Monthly Archive for November, 2008

That’ll be us tomorrow   So it’s finally here – although it did come around very quickly I must say.   Today was a bit mad as I tried to tidy up all the loose ends at work, but I think I managed, and I am very comfortable in leaving my business with Kristin while I am gone.  Of course I wil have net access while away, so I will check in from time to time to keep up with everything that’s going on.

We had a very late night last night as we got together with friends of ours to have a goodbye drink!  I think it was about 1.30am when I got to bed.  So, not really enough sleep but I felt fine today.  Trained hard too, great chest workout.  Yesterday was back day and I’m already getting sore from chin ups.  I managed 11 body weight chins this time, so beating last week’s PB by a rep.  I trained with Nadia on Saturday – she did my leg workout – and enjoyed it I might add!  We squatted, and, I managed another PB – 62.5kg – 3 sets of 6.

My diet hasn’t been that tight of late – it’s not really showing on the scale but gee I feel it.  I’m aiming to not put on anymore than 2kg while away!  I have actually prepared a meal to take with me tomorrow, and will do one in the morning too, that way at least I will be well fed until I get on the plane.  We fly out of Mildy at 6.35am in the morning, my lovely mum and her hubby are taking us out to the airport.  We then don’t leave Melbourne until around midday, then have to go to Sydney, unfortunately, before flying to LA at about 3pm.  So 9 hours in airports and planes before even leaving the country!  We arrive in LA around 10am, and are staying at the LAX Marriott that night.  Will be good to have the whole day, and next morning to get over the flight.  Around lunchtime we’ll get a taxi out to Long Beach where we embark the Sapphire Princess.  We are at sea for 2 days before we get to our first port of call, Puerto Vallarta.  We dock from 8am to 10pm so it’s a big day ashore – we have booked a tour for this port:

Yelapa & MajahuitaRelax onboard a modern catamaran to the cove of Majahuitas for snorkeling. Then visit Yelapa, an old charming Mexican fishing village.The morning is spent at the tranquil cove of Majahuitas, an unspoiled area of natural beauty on the southern coast of Banderas Bay. Only accessible by sea, Majahuitas is the desert island beach of everyone’s dreams. With swaying palms, and a sheltered cove with crystal clear waters which offers ideal conditions for swimming, snorkeling and kayaking. After lunch aboard your catamaran, head off to Yelapa, an old charming Mexican fishing village set in it’s own natural cove. Long a famous day trip from Puerto Vallarta, Yelapa has become a must on most tourist’s lists, but since there are no roads in, this tropical paradise is only accessible by boat. The tiny village is a true escape from civilization. If you love the outdoors and want to spend time exploring nature, this idyllic spot is perfect for you. Hike to waterfalls, take time to relax on the expansive sandy beach or take a swim in its protected waters before enjoying a delicious lunch back on board. As you cruise back to Puerto Vallarta, the on board fiesta wraps up a day full of fun-in-the-sun with an open bar, dancing, music, and entertainment provided by the friendly crew.

Well, I’m making myself very excited, but I better move – I still haven’t finished packing!  Getting there – bedroom looks like a bomb has hit it!  Mum is coming around soon too.  And I was supposed to wash my hair – may have to get up at 4.45 am tomorrow instead!

Bye people, will report in soon!

Thanks for the nice comments on my gym pic!  I quite liked this one too.  My strength is really improving – I might do one more deadlift session before I go away – but then again I’d hate to injure myself before I go on holidays!  I trained back yesterday and I am nice and sore – don’t often get a ’sore all over’ back.  I think the chin ups may have done the trick, I really squeezed out a couple of really tough reps that I could have given up on but didn’t.  They are the ones that count!  I did 10 body weight chin ups (with v grip bar), which is by no means fantastic but that was actually a PB for me on chin ups.  I follwed that with a set of 8, 6 and 6.  I didn’t have a spot.  Then I went to lat pulls, then supinated grip DB Incline Rows which really make you squeeze the muscle as you can’t really cheat much on these.  Followed these with reverse push ups and finished off my back with wide grip straight arm pulldowns.  I did a few sets of biceps after that but the weren’t very happy – they were a little sore (not good sore) and I figured the chin ups would have already given them a good working over.

Today was chest and tris.  I bench pressed 50kg for a couple of singles and then 2 sets of 2.  Last time I think I did 4 x singles at 52.5kg.  Followed this up with 2 sets to failure at 40kg.  It really helps having someone there to reinforce what I need to do before lifting a heavy set.  Gives me a lot more confidence to lift heavy too.  Followed that with supersets of incline flys and push ups.  Then a couple of heavy sets of pullovers.  Then supersets of triceps pushdowns and overhead rope extensions.  Tris were screaming as they’d already had a great workout from the pullovers in particular.

Tomorrow is cardio only.  I don’t lift again until Saturday   I wish I could lift every day!

My other pic is a pic from our last cruise – to get me in the mood for some R&R starting next Friday – well, Saturday, I will need some R&R after the dreaded plane flight.  It’s not so bad, be much worse going to Europe!  But I’d put up with it!  Notice how I’m doing the ‘figure’ pose.  These pics were taken on one of the ‘formal’ nights.

So I’ve been out and purchased a trolley cabin suitcase since I don’t have one.  I need all the space I can get   Got my video cam, still trying to sort out how to use it, but think I will be ok!

I just bought return airfares for us for May next year, to the Sunshine Coast!  Jetstar have a ripper deal on at the moment – I snagged return tickets from Melbourne for 2 of us for a total of $238.  So, my next holiday is sorted   Got to have something to look forward to hey!

Loving squatting at the moment.  My injury is not playing up (touch wood), and I feel strong.  I increased my PB from last week – not on weight, but I did 3 sets this time instead of 2, and 7 reps instead of 6.  We supersetted those with squat jumps and did some other plyo stuff too, giant setting walking lunges with jumps onto a platform, followed by depth jumps.  Heart rate was through the roof!  We did some hammy and butt work too.  I did a step class in the morning and I feel pretty wiped out now.  It’s probably too much for leg day for me.  Might have to revisit that idea and sub with some low intensity cardio instead.  I am so hungry right now!  Waiting for Damien to finish work so we can go out for dinner – it’s only 6pm – I hope he’s not too long or I might chew the leg off this table!

I’m getting closer to purchasing my video camera – I better get a move on, it’s only just over 3 weeks til we go to Mexico!  I can’t believe it!

Pretty happy that interest rates have come down – it was getting a bit ridiculous.  I’m just glad we decided not to fix them back when they were out of control.  It’s a wonder we didn’t, we usually do everything wrong and are very unlucky like that!

Ok time to go.  Another productive day.  I need to write a couple of programs tomorrow, so might ’switch off’ email and net so I can focus.

That’s personal best – not 100kg of peanut butter (I would be in heaven!).

I’ve never held/felt 100kg before – well not in pumping iron terms anyway So I am rather proud of myself for rack pulling this figure.  I did 90kg last week and this was my goal.  2 sets of 6 I got before the bar slid out of my hooks that were pulling like crazy on my forearms.  Yep, I have sore forearms too.  A bit sore in the traps but nothing like I was last week.  My abs are pretty sore too, I got the wheel out again and did some longer sets – had been a bit slack with that previously.

My 2 x day training went well – I was a bit exhausted by Friday though.   Yesterday it was a nice morning so I decided to walk to the gym with my backpack, do my shoulder workout, and walk home.  50 min walk all up so it was a decent workout.  I felt really good this morning (meant to be day off) so I went out for some running hills/intervals – 40 mins (20 mins of that was moderate/low stuff).

Less that 4 weeks until we jet off to Mexico!  Reading about Carolyn’s journey is getting me excited about going. 

Kerry W – what is the Hugo Boss that your hubby wears?  I am looking for a nice one to buy Damien.  Loved your last post by the way, I think we can all relate to that!

Nearly finished my novel and now looking for a new one to read.  It’s always a bit sad and empty feeling when you finish a good book I think.

Just finished my article for Oxygen – I rehashed one I had already done (but had not been published), called “Finding Balance”.

Must get some groceries today, the fridge is starting to look a bit bare again.  We had Indian takeaway last night – I don’t eat the bread or rice, I have a big bowl of veggies and just add the meat and a little sauce.  Was a little disappointed in the Beef Masala though.  We hadn’t tried this one before – should ALWAYS get lamb before beef.  Our usual, Chicken Makhan (sp?) we can never go past.

I had coffee with Nadia on Friday, that was lovely to catch up.  We both then left and went to the gym to workout!  Nadia recently got married and would you believe, she trained on her wedding day!!!!  Freak hehe.