My journey.....

This blog will document my journey of the trials and tribulations that I will face, in my attempts to climb Mt. Kinabalu in July 2011. I will also detail out my work out regime for this hike, so that my readers can have a feel of the training and different training methods I have used out in my attempt to reach the summit of Mt. Kinabalu.

I am currently very excited about climbing, for which I have continuously worked out for since November of 2010. I used to be a significantly active person about 8 years ago. However, due to leaving high school and embarking on my journey through college and university, I have slacked like crazy and gained a lot of weight.

Regardless of being active in high school and a sportswomen for 2 years in a row, I was still considered to be obese and remain obese up to now. Therefore, this block will document my journey of losing my weight and attempting mount kinabalu, so that other readers could possible find this guide useful, ecspecially for those who are obese and have such extreme dreams like me.

A little bit about Mt. Kinabalu (sourced from Mount Kinabalue Borneo.com )

Mount Kinabalu is situated in the East Malaysia state of Sabah on the island of Borneo. It is the place where you could see breathtaking sunrise from above the clouds, 13,435 feet (4095 meters) above sea level. It is also one of the most accessible and spectacular mountains in the world. Because of the earth movement, in is still growing with the rate of 5 mm (1/4 inches) a year.

The trail to the highest peak winds along the southern side of the mountain. It is an 8.5 kilometer (5.25 mile) trek to the top. For most people, from a 9 month-old baby (carried by father) to an 83 years-old New Zealander, the journey takes two days.

A little bit about my hiking and workout experiences

Prior to training for Mt.Kinabalu, my exercise regime included sporting activities such as badminton (once a week), occassionaly hikes (on saturdays / sundays - twice a week) and occassional gym classes. Yes, from the fact that I am an obese girl, you guys might be assuming that I sit in front of the tv and eat all the time. This is where you are wrong, I do not sit in front of the tv and eat (this is not a movie), I eat when I eat and I watch tv when I'm free. However, regardless of my above LAZY exercise rountines which is some as opposed to other people who don't exercise I was still considered to be unfit (DUH).

So as soon as we decided that we are to climb mount kinabalu, I was dedicated to making it to the summit. Here's how my workout has improved since then:

1) Mondays - Rest Day

2) Tuesdays - Gym day -1 hour strech class / Rest Day (Depending on work)

3) Wednesday - Gym day - 2 hours of classes - 1 hour kickboxing / 1 hour weights

4) Thursday - Gym day - 1 hour of class - Cardio (high intensity)

5) Friday - Badminton - 2 hours

6) Sunday - Gym Day - 2 hours of class - 1 hour pilates / 1 hour Cardio (medium intensity)

7) Hiking - 45 mins - up and down to 46 (via botanical garden - Penang Hill)

Now, where we do not go to gym, we actually hike. If there are public holidays, we increase the intensity of our hiking by going up to penang hill. Penang hill is generally a 5 kilometre hike which should take an everage hiker approximately 2-3 hours only. An experience hiker will only need about 1hour and 30 mins to complete.

Here's how my stamina has increased

For those who are familiar with Penang Hill routes, this will be much easily understood. Before embarking on any penang hill routes, I used to do occassional hikes to pantai keracut, this will take about an hour (which is very long, due to its draggy nature - I haven't attempted this in a long time because we find this route not as challenging).

Our hiking itensity, increased somewhere in September of 2010. Going up to 3 - via youth park was a challenge which took us about 45 mins (and the we improved to 20 mins) and subsequently attempted going up to 5 - via youth park's 3. The total hike up to 5, would take us about an hour. Now it takes us about 45 mins both up and down.

Next we moved on to the wildboar route via moongate, slightly more challenging due to its earthly and mudly nature, this takes us about 1 hour and then down to 45 mins. And continued on this route for quite sometime up til October / November 2010, we attempted to hike penang hill. And as you would have guessed, we made it up to only 84, and the total hike up and down took us approximately 6 hours. This was a bubble breaker and we never wanted to hike up to 84 again let alone attempt penang hill. So we practiced.

One fine day, me and a friend, decided that we should up our challenge and attempt 84. To our surprise, from all our training and gym classes, this took us about only 1 hour and 15 mins (84 is about 2.6km - which is a half way point up to PG HILL). Then as we progressed it took us only 1 hour. Now it takes us about 45mins to get to 84 sometimes less, depending on whether we push ourselves.

As the route from 46 to 84 is a redundant route (less challenging tar road which is draggy), we save time by just hiking the tretourous 46 (which is filled with stairs, stairs and more stairs all the way, similar to the route up to mount kinabalu's laban rata - 6km point).

When I first started out, this took me about an 1 hour to get up to 46, then it subsequently improved to 50 mins, 45 mins, 40 mins, 30 mins and now my latest time is clocked in at 26 mins. The secret to hiking up is, no matter how hard your heart it beating, keep walking!!!!!!! Proper breathing and discipline is essential. If your head tells u to stop and rest, push yourself harder......and you will make it....

My progress so far...
I have lost an astonishing 19kgs. However, besides exercising, there are other things which have helped. For those who are attempting to lose weight, make sure you change your diet and eating habits....I will elaborate on this further on my next post......

Till then...write you later!