It’s hotting up at the mountain… even though were in single digit temperatures

Wow… 3 days since my last blog… The time has flown as we get ready for the Great Race on 7…

Since arriving in Bathurst on Tuesday its been frantic… setting up and getting ready for the biggest weekend in motorsport this year… only now that the cars are actually on the track do I get 5 minutes to sit down and blog… and its only because were in the lunch break, although as I blog I can hear the roar of the Fujitsu series warming up their engines for their first race


The weather for the first time in a few years has been rather bitter with minus 2 degrees this morning at 6am when we were on the track doing Sunrise… The days have been mild with a cold wind meaning long sleeves, fleece and jeans are a must; and this morning I even had the thermals on…


Everything is going great too… I have really noticed how much extra energy I have too… We’re based in the Paddock area in the middle of the track, so to go in or out, or over to the main public area, we have to go across the bridge, so there been lots of stair climbing too… Now I’m not saying I haven’t been getting tired (I have), but I’m doing a lot more before I start to run out of steam…


It was also interesting the other day I had to bring some gear in which I recon probably weighed about 20kg… It felt like a tonne, but I though afterwards, that’s what I used to carry around every day so no wonder I’ve go much more energy…


Eating had been relatively easy too; although I am now starting to feel what the full effect of the band is and I just cant eat what I used to and I’m throwing food out which is a good thing.… we went shopping on Tuesday to get some stuff, so I got some bit I can easily eat on transition diet… plus food at the OB compound has been easy too… every meal there’s been some easy stuff… Nachos/Tacos (without the corn chips), san choy bow, pasta & sauce… plus salad and other stuff so it’s been good… Plus I’m getting really good with my water too We’ve had a couple of BBQ’s for dinner and Pizza one night and I only had 3 pieces and a bit of pasta and I was full…


I hoping with all the walking and stair climbing this week, by the time it comes for my weigh in next week, there’s a bit of good news there…


Until next time - GO Holden

The Boys from Bathurst

As the Lee Kernighan song goes


We been running strong
From the east to the west
We been banging fenders
To give you all the best
We been setting records in every state
Well their aint no car
Like a big V8
To the boys from the bush
Were back in town
Well the cars in the back and the shutters down
Were all heading for the Bathurst field
To see Brokky and the boys serving up a thrill


Obviously were not going to see Brokky, but there’ll be plenty of thrills and spills at the Mountain this week once the cars hit the track on Thursday…


Today’s a travel and setup day, before our first News segment tomorrow and then every day through until the end of the race…

My weekly weigh in was bought forward by a day, and unfortunately its disappointing, but not surprising… 114.9kg – an increase of ½ a kilogram… Not good, but the last week or so I haven’t been as active as I should have been and haven’t been for a walk now for a couple of weeks because of the weather. I’ll get back to it in Bathurst…



Anyway just about to have some brekky and then head off, so I’ll blog from Bathurst soon

My first hiccup…

Literally… As I’m heading off to Bathurst tomorrow, I’ve been trying a couple of things on the transition diet the last couple of days and taking it slowly just to see how I go… It’s nice to actually eat something of substance and not feel hungry a couple of hours after…


I tried some toasted raisin bread yesterday and again today and it ended up the same… with the hiccups. No matter how much I chewed it, it ended with the same result – hiccups. I ended up throwing out what I hadn’t finished today. So that’s one off the list. For lunch (and it was a late one after I finished a few hours work) I tried a 6” Chicken and Bacon Ranch Subway… well to my surprise that went down OK… No hiccups, nothing – the good thing with that was there was something to chew… I chewed, Chewed and then chewed some more and it went down nicely… and it kept me full for a few hours – I can start to feel the band working and I haven’t even had a fill.


Tonight I made a pasta bake, which again went down with no issues… 1 cup of the bake (normally I have two) and a few grape tomatoes, onions and fresh basil out of my garden… It took half an hour with a couple of stops in between, but again no issues…


Almost back to normal at work too… Packing the vehicles today was a breeze – except for trying to fit it all in… light lifting with no pain or twinges which obviously means everything is almost back to normal… The internal bruising which I was feeling for a while too seems to have gone, and I’m almost back to sleeping on my stomach for parts of the night which is great…


Anyway better get back and finish packing… just waiting for some clothes to dry… It’s going to be a cold one this year according to the forecast, so I’ve packed some extra woollies to make up for that excess fat I’ve gotten rid of in the last couple of months


Until next time

Health Matters

Yes your health really does matter… as you get older, you really need to take a step back and look at where you’re at, and what you can do to improve not only your day to day; but long term health… That’s what I did; and after 7 weeks I’m feeling like a new person – and people are even telling me that I just look some much better, healthier and happier than when I was 20kgs heavier… and generally not looking after myself.


On his radio show this morning; Doc John asked why I went public with what most people who have got a lap band consider a private thing.


I look at it this way – while the decision is private (although I did speak with Doc and a colleague who has also had one); the actions and results are a very public thing.


People notice – they notice you eating differently and notice you loosing weight – and add to that they offer support and encouragement every step of the way. While there are support networks online that can offer information and advice from people in the same situation as yourself and maybe even via the clinic you go to for your treatment – there is nothing like the support network from family, friends and colleagues.


In the long run; for me it’s much easier to be open about it; that way I don’t have to avoid things and become a hermit just because I didn’t want people to know. I heading away with work next week on assignment knowing that I can confidently do as I need to; be that go out or stay in for dinner – without having hide it from my colleagues that I’m sharing with


My Health Matters to me – the last few years I’ve been kidding myself and not really trying – despite partly following a Low GI diet. I’d had a heart scare a few years back, diagnosed with Insulin Resistance, along with high cholesterol and my blood pressure on the higher side of normal… The signs were starting to show

If this sounds a bit like you – do something about it like I did - It will change your life; and you’ll feel so much better in yourself for doing it…