Trolley Warrior: Coming soon to a Supermarket near you

You can tell a lot about a person by the contents of their shopping trolley.  Single, married, childless, parent, the trolley reveals all.  Lately, I have become more and more obsessed disturbed by the contents of other peoples' shopping trolleys.  Take today for example.  I was standing at a register behind a mother with two daughters, both pre-teen.  All three were overweight.  A quick check of their trolley revealed the usual suspects - white bread, cordial masquerading as fruit juice and a heap of stuff in packets and jars.  Fighting the urge to say something, I turned to look down the aisle behind me and saw a very overweight woman walking towards me.  Behind her were 2 kids, both under 10.  They were sharing a 12 pack of donuts and there were only 2 left in the packet.  Seriously.  Six donuts as a 'snack'!!

Morning tea is served!!!!

As an adult, it's your right to eat whatever you like.  Stuff your face with KFC, Macca's, pizza and Coke…I don't care.  But I do really care about kids never learning about good nutrition.  It is every child's right to have a healthy body that they feel comfortable in, and that they can run jump and play in.  No child deserves to be pumped full of crap food and have a BMI in the obese range before they hit their teens.

So given my fetish for checking out other peoples trolleys, and also my soft spot for super heros, I have come up with a plan.  I'm thinking of creating a secret force of Trolley Warriors.  The first of my three pronged attack is to make up a whole heap of fliers with 'motivational' messages on them like "Stop feeding your kids crap", and "Buy REAL food - you'll find it on the outside edges of the supermarket".  Then, with Ninja stealth, the Trolley Warriors will distribute these messages to those in need of enlightenment.

Another, more visible, less ninja-like activity could be the 'Justify this item' game.  It goes like this. Trolley Warriors follow people around the supermarket and before they are allowed to put a food item in their trolley, they have to justify why they need it.  A perfect example is the mother with her two preteen daughters and her multiple tetra paks of fake juice.  Why do overweight children need to drink fake juice as their main beverage of choice?  What good does it do their bodies or their teeth?

The third prong of my attack is to implement buzzers similar to those you hear on quiz shows.  Put something healthy in your trolley…you get a pleasing 'correct' ting sound.  Put processed crap in your trolley… you get the low-pitched 'incorrect' buzzer sound.

Okay, so obviously I am exaggerating just a little bit here and the Trolley Warriors will obviously remain a figment of my fantasy world.  Similarly, if you see me in the supermarket, you don't need to worry.  I won't be wearing a superhero outfit, and while I might sneak a peek in your trolley….I really wouldn't say anything [to your face anyway].  However, this doesn't really change the fact that childhood obesity is a huge cause for concern in Australia.  Here are some figures about childhood obesity according to the Australian Government:

• 25% of Australian children are overweight or obese
• Children are getting less exercise every year
• Obesity levels in the Australian population are not just increasing but accelerating
• 50% of obese adolescents continue to be obese as adults
• 30% of Australian kids have low fitness levels and 60% have poor motor skills

Because Shannon said so…that's why!

Over the last week I have been reading Biggest Loser trainer Shannon Ponton's book 'Hard'n Up'.  I really liked his no nonsense attitude about kids health.  I especially like where he states "the truth of the matter is what's really being passed down through the generations is not bad genes but bad habits".  Shannon advises to parents of overweight children they have to take responsibility for their child's weight.  He tells these parents to stop blaming advertising, society, confectionary at the checkout etc. and implores parents to "lead by example and get your own weight and life under control; become a responsible parent and take the hard line with junk food, TV and sedentary time when it is needed".

What's in your shopping trolley????

Just frigging Awesome

As a blog writer sometimes I sit at my computer wondering if anyone finds value in what I write. If I am perhaps delusional in the fact that this actually means anything to anybody... perhaps the fitness journey of two mothers is in fact not a topic worthy of writing about? Then I meet people like Renae Grundy. She and I still have not met in real life and yet I know so much about her, I have loved hearing her story of doing the OXFAM walk, I am been part of her fitness journey as she worked with the Humungousaur (remotely)...and now we share a passion to bring back leg warmers into today’s fashion trends (It will happen we promise... ).

Then recently one of our blog followers, Anna, posted on our facebook page about doing burpees with her 3 year old. I responded and said how much I would love to see a photo and Anna kindly sent me those photos you see included here. I was absolutely thrilled to receive them for several reasons. The first one –obviously someone does actually read our Blog (that’s a good start) but more importantly someone I have never met and may never meet has crossed into my life and given me joy. The third reason is that Anna is another example of an awesome mum out there just getting on with getting fit, setting a great example of her family and having some fun with her kids along the way.

I figure we are really an Underground Movement of Awesome Mothers . “U MAM” for short.

I know that there are people out there waiting for School drop off so they can race home and do aerobics OZ Style. There are mothers out there that have turned vacuuming into a combat sport.  There are people walking up hills carrying backpacks full of weight because they may be on a farm miles from any gym and this is how they roll ( Roll as in get on with exercise... not roll as in “back down the hill”). There are mothers that are juggling work, family, life and still managing to squeeze in sometime to exercise and there are mothers doing burpees at home with the kids. And for that I think you are all just frigging awesome!!!

Inspiration is everywhere - you just need to look

By Beck

Of late I have talked about several people.. strangers really, who have inspired me. I conclude this trilogy (for now) telling you about two more people - one I know well and one I never met.

So as to keep her identity a secret I will refer to her only has Mrs P. This is a woman (in her 40's) who was absolutely down right scared of gyms, was completely out of her comfort zone in a gym and had no idea how to use ANY piece of equipment (except perhaps a skipping rope) in a gym. As I write this I know at least 5 women who will be thinking.. "uh-oh is she writing about me?".

So what do you think might be the hardest, scariest thing in a gym that you could ask Mrs P to do..... how about a weights session with the big boys area and just to top it off lets throw in a set of deadlifts? For those cardio bunnies - a deadlift requires sticking your butt back as far as you can, co-ordinating legs, knees, arms, chest, and chin - all under the close scrutiny of large experienced weight lifters and a panel of very critical runners on treadmills staring down at you from a height.

Obviously Mrs P wasn't asked to do this the first time she stepped foot in a gym but no matter how much time one puts in - this is a massive ground breaking step to take. A woman's first successful set of deadlifts is equal to your first kiss, bonk or giving birth... its really something you want to tell people about but you have to be fairly selective who you share the details with. Those in the know will applaud you for your achievement, those who have never done it will give you the platitudes but walk off thinking WTF?


My second inspiring person was a man I say at Dirtfest recently. This man did the swim leg of his triathlon wearing a PFD (personal floatation Device... you know like you wear on a BOAT!) I don't know his story although I would love to... but what depth of character does it take to enter a triathalon when you can't infact swim? 99.99% of the world would use this as an excuse - 'Oh I can't swim so I can't do triathlons" but not him.

Three cheers to you my friend. Whatever your reason for competing I applaude you. It was cold, it was a lake with no visability in the water and you dived in and swam in a race with extremely fit competitive "Alpha Males".. you may not have won but you out shone them all.

EFM - I like you!

( Another Fitness Option Review by Roving Fitness Tester: Beck)

As you will know I have a tendancy to say yes to things that result in my frozen in fear minutes before I am due to attend whatever activity I committed myself to. Yes loud confident brash me has panic attacks over silly things... So leaving the comfort of my nice safe warm (well actually its never warm)  but friendly gym to go and do an entirely different style of training with a new trainer in a new place is something that my head really wanted to do, but the rest of me was a little slower at getting on board with.  I had met EFM Trainer Mark previously who had run me through how it operates and to the lay person I would say it sounded like a half way point between Crossfit and Personal training. The idea being that a daily programme is up on the board ( with a couple to choose from depending on your level/ goal) and off you go. You have a coach in the studio to ensure you are on task, technically correct and working to a good intensity.

For a newbie such as myself the programme could have been written in Greek because ( like Crossfit) it has its own language, meaning and description of exercises, but once you have this under your belt I am sure it makes perfect sense (for me however this meant repeatedly re reading and asking “ you want me to do what???????”)

What I also really liked it that it’s an intimate training arena, this is the perfect place for someone who does not like gyms, large groups or having to think about what to do next. You will never be bored – constantly challenged and kept on your toes. Also there are no ipods allowed so yes you do have to acknowledge the person training next to you which is infact refreshingly nice.

Would I go back.. well yes actually I have to I have another session I committed to (there I go again).. but would I train there and recommend it to others – absolutely!!! EFM Studios are all across Australia and I think it’s a great way to train. When I went at 6.30am there was definitely the before work “mature aged” set in there and I don’t think anyone would feel out of place no matter what your fitness level. I am in fact very impressed (that might be because some kind soul told me I have very strong shoulders – and as we all know this is the one body part I am desperate to make “awesome”).. but seriously EFM – I like you!!!

How The Machine broke his butt

If you are a really super-observant reader you may have noticed that The Machine hasn't been mentioned in posts much lately.  That is because during his training for The Gold Coast Marathon, The Machine has sustained an injury.  It started off as a little niggle in the hamstring leading up to Dirt Fest and then turned into a full blown pain in the butt [literally] injury post Dirt Fest.  The Machine initially thought he had a hamstring strain but many appointments with the physio and weeks off training got him nowhere.  He decided that it was time to do a bit of online self diagnosis.

It has seriously been like freaking groundhog day at Casa della Machina as every evening I pretended to listen while The Machine told me his latest theory on the origin of his discomfort.  It was a case of 'another day, another diagnosis' for a while there.  Now don't get me wrong, I love my husband very much, I really do.  But I am seriously over hearing about his butt.

Above and beyond his never ending diagnostic theories (hey at least I now have great anatomical knowledge of the posterior leg and gluteal region), were his ongoing treatments.  Evenings at our house are a never ending cycle of hot packs, cold packs, foam rollers, trigger point release with a tennis ball [which is very unattractive to watch - just saying), and hopping in the unheated pool aka 'the ice bath in the back yard'.   I have no idea what he is going to do when he is finally cured….he will have to find a new hobby.

I have had some schadenfruede fuelled pleasure in watching him move through the stages of his injury in true Kubler-Ross style.  First there was denial "This can't be happening to me, I'm The Machine!  I'm just going to go and run 30km anyway like a boss….because I can".  Then came anger "Why me?  If I'd had my pretty shiny Trek instead of hiring that stupid mountain bike for Dirt Fest this never would have happened".  Then came bargaining "I'll have two days off and I'll go to the Physio and the Sports Masseuse and then I should be able to run on Saturday".  Then there was depression "OMG, I can't run…..what is the point of living…..".  Finally, with his final diagnosis, came acceptance.  "Actually, my body is perfectly functional and while I may not make the Gold Coast Marathon I will, in fact, live to run another day (perhaps)."

For the last 2 months The Machine has worn 2XU compression tights…..Every.  Freaking.  Day.  I mean seriously, I can't even remember what he looks like unclad from black neoprene.  Tights - they are just NOT pants man….have some pity on the little people in the house.

The last straw came when my extremely patient and accepting mother was visiting and I found The Machine in his 2XU tights in the kitchen giving my mum an update on his butt.  When on earth did it become acceptable to 1) wear tights while entertaining guests and 2) talk freely about your glutes as pre-dinner conversation?  Surely there is a line, and surely this is overstepping it just a little.  Anyway there is light at the end of the tunnel.  The Machine has made his final diagnosis - Piriformis Syndrome. Treatment is in process,  Jogging has recommenced.   In the meantime, I think I will print out this chart and stick it next to the front door…….just in case…..