Black Friday

I felt: A little guilty and a lot relieved that I don't have to care for my son 24/7.

I thought: About why this day is called Black Friday. Wikipedia claims it may have originated in Philadelphia, where they "heavy and disruptive" pedestrian and vehicle traffic on the day after Thanksgiving. The second theory is that as "the biggest shopping day of the year" it was when shops finally saw themselves going "into the black". Today, British retailers are trying to copy this US retail phenomenon, and ended up with brawls in the aisles - good going! :/

I slept: 8 1/4 in 4 chunks.

I worked out:  37 minutes yoga and 36 minutes of step with Kari Anderson's Hot Steps. I'm glad this dvd has a couple of different "short" options, though the warm up and cool down are the same for both, and I can see myself getting bored of them...

I ate:  57g chocolate (Toblerone), 30g biscuits and 25g cake - total 112g.

I am grateful for:  The unique experience of a child who never asks for new toys, or objects to what you give him for dinner.

Busy Thursday

Disappointing light fitting

I felt: Surprised at some of the things my DH said today about how he experienced the birth of our son.

I thought: About my spirituality: how it was influenced by my mother, but also how I have developed it on my own over the last twelve years or so.

I slept: 8 hours in 4 chunks. Could have done with more, but I had to get up for my son.

I worked out:  Just 28 minutes of yoga, didn't have time for anything else. I had a long business phone call, and then two meetings in different parts of London. Plus, my DH and I went to look at a light fitting we were thinking of getting, but which was disappointing IRL.

I ate:  58g biscuits, 86g chocolate and 28g cake - total 172g. Once again, not great, but not dreadful.

I am grateful for: Finally having finished a tarot bag I started knitting in April!

Mid-Week Yoga

I felt: A bit annoyed that things kept popping up all day, keeping me from working out.

I slept: 8 1/2 hours in 5 chunks. You'd think that would be enough… Also had a 15 minute power nap in the afternoon, which helped.

I worked out:  38 minutes of yoga.

I ate:  Approx. 100g almond croissant as a late afternoon snack, then 57g Toblerone and 30g biscuits after dinner. Total 187g - not great, but not awful.

I am grateful for: My yoga mat.

Wintery Tuesday

I felt: Snug in my maternity clothes which, between tights, trousers and tops, mean 4 layers for Mr. Bump ;)

I thought: About backseat driving, and how being tired doesn't help with any form of rational discussion. My DH and I ended up arguing a bit, but sorted it out by bedtime :)

I slept: 8 1/2 hours in 5 chunks - better...

I worked out:  25 minutes of yoga and 36 minutes of step with Kari Anderson's Hot Steps.

I ate:  39g cake - got home too late to eat more, which was a good and bad thing ;)

I am grateful for: The wisdom to see when a fight is mainly about both parties being overtired.

Mooching Monday

I felt: You guessed it, tired :D

I thought: About how certain effects are created in paintings. I get quite a lot of the theory, but the practice...

I slept: 8 hours in 7 chunks :/

I worked out:  25 minutes of yoga and 31 minutes of cardio-strength with Ellen Barrett's Blood Type B Workout. I'm not blood type B, but I do like the workout ;)

I ate:  96g of biscuits after dinner - yay!

I am grateful for: Being able to find time for intimacy between our different work responsibilities and needs for naps.

French Toast

I felt: Happy, it was a nice day, my DH and I had french toast for brunch, and we all played happily for most of the afternoon.

I thought: About Christmas - yikes!

I slept: 7 1/2 hours in 4 chunks - the longest being a 2 1/2 hour nap after I'd been up for 4 hours.

I worked out:  23 minutes yoga, followed by 31 minutes of cardio-pilates with light weights.

I ate:  55g cake and 45g biscuits - total 100g. I'm not counting the french toast, as it wasn't a really unhealthy breakfast, accompanied by fruit ;)

I am grateful for:  Photoshop :)

Of Naps and Chanting

I felt: Loving. My DH and I celebrated our nine year anniversary.

I thought: About magic and superstition.

I slept: 9 hours in 8 chunks - yeah, very restless! Still, I appreciated the extra hour I got after I'd done my kali sadhana practice and chant :)

I worked out:  30 minutes yoga. Later, did 30 minutes of step with Nekea Brown. The only thing I really don't like about this workout is it feels like someone told her "time up", when she was in the middle of a final run-through, so you never get to do all the combinations together :(

I ate:  57g biscuits and 31g cake - total 88g :)

I am grateful for: Having had nine wonderful years with my honey!

Dark Rings

I felt: Annoyed. I got up after what should have been a good night's sleep to find I still have dark rings under my eyes. It seems like no matter how long I sleep, I still look and feel tired.

I thought: About my beliefs around deity, but that's a post for tomorrow and a different blog :)

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

I worked out:  22 minutes of yoga as part of my Kali Sadhana. Later, I did 41 minutes of step and weights work with Cathe Friedrich's Body Fusion - had to skip 10 minutes at the end because of loads of phone calls :(

I ate:  67g biscuits and 31g cake after dinner - total 98g - yay!

I am grateful for:  A new sense of discipline.

Jai Kali Ma

I felt: Glad my son was feeling better today.

I thought: How good John Mahoney's acting is in Series Two of "In Treatment".

I slept: 8 1/4 hours in 4 chunks, followed by a 45 minute nap late morning. I swear, I am always tired!

I worked out:  17 minutes of yoga as part of my Kali Sadhana. Later, 46 minutes of cardio-pilates with Ellen Barrett's Grace and Gusto

I ate:  Approximately 95g of biscuits after dinner - Jai Kali Ma!

I am grateful for:  Feeling like my life is in a slightly better balance right now.

Wake-Up Wednesday

From Stacey Cooper Fitness

I felt: Fairly well-rested, but a bit stressed - I had to get everyone out of bed, as they all overslept!

I thought: About Kali and her power to break through fears and destructive habits, decided to join Eowyn in her 21 day Sadhana.

I slept: 8 hours in 4 chunks.

I worked out:  13 minutes of yoga - 4 sun salutes A, 4 sun salutes B and a few dancing warriors. Later, I got on the static bike for 45 minutes, and then did 14 minutes of stretching. I don't do these exact stretches, but cover most of the same areas :)

I ate: Only about 95g biscuits after dinner - yay! I almost ate some after lunch, but then chanted Om Krim Kalikaye Namaha silently for a bit, and didn't :D 

I am grateful for:  A new impetus.

Tuesday

I felt: Very stiff - I think from a neck massage I had on Monday :(

I thought: How important it is to spend some quality time with my beloved ;)

I slept: 8 1/4 hours in 3 chunks.

I worked out:  37 minutes of kickboxing with Cathe Friedrich's Cardio Kicks - an old-y but a good-y :)

I ate:  Way too much, again! Over the course of the day, about 210g biscuits and 105g cake - total 315g.

I am grateful for:   Quality time with my DH.

Another Monday

I felt: Stressed because my DH, who is normally very steady, was feeling overwhelmed. I think he was just overtired, as he slept about 3 hours in the afternoon and felt much better.

I thought: About how important sleep is

I slept: 8 hours in 3 chunks, but it didn't feel like enough. Had a nap in the late afternoon which helped a lot - another hour and a quarter.

I worked out:  39 minutes of step with Cathe Friedrich's Rhythmic Step and 6 minutes of my own stretching. The full Cathe workout is just over an hour, but I skipped the last two step sections as I was feeling tired, before my nap.

I ate:  11g biscuit mid-morning (bad start to the day). Then, after lunch and dinner, another 135g of biscuits. Total - 146g - not too bad - I'm sure the nap helped.

I am grateful for:  Naps.

Cakey Sunday

I felt: Productive - I got quite a bit of stuff done that I'd been putting off for a while :)

I thought: The only good thing about eating these cake bars is that they come in very small portions.

I slept: Not enough, but then I did really well the night before... 6 3/4 in 3 chunks.

I worked out:  46 minutes on the stationary bike, followed by 13 minutes of stretching.

I ate:  35g biscuit after lunch, another 135g biscuits and cake after dinner - total 170g.

I am grateful for:   A nice afternoon with my family.

Long Overdue Update

Yeesh, being away, I've kinda lost track of most things.  Let's see...

Wednesday

I slept:  Not enough, but not bad - about 7 1/4 hours.

I exercised: 42 minutes of cardio and weights with Jessica Smith's Walking for Weigh Loss High Energy Walk and added weights.

I ate: Not too badly - about 130g cake and 36g chocolate - total 166g.

Thursday

I slept: 6 1/4 hours in about 5 chunks - way too cold all night :(

I exercised: 30 minutes of yoga self-practice.

I ate:  Lots.  Rough guess - 120g after lunch, 100g at teatime, and 80g flapjack, 42g choc after dinner.  Total 342g.

Friday

I slept: 5 3/4 in 3 chunks.  Woke up without an earplug, and heard something that startled me.  As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I startle easily after nearly six years of being on tenterhooks with my son.  Couldn't get back to sleep, then started reading and got into the book - bad idea!

I exercised: 46 minutes of step with Kari Anderson's Go.

I ate:  Badly again.  About 110g cake after lunch, 75g honey roasted cashews, and maybe another 110g biscuits and cake after dinner.  Approximate total - 295g.

Saturday

I slept: 10 hours in 3 chunks - yay!

I exercised:  23 minutes of cardio and weights with Jessica Smith's Better Body Blast, followed by 21 minutes of cardio with the Crunch's Fat-Burning Blast.

I ate:  A bit better - at a guess, 195g.

Limited Time Tuesday

I felt: Happy - some things are going well at work, so I finally feel that one of my special projects is going to work out.

I thought: About how much I want to volunteer at my son's school. I'd be willing to do an hour every couple of weeks...

I slept: 7 3/4 hours in 3 chunks. Would have like a little more

I worked out:  31 minutes of step with Cathe Friedrich's Basic Step. Would have liked to do more, but it was a busy day.

I ate:  20g biscuits at tea time. Then 90g biscuits after dinner - only 110g total. I think the biggest difference was that I had larger, savoury snacks mid-morning and mid-afternoon - a spinach and ricotta roll and a leek and gruyere croissant, rather than just a cup-a-soup. So, not sure if I actually had less calories, but at least those I had were healthier and more balanced...

I am grateful for:  The internet, with its wealth of information on a multiplicity of subjects.

Sunny Sunday and Wet Monday

Sunday

I felt: Tired, went to bed gone 11pm, which is very late for me ;D We'd been to a birthday party with my son, but after he was in bed I found there was some work which had come in urgently, so I stayed up doing it :(

I thought: About the beauty of autumn, as we went for a walk on our local heath - beautiful!

I slept: 7 3/4 hours in 3 chunks.

I worked out:  27 minutes of Ballet Conditioning. My legs felt achey, which I'm going to blame on the cramps I've been getting quite often (got them when I was pregnant with my son, too). I'm taking supplements for them, but still get them at least every other night. Anyhow, I also find that woman's voice and cuing really annoying. So, stopped after 27 minutes and did 34 minutes of a Crunch cardio-blast workout that's quite mild and fun.

I ate:  27g biscuits after lunch. After dinner, 81g cake, 34g biscuits, and 38g chocolate. Total 180g.

Monday

I felt: Tired, I had to get up early to take my son to see a nurse before school.

I thought: About all the reflexes we take for granted, like swallowing and sneezing, as my son has trouble with quite a few of these "basic" things most people don't even think about.

I slept: 7 3/4 in 4 chunks, including a nap in the late afternoon.

I worked out:  45 minutes on the static bike, and 12 minutes stretching. Watched Bones while I cycled :)

I ate:  72g choc chip biscuit after lunch, then 80g flapjack, 42g chocolate and 26g biscuits after dinner. Total 220g :(

I am grateful for:  All the different specialists who help with my son.

So-So Saturday

I felt: Stressed by my son having another major allergic reaction to both horses and a dog. The antihistamines he was prescribed didn't seem to help much :(

I slept: 9 1/4 hours in 2 chunks - yay!

I worked out:  42 minutes of step and weights, once again with Cathe Friedrich's Body Fusion.

I ate:  29g biscuits after lunch. Not so great after dinner: 167g biscuits, 23g rice snacks, 49g chocolate with hazelnuts. Total 268g.

I am grateful for:  Having an appointment to explore options around my son's allergies, even if we do have to wait til February for it...