That's right I have a blog!

The last time I updated this blog was at the start of March, How slack am I?! I have missed all of Autumn and we are now at the beginning of winter.

Woo! Crunchy, scrunchy autumn leaves

So, What has been happening since I last posted? Well...

• My big 2 year old turned into a big 3 year old.

  

  I'm 3 now, I can do my helmet by myself!

• My little 1 year old moved into a big boy bed!
• I turned 28!
• My bother-in-law got married, so I have a new sister in law and am soon to be an aunty! Wow!
• I agreed to be the secretary at playgroup
• I've met some new friends, which is always fun
• I had my picture in the local paper not once but twice! Once because we happened to be at the library in time for story time and once because I sang some songs at the kids club.
• I've been given a regular gig at the nursing home playing guitar and singing old songs during their Friday arvo happy hour. I'm really enjoying it. I nearly cried the last time I played there. One of the ladies came down from her room and started dancing around the room with some of the carers. It was very precious. It is a real privilege to bring them a bit of joy. I'm also enjoying being taught some 'new' songs by the old folks. 
• I've been maintaining my weight loss. I have lost a cm off my waist and my hips but my weight has been about the same for 3mths. Including over Easter!
  

  

  Pic of me that Mr 3 took, I'm impressed!

• I have enlisted a friend of mine to help me with the exercise part of my weight loss and fitness goals. I had tried to do it myself, but I found that with no one to report to, I would either find excuses NOT to exercise, or I would do the bare minimum. My fabulous friend gives me a strength training and a cardio routine for 3 days a week. I LOVE it! It is so good for me. I don't want to tell her that I didn't do this or I didn't do that, and I can't lie, so I have to do it. I don't have to think about what I'm going to do, I just follow the list. I have definitely improved in my cardio fitness and I am definitely stronger in my legs and core. 
• I was desperate to try a beep test/shuttle run. Never having tried it before, I was hopeful that I would be able to get to level 3 by the end of a new 6 week challenge I have started with Fat Chick Slim(you start at level 1.1 and there are 8 (I think!) levels between). Very excitingly, the first time I tried it I made it to level 3.1.Woo. So now I am aiming for level 4 by the end of the 6 week challenge. Bring it on!
• My back has been great. I have been continuing with my stretching program. I can't recommend stretching enough. If you have back pain issues and are in Melbourne check out Stu at Core Life Concepts  it's worth every cent. Seriously!
• I have made some changes to my thinking regarding the dogs which we still have. I had tried to walk them and push the kids in the pram and get some decent cardio exercise at the same time. It just didn't work. The dogs stop and sniff at stuff all the time and stop to poo or wee on things all the time. Or they walk in front of the wheels of the pram and lots of annoying stuff like that. So because of the freezingness in the morning and the freezingness late at night, they were hardly ever getting out for a walk. However, I had a revelation one day. I don't have to try and do everything at once. I don't have to only leave the house once and get everything done in the one trip. Duh! Anyway. I have been taking the boys AND the dogs for a walk minus the pram and minus my 'got to walk for fitness' mentality. Some days it works better than others but generally it is quite fun for all involved! I had been having a little bit of trouble with Mr almost 2 lagging behind while we were walking, but today I had him hold on to my resistance band with Mr 3. It worked very well and we did our walk in record time!

  

  It's my BJ

  
  

If nothing else from today's post I want to encourage others to think outside the square. I'm the queen of making excuses, but where there is a will there is a way. You just might have to think of another way to make it happen. I spent 45min running up and down my 8m long verandah the other day. Yes it was a bit boring, but I needed the exercise and there was not other way for me to get it on a rainy day. Just because you have always done something one way, doesn't mean there isn't another (better) way to get a similar result! That's enough of a pep talk from me...now get going and reach your goals!