Hi from sunny Coffs Harbour

Where do I start! It’s been awhile. I’ve been doing the absolute minimum on the computer – still checking mail as since I have an online business, I can’t afford not to! I am having a nice break. It’s been the last week that I have really relaxed. I’ve been walking/jogging on the beach and doing a training session every few days so I haven’t been totally lazy. After having a few days going pretty wild on the diet I have tamed that down completely for the last week or so. Still enjoying a wine or two every day, and dinner is always out. Had some awesome meals, particularly in Noosa. Tonight we are in Coffs Harbour and went Italian – had a chicken, pumpkin and cashew fettucine in a tomato based sauce – wasn’t a lot of taste, so bit disappointing. Never mind! We had a really nice meal at a Turkish restaurant in Brisbane a few nights ago. From Brissy we went to Broadbeach and had one night there – had a small shopping spree at Pacific Fair which was much needed. Bought an awesome metallic gold handbag from Guess – was pretty exy for a handbag but I love it and I REALLY needed it. Managed to easily spend $450 at Lorna Jane in Maroochydore while on the Sunny Coast. We had massages one day in Coolum – awesome massage and much needed. I had the sorest legs from that workout I did – and I have no idea why! Did not think I worked it THAT hard but this would have been up with the sorest I have ever been. My quads were sore to the touch and every step was painful! Not to mention sitting on the toilet, or going up or down stairs! Trained again on the Gold Coast and chatted to a girl there who approached me to ask if I was a competitor, as she had a friend that they were trying to talk into competing. I actually had a few people recognize me which was quite amusing I think :) The lady from LJ, and a girl who was training at Maroochydore Beachhouse both knew I was Sue from Ideal Bodies Online :) I guess the advertising is working.

We stayed at an awesome place in Kingscliff, not that far from the Gold Coast, in NSW. Mantra on Salt Beach – got the room for $100 a night, and it was a magnificent resort. Gorgeous beach, and lagoon pool and quite a few nice restaurants and cafés. The weather could not have been better for our trip – thanks QLD and NSW for taking care of us!

Di was awesome!! She has really improved her conditioning and looked spectacular. Looked ‘huge’ on stage, in a good way, and so tiny off stage! Be interested in the scores Di, if you get them. Great routine too! Knew that it would be! Was G happy with his performance? :) Deb, Alicia and Tracey all did themselves proud – well done girls! Actually, Alicia if you are reading, I did not realize it was you when I was standing talking to Di so I apologise for not saying hi! We never have actually been introduced in person!

I got to meet Christy and Leeanne – 2 current IBO clients. And the lovely Shelly, a past client.

While on the Sunny Coast, Carolyn had her final pics taken. Can I say OMG??? What an amazing transformation. Jaw dropping. Nobody believes it!! We had a session with Dallas Olsen at Beachhouse Fitness in Kawana Waters (Di’s classy gym!). I will be updating my site soon with Carolyn’s new pictures. She then treated me to dinner and gave me an absolutely beautiful piece of jewelry as a gift which I have only taken off once – tonight, to have a spa. We started talking briefly about having an IBO get together every couple of years on the Sunshine Coast! Sounds like a plan. What does everyone think?

We are heading off for another road trip tomorrow – heading to Port Macquarie for 2 nights. Then last night somewhere close to Sydney for the flight home on Monday – and then the fun begins. Catch up!!

I miss my Big Pud(dy) – but he has been in good hands with Aunty Jodie and Nana (my mum) looking after him :)

I went to a naturopath whilst here – Di had a body composition test and iridology diagnosis done at her gym, and found it really interesting. So, I decided to go see the guy at his consult rooms. I found him to be really good – he used to work with some top bodybuilders in Melbourne. He did a live blood analysis which was so intriguing. He showed me different blood cells and what each of them meant. There were some freaky looking cells with pointy things all over them, kind of like mines! They were moving all through my blood cells – these were apparently free radicals. He pointed out quite a few things to me, and showed me the cells which were iron deficient and also a build up of uric acid which looked like groups of sharp crystals. He believes they could be causing me some arthritic symptoms, and to be honest my wrists and hands/fingers have really been aching a lot lately. He picked up a vitamin B12 deficiency and also recommended I take this strong OPC 3 antioxidant supplement – it’s pine bark and bilberry, in a powder that is mixed with liquid. Also a foul smelling/tasting Vit B, Magnesium and Zinc supplement that nearly makes me gag. He feels that my adrenals and stress (which affects the adrenals and causes them to go haywire) is what is causing the majority of my issues. He also feels I should do a dairy detox to see if this helps my energy levels. Meaning no whey protein either L He said me competing will be all about me managing my stress and adrenal issues. I’m supposed to get to bed by 10pm as it’s from 10-1am when the adrenals are regenerated. Also not meant to eat after 8pm as going to bed with food in tummy causes my digestion to work overtime and also affects growth hormone release. So I have lots of things to work on.

Apparently I have nearly 2kg more muscle than is ‘optimal’ for my height and frame size – according to the ‘average’. But, my internal fat is lower than it is supposed to be.

So, that is my holiday round up! Oh we bought a new digital camera, a Sony Cybershot, at Pacific Fair the other day. Now to learn how to use it…