I said I'd try and update more often closer to competitions, so I will!  While I can.  Anyway, so we're 23 days out from competing in Rarotonga at the NABBA Asia Pacific Championships.  Can it get anyb better than that?  Answer, yes, if I was not set to compete at Wellington a few weeks later, that would be better, as it'll be straight back on the wagon for both Vanessa and myself once we've done the comp at Raro.  Ness going to compete 'in sympathy' with me, and also a good way to keep lean and mean for the NABBA Nationals a few weeks after Wellington.  So it's going to be a busy few months.

Before I start waffling about our progress, a big WAY TO GO DEANO.  Dean competed at the Waikato NABBA competition last week, coming in on game day at 80.3 kilos, down from the 106 he was while watching the 2009 Nationals and getting inspired.  In the Novice Athletic tall he took the silver medal, and I think, and hope, is looking towards competing at the Nationals this year.  He looked superb, it was great to see the journey through from day 1 through to 'match day'.  Great to see a proud family too, Deano's parents beaming along with wife and three kids.  It was a fantastic emotional day - even bought a spec of dust into this old props eye.  So well done Dean, enjoy your break, treat Phaedra on your holiday, and then back into it!!

Watching the Waikato show was certainly tough too, it is official, if I am at a comp, I want to be competing - not watching and helping, although it was a buzz to see Deano on stage after his hard work.  but not being able to have those treats as you warm up and after you compete - that was the hard bit.  Although I did snare three jelly beans, have an HPLC bar that was not on the diet sheet, and while watching the All Black demolition of Australia, Deano struggled through his second pack of Sultana Pasties, so I helped him eat a couple!  So it was tough not being on stage earning your treats, but at the same time worth it.  And seeing Ness dolled up giving out the trophies was a treat in itself too...

So how're we going thee and a bit weeks out from Raro?  A new very very intense workout plan has seen the weight shedding off me like Fat Albert in a sauna.  The diet plan is still pretty much the same at the moment (we see Teresa on Monday and get the plan for the next stage of proceedings, food and training), but the results are coming nicely.  Vanessa is looking wicked - long gone is the squash playing, smoking wine drinking body that I married.!  There is now a lean mean weight-lifting machine that joins me on our morning walks and weight sessions.  It is an amazing transformation, and one I am lucky to have been part of.

So we're both in a good mind space at the moment, we can still wind each other up with a smile and a tease.  I know when the smiles stop it is also time to stop the teasing and buckle down and just avoid divorce!!  As the food lessens, it does get harder, but we're at the stage now that we've 'been there and done that', and know that 'this too shall pass'!!  So while it sucks, it's part of the sport, unfortunately.

Hernia watch - been about five weeks now, and all that is left is a belly button that is an outie instead of the standard issue innie, and the horizontal scar just above it.  Other than that, would not even know that I had been operated on - does not hinder any training, all systems are go.

And congratulations the Corofizek team of Teresa Edwards - retaining the teams trophy at the Waikato NABBA.  Maybe next year I can be in the team adding to the tally of points, as opposed to taking photos!