Its weird not being used to your shadow...very odd

So its time for that update

Last 2 weeks Have been mint! As you have read Ive hit the original target that I set for my challenge but it wasn't just that, I had one of those weeks where things head in the right direction, people you feel like catching up with end up crossing your path, you get asked to be a godfather (YAY!), you feel like you are learning things about you, your work, your worldly faith, your fun... its been one of those times and I think its important to take the time to acknowledge it.

Right , thanks for that nice moment.

Sooo... one of the practises employed during this mission has been to apply some magic or just plain trickery of the mind, a bit of conditioning - I have been telling myself for weeks that I enjoy running.. and, you know what, I think I have actually got to the point of believing my own word over what I thought was true reality - do I actually like running? i say "err yes" I believe so.

Having the understanding that you really can condition yourself into believing something is pretty cool, to me its a part of the big puzzle - When you look at running in a very simple form you realise you are throwing yourself from leg to leg to the point of near exhaustion.. jolting, jarring,sweating, aching, sweating , puffing and sweating.. I struggle when isolating the physical aspects to understand how people can say they enjoy it, really I only enjoy the moment you stop running to about 15 seconds after it, when you feel like your body might fall apart and the only thing holding it all together is your sense of self achievement - that is the addictive part. Muscles ache with dignity. Powerful.

Another example of conditioning practised is illustrated below in the photo, these four signs have been on my bedroom wall for about a year - so well before my diet, the whole time they have been gearing me up for a change.

I know the posters are a bit wanky, a bit shameless, but they have helped - not everyone who See's them may understand their purpose at first but time and action can illustrate. Never underestimate the power of your word, and the power of the message that you tell yourself (and others!). That is truly the foundation to self evolution. Wow..deep, must have been organic veges tonight.. apologies. ;P .

Righto, so today I weigh in at 102kg, weight loss has slowed down as expected but still continues. about 1kg a week now.. its been a good week of running Monday through to Sat, killer calves all day sat - I had to stretch out on every step or ledge I could find, think I might have to talk to someone more experienced about my warm up and warm down stretching routine - the one I learnt in school for Jump Rope for Heart just doesn't seem to cut it anymore ;P If you happen to know about stretching please fee free to drop me a comment and let me know what you think is a good stretching routine prior to and after my run and cycle.

My Dad and step mum, Deb came to stay in the weekend which was really nice, we got to hang out and cruise together, went out for a really nice night at neighbourhood (bar and restaurant), caught and had dinner, yay for the Mediterranean Salad. Sunday we went to the Albany Westfield and walked around indoors - shopping malls are handy to walk in when its raining hard outside. Scored a cool shirt too on my travels.

Am traveling off to Brisbane next week for work and will for the first time in the 5month mission will get the opportunity to catch up with our company founders, I'm looking forward to seeing them in person to show them the new me. As I said the other day too I would also share an updated photo of me.. so here's one taken right now...excuse the tired eyes its 11:13pm and I had a big run tonight..eeka..

Just looking that photo makes me sleepy and I know that Ive realised I have to rise early to start work early tomorrow, I'm going to call it a night - end of a post just like that, seems odd for such a deep post to have a flippant end :P I like.

Peace.

M