frustration

Grr - it's really got me down that I was feeling so great to be doing these things and somewhere along the line I've hurt some muscles around my hip and can't do anything much atm. I don't think it was my gym work, in fact, cos it started a few days after my last class.


It started mmediately after I was just doing a bit of dancing around the house last Sunday ... and I could hardly move on Monday! It has been agony but it is fading now .. and I think it'll be ok after a bit more rest .. but it's made me grumpy and fed up!

whooop

yay

busted

So, despite doing spinning at the gym on Friday, a couple of hours out on the bike on Saturday and the Manifold Valley thing on Sunday we find that sundry puddings, dollops of cream, lemon drop cocktails and chocolates WILL prevail and put weight on me!

Oh dear .. a sorry one pound put on this week. I blame my friends .. they bring these things into my house and I can't refuse their generosity, can I now!

I am currently boiling bones to make a thin soup to eat today in a bid to undo the lost ground ...

carrot soup

Personally, I'm not usually a great fan of carrots, and will avoid eating them, especially if they're not organic ... I'm extra fussy about wanting to get organic carrots because I guy I once knew worked for a chemical firm and he told me carrots had more gunk poured on them than any other veg, and he reckoned they carrots ae like sponges for it all .. so that put me off ...

anyway .. blah blah .. In pursuit of eating the rainbow I bought some Sainsbo's organic carrots a week or two ago and they were so nice, tasty and tender that I went out and bought more the next day.

Looking for them again yesterday they had SOLD OUT .. hmmph but they DID have organic batons on offer .. i.e. pre-chopped and 1/2 price so I got them instead, well two bags of them! I have to say they DO make a very nice soup, simply boiled up with a good stock, bit of celery and onion, bay leaf and thyme .. munch with the whizzy blender thing and stir in a dollop of cream ..

oh .....

and what are we doing with cream in the house? making a surprise second appearance in this week's blog? well you see .. our dinner guest bought it for us on Sunday, and ( some of it) was still there yesterday .. .. got to say if you're not on a low-fat diet a little bit of cream makes carrot soup a very yummy thing! aaaaaand, it's probably better to have cream with carrots than feel obliged to do another pudding thing cos you've got some cream in the fridge .. logical!

Personal Best

It was quite sunny here this morning so we decided to go out on the local canal along towards Hanley Park .. it's amazingly scenic along some of that stretch ... then we decided that instead of going back the same way we'd go to the canal junction and pick up the other canal towards the Britannia Stadium and then drop back through Heron Cross and Fenton on the road..

We've been out on the bikes for nearly 2 hours adn I ahve totally jelly legs now cos we veered off the canal path and took in a few hills on that route - ARGHHH what was I thinking! ? !

I feel really tired but smiley too - need a radox bath now.

B has bought me one of those heart monitor things so I can see my heart rate - it pootles along "in the aerobic zone" on the canal but shoots up alarmingly when I go up a slope .. it's good cos it makes me realise how hard I'm working and I allow myself to go slower and recover more!

spinning

hi
have been busy this week, but not really clocked up many steps, too long in the car.

Today, though, I was back at the gym. I'd hoped to do a circuits class, but cos the teacher had changed it was a different routine and I thought it was to technical for my stage of progress .. so I went and did spinning instead ... this is like being on a bike, but harder work than what I've done on the real one, cos no free-wheeling and no down hill!

I was definitely sweating quite hard quite early on (yes Jan, I am keeping up my fluid intake!) I enjoyed it and felt right pleased with myself afterwards and had a chicken baguette in their cafe for lunch.

As for other food and drink this week ... hopeless I reckon. Free lunch out yesterday led to eating a fair bit, and generally I'venot been not sticking to the plan which means I've probably not lost any more weight yet! hey ho ...

One thing I did think, tho, wheeling my trolley of veg around the supermarket today, I HAVE stuck to the resolve of not buying any more of those GU puds .. small consolation when I think I ate apple crumble and cream at Mark's for tea-time and then again for BREAKFAST!
ARGHHHHH !

Manifold Valley

We had the most lovely day out in the Manifold Valley yesterday .. B running and me on the bike again. We did ten miles in 1hr 30 minutes, so we're both pleased with ourselves.

This page has some representative picutres: http://www.snapthepeaks.co.uk/Walks/Thors/thors.htm

We actually went along this bit, under Thor's cave:

I was also slightly amazed to find I lost another two pounds this week, despite eating rather more than the diet plan most of the time .. I guess mid-week D+V helped!

haha

Then today I did my first aerobics class at the gym. Not quite as exhilirating as being ouside on the bike, but it was a great moment for me, and I really enjoyed it.

tissington trail

B and I went out to Tissington yesterday and did 5 miles to Alsop and back - ten in all .. ! It's an old railway track and has more of a gradient than the canal ... it was lovely, sunny and fresh with a great open aspect on most of the trail. My (stoopid) stepper counted this exertion as 3000 steps, so I'm not taking its photo today - that'll larn it! HA!

I have lost three pounds this week, which is nigh on miraculous considering I ate the usual health food fare of pie and chocolate at the football on Saturday and a goodly dose of cocktails with Sam last night, how does this work?

Off to the gym later to get my health assesment .. always good for a laugh, and likely to be more comical than usual this time ... my flexibility gives a wooden spoon a run for its money these days... and I bet my heart rate soars under pressure now .. we'll see!

Fottball

Walked from Kasia's to the football ground and back .. a decent distance.

I observe that Kasia stays slim by saying she's going to get chips at half-time, and then saying "oh I cant be bothered" when the opportunity arises .. where I get fat by thinking I'll make a lean turkey sarnie to take with me, but eat a pie and chocolate instead ..

Artists Date

Logged up a reasonable walk today - out taking photos on my weekly artist date thingy - walked from Hanley down to the Marina, and there abouts ... taking pictures

gym-bunny

Went up to Greens on Tuesday and re-activated my gym membership. Also walked a lot with Kate, as evidenced by super-high count here ..

Also did some good food - rainbow soup with red pepper and sweet potato ..then pretty much shot myself in the foot by drinking too much in the evening *bleugh*

Oh well!

scotland

Scotland was everything I wanted it to be in terms of fitness. Two rides along the canal on the bike, and three short walks over differing terrain. I loved getting on the bike again and am determined to keep that up with B at the weekends, cos she can run as far as I can peddle and we'll both be happy.





Foodwise, we ate well, porridge and banana and raspberries for breakfast most days .. a bit of a snack out and about at lunch time and we made simple pasta dishes with roast veg etc for evening meals.





On the down side, I've re-discovered my taste for wine and we ate a few cakes and buns on our travels .. so too many calories overall and no major weight loss yet!





Well in two weeks I lost a single pound! haha





















Stepper for Sunday and Monday combined - not bad!

step count 5

Today's food
Breakfast
The most yummy smoothy with fresh orange juice made using our lovely juicer and then a good dollop of raspeberries and a few ice cubes whizzed up in blender ... absolutely delicious!
small bit of toast with cheese spread and marmite

Lunch
TINNED soup - but nice, from organic farm shop, red pepper and lentil
two bits of toast and peanut butter (spread v.v.thinly!)

Dinner
Roast chicken, jacket spud (only I don't eat the jacket!) carrot, parsnip, sweet potato.

Snacks: milk in tea, two shortbread fingers, TOTAL greek yog (not low fat so B will be pleased)

insert Thurs pic here

step count 4

Weds day 17th Oct pic needed here

YaY. For the first time in a while I actually did over 10,000 steps on Weds.

step count 2 and 3

Monday and Tuesday - logged together and not really enough! hey ho - spent a lot of the day on the phone with fresh cancer troubles to talk about among my friends ..

cant upload images at all atm - blogger probs are not restricted to layout it seems they can't even pick up your pic now

the one I want is: desktop oct17 002

meanhwhile I need to walk A LOT MORE!

Weds food:
Breakfast:
smoothie made from banana and pear with pineapple juice
toast with "cheese" spread and marmite.

Lunch
Remains of the leek and potato soup

Dinner
Roast chicken, jacket spud, carrot, parsnip and sweet potato and a gravy that defies description .. made it with the roasting juices (left to chill so I can get all the fat off) and the celery and onion that sat under the bird while it cooked ... I used to press these veg through a sieve, but it's better to whizz with that hand held blender thing, and then no need for flour to thicken .. tell you it was yummy.

snacks: milk in hot drinks, four shortbread fingers

food 1

so
yesterday I started my healthy eating do-dah again.

Breakfast - toast with lemoncurd (no butter)

Lunch - home-made leek and potato soup for me and Liz ... with some left over for later in the week. ( No extra carbs)

Snacks - banana, two shortbread biscuits, milk in some drinks (now taking black coffee with sweetner)

Dinner - smoked mackerel, brown bread, broccoli and dip made from low fat mayo, horseradish and finely chopped onion -- (this is nicer than it sounds!)

Today:
Breakfast - smoothie from very ripe banana, pear and pineapple juice (this is VERY sweet!) 1/2 slice toast with marmite

Lunch - home-made soup, from tomato with roasted yellow pepper and roasted garlic (this is gorgeous and left a bit for sauce with dinner tonight)

Snacks: some milk in hot drinks, two hovis crackers, two shortbread biscuits, broccoli adn yesterday's dip.

Dinner: roasted chicken (leg) baked spud, spinach, bit of tom sauce (soup!)

step count 1

ok I'm starting a re-numbering thing - haha - post scan Total Fitness campaign!

This is the step count for Sat AND Sun when we were in Wales .. we walked quite a bit on Sunday along the coast from Deganwy to Llandudno - it's a lovely walk, and it was sunny to boot!

Food Planning

so actually I *AM* quite good at this --
it's maintanence I never manage!


I've been thinking about what to do .. knowing what my own habits are tells that that these are the changes I need to make ... this is for my records more than anyone else's, but I'm gonna put it in here anyway .. feel free not to bother reading it!

Reduce overall calories intake :
easiest wasys:put booze back in its box .. strictly a weekend treat (and if mates come round in the week)

stop buying butter / biscuits / gu puddings!

order with care when eating out - no chips, no cream. Order plain cuts of meat/fish .. avoid "composite dishes like lasagne and skip the salad-bar (always have hidden fats in them!)

cook using stock rather than frying

keep an eye on milk intake (too many milky coffees)

increase volume of vegetables in every meal

stick to portions of carbs - 8oz spud / 2oz uncooked rice or dried pasta

increase healthiness of food intake

fruit smoothie or porridge for breakfast (do the shopping for this)

veggie soup for lunch (watch out for excess toast here)

normal tea with B - pasta / meat / chicken / fish etc .. increase fish content generally

keep an eye on getting a rainbow in soups / smoothies

eat daily vitamin supplement

drink plenty of water / fruit teas

increase activity level
keep up with the stepper

re-join the gym and go three mornings a week - to an organised class

get bike out of cold storage and use to go to with B on canal path at w/ends -- build up to normal rides again next Spring!

ration my time in the computer (erk)

Verging on the cranky

Consider doing the cancer-diet from super-foods book?
I did lose a couple of stones last summer using the bowel health diet from that book - and it does mean I dont have to think if I just eat their regime -- but it's quite labour intensive and fiddly ... and it is not flexible for eating out and friends visiting ... hmmmmm

scan days

This is a two day step - we walked a lot before the scan and before the results - in fact this is not hte full count cos it stopped working when we were scrambling on the Roaches .. anyrate

a good couple of days all round!

scan week

ok, so one of these WAS Tuesday and one of them was Wednesday!

Weds was out walking with Matt around cheap shops in town - so I think that was the low one, and the one with the baby eyes really WAS done on Tuesday - me and Andy walked to the Co-Op

hehe - so much glamour in my life!

was chemo sick and tired on Monday

OK - not quite, but OK

Sunday 7th Oct

mostly picked up in The Italian Gardens. It's so pretty there, still.

I was so bone-weary, it's not like TIRED as such, just more flu-y like my muscles don't fancy it!

SO I was pleased with this score .

ps sorry about the weird layout on this page - it seems to have a mind of its own!

inside and out

Managed to do these while I was inside on the drip, which I think is quite good, Tuesday 2nd to Thurs 4th Oct.

Very impressed with myself to have been able to do these on Friday, partly round Hanley and partly alongside the Lake at Trentham where I met B after work. They've started to shut the Italian Garden bit at 4 so we couldn't get in there.

Was feeling much more tired on Saturday, and although we went to Tittesworth I didn't walk very far and got very tired. In any case was saving myself for the night at the theatre.

Notice how quickly I've lost track of the count of the days! haha!

Last Chemo

Hopefully today is my last chemo! I will be back "inside" in a few hours .. will try to walk out for an hour b4 Barbara comes to get me.

I can't walk much in hospital, but I did double on Sunday this week, going out for a walk in the morning with B round Deep Hayes, which is a lovely space, and then up the back lane here with Sam in the afternoon. We then dranka gallon of cava so it wasn't the complete health farm effect!

Day Five - Saturday 29th Sept














Day 6 - Sunday 30th Sept

Day 7 - Monday October 1st

excellent news

I've been out walking with an internet pal today and it turns out that she is a regular at "my" gym on certain weekdays .. now this suits me fine cos the keep fit thing had very much included the idea of going back to the gym (regulars might remember how kind they were to me when I just wanted a very short membership last winter, b4 my operation .. )

I really enjoyed the classes I attended and I thought that the regular ppl who went to the day time classes were very friendly and sociable, and now it turns out I'm internet mates with one of the day-time regulars .. !

this means that I'm even more excited than I was about the idea of being able to get back into my gym and do a few classes again ..

yay!



















Day Three - Thursday - pretty good.




















Day Four- Friday,
sort of surprised that this is the lowest of the week cos I was out walking in some lovely gardens, and it just goes to show ambling about isn't so "busy" as striding to the shops and back!

Fitness Campaign

Ok - this is an idea I knicked from my mate Ann in Bristol .. trying to increase my mobility and ultimately my fitness I have started to wear my stepper again .. the aim is a minimum of 10,000 steps a day.

I'm planning to photograph it every day, to motivate myself ..

Friends and family who want to get fit too can join in .. you could post your own stepper pictures to a blog or to a photo-site like photobucket, flikr, facebook, etc and post links to your images in here! or not

I'm quite happy to do it on my own!

this was my first day - Tuesday - a walk to the local post office, Co-Op and abbatoir are enough to add over 5000 steps - which is good cos I've done that walk many times during my illness .. which is only 1/2 the target .. but glass 1/2 full is better than nothing!

Second day - mainly picked up walking around Hanley - but it is a bit of a bad idea to get your steps "up town" - spent too much in ths shops, really!