Fit Mumma

Art Journal, Week 5: Who inspires you?...

Wow, week 5 of our challenge already? fellow artistians... let's get creative once again!

Week 5: who are the people who inspire you the most?

Yes, of course I AM INSPIRED by the greats... Michelle Bridges, Jillian Michaels, Lindsay Vonn, Dara Torres, Gabrielle Reece, many australian female athletes (far too many to list here)... and a few great men too. It's really another post entirely.

However, for me, my main inspiration is definitely my loved ones. This post is one that sums it up very well for me.

Sometimes with these prompts, and pages... I find there is just not enough room for all my words. If I know I want to include a lot of journaling, usually I'll do a two page spread... or I'll type out my journaling and then add strips of text to the page.

This page is a good summarisation of who inspires me:

I am inspired by my children and my husband.

My friends, everyday people with jobs, family's ... very full life's with/or without children, demanding jobs, various activities to juggle. Everyday people with everyday challenges -striving to be the best version of themselves daily. And managing to almost always get their workout done. Love that!

FIT Mums... I have to include this because as a Mum, it inspires me immensely. I have three little ones and trying to fit everything in some days can be really tough. The ONLY way for me is to do it early. I have to get up at 503am to make it happen. I am a cranky & grumpy cow on mornings I don't. Yikes! When I meet up with other Mum's who are juggling and balancing... I have respect that they manage all they do and still get their workouts done, they make a commitment to themselves and stick with it... everyone benefits, they do and so does their family.

So, spill - who inspires you? Linky love here and we'll all admire your creativity, muchly!

Love out

Bxo

6km run in Adelaide Hills...

And my merelles finally got a run in !!! It was an awesome run.

My first real run since Sydney City to Surf August last year.

Felt good. Injury still niggly, but that's just how it is to be.

Gorgeous scenery, the hills {OUCH} and the vineyards.

A beautiful day... Can't say how fast I went, no Garmin. I only know it was 6kms cause my lovely sister in law mapped it on google for me.

Enjoying our holidays... Back to our usual routine in about a week or so.

Love out
Bxx

Art Journal, Week 4: Self Critic...

Hey there creative peeps.

Week 4: What are you hardest on yourself about? And how do you intend to improve eliminate that as best you can in 2012?

This page for me is about how I can be overly self critical, which really is just another excuse not to reach my goals. Sneaky little bugger that inner self critic. So the page reads "have you ever focused on the negative, been too self critical"

The way that I am going to work on turning it around in 2012 is with pure belief in myself, that my dreams will be accomplished, with some self love and lots of positive affirmations in the face of that negative self talk. One of the quotes is also a reminder that it's okay to push ourselves beyond what is comfortable. The page reads "absolutely believe in dreams accomplished. love. "I pushed myself hard because my belief is to always try to be the best in what you do" and Love your Body. Love your SOUL. Love who you are.

I mean, really? I am nearly 40 years old... sometimes I think "surely I must be getting far too old" for such issues... but one thing I have learned is that this life is an evolving story... that we need to work at some issues quite a lot before we can really be comfortable we have them covered.

What are you hard on yourself about, in general, or specifically? Can't wait to see your pages, purge all that negative stuff :)

Previous weekly prompts are here, feel free to join in at any time.

Love out

Bxo

 

The BEST running song ever...

If you can time it so that this song is playing during your last km of a race.

Crank it.

This was playing as I ran into the last stages of my (one and only so far) 10km race last year.

It was awesome. I didn't plan it that way, it is one of the songs on my running mix... and it came on. I ran my heart out to the finish line.

Of course, there's a story behind this song... my Mum used to play it a lot, and I think a big part of me hoped that one day she would just "pack her bags and walk out that door". She never did, but that was her story and her choice. Some love stories are not easy or simple.

I have no reason to do so... I am very lucky and grateful for my marriage and life.

Still every now and again, I crank this song and jump around, cause you know... it's a strong and fantastic track. My kiddies love it too.

It's nice to remind ourselves how very strong a woman can be. Are.

Bxo

Weigh in Week 3 of 2012...

63.7kg this morning. Tomorrow I could well be down 800grams, then back up again... that's how my body rolls. Le sigh!

And we are about to head of to South Australia for near 2 week holiday. Seems I am in maintenance mode... but I I am determined I will lose a few of those kgs before the next round of 12WBT kicks off.

Which is so soon. Yah!

So glad that many of you are doing it too.

Hugs

Bx

Doesn't everyone wear necklaces whilst riding?...

Well, I do.

So IronMum arrived at mine, as per schedule. I think she was a little shocked to see me in jeans, vest, necklace... and even a bit of make up on. Since White Knight is in the shop... I was riding My Lady bike instead.

This bike is freaky {well it's not, but it is QUITE different than WK and so it took a bit to get used to}... I was wobbling all over until I sat back, all harley like and enjoyed the ride... cushy tushy and all.

This is acutally the ideal bike to ride when doing support role for a running buddy... all the stuff {hydration & fuel} goes into the basket... and I just cruise along.

It was a good 40 minute ride... not a shabby pace, as IronMum is running like a speedster lately.

Happy Times.

Bxo 

Art Journal, Week 3: Favourite Sweaty Workout?...

Hi there art journal creative souls, I'm so happy to have you back here for some more creative fun!

Week 3: What's your favourite sweaty workout?

This is my page:

I think I'll add stamp a bike on there somewhere... or a silhouette of person riding a bike? yeah, I think that would work nicely.

So my favourite sweaty workout is definitely cycling right now, but I am getting back to my original love of running, so that may be back to my #1 love again soon.

However cycling is definitely giving running a run for her money so to speak... cycling is HARD, I find I can push myself much harder on teh bike than I can just running. Probably because when it get's really tough with running, I can walk (and that feels a bit like cheating or quitting - but even elite athletes will walk at times - just makes you use different muscles for a bit). I find with cycling I am usually climbing a hill at the time when I am really struggling, and there is no way I can stop or quit, or I'll fall off.Naturally the downhill allows some rest and recovery... but not for long. Running is just more, mmm... constant I guess, than cycling. Cycling is much more of an interval training session, smash, rest, repeat.

I also adore my yoga, but admit that I barely make enough time for it because it's not so much of a calorie burner as many of my other activities... I am trying to teach myself not to have such an 'all or nothing' approach to my training. That rest days are training days, and light workout days are essential.

Lastly, my favourite way to sweat right now is with weights... I am very lucky to work with two outstanding trainers... and both push me to my limits most every workout. Many workouts I am near to tears or being sick... not everytime, but at least 3 sessions a week, that's how hard I push myself. Afterwards I feel like gold.

I traced my hand for this page because it's my hands that help me do these workouts... my hands I protect with gloves, that change gears, hold the breaks, grip the bar, kettlebell, dumbell... raise me into a pose. These hands, my hands, work hard for me.

Thanks be to my spiritual guides for these hands.

Bxo

My first flat tyre...

Things were going quite smoothly... but a little slow:

IronMum was just ahead of me {as always} but this time she pulled away much sooner than usual, and by a LONG way... I mean I know she is an IronMum and I am just a mere mortal. I am also aware I am a little out of form. But, really it was a bit silly...

Until I realised, ohhhhh oh! A flat. Damn it! I managed to ride out to the Eagle Hawke turn around and sat on the curb of the service station... and felt sorry for myself (for a wee bit):

I tried to pump it up some, figured I'd just get enough air into it to make it back home (20kms)... nope. I thought about changing the tyre, but given I couldn't manage to pump it up, that would be pointless. Cursing myself for not going with my instinct and getting some of these:

So now that my White Knight was rendered near useless for the time being {it's now in the shop for an overdue first service}... it was time to call my Shinning Knight and get him to come get me. Then I got myself a coffee and the paper at the roadhouse.

And decided not to take it all too seriously:

A 1 hour road ride is better than no ride I figure. Not to say the achievement of finishing what I set out to do would not have been SUPER rewarding... it is what it is, and was not to be. So I decided not to get all cranky about it all day.

Incidently, I did let IronMum know I was going home. She went on to do a 105km ride and then a 5km run of the bike. Ouchie!

Happy Saturday... it's family movie night tonight and I believe it is some "Mr and a Penguin" the kiddies have selected.

Love out.
Bxo 

Star Wars and Ride class...

You'd think they had nothing to do with each other.

You'd think wrong.

Look who I found in my gym back this morning:

Cute huh!!

Actually this little guy is not a Star Wars dude, but we have SO MUCH Star Wars lego, it's really quite nuts. To me, Lego = Star Wars. That's how it goes in our home.

Star Wars M.A.D my husband has been for some many years. Now he is taking great joy in brain washing our kiddies.

Overheard this morning:

Joshua says: "Dad, when we play star wars, I'm going to be the goodie and you're going to be the baddie".
Dad replies: "oh well... I don't know about THAT"
Josh says: "but that's how it works Dad" !!! 

Nice!

Asides from all the Star Wars ... my RiDe class this morning was SU.PerB !!! Awesome workout, totally hurt and I got a great calorie smash in before 7am. The best time of day.

NOW, it was great to be up and at it so early this morning. At 523 am, not so much. Didn't get a great sleep, as my dear-near-11-year-old-daughter had two friends sleep over, and they were still giggling at 1am, when I got up to tell them to quit it!! Early this morning, it was a bit dark and it was COLD! 4 degrees cold! My legs were still sore from yesterday's workout, and it was an ouchie one indeed. 

But oh so very worth it :)

Love out

Bx

Weigh in Week 2 of 2012...

Whooooaaa, it's been quite a while since I last posted a "Wednesday Weigh In"... but it must be done.

Today I weighed in at 63.5kgs.

Not great.

That's 4kgs up from my best {close to ideal} weight of late last year.

It's not the end of the world either.

I know I will turn it around again - pronto.

I've done it many times... and that is the problem.

My 2012 goal is to stop the sway... to be consistent and content... not needing to "bust out" of my nutrition plan and fall back into old habits. Not resting on my laurels so to speak.

During 2012, in addition to my weekly art journal pages, I am also participating in Cathy Zielske's Move More Eat Well online class.

Here is a page I did for the class recently:

And hey, I am aware I look "fine"... and if you have a lot of weight to lose you may think "what a whinning bi-atch"... and to that, let me say this:

• It is about health and making the most of this life and our bodies.
• It is about eliminating sugar.
• It is about having a clean diet - for HEALTH reasons, not just weight (which is also a health issue).

For me, I don't want to let the kgs creep up year after year, so that in 10 years I am in the obese range. I don't want any diseases to manifest in my body that I could avoid, or elimiate with a good nutrition plan and exercise.

So yes, I can appreciate that to some of you will think I am a big-sooky-lah-lah. That's okay. When you get to those last few kgs... then come tell me how you're doing with it... because it's not easy (for me). It may well be easy for you... then I definitely want to hear from you, and you can give me some pointers.

2012 I will to get to the bottom of why it's not easy for me, and kick it to the curb for good.

The other factor to a health/fitness/nutrition/weight loss journey...  is that it is all relative... we all have issues to work on, we are all coming from different starting points, and have different goals, aspirations, different motivationing factors too. I have this blog for the support and encouragement we offer each other. The only person I am ever competing with is myself. That is hard enough, I don't need to compete with anyone else. So if you ever come here and think "oh, well.. I'm not doing that, or this, or that" and think to yourself that this blog is not for you... think again. Because it's so very true, that "we're all in this together" as Ben Lee would sing.

I turn 40 this year and I know I will be fitter, leaner and stronger than ever.

We all will be!!!

Peace.

Bxo