TJ North

tjnorth — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 17:01:08 +0000

Snow snow snow, it is way too early for this. All week, every conversation has been about the weather and the stock market, two things we cannot control. I have to stop participating, I can’t listen to myself talk about the weather for the next 5 months.

I have noticed that people who live in more temperate climates never talk about the weather, it has minimal impact on day-to-day life. Here, for about half the year, as the poet said, “this is a country where you could die simply from being outside.” What the heck are we doing here?

I am staying inside today.

tjnorth — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:16:19 +0000

“As you pour that glass of wine or two when you get home tonight, you might want to think about the price you’re paying for the daily ritual of taking the edge off. That drink – which, admit it, is usually two or three as you ease into the weekend – costs you about $2,000 a year. It’s adding up to at least 100 extra calories a day and, if you’re an average sized, 50year old woman, about 15 pounds of unflattering weight over 12 months. In the course of a year, you will have downed some 520 drinks and been under the influence of alcohol 1,161 hours. That means your throat is often inflamed, your liver and pancreas are under stress and you are boosting your chances of developing some cancers.” (full article under ‘important things I have learned)

My most significant weight retaining strategy….

tjnorth — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 21:43:56 +0000

Damn I want something chocolate.

tjnorth — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:08:14 +0000

I have become interested in the paleo diet, and think I will start working the principles into my life. Coming from someone who has allowed fatty fried and processed stuff to take front and centre over the last 2 weeks this might be hard to believe…lol.

I just need to refocus and I am looking for a framework to rely on to allow my resurging bad habits to fade away. Also need to stop eating at the caf at work, it is expensive and nasty food.

tjnorth — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:11:24 +0000

Last whine about my ankle, I promise. It still hurts and I have been reading up on ankle rehab….apparently I should take things very slowly. The fact that I keep reinjuring it, even mildly, is not good. So I am not running at all for another couple of weeks, and I haven’t got to the gym either….I am not very happy with myself right now. Feeling really lazy, and spending too much time playing online when I could be doing other things. It is more entertaining than tv, but has the same effects on my butt.

Whine whine whine.

tjnorth — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:15:24 +0000

I am screwing up my courage to ask my boss to finance my MBA. I am meeting with her tomorrow. I think she can be convinced to approve an interest-free loan…. then I will HAVE to do it. I hope I don’t chicken out.

tjnorth — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 04:50:29 +0000

TMI WARNING…

This morning I had a terrible scare…first thing, go to the bathroom and my pee is PINK. Flamingo pink. My inner hypochondriac immediately took over. Do you remember the movie ‘the Madness of King George’? He had a disease that addled his mind and one of the signs was pink urine in the morning.

OMG. All day, same thing. I am testing out other symptoms…is that really just gas? A twinge or an organ failing?

Finally it occurred to me (duh!) to do some research and after reading some really gross things online I remembered I had roast beets for dinner last night. Apparently, although it has never happened to me before, eating beets can turn your pee PINK.

FYI I also learned that there is no known medical condition that can turn your urine blue, so if that happens it is definitely because of something you ate. Another argument against blue smarties. Now you know.

At least I can sleep tonight.

tjnorth — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 01:13:09 +0000

I have just puttered around the house this weekend, not really getting anything substantial done. I had coffee with a very attractive man yesterday, good for my ego, and we both seemed to have fun BUT he has 2 little children and hasn’t finalised the divorce yet. So lots of red flags. I did cover 5.1 km on the hiking trails, I need to kick it up a notch to hit my 100km goal this month.

I ate very well today — fruit, veggies, nothing processed, in fact I even cooked a roast. Now I have to clean the kitchen. Laundry is done and all the clothes that were piled in the hallway and the living room and bedroom - all ironed, folded, and put away. That may be a first! Long walk yesterday but nothing today. It is very cold and there is about 2 inches of snow out there, preserved by the freezing rain. Man. Son #1 thought he was doing me a favour by taking the dog out this evening, and he was, but there is nothing forcing me outside now. So a few more moments pretending to be productive, long bath, and early bedtime, yay!

tjnorth — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 15:02:18 +0000

Last week did not turn out at all as planned. I underestimated how hard it would be to be running this conference and still trying to stay on top of things at the office. There were a lot of things that went wrong and I didn’t get much sleep. Also I only ate conference food during the day which was all carbs - muffins and pastries for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch, cookies for snacks…followed by big dinners. I didn’t get any exercise at all. The result? I am feeling rather sad and bloated, and my weight has bounced back up. Sigh.

Well, today is back to reality. I was craving eggs - I need protein in the morning, otherwise I become narcoleptic by the afternoon. Now I am going out for a hike (in the rain, unfortunately). No running because the trail will be slippery and I have hurt my ankle AGAIN, but I am going to log a good distance. I have gotten the weights out and found the training book I used to use…building muscle over the winter is going to be a challenge. Two steps forward; one back still results in forward motion, right?

tjnorth — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 00:18:42 +0000

Tomorrow I am heading off for another road trip - business related. It will be a heavy few days, BUT I will be staying in a hotel with a beautiful exercise room, pool and hot tub and I plan to take advantage.

Today I started back on the wunning training program today, and all seems well. Ankle aches slightly but not enough to worry about. I am disappointed that I was only able to cover 62km in October, due to the two injuries. In Sept I covered 101 km; I have set that goal again for November - 100 km, which is very doable if I stick to the ‘every second day’ routine, with long runs on the weekend. Well, sorta runs.

Friday I ate nothing but fatty and/or sugary foods and boy did I pay for it. My body does not like that anymore. Which I guess is a good thing, if I pay attention.