She neared the tiny platform, took a deep breath. Was that little square plate going to be cruel or kind. She had given her all and she was determined.

One toe tentative nudged the platform and it sprang to life. Another deep breath and one foot followed by the other she steps up. Eyes move downwards as the numbers change......... What will be her fate???

I'm sure that anyone who has struggled with their weight has waited with baited breath for the scales to reveal that dreaded number. I faced the scales again Thursday. Just before my training session I jumped on wondering if I had managed to maintain the great result I had the day before. I looked down and.... No.... It was even better!! (I know that a person can have natural weight fluctuations however I'm claiming this lol)

And what had I done between weigh ins? I ate, ate, ate.

I am finally starting to get things right :). However of course always striving to improve.

The training session that followed was tough. (who does four sets of machine squats???) however with the scale now moving in the desired direction my focus was strong (if not my form all the time ....)

We have now set my goal for this week and my biggest challenge is going to be this weekend in Melbourne. However as I sit here with my huge fruit salad with smoked salmon, I'm feeling confident :)




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

It's 8:45am it must be time to eat

At the moment my life revolves around food....... but that's a good thing.

With some encouragement from Josh my goals for this program actually increased a little and I now have a weight goal that I want to achieve. Pretty much anyone who knows me knows that my biggest blockers have always come down to nutrition so in order to achieve these goals I really needed to do something in that area.

So with Josh's help I have tweaked my nutrition with quite startling results. I'm actually getting up and having breakfast, even getting up and eating (a small amount) before Blitz.

Before this week I was averaging 5 meals a day and not getting enough vegies in.

My plan was to consistently have 6 meals. Over the last two days, due to work and training commitments I needed to tweak my times which resulted in eating 7 meals a day. In addition to increased frequency I am definitely getting a lot more vegies/plant matter in each and every meal. I also have my protein amounts sorted.

The result of increasing my frequency and amount of food? The numbers don't lie.... The needle on the scale is making definite moves downwards!!! :)

When I jumped on the scales yesterday ("just to see") you should have seen the smile on my face as the scales showed a number I haven't seen in 6-7 years!

The one thing with eating every couple of hours ..... I'm actually hungry every two hours! I've turned into an eating machine. So lock up your chicken and roast vegetables and your salmon with salad because if I'm around, it's likely to disappear ;)

The stray lamb returns...........

Forgive me, it's been six weeks since my last confession... I mean blog.

In all honesty it has been a while since I last blogged my journey to the best version of me, however as I told someone the other day... I kind of lost my mojo there for a little while.

A combination of illness, work and emotional stresses saw me stray off the path quite a bit.  My nutrition suffered as comfort foods snuck in and I know that although my strength and fitness (I hope) improved not much happened in the way of body composition.  And I take full responsibility for that.

So here I am again at the start of a fresh 12 week program and I had a friend ask me yesterday what my goals were and what was my focus.  I will re-post them here:

• I will happily wear size 12 clothes in public
• I will fit into a size 10 (fit, not necessarily wear lol)
• I will be able to jog/run for 5kms without slowing to a walk
• I will drink more water
• I will not deviate from the nutritional path

Couple of extra restrictions I am placing on myself ...

• no bread for the next 12 weeks (I have a wheat intolerance and since I have been eating bread it is causing some health issues)
• no chocolate for 12 weeks (not including chocolate protein hehe)

Part of my refocusing has come from me understanding a few things better and accepting what I can and cannot change. Although it may sound selfish, these next twelve weeks I am going to place my focus wholly on myself.  I know the Clare that I want to see at the end of these twelve weeks.  She has eluded me so far, however I'm determined to use my new improved fitness to chase her down, grab hold and finally get her.

These next twelve weeks are also going to place some interesting challenges in front of me (birthdays, travels etc) however as has been proven by a very good friend, doesn't matter what the obstacle is it is possible to get through.

In closing I want to say thank you to those who have supported me, encouraged me and got me to where I am so far.   So thank you Simon, Treena, Tina, Vicki, Tim and all the Blitz 'family' and of course, thank you Josh Dickinson and the team at Physique Essentials.  When I first walked into Josh's studio eighteen months ago I would never have thought I would be saying I'm entering the City2Surf in Sydney in 6 weeks time!

So here we go again......... stay tuned ;)

So very very close.......

This week has been an interesting and positive week.  After reaffirming my goals earlier in the week I decided to push stronger and harder than ever before.

My nutrition remained on track and I was feeling stronger in resistance training.  (except for a little stumble during the lunges... oops).  When Saturday rolled around we were greeted with one of my favourite Blitz sessions, Death by Zigzag.  (Shhhhh - please don't tell anyone I actually like them).  Essentially what happens is quite simple.... find a hill, and run up and down the hill in a zigzag fashion.  Now I say it is my favourite however I am in no way Queen of the Hill.  I find it tough however I continue to try to push just a little harder and have little mini goals.

Saturday afternoon, inspired by Treena's change room story, I decided to do a little experiment.  I wanted to see how far away I was from getting a paid of size 12 work pants on.  I grabbed a pair, held my head high and went into the change room.  I pull those pants up, went to hold the two sides of the top of the pants at least close to see how far I had to go and....... they did up!!!! Now don't get me wrong, you will not be seeing me in size 12 pants this week (Noone wants to see that yet believe me!) however I was amazed that I could do them up.  This from a girl would was essentially three sizes bigger before training with Josh.  So I smiled as I came out of the change room, hung the pants back up knowing I would be back.

Now some of you may have been following my progress towards a great nutrition week, one where I have 6 meals a day with protein, essentials fats and the right types of carbs.  My journey has actually been a little easier than I thought it would be, as I have struggled so many times before.  It has been helped with support, chocolate protein (I have managed to stay away, and not crave, the chocolates at work) and just pure determination. 

Six days down, everything great and then...... this morning I woke up with Gastro.  It was something that is going around at the moment and I genuinely thought I had been able to miss getting it however no.  I tried to eat the veggie omelette this morning and had to quickly change to protein shake and apple, through the morning I was able to eat once more.  Then I promptly fell asleep for 3 hours.  On waking I have been able to have more apple, protein and diet ginger ale. 

This isn't a woe is me part of anything, just frustrating.  I was one day away from a great week (first one EVER). However you know what?  I have 6 weeks of this program to go and now I have proven to myself that it is possible.  So I will still have my perfect week.  Next week I actually plan to up the ante and have even better choices in each meal.

So here is looking forward.

Take care and catch you next time :)

What a difference a week makes

Around this time last week I was ready to implode.

However here I sit a week later with a brand new outlook on life.

After I returned from Sydney, where I indulged in a little chocolate and a LOT of vodka I was determined to have a great week nutritionally.

Additionally on Tuesday, during my session with Josh we spoke about my goals and reaffirmed where I was and where I wanted to be. The refocussing has really helped in strengthening my goals.

I know for the last 6 months my attitude has really been close enough is good enough. Half a block of chocolate won't matter, I'm not gain a LOT of weight, my new clothes still fit.... Kinda.

Well close enough is no longer good enough.

My birthday is at the end of July and by then I'm going to be a smoking hot size 12. Just you watch me!!

One day, Two days, Three days...... Four?

After a lack lustre start to the week, I managed to get through three nutritionally perfect days (thanks in no small part to Simon). 

This included the Annual Trivia night I ran for work.  I trained in the studio from 5pm - 6pm and then raced home to pick up Simon so that we could head back to Wodonga for the set up of the night.  Simon had prepared for me a chicken stir fry with brown rice and accompanied it with a couple of fish oil capsules.  We grabbed everything, set up the night and then sat down to eat.  (Additionally for the first time every I drank no alcohol during the night.  I was determined to stick to my goals)

Training wise, I think I've being doing pretty well.  I have an annoying foot injury at the moment.  Not 100% sure what is wrong however I think it dates back to the Nail Can Hill Run and a particularly uneven section of the run.  It is an ache in the top of my foot that comes and goes and moves as well.  However luckily I was able to still do lunges (did I just say luckily and lunges in the same sentence???) and everything else seemed fine.  I seem to be able to run on it as well.

So with Trivia Night done and dusted, I awoke the next morning ready for the next event in my busy weekend.

The Physique Essentials team were running the Pushups for Charity event in Albury-Wodonga to raise fund for the local branch of the Make a Wish Foundation.  The premise is that each participant is sponsored per pushup up and they see how many they can do in 90 seconds.  We split into two groups with one person counting and one doing the pushups.  After my counting stint it was my turn.

I had estimated I could do 60 pushups and I had one sponsor who pledged $3 per pushup and a $40 bonus if a got the 60 pushups, so I was determined to reach it.  3....2....1.....GO!

I started well, managing one push up a second for the first 30 seconds and then I slowed a little but still managed to keep going.  Then it got difficult.  I had an idea how many I had done and I was determined to get to 60.... I can do this, I can do this...... then I lost count.  I had no idea how many I did.  5,4,3,2,1... stop.
I looked up at the counter and she asked if I knew how many and I just shook my head......."67".  I did it!!

So a quick shout out to Kara for her generous donation, as well as the entire Physique Essentials team who did brilliantly.

After a quick BBQ I had to shoot off for the next part of my weekend.  So far nutritionally I did well.  Everything was on track and looking good (apart from the couple of sausages).  I was now off to surprise my mum for Mother's Day.  Simon dropped my off at the airport and I had packed my protein and shaker, thinking I could at least have a shake on the drive up the mountains.  When I landed however I forgot one simple thing.  To get water.  So from that point nutrition hasn't been that great (I even gave in after 5 chocolate free days.....:S) . 

However that was just one day, I'm now back on plan and intend to try to maintain throughout the day now.
The great thing though was I did successfully surprise my Mum by turning up unannounced on her doorstep.  She is my Mum and my friend and I wish we lived closer so it was nice being able to be up here for Mothers' Day.

Happy Mothers' Day to all :)

Out of the ashes....

The start of this week was... a challenge ... to say the least.

We started the week off with a particularly tough session at Blitz.  Now don't get me wrong it was a brilliant session however as my legs were still tender after Nail Can on Sunday all the squats were a little difficult lol.

From that point though my day just seemed to plummet. I initially put it down to a post Nail Can Hill adrenalin crash however I knew there was more.  Some things I could put my finger on others I couldn't.  You know 'just one of those days'.

I can usually shake those off however the feeling continued for the next couple of days.

Wednesday ended up being particular difficult.  With feelings of being overwhelmed, angry and disappointed about some things and I had an overarching sense of, for the lack of a better word, sadness.  (Someone actually said I had lost my mojo).

Now I'm not writing this in any way for sympathy, really it is just a back ground to what came next.

As many would know, over the last few weeks the part I have struggled most with is getting back on track nutritionally.  This week, despite everything I was determined to do well.  So when Wednesday rolled around I was two days into the week without being able to tick either day off. From a training point of view I personal feel I did quite well.  Weights increased on Tuesday and I pushed hard at Blitz on Wednesday morning.  And with that strong start to the day with Blitz I wanted to get through a 'perfect day'.

I started off well and I was prepared with shakes and fruit and all the good things in life.  However, my mind really wasn't on the job.  There were times throughout the day where those fundraising chocolates and vending machines at work were calling my name and on many occasions I almost gave in.  However I had a secret and powerful weapon... support.

Simon kept me strong all day.  He knew the mood I was in and also knew how that mood could turn against me and I could self sabotage my nutrition (which in itself could derail me further).  So Simon kept encouraging me and supporting me and telling me I could do it.  And I have to tell you, it really helped.  My mood still wasn't great however I was keeping to plan regardless of the siren call of the chocolaty goodness.

As the day went on I clawed my way out of the depths of whatever had a hold of me and by the end of the day I was back to being me.  I had regained my mojo so to speak.  Simon supported and encouraged me right through to my sixth meal and I did it!  A perfect day.

The main thing I learnt through this is that although it may be true that all eating is emotional, with the right choices, determination and support you can combat the draw that emotional eating can have.  I wanted to turn to comfort food, however I didn't.  In a sense, keeping to plan and doing the things that are good for me also helped me feel better generally.

It also proved that with the right support you really can achieve your goals.  So always turn to those who you know understand your goals and are willing to help you towards them.  If someone isn't helping you or even so far as trying to sabotage them, turn to someone else.  Someone will ALWAYS be willing to stand by your side and encourage you.

I now write this at the end of another perfect day (2 in a row - can you believe it??) and you know what I'm feeling pretty darn good about myself. :)

So as you can see, this wasn't about how I was feeling, rather what is capable despite the factors that can bring you down.

I promise my next blog with be a little more upbeat ;).

Take care, stay strong and know that you can achieve your goals

Did she nail the hill or did the hill nail her?

The day finally arrived. I woke early and had a breakfast of vegetable omelette and fish oil caps. Protein shake prepared, ipod charged and loaded, and I was ready to take on the hill.... Nail Can Hill that is.

Simon and I drove to Bonnie Doon park and then jumped on the bus to meet the rest of the Physique Essentials team before the start of the run. We all lined up ready to go and..... We were off.

Tina and Treena soon started to run ahead (the boys and Vicki started in the group more in front of us) however I didn't mind because I always knew I was going to be at the back of our pack.

My first accomplishment came in the first kilometre. Last year I could barely jog 200 metres before I had to slow to a walk, this year I got through the first kilometre before slowing.

I was feeling good. I knew that I was fitter than last year and then it happened. A slight niggle in my left calf. It was starting to ache and I hadn't even reached the hill yet, I was worried.

We started the assent in the hill and all those positive feelings vanished. My calves were stinging, my legs felt heavy and all I could think was "if only I'd eaten better, if only I leg pressed more, if only I pushed harder in Blitz, if only......."

People started passing me and my mood was not the best. However I kept powering on knowing I can do this. I reached the top of the ridge and then it hit me....... I'm at the top and I am not absolutely destroyed like I was last year. I can do this. I shook the ache out of my legs and started jogging.

For the rest of the run I kept setting little challenges:
* jog through this song
* jog the rest of this kilometre
* keep in front of that person
Etc

Somewhere along the way my mindset changed and I felt lighter, I could breathe better and I think I actually smiled. I may not complete it in the time I originally set however it will be better than last time.

As I neared the end I got more energy. The closer I got to Bonnie Doon the more I knew I could finish in a jog.

I saw Simon ahead waiting for me, standing alongside Kris, and as I got closet they yelled out encouragement. I entered the park having no idea the time. I looked across and caught a glimpse of the official timer clicking over to 1:44 and my only thought was "I can do this in under 1:45".

I actually picked up the pace and started to sprint (well my version of a sprint) towards the finish line. Right near the finish line I heard the entire Blitz crew yelling out to me and boosting me with encouragement as I cross the line at 1:44:51. I had done it!

When I met up with the Blitz crew everyone congratulated me on the great effort and improvement. Not one mentioned not getting under my goal. That didn't matter, what mattered was I had done better than last year. I had improved.

That's one of the great things about Metabolic Blitz and the crew that do it. They will support you all the way. As long as you are trying and improving they have your back.

So Nail Can Hill has been run and done. And although I sit here typing this a day later sore and shattered I'm happy.

I did well and so did everyone of my blitz buddies.

Congratulations and thank you to all of you. It was great running with you. Now let's look towards our next challenge :)

The support of a wet piece of spaghetti

Sometimes the biggest impediment to achieving your goals is the lack of support of others. It can be particularly difficult when those that you really expect to support and encourage you, seem either disinterested or just downright unsupportive.

On the whole I have a lot of support and I truly appreciate it. In fact Simon and I said the other day that we both actually eat better when we eat together. And it is usually the days where we don't eat together that we fail.

However there are some areas where I would have expected a little more.

However I can't really complain, I have a friend who is finding that her family in particular do not in anyway support or encourage her efforts. (and her efforts are definitely already paying off!!). However I hope she knows that there is a group of people who are most definitely behind her and are with her all the way.

From my point of view, I need to look past some things and know that I do have some support and that I can achieve my goals :)

Although I will admit I'm getting a little concerned about the most immediate goal - Nail Can Hill. I've done no hill training and haven't even walked the track, am I deluding myself in thinking I can complete it that quickly??

Oh well got to give in the old college try. I'm not a quitter and I will definite give it all I've got!!

Hope you all survived the long long weekend and here's to a nice short week ;)

Take care

One step forward, two steps back....

The last few days have shown me a few things. Firstly.....

Prior Preparation prevents piss poor performance,

and something I did not do this long weekend. I didn't take into account that pretty much everything was closed on Good Friday which led to a spirally bad weekend.

Nutritional I have, to put it mildly .... Sucked! I have had more than a few hiccups and some downright foul ups

I've missed meals, chosen very very poorly and really taken a step away from my goals. I'm not proud of myself and certainly not happy however what I need to so is look at "why" and move forward. I only have 10 weeks left of this particular program and I know I can do better.

First thing that will happen is a reorganization of my cupboards, fridge and routine. And I have a new goal for the next 10 weeks....... Have at least one perfect week!

Also, I have always considered myself to be a bit of a sweet tooth, however what I have discovered is that when in doubt I turn to savory, in particular bread. (always has been my comfort food.... :S)

From a training point of view I think I have had some improvements. My knee did indeed touch the deck a few times during the lunges and I think generally strengthwise I'm doing well.

Blitz has been great this week (although the alternating step ups after the leg session the day before were a bit tough).

Who would have thought I could complete 50 skips without a break?? :)

Whereas I have had a lack lustre week I would like to give a shout out to Treena. She is doing brilliantly and I'm very proud of her.

so my mini goals for this week...

- be prepared and ensure I have everything in place nutritionally
- complete Nail Can Hill in under 90 minutes

Take care and remember when you trip up, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and continue moving forward. That's what I will be doing this week :)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

When everything turns to hell in a hand basket.....

I think today is going to be one of those days where nothing goes right. Feeling under the pump, locked keys in the car etc etc.

My nutrition the last couple of days has been far from spot on and that in itself is affecting me. So I really need to buck up, take a breath and make sure everything at least nutritionally is correct.

It is very easy on days like this to go home, lock the doors and drown in a sea of peanut butter on toast and ice cream (not necessarily together) however these are the days where it becomes even more important to stick to stick to the plan.

Well here's fingers crossed that (a) my day gets better (tolerable at least) and (b) that I can stick to plan

Everyone have a fab day :)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Two perfect days, going for the third......

Yeah..... didn't make it :(.

Sunday and Monday nutritionally were perfect days. I stuck to the plan, I felt better for it. Felt I performed better at Blitz (although apparently I looked a little worse for wear....) and generally everything was great.

Then those blasted little freaking frogs croaked my name!! Now I can't simply say "I was just walking past". To sample one of those delicious raspberry filled bites...... I digress..... You need to pay money, a dollar to be exact. So I willingly walked into the tea room with gold coin in hand and purchased one. As soon as I finished savoring the taste I regretted it. There was no reason for me to divert off the path and I could have stopped myself but for some reason I didn't. So there went the perfect streak.

I trained with Josh yesterday afternoon (positive that he could see the guilt written all over my face) and I think I did ok, however perhaps I could have pushed harder.

Afterwards I raced home to go to the movies and that's when further hiccups occurred.

Hot buttery popcorn!

I could try to justify that it was post training blah blah blah however I'm fairly sure that imitation butter doesn't fall anywhere in the plan.

So here we are Wednesday morning and I have started the day as I intend to end it. Good nutrition and nothing will get in my way!

......
......


Shhhh Freddo. No tempting me today



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The camera adds 10 pounds....... right?

Well I did it.... I had a perfect day yesterday.  I was extremely diligent with my nutrition and I was able to finally tick a day off.

The other thing I did was take some photos. Josh will always take photos at the beginning and end of a program so you have a visual record of the body composition changes that have occurred.  The one thing he won't do though is insist that you strip down to your underwear.  However he does encourage a client to take their own.  I have never taken them because quite frankly I didn't want to see them.  Part of this program and the increased accountability I am putting on myself I decided to suck it up and take them.

And let me tell you, those photos are honest!  They will never see the light of day (noone wants to be subjected to that... believe me!) however it has provided me with another 'snap' moment.  Seeing those unslightly bumps and bulges has increased my resolve and provided me with further motivation.

Noone else will see the photos however I will be putting them where I can see them regularly just to remind me.

So here we are in week two, my friend Treena is doing brilliantly and here is to achieving my mini goals for the week :)

Take care all and have a great Monday

Have I ever told you how much I hate lunges..........

Well here we are, one week down in this twelve week journey.

I had a kind of mixed week. I unfortunately could not mark off a single day this week as being perfect in every way, particularly when it came to nutrition however I certainly have seen improvements compared to the last three months.  My main issue has been poor preparation resulting in me not getting 6 meals in each day I have thought been averaging 5 and I am back to eating breakfats.

On the one day I diligently ate 6 meals and everything else was on track I succumbed to a little rascal.... Freddo.  You see at work, the tea rooms have been taken over with fundraising activities such as lamington and pie drives and the ever present Freddo and his mate Caramello Koala.  They generally hang out on a Honey Nougat Log (which are soooo nice and what I would usually go for).  After resisting them for a while for some reason on this particular day I grabbed one.  Did it taste good? Hell yes, however I knew I just shouldn't have it.  Chocolate of the dark variety can be good in moderation however the creamy raspberry filled milk chocolate delight that is a Freddo was not perhaps my best choice of the week.

From an exercise point of view, I can definitely see improvements from when I started, both from a fitness and strength point of view.  This time around I have reduced my resistance training sessions to just twice a week, instead of three.  I will admit that I kind of miss the third session however with how Josh is pushing me I think I'm going to be thankful for the recovery time.  

On Friday I had my leg session and I am sitting here typing this on Sunday not wishing to move around on the seat too my because..... MY BUTT HURTS!!!!

My leg sessions comprises of the Leg Press, lunges (oh dear lord the lunges), leg curl and calf raises.  When I started training with Josh I could barely do a half rep lunge holding onto support, and I have certainly progressed from there.  In the last lot I thought I was going great guns, with the weight going up and doing ok.  However now that Josh has taken over, he has stripped the weight off the bar (bar still weights 20kgs on its own) and I'm not allowed to increase the weight until my knee hits the deck.  Those are deep lunges!  I will admit that my greatest fear is I will get into one of those lunges and just not be able to get up again.

However I will readily admit that after that session I feel that the muscles have definitely been worked (don't let me get started about my calves.....) and it feels good (the hills sprints the next day didn't feel so good lol)

I think I'm going to do ok during these next eleven weeks.  I am improving habits and kicking the bad habits that had crept back.

My mini goals for this week -

• 3 days I can tick off as perfect days
• my knee to hit the deck

Until next time... take care of you and those around you

That damn tape measure....

Well I have been given a gentle reminder that I was going to post my goals.(Thanks Treena)

However before that I need to post what my starting measurements are.  Now they often say don't ask a lady her age or weight, well then.... it's lucky I ain't no lady.

I said to myself this time around I was going to make things very public in order to give a further degree of accountability so here goes......

Weight: 84.4 kgs
Waist : 95cms
Hips: 109cms
Shoulders: 119.5
Chest: 103.5cms

So there is my starting point and that leads me into the goals for the next 12 weeks.

One actually will come up fairly fast....

• On May 1 I would like to complete the Nail Can Hill Run in under 90 minutes.  It will be a challenge however I did it in under 2 hours last year and I'm sure I can shave some time off.  I am already registered and in the Physique Essentials Team
  
• By the end of the 12 weeks I want to be a size 12 (currently a 14-16)
  
• Weight < 80kgs, waist < 85, hips < 100

So there you have it, my goals.  Those are the things I will be keeping in sight as I travel through the next 11 and a bit weeks.

The start of the next phase of my journey

Any one who knows me, knows that I have struggled with my weight for most of my life.  I have done various diets, pills, fads, shakes, programs, whatever and it would work in the short term and then it would all come back plus more.

Well finally 18 months ago I decided to do something more permanent about it and went and saw Josh at Physique Essentials.  Through his training with him and getting guidance nutritionally I went from this:

To feeling confident enough to wear this dress for a friend's wedding

 Now I have come a long way however there is still a way to go.  And a friend of mine is starting the next stage in her journey and is starting the Metabolic Precision Program with Josh as of this week.  I have encouraged her to blog and also said I will lend her support as well.  Therefore I will be blogging along side her as she achieves amazing things.

I have a couple of big goals to achieve in the next 12 weeks (which I will post this week).

Dear readers, you will see everything from my measurements to how my food is going and what is happening with my training.

Tomorrow is the start and appropriately it will start with a Metabolic Blitz session at 6am.

This is going to be a great adventure and I hope you join me on the ride.

The ups and downs and that blasted mirror

Hello intrepid readers,

It has been a week since my last confession.. um.... I mean blog.  This doesn't mean I've not been exercising or trying to keep my food in check just that I haven't had a chance to catch you all up.

Exercise wise it has been a fairly productive week.  Some great Blitz sessions and have had good improvements in weight increases in the resistance area as well.

However I have to admit I'm having a little bit of a love/hate relationship with my body at the moment.  For those of you who have ever been unhappy with some part of your body (come on admit it that is EVERYONE) you know that there are times where those flaws seem to stand out and scream.  That's what is going on with me at the moment.

Every time I look in the mirror I'm not happy.  I'm happy with how some parts have changed however really not happy with others.

I know that I am making fitness and strength improvements (however I will admit I really struggled Friday morning at Blitz) and I have made definite improvements in my nutritional choices (certainly a LOT better than I had been doing in the 3 months prior to that) however there is just something not right.

I know it's not the program it's definitely me.  Perhaps part of it is I know I have made some improvements over the last year and now other issues are becoming highlighted more.  And I think part of it is I know I can do better, we can always do more :).  And by more I don't mean more training (I don't think I have time for more at the moment lol) rather I need to put more effort into ensuring I select good nutritional choices, drink more water (an area I am still failing in) and push harder during Blitz.  I think I am tackling the mental struggle of the resistance training however need to do that in all components.

So don't take this as a whinge just a refocusing.  In a sense I guess I have had a mini snap moment that has taken me back on track. :)

Check back soon to see how I attack the next week.  I need to look at each day and see what additional effort I can put in... One day at a time.

Did she or didn't she??

So I know you are all waiting with baited breath to see how I went in my back session.......
...
...
what?  You're not??

Well I'm going to tell you anyway so just sit there and listen! (please :D )

I went into the centre determined to smash those weights.  Food had been good all day.  I felt better than I had done in the morning, now I just had to break that psychological blocker.  Back has never been my strong point and last week I really felt week, my forearms were very sore which also led to a not so great bicep curl set.

I sat down for the warm up on the pull down and when we got to the work weight I really thought I can do this.  And I did :).  I was even able to increase my weight (ok ok only half a kilo, however it IS an increase)

My improvements with my weights continued throughout the workout and I was even able to increase my bicep curl.

I left the centre last night almost jumping with joy :).

This morning we got a little bit of a sleep in (yep all of one hour) and then it was back to Willow Park for the next round of blitz.  Today's session is one that I enjoy and it could be called many things .....

• Ring of fire
• choose your own punishment
• just a bunch of fun.

It involves everyone being in a circle and each person choose what the next exercise would be (perhaps with some interference from Josh....)

It is a great session and I really enjoyed it.

Today I picked up my Metabolic Blitz singlet which Josh had organised for us all and let me tell you the women's singlets are.... snug.

However that has given me a 28 day goal.... to wear the singlet to Blitz by week 4.

Will I do it?? well you will just have to stay tuned to find out (only 21 days to go hehehe)

Catch me next time for..... well actually I don't really know.  Tomorrow is a rest day and with the weather heating up and my two dogs currently sprawled out on the floor, I'm not sure that a dog walk is even in order.

Either way, pop back and see what's up :)

What happens when this go well

The last couple of days I have definitely been better on the nutrition front :).
Wednesday morning we had the first ‘real’ Blitz session, however I have a feeling that Josh is still just easing us into it. The main thing for me was seeing how far I have come. I started Blitz a year ago and at that time I could barely jog a quarter of the soccer field. Now I’m quite comfortable jogging the entire 2 lap warm up.

This session consisted of running for a minute and then a minute of on the spot exercise (squats, crunches and pushups)…… rinse and repeat … 9 times. I was pleased to see that I was able to pass a couple of people in the run section. Not that it is a competition with other people but rather that I set myself little goals.

Wednesday afternoon it was back in the centre for what has probably become my favourite out of my three resistance sessions a week…… chest and shoulders. Started with the bench and then dumbbell press and then onto the exercise I had been fearing….. standing shoulder press.

Let’s just travel back a few months. Last time that my program included the standing shoulder press I would be able to lift the light bar (approx 10 kgs) with 10 kgs on the bar (barely but I could do it for the number of reps I needed. Josh then changed it over to the Olympic bar weighing around 20 kgs (note: same overall weight). I put my self in position, got ready and…… nothing!!!!! I could not lift it. And for the following three weeks it alluded me.

So when Josh put the Olympic bar up this time, I stared down the bar determined that it wasn’t going to beat me this time, got into position and……… I DID IT!!!! I pressed that bar for 9 reps … YAY me!

Now the rest of my weights didn’t increase for this session however that didn’t phase me….. I got that sucker above my head!!!

Thursday at the moment is kind of a rest day however I hope to be able to do Blitz within a few weeks (got to make sure everything else is on track and that my recovery is good). However I did ensure that my nutrition stayed on track all day.

This morning I woke up feeling sort of ordinary however I still got my butt to blitz. The session involved interval running up and down the soccer field (50%, 70%, 100%, 50%) turn around and do it all again for ten minutes.

With each lap I grew increasingly nauseous and therefore unfortunately I didn’t do as well as I really would have liked to. You see I have some pretty big goals this Blitz and that means upping my game in everything so I don’t like lack lustre days because I really do feel like I’m missing opportunities.

The next part of the session was 10 minutes of ab work. And let me tell you, ab work with a dodgy stomach is not fun.

However we move on :). This afternoon I have what is probably my least favourite of all the sessions – back and biceps. However just like I did with the Shoulder Press…… I can do this!!!!!!

Check back next time to see who the conqueror was – me or the weights??

What happens when life gets in the way

Yesterday I was traveling well food wise. Had my timings all set, was organized and ready. Then this little thing called life got in the way.

I needed to run an errand at lunchtime however I thought "no problem, I'll still have lunch by 12:30, shake at 3pm and training at 4pm." all good :).

Unfortunately the errand didn't happen until 1pm and I ended up eating lunch at 2pm (4 hours after my last meal). So that also put an end to my afternoon shake before training.

That's ok though I'm sure I can still get 6 meals in :).

Training I found hard. I'm not a fan of leg sessions and in particular lunges (grrrrrrrrrrrr). However even taking my intense dislike of lunges into account I actually felt nauseous and wondered if it was due to lack of nutrition.

After training I stayed in the centre for a meeting and then some admin (which I really enjoy doing - yep I'm weird hehe). However because I wasn't prepared to be at the centre as long as I was I didn't eat my next meal til 7pm. (mistake number 2 for the day) Great meal though :)

I was still feeling a little iffy and I knew I had an early start with Blitz the next day so I was in bed by 9:30 i.e. no additional meals :(

So although each meal I did have was good, a missed two and believe me my body told me!

The longer the time between meals the more I started craving quick hunger fixes.

But as they say "Tomorrow's another day" :)

Stay turned and come back for the next installment - Blitz: is it really as fun as I make it out to be??

Have a great day all :)

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Surviving the holiday season and onto week 2

I will admit that last week was a little bit of a struggle. I started strong and then New Years derailed me (although not as badly as previous years).

I find I still struggle nutritionally when it comes to traveling and that is definitely something I need to work on more.

This week saw the return of Metabolic Blitz. Seriously the beat group training around. It was the fitness test and the day before I tried extra hard on the nutritional side (and succeeded :) ) in prep for the test.

I was really looking forward to it and had set myself an additional challenge..... I did the pushup test on my toes (ok ok so perhaps I could have gotten down further however I was just pleased I could do some :). )

I now have my starting point and the next twelve weeks are going to be intense.

Just this morning I reiterated my goals:

* significant body composition changes
* to finally climb Mt Bogong
* to have the confidence to purge my wardrobe.

I'm excited and motivated :)


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone