posted by Thomas on Nov 22
“Never too old, never too sick, never too bad, never too late to start from scratch and begin again.”
- Bikram Choudhury
When I first heard about Bikram Yoga in Los Angeles I thought, “Oh hell no.” For those of you that are not familiar with it, it is the same series of poses done in an hour and a half in a room heated to 105°F (40°C)
Yoga was always one of those things I wanted to do, but I’m the sort of person that needs a class. I tried putting on a video or reading a book, but it doesn’t work for me. For so long being in LA sans car, it was just too difficult for me to get to a studio. So no yoga for me. When I did get my car, I started going 2, 3 times a week to a wonderful studio on Larchmont (one of my favourite streets to haunt in LA).
I had no interest in trying Bikram however.
Flash forward to here and I’ve stopped doing the yoga full stop.
Then a new studio opened up by our flat here in Balham and wouldn’t you know, it’s a Bikram. I decided to give it a go.
From Sunday to today I have gone every day except for Thursday and I feel guilty I had to miss that day. It’s amazing. It kicks your ass, but you feel so fantastic during and after. Even after a week I can feel my flexibility improve.
If you have a Bikram studio in your area, go check it out. (Mom- I would love to see you do this).
posted by Thomas on Jun 2
Was asked how the marathon training has been going.
I said “good. . .okay.” and I think okay is a fair statement. It hasn’t been good however. . . which is why I haven’t posted my updates. But in the interest of full disclosure- here it is.
Week of May 12th
Monday – 0
Tuesday – 3.1
Wednesday – 2.1
Thursday – 0
Friday – 0
Saturday – 5.7
Sunday – 0
Week of May 19th
Monday – 3
Tuesday – 0
Wednesday – 0
Thursday – 0
Friday – 0
Saturday – 2.9
Sunday – 2.5
Week of May 26th
Monday – 0
Tuesday – 2.9
Wednesday – 2.9
Thursday – 0
Friday – 0
Saturday – 5.25
Sunday – 4.4
So. 22 weeks to go and I need to be serious if I want to finish at all, never mind with a decent time. That said, over the last seven weeks I’ve done a little over 86 miles when I’ve done sweet f.a. for years. . . which isn’t terrible.
I’ve lost 5 pounds thus far, which isn’t hugely great but I also have (boys cover your eyes) my period this week and I haven’t had the usual gain from it which must be a good sign.
So yeah. Training. Tip-top. Onwards and Upwards. Never surrender.
Just do it Nicole, you useless bint.
posted by Thomas on May 17
Luckily all the treadmills were being used in the gym and I went for a long walk through Belltown, up Queen Anne North and back down to Alaskan Way (don’t recommend sections of that unless you like walking through gaggles of vagrants, drunks and crack heads) down First and up Madison to Ninth then back down Spring along 6th to home at the Westin.
Was late enough that people were out getting their coffee and walking their dogs, but early enough that there wasn’t a queue at Mecca and The Market wasn’t (yet) soul destroying.
Walking down the Counterbalance- picture postcard moment. Standing (panting) under a leafy tree and down below me to the left is the city squinting her eyes in the sun, glittery-shimmery and in the distance, floating in the air, The Mountain was out.
Life is good.
Once I have some coffee, it will be even better.
posted by Thomas on May 13
I was a bit crap this week because I was in DC.
Monday- 4.4 miles
Tuesday 2 miles walking so slowly around the mall in DC, I was practically going back in time so I probably shouldn’t include it in my weekly millage, but I don’t care.
Wednesday- 0
Thursday- 0
Friday- Yeah. Zero. Whatever. Bite Me.
Saturday- 3.5 miles
Sunday- 3.7
Total: 13.6
What a rubbish week. Will be more better this week.
posted by Thomas on May 5
I was bad again this week – not doing my smaller bursts and after my longer walk yesterday, my old bones are feeling it. I’m thinking I will need to add some yoga in to what I am doing. When I get back from the states in a couple of weeks I’m also adding in free weights.
My schedule was supposed to be:
Monday- Rest
Tuesday- 3 miles
Wednesday- 2 miles
Thursday- 3 miles
Friday- Cross Train
Saturday- 3 miles
Sunday- 4 miles
Total: 15 miles
What I did:
Monday- Rest
Tuesday- 2.5 miles
Wednesday- 2.4 miles
Thursday- 0
Friday- 1.6 (my drunken walk from Clapham Junction home. If I had to do it, I’m counting it in my mileage.
Saturday- 1.7 miles (leisurely walk along the south bank from Waterloo to London Bridge.
Sunday- 7.6 miles
Total: 15.8
I’m traveling the next two weeks so I will need to force myself into the hotel gym. I’m hoping that the treadmill will be the answer to the jet lag hell I often find myself in.
The best part about doing this besides my working toward a goal that I have wanted to achieve for ten years is that according to the scale, I’ve lost 4 pounds since April 21st.
posted by Thomas on Apr 29
Last week was my first week of 28 weeks of walking marathon training. I’m starting so far ahead because I:
1. Want to.
2. I need to get some miles under my belt before it gets really serious.
I have a spreadsheet with what I am supposed to do for the week and then what I actually did.
Last week was supposed to be:
Mon- Rest Day
Tues- 3 miles
Wed- 2 miles
Thurs- 3 miles
Friday Cross Train
Sat- 3 miles
Sun- 4 miles
What I actually did:
Mon- 4.4 miles
Tues- 0
Wed- 0
Thurs- 0
Friday 6.8 miles
Sat- 7.7 miles
Sun- 3.1 miles
I’m on track for this week. Monday was the rest day. . . 
I ended up doing more total miles than the schedule. . . but a question for the more experienced people out there. If I am scheduled to only do 3 miles, but I want to do 7 because I am enjoying myself. . . will that mess me up? And will it mess me up if I miss a few of my short 2 and 3 mile days here and there?
posted by Thomas on Jan 6
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posted by Thomas on Jan 2
I know I’ve said this before. Weight/health out of control. It isn’t that big a deal now as I am still youngish, but I can see if I continue down this path I won’t be a happy camper.
It’s not I eat huge amounts every day but I do make really poor food choices. And I’ve been drinking Wayyyyyyyyyy too much which is an easy way to get chubby.
So back on the wagon. I am trying to think of this as not a diet, but as a life change.
One little thing I am doing to make sure I move a little bit every day is I am no longer buying a weekly travel card and taking the train to Victoria. I’m going to do pay as you go, take the tube to Vauxhall and walk to work. Unless it is raining really hard. Or I am running really late. Or I am wearing bad shoes.
So here are the scary numbers. I’ll be doing this again on Sunday and then each Sunday thereafter.
175.8 pounds (79.7 kilograms)
Measurements (sigh)
42/24/46
R. Arm 13 inches
L. Arm 13.5 inches
R Thigh 26 inches
L Thigh 26.5
R Calf 15 1/4
L Calf 15.5
There are a few things about these numbers that I find disturbing and not just how large they are.
1. My thighs are larger than my waist.
2. The left side of my body is larger than my left.
Anyhoo.
Hopping along. . .
posted by Thomas on Oct 8
So I was really, really bad this week and I still lost nearly a pound. . .
One bad thing about using this ticker is the code isn’t static- as I enter info, it updates it. . .
So last week it said 167 something. . . Today it says 166.2
Time to get serious again.
posted by Thomas on Oct 1
Nicole
The scale said 166 yesterday, but this is a Monday weigh in not a Sunday. . .
Sigh.
I know it’s all water. Wasn’t as good yesterday as I could have been. But is still all good. Three pounds lost last week.
Marilyn- or my mum
So- for her tracker she is starting at her start start. . . which isn’t the two weeks ago start of this little competition – which means I still win. . . so far. . .
Kevin
He gave me the link. . . to his ticker- I’ll get the html later.
Again. I am still winning. . . but there are three long holiday months to go. . .