How I got started...

In May of this year, I set myself a challenge!  I have fondly dubbed it Fit for 40. That's right, I am turning 40 in January 2011 and I wish to embrace this milestone in my life and use it as a catalyst for getting myself in shape. I have never been a lover of vigorous exercise however I guess you could call me an "appreciator" of the results of the process. I used to go to the gym regularly with my hubby BC (Before Children) and it was our "thing" we did together.

The past few years - the short version
A few years on, 2 children in tow and hubby now a shift worker and me....well I am 39 and unfit!  There is no blame here....it's not the kids and it's not the shiftwork although I may have been guilty of using these as an excuse over the years.

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The past few years - the struggle
Well we started doing other things together and in 2003 gave birth to baby #1. I joined the gym when he was 5 weeks old however at this stage I lost all interest, inclination, motivation in the formalities of exercise as my life quickly gave way to disorganisation, dirty nappies and a black hole quite frankly I never knew existed. Exercise and fitness was the last thing on my mind besides....I was a new Mum, I had an excuse.

That excuse reigned supreme until it was time to have another baby. This is where the panic set in. I was carrying about 6ks too many...it was time to do something. I didn't want to fall pregnant with excess weight as I knew it would be harder to shift at the end of baby #2. So I commence my first ever diet. I didn't think much of diets as they didn't really effect much long term change but I was prepared to see what this would do for moving these kilos that I wished gone!

I successfully moved 4 of them, to me this was a reasonable place to start #2 from. After the birth of #2, I was a wee bit wiser, I waited until the 3 month mark before I dived in. I joined Fernwood. Feeling a little self conscious I thought this was a good place to be. It was great, stayed there for a year and then onto a gym a bit closer to home......Greg by now was working shifts, juggling two children now was getting a little tricker so I bought a treadmill.

Now...before you tell me it's a dust collector, I was very good for quite some time.....motivated by wanting to feel engergised I got up 5 mornings a week to do my thing. Didn't matter what shift Greg was on this was working. Eventually though, the challenge was gone, it got boring, life got in the way and it now gets used sporadically. I am fast losing condition.
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So here we are:
I have never been what you call a petite so being skinny has never really been a motivating factor. I love to be busy and so to fit it all in, I need to be energised and the best way I know how is exercise. I also hate watching what I eat so I need to exercise to counter balance my love affair with Red Rock Deli Chips.

So it's now January 2010, I just turned 39. I am excited about turning 40 as I want to jump out of a plain to mark the occasion however there is something missing. I just don't feel like I have a great energy, I feel heavy and unfit. It's time to take action.

The Challenge:
In May 2010, the lights went on....it's time to kick myself in the butt! Girl, get yourself into shape. You have 2 beautiful young kids and you want to be around to not only seek their kids, but to enjoy them.This is my Fit for 40 challenge. The only competitor is me, the only judge is me and probably the only one that cares is me (and I guess hubby is awaiting the results)

Did I mention that when I did the fitness test to join the gym my grade was officially - Poor!  Watch out Excellent.....hear I come!!!