Smashin' it

Back into the weights room this week, and boy are my muscles loving it!  Legs on Monday, and I was busy pulling ugly-faces and grunting the entire time.  One guy at my gym calls it "porno face"... I dont know about that though, I think he must be doing it wrong!!!!   Drop sets on leg extensions really cained, and smith machine lunges made me see black spots in my eyes between sets.  I followed that up with 20 minutes on the cross trainer, and then when I got home last night I did another 20 mintues alternating jogging/walking on the treadmill, which near killed me!.  LOVING IT!!  I really missed jogging for 6 weeks, but now I need to get my stamina back to where it should be. 

Got up with sore legs this morning and did back and shoulders. I'm horrified at how my strength has diminished in these last 6 weeks.  I dropped my weights back and STILL really struggled to make 8 reps, let alone 10!  Patience... patience...

I love the start of the week cos my energy levels are high after catching up on all my sleep on the weekends.  My goal this week is to be in bed by 9.30pm each night, and I'm going to have a nice soothing Chamomile tea just before I hit the hay... that should see me snoozing in no time.  Was in bed last night by 9.20pm, but unfortunately Miss Elke decided that 3am was the best time to start barking and chasing wildlife through our yard...   When she did it for the second time in 10 minutes, my OH decided that the best course of action was to scream "ELKE!!!!!!   SHUUUUUT UUUPPPPP!!!" ... so if I wasn't fully awake before that, I certainly was afterwards!

I have just ordered some BSN Lean Dessert Protein Powder online today, and I cant wait to get it!  I'm like a kid at Christmas when I receive a box of supplements!

“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing.”
- Abraham Lincoln

End of week two

What a week! I am very VERY glad to see the end of it actually. My workplace is in turmoil, HUGE changes going on with lots of uncertainty, and its making for one very emotionally drained Hil when she gets home. My sleeping patterns are shite, and I've also attended a 2 day leadership workshop which killed whatever brain cells I had left this week!

SO my major obstacles this week have been tiredness and mental fatigue. Hit a wall on Thursday morning - I just did not want to get out of bed. I managed to talk myself into getting up, getting dressed and going anyway, which I was quite proud of! Anyway, I got to gym to find about 50 people milling about outside, the person who opens up in the morning hadn't arrived!!!!!

AAAAUUUURRRRRGGGHHH! I could have stayed in bed!!

Never mind, I got to have a good chat to some of the ladies, and I was just about to turn around and go home when someone with a key arrived (25 minutes after opening time). So I managed to get 30 minutes of cardio done before I had to leave to get ready for work. I was so surprised actually to see so many people go to gym at that hour of the morning. You normally dont notice because they're spread around the gym in different areas and rooms.

I also had to be careful at the training course at work - hard not to eat the food on offer. On Wednesday the morning tea food was pikelets with jam and cream, which I had no problem saying no to. Thursday I was feeling pretty tired and grumpy, and they had banana bread and date loaf!!! Oooooooh it was so hard walking away from that, but I did it and ate all my planned meals, including my own stir fries for lunch. God that banana bread looked good though. Being tired is just my worst enemy.

And yesterday morning I took my two week measurements and I have lost 10 cms in total!!!!! (Although I think I might have been very bloated when I took those beginning measurements!) Woohoo! Now I just need to relax and catch up on some sleep! Bring on that free meal tonight!!!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

This one got me through today...

Wow I have had a full-on day... I am shattered!

This one is helping me stay out of the pantry at the moment:

You can make excuses, or you can get results. You cant do both!

Tagged!!

Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about their seven things, as well as these rules. You need to choose 7 people to get tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged and to read your blog!

1. I am obsessed with all things Ancient Rome. Whenever anyone says "I wonder who invented such-and-such" you can count on me to reply "WELL... it all started with the Romans..." and I will natter on until their eyes glaze over.

2. I love reading multiple books at the same time. Currently I am partway through "How to talk to your cat" by Claire Bessant, "First man in Rome" by Colleen McCullough "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" by Betty Edwards, and "Ancient Rome" by Nigel Rogers. My mood dictates which book I will pick up and read on that particular day.

3. Every 3 or 4 years, I pick up my graphite stick and start drawing. I love drawing portraits mostly. The "phase" lasts for a couple of weeks, where I'll draw madly, and then suddenly I just drop it again and wont draw for another 3 or 4 years. I get a LITTLE bit better each time, but I never seem to get any worse. (one day I will post a few of my drawings)

4. I HATE having dry lips and cannot be without lip balm. I'd go as far as saying that I have a lip balm obsession. I have just counted 4 lip balm/lip glosses on my desk at work, I have another in my desk drawer, and there are four more in my handbag (not counting lipstick). At home I have one stashed in the coffee table drawer, there is another in the bathroom drawer, one beside my bed, and finally one beside the home computer. And I hate to admit it, but I just bought a "SPARE/BACKUP" chapstick on Saturday when I did the groceries!!!! Actually until I wrote this I never realised that I had a problem... Time for the straight-jacket do you think? LOL!

5. When I was a kid, I used to ice skate. In 1986 I was Queensland Champion in the Figure Juvenile Division, and at that years Nationals came 4th. In 1988 I came second in the state titles in Intermediate Division, and 2nd at Nationals. I had to give it up in 1989 due to the cost (it is a hugely expensive sport). I loved it and still miss it.

6. I can quote entire scenes out of Monty Python's The Flying Circus/Young Ones/Blackadder, as can my brother and dad. Used to drive my mum mental!!!

7. I danced tap and jazz ballet until I was 21. I also taught a beginners tap class at my dance school, for the younger ones.

I'm not tagging anyone because everyone seems to have been tagged already!

A post about nothing...

Well I've had another uneventful weekend!   On Saturday I got up and took the pooches for a BIG walk, and when I got back I jumped on the treadmill for another 15 minutes on incline (oh yeah - did I mention that we're "babysitting" a treadmill for a few months?  How cool is that!)  And now I've got freakin' shin splints!   Yeouch every time I move, walk, drive the car etc the outside of my shins hurt... last night I had a bag of frozen veges on my right shin, and a frozen breadroll on the left (note to self: must buy some cold packs) but I dont think it helped.  Not sure how I hurt them, maybe I need new shoes again.

I'm going to a baby shower next Saturday, so I went and bought a bunch of baby goodies.  This is getting freaky... I actually ENJOY browsing in the baby department now.  I spent about half an hour deciding what to get, those little booties and bibs are so cute!  Then when I get home I have to do show-and-tell with OH, displaying everything I bought... he seems to get a kick out of it though!   But I have to admit, I really dislike going to baby showers... seriously, a bunch of women going "ooooh" and "ahhhhh" everytime a present is opened??   I'm hoping there'll be alcohol there so I can make it through... hehehe

Cooked up a storm yesterday, prepared all my lunches for the week, and some of OH's as well.  I am chuffed to have gotten through this hormonal week without eating off plan, normally I want to eat the house clean of sugar... but not this month.  I even have ice cream in my freezer at the moment (a rare occurrance) and it will not get touched until next free meal... promise!!! 

Tomorrow morning I'm going to do another Body Balance class, that should be a nice and relaxing way to start a Tuesday.  At least it breaks up the monotony of the steady state cardio. 

Have a great week!

One foot in front of the other

Brrrr I have not been wanting to get out of bed these last couple of days, we're finally getting some cool weather YAY~!  These last couple of weeks I had become a bit sporadic with my routine of getting up and going to gym, so I feel a bit like I've got to create the habit again... and as usual the body and mind are protesting a bit!  A few more weeks of getting up at 5am will see me right, and I wont have to think about it anymore.

Some tricks I use to get myself out of bed on a cool dark morning:

Self talk:

"If you dont get up and go to gym, you have to get up and do housework instead"  (hmmm... gym or housework, I know which one I prefer!!  I'm good at making deals with myself!)

"Who do you want to be today, the old me, or the NEW me???"

or my favourites...

"Just get up you lazy sh!t!!!!"
"GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP" etc until I drive myself crazy and get up.

Tactics:

Sometimes I deliberately park my car behind OH's, then I have to get up and go to gym otherwise I block him in and make him late for work.

Alternatively I ask OH to turn the bedroom light on when he gets up (usually 5 minutes before me), so then there is NO excuse!

Put the alarm clock out of reach, so I have to get out of bed to switch it off.  Usually the other side of the room is good, unless you make the mistake of jumping straight back in bed - then its all over!!

Make promises to the dogs that I WILL walk them in the morning... I actually sit down, look them in the eye and promise them.  There is then NO WAY that I can look at their happy faces and break that promise!

Anyway, just over a week until I can up the intensity, and I cant wait!   Plain old steady state cardio gets a bit old when its all you can do for a couple of weeks!  I want my shoulders back!!!!

Til next time...

Back into it

Another busy week! As of Monday I have started another challenge, a 14 week fitness challenge. I chose 14 weeks because for the first two weeks I'm only allowed to do light cardio, so rather than just meander for the next two weeks I thought I'd get stuck in.

So I have written up my new goals and took my before pics and measurements on Sunday *shudder* and have been doing some light/moderate cardio each day. My focus is eating on plan and drinking my 3 litres of water, and I feel great. After these first two weeks are up then I'll be ramping up the cardio intensity and adding weight training back in. I miss it!

Went shopping at Lorna Jane on Saturday and tried on a few things, but ended up only buying a couple of singlets. I loved the 3/4 length pants, but when I tried them on I didn't like how I looked in the mirror, so I decided that this is what I will buy at the end of my challenge when I reach my goals! Something to strive for!

Went out for a work dinner last night and was very pleased with myself that not a drop of alcohol passed my lips - especially since everyone else was drinking. I nursed a very flat diet coke all night and made a not-too-bad choice for my meal. And unfortunately, though it was an early night (got home by 9pm) I just wasn't tired and couldn't sleep again! Thats the trouble with going out on a school night! So now I'm very tired, and in need of a coffee!




Have a great week!

Things I wont miss....

10 things I wont miss about my glasses:

1. Waking up in the middle of the night and squinting blearily at the clock, desperately trying to see the time
   
2. Waking up in the morning and fumbling for my glasses before I can even set foot out of bed
   
3. Lying in bed and not being able to really see OH’s face (yes I was THAT blind! - about a minus 7.5 for contact lenses, for those who know)
   
4. In winter, going from a cool day outside to a warm house or shop, and having the lenses fog up… then waiting patiently for them to ‘unfog’ (similarly, leaning over a pot of boiling water, opening the oven door etc)
   
5. In the rain, having to constantly take the glasses off and wipe them, usually with my shirt.
   
6. Trying to put on eye makeup while squinting into the mirror, trying to see what I'm doing!!
   
7. Being in the shower and not being able to see the clock (or what you’re shaving, for that matter LOL!)
   
8. Feeling geeky, dorky and shy about just how THICK my lenses were
   
9. Trying to balance sunglasses over the top of regular glasses in a way that doesn’t make you look like a fruitcake
   
10. The fact that I would constantly push them up, even though they weren’t falling down in the first place!

Eye is doing pretty well. The left is still sore if I touch it (which of course I should'nt be doing anyway) and gets a bit sting-ey in the afternoons, but otherwise all is good! I drove yesterday for the first time, and it was great, my vision is so good. Its funny, every afternoon when my eye starts to get a bit dry and sore, the first thing I automatically think is "oh I need to take these contact lenses out... oh wait... I'm not wearing them anymore!"

This week I'm going to start writing up my fitness goals and get myself organised for when I can start training properly again. Only 2 more weeks to go, and then I should be ok to get stuck back in. Today I'm going to Lorna Jane to have a look-see, I've never really been in there so I think I'm about to do some damage to the old bank balance!

Have a great weekend!

Surgery Story Chapter Two...

I can see!!! I can SEE!!!!!

My left implantable contact lens procedure went really well on Monday, all my positive thinking must have paid off!

When I had my pre-op chat with my anaesthatist, I told her how last time the anaesthetic was the most fun part of the day (cos I got to see all those pretty lights!). She laughed, and then said that most people find that the second time around the drug doesn't work QUITE as well as the first time, and that I may find that I'll be a lot more "aware" during this second operation. UH-OH! Thats when I started to worry a bit... I didn't want to remember ANY of it!

When I got taken in the be prepped for theatre, the nurse there was the same one I had last time. She put gel in my eye and then said "Do you remember this from last time?".... "No..." I said. Then she put the electrode stickers on my chest and arms, and said "Do you remember THIS from last time?"... "No!!!" I said. LOL! She said that last time I was chatting away to them just before the op, I dont remember any of this!!!! I thought it was pretty funny.

Then I was given the drugs, and I got wheeled into the theatre. I was aware for quite a few minutes... I remember lying there looking left and right at all the equipment that was surrounding me. I wasn't afraid, more like interested. I think I blanked out for a while, but I came to with a bit of a start by feeling my eye being tugged around. Like I could feel movement, and the sensation of being poked and prodded, but I wasn't totally with it. From what seemed like a long way away I could hear my surgeon saying "Look up..... look down...." and I could feel my eye doing the things he said, but in the back of my mind I was thinking "Is he talking to ME???" (like, who else would he be talking to??!!!!!)

As soon as I got to recovery I laid right back, since this seemed to help last time. I stayed there for an hour before they tested my pressure, and then the nurse couldn't get the device to work properly, so we werent sure how it was going. I certainly felt fine, no pain, no headaches. My surgeon came for a look and said no, the pressure was high, so they gave me a tablet and put me on a drip. OMG the drip was horrible, the liquid was ice cold and it made my whole arm numb. The anaesthatist came and said that this drip would suck all the fluid out of my body (including my eye) so I might feel like I need to go to the toilet really soon... she said "You'll be fine, just cross your legs!!". Meanwhile I watched about 10 people arrive in recovery, and leave before me.... grrrrr very frustrating!

Anyway, 4 hours after surgery I was allowed to go home. Still a long time, but at least the pressure came down and I had no pressure headaches at all. I couldn't see a thing out of my eye that night, it was like someone had smeared a thick layer of vaseline all over my eye, it was worse than before the op.

Yesterday I went to see my surgeon again, and I couldnt believe it but I COULD READ THE BOTTOM LINE OF THE CHART!!!! I let out a little "WOOP!" at that!!! Everything is crystal clear and I cannot wipe the grin off my face, couldn't believe it - 24 hours after surgery I am CURED!! LOL slight exaggeration but I just cant get over how amazing it feels to be able to see, without any glasses or contact lenses!!

And now I get to relax at home with the rest of the week off work... hope everyone else is having as good a week as I am!

Happy Mothers Day!

Happy Mothers' Day to all the beautiful mums out there! I spent today with mum and dad and had a lovely relaxing day myself, even though I'm not a mum (well you cant really count fur-kids can you?)!

Not a lot to report this week, and I've not had much chance to blog either.

I got home on Tuesday afternoon to find that I no longer have a bedroom. My OH (who's a carpenter) has had a few days off this week, so he's gotten stuck into the renovations BIG time. So he demolished the bedroom - serioulsy, it looks like one of those places that got hit by a cyclone or something. The walls are missing and have been replaced by silver paper, half the floor is gone, and parts of new walls have been semi-constructed. I'm envisioning spiders, snakes and possums making themselves at home before we move back in. Anyway, because its in this state we definetely cant sleep there, so we moved the mattress out into one of the spare rooms. This spare room was actually the cat's 'bedroom' prior to us moving in this week, so you can imagine how annoyed poor Connor is at being chucked out of his room!

So with the change into a small bedroom, less than adequte curtains, a disgruntled and whingey cat, lots of road noise, plus a million things zooming through my mind, I got 2 hours sleep on Tuesday night. I did not get up and go to gym Wednesday morning because I barely had the energy to lift my body out of bed, so I figured that if I tried to lift weights then I would be more than likely to drop a dumbell on my head or something.

The last few nights have had similar scenarios, with both of us tossing and turning and unable to sleep. Friday morning I managed to make it to gym, got through a fairly pathetic shoulder/bicep session and then skipped the cardio and headed straight back home. I need some sleep. I'm actually looking forward to having this eye operation on Monday, because it means that I will be able to have 5 days of sleeping in next week!

Despite all this I have had some really good sore muscles this week, in fact I am still having trouble stretching my arms out horizontally due to suuuuuper sore chest muscles from Tuesday! My shoulders are sore from Friday's workout (which surprises me as I didn't go as hard as I would have liked). I tried a new exercise courtesey of an Elaine Goodlad Oxygen mag article, and the front of my shoulders are nicely sore. Will have to keep that one.

Anyway we are off to a Mothers' Day dinner tonight with OH's family, and then tomorrow I'm off to get my left eye chopped open... wish me luck!!!

Found 'em

Ahhh THAT's where my muscles are!!  I have found them again this week - I knew they were still there somewhere!  We had a public holiday yesterday, and I did the sensible thing and DIDNT take a public holiday from training and nutrition.  I did have a good sleep in though... niiiiiice!  Slept in til about 8, then got to the gym for opening time of 9am.  Did a fantastic leg session - I had my heart rate up to 170bpm during smith machine lunges, and had the wonderful sensation of trying to hold back from puking between sets.  After my second set I almost blacked out I think, well everything went a little dark for a second or two, and I felt dizzy.  Prolly went a bit too hard do you think????? :-)~

So after my nausea subsided I finished up legs and followed it up with 25 jelly-leg minutes on the cross trainer, and 20 mins incline walking, just to get the blood moving in my legs again.

I slept like shite last night for some reason, I think it was the fact that I kept hearing the rain on the roof... such a strange sound after so long!  Plus I could really feel the leg DOMS developing every time I rolled over... ouch.  I hit the snooze button I dont know how many times this morning, managed to drag my sorry butt out of bed - and made it to gym only 10 minutes late.  Did a pretty good chest/tricep workout too, considering I'm operating on 4 hours sleep!  I cant believe how quickly my strength has disappeared - I dropped everything back a couple of kilos, and really struggled to make the reps.  Still, I'm loving being able to feel it again!

I ended up having my ribs on Saturday night, and unfortunately they were a bit of a let down.   Actually it was the restaraunt service that let it down - it was like there was a bunch of 16 year olds running the restaraunt... I kid you not.  They ran out of clean glasses, I saw the "chefs" mucking about and downing shots of sherbert in the kitchen, and one of our friends saw one of them pretending to blow snot on somebody's food.... eeeewwwww... think I might think twice before eating there again.

Anyway, had another eye check up today in the city and its looking good - my vision has even improved a teeny bit since last time!  We're all set and on track for my left eye next Monday!

Til next time - train hard and be happy :-)

Ribs

I've had the most incredible yearning for pork ribs over the last 3 weeks or so... mmmmm falling off the bone and dripping with BBQ sauce, yum... each time I've had red meat I've thought to myself "Jeez I wish I was having ribs" so I am stoked to be finally going to go out for some on Saturday night!  I am going to savour every mouthful!

There's not really been a lot going on for me lately, and I scaled back my training this week so not much to report there either.  However I am very excited to report that I did a weights session this morning!!!!  I know I was meant to wait 3 weeks after the eye op, but hey, C'mon, its ALMOST 3 weeks isn't it???  No seriously, I didn't go too crazy, I was very conscious of not lifting so heavy that my eyeballs were popping out of their sockets or anything hehehe!  BUT it was so nice to be back in the weights room, and very happy to see that I still have some muscle left, although they ARE looking a little smaller and 'softer' than before.  So it was shoulders/bi's/tri's this morning followed by abs and 20 minutes on the cross trainer - looking forward to some sore arms tomorrow.

I've got all of next week to hit it hard at the gym until the following Monday, when I get my left eye done... then 3 more weeks of "gentle walking and no weights"  boo hiss  :((    Anyway, the plan is to do a really kick-arse leg session this Monday, so that by the following Monday my legs will be recovered enough.  You dont want to have eye surgery AND leg DOMS - that will just complicate things too much!!!

A funny thing happened to me today... I ate cottage cheese and I liked it.  I had the Bulla low fat one which has chives or something in it, spread it over a couple of plain rice cakes and topped it with chopped tomato -and I actually really enjoyed it!  Wonders will never cease!

Well anyway, this is a long weekend for Queensland as its Labour Day on Monday - so 3 days of sleeping in for me - yeeeeeehah!  Have a great one everyone!

The weekend

Wow what a fabulous day I had at the Qld INBA's yesterday! It was so inspiring to see all those gorgeous girls on stage flexing those muskels - almost made me want to get up there myself! It was good to catch up with Sue again - she is almost an honourary Queenslander by now! Thanks to Sue I got a great seat near the front, so we had a good view all day - although I was nearly deaf by the end of the show... the speakers were SO loud! You know when you go to clubs and the music is so loud that you cant even hear yourself shout? Thats how loud it was at the front! I had a headache by the time I left.

Tracey and Alicia looked amazing, both looked very confident and not at all nervous - way to go girls! Di and Deb also were fantastic, Debs physique has changed so much since I last saw her, all I could say was WOW! And Di looked so calm and confident, and her routine was one of the highlights of the show - fantastic!

The rest of the weekend was dull by comparison! I did however finally buy myself a new pair of jeans. I took Kelly's advice, and instead of trying on skinny leg jeans, I tried on the straight leg ones, and Kelly you were right - they are much less severe, and a little more flattering on me. I have to admit though, when I put them on to show OH when I got home (and paired them with my new knee high boots and stripey top) one thought kept recurring... "mutton dressed as lamb" !!! hehehe I had to ask OH "Do I look ridiculous? Do I look like I'm trying to look like a 16 year old?" Paranoid that I'm too old to dress like that. He assured me that I didn't look like I was "playing dress-up" in some teenagers outfit... anyway, I'm not 100% convinced yet!

I am also not 100% convinced that my eye has totally settled yet. Some days it feels better than others. Some days I get a funny 'sensation' in the eye - its hard to describe. I'm thinking of taking it a little easy this week in terms of training, especially since I was starting to hit it a little harder last week and my eye didn't seem to like it. In the grand scheme of things, a little more rest isn't going to make a whole lotta difference. Its difficult not to feel guilty about resting though.

My left eye is now scheduled to be done in 2 weeks time and I cant wait!

Here's a few photos from Sunday (sorry some are a bit blurry)

Alicia
Tracey

Di and Deb

Penny, Sue and me

20/20

Its official... the vision in my right eye is now BETTER than 20/20!!!!  I was over the moon when I found that out.  Went back to the surgeons office on Tuesday and found out that its all healing very nicely, my vision has now stabilised and the new lens is sitting in the right place.  Here's an interesting fact: did you know that 20/20 vision is actually the 3rd line from the bottom of the eye chart???  I didn't know that.  With both eyes open I can read the bottom line, but with my left eye closed I could sort-of read the 2nd bottom line.  Interestingly, he said that if I'd had LASIK instead of the ICL, we would be waiting another week to have the same result in vision.  BIG thank you to you all for your wonderful comments over my last couple of posts - I'm sure all your positive messages have added to a speedy eye recovery!

Anzac Day yesterday, I took a few moments to think about all those who have fought for us.  I have not been to an Anzac Day March in years though, and I think its about time I went to another.  I have a problem though, I cannot hear "The Last Post" without getting all choked up, teary,and goosebump-y.  Its a very emotional tune...  

Yesterday we went to visit a friend in hospital who had her first baby on Tuesday night.  So I got to cuddle a baby not even a day old!  Very cute, he was quiet as a mouse too.  Normally they start crying when I pick them up - I always thought it was me!!  And ANOTHER boy!!  I dont know anyone who's had a girl lately.  Must be something in the water.

Hit it a little bit harder at the gym today - did 30 mintues on the cross trainer - had my heart rate up to 150bpm, and then followed with 20 minutes incline walking.  Dont know if I did too much, as my eye feels a bit funny now.  I'm sure it will be fine.  I am champing at the bit to get back into weight training - cant wait to have some DOMS again!  I feel like my muscles are going to mush with all this waiting... oh well - only a week and a half to go!

Good luck to all the girls who are competing this weekend!!!  And I cant wait to see the Queensland girls in action on Sunday!  I promise I will take lots of pics!

I can see clearly now...

Its so amazing what doctors can do.  Imagine a doctor somewhere sitting there saying "What if we put the contact lens permanently INSIDE the eye...???"  Its just amazing.

Each day my vision improves a little more. I'm now at the point of wearing a contact lens in the left eye, and NO VISION CORRECTION in my right eye, and I can see almost as well as with glasses. My night vision is still off - I get some halo's around lights, which could make driving at night a little dangerous. Focusing for reading up close still gives me eye strain, but I guess its only been a week - things will only get better from here!

I was going stir crazy at home alone this week, so I went back to work on Friday. I got picked up as I wasn't confident of focusing well enough to drive myself. 6 hours in the office was enough, the airconditioning really played havoc with drying up my eye. It was getting really uncomfortable and my eye was stinging, so I got chauffer driven home again! What a life!

I've had a week off exercise completely, and I'm over it!  Since I'm allowed to do gentle walking, I went back to the gym this morning to spend an hour on the treadmill - walking gently. I'm really just going so that I dont lose my habit of going - if that makes sense  :-)  It took me 50 minutes to burn 200 calories!!!  OMG it was boring, but better than nothing I suppose.

In the past, a week of sitting at home alone (and being totally bored) would have spelled a nutritional disaster. I would have used it as an excuse to eat the fridge and pantry empty. So I'm very happy with myself that I have eaten 100% on plan, the right food, all my water, at the right times. This change in mindset has been slowly happening over the last couple of years, always with some slip ups though. I feel like this last week has been a bit of a breakthrough - almost a light-bulb moment! I'm feeling very motivated and inspired at right now - I know I'm going to lose a little muscle during this forced rest, but it doesn't mean I have to put on weight from overeating. One night last week I considered putting cheese on my salad, because OH was having it on his. I stopped and thought "will it REALLY make it taste THAT much better???" and the answer was no, so I didn't have it, and I enjoyed my salad thoroughly. So I'm feeling strong and I like it!!!

Had a little retail therapy this weekend, I bought some knee high black boots, which I love!  I bought them with a view to buying a pair of skinny leg jeans to wear with them. Hmmmm... might have to hold that thought for a few months. I tried on multiple pairs of skinny leg jeans in my normal size, and somehow they always made me feel like my arse is huge. Also, when jeans make you feel like your ankles are fat, its time to put them back. I know my ankles arent fat, but those jeans make you feel that way!  LOL!  These might have to wait a few months until I lose some of my wobbly bits!

Anyhoo - better get back to work - have an awesome day everyone!

Good Luck girls!!!!

Good luck to Deb, Tracey and Alicia for today!!!! Kick butt up on that stage - you girls will be fantastic!

I am so sorry I cant be there today, but unfortunately my vision for driving is not yet 100%, especially at night which is when I would probably be driving home. Dont want to risk that just yet.

But I will be cheering you all on from home and cant wait to hear how you all went and see some pics!!

Surgery Story

Warning: this is a long and probably boring post! Just had to share my lovely experience with you all!

I'm ba-ack! Well after a disasterous recovery in the hospital, I'm very happy to say that my right eye is now doing very well, and my vision is getting better every day. We have now popped the lens out of my glasses (because I still need the glasses to see out of my left eye) so I'm looking a bit funny at the moment, but hey- at least I can see! I've got a delightful blood pool in my eye now, which I'm told will last about 10 days... niiiiiiice!

The surgery itself went very well - the surgery was about 2pm. The funniest thing was the anaesthetic. I've never had ANY surgery before, so it was all a bit new to me. The anaesthetist put the needle in my arm for the sedation (note: NOT a general anaesthetic) and I got wheeled into the theatre. I remember saying to her "Are you sure these drugs are working? Cos I dont feel any different..." and I dont remember if she replied!! LOL! The actual surgery, which I was awake for, is a blur. I remember the fabric coming down over my face, and then I remember all these pwetty lights... it was like a kaleidoscope! It was like "oooooh loook at all the prreeeeety colours!" - I was mesermised! The only time I realised what was happening was when the fabric came off my face, and the lights went away - I was like "oh dont take the pretty lights away.... oh... OH!... the surgery must be finished!"

In recovery, the problems started. The eye pressure is supposed to be between 15-25 - they measure it with a little device that puffs air at your eyeball. Mine was too high. So I had drops to constrict the pupil, which should allow the fluid to move freely about your eye. Every 30 minutes or so they tested it, it was still too high, so I'd have more drops. My OH came in to say hi for a few minutes, then he left and I had more drops.

The pressure kept rising... now about 36... and I had a corker of a headache starting so they called the surgeon who said to give me a tablet which should bring the pressure down. And of course more drops. 30 minutes later and the pressure is still rising and the pain in my head is increasing, so the surgeon came down to recovery. One doctor puts me in a headlock while my doc inserts a needle into my eye (Yes I could feel this happen... not nice!!!!) - so instantly I feel all this liquid run down my cheek and the headache instantly disappears! Pressure is down to 10!! Yay! Also, amazingly, I can see clearly out of my right eye for the first time!! Then, more drops, more drops, the nurses ring OH and tell him we'll be outta there in half an hour.

Within 5 minutes the headache was back... also I'm starting to feel nauseaus (this was a side effect of the tablet). Over the next half hour the pain in my forehead rises to a searing pain, the pressure is back up, and they give me 2 nurofen and more drops, more drops. By now I'm starting to really worry, and feeling sick, and with the headache... I start to cry and cry, which I was sooooo embarrassed about. The nurses ring OH who comes and sits with me for the rest of the time.

The surgeon came back, tests my pressure which is rising again, and decides that the only other thing he can try is to do more laser iridotomy holes to see if he can clear the possible blockage. By now I'm dizzy and dry-reaching, and also being told NOT to vomit because it can disrupt the new lens in my eye... also, the entire hospital is closed - it IS after 6pm, the place is dark and everyone else has gone home!!

Over the next two hours I have more laser holes in my eye, and also more drops... endless eye drops!!!! The pressure in my eye was up to 43, and the pain in my right forehead was excruciating.

The scariest point was when the surgeon was poking my eye and I felt this searing pain shoot through my head and it seemed to last for ages. I jumped back with a cry and put my head forward... and when I raised my head I was blind in that eye. I mean there was absolutely NO vision in my right eye - it was black. He shone a bright light in my eye - I couldn't see it. I F-R-E-A-K-E-D!!!! I mean - I FREAKED!!! I broke out in a cold sweat, panicked, couldn't believe it that "I'd gone blind"! LOL In reality I'd over-reacted a bit. What had happened was that the blood vessels that connect to my eye had gotten a bit stressed; therefore blood flow had momentarily cut out, causing temporary loss of vision. Within about a minute I was started to see outlines, and in a few minutes I could see again... phew!!!

Eventually he said that if the pressure didn't come down he'd have to take me up to the PA hospital, as they had some other drugs we could try to use to bring the pressure down. We had ONE LAST GO at the laser iridotomies, as by now my pupil had constricted enough to allow enough fluid to flow. The laser was done, the headache started to ease, and my pressure went down to 15. Everyone in the room (4 nurses, the surgeon, and my OH) did a little happy dance!!! We had to wait another 20 minutes to make sure that the pressure really was staying down, and it did... so we got discharged, and finally made it home by 8.30pm.

So!!! I felt like I'd been through the wringer after all of that! I went back to the surgeon yesterday for a check up, and the pressure was 9. So everything is looking good. I've got a few more days off work, but I cant do much. I cant drive or anything.

I asked the doc yesterday when I can exercise again, and I'm not allowed to do any weight training or intense cardio for 3 weeks. As of now all I'm allowed to do is gentle walking - absoluely no jogging or cycling. I asked if I could put the treadmill on an incline and I was told a very very small incline. So I'm going to go mad over the next few weeks! Anyway, I can always regain my fitness, but I've only got two eyes so I'd better look after them!

Anyway, thats all folks! Hope everyone is having a great week and I'm off to read a few blogs (with one eye open of course!)

Here we go....

Cross your fingers for me... its nearly time!

If anyone is interested, here is a little bit of info about the procedure I'm having tomorrow - Implantable Contact Lenses... tomorrow is the right eye - the left will hopefully be done a few weeks later.

What are implantable contact lenses?
Implantable contact lenses are similar to the lens implants used for cataract surgery patients, and they can correct very high degrees of myopia. These lenses are still considered investigational, and long term studies are not complete.

Who is a candidate for implantable contact lenses?
At the moment people who currently have prescriptions that fall between -23.00 and +12.00 can have their vision corrected by this treatment. Astigmatism can also be corrected, provided that the strength of the astigmatism falls between -7.00 and +7.00. It is strongly discouraged that anyone over 60 goes forth with the procedure, as the recovery process is not as quick and as straight forward.

The Procedure
Currently, doctors can only implant one lens at a time, and patients have to wait two weeks in between procedures. In a painless minor surgical procedure that extends roughly over a twenty minute period, a plastic corrective lens is carefully placed between the patient's iris and cornea. Once inserted, implantable contact lenses work like any regular lens - with the added benefit that they do not have to be continually removed, inserted and cleaned in the interim. Ideally the lens can remain inside the wearer's eye for life, but should a complication arise it can be easily removed with no adverse side effects to the patient. From here the patient can go back to wearing eyeglasses, regular spherical lenses or opt to have a new implant.

The reason this process is receiving such positive reviews is largely because of the advantages it has over LASIK. Firstly, an implantable contact lens can be used to correct the vision of any person who needs eyeglasses -whatever their level of short or near sightedness. LASIK, unfortunately, cannot be so bold in such claims. Secondly, the LASIK procedure can dry out the eye which can impose serious discomfort on those who already suffer from "dry eyes." Lastly the implantable contact lens procedure is also open to those who have thin corneas (LASIK is not suitable in such cases.)

Possible Side Effects
The procedure has been accredited with a 95% success rate. However there are a number of minor side effects linked to having the implantable contact lens. Some patients have been known to develop glaucoma, and in extreme cases there have been reports of cataract development. There is also the ever present risk of infection setting in - the risk of this is minimal, but it is none the less a possibility. Infection can cause eye inflammation that can prompt swelling of the retina, and finally lead to a loss of vision.

As soon as I can see again (LOL!) I will post to tell you all how gruesome it was!

Ups and Downs

Well my week started off great. I did a PB on leg press on Tuesday - 120kgs woohoo! Managed to push out 3 sets of 10, so could definetely have gone heavier too, although I'm still cautious of my knees. Wednesday morning I did a kick arse shoulder/bi/tri session too.

On Thursday I went for a day trip to our Maryborough office... thats a looooong way for a day trip! 4 hours there, 4 hours in the Maryborough branch, and 4 hours back - I was shattered by the time I got home - thats a lot of time in the car! On Thursday night I started cooking dinner and started to feel a bit ordinary. After dinner I started to feel indigestion coming on, and by the time I went to bed I was doubled over with stomach pains, cramps, nausea... those same symptoms that I was getting last year when I went and had all those tests.

My whole lower abdominal area was puffed up and tender to touch yesterday, and it hurt a bit to walk so I obviously didn't do any exercise. I also was hesitant to eat anything in case it set my stomach off again, so I didn't eat anything until about 11am. Today I'm much better, but still feeling a little unsettled in the stomach.

Not sure what set it off this time, everyone keeps telling me its just nervousness for the operation on Monday. I did not eat or drink anything out of the ordinary. I am so annoyed that its screwed up my whole exercise schedule, and particularly so because there wont be any exercise next week until the surgeon says its ok.

Anyway, enough whinging. There is positives in everything, and in this instance I lost 1.5kgs in a day and a half!

Little miss naughty

Here is Miss Elke... aka little miss naughty. On Thursday while we had our house-painter friends paint the outside of our house, Elke decided that she loves them soooooo much that she would "help" them paint.... with her body. Hence the paint streaks all over her right hip area!!

And here is the front entry now - instead of brown bricks and a khaki green roof, we now have an Ironstone roof, and stone coloured walls. The beginnings of our future front patio are in evidence at the front.

I have been inspired by Di this weekend, I keep thinking "if Di can do 8 cardio sessions this weekend, I can AT LEAST do 4". I've done 3 so far, going to attempt a HUGE hill walk this afternoon. I didn't do any exercise yesterday - I felt really dizzy and nauseous for some reason, and then I had a headache that just wouldn't go away. Feel better now, so dont know what that was about.

Unfortunately I did manage to eat some easter eggs this weekend, it had been sooo long since I last had chocolate that I decided to treat myself. But its left me feeling yuk, so actually not really a treat huh? Anyway for easter we bought ourselves a couple of CD's, and I got a new book too :)

One week til the eye operation, and I'm feeling incredibly excited this time - the nerves havent hit yet and I'm hoping they'll stay away. I'm just focusing on all the great things that will come out of this - bye bye glasses and contact lenses!!!

Back to work tomorrow, but at least its a short week! Have a great day everyone!

Tired & Busy

Long time no post!!!

I am so tired right now that I could fall off the chair zzzzzzzzz

My week has been very busy, starting with my training course in Melbourne. I should have checked out my hotel a bit better, because I ended up staying right on the train tracks, opposite Rod Laver Arena. I dont think the trains stop until after midnight, and they start again around 5am. So very little sleep for this little bunny for the two nights I was there. Then there was the full-on course, being tired didn't help there AT ALL!!! Of course there was role playing (why do they always have to do role playing???) and group presentations, as well as all the theory etc, so by the time I got home at 10 o'clock on Tuesday night I was shattered.

Tried to eat well whilst I was away, took some protein bars for meals 2 and 4, but some of my other choices could have been better. I managed to do a pathetic weights session on Tuesday morning, and then did a 30 min powerwalk on the treadmill at the hotel "gym" (I use the term loosely!)

Anyway, back home I skipped training on Wednesday morning in favour of an extra hour in bed. I'm still not sleeping well - finding that I'm nodding off on the lounge, then when I go to bed I'm wide awake, churning stuff over in my mind. grrrrrrrrrrr Sometimes I just cant switch it off!

This week we had the outside of our house painted, and the roof. Had a bit of a drama on Wednesday because when we got home the colour on the walls was totally horrible! So our painter friend had to come back on Thursday and re-paint in a new colour. Will post some pics on the weekend.

Today I'm going down to Broadbeach to have brunch with a friend I havent seen for ages. Then for the rest of the weekend I am going to start painting the spare bedrooms - cant wait to get stuck into it!

AND.... the good news is that my eye operation has finally been rescheduled for Monday the 16th of April! YAY!

Have a fabulous easter everyone!

Not much to report!

I'm feeling great at the moment - feeling strong, training hard, eating clean!   My goals this week were to eat clean all week, not miss a training session and to drink all my water.  I've well and truly achieved that this week, so I'm feeling good.  I did a great leg session on Monday, increased some of my weights and I was really pulling out some fantastic grunts and grimmaces, but was a bit disappointed not to get much lower body DOMS.   It was only the second time of doing that programme too :(  Weird.

Tuesday I did a different back and chest session, and BOY am I feeling it!  My chest is tender to the touch, and my lats are hammered! :))  I did Body Attack this morning and had a bit of trouble raising my arms in the air!  You feel like a bit of a gumby when you cant raise your arms over your head... especially with all those bloody jumping jacks - its like "ouch - clap - ouch - clap..."  hehehe

I went to the dentist this week for my 6 monthly checkup - and was told that I need to have my 3 remaining wisdom teeth out... boohoo!  The good news is that the roots arent embedded or anything so I can have them out in the dentist chair so at least I wont have to take out a second mortgage.  The bad news is that I HAVE TO HAVE MY WISDOM TEETH OUT.  Groan... Probably going to wait until after my eye op is done though - whenever the hell that might be.

And I'm off to Melbourne on Sunday night for a two day training course.  I dont think there will be any time for shopping unfortunately, but it will be nice to be the one who gets trained for a change, instead of ME being the one who conducts the training.   Then only two days at my office and then it will be Easter!  Woohoo!

Here's to a strong Friday and a great weekend!

Photographic Evidence...

Here is the photographic evidence that I DID wear a dress to our friends wedding on Friday! I was totally not comfortable all night, but hey - me in a dress only happens once every few years so I guess its not all bad! It was lovely to have half a day off on Friday, and the wedding was at a winery so it was even better :)

Tonight I am cooking OH's favourite meal - Beef Wellington, roast vegetables and yorkshire puddings. This will be my last free meal for a few weeks - I'm going on a self-imposed lockdown. I really need to work on some new fitness goals because at the moment I feel like I'm just marking time. If I dont have any direction then I tend to get a little sloppy, and that makes me feel yuk.

I'm still waiting patiently (yeah right!!) to find out when my eye operation is going to be, so until that happens I cant work on any big goals. So to get me through to the op, I will now turn my focus onto weekly goals. That way I've still got something to focus on, without committing myself to anything long-term.

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and have a great week this week! I'm off to do my ironing... :(

New hairdo, new dress & new shoes!

It has taken me three days to type this post!!!!! Very busy at the moment...

Had myself a little shopping spree on the weekend. Got my hair chopped off on Saturday (am now about 3 inches shorter), dark brown, and re-did my orange stripe. Then I had to buy a dress - we're going to a wedding on Friday and the dress code is "Cocktail"... what the hell does that mean?! I dont get out much! I had to ask the sales chicks what "cocktail" meant!

I seriously hate wearing dresses... I've never been a dress kinda girl. Give me shorts or jeans any day - occasionally I do wear skirts, but I just hate dresses! It means I have to sit like a 'lady' for one thing - lol! Plus I just feel weird not having a waistband. Strange, aren't I? :)

Aaaanyway, after trying on every single dress in the whole shopping centre, I finally found one. Its not exactly "cocktail" because its not a satin material (its kinda like a crepe material) - halter neck, cream with a red pattern, and knee length. So I brought it home and showed OH, who promptly said "you dont have any shoes that go with that - you need to buy red shoes"!!!! Can you believe it???? He ACTUALLY TOLD me that I need to buy more shoes!!!! So of course I went back to the shopping centre and bought TWO pairs... some red strappy heels for the wedding, and a back pair with kitten heel for work.

Had to get the new (flat) work shoes because of some problems I'm having with my feet. For the last few months, every time I get out of bed I have this shooting pain through my arches and my heel, which gradually dies down to the point where I can walk without hobbling. If I sit for any length of time my feet seize up too. So it was either continue to wear my beautiful high heels and not be able to walk (!!!!!) or buy some flat (kitten heel) shoes. I chose comfort over style. I keep thinking I need to go to a podiatrist, because I think its because of my high arches collapsing. Spoke to my chiropracter on Monday who said that the bones in my feet were extremely tight - they just werent moving. He strapped my feet up for me and they instantly felt better - which he said is an indication that I need some custom made orthotics. So I've bought some "Orthaheel" arch supports that you get from the chemist, and will have to order some custom made ones at my next Chiro appointment.

Training and eats have been spot on through the week - weekends still need some attention. I took Shar's advice and did the body balance class again on Tuesday. I cannot honestly say that I enjoyed it, but I do think my body responds well to all the stretching. And I did a different leg session on Monday and now my arse cheeks are so sore!! That's good - I need to lose some more lard off my butt!

Otherwise everything is cruising along - and I have realised that this month it is one year that I have been blogging! Happy blogging birthday to me!!!!

Surgery Delayed :(

Today was meant to be the big day, but unfortunately my eye surgery has been postponed.  The lenses havent turned up yet!!!!   Disappointed :(  - and the worst thing is they cant tell me when they're going to turn up.  So I have no idea at this point if its going to be days, weeks or months.  I'm hoping it doesn't stop me from participating in Phat Camp.

Tuesday morning I did something different at the gym - Body Balance.  I've always wanted to try one of these but was a bit worried about "wasting my time" at the gym.  By that I mean: I generally feel that if I'm not lifting weights, doing some kick-arse cardio, or just generally getting my heart rate up and getting sweaty, then I'm not working hard enough.  Body Balance was different - lots of stretching, holding poses, yoga type stuff, and even had a bit of meditation/relaxation at the end where you just lie there and drift away!  I liked it, I got quite warm and had a VERY light sweat, and it was great to add something a little bit different to my week.  Not sure I'll make it a regular thing though - I still feel a bit like I wasted an hour!

This morning I did the new Body Attack... talk about cardio blast!

I have been 100% spot on with my nutrition, and I am so happy with myself.  It has been a full-on week - and some long days at work.   When I found out I was going to have my surgery postponed I was sooo disappointed, and I really wanted to have a glass of wine.  It was tough, I even went and got a bottle out of the wine rack.  Then I thought "This is ridiculous - I cant have a glass of wine every time something shitty/upsetting/disappointing happens... so I put the bottle back (unopened) and had a glass of diet soft drink instead.   Victory to me!!!!  (hope this doesn't make me sound like an alcoholic!)

On that happy note, I'm off!  Stay strong!!!!

8 years

Today is mine & my fiance's 8 year anniversary!   I have just been surprised at work by receiving a HUGE big bunch of Gerbera's from OH... my absolute favourite flower!  He is such a sweetheart!

I had a fantastic weekend - stayed strong.  It was so good to get back home on Friday night - its the best part of being away!  You should see the welcome that my little kitty gives me when I've been away for a few days... heheheh he runs for a cuddle and whinges his head off, and he being a raucous Siamese, the volume is always turned up to extreme!  After a few hours, after he has calmed down, he turns into an ankle biter.  He hides behind things and then launches himself at my legs when I walk past, then continues to bite me while I laugh and tease him.  I think its his way of saying "THATS WHAT YOU GET FOR GOING AWAY AND LEAVING ME!!!"   So at the moment I'm sporting lots of cat bite marks and scratches.  Its only because he loves me. :-)~ hehe

I got up early on both Saturday and Sunday mornings and took the pooches for a walk.  I'm continuing to take them both at the same time and it saves a lot of hassle having to come home and switch dogs halfway through!  They love it, but its been so hot and humid (even at 7am!) that I do feel sorry for them.  I had really good nutrition and water intake this weekend.  I managed to come back from Townsville weighing less than when I left - so gotta be happy with that!

On Sunday my OH came to do the groceries with me (which he hates doing - but it was his suggestion).  The grocery bill is always through the roof when he comes shopping with me, he's like a kid in a lolly shop... "oooh lets get THIS!".... "mmm lets try some of THAT"  etc - but he did show some restraint.   A few things he picked up, and then put back when he saw the price!  I think he used to wonder why the grocery bill is usually so high - well now he knows!   He did manage to sneak in a few packets of lollies into the trolley, so we now have Chickos and Strawberries & Creams in the pantry.  Thats ok though - I'm never tempted by soft lollies, if I'm going to break out, it will be on chocolate or cheese.  So he can have those all to himself!

I am so hungry today............ gotta stay strong!

*Waving*... from Townsville

Well here I am again, Townsville, Far North Queensland.   This is the place where all my body woes began, I spent a very large part of 2004 here, and put on a lot of weight due to eating and drinking too much, stress, and not exercising enough.    This is where I improved on my "muffin top" look!  This is also where I developed my "wine makes it all better" motto too... ;-)   it was bad news all round!

I'm here for work again, and this is the first time I've been back since 2004.  I was a little bit apprehensive about coming back too.  I know you cant blame a location for adding to your issues, but I guess that's what I was doing.  Anyway, here I am, and I'm doing ok.  I know I am a lot stronger, both physically and mentally since I was last here - so there can be no excuses anymore.

Yesterday I was soooo hungry!   I just wanted to eat everything in sight, but I ate only what was planned - although I was probably a little light-on for protein.  Went out for a huge jog along the Strand yesterday afternoon for 50 minutes (OMG it was so HOT - my head felt like a furnace, and even the breeze off the ocean was hot!), and then went out for dinner.  My resolve broke a little at dinner and I had some white wine, but resisted a few other things that I was tempted with.  I dont know what it is about bloody travelling that makes me weaken!!  It makes me so angry with myself!

Anyway, today WILL be much better.  I have bought myself a diet coke to have with dinner (room service) and all my meals are in the fridge at the office ready to go - so no excuses!  Home tomorrow night - and back to normality.

This time next week I will be having my first eye operation!!!!  (trying not to think about it or I will chew my nails down to the knuckle)

Hope everyone is having a great week.  Unfortunately I cant read blogs while I'm away  :(

Weekend stuff

Thank you to everyone for your lovely comments about my ring! I'm pleased to hear that the novelty doesn't wear off, I can be assured then, of it catching my eye for years to come. :)

Well my laser iridotomies went ok. I was freaking out for a week beforehand, but strangely once I was there I felt much more calm. The eye drops before the procedure were to constrict the pupil, rather than to dilate them. (How funny does that look?!!!!) Then I had to wait for half an hour before I could have the laser done. I was surprised that it was just done in a normal room, like I was half expecting to have my head strapped down or something! I placed my head on a chin rest, looked into a green light, and the doc fired the laser at me in little short bursts. It didn't actually HURT as such, but it was a sort of a sharp ache each time the laser zapped my iris. The left eye went smoothly, but the first zap on my right eye saw me jump out of my skin - and then I kept jumping each time the laser hit. As a consequence my right eye looks like a pincushion! No seriously, you cant see the holes unless you are looking for them - they just look like tiny black dots on the coloured part of your eye.

Recovery was pretty good - I had hazy vision for about 4 hours, and just a dull ache in my eyes. So far so good!

On Saturday I went to Di's house for a lunch she had organised while Sue is up in Qld. It was a sweltering day, really humid - and me, being the eager-beaver that I am, arrived WAAAAY before anyone else! Let me just say, Di certainly lives in paradise - both her house and the view is stunning!

I met some lovely ladies too - Kellie (Sue's latest Body Blitz winner), Gill, Maraina and Lorraine. It was also great to catch up with Sue, Di and Rachel (and see Rachel's gorgeous little man Zach.) Thanks so much to Di for being such a great hostess, it was a fantastic day (and lunch was delicious!)

Here's a photo we took early on before we started to melt!

So after spending a lovely Saturday lunching with the girls, I came home to find some new walls inside our house! OH was very busy while I was out enjoying myself, here is one of the walls he built - this is from the dining room looking through to the entry (eventually will have down-lights and chrome rail up the top).

Note the bits of gyprock still missing... the missing wall on the right of this photo looks into our main bathroom! You can also see the most beautiful chandellier in the lounge room (note: I am being sarcastic).

So because he'd worked so hard and I was in no mood for cooking, we headed out for dinner last night. We went to Ashmore Road Seafood and Steak on the Gold Coast. I think that is the first time in my life I have been on the Sunshine Coast AND the Gold Coast all in the space of one day. Anyway, I had calamari - it was soooo tender and juicy. The servings are so huge though that I couldn't get through much of it! This is my OH's favourite place for dinner - its certainly not 5 star dining, but the food is excellent (the steak is unbelievable), the serves are enormous, and you never have to book.

Finally here's a couple of pics of my funny little kitty, Connor. I especially like the bottom one, he looks stoned!

Hope everyone has had a fantastic weekend!

BLING!!!!!

Here is my engagement ring!!

In its box...

On my finger!

So exciting to finally pick this up last night! I've only had it about 12 hours, but I cant stop gazing at it! I was watching Heroes last night, and during each ad break I kept looking at it (my OH was having a few peeks at it too - he's quite impressed with himself!) and even when I was flossing my teeth last night I caught myself gazing lovingly at it... hehehehe :) The novelty will take a little while to wear off I think!

Yesterday I did my measurements, since it had been two weeks since my last weigh-in. I wasn't going to do it, since my frame of mind over the last few days has been less than positive. Well I did it anyway, and was quite surprised by the results. My scale weight hasn't changed since a fortnight ago, but a couple of my measurements have dropped by a centimetre, and a couple of skinfolds have reduced too. Particularly surprising as I've been less than perfect, especially in the last few days. My total bodyfat has dropped a whole percent too (whoopee!) - well, a loss is a loss...

Today I have the day off work, as I'm going in to have the laser iridotomies in my eyes. I am FREAKING out but I'm sure it will be a piece of cake (!!!!) Think of me... getting holes drilled into my eyes....

Cucumber addict

I have decided thats what I am... a cucumber addict. Last year it was American Mustard - but I think its time has come for it to be replaced. I am going through two per week, which is quite restrained I think. I could easily eat more. My other half absolutely detests them, which is fine with me cos it means I get to eat it ALL!!!!!

I had a 'nothing' weekend. You know, one of those weekends where if people ask me what I got up to on the weekend, my reply is "nothing". Well, nothing interesting, that is. I trained (half-heartedly) cleaned, washed clothes, did the groceries, I cooked for most of the day yesterday in preparation for the week ahead... boring boring boring!

I did buy a couple of CD's on Saturday - that was about the most exciting thing. One of the CD's is System of a Down; Hypnotise. I LOVE System of a Down and this album is pretty cool - I was headbanging in the kitchen on Saturday afternoon, and had it playing so loud in my car this morning!

I am a bit flat today so this is not much of a post. There is so much going on in my head at the moment that I dont really know where I'm at.

Where did my post go??

I posted this on Tuesday by email, but blogger mustn't have liked it. Oh well, here it is again....

Had a bit of a yuk day yesterday, Sunday night kept waking up with a sore stomach. It was like an ache, but not in the traditional 'stomach ache' way. Felt like a brick was lying on my upper abdomen. So I didn't train, in fact, I could barely keep my eyes open all day - sooo lethargic. Lots of people at work have been down with a virus in the last week, upset tummies and everything, so I was assuming I was coming down with it.

Anyway, still had an achey stomach last night but this morning decided to get up and train anyway... and I am so glad I did! Had a SMASHING weights session! I powered through my weights, felt strong, beat all my weight/reps from last week, and then kicked butt through an amazing interval cardio session on the cross trainer. Followed up with 10 mins on the bike, and then stretching............ felt so good!!!! See, training is good for you!

Stomach feels ok at the moment, but as a precaution I'm avoiding the sugar-free stuff, and not training abs for a few days.

Last night we went to visit friends who have just recently a baby. He was sooo tiny! I got to hear all the horror stories of the birth too - she had a bit of a rough time, poor thing. Is it just me, or is everyone having babies at the moment? I feel like everywhere I turn, everyone is either pregnant or has just had one. Em has just recently had her little boy, and we have these friends who've just recently had theirs. Then I have another 4 friends who are all at various stages of pregnancy, and two other friends who's little ones have just had a first birthday (cant believe how fast they grow!). Must just be our age-group.

But I think I might finally be getting a bit clucky..... (eeeeeek! - insert scary music here!)

Is it just me?

... or does everybody else feel like a wet rag at the end of the week?  By Thursday morning I am usually absolutely shattered, super tired and very little energy, and Friday is just a struggle to get out of bed!  A lot of it is to do with lack of sleep during the week - the last two nights I've only gotten about 5 hours sleep each night.  Unfortunately that's pretty normal.  That's why I need the weekends to catch up on rest.  How perfect would it be to work Monday to Wednesday, then have 4 days off???  For the same money???  Dream on.... :)

So our ring shopping was successful!  Not a bad Valentines present huh?  But because my fingers are so skinny we have to have it made (ring finger is a size H - yeah I have 'skeleton-fingers'!!!).  Anyway, its white gold with a princess cut diamond and little stones dotted down each side - and I have to wait 2-3 weeks!  I sooooo wanted to take it home with me right then and there!  Dont worry, as soon as its firmly on my finger I will post a photo.  Cant wait!

Yesterday morning I did Body Attack - happily my stamina is improving fairly quickly and while I still left with a beetroot face, I wasnt about to collapse on the floor either!  This morning I dragged my sorry arse out of bed and did a step class too - every little bit helps!

Freaked out a little bit this week as I found out that I have to have a little pre-eye-op laser surgery - in two weeks.  I had forgotten about this (conveniently) so it was a bit of a shock this week to realise that I'm going to have two "iridotomies" holes lasered into both iris' on the 1st of March.  These are kind of 'drainage' holes to relieve any pressure build up I might get in my eyes after the REAL operation.   I have even started to think about backing out of the surgery, but I'm sure this is a normal nervous reaction!  I just have to keep reminding myself how amazing its going to be to throw away my glasses and contact lenses after its all over!

Happy Friday everyone!

Pumped

Its that great time of the week where I'm feeling all pumped and strong.  I'm loving it!

Eats have been spot on this week, no deviations from plan and 3 litres of water each day.  On Monday afternoon I took the dogs for a walk, but with one small difference.  I took them both together.  It may not sound like a big deal, but it was.  I have always thought they would be too much to handle to take together, but they proved me wrong.  OMG I am so proud of them!!  I felt like I was walking with a pair of sled dogs - they even walked in formation!!  The only problem was that a couple of times Shavez stopped to pee on a tree, and poor Elke got tangled in the "reigns"!  I was grinning from ear to ear when I got home, and because I was walking both of them we stepped up the pace, so I had my heart rate around 150-160 the whole time! 

Had an amazing back/bicep session on Tuesday morning, I left with a jelly-upper-body - which is a strange feeling!  This morning I did legs again - I was really lacking in energy.  Probably because I didn't sleep very well last night.  So no records broken today I'm afraid.

This morning was a scheduled measurements day... In a week and a half I have lost 0.9kg and a centimetre each from my chest, waist and hips!  Also did my skinfolds and am quite pleased to have lost a few mm already - mostly from my hip and abs.  Next measurements day is in two weeks, so I'm shooting for an equally good result.

Tonight we are going ring shopping!  Hope we find something we like!

Its all good

My eyes, that is.  Had my eye appointment on Friday morning - it was quite horrible!  First I had anaesthetic drops in my eyes and the girl got this pressure tester gauge, which she then tapped on my eyeballs (like, I could SEE this thing hitting my eye repeatedly) but it didn't hurt, it was just weird.  Then she put the dilating drops in my eyes, and warned me that these drops were EXTRA strong.  She said that my pupils could stay dilated for up to 3 days afterwards (she wasn't joking)!!

So after my pupils dilated to the size of saucers, I saw the doc.  He actually started the examination by saying "This will be a bit unpleasant"... hmmmm ...  Picture this, the room is dark, the only light is the one the doctor is holding, and its searing into the back of my eye.  Because your pupils dont work anymore, he has to hold my eyelids open (the natural reaction is to close your eyes).  Then he gets this "poking stick" (thats the official name) and presses it into your eyeball, still blinding you with the light, while all the time you have to 'look left, look up and left, look up, look up and right...' etc.  By now my eyes were streaming - and all that poking around my eyes really hurt!  And just when you think its over, then you have the other eye to do!

Finally he suctions this glass lens thing onto your eyeball, and had another look at my retina.  When he removed the lens, there was this gross "sucking noise" and then it felt like about half a glass of water splashed down onto my cheeks - just a little bit of water from the eyes!  The things we have to suffer!  Anyway, looks like its all good for the eye op, in just over a months time.

So on Saturday I got up to find that my pupils were STILL dilated, which meant I couldn't really take the pooches for a walk.  Even with sunglasses, the sun was so bright that everything outside was literally brilliant white.  I still did my chest and tricep workout at home though, and took the dogs for a big walk on Sunday to make up for it. 

Had a few slip ups on the weekend food-wise, so I'm not very happy with myself.  Why oh why do I struggle on weekends?  Not enough water, and bad food choices.  I always find it easy to focus during the week, but come Saturday I lose that determination.  I think I need to throw myself into this house renovation - then I will be so busy on weekends that I wont have time to think about anything else!

This morning I did the cycle class again - and yay! found it a bit easier this week... hopefully my fitness is starting to come back!

Sore

I'm sooooo sore!! My lats are screaming, I'm having trouble straightening my arms because my biceps and forearms have locked up, and my legs... well I'm moving very slowly at the moment - I think Selina called it "tin man" legs? I reckon it feels like I've got glass in my legs, and it shatters with every step.

Obviously it was a good leg workout then! Actually, from the very first squat I knew that I was going to be in trouble for the rest of the week. I think I actually felt the muscles swearing at me. I'm now at the stage of lowering and raising myself on chairs with my arms - although with sore biceps and forearms I'm kinda moving in slow motion at the moment, with a constant grimmace on my face hehehe

Yesterday I staggered to the gym and attempted my first body attack class - oh how humbling - every time the music stopped I was gasping for breath, stumbling for my towel and water, wondering how could 6 weeks off do this to a person??? I was giving the instructor death stares as we did the last track - lunges and squats - the day after my first leg workout??!! I must have been a bad girl in my last life, and being punished for it now!

This morning I'm going into the city to have my final check up before my eye operation, I'm going to a Retina Specialist, he'll dilate my pupils to have a good look at my eyes and make sure everything is ok. He has the final say on whether this op can go ahead or not. Wish me luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Where did my strength go?

Back into full-on training this week, and it feels great!  Yesterday morning I did a cycle class.  OMG it hurt!  I kept saying that I must have got the "hard" bike (you know how some bikes seem harder than others) and my legs were burning, but soooo good to sweat so hard!  Then yesterday afternoon I got home and walked the dogs.

This morning I did weights for the first time in 6 weeks - where did my strength go????  I deliberately scaled back the weights I was using cos I knew I would have lost some strength, but I did not realise just how much strength I'd lost.  Felt like I was using baby weights!  Today was back and biceps - and I think I'm gonna be sore tomorrow!!  (cant wait actually!).  After weights I did 20 minutes interval cardio on the Cross Trainer.

Food is spot on - and I'm feeling good.  I've switched to using Calorie King instead of Fitday, and I'm finding it heaps easier because all the Aussie brands are there.  Anyway today I thought I'd give Cottage Cheese another go... I keep trying to like it, but I'm afraid its just not working.  Today I had cottage cheese mixed with a packet of Splenda, cinnamon and chopped up pieces of apple.  It was ok to start with, but the more I ate the more I wanted to gag.  YUK!   Cottage Cheese and I are never going to see eye to eye, so I think I'll just stop now.

Yesterday I took my measurements and skinfolds.  I was absolutely horrified by my bodyfat %, its gone up 5% in 6 weeks - ouch!  Never fear, it wont be there for long!  Funny thing is that I seem to have put the weight on in places that I dont normally... like my boobs.  :)~   My other half is quite chuffed!

Thought for the day:  Dont eat lunch at your desk if you are a messy eater - I speak from experience and have ended up with mustard all over my mouse "roller"...

I'm going to Phat Camp

I have finally bitten the bullet, and have pre-registered for Phat Camp on the Gold Coast. How exciting, now I really have a goal to work towards... to have regained my fitness and lost those pesky 4kgs by April 27 (and also put on a bit more muscle).

This weekend has not really gone as planned. I had planned on getting up early each day and taking the poor pooches for a much needed walk. Normally I'm awake by 6 or 7am on a weekend, plenty early enough to do this before the day gets hot. But this weekend I have not woken up until 8.30-ish - and even then I've felt sluggish and super tired. I'm still sick of course, still coughing up a lung every half hour and blowing my nose - so no "walkies" yet. Sadly the drugs dont work as well as I thought they would, I just cant seem to shift this chest infection. Looks like I might even have to fill the repeat prescription for the antibiotics the doctor gave me. Yesterday I was nearly crying with frustration at this stupid cough... you know when you cough and cough and cough, so much that you end up dry-reaching? Thats me. What a lovely image for you all.

Well anyway, tomorrow is day one of my next challenge. The next 6 weeks takes me up to my first eye operation on the 15th of March, after which there will be some enforced rest for a week or two. Stage 2 of this challenge will begin after both eyes are done.

Some more photos... ah... a trip down memory lane...

Beaumaris Castle, North Wales

Hadrians Wall, England (those bloody Romans were amazing!)

A BIG cannon at Edinburgh Castle, Scotland. Note the gorgeous hot pink beanie in these photos - it was my best friend during the trip!

Well thats me for the weekend - a big week awaits me. Better chuff off and get my meals organised for the week. Bye-eeee!

I have one tastebud back

... but only one.  Yesterday afternoon was the first time I was actually able to taste something.  That was very exciting, and if I concentrated hard, I could sort-of taste my stir-fry last night - woohoo!.   I'm coming good s-l-o-w-l-y, but its still all settled on my chest, and I'm still snotty - GERMS BE-GONE!

The great news is that we took Shavez to the vet yesterday afternoon, and his lump has turned out to be a Lipoma, which is a non-cancerous "fatty" tumour.  Apparently they are quite common in older dogs, and not anything to worry about.  There is no need to remove it either - so that is a huge relief!!

This morning my alarm went off at its "old" usual time of 4.50am - and I was like "Oh no - its not time already, is it?"  Ha!  Doesn't take long to get used to sleeping in!  Anyway, I dragged myself out of bed, got ready in record time, and off to the gym - for the first time in about 6 weeks!  The first 10 minutes were spent saying hello to everyone, and telling the ladies my engagement news.  Its amazing the changes that happen in the gym in just a few weeks - lots of new posters on the wall, and lots of new faces in the gym too!

And man-oh-man, did I feel out of shape!!!!   I got on the treadmill and set the incline on 10, and powerwalked for 30 minutes... and wow did my legs feel it!  I even jogged for 5 minutes at the end, until I had to stop to blow my nose.  Then I finished up with a good 10 minutes on a bike, followed by abs and stretching.  Ouch that stretching hurt! 

Anyway, it felt great to be finally doing something.... even though I certainly broke no records today.  And the best thing is that I am HUNGRY today for the first time in ages... I cant wait to have lunch!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Antibiotics

Well, the drugs DO work.

Yesterday I woke up feeling no better, in fact, feeling a burning sensation in my chest every time I coughed. So as promised I went to the doctor, who prescribed me some drugs. I absolutely HATE taking antibiotics... I only ever do so as a last resort. I think they do nasty things to your system. But anyway, happy to report that I woke up this morning feeling much better.

Had the day off work yesterday too - hence the new blog template. Finally figured out how to do it!

And I'm going back to gym tomorrow!!! Cant wait! Going to do some much needed cardio, and continue through the weekend. I have prepared my training diary, designed my weights programme, written up my goals - so I'm ready!

And with any luck my sense of taste and smell will come back very soon. It has been almost a week since I lost it. You dont realise how strange it is, not being able to taste things, until you cant. Its weird. I keep asking my other half - "does it taste ok?" "What does it taste like?". And when you're cooking things, you cant taste test anything to see if it needs seasoning or anything, you just have to hope for the best. Takes all the enjoyment out of eating!

This afternoon we have to take Shavez (our 10 year old Alaskan Malamute) to the vet - I found a large-ish lump just forward of his hip - if you were a human it would be on your oblique abdominal muscles. I am very worried, but trying to stay calm - it could be anything. Our animals are children... cross your fingers for us.