Lists, Plans and The Challenge !

It’s been a bit of a crazy week at work, and Ms. Control Freak in me has been trying to well gain control through her infamous TO DO Lists. In the process of trying to organize my Google Calendar and sync it with my phone, I had the funniest discussion with the man on Tuesday. Seems he is getting the hang of this PLANNING concept, and seems to be nudging me out of the control seat. Though he has a very interesting definition of planning – with something called a ‘PLAN’ and ‘REAL PLAN’.

Anyway, the zeal for running has morphed him into this unknown being – who is now planning our race calendar for 2011. YES – 2011, and we are only approaching the month of MAY 2010. His philosophy for 2011, long races outside Malaysia; short, short preparatory races close to home.
So RACE CALENDAR 2011 looks something like this :
o January 2011 – New Balance 30k
o February 2011 – Koh Samui Marathon
(This is where I got in the fray and took things one step further)
o July 2011 – Gold Coast Marathon
o December 2011 – Singapore Marathon
In between we may squeeze in KL Marathon, Penang Bridge Run and maybe the Angkor Run ! Haven’t decided the distances on these though.

Then came trying to get organize my work travel schedule and the numerous meetings with government agencies that miraculously get postponed 2 hours before we leave the office. We have figured best to try work out short breaks around my travel plans; so HOLIDAY PLANNER is now :
o Singapore May 29th – 31st : To coincide with the long Wesak weekend and a meeting I have in Singapore on the 31st.
o Ho Chi Minh City August 6th – 9th : We were planning to go away for my birthday, and looks like I have to conduct a workshop in Saigon on the 7th, so…..

And as we were doing our daily on messenger, the man threw open the gauntlet with THE CHALLENGE !
In the quest for that hot, hot body (which I think he already has) he suggested that starting May 1st, we go on a sugar-free, white-free, processed-food-free diet. His idea was to start shifting some of those pounds. I (as usual) took it one step further and suggested, why not look at it as a wholistic lifestyle plan – to get ourselves fit, healthy, hot, etc etc. To think of it as a lifestyle tune-up, wellness improvement programme.
Result : The man promptly took it up as a Challenge !
Goal 1 : To loose 10kg within the next 3 months. (The August deadline coinciding with my 35th – and the whole point of this blog!)
Goal 2 : To develop healthy eating habits for life.
Goal 3 : To maintain this weight and lifestyle for life.
Goal 4 : To get fit so we can race more effectively.

Given my issues with sugar – he had now been deputized as official Food Enforcer. I am in charge of designing this PLAN – given my love of lists and SOPS, as well as being the official Exercise Enforcer.

GAME ON !!!(Not to worry will do regular status updates on the Plan and Progress !)