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Natalie Ison

63 Squats a Day FB Challenge

I'm fundraising because...

I carried a lot of pain and guilt for many, many years after losing a parent to suicide when I was a teenager. I now see my friends losing their friends and carrying the same sort of pain. It is such a tough thing to reconcile as the people left behind and an even tougher thing to go through as the person considering that an early death is their only option. 

I first remember ringing lifeline in my late 20s when I wasn't coping with my second uni degree. 

I have been a reasonably regular caller ever since. Sometimes when you feel bereft and alone at 3am, it's good to know there is someone awake and able to talk you through whatever it is that is that is bothering you.
 
They have never made me feel like a waste of time. For so many reasons this is a crucial service. 

Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

Raised

$500

My Goal

$351

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My Updates

Day 31 - I made it

Thank you for being on my journey with me. 
I am finishing off day 31 with burpees and as of writing this at 9pm, I have done 33. [930 edit. All done. I'll try to whack a gif in the photos section]. Geez they're hard! I've also done a bunch of 20kg hack squats but that was more to make up for the fact I was on trains yesterday and missed them. 
I'm finishing this challenge with this poignant set of screen grabs from comedian Josh Thomas and this link to a heartbreaking ad from Norwich football club: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tX8TgVR33KM
Thank you again for all my friends who supported this wonderful cause.


Day 23

I have a few days to make up. Today was 63 under the pergola in my home town, waiting for the bus. With my backpack in tow because at bootcamp on Thursday I more than smashed 63 with squats, lunges, kettlebell swings and jump squats. Also push-ups. 
Yesterday I missed due to trains, but there was a guy on the train who wanted to do his morning push up routine in the aisle and I think that if his wife had let him do his incline push-ups I totally would have joined him for some squats - and probably been thrown off the train with him...

TW: Day 21 - Dad

When I was little, my dad used to tell me he was going away and that I couldn't come with him. I'd get really upset. I didn't know until about 10 years ago he used to say the same stuff to my mum. 
The relationship was strained and occasionally abusive by the time I was 12. The last time I saw him was around three days before he died. He and his friends ran into me and my best friend in my suburb and he said he'd call on the Australia day long weekend. He didn't call and I was relieved. 
I felt horrible that I was relieved he didn't call when I thought about the fact that in some sort of depressed state he decided to die, and then a couple of days passed before he was found. That was the moment at 14 I knew I didn't want to be a cop, or an ambo. 
This photo is one of my favourites of us and until I posted it here,  I've never really looked properly at it. 
They say depression is hereditary. I have his hands and his feet, I have his eyes, and both my brother and I have a thin- lipped angry dad face that I remember him making quite a lot. I think I have his brain chemistry. But the bit I just found because I don't really remember him smiling much? There's this weird arsed thing I have where one side of my mouth drops when I smile, and I can just see it in his mouth in this shot. I didn't realise that was from him. It's really nice. I think I'll like it a bit more now. 

Thank you. Day 12 late post

With the help of my colleagues and everyone who donated before them, I hit the $351 goal I had set. I asked for money in lieu of a going away present as I have enough stuff and I've already left once. Change is challenging and scary, and coupling that with a not-quite-there-yet medication and over 25 years of depression makes it harder and my case generally is considered mild. I don't need to imagine the darkness that comes with a more severe case of brain-fuckery, and I hope that the donation and nation-wide squatting and awareness raising help get people through an incessant war inside their head that they can't escape. 

Day 7 - Oh dear...

So on Thursdays we bootcamp... 
85 20kg kettlebell squats. Plus the same number of lunges, pushups, kettlebell swings. Oh dear. Look at this face... 

Day 6

I have been diligently squatting, but not mixing it up too much due to being in Sydney on a course. Some squats in my hotel room, some squats looking out at the Harbour view from the Balls Head Coal Loader sustainability centre. Such a lovely view. Have now got semantic satiation from the word "squat". 

Day 2

After starting day 1 with some very run of the mill standard squats, I thought I would do jump squats for day 2 before I run out of steam...

https://www.facebook.com/662419000/videos/314815698034015/

Thank you to my Sponsors

$63

Natalie Ison

$50

Mr Mr

$50

Facebook Donation

$40

Andrew Ference

You have to keep going until your quads are as large as mine

$40

Verity

Glow you good thing. Love you xx

$33

Moad Family

$25

Kylie And Daniel Branik

I know how exhausting depression is on a daily basis. Much love to you and well done. This is a great way to do your own therapy love Kylie xoxoxo

$25

Alex Walton

Good luck with the fundraising Nat!

$25

Anonymous

$25

Julian Gregge

<3

$25

Emma Gwynn

Such a great cause Nat!

$25

Oliver Wiederkehr

You’re a legend, Nat!

$24

Ya Mum

You are inspirational! Proud!

$20

Shaun Duggan

Thank you for being you :)

$20

Joshua

Kickin’ goals, friend!

$10

Noel Lane