Weighing Up The Options

This week has zipped by in a flurry of gym, swimming and theatre and there appears to be no let up in the near future, which is how I like it. Oddly the period from Halloween to Valentines Day has always been busy with one thing and another although of course, the International Make-up Artist Trade show has moved from its slot at the end of January to the middle of June. I managed only two gym visits this week and three visits to the pool but I felt that they were worthwhile and collectively this week I have managed to swim 6 kilometres, cycle 44 kilometres and run 4 kilometres. That doesn't include the weights and flexibility exercises that I did I in the gym.

The problem is it doesn't seem to be shifting any weight. I've curtailed my alcohol intake, eat well generally, although I'm still having issues with portion size and still no real changes. As Lent approaches I think I may have to up the game a little to try to jump start things. I think I'm going to try to cut wheat, alcohol and refined sugar from my diet. That means no bread, save rye bread and rice cakes .....mmmmmm. Alcohol and refined sugars are going to be the most difficult one although I shall put in place my Lent rule for alcohol. People usually roll their eyes at this one but I think it's fairly valid. Essentially I am only allowed to drink at events to which I have been invited before Shrove Tuesday, which this year is February 9th. Sadly at the moment there are no dates - please somebody fix that! Gulp.

Perhaps what I need to do this year is to perform something spiritual alongside my 'Lenten Fasts'. I don't necessarily mean undergo any kind of religious experience, I am simply thinking of association. When I gave up smoking nearly eight years ago, I married giving up smoking with taking in more oxygen when swimming. I was stalled in the pool - stuck immovably at a 40 minute mile. Giving up smoking allowed me to absorb more oxygen and my swimming speed increased to a mile in 37 minutes. It might not seem like a vast change but it was. Of course, I converted to metric in 2010 and opted to swim 2 kilometres in 37 - 40 minutes, depending on how rested I was.

Anyway, I digress, the fact is that I shall try to associate my abstinence with something else beneficial. I would love to be able to marry it to something artistic but that would probably require more time, a commodity I'm not amply blessed with recently. Perhaps better time management should be my goal? I must say that the usual reason I skip gym or swimming is time. Thankfully Salih at the gym has given me a regime that doesn't take forever to perform, although a couple of the exercises are only available at Crystal Palace, which is now an hours journey away. Running is a new addition and I am very gradually building this into my routine. I think it may always have to be treadmill running however as my gait has always been awkward.