Life Choices Thursday

I felt: Annoyed at the person who said they needed 30 minutes of my time and took an hour and a quarter.

I thought: About life choices. This was inspired in part by Eowyn's post about goal setting, and in part by the fact that I'm meeting up with some friends from my last course of academic studies later today. Have I made the right choices for my life? Overall, I'm pretty happy with my life, but I worry about it being unconventional, about my choices not being proper. I think it's a desire for acceptance by others that gets in the way of my accepting my own choices, much though I love them. Anyhow, my reading today made me see these choices in a different light. While they might not be acceptable to a lot of my family, I think they honour the spirit of my Grandma, even if she wouldn't necessarily have understood them, either.

I slept: 7 hours in 2 chunks.

I worked out:  30 minutes of step with Cathe's Basic Step.

I ate:  Approximately 100g cake after lunch, then 60g cake, 86g biscuits and 40g chocolate. Total 286g. I'm blaming being exhausted, but really, I know this too is about choices...

I am grateful for: Friends.

Whirring Wednesday

I felt: Very tired and nervous - not a great combination. I tried twice to go for a nap, but my mind was just whirring non-stop.

I thought: About all the things that could go wrong, and why I should be awake to try to deal with anything that came up *doh*

I slept: 6 1/4 hours in 3 chunks.

I worked out:  42 minutes of cardio-pilates with Ellen Barrett's Barefoot Cardio.

I ate:  110g cake, 70g biscuits, 67g chocolate - total 247g! Yikes.

I am grateful for: One big thing being out of the way so I can stop worrying about it.

Tired Tuesday Again

I felt: Tired for a lot of the day, but also rather buzzed. So much going on this week!

I thought: About what cards mean to me, and how the imagery affects me.

I slept: 7 1/4 hours, then had a 2 hour nap late in the afternoon - what a blessing!

I worked out:  51 minutes of step and weights with Cathe's Body Fusion. It's funny, as this is designed as a beginner's workout, and it's the only of Cathe's dvd's where I actually use heavier weights than she does :D

I ate:  46g biscuits and 29g chocolate after lunch. After dinner, I had a chocolate cake with lemon sorbet in a restaurant - at a guess 150g. Total 225g.

I am grateful for:  Naps.

Time-Change Sunday and Windy Monday

Sunday

I felt: Not too bad given the clocks went back. I guess them going forward is worse, sleep-wise.

I slept: 8 3/4 in 4 chunks.

I worked out:  Kickboxing with Cathe's Cardio Kicks - total 50 minutes.

I ate:  100g cake,109g biscuits and 29g chocolate. Total 238g :(

I am grateful for:  My son's Didicar, which he loves.

Monday

I felt: Very tired - my son was awake from 3.30am, and though I got back to bed for a nap later, it still leaves me feeling drained. Then I stayed up late, getting trapped in a novel. It was nice to read a bit, but I wish I'd gone to bed earlier.

I thought: "I don't know what Philip Pullman is trying to say with this book." (Am reading The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ).

I slept: 7 3/4 in 4 chunks.

I worked out:  Just 30 minutes with Ellen Barret's Sleek Sculpt Express.

I ate:  WAY TOO MUCH! 50g biscuits after lunch, then another 17g as a snack a bit later, and 56g chocolate and 110g biscuits after dinner - 233g total.

I am grateful for:  Some snuggle time with my DH.

Hmm, what do you call it when you keep skipping a day?

Friday

I felt: A bit abandoned - I was supposed to meet up with a friend, who called it off the night before because her son got in trouble at school. Still, had a good time with my son, who is now on holiday for 10 days.

I slept: 8 1/4 hours in 4 chunks, I think.

I worked out:  Started off with Suzanne Bowen's Prenatal Barre Workout, but gave up after 5 minutes as it was repetitive and my legs hurt. Decided to go for something far more mellow: gentle movement with Jessica Smith's Power Walk, with added light weights. Total 47minutes

I ate:  45g biscuits after lunch, then 67g of biscuits and 97g of a gorgeous chocolate brownie after dinner - total 209g - ok-ish.

I am grateful for:  My son's increased autonomy.

Saturday

I felt: Good. Meditated, napped, saw my new baby healthy and well at the 20 week anomaly scan.

I slept: 7 3/4 in 4 chunks, including a quick nap.

I worked out:  49 minutes of Step with Gin Miller's Step Classics - I had to skip a little bit as I didn't have time for the full workout (64 minutes). It was pretty fun, with basic choreography. Still, I can imagine getting bored quite quickly with it, as it's one of those "keep adding on bits and taking it from the top" workouts.

I ate:  48g brownie after lunch, 139g chocolate and 38g biscuits after dinner. Total - 225g, but it felt like more as chocolate is more intense than biscuits :(

I am grateful for:  The wonders of modern scan technology.

Try Harder Thursday

I felt: Tired. Didn't get to bed til 11.45 last night, which is extremely late for me! I did manage a mid-morning nap after my meditation, though.

I thought: About all the things I feel nervous about at the moment. Uncertainty is such a difficult thing to manage. I feel uncertain about moving house, about the baby in my tummy, about my son's health. Some of those things will resolve or at least calm in the next week - when we finalise the deal on our new home, and when I have my 20 week anomaly scan. Still, the uncertainty never goes away completely. It's weird, because I don't normally worry about such things as much. I think there's just a lot going on at once right now.

I slept: 7 1/4 hours in 4 chunks

I worked out:  30 minutes of step with Cathe's Basic Step. This time, I didn't get so overheated doing it, but it's definitely quite tough :)

I ate:  136g pastry after lunch, then 110g biscuits and 27g chocolate after dinner - total: 273g :(

I am grateful for:  The knowledge that at least some of my uncertainties will resolve a little soon.

Wednesday Weakness

I felt:  Pathetic for giving in to my cravings.

I thought: About how I end up doing lots more cardio in the autumn/winter, because I often feel cold. Can't face the time it'll take to warm up with yoga, I need the heat NOW! :D

I slept: 8 hours. Though it sounds a reasonable amount, I still felt quite tired and planned to go back to bed, but somehow never made it...

I worked out:  55 minutes of Tonya Larson's Step Pump - step and weights. This was my second time through with the step section, my first with the pump bit. Overall, I'm not that keen. Her cueing is sometimes rather dodgy, and I don't like her breathy voice. Plus, she keeps on saying, "If it hurts, it works, push on through it" - doesn't seem very honouring of the fact that sometimes pain is to tell us when to stop!

I ate:  105g chocolate biscuits after lunch :( Then, we went out for a restaurant meal in the evening, and the desserts were so good I couldn't resist that either. Total (at a guess): 280g.

I am grateful for:  At least eating good quality junk ;D

Terrible Tuesday

I felt: Tired, natch.

I thought: About not having meditated in ages. Decided to do something about it.

I slept: 7 1/4 hours.

I worked out:  Just 30 minutes of stepping with Cathe's Basic Step. This is meant to be an intro to stepping, but it was a lot of fun. It also left me seriously sweaty (though part of that may have been the high humidity). I felt a bit weak by the end!

I ate:  72g biscuits after lunch, stressed out about more complex maths and budget decisions. After dinner, 163g brownie and 59g biscuits. Grand total - 294g :((

I am grateful for: Tomorrow being a new chance to make better choices.

Weigh In and Catch-Up

Thursday

I slept: 8 1/4 hours - yay!

I worked out:  43 minutes of weights with Erin O'Brien's Strong Body, Ageless Body.

I ate:  Don't remember.

Friday

I weighed: 68k - 150 pounds

BMI: 24.68

I felt: Nervous about travelling, happy to have bought my son some new clothes for him to meet with family, and excited about the whole weekend.

I thought: That it's good that my weight gain has slowed. I've only put on 0.3kg (3/4 pound) in just under 3 weeks, making up for the ridiculous amount I put on in September.

I slept: 6 3/4 hours - stressed about travelling.

I worked out: 30 minutes of step with Tonya Larson's Step Pump. This is another of those videos I chose as a milder step workout. In that sense, it was okay, though it's a bit weird following the modifier, when what the presenter is cueing is often so different. One thing that didn't come up in the description on Collage was the fact that she's super-Christian, and have 4 "spiritual warm-ups", where she talks through passages from the Bible! Nope, haven't watched any of those yet ;)

I ate: No chocolate at all, just a vanilla pudding my aunt had made specially for me as she knows I don't eat tiramisu.

Saturday

I worked out: Nope! Not unless you count chasing after my son while he played football, which I don't ;)

I slept: 7 1/4 hours I think.

I ate: Totally lost track. Didn't have a scales about, and couldn't exactly weigh the slice of cake I had at my cousin's. Overall, I'm guessing over 250g.

Sunday

I worked out: 15 minutes of Ellen Barrett-style cardio-pilates (making it up for myself) and 20 minutes of yoga self-practice.

I slept: 7 1/2 hours - could have done with more.

I ate: Once again, lost track :(

Monday

I slept: 8 3/4 hours in 4 chunks.

I worked out: 51 minutes of step and weights intervals with Cathe's Body Fusion. Felt pretty exhausted by the end of it - did it with 2 kilo dumbbells.

I ate: 55g chocolate, 160g biscuits - 215g total. Over my preferred limit, but at least I feel back under control, more or less.

I am grateful for: Being back home, where I feel like I'm in charge of my time, my exercise, and my food.

Wet Wednesday

I felt: A bit stressed. Lots of complex maths stuff today, which I'm not a huge fan of.

I thought: About when I'm going to start taking it easier with this pregnancy...

I slept: 8 1/4 hours, despite being awake for over an hour and a half worrying about stuff I have to do today.

I worked out:  37 minutes of Cathe's Body Fusion. I was just going to do the step bits, but I ended up doing a mix of step and toning. I was a bit red in the face by the end, but I enjoyed it.

I ate:  30g choc biscuits, 99g choc brownie - 129g total.

I am grateful for: Couple-time with my DH.

Mid-Week Catch-Up

Monday

I felt: Pretty wonderful after all that sleep!

I slept: 9 1/4 hours in 4 chunks - hurrah!

I worked out:  52 minutes of step and hi-lo (well, just lo for me) with Christi Taylor's Mission Possible. I got this because I used to love Christi's workouts, but they're way too high impact for me since I got shin splints. The reviews panned it a little because of the music. The only song that bothered me is the last one on the hi-lo section, so I'll probably just use this as a short step workout in future - 32 minutes isn't bad.

I ate:  104g chocolate biscuits.

I am grateful for:  Night's when my DH looks after our son.

Tuesday

I felt: A bit tired, but overall quite good. I got a fair bit done. However, my DH said he thinks I've been quite tetchy lately. I think it's because I've been feeling a lot of pressure to do things. I had a go at a guy in a car that was sat on a zebra crossing. Well, initially I just kind of rolled my eyes and tutted as I squeezed past, but then he wound down his window and said "It's not my fault". I argued with him til we were out of reach, because he was so blatantly in the wrong. In this country, you should never have your car on a zebra crossing. If there is traffic ahead of you, you just stop a couple of metres back and wait til there is space on the other side. After all, you're not going to get anywhere any faster by being a metre closer to the next car in the jam. Anyhow, if he hadn't said anything I would have just tutted and moved on, but it was the fact that he tried to claim he wasn't in the wrong when he so clearly was that annoyed the heck out of me. Just ignore the pregnant woman tutting you, or say sorry!

I thought: About the correlation between tiredness and snacking, again :(

I slept: 7 1/4 hours. Shouldn't have gone to bed so late on Monday, but we went out in the evening and then I needed to wind down...

I worked out:  45 minutes of Ellen Barrett's Fusion Flow - just what I needed.

I ate:  60g chocolate biscuits after lunch, 16g chocolate biscuits as an afternoon snack, 151g chocolate biscuits after dinner. Total - 227g - not so good.

I am grateful for:   A man who forgives me my tetchiness :)

Weekend Catch-Up

Friday

I felt: Nervous and excited.

I thought: About traditionalism and heresy and what those mean to me.

I slept: 6 1/4 hours in 3 chunks - too excited to sleep more, though I really could have done with it...

I worked out:  42 minutes of walking with weights - Jessica Smith's Walking for Weight Loss.

I ate:  Approximately 60g of chocolate cake - yay! However, on the down side I got very little in the way of fruit and veg, maybe 4 portions (I normally get 8-12 portions).

I am grateful for:  Other heretics

Saturday

I felt: Excited and inspired.

I thought: About using everyday objects in divination, and how nice it is to be around others who are interested in tarot, Lenormand etc.

I slept: 8 1/2 hours in 4 chunks

I worked out:  52 minutes of yoga self-practice in my hotel room.

I ate:  Approximately 130g biscuits and 38g chocolate - total 170g.

I am grateful for:  Exciting events.

Sunday

I felt: Tired but elated.

I thought: About prediction, what I look for in decks, how fun it is to share interests with friends, and how I really need some sleep now!

I slept: 5 3/4 hours in 2 chunks

I worked out:  31 minutes of boxing with Kelley Coffey's Train Like a Contender, then 27 minutes of yoga with Eoin Finn's Blissology Monday Quickie :D

I ate:  90g biscuits, 32g chocolate - total 122g.

I am grateful for:  Good friends.

Energised Thursday

I felt: So much better than yesterday!

I thought: "Why didn't I bring any tarot cards with me to the hairdresser's - this is so boring!"

I slept: 8 1/2 hours in 4 chunks :)

I worked out: 45 minutes of step with Kari Anderson's Go.

I ate:  Approximately 130g of a choc chip muffin :)

I am grateful for:  Technology that works!

Wilting Wednesday

I felt: Buzzed and exhausted at the same time.

I thought: About the power of advertising. I've seen a couple of ads for the new Galaxy Honeycomb, and couldn't resist buying one.

I slept: 5 3/4 hours in 3 chunks. Meditated in between, but still really struggled to sleep.

I worked out:  22 minutes of cardio toning with Jessica Smith's Total Body Balance. Didn't have time for more, unfortunately.

I ate:  After dinner, 145g brownie, 45g choc biscuits, 40g chocolate. The Galaxy Honeycomb was better than I expected (I know, why did I buy it if I feared the worst?) It just has small chunks of honeycomb within lots of milk chocolate, rather than being lots of oversweet honeycomb, like a Crunch.

I am grateful for:  An early night tonight - in bed by 9.15pm :D

Tuesday Again

I felt: Both excited and stressed. The thought of moving home...

I thought: About how much of what I do is conditioned by patterns developed around the space I live in. For example, I always unpack my groceries in one spot. So, today, to serve a couple of sandwiches we'd bought for lunch, I went to that spot (close to the fridge), when we could have done it at the dinner table, or by the sofa.

I slept: 8 1/4 hours in 3 chunks - felt so much better than yesterday!

I worked out:  30 minutes of cardio-pilates toning with Ellen Barrett's Sleek Sculpt Express

I ate:  16g chocolate after lunch, 55g chocolate sauce and 75g mango sorbet after dinner, as well as 45g biscuits and 8g chocolate. Total - 199g - meh...

I am grateful for:  Our pharmacist, who is a life saver. He ordered something, despite the GP mucking up the prescription so we still haven't received it.

Meandering Monday

I felt: Need I say it? Tired

I thought: About copyright issues - fun :/ Also about art and artists.

I slept: 7 1/4 hours in 8 chunks, yes, 8! Spent 3 hours "sleeping" in with my son, who was having spasms :(

I worked out:  40 minutes of old-fashioned step with Kathy Smith. I had this back in the day, though my current copy has "all new" packaging, while still being the same workout :D

I ate:  After lunch, 8g chocolate and 55g choc muffin. The other half of the muffin, 70g, after dinner. Total - 133g :)

I am grateful for:  The amazing connective powers of the internet.