Muscle Maintenance

1 April.
Fresh book
Re-focus, tweak.
Others may or may not care, but I’m accountable to me.
And only me.
And writing it down helps.

Saturday
Packing, towing, mini meltdown, assemble, cold brew, good food, good training, good bath.
Clarence Plains Pinot Noir, .therapist It’s on me. (Thanks for the hot tip)
Himalayan salt.
Candlelight

This is why I choose training as me time:- I am surrounded by some like minded people. Training time is tailored to me. It’s a comfortable learning environment. I am learning skills for life. My program has had a lot of thought out into it. The instructions are very clear ( even if I take a while to catch on) There is always some follow up. I feel supported, calm, positive and happy!

A story about draping, paper g-strings and magic.
Two ladies, two different languages.
Connected at the pool that was too cool for anyone else or maybe they were!
One was a massage therapist for a long time.
One is a massage therapist and has been for over twenty years.
The first one was a weary traveller, the second with her Joie de vivre, provided paper g-string, magic balm and a massage that was very deeply relaxing until she found muscle contracture that needed sorting ...
A 90 minute journey I shan’t forget.

I have been looking forward to coming to this gym since before we left home.
The staff were lovely and our first visit was free.
I was told the heavy weights room was down stairs. That’s what I needed apparently.
Well, I was so happy to have weight on my back that I wasn’t even embarrassed to be with the strong men. Squats felt good. Deadlifts good. Bench and I got stuck. But got to practice sitting up with my weight and a man helped me remove it and return it to the rack.
Then I went upstairs and ran the rack of machine weights.
So happy.
I’ll be happy tomorrow if I’m not to broken😂

I’ve been out of puff lately, if I’m honest.
After a small winge to the coach, training commenced.
I was happy with the session.
The numbers were good, the mood improved, the session is in the bank. I showed up.
I try not to let how I feel affect how I act.

Exercise is not a punishment. It’s a reward. For me it’s true me time, where I invest in my future. It’s not about perfection. It’s about a quiet space, a priority. It’s about the inner dialogue of you can, you will be and the world is a your Tassie Gold (oyster)

It’s worth getting used to uncomfortable. Really embrace it. When the next bit of drama happens in life, I’m ready, armed.
And, I make sure I get encouraged to not get too comfortable.
Thanks Priscus Fogagnolo for helping me get strong and maximum ugly !

If you have ever been on the wrong side of my thinking/processing/concentration face, I’m sorry if you thought I was giving you a dirty look.
It’s an easy mistake to make 🥹

Tasmanian is so beautiful.
In winter too.
I took the opportunity to do pushups and squats in the water.
It was none of my business what people thought of my antics.
Living my best life.

Us old girls need to stick together, don’t you think?
Today a return to my GP had me VERY EXCITED.
My blood results were further improved, really good in fact.
Next to work on my mind too.
Hopefully I’m setting up a happy, healthy, successful old age. Some results aren’t obvious visually but feeling good is priceless.

Having a plan feels good.
Ex*****on feels better.
I love a good reset, don’t you?
(Especially when it involves drawing stick men illustrations 😂)

“All things come to those who wait.”
Violet Fane
Also known as
“You’re not going to like it now, but you’ll thank me later.”
Whether strength training, building a house, growing veggies, improving at running or just about anything else….
There are days when it seems hard. There are times when you are sore.
BUT experience tells you it will all be worth it.
You mightn’t like today but you will love the day you look back from the place where it feels easy.

Today was always going to be busy.
But good.
So, we made sure we took advantage of a few minutes, sipping tasty coffee watching the morning light and being present, calm and mindful.
It felt like starting the week right x

Red velvet with ROASTED DARK CHOCOLATE CREAM and choc glaze.
I enjoyed making it for my family and the challenge of the steps involved, including roasting chocolate but I resisted the temptation of partaking in a slice.
I did choose to have a small glass of delicious wine though.
Because I have goals but I want balance.
Good, better, best. 😉

To being King or Queen of our life.
Celebrating our body.
For what it’s done.
For what it continues to do.
Celebrating the gift of our life.
Celebrating the place that we live.
And the people we love.
Being, present, grateful and kind.
Especially kind to ourself.

I have learned to love the process (mostly).
And this means continuing to learn.
And relearning.
And then to test, to tweak and to evolve.
To listen to people’s story without needing to agree or disagree and taking on the bits that support my individual growth.
Because, I think ultimately our sense of success must come from within (with the support from the right people)
But definitely from within ourself.

My commitment to me.
Just as when we head away to the ‘seaside’, I take bathers and a towel, I always choose to take a few items to keep me moving.
It’s easy to throw in some bands or kettlebells or focus mitts (I sure need to help my focus game)
Each step takes me closer to a better life.
What do you do?

It’s 6.48 on a Monday night.
I’m spent and my battery is low.
The day has been rewarding and full and happy.
But I’m out of juice. And, my knee is sore.
So what to do?
Calm evening with lamp and candle light, good nourishment and bed when I start yawning.
I have learnt not to let how I feel affect my big training day by allowing negative thoughts in.
And I had a good session, better that I could have imagined at 6.48 last night. But if we try to give our best, we might just get surprised.

Sitting here in my apple mint track pants, fire on, still trying to warm up after my 20 minute ocean plunge.
Soon I’ll do a bit of stretching.
This recovery arvo started with a 51 minute brisk walk where my arms were swinging at an alarming rate.
The walk, plunge and stretching aren’t necessarily comfortable and sometimes I don’t want to do them.
But a little discomfort now might just delay a lot more discomfort later 🤞

Today is my perfect day.
Autumn/Family/movement/calm/crazy/sun/sea.
What is your perfect day??

Today has been filled with sentiment. As I finally pack Muscle Maintenance away.
Great feelings of friendship, achievements, joy. It has been a privilege working with such superstars. I have grown and learned so much.
With my electric table sold. With my possessions packed away.
It’s time for a reinvention.
Feel free to make a suggestion 😀
Thanks for your support and if I treated you, the trust.
Thanks for sharing your journeys and being part of mine.
I’m still around, so I’d love to hear from you.
It’s been a blast !
Some decisions aren’t easy, but they are right x

Osteoarthritis.
It’s a topic of great interest to me. The news is not all bad.
Read on if you are interested!

https://arthritisaustralia.com.au/

Painful knees started being a constant companion in 2015 and I’m not alone!
3.9 million Australians have arthritis. That’s 1 in 6 people.
By 2030, it is projected there will be 5.4 million Australians with arthritis.
Around 2 million people with arthritis are of working age (15-64 years)
Arthritis is the leading cause of chronic pain and the second most common cause of disability and early retirement due to ill health in Australia.
I’ve been strength training for a little over two years and my knees are less painful and I am more able to walk and stand for long periods and climb and live my life.
Recent imaging says
“There is severe medial compartment OA.
…marked loss of medial tibiotemoral compartment joint
….prominent marginal osteophytic spurring.
Tricompartment 0A including severe involvement of the medial tibiofemoral compartment”
But I am pharmaceutical free and lift heavy weights.
This may seem counterintuitive, but weight lifting when you have arthritis is very good.
Weight lifting is a form of strength training that helps keep your muscles strong — and strong muscles support your joints.
The solution seems to be support from knowledgeable experts, consistent training and good diet.
What do you think?
Heather xx

One of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves and others is nature. The worlds best balance beams, stages and freshest air is here. Time without an agenda is priceless and you may even get to hang out with a pink Robin.
Note to diary: schedule more unscheduled time 😀

The space we operate in determines the feel.
Is it cluttered?
Do we have to move and step over the same things constantly.
Do we still have things that no longer serve us (like the 30 year old couch?)
Now to build up the new space 😀

A good friend once said
“Take control of life or life will control you !”
She was spot on.
Plan rest and recovery, and plan to deload or fatigue will take hold.
Listen to that body of yours, there are often clues.
What do you think?

Are you storming through life?
Choosing your best path.
Leaving a legacy.
Being wise
Or like a leaf, do you let life blow you to your chosen path?