First time shooting the moon... pretty happy with the results! Shot from Auckland, New Zealand, in a very short break in the cloud. A moment of beauty after a very turbulent and devastating 24 hours.
Michael Korda said "One way to keep momentum going is to have constantly greater goals." As I continue on this never-ending journey of following my dreams (wherever they might lead), goal setting is so important for me in maintaining my motivation. Every time I achieve something, after the initial celebration is over, I'm so inspired to look for the next challenge - be it a personal one, a professional one, a fitness one. I finished my Diploma in Photography today, and I'm already so excited for the next stage of my life! I still don't know if this is going to be a career change, or something that I keep for me as my form of self-expression, but what I do know is that I'm so excited at how much I've progressed so far, and how much better I'll get in the future if I keep going! I'm already looking at my next steps - what do I want to focus on, what can I do to get there, and how amazing will I feel when I get there! It's important that as we achieve things in our lives, we capitalise on this feelings of inspiration and achievement to keep moving forwards, keep improving ourselves, and keep working towards being the best damn version of ourselves that we can be!
As my photography journey continues, I embarked on my first ever family photo shoot this weekend. While they always say "never work with children or animals", I don't recall anyone says anything about Wild Things! Happy Halloween everyone!
I rarely have time to post these days as Iām so busy. Between my day job in IT, myĀ ābit on the sideā as a film and TV extra, and trying to have something of a social life, it feels like I havenāt had the time to invest in my true passion - photography.Ā
I was so incredibly lucky to vacation in Canada recently, and just so happened to be in Whistler for Crankworx, one of the most major events in the Mountain Biking calendar!Ā
Snapping this picture of Jerome Clementz made me realise that one day, I want to be back - as an accredited photographer, doing what I love and getting my costs covered to do so!Ā
Not bad for a newbie on an entry-level camera, if I do say so myself...Ā
New to photography, but I can honestly say this is my passion. This image won an Honours award at my Photo Society meeting on Wednesday - my first time entering, and first honours. Having my peers like my work is one of the best feelings in the world!
Totally fangirling at myself. I'm a photography student. I entered a competition on a whim. Everyone else appeared to be a professional photographer, and then there's little old me, with my entry level DSLR, kicking ass and getting two photos selected in the "runner up" category. I'm blown away, I can't quite believe it!! Full results: http://www.veryvintage.co.nz/photo-safari-2016/
Robin Williams once said "I think the saddest people always try their hardest to make people happy because they know what it's like to feel absolutely worthless and they don't want anyone else to feel like that." When people look at my online life - this blog, my Instagram, my Facebook, etc - they generally assume that my life is great, and for the most part, it is. But just because I choose not to put more negativity into the world by putting every bad day out on social media does not mean that they don't exist. I'm blessed in many ways. I have an amazing family and great friends, but I know all too well how it feels to be let down. My 21st birthday, a big deal where I'm from, over half of those invited just didn't show up. My parents hired a venue, bought booze, had catering - and it was mainly empty. Funny how in a big space, the absence was all the more noticeable. Many of the friends who did turn up are still in my life today. Those who did not, are not. Perhaps it was a sign. Perhaps they had their own things to do that night. Whatever their reason, it left its mark, and it's one I will probably always struggle with. My friends these days have commented on how I tend to "come to everything", and I do if I can - because i know how much it sucks to look around and an empty hall and feel totally embarrassed that the people who you thought were your friends, didn't care enough to turn up, or at least tell you before the day they they couldn't make it. That wasn't the first or only time it's happened. Probably won't be the last either. But it has taught me some very valuable lessons. 1. Just because someone appears to be happy and in control, doesn't mean that they actually are. It takes so much effort to smile and act like you don't care, when you're crying on the inside. 2. We are responsible for our own happiness. I know, it sounds like hippie bullshit, but it's true. A couple of years ago, after another birthday where most were no-shows, I decided to stop placing my happiness in the hands of others, and take control. My new birthday tradition - doing something awesome, either with friends or solo, and looking back at each year as being an achievement. 3. Don't assume that the seemingly "popular girl" who knows a lot of people actually has a lot of close friends who truly care. I have a lot of friends who are keen to join me for lunch or something, but the true test of friendship is when you can make a phone call with nothing more to say than incoherent sniffles, and they turn up with movies and your favourite food. That's true friendship. 4. Learn to handle your own sh#t. We all have our issues. Even the most "together" of my friends has their own worries, and their own stresses going on. Keep going through the same issues over and over and never learning, such as that asshole partner you just can't quit no matter how much they make you cry, and eventually the time will come when your friends can't keep going through the same patterns. Yep, guilty as charged, that was me. And I have some of the most patient friends in the world. But, being someone's crutch can be emotionally draining, and when it's the same stuff over and over, it's time to put on your big girl pants and deal with it. 5. It's okay to say no sometimes. At the end of the day, you aren't any good to anyone else if you aren't taking care of yourself (or your family), and sometimes that means saying no. As rejection is such a sore point for me, it was definitely one of the hardest things to learn, but I have come to realise that I need my time to myself to re-charge. Just because I don't share every demon that I face with the world doesn't mean that I don't have my own things to deal with. I'm not sorry for being a bit ranty. This is my blog and if you don't like it, don't read it. If you do read it, and take one thing away from it, then I hope it's this: just because someone appears to have it all, doesn't mean that they don't have their demons to face on a daily basis. If they aren't there for you in your crisis, it may simply be that they are silently battling their own. Be kind, be understanding, and remember that you don't always know the full story - even of your closest friends.
I saw this quote today, and it really resonated with me. As those of you who have read my blog know, Iām one of those girls who is up to try almost anything.Ā
Those who know me in real life will tell you that I wasn't always this way.Ā
There is always that fear which holds us, and sometimes can consume us. Fear, imagined or real, is what stops us from trying something new, or inĀ āgoing it aloneā.Ā
Cards on the table, Iām currently single (but always optimistic!), and sometimes the hardest thing about that is not having that someone to do things with, to accompany me on my journey of exploration and new adventures, and of course new restaurants!
If I let this kind of thing stop me, there are so many things I would never do - trying a new class, flying a helicopter, persuing a new hobby or reigniting an old passion, going for a walk in the forest, the list goes on. So many times in my past, if I had to do something by myself, without that safety blanket ofĀ āknowing someoneā, I would often find an excuse for myself not to do it.
Ā I have some amazing friends who are along for the ride a lot of the time, but every now and then, I find that if I want to do something, I have to go it alone. I love my friends to pieces, but we all have different things going on in our lives and different priorities.Ā
Every time, I've had an amazing experience. I almost always meet people who are like-minded, and if anything my confidence has grown as a result. I'm putting myself out there, Iām doing what I want to do, and whether it's awesome or I suck at it and keep falling down, at least I can sayĀ āI triedā - never will I be sitting in my rocking chair and sayingĀ āI wish Iād done...ā (Assuming of course the adventures don't kill me in the process!).
At the end of the day, we are all responsible for our own happiness, so do what makes you happy. Life is too short to be worried about silly things likeĀ ābut what if no one talks to meā. Ultimately, if youāre all there for the same reason, they will, and even if they don't, who cares? Youāre there for one person: you.Ā
I haven't posted for a while, because my life is currently manic - I have my day job in Technology, I have a side job as a TV/Film extra (how fun is that!), and Iām currently studying and perusing my passion - photography.Ā
The important thing in life is to experience it. Carpe Diem, Carpe Cake, follow your passion and live your dreams, and if you want to check out my photography journey, please follow me on Instagram (@ginnycphotography) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/ginnycphotography)Ā
I'm nowhere near done with my journey, like everyone I have my ups and downs, but life is for living, so Iām giving it my best!Ā
As many of us do, I let the eating plan slip a bit over winter. I donāt really weigh myself normally ā I go by how my clothes fit, and most of them are definitely tighter around the middle. Iām a sucker for a big cheesy pasta, with a fresh crusty bread roll and glass or two of red wine. I suppose Iād indulged in a few too many of these!
Then I realise what day it is. In 7 days, Iāve got aĀ pinup shoot - it was brought forward a couple of weeks - and of course, I want to make sure I look my best!
So I thought I'd give the āMilitary Dietā a go, since I'd heard that you can loseĀ a lot of weight in a short time. Plus,Ā it's available free on the internet at www.themilitarydiet.com. They claim that by following this plan and then sticking to 1500 cal/day for the next 4 days, you can lose up to 10lb in a week, and there are several clips on youtube to that effect.Ā
All the usual warning signs are there ā fad/crash diet, promoting excessive weight loss, too good to be true, blah blah blah. But, as Iām only planning on doing this once for the shoot and then resuming my normal regimen, I thought I would give it a try. Iām not going into all the details of it, you can check their website for that.
For 3 days, I stuck to the plan. I ate what I was meant to eat, when I was meant to eat it. I was cranky, I was hungry, it just wasnāt me.
You get to eat ice cream on the military diet. Now I know many people would go āooh yay, ice cream!ā, but for me, I looked at it and went āare they kidding? For 300 calories, I could have some chicken breast, 100g sweet potato, and a mini milky way!ā. But, what the hell, itās only 3 days, so I followed their rules.
1 lost 1kg (2.2lb). It was definitely not the āweight loss miracleā it alleges to be, at least not in my case.
Hereās my thinking (and note, Iām not a nutritionist, personal trainer, or medical professional by any means). The diet restricts calories, pure and simple. Day 1 you get about 1400. Day 2, about 1200, and day 3 is around 1100, and low carb for the evening meal. Iām pretty certain that anyone who goes from eating an excessive amount of calories to that kind of restriction would lose weight. On the website they throw some science at you, e.g. having grapefruit with your first breakfast to restore alkalinity to your system which is apparently good for weight loss, but I believe that the amount of weight people are losing is the simple matter of cutting out the crap, eating healthier food, and sticking to the gradually-reducing calorie restriction.
The amount you lose is most likely to be dependent on factors such as how much body fat you have to begin with, what your normal eating habits are like, and how often you work out.
I work out 6 days a week and Iāve definitely been feeling weaker at training as a result of not eating enough good calories to adequately fuel my system. My diet over winter had been terrible, lots of meals out involving pizza and pub lunches, so naturally by following 3 days of this diet, and calorie restricting, Iāve lost some weight.
Iām now back to my normal weight-loss method ā using MyFitnessPal to track my calories and macros, ensuring that my calories come from the best sources (fruit and veg, lean meat, wholegrains, and some dairy). Itāll be interesting to see what my weight loss is like when I am eating real food at a deficit, and sticking to my workouts. Ā I lost a further 600g (about a pound) in the 4 days after finishing the military diet by doing it the healthy way.
Iāll say this ā I cannot say that it didnāt work, because I did lose weight, and following a regimented plan has helped me with my subconscious snacking problem (the trouble with a desk job), which should help me stick to good habits as I move forwards.
If you want to try this diet, check out the website above. I would definitely not recommend this as a long-term solution, and if youāre into intense exercise, you may find that you donāt have the same amount of fire in your belly on this plan. But, if you need a kick-start, it could work for you. As with any ādietā, itās recommended to chat to your doctor first.Ā
The best part is that itās free other than the food, and most of the items on the list (other than the ice cream) are usually in my shopping cart anyway, so I definitely didnāt lose anything by trying it.
And I definitely rocked it in Sunday's photo shoot with photography by Elizabeth JĀ (http://www.elizabethj.co.nz/)Ā and hair,Ā makeup and pose coaching from Miss Victory Violet (http://www.missvictoryviolet.com/)Ā - who also snapped this great "behind the scenes" shot! Ā
Walking into the office on Monday, I felt like a bit of a celebrity. It was a strange feeling for me, Iām not really someone who is used to being in the spotlight, and to have everyone coming up to me and congratulating me, asking how we did, and telling me how proud they are of us was a truly humbling experience!
Itās now been a few days since our stairclimb for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer, my lungs are starting to recover, and already people are starting to ask me what my next challenge will be. Checking in on Facebook this morning, I came across a blog post by a friend of mine, who writes a Bucketlist blog. The topic ā the top 5 regrets of the dying. You can read the full post here. Ā
With this blog, he references the author Bronnie Ware, who worked in palliative care with patients who were reaching the end of their lives. She published a book with her findings, which can be purchased via Hay House.Ā
Youāll need to check out both Bennyās blog and Bronnieās book for more details, but these are her 5 Biggest Regrets of the Dying:
1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
2. I wish I didn't work so hard.
3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.
It made me think about my own life, and how much things have changed for me in the last 12 months. Without going into details, in 2014, I had my heart broken. Happens to most of us at some point, right? After a couple of months of feeling sorry for myself and crying my eyes out, I woke up one morning and realised how much I had compromised and changed myself to try to be what I thought someone else wanted. I wasnāt being true to myself at all, I had fallen out of touch with some really good friends, and I was in a constant state of self-consciousness and insecurity. I was definitely guilty of #1 and #4, which also meant that I was self-sabotaging and hence also guilty of #5.
I made a decision at that point that things were going to change. I was going to start making the most of my life, to try things I never thought I would do, to face my fears, and to take every opportunity I could. I did all of it ā singing in front of people at karaoke, jumping out of a plane, trying acro-yoga, playing indoor football, going paintballing, taking up boxing, an intro stunt driving course, even an aerobatic flying lesson. Though I would recommend making sure you remember how to ride a bike before giving mountain biking a go ā I still have the scars from that one!
When I look back at how things unfolded, it may have sucked at the time, but it was also the slap in the face I needed. I shifted my focus to making myself happy, putting myself out there and opening myself up to new experiences. It seems that now, I am always meeting new people or having a random conversation with someone which sparks an idea for a new activity or, in some cases, even inspires them to do something which they never thought they would. In a couple of months, Iām skydiving again ā with a 50 year old friend who has always been too scared to give it a go!
Iām so lucky to have some of my best friends along for this crazy ride. These guys are awesome, and I canāt wait to see which other adventures weāll take on!
And we are DONE!!! We set ourselves a goalĀ - climb the SKY TOWER and raise $5,000 for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer NZ - and we smashed both.
After bussing into the city, Vilo and I met at the base of the tower. Looking up at it, I couldn't quite believe what we were about to do. Here we are at the base of the tallest man-made structure in the Southern Hemisphere, and we were going to run to the top of it.
We met the rest of the team at a hotel to get ready prior to the climb, and given the level of butterflies in that room, it's amazing that we were all able to resist the urge to go to the pub downstairs for a pre-climb beer!
When our time came, we wandered over to the reporting area and checked in, where Nigel and I shot the video in my previous post. After a very anxious 20 minutes or so, it was our turn!! After signing liability waivers (basically saying if we die of heart attacks on the way up, we can't sue!), we assembled with the other teams in our group - including a team from NZ Police, in full uniform! - to head over to the tower.
We filed down a couple of flights of stairs - yes, down - to the starting point. They sent us in 15 seconds apart. I started off strong, running up the first 15 flights, and then my lungs started to struggle. It just shows how much of a "rest" I was getting in my training since I only had access to a 5 storey carpark. There is no descending rest period in that tower, it's all one way - straight up.
On the Sky City website, they say that it would take someone 29 minutes to reach Sky Deck walking at 4km. We climbed to one level lower than this, and I did it in 12:03!! I overtook two people on the stairs, proud to say one was a cop (after all, they require a pretty high level of fitness for their jobs!), but the fastest in our team was Matt - he must've sprinted most of the way and came in at 9:40!!!
At the top, my legs felt fine (thanks to Francis and the leg training!!) but my chest was absolutely killing me. It hurt to breathe. Matt was the same. I had to take off the go pro, but even that offered limited relief. Initially I thought it must have been the air quality in the stairwell, but yesterday I found an article about it - basically, we are breathing so hard that our airways actually get eroded from the air passing through, which can also result in broken capillaries and coughing. We basically pushed ourselves until our lungs bled. Pretty scary thought! It's now two days later and I'm still coughing. Read more about "track hack" here!
At the top of the tower, looking out over Auckland City, it hit me what we had just done - you don't realise quite how high it is until you see the tall office buildings below you! And we had done it. All of us. We set out to do something, and we did it.
$5,240 raised for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer NZ, and five friendsĀ on a missionĀ to climb the tallest man-made structure in the Southern Hemisphere -Ā and achieved it.
I am so proud of us, and what we have achieved. We said we would do this, and we did. Our team have bonded over this experience, we achieved it together, and we celebrated together!
Thank you so much to everyone who has supported us, whether it's through donations, words of encouragement, or helping us train. It really means the world to us and did make all the difference on the day to know that you guys were behind us! One thing that kept me going in that tower was knowing we were doing this for an amazing charity, and also that everyone believed in us.
We all went out for pizza, beer, and celebrations afterwards, joined by one of the lovely cops from the other team. After all, we'd earned it!! I am so happy and blessed to be able to call these amazing people my friends. What an amazing group!!
I've already been asked "What's next?" by one of my friends! I'll be returning to my regular boxing training schedule, perhaps keeping my Tuesday leg sessions, but other than that, I need a bit of a break! I have a tropical holiday booked in a month's time, and I'm looking forward to a little rest and relaxation!
Before the climb!!! So nervous!!! Sorry guys, I do say the F word in here - you were warned!! - but this is all about how we were feeling, so sorrynotsorry for swearing!!!
51 floors, it sucked, but we did it - the hardest part wasn't my legs giving out, it was the lack of ventilation in that tower. When we got to the top, my legs were fine, but my chest was about to explode - and I think I'm relatively fit!!! So proud of us and what we achieved! More tomorrow - right now I am exhausted from climbing stairs and drinking vodka!!! gopinksteph
Six weeks of hard work, training, meal plans, cookie baking, fundraising, and late nights are about to pay off as myself and 4 of my colleagues and best friends run up the 51 floors of Auckland's Sky Tower after raising $5,000 for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer!!!
That's 100 Emergency Assistance Vouchers, 55 Counselling Sessions, or 42 Support Group meetings for the people who are facing these horrific illnesses every day. The money we've raised will help make a real difference and I am so thankful for the opportunity to help!! Ā
We run later this afternoon and right now I am trying to relax and not be nervous - it's not working!!
A massive thank you to all of our supporters, friends, colleagues, and of course our coach Francis and the crew at Boxing Central for getting behind us!! Love my boxing family so much and can't wait to get back in the gym - I've missed boxing on these rest days!
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