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

Did i mention that i got flowers?!?

YES i got flowers. Yesterday at work was so hectic that i am ready to give up. I have been very discouraged over the last fortnight with a family i have been working with. Difficult to explain but the children are not able to live with mum for the moment for lots of reasons, but the children are difficult. To the point where i am sporting bruising to the legs and arms where i was attatched by the child. (occupational hazard).
Yesterday the family that have been looking after the child said that they could not cope anymore, there are no other placements in Mildura, Swan Hill or Bendigo - Short of taking the child home with me, there is nowhere for the child to go. I was feeling so low.

Tim my beautiful man delivered flowers to work, i dont have a digital camera so i cant post a pic (must invest in one) but they are apricot in colour, and are just beautiful, they made my day - and the girls in the office got excited thinking i was pregnant or there must be some special event - Tim told them it was because "it was Tuesday".... I think that is just so nice. He found a card as well and i will type the verse that was in it cos it was just beautiful as well.....

Sometimes it might seem like I take for granted all the things you do. Even though I may not say the words as often as i should, I hope you know how grateful I am for you...

Every day i realise more and more how lucky i am to have you. Even when our days get hectic and the worlds demands take over, my heart is always saying a silent "thank you" for the gift of your love.

Today i decided it was time to tell you the words i am thinking in silence ever day. Thank you for all the things you do. You are the best part of my life. You bring more more happiness than I've ever known. You are everything to me... the love of my life... my wonderful, beautiful wife.

If i could have my life over again, i wish i found you sooner so i could love you longer

Gym mirrors

I have decided that i dont like the gym mirrors very much. I have never been a fan of them but today i decided that i dislike them hugely. I was staggering around the gym today, feeling every muscle in my legs screaming at me - this being due to my over enthusiasm yesterday with my cardio schedule, stepper, 2km run, netball and followed up with the new RPM class, which by the way is a killer. My hip flexers are not liking me so much today!!!
But anyway back to the mirrors... I was feeling sorry for myself already and got on the eliptical for a session - i decided to take it somewhat easy as my body wouldnt take much more, still got up a sweat and worked at about 80% heart rate for the duration so not too bad. Staggered off that and went to do some crunches, i done some on the vertical machine where you bring your legs up towards your chest, as Jode was using the other incline bench for her crunches i decided to find the machine that assists you in doing crunches with a bit of weight on. All well and good until i walked past the mirror!!!!!. I know i have poor muscle control around my middle at the moment and can look like i have a bit of a "pouch" that carries around to just about my rear, but the mirrors made me look short and fat, not so good for the self esteem. So i huffed and puffed and got the crunches done. Trotted off home to go for my 2km run with CJ, only to get just down the road and roll my ankle - it still hurts a bit. Will rest it today and see how i go tomorrow.
Needless to day i was checking myself out in the mirror at home, and i dont think i am that terrible, i know i am not sensational but i have the ability to be self critical without destroying myself completely.
Enough grumbeling for today i think.

the cardio queen

Just call me the cardio queen! I am loving my cardio at the moment, which is strange as in the past i have prefered my weights than the cardio, I think because here in Mildura there is a lot more variety in the cardio than what there was in Swan Hill, I dont know how i lasted so long there. (sorry all you swan hill people reading this).
Monday's i have RPM in the morning, a good solid hours ride, to the point where i think i sweat more than i drink in water.
Tuesday's I will be on the stepper for at least 30 minutes, usually after about 15 i start complaining, but i muscle through it. And then i go for a 2km run with a friends son who loves running. I will also play a game or 2 of netball and then try and get to the RPM class in the evening.
Wednesday's I will do some time on the eliptical around about 30 minutes or more, and then go for another 2km run.
Thursday's I will have a ride on the bike again for about 30 minutes, and go for a 2km run.
Friday's This is normally my treadmill day, so i do some time on that and then go for a further run with CJ.

My aim whilst running with CJ is that i can do the 2km in just under 11 minutes. Which is a pretty cracking speed, not too bad on a tready but different when you are running on the pavement. CJ loves running but as i said only 12 so his parents are not so keen on him running too much on his own. So i was happy to take up the challange, CJ will run 20km and think nothing of it and complain that it is not enough. So my 2km run each morning is probably not enough for him, but for me who has already been at the gym it is more than enough!!!. I am down to running the 2km in 14 minutes, and that is only stopping once to walk for about 20m (not long enough for my liking) but i have shaved it down from 19 minutes in a week. So I am a bit impressed with myself, i just need to work on my speed now and get the 11 minute mark, i dont think it will take that long really. Then i might add some sprints into it.

Well off to court - got to do some work for the day.

my new best friend

Isn't it amazing how great you feel when you get a new sports bra. I know it might sound strange and a little left field but honestly, you very quickly realise how awful the old ones are!!!! I decided that i would take myself off and get a couple of new sports bra's on the weekend, deciding that the old faithfuls are past their used by date. I drag Tim along for a quick education on bra shopping - i think he felt a little uncomfortable wandering around the store. I automatically go to the size i have been for i dont know how long, (even previous 12 week challenges have not reduced my cup size) I select what i think are 2 nice as fashionable as you can get with sports bra's. Try them on and look and state to myself "well thats not right" I was swimming in them!!! I had been thinking that i had lost a bit of weight there, but didnt really think about it that much. I then ask the shop assistant for the next cup size down, (at least i had got the right size around my ribs). But again there was room to spare!!!! So i am now the proud owner of 2 new sports bra's that are 2 cup sizes smaller than i am used to. YAY - doing a happy dance.
So i do what any normal girl would do - I rang my sister to tell her that i have small breasts. She was very proud of me, just as well as poor Tim was in two minds about how he felt. My sister is looking at planning a wedding in the near future, (she is not engaged yet - but we are expecting it soon) so i am excited about dress shopping now, for both her and me.
I am thinking my body is finally worked out what the exercise is all about and i am feeling that my clothes are starting to fit a little different - appart from the fact that i lost 2 cm in buying a bra that fits properly and is quite supportive. I have a pair of pants that i am dying to get into, and i think i am only a few cm off. I can get them up and on properly but still feeling a bit tight in places, so i guess i am in between.

If anyone wants a real good workout, go to an RPM class - i love them, but very exhausting, but you certainly feel your butt and legs!!! And as i type this, i am thinking that i can very clearly feel my butt sitting on my chair....