And now I'm back from the gym, I checked - just in case it might still be there - and, oh, lookie... (This is a screen shot, btw, so the size isn't brilliant. But it's still exciting!)
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Amazon top ten, whoo-hoo!
Forgive me for being just a little bit excited. Lovely Amy Andrews emailed me last night from the other side of the world to say that our joint anthology with Heidi Rice and Aimee Carson had hit the Amazon top 10 list!
And now I'm back from the gym, I checked - just in case it might still be there - and, oh, lookie... (This is a screen shot, btw, so the size isn't brilliant. But it's still exciting!)
And now I'm back from the gym, I checked - just in case it might still be there - and, oh, lookie... (This is a screen shot, btw, so the size isn't brilliant. But it's still exciting!)
Monday, July 15, 2013
Publication day!
Current work: revising #57 (Baloo) and outline for #59 now on ed’s desk
Listening to: mainly Joe Bonamassa (and no, I am not touching my lovely new blue guitar today – see below)
Reading: next on TBR
Gym: 121 (new PB today on upright row – 25kg; and since last blog new PB on deadlift – 72.5kg) plus, as it’s Monday, zumba and jazz dance tonight
So today is publication day – my second book, this month. It’s a reprint of Surrender to the Playboy Sheikh, but I’m particularly pleased to be in an anthology with one of my favourite authors (Liz Fielding is also one of my favourite author friends, but that’s by the by – this is my fangirl moment). Available now in shops and on the M&B website/Amazon/the usual places :o)
What else have I been up to? We-e-ll. The thing about social media is that it can be a very bad influence. And several friends asked if I had bought myself a treat for working very, very hard over the last year and getting 30lbs of lard off. (Actually, they phrased it a bit more nicely than that – this is me being realistic, as it was actually 30lbs of lard. Probably more, if you take into account the fact that muscle is denser than fat and I’m a lot fitter than I was at this time last year.) Um, no. I hadn’t.
And, yes, I think they were right. 30lbs might not be a lot in weight loss terms if you’re a normal person, but if you’re insulin resistant that’s a very good result and equates to a LOT of hard work. So this is what I bought to celebrate.
A Les Paul that I’ve had my eye on for months at the local guitar shop but hadn’t worked out the right excuses to buy it for myself. (It’s second-hand, so it’s not quite as bad as it looks, cost-wise.) It’s pretty (this photo doesn't do it justice). It sounds nice. I can do barre chords on it, which I find harder to play on the classical. And it’s easier to play on days when I’ve overdone it at the gym and my forearms hurt so I can’t grip properly (that isn’t one of my spurious excuses, btw, because you do have to press a lot harder on the strings of a classical guitar than on an electric and you need a strong grip).
And, of course, it goes nicely with the cover of my newest release :o) (Best excuse EVAH!)
Dear ed. Please can I write another musician hero?
Listening to: mainly Joe Bonamassa (and no, I am not touching my lovely new blue guitar today – see below)
Reading: next on TBR
Gym: 121 (new PB today on upright row – 25kg; and since last blog new PB on deadlift – 72.5kg) plus, as it’s Monday, zumba and jazz dance tonight
So today is publication day – my second book, this month. It’s a reprint of Surrender to the Playboy Sheikh, but I’m particularly pleased to be in an anthology with one of my favourite authors (Liz Fielding is also one of my favourite author friends, but that’s by the by – this is my fangirl moment). Available now in shops and on the M&B website/Amazon/the usual places :o)
What else have I been up to? We-e-ll. The thing about social media is that it can be a very bad influence. And several friends asked if I had bought myself a treat for working very, very hard over the last year and getting 30lbs of lard off. (Actually, they phrased it a bit more nicely than that – this is me being realistic, as it was actually 30lbs of lard. Probably more, if you take into account the fact that muscle is denser than fat and I’m a lot fitter than I was at this time last year.) Um, no. I hadn’t.
And, yes, I think they were right. 30lbs might not be a lot in weight loss terms if you’re a normal person, but if you’re insulin resistant that’s a very good result and equates to a LOT of hard work. So this is what I bought to celebrate.
A Les Paul that I’ve had my eye on for months at the local guitar shop but hadn’t worked out the right excuses to buy it for myself. (It’s second-hand, so it’s not quite as bad as it looks, cost-wise.) It’s pretty (this photo doesn't do it justice). It sounds nice. I can do barre chords on it, which I find harder to play on the classical. And it’s easier to play on days when I’ve overdone it at the gym and my forearms hurt so I can’t grip properly (that isn’t one of my spurious excuses, btw, because you do have to press a lot harder on the strings of a classical guitar than on an electric and you need a strong grip).
And, of course, it goes nicely with the cover of my newest release :o) (Best excuse EVAH!)
Dear ed. Please can I write another musician hero?
Tuesday, July 02, 2013
another catchup
Current work: thinking about M&B #59 (no, I didn’t mistype the number – really is 59. I wrote another book between finishing #57 after my last post and writing this one because… well, it’s how the deadline worked out, and anyway I write better when it's fast because it stops me overthinking things)
Listening to: Beethoven (how wonderful to drive to Zumba last night listening to ‘Ode to Joy’ on the radio – can’t wait for the live performance in September)
Reading: probably going to have a Sarah Mayberry-fest, because I love her books
Gym: weights (but new PB on treadmill intervals yesterday – 6.4mph, which isn’t bad for someone with verrrry short legs).
I’m so sorry I was such a bad blogger last month! Exams are now over, so things have settled down a little bit.
What happened in June?
Work - lots of words on the iPad (I had to ban myself from the Mac because otherwise I get distracted by the internet, and it’s so SLOW on the iPad that I behave myself and get on with the book).
Ballroom dancing – a couple of new steps in the quickstep and the jive
Gym – going nicely (just noticed that last post I was saying how pleased I was at doing 5.8pmh, so look at today’s bit above – whoo-hoo!), and I’ve added in Zumba and Jazz/Contemporary classes on Monday. (Yes, that does mean I have three sessions at the gym on Monday. I’d prefer to space the classes out, but it’s how the schedule rolls! But I’m very pleased with myself that I can cope with that.)
Music – guitar lessons eaten up by exams (including daughter’s guitar exams). And my nails need cutting. But I’m off deadline today, so I am planning to have a bit of quiet time with the Bach D minor :o) Also attended daughter’s first gig (she was fabulous) and took her guitar in for repair (yup – she dropped it 10 minutes before the gig. Luckily it was still playable on the night).
Other stuff – son finished his exams. Did a bit of church-crawling with DH.
Plan for this week - tidy desk, get all admin up to date and GO TO THE POST OFFICE. (Anyone expecting something from me - it will happen this week and there will be appropriate grovelling. And I'm *almost* back to being Scary Kate/the Energizer Bunny. Normal service soon to be resumed.)
Oh, yeah – and it’s publication day today for A Date with the Ice Princess. (I will update my website this week, I promise!!)
Have a lovely day! xxx
Listening to: Beethoven (how wonderful to drive to Zumba last night listening to ‘Ode to Joy’ on the radio – can’t wait for the live performance in September)
Reading: probably going to have a Sarah Mayberry-fest, because I love her books
Gym: weights (but new PB on treadmill intervals yesterday – 6.4mph, which isn’t bad for someone with verrrry short legs).
I’m so sorry I was such a bad blogger last month! Exams are now over, so things have settled down a little bit.
What happened in June?
Work - lots of words on the iPad (I had to ban myself from the Mac because otherwise I get distracted by the internet, and it’s so SLOW on the iPad that I behave myself and get on with the book).
Ballroom dancing – a couple of new steps in the quickstep and the jive
Gym – going nicely (just noticed that last post I was saying how pleased I was at doing 5.8pmh, so look at today’s bit above – whoo-hoo!), and I’ve added in Zumba and Jazz/Contemporary classes on Monday. (Yes, that does mean I have three sessions at the gym on Monday. I’d prefer to space the classes out, but it’s how the schedule rolls! But I’m very pleased with myself that I can cope with that.)
Music – guitar lessons eaten up by exams (including daughter’s guitar exams). And my nails need cutting. But I’m off deadline today, so I am planning to have a bit of quiet time with the Bach D minor :o) Also attended daughter’s first gig (she was fabulous) and took her guitar in for repair (yup – she dropped it 10 minutes before the gig. Luckily it was still playable on the night).
Other stuff – son finished his exams. Did a bit of church-crawling with DH.
Plan for this week - tidy desk, get all admin up to date and GO TO THE POST OFFICE. (Anyone expecting something from me - it will happen this week and there will be appropriate grovelling. And I'm *almost* back to being Scary Kate/the Energizer Bunny. Normal service soon to be resumed.)
Oh, yeah – and it’s publication day today for A Date with the Ice Princess. (I will update my website this week, I promise!!)
Have a lovely day! xxx
Friday, June 07, 2013
catchup and birthdays
Current work: Cherish romance (aka M&B #57 - working title 'Me and You and a Dog Named Baloo')
Listening to: MCR (when littlest is home – actually, she’s the one playing guitar)
Reading: next on TBR
Gym: weights – new PB on deadlift today, 60kg (go, me!)
I know, I know – I promised to be a better blogger. And I’ve been hopeless. Mainly because my routine is totally out of the window – exams, revision sessions, and being taxi to the kids :o)
Catchup: eldest is now 16, DH is now my older man (for the next 8 months), and today Byron is 11. So happy birthday to my grumpy old boy (he was having a nap when I took this and wasn't impressed at being woken!).
It doesn’t seem five minutes since he was a dinky pup. (He was eight weeks, here.)
Book – is getting there and has to be off my desk this weekend, because I have another deadline for the end of June. (Yes, you did read that right. I can do it. I just need to focus and not let ANYTHING knock me off my stride. Now the latest set of blood tests are back and clear, I’ll be able to settle to work again. Even if half the time it’s at a temporary desk on my iPad!)
Fitness – going OK (a week off for half term was a huge mistake – I felt lousy, ate badly, and paid for it on the scales). My ‘recovery rate’ between interval cardio sessions is improving, and so is my speed on the treadmill: I managed 5.8mph for one interval, this week. I’m also pleased with the way the weights are going, because I managed to deadlift 60kg today. It’s much easier with the Olympic bar than it is with the barbell, mainly because the plates are bigger. Am having to change my grip to a mixed grip, so that’ll take me a little while to sort out.
Guitar – haven’t practised properly for ages. Must try harder. Anyone got a time machine?
Listening to: MCR (when littlest is home – actually, she’s the one playing guitar)
Reading: next on TBR
Gym: weights – new PB on deadlift today, 60kg (go, me!)
I know, I know – I promised to be a better blogger. And I’ve been hopeless. Mainly because my routine is totally out of the window – exams, revision sessions, and being taxi to the kids :o)
Catchup: eldest is now 16, DH is now my older man (for the next 8 months), and today Byron is 11. So happy birthday to my grumpy old boy (he was having a nap when I took this and wasn't impressed at being woken!).
It doesn’t seem five minutes since he was a dinky pup. (He was eight weeks, here.)
Book – is getting there and has to be off my desk this weekend, because I have another deadline for the end of June. (Yes, you did read that right. I can do it. I just need to focus and not let ANYTHING knock me off my stride. Now the latest set of blood tests are back and clear, I’ll be able to settle to work again. Even if half the time it’s at a temporary desk on my iPad!)
Fitness – going OK (a week off for half term was a huge mistake – I felt lousy, ate badly, and paid for it on the scales). My ‘recovery rate’ between interval cardio sessions is improving, and so is my speed on the treadmill: I managed 5.8mph for one interval, this week. I’m also pleased with the way the weights are going, because I managed to deadlift 60kg today. It’s much easier with the Olympic bar than it is with the barbell, mainly because the plates are bigger. Am having to change my grip to a mixed grip, so that’ll take me a little while to sort out.
Guitar – haven’t practised properly for ages. Must try harder. Anyone got a time machine?
Monday, May 13, 2013
If you go down to the woods today...
Current work: Cherish romance (aka M&B #57 - working title 'Me and You and a Dog Named Baloo')
Listening to: Beethoven
Reading: Eliza Graham, The History Room (enjoying) and Jojo Moyes, The Girl You Left Behind
Gym: 121 (weights and cardio)
Yesterday, I wanted to go and find a bluebell carpet. DH was difficult about it, saying that we’d been to Foxley and Blickling plenty of times before. But eventually he decided we’d go to a patch of ancient woodland, i.e. Ashwellthorpe Lower Wood.
Cue a wander through woodlands to the sound of birdsong and no traffic. Just gorgeous.
And we found bluebells :o)
Plus a dramatic tree.
We also found a carpet of white flowers we didn’t recognise. I thought they were a form of allium (we’ve grown alliums before, but blue ones because I like blue flowers and I’m in charge of bulbs), plus we could smell garlic in the air. The noticeboard back at the car park said that they were either ransom or wood anemones. A little bit of net research told me that they were ransom – aka allium ursinum. Why the link with bears (ursa)? Apparently brown bears liked eating them and digging them up. These flowers are apparently associated with patches of bluebells, and in such situations they are an indicator of ancient woodland. So there you go. Nerdy facts for the day :o)
Listening to: Beethoven
Reading: Eliza Graham, The History Room (enjoying) and Jojo Moyes, The Girl You Left Behind
Gym: 121 (weights and cardio)
Yesterday, I wanted to go and find a bluebell carpet. DH was difficult about it, saying that we’d been to Foxley and Blickling plenty of times before. But eventually he decided we’d go to a patch of ancient woodland, i.e. Ashwellthorpe Lower Wood.
Cue a wander through woodlands to the sound of birdsong and no traffic. Just gorgeous.
And we found bluebells :o)
Plus a dramatic tree.
We also found a carpet of white flowers we didn’t recognise. I thought they were a form of allium (we’ve grown alliums before, but blue ones because I like blue flowers and I’m in charge of bulbs), plus we could smell garlic in the air. The noticeboard back at the car park said that they were either ransom or wood anemones. A little bit of net research told me that they were ransom – aka allium ursinum. Why the link with bears (ursa)? Apparently brown bears liked eating them and digging them up. These flowers are apparently associated with patches of bluebells, and in such situations they are an indicator of ancient woodland. So there you go. Nerdy facts for the day :o)
Tuesday, May 07, 2013
Sunshine - and elsewhere today
Elsewhere today - over at the Chocolate Box with a very heartfelt thank you http://www.chocolateboxwriters.com/thank-you-by-kate-hardy/ and at the Pink Heart Society with recipes for rye bread and green summer soup http://www.pinkheartsociety.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/kates-kitchen-rye-bread-and-green.html.
Yesterday was a glorious bank holiday - lovely to see the sun, so we went to the coast and had a paddle at Cromer.
One of the things I love about the East Anglian coastline is that often you can't see where the sea ends and the sky begins. Plus we were amused by these gulls lining up on the groyne:
Have a nice day!
Yesterday was a glorious bank holiday - lovely to see the sun, so we went to the coast and had a paddle at Cromer.
One of the things I love about the East Anglian coastline is that often you can't see where the sea ends and the sky begins. Plus we were amused by these gulls lining up on the groyne:
Have a nice day!
Friday, May 03, 2013
and ANOTHER cover reveal
Current work: Cherish romance (aka M&B #57 - working title 'Me and You and a Dog Named Baloo')
Listening to: Queen
Reading: Eliza Graham, The History Room (enjoying) and Jojo Moyes, The Girl You Left Behind
Gym: Weights
Fabulous session at the gym today - learned to do deadlifts. (Have I mentioned how much I love weights? LOL. Am going to be verrrry boring about this.) And this 'eat more to lose weight' idea might just have something, because I lost 1/2 lb this week. OK, not a huge amount, but I was expecting a gain with the increase in calories and the fact I've tweaked my training to include a bit more weights. But hey. I'm functioning well on this way of eating, so that's fine.
And I have another cover to reveal. I’m in a 3-in-1 special release with one of my very favourite people – Liz Fielding. How cool is that? It’s a reprint of my Sheikh book, ‘Surrender to the Playboy Sheikh’ – I loved writing that book so much.
We have a nice holiday weekend lined up - picking out the Pandora bead for book 56 tomorrow, a barbecue with DH's best friend, and possibly a walk on the beach. Will be nice to have a bank holiday with some sunshine, for once! Hope your weekend is good, too :o)
Listening to: Queen
Reading: Eliza Graham, The History Room (enjoying) and Jojo Moyes, The Girl You Left Behind
Gym: Weights
Fabulous session at the gym today - learned to do deadlifts. (Have I mentioned how much I love weights? LOL. Am going to be verrrry boring about this.) And this 'eat more to lose weight' idea might just have something, because I lost 1/2 lb this week. OK, not a huge amount, but I was expecting a gain with the increase in calories and the fact I've tweaked my training to include a bit more weights. But hey. I'm functioning well on this way of eating, so that's fine.
And I have another cover to reveal. I’m in a 3-in-1 special release with one of my very favourite people – Liz Fielding. How cool is that? It’s a reprint of my Sheikh book, ‘Surrender to the Playboy Sheikh’ – I loved writing that book so much.
We have a nice holiday weekend lined up - picking out the Pandora bead for book 56 tomorrow, a barbecue with DH's best friend, and possibly a walk on the beach. Will be nice to have a bank holiday with some sunshine, for once! Hope your weekend is good, too :o)
Wednesday, May 01, 2013
new cover reveal!
Current work: Cherish romance (aka M&B #57 - working title 'Me and You and a Dog Named Baloo')
Listening to: Michael Buble and Fleetwood Mac
Reading: Eliza Graham, The History Room (enjoying) and Jojo Moyes, The Girl You Left Behind
Gym: Weights (all on my own as I was feeling brave), a HIIT circuit and pyramid training on the cross-trainer
Lovely to see blossom starting to unfurl on the tree in our front garden. And it’s warm and sunny today; makes a nice change to be able to put the laundry on the line instead of in the dryer.
Also lovely to see the cover for my July book, A Date with the Ice Princess – very pleased to be in a duo with my friend Jennifer Taylor.
Listening to: Michael Buble and Fleetwood Mac
Reading: Eliza Graham, The History Room (enjoying) and Jojo Moyes, The Girl You Left Behind
Gym: Weights (all on my own as I was feeling brave), a HIIT circuit and pyramid training on the cross-trainer
Lovely to see blossom starting to unfurl on the tree in our front garden. And it’s warm and sunny today; makes a nice change to be able to put the laundry on the line instead of in the dryer.
Also lovely to see the cover for my July book, A Date with the Ice Princess – very pleased to be in a duo with my friend Jennifer Taylor.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
sold!!
Current work: Cherish romance (aka M&B #57 - working title 'Me and You and a Dog Named Baloo')
Listening to: Muse, George Harrison and Rihanna (yes, really – ‘California King Bed’ is gorgeous AND it has proper guitars, so kudos to littlest for spotting that this would work for me as a black moment song)
Reading: Eliza Graham, The History Room (enjoying) and Jojo Moyes, The Girl You Left Behind
Gym: Cardio (yesterday was a kick-ass weights workout - very pleased that I bench-pressed a 25kg barbell. Obviously can do more than that on a Smith machine, but free weights are better because it involves using your core for balance)
I am SO thrilled. My ed likes the work I did on Book 56 – so I’m delighted to announce that she’s bought it and ‘Her Real Family Christmas’ will be out in November 2013 in UK, US and Aus. Littlest and I will be going to choose the Pandora bead to celebrate it on Saturday (and we’re going to DH’s best friend’s for a barbecue, so methinks a decent bottle of wine is in order as well). Colour me happy!
Listening to: Muse, George Harrison and Rihanna (yes, really – ‘California King Bed’ is gorgeous AND it has proper guitars, so kudos to littlest for spotting that this would work for me as a black moment song)
Reading: Eliza Graham, The History Room (enjoying) and Jojo Moyes, The Girl You Left Behind
Gym: Cardio (yesterday was a kick-ass weights workout - very pleased that I bench-pressed a 25kg barbell. Obviously can do more than that on a Smith machine, but free weights are better because it involves using your core for balance)
I am SO thrilled. My ed likes the work I did on Book 56 – so I’m delighted to announce that she’s bought it and ‘Her Real Family Christmas’ will be out in November 2013 in UK, US and Aus. Littlest and I will be going to choose the Pandora bead to celebrate it on Saturday (and we’re going to DH’s best friend’s for a barbecue, so methinks a decent bottle of wine is in order as well). Colour me happy!
Friday, April 26, 2013
spring is sprung?
Current work: Cherish romance (aka M&B #57)
Listening to: Chopin
Reading: Eliza Graham, The History Room (enjoying) and Jojo Moyes, The Girl You Left Behind
Gym: Cardio
It’s been a nice week. Well, until today, when it’s raining. But it’s been lovely having warm, sunny days. And seeing the new leaves come out. (This is in our back garden.)
What have I been up to this week? At the gym, I was brave on Wednesday and did some HIIT intervals on my own. Yesterday was a 1-2-1 focusing on upper body (can feel it in my shoulders today). And today was pyramid on the cross-trainer (as in start on a high level, drop one level each minute, then go back up again – I tend to do a double pyramid to fit a 20-minute session), intervals on the stepper, and run/walk intervals on the treadmill. Didn't do as well as I planned on the treadmill because I’m really tired today.
The diet? Well… it was nice to stuff my face with fresh pineapple and peaches earlier in the week, and I’ve also had a new-to-me food – rye bread. It’s not the pumpernickel type; it’s more like a dense wholemeal bread, and I’m quite tempted to try making my own. (Will also have to make normal bread, or there will be complaints from the other three members of the household. Dog doesn’t care, but he does like walking round with a bit of bread. He doesn’t eat it – just carries it. Daft spaniel.) Drinking all the water has been quite hard. And not having any hot drinks all week has been a bit of a killer for me – I did crack this morning, and that one cup of coffee was SO nice. I only have one cup of proper coffee a day anyway, so although I don’t think I’m addicted to caffeine, I do seem to function better with it. And I think I should allow myself a cup of tea in the afternoon, too.
The book – seems to be going OK, touch wood.
So how are things with you? (Or, if I can do a Joey Tribbiani… ‘How you doin’?’)
Listening to: Chopin
Reading: Eliza Graham, The History Room (enjoying) and Jojo Moyes, The Girl You Left Behind
Gym: Cardio
It’s been a nice week. Well, until today, when it’s raining. But it’s been lovely having warm, sunny days. And seeing the new leaves come out. (This is in our back garden.)
What have I been up to this week? At the gym, I was brave on Wednesday and did some HIIT intervals on my own. Yesterday was a 1-2-1 focusing on upper body (can feel it in my shoulders today). And today was pyramid on the cross-trainer (as in start on a high level, drop one level each minute, then go back up again – I tend to do a double pyramid to fit a 20-minute session), intervals on the stepper, and run/walk intervals on the treadmill. Didn't do as well as I planned on the treadmill because I’m really tired today.
The diet? Well… it was nice to stuff my face with fresh pineapple and peaches earlier in the week, and I’ve also had a new-to-me food – rye bread. It’s not the pumpernickel type; it’s more like a dense wholemeal bread, and I’m quite tempted to try making my own. (Will also have to make normal bread, or there will be complaints from the other three members of the household. Dog doesn’t care, but he does like walking round with a bit of bread. He doesn’t eat it – just carries it. Daft spaniel.) Drinking all the water has been quite hard. And not having any hot drinks all week has been a bit of a killer for me – I did crack this morning, and that one cup of coffee was SO nice. I only have one cup of proper coffee a day anyway, so although I don’t think I’m addicted to caffeine, I do seem to function better with it. And I think I should allow myself a cup of tea in the afternoon, too.
The book – seems to be going OK, touch wood.
So how are things with you? (Or, if I can do a Joey Tribbiani… ‘How you doin’?’)
Monday, April 22, 2013
Mixing it up a bit
Current work: Cherish romance (aka M&B #57)
Listening to: Beethoven
Reading: Eliza Graham, The History Room (enjoying) and Jojo Moyes, The Girl You Left Behind
Gym: Cardio intervals and kettlebells (I am going to feel it tomorrow)
Mixing the diet up a bit after my pal Michelle Styles told me about Haylie Pomroy's diet in the Times at the weekend; very interesting reading. Right now, I'm in a place where I can experiment, and I was intrigued by the idea - to me it looks like interval eating/carb cycling, so I’ll give it a week’s trial and see how it goes (i.e. I want 1lb off and for it to be sustainable - if I'm hungry, grumpy or can't think straight on any of the phases, then it's back to eating sensibly and counting calories).
One of her edicts is that you have to drink 1oz of water for every 2lb of body weight (and I did check she meant UK fluid ounces and not US – they’re slightly different). Yikes. And no coffee. No wheat, no caffeine and no soy I can live with; no dairy might be harder. There are points in the day when I really want a proper cup of tea. And as I like mine very weak and milky… yeah. Rice milk is not going to work for me, there!
So, the meal plan for today: breakfast = oats, blueberries and raspberries; morning snack = peach; lunch = lentil soup, prawns, salad and quinoa; afternoon snack = fresh pineapple; dinner = chicken with apple, with lots of veg and some basmati rice, followed by a mix of pomegranate, peach and fresh pineapple. Yum. Much higher in carbs than I would normally eat (and OMG, sugar...), lower in protein, but the cals work out pretty much the same. Phase two is a bit tougher (basically protein and green veg); and phase three looks very like my normal eating plan, i.e. lots of oily fish and lean protein, veggies, low-GI carbs and a little bit of fruit (I normally go for low-sugar, high-anthocyanin fruits). Plus I have new recipes to play with, so I'm good to go :)
FINALLY finished the revisions, so it’s back to work on my dog-trainer and actor book. The sun is shining, my washing’s on the line, the birds are singing madly, the dog is snoring next to me, and all’s right with the world…
Listening to: Beethoven
Reading: Eliza Graham, The History Room (enjoying) and Jojo Moyes, The Girl You Left Behind
Gym: Cardio intervals and kettlebells (I am going to feel it tomorrow)
Mixing the diet up a bit after my pal Michelle Styles told me about Haylie Pomroy's diet in the Times at the weekend; very interesting reading. Right now, I'm in a place where I can experiment, and I was intrigued by the idea - to me it looks like interval eating/carb cycling, so I’ll give it a week’s trial and see how it goes (i.e. I want 1lb off and for it to be sustainable - if I'm hungry, grumpy or can't think straight on any of the phases, then it's back to eating sensibly and counting calories).
One of her edicts is that you have to drink 1oz of water for every 2lb of body weight (and I did check she meant UK fluid ounces and not US – they’re slightly different). Yikes. And no coffee. No wheat, no caffeine and no soy I can live with; no dairy might be harder. There are points in the day when I really want a proper cup of tea. And as I like mine very weak and milky… yeah. Rice milk is not going to work for me, there!
So, the meal plan for today: breakfast = oats, blueberries and raspberries; morning snack = peach; lunch = lentil soup, prawns, salad and quinoa; afternoon snack = fresh pineapple; dinner = chicken with apple, with lots of veg and some basmati rice, followed by a mix of pomegranate, peach and fresh pineapple. Yum. Much higher in carbs than I would normally eat (and OMG, sugar...), lower in protein, but the cals work out pretty much the same. Phase two is a bit tougher (basically protein and green veg); and phase three looks very like my normal eating plan, i.e. lots of oily fish and lean protein, veggies, low-GI carbs and a little bit of fruit (I normally go for low-sugar, high-anthocyanin fruits). Plus I have new recipes to play with, so I'm good to go :)
FINALLY finished the revisions, so it’s back to work on my dog-trainer and actor book. The sun is shining, my washing’s on the line, the birds are singing madly, the dog is snoring next to me, and all’s right with the world…
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
wot gorilla?
Current work: revisions on Med (aka M&B #56)
Listening to: Bach (though it could be Genesis – bonus points if you spot the reference in today’s title)
Reading: Eliza Graham, The History Room (enjoying)
Gym: HIIT circuits – loved it, even the burpees! Personal best of 250m in 58 sec on the rower. (Yesterday's was pyramid training on the elliptical, a run, and I barely made the interval training on the stepper because I'd pushed myself that hard - which is just what I wanted to do.)
I am turning into a bit of a gym gorilla, and today there was proof in the car park, right next door to me :o)
Still struggling on with the revisions. This is clearly going to be my ‘shut up and get on with it’ week. But I do have dance class to look forward to tonight – our last Wednesday one as the groups are merging. Also my last 121 session with one of my very favourite trainers, as she’s moving on – am sure she will do brilliantly at her new gym because she’s such a sweetheart and you only realise at the end of the session how much she’s pushed you.
And I need to work on my plan for world domination :o) (Actually, that means crank up my training on my cardio days; finish these bloody revisions so I can get on with the two other books dancing round in my head; and do a little research to convince my lovely GP to try an experiment. Not saying any more about it here, but I was smiling from the wrists up on Monday. Still. I'm articulate, so I can fix it.)
Listening to: Bach (though it could be Genesis – bonus points if you spot the reference in today’s title)
Reading: Eliza Graham, The History Room (enjoying)
Gym: HIIT circuits – loved it, even the burpees! Personal best of 250m in 58 sec on the rower. (Yesterday's was pyramid training on the elliptical, a run, and I barely made the interval training on the stepper because I'd pushed myself that hard - which is just what I wanted to do.)
I am turning into a bit of a gym gorilla, and today there was proof in the car park, right next door to me :o)
Still struggling on with the revisions. This is clearly going to be my ‘shut up and get on with it’ week. But I do have dance class to look forward to tonight – our last Wednesday one as the groups are merging. Also my last 121 session with one of my very favourite trainers, as she’s moving on – am sure she will do brilliantly at her new gym because she’s such a sweetheart and you only realise at the end of the session how much she’s pushed you.
And I need to work on my plan for world domination :o) (Actually, that means crank up my training on my cardio days; finish these bloody revisions so I can get on with the two other books dancing round in my head; and do a little research to convince my lovely GP to try an experiment. Not saying any more about it here, but I was smiling from the wrists up on Monday. Still. I'm articulate, so I can fix it.)
Monday, April 15, 2013
sunshine - and utter frustration
Current work: revisions on Med (aka M&B #56)
Listening to: Mozart
Reading: Eliza Graham, The History Room (enjoying)
Gym: not today :o( - but I did get a long walk at the beach yesterday!
Fabulous day yesterday – it was the warmest day of the year, so we headed for Wells-next-the-Sea, aka my favourite place.
And we had lunch while sitting on the harbour wall – this is the view. Glorious, or what?
No gym today - hospital appointment instead. Did I get any answers? Nope. The endocrinologist has no idea why it isn't working, either. But she did say (a) do NOT do the 5:2 any longer, (b) working out and eating properly has staved off diabetes (I knew that one already, but not that I had other signs of it), and (c) keep going and don't stress about it as I'm in good shape and weight isn't the only factor to look at. So. Do you keep on a-troshin', as they say in my part of the world. (Dialect. It means 'keep plodding on'.) I have to admit I feel a bit let down - I was so hoping for an answer. Just knowing WHY it isn't working would take away the frustration. Still. Big bright smile, and keep going.
Beginning of term today – eldest’s last term in school uniform. Dog is immensely whiny (as he always is after the holidays, missing his playmates). Feels very strange to have a quiet house again! Still – it’s needed as I have a ton of work to do.
Listening to: Mozart
Reading: Eliza Graham, The History Room (enjoying)
Gym: not today :o( - but I did get a long walk at the beach yesterday!
Fabulous day yesterday – it was the warmest day of the year, so we headed for Wells-next-the-Sea, aka my favourite place.
And we had lunch while sitting on the harbour wall – this is the view. Glorious, or what?
No gym today - hospital appointment instead. Did I get any answers? Nope. The endocrinologist has no idea why it isn't working, either. But she did say (a) do NOT do the 5:2 any longer, (b) working out and eating properly has staved off diabetes (I knew that one already, but not that I had other signs of it), and (c) keep going and don't stress about it as I'm in good shape and weight isn't the only factor to look at. So. Do you keep on a-troshin', as they say in my part of the world. (Dialect. It means 'keep plodding on'.) I have to admit I feel a bit let down - I was so hoping for an answer. Just knowing WHY it isn't working would take away the frustration. Still. Big bright smile, and keep going.
Beginning of term today – eldest’s last term in school uniform. Dog is immensely whiny (as he always is after the holidays, missing his playmates). Feels very strange to have a quiet house again! Still – it’s needed as I have a ton of work to do.
Friday, April 12, 2013
decisions, decisions..
Current work: revisions on Med (aka M&B #56)
Listening to: daughter playing Adele on the piano (!)
Reading: Eliza Graham, The History Room (enjoying)
Gym: 121 session, upper body
Am being a hopeless blogger. I’m not even sure how many people even read blogs nowadays – my gut feeling is that people tend to use facebook (where I post most days) or Twitter (where I’m hopeless, but could be prodded). So from now on this blog is going to reflect pretty much what I post on FB, unless there’s something big happening or unless my readers tell me they want blogs. (But, seriously – if I’m thinking up things to put on here, then I’m not writing the book, and which would you rather have?)
Made another big decision this week regarding the diet. I have been doing the 5:2 and was pleased with the initial success. However – the diet doesn’t really suit me. I get cold (which is SO not me), grumpy (again, not usual, and not very fair on DH and the kids), and can’t think straight or focus properly (which is wrecking my work). Now, if I was losing weight consistently, I might put up with the negatives – but putting weight on last week after one meal with friends (which actually wasn’t that bad in the scheme of things and was nowhere even close to the 10,000 calories it would take to put on 3lbs - in fact I'd say I ate less than 2k that day) and then losing ¼ lb this week after trying three fast days to see if I could remove last week's damage… no. Just no. If I’m going to plateau, I’d rather it was while eating sensibly and exercising properly and being happy, y'know?
So. Pressure off. (And am still hoping that the endocrinologist will have some answers for me on Monday. I’m doing all the right things but not getting the results I would expect. If I knew why it wasn't working, it would take away a lot of the frustration. I am, however, not giving up on the Kate Unlardy project. It just might take me longer than my original planned two years.)
Righty. Back to revisions on the treacle book. And then I can get back to writing the book I’m dying to write next!
And I’ll leave you with a pic – today’s hair is caffe latte.
We were going to put some caramel streaks in it as well, but now the red is out and we don’t have to bleach it before the colour goes on, we can see what it really looks like – and I quite like it.
Listening to: daughter playing Adele on the piano (!)
Reading: Eliza Graham, The History Room (enjoying)
Gym: 121 session, upper body
Am being a hopeless blogger. I’m not even sure how many people even read blogs nowadays – my gut feeling is that people tend to use facebook (where I post most days) or Twitter (where I’m hopeless, but could be prodded). So from now on this blog is going to reflect pretty much what I post on FB, unless there’s something big happening or unless my readers tell me they want blogs. (But, seriously – if I’m thinking up things to put on here, then I’m not writing the book, and which would you rather have?)
Made another big decision this week regarding the diet. I have been doing the 5:2 and was pleased with the initial success. However – the diet doesn’t really suit me. I get cold (which is SO not me), grumpy (again, not usual, and not very fair on DH and the kids), and can’t think straight or focus properly (which is wrecking my work). Now, if I was losing weight consistently, I might put up with the negatives – but putting weight on last week after one meal with friends (which actually wasn’t that bad in the scheme of things and was nowhere even close to the 10,000 calories it would take to put on 3lbs - in fact I'd say I ate less than 2k that day) and then losing ¼ lb this week after trying three fast days to see if I could remove last week's damage… no. Just no. If I’m going to plateau, I’d rather it was while eating sensibly and exercising properly and being happy, y'know?
So. Pressure off. (And am still hoping that the endocrinologist will have some answers for me on Monday. I’m doing all the right things but not getting the results I would expect. If I knew why it wasn't working, it would take away a lot of the frustration. I am, however, not giving up on the Kate Unlardy project. It just might take me longer than my original planned two years.)
Righty. Back to revisions on the treacle book. And then I can get back to writing the book I’m dying to write next!
And I’ll leave you with a pic – today’s hair is caffe latte.
We were going to put some caramel streaks in it as well, but now the red is out and we don’t have to bleach it before the colour goes on, we can see what it really looks like – and I quite like it.
Wednesday, April 03, 2013
churches and the seaside
Current work: revisions on Med (aka M&B #56)
Listening to: Beethoven
Reading: next on TBR
I took a few days off at Easter to spend with DH and the kids. Despite a bitter easterly wind (i.e. straight from Siberia to Norfolk), we managed to get out and about. We saw Wreck-It Ralph at the cinema on Friday (and then went out to lunch - ha, I can do lunch out on fast days if I'm careful about my order).
On Saturday we did a quick recce to see where our new dance class will be held, later this month (the classes are merging as several people have dropped out of our class, owing to illness). On the way back, we did a little church-crawling, and I was very taken by this gorgeous peacock mosaic at the altar in Hingham.
We had friends over on Sunday (aka eating too much, drinking too much and laughing too much) and I’m highly envious as DH’s best friend’s daughter is going on a dig, this summer. (I will be grilling her and begging to see photos!)
And on Monday we headed off to the seaside. Just for a change, we went over the county border to visit Southwold, in Suffolk.
Thanks to the wind, it was slightly too cold for ice cream (OK, I did suggest it, but Grumpy Teen and Teen-to-Be informed me that it was wayyyy too cold for ice cream – they wanted hot chocolate, and my skinny latte definitely hit the spot). But it was a nice walk, and I always love seeing the beach huts – so pretty.
What did you do over Easter?
Listening to: Beethoven
Reading: next on TBR
I took a few days off at Easter to spend with DH and the kids. Despite a bitter easterly wind (i.e. straight from Siberia to Norfolk), we managed to get out and about. We saw Wreck-It Ralph at the cinema on Friday (and then went out to lunch - ha, I can do lunch out on fast days if I'm careful about my order).
On Saturday we did a quick recce to see where our new dance class will be held, later this month (the classes are merging as several people have dropped out of our class, owing to illness). On the way back, we did a little church-crawling, and I was very taken by this gorgeous peacock mosaic at the altar in Hingham.
And on Monday we headed off to the seaside. Just for a change, we went over the county border to visit Southwold, in Suffolk.
Thanks to the wind, it was slightly too cold for ice cream (OK, I did suggest it, but Grumpy Teen and Teen-to-Be informed me that it was wayyyy too cold for ice cream – they wanted hot chocolate, and my skinny latte definitely hit the spot). But it was a nice walk, and I always love seeing the beach huts – so pretty.
What did you do over Easter?
Monday, March 25, 2013
catchup
Current work: Harlequin Romance (aka M&B #57)
Listening to: Beethoven
Reading: Liz Fielding, Anything But Vanilla (fantastic); Susanna Kearsley, Mariana (enjoying)
Many apologies – what happened to the last three weeks? Basically, I’ve been up against a deadline with a book that did NOT want to be written. The whole thing was like struggling through treacle. I’m very relieved that it’s with my editor now. In the meantime, I’m playing with my new book while I’m waiting for what I think will be mammoth revisions.
Other than that… I’ve discovered scallops. How, how, HOW can a foodie have never eaten scallops before? Littlest and I really like them with lime and chilli :o)
The weight loss is progressing nicely (touches wood to avoid jinxing that). Whether the 5:2 diet has kickstarted my metabolism, or whether eating that way is the equivalent of interval training in fitness (i.e. quickest way to see big improvements), I don’t know, but I’m very grateful that it’s working. In the last month I’ve lost almost 7lbs; given that it took me four and a half months to lose 10lbs last year, and then the scales stuck fast, I’m delighted! I’m still interested to hear what the endocrinologist has to say, next month.
I’ve been doing a bit of reading, and watching some films to refill the well (some have been, ahem, better than others – but even the ones that didn’t hit the spot were useful because it taught me to watch out for things in my own work).
What’s new with you? What have you been reading/watching?
Listening to: Beethoven
Reading: Liz Fielding, Anything But Vanilla (fantastic); Susanna Kearsley, Mariana (enjoying)
Many apologies – what happened to the last three weeks? Basically, I’ve been up against a deadline with a book that did NOT want to be written. The whole thing was like struggling through treacle. I’m very relieved that it’s with my editor now. In the meantime, I’m playing with my new book while I’m waiting for what I think will be mammoth revisions.
Other than that… I’ve discovered scallops. How, how, HOW can a foodie have never eaten scallops before? Littlest and I really like them with lime and chilli :o)
The weight loss is progressing nicely (touches wood to avoid jinxing that). Whether the 5:2 diet has kickstarted my metabolism, or whether eating that way is the equivalent of interval training in fitness (i.e. quickest way to see big improvements), I don’t know, but I’m very grateful that it’s working. In the last month I’ve lost almost 7lbs; given that it took me four and a half months to lose 10lbs last year, and then the scales stuck fast, I’m delighted! I’m still interested to hear what the endocrinologist has to say, next month.
I’ve been doing a bit of reading, and watching some films to refill the well (some have been, ahem, better than others – but even the ones that didn’t hit the spot were useful because it taught me to watch out for things in my own work).
What’s new with you? What have you been reading/watching?
Tuesday, March 05, 2013
March already?
Current work: Medical Romance (aka M&B #56)
Listening to: Beethoven
Reading: Hilary Boyd, Thursdays in the Park
How did it get to be March already? Sorry. I have been atrocious about blogging and Must Try Harder. So what’s been going on at Planet Kate?
Well – the blood test results came back and they weren’t what the doctor or I was expecting, so it’s off to see the endocrinologist next month to see if they can work out what we’ve missed. And in the meantime, as my blood sugar appears to be stable, I’m trying the 5:2 diet. Last week, I lost 1.5 lbs – and as that’s the first weight I’ve lost since October (despite eating sensibly and exercising), I’m very pleased.
Apart from that, I’ve been struggling a bit with the book. Fingers crossed, it appears to be working now (and I do hope I haven’t just jinxed myself by saying that!). I think part of it is that I’ve been stressing about the health issues and it’s got in the way of my ability to think straight. Dew yew keep on a-troshin’, as they’d say in my part of the world. (Translation from the dialect: keep plodding on.)
I’m over at the Pink Heart Society today with a recipe – one that might be nice for anyone doing the 5:2, but with a couple of tweaks will also suit anyone who isn’t :o)
Oh - last thing - in the UK, it's publication week. So my ballroom dancing book is out in the shops now!
Listening to: Beethoven
Reading: Hilary Boyd, Thursdays in the Park
How did it get to be March already? Sorry. I have been atrocious about blogging and Must Try Harder. So what’s been going on at Planet Kate?
Well – the blood test results came back and they weren’t what the doctor or I was expecting, so it’s off to see the endocrinologist next month to see if they can work out what we’ve missed. And in the meantime, as my blood sugar appears to be stable, I’m trying the 5:2 diet. Last week, I lost 1.5 lbs – and as that’s the first weight I’ve lost since October (despite eating sensibly and exercising), I’m very pleased.
Apart from that, I’ve been struggling a bit with the book. Fingers crossed, it appears to be working now (and I do hope I haven’t just jinxed myself by saying that!). I think part of it is that I’ve been stressing about the health issues and it’s got in the way of my ability to think straight. Dew yew keep on a-troshin’, as they’d say in my part of the world. (Translation from the dialect: keep plodding on.)
I’m over at the Pink Heart Society today with a recipe – one that might be nice for anyone doing the 5:2, but with a couple of tweaks will also suit anyone who isn’t :o)
Oh - last thing - in the UK, it's publication week. So my ballroom dancing book is out in the shops now!
Monday, February 18, 2013
Half term
Current work: Medical Romance (aka M&B #56)
Listening to: nothing – everyone’s home so I have sound out to let me concentrate
Reading: next on TBR
One armful of blood later, I am back at my desk (deadline, deadline, deadline). DH is playing the guitar in the living room with dog as adoring audience. Daughter is doing her geography homework in the kitchen. Son is doing the teenage boy thing and not emerging from bed on the grounds that he desperately needs sleep. (DH isn't aware of this yet but as he's off this week I'd like him to take over from me on the nagging front - homework and working out a revision timetable for GCSEs.)
I really need to concentrate on the book and not stress about the blood tests, especially as I'm pretty sure they're simply going to confirm what the GP and I already think. Though it is a relief to know that it's not totally my fault I'm horribly overweight - I am eating all the right things, I'm doing the right kind and amount of exercise, but my endocrine system is having an almighty hissy fit and refusing to play ball. I did ask if I could do 5:2 and she said no - I need to eat little and often, keep the sugar as low as possible, and balance low-GL carbs with lean protein. So. Deep breath, get on with the week, and try not to think too much!
Listening to: nothing – everyone’s home so I have sound out to let me concentrate
Reading: next on TBR
One armful of blood later, I am back at my desk (deadline, deadline, deadline). DH is playing the guitar in the living room with dog as adoring audience. Daughter is doing her geography homework in the kitchen. Son is doing the teenage boy thing and not emerging from bed on the grounds that he desperately needs sleep. (DH isn't aware of this yet but as he's off this week I'd like him to take over from me on the nagging front - homework and working out a revision timetable for GCSEs.)
I really need to concentrate on the book and not stress about the blood tests, especially as I'm pretty sure they're simply going to confirm what the GP and I already think. Though it is a relief to know that it's not totally my fault I'm horribly overweight - I am eating all the right things, I'm doing the right kind and amount of exercise, but my endocrine system is having an almighty hissy fit and refusing to play ball. I did ask if I could do 5:2 and she said no - I need to eat little and often, keep the sugar as low as possible, and balance low-GL carbs with lean protein. So. Deep breath, get on with the week, and try not to think too much!
Thursday, February 14, 2013
The perfect Valentine...
Lovely DH bought me a card and choccies (though the card and sentiment were obviously the most important).
And then I had lovely news. Yesterday and today, The Brooding Doc's Redemption was in the eHarlequin bestseller list. (Thank you, lovely readers!)
And today, I discovered that I've won the Cataromance Reviewers' Choice award for Dr Cinderella's Midnight Fling. (Thank you, Cataromance!)
And I'm part of a new joint blog with some of my favourite authors - do go over and say hello to us at http://www.chocolateboxwriters.com, because there are lots of door prizes. And, y'know, given the name of our site, you have an idea of what some of those prizes might be...
Happy Valentine's Day!
And then I had lovely news. Yesterday and today, The Brooding Doc's Redemption was in the eHarlequin bestseller list. (Thank you, lovely readers!)
And today, I discovered that I've won the Cataromance Reviewers' Choice award for Dr Cinderella's Midnight Fling. (Thank you, Cataromance!)
And I'm part of a new joint blog with some of my favourite authors - do go over and say hello to us at http://www.chocolateboxwriters.com, because there are lots of door prizes. And, y'know, given the name of our site, you have an idea of what some of those prizes might be...
Happy Valentine's Day!
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
dancing, cake and Vienna, oh my!
Current work: Medical Romance (aka M&B #56)
Listening to: Beethoven
Reading: next on TBR
Had a wonderful birthday – spoiled by DH and the children, serenaded while I was making breakfast (by daughter, on the guitar), and then a really nice dinner out. Now, I wasn’t going to crash the diet, so I split my starter with my daughter (crab cake), had a very low-calorie grilled lobster salad for my main course
(sorry for the rubbish quality of the pic, but DH hates me taking pictures of food, so I had to sneak it on my iPod rather than take it on my proper camera), and crème brulee for pud - so I got to have everything I wanted, without wrecking my hard work on the sensible eating/exercise front. Scrumptious. Oh, and the coffee was proper Italian coffee. Cue blissful sigh.
Back on deadline today. But I am over at the Harlequin Romance Authors' blog, telling the truth about dancing, cake and Vienna (aka the story behind my new book) if you want to go and take a look at the pics and leave a comment :)
Listening to: Beethoven
Reading: next on TBR
Had a wonderful birthday – spoiled by DH and the children, serenaded while I was making breakfast (by daughter, on the guitar), and then a really nice dinner out. Now, I wasn’t going to crash the diet, so I split my starter with my daughter (crab cake), had a very low-calorie grilled lobster salad for my main course
(sorry for the rubbish quality of the pic, but DH hates me taking pictures of food, so I had to sneak it on my iPod rather than take it on my proper camera), and crème brulee for pud - so I got to have everything I wanted, without wrecking my hard work on the sensible eating/exercise front. Scrumptious. Oh, and the coffee was proper Italian coffee. Cue blissful sigh.
Back on deadline today. But I am over at the Harlequin Romance Authors' blog, telling the truth about dancing, cake and Vienna (aka the story behind my new book) if you want to go and take a look at the pics and leave a comment :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)