A goal after my own heart! Gearing up!

Preseason task number four is gearing up!!

Seriously? What could be more perfect?! An excuse to shop!

For anyone new ... please don't think you need to spend a bucket load of money. Some good shoes is essential - but apart from that you can do Mish's program for free.

However for me ... this is my fourth round. And I have a sports mad hubby. And I have been lucky to get a few pressies along the way ... so I feel like I am pretty lucky with how well geared up we are!

So - I'm going to be mixing up my training cause I've learned for me it's more about keeping my mind so busy it doesn't complain!

A little running (maybe not as much due to lean and strong!), my gym, outdoor workouts with a PT, weights at home if I need. I'm commited to attending pilates at my gym ... these abs need to get STRONG to meet my goals!

Any opportunity I get I'm going to train with the 12wbt Qld Crew. I love these girls and guys! They keep me motivated and it's just plain FUN!

SO gear -

• gym membership, check!


• good shoes - yep! Plus I'm waiting on the athletes foot voucher I won in wk 10 last round to come so I can buy a spare pair.


• workout gear - done!


• HRM - yep!


• skins for recovery. Yep!


• good fitting sports bra - live in them! Don't forget this girls! Essential!


• I have some weights at home, and great running routes planned, plus a whole heap of ONLINE SUPPORT! My number one tip! Surround yourself with supporters!

Truly - I' m set. Nothing more I need to buy.

Gearing up this round has been more about getting the right support around me.

Some of that is through www.12wbt.com

There is a reason I keep coming back. It puts the best programs, and pts at my fingertips as well as a wealth of supporters.

Some of that is virtual support through my twitter crew.

And this round, I am checking out PT's closer to home. I adored my Toowoomba PT but it was too much driving. I've been afraid for some stupid reason to see someone locally. But I'm busting out of my comfort zone. I've found a great PT at the gym, and I'm trialling a new guy tomorrow for some boxing and outdoor workouts.

Yep this was an easy task for me. I DID buy a new gymbag. That was fun.

And I AM going to get off this computer and go straight away and pack a spare change of gear for the car so I have NOOOOO excuses to train, even if I haven't come prepared.

Geared up. Ready.

Getting excited! Is it round 3 yet??!!

Gearing up - some of my favourite iPhone aps!

You know, I swore I would never get an iPhone ...

But then one day I actually had a good long look at them - and realised what an amazing tool they could be to my health and fitness journey (as well as organising the rest of our life!) Truthfully - it has been worth every cent.

Some of my fave apps for the 12wbt are ...

Blogpress. I love love love that I can update my blog from my phone - or from an ipad. So quick and easy to use and means I can blog while I'm waiting for Miss E to finish a swim or ballet class. Plus it is quicker to upload photos too!



The 100 push ups app. One of my goals this round is to do pushups. Real pushups on my toes. This app is great. You start by doing a test to see how many pushups you can do right now. Then every day it sets you a program to do 5 sets of pushups at different number of reps. It gradually increases the reps so you are doing more and more pushups as you go. I love it for that little bit of guidance and a push in doing these!



Weightbot
I love this little app for tracking my weight and calculating my bmi as I go. It also graphs changes over time. Simple and easy to use!





Runkeeper
Oh I how I love this! The gps in the phone tracks my distance, my speed, and the app sends me emails on my pb's as they occur. It also draws a map of my route. And there are coaching sessions available too.


Pocket weather AU - not perfect but gives me an idea of upcoming weather conditions. Helps me plan my training!


And of course I adore facebook and twitter for keeping in touch with Michelle and my 12wbt mates! There are lots more apps I use ... I'll try to do another post later today - more centred about food and nutrition!

Preseason task #4 Gearing up ... Part one!

This is my fave fave fave challenge! Maybe it has to do with I like to shop ;)

I think of this task in two parts ... the first part is working out where you are going to work out.

I'm predicting that I will fall in Mish's intermediate category (based on my current training and what I know is ahead of me in the fitness test)

This means I will need to be ready for

3 days of fitness training
2 days of toning
1 day of light fitness, core and stretch.

My plan is

To do a pilates class every week. This will be my light fitness, core and stretch day. Plus it will help me work on one of my goals, and a real area of need ... working on my core.

I have two pilates classes I can go to ... so if I have to work when one is on , there is another there waiting for me.

My two days of toning (weights) I intend to head to the gym. If at all possible I am going to do two pump classes each week. I'm really intending on focussing on going heavy on the weights, while still maintaining great form. If I can't get to the class I'm going to do Mish's outdoor program for her strength days. I'm looking forward to this. Mish's programs are tough!

Cardio days are my favourite! This is where I feel I make the most gains!

This round I am focussing hard on running. Running makes me feel strong and empowered. And kicks calories like no other exercise. So I'm going to combine running with the outdoor workouts!
No need to get stuck in the gym just cause I'm a member!

Variety is what will get me through 12 weeks so my back up options for cardio are my zumba classes (yes I am starting to like them!), my TAP class (oh my!), boxing, cycling, ... so many ways I can get out there and move!

Part two of Gearing up is making sure you have all the equipment you need to get you through the program. I'm relatively set in this area ... so I'm going to share a few of my must haves and lots over the next few posts!