Fit Mumma

Art Journal, Week 9: What have you learnt about yourself during your fit and healthy journey?

So here we are at Week 9 of 2012 Art Journal Challenge.

This weeks prompt... What have you learnt about yourself during your fit and healthy journey?

I have learnt that I am strong... in heart & mind, body & soul, here's my page:

Sure sometimes during an intesive weights session, a long run, or bike ride... there are moments when I don't feel very strong. There are moments where I feel very un-strong!

Then I push through... and I know I am making myself strong. I know that my body is much stronger than I give it credit for.

There was a time when I could only barely run 5km, then I ran 3 half marathons in 2011.

There was a time when I would never have imagined riding 20kms... yesterday I rode 75km.

There was a time when I would never have believed I could do the cross-fit style workouts I do with my trainers. neeeee-VER! I do them at least 2-3 times per week.

Today I am doing ALL those things, and more... and it's a wonderful feeling to know how strong I have become and the positive role model I am for my kiddies.

We really are so much stronger than we realise.

What have you learnt about yourself on this fit and healthy journey?

Love out

Bxo

Flowers on a Friday...

Pouring with rain this morning put a stop to my road ride with the F.I.T gals this morning, which sucks.

Still, there is plenty to be feeling joy-filled about:

Image from here.

How sensational is this bouquet? Seriously breathtaking... just had to share.

My middle boy meets with his pre-school teacher this morning. Dad and I will be going too... just a bit of a meet and greet before he officially starts next week (on his sister's birthday!).

Our family nutrition plan sans gluten is going along well... and eating clean is becoming breezy again!

12WBT kicks off on Monday... super happy about that. 24 FIT gals have joined this round. Wonderful!

Looking forward to a big road ride and a few spin classes over the next few days, weather permitting!

I hope your Friday is awesome!

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

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

Art Journal 2012, Week 1...

Hidi Hi... and Happy New Year!!!  Welcome 2012. Over here is my word I've selected for 2012.

You may be interested in joining me for this artistic journey for 2012, here is today's prompt:

Week 1: 2011 Achievements

This is my page:

That naughty little butterfly got smudged, oh well.

I could have written much more here, things like ran over 500kms training for the marathon that never was, riding over 500kms, all the weights training sessions I did... doing push ups on my toes and with weights, doing unassisted chin ups... these things may not seem huge to someone who trains a lot. But to me it is HUGE. To a person who a year ago was not running or cycling... it's big stuff.

It's all relative and we have to {we must} CELEBRATE our acheivments and all we've accomplished in 2011... then we can tackle our aspirations for 2012. Positivity breeds positivity... so keep that in mind when you may be feeling a little self indulgent and writing lots of good, great - even wonderful things about yourself. It's not the "DONE" thing is it? well it is for super successful people, it's not about being up yourself, or "on yourself"... it's about treating yourself with respect and as you would your very best friend - with love.

So get to it... get out those kids crayons, mix some paint... let your hands get messy with colour. Enjoy and have fun with it.

Oh, and I have a little  secret about this artistic journey... some pages you may NOT be IN LURRRRRVE with. And that's okay... just shrug it off and create your next page... before you know it we'll have a whole book full {BURSTING} with creative goodness - the good, bad, ugly, gorgeous and all in between. It's life.

I'm so looking forward to seeing your creations.

PS. I used my dear hubs laptop to post this, so I am hoping the images are a little better than using my iPad.

Hugs

Bxo

Health, Fitness + Art in 2012...

So I've been thinking lately that I could combine two of my greatest passions... health & fitness + art.

What does that mean? Painting while out for a ride? nope, nothing like that.

More like a weekly art journal challenge, that I hope you'll come and play along with.

Here's how it will work. Each Sunday I'll post a prompt, or question... and you create a page in your art journal, or scrapbook page, or digital scrap page, or blog post... OR, heck... whatever you like really. Then you link to your creation in the comments.

It's gonna be awesome fun!! I hope you'll join in.

I already have the 52 prompts worked out for the year, but I am going to be quite fluid and organic with the project, and post what is relevant at that time.

If you are interested in playing along and getting started... here is the 'title page'... a "protection of the contents in this art journal" page.

You can use a new {blank} art journal, or recycle a regular book by applying gesso before creating your page.

I'm posting this from my ipad while on holidays.. so excuse the crappy photos and lack of links. Once home I'll post some high quality pics, lots of links for inspiration and ideas... and maybe even a little vblog :)

Sweat + Art = dream life

Hugs
Bx

People who sweat & inspire, call out...

Hey sweaty peeps...

I need your help... 2012 marks the year that this blog is going to become SUPER inspiring, SUPER lean, SUPER fit... just like me and you!

If you have a story to share, then I {and my sexy readers} want to hear it !!

My blog is all about inspiring people to get sweaty, eat nutritionally and be the best version of themselves...

If you've been doing that, or trying to do that... then I want to hear from *you*.

I'll send you a Q & A... during 2012 I will be doing weekly features on people {*YOU*} who inspire us all. You'll also need to send me some pics.

Give me your details by making a comment here on this post. Or email me here.

Love and sweat on...

Bxo

A Road Race & Art Journal Page...

This Sunday, is what is making me a little nervous today. That and I missed my training group, so I just grapped another... rode up behind 3 ladies crossing the bridge this morning, they were happy to have me tag along. I was not after about 10mins >> they were speedy-mysters!

Oh well... I am going to go out and do the course again in the morning... just to make sure I got it in my head about corners and gear changes... tho it will likely be totally different on the day. That's cool.

A little sharsie here. With my recent decent into the 50's... ie. by just a few hundred grams, I was inspired to mark my achievment with this page:

It's really nice to be able to follow up with this page, from the last one I did... which was sad and feeling all discouraged, but positive and hopeful at the same time... perserverence and consistency got me past that... and onto much bigger and better things... oh and a bit of faith in myself :)

As of this morning, I have 2.5kg to go... and by my progress so far this week {compared to last week}... it's gonna be a tough few weeks ahead. My body doesnt want to give it up!!!

Also has a lot to do with the increased calorie expenditure this week. Mish set us a challenge to burn 1000cals three times this week. So far I've managed two days. One more required, it will have to be tomorrow.

So this week my body is in panic mode... next week it will hopefully relax and let go a bit of weight? Will see.

Happy Friday lovelies :)

Bx

Going all the way...

So here I have made a little {mmm... okay 6+ minutes of my babbling} video just for you! I hear you groan, but trust me, you'll likey like, I hope :)

Basically a six minute ramble about my commitment to sticking with the next 6 weeks of the Michelle Bridges 12WBT program, of recording every little part of my nutrition. Which I have been doing, and now do not want to get complacent - at all. I really can't afford to if I am to meet my aspirations!! NOW is the time to really dig deep and work hard. 

This is the page I use in my food diary to record my nutrition plan & my calorie in/out details:

If you think it will help you, please print of a copy to use :)

Also mentioned in the video, Camel China Green Tea, Gunpowder Grade 1 - the box I showed is 500 grams and I paid $6.50 at my local Chinese Grocers. It really is the bomb!

I also mentioned I would linky link to the two other posts on this matter. Go here & here for those.

Here is my commitment to remain consistent with my goals and aspirations...

So, I am going all the way with this round of Mish's 12WBT, how about you? You going all the way with me?

Hugs

Bx

Protect this house...

I will !

IronMum has been in Kona to see the IronMan event... she came back with a little something for me!!

A little something, which she knows has huge meaning to me. This tshirt and the quote has special significance to me, and she knows all the reasons why...

Not JUST because of this video (which I've previously shared here) and the awesome inspiration that is the female athletes. Not just because my kids all sing the song & want me to replay the video clip over and over... not just because when they see me doing similar workouts at the gym, they shout across the floor "that's my Mum" {okay, that happened once, by my 2 year old Ben, very excited he was! watching me do clean and presses with a bar & weights}...

This tshirt is special, and significant to me because it is my "motto"... it drives me, and makes me want to work so hard, it's my reason, my fuel of desire to challenge myself physically every day. Protecting my children.

You see, when I was growing up... my Mum was not able to "protect this house"... in fact because of her lifestyle of drugs & booze... of victim-ism, violence and party party - I rarely felt protected, or secure.

Our home, our sacred space where we could grow and not be afraid to be ourselves... it didn't exist for me and my siblings. To say I had a tumultuous upbringing would be putting it mildly... my mother was/is a heroin addict, her husband too... and alcoholics... also violent and abusive. Not the best environment for kids to grow up in. Now that I have grown I realise she has her own story {as did he}, and her own tumultuous upbringing where she was unable to break the cycle. Even tho it was not great, it really was her/their very best. I am so grateful that I was able to break the cycle. For me. For my children. 

Some experiences can make you weak, or break you... and for some it just makes them that much stronger. As is the case with me. No I didn't have a great childhood... but I learnt so much about my strength of character, my perseverance, my compassion, ability to see the best... and to say no, not good enough for me! I came into my own... and I believed in myself and a better life for me and the family I was to have of my own.

Some things I learnt... my children do not give a hoot about my childhood {and nor should they!!} they only care about their own childhood... and how I make them feel. Rightly so! 

I also learned that everyone has a story, and each story is relative to that person, and their experience. Never assume, never think you know why a person behaves or reacts a certain way... they may have a story which - you could never ever have imagined. I learnt, too... to have compassion and to heal.

This is how I have been able to create a real home, a protective home, of love and security... for my children... I protect them, and I can protect them from any kind of destructive behaviour entering our home. That's not to say they have a perfect childhood, they don't. Just that I do my best every day to protect them, and to protect this house.

And I do.

I WILL.

Always.

Bxo

PS. IronMum, thank you for this gift & the gift of your friendship... of the many words spoken, and the many not required to be spoken,  just known and understood. Let's do this! xox