You Can Call Me Madcat!

Hmm. It looks as if I’m only making it here to post every 10 days or so. Not ideal, but I do what I can.

I was watching the Finale of Biggest Loser and one thing that Mike said really hit home with me. It was (paraphrasing loosely) that you can exercise all you want but really what you eat is going to make the biggest difference. I’ve been doing quite well lately and I think it is largely because I am watching what I eat, especially at lunch time where I end up buying lunch way too often.

I rode my bike to the gym and then from the gym to work this morning. My biggest complaint about riding (other than traffic and trying to find a free bike rack in this neighbourhood) is the amount of stuff I have to carry around. For example, I left the house this morning in my bike stuff (T-shirt, bike shorts, exercise bra, running shoes) but I carried two other sets of clothes with me – my work clothes including shoes, my yoga pants for the gym, and a spare T-shirt and exercise bra since after a workout the one I left the house in would be soaking wet. It’s a 15 minute ride from the gym to work so I can’t ride in my work clothes since they would get all sweaty and then I would have to be all “splotchy” at my desk - and that’s gross. They do have a shower here but I’m not sure where it is and that would mean I need to also carry a towel to dry off with. More stuff. I liked it better at my old office where the gym and work were just down the street from each other so I could bike, workout, shower and change and then just leisurely arrive at work all clean and fresh.

I need to just suck it up, I guess. I could bike to the gym, workout and then bike home shower and change. I might have to think about doing that. This is making me cranky. And carrying so much crap around means I really almost never pack my lunch – which would be just more stuff to carry. Oy, I think I need to think this through more.

Work today is pretty quiet and I thought I’d post while I eat my lunch (Quizno sandwich and some water). I’m not crazy about Quiznos but there are only so many days a person can eat Subway without losing the will to live. And everything else in the area is hamburgers, pizza or sitdown places. I’m excited that a pita place is opening down the street soon – if only for the variety.

I should get back to it, I guess. Tonight we are having our neighbourhood association general meeting so it will be note taking for me. I join a community organization to do something different in my life and I end up the one taking notes! Work with your strengths, I say.

At least it is nice weather finally. But as with any spring, it’s weird not having to have a coat. I miss pockets!

I’ve had a stupid head cold/ chest cold all week which is just now starting to clear up. I haven’t been to the gym since last Monday and I’m really hoping I feeling OK enough. I’m going to pack my stuff and go, but I give myself permission to not overwork at the gym. It will just be nice to be back there. I miss it but I have been feeling so very lousy. I thought I was better on Friday but even the short 10 minute walk slightly uphill to work kicked my butt and sent me into a coughing spasm.

Enough about that though. I’m on the mend. And no, it is NOT swine flu - since at no time was I feverish or aching. It was just a head and chest cold. I could sense people looking at me whenever I coughed in public though. People have gotten so paranoid! They seem to forget that 36,000 people died from ordinary flu last year. Yes, swine flu is scary but let’s keep some perspective here.

Oh and a NSV. On Saturday I finally was able to slip my engagement and wedding rings off my fingers. I haven’t taken them off since my wedding (three years ago last Tuesday) - not only becauss I didn’t want to, but because I couldn’t get them over my fat fingers. Got them off. And now they are back where they belong - but it’s nice that I can take them off again when I want to.

Beginning of a new month. What a hectic day I had today too. It was the final day of training on the new software system we are trying to implement. The consultant was leaving at 2 so we worked through lunch. I wish someone had warned me we were going to do this, since I find that going more than about 5 hours without eating makes me feel nasceous. I tried to get a granola bar from the vending machine but the machine took a deep dislike to the only quarter I had. I finally was able to get some lunch around 3… cottage cheese and some pineapple and a roll. Not the greatest lunch but better than what I really wanted - which was junk food.

The DH and I made dinner tonight together as a join effort. Pork chops and rice with veg and a homemade pepper salsa. It was good. I think I’ve rediscovered my love of cooking my own food after many months of takeout and crap. That’s a good thing and certainly less expensive. Funny thing about taking lunches too is that I find I have spending money leftover at the end of the week. All good things. It’s a good thing too since there seem to be a bunch of unexpected expenses dropping in my lap this week. I had to get new glasses ($600, but necessary since my night vision is shot and it’s getting scary to drive at night with my current lenses) and new rims for the summer tires (which I’m not sure how much THAT will cost). Next Tuesday is our anniversary and we decided to not cancel our restaurant reservation, though we won’t be staying in a hotel, but coming home afterwards instead.

All I can say is thank gawd for tax returns. I do actually get one this year but at this rate it’s almost all spoken for

The jean try-on was a bust. Still no go on the size 12 black jeans (geez, I had forgotten that they are skinny!! jeans). I’m not too upset since I probably weighed in the 160s last time I had them on. I tell myself, not yet, but soon enough!