one for the girls

A handsome, middle-aged man walked quietly into the cafe and sat down.
Before he ordered, he couldn't help but notice a group of younger men at the table next to him.
It was obvious they were making fun of something about him, and it wasn't until he remembered he was wearing a small pink ribbon on the lapel of his suit that he became aware of what the joke was all about.
The man brushed off the reaction as ignorance, but the smirks began to get to him.
He looked one of the rude men square in the eye, placed his hand beneath the ribbon and asked, quizzically, This?"
With that the men all began to laugh out loud.
The man he addressed said, as he fought back laughter,
"Hey, sorry man, but we were just commenting on how pretty your pink ribbon looks against your blue jacket!"
The middle aged man calmly motioned for the joker to come over to his table and invited him to sit down. The guy obliged, not really sure why. In a soft voice, the middle aged man said,
"I wear this ribbon to bring awareness about breast cancer. I wear it in my mother's honour."
"Oh, sorry dude. She died of breast cancer?"
"No, she didn't. She's alive and well. But her breasts nourished me as an infant and were a soft resting place for my head when I was scared or lonely as a little boy.
I'm very grateful for my mother's breasts and her health."
"Umm," the stranger replied, "Yeah."
"And I wear this ribbon to honour my wife", the middle aged man went on.
"And she's okay, too?" the other guy asked.

"Oh, yes. She's fine. Her breasts have been a great source of loving pleasure for both of
us and with them she nurtured and nourished our beautiful daughter 23 years ago.
I am grateful for my wife's breasts, and for her health."
"Uh huh. And I guess you wear it to honour your daughter, also?"
"It's too late to honour my daughter by wearing it now.
My daughter died of breast cancer one month ago.
She thought she was too young to have breast cancer, so when she accidentally noticed a small lump, she ignored it. She thought that since it wasn't painful, it must not be anything to worry about."
Shaken and ashamed, the now sober stranger said, "Oh, man, I'm so sorry mister."
"So, in my daughter's memory, too, I proudly wear this little ribbon, which allows me the opportunity to enlighten others.
Now, go home and talk to your wife and your daughters, your mother and your friends.
And here," the middle-aged man reached in his pocket and handed the other man a little pink ribbon. The guy looked at it, slowly raised his head and asked, "Can ya help me put it on?"

This is breast cancer awareness month.
Do regular breast self-exams and encourage those women you love to do the same.
Please send this on to anyone you would like to remind of the importance of breast cancer awareness.

A CANDLE LOSES NOTHING BY LIGHTING ANOTHER CANDLE.

my poor legs

I feel like i have not had a chance to let my feet touch the ground yet - Last monday i posted that i felt i was going to be very sore, i think i underestimated how sore i would be. I was bloody sore, outrageously sore, and felt like i was walking around like a tin man. I ached all over, mostly my legs and rear. I had to get up early to catch a plane to Melbourne for another week of training - i got up and going ok, but sitting in the plane for over an hour (as we were delayed in the air) and then trying to get up and walk down the stairs - nearly impossible, i thought i was going to have to ask for the wheelchair ramp to be bought up so they could lever me out of the plane, and then just get moving in the terminal and have to sit for another hour in a taxi only to start again and try and get up the stairs at the hotel and then at the training centre. Given that this was only day one i was already starting to worry about what day two was going to bring. Day two was true to form, and i couldnt move let alone think of going back to the gym for a legs session which what was due!!!... I could feel every inch of my quads and rear, and it was not until friday when i felt that i could move unrestricted....
I have learnt a pretty big lesson and decided that i will keep pushing myself and get through it this week. Am feeling so tired today though, but will get it done, i am determined that this week will be the week where i get it all right!!!

very busy week

It feels like forever since i have posted on here, i think it has been over a week, but no matter. I have had a very full week, being in Melbourne for the first 3 days of the week and then in Bendigo for the rest. This unfortunately made eating and training difficult.... I packed all my gear ready to get to the gym whilst i was in Melb, but for some reason my cards didnt work and i was not able to use the facilities :( But i have sorted that out now and i will be able to get there, so i should get at least 1 weights session in and a few cardio's. Whilst i was away though i managed to co-ordinate myself a little bit and get some salad and meat (thanks Hilary), although Michelle has since pointed out that i was missing a few proteen portions and a few carbs, i will have to try and change that for the week ahead. I am looking forward to the training being over, i love being away in Melbourne, but i am also looking forward to setting into the proper routine of eating and training and getting fit.
I have almost finished packing my bag to go away, and i cant help but giggle at myself as i have thrown out some of the clothes i was wanting to take, and replaced it with food as i didnt have enough room for both - funny how priorites change sometimes...
A nice change also was that i lost .9 of a kg this week, not sure how, but i am pleased i managed to get some food and training in.... and i went trying on bridesmaid dresses, as i am going to be in my sisters wedding next year, i am most excited to announce that the size 10 that i tried on was too big in some places and will need to be taken in by a good inch :) YAY, My goal is to work hard over the next 4 weeks and see what i can achieve as we will need to order them in that time, i am hoping i might even be able to work towards getting the size 8.... might be wishful thinking but it has certainly given me a strong goal.
I crawled out of bed this morning and got off to the gym, to complete the first full session of my new plan, today was a circuit day, so a good all round body workout, and i tell ya what, my poor body was not liking it much at all. I really pushed myself, and i had Tim there to push and yell at me when i wanted to stop cos it hurt.... It was nice to have someone there counting for me (mainly because i was concentrating on form and breathing), but my legs and my arse and well just about everything was screaming at me by the end of the session to stop, I just managed to drag myself through the circuit twice. I selected a weight that was perhaps in my minds eye a little bit heavier that what i would be comfortable with, and forced myself to just keep going, i surprised myself and got through it all, even to the point where my legs were so fatigued and my chest muscles were also that i had the shakes with some exercises. I am now feeling every one of those muscles, to the point where stepping down off the curb is painful..... Cant wait to see what tomorrow will bring....
Well i think that is able it for this week, will try and post again at the end of the week when i am home from Melbourne again.

Til then
Bec
xox