It's becoming real now..

Nerves are setting in...

Well last week was a bit manic and the next few weeks are going to be no different. It's getting closer and closer now and errr the nerves are slightly starting to set in! 

Last weeks training went a lot better than the previous week..no more breakdowns last week! I did Abs on Friday night so yes I took my routine trip to the bar!lol A couple of people in the gym saw what I was doing and thought it would be sportsman like to make me do extra sets and extra reps..for that I am grateful! My abs however are not! Lol 

Emma's session on Thursday also went really well. We did upper body and shoulders; which I found really good, my upper body strength has come a long way since I started training. Anyway she got me swinging from the monkey bars to start, followed by endurance shoulder presses...then to top it all off I was pulling a 20kg weight with rope. That exercise was fun, as sad as it sounds I felt like someone out of strong man!! Haha (hardly) It let out a lot of frustration though. Pull ups weren't missed off the list either; these made an appearance. Damn it! 

Feeling strong after lugging this thing around.

Oh my god ive completely forgotten hockey training on Wednesday! How could I forget; I got absolutely soaked. There should be a law for sportsmen and women, allowing them to sack off training when the weather is that bad. I couldn't see anything and the rain was literally dripping off my face. All my clothes were soaked through. You can't grip the stick properly, so as you can imagine there were a few sticks flying across the pitch that night!lol It was nice to go back to practising the basics though; it's good to refresh and go back to every now and then.

Unfortunately I didnt get chance to get to the track on saturday as lee valley had the outdoor and indoor track fully booked with hundreds of scouts. Aww they all looked so cute in their uniform and looked so excited to be doing some athletics. That's so nice to see young kids getting involved, I don't think we do enough as a country or as people to encourage children to take up sport or keep fit. It's al too easy to just sit on our asses and become lazy..anyway before I go into a full on rant, I'll move on.

On a side note, I've got to get one of my evening dresses taken in for miss galaxy, so I made a trip to crouch end, to gold needle tailor to get it altered ready for next week. I couldn't believe how much material they took at the back - about 3 inches!! Now this dress fitted me like a glove at university for the law ball. It just confirmed how much weight I've lost and how much my body has changed during this journey.

So I've started the week off on a high and this week is all about posing posing posing, I need to crack my routine for the show and then I'm seeing Emma on Thursday to go through my evening wear routine. Oh so many little things to do still..will I get them done in time? Hope so...

Time is running out... best get my skates on

2 weeks to go and it's all becoming so real now. I'm getting excited, and I am looking forward to getting up on stage and showing how much hard work I've put in. This isn't just for me though, it's also for the support I've had around me. I started on this journey trying to take each day as it came and it has certainly made me grow and become a more patient person..and a hell of a lot more organised (how long that will last is debatable!lol).

Happy Monday everyone. I hope your day is full of happiness and joy

Till next time

Little Miss Fitness 

Xx

Up up and away

Run Forrest Run!

Wow what a weekend! I had sprints with Emma on Saturday at Lee Valley Fitness centre, which nearly killed me.. oh and she also got me running round the track. I hadn't been round an athletics track since high school so it was a little daunting at first but i got into it eventually. I think it helped having other people there on the sidelines and on the track. Somehow it helped me focus. I had had a mentally tough week before seeing Emma, which was more than likely due to me being tired and my diet. So Saturday I had to conquer a few mental walls. I even had a go at parachute sprints, which I have to admit was really fun. I was a little nervous at first thinking I wouldn't be able to do them but they certainly woke my muscles up and i thought i was going to fly away.

Will i blow away with this on???

So as i was running on the track on Saturday I couldn't play hockey for Tring, which Im always gutted about. On to Sunday and I have to say i decided to go on a little adventure. The alarm went off early(ish) as i made sure i went to bed early the night before. I haven't been giving myself much recovery which i know is bad as the body needs to rest in order to progress. So this is what my Saturday night consisted off, sleep and more sleep. Then Sunday I decided to go on a little adventure and ventured to the fitness first in harrow. After driving round the shopping centre about 20 times I finally realised that I needed to drive into the multi-storey car park! Duh blonde springs to mind..

The fitness first was nice and it was busy when I got there at 9am. Yes some of you may think I'm mad but it had to be done. But now I know I can go to that gym at weekends if I need to, so theres a silver lining to some things.. I smashed an abs workout and then came home quickly to have breakfast before my boyfriend came over to see me. Since Musclemania he's been even more patient with me (which i didnt know was possible) and the training ive had to do and the diet. I think he's looking forward to a break just as much as i am! lol 

Just before take off!!

So onto this week; Ive made a decision that i work best when i train after work so Im going to try and do that more this week, hopefully I wont feel so tired. Training twice today; this bubble butt is going to be worked hard then Wednesday is hockey training. Its supposed to rain but i'm praying that it misses us by then. Theres nothing worse than training in the rain. Also I can't keep missing training so i've got to incorporate it into my current training regime, as I soooo want to stay in the 1's this season. Then Saturday is match against west Herts, Watford. I'm up for that game so we shall how that goes - gum shield at the ready. It was a little bit of dirty game at the end of last season so lets hope its not going to be a deja vu moment on saturday...

Its' time to really lean up now for comp, so Emma has changed my diet slightly again. There's still lots to do for my costume and organising stuff for the day but I'm feeling on top of it all, which is shocking. I thought id be stressing right now.. However if you dont hear much from me over the next 2 weeks, this will be why, I'll be getting in my last few bits of training, posing practise and sorting stuff for the big day! Wish me luck.

Till next time;

Little Miss Fitness 

What a week!!

Mental Strength can make or break you;

I'm sorry to anyone who usually reads my blogs; I've not posted in a while but I'm sure you can guess by the title of this blog post that it been a manic, headless chicken type week. I'm not going to lie its been horrible, not just physically but emotionally and mentally as well. Early morning starts (I'm not a morning person) and pushing my body further, even though it's exhausted and wants to rest. However there is no rest for the wicked. I feel sorry for my mum and boyfriend who've had to suffer in silence will I cry and moan about anything and everything - sorry! They must want to put a muzzle on me by now. I've also been up to Manchester for work too, which is always a long journey and if at the start of the week, just makes the week seem that bit longer.

However every cloud must have its silver lining and now we are at the 3 week mark. Training this week I have worked my glutes (yes I'm aiming for a bubble butt), arms, ran through my fitness tests and abs. I have, amazingly achieved some milestones that a month ago I couldn't even do or thought I'd never be able to do. You know the saying that practise makes perfect; well, whoever said that must have been doing something like Miss Galaxy! Pull-ups are coming and every time I get 1 more in the gym I do a little celebratory dance and sigh with relief. I know I must look rather odd doing a dance in the gym but I think pull-ups were the last of my mental barriers and weaknesses I needed to conquer. Now I can take on the world!mwhahaha only kidding

My diet this week has been ok, I'm slowly but surely falling in love with my veggie omelette; adding smoked paprika, garlic and chives just adds that bit of magic. Adding chicken would just be icing on the cake. Protein pancakes and banana have also made a welcomed return into my life for breakie...if you haven't tried them then do so, they will fill you up till lunchtime (well almost for me!lol).

hello old friend...i'm glad to see you again!

I had a staging session with Emma last night which went really well. We've now chosen my evening wear and started putting bits and pieces together for my routine. I have even brought my prop for the show - I can't give anything away about my routine or costume though for those eager beavers. Those of you who are coming to watch the show, you'll see in 3 weeks time.. For those of you who can't make it, there'll be pictures up soon after the show. I'm excited about this costume, it's different and a little eccentric, I'm enjoying it though.

So the weekend is continuing with training - tomorrow is track day with Emma and then yoga on Sunday. I need to rest my mind and strength and yoga is perfect for that. It's not hot yoga, I probably wouldn't come out alive with that kind of heat! Lol So again no hockey for me which is saddening. Id love to be able to do both, but I think that's me being greedy and trying to do everything. Then Monday is rest day.

I think id need an ambulance if i tried this pose...

Wish me luck with Emma tomorrow, I think there's a parachute involved? I've already done a skydive so unless me has a plane and can fly I doubt the parachute is going to be used for that.

Till next time;

Little Miss Fitness 

Xx

4 week countdown...

So its started, the 4 week countdown, it may sound a long way off, but trust me when I say it will go by in a flash. I'm training 6 times this week (yep no rest for the wicked). Emma has come up with a cleverly devised programme for the next 4 weeks for training and diet! But by Sunday 2nd November the journey will be over. I'm not going to think about it, as I'll still have hockey and I will still use my blog to keep you all up to date with how things are going with that. You can't get rid of me that easily!lol 

Anyway to start off the week, I've had to write down my plan and schedule again, the days I'm training and what I'm going to train. If I don't then I'm bound to forget something and after the weekends cock up of being an hour late for our hockey match (12pm push back not meet) I have to start writing things down! My memory is worse than my 80 year old nana at the moment. One day I'll probably forget to get dressed and rock up to the office in my pj's still. Now that would be a site.

I'm sure it will be surreal once miss galaxy is over. It's been the main competition that I've trained for the last 4 months, training after work, fitness tests, eating clean etc. But I've got my holiday to Barbados to look forward to with mum and Emma Miles. I haven't been on holiday with Emma before so this is going to be a first for me. I can't wait for the sun, sea, sand..oh wait and rum punch!

Sorry back to reality and training, yesterday was the start of this weeks programme and I bashed out my upper body workout - bench press, pull ups, lat pull downs and tricep dips. My arms were like pop-eyes afterwards!!lol They are even still a little sore today. I'm still pretending to be a monkey with pull ups and hanging off anything. Today is a rest day though as I had to get up early for a 2 hour train trip up to Manchester to visit our head office. So today is going to be a long day as it's a 2 hour trip back. Fun fun! 

Lifting does not make you big...it makes you lean!

The rest of the week will be in the gym and then Saturday session with Emma on the track. I'm nervous (actually crapping myself) but yet slightly curios/excited about what we are going to do. I haven't been on an athletics track since high school - if brings back flashbacks. Oh well we'll see how I get on. 

Oh before I go - does anyone know of good yoga classes to go in and around Central London (oxford circus way)? Tweet me or Facebook me if you do please. 

Till next time

Little miss fitness 

Xx

Bubble butt's the name..

Don't wear it out!!

Back to hockey training this week although I was quite late getting there!! Bloody trains have been a nightmare this week - it probably would have been quicker to walk! First Capital Connect are crap..

Anyway hockey training was good; a good cardio session with sticks - luckily I didn't get hurt! Always a bonus.. We are playing at Broxbourne (which i need to get directions for!) on Saturday which I'm psyched about. Ah no; I've just seen the weather and it's supposed to tip it down, well that's put a bit of a damper on things. More because you cant grip the stick properly when it's raining! I've got a good feeling about this season. I think we are going to smash it! We've got so many talented players coming through it's so nice to see. And they are so young, it's makes me feel so old, and I'm in between a youngster and a veteran! 

Ended last season on a high! Lets do it again...

I've got my killer session with Emma today and she has already told me my butt is going to be worked!Lol She said that she wants me to get a bigger butt and Im not one to disagree with my trainer-she knows best! I've always wanted a bigger butt; it's just going to need grit, blood sweat and tears! Oh dear here I come studio ELB. I'll let you know how i get on....(scared shitless rings a bell right now!)

What else have I been up to this apart from hosting my BFF Dani whose been working in London all week. I've managed to book my hotel down in Gatwick for the competition, as well as my photographs with Lowell Mason for miss galaxy. Slowly but surely I'm getting more and more stuff prepared. All I need to do now is costume, and sort out my tan, which is going to be a little more difficult than Musclemania. The tanning station isnt based in Crawley and I don't think they would be willing to travel all the way just for me! Lol I need a plan B.. Any suggestions would be great?!!

So its 4 weeks and counting as of today!! Training is going well so far and the diet will take its toll but not long now till I can give my body a rest. I'll have been doing this for 4 months at the end of it all, which is so hard to do for this length of time. I have so much respect and admiration for the girls and guys that do this full time and have been doing it for years. I salute you. I think after the competition my training will continue to be quiet high intensity (after my holiday of relaxing, sipping rum punch and eating flying fish) but it will be nice to not be restricted to a specific diet plan.

Anyway I've got to run (literally) or I'll be late for Emma and that's never good - as I will be punished..I'll let you know how I get on.

Till next time;

Little miss fitness 

Xx

Take on the universe

Bootcamp! Military style

Well it was my first bootcamp for miss galaxy at the weekend and I really enjoyed it! No hockey match I'm afraid and I was gutted to hear that we lost to beford. But this weekend is a new game and training on Wednesday night. So back to fitness and skills-hope my body is ready..

Friday night I was absolutely shattered, I literally fell asleep on my sofa for most of the night and then had to head to bed, the week clearly just wiped me out. I have to admit I had a down day on Friday, which I think stemmed from being tired. I felt lazy and as it was a rest day in the gym, I felt I hadn't worked out so my brain started thinking and doubting!! Not good 5 weeks out. But I got an early night and felt so much better in the morning.

I wish I was this cute when sleeping..

So back to the bootcamp - it was military style. Got to the southgate where it was being held and we started with fitness. I was a little bit late, so I was worried that they would have started without me. Anyway the fitness exercises were a killer. Oh boy my legs are killing now! So many burpees, squats and press-ups; they all merged into 1! Chris and Tracy from miss galaxy took the fitness exercises and they were cruel!! All in good preparation I guess for the fitness tests that I'll be doing on the 31st October. Although these have slightly changed now and I don't know what to - a lot of it is being kept a surprise until the week before. All I know is that it's on an athlete track. Yikes!!lol lots of running I fear. However chin-ups are still staying in and I have to make sure I can do at least 6! So I figured I'm just going to have to pretend to be a monkey for the next 5 weeks!

Once we had finished the insane fitness class it was onto and into bikinis for some walking and posing. This was so nice, there were a few ladies that were a bit nervous but they were all so good. They looked amazing in their bikinis and showing off their bodies! They oozed confidence and it made me feel more comfortable and excited for the show. I can't wait to share a stage with them. They have worked so hard, and dedicated so much to it. 

My next steps are to train on fitness tests with Emma, practise my walking and posing routine...oh and yeh sort out my costume..I don't have a lot to do do I!lol Tanning, book hotel to stay on the Friday night, make-up hair..oh it's like déjà-vu. 

Anyway I'm not going to bore you with my list of jobs to do anymore. All you've got to watch out for are updates on my fitness skills and how the prep is coming with my costume. It's got to stand out and wow - and in an oriental theme! My creative brain needs to kick into gear!!

Till next time. 

Little miss fitnes

Xx

Another dawn another gym session

Time to do it all over again!

It's early right now and I'm on my way to the gym for an early session before work. It's just under 6 weeks till Miss Galaxy and I know that time is going to go by in a flash.

I feel a little more at ease now I've done Musclemania but I'm still nervous about Miss Galaxy and getting up on stage. I don't want to have my legs shake whilst being judged. Perhaps I should take it as a positive thing though? I am definitely going to go out and enjoy myself, from what I've heard its going to be a spectucular show! I need to start doing some serious research though on themed bikinis and evening wear.

This week has gone well; the highlight of it has to be achieving my biggest weakest in the fitness tests. Yes people I managed to do pull-ups!! Wohoo.. Is it weird/ sad that I'm elated by that? 2 weeks ago I hadn't been able to do any and what seems from out of nowhere i am able to do them. It's definitely given me a boost mentally and physically. Some of the other fitness tests that Em and I ran through this week didn't change from the last time i did them, so i know that i need to work harder to increase these PB's by 1 or 2 every time. It wont be easy but theres not long left of this challenge, i've just got to keep my mind on track and focused. The support i'm still getting from everyone is unbelievable - I think i may need to buy everyone a drink after the competitions are done. Although I think I will be flat broke if I did this! 

Saturday is my first Galaxy bootcamp and I'm so excited about it. It's only down the road from me, which is great. I don't know whats going to happen during the day, but i've got a checklist of what to take (which includes stage shoes). Ah i guess Ill have to get those bad boys out again! My feet are going to love me! Not...I'm really looking forward to meeting some of the other girls who are competing in the show. We've chatted on Facebook but it will be really nice to meet everyone. I felt so much more relaxed after meeting some of the girls and guys at the Musclemania bootcamps; I didn't feel as nervous, because you knew other competitors were feeling the same.

Going to have to get these bad boys back out.

So unfortunately no hockey for me this weekend but I'm back to it next weekend. I wish the Tring ladies 1's good luck, I know they'll smash it and have another win for the club. I'm gutted I'm going to miss it but I guess you can't be in 2 places at once...or can you? Anyone got a time machine?? I had so many bruises from last weekend's match that I think playing hockey in the last week before I may have careful of. I can't be getting injured now, we've got enough injuries just in the office, and I can't jinx it!

Anyway have a fabulous weekend everyone. Till next time;

Little miss fitness

Xx