I'm just not one of those people....

... that knows how to do nothing! This is the first time I have had holidays and stayed home, but I am still doing 'stuff'. I've accepted thats the type of person I am, and even lying by the spa is not 'relaxing' its a tanning mission! I seem to have purpose to everything :)

I have tried now for 5 days straight to sleep in, but have woken every morning between 5 and 6am. At first frustrated, now I am embracing the fact my body clock ticks to its own beat and best I just go with it. So even on holidays I have run, showered and eaten breakfast before 8am. I am really happy about this actually, better than grumbling about getting out of bed. So much of this beautiful weather to enjoy and I have the passion to savour every minute of this beautiful life :) you only get one chance right?

Merry Christmas.....

Can't half tell he's my son hey?

Lot's of fun to be had today.

HOPE EVERYONE HAS A FANTASTIC DAY! xx

One of the many reasons I love where I live.

Summer sunsets. Yesterdays stormy sky revealled a perfect 15minutes before the sun disappeared.

Just in the mood to....

..... post this again!

People who are successful don't always tick all the boxes and certainly others don't necessarily believe in them, but that doesn't matter and they don't care! Instead they will push on and ignore those who don't want to come along for the ride. The power and control is within them.

http://mindsweat-samd-m.blogspot.com/2010/10/once-in-lifetime.html

Sam

My Piston Cup

Anyone with little boys will most certainly know the movie 'Cars', Jethro loves it. The cars race for the 'Piston Cup'. Jethro goes into my gym and calls the trophy above 'mummy's Piston Cup'! So funny. He likes to mention that mummy won the Piston Cup :) It does have a likeness to the real Piston Cup!

Arn't I every little boys dream mother? I mean how cool am I? Winning the Piston Cup and all.....

Last week he built a Duplo house, when he was showing me he points to an area and says 'this is mummy's gym'....hahaha glad his priorities are right, the most important room in the home is my gym (officially on the plans a theatre room) but I like to use my 5 x 6m space for much better purposes, whose got time to watch movies?

Mind Sweat

I am constantly thinking and will often describe myself as 'multi-tasking' most of the day. I believe that the hard work is done controlling your thoughts and beliefs. Most of the time the easy option is not necessarily easier on the body, just easier on the mind. Our mind most definetely gives up before our body.

When I talk about Mind Sweat I am talking about controlling all aspects of my life, I am a business woman, a mother, a wife, and of course, I am Sam. As an individual I have my own dreams, goals and asperations. I juggle these among the other areas of my life.

I am constantly changing, my thoughts are far from static, they evolve with my age, experience and environment.

I can be working on a number of areas of my life at a time, or I can be devoting my thoughts to something in particular. NEVER would I describe myself as NOT having to work at it. I will work at it until I loose it (my mind that is!).

For the last few weeks my mind has been sweating away convincing myself I am a winner :) Not competitive by nature (except at competing against myself and being better that I can be) I am at a point where I have to start believing I am not only better that I was before, but better than the rest. Not something I personally find easy by nature, thankfully, Michelle Nazaroff is awesome at this. Onward and upward my minds hard work is paying off!

So sick of the media passing the blame

Come on, who cares if KFC are giving away gift vouchers? Oh yeah, and they are responsible (with all the other fast food chains) for obesity in Australia. WTF, come on, do they hold you down and shove food in the mouths of our population? How come they haven't got me yet?

People know it is no good for them, but they cotinue to ignore it. We are educated enough on what is good/not good for us, its just that the people dont care enough about their health or the heath of their children (which are the innocent victims being fed crap by uncaring parents). Apparently it tastes so good that you can't resist it..... well that kind of weak thinking wont get you anywhere.

KFC, try something other than a gift voucher to win my business, I DARE YOU, come on try!

http://www.news.com.au/business/fury-over-500-kfc-gift-cards-as-nation-battle-obesity-crisis/story-e6frfm1i-1225969592492

Come on people take some responsibility, blame yourself, not others.

'Why don't you just make the meat ok?'

Picture that in an awesome Rocky Balboa voice :)

I flew into Singapore last night for a meeting today, and my movie of choice for the plane was Rocky (I just love Sly, so much so that is what I wanted to name our son but Damo wouldnt have a bar of it). It got me thinking, he is so focused and lives, dreams and trains for his big fight, was something I could relate to entirely at the moment and how I am feeling leading up to this comp. I was like 'Sly are you the only one who understands me right now?' :)

He says to his girlfriend Adrian (when she is seeking a little attention ;) ).... 'Why don't you just make the meat ok?'....... was wondering if I would get away asking my hubby to make my meat like that? and does it work with other forms of protein like, 'Why don't you just make the egg whites ok?'.

Alter Real

I have gotten to know a gorgeous lady with a brilliant fashion business!

http://www.alterreal.com.au/

Sometimes we have to jump and take a chance. Chrissy has done just that, spending years getting her business off the ground.

Whats your goal, and whats stopping you?

Where Have I Been?

Since my last post, I turned 32 and although not expecting much (Damo being away and all), was spoilt by the important people in my life and enjoyed the fact it was my birthday :)

I have been OS again, I have been training hard, working and planning big.

Tomorrow marks 14weeks to my next competition - FitX in Melbourne, http://www.fitx.com.au/ where I will also be exhibiting and launching a big personal project. Setting the date has left me with an enormous amount of things to do, however nervous I may be, I am glad that I have set the date because I have wanted to do this for years.

I posted late last year about my comp plans and that I was going to be coached by Michelle Nazaroff www.michellenazaroff.com , heres what I wrote:

decided that I needed to take the decision making out of my own hands, I have prepped myself before and found I am just not objective, I am a little hard on myself, I think that there are a number of competitors that I have spoken to who are like this. It is to the point that I make counterproductive decisions, against my better judgement. I really struggle to view myself objectively. So I knew I had to be coached.

I have been seeing Michelle for the last 4weeks as a client, and alls good, these comps feel so right!... I did say comps, well because I will back it up with the next weekend in IFBBs Perth, followed by the Australasians in Sydney mid April.

Hope I can keep up on the blogging, poke me if I am slack again. But give me a break next week because I have to go OS again!

Dad

It's your birthday. I know you would say 'is it, your only as old as you feel'. But I would still tell you every year. Miss you so much.

This post hurts, and posting it probably makes me feel worse. But while I am alive I will push my memories of him upon everyone I meet, thats how I keep him alive. Most the time I am laughing when I think of him, today I am just said because I can't have our yearly birthday joke.

"Mirror Song"

I know that I should think about giving
And think about
Helping out
And think about
Think about living
But I can't seem to rescue myself

What about my bank account
And my holy desert shield
That keep me dry under the arms?
Flags and mental jewelry's all I know
And they keep my happy and warm inside

So I said unto this man
"Who are you and where do you come from?"
And he proceeded to tell me many things

But I said nothing at all

For the flowers in the corner, by the room,
In the window, and the sun
Said it all

At least they said they would
Said they could
Mama said they would
Do me good

In 18 weeks...

...... I will be hanging around backstage waiting patiently for my turn to step on it. I can't guarantee I can be patient for the next 18 weeks, but on that day, I can.

Been planning it for a couple of years now, I am most definetely ready.

Growing Veggies

Jethro loves tormenting slaters.

For someone who dislikes gardening, I have learnt to love it. Making the decision to start an organic veggie garden was easy (because I got someone else to do it) now I look after it myself and I am enjoying it. Jethro loves to be outside so Sunday mornings are a regular tending to 'Jethro's veggie garden' as he calls it.

Summer planting has been done and we have; Strawberries, Beetroot, Cos Lettuce, Buttercrunch Lettuce, Mignonette Lettuce, Spinach, Rocket, Spring Onion, Capsicum, Roma Tomatoes, Cherry Tomatoes, Eggplant, Zuchini, Pak Choi, Wong Bok, Corn, Squash, Pumpkin, Rockmelon. Plus my Grapefruit tree is flowering and going to be producing heaps this season, and a mango tree. We also have a constant supply of herbs, chillis, garlic and spring onion.

A great book I have is Organic Vegetable Gardening by Annette McFarlane. It also covers pest control with some DIY sprays and those organically registered off the shelf. I have had whiteflies and caterpillars. Lots of slaters too, but they don't cause any damage.

FitX 2011 Sports and Fitness Expo

Thought I would bring this up, Tony Doherty was promoting it at the IFBB Aussies, the website is still being finished, so worth checking back.

http://www.fitx.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=101&Itemid=172

The exciting part is the possibility of a Pro IFBB Figure comp. Definetely love to see one.

Great concept, might be saving this date, who wants to come :)?

Anticipation

Can be all consuming. That 'thing' you anticipate can control your thoughts every waking moment. You function, but in a multi-tasking manner. You are thinking about it, yet somehow work and live. It feels so far away that you sometimes wonder how you are going to make it. The desire to be there gives you butterflies in your tummy.

Its the first thing you think of in the morning, and the last thing before bed. You think no-one else would ever understand. Your decision to persue it effects other people in your life.

For years you have pretended that 'it' is not important and is not 'real'. You sweep it under the rug and keep going. Finally, you make the decision to pursue it, the weight is lifted from your shoulders....

And yet the anticipation of it, continues to consume you.

Am I alone? Because sometimes it feels like it.

Its Not About Hour Many Hours You Train

Its about how you spend your time:

Commitment - Commit to the workout. Commit to give it all you can, that day.

Consistency - A runner doesnt get faster running one week but not the next, or you don't get stronger pushing weights one week but not the next!

Challenge - Don't do the same as last week, challenge yourself with a new milestone - jump higher, run faster, lift heavier - shake it up.

4 quality hours are better than 10 mediocre.

YOUR HAVE TO TAKE CHANCES TO MAKE CHANGES

Once in a Lifetime

You will meet someone with the courage to back their convictions no matter what. They will posses a convidence in themself that you can only dream of.

You can tick all the right boxes to guarantee success, everyone around you can believe in you, but if your mind is not on the same page, if you let doubt sneak in, it doesn't matter if everything around you is in the right place, you will jeopodise that chance at success.

People who are successful don't always tick all the boxes and certainly others don't necessarily believe in them, but that doesn't matter and they don't care! Instead they will push on and ignore those who don't want to come along for the ride. The power and control is within them.

Although I have met that person, I myself don't posses that courage naturally. I need to work at it. I need to believe, I need to back my convictions, and I need to finish what I start.

WIP

Have had a project I've wanted to get underway for some time, I am glad to finally say it IS underway.

Yes I am going to continue to blog here, like I have always been here and didn't go AWOL. No explainations, straight into it.

I am heading to Sydney on Friday for the IFBB Australian Titles. Looking forward to seeing it.

Still here

Trying to get organised. Travelling heaps and just a matter of getting into routine.

Spewing my thoughts....

Photo from The Cell www.thecellfitness.com.au.

An all or nothing attitude. To what degree? Previously, I would do what it takes, to the detriment of my prinicpals. I have changed.

I am not defined as a Figure Competitor, sure, that attitude may not make me the best, but in who's eyes? It may not get me first place, it may not make me the best onstage, but it will sure as hell make me the best I can be.

What am I talking about? Well, in past years getting ready for a comp ment that it was placed first above everything else in my life. I eat and train to have a healthy lifestyle, my plan is to slip into a competition without jeapodising my principals. A clear cut example of this was when I was purchasing my free range eggs and the thought crossed my mind just to get whites (as I am consuming a little more than normal at the moment) as it would probably be cheaper (as I am throwing away the yoke or giving it to the dog). But where are my principals? I eat free range because the health of the chicken is important, I beleive, it is integral to the quality of the egg. Why did my thinking revert? I will not negotiate my principals for this comp.

Yes, as I get closer to my comp there will be certain things that may be questionable. But there are some things I will just not do this time around! This may not make me the best on stage, but it will make me the best I can be without compromising on my principals.

I am in this world for the long haul, I am a figure competitor for 10minutes onstage. The rest of the time I am just doing my best to be fit and healthy.

I will train different, I will think different.

Cardio Culled!

Long time no post! Busy of course. Been contemplating lots of things. Seeings no bloggers could help me with my last post, I have been doing some hard thinking.

I have been watching some videos on Chastity Slone, if you don't know her here she is.

Seriously impressed right? It got me thinking about what makes a Pro a Pro. I supose my exposure is limited to the Amature ranks. Yes I have done Phat Camp with Jen H and read numerous articles by the pros. The resounding common denominator I have found is that the pros are in awesome nick all year round. Oh and I am mainly hearing the whole '6 week' diet thrown around (as does Chastity Slone in a video I watched of her preping comp food for her 6week diet). Is that what makes a pro? Their ability to stay lean and diet 6 weeks out?.... part of it of course!

So this brings me to something I have been blogging about for a while. Commonly I have been exposed to 12weeks or 16weeks, this leaves the thought of a shorter time frame quiet scarey! But for no other reason then the thought of not knowing if I could make it. Drawing from all this and my experience, I don't need 12weeks for this coming comp. It is time to delete this number from my head. It is time to have faith. The hard work I do and the commitment to a steardy diet for LIFE has ensured I have remained pretty tight.

The decision I have made is to attack this comp from 10weeks. Yes right now I have moved my 80% clean guideline up to about 90%, but I have also inserted a cardio ban! This is a ban on runs, I am only allowed to teach my 1 attack class a week. I will re-introduce my distance work when and if needed in the 10week comp prep. As I have mentioned before, I prefer to know I am in control without cardio, for me in normal life it is a tool, not a reliance! I can control my physique through weight training, diet and minor cardio once or twice a week.

In saying all this I have AIM training this Saturday for Body Attack (its an advanced instructor module) 9.30am to 7pm. Hard yakka, so looking forward to it though.

On another note, Chastity is a Crossfitter, so got some good info there too.

Unfinished Business

My little big boy is turning 2 soon.

My last comp ..... 2006!

in. I feel my last comp I wasn't as good as I could be. I trained for years with an injury, and by the end my heart wasn't in it.

But how do you guage if you can be better than your last time? All I can say is that I am so much stronger, in all measures I am lifting more than ever. I have trained hard for last 2 years - yep my son turns 2 next month! Getting big isn't he? but doI have more muscle? I believe so, but only getting in comp shape will give me this answer.

In the end, you only compete against yourself becuase you can't control who will be next to you on the day, or what the judges are looking for. We are not measured on physical ability. You can't consider it a sport, but neither is golf really!

Strength of the mind is underated. Most people put to much liability on the physical and neglect the possibility that what is stopping you from achieving what you want is your mind. I love training, I will train forever, but dieting is damn hard! Sometimes I think it would be bloody easy to just join the biggest looser house for 3 months, the hardest part of dieting is living a normal life at the same time, those people in the biggest looser don't have societal pressure or their husband eating Thai in front of them :) Yep Damo likes to think that he just makes me stronger!

I need to do a call out though... some help maybe. Has anyone trained Crossfit throughout their comp prep? Really interested to know as I am enjoying it and want to keep going as long as possible. As I have posted before this is where I am training www.thecellfitness.com.au and Jason is kindly sending me some info to have a look at. I am a big believer in TRAINING FOR LIFE so enjoying the Crossfit concept.

I just killed a fly with my hand..... awsome Mr Miyagi would be proud! haha

My Last post was Very Timely!

A day or two after it Jethro got the flu.... so after 3 sleepless nights I had to prioritise my training, I chose weights over cardio... if your asking! Anyway thats over a week ago now, and last week I was back to normal.

So much to talk about, not enough time. Perhaps the weekend will bring on some discussion.

Sam D-M

What is Best?

I am a mum and I run a business. My plans don't always come to fruition. I have to balance sometimes.

So what do I choose to do if I have just 4 hours to train a week? I do 2 weight sessions and 2 cardio. You don't need to do a lot of cardio to loose or maintain your weight. You would be suprised how controlling your diet and weight training is as much a powerful tool.

After I had Jethro I was only able to exercise 3 to 4 times a week. Through diet, and the 3 to 4 sessions (made up 2weight 2 cardio), oh and lets not forget the calories I expended breastfeeding, I was able to get back to where I wanted to be.

Let me just add that you can expend up to 500 calories a day breastfeeding, thats like going for a run without running! Lets be realistic here, I was eating a clean diet, so I was expending more calories than eating (the simple math we all know right??) just pointing out that breastfeeding is not a miracle weight loss tool, it is simply extra calories that your body requires to produce the milk and support a life, I wasn't eating crap and loosing weight, I was eating well and loosing weight.

I suppose I am trying to say that if you are time limited, make smart exercise choices. One to two intense cardio sessions and 1 to 2 low rep heavy weight sessions, a healthy diet and you will be back on track in no time!

This weeks training and I got inked again!

Anyone want to guess what it means? I think I might have given it away in a previous post. It is nautical flags (as is the one on my wrist) but the letters of this one are ....... JETHRO. I decided not to get them coloured at this stage, I am not sure I want them coloured, I like the colour on my wrist, but not sure here.

When Jethro was shown he looked over his own shoulder puts his hands out and says "gone"..... hehe I am sure this is an argument we will have when he is in his teens. I tell everyone that you shouldnt get tatoos until you are 30. I think that if I had of gone through with the ones I wanted when I was 20 I would be full of regret! I actually cringe at the thought of them. Life has given me some experiences which I wanted to permanently mark my body with, they have meaning, not just some picture that I liked.

Anyway, so thought I would blog what my training has been for the past few weeks, actually make that months with a few little changes the last few weeks!

Sunday: AM Back and rear delts

Monday: AM Yoga PM Teach Body Attack

Tuesday: AM 6km run in 30mins good day to 32mins PM Crossfit

Wednesday: AM Stretching PM Chest & Shoulders

Thursday: AM 6km run in 30 to 32mins PM Crossfit

Friday: AM Yoga

Saturday: AM 10km run 50mins on good day 52.50 on bad (ie with DOMS)

As you can see I have let go of a couple of weight sessions, not training legs at the moment cause they seem to get a hammering at Crossfit and not doing bis and tris, the other obvious choice to drop because they are small muscle groups.

Gees it is getting dark! All my AM training during the week is done at 5.30am as Jethro is in bed and this means I can train, shower and eat breakfast before he wakes. Dreading the return of winter hope I can try keep those 2 6km runs in.

When you find the right 'spot'

Mid December I had hurt myself so bad that I could hardly walk. Standing was ok, sitting was terrible. For two days I worked on my knees at my desk even. I hobbled around the block and did pissy little upper body weights. Of course, although feeling the pain in my left lower back it was the result of tightness in a series of muscle groups, one causing another ones problems etc. Oh AND I do know why, in fact I knew what I was doing was wrong. I always carry Jethro on my right side and kick my hip up, just the more I do it one side, the harder it is to change it, as much as I try, I will never give up!

Anyway, had a massage a few weeks back (not because I was in particular need of one, just because I felt like it) didn't really have pain to speak of. But the masseuse went into great detail of some imbalances I had. In all this he showed me the above stretch (nothing out of the ordinary right!) but then tweaked it a little by moving the back leg.

So I try this at home on my good side, no problems. I switch legs and OH MY GOD I thought I was going to vomit, their is the spot!!! Anyway, weeks on I STILL feel like vomiting when I stretch my left side.

Although I am not in any pain at the moment, I now know just how bad this area is and how much of a ticking time bomb it is. It has been a continual focus for me for weeks, not only after a run, I also stretch it in the mornings. It still makes me feel sick, but eventually I will win it over :)

My Training Buddy

This is my training buddy Kellie. But we are more than just 'training buddies', we are lovers hahaha just kidding, it's just that it sounded like that's the way the sentence was going, how it was really going is that we are real life buddies.

I met this lady over a year ago, I brought her into the 'weights room' and she took me back to the real world - enjoying the mornings in the great outdoors. As she has gotten stronger, I have gotten quicker.

I learn from this woman. I laugh with this woman (although apparently not so much when I almost started a comp diet) though she never told me that at the time, because instead she chooses to support and encourage me to do it.

What a body hey? I get to perve on this body between sets. She deserves this body. She eats a clean diet and like me 20% of the time allows leeway. Neither of us can be or would want to be perfect (we both like a glass of champas too much and enjoy real living). We understand our 30+yo bodies and know how to treat them. She trains hard - its not the quantity its the quality, she is an awesome runner. She TRAINS FOR LIFE. That is what she will tell you if you ask her and hence sho I stole the line from.

I have great respect for her as a person I am very lucky to have my buddy. She was there for me throughout the hardest part of my life, and although at that time I didn't know her well, she understood me and was probably the only person who didnt think that I needed 'help' just because I was having a hard day.

No bullshit, zero tolerance, honesty. What more can one look for in a friend. She gets my RESPECT.

Why I wouldnt want to be 20 again....

1. I believed a step class would be more beneficial than weight training. Oh, and didnt really believe I needed to weight train.
2. I would eat a muesli bar for breakfast.
3. I actually believed a muesli bar was healthy.
4. I was vegetarian for 6 years. Not saying its not healthy, just that it resulted in eating a lot of refined products because I didnt know better. I ate low fat, no other nutrients where taken into account.
5. Then I was an avid Atkins follower - yes after 6years of vegetarianism I decided to eat animals again.
6. I binge drank on weekends and believed that it did no harm (oh and yes its probably something you just have to do), then did step Sunday morning pretty hung over.
7. I believed in the quantity of cardio, not the quality.
8. I didnt like wearing a bikini.
9. I believed in skipping meals or eating fruit for lunch to try and loose weight. Scale weight of course!
10. I never lost weight.
11. I drunk diet sodas.
12. I used artificial sweetners.
13. I didnt like myself.
14. I was always looking forward to something in the future, especially when I would finally be skinny!
15. I vommited, and not because I was sick.

Any wonder I was always trying to loose weight!

When I see young girls, I never wish to be there again. For me, here is much better.

Sam

I Fail to Understand

Why anyone would want to have a less than fit and healthy lifestyle?

• When having a fit healthy lifestyle will enhance your lifestyle into old age.
• When I will chase my grandchildren.
• When I will get out of a chair without complaining.
• When I wake up and LIKE what I see.
• When I walk along the beach in a bikini because I feel good.
• When young men hit on me thinking I am in my 20's ;)
• When I run through the house with Jethro on my back and he says 'more' and yes I can physically give him more!
• When I bench press my bodyweight and the endorphines last for hours.
• When I run early morning and the streets are empty and my body buzzes and I feel like I have achieved so much and the day hasn't even started.
• When girls up to 10 years my junior ask old me what they can do to look like me.
• When people tell me I inspire them.
• When my body suprises me on a daily basis by getting older, yet stronger and fitter.
• When my body produced life and remained physically cable of exercise even past the due date!
• When the food on my plate looks like it did when nature produced it and eating it gives me nourishment and a sence of wellbeing.
• Enjoying the natural vibe the above food sends me.
• When everyday brings me something to look forward to instead of looking forward to a certain day.
• When it is yoga morning and I know my body needs different attention that morning.
• When I do it and know my body is made to do it!
• Because I feel 'it'. And 'it' is like watching a cheetah pouncing in slow motion. You can visualise and connect with your body, understand what it is doing, that the function requires action from many different elements of your body.... and you get it!

And yes I get it, and it will never leave me because it feels bloody good!

Don't ever do it because you have to, do it because you where made to. Do it to improve it.

You only get one life, there is nothing later, why wouldnt you want to make the most of it?

Balance, don't be hard on yourself, we are not perfect, don't ever try to be, trust me I am certainly not! Pull down the boundry fence and make the choice not the rules. Breaking a rule feels bad, making a choice feels good.

Continue to build your lean body mass and you will defeat the slowing metabolism that comes with growing older.

Thats all I have to say today.

Quoting other people here.......

Increasingly disappointed at the lack of possitive response to weight training from people who ask me what to do. Asside from feeling like I am banging my head against a brick wall, I am biting my tongue in a bid not to respond to this:
"I can't lift weights I will get too big"
WITH
"Well if you wont try it just keep doing what your doing if that is working for you"
OUCH!

Disscuss please! I have been drawing inspiration for some new responses.

"Everybody who lifts weights much stretch, and EVERYBODY must lift weights" - Pavel Tsatsouline (I certainly would do what this man tells me ;))

"When you are sitting around your fat does nothing, but your muscles need energy" - K.F. (my training buddy helping me connect ;))

" Well if you can get that big you should write a book, you will make millions!" - John (a fellow gym member).

Come on people give me your favourites!

F.I.R.E. training at The Cell on Saturday

As all you PTers and GFIs know, to get Insurance you need to be a registered professional. Well when my registration was due for renewal I renewed through F.I.R.E.Fitness Industry Registration and Education www.firefit.com.au. I have the pleasure of knowing the lady behind this registration board personally and I can recommend you consider registering with them when your accreditation is due. I am happy to talk to anyone who might be interested, the service is much better than that of 'better known' registration boards.

Anyway F.I.R.E. ran a members challenge on Saturday at The Cell www.thecellfitness.com.au and challenged I certainly was! Looking forward to some more training sessions down there, the challenge is something I really look forward to, especially since I changed my mind about competing again. I like exploring new things, something I dont always do when in comp mode.

Sam

Well, I am not competing!

Was due to start comp prep next week, but have decided I don't want it anymore! Do you blame me after seeing the above pictures?

I blogged about this a long long time ago, but during comp prep I always feel like my life is 'on hold'. I am waiting for something. Normally I live for everyday, not living for a day in the future. As the time to prep came closer I felt the shift in my emotion, the longing for a future day/event. Not the normal longing for the day that I had woken in. I didnt want to be like this for the next 3months.

This is not the end, it is just not the right time! plenty more comps in the future.

So where does this leave my blog? I was suppose to just use it to record my comp prep..... what now? Perhaps a random weekly blog about something?? not sure. So, in the words of my training buddy:

'I am training for life' - K.F.

The next time I am asked (and there will be a next time cause someone is always asking me) 'what are you training for?'...... I will repeat the above, because that is the truth!

On another note, we are getting the most awesome veggies in our garden. Last night we did beetroot on the bbq with out steak.... who would have thought?? didnt know how it would trun out but it was just awesome :)

Sam

Beautiful Blogger

Thanks Jeh! oh and congrats on teaming with Michelle!
It seems everyone has done this one, except me hahahahah!

7 Random Facts:
1. I love my group fitness classes so much I would teach them for free! sshhhh dont tell the clubs!
2. I have 2 birth marks. One on my arm/wrist the other on my elbow.
3. I have Raynauds disease which means I avoid the cold. I tried being medicated for it but as my blood pressure is already low the medication almost made me faint when I stood up. So I just deal with it and avoid the cold as much as possible, no winter ski trips for me! It is actually very painful, its kinda like your hands start dieing, it is technically what starts to happen when your hands become frost bitten.
4. I have been pierced 17 times! yes you read right. Currently I have just 3 in though.
5. I got my first tattoo last August ( a tribute to my dad) and am planning another but it is summer and I dont like the thought of not swimming for 2 weeks after so will wait for winter.
6. Speaking of swimming, I love the ocean and LOVE being under it. I have been diving for over 15 years. My dad taught me to freedive when I was a kid.
7. oh its getting hard now.... I am currently constructing a new lego project. It is a carousel, before you think I am childish, it is aimed at 16years+!!! hahaha. I really loved lego as a child, now that I have Jethro I had a great excuse to buy the carousel (although he wont be permitted to go near it until he is 16;)).

Wow, I am sure there was more interesting things I could have talked about.

I Tag:
Pocket Rocket Rene
Alicia and bump
Shar and bump
Friday

Hasnt everyone else done it???? :)

Veggies

I trust everyone had a great New Years. I always find celebrating the end of a year a little depressing, it means their is one less year left of my life... odd maybe but I am not one to wish time away. I enjoyed mine in great company and had a really awesome night!

Shar-d-o I am so upset! You are most important :) I didnt really 'tell' anyone I was back, just came back. You know I love you and I love that cute belly of yours. Lately I have been questioning whether to keep blogging until I read comments from Bec and Nicole on my last post. I realise even if I am inconsistent, it is worth it, thanks ladies I really appreciate it :)

So the veggie patch is doing great, yes Odi is having a pee in the first photo - woops, and no havent done anuthing else with my garden. We have zuccini, cucumber, morrow, cherry tomatoes, beetroot, 2 x asian veg, butternut pumpkin, corn, carrots... and more stuff still coming. The taste of these veg are amazing and the size of the zuccini is crazy!!!

Okay guys gotta go training not been to plan today due to a sleepless little man and got a busy day ahead!