Sunday, August 25, 2013

[12wbt] Willpower muscle is weak

Week 2 of the 12wbt has come to a close and unfortunately, my willpower muscle is not as strong as it used to be. Or perhaps, it has never been that strong and I need to exercise it just that little but more. So it would seem fitting that Michelle Bridge's weekly email on the 12wbt program is titled "Power Up That Willpower Muscle!"

Here's what happened over the weekend that left me feeling defeated: it started on Friday. We headed out to the cinemas for a movie and I consumed a packed of chips, I told myself it would be ok because it would be my treat meal and besides, I had a 7km run on Saturday. 

Saturday rolled around, I ran I had breakkie and lunch and all was going well. Then hubby and I sat down to play Fallout 3 (yes, I'm that sort of girl!) and I end up eating some of his left over pods and a packet of chilli peas, totalling about 1000 calories. When it was time for dinner, I ended up just having some Pitango tomato soup which is all I really felt like. After dinner, we end up playing games until midnight. 

While we slept in a little more, I woke up Sunday morning feeling tired and regretful for having stayed up so late. After two pieces of toast with some peanut butter and a nashi pear for breakfast, I couldn't shake the feeling of hunger. I have an extra slice of toast with peanut butter. Lunch was pretty good - a 12wbt recipe - open steak sanga with caramelised onions. Delish. Things are looking better and then it's Pizza Hut for dinner. I won't go into detail as to what I ate but as you can imagine it wasn't good.

There is definitely a feeling for regret and anger for not having more will power. The whole weekend made me recall an article I read on self control: What Can Self-Control Do For You? 10 New Studies Provide Surprising Answers. The most important point here being #1 - Can it make you happier?. This point summarises information from a scientific journal article, "Yes, But Are They Happy? Effects of Trait Self-Control on Affective Well-Being and Life Satisfaction". Basically, their research showed that people with high self-control are happier because it helps them deal better with goal conflict. These people with high self-control didn't spend time or waste emotional energy agonising over what they are eating or doing. For me, this would have been saying no to foods that opposed to the goal I wanted to achieve and to turning off the PS3 at 10pm so get a good nights rest. 

Something to remember for week #3. Will power and self-control. 

Monday, August 19, 2013

12wbt - 2013 Round 3

Last year, I signed up for the Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation (12wbt) program. I started on the Intermediate Program to increase my cardiovascular fitness, gain some muscle and burn some fat. 

While I was pretty consistent with the training program, I was horrible with the meal plans! I tried to keep to the goal of 1200 calories per day (my bmr is only 1360 cause I'm a shorty) but usually fell short. I do believe that I gained some muscle and definitely increased my cardiovascular fitness. So when my first round was over, I signed up again, this time for the 10K training program, which ultimately led me to want to run the City 2 Surf. After I finished the 10K training program, I took a break but kept on running and as you will know, finished the City 2 Surf two weekends ago. 

I have since signed up for 2013 Round 3 of the 12wbt program, back in the 10k training program, with similar goals:
- Run 10K in 65mins (although a flat 70 mins would also be nice)
- Lose fat
- Build muscle

Unfortunately, having the flu and running the City 2 Surf meant that I missed the first week of training. BUT, that was last week. It is Week 2, Day 2 of 2013 Round 3 and it's been great to get back to exercise after a week-long hiatus. 

You'll probably see many more posts about the program as I progress through the 12 weeks as it goes on to consume my life (in a positive way naturally!)

There are also some great exercises and recipes that I've picked up along the way, which I will share when I can. 

[v]

Monday, August 12, 2013

City2Surf: Check

Struck down with the flu, I decided I was still going to run the City2Surf. Before getting ill, my aim was to complete the run in under 105 minutes. I ultimately clocked in around 107 minutes. Having the flu, I guess I can't really complain. 

As a result of utter stubbornness, I was forced to call in sick to work the day after the run, staying at home to nurse my wounded lungs. 

At the end of the day, I'm still proud to have finished my first City2Surf. My first fun run in Sydney and the first 14k run I've ever done. I had grand plans of signing up for the Melbourne Marathon in October, but being sick and not knowing if I will be able to train consistently until race day, I have decided against it. Instead, I will pull my distance back to 10kms, and try to gain some speed so that I am not left in the dust. For now, it's a week of rest before I get back into it. 

Influenza virus: 0, Me: 1. City2Surf: check. 

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Voiceless

I got smacked down by a cold over the weekend and it's taking its time moving through the various stages - the sore throat, the blocked sinuses, the headaches. This morning I woke up with no voice at all. 

While my throat is raw and I sound like I'm constantly trying to whisper as loudly as possible, I'm ok with it. What I am not ok with is that this illness is taking its time to move through the phases. I would much rather get it over with as quickly as possible so that I am well enough to complete the City 2 Surf this Sunday.

I am by no means a runner. I don't really run per se. What I do could more or less be describes as waddling. But I've trained hard to reach the distance (14kms) so I would appreciate it if life would just cut me a bit of slack! 

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Testing testing... one two three...

Is anybody out there? Can anyone hear me?

I am - for all intents and purposes a serial blogger. I start blogs and then I let them wither away and die. I think it's because I try to make them a little to specific. All about food for example, or the latest diet I'm trying or perhaps makeup and beauty. 

So, I'm going to try not to do that with this one. This one is just going to be me doing an odd brain dump here and there, whatever it may be about.

That's it for now I guess! You will hear from me soon, hopefully with something moderately exciting. 

xoxo