Day 1: Langkawi Holiday while on Comp Prep - Will it work.....

Sometime in 2013 it was planned that I would compete in May/June 2014. I aimed for the stars with an overseas competition in my sights. To accommodate this, we organised Rob’s parents to come and be with our children while we were away. In short, this didn’t happen so we took the opportunity instead to have a child-free holiday. I randomly picked Langkawi because; a) I knew nothing about it and prefer holidays in new places, b) it’s hot weather – I simply don’t do cold holidays, and c) why not? So here we are, pretty much sitting in my version of paradise, having a child free holiday for the first time in nearly 13 years.

Here’s the catch. I’m full swing into comp prep. The question has to be asked;

·        Is  it wise to book a holiday while on comp prep? Well, I didn’t technically book it while on comp prep of course. I booked it while I was thinking about how easy it would be to holiday while on comp prep. Funny how the mind works isn’t it?

 

However, I’m glad I booked it, extremely happy to be here and feel like it’s come at the perfect time for Rob and I to simply rest. Something I seriously don’t do well. I admit to struggling with stopping and smelling the roses. While I haven’t seen any roses here in Langkawi yet, there are plenty of tropical flowers and I’m going to be sure to sniff them as much as I can.

So why am I bothering to write a blog while here? Because I want to and because I think it will help me to stay absolutely on track. I’m not going to lie – it takes some serious dedication and commitment to the cause not to fall off track while in a country where indulgence is rampant. And I thank god for Rob just about every hour of every day because he looks after me like I’m a princess.

DAY 1 & 2

I  love Katherine – I surely do – but I detest the 3hr trip just to get to the airport. After being up all day, ending in a snappy legs workout at 9pm, we finished packing and set off at midnight. I started the trip with my delicious Choc Peanut Butter Casein and then tried to have a little snooze. Rob kept opening the window to keep himself awake but managed to keep me awake as well. We stopped for a couple of black coffees along the way and pulled into Darwin at around 4am.

From there we got to the airport and checked in. Brought the laptop for the first time ever, and watched a movie in the departure lounge. At about 6.30am I filled my container of prepacked oats/fWPI/berry with cold water and let them marinate for a while before savouring every delicious mouthful. 7.30am – boarding time and a 4hr flight to Singapore. I was so tired that I actually managed to sleep. I dribbled just a little bit so I know I was in full mouth-open sleep mode.

On arrival we walked about 19km to the transit lounge – seriously, Changi airport is too huge! – whereupon I whipped out my prepacked chicken, broccoli and cauli concoction and devoured it straight from the plastic container…much to the amusement of fellow travellers. Black coffee and the world is complete.

Another hour wait and we board to Kuala Lumpur. 1hr til touchdown into one of the most frantic airports I have been in for a while. Boarded some weird ‘inside train’ which took us quite a long way away to the baggage claim terminal. All I could think about was food. All Rob could think about was getting us to the right terminal (another inside train job) for our connecting flight to Langkawi. He was so focused on getting us there that he drove the baggage trolley into my ankle. Pain coupled with intense hunger is not cool. It was time to whip out yet another plastic container with my meat and veg. I ate this while walking from one terminal and got a little pissed when a lady in the elevator stood too close to me and almost nearly dropped one of her hair follicles into my food. I gave her a filthy look and she pretended not to notice me. I'm sure she was pretending. Luckily I'm beyond caring what the general public think about a mad woman with broccoli florets peeking out of the corner of her mouth because that's what I caught sight of in the elevator mirror.

Finally made it to yet another terminal and boarded filght #3 to Langkawi. By this time it was about 8pm Australian time so we had been travelling for 18hrs non-stop. The sight of our resort made it all worthwhile and job #1 was to rip into my afternoon meal along with a black coffee and some much needed water. I loaded up on water  all the way to Darwin but don’t drink much on flights unless I need to as Jetstar’s generous seating arrangements make me reluctant to leave my nest (hmmff – the truth is manouvering in and out of those teensy seats is a veritable nightmare!!).

First dinner in the restaurant and I’m supposed to have chicken and veg but there is none to be seen. Too tired to stress so I order a grilled lean steak and grilled vegies, sans sauce. The steak arrives on top of a glistening bed of mashed spud with virtually no vegetables to be seen. We raise this point with the wait staff who promise to get the stated grilled vegies to me. At this point I whip out my portable scales and trim my steak to the desired amount. Rob ‘s lucky day as he gains a nice hunk of sirloin and a pile of dairy-food-potato to his dinner.

Vegies arrive and while they might have been grilled at one point, they have also been smothered in oil. I let them drain for a while and then tuck in to eggplant, capsicum, tomato, mushroom and steak. Can’t complain because they taste delicious.

Too tired to stand upright so it’s back to our beautiful chalet, bedtime tv and off to sleep. Bit gutted because I missed my night-time casein due to falling asleep. That is an extremely rare occurrence in my world. I usually wake up like clockwork at about 10pm to eat.

Day 2

The standard breakfast buffet is on the menu. Rob is going to enjoy every mouthful I would imagine. As for me, I have prepacked a breakfast bag for each day, consisting of oats and WPI. I arrive at the most beautiful buffet I’ve been to for a while and everything is on the menu. I bypass it all and head to the fruit stand where I can’t find any berries other than those soaking in a nice sugary juice. Instead I opt for apple and paw-paw. I ask for a bowl bigger than the ridiculous ones on offer, empty my bag of goodies, pour over boiling water and let them marinate. Meanwhile it’s time for 2 black coffees before I savour my fruity, oaty breakfast. Would I like donuts and cake for breakfast like all those around me? No. But I wouldn’t mind cheesy eggs and croissants. I’m a little amazed at just how much people do eat while on holiday. And I can understand how a holiday is the undoing of a lot of resolves, resolutions and early attempts at weight control – eating to excess is pretty uncool even on holiday. I don’t care if that’s unpopular to say.

Breakfast over and we’ve scoped out the gym. It’s got everything I need and more to keep me entertained and challenged while here. The only thing lacking is the barbells however a very adequate dumbbell rack will certainly do the trick for the week. Pretty excited to see squash courts too.

For now I’m downing a gazillion litres of water and sitting on the beach. I'm still seriously tired. More tired than I've been for a long time. I think the past year might have just caught up on me and I'm planning on doing as little as possible on this holiday. I'm not big on tourist attractions and generally only do them for the sake of the kids. This time around I don't have to succumb to the whole over-priced garden tour package, or the pricey boat trip to nowhere. I have a fabulous book, a lounger overlooking a beautiful stretch of ocean (pics to come) and the best company I could ever ask for.

As for comp prep. It's never far from my mind. I have a gym session including cardio booked for tonight with my training partner. For now I'm going to gather a few zzzz's and drench these muscles in peace and quiet.