On whats kept me busy

Now that my life has more indications of some kind of sanity, I figured this would be a good time to pop in, say hi and find out if anyone stills reads this space :)

Basically, my life has been defined by the word "change" these last two months. I quit a plum PSU job to join an NGO and further my desire of contributing something back to the society I took from :).  I am still grappling with the realities of the decision and while I cannot say that all is perfect, I certainly do not regret my decision.

Meanwhile we also got our home renovated and moved in to a new home. Its a good feeling to have got this thing done with by this age in life. But our financial status has become so precarious, that we are having some stressful times on that front. 

New home meant a new school for Chittu. And that means new routines and new needs. Settling into it all was also quite a process. To add to the mess, Maami- my full time house help went down with some sort of Pox and was off for nearly two months. Though it was a great relief to not have her in our face ALL the time, it was difficult for us to manage a newly constructed house with the dust still settling, a million house works pending, a toddler and our respective jobs. I have to admit, that with her return, things have got much more saner!!!

In the midst of this madness, I ran the Kaveri Half. I still cannot believe I did it.But at another level I feel like a faker, because I walked so much of the course, I feel like I hardly ran. Still at the sight of the finish line, I was grateful that it was finally over. I felt like I had pushed to my maximum ability and my legs and feet were begging for mercy!!! At one point of time during the course, I promised myself that I'd never embark on such lofty targets ever again!!! Funny that I am waiting for the Auroville registrations to open, to register for the half :) Running does amazing things to the body and mind.

Between the Kaveri Trail till today, I have run only thrice, done some kind of yoga some days, but have mostly stayed off the gym. I am yet to shift my membership to the gym closer home. However, as if to compensate, work got so hectic that I have not had the time to think of food even though I was hungry. No complaints there cos I do love my work that much! On the food side, I have tried my best to be mindful. Our poor financial status also means no more(far lesser) restaurant meals and a LOT of house work!

In the shifting process, I may have damaged my weighing scale. May be I should buy new batteries to verify. People seeing me after long have told me that I have lost a lot of weight. My clothes however fit the same and I'm hoping that no exercise after heavy duty half marathon training has not resulted in tipping the scales yet again.

Proper exercise resumed yesterday with a 5.5k run in my new neighbourhood and a Jillian Micheals yoga workout this morning. Whats up with you guys, I hardly see any updates???

Whirlwind weekend - the one with an 8k run, pizza and some super fun news!!!

Really - it feels like ages since I feel this caught up on sleep. Usually Monday mornings I wake up kind of not ready for the week ahead.

 

But this weekend began with a sleep in on Saturday after which the Scientist and I went to see the progress of our house. Did I tell you we're getting the old house we bought in 2011 modified and will be moving in soon! So yes now that the handing over date is fast approaching we're feeling that the progress is far too slow. I had a mini adventure going up the steps - which right now consist of mere frame - no step!

 

I had already packed my gym bag because I wanted to cross off Saturday's workout on this list. Also there was plenty of dinner left over from Friday night and I did not have to cook. Since we had headed out without breakfast, we hit the local "darshini" -South Indian fast food joint - where I enjoyed an idli - sambar while the Scientist got fluffy yummy pooris. I was later dropped off at the gym, where I experimented some moves with a pilates ball and kettlebells after 30 minutes on the elliptical. I reached home with my hamstrings, inner thighs and glutes thanking me for waking them up!

 

Post lunch, we headed out for some tile hunting and returned home amidst a drizzle. Dinner was simple and homecooked.

 

Sunday morning, I was up at 5.30 a.m for a designated 8k run. When I got back home and finished stretching the Scientist and toddler were still asleep. Morning rituals later, the Scientist demanded the execution of my promise - a Mac Donald's meal so that he could get Chittu the "Minians" toy series.

 

 I relented because I had a great run and was ready for some carbo loading!!! But breakfast at Mc Ds was not as good as I expected and I had an additional sandwich from CCD to satiate my hunger! (I had already had a pancake and coffee )

 

On the cards was a India Preview of the movie Turbo

It should be hitting theatres this weekend and was just AMAZING!!! I loved it! And now for the most exciting part: The Scientist's name appeared in the list of Credits!!! Yayyy!!! What joy! This was a dream come true for the Scientist!

We spent the rest of the day at home - I napped in the afternoon and headed downstairs in the evening for a good 45 minute cycling sessions with Chittu - he cycles and I run/ brisk walk behind him. Dinnerwas planned to be at home, but I was tempted to have pizza from Papa John. Have you had their breadsticks? Does it not taste divine????

Anyway after all that crazy eating, I am going back to some serious calorie cutting. I really need to get these last few kilos off if I need to run the half marathon pain free! How was your weekend guys??



 

Foggy morning run, school admissions, size Medium and new shoes :)

I guess the pressure of running the 10k this coming Sunday got to me pretty bad. I woke up at 6.20 am and was running by 6.35 a.m. I managed the 7k slotted practise run pretty well, though I stopped in between fot some foggy morning shots:

 

 Would you believe if I said that was at 7 a.m? Well I loved my foggy morning run. The rest of the day was taken up in bank work for the home loan that always seems to require more documentation. Did I tell you guys we are remodelling the home we bought!! While it sounds pretty exciting and all, the paper work, dealings with government bodies and licensing authorities drives us to the edge.

Another thing I've been massively stressing about is Chittu's school admissions. While I know it really is not a big deal, I keep getting pangs of "I think I'm not doing enough" time and again. I know there is no" enough" per se. But the complexity involved in getting admissions for these not even three year olds is quite a nail-biting process for me. I'm not sure if my parents stressed about any of these things - but this competition amongst my peers and the kids peers is something that is quite psyching me out. We have applied to only two schools - one being my own alma mater which is the best in Bangalore. The other is also a much sought after school, and the chances that we will get into either of them is not a predictable figure. Anyway, my guess is that the wait should be over soon and we should know by the end of this week.

Sunday, I fixed breakfast along with the morning Chai. I ran a 6k on the treadmill at the gym and came back home to cook lunch. I napped a short while, before I did a wee bit of shopping at the Shoppers Stop sale. Discovering the size M me was fun!!! The Scienst also indulged the gym-rat in me.I got new shoes! Score!! That makes it to a total of 4 pairs of sneakers - I keep one pair  of Reeboks in Chennai in case I have the desire to run there, one is a cheap buy from the Decathalon store here in Bangalore. Another one is my fancy expensive running shoes - my Reebok Response Stability that I spent quite a fortune over  and my latest one yesterday. Its also not out of place to mention that I am completing my annual gym membership in March and thats one year of gymming!!! I will share shoe pictures soon , I promise!

 

Sometime during the weekend, the Scientist commented that he's proud of me - for waking up in the morning and heading out to run even in the fog. Yes I have become that person. Ok enough talking I guess. Anyone else running the Contours women's day 10k? I'd love to meet you, before the race :)

 

 

Updates Galore!

Hi!

On Sunday, I told you, dear readers, that I was going to have an important week. So important that, I told my manager at work that I needed half a day off. But the work that was supposed to be done in half a day, took two whole days. And I stayed away from work, without any intimation of my proposed leave.

The transaction – purchase of our home.

Really??

Pinch!

Ouch. Yes. Really.  

We bought a house. Now let me tell you that all is not rosy about it, because it involves getting work done at the Sub- Registrar’s Office. And that means – lots of “non-rosy” things which I will not cannot say here. Sibbal might just send me a notice, you know?

Anyway, everything was supposed to get done on Monday. It did not. Our lawyer said, “Alright. You just need to come at 10.30 a.m. and get this done.” Simple. Yes?

No. NO! “Just get it done” means fill up forms written with instructions in a language you cannot read, with many hands to grease and just very disheartening to know about. So our work did not “just get done”. When we were done it was about lunch time. I had some Xerox copying to do, then deliver some papers in the Bank which financed our not-so-rosy-home, relieve my bursting bladder, drink water, have lunch and then get to work. By the time I got to the last bit – work that it is, it was 3p.m. Not a time to get to office, and too late to inform boss of my day of absence. So, I went home, slept, and rested my aching back.

“I expected you yesterday”, said the Manager this morning in a grave tone. Oopsie!! No promotion next year, was my thought. Whatever.

Food & Exercise Update:

Been a good girl, except the Rava-Onion Dosa at Shanti Sagar on Monday, during a much needed coffee break in the registration process. Been keeping up with Phase 1 South Beach Diet, adding fruits, as an exception to the general phase I rules.

My elliptical, kind of died on Sunday, and needs to be fixed. Yesterday I managed to climb a lot of steps and walk as well. Am thinking of walking/ running in the park this evening.

Weight Read :82.3kg this morning. But, please dear God, don’t make it increase tomorrow. I am working really hard on this.

 I might just achieve my New Year Goal of making it below the 80 mark. Do you think I will get there? Any suggestions?