EMOTIONS

Gidday everyone! I am back!! Well, I never really went away. I think it's been two weeks since my last post? God, I am really going to have a hard time recalling what's happened ... ok, here we go ... the news in brief:

After visiting my Sports Practitioner two weeks ago it was recommended that I take a blood test to determine the cause of my dizziness or bad spells. My result would show an extreme low count of white blood cells. A normal low count would be 4 and a high count would be 11. My count is 3.3. In my practitioner's words "you're body is under severe stress!" No S#&T. I'm also low on calcium and iron. Since then I've included calcium and iron supplements in my diet as well as an antioxidant for my white blood cells. Obviously it's imperative I stay away from anyone with the flu. My consumption of red meat have now increased to a portion a day.

So how have I been feeling? To be honest I've been experiencing a lot of low days than good. My energy levels are not as up as they use to be. I'd have a fantastic session of posing one day then a week later I'd feel completely flat, exhausted and frumpy. These past couple of days have been the worse! My cycle's begun and my emotions are completely twisted and fragile. On Tuesday I turned up at work with a migraine like headache. It was god awful. Then I felt an overwhelming rush of depression that I cried in my office. Then cried later in the toilet. So now I've cried twice! And just when I thought things couldn't get worse, it's the late afternoon and I can feel a rush of aches through my body. I now have the chills! The weather's twenty something degrees, i'ts mild folks. I'm now wearing a jumper and fleece jacket sitting over a heater. My boss, Mike looks at me and says ... Girl! You look like crap! Thanks Mike! That makes me feel better. I later leave for home, no gym, straight home for tea and honey. I am zonked!

Yesterday I arrive at the gym. It's legs, my favourite. I warm up with 30 reps of squats with the bar only. I finish and my legs are nice and warm. Suddenly I get the chills ... god damn it ... not now! I look around the gym, I want to find an instructor but nobody is free. I look back at my weights. I think to myself ... I've only started with a bar?! No weights? I'm cold! This is really, really depressing. I cry myself silly again! Nobody can see me. It's awhile till I'm composed. I think ... shall I pack up and go home or should I push on? I pushed on! I reckon that was the hardest (mentally) session I had ever done. I was relieved.

I am ok now. How I'll be tomorrow and the next day? I'll wait for it to come and I'll do my damn best. I'm scheduled for another blood test next week. I hope things will improve. Til then I'm off to cardio now. Take care!

2006 QLD TITLES

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

My family L to R, Quizzie and her brother Flash


Hi All. Over the past week I've been consumed with keeping my diet on track, my training in top form, watching my energy levels and general well being.

About a fortnight ago I came home one morning after a 45 min jog/walk. After showering I noticed aches in my arms and I found it incredibly hard to change into my clothes. A little later I needed to drive to the shops. When I got in the car I began to feel light headed. A little while later Perry came downstairs to investigate why he hadn't heard me leave, he panicked to find me slumped forward with my head in my hands. I think I said I was feeling a little dizzy so he ushered me upstairs which by this time I began to feel aches in my legs. Walking upstairs was difficult. God what was happening?

I laid on the bed for a while feeling completely drained. By this point Perry phoned Penny to tell her I wouldn't make our pose class that afternoon. I felt really bad about not practicing. I thought if I tried to eat some lunch I would perk up, but I truly didn't have the appetite. And just when I thought nothing could get worse ... I began to feel pins and needles in my hands! Oh god ... just kill me now!

I am feeling good now. The bad experience has prompted me to see a sports medicine practitioner tomorrow afternoon to assess how I am going and perhaps answer why I felt so bad that day. Did I over run that morning? Was my blood pressure much lower than normal? Did I have low blood sugar? I will see what he has to say.
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I made it to Lorraine's pose class last Sunday, yippee! It was awesomely hard work but I love it.

After a warm up, Lorraine quickly puts us through our paces. For the first hour we practice all the poses (both INBA and ANB format). My arms and back are screaming pain! Excellent!

Later we split into three groups. Now each group are summoned to perform their compulsory poses, then dance and then pose off. Di is guest judge. You have to ham it up for her. If you can make her smile that's good!

Now it's time for the 60 second free pose (dance). The girls who are watching are excited. They begin to cheer, clap and scream the girls on. It's amazing how better you perform with an excited crowd! Now it's a walk off, a quick put on with the shoes, a walk on and now a pose down! Whhoooo, hooo! Pose it baby! Seriously it's hard work but heaps and heaps of fun!
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I'm going Lorraine's house tonight with Penny. We're going to watch the DVD of the INBA comp show held in July. Excellent can't wait. I'm looking forward to seeing Lorraine, Neme, Sue, Rae and Kimmy perform. If I've forgotten anyone I'm sorry :(

Oooops it's late, I gotta get to work. Happy training everyone!

ALL ON TRACK

"Over the next day I'm like the Michelin Man"

It has been a journey of baby steps towards my goal to lose fat aka lean down aka getting cut. During my check up with Di, I was pleasantly surprised to see centimetres come off everywhere. And my delts and back are looking damn fine! I'm not happy about losing centimetres from my boobs! Please tell me ... why am I doing this? Ha, ha, no drama ... the result was very pleasing.

At this point Di recommends I take a free meal. What? A free meal? Whooo hooo! I'm excited.

Perry and I head out to Coolum for a meal. I think it's been months since we've both dined on the same foods. What did I order? A fettucine with red onions and panchetta. Mmm, scrumptus and very spicy (I would later regret the spice). For dessert a bowl of ice cream. No alcohol. That's ok, I haven't drunk since my New Zealand holiday. I don't miss it. We had a fabulous night.

We get home when I begin to feel queezy. I'm now on the sofa and I lie it out for 10 minutes. The queeze stops and now I'm cold. So cold, I shove my cat from the heater and huddle over the heat, almost sitting on top of it. God, give me strength. I'm so tired now, I head off to bed.

Me think the pasta was a tad too spicy. I think for my next free meal I'll have eggs on toast.
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Awesome, awesome session with Matt on Tuesday (bis/tris and shoulders). The reps are faster and the rests are shorter. Great cardio. DOMS good, not severe like other times. Over the next day I'm like the Michelin Man! I believe my shoulders and arms deflated last night. Good one Matt!
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I posted my entry for the October comp the other day. Urrgggh! There's no turning back eh?

Comp day is Saturday, 7 October 2006. General Admission tickets are $40 with VIP seating (sitting 5 rows from the front) selling at $50. Contact Bounce Nutrition for tickets on 07-3393-3822 or you can buy the tickets at the door. The venue is ...

Christian Outreach College - Theatre
Wecker Road
Mansfield
Brisbane

Start time: 10am!

DIET HARD!

My first school photo at age 5. I'm sitting, fifth from the left

Things done Wednesday
45 min cardio interval and abs 6am to 7am
Chests and back 5.30pm to 7pm

Things done yesterday
45 min Powerwalk hills 11am to 12pm

Things done today
30 min interval training 6am to 6.30am
Legs

I'm a good girl because I've been clean eating for 5 days ... it's a humongus achievement. My track record is 3 days. By day 4 I think "yeah, I've done well. A bit of jam and toast tonight will be alright" or "a tub of yoghurt" or "a handful of sultanas (my favourite) ". EEEnnnnkk! Nup! And then I start again the next day then I slip then another. In short, my meal plan for comp is rough and tough, and I'd better get use to it soon 'cause I'm gonna be eating less. Give me strength!

It was day 4 yesterday and I entered this into my food diary:

It's 4m. I finished M5 - 5 egg whites omlette. I've got tummy aches. It came on before the omlette and I've still got it now. Drinking lots of water but it doesn't relieve. I'm waiting it out but it's incredibly tough (it's now 4.30pm). My thoughts: this is for comp; hang in 'cause you can eat what you want after comp day; next meal is in about 2-3 hours; looking forward to porridge tom am!; stay clean! I get a free meal next week; Maraina you're doing stuff a lot of people can't do; get a coffee. If it doesn't get better go for a walk; do not give in to TEMPTATION; I can have those foods later! It's 5-5.30pm. I'm drinking coffee; will read a book; obstacles - I'm getting over them; smile it's a walk in the park.

I didn't give in.
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It's 6am and I pull up at the surf club. Di is there. It's interval training.

It's semi light and the air's cool. I'm dressed in shorts, a beanie and gloves. With no time to waste, it's a fast walk up the boardwalk. Soon we break into a jog, we're travelling up and down slopes. It's really nice. The up and down track appears and Di preps my breathing. I'm going to charge as fast as I can up the next hill. Di orders, GO! GO! GO! ... To the pole Maraina! ...To the pole! And so I go, go go! It's tough! My system is shocked! Excellent, I make the pole. I ease the pace and now we're walking, and now we're jogging, then GO! GO! GO! This continues for 15 minutes.

Now I'm looking forward to my final hill! Before I finish thinking about it's ... GO! GO! GO! ... Come on Maraina! ... Come on! God, I make it ... relief!

It's a beautiful jog back to the boardwalk. The sunrise is gorgeous. I'm thinking ... porridge! I must have porridge! Excellent work. Thanks Di.
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A great leg session tonight. Thanks to new spotter Dave (another Dave). I also want to thank Jerome for his input tonight. Your advice is very good. I will take it onboard. Awesome work on the calves too. I will definitely feel it tomorrow.

Day 5 diet almost finished. Bring on Day 6! Happy dieting everyone! Goodnight.

PRE COMP PLAN

It's actually been a good day and not one of those days to evaluate my pre comp plan. God, I've got so much going on in my head I've got to write it down now. Here goes:

Cardio x5 a week

• x1 50 min flat road jog
• x2 50 min powerwalk hills
• x2 30 min interval

Weight maintenance x4 a week

Dietry

• L-glutamine
• Multivitamin
• M1 porridge/cottage cheese/splenda
• M2 protein powder/apple or pear
• M3 chicken/vege or salad/rice or sweet potato
• M4 protein powder/almonds
• M5 chicken/rice (train days) or fish (non-train days)
• M6 meat or chicken or fish w veg or salad
• Post workout protein powder and dextrose and L-glutamine
• Stop with creatin
• 3+ litres of water
• 1 free meal if nutrition has been 100%

I'm interval training on Friday am with Di. I can't wait. I did interval and abs this morning and boy was I tired. After eating my porridge I was feeling a lot better. I love porridge. Ooops ... gotta run and grab M5. Catch everyone soon!

HAPPY NEW MONTH!

Things done yesterday
40 min run and abs 6am to 7am
Legs 5.30pm to 7.00pm

Things done today
40 min powerwalk (hills) 6am to 6.45am



After my session of legs on Tuesday, I believe it was Saturday when I could comfortably walk! It's the same day that I needed to give them another workout, but I backed out, in fear of the legs crumbling beneath me (I know, I'm a sook). So now it's Monday and I wanted to work just as hard on my legs as I did last week. And I did! Me very happy and exhausted!

Thanks to Aldeen for spotting me on the squats. Thanks to new spotter Shane, who took time from his busy schedule to load and off load my bar during my lunges. Excellent work. I can feel the squeeze on my legs this morning.

As always it's great to catch up and laugh with Dave. I'm forever excited to show him a flex ... "look at this Dave", "see my legs Dave?", "check this out"... and so on and on. He's never short of compliments and support. I feel very special to know him. Everyone should have a Dave at their gym!
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I loved my powerwalk this morning. The hills around Coolum are fantastic. I'm looking forward to my bi's, tri's and shoulders tonight then it's off to Di's place for an assessment. Have a good night everyone.

PS. Pinch and a punch! Yeehaa it's the first of the month!