The year of the healthy eater

Posted on December 4, 2012 by Bo

This year has definitely been the year of the ~~diet~~ healthy eating plan. Not a week has gone by without some article popping up on the web or tweets about no carbs, low carbs, Paleo, Atkins, Dukan… you name it. I’ve watched the outcry from dieticians against Professor Tim Noakes’ revolutionary eating plan. I’ve become aware of the Sleek Geek movement and the numerous updates. Even buddies of ours swapped the regular burgers and beers for green leaves and black coffee. It’s truly been a year where everyone has joined one or other healthy eating plan in the hope of losing weight.

So when KK completed the RAC Tough One 32km running race recently, we were discussing the race and it got me thinking. You see, as a runner, KK will never walk during a race. In his mind, it’s a running race and the only time he walks is through the water stops. Yet walking during a race is very much part of my races. My walk/run strategy is what gets me to the finish line. Both of us are runners but with very different running styles. We do what works for us.

And I guess that’s the point with diets too. Noakes’ eating plan is not for everyone, but it has worked for him. Sleek Geek has motivated loads of people, but the whole group thing might turn some people off. And yes, those on the cabbage/South California/Atkins diet might feel great for a week when they are able to lose 6kgs, and that’s okay.

Let them enjoy the high while it lasts. We’re all different and sometimes, something that works for me might not necessarily work for someone else. The key is to not judge or criticize but try to support as much as I can. Because let’s face it, there’s nothing as wonderful as crossing that finish line or losing those kilo’s! Is there?

Is being alone making me lonely?

Posted on December 3, 2012 by Bo

KK is away on a business trip. You’d think I’d be used to it by now but I’ve realised that I’m not. Since I met KK, he has gone away on many business trips. Some of them have been short ones, some of them as long as 5 weeks. I usually arrange dinner dates with all my besties, I plan my PVR schedule and try get in long phone calls with my sister and my mom. But the plans all sound more exciting than reality. Because if I have to be honest with myself, I actually hate being alone.

Is there a difference between being alone and lonely? Surprisingly, the dictionary defines lonely like this:

lone•ly [lohn-lee] – adjective, lone•li•er, lone•li•est. affected with, characterized by, or causing a depressing feeling of being alone; lonesome.

Ironically, being alone is definitely making me feel incredibly ~~depressed~~ lonely. Yes I have loads of friends and colleagues around me. But it’s not the same, especially when I am so used to being with KK all the time. I can’t sleep during the week. I don’t feel like watching TV. I avoid going out. I tend to sleep my weekend away. I go into total hibernation until he returns.

I think it’s been bugging me a lot more lately because I’ve realised that with us not having any children, without KK, I truly am alone. I’ve never really been alone. After I moved out of home, I always had someone in my life and met KK 15 years ago. He’s all I’ve got. So when he does go away, I am fooling myself in to believing I love the ‘free’ time. I hate it.

What do you hear when you run?

Posted on November 26, 2012 by Bo

It’s great to see so many runners who run around my neighbourhood. On my runs, I will often count how many runners I pass – the number sometimes reaches 13!

The one thing I notice, however, is that some of them still run with iPods and earphones stuck in their ears. Besides the obvious traffic dangers associated with it, I wish I could stop them and point out just how much they are missing out on.

Things such as…

The birds. The beautiful sound of the doves and piet-my-vrou. The screeching of hadedas when they are forced to move out of your way.
The kids behind the high walls playing in the pool. The laughter and splashes of water.
The maids and security guards keeping watch and chatting on the grass.
The dogs that make the effort to stand at the gate and greet you. Some of them are grumpy, some are excited to see you. But it makes their day if you say hello back.
The sound of a lawnmower on a Saturday morning. Or the edge trimmer.
The sound of your running shoes hitting the tar.
The sprinkler systems.
The occasional moment you start talking out loud (we all do it!).
The buzzing of the insects as you pass the parks.
The loud engines of the 4X4 bakkies as they wind their way home.
The other runners greeting you.
But most importantly, the sound of your heart pounding in your ears when it feels like it will jump out of your chest when you’ve conquered that hill.

I know that the music gets you up those hills and takes your mind off some of the stresses of the day, but I guarantee you that if you leave the music at home for one day and appreciate your surroundings, filled with stunning sounds, it will change the way you experience your run. I promise!

My idea of winning is different to yours.

Posted on November 22, 2012 by Bo

I’ve got a problem with people who think I am uncompetitive. I am. In fact I am very competitive. I hate losing. But what I’ve faced my entire life is other people thinking that because I am not a pro at what I do, that I don’t want to win.

When I was in high school, I was in the B side of the netball team. Sometimes, I got pushed down to reserve for the B team because there were other girls who played better than me. At least I got to play.

When I left high school, I tried my hand at action cricket. I was dropped off the team because I couldn’t hit the ball. I guess that’s important, right?

A few years later, I played action netball with a group of friends. The team eventually asked me to leave because we weren’t winning our games and it was my fault. They refused to continue playing unless I left the team. (keywords: team & friends). I gracefully walked away even though it hurt me big time.

Lately at gym, when I am training with my personal trainer, she will often give me lighter weights than I (think) I am capable of lifting. In addition, she tells me to do all my push-ups on my knees. I feel like a real girl.

Just the other day, someone was telling me that on their very first run, they ran 6 minutes per km and questioned me about my running and if I was working my pacing out right. Seriously? After 4 years of running?

I’ve pretty much gone through my whole life being judged by other people who decide that I am not strong enough, fast enough, or good enough. Do they realise that I am giving it my best shot? Why is it that others presume that because I am not winning any games or races or running as fast as them that I am not wanting to win?

Maybe competing and winning means something completely different to me. Like not quitting when others don’t give me a chance?