One month down

Okay so that's the first month done.  4.5 kg lost and 68cm lost (38 I'm really comfy about, I'm a bit dodgy about one measurement that meant I lost 30cm).

Things I've found this time:

Personal training makes me feel safe and I work harder.   I'm doing more training this time and it feels like I'm getting better results without fear of injury. My trainers know me and I know that they'll push me but not so far that it is dangerous, making it easier to stretch my limits. I have a tendency to go too hard and hurt myself or overcompensate for injury and not work hard enough.  My trainers help me find the middle ground.

The elliptical trainer is not very scary and if I lock my core I don't feel motion sick when I get brave and take my hands off the centre handles and use my arms as well.  Plus if I use it as my base cardio option, I raise my heart rate more consistently and effectively than I do if I'm doing a recliner bike ride.

Talking of bikes - having one is awesome.  I went for my first ride around part of the lake on the weekend and it was great.  From my place to the Carillion, back to the footbridge near Allara Street, up to Garema Place and then back to my place. Admittedly the last two stops were split with food and a cold drink but up to Garema Place had been consistent, a break of maybe 2 mins at most. Making the transition from someone who is a pure pedestrian to someone with a transport option other shanks pony is quite exciting.

I can make better choices with food and not stuff my social life. I'm very social, I go out a lot and have people over frequently.  I simply have to plan.  I know the rules, this means I choose to exercise them or not.  Food is never going to be a big evil for me.  I don't want to have that relationship with it. I simply need to make a good choice out of my options rather than restrict myself and create a denial/binge situation.

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.

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!