Travel

This trip is proving to be a pretty solitary experience. The Boyf's work has been extended by 2 weeks, and his monster days mean that I'm left to wander the streets, explore many many ye olde buildings, trawl the museums and hunt out the good eats on my lonesome.

All this time to myself has left me feeling pretty lost for words so I thought I'd share some of my photos instead.

Weight Loss Weekly

Another week zooms by and it's time for Weight Loss Weekly, a collaborative blogging experiment where Sunny, Joie and I discuss our efforts at weight loss. Lately the gals and I have been talking about exercise, which at times is evasive, other times right there under my feet tripping me over.

My goal has been to incorporate exercise into my life each and everyday, and so far I've been able to do that. My main source of exercise has been walking, and bit by bit I'm adding in some simple body weight exercises, squats, sit-ups and my Everest of exercise, push-ups.

Push-ups have always been an enigma to me, and it seems they are keeping their mystery for now. I've been working on the hundred push up challenge consistently for a month and I don't feel like I've got any better. Persevere I will, I'm taking this as an opportunity to prove to myself that I can keep going, commit to something and put the effort in order to enjoy the rewards. If anyone has got any pointers on pushups I'd love to hear them, shout out in the comments.

Doing daily exercise is important for me, it keeps me on track and makes me feel energised and motivated. I think the key to sustaining this is that it's moderate exercise, nothing too strenuous or draining. Right now, it's all about doing something, moving and enjoying it.

My goal this week is to keep up the daily walking, squats, pushups and situps, which I do every second day. I am going to add in some more body weight exercises on the alternate days, some back exercises, more leg work and holding plank, hopefully the core work will help with the pushups.

Don't forget to check out and cheer on Joie as she exercises through her week at Joie de vivre: An amateur gourmet's guide.
Sunny is off on her family vacation this week, enjoying some sun and will be back next week to check in.

Weight Loss Weekly

"Follow your inner moonlight; don't hide the madness"
Allen Ginsberg

I look in the mirror and I don't see rock hard abs nor thighs of steel, but what I do see is someone who is trying and that makes me smile.

Weight Loss Weekly is a collaborative blogging endeavor. Sunny, Joie and I get together to talk goals, with exercise being the theme for now. Check out how the girls went this week with their exercise goals.

Joie: "Summer for me means cute dresses and tank tops. And what do tank tops reveal? My arms, which are looking more toned!" read more at Joie de vivre: An amateur gourmet's guide Joie de vivre: An Amateur gourmet's guide

Sunny: "I've been feeling a little bit lazy this week. I started out good, I actually stepped foot into a gym on Wednesday..." read more at at That Extra 20 Pounds

I'm still exercising every day, I've even upped the ante a bit this week adding in squats, sit-ups and yoga to the push-ups routine, which has been a good challenge, not just in a physical way but also in that comeongirlyou'vecommittedtothisyoucandoitgogogo type way.

Being away from home has actually made it easier, which is a much welcomed surprise. Life is much simpler when you're on holiday, sleep, eat, explore and repeat. The Boy has been busy working, working, working so I have been left on my own which has been kinda nice, there's something about having to rely on yourself that has it's own kind of quiet appeal.

On our last day in York I was lucky enough to score the work hire car to myself, and in an absolutely uncharacteristic impulse, I drove off down the hedged countryside roads sans map, and on a mission to conquer my usually overwhelmingly strong lack of direction.

My spontaneity was well rewarded when I stumbled upon Fountains Abbey and my exercise for the day was well and truly sorted. I wandered around the grounds of the now ruined monastery, amazed at the grandeur and peace of the place. The walk through the surrounding gardens and forest was like stepping into one of my childhood story books and I couldn't help but grin at my fortune, what a life!

This week, I'm feeling determined and most of all willing. If you didn't catch Mizfit's post on this wonderful word, I urge you to check it out, get inspired and get exercising!

Greetings from the UK

"The air was soft, the stars so fine, the promise of every cobbled alley so great that I thought I was in a dream"
Jack Kerouac

It's such a joy to be fortunate enough to travel. I love everything about it, the challenges, the surprises, the opportunity for contemplation and yes I do love airplane food. Some highlights so far.....

A wonderfully, sunblessed wander through the countryside, complete with wildflowers, historical buildings, meandering streams and of course a Sunday Roast with Yorkshire Pudding all washed down with locally brewed apple cider.

Wandering and more wandering, getting lost on the little streets and being gobsmacked by the history and architecture of York.
There's so much more, The National Art Gallery, Trafalgar Square, the people, food markets, the endless daylight, the way I feel like I understand Australia in a whole new context.

The whole exercise thing has been a breeze, walking, walking and more walking is the order of the day and I've even managed to keep up with the push-ups as well as adding in a bit of yoga, such is my enthusiasm for the traveling life.

Thanks again for all your comments and encouragement, I feel so lucky to have stumbled upon this little corner of the internet, I really feel like I can do this, and I think that it has a lot to do with all of you. Happy travels.

Weight Loss Weekly

Image: vegm8383

"Zen is not some kind of excitement, but concentration on our regular routine"
Shunryu Suzuki

This week was definitely harder, and it's got me wondering if every day exercise is too much?

Weight Loss Weekly is a collaborative blogging endeavour. Sunny, Joie and I get together to talk goals, with exercise being the theme for now. This week Sunny is off to celebrate her 5th wedding anniversary and is having a week away from WLW. Congratulations Sunny enjoy your break. you can catch Sunny's adventures over at That Extra 20 Pounds.

Be sure to catch up with Joie and find out how her week of walking went. "Hooray! I hit a breakthrough this week!" read more at Joie de vivre: an amateur gourmet's guide

I did manage to exercise each day, but it was a struggle, I needed a great deal of persuasion to get up and get going and what constituted as exercise became a bit less intentional, a gentle wander with the dogs, sprinting for the train. I spose these things fit into the something is better than nothing category.

I'm hoping the next week will have a bit more structure. The flight to London was tiring, I think I'm still running on pure excitement and as a result the definition of exercise has become even more vague. Today we have a walk in the countryside planned, which I'm really looking forward to, I'm hoping it will restore my exercise ambition and that I'll be able to prove to myself that I can keep on with my basic habits no matter where I am and what I'm doing.

So to plan to plan or not to plan this is the next question. I guess I will go as far as to plan my push up days, which will be Monday, Wednesday and Friday, but the rest is left up to chance for now, much like this whole trip.

As far as the exercise everyday goal goes, I am pressing on in an effort to make my day to day life more active and inspired, to get me feeling more able to leap out into the world and move forward. I'm feeling like this trip is a great opportunity for me to demonstrate to myself that I can do this, anytime, anywhere.

I'm curious, are you able to stick to an exercise plan when your routine is totally changed? Any tips on keeping on keeping on with it all when on holiday?

Weight Loss Weekly

Image: The mofo JT

"Resistance is useless"
Dr Who

Monday is Weight Loss Weekly time, when Joie, Sunny and myself get together and talk weight loss. The gals and I are focusing on exercise at the moment, going forth and creating new, wonderful, healthy habits.

Check out how the ladies went this week:

Joie of Joie de vivre: An amateur gourmet's guide

Sunny: "The second week of my exercise plan! Ugh, and it was so much harder for me to stay motivated this week..." keep reading at That Extra 20 Pounds

Another week of daily exercise, can you believe it? I'm amazed. I even did push ups! Despite the crazy week, I managed to exercise every day yet again. This week was a challenge, being at The Folks' place and helping Ma organise doctor's visits and the like, left me feeling pretty tired and unmotivated. All in all I think I proved to myself that I can do this, I can make this a habit and I can stick to it.

I think what really helped me this week was deciding that exercise was my priority, I planned, I got up early and I got it done. It was also nice to think that I was showing my Mum that doing exercise every day isn't really that hard, she joined me on a few walks and it was great to get off the couch and into the fresh air together.

I've always loved walking, and this week I was reminded how much I love walking in the bush. My goal for when I get back from Europe will be to get out of the inner city once a week, find some green and walk til my heart's content.

This week the exercise plan is incomplete, I leave for London on Thursday and I'm not sure what the weekend will hold. My idea is to approach the rest of the week with a spirit of adventure. I usually have no problem exercising when I'm traveling, I really enjoy walking around and exploring, but the real challenge will be keeping on with the push ups.

• Monday: 3omin elliptical trainer and day 1, week 3 pushups
  
• Tuesday: Personal training
  
• Wednesday: 1 hr walk and day 2, week 3 pushups
  
• Thursday: 30min elliptical trainer and day 3, week 3 pushups

So, for me, the exercise continues, how about you? Have you got an exercise plan this week?