This exercise stuff is hard work. Like most things in life, its not the physical component that is the struggle, it is the mental.
Every morning I argue with myself about getting out of bed. For the non-morning people, I know you understand me! However, once I am up and ready to exercise. I actually love it. I feel like I have climbed up a huge mountain (getting out of bed) and then running down the mountain with enjoyment (the actual exercise).
Now, to be honest, this has surprised me. I disliked early mornings and exercise. Both were on my YUK list. But now, with my new program and mission, I am actually enjoying the process.
It also helps when you start to see results. I caught a glimpse at my arms this morning whilst skipping and could not believe the change that has started to occur. They don't seem to look like bingo wings. It motivated me to keep going with my skipping, even though I could not breath and felt like I was about to vomit.
I am midway through week 4. I am a women on a mission. If you need motivating, I have the perfect trainer for you. The best part about my trainer is that she is not standing there with me telling me to do 10 push ups. I personally don't need the motivation. I need the accountability. Knowing that she knows what I am planning on achieving, keeps me on my toes. We also chat once a week about the exercise program and how I am feeling. No whinging though, she actually loves the fact that I am hurting, unable to walk and about to vomit.
Yes, I know, it takes effort to achieve what you really want in life. I just wish the effort of getting up would become easier!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
A conversation with a stranger
Last week I had the amazing opportunity to launch my book to a great group of sales rep for our distributing company. It was such a buzz.
On my travels back home to Sydney, I had organised a driver to pick me up from the conference to take me to the airport. My driver, Louie, asked how my day had been. I explained it was a great day with the launch of my book. He asked for more details.....as I continued to go on about the book, you could see the sincere interest in his eyes. Impressed, especially for a bloke! There was a reason why.
Louie explained that his sister had a baby three months ago with complications. They had been in and out of hospital with a series of operations. His sister had never fully recovered from the emotional trauma of it all and he asked me "Will she ever be back to herself again".
At that moment, I felt a huge sense of pride that my experiences from childbirth has finally come full circle and in turn, be able to help another woman. This is why I wrote the book and this moment validated I was on track.
I explained to Louie that she needs to get some professional help. He confirmed she was actually visiting a psychologist that day. I told him she has won half the battle. The first battle is admitting you are emotionally traumatise by the circumstances and that you have changed as a person. Changed with fear, with sadness, with depression.
I assured Louie that with the commitment to work at the issues, to confront the emotions and to grow as a person his sister will return to the person he remembers. It will take some work on the road of confronting the past, but the future, free of depression, is worth every step backwards and forwards. I encouraged him to offer her love and support, no advice, no lectures, just pure love and support.
As I left Louie at the airport, he gave me a hug and thanked me for the counselling session we had in the car. It was all in good timing for both him and me.
On my travels back home to Sydney, I had organised a driver to pick me up from the conference to take me to the airport. My driver, Louie, asked how my day had been. I explained it was a great day with the launch of my book. He asked for more details.....as I continued to go on about the book, you could see the sincere interest in his eyes. Impressed, especially for a bloke! There was a reason why.
Louie explained that his sister had a baby three months ago with complications. They had been in and out of hospital with a series of operations. His sister had never fully recovered from the emotional trauma of it all and he asked me "Will she ever be back to herself again".
At that moment, I felt a huge sense of pride that my experiences from childbirth has finally come full circle and in turn, be able to help another woman. This is why I wrote the book and this moment validated I was on track.
I explained to Louie that she needs to get some professional help. He confirmed she was actually visiting a psychologist that day. I told him she has won half the battle. The first battle is admitting you are emotionally traumatise by the circumstances and that you have changed as a person. Changed with fear, with sadness, with depression.
I assured Louie that with the commitment to work at the issues, to confront the emotions and to grow as a person his sister will return to the person he remembers. It will take some work on the road of confronting the past, but the future, free of depression, is worth every step backwards and forwards. I encouraged him to offer her love and support, no advice, no lectures, just pure love and support.
As I left Louie at the airport, he gave me a hug and thanked me for the counselling session we had in the car. It was all in good timing for both him and me.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
The Excercise
I hate exercise!
Ok, here is the truth. I really do hate exercise. I have a repetitive pattern. When I am on with the fitness regimine, I am on for about 2 weeks and then give up. I find it hard to get back the momentum. I love what exercise gives me - sanity, strength, healthy body, balance...but there is always an excuse as to why I just dont get around to fitting it in my life.
I am not overweight, but I have the "muffin top" and "tuckshop arms" with no muscle strength at all. I love to eat and I know if I incorporate exercise into my life that it would make a huge difference.
As you may know, the husband has a background of personal training. He claims that I have been his worse client thus far. He has written a gazillion programes, which all are sitting in my folder. I asked him a few months ago for another program and this was it, I was ready to change my life and embrace exercise. He told me NO. He was not interested until I proved that I was committed for more than 3 weeks.
I huffed and puffed, as I knew he was right. I started waking at 6am in the morning and would do skipping and my own body weight movements for half an hour before the kids woke. I had reading an amazing article about Michelle Obama about how she came to a point in her life where she realised she could not rely on her husband to make her happy. She had to find her own happiness and decided to do so with exercise. As a busy lawyer and a mother of two, she had no time! But she found time by getting up at 4.30am every morning for a workout and still does to this day.
My commitment lasted longer than I expected about 4 weeks. Then the husband went overseas for work and my routine all collasped. I found it hard to get back into the cycle of exercise.
BUT then, I saw P!nK live in concert. I was gobbed smacked at her amazing body and strength. At that moment, I made a decision to myself to stop finding excuses and reasons to not achieve the body and fitness I dream of, but to step up and take on the challenge.
It just happened that I was working with Colleen (our fitness expert) on her articles for our website, when she offered her services. She scared me a little as she is not intereste in excuses and told me straight up that I need to start working out 5 days a week for 30 minutes. What have I done!! And she said she would call me at 5.30am if I was not up doing the program. I must admit that Colleen is the perfect person for the job, I need accountability and a tough woman to keep me on track.
So, watch this space.........I will keep you updated on my progress. I start Monday!!
Ok, here is the truth. I really do hate exercise. I have a repetitive pattern. When I am on with the fitness regimine, I am on for about 2 weeks and then give up. I find it hard to get back the momentum. I love what exercise gives me - sanity, strength, healthy body, balance...but there is always an excuse as to why I just dont get around to fitting it in my life.
I am not overweight, but I have the "muffin top" and "tuckshop arms" with no muscle strength at all. I love to eat and I know if I incorporate exercise into my life that it would make a huge difference.
As you may know, the husband has a background of personal training. He claims that I have been his worse client thus far. He has written a gazillion programes, which all are sitting in my folder. I asked him a few months ago for another program and this was it, I was ready to change my life and embrace exercise. He told me NO. He was not interested until I proved that I was committed for more than 3 weeks.
I huffed and puffed, as I knew he was right. I started waking at 6am in the morning and would do skipping and my own body weight movements for half an hour before the kids woke. I had reading an amazing article about Michelle Obama about how she came to a point in her life where she realised she could not rely on her husband to make her happy. She had to find her own happiness and decided to do so with exercise. As a busy lawyer and a mother of two, she had no time! But she found time by getting up at 4.30am every morning for a workout and still does to this day.
My commitment lasted longer than I expected about 4 weeks. Then the husband went overseas for work and my routine all collasped. I found it hard to get back into the cycle of exercise.
BUT then, I saw P!nK live in concert. I was gobbed smacked at her amazing body and strength. At that moment, I made a decision to myself to stop finding excuses and reasons to not achieve the body and fitness I dream of, but to step up and take on the challenge.
It just happened that I was working with Colleen (our fitness expert) on her articles for our website, when she offered her services. She scared me a little as she is not intereste in excuses and told me straight up that I need to start working out 5 days a week for 30 minutes. What have I done!! And she said she would call me at 5.30am if I was not up doing the program. I must admit that Colleen is the perfect person for the job, I need accountability and a tough woman to keep me on track.
So, watch this space.........I will keep you updated on my progress. I start Monday!!
The Sign
A few days ago I was approached by a mum at my son's kindy asking to purchase a copy of my book. Her friend had just delivered twin girls at 32 weeks and she thought my book would be helpful for her. I explained that the book was due for launch in October, however, I had a spare promotional copy that she could have as a gift.
The mother was so thankful and appreciated the gift. The next day I gave her a copy with a note to the new mum.
Today, the mother came up to me at kindy to give me a huge hug and kiss. With tears in her eyes, she explained how she picked up my book last night to flick through before going to bed and completely got caught up in the story. She read the book from cover to cover until 12.30am!! She explained how much she was moved by the book and how she could relate in so many ways. She was gorgeous as she kept kissing and hugging me with sincere motherly love.
It was a defining moment for me. This mother was the first "stranger" to read my book and the result was exactly why I had written the book! It was just another sign that I am on the right path and the book will help the millions of woman that I envisage.
Until next time,
Raquel
x
The mother was so thankful and appreciated the gift. The next day I gave her a copy with a note to the new mum.
Today, the mother came up to me at kindy to give me a huge hug and kiss. With tears in her eyes, she explained how she picked up my book last night to flick through before going to bed and completely got caught up in the story. She read the book from cover to cover until 12.30am!! She explained how much she was moved by the book and how she could relate in so many ways. She was gorgeous as she kept kissing and hugging me with sincere motherly love.
It was a defining moment for me. This mother was the first "stranger" to read my book and the result was exactly why I had written the book! It was just another sign that I am on the right path and the book will help the millions of woman that I envisage.
Until next time,
Raquel
x
The Arrival
How did I arrive at this point - creating my first blog for Miracle Beginnings. Its a moment in time. I remember laying in bed after having my first prem baby thinking how it would be possible to make sense of what had just happened. I remember laying in bed after my second prem baby knowing that I had to make a difference to women, just like me, who have found themselves in a similar situation with the question "what now!".
After 4 years of planning and creating, all of my ideas are coming together. The excitement is overwhelming. I can clearly see my vision and how Miracle Beginnings will impact millions of women.
I truly feel grateful for attracting the right people to help me with my vision. It is so true of the saying, when you are ready the teacher will appear.
My ultimate goal is opening Mummas Retreat. This is going to be like nothing else available on this planet. With the action steps in place the vision clear as day, I know we will be sending a launch invitation within the next 12-18 months. Cant wait!!!
In the meantime, I am pumped to have a virtual Mummas Retreat online to get the momentum going. It is such a rewarding feeling to be able to offer a helping hand to women who are ready to change their life in a positive way.
Life is great! Hanna, Kye and Lu bring me laughter and chaos every day. Would not change a thing. And as for the husband, he continues to support me and make me laugh every day as well. To have a healthy, happy family is really what we all can aim for. I make a conscious decision every day to make it my priority.Until next time
After 4 years of planning and creating, all of my ideas are coming together. The excitement is overwhelming. I can clearly see my vision and how Miracle Beginnings will impact millions of women.
I truly feel grateful for attracting the right people to help me with my vision. It is so true of the saying, when you are ready the teacher will appear.
My ultimate goal is opening Mummas Retreat. This is going to be like nothing else available on this planet. With the action steps in place the vision clear as day, I know we will be sending a launch invitation within the next 12-18 months. Cant wait!!!
In the meantime, I am pumped to have a virtual Mummas Retreat online to get the momentum going. It is such a rewarding feeling to be able to offer a helping hand to women who are ready to change their life in a positive way.
Life is great! Hanna, Kye and Lu bring me laughter and chaos every day. Would not change a thing. And as for the husband, he continues to support me and make me laugh every day as well. To have a healthy, happy family is really what we all can aim for. I make a conscious decision every day to make it my priority.Until next time
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