Week 8 Results

And finally the scales are moving again. This is good.

Ev the Olympian came to meet Alicia the Personal Torturer on Saturday. It is agreed that Alicia will work on strength training and Ev will focus on my cardio fitness with an emphasis on sprint fitness (oh God what have I done!).

Ev plans to consult her former (Olympic) fitness trainer to develop an appropriate program.

And I am to be pushed out of my comfort zone.

I have created a monster....

Love it.

Weight: 94.5kgs

Victory!

Yes, hold the front page - I actually managed to win a singles game!

I was up 3-1 when my opponent won the next four games and had me at set point but I managed to fight back and won in a tie break.Really weird actually winning something - I am far more accustomed  to being the good loser.

It's a good feeling...

Yes, Tim

I've been to see Tim the Physio this afternoon - buggered knees and hips and backs need attention. Tim has apparently  been reading this blog - which is a pleasant surprise - even more so that he even likes it.

The new poll was his idea.

And yes, Tim - I am doing my exercises....

Week 7 Results

Hmm - only a 100 gram decrease. It may have something to do with the quantity of icecream I've been eating lately.

And I'm having a few problems with my left knee. It's been reconstructed twice and in humid weather it just kind of goes - wrong. So that meant only  limited tennis last night and no walk this morning.

I'm off to Tim the Physio this afternoon and we'll get it taped up again and that should do the trick.

Weight: 95.7kg

Team Charlotte

Alicia is back! More sweating in our gym - otherwise known as the garage.

The Team Charlotte t-shirts have arrived and don't they look inspirational! I particularly like the swear bubble.

So, there's Alicia on the left and my sister Moira on the right. Boxing features quite prominently in our workouts and most of the time I enjoy it but I can't say that the boxing crunches are my favourite - nor is the plank or the wall sit.... but then again that's why Alica makes us do them.

Setting the Standard

I had a really great leson with Victor - felt really good about hitting the ball cleanly and accurately. So I went to the social comp at Melbourne Park - a little pprehensive but thought I would acquit myself ok.

And yes, Victor was right, I got the yips and either hit things WAY out of court or smack into the net. And this is why I am playing social comp - I need the competition practice so that I can get my nerves under control. I was really happy with my serve - that stayed pretty solid and often that's the first thing to go when I'm nervous. I lost the singles set 6-1 but most of the games went to deuce which means that the loss was caused by nerves rather than technical skill. I still need to get a lot fitter though.

The first serious competition is in two weeks - the Seniors comp at Glen Iris. I am more than likely to get well and truly thumped on this one but again, I want the competition practice. My battle will be to h old my serve steady and to get at least 2-3 games from each set. If I can do that, I think I will regard myself as having achieved my goals.

Alicia is back tomorrow - much sweating and many rude words are likely to emerge from the garage.

Week 6 Results

I've hit a plateau - no change in my weight this week. But I'll take that over putting weight on any day.

I will have my tennis lesson tomorrow and then the first week of the social comp on Thursday.

I'm a bit tired this week and a bit sore. Think I need to focus on eating a bit better and more consistently - less chocolate and ice-cream I'm afraid.

Weight: 95.8

No Tennis Tonight

We had a bit of a domestic crisis -our geriatric cat, Sherlock, the old man of the house has been unwell so we had to take him to the vet. Looks like it's an inflammatory problem which is a great relief because I was thinking that we might be saying good-bye to him.

Instead, he is spending the night at the vet's so that he can be given a whiff of gas in order to get a blood sample from him. He objected rather fiercely to attempts this evening - that's our boy - stroppy.

So no Ace-Girls tonight but that's ok! I get walked by Ev tomorrow - prepare to sweat!

Bad Girl II

I had good intentions, really but this afternoon has been a disaster - chocolate and icecream. It's a fatal combination.

Still what's a girl to do.

We're watching the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics - makes me cry - I'm such a sook.

There's nothing like the opening ceremony of the Gay Games - I've never been so emotional, so proud, so tired, so exhilerated. For newbies, it's going to blow your mind...

Tennis Player Ego

Last night I went to the grading for the Tennis World social competition. I was reasonably happy with the way I played - especially my serve which was pretty solid. Got a couple of aces and didn't double fault once.

I played two sets of doubles with different people. The second set was three blokes and me and they were a lot better at running and hitting the ball very hard. Very chivalrous too - not too much whacking the ball at the sole female!

And I was quite pleased when I was told that the grading assessment was that I should be in B Grade ..... until I found out that B Grade is the lowest grade! The Grades go Premier, A1, A2 and B. B Grade if for beginner to intermediate players - and that's an absolutely accurate assessment of my playing standard.

Just goes to show you how much of your tennis is played in your head and not on the court.

I've opted to play singles at 6.30pm on Thursday evenings. That means I'll have a day's break between Ace Girls and my lesson with Victor before the social comp. Apparently the comp lasts for between 16-18 weeks so that should give me plenty of opportunities to get my head around playing competitively. And I shouldn't be quite so exhausted at the Roy Emerson week and have better stamina during the Games. Well at least that's the plan, Stan.

And my next goal (thanks, Ev) is to get three games off Rae in stead of two. And to be in the low 95kg range. And to survive me lesson with Victor tonight....

Week 5 Results

And the first week of intensive training is paying off! I am 1.5 kgs lighter this week than I was last week.

Had a good night at Ace Girls last night - and especially enjoyed playing out a few points - good to get some match like practice.

Today I go to Melbourne Park for a grading session before joining a regular Tuesday night social competition. I'm not quite sure how the comp is run but I'm looking forward to getting some match practice. I know that I need to get some games under my belt.

Tomorrow is my tennis lesson with Victor and on Thursday I think I will collapse (after being "walked" by Ev the Olympian).

There are a couple of comps coming up - one at the Glen Iris Tennis Club over the Labour Day Weekend and then the lawn tennis comp at Shepparton at Easter. All good practice for August.

Hi ho..



Weight: 95.8kgs

First Week Intensive

Oh. My God.

Ev has "walked" me twice. I've played tennis. And there are 22 weeks to go until we fly out to Europe.

Normally I would had a personal training session with Alicia on Saturday morning but Alicia is away. My sister, Moira, and I decided to keep faith with Alicia so we walked her three dogs in the Darebin Parklands. Not exactly strenuous but still we made the effort.

I have fallen in love with one of Moira's rescue dogs - Ariel - a 9 month old whippet cross. He's black and white, sweet natured and utterly graceful. How could he possibly have been abandoned? He's only a temporary resident with Moira - and if we had a lifestyle (and a house) more suitable, I could be tempted. I suspect our three cats might have something to say about that though...

I'll either be incredibly fit (for a nearly 50 year old) or I'm gonna be mincemeat!

I've added some new links under "Good Stuff" - one is to the group that will co-ordinate Team Melbourne and the other is the Australian Gay Games Facebook site which is full of really useful info.

Motivation

OK - I've played tennis twice - well only once really because Monday was a little light on. But I've been "walking" with Ev twice - not to mention a bit of extra walking between my office and head office.

And for motivation, I've decided that I need a training t-shirt that both encourages me and acknowledges that it aint easy!


Check it out here!

Week 4 Results

And at the end of four weeks, I have lost a total of 3 kgs and while I naturally wish it was considerably more, at least it's steady.

Judy's friend Ev played hockey for Australia in 1984. Ev feels that she would like to regain some of her former fitness and that training me would provide her with excellent motivation.So, we've had our first training walk this morning - not too bad, certainly raised a sweat but not too much.

My God, I might actually get fit!

I start back with Victor tomorrow - he's my tennis coach and I know I'll work up a sweat then.



Weight: 97.3 kgs