Phoenix from the flames

There is a reason for this title, the closing ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics was Sunday night and above the Olympic flame rose a Phoenix.  I thought this quite apt on a London/Great Britain level and on a personal level and the image has stayed with me since.
On a London/Great Britain level because we had so many doubters as to whether we could hold the Olympics in this country, was we ready for it, would the buildings be ready and adequate? Could we get any medals? Transport issues or strikes despite extra money being paid to many people?  Would we fall flat on our face at a great cost in a very public way? Well the answer is WE DID GREAT!!!! Not only finishing 3rd in the medal table but I am happy to say we held one of the most successful Olympics ever. No security issues, no strikes, no riots, I was proud as the whole country came together and we can hold our heads high as Great Britain was on the map and we showed a comeback!  I was actually thanked by an American whilst away after the opening ceremony, he said "thank you for that great opening ceremony and thank you for holding what will be a great Olympics", I felt proud!
On a personal level the Phoenix was an image of how I have risen above issues and adversity and I am still here and still strong. I may have a wobble every now and again but thanks to the people around me I can pick myself up and carry on. People come and people go but I am lucky to have my loved ones to count on and I know I am loved.  The Phoenix right now is me getting my health and study back on track. It shows that we all have a chance to rise again despite what is up against us.

It was sad when the flame went out though, 16 days of brilliant sport in the UK and some great athletes who should be an inspiration to us all.  However, we haven't even seen the full story because  the para-Olympics start on 29th August and we will see not only another set of great sports men and women but people who have overcome so much, they are like a phoenix rising from the flames too and I will look forward to following these games when they start.

Things never are straightforward, a small niggle with my car turns into a new car purchased.  Ho hum so much for me saving money when back from holiday.
Well it may save me money as I am downgrading engine size and back to petrol instead of diesel (diesel has got so expensive recently) and I hope these downgrades will reflect in money saved further down the line.


On the book front I have just finished Junk by Melvin Burgess , it is part of my reading list for my Open University EA300 Children's Literature course starting in October.  Firstly I would not call it a typical children's book, as the title suggests its about junk in other words drugs, also deals with the subject of child runaways and more sordid subjects.  However, even though I was reading it under 'duress' I found that I was drawn into it and as the story moved on I wanted to know what happened next.  A good read told from different perspectives and at times very unnerving and I am not even a parent, had I been a parent I could be worried!  This book won both the Guardian Fiction Award and the Carnegie Medal and I can see why and I will read it again when all my studies are over as it was a good read.  Available from Amazon from this link and its probably available from other book shops! http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0140380191/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img

On the gym front I have been busy:
Today was an hour spin class followed by a PT session with Mike. We completed the following:
Leg press40kg 20 reps 4 sets, between each set alt step/shin reach of 20 reps.
Pulldown 15kg 20 reps 4 sets, between each set lat step/shin reach of 20 reps
Chest press 5kg 20 reps 4 sets, between each set touch toes then up to ceiling of 20 reps
Power plate squats for a minute set at 30 and low
Power plate massage
Stretch

My heart rate monitor had stopped working so I have no clue on how many calories I have burnt during these two sessions but I felt good despite my lack of exercise recently.  Although I did feel shattered after spin and felt that I could have bailed on the PT session but glad I had booked it and held strong.

Have a good week!

Training again.

Time to blog about my training at the gym, writing down my sessions not only helps me keep on track but I hope it provides inspiration to others too!

My first PT session after the holiday was on the 10^th August.  In this session I completed the following:

Warm up was a walk on the treadmill for 12 minutes incline was set at 2.

Leg press 40kg 4 sets of 20 reps, between each set alt reach step 4 sets of 20 reps.

Pull down 20kg 4 sets of 20 reps, between each step lat steps 4 sets of 20 reps.

Kinesis press 5kg 2 sets of 20 reps however this was reduced to 12 reps then 10 reps on the final set, between each set touch toes and reach to ceiling 4 sets of 20 reps.

Treadmill intervals on incline 2 walk at 5kph for 30 seconds followed by jog 7kpm for 30 seconds each 30 second interval continued until 13 minutes and then a walk to cool down, taking it to 20 minutes on the treadmill.  I covered 2km in 23 minutes.

Session ended with a stretch.

Back in the gym Monday.

Weigh in for me is today I wont publish here what damage I have done  weight wise but I will be noting a start weight and recording what is lost (I hope) over the next few weeks.  I need to be fit and healthy for my new job and I have Christmas 2012 and Summer 2013 as goals!

This session was hard work but it was expected to be hard after being away from the gym for what felt like a long time.  I felt good afterwards but it will be interesting to see how the next week’s sessions go and if I am on the right track back to fitness.  I had noticed that the gym have scheduled new classes and I am looking forward to giving them a shot over the next few weeks.

On the university front I have started my ECM proposal, I am not keen on what topic I have chosen to investigate but time was running out and I needed to get something down on paper.  I was hoping for inspiration but have gone with my first idea, I cant put here what this idea is until after the cut off date but I am hoping it will provide me with a pass and then onto the home straight.

Studying with the Open University has been a long hard slog, it has had its highs and lows and it definitely has not been easy to do whilst working and trying to run a home and fitting everything else in.  I would recommend the Open University though, they have so many subjects and if I am honest I think I will find a new subject to study once this degree is over but by then the pressure will be off.  If you want more information about the OU subject range visit http://www.open.ac.uk/.

Damage limitation

So back from holiday, suffering a little with jet lag but ready to get on with life back in the middle lane until September when life moves quickly into the fast lane.

So things I need to complete or start before I start work on 3 September.

1-start new gym routine
2-finish TMA06 for E303 (current open university level 3 module)
3-start ECM for E303
4-read books for EA300 (final open university level 3 module)
5-organise work filofax
6-organise house
7-start Slimming World
8-plan a starter for new school

Doesn't seem much when I write them down but they are big goals and I don't have as much time as I would have liked.  The title says it all for me, I know that this time next year I want to fit into and feel good/look good in a Hollister bikini!!!

I haven't weighed myself yet, I plan to weigh in on Sunday and see what weight I have added whilst being on holiday, I am not strong enough to see it right now and my body is all over the place with the jet lag.  So weighing in right now would have the chance to tip me over the edge and give up before I have even started.  However, I have booked up gym classes for next week and I hope its the kick start I need to get into a routine.

On the gym front I am annoyed, I booked an aqua class for Thursday morning to start my new routine, I got into the pool with the others and waited and waited, 10 minutes later we were advised that the instructor was on holiday and cover has not been arranged therefore class was now cancelled.  So annoyed as I didn't have my swimming stuff with me goggles etc and as I was in the pool I could have gone onto the gym floor if I had my gym stuff with me.  I went off fuming and did a steam room session instead.  I hope this isn't a sign of things to come at David Lloyd, we have had issues before but recently things had been OK, I don't want to start looking around for a different gym that puts people first.
Booked for next week:
Monday RPM and PT session
Tuesday Zone Cycling
Wednesday RPM
Thursday Yoga and Zumba
Friday Spin and Zumba

I have PT session today, not looking forward to it but I have to get back on the wagon and reverse the damage.

Whilst on holiday I did plenty of reading thanks to the joys of kindle, I plan to post about good books worth reading in the future on this blog in the meantime this is what was read whilst I was away:

ASBO: A Novel of Extreme Terror by Iain Rob Wright - A fictional story that could be fact, worrying and frightening insight into what 'could' happen in the real world.

Before I Go To Sleep by S J Watson - Amazing book that I could not put down, repetitive to start with for good reason with a fantastic twist to the plot.

Broadmoor Revealed: Victorian Crime and the Lunatic Asylum by Mark Stevens - A brilliant insight to why Broadmoor was built and some of the inmates from the early days, factual and interesting.

The Crew by Dougie Brimson - Started off well, all about football violence in the 1990's but thought the ending was disappointing.

Inflight Science: A Guide to the World from your Airplane Window - Read whilst on my flight to Mexico.  A great little read and almost put my fears about flying to bed.  Lots of facts about inside and outside a plane and around the airport.

Its Your Time You're Wasting by Frank Chalk - Written by a supply teacher brilliant insight in how some schools are and the children within them.  Good reasons behind behaviour by kids and staff, eye opener when you realise that some of the things described in the book happen for real.

London by Tube: A History of the Underground Station Names by David Revill - Bit of an underground geek after travelling on it for many years and wanted to understand some of the history.  Was also a cheap book for the kindle and pleased I purchased it before the Olympics so I could gain knowledge of the east end.

Shadow Of The Minotaur by Alan Gibbons - It was a 'have to read for work book' wasn't looking forward to it but once started I found it enjoyable.  Good for boys if they are reluctant readers and with more than a nod to Greek mythology anyone who has an interest in that field should enjoy it.

I know my taste is different to others but I have found some good reads by looking at what others are reading via kindle ratings and will continue to search out good and different books to read.

Wishing you all a good weekend.