Friday, April 23, 2004
Severe selective memory loss... I've entered in ANOTHER marathon. Lochness. Ohmagod... looks like it gets a bit hilly but beautiful!
Time to get personal. Sorry for indulging myself here... ah who am I kidding, it's an online diary! I indulge myself all the time! And you put up with me... thanks for that.
Anyway, I felt the urge to put in writing a resolve I made last night. After much discussion and mutual support with my bestest friend, I have identified some pretty unhealthy (mainly eating) behaviours which really need addressing.
To confess, I eat a very healthy breakfast and lots of fruit during the day. However, come evening meal time, regardless of eating at home or out, I always eat an extremely large meal, followed by (sometimes hours) of comfort grazing at home. I certainly ingest WAY in excess of my daily nutritional requirements.
Can you believe that after running a marathon not even a month ago, I have gained weight?! I now weigh the most I ever have in my life... So, here's where I stop getting down on myself and start getting positive! I figure if I put it out here, I HAVE to stick to it. I've been searching for books or online nutrition/weightloss materials to put me right. I've been focussing on sensible weight loss associated with my activities, predominantly running.
Ultimately, it involves my own decision to be happy with myself.
Here's a few points towards positive change I decided upon last night:
1. Identify the issues impacting on why I continue to eat when I don't need it and am not hungry.
2. Go get a glass of water or cup of tea when I feel this urge.
3. Eat regular fresh fruit and protein to fill me up.
4. Be more industrious (like study for God's sake!)
5. Buy weigh scales.... egads... objective evidence of weight gain sure shakes one out of denial
6. Continue my exercise regime, but mix it up for some swimming, yoga, cycling and less mindless, joint-destroying plodding.
7. Write down feelings and thoughts more regularly (relax... not on here). Just need to get them out in the open and deal with them. Stop bottling! Classic McGorm/Stephens (paternal Granny's family name) issue that. Don't deal with it.. suppress it.. and then explode some ways down the track.
8. Like me. Me is OK!
Anyway, I felt the urge to put in writing a resolve I made last night. After much discussion and mutual support with my bestest friend, I have identified some pretty unhealthy (mainly eating) behaviours which really need addressing.
To confess, I eat a very healthy breakfast and lots of fruit during the day. However, come evening meal time, regardless of eating at home or out, I always eat an extremely large meal, followed by (sometimes hours) of comfort grazing at home. I certainly ingest WAY in excess of my daily nutritional requirements.
Can you believe that after running a marathon not even a month ago, I have gained weight?! I now weigh the most I ever have in my life... So, here's where I stop getting down on myself and start getting positive! I figure if I put it out here, I HAVE to stick to it. I've been searching for books or online nutrition/weightloss materials to put me right. I've been focussing on sensible weight loss associated with my activities, predominantly running.
Ultimately, it involves my own decision to be happy with myself.
Here's a few points towards positive change I decided upon last night:
1. Identify the issues impacting on why I continue to eat when I don't need it and am not hungry.
2. Go get a glass of water or cup of tea when I feel this urge.
3. Eat regular fresh fruit and protein to fill me up.
4. Be more industrious (like study for God's sake!)
5. Buy weigh scales.... egads... objective evidence of weight gain sure shakes one out of denial
6. Continue my exercise regime, but mix it up for some swimming, yoga, cycling and less mindless, joint-destroying plodding.
7. Write down feelings and thoughts more regularly (relax... not on here). Just need to get them out in the open and deal with them. Stop bottling! Classic McGorm/Stephens (paternal Granny's family name) issue that. Don't deal with it.. suppress it.. and then explode some ways down the track.
8. Like me. Me is OK!
Saturday, April 17, 2004
Had one of those totally unexpected nights last night. You know the ones... intended to be quiet and subdued, yet end up being riotous and tiddly. Met up with friends, Mo and Sue, at Doctors Bar across the road from the medical school. Great old pub. One g-n-t led to a wine led to another wine and before we knew it, Sue and I were staggering home at about 3am. Mo had sensibly left us at Doctors to save herself from a drunken evening. Sue and I then moved on to Monster Mash (disgustingly bland pohmmy food) to fill our bellies before continuing on to Sandy Bells pub where a whole heap of musos rock up with their bodhran, fiddle, banjos etc. to jam away. Real dinky die local. Great vibe.
Was suffering the passive smoking effects this morning mountain biking in Glentress Forest, let me tell you! Equally suffering a sore head and vegetative brain... Funny though, I still was up the top of the 'hill of death' as Ben likes to call it 4-5 minutes before Chris, Sonya and Nicki. Beautiful morning with the clearest views out over the Tweed and the Pentlands. However, now it's piddling with rain... that's Edinburgh weather for you!
Tonight I plan to do as little as possible. A DVD or two, and a date with my couch.
Was suffering the passive smoking effects this morning mountain biking in Glentress Forest, let me tell you! Equally suffering a sore head and vegetative brain... Funny though, I still was up the top of the 'hill of death' as Ben likes to call it 4-5 minutes before Chris, Sonya and Nicki. Beautiful morning with the clearest views out over the Tweed and the Pentlands. However, now it's piddling with rain... that's Edinburgh weather for you!
Tonight I plan to do as little as possible. A DVD or two, and a date with my couch.
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
Forget Kazaa - the ads totally give you the ")*^! But don't despair! For fast and free downloads of art, music, speeches... you name it... I have just one word for you...
Limewire
Limewire
Monday, April 12, 2004
Tis Easter Monday, and I'm sitting in my office at my desk... working hard... honestly, I have been very productive today... just not right now! Any way, thought I'd report in on my weekend antics.
Thursday night Ben and I jogged down to Alien Rock for my first rock climb there. For a converted church, it's not a bad wee climbing gym. Proud as punch to have managed a 6a with a marvellous overhang. Sorry about the geeky rock climbing speak (as if I know what the hell I'm talking about). But if it helps slightly, I used to do easy 17s at home which equate to 4-5 UK grade climbs. Having said that, Sly is leading such grades, so why should I big note myself?!!?
Not surprisingly, running to the gym, then climbing all night without dinner made for a pretty comical dinky home on the back of Ben's bike from the pub!
Friday I met up with another Aussie Kelly (from Melbourne) and Ben at Bennet's Bar. Got some dutch courage enough to brave Dougie's dull house warming party. I fear it was so naff, we ended up eating all his carrot sticks and then leaving again. Somehow, we managed to stay up until 6am drinking red and putting the world to right... have you noticed yet?
Saturday was a bit of a right off I fear. However, some gentle domestic duties and snoozes aside, I managed to get my lazy bones out to a ceilidh at the Caledonian Brewery. It was with Jim and Giles et al... that guy still gives me the willies (not literally these days let me assure you!!!) Luckily, Kelly, Kirst and Ben provided grand dancing partners to jig about sweatily with.
Sunday was a delightful Edinburian spring day. Making the most of it, I had a lovely run through Holyrood Park, Arthur's Seat and down along the delightful Portobello Promenade.
Ben's best mate, Justin and his wife Clare, kindly invited me for a Easter/farewell BBQ. For a Scottish barbie, it certainly held its own with excellent food, fine Rose vino and company. Even the rain managed to hold off until after coffee. Interestingly, Justin is a Director for Shoebox Zoo, a collaborative project/children's program between BBC and CBC. Lucky he is off to Calgary for 6 months to continue filming. I went to the official opening here in Edinburgh, and if I was a kiddie again, it would be one of the shows I'd be competing with Dad for the telly to watch.
Last night, on Justin's recommendation, I hired the dvd 'Once Upon a Time in Mexico' with my two favourite screen boys, Jonny Depp and Antonio Banderas. Plenty of good action, but the soundtrack was what really appealed to me.
Well, the sun is shining... I have a caffeine appointment at the City Cafe swiftly followed by reaquainting myself with my running shoes to clear the cobwebs around Arthur's Seat.
Bon soir!
Thursday night Ben and I jogged down to Alien Rock for my first rock climb there. For a converted church, it's not a bad wee climbing gym. Proud as punch to have managed a 6a with a marvellous overhang. Sorry about the geeky rock climbing speak (as if I know what the hell I'm talking about). But if it helps slightly, I used to do easy 17s at home which equate to 4-5 UK grade climbs. Having said that, Sly is leading such grades, so why should I big note myself?!!?
Not surprisingly, running to the gym, then climbing all night without dinner made for a pretty comical dinky home on the back of Ben's bike from the pub!
Friday I met up with another Aussie Kelly (from Melbourne) and Ben at Bennet's Bar. Got some dutch courage enough to brave Dougie's dull house warming party. I fear it was so naff, we ended up eating all his carrot sticks and then leaving again. Somehow, we managed to stay up until 6am drinking red and putting the world to right... have you noticed yet?
Saturday was a bit of a right off I fear. However, some gentle domestic duties and snoozes aside, I managed to get my lazy bones out to a ceilidh at the Caledonian Brewery. It was with Jim and Giles et al... that guy still gives me the willies (not literally these days let me assure you!!!) Luckily, Kelly, Kirst and Ben provided grand dancing partners to jig about sweatily with.
Sunday was a delightful Edinburian spring day. Making the most of it, I had a lovely run through Holyrood Park, Arthur's Seat and down along the delightful Portobello Promenade.
Ben's best mate, Justin and his wife Clare, kindly invited me for a Easter/farewell BBQ. For a Scottish barbie, it certainly held its own with excellent food, fine Rose vino and company. Even the rain managed to hold off until after coffee. Interestingly, Justin is a Director for Shoebox Zoo, a collaborative project/children's program between BBC and CBC. Lucky he is off to Calgary for 6 months to continue filming. I went to the official opening here in Edinburgh, and if I was a kiddie again, it would be one of the shows I'd be competing with Dad for the telly to watch.
Last night, on Justin's recommendation, I hired the dvd 'Once Upon a Time in Mexico' with my two favourite screen boys, Jonny Depp and Antonio Banderas. Plenty of good action, but the soundtrack was what really appealed to me.
Well, the sun is shining... I have a caffeine appointment at the City Cafe swiftly followed by reaquainting myself with my running shoes to clear the cobwebs around Arthur's Seat.
Bon soir!
Saturday, April 10, 2004
Overdue reporting on... yes... another holiday! I had a bit of late night last night, so forgive me if this just turns out to be gobbledygook. To distract you from the poor writing quality about to ensue... check out these photos of my weekend in Roma.
The Rome marathon weekend was a life event and highlight for me. Apparently I was in the top 18% of the 1,210 women who ran it. A second sub 4 hour time despite hitting the wall at about 30km out of the entire 42.2km marathon. Bizarre feeling where my leg muscles felt they were dissolving and my brain became a brick. Nothing that a lump of sugar, a 2km walk and copious amounts of fluid couldn't remedy! Plodded along to the end no worries once that kicked in.
Amazingly, what really did my head in was a chap from the Netherlands at about 18km who ran up to me and said: "At your pace, you're aiming for a 3:45 marathon! Now I've met you, I'm signed up!" And do you think I could get rid of him!? It took 10km of me trying desperately hard to ignore this guy and focus on my running (and enjoying the beautiful course along the streets and Tiber River of Rome) before he finally buggered off (probably because I had just about halted to a complete stop by that stage anyway). I think I got so desperate to lose him, my subconscious acted on my body and decided I should just hit the wall... ;)
Fantastic support from my mate, Ben, around the course (who unfortunately couldn't run it due to a calf injury). Really made all the difference having someone at various points along the route cheering me on. Unfortunately, at 30km, Ben was fixing his camera to take a shot of me running, but whilst doing so, I ran by him. I was so buggered it was all I could do to keep going let alone, wave or say "HEY! I'm over here!". It was equally fab to have my Dad's cousin, Judy Jenner, at the finish line for a big congratulatory cuddle. Had a little cry to myself over the finish line. Not sure if that was from shear relief that I didn't have to keep running, or how pleased I was to be finished, or just that my brick brain had turned to mush!?
There was a strong Edinburgh/Oz contingent as my Prof (David Weller) and his wife, Belinda, ran their first marathon, and a bunch of my running mates from Edinburgh came along, so there was about 15 of us at the Big Mama Italian style feast Sunday night. Ben had bought us champagne to celebrate and having that after the marathon pre dinner made for one excessively jolly Kelly! Some how managed a bit of a pub crawl with my Prof and a few of the die hards and then back to the apartment I was sharing with 5 others staying up drinking the other bottle of champage talking to Ben until 4:30am...
6:30am.. a loud bang on the door from Kirsten "You've got 15 minutes before we have to get going to the airport". Oh Jesus! I hadn't packed and I was still in my evening wear from last night. Mad dash collecting my gear trying not to wake Judy (who'd had to crash in our apartment as she'd left it too late to get to her hotel). As a consequence, I got to the airport in time to realise I had left my purse, camera, guidebook, sun glasses, novel, hat, scarf... and brain it seems... in Roma. BUGGA!
Luckily, I had my passport and my switch bank card in my travel trouser pockets and Ben was able to have the where with all to take my belongings back to Edinburgh...
And off I went to Sardinia... a little disshevelled, hung over and brain dead... for a recovery and rock climbing week with my little mates, Jim and Kirst and her friend, Kate. It did turn out to be a little like couple hell, as Jim and Kirst and Mr. and Ms. loved up right now (and I feel smug in the knowledge that I played a big part in that) and Kate's new boyfriend, Lee, was virtually there through the flipping annoying technology of mobile flipping phone. I kid you not, they spoke on the mobile at least twice a day plus texts flying constantly throughout the day (frustratingly including our magnificent day of lime stone sea cliff climbing out of Alghero).
Love sick Kate, a consultant in Accident and Emergency Medicine, organised our hire car from the Caglieri Airport. When she was told by a (rude) woman with Thrifty that her emailed reference number was not her company and 'not her problem' Kate, Kirst and Jim ripped into her, threatening to report her etc. We got a car from elsewhere... only for Kate to find the actual voucher that night... for a different company... eye roll.
But hey... don't get me wrong... Sardinia is an extremely beautiful island and I had a magical time exploring the amazing rock formations of St. Teresa Gallura/Capo Testa, and breath taking sea cliff climbing on the limestone of Capo Caccia. Absolutely magnificent views across all shades of blue and green in the mediterranean sea to a bird sanctuary from Capo Caccia... glorious!
I managed a bit of 'me' time (only child shines through) on our return to Caglieri. Sent Kirst and Jim climbing (Kate flew out from Alghero) for the afternoon. Bought a disposable camera and luxuriously wandered the streets and historical buildings (dating back to around 1300) of Caglieri for the afternoon.
The next day the three of us flew back to Rome and had a really great day watching street theatre in Piazza Navona, oooed and aaaaaed at the Pantheon and took in the view from the top of the Spanish steps.
Feasting in Italy was just that! Taste buds had a field day! Didn't have a bad drop of vino rosso or bianco for that matter, and the seafood was to die for. Needless to say, even post marathon, I lost no weight...
Ciao ciao!
The Rome marathon weekend was a life event and highlight for me. Apparently I was in the top 18% of the 1,210 women who ran it. A second sub 4 hour time despite hitting the wall at about 30km out of the entire 42.2km marathon. Bizarre feeling where my leg muscles felt they were dissolving and my brain became a brick. Nothing that a lump of sugar, a 2km walk and copious amounts of fluid couldn't remedy! Plodded along to the end no worries once that kicked in.
Amazingly, what really did my head in was a chap from the Netherlands at about 18km who ran up to me and said: "At your pace, you're aiming for a 3:45 marathon! Now I've met you, I'm signed up!" And do you think I could get rid of him!? It took 10km of me trying desperately hard to ignore this guy and focus on my running (and enjoying the beautiful course along the streets and Tiber River of Rome) before he finally buggered off (probably because I had just about halted to a complete stop by that stage anyway). I think I got so desperate to lose him, my subconscious acted on my body and decided I should just hit the wall... ;)
Fantastic support from my mate, Ben, around the course (who unfortunately couldn't run it due to a calf injury). Really made all the difference having someone at various points along the route cheering me on. Unfortunately, at 30km, Ben was fixing his camera to take a shot of me running, but whilst doing so, I ran by him. I was so buggered it was all I could do to keep going let alone, wave or say "HEY! I'm over here!". It was equally fab to have my Dad's cousin, Judy Jenner, at the finish line for a big congratulatory cuddle. Had a little cry to myself over the finish line. Not sure if that was from shear relief that I didn't have to keep running, or how pleased I was to be finished, or just that my brick brain had turned to mush!?
There was a strong Edinburgh/Oz contingent as my Prof (David Weller) and his wife, Belinda, ran their first marathon, and a bunch of my running mates from Edinburgh came along, so there was about 15 of us at the Big Mama Italian style feast Sunday night. Ben had bought us champagne to celebrate and having that after the marathon pre dinner made for one excessively jolly Kelly! Some how managed a bit of a pub crawl with my Prof and a few of the die hards and then back to the apartment I was sharing with 5 others staying up drinking the other bottle of champage talking to Ben until 4:30am...
6:30am.. a loud bang on the door from Kirsten "You've got 15 minutes before we have to get going to the airport". Oh Jesus! I hadn't packed and I was still in my evening wear from last night. Mad dash collecting my gear trying not to wake Judy (who'd had to crash in our apartment as she'd left it too late to get to her hotel). As a consequence, I got to the airport in time to realise I had left my purse, camera, guidebook, sun glasses, novel, hat, scarf... and brain it seems... in Roma. BUGGA!
Luckily, I had my passport and my switch bank card in my travel trouser pockets and Ben was able to have the where with all to take my belongings back to Edinburgh...
And off I went to Sardinia... a little disshevelled, hung over and brain dead... for a recovery and rock climbing week with my little mates, Jim and Kirst and her friend, Kate. It did turn out to be a little like couple hell, as Jim and Kirst and Mr. and Ms. loved up right now (and I feel smug in the knowledge that I played a big part in that) and Kate's new boyfriend, Lee, was virtually there through the flipping annoying technology of mobile flipping phone. I kid you not, they spoke on the mobile at least twice a day plus texts flying constantly throughout the day (frustratingly including our magnificent day of lime stone sea cliff climbing out of Alghero).
Love sick Kate, a consultant in Accident and Emergency Medicine, organised our hire car from the Caglieri Airport. When she was told by a (rude) woman with Thrifty that her emailed reference number was not her company and 'not her problem' Kate, Kirst and Jim ripped into her, threatening to report her etc. We got a car from elsewhere... only for Kate to find the actual voucher that night... for a different company... eye roll.
But hey... don't get me wrong... Sardinia is an extremely beautiful island and I had a magical time exploring the amazing rock formations of St. Teresa Gallura/Capo Testa, and breath taking sea cliff climbing on the limestone of Capo Caccia. Absolutely magnificent views across all shades of blue and green in the mediterranean sea to a bird sanctuary from Capo Caccia... glorious!
I managed a bit of 'me' time (only child shines through) on our return to Caglieri. Sent Kirst and Jim climbing (Kate flew out from Alghero) for the afternoon. Bought a disposable camera and luxuriously wandered the streets and historical buildings (dating back to around 1300) of Caglieri for the afternoon.
The next day the three of us flew back to Rome and had a really great day watching street theatre in Piazza Navona, oooed and aaaaaed at the Pantheon and took in the view from the top of the Spanish steps.
Feasting in Italy was just that! Taste buds had a field day! Didn't have a bad drop of vino rosso or bianco for that matter, and the seafood was to die for. Needless to say, even post marathon, I lost no weight...
Ciao ciao!
