Fitness resolutions and 19 days till Jamaica

Yesterday was the first day back to work, and as I am now out of holiday mode I've switched to my next 20 day fitness program to coinside with the countdown to the next holiday- Jamaica!

Since starting fitness training in August, I've now established enough core strength and endurance to do some longer runs and heavier weights. And I am loving it. Good bye belly! I was able to change my body in 30 days with 100% focus. So over the next 19 days I am totally up to the challenge. Andy also designed a 16 week half marathon training program for me, which I started yesterday. I intend to run the half marathon in April, and although it is hard for me to conceive running 2 hours straight, I didnt' think I could run an hour straight but I can now.

The news continues to puke talk of credit crunch and big companies going bankrupt. And I definitely noticed it over the Christmas shopping period. It was way quieter in the clothing shops. The busiest places were music/dvd/gaming stores. Marks and Spencer cut 1000 jobs today, and Woolworths closes all it's stores for good today as well. House prices dropped 16% in 2008 with fears it will also continue. Health has also been an issue for alot of the country, with flu season raging bigger than ever, and hospitals quarantining wings due to the vomiting virus.

With the economic conditions as extreme as they are it has forced me to pay attention to finances and what I consume. In addition to keeping a food diary, I am also keeping a money diary to track my spending. I figure that by applying my "awareness", or monitoring every single thing I buy I may think twice. It is a new way of doing things and will require enormous amount of discipline, but it's not impossible. I am curious more than anything of how much it will impact my life. It might frustrate me, it might empower me. I dont' know, I might be suprised and really like it.

It has dropped to -11 last night, and right now it's about -2. The sub temps will continue throughout the week. Overall I know it sounds like a dreary picture for the start of 2009 but there is always a silver lining. I'm creating new good habits that will better my life and wellbeing. And layered up to the brim!