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 :)

 

 

Another weekend out of home and old memories and weight loss!

Remember, I said wedding bells were ringing? So this was the weekend of engagement shopping for the bride-to-be. We promptly packed our bags and carried a feverish Chittu on the train to Chennai. Tatkal tickets made a budget travel possible, and the little guy was mighty excited about the train and engine. Only, the Scientist had to keep the toddler on his lap all night and managed to catch only a few winks of precious sleep.

Once we reached Chennai, both the Scientist and I crashed out once again, leaving the toddler to have fun with the grandparents! We then headed out for purchases in the sweltering heat of Chennai, and satiating the little shopping bug that had arisen in me. I was able to finally check out stores that I had always wanted to, in the name shopping for the new bride!

The engagement ring was bought, the saree was chosen and a some great conversation was exchanged over lunch. I was wary of calorie overload, and tried to stick to eating only at meal times, and not snack on nonsense in between. Dessert was skipped but more good news trickled in from a cousin who just had a baby boy! We were the first to visit the pink bundle of cuteness and it totally made our day! Sometimes, I get all emotional thinking of how as cousins we used to play under the mango and neem trees in my grandfather's house. My grandfather is no more now, but all of us cousins have grown up, begun to work, got married and have made our babies. Sigh! Time!

Sunday, I decided to head back to Bangalore, leaving the Scientist and Chittu back in Chennai to complete some personal work there. The bus journey alone gave me thinking time, and I was surprised at how I did not feel like sipping a cold coca-cola nad munching lays chips to beat the heat and solitary boredom! May be I am evolving into a healthy eater. I reached home rather tired and stuffy nosed, carrying the virus that Chittu had sufferd from all of last week.

I stepped on the weighing scale to see 77.2 this morning. I could not believe my eyes. so I stepped off and then on again. It still read 77.2. I hope putting this up here does not jinx my weight loss yet again, so I go back to seeing 79 point something tomorrow. Maybe my cutting the snack habit and not eating out is helping along with cutting back on refined carbs. My fingers are crossed that the downward trend is sustained and I don't go back to maintaining mode. I began Monday morning morning with a soup to soothe my sore throat and some warm brown bread. I shall go back to working out from tomorrow.

As you can see, I had a near perfect weekend. How was yours?

Whirlwind weekend again! Shoe shopping, Salon Appointment, Pizza time & A Movie!

This weekend was awesome. Once again! I Two days of missing gum during the last week was well compensated. Saturday, I did the dance aerobics group class at 7 a.m. Came back home, had my proten shake using half an apple, milk, curd and protein powder. Then it was lunch time. My brother joined us for a simple home cooked lunch followed by musk melon and custard for a simple, yet refreshing dessert.

The toddler went off to sleep early, and we caught up with a movie - Kahaani. Awesome!!! Maami wanted to take the evening off, and we headed out for shoe shopping for the little guy. He got reebok berks. And cute light shoes from the oldie-goldie- Bata. Man!! these kids are so lucky. I got my first pair of branded sneakers only two years into law school. And even now, I wait till they are totally worn out, before I bombshell another one!

Dinner was a tradition in Maami's absense - Papa John's pizza. The garlic breadsticks were yummier than ever!!!!

 Sunday began with me contemplating the going to the gym. I reluctantly went, planning a upper body strength training work out. Instead, I did a 5-k run on the treadmill at 9 mins 15 secs for a kilometer. I was elated. Wow!!! I may be able to do a 10-k in May!

Another home cooked lunch, was followed by a noonly siesta.  I love those. Then time for Salon appointment. Finally got a hair cut. Pictures later!!! Then time for veggie shopping. By which time my nose was announcing the arrival of a cold!! Gah! So i had another carb high steaming hot dinner and went to bed early. No gym on Monday though. I don't want to be sick during the vacation!!!

Yes the vacation is almost here. Just need to get through these 5 work days.

Wow!! Another whirlwind weekend!

True to the title, I just don't get how the 48+ hrs from Friday evening to Sunday evening roll by so fast.

I began Saturday morning with a resolve to cheer up and not fret about the scale readings. I headed early to the gym for a session of weight training - arms, chest and back which was supposed to be followed by a dance aerobics session. But the class was cancelled, and I went back to my usual treadmill + elliptical routine. I upped the treadmill run from 10 to 12 minutes on Saturday, and have no pain till now, which means - so far, so good.

While I do enjoy a good run on the treadmill, my fear of injuring myself, given my weight, makes me rather controlled and watchful. I began running for 10 mins and have increased to 12.

I headed back home and we had breakfast. Then, I made lunch and went out with the Scientist for some paperwork with our newly bought house. Came back, finished lunch and headed to the theater with the Scientist for "the safe house", which pretty ok, but gave me a bad headache.

I chose to skip the popcorn and coke at the movie and instead opted for the hot chocolate, which now makes me proud :). I also took a bite from the Macadamia cookie that Scientist bought at cookie man, and decided I'd eat it if I found it tasty. But it was not, and the Scientist gladly devoured my cookie in addition to his own.I did a teensy bit of shopping too as every store in the mall had a sale going, and I now find more and better clothes that fit me :) Back home and had quite simple dinner with my brother who was visiting. Chittu had some fun with his uncle, before we hit the bed after a long day :)

Sunday morning was spent with the Hindu paper and hot chai :) while Chittu was trying to locate the car ads. The baby loves automobiles! Already! Then breakfast, little bit of tidying and then lunch, followed by pulse polio drop for Chittu. Then another movie - Ek main aur ak Tu at the same theater we went to yesterday. Since these movie tickets were bought using Citibank credit Card, we got 2 free cokes and popcorn. Ofcourse, I had the Scientist, fix the tuck tray to his side of the chair and took only a couple of swigs and bites, when I could not fight the desire to eat.Then there was some more Shopping :) and then home, veggie/fruit shopping, dinner and this post. But that's not before we brought home a brand new Macbook!!!

What a weekend, I say!! Workout clothes are laid out, fridge is well stocked and I'm ready for another week!

How was your weekend?

Btw, I've added a page called progress pics.Anyone seen em?

Whirlwind weekend? Not really!

I’m late, I know. But the kid was miserably ill over the week end. We went from a cold to a cough to severe wheezing. The wheezing subsided only after a couple of doses with the nebulizer. So quick weekend update:

I worked out both Saturday & Sunday. Saturday, I did the group dance aerobics class at the gym. It was awesome once again. We are planning a pilgrimage this coming weekend and I expect to miss 3 gym days. So, I compensated by doing a fantastic cardio session on Sunday. Like I read on someone’s blog – You never regret a workout. EVER.  Another thing I read on someone else’s blog (Roni’s weigh?) - the hardest part about going to the gym is getting your butt out of the door. So true, for me!

Food wise – honestly, I’ve been alright. Counting calories to about 1300 per day. But I’ve been eating all foods in moderation, including white rice.

Weight wise – I don’t know what to say. Yesterday, scale read 80.8. I was happy. But today, I recorded 81.5. One thing I know for sure is that white rice really stands in the way of weight loss. I lose beautifully, when I totally skip it. But then there come times when I wake up feeling exhausted. That’s not good! I will watch till the end of this month, and go back to phase I, South Beach Diet if I still hover around the same numbers. I need to check up on the measurements also. The new gym routine might have a little role in the weigh-in results.May be better tone? What say?

Also I used the weekend for shopping. I restocked on Weight Watchers jam, Oatmeal and Granola Bars from Godrej – world food store, fruits and veggies from the local market and have whole masoor dal dosa (lentil crepes) batter ready in the fridge. 

As I said we are going to be travelling this weekend. And, I wonder when I will ever graduate to the 70’s. I really need some encouragement now. After being good and resisting the mint oreo cookies the Scientist bought. 

Organic Shopping at Jaivik Mall, Bangalore and other things

Hi!

It’s Thursday! How has the week treated you? Mine has been fairly good so far. The Bangalore winter has arrived, and has brought with it sunny days which have a constant chilly wind blowing. So it’s hot to walk outside, but it’s kind of coldish indoors. At work, it feels that the air conditioner is revved up a bit and therefore yours truly is contemplating bringing a pull over to work.

In other news, a long pending visit to an organic store – Jaivik Mall- promoted by the Karnataka Govt was made yesterday. For those interested, the store details are below:

Jaivik Mall, Lalbagh Botanical Gardens

Double Road Gate

Bangalore

Timings: on all days from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Ph:080-65624197.

I learnt from the store manager that the veggies come in on Friday Mornings. That certainly goes on the to-do list. I really like to believe that the food I put in my mouth is not laden with pesticide. The store manager also told me that the proceeds go straight to the farmer. So that is another thumbs up.

My purchases included organic, no sugar added peanut butter, which I had with my mid-morning snack of baby cucumbers today. Yummm. I just wish I can scoop out spoonfuls of it and relish. But I will not. I thought about eating it about thrice a week. On those days I will skip the Happy Cow Low Fat Cheese wedge I usually eat as a “look forward to” snack in the evening. It’s these things that keep me going in the right direction. Little healthy treats!

Also, I was curious about the calorie free sweetener – Stevia. Will post a review soon. The scientist recommended cold pressed coconut oil. So that went into the shopping cart, along with millet biscuits and some organic dals (lentils). Then I picked up some hand made soap in turmeric, saffron and lavender variants. I sure am excited!

Weight wise, I’m doing ok - eating healthy and exercising. The aim is to get to 80kg or below by Jan 1, 2012, and to make it to a goal weight of 67 kg by my birthday in August next year. That means that I am aiming at a 2 kg weight loss every month. But what is in my short range vision is the New Year target.

Ok. Lot of talking. Chittu is due for a vaccination shot today. I get nervous on shot-day. But obviously, I know it’s for the good. So, wish me luck.

How was your week?

The week end and a few other things

We went to the National Handicraft Exhibition the last week end - the Scientist and I. We are rather co-ordinated on this sort of things - handicraft, tribal art, sculpture, paintings- you get the drift, which may precisely be why that after two years of marriage, we have an amount in savings that is not even worth mentioning. But, well, lets not spoil things, now that we went there. After priding and reveling in how much colour and fine fancy our country had to offer, we did some great shopping, consisting of some paintings and wall hangings which we will use to adorn our dream home (sigh!! when will that happen?). Just in case the guilt worm caught up with us, we insisted that our shopping shall predominantly comprise of bright colours, which will delight little Chittu. (May be the pictures will come up later). Right now however, our pieces of art are all wrapped in newspaper, concealing what lies beneath. So every time I glance at them, I slip dreamily into my imagination of how beautifully  my home will be done up. That's a long way to go I know, because I have, after two years of marriage, not been able to get the Scientist to drive a single nail into the walls of our now, rented home. 

******

I'm beginning to love this - the sitting at home thing. But considering I have not yet gone back home after the baby's birth, I wonder how well I will manage. Even worse, what do I plan to do come June 1, 2011, on which date I hope to go back to work?

******

Ok. I was fat before the baby. And baby birth has certainly not contributed to weight loss. Although I spend 45 (aha!!! you read it right fortttttty fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiive) sweaty minutes on the elliptical, the oodles, doodles and masses of lard refuse to go. And oh! must I mention the cheesy-creamy-yummmmy au gratin that I shoved down my digestive system over dinner with the Scientist this week end? But damn the calories!!After all, I get the rare romantic moment on even rarer week ends when we are not fighting.

*****

Baby calling. I'm off. 

How was your week end? Leave me a line.