PUMP IT, PUMP IT!

Arnie in "Pumping Iron"

Things done today
Biceps/triceps and shoulders 5.30am to 6.40am

Wakey ... wakey. Rise and shine ... it's 5am! Get up!

I don't recall ever pumping my muscles so quick and so hard as I did this morning. Oops, I lie, Monday morning ... legs ... did I mention my legs and buttocks are still sore! Anyway, those bi's, shoulder and tri exercises were awesome Matt! The DOMS are set to kick in ... now the pain will be evenly distributed.

Is it persistance, persistance, persistance or pain, pain, pain? Either one, I love it.

I FEEL GOOD!

My baby Quizzie, doing serious cat business in her litter tray! Don't ask why I shot the pic.

Things done today
40 min cardio on stairmaster and abs 5.15pm to 6pm

Today I was work stressed. Does that sound right? Anyway, the thought of travelling to the gym tonight seems like a monumental task. I'm pooped! So now I'm driving my car conjuring up excuses not to go. Always at this point it's dangerous ... why? Because my house is two minutes from the gym. It's sssooo easy to turn off and head home.

So did I still go? Yeah I did! Big pat on the back Maraina. And after that? I feel good (naa naa naa naa naa naa naa)!

____

Ok folks, I've got the brain working overtime now (surprise, surprise eh Dave?) Let me get it out of my head and written down. Right, here we go ...

• Get to bed early tonight! Tomorrow I meet Matt at 5.30am! Biceps/triceps and shoulders. Set alarm for 5am. Done.
• Register membership to INBA. New registrations from 1 July 2006!
• Posture, posture, posture! Doing now.
• Work on limiting time on blogs. I take absolutely forever to write stuff!
• Go Hard, Stay Strong ... but above all, enjoy the journey! Doing now.

Goodnight everyone. It's dinner time!

STILL ON TRACK

Penny demonstrating lateral pulldown. Awesome!




Things done yesterday
Chests and back 5pm to 6.35pm

Things done today
40 min cardio on bike 6.30am to 7.10am

It's the third day after my leg session and I'm still experiencing DOMS. You've exceeded yourself again Matt ... job well done!

It was chests and back last night ... and voila! ... eccentric chins, my favourite. Haaaaah, not! I'm sorry everyone but I suck at them. So after speaking to Matt the other morning he suggested I use the lat pulldown and set the weight on about 80% of my body weight. Then my spotter would pull the bars down and I'd squeeze and release the bar to the top, sslllooowwwllyy! It's in reverse. Was it hard? ... Whhooaahh yeah! Niccceee! Thanks to Brett for being my spotter. Oh and Len? I still think my chests are better looking than yours! Ha, ha :)

Have a great day everyone!

GO HARD, GO STRONG!

Things done so far ...
Wed to Sat? For the life of me I can't remember what I've done! That'll teach me not to update my diary! Ok, I know I did some cardio and legs. God that's not much eh? Geez I hate that! Ok, move on ...

Things done yesterday
2.2km jog and 4km powerwalk then abs 11.20am to 12.30pm

Things done today
Legs with Matt 7.30am to 8.30am

I hadn't jogged in ages, so it was really nice to pound the pavements of Coolum yesterday. I know I've been told not to run but it was okay, I was only jogging, just a couple of kms then I'd walk. To be sure I checked if it was okay with Matt this morning. To my relief he said it was alright. Wheeeww ... I'm off the hook.

I really enjoy my sessions with Matt. Not ever am I thinking "oh god, what is he going to give me now?" I'm always excited to do what ever he thinks I'm capable of doing, even if sometimes I think I can't.

It was legs this morning and I suspected Matt was going to up the antes. I was right! After squats and then single leg deadlifts (romanian style with free weights) I was exhausted! Only a third of our session finished and I was pooped! God yeah, I'm going to feel it tomorrow!
___

I quickly glimpsed at my favourite blogs and there's a lot of good stuff to read. I'm gonna make some time tonight to read and post some comments. Thanks to all the girls for their comments to me. Come on guys! Where are you? (exception of Dave and Fraz). Don't be shy!

Well, I gotta run, my fish is done. Have a nice evening everybody.

I'M EXHAUSTED!

Lorraine at INBA States Comp
Bewdiful arms and lats!



Things done Monday
Chests and back (the killer stuff) 5.45am to 7.15am

Things yesterday
30 min cardio on stairmaster and abs

Thought I'd update events that happened over these past few days.

I know I go on and on and on about pain but it's Saturday and my legs are screaming it! A week off of no leg exercises and whammo ... welcome back Maraina! I was glad to be doing bi's, tri's and shoulders ... so the pain gets evenly distributed!

It's Sunday and I'm exhausted ... big time! I' can't move, I can't stay awake! Is it lack of sleep? Nupp. Am I sore? Not really. Thinking about or making food is a chore. I'm now skipping meals ... naughty! So why am I miserable, de-motivated, tired, restless and dejected? Don't know. It's time to pull it together! It's 7pm and I drag my arse to the phone. Call Lorraine! She'll give me a good boot up the backside! We arrange to meet on Tuesday. I'm relieved.

It's Monday, 5.30am ... I'm awake! It's that murderous chests and back exercise. My eccentric chins are pathetic! I last no more than 2 secs. Keep going Maraina ... don't give it up. I keep going. It's now 7.15am and I'm feeling sore. I can't wait to shower .... aahh, nice.

It's Tuesday, 5.30am ... I'm awake! Cardio. Yeah, it was good. I'm bored quickly so I switch from the stairmaster to the bike. Nice workout. (I wish we had spin classes again. I love spinning).

It's 6.30pm and I arrive at Lorraine's. It's pouring with rain and it's cold ... I'm in no mood to pose, it's too cold to change in my bikinis! Yippee ... she wants to talk diet and training, I'm happy with that.

We discuss my next step of dieting for competition. I need to eat more salads for lunch, stick to the veges at night; half my carb intake where possible; eat more natural proteins; decrease the protein shakes and bars; add more flavours like tikka masala paste (very little) to stir fries; boost up salads with this low fat creamy mayo (check the sodium content); add a small amount of curry powder to egg white omeletes; and so on and so on. Lorraine gives me a tour of her fridge, freezer and pantry. My oh my ... she's got just the essentials! Her freezer/fridge is nicely stacked with veges, chicken, turkey, fish and salads portioned for the next 7 days. I usually prep two days. Her pantry is minimal ... no temptations there. Wow Lorraine, you're so organised! Thanks for your advice on training too.

MY BODY STATS

Things done today
Biceps/Triceps and Shoulders 8.15am to 9.30am

Thanks to Simon for spotting me on the shoulder presses this morning ... awesome, I will definitely feel it tonight, tomorrow and then after! Good work.
___

So I began posting my body stats yesterday and I only gave you half the info. I decided to scrap it and post again. As you know, I finished my 12 Week Body Challenge with Ideal Bodies Online on 29 May 2006. Thanks again to Sue and the team. Here are my latest stats taken at the end of Week 12.

Height 160cm or 5' 3"

Start weight 59kgs
Finish weight 53kgs
Loss of 6kgs

Start shoulders 46.5cm
Finish shoulders 43cm
Loss of 3.5cm

Start arms (bicep) 25.5cm
Finish arms (bicep) 27cm
Gain of 1.5cm

Start waist 73cm
Finish waist 64.5cm
Loss of 8.5cm

Start thighs 53.5cm
Finish thighs 51cm
Loss of 2.5cm

Start calf 36cm
Finish calf 34cm
Loss of 2cm

Start hips 85.5cm
New hips 80.5cm
Loss of 5cm

SPRING CLEAN

Things done today
Legs and abs 1pm to 2.30pm

I am back in Coolum and what a gorgeous day it's been! I could feel the humidity in the air last night after Perry and I flew into Brisbane. Strange thing ... humidity. My sister said the same thing last week when I called to find out what she'd been doing ... "oh I was swimming at the beach ..." I said ... SWIMMING? She said "yeah, it's humid today". I think living in Queensland, especially on the coast, you'd notice a little humidity, but in winter? Not usually but I definitely noticed it last night. Off with the scarves! Off with the beanies! Trash the jacket! AAaaah ... bliss!

If you were out in Coolum today you'd swear it felt like Spring! And speaking of spring ... I sprung straight to the gym this afternoon ... legs! Whooaah yeah ... nnniiicccceee!

On the subject of Spring, I had better do some spring cleanup and update the past couple of weeks. Ok thinky thinky ... oohh yeah ... he we go ....

PAIN, PAIN GO AWAY
The first five days of my holiday I am in dire PAIN ... major DOMS to be exact. I believe it was day six when I could dress myself? By then I knew the pain wasn't permanent.

So what's with the pain? If you recall, I had a murderous session with Matt (Friday 2 June 2006) eccentric chins and so on. I knew that before we'd began I would endure a lot of discomfort (thanks for the warning Penny). What she neglected to tell me was the extent ... frickn' heaps! And so the consequence of this pain? Awesome upper body definition! I can't stop staring at my chests (not breasts ... chests)! And my back ... Wow! I like very much. Hey Lia, you were right - if there's No Pain you ain't seeing No Gain! Me happy.

LOST IN THE SNOW

On my way to a
French township called
Akaroa this morning









Gidday All. I spent the day travelling to a beautiful French township called Akaroa, located about 80kms on the east coast of Christchurch. The scenery down the valley from where I'm standing is simply breathtaking. Gorgeous!

Tonight is my last posting and my last night in New Zealand ... tomorrow I'm on my way home!

SNOW FALLING

Snow fall in Christchurch

Gidday everyone! I hope you are all well.

This gorgeous picture of snow falling was taken yesterday morning, as Perry and I awoke to Christchurch's biggest snow dump since 1992! This stunning shot shows the backyard of Perry's parents home. Waking up to a view like this would be one of the most memorable moments of our NZ holiday. It's been so exciting to see.

GREETINGS FROM NEW ZEALAND

Me in Queenstown


In case you thought I had fallen from the bottom of the world, you'd be correct! I am literally freezing my fat butt in the most coldest southern city of this world ... Invercargill. To keep warm I am hunched over a MAC computer, in a room of what feels like 2 degrees below zero (I believe my freezer at home is wamer than this town), in an apartment of our good friend Dave. After this posting I will move into the office/lounge and literally sit inside Dave's gas heater. You may laugh, but I'm incredibly serious!

Perry and I left Queenstown this morning after spending two glorious days touring the resort. I was astounded by the majestic scenery and friendly locals. Hospitality? ... A1! A must place to visit if you've never been to Queenstown or New Zealand. Simply magnificant!

I am off to Bluff tomorrow (township 20 minutes south of Invercargill) then Perry and I will head to Dunedin then back to Christchurch this weekend. I will update another posting then.

Have fun people and stay warm!

P.S. Daily temp in Queenstown -1 top off 6 degrees. Warmer in Invercargill ... 11. Oooh yeah, bring it on!

PENNY

Me and Penny
(after training yesterday)

Here's a pic of my gorgeous friend, mum of two beautiful kids and fellow competitor ... Penny! Whenever she's at the gym she puts out 110% and I think her body is to die for! Penny and I will be competing in the Short Figure Novice in October. You go girl!

THE STORY SO FAR ...

Things done so far
Wednesday Legs/calves 5.45pm to 7.30pm
Thursday 35 min cardio on stairmaster and abs 3pm to 3.45pm

Things done yesterday
Chests and back 10.15am to 11.15am

Hello everyone! Geez, when you miss a few days of journalling you're hard pressed to remember what the hell have I done? Ok thinky, thinky ... oohh yeah, now I know, here we go, in brief ...

Wednesday ... work finished, I'm now officially on leave. I'm in no mood to train but I drag my sorry arse to the gym anyway. I llloovvee my legs program. Met Dave and gave him a demo of my dance. He liked.

Thursday ... 7am, off to Brisbane airport. Pickup Parani, she looks fantastic! We go home and catch up. Later I give her demo of dance and pose. She like!

Friday morning ... It's chests and back with Matt. We begin with back ... eccentric* chins, it's a killer starter.

*In eccentric exercise the contracting muscle is forcibly lengthened; in concentric exercise it shortens. While concentric contractions intitiate movements, eccentric contractions slow or stops them. Damage to muscle fibres occurs; resulting in major DOMS!

I'm instructed to lift my body weight to the bar (chin up), my hands are positioned narrow, later I'd go wide. I must release my hold, slowly. I am holding back on lengthening my arms too quickly. Matt commands ...

"HOLD! ... HOLD!" I drop. "Again! ... HOLD! ... HOLD!" I Drop. "Again! ... HOLD! ... HOLD" Drop. "Again ... COME ON! ... HOLD! ... HOLD!" Every fibre of my back is now burning! "HHHOOOLLLDDDD! ... HHHOOLLLDDD! ... Good girl ... REST!

One set down, three to go! Awesome!

Next ...

• lying bench dumb bell rows
• single arm rows on fit trainer
• bench presses
• flat flys
• incline horseshoe presses (squeeze the chests)

Nnniiicccee work Matt, Yeah baby bring it on!