20 Week Challenge: WEEK ONE

So this will be a quick blog this time around, as I find myself at the end of a VERY long week with a few dramas etc., and now I’m preparing to head away for the weekend to do something I said I wasn’t going to do this week … man I suck at giving up bowls!  Still this could be a one off … as I’m more focussed on this whole gym/fitness/food thing for the coming year … and in particular THE 20 WEEK CHALLENGE!

So this week I excitedly (yeah right … another Tui ad) set off for my session with my PT (am actually starting to feel pretty cool with this term – it’s becoming more than an act!).  Had a slight dilemma because my bright blue top, the one that matches my SBW boxing gloves, seems to have stretched and is now hindering my efforts at all sorts of unladylike things.  So, today I’m wearing my very TIGHT fitting top – one of those ones that I think REAL gym people wear – but it’s okay I tell myself, I’ll be fine. 

My new look ...

It’s been a few days since I’ve written a few words about my mid-life crisis … oops I mean … actually I haven’t got a clue WHAT to call these random acts of madness that I’m currently on.  What I do KNOW is that it’s making a HUGE difference to my life in how I feel and how I COPE with life, including my relationships with others and with FOOD!  I’m getting up at stupidly ridiculous times of the day to EXERCISE (sometimes I go completely overboard on this) and yet I still have ENERGY for the day!

I left Lark in the Park the other day feeling a bit GRUMPY … I miss the park!  However, there I was back at the gym, in a circle with about 15 other people trotting between different activities … well it was more like sprinting between activities because the PT (personal trainer for those not quite up with the slang) hasn’t got his TIMER set properly … then he finds it’s amusing to leave us doing DOUBLE UP rounds on some activities – I’m blessed so much that mine is STEP UPS, my favourite NOT.  The other activity that I find odd is when you’re lying on the GROUND doing some sort of movement that resembles the DEAD ANT game I used to play when I was FIVE.  About now, Roger the PT (I have come up with other meanings about now for PT, but can’t print them) suggests a CAMERA might be good … he laughs when I say NOT FUNNY … but I’m serious … IT’S NOT FUNNY.

Circus??

Gym day today, so after I’d done what felt like a day’s work already, I arrived at Snap Fitness all psyched up to meet with my Personal Trainer (yep, I’m still feeling pretty cool about this and one day hopefully I’ll look cool too). As I waited for the door to click to let me in, I suddenly realised that the top I was wearing was, although very sporty (and it shows my tattoo very well) and even though I feel a lot slimmer in it that I actually am … was just a little too fitting for the gym (at the moment), there was no way it was going to cover ANYTHING once I got going … so rush back to the car to get a different t-shirt … BUT it’s okay … cause this one MATCHES the boxing gloves that I’m coming to LOVE.

 

The trainer seemed excited to see me, I guess EVERYONE needs a bit of comedy in their lives and I guess it’s my calling to provide it at the moment.  Started off with the boxing thing, all bar the fact that it hurts my arms to reach up when he moves the targets higher … and I think it’s SERIOUSLY mean of him to do that, I did okay at this.  The WHOLE bringing my knees up to reach the target really isn’t so flash either, all the bits that I’m trying to hide wobble (and seriously about now the sports bra isn’t doing such a great job either) … however, looking at the bigger picture (ie that I make a bigger fool of myself in other activities) I’m doing okay at this .. even getting faster … MAYBE.

 

Active Rest at the Gym ... YEAH RIGHT!!

Back to the Gym this morning, with a little more focus than what I’ve had over the last three weeks.  Have been at block courses for the last three weeks and was feeling pretty exhausted by the end of last week … I did realise though, if everyone else could just keep THEIR lives under control and follow MY instructions and just simply work around ME … my life would be a lot more SIMPLE!!

I was feeling pretty confident about actually walking into the Gym today … that’s a plus for me; I’ve learnt to wait for the DOOR to click before trying to OPEN it!  Did have this sudden panic that damn, I didn’t have time to shave my legs … now women will know that there are times when these things are IMPORTANT … this for me is one of those times.  Also realised that I needed to take a pill for my HEADACHE (yes, I still went to the gym despite this) so as I walked through the door I swallowed a couple of neurofen … then panicked and thought OMG (remember, that’s goodness for those worried about my faith) they probably think I’m on steroids … because I’m SURE that’s the image I portray!

And so I return ...

Tried to get back into some sort of routine today after being on my course in HAMILTON an d the at MASSEY for the first three days of this week.  Why I thought heading to the GYM would be a good part of my routine at 8:30 in the morning I’ll NEVER know!  I’m at that point with this whole GYM thing that although I really WANT to succeed at this and achieve my goals … I’m wondering if I CAN?! 

It’s been nearly TWO weeks since I was last there and as I suspected Mr Personal Trainer wasn’t going to forget the weigh in … he must have known I was fragile because instead of setting the scales up in the MIDDLE of the gym (for all to see), they were hidden away in another room … I did suggest that we could probably just leave this out … but at some stage in one of my I CAN DO ANYTHING modes, I wrote I wanted to be accountable … dumb, I think I must have got it confused with one of my business studies lectures (from about 20 years ago). 

Just Breathe ...

Realised as I was getting ready to swipe my access card to get into the gym (I’m pretty CLEVER doing this now, I have the right bra, I remembered to shave under my arms and I even use a bag - am feeling quite “cool” now) that I have a HUGE day ahead and yet here I am about to pretend I’m full of confidence and have some idea of what I’m doing … which we all know I’m NOT.  Just a note though, not only can I now actually get in the door of the gym without making a scene – I now remember, when I’m filling up my water bottle, to turn the little tap thing and actually put the bottle under the tap BEFORE I turn it on.  Luckily today my personal trainer (wow, coolness personified) filled it for me (see I have him well trained hehehe).

Am a little ANXIOUS about today for a couple of reasons.  FIRSTLY … I can’t actually lift my arms, seriously I tried on several items yesterday in the clothing sales, and could barely LIFT my arms to get them in the sleeve (which is ok, cause actually everything looked awful!).  SECONDLY, I have a feeling that I might have had to weigh in … SOOO looking forward to that – I wonder if we should build a little podium (although not too high as I wouldn’t be able to get up) just to complete the “lets place the scales in the middle of the gym” and weight you episode.

Early morning gym ...

8:30am … my FIRST day of retirement and I’m back at the gym!  Weird, I think in the nearly four years I’ve been at Massey I’m lucky if I made it to work on time for more than five days, yet here I am sitting in the CAR plucking up courage to walk in the gym. 

My first success story is I’ve LEARNT to wait for the door to click after I’ve swiped my card instead of getting STRESSED because I’m trying to open the door and it just doesn’t open.  So feeling like I’ve accomplished great things I head through the door.  It seems there’s been something of a MIRACLE since my last visit, I appear to have frightened off all the 17 year old rugby players and there’s like me, my personal trainer (hehehe sorry can’t believe I’m cool enough to have one of these) and about two other people.  One chaps turns out to be REALLY nice cause he gave me the thumbs up when he noticed I was obviously dying during part of it (personal trainer didn’t notice this … had to keep going on those step up things).

My "Lark in the Park" experience

Somehow managed to find some bravery to rise at 6:15am this MORNING so I could venture to some sort of workout thing at a park in PN today.  There are several issues here … FIRSTLY, I can’t even get to WORK on time at 8:30, so actually making it to a workout (where I know it’s going to be harder than actual work) is going to be a MISSION.  Secondly, I’m shy (I AM) and while I love to meet new people, find it hard.  THIRDLY, my TOP (yes there’s always going to be an issue with this) doesn’t match my shoes, let alone cover anything it should – and yes I have tried on about 6 of mine and 3 of Neil’s.  FOURTHLY, there’s no petrol in the car.  FIFTHLY … it’s SATURDAY I’m not meant to get up this early in the weekend. SIXTHLY … well you’re getting the general idea, I do have a lot of reasons why I can’t make this workout … HOWEVER, I convinced a friend to come with me (and now she’s probably removed me from her friends list on FB) so I scoffed my SPECIAL K (because apparently breakfast is the MOST important meal of the day – this is in case the personal trainer reads this!), got petrol and sped to PN (all the while thinking, with a bit of luck it might be raining in PN and it will be called off!

So arrived at the park to find the entrance blocked off … I should have taken this as a SIGN, really if that isn’t one then I don’t know what IS.  So off we head with the group to some stairs … STAIRS are not my calling, somehow I think that’s going to change.  Then to my horror we end up in a LINE rather than just a bunch.  At least in a bunch you can hide, but in a line sooner or later when you’re in a line you’re gonna end up at the FRONT. So there we go in pairs up and down these steps, there must have been about 100 of them, seriously.  While we waited our turn Roger had us doing some other random activity – it was during these random times that I tried to breathe & sip water … HONESTLY though, how am  I meant to breathe after running up steps and then when I’m absolutely dying for a DRINK (water that is), I can’t drink because I’m trying to BREATHE.  About this stage the ducks (and normally I love ducks, especially the ducklings) start to laugh … my opinion of ducks has gone downhill (and wishing I was going downhill).

It just keeps getting better ...

Yep, you got it. I was back at the gym today … bit of a miracle really considering half way through the afternoon I thought WHAT am I doing … is this all part of my mid-life crisis (you know the one where quit my perfectly good job, get a tattoo, think I’m going to save the world crisis) … SERIOUSLY who exactly do I think I am?!  Anyway got over my little feel sorry for myself moment, realised that I CAN do this and I WILL be successful and headed off for just a little more embarrassment (because I don’t think my life is complete without it).

Having ALMOST overcome the dramas with WHAT to wear at the gym I have now moved onto … OH NO I don’t have a proper backpack to take my gear in (well I do, but it seems the 9 year old has dumped his school bag for my backpack – the one I got free from a work conference) … so this morning I stuff my things (except for my pants cause they were still wet from the washing machine, so I set them up in the back of the car to dry during the day, SERIOUSLY I did) into a plastic supermarket bag.  Upon arrival at the gym, I suddenly realised that the supermarket bag just didn’t fit with my mid-life crisis so I stuffed it all into my REALLY flash (and only) handbag and headed through the doors …

Back to the Gym ...

So having officially said “yes” to signing up to a programme that will help get me started on a journey to wellness (gosh, you can tell I’m training to be a social worker) … or perhaps a journey to provide my friends with just a little laughter in their day, I ventured back to a meeting with my personal trainer (still coming to grips with that term!) at the gym.  This time I REMEMBERED the sports bra (I’m still traumatised from that experience last time), it didn’t bother me as much that NOONE had blind folds on (not even me) and I even knew where my car keys were before I left work. I have made a “note to self” though: find out when the middle aged mums go to the gym (instead of the 17 year old rugby players).

Upon arrival I thought it might be a good idea to change from jeans to these really sexy gym pant things, especially attractive because they don’t really allow for hiding much – and I was a little disappointed because my jeans went much better with the top I was wearing.  Anyway, after making it through that LITTLE crisis, Roger (the personal trainer) says “right, we’re going to do a fitness assessment”. Awesome I thought, and as I was about to tell him “I can breathe (most of the time) and that’s about it” … he directed me towards equipment.  HONESTLY, he did!  It’s kinda weird really, because I know how fit (UNFIT) I am (sorry but I wouldn’t be signing up if I was fit!) … so how come he won’t take my word for it???

The Day After ...

It seems my few minutes at the gym yesterday is not quite as amusing as it was  yesterday ... (ouch).

No change in determination or attitude towards it, but seriously I wasn't even there that long the first day .. I think if I'm planning on attending regularly I'd better book the retirement home bed ... for say Monday next week!

Gave the kids & husband a choc egg for valentines day in their lunch boxes ... DON'T PANIC I didn't include one for me ... in fact completely forgot my lunch today - which is kinda scary because I'm not actually sure I can walk to the cafe! Note to self:  look up meals on wheels phone number.

It was a lovely drive to work today, beautiful ... once i actually edged my way into the seat that is.  Today I enjoyed just sitting there, not moving at all for fear of pain!  Pity I actually arrived at work really ... took 5 minutes to get out of the car ...

Terrifying moment when I remembered I was meeting a friend for lunch and in a moment of brilliance we had decided to meet at the cafe at the OTHER END OF THE CAMPUS ... you know the one at the bottom of the hill (the hill that today resembles Mt Ruapehu).  So, after I warned the girls in the office if I wasn't back in two hours they'd have to send a WHEELCHAIR, off I set.  I approached those tiny little steps in the concourse pretty tentatively ... for once wishing that today would be the day I'd fall head first down them - that way I wouldn't be able to tell which hurt the most & I'd actually make it to the bottom in good time (for those who don't know ... I have actually fallen down those steps!).

 

Visit to the Gym

So ... I'm starting a new venture of trying to take care of myself in all areas rather than just in some!  Of course (well hopefully), it will change how I look and while others may benefit from this, I'm doing this for me.  This is something I deserve, I deserve to feel good about myself and I deserve to enjoy life and all that God has given me. (my thearpist is going to love this bit)

Despite being completely embarrased (that doesn't actually cover it), despite the fact I realised I'd left the sports bra at home (so worried about this consequence), despite the fact I realised that my t-shirt doesn't actually come down to my knees and cover all the bits I want fixed and despite my efforts to lose my car keys at work 5 minutes before I was meant to leave (and I really did try hard to look for them) ... I actually went. I thought I was nervous, but no just embarrased that I've let myself get into this state.

Thankfully, I decided not to wear my jeans and polar fleece ... I was further embarrased that the room had windows, oh and light, I was horrified that there were other people there and oh that those who were there weren't wearing blindfolds ... funnily enough no one else seemed to notice me ... and that's a GREAT thing!