And just like that, it’s over.

I know you’ve all been hanging on with bated breath to hear how fight night went last Saturday, well after 14 weeks of the hardest physical training in my life, I got what you can only call a once in a lifetime experience.

The feeling of walking to the ring in front of a 1,500 strong crowd, looking around at all the wonderful, supportive people screaming my name and looking across at my opponent in red was absolutly exhilarating and by far one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever been through.

Sadly my boxing debut was short lived after loosing my footing and falling right on my ass in the middle of the ring! Yep… that happened. An unnecessary 8sec count from the ref and his decision to end the fight all of 30 seconds later meant I stood by and watched a red glove get raised in the air in victory. And just like that, it ended.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed, not for loosing but for not having an opportunity to give it 100% (or to show off my mad new skills 😉). There has been so many people pushing me and encouraging me over the last 14 weeks and I hate the feeling that I could have potentially let them down.

I aptly drunk away any sorrows until 5am the following morning after 16 weeks of no alcohol, with hands down the most awesome group of people I could have found on this journey.  Blue Team- you guys are friggen amazing, and have been the reason I made it to the end!

There is something so empty about not seeing the team each morning and turning up to work not sweaty- it’s amazing what you get used to!

What I’m not going to miss:

• Not having to do the washing every single day. 
• The effort of rolling up my wraps before every sessions (then accidentally dropping one and watching it unravel all my hard work)
• My skin (since this thing kicked off my face has decided to curse me with what I’m calling athlete acne) cannot wait to get my skin back to normal.
• Showering 2-3 times a day
• Burpees!!!! Bloody burpees 

Surprisingly that’s about it!

As much as this has been hands down one of the most challenging physical and mental things I have ever done, without a lie I have enjoyed every single moment. The last 14 weeks has gifted me with so many milestones, so many memories and so many friends- it’s been incredible!

Thank you so much to every single one of you who has supported me along the way, we’ve managed to raised over $1,700 on givealittle and over $2,500 on top of that. It’s absolutely massive and I’m so so blessed and proud! 

One final note: I must admit I still have a lack of closure following last Saturday so all I can say is ‘watch this space’!

Thanks again everyone ❤️

Missfisticuffs out. 

It’s the final countdown (see what I did there)…

Hey peeps, holy sh*t there’s literally less than a week to go before fight night, it truly is the final countdown.

“How are you feeling?” seems to be the standard question now and the answer… well it’s a weird mix between excitement, impatience and shitting my pants! 

This last week will most definitely be more of a mental battle as the physical stuff starts to decrease (this doesn’t include one last run up the stairway to hell this morning SEVEN TIMES). You might remember these stairs from my earlier post- back then running up once was hard so you can imagine how my legs are feeling after 7!  There was nothing quite like the feel of hitting the final top step and knowing it might be the last time we meet for a good long while 🙌

Pretty much the best team one could hope for! Spot my gloves 😉

They are the devil

The infamous stairs in all their hellish glory

 I had another first this week (they never seem to stop coming) my first ever ‘sports massage’. Now I’ve had my fair share of massages, usually in a quiet, lightly scented room, with a masseuse using aromatherapy oils and soothing strokes to ease away my woes. But no, no, no, not this one – whoever gave this torture such a deceitful name should be punished! There is absolutely nothing about a ‘sports massage’ that in anyway represents what a massage should be. 

All I can feel is elbow, lots and lots of elbow prodding away at my hips, my thighs, my butt, my shoulders, my back – prodding, poking, jabbing and digging all my knots and tightness. The masseuse (Jo) seemed to take great delight in my agonising yelps while my head was squished face-down into a towel. As I get up slowly from the table trying to understand why people choose to pay for this stuff, Jo manages to sneakily book me in for another this week! Gahh! 

I still cannot believe I’ve almost made it, 14 weeks felt like a lifetime, at 7 weeks I thought I had an eternity to go and now it feels like the whole thing has just flown by! 

I’m actually starting to get a little sad at the thought of not seeing the Blue Team every day laughing, sweating, swearing together, these guys have become such good friends and are the best support group anyone could hope for. 

If anything it’s been the people that have kept me in this, even when I felt like my body was literally going to crumble all I had to do was look around and see the faces of a bunch of supportive peeps, who also happen to be in agony – something about this is quite comforting 😜

Not everyone who started this journey was able to find a contender, but almost everyone who started on the Blue Team are still turning up to training helping to push the whole team along and do their best to make sure we’re ready (and I’m sure get a kick out of knocking us in the face now and again too). 

So glad I picked Blue!!

Next time I post it’s likely after fight night, so stand by while I put my big girl pants on and wish me luck! 

Things just got a little too real!

If you’ve been keeping up with my blog you’ll know that the massive physical and mental commitment I’ve made over the last 10 weeks has been driven by the end goal of potentially getting in the ring and having my first boxing match.

There was never a guarantee that I would get matched, it all depends on a) ensuring I’m actually up to it and b) finding a fair apponent for me to fight.

Well bloody hell sh*t just got a little too real. About a week ago Mike King announced my name (and did a pretty good job considering how hard it is to pronounce) on the wider fight list.

I am officially a confirmed IT Heavyhitters Contender! 

What does this mean?

So I thought things were hard now……..In just under 4 weeks I will jump in the ring and have my first boxing match in front of a sold out crowd for 3 x 2 minute rounds against an apponent of the ‘red’ team.

#gasping

I’m not one to ask for much from anyone but I would love and totally need as much support as possible.

Anyone that knows me will understand what a massive undertaking this has been – literally from Princess to going 3 rounds exchanging punches to the face- who would have guessed!!

So how can you help? 

1. Come cheer me on

I would love to have a bunch of friggin awesome people screaming at the top of their lungs during my match (you have no idea how exhausting it is and any ounce of energy I can get is a bonus)!

The event sells out every single year so please do get in and grab tickets so you don’t miss out.

When: Saturday 6th May

Where: Wellington

Tickets: $40 all for charity you can buy them here. They are general admission and you just go and get the best seats when you arrive.

2. Help us raise some coin

I am after all doing this for charity, we have a job to do to raise as much funds as possible for Key to Life Trust, making sure we talk about and demystify depression and do as much as we can to help with suicide prevention.

Any donation – literally ANY is better than nothing.

You can jump on to my give a little page and make a donation, either highlight your name so I can come and give you a high five or a hug, or stay anonymous if you feel more comfortable.

Thanks guys for all your support!
Right next task…… need a name and a walkout song 😉

The things they don’t tell you….

Warning: This one is definitely for the ladies, albeit men I know you secretly crave insight to the goings on of a woman’s mind…. so keep reading 😉 

You may have heard the saying ‘it’s not the destination but the journey that matters’? Well bloody hell its been a journey alright, I’m just over 8 weeks in and keep hearing “great job you’ve got through the hardest part” for a moment I believed them, oh poor little naive me. 

Hard is an understatement, it’s not even the pure exhaustion that comes from 8-10 trainings a week but more from those seemingly small things that no one warns you about. 

I hear you all saying what could possibly be worse than what you’re currently doing, well, well, well… welcome to the party ladies (and gents if you’ve stuck with me!). 

You know what comes with exercise? Sweat! And lots of it. 

– Mascara has become an enemy not to be messed with. From the indescribable sting that comes from this dripping into your innocent eyeball, to the massive panda eye I’m left with after a hard session. Which by the way I spend a good 15-20min after chatting to fellow boxers while looking much like a crazy lady……

Pretty much my face after every session

– Has anyone heard of dry shampoo? Well the way I’m going I think I’ve become one of Batiste’s major shareholders. I just managed to nail an entire large can of the stuff in two weeks. The very thought of having to lift my exhausted arms above my head to actually wash my hair is far too daunting of a task. 

– I’m pretty sure the last time I ran a straightener through my (freshly dry shampooed) hair I had close to a dozen people comment on how I looked so different ‘have you changed something‘………. this clearly says a lot about my new normal which is something like a birdsnest with a piece of rope tied around it.

– 4.40am starts 4-5 times a week require a lot of evening effort to ensure the routine of waking, rolling out of bed and getting in a car is seamless. However packing a bag at night whilst walking around like a zombie and in most cases ridiculously hangry- things are just bound to be forgotten. And so they have, I can count now 4 times when I have failed to pack underwear and bra. 😮

– For those of you who are asking ‘where do you keep all this sweaty gym gear?’ Well great question and the answer is – my car. I am now one of those people who literally lives out of my vehicle, and this said vehicle now holds the undeniable stench that my boxing gloves, hand wraps and gym clothes give off- there is no masking that smell with an air freshener. #NoMoreCarPool

– I spend a lot of time on my knees lately, whether this is during lazy press ups, bearcrawls or my burpee technique, my knees are taking an absolute battering (makes for very interesting conversations at home….), so no more cute dresses or skirts for me until these bad boys are all better. 

Nothing dodgy going on at all…..

Ok ok ok there’s got to be a positive……… and there most definitely is.

I, as a result of this intense training have become an advocate for putting on active wear – anytime, any place and for any occasion. The comfort and convenience is undeniable, the stretchy waistband is heavenly and I cannot imagine the day I have to go back to normal people clothing.

<Must click the link above and watch the video of you haven’t already, pretty much my life.>

But enough moaning for now, hopefully the next time I post it will be following the announcement of who will be fighting. So stand by, sh*ts about to get serious! 🥊

Pink is a power colour

Would you believe this is actually true, in Muay Thai competitors choose to wear pink shorts to signify strength and perseverance.

Ok, so maybe a little bit of a stretch for me and admittedly I didn’t know this until after I’d already purchased the cutest pink gloves from Amazon. But hey I decided if I’m doing this then I’m going to do me and I might as well have my gloves match the bright pink colour of my cheeks after a boxing session!

Would this face intimidate you? 

It’s been a big couple of weeks with added sessions, some huge achievements and the dumbfounding conclusion that I will be living in a state of constant ache until this is over.

Week 4-5 and this is what it looks like:

• Monday: 4.40am wake and then Boxfit
• Tuesday: 4.40am wake and then Heavyhitters
• Wednesday: evening 1hr fighters session followed by Boxfit
• Thursday: 4.40am then Heavyhitters then 7.5km run + stairs.
• Friday: 4.40am then Boxfit
• Saturday: Crossfit or 7+km run
• Sunday: REST!!!!

Sounds like a lot huh….. and you’re right it’s a f**ken killer!

I managed to run 2 x 7.5km + stairs in the space of a week – those that have read my previous posts will know that I ain’t a natural runner. I’ve never clocked more than 5km on a treadmill – even while being suitably distracted by some cheesy TV show (usually The Chase), with hip-hop music in my ear and the constant glide of the conveyor belt.

So 7.5km of slapping my feet against hard concrete while fighting the wind (ok there really wasn’t that much) was all topped off with a run (ok that’s another stretch) a “clamber” up the infamous Maida Vale steps. Feel the burn baby!

Maida Vale steps – yep that’s the ground way down there by the water!

I can totally hear you saying ‘WHY!!!’ and don’t get me wrong I ask myself the same thing weekly! I’ve managed to download an image of the opposing ‘Red Team’ and the thought that my potential contender is training her heart out or training harder than I am absolutly scares the shit out of me. Hense the reason I’m out of bed in the morning! 

So I keep the photo nearby as a good reminder to myself that I love my nose the way it is and I really don’t want someone else changing it anytime soon…

Can’t. Move. My. Legs.

I’m officially two weeks in, and so far my weekly training consists of;

• Official ITHH (IT Heavy Hitters) sessions on Tue & Thu morning – 4.40am out of bed (gahhh).
• A couple of midday HIIT sessions.
• A group cardio session on Sat.
• And a 4-5km run every night except Sunday.

This is about to become the new norm and each week I need to add an additional session.

I have complete confidence that over the next 12 weeks I’m going to have some of the hardest mental battles of my life. There’s just something about walking through those inconspicuous doors of the gym knowing that all that lays beyond it is a unique form of ‘burpee’ torture and the expectation that I will push my body to the point of complete exhaustion every session.

Before the official training started the idea of getting in a ring at the end of all this is what was really driving me. But as I begin to realise how fit I need to be both physically and mentally the more it’s dawning on me just how bloody far away from this I actually am. And we haven’t even started sparring yet!

Yesterday we went for our second all group cardio session – this one started with a light jog from the gym to Tirangi Road. Little did I know this road is a good example of a typical Wellington street: starts lovely and flat then creeps up into a rather steep hillside.

Tirangi Road, Wellington

Doesn’t look too bad right? Well this is Asher to the right (our trainer) only half way up.

We sprinted in two groups from the bottom to 1/4 the way up 5 times. Then from bottom to 1/2 way 3 times and finally from bottom all the way to the top 2 times!

Check out a short vid here.

This is when it really hit home just how much more work I need to do. I was easily one of the last each time up the hill. I wouldn’t say I’m unfit at all and usually find running 4-5km on the treadmill absolutely ok. But something about the combination of a hill, sprints and my legs and lungs burning at the same time made this hell on earth!

The positive? ….. well I bloody finished and didn’t stop or give up.

The negative?…. my legs are so stiff and sore, getting from a sitting to standing position has become a mammoth task.

Luckily Sunday is my rest day, bring on a foam roller and hot shower.

I Came, I Saw, “I Survived”……

Three things I learned on Sunday;

1. Getting sweat in the eye really stings.
2. More than 5 burpees induces a kind of vomiting sensation.
3. The floor of a boxing gym is pretty damn smelly (I know my face was down there a lot!).

I’m proud to say all of these insights were a direct result of completing my first training / selection session on Sunday. I’d give you all a virtual high five but my arms and shoulders are currently unable to move with any speed or vigour…

The session was not only a chance for the trainers to scare the living crap out of us but also part of our selection process which saw around 100 enthusiastic newbies split between two competing gyms; red and blue (this fades down to about 20 for each gym after a while). The training or as I like to refer to it – ‘torture’, consisted of two back to back 30min sessions with each gym, a mix floor work and then bags and then floor and then bags again!

I’m not unfit by general standards and have been quietly training in the background in preparation and the hope of avoiding a complete physical breakdown. But I tell you I’ve never sweated so much in my life- it was like the Niagra Falls flowing off me! This would normally not be a problem if I could access a towel but while being adorned with 16″ounce boxing gloves the wiping of my forehead was impossible. This is how I came across lesson 1 (sweat in the eye stings!).

After a while it was easy to figure out that the preferred method of torture (from both trainers) is the infamous burpee. The burpee itself is very innocuous. There’s no heavy barbell or kettlebell. There’s no intense gymnastics element like a pull-up or handstand push-up or even a rope climb. But regardless – that sh*t is cray!

To understand the 2nd and 3rd lesson you’ll have to picture one of those days when you might have been driving past a runner, like a proper one, who just seems to bound like a spring from one leg to the other looking all agile… this is not me! And I have very little hope that I will ever get that ‘spring’ in my step.

You see my ability to go from standing to lying flat on the floor and back up again is pretty poor- actually this just doesn’t exist. Personally I like to take the ‘Falling Brick’ approach where, just like chucking one off the top of a ladder it smashes on the floor with no grace and one loud thud #thisisme!  Then like a poor helpless 90 year old lady without her walking frame, I try and clamber off the ground and get myself back in to a standing position. All in time for the trainer to yell “DOWN” and I have to do it all again!

In all honesty I was seriously petrified going into Sunday, and don’t get me wrong it was one of the hardest workouts I’ve experience. But I survived, and the reason I did – there were a bunch of bloody awesome humans doing the same thing as me and feeling just as exhausted.

What now? Well from the 30th of January for 14 weeks our lives end up in the hands of our trainer (for me this is Asher from the blue gym in central Wellington). My meals, my fitness, my sanity all rests with this poor guy – if you know me you’ll know he’s got a big job in front of him.

Check out some action shots below from Sunday – I’m in the pink.

Whoop I made it, sweat and all! Go Blue Team

Oh sh*tballs….I’m really not that brave….right?

I don’t know about you but I’ve never understood the rationale behind the saying ‘Do something every day that scares you’ – Eleanor Roosevelt.

It goes against every grain in my body, why on earth would I want to do something that scares the bejesus out of me each day. I like my little bubble; my bubble is comfy, it’s warm, safe and just a little predictable……

So then I started to think (mistake #1) what if ‘doing something that scares me’ doesn’t actually mean throwing my body off a bridge tied to a piece of rope, or watching Candyman (90’s horror that still haunts me- say it 3 times I dare you!!), or reading Donald Trumps nuclear arms tweets….. What if it means just not doing the same predictable sh*t everyday?

Well wouldn’t you know it, that’s what my lady Ele totally meant- just be a little brave and get outside your comfort zone. When you put it like that it feels totally doable, right?

So I got brave (anyone that knows me will likely laugh at this statement), but I did! Albeit whilst kicking back in premium economy after two glasses of bubbles and a 3 week vacay in the US.

See, I’ve had this naggy feeling for a while, we all get them, it kind of goes like this;

What the actual f**k am I doing….

Yup that’s the one, this constant tapping in my head telling me there’s more I could do if I just pushed myself a little harder. I usually do a spectacular job shoving this naggy voice to the side and returning to life on Facebook or getting stuck in at work.

But while I was up among the clouds clearing my emails, this popped up…

So you think you have what it takes to be an IT Heavy Hitter? Are you ready for 14 weeks of intensive fight and fitness coaching? You know you are!

Initial reaction = Uhhhhhhh no way Jose, you be crazy!

But then another glass of bubbles down and a little more research, I really started to think “why couldn’t I do this”!

The cause behind the IT Heavy Hitters initiative is pretty damn awesome; its a white collar charity boxing event, raising money to support the goal of awareness around suicide prevention, specifically focused on desk bound professionals. The finale is this huge fight night event where I might get in the ring for 3 full on rounds with someone wanting to punch my face!

Plus, as a bonus I could get all fit and fight off this post-holiday cushion 😉

So….I signed up (mistake #2) and paid the registration fee while feeling pretty damn proud of how brave I was being.

That was a month ago now….

The first training day is this Sunday, the trainers put us amateur boxers through our paces. This day has been known to produce tears, fainting and the odd exertion induced projectile vomit. I have a feeling that I will make you proud with all three!