First group outdoor group training session

So this morning I was let loose on a group (well actually only two, but I think more than one counts as a group) of ladies to train them. This is part of the work experience I am doing to the trainer was putting his faith in me not to spoil his reputation with his clients.

I wrote the program yesterday and then this morning I got into it. I had met the ladies a couple of times before so I knew them a little. It was fun, I really enjoyed it and didn't feel nervous at all. I am taking that as a sign that this is obviously what I am destined to do.

I got some really good constructive feedback that I can use to make me a better trainer and a lot of pleasing positive feedback, both from the trainer and the clients.

The trainer even talked about me taking some of his classes so he can have a lie in. All good. So far I am loving my new career choice.

Astronauts

I read an article in the Sydney Morning Herald about a new ride that has opened at the Kennedy Space Center and was intrigued by how many grey haired astronauts there were on the ride. My curious nature took over and I googled to see how many astronauts there had actually been to date.

Wikipedia has a list in alphabetical order of all the astronauts. I was amazed to find that "As of 2007, a total of 450 people had travelled to space."

I guess I still think as space travel as being a new thing, but it has been 46 years since Yuri Gagarin became the first human to travel into space on 12 April 1961.

Some things you might not know about me

Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about their seven things, as well as these rules. You need to choose 7 people to get tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged and to read your blog!


1. I was born in Cumbria in the UK.


2. Before I moved to Australia, I lived in Auckland, New Zealand for 3 years.

3. I have no sense of smell.


4. I need to have 20 minutes of me time before everyone gets up. I like to have a cup of green tea and read the news online.


5. I hate being able to hear people eating (especially chippies and other crunchy food)


6. My new runners have an annoying and embarrasing squeak.


7. I am saving up to buy a swimming pool.


I am tagging

1. Drea
2. Kerryn
3. Shan
4. Caroline


Sorry guys ran out of people who have not already been tagged.

Deja vu

As I was hanging out the washing this morning, my youngest daughter (aged 2) managed to lock the door and locked me and my other daughter outside. It's ok stay calm, she can open it again. But she couldn't. I ran around the front to go in the front door. Oh dear, in the interests of security and safety, I locked that so that my kids couldn't get out, while I was hanging out the washing. Never mind, a few neighbours have a spare key, hmmm but they are at work on Monday mornings, another neighbour has a key for my house hidden in their garden (as you might guess, due to a similar past experience, but not the deja vu experience, this has happened too many times) so off I went. The key didn't fit in my lock. I don't know whose key I have but it is not mine.

Try ringing the front door bell, see if I can get her to unlock and open that one. No trained them too well - never open the door to anyone. Tried to coax the unlocking of the back door, now she is refusing, she saw a kiwi fruit, got it sat down in front of the door and starting eating it. I'm thinking what is next, the chocolate, or maybe even the vodka, left free in a house of rules with no mum, how drunk will she be before she finally agrees to open the door? I had visions....

Tried to say daddy is coming go open the door, she had no idea which door I was talking about. Eventually she understood. I went to the front to encourage her. She said, "mam, it's locked" I tried to calmly say I know unlock it, she didn't know how. Eventually the door opened and we got inside. I have now taught her to unlock the door so should it happen again, she can. Not sure from a safety point of view that was wise. Maybe I need to keep a key around my neck the whole time. Shame we don't have letter boxes in the door like in the UK. I could have my key attached to a piece of string on the inside.

The deja vu part. All am I going to say is it happened nearly 6 years ago with my son, after moving in to a new neighbourhood and not knowing many neighbours. Same situation, hanging out washing. At least this time I was dressed. I knew my neighbours a little too well after that.

Nutrimetics - or is it?

On Thursday I was invited to a Nutrimetics party by a friend. (obviously a friend, why would someone who didn't know me invite me?) I wasn't sure I wanted to go as today, Sunday, is my first Sunday off in months and I wanted to stay home Saturday night with my husband and be able to watch a movie til late without worrying about going to college the next day.

Anyway the hermit in me decided to break free and go out with friends and socialise. Actually I have done that a lot this week, which is why I felt a bit guilty (maybe not guilty( but why I wanted to stay home.

OK so I went, I picked up another friend on the way so she could have a drink. How nice am I?

Most will know what a Nutrimetics party is like so I won't go into details, but this one was weird. It was a spa party so we did relaxation - two of us (not me) went so deep that it was quite difficult to bring them back, but we did.

I, then had an allergic reaction to the soothing (or not so soothing) eye pads and felt like I was having pins stuck in my eyes.

Then ,the party person held onto my girlfriends hand and starting talking to her about her brother that had passed many years ago, who was trying to talk to her through the party person. This totally spooked and upset my friend. So after party person left we stayed up til very late talking, as you do (and might I add all without alcohol for me).

A couple of the girls are having parties in the coming weeks. I am very curious about the medium side of it, but will be very wary of using any soothing eye pads.

I need new clothes

But first I need some income, that might not be too far off. Yesterday I went for a job interview. I was quite sceptical about the whole thing, thinking that there was very little chance of it fitting in with my children and then the cost of child care to consider also. I was pleasantly surprised.

It felt more like they were selling the place to me rather than me selling myself and then they were talking more like when I start rather than if. Which is good for me. What is better is that I only need to do one shift a week. Why would you bother? I hear you ask. I want to work in a gym to gain experience. I believe you learn more from experience than you ever can in a classroom. Anyhow I do a shift next week. I will keep you updated.

So to the clothes. I went out for dinner twice last week. Both on rather cold Sydney evenings, on Thursday it was the Zaaffran Indian restaurant in Darling Harbour, we sat outside and enjoyed a beautiful dinner and wonderful company. You would never know that I had last seen them about 3 years ago. Anyway, I realised I do not have a jacket, at least not one that I would wear to a restaurant. So I wore a sports jacket in the car and took it off to go to the restaurant. I didn't have one last year but as the kids were so young, I can only imagine, I didn't go anywhere to need one otherwise I would have known this earlier.

To the happier point of this story, over with the doom and gloom of no money and a young family, oh woah is me!!! I found in my wardrobe a nice jacket I had bought years ago and tried it on. Well, it was huge, there was no way I could have worn it. I had forgotten but got a nice reminder of how much weight I have lost. Most of my old clothes have been given away but one or two items linger.

Anyway for the sake of preventing hypothermia, I don't think the purchase of a new jacket is extravagant so hopefully this afternoon I am off to the shops. (Does this mean I will need more dinners out to make the purchase of a new jacket worthwhile?)

...................................

In addition to the jacket, I have just found out the that dress code for my graduation party next month is ...cocktail........ now there is a whole other story......... and possibly a dress.

Get used to it!

I am exhausted, I am desperately trying to stay up later than my 2 & 3 year olds. I really have no choice as I am the only one looking after them. I should get them ready for bed and take them up but it is so much easier to sit here and just move my fingers.

I qualified on Sunday which means no more evenings of study and lectures and no more Sundays. Most would expect that now I could sit back and rest for a little while, but oh no not me I (in my wisdom or maybe stupidity) arranged to do some work experience with a local trainer. Did I arrange for a nice leisurely afternoon session - no, I started just before 6am on Monday morning so no time for celebration or relaxation. On top of that with my first Tuesday off, I had arranged to go out to a dinner with my daughters pre-school parent group. So up early Monday, out late Tuesday, can I rest today, no I was up again at 5.15am and training at 6am.

You would think from the way I am going on that I am used to sleeping in until oh after 9am - no I am usually up by 6am - 6.30am at the latest but that little bit earlier makes all the difference. As the title says, get used to it. This is what I signed up for, this is what I love to do and to be honest I can't wait to get my own clients and at least be earning a little bit of money for my efforts. It's not that bad, I really couldn't pay for the experience I am getting.

Man, when did I get older and wiser? Obviously after I arranged the 6am Monday morning training sessions!

Personal Trainer

Yeah, I am now a fully qualified Personal Trainer. Sydney, here I come.

McFlurry

Finally the kids had a bit of competition in their soccer game. Having won by no less than 10-0 since the season started it was nice to see them having to play. And play they did they played their little hearts out. They came back from 3-1 down in the first half to win 4-3. The parents, myself included couldn't take much more. We were all so proud of the kids, the kids came off to huge applause and the smiles on the kids faces would have lit up Sydney during Earth Hour.

After all the excitement its a good job there are no more games for a week. Oh except that the boys are playing in a soccer gala today. Unfortunately I can't be there but I am sure I will hear all about it and we will have numerous photos.

Later my son was invited to a birthday party at McDonalds. As my husband was playing his soccer game, I decided that I would take the girls as well and we would have an icecream. Their sundae's is the only hold McDonalds has over me, I never like burgers, and I haven't had a sundae in years - so it was my treat to myself - a McFlurry with crunchie.

That was a bad idea on so many levels.

1. The girls loved it
2. I hated it (not like I remembered)
3. How many calories - 426!!!!!
4. A sundae with caramel is only? - 333 cals

On the plus side, never again. McD's now has no hold over me at all.

Course summary

Well I passed my assessments and assignments, I only have my final practical on Sunday, and then I am qualified. I have summarised below in Q&A format some of the most important points I learned on the course.

HEALTH QUESTION & ANSWER SESSION

Q: I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good!

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!! ... Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger!!!!!!. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy? HELLO Cocoa beans! Another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!

Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!

Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.

Assignments

Hip Hip Hooray. I just finalised the last of my assignments for college. I am refusing to look at them again. Now I only have to justify my assignments and the practical on Sunday and I am all done.

Now to catch up with some housework........

Kylie

Now I really really love dancing, in fact I went out with the girls on Saturday night and danced almost all night - that was until we got kicked out, birthday girl allegedly had too much to drink.
Point is - given my love of dancing, I love amongst others, Madonna, Abba, any 80's music and Kylie. That is until my kids and neighbours kids got into Kylie. I now hear Kylie day and night, 24/7. I have to say I don't like her much anymore and I may have to put my feather boa away. Shame this dislike seems to have happened at a very difficult media time for her but I can't help timing.

Dilemma: What am I going to do on a night out when Kylie plays, I will be happily dancing, being an adult, albeit I may think I am younger than I am, but - I will be reminded of my children. Not what I need on a night out.

Answers on a postcard to.......

ps still beats recorder homework

Amanda Evans has just wrote 3 really cool books that makes it easy for us to shop for our health.

The 3 books are

Food Shopping for Better Health: Weight Loss 2007

Food Shopping for Better Health: Heart Health 2007

Food Shopping for Better Health: Diabetes Type II 2007

and they are available from her website www.bebh.com.au

I never thought I would say this but I am so over the studying, I want to get off the school bus for a while. I am still learning heaps and loving it but i don't like the thought of having to go out again and leave my family at home. Jon and I hardly see each other as it is and with him being in Melbourne for part of this week we really have seen little of each other. I know I shouldn't complain and I should count my blessings, but I am so tired and I don't want to.

Ok calm down. I only have 4 days of lectures left. I finish on 20 May. Just need to finish off a couple of assignments and then I can concentrate again on the business. Right now the study needs to come first or there will be no qualification use in the business.

A quick visit to the shops this morning to take back some track pants, that made me look like I had gained most of the kg's I had lost and made me feel really frumpy. I then went to the shop across the way and got two pairs for the price of the other one pair. Bargain, Jon are you impressed? I hope these are better.

Just me and my youngest daughter today, we are off to play ball in the back garden and then she is going for a sleep so I can tidy up. Yeah!!??

Just read through what I had wrote - back garden - how English is that?

Black & Blue

My legs look like very bruised apples and my right wrist has suffered lots of ice and is now bandaged. Despite the injuries we had a great session yesterday where we all regressed to be between the ages of 4 and 12.

We were learning about the different stages of child development and how to program for the various stages. We broke the session up by playing some children's games. It was heaps of fun and actually a fantastic cardio workout. Some of the games were, pretending to be animals, getting into groups of 4 and spelling words with our bodies. We played stuck in the mud and dead ants, musical chairs and musical mats were in there as well, as were body part slaps and many many more, but I think the game that caused most people the most pain was Indians and Tee Pees.

I was very surprised though that a few of my class said that was fun, they don't often have fun like that. I thought that was very sad, especially as some of them have young children. If having young children is not a good excuse to behave like that on a regular basis (maybe minus the injuries) I don't know what it.

I love playing and having fun with my kids, it just reminded me to do it a bit more often from the point of view of being with my kids in a positive way, keeping us all moving, relieving stress and just having fun and laughing. To be honest I think the body part worked most during the class was the ribs from laughing so much.

My bruises will heal no problem, hopefully my wrist won't be too far behind, especially as Jon headed to Melbourne at 5.30am this morning, and I am not too good with my left hand and 3 children. It is a lot less painful than yesterday already.

Sports Rage

Ok so I only got to 1.20pm before I looked at my watch every 50 seconds or so to see if it was time to collect them, but today, well..... I got up to noise, loud music, loud children, mess (which to me is like noise) so today I could easily leave them until at least 2pm. Now I do like loud noise and lively upbeat music - just not when everything else is in chaos.

A visit to my podiatrist this morning did not put me in a much better frame of mind. He said that my body was not even nearly balanced. He thinks the shoulder injury is causing so much disruption to my body that it needs some serious stretching (my body that is) and a priority to fix my shoulder. Which I knew I guess. What I didn't like was the way he just sat there shaking head saying, "I just don't know where to start." It made me feel so good - not. It is a good job I know him quite well now.

Then, I went to watch my son play soccer again, his team were playing so well, and enjoying themselves especially as they were winning 13-0 until the ref (who also happened to be the coach of the other team) starting disallowing their goals, because they were offside. Now in a grown up game I would agree but, they are under 8's and there is no offside rule, and most of our kids have no idea what it means, all they knew was that for some reason 3 or more of their goals were disallowed, but didn't understand why. You could see the confusion on their faces. After the 3rd or 4th occasion our manager reminded the ref that there is no offside in under 8's. He said he was aware of that but as his team was more than 10-0 down he wanted to give them a break.

We all sympathised with his team but now he had totally confused ours. Anyway my husband Jon who is the coach, told his team not to score anymore goals but to concentrate on their passing skills. I don't know if this helped the other team or just humiliated them, but we couldn't let our kids be disappointed because of good goals being disallowed.

I hate sports rage and parents getting involved but today understood how it could happen. It think every child and parent left the game disappointed albeit for different reasons.

No children today

I have a day today where all my children are at school, preschool, or occasional care, unfortunately though my day is filled with appointments and jobs, that are easier without children.

I may get to eat a lunch in peace. That is definitely something to look forward to, even if it is a packed lunch.

Having got all excited about having a child free day, I know by 2pm I will be missing them like crazy.

Oh dear it's started already, my son just came back from the bus stop saying the bus went early and he missed it. I am sat here writing, not yet dressed and faced with the prospect of getting him to school. Luckily a neighbour was just driving by and collected him for me. What a star. Maybe the day will be ok after all.

Tennis elbow etc

Talking to a guy the other day who swears by this remedy for tennis elbow.

Eat daily for a week, 2-3 prunes soaked in Gilby's Gin. He mentioned further oh take them at night not in the morning. No idea why??????

**********

My youngest daughter had her first official haircut today. She was much better behaved than my other children were when they had their first cut. It might have something to do with the portable DVD player they put directly in front of her.

All I remember from my days of having a childhood haircut.......was the bowl!!

Youngest daughter then left her not so cheap drink bottle in one of the other shops. (I'm sure it was to punish me for putting water in it and not juice.) I don't know how many cups and bottles have been lost over the years and the 3 children. I wonder if there is a Guinness World Record for it?