Where has this year gone?

So I've started my days off and am now able to enjoy a little over three weeks off.  No obligations!  Annual leave means that I am not able to be work even if I wanted to! 

So I intend to use these couple of weeks to get the house back under control but also relax with my boy.  This will be the longest time we've had off together since I was at uni.

Feeling better today than I have since the grading.  I'm rested but I'm also finally recovered after Thursday night's .  Ended up needing 2L fluid IV on top of things.  (Love that I can self diagnose and self-correct in this job!).  So, things should be all good for Christmas.

Although I've been training on and off these last two weeks it has been hard with work meetings, fatigue and being sick so I am looking forward to getting back into the game.

Oh for the non-Facebookers amongst you, this the public to the photo album from my nidan grading.

Back on track, I finally got myself some new shoes to play with and they are very funky if I don't say so myself!




Got them for a killing at DFO. Normally $300 but down to $120 on Sale!  Love them! They feel great!  So they are my new all purpose shoe.  Hopefully they will stand the test of time and the brutality of some outdoor training.

What else is new?  Not a great deal actually.  My lovely big sister is pregnant again and I have been watching her go through all the various stages of growth again.  I got to see the ultrasound picture the other day.  I am just amazed by just how far technology has advanced and the clarity at which we can see a tiny little baby inside.  They say that perfection is impossible to obtain but I can't help but feel that the foetus inutero is perfection.  Unadulterated.  Untouched. Protected from everything that is wrong with the world.  Beautiful.  My new niece/nephew is beautiful.

The next couple of months will be an exciting time, full of anticipation for this new arrival and one little girl will be doing even more growing up as she becomes a big sister!  I am so proud of her and I am so proud of my sister. She is an amazing mother and I can't verbalise how much I admire her strength, energy and focus in moulding such a happy and intelligent little one.  I can only hope that one day I can do the same...

On that note... it is getting kind of hot  in here.  Time to vacate to the airconditioning I think!

I shall leave you with a visitor.

Hell yeah! There is no greater compliment!  That's me on the left above... part way through kankudai.

So, after nine years of training in GKR, I have finally achieved nidan.

My first grading to shodan-ho was in 2005.  Although I didn't feel worthy or ready (not assisted by being told that if I had a bad day I'd fail) I felt that I performed well on the day.  July 2007 was shodan and this time I felt ready to grade but didn't perform well and hence, felt undeserving.   This time around I think I struck the better balance.  I admit that I would have liked to be better and didn't feel at the standard of old school nidan but I think for me I was good for it.  I also felt like I performed pretty well and the overhwelmingly positive feedback has helped to cement that feeling.

This time round I wasn't anywhere near as nervous as previous times and with eight other contenders, it helped to disperse the focus somewhat.  The grading followed a format similar to that previously observed under S. Gavin and was largely comprised of basics with small combinations. There was nothing overly challenging in terms of complexity but after 3.5 hours pulling out all stops, I was absolutely shattered.

Everything was working for me mentally though which I think is what carried me from saifa onwards... about the point I realised that I was both fatigued and running on a general lack of blood sugar. From there it was a matter of getting through one kata at a time.  At some point during this process I decided that I was never going to go through this process again.  A little later I decided that if I didn't pass I wasn't even going to bother trying again.   It was torture.  I felt absolutely terrible...lethargic and sick.  Every part of my body was telling me to lie down.  Despite that, I apparently did just fine and the little I've seen as far as photgraphic evidence (as above) seems to support these claims! 

Kumite was the last hurdle and at that point I was glad that I had JS there to dress me while I chewed up Glucodin tablets with water as I was tremoring furiously and barely able to function through the fog. Did the trick as my brain cleared during my second easy round enough to start moving again.  I got four rounds with managers interspersed with peers and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it.  S. Gary first, S. Gavin next, S. Craig and a second session with S. Gary.  First round was great despite ending up on the ground a number of times.  S. Gavin was next and I was just determined to keep my head on my shoulders!  Got socked a great one in the stomach (bruised the actual organ) and had to take a moment to recover from the winding but aside from that felt I held my own reasonably well. S. Craig was tricky... it was if his guard was just everywhere and I had enormous difficulty landing any techniques. He subsequently socked me in the jaw and wiped the floor with me.  By the end of trying to chase him around I was wasted so round two with S. Gary was shocking.  He kept nailing me in the guts with a front kick and looking at me as if to say "Aren't you going to do something about that?".  I knew what I was supposed to do but my body was too tired to carry it out with any kind of speed or strength.  Still had a great time though! 

By the finish, I had nothing left.  I had a pinched nerve in my neck and again felt ghastly.  All I wanted to do was lie down. Felt like an eternity leading up to our certificates and at the point I knew deep down that I was going to be fine.  S. Gavin started talking about something along the lines of strong and focused young lady... things are a tad fuzzy post kumite... I thought it was either going to be me or N and was chuffed when he announced me!  I received a lot of positive feedback from the other RM folk too but I couldn't tell you what was said.





My gi was soaked... I couldn't even stay upright while S. Gavin talked about how being a nidan puts us in the minority etc.  But I came away feeling like I earned every last bit of that grade. 

Wasn't really all too aware of what was happening around me during the grading so will be curious as anything to see the video that C has made.    Oh that and the photos from JB as well!

Went to senior training up the coast last night, my first physical acitivty since the grading.  There I was... the highest graded person in the dojo for the first time ever.  The first time I've done bow in and out.... The little things.   I'm feeling really relaxed and for the first time, I wasn't worried about performing to a standard...like I had to be something awesome just because I graded.  Guess that is the real mark of confidence and readiness.  Only wish we weren't winding up for the year so soon. 

Found out the best piece of positive feedback from S. Gavin... "She's got guy snap."  Yeah... I finally nailed it and 18 months of hard work has paid off!

So I've been away for a little while. This last week had been a busy... well perhaps long is more accurate because I did spend many hours on the park bench outside the hospital waiting for time to go by until another crew arrived. Anyhow... the typical day involved:

04:50 - Wake up, get dressed, devour a quick snack.
05:20 - Out the door to the morning's exercise activity.
05:50 - Start another UBLTP workout.
06:30 - Complete workout, race to the car and hoon home.
07:30 - How that I'm heading back out the door after showering, dressing and cooking oatmeal.
08:00 - My long day begins...
09:30 - Bed management meeting
20:00 - Flee the hospital
20:40 - Arrive home, prepare lunch and uniform for the next day and shower.
21:45-22:00 - Head hits the pillow to do it all again...

The weekends were a little easier because Saturday was a 05:50, Sunday off and for work both Saturday and Sunday were 10:00 starts.

Funny how I treat 24 hours time like a second language.  I see 21:00 and still find my internal dialogue going. "21 hundred... nine o'clock". 

Anyhow, I was quite suprised at just how well I coped with the week and just how much energy I had despite the long days and sleep deprivation.  Sunday I was feeling tired and yesterday I was just exhuasted! Had a good long nap during the day and feeling much better today.

Feeling a tad overloaded though because I have a whole lot of and , not to mention  coming up as well...   Then there is the issue of the black belt grading.

This will be Sunday night's activity.  Again, not impressed with it being on Sunday night because it won't finish until 10pm in all probability. After that there is travel time back to the northside, eating and showering before bed.  I don't see myself in bed before midnight and then we've got to be up again at 5am.

Mentally, things aren't so hot.  I made a video of all my kata and I can say that I am decidedly unimpressed. I wanted to be hot but I am not feeling like that is what is happening at all.  I am not concerned about failing and I am confident that even if I only get sent for assessment (I'll know tonight), that I'll come away victorious but I am not liking this average thing. Hence, after this is all done I am just going to focus on being the best that I can be and leave it at that... enjoy training for a bit.

The only issue that I have is that I'm building a bit of a negative mental snowball which I'll need to destroy by the time Sunday comes around...

Perhaps I am just hung up on pre-conceived ideas from the past. Most of all it is important for me that I am good enough in the boy's eyes... I didn't realise how much weight that bore until this morning.  He says I have a negative mindset.  I don't have a negative mindset but I do have very high expectations and am prone to punishing myself severely if unable to meet those expectations.

Speaking of expectations...  we had the second fit test yesterday.  Apparently, the 200m (estimated) dash didn't take 1:31 last time but rather 31s.  Overall, there wasn't much change and I didn't quite break even with the exception of pushups which rocketed from 33 to 50 in the minute.  Initially, I was devastated but after time I realised that the program hasn't exactly been hard for me.  It wasn't really until this last week that I started to get challenged so it isn't surprising that I've not had results from it.  Just means it will be another aspect I can't win from on Friday.

I guess that is it for now...

Well after smouldering internally about the lack of response in regards to queries relating to the maintainence program, a general email was distributed at 18:30 last night:

Hey Guys

I have been overwhelmed with your positive replies to our special “Resultz Maintenance Program” that will follow directly after you finish your 30 day challenge!

Some questions that I have had:

The program will be at Keong Park Mon, Wed and Friday and will be taken by M and myself.

All sessions will be 545am to 6.30am – 45 minutes duration

If there is wet weather the sessions will be held at Stafford Studio, or Aspley Studio

There will NOT be any penalties for sleeping in, but you will lose your session credit for that week, our usual 24 Hour cancellation applies.

There will NOT be daily food journaling checks or assessments, but we hope that what you have learned these past 4 weeks will allow you to continue the great work you are doing with your diets!

The cost is $97 per month paid in advance each month

If you miss a session or are away on holidays, you will have CREDITS for other sessions at the Stafford Studio ie. Weights sessions, Spin and Circuits

There are no “contracts” but you need to give us 4 weeks notice if you want to opt out of the program

This offer will only be valid until Monday 23rd and then the price will go up to the normal cost of $157 per month.

YOU GUYS ARE GETTING A BARGAIN!

Those who have emailed me and have “secured” your place in the program are:

(REMOVED)

Plus 5 existing Resultz clients who want to do the program....SO THAT LEAVES ONLY 5 POSITIONS LEFT!!

Email me TONIGHT if you want in and we will arrange details so you can follow straight on from the 30 Day challenge with me on Monday 30th November

Have fun with L tomorrow stretching out those tired muscles and see you in a week’s time.

LIVE. LIFE. WELL

T

PS......So if you still want to join the program........DON’T DELAY!

So, still not impressed by the push sales-ish undertones and am guessing the additional information was only provided as the numbers weren't as desired. Having said that, happy to hear that it will be run by T & M. I'd imagine we'll essentially just roll into the ongoing Boot Camp sessions on Fridays, Cardio Core as per the UBLTP on Wednesday and who knows what Monday will be...  Three times per week is good cause then there is some structure and we can do our thing on the days between.  So, we're in for that...  at least for now.

This morning's session was yoga/relaxation based.  Involved a little more active effort than plain stretching but a pleasant experience overall. Unfortunately, got the giggles right in the middle of relaxation and found myself feeling once again like I was back in high school desperately trying to contain rigors of laughter.  The more I try not to laugh, the more overwhelming the feeling becomes.  I have a lot of good memories like that.  Can't even remember what set it off but had to try and thinking about going to work next week in order to re-establish control! 

Feeling rather dumpy after the session though... don't think my body functions all too well on a 1400 calorie diet.  Only gotta put up with it until next week and then I'll jack it back up to 1600.  Probably about time I went through and calculated my BMR and all the rest again anyway....

Bit on the bored side but today has been going by relatively quickly.  Looking forward to when the boy gets back home.

Feeling incredibly flat this morning like there was absolutely no spring in my legs and I found myself getting puffed doing star jumps.  What the??? I don't get puffed doing STAR JUMPS!?

I think we were all a bit bummed.  The global feeling is that Boot Camp is the bench mark of exercise hell.  Today we were ejected while the proper Boot Camp folks did their fitness test.  So... we did dips, pushups, leg raises, pull ups, lunges, tyre jumps, ?football feet, step ups and burpees in one massive one minute rotation around the local park fitness doodad and sheltered areas.  We were behaving badly and the whispers of frustration where rife amongst our group.  It felt oh so high school all over again. 

I had to feel a bit sorry for L who I noted to flash the occasional dejected look towards the end.   I guess things have panned out a little different from the grand plan?

I thought to myself today that I would love the maintainence program if we could do Boot Camp three days a week. That is an absolute physical smashing and I would just love to keep that up! I'm sure there would be many benefits to be had there.  No reply to my email... although part of me wonders if hotmail has done the dodgy on me?  Though, I've not lost anything to that address yet...  Oh well... will be too late to matter soon.

Still not looking forward to next week...

Upgraded Vista to Windows 7 this morning.  Little bit of mucking around for something that wouldn't uninstall itself properly.  The rest was alright and it pretty much fixed itself up around what I had already.  The difference isn't super huge.  Just a bit more personalisable and smart.  Given this is a Microsoft product I'm actually kind of impressed with it. 

Soooo.... today is my birthday.... and the beautiful people who are closest to me have helped to make me feel wonderfully special... in particular one super big sister of mine!

24 today and taking stock of all the good things that I've achieved to date e.g. health, husband, house, car, career etc.   Been a quiet day all round but that hasn't exactly been a bad thing.  I'd really like to put as much distance between now and work on Monday as possible!

I did drop into Chermside and spend a few dollars on some new workout gear...which was long overdue!  Came away with quite a few pairs of pants that I'm very happy with and one top.  I bought another two looser tops as I couldn't find anything else that I particularly liked.  Unusual because I normally have no trouble with tops and can't find bottoms which are good.

The rest of the day has been spent in AC doing very little or napping!

This morning's session was interesting.  Team activities which weren't overly physically challenging but fun all the same.  Got a chance to partner up with someone who is a higher fitness level and it made for a damn good time for the final lot of exercises. 

Feeling a tad bored and restless this afternoon and binge like.  Have so far restrained myself as the only things really good for that is nuts and chocolate goji berries.  Feeling a little bit miffed too.  

Last night we recieved an email about our "reward":

Hi Team

Well we are over the half way mark of the ultimate program and I have been thinking (and asked by many of you) what do we do when it is all finished!!??

Well here it is......the Ultimate “Maintenance Program” for you all so you can continue with the great success and foundations you have laid in the past 3 weeks.

My Accountant is going to kill me....again! But I don’t care, your health and fitness is more important to me.

You guys are going to get from us:

3 sessions per week to maintain and further your fitness success
Access monthly seminars on eating healthy from L
Access to discount “one-on-one” Personal Training
And the ability to see me each and every week
And all for only $97 per month...that’s only $8 per session!

But places are limited to first 25 who email me by 5pm Friday afternoon to secure your place...so 5 of you will miss out if you don’t act quickly.

Until I see you all again,

T

LIVE. LIFE. WELL.

Ok... so a bit different to what I expected.  T sees a business potential and the deal itself looks to be good as far as the three session per week.  But I didn't want to dive in without further information and so sent off an email asking a few questions. Now given that I have until 17:00 tomorrow to make up my mind, feeling just a little bit bummed at not getting a reply still 24 hours after sending it off with less than 24 hours to finalise my decision. 

So, no reply = no deal! Perhaps T is overseas already with difficult access... who knows... just doesn't rub of professionally which is a shame because I get the sense from her business and clients that she's actually a damn good PT and coach. Perhaps I've spoken too soon.  Remains to be seen.

So, we're over the half was mark in the UBLTP. 

Yesterday morning we got approached to lead the kicking section of the Fitbox class.  So, I had about 24 hours to contemplate how to take a group of white belts through a session which was going to be more physically grueling than technical. Think I did alright in the end.

The previous two weeks they were introduced to front, side and back kick.  I repeated each, ten each side at a moderate pace with a few extra technical pointers. I then got them to do the same but full focus, really drilling in on the idea of kicking as hard as they can and pretending like there was an attacker on the move.  Figured that this was going to be a good time to introduce the kiai concept and get them motivated.  Dropped kiai and opted for group shout counting.  Worked a treat!  

Then repeated front kick using the reach out in front with both hands, grab, pull in and thrust kick through. This served to aid their visualisation but also increase the intensity.  Then we finished with pyramid kicks, ten off each leg.  I was trashed by the end so theoretically, they should have been too. 

If we get to do it again next week, I've already got a few ideas in mind.  Though... I won't be very good at training tonight!

My current nutrition program is a killer.  Combined with regular exercise it just shreds the fat!  I'm living in a constant state of wedgie... TMI?  Yeah, probably... but means my butt is getting smaller. Also watching the veins in my forearms come to the surfaces and creep up my arms too.  Think I'm in with a shot to post some good results despite having started in a much fitter and smaller state than the majority.

Looking forward to tomorrow and not at the same time.  Cardio Core.  Running is not my strong point.  I know I keep saying it but it is most definately true.  However, it is TD's last day with us before the end of our program and we're getting a rewarding surprise for our efforts so far.   Mind you, if it is a box of Green Smoothies I'm going to be a little disappointed.  I know a lot of people think they are great but my digestive system was made for solids and I do seriously enjoy chewing and tasting the food I point into my mouth.  It lasts a hell of a lot longer and I can appreciate the components more when they are not whizzed into minute little pieces.  IMO... 

On the down side, I'm doing a dummy run for work next week.  This means I will kick it back home at the speed of light before setting the pot to cook oats while I have a shower and change into uniform before hastily departing.  All this the day after a super late night at Caloundra training.  Good one...  Next week is going to be hell.

Training is a bit like... meh.  Did some videography of my kata last night.  I was having a super flat day yesterday and when running, barely felt like my feet were getting off the ground.  It showed last night.  I looked so average...even when I pulled out my best...  I am not where I want to be.  I'll go to the grading anyway... I'll probably pass but honestly, I believe that nidan really is about as far as I will go within GKR...and probably shouldn't even be that.  Not being negative... just realistic.

Anyway, going to go shovel into lunch.  Tuna with a green salad.  Been hooked on this for a while now.  Found the Sirena tinned tuna to be quite pink, no nasty additives and tasty as!  Salads have been wonderful. Lots of spinach, lettuce, shoots, sprouts, lettuce, cucumber , tomato , mushroom , capsicum , carrot , celery, snow peas and sugar snap peas with fresh lemon or lime juice and a touch of fetta when I want a bit of an extra kick!  Love it!

I'm stuffed.  Had a nap this morning for about an hour and have been awake again for an hour but could quite easily go back to sleep.  Think I might have pushed it a bit hard this week... although, I actually went through this week with plenty of energy despite the extra training.  Seem to have hit a bit of a wall today and was actually planning to use it go and visit family.

Ended up at training last night knowing that the regular folk were away and a few mates were taking the class. Wasn't overly challenging physically as I must have done each of my grade kata once but useful all the same. This morning was bootcamp.  I'm disappointed with myself because I found it hard to get up this morning and approached the session with a "just survive" attitude.  Consequently, at some point when I dropped down a gear there wasn't a whole lot of forward momentum and had a rather teary episode of psychogenic hyperventillation.  Furiously trying to calm down so I could breath enough to at least return to a jogging-esk shuffle.  I did recover, although it did take 3/4 of the giant box to do so...only aided by somone drawing a joker which meant a run to the Christmas tree and 30 burpees...

This morning was about cards. First half was running, second half was bridging and for those who stayed for the final 15 minutes, side stepping.  Each activity was interrupted only by the drawing of a card from a 500 pack.  Each suit represented an exercise.  Hearts = burpees, diamonds = tuck jumps, clubs = V snaps and spades = pushups.  The value of the card equalled the number to be performed with an A being the highest at 20.  Of course...if one of those two jokers were pulled, we ran off to the Christmas tree to do 30 burpees and return. 

There were a damned awful lot of hearts in the deck.  Didn't help we managed to retrieve BOTH jokers from the pack.  In the end we calculate having done roughly 100.  Admittedly, they did actually seem to get a bit easier over time and I was able to achieve a baby jump each time which was some progress.  My legs however, feel like they have been caned terribly.

Last exercise for the day was life saver sprints.  Five sets down the length of the giant rectangle.  We had the opportunity to draw a card and if we picked the suit or the number then we'd knock on set off...or two if we got both.  No such luck.  Bitten by ants... unhappy times.  Knew that would probably happen so didn't go full throttle on the first couple.  Paid off cause I was killing it by the end.  Hooray for all that endurance training....  Thank goodness for rest days...










I did get my new car yesterday. Didn't particularly want to give the Lancer back but I do like my car.  It is shiney with dark, dark windows.  I also like all the sports extras...though, the spoiler is a little bit silly IMO. She's got paint protection, fabric protection and the darkest legal tint. I love it. Oh and seats are sooo comfortable!

It wasn't until my second drive that I got back into the Colt mode. But I missed my old car. I missed the familiarity and being able to throw anything anywhere not worrying too much about scratches or dents because of weathering, time and past damages done.  But I love that new car smell that is unique to mitsubishi.  It's intoxicating.  Driving around I am filled with the memories of my old Colt when it was brand new.

I've been noticing little difference here and there. Some things are because it is a higher standard model, something are just improvements of time and some things are just a part of the fact it operates the way a new car should.  Last night, I turned the radio off and drove, just listening to what my new car sounded like...the way by old one used to back in its infancy.  Funny looking at the odometer and seeing a tiny number!  I left the dealership on 17!  I think the last time was 14 or 24. 

Reasonably happy with my registration.  Easy enough to remember and not a complete random scramble of letters and numbers.  Just different.  I don't quite identify with it yet. 

My only bug bear, if I'd thought about it, I would have taken the little container doodad where my spare change lived in the old colt cause my new one doesn't have it.  Grrr at NRMA claiming that for themselves (as well as my spare change). 

I still miss the old one but I am happy.  It is new with most of the extras I wanted the first time around, got it for less and realistically, this will be last new one I have for a while...

Anyway, I'm rambling like I've lost a puppy, I'm feeling tired and my brain is winding down. Time to call it off for a while.