On Sunday I took part in a running event again, finally!! It has been a while. About7-8 months ish I think, when I ran the Lake Mac 10.5km, but while heavily preggers. Little Miss being 6 months now, that's how I work out my timeframe for everything... So, yes, it felt great to be back doing an event, and especially a lovely, local running event, in the best city in the world (IMO). Actually, the race I took part in was my old daily and weekend running route when I lived closer to the beach, so was great to be back there too. Plus, a nice flat, fast course, which, after training on hills constantly recently (we live on a hill) was a nice surprise for the legs too. It started just next to where the old Penis tower used to be, by the Queen's Wharf Hotel, went along the foreshore to Nobby's/Newcastle Beach, then back towards and along Honeysuckle and on to Carrington, via the Newy parkrun course, then back to the changeover pen/start/finish line.

I was part of a three person relay team running the marathon (Team 'Orange You Glad We're Running a Marathon'), so we each did a 14km loop. Luckily (I do feel lucky here) I went first for our team, with the logic behind this being that I'd be back perfectly in time for Little Miss's brekkie when she awoke (the race started at 6am, a nice early one). This went to plan and I was back just after 7am (7:07am to be precise). Little Miss stayed snoozing for a while, while our second teammate took off - took off flying! She is super fast! Little Miss awoke at some point during the second lap, but was not keen on feeding in new, exciting surrounds (she doesn't want to miss anything!). It had started to heat up quite a bit by now, so that when our third and final teammate took off for our ultimate lap, it was now a scorcher of a morning, and I, again, was feeling thankful that I had run already and wouldn't be running in this hot, harsh sunshine. Our third runner (Little Miss's wonderful daddio) was back shortly after setting off, and our total time was 3:23! Woohoo - a three minute marathon pb for me! (Does it count if it's run in a team?!). I was excited to learn later that we came in first place for mixed teams, and third place overall. Woohoo! Deadset champions. It was a really fun morning too, and I love, love, love those race vibes: the awesome crowd support (thank you especially Disco Wooter, AKA Matt, your infectious happiness and perfectly timed high-fives along to the sounds of the Fresh Prince bring so much joy to so many runners) and seeing many a familiar, friendly face whilst running too.

​Congrats to everyone who ran or supported on Sunday, you are all legends! A great event for sure. Here are the before and after pics:

I was all ready to come on here today and write that this would be my final post. That I would no longer be writing a monthly (which used to be daily, then weekly, then fortnightly) blog about running, writing, nutrition, motherhood and anything else that's pertinent to me at the time. I had decided, at some point during the past month, that writing these seldom read posts no longer 'sparks joy' in me, to flagrantly get on the bandwagon and use lovely Mrs. Kondo's catchphrase. However, I realised when opening up the website this morning, that that is simply not true today. It does spark joy in me after all. As does (in no particular order): Running. Karaoke. Walking with my baby daughter. (ok, doing anything with my baby daughter). Writing fiction. Nutrition news. Anything pink. Japanese food. Netflixing with my fiancé. Reading. A myriad of other things.

​I may not be able to do all of these things all of the time, and no longer to a rigid schedule since Seren's arrival, that's for sure, but no need to give them up. I think what didn't spark joy was the pressure of having a certain date or time to get something done by, but as a wise soul recently pointed out: it is a self-appointed time-frame and pressure. Much like anything we choose to do. Take the time pressure off and, phew, joy returns.

​I think what it comes down to is priorities and what needs to get done versus what I'd like to get done. With a three and a half month daughter, she obviously comes first and foremost above everything else, and anything I get done on top of feeding and caring for her (and myself too, hopefully) is just a bonus. This is why I've been stoked to have been able to get back into running as much as I have lately: on a good week I have been able to get out for up to four runs, plus one or two weight sessions at the gym. This is, of course, due to having an amazing partner. I obviously wouldn't be able to go for a run so often or to the gym, if he wasn't there with our daughter. So, if he's reading this: thank you for everything that you do. I appreciate you so much, as does Seren. You 'spark joy' for her and it is the most beautiful site to behold.

​Coming up in my personal running news is the potential Newy marathon (yay, a local race!), where there is an option to do a three person relay team (so, 14km each), and the Cairns half marathon, which I am hugely excited about. Both of these events are in April, and I'd love to do them. There will be parkruns and my annual birthday run (hopefully!) before then though, and much training and SO much food. (Did I mention just how damn hungry breastfeeding makes me?! It's crazy. Like I've just run an ultra and have the extreme runger.)

​Happy Public Holiday Monday to all those in Oz today, and Happy Monday in general to everyone else. Get out there and 'spark joy' in your life. :) xx

ps Aaaand, it's officially out now! If you want to order a copy of my new book and support a local author (thanks in advance!), you can do so via the UK or US Amazon, here are the links:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ethereal-…/…/0648167666/ref=sr_1_1…
https://www.amazon.com/Ethereal-Lo…/…/0648167666/ref=sr_1_1…
...
Or here is the link for the book as per the publisher's website: http://www.tenthstreetpress.com/lois-wood.html
OR, you can get one here at Waterstone's also: https://www.waterstones.com/…/ether…/lois-wood/9780648167662
Thanks all!!

Running has been hot and humid lately hey! But good times had nonetheless. There's been the traditional Christmas day run (in honour of my late father) which I combined with a convenient Christmas Day parkrun, the Twelve KMs of Christmas / The Christmas Gift, a Saturday parkrun here and there, and a fair few solo runs (Seren dependent of course).

Now 2019 is almost upon us. Wow, what a year hey!? I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas (if you celebrate it as such) and enjoyed lots of festive cheer, good food and drink, and time spent with loved ones. Don't stress about any extra decadent food that you may have consumed: just enjoy the quality times and focus more on a healthy, balanced diet between Decembers (i.e. it's more important to make great choices in the time between each Christmas, all year round, rather than just the few days of Chrissy).

It's customary, with the approaching new year, to contemplate the year just gone, the highs, the lows (if any), the in-between mehs, and to plan and set some goals (or resolutions) for the new year, something I LOVE to do (after all, who doesn't love a goal-setting list?!). Well, what can I say: I thought I had carved out my perfect life back in 2016 in Hanoi, Vietnam, whilst living by myself and cycling around between teaching gigs and nutrition workshops, eating delicious banh mi and pho (amongst other Vietnamese goodies), running through the crazy humidity and winning various races, doing occasional stand-up comedy, writing books, and exploring amazing Vietnam and spending time with some wonderful folk. However, 2018 has smashed that out of the park with my pregnancy journey and arrival of my beautiful daughter Seren: a definite highlight of the year (and of my life). Anyhoo, suffice to say, my 2019 resolutions and goals are centred around Seren and caring for her: showing her the world around her and breastfeeding her. Then there are the standard running and writing goals.....

What about YOU? Best times of 2018? Plans for 2019? I would love to know.

Talking of writing goals, Ethereal is now officially out!! Woo-hoo!! You can get your copy via Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, or Waterstones.com. Click on the link below to go to Amazon. Disclaimer: it is not a nutrition book, it is trashy fiction. The only thing 'nutrition'esque about it is that it was written by a nutritionist. But if you enjoy some light-hearted fiction, and a hint of raunch, then get on board.

Have a wonderful New Year celebration! Whatever you may be doing. Have fun, be safe, stay healthy and enjoy all those around you. Sending love from Newcastle, Australia. xxx

​Here is the link to get your copy of Ethereal:
www.amazon.com/Ethereal-Lois-Wood/dp/0648167666/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546131056&sr=8-1&keywords=ethereal+lois

You wouldn't know it if you looked out the window in 'sunny' Newcastle today (be it that the rains have set in) but the last few weeks have been made up of beautiful Spring days: full of sunshine and sensational scents. I've been running with the ever-present, heady scent of jasmine in the air, past the thousands of brilliant, purple-shedding jacaranda trees, which it seems Newy is beautifully awash with. So, yes, I'm back to running and it feels oh so good. It got to about week three after the birth and I woke up one day just craving a good run or sweaty workout. I felt pretty much healed at that point (apart from a niggling, possibly fractured coccyx, which is under investigation) so taking on board the 'listen to your body' advice that abounds, I listened to my body and it told me to go for a run and start doing weights again. Of course, have been doing and will continue to do daily weight training courtesy of Seren, who is almost 5kg now! But yes, the running is great. I feel like myself again, albeit a slower version, but hey ho. Seems totally manageable with breastfeeding too: simply feed her before I go, keep up the water-water-water hydration regime and wear two sports bras while running. Don't know why I was over thinking it....

​It is hard to say goodbye to Seren, even if just for an hour while I'm out running. Next level love and happiness with that one, that's for sure. I've done some pretty exciting things in my past and been to some amazing, far-flung locations, but as cheesy as this sounds, it all pales in comparison to hanging out with or cuddling Seren. To give you a running-related example (this being a running blog predominantly) back when I was living in Vietnam a couple of years ago, I went through a spate of winning or placing second or third in various races in stunning, but humid af locations (half marathons and marathons) and I was given the awesome nickname of 'Podium Girl'. At the time I thought nothing could beat this, and being 'Podium Girl' made me extremely happy. Today: I would trade being 'Podium Girl' for being 'Seren's-Mummy' a thousand times over. So. Much. Love.

​.....aaand if you like your books to feature so much love also (as per my debut novel: Bacon Sleep Sex) then my next book may be right up your street. I know I've mentioned  this a few times before, but it is SO close to being released now, after a few delays. Watch this space: Ethereal is coming soon!

As I write this, the two main loves of my life are napping: one is Seren, my beautiful baby daughter (born on 13th October this year) and the other is her hard working, doting, amazingly attentive father. All went extremely well with the birth and with post-birth recovery, and I feel extremely lucky and blessed. I am so in love with Seren and with motherhood, and yes, all the clichés are true: the love you feel as your baby is placed onto your chest immediately after giving birth, and how it is all very very worth it. Truly was the best day of my life, and one that I won't forget in a hurry. I won't go into the gory details here, as it's not that kind of blog, but suffice to say it was indeed gory: the most rugged, raw and brutal experience that results in the most amazing outcome. I will say that I had exactly the birth that I had wanted and worked towards: a short (relatively speaking, about 4 active hours in the hospital), drug and intervention free, natural birth (luckily with no stitches/surgery; feel so blessed). I am convinced this was mainly to do with working out (weights classes and yoga) and running up until 40 weeks of my pregnancy (apparently keeping physically active and working out throughout the pregnancy can lead to a shorter labour than otherwise) and my near-religious date-munching regime from about week 36. (Dates have been shown to reduce the length of labour, lead to spontaneous labour/less induction risk, and ripen/soften the cervix: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21280989.)

​Since the birth however, I have not been running, obviously. Instead, I've been taking the time to recover and heal via good, healing food and rest (when possible, this is Seren dependent of course). They (the powers that be) recommend not resuming normal exercise until about 6 weeks after birth, so until then I will just be walking with the pram, and not running or doing anything more vigorous. Mind you, there wouldn't be much chance of it anyway at the moment, given that the majority of my day is spent breastfeeding my baby girl. A full-time job for sure, with added bonus night shifts thrown in for good measure. Who knew breastfeeding would cause such hunger too?! More like intense 'runger', I have been crazy hungry most of the time. Hey ho, just gives me more chance to get in as many healing foods as possible. So, just like after a race or long run, I'm focusing on nourishing, healing foods such as dark green, leafy veggies, citrus fruits, eggs, complex carbs including lots of oats, brown rice and potatoes, salmon, avocado, blueberries, beans/chickpeas, mushrooms and dark chocolate (for regular readers, this list will be nothing new: it's my go-to list of recovery foods). Oh, and water, water , water, of course!
​
​While breastfeeding, my energy requirement is slightly higher than normal (roughly about 500 calories more or so per day) as is the need for iron, calcium, vitamin C, and water, as well as ensuring that my diet has enough folate, vitamin B12, other B vitamins, zinc, and so on. Having a balanced, healthy diet that focuses on mainly plant-based, colourful, varied options, with a little seafood and eggs, means that this will be achieved and thus hopefully the breastfeeding can continue for the next year plus plus. My next major challenge will be timing runs and workouts with Seren's feeds. Hopefully, they start to space out a little longer than every hour and hour and a half soon.

​For now, it's back to my baby bubble to soak up time with my daughter and fiancé before he goes back to work: it's been so wonderful having him on paternity leave allowing us to share the newborn parenting and Seren-cuddles, oh and enjoy lazy, late brekkies together as per this delicious one:

My official due date is not far away at all. Just under two weeks now. But, given that full-term is anywhere from 37 weeks to 42 weeks, I suppose he or she could make an appearance any day now! (I'm 38 weeks and a day at the moment). Suffice to say: so f*#ken excited! Just got a few things on my to-do list that I'd love to tick off before bub comes though, so another week or two would be fine. Just saying. Also: I love being pregnant. Will I miss having a bump? Hmmm.....

​So, all is tracking along nicely. I am still running (2-3 runs per week) albeit slow and steady runs, and short distances (usually 8km and no more than 11/12 ish). A friend commented that I run like a hovercraft now. I love this: going to make it my motto for running while pregnant, or for very low intensity runs: 'run like a hovercraft'. Also, still doing a couple of weights classes per week (my much beloved bodypump classes) and one yoga session. Feeling strong and fit and I'm hoping this will all help when I do go into labour. Worth doing anyway, even if it doesn't result in a shorter time giving birth.

​I am also officially on maternity leave from HNE Health now! I will finish up another job today too, and then I am officially on maternity leave all round. I'm also changing the structure of Lou's Weight Online, due to my new venture as a full-time mum. This means I will no longer be offering the one-on-one nutrition coaching and won't be taking on any more clients, however, check out my brand-spanking-new, made-over website, where there are three ready-to-go programs always available. Start on any date and go at your own pace: choose from a 5-day program, a 14-day program, or the longer, more detailed/comprehensive 30 day program. Here's the new and improved Lou's Weight Online:

​https://www.lousweight.com.au/

​And yes, I know I mentioned the upcoming release of another trashy work of fiction by yours truly (or, more accurately, by my pseudonym: Lois Wood). This is coming soon! Promise. Due for release any day/week now. I feel bub may arrive before the next novel though, but we'll see. Watch this space!​

​So, my next blog/update should be after the newest arrival is here. Until then, I'm going to keep trying to get as much done as possible, while taking lots of naps too, of course, and cooking up delicious, healthy meals, such as this eggplant curry that I've been having fun with this arvo:

​Much love to you all! I will be in touch! xxx

On Sunday I took part in the Lake Macquarie Running Festival, over at Warners Bay. This was great, despite the looming clouds and threat of rain (which did eventually come). Such a pretty run, that goes from Warners Bay to just past Speers Point Park and back, with Lake Macquarie ever in view. Then back again, if you're doing the half marathon (which I previously did back in 2015, and would have loved to do again this time, but just not while I'm this pregnant: it would just be too long and frustrating methinks, with waaay too many loo stops). However, I thought the aptly named 'fun run' of 10.5km would suit my current training and pace. Why not do my usual Sunday run, but do it with hundreds of others, and pay to do it, but then get some lovely race bling and fruit at the end of it? Ahhh, I have missed running events. The last race I took part in before Lake Mac on Sunday, was the Cadbury half marathon in January this year. Where I was still pregnant (just), but much less so.

​So, I was very slow. But that's ok. It was great to just be amongst it again. Plus brekkie afterwards. Always brekkie afterwards....

​Here are some action shots of me running this 'fun run' whilst 33.5 weeks pregnant, plus a pic of me (just last year) running in a different event. Spot the difference?!

​Congrats to everyone who ran on Sunday! There were some very impressive efforts and a fair few PBs too. Woot-woot!! You are all legends.

​Now, I have no idea when my next event will be, but that's ok.

​In other news.....:

​If you are a fan of Lois Wood (my not so cryptic pseudonym) and enjoyed reading Bacon Sleep Sex, then get excited! New book: Ethereal to be out very soon. Watch this space. 

​Plus, if you're a Lou's Weight subscriber or are interested: also watch this space in the very near future: Lou's Weight Online is currently undergoing a makeover! The new site will be out soon. I am excited. To be continued....

​Much love all, have a wonderful week. xxx

Full disclaimer: that title is ambiguous... and, not exactly true: this pregnancy has not really been a bumpy road at all (albeit for some horrendous nausea) and I am loving being pregnant. Wish I could stay like this forever, hmmm....

No, nor have I been running on any actual bumpy roads of late: just my usual smooth-tarmac-road running routes, and one awesome Glenrock longer run (longer for me: was only 13 ish km in total) on a Sunday recently, well actually, that one was kind of bumpy as it was a trail run, but hey, I digress....

​No, I was just shamelessly making a bump pun/reference! Boom

So, it has come to my attention that I should have been posting bump updates along the way. Oops! My bad. They should put that in the schedule along with when to get your important scans and whooping cough vaccine etc.... So, yeah, I am quite behind here. But better late than never, I suppose, so for those who have been asking and are curious, here is me at 30 weeks (this is a week late: I am 31 weeks today, getting pretty close now!):

​On the running front: runs have actually gotten a little easier lately. Which is strange and unexpected. They are still slow though: my usual 7-8 ish km local route takes me about an hour to do now. I feel like I need the loo after about 5-10 mins in too, so that's a bit annoying, but no painful, uncomfortable twinges like I would get earlier in the pregnancy that would make me stop completely or change the run to a walk. However, I am not getting out as often as previously for a run either: have just been so tired (and nauseous) lately. Hoping that passes soon.

With that, as the good people of Looney Tunes (I think!) used to say: that's all folks!

​Much love, Lou xx

Today feels positively spring-like over here! So warm and sunny, and such a welcome change from the freezing (alright, not actually freezing, but down to 3 degrees at times) temps here lately. So, of course a mid morning run/shuffle/jog was in order. Yep, you guessed it: it was slow. It was hard. I had a couple of walk breaks. But it was so fookin good to be out in the sun again. Although, this week seems incredibly hard to summon up the energy to do much: a noticeable change from last week's energy, and tomorrow will be officially Week 28, so marking the start of the third trimester already (wow) so not sure if this tiredness will continue from here on.

​So tired this week that I haven't been to the usual bodypump/weight classes, and I postponed an active job that was on today too. I also have pre natal yoga this evening (well, normal yoga class but the instructor is awesome and tailors it to you, calling out various adaptations to those in the class who are pregnant) but currently not even sure I will get there. Hmmm.... Time will tell hey.

​I was excited to be back at yoga last week. It had been a very long time, albeit one session of beach yoga in Bali in April, and I've been meaning to add it back into my schedule for a while now, if only for the relaxation bit at the end (my favourite part of the class). Since coming back to Oz early last year, I have struggled to make yoga a regular thing like it was in Vietnam and China, different lifestyle here I suppose, but it shouldn't have to be..... I was incredibly lucky enough in Inner Mongolia, China, to have free daily yoga classes run by the 3rd and 4th year students at the university I was teaching at. I reckon I had just about worked out the Chinese for 'inhale' and 'exhale' by the end of my year there. I was even getting up and trudging there in the dark, through snow, in -35 degree winter mornings. Somehow, I can't see myself doing the same here, even under much warmer conditions. But hey, I've made a start: I've been back for one class, and I intend to go to as many as I can in the next 10 ish weeks or so before my little man or lady arrives, seeing as running is getting harder and harder, and even cycling has me puffing a lot more than before (which has felt fine up until now).

​Hmmm, and on that note of post-Vietnam life/my re-entry to Oz, since coming back to live in the best city in the world (Newcastle!) I have explored a number of different professional adventures (I just love learning it seems), including being: a full-time uni student, a bicycle taxi/pedicab driver, a cleaner, a telephone banker, a behavioural therapist for kids, an English teacher for kids, a support worker/healthy change coach, to name a few, as well as novelist and running the nutrition business. It struck me that all of these jobs/past-times could have been prepping me and getting me ready in some way for the massive career change of motherhood?! I'm sure all will prove useful, yup, even the telephone banking gig: i.e. having angry people screaming down the phone at me I'm sure was good prep for a screaming, inconsolable baby, yes? Hmmm, now all I need is a quick job in childcare/babysitting, and maybe a few nappy-changing tutorials, and then I'll be set, right. Right??? Again, time will tell I suppose.....

​Apart from this fatigue, I am absolutely LOVING being pregnant. There is nothing better than feeling those powerful kicks from Cleatus (the foetus), and I'll take that over running or a paid career any day. Hmmm, if only I could remain at this phase of pregnancy.....

​Sending love from Newy xx :)

Wow, Japan. What can I say?! Japan was absolutely amazing. I LOVE that place. Definitely one of my favourite countries. From the amazing food, to the beautiful scenery, to the so so polite and friendly people, and to feeling like I'm in some futuristic world (when it comes to transport and toilets anyway): Japan's got the lot. Add in to that a surprise proposal on top of a mountaintop looking down at a stunning valley/river view mid-way through a cycling adventure day (yes, of course, I said yes!) and it was quite a week. I should tell you more about the food: actually I may do an entire post just on the food, it was that good, but for now you'll just have to take my word for it.

​Since returning back to the lucky (if not, cold and wintry) country that is Australia, I've been back into routine and the swing of things. Seems Japan is almost a distant memory now, sniff..... I am back doing lots of English teaching (I love my students, they are so smart and so adorable: love-notes from their parents to me about how happy and confident their child was after our class, and handmade hearts for me delivered with a 'teacher: I love you!' make this gig so worth it, despite the late night finishes) and I've also started back at HNE Health (NSW Health) and that has been great so far: really nice people, and a supportive environment with lots of training: I am a geek who actually loves training days. In Lou's Weight Online news: my Jump Into June 30 Day Challenge has come to an end and I am pumped for all who took part! I have heard from a couple of the participants re: their results and they have done amazingly! One has lost 3kg and 20cm in measurements and was on track for eating well and exercising (cardio and strength) every week as she had set out in her plan: incredible work!! I'm so pleased for her, and thanks to everyone who took part: I had a blast and I hope you did too. Stay tuned for some exciting updates for Lou's Weight Online soon. Working on a make-over of sorts: watch this space.

​Now, today marks Week 26 of this pregnancy journey, and running is getting quite difficult. If you can even still call it running: it's maybe more of a jog/shuffle. Sometimes it's a walk. That's ok. But yes, running with a bump is much harder than it looks! I think this shot from our last morning in Kyoto, when we went on a morning shrine/temple tour (on foot, of course) sums up how much harder it is than pre-pregnancy:

Here are some more from that morning shuffle around a few Kyoto shrines:

​So, sayonara for now folks. To those in Newcastle, Australia: enjoy this glorious sunshine today! Perfect weather for any kind of shuffle/jog/run/walk.