Plan of Attack

My next 12 weeks look like this:


Monday: Spin Class, Core strength workshop and weigh in
Tuesday: Group PT, PT (one on one), Weekly Physical Challenge Wednesday:Body Combat, Half hour cardio intervals (HHCI), and group weight loss session
Thursdays: HHCI, Cross training workshop, Zumba and group PT by the lake
Friday: HHCI, boxing, body combat
Saturday: HHCI, zumba, body balance
Sunday: HHCI, body pump, body balance

Naturally there will be some weeks where that won't be possible but it's a good format to stick to where I can. My trainers are keeing a close eye on me so that's good. I'm also doing plenty of physio to ensure I don't hurt myself. I've got that endorphin buzz happening, my body loves the exercise, I just have to get through the first couple of weeks.

Time for a fresh start

It's always important to remember that when you start the journey again, the distance to the end is not as far as when you began the first time.  It's 2011 and I'm making some new starts.  New job - one that will come with it's own challenges but very much challenges I'm looking forward to aaaaannnndddd.... I'm starting to focus on myself again. No, I'm not spending hours gazing at myself in ponds a la narcissus but I have been spending some time working out what my goals for the year are re my physical and mental health.

I got in over my head a bit last year towards the end.  I got it done but there were costs and those costs involved the loss of routines that were good for me.

Time to reestablish those positive routines and reap the benefits from them.  Time to make the best choice I can make for me at the time, not the easiest choice.

I'm doing it in phases, experience having taught me that if I try to change everything at once it becomes too much and it all falls in a heap.

Step one:  With start of the new job, start riding to work again.  (As stupid as it sounds, I lost my garage pass for a couple of months and as my bike lives in the garage, I didn't ride.  Found pass, am riding again).

Step two: Get back to gym.  I love going to the gym, I love how it makes me feel and I love the amazing community that the girls at Fernwood Canberra City help create and maintain.  It's a simple fact that I'm happiest when I'm exercising regularly.

Step three:  Get Foxy!  The spring challenge at the gym kicks off in a couple of weeks and I can't wait. It's very structured and that appeals to my brain in managing it as a part of my lifestyle.  Plus my competitive nature kicks in.  This is also the time to start setting some better eating patterns in place.  I know the rules, I just have to create a way of following that works for me.

Step four: Maintain it!   This is the tricky one.  I need to ensure that I can maintain the patterns I create.

I've found that doing a bit of journalling helps me clarify my thoughts so expect me to witter on everynow and then.

Day 11 Climbing that mountain

Today is a bit of a slog.  I have a feeling that in the back of my head someone is singing some sort of spiritual to get myself through heavy labour.  I'm seeing some positives (skin is clearer and brighter, jaw definition is there again, feeling generally less puffy, have lost underarm cleavage - possibly TMI) but I've definitely hit the hard going part of the first month.  One of the changes I'm making this year is that I'll shift when I go to the gym.  Not stop going but when becomes important.  Can't do a morning? No problem.  Hit the gym at lunch or in the afternoon.  Feeling good, hit the gym in the morning. It's less about setting myself a rigid routine and more about making sure that the effort is sustainable.

Same thing with my food. Breakfast is sorted.  I'm comfortable, making good choices at home and at the gym and knowing what are some good options are if I head out.  I'm planning more effectively for eating during the week at the office.  Planning really is key.  If I've given myself options, I also haven't given myself an out for making a choice that is less than healthy.  I don't want to make anything a forbidden food as creating a good food vs evil food is neither sustainable or a healthy way to approach it.  Moderation in everything including moderation.  If I'm in a situation where the best choice still isn't fabulous, so be it.  I simply need to adjust the rest of my day or how much energy I'm expending.

Cycle at lunch is hard.  My legs feel heavy and its an effort to keep turning them over.  I manage some of the climbs but my knee is giving me a couple of warning twinges so I powerclimb (which is seated) rather than stand up in the saddle.  Leanne is no less frightening than last week. I notice that I can cope with adding more resistance when she suggests it far more than I was able to last week, despite my tiredness.  I'm noticing that my thighs are already starting to feel much firmer after only a week.  I'd like to get to a point that I feel comfortable climbing whenever the track calls for it. Hmm, good goal over 3 months.

Catch up with a friend for lunch.  Sushi. Mmmmmm. I love sushi.  Hits both the protein and the carb buttons square in the middle. I also like the fact that it is really easy to judge how much you've consumed of it.  Back to the office, having restocked the snack draw of awesome. Remembered to buy more of the yummy rice crackers so I don't run out half way through the fortnight this time.  Grab a fruit snack tub and some nuts about 3/4 of an hour before I'm due at the gym.

I've got PT tonight but I want to get 10k in the bike in first so I head to the gym and set myself up. It's amazing how cruddy cable tv can distract my legs from their tiredness. Fiona (who also has PT with Lu tonight) and I plot to try and tire Lu out before my session.  "No, no I don't understand how that works, could you show me again?", "I'm so much more motivated when you run on the treadmill beside me".  Both of us know its a vain hope but we laugh a lot while planning it in the change room.  It's a huge session with Lu tonight.  Highlights of it are the 60 squats holding a weight plate and the 60 crunches on the fitball holding a weight plate. I'm just smashed by the end of it.

I get home and discover that for all my planning I seem to have completely forgotten about dinner.  I refuse to give into temptation and order $40 of Thai food (min delivery order) and instead try the new biggest loser range from Dominos. I can advise that the bbq chicken, mushroom & pineapple pizza is really tasty although the garden salad was really wilted and ick.  Thankfully I had some left over veges from dinner the night before.  Another day done.

Me and Fernwood and the Foxy Challenge

I've got quite a history with Fernwood.  I joined the Brisbane City Fernwood in its opening week and developed a love of gym based exercise with them.  When I moved to Sydney, I briefly was with the Fernwood at Wynyard but 70 hour working weeks aren't conducive to a happy gym routine.  After moving to Yass, I was able to join Canberra City while I worked in the city and was getting some great results. Fate intervened and my work location meant that I was no longer able to get to the gym.  Following some life changing events in September 2008 and move to Braddon in Canberra, I rejoined the Fernwood in Civic and Wendy and her team have made me feel welcome, supported and challenged. 

I've tried other gyms (at least 5) and Fernwood is the only one that seems to mesh with me and my lifestyle.  I like the great feeling of community that they actively develop, it is clean and doesn't smell funny (trust me, its a thing) and boy is it convenient being right in the middle of my 20 min walk to the office.

Last year the girls persuaded me to try the Get Real Results challenge and I had a great time.  It reallly focused me and got me exercising seriously.  The second half of the year hit and I had some ... life going on and got out of my routine.  When Wendy talked to me about the Foxy challenge kicking off in Feb 2010 I thought it was a great way to rebuild that routine.

I'm a girly swot.  I know that about myself.  I'm used to being good at things.  The fact that this challenge is points based makes it tailor made for my competitive little soul.  I can see a number directly correlating to effort plus I have all the girls at the gym making sure that I don't overdo things and hurt myself.

Bring it on, lets get foxy!