I'm baaaaack!

That's right, I'm home safe and sound after being away with work these past two weeks. Being offline has been very challenging to say the least. LOL!! Unfortunately I don't have the time to post an update this evening on everything, as per usual there's a lot going on in my life at the moment.

But what I can share with you all is that in the very near future there is to be another BIG ANNOUNCEMENT. It's been a long time coming and I have been working on this project in the background for quite some time now. It's all very exciting, I promise. So be sure to stay tuned for that. ;o)

Here's my biggest competition this year......

Photograph Courtesy
of
Dallas Olsen

Quote of the Day

"Nothing tastes as good,
as being in shape feels."

-- Craig Harper

Free Online Health

"Free Online Health is a website dedicated to helping you access useful health, nutrition and training information. This site provides people with a weight loss forum for support and advice, weight loss programs, tips for better health, information on obesity related illnesses, training programs, meal planners and much more. You can also find some information from the hit reality tv show The Biggest Loser. This is a great site which is easy to nagigate and very handy for fitness fanatics out there or people looking to improve their overall health."

-- Oxygen Magazine Feb/Mar 2008

Photo of the Day

Is it sunday already....

By golly, time has certainly gotten away from me this weekend and I still have so much to do. *tick tock* I've just got back from the gym and enjoyed a nice clean healthy meal to fuel up my tank for the day because I'll be spending most of my time in the kitchen preparing and packing all of my snacks and meals for the next couple of weeks. You see I'll be driving out this week and won't be online until I get back in two weeks time, it's a work thing. By applying one of my favourite acronyms PPPPPP = prior planning and preparation prevents piss poor performance. I've been in contact with the base mess where I'll be eating and given them very specific instructions as to how to prepare and what to prepare for my lunch and my dinner. I've also contacted the base gym to find out what times it is open for use so that I can plan my training and meal times around it. So I've successfully managed to ensure that my training and my nutrition isn't sacrificed in any way shape or form. Because as you all know for me it only takes two things and that's organisational and time management skills. I practice what I preach and that's obvious because I'm getting results and getting things done. I may not be spot on all of the time but I try my very best and something is always better than nothing.

I will be taking my notebook with me though so that I can work on other things in my spare time, of an evening and the weekend. Again I'm ensuring I utilise my time wisely whilst away so that when I get back all I'll have to do is catch up on all things blogging.

I've also been shopping online again, this time I needed to replace my existing gym gloves as they were pretty much falling apart. I got Outback Gym Gloves, Outback Lifting Straps & Lonsdale Gym Bag because I needed to upgrade into something a little bit roomier to accommodate all of my gear. LOL!!



I also booked my tickets this weekend for FILEX 2008. So it's all systems go now and I can't wait! *yipee* I've scheduled to catch up for coffee with the lovely Lindy Olsen as well as Jon Davie. It'll be 12 Weeks out at that stag for me and I'll be looking and feeling pretty good about myself I have no doubt about. Jon Davie will be going over me from top to bottom so I'll just have to wait and see what he has to say and what he'll have in store with me. Of course I'll be going shopping before hand to buy myself a cute little pt outfit to wear on the day at FILEX 2008. Not that I ever need an excuse to go shopping. LOL!!

As for comp prep, everything's ticking along nicely as it should be. I'm doing what's required, I'm getting the results and making this change my lifestyle so that it's maintable compared to what I've done in the past. This year is going to be very different for me and much more healthier bote psychologically and physically. Oh and I amost forgot to tell you, I knocked 30 Seconds of my run time yesterday morning. I'm on fire ladies. I'll pass my annual pft (physical fitness test) without a problem next month.

One last thing before I go. Here's a pic I took today of my desk space at work, what does your desk space look like? *hint hint*

Well I best get back into the kitchen, so much to do. Have a great couple of weeks and I look forward to catching up when I get back online. Take care. :o)

Photo of the Day

Photograph Courtesy
of
Dallas Olsen

Quote of the Day

"Winning means you're willing to go longer,
work harder, and give more than anyone else."

-- Vince Lombardi

Dallas Olsen's taking bookings....

I was talking to Dallas Olsen, our resident sports photographer and he has confirmed to me that he will be down here and available for bookings at the INBA All Female Classic. For those of you who aren't familiar with his work you are, you just don't realise it yet. 2006 all of my comp photos and a photo shoot were taken by none other than Dallas Olsen. Knowing how busy he get I've already booked him for the All Female & Victorian Titles this year as well as a couple of photo shoots. Typical me, always organised. LOL!!

He has an incredible set up, start of the art photographic equipment and lighting of course. And the thing I believe sets him above the rest is that he's all about quality not quantity. He'd rather take on fewer clients and produce quality photos so he'll only be taking 10-12 bookings maximum. To date, he has four bookings so they're going fast. I remember the first time I opened up my cd I was amazed at the number and variety of shots I had to chose from and I still haven't posted them all up. That and his turnaround is so much quicker than the other photographers. Who wants to wait weeks for their photos, I know I don't. If you want to check out his work here is his link, you'll also find it in my links list down on the right hand side.

For Victoria, I'm going to be his point of contact so if you're interested in booking, email me. Thank you for your time ladies. :o)

27 Weeks vs 22 Weeks

*taking a deep breath* This is almost as difficult as posting up my first 'before pictures' in the very beginning of my figure journey way back in 2005. For a figure competitor I definitely got fat during my year off and although I'm not very happy about it at least it's something that I can change. Slowly but surely I'm getting there.

If there's one thing I am it's being 100% honest and upfront with myself and with you guys. So here it is, my first and second photo for this years comp prep. So from now on I'll post up my monthly comparisons with the original photo taken back in January. (Em, this is for you) And Deb, thank you so much for taking the time to email instructions on how to merge these photos together. I really appreciate it.

So this is me, in the flesh ladies. This is what I look like. :o)

Don't Forget Get Ready 2008 Melbourne

DATE: Sunday 17th February 2008
VENUE: Athletique Health Club
ADDRESS: Crn Albert/Station Rd & Dundas St, Preston
TIME: 9.00am - 5.30pm
COST: $195

It's not to late to register online at http://www.getready2008.com/

itunes purchases

Yep I've been at it again, shopping online. LOL!! This time over at itunes topping up my ipod shuffle with half a dozen new songs. Here's what I bought:

- Bring Me To Life by Everesence
- Don't You Want Me by Felix
- Clumsy by Fergie
- Fergalicious by Fergie
- Blue Monday by New Order
- Tained Love by Red Sauce

Lindy Olsen

Photograph Courtesy
of
Dallas Olsen

Monthly Photos

Today is photo day. Every month I take symmetry and compulsory photos to track my progress and then I send them through to JD. Like most figure competitors, I never really enjoy taking the first ones but after that it's exciting because I'm able to see the changes when I compare photos. That's the best part. I can already see changes which is great, my upper body is leaning out and I can see muscle definition coming through in my mid section and back. So all in all things are on track for where I'm at right now. I also feel really light on my feet, not heavy and lethargic like I have been over the past year. I know one thing for sure, once I lose all of this unnecessary weight I'm carrying I'm never putting it back on again as long as I live. Lesson learnt this time. JD's a big advocate of staying leaner and healthier all year round and you know what, I'm all for that. Previously I was in the mind set of during the off-season you have to get fat so you can lift heavier weights and gain more quality muscle mass. That's so not true and I understand and know that now. So from now on, I'll always be within twelve weeks of any comp prep and still be able to enjoy my life and gain muscle mass. That and with my health challenges it's definitely in my best interest.

Then once that's done it's time for breakfast then off to the gym we go for the morning. In the last couple of weeks our gym has received more and more new cardio and weights equipment. We're like kids on xmas day at the moment all excited about our new toys and not knowing what we want to play with first. LOL!! Work colleagues think I'm mad for getting excited over that. What would they know. LOL!!

Well as you all can see I'm managing to blog and reply to comments a little more regularly. But unfortunately I haven't had the spare time to get around and comment on everyone 's blogs. I do read them at work at lunch but that's the only access that I have so please bare with me. This month is huge for me with my work and personal life. My students arrive in a week then it's full steam ahead with military lessons, then I'm going away on my promotion course for eight days to RAAF Wagga, as well as finishing of my last module this week for my Cert IV and last but certainly not least is another BIG SURPRISE. So stay tuned for that one. ;o) I'm hoping that once this month is over and done with things will settle down a little bit. LOL!! Who am I kidding. LOL!!

Have a great Sunday! And remember, 2008 WHATEVER IT TAKES! :o)

Photo of the Day

Quote of the Day

"Champions aren't made in the gyms.
Champions are made from something
they have deep inside them
-- a desire, a dream, a vision."

-- Muhammad Ali

Friday's post Saturday

It's Friday..........and what a week it's been. *phew* As you already know, I'd started trialing my new schedule this week and was supposed to get up at 0500h. But alas, most mornings I've risen at 0355h & 0425h so 0500h would be more like a sleep in now. LOL!! Next week is looking even busier with a couple of 0325h starts. *eeek* It hadn't been to bad of an adjustment until last night when I finally hit the proverbial wall. I was absolutely bugged and feeling a little worse for ware too, but that's to be expected whilst my body clock resets itself. Over the next couple of weeks it'll become easier and I'll be rocking and rolling again. LOL!!

Another great thing about today is all of my appointments. First up I have physio for my shoulder, maintenance is a must. She's excellent, I couldn't be happier with her services if I'd chosen her myself. Then I'm off to have a relaxing session in the detox box to help me clear my mind and body of all it's toxins followed by my first sports massage for some deep tissue self-inflicted pain. *insert evil laugh here* I'll probably finish the day off with a warm bath and a sprinkling of letric soda to help with my muscle recovery and the healing process. Followed by a good night's sleep I'll rise tomorrow morning feeling refreshed and recharged.


On another note I went into the shops last night to buy my chicken for the coming week and ended up walking out with a new pair of Asics Gel-Kayano 14. How happy am I! I've been wearing them and bouncing like Tigger. *woo hoo hoo hoo* I also ordered my new skins in a sleeveless top and the long tights, they should be here in the next couple of weeks.

Fast forward to Saturday. Unfortunately I never quite got around to posting this up last night so I'm doing it this morning before I head off to Melbourne. I'm off for another SPL Appointment (permanent hair removal treatment) and hoping it's the last one as the travelling isn't very desirable. But the benefits are so I don't mind, have hair will nuke. That's pretty much my motto on hair removal. LOL!!

So much more to blog about but I really must get going. I hope to get back online this weekend but I'll see how I go. If I don't have a truly great weekend everyone.

And remember, 2008 WHATEVER IT TAKES! ;o)

Shoulder Press

Hump Day!

I'm kind of at a loss this morning what to blog about and that's not normal. LOL!! So I'll just ramble on as I usually do. LOL!!

Just thought of something. With regards to my Polar F6, does anyone know how to successfully data transfer from your watch to your computer? I've attempted on a number of occasions now but unfortunately I've been some what unsuccessful and it's really starting to bug me. I don't like things getting the better of me and I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Please help! LOL!! Other than that it's a great little device and as I've mentioned before a great tool for tracking your progress. So now, instead of just feeling that I'm getting fitter I now have proof. When you sit down and think about it, this sport of ours is really quite scientific. I'm realising that more and more each day. You never stop learning and nor would you want too.

As for my shoulder, I'm now seeing a new physio twice a week and she has made some great improvements on it. I'm still taking it relatively easily by training it with lower weights higher reps along with a daily shoulder circuit to effectively warm up the shoulder before I train it. As an athlete you have to spend a lot of time and effort preserving your body to ensure it's always operating at peak performance and if that means a little extra work due to an injury then so be it. If it's got to be done, then it's got to be done. I really don't mind, looking after it it about longevity for me and ensuring that I haven't endured all this pain and suffering for nothing. There's only so much the medical profession can do, the rest is up to me.

On top of that I start my monthly massage appointments this week and I use the term massage very loosely. The whole purpose behind these appointments will be to get deep tissue work done and assist in breaking up the muscle fascia from head to toe. As I get closer to competing I'll drop them down to fortnightly which should help with muscle separation which is exactly what I want. So once again I'm investing in my body to hopefully get the best out of it. I know it's going to hurt but it's in my best interest and nothing a nice warm letric soda bath won't fix that evening.

So at the moment I'm checking out flight availability for the weekend of FILEX 2008. I'm thinking I'm going to fly up on Friday 18th April and then fly home Sunday 20th April. That way I can take care of business of Friday with JD and then enjoy a social day on Saturday checking out the stalls. Miss Tank is kindly putting me up so I now that all my wants and needs will be taken care of so that's a relief so close to my competition. You wouldn't think that little things like missing a meal or not squeezing in a needed training session would matter, but it really does. A simple weekend away is going to require a lot of preparation and organisation and as you know that that's my speciliality it'll all be taken care of. LOL!! With any luck I'll also get the chance to catch up with my brother who lives in Sydney. Miss Tank lives very close by to him so I'm thinking maybe we'll all catch up for breakfast down at Coogee Beach. We'll have to wait and see but it certainly would be nice.

Next week at work is a huuuge week for me so my time management is going to have to be spot on. Early mornings are going to be a regular thing for a while. I was up at 0425h this morning for another early start in the gym before work. I'm starting to feel the effects of it a little as you do in the first week of adjusting your body clock but that will settle over the next three weeks. Then I'll make a final decision as to whether or not it's maintainable and at what cost, but I'm happy to report that so far so good so we'll just have to wait and see.

As for how is everything going with my competition preparation, it's going great guns. Funnily enough I'm actually into my fifth week of working with JD. Time is certainly slipping by quickly this year, before I know it I'll be back on that stage. My mind and body has well and truly settled back into the first phase of my competition prepration and like anything once you get past the initial shock of the first week and create a new habit over the first month it's all smooth sailing from there. We're both really happy with how my metabolism and body has responded and we're already getting results that we're after. So as long as things continue along this path it's going to be a great journey for me of which you all I'm very excited about. I'm happy and that's all that reall matters isn't it.

Well that's probably enough rambling from me today. I don't want to bore you to tears to much. LOL!! I'm outa here folks. :o)

Photo of the Day

I'm a squatting machine, thanks Lisa!

It was an earlier than earler start to the morning this morning. Daniel had to be up at 0400h so I got up at 0355h. I was firing on all cylinders this morning and was ready for hit the gym with full vengence. Today was leg day. *yeah baby* Erica trained with me for the first time this morning and we were ready to kick of nice and early at 0530h. We now have the pleasure of working together at the same unit for the next year. Once again I'm coming along in leaps and bounds with my squats. I'm turning into a squatting machine and I can honestly put my hand on my heart and say that I love them! In the past I thought I enjoyed squats but I was really kidding myself. Lisa once again saved me from not achieving my full squat potential and opened my eyes up to a real love for squatting well. By the time we finished training we were catching our breath and covered in sweat. But worth every inch of effort. ;o)

Things at work are slowly but surely sorting themselves out. I'm getting myself into a reasonable routine that suits both my professional and personal goals. Oh and I can't remember whether or not I'd mentiond it before but I've scored my own little bar fridge for all my food and water. How good is that! And it's looking like my competing and all it's requirements isn't going to be a problem with work. That's always a blessing and one less thing to be concerned about.


What else. Well today's big news is that I'm flying up to Syndey for FILEX 2008. I'll be mixing business with pleasure that weekend as it's twelve weeks out from competing so I'll be meeting up with JD. I'll be staying with the hospitable Miss Tank and we're heading to FILEX 2008. It'll be my first time going so I'm pretty excited to say the least. It'll be a great weekend and I'll be surrounded by like minded people which will be so inspirational and motivational.

Last but certainly not least are a couple of photos from my cousins wedding that have just come through and isn't she just beautiful. Sharnah was a vision of beauty that day and so naturally stunning.

Well time's ticking away and it's another super duper early rise and shine for me at 0425h so I'm giong for a relaxing shower and moisturise. Have a lovely evening everybody and a good nights sleep. :o)

Quote of the Day

"Motivation is what gets you started.
Habit is what keeps you going."

-- Jim Ryan

A perfect kodak moment....

This is me cooking my dinner on the bbq tonight getting some time up on my comp shoes. My husband arrived home from work to this and said that this was a picture perfect kodak moment, so he took this photo for me to post up on my blog. It doesn't get much more real than this. LOL!!

You Know You’re A Figure Competitor When.....

1. For a few days each year your toilet seat is brown and this time it isn’t your husbands fault.

2. You can honestly say you have spent more in a bathing suit than your wedding dress.

3. Six inch clear stripper heels are your footwear of choice in your own home. (and not just in the bedroom)

4. Someone asks about the man in your life and you tell that gym is fine!

5. You have two sections in your wardrobe. Contest & Off-season. And they aren’t mix and match.

6. Your top three priorities on any given day:
a. Workout
b. Eat Clean
c. Check the fitness forum board (not necessarily in that order..)

7. You can name any pro figure competitor by seeing her butt alone. When someone wants to take your picture, you immediately spread your lats, tighten every muscle in your body, point your fingers and SMILE!

8. You take more pills daily than your 80 year old grandmother.

9. Your idea of dressing up is taking your hair out of the ponytail its been in for a week.

10. If you have had someone close to you, hide food from you in your own house.
11. An easy day is lifting and only one cardio session.

12. Instead of carrying a Gucci pursue you accessorize with a Coleman cooler.

13. Waking up so sore you can barely move puts a smile on your face.

14. You cant do any work because you are to busy counting down the seconds until your next meal!!!!!!!!!

15.The faint smell of Contest Colour gets your heart pumping faster than your man's cologne.

16. You leave a little trail of splenda packets, tupperware and empty water bottles everywhere you go.

17. Your hubby makes you pee in the guest bathroom because every meal includes asparagus.

18. You consider Beano an essential part of your supplement regimen.

19. Your jaws are sore because you can't stop chewing sugar free gum!

20. You spend at least five minutes grilling your server at a restaurant, and another five minutes re-writing the menu until you've got a meal that meets your diet's specifications...and then you devour it in less than 60 seconds flat!!

21. You consider a day when you only have to make ONE trip to the gym a luxury!
22. You think about having "relaxed hands" and sticking your butt out while standing in line at the grocery store. (Hey a girl's gotta practice her posing!!)

23. You consider condiments and diet coke taboo!!!

24. Your neighbours start gossiping that you've had lipo because there is no way a girl could get that fit in twelve weeks!

I'm off to a great start

This morning was the first morning trialing my new time management schedule. I'm running with it for one month to allow my body clock to re-set itself and then re-evaluate the pro's and con's at the end of the trial. Although in saying that, I still have to sit down every week and schedule my week ahead according to the work program and my instructor committments. Generally speaking here's what an average day will look like:

0500: Meal 1
0530: Supplements
0600: Meal 2 (TP)
0630: Weights (TP)
0730: Meal 2 (TP)
0800: Meal 3
1100: Meal 4
1400: Meal 5
1600: Meal 6 (TP)
1800: Meal 7
2100: Supplements
2200: Sleep

I was finding that my existing schedule just wans't quite cutting it, that and I needed to be more disciplined. If I want to take myself to the next level it's going to take further sacrafice and a lot more self discipline from me. It's all good and fine to talk the talk if you don't walk the walk. So we'll see how it goes but so far so good today. If all goes according to plan I should be able to achieve everything I need and want in the one day.


Trained shoulders and biceps this morning and absolutely killed it! I got into the gym firing on all cylinders early this morning and got the job well and truly done. Wearing my ipod shuffle is the perfect deterance from people approaching me and trying to engage in general social chit chat. Call me rude but I'm not there to socialise I'm there to work. Above is another photo of the main weight training area in my gym with all brand new equipement. Our unit's own gym is still in the process of being built so when that's finished I'll have a choice of two gyms and can pick and chose which has the best equipment for a particual muscle group. And it's all free, that's the best part of being in the defence force. It's one of the many benefits we're entitled too.

And another bonus of having good time management is that I should be able to squeeze out a daily blog, work depending of course. But I'm trying my very best so we'll see how I go, no promises. I've also haven't managed to get stuck back into my studies again and finish off my last module. But I'm happy to report that through good time managment this morning I've managed to type up the nine assessments ready to type in the answers at home. I'll do one assessment per night over the next nine nights then email it in for assessing. Then all that's left to do is my practical video which shouldn't be a problem either. I can borrow a digital recorder and tripod from wor, use the base gym and my hubby has kindly volunteered (he just doens't know it yet LOL!!) to play my client. So I'm almost done. *woo hoo*


Just for something different, I'm putting through a phone order at the Clinique Counter at David Jones, Melbourne. I've run out of All About Eyes Rich (Eye Cream) and am just about to run out of Superdefence Triple Action Moisturise SPF25 (Day Moisutriser) . I had to change over to their skin care range last year when I was on the elimination diet, my skin has never looked or felt this great before. I love their products and have found the difference to be remarkable.

I think that about covers everything for today. I hope the start to your week is as organised and productive as mine. And remember, don't forget to smile. :o)

New blogger and possible figure competitor

Ladies I'd like to introduce Katie. She's the lovely lady responsible for helping me create my new header, isn't she the best! And she's also another health and fitness lady who's toying with the idea of being a figure competitor. So please feel free to drop by her blog and make her feel welcome in our blogging community. :o)