Thursday, 31 May 2012

June 1st

Today is the First of June!! Round 2 does not officially kick off Day one until Monday 4th June – HOWEVER the Lean and Strong Pirates – Graduates from Round 1 2012 – have set forth a Mean Abs Challenge – MEAN ABS JUNE….it looks a little something like this…..


So we have 4 exercises to do every day – Sit ups, crunches, plank and Push Ups – it starts at
15 sit ups
5 crunches
10sec Plank
10 Push Ups
 And adds more repetitions every day until the on the 30th of June I will be completing
100 Sit Ups
200 Crunches
120sec Plank
60 Push Ups
Wow wow wow!!!
Also after my last post’s BUTT pic (ew!) I have also decided to take on a Tuff Butt Challenge for the Month of June also – it entails completing 3 exercises every day including squats lunges and hold lunges, gradually increasing everyday throughout the month….It looks like this (ignore the “April”)


The Tuff Butt challenge will see me start today with

5 Lunges
5 Squats
5sec Lunge Hold both legs

And end the month on June 30th with

50 Lunges
50 Squats and
50sec Lunge Hold both legs

HOLY COW!!!

This will be on top of my Lean and Strong Training and challenging myself with the 10km run program too.

If that all wasn’t enough – The Pirates are also challenging themselves to a CLEAN EATING JUNE – which is 100% fine by me because I will be eating 100% clean throughout the entire 12 weeks.  The only stumble I have is today is Friday and I am away for the weekend – tough going – but I have made a commitment to the Pirates thus I will forego cupcakes, apple crumble and cream and various other treats I have prepared for our family to enjoy over the weekend – no biggy (I says now).

The only other change I will make in June to the rest of the 12 weeks is I will be foregoing a treat meal (allowed once a week in the program) – I did not really partake in too many treat meals throughout Round one – having ZERO lollies and ZERO chocolate and the days following week 12 were those filled with birthday cake preparations and Birthday Celebrations for my kiddies – where I binged on sugar like….well like I hadn’t had any in 3 months!!

 So this round (after June’s challenge) I will partake in a treat once a week.  I want to set myself off for real life, for the rest of my life with no wagon to fall off of – allowing myself regular treats will I’m sure be healthier for me in the long run as it’ll reduce to inclination to binge!!
 
Here are todays challenge tasks completed – I will blog a similar post EVER DAY of June to prove my completion – this will keep be accountable and on task Xx

MEAN ABS JUNE
  •  15 Sit Ups
  • 5 Crunches
  • 10 Push Ups
  • 10sec Plank
TUFF BUTT JUNE
  • 5 Lunges
  • 5 Squats
  • 5sec Lunge Hold



Monday, 28 May 2012

Does My Bum Look BIG in This???

Yesterday I tried on some Michelle Bridges "One Action" workout gear in Big Dub.  I thought I looked pretty good from the front - "I can pull this off" I thought to myself....."Better just check from the back", I thought handing my phone to my almost 3 year old daughter - "Take a photo of me from behind Lucy....."

Agast!!

Where did that massive bum come from?? Oh Dear - I definately can't pull off these size 8 tights!!!

So I bought them anyway (Come on Mish - $24.95!!!??? How could I not???) as I decided they shall be my GOAL pants - to put on periodically and see if I have achieved a better looking butt!!!

So I posted this photo on the L&S Facebook page and it sparked a BUM chat like I've NEVER seen before!!!



So all up 106 comments about my bum and the conversation flowed into the night with bum pics popping up everywhere!!

Point is - I am self concious of my bum, I know I have big thighs and saddle baggies coming off the sides - and this I want to work on this round.


I was, I gotta say - horrified by the shape of my bum in these pants!! I am going to work on increasing my leg weights this round (outta sight) and really getting good form on my squats and lunges. 


One of the Pirates, Kylie posted this for me....


And I intend on giving it a go when the round starts next week as an extra regime to my Lean and Strong Program.....and the 10km Running Program.......


I'm glad, although initially horrifed, that I got Lucy to take this Picture because now I have a bench mark and will take on the same pose, in the same pants in 12 weeks and see the great difference I have made.....


Oh and I also made a bet with a fellow QLD Pirate, Claire, that I would buy french knickers and post a photo of my bum in them on the facebook page in week 12 to prove how dedicated I have been to my bum throughout the round.  There was also talk of meeting in Myer Queens St for her to take the photo herself, and then of a catwalk style presentation on the Mall Stage, but I'm sure that wont be happening.....well who knows...


Watch this bum....I mean SPACE, watch this space!! 



Saturday, 26 May 2012

Round 2 2012

The inevitable happened yesterday....I re-joined Mish's team to smash out another Round of the 12WBT. This will take me almost right up until the 12month mark since I first joined last year for Round 3 in September!!

I was up and down, round and round trying to decide, I just couldn't let the thought of signing up again go....so there lay my answer - JFDI!!!

I have set some new goals for the 12 weeks....I say the word "new" but some are quite similar to last round, as I don't feel I quite got there, despite my best efforts.

The big ones are:

1. To achieve a FLAT stomach - so I definately got a flatER tummy last round - but didn't quite get it to be actually flat!!

2. To have no, nil, none, zip love handles or squishy bits over my undies/pants- nice tight obliques - again had great progress last round - but the hang over is still there.

3. To reach a BF% of 18% (21.7% @end of Round so 3.7% to shred)

4. To run 10km in 60mins!! This is important to me - it's been a dream of mine for YEARS - I finally want to cross that off my list this year at the Brisbane's Bridge to Brisbane Run!!



So yesterday I blogged about some new rules....well not so new rules, but rules that I actually intend to follow this time - they are:

1. Track Calories EVERY DAY- 1200 in + (at least) 500 out

2. No foods with 'Sugar' in the Top 3 ingredients (except 1 treat meal on 1 day)

3. 5am (or earlier) wake up call 6 days a week to train - NO EXCUSES - JFDI!!

4. Drink 2L of H2O EVERYDAY


I have some sub points to add to my new list of rules - thus making it up to "8 Simple Rules"


5. Restrict snacking to 2 (TWO) snack per day!! One at midmorning - 11ish and one mid afternoon - 3ish

6. No carbs as snacks!! - Snacks should be high in protein, low in fat and definately not carb loaded

7. Only 1 (ONE) hot chocolate sachet a day - 57cal of sugar - enjoy it

8. hhmmmm I can't think of an 8th rule right now - Damn it this would have been so much cooler if there were 8!! I'm sure I'll think of something!!


Time to Power UP!!

Friday, 25 May 2012

Head Space

Well well well - Maybe I feel like I've failed so badly because I told my self I would - or I put it out there to the universe that I would.

Since finishing Round 1 in the first week of May - I have NOT been 100% proud of myself ANY DAY!! I have either missed training, talked myself into giving up half way through training, or not been 100% "Clean" with my nutrition or alowed myself to go over my Calories - OR not even tracked my Calories!!!

Some days may have been just one of these slip ups, some days more than one - some days I have been guilty of ALL of the above.

I feel it mainly in my mind and my tummy!! My tummy is no longer flat - all the work I did last round feels in vain.

We are now in The last week of May and I feel like I've destroyed so much in so little time. 

I told myself over and over "this is not 12 weeks - this is life" and I believed it.....until week 12 came.....

So Today I have made some new rules for life:



1. Track Calories EVERY DAY- 1200 in + (at least) 500 out
2. No foods with Sugar listed in the Top 3 ingredients (except treat meal 1 day)
3. 5am (or earlier) wake up call 6 days a week to train - NO EXCUSES - JFDI!!
4. Drink 2L of H2O EVERYDAY



So. 

Today I pick myself up
Today I Turn myself back around to face the road of success
Today I track my calories in MyFitnessPal and don't go over 1200 and don't eat sugar
Today I Complete my Pre Season Tasks for Round 2 (See page up the top)
Today I tell myself "I am worth it"
Today I am realistic - I have NOT undone 6 months of hard work in 3 weeks - 3 weeks is a BLIP
Today I tell myself "I Can"
Today I focus on the inner strength I found to become Lean & Strong - so I can STAY lean &strong!!
Today I go to the Gym!!
Today I Turn "I cant's" back into "I cans"
Today is the new Day 1






Wednesday, 23 May 2012

Melbourne Workout & Finale Party!!!

Holy Wow!! It actually happened - I actually went to Melbourne for the finale of my 12 week Journey!!!


I had soooooooooo much fun!! My 12WBT Buddy Tara and I flew out Friday night and it was go go go until we got back on the plane Sunday evening to come home.


It was so so much fun and so empowering!!


To attempt to re-tell the story of the epic weekend would be impossible - so here are a few highlights!!

** Being apart of the team that broke a Guiness World Record!!! This here people is the LARGEST number of people participating in an outdoor circuit workout!!! The WORLD's BIGGEST workout!!


I did say WORD'S BIGGEST WORKOUT!!!
If you spot me.....please let me know!!

Awesome as all get out!!!
My Only REAL close up Encounter with Mish Xx (that's my hand on her shoulder!! her Massive Shoulder)

Two enthusiatic thumbs up baby!!
Hmmmm no one around me is doing what I'm doing.....Unco much???

Hanging out with Alex from The Biggest Loser
Tara and I ready to JFDI!!!
The Famous 12WBT & TBL Jayne!!!
We did it!!!!!



Margie!!!
You Deserve it Lady!!!

** And come on it would be a finale weekend without PARTY photos!!!

Red Carpet Moment!!
So much Hand on hip action!!!


'Twas a Pirate Party and a Gun Show all rolled into one!!
Our Pirate Captain Xx
The Gorgeous First Mate Mary!!
Thanks for coming with me Tara!!!


I had an absolute BALL!!! And I cannot wait to start the next 12 weeks and smash out some new goals and achieve a little bit more of my own greatness!!!

Stay tuned for Round 2 2012 Pre Season Tasks!!

Sunday, 13 May 2012

Final Results - Finally!!

Week 12 is done and dusted and feels like forever ago!!

Week 12 Day 7 ran very quickly into 5 more days until my Kiddies' Birthday party and a To-Do list longer than my arm!!

So the Birthday Party Bonanza is also done and dusted and it's time to FINALLY sit down and update my Blog with my Week 12 results.

I have a very clear and distinct impression of these photos and even though I have been calling them my "After" shots - they most definately are not "After" anything except 12 weeks of hard work, clean eating and dedication up the wazoo!! In other words - this is far from "The End" for me on this journey, my quest to find the Best version of myself will continue with new goals and new aspirations and new bouts of dedication and the hard work that follows. 

That said - lets bring on the bragging for how well (yes I can own it - I did well) I did on Round 1 2012 Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation.....

Over all Stats:

Weight Lost        -     1.5kg on the scales
Cms Lost            -    41.5cm on the Tape Measure
Body Fat % Lost -    8% on the Callipers!! - My BF% went from close to 30% to 21.7% !!!

My poor husband during that last week - putting up with me - I was up and down like a yo-yo, I was so excited about how far I'd come one minute and then was doubting myself and slapping myself the next!! I was complaining that my tummy was sticking out like a pregnant person, I was whinging that my bum still hadn't changed - then I'd smash a PB at the gym and was high again - up, down, up down.

Friday was a down day - I was dreading going to the PT to be pinched for the calliper test!! I was SURE that I wasn't going to have much change since week 8....I told my husband before I went off "Expect me to come home crying, I'm sure my results are going to be underwhelming!!"...doom and gloom I walked in, found the PT and begged to get it over with.

The PT was SHOCKED and AMAZED at my results - he even didn't believe some of the pinchs and did them again and again because he thought what he was seeing on the callipers just couldn't possibly be true!!

Yay me!!!

He was flawed that over 12 weeks I could lose 8% of my Body Fat - My goal was originally 5-6% and I wasn't sure if that was aiming too high....and I SMASHED it!! I felt like my feet didn't hit the ground as I floated out of the gym and all the way home.  This result gave me the joy and elation I was looking for - now I was excited for final weigh in, measure and photos the next morning.

So here are the photos, that I was so nervous about taking, the photos that show the blood sweat and tears (oh the many tears) of the 12 weeks.




Front view

The Dreaded Back View

Side View
The Bend...Look at how much Tummy flab I lost!!!
Remember that Old Tuumy Shot My soon took???

And a Flexing Shot of course :)
 I am looking forward to Melbourne this weekend where I will Celebrate with a friend and fellow 12WBT'ioner Tara all the hard work and fantastic results we achieved this round.

Michelle has announced that Margie Winner of The Biggest Loser 2012 will be training us at the group[ workout and will Co-Host the Finale Party too!!!

I am so freakin' PUMPED it is unbelievable!!

This week I'll be working on working out so I still look good in my finale dress - after the sugar coma I found myself in post Birthday Party - and also re-focusing to complete some pre-season Tasks for Round 2 2012 to set myself up for further success at fitness and at life!!

Bring on the Party!!!!

Thursday, 3 May 2012

Catching Up

I can't believe I'm in week 12!! (aaaaaaagggggghhhhhhhhh)

I have been so so so busy lately, blogging and finishing my 12wbt weekly tasks have not made it to the top of my To-Do list....and even things on the top of my To-Do list are not getting crossed off!!

So I thought I'd go through some of the tasks that I maybe started but never finished, or perhaps never did at all!!

Week 10's Suprise Weekly Task was to make a 2 min video describing:  How is the 12WBT helping you to make the impossible possible? and up load it onto YouTube..... well I have never uploaded anything onto Youtube, I don't know how to download videos from my phone, I don;' have power point and even if I did I don't know how to use it!! The whole thing got me down because I had a plan as to how I wanted my video to go and never got to complete the task. I watched heaps of videos made by my peers and I was so moved by them I wanted so much to share my story too... So in the interest of making the impossible possible (excuse the pun) I am going to put the script and the photos that I would have made into a power point presentation onto my blog page and post it in the forums.  Better late then never I reckon!!

So Here is the soundtrack I chose - play the music and read along - hopefully it'll kind of be like watching a video on Youtube!! (yeah maybe not)


*******************************


Skinny: [skin-ee] very lean or thin; 
        emaciated: a skinny little kitten.


It seems all I have ever wanted was to be "skinny".....It was all I desired, all I seemed to ever strive for....



Hatred: [hey-trid]
to dislike intensely or passionately; feel extreme aversion for or extreme hostility toward; detest
 
It seems I have never known anything other than self loathing and self hate....
 

Starve, binge, purge, starve, binge perge.....telling myself every minute of everyday....

"You'll be fat forever!!"

and other terrible terrible things...


I would never speak to my children, my friends, my worst enemy the way I would speak to myself...


I always focused on unrealistic and unhealthy dreams and desires.....

a selection of previous diary pages.....


And then along came Michelle Bridges....


She taught me the importance of self love, self respect and self truth.....


She taught me to set Healthy, Obtainable, Achieveable goals....


She Taught me that I can....


And so I am....


Strong: [strawng, strong]
having, showing, or able to exert great bodily or muscular power; physically vigorous or robust mentally powerful or vigorous of great moral power, firmness, or courage: strong under temptation.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Now it's not all about the skinny....




And it's not all about the physical...





Michelle Bridges has helped me change my mindset and she held my hand as I turned my "impossible" into my "possible"....


Look at me now!!! and look out week 12 and beyond!!

**************************************