Blogger Challenge Week 2 - Working Out

When and where do you workout? 

This round its a real mixed bag. At present I am financially challenged so I've ditched the gym membership for the time being and am having to get a little more creative and alot more self motivated. (Could easily go to the gym, for some reason find it harder to exercise from or at home. Will get to the bottom of that.)

So I've cleared floor space in the guest room to do my dvds on rainy days. Or when the kids are home ill from kindy or school. (Another potential excuse, but surprisingly dodge-able!) Not a huge amount of space, but I imagine I'm in a crowded Body Attack class, and I still manage to work up an incredible sweat there so why not here. 

After going to friends house a few months ago and having a real knees-up using her X-box "Just Dance", I so wanted to do that at home too. So I kept looking and looking and looking and finally found it out for a song to go on our WII. Its just great fun and boy can I get a workout from it. I do need to do it when the kids are at their educational institutions otherwise they might get donged on the head with the control. When they are home its another exercise opportunity for all of us when we play it together.

For the strength training portion of the program I am to do the Outdoor program, mixed in with some DVDs. I would say the strength part of the program is my biggest challenge, and I only need to do that twice a week. What tha? If worst comes to worst I will do a really mini-workout which involves 15 lunges, 15 pushup, 15 crunches. As I say when I hit rock bottom with motivation and commitment fails I can usually pull these ones out of the hat. Better than the couch.

"You can't run or u won't run?" quoting Michelle Bridges.
I used to think it was can't. But with slow plodding steps I discovered it might have been won't. I have been and am continuing to use the couch25k running plan. I have downloaded the mp3s for my ipod. Just love how easy it makes it. Not having to think about when to change intervals. At the moment I'm on about week 4. I might stay there for a while to let my body and knees adjust. Then move up to the next week. I'm willing to take it slow as I am progressing on a life long journey of health, fitness and happiness. 

Are you still holding back?

Alas the answer is Yes. Hopefully admitting it means I'm more than half way to solving it. Even though I love exercise, and enjoy the feeling of strength, fitness and mental wellbeing it provides. I'm also rather partial to staying in the cosy and warm. So I'd say I've got another excuse to add to my list and a counter argument to come up with!

Blogger Challenge Week 1 - Introduction

Introduce yourself?

Hello my name is Melanie – I'm about to get off the sidelines and get back into the river of life. So shedding the excess baggage that I've been accumulating for the past few years is on top of my list. I want to float in that river! (Or swim powerfully upstream if the urge takes me.)

Things about me – stay at home mum, of two gorgeous children, partner to a fabulous man. Embarking upon a home/ internet business idea with my partner, plus one of my own soon. 

Me- 2nd from the left-on Flute!

Love learning to play the flute, started learning the clarinet and am amazed at being brave enough to participate in a mini-concert band. Loooove it. 

Embarking on Velo Adelaide 35km

 I have recently got back on my bike, love the whoosh down the hill after the pain of getting up it. Cycling gives me such a sense of freedom and delight.

From the garden

 My garden is growing lots of delicious veggies, with a bit of help from me and a lot from the previously mentioned fabulous man. Making it even easier to cook healthy meals. (Running out of excuses me thinks.) 

Busy flinging other excess baggage that is weighing me down so I can hone in on the life I want to live, being, doing and having the things I love.  

Tell us why your here? 

So my plan is to let this program help me get over the line this time round, for me to really engage in the process and to participate with my fellow team mates via the forums, blogs etc. Usually I'm “Standing on the outside lookin' in. whao, whao...” I want to change that about myself and feel brave enough to speak up and speak out.

My line is to transform away another 8kg of extra-no-longer-required fat away. I've used my weight as an excuse for long enough. Fixated upon it, allowed it to inhibit me from ever feeling good about myself. I really want to get out of that rut, and I feel I'm on the way out from that mindset. Being healthy, fit, slim and active usually comes with a great mindset and a positive outlook. That's for me! 

Why did you decide to join round 2 of Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation? 

Mostly because I wanted to shift the excess baggage I've been carrying around for years and I discovered I just wasn't managing to do it all on my own. A friend of mine had done a round and was aglow with energy and vitality, so I thought I want some of that too. So here I am, my fourth round and ready to really kick it this time.

Alas my third round wasn't the success I had hoped for, however, I managed to tread water, so that is a success in that I didn't gain any wieght, so it gives me confidence that I will be able to maintain my wieght when I reach my goal.
I've continued with the Michelle Bridges 12wbt program as I have had success with it and can see the sense in what she is saying. Sensible stuff like watch the calories that you consume, eat a healthy diet, get involved in regular exercise. Its information that we already have and know but packaged up with support via forums, blogs, menu plans, shopping lists, exercise plans and the twice a week videos on Michelle. All of this keeps me inspired and coming back to the program. 

But most of all I'm looking forward to greater levels of health, energy, confidence and joy in life.

How have you prepared for the challenge? 

Well as I've been doing this for a few rounds alot of my preparation is in place and becoming part of my routine.

The biggest preparation has been mentally regrouping after a not-so-successful round. I need to acknowledge that I fell victim to my excuses and let some of the challenges I was facing due to a challenging term with my son get on top of my routines and allowed myself to slip back into old patterns. Wearing down a new and better groove takes time, so easy to slide down into the old smooth rut!
Other practicalities included

•  Sprucing up the guest room to create floorspace for exercising, particularly as we head into winter. (Not one for starting a jog in the rain.) 
• Putting all of the previous rounds mindset lessons on my ipod. 
• Updating folder of menu plan/ shopping lists.
• Updating folder of recipes.
• Creating a folder for exercise plan.

Week 1, Round 2, 2012 12wbt - Kicking it!

I've kicked off my 4^th Round of the 12wbt program with flying colours. I plan to allow that energy to set the scene for the next 12 weeks. Its great starting out with a few wins under my belt. In the past I'm often too busy playing catch up to actually get started on queue. I want to start with a perfect score. Fortunately I'm getting over that need to have every 't' crossed and 'I' dotted. This round I'm revelling in the energy of the start. Still need to to do a few things on the pre-season list, but I know I can and will get it done. Better being on the starting blocks on the right day this time.

So what did I do that's given me such a buzz?

1. Completed my start of round fitness test.
   (Properly measured out the 1km distance.)
   
   
2. Did my weigh in and measure.
   (Good to get these done for comparison, really helps to see the changes.)
   
   
3. Amazed myself by producing my first every Youtube movie. Okay maybe calling it a 'movie' is pushing it, but anyway I'm on Youtube.
   
   

4. 

   About to be Carrot & Basil Ricotta Wrap
   plus egglants to chargrill for Silvia's Egglpant Parmigiania

   Instead of assuming couch position at around 8pm, I was rattling them pots and pans in the kitchen getting my lunches organised and dinner orgarnised for the next few days.
   
   
5. Finally, got cracking on getting my blog up and running. Yippee!

What a way to start a round.

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.  What makes you, you?

That I think is one of the trickiest questions. I am currently searching for the answer to that myself.  What I can tell you is, that I'm 40 (first time I've written that!), I am happily partnered and the mother of two lovely children 4 & 7 and have the privilege of helping to raise a stepchild(17) too. Music is my newest pursuit, learning to play the flute, 2.5 years in and loving it. Plus embarking on the clarinet. Some other pleasures in life include gardening, particularly vegetables, and cycling. Ah the bliss of a descent after an arduous climb. 

2 . Why did you decide to do the 12WBT?

Mostly because I wanted to shift the excess baggage I've been carrying around for years and I discovered I just wasn't managing to do it all on my own. A friend of mine had done a round and was aglow with energy and vitality, so I thought I want some of that too. So here I am third round in ready to really kick it this time.

3. What are you hoping to achieve through the program?

Reach my weight transformation targets, aswell as improving my overall fitness. I'd love to get beyond "beginner" level in the program. But more importantly I want the exercise component to be fully integrated into my life, so its just a habit, no longer a continuous struggle with me and my excuses to get off my butt.

4. Why have you decided to blog about the 12WBT? What will be the main focus (eg, food, exercise, a bit of everything?)

My thought with the blog, is to help me keep my attention engaged in the program. To remove some of the dialogue that goes on in my head so I can get on with it.A desire to push myself to get up from the sidelines, be brave and be counted. Plus along the way, perhaps some of my musings will help some one else out there. I have found reading some blogs quite useful, for inspiration, feeling understood and some practical advice. I plan to let the blog evolve.

5. How will you be exercising this round? Gym, home, outdoors or a mixture?

Mostly using the out door program, mixed with some at home DVDs, particularly if the weather gets too rainy as the weeks head toward autumn. 

6. What is your greatest strength that will help you?

Once I get going I'm a force to be reckoned with. I am very determined but I need to get my head in the right space to press the on button. Here goes. Bzzz. Done it. I'm off. :-)

7. What are you afraid of?

Not reaching the goal. Slacking off, allowing the aspects of my life that I find challenging to take over and  let myself off the hook.

 

8. What are you looking forward to the most over the next 12 weeks?

Allowing myself to transform. Becoming the best version of me. (To paraphrase Michelle.) 

9. What is your downfall? Food? Exercise? How will you overcome this?

Food I think is my biggest downfall. I am a snacker and emotional eater. My awareness has certainly increased in this area that I can notice when I am eating because I want to feel differently, or want a break but don't perceive I have the time to actually have one. How to overcome it, that's the million dollar question. I think its going to come down to noticing my behaviour, take a few breaths and then make the decision. Change from being impulse drive to thoughtful behaviours. I'm sure I'll come up with other strategies along the way. I have found if I have a tea that I really enjoy I can make that choice instead.

10. If you had to pick one word to motivate you over the next 12 weeks, what would you choose?

Renergise