It's time to go... Jules

No, this isn't Big Brother

I haven't been evicted. I will shortly be heading south, to Melbourne. By choice. It was dependent on a little more than a decision in my head. For those who don't know, I will be commencing my Graduate Ambulance Paramedic position with Ambulance Victoria on Wednesday 25th March. I needed to be successful throughout the selection process that included psychometric testing, panel interview, medical and fitness assessments and referee checks. I had to also successfully complete my undergraduate paramedic degree. All those boxes have been ticked. My recent challenge has been finding accommodation. That has also just been sorted. I’m renting a 1 bedroom flat in Mentone (Bayside).

While I was walking along the Moreton Bay Cycleway last night (Saturday), it occurred to me that I don't have a lot of time left to do what I need to do before I head into the real world. The world where you are not protected and sheltered. The one where you have to be Miss (Ms or Mr) Independent; where you have to work full time and pay taxes; and deal with life's challenges without the parents helping you out (much).

What else occurred to me?

There's some stuff that I'm really going to miss about my intermittent residency at my parents place in Bayside Brisbane. By 'stuff', I mean people and things.

1. My family. Gee that was a no-brainer! And one that requires no further explanation.

2. My cat. I won’t initially be able to take my (almost) 5 year old burmilla (burmese/chinchilla) cat, Mishka with me to Melbourne. It's going to be painful saying goodbye to her. I love her tons. I hope to be able to buy a place in the not-too-distant future OR find a rental place that will allow me to have her indoors.

3. My work. For the past two months I've been a lifeguard at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre. It's been fabulous. I've built some confidence and improved my communication skills. I've also met a bunch of great people - my fellow lifeguards, and some members of the public. A by-product (or benefit) of my casual employment has been staff membership of the gym and aquatic centre. I haven't used the gym much (okay, I’ve gone once!) as I am a member else where, but I've used the pool a bit. I'll miss that for sure.

4. My physio/pilates instructor. Tim has to be Australia's best physiotherapist. Okay, so I could be just a tad biased. He is so committed and his knowledge base is amazing.

5. My gym and my PT, Gavin. How can I get so attached to someone I've only known for err 2 hours (1x 30 min introductory session & 2x 45 min sessions so far)? Easy – I just can. I just did. Gavin is really cool. He’s pushed me heaps and we’ve had fun. I vote that he phrase “I can’t” should be removed from the global vocabulary. If you physically can’t do something now, in time you will, if you want it bad enough… unless you’re talking about something that is physiologically beyond your ability. Anyone can run, anyone can do bench press, anyone can lift heavy things ;) Just how fast and how far you can run and how heavy the things you lift is the question.

6. My friend, Chris. I met Chris through doing pilates with Tim. Chris is about the only friend I have in Brisbane!

7. Moreton Bay Cycleway. I love doing my run/walk sessions along the Esplanade. I use MapMyRun to work out my turn around point so I know how far I’ve run.

Why do we get attached to 'stuff'?

We're emotional creatures, that's why. I don’t think I can do justice to this question so I’ve hand balled it on to my mentor. I’ll let you know if I get a response.


My question for you today is, if you had to move (by choice or need) what would you miss about where you live, and the people and things in your world?

Rules to live by

Forging elite fitness

I came across CrossFit recently via an article from Zen Habits. It made me think that Mikey might already know about it. Him, his whiteboard and his killer circuits! Anyway, the concept resonated well with me. "Forging Elite Fitness" is their catch phrase thingy. I like it.

Principles of living

A little while ago, Craig Harper did a series of about half a dozen posts titled Craig's Principles for Living. Most, if not all, resonated well with me too. One day, I must create my own Principles though, using some of his ones and others.

I found a link on the CrossFit Brisbane site, titled Rules to live by. I really love it.

• Everyday eat, sleep, drink, rest and train according to what your body needs


• Train for the shortest time possible whilst still achieving your training goal
  
• Find people to play with


• Try something new each year


• Do things that harm you less, do things that help you more


• Make a contribution


• Be honest with yourself, your training goals and your performance


• Do something everyday that makes you puff and sweat


• Look after your family and include them in your training


• Never do the same session twice in one week


• Regularly do things that make you nervous


• Find heavy things and lift them


• Above all else, keep moving, and keep trying

It sounds a lot like what Harper teaches too. Stuff Craig says frequently that spring to mind like:

"Instead of doing five swims, five runs or five bike rides every week, do five sessions of something different"

"Do things that challenge you... face your fears... get uncomfortable"

"Be honest (with yourself)"

"Listen to your body... Do I need that or do I just want it?"

Another wake up call

What Craig was talking about today in his post, beyond self-helf; selfless help rang true with me. I need to stop thinking, talking, writing about what I'm going to do. I just got to get the show on the road and start 'performing.' Craig has been telling me this for umm, weeks now. I have read and heard enough to be able to commence working on Project Me. And not just have a half-hearted pissy attempt at creating my-best-life, but give it a real, honest effort. This is not rocket science, brain surgery or even prehospital care. This is just applying basic common sense stuff in order to help myself become a better person. All the talking, thinking and writing in the world ain't gonna turn me into AMAZING. I have to put in consistent effort. I need to look under the bed for those non-negotiables I wrote up 3 months ago (gasps in shock that it's been so long) and live, breathe them like they were oxygen or water - two essentail components to keep us alive.

When enough is enough

Okay, okay, OKAY... I'm hereby making a public commitment that I will have a 'suck it up princess' approach to doing what I need to do every day to 'be the change' in my own world. Craig - see you when I'm 68kg. There is no way I'm going to compromise that agreement that I made with you either. I'm not going to cheat. I've cheated enough. I've had enough extensions, enough chances, enough opportunities... It's time I stepped out onto the playing field and kick some goals in my world.


Soon you'll learn about who and what inspires me to create my-best-life.

Revisiting past success

The Craig and Jane show

I was listenting to The Grandstanders (Craig Harper and Jane O'Brien) on Saturday morning on LightFM. It's amazing that someone like me, in Brisbane, can listen to a Melbourne radio show live online. Craig interviewed Bianca Chatfield - vice captain of the Melbourne Vixens netball team. One thing in particular jumped out at me and, this time, it has kicked me into first gear (again).

The Vixens have recently taken on Craig Harper as their conditioning coach and also to look after all the head stuff. The Vixens formed from two teams - the Melbourne Phoenix and another team that I cannot recall. Bianca said that Melbourne Phoenix had success with Craig in the past, and the team has decided to go back to what they know worked. It triggered me to think about what has worked for me in the past and to ask myself why I wasn't doing that stuff now.

What I thought I'd do is jot down some of my past success stories now for you. Okay, mainly for me. I'm mainly making reference to my body goals here, but also some other general life stuff.

1. Working with a trainer. I'm ashamed to reel out a list of half a dozen or so trainers I've worked with since the mid ninety's. Tash, Kathy (Melbourne) Dean, Mark (Sydney), Karen (Brisbane), Tony (Bathurst)... I had the most success with Kathy. We did 1-2 intense 30 min sessions a week, and I did heaps of cardio in between. It is important to note that having a trainer isn't 100% of the answer. They area resource and a part of your journey. But what you do outside the time you see your trainer is going to make the difference between creating lifelong change and living a life where you continue to sabotage yourself. (So, no swinging by the shops and inhaling a chocolate bar or two after you've worked hard at the gym... yep, I have done that in the past).

2. Keeping a diary. A food diary, but also a diary of my training and associated thoughts and feelings. Actually, just tonight I have been going through a diary of my PT sessions with Kathy and reading about the progress I was making with my strength and body shape has inspired me. I know what is possible for me. I need to get back to that, and then I can explore new, uncharted territory.

3. Training (exercising) early in the day. Call be weird, dysfunctional or just committed and determined... but I have been known to alarm self at the likes of 4 and 5 in the morning to head out the front door for a run, (bike) ride or to go to the pool. However, to make this work, it's imperative that you get an early night so you're getting enough hours sleep. Also, I have found that having something to get up for - be it a swim squad session, a scheduled training session on my program or just something I have made 'non-negotiable' sets me up to have a good day, food wise. Because, why would I want to undo all my hard work by eating crap?

4. Online communities. Being a part of a number of message boards has also helped me a lot in my journey. Interacting with others with similar goals, similar attitudes and people who don't just talk about it, but people who are creating their best body and their best life.

5. Having a mentor. This is a fairly new thing for me, but I'm enjoying the ride so far. It's been tough to hear someone else objectively point out my 'faults' (for the want of a better word), and what I need to work at changing. It's a privilege having someone who clearly does care about me, who wants to see me and do, think, be and create AMAZING in every area of my life. In other words, to create my-best-life. However, I need to apply what I learn to become the person I want to become and to be 'amazing.' Stop the over-thinking, toss out the self-doubts, and get busy Jules. Assignment 1 was due a long time ago. How many extensions do you want? You can't have any more. Choose to do, be, think and create amazing today and you will. Thanks Craig - you're an amazing bloke, teacher, mentor, coach and friend.

I'm interested in hearing what has worked for you in the past. Are you still doing it now? If not, why not? If something has worked for you before, why not get it going again?