One day

Monday, January 2, 2012 Permalink

My first post for 2012, in this blog anyway… and now that I am over a day into my rejuvenated ‘healthy eating’ plan, that I’m supposedly not calling a D-I-E-T (cos I’m way more evolved than that and know that this is for life. Blah blah blah!), I thought I’d check-in.

Obviously it’s too early to properly monitor my performance (says the project manager in me), but given my wayward behaviour of the past couple of months (ie. inability to eat healthily for even ONE day) I thought you may be wondering how I’m faring. Unless of course you’ve been reading my tweets and have had a minute-by-minute update.

So, in short… I’m doing okay!

Day one (Sunday) was a bit of a challenge – in some ways. I’d stayed up late on New Year’s Eve (watching TV, reading… yep that’s me; walkin’ on the wild side!), so happily slept-in until after 9am – but I had a healthy start to the day (albeit, mid morning) of scrambled eggs on toast (2 pieces of GF toast – can I just say it KILLS me how tiny that stuff is for the calories. Not to mention the price of a loaf!). I did have a 600ml bottle of vanilla diet coke (the last of my supply) but eked that out for the day. After a long nanna nap I started a blog post. As it happens, writing is the only thing I do which doesn’t enable me to eat / drink at the same time and makes the hours fly by… so suddenly it was early evening. There was SOME (lots of!) temptation to go and buy some champagne. After all, I told myself, my goal was to NOT drink on school nights, and as Monday was a public holiday, I could have imbibed – but in the end decided it wasn’t in the spirit of my goals so went without (yay me!). I later had some fish with salsa for dinner and HAD planned a diet hot chocolate before bed, but gave it a miss in the end. The only low point is that I did no exercise and I’m not quite sure why. But, according to My Fitness Pal (ie. the App, not a person – see summary on left) I consumed 925 calories… which I think is okay.

To make up for my lack of exercise yesterday I walked first thing today (well when I say first thing, I mean when I finally got out of bed at 7.30am). Another slip-up you may have noticed yesterday was the indulgence in a vanilla diet coke. And… I’ve done the same today. In fact, I’m sucking a 600ml bottle down as I sit here writing. BUT, I’m not too worried about that. VDC is becoming increasingly hard to find and today’s walk required me to go to a service station (gas station for those non-Aussies) which I KNOW stocks it… and which happens to have a ‘4 x 600ml bottle for $8’ sale (whereas they are usually about $4 each).

Tomorrow, however, will be my first day back at work after a two-week break. I’m going to head to the gym at lunch, although many of the usual classes I frequent are changed or postponed for much of January – but I will make do.

I’m aiming to settle back into my routine: of rising to write/blog for up to an hour (as I eat breakfast), before I head to work. The commute and work itself takes up about 10.5-11hrs of my day (my train ride the 4km into the city isn’t very direct so takes 45mins each way, including getting to and from the stations). But, over the past few months, the ‘new me’ has been (frivolously!) taking a lunch break and I will continue to aim to exercise at lunch (attending 45min classes) at least 3 days a week. It means I can be home most nights by 6.30pm and my evenings aren’t starting too late.

What is it about life that makes it so interesting? Aha, I know, TV! There's a lot of interesting stuff on TV!Someone recently mentioned the amount of television I watch and will confess I do watch about 2 – 2.5hrs of TV each weeknight. I tape a lot of stuff, so I usually have something I can put on from 8.30pm each evening; and I try to be in bed by / at 11pm. I’m not sure if that’s too much television or not. I wouldn’t be exercising then anyway, and – providing I blog before work, spend some time checking out other blogs etc in the early evening, and start cooking by 8pm – I’m not sure it’s doing any harm. I do watch a lot more on the weekend I have to admit and once or twice a month will hire a DVD or two to entertain me… but again, don’t think that’s too excessive. Although I’m not sure. (What do others think? Is it different if you live alone?)

Also on the diet/food/exercise front, I’m yet to weigh-in as I’m worried I’ll be discouraged. I got on my mother’s scales a few times before and just after Christmas, but avoided them while at the beach and over my birthday period (so it’s been about a week since I’ve been weighed). My goal is to lose 5kg by the end of January and I need to know what I’m starting at to know when I get there!

Where you're going...As for progress on my other goals (after one entire day), I’ve decided to change my posting regime a little. Between May – December 2011 I posted in this blog at least 5 times a week. My readership rose as a result. But, I found it difficult to do, and my other blog suffered. After much analysis (ie… I thought for a bit), I realised that I have trouble keeping up with other bloggers who post daily (and many of them do not write ridiculously long sagas which seem to grace my blog each bloody day – despite regular plans to the contrary!). As a result, and as part of my 2012 blogging goals I am intending to post here (only) three times a week (occasionally more) – ideally every second day.

My goals for the remainder of the week are to hang tough on the food front; get back into an exercise routine of some sort (with sustainability being the key); and to do some writing. I also want to be more engaged at work. My father’s illness and passing meant that my mind wasn’t really fully there for the last few months and I’ve never been one to ‘bide my time’ or go through the motions. If I’m there, I’m there. (If you know what I mean!)

So, until next we meet… carry on as you were.

PS. One Day is also the title of a DVD I watched over the weekend: a movie which I found surprisingly enjoyable starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess as Emma and Dexter. The film centres around their friendship over a period of 20 years as we are taunted by that ‘will they; or won’t they?’ question. PPS. If you’re sooky like me you may need some tissues.

14 Comments
  • m3lly78
    January 2, 2012

    good start to the year!!!

    • rockafellaskank
      January 2, 2012

      Thanks! Here’s to 2012!

  • timetodothis74
    January 2, 2012

    Not a bad start to the year, well done. I always enjoy reading your blog, keep up the entertaining writing. Also, thanks for the tip on My Fitness Pal, I have downloaded it on to my ipad today.

    • rockafellaskank
      January 2, 2012

      Thanks Emma. The thing I like about My Fitness Pal is that you can access it on any computer (and your data is stored on the site), so I can use the iPhone App, home computer or work computer… so update it at any time, rather than just when I get home each night etc. I used to use a Calorie King program at home but haven’t found an App that tracks calories and exercise.

      Deb

  • Karen@WaistingTime
    January 2, 2012

    I watch a lot of TV!! But that is how my husband and I often spend our evenings. And, I was watching between 2 and 4 recorded shows each day doing cardio before I hurt my calf.

    • rockafellaskank
      January 2, 2012

      It’s kinda relaxing for me, although I’m not one to have the TV on just for company (which you hear some people say). If nothing’s on, I won’t watch. Like you I tape (TiVo) a lot of stuff to watch at my leisure!

      Deb

  • KCLAnderson (Karen)
    January 2, 2012

    I rarely watch TV (the last show I watched religiously was LOST and once it went off the air, that was it).

    I find that watching TV kind of makes me dizzy/jumpy/nervous to watch it. This is a relatively new development, over the past year or so. I also find the ads to be like an assault. That said, I recently DVR’d something from the Oprah Winfrey Network. Not sure when I’ll watch it. I also enjoy a movie now and then but can’t watch right before bed. It’s weird, I know.

    • rockafellaskank
      January 2, 2012

      Karen

      I was a big LOST fan in the beginning but got ‘lost’ somewhere after ‘the others’ first appeared. I keep meaning to hire the DVDs and watch the entire thing – perhaps it’s something to do when I run out of recorded shows. I find a lot of comfort in certain TV shows (tho I am a bit fussy!!!) but must confess I almost prefer to tape (DVR) so I can fast-forward the ads (or boring bits in the show)!

      Also the before-bed thing is supposed to be good – I am a bit of an insomniac and I keep reading that I SHOULDN’T be watching TV right before bed!

      Deb

  • lizzyaimee
    January 2, 2012

    Great post and great start to the year! I made a deal with myself when I did 12wbt that for every min spent online or in front of the TV I had to match it with exercise. I must admit I don’t match it exactly, but I do have an exercise bike in front of my telly for that exact purpose! I also use my mystar to record everything and catch up the following day resulting in a huge saving of time fast forwarding the ads!! Must confess that most of the time saved watching telly is converted into internet time though…. Hmm something for me to work on! Looking forward to seeing your journey progress in 2012! xx

    • rockafellaskank
      January 2, 2012

      Thanks Lizzy. I just commented below that I like to record things so I can fast forward the ads… in fact I find it annoying when I’m watching the real deal, that I CAN’T fast forward the ads. I have TiVo though, so could essentially pause the ads and then fast forward.

      When I had my exercise bike I used to ride while watching as well and it definitely helped the time pass!

      Deb

  • J.
    January 4, 2012

    As the original commenter on the topic, there were a few reasons for it.

    One – idle TV watching (i.e. not exercising while watching) becomes a danger zone for people trying to lose weight. It’s not just the not doing exercise at that point – it’s easy to become a snacker (and drinker) in front of the TV. Do you snack while watching TV? Are some of those binges in front of the TV? Does knowing you are going to sit in front of the TV entice you into the corner store knowing you have several hours of sitting in front of you?

    Two – you comment that you want to find more time to have a better, more interesting life. Is watching all that TV (you comment you watch more on the weekend, let’s just go easy and say it adds up to 2.25×7 = 15.75 hours of TV – let’s say 16+.hours a week) adding to life fulfillment? You comment that you want to find more time to write and are thinking of asking for a partial work week despite the financial implications.. a) do you think you already have a lot of free time you could use better already ? I realize at the end of the day is not the ideal time but still artists suffer for their art yes? And most of them have to put out their early works under less than ideal artistic conditions? and b) Do you feel that you will have the willpower to use that extra day a week for actual writing or would it slip into another day of watching tv? If I read your post right – you have approximately 4-4.5 hours an evening (getting home at 6:30ish). I realize that their are other things to get done (cooking/cleaning/etc) but are you maximizing your free time for fulfillment? Or spending time in ‘the rut activities’?

    Three – and this is a delicate one. Unlike my previous comment, I am not trying to be harsh here, so I will attempt to phrase it nicely, but if it comes across as harsh, could you please attempt to read it in the spirit it was attempted.

    You are a single, childless adult. I realize this is not the hand you would have preferred, but it is the hand you have. Why aren’t you maximizing it and being out more? I don’t mean dating. I can understand that to some degree. I mean, you have no reason you have to be home on any particular evening. My wife or I have to be home for the kid who is sleeping. If we want to see each other, it’s going to have to be at home most nights etc. You could be having experiences that might encourage you to write? You could be part of a writer’s club? Or a literary club or anything else. You could be doing things that are not exercise but are still physical. etc etc etc.

    Again – when you write your mental deathbed autobiography – are you going to be satisfied with the time you spent watching TV? if you are – then I just say watch out for point 1.

    for full disclosure – My work day stretches from 5:40am when I get up, get ready and leave (6:15am) to 7:30pm when I get home. I spend 3 hours a day commuting, of which I can use about 1 to read or laptop surf. I am free from some of the daily mundane tasks in that my wife has cooked already and done cleaning etc. I watch 1 hour of television (Glee, and even that is starting to be lousy) and usually one movie a week. During the off season we watch two movies a week. So 3-4 hours. Now, I do play computer games, which I rate higher than television, because it involves me doing something actively rather than passively, but not much more for probably another 4-5 hours a week. So about 8-10 hours a week. If I’m busy on home projects or with work, then less. But I used to do a lot more of both. And I stopped because life’s too short.

    • rockafellaskank
      January 4, 2012

      Wow J, what a long commute! I complain about mine, given that I only live 4km from work… though traffic (for bussing) is problematic and the train indirect. I drove today (it’s school holidays here) and it took me 11 mins from the time I left home until I pulled into the nearby car park (AND I had a few red lights). When I had my place on the market recently I contemplated moving further out (away from inner city) but a longer commute would kill me! As you said, I could use the usual 30-45min each way to do some writing etc, but mostly procrastinate on my iPhone on Twitter and FB (I call it binge-tweeting before I go offline for the day at work!).

      I’ve thought more about the TV thing… cos in my little mind I don’t feel like I do watch that much (very targeted viewing) and realised that it is just something I love doing. I often write about TV shows etc in my other blog so it gives me fodder… And (while I don’t get the gaming thing) I’ve always been a TV and movie addict – though more so when I was younger and fantasised about a career in that industry! Even now, I ponder on shows/screenplays thinking what I’d do differently (or better!!! )

      I think you’re right. It’s about prioritising what I want to do with spare time and at the moment, my blog writing before work, and blog reading when I get home (plus I do some drafting in the evening) is kinda working out well. Bizarrely I write quickly but then play around with some posts for AGES. My worst habit is – if nothing’s on TV or I’m not in the mood to watch anything… I sit at my computer at 10pm or so to ‘tweak’ the post I’ll finalise the next day – and suddenly it’s midnight! I think my mum was quite shocked on our recent holiday that I would not move from my laptop for a couple of hours at a time, doing my blogs. (Guess that’s a sign I enjoy it!)

      I’m glad your running training is going well.

      Deb

  • Shonnie
    January 25, 2012

    Keep pluggin’. 🙂

    • rockafellaskank
      January 25, 2012

      Hi there, and thanks so much!

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