Monthly Archives: August 2012
It’s How You Use Them
Total Pain in the Butt
Squats are… fantastic. They’re painful, motivating and awe-inspiring. Feeling the burn is almost the whole point. Almost.
Because you can’t forget the magical butt-shaping powers of the squat.
Working through a session of intense thigh-burning can make or break my day. Making my way up and down a set of stairs the next day can be opps-I-have-to-take-these-sideways awkward. And I can definitely feel it in my butt.
OH MY BUTT!
Not the I’m-totally-doing-this-wrong pain. Not like I’ve done damage. But like there is very definitely some changes afoot. Progress!
It feels great for the first couple of days. Then, another 150 squats or so later, it’s back. But it’s not so quick to leave...
Do you get this too? How do you deal with it? Hot, steamy bath? Warm shower with some decent pressure?
Does anyone else find that they ache for a massage by the end of the week?
Monday Motivation
Today’s Monday (look at me stating the obvious!). You know what that means? That means it’s the start of a whole new week. YOUR week. The week that will support you through to reaching your goals.
So, by that logic, Mondays are awesome?
Yes.
Mondays are awesome.
If you’re just starting your Monday, about to head out on the slow commute to work, to drop the kids off at school – or better yet, on your way to the gym – I implore you to do so with gusto. Oomph. You go gets your Monday mojo, uh huh!
And for those of you who are winding down for the evening in the Pacific, what did you achieve today? What mischief did you get into?
I met up with a friend who I hadn’t seen in too long for a drink after work and had a soul-cleansing heart-to-heart, as you do. A chat up with a friend who just gets ya (and not just because you’ve seen each other half naked in the gym changing room).
Wearing my inspiration like a badge on my large, flannelette pajamas, I’ve already packed my gym bag and it’s sitting by the door waiting for me to grab it first thing tomorrow morning. After all, what could possibly be better than a Monday?
Tuesday.
It’s going to be awesome.
(And no, I haven’t taken anything)
The Final Countdown
For the last couple of days I’ve had the same song playing over in my head. Come Friday it was the same line – over, and over, and ov- you get the point.
What song you ask?
… It’s the final countdown…
Yeah, I sang that out loud complete with enthusiastic drumming action.
How’d it get into my head? I haven’t got a clue. But it seems kind of fitting…
70 kg. Seventy kilograms. Say-ven-teh key-lows!
You know, one of my current goals. To say it’s cutting it fine is an understatement, but it’s 70kg, and it counts.
Progress!
Happy, Happier, Happiest
Hump Day? Who Says?!
Who said Wednesday needs to be a hump day? Just because it fall in the middle of what most of us see as the Monday to Friday working week doesn’t make it a bad day. Wednesday’s don’t have it in for us. Though, we clearly have it in for Wednesdays.
Make your Wednesday an awesome day.
Today I woke up feeling particularly gross, with no client meetings planned and finding myself stuck with yet another bad hair day, I didn’t put much effort into my appearance. There was mascara, though I’m not sure if I remembered to slick it over both sets of lashes. It was one of those mornings.
The day progresses and I continued to feel blargh. Why? Because I was focusing on the negatives, when I should have been looking for all the good things. Both in my appearance, and what the day had to offer.
So, I identified 5 things I liked about my body and appearance today, and I challenge you to do the same. My five things are:
ONE: Without any foundation or makeup, the freckles across my nose and cheeks looked amazing. The contrast of the dark freckles and my pale skin was something that I hadn’t brought to the office, so it was a first for me.
TWO: In another first, I wore a purple Robyn Mathieson (love!) knit dress to work today. I had bought this dress for my graduation last year, and it looked good under the never ending cluster of scratchy black fabric they dared to call a graduation gown. It’s very clingy, but it made my butt look good. (There’s a sentence I never thought I’d utter – things are changing!)
THREE: Say what you will, but I think my boobs are awesome. Even though they’re shrinking at a much faster rate than the rest of me, they will always have a special place in my heart. Anyway, to quote my Grandmother and her eternal wisdom – “any more than a handful is a waste!“
FOUR: By keeping up my water intake, my skin and (previously very dry) lips feel fantastic. Now to stop biting my lip absentmindedly (has any one else discovered that they do this too much after reading Fifty Shades of Grey?)
And last but not least, FIVE: I love the feeling I get from smiling. Even fake smiles crack me up – I find myself laughing and smiling at my own fake smile. It’s even better when it gets others smiling. Then we’re just one giant gaggle of giggling gits (it’s a thing, right?). Plus, it makes a nice change from being a teenager with the goofy braces! (There ended up being a lot of smiling today)
So, what are YOUR five things?
Can’t Trust ‘Em
Shut Up and Squat
I woke up this morning to a comment from Lisa (Hi Lisa!) asking how I was going with my 200 squats challenge – honestly, I’m guilty of having put the challenge to the side. Why? Doesn’t matter! An excuse is an excuse, no matter what you call it, right?
Today I’m back on track. 132 squats down and I’m ready to dive right into some upper body work.
Would go for a run but the house is currently shaking with violent, booming thunder. Sitting here next to the window is almost blinding with the lightening. I don’t think I’ll brave it. But I will do something!
Afterall, who doesn’t want a butt like that?
What Do You Run For?
