Monthly Archive for January, 2006

Lovin’ my new hooks

Backstage, INBA 2004, 2nd Intermediate Figure.

Jode and I finished a good session again tonight – back and tris. I have a new program from Richie (my coach has a name – nothing to hide here!), but have a few questions to run by him before we get stuck into it. Plus I wanted to use my new hooks to see what affect they would have. I loved them! These ones are fully adjustable, from wrist to hand, as well as around the wrist. Jode had a go too. Takes so much pressure off your forearms and wrist/grip. Yeah who cares if my grip gets a little weaker, I’m not a powerlifter. If I can lift more weight with these hooks, then it’s all good. I managed a set of 6 (well about 5 really) of DB Rows with 65lb.

Not much else to report. It has cooled down a bit, only 33 or something today – cold snap :)

Have to go pick out some new ensuite tiles tomorrow as the ones we chose have been discontinued – 1st thing to go wrong. How many more??

Oh, visited my chiro today – they got me in on short notice – my neck was so far out, hurt to look down and to the left. He is a legend my chiro! He said that is probably why I had been feeling ill for the last few days. Felt better immediately after seeing him.

Wedgie girl was at the gym tonight. All the guys were talking about it, and rather than thinking it looked hot, they thought it was pretty off. Damien yelled out to me that I should get some like that :) Yeah right, not in this century!

Legs are toast


Another of my comp pics, INBA Oz Titles, 2nd Intermediate, 2004

I was very happy with my session today – I felt a lot better than I have the last few days, and decided to push it in the gym this morning. Our aim today was to do legs in an hour – it usually takes us an hour 20. So, I wasn’t expecting to be able to increase the weights as less rest time would increase the intensity somewhat. I did though manage to increase on smith lunges, squats and leg press. By the time we get to leg press, that is where I start thinking I may need a bucket. Instead I chose to lie down under the a/c while Jodie did her sets. It’s going to be 40 again today, no rest for the wicked. We were literally SOAKED in sweat the entire way through. One of these days I will take a pic of us after or during leg day – it’s not pretty. I have now had my shake and starting to recover. Another leg day down…

I will be training legs in 3 weeks with Kim, that will be cool.

My neck is out. Another reason I was pleased with my workout. It hurts to turn it to the left, and to put my head down. Looks like another chiro visit asap. This may also have something to do with not feeling 100%. I have been feeling very lightheaded – I have always has low/normal blood pressure, but not quite as low as it was when taken on Friday. Nearly every time I put my head down or sit down and get up again, I get dizzy.

Today wil be spent working…catching up on what I haven’t been able to do while I wasn’t feeling well.

What you make it

You can speculate and guess and theorize and envision, and all those things have their place. Yet you will not know for sure what you can and cannot do until you step forward and make the effort.

There are many things that might go wrong, and many obstacles you likely did not anticipate. Yet you must not allow the possibility of those problems to stop you before you even get started.

When something comes up that you didn’t plan for, you can learn from it and make adjustments. When a difficult challenge arises, that challenge brings with it the opportunity for even greater value when you choose to persevere.

Everything that is easy and guaranteed to succeed has already been done. Real accomplishment comes from doing the things that no one else thinks you can do.

Lift your eyes up and see the objective at the end of the path. Then lift your feet up, one after the other, and take the first few steps along that path.

Accomplishment is not what is reasonable or practical or certain or without controversy. Accomplishment is precisely what you decide to make it.

– Ralph Marston

Home Sweet Home!

2nd Intermediate Figure INBA Aust Titles 2004

Honeymoon pic – New Orleans, USA, May 05, Le Pavillon Hotel

Still not 100% but at least I could manage to think straight and get some work done. I have only eaten about 2/3 of my food allocation today. Just not able to stomach it. Tonight I was able to have my full portion of chicken but the veggies wouldn’t go down. I did have my fruit…always welcome on a 40 degree day!
I have sore biceps today! Legs tomorrow, hopefully I will be able to go hard.

Got my supps today, thanks Michelle!! And my hooks, cool, will be able to try them out on Monday – back day.

We had a message while in Adelaide, that our house frame was up! We didn’t believe it, but sure enough, it is! Bottom floor anyway. We took a wander ‘through it’ this afternoon – we both think the family room looks a little small! The formal lounge and dining is nice and big though. It will probably look a lot different when the walls are up! Upstairs office, bedroom, ensuite and utility room will be a huge area, which is good. Considering putting a little gym area on our landing!

Time for an early night I think….

Feeling Off

The last few days I have struggled with my food – I am wondering if it is because I am a little off colour. Have had a headache for the last 3 days, and this morning I woke, ate half of my breakfast and had to go back to bed. When I woke, I still felt crappy, so I sent Tracy an sms to ask if it would be ok to meet her an hour later at Fitness First. Thankfully it was ok with her, so I went back to sleep. It was great to meet another of my clients in person! Thanks Tracy for taking the time to meet and have a workout with me. I wish I had have felt a little better but never mind! I was fatiguing very early in my workout today, another reason I think I perhaps have something. After we finished training I walked back to the apartment, had a shower, and a quick lay down before venturing off to see the doc, in Keswick. While waiting I just wanted to lie down on the couch and sleep! It was good to chat to the doc, have not seen him since September. He took my heart rate, which was 56bpm, and my blood pressure, 105/60. From the results of my latest blood tests, we have decided to add a little T4 to my thyroid regime. That may also mean I need less T3 than what I am taking. So, more blood work in another 6 weeks. It’s all highly interesting. We came back and I had a sleep, now just woken up and I had better attempt to do a little work. I am trying to get as much food into me as I can, without making myself sick.

We are leaving to come home tomorrow – even though it’s only 4 hours I am SO over driving trips.

So, this note is to clients who are starting programs on Monday – they will be ready sometime on Sunday, if not Saturday night :)

Oz Day

Happy Australia Day Aussies! We just got back from the cricket – managed to sit there for almost 40 overs – in over 40 degree heat. Thankfully our seats were in the stand, under some shade, but it was so hot it wasn’t very comfortable at ALL! So, we are back here in the comfort of our lovely air conditioned apartment, watching it on tv!

I did my tready walk this morning here at the hotel.

I met with my posing coach yesterday, and it was great to sit down and have a chat to her – went over my diet and training. Her first observation was that I need to put on some more size, which is what I am working on. She didn’t have a good look at me, we just chatted, but I will be coming over again mid Feb and have booked in for a training session and posing session then. I have given her my music details, and my ideas on the routine, so she can begin thinking about it. I really had a hard time with food yesterday – I could not bring myself to eat it all. I was feeling ill after eating, and my stomach was not feeling very settled. I would have thrown up if i had stuffed it down. So i gave my system a bit of a rest. I emailed Richie and he said I could remove the peanut butter or replace with a protein shake. Good, this will help. As much as I love PB, 4tbsp is really making me feel weighed down.

Think I need a snooze, all that sun has worn me out!

Bloated pickle

Today’s pictorial – :) Damien and I with good friend Steve, of www.2-fit.com and his wife, Adelia, in Las Vegas, May 05.

That’s what I feel like :) I think tomorrow when i step on the scales, I may be the heaviest I have ever been. Which is a GOOD thing, as that is what I am trying to achieve! Of course with as minimal fat increase as possible. I am force feeding myself, and actually feel a bit ill much of the time. Richie was really happy with my latest measurements. I can honestly say I am SO looking forward to my cutting diet! I can’t take all this eating – it’s like a 2nd job!! I’ve never been in the position where I have had to force myself to eat. I can feel my ab fat getting thicker – it’s not a good feeling!

Had a massage today – was great. My legs and butt were (still are) very sore. All good.

We are off to Adelaide for a few days, will have someone here looking after Rexy. Will be working whilst away. Will be meeting Tracy for a workout at Fitness First in the city, on Friday. Going to the cricket on Thursday – it is going to be crazy hot. Reminds, me, better throw in a hat.

Did my tready incline walk this morning at Waves after having measurements taken. Even that didn’t make me hungry.

I am getting pretty tired (had a late one last night), so will head off to bed now.

Rebecca N

I am receiving your email, I hope you are now receiving mine!

Me and Tom Venuto


Well, you know, had to make it sound good to get your attention :) Tom has published my article on his website, www.fitren.com, and also in his latest newsletter – which is pretty exciting! Great to be involved with Tom.

You can read the whole newsletter here:
http://www.fitren.com/res3news.cfm?newsid=57

or my article, here:
http://www.fitren.com/res3art.cfm?compid=18&artid=144

Other news, training was great, hot, and drenched in sweat by the end of it as per usual these days. I did some 60lb DB Rows tonight, quite happy with that, and don’t even have my hooks yet :)

Legs and bum are getting very sore. I have a massage tomorrow which will be awesome.

It’s late, and it’s time for bed. Skin folds tomorrow, then I get my new program from Richie…I am so looking forward to what is in store. I think ;)

Interesting…

Here is more stuff on my PT. I think my intuition is more developed than they seem to think so but everything else is pretty spot on. As I said to Jode, all except the ‘immaculately maintained’ home :) Click on Jodie’s blog link (on right) if you want to take the test…

Off to do some cardio, it’s cooler today thank goodness!

The Duty Fulfiller

As an ISTJ, your primary mode of living is focused internally, where you take things in via your five senses in a literal, concrete fashion. Your secondary mode is external, where you deal with things rationally and logically.

ISTJs are quiet and reserved individuals who are interested in security and peaceful living. They have a strongly-felt internal sense of duty, which lends them a serious air and the motivation to follow through on tasks. Organized and methodical in their approach, they can generally succeed at any task which they undertake.

ISTJs are very loyal, faithful, and dependable. They place great importance on honesty and integrity. They are “good citizens” who can be depended on to do the right thing for their families and communities. While they generally take things very seriously, they also usually have an offbeat sense of humor and can be a lot of fun – especially at family or work-related gatherings.

ISTJs tend to believe in laws and traditions, and expect the same from others. They’re not comfortable with breaking laws or going against the rules. If they are able to see a good reason for stepping outside of the established mode of doing things, the ISTJ will support that effort. However, ISTJs more often tend to believe that things should be done according to procedures and plans. If an ISTJ has not developed their Intuitive side sufficiently, they may become overly obsessed with structure, and insist on doing everything “by the book”.

The ISTJ is extremely dependable on following through with things which he or she has promised. For this reason, they sometimes get more and more work piled on them. Because the ISTJ has such a strong sense of duty, they may have a difficult time saying “no” when they are given more work than they can reasonably handle. For this reason, the ISTJ often works long hours, and may be unwittingly taken advantage of.

The ISTJ will work for long periods of time and put tremendous amounts of energy into doing any task which they see as important to fulfilling a goal. However, they will resist putting energy into things which don’t make sense to them, or for which they can’t see a practical application. They prefer to work alone, but work well in teams when the situation demands it. They like to be accountable for their actions, and enjoy being in positions of authority. The ISTJ has little use for theory or abstract thinking, unless the practical application is clear.

ISTJs have tremendous respect for facts. They hold a tremendous store of facts within themselves, which they have gathered through their Sensing preference. They may have difficulty understanding a theory or idea which is different from their own perspective. However, if they are shown the importance or relevance of the idea to someone who they respect or care about, the idea becomes a fact, which the ISTJ will internalize and support. Once the ISTJ supports a cause or idea, he or she will stop at no lengths to ensure that they are doing their duty of giving support where support is needed.

The ISTJ is not naturally in tune with their own feelings and the feelings of others. They may have difficulty picking up on emotional needs immediately, as they are presented. Being perfectionists themselves, they have a tendency to take other people’s efforts for granted, like they take their own efforts for granted. They need to remember to pat people on the back once in a while.

ISTJs are likely to be uncomfortable expressing affection and emotion to others. However, their strong sense of duty and the ability to see what needs to be done in any situation usually allows them to overcome their natural reservations, and they are usually quite supporting and caring individuals with the people that they love. Once the ISTJ realizes the emotional needs of those who are close to them, they put forth effort to meet those needs.

The ISTJ is extremely faithful and loyal. Traditional and family-minded, they will put forth great amounts of effort at making their homes and families running smoothly. They are responsible parents, taking their parenting roles seriously. They are usually good and generous providers to their families. They care deeply about those close to them, although they usually are not comfortable with expressing their love. The ISTJ is likely to express their affection through actions, rather than through words.

ISTJs have an excellent ability to take any task and define it, organize it, plan it, and implement it through to completion. They are very hard workers, who do not allow obstacles to get in the way of performing their duties. They do not usually give themselves enough credit for their achievements, seeing their accomplishments simply as the natural fulfillment of their obligations.

ISTJs usually have a great sense of space and function, and artistic appreciation. Their homes are likely to be tastefully furnished and immaculately maintained. They are acutely aware of their senses, and want to be in surroundings which fit their need for structure, order, and beauty.

Under stress, ISTJs may fall into “catastrophe mode”, where they see nothing but all of the possibilities of what could go wrong. They will berate themselves for things which they should have done differently, or duties which they failed to perform. They will lose their ability to see things calmly and reasonably, and will depress themselves with their visions of doom.

In general, the ISTJ has a tremendous amount of potential. Capable, logical, reasonable, and effective individuals with a deeply driven desire to promote security and peaceful living, the ISTJ has what it takes to be highly effective at achieving their chosen goals – whatever they may be.

In between working I have been searching for hair pieces for my comp. I’ve got plenty of hair as it is, but going for something different this time around – not sure what look I want yet, but I may not be recognizable :) Getting some advice from one of my previous clients who is a hairdresser. Maybe I will get a long blonde pony tail…

I have a few more updated programs to do, and then I might get away from the ‘puter.

My legs are feeling very fatigued.