Week 5 of my turnaround is now going well. Yes I subtley snuck in the "now' as I admit that after my MM dummy spit last week, I had a couple of days of "to hell with it, I'll eat what I think I really want." That lasted a day and half and by Saturday morning I'd had enough of the high carb intake and was looking forward to a nice salad for lunch. I took my mum out for her birthday and didnt look twice at the pasta or risottos on the menu, instead going for a skewered lamb salad that included olives, feta and a serve of tzatziki. Washed down with a glass of Wirra Wirra Church Block (red) and I was as happy as could be.
That goodness has continued into this week and despite having a dreadful day yesterday battling working mum's syndrome, deep down I was still feeling good.
My training was a little lighter over the weekend purely because of time juggling mum's outing and then having to get stuck into my next uni assignment. But I moved on both days and I'm happy with that. Whilst I'm keen to get leaner and fitter, my darling husband reminded me that I have struck a nice balance in my life and going back to obsessively training twice a day or regularly busting out killer sessions should NOT be on my radar. And I know he's right because I have previously had a tendency to get obsessive and go way overboard making me difficult to live with.
So its onwards and upwards for me as I still have 5 weeks to make a diference by moving in the right direction. Not sure how close I'll get to my goal but as long as the journey is this easy and enjoyable then getting to the end is not the be all and end all.
XX Magda
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
DEALING WITH DDDDDDOMS
It has been absolutely ages since I did any leg training with weights. From memory it would have been around October 2009 when I didnt have a good gym set up at home and started running more.
I've been tinkering with my training schedule lately and have decided to put legs back in. Yesterday was the first session and I took it easy just concentrating on form and technique, sussing out what my dicky hips and lower back could handle.
So just using a 10kg bar I did 3 sets of 12 squats. Hmm managed those, although it took a while to get any depth on the squat. Then I grabbed my bright green 2kg dumbbells (yes you read that right - embarassing I know) and did static lunges - 3 sets of 12 on each leg. Lots of concentrating and willing muscles to work had me eventually engaging my glutes and feeling the squeeze I was trying so hard to achieve. Then onto the big test - stiff legged deadlifts with the 10kg bar. Should be easy peasy with such a light weight but my lord where has my flexibility gone. Try getting a plank of wood to tip from the hip and get the bar down to the knees. I think I managed a few to the knees in the third and final set. Lots of twinges, aches and pains taunting me but nothing to lay me up. To finish it was 3 sets of 12 wide legged squats again just with the 10kg bar. The only exercise I considered "easy".
That was my leg training and by the evening I could feel mild DOMS in my quads and glutes. This morning it was stronger but not debilitating. Its just wierd to feel that momentary "OMG my legs hurt" when getting up from a sitting position. People are looking at me funny as I walk gingerly from my desk and down the steps at work. Yet again I am the source of amusement for them - like the wierd woman who gets up at 5am to run or lift weights .... why???
But I like this feeling and plan to do legs again next week taking my weights up very gradually so my hips and lower back adjust accordingly. I dont think I'll ever squat my body weight, let alone more but getting my legs stronger will certainly be a good thing.
Cheers all
M
I've been tinkering with my training schedule lately and have decided to put legs back in. Yesterday was the first session and I took it easy just concentrating on form and technique, sussing out what my dicky hips and lower back could handle.
So just using a 10kg bar I did 3 sets of 12 squats. Hmm managed those, although it took a while to get any depth on the squat. Then I grabbed my bright green 2kg dumbbells (yes you read that right - embarassing I know) and did static lunges - 3 sets of 12 on each leg. Lots of concentrating and willing muscles to work had me eventually engaging my glutes and feeling the squeeze I was trying so hard to achieve. Then onto the big test - stiff legged deadlifts with the 10kg bar. Should be easy peasy with such a light weight but my lord where has my flexibility gone. Try getting a plank of wood to tip from the hip and get the bar down to the knees. I think I managed a few to the knees in the third and final set. Lots of twinges, aches and pains taunting me but nothing to lay me up. To finish it was 3 sets of 12 wide legged squats again just with the 10kg bar. The only exercise I considered "easy".
That was my leg training and by the evening I could feel mild DOMS in my quads and glutes. This morning it was stronger but not debilitating. Its just wierd to feel that momentary "OMG my legs hurt" when getting up from a sitting position. People are looking at me funny as I walk gingerly from my desk and down the steps at work. Yet again I am the source of amusement for them - like the wierd woman who gets up at 5am to run or lift weights .... why???
But I like this feeling and plan to do legs again next week taking my weights up very gradually so my hips and lower back adjust accordingly. I dont think I'll ever squat my body weight, let alone more but getting my legs stronger will certainly be a good thing.
Cheers all
M
Thursday, May 26, 2011
MOOD BY NUMBERS
Well it had to happen eventually - I mean it ALWAYS does.
Since my sneeky peek at the MM on Saturday and liking what I saw then, the stupid bastard has had a "wrong way dickhead" moment and headed .9 in the opposite direction. WTF??!!
Now deep down I know this is completely normal as the path to weight / fat loss is never a straight line and I should look at what my measurements are doing (a very small change down on some and up on one) and what I ate last night (maybe too much salt - but no I actually had hardly any) to explain the lack of downward movement. WHATEVER!!
The fact is I'm pissed off and I wont pretend otherwise. Yes my inner-spoilt-brat-I-want-it-now girl is dominating in a loud voice. No happy feel good post today. Just me whinging and growling. GRRRRR.
M
Since my sneeky peek at the MM on Saturday and liking what I saw then, the stupid bastard has had a "wrong way dickhead" moment and headed .9 in the opposite direction. WTF??!!
Now deep down I know this is completely normal as the path to weight / fat loss is never a straight line and I should look at what my measurements are doing (a very small change down on some and up on one) and what I ate last night (maybe too much salt - but no I actually had hardly any) to explain the lack of downward movement. WHATEVER!!
The fact is I'm pissed off and I wont pretend otherwise. Yes my inner-spoilt-brat-I-want-it-now girl is dominating in a loud voice. No happy feel good post today. Just me whinging and growling. GRRRRR.
M
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
WHAT DRIVES YOU
UPDATE ON YESTERDAY'S POST: Our teacher emailed today to let everybody know that the boy who was injured yesterday is well and that the outcome is not as serious as originally depicted. I am very relieved to hear this.
Although Wednesday has been my weigh and measure day, this week I will defer by a day and both will be done tomorrow. Curiosity is dominating my mind today though.
It brings to mind the interesting question of what drives you?
In this community of fitness bloggers where people come to share their perspectives, journeys and experiences its interesting to note the different emphases that we all place on our fitness and lifestyle pursuits.
I still follow the blogs of some figure girls although I ntoice that less and less of them are blogging these days. The figure competitor's life is an intersting one as it flips from off season / maintaining / muscle building to on season-now-its-time-to-strip-the-fat mode. Both phases have clear goals and strategies to achieve them. It sort of keeps life fairly simple (or does it??)
I follow a couple of running blogs as well and they are particular favourites as I'm in awe of the amazing running that some ladies achieve. I'd give anything to be able to run those volumes and distances but alas my hips and legs will not come to that party. So I'll stay recreational with the occassional 10km race and be happy that I can still do that. Life could be worse.
I love the blogs of the "fitness lifestyle" ladies that are striving to balance work, families and regular training coupled with good nutrition. I put myself in that category and I must admit its not always easy. Last night as I prepared today's lunches for myself and Peter I thought how much easier it would be to just chill out after work and then just buy our food today. I would have saved a good 15 to 20 minutes time in the kitchen last night when I was tired and recreational actvities were beckoning.
But I knew that investing the time then would more than pay off today and every other day. We are both eating healthy food at a fraction of the cost of buying it. Having it ready to eat saves the dilemma of going out and wondering what to buy. I know Peter would definitely make a less healthy choice if given that option LOL and as for me .... well I'm not a total saint either.
So that sort of answers my question about what drives me. I want to feel good .. no I want to feel great. I want to be few kilos lighter but I want to enjoy the journey of getting there. I want to look at my body in the mirror and smile back at myself. I just want to be the best me that I can be by balancing the physical with the emotional and dealing with the challenges that life throws me.
Are your drivers a lot different to mine or we all pretty much on the same page?
M
Although Wednesday has been my weigh and measure day, this week I will defer by a day and both will be done tomorrow. Curiosity is dominating my mind today though.
It brings to mind the interesting question of what drives you?
In this community of fitness bloggers where people come to share their perspectives, journeys and experiences its interesting to note the different emphases that we all place on our fitness and lifestyle pursuits.
I still follow the blogs of some figure girls although I ntoice that less and less of them are blogging these days. The figure competitor's life is an intersting one as it flips from off season / maintaining / muscle building to on season-now-its-time-to-strip-the-fat mode. Both phases have clear goals and strategies to achieve them. It sort of keeps life fairly simple (or does it??)
I follow a couple of running blogs as well and they are particular favourites as I'm in awe of the amazing running that some ladies achieve. I'd give anything to be able to run those volumes and distances but alas my hips and legs will not come to that party. So I'll stay recreational with the occassional 10km race and be happy that I can still do that. Life could be worse.
I love the blogs of the "fitness lifestyle" ladies that are striving to balance work, families and regular training coupled with good nutrition. I put myself in that category and I must admit its not always easy. Last night as I prepared today's lunches for myself and Peter I thought how much easier it would be to just chill out after work and then just buy our food today. I would have saved a good 15 to 20 minutes time in the kitchen last night when I was tired and recreational actvities were beckoning.
But I knew that investing the time then would more than pay off today and every other day. We are both eating healthy food at a fraction of the cost of buying it. Having it ready to eat saves the dilemma of going out and wondering what to buy. I know Peter would definitely make a less healthy choice if given that option LOL and as for me .... well I'm not a total saint either.
So that sort of answers my question about what drives me. I want to feel good .. no I want to feel great. I want to be few kilos lighter but I want to enjoy the journey of getting there. I want to look at my body in the mirror and smile back at myself. I just want to be the best me that I can be by balancing the physical with the emotional and dealing with the challenges that life throws me.
Are your drivers a lot different to mine or we all pretty much on the same page?
M
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
BEING GRATEFUL
Tonight over dinner my boy told us about an unfortunate incident of rough boyish play at his school today that resulted in a child being taken to hospital. No harm was intended during the play but a child was seriously hurt (the extent of which we dont actually know yet) in the group my boy was playing with.
I'm a bit shaken by this and thoughts of "OMG it could have been our son" keep entering my mind. Pointless, I know but disturbing to think about. My prayers go out to this boy and his family and I hope he is ok. I'm sure we'll be informed by the school or by our teacher at least.
In the meantime I give a silent but very heartfelt thank you for all that I have - and thats NOT the material stuff. My boy is sleeping safely in his bed tonight and for that I'm truly grateful.
Good night all
M
I'm a bit shaken by this and thoughts of "OMG it could have been our son" keep entering my mind. Pointless, I know but disturbing to think about. My prayers go out to this boy and his family and I hope he is ok. I'm sure we'll be informed by the school or by our teacher at least.
In the meantime I give a silent but very heartfelt thank you for all that I have - and thats NOT the material stuff. My boy is sleeping safely in his bed tonight and for that I'm truly grateful.
Good night all
M
MIND POWER
Today was a weight training day with chest / bis and abs on the "menu". It was my usual 5am wake up call and by 5.11am I was in my studio (read that "fancy shed" LOL) ready to go.
I knew that today was time to incraese my weights on my bench press. After 5 or so weeks on the same weight it was no longer challenging so time to up the ante. Now being a small(er) muscle group I aimed to increase my weights by about 10% and that would have been the 1.25kg plates (yes I'm a weakling but this is heavy(ish) for me). So on they went and I started my first set.
It felt heavier than I expected and the voices started. "Oh boy this is a quite heavy. I might not make the sets of 12." Then the other voice kicked in "What do you mean you might not make it, its only another 2.5 kilos. Suck it up girl." And this type of banter went on in my head for the 3 sets of 12 reps that I did manage to complete YAY!
As I unloaded the bar two exercises later I noticed that in my still half asleep state, I had actually loaded up the 2.5kg plates and therefore added another 5kgs to the bar. I had a little chuckle at this.
My body was quite clearly telling my brain that the bar was "too heavy" yet my brain responded with "no its not, just lift it" and my body obeyed. I'm still laughing at it. We read all the time about the power of the mind. My own SP left me with one of the most impressionable quotes that went "whether you believe you can or you believe you cant, you're right." And how true it is.
How many times do we sell ourselves short by convincing ourselves that we cant do x or y? That we couldnt possibly achieve .....(insert your own insurmountable challenge). By believing it to be so we WILL never achieve it. How many times have you half heartedly started a venture full of self doubt and anticipation of when you'll fail. I know I've been guilty of this many a time - although you/I rarely admit it as its buried deep in our subconscious.
So lets make a concerted effort to challenge our self limiting beliefs, to believe we can and take a leap of faith towards a goal that we previously thought was impossible. We may just discover a new talent, a new strength or a new passion that fills us with delight and enriches our lives.
:-) M
I knew that today was time to incraese my weights on my bench press. After 5 or so weeks on the same weight it was no longer challenging so time to up the ante. Now being a small(er) muscle group I aimed to increase my weights by about 10% and that would have been the 1.25kg plates (yes I'm a weakling but this is heavy(ish) for me). So on they went and I started my first set.
It felt heavier than I expected and the voices started. "Oh boy this is a quite heavy. I might not make the sets of 12." Then the other voice kicked in "What do you mean you might not make it, its only another 2.5 kilos. Suck it up girl." And this type of banter went on in my head for the 3 sets of 12 reps that I did manage to complete YAY!
As I unloaded the bar two exercises later I noticed that in my still half asleep state, I had actually loaded up the 2.5kg plates and therefore added another 5kgs to the bar. I had a little chuckle at this.
My body was quite clearly telling my brain that the bar was "too heavy" yet my brain responded with "no its not, just lift it" and my body obeyed. I'm still laughing at it. We read all the time about the power of the mind. My own SP left me with one of the most impressionable quotes that went "whether you believe you can or you believe you cant, you're right." And how true it is.
How many times do we sell ourselves short by convincing ourselves that we cant do x or y? That we couldnt possibly achieve .....(insert your own insurmountable challenge). By believing it to be so we WILL never achieve it. How many times have you half heartedly started a venture full of self doubt and anticipation of when you'll fail. I know I've been guilty of this many a time - although you/I rarely admit it as its buried deep in our subconscious.
So lets make a concerted effort to challenge our self limiting beliefs, to believe we can and take a leap of faith towards a goal that we previously thought was impossible. We may just discover a new talent, a new strength or a new passion that fills us with delight and enriches our lives.
:-) M
Monday, May 23, 2011
LIVING IN THE MOMENT
I must admit that life is pretty good right now and I'm feeling mighty awesome from within. Thats not to say that my hips and legs are still giving me grief but I'm managing it both physically and mentally. Work is mega busy but I'm taking things one at a time and not looking at everything as one big insurmountable problem. I'm not letting it overwhelm me as I did last week. The third module of my management course was finished on Friday and there is another assignment looming. Yet again, it'll be one step at a time spread over a few weekends so as not to overload me in one big hit.
One thing I'm trying to do differently this week is to just live in the moment and stop stressing about the next day, week, month and even year. I waste so much energy on that and its all for nothing really. So this week its all about whats in front of me right now, whether its my next run, weights session or piece of work that needs doing. I have some big plans for next year and they creep into my mind every so often but they must be parked for now as the timing is not right. I am very much looking forward to the time when I can start that particular project though.
I seem to have found my groove in terms of my diet (read that "nutrition" as opposed to a regimented and strict way of eating) and training and I'm not battling thoughts of "I should" or "I shouldnt". Its a really good feeling and that too has freed up energy to channell into more important things. I am making one more tweek to my weekly training and that is reducing my runs to 3 (give the hips / legs a little less load) and increasing my weights to 3 sessions / week and putting back some lower body training. We'll see how my body copes with this new combo in terms of my hip / glute pain.
So on that happy note, I must get off Blogger and channell my precious energy into my next job at work. Crossing another item from my "to do" list before I go home is my goal.
Cheers all
M
One thing I'm trying to do differently this week is to just live in the moment and stop stressing about the next day, week, month and even year. I waste so much energy on that and its all for nothing really. So this week its all about whats in front of me right now, whether its my next run, weights session or piece of work that needs doing. I have some big plans for next year and they creep into my mind every so often but they must be parked for now as the timing is not right. I am very much looking forward to the time when I can start that particular project though.
I seem to have found my groove in terms of my diet (read that "nutrition" as opposed to a regimented and strict way of eating) and training and I'm not battling thoughts of "I should" or "I shouldnt". Its a really good feeling and that too has freed up energy to channell into more important things. I am making one more tweek to my weekly training and that is reducing my runs to 3 (give the hips / legs a little less load) and increasing my weights to 3 sessions / week and putting back some lower body training. We'll see how my body copes with this new combo in terms of my hip / glute pain.
So on that happy note, I must get off Blogger and channell my precious energy into my next job at work. Crossing another item from my "to do" list before I go home is my goal.
Cheers all
M
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