The End of Week One

Well I survived week one of the pushup challenge - well no problems really. But week two looks a little harder, and I think the real challenge will come in week three. This is when it is really stepped up. I have had to change my push up days to match my weight training days – as I found that my chest and shoulders were not getting any rest. So I will “push up” first, then following through with my weights all in one session.

I have just finished reading The Amazing Adventures of Diet Girl, and although part of me is well past the whole dieting thing – I did really relate to a whole range of things in this. Like the need to ditch weight watchers at some stage and stop relying on this sort of external crutch, the transition in focus from numbers on a scale to achievements in fitness, the joy in seeing your body adapt to all sorts of new challenges, the struggle in learning to run, but the enormous sense of achievement from it, and the awakening of inner self and learning what I am all about/who I am! Shauna did a wonderful job of writing it – I’m not much of a non-fiction reader, but I read the whole thing in about 4 or 5 days as it was written in a wonderfully entertaining way. I would thoroughly recommend it.

I’ve had two sessions on the elliptical now – using cardiocoach. I’m once again reminded of what a fab program this is and how good the elliptical is when you are injured. My calf is recovering well, and Wednesday I plan a return to combat – but low impact options only. Once I came up with this option, I thought to invite a friend who has recently joined the gym. Classes are very daunting at first, but if you have someone who will go with you, and more importantly is willing to do the low level stuff with you so that you are not worried about looking out of place – it must be easier. Right? Anyway – she said yes, so that’s good.

The “threat thing” has raised some interesting comments, which I may expand again on later, but I am also planning another thought provoking blurb about another aspect of the impact of weight loss – so stay tuned.

Week One Day Two

Well - my next effort on the push up challenge was fine - although my arms are quite sore - and I can't ever imagine doing all these pushups consecutively

Todays effort
Scheduled: 5 sets of 12, 12, 10, 10, max reps (min of 10) with 60secs rest
I achieved - 12, 12, 10, 10 and 21 - total pushups for the day - 65

I've also been "playing" at the gym - don't know that I could actually call it exercise.
As I am know able to walk pain free - I tried the treadmill tonight - managed to walk at 4.5kms/hr for all of 10 mins - feeling like an absolute fraud - you know, one of those people who go to the gym but don't really exercise!
Anyway - also managed to spend some time on the elliptical (Level 1 - no resistance) and checked my HR every now and then - but couldn't get it over 100.

So the only exercise I've been able to do that gets me huffing and puffing is rowing. An interesting cardio activity because I find it really hard to do over any length of time. So I have been racing myself. How fast can I row 1 km? I've only had 3 time trials - and so far my best effort is 3mins 58secs. This is probably a woeful effort - but I have nothing to compare it to, but myself. What I do know is that I am going all out/as fast as I can, and am extremely puffed at the end. Hey, if I intersperce (cant spell that tonight) it with lazy lumbering on the treadmill - I could almost be interval training - LOL I do love watching the metres fall away as I race as hard as a I can, and watching my 250 m splits to see if I'm going to "win". Oh have I ever mentioned I'm somewhat competitive???

"The Threat" thing

Thanks Em for raising the concept of "the threat" after reading my last post.

Yes, yes, yes - I know exactly what you mean. This is a new issue to contend with. Actually for me its the remembering of an old issue - I experienced this when I was younger (and thinner) but had forgotten that it existed. Men seem more happy to talk to me these days - and women less so than they used to. Of course, with my new found confidence I am proud to wear clothes that show off my figure, and this doesn't always go down so well with my female counterparts. I'm always careful to do a"trash check" ie - am I showing too much (in my case any) cleavage, is my skirt too short, is my clothing too suggestive etc, but even with all of that in mind - I still get that sort of reaction from some women. The other thing is that jealousy has raised its head in our relationship - I was very surprised by this at first - thinking it had never been a problem for us - except that I eventually remembered that it was an issue before we were married - once again when I was thinner.

So what does this say about how society views relationships with overweight people vs normal weight people? Does it say that the potential for relationships are shallowly judged by appearance, with no regard for the personality of the individual? Or - to stretch the thinking - how much of this is influenced by how confidently people act and how confident they are with their shape and fitness and body image - could this be projected enough to others that it wouldn't actually matter what shape you are, but its your comfort level with it that conveys a level of attractiveness??? I dont know. Are there are aspects that contribute to this? Lots of food for thought...

Week One, Day One

Here's the update on my first day of the hundred pushup challenge.
My baseline test was a maximum of 21 consecutive pushups, so my sets/reps for today were as follows
1 - 10 pushups
2- 10 pushups
3 - 8 pushups
4 - 6 pushups
5 - max pushups able (minimum of 7)
with 60 secs rest between sets

I achieved sets 1 - 4 ok although I was feeling a little sore from my weight training the day before. Not sure how I'd go with set 5. However yesterday obviously really wasn't my maximum as I managed to push out another 22 pushups in a row - after doing 34 over the previous 4 sets! (Thats a total of 56 pushups for those who are mathematically challenged!)
Bring on the rest of the challenge! (Although I am a little sore - don't know whether its the pushups or the workout from yesterday)

Now I'm Fit and Fab...

I know I know - 3 posts from me in one day is enough to make your head spin....

I've been thinking for some time about writing about the impact losing weight and becoming fit has had on a range of aspects of my life - and they are not all positive.

Many people will relate I'm sure, when I talk about the fact that after my "transformation" I not only look different, but I act differently. I eat differently, I exercise regularly, I have different interests and some would say - obsessions. I am possibly more confident and outgoing - and because of my increased energy - engage in a lot more outdoory types of things. I also have more interest in clothes, gym and fitness gear, makeup and going out. My husband however, finds some of this a bit difficult. Whilst he appreciates "the improvements", he is having to learn to live with someone who has changed in many ways. I feel like I'm still the same old person (just released from some of my hindrances), but he sees many of my actions as new. (Actually I'm pretty similar to how we were when we got married - but that was a long time ago to remember). He also finds that he is more insecure about our relationship - worried that I will want to "trade him up" for a newer and better model.

I'm interested to know if others have had similar experiences, where the positive changes they have made in their health and fitness - have had negative affects on their relationships. So how has it affected you?

The 100 Push Up Challenge

I've come across this little/great challenge which I am going to start tomorrow.

Its a 6 week program that will see you being able to do 100 consecutive pushups.

I did the pretest - 21 consecutive pushups with good form was my max.

I've even decided to be a little crazy and buy the Tshirt that says I'm doing the challenge! I like this sort of challenge because its easy to add into your routine - and there is a sense of real achievement at the end.

Do you wanna join me? Details can be found here

Is Fickle Foe or Friend?

I think I've posted a few times about the scales being fickle.

I've had a few weeks of not eating so well - I've been away a lot and have just relaxed by eating and drinking and had a few extra treats - like a Ham and Cheese Croissant for breakfast (no I don't want to know how many thousand calories are in this!) and I've discovered Subways white chocolate and macadamia nut cookies (at 200 cals a pop (i've only just checked this out) and you buy them 3 for $2) this is half my daily cals in one hit! Exercise has been a little limited because of all the travelling. I knew I might have gained a little, but was ok with this, because I truly believe that eating healthily is now the norm not the exception, and a return to routine sees a return to good healthy eating habits. Of course the day I returned to "normal" I did my calf muscle in - so that's made cardio a challenge.

Anyway - earlier in the week I made myself face the music and stepped on the scales - 60.6kgs - eek - ok - how quickly can I get back to 58? Can I do it before the wedding at the beginning of August?
Well - goal achieved. I "stepped" on the scales on Friday to see 58.6, and Saturday 58.3. I've highlighted "stepped" because this is what made the scales fickle. You see earlier in the week when I stepped on - I leaned heavily to the right because of my calf injury. Friday - I realised I could weight bear much more evenly - and hey presto - 2 kg weight loss! If only we could always have the fickle scales work in our favour!

The will to look fab

Well life's been a little grand - that is of course until Combat on Monday night when my calf went "ping" and I couldn't stand up any more! Nothing like a dramatic exit in front of lots of people...
I put ice on it immediately and have spent the last two days resting it - I can now bear weight and am concentrating on trying to get the heel back on the ground. Of course its these few days that my husband is away....
It has been somewhat frustrating exercise wise as I'd had a fairly lax couple of weeks both on the exercise and the nutrition week - and was making a concerted effort to get back on track when this happened - and being laid up and miserable is not a good recipe for great nutrition either. Nevertheless I have persevered in cleaning up my diet again. I'm going to a wedding in the Blue Mountains in three weeks and have bought a lovely slim fitting dress that I want to look fabulous in - so I need to focus on reducing any temporary bloating and being in the best shape I can.

On another note - I've been looking at Katie and LizN's new team..... and I've looked at their inspirational photos for today. They do look good - but hell - I can match that... (LOL - I've been drinking too Katie) I might do it on the quiet and see how I go (its very quiet when you publicly announce it on the internet isn't it? - well not many people actually read my blog - so I might be quite safe) Anyway - lets see who ends up the biggest....
And I may be injured - but there is always something you can do exercise wise....I've been doing bench pressing, incline abs work, seated quads work, pull ups and even one legged deadlifts.

Cardio is a real challenge at the moment - I was able to use the elliptical when I did my hamstring - but I tried this tonight and its definitely a no-go at the moment -the only thing I think I could do would be rowing (and not push with my left left calf) but I don't have a rower at home Could this be an opportunity to convince my hubby to lift the 12month ban on buying anymore fitness equipment??? - after all - I have served 7 months of my sentence.... I think I might be pushing it - but I can always ask. I spied in the sports store a few months ago a recumbent bike that converts to a rower - I don't have either of these - any one know what they are like?