I did something very new to me yesterday.  Well probably the day before.  I brought a shirt which was not a XL.  Instead I brought a large.  The shirts I have have all started to get abit baggy.  Let’s not even start on the pants!

The good feeling on Friday was putting on the large shirt and it not just fitting but looking like it should be worn.  Been an incredible two weeks of change.  Shape just all changed.

And damn it feels good!

Bring on the next size down.  For some reason my trainer seems to think I can get down to an M size.  Not going to doubt him on this!

With all this fitness and healthy stuff going on I've almost forgotten that I've brought a house, or apartment.  Take your pick. I call it a house as it will be home!

Lastest news is that work has restarted and they should have all the paperwork done by the end of the month.  hmm not sure of that as there is still a huge hole for the 2nd car park entrance.  But at least the weather is good now so things can move along.  The information before Christmas was a mid feb move in.  

As all my documentation is now in place i can go for an early settlement if i want, and will see how that pans out.  As I'm going back to NZ for a wedding on the 18th it could work out fine.

Might be able to come back to my own home, and then move in!  

The hardest bit of all of this has been that the boys have had to be away boarding down south.  They are back with breeder that I got Ranger from.  Its worked out really well as she only has Cavaliers so they are with 'friends'.  Its also alot better than a boarding kennel where they spend most of the time locked up.  At least here they have the whole day running around with other dogs in a huge yard, and for Ranger it will be home.  Tonto I do worry about as he has been abandoned once already.

I did go and see them late last year.  It was a moment of weakness really as I just felt so bad!  Tonto would not let me put him down for 20mins.  I stayed for an hour and at the end of which he was happy to go eat in his house so working on the idea that he had seen me enough, everything was good so food time!

The bright spot is that when this is all finally over both of them will come home permanently.  No rental, no moving, just home!  A worry was that Tonto was developing a grey fur on top of his eyes which is an age sign.  I'm hopeful that it was just abit of imagination, or if not when he come home to his easy and carefree life again it might go away.

When Tonto first came to me he was in the best shape ARK could give, but it had not been the best for him as he needs constant human attention.  In a few months and high quality food he had radically improved.  Now he is on his special diet he is even better.

Can't wait for them to come home.

For some reason there is a problem with my IPAD and wordpress and its releasing all the stories I wrote over the last few months in draft as if there were now.  Thats abit of mistake!

I've been writing in draft mode all my fitness stuff.  There was a damn good reason for it.  I wasn't sure i would be able to commit to it.  I did take out the full package and kiddies it wasn't cheap, but then nothing good in life really is.  I did work it out being cheaper than my chemo in Japan so hey take your silver linings were you get them.

That said it is worth every dollar and it makes me happy so we are done there.

Wow, its now ten weeks of 3 days a week with Trent.  So how does it feel 

Quick answer, damn good.  I'm looking 10 years younger and feeling good for it all.

Okay, firstly a big URL to follow

http://activ8fitness.com.au/

Well the body is a work in progress by the team at Activ8.  Been going there for 10 weeks now and its been a long journey.  Some progress has been made!

Did go from walking up the 7 flights of stairs and coughing out a lung to running up them twice just before Christmas.  My big issue right now is that I find I'm really missing it.  I need Trent to stand over me and push me to the point until i just want to puke.  

Who thought i would miss that!  Well i do!

Over the last few weeks I've been waking up and finding that umm my body isn't quite the same.  The huge belly i has shrunk, and still shrinking.  OMG is almost back to a little overweight look and there is so much more to do.

I've come to understand that I'm basically a very lazy person, I've gotten by using my brain muscle for work and look it would be dishonest to say its not done me badly.  I'm basically paid really well to make sure that brain of mine keeps coming up with new and cool ways of doing things.  Last year I pulled off a major new concept that went global and late this year another idea did the same.

Last thursday was the last full on PT session until Jan 9th as the guys at Activ8 are also taking  a well deserved break.  I do however find i am missing the tri weekly session alot.  Been walking km after km, some running in it and now also doing situps and pressups just to get a little of the feeling back.  Figured out that i need them so much to make me work it.

As I said, I'm lazy, but on my own.  When i work with them, its 120% and love it all the time.  Just with me i need someone to push me. 

And wow, how well have they done so far.  Not sure of the weight yet as no checks done, but its looking good.  If I break under 100Kg then i will be so happy.  Think i might be well on track for that and more.  My goal, down to 84kg and no stopping me.  New body by Activ8.  I'm in!

Just had a great weekend over in NZ for the family centenary.  Got there last Wednesday and had a great days fishing on Thursday.  Kept the family in food that day.  Followed the fishing by some dredging for scallops, then back to the house and a bag of mussels waiting.  What a cracking welcome home dinner that was.  Fresh snapper, fresh scallops (sensational quality) and fresh mussels.

To be perfectly honest, the food just kept rolling, along with the wine.  Thank goodness i had been 'restrained' over the first part of the holiday period.  Did do a two hour walk with Donna to Waitete Bay!

Back now in OZ and had first session of the year with Trent.  Damn near killed me on some parts, but feeling so much better for it now!  Alas it will be a loss day thou as birthday steak is on the menu!

Been trying to keep ahead of the holiday and party season!   One before the New Year, and another after!  Having been reasonable good over the holiday season this has been quite a good result!  But still a trip home to contend with

Its two years since my friend passed away.  I never had time to say good bye or even start to tackle the grief.  That nasty old cancer thing took over.

This year I didn't go home for Christmas and with the raw hurt still being felt by Sue and her family the cracks finally opened fully.  I discovered that time doesn't actually heal, it just gives you a buffer of better / good days in between.

I also found that even with time the pain can be so deep and intense that you feel like its penetrating into your bones and will never leave.  Then just when its at its most unbearable a sense of clarity washes over you like the first rays of a summers morning.  The tears clear and its possible to go forward.

Over the last few weeks I've done the full range of emotions.  The one that surprised me the most was anger.  Reasons for that will remain private, but it was useful to get that one out into light and under the microscope.  Its gone now and 2012 is a calling.  2011 was actually a bloody great year, so I'm looking forward to 2012 and moving on.

My sister in law came up with the name.  Been working on it for two months now, lots of past posts about it, but to ready to release it all yet.  First week of Jan!

I think I might have given Trent (active8fitness.com.au) a few clues on when I have reached my limits. It's fairly simple really and involves a bucket and me throwing up.

He seems to think that if I am struggling to keep the last sip of water down I am about at the right top end of training

The worst bit is he says it all with this big shit eating grin on his face. Correction the worst bit is I am paying him for it.