January H2O

It's nearly 2011, a New Year and a new attitude is required! I am looking forward to setting new monthly challenges and January's challenge has already been set!

Challenge number one! The challenge for the month of January is to drink nothing but water! This idea came about after a conversation with my workmates. I returned from a few days off and they informed me of this challenge. But they also said that they didn't expect anyone to complete it successfully. But I plan to prove them wrong!

December was a disaster in regards to eating and drinking the wrong foods. The fact that there were multiple Christmas parties to attend is no excuse. Exercise took a back seat as I spent days recovering from one big night out after another.

No alcohol, no coffee, no soda's, just water! I do believe that my work colleagues will have a harder time with this challenge than I will as most of them consume at least 3 x cans of Coke or Diet Coke throughout the day!

I don't drink soda's at all so that's not going to be a problem. BUT I am a coffee addict. I LOVE my coffee in the morning. And I also love a latte mid morning when at work.

I know I will feel better after the initial shock of weaning myself of coffee. I gave up coffee a few years ago (I drank 7 - 8 cups a day then) I experienced the worst headaches for about a week then felt great. Why did I start drinking coffee again? I'm not really sure, but I do really enjoy it! At this stage I drink 2 x cups per day, sometimes 3 - 4 cups per day. Each day is different.

Alcohol may be a problem. My fella and I like nothing more than to go out for dinner and share a bottle of wine on our days off........

I already drink a lot of water so the taste of H2O is no problem for me. Does anyone have any suggestions for challenges for the rest of 2011?

I'm looking forward to a healthier, fitter and stronger 2011!

Boosting Energy Levels

What do you do to boost your energy levels? I am the typical stress puppy, things get me down very quickly. Combined with shift work, lack of sleep, a less than average diet (which I am working to improve) that I find myself in a very deep hole at times.

Finding motivation to exercise when I've had a rotten nights sleep and knowing that I need to work a 12 hour night shift is often enough to say "not today".

My energy levels are very low at the moment. I've been eating lots of fruit and vegetables, protein etc. I've actually been sleeping like the dead and waking up feeling like I've had no sleep at all. I've had issues in the past with low iron, so I've even started taking iron supplements again as well as my daily Berocca.

I really think that I've reached the end of my shift work quota. I've been working shift work for 16 years and I'm so sick of it! Plus I haven't had a real holiday for almost a year, you know, the one where you can sit and do absolutely NOTHING for a week and not feel guilty!

I've been exercising regularly on my days off, weight training, long walks, interval training and even a bicycle ride. And I'm suffering such terrible aches and pains which is unusual for me.

Does anyone have any hints on boosting energy levels?

The Benefits Of Yoga

I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed Yoga. I'd practiced it off and on for many years but really haven't practiced much for the last couple of years.

Lo and behold, I hurt my back, yet again! I'd been working out quite happily in the gym, squats, dead lifts, lunges etc with no problems. The after workout pain was that good pain you get, you know, when you can feel you've had a good workout and can enjoy those benefits coursing through your muscles?

I'd done all the right things, not lifted too heavy, ensured I warmed up and cooled down, had a rest day in between.....

Then, 3 days ago, as I bent down to look in the fridge, BAM! I ended up on the floor in agony! FFS! Beats me what I did, but the last 3 days have been a nightmare. The day after I ended up in pain I thought, hmmm gentle exercise is the way to go, so went for a walk. A walk that should have normally taken me 10 minutes (to the local supermarket) took me 45 minutes! I was crying when I got there! So I waved down a taxi to take me home! (I am sooo ashamed)

My usual 5 minute walk to work this morning took me 15 minutes! So when I got home I dug out my Yoga Mat and took it out onto the terrace and performed the basic Sun Salutation. I could not do the Upward Facing Dog without pain so the Low Cobra did the trick!! I had absolutely no problem with any of the other moves and was pleasantly surprised at my flexibility. I'm not as flexible as I once was but am still above the average.

Needless to say, Yoga is going to become a regular in my fitness routine...... I miss it, I love it and I think I need it!

Eureka Stair Climb

As  I stated in my last blog I planned to take part in the Eureka Stair Climb but a sore back put an end to that. Instead I offered to work as a volunteer on the day.

That day was today. I helped out by handing out show bags to competitors at the end of their climb. I was then offered a chance to see inside the stairwells but at a price..... that price was to clean the stairwells of rubbish left behind by competitors.

I figured, I'm there to offer my services, at least I can say I've completed the climb! I'm feeling pretty fit, but 88 floors seemed kinda daunting. But I did it! After reaching the 88th floor, we were then taken up to the roof on the 92nd floor for a treat!

So I can safely say I have climbed 92 floors at Eureka Tower! I didn't throw up (someone else left their breakfast in the stairwell though) I'm not injured, and I now know that I am more than capable so there are NO excuses for next years event!

 :)

Staying Positive When The Going Gets Tough......

It seems that this past 2 years have been a challenging and depressing time for me, both health and fitness wise. If I'm not ill, I'm injured. I'll go a few weeks and start gaining fitness only for another obstacle to jump up in my field of vision! As a result, I've gained weight and feel terrible :(

So how do I continue when I have to put up with these obstacles? With great difficulty, let me tell you. Finding a goal and sticking with it is particularly hard during these times. I always start off so well, Gung Ho, enjoying every moment then BAM! I'm back at square one. I often think "I'm not getting any younger" (42 years of wear and tear thank you very much) but then I think "That's just a BULLSHIT excuse!" I might have a bit of a sook (and I often do, I'm a very emotional person) But I tend to pick myself up and find another way around that nasty obstacle!

Maybe I can't go to the gym because of an injured back, maybe I can't run because I have sore knees, maybe I can't do those pushups because of a previous wrist injury. Whatever... I will always find ways to improvise.

I had plans to take part in the Eureka Stair Climb this year, sadly with my sore back that's not likely. Instead I have decided to volunteer on the day. It's not something I've ever done before, I'm usually that person who is taking part. So this will be the first time I've actually volunteered at an event and I am really looking forward to it! I figure if I enjoy it I'll do more of it (only if I'm not able to take part of course!)

One thing I do have to look forward to is moving house. Not the moving part of course. My fella and I will be moving into a bigger apartment in the same building. (No removalists, up and down the lift, so much easier) The new apartment has a massive terrace. I'm already planning how to use the space. Besides building a small herb and vege garden, I plan to utilise the space for jumping rope, short sprints, etc. As well as enjoying being outdoors and getting more air time than I do in our current apartment.

I'm also trying to convince him that we NEED a BBQ!

How To Alleviate Back Pain

Wouldn't you know it? Once again I find myself in a dilemma. Just over a week ago I hurt my back. In the past I have always gone to Physiotherapists, Chiropractors, Doctors and even Massage Therapists to alleviate the pain. NO MORE I say! It proves to be far to expensive (an expense I can ill afford) and depletes my Private Hospital entitlements!

I have suffered from lower back pain for many years. One Doctor suggested I had a Herniated Disc, others suggested Piriformis Syndrome which in turn causes Sciatica pain. So I have been treated for all. The pain can be incredible at times, from sharp pains to nagging pain in the buttock and leg. It can be experienced as leg numbness, tingling like pins and needles or sharp pains when sitting or standing in one spot for too long (generally 30 seconds or more), it's basically a constant pain on one side.  It doesn't even subside when trying to sleep! Annoying!

Anyway, instead of going to the Docs or Physio I decided to to try a combination of exercises to see if I can gain any relief or improvement. So far so good! But if the pain persists in another week (it's improved in this past week already) I will definitely seek an expert opinion.

Meanwhile these are the exercises I have found to provide me with some relief:

- Lots of walking. I've been making a conscious point of exceeding my 10,000 steps per day when I can. Sadly I can't run without pain at the moment or go to the gym, so I've been enjoying the nice weather and walking to the beach, around the Botanic Gardens and along the Yarra.....

- Hamstring Stretches. I only do these when laying on my back. This means my back is supported and I'm not doing any further damage by twisting. I must say, I've noticed how tight my hammies became when I hurt my back!

- Prone Back Extension. Laying on your stomach and propped up on your elbows. Slowly straighten the elbows to feel a nice stretch. This one is a favourite of mine, having done it since my gymnastic days. And it feels sooo good!

- Lying Piriformis Stretch. Another one that feels really good, stretching out the buttocks. Laying on your back, rest the right ankle across the left knee. Slowly pull the left leg towards yourself holding for 20 to 30 seconds. Repeat on the other side. This one is a great stretch for the Piriformis and Gluteal muscles.

Anyway, so far so good. The pain is still there but has been downgraded to a dull ache. Mind you, I am so much better after a few days away from the work computer (now I need to find a way to avoid my home computer!)

How Do You Beat Your Cravings?

Well, I am finally back into the rhythm of working out and exercising almost daily. The only obstacle I have now is FOOD!

My eating habits leave a lot to be desired. They were pretty good until I fell ill. During my illness I basically ate anything I could tolerate, and most of the time it was comfort food, not clean eating as I had been doing. Needless to say, the other week whilst being weighed at the Blood Bank I discovered I had put on 5 KILO'S!!! Not happy!

Now I have the problem where I am constantly craving bad foods. My fella and I do like to go out for dinner a couple of times a week, that's our time for us (Date night so to speak) so I try to be somewhat sensible on those days. But the remainder of the week is so hard!

I'm a shift worker, so eating at regular intervals when on night shift is not something I usually think too hard about. I am in the habit of taking healthy meals and snacks to work, but they often get left in the lunch box in favour of all the naughty snacks my workmates bring in! And, let me tell you, at 4 am I am NOT craving healthy foods!

So, what do you do to beat cravings? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!