Week 16

Yia sou,

It's only been 16 weeks so far in my weight loss journey - in the grand scheme of things, 16 weeks is nothing! And what do I have to show for 16 weeks of hard work? A weight loss of nearly 20 kilos!!

I have to say I am actually surprised at myself that I am still so motivated - I WANT to exercise, I WANT to eat well, I WANT to push myself. This week I have been introducing weights into my regime. I have been using the machines at the gym, and doing free weights at home - while watching TV. With the free weights I have been doing bicep curls, Tricep curls - arm back, weight moving from my shoulder to the ceiling, and shoulder exercises - basically raising my arms straight up - like a flapping bird.

So what have I been doing this working week?

Tuesday - Personal Training session from 2 to 3 in the gym doing cardio & weights. I then walked home after work.

Wednesday - I had a 1 hour massage, followed by 30 mins on the cross trainer, 10 mins interval training on the treadmill, and 5 mins on the rower - I also did 5 mins in my PT training session on the rower on Tuesday - I managed 1030 metres in 5 mins. I tried to beat that time and did - 1180 metres in 5 mins! Also walked home.

Thursday - I had my group training session at work - 1 hours of running, push ups, tri dips, crunches, and more! We went up to Observatory Hill to work out - a great day for it! The trainer made us run around the Observatory as fast as we could, and then we got a small break. He then said "Run it again and beat your time - if you don't, you'll have to do it another time!". My first time was approx 94 seconds and I was stuffed. My second go I got 82 secs!!!! Needless to say i was even more stuffed then!! I also ran for the LONGEST TIME EVER!! I think I would have done about 4 mins of straight jogging - that is massive for me! And after all this I still walked home! I also did a set of weights at home & vacuumed the house!

So that's my week so far. It's Friday now, so that means that tomorrow is my last day at the Optus Shop - after almost 7 years there, it will be great to have my weekends back, and that also means I can spend more time on my weight loss.

Have a great weekend all!

Pete

I friggin love the rain!

Kaise ho aap,

Let me tell you about my weekend...

First - some fairly big news. I resigned from my second job @ Optus. I have been working at Optus Neutral Bay for about 7 years, and I have basically not had full weekends in that time. Lately I have been feeling that i've had enough there, and also with my weight loss, it will give me the opportunity to do more exercise! I would like to join a sporting team - there is a gay rugby team called the Sydney Convicts - and I think that would be a great way for me to exercise & meet new people!

On Sunday I got up early & went to the gym @ work - I did 40 mins on the cross trainer, and then cleaned up & organised the gym (again) for about 30 mins - lifting weights & moving them around etc. The remainder of the day I spent at my Brother's place - Sunday Linner!

Today I again got up early & went to the gym - 30 mins on the cross trainer, 20 mins on the treadmill interval training, and then I did some weights! A good session! A cruisy rest of the day until it started to rain in the arvo. I decided to go for a run/walk in the rain!! I headed out at about 4:50, and ran & walked in the rain, getting absolutely soaked, all around the Kirribilli area. I had a BALL and LOVE running in the rain - with every tree I ran under I even shook it to get more wet!

I ran down to the waters edge right next to Kirribilli House carefully traversing the wet slippery rock & wood steps. I decided to run up the stairs and as I stepped up onto the first wooden step I slipped, and hit the deck!! By butt & leg are a bit sore, but I dont mind the battle scars! I had to sit on a bench for a couple of mins to recover - if Kevin was looking out the window I must have looked a sight sitting on a bench in the pouring rain!!




See ya!

A massive walk!

Aviro,

Well today was the day Jeremy and I embarked on my longest walk yet - from home in North Sydney, along the main roads to the Spit Bridge. From there the Spit to Manly walk, stopping for a 2.5 hour rest stop & lunch at Mum & Dads. From Manly we caught a ferry to the Quay, for the final walk home across the bridge. See the map below - discounting the ferry trip, it was approx 18.5 kilometres!!!

There couldn't have been a more perfect day for it. We headed off at about 10am, taking the back roads to Cremorne, and then Military road to Parriwi in Mosman. We ogled the million $ houses and fantastic views on Parriwi, and just missed the 11:30 Spit bridge opening. We then started the Spit to Manly walk, fighting the crowds on Clontarf reserve

-----------------------------Jez & Me on Clontarf Beach ---------------------------

Continuing on the walk, there were some really rocky parts, and lots of uneven steep steps. I managed to build up quite a sweat, soaking my back AND front!! I ran out of water by Grotto Point - where I used to live, so 'borrowed' some water from my old neighbours the Marusics! The walk from there became a lot easier, with some nice boardwalks to make it easier. Near Reef Beach, the steps were back - this time down. There were lots of people on the walk doing the same as us, and we passed quite a few on the way! Actually I think that we passed everyone, and no one passed us - except some runners. At about 1pm we arrived at Mums for a lovely lunch - her Chickpea, Tuna & Salmon salad was delicious - and this gave us a chance for a rest too.

------------------------------------At Mum & Dads------------------------------

At about 3:30 we headed off again doing the very easy walk back to Manly - we had a nice coffee from Max Brenner, and took it aboard the Freshwater for a leisurely cruise back to the Quay. From there we took the Cahill walk to the Bridge and back home by 5:00!

-------------------------------------Almost home! -------------------------------

The walk was fantastic - perfect weather and company. Thanks Jez!

My program update

Guten Tag,

I have invited a few more people to read this blog, so my total readership (if everyone reads it) is now up to 55! Welcome!

So what have I been up to this week? I've had more of my new ING 'Fit for life' program this week. Following my fitness test on Monday, Tuesday morning I recieved the results:


Here are your initial fitness test results from Monday 6 April:

Push ups: 6
Sit ups: 25
Triceps Dips: 21
Beep Test: 3.6
Predicted/Estimated V02max: 25.1ml/kg/min

Below is a table that will give you an idea of your current fitness level, compared to the population. Using your results from the beep-test, we are able to calculate an estimated V02max (Cardiovascular fitness indicator). This is not the most accurate test of V02max, however it will still be very useful to track your progress from test to test.

26-35years old

excellent >56
good 49-56
above average 43-48
average 40-42
below average 35-39
poor 30-34
very poor <30

So you can see that from the above, unfortunately, my fitness level is 'very poor' :-{

When I expressed my dissappointment at that, the group leader said it is only indicative, and it is mainly affected by my weight - ie - it is harder for me to keep up with the 'beep test' as i'm carrying all that extra weight. This rating will be reviewed regularly as part of the programme so i'm looking forward to seeing a good improvement here with extra fitness and further weight loss.

Some good news came on Tuesday with my nutritionist consultation though. After reviewing 5 days of my food consumption the verdict was - 'very good'!! My breakfasts are perfect, lunches are great, and dinners are spot on!! I just need to 'graze' a little more. So I have introduced almonds this week - I have a big bag on my desk at work, and I have a handful in the morning, and a piece of fruit in the arvo as well! Hopefully this should make a difference.

Yesterday I had my first personal training session. It was supposed to be 1 on 2, but as the other girl who i'm supposed to be training with is away, it was 1 on 1! We spent some time on the bike, cross trainer & rower, followed by some weights - and then back to some cardio with the treadmill - and I ran for 2 mins!!! My longest yet!! Tell you what - I was buggered after!! Richard said I did really well, and was impressed with my efforts.

I also had some extra 'stuff' to do on my walk home. When walking home I use the first set of stairs up to the Bridge - just past the Shangri-La Hotel - not the main set of stairs opposite the Glenmore. My task was to walk up those stairs, back down, walk up (2 at a time), back down, then up again. Then walk to the main set of stairs - and walk all the way down, then back up, alternating 2 at a time/1 at a time with each flight. Then across the span of the bridge. Once on the Kirribilli side I walk down those steps, back up again, then back down!! It was a bit harder than normal!!

So that's my week so far - except I should prob tell you about another change to my eating this week - it's still good, but i have introduced something new - FISH!!! Haha! I have had fish not one, but twice this week! A Smoked Salmon salad on Monday, and Snapper with salad on Tuesday! This is new for me - fish at least twice a week! It wasnt too bad - and I really enjoyed the smoked salmon salad too. And balsamic vinegar ROCKS!

Today I have a 'boot camp' as part of my programme, and tomorrow I am walking from home in North Sydney, on the main roads to the Spit, then doing the coastal Spit to Manly walk, stopping in at Mum & Dad's in Fairlight for lunch. Once at Manly, it's the ferry to the City, and then the last bit, walking back to home across the bridge! It will be my biggest walk ever, and I'm very happy that Jeremy will be joining me for the entire walk!!! I will report on it and the boot camp on Friday evening - with some photos too!

Thanks all, and have a very happy easter!!

Pete

I did it!

Kamusta,

Last night when I stated I would be gettin up early to do some exercise before breakfast I really didn't think I would do it - I have myself about a 30% chance!!!

But I did!

And i got to work early too! I got up at 6:30, put on my gear and walked down to Milson Park - by the water. I did laps of the park - ran one lap, walked half a lap, ran a lap etc. I did a good 20-25 mins solid - and tell you what - I feel great for it!!

Then I got home and did everything much faster (I'm normally very slow in the morning) and was out of the house by 7:50, at work with a coffee by 8:10!

Awesome work Pete (i'm patting myself on the back now) !

ING Fitness test

Barev,

Today at 4pm I had my fitness test for my work 'Fit for life' program. We gathered at the gym and walked to Pyrmont park, out front of Star City. We did a series of tests - push ups, crunches, dips, and a 'beep' test.

So how did I do...

Push ups - poor - 7 in 30 secs
Crunches - good - 25 in 30 secs
Dips - good - 21 in 30 secs
'Beep' test - 3.7 (its the level you get to running back & forth between cones)

After the test I did a good 30 mins in the gym on the cross trainer and then a fast walk home. Good activity for the day!

Tomorrow I have an appointment with the nutritionist, and Wednesday morning I have a personal training session! This ING thing is gonna be hard work!! GREAT! I am looking forward to it - and guess what - i'm even gonna try some exercise tomorrow morning! Let's see if I can get up to do it!

And I think I have had my healthiest meal to-date tonight - a smoked salmon salad! Cool! Was yummy too!

See ya!

Encouragement from a stranger...

Здравствуйте,
Yesterday I decided, in the interests of ‘pushing it’ and to save time, to incorporate some running on the way home. My previous ‘best’ time walking fast, from ING door, to my door, is 35 minutes – that also includes having to stop at lights etc to cross the road.

Yesterday though a ‘first’ happened – as I was jogging across part of the bridge, this guy who was running in the opposite direction gave me a ‘thumbs up’ and a big smile! Cool! He was really good looking too! It’s really nice that a stranger would bother to give someone encouragement - something as simple as a thumbs up can make such a difference!


Oh and by the way - my time? 31 mins!