Glorious Gold Coast

I've been lucky enough to have lived on the 'Gold Coast' of Australia for the past 6 years, and while I still love my home town of Tauranga, NZ... the Gold Coast is just such an awesome place to be, especially for someone who is trying to be more Active and Healthy.

Take this weekend for example, It's August 11 & 12, officially winter. It's not spring for another 3 weeks, but the sunshine is out, and families all over the coast are out and about.... including us.

We started with Park Run, my daughter and I went along to a new venue closer to home in Coomera.  Nice location, but the course involved some hills... eeek!  Still we did our 5km timed run at 7am, and the weekend was off to a great start. 

Saturday was also 'sign on' day for our girls at their local Athletics club.  They have been going to Little Athletics for 3 years, and had a lot of success.
The Helensvale Little Athletics club had an open day, for kids to come and have a try at shot put or Long jump etc, and sign up for this season, which starts on Friday.
My girls are super proud of their club, one of the reasons being that Olympic Gold Medallist Sally Pearson went to their club as a girl.  My 12 year old is even more impressed as Sally also went to her High School, and through the same Sports Excellence Program that she is attending.
In fact, because the Gold Coast is such an amazing place to be active, it is the training base of many other London 2012 medallists, including kayakers Tate Smith and Jacob Clear (Gold Medal K4 1000m), Matt Belcher Gold Medal winning sailor, 16 year old Diving Silver Medallist Brittany Broben, and Gold & Silver Medal winning swimmer Melanie Schlanger...  and Swimmer, World Record holder Sun Yang (Representing China) also chooses the Gold Coast as his training base. 
With the Gold Coast winning the bid to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games, the city is a buzz with excitement, and potential.  I wonder how many Helensvale Little Athletes will be representing in 2018... I know it would be a dream come true for my two.

Sally Pearson - a huge inspiration for my girls

After a busy day at sign on, we took our dog for a walk around the lovely man-made lake that we are lucky enough to live by.  My youngest daughter is constantly, and I mean C-O-N-S-T-A-N-T-L-Y doing handstands and cartwheels, so I took some fun photos of our afternoon in the sun.

My Daughter having fun in the sun

Parks like these are all over the coast. Plenty of outdoor fun to be had, and lots of opportunity for free family activity. 

Free Excercise Equipment

Kayak anyone?

Sunday, we headed out to the Southport Broadwater Parklands where the Gold Coast Council was hosting a free family fun day promoting their Active and Healthy programme. Each year the council provides a booklet (downloadable from the link) full of free or low coast family activities.  We have booked in for free orientation and archery in the Gold Coast Hinterland, for a Kayaking tour to wavebreak island for $5, for Stand Up Paddleboarding for $10, plus diarised for the many activities where bookings are not required. 
Today's family fun day also included a free 30 minute Zumba class by none other than my favourite Instructor Kassy! My daughter got to the top of the Rock Climbing wall, and they had a whale of a time at the Jumping pillow!

Zumba Kass motivates the Gold Coast public

My Daughter tackles the Climbing wall

Woo Hoo!  And its a permanent fixture

So while visitors come from all over to visit the Gold Coast, and cram in the Theme Parks, Zoo's and beaches into their stay, this is how local Gold Coaster's spend a winter weekend... Can you imagine what a summer weekend is like?! Bring it on, I can't wait.

Woman on a Mission!

Well,  #1 -  2 days late to tell you about weigh in.  Not that I really want to, because I remained the same. No weight lost... but on the plus side, no weight gained.  I know what I did, or did not do to cause this.  I ate a few things I shouldn't have, I didn't weigh or measure my food, and had too many excuses for exercise that I let get to me.... However, I think I now know how to maintain my weight when I do get to the ideal weight.

#2.. Easter, not being religious, really only means chocolate and public holidays to me. Easter is otherwise known as HELL WEEK for those of us on a diet (sorry healthy eating regime) and who love chocolate.

I had done very well and resisted all the aisles of chocolate bunnies, and eggs, and Hot Cross Buns for weeks, then on Thursday,... well my resolve... it dissolved. 

1 tiny little 10g egg... I told myself "one won't hurt", but I know better, I know that "one won't hurt" is a lie because it's like opening flood gates.. 1 egg, turned into 2, ... then two little bunnies, then 2 more eggs (50g this time)....Argghh.

Easter Bunny came to work

these little devils wore me down

Nutrition wise, the day went severely downhill from there, although enjoyment factor was great. What with Celebratory work lunches, and work meeting and farewell drinks at the pub, followed by a missed bus, which caused me to have to miss my kickboxing class and have to go back to the pub to wait for a ride home... 3 beers and a pub meal later, I felt like the day was a complete failure.

But... we are in Week 8 of 12. One bad day (or good day if you see it that way) does not undo all that great work.

I am determined not to weigh the same next Wednesday, I am determined to have a great loss on the scales this week.... and i'm gonna work my butt off to make it happen.

As luck would have it ... I have a 4 day weekend, so there is absolutely no excuse to not exercise. 

The Plan :

Today, Good Friday : 

- 1km run (time trial) Burned 88 Calories, took me 6mins 1 sec. 40 seconds faster than 4 weeks ago.

- Zumba Class, 603 calories burned.

- Ate clean - took the kids to the movies even, and didn't get popcorn or anything.

Tomorrow, Saturday:

- 5km run.  My mate Sandra and I are going to try Park Run

- followed by the remainder of my week 8 fitness test.

- Going shopping to buy 1 Easter egg each for my kids... thats all, and maybe try on some smaller clothes while I'm there.

- Coming home to pull weeds out of the garden, and if that doesn't burn mega calories, I don't know what will.

Easter Sunday:

- Gonna get up early and head down to Burleigh Headland and do the walk, followed by a dip in the sea.  Followed by the rest of garden, if necessary.

Easter Monday: 

- 9.30 am Zumba Class

- Wet n Wild... have you felt the burn in your ass, walking those stairs to the slide?

- 6.30 pm Kickboxing Class

I have new focus, and with time to plan and organise, I will eat super clean, and come weign in wednesday, I am hoping to see that number start with a 7.

I am a Woman on a Mission!

ZUMBA

I think you all know by now that I love Zumba.

Tonight's class went off! I burned 612 calories in a 1 hour session.
Its great that I get to share this wonderful class with my awesome friends, Cass, Sandra, Lee and Kelly, plus I have met so many more wonderful ladies (and gents) in this class, that they are starting to feel like family.

Me with the Amazing Kassy!

I have had a hard, stressful, exhausting week, and 'Unhealthy Me' was trying to convince me to skip Zumba tonight, but I am so glad I went. I feel energised, and happy and strong enough to fight of 'Unhealthy Me's urges over the weekend. 
The girls came with me tonight, to watch, and Faith Video'd me on stage during a couple of routines.  I hope the ladies don't mind me sharing.

Thats me in the black, in front next to Kassy (the instructor) in the first video, and at the back (out of time...LOL) in the second video... with Cass in front. 

The Massive class is done in the High School Hall, and Kass invites a few people up on stage with her for each routine... only if you want to!
I still find it amazing that only 7 months ago, I forced myself to go to this Zumba class , on my own, obese, with no confidence or self love, and now 17kgs lighter, I am up on stage in front of the class, Rocking It, and loving every second!! Whoop Whoop!
That day, the day of my first Zumba class is the day I count as Day one of this journey... Zumba, and Zumba Kass... You literally saved my life.

Comfort Zone

So it is time to dig down into the depths of my soul and turn over a new leaf... and in honour of this month of March, I'll be turning over a new Autumn leaf.

MARCH MANTRA

I can do it

I will push past my barriers

I will step outside my comfort zone

I don't need motivation, I will Just Do It

Comfort / Comfortable ... definition?  Providing physical ease and relaxation. Well physical ease is not going get me to my goal weight, and it's sure as hell not going to help me run in the GCMarathon later in the year.  

Barrier ... obstacle that prevents movement or access. Well there are no actual barriers, only ones I have put up with my own mind.

Motivation...  The general desire or willingness of someone to do something.  I have that desire but I have learned from Michelle Bridges that Motivation in a crock of shit (excuse my language).   Motivation is great when you've got it, but when you haven't, not having it is an easy to use excuse... "i'm just not motivated".  
I have figured it out. It's up to me. There is no magic wand. I either do it or I don't. If I want it, I gotta do it. Simple. 

So ... Going outside my comfort zone means

• Running past the point when it hurts
• Feeling the fear and doing it anyway
• Trying things I have never tried before
• Saying Yes to new opportunities, rather than staying put
• Taking risks and facing my fears
• be adventurous, rather than safe
• Taking on challenges

Without planning it this way, I have already started doing this. Probably a logical by-product of my transforming body, and my transforming mindset (law of attraction), I have recently applied for an internal promotion and I got the job! It means leaving the security of the job I have been doing for 2 years, and am now really comfortable with, to take on a completely different focus.  I know I can do it, but there are certain aspects of the job that are daunting.  It means having to be more vocal at meetings, and dealing with confrontation on occasion (which does scare the crap out of me) but I know I can do it when I have to, so I will. 

Even going to my Zumba class all those months ago was 'uncomfortable' going by myself, but I sucked it up and went, and have met so many wonderful ladies at the class now, and was definitely rewarded for that act of courage.  At tonight's class, when I was on stage shaking it with the instructor for 4 routines, I thought to myself "Can you even believe this! You... on stage... dancing in front of a room full of people! Look how far you have come". Seriously a year ago that was so far out of the realm of possibility of being anywhere near the edge of my comfort zone.

Geez even spilling all in my blog was out of my comfort zone, this whole 12 week challenge was out of my comfort zone, and I have found that once you test those boundaries, and step outside... it doesn't take long for these new things to become comfortable and the comfort zone expands, so you constantly need to be looking for new challenges and goals. 

This weekend coming I will be stepping out of my comfort zone again.

I'm going surfing!  

Our social club is doing a learn to surf lesson, and seeing as I have already paid for it with my $2 a week, I might as well do it.  However I RSVP'd weeks ago, with this thing in my mind that something would come up to stop (save) me... Isabella's surgery, Joe's training... blah blah blah. It was supposed to be last Saturday but it was rained off, so its now on this Sunday and there is not a single reason why I can't do it.

I don't know why I'm scared... Is it water? I don't particularly like waves at the beach, as I feel 'out of control' in the ocean.  Is it because I think I will fail, and look stupid? is it purely because I don't want my workmates to see me in my swimwear? (Gotta say, a lot happier about this now than I would have been 9 months ago).  At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what causes the anxiety, what's important is overcoming it!

Hopefully I will be able to get a pic to post here to prove to you all that I did it! I am actually becoming excited, rather than apprehensive.. and I can't quite believe it. 

12WBT Weigh in tomorrow, so I will post again tomorrow with my stats.

See you then. 

News, and more News

I haven't really got time to blog today... I left the house at 5.45am, walked 6.5km to the train station, took a train and a bus to work, showered and changed, Worked all day (more about that in a minute) bus and train home, 10 minutes to get changed, off to Zumba, Wicked Zumba class, call in to drop off some stuff my Son on my way home, get talked into giving him a lift to town, finally get home at 9.15pm.  Just had a shower, eaten my chicken salad that my daughter made (my daughter that I didn't actually see for more than 10 minutes) and watching the Biggest Loser (recorded)... as soon as it's over, I've gotta go pack my bag for tomorrow, then I'm off to bed... I AM EXHAUSTED!  
I am so looking forward to weigh in tomorrow... I feel so close to breaking into the 80's...it's gonna happen this week.  When I get to 89.9 it is a few milestones in one. 89.9 means #1, getting into the 80's, #2, 10kg lost since I started this journey in August, when I started Zumba, and started enjoying exercise (it's still mind boggling)!  It also means that I will have lost 10% of my body weight since then as well. 

Today was a Super Session for exercise ... my walk to the train station smashed out 843 calories.  An increase from my practise, probably because I had a backpack of my work clothes & shoes, towels, toilet bag, and Lunch... it wasn't light. 
Followed by a Zumba session tonight, I upped my intensity, and smashed out 702 cals... a Total of 1545 calories burned in one day!  Woo Hoo!


And another little win for me today, as the last day of the month at work, it can get intense. Management puts on some goodies to #1 thank us for the months work, #2 to keep us going through the busiest day of the month..

This is an example of some of the goodies that were on a table right outside my office door.  I couldn't go to the loo, the printer, or the water cooler without passing these tempting morsels, but I am proud to say that I did not eat a thing from table!  There was rocky road, and starbursts and sooooo many chippies... but I said No.!


Lastly, tomorrow is February - and my cousin, and friend, and 12WBT team mate Melissa Howell, decided today to commit to walking/running 100km over the month of February - and even though we live in different countries, I am joining her on this extra challenge.  Hopefully fine weather tomorrow, so I can knock off 6.5km on day 1!


Weigh in tomorrow... can't wait... see you then.

Addiction

Yep, my vices are (were) all the usual suspects.

• Chocolate
• Chips
• Fried Chicken
• Lollies
• Burgers
• Pizza
• Soft Drink
• French Fries
• Ice cream
• Cheese

I still haven't started Pre-season on the 12WBT yet, so I don't yet know how I should be dealing with these Addictions, so I will muddle through as best I can in the meantime.

Its hard to go cold turkey on these things, it's probably not a good idea to deprive my body of these things, that I have fed it for 25 years (I say 25 not 40, because my mother didn't feed me these things (excessively) as a child, I did it to myself as an adult.)

To deprive would cause cravings > cravings test my willpower > my willpower inevitably fails > I feel bad for failing again > I start emotional eating and reach for the usual suspects to make me feel better.  Best not deprive myself of all these things completely - everything in moderation. 

http://www.paintingsilove.com/artist/johnbarnes

However I did make myself a New Years Resolution to give up Fizzy Drink (unless it's mixed with Alcohol on a Special Occasion - I am having a 40th Birthday party remember - I do need to be practical and realistic).    My Father has long been telling me I drink too much of that crap... and he is right, but don't you dare tell him I said that!  Sad fact is that a 1.5L bottle of Fizzy, is cheaper than a Litre of Milk, or a 600ml bottle of water , and you can't get a Fruit Juice in the same ballpark - It shouldn't be the way, but it is, and it is this type of insanity that has caused the obesity rates to skyrocket.  



Check out the Research

Not that Coke in particular was my drink of choice, I'm more of a Pepsi Max fan, with a side of Mountain Dew, and Lemonade, and Fanta, and Pub Squash.... I am now having ice cold water instead, and had already been making the change slowly over time, but I am now committed to cutting them out altogether.   DAY 4 and still going strong.

Well what can I say, Addictive personalities run in my family - Why fight it?  I'll just replace it with something else that can give me the same endorphin rush, and what do you know ...  Zumba does that!

I have the most A-M-A-Z-I-N-G Zumba Instructor, Kassy 

 Not only can she move like nothing you've ever seen, 
but she truly cares about her students, 
and we love shaking our tushies to those Zumba Tunes.
Last night I did my 2nd class for the week, 
with another scheduled for Friday night.

The Amazing Zumba Kass

Zumbathon in Full Swing