less blah-ish

Feeling better today - perhaps all I needed was a good night's rest. I was going to go to the gym after work yesterday and try do intervals on the eliptal. But just wasn't up to it.
On the way out of the gym yesterday I got caught in a heavy rain. When I got to work I changed out of my wet t-shirt and into a long sleeved shirt that I use as to keep me warm at work when the AC is too much. Naturally, when I left work last night it was back to normal temps and humidity. So I went home to change but didn't feel up to going out again so grabbed a book and crawled into bed. After a short nap I felt a lot better.
Tonight I have to go and do some cardio after work.
And the stretching the chiropractor gave me.

Read DietGirl's post about going back to the gym. During my workout yesterday I was thinking about the different types at the gym. Yesterday it was the elderly people. Once, when I was working with my trainer, an older lady kept talking to us. Comes to find out she's 84 and comes to work on her balance. (My trainer said when he's 84 he won't be anywhere near a gym! I thought I'd be lucky if I were still alive at 84.). I also thinks she's there so she's not alone so much. Then there's the 4 old guys who stand around and gossip and flirt with the other ladies more than they actually work out. The other day one was talking about a gym lady that he asked to dinner. Apparently over dinner she mentioned she never has to cook as she goes out to dinner all the time. The old man wasn't too impressed with her - either women aren't allowed to be like that or he was looking forward to a home cooked meal.

224 - aaarrrrgggghhhh

FYI - TMI
TOM
Yep - back up. I'm blaming the cravings for salty stuff during my TOM.
What is strange is that I wasn't PMSing that bad - just tired and craving saltiness, not the usual soreness or cramps. Monday wasn't bad. Tuesday was awful - the 2nd day usually is the worst - I was so tired I almost fell asleep while my supervisor was at the afternoon meeting. It didn't help that I had aching muscles (shoulders especially) because of Monday's workout. After work I was supposed to go to the gym for 45 minutes of cardio but I just couldn't do it. I actually got my gym clothes on but stopped short of getting my shoes. In the end I just grabbed a book and curled up in bed. Later on I got up to watch a bit of TV and do the stretching exercises.

Meant to go in before today's session and make up my time but I just couldn't get my crap together. I puttered around so I only got in my usual warm-up.

My trainer brought in his home scale and weighed me on both his and the office scale. They both match. DARN! So I'm up to 224 (223 if I'm not wearing my shoes). He's now saying next week I'll be under 220. I'm hoping!

Today it was upper body work (and this before he even knew about TOM). I felt sort of blah. He tried to get me to do push ups on the pully thing they have. I couldn't do it though - managed 15 using the weights machine for support. The other day I could only manage 12 when using a bossu ball.

I don't know why I'm blahish. Maybe just because of TOM or worrying about my back or the weight dropping so sloooooowly or that I'm not working on it hard enough or maybe it is just the rain or that I'm counting the hours until payday.

But something made me feel a bit better! I've changed my locker. Doesn't take much, eh.
I don't rent a locker - just grab an available one each time I go in. But for the past few months I've been in locker #232 or 233. Today I changed to locker 222 - which is what I weighed on Monday. And the way the lockers at set up - when I get down to 215 I'll have to move to a different row. So - something to look forward to!

Oh darn - Dairy Queen is having a sale. Peanut Buster Parfait for $3.99! *sigh*

MLS All Star 2008 pics

The game was held on July 24 at BMO Field, Toronto.
The All Stars were playing against West Ham United. The All Stars won 3-2.

This is an advert that was on the wall of the stop for the GO train (Exhibition - where BMO Field is located).

What 'is name.

some game action. I think this was just after WHU scored but before the All Stars scored.

Beckham getting ready to take a corner. He got "streamered" pretty good a couple times.

This is Jimmy Brennan. He's the captain of Toronto FC and the lone TFC player on the All Star team. He was a sub - put in the game at the 60th minute. The crowd went wild when that happened.

Brennan congratulating fellow Canadian DeRosario after he scored the winning goal.

222 - Post-vacation

I think my trainer is getting a bit cocky - he's predicting I'll be under 220 by the end of the week. Makes me want to indulge in Big Macs and Peanut Buster Parfaits and mainline chocolate syrup.

I was actually a bit scared when he told me to hop on the scale this morning. The hot dogs at the All Star Game, the beers following, a weekend away with my sister. Not the healthiest eating but lots of walking and lots of water so apparently it evened out.

Also saw the chiropractor this morning. yeah - bulging disk. And fallen arches. Some stretching exercises and next week we'll look at shoes.

My vacation was fun. Last Wednesday I had a session, had my chiropractor's appointment cancelled and went to a movie. Thursday I went down to BMO Field early so I could get a good parking spot and then go meet a friend for lunch. It rained a couple times but cleared up later in the afternoon.
The All Star game was lots of fun - - I'll post pics later.
Drove to my friend's place and we had beers and chicken wings and stayed up late talking about stuff.
Friday my sister showed up so off to St. Catharines to apartment hunt and check out her new school and do other stuff. Then we went to the casino in Niagara Falls.
Saturday we did some more apartment stuff and then went to Niagara-on-the-Lake. Then a quick stop at a winery and a book sale at a library. Then back to my friend's place to pick up my sister's car - she went home and I headed back to Toronto.
Sunday was spent vegging out.
Which is why I was so surprised I lost weight. Imagine how much I would have lost if I really tried.

223 - Happy. Happy. Joy. Joy.

Yeah baby! 223!
Had a session with the trainer this morning. He said the other day they checked the scales and have made adjustments. So the scale was off by 4 lbs. - the asterisk beside today's weight indicates post-scale adjustment.
See my weight last Friday? So not only do you have to take the 4 lb. adjustment into consideration but the mathematicians among you will notice I managed to lose 5 lbs on my own over the past 5 days. In all honesty I don't know how the hell I did it. Perhaps the eggs and only 1 slice of toast for breakfast? Perhaps because I didn't pile the food on at the buffet - I spread it thin over the plate. It looked like a lot but wasn't. And when I was full I didn't go back for more to "get my money's worth." I didn't eat when I wasn't hungry. I didn't snack much (1 snack pack of gummy "fruit - no cookies or chips or chocolate bars). I didn't drink that much pop - but did manage to drink more water. Not as much as I should have but apparently enough. And I guess my trainer is right - a beer once in a while IS good for you! :-)
After the session I did eliptical for 30 minutes.
I got a call from the chiropractor's office - he was out sick today! Made another appointment for next Monday morning.
Had lunch (chicken) and then went to see The Dark Knight.

busy

I'm on vacation this week so I'm going to be all over the place.

Was at my sister's for a few days. She's getting her house ready to sell so we're doing repairs and painting and packing and other fun stuff. But we're not saints: Saturday we stayed up late talking; Sunday we went to a Chinese buffet for dinner; Monday we had lasanga for dinner and had Strongbow for a nightcap. oy.
B. is borderline diabetic - so I know we did more damage to her diet than I did to mine. She tests her blood before breakfast and before dinner. When I'm there I test my blood also. Mine was always below 7 - which is good. Hers varied from 6.0 (bad headache and very hungry) to mid 7 to 10.0 this post-Strongbow morning.
Another thing we do wrong is that we have a breakfast but usually skip lunch and have a huge, unhealthy dinner. We were going to have a BBQ yesterday (burgers and green salads) but there was a huge storm with lightning and thunder and hail. That's why we ended up at the Italian place - - 'cause we didn't want to pan fry the burgers.
And I was way down on my water and vegetable intake.
And while I'm trying not to obsess about the scale problem I do find I really like her scale - - it has me at 221! I know there's no way in hell that can be right but I do rather like it. :-D

Drove back to Toronto for a Toronto FC match against the Montreal Impact. This match was to decide which team represents Canada in the CONCACAF Champions League. It was a 1-1 draw but Montreal was ahead on points so they now go to the preliminary round of CONCACAF.
Wednesday I have a session with my trainer, a doctor's appointment and then I might take my car in for servicing. Maybe some grocery shopping too.
Thursday - lunch with a former co-worker. Then hang around down near BMO Field to partake of the MLS All Star events. That night I'm staying over at a friend's place and my sister will meet up with me on Friday so we can go do some business in the new city she's moving to.
Saturday I think we'll still be there but not too sure what is in store for Sunday.

Copying Sharon: pics

It is too hot too eat! So I've been sitting here all morning - in front of the fan - working on my Canada Day pictures. Yes - I've finally gotten around to loading them on my computer. I started the afternoon at the Toronto FC/Vancouver Whitecaps game. Toronto lost. :-(

When I left the game I decided to walk back downtown instead of taking the streetcar or commuter train. It was a lovely day and I was feeling pretty good and a walk along the lake seemed like a great idea.

So I took the path along the lake for a very short while,

went through a neighourhood,

took some pics in Little Norway Park,

took some pics of boats,

tried to get all artsy in the Music Garden

took a break at the "beach" then on to Harbourfront market (no pics there),

up towards the Air Canada Centre,

then up to Union Station, where I got the subway.

I checked with MapMyRun: here's the route. A nice walk - if you ignore the subsequent back problem (I'm blaming the fact that I was slouching on the subway).!

Invalid

232.5 - so says the scale in the gym's office. However, my trainer said there was no way I could gain 4 lbs in a week. Then he weighed himself and the scale read higher than his scale at home says his weight is. So he said next week he'g going to bring in his scale and try that.....and that this weigh-in was invalid. Loving that bit!
I know my eating hasn't been the greatest but I can't believe I'm up that much. So I'm gonna take a break from the scales and just keep working out and doing my cardio and drinking my water. And I really have to clean up my eating. Eating-wise I've been slipping (not 4 lbs of it, mind you) so I'm really going to start behaving there.

Today's work-out was really hard. No back problems (oddly enough - since I talked to the chiropractor) so he had me jumping about and swinging weights around. Tried to get me to pass a weight around my legs while trying to do a sit up but I have absolutely no abdominal muscles so we had to modify that one. Then he had me do stuff on the aerobic steps: step up, then step up and bring the other leg up as high as possible, then a sort of shuffle jump. I think he said it was biometrics. Anyway - a cardio heavy workout. Then I did 30 minutes on the eliptical - speed @ 2, about 150 - 160 steps/minute - next time I'll try kick it up a few notches.

ouch!

Remember the class I took on Tuesday? Wednesday night I began to feel it. oy. Not in the abs, mind you. But in my hips. When I got out of my chair - man, the first few steps were painful. More limping around like an aged hobbit. This morning wasn't much better. But I made myself get up and head to the gym. Despite how crappy I felt I was going to take a class but I was late so instead I did two 20 minute sets on the eliptical. No interval training though - just a good steady pace. Talked to my trainer for a bit - told him about the visit with the chiropractor/nutritionist. He also wants me to up the time I'm on the eliptical - next week I'm to add another 5 minutes to my set. wow.

When I got home I had call from work. Someone had called in sick and they wanted me to come in early to cover some work he would have had to do. So I puttered around until it was time for work. You wouldn't believe the number of times I had to go up and down the stairs! But going down the stairs is preferrable to having to climb up them again.

Coco rocks!

I've been following this blogger for a while - she's very inspiring.
Courtney is rather well known in the WW world because she lost something like 200 lbs. After a few years she quit WW. She was quite active on her own (cardio, biking) but she gained some of the weight back. She's now back at WW and working on losing this weight.
But, to me, that's not the inspiring part. She's more athletic now for the sake of moving around and feeling good about herself. Her recent adventures in training for a triathalon had me on the edge of my seat. She had me worried for a while because she hurt her foot and was told to stay off it. No matter - she recently successfully completed her first triathalon!

I am seriously thinking of taking up running - depending on what happens with my back.

230 - scales

Yeah - up a pound.
Maybe.
When my trainer had me weigh in this morning he asked me what I had done to show a 1 lb gain since Monday. Well - I haven't been snacking but I haven't been eating as well as I should. At last night's game I had a hot dog and a bottle of ice tea - - because eating like that at a game doesn't count. At least it shouldn't. I know hot dogs are the worst processed food EVER but I WAS AT A GAME! As for the ice tea - yeah, that's pretty processed too. I should have had water. And, like I said, after Monday's session I haven't been eating that well.
However - in an effort to make me feel not so bad he said that the office scale is off a few pounds. His fancy schmancy scale at home has him at 198 but the office scale has him higher. So he thought I should try the scale downstairs. So I hopped on - it had me at 215, 220, 218. Can I just say how much I love this scale now? At least until my trainer hopped on - it weighed him at just over 200. So he got a 45 pound weight - the scale read it correctly. Another 45 pound weight - and the scale was off by just over a pound. So I figure the scale is reading my weight wrong by about 5 pounds. So maybe I'm 225????
Does that sound like I'm grasping at straws AT ALL? ;-)

My trainer also suggested I see a chiropractor about my back. It's been just over 2 weeks and it still bothers me a bit. So I took the card that one of his other clients gave him. It seems this doctor is also a nutritionist. So after my session I went over to see about an appointment. As it was his next patient was running late so I was able to get in for a consult right away. He thinks I might have a bulging disk - - but he'll do a proper diagnosis next week. As for the nutrition: he says we can talk diets but other than recommending what to eat he isn't going to give me a meal plan that is set in stone. I was a bit disappointed that he thinks that vegetarianism isn't good for me at this point. Although he doesn't seem to be too concerned that the scale isn't showing a loss considering that I've been working out for 2 months. He said some of it could be muscle gain, water retention or just the time of day that I weigh in.

I wish we still had Boots here - I'd weigh in there like Sharon does! (We used to have Boots in the mid-70s but they didn't last that long. They replaced the Tamblyn chain.)

Day off. BMI. Wii. Unmentionables.

Day off work for me today! There's a soccer game at 7:30 and since I'm on the night shift I thought I'd give myself a little holiday.
Went to the gym today - no session with the trainer, just me working out on my own.
I took a class - ab work. I can't do a sit up to save my soul. ugh. But I did pretty well on the other stuff - light weight work, push ups, step work, stretching. It was an hour long class. Then I did 20 minutes on the eliptical (2 min. slow, 2 min. fast), took a break, another 10 minutes. I wanted to do more but just didn't have it in me. So I grabbed a magazine and read while I rode a bike - 30 min. at a slow pace (just over 3 miles, I think) - time just flew by.
Had Japanese for lunch - tofu, rice, veggies.
More shopping - this time for fatigue relief pads. Going to use those to work out on when I don't go to the gym. Also picked up a birthday gift for a friend's daughter.

Last night I set up my Wii and put in the WiiFit. I haven't played it since the weekend I bought it in May. According to my old stats my weight was 228 and my BMI was 40.27. Yesterday my numbers were 227 and 40. 23. I deleted that mii and will create a new one and try to do a Wii work-out every day. And I also found a Wii dance game. Perhaps I'll add that to the mix - hopefully I'll not only lose a bit of weight but also gain some rhythm!

As for BMI - Sharon has been blogging about the ridiculousness of this standard of fat measurement. I've heard for ages that it is inaccurate but some part of me still wants to at least fall within its "overweight" range.

I wrote before about my sports bra. I rather like it - it keeps the girls down and the velcro straps make it more comfortable than any other sports bra I've had. Since I'm working out at least 5 times a week I think I'll need another one. Laura had a great post yesterday about being "A Fit Woman" - it is a great quote from Missy Parker, the founder of Title Nine. I am thinking about buying this one when I get a few dollars ahead! Some of their clothes look really nice too - maybe I'll get some when I'm able to fit into them. :-)
Also liking Bravissimo. When my sister and I went to London in January I made an appointment for her here. (I didn't need new bras at the time but she bought several and swears they are awesome). They sent the summer catalogue to her the other day - I love that all the women actually look like the deomographic the store targets. I'm tired of seeing adverts with "plus size models" that I could fold up and put in my pocket. And I don't think I've seen a commercial like this over here!

229 - shopping

Friday - Had an awful/great workout. Some weight lifting and then work on the stairs. There's 14 steps - and my trainer had me run them 6 times (3 up, 3 down) X four times per set (4 sets). On my first run I beat my best time by 4 seconds. The 1st and 2nd sets were pretty good. The 3rd set I only managed 3 runs - and man was it tough. On one run someone happened to be going up the stairs and I managed to keep up with him....of course I thought my heart was going to explode when I got to the top step. The 4th set I only managed 2 runs - basically I was barely walking up at that point.

Saturday - My legs were so sore that I didn't want to get out of bed. My sister said I was limping around like an old hobbit. All day it hurt to walk.

We had a lot of errands so ended up having a late dinner of pizza. Watched the TFC vs. Chicago - had my heart broken in injury time when Chicago scored to win. gah! TFC can't seem to win on the road - other than when they beat LA in April.

Sunday - Legs still sore but thankfully not as bad. My sister and I went shopping. Usually I HATE shopping but I thought I'd suck it up as I needed some shorts. The 3 pairs I had were all Jerzee. Went to Sears - I tried on some Land's End t-shirts - the XL stuff was too tight across the stomach. Ended up getting some Adidas and Roots work-out shorts - size XL. Even though I've only lost a few pounds it seems they fit better than I remember. Actually - I was scared to try on that size as I'm so used to trying on XXL when I shop. They are a very snug fit - - when you look at me from the side I look like Homer Simpson! Also got a couple pairs of shorts at Old Navy - men's size L, although they fit almost the same as the XL.

Left around 4:30 for the drive back to Toronto. Stopped at a friend's place and we had dinner - BBQ steak, rice, spinach.

Monday - overslept so yogurt for breakfast and off to the gym for a session. More weight work and finished up with some testing on the eliptical. One minute @ 2, 2 minutes @ 10. Man was that hard - but I made it! My trainer gave me some books to look at to try put together an eating plan. Then I went back on the eliptical for two 20 minute runs. And then I had a really nice long hot shower.

400

Awake at 5:45am this morning. Wish I knew why - fell asleep late, wasn't that tired despite the cardio and weight lifting. Listened to my iPod for a while.
Around 8 I went downstairs and put in a load of laundry. Then came back to the apt. and called my internet provider to find out why I still don't have service. Got bumped to the tech dept. and the guy said it becasue something is wrong with the ethernet cable. So he explained how to set up the USB cable. I am now back online!
Then back down to put the load in the dryer, back up to take a shower and get ready for work.
Notice what I didn't write?
No breakfast! Despite feeling hungry while dealing with the 'net guy I didn't eat anything. Then it was a mad rush to get to work. Awake 5 hours and still running late!
Grabbed 2 100gm yogurts and water and headed to work. They didn't do the trick. I ate slowly.....well, as slow as possible when you're trying to ration out 100gms of anything. Still hungry despite drinking lots of water. So I had a muffin top - carrot & bran.
However - at lunch time (1.5 hours later) I was hungry. I was going to have the stir fry but opted for a roasted red pepper and feta whole wheat pizza. And a Pepsi.
I was fine until I was getting ready to leave work - started to feel a wee pit peckish. So I refilled my water bottle and made for the gym. Peckish all through the warm-up but was fine during the cardio. 10 minutes on arc trainer, 20 minutes on eliptical (2 min. slow, 2 min. fast) and 10 minutes on a bike. By now I was hungry. A quick shower - all the while thinking of the last of the potato soup in the fridge at home.
However - the burger place across the parking lot was closer. :-( Terribly convenient that.
The 400 calories I burned at the gym = the calories in the fries, or the burger without the cheese. *sigh*

Work eats. Vitamin question

Yesterday's staff meeting was lovely!
Management has realized that incentives are needed to get people to these meetings. Their solution? FOOD! Yesterday's spread had Montreal smoked meat sandwiches, roast beef sandwiches, macaroni salad, potato salad, coleslaw and make-it-yourself poutine (2 cheese options!). Vegetarian option: tomato, basil & feta cheese salad (my personal fave). And of course water, bottled juice or pop, tea, coffee. Dessert was spice cake with icing & walnuts.
The line snaked thru the caf, down the hall almost completely around to my workroom.
I had about 2/3 of my smallish order of poutine - just put a few curds of squeaky cheese on it and when they were gone I stopped. Besides the gravy didn't melt the cheese. And I had a Pepsi and 1 small square of the cake.
Then while everyone was in their post food stupor the meeting started - a meet and greet, videos, power point presentations, Q&A. Lucky for me I had lots of work so I was able to duck out and only heard parts of it in the office.
But the funniest thing? Around 6pm, well after the meeting ended, Albert went to get a drink in the caf. The worker there gave him a leftover plate of spice cake and told him to take any drinks he wanted. He came back into the office with 4 fruit juices and a bottle of water. So I cheated and had 2 more small squares of cake.
Now, for me personally, this whole "meeting meal" was a waste. I'd already had a big piece of sheppard's pie and a Pepsi for lunch. I really wasn't hungry but thought "It's there, why not?" In the end I didn't have dinner when I got home. I thought that if I got hungry I'd have a salad but I was fine.

After work I had to go to the drug store for toothpaste and thought I might as well get the vitamins my doctor talked about last Saturday. Instead I came across some other interesting vitamins: carb vitamins and weight loss vitamins (they claim to maintian good metabolism). Has anyone heard of these? I'll try find a link to them.

I told my trainer what my doctor said about OHIP delisting dieticians. So now he is going to draw up an eating plan for me. The problem is that I am working on going meatless and he wants me to eat chicken and lean meats. Plus other foods that aren't exactly vegetarian friendly. He seems more bothered by my choice than my doctor.

229 - Back at it

For the last half of my shift I am in the basement. From about 2pm it sounded like the people above us were moving furniture - quite a lot of heavy furniture - - all about the place. However - since we are under the reception area it was highly unlikely they were moving about the built in seating area.
It was, obviously, the thunder part of the severe storm warning/alert/watch.
When I left work it was a bit darker than normal and there was that humidity that wraps around you like a wet wool blanket - so much fun to walk in! About a block later I saw a long thin finger of lightning touch down from the sky. And it seemed the rumbling thunder reset my heart rate. So instead of making to the gym I headed home. Just as I got to the entrance it started to rain. Oh boy did it rain. And more lightning. And more thunder - so much that car alarms were going off up and down the block! It rained for a couple hours.
So instead of going to the gym and sweating I stayed in my apartment and played Spider Solitaire and had dinner (salad, potato soup, roll, Pepsi). However, since I don't have A/C it was a muggy evening in. Perhaps soup wasn't the best choice??? And it took a long time to get comfortable when I went to bed.
Awake this morning at 7am when the landscaping crew thought that was a good time to cut the grass. Breakfast, shower, a quick tidy of the apartment and then I was off to the gym. A good warm-up - I pushed myself a bit this time, and then 20 minutes on the elliptical (2 min. easy pace, 2 min. harder pace). Then my trainer showed up. After a quick weigh-in (229! Down 1lb from Monday evening, 1/2 lb up from a week ago) and it was off to work with the weights. Mostly upper body stuff as he didn't want to reinjure my back and then I finished off the session with 20 minutes on the elliptical (easy pace).
Had a couple yogurts (100 gm each) when I got to work although what I was really craving was a chocolate dipped donut.
Lunch was sheppards pie with a tiny salad from the cafeteria. And a Pepsi.
But I have been drinking water. I got a water bottle from work - a metal one that holds 3 1/2 glasses of water. Working on my third bottle right now. Other than having the feeling that I have to piss like a race horse I'm feeling pretty good.
A staff meeting soon. Apparently there will be food.

Step forward - step back

After work on Monday I wanted to go to the gym but realized I forgot my gym pass. So I ended up at the grocery store. I had just meant to pick up salad stuff but also picked up rice milk, bread, vegetarian lunchmeat, vegan cheese, some fruit and yogurt. Got home and put the stuff away, picked up my pass and walked over to the gym.
I did a so-so warm-up: I can certainly tell I haven't worked out in a few days! Also - there was a mom and son there getting a boxing lesson. Did a good 20 minutes on an eliptical - was working out to a exercise thing I bought on iTunes. Took a quick break and then went to a different eliptical that has a tv. Watched Bones (The Intern in the Incinerator) - I hadn't seen this one before. While I kept moving for most of the hour (drank water during the breaks) I don't think it was a good work out - I just didn't move as fast or as much.
Got home around 9:30pm. Had a salad, fixed some soup & roll and had a late dinner.

Today I slept until almost 9am so no going to the gym. Had breakfast and packed snacks and lunch for work. Walked to work - actually early for a change. Had lunch with Kim - we stayed in as we were on standby for stuff. Nothing actually happened so a bit later we went outside and sat in the sun for a bit. Right after work I'm going to head to the gym - although that is in doubt as we are currently under a severe weather watch. Isn't that just the way - walk into work and it is supposed to rain!

Tomorrow I have a session with my trainer. My back hasn't bothered me too much today - but it is a bit twitchy when I first wake up or sit in one place too long. Hopefully things will be ok.

ETA - the step back mentioned in the title? I gained 1.5 lbs. over the weekend. Not surprised considering the pizza, poutine, beer and Goldschlager. *sigh* But on the step forward? Made it to the gym and managed a clean eat day.

Monday

Saturday - a very late post-game pub visit with Scott, then there was the very long, very bizarre trip home.
Actually the evening involved 2 trips to the pub - 1 right after the game, and a call-back from Scott when he missed his train at 11pm. Visit 1 saw us down 2 pitchers of Stella and 2 shots of Goldschlager. Visit 2 saw us drink 2 pints, 2 shots and an espresso (Scott). Then he left to catch the train at 11:45 and I began the trek to outer Scarberia. This involved walking up to King St. to wait, wait, wait for the streetcar, a quick stop at a corner store to pick up a Pepsi - because despite all I had already had I was still quite thirsty, another wait for the Yonge St. subway and - in what had to be the most foolish thing I did all night - another long wait, wait, wait at the Eglinton Station for a bus. I should have stayed on the subway and gone up to the Sheppard subway and taken a bus that would have let me off right in front of my place. But no - I waited, waited, waited for the bus and then had a 20 minute walk to my apartment. Just as I got in to my apartment I got a call from Scott - he had just gotten home - after a train ride and a cab ride. And he lives over an hour away from Toronto! Couldn't fall asleep right away - maybe 3:30am or so?

Sunday - awake around 7:30am - tried going back to sleep but no luck. So got up and muddled through. Remembered to cancel Monday's session with my trainer.
Ended the day with a phone call to my sister and we caught up on the past week. Then I took some Advil, put some A535 on my back and went to bed.
And I had an awesome night's sleep last night!

Monday - Didn't wake up until 8:30am. My back is still a bit twitchy but I feel great. Up and had breakfast, grabbed a couple snacks for work, packed my gym bag for a post-work cardio session.
As I haven't been grocery shopping I had to buy lunch at work: veggie burger with rice (instead of the fries that were originally offered), water - no Pepsi. Got a text from my trainer - he's scheduled a session for Wednesday morning - hopefully my back will be better by then.

Had an interesting conversation with Scott on Saturday: diets, vegetarianism, organic food, farmers markets and exercise. And about the fact that we are both currently having back problems. No doubt our problems are exacerbated by our weight (although he carries his extra weight well because of his height). He has an appointment scheduled with a trainer at the gym he goes to - he is dreading it because he knows he is out of shape and is scared of the work needed to get in shape (anything as long as it doesn't involve running, he says). But he thinks that perhaps the (apparently slow and steady) track I'm taking is the right 0ne - weight lifting, cardio.
He is surprised about my leaning towards vegetarianism. I've given up regular milk and use soy or rice milk now. Still working on eating less meat - but slow and steady. I was telling him about a show I'd seen on CNN - about the e.coli spinach scare from last year. So we're both in agreement on organic foods and frequenting local farmer's markets as opposed to buying bagged salads at the supermarket.

228.5 - problems

Things have just been piling up at Chez Wryly: my internet connection is still down, I hurt my back the other day, and I've been going off-diet far too often!

What I can remember from the past week:
Tuesday (Canada Day) - no work! yay. Cardio at the gym. Then downtown for a soccer game - TFC lost to the Vancouver Whitecaps. Since it was a holiday I thought I'd enjoy the lakefront festivities so I walked from BMO Field to Union Station. Took loads of pics. Didn't eat anything - lines were too long. On the subway ride home I noticed that my back was bothering me - wasn't sure if it was because of all the standing at the game, all the walking or because I was slouching in my seat.
Wednesday - Went to the gym at 9am but my back was really bothering me. So my trainer cancelled our session and had me do cardio - 20 minutes X 2. Went to my doctor and, while I was waiting to see him, called in sick to work. Almost an hour wait to see him - perhaps he was so busy because it was the day after a holiday? Anyway, he was checking my file and said I hadn't been to see him since 2006! I told him I hadn't been sick. He checked out my back - had me stretch and stand on my toes and bend over/sideways. Apparently it is a deep tissue thing - thankfully no nerve damage! Told me to take Advil and to carry on as usual - as long as it didn't cause more pain. Then he said I should schedule an appointment for a physical. He flipped thru my file and said maybe I better see my allergist again, and have a mammogram and other tests. Don't think I have to see the specialist about breathing issues since that has seemed to clear up on its own. Doubt if I have to go for heart testing again either.
I told him about my sister being borderline diabetic. So he told me to return on Saturday for bloodwork.
Thursday - back to work. Back wasn't that bad but still a bit sore. Not much happened at work.
Friday - Back still a bit sore.
Saturday - At the doctor's office at 9:30am. A tech drew my blood and told me I'd also have to provide a urine sample. Made an appointment for the physical - Sept. 17. When I told the receptionist that on Wed. I had asked the doctor for a referral to a dietician she said there was no mention of that. So then I had to see the doctor.
I told him about the gym, my sister's diabetes, my working on becoming a vegetarian and how my trainer wants me to see a dietician. He said OHIP has delisted dieticians. the only way I can get to see one is if I am diabetic. So it doesn't matter that I want to see a dietician to avoid becoming diabetic - I can only see one if I am a diabetic! Last week I called around and found out that if I want to see one it will cost me $200. yikes.
He's glad I'm working out - taking it slowly and being careful. He didn't seem to mind that I want to become vegetarian. He seemed more curious that if I were doing it to lose weight or as a lifestyle thing. I was talking to a friend who said his doctor discouraged it. Anyway - he told me about vitamins and protein replacement. So it seems everything is cool - as long as I start eating properly. got home just as the Williams match was ending.
Went downtown to meet a friend who was coming in from out of town. We were going to the friendly match between TFC and Pachuca - a Mexican team. Due to his inability to be on time for anything we had a very rushed dinner and then had to cab it to BMO. The game was fun - 1-1 at the end of 90. Since they were playing for the Carlsburg Cup the game went to penalties. Pachuca won. Excellent game - loads of fun. And thank god it was an evening game - I would have melted since it was 27 or 28 degrees at mid-afternoon.
After the game my friend and I walked to a pub for a pint and had a good talk.
Sunday - up to watch the Wimbledon mens final. Man - did that ever take a long time! Very happy that Nadal won. And his name was already on the board when he walked in the lounge! It's been a while since I watched so much tennis.
Went up to the mall for a bit but didn't buy anything. Then to a street festival. It was just beginning to close up at 6pm - just walked around a bit but my back was bothering me again. Not sure if it was because of standing at the game or sitting in uncomfortable chairs at the pub.
Caught up on my blog reading at an internet cafe.