My thoughts on Crossfit - 3 weeks in!

When Brad and I first got to Darwin, one of our first things to check off out list was to find a gym. We looked and looked around, not being a big city (population approx 127,000), with not many 'regular' chain type gym options or competitive pricing... It was basically a pick between going to a HUGE NEW gym, some piddly little old gym, or try out something new - like crossfit.

So Brad and I went to the 'introductory session' three weeks ago at Crossfit Darwin, and signed up for the 'on-ramp' - aka 'newbie' program. We've now done one introductory week, learning all the moves, proper form, technique and all the main exercises and have done two weeks of normal Crossfit exercises.

Although, as our very first 'real' exercise was a Benchmark WOD - Angie. We had NO IDEA what we were in for! Angie WOD is 100 pull ups, 100 push ups, 100 sit ups, 100 squats! We thought, yeah that's bloody tough - but we'll give it a crack! No one told us to scale it back, just because we were newbies!

Above: Our first official WOD - 'ANGIE'. There I am on the far left column, 6 from the bottom.

Over the next four days our arms got increasingly more seized up, we started to look like T-rex! It was the most severe pain I've ever been in post-workout! Oh boy! Between us, we visited a chiropractor and massage therapist and felt better the next day.

We learnt our lesson to scale back where appropriate and go easy - even though we don't think we should!

During the past two weeks I've completed 7 workouts!

Above: That's me on the left in the green singlet!

Above: And that's me right there in the green singlet lifting that bar!!

Considering I was injured 4/14 days, and I used to only go to the gym when I lived in Melbourne/Geelong around 4 times a week (and that was pushing it) - I think crossfit is going to be perfect! I love that it's different every day, it's social, fun and I'm building muscle!

Q: Have you tried crossfit before? What kind of new exercises you've tried lately?

seven

7 years of...

laughing at his warped sense of humor

finding new recipes that he'll like

looking into his gorgeous blue eyes

hearing his words of encouragement

listening to his advice

cooking is favourite choc-chip biscuits and choc, choc-chip muffins

dodging his elbows as he playfully jostles me

smiling when he compliments me

visiting new places and countries together

taking thousands of photos

learning patience and acceptance

the occasional fight, and a few tears

learning from my mistakes

learning to appreciate

trying to the find the perfect brunch place in Melbourne

getting to know and loving each others our families

living in four different houses togther

'having' to sit through action movies (which I turn out to actually like) at the cinema

enjoying yummy deserts

celebrating Christmas, birthdays and Easter together

and....

feeling my heart swell when he tells me he loves me

Happy 7th anniversary honey (of dating)! xox

Project Life: January

I was moving house, traveling in Vietnam and starting a new life in Darwin when Project Life started this January. I was way to un-organised to start a year long project while moving, without supplies and not 'ready'.

I knew that recording a week of photos, journalling and bits at the end of each week was going to be too much. So I decided to do a monthly 'project life' project. It's sometime I tried to begin in 2010, but I only ended up doing half the year. This seems more tangible, easier and simpler.

So here's my project life page for January.

 

I don't have the 'kit' for PL, but instead I used some We R Memory Keepers page protectors and other bits and pieces. I added journal tags, receipts, maps and luggage tags to the photos I had for the month.

My monthly project life pages are going to be in addition to other photos that I'll scrapbook for the month.

Qu. What do you do to remember each month? Are you participating in project life this year?
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Project Life is a simple memory keeping system. Read about it here.

My first fishing trip in Darwin!

So it's 10.45pm and I've been up since 4.30am this morning. To say I'm a little tired is an understatement! Brad's Aunty and Uncle and his cousin picked us up at 4.45am to drive about 2 hours to the South Alligator River to go Barramundi fishing! 

I'd never been Barramundi fishing before or done 'overhead' casting before! We launched the boat in at the boat ramp and drove about 20-30 minutes upstream to catch some Barra! The first spot we pulled up at turned out to the best of the day! Brad's uncle (also named Brad) taught me really well, it took me a while (considering my first cast landed about a foot in front of the boat), but I got the hang of it in the end!

I had to remember when to let the line go (to successfully land it in the right spot along the bank where the Barra would be), and then remember to hold my thumb over the line too at the right time!

In the end, I landed one fish, about 40cm in length (keeping is 55cm)! I was so excited! 

It's such exciting fishing, and can now understand why so many people love Barra fishing! The way they jump out of the water, the technique and skill in casting, choosing a lure and casting it into the right location - it's so much fun!

Poor Brad was the only one who didn't catch anything - better luck next time baby! ;)

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Darwin Adventures: I'm new to living in Darwin, NT. You can see all my adventures in the NT on twitter and instragram by looking for the hash tag #darwinadventures

Darwin life so far

So I've been a resident of Darwin now for 3 weeks. Things are a lot more laid back here, hotter and more adventurous.

Since my last post I've started a new marketing communications role for a large company up here. The company culture is very positive and my manager and colleagues are awesome!
My colleague and i had a busy day on friday cleaning out an area where we keep our marketing merchandise and got very hot and dirty... And our manager gave us both a bottle of Moet!
How cool?!

I already feel like I've been working here a lot longer than three weeks!

I've also already gotten back into my healthy eating and exercise! Ive already played two games of indoor soccer and joined a team! It's very casual and good fun!

On top of that the Mr and I have join crossfit darwin! We have just finished on 'on ramp' intro sessions this week and are so sore! It's going to be great I think given I've already lost the "spring rolls" I put on while we were holidaying in Vietnam! ;)

I'm still waiting for telstra to connect our internet... Funny story that - we went into a telstra shop here to apply for a bundle... And they've connected our phone and net to our previous house in geelong instead! Handy hey?!

So at the moment I'm blogging from my phone!

Here's a few highlights and insights so far I've learnt about Darwin:
- everyone drives a bit slower on the road, especially when they're in the overtaking lane when u want to turn
- they don't have a myer (sad face)
- in the wet season it rains out of the blue
- when it's pouring, it pours, sideways and your umbrella offers you no cover (the rain bounces up from the pavement and comes at you on the side)
- it's awesome living about a 10min walk from work
- the parap markets have the best smoothies, crepes, Asian meals.
- it's hard to find a nice "sunday brunch" cafe that has a 'brunswick' vibe
- it's awesome cooking a BBQ most
Nights
- beer and cider are going down a treat, a real desire for cool bubbles of an evening... Which is why more soda water is in our fridge - to save me from drinking beer everynight! ;)

It you want to follow my adventures in Darwin, find the hashtag #darwinadentures on either instagram or twitter!

Talk soon. x