.4 kph) for 35 minutes. It felt great...it was tough to not break into a run because it is just what feels right to me, but I enjoyed it SO much. The movement. The flow. Something about moving my arms naturally along with everything else makes it so very zen for me. Add to that one of my favourite cooking shows on the gym TV for me to peek at and learn how to make wine glazed plums and custard (hello Christmas dessert!) and it's been a great morning so far.
Today is my last official day of classes and so from this point on there are only 2 assignments left, my MSc meeting/speech which was (grrr) rescheduled from Monday and an exam. My Dad is coming to visit in there somewhere too for a few days so it'll still be busy, but a different kid of busy. More time to breathe. Time to cook a bit...feel more like a human and less like a robot.
I'm looking forward to it.
I've just snarfed my yogurt and granola and banana and am going to take another whackload of coffee with me and get going with my day. For those of you who asked, a whackload is a few whiffins less than a tonne, give or take a few schlorps :)
Have a great day everybody!
Once day off
This morning I felt much more alive. We ordered in food last night and relaxed. Ate a bit to much chinese but it was glorious to NOT do any homework for one night. Even went to bed early. It was lovely.
I came in and worked out - 35 minutes on the arc trainer, some arm weights and then a bunch of ab and core exercises. I'm good to go. My breakfast is some fruit and cottage cheese and a whackload of coffee.
And now - back to it :) Have a good day!
I came in and worked out - 35 minutes on the arc trainer, some arm weights and then a bunch of ab and core exercises. I'm good to go. My breakfast is some fruit and cottage cheese and a whackload of coffee.
And now - back to it :) Have a good day!
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