Would you like to see some pictures?

Silly question really... of course you would!

Well I don't have time to write much as I've got to finish off an assignment before tomorrow night but will share these with you.

These are the group pics that the nice people at Maximuscle have sent me from the Body of 2009 photoshoot.

After seeing these pics it will become obvious to you why I felt like a bit of a lardy giant!

In case you were wondering, the girl on the opposite side to me is the one who actually won the 'Inspire' category (next year she says, next year...!).

You'll be able to read all about her and the others once the new website is up and running... but more about that at another date ;-)

So, first here we are in our sports outfits:
(yes, I know I shouldn't have worn those tatty old Tchibo pants and should have worn shorts to show off my quads! Also can't believe how pale I look despite having a 'dark' coloured spray tan!!)



Next we had to wear white shirts and black trousers:
(yes, high waisted trousers are always a no-no if you have a large behind but they were the only ones I could get in a 10 at short notice - I don't wear trousers at work, only jeans!



And finally here we are looking rather more glamorous :-)
(I love that dress, bright colours are a must... who wants to be a wallflower! Hilarious that I was still gigantic despite wearing the lowest height heels!)



Anyway, that's your lot, I'm off now to write about Pain and Water-Borne Infections... jealous?! ;-)

Hope you're all keeping well

Lots of love

TJx

Maximuscle Body of 2009 Competition pics

I got my individual pictures back from the Maximuscle Body of 2009 photo shoot and it was apparent why I didn't win the competition!

The pics were great in terms of lighting, hair, makeup etc but I wasn't happy with how I looked - Definitely not like a winner!!

Anyway, sorry to sound negative but I'm my own biggest critic and really wish I'd worked out that much harder before entering this competition!

Next year eh..

Anyway, here are the pics that I've selected that I don't utterly hate!

Unfortunately I didn't get any of the joint ones but hopefully will receive a selection soon so can post them on here (and you'll know what I mean when I said I felt like a giant next to the other girls!)

You probably can't tell but my lips were wobbling as I was trying to smile... so nervous!




I quite like this one but I'm not sure why I thought curly hair would look good - it's not like I look this glam when I workout!!




I felt like a wally doing this!




This one is very posey, according to Jay Benedetti (Maximuscle Body of 2009 Winner - Cover Model Category), lol!! The words 'pot', 'kettle' and 'black' spring to mind for some reason! ;-)




I was asked to demonstrate how I stretch my arms, this was one of the moves.... unfortunately not the best to show off my arms as it targets the biceps and anterior delts so my triceps are left loose and it's impossible to engage them... which results in...

bingo wings... arghhh!!




So that's your lot for now (the rest are pretty much variations on what is above, just at different angles etc), I might post the groups ones if/when they come, so you get to see the other girls although you will when we're all on the site and obviously the winner will be on the front cover of the catalogue - woo hoo!

Will write more later, Joe's out at a poker game so I have the PC to myself in the quiet... hurrah!

Catch you later

TJx

fluttery butterflies flipping in my tum

I'm playing the waiting game again, and my stomach literally flips over (okay not quite 'literally'!) when I think about the Maximuscle Body of 2009 comp.

I've been told we'll find out by the end of this week...

I think my heart has shifted to the middle of my ribcage and is trying to work its way up through my throat!

I keep mentally simulating the emotion I'll feel if/when I'm told I haven't won... I think this is my subconscious coping mechanism... but then there's this little part of me that wants to imagine how I'd feel if I won... I'm trying to restrain that part, push it down, squash it, squish it, subdue it, suppress it, suffocate the hope because I'm so scared of being disappointed!

arghh

this is why I don't enter competitions, EVER!

super duper day (and not even over yet!)

I am the embodiment of all things annoying at the moment. In fact, if you met me I'd probably really bloody irritate you given that I have all the enthusiasm of a 'charity mugger' and the talking speed of a loved up teenager on amphetamines.

I've had a good day :-D

It's been a scary one though, my armpits probably whiff a bit as I got all nervous and sweaty quite a few times (and just in case you are thinking that I lack basic hygiene principles I must add that I DO use anti-perspirant on a daily basis... I'd just not too much on this morning as I didn't want to get it all over my clothes during changes!).

I don't think I've *ever* experienced having a trembling mouth before! Honestly, I was trying to smile but my lips were wobbling all over the place, pretty ridiculous huh?

Anyway, here's how it went...

I got up early - 6am - ouch! which ordinarily wouldn't be *too* painful but I'd not slept much last night because of nerves/excitement (nervitement? no, sorry that's not going to work) and I felt a bit rubbish and groggy.

Fortunately I got to Kings Cross station with plenty of time to catch the 07:52 to Stevenage so grabbed a LARGE skinny latte and a bottle of water.

I got to the photographers just after 08:30, and met up with the lovely lady who'd delivered the stunning news that I'd made the finals to me the other week - I didn't know whether to shake her hand or hug her... I opted for the former (can't have her thinking I'm a complete nutter... not this early on anyway ;-) ) and we went inside and waited for the others.

I had my makeup done very adeptly and my hair curled at the ends - love it, it's so straight and boring usually - all in all I felt like a princes/popstar/actress/something else glamorous!

The first part of the shoot involved me standing in sporty gear pulling a few poses. I'm told I looked natural but I certainly didn't feel it and didn't think I looked that great in the pictures - face too fat, arms not defined enough etc, plus didn't think the poses were that flattering or particularly adventurous but I'm guessing that's my own fault and I could have been a little more imaginative myself really! I just felt like a bit of a plonker and I had the whole sweaty clammy palm thing, plus the trembling mouth and knees... doesn't make for a very good picture!

In contrast to this, the next two women blew me away! Particularly the woman who went straight after me! She was very slight, not an ounce of fat and great muscle definition. Not exactly the look I'd like, or could probably achieve unless I seriously changed my eating and drinking and cut out a lot of what makes me happy - i.e. going for meals with my friends and family and the odd glass of wine or cocktail. I don't know if I'd want to have such a low percentage of bodyfat though, I think it can take away from what makes you feminine! She did look superb though, her stomach was amazing and she was super bodyconfident but super nice.

The next lady was almost identical in terms of height, size and face shape, they could have been related! Different hair colours though, the first was blonde, the second was a redhead and the other girl was a brunette - I'm well, err, a combination of all three really, ha! The second lady although not as muscular, was very petite too and looked AMAZING considering her age - 40! I couldn't believe it, not that that's old but she certainly didn't look that age! She's also super brainy and works in cardiology - just goes to show you can be bright, beautiful AND have a great body to boot!

The 3rd girl was nearly 10 years my junior - arghh, I feel so old! She'd lost a lot of weight, similarly to me by eating better and taking up various forms of exercise. She looked much more what I'd deem to be a 'normal' look though, like last year's winner, Vicky, and like me! Neither of us are totally ripped, we're both quite womanly looking and both have bits about us that still wobble, but both of us are happy with how we look and have made excellent progress :-)

So yeah, we all had individual pics taken in a variety of sporty outfits then group shots of us in black trousers and a white shirt and then in dresses. I regretted not wearing a cropped top in any of my 'sporty' pics (though snuck one on for the 'sporty' group shots!) and also not 'dressing the part' so to speak. The second lady had the most amazing outfit consisting of the most microscopic pair of black shorts that left nothing to the imagination - you could see her bum in some of the pics but then you can when you wear bikini bottoms and she has a rather lovely petite bum - if you've got it, flaunt it huh? As she's into her boxercise she brought boots and gloves too, together with an almost backless bra-top. I felt very under prepared really, I could have worn my weight gloves to represent 'my sport' so to speak... although I did bring a running outfit (3/4 tights and t-shirt) but it was 'too pink' haha!

Anyway, I can't whinge, and I shouldn't, because it was an amazing experience but I do wish I'd prepared my outfits a little better and worn shorts to show off my quads.

I also felt like a giant!!! Honestly, everyone was shorter than me and smaller too... I felt huuuuuge! The only time I didn't was when we were having the 'glamorous' shot where we wore dresses as everyone's heels were higher than mine and so we were more or less equal in height - in the other shots I felt like I was dwarfing them, like I was some big scary adult, ha!

So yes, I didn't come away feeling confident, in fact I just felt a little lardy! But then I had to have a stern word with myself (silently of course!) because I turned up wearing size 10 jeans that I've had for ages and not been able to fit into, and they're not loose cut or wide leg ones either, they're quite fitted! Plus the top I'm wearing is an 8 and my jacket is a 10 so what the hell am I moaning about?! Honestly, I wish I wasn't such a giiiiiiiirl haha, but I guess in a competition like this you can't help but compare yourself to others right? It makes you *intensley* aware of any body shortcomings you might have!

In any case, I'm still grinning about it. It was a fantastic experience and one not many people have had. I totally geeked out too, which was great, there were a couple of women there who were taking notes for an article that's being written and they're both quite sporty and I was able to enthuse about Maximuscle products, to the max! Something I don't get to do ordinarily. Most of my 'sporty' friends are *just* into running or triathlon, I don't really have any people I know in real life who like to weight train. I'm really hoping that'll change though. I'd love to have a female training partner, I go to the gym with my other half but it's not really the same (even though I can almost lift as much as him!).

I'll get the pictures on a CD at some point during the next couple of weeks. We'll know next week who the winner is but I already have my suspicions that I know who that'll be. I felt a little outclassed today, but not inferior really, it's hard to explain. I'm really happy with the changes I've made in my life and the results they've produced, I love how how I look now and I know that I'm going to continue losing weight and building muscle and transforming my body more than I have... I consider myself to be in a 'during' phase rather than an 'after'.

In fact I don't think there will be an 'after', there's nothing wrong with striving to continually improve yourself, even after you've got to a level you feel happy with. There are always new things to try, sporting hobbies to pursue, nutrition and fitness facts to learn... it's a continual process really, one big exciting healthy journey, long may it continue! :-)

TJx

P.S. I'm off to celebrate now with my wonderful boyfriend and son so will hopefully post tomorrow if I have the time - my company is taking over Thorpe Park in the evening though so it might be that I don't post until Sunday if I don't get the chance during the day tomorrow.

Rounding up a fabulous week...

Whoa! Have been trying to post for the last couple of days but life and work kept getting in the way (outrageous!)! There's a big project coming to an end this week and Joe and I are trying to change our (massively terrible) bad habits (i.e. messiness, lateness, being less productive than we ought to be, etc...) and we ended up going to sleep by about 10pm last night - at least 3 hours earlier than usual!!

Anyway, the consequence of that is that I haven't been able to blog, or really read anyone else's (which is hard at the best of times as last count it was 166 blogs I was following!!).

So this post is going to be very loooooooooong, apologies in advance but I've got a whole week's worth of news to update you with!!

Firstly can I please say that I still cannot *believe* I'm a finalist in the Maximuscle Body of 2009, I'm still beaming. I'll be sat at my desk, suddenly remember and break out into an enormous grin :-D

My colleagues, who already think I'm bonkers, now probably think I've actually finally completely lost the plot due to the semi-permanent maniacal grin I now sport!

I won't tell them the reason for my mirth and merriment though, and I don't think I'll tell any of my friends either. I have told Joe (obviously) and my son knows now as well - he was wondering why we were having champagne with our beef casserole on Monday as our usual dinner beverage is Joe: glass of red wine, Me: small bottle of Bavaria (0% alcohol Belgium lager, it's lush).

He was very pleased, he said "ooh so are you going to be in those magazines then?" (our place is littered with various Maximuscle product catalogues and copies of "Fit & Toned"!)

Anyway, here's the week's round-up:

Wednesday 23rd Sep - Anniversary celebration! :-)

I took a half day and we went first to see District 9.

WOW.

That's all I can say really, I was blown away, it was so clever, yet implausible... if you haven't already seen it... what are you waiting for??! There's action aplenty and a story-line that'll melt and break your heart all at the same time. It's not perfect, but it's bloody brilliant.

After the cinema we went for food. Joe wouldn't tell me where it was, just that it was close to the place we were going that night.

We ended up at the most amazing steakhouse. Given that I'm such a protein fiend nowadays, I think Joe picked the best place.

This wasn't an overrated franchise selling mediocre steaks, this place was the dogs bollocks when it came to beef. Check it out, it's called The Hawksmoor and I can safely say that I've now eaten the best steak of my entire 30 years on this planet!

We sat at the bar to start and had a cocktail, I can't remember which one it was to be honest as it was one of their seasonal... it's fair to say that it was delicious though!

We exchanged some prezzies, I got a bottle of lovely smelling perfume Jean Paul Gaultier - Madame, and the most gorgeous turquoise and silver necklace - I tried to take a picture in the mirror as you can see... it didn't come out too well though haha.


I bought Joe a bottle of Hugo Boss - XY which had received the thumbs up from *both* my male colleagues (result!), he seems to like it :-)

I also got him tickets to see Snow Patrol when they play the Royal Albert Hall in November, looking forward to that, they played this year's V Festival - ended up headlining when Oasis pulled out prior to them splitting for good. Will be good to see the boys at a more intimate venue :-)

So, onto dinner - we were asked to 'pick our steaks'! Basically they had a blackboard with all the special cuts they had available in the restaurant at the time. We debated over the Porterhouse, which we were informed was a T-bone with a sirloin on one side and a fillet steak on the other... sounded nice but as we were being charged by the 100g we decided to go for the Chateaubriand (if like me you have no idea what this cut is, here's an explanation. We ordered the 800g, rare, between two, yes we're greedy sods... or rather I am as it was my idea!!

We had oysters to start. I'd not had them before and was warned that they didn't have the best texture, but they were still quite nice actually!

Then came the steak, look at this, how beautiful eh (unless you're a vegetarian or just not a fan of beef...), I think this was over half way into the meal and there was still tonnes of meat left... drooooollll...



It was the most delicious thing ever, we had it with a wonderful bottle of red, thick cut chips, field mushrooms and a spinach and stilton salad. The meat melted in my mouth, I savoured every bite... I'm salivating as I type this!



Unfortunately the Hawksmoor is a bit on the *ahem* pricey side so we won't be going back there in a hurry, but it was a special occasion and was cheaper than last year's excursion to Gordon Ramsay's restaurant in Chelsea - which remains the single most wonderful dining experience ever - and the only time I've ever looked up on pigeon with anything other than disdain (as it was served up on my plate in the most amazingly delicious fashion).

Later that night we went to the Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen to see my current favourite male artist, Liam Frost. I *love* this guy, he's amazing.



I hadn't heard of him until a couple of weeks ago when I was listening to XFM and I heard him interviewed on their 'Razor Cuts' show.

Click here to listen to/watch the song he played on the show, it's called Held Tightly in your Fist and is just beautiful.

I looked up his MySpace page. His new album, We Ain't Got No Money Honey, But We Got Rain is out to buy now - buy it!

So anyway, he was performing at the Hoxton Bar so me, Joe and a very small audience crowded around the stage while just Liam and an acoustic guitar held us captivated for over an hour.

Here's Joe and I feeling a little euphoric after an amazing meal and listening to some wonderful music: :-)



It was wonderful, I felt almost empty when it was over, I wanted more! I got his autograph though, very chuffed, and a hug too! :-D



Thursday 24th Sep

Can't actually really remember much about this day, it was about as boring and nondescript as they come!

Friday 25th Sep

By contrast to Thursday Friday was far from boring... long, heart-wrenching, disappointing, frustrating, all those things, not boring! After spending the whole day hoping desperately to hear from Maximuscle I dragged my despondent carcass to join my other half and some friends at Ozer Restaurant in Oxford Circus... have blogged about this place before, it's really fantastic :-)

We had a lovely meal and sat in the bar area for a while afterwards before going off home. Nothing could shake the huge feeling of failure though, how ridiculous that I'd let it all get to me like that!

Saturday 26th Sep

Saturday was better and far more productive. Stopped mooching, sulking and skulking about and did productive stuff like bake bread and tidy up the house. In the evening we rejoined our friends at the Wyndham Theatre to see the screen classic The Shawshank Redemption brought to life on the stage.

I wasn't sure how this would translate to the stage, it's such an amazing epic of a film (I've not read the book but can only imagine it's even better).

I loved it, it was very cleverly constructed, really entertaining, really gripping and engrossing. My hands hurt *so* much at the end from all the clapping!!

I'd actually even go and see it again, like tomorrow, and that's unusual for me when it comes to theatre productions!

After the play we went over to Dalston... now, if anyone here is especially familiar with the dulcet tones of Razorlight's front man Johnny Borrell, you might remember a line in a song which goes "don't.. go back... to Dalston..."

There is a reason for that, it's scary, it's edgy, and it's uber trendy to boot - I guess that's a symptom of areas like that, you either have to be psychotic or too-cool-to-care to visit them!

We got out at London Bridge and got a cab, explaining that we were going to club that was behind a pub... and that we didn't really know where but we had to knock on a wooden door... our cabbie then decided to regale us with tales of one of his misadventures in Thailand where he'd been recommended a 'good bar good bar' behind a wooden door... walked in with his friend only to have the door shut and bolted behind him and come face to face with a room full of scary guys with guns. He said was able to get out of there by waving his passport furiously around and yelling that he was British and that there were people who knew he was there. Apparently nobody spoken English but he and his friend were released

How much of that story is *not* the fictitious ramblings of a London cabbie I don't know, but it did leave us feeling a trifle uneasy as we approached The Wooden Door.

We needn't have worried, Passing Clouds is an elusive little joint but really worth the trek... it's basically a bedsit that's been converted into a club, it's fantastic. The whole place is kitted out in the most lush sumptuous fashion, really hippy, new age, bohemian, everything like that! They had a drumming band from Senegal playing while we were there - it was superb!

It was my friend's 30th which is why we were there but we didn't stay long and I was teetotal all night because of my 10k race the next day - which leads me nicely onto...

Sunday 27th Sep

Sunday I took part in one of Cancer Research UK's 10k events. There were quite a few held up and down the country and at the most beautiful of locations - castles, palaces, parks etc...

The race was held at Hampton Court Palace, on the actual grounds. It was a beautiful day, really clear blazing sunshine... which made for tough race conditions! Luckily I had a running bottle with me so was able to hydrate all the way round.

I ran with one of my friends who had got 1:05 in training so I thought wouldn't be too far off me during race conditions as the atmosphere makes quite a difference to your speed and effort (I find!).

The thing was that we set off together, and after the 1 kilometre marker my watch said 06:05. If I wanted to break the 60 minute marker, and indeed get better than the 57:01 I got for August's race, I was going to have to run faster than 06:05KMs!! So, I said to my friend that we needed to pick up the pace... we got to the second kilometre marker and I hit the split button on my watch only to see it register 06:34 - I was apparently slowing down! I really started to worry that I wasn't going to break the hour mark at all, nevermind beat my speed so I picked up the pace even more.

When I got to the 3km marker I hit the split button and saw it said 04:40. Hmm, that's not right, I wasn't running *dramatically* faster than how I started... it then dawned on me that the other markers must have been out but by that time I'd sped up and I find it really hard to decelerate so I kept going at that pace. Unfortunately my friend couldn't keep up and dropped behind a bit.

The rest of my KM splits were completely nuts, here are all of them:

KM 1 - 06:05
KM 2 - 06:34
KM 3 - 04:40
KM 4 - 06:01
KM 5 - 04:57
KM 6 - 06:12
KM 7 - 03:40 (!)
KM 8 - 06:12
KM 9 - 07:15 (!!)
KM 10 - 04:15

I was in a foul mood while running because I was totally unable to predict my finishing time whatsoever because of the dodgy marker placing. I finished in 55 minutes though, just over 2 minutes faster than the 10k I raced in August! I was thrilled, but knackered, I (think I) have only run twice since the race in August and that was in this last week before - two 5km runs. However I've been cycling and walking and strength training... and I've lost a bit of weight since then so I'm not entirely surprised I was faster.

Here's a pic of us all afterwards with our lovely shiny medals... yes I'm aware of how red and flustered (and short!) I look, but that's not unusual (the redness that is, the boys are all over 6'!)!!



I do wish I'd trained better though as I couldn't have run any faster than I did... I was completely wiped out after the race. We went with my friend (who finished in 57:26 - not bad for his first 10k!!) and his girlfriend who'd kindly looked after our bags, to a pub for a roast dinner:



I had a pint of real ale and a pint of lager PLUS a huge (but incredibly well deserved!) meal of beef, veg and yorkshire pudding and I was zonked! We all were, sitting at the table yawning our heads off - what great company we must have been for each other!! :-D

We got home and I cooked turkey meatballs later with garlic and jerk seasoning. It was lovely, will have to post the recipe :-)

Monday 28th

I got into work on Monday morning feeling a little low. On the back of my desk under, my monitor was the slip of paper I'd pinned with the "Could you be our body of 2009?" message on it... so I binned that, lol. I went to get it back out but the recycling guys have been already, boo!

I thought I'd sit down and reassess my goals. I'd put all my energy into the Maximuscle Body of 2009 competition that when it was over I felt a bit lost, bereft even, especially when I'd not heard by midnight (yes, I kept hoping *that* long!).

I've learnt so much this year, have had so many daft food and training myths I'd heard (and believed!) dispelled and have acquired so much knowledge, all the time increasing my strength and transforming my body, that I don't want it to end here! I know I've got my Open University Health Sciences course but that's just to expand my mind, I still have so much I want to do to my body!!

I contacted Jo at http://www.jagsfitnessblog.com/ who I met through Weightloss Resources earlier this year to ask if she'd consider becoming my training buddy.

Jo has lost nearly 4 stone through training and diet alone and has been truly inspirational to me throughout this year, a real shining example of effort, control, perseverance and results! I've had my ups and downs this year, as I found it hard to commit to overhauling my diet, but she nailed it right from the start and got the results she wanted really fast as a result. She also happens to be one of the nicest, most supportive and incredibly helpful people you could ever hope to meet - she'd bend over backwards to help someone out!

I'd been scouring the net for other competitions I could enter but all I could find were those with women with bodies I don't think I could really hope to achieve!

I wish I had the discipline and willpower that people like Jo have, but I don't want to give up things like going out for meals with friends/family, drinking good red wine and eating the odd chocolate or big pasta dish!

However, I cam across these pictures for the NABBA"Miss Figure - Toned", (as opposed to "Miss Figure - Trained"!!) and I think that's a more realistic look to aspire to :-)

I also really want to improve my 10k race time, row and cycle a lot faster (and up larger hills!), lift a lot heavier and complete harder routes on climbing walls.... and that's just for starters! There's lots to focus on post-Maximuscle comp so I was feeling more positive by lunch time that I had so much to look forward to and much much more to achieve.

Then, Monday afternoon, I got "the call" and things went from 'better' to 'just simply amazing'!!

I still can't fully articulate how I felt when I took that call. I tried to explain to Joe and the best I could come up with was that it was like the feeling you have if you've ever lost anything really dear or precious to you; losing hope of it ever turning up again, but it then doing so!

I felt very dazed on Monday night (not just from the champagne!), spent at least an hour thinking of what to write in my blog to tell you which managed to p1ss Joe off as he didn't understand why I couldn't just 'get it all down' in a shorter time. I tried to explain that it's not like writing a homework essay or anything where your thoughts are concise and clear... mine rarely are, and at times this deteriorates into a stream of unintelligible nonsense.

Tuesday 29th Sep

So, onto yesterday... as if the day couldn't get any better I learnt that the bike I was after had been delivered to Action Bikes in Victoria, so was ready for a test ride.

I popped along at lunch and hopped on it and took it for a ride round the block... the block being Scotland Yard Police Station... possibly not the best place to ride a brand new bike, complete with all the tags, around... I got a few weird looks as the price tag fluttered loudly in the wind... I'd not nicked it, honest guv'!

Here's the picture I took of it, propped up outside the Ministry of Justice.



I was going to take it for a ride round St James's Park but I didn't need to... a few minutes on it convinced me that it was the bike for me. It feels a lot smaller than my big mountain bike and I wasn't prepared for the judderyness that fixed forks would afford, but a) I work in area with a zillion potholes and b) on smooth surfaces it literally gliiiiiiides along :-)

So I bought it, him, Henry I've called him. I don't usually name inanimate objects but I thought I'd make an exception this time.

I picked him up after work... he looks a little different now having had a pannier rack fitted (as well as the price tags removed!) and by the time I got home I was in love!

Ahhh

That's all for now I think, this is the most ridiculously long post after all and it's nearly the end of Wednesday! I think (hope) that it'll be a little less busy tomorrow so I might even be able to finish telling you all about my activity holiday in Les Gets!!

See ya later

TJx

The most amazing thing has happened

you know, since my very first post on Monday 16th February this year, I've spent the last 7 months not being able to shut up on this thing. I can waffle on for hours, seriously! But now, well, I don't know what to say exactly! I don't know how to put into words just how I am feeling!

I was sat at my desk at work earlier and I saw a call flash up on my mobile - it didn't say 'unknown number' (e.g. 'sales call') so I thought I'd answer it, to find myself speaking to a lovely lady from Maximuscle!

The rest of the conversation is a bit hazy to be honest... rather like one of those dreams you have during a lie-in on a weekend... where you've woken up to use the loo and then gone back to sleep for an hour or so - it's all quite vivid, but hazy, clear but opaque.

From what I could glean there was a problem with the entries submitted via the website (I got mine in on the morning of the 22nd - cut-off day!) so the judging got held up and they weren't able to inform everyone who made the shortlist before today.

And I've made the shortlist for the Maximuscle Body of 2009.

!!!!!!!!!!!

It seems even more dream-like as I sit here typing away, tipsy on 30th birthday champagne (saved for a special occasion, and I deem this one!) and listening to the Foo Fighters on Spotify.

Did I dream this? I've got the number still on my phone, I took her name and direct line just in case, I'm hoping I'll go into work tomorrow and it'll still be there so I know it's real.

It's difficult to articulate just how much this means to me. To have my hard work noticed by a company that has supported my goals, a company that I have trusted and believed in, and have since been rewarded not only with a body I am proud of but by making the shortlist for this competition I've been working towards all year.

I feel both proud and humble, it's really odd!!!

I don't care if I don't win it, to be perfectly honest I didn't think I would win the whole competition, but I wanted to at least make the shortlist and be recognised for my efforts and transformation.

And I have, and I couldn't be happier.

TJx

This is horrible

all this waiting around to hear... I wasn't prepared for the physiological, nevermind psychological effects on me!

when my blackberry vibrates for a new email, every time that little sodding red light winks its eye at me, (which happens very often, not because I'm popular in the slightest, just because I've signed up for so many newsletters on health, exercise, nutrition, sportswear, activities, races etc...!!!) I nearly leap out my skin! My hands go icy cold, my heart starts racing, my head prickles.... plus I find myself holding my breath as I reach for the phone

this isn't healthy!! why am I acting in this manner? I've never been competitive before, particularly as I wasn't a sporty child/teen/young adult etc, so why does it matter so much now?

Is it because I've put myself up there in such a public way. even though I haven't told my friends or family I've basically told the whole wide world if they want to hear/read about it!

I guess I just didn't realise how much I wanted this until now, the final day to hear back from them. Maximuscle say in their entry Ts & Cs that:

"Applicants will be shortlisted for each category and invited to attend a photoshoot. Shortlisted entrants will be notified by Friday 25th September 2009"

BY Friday 25th September.... so people might already have been told before today... today's the cut-off to hear back.

I wish I knew either way, I wish I knew how much competition I was up against, and the calibre, and... more importantly what Maximuscle really 'want' in the person(s) they in essence choose to represent them over the coming year.

Obviously I think I stand a reasonably good chance or I wouldn't have put myself out there would I? I train hard, research hard, eat well, I genuinely love Maximuscle products, as has been noted on here so many times, and I've seen really good results because of all this.

And yet I feel guilty for wanting this! It's not even about the money (although that would obviously be amazing!!), but I do believe in the company and the products I've been taking and, if I dissect this down to its smallest element I think right now I feel like a child worried about being rejected by their parent!!

Which is just ridiculous I know, as I've come so far and done so well to worry about approval from a huge organisation like Maximuscle, but I suppose I'm looking for vindication that my loyalty and efforts have at least been noted? Or am I just this small fish in a very large pond of much more attractive and marketable females?

I just would love so much to make it on the shortlist, to feel like my efforts have been recognised by them, this may sound pathetic I know but then perhaps maybe entering the competition in itself appears ridiculous and narcissistic?

I don't know, I just really really want this and I'm scared by how much, and how rubbish I'm going to feel when I don't hear back from them!

I really wish I could shake MYSELF by the shoulders!

ARghhh!!!

I'm so sorry, I'm going to stop ranting and (attempt to) get on with some work

glad I got it off my chest though

hope you're all well...

TJx

competition pictures and reflections on my progress and transition towards a new me

I started writing this post yesterday but I ran out of time had to nip off as was working a half day, it was my and Joe's anniversary, aww. Had a fab day/night, will tell you all about it later :-)

So, here's my progress this year in pictures (click on all pictures for the larger size):

In February I took some pics of me in a bikini which I thought I quite liked (the bikini that is, not the photo subject - it looked good on a hanger anyway!)



However, as the year went on I got more caught up with writing about losing weight and less about doing everything to ensure that I did! I didn't take any pictures of me in a bikini during these times as I felt so bad about myself. I wish I had though, they'd have been better (or worse, depending which way you look at it!) than the ones above!

These pictures below were taken on my actual birthday (23rd May) when we were in Dublin. I was so gutted when I saw them as I'd aimed to lose a significant amount of weight by my 30th birthday but all I'd done is gained more!



The reason for this was that although I had the right ideas, I didn't have the right practices. I was doing everything right when it came to training and I was eating healthily and well. However I was still drinking quite a bit of alcohol on week nights and my portion sizes were just way too large.

I also wasn't entering ALL my food in my online food diary with Weightloss Resources, it's the little things you eat, like the odd chocolate here, or spoonful of peanut butter there, that add up to a lot come the end of the day!

These are some of the only pictures I have of me during that time, I was so ashamed with my backwards progress that I deleted all the pics that I took and had access to! It's only because Joe's so insistent on never deleting a picture that I have the ones above!

Anyway, enough of that. Having hauled my arse into gear these past couple of months, here are some comparison pics of my face and body:







And here are some of the actual pictures I submitted in my Maximuscle Body of 2009 entry. I didn't know what sort to take so I took some pics of me in a couple of dresses as well as bikinis





I'm not 100% thrilled with the bikini ones as I was still feeling a bit puffed up from all that alcohol on Friday night, what a div eh? Because of that and the fact that I'm not very tanned you can't really see my muscle definition, particularly around my abs, but it is there, I do have visible, and a flat tummy that I'm really proud of!!

Grr, so annoyed at myself but I'm only human and still learning as I go along.

So, looking back over the last 7 months:

What I did wrong:

I don't want to dwell too long on negatives because actually I've done really well in the end. However it's important to learn from your mistakes and I made a lot of them at the beginning of the year!

I think my biggest error was in thinking that this would be easy. Even if I didn't voice it, that's what I kidded myself into thinking. It wasn't, it was bloody hard work, I couldn't carry on with my previous lifestyle like I thought I'd be able to and I had to make sacrifices when it came to food and alcohol. It wasn't until I came to realise this that I began to see real results.

Tara from Figure This has written a great post entitled 'How To Lose Weight'. She says that many people struggle to lose weight for a number of reasons, and on her list I really identify with the first three:

* lack of belief in one's ability to lose weight.
* lack of discipline.
* lack of knowledge.

Read the rest of the article if you can, it's really good. I think I identify with the first point more than anything. I didn't believe in myself enough, or in my abilities. I was approaching this in a half-hearted manner because I didn't really truly deep down believe I had what it takes to make such a huge difference to my body and my life.

It wasn't until I remembered a poem I knew as a child, which I ended up posting on here one day that I realised I wasn't going to succeed if I didn't start believing that I could. You've got to think you're a winner before you can become one!

I started to visualise my success, how I wanted myself to look, and the feelings I'd get when I saw my reflection and liked that I saw. Those feelings I have now, when I get into our mirrored lift at work, or walk past a shop window and catch sight of my reflection - I am really pleased with what I now see, I don't think "eugh" and it doesn't make me feel miserable.

It's the best feeling in the world :-)

What I've done right:

* I've not given up, even when things didn't go to plan at the start
* I've never lost sight of my goals
* I've totally overhauled my eating habits and changed my relationship with food for the better, and forever
* I've not reverted to old effective but destructive methods, not once, not ever, that's just not a part of me and who I am anymore
* I've not isolated my family during this but have included them in my healthy new lifestyle (interesting healthy meals, cycling, swimming, running, activity holidays etc)
* I've learnt so much about exercise, nutrition and general health, and have loved it so much that I'm going to continue doing so and am making it part of my current and future study goals
* I've succeeded in my goal of feeling confident enough to enter the competition

Above all things, I now AM Slimmer, Fitter, Stronger and Happier :-)

TJx

huzzah!

Phew! I was getting a little worried as I'd not heard from the OU regarding my "Introducing health sciences: a case study approach" course!

But here it is, in its glory - my course website and study planner - hurrah!



I can't wait to start, it's going to be awesome! Case Study 1 is "Water and Health in an Overcrowded World". here's the full list:

Case Study 1: Water and Health in an Overcrowded World.
Most people now live in a very different world to the one in which we evolved. Rapid urbanisation and changes in human lifestyles means we inhabit a ‘human zoo’ that, despite many benefits, incurs many costs to health and happiness. We focus on the global shortage of clean water that exposes over a billion people to infectious diseases and chemical pollution.

Case Study 2: Pain.
This case study presents an integrated account of the neurobiology and psychology of pain. It considers the common properties of pain triggered by injuries and the pain of events such as divorce. You’ll study the anatomy and function of the nervous system combined with psychological processes such as classical conditioning to understand how effective drugs, surgery, placebos and cognitive therapies are in treating pain.

Case Study 3: Alcohol and Human Health.
Heavy drinking increases the risk of life-threatening diseases; accidental injury; psychological impairment; and addiction, but moderate intake may have some health benefits. You’ll explore not only global health statistics, but also the chemistry of ethanol: how alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream and its effects on major organs, behaviour and memory.

Case Study 4: Screening for Breast Cancer.
Mammography screening using X-ray imaging to detect early breast cancers occurs in most wealthy countries. This case study examines the physics of mammography, the rationale for screening and the risk factors for breast cancer, and explains how normal and abnormal cells are distinguished in diagnostic tests. It considers the benefits, efficacy, costs and drawbacks of screening.

Case Study 5: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Forgotten Killer.
Permanent loss of lung function due to COPD affects millions of people worldwide. In richer countries, most are older cigarette smokers, but in poor countries, younger women and children exposed to indoor smoke from cooking fires also suffer. This case study explains the science of respiration and treatment, and the effects of COPD on people’s lives.

Case Study 6: Trauma, Repair and Recovery.
Traumatic injury causes millions of deaths and disabilities globally and cases are rising as road traffic increases. You’ll look at how the body reacts to tissue damage, focusing on limb fractures in younger and older people. The psychological – as well as the physical – effects of injury are considered in the context of variations in access to emergency and longer-term care.

Case Study 7: Visual Impairment: A Global View.
Partial or total loss of sight affects millions of people worldwide. Many cases are preventable or curable, but simple interventions are unaffordable in poorer countries, where even the lack of clean water is a significant threat to sight. This case study explains sight loss and corrective treatments through the anatomy and physiology of the eye and the physics of light and lenses.

After this course, if I want to go on and get the Certificate in Health Studies (which I do!) I need 30/35 points from the the list of optional courses they provide. I'm already almost 100% sure I'm going to take:

* Understanding human nutrition (10 points)
* Human genetics and health issues (10 points)
* Challenging obesity (15 points)

in that order :-)

I'll also most likely take:

* Understanding cancers
and:
* Understanding cardiovascular diseases

and I'm quite tempted by Elements of forensic science as I'm ever so slightly obsessed with the stories that Tess Gerritsen writes... I've read all her crime fiction books bar the latest one which I've not seen on shelves here in the UK yet - will have to keep an eye out for that!!

These courses won't be part of the Certificate in Health Sciences, instead counting towards my Open Degree. I'll have to draw up a plan for that soon (when I say 'draw up', there's an electronic form on the OU website that does it for you!) as I need to pick a certain amount of level 1, 2 and 3 courses to get the right split of points for the Honours BSc Degree.

It's all hugely exciting and I'm just *so* glad I embarked on this whole weight-loss journey! It's taught me so much about food, nutrition, people and, most importantly, myself!

If I hadn't set myself this goal of entering the Maximuscle Body of 2009 competition there is NO way I'd be studying health and nutrition now. I'd still be studying for a degree in Computing with Business and feeling thoroughly miserable, stressed and without direction. I'm so glad that for once I've had the courage to decide to study something that interests me, rather than go for my usual approach of picking a subject that I know I'm good at, so I therefore think it *right* to pursue. I'm quite happy and willing to study various other business modules as well as computing (after all, that is my job!) along the way to reaching my degree, but now I've got the flexibility to mix it up a bit and add topics that I feel passionate about, like nutrition, like health issues, like cancers and other diseases - ALL those topics have personally affected me and are of importance, as well as interest, to me.

Whatever the outcome of this competition, I feel very positive about the changes that have taken part in my life and I look forward to beginning the next stage of my journey :-)

TJx

Cheeky!!

Ploughing through pics in preparation for this weekend's Maximuscle Body of 2009 comp submission...

the problem is that I've deleted all my 'fat' pics that were taken by my camera because I was so horrified with how I looked!

Because of that I'm having to rely on Joe's pics taken by his digital SLR earlier this year as I won't have been allowed to delete them - he's funny about things like that ;-) there are loads he's taken though (not all of me mind!) and they're at least 5MB each so it's taking *forever* to upload and access them!

I found the pic above which made me laugh though... the sneaky thing took a pic of my arse while he was over for the weekend of Pride & Prejudice! Just goes to show how good his camera is though as he was bloody far away at the time of taking it!!

For once, I actually like a picture of my bottom! It's actually smaller and shaplier than that now as that was taken in July, but still pleased nonetheless

I'm putting together some 'comparison' shots for earlier this year and more recently - e.g. this pic of me in April at my friend's birthday party compared with one of the ones taken the other day:



I got a shock looking back on some of those pics, no wonder I'd deleted my own ones, can't believe how much rounder my face was! Just goes to show what a few months and some bloody hard work can bring about :-)

off to bed now, hope you're all well

TJx

Saracens Saturday

I'm not a huge rugby fan... don't get me wrong, big butch burly men running round in short thigh-exposing shorts really does it for me big style - but I can't understand the game to save my life!

Give me football and I'll be able to tell you exactly what's going on, I even know the offside rule (get me!) possibly stemming from dating a Sunderland AFC fan (I still follow their progress to this day, for my sin!) and having a son who played for Fulham FC juniors in goal for a few years... check him out, so cute, can't believe he was ever that small! :-)



These are from his first year when his team basically won everything! The other teams in the 5-aside league used to hate the Fulham kids with a passion as they won most titles

One of the many benefits of playing for Fulham FC Juniors is that we got to go see games for a fiver and my son got to be ball boy and parade his team's trophies at the end of season on the pitch!

here's him and his team outside of Craven Cottage:



and here they are on the pitch



The guy with the boys is Ross, he was an awesome coach but was hounded out by another Dad who had delusions of grandeur and was on a power trip, very sad :-( I wonder what he's doing, it wasn't the same after he got forced out left. He was running a company called Brasilia Soccer, I hope it's doing well.



ooh, come back with that! :-D



At a penalty shoot-out... times like this (actually most times!) when I'd wished my son had picked any other position than that of goalkeeper!!



And here's my boy a year later, looking a lot more grown up, still dinky though :-)



Anyway, not sure where all that was going, think it might have just been an excuse for some proud Mummy pics :-D

So, Saturday we went to see the mighty Saracens take on the Northampton Saints. I'd not been to Wembley Stadium before (have seen bucket loads of gigs at the Arena but never in the actual stadium!) so was super excited and my son was too :-)

The first half was pretty dull but the second was great, not that I understood any of it but there was lots of cheering, running around and, importantly, scoring!

here are some pics - here's me and my completely and utterly attractive stunner of a boyfriend



wow, what a hottie, how can I resist eh?!

A nice pic of me and the boy



Mmm, thighs...



I did ask my son if he felt in any way 'odd' turning up to a RUGBY match in a Liverpool FC football top?! I don't think he'd even given it much thought until that point!



Now, I absolutely love this picture, it's my phone wallpaper at the mo, but yet again it's blurred :-(

I reckon I might have to get a new camera, pah

doesn't my son look so much like me - poor kid eh?! :-D



hmm, he's got a bit of a way to go before he catches up with Joe ;-)



Last but not least of the Wembley pics is one of us outside the stadium, a rare full length pic of me! I was unhappy at first as Joe took it from not the most flattering of angles but then he did a) get the arch of Wembley Stadium in (although you have to squint as it was quite a bright day!) and b) manage to make my legs look pretty long - those jeans are a size 10 btw woot woot!!! :-D



and here's him trying to be sly a nick Joe's wine... no love, you're not in France anymore!




We went back to Ozer, the place I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, and had the 'Healthy Menu' again... the service there is faultless and the food is so wonderfully fresh and tasty - and good value for money!! If you live in the Capital, or are thinking of visiting, then check out:

Ozer Restaurant and Bar
5 Langham Place
London
W1B 3DG

T: +44 (0) 20 7323 0505
T: +44 (0) 20 7323 0111

That reminds me, I must contact them this week about Xmas menus... as I did 'such a good job' last year at organising the annual festive meal I've been given the job again. Joy. The rule is that last one in takes on the task... however, our latest in was our Head of Pensions - who therefore has the almighty power of.... D.E.L.E.G.A.T.I.O.N

dammit!

anyway, that's enough from me, hope you're all hunky dory, I'm very well and looking forward to writing up my piece for the Maximuscle Body of 2009 competition - entries close beginning of next week, not long now, very pleased with results now so all I need to do is get typing and also snapping!!

Laters lovely people

TJx

Breathe in... aaaahhhhh aaaand relax :-)

I'm basking in the afterglow of my run. Quite literally glowing too! I'm one of those unfortunate people who go very red when they've exercised... and stay that way for a while depending on the level of intensity!

I love the calm feeling that cardio work gives me, pushing myself on the treadmill for 45 mins (booooring, but was listening to XFM on the radio and they had some pretty banging tunes playing :-D particularly loving Ian Brown's new song 'Stellify', it's fantastic, back to his best :-)

So how is everyone? I've been pretty busy this week and I have a deadline tomorrow so can't really arse about on here for too long but thought I'd come and say hi and share my week with you so far.

So I had the best workout on Monday as reported, perhaps fuelled by the rather excellent Venison burgers and sweet potato mash I had for dinner beforehand. Just look at this:



They were gorgeous! But you know what the best part about these 'Bambi Burgers' was? No fat came off! We cook with a George Foreman Lean Mean Fat Reducing Grilling Machine, we grill nearly all our meet on there, it's disgusting how much fat comes off sausage and bacon! But there wasn't a speck of fat in the grill tray below!

I'm sold :-)

On Tuesday I woke up super early (for me) and got to the gym for the Tuesday morning 06:45 spin class. Sam "The Psycho" spin teacher was there this week - hurrah! He was away last week, not a happy bunny me :-(

The class was awesome, I love spin because you work as hard as you want to... the levels are completely arbitrary, it's all about 'perceived effort'. I'm pretty damn sure my version of 80% requires a lot less resistance than our instructor's!

in any case, it rocked, I felt really good despite it a) being so damn early and b) really powering my legs during the sprint stages... it must mean that I'm getting a lot fitter... hopefully!

Tuesday lunch time I went to my work's gym and did some core and back work... here's what I did:

3 x Supersets of the following exercises:

Plank - x 60 seconds
Hip Thrust - x 20
Side Plank/raises - x 10 each side (ouch, feeling it today still!)
Alternate leg extensions - x 10 each leg (these seemingly innocuous exercises are great for lower down deep stomach muscles)
Back extensions - hands by ears - x 20
Reverse Crunch - x 20
Dorsal Raise - x 20 each side

What I love about the above set is that you just need a mat to do it on, no other equipment - will definitely be working on my core when I'm on holiday the week after next!

Tuesday evening Joe and I went with some friends to the Royal Albert Hall to see the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain play after the Proms. It was absolutely bloody marvellous!!!

We didn't have the best seats, I think they were last minute purchases as were only a fiver, but didn't give a damn, the atmosphere was excellent and the music was fantastic! We had a whale of a time, here's a pic, click to enlarge, it's quite good:



You can listen to the performance here via the BBC iPlayer, you've only got 5 days left though to hear it - I recommend you take a listen though, they're fantastic and, if you've not heard them before - quite unlike anything you have heard before!

I really really really want a ukulele now! I love them, they're so teeny and perfect, so cute!

Yesterday I cycled to work and did my Lower Body Routine #2 at lunch time and then cycled home.

Today I went to the gym and did the run I was raving about earlier. I was going to row afterwards but I needed to shower and get back to my desk so thought it best not to... my boss is already pretty relaxed about the fact that I take my 'lunch' break at about 2.30/3 so that the gym is more or less empty when I go - don't want to push it by spending the whole afternoon there!!

Tonight I'm going to go home soon and make turkey meatballs. Turkey is a great meat, very low in fat and high in protein - better than chicken in some respects but not as tasty perhaps ;-)

I've also got to bake some bread to take with me to our friends whose place we're staying at over the weekend... because daaa daaa daaaarrrr

We're going to the V Festival!!

man, can't wait, will be the last festival of the year though *sob* but it's going to be absolutely rocking! Just check out the line-up!!!

There are so many bands I want to see... Kings of Leon and lostprophets played last year and I was in heaven. This year I can't wait to see the Killers as I've not seen them before(!!), Oasis - the great British staple of rock, Starsailor (even though I saw them recently and they made me cry, for personal reasons, one of the song's title and subject are very poignant indeed to me), Ting Tings are fab although have seen them too and wish they had more material!

Really really can't wait to see MGMT and Pendulum, OMG! The Noisettes are great too, saw them when they supported Maximo Park earlier this year at the Brixton Academy, that lady is damn sexy... speaking of damn sexy, Lady Gaga is playing too - hubba hubba! I love her, she's nuts, absolutely perfect :-)

Other than that, umm Biffy Clyro, they're great, have seen them too, Pete Doherty's playing so might go check him out, ahh Will Young... I saw him at the Royal Albert Hall a few years back, I love him, he waved at my son a few times when we used to see him when he lived in Chelsea... bless :-)

Ooh dizzee rascal, snow patrol, elbow - the specials!

right, gotta stop, getting too excited

the thing is that I know there will be some horrible clashes... like last year when the Kaiser Chiefs were playing at the same time as the Chemical Brothers... I went to see the latter, it was pissing it down outside so probably the better choice as they were in a tent... still gutted I missed the Kaisers though...

right, gonna stop, there are more there though that I'd like to see, I can't wait!

Okay so in terms of food and exercise... well I've been doing quite well actually!

My camera is on the blink though, which is quite gutting as a) can't put any progress pics up, b) can't take any pics of V festival and c) might not have a camera to take on holiday with me!!

I'm considering just going and buying one, I'm really upset, I feel so naked without my camera, I take it everywhere and my blackberry's picture quality is just shit

I really want to buy the new Nokia N97, it has a 5 megapixel camera, but it's not out on O2 yet, dammit! Although there is a successor apparently out already in the form of the Nokia N900... might wait for that now, I'm quite fond of my little Blackberry, but I do want a decent camera... arghh!

anyway, so yes, food is nice indeed... I recently made a rather nice lunch for myself, haven't got a pic, and it's not the most attractive dish but it's simple and easy to make, uber high in protein and handy to take to work :-)

Here's the nutritional info, it makes 4 servings so plenty of lunches for me.

It's a tuna, beans and rice salad. You just cook up the rice, then drain, stir in the tuna and beans and the Promax Natural. I like to eat it cold with some extra tabasco sauce, and serve it with cherry tomatoes and salad leaves :-)

I'm really loving the way my arms are looking at the mo, they're leaning out really well, as is my waist although it's still achy from the core work on Tuesday!

I had a bit of a panic when I got an email from those nice people at Maxiwomen to remind me that the Maximuscle Body of 2009 competition closes in a few weeks!!! arghhh!

I'm feeling good, but not ready so have decided to knuckle down over the next few weeks and be really strict with my eating and ensure I get up and do some exercise too - particularly as it's having such a welcome effect on my sense of well-being :-)

I've already warned my friend that I probably won't be participating in the bacon and sausages that will be in abundance the weekend mornings between festival performances... I'm going to take plenty of Promax Diet Bars, powder and Maxi-milks with me to help stave off hunger and the ensuing temptation!

You can buy 2 packs of Thermobol for £22 at the moment on the Maxiwomen site so have bought a few of those to ramp up my fat loss over the next month. I'm feeling really positive about it all, and liking the changes I'm seeing, I just wish it hadn't taken my so damn long to actually start taking this all seriously!! It's been such a learning curve though, I had so many wrong ideas about what it took to lose fat beforehand... I'm glad I'm getting there now, slowly but surely!!

Right, I'm off home now, going to cycle back and then tomorrow I'll go to the gym first thing and do some cardio work and maybe some leg weights, before doing my Upper Body Routine #2 at 'lunch' heh. I won't be able to exercise until Monday evening so Saturday and Sunday will be my rest days - hence why I'm packing it all in this week, I would ordinarily space it all out a bit better!!

TJx

My strength building workouts (for now!)

Right, now that I am recovered more or less 100% from my horrid flu and having realised that I don't have a chance in hell of winning the Maximuscle Body of 2009 unless I start taking my training much more seriously, I've finally put together 4 strength-training workouts based on the exercises I currently do.

There are two upper routines and two lower. The No. 1s can only be done at my local gym as they're machine based and my work gym is a bit pants!

I haven't yet decided yet how often I'll do them, I think one of each a week, intersperced with cardio (walking, running, biking and rowing) will do for now as I'm going to be super busy between now and August! This week and next ridiculously so as I've got rehearsals tonight, a British Military Fitness class tomorrow (woo hoo!), venue reccee with a friend on friday (I'm helping out with a new themed club night in London coming in August, it's going to be awesome!), BBQ/picnic saturday, dress rehearsals sunday... and then all of next week is basically rehearsals then performances from thursday to sunday... scary!

anyway, enough blabbering, here are my routines:

UPPER BODY WORKOUT NO. 1
(Machine and Stability Ball)

* Chest Press
* Lat Pulldown
* Triceps Pressdown
* Pec Deck fly
* Low Row
* Shoulder External Rotation
* Shoulder Internal Rotation
* Back Extension - Arms Folded
* Back Extension - Arms Out


UPPER BODY WORKOUT NO. 2
(Dumbbells)

* Shoulder Press
* Biceps Curl
* Upright Row
* Triceps Kickback
* Lateral Shoulder Raises
* Side Row


LOWER BODY WORKOUT NO. 1
(Machine and Stability Ball)

* Double Leg Press
* Single Leg Press
* Leg Curl
* Leg Extension
* Hip Adductor
* Hip Abductor


LOWER BODY WORKOUT NO. 2
(Dumbbells)

* Step-up
* Forward Lunge
* Squat
* Stiff Leg Dead Lift
* Single Leg Split Squat
* Single Leg Calf Raise
* Reverse Lunge

I'm also doing some various abdominal exercises but haven't decided which one I like enough to do regularly... none of them make me hurt enough the next day!!