Laugh with me to the last degree to create the life you want.
Health
Pilates and Lattés
Aug 24th
My health and fitness goals have slipped (as I sit here eating leftover chocolate mud birthday cake). When the girls were almost 4 months I remember having a good sob as my body was alien and I selfishly wanted to find some resemblance of my body. Like most new mums, I had unrecognizable breasts, and saggy tummy and no clothes fit.
I would have loved to have gone with all the other mums to baby yoga, baby pilates, baby swimming classes or even baby bootcamp. But it is completely impossible to attend any of these fitness inspired baby classes with twins. You need another partner and then it is double the cost.
When I was pregnant I had daydreamed of moving to the beach and going for daily walks with my double stroller in the morning accompanying the bikes and runners before relaxing
"Holiday at the beach" entertaining 4 week old twin girls.
with other mums by the beachside sipping their lattes under a bright Queensland sun. It did not happen mind you. When the girls were 4 weeks old we packed up the house, car, bottles, double bazooka breast pump, clothes, bibs, nappies, blankets, bouncers and every other baby paraphernalia and trundled down to the beach to stay with my parents. It was a week of leaking boobs, and tired and cranky babies, and 4 hourly feeds. I remember MM sneaking off home for a night so he could have 24 hours of uninterrupted sleep while I had my parents help. My walks were short as the pram was still uncomfortable in my grasp and the girls were so small.
One who once hiked 96km across the Kokoda Track was now having a heart attack pushing a double pram up the hill home.
So my next search was to find a gym. I compared three local gyms – Fernwood, Goodlife and Fitness First. I attended the membership interviews and filled out their surveys. What I wanted was long opening hours, varied fitness program, preferably a pool and sauna (but willing to comprimise), TV or some sort of entrainment, clean and nice touches to the bathrooms and locker rooms, a good crèche with low adult to child ratios and crèche prices (I would have to factor in 2 additional crèche prices to the membership), membership price and general atmosphere. In the end I joined Fitness First as they topped all my criteria plus they waived the joining fee, gave a discount for private health care, gave me three free personal training sessions, and 30 free crèche visits. Now I am back to work I am lucky to get there one day a week but I’ll get there.
Do you have any tips or exercises to get back into shape at home with your baby?
Getting out and about with the twins 4 months
Lessons learnt on the Kokoda Track
Jul 25th
I recently posted on Twitter this statement, “The 2007 Lisa hiked the Kokoda track. The 2010 Lisa struggles pushing a double pram uphill. How ironic.” I have been thinking about this statement and its not quite true. The Kokoda track was hard really really hard but what did I learn that I am unconsciously putting into action today? Did the challenge to complete the Kokoda track somehow get me through the physical challenge of a multiple birth, recovery and now the responsibility to parenting twins? Excerpts from my diary are below:
My Kokoda Track Diary
Friday
I heard today that you are supposed to leave something behind on the track; something spiritual, something inside. Like my reason to go on this journey I’m not quite sure I know what it is. I’m here alone. It is a journey and challenge I must make on my own. I want to do it and I can do it. I want to be proud of me. I am so happy and I can’t wait to do more travel and get married and have a family and earn lots of money. Ha! Ha! Lol
Sunday
Not quite sure what to write – been thinking about it for the past few days. I was told the trek was not a pretty trek but they are wrong. It is beautiful. The villages are clean and so well kept. The families take so much pride. I didn’t like Port Moresby. Saturday was a slow start. We spent hours waiting for out charter flight to go to Kokoda but when it happened it was fantastic. The tour group is so well organised. I have a porter called James. Today was our first full day or trekking. It started off quite hard. My backpack was not sitting very well and heavy and my feet were squished. I gave more of weight to James and took the soles out of my shoes. My body aches. We went thought four villages today. John goes through the war history almost at every stop. The group is good. I am getting along with everyone. The tents are great, comfy but 6:15 am leaving campsite is a bit early! I am not all that organised in the dark to pack everything. Fortunately we get to the campsite relatively early today at 3pm. The view is beautiful. I wish I had Milo. I am feeling good though. The muscles in my legs – I am very impressed. I miss N. Miss him lots. Love L
Monday
I miss N. My knee gave way today. I am really trying to perserve but it hurts so much. I have taken anti-inflammatories and pain killers (endone!) and anti-nausea. This track is hard. I think we are at Eora Creek village tonight. It is raining again. I felt so bad because my porter James had to carry my stuff. He is so helpful through the track. Please god make my knee better. Its only two days in. We did ten hours trekking today. We leave at 6:15am and usually get to campsite by 4pm. I’m tired. I have been thinking lots about my life while on the track. Not sure yet what to let go. I wish I had a watch because I wake up at night and don’t know what time it is. I am having chocolate withdrawals. I should have bought Milo and coffee bags. My tummy has been ok. The group has been great. I think it is because you have to be a certain person to decide to go on a trek like this, motivated etc. Everyone has been genuine concerned but I don’t want any attention on myself. Love L
Tuesday
Not the best day today. My wallet and all my money was stolen in the middle of the night and my leg kills. I am feeling depressed.
<Diary ends. One trecker in our group was flown out due to illness. I was told a year later that they had a helicopter on stand-by ready to take me out as well. I think if I had known that at the time I might have given up. Thankfully I made it.>
Monday
Back at home. I am not sure how I am feeling. My brain feels like scrambled eggs. Combined with the intense experience of the Kokoda track, I didn’t quite expect the mental and emotional challenge that came with it.
It was hard, bloody hard. I had been training for about six months for the cardio but the (ITP) iliotibial band decided to play up causing sever pain in my left knee and hip.
I am not quite sure what I am supposed to be doing now. When you focus on something for so long and then it is over it is hard to adjust back to ‘normal’ life. The monotonous sound of the track alone in your thoughts as you concentrate on every step. The words I had playing included trust – trust my boots, trust my walking stick for balance, and trust my porters hand.
My Lessons Learnt
When everything feels overwhelming and too hard just look down at your feet and trust. Trust your feet to take you there.
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