Update 1 - travelling to the UK

Hey kids,

As promised, an update as I have been somewhat neglectful of late. Lots to talk about in the next few posts.

As I mentioned previously I have been in the UK for a couple of weeks.
Although this was primarily for music I actually got out of it so much more in terms of improving my life and continuing my fitness goals.

As luck would have it I stayed mainly on a defence force base with some real inspiring folk (including a New York marathon runner and someone I shall refer to as Sarge).

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I was initially quite worried about going away as I have, in the past, slipped back into old habits and used the 'holiday' as an excuse for all known fat attacks of a lardy kind - always finding a rationale for the crap I was shovelling in.
I tried to prepare a little better for this trip by taking meal replacement shakes, protein bars and sorting out an international gym pass from fitness first.
Even though I did this I still felt that it was a half hearted attempt and that ultimatly I was doomed...not so.

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Although it sounds a little extreme I decided to kick things off on the right leg my breaking up the ever so lovely 24 hour flight by visiting the gym at Changi (Singapore) airport. I researched before I left and as I had a nice 4 hours to kill, easily found the 'lounge' and for an absolute bargain of A$10 I got to use cardio/weights and a shower. In fact I was the only person in the gym (well it was appx 5.30am Singapore time when most transit passengers will be tucking into breakfast or buying crap they dont need : - ) ).

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As far as food went on the journey I was a good girl - for once. I tried to limit my caffeine, get loads of water and didnt feel the need to eat all that was served 'just cos it was paid for'....good start for buglegirl.
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...to be continued

x buglegirl

Tommorows run.

Sorry that I have been so quiet, I have just returned from the UK. Big update coming soon but I though I would just show you tomorrow's run:

After training!

Me after today's session with the gym nazi! Seriously though....were these people not breast fed or something?! It had to be the closest I have been to puking for a long, long time. God bless her!

Paula xx

Just found a couple more photos...

Going cold turkey.

Someone pass me the Heron Blue!

I have only just recovered from a 7 day headache. Yes S E V E N days!!!

At first I though it was because I had gone cold turkey on caffeine but as I went past 72 hours with no sign of improvement I soon realised that I was going through serious withdrawals from something else.

You see, I wasnt just taking out the fizzy pop but I was also eating completely 'clean' (that is, food that is as close to its natural state as possible). I've never smoked and I don't drink often but my body was ganging up on me because I was feeding it good food. How ironic is that? I suppose it goes with the fact that if you do something often enough then it becomes your reality and my body was saying 'what the hell are you doing to me, your not giving me what I need'. But going with the same theme it also means that making the move to a 'clean' diet will also eventually become habitual. Go the carrots.

Well, it the final of 'The biggest loser' this evening and I'm mixed, and have been for a while. Whilst part of me enjoys this as I always come away motivated, the other part tells me that this isn't right as it can promote unrealistic goal setting for the 'rest of us' and doesn't educate use about healthy living in the real world. Drop me a line with your thoughts. Don't get me wrong. What the contestants achieve is absolutely phenomenal but I'm sure I would come out the same if I had 24/7 trainers and nutritional control.

Looking forward to the week ahead with training. As well as aiming to improve my running distance/speed and upping the resistance stuff im training on Wednesday with the gym nazi.

I treated myself this week to a few things, all, hopefully that will help in my quest for a smaller ass.
I took out two magazine subscriptions. One for Australian Women's Health and Fitness and the other , dont laugh, for Runners World. RW is the most inspiring and motivational read you can buy. I picked it up once as I was bored and had read all the other health mags and I was hooked. Give it a go, you wont be dissapointed.

Keep the feedback coming, its what keeps me going.

BG

*woot*

...I ran 6km's in 34 minutes on Saturday and cried when I had finished!

Im still sore now....but man I love the pain

bg

One step closer to being in control/

Apologies for such a while between posts but it has been a particularly testing week, ranging from rock bottom to sublime happiness.

This time last week I was sitting in front of my PC with tears in my eyes feeling like I was back at square one. I had started to return to some of my self destructive habits - comfort eating and sitting on my butt.

So what have I learnt from this? I have learnt that I am only human and yes, the road I tread will not always be a perfect one and that I cant punish myself for this but that I should pick myself up, dust myself down and keep going.

So that was the 'rock bottom'! How about the 'sublime happiness'?

Well, in fact there was more than one moment of this over the week.
The first came on Tuesday when I realised that for the first time in months I had had more than one day where I could honestly say that I had complete control over what I was eating and it felt empowering.

The second moment came just yesterday when I was on the treadmill and I reached what is known as 'the zone'. I have only ever experienced this once and for those who have not come across this term it is a state where mind/body are one and you feel like you can run forever and almost like it is no effort at all. Im finding it hard to describe this adequately but believe me, you will know if you find it : )
Also, I ran 5km in 30 mins with no walking breaks...I was dead chuffed (then straight into a weights circuit)...im hurting today but its a 'good' pain.

I have just started ramping up the training again as I have just got a gig to play Principal Cornet with Desford Band at the Masters in the UK near the end of May, hence I want to be in good physical form (as well as playing). The fitter I am in body the fitter I am in mind.

Thanks once again to Steve Ford for the encouragement and for reminding me of some of the reasons for writing this blog. Keep the comments coming guys, they help me so much on this sometimes lonely path.

Paula