Wisdom

Let's make today WORTH IT

From Emazon Chronicles - emazon.tv

Today i walked and my heart sang.

Yes I did my weights, but I wanted more.
Today was not a day to run.
Today I wanted to walk.
And walk.
And walk.



I wanted to feel the sun on my shoulders and the joy in my heart.

If i didn't have work today I think I would still be walking.
I love how a good walk is no effort at all anymore. I can walk long, fast, far ... And hills aren't a challenge.

It's the simple things really.
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Training is a gift

I've always been honest on this blog. Sometimes too honest. Right now is tough for me. Tears come easily and things don't make sense.

But today I also realised what an absolute TREASURE my training is. It is a GIFT.

All day I have waited knowing PT was coming. I knew it would be just what I needed. I needed to feel strong. I needed to sweat. I needed to feel my body respond just as it should to every challenge.

When my PT rang to ask to move our session 2 hours early I was pumped! Couldn't wait.

And it was a good session.

Treadmill sprints to warm up.
Then lat pull downs. Heavy. ( sorry don't know the kg ... He sets them . I trust him)
Followed by lat pull downs with a pulse. (ow!)

Chest press.
20 pushups.
Chest press. 20 reps. (can i say FATIGUED?)

Dumbbell flies . Timed. 2 min. I hit 50.

Stair jumps. The flight of stairs to the gym, missing one stair, and two if i could. 5 sets.

Cable rows. 2 sets.
Then one set alternating with a torso twist, timed, 2 min

Kettlebell burpees (what the!!)
Sprints
Kettlebell swings.
Sprints
Russian twists on fitball with kettlebell
Straight arm tricep extensions on fitball

Core work with fitball

Box jumps

Wall sit and streetch

When i finished, he laughed and told me I was no fun. That I was getting too fit and he'd need to start working harder to smash me. Loved that!

My training is a gift. I felt fit, strong, alive.






So alive, that i decided to finish it off with a run when i got home. As i told CoachRell before i went it was time to run until my body ached and my heart felt free.

I ran. No gps. No hrm. No time or distance expectations.

It was hard. My legs were smashed from pt. It was ugly.
But i felt free.

For a little while at least my heart didn't ache at all.

The weight loss, the smaller dress sizes, the health benefits ... They are great.

But the ability to run until my heart is free, to train until I feel strong again ... That is a priceless gift

Xxx

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Struggle street

Some days are tough.
Today was very very tough.
I could easily have fallen totally apart. Easily.

But today I'm proud.
Instead of sitting at home crying, or reverting to bad habits, I went to the gym, and lifted heavy things.

OK it wasn't the greatest workout.
But it felt good.

I'll be ok guys. Today is just a day to feel sad.
But at least I feel strong too.

Overcoming adversity ?? ;)

Problem with losing weight? Pants getting too big and slipping down randomly during a run or squat track!!

Solution??

Wonder woman undies?? ( cause that's how I feel!)




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

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!

Stand your ground 2.

Yesterday I took a powerful step forward in my journey.

Yesterday I shared a space with an amazing group of women, and Emma of Emazon Chronicles.

Yesterday I attended Stand your ground 2.

For those of you reading because you want to know more about Emazon, what happens, and what I thought of it - I am sorry. This is an experience you can't blog. Some things I may write about later, as they unfold, and as they apply to my life at the time ... but I cannot tell you about this. You need to experience it, on your level, as you are ready to at the time.

I can tell you this. It was a whole world apart from what I experienced in Stand your ground 1. Stand your ground 1 came at a time of hurt for me. I had been using this hurt as a way of avoiding taking tough steps and being strong. I was using family illnesses, and life happenings and avoiding doing what needed to be done in my life and my training.

Just under a week before stand your ground 1 life jumped in and forced me to be tough. I was not given a choice. I had to be strong for another, at one of the most tragic times of her life. That night I was forced to be mentally, physically and emotionally tough. It stripped me raw, but showed me who I could be.

Stand your ground one came later that week. It was the first time in months I was strong because I chose to be. Not because life forced me to be.

It was overwhelming. It stripped me raw.

This photo was taken that day. In it, I see a whole world of hurt unleashed. It is a photo that scares me - but symbolises that day for me. I was releasing the hurt, and deciding, no matter what life threw at me I was strong, and I was taking control.

It was when I began to Stand my ground.

Yesterday no photos were taken during the group session.
Just the one at the end.
And although no photos were taken, I don't think you would have seen that look on my face yesterday.

Yesterday I realised how far my journey has come in a few short months.
I know the steps I have been taking are the right ones.
I know that the way I perceive myself, and the way I measure my success have changed forever.
I am not, and never will be measured by a number.

Yesterday I felt strong.
I felt focussed.
I was working on my terms, in my time.
Emma had the lessons, but my learning ... it was up to me.

If a photo was taken yesterday I feel it would have shown REAL strength. Focus. Determination. Pride. And knowing.
Knowing that this is my path, and it is as it should be.

Yesterday was a gift.
I came home with bruises on my knuckles, and my heart singing.

Last night ... last night my body told me to sleep ... and I did. Solidly and soundly.
My mind needed time to solidify all I had learned, and confirmed yesterday.

Today - today I know longer feel like singing and dancing.
Today I woke with a peace. I woke feeling grounded. I woke feeling strong.
I woke feeling I know my way forward, and I am not going back.

Emma - you helped me realise a gift.
Thank you.