Bad things.
Feeling like I need a wheel alignment!
Having a headache.
Having too many people demand my attention all day long! Oh my god.....The Music Department was total madness today. Nothing like last minute practices by students. Students skipping classes and ending up in the Music Dept with no note from their teacher!!!
Too much noise.
A student banging on the door while I am trying to talk to someone on the phone in the office. When will they cut us a break in that shoe box office and put a damn window in it!
Photocopier technician arriving right in the middle of a class - although he was mostly independent, just needed me to log in....and he did give us a new finisher that staples.
Staff not putting the phone back on charge, and it dying right at the crucial point of my call and then having to call back at my expense on my cellphone.
Not just having Music Students in the practice rooms on a really busy day but also having other students rehearsing in the rooms for other classes as well. That is usually all good.....but just a bit too much on the day before Music Evening.
Students missing deadlines again and trying to negotiate a reprieve, when the due date and time was mentioned in countless emails and on countless documents. Getting really tired of this one!
Staff not supplying me with enough information in a timely manner and me having to run around looking at records to find the information and wasting texts on my cell getting the information from students. Massive frustration and hours and money wasted.
Countless changes to the programme for tomorrow's music evening!! Oh my god! no wonder why the photocopying budget is dire and also no wonder why I have a headache.
Late for my 1 hour remedial spa to try and help reduce tension from wonky body - I was late due to students making more last minute changes. I also missed out on my swim before the spa.
All in all - a day I wish I had not had to endure. If only each person that added to my stress today had a video they could play on fast forward beforehand, seeing what had already gone on before them! Then they might have found some inner strength to be more helpful and more independent....oh but wait.....there is more...
Person on the wrong side of the road as I was driving down to the pool (and on a blind corner!)
Slamming on the brakes and everything in the van going for a slide. Luckily the driver was foreign so they probably didn't understand my expletives.
The rest of the Bad today is all a blur....but there were a couple of other things.
Good things.
The captain from the Army Base at Trentham rang and said that due to me being ex Military personnel that I was welcome to use their 6ft wall to train on and they would give me clearance to use it whenever I wanted to. Great! That was definitely worth asking about! Glad I thought outside the square on that one.
Getting the spa for free! even if it was for only 45 minutes. I got too hot anyway.
Having one student that was nice enough when they asked for a change to actually take the time to write a letter of apology and would I mind. (Even if this was the last request that made me late for the spa) But at least they had the decency to approach the issue in a mature way with lovely manners. And not demanding :)
Having almost 100% attendance for my Roopu (form class) not yet achieved this year I think. And the one that was away, is almost always present. So we were really close to full attendance. It was nice to see the students that hardly ever come were looking refreshed, happy and really taking pride in themselves. Well done 12TYK.
Getting the new finisher on the photocopier so we can staple - sounds silly...but this saves so much time!
Having the scanning function on the photocopier set up.
Having a nice coffee and healthy dinner with my neighbour. Well I had a healthy one anyway, she brought up some takeaways. The company was nice and she also always lights my fire for me. And cuts the kindling. Most awesome neighbour ever!
Getting the draft programme finished. Just have to make it pretty now for the punters.
Having a good Tech Crew set up for the Music Evening with minimal assistance from me. So much better than the last music evening where most of the sweat was mine!
Getting an email back from the physio, with a fairly doable fee for treatment if I decide I need some. Will wait till next week and see if things settle down. I definitely need to look at these $350 shoes I bought, I think even though I paid the money to have them fitted at a shoe clinic, that they are just not supportive enough and allow me to roll too much.
Cuddles with the cats.....even though Roamy approached Kit for his first cuddle and not the person that feeds him!
My friends son that has cancer having some good blood counts today....yahooo Pete!
Avoiding the silly bugger on the wrong side of the road and somehow miraculously missing them!
Going to bed before 11pm! Yes I am now signing off and going to bed.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
The Twigster is Frustrated
I never imagined a day where I would be frustrated because I couldn't exercise.
Ever since my Ninja Run last Tuesday, I have had some issues with strange feeling knees. It's like I need a wheel alignment (shame Dad has retired from Beaurepaires) he might have been able to sort me out. So I feel out of alignment in the hips and the knees, and all I can put it down to was that Ninja Run on the treadmill as well as some new exercises I started last week. So I think I have stretched some ligaments or something, I am finding that I am walking out on the sides of my feet, over pronation I think it is called. So its like the feet are going one way and the knees are going the other way, and this is causing some tension and discomfort. But absolutely no pain. So maybe its the curse of the Hip Dysplasia from childhood coming back to bite me in the ass. So... out of frustration I had to quit my gym session and go to the pool instead where I went for a 40 minute swim (mostly just using upperbody and dragging legs, so it was a good upper body workout) and then a 30 minute hot spa, and that seemed to help a lot. So I am going to do that for the rest of the week and lay off the gym for a week, and use the time to work on my swimming instead. As the week progresses if things start coming right then I will add some quad strengthening exercises. Also I might investigate if I should go back to some sort of orthotic to straighten my gait and reduce uneven wear on joints.
I have booked into the spa for a whole hour tomorrow.
Anyway - I never thought I would be so hooked on exercise that I would be really miserable not to be able to do what I want, and to have to take a step back. It is a bit sucky considering how well I was doing. I was pretty close to full on running. But I have a sneaky feeling that it was the running that has actually done me in. I will have to stick to my original plan to leave the running right until the last minute and only start it when I am less than 70kgs. Otherwise it is just cruel to my poor joints.
Oh well, at least the swimming will get better and get more attention than the usual 1 or 2 swims a week. And today I got the spa for free (so there is my silver lining for the day) just to finish on.
Ever since my Ninja Run last Tuesday, I have had some issues with strange feeling knees. It's like I need a wheel alignment (shame Dad has retired from Beaurepaires) he might have been able to sort me out. So I feel out of alignment in the hips and the knees, and all I can put it down to was that Ninja Run on the treadmill as well as some new exercises I started last week. So I think I have stretched some ligaments or something, I am finding that I am walking out on the sides of my feet, over pronation I think it is called. So its like the feet are going one way and the knees are going the other way, and this is causing some tension and discomfort. But absolutely no pain. So maybe its the curse of the Hip Dysplasia from childhood coming back to bite me in the ass. So... out of frustration I had to quit my gym session and go to the pool instead where I went for a 40 minute swim (mostly just using upperbody and dragging legs, so it was a good upper body workout) and then a 30 minute hot spa, and that seemed to help a lot. So I am going to do that for the rest of the week and lay off the gym for a week, and use the time to work on my swimming instead. As the week progresses if things start coming right then I will add some quad strengthening exercises. Also I might investigate if I should go back to some sort of orthotic to straighten my gait and reduce uneven wear on joints.
I have booked into the spa for a whole hour tomorrow.
Anyway - I never thought I would be so hooked on exercise that I would be really miserable not to be able to do what I want, and to have to take a step back. It is a bit sucky considering how well I was doing. I was pretty close to full on running. But I have a sneaky feeling that it was the running that has actually done me in. I will have to stick to my original plan to leave the running right until the last minute and only start it when I am less than 70kgs. Otherwise it is just cruel to my poor joints.
Oh well, at least the swimming will get better and get more attention than the usual 1 or 2 swims a week. And today I got the spa for free (so there is my silver lining for the day) just to finish on.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Oh what a beautiful day
Up for a great 45min swim at 8am, then home and off for a quick 10km bike ride (on a real bike on real roads! Was great to finally pump up the tyres and get the bike out. Its a fabulous bike and was awesome to ride. Its quite a fast bugger. In fact it really should have better brakes with the speed it can do. Might have to look into that, as neither the front or rear brakes are very good. So long as I don't have to stop in a hurry I'm sweet! I also have a new respect for cyclists and less respect for cars... drivers in Welly really are quite clueless, I had to slow right down on many occasions as cars cut in front of me to turn left when I was carrying on straight ahead.
There are really quite a few elements you don't get to experience on the gym bike. It is also so much faster to complete the 10kms for real, even with the welly wind.
Also for some good news, I got a message back from Scotty of SpecForce, and he says his new gym is going to run training sessions for police and military at 7am 3 days a week as part of their regular programming. That's awesome. So I will make the most of this when I am up in Aucks for the next hols and in the 1st hols in 2012.
Well.....time for a healthy lunch and then off to the library to do a bit more research.
Have a fab Sunday!
There are really quite a few elements you don't get to experience on the gym bike. It is also so much faster to complete the 10kms for real, even with the welly wind.
Also for some good news, I got a message back from Scotty of SpecForce, and he says his new gym is going to run training sessions for police and military at 7am 3 days a week as part of their regular programming. That's awesome. So I will make the most of this when I am up in Aucks for the next hols and in the 1st hols in 2012.
Well.....time for a healthy lunch and then off to the library to do a bit more research.
Have a fab Sunday!
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Time to take control and grow up :)
This evening I replied to a post on a friends facebook. And I realised that what I wrote is a huge change in my thinking that has really made a massive positive impact on this lifestyle change journey. As what is it that finally made me snap and take action over my life. How have I managed to turn around years of negative thinking, and taking on board too much of what others think. The desire for acceptance has always been such a driving factor in the decisions I made.
I guess you get to a point in your life (better now than never) where you finally manage to sift through what is important and make it a priority.
I could sit here and go "gosh I wish I had not spent the last 20 years EATING and getting FAT, what a waste of 20 years" but in actual fact, I am really loving the personal journey that my entire life has provided. We all have lessons to learn, and its good to work hard to learn lessons. They tend to be the better lessons, and ones that last. It's never too late to make a change.
And as for what I wrote on my friend's facebook to help her with her own demons.
I have spent a lifetime of comparing myself to my siblings, until recently I realised I didn't actually have to, and that as a grown up, I could make my own choices and also decide what was good for me in my life. So now, if it's not good for me, I don't engage in whatever is going on that causes me more harm than good. It's the best decision I have ever made. I have spent my whole life taking on board negativity (even though I am sure it was never intended that way, or that the comments often came out of minimal thought as to the impact or how a person might interpret the comments) it was the negative that I always took from things, the part of the message I would hang on to, I had a "Masters" in finding the negative in a situation. Now I don't have to. CHOICE is an amazing place of empowerment.
When you get to that point, you really find your heart grows. Your understanding enables healing, growth, tolerance and acceptance. You finally find your OWN IDENTITY. I have no need to compare myself to others. WOW IS THAT WHAT SELF ACTUALISATION IS!!! hahaha
What I have learnt is that you can spend a lifetime trying to seek approval from others, when in actual fact the only person that needs to approve of you IS YOU!
Its also up to YOU - to decide how you react to things, how much of an impact (positive and negative) events in your life can have.
It's great to be a grown up!
I guess you get to a point in your life (better now than never) where you finally manage to sift through what is important and make it a priority.
I could sit here and go "gosh I wish I had not spent the last 20 years EATING and getting FAT, what a waste of 20 years" but in actual fact, I am really loving the personal journey that my entire life has provided. We all have lessons to learn, and its good to work hard to learn lessons. They tend to be the better lessons, and ones that last. It's never too late to make a change.
And as for what I wrote on my friend's facebook to help her with her own demons.
I have spent a lifetime of comparing myself to my siblings, until recently I realised I didn't actually have to, and that as a grown up, I could make my own choices and also decide what was good for me in my life. So now, if it's not good for me, I don't engage in whatever is going on that causes me more harm than good. It's the best decision I have ever made. I have spent my whole life taking on board negativity (even though I am sure it was never intended that way, or that the comments often came out of minimal thought as to the impact or how a person might interpret the comments) it was the negative that I always took from things, the part of the message I would hang on to, I had a "Masters" in finding the negative in a situation. Now I don't have to. CHOICE is an amazing place of empowerment.
When you get to that point, you really find your heart grows. Your understanding enables healing, growth, tolerance and acceptance. You finally find your OWN IDENTITY. I have no need to compare myself to others. WOW IS THAT WHAT SELF ACTUALISATION IS!!! hahaha
What I have learnt is that you can spend a lifetime trying to seek approval from others, when in actual fact the only person that needs to approve of you IS YOU!
Its also up to YOU - to decide how you react to things, how much of an impact (positive and negative) events in your life can have.
It's great to be a grown up!
SPECFORCE
I wanted to post a link to SPECFORCE, as it opens this week in Auckland.
This is owned and operated by an ex-Army PT.
Specforce is the latest fitness craze to hit the market.
This training system has been used with the NZ Military Special Forces for the last five years, and it is now available for the general public to experience what it takes to be part of an elite group of people.
This is not a bootcamp or a general civilian gymnasium fitness workout. This is the real deal available to motivated people keen to experience something new in their training that will make you never want to return to the conventional ways.
Contact details for SpecForce
Email scott@specforce.co.nz
Phone 021 062 5925
Website http://specforce.co.nz
This is owned and operated by an ex-Army PT.
Specforce is the latest fitness craze to hit the market.
This training system has been used with the NZ Military Special Forces for the last five years, and it is now available for the general public to experience what it takes to be part of an elite group of people.
This is not a bootcamp or a general civilian gymnasium fitness workout. This is the real deal available to motivated people keen to experience something new in their training that will make you never want to return to the conventional ways.
Contact details for SpecForce
Email scott@specforce.co.nz
Phone 021 062 5925
Website http://specforce.co.nz
A Beautiful Day In Welly Sunshine
Today was my day off from exercise, but I decided it was such a stunning day that I had to get out amongst it, so ended up doing a 6km walk anyway. And after my crap effort in the gym yesterday (unstable knee at the moment) I felt like I really needed to keep going today.
Still working towards my goal, and it is really just going to have to be 1 day at a time for now until I lose the next 20kgs. I will be in a much better position to work out what I need to do for the Police Fitness once I have lost the weight and built up some muscle strength.
I did some reading about knees and how to make them stronger, because....lets face it, while they are an awesome joint in terms of mobility they are also one of the more fragile joints and seems to be the joint that even super fit and trim people have some trouble with. So I have certainly not done them any favours over the last 20 years. The research and info I read was quite reassuring, and the great thing is that I don't actually have any pain at all, and no actual injury, they just don't feel very strong and are sometimes a bit clicky. Apparently this is quite common. So with building up the leg muscles you can aid and strengthen the knee.
I have been doing lots of reading about all aspects of the Police Testing, and Training, as well as watching lots of video's. Nothing has freaked me out too much yet, some things have elevated the heart rate a little bit, but as a past adrenalin junkie - that is pretty much what I am looking for anyway. Nothing like a BIG CHALLENGE.
And like I said....I'm not ready to curl up and knit my life away just yet.
I have also purchased some Psychometric testing books to increase my intelligence....working in the same job for so long has made my brain a bit lazy. I have also started doing sudoko to keep the brain cells firing as well.
I have completely cleaned out the city library of books on psychometric testing, swimming, running, triathlons, and cycling. SORRY WELLINGTON!
Well - that's all for now, going to read some books on swimming tonight and then try out the techniques in the pool tomorrow morning.
Oh some other great news today - SPECFORCE the gym that is run by the fitness trainer for the April Loses It challenge is opening next week, and as an ex Army PT Trainer I asked if he was intending to put a 6ft wall in his gym for people to train on, and apparently he already has it built and organised...so that is fabulous news.
I am going up to Auckland in the 1st week of the next school hols, so I will check it out then. And I might book another week up there in the 1st term hols next year so I can do a hard out week of training with him.
I have a funny feeling there used to be a 6ft wall on a confidence course in Gissy as well. So will try and find out if it is still there when I am home on the xmas holidays. Might see if I can do a ride along with the Gissy police as well over xmas, and see what policing is like in Gissy compared to Welly.
Oh....I also drew a 6ft line on my living room wall the other day.....not sure if I had written that before.....but its good to stare at it every day!!!!
Off to mark some work, read some swimming books, cook a healthy dinner, and update my visual dreams board.
Have a fab weekend everyone.
Still working towards my goal, and it is really just going to have to be 1 day at a time for now until I lose the next 20kgs. I will be in a much better position to work out what I need to do for the Police Fitness once I have lost the weight and built up some muscle strength.
I did some reading about knees and how to make them stronger, because....lets face it, while they are an awesome joint in terms of mobility they are also one of the more fragile joints and seems to be the joint that even super fit and trim people have some trouble with. So I have certainly not done them any favours over the last 20 years. The research and info I read was quite reassuring, and the great thing is that I don't actually have any pain at all, and no actual injury, they just don't feel very strong and are sometimes a bit clicky. Apparently this is quite common. So with building up the leg muscles you can aid and strengthen the knee.
I have been doing lots of reading about all aspects of the Police Testing, and Training, as well as watching lots of video's. Nothing has freaked me out too much yet, some things have elevated the heart rate a little bit, but as a past adrenalin junkie - that is pretty much what I am looking for anyway. Nothing like a BIG CHALLENGE.
And like I said....I'm not ready to curl up and knit my life away just yet.
I have also purchased some Psychometric testing books to increase my intelligence....working in the same job for so long has made my brain a bit lazy. I have also started doing sudoko to keep the brain cells firing as well.
I have completely cleaned out the city library of books on psychometric testing, swimming, running, triathlons, and cycling. SORRY WELLINGTON!
Well - that's all for now, going to read some books on swimming tonight and then try out the techniques in the pool tomorrow morning.
Oh some other great news today - SPECFORCE the gym that is run by the fitness trainer for the April Loses It challenge is opening next week, and as an ex Army PT Trainer I asked if he was intending to put a 6ft wall in his gym for people to train on, and apparently he already has it built and organised...so that is fabulous news.
I am going up to Auckland in the 1st week of the next school hols, so I will check it out then. And I might book another week up there in the 1st term hols next year so I can do a hard out week of training with him.
I have a funny feeling there used to be a 6ft wall on a confidence course in Gissy as well. So will try and find out if it is still there when I am home on the xmas holidays. Might see if I can do a ride along with the Gissy police as well over xmas, and see what policing is like in Gissy compared to Welly.
Oh....I also drew a 6ft line on my living room wall the other day.....not sure if I had written that before.....but its good to stare at it every day!!!!
Off to mark some work, read some swimming books, cook a healthy dinner, and update my visual dreams board.
Have a fab weekend everyone.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
More like Miss Blobby than Ninja today
Might have pushed that inner Ninja a little too far yesterday, as today I had to take a step back, knees feel somewhat jelly like today and just not feeling very secure today while on the bike and treadmill.
I still did a good 12.5kms on the bike at 10 tension, and power walked 2.5kms on the treadmill at 6kms an hour.
So a good 70mins Cardio. It just didn't feel strong like my other workouts this week.
I really hope once I drop a further 20kgs that the knee strength will come back. I think I have just punished them a little too much by having to carry an extra 30kgs for the last 20 years.
I am taking a glucosamine and chondroitin supplement daily, as well as a multivitamin. And I am also doing some good strength training exercises at the gym.
I guess the area I am really WINNING in is the food. I am completely NINJA in my dedication to healthy eating. Not one small glitch in 13 weeks.
Pulled into get gas tonight and was faced with that annoying confectionery display at the counter, and was not even remotely tempted. I now realise that anything I put in....means I have to work harder at the gym....and that is a pretty good motivator to behave!
I still did a good 12.5kms on the bike at 10 tension, and power walked 2.5kms on the treadmill at 6kms an hour.
So a good 70mins Cardio. It just didn't feel strong like my other workouts this week.
I really hope once I drop a further 20kgs that the knee strength will come back. I think I have just punished them a little too much by having to carry an extra 30kgs for the last 20 years.
I am taking a glucosamine and chondroitin supplement daily, as well as a multivitamin. And I am also doing some good strength training exercises at the gym.
I guess the area I am really WINNING in is the food. I am completely NINJA in my dedication to healthy eating. Not one small glitch in 13 weeks.
Pulled into get gas tonight and was faced with that annoying confectionery display at the counter, and was not even remotely tempted. I now realise that anything I put in....means I have to work harder at the gym....and that is a pretty good motivator to behave!
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
More pics & one of my NAVY Style walks
Not sure I will get Wendy to say yes to another walk with me unless its sunny outside.
This day was colder than a well-diggers arse, and so windy we were wind assisted up the hill.
All good fun!
I have also added a silly photo from our April Loses it collection.
This day was colder than a well-diggers arse, and so windy we were wind assisted up the hill.
All good fun!
I have also added a silly photo from our April Loses it collection.
If laughter could shed kilos - I would have lost heaps on this day
I managed to talk my good friend Wendy into joining the challenge with me. So one afternoon, I put on some bike pants (would never wear these in public!) although I guess now its blogged I kind of have! ....and we bribed the downstairs neighbour to take some action shots of our preparation to join the April Loses It challenge. So here they are in all their glory - they are a bit fuzzy as they were taken on the iphone.
April Loses It - MY PLAN & Capsule Wardrobe Dream
I've always been interested in the power of visual dream boards, and visual planning. So to help with the motivation I planned a "new wardrobe" Gok Style (Capsule).
April Loses It Fat Photos
I have been kind of blogging on the facebook page for April Loses It since May. So a lot of my information and progress is on there. I might transfer some of it onto here for archiving. But to start things off I thought I would post the Fat Photos I started with.
Finding my inner ninja
Well, I had a great time at the gym tonight, I have to give the guys at BPM a plug....if your in Wellington and want a great gym with really supportive and motivated trainers with a vast diversity of experience, physio, nutrition, personal training, health science this is the place to come. BPM is located on Taranaki Street, and mostly serves the Massey University Population and lots of teachers from Wellington High School, but it is also a public gym anyone can attend. I have never felt so supported in any other gym I have attended. And these guys are really active, they are always walking around checking people's progress, offering help. Also when mentioning some of my crazy training ideas and Massive Goals, they are in it with me 100% telling me know worries you will get there.
I am definitely getting stronger, and fitter, in fact a few gym members have started to ask what it is that I am doing, what motivates me, and have been watching my progress from afar, its nice that they are interested in what I am attempting. I am pretty determined during my workouts and a large woman running on a treadmill or cycling for an hour is bound to get a bit of attention and a few questions.
I was stoked today when in the changing room the girl that was on the treadmill next to me came up to me and said I looked really fit and that she had been looking at my treadmill settings during my workout and was surprised by the speed. That made me feel so great, and I have to confess, the running is really starting to feel better each time, I am definitely starting to find my "inner ninja".
I just have to run for the entire time....and eliminate the power walking sections of my treadmill workout. And that is just a matter of time, the lighter I get the easier it gets, and if I keep strengthening my knees with the biking and cross trainer then it won't be long before I can push through the pain barrier and run the whole 20-30 mins on the treadmill.
My long-term running goal is the Police Fitness Test of 2.4kms in 13 minutes 10 seconds.
And the ability to run a 10km distance without stopping.
I have so far signed up for 4 triathlons for 2011-2012. Two in November and Two in March. And just to make things even more challenging, the first one is the longest one. 4km Run 18km Bike Ride and 300 mtr swim.
The other three are all 300mtr swim, 10km bike, 3km run.
Feel free to join me on one of them if you want to come along for the ride.
1st one is in the Hutt.
2nd one is in Clive, Napier.
3rd and 4th ones are in Wellington.
So anyway....if you have not guessed it by now....
I have decided to have a crack at qualifying for entry into the NZ Police before my 40th birthday....I know...your all wondering if I have reached my mid-life crisis!
Nope - I just really miss working in a close-knit environment, never thought I would say it, but I actually miss that Military lifestyle. I don't want to be back in the Navy however, and I have always been interested in working for one of the emergency services and during my volunteer work with Victim Support I have come to find the Police to be a very interesting and exciting prospect for my next 1/2 of my working life.
Also I really think it is a better choice to find something active, instead of sedentary. I'm ready for a challenge, and the more weight I loose the more exciting I want my life to be. I'm just not ready to curl up and rock in my lazy boy for the rest of my life.
I think the most encouraging thing so far since announcing my interest in the NZ Police has been the overwhelming support of everyone, including friends and family and people that know me well. I was fully expecting some negative comments (based on my current weight) and lets face it I'm a little height deprived as well. But it appears that my passing Navy Training has instilled some faith in my friends in family, and based on my past achievements, and my current efforts, everyone is encouraging me to go for it, and that I would make a great Police Officer. The sheer will and support of everyone just might be enough energy to propel me over that 6ft wall when the moment arises.
I am so glad I went for that ride-along with Kurt and Lewis and spent some time chatting with Melanie.....Melanie really planted a seed that night (standing in the middle of the street, freezing cold on the night before the snow started) I said maybe I could find a civilian position, and she said "that won't be anywhere near as much fun" .....Thanks Mel...you got me thinking...and your right. I would also feel like a bit of a sell out if I didn't challenge myself and really give this a shot.
Finally to end today's blog....I rarely thank my parents for things, so on this occasion I want to say thanks for leading me into the direction of the Navy when I left school, for signing me up for an interview with the recruiter when I was in Wellington applying to be a student in Jazz School in 1990. I was so lucky I didn't get accepted into Jazz School, exceptionally lucky to start my working life in the Military.....this start helped me believe in myself and learn that I can push myself, the PTI's pushed me further than I ever managed I could go. I learnt that I can achieve challenging things, and this groundwork has been the basis of all of my success in life since. The Navy provided me with a strong mindset, and a great go hard or go home attitude. For that I will always be grateful. That mindset is really helping me push out that inner ninja at the gym.
I am definitely getting stronger, and fitter, in fact a few gym members have started to ask what it is that I am doing, what motivates me, and have been watching my progress from afar, its nice that they are interested in what I am attempting. I am pretty determined during my workouts and a large woman running on a treadmill or cycling for an hour is bound to get a bit of attention and a few questions.
I was stoked today when in the changing room the girl that was on the treadmill next to me came up to me and said I looked really fit and that she had been looking at my treadmill settings during my workout and was surprised by the speed. That made me feel so great, and I have to confess, the running is really starting to feel better each time, I am definitely starting to find my "inner ninja".
I just have to run for the entire time....and eliminate the power walking sections of my treadmill workout. And that is just a matter of time, the lighter I get the easier it gets, and if I keep strengthening my knees with the biking and cross trainer then it won't be long before I can push through the pain barrier and run the whole 20-30 mins on the treadmill.
My long-term running goal is the Police Fitness Test of 2.4kms in 13 minutes 10 seconds.
And the ability to run a 10km distance without stopping.
I have so far signed up for 4 triathlons for 2011-2012. Two in November and Two in March. And just to make things even more challenging, the first one is the longest one. 4km Run 18km Bike Ride and 300 mtr swim.
The other three are all 300mtr swim, 10km bike, 3km run.
Feel free to join me on one of them if you want to come along for the ride.
1st one is in the Hutt.
2nd one is in Clive, Napier.
3rd and 4th ones are in Wellington.
So anyway....if you have not guessed it by now....
I have decided to have a crack at qualifying for entry into the NZ Police before my 40th birthday....I know...your all wondering if I have reached my mid-life crisis!
Nope - I just really miss working in a close-knit environment, never thought I would say it, but I actually miss that Military lifestyle. I don't want to be back in the Navy however, and I have always been interested in working for one of the emergency services and during my volunteer work with Victim Support I have come to find the Police to be a very interesting and exciting prospect for my next 1/2 of my working life.
Also I really think it is a better choice to find something active, instead of sedentary. I'm ready for a challenge, and the more weight I loose the more exciting I want my life to be. I'm just not ready to curl up and rock in my lazy boy for the rest of my life.
I think the most encouraging thing so far since announcing my interest in the NZ Police has been the overwhelming support of everyone, including friends and family and people that know me well. I was fully expecting some negative comments (based on my current weight) and lets face it I'm a little height deprived as well. But it appears that my passing Navy Training has instilled some faith in my friends in family, and based on my past achievements, and my current efforts, everyone is encouraging me to go for it, and that I would make a great Police Officer. The sheer will and support of everyone just might be enough energy to propel me over that 6ft wall when the moment arises.
I am so glad I went for that ride-along with Kurt and Lewis and spent some time chatting with Melanie.....Melanie really planted a seed that night (standing in the middle of the street, freezing cold on the night before the snow started) I said maybe I could find a civilian position, and she said "that won't be anywhere near as much fun" .....Thanks Mel...you got me thinking...and your right. I would also feel like a bit of a sell out if I didn't challenge myself and really give this a shot.
Finally to end today's blog....I rarely thank my parents for things, so on this occasion I want to say thanks for leading me into the direction of the Navy when I left school, for signing me up for an interview with the recruiter when I was in Wellington applying to be a student in Jazz School in 1990. I was so lucky I didn't get accepted into Jazz School, exceptionally lucky to start my working life in the Military.....this start helped me believe in myself and learn that I can push myself, the PTI's pushed me further than I ever managed I could go. I learnt that I can achieve challenging things, and this groundwork has been the basis of all of my success in life since. The Navy provided me with a strong mindset, and a great go hard or go home attitude. For that I will always be grateful. That mindset is really helping me push out that inner ninja at the gym.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Actual start date of the challenge - 29th May 2011
Weighing in at a whopper 93.1 on Start Day.
20 years since joining the 1991 Royal New Zealand Navy May Intake. One of the people I trained with "facebooked" me this year and asked if I was going to the reunion, I said had it been 10 years already, and she said NO its the TWENTIETH reunion!! Wholly Crap!
Today is the 23rd of August 2011 - I have been at this challenge now for 12 weeks and have already lost 11kgs.
It is an interesting journey, so I have now decided to document it, and anyone that is interested in following "Krissie's New Life Development" is welcome to come along for the ride.
A couple of good friends from my Navy and Skydiving Days (John Squire & Phil Baldey) both told me once that if your life is worth living it is worth recording. I have also read that in one of my many "self help" books that live on my bookshelf and rarely get opened or any of the knowledge consumed and acted upon.
A lot has gone on in the last 12 weeks - so posts on this blog are going to be really adhoc, as I think I will choose to blog things as I remember them, as opposed to writing sequentially. I will try to contextualize the posts though and place them in a time and place of my life that most people that know me will be able to figure out.
So - WHY NOW, what is the motivation for finally getting my ass off the couch!
Well it has been an accumulation of some pretty big life changing events over the last couple of years, as well as some chance conversations with people, and general reflection of my life.
In no particular order - here are some of my motivating factors to getting my large 93.1kg BOD off the couch.
The loss of one body organ (Gallbladder) in 2008, this is usually attributed to being fair fat and 40 (of which I was Fair Fat and 36) So once again - ahead of my time!
A candid conversation (someone bold enough and honest enough to ask the question) with Chris Norman while panting up the street in Wellington - he asked me "Why am I overweight" what is it in my life that I gave up on. I have only just started actually to think about that conversation this year.
The candid honesty of my sweet little Nephew Adrian when he was about two - on one occasion he would not get into his car seat, so I was trying to cajole him into sitting in his seat, so I said that if he didn't hurry up then Aunty Krissie was going to sit in it. He got quite shocked at this and even looked a little panicked, and then he said "you can't, your too fat!" Got to love the honesty of an innocent child.
Staying in my Sisters house one xmas and awaking to the sound of the relatives discussing my weight issue. I had stopped being "Kris" and I had become a "health concern" to family and friends.
The loss of way too many friends, family and colleagues to Cancer since 2005. While I ultimately do this Life Style Change for myself, I am also honoring these special people that have not had the opportunity to do all they really wanted to do and all that they should have been blessed to do. I will not waste my life and waste what I have been given any further. My heart goes out to the following special people.
Simon Castles (high school friend) - you always believed in me and made me feel special and pretty like no fella has ever managed to do since. Thanks Bud.
Kristin Osborne (only 6 years old - but what an amazing maturity for one so young)
Cathy Gilmour (Your honesty and special chat on Waiheke about "Life" drives me every day)
Aunty Bet - your free spirit and great love of family and your amazing support and regular chats have been so influential. Thank You
To my friends that are currently battling this horrible disease, my get fit efforts will be also used to raise funds for the Cancer Society. I hope to make a difference. My love and support goes out to you all through this difficult time.
So what else has pushed my motivation over the edge to actually get me moving!
A sneak preview at what was going to lie ahead - increased risk of developing Diabetes, and then potentially needing Knee and Hip replacements if I kept heading in the same unhealthy direction, the potential to loose the upstairs faculty early in life as well through being too inactive. I realised it was not too late to avoid these major problems by taking action NOW!
The chance to loose weight and actually have some shot of my skin bouncing back! and not ending up all saggy. Skin starts drastically loosing elasticity after 40.
I also had started reflecting on how was it that I had turned into a lazyboy sitting (knitting), TV watching, grumpy, junk food inhaler, inactive, ancient looking 38 year old from an adrenalin junkie, skydiving, military trained, squash playing, fun loving, skiing 25 year old....what the hell had happened. When did I wake up and decide its time to start dying and I had given up on making the most of my life. How the hell did that happen! that bloody negativity monster had snuck up on me and totally consumed my vitality.
Christchurch Earthquake - I was privileged to be called upon to help one of the CTV Building survivors as part of my role with Victim Support. While I can't go into any details, meeting this person really changed my perspective on life. And with the combination of loosing Cathy during this time and being so wrapped up in CHCH that I had not realised she had passed away. I thought it really was time to be more aware, and stop coasting through life. It was Cathy that said I should pretty much grab life by the balls and make the most of every day, as you never know what cards you may be dealt. And she mentioned that knowing she had limited time had been really empowering for her, as she knew how much she could achieve and set about to do things she really wanted to do and loved, where as for the rest of us...you never know what the next day may bring....and it might be a "Bloody Bus"...if you get my drift...so spending that day doing something without passion is really a bit of a waste.
When you miss a friends passing because you are so wrapped up in your daily existence and "being too busy" to know what is happening around you...that is inexcusable and time to take note and make some changes.
So anyway.....HOW IS THAT FOR MOTIVATION!
The final straw (fuel to the motivation fire) was the April Ieremia Challenge that I saw in the NZ Woman's Weekly. April Loses It - a 30 week 30kg Weight Loss Challenge to the whole country. And the lure of an overseas exotic holiday for two winners. I like a good challenge. Also it was a chance to get additional support (face book group) for free as well as online fitness and eating plans shared by a professional personal trainer. And after my terrible failure at the Ocean Swim across Auckland Harbour in 2008 I really needed a new challenge to get me kick started.
So add to that - my joining the gym right next to work (no excuses not to go)
Signing up for the Green Prescription so I could get what I call my "Fat Card, get out of jail free card" which gives me discount to fitness activities in Wellington. And also my 2 free swims a week as part of a weight loss initiative run by the PHO. I have set myself up for success, and already into week 12 - the lifestyle change is working, and I am feeling great, full of energy, and passionate about my life again. Anyway....more about that in the next blog I think as it is almost 1:00am and I also had a 3:00am morning yesterday (so much to do these days!) so for now.....I'm signing off. See you all soon with some more interesting stories.
By the way - did I mention what the secret to all of lifes problems is....
Well ... IT IS PORRIDGE - the super food of weight loss champions!
I also think it could make quite a good glue! (sometimes I don't make it very well)
20 years since joining the 1991 Royal New Zealand Navy May Intake. One of the people I trained with "facebooked" me this year and asked if I was going to the reunion, I said had it been 10 years already, and she said NO its the TWENTIETH reunion!! Wholly Crap!
Today is the 23rd of August 2011 - I have been at this challenge now for 12 weeks and have already lost 11kgs.
It is an interesting journey, so I have now decided to document it, and anyone that is interested in following "Krissie's New Life Development" is welcome to come along for the ride.
A couple of good friends from my Navy and Skydiving Days (John Squire & Phil Baldey) both told me once that if your life is worth living it is worth recording. I have also read that in one of my many "self help" books that live on my bookshelf and rarely get opened or any of the knowledge consumed and acted upon.
A lot has gone on in the last 12 weeks - so posts on this blog are going to be really adhoc, as I think I will choose to blog things as I remember them, as opposed to writing sequentially. I will try to contextualize the posts though and place them in a time and place of my life that most people that know me will be able to figure out.
So - WHY NOW, what is the motivation for finally getting my ass off the couch!
Well it has been an accumulation of some pretty big life changing events over the last couple of years, as well as some chance conversations with people, and general reflection of my life.
In no particular order - here are some of my motivating factors to getting my large 93.1kg BOD off the couch.
The loss of one body organ (Gallbladder) in 2008, this is usually attributed to being fair fat and 40 (of which I was Fair Fat and 36) So once again - ahead of my time!
A candid conversation (someone bold enough and honest enough to ask the question) with Chris Norman while panting up the street in Wellington - he asked me "Why am I overweight" what is it in my life that I gave up on. I have only just started actually to think about that conversation this year.
The candid honesty of my sweet little Nephew Adrian when he was about two - on one occasion he would not get into his car seat, so I was trying to cajole him into sitting in his seat, so I said that if he didn't hurry up then Aunty Krissie was going to sit in it. He got quite shocked at this and even looked a little panicked, and then he said "you can't, your too fat!" Got to love the honesty of an innocent child.
Staying in my Sisters house one xmas and awaking to the sound of the relatives discussing my weight issue. I had stopped being "Kris" and I had become a "health concern" to family and friends.
The loss of way too many friends, family and colleagues to Cancer since 2005. While I ultimately do this Life Style Change for myself, I am also honoring these special people that have not had the opportunity to do all they really wanted to do and all that they should have been blessed to do. I will not waste my life and waste what I have been given any further. My heart goes out to the following special people.
Simon Castles (high school friend) - you always believed in me and made me feel special and pretty like no fella has ever managed to do since. Thanks Bud.
Kristin Osborne (only 6 years old - but what an amazing maturity for one so young)
Cathy Gilmour (Your honesty and special chat on Waiheke about "Life" drives me every day)
Aunty Bet - your free spirit and great love of family and your amazing support and regular chats have been so influential. Thank You
To my friends that are currently battling this horrible disease, my get fit efforts will be also used to raise funds for the Cancer Society. I hope to make a difference. My love and support goes out to you all through this difficult time.
So what else has pushed my motivation over the edge to actually get me moving!
A sneak preview at what was going to lie ahead - increased risk of developing Diabetes, and then potentially needing Knee and Hip replacements if I kept heading in the same unhealthy direction, the potential to loose the upstairs faculty early in life as well through being too inactive. I realised it was not too late to avoid these major problems by taking action NOW!
The chance to loose weight and actually have some shot of my skin bouncing back! and not ending up all saggy. Skin starts drastically loosing elasticity after 40.
I also had started reflecting on how was it that I had turned into a lazyboy sitting (knitting), TV watching, grumpy, junk food inhaler, inactive, ancient looking 38 year old from an adrenalin junkie, skydiving, military trained, squash playing, fun loving, skiing 25 year old....what the hell had happened. When did I wake up and decide its time to start dying and I had given up on making the most of my life. How the hell did that happen! that bloody negativity monster had snuck up on me and totally consumed my vitality.
Christchurch Earthquake - I was privileged to be called upon to help one of the CTV Building survivors as part of my role with Victim Support. While I can't go into any details, meeting this person really changed my perspective on life. And with the combination of loosing Cathy during this time and being so wrapped up in CHCH that I had not realised she had passed away. I thought it really was time to be more aware, and stop coasting through life. It was Cathy that said I should pretty much grab life by the balls and make the most of every day, as you never know what cards you may be dealt. And she mentioned that knowing she had limited time had been really empowering for her, as she knew how much she could achieve and set about to do things she really wanted to do and loved, where as for the rest of us...you never know what the next day may bring....and it might be a "Bloody Bus"...if you get my drift...so spending that day doing something without passion is really a bit of a waste.
When you miss a friends passing because you are so wrapped up in your daily existence and "being too busy" to know what is happening around you...that is inexcusable and time to take note and make some changes.
So anyway.....HOW IS THAT FOR MOTIVATION!
The final straw (fuel to the motivation fire) was the April Ieremia Challenge that I saw in the NZ Woman's Weekly. April Loses It - a 30 week 30kg Weight Loss Challenge to the whole country. And the lure of an overseas exotic holiday for two winners. I like a good challenge. Also it was a chance to get additional support (face book group) for free as well as online fitness and eating plans shared by a professional personal trainer. And after my terrible failure at the Ocean Swim across Auckland Harbour in 2008 I really needed a new challenge to get me kick started.
So add to that - my joining the gym right next to work (no excuses not to go)
Signing up for the Green Prescription so I could get what I call my "Fat Card, get out of jail free card" which gives me discount to fitness activities in Wellington. And also my 2 free swims a week as part of a weight loss initiative run by the PHO. I have set myself up for success, and already into week 12 - the lifestyle change is working, and I am feeling great, full of energy, and passionate about my life again. Anyway....more about that in the next blog I think as it is almost 1:00am and I also had a 3:00am morning yesterday (so much to do these days!) so for now.....I'm signing off. See you all soon with some more interesting stories.
By the way - did I mention what the secret to all of lifes problems is....
Well ... IT IS PORRIDGE - the super food of weight loss champions!
I also think it could make quite a good glue! (sometimes I don't make it very well)
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