Fitness Friday

Time for another fitness friday report. I was thinking back to when I first starting doing this weekly reports. I had definite goals I was trying to achieve. I was running and trying to up my running times and distances. I had something I was aiming for. I was also actively trying to lose weight.

I seem to have lost my mojo for both of these things. Having definite races that I was aiming for was a great incentive to keep running and aim at increasing the distances I covered and my speeds. But since the races here in town finished that incentive has gone. Fixit Guy's retirement has also put something of a crimp in it too as he now walks with me on the mornings I don't go with my girlfriend and even on those mornings too of late. I would much rather walk with him than stress my body by running. So I have only run once over the last few weeks. Even then it was without my phone which have my running aps on it so no idea of time or distance. I would like to get back to running but I  like walking with my husband even more. I was saying to a friend this morning that  when I walk with FG we don't talk much. He isn't a real chatterbox. Sometimes I talk a lot and he answers but frequently we walk in silence. When I walk with my girlfriend she and I chat the whole time. Another thing I have found since he walks with me morning and evening is that I am not getting through my podcasts! I used to listen to them when I walked/ran on my own but now I have company on all my walks my podcast listening time has been severely diminished.

And as for weight loss. yeah. Lost my mojo there too. I am not putting it on but haven't lost any either. I seem to hover between low 88's and mid 89s (ie 88.3-89.5) but I haven't been game to hop on them for a week or so and now my daughter Fangirl has my bathroom scales. She has to weigh some packages and doesn't have bathroom scales so we lent her ours.

Whilst we are away I hope that we can maintain our 10 000 steps a day (or more) but on days with big travel that isn't going to be likely. Also I have 5 days of meetings coming up at the end of next week so again those days will be a big challenge but I am hoping to keep up as many steps as I can. We are staying off site and so I am going to try to walk up to the conference each day although I might have to get someone to drop me back (or get Fixit Guy) to come get me. We shall see (He isn't a representative to the conference although he can attend if he wants - just not vote)

This week our Steptember challenge finished. Our team ended up being 85th for steps which we were pretty happy with. Maybe next year we can go even higher.

My Fitbit Stats this week
Friday 26                           12 390 steps
Saturday 27                        13066
Sunday 28                          11645
Monday 29                        12240
Tuesday 30                        11175
Wednesday 1                     10370
Thursday 2                         14638

I made my 10 000 steps each day but no really big days. There were a number of days when I only got one walk in and I need to get 2 in to get good numbers. Fitbit guy had some really low days due to being busy fitting blinds and putting flatpack furniture together for Fangirl but he is back a fair bit ahead of me again now. I mowed the lawn at Fangirl's home she was moving out of. I had a visitor who hung around catching grubs and insects stirred up as I mowed

Hope you are all having a good week and making your goals and looking after yourself. Take time to do some self care of you. Sometimes we are so busy meeting schedules and taking care of others we fail to take care of ourselves.

Fixit Guy and I head out on our 8-10 week camping holiday tomorrow. I better go finish off the last minute packing and such.

Don't forget to link up

An InLinkz Link-up

Fitness Friday - -Been a Great Week for Walking

I have had a great week as far as my walking goes. Each day I have made my 10 000 steps and then some. Having zero steps for 3 days the previous week on mmy Fitbit and only half my steps another day I really slipped down the rankings of my friends and I was working hard to try to improve my standings in the 7 day totals. It was a real incentive to get out and get moving and do extra running on the spot when possible. I managed to drag my ratings up gradually and by the time I got back to replacing the missed days I was able to not only jump up the rankings but also reached some great weekly figures. The last couple of days I have been in 2nd or 3rd position. I have a new leader amongst my friends. My Fixit Guy is an incredibly active guy I have realised. He even beats Terje! He doesn't run but he does come walking with me twice a day and the rest of the day he just buzzes around all the time obviously. Even the days that I walk with my friend and he doesn't come he still gets more steps than I do (Our walks are 5000 steps usually) It drives me nuts!

Our Steptember efforts are continuing. Our Team, the Emerald Walkers has still not achieved our fundraising target so if any of you would like to donate this is the link. We have improved our rankings this week though as far as steps goes. We are now 203rd in Australia.  Our combined step total is 724,943.There has only been one day that I haven't made my 10 000 steps since it started. Fangirl got sick just as Steptember started and had 7 days of colds and tonsillitis and generally not feeling up to par so her step efforts were not great. Fixit Guy has challenged her. He is going to donate $10 each day she makes her steps and has challenged her that she should make a donation each day she doesn't make her steps. She has agreed and the push is on

Today Fixit Guy (I almost called him Fitbit Guy! ) Fangirl and I are in Rockhampton looking for  curtains and blinds for her new townhouse as well as furniture. Well that's what Fangirl and I are looking for. Fixit Guy has some camping related stuff he is going to look at and other stuff that is going to require him to go to hardware shops. Funny story about this trip. We left home yesterday afternoon. Fixit Guy and I picked up Fangirl at her place. She had just hopped in the car when she realised she had left her sunglasses in the house so she ran back in to get them. Fixit Guy realised that he had left his wallet at home so we went back to our house to get that. I was laughing at them both for their forgetfulness and said I hadn't forgotten anything... or at least hadn't realised and I would remember when we got to C, a little town 20 minutes on our way to Rockhampton. No... I didn't remember anything then.... but 2 hours into the journey remembered that MY wallet was in my car. I had taken it with me when I went out to teach religion and had put it in the centre console of the car... and it was still there. Ooops. Guess I am not spending much money this trip!

I am not going to go near my weight loss woes. At least with making a big effort with my steps I am not putting on anything -much. I am back into the 89kgs though so really have to try a bit harder to watch what I am eating. 

My Steps for this week
Friday 17 540 I had realised I had lost 3.5 days of steps so was really trying to get extra steps
Saturday 15 633 Went to an open day at a local museum with a friend
Sunday 13 941 Despite only getting one walk and having the morning in church was able to get steps up  due to volunteering at a bike day for ORH and serving at cafe at aged care home
Monday 16 737 2 walks and house cleaning can help the steps
Tuesday  16 219 2 walks and some determined extra steps about the house
Wednesday 14 790 2 walks and a day at patchwork sewing but a few extra steps around the place
Thursday 15 461 Despite driving into Rocky we still got a second walk in cause we walked up to find tea and then because Fangirl was still short on steps we walked a bit more to get some ice cream. yeah defeated the purpose a bit but at least we didn't do as much damage as we might have without the walk

No photos for you this week so here is one from last week when we were camping.

An InLinkz Link-up

Fitness Friday

Have had a slightly better week this week with diet and exercise. Although I have by no means stinted myself I have tried to make better choices. I have also bought a pile of salad things and have been having a salad for lunch instead of toasted cheese and tuna sandwiches that my husband usually makes for me. I did have a major blow out yesterday at Patchwork. One of the women there made Lattice Slice and I had 2 pieces of it for morning tea and was eyeing off another one for lunch but I resisted. Came home and ate 2 rock cakes instead! Fixit Guy had been baking whilst I was out and they were fresh out of the oven and sitting on the bench daring me to eat one. For my non Australian readers you might be wondering what Lattice Slice is here are 2 versions of it. The one we had yesterday was the recipe on the right but she had a lemon glaze icing not passionfruit.

 

As for Rock Cakes. They are an old fashioned cross between a biscuit and a cake. They have been around for many many years. I take some up with me most weeks to share with the residents when I help with the service in the Aged Care Hostel here in town. Fixit Guy bakes them using a recipe my Dad used to use. I will post a fuller blog on them one day when I have some photos of what we do but here is one off the net

Despite that day I have managed to lose some weight over the week and this morning I am down to 88.1kgs. Only 8.1kgs to go

My walking has been good all week. I even managed to run one day when my walking buddy wasn't able to walk with me and Fixit Guy was nursing a sore ankle. Actually my walking buddy had eye surgery and was out all week but FG walked with me the rest of the week. We walked twice most days and I met my 10 000 step goal each day. As I write (2.15PM Friday) my 7 days Steps are sitting on 85 741 and I am sitting 2nd behind Terje. I am ahead of Sam but as she is a teacher she is more active in the evenings when she goes to the gym. Having said that though I have been a head of her a good bit this week, finishing the day ahead on some occassions or not too far behind so I have been pleased with that. My weekly walking stats are

Friday 29; 14 826

Saturday 30; 10 689

Sunday 31; 10 044 ( I had to do a lot of running on the spot late at night to get to my 10 000 that day)

Monday 1: 16 529

Tuesday 2; 12 757

Wednesday 3; 14 406

Thursday 4; 15 180 

Wednesday was the start of Steptember (I had thought it was starting on Monday but nope we had 2 days grace) The idea is that throughout September we undertake to do 10000 steps each day for 28 days straight (3-30 September) Its raising money for a great cause - Cerbral Palsy. If you want to support me this is my link.

And now for some random photos. Last Sunday Fixit Guy, Fangirl and I went on a bbq out at our local dam. Whilst we were cooking the bbq this fellow came and perched not far from us. My phone was flat so Fangirl took these using Fixit Guy's phone. Aren't they gorgeous

 Please link in your fitness report for this week or else add a comment below. Lets all play along and encourage each other with our desires to get fitter and healthier

An InLinkz Link-up

Friday Fitness

This is becoming a bit boring. When I was running more it was exciting to be able to update my times etc but this week once again I didn't run at all. Fixit Guy walks with me every day my friend doesn't and I enjoy his company so don't tell him I want to run instead. Cause I would rather walk with him! I need another run to aim for. That will be my inspiration to get back to it.

Here's today's photo taken about 6.30AM. The rain last weekend has caused some of the brown grass to freshen up and green to come through.

However I did walk twice most days this week. There was at least one day when we only got out the once if not two days. However my fitbit stats for the last 7 days (as of 8.30 AM this morning so today is only just  begun ) are 82,028 steps so I am averaging over the 10 000 steps which I have as my minimum. I have made that mark every day which is pleasing. There is a new challenge starting up in September


Its Called Steptember and its raising money for Cerebral Palsy. Its a world wide thing. The money I am raising is going to support the Cerebral Palsy  in Australia but it is going on in lots of other countries as well. It starts on September 3rd so you have plenty of time if you want to sign up. Otherwise you can donate to my team ;) or you can donate to your own country's fundraising. (you might have to google that... I couldn't find the international site)

The link to donate to my team is http://bit.ly/1pjpztJ

 This is the official  blurb that they sent me to send out

From Wednesday, 3 September I will be taking on the challenge of completing 10,000 steps a day, for the entire month of Steptember to raise vital funds for Cerebral Palsy Alliance.
The average office worker only takes around 3,000 steps per day, so 10,000 steps a day is going to be quite the challenge.
But it’s for a very worthy cause.
Cerebral palsy is the most common physical disability in childhood. One in two people with cerebral palsy are in chronic pain due to the tightening of their muscles. Many will never be able to take a single step without assistance.
If you’re not sure where to start, a donation of $55 could support research actively preventing CP in newborn babies
You can donate to my fundraising page: (http://bit.ly/1pjpztJ)
Any amount you contribute would make a huge difference to children and adults living with cerebral palsy and of course encourage me to complete my 10,000 steps per day!
Thank you so much,


P.S. You’ll receive an automated receipt as every donation over $2 is tax deductible.(thats for Australian taxpayers)

Weight wise things are pretty stable. I am still hovering around 89kgs going up or down a little bit. I don't' think things are going to change till I get serious about tracking my food. Maybe after this weekend! Fixit Guy, Fangirl and I are off to Brisbane to see a show. We will also be seeing our solicitor AND catching up with Kombi Boy, Gamer Girl and Boyo so it should be good. It will involve a fair bit of walking and a lot of eating so hopefully the two will balance each other out. I might get to a fabric shop as there is a Lincraft in the city but the only thing I might buy there is thread. I have put  myself back on a fabric diet. No fabric purchases for the rest of the year unless it is to complete a project!

How has your week been? Have you been meeting your fitness challenges? I have two fellow bloggers who have started up Fitness Friday reporting too. I haven't worked out how to do a Linky thing. If anyone knows and wants to explain it to me (or send me to a website that has the tools there)...