Early Starter Challenge

Early Starter Challenge

January 14th to May 1st 2017

Flexibility: To improve on all tests plus the poses (more subjective and difficult to measure)

I did improve on all tests. The hand grab didn't look like much from the numbers but the photos showed a big improvement.

Adventure: To continue to do different fun activities.
I completed the Banks Peninsular Track, Went to Melbourne to Adele, Stayed in Lyttelton and went to Roots Restaurant and Went to Diamond Harbour on the ferry. All new things.

Hydration: To increase my hydration (on Metagenics and Body Audit)
I improved this.

Weight: To keep my weight where I feel comfortable - 64 - 66kg
I have kept my weight stable.

Flexibility

Purple singlet is the start of the Early Starter and black singlet is the end of the Early Starter Challenge

Flexibility Tests:

Sit and Reach:

14.01.2017         6.05.2017
5cm                         17cm                                                              improvement of 12cm

Norm Score from Topend Sports: average score 1 - 10cm

Groin Butterfly:
                                                               14.01.2017      6.05.2017        
left patella knee to floor                          30.3cm          29.2cm      improvement of  1.1cm         

Seam on pants on the edge of heels      7cm               14cm        improvement of  3cm

Scores from Topend Sports: 15cm is Good

Shoulder Rotation: 
                                                 
Distance between hands                         73.6             62cm       improvement of 11.6cm
holding stick - not letting go of your grip

Back scratch/Cow's head stretch:

Right elbow up  - distance btw index finger    8cm                7cm      improvement of 1cm
Left elbow up    - distance btw index finger    10.2cm           9.5cm   improvement of  .7cm
(I question these measurements as the photos taken at the time show an improvement)                                                                                 
                                                                                    
Topend Sports: Greater than 5cm is Poor

Adventure

I'm not in the Adventure category this year but thought I would like to keep up with the attitude I tried to foster last year - have a go at everything and put fun ahead of chores (that I do actually like doing but take a lot of time). So before Christmas when my friend Jayne asked if I wanted to do the Banks Peninsular Track with them at Waitangi Weekend, I said Yes straight away. Kind of had to as there was only one space left! The track was reducing from a four day to a three day as one of the farmers was pulling out of the partnership so it would be the last opportunity to see all the countryside. It is a track that I had heard about for years and knew people that had done it but never had the opportunity to go with anyone. I didn't even mind that I would be away for my birthday!

I'm glad I was reasonably fit (not hill fit tho) because it was a long, steep walk! I guess I had heard that you could have your packs carried (of course!!) that made it easier which of course it does but that doesn't mean it is easy! I thought maybe you walked around the hills rather than up and down them. I was also under the misconception that the two day walk was easier than the four day - wrong again - it means you do the whole distance in two days rather than taking four. Jayne had also said we would have to take an extra day off work but closer to the time when I looked at the itinerary  I realised we needed to take two days as we didn't come out to Akaroa until Wednesday.

So our group was me, Jayne, her hubby Rob and their two teenagers, Katie and Evie. The first day was the longest - up to the highest point on the Peninsular then down to sea level. It was very hot: luckily the hottest part of the day was on the downhill through bush but I was so pleased to get to the house where we enjoyed cold drinks, cheese, crackers dips and chocolate followed by a swim in the sea. Already I was doing two things I don't normally do - hiking and swimming in the sea!

There were two lovely Israeli couples doing the track at the same time as us. They got up very, very early and left before the teenagers were even out of bed! We went around to see the penguins that evening but after much deliberation decided not to do the kyaking around the bay in the morning as it was going to be a roasting hot day with no shade. As we climbed up the headlands and looked down on the bay to the group that did do the kyaking, our hearts sank in despair as we spotted the large pod of dolphins swimming around the kayaks!! 

Our next hut was very cute with an outside shower hut and toilet (some distance away!) and no electricity. Jayne was determined to get the outside bath going. So I had another experience that I didn't normally have - My birthday camping with an outside toilet and shower. an outside bath and no electricity! When I arrived at our next accommodation, the Israeli's were already there and sang Happy Birthday to me in Hebrew!            

We were so lucky with the beautiful weather: Jayne had done it before and it was wet and windy. I am so grateful to have spent time with the super Stewart family, giving me the opportunity to do something I wouldn't do on my own and Pete is unable to do a hike like that because of his back injury.

Birthday in Lyttelton 

Because I was away for my birthday we celebrated the following weekend by going over to Lyttelton, another place I don't go to very often. I wanted to take Pete to Roots Restaurant. I had been lucky enough to have been taken with some friends the previous year and loved it. They have a degustation menu of local produce some of which is foraged from the local area. It is frightfully expensive but an experience!

I had never gone to Diamond Harbour on the ferry before so we decided to go and have lunch over there. Another primo day. I am so lucky!

Adele in Melbourne

So the fun continues! In November last year, friend Clare text from Wellington to ask if Rach and I would like to go to Adele. In the past I probably would have hesitated and thought of all the reasons not to go, but I said Yes! And Yes for Rach who was away in India at the time. Clare thought that as the concert in Auckland was on a Thursday (that was before two more concerts were announced) which was a bit difficult, we should go to Melbourne to see her... and because it's MELBOURNE!

I met Clare in Melbourne on Friday morning so we could do some shopping before Jim and Rach arrived Fri night. We did some sightseeing and I caught up with my good friend L'Anne who was going to the Sat Adele concert. The Sunday concert was amazing - I had never been in a stadium with 77,000 people before. I only thought about what would happen in an earthquake for about 10 seconds! Adele is such a cool lady and gosh how wonderful to go out at night without a cardi or jacket!! 

Before heading out to see the sights of Melbourne

Met up with L'Anne - flatmate from Otago uni days

Hydration

At the start of the 2016 Challenge my hydration indicator, on the Metagenics Analysis, was 1.48 which is marginal.

At the end of the 2016 Challenge my hydration indicator was 1.79 which is still marginal but higher.

24th January 2017 my hydration was 1.77. 

24th April it was 1.71.

20 May  it was 1.85

I tried a bit of an experiement in April drinking lots of water on the day of testing to see if that effected the reading - it didn't but it did effect my weight measurement!

At the start of the 2016 Challenge my Fluid Balance Total Body Water was 44.07%

Intracellular Water %  50.67 %

Extracellular Water %  49.33 %

At the end of the 2016 Challenge my Fluid Balance Total Body Water was 49%

Intracellular Water %  52 %

Extracellular Water % 47.18 %

24 Jan 2017 Total Body Water 49 %

Intracellular Water %  51%

Extracellular %  48 %

20 May 2017 Total Body Water 50.58%

Intracellular Water %  51.51 %

Extracellular Water % 48.49 %

Improvement of 1.58%

Aiming for a 60:40 ratio for Intra and Extra

Body Audit NZ

18.2. 2017  Total Body Water - 34.9

Optimal 33 - 37.1

28.5 2017  Total Body Water - 34.6

Improvement of .3

Weight

Metagenics

24 Jan 2017 Weight  65.9 kg

Fat Mass 20.32 kg

20 May 2017 Weight  65.3 kg

Fat Mass 18.78 kg

                      24.1              20.5

                                                            Weight      65.9 kg          65.3 kg     -.6

                                                     Fat Mass         20.32 kg        18.78  kg   -1.54

Body Audit NZ

18.02.2017  Weight  66.2 kg

Visceral Fat Level  6 (Balanced)

Body Fat %   26.7  (Optimal)

BMI 22.2 (Optimal )

28.05.2017  Weight  64.6 kg

Visceral Fat Level  6  (Balanced)

Body Fat  %   25.7  (Optimal)

BMI 21.7 (Optimal)

           

                                                                                18.2.2017          28.5.2017

                                                Weight                       66.2         -      64.2kg     - 2 kg

                                                                  

                                      VFL                                6                        6               same

                 Body Fat %                     26.7     -       25.7       - 1 %    

                       BMI                     22.2    -    21.7          - .5