No. I’m not going Vodka shots for lunch. I’ve decided to take on “protein shakes” as a valid diet choice. Actually… mostly it was a choice that was thrust upon me with little or no notice, but thus far I can’t complain.
The EVER SO SLOWLY decreasing weight is down to 107kg, but I noticed that while I’ve only lost 4 or 5kg since January that I’m definitely packing more muscle mass all over. I still have a LOOOOOONG way to go before November, but I’m upping my game from here on in! I’ve ridden to work recently… admittedly only once so far, but it all depends on who has to pick up the girl after school and stuff like that. Next term her dancing nights will change leaving me NO excuse for not taking the bicycular type thing. Combine that with protein shakes (they actually taste pretty good too) and I should be reducing a bit more a bit more quickly…
HOWEVER so far as the Tough Geek challenge goes, I’ve just hit a MASSIVE stumbling block – well blocks truth be told.
Firstly… before I put gas in my car I currently have $3 a fortnight left over after all my other expenses are paid. YES riding my bike will help. And YES in another few weeks I will have finished paying a bill that currently costs me $40 a fortnight. HOWEVER even if I wanted to be able to afford to go to the Tough Guy Challenge, I can’t. My Dad is getting married that very same weekend in Carterton. And sorry dudes and dudettes (dudette in particular!!!) I can’t do both. BUGGER.
So yeah… I guess that gives me another 12 months to train.
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Got your attention Mr.Ed? I received a text message last night which said ‘do you have any plans for 16 august?’ To which I says no, dont think so.. The next message said ‘Youre doing the race against Bren that day, have you forgotten???’ To which I says Ah. Right…Haven’t forgotten, still on. It gets worse. The next message said ‘Ive been talking to Laz because I noticed theres been nothing new on tgc for ages..’
That last in itself got me thinking. Someone actually resorted to talking with Laz -yes of all people Laz- in regard to our yeah baby bring it on I so challenge you competition that we have quite frankly more than a little neglected to keep up with for the most of this year. So who needs a kick up the backside huh? Have YOU been keeping up with your fitness regime Bren? Have ya, huh?
So just for you text my dear message sender who shall remain nameless, here’s an update on what I have been up to.
As you well know I take my dog-yes my dog-well he is still Daz’s dog but he’s my dog too-we have a dog share thing going on- I take him out to the forest for a walk at least 3 or 4 times a week, and occasionally but not as often as I should we run. To be totally honest I haven’t done a lot of running since my bout of tonsillitis, it took me a while to bounce back and the slackness kicked in.
So that being admitted freely, I needed some form of motivation to get back on track to fitnessville, something other that the dreaded doom and gloom dont put me on there treadmill. My latest interest is POLE DANCING. I have signed up at the polastix studio to do a 12 week beginners course of pole dancing. That gives me a one hour lesson each week with freetime at the studio 4 days a week to practice on the poles. I actually have no idea how this is going to help me in any way train for a running race, but I may eventually be able to spin around a pole really really well. Something to aspire to.
I have my salsa dancing that I thoroughly enjoy, which I go to every week for 2 hours, sometimes twice a week if theres a freedance night on somewhere. But thats just dancing you may say? Oh no no no, it’s one hell of a workout believe me, it’s like an intensive butt and thigh workout. Followed by the odd drink or two. Enough said.
And I am going to be playing indoor netball supposedly soon, there was no game this week so I havent actually started yet..so with any luck I will be there with Tev next week, and I am taking Tev with me because the team I am going to be playing for say they suck and always lose. Taking along an enthusiastic bouncy netball playing 11 year old may boost their spirits, or with any luck she will score them some goals. Sounds like they need all the help they can get. Can’t wait.
That’s it for me, I have barely taken any notice of the gym at all this year because I have had plenty of other things to keep me going, but that being said I would like to get back in there especially with the weather getting colder. I may well have to get back in there to help keep me in tact for the pole dancing, will keep you posted.
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No commentsYes, it has come to this. I’m starting over with my fitness regime, due to the fact that I no longer have one in place. I lost it somewhere in mid January and despite good intentions, I never did find it again, not properly. So tomorrow I am beginning all over again and I am going to get myself back on track. There is a butt kicking to take place you know, and I don’t want it to be mine. (Sorry Bren but you know that your ass is my target, my motivation, my goal…)
So what’s happening tomorrow, what am I up to you may be wondering? I am venturing back into the man cave, going back to the house of pain. Hello to gym membership again, oh how I have missed you..xxxxx. I am so looking forward to it I can tell you, I can’t wait to get in there and huff and puff and groan and sweat my way through my workouts. But it’s more than the physical side that I am missing, I used my gym time to help myself seek mental clarity in the past. It was a great stress relief for me, it helped me to unwind and relax. Strange way to relax I know, but I used it as my ‘out’ time, it was my way of getting out of my usual and a way for me to just focus on myself.
Least not forgetting the origin of the tough geek challenge journals. There is a race to be ran by Bren and I and I want to do it damn well. I hope you have sent off your entry form Bren, mine is in the post.
And on another subject Bren, will you be starting up your My big fat geek wedding journals soon? I ask this because yesterday I bought a dress to wear for the occasion, being the well organised chicky babe that I am.
Posted in Tough Geek
No commentsI’ve checked back over my previous TGC entries to see what date I started at the Gym. My post from 21 January shows at my second ever visit to the Gym I was 112kg. I’m now pleased to announce I’m at 109kg. And probably just under at that. Which means I’ve lost 3kg in a month. Which double means that if I can keep that up until the wedding (just over 8 months away) I might be able to lose another 24kg. Putting me at just over 80kg.
Now I know it doesn’t work like that… but hay we’ve all gotta have a goal to work towards, no?
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2 commentsDid you know that I jump on the scales almost daily? Sometimes I do it twice in one day. I’m not sure why. It’s not like it’s changing that quickly.
Last week was a slow week so far as exercise goes… for both of us. I do Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at the gym. Kirst does Tuesday, Thursday and either Friday or Saturday – whichever she feels like. See now that would be a prob in itself for me. I need structure. I don’t need to leave it to chance with a “we’ll see how I feel in the morning”.
So Monday was all good. Wednesday (a public holiday here in NZ) dawned and Kirst poked me at 0605hrs to tell me the time… just in case I wanted to go the Gym.
“Pffft. It’s a holiday. I’ll go later”. Later indeed!
Morning crept into afternoon and next thing I know Jimi and Wayne-o had turned up. I could hardly go out and leave them alone with Kirst now… that would be rude! So Wednesday came and went. *SIGH*
Thursday dawned and I was SHATTERED! We were up waaaaay past my bed time (it was well after 8pm after all!!) having dinner with Jimi, Wayne and Nana Whizzkid. I don’t do Thursdays anyways, so I put the gym off til Friday. Kirst had left it “see how I feel in the morning” but was equally shattered so flagged it. And ATC started Thursday night didn’t it? And first nights back + tired Bren = knackered Bren. Ergo… Friday was a write off.
One day! One measly day at the gym all week! GUH!
So this week I’m still teetering just over 110kg but I’m filled with enthusiasm for my Gym time. And trying to find any time at all to jump on my bike between visits too.
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3 commentsWhat happened to us Bren? I have looked at the TGC entries for last month, eeek! There was only 3. And even worse, only one of them was mine. So bearing in mind that I have been a tired girl for a few weeks with limited energy, I should fill you in on what I have been up to.
In order to get my level of fitness back up to at least where it was before I became sick (btw I am all better now) I started taking herbal supplements, which have worked wonders for me. I have been going out for long but slower than usual walks, taking my time but still doing the same distance that I would normally do. It has totally buggered me, my fitness (or more likely my energy levels) has dropped somewhat and it is not very easy trying to push it back up.
I was discussing this with Slink last week, the effect of being sick and what it has done to my body. I was surprised to discover that my weight had dropped to 65kg, not only because I hadn’t noticed but because I hadn’t done aything physical in order for a shift to occur. I was telling Slink how weird I thought it was that I had done nothing but sleep for near 2 weeks, and yet my weight had dropped. He explained to me that because I was sick, and because I most likely wasn’t eating enough while I was sleeping so much, that my body had been eating away at my fat reserves. Neat. That can only mean one thing, my butt. Not asking for any volunteers to examine it though.
I am itching to get back into the gym, I haven’t been there for weeks and I am missing my gym time terribly. I am told that there is a new machine there too, and I can’t wait to get in there and try it out. My focus (when I get back in there) is going to stay much the same as it was before, keep the legs moving. It doesn’t work for everyone, but it does work for me. And Bren tells us that he is enjoying the treadmill, so not one to be beaten, that is in my line of focus. The dreadmill. Long as I don’t fall off it it should be fun.
In the meantime I am doing swiss balling at home, and pilates. All in the aim of maintaining good posture and strengthening the core muscles which apparently we all have.
Will keep you posted.
Posted in Tough Geek
5 commentsI find it hard to fit the gym in during the day.
I started going at lunchtimes. I needed at least an hour and a half – which was far longer than the otherwise seemingly endless hour lunch break I was entitled – nay forced – to take. But hey, I could work it that I’d work a little earlier or later or took a shorter lunch break on other days… but I wanna do the gym thing 3 days a week. That leaves only two days to make up 1.5hours. Hrmmm. Not ideal. So I’ve sucked it up and started going at 6am. And I LOVE it.
The theory is that your body uses it’s stored energy while yer working out. If you go first thing in the morning – before breakfast – what has your body got stored? Not a lot. Unless yer a lard arse like me. Then it’s got a huuuuge energy store. Apparently burning body fat for energy is somewhat inefficient so you end up a whole lot more lethargic, but I know that the harder it is the better it is for me.
So the basics go a little something like:
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20 minutes cardio. This is split between the exercycle, treadmill and the dreaded cross-trainer. Yes I’ve seen the stair monster. No I’m not interested. Especially not after Mandz’ visit with the Stair Monster, no siree.
3 sets of 15 reps with 35kg bench press interspersed with 3 sets of 15 reps of 90kg assisted row (like a bench press only sitting up and puling the weight towards you)
3 sets of 15 reps of an assisted pull up (using a rope to stand on so my leg is helping my arms lift my huge bulk) interspersed with 3 sets of 15 reps um… 30kg push up over your head from sitting position type thingees on one of the circuit machines.
3 sets of 10 crunch thingees. Ouch. The first 10 are okay. The second 10 burn. The third 10 make me wanna hurl. But they’re helping.
So it’s getting easier as time goes by. I can actually do it all, and do it in 45 minutes. Somehow that still means I take more than an hour at lunchtimes though. And hay… now I get 5 one hour lunch breaks to myself. And I dont have to waste precious evening family time busting my gut in the gym. I’ve claimed an extra 3 hours a week. NAICE! That and Kirst is going alternate days to the pool for a swim. Double nice. We both get fit while the other sleeps 
Weight? Slowly but surely approaching 110kg. Closer to 110 than I am to 111 which means NEARLY 2 kgs lost thus far. Not alot, but it’s a start. My big fat geek wedding is looking slimmer already.
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3 commentsRushed into the Gym at lunchtime – mainly to save myself time. Couldn’t be assed getting up out of bed this morning to go to the gym. To be perfectly honest I was still bloody sore from Saturdays effort. Ditto – I couldn’t be assed going in the afternoon as I’ve only just managed to reclaim lost afternoons /early evenings with Kirst and my little man… why would I want to give one up so soon?
SO! I rushed my gym visit. Probably not the best idea in hindsight. Only fitted in 2 reps of each exercise instead of 3 and realised when I got home I forgot entirely to do my crunches (or whatever they’re called). Maybe that was a subconscious effort on my part… I nearly hurled trying to do them on Saturday. I hate abs exercise. I also hate having a shower, rushing back into work gears again and sweating like a pig in the office. What WAS cool though was actually running on the treadmill and (for the most part) enjoying it!
All in all I’m still feeling pretty stiff physically, but god I feel good on the mentally. I can do anything!! And I’m just soooooo excited and into going to the Gym now. I actually find myself fighting urges to go for a bike ride now too!! Luckily for my weary body Kirst is about to go grocery shopping and Nonnor is asleep so I can’t go. Might just go do some dishes then have my THIRD shower for the day!
Oh by the way… I’ve put on a lil weight over xmas. 112kg just now.
Posted in Tough Geek
5 commentsThis is a sad and sorry looking site, not one tough geek challenge post for the new year! I was expecting Bren to wow me with an incredible tale about his fitness regime by now…
So whats new at my end of the challenge? Well the gym has been closed a fair bit over the past 2 weeks for christmas and new years, so I haven’t been working out as much as I normally do. But hope isn’t lost, I have been going out for casual runs around the streets with a couple of my friends in the evenings, and it has been a total hoot. Being typical girls we are laughing and giggling the whole way, sharing shameful stories as we go.
I am pleased to report that I have not gained any weight over the christmas period, I am sitting comfortably at 69kg and have been for several weeks now. My target for the new year is to kick 69kg’s butt and reduce it at a reasonable pace. I would like to believe that I can go back as far as my pre pregnancy days and be under 60kg. Failing that, simply going back to being a comfortable size 10 will do. Realistic and possible because I am so very nearly there already.
My gym membership expires in 5 days, I would be in a state of frenzy if it weren’t for the fact that I will be at the beach for the next 2-3 weeks. I will be able to keep up my exercise while at the beach especially with 2 weenies to haul about in the water. (That requires baring my thighs, aaaaarrrghhh) But seriously, I have no intentions of ‘letting it all go’ just because it’s the holiday season.
Although admittedly I know I should give up the lollypops, the wine, and the beer. Soon.
Oh and Bren, entry for the race is officially open, we totally need to get ourselves entered, and soon. Places are limited to 2000 competitors and it’s a matter of first in. We will be doing the ‘fun run’ once around the course, unless anybody wants to go around twice? No? Once it is then.
My next tough geek challenge post will not be until next month, in the mean time I expect Bren will dazzle us with reports from his new gym membership programme. I know he has been looking forward to embarking on his upcoming gym time and I eagerly await his thoughts and experiences of man time in the sweat cave.
Kick ass Bud, and enjoy.
Posted in Tough Geek
2 commentsMy first run with Buster went so well that I took him out into the forest again yesterday. We make a great team, we run really well together, and he can’t speak, so theres no complaints!
My running is improving a great deal each time I go out, my breathing is well under control and I have a comfortable stride and pace. My only niggle is with my shin splints which are becoming increasingly worse. I thought that if I kept on pushing myself that they would gradually improve, but no such luck. I get so frustrated with myself every time I have to slow down to a walk, because I know I have the stamina and capacity to go a lot further. It’s not just while I’m running that my shins hurt now, the pain is lingering and is really ticking me off.
But back to my run, Buster and I were less than 20 metres from the carpark, and we met up with an elderly man walking his dog. Unfortunately the man was in a chatty mood and being the sweet girly chick that I am, I stopped to chat to him. He did not have his dog on it’s lead though, and while we were chatting about our mushy overly friendly well behaved dogs, much to my horror they broke out into a full on dog fight. One second I was holding Buster on his lead, and the next I was holding a dogless lead. He had pulled backwards and slipped right out of his halt, and was on top of the other dog with his jaw locked around it’s neck. Eeeeeek, what to do, what to do. I was right in there with both hands and one foot trying to break it up, more to the point trying to save the guys dog, because Buster was totally kicking it’s ass (thats my boy!) and I had no idea what he was actually capable of in a fight. Being part Staffy, I was pretty darn sure that he was more than capable of defending himself.
But my gripe was that the man did not do anything to intervene, he just stood there while I wrestled with 2 fighting dogs. And I’m not the biggest girl around. He could have put his dog on it’s lead at the very least, but he didn’t. I was worried that blood might start spurting out of his dogs neck, that would have really put a damper om my clarity seeking run. But I got Buster away with no harm done, and we continued on and ran to the car. He then got taken home in disgrace!
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