Archive for February, 2009
Building a New Body – Day 4
Posted by: | CommentsHaving written in here several times about doing some amazing new workout routing, going to the gym and getting fit I’ve still failed to lose weight.
Rob's Belly
So I think I finally found an answer to my problem, which is the Body-for-life challenge. This is an exercise and diet plan developed by Bill Phillips and it spells out in 84 days how to get fit, healthy and reduce your body fat. The thing I am good at is following simple instruction and when it comes to body-for-life you can’t get much simpler. I bought the book, and also the “Success Journal”. The Journal isn’t cheap but it allows you to record everything your doing, and make sure you’re staying on track.
I’m only on day 4 but there’s nothing more motivating than having specific goals that you can focus on. I’m not weighing myself every day, but my weight is dropping rapidly, as is my body fat percentage. It’s really pleasing to follow a simple model of exercise and diet which just works.
One thing you have to do with this too is plan out your meals ahead of time. That really does stop all that junk snacking, and because you eat so frequently you never feel hungry.
Anyway I’ll keep you posted on how I get along.
Pavlov’s Guinea Pigs
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I’ve had a riot with my Guinea Pigs this week, because I have discovered that my little Pringle has an incredible behavioural trait.Much like Pavlov’s dogs we have observed that Pringle squeals very loudly when she hears the sound of a knife on the chopping board. Her hearing must be quite exceptional as this activity takes place in the kitchen and not in the main living area.
For example, this evening Pringle had been squealing at Julie, mainly because she responds to these cute little cries for attention by feeding her something, like carrot or cucumber. However this evening we’d been ignoring her, because I’m trying to get her to eat her guinea pig nuggets. We tried them on Guinea Pig muesli but they kept picking out the bits they liked and chucked the rest all over the place.
Anyway, as an experiment (or for giggles) this evening I thought I’d try making a chopping sound from the kitchen. Sure enough upon hearing the sound of the knife against the chopping board, the squeals from the lounge immediately started. It was so funny! When she stopped I banged the knife once again on the chopping board and sure enough the squealing began again.
In the end Julie caved in and chopped up some cucumber and put it in their bowl. It seemed to have the effect of getting them to eat their nuggets too, so it worked out quite well.
It is so hard not to anthropomorphise them, as they have such unique little behaviours. Twiglet is generally laid back and chilled out, unless she’s handled and then she tries to snuggle up around your neck. Pringle on the other hand squeals for food all the time, and has this air of knowing she’s “All that”. If she could speak, I can imagine her saying, “Get me some cucumber and I mean now!”
When they play they both go bounding all around their cage at high velocity in a sort of figure of 8 routine. In the sleeping area, up around the litter tray, and through the hollowed out log and back again. They are in fact completely mental at times, and such entertaining pets.
I love my guinea pigs!
