Fit Mumma

Art Journal, Week 7: How do you attain balance in your life?

This prompt required me to complete two pages in my art journal this week.

The page on the left reads:

Striving to find true Balance (natural balance) - seeking the sanctuary within.

The quote says:

Practising gratitude helps us find balance among life's stresses, worries and fears. This harmony lets us become more appreciative and less concerned with expectations created by ourselves and others and allows us to take the challenges of the day in our stride.

My own writing that I added says:

Balance to me is like a see-saw, when you give full attention to one area of your life, than other area's are not receiving your attention. That's totally okay by me. The true "balance" I seek is a balance within, to be centred and strong.

The journal on the right hand side reads:

My life is full and more than I ever would have imagined. I am Mumma to three wonderful children - all perfectly special. I am wife to Nathan - my very best friend and soul mate. I love him ore every single day. He is a fabulous husband and father. We share a wonderful family and life. 2012 marks my 5th year as a full time stay at home Mumma. My hardest role yet and of course it's the most rewarding "job" I've ever had - I am so very fortunate that I get to spend so much time with my beautiful children. The time goes by so very quickly. 2012 marks Mikaela starting Grade 6 and Joshua begins preschool - sometimes I feel that time is RUSHING by- like white noise. Other times a very simple and perfect moment can feel as though time stands still. Sometimes I feel at a loss because I feel I have no clear objective, no focus, no job - no projects to work towards - being a stay at home Mum can be tough in this regard - it's not full of accolades and bonuses. Yet what could possibly be more important or rewarding as raising my children? absolutely nothing!

Futher to the art pages themselves are some further thoughts I have on the matter. It's not as though having a job will give you more balance. It would give me some "time out" from being full time Mum, teacher, counsellor, aid & nutritionist expert (ha!). I know that having a job does not mean that a person instantly feels they have "clear objectives"... as far as life goes. I mean I know lots of people who have jobs... and may still struggle with the big questions of "what am I here for". Not many have jobs they LOVE.. many are just paying their mortages, or rent, bills and doing what needs to be done. 

Clearly I am here to be Mum, first and foremost at this stage in my life... and I do love being able to be with my children. However, and there is always a however... there are some very small and simple desires I have, one example could be that I would like for ONCE my home to be clean for an entire day. I have daydreams of way-back-when - I would leave my house tidy (mind you, I only had ONE child at this stage, not three)... and I would come home and it would STILL be tidy. le sigh. I am aware {on a logical level} that a tidy house is a silly desire with a busy family, where the home is daycare centre - minus all the other staff to help...

Reminds me of this quote:

Then there are the many projects in hand, albums, pages, scrapbook projects... jewellery, oh the list goes on and on... the kids school scrapbooks. But where oh where do I find the time?

I feel that I am missing out on all those magic moments because I am not documenting them and capturing it all so well at this stage. yes, all the magic is occuring, daily... I just don't have time to get it down as often as I once did.

As the draft of this post is interupted by the tears of my 2 year old... and I stop to console him and snuggle him close to me as he falls back to sleep... I am reminded. Those project's really don't matter at the end of the day. Not much else matter's, aside from being present and in the now, as much as you can with your children. And for this reminder, and my days at home with my children, I am very blessed.

So there you are, my page for this week's challenge. Balance, something which I think is hard to attain in day to day life... but something I strive to attain within.

What are your thoughts on balance, and how do you attain balance in your life?

Previous weeks journal challenges can be found here. Feel free to join in at any time.

Happy Creating.

Bxo

Weigh in Week 6 of 2012...

Sheez, I've skipped a few weeks due to being on holidays, without my scales.

So what happened during that time away on holidays... well I gained a bit more weight. I know, disappointing!

When I got home last Thursday the scales let me know I was 65.6kgs... and I'll be entirely honest here: I could have done a "one day late Wednesday weigh in post" but I so didn't want to admit to gaining more weight.

I thought letting you know I've lost some of that weight in the past {following} week would be much better. Well I feel a little better. Smidge, tiny bit better.

WEIGHT THIS MORNING:     64.1kgs

Loss from last week of:            1.5kgs, which is  a great loss...

But it does not detract from the little(? major) problem I have of getting to near goal weight (which may or may not be realistic, tho stats tell me it is... and when at 59kgs, I felt I could still lose another 2kg)...

WHY (oh why??) do I then go and put 5kgs back on? 

Am I the ONLY freak this happens to? Far out. I am not all {drama queen} shattered about it, simply because I know I am about to embark on another 12WBT round... and I can still fit (quite snuggly) into most of my clothes... but that's really not the point or issue is it?

I am determined to get to the bottom of the WHY to my little 5kg pendulum swing this year. I am committed to doing all three rounds back to back (which I've never done) and I am committed to breaking this yo-yo cycle for good. Cracking that nut which is my mind, which I feel know is holding me back.

Consistency will be my Queen for 2012.

My previous weigh ins are here.

Bx

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

Variations on what is honest...

I find this hard to digest at times... that honesty has a variation, really?

For me it doesn't... I express my heartfelt truth here on this blog... which includes both GOOD & BAD days.

Sometimes I post the "rainbow, light and sunshine" stuff... sometimes I post the blue and down and out, even BAD days...

Then there is the grey, the variations... it's not intentional - I am not lying as such, but you can be sure that when I am posting the same kinda post for about 7 posts in a row... I may be having serious trouble with my sticking to my nutrition plan, or exercise agenda - and you can be sure I am having issues if I clearly ignore addressing those matters here. I see it in many other blogs too.

Which is the case with my intended "Wednesday weigh in" posts... I think know I've missed the last two of them. The truth remains, even if I don't post about it... I've gained 2kgs (and lost the same 2kgs) many times in the past few weeks... & I am in struggle city to rid them for good... and get down to the late 50's where I was just a few weeks ago.

I am trying very hard not to get down about it... I am still training heaps, and each day is a new day that I try and stick with a low cal nutrition plan. Or I could just give myself a break and try maintain where I am at. For now.

Where is that? Right now I am 62kgs and I really don't like it... tho most peeps say they can't tell.. and I am quite sure they can't. I can.

Here is the thing for me though... I have to question whether I get obssessed... then I found this quote on a great blog today:

Which makes perfect sense to me. Most the time I choose to describe myself as obsessed would be when I am feeling lazy and trying to worm out of a workout... or eat something I know I would be better off not eating. So no, not obsessed, just dedicated. Check.

I have to ask myself if I am really eating enough when I stick with my nutrition plan? No, not likely. I eat less than the recommended 1200, I shock my body to lose those last few kgs... then surprised {really??} when they return super quick. I know I need to add in protein drinks, and I will do so in the next round. Check.

I exercise like mad {not total crazy}... I love it, so that's not an issue, except when I go overboard and need to take a forced break for over doing it. My PT's both frequently telling me to take it easy.

So... it seems to me that the question I must ask myself is - do I need to find some more balance? The resounding answer is a big YES.

Right now it's nearing Christmas... and I have a clean, delicious & healthy menu organised. Plus a couple of small indulgences. Lucky for me as a Stay at Home Mumma... I don't have many parties to avoid, or tempt me... I have two this year, and both have been fine.

I do however want to enjoy my holiday with my family... I'll stick with a clean diet most of the time, and induldge a little.

As Mish says... while on holidays', I am in maintenance mode... my aim is to come home the same weight as I was when I got on the plane at the start of my holiday. That's realistic, that's achieveable.

There is a gym where I am travelling to, and I have lots of awesome workout's planned... but I will not expect to see anymore weight drop off me until after I get back from my holiday's. Okay, I can deal with that.

As a new year begins... what does 2012 bring for me... MUCH more of the same.

With.

Balance.

Added.

And a renewed desire & passion to reach my goals... each day I am closer than the day before, that's for sure. This time last year... I did not have the muscle definiton I have today. This time next year you can be sure I'll be even better. This fitness journey, has no ending... it's my life.

As my PT Fiona says to me... she has been doing this long enough... over 25 years to know that there is a cycle... I have only been really committed to this for 18months... and when certain area's of the cycle arise, I freak out - I need to ride the wave and just keep going. Which is exactly what I do after the initial freak out subsides. It's all good.

Image from here.

 

I post this for those of you who think you are the ONLY ones on the planet who EVER deviate from your clean nutrition plan.... ah HELLOoooooo?

People who can and do stick to it religiously, I admire tremendously... but for me, it's just not so simple or easy to do it 24/7/365-366. And I am still perfect, just as I am. SO.ARE.YOU! Just sayin'.

Love out.

Bxo 

My PT laughs at me...

... yesterday having a little chat about where I am headed, what I am trying to achieve {what I am trying to figure out on}...

Then I started lamenting the fact that I feel like I get SO NEAR to my goals... then I just lose it at the last turn, so to speak.

He burst out laughing!

Me: WHY are you laughing at me? I pathetically enquired...

PT: ah, because you HAVE met your goals ! he responds rather firmly.

Me: oh yeah, I guess I just keep shifting the goal posts, I say meekly.

PT: yes you DO.. shake of the head and more laughter.

Sometimes it's good when someone laughs at you.

It's not like I am not aware that I keep shifting the goal posts... I mean I know I do that... but I forget I guess. I have a figure, a number, a time, a goal in mind... likely to be a slightly exaggerated & at times unrealistic goal... and if I get close, but not quite there then I get upset with myself.

Tactic to play self-sabotoer perhaps? Naughty naughty little sub-consious, I know what you're up to !!

Bxo

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

Sexy eating...

Eating well can make us sexy, right? yes I believe so. Eating is also about nourishing... and most interestingly... I firmly believe that a particular diet has the ability of healing our bodies.

Anyone else addicted to those health shows... like "Eat Yourself Sexy"... I *heart* this show. It is the kinda affirming and inspiring show that I just love to see.. to watch the transformation journey of women who are eating their way back to sexy. Loved it. I taped every episode and would watch them when I got a bit of free time, pot of tea... fast forward through adds. Bliss.

I was delighted to find that host, Sarah Wilson had created this little e-book:

For me, eating is all about fuelling our bodies, and nutrition. In our former home {where there was enough room} I had a sign in our kitchen, that read NOURISH... not eat or kitchen or even Cucina... but NOURISH. This was intentional, to keep me mindful that the food I prepare for my family needs to NOURISH them.

It's not always easy, and I do a lot of reading and devour books on the way of life I aspire to living. I've always been interested in the simple and holistic way to eat and live. That food can heal.

Right now my main focus is simple: SANS SUGAR basically...

It's no secret that it's really wicked stuff that sugar !!!

Recently, I found myself seeking out my favourite little protein bars, only 120 calories you know! I know I was craving the sugar more than the protein. High performing elite althetes will simply have a chocolate flavoured skim milk (600mls) after an intense workout. Why did I need a protein bar? Sugar. Simple. 

I am keen get this book (it's in BIG W). My good friend Vanessa told me about it recently... and I am looking forward to reading it over our Christmas holidays:

Mmmm... every now and again we need to go a bit further down the healthy eating approach. So I got this book recently. Having a clip out from one of my WellBeing magazines attached to my fridge for about the past 15 years... this book is the encyclopedia of juicing. And I love it.  I love the clean, raw, simplicitity of a juice. I particularly like the section of the book which lists juices for ailments. And while I am well aware there are sugars in fruit and veg.. it's not artificial or synthetic, it's about making the decisions that feel right for you {and your family}... 

I've mentioned Karen and Louise on this blog previously... and I refer to those books quite regularly. This book is my BIBLE too.

Last night, while researching some juicing ideas, and recipes... I came accross this women, Kris Carr. A.M.A.Z.I.N.G... I am definitely getting this book for Christmas:

Moving foward over the next few weeks, through the silly season... I want to grab myself an art journal, to be slower, more mindful... reflective and deliberate with my choices and direction. I want to create some daily pages...  to get back into touch with the teachings of Julia Cameron. To mesh it all together in one big smushy, squishy page of life... my family, nutrition, exercise, heart, soul {my body, mind and spirit}... all blended together.

I will start creating some "love lists"... and be more gentle with myself, practice more yoga and meditation, have some candlelit bath's.

This is where I am at right now.

Happy First Day of SUMMER !!!

Let the silly season begin... I am ready!

Hugs

Bx 

Still resting and eating clean...

I'm still not able to do any kinda exercise that impacts my Adductor Magnus... that limits me to upper body only.

Yesterday I had a great upper body circuit workout with my PT, Fe... she gave me a great "21s" session... 21, 18, 15, 12, 9 and 6... of a variety of stations. Was awesome & hard.

This morning I was out the door at 6am... I took a very leisurely road ride {I assure you!} to meet IronMum and help her train a good solid run for her upcoming half IronMan. She smashed it !!

The still of the morning, the calm of the lake, and the sun rising... got me to thinking how very lucky I am to be living this extraodinary life... very simple, very ordinary... but also quite extraordinary. I am very grateful for all I can do, for having an awesome trainign buddy... for the three beautiful children I have... and my fabo hubs, for my friends and family. Life is good.

Very good indeed.

Hugs

Bxo

Back in the saddle...

Ride this morning was a fabulous workout. I LOVED IT!!! And burned some 580cals or so for my efforts. That's a HUGE effort for me... 

 

my little feet spinning as fast as they can!

 

My fitness has come so far in the past 6 months {even with my injury}. I used to think I could only burn 350-400 cals per session because I'd reached my weight goal... and my BMR was low and therefore my ability to smash my sessions by way of calorie usage was limited. NOT SO... apparently I just wasn't working myself hard enough.

That said, I don't always work myself as hard as I did today.... probably 4-5 out of 10 workouts a week are ones where I am quite sure I could vomit. Nice hey!

We had two instructors today, twice the amount of fun :)

And I got myself this little gift today:

My heart desires a few other colours, my wallet does not! The fushia and jade would be nice tho!

And my darling toddler boy had himself a kip on the way to school pick up. Bless him!

I've had a rough few days... gained a cupla kegs (3 kilos)... beating myself up about it. Soooo helpful! Also TTOTM and lordy knows that is a hormonally challenging time for the entire household. Oh the joy! NOT to mention the FRICKEN injury that is going to take another 2 months to fully heal.

I had dreams of running again.... like SOON, not later!!! Frick it - that is another (whole other boring) post. Le Sighhhhhhh!

So I wallowed, and I am still kinda wallowing some.

But I decided to give myself a fricken break... to look at the positives of my fitness journey and be grateful for how far I have come, for all I have achieved, and for what I am capable of.

It's pretty darn good really.

If you are being all nasty with yourself... write a grattitude list my friend... you will surprise yourself, I promise. You ROCK way more than you think you do :) Certainly WAY more than that nasty pasty little inner critic, who knows nothin' !!!

Love out.
Bxo