Post Tassie Debrief

ok, so here we are. Mid week 4 of the 12 week body transformation and I am 2 kilos up from last weigh-in. I'm not stressed. Did I say that out loud? I AM NOT STRESSED MUCH!!! Nah I'm ok. I know exactly why and how I bumped up the needle on the scales.

My Brother Chris, me and Mel

My girl Mel and I have been visiting my brother and sister-in-law down in Tasmania for the last week. And who can go to Tasmania without tasting the amazing food down there. While we ate very healthy food, I did increase serving sizes and sampled things like cheeses and wines which aren't my usual fare.


I also didn't do my usual training schedule. In fact Coach called it a rest week and didn't send me a program. I didn't have access to a gym to do the 12wbt specific program. HOWEVER, we did do several hikes which kept me busy and moving. We did a fantastic walk through the Mt Field National Park and for the first time in my 46 years I got to make a snowman and feel the snow on my eyelashes and face plant into a snow drift. Good times. Sooooo that means a spike in the scales, but now I am back, I am focused as ever and ready to get back into the weight loss goal and training regime.

Me & Jabba at the Cascades Brewery.
The tradition in Hobart...build a snowman
on the bonnet of your car at the top
of Mt Wellington and drive down as far as
you can without him sliding off. We left
Jabba at the bottom....Winners~!

The only other problem I have, and which was a contributing factor to my lack of excercise, was that I pulled a muscle in my back while I was packing my backpack to go to Tassie. Youch! It has been tricky and very painful and has restricted my movement a lot and we had to adjust our intended 4 day hike to just day hikes. The change in itinery worked out well but in the end my goal of running up Mt Wellington just like the Biggest Loser gang did fell in a heap and I had to be satisifed with being driven up the mountain and perhaps reschedule my idea for November 12 when the Point to Pinnicle race is on. 21km half marathon run to the top of Mt Wellie. Never mind. Its all good and I am back on track.

The view from our hut we stayed at
overnight including Wallaby & Snowgum

Today was a trip to the physio. Not Coach but one of his colleagues as he is in Spain being team physio to the Triathletes going to the London Olympics. So it was a relief to have treatment and to have the locum tell me that my injury is muscular and should ease with further treatment, stretching and light excercise. Still it is frustrating for me. I feel like every time I get some distance and gains in my running (particularly), I have a set back. I know 'that's training' for you. But I really stress about running and my ability, skill and whether I can get enough training under my belt to do the job at Ironman the way I really want to. In my head I hope for a 4:30 marathon. That's a 1 hour improvement folks. Perhaps it is too much to hope for. But let's aim for the stars hey!

The day hut we lunched at during our hike along the
Tarn Shelf, Mt Field National Park, Tasmania

The Tarn Shelf Hike. Simply Beautiful.

Back in the Gym

Very happy right now. I'm back in the gym. It's been at least 18 months since I have been in a 'proper' gym. I gave up the gym just after I signed up for my first Ironman in 2010 as I didn't have 'time' with all of the other training I needed to do. But to reach my current goals I realise I need to get back there. I have a gym at home, but the motivation I need right now is going to be at this purpose built gym.

 

I went back for the first time yesterday. It's a new gym so I did the whole ....."Yeah I'm as cool as cat shit!" look as I hid in a corner pulling out my ipod shuffle and scoping the equipment with my lazy eye.

 

I spotted the rowing machines and headed for the safety of the rower and while I warmed up for 5 mins I looked in the mirrors at the rest of the machines. They all looked familiar thank goodness. Not much has changed over the 18 month absence in the way of gym advancements. I wanted to start off with chest and triceps as the legs I needed to save for a ride I had planned to do today (which didn't even get started due to the winds).

 

I did the cruise over to the free weight area and lay out the towel. Checked a barbell loaded with about 10kgs and then found a pair of 8kg dumbells. Ok I was set to go. By the end of the session I had felt the muscle burn again. I hadn't felt that sensation in a very long time and today as I write this I can feel the DOMS even though really it was such a light weight set from what I had been used to previously. BUT! We gotta start somewhere and the beginning is about the right place I reckon.

 

After the weights I found a quiet spot on the carpet and did some ab work before heading for a 5min walk on the treadmill. I hate navigating new treadmills but I managed to find the start button and before long had cranked it up to 10kmph and had knocked over a half hour of easy running. I was pleasantly surprised at how easily I ran. I remember the last time I run on a treadie I could barely run 10mins at 8.5kmph. But the half hour was done and dusted before I knew it and my breathing was easy throughout with just a light sweat under the bra line.

 

It's times like these that I enjoy a lot. Being able to recognise how far I have come in my fitness. It reminds me that I can improve despite getting older, but also it's a time to reflect on how far I have come and how much I have achieved. It's a good feeling indeed.

 

Heading for home I felt really happy and positive about the 12wbt ahead. I have signed up with Michelle Bridges who has a 12 week body transformation program. I feel certain that I can make the next 12 weeks really make a difference. Also, I feel I can't really fail to improve hopefully to the next level as I have those all important elements in place....

 

• Accountability - Coach
• Triathlon Program - Coach
• Diet Program and accountability - Michelle Bridges
• Time - no job (just casual work that I can do at home at midnight if I want to)
• Drive - ME!

Bring it on!

 

Look in the Mirror - 10 Steps Backwards

Out in the gym tonight. Bit disappointed in what I see. Like every gym we have a mirror set up.

Our gym is in the garage and we have spent time getting it sorted so that we have a pretty good set up now. Prior to this we used to be members of a gym. Each morning heading dutifully down to join the malay of guys doing their International Chest on Monday routines.... I got pretty strong. I was getting some muscle and definition, even some pecs. I could rock out 50 push ups without too much grief and I could do a decline sit up hugging 10kilos on my chest. I got to know some of the guys and earnt some respect as a lifter rather than just a chick playing with dumbells. Some of the guys helped spot me if I was on my own and helped with diet tips and form technique.

After a while we took up this crazy sport of triathlon and pretty soon with Ironman and the training required, the hours soon were gobbled up with running, swimming and time out on the roads on the bikes. Bit by bit we slipped away from the gym life and so we decided that we would set up the home gym. And little by little I drifted away more from the weights. I know strength, core and stretching are just as important as the rest of the 3 sports, but time in the gym was sacrificed for sleeping, eating and quality time with the family. I do still do my stretching pretty religiously to avoid injuries, but picking up and putting down steel is completely out of the program.

So we bought some TRX bands with a view of using these to strengthen core etc. And so here I find myself a year after Ironman. A year before I do my next Ironman and I'm not happy with the gal who is staring back at me. It's like all of the work a year or more ago has gone and I have gone ackwards in tim. Even though I can knock out a huge triathlon I can't see the muscle for the soft fat and muscle.

BUT!!!!! I have a year and 6 weeks to whip this lil ol bod back into some shape. So while I am disappointed that I have lost a load of fitness, muscle, core, balance and the like. I know I can do this again. I can work hard and if I stay consistent, then I can be the person I want to be, come race day in 2013.

So.....without taking a photo and posting it (as you'll all say "hey Sammi - aint sooo bad"). Let's just say. I got some work to do.

Aims/goals:

• Get strong, lean, toned and faster!
• Stay consistent, eat clean, stay focused and EAT CLEAN!!!!!
• Find some time weekly to start a strength and core routine and keep it incorporated in the holistic approach to this thing called Ironman.
• Be realistic, the flabby/loose skin could be age (and no amount of training can beat gravity...it's just the way it is)
• Be true to yourself, quit the B.S, and never lie to yourself.
• And for Crying Out Loud - Give up the SUGAR!!!!