Week 7 - Harry Potter, Conjunctivitis & 6kg Down

Monday I got home from Sydney and the kids ran to me for hugs. Arlo did not haha. He just kept playing, but he finally cuddled up to me later in the day, so I’ll take it.

I also went and saw my gynaecologist and we decided on an endometrial ablation. Did you know it stops your periods forever? (for most women anyway).. You can only do it if there are no more children in your future, and that factory is officially closed for me.

I’m booked in for two weeks’ time. The receptionist told me no gym for FOUR weeks afterwards, but I definitely want to confirm that because Google says one week. Not me trusting Google over the receptionist, but also four weeks sounds dramatic.

Tuesday Nola had Kanga Cup training for soccer. It’s school holidays, so I took Rocky too and we froze while we kicked the ball around. Then he ended up joining in, which was very cute.

I dropped the older kids to my mum’s afterwards for a sleepover. She always helps and has them for a day or two during the holidays, which I’m so grateful for.

Also, random thought 4:15am starts are not happening lately. What is going on?

Wednesday was a busy day. We had our weekly team meeting and our amazing support call. It’s always so good when the whole team is on the call. I honestly love just sitting there listening.

I really believe learning should never end, and even with my own coaching background, I always feel like I can learn more. Listening to Matt, Wesley and Keiran is always extremely valued.

The kids were with my mum on Wednesday, so I picked them up after work and came home. Jason had made the family chicken parmigiana, which looked amazing. Then we watched State of Origin. Rocky was going for New South Wales and Jason was going for Queensland, so Rocky was extremely excited when NSW won.

Thursday I finally got back out to Mount Taylor. It has been about three weeks, and I made it three quarters of the way up before I had to turn around. I honestly could not go any further. My heart rate was really high and my breathing felt really fast and cold.

I don’t know if it was because I was chewing gum. Is that a thing? The mint made the cold air feel so painful in my throat and chest. Maybe I’m just making an excuse, but I listened to my body and turned around.

It usually takes me around 22 minutes to get to the top, and this time I stopped at 22 minutes because I was obviously slower after not doing it for three weeks. It’s honestly incredible how quickly cardio fitness can drop off. Lesson learned, Casey. Do not take that much of a cardio break.

After my walk, I did my meal prep. This week is eye fillet, potatoes and veg. Bulk meal prep, weighed out and ready to go. Entertaining stuff, I know.

I hit a new weight this week though. I also tried on a little summer fit I got from Big W and oh my god, the difference from January!

Also this pic in my fav jeans from May to now!! I think I notice it in my face too!

I had loosely started my STRIP phase back then. Well, let’s be honest, I’ve been trying to do it since Arlo was born. But after three kids and the chaos that brings, prioritising myself and being consistent hasn’t been easy.

Now that I’m finding the time, I do feel like having this blog every week is keeping me accountable too. So thank you for reading my rambles and helping me stay on track.

Then daycare called and said Arlo had conjunctivitis, so that was great. Luckily, we got into the doctor straight away. At the local shops there were a few cute little knitting stalls so I got Arlo a teddy! It is adorable he loves it!

The Dr said it was a very mild case but gave us drops just in case!

That night I reflected quite a lot on how I’m feeling at the moment.

Obviously I’m not getting up at my normal 4:15am and I’ve been dreading the gym a bit. Is it my deficit? Is it because it’s absolutely freezing outside? Is it because I’m over my program?

Honestly, I think it’s a mix of everything.

I think it’s really important to be in tune with how you’re feeling and not push yourself to the point where you hate it.

Because my gym is a home gym, I don’t have the luxury of walking into a commercial gym where everything is already set up and ready to go. I have to move equipment around and change things between exercises, and after a while it can be draining.

So I wrote a program with really straightforward options using my cables, barbell and only a couple of exercises that need the bench, just to make it easier for me. I’m now doing four days a week and no mornings for a while. I’m going to train Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at lunchtime. That way I can also do my steps up and down the driveway like I normally do when I train during the day.

Friday I was home on carers leave for Arlo and his conjunctivitis. The older kids were meant to go to vacation care, which I had already paid for, but since I was home, they were adamant they were going to stay home with me.

I honestly didn’t feel like I should force them to go when I was available to spend the day with them, so we all went shopping instead.

The Nike outlet had 40% off, so all the kids got new shoes. Rocky is now officially size 8 in men's (he just turned 8!) and Nola is an 11 in women's (she just turned 10!)... Arlo had the best time running around the house in his. It was so funny. I was telling him to run and he was zooming around like a little toddler with the actual zoomies.

I’m also single parenting this weekend because Jason is on another golf trip. Lucky dude.

We had McDonald’s for dinner, double McChicken no mayo for me, and watched Harry Potter and the footy.

Friday afternoon we dropped Arlo to my mother-in-law’s for a double sleepover because the older two and I were going to have some fun in Sydney together.

We were meant to be out the door by 7am on Saturday, but we all slept in until 6:50am haha.

We got to Sydney and went straight to the Harry Potter exhibition. It was so cool and really interactive. I nearly stole the wizard hat for Keiran. (Keiran is another Coach I work alongside! We call him the Wizard)

We then checked into our hotel and the kids thought it was so funny that they had me listed as Mr. Excuse me.

We had some sliders and fries, then went to IMAX to see the live action Moana movie. It was incredible. The cinema was HUGE. I’ve never been in one that big.

I cried heaps. Same as watching Harry Potter on Friday night. Does anyone else cry in movies? Not even at the sad parts. It’s the music that gets me. Am I an empath or a sook? Open to feedback.

Anyway, we were meant to go to a really nice Italian restaurant on the harbour, but none of us were hungry, so we cancelled and went back to the hotel to relax, watch the Raiders vs Bulldogs game and hang out.

We ended up getting room service. I had some French fries and chicken, and I woke up feeling so sick through the night. I haven’t eaten like that in so long and my body 10000% rejected it.

We had a buffet breakfast in the morning and I opted for a light breakfast and coffee, but I still felt really sick.

We drove home and Jason and Arlo were already home. I trained, then we spent the afternoon relaxing together.

Arlo got a new little table and chairs, so we basically just watched him laugh and enjoy it. Very simple, very cute, very worth it.

Alrighty, Check-in time!!

Week: 7

Nutrition Adherence: 5/7, did not track Saturday or Sunday

Weekly Average Steps: 10058

Training: 4/4Average Body Weight Change: -900g

The things I’m most proud of this week are:

• Listening to my body and changing up my program and training days. It lifted a huge weight off my shoulders.

• My loss so far. I am down 6kg on the dot since week 0.

• Enjoying Sydney with the children and realising I really can’t handle deep fried food much at all.

• Still getting 4/4 training sessions done even with a chaotic school holiday week.

  
  

The areas I need to improve next week are:

• Now I have my program readjusted, it’s time to adjust my walks and cardio for steps.

• More fruit.

• Back to 7/7 nutrition adherence.

• Keep building my cardio back up because Mount Taylor humbled me.