New Page starts >>>> Here!
Sunday 6th July 2008....
Oh my!
School holidays have been CRAZY busy and I'm only half way through them!! Hence my lack of updates last week. Not only do I have less opportunity to get online with Caleb home from school but as well our days have been packed with holiday fun. We've met friends at the park on two different days, we've gone to the beach, we've gone to the library, we've gone to pick movies from the video store, we've visited Daddy at work, we've visited friends houses, we've shopped, we've played at home.....the list is endless.
I figured with another busy week beginning tomorrow I'd better come on here now while I could to let you know I've not fallen off the face of the earth ;)
On Saturday we are packing up the boys and travelling to Brisbane to take Caleb to the art gallery and the museum then we'll stay overnight with my sister before returning home in time for school's new term. Caleb cannot wait to see the dinosaurs at the museum and every day we have been counting down the sleeps...tee-he.
Next week is also the start week for the new RACE TO 1000KG CHALLENGE! Please consider joining up with us so we can finally tip our total lost over the 1000kg mark at long last. All you have to do is send me your start weight sometime between now and next Sunday. Check out the challenge page here for all the details.
Speaking of challenge....I really must challenge myself to get back on track with my c25k this week! I've missed the last two weeks due to illness and while I still have an awful wracking cough I'm hoping I will actually be able to do day one of week 4 early tomorrow morning. I'm not sure if I have the lung capacity but I'm gonna give it a shot :)
Will let you know tomorrow how I go!
TFTD: "You are what you make of yourself!!!"
Cheers P
Monday 30th June 2008....
Thank you to everyone who sent wishes for my birthday yesterday - I was most thoroughly spoilt. The celebrations began on Friday afternoon when Simon told me I had to be ready for a 3pm mystery appointment! It was my present from the boys and it wasn't until I got there that I found out I was having my acrylic nails put back on after a couple of years without them :) What a surpise that was! It was great :)
Then I had a night out to the pub on Friday night then a night out to the pub on Saturday night (with dinner at a Chinese restaurant that time) and then lunch with friends at a golf club on the Sunday. I also got breakfast in bed Sunday morning, take away for dinner last night and a reprieve from pretty much all the housework all weekend!
Simon's gift was a huge bottle of Calvin Klein Euphoria perfume....DIVINE!!!! I also got many lovely gifts from other people including chocolates, dream catchers, framed prints, candles and much more.
I'm a lucky lucky girl!!!!
TFTD: "Appreciation makes most people feel better then almost anything!!!"
Cheers P
Friday 27th June 2008....
The new challenge is ready to go!
Check out the new challenge page for all the details and start by submitting your name if you are interested.
This is The Race to 1000kg Challenge.....we've only got 15.9kg left to tip us over the 1000kg lost point!!!! How awesome would that be!!?? :)
Come on!!!!
I'm having an adventure this afternoon of unknown origin!! Simon has organised part of my birthday gift to be 'done' at 3pm this afternoon. Apparently it's from the boys and it's something I'll go to alone. I'm thinking maybe some sort of hair/beauty/nails/massage type thing?? I have no idea but - I'M EXCITED!!! :)
TFTD: "Things turn out for the best for people who make the most of how things turn out!!!"
Cheers P
Thursday 26th June 2008....
Hoorah! A loss :)
I weighed in last night for a loss of 0.8kg which brought me back to 96.4kg. Very happy with that. As I've been so sick I've not been able to do any c25k this week and with the exception of a nice long 1hr walk along the beach with Talyn in his pram yesterday I've not been able to do any other exercise this week. But I guess an hour is better then nothing?? It was a lovely walk and I felt much better for having at least done something :)
It is my birthday on Sunday. 33yrs old/young - Eeek! There are a few celebrations planned including dinner and pub on Saturday night and birthday lunch out on the Sunday....as well as a trip to the cinema to see Sex and the City movie at some point and something else Simon has planned which he is not divulging to me at this point. So I'm expecting that next week will not be pretty on the scales!!!
Oh well.....I'll face them anyway...and be glad that I only have a birthday once a year!!! *wink*
On a good note I found I have shrunk back into another pair of my old size 16 denim shorts from pre-Talyn. That felt great!! :)
I have to work tonight to midnight so I'd best go get things done now while I can. Have a great Thursday everyone :)
TFTD: "You develop a habit through repetition!!!"
Cheers P
Monday 23rd June 2008....
Still sick :(
Feel lousy but I think I'm past worst of it.
Wanted to pop in to apologise for not having the new challenge page ready over the weekend as I'd said I would but I'll get onto it as soon as I'm feeling better :)
In the meantime....will be weighing in Wednesday night. For first time in ages the scales are looking good and it's only Monday :) However also got TTOM today so I'm really hoping that doesn't do anything to mess with scales between now and Wednesday night!!!
I'm quietly hopeful of a loss :) Keep you posted.
TFTD: "The more you give of that which is good and desirable, the more you get!!!"
Cheers P
Friday 20th June 2008....
Aargh!!!! I feel awful :(
Not only am I dead tired from working until midnight last night then getting an AWFUL nights sleep....but I'm also sick - AGAIN! I think it's only a cold type sick as my nose is running non-stop, I'm sneezing, coughing, my throat hurts and I generally just feel pretty run down and lousy.
But....there is many people worse off then me in this world so struggle on I shall :)
It is Friday after all....one of my favourite days of the week!!
I did have a nice surprise when I looked on the scales this morning at least....some downward movement - Hoorah! Long may it last *wink*
Have a great weekend everyone :)
TFTD: "Complaining is a devastating disease!!!"
Cheers P
Thursday 19th June 2008....
Well I faced those scales and I did gain as I had expected to .... but barely! I gained a teeny 0.1kg! Very happy with that! Given that TTOM is due on Monday and I didn't gain as much last week as I felt I deserved to - well let's just say this week could have been MUCH worse. I'm happy I faced it rather then avoid it as I would usually rather do.
This morning I have added a new entry to my goals page also. I want to achieve 6 wk's straight of attending every weigh-in. I'm sure to most that sounds easy - and if it was in a steady losing period it would be easy for me too. But whenever I'm going to gain I tend to avoid them. Then I waste the next two or so weeks either still avoiding them or trying to undo the damage. I'm much better off to face a gain one week and just get on with it. So for now 6 wk's is my goal. Once I know I've done that I'll set a longer goal period for the same thing :)
I am happy to have finally got back into some regular exercise this week:
- 2 x 1hr walks on Esplanade with pram
- 1 x 30min beach walk
- 1hr heavy lawn mowing
- 30min's yard work (raking, sweeping, hedging etc)
- 3 x 30min c25k running sessions
Total: 5hrs 30min's.
Next week I hope to better that total. I'm really nervous of how I'll go with c25k next week as it really takes a big jump in difficulty level on week 4?? But I'll give it my best :)
I'm off now to create the new challenge page. I'll be calling for participants soon. Keep checking back here for details!
TFTD: "It's not important how long you live, what is important is how you live!!!"
Cheers P
Wednesday 18th June 2008....
Weigh-in day has arrived. *Gulp* Will not be good. A gain I expect. But then...you get that :) I feel annoyed at myself for wasting an entire month with two missed weigh-ins and two gains but .... not much I can do about that now. I've certainly been trying this week but I think some of this gain was left over from last week's surprisingly small one?? Also TTOM is due next week so that's sure to be a factor too?
In any case I'm not beating myself up over it. What will be will be :)
Exercise so far for the week:
Sunday - 1hr heavy lawn mowing + 30min's yard work raking, sweeping, hedging
Monday - 30min c25k running session + 1hr walk pushing pram
Tuesday - 30min c25k running session + 1hr walk pushing pram + 30min beach
walk
Wednesday - 30min c25k running session (+ hopefully hours walk with pram if
weather clears?)
I'm stoked that I have finished another week of the c25k program. Holy crap next week looks scary as all hell but we'll just have to see how I go with it?? I may even need two weeks to build up to the expected level - who knows?? I've decided to include the program into my goals page for extra incentive also :)
I felt proud that I resisted a temptation last night. I was starving but too lazy too cook and was very tempted by take away. Instead I went for a 30min walk on the beach to clear my head and on the way home I got a pkt of hokkien noodles and a pkt of stir-fry vege and a 240g chicken breast. I made the stir-fry using the vege pourover sauce I spoke of in yesterdays entry and it was delish!!!! Then later on in the evening when I found myself still searching for something I had a mandarin and an apple. Both cold from the fridge, juicy and oh so yummy :) It got me through the risk period and left me feeling good about my decisions which made a nice change.
Hope everyone is having a good hump day!
TFTD: "When you set a timetable you turn your intentions into a commitment!!!"
Cheers P
Tuesday 17th June 2008....
Another day gone and another day on track :)
I'm feeling good about how I'm going this week. Unfortunately the scales are still not looking great due to the usual weekend indulgences but gain or lose I'll be weighing in this week (I hope I've FINALLY learnt that lesson for good!) Regardless of what this week says I know that if I keep up my current momentum I'll get that loss by next week even if not this week.
Exercise so far for the week:
Sunday - 1hr heavy lawn mowing + 30min's yard work raking, sweeping, hedging
Monday - 30min c25k running session + 1hr walk pushing pram
Tuesday - 30min c25k running session + 1hr walk pushing pram
Wednesday - planning the same as Monday and Tuesday.
We are only waiting on just one more stat to come in for the Autumn Attack Challenge to finalise it. At this point, as a group, we lost 12.8kg which brings our total lost over all challenges to 984.4kg. So close to the 1000kg mark and I'll be damned if I'll stop before then!! So it's time to organise the next challenge. I'll have all the details here on this page before the end of the week so stay tuned if you are interested in joining us. Even if you've been part of a previous one....jump back in for this one at least one more time so we can get high numbers to tip us over that tonne mark. How cool would it be to be a part of that huh?? :)
Before I go I just wanted to talk a bit about vegetables. Now we've always eaten quite a bit of vege's in this house with our evening meal but this last week I really stepped it up a notch. I've been challenging myself to see how many I could include in each nights tea and I've surprised even myself! Saturday night with our apricot chicken breast we had 8 vegetables!!! (potato mash, fresh corn on the cob, steamed carrot, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, yellow squash + onion in the chicken dish). Sunday night we had 7 vegetables with our rissoles, (potato and pumpkin mash, steamed carrot, green beans, broccoli, zucchini and fresh corn on the cob). And last night we had beef and red wine casserole with 8 vegetables (potato and pumpkin mash, steamed carrot, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini and mushroom and onion in the casserole). How easy is it when you mix them up like that to get heaps of variety and low point goodness!
These last three nights we've had plenty of flavour from the meat dishes to make the vege's extra yummy but I did find a great item in the supermarket this week for nights when you need a bit of added flavour to the vegies. It's called "Vegie Pourover" and is made by KRAFT and can be found in the sauce aisle of your supermarket. I saw two other high point varieties in a cheese sauce and a honey/mustard sauce but I picked the lowest point one which was "sweet chilli and sesame". The flavour is super strong and super tasty and it's only 0.5pt's per serve. Just steam up a stack of vege's and drizzle sauce over for a flavour hit you'll love!! I'm even planning a noodle and vege stir-fry with this sauce as I think it will be flavorful enough to be able to forgo the meat in the stir-fry. Yummy and low point! Try in and let me know what you think? :)
TFTD: "Your attitude is everything!!!"
Cheers P
Monday 16th June 2008....
Finally I feel like this is my week to be back on track!
I was out at 5.40am to get back into my c25k program and OH MY GOD!!! It was SO SO cold!!!!! Tee-he Thankfully I warmed up as I got going but the initial 10min's or so is pretty darn unpleasant (despite the thick singlet, long sleeved shirt + jacket I had on!). It just felt good to be back into the routine of it though. I'll do it the next 2 mornings and that will bring me to the end of week 3 before I begin week 4 next week.
Yesterday I was up and mowing the lawn at 8.30am for exercise too. It took an hour and was much harder then usual thanks to all the rain we'd had and the fact it hadn't been mowed in about a month...meant for thick, long, damp grass so it was a great form of exercise for me for that day.
Today I hope to get out for an hour with Talyn in the pram for a walk also and maybe a gym visit this afternoon after Simon get's home. My exercise regime that once used to include up to 10hrs a week has dwindled to nearly nothing so it's time I got things moving again. Then hopefully the scales can get moving again a bit faster.
Next Sunday is my 33rd birthday and I'd like to be able to pull off two losses between now and then. It will take hard work and careful eating - but totally do-able!! :)
I've struggled with evening munchies a bit again of late so I've started having a really hot, sweet cup of black tea while watching TV in the evening. It's warm and soothing but also takes so long to drink that it keeps my hands and mouth away from other temptations. :)
Thanks to all those who have given my their last challenge stats. Just waiting for a few more to come in now to complete the grid then I can begin to work out the next one and when it will be. I'm not stopping until we crack the 1000kg mark!!!!! Stay tuned...
TFTD: "The sooner you exert the discipline, the sooner you will be enjoying the results!!!"
Cheers P
Thursday 12th June 2008....
I did it!
I faced those scales after two weeks away from them and now I'm kicking myself I just didn't do it earlier! When will I ever learn that nothing good can come from missing a week's weigh-in? I always gain the week I go back to them but I end up losing several weeks progress in the process....I just need to face the gain the first week it happens and move on.
Lesson learnt!
When I weighed in I found I gained 0.8kg over the 3wk's of abandon. Admittedly it was more like 2.8kg when I checked at home on Monday but I worked really hard the last couple of days to get it down....and down I did.
So at 97.1kg that means I still made my challenge goal and then some!!!!! Hoorah!!!! I can't tell you how stoked I am about that! :)
And now I feel like the last few weeks are behind me at last and I can get on with the business of getting those numbers going DOWN! I really, really can't wait to get out of these 90's but for now I'm aiming for my 25kg next (94.2kg) and also to be back to my pre-pregnant weight of 94kg. From there it's the ultimate goal of Virgin fat again - ie my lowest weight ever (89.5kg). Bring it on!!!!!!!
TFTD: "This week....let's do something remarkable!!!"
Cheers P
Tuesday 9th June 2008....
Somebody PLEASE help me!!!!!
I've lost my Mojo!!!!
*tee-he*
Seriously though....I have really just lost my way with this weight loss thing of late??? I just can't seem to get myself back on track. I know when it started...it two weeks ago when I didn't weigh in. Then it got worse still last week when again I did not weigh in. And tomorrow night ... it will reach it's worst point - when I do weigh in and face the MEGA gain I am facing!!!!
I'm not kidding on that one. I expect to gain about 2kg over the last 3 wk's. With the annual show, a holiday away at the Gold Coast and a very indulgent long weekend just passed....not to mention 2 straight weeks of rain which derailed my exercise routine....well....the result is SO not pretty!
I'm so angry with myself for this too! When am I going to learn that missing a weigh-in only serves to derail me even further. I think I have another week to make up any damage and I get slack. Very slack.
The worst part is I've now totally ruined my challenge progress. I had totally smashed my challenge goal but tomorrow after I register this mega-gain I expect I'll be well below my goal. Dammit!!!
But still....I do place value in honesty so I know I need to face this and show others that even big gains can be undone. Slow and steady will see me through :) It may take me a month to get back to where I was but for right now....I just want to get this weigh-in over and done with so I can get on with it once more. After all....we never fail until we quit trying!
TFTD: "Get back to basics and make excellence the result!!!"
Cheers P
Wednesday 4th June 2008....
Finally! A slight peak of sun today. Not looking like it will last the whole day through but it's a hopeful sign that things may fine up soon. I know the dams etc are finally filling up and saving us from this crippling drought...and even the strict water restrictions are being lifted around the country...but oh for a dry sunny day!!!! *wink*
Tomorrow I simply must get back into my c25k. I'm really, really hoping that it is dry early tomorrow so I can get back on track with it. If I do day 2 tomorrow and day 3 Friday I'll be on track to begin week 4 next week, Mon-Wed as normal. Will just have to wait and see what the days weather brings I guess.
I have to work at WW tonight. But I know I'm not going to face those scales. After my weekend away they are not pretty and I really want to undo a bit of damage first. I know I HAVE to weigh in next week for the final week of the challenge (and I'm working the next 2 wk's after this one anyway) so I'll face it then. Fingers crossed I'll have things back in control by then. Life has been pretty crazy of late so it's all I can do to keep my head above water for now. I know that not weighing in does not actually change the result but in my mind it helps?? Whatever works huh?
As you know I updated Caleb's page yesterday and this morning I have done Talyn's. Pop on over for a look if you are interested?
Have a great hump day everyone! :)
TFTD: "You can do it if you believe you can!!!"
Cheers P
Tuesday 3rd June 2008....
Aaargh!!!!
Go away rain!!!
I am so over this constant wet, miserable weather! It's bringing me down :(
I've not been able to do any c25k since session one of week 3 last week. I need to finish the last two sessions of week 3 this week so I can move onto week 4 next week but this dam weather is making it impossible.
Yeah...maybe I should get up and run in the rain (and cold and dark at 5.40am)...but I've only just gotten over my cold and I really don't want to get sick again.
Who knows...maybe tomorrow will be sunny??? Please god let it be sunny! :)
For those of you who are interested I've done a new update today on Caleb's page. Talyn's will be my next to update. Keep you posted.
TFTD: "The only thing that comes easy is failure!!!"
Cheers P
Monday 2nd June 2008....
Sorry for my absence.
It's been a big week!
We've had torrential rain here, flooding, sandbagging...the works. Then as well as that we had plans to travel to the Gold Coast this weekend just gone with friends for a trip to the Casino but weren't sure until we were on the road if we'd even make it?
Turns out we did and had a wonderful time. We went with our best mates Julie and Scotty and my sister from NSW met us there also. It was heaps of fun. None of us really struck it rich at the casino but also we didn't spend too much either so overall it was a success :)
The boys stayed home here with Granny and had a wonderful weekend to. We didn't get home until late yesterday afternoon and boy was I glad to see home. After a 6hr journey on terribly scary wet roads it was a relief just to make it in one piece *wink*
I've gotten over my flu/cold and am feeling well and ready to tackle another week.
I've just caught up on all the challenge stats now also so from tomorrow we should be back to normal around here :)
See you then!
TFTD: "Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go!!!"
Cheers P
Tuesday 27th May 2008....
Still sick.
Got TTOM last night....feel lousy.
Was no run for me this morning :( May be able to do it this afternoon depending on how I feel??
I am meeting a friend this morning for an Esplanade walk with the babies on their trike's so that's something at least :)
Will save the show and photo's post for tomorrow. Stay tuned :)
TFTD: "Make the mistakes of yesterday your lessons for today!!!"
Cheers P
Monday 26th May 2008....
Finally I've got a chance to update. With the weekend just gone a long one here due to the annual show it's been a big one! Tomorrow I will tell you all about how the show went and share some pic's with you from the day. But for today I have promised an entry on salt/sodium. I did a bit of research on the topic and the results surprised me:
-What is salt?
Common salt or table salt is a chemical compound of sodium and chlorine and is called sodium chloride. Salt contains about 40 per cent sodium, and a teaspoon of salt, which weighs about 5 grams, contains about 2 grams of sodium. Varying amounts of sodium are added to food, but not always in the form of salt. Common food additives, such as baking soda, some preservatives, and monosodium glutamate (MSG), also contribute to the total amount of sodium we consume.
http://www.healthyeatingclub.org/info/books-phds/books/foodfacts/html/data/data5a.html
NB: The above link also contains food charts with the sodium content of many common foods
-Recommended Salt Intake?
The average Australian consumes around eight or nine times more sodium than they need for good health. The National Health and Medical Research Centre’s (NHMRC) suggested dietary target advises that Australian adults should aim to consume no more than 4g of salt a day (or 1,600mg of sodium) in order to prevent chronic disease. Around 75 per cent of the salt in our diet comes from processed foods.
-Salt and Health implications?
Reducing the amount of salt you have will lower high blood pressure. People with high blood pressure, diabetes or chronic kidney disease, and those who are older or overweight, are particularly susceptible to the effect of too much sodium on blood pressure. Excessive sodium intake has also been linked to other conditions, such as: Heart failure, Kidney problems and kidney stones, Oedema, Stroke, Gastric cancer, Left ventricular hypertrophy and Osteoporosis.
-Muscle cramps and salt?
Some people believe that salt has to be replaced during hot weather or strenuous exercise to avoid muscle cramps. This is not correct. What you need to replace is water. The muscle cramps that sometimes follow a bout of sweating are due to dehydration, not lack of salt. To prevent cramps, drink plenty of water on hot days and before, during and after exercise.
-Reducing Salt in our diet?
Some suggestions for reducing the amount of salt in our diet include:
•
Avoid adding salt to cooking and at the table.
•Choose reduced salt bread and breakfast cereals – bread is a major source
of sodium in the diet
•Avoid high salt foods.
•Cut back on processed foods.
•Cut back on takeaway and fast foods.
•Buy fresh vegetables rather than canned.
•Buy ‘low salt’ (contains less than 120mg/100g) or ‘salt free’ versions of
commonly used foods, such as commercial sauces.
•Use herbs and spices such as garlic, oregano and lemon juice to add
flavour to meals.
Some people believe that sea salt is a healthier alternative to normal table salt, but both are composed of sodium chloride.
Avoid processed foods
High salt foods that should be eaten sparingly include:
•Most ‘fast’ foods, such as pizza
•Most snack foods, such as potato chips
•Processed meats, such as sausages, salami, hot dogs and luncheon
meats
•Canned vegetables
•Dehydrated or packet foods, such as instant pasta or soups
•Pre-packaged sauces and condiments, such as tomato sauce and soy
sauce, and processed tomato products in general
•White bread and bread rolls.
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Salt?Open
Interesting huh? So this then led me to my pantry to see what sodium levels were in foods I ate regularly. Now keep in mind my daily intake should be about 1,600mg a day. The bowl of Heinz soup I just ate for breakfast (I'm sick and wanted something warm and filling - it's not my usual choice of breakfast) contains 775mg of sodium. A 220g can of tin spaghetti contains a surprising 924mg. The WW frozen chicken hot pot that I often eat for lunch contains a whopping 1060mg and if I had a slice of multi-grain bread with it there's another 330mg of sodium. Even 1 tbs of tomato sauce has 170mg of sodium. Many days my lunch, as you know, is tuna on cruskit's. A 95g tin of Safcol Tuna in sweet chilli sauce has 797mg of sodium and 4 cruskit's contain 140mg. And that's only the few things I've checked!!!
Why not go have a look at the foods you often eat and you too may be surprised. Today I'm going to try to keep a count of my sodium intake if I can and see just how much I'm eating on an average day. Like most Australians I bet I'm well above the recommended intake!!
Why not pop into the forum and let me know of any surprises you found....so we can all be aware of what sneaking lurking salt bombs hide in our cupboards! :)
Otherwise I'm off to a rough start this week. My day at the show and a big weekend of drinking to follow sure took the shine off my scales :( Add that to the fact TTOM is due to arrive any day now and I'm screwed for a chance of a loss this week. tee-he.
Both Simon and I are sick at the moment too. Just a common cold I guess but lot's of sneezing, nose blowing, stuffy head and poor sleeping does not help us feel ready to face another Monday.
Still, because it was Monday, I dragged my sick butt up and out of bed at 5.30am for my week 3, day 1 of c25k. It definitely kicked up a gear this week with intervals of 3 minutes running instead of the previous 90sec's of last week but still I'm finding it fairly easy - even when sick!!! I see however that from next week things get MUCH harder on the program so I'll be eating my words then I'm sure *wink*. Still I'm enjoying the process and it get's me out of bed early 3 days a week so it's all good :)
A few people emailed me about the salt topic, saying they were looking forward to this post so I hope some of you have found it of interest. I know it can seem some days that there are so many 'rules' and things to watch and measure when one is trying to lose weight and get healthy but this one is, in my opinion, definitely worth watching. Not only for diet/fluid retention reasons but also for our overall health. Watch out salt!!! - I'm onto you now!!!!! :)
Have a great Monday everyone!
TFTD: "As you sow, so shall you reap!!!"
Cheers P
Thursday 22nd May 2008....
Hoorah!!!!
As you know I was hopeful of a small loss last night but I was not expecting another 0.7kg down. Yippee. As my stats page shows that brings me down to 96.3kg now and I FINALLY feel like I've permanently left the 100's behind now. Yey yey!!
Work night tonight unfortunately :( I HATE work!!! Thank god it's only one day a week though so who am I to complain. It's just that the one day seems to come around so fast every week *wink*
For those of you who watched the State of Origin football match last night....yep we lost...boo-hoo :( Still two more matches to go yet though so all is not yet lost!!
A big congrats to all members of the Autumn Attack Challenge too! Everyone has been fantastic this time with keeping up with their stats and not a single person has dropped out yet. That makes it all worthwhile and to see people succeed is so inspiring for me. Over 10kg gone as a group now and we are slowly but surely heading towards our 1000kg goal at last!!!
I've been doing a little research into my question on our forum regarding salt intake and tomorrow I will be doing a post here on what I have learnt.
Ok....well not much else to say for today so I'll leave it here. Tomorrow we are all off the annual show. Ferris wheels and fun here we come. Caleb is really excited about it and I'm sure even Talyn will have a blast this year :) Will let you all know how it goes and post some pic's over the weekend.
TFTD: "Destiny is not a matter of chance, it's a matter of choice!!!"
Cheers P
Wednesday 21st May 2008....
For any of you who will watch the first of three State of Origin match's tonight....GO QUEENSLANDERS!!!!!!!!!!! *wink* Not that I give a damn....tee-he. But I feel the need to sledge on Simon's behalf. It is the highlight of his sporting calendar after all :)
So.....Wednesday is here. Weigh-in night tonight. I'm hopeful of a small loss *fingers crossed* Any downward movement will make me a happy girl as it will bring me into the 96's and that just feels so much closer to 95 which feels closer to 90 rather then 100. Snicker. See how my crazy mind works ;)
I was out in the dark and freezing cold again at 5.40am this morning but it was worth it because now I've completed week 2 of my c25k program. I just had a sneak peek at week 3 and me thinks things are going to get a LOT harder from here on out. Eeek!
Had no luck with Talyn and the dummy yesterday. He screamed for an hour before finally vomiting so that was the end of my resolve :( Poor little bubba. I have no idea what we are going to do about this.
Then last night after tea he vomited EVERYWHERE!! I was holding him at the time as he'd just fallen over and was upset and he filled my arms with vomit while I turned in circles not sure where to go with him. Then I put him down on the tiles with me and he promptly vomited lots more. Poor little man :( So perhaps yesterdays vomiting was more to do with him being sick then the dummy saga. Although both times he vomited he was upset??
It does explain why he wasn't keen on tea last night but in all other respects he was in a great mood, playing and having fun and showing no signs of not being well??? Hope he's feeling better today. In any case.....I hear him making noises now so I'd best go get him up and give him some big cuddles to start the day before we begin the morning chaos of chores, breakfasts, dressing, housework, school etc. Oh for a housemaid! *tee-he*
TFTD: "Don't be foolish. Please be wise. Get up. Get going and exercise!!!"
Cheers P
Tuesday 20th May 2008....
Once again I was out early doing my c25k run this morning! Two days down for the week and one to go. At least it was just light when I left this morning instead of the usual dark as Simon started work a bit later today so I got to leave at 6am which was nice.
Nothing much else to say for now. Kind of struggling to write at the moment as Talyn screams behind me in his room. He's going into dummy revolt. I've had to buy him new one's because his old one's deteriorated but he just wont take the new one's. They are the same brand and same sized teat (I even got the 6month old one's for this reason after he refused new one's in the appropriate age size) and the same latex material but he won't have a bar of them. I guess they feel smooth and weird after his old well sucked one's? In any case sleep times have become a war zone since we tried to change over last night :( After a half hour of screaming we relented and gave him his old one last night but we just can't keep doing it as it's not safe.
Either he has to accept this new dummy or the time has come to wean him from them all together. We did this for Caleb when he was 2yrs old and it was really quite easy. But at this age.....Ugh! I shudder to think what's going to happen the next couple of days! :( Damn dummies!!!
TFTD: "The optimist sees the donut, the pessimist sees the hole!!!"
Cheers P
Monday 19th May 2008....
Another weekend gone, another week begins.
As was my plan of doing c25k Mon-Wed mornings I was out early in the freezing cold and dark at 5.45am this morning to begin week 2. This time instead of intervals of 60 sec's running and 90sec's walking it was intervals of 90sec's running and 2min's walking.
Still seems fairly easy for now but I'm sure it's going to get harder as the weeks go on??
Nothing much else to say today. Struggling a bit with low mood of late. :( Maybe it's Monday-itis??
Have a great week everyone.
TFTD: "What you eat in private, you wear in public!!!"
Cheers P
Thursday 15th May 2008....
Wahooooo!!!!!!!
I lost last night after all. And not just the 0.2kg I was hoping for...I lost 0.7kg bringing my weight down to 97.0kg. This means several things:
1. I maintained last week's big loss and then some which I wasn't sure I would
2. I achieved my challenge goal in only week 2 of the 6 week challenge!
3. I achieved the next goal on my goals page which was to cross the half way
point once more. This feels great!!!!
4. The graph on my stats page is finally into new territory after the previous uphill
climb *wink*
5. I feel like I'm finally making progress again and I hope to god I have now seen
the last of the 100kg+ FOREVER!!!! :)
I'm a happy girl :) That old saying is so true - Nothing, BUT NOTHING, tastes as good as success feels!
TFTD: "You never know what lies ahead if you keep looking back!!!"
Cheers P
Wednesday 14th May 2008....
Once again I was up while it was still dark this morning. I headed out in the pitch black, freezing cold to do week 1, day 3 of the c25k running program. But I did it and now that's week 1 complete and I feel great about it!!! :) Hoorah!
Weigh in time tonight once again. I did a bit of damage on Mother's Day and I've worked really really hard since then to undo it. Maybe I've done enough for a loss, maybe I haven't? Only tonight will tell. It will be close either way but I'm not stressing about it. So long as I hold the very low 98's or lower I'll be a happy girl :) I'm so over seeing 99's or above that's for sure!
For some reason I Googled myself yesterday....as in put my name into the Google search engine to see what would come up. I was surprised by the result >>> see here! I had done this a couple years ago when I was 18wk's pregnant and completely forgotten all about it. I don't remember how these people found me but they contacted me and asked me to participate. Is funny to look back on them now but I do love seeing the before and after pic's!!! :)
It inspired me to redo my own before and after pic's page as my previous host for this went down a long time ago. You can find the new page here.
Have a great Wednesday everyone :)
TFTD: "Patience, perseverance and willpower is the key to success!!!"
Cheers P
Tuesday 13th May 2008....
I've been thinking a lot about exercise of late. About how at this weight last time my body was much more toned and slimmer. Of course I was doing 10hrs+ of exercise a week back then....combining all forms of exercise...like gym, weights, cardio, spin classes, pump classes, bike riding, mowing, aquarobics, beach sessions, stairs, push-ups, dips, crunches, boxing etc etc and the list goes on. This time I'm doing mostly walking/jogging and some gym work when I get the chance. Most week's I'm lucky to get 2hrs in and it's just not enough!!
Sure working out more again will budge those scales faster but amazingly enough that is not my number one concern for a change. Mostly I just want the tone back I once had. I used to love seeing my new muscles, the definition I was creating and the strength I was feeling. I want that once more. And the only way to get it is to put in the hard work.
Yesterday was day #1. Despite the fact I hate exercising late in the arvo when I'm tired and busy with tea etc I knew I just had to make time. So when Simon got home at 4pm out I went. I redid week 1, session 1 of the c25k program. I had done this one once before but it was at the gym on the treadmill which is easier then running on the road so I've started afresh and intend to keep going on-road from now on.
This time, instead of using a written instructions I downloaded the podcasts here for week 1. I then loaded that onto my iPod and it couldn't have been easier. The voice talks you through it, telling you when to run, when to walk and when to cool down etc. It was so much easier and the time flew. It only takes 30min's all up so I finished with 3 running laps up and down the mega concrete staircase (37 steps up).
I thought I'd be a bit sore today but I feel good. So good in fact I went out at 5.40am this morning for week 1, session 2. It was still totally dark and freezing as all hell but I was determined not to let that be an excuse. After all I was warm after my first two jogging sprints and watching the sun come up was lovely.
The c25k program has three sessions a week so I am going to do them early every Mon, Tues, Wed mornings. It's the only time I can go and get back in time for Simon to go to work and I chose these days because Thurs I work till midnight so don't want to be too tired, Fri I'm tired from the previous nights work and weekends are just too unpredictable. So....I'll see how things go but so far so good.
I'm finding week 1 really easy but I'm sure that in the next week or two I'll be finding it really challenging. In the meantime it's nice to know I'm getting off my butt and doing something at last :)
And man do I love how it feels to go running early in the morning. I feel fit, healthy and strong and I know those feelings are only going to get better! Hoorah! :)
TFTD: "Will power can take you a long way,but perseverance will see it through!!!"
Cheers P
Monday 12th May 2008....
Happy Mother's Day for yesterday all you mom's out there!!!
I was most spoilt and had a lovely day at home with my boys. I had a sleep in until after 8am for a starters....which I cannot remember the last time I sleep that long - BLISS! Then I was woken with breakfast in bed (bacon and eggs on toast....Mmmmm!) and a bag full of gorgeous little gifts Caleb had hand made at school. They were so cute and when it comes to kids gifts, anything they make beats anything that can be bought hands down. :)
My favourite was a plate that he made at school with the following questions answered on it....
Q: What does your mom look like - My mum is tall, She has long hair and brown eyes (Ok...I have blue eye's but I'm just glad there was no mention of body size....tee-he)
Q: What do you like to do with your Mum? - I like to go to the parks to play
Q: What does your mum do for you? - Mum plays games with me in my backyard
Q: Does she take you anywhere? - She takes me to the movies sometimes
Q: Your Mum is very special because? - She tucks me in and reads me a story at bedtime.
Awww!!!! What a cutie he is! He had hand made biscuits for me, a book mark he'd made wrapped in wrapping paper he'd hand painted. And from the classroom gift shop (parents provide gifts then provide $2 for them to "buy" something for Mum) he chose a lovely glass tealight candle holder. He also made a lovely card and had everything all wrapped up in a beautiful bag he'd decorated. It's truly what Mother's Day is about I say!! I don't need expensive gifts, pampering or fancy treats.....just a day at home with my boys and some home made gifts made with love truly made my day :)
Sadly...my mother's day always includes a trip to the cemetery to give some flowers to my mom. :( Always sad but we took the boys with us and we even got to show them some Kangaroos that were wandering around there nibbling the grass.
When we got home though the day took a slightly different turn. No sooner had Caleb gotten out of the car, walked two steps to the door that connects the garage to the house when....vomit everywhere!!!!! The poor little possum threw his insides up just about. So after cleaning that up and him up and giving both boys an early, warm bath and into PJ's...they had an early tea and we had a quiet night in front of the tele.
I also got noodles for tea. Drat and damn it!!!! I knew when I did it that they, especially after the cooked breakfast that morning, would have a very bad reaction on the scale today (and boy did they ever!!!) but what the hey? It was mother's day and I wasn't cooking. I'll just have to work really hard for the next 3 days until Wednesday nights weigh in and just see what happens. If I gain I gain. Lucky Mother's Day only comes around once a year huh? *wink*
Anyhoo....Caleb is home sick today (his first sick day from school) so I'd best go have a snuggle with him on the lounge while Talyn is having his morning nap. A bit of mommy love goes a long way for a sick boy :)
Have a great Monday all!!!!
TFTD: "A quitter never wins and a winner never quits!!"
Cheers P
Thursday 8th May 2008....
HOLY TOLEDO BATGIRL!!!!!
I LOST AT LONG LAST!! But not just lost.....I LOST 2.1KG THIS WEEK!!!!! :)
Can you tell I'm very stoked about that?? Hehehe
After the last month since starting the pill, gaining 1.8kg overall and really letting it get me down.....and then in one week it's all gone - plus another 0.3kg to boot!!!
Yipppeeeeee!!!!!!!!
So that means I'm now back to post Talyn virgin fat (ie the lowest I've been) and now only about 8.2kg away from 100% virgin fat (below the lowest weight I've ever achieved on this journey). Also I'm now only 0.2kg away from my challenge goal even though it's only week 1. I just wanted to get back to virgin fat plus a bit more and I've almost done that now already!!
And one other thing about this.....it means I'm now only 0.1kg away from goal of half way point again. And FINALLY ... the graph down the bottom of my stats page is at last going in the right direction. I am so happy!!!
Oh speaking of goals.....I hit another one this week. I'm finally back into ALL my old size 18 clothes from before....and even better....yesterday I tried on a pair of my 16 shorts from pre-Talyn and they fit too!!!!!!!!
Today I'm ready to tackle a new week, and to be honest I'm a little nervous. I don't think I did anything different last week to deserve such a big loss so, while I think it's mostly pill related, I'm a bit nervous that this coming week will see some of it come back??
Last night I got a 6 pack of chocolate coated donuts so I could have one for my once a week, post weigh-in chocolate treat. But this morning that meant there were still 5 in the fridge. And I was scared of them!!! So I fixed their little red wagon...I sent them all to work for Simon to share with the boys. Hoorah!!! I won't be beaten by a donut!!! *wink*
TFTD: "The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary!!"
Cheers P
Wednesday 7th May 2008....
FINALLY I've got a few minutes spare to update here. I don't know what has happened to the last week but boy has it gone fast!!! I've just been flat out...something planned every day over the long weekend we just had and mornings and evenings have been chaos so no time to get online much.
However yesterday I finally caught up on my emails and Challenge stats, my giant washing pile and some bill paying and posting and today I'll catch up here. Now if only I could do the same with the boys sites, the last remaining BAS I still have outstanding for the tax department, tidying the boys drawers and cupboards for new season clothes etc etc....the list is endless!!
The Autumn Attack Challenge has now begun but it's not too late if you still wanted to join. I'd either have to put you down as no result for week 1 or you could provide me with the stats you already have?? But after this week it will be too late to join so if you are thinking about it act now! Go to the challenge page for all details of how to join up :)
Tonight is weigh-in night. I'm working there tonight also. And at long stinking last...I think I'm FINALLY going to have a loss. And a fairly decent one at that! As you know in the last month since starting the contraceptive pill my weight has gone up every single week....but I think the time for that has finally come to an end. After getting my first TTOM on the pill things have settled back down nicely and I'm hopeful of a loss of at least a kilo tonight - if not more?? Here's hoping!!! Will be back here tomorrow to let you know how I went :)
TFTD: "In the waste is better than on the waist!!"
Cheers P
**"Schoolgirl & boy" pic's can be seen >>here<<**
Wednesday 30th April 2008....
I know, I know!
I promised school party photo's yesterday but oh. my. god. I tried! Today I finally have all the cable's etc that I need to get some pic's from my phone onto the computer so I SHOULD have them finished by today. When I'm done I'll pop back here and give you a link to the new photo page I am using for these pic's.
Oh and I forgot to mention one other thing about that night. We had some celebrity sightings! The actor Gary Sweet (much more buff then I realised) was at the club as was actress Brooke Satchwell (she was teeny-tiny and gorgeous!). Both are in town to film a movie at the moment. Simon, dressed as the nerd, went and got Brooke's signature on his shirt. It read "Dear Nerd...Much love and happiness....love Brooke Satchwell". In fact he was the hit of the night with many girls asking him if they could sign his shirt - and more then a few he asked himself. Tee-he.
So....weigh-in night tonight! Eeek! I am HOPING AND PRAYING I don't have a 4th gain in a row but to be honest it's possible. At this point I think I'll either stay the same or have a teeny gain or loss either way. I'm ok with that this time though. I've had 3wk's of gains since starting the pill but I also got TOM this week so that's bound to affect this week's result also. I'm just telling myself that whatever it says tonight will be my challenge start weight and in some ways the higher the better because I think when this whole pill thing settles down I am SO due some good losses *wink*
Speaking of the challenge....I have a few start weights to add so I might go do that now and leave this here.
Check back later for that link to the new photo page :)
TFTD: "If at first you don't succeed - try, try again!!"
Cheers P
Monday 28th April 2008....
Ok....let's try this again!
I just got half way through typing a massive entry when my stupid, annoying, %*#@ing computer froze...then it took me 4....yes 4!!!....restarts to get things working again. Honestly some days I don't know how this computer does not end up a flying missile through my study window *tee-he*
So anyway......what had I been saying? Oh yes...my weekend!
Well Friday was a public holiday here for ANZAC day so we went with the boys to watch the soldiers and schools and clubs march for the ANZAC day parade through the streets. Caleb got to march with his school which he was most pleased about.
Then because I knew I had a pub trip planned with a friend for that night I went and did a 1hr walk + 3 runs up the killer staircase (37concrete steps) to undo a bit of damage in advance. As it turns out I got home from the pub at 1.30am but I hadn't eaten anything since lunchtime and I avoided the post grog munchies so all went ok. The alcohol of course does me no favour's but after the last week I was kind of in a 'don't give a damn' mode - nothing I did right was working either so why bother!? But more on that later.
Then Saturday I faced a difficult dilemma. Simon won a radio competition for him and 9 of his friends to join the radio crew and other winners for a special theme night at a local pub for 'Back to school'. The winners got them and their mates picked up in a school bus and driven to the pub for free drinks, & dinner with the radio crew and free entry into the club that was hosting the school theme bash. Only downside was...we all had to dress as schoolgirls/boys!!!!
My immediate reaction was NO WAY! No way am I going out to the pub dressed like a fat little schoolgirl! But my decision really did bother me. I was angry at myself for letting my decision be based on my silly insecurities. I remembered how it felt when I was around 90kg prior to Talyn's pregnancy and how for the first time in a decade or more I stopped letting those fears rule my life. I started to feel "normal" again and for the first time lived life to the full without insecurities holding me back. But still I agonized over this decision. Until I read my star sign for that day!!! It read:
Accept an unexpected invitation you receive now, especially if it involves having fun. Forget about your self-imposed limitations long enough to say "yes," but only if you really mean it. The sheer enjoyment you receive can recharge your soul.
"Self imposed limitations!!!" Can you believe how eerily spot on that was!!?? Now having said that I'm not one to pay a lot of attention to these sort of things. I read my stars but I don't let them dictate my actions. Except on this day. It was just too accurate to ignore. So...I said yes. And I'm SO SO GLAD I did!! :)
We had the most amazing night. We gathered up 9 friends (I was the only girl amongst this bunch of rowdy school boys!!) and the bus ride there was full of silly busdriver songs, yahooing and smart ass comments from the back seat :) The only downside...NO ONE ELSE DRESSED UP!!!! I was about ready to kill Simon for telling us all that we had to but thankfully....although none of the other 20 winners dressed up, once we got to the club part plenty of people were so thankfully I felt like less of a total f*ckwit by then - tee-he-he
Despite the initial fears over the dress up etc it was fine. I wasn't the fattest school girl there but of course there were plenty of the obligatory slutty looking twig thin schoolgirls. But no one cared. I even got several amorous advances which I quickly rebuffed but all in all the night was a BLAST! We had heaps of free drinks, nibbles, played pool, Simon danced and acted the fool. It was awesome. We left there and walked the 45min or so trek home at about 1.30am. We fell into bed about 2am then we were up at 6.30am as Simon had to work on Sunday and I had to wrestle the two wired boys all day. What a struggle!!
So both nights this weekend I had 4 hrs sleep each night and way too much alcohol but honestly, I so needed to let off steam after the week I'd had and I don't regret a second of it! Tomorrow I'm going to be posting a stack of pic's from the school party night so check back here tomorrow for a look at us all :)
Today is of course day one of the start weight week for those of you doing the new Autumn Attack Challenge So if you are participating or thinking about it, go to the challenge page for full instructions but basically this is the week that you take your start weight. On whatever day you want to be your regular weigh-in day. Mine will be Wednesday night :)
Oh and speaking of me....you know how I had the meltdown last week when I was so frustrated to have gained for the 3rd week in a row since stating on the pill 3 weeks ago. Well guess what I got this week? TTOM!!! Why in god's name had I not thought about that being a factor in last week's gain?? I had been reading the pill packet wrong and so didn't expect a period for another week yet. If only I'd realised it was that week I'd have been a LOT easier on myself last week.
So now I'm feeling like being good to me :) Feeling like giving myself a hard earned break from the mental torture and just taking things one meal at a time this week. I'll register my start weight on Wednesday night and I think that by week 1 I'll have a good loss to report. I'm ever hopeful anyway :)
Oh we did have one other surprise yesterday. A cat adopted us!! Simon came home and found it in our garage! We have an automatic door so I'm guessing it scooted in when I'd come home earlier and I just didn't see it. It's a beautiful brown Siamese type cat and it is unbelievably friendly with us and especially the kids. It even ran down to the sandpit in the back yard with them yesterday for a prolonged play!! I didn't want to feed it last night so that it would go back and find it's home but when it was still here this morning I had to give it some tuna and a dish of water the poor hungry thing. It's a female that's been fixed up and you can see it usually wears a collar but must have ditched it just recently. Someone is bound to be looking for her so I put a sign up in the local shop today and expect I'll hear something soon.
We have thought a lot lately of replacing our cat that we lost last year to snake bite but I was kind of liking only having my 3 big fishtanks for now. We've always had a cat, a dog, a bird and many fish and it's nice to downsize on the pet front for a bit. But this pet is obviously missed by someone so I hope we can find her home once more.
Ok....well since I was such a tired/hungover mess all weekend I've not done my usual Sunday grocery shop so it's time I got Talyn up from his nap and braved the shopping with him. Sometimes fun, sometimes not - depending on his mood ;)
I'm excited about our new challenge starting again this week. I really really hope we can crack the 1000kg mark this time!!!
Come back tomorrow for those schoolies pic's if you are interested :)
TFTD: "Even if you're on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there!!"
Cheers P
Thursday 24th April 2008....
I owe everyone who read the last entry a big apology. I'm embarrassed by my big whinge session and I even went back and deleted some of it this morning which I don't think I've ever done for an entry before. I was just in a bad place that day, feeling low, feeling defeated. But baby I'm back!!! *wink*
Last night I faced the gain that I knew I would see. 0.6kg up brings me to 99.8kg.
Aaargh! So close to being back over the 100kg mark again but I am oh so thankful it did not climb over that point! So so thankful!
I was just looking at my Stats page and since commencing the contraceptive pill I've had three gains in a row!! It's got to be the cause. But....I'm hoping that if it is in fact the cause then I can hope that it will settle down again after my body adjusts and the first month of it is behind me?? Do you think that's a reasonable hope?? (ps I can't update the graph today with bub sleeping - AWFUL night last night with him teething and he really doesn't need to be woken up now by my noisy printer - so I'll get that updated next week).
Yesterday, and in fact all week, I had myself so worked up about another gain but almost as soon as I stepped on those scales last night and faced it I knew that it just was what it was. I gained. So! It's not the end of this journey. Yes I've had three gains in a row since starting the pill but they only add up to 1.8kg in total. I can and WILL lose that again so I need to stop beating myself up over it!
We have a long weekend here this week for Anzac Day tomorrow so I'm hoping to get lot's of exercise in :) I haven't been able to get back to the gym since Monday's day 1 of my C25K program (see entry 21/04 below) so I'm going to have to do the second two sessions of this week on the road instead of the treadmill. This means I need to organise a stop watch for myself so I can monitor my interval times.
I'm also going to wear my old pedometer again from tomorrow. I want to wear it for a week to see just what my daily steps are averaging as I've not worn one in years now and I have no idea what level of incidental activity I'm really getting. Especially on my once a week nursing shift I know I walk and walk and walk for the whole 8.5hrs so that's bound to clock up some serious steps!
Keep you posted :)
TFTD: "Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off the goal!!!"
Cheers P
Tuesday 22nd April 2008....
Feeling like crap today :(
Feel like a failure, like I'm knocked down at every turn and like I'm destined to never make it to the end of this journey :(
I want to feel empowered, successful, determined to succeed no matter how long it takes, no matter how hard it is.
But...........?
For three weeks now I've been back on the contraceptive pill and for 3 weeks running I'm going to gain!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fark!!!!!!!!!!
Scales are way up today - AGAIN!! May even tip back over the 100kg mark tomorrow night at weigh-in. No matter how much or how little I eat or how much I exercise I just can't seem to get things to turn around. I know this stupid PCOS I have makes it harder then normal people to begin with but if this is what the pill is going to do to me as well what the hell is the point!!??
So I'm going for another 1hr walk with the pram shortly.
Hmmm...I probably should just delete this entire entry? But what's the point of this journal if I can't share the highs and the lows. I'm only trying to be honest. And honestly....I just want to feel and look "normal". :(
TFTD: "Success is getting up one more time then you fall!!!"
Cheers P
Monday 21st April 2008....
Phew! I did a massive gym session today and I feel tired all over now - but satisfied :)
My sister in law put me onto a concept called c25k....meaning couch to running 5km in 9wk's and it's fantastic. This is the program I am doing for it here and for those interested in more info everything you could want to know can be found here
As you know I have been keen to build up my running for some time and this seems like just the plan to do it!
Today I went to the gym and did the Session 1 of week 1. This involved:
-5 minutes brisk walking to warm up (I did 6km/hr)
-20 minutes of alternating 60sec's running (7.5km/hr) with 90sec's recovery walking (6km/hr)
-5 minutes walking to cool down.
I felt it was a little easy to do in these early stages so after I was finished I actually added a 5min non-stop run at 7.5km/hr to the end of it just to feel like I'd really worked that bit harder. Then after that I got into the following:
-30kg Pulldowns...3 x 10
-10kg leg extensions...3 x 10
-3 x 1 minute step ups
-3 x 10 push-ups
-3 x 10 dips
-100 crunches (50 straight up and 25 to each side)
By the time I'd done all this plus some stretches I'd spent nearly 90min's at the gym and felt well and truly worked out. It was great!
I'm trying to get back into my gym routine now in preparation for the new challenge starting soon. For any of you who may have missed it....I've begun taking names for the new Autumn Attack Challenge. Visit the page for details on how to join if you are interested. I for one can't wait!!! :)
TFTD: "Believe and succeed. Make it happen!!!"
Cheers P
Thursday 17th April 2008....
Well, as expected...I gained. *#@$%*&#@#$*%$!!!!!!!
Bugger it! Some weeks I just don't get it???
But none the less there is nothing I can do about it now but to keep moving on into the next week without losing focus. What does not move this week must move next! I aint going to whinge about it, give up or fall into some emotional eating binge. It is what it is. 0.8kg up. C'est La Vie :)
My exercise for this last week was a bit light so I'm hoping to improve on that this week. Last week ended as:
Sunday: 5km walk in 45min's
Monday: 4.5km walk in 45min's
Tuesday: 1hr walk including resistance work at stations along the way. 50 rows + chest presses + 10 inclined sit-ups + 10 dips + 1min step ups + pull downs + various cycle type/cross trainer type machines.
My goal for this week is to get at least 2 x 5km walks in + 1 gym visit + 2 hill running sessions.
Now....let us discuss the next challenge. Thanks to those of you who contacted me after I asked for expressions of interest for a new challenge. I have decided to run another one. The Autumn Attack Challenge! So long as even a few people join I'm happy to keep running them as they really do motivate me to work much harder then I do in non-challenge times. We only need to lose another 28.4kg as a group to crack the 1000kg lost mark!!!!!! How amazing would it feel to be a part of that?? :)
So for those of you who wish to join (and COMPLETE) the challenge...head on over to the challenge page for all the joining details. Start weight week will run April 28-May 4th. First week results will be due May 5-11.
Off to work again tonight until 11pm. Baaah to that!!!!
TFTD: "You never fail until you stop trying!"
Cheers P
Tuesday 15th April 2008....
Stupid scales!!!
I don't know why I look at them - honestly! They hardly ever give me good news :(
This morning I was expecting better news then I found that's for sure. Right now I'm looking at a gain of about 1-1.5kg!!!!! I'm shocked! In fact it seems so strange that I'm hoping it must be a fluid/short term gain thing. It better be gone by weigh-in tomorrow night that's for sure.
Sunday I had a perfect eating day + a 5km walk in 45min's. (6.6km/hr)
Monday I had a perfect eating day + a 4.5km walk in 45min's. (6km/hr)
Oh and by the way...I worked that Sunday walk out wrong to get 9km/hr as I had said it was. The correct speed is in brackets now above. I thought it was hard to believe that I was walking at 9km/hr when I usually begin to run after 7.5km/hr. Silly maths brain I've got *winK*
This morning I am off for yet another walk. This time with Talyn in the pram since Caleb is back to school from today. I'll be stopping in at the exercise stations along the Esplanade for some resistance work also. I'm meeting my mother in law soon for it so I'd best leave this here for today and go get ready.
Whatever the scales say tomorrow I'll be weighing in regardless. I'm REALLY scared that when I started the pill this month that it may effect my weight in the same way the contraceptive implant did for me. It's really weighing on my mind so I'm hoping that somehow pulling off a good result this week will allay some of those fears???
TFTD: "Some succeed because they are destined to. Most succeed because they are determined to!"
Cheers P
Monday 14th April 2008....
Monday again already!!!!
Had a HUGE weekend...as usual. BIG night out Friday night at the pub, got home about 2am. I did stick to vodka and diet mixers though and avoided any post pub food so all was not lost.
Saturday was a busy day with the boys and then Simon and I went out that night for dinner for our 11th wedding anniversary. There were not a lot of great options on the menu but I had Oyster Kilpatrick for entree, Chicken with avocado and seafood and rice for main, one vodka and diet coke and water the rest of the night.After dinner we went to a friends house to play pool for a few hours too so by the time we got home it was yet another late night.
Sunday morning I was dragging myself up and out of bed after only 5hrs sleep but I had to do it at 5.15am - not fun!!! Was worth it though. My mother-in-law and I went to do the fun run/walk that I mentioned in the last entry below. It was excellent!!!! I did the 5km walk and she did the 10km walk. I would have loved to have done the longer distance but not at the pace they were walking!! I finished my 5km in just under 45minutes which means I was walking at 9km/hr! Even on the treadmill I break into a jog once I get over 7.5km/hr. It was so fast that my shins and calves ached after I'd started but by the end I was feeling good.
And guess what? I got 3rd place!!!! In fact both Rhonda and I got 3rd place in our respective walks!!! The funny thing was I could easily have picked up 1st place!! As we approached the end I slowed down behind two ladies who were walking and talking in front of me as I didn't want to pass them right at the end and seem rude. Little did I know these ladies were actually in 1st and 2nd place!!!! We all crossed the line together for equal 1st/2nd/3rd but dam I could have had 1st! *tee-he*
It was still a thrill though to get the unexpected 3rd and they took our photo's to go in the local paper - Yikes!! We paid $5 each for the day but now that we've seen what happens and had a go we are both going to pay the $45 to join up for the year.
The next walk we will be doing is a quarter marathon along the Esplanade in the first week of May. A quarter marathon is 10.5km and I can't wait!!! Never thought I'd say I'd done one of those! Eventually I want to build up to going in the 5km and 10km runs as well :)
One thing that did surprise me was that after the races everyone hit the snacks table for tea/coffee/juice, sandwiches, cakes, slices etc etc. These are meant to be fit healthy people??? I had a cup of water myself but then I guess many of these people run so much that they could afford to eat some cake and not care. Not I though :)
Last night we had the yummiest tea. We had a friend over and I cooked spaghetti and meatballs.....a HUGE side salad with lettuce, tomato, capsicum, onion sprouts, cucumber, corn and fat free honey soy dressing...and a fresh baked wholemeal dinner roll. It was delish! And because of the big salad I only had a very small serve of pasta and just two medium meatballs while the men filled up on much bigger serves and 4 meatballs each. It was nice to try something new out though :)
This afternoon I am meeting Rhonda for another 1hr jogging/walking session down the Esplanade. Without prams or kids this time so that will be much easier to focus on the running. Looking forward to it....and to the new week ahead!
One more thing before I go this morning. The time is come to consider a new challenge. But does anyone even want one??? The participants have dropped each time but so long as even a few are still interested I'm more then happy to keep running them as I know they really motivate me. If you would like to see another one run could you please drop me an email or write in the guestbook for me (link below this entry) I'll let you know how we go for interest as it comes in :)
TFTD: "Do not follow where the path may lead - go instead where there is no path and leave a trail!"
Cheers P
Friday 11th April 2008....
Aaargh!
Am I alive or dead?? I'm not really sure. I'm walking, talking and looking after the boys on auto-pilot but my energy levels are non existent...my eye's are burning and my head is just filled with a constant white noise :(
That's Friday mornings for me. After getting home from work at midnight....then being woken by Talyn twice overnight...then getting up at 6am. Yikes! Makes for a tired Paulene.
But...it's Friday!! Who am I to complain? The working day is now another full week away (thank God!!) and I'm going out tonight to the pub so what's not to love about that! Also tomorrow Simon and I celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary so we are going to a restaurant for dinner while Granny minds the boys then we're not sure what yet but we'll do something after? Maybe a movie, maybe pub, maybe bowling, maybe visit our friend for some pool?? Whatever takes our fancy after dinner. Should be great!
Simon and I have always followed the traditional anniversary gifts for each year and this year is traditionally steel or jewelry in the contemporary lists. What the!? So I guess I could get some silver jewelry and fudge it off as steel *tee-he* Simon only wears his gold wedding ring these days but I guess I could try for a funky silver ring for his right hand or maybe a neck pendant or something like on a leather strap? Hmmm. Have to decide quickly :)
Before I go I wanted to share with you something I decided to join. My mother in law has been looking into the local runners and walkers club and found that each weekend they hold a 5km social walk/run, alternating between our city and the neighboring one each weekend. So this weekend we are both going to join for the first time. 5km will be pretty easy going but it will be great to do it in a social setting and also to be able to routinely fit an extra 5km of exercise into my weekends will be great. It's relaxed form etc so no walking like we have a stick up our bum's thankfully. We have to leave home before 6am so I'm hoping tomorrow nights anniversary night out doesn't run too late. Yikes! I'm really looking forward to it though and since I'm so keen on running at the moment I'm looking forward to exploring that more with them too :) Keep you posted.
Yesterday was a great day by the way. Finished on 17.5/23 points - not to mention the bonus points for my early morning run/walk that I never use. I always save exercise points for faster results. And as for faster results....WOW! As you know I had been facing a massive short term gain on the scales after a week or abandon. Well in just one day yesterday I dropped 2kg! Just goes to show the initial gain was only short term. I've still got a bit to go for a loss next week yet but I feel like I've made a great start on it. Now just to get through the weekend....
Have a great one everyone!
TFTD: "It takes both rain and sunshine to make a rainbow!"
Cheers P
Thursday 10th April 2008....
Finally I am slowly catching up on some of the mountains of things on my to-do list. Today's job is to catch up here at last then keep up each day this week :)
I have finally done Caleb's site update from his birthday and added heaps of new party and family pic's to his photo page so drop by to check them out if you're interested :)
Last week was a total write off for me. I was so busy and just so fed up with the fight for a little while that I let things slide. No exercise....not great food choices and ultimately - no WW last night :( I just couldn't face the bad news.
So the only way to get past a bad week?? Is with a GREAT week this week and that's my aim :)
On that note I found myself awake at 5.30am today - unable to sleep. Most annoying since I didn't get to sleep until 11pm last night and tonight I have to work until 11pm...but no matter how I tried I was awake and could do nothing about it. So I got up and went out to exercise. First time I've done an early morning session in ages and I realised just how much I missed them! One of the best things about the morning session is that I get to go child free, get the days exercise over and done with but also just start my hectic days with a little quiet me time. Cool, crisp morning. Greeting fellow walkers and joggers. Just feeling alive and invigorated! It was lovely :)
I was only able to get 40min's in before I had to get home in time for Simon to get to work but I made good use of that time all the same. I walked that 40min's but also included running up 3 steep hills + 2 running stints along flat ground. The same hills used to really make me struggle when I first began running up them but now it feels great. Still hard work mind you but there is no option in my mind to stop before I reach the top so I just keep on running.
And did I mention how much I LOVE running!! I've walked and walked thousands of miles over the years but nothing makes me feel as fit, alive, strong and capable and running. It's totally liberating and addictive :)
Then....determined to maintain my focus for this new WW week I came home and got out my tracker to begin the first day of the week. I've already had my two serves of low fat dairy in my breakfast and after this I'm going to make a start on my 1.5L water bottle for the day. I noticed a HUGE difference when I was drinking lot's of water the week before last so it's time to try to make that habit stick for good!
I've got my tea sorted to take to work tonight. A Heinz chunky soup (3pt's) and this morning I went out and got a fresh wholemeal roll (2pt's) from the bakery to go with it - yum! Not sure what I'll have for lunch yet but I'm thinking maybe baked beans on toast with low fat cheese which I've not had for ages but used to practically live on back in the day *wink*
Either way it's going to be a low point day for me today and that's a great way to start my week. Onwards and downwards I go!!!! :)
I have changed one other thing this week. Kind of a big thing but I'm REALLY REALLY hoping it doesn't impact on my weight. I went back on the pill!! Yes the contraceptive pill....little old infertile me *wink* Taking the pill for the first time in almost 12yrs!!! I hope to god I am not one of the many people who do gain weight on the pill? Please god don't let that be me!! I just want to take it for the rest of the year to be sure I get to finish this journey this time before we consider bub #3. We do want to try again early next year. Another boy should bring us well on the way to our first footy team....tee-he. But that's to consider next year. For now I'm focusing on being the healthiest Mummy I can be to the two beautiful boys I already have. I love em so!!!
TFTD: "Some people dream of worthy accomplishments - while others stay awake and do them!!"
Cheers P
Sunday 6th April 2008....
Oh my god I so need more time in my life!!!!!
I can't believe how fast I am falling behind everything! I haven't updated here since Tuesday, I still haven't done Caleb's birthday update or the photo's from his day either. I'm still yet to do my 3 B.A.S that are way, way late for the taxman. I have a mountain of housework to do and I am so behind on returning phone calls and emails (Sorry Korrin!!!! - I've not forgotten you *wink*). It's just CRAZY!
I haven't even been on here since weigh-in to tell you all the result. Which by the way was far from stellar! Instead of losing the 0.4kg I had hoped for to reach my half way point goal I gained 0.4kg. *Tee-he*
But considering I was 101.7kg during that week but still got back to 98.4kg by the Wednesday I'm not complaining. I worked my butt off to get those numbers back down so I can hardly complain when they didn't make it quite enough now can I? :)
I did heaps of running this week which I'm really pleased with and I'm happy that I'm at least getting back to the gym at least once a week now since my extended absence since Xmas. After all, I look at it this way. A gain of 0.4kg for Easter is probably the best I've ever done this time of year! Now it's time to reach that half way goal!
Exercise for this week ended as:
Thursday - 100 crunches, 50 push-ups, 50 dips, 50 squats, 50 lunges
Friday - Rest
Saturday - Rest
Sunday - 2 x 20min walks pushing trike
Monday - 1hr walking + jogging intervals pushing pram + 7 running stairs laps up/down
Tuesday -1hr, 10min jogging/walking intervals pushing pram along Esplanade. 6km all up and I estimate about 2-2.5km were running. + 3 x 10 dips
Wednesday -Gym. As follows-
Treadmill -walk 5.5km/hr for 2min's
-walk 6.5km/hr for 2min's
-run 7.5km/hr for 4min's...increasing 0.5km/hr every 30
seconds until I made it to 10km/hr by the end of 10min's
-then 5min's of increasing running speed from 6km/hr -
Arc Trainer - 5 min's, resistance 15. Ave strides/minute: 145
Treadmill - 2 min's walking 5.5km/hr
- 5min's running 7.5km/hr
This week has been busy, busy, busy and today will be no exception. So I'm going to leave this here for now. I just wanted to pop in and explain my absence and let you know I'll be back with a big update tomorrow. I have a week of school holidays ahead of me, with both boys at home and something planned for nearly every day so it's going to be a busy week but slowly and surely I'll get back on top of everything. I hope!!
Talk in more detail real soon!
PS...love the thought for today :)
TFTD: "The race is not always to the swift - but to those who keep on running!!"
Cheers P
Tuesday 1st April 2008....
I woke up this morning at 95kg!!!!! 95kg!!!!! That's a loss of about 4-5kg this week! Holy cow :)
Yeah I wish...April Fool's! *tee-he*
In reality I woke up in the 99's. Still not sure if I'll get down low enough for a loss this week yet or not but considering it had crept up to 101.7kg at the start of this week I feel good to have got it much closer to where I was at least? That's the thing with those quick, big gains...they come on fast but thankfully tend to go fairly fast as well because of course they are not true 'fat' gains but more so fluid, bloating etc. Yet another reason for not weighing mid week I guess.
So what's been happening since last update??
All good stuff I'm happy to say :)
Sunday went great. I got 5/5 for my efforts and I even managed to fit in a noodle take away for tea and still come in 0.5pt's under for the day. In the afternoon we put Caleb on his bike for his first ride on the road (usually he rides on the Esplanade path etc) and Simon and I walked while I pushed Talyn on his trike. We walked to my Dad's house for a visit at quite a pace in order to keep up with Caleb on his bike. It was 20min's walk each way so that was 40min's exercise for that day.
Monday I got 4/5 after not quite finishing all my water but everything else was great. I finished the day on 18pt's so 5 points under for my allowance!! And boy did I exercise yesterday. My mother-in-law wants to start jogging so I told her we'd do it together and help each other build up our ability. I miss being able to jog as much as I used to so it was great to get back into it again. We went down the Esplanade for an hour...walked for the first half then alternated jogging with walking intervals for the second half. I was pushing about 15-20kg in Talyn's pram too so that made for an extra hard session. It was the first time I've actually jogged with my jogging pram and after working out how to lock the front wheel from swiveling it was fantastic!! We did a few short sprints and some hill running too and it felt great to be back on the road to fitness once more. I even stopped at a staircase and did 7 running laps up and down it for a butt boost *wink*
I really loved passing on some of the knowledge that the Enforcer taught me in the past and it was great to motivate and push someone else too. I was talking to Simon about it last night and he agreed I should look into studying fitness/personal training etc part time. Not so much as a career as I have a well paying career already with my psych nursing but to be honest - I hate my job! I'd love to do something I actually enjoy instead? Also I would just love the study part of it...learning more about how to improve my own fitness would be a super bonus of it all too. I'm going to do a bit of research into it anyway and explore costs and courses etc that are available.
The last two nights I have also managed to have nothing but water or diet coke after tea which is huge for me. I'm a sucker for evening munchies so it felt great to overcome that both nights. I'll let you in on how I did it too....watching The Biggest Loser. Tee-he. God I love that show!!! We'd fallen behind in it though so had a few episodes on tape to catch up with so we were able to watch it right up to bedtime which was so motivating!! Last night we watched Sunday's episode and after watching Michelle run at 20km/hr on the treadmill I can't wait for my next gym visit to see how fast I might be able to run. I think I've only done about 10km/hr or so but I've not really pushed myself to see just how fast I can go. I'm hoping to get to the gym tomorrow so I'll keep you posted on that one.
Today I am off for another run with the MIL down the Esplanade. Today we will do probably 3/4 interval running and less walking so that will be great. I'm pumped!!! :) Tonight Caleb has a birthday party to go to at McDonald's so he'll be eating there, Simon will no doubt eat there and I think I'll take Talyn's tea with us also so that when I get home I only have to think of myself. I'll fill up on a diet coke and water while I'm there then I'll be able to have a WW frozen dinner etc when I get home without having to cook for anyone else :) Perfect!
Exercise for this week so far:
Thursday - 100 crunches, 50 push-ups, 50 dips, 50 squats, 50 lunges
Friday - Rest
Saturday - Rest
Sunday - 2 x 20min walks pushing trike
Monday - 1hr walking + jogging intervals pushing pram + 7 running stairs laps up/down
Tuesday - planned 1hr jogging/walking intervals pushing pram
Wednesday - planned 1hr gym. Cardio + weights
TFTD: "You cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to loose sight of the shore!!"
Cheers P
