Weight training and weight loss

In March I decided it was time to reduce my body mass, and get fit. So far I have lost about 10% of my starting body weight, and my fitness level has raised to a point where I can run for 3-4 minutes without falling into a dying heap (which is only getting better, awesome!).

Recently I started weight training. And funny thing is I am finding I am liking it. I never thought I would. Yes there is pain. Yes I nearly fall down stairs when finished because the legs are no longer working. And yes I now have mini biceps that I can see (it is awesome!). I have been doing proper gym workouts for nearly 2 months now, and weight training for 3 weeks. Sometimes I can't even touch my toes for the amount of weights I have done.

The downside of all this weight training is I am HUNGRY and eating just about anything in sight. Fruit, chips, chocolate, vegies, bread, you name it (well apart from meat - see previous post), I am eating it. And as a result I am not losing weight. I realise some of the fat is being turned into muscle, and I can see tone, but it is the numbers on those scales that make a difference to not only ones self esteem, but to overall health. I want to see them go down gosh darn it!

As of today I am going to get back on the healthy food wagon. Not only for my weights sake, but for my health as well. I need to get healthy. I also want to be one of the hawt ones on the beach this summer! Best go walk the dog then!

Wanted: Awesome job, excellent pay, and great hours.

Don't get me wrong, I love my job, but it is time for a change. Cos change is good, right?

The problem comes when I try to apply my current job experience to a new role. Sure I have put it all down in my resume, but I work in a specialised field all day - my job has become very narrow and focused, and I have never heard of any other opportunities in a similar space previously. So how do I go about and get something I enjoy doing just as much, and expand on my current experience. I can't. I mean how to explain to someone who possibly wants to hire me, in 25 words or less, what I do. I practically need a spoken word book just to go through all my functions at my current role.

So I tell people I am in administration.

Not only is that devaluing the experience that I have gained from working with this fantastic company, but it also devalues me and my future worth. I know I am more than administration, but try explaining that in a 4 page resume, and making people understand it. Especially since I don't have the credentials to back it up - given that I moved into this role 2 years ago.

It is an interesting experience to look for a new job with what I know now. I am older (maybe wiser), and looking for a job post 2 years GFC. I have sent out 20+ resumes and had 2 interviews so far. Maybe I am applying for the wrong jobs. Project Coordinator, Contracts administrator, yes I could do them, but these people don't know that, and they aren't willing to take the chance, because I don't have that title on my resume. I understand, I worked in that industry too.

Best to get on with it hey. Wish me luck...

Decision time

So it has come to my attention that I spend FAR too much money. Mostly on clothes and shoes and handbags and jewellery and cosmetics... Oh well let's just say, I spend far too much money!

So last night I made a realisation and a decision. The realisation was that if I don't get another job, and/or stop spending money, I am never going to get overseas again, and I am never going to be able to afford a house. This realisation prompted me to second realisation. I only have to save enough money (really), in order to pay for the air fares and travel/accommodation expenses. I have a job and I will be taking leave from said job in order to go on this big trip. So that said - I will have day to day spending money, and some for souvenirs, clothing, jewellery etc (see above!).

So the decision I made was this - stop spending money on my credit card for frivolous purchases. Money will still be spent on essentials (food, phone, occasional nights of entertainment, presents etc), but the rest goes into savings. I have worked out that if I do that I could have enough money to go away in about 5 months time. That is really exciting. What is more exciting is that I am not planning on leaving for another 11 months - so imagine what I could do with what is saved then!

These plans are for my 30th birthday - I want it to be awesome. I want it to be FANTASTIC. Most of all I want to be travelling again!

Help me live my word of the day, without being a miser people!

Today's word of the day is:
Frugal - adjective

1.

economical in use or expenditure; prudently saving orsparing; not wasteful: a frugal manager.

2.

entailing little expense; requiring few resources; meager;scanty: a frugal meal.

Busy, busy, busy (getting older...)

Wow - how time flies when you are having fun!

The last week has been very busy, going up to Sydney to visit with my family for my Mum's birthday - it was a big one this year - 60! If you ask her, she doesn't feel like she is that age (not old, age), and I can understand how she feels. I am turning 29 this Friday, and honestly, I don't feel any older than about 22. Mentally and emotionally I know I have grown up, I can remember being very immature at that age, but physically I don't feel any different.

This week I have a lot of things happening, apart from being in Sydney over the last weekend, I have a family dinner tonight with J's side of the family, comedy night out tomorrow night with friends, my birthday dinner on Friday, surprisingly enough the weekend is very quiet (can anyone say recovery?!), but then next week is full as well with comedy nights happening, a meet up of friends for drinks and dinner, and various other random regular stuff happening.

I guess being more positive and putting myself out there has started to help boost not only my level of activity, but also the amount of people around me, which is really nice.

One of the nice things about getting older, it means that you start to realise when you are growing as a person and in this last year or so, I have tried (not always succeeded) to push myself out of my comfort zone, and grow as an individual. So I am going to enjoy a drink on my birthday, and I am looking forward to celebrating growing older, but never too much "growing up".

Favourite drinks

I must preface this by saying, I don't drink a lot. But what I like I drink on occasion. Today's choice of tipple was a Whiskey Sour. I bought the whiskey (Jameson regular if you must know), in honour of St Patrick and his chasing of snakes. Dad and I shared a couple of drinks on the day, and I thought I would have one tonight whilst playing around on the internet.


Now, in my humble opinion, you should drink what you enjoy, and only while you enjoy it. It has been a motto I have lived by, and it has served me well. If I feel like drinking a red fizzy non alcoholic beverage over an alcoholic one then so be it. It is no fun to be hungover after a few beverages, and as such these days I am what is also known as a "two pot screamer". Or a cadbury.

So in order to make my current favourite drink you require:

*1 shot whiskey
*1/2 shot sugar syrup (check online for SUPER easy syrup making instructions)
*2/3 shot lime/lemon juice ( I currently have a nice mix of lemon and lime juice which works well because I enjoy drinks a little less sweet these days)
150ml soda water

Super simple construction, place whiskey, sugar syrup and lime/lemon juice in glass or shaker. Muddle or shake and pour into glass. Add soda water. If the ingredients are already cold you don't require ice, otherwise you might want to add a couple of ice cubes. Enjoy while cold.

Now the husband has walked in asking if I am blogging. Sprung. I said I am writing about how much of a booze hound I am and he chortled and said I am not - see friends and fellow internet people, really I imbibe very little. But what I have, as I said, I enjoy. What about you my fellow internetians? (please excuse me, the "cadbury's" has caught up with me!)

Vegetarianism

For those of you who don't know, and those that may well do, I am a vegetarian. I have been for the better part of about 12 years. I didn't go that way because of ethical reasons (though I applaud those who do), but because I simply do not like the taste. Never have really. I come from a family who at every dinner time would eat meat. Sausages, rissoles, steak, corned beef, pork, chicken, mince in spaghetti, chilli, etc. I realise that it may seem like we were wealthy - far from it, but it was the way that my mum was brought up, and those were the foods she likes to eat. As I grew up, I realised I didn't want to eat that way, so I slowly stopped eating red meat, and by the time I was 18, I was fully vegetarian.

Now I realise you have to replace your protein with something, so I eat a lot of legumes, and I still consume dairy. However, having someone ask me if I eat chicken or fish every time we go out with people we don't know very well gets very frustrating. What part of VEGETARIAN do you not understand? But no, that sentence doesn't come flying out of me, my answer is "No I do not eat those foods, and no it isn't because I am being all moral and ethical etc, it is because I don't like the taste". You can see how many times I have been asked the question, by my automatic answer. I appreciate that people are being polite, or curious about your choice in food, but next time someone asks you a question that you would commonly get, such as "Why aren't you married?" to someone who is in a defacto relationship, or a woman over 35 "why haven't you had children?", think about how someone like me feels, when you ask them that. There are plenty of other topics of conversation related to my choice in food stuffs, which could be asked instead.

Personal questions like these make people frustrated that they have to justify themselves over and over again. Be kind, ask something unusual, topical or just interesting. I will thank you for not stating the obvious! Oh and - why do you eat meat?

Have a good Thursday all :)

Mmm Sunlight

So, it turns out that I, like most people who prefer computers to the outside world, have an aversion to the sun, and require more vitamin D. I don't mean to imply that those who enjoy computers are all vitamin D deficient, but that I am quite pale, and dislike going outside too often, or into direct sunlight. And no, light from the computer monitor doesn't count. So yesterday after reviewing blood tests, the doctor told me to go outside, in the middle of the day (with sunscreen on, of course), and get some sunlight. Otherwise my only other option would be to take supplements, and those I have heard, don't play nice.

The problem is, I work in the middle of town, with the nearest green area about 6 blocks away. Too far away to go to for a half hour lunch break. So what to do. My desk is next to the window, but it has to be direct sunlight. The up shot of getting some more sunlight is more energy, less lethargy and it will help prevent my bones from becoming brittle (vitamin D helps calcium retention and absorption) and getting osteoporosis in older age (bet you didn't know that little fact, and if you did you are just a smarty pants!).

On a side note, are vampires vitamin D deficient, if not how do they stop their bones from becoming brittle and broken? Or do they get their vitamin D from their less than willing donors.

I guess there is nothing for it, I guess I must get outside for a walk. On the upside, maybe I won't glow in the dark from now on.

Turn the heat back up!

Melbourne, you have out done yourself. It is Winter already, and we have apparently had one of the wettest Summers on record. It is absolutely crazy when you think about it. Does this have something to do with global warming, is it a natural cycle of the weather patterns, does the hole in the ozone layer play a part, or are we just all doomed (cue thunder and lightning)?

I am actually wearing a scarf to work. And while I love wearing scarves, it is just a little too early in the year just yet.

So while I was lying in bed this morning thinking about which scarf I was going to wear, and whether I would need to wrap myself up in the blanket to go outside, I was debating the merits of an international holiday later in the year. I think it would be awesome! (time to convince hubby) I have some time up my sleeve from work, and obviously would have more by the time the holiday rolled around, and really I want to go somewhere it is a little warmer! New York is somewhere I really want to get back to, and I have been rolling the idea around in my head that I could spend 2 weeks in the US, wandering, meandering, generally dawdling, enjoying the warmth, may even make my way through to Mexico or South America ( I know, it's cold down there then), depending on time and funds, and who wants to come with me.

In order to enact my plan, and without a wealthy benefactor, I think I may need to get a second job. Maybe a bartender. This has two benefits - 1. Money. 2. Meet new people. Which is the whole point of this blog anyway!

Either way, I want (and will get!) my warmth back!

Bells are ringing

WAKE UP! They are metaphorically shouting! Every morning I put myself through the torture of the alarm going off at least 4 times after snooze, because I just can't bring myself to crawl out of my warm and cosy bed. It is just too much of a shock to have to get up and out in to the cold world (see previous post - Autumn is in the air). But every morning I do it. Mainly because the dogs cold wet nose says pokes me and this tells me she needs to go outside.

This morning however I actually got up after 1 alarm ringing. I don't quite know what's wrong yet, but I am up and ready early, and will be actually walking to the station this morning. Until then I am at a loss. I am too early to leave, but too awake to go back to sleep. Ah what a dilemma. I could take the dog for a walk, but then I would need another shower, I could attempt to go back to sleep but then I run the risk of falling back to sleep, or I could troll through the message boards to keep me amused for another 15 minutes. What to do?

Maybe I should just go have breakfast instead.

What do you do?

Autumn is in the air

Seems as though in Melbourne, Autumn has come early .Those clean crisp mornings have replaced the warm (not hot this year) starts to our day. It is lovely to step outside and not melt as soon as you hit the train. Nothing worse than having to press up against some sweaty armpit as you struggle to stay up right, as the train lurches from station to station.

There is a downside though. Because we have started wearing warm clothing again I have noticed I am wearing scarves again. In February. If I was in London, this wouldn't be a problem, but for Melbourne, in Summer, this is not a good thing. I realise that by living and working in Melbourne we are prone to having four Seasons in one day, but in reality, it has never really been this tumultuous before! And while I look very cute in scarves, I am not ready to put away my Summer clothes just yet.

Here's hoping that this weekend is all the weather people are promising. I want at least one more weekend to enjoy some warm sunshine before Winter descends once more.

Not a clean sock to be found.

I don't know how he does it. He is only one man, but the amount of laundry that the Boy can create, is phenomenal. Five loads of washing on the weekend. FIVE. And the basket is still full.

Saturday morning started with three loads of washing. It was accumulated from the past 2 weeks or so, as only one load had been done the weekend previous. All these loads went in the machine, and out on the line, and quickly there was no more room to hang anything else out. And miraculously there was NOTHING in the basket. It was truly a lovely feeling, empty basket == happy BtrFly.

Then the Boy got home from work, and after a quick bout on the computer, and trying to find something in the bedroom, well cleaning up of all his things were on for young and old. Don't get me wrong, he isn't untidy by nature, just a bit lazy, so clothes that had been washed in weeks previous had gone on the pile of other clothes, and dirty clothes, well they just hadn't worked out how to walk across the room to hop into the basket. By the time he had finished the basket was overflowing, and I spent Sunday doing another two loads of washing. The basket still isn't empty, but I have to have something to do next weekend I suppose... At least now his socks are mostly clean.

Ahh comedy shows. You make me laugh.

Brilliant night out last night. Went to see a comedy show at the Comics Lounge in North Melbourne with Dad (he is down until tomorrow), the Boy and a friend. I had cheap tickets that have to be used and I thought what better way than to go see Cal Wilson and friends.

The night started with pizza (for me) at a cafe/pub type place up the road from the venue. Not bad food, and the Boy was more than happy with his gnocchi. For an Aussie through and through, he loves his different ethnic styled foods. We got dessert to go, and wandered down Errol St snarfing our food. The Boy's was covered in powdered sugar and he mentioned people might think he had been rolling in flour or some other innocuous substance *shifty eyes* if he wasnt careful!

Thankfully he managed to get it down (it was a massive snot block, aka vanilla slice) and we met Dad at the venue. Our friend was running late, so we went in to get seated. Friend rocked up a little late, but still managed to just get in before the show started.

Cal Wilson was the MC for the nights entertainment, and I have to say, I <3 Cal Wilson, I think her self deprecating style of humour is very well done, and she doesn't seem to take it all too seriously. I have seen her live once before, and I would see her again in another show. The other comedians were pretty good, except for the guy who thought he was being deadpan, instead he was just dead. One guy sitting behind me yelled out, "get off the stage". I seriously considered leaving. He was at the point of being vulgar, very monotone, it was really hard to listen to, and just not funny, and the rest of the audience thought so as well. Thankfully he was the only real down fall of the night.

I usually find the comedians that fall flat to either be really new, or very nervous, or both. I have been to an opening show of a guy who had never performed before, and it showed. He was too nervous to really get the timing right for his show, and as a result it really ruined what could have been a great night. He was forcing the act, with things that he thought should be funny, but only if you have the comedic reaction of a 10 year old. That said the geeky premise was good, and coming from an engineering background he should have pushed the geekiness up a notch. I do wish him luck, because I believe if he can master his material, he would do better.

So, give me your stories. Funny ha ha or funny groan, it's all comedy under the bridge.

Stop. Bender time!

Well not quite, though I thought we would get close. Last night was a night out at the Vodka Bar with Dad, the Boy and the Boy's cousin. Lots of drinking of flavoured vodka shots (I have to say I absolutely loved the pineapple vodka, and the rose flavoured one as well) followed by very tasty food (I had potato gnocchi fried and then put in a bowl with mushroom ragout - nom). But mostly it was about the perve factor on Chapel St.

For those of you who don't know Melbourne, Chapel St is a very long road that runs through quite a few suburbs. It is in the more affluent area of Melbourne, and it attracts a lot of tourists. We had a window table, and with the application of not really a lot of alcohol at all, the comments on the "scenery" began. And oh boy, they were not picky. It was very funny though, because we saw a lot of different people, and even a boy with a "Bieber" hair-do (not good on anyone over 13 in my opinion..)

After dinner, a stroll down Chapel Street was just what was required to walk off some of the food we had just eaten, lovely night for a wander really. Cops were out doing their thing. The girls in short dresses were starting to emerge, and the boys with hats were accompanying said girls in short dresses. Gotta love a hat when the sun is down!

Oh and to top off the night, and we even had a brush with fame, seeing Dave Hughes buying some Lord of the Fries across the street!

If you enjoy your Vodka and your "scenery", and you are in Melbourne, Borsch Vodka Tears is the place to go. Just remember to book because they are always busy!

i-Hell

I have just had to walk someone who I originally thought was fairly tech savvy, installing iTunes on the computer for the iPad. Please note that I have never worked on a helldesk - and it was never one of my choices for a career.

I seem to have been landed with the defacto tech support in my office, which can be quite frustrating, because a. I have never been trained in it, and b. google is where I get my info - so you can get it there too. I am always worried that what I am doing is going to break things further, or have what I am doing not work at all. But all that work is usually done with me in control of the keyboard. Now doing it over the phone is a different beast altogether. You can't see what has gone wrong on the other end of the line, or know what the other person is seeing or clicking. Oh you can have a reasonable guess, but you never really know.

Oh. My. Goodness.

In order to make it work we have had to be on the phone for the better part of 45 minutes. All to set up a photo sync. Credit to the person working with me, it must be frustrating to try and explain to someone what you are seeing, in order for them to be able to help you, but thank goodness I have had experience in training people, and that gave me patience, because I can see I would be crap as a helldesk-er.

To those of you who work or have worked helldesk, I salute you, and all your patience.

Lunch with Dad

Dad is down for a visit, and he thought he would be funny and ask me to lunch. In French. He speaks it (sort of), but it is not on my list of languages I am fluent in. By the rest of the text I am sent, I gathered his message meant what are you doing for lunch and do you want to have lunch with me. Being that I had no other plans for my midday edibles, I said yes.

Lunch was at a restaurant nearby, and was not bad, though the service was quite slow, and the food portions to cost ratio was quite high. The reason it was not bad was because I don't get to see my family very often, and I am a little bit of a Daddy's girl. Always have been. He once told me that he always wanted either a girl or a cow. Now it doesn't seem affectionate, but that's just the way my Dad is. A little off beat, a little quirky (gee I wonder where I get that from..) and I wouldn't take him any other way.

So anyway, plan is he is coming over for dinner as well. Should be interesting. At least the food portions will be generous.

Walking. Should do more of that.

I finally managed to get up with enough time to do everything I wanted to this morning. It doesn't happen very often. Most days it takes me a very long time to wake up. My snooze button eventually gives up the ghost, and stops going off, and about 20 minutes after this point I finally wake up enough to get up. Terrible I know. Usually it is a mad rush to get ready and out the door, just in time to drive to the station to catch my train to work.

So this morning, I was conscious enough to get up only 5 minutes after the last snooze went off! Scary - I know! Get up, get dressed, eat breakfast, do the dishes, oh hang on, I am 20 minutes early! You know what, how about a walk this morning. It. Was. Great. Gave me more time to ponder the beautiful morning in the 20 minute walk to the train station. Got my morning exercise and saved the planet at the same time.

Even arrived with 3 minutes to spare. What could you do if you got up 15 minutes earlier?

Roses are red, violets are blue...

Ahh valentines day. Always a good time for card companies, candy makers and flower sellers, especially roses. I saw plenty of people with flowers and loved up expressions on their faces on the way home yesterday. It was lovely to see these outward expressions of devotion to another.

What did the Boy and I do? The Boy and I did nothing! That's right, nothing! And I am ok with that. Every day he tells me he loves me, and I tell him I love him. I would much rather he spoilt me on my birthday than on a day where everyone is supposed to be loved up. That's not to say we don't enjoy spoiling each other in other ways, on other days. Just spending time together is good fun - we make sure we enjoy life and each other.

I am not ashamed to say I love my husband and his pirate ways. And yarrr he would agree with me!

Only 364 days till the next time these sellers get more money out of everyone! Wherever you are, I hope you too have love in your life, even if it is just the dog or cat, curled up beside you, and if you don't well, you can always get yourself some flowers, a glass of wine or a beer, a good meal, and enjoy being alone - one of the most important lessons we all have to learn.

Moomba festivus

So a little over a month ago I applied to be a Moomba volunteer. You know, someone who looks like they know what they are doing, when in actuality, not so much! The reason behind my application? I wanted to meet some new people and this seemed like the perfect place to do it.

I finally received a phone call about it about a week ago, and tonight I am part of a group interview. A group interview I tell you! back in 2005 I volunteered my time to help with the bridge run, and there was no interview process just an email telling you where to be, and what to wear. Oh and remember the sunscreen! My how times have changed.

I guess they know by now I am a little crazy, or maybe it is a prerequisite of being a volunteer for the festivus.

I will let you know how it goes.

What is it with bike riders

Now, I am probably going to get into trouble for this post, but I feel I need to get it off my chest.

This morning on my daily commute to the station, I am running a little bit late, and a cyclist zooms out in front of me. We are on a little residential back street, and he is about 50m in front of me as he zooms into the street I have to turn onto. Not a problem - I was nowhere near hitting him, nor him me. However my gripe comes from the fact that despite there being a cyclist/pedestrian walkway not 3 metres to the right of him, he insists on riding on the road. The walkway is free from pedestrians, and there are less potholes, and yet he slows my drive up by being on the road. I can't afford to be late as I am already on a deadline to catch a train, but he just seems oblivious.

I ordinarily have no problem with cyclists, especially as I know that they take their life in their own hands by riding simultaneously on the road with cars, however when there is a very good cycleway very close to you, not being used by anyone else, you shouldn't be endangering yourself and others by riding on the road.

Thoughts? Comments?

Whee 10 visitors!

Admittedly some of those were probably me, checking out how many visitors I have had - but even so... I even have my first follower!

Today has been a decidedly quiet day. For those of you who know me (and now those of you who don't), I am a vegetarian, who lives with the boy who eats what I eat, but is not vegetarian - confused now? Well he gets meat in 2 circumstances - a) he cooks it himself, b) he buys it when eating out. I am not a fundamentalist vego, just one who doesn't like meat. And for those of you who ask me when I say I am vegetarian, no I don't eat chicken or fish (yes, they are still meat), and no it's not cos I am a fundamentalist, I just don't like the taste of it!

So that aside, today I had to go vegetable shopping. It is not something that I particularly feel either way about, just something that has to happen. Today, because it was a bit of a dreary day (it is now sunnier than when I woke up, ah Melbourne, you and your 4 seasons in one day) I just couldn't find the motivation to go out. I mean I stayed at home and watched Oceans Twelve, and Doctor Who S5 eps instead. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE watching tv. But today felt like I SHOULD have been doing something else, apart from sitting around watching DVD/TV.

So after procrastinating for what must have been 3 hours, I finally made it to the shops and did the whole lot in about 20 minutes. A bit of an anticlimax don't you reckon? Well in that 20 minutes, I saw a woman who had cut her hand on a windscreen, managed to go around and around in the carpark 5 times, have a couple of creepy guys leer at me, and check out the bogans in full sweatpant goodness. And on the way home I had a little bit of a grumpy moment at a guy driving VERY slowly who then turned into a driveway with no indicator. How very rude.

So long story short, I managed to get the shopping done, and now have a lovely vegie curry on the go. If any one wants recipes, I love cooking and enjoy sharing my recipes, but am a crap baker so don't ask for any dessert.

Welcome, welcome, welcome!

What an auspicious day to be starting a new blog! The weather is typically Melbourne. Looks kinda wet outside for a summers day. I am inside, still in bed if you must know, with the dog curled up at my feet.

My dog  is my baby! I won't go on too much about her, but she is a golden retriever, almost 5 years old and terribly smart. And like most children, has J and I wrapped around her little paw!

So yesterday was lovely. I even managed to get a little sun in between being indoors. We wandered around Melbourne yesterday, ostensibly so that I could participate in the Great Melbourne Treasure Hunt. That was fun. The clue led us to Flagstaff Gardens, which are gorgeous, and a little haven in the city proper. Though shame you can still hear the trucks when sitting in the park. I really should get there more often, it is only about 6 blocks from where I work.

So J (aka the boy, aka my husband) and I had a lovely little time in the gardens before he got too antsy to sit still for any longer, and we continued on our merry way, down to Docklands. We played a round of mini golf down there (BTW I thoroughly thrashed him tehehe), and generally wandered around. It has been a long time since J had been down there and since it was a gorgeous day, I had a great time out in the sunshine with him too.

So todays weather is miserable. I just hope the weather holds out. We are going to an outdoor cinema tonight to see the Labyrinth (oh David Bowie, be still my beating heart). Fingers crossed and all that.

So as you may notice, I am a little bit of a rambler. I hope as this goes on I get better at writing my blog for you, my lovely followers. I will leave you here for the moment, and speak to you when the weather is better (or worse, who knows!)