Wk 8 - Weigh in and Measurements

last night was our weigh and measure night. i had sweaty hands, nervous wee's (as you do). The thought of the scales was starting to FREAK ME OUT!!!!

But, 8 weeks in and almost now 7kg down, i probably shouldn't have stressed as much. the blood sweat and definately lots of tears is paying off. All thanks to Jayne and lots of hard hard work.

:-)

Week 8 of the 12 Week Challenge

Tomorrow night is the 3rd weight in. It should be Saturday morning but there is an open day at the gym so we have to do it tomorrow night. I"m getting a little nervous as i haven't worked as hard this week as i've had another dreaded cold.

This saturday is an all in group session at the gym so no beach training session for me this saturday but after speaking with Jayne after my P/T session this morning here is what's install for me over the next few saturdays remaining in the challenge:

1. Moffat Beach, beach session. There is a rather steep hill at Moffat Beach called "Queen of the Colonies" and we are going to have the pleasure of running up that as well as some beach work with a spare car tyre.

2. Kayaking - a lovely leasurly paddling through Pumistone Passage proving that exercise isn't all about sweaty smelly training. It's supposed to be hard yakka but with my dragonboating, love for kayaking and a spectacular backdrop it can't be that bad can it? :-)

3. Climb Mt Ngungun - Mount who? you are asking. well here's some details that david just sent me. This mountain makes Mt Coolum look like a baby blimp and a walk in the park compared to the challenge of Mt Ngungun. And the good news is, yes there has been several snake sightings recently with all this hot and dusty weather. oh yeah.

Details of the Mountain (part of the Glasshouse Mountains):

Mount Ngungun (253m above sea level) - 2.2km return (Allow 2 hours)

Class 4 Mount Ngungun is about 3km from Glass House Mountains township via Coonowrin and Fullertons Roads. This summit provides spectacular views of all four major mountain peaks. The track starts at the carpark and is relatively short but steep in places and may be unstable in some sections. Family groups should be careful, as the track passes close to the cliff line. Adults should supervise children at all times. This track can become very slippery when wet.

Class 4 track (Australian Standards)
Distinct track usually with steep exposed inclines or many steps.
Caution needed on loose gravel surfaces and exposed natural lookouts.
Moderate level of fitness and ankle-supporting footwear required.
Named by Cook during his epic voyage along Australia's east coast, the Glass House Mountains are rhyolitic volcanic plugs left by volcanic activity millions of years ago. This area has special significance for the Gubbi Gubbi Aboriginal people.
Remnants of the open eucalypt woodland and mountain heath vegetation, which once covered the coastal plains, provide a home for an interesting variety of wildlife including 26 rare and threatened plants.

This steep 700 metre trail goes straight up the 253 metre high mountain, through open eucalypt forest past the cave to an informal lookout over the Glass House Mountains township and surroundings.

The walk continues up the bare rock face then takes you along a narrow path to the summit, where you are rewarded by the fabulous views. From here, you can see all the other surrounding mountains and the green patchwork of farmlands below.

ABOUT THE WALK
Distance: 1.4 kilometres

Duration: 1-2 hours

Category: Short Walk

Difficulty: Hard

Type: Return
Start Point: From the car park off the access road.

Walk Highlights
Volcanic peaks
Mountain heath vegetation
Open eucalypt woodland
Coastal views

Walk Hints
The track is up the southern side of the mountain so it is sheltered most of the way.
Take plenty of drinking water and wear a hat and sunscreen.
This trail is rough and uneven and should only be attempted by fit walkers. Be careful after rain and never walk when it is raining, as the track gets quite slippery.
Take care near the summit and always wear insect repellent in summer.
Take your camera to capture the stunning view from the top!

Best Time To Go (by now i'm thinking there isn't a good time to go)
Do this walk early in the morning and enjoy the wildflowers in spring.

How to get There
The Glass House Mountains are west of the old highway between Beerburrum and Beerwah. Access to Mount Ngungun and Mount Beerwah is from the Glass House Mountains township via Coonowrin and Fullertons Road. Mount Ngungun is 2 kilometres from the Glass House Mountains railway station.

So here's to my next challenge of climbing another beautiful part of this coast.

Dusty Week

Here are some before and after shots of this weeks storm. My black car (well i think it is black) has a lovely orange haze all over it. I'm so glad i blackened those tyres last week. the dust has stuck twice as much now.


Before and During the Storm
Mooloolaba Beach

Bulcock Beach/Caloundra Bar

6 Teeth already

I was feeding Hayley today at lunchtime and found yet another tooth. That now makes 6 little razor sharp teeth. She had some serious drama's with the top front teeth and bonjella was her friend but the last 2 have come in quick succession and not too much trouble at all.

Horley Challenge - Week 4

So far i've climbed Mt Coolum and done way too many sessions at the gym and the beach, but it's all been worth it. i've lost 4kg in 4 weeks so on track so far.

Saturday was our weigh in day. Who would have thought that scales would be my biggest fear (apart from spiders). i got there early and was first in for the weigh and pinch test and measurements. i jumped on and ....... 4kg down. yeah!!!! then off to the next bit for the pinch test. Holly had to re-do some bits as she couldn't believe her eyes. in total, 20% fat gone in 4 weeks. now i'm impressed with myself. measurements were pretty good too.

Today, it's into week 5 of the challenge. my program has changed from stupidly hard to ridiculously hard. We are onto the 'free weights' program after doing the lactic acid program. sounds like torture doesn't it. There were too many sweaty males watching themselves in the mirror y'day afternoon so i just made up my own program for the day but i was back in business today. it's pretty hard but i thought the first program was too but i mastered that in the end.

I even got the courage to put on the swimmers. being 29 deg outside and 21 deg in the water, i thought it was time Hayley put those little toes and chubby legs into some Sunny Coast water. She loved it. She splashed and kicked and of course, her new habbit, squealed with great delight. after 3 hrs we ventured up to the park and kicked back for a coffee, milkshake and a popper. Got to love the lazy Sunday afternoon. ( i have photo's to post but haven't downloaded yet).

Monthly Update

This month Kirrily has gone back to swimming lessons. Lucky for me, she is now 3 which means i no longer have to get into the chlorine and 34 deg pool. Kirrily isn't quite so happy about that. Davina is her teacher again. She is slowly getting used to the water again and the teacher. She does give Davina the evil eye most of the time.



Pelican's Nest - Pirate Day



Pelican's Nest had another theme day last week. This time it was pirate day. There were plenty of Captain Featherswords (from the Wiggles if your not up on your pirates), and way too many plastic knives, guns and swords for my liking. We just used the stripy shirt kirrily usually wears plus a bandana and eye patch. Rob the pirate turned up for a play and sing with the kids and they ate pirate food (whatever that might be).

12 Week Challenge - Week 3

Well so far I have been flogged by my Personal Trainer. She has updated my gym program from 'hard' to 'impossible'. We are also doing Saturday 'beach' sessions. 7am start at a beach somewhere around Caloundra. The first week was Shelley Beach. We ran here, up there, squats and more squats, jumps and lunges until i was completely wrecked.

I did however, turn up for Week 2. This time we went to Ballinger Beach. (it's between Dicky Beach and Currimundi Lake). The weather was horrible. It was still a warm 23 deg (well it was when i left) but the clouds came rolling in and started to pour down rain. Which didn't really matter as it kept me cool and i was running through the creek and up the sand hills anyway so i was well and truely wet and then dirty too. We did more running, climbing up the dunes, and boxing too this time. I was more than wrecked this time.

But....then comes week 3 'beach session'. Well this week isn't quite on the beach. It does look out near a beach. It's steep, very steep and very hard. I'm climbing Mt Coolum. We are car pooling from 6.30am this saturday at the gym for a race to the top. There are other trainers and their slaves, sorry participants, going too so about 15-20 of us.

Here's some stats from the Discover Maroochy website:

'208 metre high ancient volcanic dome' One of the best ways to appreciate the beach vistas of Maroochy is to climb Mt Coolum - a 208 metre high ancient volcanic dome. The reward at the summit is a truly magnificent, 360-degree vision of the Sunshine Coast, including a view of its sandy coastline that extends from Moreton Island in the south to Double Island Point (the gateway to Fraser Island) in the north. Nestled around the base of the mountain is the home of the Australian PGA Golf Championship, weaving its way through groves of Melaleuca bushland with kangaroos and wallabies just another part of the round.

They make it sound pleasant really but i'm a tad scared. I"ll report back for sure after the event.