WALKING

Thursday, December 30, 2010

TIME CAPSULE. - OPEN ON DECEMBER 31ST 2011

A few days ago Lyn, Escape From Obesity, suggested we fill a time capsule with a letter to ourselves to be opened in 12 months time

Here is mine.


Dear Anne,


As I sit here writing knowing I should be outside walking, I'm hoping you are a lot more active as 2011 comes to an end than I currently am


You have enormous potential to lead a far more active and exciting life and I want you to realise some of that potential in the coming twelve months. Many people have spoken encouraging words to you over the years and it seems to me that you are making a rather late run at accomplishing anything significant. It's my hope that you have made some progress toward improving your health.


Strictly limiting your consumption of starches and sugar is imperative. I'll be very disappointed if you haven't done this consistently throughout the year. You are doing this to improve your health so the end result is entirely in your hands. I'll be interested to know how you got on during the month you chose to go dairy free. It sounds like a difficult thing to do so my congratulations if you achieved it, and whether there were any significant health benefits.


My current weight is 96 kg/211 lbs. In 2010 you managed to lose more than 10 kg or 22 pounds. I hope you've been able to double those figures for 2011. You could weigh 76kg/167lbs or less. I've also looked at your walking goals and see that you want to build your fitness and walk at least one half marathon. This is a great goal and I look forward to seeing how you did.


I know you have a few other concerns especially around family relationships, your marriage and general health. I believe you will do your best to heal yourself and those around you. Your greatest hope is in God. There will be opportunities during the year to experience spiritual growth and personal development.. I'm sure you will make the most of those opportunities.


BUT.... the one thing I am hoping you have done is become a more an integral part of Crossroads Fellowship. It's high time you worked at developing your personal times with Jesus. 2011 is your year to re-establish good habits, even better than before. All life stems from Him. He is the water of life and as you spend time in His presence so you will be filled and satisfied to overflowing. Life is a spiritual journey and nothing useful can be accomplished except you “Seek first His Kingdom.'


My question tonight is, 'Have you made the best of all the opportunities that came your way in 2011?

Have you used your time wisely?”


Right now I'm plagued and worried by financial constraints. I'll be very interested to see whether you have been able to improve this situation. The solution is in your hands. You can manage this if you choose to. I'm hoping you will because new clothes in smaller sizes are going to be required both during the year and in the future.


Anne, you are a creative person. I wonder how many things you have finished that you began with enthusiasm and now languish, packed away in the cupboard. I am smiling as I imagine looking at the finished things piled on the table. I really think this year you can tidy up a lot of loose ends, unfinished projects and more.


You are going to go ahead in leaps and bounds and there are going to be some writing achievements too. Will you up-date your New Zealand Diary frequently? I'd love to see you write most days. What about practicing writing short stories, I know how capable you are in this area but you do need practice. And what about the book of poems with photos and illustrations? I wonder if you've taken it off the back burner.


It's going to be very interesting to read this in twelve months time. Many things happen during a year and we can have no knowledge of them now.


I commit this letter to be opened at the end of 2011.


With love from Me.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

DREAMS

I long to return to USA to travel and enjoy this wonderful country.

If we had a couple of hundred thousand dollars up our sleeve there would be no question.

We'd probably buy an RV and a place to store/park it during our trips home. We'd spend 5-6 months in USA followed by a couple of months catching up with family and friends in NZ while we meet the criteria to continue on superannuation we cannot leave the country for more than 6 months at a time. We'd make this our lifestyle as long as health and inclination allowed.

I'd love to be involved in one of the Revival Churches, like Bethel or Catch The Fire, for an extended period.

It would be nice if our bus was back on the road but John appears to have no interest in making it mobile again.

Eventually I will be happy to live in a unit like the one Mavis and Erk have at Moana House.

Or better still one of the waterfront apartments in Whitianga.

I see the days, months and years sliding by and cannot imagine that we will see our USA dream.

Footnote. No matter how I try this does not feel like my home any more than the house in Matamata did. It is where we ended up as a result of a set of circumstances. I find it sad that I've lived so much of my life in houses that were not what I would have chosen had I sat down and planned.

Monday, October 4, 2010

SPRING CLEANING TIDY UP

BUS
.
Empty out back cupboard
My drawers
Upper compartments
Glory Hole
Wardrobe
Front seat area
Under Table and Bed
Pantry
Stove
Kitchen Cupboards.
Bathroom

HOUSE

My bedroom
Wardrobe
Drawers

Twin Room,
Wardrobe
Under Beds

Double Bedroom
Wardrobe
Drawers

Linen Cupboard

Kitchen Cupboards

Pantry

Floor


Photograph Books and list on Trade Me

SEW

Ken Clothes
Barbie Clothes
Lavender bags

and More

GARDEN

deck pots
around base boards and steps
butterfly garden
veggies

Saturday, September 4, 2010

SEPTEMBER CHALLENGE

TO REMAIN GLUTEN FREE

1st Y
2nd Y
3rd Y
4th Y
5th Y
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
11th
12th
13th
14th
15th
16th
17th
18th
19th
20th
21st
22nd
23rd
24th
25th
26th
27th
28th
29th
20th

Thursday, August 12, 2010

NEW PLAN

I have been thinking a lot about my exercise. Its so off and on that it worries me that I'm not consistent.

I really do enjoy first thing in the morning but it seems that I quickly weary and what works one week suddenly becomes exhausting the next I'm not sure what this is all about but I do know I need to be consistent for my health. I'm not talking weight loss here because whatever I weigh there is value in walking and stretching and resistance exercises to keep the body agile and healthy. Improved weight loss is a spin off of being active.

I am approaching my 10% lost milestone. When I reach it I'm going to work all over again as though that is past and gone and begin to lose another 10% of my body weight. I have 1.5 kg to lose before I count myself as having reached the 1st milestone.

My next one will begin when I weight 95 kg so I will count it reached, and passed when I am 85 kg then I can decide how to proceed once more. 85 kg will be my lowest weight since sometime in 1991 or early '92 I would think.

Back to exercise. I will walk with a goal of so many kilometres a week.

I will set my goal on Sunday night or Monday morning for each week. I'm less likely to overstretch myself and burn out if I don't make long term predictions.

I'm not worried about this week that is more than half gone because my focus has been on what I eat.

Since I am here I will tentatively set my walking distance for August 16th to 22nd at 15 km. Since I have 4 days of going out for various reasons that will be something of a challenge but it is achievable so I'm leaving it there and I'll see how I go.

There are about 20 weeks to the end of the year.

One goal I thought might be fun for me is to see if I can walk 500 km before the year ends. That would mean some weeks I need to walk 30 or more km to get my average up but I think I can do it. Map My Run will help me keep records. It's a pain to use but I don't know if there is a better one. It wuld be easy-peasy if the maps stayed stable while I put in my run. I don't know whether I am using it the wrong way or not as it takes quite a lot of patience everytime I put in a new route. The Google Maps are detailed so I can be very accurate but they do want to slide around and in and out of zoom. Is it me?

Sunday, April 18, 2010

EXERCISE GOALS WITH PLAN

.
GOALS


Walk for 1 hour and use the cross-trainer for 30 minutes 6 x week

30 minutes stretching exercise daily.

Maybe 30 minutes weights 3 x week.

A long walk or hike once a month, - more than 3 hours

...................................................................................

How to get there without over extending myself on the way and giving up.

Small steps.

Do not do more than what is prescribed each week even if I feel good




Week 1, April 19th - 90% successful

Walk for 30 minutes. 15 minutes out, turn, return. 5 minutes on cross-trainer at 35 rpm. 2 days minimum

RESULTS:- The walks were successful although both times I went over my goal. The second walk was demanding and possibly contributed to only using the cross-trainer once. Choosing to move on only 2 days certainly made it easy to achieve so I think I'll adjust next week's goal down from 4 to 3 x week.



Week 2, April 26th.

Walk 30 minutes. 15 minutes out, turn, return. 5 minutes on cross-trainer at 35 rpm. 4 *no* 3 days minimum is enough.


RESULTS-


Week 3, May 3rd.

Walk 30 minutes. 15 minutes out, turn, return. 5 minutes on cross-trainer at 35 rpm. 3 days minimum

RESULTS:-


Week 4, May 10th.

Walk 30 minutes. 15 minutes out, turn, return. 5 minutes on cross-trainer at 35 rpm. 4 days minimum


RESULTS:-


Week 5, May 17th.

Walk 40 minutes. 20 minutes out, turn, return. 7.5 minutes on cross-trainer at 35 rpm. 4 days
minimum



RESULTS

Week 6, May 24th.

Walk 40 minutes. 20 minutes out, turn, return. 7.5 minutes on cross-trainer at 35 rpm. 4 days minimum


RESULTS:-


Week 7, May 31st.

Week 8, June 7th.

Week 9, June 14th.

Week 10, June 21st.

Week 11, June 28th.

Week 12, July 5th.

Week 13, July 12th.

Week 14, July 19th.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

UP-DATED GOALS

.
Conversions are approximate having been rounded up or down.

I've known for a few weeks that this time my weight loss was not going to plan. I don't seem to have the same ooomph I've had in the past so instead of a nice tidy average of 1.5 kg every 2 weeks, which I know is quite feasible I am losing less than 2 kg per month. I'm not too happy about this because I know I can do better. I'm not working as hard as I can but for some reason I don't seem to be able to sustain the pace I set myself.

I need to look at this more realistically. Here is my projected progress for the next 3 months. If I suddenly start doing better I will adjust it to match what I'm doing.





19th April - 2010 - 101 kg/223 lbs *yes*

26th April - 100.5 kg/221.5 lbs *yes*

3rd May, - 100 kg/220.5 lbs *yes* I am 99 kg so re-working all my goals

10th May - 99.5 kg/219 lbs *no* Jenny's funeral 99 kg

17th May - 99 kg/218 lbs *no* aftermath of two stressfilled weeks. 100.5 kg

24th May - 98.5 kg/217 lbs *yes*

31st May - 98 kg/216 lbs *no*

7th June - 97.5 kg/215 lbs *no* 99 kg

14th June - 97 kg/214 lbs *yes*

15th June - My 71st Birthday

21st June - 96.5 kg/213 lbs

28th June - 96 kg/211.5 lbs *done on August 16th*

5th July - 95.5 kg/210.5 lbs

12 July - 95 kg/209.5 lbs - 10% improvement 106 - 95 = 11 kg gone since January 15th


This allows for a more modest weight loss and I will look in again on 12th July or at 95 kg if I reach my 10 % goal sooner

- 94.5 kg/208.5 lbs

- 94 kg/207 lbs

- 93.5 kg/206 lbs

- 93 kg/205 lbs

- 92.5 kg/204 lbs

- 92 kg/203 lbs

- 91.5 kg/201.5 lbs

- 91. kg/200.6 lbs

- 90.5 kg/199.5 lbs **** Under 200 lbs

- 90 /198.5 lbs

- 88kg/ 193 lbs

- 85 kg/188 lbs

83 kg/183 lb - 20% improvement


- 81 kg/178 lbs

- 78 kg/173 lbs - 25%

- 76 kg/168 lbs

- 74 kg/163 lbs - 30%

- 72 kg/158 lbs

- 69 kg/153 lbs

- 68 kg/ lbs

- 67 kg/148 lbs

- 65 kg/143 lbs - 40%

- 62 kg/138 lbs FINAL GOAL.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

GOALS, CHALLENGES AND REWARDS

1. Complete 21 days of getting cracking in the morning

Reward:- Weekend at Pauanui


2. Complete 21 days of drinking 2.5 lt.water including herb/fruit tea.

Reward:- Weekend at Pauanui

3. Complete 21 days walking for 30 minutes

Reward:- Weekend at Pauanui


4. Complete 21 days cross-trainer for 30 minutes.

Reward:- A Conference I would like to go to but normally would flag because it's difficult


5. Complete 25 day Amazing Challenge with a loss of 6 kg or more

Reward:- Manicure and Pedicure


6. Walk the full circuit on Matarangi Beach

Reward :- Bicycle

7. Weigh less than 86 kg/189 lbs which is my lowest weight in the last 18 years and is the 20 kg/44 lbs mark

Reward:- A new basic wardrobe

8. Achieve my major interim goal weight of 76 kg/167 lbs

Reward:- Facial, manicure, pedicure and hairstyle makeover.

9. Achieve my almost there goal of 61 kg/135 lbs.

Reward:- New wardrobe

10. Complete a major walk or a mini triathlon

Reward:- Spa time at Lost Springs

Sunday, February 28, 2010

CHECK UP ON PROGRESS

Going by A's scales I'm 2 weeks behind schedule. I'm not great at achieving goals on time so I could say this was not unexpected.On the other hand I cannot be 100% sure of my progress until I get home.

Meantime I am challenged to lose another 3 kg in the 2 weeks before we do go home. The next goal is only achievable if I walk daily so hope the days stay cool enough.

Friday, February 19, 2010

WEIGHT GOALS.

Conversions are approximate having been rounded up or down.

18 small steps. It was tempting to tidy it up and have 20 steps but this is fine.



22nd February - 2010 103 kg/227 lbs

9th March - 100 kg/221 lbs

22nd March - 97 kg/215 lbs

30th March - 47th Wedding Anniversary

5th April - 95 kg/210 lbs - 10% improvement

19th April - 93 kg/205 lbs

3rd May - 90 /199 lbs

17th May - 88kg/ 193 lbs

31st May - 85 kg/188 lbs

14th June 83 kg/183 lb - 20% improvement

15th June - my 71st birthday

28th June - 81 kg/178 lbs

12th July - 78 kg/173 lbs - 25%

26th June - 76 kg/168 lbs

9th August - 74 kg/163 lbs - 30%

23rd August - 72 kg/158 lbs

6th September - 69 kg/153 lbs

20th September - 67 kg/148 lbs

4th October - 65 kg/143 lbs - 40%

18th October - 62 kg/138 lbs FINAL GOAL.

This is unreal but all it means is consistent weight loss, aproximately 1 kg per week which is not unrealistic but does not allow for upsets, hiccups, binges or any serious breaks from the plan. I've never been consistent for the length of time required but I'm hoping that by breaking my goal weights down to approximately 5 pounds every 2 weeks I have short term goals which will keep me motivated and stimulated.

So am I going to achieve my 1st goal or will I need to modify the list right at the beginning. All I can say is that I'm working at it.