Getting ready for spring... ehm..

The sun is shining, it is freezing cold outside, but ever so lovely. One should think that everything is frozen, due to the -4° Celsius, but it’s not. Sitting outside on the stairs in my garden… freezing my bum off and hands shaking so much I at some point was worried I would spill all my coffee, I can see that the crocus, the hyacinths, the daffodils and the snowdrops sprout. A true sign of spring and new life to nature, which has been dormant for the last few months.

Spring, the most optimistic season of the year, is just around the corner. That means that we have to start thinking about how to dress when temperatures rise and both nature and people thaw.

We will no longer wear thermo overalls, excellent for hiding, or huge scarves to cover up that extra double chin; once again we try to avoid showing off what we made such great effort to hide last year.

Every year, when I go shopping for Christmas presents, I find stunning dresses and outfits I would really like to wear to the various Christmas arrangements and parties. But when I take a quick look in the windows I pass, I have to admit they would probably not fit me… or, of course they would fit me in the right size, but the right size is not the size I want them in. So I decide I will get something just as lovely and becoming next year, when my size is the size I want to buy them in. (I am NOT desperate enough to buy the clothes two sizes too small, and keep them for the future day when they fit… but the thought have crossed my mind.)

Problem is: When that lovely piece of clothing has been mourned and I have comforted myself with a coffee mocha and I have found both a couple of presents AND bought another big, dark tent I can imagine makes me look stunning. I am done with the grief over my poor state.

In addition; Our summer is basically a lot of rain and an occasional fortunate day with temperatures above 20 degrees celsius. Swim and beachwear is not really a big issue here, neither is getting your body in shape for beach life. :-(The thing about me not being all wrinkled up yet, is not careful skincare, it is all about being frozen and not getting exposed too much to sunshine.

In lack of real inspiration I forget all about self-discipline and the desire to look dashing. Society is so full of body images based on lies I just choose not to pay attention. It is all unattainable standards anyway.  At least to average women, like myself.

This has become somewhat of a pattern over the last 12 years. Everyday life traps you, and you fall into same old habits you had before.

Not necessarily because it is preferred or really wanted; You do it because you know the strategies you have developed over years, work; They allow you to get things done, and changes in your habits might interfere and interrupt your well planned strategy on how to get time.

Knowing this, I still reached the point when “something” had to change. That something was me. My mood was down, my self-confidence was low, my me-time was non-existent, thousand thoughts buzzed around in my head, and I just never got the time to sort them out and get done with. All in all I figured I was not a very pleasant person to be around, let alone live with.

So what did I do? I invested in the coolest pair of NIKE running shoes ever! The downside is that given the ridiculous prize I have to use them.

So I started off walking really fast four nights a week to gradually learn how to jog. Not only was it BORING it was also so cold my hands and thighs turned numb (Still is, by the way). Not funny, no fun... if it wasn't for the insanely expensive shoes I would NEVER keep it up.... but I did, I do.

Americans talk so proudly about their 3-mile run, so I figured a 3-mile run on a regular basis would be a nice goal. And you know what? It is not that hard! And every time it takes a little less time to complete.

I am not going to extend the distance I run. I need to come home feeling I could have run longer. I need to want to do it next time as well, and for me this works.

Personal trainers often have a lot of good suggestions and mantras. Well they are personal trainers for a reason, and it has to do with lifestyle and interest. I don’t have their personality; I had to develop my own strategy within the reach of my own potential. Pointing fingers really doesn’t work to scare me into a better lifestyle. I have to be left alone and figure out my command level for optimal conditions of life.

 

If it comes to a point when you understand you are not in a good place, and it doesn’t work for you to be around same old, then you must figure out a way to do something about it... or.... at least you will want to, and that is how you start changing what is not good in your life.

Hazardous grocery shopping

It is winter break here in Norway this week, and today I have been on my computer for most of the day. Not doing anything important; just surfing the net, watching this and that and reading whatever caught my attention.

While doing nothing important the TV was on, and I got to see all the unimportant stuff which I usually miss, since I am at work during daytime.

At one point I forgot about my doing nothing at all: On TV there was a program called Extreme Couponing.

Here in Norway coupons is not something you can base your finances upon, because it is not a big thing here. The closest thing I have found to anything like it s www.Rabattkuponger.no

Categories of coupons which can be found there, are the same ones we sometimes find in the newspapers:

• Barneutstyr, Leker og Barneklær            (childrens equipment, toys and childrens clothes)
• Bil og biltilbehør                                         (car and car accessories)
• Data, Utstyr og Internett                           (computer, equipment and internet)
• Diverse                                                          (sundries)
• Dyr og Tilbehør                                            (animals and accessories)
• Dating og Erotikk                                         (dating and erotics)
• Film, Musikk. Bøker og Underholdning   (film, music, books and entertainment)
• Finans og Lån                                               (finances and loans)
• Foto, Video og Utstyr                                 (photo, video and equipment)
• Hjem og Bolig                                               (home and residence)
• Hvitevarer og Småelektrisk                        (household appliances and electrical notions)
• Klær og Mote                                                (clothes and fashion)
• Kropp og Helse                                             (body and health)
• Lyd og Bilde                                                   (sound and picture)
• Mobiltelefon og Telefoni                            (mobile phones and telephony)
• Reise                                                               (travel)
• Spill og Leker                                                 (games and toys)
• Sport og Fitness                                            (sport and fitness)

A lot of stuff which you can get a great deal on, but food is not represented. Using a coupon here in Norway you can get a discount, but the amount of items is very limited and never for free. The closest thing is the deals when you i.e. buy a carton of eggs and get a bread for free to go with it.

To watch families make do, by putting down effort to get great deals on groceries, was so incredible fascinating, I watched how they organized their shopping, preparing to go to the super market, collecting coupons and paying close to nothing (in a couple of cases absolutely nothing!) for groceries sometimes worth as much as US $1000,- or even more (in most cases less, but still a considerably amount of money was saved).

Advanced skills in business economics were displayed in such an unexpected and cunning way. I was just blown away by how they took advantage of the loopholes in coupon regulations.  And by doing that they could make down payments on their house, arrange huge parties (weddings even) and fill their houses (literally) with incredible amounts of bottles, cans, boxes and bags.

I started off watching being very intrigued, but then, as the program proceeded, I found myself being really worried; the only vegetable I saw them buy was canned tomatoes. And the fruit I saw was passed by as the procession of family members, each with their own fully loaded shopping cart, hurried towards the next coupon smashing deal. They were directed, in strict order, to the items they were to buy.

To me the coupons came across as a trap to lure people into a bad diet.  Meat was represented in processed food like frozen dinners, and we all know how unhealthy they are, with all the additives and fat.

What was represented a lot was detergents, deodorants, shampoos and a very disturbing amount of sugar.

Who in their right mind needs 100 boxes of cereal, 1200 cookies, 20 cartons of soft drinks or 69 boxes of cake- or cookie mix. It is all for free (or as free as it gets), but all of it is groceries with huge warning signs: It is not good for you to eat too much of it! These things are treats and rewards on special occasions. They are not meant to comprise your daily diet.

I understand the value of having a hobby, and I understand how stretching finances is both wanted and crucial for most people, but I find it worrying that nobody sees the hazard and limit the access to free unhealthy food. It would be so much more reassuring if fresh fish, meat, fruits and vegetable were somehow included to the system.

Yes, at least they get very clean when using all the detergents, fabric softeners, razors and shampoos, but I still am very skeptical.  What should be a clever marketing strategy for food industry and stores, end up jeopardising customers and their families’ health.