Someone Approaches the Front Door of the Blogosphere…
Tap, tap, tap … er… anyone home? Hello? Anybody there? Guess I’ll find out soon enough. Remember me? You know… the tall, lean, handsome, athletic, shy, young blogger? No? Well, what about the loud, stocky, annoying, opinionated one who’s not young, good looking or nearly as funny as he thinks he is?
Yep, I’m back.
A New Year
Hi everyone. Nice to… er… see.. you all. How are you? I gotta be honest, I missed my cyber-family a little. After all, you are quite miss-able. Wow, it’s been a long time hasn’t it? Perhaps too long but my radio commitments over the last month meant that it would have been almost impossible for me to blog anyway. Having said that, I think I’ll keep my holidays from the blogosphere to a maximum of two weeks from now on.
So, did you have a great Christmas and New Year? Did you laugh? Cry? Both? Did you celebrate? Ruminate? Meditate? Did you make time and space to find you amidst the festive chaos? Did you take the opportunity to be still? That is, to just be? To stop doing for a moment? To stop ticking boxes and doing what ‘needs’ to be done? Sometimes I think we should tear up our to-do list for a day or five. Not forever and not all the time, but sometimes. When we get to the point where our life manages us – and not the other way around – it’s time to make some changes. Do you ever feel like you’re just hanging on by your fingernails? When we discover that we’ve become a passenger on the out-of-control-train-wreck that is our own life, then it’s time for us to take back the power and to become the controller, not the controlled. It’s time to do things differently.
Sorry, there I was chatting about Christmas and without warning I slipped into coach mode. I do that from time to time.
Back to the Holidays…
So, did you get fat? Lean? Motivated? Grumpy? Happy? Frustrated? Inspired? Creative? Did you relax or stress? Perhaps both; depending on the day? Did you drink your own bodyweight in alcohol? Did you make any (potentially) life-changing decisions and resolutions? Have you kept them? Are you excited about what you will do, be and create over the next eleven and a half months or are you ‘resigned’ to the bleak reality of your life? Are you choosing your attitude, your reality and your destiny or are you simply reacting, coping and surviving? In 2010 will you be a victim or a victor? A dreamer or a doer? A reactor or a creator?
Even though I’m not a fan of New Year’s resolutions (I don’t believe a day on the calendar should determine when, or if, we make life-changing decisions – decisions which could be made on any day of the year), I do enjoy the fact that we are opening a new door into a new year and with that often comes a collective shift in energy, mindset and optimism. If only we would maintain it for a year. Or better still, a lifetime.
There’s a thought.
My wish for all of you is that 2010 will be a year of personal growth, power, passion, discovery, calm and happiness. But keep in mind that your 2010 has pretty much nothing to do with my wish-list and everything to do with your attitude, decisions, behaviours, resilience and ability to finish what you start. Your ability to find a way, not an excuse. To be the solution-finder and not the problem-obsessor. We don’t stumble into success, we create it and we don’t find happiness – it finds us when we allow it to.
What to Expect this Year at Me-Dot-Com…
Late last year we welcomed CJ to our team and she has proven to be a valuable and popular addition to our cyber-family. Her inclusion was not so that I could phase myself out (as some people enquired) but rather so that we might have (1) something (someone) for you to digest on the days when I’m not writing (2) a much-needed female voice on the site (3) someone to offer a slightly different perspective on things and (4) someone who will stimulate meaningful discussion and provoke thought. CJ is not a personal development writer, speaker or coach; her role here is not to be a female Craig. She is more of an asker of questions than she is a provider of solutions and strategies – which makes for some interesting group discussion and debate. And yes, we will have a profile and photo of CJ up on the site soon so stop asking! She’s a little shy. 
Moving Forward…
Being as this is my first post for the year, I thought it might be appropriate and timely for me to share my ideas, thoughts and vision for the site moving forward. Me-dot-com came into being in September 2006. Johnnie and I pushed it out of the cyber-nest and it flapped its wings for the first time with a few lame ramblings from Yours Truly; the man who had no idea about blogs, the blogosphere or the potential there-in. To be honest, when Johnnie approached me with the idea of creating my own blog, I wasn’t the least bit interested. Thank goodness for Johnnie. Over the last few years my writing (for the most part) has been a mix of instructional, motivational, educational, philosophical and inspirational instalments; coupled with some life-lessons, some silly stories and of course, the odd fart joke.
Oh well, I guess I’m a work in progress too.
While I will continue to write the motivational ‘coaching’ type posts, I feel like it’s time for me to diversify and to introduce some fresh content, direction, ideas and teaching. I think it will do both of us some good! So…
This year I intend to:
1. Do some practical, hands-on research in the areas of training, nutrition, recovery, adaptation, motivation and weight/fat-loss – using some of you crazy kids as my research subjects (guinea pigs). I will then share the results, lessons and conclusions here on the site. Those involved in the research will be asked to journal their results, feelings and experiences along the way. Much of that feedback and those results will be published on this site (in the words of the subjects).
2. Interview some cool people who have succeeded in their field of endeavor.
3. Film one or two video posts each month answering your questions. Feel free to submit your questions from now – either via email or the comment link at the bottom.
4. Continue the philosophical and spiritual journey of learning to appreciate and live in the moment and to discover who we are beyond what we do, who we think we are and who we’re told to be. We will also continue to explore the concept of living conscious, calm and meaningful lives in an often chaotic world.
5. Review products and services. These products and services will relate (in some way) to personal and/or professional development.
6. As I have many readers who work in the fitness industry, I have decided to write more articles specific to personal trainers, fitness industry professionals and fitness business owners.
So there you have it: a snapshot of 2010 at me-dot-com.
Other Stuff…
Apart from the changes on-site, this year we will also be offering a range of additional programs off-site. One of these new programs will incorporate outdoor adventure, a wilderness experience and personal development lectures over three days; kind of like a very practical – and mobile – personal development program set in a breath-takingly beautiful environment. This will be a potentially life-changing experience and I’m pretty excited about it. I will announce the details soon. I would also love to run my first two-day Renovate Your Life program in the US before the year is out. Not sure if we can get that up, but we’ll do our best. Having said all of that, I would appreciate your ideas, suggestions and feedback about what you’d like to see on the site. I know I can’t please everyone but let me know the type of articles and information that you find most valuable and relevant for you. This kind of feedback makes life easier for me in terms of planning, writing and investing my time and energy.
Also, if you had a breakthrough or revelation over the holidays, feel free to share it with the rest of us. Or just leave me a comment and say hi – so I know you’re still alive.
Group Hug. ( )
Aaah… it’s good to be back.
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Ooh you’re back…welcome and Happy New Year Craig…it’s still January so I can still say that
I have had a great break, I managed 2 weeks child free and then took my kids on holiday to Queenscliff (Victorian Coast and where the ships come into the port of Melbourne) I managed a few walks on the beach, once with my daughter and a couple on my own…very peaceful. I also managed to watch the ships coming and going through the heads….very soothing and relaxing!!!!
I spent a day (28th Dec) working out my goals and planning for 2010. I am doing well so far and no there were no resolutions…so none to already have broken. 2010 is shaping up to be an awesome year for me.
I am looking forward to seeing what you have instore for us over the next year.
A big hello to everyone else who reads this blog, I am also looking forward to reading all your thought provoking comments…have an awesome 2010 everyone.
hugs and a welcome back kiss
Chelle xxxx
I need to learn meditation. Got to quieten the mind. It is far too excited to sleep. Sleep is good. And I’m not getting enough of it. I bought a book on meditation on Tuesday. A step-by-step guide. It looks really good.
Your vision for 2010 sounds exciting CH. Now you just need to create it all
Welcome Back!
I’m glad you enjoyed your holidays and have a plan already to tackle 2010. I look forward to seeing what you bring to the table this year. More education no doubt, a reality check here and there a must and always some humour thrown in just for good measure.
Me I’ve just finished six weeks annual leave and tomorrow’s my first day back at work. 2010 here I come ready or not. LOL!!
Kindest Regards,
Lia Halsall
I’m glad your back……. 2010 sounds great. Happy to be a guinea pig if you need me.
Michelle from Malmsbury x x x
Hoy Craig,
Welcome back. Happy New Year to you too.
Outdoor adventure? Like, OUTside? Wilderness? Ok, you know that Mother Nature and I have a very terse relationship, don’t you? I haven’t forgiven her for making me give birth to a baby the size of Portugal. She hasn’t forgiven me for the damage my hairspray did to the ozone layer in the eighties. We’re really not on speaking terms. So I have never been camping. Ever. I’ve always thought that the outdoors was just somewhere one had to endure to get from one indoors to another. Sheeesh. Yeah, I know, suck it up …
A big welcome back to everyone too. Hugs all round. I have a feeling that 2010 is going to be an amazing year for us all. Bring it on!
Christina xxx
Look forward to your coming insight of twentyoneoh, Craig!
After being immersed for the last few weeks in the flowing chaos of Georgetown in Malaysia, and in the sound of un-muffled diesels propelling longtails which transport tourists on Koh Lipe, I realise all I need is a mobile phone, a 100cc Honda, a couple of bowls of tasty noodles or rice a day, a hose to wash down the rear end instead of toilet paper, a ramshackle airy dwelling and I have all I need to exist comfortably on a few bucks a day. We do live in such an antiseptic puffed up society. I find I am now craving what seemed so repulsive at first, the stench and filth that impoverished people go about living side by side with. Anything goes, where anyone with a wok can cook up a cheap tasty meal by the roadside under the cover of an umbrella.
Walking Street on Koh Lipe would be declared a hazardous no-go zone anywhere in Australia, but it is such an eclectic mix of construction and food, seemingly put together from nothing by the Sea Gypsies, that it does make for an invigorating experience at any time of day or night to traverse, which has Lygon Street paling in comparison.
For 2010, I need to empty my mind to make room for God. Anything I keep in my head needs a wall, a boundary, to contain it. Thus it makes my mind small keeping/trapping all the crap and all those emotions and beliefs that stay corralled up within, even if I do leave the gate open. I am a physical and conscious manifestation of the universe, even though I may lead myself to believe that who I am in my own universe is all that there is. But the universe is a big place and I aim to make room for it, by having all that is within etherised. Maybe then, I consciously merge with the ONE, without being conscious of it!
Here’s to an emptying year of ONE Oh!
Craig! Welcome back. I hope you had a good Christmas and new year, and say hi to your mum from England! We have had a load of snow, but it is finally going. I love reading your posts they incourage me to live the best life I can. I think its pretty awesome so far but can always be better. Cheers Craig, look forward to the new work.
Hey Craig Welcome Back
There has been a Craig sized hole in my email inbox each day, glad you are here again in the blog sphere.
Apart from a wobble or two I stayed true to my decision Oct last year to work an eight hour day (and take a lunch break too) this year I am going to continue the theme of bringing balance back into my life.
2010 is going to be the year that it is going to happen, cause if I can break my 25 year history of working 12 – 16 hrs a day (and the world kept turning) anything is possible.
The positivity and support that is found here and from the people I met at RYL is fantastic and I am looking forward to the insights you and the commentators offer.
Hope you, Johnnnie and the rest of the gang had a fantastic Christmas.
hugs
Mandi
Hi Craig and happy new year. Hope the year ahead brings all your wish and work for.
This is going to be a great year for me. I’ve set realistic and achieveable goals (if I work hard enough) and I feel motivated and enthusiatic for change. Have joined a team to do a triathalon. OK, so I may have only been on a bike half a dozen times in the last 20 years. But I’ve brought a bike and I’m on a mission – by the end of March I’m going to participate in my first event. I gather I may finish with the worst time ever recorded but thats my starting point. I’ll get better. And I don’t care.. I just want to get past the finish line (in one piece). So great to have concrete goals which is new for me….will keep you posted.
Have missed your blogs. Nice to see you back. Hope alls well in your world (and how’s Mum?).
J9 ()
Hi Little John,
I’m glad to hear you had a wonderful time in Penang. I attended school there for almost three years. Thanks for bringing all the sights and smells back for me; it sounds like nothing much has changed.
Christina xxx
Welcome Back! It seems that we ‘all’ missed you! And I thought it was just me! I am excited about 20-10. Yes, come to the good ole US of A… we need you.
Happy times,
Victoria
Hey Craig !!
Welcome back… and happy 2010 !
Missed ya heaps !
{{HUG}}
Tina
Glad to have you back Craig! My Google Reader missed you immensely…as did I.
I’m starting the new year with some fresh goals (not resolutions) including running my first marathon and continuing to lose that pesky weight. At this point, I’m happy where I am and less about reaching “goal” than continuing to make downward progress. Look forward to whatever you’ve got in store for us for 2010. And to the group conversation!
Great to hear from you!
To be honest I was worried I just wasn’t receiving you!!! so I am now at peace and ready to listen
Happy 2010
Karen L in Perth
Hi Craig, its really good to have you back.. Just one thing that I would really like to see/hear in the new year is the commentary of your topics…I personally find it alot easeier and take alot more in if I hear it not read it. When you did it last year, i thought it was great. Just a thought anyway.
Ciao
Good to have you back Harper! Looking forward to all the amazing things you have in store for us this year. Wilderness experience…sweet…that might even bring me out of cyber secrecy!
2010 is going be a great year xx
after weeks of not checking you can imagine my surprise when I logged in a week ago to see I hadn’t really missed much at all. Whew.
My goal for the year is to make the ppermanent changes I need to make to live a good, honest, and healthy lifestyle. Oh to be more financially secure. So no different to most I guess. Oh, and something else, to be a more active participant at you dot com.
So Welcome back Craig and I hope 2010 is filled with all things good for you but especially good health, love and happiness.
Ronnie
Welcome back! You have been missed! I hope you are, like me, looking forward to a fantastic 2010. Family, friends and lots of fun. I guess it will have to include some serious stuff too, like work, bill paying and tax, but that is all inevitable!
Our little family of 4 had a relaxing xmas with the rest of the pack, I maintained eating well by thinking ahead and making a heap of vege rice paper rolls and sushi. YUM! Being vegetarian makes xmas a bit easier on the tummy me thinks!
I would like to eagerly rush to the fornt of the class and put my hand up shouting ‘pick me, pick me’ rather eagerly at being involved in any research mentioned above, if you are up for it.
I had an epiphany over my holidays that while I started out in my chosen career as a chef, it took me a short while to realise I dont really enjoy cooking for people I dont know. I work in administration now, but still love to study up on health and nutrition……….why the hell dont I study for my BA of Nutrition and Food Science with an interest in physical training as well? It will have to wait until my eldest is in school, but it cant hurt to look into it and start siphoning the cash aside for it.
Im so excited and now I feel like I have a direction! I can add student to my ‘wife, mummy, office-wench’ label! Woo Hoo!
So a BIG FAT SLOPPY KISS – *MWAH* – to you, as without your not-so-subtle recommendations I now know where I am headed.
Thanks so much Craig,
Cheers Kelly
Good to be back, Good to have you back! Glad all went well for you on the Radio Gig…
Welcome to 2010……….. looking forward to taking the leap into the unknown!
Hey Bloke,
Welcome back! See? We are still here, and we’ve missed you as much as you’ve missed us!!
Wowsers … you have such awesome plans for “you.com” – I for one can’t wait!
Happy 2010! I hope it knocks your socks off!
Em
( ) x
Welcome back and Happy New Year to you all.
2010 is going to be a great year. Not sure what i’ll be creating this year – but it will be a big and exciting change from the previous years. I do seem to be living in groundhog day – time to make that change.
I’m also happy to be a guinea pig if required.
Oink oink!!
Thank goodness you are back Mr Harper.. although the guys on the forum are always there in times of need… (checkout the 2010 Believers are Achievers forum under Personal Development..)
I survived my 4 weeks at the beach quite nicely in fact, first Xmas in 45 that the scales were syncronized with my credit card.. usually both skyrocket at alarming pace!
Michelle from Malmsbury.. do you mean Malmsbury in the UK, in Wilts? beautiful place, I would love to live there.. you are a lucky girl, aside from the snow..
Jak
Hi Craig
Welcome Back. I hope you enjoyed a fabulous holiday with the people you love
. Its nice to have you back. And its nice to have the time to read your posts. Leading up to Christmas was ridiculous and I’m glad its all over now so I can get on with……Living.
I’m very excited to hear about your upcoming events… I hope that a nice trip to the beautiful Sunshine Coast is in there somewhere
Anyway, I didn’t make any new years resolutions, I’m still living the life I created from the last one…hehehehe. However I have set some new benchmarks and goals for this year and I’m really excited about where I’m going.
Oh, and by the way – you know how much I love being a guinea pig… (flash back to RYB, brisbane) So, pick me, pick me, pick me!!
Cheers
Nicole
Wow, the plans you have for you.dot.com sound amazing. Yes, we missed you, but I think your extra planning time has been fruitful !!
I have used the holidays to read some inspiring books and to get a little bit more creative with my own writing. Has been great. Also being a mum of 2, I have also had lots of quality time with my kids – a treasure really. They are both more chilled out so the sibling fights are quietening somewhat (which helps a lot) and we are really enjoying the ‘no schedule” life for a little longer. A little bit of ‘just being’ is good !
A big ‘hi’ to all here at the blogosphere. Here’s to much more growth, positive change and being all we can become…..
hugs,
Mon ( )
You’re pretty miss-able yourself Craig, as the comments prove.
It sounds like you did some serious time working on your goals and plans for the year, and it all sounds solid- especially the part about bringing the program to the states
It’s phenomenal to be re-connected with you and all your friends. Power hugs !
Welcome Back!! You were certainly missed in my blogoshere otherwise known as my head. Looking forward to this year the first one in my 40′s. I intend to be fit and fabulous. Would love to be a guinea pig, that’s if you require an old one !! J x
Welcome back Craig and yes please don’t commit yourself to long secondment projects such as filling in for the DJ at SEN…I don’t appreciate when my husband comes home talking about you cause that’s my job!!!
Looking forward to 2010…I have been reading my favourite past blogs on him.dot.com and they always contains some new rules / motivations that need to be reiterated from time to time… My all time fav. is “Dogs life”..that always puts material accummilation “stuff” into perspective & that’s my 2010 resolution…not to accummulate more stuff. So far so good.
Welcome back and so looking forward to more CH.
Gullu
Hi Craig,
Welcome back. Glad you had a great Christmas/New Year break.
Mine was very relaxed, just the way I wanted it to be!
Looking forward to seeing what you have in store for 2010.
Nell xxx
Great to hear from you Craig, welcome back!
)
My catch phrase for this year is Zen in 2010….. look forward to learning lots, chilling out and being more at home with me! I look forward to hearing from y’all
Great to read your blog again Mr H. I really hope that you had a great time being Mr DJ and just being.
It sounds like we are going to have some great installments on you.com. I am very much looking forward to a great year of doing and not sitting on the side lines because I didn’t think that I was capable. No resolutions for me just a plan to be all that I can be and enjoy doing it.
Also great to see all of the replies… feels like catching up with old friends.
Sue
P.S Hope that Mary is well & had a lovely Christmas with number 1 son.
Hi Craig,
so glad to have you back. You are such an inspirational writer and your blog has so much meaning that it really makes me question my life and goals.
I seem to always be learning ,growing (emotionally) but not making any goals maybe thats why I feel I am not heading towards any direction.
Your blog has really made me aware in order to grow from these experiences I must action them, makes goals and put them into action.
Now the next step will be to work out my goals,something exciting to look forward to. Thank you Craig once again you’ve brought me another lesson of awareness.
I went in to the health food shop this morning to get some ‘sports energy gel’ for my long bike rides and the retail assistant said, looking surprised, “you’ve lost weight since you were in last” (and it would have only been two weeks ago – first Mon of Jan it was because they have 20% off then). That was so cool hearing someone say that!
THEN…
She noticed my t-shirt. She read it aloud. “Suck it up princess.” And she and the other retail assistant smiled. People do notice
Do you think the ‘craigharper.com.au’ is big enough? You think people come and check out your blog site after seeing someone wear one of the shirts?
“My wish for all of you is that 2010 will be a year of personal growth, power, passion, discovery, calm and happiness. But keep in mind that your 2010 has pretty much nothing to do with my wish-list and everything to do with your attitude, decisions, behaviours, resilience and ability to finish what you start. Your ability to find a way, not an excuse. To be the solution-finder and not the problem-obsessor. We don’t stumble into success, we create it and we don’t find happiness – it finds us when we allow it to.”
Thanks Craig that’s what has happened in two short weeks.
I went on this journey to Sydney to see three amazing people.
One thing that I have brought back with me is my feeling of self-worth has changed.
It got to a point where I was ready to go, look ok things were not nice for a long time. Maybe I complained and perpetuated and stayed stuck in the sad things. To an extent yes. Maybe I was in self pity mode. No do not agree but I sure did struggle and in that dragged some people into it.
Yes i’m fat, I accept that now, no I did not join the gym as a new year’s resolution, the exercise has helped my back and neck a lot. Yes I feel uncomfortable being called fatty in the street or online yet it just does not bother me. Maybe I have gotten tough, I really don’t know. What I do know is this: my life, my self-worth and the potential to get back on track in all areas has finally arrived. Being nicer to self feels awful; but as one person said to me the other day, if I ain’t nice to self how can I be nice to others.
My goal is simply to be nice to myself. That sounds pretensious and I feel uncomfortable saying it. I feel it’s time to leave a lot of things behind and in the past week I have done that. So the immediate future is continuing the life path which I have not been on for a very long time.
Happy new year Craig and CJ and thanks for coming back online, I look foward to hearing from everyone even Kate
Hi Craig
I missed you a lot,after just finding your great site.Your plans for this year sound awsome.I’d love to hear you on radio.What station and time? or have i missed out.
Bring on 2010
Welcome back Craig. I was looking forward to seeing your posts again
I’m still plugging away at the goal I started working on last summer – I have a date now for my 100 km ultramarathon (on the rowing machine). My date of suffering and ecstasy will be on June 19 at West Edmonton Mall, which is the biggest mall in North America. 2010 started on a bad note, with a flu followed by a sinus cold, so training has suffered. But I’m up to 38 km now and I’ll keep plugging away.
Looking forward to what you’ve got in store
Michelle
Welcome back to not only Craig but fellow commenters …(if that is such a word). To my fellow RAAF brat Christina – the outdoors in Australia is much fresher than good ‘ole RAAF School Penang – you’ll LOVE the new experience.
I did make a New Year’s Resolution – to keep the house tidy – pity the kids and hubby didn’t make the same resolution.
Plans for you – dot-com sound extremely exciting. I hope you plan to keep CJ giving us the oestrogen point of view, opinions etc – after all it is about balance
Craig I’m sure you won’t be short of guinea pigs but this Queenslander is happy to journal the good the bad and the ugly with her mood swings, excuses, vital stats – all for the sake of research – of course.
Looking forward to a brilliant year.
( ) Nat
Cdn friend (Michelle) – 100 km ultramarathon on the indoor rower? Are you for real? How long do you expect that will take? I sure admire you. But pleeeease, get me to the START line of an Ironman Triathlon any day! That rower is hard work, hey! Each to their own I guess.
Since you announced your big event to the craigharper.com community, I think it’s about time I announced mine.
I’m doing Ironman New Zealand on Saturday March 6. My first ironman. The thing I’ve been thinking/talking/writing about for a good 8 yrs I’d say. Well, I have entered. I’m fully committed now. There’s no turning back (unless I’m in hospital, dying, or unless a close family member is in hospital, dying). Flights and accommodation all booked. I’m doing the TriTravel Tour and will be well looked after. I’m going to be a bundle of nerves that’s for sure. AND a bundle of excitement! I still can’t get a full 7-8 hrs sleep at night. I’m doing well if I get 5 hrs.
I’m sooooo excited! But lots to do in the next 6 weeks before I fly to Auckland. Did 120 km in 5 hrs on the bike on Saturday. And I’m not on my new bike yet! I’ll be flying on my new full carbon Shimano 105 bike, with aerobars. I CAN’T WAIT!!!
Cdn friend – you’re definitely on my list to contact when ‘Team Amazing’ is launched (hopefully in the next few months). I want you on the Team! You are so inspirational, you know that, right? YOU ARE A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Together, we can change the world from being a bunch of people who are medocre to being A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. “If you build it, they will come.”
* And Craig? To think that it was my being at the Sydney 1/2 day RYL in October 2008 was what set this whole ‘amazing’ phenomenon off. It was the one word I took away from that workshop that inspired me to DO AMAZING, BE AMAZING. You rock, Uncle Craig! (And a big thanks to Pip in Perth who told me about you in the first place).
I’m so excited about 2010!!! I’m not convinced I can make that any more obvious!!!
“Being nice to self feels awful” – naaah, go for it Michael ! Be nice to you ! You deserve it….
Hi Team. Wowzer. Who feels a little spesh right now? Moi, that’s who. Thanks for all the love. I’ve read and appreciated every comment. It’s nice to be back and to hear all your news.
Group hug (( ))
Thanks Mon
))) now I feel ‘spesh” what a silly word 
if you read this Mon thanks.
Hi Craig,
I haven’t made any NY resolutions but rather I have started walking on my treadmill the past 3 weeks every morning for 30 minutes. Two of those weeks I was on holidays and I have been doing it before I eat breakfast and also before work. I have a heart rate monitor as well that the treadmill picks up on which is helping me stay focused. Also I have been attending to my diet and have cut out caffeinated diet coke. This has been a big thing for me as I was totally addicted to caffeine and I now drink the no caffeine version and drink lots of water. Eventually I will give up the stuff entirely. As a result of this I am beginning to sleep better and feel better within myself. I have noticed too that in buying some foods as fillers like corn thins, although I like them I have found that fresh and real food is more my preference. This has been exciting for me. The real coup in all of this though is that I have a teenage son whom suffers depression and I have realised that I have been enabling him by doing everything for him thinking I am helping him. This left very little time for my needs. Being on the treadmill and wanting to get fit and healthy was the catalyst for me to do something important for myself and make bigger changes for a happier, healthier life for both me and my son. I have not felt this motivated in many, many years and it does not feel like an effort, so although the changes require effort it feels effortless if that makes sense, my wanting and my desire is far greater. I am so happy to feel this way, it seems too good to be true, and amazingly to me it’s non negotiable. I won’t let anyone else interfere with it, I only have to battle my own demons. An example of the change in me is that today I had a complete meltdown in the morning and missed my workout but by evening with a little time to get past the emotional storm, I found that I missed my treadmill walk and was back on it by 7pm this evening, something that ‘never’ would have happened before. I have to say I am so proud of myself and there’s another change, I would never say nice things about myself because I thought people would think I am conceited or boasting but today I am proud!
Oops and I meant to say Happy New Year to you Craig and all on forum. I am actually a lurker but I think now you might see me around a little xoxox
WHOOHOO JULES!!!!!
Ironman NZ!!!!! Now I know the secret you were hiding from me on the phone hahaha! That is AWESOME! New bike too???? How very exciting! So close as well! You will do very well! And YEP, – you sure will be needing good carbs with the training required for that! Can’t wait to hear all about it and see photos!
Go Jules!!!
Welcom back Craig! I missed your blogs. I’m back at it in the new year with many fitness, personal, professional and spiritual goals ahead. I even hired a trainer for a few months to get me kick started towards meeting my body fat goals.
Went back to Weight Watcherst this week and it was good. Many supportive people. I’m still about 15 lbs. from my goal, but I know I will make it (Down 135 lbs. total – 61 Kilos). Funny though, there are Sooo many people at weight watchers that get the external, life-style and education part of weight loss, but can’t seem to wrap their heads around the mental shift needed to keep it off forever. I want to thank you for giving me that gift last year. Even with regaining a few pounds over the holidays (I did enjoy it!), I feel so different now. Not hopeless and discouraged like before. My mind has shifted over time and I am confident that I can continue on this path. Like you have taught me, I can lose weight, be healthy and keep it off if I want to. And I want to!
Please keep up the inspiring thoughts and life changing information. I know we all really appreciate it.
And to the rest of you out there – Have a great 2010!
- Steve in California
Yes Pip, the secret that I couldn’t talk about the other day on the phone was about IM NZ & the new bike. The parents don’t know about either yet! Cheeky monster I am, hey. I’m 30 now. A big girl. Don’t need approval from no one… except my ironman coach. If he had have said ‘no, not this year Jules – you’re not ready’ then I would have respected him for sure. After all, he’d have my best interest and safety in mind.
Yes – carbs really are good! I love carbs now. I’m training so much better too, hey. The bike is coming up from Melbourne and should land in the shop tomorrow. I’ll go in on Fri to get all set up and to take her for a ride and bring her home. It’s all too exciting really… and SURREAL. It’s funny that Craig had a picture of a door on this post. It’s symbolic for me because I have recetnly closed one door but another opened wide for me to walk into ‘a whole new world.’ A whole new A-M-A-Z-I-N-G world! I’ll be inviting you too, Pip, to join Team Amazing so you better join!
And I’ll be recruiting you too, Steve. You’re pretty damn amazing, man! 2010 is the year for us. You’re doing awesome.
Wow Jules – an Ironman! You seriously rock girl and that is a lot of work you are putting in to get to the starting line. You waited 8 years and now your time has come. This is going to be such an awesome experience and it will be just the beginning of a great adventure in your life!
Michelle
PS – I’m hoping to do the 100km in 9-10 hours. Not the fastest by any means…
Craig who?????