Did I tell you that I am officially going to be a fitness instructor? Sshh - the words not quite out yet, but I was offered a community grant to do my Cert III in fitness, and the grant will cover the course fees, registration, insurance, first aid cert etc. In return I have to provide fitness classes in my local area (small town - not the big one where the gym is) for two years. A sizeable commitment I know, but then its something I've always wanted to do, and I do several classes a week anyway - will just be able to replace one with one of these.
Betta get the body back in shape then hey? I have gained some weight but the interesting thing is that now that I have a flat tummy - its not so obvious - everything remains in proportion. Fitness wise I seem to have regained this fairly quickly - managed to do Spin, followed by Combat the other day with no real difficulties. Not bad I guess for still being only 3 1/2 months post op. The abs however are still struggling. Whenever I work them out I experience spasms/cramps afterwards if I go straight into another movement. Oh and I also found out that when I set myself a complex exercise target hanging from the chin up bar that this was impossible - just hanging and stretching the scar hurt! So I'm not quite there yet....
Lastly - another shhhh - did I tell you I'm getting a tatt? I've become quite obsessed with them over the last few years, I particularly love tribal arm/shoulder tatts like Shannon has on the biggest loser, so I've finally decided I'm going to get one. It has to be a lot more discreet for me given my job - so I'm going for the lower back. Have chosen a design and just waiting on a quote.
And one more thing (I know the last comment was meant to be the last one), I seem to have become a TV Star - well locally anyway. The local gym are advertising their weight loss/fitness challenge and asked if they could use my before and after photos in it. They were only meant to flash on the screen...... except the ad seems to be shown about 50 times a day and people are always telling me about it. Oh well - if I could inspire just one person to lose weight, it would be well worth my embarassment!
That's it for now - might be back soon with photos of my tattoo - but shhh re this - I'm not even telling hubby!
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Tour Down Under 2009
I have officially toured, and earned one of these: 
Here's the lowdown of my experience - probably more for my own records than anyone else's interest!
The day started at 4.30 am. We had to be on the road by 5 so it was an early start. As we drove out of the caravan park - we saw a few groups of cyclists riding from West Beach I assume to the 155km start at Burnside - gee that's keen!
I dropped hubby off at Mt Pleasant at about 6.30 am. We had already been caught in slow traffic on the roads - so many people heading up there with bikes! I was a little disappointed that I wouldn't be joining him on the 97km route that I had trained so hard for, but we had driven around the course two days prior - and I had to admit that I had made the right decision. There was no way I was fit enough for all of those steep hills - and there were soo many of them!
I arrived at Angaston at about 6.45am and discovered that nothing was really set up as yet. Registrations didn't start until 8.00 so I walked down to the town for some breakfast. Back again at 7.50 - racked the bike, and stood in line for registrations to open. I have to say I was impressed with this system - it was so much better than the running ones I have been involved in previously. I had been given a wrist band earlier - and all that was required was a bar code scan and I was done. Excellent. Well - now its 8.01 and I had to kill 2 hours before the ride was due to start at 10.00. Walked around, sat in the sun (it was freezing) and eventually moved to the shade when it did warm up. It was a sea of yellow.
Eventually the race briefing - there had been two accidents already- and then we were off. There was self seeding - 3 categories - 20km/hr and under, 20 - 25 km/hr, and 25km/hr and over. Had I been fit I would definitely have put myself in the fastest group - aiming to ride at about 30km/hr - but taking stock of my situation settled at the front of the middle group. I figured the slowest one was probably for mountain bikers.
Headed up the first hill and soon discovered that I was regularly overtaking other riders. I'd never ridden in a pack before so this was a new experience - learning the hand signals, and how to overtake without running someone over or getting in someone else's way. It was also difficult as the roads weren't closed to traffic, so you had to be very careful not to pull too wide and not be able to get back in again.
I soon settled into a niche spot and felt good. I some early signs of stitch which had me worried - but they disappeared quickly - and I had no other issues with my tummy for the duration of the ride. What was difficult was the hills. Whilst I could ride the flats at a reasonable speed, my reduced aerobic fitness was really obvious on the hills. I was out of breath quickly, like most people, I know, but normally this would have been a strength for me. I still had the leg muscles for it, but I had to breathe harder than I expected. I refused to stop on any hill, no matter how slow I had to go, and I'm pleased to have accomplished this. And there were a lot of hills. The final third of the ride from Nuriootpa to Angaston was relatively flat however, and I picked up speed, and found myself passing a lot of what I would consider "big strong fit looking" men. I think they were a bit peeved to see little me fly past, but it felt good!
I would have liked to have done the 32 kms in an hour, but I had told myself that given the surgery, lack of training, and the number of hills, I should be aiming for about 1.5 hrs. However as I got closer to Angaston - I realised I would smash this - and finished in 1 hr 15mins. I was really happy with this! I am still a bit disappointed that I could only tackle the short distance, but thrilled that I was able to participate at all in the end, and earn my first cycling jersey.
I have really enjoyed the cycling lately, and have found that its a sport that my height ( or lack of) doesn't seem to disadvantage me. In fact, my husband commented the other day that he thinks I am probably a stronger rider up hills than him - he thinks it is the whole height/weight ratio ( he is quite skinny). I'm not sure what it is, but I think he's right. (And I certainly pack a lot of muscle in my thighs!) BTW Hubby finished in about 5 hrs - well done to him on practically no training!
Recovery for both of us was fine - no soreness - you gotta love this sport for its low impact and lack of DOMS.
I can't wait to do the next one - and clock up some decent kms!
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
4 weeks on
Hi all
Well - I was going to blog daily - and then I thought weekly - and then - heck its been 4 weeks!
Things are going really well - I love my new tummy and I have only minimal swelling in the evenings. Of course - now that my tummy is flat - my thighs look huger than ever - but ahh well - I can live with that.
I've gradually been increasing my exercise, whilst still ensuring I don't do anything "vigorous".
My specialist agreed to me doing the Tour Down Under - if I dropped the distance to 32kms and I will do it with my compression garment on - even though I shouldn't need to wear it any more.
Some of the things I have been doing include Wii Fit (my Christmas present) (and it is really low intensity), very low level X trainer (next to no resistance, steady, slow pace) recumbent cycling, and lots of walking. On the weekend I tried out my bike for a ride around the block and was thrilled to discover that it was incredibly comfortable and easy. I really don't feel like there is much pressure on the abdomen - it felt as comfortable (if not more) than walking. Since then I have been going for slow ambling rides in the evening. I can't believe how much I enjoy cycling these days - given its something I avoided for 20 odd years!
My weight is stable although on the higher end of normal. I'm not really concerned though as when I look in the mirror now (naked) I no longer feel like I look overweight. I'm 4 kgs above my goal - but hubby and I have joked that if I was going to lose another 4 kgs, I would have to take 2kgs from each thigh - cause there's not really anywhere else to take it from!
Still -when I get back to real training - I will try and drop my body fat, lean those thighs out and further expose my abs!
Surprisingly - the most difficult thing for me is probably work - as I find sitting at a desk leaning forward (and possibly due to the compression garment) quite uncomfortable. Most other things are fine. Just a few more days though and I'm off on my annual beach holiday - and I am sooo looking forward to it. Bring on the good life - me and my body are ready for it!!!!!
Well - I was going to blog daily - and then I thought weekly - and then - heck its been 4 weeks!
Things are going really well - I love my new tummy and I have only minimal swelling in the evenings. Of course - now that my tummy is flat - my thighs look huger than ever - but ahh well - I can live with that.
I've gradually been increasing my exercise, whilst still ensuring I don't do anything "vigorous".
My specialist agreed to me doing the Tour Down Under - if I dropped the distance to 32kms and I will do it with my compression garment on - even though I shouldn't need to wear it any more.
Some of the things I have been doing include Wii Fit (my Christmas present) (and it is really low intensity), very low level X trainer (next to no resistance, steady, slow pace) recumbent cycling, and lots of walking. On the weekend I tried out my bike for a ride around the block and was thrilled to discover that it was incredibly comfortable and easy. I really don't feel like there is much pressure on the abdomen - it felt as comfortable (if not more) than walking. Since then I have been going for slow ambling rides in the evening. I can't believe how much I enjoy cycling these days - given its something I avoided for 20 odd years!
My weight is stable although on the higher end of normal. I'm not really concerned though as when I look in the mirror now (naked) I no longer feel like I look overweight. I'm 4 kgs above my goal - but hubby and I have joked that if I was going to lose another 4 kgs, I would have to take 2kgs from each thigh - cause there's not really anywhere else to take it from!
Still -when I get back to real training - I will try and drop my body fat, lean those thighs out and further expose my abs!
Surprisingly - the most difficult thing for me is probably work - as I find sitting at a desk leaning forward (and possibly due to the compression garment) quite uncomfortable. Most other things are fine. Just a few more days though and I'm off on my annual beach holiday - and I am sooo looking forward to it. Bring on the good life - me and my body are ready for it!!!!!
Monday, December 15, 2008
One Week Down, Five to Go
Well the first week is over and I am feeling pretty much back to normal. I almost feel guilty having another week off work, even though it will only be two weeks that I will have been off and its recommended that you have 3 - 4 weeks.
On day 8 I started walking again (real walking I mean - where you actually put on sandshoes!). I walked 5 kms with no negative impacts. In fact, I've been measuring my waist/hips and scar and have seen the measurements drop every day so I take that as a sign that I'm not overdoing it. Today I plan a second 5km walk, and whilst I have so much time on my hands - would like to try and walk 10kms/day - particularly since I'm not allowed to do anything else.
Some exciting reflections:
I love my reformed body - I am no longer embarassed about my tummy - I feel that I have a normal body again. One of my original goals for weight loss was to "feel comfortable in my own skin" Ie to be able to just pull on jeans and a tshirt and not be worried about what I had to "hide". I got close to this with my weight loss, but there was always the issue of the saggy skin hanging over the top of the jeans, and no matter how much I lost it never seemed to change. Now it doesn't really matter what I wear, nothing will "hang o
I can see abs! I'm loving seeing the swelling going down and seeing ab definition - something I had no hope of seeing before. I can't wait until I can train again and really work on seeing a six pack.
On day 8 I started walking again (real walking I mean - where you actually put on sandshoes!). I walked 5 kms with no negative impacts. In fact, I've been measuring my waist/hips and scar and have seen the measurements drop every day so I take that as a sign that I'm not overdoing it. Today I plan a second 5km walk, and whilst I have so much time on my hands - would like to try and walk 10kms/day - particularly since I'm not allowed to do anything else.
Some exciting reflections:
I love my reformed body - I am no longer embarassed about my tummy - I feel that I have a normal body again. One of my original goals for weight loss was to "feel comfortable in my own skin" Ie to be able to just pull on jeans and a tshirt and not be worried about what I had to "hide". I got close to this with my weight loss, but there was always the issue of the saggy skin hanging over the top of the jeans, and no matter how much I lost it never seemed to change. Now it doesn't really matter what I wear, nothing will "hang o
I can see abs! I'm loving seeing the swelling going down and seeing ab definition - something I had no hope of seeing before. I can't wait until I can train again and really work on seeing a six pack.
Monday, December 08, 2008
I'm Home
Well I'm home and relatively comfortable, and having just read a few people's accounts of their "tummy tucks" I know I should consider myself relatively lucky. Its day 3 post surgery, the drains came out yesterday (they even offered to let me go home yesterday) and I'm able to move about ok and potter in between rests.
Having said this - it was not fun - in fact is was an awful experience - I'm still not sure if I would do it again knowing what it was like. I woke up feeling ok - but then slid into lots of pain within a few hours. Because of needing to wear the compression garment, and the fact that they were pumping me full of fluids, the pressure on my bladder was unbearable and I wanted to go all the time. But of course I couldn't move - so had to keep trying the bed pan which was awkward - yada yada yada. So they upped the pain killers (morphine) which worked and I finally (about 8 hrs later) I finally got some relief. But by then I was so doped up and not eating/drinking anything that I became incredibly nauseous and this became my main issue. I eventually stopped the pain killers about 2.15 on the day after surgery, and over the next 12 hrs the nausea subsided. Then it started again the next morning! I finally worked out that it might be the antibiotics - confirmed when they double dosed me and I threw up everywhere! nice! Anywhere from there on in, I stopped feeling so nauseous, starting eating and drinking and started to recover.
Now day 3, home, mild pain only and feeling pretty normal within myself. Hopefully there are no setbacks ahead - apart from wearing this awful pressure garment - which is the main source of pain
On the more negative side - they are insisting that I can not cycle for 6 weeks, and with the Tour Down Under only 7 weeks away- it would make it very unlikely that I would be ready for the 97 kms. I haven't given up though - when I go for my next outpatient appointment I will try again. They talk about no vigorous exercise - What is vigorous? if I cycle slowly on a recumbent bike with minimal resistance and keep my heart rate low , for limited periods of time initially- how is this much more vigorous than walking? I would think at 4 weeks this would not be very stressful on the tummy at all - particularly if its healed enough that I'm back at work (only have two weeks off). I will try again. I don't want to risk the results, but I want to be sure that the risk is real, and not just a standard line.
Anyway - tomorrow I start my walking schedule - I will aim for the block to start with
Having said this - it was not fun - in fact is was an awful experience - I'm still not sure if I would do it again knowing what it was like. I woke up feeling ok - but then slid into lots of pain within a few hours. Because of needing to wear the compression garment, and the fact that they were pumping me full of fluids, the pressure on my bladder was unbearable and I wanted to go all the time. But of course I couldn't move - so had to keep trying the bed pan which was awkward - yada yada yada. So they upped the pain killers (morphine) which worked and I finally (about 8 hrs later) I finally got some relief. But by then I was so doped up and not eating/drinking anything that I became incredibly nauseous and this became my main issue. I eventually stopped the pain killers about 2.15 on the day after surgery, and over the next 12 hrs the nausea subsided. Then it started again the next morning! I finally worked out that it might be the antibiotics - confirmed when they double dosed me and I threw up everywhere! nice! Anywhere from there on in, I stopped feeling so nauseous, starting eating and drinking and started to recover.
Now day 3, home, mild pain only and feeling pretty normal within myself. Hopefully there are no setbacks ahead - apart from wearing this awful pressure garment - which is the main source of pain
On the more negative side - they are insisting that I can not cycle for 6 weeks, and with the Tour Down Under only 7 weeks away- it would make it very unlikely that I would be ready for the 97 kms. I haven't given up though - when I go for my next outpatient appointment I will try again. They talk about no vigorous exercise - What is vigorous? if I cycle slowly on a recumbent bike with minimal resistance and keep my heart rate low , for limited periods of time initially- how is this much more vigorous than walking? I would think at 4 weeks this would not be very stressful on the tummy at all - particularly if its healed enough that I'm back at work (only have two weeks off). I will try again. I don't want to risk the results, but I want to be sure that the risk is real, and not just a standard line.
Anyway - tomorrow I start my walking schedule - I will aim for the block to start with
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Its all about to happen
Hi all
Quick post - pre-admission clinic this morning, and admission for surgery tomorrow! (and no computer access for days - this may be harder to survive than the surgery!)
Ciao
Quick post - pre-admission clinic this morning, and admission for surgery tomorrow! (and no computer access for days - this may be harder to survive than the surgery!)
Ciao
Monday, November 17, 2008
A Little Unbelievable
Well I've had a bit of a spanner thrown into the works of my Tour Down Under Training.
I received a letter from the hospital on Friday providing me with a date for my elective surgery - Friday December 4, only 3 weeks away.
What surgery you ask? I decided some time ago that I wanted to finish what I started with my weight loss, and have all the excess skin removed from my tummy - basically a tummy tuck. Its been two years since I decided, and since then I've been on the waiting list to see the surgeon, and then on the waiting list to have the surgery. I could have had it done quicker if I went private, but I weighed up the costs of private cover, plus the cost of the actual surgery, and decided I didn't mind waiting if it meant getting it for free!
I can't really believe that its actually happening and that in three weeks I will be without my little apron around my hips! Of course, it has come at a bad time weight wise - as for some unknown reason I have gained 7 kgs in the last 6 weeks - I have no idea how someone can gain weight that fast - I'm hoping its just a lot of fluid for some bizarre reason, and am now trying to do everything I can to lose as much as i can in the next 3 weeks. I'm also rather nervous about it all, but trying to just focus on all the positives.
I would love to read of others experiences with tummy tucks at the moment - so if you know of any links to relevant blogs - please let me know.
I received a letter from the hospital on Friday providing me with a date for my elective surgery - Friday December 4, only 3 weeks away.
What surgery you ask? I decided some time ago that I wanted to finish what I started with my weight loss, and have all the excess skin removed from my tummy - basically a tummy tuck. Its been two years since I decided, and since then I've been on the waiting list to see the surgeon, and then on the waiting list to have the surgery. I could have had it done quicker if I went private, but I weighed up the costs of private cover, plus the cost of the actual surgery, and decided I didn't mind waiting if it meant getting it for free!
I can't really believe that its actually happening and that in three weeks I will be without my little apron around my hips! Of course, it has come at a bad time weight wise - as for some unknown reason I have gained 7 kgs in the last 6 weeks - I have no idea how someone can gain weight that fast - I'm hoping its just a lot of fluid for some bizarre reason, and am now trying to do everything I can to lose as much as i can in the next 3 weeks. I'm also rather nervous about it all, but trying to just focus on all the positives.
I would love to read of others experiences with tummy tucks at the moment - so if you know of any links to relevant blogs - please let me know.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
