mad cow

well i've finally arrived at dans parents farm...we've spent two entire days going through all of our possessions sorting stuff out for a garage sale, basically we can barely keep anything as we have no where to store it, hopefully we make a bucket load of cash because we want to but an LCD flat screen for our van......

anyway, this farm is ferral, gross, yukky, off it...! we've both got shocking hayfever - on a positive note the nice country air and serenity is worth it. No broadband here im using a dial up connection which is running painfully slow at 24k Grrrr i know! i can barely check my e-mails as its taking 5 mins to navigate between pages, i've been at it for an hour almost and really don't have much to show for it lol...... bring on broadband!!

So, no more blogging for this little one until Thurs when i get to my mums... this computer will push me over the edge if i try and get back on it lol.

Anyway, all is good, haven't been following program at all for the last week but am getting back on track with diet today, feelin like a bloated cow with a seriously bad fluid retention problem, am going to see if i can get some vitamin tabs to HELP...coz its just not funny anymore!

How things have changed...

Happy-ish to Happy Happy

I am definatly a morning person. I wake at 6am and am in bed by 11:30pm - so whats that? - 6.5 hours sleep. Im good at 6.5hours - sometimes at about 3pm I have a 15min powernap - shit those things immediately make me feel a million times better. Today I slept till 7am and Im a bit puffy in the eyes - but I had to wake a couple of times in the night to call the cops about some really drunk idiots in the street yelling at eachother - hate that.

I had a good look at myself in the morror last night - and I am feeling more toned. My 'handles' arent as big - my thighs have trimmed down and my tummy is flatter. I still have a while to go until I am 'happy happy' - but at the moment I am 'happy-ish'. My biceps do piss me off though - I dont want 'flat pancake look' where the hell is the tone? I can see definition if I move my arm out a bit - but I want permanent tone - guess its a good indication I need to drop some more body fat.

For me, dropping body fat is all about not overdoing carbs. I have cut down my cardio and decreased my carbs - and am feeling so much better for it. I so do not miss the 5+ cardio sessions a week (HIIT/run whatever) and 4 weight sessions!! I know this works for some and thats awesome - but I have finally worked out that this isnt necessary for me. Sure - I may need to increase cardio at one stage - but at the moment I am losing bodyfat at a good rate by just focusing on my weight sessions and nutrition.

No dairy is also another positive move I made - particularly the cottage cheese - I mean, what the hell is in that stuff?!!!! - same with the protein powder - YUK!

Hey - I eat shit every so often still - but I took a good look at the frequency (everyday) and felt the cottage cheese and protein powder wasnt doing me any favours - particularly when I could eat protein from sources that my digestive system thanked me for (grilled chicken / lean meat etc) This way involves a little more stuffing around - cottage cheese/protein powder is very easy to prepare & consume - but the extra effort is woth it for me - I really have no choice - my crazy tummy just does not settle!

Anyway - I know I have spoken about all this before - I guess I just feel that much better from my current nutrition program - that I am pleased I was able to find alternatives that work for me - but I also know people that respond great to protein powder - which is great - but it just didnt work out for me!

What else? - my coffee grinder just shat itself - but luckily I was able to get my morning coffee out just in the nick of time - PHEW!!!

Girl weights SUCK!!

So 'sticky hot' today - I feel like I am in Bangkok! Mind you I am sitting at a desk under a blaring air-con - its so powerful that Im struggling to blink - my eyes are all dry! lol - god only knows what this is doing to my skin!!

Was very excited when I went to the country gym - which is a first because I normally have to phone Kat to give me words of encouragement just to enter....yes, it is that bad....

BUT - the BRAND SPANKING NEW GYM 'grand opening' has been confirmed as March 1 - NEXT WEEK!! YAY!

Open 7 days - all day - rather than 6-10am mon-wed and 8-10am sat (are they the shittest hours or what?!!) - remembering though that is the 'best' part of they gym...did I mention there is a creche in the middle of the weights area.....?!

So am looking forward to really intensifying my workouts...my heart skips a beat from the thought of shiny new dumbells!!!!

Talking about dumbells I almost pissed myself laughing at the gym yesterday (again, I tend to piss myself laughing about a lot of things at this gym...did I mention I see people doing lat pulldowns with their 4 year old monkey - I mean kid - sitting on their lap....?!)

ANYWAY - I was speaking to a PT at the gym and I was telling him how I was looking forward to the new equipment - he said 'oh yeah - the girls are going to love it... We have special pink girl dumbells and they will be in a different section to the 'boys' dumbells...........WTF!!!!?

And after 'pissing myself laughing in my head' I immediately thought 'you f**ing idiot.' What a stupid thing to say - let alone actually buy for a gym. Maybe they were requested by the lady members... *shudder*.

Well, old gym or new gym - my IPOD will be blarring and the only person which will exist for that hour will be me - and me using the mens weights and me lifting heavy and me getting RIPPED!!!


What 'girl' weights....!!?

kidnapped

someone gimme back kaddy!

i feel like i've been kidnapped.........

no workouts... no nutrition...but lots of SHOPPING!!!!!

yesterday was awesome, spent the entire day shopping.... somewhat depressing though as my overhanging hips proved that ive put a bit of fat on.... trying on jeans was a little depressing...but it certainly gave me the kick up the butt i needed!!!

cant wait to see my PT in a few weeks!! Im sure i will get the kick up the butt i deserve! im heading out to the farm today (dans parents) not looking forward to it...got to go through all of my stuff and i have to be ruthless about what im keeping *sigh* should be a whole lotta fun lol!

take care
xxx

have arrived

well, we went to depart for our travels on monday and discovered as we drove out the driveway our radiator had sh*t itself...grrr always the way, so here we were all food prepared (i had my squirrel containers) and we were stuck for another day! So, now we've been all week just up in the air, no work outs, BAD nutrition and i am relieved to have finally arrived. I got an awesome cuddle with my new little nephew, he's 6 months old and just absolutely ADORABLE i wanna keep him FOREVER!!

I'm currently in the process of trying to educate my mother.... she's on her second trial of DURAMINE!!!!!! this time a higher dose grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr i feel like i'm fighting an unwinnable battle!!! Anyway, will persist over the coming weeks, if i can walk the talk she might come round...

anyway just checking in, been having blog withdrawals... chat soon

kat xxxx

phone calls

oops forgot to mention.... yesterday dan goes "you must speak to Amelia like three times a day and you were on the phone for over an hour yesterday (whilst i was meant to be packing/cleaning...do you blame me lol) my phone rings about half an hour later and he goes... that'll be amelia... it wasn't... smart ass...

On my way

leaving town today... not being able to work out is doing my head in, grrr but i'll be fine, i'll just work my butt off later on in the week.

Cant wait to see my nephew only 1 sleep to go YAY. Am missing blooging, feel like an addict, dan couldnt believe i'd get up at 5 am to come check my e-mails...e-mails, csmails had to come and check blogs!

chat soon
xxx

Just thought I would let everyone know that I will 'win' abs before Kat and Dan do...*ahem*

KAT FISH

...just wanted to say 'WE HAVE BIGGER FISH TO FRY!'

Self Respect

'We cannot become what we need to be by removing what we are.'
Abraham J. Heschel, from Believe in Yourself by Mansukh Patel

Self Acceptance
In order to be at peace with ourselves, we have to learn to accept ourselves.
You can be your own best friend or your own worst enemy depending on the decisions you are making on a moment-to-moment basis.
Decide now, today, to take control of yourself and your life and to give up the notion that you are an unwilling player in someone else's film. This is your life, your film and you are the director and the producer! You can play whichever role you like - so who is going to choose the part of victim, tormented by weakness and low self-image? Everyone wants to be the hero - so decide right now to accept that role and no other.

James and the oak tree
James gazed out of the window at the great oak tree that stood watching over the valley beyond. He loved that tree because it emanated strength and continuity in a world full of changes and uncertainty. It stood like a rock, reassuring and comforting.

He thought about his life and how so many circumstances had occurred to bring him to this point now. His job had been a good one and although very stressful it had made him feel important and 'somebody'.

He had always wanted to be somebody, but now he just felt useless. Losing his job was bad enough, but he never thought Jill would leave him when the going got tough. 'I worked so hard to feel good enough as a human being,' he thought 'but now I can see it was all just a cover up for what I really feel deep inside me.'

He wondered if the oak tree ever felt inadequate. 'No, it is content being a tree, never striving to prove anything to anyone,' he thought. And what great strength it had in just being itself. He got up and walked out across the valley, sitting himself down under the tree.

Looking up into the branches, he could feel how small he was in comparison and as the pain burned through his body, he sighed.

It felt so good to stop running from that feeling. Nothing to prove any more and no one to impress. 'Perhaps now I can accept myself and find my own greatness.'


Ask yourself...
Can I honestly say I am being a best friend to myself?
Are the decisions I am making supporting my highest good? Do they take me where I want to go?
Am I eating foods that strengthen or weaken my system?
Am I working in a job I love?
Am I having enough fun?
Do I feel I deserve to be everything I want to be?

The gesture of acceptance
With the right index finger touching the left thumb, take hold of the middle, ring and little fingers of the right hand with the four remaining fingers of the left hand.
Hold the hands with the fingers pointing upwards. Hold for at least sixty to ninety seconds.


The heart hug
Imagine you are holding a tree, your arms hugging the tree at shoulder height.
Visualise the strength and power of the tree flowing into you with each in breath and filling your whole body on the out breath.
Feel yourself become like the tree, strong and powerful.
Affirm: I am strong and powerful.



Become your own best friend

A best friend is someone you can depend on for the best advice and support at the times when you most need it. A best friend wants the best for you and does not want to see you suffer or struggle with your life. He or she will make sure you do things that bring you happiness, joy and fulfilment. They will help you to make choices about a career that you love and share in your adventures and pastimes. They will not let you fall into sadness or despair, but will always lift you up and make you laugh at your life. They will make sure you eat and drink the right things that make you strong, healthy, fit and happy. Being a best friend to yourself is a symptom of self-love. You love yourself enough to do the things that make you feel good about who you are and where you are going in life...

Womens Bodies Womens Wisdom

I just bought the above named book by Dr Christiane Northrup. http://http://www.drnorthrup.com/ It's about a gazillion pages thick, it's perfect I have a 12 hour drive ahead of me on Tuesdy (ahhh yay, gonna go see my gorgeous little nephew....my hearts just about jumping outta my chest at the thought!)

Anyyyyway.... this book is just awesome!!!! I'm only into a chapter of it but it's blown me away. Basically I bought the book as I really wanted to understand the workings of my body better, I've always been so focused on how it looks but have never even considered bothering to figure out how it works! This book is basically about the way our minds, bodies and spirit all work together in the sickness and health of our bodies. dr Northrup believes that the medical world is sought of pretty cynical and doesn't allow room for alternative healing etc. Just for a way out example... she refers to patients who may have problems with one of their 'womens' organs - unique to us... and how through traditional medicine the women are misdiagnosed or not treated effectively, but with her belief system she tries to find out more and go deeper and has discovered that a lot of the illnsses actually stem from something emotional.

She makes a point of saying how women will automatically say "there is nothing more going on it's just a body thing, not an emotional/mental issue" we tend to seperate our body and minds when in factit's been medically proven our mind is connected with all of our organs... so can and does cause sickness/illness on different areas. She goes on to say once she digs deeper she will usually find a past trauma ie child abuse or infidelity or something that has caused the problem. Once the patient acknowledges it and can see where the underlying problem is stemming from she is able to heal.

I totally recommend this book to anyone whos female! It's a little holistic/medical/spiritual/health how a womans body and mind works together... ... VERY COOL!


What others thought:
“Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom is a gateway to the deepest understanding of health and well-being. Women have an innate sense of spirituality, an ability to attune to the wisdom within themselves and the larger whole that has been systematically ignored in medicine. Dr. Northrup restores the spiritual to the medical, facilitating the understanding and confidence that every woman needs in order to create a healthy body and a fulfilled life.” –Joan Borysenko, Ph.D., author of Minding the Body, Mending the Mind and A Woman's Book of Life

“A masterpiece for every woman who has an interest in her body, her mind and her soul.” –Caroline Myss, Ph.D., author of Anatomy of the Spirit

“While most male physicians seem hesitant even to use the word ‘healing,’ many women doctors —epitomized by Dr. Christiane Northrup—are demonstrating what genuine healing has always been about: the integration of the physical and the spiritual, psyche and soma, into a harmonious whole. This book demonstrates the reemergence of the feminine in healing, a force that has kept the inner pulse of healing beating for centuries. If you can't have Dr. Northrup for your doctor, read her book.” –Larry Dossey, M.D., author of Healing Words, Meaning & Medicine, and Recovering the Soul

“Dr. Chris Northrup's book is an outstanding collection of information and case histories that will benefit everyone who reads it. It lives up to the title and I certainly intend to share it with my wife and daughter. I could go on extolling its virtues, but it will do more good if everyone just takes my advice and reads it.” –Bernie Siegel, M.D., author of Love, Medicine, and Miracles

The man who inspires us..

Ralph Marston!

from his websitehttp://greatday.com/ralph/personal.html

I am 44 years old and live in Austin, Texas with my wife and two daughters, ages 10 and 6. I'm a graduate of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, with a Bachelor of Business Administration, and am a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.
I have always been interested in personal development, and have studied hundreds of books and tape programs over the years. I have applied many of the concepts I've learned, to my own life and business, and have developed a "real world" knowledge of what works and what doesn't. Many people are curious about my religious affiliation. I am a Christian (member of the Methodist Church). Although "The Daily Motivator" is not intended to be a religious publication, my writing is certainly influenced by Christian teachings and concepts.
Since starting The Daily Motivator more than three years ago, I've been amazed at the tremendous positive response which it has received. People from all over the world, in all walks of life, have a sincere interest in living lives of meaning, caring, dedication and fulfillment. I am extremely grateful that the technology of the Internet affords me the opportunity to share my work with so many people.
For fun, I enjoy sailing my 23-foot sailboat, swimming, bicycling, in-line skating, playing keyboard, wine tasting, and cooking/eating southwestern cuisine. The main thing I enjoy is playing with my children and watching them learn and grow. We love living in Austin, which is home to hundreds of high tech companies, a vibrant live music industry, the world's largest urban colony of bats, the best salsa (the food, not the dance) in the world, and lots of natural beauty in the surrounding hill country.
My interests include global economics, hurricanes, maps, naval and aviation history, fitness and nutrition, music, computers, photography, among others.
Since the age of 5, I've been interested in space travel. On a recent trip to Florida, I enjoyed a fascinating visit to the Kennedy Space Center, and a few days later watched a launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery.

Choose now

Just because you experienced anxiety a moment ago does not mean that you must continue to hold on to it. Choose now to let it go.
You may have recently been angry about one thing or another, yet that destructive anger does not have to continue. Choose now to transform the energy of that anger into positive, healing, productive thoughts and actions.
Whatever the past may have held, this moment can be filled with what you choose right now. Peace, acceptance, joy, forgiveness, and positive purpose are all as close as your decision to choose them.
Think of the most joyful and fulfilling times you've ever known. Allow yourself to feel the way it feels when you're at your very best.
The world is as it is, the people around you are as they are, and this moment is here. You can choose now to face it all with the best you have to give.
Life is ever filled with all kinds of possibilities, and this moment is no exception. Choose now to make the most positive of those possibilities a part of who you are.
-- Ralph Marston

SCALE the WORLD

Hi guys, cheers for comments! Sorry for absence...im on holidays officially now, so no internet at home and am avoiding work like the plague (it's an internet cafe as well as booking office for charters, so bring my notebook in to do net stuff) ... anyway, been working out in morning then cooking food for the day and don't make it in before the shop opens.... just can't deal with going in because i always have to do work!!

Scale the World is an awesome self growth program put out by John Benson. Basically it's a 32 day course where he uses the analogy of scaling a mountain , you end up with climbing buddies and releasing things you didn't know existed. Basically every day you get sent an e-mail, then you do the little assignment he sets you. It takes around 15 mins max. i'm up to day 22, but am doing it again so i can really get everything to sink in. Bella is my climbing partner.... it's pretty cool to think of yourself scaling the world, because the changes we make to ourselves has an advers effect on the rest of the world.

Day 2
Assignment.

Today, write down five things that you wish to change about the world as a
whole. Then, underneath each, ask yourself this question:

1. increasing cases of smoking related deaths
2. increasing obesity
3. amount of waste and rubbish
4. rate of depression & anxiety, stress on health care systems
5. the amount of people with financial problems

"How can scaling my world help bring about these changes in both the smallest
and greatest of ways?"
By me scaling the world I am learning new techniques to improve my own personal quality of life. I am learning ways to positively effect other people, i eat wholesome foods with minimal packaging which is decreasing the amount of rubbish, i am exercising creative a positive momentum in the unhealthy people around me which will inturn start decreasing the amount of overweight people, I also aim to educate others on this subject as my knowlege increases. This life style, decreases stress levels, tension and anxiety making the world a much happier place, if i 'walk the talk' and influence others, the over all effect is AWESOME! The more people that live this way the better! By me taking this journey i am adversley affecting others and hopefully causing them to realise that having a wonderful life is entirely possible!

My strength. On a final note I am now visualising 'fit kat'. I have a hot snorkel chick in my head, my head on her body - my new body ' quirky i know but fit kat is almost like a split personality i am using to keep me in line - i look at her then the fridge and she says 'go on if you want - but you're never going to look like me if you do"!!! ROFLMAO - it's not really that psychotic - am just visualing how i want to be to help me get there and it WORKS FOR ME!! I haven't touched a drop of alcohol all week! During the cricket finals the other night, dan says - "c'mon kaddy you have to have a beer during the finals" my response " how is me having that beer going to make this world a different place - what will change by me having one beer?!" his response..bloody good answer that is SO TRUE! and dont i know it, no amount of larger will take me away from fit kat.... im going to get abs goddammit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IKEA can kiss my REAR

Just a quick one.

I have had the SHITTEST afternoon.

All was going well in the morning until the afternoon.
I had to do a big shop at IKEA and went to pull out my 'packed lunch' but I forgot to bring it!!! So I agreed to have lunch with a friend - went to a cafe where they have a great salad - but it was off the menu (um, but of course it was!!!!) - so picked the 'best' of the 'worst' and had a spicy pattie thing with a greek salad - which gave me the worst indigestion!!!! (like burping up lit matches all afternoon) Then I raced to IKEA (wanted to be out before late afternoon) -YEAH RIGHT!!!

3.5 hours later - no mid afternoon snack - minimal water and 4 trollies of IKEA product and I honestly thought I was going to pass out/die..!!! Remember also that at IKEA noone helpes you push the trollies - so I had to leave them around the store and keep walking back for them - and then I had to unpack all the product for scanning and payment - run down to my parked car and drive it to the pick up area and then load all my car with the stuff. (yes, I said 4 TROLLIES FULL TO THE BRIM!!)

and I have FRIGHTENING PMS...

yes,....OH MY GOD....

The trolley boy asked just as I stuffed the last polyfoam cushion in my car if I wanted to take home the IKEA catalogue - instead of telling him to shove the catalogue ***** - I told him I dont want to hear the word I**A for a veerrrry long time. Poor kid.

Drove home through traffic - 1hour later I arrived.

I walked into the house and just passed out on the couch.

I woke up 1/2 hour later and ate a bowl of museli with soy milk.
Then I ate 6 pieces of chocolate.

I am now sitting here 3 hours later - getting ready for bed - and I am kinda beating myself up about todays nutrition. I just hope I burnt some serious calories in that godforsaken store - oh well, a new day tomorrow...but still need to unpack the car!!!

Day 1 - Scale The World

Bella and I are going to be "Scaling the World" together over the next 31 days. We are doing John Bensons free scale the world program http://scaletheworld.com


Day 1- Kat
5-10 things I will release over the next 32 days.

Nicotine addiction
Anxiety from nicotine and alcohol
The need to have to drink because others are
Dependancy on others - will go solo - i realise i have to do it all for me not others
Anger towards negative ex friend - Claire -
Obsessiveness with food
Negative binge habits
Complications i cause with EVERYTHING
Passed failures

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Dr.Evil lives in the KITCHEN during these hours!

Note to self:

DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES NO NO NO

- Enter the kitchen between 2pm - 6pm

- Enter the kitchen after 9pm

There is no place for me to be in there during those hours.

If, under extreme circumstances (george foreman left on/dishwasher flooding into lounge) I need to enter during these time, the following precautions must be taken:

- Switch off lights and 'go in blind'

- Call for backup - a friend who can steer you in the right direction

- Allow a glass of Diet Pepsi if all else fails (not really...ok..a little glass)


That is all.

3

Three is often the largest number written with as many lines as the number represents.

The three Doshas (weaknesses) and their antidotes are the basis of Ayurvedic medicine in India.

The three Gunas underlie action, in the Vedic system of knowledge. There is also the concept of Trimurti in Hindu tradition

Bella loves Bella LOL

You know I am sitting here and NEVER EVER have I felt this good.

Things that are unreal:

1. My hair is so healthy and thick
2. The whites of my eyes are WHITE
3. No gas AT ALL(thank god...)
4. No bloating - my tum is flat baby!
5. My nails are strong
6. Have lost 2kg

...and best of all I feel STRONGER - my weights are increasing every workout and I have LOST BODY FAT!!!

I love my meals, infact I prepare them 3 days in advance so they are ready to eat and I have NOOOOOOOOOO CRAVINGS!!! - if anything I get a small twinge about 4pm which I was told may be just from years of eating chocolate around that time - mid afternoon lull.

I have my organic veggie woman who picks all the produce from her little farm for me and I have just bought a truck load of biodynamic/organic meat which I will parcel up and freeze - ORGANISED VIRGO BELLA !!

For the first time food isnt controlling me and I am getting the results I want.

It just doesnt get any better - feeling like this ROCKS! It hasnt come easy (few personal demons to battle with) but I seriously feel like I am 'accepting me' and 'coming to peace' with myself...

....god I sound all mushy - but I think I am starting to like myself (whats that song?...I love myself I want you to know it...LOL...!!!! - a very strange concept for me but one I can get used to! I feel......'normal....*cough* or what I want normal to be for me anyway!! ;-)