Gadgets for the Win!

It's been about 2 weeks since my last post.  In that time I've been quite up and down with my exercise & eating habits.  But... I feel like I'm actually making progress!

I received many comments and tips from some of my lovely readers on how to motivate myself, and as per my last post, I've now set some goals to work towards.  In this post I wanted to share with you my Top 3 tips that I've implemented and how they've been working for me.

1. Get a Fitbit

One lovely friend suggested that I get a Fitbit to help track my movements and steps throughout the day.  I've been wearing my Fitbit for a week now and have completely fallen in love! I'm very much a gadget person, whether for fitness, kitchen or office, I love me a fancy new gadget to get me going.  The Fitbit has been an excellent motivation to get my butt off the couch and achieve my daily goal of 10,000 steps.  In fact, given that my intent is to exercise daily, I've just upped my goal to 15,000 steps a day. Seeing my iPhone flash with the little badge when I've reached my goal, and seeing my Fitbit light up when I'm doing an awesome job is like having my own personal cheer-squad. I can highly recommend the Fitbit to anyone who is interested in getting themselves moving.

2. Set a good soundtrack

Another great suggestion was to set myself a good soundtrack while I'm working out.  Again I've gone in the gadget direction and dug out my iPod Shuffle.  I set up a new workout play list and have made sure that every song that comes on is one to help me up my pace and get me moving whether I'm at the gym, walking or going for a jog.  Today was an especially good day for motivating songs.  I was on the exercise bike at the gym feeling particularly pumped and motivated, and then on came the Hilltop Hoods with "Chase that feeling".  And boy did I chase! I could see my goal right in front of me and I felt so focused and in the moment - such an awesome feeling.  Then to top if off, the next song was Alicia Keys "Girl on Fire". I love me a great a rockin' song about chicks kicking ass! 

3. Set a workout time

The final piece of advice I've taken on board was from my lovely sister.  She suggested I set a time to exercise and stick to.  Yet again, the gadgets have come in to play.  Mr Fitness and I share an iCalendar to make sure we're not double booking ourselves for social events etc. I'm extremely lucky to have a gym in my area that also provides daycare for 1 hour sessions. So I've made sure that I've booked in with the daycare up to 2 weeks in advance and put it in our shared calendar for every workout session I intend on doing.  This has been great at getting me out there and working hard.  I'm not one for being late to appointments or letting people down and cancelling, so if it's in the diary I'm more than likely to make it happen.

So far the scales aren't showing a lot of progress... but I'm really starting to feel great.  I have more energy and my clothes are very slowly starting to loosen up - wahoo!!

Goals With Heart & Soul

In my last post, I requested your help to find my exercise mojo.  And many of you came to the party and helped me out with some great advice and tips on how to get back into the swing of things.  But one piece of advice really stood out: Set an exercise goal.

So I've set myself 2 short-term exercise goals.  I wanted my goals to have meaning and be things I know I can achieve

First Goal: to run 10km in under 1 hour by the end of January 2013.  This is something I know is absolutely achievable. I've done this in the past, and I know with some training I'll be able to get back there.

Second Goal:  To complete the West Gippsland Relay for Life. This goal is something very close to my heart.  Many of you already know my story, but for those that don't let me fill you in.

In 2010 I lost both of my parents to Cancer.  My Dad, Nicko, was a tradie, who worked hard his whole life to provide for his wife and 3 children.  In April 2008 he was diagnosed with Kidney & Liver Cancer.  The tumours were inoperable due to their size and quantity. He underwent experimental chemotherapy to try and combat the tumours and reduce their quantity and size to try and remove them.

In November of 2009 my Mum, Bev, was diagnosed with a very rare kind of Sarcoma called Stewart Treves Syndrome.  After surviving breast cancer in 2003, Mum was left with lymphedema in her left arm, a condition that basically meant the lymph fluid in her arm was not draining out properly, so her arm was constantly swollen and enlarged.  5% of cancer suffers can obtain this condition, of that 5%, 0.03% have been diagnosed with Stewart Treves Syndrome.  It is a very rapid form of Cancer and my Mum was given 6 months to live.  So my family all rallied around my folks to give them every bit of support possible, and my Dad especially told me it was my Mum who needed the most care & attention - he would be fine.  He wasn't.   After undergoing 2 years of chemotherapy treatment & a botched biopsy by a less than acceptable surgeon/hospital, he was admitted to a palliative care unit to get his pain under control.  Less than 24 hours later he passed away on the 14th April 2010 with my Mum by his side.  I was fortunate enough to be able to say goodbye, and tell him one last time that I loved him, but I still miss him every single day.

My Mum, sister, brother & I, were left to pick up the pieces and carry on with life without our Dad - it was really hard.  Life was so very different.  Mum was undergoing intense Chemotherapy for her own condition, so I stepped in as carer whenever I could.  Taking her to appointments and the hospital when necessary.  It was a very difficult time... but I'm so glad I was able to be there with her. We cried together, we laughed together. She told me stories about her and Dad, she learned to forgive others for their mistakes in life, knowing she didn't want to take any bad feelings with her when she left this world.  She slipped away from us on the 30th November 2010. 

Burying both of your parents in the one year is something I never wish upon anyone. It is heart wrenching and horrible. But I got through this ordeal with the amazing support of my wonderful Fiancé and a very long line of caring family & friends.  I am very fortunate to have such wonderful people in my world.  

Mum was 57 when she died, Dad just 56. Far too young to leave this world, but I've never been angry about their deaths.  It was not their choosing, if they could have stayed here, they would have, I know this.  They both unknowingly contracted incurable diseases - just like thousands of others across the globe.

The wonderful staff at Peter McCallum Cancer Institute did everything possible for my Mum as did the Monash medical Centre for my Dad. It is with those excellent facilities in mind that I one day hope we can find a cure for the awful disease that takes peoples lives long before they are ready.  The Cancer Council is an excellent charity that does a lot of very much needed work with current cancer suffers, survivors and carers.  

SO.... Mr Fitness and I are taking on the Relay for Life challenge and we're aiming to raise $1,000 for a charity very close to our hearts.  Please click on the link below & show your support in any way possible.  We're also looking for people to join our team, "Nicko's Warriors", so if you're interested please contact me via my Facebook page and I can send you some info.

http://vic.cancercouncilfundraising.org.au/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=671224&langPref=en-CA