Thursday, 31st March 2005...
Just by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin (err in case you are wondering...no I don't have hair on my chin!) hehehe
I made my goal!!! I lost spot on 200g which brings me to 11kg lost in total!!!! Yey!! I feel like I have spent so many weeks dithering around in the 10kg range (8wk's actually) that to finally reach 11kg is a big mental barrier broken :)
Now I have to loose 1kg to reach my next goal which is my WW reward for loosing 10% of my initial starting weight. I'd like to make that in the next 2wk's but I don't want to pressure myself for a time frame.
This week I did the following exercise:
-90 min lawn mowing
-30 min walk
-60 min walk
-60 min walk
-30 min gym workout
-10 min treadmill jogging
Total: 4hrs 40min's.....not too shabby :)
I want to get to the gym more this week as they were closed most of last week for Easter...hence all the walking.
Last night at my meeting I got myself a new bonus buddy (pedometer) and I'm excited about using it to monitor my daily activity. I know that 10,000 steps a day is the minimum recommended for good health so I'm eager to track how I go on that for a while.
My treadmill is fab, fab, fab and I am looking forward to a good workout on it later today :)
I want to achieve great things this week!!
Cheers P
Wednesday, 30th March 2005...
D-day has arrived!
Weigh-in tonight and I think it will be close but I'm hoping for a little loss. I have been for a 60min walk along the Esplanade this morning with Caleb and his Granny and will be going to the gym this afternoon when Simon gets home from work.
In the meantime I have my treadmill!!! It arrived late last night so I've only had a little go on it as yet but I'm itching to get on when Caleb goes down for his nap very shortly.
It is absolutely HUGE! We could barely fit it in anywhere but I found just the right spot in my bedroom, in front of a window and the TV. As well as being able to set a km/hr pace you can also use the walk, jog, run or sprint pre-set speeds. You can time your workout for it to count down to the finish or you can set it to measure your laps around a regular 500m oval. Sensors on the hand rests monitor your heart rate and the machine also counts your speed, calories burnt and distance traveled. It's GREAT :)
If I don't kill myself first I think all this exercise will help me scrape in a loss tonight if I'm lucky. If it doesn't then at least it should go towards making next week great. You'll have to tune in tomorrow for the results!
Cheers P
Tuesday, 29th March 2005...
Those evil scale gods are conspiring to foil my efforts this week I'm sure!!! hehehe Oh well all I can do is keep working hard and be patient...I won't let them beat me!! :) This morning my weight was up 1.5kg from last week (!!!!) Now I know it is TOM but that's just ridiculous....how much fluid retention can one girl have?? So I am eating lean and exercising my butt off in the hopes of a loss by tomorrow night...as my dear friend would say - "possible but not probable"! But you know what....I'm not going to let it bother me. If I don't make the 11kg loss this week well I don't...it won't stop my overall journey so I'll just give myself another week for it and keep at it.
This morning I had a delicious hot cross bun (no butter) for breakfast, an apple for morning tea and I'm just polishing off a delish smoked salmon salad for lunch now followed by a low-fat yoghurt...Mmmm! So that's only 6.5pts so far and I have a BBQ stead and salad planned for dinner. I've had about 1L of water so far today and done a good 1hr walk with the pram along the Esplanade. Today is a good day.
And I made it through Easter without a single chocolate egg passing my lips. In fact I wasn't' even tempted!! In years gone by I would have told myself and anyone else who'd listen "Well it IS Easter so surely I can enjoy some chocolate". This year however I refused to sabotage myself and it's true what they say....nothing tastes as good as success feels!!
Funniest thing just happened to me while I was reading Caleb a book before nap time....I found a muscle!! lol I was holding up a heavy book and my hand brushed up against my bicep and I thought...Yikes what the hell was that!!! Yep....it was a muscle I don't remember ever feeling before :) Just goes to show the gym visits 3 times a week are really paying off....woo-hoo!!
The other great thing the gym has done for me was to awaken a love of jogging! *Gasp - shock - horror* I have never been a jogger in my life....I always said that low impact walking was better....and besides it is hard to jog any decent distance when you can't even breath. But after I began jogging on the recovery stations at the gym I realised I can do it! Granted it is for spurts of less than a minute at a time at the gym but it's definitely getting easier and I love how fighting fit it makes me feel.
Only problem....no way in God's green earth could you convince me to jog IN PUBLIC! Oh no sir-ee Bob!! I thought long and hard about changing gyms to one that has treadmills but I know that Curves is the gym for me and I just wouldn't use a regular gym full of gym bunnies. So today I ordered an electronic treadmill on hire for 3 months!!! It get's delivered tonight and I can't wait!!!!
I've hired one years ago but it was the roller type that hurts your calves trying to keep the matt moving and I've always dreamed of a real electric one. The contestants on Biggest Loser did wonders on theirs and I wanted to try too. One that included an 'incline feature' was $150 a month. I chose a digital one with everything that opens and shuts but no incline (who I am kidding...jog up hills...unlikely!) that is $100 a month or 3 months for $200. Hubby said I should just buy one myself but at about $1000 I'd rather try one for 3 months and see how I find it before making such a big investment. Now I can't wait for it to arrive tonight so I can get on it already.....weeeee :)
Between this mornings 1hr walk, tomorrow's gym visit and as much time as I can get on the treadmill in the next 24hrs I just might turn those scales my way by tomorrow night?? Wish me luck!!
Cheers P
Monday, 28th March 2005...
Well as the Easter weekend draws to a close we are sad that Daddy has to go back to work tomorrow as Caleb and I have so much fun with him home with us and wish he could always stay home.
Today we drove to another beach about 30min's away to meet Poppy and his wife for lunch. We wandered around the beach and boardwalks for an hour or so then settled down for a lovely lunch before heading home for Caleb's nap. I made the best of limited menu choices and had a BLT sandwich and asked that they take off the avocado that usually comes with it. I did have some hot chips (bad bad!) but passed on the cheesecake dessert others enjoyed and drank only diet coke?? Not too bad overall I guess.
Thanks for the reassurance re my goal setting and subsequent fuss over goal achievement too! To clarify a little...I honestly don't believe my friend meant the comments the way they sounded?? To explain a little...she is a friend I have never met in person and only recently began speaking to over the phone. We met years ago...about 2001 or 2002...via this website or the WW forums or something...I'm not too sure now. Anyway we kept up regular emails as we both shared the heartbreak of infertility. She was there for my joy at conceiving Caleb and was blessed that IVF succeeded in giving her a daughter soon afterward. Since then she has conceived again naturally (what an over achiever *wink*) and continues to support our continued efforts to conceive again. She an I exchange gifts for the children and only spoke on the phone for the first time after her son was born earlier this year. When she phoned me on Saturday it was only our 2nd phone conversation and the fact she phoned me to congratulate me on making 1/4 of the way to goal shows her true intention. I'm sure it was just me being overly sensitive that day (PMS strikes again) that caused me to take her words wrong. Well I didn't take them wrong I just dwelled on them a little and jumped to my own conclusion?? Anyway now I'm going to have to email her after this to explain it all before she reads it herself here *blush* She truly is a lovely person and I shouldn't read so much into what other's say. But that's me I guess?? Sorry Maz!!
Anyhoo....we had hoped to get a bigger walk in this afternoon as this mornings beach jaunt was a little too leisurely but as Caleb's godmother is now coming to stay that may not happen?? Will play it by ear.
As of this morning my weight has still kept it's alarming rise but I am still hoping that will go down before Wednesday. If it doesn't then I guess I won't make the 11kg goal but I'm not going to stress over it. Time is still on my side :)
Cheers P
Sunday, 27th March 2005...
Happy Easter everyone!
Sorry for the long delay between entries....I've started several times but something kept coming up :) Daddy is just tucking the boy into bed for a story and nap so I'm going to take this chance to do an update before hitting the bed to catch up on some much needed sleep.
My eating had been great until the last 24hrs when I hosted a dinner party (for 8) and had some not so great snacks and dessert after it. Then that flowed onto bad food choices yesterday but ces la vie!! It was Easter and I haven't had a single chocolate (nor will I) so I guess what you loose on the Ferris wheel you pick up on the merry go round huh?? Or something like that! :)
I also will not be able to make my goal of 21/31 days exercise this month as I missed yesterday and may still miss today. As I've only done 15 out of 27 days with 4 days to go I'll only make 19 at best instead of the 21 goal but I guess I was pretty close?
Thursday I tackled the lawn again and did a solid 90min's of mowing so that was great exercise. Yesterday I planned to walk heaps at a street festival but a hail storm drove us home when we had barely even arrived...bummer! Today I am suffering terribly with TOM cramps and backache but did manage to wander around the supermarket doing my grocery shopping for over an hour but it was hardly brisk enough to count as exercise. Still it's activity I guess and likely to be the best I get today as when Caleb wakes from his nap I have to prepare roast pork dinner for my Dad and his wife who are coming for tea. I am hoping if my cramps settle down I may get an exercise video done late tonight but I'm not holding my breath for that one??
On Wednesday night I was lucky to witness my friend and her mother both reach their goal weight on the same night!! They both joined together and lost around 15kg each and are now considering joining the family category of slimmer of the year. It was so exciting to see them both make it together to goal and head into maintenance now together also. I also got to meet and chat to the local WW lady who reads my site (Hello if you are reading!) which was great.
I only need to loose 200g this week to make my 11kg goal in time but after the last 24hrs I'm not sure if I'll make it. The scales had jumped up this morning but most likely due to TOM so I still have 4 days for things to settle down. After that my next goal is my 10% lost which will then be only another 1kg away.
A phone call from a friend yesterday got me thinking about my goals and this website in general. She rang to congratulate me on my 1/4 lost mark and said that when she read the site she thought "gee does this girl think she's great or what". She wouldn't have meant it the way it sounded I'm sure as she is such a lovely and supportive friend but it did get me thinking? Do I come across that way?? Do I sound like I am bragging or going on like I've lost 50kg instead of almost 11kg?? Someone tell me please if that is the case as I don't want to prattle on and sound like a total nob??
As I tried to explain to her I really need to make little goals all the time or the big goal of loosing over 40kg just seems too hard. And to make it seem like every goal is like the finishing line I make a big fuss of all of them?? Maybe I shouldn't be doing that? Hmm? Any thoughts on this??
While grocery shopping today I found some new WW gravies worth 0 pts in chicken or brown onion which I am looking forward to trying. I also got some WW cream cheese to try on sandwiches this week. I don't usually use butter on bread but I thought some cream cheese might be nice instead?
Well as I mentioned earlier I am really tired and I haven't yet eaten today and it's 12.40pm already!!! I have been eating breakfast every day by the way before the lectures come thick and fast but I have just been too busy today with Caleb, trips to the markets and grocery shopping to even register hunger. I shall go and make something now to have while I read some of my Slimming and WW mags then I'm going to have a nanna nap so I have the energy to stay up later tonight.
Of course just because Simon and I boycotted Easter doesn't mean Caleb had to. While he can't eat chocolate because of his dairy allergy I did buy him some dairy free eggs but as usual he took one lick and turned up his nose...he hates sweet stuff. Last night after he went to bed we blew out some chicken eggs and soaked them in food colouring overnight. The colouring didn't take though so this morning I had to do a hasty paint job on them then when they were dry we hid them around the house for Caleb to find. He loved it and was quite the little finder too!!! (Will have to remember that when I'm stashing Xmas presents this year!).
The poor little bugger has been sick with vomiting and now diarrhea the last few days so it was great to see him really enjoying his egg hunt.
Anyhoo...time is ticking and he'll be awake again before I know it so I'd best get cracking on lunch and that nap. I'll be catching up on other journals tonight and may do another entry here later then too. Stay tuned....
Cheers P
Wednesday, 23rd March 2005...
Well I woke up at 5.30am this morning and couldn't' sleep so figured I may as well come in here and answer some emails and try to get this site updated before the boy wakes. It's 6.30 now and so far so good :)
I have been very touched by the emails, guestbook tags and even E-greetings (thanks Sandilee) sent to me since yesterdays post. THANK YOU ALL!!!
I was talking to my mother-in-law last night about why I was succeeding this time unlike other times and the two biggest factors were exercise and this site. She was amazed to hear how far and wide my visitors come from and how often they visit. As a friend pointed out to me it wasn't so long ago I hit the 10,000 hits mark and now I have had almost half that again!!! That's amazing :) Knowing I have so much accountability to everyone out there really keeps me on track and motivated to avoid a gain at all costs! There is NO WAY I would be 1/4 of the way to goal without you all.
My darling hubby came home with a beautiful rose and card to congratulate my success yesterday. Then he wanted me to show him my guestbook entries and emails of congratulation too! He's such a sweet and supportive man my Simon :)
Yesterday I got to thinking about how I got to this point? Everything I read about long term weight loss success involves identifying the underlying issues that lead me to overeat and become this size in the first place. But how does one uncover them?? I mean I am a mental health professional and still I don't know were to begin?? I know I use food as a comfort, a 'treat' and a 'reward' but I don't know where that stems from??? And is just realising it enough?? I guess if I can learn to identify the triggers as they occur I can challenge them for what they are and make the conscious decision whether to eat because of them or not??
I am hoping that the Dr Phil book Ultimate Weight Solution that I am reading will help me to uncover some of these answers?? Short of therapy I don't know how else to get them?? When I think back to my weight gain it began when I left home to go to uni and move in with Simon, when I went on the pill and when I started driving a car instead of riding a bike or walking?? We were so broke we barely ate and uni was so stressful miles away from home but I can't put a finger on any one event that could spiral into years of eating disorders??? Any suggestions greatly appreciated??
The follow on effects are huge too. I was telling a friend just the other night how much I fear running into anyone I knew from school or years back. My immediate assumption is that they are saying to themselves..."Gee didn't she get fat!" I can't help it. I will literally duck for cover if I see someone or avert my eyes before they can great me and pretend I didn't see them. I even recently turned down meeting two different old school friends I hadn't seen in years, making lame excuses just to avoid a meeting??
That's one thing I really look forward to about meeting my goals....to be able to hold my head high and have some self confidence that people aren't sniggering about me or taking satisfaction in my physical demise?? Does that make sense to others out there??
Goal may be a long way off but 1/4 of that journey is behind me...for good I hope...so the baby steps will eventually lead me home. Hopefully sooner rather than later :)
Cheers P
Tuesday 22nd March 2005...
Well finally I have made it back on line to update and boy do I have some good news to report for a change. As yesterday was Caleb's 2nd birthday he went to daycare today instead of his usual Monday so I thought I'd go and weigh in this morning while I was able to...I'm so glad I did!!! Not only did I loose back all that I put on in the last 3 gains but the little bit extra on top of that that I also lost enabled me to reach another goal. A loss of 1.1kg this week (and a short week at that!) means I have now lost a total of 10.8kg which is exactly 1/4 of the way to my final goal weight!!!! Woo-Hoo!!!!!!! :)
As you can tell I am super stoked about all that too. A loss was great....to undo the recent gains was better...to reach my most weight lost ever was better still and to reach that 1/4 mark was the icing on the cake!! Now I only have 200g to loose next week to make my 11kg challenge and I know I can do that! Watch me go :)
I didn't stay for the meeting today as I will still go to my regular one tomorrow night. Finger's crossed the mom of my WW friend will reach her goal tomorrow night and I don't want to miss it if she does! It just free's me up from worrying about everything I eat on a Wednesday and how it will effect the scales that night. Now I can eat normally during the day and hit the meeting that night already a success :) Speaking of meetings...my leader told me today that a lady asked her last week if I was "the lady from the Internet"!!!!! *blush* Eeeek! See there is no hiding for me now....gotta keep up the 100% effort as Big Brother is watching....hehehe. Honestly though I had wondered if anyone local every read the site so it's quite a buzz to know someone did.
I got through my weekend pretty unscathed. I had nothing but diet coke at the first kid's party on Saturday and only had 2 nuggets and a party sized sausage roll at Caleb's party. That night we had dinner at my WW friend's house and she made a delish low fat/point friendly home made pizza which I had only one slice of then I had a cup of soup later that night at home. I have got much better at my night time snacking of late. For example yesterday I cooked a batch of low fat chocolate chip muffins at 2pts per muffin. I had only one of them last night with a small squirt of low fat whipped cream and was more than satisfied to stop at one. Keeping my nights under control really makes a difference on the scales at the end of the week that's for sure!
I exercised 4 days out the last 6 with 2 x 30min gym workouts, one 30min walk and one 40min walk. As you may notice I have changed my stats page to reflect exercise in time instead of bonus points now. Being over 100kg makes the bonus pts I earn fairly generous so I thought a time based rating might be more informative and better able to track my progress.
Hehehe just took a call of congratulations from my husband telling me what a freakin' legend I was and how proud of me he was for reaching my 1/4 mark...he's such a sweetie!!
Caleb's birthday party was a huge success. I'll update his site later in the week with all the details and photo's. His cake turned out pretty good and it was so much more relaxed letting maze mania worry about everything else! As yesterday was his actual birthday Simon took the day of work and we made sure our boy had so much fun. We spent the morning feeding ducks and turtles at a local park and wandering the bush walking tracks. Then we had a picnic lunch at a park on the beach and played some Frisbee and caught a big sand crab that Caleb watched in his new bug-catcher before we let him go again. Then it was off to another park to show Daddy where he had his 'big-fall' a couple of weeks back then home for a nap. Then in the afternoon we went for a 40min walk along the Esplanade then came home and caught butterflies and moths for his bug catcher. He wouldn't let the butterfly out of his sight for the rest of the night and even slept with it by his bed....hehehe. This afternoon we'll have him let it go free again and find a new bug for his catcher in the park behind our house. :)
Well enough of my babble for now. I have a yummy chicken soup bubbling away in my crock-pot for tea and I think I'll go hang out some washing and unload the dishwasher before it's time for Dr Phil!
ps Did I mention I'm 1/4 of the way to goal???? *wink*
pps The silly tracker above won't show the weight lost as 10.8...only 10.7 for some reason but the rest of the numbers are right??
Cheers P
Friday Cont'
Ok as promised I am back from the gym with my new measurements. It had been 2 months since I last had them done but I am very pleased to say I have lost another 15.5cm in that time - maybe more - bringing my total cm's lost to 52.5cm since joining the gym last August. You see they always keep the same person to measure you each month but as my lady left the centre I had to start with a new one today. She said her measuring was almost always larger than the previous lady but I'm not too concerned as I know any inconsistencies will even out next month. So here's the break-down in totals lost:
Bust: -5.5cm
Waist: -5.0cm
Abdomen: -11.0cm
Hips: -14.0cm
Thighs: -12.0cm
Arms: -5.0cm
Body Fat: -2.7%
Not too bad huh??? I am especially thrilled with the difference in my abdo, hips and thighs...yeah me!!!! :)
Yesterday I also instigated another measure of success. I decided I would have Simon time how many crunches and push-ups I could do in a minute each. Then I am going to retest myself every month to monitor my improvement in fitness and flexibility....just like on celebrity overhaul! Yesterday I did 35 crunches in a minute and 10 push-ups (on my knee's). I actually couldn't do more than 1 or 2 push-ups this time last year so already the decrease in weight and muscle growth from the gym are making a difference :)
I have also decided to boycott Easter this year...well for me anyway *wink* I had asked Simon for some Lindt Lindor choccies (my absolute fave) but have since changed my mind. I will not let an over-commercialised holiday ruin my 11kg challenge. Instead I suggested flowers and have told other family not to buy me anything at all. Simon didn't want any either and as Caleb can only have soy chocolate and didn't even like that last year I think it will be a cheap Easter for us all this year.
I received my parcel of leather gear from my sister yesterday....FABULOUS!! The leather jacket is a size 16 and fits but doesn't button up yet - not that I wear coats buttoned up anyway?? The lace up knee high boots (think Lara Croft) fit great and do up but the zip-up knee high boots (otherwise known as f*ck-me-boots...hehehe) don't do up the last couple inches yet. They are gorgeous though and will be a great motivator to get into them.
I finally did the big closet clean out the other day and now have a huge mountain of fat clothes to put up for sale on Ebay. It will take me ages to photograph and list them all so I think I'll tackle that later tonight? It's great to see what I have left now and to also know that there is no room for regaining weight or I'll have to get around in the nude - Ugh what a though!!!! lol I still have my hanging clothes to sort yet too then I'll be sure to have another mountain to sell also. The money I make can buy me some new skinny winter clothes :)
Worked really hard at the gym this morning, had my beans on toast for breakfast and shall be getting something healthy for lunch from woollies when I go there soon so my day is off to a great start! I have to go out and get all the ingrediants and decorations for the dinosaur cake I am making for Caleb's party...will post a pic of the finished product.
But enough for now...have a great Friday everyone :)
Cheers P
Friday, 18th March 2005...
I'm on fire baby!!!!
I'm hitting the ground running on this 11kg challenge and I had a great day yesterday :)
I had the menu plan as outlined below. The Boston beef and baked bean hotpot for tea was delish!! (from the WW pasta cookbook). I finished the day on 22 pts - not counting the 3 bonus pts I earnt. I met all food group requirements, had no sugar points and had lots of water and low joule cordial. I had both dairy serves for the first time in as long as I can remember and it felt great. I loved the new bread and the sandwich at lunch was divine!! I had forgotten the humble sanga at lunch lately?? The old me always had 2 rounds of sandwiches but fill up one round with enough salad and team it with yoghurt and fruit and it's more than filling enough :)
When Simon got home from work yesterday I just couldn't be bothered getting changed and going to the gym so instead I left the boy with him and took the dog for a 30min neighborhood walk (well 25min's since I've improved my time). It felt great to be able to walk on the footpath and swing my arms instead of pushing a pram as I always do.
I went to the shops and got some WW baked bean mini-tins so I can have one on a slice of my low GI bread for breakfast this morning instead of the scrambled egg's I've had of late. I am serious about improving my breakfast habits and I think I've made a good start.
Thanks to a suggestion from a friend I have also begun adding 'one positive thing I've done for myself today' in my tracker each day. Working on replacing negative self talk and thinking with positive a la Dr Phil :) Thanks for the tip Liz!
So...as you can see it's all stations go at the moment. I'm heading into my weekend danger zone which is hard at the best of times but this weekend is worse. We have a 2yr old party on Saturday for a friends son and of course we have Caleb's 2yr old party on Sunday. Eeeek!!! But I can do this....one meal, one temptation at a time!
I have my weigh and measure at the gym this morning so I'll update again later with my cm's lost. Watch this space...
Cheers P
Thursday Cont'
Thought I might add today's tracker as I'm always asked about just what I am eating....so here is today's example:
Breakfast:
2 eggs scrambled with a dash of skim milk and 1tbs of tomato sauce. 600ml low joule cordial (3.5pts)
Lunch:
2 slices 4 seed ploughman's bread, 60g chicken breast skin removed, lettuce, grated carrot, asparagus, beetroot, I slice low fat cheese, 1 tbs low fat mayo all on a sandwich. 1 small tub of diet yoghurt and 180g watermelon. 2 glasses of water and 600ml diet coke (7 pts)
Tea:
1 serve of Boston beef and baked bean hotpot (WW recipe), free salad + one boiled egg. Glass of skim milk (7.5 pts)
So that add's to a total of 18pts and then I still have up to 5pts free for evening snacks. I've met all my food groups with this day also :) I rarely have any dairy so I made a conscious effort to include the milk and yoghurt today and to also include some dense low GI bread as discussed in last nights meeting :)
See....told you I'm getting serious this week!!!
Comments gratefully accepted??
Cheers P
Thursday, 17th March 2005...
Not nearly as bad as I had suspected thankfully! I gained 0.1kg last night after a hard days work to minimize it. As planned I did a really hard paced 1hr walk in the morning then did a 30min gym workout that afternoon....phew was I stuffed by the end of the day! But secretly it also felt pretty good to achieve so much exercise in one day....even if it didn't prevent a gain it sure made it smaller and also I know it will go towards my results for this week also :)
I am so relieved to have the little gain behind me and it has made me so damn determined not to find myself in the same boat next Wednesday! I am off on my 11kg challenge now and totally fired up about it!!
So to review I am back to tracking, tracking, tracking this morning. I'm going to devote more points to breakfast each and every day....guzzle water like there is no tomorrow and exercise at least 5 days this week. I know I can do all that too!!!!!!! I am a very stubborn person and I am way too stubborn to gain 3 weeks in a row.
Well my darling Caleb is dragging my hand away to go and watch Bob the builder with him and I think I'll peruse my WW recipe books for something new to try for dinner.
I will make this challenge!!!!! More later on that..
Cheers P
Wednesday, 16th March 2005...
Well the day of reckoning has arrived. Off to weigh-in tonight and unless I pull off some bloody miracle today it's sure to be a gain :(
Scales this morning said 111.1kg but then when I hopped back on 30min's later it was 110.5kg??? Who bloody knows. I took it twice more and both times it stuck to 110.5 so not sure what the 111.1kg was all about?? In any case that's still 1.1kg higher than I was before leaving for weigh-in last week. I am planning both a one hour walk and a gym workout today to try to blitz off some last minute weight. I don't know if I'll get it down enough...I've done that much before in one day but perhaps not this time. In days gone by I would eat and drink literally nothing all day before weigh in to make the scales go my way. Not this time though!! You'll be pleased to know that I have already had my scrambled egg with skim milk for breakfast to make sure my metabolism gets fired up. I refuse to starve for another day!!! I know that if I keep eating sensible, keep exercising and keep focused the weight will go down....maybe not in time for tonight's weigh-in but if I have any hope of completing this journey I must think much bigger picture.
I finished yesterday on 23 pts exactly and drank 1.2L of water and one can of diet Pepsi. I had an impromptu walk yesterday afternoon when Caleb woke from his nap as I knew I wouldn't get to the gym because of my dentist appointment. I pushed really hard and did my usual 30min neighborhood walk in 25min's so that felt good.
And the dentist......Aaargh!! Turns out I have a massive hole in my last remaining wisdom tooth. The decay has killed the nerve but the severe pain I am experiencing is due to an infection in it. He said it was no wonder panadol did little for me as it a notoriously excruciating pain....YOU DON'T SAY!!! When he said it had to come out I was more than ready to end my torture...until he gave me the bad news. Firstly because the wisdom tooth had not fully descended I had to have an x-ray to establish what the roots were like under the surface. I also had to have a course of anti-biotic's to clear up the infection....shit!! So now the extraction is booked for April 1st. He says the pain should clear up with the infection in the next 24-48hrs and in the meantime he has given me a prescription for strong Panadeine Forte to manage the pain :( God I just want it taken out already!!!
One more thing before I go. A few people have left lovely messages in my guestbook of late but left no return email etc to be contacted on. For those people I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU! For Ruby and Elle who were inspired to join WW because of me....wow! I also had an email from a lady who had PCOS like me and thought the difficulties that caused for weight loss meant she was destined to stay overweight. Then she said she found my site through the WW one and thought "If Paulene can loose weight with PCOS then so can I". She has since joined and is well on the way to her goals. Wow-bloody-wow! To think that I can have such an impact on other people's life is astounding to me. It moved me to tears!!! Thanks from the bottom of my heart :)
Cheers P
Tuesday, 15th March 2005...
Hmmm....not sure where to start today. I guess the most obvious point would be this morning's scale results :( They read 112kg last night before bed and I nearly died on the spot!!! I usually only weigh first thing in the morning before dressing or breakfast so not sure why I weighed last night but oh lordy I shan't be doing that again in a hurry!! Anyway this morning was an improved 110.9kg but still way too high for anything other than a gain tomorrow night??? And I mean a gain of like up to 1-1.5kg or something horrific!!!!! Why, why, why???
As well as the reasons I guessed in yesterday's post I thought of another one that may be a contributing factor....perhaps it's just some more settling after the holiday. Maybe the weight I dropped so rapidly on my return has come back to be worked off properly?? Who know's.
I am trying really, really hard not to worry too much about it as I know I have already set my next challenge and as soon as this gain is registered I can go about reaching that 11kg milestone. *Sigh*
I had a great day yesterday too. I finished the day on 18pts with no night time snacking....I had a gym workout.....I drank nothing but water all day which is a miracle for me even if it did only add to 1.2L (not the 1.8L I planned but as I didn't eat after tea I didn't need to break my water goal of drinking a bottle of water first).
Aaaargh!!!!
I have had breakfast the last two mornings now too. So far only one egg scrambled with a little skim milk and tomato sauce each day but much better than nothing. I will get more inventive but for now I feel successful so long as I eat something.
I did feel much better to get online first thing this morning and see such wonderful words of encouragement in my guestbook and emails...thanks everyone!!!
Today has gone good. Had the egg for breakfast, a chicken and salmon salad for lunch, 800ml of water so far, no softdrink -diet or otherwise... a total of 9 pts eaten so far and only tea to go.
I really want to get some exercise in today but can't get to the gym so I'm figuring I might go for a 30min neighborhood walk when the boy wakes from his nap soon. It will be stinking hot so he'll have to be dunked in sunscreen first but I know he'll enjoy it. That's if he is feeling ok as he woke up sick with some sort of cold/flu this morning. In fact he woke at least 6 times overnight with a temp, cough, wanting a drink, having panadol and just generally wanting Mummy the poor little man :( We are all pretty tired today as a result. So assuming he's not too bad on waking the walk in the fresh air will do him good.
I have been in absolute agony with a killer toothache since the weekend and I cannot wait to get to the dentist this afternoon and get it filled or extracted - whatever it takes!! It hurts like hell and when Caleb woke me each time last night my tooth then kept me awake for ages afterward :(
God I'm a whinger aren't I??? lol On a brighter note I was delivered an order of lingerie that I placed with Undercover wear a while back.....gorgeous. I got a sheer black nightie thingy slit up to the heavens and very Va-va-voom. (see pic labelled 'D') I got size 20 because I wasn't sure how it would fit and it fits easily. I probably could have got the size 20 but the style allows extra sizing without looking much different so I should be able to wear it for some time yet. I also got a white bustier with suspenders and lace top stockings....Yeah baby!!! *blush* I ordered a size 20 in that too but it came in a size 18 (!). Thank god because at first I thought I was too big for the size 20...Eeeek! So now it's tight enough that I couldn't put it on without help due to like 20 bra hooks up the back but it will be a great motivation to slim down to fit into. (see pic labelled 'A') I love buying lingerie now :)
Speaking of which my lovely sister in Ballina is sending me a parcel of leather wear that she picked up for a steal at a local garage sale. It's a black genuine Italian leather jacket...think long line and belted...in a size 16 so I have told her it will be my winter challenge to fit into it :) She also got a pair of lace up leather boots and another pair of zip up leather boots that I am eager to try on also. As you may recall getting a pair of knee high boots that actually do up is one of my long term goals. She got the lot for the bargain price of $90 and it should arrive tomorrow so I'll let you know how it goes....Thanks Vicki!!!
I almost did something really stupid today that I am ashamed to admit but so proud that I came to my senses in time. I decided I would get some Ford pills or some similar diuretic today to try to drop some of the fluid that I know I am retaining at present. Stupid I know!!! Now before you get worried I have never once in my life taken such a pill (nor laxative for that matter) and I know how stupid it would have been to do it now. I was just so desperate to minimize my unexpected gain for tomorrow night that I was willing to do anything. Thankfully though not this.....my body is too important to risk!
So it with much glumness and self-recriminations that I accept my fate. I will have a big gain tomorrow night. It's unavoidable now unless some bloody miracle occurs on the scales overnight...highly unlikely! As my wise-owl reader LadyMissTree said in my guestbook yesterday....."Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.". And rise I shall!!! I may have to fall one more time first but then it's up and at the 11kg goal!!!
Ooh almost forgot....I got my next charm yesterday. Not on my bracelet of course but it arrived from Ebay. A teeny, gorgeous turtle (see pic) to remind me that 'slow and steady wins the race'. :) Now I can't wait to earn it's place on my charm reward bracelet!!
Cheers P
Monday, 14th March 2005...
Finally I have some time to sit down and get everything up to date.
As mentioned in my previous post I have well and truly got the message about needing breakfast!! :) It's not like I haven't read it myself a million times and I know it...but doing it is different. I think I have become so focused on staying under points all day that breakfast became disposable. Not eating it left more points to have later and thus increased my chances of staying on points for the day. Also my morning is such a busy time that I barely even think of breakfast let alone make a conscious decision not to have it?? So this morning I diligently made myself some breakfast :) It was only a scrambled egg with a dash of skim milk and a little tomato sauce but I guess that's better than nothing right??
I followed that up with a great gym workout this morning after dropping the boy at daycare. They have added some new machines to the circuit now making it only 2 laps to do in the half hour and I love the fresh change that brought to my much-done workout.
Then I came home and got some housework and washing done and now the rest of the day is my own. I still have a killer toothache...so excruciating it is hard to even concentrate on what I am typing :( Thankfully have a dentist appointment tomorrow...phew!
I never did get around to catching up on my weekend tracking (haven't tracked since Friday lunch). The scales this morning show an alarming gain and I'm not sure it that's partly due to the salty chicken soup we had for tea last night or the overdue period causing some water gain.....or the many brewskies I chugged back on Saturday night?? It doesn't really matter I suppose...then end result is incredibly I may gain again this week. If you had asked me last Wednesday if I would let that happen I would have said a definite "NO"! So why then???
Why am I letting go of the short lived control I found over my weekends? While I was pushing the vacuum around before I was thinking this over but I still have no answer? I thought that maybe I have become complacent since breaking the 10kg lost barrier (even though I am sitting 200grams below it now)? I thought maybe I just hadn't got over my holiday blow out? I thought maybe I am destined to follow the same weight loss failure pattern I've set so many times before?? I don't want to believe that because I know I can do it....I've just lost my way a little of late??
I know what's needed.....tracking, exercise, water, breakfast etc. I know that by putting one foot in front of the other and taking it one meal and one day at a time that slowly but surely the weight will come off. I know why I want to do this and how I can do this but why am I not doing it??? It feels similar to when I was stuck on that 114kg invisible floor that I couldn't seem to move below. Perhaps I shall have a really short term goal boost....yes I will!!! It worked before for the 114kg so it can work again for this.
GOAL: Reach a total lost of 11kg by March 30th weigh in.
When: That's 1.2kg to loose in 3 weigh-ins. Factoring in an expected gain this Wednesday that will leave me 2 more weeks to make a miracle happen!
How?
-I will drink a 600ml bottle of water before allowing myself lunch, another before tea and another before any night time snacking. This will get at least 1.8L down a day and also decrease my appetite prior to meal times as an added bonus.
-I will exercise a minimum of 5 days a week for the next 2 wk's. 3 days a week is easily attained for me now so it's time I increased the pressure a little bit.
-I will eat breakfast every day. Even if it is only fruit some days it will be enough to form the habit of eating it daily.
-I will track each and every day. Every meal, every bite, lick and sip.
So there you have it....the 11kg challenge!!! It's only a mini challenge but with the way things have plateau'd of late it should get things moving again!! :)
Will add all this to my Goals page also.
One more thing before I wrap it up for today. I read an interesting article in the Sunday Mail yesterday about fast food joints healthy salad menu's. Seems they are not so healthy after all! A McDonald's Big Mac has 24.9g of fat....we all know that's bad right? But did you know a Hungry Jack's (Burger King in US I think it is) Caesar Salad with chicken and dressing has a whopping 27.9g of fat!!! Worse still....choose a Subway Chicken and baby Spinach salad with Ranch dressing and it's an amazing 34g of fat!!!!! (or 15g without the dressing). Holy Cow!!!! Partner that with the super high salt content in these salad's and you've got a meal far far from healthy! Interesting huh?
Well enough for now. I wanted to say sorry for being less than 'inspirational' of late :( You guys and gals who read my drivel regularly deserve much more and I really want to try to live up to your expectations from now on. It is only with your support that I have come this far and if I don't say it enough....I always think it....THANK YOU!!!!!
Cheers P
Sunday, 13th March 2005...
Sorry for the lack of updates over the weekend....tis ok though - I'm not dead!! *wink* Although right now I feel like death warmed up so this shan't be a long entry. We went out to a local club last night and got...well thoroughly trashed for lack of a better word :) We got home about 2am and got to sleep at 5am (Eeek!). Of course now Simon and I are blobbing out on the lounge counting the hours until the boy goes for his afternoon nap so we can climb back into bed ourselves......oi my aching head!
Have fallen out with my tracking this weekend so going to sit down soon and try to assess the damage. Excluding last nights many beers I don't' think I've been too bad. Have failed my exercise goal for this week though as I had hoped for 5 but look likely to only get 3 :(
Can barely string these words together thanks to the mega-toothache from hell I have right now....life is great :) lol lol
Seriously though....I know I owe everyone a better entry soon....at the latest will get up to date tomorrow when the boy is at daycare. I have many guestbook entries and emails to answer too but I'm afraid it's all lost out to the lounge! hehehe
And yes I have been thoroughly reprimanded by many on the not eating breakfast thing....lecture taken, wrists smart from slapping *wink*
Talk more soon
Cheers P
Thursday, 10th March 2005...
Well I did it. I faced the music and it wasn't as bad as I suspected (nor initially was told!). I weighed in at 109.4kg which was a gain of 0.8kg. After my holiday eating and coming home almost 5kg heavier one week ago I am super pleased with my back on track efforts.
I was told last night that my gain was 1.3kg and I was so confused that I asked her to weigh me again as I knew it wasn't that much when I'd weighed at home moments earlier. It was only when I checked the figures this morning that I realised their mistake. Last week they miscalculated the figures of total lost etc and this week the error was carried on. Can't wait to set the record straight next week. Crikey who want's to be told they gained an extra 0.5kg that they did not! Not this little duck :) Incidentally my ticker factory tracker above is playing up today too for some reason??? All the other figures on it are correct but the total lost should read 9.8 not 9.7??? Is the universe trying to tell me something lately or what?? hehehe
I also grabbed a couple of boxes of the great new WW savoury cheese shapes snacks. Only 1.5pts for a little packet so I look forward to trying them this week when a snack attack hits.
So....now that the weigh-in and gain are behind me I can get on with my new week. My goal for this week is to hit my next goal of the 1/4 way through mark. That means I have to reach 108.4kg....a loss of 1kg in the next week. I'm sure if I work hard I can achieve that!! For our weekly in-meeting commitment I stated that I would exercise 5 days out of 7. I achieved that this last week so I'm sure I can do it again this week. I will also track every day (despite the best intentions last week I have not tracked since leaving for my holiday 2 wk's ago!). I shall also get back on track with my water. Lately it has slipped back to none at all some days so as of today I am a water drinking machine *wink*
I really feel like I've dropped the ball on this whole weight loss thing of late. After all my ups and downs I am only 0.4 kg lighter than I was 6 wk's ago!!! At less than 100g a week I'll be on this journey into my golden years and that just won't do! I have to keep my birthday goal in mind and really up the effort for a few weeks to get those numbers moving again. Even the thought of being double digits seems attainable now that it is less than 9.5kg away. I've already lost more than that to date so I CAN do it again!!!!
Another factor I have given some thought to overnight is breakfast. Before WW I ate it every day. Usually a far from ideal breakfast like dinner leftover's or tin spaghetti etc but still better than nothing. Since re-starting WW last October I am now lucky to eat breakfast a few days a week. I'm too stingy to spend the points. I'd rather save as many as possible to enable evening munchies or something extra with lunch etc. It's only now dawning on me that perhaps if I started the day with a good breakfast I may not be looking for those extra snacks later in the day. I've read a million times how important breakfast is and it's high time I allowed it the points it deserves. Morning is such a busy time for me with Caleb that I need to eat simple yet filling meals. I was thinking last night that I might try something new today like banana on wholemeal toast (no butter). The complex carbs and fibre would be a filling yet nutritious start to my day?? I'll have a glass of skim milk also for some much needed dairy and calcium. Most days I have no dairy at all so that's also something I need to address. All up that makes for a filling and healthy breakfast for only 3 pts!
Yesterday I ate lightly (as in weight not quantity) before weigh in and stumbled apon a lunch so yummy I'm going to have it again today! I had a big bowl of point free salad (lettuce, red cabbage and grated carrot), I added a small tin of beetroot (0.5pts), a small tin of smoked salmon (3pts) and a spoonful of low fat mayo (0.5pts). That makes a really big bowl of salmon salad for only 4pts! I can add even more point free salad to it like cucumber etc after I go shopping and re-stock my supplies :)
I just need to shake things up a bit to get the scales moving again. So in summary this is my weeks mini-goals:
-Track everything, every day
-Drink minimum 1.5L of water a day
-Eat breakfast every day this week
-Exercise 5 days again this week
-Try 2 new dinner recipe's this week
-Track sugar points this week and keep it under 20 max (14 even better!)
-Complete key 1 of Dr Phil book 'The Ultimate Weight Solution'
It's time to kick into my 90's challenge and kicks some arse!!
Hang on folks...it's sure to be a wild ride :)
BE - DO - HAVE!!!!!
Cheers P
Wednesday, 9th March 2005...
Well after much dread and anticipation the first post-holiday weigh-in day has arrived! I am going to gain and I'm not at all phased about it. I just want to record it then get on with the new week :) This morning the scales said 110kg exactly (which would be 109.6kg on WW scales and a gain of 1kg). However that was sans clothing first thing this morning so once I factor in clothing (shame but oh so necessary!!! *wink*) and today's eating....then minus this afternoons gym workout....I am expecting anywhere from a 1-2kg gain tonight. Looking back at how much junk and fast food I ate on holidays and the decreased exercise I'm pretty happy with that result. Yeah a loss or smaller gain would have been nicer but I am human and I will have my digressions :)
This week has finally seen me return to my exercise and already I'm hooked again. This week has included :
Saturday - 90min lawn mowing
Sunday - 30min underwater jogging
Monday - 30min gym workout
Tuesday - 40min brisk walking with pram
Wednesday - will do 30min gym this afternoon
Pretty good overall I think. I love to vary what I am doing each day for maximum benefits and minimum boredom and I think I've achieved that this week.
I owe you an apology for my funky mood yesterday too....sorry! Caleb was an absolute nightmare all day which is not like him at all! One tantrum led to another and another...but then I guess I can expect that for a while as he heads into the terrible 2's on March 21st. We are consistent in our management of them and they are certainly not directly or indirectly rewarded so I know they will pass in time....God give me strength!! *wink* Today our playgroup is meeting at a local park instead of the usual hall so I know that will help to tire him out and hopefully he'll have his usual 2-3hrs nap this afternoon and be much happier apon waking. I shouldn't complain though as for the most part he's a great sleeper. He usually sleeps from 7pm until 7am (6.15 on a bad day) and his usual 2-3 hrs of an afternoon give me some 'me' time to relax, get on computer, read or nana-nap! (although I rarely do that lately).
I've been thinking a lot about my birthday this year. I'll be 30 on June 29th and I really want to have some sort of a bash. I was thinking of going away for the weekend and inviting friends and family to join us there for celebrations and merriment :) The place I have in mind is on the Sunshine Coast and much closer to many family and friends to travel to. It's a tourist park that has camping sites, cabins and units so will suit all budgets. Also means I don't' have to stress about guests and mess in my own home which I usually do to excess *blush* Will have to give it all some more thought but in any case I really really want to be under 100kg by then and preferably 99.2kg which would be 20kg lost. I know if I want something enough I can do anything so I really want to go head down and bum up for a while to achieve this goal. It would be great to have a little 'mini-reveal' of the new me to loved one's and what a birthday present it would be for me!!! After tonight's weigh-in I'll look at the numbers and work out a bit of a 90's challenge for myself I think. Will keep you posted!
Cheers P
Tuesday, 8th March 2005...
God what a week it has been so far. After waiting another 4hrs (!!!!) yesterday for Telstra again the useless fuckheads didn't show AGAIN!!!!!!!! Grrrrrr! So after many abusive phone calls and complaints someone finally showed late yesterday afternoon and we are now at last on broadband instead of the old dial-up snail....what a bloody hassle getting to this point. I could rant no end about Telstra but to save your ears and my sanity I will leave it at this.....NEVER RELY ON TELSTRA!!!!!
On the eating front had a good day yesterday. Managed to sneak a stir-fry tea past Simon :) He is usually very supportive of my healthy eating choices but he claims to hate stir-fry and the sauces I add to it. That was until I pointed out to him that since starting WW last year I have never added sauces to my stir-fry...just marinated chicken, vege's and noodles is all that is in it.....hahaha blew that argument out of the water for him didn't I :) I then explained to him how good they were for us, how low point it was for me and how easy, quick and hassle free it was for me to cook. In the end I think he will reluctantly concede to a stir-fry now every couple of weeks without too much complaint....maybe! *wink*
This morning I had nothing to do so on impulse while driving along the Esplanade I decided to go for a walk. So I detoured home....grabbed my Nike's and socks then headed back down. I strapped Caleb into the pram and we were off on a 40 minute jaunt. Unfortunately for me it did little to sooth Caleb's day of tantrums. He has already had a major tanty before breakfast, one half way through walk after we left the swings we stopped to play on, one when he got out of pram to go back in the car and another right now after waking after only 1hr nap (no where near enough sleep!) I am feeling totally overwhelmed by it all today and just want to crawl into a hole somewhere :( Welcome to the terrible 2's huh?
For an extra bonus the scales are back up to 110.9kg today - but who gives a flying f*ck! I'm in no mood to ponder the causes. Nor talk more here for that matter.
P
Monday, 7th March 2005...
Monday morning and I'm pleased to say the scales continue inching down this week :) This morning they read 110.5 after a brief jump to 111.3 yesterday??? Who knows what may happen between now and Wednesday as TOM is due any time now but I'm not phased about it all.
As I was saying to Simon last night....I had my holiday fun, I got straight back on track afterward and I'm happy to face the consequences on Wednesday night. If I gain (and I will) I know that at least I have undone most of what I temporarily put on during my week away....then I'll just chalk it up to experience and get on with my new week :)
At least I have got back on track with my exercise now. On Saturday I mowed our lawns (no small feat as our block is 1/4 acre) with the push mower for 90min's and racked up 12 bonus pts for that (as per WW bonus pts book). It was hot and hard work but boy did it feel great to see the difference when I was done. Incidentally that was only about the 3rd time I have ever mowed a lawn and the last time was about 1995! Simon thought all his Christmas's had come at once :)
Then yesterday Caleb and I hit the pool and while he bobbed around in his seat I did 30min's of continuous underwater jogging while pumping my arms with each step. I did this at about neck depth and it felt great! I figure the bonus pts for this must be similar to water aerobics so that was another 2.5pts earnt! Now that I love exercise I especially love mixing it up a bit and knowing that by varying my training I am improving my chances of all over toning as the weight goes down....and as a bonus there's no risk of boredom.
I am yet again waiting for Telstra this morning (Now remember everyone...Telstra SUCKS!) hehehehe. Anyway I will get to the gym after they are gone or when the gym re-opens at 3.30pm as Simon will be collecting Caleb from daycare at that time.
Well not much else to say for now. I finally updated the full holiday story on Caleb's website with everything we did and saw while away and I'm off to do the photo's now. Will email those on the mailing list when I am done!
Cheers P
Saturday, 5th March 2005...
It's official.....I cannot help looking at those scales every day....hehehehe
Was most pleased to see 110.7 this morning which means I have lost 3kg of the holiday gain in the last 5 days...not too bad eh? Even if I loose nothing more and gain 1.8kg next week I'll still be happy. At least I've undone the majority of it fairly quickly :)
I have just altered the exercise goal I set for this month. I had wanted to exercise 25 out of 31 days but as 4 days have already passed without any exercise (terrible I know) I thought 21 days this month might be more attainable. Good goals are realistic after all.
Yesterday I did not get to the gym as planned and I blame it all on fucking Telstra!!!!! Excuse the language but if you are easily offended then you best skip this paragraph as there is plenty more where that came from!!!! FUCK FUCK FUCK I HATE TELSTRA!!! Those useless mob of pricks can't even be accountable to an appointment time like the rest of the human race....No they have to give you a 4hr time slot for you to hang around in and if they do come and find you not home they charge you $50 to come back (!!!!!!!!!!!!). So anyway I wait 4hrs yesterday, putting off my gym, for them and they didn't even show or call!!! They were supposed to do something on my line to get the broadband up and running and now I have to wait until next week to try again. I told them to stick their 4hr appt time up their arse and they can call my mobile 10min's before they want me home next time...FUCK EM! For any international readers who aren't familiar with Telstra (half your luck) ...they are Australia's primary (and totally inept) telephone service. THEY SUCK!!!!!!!
By the time it became obvious they were not coming I was so furious I screamed and yelled "at" them all the way to the shops in my car. Then I fumed as I wielded my trolley like a lunatic and just dared any poor soul to get in my way! I was so mad I even went to KFC for a late (thanks Telstra for nothing) lunch but thankfully came to my senses at the last minute and got a potato and gravy, dinner roll and a diet Pepsi.
So.....anyway a bit longer wait for my broadband and one more poor sod in the world who would be happy with Telstra burned off the face of the earth!!!! I did submit a formal complaint and will be sending them a 4hr invoice (via Simon's business) for my wasted time. Worth a shot???
Ok one more swear word then I'm done.....FUCK TELSTRA!!!!!!!
hehehehe :)
Sorry to lay that one on you all but as you can see 24hrs have done little to douse the fire burning me up over that mob of useless twats! ps just did a search of 'Telstra sucks' and it seems many many web pages are devoted to just that! hehehe I feel much better now!
Anyhoo......had a good day of eating yesterday. Did have a few too many of those damn Guylian choccies last night in a moment of beer inspired wisdom. After giving away and eating the rest we are down to our last box of evil....yummy evil but evil all the same! I have made some more toffee's today after burning one batch the other turned out perfect (and no blue food (and face) colouring this time!) so that will be a long lasting sweet hit tonight as an alternative to the evil little choccies calling my name :)
Had some interesting health news the other day. Had to have a full medical done for life insurance and finally found out my cholesterol levels. Apparently the healthy range is 3.9 - 5.5. Soon after Caleb's birth in early 2003 my levels were 7.1 but now they are only 5.6. Still a smidgeon over but much better than I had expected! Apparently they were done with another blood test in January of this year also and were 4.9 then so just goes to show the damage of holiday bingeing. Now I'm interested to see what they do if I can loose another 10kg??
Last night before bed I got stuck into Dr Phil's Ultimate Weight Solution book again. I have written down a realistic, time restricted, behaviour and emotion focused goal and tonight I will begin work on the first of 7 keys to success.
My goal was:
I WANT: To reach a clothing size of 12 and be in the 70 kg's and to maintain this for good physical, mental and spiritual health.
BY: Exercising for a minimum of 5 days per week, eating according to the WW program, limiting Cola and Take-away meals to once per week and drinking 1.5 - 2L of water daily.
FEELING: Alive, healthy, sexy, proud, peaceful, free and without regrets
WHEN: Currently 1/4 of way to goal
June 29th - be 20kg down and 1/2 of way to goal
Sept 30th - be 30kg down and 3/4 of way to goal
Dec 31st - be at goal
June '06 - Maintaining goal!
I shall add all this to my goal page as an overall goal while still following the stepping stone goals on the way.
What I did read last night was a great little saying that has become my new Mantra.....
BE - DO - HAVE!
Be committed,
Do what it takes,
Have what I want!!!!!
It is simple yet true.
I have decided to do a little chart with my mantra and also the things I risk everyday and put it in my ensuite where I'll see it everyday and also on my fridge for extra motivation. Those things I risk every day (and am terrified of) include:
Continued Infertility, Becoming a statistic, Heart disease, Stroke, Diabetes, Gall bladder problems, and early death or most importantly leaving my sweet Caleb without his Mummy!
I DESERVE SO MUCH MORE!!! And damn it if I'm not going to go out and get it and achieve all my dreams and more!
Today I had a toasted English muffin with promite for breakfast, a WW frozen chicken chow mien for lunch and we are having BBQ chicken and salad with oriental rice for dinner. I have toffee's and watermelon for evening snacks and god forbid.....I am actually planning to mow our 1/4 acre lawn this afternoon in the stinking 32+ degree heat......sucker for punishment or focused on my goals?? Can't wait to get back into my Dr Phil book tonight :)
Cheers P
Friday, 4th March 2005...
Ok....it's confession time :(
I have good news and bad....which would you like to hear first??
The bad I hear you say??
Ok....I got on the scales this morning! lol I know I shouldn't have and I said I wouldn't but it is just so addictive to me. First thing in the morning, before I get dressed and before I eat...that's when I weigh. If I don't do it then I tend not to because I don't want eating to distort the figures. hehehehe I suppose I should just dress really quick in future to avoid temptation :) Ahh phooey! It's not the worst thing I could do that's for sure!
Ok.... the good news? Down another 400g to 110.9 (that's a loss of 2.8kg since Monday)!!! See I told you the numbers would shift quickly once I got back on track (thank god!).
I still haven't done any exercise this week. I had wanted to go to the gym yesterday but Simon got home too late. I had intended to do it this morning but now I have to wait at home from 8-12am for Telstra to arrive. Honestly they give me the sh*ts!! Don't they think we have anything better to do than wait around for 4 hours for them to show!!! Can't they be accountable to an appointment time?? I like to do my gym first thing on Monday and Friday after dropping Caleb at daycare but it aint going to happen today. They are shut from 1pm until 3.30pm and I collect Caleb at 3.30pm so I've got to fit it in sometime between whenever Telstra grace me with their presence and 12.15 to get done by closing time at 1pm. Aaaargh!!! If that fails I guess I'll just do some of my WW DVD but it's been so long since I've been to gym that I'd really rather go. Will let you know how I go???
The only bonus of waiting for the Telstra man is that after he has been we will hopefully finally have broadband Internet! Yey!! After years of dial up I won't know myself with the speed I'll have :) Will make catching up on other's journals so much faster!!
Want to get stuck into some housework this morning while waiting for Telstra then I'm going to do a roast chicken dinner....Mmmmm. Going to make some toffee's again today too (minus the food colouring this time!) so I've got a long lasting, low point sweet treat to beat the cravings this evening.
Have really got to work hard this weekend to get those last 2kg moving. Hope to go on a 1hr bike ride on Sat or Sun so that should help. Keep you posted.
Cheers P
Thursday, 3rd March 2005...
Well it's the first day of the new WW week today and I'm feeling super motivated. I haven't had a great tracking week for many weeks (and none at all on my holiday last week) and I know the difference that makes. If I track everyday I loose weight...it's as simple as that. The tracking motivates me to stay in points and also to exercise each day and I guess that...along with the 100% accountability to the tracker brings me the results I crave??
Speaking of results the scales say 111.3kg this morning (down from 113.7kg on Monday morning)....still moving back to normality thankfully! I don't want to let them discourage me this week when I need to give 110% effort so I have decided to weigh only on Saturday morning, Monday morning and Wednesday morning of this next week. I know they say don't weigh at all mid week but the occasional peek really boosts my efforts and re-focuses me. That's why I chose the start and end of the weekend to weigh so that I can work at staying on track this weekend. And of course come Wednesday I want to know what to expect at weigh in. Although I give you my assurance now that I will be going and weighing-in no matter what they say!!! I am also expecting TOM next week...couldn't come at a worse time for me but oh well..them's the breaks.
I am using my holiday free-for-all as a motivational tool this week too. After all I pretty much ate everything I ever craved in the last 3months while I was away so I can tell myself I've been well and truly treated and that will do for now. I can have those things again in future (sparingly) but after a week of total abandon I can certainly pull off one lousy week of total dedication this week (one week at time....of course not JUST this week).
My exercise challenge last month only succeeded with 15 out of 28 days of exercise but I guess considering the stitches I had in my leg for a week and also the holiday that's not too bad?? (Bet you blitzed me Jacki??). So this month I am aiming to exercise 25 out of 31 days (will even add it to my goals page). Anyone out there up for the challenge??
I feel really excited about my fresh beginning this week. It's just the boost I need to put in a kick-ass effort this week and work really really hard to loose next week (or at least gain less than 1kg after my holiday food blitz!)
Keep you posted....
Before I go though I wanted to share a couple of great thoughts from my daily inspiration calendar....
"A good goal is like a strenuous exercise - it makes you stretch" and
"Change your thoughts and you change your world"
I think there is something in that for all of us!!! *wink*
Cheers P
Wednesday, 2nd March 2005...
Very pleased to say those scales continue to move down today. It is now 111.6kg which is 2.1kg down in the 3 days I've been home. (Remembering my scales weigh about 400g heavier than WW ones) Not surprising as I was expecting at least that to drop off fairly quickly. I imagine the last 2+kg I gained on holiday won't go so easily but I'm working at it. :)
I haven't got back to the gym yet since being home but will be there Friday morning when the boy is in daycare....hope to get there tomorrow arvo as well if I can.
No longer using the no weigh pass at my meeting tonight as my sister-in-law has announced a last minute dinner party for her birthday tonight (Happy Birthday Alicia!) so that means I won't make it to my meeting at all. I will be back there next Wednesday night though...no matter what the scales say!
Anyway....just a quick entry for today. Looking forward to getting back to tracking tomorrow on the first day of the WW week...never thought I'd miss it but I know how on track it keeps me so it's really important that I keep it up :)
Cheers P
Tuesday, 1st March 2005...
And the Academy award for largest holiday weight gain goes to.................PAULENE!
Hehehehe....yup you guessed it! I gained on my holiday....but not the 600g or less that I'd hoped for....no when I do something I do it well!!! I gained about 4kg in 10 days!!!!!!! Shock Horror Gasp!
I can choose to cry about it or laugh it off and get on with the job of undoing it...and I choose to laugh! :)
I had the most AMAZING holiday ever and the place we stayed at was so luxurious I never wanted to come home. But return we had to so here I am at last to confess my sins. The morning I left my scales said 109kg....the day of my return they said 113.7kg (EEEEEEK!!!)....this morning they say 113kg so things are at least moving in the right direction.
I estimated my holiday exercise to be about 8-10hrs of walking (while shopping and exploring theme parks). My eating was atrocious and I ate pretty much whatever I wanted every meal of every day. I knew at the time that I would regret it later but had a devil-may-care attitude to it all none the less. It's that old mental trap of I'm on holidays so I'm allowed to. I know of course that this is total crap thinking but I chose to forget that at the time *wink*
I know my body well enough to know that just a couple days of eating carefully and drinking water again (instead of guzzling soft drinks) will see my drop about 2kg fairly quickly.....as I have demonstrated by loosing 700g in one day. So that still leaves me with about 2+kg to loose the old fashioned way - plain old hard work, vigilance and determination. But I can do it!!
I am going to my meeting this Wednesday but won't be weighing in. I'm going to use a no-weigh pass for the first time then face the music the following Wednesday. By then I may still gain but at least I should have undone some of the damage???
While I was away I could feel my clothes getting tighter and I knew the scales would not be good to me....nor did I deserve them to be. Since my return though I have quickly swapped soft drinks for water and diet coke and changed meals from Chinese take away to lean meat and veg. I feel like a bit of failure but overall not too bad. It was a holiday....I enjoyed it....and now it's time to get back to the real world!!!!
The holiday was fab by the way. We went to Seaworld, MovieWorld, Ripley's Believe it or not and lots of shopping!!! I stocked up on size 18 clothes (that did fit by the way!)...sexy underwear and we even bought a telescope for some serious people watching. We were on the 13th floor of a highrise right in the heart of Surfer's and we were surrounded by other highrises on 2 sides and the Esplanade and beach on the other. Our whole house could have fitted in the apartment and the views from the surround balcony were incredible. We spent heaps of time in the resort pools (indoor and out) and their children's playground and sauna. We drank most evenings (another factor in my gain) but not to excess. We spent a fortune, ate like kings and slept sparingly...but damn it was good!!! :) I'll be adding a more indepth description of the holiday and lots of happy snaps to Caleb's site some time this week when I am able to....will let you know when.
I had to have a complete medical yesterday for some new life insurance and it held some surprising results. My pulse was 66bpm and my Dr said "you must be happy to have such a fit pulse" and my BP was 110/70 which is textbook perfect!! Yay for me! Of course my BMI was way high but otherwise I am fighting fit! Had a blood test today for a full work-up which will include cholesterol so that should be interesting when I get those results!
Oh and before I forget I have added a new goal for myself to the goals page....to go on holidays and stay within 1kg of my departure weight!! Now that I'd like to see *wink*.
For now though I have a mountain of emails to answer and Internet banking to catch up on before the boy wakes so I'd better go get started. For all the other Journaller's I read....I'll catch up with you as soon as I am able to this week.
Also a big thanks to Angel, Helen, Angie, Janine, Adelle and Julianne who all signed my guestbook in my absense. I would normally reply to you each in person but am so far behind please accept my apologies for the group thanks this time :)
Cheers P
Thursday, 17th February 2005...
Well never before have I been so happy to register a 100 gram gain :)
First and foremost I am just super relieved it wasn't more! Remembering that as of Monday it was up more than 2.5kg I have worked damn hard in the last 3 days to get it down to almost the same!
Secondly I am also glad that I went to weigh in regardless of the result. I know that I never want to go when I gain. In the past I didn't go then I would end up missing weeks on end until before I knew it my membership had expired. I have done this on so many past memberships that I am determined never to do it again. Also because I have a friend who meets me at WW every week this time I know I would have to admit why I didn't go and be called on it...thank god! So this time round I am trying really hard to break old habits and go every week no matter what!!
Thirdly I took a look over my past stats and I'm really pleased with the results. In the 15 weeks I have been doing WW I have gained on only 3 occasions...each and every one of those gains were 100 grams each. So in total I have gained 300g (or 0.6lbs) and lost 10.9kg (or 24lbs). I am so heading in the right direction but just needed to step back and look at the big picture!!!!
I think I get so focused on loosing every week that I forget I am human. Of course I need to expect that some weeks I will gain during this long journey. As long as my gains stay minimal and the losses continue in between then I have nothing to worry about. Remind me of that the next time I fret about a gain would you?
Having said that though I am fully expecting a gain next weigh in....which will be in 2 wk's time after our holiday. I'd love to loose of course but am realistic enough to know that is not likely. As long as I gain 600 grams or less so that I am still over 10kg lost I'll be happy with that. Fingers crossed though for a miracle loss....hehehehe....and after holidays it would sure be a miracle.
As stated previously I plan to eat sensibly for breakfast and lunch, get lots of exercise in (mostly walking around I'd imagine) then relax of an evening...it is holidays after all???
Lastly I have also adjusted my long term goals. I know I'm never going to reach my final goal by my birthday in June so I'm going to make that the date for my 20kg lost goal and make the end of the year my final destination. Perhaps still not enough time but much more realistic than before.
Well enough for today. I haven't totaled up my weeks points this week but I have exercised 6 out of 7 days and came in under points 5 out of 7 days. Not too shabby!!!
Have a great day....will update for last time tomorrow before my holiday then will be back online again Monday 28th.
Cheers P
Tuesday, 15th February 2005...
Still feeling blue today :( I guess it's because I'm expecting a gain tomorrow night and just can't pull myself out of the funk it has caused me. I really wanted to hit that next goal (only 100g away) before my holiday begins this weekend and am berating myself for screwing up yet again :( Oh for the mercy of the scale gods *wink*
Yesterday went well. Simon arrived home with some lovely roses and we went to the movies as planned. We had Chinese take away for tea first and I think I did ok with that. I had only eaten 6.5 pt's during the day and I had some stir-fry beef in Cantonese sauce, chicken in plum, about 2-3 tablespoons of fried rice, honey king prawns and 2 mini spring rolls. I know the rice and spring rolls weren't ideal but it was a hell of a lot better than my usual Chinese binge habits of days gone by. I was disappointed to see that the honey king prawns were battered, not wok tossed as I had imagined....stupid me should have read the menu better. Still I enjoyed a little of everything and felt very satisfied afterwards...and not totally stuffed as usually I would with Chinese.
We then left Caleb at home with Granny and headed out to the cinema. I got a large diet Pepsi from the snack shop and shared some caramel popcorn with Simon. We watched 'Meet the Focker's' and honestly....I cannot remember the last time I laughed out loud so much in a movie. It was Hilarious!!! Highly recommended!!!
Wore my new size 18 black pants for the first time too. They are snug around the waist but it still felt great :)
So....am trying to eat light today and tomorrow to make my gain as minimal as I can but if it's too bad I might use a 'no-weigh pass' or maybe go to an alternative meeting on Thursday morning instead??? As long as I still go to my meeting I'll be happy. Let you know what I decide??
Did a good gym workout yesterday morning and will go again tomorrow arvo and maybe even this afternoon too? Need to step it up if I have any chance of a loss tomorrow.
The funniest thing just happened to me that really lifted my self pitying spirits....hehehehe. I got an email from a self confessed 'lurker' on this site. When I replied to her (as I always try to do) she said it was almost like writing to a celebrity and getting a reply!!!!!! hehehehe me a celebrity!!!??? Thanks 'H'....you really made my day :)
Oh and by the way...the chocolate prize I won (see pic left).....not a morsel have passed my lips yet! I have put aside a box of 3 each for Simon and I tomorrow night if I reach my goal (not likely!)....I gave a box to Granny last night for babysitting...and I put the rest in the freezer this morning. Out of sight out of mind...I'm hoping :)
Cheers P
Monday, 14th February 2005...
Happy Valentine's Day everyone :)
Had a shit of a day yesterday food wise....an apple and custard scroll from a bakery for breakfast....hot chicken sandwich for lunch...subway for dinner and then bloody cheesecake and coke for dessert!!! Aargh!
Just felt totally blah and made a conscious decision to not track yesterday??? I don't know why but I am guessing that it is due to the approaching holiday??? I think my mind is going on early holiday mode?? We did do a 30min walk yesterday in gale force winds (!) so I guess that's something.
Haven't eaten yet today but am having a WW frozen meal with brown dinner roll for lunch and a diet coke to atone some of my sins of yesterday. Being Valentine's Day my dear hubby booked us into an all you can eat seafood buffet for dinner but I have asked that we just have a little take away treat at home instead? I'll choose a stir-fry based Chinese meal instead I think. Much better than eating my $40 worth of all I can stuff in buffet :) Then we are going to see 'Meet the Focker's' at the cinema and I am already planning on getting a super sized diet coke to fill me up while I am there. I am going to check my points guide to find the friendliest cinema snack I can have....maybe just a small popcorn?? Will have to wait and see...let you know how I go.
Went to the gym this morning and worked my but off....chastising myself about the cheesecake all the way around the circuit *blush*
Have got to loose 100grams this week to make my next goal but it doesn't look like that will happen. Oh well....such is life.....I've built my bridge and I'm over it.
Oh and I'm not even looking at the SEVEN (7!!!!!!) boxes of Guylian Chocolates on my table that arrived today with my Guylian beach bag that I won.....God help me!!! lol I'm deliberately not putting any in the fridge (I like my chocolate cold) but I will put a little 3 piece one in for weigh-in night as a reward if I loose 100grams. None shall pass my lips before then....I promise!!!
Cheers P
Saturday, 12th February 2005...
Well it rained most of yesterday and is overcast and rainy today so we are thankfully getting some respite from the heat of recent weeks...phew!
If the weather manages to stay dry it will make for a lovely cool bike ride this afternoon....weather permitting.
Finished off on a great day yesterday. Had 28 points (23 normal + 3 saved from Thursday + 2 out of 12 bonus pt's used). That leaves me the option of another 10 bonus points tonight if I need them :)
Did I mention Simon got his new 4wd last week at last. Now we have a dual cab 4wd and Caleb never wants to get out of it. This morning we have sold his old one in a private sale that we didn't even have to spend money advertising...Woo-Hoo! See left for pic of the new one <<<<<
Our friend had to cancel on dinner last night so I wasn't faced with a temptation of the dessert kind....phew! I think he'll be coming tonight instead but I'm going to get some little pavlova nests and top with fruche, kiwi fruit and passionfruit pulp....Mmmmm!!!
Noticed some great things last night that I hadn't seen before:
-My watch...once snug now slides down and hangs below my wrist over my hand a bit..............
-My newest ring which I had sized about 4-5months ago that used to only fit on my right ring finger now fits the middle finger also.......
-My eternity ring now not only comes off but comes off easily and my engagement ring...while still not fitting over knuckle....now can be moved a cm or so either way....
-My toe rings are now loose and spin around
Hip-hip-hooray! :) Don't know why I didn't notice the watch etc earlier??? Will have to ad that to my brag list!
Anyway....not much more to ad for now. Congrats to fellow Journaller Janene and her new a baby girl and to my best email buddy Marion and her baby boy!!!
My turn next!!!! (I wish)
Cheers P
Friday, 11th February 2005...
Hi everyone!! It's Friday!!! :) Can you tell I love Fridays....lol
Anyway finished off yesterday on only 20pt's so I have an extra 3 in the bank for tonight and tomorrow nights temptations. I've got up to 12 bonus pt's to use for the weekend also so I should be able to stay on track this week better than I did last weekend (I vow if our friend turns up with dessert tonight I'll say "Thanks but no thanks!") Instead I have got some banana and strawberry vitari smoothie for me instead....yummy!
Have been to the gym this morning and sweated like an animal (sorry). I dread doing it in the heat when I know I want to shop etc straight afterwards but I also know if I'm going to do it I've got to get it done straight away before I change my mind. Luckily I take a dry change of clothes and toiletries to make myself a little more presentable before I hit the shops.
And shop I did today. I went clothes shopping at Target...an activity usually fraught with disappointment for me but not today!! I was near ecstatic to find I fitted into a pair of black fitted bootleg pants in a size 18!!! Now again, like with the stretch denim shorts I wear in 18, these pants had lycra in them and thus some stretch to them but I don't give a damn! It was great to put the 20's back on the rack and take home an 18....no matter what the material!!!
Then I headed over to Miller's where I am usually a size 22 in their pants...and I bought a pair of white 3/4 pants in size 20 (Woo-Hoo), white shorts in size 22 (they were a crisp cotton on special but had no 20's to try on so not sure if I would have fit them anyway), and a gorgeous brown sleeveless top (oooh...usually try to avoid them but lately have given up caring). The top was size 22 also but as I usually go for 24 in a top for extra coverage and looseness this one was plenty large enough in the 22.
So there you have it! I'd say I have definitely moved from a 22-24 to an 18-22 now and I feel fab about it!!! Yey me :) Look out Gold Coast shops next weekend....I'll be shopping with renewed vigor!! :)
Enough for now though....lunch is calling and so is Dr Phil. I may update more tonight if I have anything to ad but otherwise will catch you all on the weekend :)
Cheers P
Thursday, 10th February 2005...
Teeny loss last night but a loss all the same so I'm happy :)
Lost 100 grams....so now only 100 grams away from my next goal of being 1/4 of the way through this journey.
Considering my Saturday night blowout and my lack of exercise this week due to the stitches in my leg I think I was damn lucky to loose anything at all. I did manage to get to the gym yesterday afternoon and it was great. I was able to go at my normal intensity and would never have even known my stitches were there...yey!! That means I can get back there again regularly so that is a big relief. At this stage I'll go again Friday morning when bub is in daycare. I think I'll try something different today though like maybe a walk?? Our beaches took a battering yesterday with a king tide and strong winds (even had some access ramps washed clean off their foundations!) so I might take Caleb for an hour's walk along the beach today to check it out?? That's if the weather holds out as it looks like rain here this morning.
I had 2 great motivating moments yesterday. Firstly I racked up another 'brag' entry at my son's playgroup. A women I hadn't seen there since before the Christmas break up exclaimed loudly "You've lost so much weight!" and then went on to ask how I did it :) I can tell you that felt great!!!
Then I was thrilled to get an email from Weight Watchers Aus & NZ to say this website has been assessed and they were happy to add it to the list of members journals on the WW website!!!! Yey Yey and triple Yey!! It should go on by next Friday they said so I can't wait! Not only have they validated that I must be doing a good job following their program if they are willing to promote it...but also it will mean much more traffic through my site which can only mean more encouragement, support and motivation for me :)
I told my WW leader about it last night then was mortified when she asked me to repeat it in front of the whole meeting!!! (I hate public speaking!). Trust me to open my big mouth :) Seriously though my leader is just the loveliest lady and she did seem genuinely pleased for me and how I am going this time....she has seen many of my past failures personally *blush*
Anyway....that's enough for today. I'm excited to begin a new week and hope to not only reach my next goal next week but to smash it out of the park??? We'll have to wait and see I guess.
Cheers P
Wednesday, 9th February 2005...
Just a quick entry this morning...as I already hear my little cherub stirring. Weigh- in tonight....have no idea how it will go. At this stage I think I will have either a small gain or small loss....it's pretty close to the line. Of course I only need to loose 200g to make my next goal of being 1/4 of the way through this journey??? If I don't make that tonight then I hope to make it on my last pre-holiday weigh-in next week?
Have been taking it easy this week with the stitches. Other than the hour car washing last Friday I've had no bloody exercise at all....which totally frustrates and worries me at the same time. It's because of this that I don't expect to loose much if any tonight but it can't be helped. It feels pretty good now so I'm hoping to give the gym a go this afternoon. I'll just take it easy and stop if anything starts to hurt.
It is meant to be some god-awful temp of 36+ today so I am dreading going to playgroup and sweating it out for a couple of hours....Ugh! Will leave air-con going at home so we at least come home to cool.
I made toffee's last night from the WW mix and match cookbook. Really easy....just 3cups sugar, 2cup water and 1/4 cup vinegar. Stirred over low heat until sugar is dissolved then boiled, uncovered, for 15-20min's or until golden colour. To test readiness drop a spoon full in a cup of water and if it sets and can be cracked/broken then it's ready. Then simply add a dash of colouring and pour carefully into patty cases. It makes 18 toffee's and at 1point per toffee is a sweet tooth's dream. Of course it is also a sugar point but the best bit is that one toffee last so long that you really get the most bang for your buck/point. Last night we had 3 and this morning both woke with blue teeth, lips and tongue still!!!! Note: perhaps heavy blue food colouring is not best choice.....hehehehe :)
We are totally hanging out for our holiday next weekend. One night in Brisbane then 7 nights on the Gold Coast.....Woo-Hoo!!!!!! I'm a bit worried about the effects it may have on the scales but Simon and I talked about it last night and have a plan. I'll eat carefully during the day....get plenty of exercise checking out the attractions and theme parks etc during the day...then relax and enjoy what I want for dinner each night but within reason! Other than that if I gain - I gain. I'm not going to beat myself up over it while on holidays :)
Enough for now...must go greet the boy!
Fingers crossed for tonight's weigh-in...it's gonna be close!
Cheers P
Monday, 7th February 2005...
Monday is here already??? Where did the weekend go?
Had a great day yesterday...finished on 21 points with 2 to spare. In calculating my points this week I am going to remove Saturday since it was such a disaster and work my points out on a 6 day week. This means I have had 69/69 allowed points so far so right on track. However since Saturday was such a disaster it will negate the option of using any bonus points this week...I've had bonus enough :)
I also was not able to walk yesterday as planned. I did an hour's grocery shopping and that really irritated my stitches as it was so Simon convinced me to rest in the afternoon. I was really worried that if I went from exercising 5-7 days a week to none this week that the scales would punish me dearly for it (on top of Saturday's punishment that is!). I never thought I'd be so upset about not being able to exercise but it's really bothering me. I'm allowed to go back in the pool as of today so I may try some laps this afternoon and do some ab work from the WW DVD?? - this shouldn't irritate the stitches too much??
After lunch today I am going to make some toffee's out of the latest mix and match WW recipe book. Only 1 point per toffee and they will make a great substitute for something sweet that is finished in half the time. Last night I tried a new recipe called sticky pork steaks. It was lean pork steak cooked then tossed through the heating sauce that consisted of (1/4 cup plum sauce, 2tblsp of soy sauce and 2 of honey, 2 tsp of sweet chili sauce and minced garlic and ginger). It was 4 points all up and very very yummy!! (From simply too good to be true cook books). We had ours with steamed new potatoes and vege's and it was delish! Even Caleb approved of it :)
I finally got around to adding some more goals to my page yesterday too. I realised that I am only 200grams away from being 1/4 of the way to goal so added that plus 1/2 way and 3/4 of the way also.
Had a surprise phone call on Friday to say I had won a competition I must have entered at some point. Good news!!! Bad news is the prize...a Guilyan (?spell) beach bag filled with 7 boxes of Guilyan (you know the sea shell looking ones) chocolates!!! Sweet mother of god how will I deal with that little bundle when it arrives???? I think I may have to give most away...or maybe I could freeze them for the occasional treat???
Anyway...enough for now. Dr Phil and lunch is calling
Cheers P
Sunday, 6th February 2005...
Hi everyone. Sorry for the absence...it's been a big weekend :)
Friday night finished well except for some damn black forest cake I ate....DAMN, DAMN, DAMN! Our usual dinner guest brought it (yes the same one who brought the cheesecake last week). He's not deliberately sabotaging....he's a recently separated man that is being incredibly thoughtful to even bring a dessert so I don't hold it personally against him. I wasn't going to have it as I had an alternative all lined up. In our meeting this week we spoke of using mini pavlova nests (1.5pt's) with low fat dairy whip or fruche and fresh fruit. I served these up for the guys with their big slices of cake on the side but just couldn't' resist a tiny slice myself. It was small but totally not worth the 12 point price tag! The only consolation was that when he left Saturday morning I insisted he take the leftover 3/4 of a cake home with him!!!
So that meant I used up 2 bonus points by the finish of Friday...not too bad. But wait it get's worse.
Ok so Friday wasn't a total loss?? But Saturday was a shocker. Early that morning we set off to a neighboring city almost 2hrs away to purchase Simon a new 4wd. I grabbed a sugar free red bull on the run and we were off. Then my hubby (who's a total Hungry Jack's nut - but we don't have one in our city) had to have that for our food stop. I chose a diet coke (0 pt's), a baguette with grilled chicken (? 9 pt's) and a regular onion rings (?3-4pt's as a large is 7.5pt's). Not too bad I suppose...but then there was tea. I had pizza!!!!!! I don't know why I was doing it....I knew I was going to blow the day but seemed powerless to stop myself. I think it was falling back into old patterns..you know like shopping up big with a new car meant shopping up big with a take-away splurge for tea too??? I don't know but I so wish I didn't do it!!!
But there is one more factor....I've barely exercised in 3 days either!!! Thursday I had a well earned day of rest after 7 days straight of exercise. Then Friday the only exercise I did was an hour spent cleaning my car inside and out. Not much of a workout I guess but in the obscene heat we have been having it sure worked up a sweat. Then Friday afternoon I had to have a lump cut out of my leg and I know have 4 stitches that don't come out for another 8 days. The incision is right on my upper, inner thigh so it meant no chance of exercise yesterday. It feels much better today so I am hoping to do a gentle, yet long walk this afternoon if it feels ok?? However I think walking will be about all I'll be managing this week until the stitches are removed.
Stupid week to have pizza huh?? This was when I should have been extra vigilant with my food to offset the lack of exercise. What's wrong with me???? I woke up feeling totally pissed off with myself this morning. I know I'll gain this week now and I am not going to bitch and moan about it because I deserve it 100%. I guess I have worked so hard for the 10kg mark that I let myself slack off almost immediately after. Is this what maintenance will be like for me???
Hmmmph! Well I still want to be over 10kg lost when I go for my holiday on the 17th so if I gain this Wednesday I still have one more weigh-in on the 16th and come hell or high water I want to be still over the 10kg lost mark by then.
Ok.....enough of the confessions for now. I'm off to slap myself silly :(
Cheers P
Thursday, 3rd February 2005...
Sorry for the delay in posting the results everyone...bloody Dodo has ben giving me some server problems....still can't get into email at present but hopefully it will be back up and running again soon??
Well............I Made it to 10kg+ lost!!!!!!!!!!
I amazed even myself with a 1.2kg loss and now have lost 10.6kg in total over 13 weeks.....woo-bloody-hoo!!!!!!!!! I am SO THRILLED! :)
In all my years and years of dieting (about 12yrs) I have never lost 10kg before ever so this feels bloody wonderful **jumps up off seat to do little celebratory jig around study** :)
Of course I received my second 5kg bookmark...and even had to stand at the front of the class while my leader asked how I'd done it. Amidst blushing and praying the floor would swallow me up I think I mumbled something about lots of exercise....lol lol I just wanted to sit down and return to a normal colour.
This morning I skipped off to the jewelers with my charm bracelet and had my second 5kg charm added....a butterfly to symbolise my metamorphosis from a grub in a hard shelled cocoon to a butterfly flying amongst the clouds.
You can see pics of the charms and bookmarks on the photo's page. Before I forget to mention it... I have also added a couple of new journals to my links page also.
I woke up this morning and had to jump on the scales to prove it was really true. I cannot remember the last time my scales said 108 point anything so it was a real thrill to see the miracle had remained. Not that it was a miracle really....I worked damn hard all week to make it - even when I thought it wasn't going to happen I didn't give up. Boy did that pay off! :)
The week that was:
- Used 167 of an available 161 points
-Earned 40.5 bonus points
-Used only 6 of those bonus points (saved another 6 that I could have spent)
-Used 29.5 sugar points out of available 14 (Oops!)
Exercise:
Thu - 30 min's gym
Fri - 30min's gym
Sat - 1hr/10km bike ride
Sun - WW DVD warm-up, Fitstrip workout, tummy time and cool down
Mon - 25 laps of our pool
Tue - 30min beach walk
Wed- 30min's gym
I have been tracking my exercise on monthly calendars since December and this is how they tally up so far:
December January
-17/31 days exercise 
-21/31 days exercise
-86 bonus pt's earnt -138.5 bonus pt's earnt
-other 45min's -WW DVD 1hr
-Total exercise time 10hrs -Total exercise time 14hrs
As you can see I have made a big improvement in my exercise in the last month and I intend to improve even more this month. My email buddy Jacki and I are going to have a little competition for it...anyone else who's interested let me know :) It still amazes me to see what I am accomplishing with exercise. 6 months ago I would vow to exercise 3 days a week but be lucky to do 1 or 2 days. Now I average 5-7 days a week at 30-60min's duration!!!!!! Holy Cow!!!!
After my meeting I thought about what I could have said when my leader asked what worked for me. It came down to 3 things:
1: Tracking everything that passes my lips
2: Exercising 5-7 days a week
3: Setting many small goals along the way
and if there was a #4 it would have to be watermelon!!!! lol lol I eat so much of it Simon might wake up next to a giant melon one day *wink*. It's just so low in points and damn delish!!!
My next goal is now to reach 107.2 as that will be 10% of my starting body weight gone......hoo-roo...ta-ta....toodles!
Anyway it's time I got my 10.6kg lighter butt off this seat and got some housework done while the boy is still napping. Simon goes to TKD training tonight so I'll use that opportunity to catch up on everyone else's journal.
ps.....did I mention I have lost 10.6kg?????
*hehehehehe*
Cheers P
Wednesday, 2nd February 2005...
The last 24hrs have certainly been a time for arrivals and departures!
The arrivals were when my not-unexpected TOM showed up yesterday...... the departures were much more unexpected. In the last day and a half I dropped almost 1.5kg!!!!!!! Yey!!!! So I guess it was water retention as I had guessed as yesterday I thought I could even have been pregnant based on the ridiculous amount of times I was going to the loo. Of course now I know it was my body letting go of that stored water and all my hard work this week had paid off. I even had a little celebratory jig around my en-suite.....hehehe
So....that of course means that I am expecting a loss tonight at the WW weigh-in.....PH-EWWWW!!!! I'm not sure if it will be enough to crack the 10kg mark but if not it will be damn tootin' close :) Can you tell how happy I am now?? hehehe :)
Of course I was still going to my meeting no matter what but I was a bit bummed about expecting a gain. Now I can waltz in, head held high, knowing that I'm going to loose and just hoping it is low enough to reach my 10kg milestone...
fingers crossed!!!!
Hope you all like my ticker I've added above to track my progress??? I've wanted one for ages but didn't know how I'd go adding it to Homestead...obviously I muddled through somehow :) It's great to see it almost 1/4 of the way along the track too!!
Have added a few more non-scale related goals to my page also.
Went to the first playgroup of the year with Caleb this morning and as I walked in a lady who I only see at playgroup (and thus haven't seen for 2 months or more) commented on how good I was looking *BEAM*. I even got out back in the play yard and ran around like a goose pushing Caleb and his friend in a little pushcart thing and worked up a sweat....every little bit of activity counts! It just could make the difference tonight?? It better!
Cheers P
Tuesday, 1st February 2005...
Sorry for the lack of update yesterday. Had planned to do it after lunch before I collected Caleb from daycare. Unfortunately though he came down with a high temp and I had to collect him early...poor little bubba! We had to keep the panadol and nurofen up to him overnight but he was woken feeling well today which is a relief!
Yesterday was another great day points wise....finished on 21 points, the same as I did on Sunday, so now I have 4 points in the bank. Not that I'll be using them to eat any extra today seeing as how tomorrow is weigh in.
And girls....no chance of me hitting the 10kg mark this week :( I said I'd be angry with myself if I didn't, and I was, but then I got to thinking. Why put such pressure on myself??? I have been going really good the last 5 days...exercising every day, under points everyday, drinking water etc. So I won't make the 10kg this week but then my goal was to make it before our holiday Feb 20th so I should just stick to that and not be so impatient right?? YES I hear you all shout :)
So having said that....my scales still show that I'll gain at this stage. Bloody TOM is due any day now (in fact yesterday) so I guess that must be a factor in the scale disappointment? Anyway....if I gain I gain!
I have had a little change of perspective and kicked myself up the bum a bit. I need to stop worrying so much about the occasional gain and accept that from time to time they will happen. I think I just fear that if I gain everyone will assume I am falling of the wagon as usual? But to hell with that! I know I'm not quitting this time and need to stop worrying what others think. I know I've had a great week and if the WW scales don't show that this week than it should be next week...no big deal!!! I have already lost over 9kg and need to remind myself of that every time I anguish over that 10kg mark. I'll get there eventually...maybe next week...maybe the week after. As long as it's by the Feb 19th weigh in than I will have reached my goal and I should just be happy with that!!!!
:) Ok self lecture over :)
Man alive was I sore yesterday!!! Every muscles in my legs, butt and chest hurt from doing the WW DVD workout on Sunday....Oooow!! The best I could manage for exercise yesterday was 25 laps of our pool. Not a lot I know but it got my heart pumping and that's all that matters. I plan on hitting the gym this afternoon when Simon get's home but think I might have to go easy on the leg machines? Actually it was the painful walking that got me to the above thinking. I realised I didn't have to kill myself to try to make the 10kg this week....just keep at what I'm doing *in moderation* and time will show results.
I tried on those jeans I mentioned the other day. They weren't as loose as I had hoped which was a bit of a bummer...but then Simon reminded me they were tight before and now a little loose so that show's how far I've come. I did have a brand new pair of size 22 Millers Jeans that I couldn't wear when I bought them....but they fit easy so that was more encouraging. :)
Anyway....I have heaps of tax preparation to do before the accountant comes tomorrow to do our BAS so I'd better get stuck into it!
Wish me luck for weigh-in tomorrow night....I'm gonna need it *wink*
Just thought I would leave with with todays thought....
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellance is therefore not an act but a habit"
Cheers P
Sunday, 30th January 2005...
Phew what a weekend! I had one food slip up but have done lot's of exercise to compensate. On Friday night our dinner guest bough some Cheesecake shop caramello torte (!!!!)...and yes I told him all about saboteurs *wink*. I had one slice but thankfully had enough points to cover the 13 point cost of it so it didn't spoil the whole day. It made me angry at myself though for wasting so many points on it. It was delicious though and I enjoyed every mouthful.
Saturday morning we were up early for Caleb's 1st swimming lesson of the year. After that we all went on a family bike ride for 1hr/10km along the Esplanade which was hard work but bloody good for me :)
I came home and spent an hour pouring over my WW and 'Simply too Good to be True' low fat cookbooks looking for something yummy to try for tea. We settled on Chicken Pizziola....which is basically a chicken breast pounded flat with pizza topping (mushrooms, WW bacon, pineapple, tomato, onion, basil and garlic) on top and low fat cheese to finish. Pop it in the oven for about 30min's and it is a delish 5 point base for any meal :) Simon gave it his non-diet thumbs up too!
While our guests that night enjoyed Oreo cookies while playing PS2 I settled for a movie in bed and some low fat chocolate chip cookies...finishing the day on 23.5 points.
So far for the 3 days of this week I have used 78 out of an allowed 69...therefor using 9 bonus points out of allowed 12 so far. I have done
-1 x 30min gym workout
-1 x 10km (1hr) bike ride
-1 WW DVD warm up (7min's), Fitstrip workout (18min's), Tummy Time workout (5min's) and Cool down (9min's).
I made it through the restaurant dinner unscathed and have been drinking lots of water also so I've stuck to all those goals I set on Thursday (see below) except one....that Caramello torte blew my sugar points out the window so I'll work harder next week to keep them under 14.
Overall I feel I am doing everything I can to counteract those couple of bad days earlier this week. The scales have dropped 0.5kg but I need another 1.5kg down to reach that 10kg loss....I still WANT IT!!!!! :)
Back to the gym tomorrow morning when Caleb goes to daycare and then again on Wednesday afternoon before weigh-in. Not sure what to do on Tuesday yet?? Of course when my daily points allowance dropped after I went below 110kg, so too did my bonus points values of various exercise - bummer!! Even though I only use a fraction of them I like to push myself to get those numbers up there!
I've decided I need to have another wardrobe clear out too. Last year I dragged out all the clothes I no longer wear and put them up for sale on Ebay and made almost $200. And these clothes were used!!!! It's crazy what some people will pay. Anyway now I have clothes I don't fit anymore as I am shrinking so I thought I should do what the experts say and get rid of them...not keep them in case I grow back into them! I even have a pair of winter long pants that are still brand new with the tags. I have 2 pairs of size 22 jeans that I haven't tried on since starting this journey (hmm might do that after this I think) and I'm sure they will no longer fit now let let alone by next Winter :) So I'll make a few bucks and some room in my closet (I was such a hoarder until I discovered Ebay).
Yes shall go try those jeans on now and let you know tomorrow how they fit. Then I must really catch up on all the other journals I read. Hope everyone had a great weekend!
Cheers P
Friday, 28th January 2005...
Feeling fine today!!! First off I want to say a big congrats to my email buddy Jacki who made it to the 90's today!!!! BRAVO :)
Now.....back to me *wink*
Well I went out to the Italian restaurant last night and I'm very pleased to say it was a huge success for me! I side stepped several points minefields and finished the day on points.
While there I drank diet coke, water and one glass of white wine. I was a little annoyed when my glass was refilled before I had finished it (and without asking) so I just guessed what I had left and drank that from the refill then left the rest there....didn't want to blow points on something I'm not a big fan of anyway.
I made a little compromise on the entree. I asked for soup of the day but they had none....I asked about the vege's and whether they were cooked or raw but I felt like too much of a poser ordering vege's - does that make any sense. I would have eaten them, and enjoyed them, but I didn't want anyone making a fuss over my choice so I just had a few of Caleb's hot chips. Not a great substitute I know but I did count the points and besides...it was a HUGE achievement considering the garlic bread and garlic pizza (drool!!!!) everyone else at the table was hoeing in to. I really, really wanted to try the garlic pizza but new I would only feel bad about it later so stayed firm and kept guzzling my drinks.
For main I had the veal and vege's as planned and it was delicious!! I asked for the sauce on the side but ended up using most of it anyway. Still I suppose that was a good habit to get in to. Everyone else had creamy pasta's or steak and chips but I really enjoyed my vege's and it felt great to feel guilt free.
Then everyone was having cafe late's and deciding on which decadent dessert to order...but I just had another diet coke!!!! Yey for me :) Thankfully Simon was too full for dessert so my declining to order didn't stand out....and in the end everyone else just finished on their creamy coffee's instead. I came home and had some watermelon and a WW choc crisp bar for dessert instead!!
This whole restaurant really was a great victory for me and I know now that we can do it more often and still stay in points :) Caleb was superbly behaved too! I definitely found it easier to make my menu choices before going there and will do that again when I am able to in future.
Simon came home early enough for me to get to the gym at lunch time yesterday. I've just come back from there again today so that's 2/2 days of exercise so far this week :)
I peeked at the scales just now and I'm afraid they are saying 111.4kg but I know there is plenty of time yet....gotta get to about 109.5kg on my scales to make the 10kg loss on WW scales......Eeek! Still...no use stressing about it yet. I'm just going to workout hard every day....stick to points and drink lots of water to help counteract any fluid retention this week. Fingers Crossed!!
Weekend here I come......
Cheers P
Thursday January 27th 2005...
Had a bad day yesterday.....damn that left over pizza!!! Once I'd had 2 slices of that the old mentality came back of 'oh well you've blown it for today....keep going!' Other than the 2 slices of pizza I also had some salty chicken chips and a heaven ice-cream after tea :( Other than that the day was good *wink*. Oh well....no use bleating on about it now...what's done is done and since today is the first official day of the WW week I'm over it and moving on :)
Today is my mother-in-laws 55th birthday and we are going to an Italian Restaurant for dinner....eeeek! So I found the menu on the net and have made what I think is a healthy choice given the options of creamy pasta's and decadent pizza's. I'm going for soup of the day or bowl of vege's for entree (depending on what soup is), and veal medallions in mushroom sauce with vege's for main. If I feel like it I'll have some gelato for dessert? How does that sound? The veal should be 3 points....the creamy mushroom sauce I'm going to overestimate and say another 3 points for that. The vege bowl will be free or the soup may be 2-3 points depending on what type it is. If they have a water based gelato that's 1.5 points or cream based is 3 points. Worst case scenario is I have a 3 course meal for up to 12 points...but I'm fairly certain I won't need all 3 courses so I should get away with about 9 points...not bad for a restaurant meal!! Every other time I've been there I had ravioli with carbonara sauce....about the worst thing I could choose! Not this time :) And for drinks I'll have a diet coke and a jug of iced water...Settled!
It's a wet and miserable day here today...just like the last day or so has been actually. Caleb and I spent the morning at the library and splashing around the backyard in raincoats and gumboots...much fun! :) I'm hoping the weather brings Simon home early again as it did yesterday so that I can go to the gym. Even if it doesn't I'll have time to go later today before we go out for dinner. I would loved to have gone yesterday while he was home but it was closed for Australia Day public holiday dammit!!
To make up for my recent indiscretions...and to ensure I make that 10kg loss this week I'm setting myself the following goals:
-Exercise EVERY day this week
-Stick to points allowance EVERY day this week...especially weekends
-Drink 2L of water EVERY day this week
-Limit sugar points to 14 for first time ever.
-Enjoy a restaurant meal 'on points'
I DESPERATELY want to reach 10kg total lost next Wednesday more than anything. I'll be very angry with myself for yesterday if I don't. That's why I needed to be careful and plan ahead for this evening. Also I want to show myself that it can be done....I can eat out and enjoy a meal with others while still sticking to points!
I want that 10kg bookmark!!!!!
Cheers P
Tuesday January 25th, 2005...
Not much time to update right now so will try to get back later and just give you the basics for now.
Had a great day yesterday.....finished on only 17 points!!! I'm really happy that I have been saving points most days now as before I used to eat them all just because I could...now I stop and save some points for times of need in future..eg weekends.
Went to weigh-in this morning and thanks to Granny's change in work schedule I was able to leave Caleb with her and stay for the meeting also which I was very pleased with.
I went for a 30min walk this morning hoping for some last minute miracle...hehehe Turns out I gained 0.1kg....hardly anything!!! I'm glad of this for many reasons:
-I'm glad I didn't gain too much
-I'm glad that I can feel guilt free about it, knowing I stuck to program this week and that it must have just been my body coming back to normal after last weeks big loss after the tummy bug I had
-Most of all I'm glad I went to the meeting (thanks for the encouragement everyone)
-I'm glad that I can now work really hard to reach my 10kg milestone next week and be able to achieve it at my regular meeting with friends present
So although it was a short week (5 days) here it is:
The week that was:
- Used 108 of an available 115 points (saved 7)
-Earned 25 bonus points
-Used only 3.5 of those bonus points (saved other 8.5 I could have spent)
-Used 12.5 sugar points out of available 14
Exercise:
Thu - none (getting over gastro)
Fri - none
Sat - 30 min walk, 5 min WW DVD ab workout
Sun - 1hr/13.5km bike ride
Mon - 30 min gym workout
Tue - 30min walk
So this week is in the can. I'm having my chicken wings for lunch now to get that craving out of the way and get stuck into a fresh week in the morning :)
Gotta dash
Cheers P
Addit:
Just had to come back to give a quick shout out to the most amazing lady....her name is Lyn and her site is in my links page but you can check it out here
She has lost over 36kg's and I have been following her journal for about a year. Tonight she made it to goal!!!! Well done Lyn!!!
This women will show anyone who looks that it can be done. Her before pics show a body similar to mine...her after pics show a body I'd kill for.
I got totally misted up tonight reading that she had made it as it made it real for me....if she can do it so can I :)
You go Lyn!!!! I am so proud of you.
I want my after photo now too!!!
Cheers P
Monday, 24th January 2005...
I'm having a little personal dilemma today....teetering on the edge of a blow-out and trying desperately to hang on!
As I said in an earlier post, my regular Wednesday meeting is canceled this week for the Australia day public holiday. This means I weigh in tomorrow morning or not until next week.
Problem is that my scales are showing a 1kg gain since Saturday morning. Now I know, and you know too, that I have not gone over points at all in more than 12 days. I've exercised 10 out of those 12 days and there is no reason in god's green earth those numbers should be going up?? Well ok maybe two reasons.....1) I'm retaining fluid from the dreaded TOM approaching or 2) my body has finished re-adjusting since that dreaded stomach bug got me last week???
Hence my dilemma. Do I go tomorrow morning.... a day earlier than normal and risk a gain or do I wait until next week?????
Which brings me to my next dilemma. I feel like Chicken tonight....like chicken tonight (err ok got carried away with the Ad jingle there). What I feel like is marinated chicken wings. We used to eat a lot of them and I absolutely love them (remember chicken is one of my top 3 red light foods). I have some in the freezer and you have no idea how close I came to pigging out on them for lunch today. My tricky little mind said .. "have the chicken and then wait until next week to weigh in when you have a chance to work them off again"!!! Nasty little voice isn't it?
I think that I have been good for so long now that my brain tells me that based on previous habits that must mean it's overdue for a blowout now. I have the perfect opportunity to extend weigh in by another week and satisfy the voice....but sabotage myself in the process??
I have been screaming it down in my head all day but don't know how long I can keep it up?? I went to the gym this morning and worked my butt off then went to Woolies and stocked up on more watermelon, some fresh banana's and mango. Then I came home and put on a low point crock pot dinner straight away to remove the temptation of take away tonight. So you see my dilemma.....I'm fighting really hard to stay on track yet at the same time really resisting recording a gain tomorrow??
God could I be any more rambling today?? I guess I'm just trying to get down on paper (screen) what's running around my head so someone can knock some sense into me.
This is my one shred of rational thought......I should go to weigh in tomorrow! This will keep me on track today for fear of that gain. I can do a big walk before the meeting tomorrow and hope that helps to mimimise the gain. I can recognise any gain for what it is - not my fault and just my body adjusting.. I could then put it behind me and get on with my next week (which incidentally will be an extra day long and should hopefully end in me achieving my 10kg loss!) I could then satisfy my craving by having chicken wings tomorrow night instead of my usual post weigh in, once-a-week take away? This way I get the food I crave but in a controlled mannor? I could do all these things???????????????????
But what will I actually do???
Hmmm?
On a completely different subject :) I had my measurements done at the gym this morning and my totals are now as follows:
Bust: down 6cm
Waist: down 4cm
Abdomen: down 13cm
Hips: down 9cm
Arms: down 7cm
Body Fat: down 2%
Total Cm's Lost : 37cm!
Cheers P
Sunday, 23rd January 2005...
Phew what a day!!! But before I get ahead of myself I'd best catch up on the weekend just been...
Didn't end up exercising Friday so had 2 days off after my big week of workouts. Our dinner with guests went well Friday night and I really enjoyed the lean spaghetti bolognaise we had for tea. I kept in control later in the evening too and filled up with my usual seedless watermelon and a big cup of cold skim milk with the WW chocolate drink powder mixed in. Went to bed full as a goog and only had 26 points all up (used 3 from the bank I saved on Thurs).
Saturday I got back into the swing of things with a 30min walk and a 5 min ab workout from the WW DVD. It's funny how good that felt after only having missed 2 days of exercise (ahh wash my mouth out! *wink*)
We had a yummy BBQ, salad and pasta dinner last night then I had more watermelon and some low fat choc-chip cookies for evening munchies. I ended up the day on 29.5 points which used the remaining 3 banked points and 3.5 bonus points.
I woke up this morning knowing I had broken a big mental barrier....weekends shall no longer be my downfall. Think of all the build up and pressure I felt last weekend even attempting to get through a weekend on points?? Yet here I am, just having done it for the second week running and honest to god it wasn't even hard!!! While pondering this personal achievement I realised a few little gems of clarity. I used weekend binging and snacking as a reward for being good all week. Or I was rewarding the fact it was a weekend and that meant treat time. I wasn't seeing the damage this wreaked on the rest of my week, nor the battering it was giving my self worth. It was emotional eating at it's worst and now that the little light has finally been turned on for me I don't know why I've wasted so many years on it???? See now that I can clearly see that little saboteur it won't trap me again so easily!!!!! I know that by saving a few points on Thursday and using some bonus points if I have to I can get through a weekend with ease. Ok so maybe I used 3 or 4 bonus points when before I saved them all. But when you factor in the un-tracked junk I ate every fri and sat night I was not only eating my bonus points but dozens more on top of that!!! This little weekend beast can bite me no more. I know I can beat it now and I feel that with this knowledge I have turned a HUGE corner for me :)
For the first time in years I am actually liking what I see in the mirror. Not because I am thin by any stretch of the imagination....but I'm getting there. I like that I can now see how flatter my big tummy has become, I like to see how loose my clothes are getting....and I love to see myself wearing clothes I haven't fitted into for years.
I think I am finally allowing myself to believe I could actually do this!!!! I can actually follow the program and have a life as well. And the biggest shock for me....I can exercise for 30-60min's 5-7 days a week and actually love it!!!!!!! No stranger words have I ever spoken before...me love exercise...never!! But it's true....and I couldn't be happier about it!
Which brings me to today. Simon, Caleb and I met a friend for a bike ride this morning and rode for 1hr.....13.5km's!!!!!! It felt great. Ok I felt like I was literally going to pass out when I finished but once that passed I felt great! I really pushed myself hard today (hence the extra 3.5km traveled than our last 1hr/10km ride) and I kept thinking about having a loss next Tuesday....oh how I want that! This ride had more hills than our usual Esplanade ride but didn't have the one BIG hill I conquered last weekend. Then we all came home, reapplied some sunscreen (I'm the biggest sunscreen Nazi you'll ever meet - I kid you not!) and we all hit the pool for some family fun for an hour or so before lunch.
I had an absolutely divine ham and chicken salad roll for lunch and some fresh watermelon (big shock huh?).....hehehe.....and we are having a turkey breast roast with roast vege's for tea.....that will bring me to only about 15 points after tea so I'm thinking of making one of the WW self saucing puddings for dessert...only 2 points a serve and oh so yummy!
Thanks to last nights cookies I'm already up to about 10.5 sugar points this week so gotta keep an eye on that now. Otherwise I have used 69/69 points....used 3.5/12 bonus pt's and earnt 13.5 bonus points for the week so far. AND I haven't had any real coke for about 11 days now!!!!!! Could I really have broken the addiction???
Cheers P
Friday, 21st January 2005...
Thank god it's F-f-friday!
After still feeling yucky all day yesterday I am very pleased to say I feel pretty much back to normal today. I thought it best not to exercise yesterday as I still felt weak, shaky and a little feint right up until I went to sleep last night. Thankfully today dawned a better day so I am hoping to try out my new WW exercise DVD later today....time permitting.
As always I am staggered and flattered by the sheer volume of guestbook entries and emails I have received in the last week....thank you! *blush*. I try to reply to each one personally to let you all know how much your effort means to me.
As usual I hopped on the scales again this morning, dreading that after a day of eating normal my weight would shoot up again.....but it's 110.2kg. As my scales are usually 0.4 or so heavier than WW scales that means I've only gained 100 grams if anything since my gastro has passed so that is a HUGE relief :)
I am working full steam ahead towards my 10kg loss mark now....so close I can almost taste it (pun intended). I am a little bummed that my regular Wednesday night meeting is not on next week due to the Australia Day holiday. This means I either wait another week until the following Wednesday or I weigh at the other meeting held Tuesday morning and won't be able to stay for the meeting as Caleb will be with me??? Also if I get my 10kg bookmark I would have liked to have got that with my regular group around but Oh well??? I think for me it's more important that I don't get complacent with an extra week to wait so I'll go Tuesday ..... yep that's decided now :) I thought of going to another leaders group next Saturday morning to catch up on the missed meeting topic but Caleb's swimming lessons start back that morning so there goes that idea.
In my many memberships past I have never been one to stay for the meeting every week and I've finally got it into my thick little head now how important that is. I pick up so many great tips and menu ideas each week and the support is just wonderful....hence why I'd like that group to see me reach 10kg down. But then I shouldn't be too sure I'll even make that yet.....not counting my eggs before they hatch and all that hoopla....hehehe I think I just feel so positive and confident since last weekends discipline that I feel like I can do anything now :)
In all the times I've joined WW in the past and in all the many other diets I have done I have NEVER lost this much weight ever!!! I think my previous best was when I lost about 8.6kg once...then of course put it all back on then some :(
This morning I dug deep back into the recesses of my cupboard and found another pair of cargo shorts that I have not been able to fit into for at least 3 yrs....maybe 4....and like last time - I'm still wearing them now!! Not only is my wardrobe choices expanding every day but what a wonderful way to start my day with a boost of enthusiasm now that I am finally seeing the fruits of my labour. I also have a brand new pair of board shorts that are size 22 but have a Velcro fly (why they think any women who needs to squeeze her jelly belly into a size 22 pair of pants would want flimsy Velcro holding them together is beyond me). I have never worn them as they would immediately pop right open any time I moved. Today they not only fit comfortably but they were fastened tight and secure too! It's weird that I can fit nicely into both size 18 and size 22 shorts at the same time isn't it....shows how bloody unreliable dress sizes are!
Finished yesterday on only 17 points so I have some extra saved for tonight :) I'm determined to make this weekend as successful as the last!!! Now you gals hold me to that right?
Also I am thrilled to say I can now only have 23points a day instead of my previous 24 as I've dropped down a weight category to below 110kg....never done that before either!!!! Also means that my bonus points earnt will drop too so I'll have to keep my bonus pt's guide handy for a while until I get to know the new values.
On a final note I just wanted to let you all know about a great website called dietclub.com.au...it's run by Alan Boroshek (the guy who has the calorie counter books) and while the site does have a paid members section it also has a great free e-newsletter than you can sign up for. I did this and was very impressed with my first edition. Jam packed with all sorts of fascinating exercise and nutrition articles and much more. So if you have a chance I'd recommend you take a look for yourself :) I'll add it to my links page now.
I've also added a new goal too. I felt too many of my goals were weight related so I am working on coming up with a few others. My newest one is to be able to remove my wedding rings from my fingers to give them a good clean (the rings that is not my fingers...lol). Last night I was amazed to find that I can now get my eternity ring off easily which I cannot remember last being able to do. Unfortunately the larger wedding band is stuck behind the smaller engagement ring (that's what you get for being fatter every time it's time to buy another ring) but it will only be a matter of time before I can get that off too.
I have a crockpot full of spaghetti bolognaise sauce bubbling away for tonight's tea. I made it with the leanest mince I could find and filled it out with lots of tomato and mushrooms. I also swapped my usual garlic bread sticks for those little bake at home dinner rolls in semi-dried tomato flavour....Mmmm! While I have WW cheese in the fridge for Simon and our guests I'll skip the cheese myself....I'm too stingy to waste the points :)
Anyway enough of my natter. I've caught up on all the other journals I read after being away sick so I'm off to relax with lunch and the new edition of Slimming magazine now. Before I do I thought I'd share today's thought for the day first.....
"Seek out what will inspire you. A life without inspiration is a half-life only."
Mmmm I think there is something in that for all of us *wink*
Cheers P
Thursday, 20th January 2005...
Wow, wow and double wow!!! Just updated my goals and challenges page before this one and was astounded to see that I achieved FIVE goals in one foul swoop this week :) Very happy with that.
So I lost 1.9kg last night! :) The best bit was I drank and ate (what little I could) and dressed to gain 1kg before I left....returning me to the weight I was before I got sick. So having done that I know that my loss was genuine and deserved! I am also glad I didn't quite make the 10kg lost mark (only 0.5kg to go now) either as I'd like to make that next week, independent of illness so I can own my success 100%.
The week that was:
- Used 153 of an available 168 points (saved 15)
-Earned 41 bonus points
-Used only 8 of those bonus points (saved other 4 I could have spent)
-Used 18.5 sugar points out of available 14
Exercise:
Thu - 15min bike ride, 5min ab workout on WW DVD
Fri - 30min gym workout
Sat - 8km/45min bike ride
Sun - 30 min walk
Mon - 30 min gym workout
Tue - 30min gym workout
Wed - sick with vomiting (a workout in itself!)
Goals:
-Stick to points every day this week - ACHIEVED
-Exercise every day this week - ACHIEVED
-Loose 1kg minimum this week - ACHIEVED
-Reach 110kg for 1st time in yrs - ACHIEVED
-Reach 109.9kg out of 110's for 1st time in at least a decade -ACHIEVED!
So there you have it. I'd like to say more but my little cherub is calling for me to get him up so better dash. Might get chance to do another entry later today or probably tonight. If not will fill you in on this week's goals tomorrow. Have a great day everyone....I know I will. All 9.5kg less of me!!!! *wink*
Cheers P
Wednesday, 19th January 2005...
Wow what a horrible time it's been since my last entry :(
Remember how I said Simon was sick? Well he had vomiting and diarrhoea that we put down to some suspect ham that he ate. Apparently it was not the ham! I have been suffering the same thing since 3am this morning. This is the first time I have been able to sit upright and have just come in from a lovely refreshing swim to try make myself feel a little more human. Needless to say we are now terrified that Caleb will come down with it next!!!
You see it really steals my thunder. While a couple of hours ago I would have said there was zero chance of me getting to weigh-in tonight it now looks like I will. But how can I celebrate the good loss I'm in for when a kilo or more of it is probably from bringing up everything I ate in what seemed like the last century!
I'll tell you now that as of yesterday I was 110kg which had me heading for a loss of up to 2kg (yippee...was very pleased with that). However now I'm less than that and will probably loose anything from 2-3kg. This will make the difference between whether or not I get my 10kg reward bookmark???? What's a girl to do?? I really expected that as I had never lost 10kg in all the many many years I've dieted that it would be a time for celebration. But now I won't know?? And if I do have a mega loss chances are I'll gain again next week once my body has returned to normal??? Aargh!!!
So here's the plan. Firstly, I couldn't even keep water down this morning. But since lunch I have managed to keep down a small piece of watermelon. So if possible I'm going to try to eat more before tonight and drink water so as to put back on some of the artificial loss. Now there's a first!!!.....trying to gain weight before a weigh in is a bloody record for me!!! *wink*. While I will claim whatever loss I achieve tonight I will not add my next charm to my bracelet for 10kg lost until I have maintained it next week. If I gain over that mark next Wednesday than I will just continue to hold on to the charm until I loose it again for certain?? What do you all think?? Does that sound reasonable?
The only other option is to miss weigh in tonight and wait until next week. But dammit I worked so hard this week that I am hungry for my recognition!
Yesterday I finished on only 17 points as I was feeling a little off colour. I also did a super gym workout too. Speaking of which I'll be damned if I'm going to fail myself for my exercising every day goal just because of this. While I have exercised for the last 9 or so days straight I consider what I went through this morning as exercise enough for today. Just try throwing up like there is no tomorrow and tell me that's not a workout :)
Hmmm...so there you have my predicament.
I'll go to weigh in and enjoy whatever success I have and just hope and pray I can maintain it next week?? Looks like another full on week ahead for this little duck!
Cheers P
Tuesday, 18th January 2005...
It moved.....it moved.....it mooooooved!!!!!!!!
hehehe
yes folks those damn scales FINALLY moved in my favour this morning. Now I know they recommend not weighing daily but it really does work for me. If the result is bad or not moving it inspires me to try even harder that day. When they are good, as they were this morning, it inspires me to keep it up and try for even better :) Which is just what I shall do. I sure don't want to see the numbers go any higher tomorrow for weigh-in (though would love even lower *wink*) so I'm going to put in another great day today.
Finshed on only 18 points yesterday. I know I should only save 4, not 6, but I was busy looking after Simon who was really sick with vomiting and diarrhoea and thought what was the point of eating just for eating's sake. It's not like I'll be spending them anyway...except maybe Wednesday night after weigh-in for my take away meal?? I also had 1 point saved from Sunday too. I usually never save points and go over points more days then not so I cannot believe how well this week has been going for me!!!!!
When Simon was so sick yesterday he decided not to eat tea as it would have come straight back anyway. So I was free to choose anything I wanted...but due to the convenience factor decided on take away. But not just any old take away....I wanted the most bang for my buck...err I mean for my points. So I got out my trusty eating out guide and decided on a McDonalds lean beef burger (5 pt's), small fries (3 pt's - I even weighed them on my scales to be sure!!) and a diet coke :) It felt great to know I could make healthy choices from take away and still stick to points. Of course I could have skipped the chips but I had so many points left over anyway that 3 points on fries were a welcome treat....and oh so yummy for a nice change.
Of course I did my gym workout yesterday also and as Simon is only working an hour or so this morning then coming home to rest I should be able to sneak out to the gym again today too! That will be a bonus as I wasn't planning on hitting the gym again until Wednesday....I thought I'd probably walk today instead but worried that the over cast weather wouldn't hold out?? Now the gym will be much better. Jeeze I can't believe I have exercised 8 days in a row now!!!!!
So there you have it. Another successful day finally brings some results and boy am I looking forward to tomorrow nights weigh-in for a change. I really really really want that 1kg loss!
Cheers P
Monday, 17th January 2005...
Got on the dreaded scales first thing this morning and........NOTHING! I am still recording 112.0kg (which is exactly what my scales weighed me as before last weeks WW weigh-in).....Argh!!!
It's frustrating yes, and more than a little disappointing but for a change it is at least guilt free. I know I have followed the program to the letter this week (except the sugar points I am counting for the first time)....no blow outs and exercising every single day so I know that even if I don't loose a gram this week I know I've given it my very best. Also I've seen the 1-2kg I can shift between Monday and Wed night on a normal week when I am trying to undo weekend damage. So while I expect they will finally start to move any day now it doesn't matter. If I don't loose this week imagine the loss I'll have by next week :) Yes.....my glass is half full today *wink*
Finished yesterday on 23 points so that's one more saved for the bank. Went for a 30min walk around the block with Caleb, Simon and Mojo the pooch yesterday afternoon so that kept up with my everyday exercise plan. It was so hot though that we all jumped straight in the pool as soon as we got home....ok all of us except the dog :)
I really enjoyed my diet jelly last night for dessert and had a WW mini tub of choc ice-cream with it.....a huge and yummy dessert for only 1.5 points!!!
I'm drinking water really well and have had only 2 cans of coke in the last 9 days...both of which I had last Wednesday night. I'm drinking lots of water and usually one or two cans of diet coke a day.
I am totally thriving on all the wonderful feedback I am getting from readers of late and I am surprised to see up to 100 hits a day on this page in the last few weeks...Oh My!!!
This morning I went and did my sweat session at the gym then ducked in to Woolies to stock up on low point treats. I got diet jellies, Nestle diet yogurts and desserts, my usual 2 big slabs of watermelon, WW frozen dinners etc.
I really want to make that 1kg lost goal this week but I tell you what if I don't then it won't be for lack of trying :) I also want to make my goal of exercising every day this week! I've added all this weeks goals to my goals and challenges page for extra incentive...as I love getting those stars for each one achieved :)
Cheers P
Sunday, 16th January 2005...
They are absolutely right!
Nothing does taste as good as success feels :)
I did it again. I made it through the second night of my weekend challenge and woke up this morning feeling like I was already at goal. It was like I had a lightbulb moment and realized that if I can get through this weekend (my first ever on points!) then I can do anything!!!! Sure I'll have hiccups along the way...I'm human after all....but it won't bring me down! Never again will I chuck it all in and say I'll start afresh Monday...not until I reach goal or get pregnant...Not Before!!
I finished yesterday on 29 points....using up another 5 of my bonus points. That still leaves up to 4 bonus points that I can use during the rest of the week (although it's unlikely I'll need to). It felt great to end the night with some still in the bank, knowing I showed some restraint and didn't eat them all just because I could :)
The dinner at my sister-in-laws place was delicious and very point friendly. It was baked fish with pasta and a self serve salad....my type of meal! Not to mention how good food always tastes when you don't have to cook it yourself *wink*
Today had a lovely sleep in until 8am when I was awoken by Simon and Caleb with breakfast in bed. Simon had made a BBQ bacon and eggs using the WW bacon I had in the fridge (only 0.5 points for 3 rashes!) and a glass of skim milk with a gorgeous flower picked fresh from our pond....ahh! Then after an absolutely divine family swim in the pool we headed off to the marina to show Caleb the boats. We had a great time strolling the boardwalk and boutiques and watching the boats on the water. I treated myself to a great little sarong that I found there. I have been hunting for a black sarong for ages to match my togs but couldn't find one. Today I found a gorgeous one that was a size L/XL in black with gorgeous flower print. The best thing is that it doesn't actually open at all...only gives the illusion of being tied shut so there is no chance of unexpected fat flashing when wearing it *wink* I'm wearing it now and I love it. I even took a little pic to show you guys but haven't the time to post it just now. Remind me later ok?
To finish off our morning we visited the ice-cream parlor there. Haven't been to one of those in forever! Simon had this double cone concoction that I later counted to be 14 points (!!!!) I on the other hand chose a 97% fat free chocolate gelato and asked for a single scoop in a cup so as to save points on the cone....how bloody good am I???? It was 1.5 points and was a total treat! See you can fit in treats and stay on points :)
I even had the lady dig out her product information factsheets so she could read me the ingredients on the strawberry gelato and as it was dairy free Caleb was able to enjoy his first ice-cream treat. I have tried soy ice-cream with him once before but he was put off by the cold. Even though today he ate only 3 or 4 spoons out of his cup I was not tempted to finish it for him and instead promptly returned it to the counter....another victory!
All in all I'd say this weekend has been a huge success! When it's cooler this afternoon I'll be taking Caleb for a walk in the pram to make sure I keep to my everyday exercise plan this week. I am cooking the same peppercorn steak with mushroom sauce for my tea that Simon loved last week from the WW Simply the Best recipe book. With steamed vege's and baby potatoes it's a delish meal at only 5.5 points...Mmmm!
Special thanks to Liz who reminded me what a great point free snack diet jelly is too! I used to eat it all the time but I'm such a faddist with food that I'll live on something for ages then totally go off it. So I have made a big bowl of free jelly for my dessert tonight :)
And for you Kim I promised the recipe for the Lite Mars Bar slice I made yesterday....which by the way I had one square of then left the other 11 squares with the hosts so I wouldn't be tempted by it last night :) Victory again!!!
The recipe is from the fabulous 'Simply Too Good To Be True' (book 3) low fat recipe books that are available at all good newsagents. I highly recommend them for low point versions of all your favorite dishes with lots of big glossy pics of how they should turn out!
Lite Mars Bar Slice:
-2 x 44.5g Mars Bar lite 50% less fat
-3 cups rice bubbles
-2 tablespoons golden syrup
-1 tablespoon of low fat marg
-1 tablespoon skim milk
-cooking spray
Icing:
-3/4 icing sugar
-2 tablespoons cocoa
-1-2 tablespoons skim milk
-roughly chop mars bars and melt in microwave for 2 min's on high along with margarine and golden syrup. Stir then add milk and return to microwave for a further 30sec's. In a big bowl pour melted ingredients over rice bubbles and stir until well coated. Pour into oiled tray and press down evenly. Refrigerate until set.
-Mix all icing ingredients and spread over slice.
-serves 15 for 1.5 pt's per serve.
By the way I am now up to13.5 suagar points this week so far!
Ok well that's enough for today. Thanks for all the encouragement this weekend :)
Cheers P
Saturday, 15th January 2005...
Well I'm back and it's time to fess up about how the first night of the weekend challenge went.....
I have good news and bad.
The good news is that this morning I accomplished something I didn't think I was capable of. Normally when we do our Esplanade bike rides or walks we drive the bikes down there in Simon's truck then ride along the relatively even pedestrian path which runs the length of our entire foreshore. You see our city slopes up from the beach backwards and there is a giant hill extending from my house to the water. I'm happy to ride around our neighborhood or ride along the Esplanade but riding from one to the other is something I have always believed I couldn't do. Today I did it!!!!!! We set off from home about 9am and the ride down the hill took us 15min's. We had morning tea at the park while Caleb played on the swings (it's his favorite 'train' park which is always teaming with kids!). Then after a quick jaunt along the beach we headed for home. I was more than a little nervous about what lay ahead but I needn't have been. I did have to get off and walk the bike on the steepest stretch (about 100m) but otherwise I made it all the way home. The return trip took 30min's but boy oh boy was I stuffed when it was over. My face was red with purple blotches (!) and teaming with sweat but I was grinning like a fool! I measured the distance in my car just before and it was an 8km round trip....not too bad huh?? So that means I've exercised 3 out of 3 days so far this week....on track for my 7/7 goal :)
And now for the bad news :(
I'm a dirty little trickster....there is no bad news.....tee-hee! I made it through my first ever Friday night high risk period on points!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know it seems like I'm making a huge deal of this but believe me for me it was a huge deal. I always eat pretty much whatever I want on a Friday and Saturday night and by Sunday I've usually gained a kilo or two. Then I spend the next 3 days exercising like mad and eating lean to try to get back to the last weigh-in weight and then try to trim a little bit more off for a loss. But not this week!!!! I got on the scales this morning and my weight was still exactly what it was Wednesday night. That might seem bad but for me it's great! It means I still have 4 days left to get the numbers moving down and exercising every day and sticking to points every day is bound to achieve that one surely?? I've got that one kilo loss goal firmly in my sights and am running for it with open arms :)
Funny thing was I ate so much last night that I went to bed feeling over stuffed - not a good thing I know but at least by making good choices I was full yet still on program. I had my allowed 24 points, plus the 3 I banked from Thursday and I used only 3 of my bonus points. That still leaves me another 9 available bonus points at my disposal tonight so I know I can pull it off again :)
YEY YEY YIPPEE EYE YEY FOR ME!!! :)
Already I have earnt 23 bonus points in the last 3 days and I'm starting to feel like the dull ache of my muscles was there all along *wink*
I have not had coke for 3 days and before that day not had it for another 3-4 days....HUGE for me :)
I am however totally hooked on seedless watermelon and am eating it as I type. It is so low points it's unbelievable...and so thirst quenching and filling at the same time...I am a total junkie!
Just wanted to say that I've had lots of feedback on the comments I made about weighing my shoes.....seems I'm not the only weigher out there !!!!*wink*!!!!!
This morning, on a whim, when I got dressed I tried on a pair of shorts on impulse that I had not been able to fit into confidently in over 3 years...I'm still wearing them now at almost 2PM :) Nice little buzz there.
This evening we are going to my sister-in-laws for dinner. I was worried about how a meal of unexpected points would factor into my weekend boot camp. I was then very pleased to hear we will be having baked fish and salad (*Sigh*)...yippee so that should fit just nicely. I volunteered to bring dessert so I could make something out of my low fat recipe books and I'm bringing 'Light Mars bar slice'.....think rice bubbles in melted mars bars and golden syrup and set into a slice....and don't forget the chocolate icing smeared on top! Makes you want it doesn't it.....and that's even before I tell you it's only 1.5points per slice ....Mmmm!!! Tee-hee!
I am still counting my sugar points and had another 3 last night...trying to keep them in mind now too (hence too stingy to spend two on a can of coke).
In a bid to further improve my weigh-in night, once a week, takeaway meal I have planned my next one already. I saw an add for a delicious looking skinless, seasoned chicken breast strips from Red Rooster served in a bowl salad or tortilla wrap with salad. I'm going the roll and I can't wait. And it will be so much healthier then usual 1/4 chicken and chips with gravy.
Anyway....this entry has been unintentionally mammoth so I'd best end it here. Thanks for all your support as always everyone...I am eternally humbled.
Cheers P
Friday, 14th January 2005...
Heading into the weekend feeling hopeful and more than a little apprehensive. I really, really, really want to do well tonight and tomorrow night but I have failed at so many things that I really, really wanted before??
Yesterday finished great! Saved 3 points from my regular allowance and 3.5 bonus points from my ab workout and 15min bike ride :)
I dug out my week one book and made sure I was clear on how many points of which sort I can save. I am allowed to bank 4 regular points a day to be used in that week or canceled. I am allowed to spend up to 12 bonus points each week.
I have had a good gym workout this morning (2 days out of 2 for exercise so far....remember I'm working on 7 days this week!) so that's another 7.5 bonus points. While I don't usually use up my bonus points I am going to allow myself to use up to 6 each day for tonight and tomorrow night to get through this weekend on track. After all that's what they are for right??? Imagine how great I'll feel if I get through the weekend on track :)
Went grocery shopping this morning and you would have laughed if you could hear my thoughts. I went around chanting to myself 'no-fail environment, no-fail environment!!'. For those not in the know that is what Dr Phil calls making sure you don't bring food into your house that you know you will be tempted to eat. I usually buy a little box of 3 Lindor Lindt balls each shopping day (my absolute favorite chocolate). They are 1.5 points each and I always think I'll eat one a day. That never happens!! I end up eating all 3 at once and this week I just couldn't afford to blow 4.5 points of choccy (especially while I am counting my sugar points) so I said "no-fail environment Paulene" and walked on by them :) I reminded myself that a WW choc crisp bar would be much more satisfying for the same points. Righteous!!!!!
Yesterday I racked up 5.5 sugar points already (!) Crikey how do people stick to 14 all week??? Even if I go over this week (sugar points only as I DON'T want to go over my daily points) I am really interested to see how many I am consuming. This will give me the baseline I need to improve on in the future.
While shopping I also picked up a bottle of mango and melon diet softdrink and lemon, lime and orange diet softdrink to have with my vodka's tonight. Much wiser choice than the lemon ruski's of old!
Simon wanted a big packet of the Thins Tomato and basil chips and I was worried that I would have trouble resisting them....so you know what I did??? I got myself some of the mother earth popcorn in tomato and basil flavour instead!!!! That way we can both enjoy a snack and I'll feel ok about it :)
I have planned out low point meals for today to compensate for the night and after tea will still have 7.5 points spare + 3 banked from yesterday + up to 6 bonus points. If I can't get through the night with all them there is something wrong with me (yeah like I don't already know that *wink*). With such planning and foresight I really hope to conquer my highest of high risk periods....Friday night.
Let's do it!!!!!! Will update tomorrow to let you know how I went :) I can do this right??
Cheers P
Thursday, 13th January 2005...
Feeling great today!
For a change I woke up the day after weigh-in weighing less than the day before (often my weigh in night take away etc makes for a temporary gain) and I'm sure it's because I stopped eating when I was full half way through the Chinese and didn't have any other munchies last night. I left the Chinese on the sink as planned and took a smug glee in scraping it into the bin this morning :)
So far today I have had 8.5 points and I have a beef and vege casserole bubbling away in my beloved crock-pot for tea. I am having it with a steamed potato (no marg) and it will only be 6 points...Mmmm!!! That will leave me plenty of points for some 'restrained' evening snacks and I hope to save some points to go towards tomorrow night's crackdown.
I am super motivated to survive my weekend unscathed this week...I've got to do if for all of you! Not to mention the fact I am very curious as to how much of a difference it will make to the scales next week??
I am also pumped about counting those sugar points this week. I have had none so far today. If I do drink this weekend it won't be the usual lemon ruski's that are 3 points each and also 3 sugar points! I will be mixing my own vodka and diet softdrink instead :)
Last night before I left for my meeting I was so down about the mediocre results I was expecting that I received a little impromptu pep talk from Simon. He lovingly told me I was already succeeding in his eyes and then proceeded to give me a big lecture about plateau's. Seems he must have listened to me talk about them over the years after all because he assured me that I have just had a plateau - as most people do - and that now the scales would be off and moving again and to stick with it as I WOULD succeed! hehehe See that's why I married him... he is such a sweety and always so supportive of me no matter what the scales say!!!
I got my first peek at my free WW powerstart DVD today and it was great. It has some delish recipes on it that I can't wait to try and I even did it's 5 minute ab workout on the spare of the moment...boy did I feel that in the old flab factory (ie tummy *wink*). It was great and at only 5 min's totally doable! The main DVD is divided into six weekly sessions designed to be watched in the first 6 weeks of starting the program. I've only watched one session so far and will space them out for prolonged motivation.
Caleb should be up from his nap soon and I have decided that when he does he and I shall go for a bit of a neighborhood bike ride. I am going to aim to exercise 7 days this week (!!!!) to really get those scales shifting again in a big way. It'll probably near kill me but imagine how great I'll feel for achieving it :)
We've already had an active day today. I took Caleb to the library this morning for his weekly haul of books (we get through about 16 a week), then we went to the park and played on the swings for about 45min's then took a little stroll along the beach and boardwalk before heading home for lunch.
I know it's usually not helpful to fixate on actual measured weight loss for weekly goals but this week I am aiming for a 1kg loss no matter what! If I get through the weekend, count my sugar points, drink my water, exercise every day and stick to points I hope to make that goal this week. Having said that though I'll be happy for any loss :)
I am still awed and humble to receive so much lovely feedback from readers in email and guestbook form so thanks again everyone and keep it coming...it motivates me like you wouldn't believe!!!
Cheers P
Continued...
I did it, I did it, I did it!!!
I lost!!
Only 0.3kg mind you but that feels a gazillion times better than the 0.1kg gain of last week :)
So that brings my total loss now to 7.6kg in 11 weeks....averaging 0.69 kg a week so not too bad. This week I racked up and impressive (for me) 34 bonus points from exercise and used none of them. I exercised 5 out of 7 days which blitzed my minimum goal of 3 days a week. I did two gym visits, one 1hr bike ride and two hour long walks...not too shabby! I came in on or under points 5 days out of 7 this week.
If it weren't for my usual munchies feast on Friday and Saturday nights I think I would have had a great loss this week. Last week after my small gain I promised myself I wouldn't be in this situation again this week yet there I was....exercising right up to the last few hours trying in vain to make a difference. As promising myself does me no good I turn to you all for help this week. I promise to do better. I promise that I will be extra vigilant this weekend to try not to go over points. If I have to use banked and bonus points to do it than so be it. At least then I can face the scales with a clear conscience and hope and pray for a more substantial loss next week. Perhaps all this weeks exercise will catch up by then too and I'll reap the rewards. As always I'll be happy with any loss but after perusing my stats page I can see that I have had many weeks of 0.1, 0.3, 0.4 etc losses. I want another big hoo-a!! :) Is that too much to ask? But I know those type of losses take work so it's time I gave it 100% this week.
In our meeting tonight we discussed sugar points and I am going to count mine this week for the first time ever. I may not come in under the 14 recommended but it will be very interesting to get some idea of how much sugar points I do consume?? Hmm!
Tonight is our once a week take away night as we do every Wednesday night (such an improvement on our old 3-5 nights a week some weeks!!). I have Chinese but as usual bought a container that was way bigger than I needed or was able to consume. Now usually it goes into the fridge and I just cannot resist it the next day. So tonight I'm going to leave it on the sink all night so I know it won't be edible in the morning. How's that for determination!!!!??? (remember Chinese food was in my list of 3 all time fave foods!)
Anyone who reads or visits the other journals in my links page should mosey on over to Lyn's journal over the next week. She has lost over 35kg's and is now only 500g from her WW goal weight. And if that isn't good enough (hello??) she's just been approached to appear in Woman's Day magazine to showcase her achievement and how her online journal world helped her achieve her goals. Bravo for Lyn!!!!! :) I can't wait for her to make it to goal....it's great to live off someone else's success vicariously :)
Ok well that's probably enough for now. Just wanted to let you all know how it went and that I will do better next week...you have my word and anyone who knows me knows how much a promise means to me.
Cheers P
Wednesday 12th January 2004...
Ok just a quick entry today as I know I raved on for bloody ages yesterday over the two entries.
Firstly it's weigh-in day tonight and only a little while to wait to see how I go. I won't jinx myself and say either way what I expect so you'll just have to wait and see :) I'm going to the gym this afternoon for a last minute fat blast before heading off to my WW meeting at 6pm.
I wanted to share with you something funny I did yesterday. I weighed my shoes then went out and bought a new pair just for weigh-ins!! Now it's not as bad as that sounds :) You see I have worn the same outfit and shoes every week to my meeting to ensure that different clothes don't play a factor in my scales results. The thongs I have always worn finally broke last week so I knew I'd have to change them...as you have to weigh in with shoes on for health reasons!! Out of curiosity I weighed them and they were 100g while the shoes I was going to wear were over 200g. I thought dammed if I'm going to gain 0.1kg just because of my shoes so I went on the hunt for another pair of similar weight. I found these flimsy little thongs in Target that were just the shot and turned out to be about 20g lighter than my original pair. How completely ridiculous am I???? Don't worry I won't start weighing my underwear or something next....hehehe
As you know cutting back my daytime nanna-naps was to be a goal for me this year. I have in fact cut them back to only a few a week which is a start I guess. However yesterday I received an email from a weight loss friend who said she had read an article that an extra 20min's sleep a day could help with weight loss!!! Read it for yourself here...but either way I don't feel so bad about those nanna-naps now :)
Another surprise I had today was when I was going back over my weekly tracker and found that I haven't had any coke for 3 days!!!! 3 days of me without coke is like the average person going 3 days without toilet paper - unheard of- but I did it and it wasn't even that hard now that I am consciously drinking water instead. Yey for me!!
But enough of my nonsense for now......fingers, toes and everything else crossed for tonight's weigh in......watch this space...
Cheers P
Continued....
Hello again everybody!
I have managed to pick up my bottom lip, get over myself and my self pity and learn not to count my chickens before they have hatched :)
I haven't weighed in yet so I don't know that I won't miraculously loose a kilo or so overnight (yeah right!). I also know that if I maintain, or god forbid gain, it won't be the end of the world....life will go on and I will just work even harder next week. This will not beat me!!!!
To this end I would like to say that I have had a bloody great day today with several little self victories I'd like to share with you.
Firstly was breakfast. Now you might not think that fruit loops (a ridiculously sugary breakfast cereal) is a victorious breakfast but for me it was. Usually I'll have watermelon or a small can of spaghetti etc for breakfast but this morning I had none of either in the cupboard. I was feeling down and deluded about my non-compliant scales and felt like something decadent (yeah emotional eating...I know). None the less I also had tomorrow nights weigh-in firmly in my mind and I didn't want to blow it all in the 11th hour. So I carefully weighed out 30g of fruit loops....adding one at a time toward the end until it was exact....then I added a half a cup of skim milk and voila!! - a yummy treat of a breakfast for only 2 points. I got new digital kitchen scales a little while ago and love how easy it is to weigh everything now compared to my old crapped out needle scales that were so inaccurate god know how many points I over or under ate on. Now 30g of cereal is such a smaller amount then I am used to...eg it was maybe a half to three quarters of a cup of fruit loops... but I found that after finishing it I was satisfied. And I got some much needed dairy to boot as I can go days without having any dairy usually (bad I know). I know a low sugar, high fibre cereal (like the Just Right I had the other morning) would have been better for me and sustained me longer but sometimes you gotta give in to the little cravings in moderation so as not to become a sugar-hunting sociopath!!
My next little self victory was all about exercise. I knew I had to exercise every day this week to combat any weekend indulgences but for some reason this afternoon I felt like I'd been hit by a bus. I just couldn't face the idea of a gym sweat session so asked hubby if he'd like to join Caleb and I on a beach walk after work instead. Thankfully his wonderfully supportive self agreed *wink* and we were off. Chatting all the way up the beach and back meant that we finished a one hour walk in no time it seemed and what's more Caleb loved it. All the way there he was in the back seat chanting 'beach, beach, beach'....as if we could forget where we were going!! hehehe I came home feeling only moderately better in my body but leagues ahead in my mind. I had 'just done it' and it felt good to know that I was now up to 4 days of exercise this week :) Tomorrow I will go to the gym and that will make 5 days this week!!!! Holy crap that's great for me :)
Lastly my final and most satisfying victory was in regard to take away food. By the time we got home from the beach I had not enough time or inclination to cook our tea so suggested take away instead. Simon jumped at the chance of KFC and I settled for my usual Subway so I could stay within points ( I think - but more on that later). But something about that decision just didn't sit right with me so at the last minute I decided to go to Woolies and get a WW frozen meal instead! I drove through the KFC drive thru and got Simon's meal and just a small potato and gravy (1.5 points) for me as a treat. Then I went home and enjoyed my WW dinner and a brown dinner roll. Can you believe I did that??? I cannot believe I resisted that temptation....Damn baby it felt good!!
So there you have it. A successful day and I'll be going to bed tonight on only 19.5 points out of an allowed 24. I got to thinking about how after tea I eat any points I have left in evening munchies. I wondered how much faster I could loose if I didn't always do this. Some nights you are ravenous and it's ok to eat up to your maximum but imagine what a few nights of points banking could do??? I already save my exercise bonus points and hardly ever eat any of them....seems to sort of defeat the point of exercise if you ask me. Plus being the rigid girl I am I like to just stick to my points and therefor know I am doing the program 'right'. I know it allows for the use of so many bonus points a week (??is it 14) but until I get around to checking it I'd rather just save them...and even after checking I suspect I will continue to do this. I know in the books it says to save them for even bigger losses...and who wouldn't want that?
Now back to the subway thing.... I read my eating out points guide as saying that a 6 inch sweet onion chicken teriyaki (my regular sub) is only 5.5 points. But then tonight when I was checking it I noticed the bread and fillings were listed separately and now I don't know if they meant just the chicken meat alone was 5.5 points?? Hmmm....ok just checked out the nutritional info at the Subway website and put it into my points calculator and it seems that the 5.5 is the whole thing....thank god!!!! Imagine if I had been counting it wrong all this time. The eating out guide isn't the best but a new one has just been released so I am going to get it at tomorrow nights meeting to ensure my info is as up to date as possible.
I also earn my free DVD tomorrow night as part of their retention program to keep people coming over the Xmas period....can't wait to see it as it sounds great!! I still haven't heard back about my site being added to their list of journals at the WW website....might email them after this I think??
I did want to mention again a big thanks to all the lovely people signing my guestbook and sending me emails of late. I don't' always get a chance to reply to everyone but I do appreciate them so much. I pop in here several times a day just to check for new messages and to receive your encouragement is always lovely. A special thanks today to Kelli, Jackie and Liz who sent wonderful emails and to Helena, Karen and Ladymisstree who left guestbook tags!! LadyMissTree is always leaving such encouraging messages that she is like my own little cheer squad - THANK YOU!!!
I even had to go into each page tonight to increase the number of digits in my hit counters on each page as this one was nearing it's previous maximum of 9999 hits (Holy smoke!)
My trusty desk calendar had another great thought on it for yesterday that I wanted to share with you....."It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else". That's what all of us 'on-line-journallers' do when we put out our hopes, fears, insecurities, failures and figures onto the world wide web yet I was only saying to Simon tonight that I don't know how I would be doing as well as I am if it weren't for you all. You give me the encouragement to go on when it seems too hard and you are my fans when I succeed.....again thank you all...thank you thank you thank you!!!
Cheers P
Tuesday, 11th January 2005...
Feeling like crap this morning :(
Made the mistake of standing on the scales first thing today and was not happy with what I saw. I haven't gone up any further since the weekend but I haven't gone down either!!! Now before you dish out any lectures I know I shouldn't be weighing mid week and I also know that losses take time to show and that I shouldn't expect immediate results just because I had two great days. It just seems that if you even look at a chocolate biscuit the scales jump up a kilo yet work your ass off for a couple of days and ...NOTHING!
I know I still have another day until tomorrow nights weigh-in but how much can I expect to change in that short time??? I left last weeks weigh-in after my 0.1kg gain determined that this week would be my week to succeed.
Yesterday was another great day for me....came in right on points, had a good gym workout, have been chugging down water by the gallon, had no coke yesterday at all (!) and was feeling positive about everything going well this week. Yet here I am close to my next weigh in and looking at every possibility of another gain.....Argh!!!!!
I know last weeks gain was miniscule and if I gain this week again it's not likely to be by much but that's not the point. It's like my sense of self worth and success gets put on hold for a whole week until I can see those numbers go down again. Until then I feel like it's just the same old me who's failed at this jig so many times before???
I also have TOM (still! - I guess all those fertility drugs were good in that they at least kept me regular) and I guess that may be effecting the scales too although I doubt it given it is in the final days??? It is of course more likely to be due to the pizza, flake cones and vege chips I had over Friday and Saturday nights. Damn, damn, damn!
I know I shouldn't be placing so much focus on the numbers on the scales and instead I should look to my dropping measurements and clothes feeling better....but I do focus on the scales. It's the black and white measure to my success and damn it I want them to go down this week.
So there you have it. Not a very uplifting mood today. Not 'inspiring' to anyone either so I'd best leave it here. Let me just say thought that this will not be a trigger to overeat for me. I still intend to do everything I can for that loss and that means a day on points today and tomorrow and plenty of exercise both days. While it may not show in time for this week it should surely help with next week???? There...is that sounding a bit more positive??? Mmmm sounding it doesn't equal feeling it.
Cheers P
Monday, 10th January 2005...
Monday, Monday!!! I love my day on Monday's while Caleb is at daycare...although it is usually about errands, shopping and housework rather than the day of rest it was supposed to be that will improve this week as he starts on 2 days a week. That should give more time for me after all the above gets done...yey me!!! It also means 2 days I can get to the gym first thing in the morning rather than having to wait until Simon gets home in the afternoon when I hardly ever feel like going to the gym by then.
I have my usual WW chicken chow mien in the microwave as I type and I'll soon be enjoying that with a brown dinner roll for my lunch. Now I know you are all wondering....did I make yesterday a success like I planned or a failure like the two previous days????
It was a success!!! :) I finished the day right on 24 points as I'm allowed and didn't use any of the 8 bonus points that I earnt on my 10km bike ride which was even better! So that's 2 great days out of 4 and I hope to be able to say 5/7 by the end of the week.
I said in yesterdays entry that I had the bike ride and 2 gym visits done this week but when I worked it out again it was only 1 gym visit as the first one was on Wednesday which is the previous WW week. So after this morning I am back to 2 gym and 1 ride.....this achieves my minimum weekly exercise goal of 3 days and I hope that I get to the gym tomorrow and Wednesday to make it 5 days of exercise this week and therefor achieve my 'dream' exercise goal :)
I had the yummiest tea last night that I even took a picture to show you (see left). It totaled 8.5 points and was absolutely worth every one of them. The salad was 0 points....the coleslaw was a low fat dressing so only 1 point....egg 1.5 points.....chicken skewer 2 points....very thin chicken breast from frozen only 1.5 points using nutritional panel on box.....and the pasta was 1/2 a snack size packet using skim milk and only half the recommended marg at 2.5 points. All up a feast for 8.5 points but could easily be taken down to 7 if you skipped the egg.
Tonight we are having the chili chicken burger from WW 'Around the world' recipe book. It's just a bun with no butter, lettuce, tomato, low fat cheese slice and chicken that has been marinated in garlic, lime, mixed herbs and soy sauce. Then drizzle with sweet chili sauce and enjoy for only 6 points!!!! Simon goes out for TaeKwon Do tonight so it's easy to have mine when I want then just assemble his when he get's home. Again this is a WW dish that he loves so I get no complaints :)
Yesterday before our bike ride I asked Simon to take some more 'before' photo's of me. But this time they had to be 'true'. Not in flattering clothes or stance. I tucked in a sleeveless top into my pants for maximum exposure so I had a photo that really showed the truth...big fat gut, tuckshop arms and all *wink* It's not pretty but it's accurate so that's what I wanted. If you dare you can check it out on the pics page....viewer beware!
Well I think that's enough for now....I'm off to read my other journals. I am checking them all every day now and reaping heaps of motivation from it too. Visit my links page if you want to see who I read :)
Cheers P
Sunday, 9th January 2005...
Had another bad night last night :( Don't even want to dwell on it here though....it happened (again!) and can't be changed now. I really must give some thought during this next week as to how I will survive the next weekend unscathed. The days are good...it's just Friday and Saturday night that are my downfall????
Making up for it today (again!) though. Got up early this morning and Simon, Caleb and I went for a family bike ride. It took 1 hour and measured 10.4km along our Esplanade. It is incredibly windy here today and while riding the first half was fine the return trip back to the car was a KILLER!!!!! I just kept thinking though about how good it would be doing me and how I was rewinding some of last nights damage. :) Caleb loved it as always and we are always happy when we have set a good healthy example of lifestyle for him :)
On the way home I called into Woolies and grabbed a WW frozen meal (the chicken chow mien that I have all the time because it's only 3.5pt's), and some wholemeal dinner rolls for lunch and some low fat coleslaw to have with our BBQ dinner tonight.
I know that no amount of good behavior today will make up for letting myself down yet again last night but at least it's better than letting the bad behavior slide into today also.
I really, really want a decent loss this week and I just hope that I haven't already blown my chances :( I have totaled up 23 bonus points so far this week already with the ride and 2 gym workouts and I hope to get to the gym the next 3 days also so that should hopefully work to my advantage.
This weight loss jig is a daily struggle for us all isn't it?? Sometimes it's easy to get overwhelmed when thinking how far I have to go but I just keep my next few short term goals in mind and it doesn't seem so bad??? Baby steps!!
Cheers P
Saturday, 8th January 2005...
Well last night ended not so good. Had my stir-fry for tea as planned, went to the pub as planned and managed to stop at 2 lemon ruski's.....but then came home and had pizza!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Doh!!
Talk about self sabotage. The friend we went to the pub with got me to take him to Chinese on the way home (my favorite take away ever) and I managed to resist that but why when I only ended up blowing it later on anyway???
I must say that out of the pizza that was ordered for me I only had 2 slices...but I also had cheesy dippers and flake ice-cream cones. Man alive what is wrong with me???
Alas there is nothing I can do about it now....except get right back on track today...which I have for sure!!! I have only had 2 points for breakfast and I am about to have my usual smoked salmon and low fat mayo on corn thins for lunch which is only 7 points. I have a roast turkey and veg planned for tea (7points also) so that will still leave me 8 points under for the day. We have invited family around tonight for a board game so I have prepared a fresh fruit platter for munchies later in the evening. Sounds like the makings of a good day huh? I am determined not to let last nights disaster run into today and then the next etc as it always does on a weekend. I enjoyed my pizza last night and got it out of my system so now it's time to make today the success that yesterday should have been.
The weather is dismal and overcast outside but if it manages to stay dry after Caleb's nap this afternoon I want to get out and do something active today. Maybe a walk on the beach or a bike ride will do the trick. Will see which Simon feels like.
I woke up feeling like a failure this morning and so disappointed with myself and my poor choices last night but then I snapped out of it. I decided I'm human, I make mistakes but it's learning from those mistakes that's important. Today I want to be the first successful weekend day that I've had in a bloody long time :) I can do this!!!
My desk calendar's thought for the day today says "Determination, with an optimistic attitude, is the key factor for success". I think there is something in that for all of us!!!
Cheers P
Friday, 7th January 2005...
Finished yesterday on points.....went to the gym yesterday and worked my big butt off.......drank my 1.5L of water......tried out a new recipe from my weight watchers cookbook......as McD's once said - I'M LOVIN' IT!!!!!!!
I cooked from the 'Simply the Best 2004' WW recipe book last night. It was a peppered porterhouse steak with mushroom sauce, free vege's (carrot, green beans and fresh corn on the cob) and baby potatoes. I was absolutely stuffed when we finished and I'd only had 6 points. It was only meant to be 3 points but I had a bigger serving of meat since I had so many points free. Even Simon loved it and said he'd eat that every night of the week so it must have been good and not at all 'diety' :)
I'm on a roll with my water intake. I have a 1.5L bottle that I keep in the fridge and I have it by the glassful. I found that if I use a water bottle to drink from I only sip on it and make little progress but with a nice glass I get through it much easier and faster.
I wasn't going to go to the gym yesterday but it was raining and Simon was home in time so I thought I may as well. I was so glad I did too as I worked really hard and visualized a successful weigh-in next week to keep my mind focused on something positive instead of what I was putting my body through.
Today I have had only 7.5 points so far with breakfast and lunch and have a stir-fry planned for tea. We are going out for a few drinks this evening so I hope my resolve can withstand the temptation of post drink munchies?? Will have to keep my goals close to mind.
Right now I am focusing on getting to my 110kg goal and then my 10kg lost mark at 109.2kg....at least a few weeks in the making but gee it will be great to add that butterfly to my charm bracelet that I have had put away for several weeks now (the charm that is not the bracelet). I am really looking forward to our holiday beginning February 20th and I definitely want to have reached my 10kg lost mark by then.
Yesterday we also booked a one week holiday to Fraser Island with my family in August and arranged to spend Christmas with my sister in Brisbane. With our years holidays all planned out I am surrounded by good motivation and milestones to reach for. While I doubt it is possible to reach my final goal by my birthday on June 29th I would still like to be much closer to it by then. But I'd best not get ahead of myself....baby steps Paulene, baby steps!!!
Cheers P
Thursday, 6th January 2005...
I am feeling 10 feet tall and bullet proof today :)
I started my fresh new tracker today and am going great guns! I had watermelon for breakfast,..... a WW frozen meal with brown dinner roll for lunch and a diet mouse and mini pack of rice wheels,....I am having pepper steak with mushroom sauce, steamed free veg and new potatoes for tea and that still only adds up to less than 17 points!!! So that leaves me another 7 to cover any evening munchies and a can of coke if I have it.
I am doing really well with my water too. In our meeting this week we had to tell the person beside us one thing we would work on this week...I chose water and I am kicking ass!!!
I feel fresh and renewed and I think that the teeny gain was just what I needed to get me working harder to shift some decent amount of weight now after weeks of tiny losses.
Already I can't wait for my next weigh in!!!!! :)
Cheers P
Wednesday Cont'
Well I have good news and bad news to report from my first weigh-in of the new year....
The bad news is that I gained....although the good news part of this was that it was only 0.1kg....very happy it was no more.
The even better good news was that I achieved another goal...yey!! I managed to stay within 1kg of my pre-Christmas weight. So that's another star for my goals page!
While I was hoping for a little loss I knew that either way it would be close so I am totally ok with gaining 100gm over the festive period. Especially since it is TOM at the moment so that will explain some extra weight from fluid retention etc too.
I know I don't usually update on the night of weigh-in but Simon went to bed early and I was still wide awake. Thursday mornings I am always anxious to get up early enough to update before Caleb wakes anyway so this way I can sleep in a little longer tomorrow :)
Tonight I purchased a brand new tracker at my meeting with a few new features to the last one which is great. Best part is I can make a fresh start tomorrow and I can tell you this will be my week to succeed!!! Things have been moving too slow these last few weeks so it's time to reclaim my old momentum. I feel totally pumped and ready to do super things this week :)
Anyway I'm going to catch up on a few other journals that I read (yeah right...more like the truckload of them!) before I hit the sack myself.
Cheers P
Wednesday, 5th January 2005...
Well D-day has arrived...or should that be w-day for weigh-in day???
I'm not too worried though as I am fairly confident of staying within 1kg of my last weight as was my goal. I have a feint glimmer of hope for a little loss but won't beat myself up if it doesn't happen....it was Christmas after all.
Regardless what the scales say the tape measure is still my friend. I had my measurements done at the gym this morning and it was all good.
Total losses are now:
Bust -4.50 cm
Waist -3.0cm
Abdomen -9.0cm
Hips -7.0cm
Thighs +2cm (not really sure how that works??)
Arms -5.0cm
Body Fat % -1.6%
Total Cm''s Lost = 26.50!!!!
Not too shabby huh??? :)
Yesterday was another great day....finished on 20 points. I had saved 4 points for evening munchies but didn't end up eating anything. Probably because I was watching the episode of Extreme Make Over that I had taped where 3 people were given their make over on the condition that they lost a certain amount of weight (the highest being 35lb in 5wk's!!!!!!) Somehow they all did it and now the part 2 later this week will be their actual surgical make overs. Crazy program but it was inspirational to watch the guys and gals go at it to loose such massive amounts in such a small time frame.
I had my 1.5L of water again yesterday (yey me!) and no coke at all - shock horror!!!! I could get used to this water thing :) Yesterday evening we had unexpected visitors which meant I didn't get dinner cooked and we settled for take away. I was so determined not to blow my points that I got out my WW 'eating out' guide to see what I could have and settled on a subway sweet onion chicken teriyaki....yummy!!!!! I felt so proud of myself for my careful choice even though it meant going to two places (Simon had chicken and chips).
Man did I sweat it out in the gym today!!! It's about 32 degrees outside and the humidity is stifling! Thankfully I'm now home, showered and in air-con for the day while the lad's at daycare. If it's not too bad I may even go for a walk on the beach after I pick him up this afternoon but it depends on how bloody hot it is then. If it's anything like now...forgedabouteet!!!
Well enough of my dribble for now! Stay tuned tomorrow for weigh in results....
Cheers P
Tuesday, 4th January 2005...
Great day yesterday! Unfortunately didn't get to that walk in the afternoon but otherwise it was a great day :)
I finished right on 24 points, drank 1.5L of water before having one can of coke and weighed in this morning at 112.9kg! That means that I should reach my goal of less than 1kg gained over Xmas and maybe even, god forbid, register a loss??? I have until 6PM tomorrow night so we'll see how it goes.
I've only had 1.5 points today so far after a light breakfast but I have my favorite WW frozen meal in cooking for lunch now to have with a brown dinner roll.....Mmmm!
Dad came around last night and cooked us some yummy kippered fish...low point and delicious!
It's taking some getting used to all this water intake but I feel a lot less guilty about it all now. I know I am hydrating my body with what it needs and can't believe it took me this long to do it???? Silly me!
It's great to wake up in the morning feeling good about myself and how I'm going for a change :) Can't wait to weigh in tomorrow night now!
Like they say....nothing tastes as good as success feels!
Cheers P
Monday, 3rd January 2005...
Hehehe just noticed that when I updated last night I still had the year as 2004....it always takes a while for the change to sink in for me :)
Well Simon and Caleb are off to Hungry Jack's in a neighboring town that's a one hour return trip so I have some free time to give this entry the attention and thought it deserves. But before I do that let me just say that I am mighty proud to say that I turned down the offer of Hungry's for myself. My husband absolutely loves it and before this one opened up nearby he hardly ever had the opportunity to get it, so a one hour drive for it seems reasonable for him. I grabbed my points guide and we laughed at the double whopper (30 points!!!!!!) and the double bacon cheese burger (22.5 points!!!!! - remember I only get 24 points for a whole day). Then I made my 'new me' decision....I asked for "a pamphlet on their new low fat menu please"! That's it!!!! Cool huh?? A points train-wreck neatly avoided :)
But enough of that's let's clear up last year and move onto the new. As Angel's journal borrowed from Kimba's journal....so too have I borrowed from Angel's journal for this end of year round-up......
2004: The year that was:
Total Loss in 2004: 7.4kg
Kg To WW Goal: 35.8kg
Average Weekly Loss: 1.05kg
Biggest Loss in 1 Week: 4.2kg
Smallest Loss in 1 Week: 0.1kg
Biggest Gain in 1 Week: *no gains*
Centimetres Lost in 2004: 23.5 cm
Body Fat % Lost: 1.4% down
Starting clothes size: 22-24
End of 2004 clothing size: 18-22
Most Consecutive Losses: 7 weeks
Total Number of Loss Weeks: 7
Total Number of Gain Weeks: nil
Total Number of Maintain Weeks: nil
Not too bad huh??? So that sums up 2004 but what of 2005? As mentioned earlier I have always loved this time of year. When any dream seems possible and any change seems exciting. And let's not forget resolutions.......But rather than resolutions let's call them stepping stones to my success.....
* Coca-Cola. As of today I have begun a new tactic to tackle my Coca-Cola addiction and also to increase my water consumption at the same time. I can now drink coke only after I have already consumed at least 1.5L of water that day. Now ultimately I would like to push the water up to 2L, and drink only one can of Coke a day (or none). I am realistic though and know that this way I have more chance of success. I have my glass of water beside me as I type and I am determined to hydrate my body with the water it craves and not sugar and caffeine loaded, teeth and gut rotting coke! :)
* Track I must! As of today I will get back to tracking everything, everyday. For weeks now my tracking has flopped and so too have the good losses I recorded when I was tracking well. They obviously go together so I dusted off my tracker this morning to use until weigh-in on Wednesday night when I intend to grab a shiny new tracker to go with my shiny new year!
* Exercise, exercise, exercise! No way around it. It is not only the best thing to speed my weight loss but also to improve my health and to avoid the dreaded skin sag after weight loss. I am resolving now to do at least 3 days of exercise a week but to aim for 5.
* Dr Phil. As mentioned in an earlier post I have dragged out my copy of Dr Phil's Ultimate Weight Solution and intend to work through it again but with the dedication it requires this time. I aim to work through one key, of the seven keys, per week for the next 7 weeks before we go on our holiday. I am going to work at creating the 'no-fail environment' he advocates, eliminating my negative thinking and self talk and replacing it with positive, constructive thoughts. I am going to let my actions mirror my goals and slowly but surely become the person that I want to be.
* In the kitchen. I will try at least one new recipe per week from my Weight watchers or other low fat cookbooks. I will probably end up trying more than one a week but if I set that as a minimum I will ensure that I don't get bored with my eating and also increase my chances of finding some new 'family favorite' dishes that are healthy to boot.
* Nanna Naps. Since having Caleb I have become addicted to my afternoon Nanna-naps while he sleeps. Not only does this make me lethargic and cranky when I wake up...but also think of the time I could be using better. I could get more computer time....more quiet time to read Dr Phil or magazines,...more TV time. Now granted these are all sedentary activities but I do still need to unwind during my only opportunity for solitude during the normal day. However if I try to make sure that what I am reading, surfing, watching etc is motivational and inspiring then I get the best of both worlds. :)
I'm sure the minute I log off I will think of more stepping stones to success but for now these will do. I've covered the basics to success and now I must set about achieving them.
The scales today read 113.5kg....so that's almost 2kg to drop between now and Wednesday in order to achieve a loss over Christmas. But only a little over 1kg to stay within 1kg of my last weigh-in as I had hoped at worst.
This afternoon we have arranged to go for a long beach walk with Granny, Caleb and the dogs so that will take care of todays exercise. I was wondering what to do for tea tonight but my Dad just called to invite us around for Kippered (smoked) fish for tea so there's my healthy option right there taken care of!!
I'm tracking, exercising, drinking water and have already started on Dr Phil! Look out 2005....THIS IS THE YEAR OF THE NEW ME!!!!!!
Cheers P
Sunday, 2nd January 2005...
Well here I am ... in 2005 ... and lost for words.
I want to write an uplifting and inspiring list of resolutions and vows for the new year.
I want to find a way to sum up my last year.
I want...sleep!
It's late and instead of starting this entry an hour ago when I intended to I delayed it while I surfed Ebay. I delayed it while I read all the other journals I read. I delayed it by checking out all the other pages in this journal before reaching this point.
I delayed too long.
Alas now I must sleep. But I am here and alive. I did have a FANTASTIC New Year's Eve party (and a SPECTACULAR hang over to boot!). I did have a phone call from Janine In NZ who's journal I read but have never spoken too. I was a little freaked by her finding me in the 'real world'...but so amazed that she would even try :)
I do still have several kilo's to shift if I am going to loose at my first weigh in of the WW year or at the very least gain no more than one kilo as was my goal.
I do still have the will to succeed. I do still want to achieve my goal's so badly I can taste them. I do still have a long way to go.
I'll be back!!!!
Oh and before I leave....Happy Birthday Julie! (my best friend andCaleb's godmother)....I couldn't do 2005 without you!!! :)
Cheers P
