Pauline . . . . .

Pauline's Blog

Random Observations on Nothing in Particular

A Diet or a Punishment Regime?

17th August 2011

I've started the Harcombe Diet. In fact today is Day 4 of the 5-day Phase 1 of the diet - no mean feat getting here I can tell you.

Before any of my family or friends start nagging me, I'm not doing it to lose weight (though losing the odd pound or two of wobble around the middle-earth regions wouldn't go amiss). No - it's because I feel I'm stuck in a rut with my eating habits and have become over-dependent on certain items in my daily diet, specifically caffeine, chocolate, liquorice allsorts (don't laugh) and wine. Don't get me wrong, I don't think I'm addicted to any of these things, but I need to know I can do without them if I have to (probably the Catholic upbringing coming out here).

And Zoe Harcombe promises that after 5 days, I'll have a clear head, mental clarity, more energy, and that my skin and hair will be in better condition.

She also promises that the cravings are likely to be bad. Make no mistake, they are. In fact, I've already failed on the wine front. I just couldn't cope with not being able to have any sugar, any carbs, any fruit, any proper coffee or tea, any milk - and especially any liquorice allsorts - all in one go. So something had to give - and it was the wine.

However, I have kept to all the other rules. I can't say I've gained the mental clarity yet, as you can tell from reading this, but I do feel calmer.

Tomorrow is my last day on Phase 1 (modified) and since I do subscribe to the theory, I'm thinking I may go on to Phase 2 for a week so I don't slip all the way back into my old ways

I'll let you know..

Running Conundrums

29th July 2011

Holidays are great - but I find you do tend to put on weight as soon as you take your eye off the ball. So, I've been trying to get back into my exercise/running routine. Just as well as I'm now committed to doing the Bath Half next March. I’d have done the last one if my knee hadn't been playing up (that’s my excuse anyway).

I did do the 10k Race for Life the other Sunday in pouring rain up on the Downs at Bristol (lovely!) with my two "new to running" friends. They did fantastically so all three of us are heading inexorably onwards and upwards towards the Half next year. (All tips from experienced running readers gratefully received).

You'd think the more you do, the easier it would get wouldn't you? But somehow that doesn't seem to be my experience. Well, it's got a bit easier I suppose but I still find myself tussling with questions such as:

1 - Why do you have to work so much harder at staying in shape as you get older?

2 - How do slim, fit older people do it?  Is there a secret remedy somewhere that some people have discovered but aren’t sharing with the rest of us?

3 - Is there a mathematical formula for the ratio of the amount of wine you drink each day and how good a runner you are?

4 - Is there an easy way out of all this, ie is there anything that works which doesn’t require so much effort?

Answers please on postcards or emails - and whoever comes up with the funniest, most plausible, credible, or indeed the "right" answers, can bring along a friend to one of our Autumn or Winter sessions - for free!