I'M STILL ALIVE!

I just realised how long it's been since I've posted on this blog and I miss it and need to get started again!!!

WOW though - SOOO much has happened since July I don't even know where to start!

First of all and maybe most significant is that I actually completed my Certificate III and IV in Personal Training through the Australian Institute of Fitness so I am now a fully qualified trainer which is amazing! I've learnt so much through the course and it's not only developed my skills to help other people but it's given me such a good understanding of how to achieve your fitness related goals. 

Something else that happened that's probably the most amazing thing to happen to me is that I've gotten a job with Bondi Vixen!!! For those who aren't familiar with Bondi Vixe, it's an outdoor training group for women right on Bondi Beach run by the incredible Vix Erber, one of the greatest trainers in Australia! I will make a separate post all about it very soon!

Those are the two big things that have happened but other than those I've had lots of smaller achievements. I'm really into my weight training now and I have such a better understanding and confidence around the gym now. Now more getting intimidated by all the big guys in the gym - I'm right next to them now doing my own thing and it's awesome :)

Miss Bondi 2013 Finals

I was also lucky enough to compete in the Miss Bondi 2013 competition at the Beach Roach Hotel and I made it in the finals which was incredible! Such a fun experience and got some cool stuff out of it too ;)

Anyway, keep checking back for updates, I'll definitely be making the time to be updating hopefully more than ever now that my life is really taking off in an amazing direction!

Danni

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Heart Rate Monitors

Hellooooo!

So on Thursday last week I discovered the greatness of heart rate monitors!

I used to think that they were just something extra if you felt like/could afford one that gave some kind of slight benefit to your training sessions, but only if you really knew anything about heart rates and things like that (which I don't, really).

However, I was totally wrong!

So obviously they're not a necessity but if you're thinking about getting one I encourage you to do so! I didn't really know anything about heart rates and the zones and whatever before but in the few days I've had it I've learnt quite a lot from it, and it helps me to maximise my workouts for the most effectiveness and really shows me exactly how hard I'm working during the workout!

Because of my 12WBT membership I got a discount on Polar heart rate monitors and I've heard only good things about them so I decided to go with the Polar FT40. I liked all of it's functions, but it was also pretty :P that's always important, right? hahaha.

So you have the watch part which displays everything and then that thinh that says POLAR is the transmitter which you attached to the chest band thing which records your heart rate... pretty cool.

So this is the screen when you're during a workout it shows your heart rate on that bar. Up the top where it says "Fitness" - that's what range your heart rate is in. So for me above 135 is my fitness improving heart rate, and under that would be my Fat Burning heart rate. Very clever hey haha :)

and then this is what is displayed after you end your workout. Calories burned, the percentage of calories burned that were from fat, and the total time of your workout. Pretty useful and great to keep track of how effective your workouts are! I found this really easy to use, but I haven't tried any other models or anything so I'm sure any decent heart rate monitor that tells you this kind of stuff is going to be just as useful. I just really like the layout of this one and then look of it. (It looks way bigger than it is though in the photo, I think it's cause I have unusually tiny wrists haha).

Anyway yeah if you're considering getting a heart rate monitor I definitely recommend it! I'm kind of obsessed with mine now and wanting to use it gives me some extra motivation to get into the gym everyday :P It's a really handy device and can help to help you keep track of and maximise your workouts!

Danni
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