Quick announcement as I have to eat breakfast and head of to the gym for my morning training session. I’ve posted up my second skin fold measurements this morning here for those that are insterested in following my progression. And then this afternoon I’ll have my weight and all my symmetry and compulsory photos posted up also.
But in the mean time ladies have a fabulous day, I know I will! 
)
I’m sitting in the passenger seat of my car on my way back from Echuca to Sale. This is time management at it’s best ladies. LOL!! Waste not want not. I have six hours to fill so what better way to spend it than typing a blog on my smart phone.
It was up bright and early this morning for breakfast then cardio at the local gym. Mum’s home is bodybuilding user friendly so it’s always stoked with our nutritional requirements and paraphernalia which obviously makes travelling back home a whole lot easier. The gym I use isn’t to bad until my friends gym is up running. Jim is the current NABBA/WFF Mr Universe Superbody Over 30 and is in the process of setting up a brand new bodybuilding gym in conjunction with his business partner Graeme Lancefield NABBA/WFF National & Victorian President. So next trip home I’ll have the pleasure of training in it, can’t wait.
15 weeks out today, can you believe it! Time is flying by this time around for comp prep, but then again my personal circumstances are also very different. Due to my not being where I should be deciding to do weekly photos, skin folds and weigh-in was a good idea. It keeps just enough pressure on me to prevent any unnecessary lapses. So for me and my prep it’s a good thing. If you’re interested in seeing the photo’s and reading the results you’ll find them posted up there every Sunday.
Everything’s 100% on track and I’m training like a tired woman possessed. I had my annual physical fitness test last week which of course I passed. That’s done and out of the way for another year. So again, there are also my work requirements to maintain peak health and fitness of which I take very seriously. I certainty don’t lack personal or professional motivation when it comes to figure competing. But just like everyone else I have my fair share of good and bad days where I struggle with being inspired and continually staying motivated.
Lindy’s Forum is growing quickly. There are familiar faces in there already and some new ones which is really great to see. Already we have some great information posted up so be sure to check it our for yourself if you haven’t already taken advantage of the free offer of membership. I’ve written yet another article titled “Personal Trainers & Goal Setting”. It’ll be posted up in our Article Database for members to read very soon. I’m interested in what you think of it, good, bad or otherwise. After all, you guys are my target market and I have to ensure what I write about is relevant and useful.
You would’ve noticed more changes to my blog. Blogging for Dummies has been a great resource book and it’s only just the beginning. There’s more changes yet to come and once I’m happy with how it looks and works then I’ll move over to my next project, my website. I already own my domain name www.LiaHalsall.com so I’m part way there. As for my blog, it’ll be incorporated into my website for ease of navigation. But like most athletes starting out I’ll start small but will have it set up so that is has the flexibility for growth as myself and my future projects grow. I’ve already started the ball rolling with regards to my own logo. Thanks Di for the great referral. Over all it’s a pretty big project I’m working on so I’m happy to take my time and do it in stages. But from now on I’ll keep you up to date with what is happening as it actually eventuates. The plan is to have it completed by the second half of the year.
Well I’m only an hour from home now. As soon as we get home we have to unpack the car so that I can head straight out to the gym for my second cardio session. It’s raining so I have to head indoors unfortunately so I will use this time to catch up on my reading. Once again, time management is imperative at times like this. It’s amazing how much more there is to blog about when you have the time to do so and the fact that I enjoy it makes it all worth while. I hope you all had a great day and an even better one tomorrow. Until next time remember, do whatever it takes!
Well ladies, I’m back in Echuca. Daniel and I drove three hours this morning from Sale to Melbourne to pick Mum up from Peter MacCallum Cancer Clinic. Then we drove another three hours this afternoon from Melbourne to Echuca to bring Mum home. Mum has now had her first lot of chemotherapy treatment and it all went pretty well, no nausea or vomiting. *touch wood* The original plan changed and now she’s having three days of chemotherapy followed by three weeks at home for a period of three months.
Mum also picked up some appropriate head wear on the way out of the hospital for when her hair starts falling out. This got to her, the realisation is well and truly setting in and losing her hair upsets her a lot. Once it actually starts falling out we’re going to shave it off. That way, Mum can control what happens to her hair and when instead of waiting and watching it fall out over an extended period of time. It’s been a really big week for her and she’s suffering from information overload. Don’t get me wrong, the hospital, the staff and their many services they offer their patients are second to none but with the multitude of specialists she has spoken to and the information they have provided her with it’s just been a little overwhelming to say the least.
So tomorrow we’re packing her up and taking her home with us to Sale. Mum lives by herself you see and the doctors won’t allow her to be left alone without help so I happily stepped in and offered her my services and home. So much so we’ve moved out of our master bedroom (with ensuite and walk-in-wardrobe) just so she could be comfortable, that way she can still have her privacy. Mum didn’t want us to make such a fuss but in all honesty it’s a much better arrangement for everyone. We’re down one end of the house and she’s up the other so it’s all good. We’ll have her staying with us for at least the three months whilst she’s having treatment, maybe longer.
So once again I’ve been travelling all over Victoria. The good thing about this time is that I didn’t sabotage my diet or training like I have in the past. I was a lot more organised and with the help of my wonderful husband he ensured I did whatever it took! Life has become so incredibly busy these days I try my best to squeeze as much as I can into my 24 hours. Unfortunately a lot of things have had to take a back seat, like reading and commenting on blogs. I know that you lovely ladies take time out of your very busy days to post a comment on mine but unfortunately until things settle down and we have ourselves a new routine there just isn’t enough time in my day for it. I know you understand considering my current circumstances so for that I thank you.
Well there’s a whole bunch more I want to blog about but it’s past my bed time. I’ve been a little bit run down this week so I have to ensure I get adequate rest and sleep. So on that note, I bid you all good night. xx
Lisa I never thought I’d see the day that I would hear the words “you’re squatting to low”. I mean, are you kidding me? I was a absolute squatting disaster before and now this. LOL!! I was not only surpassing my parallel level (which was okay in my mind after not squatting deep enough) but at the bottom of the squat I was placing my spine in a not so safe position which could result in an injury. That my friends is not a desirable outcome. So Daniel sat in front of and to the side of me to watch my form and technique. With a little tweaking here and there and adjustments of the safety bars I think we’ve found a happy medium for me to work in effectively and when I say effectively I mean ensuring I get everything I possibly can out of this exercise. If I put 100% into something then I sure as hell want to get 100% out of it.
I’ve also started wearing my brand new Skins. Here’s a little information from the skins website:
“Skins™ BioAcceleration Technology™ has been developed over years of scientific research. Ongoing testing of elite athletes have proven that Skins™ BioAcceleration Technology™ creates marked improvements in reducing the build-up of lactic acid immediately after periods of sustained exercise (2hrs and 15 mins up to 37% ), and allows for more rapid return to normal levels (up to 38% at 20 minutes). You experience less fatigue, minimise soreness and recover faster.
Skins™ is body-moulded compression performance equipment manufactured from the finest Lycra and Meryl Microfibre, scientifically engineered to provide support and muscle alignment to the smart-fabric covered area of your body. Skins™ will definitely change the way that you train and play as well as speed your recovery. You will feel fresher after heavy bouts of exercise and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) will be minimised.”
I believe in them so much so that not only do I wear them when I’m training but also for the remainder of the day to help with my recovery. Anything to ensure I can walk for the remainder of the week. LOL!! I’ve also been getting up super early to train because I’m starting work at 0630h this week. This morning I was up at 0330h so I could train at 0430h. After a terrible night’s sleep of having a full bladder that needed emptying twice and the constant waking up worried I would sleep in and miss my training session I simply got up and did whatever it takes. It’s plain and simple, do what I have to do because I alone chose it.
As for the rest of my comp prep things are traveling along nicely at the moment. Actually since I made the decision to not eat off-plan for the remaining 16 weeks I don’t feel I’m anywhere near as food focused as I was before. Instead of transfixing on what I will eat for my one off-plan meal for the week day in day out I now just concentrate on one meal at a time one day at a time and just getting on with the job. It was actually an evil distraction in retrospect due to my relationship with food and my potential bad choices and/or binging. Slowly but surely I’ll get there, I honestly believe that now and it’s only a matter of time before it becomes habit.
JD rang me today and we talked about my commitment. He agreed no more eating off-plan for this figure chicky. It’s head down and bum up from now on with no what if buts or maybes. It’s ALL or NOTHING.
Mum was admitted into hospital today and we now have a confirmed diagnosis of small cell lung cancer. It’s quite a rapid growing cancer which is why they’re starting her chemotherapy treatment either today or tomorrow. So what’s going to happen is she’ ll have 3-4 days of treatment then 3-4 days recovery. What we’re going to do is pick her up and take her back home to Echuca. That way we can take care of what we need to take care of and bring her back home with us to Sale. Her treatment will be over a period of six weeks so we’ll be taking care of her in-between her visits to hospital. It will also mean a lot of traveling as it’s a three hour drive from Sale into Melbourne. So now we know what we have to do we can plan ahead so that my comp prep’s all taken care of.
Well folks, it’s time to go. I’m ahead of schedule shock horror today so I’m off to do my cardio. Enjoy the rest of your day and remember, do whatever it takes! )
