Round 3 blogging challenge - Number 2. A picture of health?

Firstly - I'm sorry this second challenge is late! Don't put it off blogger! Its gonna be a big week! Two challenges to catch up - here is the first!

Secondly ... OH MY!!! 82 submissions to week one! You blow me away! I am doing my best to read them all - and I will! (the public ones anyway!)

So ... onto week two!

And if you haven't read week one's blogs - check it out HERE!! Be inspired!!

Michelle Bridges has often said "If you don't make time for healthy living now - make sure you make time for illness later"


I know she's not the original source (and I will endeavour to find it) , but this leaves me to my next blogging challenge.

Often at this stage on the forums we have two very distinct groups. One is up and at em. Enthused. Ready to go. One in all in. Two, three classes a day and running and cycling to.

Then you have those, who are struggling just to get started. And that first group is very very overwhelming to them.


And a lot of us are somewhere in between.
And that is normal. We all have different visions of health. Maybe health to you is running two marathons a year (not to me!)
Maybe it is keeping up with your kids.
Maybe it is being able to go for a jog Sunday mornings, or knowing you have the strength to dig and play in your garden.

I'm asking you to paint me a picture.


What is (to you) a picture of health?
What is health?

I'm a nurse. Shoot me. This interests me! But the varied responses from week one had me thinking. And wondering.

I'm not after a textbook answer. Paint me picture. Paint yourself a picture. Give yourself something to be inspired by.

Week two is health

Write your blog. Link it below! Have fun! Get real! Be honest!

And we have KICK OFF!

Yesterday was day one Round 3 for 12wbt.com.

The beginnng of the next part of my journey!

Honestly - it wasn't nervewracking, or filled with excitement. It was just the next step. It was continuing what has become a new way of life.

BUT - there was some trepidation in the air.

Yesterday was also the first day of Lean and Strong for me.

This round is less about weight loss, more about strength, empowerment, and muscle definition.

And I am scared.

You see - I don't like the "grown up" weights area. I like my little ladies only gym with no big hulking gym monkeys hanging about and leaving ridiculous amounts of weight on the equipment.

And I love my cardio. I get a real high from a great class. Or a big run.

But I am going to do it.

Even though my comfort zone is going to get smashed to pieces.

Day one was a success.

I swapped my days and did biceps, back and chest. Legs needed a break from Bridge to Brissy.

It wasn't bad.

I was able to go heavy on all my weights. And I managed to fit it in while Miss 6 was at Gecko Kids so we both won.

Then I went back to zumba and did MOST of the class. My head and heart weren't in it. The 3am Bridge to Brissy start caught up on me.

The food - was delicious. Focusing on protein at snacks really helped the hunger.

I'm calling day one a success. But what made it most amazing, was looking at the excitement of all those new to 12wbt this round! I love it causeI know their life is about to change big! How much fun is that!

Looking ahead. Going to be STRONG

We are in the final week of round 2. Has it been my best round? No. But despite all that life has thrown at me I have still achieved big things this round. I have lost weight. Run further. And I am still here. I am strong.

The end of a round brings some sadness. But for me it brings an awful lot of excitement. I love to look forward, to dream, to plan.
And my dreams for round three 2011 are exciting!

I have decided, even though I still have some weight to lose, to change to lean and strong this round.
I am going to focus less on the scales, less on the numbers, and instead focus on strength.
I am going to get strong, and toned.
I am going to work on mental strength, and teaching myself that I can.
I am going to lift heavy things. I am going to get results.

I am so excited!

I know it will be different, changing my focus away from so much cardio, and towards strength, but I cannot wait.
Beside the obvious toning and firming benefits, good lean muscle mass and weigh bearing exercise rocks for building bone density, and increasing the way your body burns calories, even at rest.

I am excited.

At home, plans are being made. A simple home gym is being organised ( with very little outlay - we have much of what i need) to take away excuses. I can easily still train at home if I can't get to the gym.

I will have challenges. I find the weights area of the gym kind of daunting. But getting out of my comfort zone has done me well so far.
I'm not going to stop now.

Round three is coming. Are you jning in? Are you making plans? Are you joining for the first time? Changing focus? Rejoining or doing it alone?

Or sitting on the sidelines?

What are your plans to finish out the year?
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone