100 Small Steps Challenge: The First Week

Last Monday (30/11/09) I joined in on Linda's "100 small steps challenge." The aims and rules of the Challenge are clearly set out here. There are quite a number of challengers now, and you can jump in at any time - so please leave a comment if you want to climb aboard too because we'd absolutely love to have you as part of our growing group.

Note to self: This Challenge is about taking small steps towards forever change - specifically, in the area of physical, mental and emotional fitness.

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Day 1: Monday Nov 30

For those who are unaware, Les Mills have a bunch of group fitness programs, with the most popular being the strength training based, BodyPump. Every three months a new choreographed routine is released and you generally work on the new release for 4 weeks before mixing it up and going back to previous releases so no one gets bored.

My BodyJam (Les Mills' dance based program) journey started on 20 October and I've never looked back. It's the new love of my life. It's the highlight of my week - I have such a great time. The first time I did it I sucked at it - had no idea what my feet and arms and hips were doing at all. But, as time goes on, I'm getting more and more of the chorey and loving it so much more.

The 7:30PM BodyJam class at Carindale Fitness First was the launch of #51 for the regular Carindale Jammers, however my home club is at Wynnum and I had already done the New Release on Friday morning (also taught by the awesome Adam). Typically, you'll see a lot more people in 'launch week' than usual, and tonight at Carindale was no exception. The room was packed like sardines. Not kidding. And the air con may as well have been off as it was so hot in the room. I was way up the back, in the middle, and one of the other participants said it was even hotter up the front. I had seriously never perspired so much in the period of one hour in my life. I also had never felt I needed so much hydration in the hour or so following the class. I bought this Aussie Bodies HPLC (high protein low carb) bar on my way out of the gym as I knew I'd burned a bunch of calories and needed some energy replacement. * And Gav, the PT is always on my case about not eating enough given all the training I do.

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Day 2: Tuesday Dec 1

My Jam journey started by attending the 7:30PM Tuesday class at my home club, Wynnum. Rach (the senior instructor) team teaches the class with Jazz (Jasmine) and TK (whose real name is Maori and I don't even know how you pronounce it!). Jazz and TK are trainee Jam instructors and are both mentored by Rach.

Over the past 6 weeks, I have been welcomed into the Jam family and am now friends with Rach, Jazz and TK. They light up my life, and rock my world. They truly are the coolest, crazziest, funnest and genuine people I've met in a long time. And they're all Kiwi's (New Zealanders) with obvious Maori blood lines. I'm Kiwi born, but Aussie bred but I still consider myself a Kiwi at heart. Dad's side of the family are from NZ, and Mum's side from Aus.

Here is a pic of the Jam teaching team at the Wynnum launch (well, it was for those who can't make it to any weekday morning classes). From left to right: Jazz, Rach and TK. Love you guys! Peace out to my favourite Jam teaching crew!

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Day 3: Wednesday Dec 2

I've been seeing my physio for the past few weeks for ongoing neck pain. Tim wanted a photo of my sleeping posture as he suspects it could be part of the issues I'm having. I'm not really asleep in this photo! The pic was taken on Tuesday night, but I showed them to Tim on Wed morning.

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Day 4: Thursday Dec 3

I'm currently looking for casual/part time work and today I had an interview at Sea World. The position was a Lifeguard at the (small) water park. I originally thought I was applying for a lifeguard position at Wet 'n' Wild but for some reason my application was forwarded to HR at Sea World. To be honest, I would have preferred Wet 'n' Wild but tried not to over-think the whole thing by telling myself there must have been a reason it was forwarded to Sea World. I received an email the following day and learned I had been unsuccessful. However, I was totally fine with that as it was 84 km one way - a fair hike, and I was told some of the shifts may have been only four hours. I cannot justify the travel for four hours work at the pay rate I would have received. So, all good. I'll keep my eyes open for a suitable employment opportunity.

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Day 5: Friday Dec 4

Whatever Tim (the physio) did on Wednesday really disturbed my neck. It seems my original presenting injury/complaint has morphed/mutated/changed into something different. It started off as being acute, constant neck pain that was aggravated by rotation. Now, the constant pain has gone but my neck musculature is clearly 'unhappy.' Since Wednesday's physio treatment I've experienced a pulling sensation in addition to it all feeling incredibly tight and 'icky.' Tim advised to put heat on it and I use the Lockeroom Pocket Physio to dig into my 'dodgy' bits in my neck as trigger point therapy (yellow is my favourite colour, so I had to buy a yellow one!).

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Day 6: Saturday Dec 5

I've been having ongoing sleeping issues. I have no trouble falling asleep, but I'm consistently waking after 4-5 hrs sleep. Typically at around 4:00AM, although it has been as early as 1:45, or 2:30. Nothing wakes me up at that time. Sometimes my cat, Mishka, wakes me at 4:30'ish but often I wake before her. I've been keeping a log of when I go to bed, when I wake and any sleeps I have during the day. I found this sleeping log online ages ago and I finally got around to finding the file on my USB memory drive and printing a few copies. I'll transfer what I've written in my lil' notebook onto this log so as to better see what's going on.

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Day 7: Sunday Dec 6

Today was my 30th Birthday! Goodbye to the 20's - I can't honestly say I'll miss them, as the majority of the past decade I'd rather just forget for reasons I won't get into here and now. I had a fun-filled day, although it didn't start off like that (again, I won't get started on that - Chelle, you know what I'm talking about, hey). I went down to Surfers Paradise with my parents to meet up with my Aunty and Uncle who were up from the Central Coast (NSW) for a few days (not specifically for my birthday either, by the way). We met them at the hotel they were staying at, then shortly after having a hot drink (not that I had cuppa - I'm not a big fan at all of hot drinks. Never have been. I do enjoy the odd mug of Hot Chocolate though) and brief discussion of what we were going to do for the afternoon, we headed into the town and checked out a few of the ideas my Aunty and Uncle had come up with. One was a place called 'Infinity' which sounded cool and fun. Another was ten pin bowling. Also good but I can do that anytime, anywhere. What appealed to me the most out of the suggested ideas was getting dressed up in a Victorian costume and having my photo taken. And that's exactly what I did. It was so much fun - I had an absolute ball. The photographer was a bit weird though - just a bit... how do I phrase it.. abrupt with her instructions? Anyway, I had fun and I was photographed in the one costume in four different settings/scenes holding the odd prop. The three photos I chose came out so well. I don't view myself as overly photogenic, but I really do like the ones I chose (with help from the others). They were printed in the brown/white contrast (I forget what its called - something beginning with 'C', is it?) and they were ready for my collection in 15 minutes. And, it'll be something I'll have forever as a reminder of my 30th birthday. After the photo shoot, we all went out to dinner to Montezuma's - a Mexican restaurant and I had a chicken burrito. It was so yummy. It was the first meal "off-the-plan" I had had since Oct 19. And to be honest, I didn't want food to be involved in my birthday as I was doing so well with my eating. I wanted to have a party when I got to my goal weight/body composition in four months (or whenever). There's no birthday cake (yet). And I had no dessert - was far too full anyway. The burrito was divine. My only regret was not to have shared my day with my brother - he didn't want to come...

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Stay tuned for Days 8-14. I'm loving this Challenge already - thanks so much Linda. It's going to be like a photo diary.

NB: Okay, so perhaps expect me to write more than two lines on each day in the future! I'm not doing this for you, I'm doing this for me, and I'm happy if you don't want to read it - no offense taken whatsoever (I don't get 'precious' very often these days). I love writing and reflecting (is that obvious?).