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What a day

February 21st, 2012 | Posted by admin in deep thoughts | exercise | fitness | food | Glasgow | health | Scotland | shopping | spinning | stress | UK | walk | workout - (3 Comments)

I am sure all of you had normal mornings. I am sure none of you had to jump out a WINDOW to get out of your living accommodation. I did. See, my key doesn’t work well and I have a hard time unlocking it from the inside. I tried and kicked at it and swore for a good 20 minutes before I gave up, climbed up on to the window sill, and jumped. I then went in the front of the building and unlocked the door easily from the outside. Seriously, this is my life.

When I got to the office, I found it open and some random guy at my computer. He didn’t know it was my desk- granted I haven’t really personalized it….

I then proceeded to leave my umbrella at the coffee shop (I later retrieved it). And then I managed to snap off the wrappy bit of the umbrella and now it is closed by a hair elastic.

My gym workout was less than stellar. I didn’t even want to BE there, but I did 10 on the spin bike (I need a spin cushion seat!) and 10 on the elliptical, and then a bit of weights, and then I walked home via Tesco- all in all the workout was 1.5 hours and burned 560 calories. I counted the walk home as part of it, it being partially uphill and me carrying a ton of crap in my backpack.

Now, today being pancake Tuesday I decided to make pancakes. I should have realized that given the fact I can’t cook at all (other than pasta and simple things) that even a pre-made pancake mix would be a disaster. Which it was. The first one had powder in it, and the second was burned and runny. Steph, come back! I then tried to make tea (with tea leaves) and managed to mess that up as well. So I am very glad I had a backup dinner plan (pasta, faux mince and roasted veggies) which is almost done. (Jen, help! I need a big canister of parmesan, the ones here are so tiny!!!)

The rest of the night’s plan is to watch last night’s House, and perhaps more Sherlock. (Of course I will watch more Sherlock, I can’t help myself! I am such a Cumberbitch!) I also want to get through some more of the Cyber bullying book I am reading that is due in a few days.

Tomorrow I need to run errands, get my ashes, and read more.

I also need to figure out what I am giving up for Lent. I was thinking about shopping but I mean, really. Then I thought about giving up swearing, and I was like yeah, that isn’t frigging happening. Last year I gave up diet Coke. I should give up eating brownies at the library. Hrm.

If so inclined, what are you giving up for Lent?

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Update on all the things

January 25th, 2012 | Posted by cindy in exercise | Glasgow | grad school | health | life | running | Scotland | shopping | UK | update - (1 Comments)

Flat: We have put the deposit down on the flat, and hopefully should be moving 1st February if not sooner, which is what I wish. My back is not a big fan of the crappy mattress at the hostel.

Illness: I guess I am back to about 95%. My throat hurts sometimes when I wake up but I think that has to do with the ridic heat/dryness at said hostel.

Working out: Well, suffice to say I haven’t done anything other than walking about since the 10K. Now that I don’t feel like utter crap, I plan to either start running again (weather permitting) or hitting the gym. While I am still not within walking distance of uni, I have a 5 day pass to a gym close to the hostel I will be using ASAP.

Uni: I met with my professor. I have to rework my proposal and whatnot and we are meeting again next week. Unfortunately I cannot locate my proposal AT ALL. I don’t even have a hard copy; I looked through all the paperwork I had here. Unless it is hidden away somewhere and I have no idea where that would be, I am kind of screwed. I can rewrite it, but I preferred not to reinvent the wheel and just wanted to edit the old one. So I have started over. I have 71 words written. Great start, right?

Still looking into getting a new computer. My old Dell laptop is slow and the cable doesn’t stay plugged in. I will get one with my office, but it won’t be “mine,” nor will it be a laptop. Also I don’t know when space will be allocated for me.

Fandom: Still a Cumberbitch. I can’t help it. I clearly need help, stat.

And I am off to get some errands done.

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Catch up

January 18th, 2012 | Posted by cindy in Glasgow | grad school | health | UK - (0 Comments)

I’ve neglected my poor blog for a variety of reasons. 1. I have had limited internet. 2. I’ve been sooo sick. I thought it was nothing, that I was just being all dizzy and feeling crappy for no reason, but then I realized that duh, my ear is killing and is blocked, no wonder I have no equilibrium and feel like the room is spinning. I ended up figuring this out on a Friday, after the GP was closed. So Saturday am I called NHS 24 and I was told to go to Western General emergency GP clinic and there I was evaluated and assessed and told I had an ear infection {really, I had no idea.}. Unfortunately, I have really not felt much better and I have felt like crap for a week now. I do feel a little better, but my right ear is still blocked and I have trouble hearing out of it and my general energy and enthusiasm levels are less than stellar.

Then, there was yesterday’s freak out about my student loan deposit and subsequent nervous breakdown. In the end, it was fine and all has been sorted and whatnot.

The past 2 days I have been able to get out and run errands and things that I’ve needed to do which is good. Tomorrow I am meeting with my advisor to start discussing what it is I am actually doing.

So that’s about it.

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In Glasgow!

January 12th, 2012 | Posted by cindy in exercise | Glasgow | grad school | life | money woes | running | Scotland | travel | UK | winter - (0 Comments)

I’m in Glasgow! Horray!

Ok I have been here for a week, and I have been pretty busy looking for flats, trying to get things for school set up, going to Boots and Tesco, and having some sort of weird vertigo thing for the past 2 days, which hasn’t helped matters. It has been rather nice; sunny and cold which works fine for me. I need to get a picture of the sunrise or sunset over the River Clyde. Being on the 8th floor gives us great views, but the windows are dirty which is why I haven’t taken any as of yet. I’ve done a fair amount of walking, but I haven’t run since the 10K. Eep! I do have a pass for 5 free days at LA Fitness in Glasgow, so as soon as this dizziness thing sorts it self out, I can get my running on! {Or at the very least run along the river while it’s nice and sunny!}

So far I am waiting on my loans, so we can get a flat, and I can get some more clothing! I didn’t bring a lot of my stuff and I would like to get some basics of long sleeved tops and a pair of jeans and some wellies before I get too caught up in school.

I’ve been reading a lot as well, as I am not sure how much time I will have for it. If anyone has any recommendations about schooling and education in the UK, I would love to read them. Most of my knowledge is fiction based from Waterloo Road and an old copy of Scottish Education I had rattling around the old flat. I’d like something a bit more contemporary and not too dry. {I’m not asking much!}

I hope everyone is having a great week!

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Christmas wishlist

December 13th, 2011 | Posted by cindy in David Tennant | deep thoughts | Doctor Who | exercise | fitness | Glasgow | goals | grad school | health | life | motivation | nsv | Scotland | shopping | workout - (1 Comments)

Wow 2 posts in one day? Who am I?

In my new {almost} running shoes I banged out nearly a 6k in under an hour. AND despite not thinking I would have a new PR, I DO! Thanks to my clever oldest niece who had showed me how to take screencaps on my iphone you can see it. Go me!

The sky was very, very blue today. It was such a great day out for a run!

Now, to the actual point of this post. This Christmas isn’t going to be great. In fact, in some ways it’s going to suck, and there isn’t anything I can do about it. I miss my mum, end of. So I decided to try to make myself feel better by coming up with the most crazy Christmas wishlist, a top ten you may say. Please do not think that I actually believe I will get any of these things. Especially #1. I wish!

10. All this retail work has made my nails a mess. I’d love a shellac manicure and a pedicure {I don’t even need toe polish I would just kill for the foot rub!} to start off the New Year right!

9. I could sure use this for my iphone.

8. Since I am being totally frivolous here, I can see myself in Buchanan Square with this bag.

7. While I am waiting for the coffee {see below} I should stretch.

6. I will need plenty of coffee to keep me going, so those Starbucks gift cards are always welcome. :)

5.Since I am going to be working hard on my thesis for my PhD, a new computer would be a huge asset! In my dreams, I know! I can be reasonable, even if it is still a stretch.

4. I guess new super cool running shoes would be great to get as well! The New Balance 993′s would be perfect. Grey/pink is fine. Size 7. :)

3. Now that I am running I really need a Road Id. I’d like the wrist id slim, in black. But I think I need to wait until I move until I get it.

2. While I’d love to have this at my door as well I will probably have to settle for this.

Or this, even.

1. What I would really love most of all would be to open the door on Christmas and have this waiting for me.

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TGIF

December 9th, 2011 | Posted by cindy in couch to 5k | exercise | life | running | weigh ins | weight | weight loss | workout - (1 Comments)

TGIF! Not that it really has any relevance to me, as I have to work tomorrow. But I know it does matter and is relevant to most other people I know.

Today was a good day. I managed a great run with a new 3 mile PR of 45:45!

Full workout time:

I was really surprised I did it, as my foot has been hurting. I was glad to get outside even though it was cold, and to wear my new running tights! They were so comfy and amazing. I may have to get another pair!

Anyways, my foot. It’s hurting on the top across right where my toes meet my foot. I have no idea what this is, and I am sure I should see a doctor, but I am giving it another day or so as I will have to go to the ER as there is no way I am spending $25 to go into the city to see my primary only to have her send me off for an xray when I can just do that at the ER. If there was a walk in care clinic around, I would go to that, but unfortunately no.

I also am still not seeing any results on the scale. I am running longer and faster, which is great, but for all this calorie burning I would like to see something change! I know it is a number on the scale and it shouldn’t define me, but it’s really hard not to. I suppose I should do measurements again; I have to find a measuring tape.

I have to work tomorrow, as I said. It is going to be another long day, but then I am off until Wednesday unless they ask me to come in on Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday.

Have a great weekend!

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Sunday catchup

December 4th, 2011 | Posted by cindy in exercise | fitness | Glasgow | goals | health | life | motivation | running | Scotland - (0 Comments)

Thank everyone for all the kind words. I am so excited about going back to Scotland!

Since I last posted I had a work shift at work, which I thought was going to be me actually working. But it was an orientation that ended early. I work for real tomorrow- not in the department I am supposed to be in, but in mens. Nine hours. Should be fun. My feet are already dreading it.

This week I work Monday and Saturday. Wednesday I go to Boston to do biometric data for my visa, and Thursday I have a family obligation. The following week I have more shifts, including 2 days working at the Coach counter!

Today I have been for a run and am going out soon to do some errands. I did 3.1 miles in 47 minutes, which is 3 minutes shaved off my previous PR. I am getting faster! I I wish all this running and activity would show up as a result on the scale or at least in my jeans! Of course it doesn’t help that I dry them in the dryer, or at least that is what I tell myself.

Overall I got an hour in, which I am happy with. I technically didn’t work out yesterday. It was freezing out and by the time I got home from work it was getting dark. I cleaned my room and moved things around instead. I *should* have gotten up early yesterday, but I didn’t sleep well the night before and decided that sleep was more important, since I thought I was actually working yesterday. Whether or not I manage to get up early tomorrow and walk or run is another story b/c I know after nine hours on my feet I will not want to come home at 6:45ish and do anything but crash. {I haven’t worked on my feet like that in years, and teaching certainly doesn’t count since I could sit whenever I felt like it, so yeah I am being a wuss about it LOL.}

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December goals

December 1st, 2011 | Posted by cindy in couch to 5k | exercise | fitness | goals | health | life | motivation | running | workout - (8 Comments)

I haven’t really been setting any goals, unless sleeping as much as possible or setting the record for re-watching Mad Dogs counts. No? I didn’t think so.

So my goal for this month {unless I am sick or dying or something} is to work out every day. Even if I am working. Even if I have to get up earlier to run, or come home and do a video. I am proud to say that I achieved this goal today. I even managed a new PR for myself which was 3 miles in 50 minutes. I managed the first 2 in about 30 minutes {today was a C25K day}. I started the HRM a bit early to make sure it was working and left it on as I stretched at the end.

I’m feeling especially good about this because in the past I always shied away from working out outside when it got cooler. It made me wheezy which I didn’t care for. But now that I am an adult and have an inhaler for this, I really have no excuse not to hit the outdoors. It was chilly but not, freezing. I think I was overdressed, but it was hard to tell leaving the house.

I did really feel it in my feet and legs and am SO happy to be getting new trainers tonight!

Other than that, I can say that my super secret secret should be revealed any day now. :) So if you are in the know, shhhhh! And if you aren’t, but have perhaps guessed, all shall be revealed as soon as possible.

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Truthful Tuesday

November 29th, 2011 | Posted by cindy in exercise | fitness | health | life in general | money woes | surgery | true confession tuesday | walk | workout - (3 Comments)

{I really need better titles}

Since I last posted I . . . .
*still have received no comments. And whether or not it’s bad manners or tacky to keep whinging on about it, it is my blog and I can say what I want.
*have walked/run 12.5 miles. I know for some of you that’s a day’s total, but it’s better than nothing. {and my dad doesn’t believe me that I did a 5K today.}
*have continued to purse super secret plans.
*obsessed over the fact that one bit of my surgical revision site hasn’t healed well.
*read 2 novels.
*made 2 trips to the grocery store.
*have gone to the library.
*got a part time job for the month of December.

That’s pretty much it in a nutshell. I can tell you I will be working in a major department store in a what I call funky clothes section. I have basic training tomorrow, and department training Saturday. {I’ve worked retail at Christmas so I know what it’s like.} I will be working days so I am hoping I will be able to get home while it is still light out to walk/run.

I’m pretty tired right now; I had a hard time sleeping last night, so I think I am going to catch up on some tv and read.

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Insert witty title here

November 25th, 2011 | Posted by cindy in fitness | health | life in general | pain | update | walk - (0 Comments)

I had a blog post all made up in my head as I was on my walk today. Can I remember any of it now? No, of course I can’t.

I have figured out what is causing my hip/back pain. From Dr. Google I have determined that it is most likely Sacroiliac Joint Pain. I need a foam roller and a massage. Donations care willingly accepted. ;)
For the most part I will just have to keep stretching as much as I can and icing it as well. There isn’t much more I can do. Hopefully I will be able to make it bearable so that I am not being lapped by grannies with walkers on the track.

I know if I hit post, I will remember all the other things I was going to say, but it probably wasn’t very important. So here, have a picture I took on my walk yesterday. It would have looked the same as today, but today was 20 degrees warmer and I didn’t need to wear 3 layers of clothes and gloves. :)

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