Week Ten, Two To Go

I've been doing lots of running. Lots and lots of running, certainly by my standards. I've finally gotten fit enough to do the city loop comfortably (around a 6.25KM round trip) during my lunch break. Took me about 40 minutes today so that's an average 6:40 pace (about 9km/h). I'd like to be able to get that down to a 6:00 pace eventually.

Starting to really enjoy jogging around again, though this does mean that I've had less time in the gym to do weights. I think I've actually lost some muscle tone as a result, but at least I'm closer to my target weight.



Two more kilos to lose to get to my goal and two weeks to do it in. Should still be possible if I focus and keep up the cardio. It's also all in prep for the 20K that we'll be walking on the 23rd.

As an aside, I woke up early this morning and placed my order for a 64gig WIFI iPad, along with a camera connection kit and an iPad dock. Apple should hopefully ship it out to the office in time for the launch day on the 28th of May. I just hope that they don't have a problem with shipping as I'd be rather disappointed without an iPad for the weekend. Now I'm also looking around for new bags, this Tom Bihn one looks pretty good.

Landscaping and Week 9

Ah, another long weekend. I could really get used to this whole four day work week arrangement. We used our extended break for labour day to lurch back into the some work in the garden, once more with John and Sheena's help of course. There's not too much left to do aside from the eastern side of the house, not somewhere we usually spend much time but it's such an eyesore that we can't wait to tidy things up.



The dirt around the Hill's Hoist would need some attention too, as well as the run off from the gravel pit overflow.



A little bit of bedding sand and some 400mm tiles would give us stepping stones a path around the side of the house.



Then it's just a matter of piling on more hoop pine to cover up all those unsightly weeds and unused concrete drains. I love mulch, it hides everything.



Lots more mulch, a few more tiles to extend the existing platform, some more cement and a heck of a lot of river rocks later. Now the back of the house is pretty much complete. Though now that I look at it I think a few plants in the corner wouldn't go amiss, perhaps an agave or two.



Now the last section is under the balcony where the rubbish bins live. That'll need a bit more thinking with drainage, retaining walls and lots of paving to consider so we're happy to leave that for another day.

It's been a while since I've carted around the wheelbarrow so we were feeling pretty sore the next day. Seems like all that hard work (abstaining from drinking coke zero all day too) didn't make much difference on the scales. Guess I've hit another plateau and will have to take the exercise regime up a notch.



Only three weeks left and I'm beginning to tire of this whole process. Happy with the weight loss and enjoying the exercise, but the weekly weigh-ins are getting a little old. Look forward to finishing up so that I can down shift to something more sustainable.

Week Eight, Cardio

Woohoo! Finally a week of decent results. Today was the ANZAC day public holiday so I got to have a sleep in (till 6:30) and whipped out the scales and measured before breakfast. As a result the numbers may be a little artificial but I'm chuffed regardless.



A few odd ones there, particularly the increase in hips. Overall I think the rest of my numbers have been favourable. It's been almost a full week of running on the treadmill, jogging around Brisbane or a super walk while in Toowoomba so I was hoping to burn a few kilos off. Also need to buff up my stamina for a 20K walk that Alison and I will be doing with the family at the end of May. Should be good fun.