My sight is fine, but my vision is hazy.
Each sense is struggling, sloth-like, lazy.
An intense pressure, a gravitational force.
Slowing each movement, swaying my course.
It had been so long, since these eyes saw your face.
A youthful image, I can now never replace.
I didn't miss you, but now that you are gone,
A feeling has grown, something dark and forlorn.
Dear time, oh shadows, will you give me no rest.
These good young people, were giving their best.
No logic or pattern, no announcement or sign.
This game of life, is not so benign.
Sooner or later, we all fall and fade.
Relinquishing life and memories made.
- Dani
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
relax
Oh what a lovely long weekend... Forgive me if I get lost in dreamy thoughts while writing this post.
In a nut shell: 3 days, no work, lots of sunshine, plenty of rest.
I spent the weekend at Blairgowrie, down on the Mornington Peninsula, with Dan and Maple (Dan's dog). We explored the bay and the back beach, and even a few of the shops near by. We had time to read, sleep-in and muck around. It was amazing.
I tend to use holidays as a chance to explore the world and do/see as much as possible. While this is a fantastic way to make the most of each holiday, it can be exhausting. This mini trip helped me to realise how important it is to relax every now and then.
The benefits of relaxation are plentiful, from physical to mental health benefits, and a lack a relaxation can lead to undue stress, which has been extensively linked to poor health outcomes.
While we obviously can't arrange a long weekend for ourselves whenever we need to wind down, learning how to relax or engaging in relaxing behaviour on a regular basis is a key to healthy living. For some people a gym session relieves stress, while others prefer a bubble bath. Whatever it is that relaxes you, make the time to do it at least once this week.
In the words of Jackie Chan, "Sometimes I do need to go to karaoke, sometimes I need to relax."
- Dani
In a nut shell: 3 days, no work, lots of sunshine, plenty of rest.
I spent the weekend at Blairgowrie, down on the Mornington Peninsula, with Dan and Maple (Dan's dog). We explored the bay and the back beach, and even a few of the shops near by. We had time to read, sleep-in and muck around. It was amazing.
I tend to use holidays as a chance to explore the world and do/see as much as possible. While this is a fantastic way to make the most of each holiday, it can be exhausting. This mini trip helped me to realise how important it is to relax every now and then.
The benefits of relaxation are plentiful, from physical to mental health benefits, and a lack a relaxation can lead to undue stress, which has been extensively linked to poor health outcomes.
While we obviously can't arrange a long weekend for ourselves whenever we need to wind down, learning how to relax or engaging in relaxing behaviour on a regular basis is a key to healthy living. For some people a gym session relieves stress, while others prefer a bubble bath. Whatever it is that relaxes you, make the time to do it at least once this week.
In the words of Jackie Chan, "Sometimes I do need to go to karaoke, sometimes I need to relax."
- Dani
Thursday, March 7, 2013
a good (re)start
Well, it has been a good start to the week, particularly on the health front. I have been eating clean, healthy food, without over indulging. Surprise, surprise... planning/being prepared seems to be a key element in this success.
Warm chicken quinoa salad with chilli zucchini and garlic broccoli (I just use whatever greens I have in the house at the time) has to be one of my all time favourite meals. (Thanks Heidi! Get the recipe here.)
Even something as simple a freshly chopped pineapple for breakfast, has helped me feel healthier and energised. (And feeling more energised is big thing for me.)
Dan has also been putting his inner chef to work and created a delicious, mostly healthy, Caesar salad.
After my recent hiatus at the gym, I can't believe that I am actually smashing out gym sessions. My overall endurance has definitely decreased, but my strength and my determination don't seem to have dwindled. I even managed a personal best on the rowing ergo yesterday.
But all is not perfect. I had a can of Coke Zero yesterday and after my gym session on Monday night I had the appetite of an animal preparing for hibernation. Though I still managed to eat decent food, it was a much larger meal than I should've eaten.
As previously mentioned, I am currently researching why people overeat and choose the 'wrong' food.
In particular, I am always baffled as to why I crave pizza when I know I enjoy eating a roast veg salad more. It doesn't seem to matter how much beautiful, healthy, fresh food I prepare, I still crave junk food. And I'm sure I am not alone in this.
Regardless, there is no magic pill that will change my attitude towards food - and even if there was, I wouldn't want to take it - I am determined to make these changes on my own. I just need a way to ensure I keep on making these changes. Hmm, if only it was that easy.
- Dani
Warm chicken quinoa salad with chilli zucchini and garlic broccoli (I just use whatever greens I have in the house at the time) has to be one of my all time favourite meals. (Thanks Heidi! Get the recipe here.)
Even something as simple a freshly chopped pineapple for breakfast, has helped me feel healthier and energised. (And feeling more energised is big thing for me.)
Dan has also been putting his inner chef to work and created a delicious, mostly healthy, Caesar salad.
After my recent hiatus at the gym, I can't believe that I am actually smashing out gym sessions. My overall endurance has definitely decreased, but my strength and my determination don't seem to have dwindled. I even managed a personal best on the rowing ergo yesterday.
But all is not perfect. I had a can of Coke Zero yesterday and after my gym session on Monday night I had the appetite of an animal preparing for hibernation. Though I still managed to eat decent food, it was a much larger meal than I should've eaten.
As previously mentioned, I am currently researching why people overeat and choose the 'wrong' food.
In particular, I am always baffled as to why I crave pizza when I know I enjoy eating a roast veg salad more. It doesn't seem to matter how much beautiful, healthy, fresh food I prepare, I still crave junk food. And I'm sure I am not alone in this.
Regardless, there is no magic pill that will change my attitude towards food - and even if there was, I wouldn't want to take it - I am determined to make these changes on my own. I just need a way to ensure I keep on making these changes. Hmm, if only it was that easy.
- Dani
Monday, March 4, 2013
slowly, slowly
Did you know that I've been to the Himalayas?
I climbed to Annapurna base camp, which is 4130m above see level. The entire trek, all two weeks of it, was one of the hardest but most rewarding things I have ever done. By the time we flew out of Jomsom, my legs we constantly aching, my bowels were exhausted but my sense of accomplishment had never been greater.
I wasn't the fittest person when I did this trek, furthermore I have exercise induced asthma. So as you might imagine, I often ended up at the back of the group with the Sherpa (Dawa) and his constantly reassuring words - "slowly, slowly".
Though I'm not climbing a mountain now, these two journeys (the trek and my transformation journey) have many parallels... and Dawa's advice still rings true.
Lately, I have eaten badly, drunk less water (but more alcohol/soft drink) and reduced my level of activity. I haven't been transforming, I am regressing.
As you might have gathered from my previous post, this is frustrating me. But guess what? I still made poor choices even after that post. Rather than continue the cycle of good behaviour, then bad behaviour, then frustration, followed by hopelessness. I'm trying to focus on progressing consistently, even if it is slowly, slowly - making better choices as often as possible.
So I've starting looking into overeating and compulsive eating. Just to see if any insights there might help me. I love research and education. And although I already know a bit about health, exercise, the body and the mind, it never hurts to learn more.
Now I have two books to read: The End of Overeating (by David Kessler) and The Headspace Diet (by Andy Puddicombe), and there is plenty more research to do.
I'm not looking for a diet or a quick fix, I guess I'm just looking for something that will help everything 'click'. I know there is a healthier version of me, I just haven't had to determination to become her yet.
Anyways, I will let you know what I uncover.
- Dani
I climbed to Annapurna base camp, which is 4130m above see level. The entire trek, all two weeks of it, was one of the hardest but most rewarding things I have ever done. By the time we flew out of Jomsom, my legs we constantly aching, my bowels were exhausted but my sense of accomplishment had never been greater.
I wasn't the fittest person when I did this trek, furthermore I have exercise induced asthma. So as you might imagine, I often ended up at the back of the group with the Sherpa (Dawa) and his constantly reassuring words - "slowly, slowly".
Though I'm not climbing a mountain now, these two journeys (the trek and my transformation journey) have many parallels... and Dawa's advice still rings true.
Lately, I have eaten badly, drunk less water (but more alcohol/soft drink) and reduced my level of activity. I haven't been transforming, I am regressing.
As you might have gathered from my previous post, this is frustrating me. But guess what? I still made poor choices even after that post. Rather than continue the cycle of good behaviour, then bad behaviour, then frustration, followed by hopelessness. I'm trying to focus on progressing consistently, even if it is slowly, slowly - making better choices as often as possible.
So I've starting looking into overeating and compulsive eating. Just to see if any insights there might help me. I love research and education. And although I already know a bit about health, exercise, the body and the mind, it never hurts to learn more.
Now I have two books to read: The End of Overeating (by David Kessler) and The Headspace Diet (by Andy Puddicombe), and there is plenty more research to do.
I'm not looking for a diet or a quick fix, I guess I'm just looking for something that will help everything 'click'. I know there is a healthier version of me, I just haven't had to determination to become her yet.
Anyways, I will let you know what I uncover.
- Dani
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