Off to Adelaide

Just a quick one as I need to pack the last minute stuff before I take off for Adelaide. Looks like I will only meet one of my goals for this month and even that was not really successful. I DID make the Kefir Coconut Water but it doesn't taste all that great. However you can add something to make it more palatable and I have some Cranberry Juice which I will add to it. I have forgotten to have some most days but will go and have some right now. It does not keep indefinitely so I will have to make an extreme effort when I get back (Monday) to finish it. Have missed a couple of walks this week but Mr Achilles was starting to niggle so I pulled back. There was nothing to stop me getting on stat bike tho' but hasn't happened. Anyway lots of walking will be happening down in Adelaide and there is a Goodlife gym near my hotel where I can go casually - so just might do that in the mornings. Watch this space - will have plenty of time to update each evening but probably won't be able to manage inserting a photo.

Coconut Water Kefir Disaster

This should have been simple but the Crook household does not possess a sharp knife. After numerous attempts by myself and then Roger to take the top off a young coconut with an electric knife we resorted to using the electric drill (very sterile @#$). Anyway we finally got enough water out of the three coconuts and strained them into my preserving jar (with the Kefir starter pack) which is now sitting on the kitchen bench where it will stay for 48 hours. Did I neglect to mention that a HUGE argument happened in the middle of this and the three coconuts nearly went straight into the bin without being opened at all.

Anyway after "googling" again on how to get inside the coconut itself, one nut was taken outside with an old tea towel wrapped around it and bashed until it broke. However the amount of coconut inside (being only a young one) was miniscule and mixed up with some of the husky stuff we both decided we had enough and threw them in the bin. I don't think I will be doing this again anytime soon. Apparently you can buy the coconut water (unadulterated) somewhere and if I ever do decide to do it again that is what I will do.

So there you have it. Let's hope the vegie casserole thingy I made after this episode will be OK and I didn't forget a vital ingredient.

Good News

Hi Blog.....some good news from my GP. My last blood test showed improvement in liver function but I am still slightly acidic. Which doesn't mean I have to avoid acidic foods as she has discovered a new supp which means I can, within reason, return to somewhat normal eating as this supp keeps the bad bacteria at bay. Still need to go easy on the cow's milk, sugar and starchy stuff and for the first week no meat in the evenings, can have a small portion for lunch though. Apparently our bodies detox themselves overnight and the meat protein slows the whole process down. We'll see how that goes. Have a few eat out meals coming up so probably won't do too well at all.

Anyway she still wants me to make the Kefir yoghurt from the liquid inside the coconut. So I'd better put that back on my goal list. Need to find a proper jar for it first. Actually I think Flannerys had some coconut oil for sale in large glass jars so I might just go and get those. Cos I'll definitely use the coconut oil and the bonus is the glass jar.

I mentioned to her that I didn't appear to be losing any weight and she nodded and said until my system has changed from acidic to alkili I won't burn any fat. But has given me a couple of supps help that along anyway. So we'll see how they go. This is the last time I am going to try any supps as they are too expensive, I forget to take them and half of them upset me anyway. So fingers crossed we get it all sorted this time. I've actually put a reminder in my new calendar which syncs with my phone so I will get a message twice a day reminding me to take them.

I haven't returned to running yet and probably won't till I shift a couple of kgs. I went for a 3.5km walk this morning and will try for a 4km on the weekend with a visit to the gym in between. Think I've waffled long enough - see ya next time.

Tennis anyone?

Hi Blog...Sorry I've been busy again. Have been to U3A every day this week except today. Yesterday, we (hubby also) went to have a social game of table tennis. I have not played since I was a teenager and I wasn't much good at it then. Don't know why I thought the 45+ years in between would make be better at it. Anyway we had a bit of fun. There are some serious players there (including my husband) and I might let him go on his own and have some "away from me/out of the house" time.

I also changed my exercise regime this morning and took off the shoes and strolled along the beach in bare feet. Shhhh don't tell my Dad, he is frightened I will tread on a needle or something. My physio recommended this quite some months ago to help Mr and Mrs Achilles but it was too cold to do so through the winter months but not so cold now. I'll try and do this at least once a week. I haven't run at all this week but did do some serious fast walking intervals on the treadmill yesterday and I'll whiz off to the gym tomorrow morning and do some weights.

I still haven't got the tape measure out but I am sure the bulge between the "girls" and the belly button is not as pronounced. However I wasn't actually measuring this spot. Watch this space, I promise to do some measurements before I blog again.

Walk Don't Run

Hi Blog...I've been missing again. Life really does get in the way sometimes and I haven't had much to say anyway. We went on a boat cruise to Straddie on Sunday, I have a class at U3A on Monday morning, I had one this arvo (Philosophy) where I had to do a talk entitled "Schopenhauer on Happiness". That's him as a youth over there on the left. I think it went off OK, now I have to do a summary to hand out to all those who didn't attend (ie those who would rather get dressed up and go to lunch for Melbourne Cup). I am back there again tomorrow in the office (my monthly duty) and Thursday we are going to an introduction session of table tennis and Friday I won't be going there at all.

Anyway I have stopped running for the time being, although having said that I might have a go tomorrow morning at the gym on the treadmill. The track I have been using is now very hard as we have not had any rain for quite some time so I am still out there but just walking. I'm sure I am better off as I don't get as hungry and therefore not inclined to "go off the rails" in the food department. Anyway time will tell.

I'm off to my holistic doctor next week and will be having some serious discussions about FOOD and what I can and can't eat.

Moving on

Hi Blog...just a quick one. Moved onto Week 5 of C25K this morning, however the PCYC were doing another outdoor training session on MY track this morning. How dare they. So I headed down to the end of Smith Street to do my run and enjoyed the change of scenery and the different grass. The track grass is quite spongy (although not so much now without rain) but it is very dry down at the Broadwater. So the surface being harder makes it easier to run a little faster. Week 5 is a 5 min warm up walk, a 5 min run, 3 min walk, 5 min run, 3 min walk, 5 min run and finishing with a 5 min cool down. My runs were a reasonably consistent speed just getting marginally slower each time so I am pleased with my progress.

And I think one of my bulges is not as large as it was. Must get the trusty tape measure out and check it one day. Don't think I made my "go down a dress size by end October" goal but possibly a half a dress size. So I have pushed it out until November. Did make the walk/run goal and will reset that too tomorrow.

Catch you next time.

Back to the Track

Hi Blog...well this morning I finally got back to the track for Week 4 Day 1 of C25K. I have done it before but thought I would not move forward until I can do Week 4 without much effort. Surprisingly, although I didn't push myself, I did do it better than previously and what is more miraculous the GPS in my dumbphone (opposite of smartphone) actually found me. The secret is to get the program up on my phone before I even leave the kitchen so it gives the dumbphone time to find me before I actually get to the track. Well that is what I did this morning and it worked.

I've made a start at getting back to my restrictive diet (although I did have a cappucino this arvo with REAL milk) - so far so good. I was going to make a no sugar cheesecake slice but hubby has the breadmaker plugged in where I wanted to plug the Food processor so I am going to wait until tomorrow now.

I think I have a new TV addiction. I have been very naughty and downloading movies and tv shows from the internet (for free). We are actually looking at the new Downton Abbey Series 3 that is showing in the UK but hasn't started here yet and prior to taking off for Woodgate I downloaded the first series of Grey's Anatomy. I never watched it when it started here but have just watched the first episode and it will probably become my daily afternoon R&R if I can manage to squeeze it in before Roger gets to the lounge around 4pm. Fingers crossed.

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I am going off now to try and change my doctor's appointment. Falls on a day when I go to U3A and I also want to try and bring it forward. I am a tad confused with all the stuff I am reading and think I will ask my doctor to refer me to the Naturapath in the same clinic to see if she can help me with what I should and should not be eating to fix my gut problems. The more I read the more confused I get. I guess in the long run it is a bit of trial and error - if it doesn't upset me it is fine. If it does, DON'T eat it - right?