Tag Archives: #lifesjourney

My Journey back

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Week 9

It is autumn here. I am happy doing runs when the day is cooler and cloudy. The days are getting shorter and it’s still dark by 6 am. I avoid running in the dark, love running when I can see outside. So my running time has changed. The days are getting shorter and cooler.

The past weeks, I have been increasing my reps during my strength training and increased my workout days. What have I learnt the following weeks?

  • My legs are stronger than my arms, my legs can lift 30 kilos, but my arm can lift 20 kilos.
  • Doing leg curls and going for a run the next day is hard on the legs, but I kept pushing.
  • I felt exhausted the first time I ran up the hill. But now I ran up and down the hill twice and feel fine.
  • A stray cat followed me, but it must have got bored with me and disappeared. I remember once someone’s dog ran beside me and the owner was calling the dog to stop, but the dog didn’t stop and kept running with me until I stopped and the owner came and got the dog. Dogs prefer running than cats.
  • The mind says, “we will go for a run tomorrow.” I ignore that voice and feel glad I did a run in the morning.
  • Squatting reduces back pains. I had a back pain, and I did a squat and the pain disappeared. Love squats.
  • If I am going to miss a running day, I will combine it with my strength training day. I run for thirty minutes and do strength training.
  • Rest when your body is tired. You can exercise the next day.
  • If you want to run further, trick the mind. Sometimes your mind says. ‘We should stop now’. Say ‘yes’ and keep running. It works for me.

My Journey Back

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Week I

This year have gone back to healthy eating and exercise. My goal this year is to reduce my sugar intake, get back to the long-distance run and get back to my ideal weight. The last time I did a long run was two years ago.

Had a wake-up call last year when they found a blockage in my neck and they thought it was cholesterol and I had to do an MRI. Waited for my results, it disappointed me, haven’t looked after my body, not exercised and eaten clean. The results came back and thank goodness it was not cholesterol; I was born with the blockage on my neck.

Despite the good news, kept to my promise of starting the new year with clean eating, excreting and reducing my sugar intake.

Two years ago joined a patisserie course so I could learn to bake. After my course, I put on weight, baking and eating cakes, biscuits, pies, and everything sweet. Exercised little, didn’t do my usual morning jog because I had to bake. This year I have reduced baking and took care of my health. 

Started my first week by charging my Fitbit, which I haven’t used and recovered my fitness pal account to track my calorie intake. Checked my weight, which I haven’t checked for three years and as you guessed; have put on weight.

Since I haven’t jogged for over a year, I started my Monday morning with a one-hour walk around my neighbourhood and realised I missed waking up very early in the morning and enjoying a calm walk. Enjoying the sound of nature and the occasion dog bark, this makes you wonder where the dog is. Despite Perth’s hot weather, the morning is the best time to exercise because it’s cooler.

Wednesday was the second day of my walk, but did a quick jog between my walks. Have missed that hype feeling; missed jogging. Changed my route and walked/jogged to the neighbouring suburb. Forgot many people walk their dogs on that street. Why do small dogs bark the most and big dogs look at you and walk away? 

Glad to see the German sherd or Alsatian dog again (can’t tell the difference). Whenever I used to go for my jog, always passed a house where a giant German Shepard or Alsatian sat on the front lawn and watched me jog past the house. He/she has never barked at me or anything, he/she just stared. 

Friday was my last walk/jpg of the week. I jogged longer this time round and jogged to the train station and walked back home. It was going to be over 30 degrees on that day and I could feel the sun. My eating habits changed this week; I tracked my food intake and avoided food high in sugar; I didn’t realise I was eating too much sweet potato, so this week I had to measure all my food, check the serving size and eat healthy. Didn’t eat potato chips this week. I usually eat potato chip with cheese every Saturday. This Saturday I choose to have a healthier cheese with my egg and not have potato chips. I measured my ice cream and yes… measured my ice cream and my butter intake. Had to reduce my butter intake because I put too much butter on my toast.