Good on you Julia... it all counts! I did get to travel business class several times when I had to travel a lot with work because I had so many FF points.. but haven't done it very often for personal flights! It does make it VERY hard to go back to economy... but the good news is that the return business flight was almost the same price as the one way, so next time I come back I will get to go business too!

Can I set you a challenge Julia?

I know you are doing the gym and all, and feel free to tell me to shut up if you like (or just ignore me), but can I set you the challenge to go outside and walk for 30 minutes every day until your holiday? I don't care how far that takes you, or if you do it in three 10 minute spurts. I just want you to realise, as I have come to realise, that once you take those first few steps out the door and onto the pavement, you are motivated enough to do the rest without even thinking about it. I tell you, it is getting out my gate that is the hardest part of my walks/bike rides...yup, even harder than THAT hill sometimes!!!

Ok, I might be speaking totally from my butt here, but...

...think of it as part of the lifestyle change that you are wanting to make for yourself. Are you really wanting to include gym visits as part of the rest of your life? The way I see it is, going to the gym is something like a chore, going for a half hour walk every day can be many things other than just exercise. It can be walking the dog, taking a romantic stroll with 'the boy', having a chat with your best friend, going shopping, going to the bank, window shopping, etc. Going to the gym is taking time out of your lifestyle, taking a walk is including more into your lifestyle.

Like I said, I could be talking out of my butt, but that is how I see it.


Anyway, I am just back from my bike ride. And I think I am going to have to set 10.5km as my routine cycle now. The thought of going back to 8.8kms seems like a backwards step now that I have done 10.5kms for a few rides now.

Tomorrow is a walk day, and I am thinking of trying a different route with that now too. But, knowing how anal I can be, I'll probably stick to the same route!


Gen, when are you heading back to the US?

I'm off next Thurs but promise I won't disappear!!

That's potentially good advice Lindor but I actually really enjoy the gym and I'm way more likely to hit the gym than to go for a walk outside. Especially in winter! Today is a nice day but yesterday for example was about 2 degrees outside and pouring with rain and sleet all day.

The challenge for me is getting to the gym. Once I'm there I'm fine and I love it so if I tell myself that as long as I walk for 20 minutes on the treadmill then that's all I have to do then I'm pretty likely to go.

I've done well so far - did 40 minutes last night, mostly jogging on the treadmill and today I did a spin class at lunchtime.

So day 1 and 2 get the big TICK for me!

Silly me!! I didn't even consider the weather, Julia. I guess that is a sign that I take Darwin weather for granted!

I've just walked 6kms...and I did do a different route! But, I didn't like it as much as my normal one...too many roads to cross, and more traffic.

Shopping tomorrow after work and then a bike ride!

Glad to hear you are going to stick with us when you get back to the US Gen. We've lost too many Aussie Chicks already But, I still hope that they will drop in again one day.

Yes we really need to swap email addys so we can chase each other down when we go awol! Wonder where we lost Amy as well...??

I've got my settings so that if anyone PM's me I get e-mail notification of it.

I've just finished 10.5kms on Dixie! I am feeling dizzy today though? Maybe I need a day off? I will consider it.

I am still going through some crap at work and I have to admit this afternoon (after work) exercise does help to clear my head of that too! Wow! Who'd have thought exercise could be that good for you huh?

I'm making a pumpkin and zucchini cous cous hotpot for dinner tonight (and the next three nights too I no doubt!). It sounds pretty tasty looking at the recipe!

I went shopping this afternoon! The 'naughtiest' item I bought was a 600ml diet coke!

I was at the checkout behind a rather large lady and the items she was buying was shocking...blocks of chocolate, bags of chips, bottles of soft drinks, trays upon trays of meats! After a while of watching that go through and her trying to justify her purchases to the checkout chick ("my husband works hard" & "you only live once, might as well enjoy it!"), I realised I was staring at the exact reflection of what I was and never want to be again!

Anyway, must go cook!!

yep I have days when I look at my trolley and go holy crap what have I done?

I am new to vegetarian dishes! I was the sort of person who could not eat any dish unless it contained meat! But, with my cholesterol scare, I have made the decision to explore vegetarian dishes and reduce the amount of meat I eat!

Anyway, I just cooked this White Zucchini & Couscous Hotpot and I have to say it was BEAUTIFUL!! And at under 450cals a serve it is just perfect!

Just had to share!


And, the decision has been made to have a day off of exercise tomorrow! I got a call from a friend I haven't seen in years and she is in town!! So, catching up with her tomorrow. Will probably mean eating out too...not sure I am happy about that, but what must be done must be done.

Nice veggie recipe - zucchini chips.

Slice either diagonal or round 1cm thick slices. Roll in parmesan cheese with spices of your liking. Bake on baking tray (spray underneath on tray or use baking paper) for about 10 mins until browned.

Eat alone or dip into pasta/marinara sauce. SO good, low carb, low cal.

Yum zucchini chips sound good!

I made it to the gym again last night and did 15 mins walking and 15 mins cycling. Today is the last day of my challenge to myself so I've GOT to go again tonight!

I've got a very busy weekend coming up and I'm looking forward to all of it. Tomorrow afternoon I've got a launch party for a new part of the business then I'm going to a friend's place for dinner and she's going to dye my hair for me.

Saturday I'm working and then have an appointment at the beautician to get all of my waxing done and this time I get a free eyebrow shape which will be nice. Going to another girlfriend's place for dinner on Saturday night and then on Sunday I'm going to go on a shopping mission for prezzies to take to the US with me next week.

It's nice to have so much planned - it'll make the time pass faster while I'm waiting for my holiday.

Hang on, what did I miss? You're going to the US? Where to and what for?!

As expected, Thursday was an 'off' day! But, I skipped lunch to account for my not doing any exercise!

It was great catching up with my friend. Dinner was a huge serve of fish and chips with half a dozen fresh prawns, that was very, very nice I might add, even if it was NAUGHTY!

Yesterday was an unexpected 'off' day. I don't know if it was because I ate so much the previous night, but I had absolutely no energy from the moment I woke up! I struggled through 8hrs of work which I know achieved very little! Somehow I drove home safely. On getting home I just climbed into bed and slept right through until half an hour ago! I vaguely recall getting up at some point during the night to feed and toilet the animals.

I feel better this morning, and I hope I can at least get on Dixie for half an hour this afternoon! I have my meals planned for today already!

I'm going to try the zucchini chips one day Gen, they sound yummy!

Julia, well done for sticking out your challenge!

Went for a nice long walk with some hills with my super fit friend yesterday.. man the girl might have skinny legs but she can bloody walk fast! Did about 6kms I am guessing.

Well done on the walk Gen!

I'm just back from a 10.5km ride with Dixie. I told myself when I started that I wasn't going to push myself today, that I was happy with just getting out there.

So, somehow my steady, not pushing myself ride produced my fastest yet average pace - 17.1 kph! I have been secretly struggling to get over 17 kph for nearly two weeks now, and today, without really trying, I do it! And I even gave myself a 30 second break up that hill!

Weigh in for me tomorrow! Again, despite my indulgence on Thursday, I am hoping for - and expecting - a drop.

Gen, I wouldn't stress about the small gain. Your body is probably still coming to terms with the fact that it had foreign bodies poking around inside it! It needs to adapt to the changes too!


Hoping Ani is having a good time in Bali