fit

Learner Driver.

3 days to go.
On Monday the 12WBT starts and I am nervous.
I've been regularly exercising now for 3 months, I've been eating well without too much trouble (although I've had the occasional 'Screw it all, I'm going on a binge!' moments!), and I've already seen the results just from doing things the way I have been, but there is still a bit of trepidation.

This morning the 12WBTers got an email from Michelle Bridges, that had 3 questions.
Are you afraid of change?
Are you scared you will fail?
Do you have destructive habits?

Obviously the categories are not mutually exclusive. You could identify with all three.
But I think where I fit in is 'Are you scared you will fail?'

This has always been my issue - self belief, in all aspects of life, and I just don't know why.
The FACT is this: When I have set my mind to something, I've almost ALWAYS succeeded at it.
When I wanted a great new job, I got my great new job.
When I decided I was ready for dating again, I found myself an awesome boyfriend.
I studied hard to finish my degree.
I saved my money and travelled overseas.
I was asked on to the creative team for Scrapbooking Memories.
I am the type of person that when I want something, I get it.
Not in an arrogant princessy type way, I've just always worked hard for what I want.

So why the nerves?
Well, case and point is that I don't drive.
What does that have to do with anything you ask?

When I was 16, I got my learner license.
At the time I already had in my head that driving wasn't going to be for me.
A few weeks later, my mother took me for a bit of a drive and I ran her car into our fence, landing the car in our neighbours yard (which was about half a metre lower than ours because we were on a hill).
At that moment I discovered something I wasn't good at, shattering my teenage beleif that I was good at everything, and therefore awesome and invincible, and I haven't driven since.

Of course I'm now 11 years older and a little bit wiser - maybe not 11 years wiser, but hopefully 4 or 5 at least - and I know all too well that I'm not good at every little thing and not invincible (I still like to think I'm a bit awesome sometimes though!), but I'm certain that's where my nerves come from.

I'm still a learner driver at this health and fitness thing.
I'm excited to get past my L's and wear my P plates, but what if 16 year old Skye rears her head and decides one fateful day when I'm having a rough day at the gym that it's all just a little bit too hard.
Or one day when I break my calorie budget that that's it, I've knocked the fence over, I was never good at this anyway and I'm never driving again?

I'm determined that it won't happen and I think that I have a good enough support group and a good enough mindset to see it through. 
I think the nerves are probably natural and right now, I have absolutely no intentions of giving up.

So I guess the worst that can happen is that if I get a little side tracked I may have to re-sit the test, but here's to being well on my way to being a fully licensed' driver' in 12 weeks (and 3 days)!

Conversations

There's something I've been noticing with my family recently, just in the last couple of weeks.
It's something that I didn't count on, but that I can say I'm pretty proud of.

Here's some conversations I've had recently...
1) MUM
Mum: Are you going to the gym tonight?
Me: Yep on my way now.
Mum: I'm going to go on the cross trainer. And Mark set up my Wii Fit for me again. I've been bowling today!

2) BROTHER
Me: I thought you didn't like Coke Zero?
Brother: I'm trying to cut the sugar out of my diet.

3) BOYFRIEND
J: I've lost 2kg in the past two weeks.
Me: Since when have you been weighing yourself?
J: Since you bought the new scales.

On top of that, my mother asked me to bring her some of the Coconut crunch I put with my fruit & yoghurt, my partner is not only enjoying the salads I'm making, but asking be in advance what my next creation will be, and when my brother (who is currently staying with me) went shopping earlier in the week he bought a big bag of muesli, some natural yoghurt and fresh berries to eat if he felt like he wanted a snack at home.

They're consciously thinking about their health - what they're eating, whether they're exercising enough and whether, in general, they're as healthy as they can be.

And I like to think that my lifestyle change has somehow lead the way.
Perhaps I'm giving myself too much credit, I don't really know, but I do know that this is new!
If it has been my example that's got them thinking, then I couldn't be happier and I hope that I can continue to lead the way for them through preseason, over the 12WBT and beyond!

My First Fit Challenge - Relay For Life

I've taken up my first fitness challenge, and it's one close to my heart.
Myself and a few of the Western Suburb 12WBT'ers have put together a team for the Melton Relay for Life.


This is the donation request I sent to my workmates and why I choose to Relay...

On June 2nd 2010, I was out jogging when I slipped and hurt my lower back.

A few weeks later the pain was still there and scans and tests to find the source revealed two small cysts on one of my kidneys.
Initially the cysts were thought to be benign, but more tests showed that cancer had started to develop and that getting rid of them was not going to be as easy as an injection as the doctors had first thought.

I was told what the course of action would be and I did the only thing I knew how to do.
Firstly I cried – a lot!
But then I booked a big venue, I bought a sparkly dress, I invited everyone I knew and I had a big party.
And a week after my 26th birthday, I started my treatment.

By September 2010 I had been given the all clear. No more drugs, no more hospital visits, no more Cancer.
I was lucky enough not to have as lengthy or as intense treatment as some.
I was lucky enough not to be nearly as sick as many were.

There were still people who had been going through it long before me and couldn’t see an end in sight, there were still mothers fretting, there were still the three and four year olds I had met who had taken up permanent residency at the hospital.

Those people are the reason that on Feb 25th and 26th this year, I’ll be participating in Relay for Life.
For 18 hours, my team and I will be giving up a night’s sleep to run and walk laps of Tabcorp Park in Melton and raise money to help the Cancer Council.

Any donation that you can make, big or small would go a long way towards not only encouraging us, but also goes directly to the Cancer Council to help:

• Investigate new ways to prevent, detect and treat cancers
• Educate people in your community about ways they can reduce their cancer risk
• Advocate for cancer control
• Support people during their times of greatest need.

You can donate with a credit card at this link, or speak to me about making a cash donation.
All donations over $2 are tax deductible and your money goes toward such a great cause.

If you're in Melbourne and want to join our team, you're even welcome to do that!
We're representing the 12WBT Westerners, so if you're one or if it appeals to you to join in, the more the merrier and the lighter the load!

Monday

Monday is when it starts.

Pre-season that is.

I've bitten the bullet, I've swallowed my pride and I've joined the Michelle Bridges 12WBT. 
So far, I am loving it. I wasn't sure that it'd be for me - I'm not as big as a lot of the people I know who had signed up and I didn't know who the program was aimed at, and granted, there are people there who need to lose more weight than me, who dont exercise as regularly as I do, but there are also a whole lot there who are fitter and healthier - it's for everybody!

I'm excited about it and nervous as hell at the same time!

So far, I've been going to the gym by myself, and trying to eat healthier off my own bat. And I've done OK.
I've lost 8.2kg, that's over 10% of my body weight on my first day at the gym, and I am proud of myself.
I still enjoy chocolate and wine and the occasional pizza binge but all in all, I'm getting to where I want to be.

Most importantly, I didn't do this for weight loss,
I did it for fitness.
I want to be able to participate in a mini triathlon and a half marathon, and the best thing is that I can FEEL myself getting fitter.
I can feel myself getting stronger, going faster, lasting longer.
Sure it's baby steps after being sick and letting my fitness and health slide a bit, Rome wasn't built in a day, and it's steps none the less!

So bring on Monday, bring on Mish and bring on more intense training

Rome wasn't built in a day - but perhaps it was in 12 weeks?!