The importance of measuring, evaluating and why you shouldn't do it.

A common saying in the quality management is "what isn't measured isn't managed".
I guess this can be applied to everything: work, finances, sports, life in general.
Measuring became so important that we went from the notebooks to the excel spreadsheets, to apps, programs and even websites that will analyses everything and give you a visual input of what and how are you doing.
Measuring and managing is important. In my case, I like to see how am I going in terms of training/sports.
As most of people I started with a simple cardiofrequencimenter, looking at my Heart Rate.
Nice, I could see when I was going to die after running 30sec (200-205bpm!). This was nice, but how do I knew I was improving? Again, one more tool! Ended up buying the great application SportTracks 3, from zonefivesoftware. Now I could have all my trainings and look what and how was I improving!
Less time to run 5k! Great! 10bpm less for the same circuit for the same time, great!
But again, I was looking for something isolated...I wanted more, an overall view!
Ended up buying the trainingload plugin from mechgt for sporttracks, together with 3 days of studying what TSB, CTL , ATL Tapper Date mean (thanks trainingpeaks!).
Wow, now I could see how I was performing, was I getting stronger? Was I getting tired? How will I be in the day of a specific run?
My will to improve was so much that the next step was getting my HR Zones defined through an evaluation. How awesome is that?
In the following years I was working out the best I could to get those values the best I could, to be the best. I felt like the king of the mountain, even if I was not getting any podium or medal.
Things changed last year, my training routine was messed up, I ended not getting the numbers I wanted, but above all I wasn't getting satisfaction.
And this is the most important: satisfaction. And at least, from what I know, satisfaction can't be measured unless you link it to some specific result. But that isn't satisfaction, is the result.
I could say that I feel satisfied if I run 10k under 1h. But that isn't true, there are times where I take 1h15 and that I feel more satisfied.
I learnt that measuring and managing is important, but sometimes, a "let's do it just because" will work much better. Less pressure, more satisfaction and in the end more motivation.
Although I wrote about sports, I truly believe that this applies almost in everything in life. Sometimes we have to spot measuring our "sucess" by linking it to new clothes, new cars, stable relationships whatever, and just by the satisfaction that we are getting out of it.

My post is inspired by this post of lotdeux. Do yourself a favour, enjoy life!.

Innovating the environment.

Innovating the environment.

The world moves around and around searching for solutions for the pollution on the environment: new policies, New anti pollution norms, electrical cars and still there is a solution so simple and basic that will fit most people needs: the bike.

In the world of innumerous products, solutions, apps and so many solutions we often forget about old and simple solutions for our problems.

About 9 months I moved again to Aveiro. Aveiro was the place where I studied, and I kinda hated it. Everyone talked wonders about it, and I just felt it was "not that good for so much publicity".
Driving a car in Aveiro (apart from stupid) was horrible, with potholes everywhere!
Last year I said that I wouldn't be stupid to drive a car in Aveiro, so I go by bike.
I enjoy so much more the city! When possible I even take new paths just to arrive the work in a better mood.

Some people also ask: what about the rainy days? Well I have 3 options

- Get wet (I am not big fan of cluttered clothing)
- Go by foot with and umbrella (who would tell?! Sometimes we are so "new age" that we forget about this effective solutions)

- Pick up the car and go by car - If in 365 days I pick up my car to work about 10 days I will still not be polluting 345 days! Also, believe me, in the day you pick the car to go to work, you will feel bored and almost sick, missing the freedom of the bike and the freedom to spot almost anywhere and take a picture.

Again, about the bicycle, I can't think of a better solution for every commute:

- you can move will a low amount of energy

- the maintenance is almost non existant and cheap compared to a car (high end bikes are more expensive, but still cheap compared to a car)

- you can ride either small of big distances (from 2kms to 160) you can do it. Think that some eletrical cars can't achieve that!
- you can transport things - extra gear may be needed (bicycle rack, bag, etc)

- you improve your fitness

- you will be sexy as hell, specially if you are girl!

PS: About the bike, anything will do: from the barn find at 25eur, to the top of the range, you can commute in anything. I usually say "use what you already have". And that is what I've done, since I am now living in a small place, and I don't want a third bike there, I opted to commute with my MTB bike. It is a "Race it on Sunday, commute it on Monday!" bike. Limited Edition Commençal Skin Titanium frame, Magura TS8R 100mm Fork, Prototype Zero 26 Wheelset and 2x10spd Shimano XT drivetrain.
More recently I bought a Thule Pack'n Pedal Tour Rack so I can transport my Gym bag and other stuff.
This rack was a bit expensive (about 80eur on wiggle) but it allows to be fixed on any bike (I own 4 and every one is different) even on bikes without fixtures for racks. 

I think during the year, it will pay off for the times I won't pick up the car to go to the gym or to go shopping.

Have you eaten fruit today?

Like the ad of the Portuguese Brand Compal said "Have you eaten fruit today?"

I was one of those guys which spent some good money (and health!) on mid day snacks. Even being a bit focused on healthy food I always succumbed to some sweet bakery. One day I decided this should change. But I was to lazy to get fresh bakery everyday. 

So I decided, what about fruit? I can buy it everywhere, almost at every hour, it will stay fresh for whole week and if I don't want to it raw I can always make juice out of it in 1min. About the juice, if like me you are a bit of a cheapskate just buy one simple fruit mixer from lidl (About 25eur). Mine can use the mixer cup as a "bottle", just taking a different top cover. If you feel it is to big for you, just grab one soda/juice with glass bottle and reuse it (in my case I used B! juice bottle). 

Transport all in a reusable bag and you are done!

In this process I also took some considerations: try to buy fruit produced in Portugal, try to find cheaper one (some places sell "ugly fruit" for about half the price of the "beautiful ones") and avoid non seasonal fruit (to help, here is a very visual "calendar" of seasonal fruits and vegetables in Portugal, taken from Pingo Doce website).

Enjoy you new meal!

Keep your mind so organized that you take the bag to the bakery.

Keep your mind so organized that you take the bag to the bakery.

This is my first post and it Will be about the main topic of this blog: zero waste, or the best possible. Like all topics in this blog, the approach will never be extreme but pratical, achievable for any lazy person like me.

People always tell "I use paper bags, I am much more ecological". Yes you are, congratulations, but if you re-use it, be it made from plastic, paper or clothing you will be much more!

I know know, you arrive to the bakery and you say "F*ck I forgot the bag". It was the same for me. Keep pushing it, put it in a visible place on your way to the bakery (near the door for example!).

Organize your mind for best results.