Run Rabbit Run

Week 6's SSS was the Run Rabbit Run and I still haven't conquered it!! I was so keen to smash out this workout - it sounded brutel, it sounded like hard work and a terrific challenge!!

I wanted in!!

So it's not Saturday - Its Monday - but what the Hell - I want this Rabbit off my back!!

So I slept through my alarm at 430am and slept in until 8am (love school Holidays!!) - so I decided to do it at home instead of the gym. I read through the workout - I can totally pull this off at home!!

I scrounged around for some equipment..... The Run Rabbit Run consists of 4 circuits of 3 exercises each completed 4 times through and separated by a 400m run . 

Well I have my treadmill for the sprints......

Some old 5kg hand weights for the "Dumbell Squat Presses" and the "Walking Lunges with Over Head Weights".....

A rusty old Bar Bell with some rusty old weights for the "Up right rows"......

Threw two chairs together for some "Tricep Dips"......

This unmowed retaining wall will do instead of a box for the "Box Jumps" .....

And a bucket......just in case.....

So I'm all set - start the clock......

Holy Smokes - that was one hell of a workout - numerous times I had the burps, head hung over - but I didn't need the bucket after all.

It was hard going - it was hot (Hmmmm the air-conditioned gym at 5am would have been alot more comfortable than in my yard in the sun at 10am) and there was a moment when Fat Kate was hunched over the Pool Table gasping for air and talking me into quitting - But I didn't - I completed it all 100%.

The recommended speed for the runs was 11km/hr on the treadmill and I was smashing the last 200m out at 12km/hr (mainly just to make it go faster!!) so I'm pretty pleased with that.

I got finished in 1hr and 3 minutes - despite the fact that I forgot to turn off my heart monitor as I was flat out on my back for over 5 mins convincing myself that I could get up :)

The kids came down before I was finished and where cheering me on through the last circuit and the last sprint - There is nothing in the world like hearing the sound of your kids voices shouting "You can do it Mummy!!! You are fast!!! You are strong!!!! - absolute magic!!

So My day of training is not over yet - I shall go to the gym this afternoon to complete my Lean and Strong Monday Workout - I'm certainly not going to fall behind like I did by missing Monday last week.

Negativity Cloud

Wow!! I feel like this last week I have been trapped in a negativity cloud - all I could see was darkness and night insteads of positive light.

It just hit me - 5 weeks to go!!! And I'm further away from my goals than I was when I started - HOW is that possible when I have worked so consistantly, with such determination??? It just didn't make sense to me!!

So I poo poo'ed my whole week really!!

Missed the gym Monday - and Wednesday and spent the rest of the week trying to catch up.  Saturday's Super Session was a right off - and I'm carrying around this cloud of "Surely I can do Better!!"

So this week - this is my goal - To do better!!! To have a God Damn loss on the scales (for the first time in 8 weeks) to RAMP up my workouts with more more more - Obviously "just" following the program is NOT working for me - I need to add, extra classes, extra cardio.

I have 5 weeks to strip this body fat that is weighing me down - that is constantly on my mind, that is covering the beautiful muscles I have spent 7 weeks building!!

I have 5 weeks to count calories every day - in and out and record them ALL in my diary.

I have 5 weeks of posting my diary entry every night - just like in preseason.

I have 5 weeks to FOCUS on the positives in my life and share them daily.

I have 5 weeks to add extra cardio, to step further out of my comfort zone - to push myself to new heights.

I have 5 weeks to DO NOTHING that drags me down, sets me back or makes me disapointed in myself (ie - sticking my finger in left over cake icing!!!!)

I have 5 weeks to go to bed with no regrets and no doubts that I could have done more throughout the day to see me achieve my goals.

And the beginning of that 5 weeks - starts TODAY!!

I'm off to do Saturday's Super Session - the Run Rabbit Run that I have somehow managed to avoid for 2 weeks now - I am going to smash it up, record my results - stay tuned for the low down of how awesome I was during this training session!!!

PUMPED!!!

Results yet? Absolutely!!

So week 6 is upon me - HALF WAY!! Time for halfway photos!!
Have I made some improvements that the f#*&!!! scales haven't shown - have I made a difference that I can't see in the mirror???.....

Well the simple answer is : YES - but of course it has taken me half the week to realise it!!

So excited I was to take photos on Wednesday, I dragged my husband out of bed early wearing my bikini, holding the camera....my excitement soon turned to disappointment as my negitivity and blurry eyed vision took hold.

I'm downloading from the camera, snipping and cropping photos - lining them up side by side....Where's the difference?? Where's the imrovement?? They're the same!!! I cried out!! They're the bloody same 6 weeks in and I look no different!!!

It was at this stage where my husband tells me he's trying hard not to slap me and he's really disapointed that I am so blind to my (obvious to him) progress.  I just couldn't see it! I could definately see a change in one photo (the tummy flab, bending down shot) but the rest.....nil, zilch, zippo!!!

So I took my frustrations out at the gym - where I was looking in the mirror and could see a leaner, fitter, stronger, tighter person looking back at me - why then could I not see it in the photos??? So I took a bloody photo right there - standing in front of the mirror at the gym where I did see progress, where I did see results of blood sweat and tears (lots and lots of tears) - and bloody hell I was going to rejoice in that!!

When I got home I posted my "lack of progress" pics onto the Lean and Strong Page - and asked if anyone else in previous rounds saw so little progress at the half way mark....well I was BOMBARDED with positive feedback words thrown around like : wow, OMG, fantastic results, awesome, obvious, inspiring, massive improvement, holy f@?k..... It felt amazing to hear those comments - it gave me such a lift!!

I can do this - I am freaking doing this!!!

Here are the photos you can judge for yourselves....

Week 1 to 6 - Front

Week 1 to 6 - Back

Week 1 to 6 - Side

Week 1 to 6 - Bend (tummy flab)

I have a little tiny problem- where I consistently want results yesterday!! But I concede, I do see imrovements and I will continue to focus on the postive and not the negative - time to start being a "Glass Half Full" kinda girl!!

 

 

I really really really have been celebrating the postives in small ways every day - here's what I took away from this week:

 

Monday: I went out of the house without compression underwear!!! I was nervous (and to tell you the truth, fidgeting and uncomfortable -BUT i did it and it felt good to work on changing my mindset towards learning to live life without my protective barrier!!

Tuesday: For the first time EVER I went to the gym in just my tights!! No shorts over the top - just tights!! The shape of my bum and thighs were there for all to see!! This felt like a MASSIVE success!! I MASSIVE milestone - 6 weeks ago I was wearing, conforming underwear, bike shorts, 2 singlets and shorts.....how far I have come being comfortable being seen in such a short time HAS to be classed as a win!!!

Wednesday: Half way mark photos - I had a 200g increase on the scales that I forgot to even care about!! There is a dramatic reduction in my tummy flab and my photos (although not dramatic) show change and improvements towards a tighter more tonned and terrifric body!!

Thursday: I allowed a fellow school mum practice her spray tanning skills on my legs......exposed....NOT in tights but BARE SKIN!! showing her my thighs, my bum - I was FREAKED OUT, uncomfortable plus - BUT I did it - I would have NEVER exposed myself like that in the past - baby steps!! :)

Saturday:I did not train the SSS due to sickness and fatigue - I took the 3hours of awake time between my shifts at work to rest and recooperate, rather than spending 2 of them flogging myself silly at the gym - which would have left me absolutely rooted and exhausted!! I did not beat myself up mentally, I did not feel guilty or worry that I'd missed a session - I was proud of myself for taking care of myself and putting my body before my crazy mind!!

 

Can't wait to share more positive improvements that I am making in my life!!!

 

 

Week Six - WHAT???!!!

Wowsers!! I cannot believe I'm at Day 1 Week 6!!! This blows my mind!!

But it's also kinda daunting for someone who tends to see the glass as half empty most of the time. 

For the last 6 weeks I have been training HARD - really hard, I've been giving it my all at the gym - 100%!! I am so proud of myself for digging deep and really smashing out my Lean and Strong Workouts. The staff at the gym are noticing the changes in my body and always have such great feedback to share with me - it feels GREAT!!

I have been telling myself and others that I've been eating SUPER clean - although if I was really honest I would have to admit that I could do better.  I haven't been tracking my Calories (although I always do a mental tally), I have been eating too many snacks - all be it healthy and nutritious, the volume is , if I'm really honest just too much.  For example I may have scheduled a 40g Nuts and Seeds snack which blows out into a hand in the container over and over all afternoon.  Or a celery and cottage cheese scheduled snack may morph into a Moo cheese on Crackers and I have my protein powder yoghurt mix every night after dinner - regardless if I've already gone over my calories.

Wow - I feel like I've taken an honesty pill.....wait there's more.....

I've been COMPLETELY faithful to the promise I made to myself about the NIL Chocolate or Lollies over the full 12 weeks 

But some sneaky sugar laden foods have crept in and I have been writing down a little list.....

Over the last 6 weeks I have indulged in:

• 1 & 1/2 Lamingtons - at a BBQ
• 3 squares of Rice Bubble Slice - at a child's Birthday Party
• 1 too big serve of Low Fat Ice cream - with Caramel topping - WHILE WATCHING The Biggest Loser!!!
• 3 Sweet Biscuits - at my Nana's house
• 4 Hot Cross buns - IN ONE WEEKEND!!!!
• 7 Hot Chips off my husbands plate - after I chose a healthy salad for my meal :(
• 2 slices of Dara lee Caramel thingy- with my husband
• 1 Fruit Scone - from Brumby's while shopping
• 1 slice of Strawberry Custard tart - at a friend's house while socialising
• 1 glass of Bubbly with Hibiscus

Ok - so that's it - it's out there - Over 5 full weeks (35days) I've indulged 9 times!!! Having said that MOST of these treats were on TREAT NIGHT and I haven't had a treat meal once over the 5 weeks. 

So I need to re-evaluate what CLEAN EATING is all about - because I certainly won't be lean and strong if I continue to have little indulgences so regularly. My diet is also quite Carb laden thus this I will also re-evaluate for thje next 6 weeks.

To tidy up my diet over the next 6 weeks I will:

• Be Carb Free After 3
• Eat more lunches consisting of Salad and beans/pulses rather than Salad Sandwhiches
• Continue my AWESOME resistance to Chocolate and Lollies
• Say NO to ALL sugar laden foods (not just chocolate and lollies) - including ice-cream, sweet bisciuts, scones etc
• Cut Carbs from my Snacks - no more bowls of cereal, sandwhiches or PB on Toast!!
• Ensure I base my Calorie Intake on my Calories Burned - leaving the deficit no more or less than 500.

I am so super determined to rock this last 6 weeks its ridiculous!! So for that to happen I REALLY need to focus on my MINDSET.

To tidy up my mindset over the next 6 weeks I will:

• Write one thing down in my diary (you know that food diary that I WILL write in every day) that makes me proud to be me. Have I smashed a workout (please! when do I not!!), Have I had a great Mummy Moment, did I say no to something that would have sabotaged my goals, did I catch a glimse of my reflection and like what I saw?? - These I will share on my blog so I am accountable!!

• Slap myself when I catch myself treading all over my good work!! Negativity breeds negativity and I let it build up so much that I suffocate myself in it!! When I catch myself being negative I'll nip it in the bud so it doesn't turn into a week of self degredation.

• Acknowledge my achievements and accept compliments!!

I look forward to sharing my Half way mark photos on Wednesday and all of my positive thoughts!!!

Mental Roadworks!!

Telling myself that my boost in Body Fat % is "no biggy" is one thing.....believing it is quite another!!

I was not dwelling on it so to speak but the thought kept swirling around my head - I so desperately wanted last Wednesday's measure up to lift me up, to reassure me that progress IS being made here and I was robbed of that!! Robot Girl let me down by giving me a bogus initial reading and therefore a bogus 4 week followup result!! (even though she has since sincerley apologised for the mistake). 

I have accepted the fact that my BF% is higher because Mr Second Opinion did it the correct way- that's fine - I'd rather know the truth than be delutional that I have less BF than I actually do (way way way lessn than I actually do as it turns out). But I still felt flat and disappointed. 

I was speaking to a dear friend and fellow 12WBT-ioner yesterday about the whole cock up when she smacked me in the face with a positive spin that I never ever once saw!



Robot Girl took my callipar measurements (inaccurately as it may) in week 1 -
Robot Girl took my callipar measurements again in week 4 - same body areas, same technique, same style.....THE SAME AREAS..... get it??!!

I didn't at first!!

If the same person used the same body areas using the same technique as she did 4 weeks ago and saw a dramatic improvement (a total measurement reduction from 103mm to 72mm) then regardless of whether the body areas were wrong thus giving an incorect OVERALL BF% - the reductions she measured aren't a lie - they are real - 31mm of fat is gone from my body!!



Thanks Sooooooooooo much Tara!! I was concentrating so hard on the negative I couldn't and wouldn't see the positive!! I have improved!! I have lost fat!! 31mm of it to be precise!! It may not be from the same places that officially create my BF% total - but it is fat that was measured on Wednesday to be less than there was 4 weeks ago!! That my friends is a win!! That is exactly what I was craving, what I needed, what I have been working for!!




What a mental Road block!! What a complete and absolute blockage I have created in my head that good information just can't squeeze through the entire construction site of negativity in my head!!

I felt so so so much better after having spoke to you Tara, you just wouldn't believe it!! You are ALWAYS so supportive, so realistic, so straight up and so bloody right all the time!! You have helped me through more mental road blocks than you know!! You are EVERYthing I need in a support person and I am so so fortunate that I have you travelling beside me through this journey!!

Love ya guts!! xx

Mr Second Opinion

I welcomed week 4 with absolute open arms, I was SO excited to measure up!! The scales had let me down 3 weeks in a row and I was busting to wrap the measuring tape around me and witness some great results!! I was counting on it, I needed it!!

The scales were once again not being very friendly with another 300g gain!! Ok, deep breath, I can handle this - lets get the tape!! All over (arms, thighs, chest, waist and hips) I totalled a 17.5cm loss on the tape!! Take that scales!!!

Then off to the gym to see Robot Girl from week 1 to have my body fat % re-measured via the calliper test.  Remembering that 4 weeks ago she had me at 25.7% BF.  I was hoping for at least a 2% loss - this would keep me on track and see me reaching the correct milestone for the timeframe (goal - 19%) .....

Well we did the test....."What a great Result!" She said......remember how in 12 weeks I wanted to reach 19%? Well I came in at 18.5%!!

Yahhoo......right!!??? WRONG!! There is no way NO WAY that I could have achieved that result in 4 weeks!! - So we re calculated and got the same numbers.  Well I'll be taking a second opinion thanks, because if this body I'm wobbling around in is only 18.5% BF then there is something seriously wrong!!

The wait for the second opinion was over 24hours long and brutel.  Making me more nervous was the second opinion was a male!! Allowing another girl to pinch my fat rolls and measure up my flabby bits was one thing (though enough) but standing infront of a man to do it - well that was a WHOLE other story!! Yuck yuck yuck....my mouth was running a mile a minute blabbering away nervously like I was on a first date - a first date that involved callipers?? I don't think so!! 

Mr Second opinion grabbed all the bits that bother me the most (right over my belly button and right over the old Love handle - two places I asked Robot Girl to measure but was shut down with a "we don't do there!!", his style was COMPLETELY different and apparently WAY more accurate.

The result punched me right in the chest!! I gasped and took a seat with my head in my hands.....my BF% is 27.2!!! Horribly Horribly disapointed!! My goal to lose 6.7% in 12 weeks has now changed to 8.2% in 8 weeks!! I have to reassess and really look at that number realistically knowing that it's most likely improbable that I could achieve that number in that time. 

Devestated!!  

So - am I going to quit? Throw in the towel? Stop in at the servo for a block of chocolate on the way home from the gym???...



I certainly will not!! I will continue to try my guts out and strive to be the absolute best version of myself regardless of that stupid number.  I keep getting told to ignore the scales and concentrate on the measuring tape and how I feel....so  that's the plan Stan - no number on a scale or even one with a % after it insead of a kg is going to stop me from giving this program all I've got.

Blogger Challenge Week 3 - Rewards

So, The question this week is: How will you acknowledge and reward yourself during Round 1, 2012 of the 12WBT? What are the small wins? What are your big accomplishments? How will you achieve these and how will you reward your efforts? (food doesn't count!)

Geez I have SO many planned rewards its ridiculous.  I have a list!! I've even had to take on extra shifts at work to be able to pay for all the rewards I'll be giving myself!!!

The list is as follows:

• Attending the Round 1 201212WBT Finale Group Workout and Finale Party in Melboure (May 19th 2012)!! I wanted to go last round but it was Christmas time, I hadn't reached my goals and didn't believe I deserved to go!! This time I will have reached my goals (no doubt!!) and I AM going - I've already booked flights!!
• Along with the trip MANY more rewards are necessary including:

       * A new workout outfit - possibly even a name brand one!! (dare I say it!)
       * A JFDI cap/visor to complete my outfit on the field!!
       * A new dress - of course!! It will be fitted and smokin hot!!
       * A spray tan (all my friends will laugh at how ironic this is seeing as
         thoough i always take the stance of "I refuse to tan!!"

• A tattoo!! - I do not have any tattoos - my husband has always objected and I have never found myself so attatched to anything that I wanted it stuck to my lily white skin for eternity - but I absolutely am attatched to my personal power and I live and breath it everyday - it's what get's me through my workouts, passed the sweets plate and past the emotional bullshit my nasty mind tries to put me through on a daily basis.  My personal power lives with me daily and a dedication to the strength (both physically and mentally) will be displayed down my side from my ribs to my hip as a constant reminder so I never forget how far I have come.

Aside from the material things - Being the BEST VERSION of my self is absolutely going to be the best reward of all!! Looking in the mirror at the end of 12 weeks with my head held high and looking into the eyes of a proud and successful, sexy and strong lady - will really really be the most important reward imaginable.