Monday Mini Goals ...

It's been a bit hectic here in the last week or so trying to keep up with the kids and public holidays. You know, the usual ... and I don't seem to have been keeping on top of everything. Oh well! To top it off apparently we have an issue with the telephone cable that comes into our house which means for the last two weeks I have been without a telephone line and Internet ( I know, the horror of no Internet! ) ... I have limited access via my phone carrier but I just can't do what I would really like to be doing. And of course, the only resolution I have been offered involved me spending more money on wifi dongles ( !! ) and extra gigs of download ... which of course I need on top of the unlimited download I am already paying for but have no access too ... OK, so I may have vented long enough. I shall move on to more exciting topics ...

What's motivating you this week? Have you set yourself some mini goals?

My mini goals this week ... Eat healthy and nutritious foods that will help fuel my training. Of course I might allow myself a treat once but I'm going out for dinner on Friday night so that might be my treat this week! I will exercise 5 days this week as I really need to stay consistent with my training so that I can run a half marathon again this year. I'm making this week a lighter training week as my hamstring is a bit niggly.




Stick with it Fit people .. Baby steps will get you there!

Where will 2013 take you? plus a giveaway!

Can you believe that we are almost through the first month of 2013?!

The kids will be back at school next week and then all the fun stuff will start! Back into a routine of early mornings, making lunches, school runs and homework!

If you are anything like me you'll also be making sure that you add in your time to keep up with your exercise routine. I haven't been too bad over the holidays, nothing specific but fairly consistent with my training. Or, do you need a bit more of a kick in the backside to get those New Year resolutions rolling ...

I'm not sure what plans I have for 2013 yet but I do know that I'm dividing mine plans / goals / intentions into categories .. Health, Fitness, Work, Family.  I'm not sure if this will work as this will be the first time I try this .. I'll let you know!
I don't have any specific goals / intentions for each category as yet but I do have a few ideas rolling around in my head, I've just got to sort them out!

Have you made any resolutions / goals / intentions to

start exercising ... again ...

make those "lifestyle" changes ( there is NO DIET words being used! )

join a gym ...

 

Sometimes we all need a little bit of an extra push to get ourselves so what better way than to win a little piece of technology to help you out on some of those tough workouts!

 

Fitness First are giving you the chance to win a Green 2GB iPod shuffle RRP$55 to make those workouts just that bit more enjoyable.  Who doesn't love working out to music?  Some research has even shown that upbeat music can help you stay motivated during your workout and train harder so you can maximise the benefits of your exercise session! 

 Here's what you need to do to enter ...

 

* Leave a comment on this post letting me know what your goals or intentions for 2013 are ... If you are posting anonymously please leave me some details so that I can get in contact with you if you win.

Additional entries ..

* Head on over to Fit Mum's facebook page to "like" it and share with your friends. Let me know in your comments.
* If you are a tweeter .. tweet about the giveaway .. "follow @Fit_Mum and RT for your chance to win a green 2GB iPod Shuffle from Fitness First!  www.fitmumsblog.blogspot.com.au #giveaway"

And the fine print ...
This competition is hosted by fitmumsblog.blogspot.com.au and the prize is one green iPod Shuffle valued at $55. The prize has been donated by Fitness First. The competition opens 22/01/2013 and closes 12am 29/01/2013. The winner will be drawn 30/01/13 at random with the help of random.org and will be notified by email as soon as possible after the draw. The prize will be posted to the winner within 21 days. The competition is open to entrants with an Australian address only. I was provided with a complimentary iPod shuffle. Should the winner not contact me within 48 hours the prize will be forfeited and re-drawn.

 



 

 

 



Fitness Friday .. Get ready for summer!

I've started the count down.  There are 14 more days until Spring!

And ... there are only 106 more days until Summer!  ( Well, that's the count here in Australia! )

Which means there will be some requirement soon to remove a layer of clothing .. you know, the one that hides those sickly pale limbs ( well, that's what mine are like anyway .. ).  It will be time to pull out the bathing suit for the weekends at the beach or by the pool.  I'll admit that this makes me cringe a little ...

In preparation for this I have started thinking about how I am going to go about getting my body ready for the big reveal.  Alright, it's not really that dramatic but there are a few "adjustments" that I would like to make ...

Now is the perfect time to start thinking about what health and fitness goals you would like to set yourself for the next few months. 

I'm going to start my "Get Set for Summer" health and fitness party on the 1st of September.  Not that I'm going to go hell for leather in the eating department or sit on the couch for the next 2 weeks.  I will still be mindful of what choices I'm making ( who am I kidding .. I'll still be watching exactly what I eat and how much! ) and I will still be training ( but currently modified ) for the Stampede as that is only 3 weeks away! 

Come September I will be stepping it up and I would LOVE it if you would join me and together we can keep each other on track!  I know I've convinced you to join me!

This is what I'm going to be up to starting September. 
( Here's a post about setting goals if you need a bit of a reference point. )

Fitness Goal .. I want to get back into more running so that I can again run 10km in under an hour.  I will balance this with strength training 1 - 2 times each week.

Health Goal .. This one is really an ongoing commitment.  I will be again doing "Sugar Free September".  I did this last year successfully .. check out my wrap up here. 

Combining both of these and I'll be ready to wear that bikini by summer .. if I actually wore a bikini, which I don't, but I'd like to think that if I wanted to I could ... 

Have you set yourself some goals to get you ready for Summer? 

Will you be joining me? 

Let me know what you are planning ( if you want to that is! ) and come and say hi on my Facebook page and we can keep each other motivated! 

Where did October go?

October seemed to go by so quickly for me, maybe I just wasn't watching closely enough ...

A quick update post on how I went with my health and fitness plans for October .. here's what I planned to do ...

Back to running .. well, sort of .. I embarked on the run / walk method for October and I really enjoyed it.  I managed to get out 2 - 3 times each week.  Miss 9 joined me at least once per week and we really enjoy our run together.  I even talked our neighbour into joining us, and she is having a great time!  I may have created a new runner!

November's running goal is to keep up what I'm doing.  I am gradually increasing the distance I have been doing and I'll keep doing this in November.  Perfect base training for the new year!

October was going to be another sugar free month.  Whilst I am far from perfect, I have done a pretty good job of staying on track.  Of course I don't eat this way 100% of the time, but I'm definitely making sure that I don't over indulge.  Making this into a habit is going to go a long way to beating the battle of indulging over the Christmas party / New Year season!

               Mmmm ... food!

Has my body composition changed much in October?  Possibly not but I've kept up my weight training once a week and I know that this helps keep me strong and maintaining my body.
It looks like I have dropped a little bit according to the scales but they are so unreliable. 
I haven't taken any follow up measurements yet, not sure if I will just now .. I might wait another month.

Overall, I've been really happy with the way I'm going.  I'm sticking to my plans and everything seems to be working.  And I feel great and can keep going .. which is the most important thing for me!

Bring on November and the party season .. I can't wait for December!! But that's a whole new post about holidays to the USA to visit my sister!!

I hope everyone's plans are on track!  I would love to hear how you are going!

Stay focused,  Stay strong

Fit Mum x   

 

 

meh. that is all

This week has been an interesting one.  The kids are back at school and in the uninterruptedness ( ?? ) I've got a few things crossed off the list.  

On the sugar free and exercise front .. I've done a fair amount of NOTHING!!  Unless you count a boxing circuit, balance class and doing a few push ups and squats with my clients as I'm training them .. you know, I don't want them to feel they are the only ones doing anything!

To follow up on the sugar free and exercise front .. I've also done a fair amount of thinking about it. 

Now that it's been a week since my sugar free challenge finished, my brain has clearly taken this into consideration and should there be a chocolate in the house I've been known to make it disappear .. via my stomach ... yes, I'm now confessing to possibly overindulging in sugar laden treats.  This, however, was not my original intention. 

Clearly I'm having a motivation and commitment issue that may will need to be addressed in the near future.  I've read blogs, articles etc all about losing weight and I love it!  Geez, it's my job too!  But I just haven't been able to shake the "meh" virus, you know, the "blah" bug. 

meh. that is all

This afternoon I was catching up on some blog reading .. health and fitness blogs of course ... and for some reason Jogaholic's blog post today sparked some action!!  Check her out here ...

I've been putting off taking the updated stats for a while now ( it's been 12 months ) ... maybe lazy, maybe a bit scared they have changed for the worse!  And the pics ... well, I really don't like having my photo taken at the best of times!! Let alone getting in a bikini for those shots that just are not flattering!

Well, I did it ... the pics have been taken and measurements done and I'm pleased to say that there has not been a change for the worse!  Phew!! 

 In the last 12 months I've actually lost a few centimetres ...

 well then, I must have done something right!!                                              

We are supposed to say something positive about bodies and do the best with what we've got so I'm even going to do that ...
I think I'm doing pretty darn good for an almost 40 ( I still have 5 and a half months to go ) mother of 2!! Yay me!!

Now to sit down and plan how I'm going to make a few more changes.  Not drastic ones, just some changes to body fat %.  I'll be happy with a kilo or two.

I could possibly be getting a bit excited about setting some new goals!! After my home made pizza and red wine for dinner ... gotta keep it real hey!

Stay focused,  Stay strong

Fit Mum x

 

Monday's Motivation ...

"Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential" Liane Cardes

This is quite often the most overlooked ingredient when it comes to achieving your goals and getting the best results.  

I could put it another way ... consistency, consistency, consistency ...

Consistent effort in training will have you well on your way to getting the results you want.

Consistent efforts in keeping your diet clean and nutritious will get you the results you want.

Getting into a routine with your training is going to help with keeping your training consistent.  Build it into your life and your lifestyle.

Plan your diet each week .. or day .. so that you are allowing yourself to be successful. 

If there is one thing that you keep telling yourself ...

Consistency, Consistency, Consistency

Stay focused, Stay Strong

Fit Mum x   

This week's workout ...

This week seems to have just flown by!  I’m feeling the effects of having hubby away all week.  If only all the extra balancing and juggling was improving my core strength!!

I’ve made sure though that I’ve kept my training a priority and I’ve stayed on track.  This week looked like this …

Monday         PT session .. Whole body strength training again with some seriously nasty

                    negatives on the bench press.

                    30 minutes

                    Coached the girls at netball training tonight too .. glad I didn’t have to do

                    too much passing!

Tuesday        Baxter needed a walk and I was dog sitting the in laws poodle so we all

                    headed off for a jog / walk through the bush.  Bax was leading the way

                    but we had to slow down a bit as poor Honey couldn’t quite keep up. 

                    She spent most of her time under my feet .. again the balancing act!

                    35 minutes

                      

Wednesday   Cardio .. Jog / Run / Walk .. Nice easy run with a friend who is building up

                    her running outdoors.  We added in a few tempo spurts along the way just

                    to spice it up!

                    45 minutes

Thursday      Rest day

Friday          PT session .. cardio / body weight circuit .. great session!  Excellent way to

                    spend a few calories!  That could negate the mini magnum I had for dessert

                    last night …

                    40 minutes

Saturday /

Sunday         This weekend I plan on catching up on the housework and spending some

                    time with the hubby and kids.  I’m  not planning any extra training, so if I

                    squeeze in a walk or run that’s going to be a bonus this week!

Overall, I’m pretty happy with my training this week.  I mentioned last week I should possibly give my diet a bit more consideration … I didn’t do that this week .. ooops!  I will do that soon .. no, I really mean it!

I hope that everyone’s training this week has been great and you have smashed out some sessions that are going to get you closer to your goals!

Stay focused,  Stay strong

Fit Mum x

Lost without a goal ..

So I've had a "rest" week after finishing the half marathon.  I have still done some training, because I know I should, and because I really do enjoy it.  It hasn't been all running, I've done a few weight training sessions and I've certainly felt those!

In the last few days I've been thinking about what my new goal should be and what type of training I should do now.  I must say that I'm kind of floundering. 

Do I want to sign up for another run?  I'm not sure if I really want to feel the pressure of following another training program, at least for a while. 

Should I start a "lean, mean, mummy machine" program?  There's a few "adjustments" that I would like to make to my body ... but how will I measure it? Weight, measurements, body fat, look?

I don't want to train because I feel I have to .. but I don't want to NOT train and feel guilty!  Without a current "goal" I'm certainly feeling a bit confused and not as focused as I would normally be.   

One thought keeps crossing my mind when I've been asked what I'm going to start training for ... 
I'm going to do something that I enjoy doing!  I think that this is going to be my new goal .. until of course I decide on another one!

What do you do when you feel a little less focused with your training?
Are you training for a specific goal .. or just because you enjoy what you are doing?

Most importantly, I hope that you are doing something you really love!

Stay focused,  Stay strong

Fit Mum x