Feel the fear and do it anyway

"Feel the fear and do it anyway"

I am doing the Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation and today is the last day of the Pre-Season. I registered for the program in late June 2012, completed most of the Warm Up Activities, and am finalising the last of the Pre-Season Tasks. I have 2 tasks not complete: Task 6: Organise & Diarise, and Task 7 Fitness Test

And forgive my language, but I am shitting my pants.... I am scared out of my mind. I'm not even sure what I am afraid of... Needing to plan each day including specific foods, when to shop, when to cook (and when to defrost pre-cooked meals) and what time each day I will fit in my hour of exercise 6 days a week. Arghh!! I am freaking out at the idea of so much planning! I thought I like to be organised and to be prepared, but I am finding the 'Organise and Diarise" task really daunting. The idea of planning to exercise at a specific time is really foreign to me. 

In Task 4: Say It Out Loud, I broadcast the below message to my Facebook friends, followers on Twitter, and members in the 12WBT Forums:

"I commit to working hard to change my habits with food and exercise. I commit to working hard to have integrity with myself and my body. I commit to making healthy eating, measured portion sizes and physical activity into my life - like showering, brushing teeth, shopping and reading! I commit to the 12WBT!"

Now that I am starting and needing to do the harder task of setting out the next 1-3 months and the worst part... knowing I will only be letting myself down if I do not do what I set. That's the fear - that I will knowingly let myself fail...again. 

Tomorrow is Day 1 of the 12 week challenge. I have a plan for tomorrow at least, but beyond that I am still quite lost. I aim to have at least 1 month exercise and diet planned by the end of this week. This way I can print out what I need, look at the exercises, join the gym and really get into it. In the interim I can play tennis, job at the park, dance and work out with my Xbox Kinect and eat healthy - and moderately sized - meals.

I want to feel the fear and do it anyway, because that's the way I will begin to reach my goals and be successful!
Yesterday I played 90 mins of Tennis and 30 mins of basketball. Unfortunately I haven't mastered my heart rate monitor yet so I was unable to track everything. I did notice my heart rate at it's highest was 160 beats per minute during tennis and 135 bpm during basketball. 
I also spent my Saturday night playing Xbox Kinect with the family dancing and doing adventure challenges for fun and fitness. In 1 track I burned 69 cal. My heart rate was180 bpm while dancing this track. 

Task 2 in the 12WBT is "Take Control: Set Your Goals!"

This task is around setting goals in 1, 3, 6 and 12 month stages. Because at this point in the pre-season we don't really know what we are doing or what success will look like, these may or may not be achievable - but I'm certainly going to try!

MY GOALS:

After 1 month:

• Identify & purchase fitness methods/ tools 
• Exercise at least 7 hours per week 
• Run 10 laps a week by the end of the month 
• Be able to complete 1 lap while running at least 1/2 the oval  
• Start going to the oval 3 times a week
• Attempt to run laps in quarters of the oval, gradually increase to halves
• Run 3 laps each visit
• Play tennis Saturdays

After 3 months:

• Lose 5kg
• Exercise 6 days a week or at least 7 hours per week
• Run 15 laps, 3 times a week 
• Run 2km without stopping 
• Participate in 3.5km Fun Run - Sydney Running Festival Sunday 16/9/2012
• Stick to meal plan and actively reduce and monitor portion sizes
• Play tennis and go swimming Saturdays and Sundays

After 6 months:

• Lose 10 kg
• Run 5km without stopping
• Exercise 6 days a week or 10 hours a week
• Run 15 laps, 3 times a week 
• Run 4km without stopping 
• Stick to meal plan and actively monitor portion sizes
• Play tennis and go swimming Saturdays and Sundays

After 12 months:

• Lose 20kg
• Run a half marathon (City To Surf?)
• Quit smoking
• Continue with 12 WBT
• Continue with active lifestyle
• Follow half marathon training and nutrition plan
• Exercise 6 days a week or 10 hours a week

Task 8 in the 12WBT is "Measure Up!"

This is the last Pre-Season task and I completed it tonight with some assistance from my partner. we also took a "Before" photo but I don't plan on showing that unless I am happy with my "After" results!

MY MEASUREMENTS:

• Height: 160 cm 
• Weight: 87 kg
• Chest (at nipple line): 108 cm
• Chest (under breasts): 91 cm
• Waist (at belly button): 108 cm
• Hips: 114 cm
• Thighs (at largest point): 70 cm
• Arms (3 fingers from elbow crease): 32 cm
• Arms (bicep, flexed): 35.5 cm
• Neck: 36.5 cm

Tomorrow is a new day...

I am determined to start Week 1 in a positive mindset. Sure I may not have all my goals set, and sure I have lots of change to adjust to, but that's life right? Work is full of change at the moment - why should my home-life be any different? I need to do what needs to be done for me, for my health, for my happiness and for my future. I'm going to feel the fear, and do it anyway!