It's Wednesday, week two and I'm up at the usual 5.30am, which I'm now fully accustomed to.
So proud of today's efforts!
We began with our usual warm-up with a run around the block, walking lunges and toy soldiers (love this exercise!), but each week Alannah seems to increase push-ups and sit-ups by five!
Today's session
I run around the block, come back and do 10 "knees to elbows" (this one sucks!) hanging from a pole and raising your knees . . . feel the burn, man!
Then I do 20 burpees into push-ups . . . what the hell?! I'm not sure what's going on here because they've managed to combine two exercises which I hate into one mega-evil exercise! I was not happy with this arrangement.
Next, 30 ball-walls with a medicine ball and squat throwing high and then catching. (Below: Alannah and I doing Ball-Walls)
I did this four times.
Yes, another balls-out session which was so tough I almost didn't finish, but as usual one of my fellow tribesmen helped me push on. This time it was Alison who stepped up and did it alongside me . . . gotta love these girls!
During the more challenging parts of the workout my thoughts begin to go through the negative emotions but I'm relieved when they're quickly squashed by the positive ones that keep telling me: "Just a little further!"
I'm feeling stronger mentally. I think it's mostly because I've already pushed through it a few times so I know I can do it. I'm also feeling a bit stronger in my arms. They have next to no muscle in them, which is why I dislike push-ups so much, but the thought of ridding myself of my bingo wings compels me to push on! (Below: the girls pitch in to help me finish off the workout)
OK. Confession time.
Why am I telling you this? I feel that if I share this with you I'll become more disciplined (hopefully).
One thing that I haven't mentioned in my previous articles is eating. It's something I've been struggling with, and anyone who knows me will testify to the fact that I have incredibly bad eating habits.
Being a hairdresser, I have to fit in food when I can. It usually comes in the form of the "fast variety" such as pies, chocolate, gelato: basically anything sugary to give me an instant fix. Then I typically won't eat again until I get home (sometimes at 8.30pm), so I'm looking to get a better handle on that . . . I've been so good (for me, anyway) but then "it" happened. . . It happened so quickly.
I destroyed half of a ginger slice! And I even threw down a few biscuits just to keep the ginger slice company down there . . . I was so surprised by how effortlessly they disappeared in front of my eyes!
This was the type of aggressiveness which can only be equalled by the great Cookie Monster, except I didn't get any crumbs on my top!
I've been sticking to a strict protein and no carbs diet, which sucks because I crave sugar. My poor workmates and loved ones suffer as a consequence, but I do actually feel better for it (up until the ginger slice incident). Hmmm... what's in the fridge? Maybe the other half of that ginger slice!
I'm looking to include a more well-rounded eating style so that I can operate like a normal human again, I'll let you know how I get on!
• Dunedin hairdresser Emma Rastrick has bravely decided to take on World Fitness Centre's TribeFIT training programme with the aim of getting in shape in just six weeks.