I really like the quote in this pic. Thanks Liz for directing us to this inspirational girls’ website!
“WHATEVER YOU CAN DO, OR DREAM YOU CAN DO, BEGIN IT. BOLDNESS HAS GENIUS, POWER AND MAGIC IN IT. BEGIN IT NOW!”

I just got back from the launch of a new “Lifestyle initiative” that my work has put together – basically encouraging people to live healthily outside of work to benefit them more while they are at work. They had guest speakers – Vicki Wilson and Alastair Lynch and it was really very interesting and inspiring.
Vicki Wilson spoke about when she first started playing netball and how during the time she was at the AIS she had to work a full time job, as well as train both before and after work and manage all of her other life events. She talked about the importance of time management and making the things that you really want and that are important to you a priority in your life. She also talked about setting challenges in your life and how when you achieve what you have stived for the feeling of accomplishment makes every ounce of effort worthwhile.
Alastair Lynch talked about his battle with chronic fatigue syndrome, and how important being active and making it an important part of your day is. He also spoke about making healthy choices with food, and hydration, and proper recovery can do for your training; and how important it is to listen to your body and adjust things accordingly until you know what is right for you. He was saying that if you are dehydrated then your performance can be reduced by up to 20%! It made me think I don’t drink anywhere near enough water!! No wonder I feel tired sometimes. This was all stuff that I knew BUT it has taken me hearing it from elite athletes to make me realise how important it is.
We all think that they have it easy being that fit – but I now realise that they sometimes have the same issues as us – I guess they are human after all.
One of the doctors at the hospital also spoke about important it is to focus on your health but to not make it the focus of your life. Talking about diet and exercise he was saying that by choosing to eat foods and a diet that is completely maintainable – so much so that you see it as your normal diet and make healthy choices naturally it no longer becomes a ‘diet’ but a lifestyle choice and this way it becomes easy to follow. Same with exercise – if you can’t maintain it or it is unrealistic then it will become too difficult if in two weeks time for some reason the circumstances of your life change. The exercise and diet have to be a part of your life so that if your circumstances change, maintaining it is not an issue.
Why is it that the simplest things take the longest time for us to come around to!
My realisation today is that in order to have the things that I want – I need to make sacrifices. They might be missing out on a favourite TV show but what is more important to me? I get frustrated when I stand on the scales and the needle hasn’t changed or even worse it has gone up. The little devil voice in my head goes Ha! See – all this sacrifice and for what! What is the point in depriving yourself and getting up early and feeling like I am missing out all the time? Hmmn – the hardest part for me is the diet, that and thinking that this is not working for me. If I follow the plan will it work? It hasn’t up till this point but only becasue I sabotage the plan by being inconsistent. Any directions to websites on “Thinking like a Winner” or thinking like a champion” would be greatly appreciated.
Ta, Andjxx

P.S TENTATIVE DATES FOR A SE QLD MEET
Weekend of September 16th/17th
Still need a location that would suit everyone. Perhaps somewhere
near Wellington Point/Cleveland area for a BBQ?????????