So far, So good!!

Well its Week 2,  Day 5 of the Empowerment Challenge and as the saying goes....So far, So good!!

I have noticed some really POSITIVE changes in my attitude towards ME, one of which includes being able to look in the mirror and find things to smile about which is a huge accomplishment.

Today I said out loud that I really like my calf muscles...

Even Glenn commented the other day that I 'looked' as though I felt good about myself, he said that I've been standing taller.  I was so shocked that he noticed and made sure I told him that it was a really nice thing to say because YES he was right. 

Mind you, I had just finished a kick butt Personal Training Session which he came and 'watched'.  It was funny actually because at one point I caught him looking at me shaking his head and when we got out he said "Damn girl, keep that up and you'll be stronger than me".  I just said you bet your arse I will be hehehehe!

I am a WINNER...even with a dorky smile hehe!

Now don't get me wrong, there are still things that I need to work on like dealing with my loose skin issues for instance, but I refuse to let them overtake the positives and will eventally also tackle those demons especially the fact that I think people won't take me seriously as a Trainer because I don't LOOK like a trainer!

This particular issue came up for me on Monday when I did a Yoga Class at the Bacchus Marsh Leisure Centre (in front of mirrors on the stage) as a fill in for Toni's Body Balance class.  Toni is a pocket rocket who looks amazing and then there's me!  Hmmm, see still demons and self doubt but they will be banished soon enough,  I have 4 more fill in sessions to take so that gives me time to work through them.

So anyway back to the positives as small steps = big victories!

If you think my rolls make a difference in my role - KISS THIS!

  

I have also noticed that my general outlook on life has shifted.  I have always tried to be a postive person but lately its not so much a matter of 'trying' its just who I am and how it is.  I realise that you cannot be positive 100% of the time (as the above clearly showed) because such is the duality of life - balance is needed to create harmony.  BUT, how long you choose to stay in that place of negativity before turning the situation around is another question and this is where I am finding that EMPOWERMENT plays a part! 

For Example:  Last week I LOST 1.7kg, which I was overjoyed about as it was an awesome first week result!  Today however, (and yes I know its early and so a 'NoNo') I hopped on the scales and it hasn't moved off the 86.1kg from Monday.  My first reaction was to step off and get back on again just in case it didn't read properly but after doing it for the third time there was no mistaking the reading and so I just had to accept it.

I won't lie to you, at first I was pissed off and started with the whole "if you hadn't of eaten this and that last week then maybe it would be different" and then next came the "I have worked my arse off for nothing blah blah blah". 

BUT, then I remembered my promise to myself and the fact that this time around the challenge isn't about a 'number' it is about Empowerment and I realised that by allowing the scales to dictate my happiness level for the day I was surrendering my power - which is not going to happen!

I SURE AM - This number does not define me!

Goals revisited....

If you read my last blog you would of noticed that I set myself goals for the first week and also for the 8 weeks (committments).

I am happy to say that 'most' of the Week 1 goals were achieved and the committments are also doing well.  Some of them however are still more of a work in progress due to me deciding that it was more important to be kind to myself rather than pushing too hard too fast as I want this to be a LIFESTYLE CHANGE rather than just something I do for the next 8 weeks.

My eating habbits have improved heaps and although there were a couple of endulgences I believe that it will be what makes this time around the one that works.  If I feel like it, I'm going to have it as long as its in moderation and not for emotional comfort as food is not the answer.

I did my PT sessions with Steve at the new PT Studio on Monday and Thursday last week and only Monday this week.  I have to say that I love feeling STRONG.  I am now up to 17.5kg free weights for upright rows which is half way through the rack.  I have decided to take on the extra PT session fortnightly as a little extra boost.

I have found my Gym Mojo again (well not today but I worked out at home instead) and it feels soooo good.  My knee has caused some frustration but its been holding up which is good - wearing 2 braces for extra support has made a huge difference to reducing the pain to enable me to do more.  I go back to the surgeons on Thursday. 

I didn't finish my massage modules, which meant no exam :( but I have 1 month until the next assessment and I will be ready for it, NO If's, But's or Maybe's.  I am hoping that Glenn will take the boys out on Sunday so I can have a FULL STUDY day!

OMG I have cut down my sugar and am suprised at how easy it has been.  I am actually considering cuttng it out completely.

Organising all of my training sessions in advance (with a back up plan) has made a world of difference to the flow of my week and also the training sessions themselves so I am going to continue this for sure.

Balance has been one of those ups and down things which is frustrating, but sometimes life throws some curve balls (little adventures, outings) and you just have to deal with it the best way you can. 

On Thursday night I went out to the Music Showcase and loved every minute of being on stage.  Part of that was because Jimi got up with me and added a whole new dymanic to my music which was amazing.  I am so excited at the thought of getting together to see where this will take us - the festival circuit sounds good to me,

As Saturday was such a lovely day I ditched the housework and spent the day with Tash and the boys instead which was lovely.  I really love spending time getting to know her more so it was worth being behind the eight ball.

Oh and then Sunday was the car show and shopping and so I didn't get to my housework until late, which meant I was up until stupid o'clock (a bit like right now hmmm).

Despite all those side tracks I managed to catch up and this week has been running smoothly.  I love it when my house is clean as I feel so much more in control, its that whole internal reflecting external thing....or is it the other way around? I do have some paperwork to catch up on but I will get there.

Well that's it for now....I will post a blog soon with some rewards that I will be giving myself, I'm still not 100% sure on what they are but I have some doozie ideas.  Will I be game enough to follow through?  That is the question.  Has that sparked your interest?  Make sure you stay tuned for more!

Thanks for reading and for the support, its means heaps.  MWAH XOX

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Goals and Committments

Task 1:  Write a list of goals that you want to achieve in the 1st week of the 8WEC.

• Get my nutrition back on track
• 2 X PT Sessions
• 2 X Gym Sessions (Aqua / Gym Floor)
• Finish Massage Modules
• Cut down from 2 sugars to 1
• Organise all my training sessions in advance with a back up plan if needed
• Maintain Balance (Family, Work, Friends)
• Start self love exercises

Task 2:  Write a list of goals that you want to achieve by the end of 8WEC.

Empowerment Contract

I, Natasha Hurst agree to work towards a Fitter, Stronger, Healthier version of myself which inturn will provide me with a feeling of Empowerment. 

I am committed to achieveing this goal with the use of healthy food and exercise and promise myself that I will not slip into negative patterns of bahaviour as they are destructive.

I am committed to praising myself for even the smallest of achivements as I have earnt it.  eg.  a loss is a loss no matter how big or small as I am committed to not allowing a figure on the scales to determine whether it is a good or a bad day.

I am committed to following a healthy nutrition plan consisting of 5-6 small meals per day with a minimum of 1200 calories and I am committed to not over endulging.

I am committed to allowing myself 1 free meal per week and will not feel guilty for doing so.

I am committed to reducing my sugar intake in my tea/coffee from 2 to 1 (in the first couple of weeks) and then switching to Natvia (a natural sweetener).

I am committed to forgiving myself for any slip ups that I may experience along the way no matter how big or small and agree that I will not allow them to trigger any self sabbotage (in its various forms eg. emotional eating binge), instead I will pick myself up dust off and get straight back on the wagon.

I am committed to exercising for a minimum of 30 minutes 6 days per week which includes 1 X P/T Session and 2 X Gym Sessions per week. 

I am committed to allowing my body to have 1 day of rest.

I am committed to maintaining a food, exercise and mood journal and to blogging my journey on a regular basis as doing this makes me more accountable for my actions.

I am committed to making time to study so that by the end of the 8 weeks I will have completed all modules for Cert 3 & 4 in Fitness, Cert 3 in Massage and Cert 3 in Nutrition.  By doing this it will provide me with more opportunity/options for my future and is an important step towards empowerment.

I am committed to giving myself adequate rest and will ensure that I am in bed with lights out by 11pm on weeknights.

I am committed to hyrdrating my body by drinking at least 1 - 2 bottles of water per day.

I am committed to stepping out of my comfort zone and embracing change.

I am committed to accepting the limitations that my knee has produced and be kind to my self.  Should I experience pain I will STOP as it is not my friend and will only cause more injury.

I am committed to not making any excuses.

I am committed to loving myself for who I am nomatter what shape or size I am and will look in the mirror everyday and say "I love you Natasha Hurst, you are beautiful to me".

As a reward for all these committments I will be the best version of myself possible which in turn makes me a better person all round (mother, partner, daughter, sister, friend, trainer).

Signed

Natasha Hurst

10 October 2011

I would like to say Thank you to Tanja Louise for sharing the idea of this contract.  I came across Tanja's page through the Aim Train and have been inspired by her weight loss journey.  Click HERE to visit Tanja's Facebook.

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Time for an Update

So for the past week I have been writting a blog in my head which goes something a little like this.....

I am so completely and utterly disgusted in myself because I have put on weight and so I feel like a total hyercrite, I'm over my knee not enabling me to do the kind of exercise I want, I am sick of this and over that and blah blah blah - insert negative self talk here and while I'm at it lets insert the putting down of ones self here too *sigh* *grumble* *sob*!!

As you can see it has all been nothing but NEGATIVE CRAP and so I can tell you right now that  the blog I had intended to post will not be the one I sit here and write!    There will be no negative self talk or self sabbotage from this point on as it is energy depleteing and does not serve a purpose in my life. 

I choose only to focuses on positivity, and anything or anyone that does not fit within this framework shall be burnt at the stake. Hmm perhaps a little melodramantic but you get my point - Its time to "STOP MAKING EXCUSES"!!

So with that said I am very much looking forward to the next phase of my journey - An 8 week Challenge to Empowerment!!

I could rattle of a list of goals focused around weight loss (getting to 74kg would be nice), measurement and size reduction (comfortable 12-14) as well as a heap of fitness goals (increase strength and stamina) but they are not the 'main' objective.  My aim is Empowerment, Strength and Health, anything else that happens along the way will be an added bonus.

Something that I am very excited about is that I will be sharing this challenge with one of my personal training clients - Tash, who in a short time has already broken through many barriers and seen improvements - you can read all about her journey HERE.  Not only is Tash one of my clients but I am very happy to say that we are fast becoming really good friends and share many of the same interests (some of which are music and craft) and values - which is always a good foundation =)

Well I think I will leave it there for now, I will be sure to come by again very soon (before starting day on Monday) to post some "Starting Stats" as regardless of whether or not its the focus, its always good to have a starting point in which to look back on.  There will also be some other information on mini goal posts!

Before I go though I would like to share some Personal news:  My son Ace (7) lost his very first tooth today, he is so excited that he gets MONEY tonight from the Tooth Fairy.  Oooh, what is the going rate these days?

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