While pottering around on Facebook a little while ago, I came across this exchange when trying to identify someone with other photos... apparently some folks haven't quite got a handle on the concept of a profile picture.

Anyhow, said subjects are 14 y/o and I kinda found myself wondering if my conversations at this age were really quite so shallow and....daft. (Yeah, I did the right thing and de-identified these kidlets.)

I remember saying things like "kewl" and my positive word at the time I believe was "groovy" but I am pretty sure there was something legible in any kind e-communication which did take place.

Perhaps times have changed somewhat...

Anyhow, today is Sunday and the end of today will bring about the conclusion of my rather short "holiday". Fortunately, I only have to get through four days before going on more days off and I must say that this is going to be a far more pleasant way to ease back into work rather than the usual eight days straight.

So, gotta get a few things done today so that I am organised for what is ahead. Bit of cooking, bit of cleaning, bills to pay, clothes to wash, dishes to do and an exercise plan for the week.

Today is my first rest day and I am debating whether to take tomorrow off too or try and bang out a kettlebell circuit. Monday is normally a group session but being a public holiday, nothing is on. Tuesday is normally jog squad but M is away this week. Wednesday I've got an early meeting so I have to do my own thing. I want to get in one weights/KB circuit and one interval session. If things are good, a long cardio would be good as well but I guess I have to play it by ear. Ended up doing a group session yesterday morning instead of rest so a touch on the sore side ATM. Also need to make sure I am resting sufficiently because it will otherwise not do me any good!

This week M should have something for me to work into my program. I'm hoping that what I have in mind will help me achieve what I want. I've enjoyed this week... Times like these I start thinking about a career change. If only it was that simple...

Okay... I have finally fixed the problem with the comment box playing silly buggers and hiding the half of the word verification sequence and comment post button. It should all now be visable when you go to make a comment. I have the secret!

Trained alone this morning, which was fine. We did a HARD session. I am still not feeling very coordinated as I type this post and I am really quite sore. Suspect it will be even worse tomorrow!

Really copped a flogging this time and did spend a rather large proportion of the session sobbing. Unfortunately, there is nothing heroic about this as it means that my mental focus has been shot and it is going to take an extraordinary effort to get back on top of it. Although, that can be quite well accomplished by just changing exercises.

Today is Thursday and there is a fair bit of running around to do. Need to visit a few places and get some business sorted out... starting at work. I've been officially relocated to central area now so my security blanket station in SW has been pulled from under me. Time to get my affair sorted out and make sure my pay slips get to a location that is more accessible. Visit to the Chemist and a visit home. Maybe pick up a new backpack for work too while I'm at it - see how I feel.

Running out of holidays... these were just way to short. Will definately be looking forward to a few weeks mid year. On the bright side, come Monday, I only need to work four days before I get another six off... so really shouldn't complain too much.

Hope you're all well!

Today is day three of my new program-in-progress. Already I am starting to feel better.

This morning was the group session with a basic weights based rotation. There was only six of us which was actually kinda nice. Dreary rainy weather meant we stayed indoors and that was also fine.

After that, R had a PT client so I jumped on a spin bike in the back room and did some easy intervals. A minute sprint with a minute low cadence riding. Just enough to get the heart rate up and sweating without killing my legs given the I've got M in the morning. Mind you, despite my efforts my legs still felt like cement after the half hour.

Noticed today that I was feeling a lot better in training and pushing myself harder. Really knuckled down with my diet and keeping it all clean. Working the protein shakes back in after training and pre-workout supplements beforehand. Did I mention how much I love my new Adobe stick blender? 10 seconds and my shakes are perfectly blended. No more spillage, no more lumps! LOVE it!

Also generally feeling better about myself with a bit more energy.

I have a feeling that my eating habits are influenced by hormonal changes as well. I seem to be able to eat well without temptation at some times better than others. Will keep alert for some patterns.

I am also going to need a plan of action for lunch when I go back to work. It is hard to prepare food that will be ready for eight days. So I'm going to need a plan and may have to go back to the days of baking frittata or vegetable dishes to be eaten progressively throughout the week so I am eating well with the convience factor in the morning that will prevent me from being late. I shall ponder that a bit further in the next day or so.

Tomorrow morning theoretically, should be my first session training along side my man. I see theoretically because he was complaining of a muscular backache this morning which may preclude him from activities tomorrow. Can't help but feel a little disappointed if that is the case as I'd really been looking forward to it.

One step as a time I guess...

This morning was day one.

Day one of what you ask?

Day one of saddle up and knuckle down!

I've been playing with group fitness for a while now and doing a bit a PT session each week... trying to eat like a "normal" person.

I have established after a few months that I am dissatisfied with that routine.

Time to take it up a notched, shed the fat again bring my fitness up to speed.

Admittedly, my ideas are still a bit vague and work in progress but I am consulting with my PT to include some interval training and weights on a few of the days when I am not with him.

My schedule is a little painful because of work but I think it will balance out in the end.

This morning was an easy start. The usual trainer did a no-show until after the session. Her boss is a little bit unhappy and has promised us all a free half hour PT session. Score! We did our own thing anyway.

As planned, I backed the session up with 30 minutes on the bike at Jetts. Loving being able to plug my iPhone into the bike, blast my own music while it is charging away. Was meant to be an easy session just spinning the legs over to get the HR up but as usual, couldn't help myself and end up doing five minutes of resistence, five minutes speed alternating but each resistence block harder than the last. Felt pretty darn good by the end of it. Just miffed that I forgot to bring my chest strap to keep tabs on my HR. Oh well.

Tomorrow morning is jog squad. I am thinking on my days off I'll throw in a weights session afterwards. Want be able to do that this time because I've got to be somewhere early afterwards.

Excited about jog squad. Last week it finally started to click. Just that little bit. I felt it. Even this morning when we ran I could feel it a little bit. After so much frustration! I will getting this running thing happening, I swear it!

Wednesday morning is group weights session. Figure on the weeks I work I can get up super early and punch out some intervals instead.

Thursday will be a stand alone session with my PT. Firstly because I am shattered after his sessions and secondly, I always work Thursday. My boy will now be training with me and I suspect it will be a very interesting experience. We are both highly competitive by nature and I know Matt will use that to drive us hard. Looking forward to that this week.

Friday is normally boot camp. This week we have the Monday morning chick. Again though, on my non-work weeks I'll hit the gym to cycle it out.

Weekends are rest.

I need to keep things realistic and sustainable. I need to have enough rest days and I also shouldn't be trying to fit things after work. All the will happen is that I'll end up burning out, chronically feeling tired/busy and complaining about and imbalance between work/home/fitness.

See how we go - one step at a time.

From a nutrition perspective, I bought a stick blender this morning. Best $22 I've spent for a while. Shakers are just a pain in the butt. 10 seconds and there is an instant protein blend. Going to also get myself the full version of calorie king again so that I can keep tabs on what is going in that mouth. Suspect once I've shed a bit of the fat I'll find things a lot easier. Amazed I can still do pushups with the amount I'm carrying at the moment. Fortunately, it is not too obvious externally at this stage.

Anyhow, time to get showered and off for some shopping. I need of some good food in the house again.

It has been an absolutely epic week!

I have been given another new partner at work and hopefully this one I'll get to keep. She's on a six week trial, after which time she can decide whether to stay or to go back on road.

I have also had my first sit down meeting with my new boss and that has literally turned my world upside down. I mean that in a positive way. Finally, I have an avenue through which I can get issues addressed! Someone is listening and I am getting answers! Yay! Between my new boss and partner, a whole bunch of doors have just opened up. Some I knew existed, others have almost appeared out of thin air! Could not be happier right now!

It has otherwise been a very busy week and I've literally found myself feeling like there hasn't been time to do anything short of eat, sleep, work and work out! Consequently, I also have a mega pile of emails to sift through cause barring the odd five minutes of Facebook mobile (the dodgiest application ever), there hasn't been much opportunity for leisure activities. Actually, there are a small pile of bills to pay too.
At this point can I also say at medicare. Had a some routine bloods done through Sully & Nics which were covered by medicare or some such or rather but instead of medicare sending the reimbursement cheque back to the path doctor, they sent it to me to send to them with the forwarding address. Umm?? Does anyone else see the flaw here? Or is paying 50c postage my fee for this whole transactions??

Anyhow, been having some really great sessions with my PT. I've managed two (would have been three had I not been crook with gastro) run sessions as one on one. This has proven extremely valuable as we were able to break things down and work out why I have been having so much trouble with the basic drills. Aparently, my core is a little...uh... beginner. I'm not talking about abs. I am talking about deep core. How do I get as fit as I have previously without having core? No idea. But it does explain why I have had trouble with various things in the past.

So, I have been given very, very basic pilates and postural homework. So apart from my couple daily minutes of pelvic rotations and hip flexor leg raises, I am working hard to remember to present my chest and generally be upright. I've actually gotten into the habit a lot faster than I had thought that I would. Hopefully, won't be long until it is second nature.

It is actually interesting how just standing a little straighter impacts on confidence...

My PT sessions have also been good. The other Thursday he started to get me into a more positive mindset with persistence. Not stopping...just powering forward and believing that I can complete the task that is given. He said that once I can do that, we'll start doing some weights. Weights are things that I understand so that was a damned good incentive to get my act together and for the most part I've tried to apply that to the group session as well. This last Thursday we went back to basics. How to do a squat and how to do a lunge. I've got a reasonable foundation so I apparently picked it up quickly. Having said that, I found myself feeling like a beginner all over again. So now I also have butt burning homework as well.

This guy is great value. That is an understatement. His understanding of biomechanics and ability to explain and apply in his PT work is the best I've come across. He'll explain a concept and if I don't get it, he'll keep trying until I do. There is no negativity. He doesn't give up. But yet, he can help me achieve success without having me lose confidence in either of us along the way. The concepts he explains are things I've heard before but they've never either been explained fully or properly.

I've only been able to do PT with him once each week around the group fitness commitments and I've worried that I wouldn't develop but I can see he's got it sorted. If I do the homework, he'll remodel me and get me to where I need to be. Solid gold.

My life has always had a way of working out. There are so many people that I feel so greatly privileged to have met and have helped shape my existence. Call it fate or karma...who knows. But, once again I find myself amazed to be right here at this point in my life, with a person like him at my fingertips. I don't think the others were bad. They were a part of what has got me here now. However, I am happy with this place and this person right here.