Working from home can be hazardous to your pants

Or, at least it was for mine. They've all gone and shrank themselves somehow. Not really sure how it happened, but I really hope that it's not going to continue in the future. I refuse to buy bigger pants (silly, I know) but am not comfortable at all in the ones that I have now. I honestly was surprised that it happened, as I thought I was aware of how much I was eating and I attempted to be active everyday. Looking through my Beginner Triathlete log though, I see that I might not have been as active as I thought I was. And the eating thing? Who knows, as I didn't record anything for that.

I am drifting further and further away from Ironman shape. For the last 1.5 years, I've barely kept to any sort of a routine for more than a couple weeks at time. I moved, I started traveling for work a lot more, I started getting injuries... Those are excuses, I know, but that is what has kept derailing me from the track I want to be on.

Onwards and upwards, right? The past doesn't matter, what matters is what you do in the future.

Snowing in Kelowna

It's snowing for the first time while I've been in Kelowna this February. Every other day has been a mix of cloudy mornings and sunny afternoons. It's been a dry winter here. Last year I came here for a visit in March and there was still a lot of snow on the ground. I'm just thankful for the milder temperatures here.

12 days til my next CGA exam. I really need to buckle down and go hard for the next few days so that this can all be over sooner than later. I will be so happy when I have completed the CGA program. I can't wait.

In other news, is there a good way to turn down a potential job offer?

As lonely as you want to be

I've been away from Winnipeg for 10 days and I have another 9 to go. It's starting to sink in that I'm going to be away (far away) from everyone I know after I move. Hopefully, I'll be able to afford several flights a year to go back to see people.

Is loneliness just a state of mind?
Is this what everyone feels when they move away from home?
How can I get over this?
How long will it take for me to get over?

I think I might be ok with working from home. Mainly because I can set my own hours, don't need to commute, and don't need to get dressed in the morning. The coffee here is good and plentiful and cheap.

Now to tackle renting out my condo. Anyone interested?

I'm moving, dammit!

I plan on moving west the week of May 2nd. Hopefully, I can get together with friends and family a few times before I leave.

The Weighting Game and the Waiting Game

Well, down another pound this week. On Biggest Loser, that little would not be enough. In the real world, when up is too high, down is the way to go, no matter how little at times. When the down is slow, you need to take a look at what you are doing and make adjustments.

My plan right now is just to stay active, work on flexibility and to watch how much I'm eating and drinking. I'm proud to say that I've only had one drink this month and plan on continuing on the same track. I don't feel any better or worse for not drinking because I was never really drinking that much (except in December, of course). But, it's just the sheer volume of calories that were being ingested while drinking that were getting to me. By not drinking, I'm hoping to speed up my weight loss journey and get to a less-flabby, better power-to-weight ratio by the time race season starts up again. Less than four months to go til the first race.

Still trying to figure out when I will be moving to Kelowna. It's frustrating to not have a date pinned down, but at the same time, I'm not too eager to start looking for a tenant for my condo, looking for a new job, packing, etc. I also don't want to move out there if Rich is traveling 75% of the time, because, what's the point then? If it was more like 25% of the time or less, that would be ok.

The weeks are rushing by during this CGA course (one of my last ones!) but I'm having such a hard time just sitting down to it. I've probably said this before, but I am just so tired of it. So very, very tired. But if I don't finish, it will be like doing an Ironman and quitting when there are only 10k left to run.

Almost dying changes nothing.

Fresh year, fresh start?

Another New Year, another chance for New Year's resolutions. Mine, of course, are the same as what other people's are: lose weight, exercise more, move to a more temperate climate...

I didn't leave my condo this weekend from New Year's Eve, which was on Thursday, until Sunday afternoon. The only reason I left was because I ran out of milk and eggs! It was just too cold to leave until I absolutely had to! I'm so glad I have the option of working out in my home, as otherwise, my butt would have been on the couch 90% of my waking hours, instead of just 80%.

I ran on the treadmill this morning and after my run, I evaluated my performance. I was a little disheartened to see how much being a sloth for the last 16 months has slowed me down. At this point, I have totally reset myself, fitness-wise and weight-wise, back to where I was in 2005/2006. Slow and heavy. Ugh! After all my hard work, it just snuck back on so easily. It took 4 months to put on 16lbs after Ironman, and another 4 months to add another 5lbs. It's been holding steady every since and I'm finally sick enough of it to do something about it. I can't fit into any of my pants anymore! It's embarassing when I have to go see a customer and I show up in ill-fitting 'business attire' because I refuse to buy bigger clothes. I'm just lucky that I don't have to go out too often.

Unlike last year, I plan on running in at least one half marathon and actually racing in a triathlon this summer. Even if this means finishing BOP (back of the pack.) One of my friends is thinking of doing IMC 2011, but I'm going to hold out until 2012. Well, that's my plan at this point. A lot can happen between now and then...

I'm going to be working from Kelowna for two weeks in February. I plan to use this as a test run to see how working remotely will go. Two weeks probably will just give me a taste of it. I can't wait to get out there!

Holiday Season

Well, I hope you all are having a happy holiday season. Have you put any thought towards your New Year's Resolutions yet? How many will last beyond the six week mark?