WHALESHARKS

hey guys, check out my work blog i just finished it, i am so STOKED!

the link is on the side!

A week in review

This is a pic of me and a friend before starting on my road to fitness




















R- this is my fav pic, taken about 6 months ago! When i look at this picture I can still get that rush of energy and confidence! I felt so good on this night! I have put this pic somewhere i wake up and see it everyday... i am aspiring to get back there, i just felt so awesome!!

So, my first week was a bit shaky. I have decided to only blog once a week from now on also, as i think it will help me stay focused! ie the one week down 11 to go etc! My run was ok this morning, slowly but surely i am getting a little fitter each time i go, now i certainly wouldn't have won any races today.... but i made it the whole way without stopping... which is a goal met for me... even if it was just a SLOOOOOOW jog...i am hoping to make quick progress...because i WANT RESULTS!!

I feel strong in my mind, and finally my heart also, pulling out these old pics have put the fire back in my belly, the wind in my sails... the...hmmm i think you get my drift.

Upwards and onwards...learning from my mistakes but not dwelling on them... the passed is history....tomorrow is exciting.. I WILL GET BACK TO MY HOT PINK TOP BODY!!

"It takes a little courage, and a little self-control. And some grim determination, If you want to reach the goal. It takes a great deal of striving, and a firm and stern-set chin. No matter what the battle, if you really want to win, there's no easy path to glory. There is no road to fame. Life, however we may view it, Is no simple parlor game; But its prizes call for fighting, For endurance and for grit; For a rugged disposition that will not quit."

Navy SEAL Masterchief

"Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another."

Walter Elliott

12 WEEKS

12 WEEKS FROM TODAY!


Hi all - it really is 12 weeks from today that I am working towards - a body/mind/sould which is fit and healthy and looking pretty damn fine - ha!.

The reasons - 12 weeks until:
- INBA where I meet so many blog buddies!
- I go overseas with my man
(which includes beaches in Italy and parties in LA!)
- 1 year blog birthday!
- My boyfriend completes his 12 week challenge
(comp at the gym)
- I meet my trainer!

...and then 12 weeks + the rest of my life to continue leading this healthy lifestyle and maintaining the body I have!

So in saying all this - I will be posting once a week - on a Sunday - about my adventurous week - so 12 posts in total!

I have decided to be very organised over the coming 3 months and blogging is included in this preparation - kinda like clock work - thus the 12 o'clock featured above...did someone say I was acting all virgo...? *cough*

I will break it up into :
1. NUTRITION
2. TRAINING
3. MIND SET

I have kept it pretty simple so I dont over complicate things - concise and to the point.

I cant wait to tell you all about this week! Speak to you all then!

WOOHOO!


BE EXTROARDINARY

NOT COPYING RAE

Well, i know that i previously posted that i had 'Rae envy' which actually i still do, love her to bits!

ANYWAY...i know it looks as if im trying to copy her site but i'm not, i've just used the basic template lay out as i like the design, and am going to change text colours, banner colours etc ASAP - it's just i kinda ummm ran in to a brick wall so to speak... the code for this template is different to the code i've been learning on my previous template so will have to nut this one out later... been on the damn thing all day and am now back to square one!!

sheesh....

Take a bow

Wow, this weeks spun me out. I started off struggling to get back on track but its all come good. I had 2 beers on Tuesday night.... but have gone booze free every other night og=f the week, this has included a night out at the pub for dinner, which i must also proudly say that i ordered an open chicken souvlaki, didnt touch the souvlaki just grilled chicken and salad...good food no beer at pub....that was a mammoth achievement for me, and i also managed to sip on soda waters all night when we went for a staff bbq down the beach and managed pretty much to only eat what i should - i had about 1/4 potato and 2 little pork spare ribs, which i shouldnt of had, but then didnt finish my steak and loaded up with salad!!
Dan and i were the only ones not drinking...hes stopped to support me... and get his own act into gear... what a gem, its about bloody time!!!

Isnt it about time i had something positive to say!!! YAYAYAYAYA am feeling back ....and better for it!!

Sugar Sux

Ok - so today is FREEZING - whoah - all heaters in my home have increase their temp by at least 10C. I am one of those people who turns the heat up to a point where I can wear summer clothes indoors even though my plants die from extreme heater air... than sit around in layers of jumpers, have a red cold nose and chilly blue fingers....ha! You should see me when I arrive at the gym! LOL UGG boots, jumper, zip hoodie, scarf and beanie - all in pink/baby blue colours - I look like a freakin snow bunny! But because I am quite scruffy - my scarf has 2 pom poms missing from one side - by UGGS are supposed to be light beige but are almost dark brown from all the puddles I step in - my jumper has little holes in it where I accidentally cut it whilst wrapping presents - my beanie is handmade and full of lint balls and my zip hoodie has a broken zip. Snow Bunny meets Street Bunny...!

I was pretty excited to receive my new program this week! I hardly have any legs - have been told to concentrate on my upper body for now - which is fine by me!! I am really focusing on my weight sessions - visualising my muscles during every rep and making sure I dont prolong my supersets (normally because someone wants to talk to me!!!) On the subject of people speaking to me while Im working out...ok, so it is a little frustrating - particularly when its someone who couldnt give a shit that maybe you are trying to focus - but I do love my chats with 'Da Boyz' of the gym (who love their weight training more than their girlfriends *ahem*)...and I thought I was obsessed!!

My nutrition is going well. I have written out my daily plan and have stopped all my 'picking this - oh just a little taste of that' - so many things make up so many calories! So my day will look a little something like this:

wake up & immediately consume coffee

8:30am
- breakfast
- coffee
11:00am
- snack
- coffee
1:00pm
- lunch
- green tea
- vitamin
4:00pm
- snack
- green tea
6:30pm
- dinner A
- dandelion tea
9:00pm
- dinner B

Obviously 2+ litres of water will be in there also. And I have added on the coffee/herbal teas so I keep track with how much soy milk I am drinking - and to encourage me to drink more green tea to aid digestion. Apparently Mint is good for metabolism - so may give that a try. My 'problem minutes' is sometimes from 1 - 3pm - dammit - so I will cut up some celery to munch on during this time. This is the time of day where I get quite tired and if I cant have a power nap I need to combat the 'I need sugar to pull me through' type of thinking!

Pure Sugar = Pure Evil !!

Hey - also beat my sore throat! I have a website I like to refer to during times of my body falling apart - I love the healing kitchen section - Lia you will like this website ;-) x Whole Health MD

Elaine Goodlad

Fawnia Mondey: How tall are you?
Elaine Goodlad: I'm 5 feet 7 inches.

FM: How much do you weigh?
EG: Between shows 140lbs.

FM:What were you doing before you began lifting weights?
EG: I was always athletically inclined. I used to be involved in track and play a little volleyball as well.

FM: When and why did you start taking weight training seriously?
EG: I had allowed my body to get out of control weight-wise and began with an eating disorder to try to get a handle on my weight gain and depression. I decided that bulimia was not the way, and I needed to take a healthier approach, so off to the gym I went. It probably took about 6 years of "going through the motions" before taking it more seriously and start noticing the changes in my body.

FM: When did you turn pro?
EG: I turned pro after winning the overall at the 2002 Emerald Cup competition in Bellvue, Washington.

FM: Do you have a trainer or someone that keeps you going?
EG: My husband, Terry has been my trainer and coach for the last 15 years. Or do you train yourself?

FM: How long after you started weight training did you compete in your first contest?
EG: Too long... I've only been competing for 1 year.

FM: I hear that you have not trained arms in a long time.
EG: I haven't trained my arms for years seriously.

FM: What parts do you focus most in the gym?
EG:My main focus with my body now is glutes, hams and shoulders.

FM: Tell me about the times of day you train, and how often.
EG: I train in the mornings around 10:00AM with weights and a cardio. I sometimes do another cardio late afternoon or evening if I'm told by my trainer.


FM: Are you happy with where you are today? Is there any choices you would have made differently?
EG: The only thing I would change in my life is ridding myself of needless fear and gaining the confidence in myself much earlier on in my life to do what I am enjoying today.

FM: What advice do you tell those who are interested in contests.
EG: Compete if you have the desire in your heart, and don't let fear stop you if that is the only obstacle. Don't let fear run/ruin your life.

FM: What are your hobbies?
EG: Drawing, pottery, Harley riding, reading.

FM: Favorite TREAT foods?
EG: Krispy Kremes, Pizza, Cheeseburgers, Cheetos, Chocolate.... What isn't?

FM: Favorite Diet/Clean foods for when you are preparing for a show?
EG: Atlantic Salmon, hot cereal.

FM: Are you extremely strict the whole 12 weeks, or diet longer/shorter?
EG: 8-12 weeks is about right, depending on how far I get out of shape.

FM: What is your body fat % competing, and when you are not competing?
EG: I never get my body fat tested. We just go by how I look.

FM: What did you drink/take before going on stage to appear more vascular, or do you even bother?
EG: I eat cookies and or chocolate before going on stage to carb up quickly.

FM: I know you don't drink, and I admire you so much. Please tell me how you stay away from drinking, or help others change their un-healthylifestyles.
EG: I've never cared much for alcohol and would never waste calories on drinking. I'm just not interested in it, and definitely can't judge anyone who may have a taste for alcohol. My advice for anyone though would be to do anything in moderation :o)

FM: Would you mind commenting on the topic of bulimia?
EG: Bulimia and other eating disorders don't always have much to do with food, but underlying issues that need to be addressed. For me, this illness was a form of immediate gratification, yet the guilt after binging would cause me to want to purge to punish myself. Unfortunately, food was my best friend through tough times. It becomes a vicious cycle when you hate yourself and use food to make you feel better, then worse. Get help and find out what the underlying issues are and start taking steps to liking yourself for who you are. If there's something you don't like about yourself, change it. You have the power.

FM: Why you want to start educating people.
EG: It's nice to help people get through issues that you once had problems with. You may save someone from going through the painful process the hard way, or you may shed some light for someone that helps them change their course of action in difficult times.

FM: How long have you been bulimic.
EG: Since 1983. I may not act on it any longer or for quite some years now, but the illness is something you may always struggle with; you just get better at talking to yourself about it. It's like an alcoholic that no longer drinks. They still must avoid certain issues or places.

FM: How has it affected your life.
EG: In the long run it's made me stronger as I've overcome something serious and moved on with my life and fixed the issues that brought it on in the first place.

FM: Where can people seek help if they or someone they know is bulimic? There are specific counselors for such illnesses.
EG: Here are some helpful sites that I have found online:

* www.eating-disorder.tripod.com
* www.healthyplace.com
* www.rcpsych.ac.uk

The Viscious Cycle

How easy is it to fall back in to an old rut which you had to tirelessy work your butt off to get out of. My recent holiday lead me back down a road i so hated being on. It only just hit me last night that the boozing is what caused my temporary bout of depression!

It changes everything, before i even had time to realise it i'd fallen back in to the old cycle, boozing, being too hung over to do cardio, getting down because i felt lazy, then drinking because i felt down! i can not believe that after everything i have come through, the tears, the tantrums, the celebrations.... i went back, i got caught up back in it all.

So now where to from here?! Well, staying booze free is number one priority, as i now know just how little it takes to throw me off my axis! I have reevaluated my goals, made them shorter etc, so i feel as if i am achieving part of my goals weekly.

My nutrition is fine, indact believe it or not its been really good since i've got back. I just now need to focus on making better decisions for me ALL THE TIME. I've got to find some love for myself...i don't know how but i am working on it!!

I am going for a run tonight, rain, hail, or shine it's part of my plan. 4kgs in four weeks, and im not going to drop anything if im sitting on my arssse

Giantmicrobe Virus Toys!

Oh boy - and you thought I was just going to collect suffed McDonalds toys...These rock! Particularly now that I have a sore throat! (block last 2 words from memory - self healing program)

Giant Microbes!

Who would have thought it – a cuddly toy in the shape of a virus! But, these cuddly characters are incredibly endearing and educational too. Each one comes with a detailed scientific description and photograph of what he looks like under the microscope, along with medical tips on how to avoid picking up these ‘bugs’ in daily life. Children seem to be totally fascinated by them, and it really helps when explaining all about why they are feeling poorly. The perfect gift to accompany a Get Well Card. A brilliant present for medical students, doctors, nurses, etc – You can soon understand why they are becoming amazingly popular! Start collecting now.
Giantmicrobe-Sore Throat

Giantmicrobe-Stomach Ache

Giantmicrobe Flu Bug

Something Fishy

After reading a post on Lias blog on Binge Eating - the facts - I wanted to mention Something Fishy

Our Mission: Tony and I are dedicated to raising awareness... emphasizing always that Eating Disorders are NOT about food and weight; They are just the symptoms of something deeper going on, inside. Merely a husband and wife creative team (we are not doctors), we are determined to remind each and every sufferer that they are not alone, and that complete recovery is possible. If you are the loved-one of someone that suffers, use this website to educate yourself. The more you know about Eating Disorders, the more you are equipped to provide the support your loved-one needs. If you have an Eating Disorder, you can find help. You can recover. And you deserve to do both. We are so thankful to have had the opportunity to touch the lives of over six million sufferers and their loved-ones and hope to continue to do so for many more years. We will never stop believing that there is HOPE for everyone, and we will never stop promoting that COMPLETE RECOVERY is possible!

The forum has over 50,000 members and is extremely informative and supportive. I hope it is helpful to anyone who needs the information x

Note:

Hi all - if you are wondering where the music is coming from - its Christina Aguleira 'Fighter' - scroll all the way down and you will see it at the bottom of the blog.

It was so cool having a 'conference call' *ahem* (yahoo messenger) with Rae, Lia and Kat this evening - god help us when we meet in real life!!!

xxx

Whoah!

...and Rae - Lia - Kat didnt believe me....

Happy Easter

I know - Im sorry - I had to!

Poor Mr. Hippity Hoppity...!!!

Public Humiliation

Ok, since i have been finding it hard to get back on track i am publically humiliatig myself by posting this pic of me taken yesterday, look at my stomach let alone my legs!!!! Grr, ok, so this is for me as my reminder of why i do what i do!

I bought nico patches AGAIN today, i have been so stressed about quitting smoking i've ended up smoking double the amount which i must say has not helped at the slightest with me wanting to get on good terms with "cardio" let alone my beer swilling friends which mislead me.

ENOUGH i have had it... i am sick of it... bella convinced me to buy the patches and u know what, i am so relieved!! now i feel as if quitting will be easy because i won't be having to deal with the crappy withdrawals!!

I am still doing what i am meant to do, but have been lacking the energy and enthusiasm to be living true to myself. I am going for a run tonight, i can't wait!!

I bulk cooked raes delightful chicken/tomato sauce/veg meal yesterday and had left over veg which has given me ample supply of veg for at least 2 more days of meals. I didn't think to reduce what i used, Rae has 100g veg vs my 50g.... duh... well i have never been a mathemetician...afterall.

A lady come in today pushing chocolate for kindy fundraising... i gave her a 'you gotta be kidding" look, i just though like i want them around... then my boss proceeded to buy like 4 boxes to keep out for our customers... double grrrr.... as i've got tired tonight i picked at a couple... BAD MOVE i didn't even want them initially then got blood sugar peaks for my effort... when will i learn?>

Happy Meal

ok - over the last couple of days (including this one) I have been soooo hungry! Its kinda frustrating as I like to evenly space my 6 meals eg: 8:30am / 11pm / 1:30pm / 4:30pm / 6pm / 9pm - but its now 12:12pm and I want lunch already!!! So have had a mug of dandellion, 500ml water and am now sipping a 250ml soda water....I was thinking about taking a mint - which sometimes puts me off eating - kinda like brushing your teeth - but strangely sometimes eating a mint makes me hungrier! LOL!

On a good note - I am still going up in weights - woohoo! I have really slowed down my reps and am huffing and puffing away - Im stretching a lot infront of the tv at night to reduce any DOMS - even though that is a good feeling in itself! I have been training Mon / Tue / Thur / Fri - but this week I have moved it around a bit because of the long weekend. Luckily I have my own key to the gym - but its a bit spooky training in their all by myself! LOL - I feel like a celebrity superstar with their own gym in a section of their mansion!!

Im going out for lunch today with my boyfriend which should be fun - we are going to a 'grill house' - a whole lotta protein to chose from - all measured in grams and cooked to your liking...sound like my kinda place!

Saw a McDonalds ad this morning...when you buy a Happy Meal you get a cute stuffed toy dog...I noticed they have a toy that looks like my own puppy...dammit - what a dilemma - not that Im tempted to eat The Happy Meal - but I hate going into that place...it stinks - maybe I could just do a 'drive-by', pay for the Happy Meal - and then give it back to them minus the free toy....bet that would have never happened before!! LOL!! - Do you dare me? Come on...!!! hahaha x

300TH POST !!

WOW! Its our 300th post! WOOHOO!


Umm...here is Parasite Hilton singing us a 300th post/birthday song...*ahem*

Present for Kat...

I think having a little orange butterlfy follow you all day is such a good sign!! x

Onthe (right) road again

Hi fellow bloggers!

Well, the passed 8 weeks has been chaotic and really tried my patience and sanity! It has been a massive test. I failed the first half on my holidays whjich resulted in massive weight gain, then on this part by being back, moving and unmoving due to cyclones i've been doing ok but not as well as i hoped. There was a breakthrough this morning though, i had minimal food in my fridge and was just not going to bother with breakfast, then pulled myself up and made do with what i had and was just so stoked that having my nutrition ready for the day has become second nature, i can't not do it now! YAY!

So, this week is really my first week back on my program properly, i have 4 runs and 2 resistance to do and reckon i will easily be able to have a 100% week!! That's all i'm aiming for, i've worked harder so this should be managable! I have a friend up for 10 days, who thankfully is staying with the guys i work with, i was stressed that it would be hard for me to stay on track whilst she was here but now i know that what i do is a standard pert of my life, regardless of visitors.

I have put all of my inspirational stuff back up and finished rewriting my goals yesterday so am feeling really confident! I just can't wait to shift a couple of these kilos but am not stressed as i know that if i do what i have to do it will just happen! yay yay yay am feeling positive and strong, am off now to bulk buy so i can bulk cook snacks for the next week!

Refugee

Well, yesterday was a HUGE day. Dan had to work til 4pm so i went home to pull my van apart on my own!! Alas, my Ningaloo Blue boys (skipper, decky and boss) came over on their own free will and helped me! What gems... we just beat the rain. We stayed at their house last night and had a bit of a "cyclone party".

The cyclone turned out to be quite a 'fizzer' the strongest wind we got was when we were pulling everything apart! So we get to practice putting our annexe back up again!! What a load of fun that should be lol. On a positive note though, we're hoping to improve our site when we relocate. We loved where we were, only the pad under our annexe is mud... and well...when it rains (which it hardly ever does, but when it does everything tends to flood) we're thinking that our floor will probably turn to crap and we wont be able to use the annexe ...which is well... kind of pointless... anyway, we'll see what they can come up with.

Am getting stuck in to the running as of Mon. My nutrition yesterday was good for first 2 meal, ended up skipping 3 & 4 due to just not realising i was even hungry in the midst of the chaos, and of course by the evening i was famished, i drank beer and ate shit. I FORGOT TO EMPTY MY FRIDGE IN MY CARAVAN i took clothes but forgot the food, so bella this leads me to think that i wouldn't be that much of a survivalist after all ROFLMAO.

THANK YOU XXX

A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who posted on Mindis blog - its support like that which shows how positive our blog community is - I find it amazing how its possible to let someone know from the other side of the world that you are inspired/motivated by them - I LOVE THE INTERNET! LOL!

Well, I have almost finished the first week of my 12 week countdown...and it has gone great guns! I shocked myself yesterday when I went to a friends house and she was eating 'crunchie cadbury little easter eggs'...and you know what? - they could have been chicken feed for all I cared. The sugar/craving didnt even register...it was the weirdest feeling...a kind of relief I guess - relief that I was not even going to go there in my mind - kinda like smoking. When I quit (about 3 years ago now) I just pretended cigarettes didnt exist - it would have been like putting a piece of chalk in my mouth a trying to light it...

I have to thank my nutrition though for being the main key in reprogramming my sugar cravings. My nutrition is really working for me - and I dont feel like I need anything else - and even though they are not the most interesting meals - I dont feel I am missing out on anything and my training is stronger than it ever has been before!

The only thing I have added is a warm mug of Dandellion tea in the evenings. I love this stuff - its so tasty and so warming now that it is freezing at night. I use the Symingtons from the supermarket...talking about chickens...this really looks like chicken feed...but 1tbs mixed with a little soy milk and boiling water...hmmm...might go and make myself some now!

The Taj Ma Hudson

Well, after taking neally 2 days to set ourselves up how we want to be and living in our new home for 3 days we have just discovered we have to go and pull it all down as we're going to get hit by a cyclone tonight...you lil ripper...bastard bastard bastard.....shit shit shit..... im OVER it!

anyway...here's our little home which will be carrying us around australia ...

(ignore the mess please.... no time to clean cooking meals for day:)

My gym!! My Bed

My kitchen My fridge!! eek its tiny

the outside the outside with our annexe

now i know it looks teensy and cramped but we're actually very comfortable!

Blog Support Network

**ANNOUNCEMENT**


Hi guys - I wanted to ask you all to do something...

I just visited Mindi OBriens blog - and noticed an 'anonymous' posted the comment 'judging from the number of comments, i'd say your fans are losing interest... since it appears you have too.'

I dont know Mindi - have never met her - infact I only discovered her blog a few days ago - but think its just so shit for someone to post a comment on her blog that is so negative. Mindi obviously works her ass off to achieved the body she has and goes out of her way to motivate and inspire others.

So - when you get a moment - could you post a comment on her blog - to show 'our blog network' is positive and supports Mindi and her path to a 'strong' happiness.

www.mindiobrien.blogspot.com

IM BACK!

and hopefully in 12 months i can look remotely like this??!!

Well i'm back and in training. My BPM were awful on my first run... i am damn unfit and totally embarrassed about it. I'm back on track with my nutrition and am feeling very confident. It's good to be home and even better to be back in my routine.

Tommorow i will post pics of the "Taj Ma Hudson".... if it's possible for me to work out in my living conditions and eat properly it's possible for anyone... lol you'll understand when you see the size of my fridge!

10kg of chicken is a lot of chicken...

Unreal banana peel. I have been having THE BEST weight sessions. I mean REALLY good! So good infact I am atually surprising myself in the gym - increasing weights at ever session - strong technique - abs hard and sit ups are getting easier (now use a 10kg plate - thinking about increasing to 15kg but my boobs would be squashed flat! haha)

But best of all is 'Raes Chicken Mince Recipe' - DAMN ITS TASTY!

I bought 10kg of organic chicken mince (I kid you not) and discovered THE YUMMIEST sauce to go with it (can you tell I am having a day where everything is going my way?! ha!) Its called Tofu Bolognase - by Vegetable Creations - www.vegetablecreations.com - This stuff ROCKS!!

I am doing another big cook up tomorrow morning - using the Glad box thingis - again thanks Rae - and voila - organised / prepared / and ready! YAY!

This is an example of how I have been training in the gym *ahem*...

ROBOT!

OMG YOU MUST CHECK THIS 'ROBOT BODYBUILDER' OUT!

Mindi O'Brien!

Um.. - OH MY GOD THIS WOMAN IS INCREDIBLE!

Introducing Mindi O'Brien.

Im sorry my eyes are glued to the screen and I am barely able to type...

Visit Mindi:

www.mindiobrien.blogspot.com

www.mindiobrien.com

Off We Go

We're leaving today and will be home tomorrow! Yay, bring on the routine!

*

Had to post this. His name is Freedom - and underneath the caption says 'with Freedom for all' - so inspiring. Good night x

FREEDOM!

Ok - today is '3 MONTHS UNTIL HOT BODY ACHIEVED' and you know what? Im really ready for it! Seriously - I am ready for what lies ahead during next 12 weeks! I cant believe its almost been a year since I first started to 'learn about' correct training and nutrition - ONE YEAR!! And this 'better' way of living is just so natural to me now. I dont 'fight' against it like I used to - infact I dont even think about it as much as I used to...and I used to think/obsess about it A LOT!

I can see changes in my body shape since starting with my trainer - and I LIKE them! He tells me to just 'LIVE'- that nutrition and training should not be my entire focus - to just concentrate on 'LIVING'- follow his guidelines and it will all just fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. And you know what? I never doubted him. Not once have I got a bad vibe or a moment where I felt like he didnt care. HE CARES!...and the puzzle is fitting together nicely!

I have always been very conscientious - spiritually / mentally / physically - I try and find balance in my life and I live life to the fullest. I am extremely goal orientated, focused and I aim high and achieve 'big'. ('big' being things that I perceive as great for me and my loved ones!) I thrive on challenges and the thought of 'I could never do that' has NEVER - and I am serious - NEVER crossed my mind. Its a matter of whether I chose to do it or not.

During the past 12 months of my 'fitness' journey I have become a 'richer' person. No doubt about it - for 2 main reasons:

1. I now RESPECT my body - I look after it - I make sure I am not punishing or treating it unfairly - this is the only 'body' I am getting - no exchanges or refunds - this is it! I used to treat my clothes better than my body! ha! Not any more - hell no - and NO ONE will stand in my way or persuade me to treat it in any other way!

2. During this journey I have made connections with people that have completely enhanced all I have ever wanted to be and more. These people have helped shaped who I am today - someone who used to struggle REALLY BADLY with 'body image' but who has made such changes that even I dont believe it sometimes!! Their guidance, support, kindness, generosity, energy and love has been instumental in my growth and I will be forever grateful and thankful to them. Never did I expect to form such friendships over the internet! Never did I expect to have a blog! - let alone have a joint one with Kat! I know I will NEVER be alone now that I have these people in my life - even if I am on a desserted island....but as long as I have my laptop! LOL!

Phew - I know this post is a little 'deep' but as I embark on the next 12 weeks of my journey I wanted to reflect on the past 9 months - and know that when I have completed 12 months in total - I will have achieved the body-fitness-nutrition-training-over all APPRECIATION OF ME - WHO I AM - AND WHAT I AM ABOUT!

Big deep breath - am about to dive in - but this time I know I can SWIM!

The feeling is FREEDOM -

SPLASH!!!!!!!!!!

xxx