No debate, coriander love, zebra pups

I went to the gym tonight and I didn't even spend all afternoon debating with myself whether I would or wouldn't go. Will I? I should...but I'm tired. Nah, I won't...but it will do me good. Yeah, I'll go. Tonight I just went. I wish that happened every time I intend to go to the gym.

Have I mentioned how much I like fresh coriander (cilantro for any Americans reading)? I used to dislike it - the smell and the taste - but now I can't get enough. I had a handful of it on my green curry for dinner last night and tonight. Coriander is good for you too, which is nice. Usually the foods I can't get enough of aren't nutritious.  Mmm...chocolate. 

My zebra plant is having lots of babies. I just googled zebra plant for that link back there and apparently the babies are called pups! PUPS! Or offsets, but henceforth I shall call them pups. I need to move the mother plant and pups into a bigger pot or plant the pups in their own pots.  A job for the weekend. 

The motivating minute

I went to the gym again tonight. AGAIN! As you might have guessed, I'm pretty pleased with my efforts. Usually on days when I plan to go to the gym, I think about it during the day and groan inwardly, wishing I was going straight home to my couch instead (and I often do).  But not today! I thought about it, but I was looking forward to it. Even the rain, wind and cold didn't have me thinking longingly of my comfy couch and warm flat. This is strange, but excellent. 

Setting myself the goal of running for one minute longer each visit seems to be a potent motivator - more effective than knowing I will feel and look better if I work out regularly.  It's not as if I had never aimed for continual improvement before. I've always tried to do a little bit more with each workout - a few more reps here, a slightly heavier weight there - but for some reason, running for just one extra minute every time feels far more satisfying, more tangible somehow. Maybe it's because I was fit once and I remember what an amazing feeling it is knowing your body can do what you ask of it. It's empowering. I want that feeling again.  I guess I should set myself a goal to be able to run for a set time by x date. 

Tonight after jogging for a few minutes I didn't think I'd be able to match my previous efforts, much less add an extra minute, but I kept going and got there (with the aid of my go-to jogging song, Billy Idol's To Be a Lover!). That feels good.

I even walked home despite the wintry weather and almost constant headwind, which means I did about 1.5 hours of cardio exercise today, including walking to work and home from the gym. 

I saw one jogger braving the elements on my walk home. I felt like calling out to her, "You go, sister!" but I didn't.  

It was very nice to get home and change out of my soggy clothes. Luke cooked a tasty dinner and then I had a hot bath. Now for bed. 

Running, eating, bird spotting

One of my favourite Melbourne buildings, 

the old Safe Deposit Building on Queen Street

I went to the gym again tonight. Go, me. I didn't feel like running, but I did, and pushed myself hard. I finished off my cardio workout with a sprint. My plan is to run for one minute longer every time I go. (I won't tell you what I'm up to because it's a bit pathetic.) By the time I was done, I had sweat dripping down my face. 

I power-walked home after my workout, showered and put my pyjamas on, then had a yummy dinner cooked by Luke.

I saw a Nankeen Night Heron on the way home after the gym, the first I've seen in a while. It's a cool name for an odd-looking bird.

Invitation, working out, carrot peeling

I have been invited to attend my old firm's annual trivia night in a couple of weeks. It might be a little bit weird going back, but it will be nice to catch up with people who are still there (and tell them how much happier I am since I left!). I also love trivia nights, but haven't been to one in ages. 

I've started back at the gym again and pushed myself pretty hard.  It felt good...afterwards. How many times have I written about starting back at the gym? I used to be a regular gym-goer with an above-average level of fitness, but the past couple of years I've gone for a few weeks at a time and then stopped for months. Even though I walk for at least an hour a day (and I walk fast), I feel so much better physically and emotionally when I work out at the gym (resistance, cardio and stretches). And yet I don't keep going! I need to work on some motivational techniques... 

I enjoy peeling carrots. I liked scraping the peeler quickly down the length of the carrot and watching the strip of peel become momentarily airborne. 

New toy, motivated, tonic

I bought a new camera! Whoop! It was a spur of the moment purchase to reward myself for sticking to my allergy diet for a week. I didn't intend to buy something so expensive as a treat - the diet is hard, but sticking to it for a week isn't that big a deal. I thought I'd pop into JB Hi-Fi to buy a CD or a DVD, but I  came out with a sleek new Canon Powershot SX230 HS. I have been thinking about upgrading for a little while and it was marked down by $70 so... I can't wait for the battery to charge so I can play with it

The girl who served me at JB asked if I was going on holidays and I told her I wasn't, it was a complete impulse buy and she  high-fived me. Pretty sure that's the first time I've been high-fived by a sales assistant.

I went to the gym again today. I've been struggling for months to get myself there on a weekend, but today I did it, even though I didn't want to. I thought about how Luke gets up to exercise in the dark before work and decided I should stop being a lazy sook.

In other diet-related gleefulness, I thought tonic water was forbidden on the diet, but last night I discovered a little bit occasionally is allowed. Hurrah! I had a gin and tonic to celebrate.

The new beginning begins

I've been in my new job two days and while I'm not sure yet if I'm going to like it enough to want to stay, the change in my demeanour since leaving my old job is remarkable. I feel so much...lighter. The change in routine and new challenge are working wonders. It's so good to be out of the rut and feeling motivated.

The people at the new firm are very nice and it seems a great place to work, it's just the job itself I'm still uncertain about, but I want to like it. There's Tim Tams on Fridays! A lolly jar in the kitchen! Weekly morning teas! Tim Tams on Fridays! (Hmmmm, there seems to be a pattern here...)

While I was told by the agency my hours were 8.30 to 5.00, I've since been informed it's up to me whether I start then or at 9.00. My initial reaction was "Yay, an extra 30 minutes in bed!" but then I thought, "Hmm, I do like finishing half an hour earlier....I'll stick with it!" Yes, I'm choosing to be out of the house in the morning more than an hour earlier than I used to get out of bed in my old job. 

Although I don't like getting up early (nothing to do with winter - my flat is always warm), I do enjoy it once I wake up. I've been rising just before the sun and I love that warm orange light streaming in my windows and the hot air balloons floating past. Very peaceful. (My enthusiasm might wane after a week of early starts, however...)

I went to the gym after work tonight and felt great afterwards. I've done about 2.5 hours of exercise today (including 1.5 hours of walking) and I feel good, in a slightly weary way.  

I arrived home to find a card in the mailbox telling me I have an item to collect from the post office. Yay. It's my copy of Peter, Paul & Mary In Concert.

Triumphing over laziness...and magic trousers

I had a debate in my head all afternoon over going to the gym (a debate I have before nearly every gym visit). Today I was tired and I didn't feel like going, but I decided to suck it up and just go.

...Oh, but I'm too tired. I won't go today. Nup. I'll go tomorrow. All righty. That's sorted.

And then when 5.30 rolled around I turned off my computer and went to the gym! I did a full work out, got sweaty and then walked home feeling pleased with myself for getting the better of my laziness.

Magic trousers

I wore a new pair of black trousers to work today. It's like they were cut especially for me, they fit so well. And comfy! It's funny how a flattering, well fitting garment can give you a little boost.

I think they will be my new Monday Trousers. I like to wear my favourite trousers on Mondays, as if it will ease the Mondayitis somehow.

What do you have ongoing debates in your head over? Why doesn't the feeling of triumph when you do the right thing put an end to the debate for good? What clothes give you a boost?