Using the stash and days 154 to 160

I have a horrendous head cold so am pretty pleased I have been able to do any sewing at all. The stash report is not great but I have used some.

Fabric used 1/2metre
Fabric used to date 18 1/4 metres

Goal for 2010 Use 100 metres.

Spring has arrived and these flowers in the garden have certainly made me smile.

 On the exercise front I have managed the gym every day but that is all that can be said. My toe is still causing me enormous grief. I could show you a picture but won't as it is gruesome. Thursday night a horrendous head cold hit me. I still feel like death warmed up and it probably accounts for how tired I was feeling earlier in the week.

Every day but Saturday was the treadmill. I haven't kept records as I was was just happy to be able to do something.

Saturday was a session with Dave and even though I was sick he stilled pushed me hard. There is something satisfying about achieving more than you have been able to before.

I don't think I have mentioned before but I seem to have been adopted by the gym. In the beginning I felt it was the ultimate irony that a fat person could be invisible in the gym. That can't be said recently. It seems lots of people are taking an interest in me. I'm finding it quite weird.

And now to finish another pretty flower photo.

Design Wall Monday, Using the stash and days 148 to 154

One of my faults is I am somewhat of a perfectionist. I have made this hexagon twice.

 When I look at them side by side in a photo I have to wonder why. Neither are perfect but in the scheme of things both are fine. Something to remember the next time I am being critical of my own work.

A little more fabric used this week but still a long way to go to reach my goal for the year. I am getting close to a couple of finishes so borders and backings will get the total going up.

Fabric used 3/4 metre
Fabric used to date 17 3/4 metres

Goal for 2010 Use 100 metres.


Tuesday morning in the gym for a weights session and I finally felt like I was getting through my slump.


Wednesday lunchtime was a session with Dave. He called it cardio weights. I called it hell. My heart rate was certainly pumping by the end.


Thursday and a new summer top for me. I tried it on in one size and it was too big for me! Down a size and I could probably have gone down another but I like loose tops in summer. What this showed me was despite the small weight loss so far my body shape is definitely changing.

Thursday afternoon and 35 minutes on the treadmill for 3.21kms. My toe is still causing me grief but I just have to push through the pain.


Friday afternoon after the wedding I hit the treadmill again.One of those days when it felt like I was about to die even though I wasn't doing anything out of the norm. 2.69 kms in 30 minutes.

Saturday morning was treadmill again and went alright. 2.85kms in 30 minutes.

Sunday morning I did the cardio weights session again. Lets just say I sweated a lot!

Monday night and 35 minutes on the treadmill for 3.35kms. I finally feel like I'm getting my mojo back.

Using the stash and says 141 to 47

Stash usage still pathetic this week - it sums up how I'm feeling. I know I sound like a broken record.

Fabric used 1/2 metre
Fabric used to date 17 metres

Goal for 2010 Use 100 metres - will need to get moving.
 

Tuesday morning and it must be weights. 40 minutes of hard work

A lunch time session with Dave on Wednesday. I'm still in the doldrums but love that fact that he pushes me so hard.

Thursday morning and bright and early in the gym for 30 minutes on the treadmill. Must have been early as I have no idea how far I went.

Friday and I normally do the gym in the morning but I was sure I had a wedding in the afternoon. Not mine! As part of my job I am also a marriage celebrant. Not my favourite thing to do and I am expert at sending people off to a nicer place. Has my dates mixed up however - it's next Friday and apparently they are bringing 30 people. I'm brimming over with excitement - not. So 30 minutes on the treadmill in the early evening to travel 2.74kms.

Saturday was a make up session with Dave. Unbelievable how much I can sweat in 30 minutes.

Sunday and Monday were both treadmill days. Again I did not aket note of distance travelled. While I'm trying to get out of the doldrums just doing is enough.

Using the stash and days 134 to 140

Stash usage still pathetic this week - it sums up how I'm feeling.

Fabric used 1/4 metre
Fabric used to date 16 1/2 metres

Goal for 2010 Use 100 metres - will need to get moving.

Tuesday morning and bright and early in the gym. I discovered I have hit the proverbial wall. Knew it would come but oh my it's a solid one. Felt like I was lifting weights through mud but completed the session none the less.

Wednesday lunchtime and a session with Dave. Still felt like I was lifting through mud but managed some new weights.

Thursday morning and 30 minutes on the treadmill for 2.67kms. Not great but done.

Friday morning and it should have been weights but frankly I couldn't be bothered. So half an hour on the treadmill for 2.68kms.

Saturday is election day  here in Australia. I thought I would hit the gym first thing. 30 minutes on the treadmill for 2.78kms.

Woke up Sunday morning and we have a hung parliament. Uncharted territory for us and whoever forms the government will need to play nice with the independents. Realistically I think we will  be voting again within a year. 40 minutes of weights in the gym to shake out the cobwebs. I then used the cross trainer  which I loathe. 2 minutes only but my heart rate did get to 150 in that time. I'm going to add it in and hopefully get better.

Monday night and late into the gym. 2.64kms and the wall was right in front of my face and I could not push through it. To make matters worse I'm loosing my voice.

Hopefully less gloomy next week.

Design Wall Monday, Using the stash and days 127 to 133

The hexagon theme for August continues. This week an attempt at fussy cutting a hexagon for a quilt based on an old English one. My major problem I think is I do not pay enough attention to the finer detail but hey if you stand three feet away I think it looks pretty good.

Fabric usage is still quite modest but I am if nothing else consistent!

Fabric used 1/4 metre
Fabric used to date 16 1/4 metres

Goal for 2010 Use 100 metres - will need to get moving.
  
Tuesday morning and a great start to the day. I lost 1.7 kilos this last fortnight. Finally a decent loss. Spent the morning in the gym doing weights for 40 minutes.

Wednesday afternoon and 45 minutes on the treadmill for 4.03kms. I'm still mixing things up. First 30 minutes was at a lower heart rate and then I upped the pace into cardio mode.

Thursday and an interesting day. First up in the gym was an appointment with the nutritionist for a bio- impedance test. It tells you your body's biological age along with a whole heap of other stuff. I knew the results were not going to be great and had picked that it would say my age as 80. Not too far wrong - 85 was the test result. I'm not convinced of the science but it amused me. I will do again in 3 months and see what it says.

Then on to the treadmill for 30 minutes and 2.68kms. Was my favourite treadmill that I think is slower so will need to up the rates a bit to get  decent workout.

Friday and Saturday both weights days. Friday by myself and today with Dave. Worked hard both days and if this is what I can do with the body of an 85 year old watch out as I get fitter!

Sunday morning and I was up late so just 30 minutes on the treadmill for 2.95kms. I went back to the level I was doing before the toe injury and quite simply my toe didn't like it. Pounding away at higher speeds and steeper hills is not so good for it I have discovered.

Today I really paid for the exercise yesterday. My toe and in fact my entire foot was not in good shape. I did 10 minutes on the bike and 25 minutes on the treadmill. I didn't even get the distances - was just grateful to be finished.

Design Wall Monday, Using the stash and days 119 to 126

A busy week again and little time for sewing. I did start a new project for a 21st birthday present - thankfully it's two years away. Hexagons for me are quite big , 1 1/2 inches so hopefully will come together quite quickly.

Of course this doesn't make for a great stash report but here it is.

Fabric used 1/4 metre
Fabric used to date 16 metres

Goal for 2010 Use 100 metres - will need to get moving.
 
Monday night and as usual I couldn't get away early. When I finally made the gym no treadmill available so I bit the bullet and rode the bike for 30 minutes. I have never been on a bike this long - not even as a child - and when I got off my bum was numb. Too much information I know! Anyhow 9.74 kms in 30 minutes.

Tuesday morning and a quick 30 minutes on the treadmill for 2.85 kms. The pain was tolerable but my toe nail has started to lift so I think it will come off completely soon.

Wednesday and a session with Dave. He is in love with multiple reps at the moment decreasing the weights and then upping them again each set. By the time I had finished my arms and shoulders were on fire. Finishing the session was not easy as I hurt heaps but finish I did.

Thursday and an afternoon session on the treadmill. 2.64kms in 30 minutes. I am trying a new regime for a couple of weeks.. I have been doing some research and I think I need to some days achieve a lower heart rate during the session. It would seem I have mainly been in the cardio zone when I should perhaps be aiming for the fat burning zone. Time will tell.

Friday morning and again 2.6kms in 30 minutes on the treadmill.

Saturday was weights day and while my muscles did burn it was not as bad as Wednesday thankfully. Without the trainer there I think you naturally protect yourself a little more.

Sunday and 45 minutes on the treadmill. 4.02 kms. I constantly fight myself as I think I should be going harder but I have to give the new regime a try.

Monday night and a snappy 30 minutes for 2.66kms.

Weigh in day tomorrow so will see if any discernible progress.

Days 114 to 118 and a new project

Good news is my toe is not broken or crushed. Just hurts like hell. I had considered briefly not exercising while I was injured but what's a little bit of pain - right.

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday consisted of 15 minutes of sit ups morning and night. Not my favourite thing to do but it kept me moving.

Saturday morning I put shoes on for the first time and of course they were gym shoes! 30 minutes on the treadmill on a program down and I managed 2.85kms. I would be lying if I said it didn't hurt but no pain no gain.

This morning 40 minutes of weights. Interestingly my toe hurts more today - go figure.

While I was feeling sorry for myself I did indulge in a little bit of net surfing and this arrived in the mail.

It's a new pattern by Corliss of Threadbare. Inspiration came from an English Basket Quilt which I first saw here. Just lovely. Oh BTW did I tell you I have also started a much more faithful reproduction in my classes with Karen Cunningham. I do think I am mad.