Thursday, 28th Spetember 2006..
Feeling much healthier today :) I’ve caught up on some sleep, sorted out all the family dramas and I’m ready for the approaching weekend. Not that we really have any plans as such. We’re all going to hit the library on Saturday morning since we have no swimming lessons for Caleb during the school holidays, and we’ll probably head down to a festival that is on at the Esplanade for a quick look after that. Judging by his recent enthusiasm for all things beach I imagine we’ll get Caleb down the beach at some point this weekend but other then that we’ll probably just catch up on some yard work and veg out at home.
Tomorrow night we are taking him to McDonald’s for tea as promised. Something tells me he’s going to love that!
Last night we tried out another new crockpot recipe. The lovely Lee-Anne gave me a link a while back for a site with crockpot recipes here It’s loaded with lot’s of yummy dishes and I’m sure I’ll be doing more from there in future. Thanks again Lee-Anne!
Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken:
-500g boneless, skinless chicken thigh fillets
-90mls honey
-90ml soy sauce
-20ml tomato sauce
-1 clove garlic crushed
-1tsp ginger crushed
-small can of pineapple pieces drained with juice reserved
-corn flour and water to thicken if required.
Method:
-Turn slow cooker to High and spray with spray oil
-In non stick pan, spray with spray oil and brown chicken fillets lightly on all sides.
-Transfer chicken to slow cooker and turn to LOW. Mix all sauces, garlic, ginger and pineapple juice and pour over chicken
-Cook on low for 4-6hrs.
-Add pineapple pieces prior to serving and thicken if required with corn flour and water.
Now I must add a few things about this dish. Firstly I forgot to add the pineapple pieces at the end but it was very tasty all the same. We served ours over rice with salad.
The only thing I have noticed with this and many other dishes is that mine always cook much faster then expected? Often a recipe will say e.g. 4hrs high and I’ll do 4hs low and still it will be ready early? I’m not sure if perhaps it’s just an extra hot model or whether it’s more the nature of the soy type sauces to burn quicker? In any case I have just learnt to put a lot of things on at lunchtime rather then the morning, or keep a close eye on them in the early afternoon and move them to the fridge for serving later if need be.
Have any of you other slow cookers out there found the same thing? Come on now girls I know there are many of you out there *wink*
One last thing before I go. Today being week 24 I did my next weigh in. 108.2kg which is a total gain of 14.2kg in the 24wks so far. I can live with that! :)
TFTD: “Things do not change – we change!”
Cheers P
Tuesday, 26th September 2006...
It’s going to be one of those days today.
I feel absolutely exhausted. I’ve gotten the boy off to day-care, done the housework, vacuuming and grocery shopping and after I get all my sites and stats updated I’m going to spend the rest of the day vegging out in front of pay TV and reading mags.
Sunday was a pretty high stress day with some family arguments (that I won’t go into) and yesterday was more of the same. I did go to bed early last night at about 8.30pm but lay awake until at least 9.30pm. Then after a trip to the loo at 2.30am I couldn’t get back to sleep until about 4am then was awoken by Caleb at 6am. Ugh! No wonder I feel like death warmed up today!
But that’s enough of my whining :) I’m alive and well, my baby is kicking away inside me, I have a gorgeous son whom I adore and the world continues…nothing worth complaining about!
Speaking of Caleb you can find all his latest news and funny “I love you” moments in today’s update at his site here. It’s been quite a month for him and I hope you enjoy reading it as much I as enjoyed writing it and remembering it all.
I have a special SPRING CHALLENGE announcement…
CONGRATULATIONS to Melcandoit who is the first challenger to reach her pre-determined goal for the 12wks (and in plenty of time too!). Mel’s goal was to get under 100kg and to achieve a weight of 99.9kg. This week Mel reached 99.8kg and a loss of 4.5kg in total!! *Bravo* How exciting :)
While I am on that topic I must say I do try to keep an eye on everyone’s goals but if anyone else should reach their goal and it goes unmentioned by me please do bring it to my attention so I can give you the big shout of you deserve just like Mel!
Oh and I wanted to share something cool that happened to me on Friday. I was looking through some old boxes and came across a diary I had kept when I was dieting in Sept 2000. I had some photos in it and the weight on them said 112kg. 112kg! I can’t tell you how good that felt to know that I was now into my 6th month of pregnancy and currently weighed 5kg less then that!!! And the next entry in the diary a year later I was 119kg so yahoo for being so much further under that now despite my bump :)
And for anyone who missed it I have added a new baby bump pic here.
TFTD: “Persistence is behind every success!”
Cheers P
Saturday, 23rd Spetember 2006...
I've changed that last bump pic with a better one taken this morning :)
For a look at the week 24 bump see here.
Cheers P
Friday, 22nd September 2006...
Well after months of nagging me into it *wink* I have finally agreed with Simon and signed up for Austar Cable TV. I mean there is perfectly good TV on free to air but the range just doesn’t compare. Now I’ll have all the shows I like such as comedy shows, entertainment channels, talk shows, crime investigation shows, and old TV shows like Seinfeld, Friends and Melrose Place and Simon will have as much of sports as he can handle. And of course for Caleb there are cartoon channels, kid’s shows and animal doco’s like Discovery and National Geographic. Joy! We weren’t supposed to be able to have it connected until next week but they just rang to see if they could move it up and are here to do it now – yippee :)
Of course now I fear that we’ll never spend any time together as he’ll be watching sport in the lounge and I’ll be watching my shows in the bedroom…hehehe but we’ll just have to see how that goes.
I don’t have much else to say for today so I thought I would have a go at a list Kate published on her site recently. Here’s the drill for anyone wanting to have a go at it:
Copy and paste the list and bold what have accomplished in your life:
1. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
2. Swam with wild dolphins
3. Climbed a mountain
4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
5. Been inside the Great Pyramid
6. Held a tarantula
7. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
8. Said "I love you" and meant it
9. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game (2000 Olympics for us)
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby's diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was shit faced
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Posed nude in front of strangers
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theatre
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an expert
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Eaten fugu (pufferfish)
89. Had a one-night stand
90. Gone to Thailand
91. Bought a house
92. Been in a combat zone
93. Buried one/both of your parents
94. Been on a cruise ship
95. Spoken more than one language fluently
96. Performed in Rocky Horror Picture Show
97. Raised children
98. Followed your favourite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived
105. Written articles for a major publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Petted a stingray
110. Broken someone's heart
111.Riden a bike
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Petted a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad and The Odyssey
135. Selected one important author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream (everytime I look at my son!)
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone's life
70 out of 150 - not too shabby *wink*
Hehe now that you’ve had your fill of useless trivia about me…I’ll leave it here and say have a good weekend! Caleb is staying at Granny’s tomorrow night so we are hitting the local for dinner and some drinks then probably hang out at our friends place after till all hours. Especially since we can both have a sleep in at the same time on Sunday – a rare event in our house :) Enjoy!
TFTD: “Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen every day!”
Cheers P
Thursday, 21st September 2006...
Hoorah! Happy days are here at last. :)
I’m finally making some decent progress on the whole eating/exercise thing this week and am feeling great for it!
Even a bad day on Tuesday couldn’t stop my course. I got right back on track yesterday with a 27pt day again and another walk this morning (3 for the week so far) and voila….the scale god’s smiled on me. I have lost 2kg this week!!!
Now before you all start to worry about weight loss in pregnancy. I know it’s nothing to worry about. Bad eating and inactivity etc had no doubt led to fluid retention and such so I’m sure I’m just getting back to my true pregnancy gain as that excess melts off the top. My GP said there was no reason I couldn’t still lose a bit during the pregnancy so long as I was still eating plenty of good fresh food, getting activity and being sure not to starve myself or my baby or work my body too hard.
Earlier this week the scales had read just less than 110kg (Gulp!!) but today they said 107.7kg…Hoorah! So that brings my total gain to 13.7kg in 23 wks and my average down to 0.59kg a week. Still higher then the recommended but I feel like I am finally getting some progress here. By previous weeks trends I would have gained up to 3kg these last three weeks since last weigh in (and in fact had I not had this loss this week I guess it would have been about 3.7kg – shudder)….so I’m really pleased with the 1.7kg in 3 weeks instead!
I was out walking this morning with pep in my step and a big grin on my face at 6am…knowing it was all paying off. I took a new route which gave me two steep hills during the 30min walk and I managed them with ease.
Oh happy days!!
I tried out a new crockpot recipe last night:
Beef Bourguignon (Beef in Red Wine)
-500g stewing steak diced, fat trimmed
-1 large onion peeled and diced
-3 cloves garlic crushed
-250g mushrooms sliced
-2 cups dry red wine
-1/2 cup beef stock prepared
-1 tbsp tomato paste
-1 tbsp fresh chopped parsley
-1 tsp dried thyme
-1 bay leaf
-Corn flour and water to thicken if required
Method:
-Spray slow cooker with oil spray and turn on HIGH
-Spray non stick pan with spray oil and brown diced beef then place it in slow cooker.
-In same pan cook onion, mushroom and garlic until onion is transparent and mushrooms soft. Transfer this to slow cooker also.
-Stir wine, stock, tomato paste, parsley, herbs and bay leaf into slow cooker.
-Cook on LOW for 6-8hrs. Remove bay leaf prior to serving. If required turn to HIGH prior to serving and add cornstarch and water to thicken.
I served mine with mashed potato, a dinner roll and steamed green beans. It was delish! I worked it out to be about 10-12pts for the lot (I’m not sure if wine is still pointed after it is cooked and looses its alcohol content?). After Caleb had a small serve, Simon and I had half of what was left and it was a good sized serve that I guessed to be about 4-5pts each. It smelt divine while cooking and got the thumbs up all round when it was served.
Ps check out the pregnancy journal for the latest belly shot – taken before we went out to the 30th birthday party on Saturday just gone (22wks)…and a cute one of Caleb that I couldn’t resist adding *wink*
TFTD: “Success comes in cans, failure comes in cant’s!”
Cheers P
Tuesday, 19th September 2006...
Well my fresh focus is off to a great start and for the first time in months I’m feeling great! Yesterday I tracked absolutely everything I ate and drank and came in at 27 points for the day – perhaps even a little under what I should be allowed while pregnant? I have walked 30mins both today and yesterday and have had only ½ a can of soft drink in the last two days – a minor miracle for me of late :)
Fruit, dairy and water are traditionally poor points for me but yesterdays tracked eating included 4 serves of fruit (!!), 2 low fat yogurts, a glass of skim milk and a litre of water…so overall I think I made some great inroads there.
The half hour walk the last two days have both been early morning walks. This morning it looked like rain and I climbed back into bed for about 5 minutes before admitting to myself that if I did not get up right then and do it there was no way I’d get it done later in the day – no matter how good my intentions. So I went and it was great. I’m planning on walking the next 3 days also to meet my target of walking each week day this week but at this point any extra day from here on in is an improvement on last week’s two walks.
I also found something yesterday, which helped to clarify my mind set even further. I managed to dig up my antenatal card from Caleb’s pregnancy with my weights, BP etc on it. I was alarmed at first to see that my BP had got up to 146/92 just prior to the Dr ordering a c-sect for this reason. I knew it had gotten high but had forgotten just how high! But the best thing on the card to read was the weight.
I’m not sure why but I have always believed my total pregnancy weight gain last time to be 17kg – and perhaps it was on my home scales but on the hospital card it showed a gain of 18.6kg. This breaks down to an average gain of 0.48kg a week over the 38 wks I was pregnant. This means that at this stage I would have gained about 11kg. I think I am sitting around 14kg at this stage so I’m not that far ahead after all!!! For some reason I was feeling as though I was gaining almost double the rate of last time but here I am only 3kg ahead – woo-hoo!!
This little thing has been HUGE for my state of mind and has really given me the incentive to forge ahead with my walking and healthy eating. I may (and most likely will) gain more then last time but hey…if it’s only by a few kg’s what’s the big deal. One thing I do know for sure is that last time I finished at 133.6kg and I’ll NEVER get that big this time so yahoo!!!
Ok well that’s about all for today I think. I am into a really good part in a book I am reading at the moment and I can’t wait to get back to it. Traditionally I have always had a fairly limited scope of authors that I read. I own an almost complete collection of Stephen King which I have read several times over, and I also read books by Jacki Collins, Virginia Andrews original ‘Flowers in the attic’ 5 book series, J.K Rowlings Harry Potter books, JRR Tolkiens ‘Lord of the Rings’ series and several books by Patricia Cornwell. Most of these, with the exception of P.Cornwell and JK Rowling, I read over and over again each year or two. However a friend has just introduced me to Bentley Little. I am on to my second of his books right now and I can’t get enough of them. They are very much like Stephen King and are packed with suspense and intrigue.
I often go through phases of book readings and in the last 3 months I have read about 12 novels and can’t seem to stop. Hoorah for some fresh books to read for a change :)
So…on that note I’m out of here! Have a great day everyone!
TFTD: “Your body is the baggage you must carry through life – the more excess the baggage the shorter the trip!”
Cheers P
Sunday, 17th September 2006...
And another big weekend draws to a close. We’ve had swimming lessons, birthday parties, dinner guests, park visits, trips to the markets and a morning at Maze Mania…phew! Last night’s 30th was a late one but again, Caleb was on his best behavior and stayed up until we came home at 10pm without a hint of crankiness or complaints and had an absolute blast with all the kids at the party. We no doubt could have stayed later but I was the one who was tired by then and wanting to call it a night. The party was for the dad of the 3-day-old baby – who took her first party with ease. She’s just so placid and sleepy…as they often are in those first few days. I think she passed through about 2 or 3 arms in between opening her eye’s each time and didn’t bat an eyelid :) She was so teeny and gorgeous it just made me all the more eager to have a newborn of my own again soon.
Speaking of which…today is Sept 17th. That is only 4 months now until this baby is due!!! Yikes! 4 more months of gaining weight at this rate and I’m going to be up around the 120kg mark again if things continue at this rate. It is recommended that a pregnant women gain about 0.3kg a week on average throughout the pregnancy. I am gaining about 0.6kg a week on average. Also this period is often referred to as a period of even faster weight gain then earlier months – just what I need.
What I do need is for just the smallest spark of my past enthusiasm, determination and dedication to this cause. I know I cannot try to lose weight. I cannot exercise to the point of exhaustion as I have in the past. I cannot put my own weight loss ahead of the bubs health.
I can however do a 30min walk each day. I can track what I am eating each day again in a bid to recognize where I am making poor food choices. I can go back to healthy snacks and meals and cast aside the crazy pregnancy thinking of ‘oh well I’m pregnant so what the hell’. “What the hell” thinking is what has got me to this point. If I don’t do something now to bring the weight gains back within to normal limits I will hate myself and my lack of discipline when this is all over.
And that’s truly all I want to do. I don’t want to lose now (well I wish I could but I know that I cannot)... I don’t even want to stop the gains for a while. I just want to gain a normal healthy amount closer to the 0.3kg each week rather then double that. And I know that this goal is totally attainable if I just take off my blinders and get back on track. I know that just by making small changes I can achieve this. Yet every day I fail over and over again???
I read a thought for today that said “You don’t ever have to be the same again after today – unless by choice”. I think that shall by my motto for this new direction. Tomorrow has to be my new day, my new start, and my new focus. For me, for my mental and physical well being and most of all for the health of this baby. All the books say excess weight gain by the mother will not harm the baby in any way. But I do know that it will make labor more difficult (like I need that!) and also my recovery afterwards more challenging.
I can make these changes. Hell I’ve lost almost 30kg in the last 2 years. Surely I can stick to some basic WW eating principles (with extra points added for good healthy food for me and bub) for the next 4 months and gentle daily exercise of 30mins. After all I was doing up to 2hrs a day of exercise before. What’s 30minutes now?
No use just talking about it though. Another great thought is this “The definition of insanity is doing this week what you did last week and expecting different results”. Call me insane in the past but it has to end here! I am the caretaker of my own body and it’s time I started taking care of it again! Stay tuned...
TFTD: “You cannot be hoping without acting, or wishing without doing!”
Cheers P
Friday, 15th September 2006...
Well my joy over my new slow cooker was almost very short lived. I put a chicken soup in it to cook on Wednesday morning and was alarmed to see smoke billow out if it when it begun to heat up. I panicked and turned it off…opening windows and turning on exhaust fans to clear the air of the toxic fumes. As I pondered what to do about it I flicked through the user manual and re-read to check I had followed all the instructions for prior to first usage. It was then I found a note that said 'slow cooker may smoke and or release burning smells on first use do to manufacturing by-products being heated for first time'. Holy cow they really should change that wording to ‘it may smoke like an out of control bush fire!’ In any case it soon settled down and I’m now back in action. One other thing I found was that my last cooker must have been a 5.5L also and not the 4.5L I had believed as the old dish fits the new one too. This will be great when I am catering for a large crowd as I can have both dishes filled and ready to go with one on standby in the fridge while it waits :)
So what else is new? Well I finally got some more exercise done this week! A 30 minute early morning walk on Wednesday and Thursday so that’s better then nothing. I had planned to do one today also but today’s pregnancy journal update explains why I gave that one a miss! On Wednesday it looked dry when my alarm went off so I got dressed and got the dog all organized to go, opened the garage door – and it was raining! So I sent the puppy back inside and went out anyway (felt great about that!). It turned out the rain stopped as I left and I in fact stayed dry the whole time so I’m really glad I didn’t just go back to bed as I had considered.
Caleb is now back to full health. He never progressed past the fever stage for the few days that he had it so I guess his little body fought off whatever it was he had been exposed to. I knew all those soy products, fresh fruit and wheat germ he gobbles down had to pay of someday *wink*
Simon’s birthday went well. All had a good time, and Caleb was on his best behaviour when we went out for dinner that night. So much so that it convinced us we really must do it more often now that he is so well behaved and able to stay seated in a regular chair throughout the ordering and eating of the meal instead of being strapped in a high chair or running amok as he has done in the past.
Yesterday I had the best day of eating I have had in months! It went like this:
Morning: 30 min walk
B: 2 slices multigrain bread - no marg, 220g baked beans
MT: 1 cup of canned tomato soup
L: WW frozen chicken hotpot, 2 slices bread – no marg, Nestle yoghurt desert
AT: 2 pkts WW nibbles
T: Chicken breast done in Chasseur mix, peas, corn and mashed spud
D: Yoplait yoghurt and diced green apple.
Yet when I went to add up the points out of interest at the end of the night I was surprised to find it was 35 points!! When I looked to see where I went wrong I found it very quickly. The yoghurt and yoghurt dessert were 8.5 pts combined!!! Because I have been avoiding artificial sweeteners I went back to regular yoghurt but this days points sure changed my mind on that. Had they of been low point diet versions the days points would have been closer to 28pts, which I think is a good figure for while pregnant (22 were my regular allowance pre-pregnancy).
So this morning I went to the supermarket and stocked up on diet yoghurt and skim milk again. Better to save fat where I can and still keep up my diary intake along the way.
All in all though I was very happy with how yesterday went and honestly cannot remember the last time I had a day that good. (No surprise then why I am gaining so much weight!). On that note though I had a peak at the scales this morning and was disgusted to see they had gone up 0.8kg since the day before!!! A gain of 0.8kg after my first good day in months! What the…??? Still I know that could be due to any number of reasons so I have resolved not to weigh again until Thursday the 28th on which day I will be 24wks and ready to post the results to you all here then too.
Eeek! I can only imagine how scary they may be!
Busy weekend ahead…swimming lessons and a play date in the park tomorrow morning, a 30th birthday party tomorrow night and a hot family date for Maze Mania 4 Kids coming up on Sunday :) A busy weekend is a good one I say! Enjoy.
TFTD: “If you want things to go your way, go after them!” and “We are the sum total of our actions!”
Cheers P
Sunday, 10th September 2006...
Rejoice the birth of the new slow cooker!!!
Yes after much shopping around, getting quotes for repairs and Ebay bidding I finally found myself a new, and even bigger crockpot. The last one was 4.5L and this new one is 5.5L and after using an old $25 gift card I found I only had to add $15 to it and now I’m back in the slow cooking game…. hoorah! I also found 3 new recipes from a slow cooker book in the library so I’ll have some new dishes to post about soon.
We’ve had somewhat of a sickly week for Caleb this week. On Wednesday afternoon he came down with a sudden fever of 39 degrees, which lasted until early Friday morning. Paracetamol etc brought it down each time but we had to keep it up to him the whole time. When his fever was in control he was otherwise good?? There has been a nasty stomach bug and a different flu going around family and our employee’s so perhaps he got a touch of one of them but his system was able to fight it off with just the fever to show for it’s efforts? In any case he’s good now and full of beans.
Tomorrow, Sept 11th is Simon’s 32nd birthday. Happy birthday you old bugger! *wink* We are all going out with family and friends for tea so that will be nice.
I took a shopping trip to a nearby town on Friday and managed to get two more great maternity shirts. Well actually neither were maternity but just well cut plus-sizes…one a lose, sheer overshirt in bright pinks (an unusual choice for me but it works) and an strappy shirt that falls from below the bust which will accommodate much more belly growing to come.
Then on Saturday to make myself feel a bit better I hit the hairdressers and had my blonde streaks redone and an eyebrow wax as well. Nothing like a bit of pampering to make a girl feel glam again…hehehe
I STILL have not got any more exercise done this week. Between Caleb being sick and me feeling exhausted again of late I’ve not had much luck. However I was giving myself a stern talking to about it today and realized that in the last year or so I was finding 1-2hrs a day to exercise 5-6 days a week so there is no reason I cannot find at least 30minutes now…tired or not! So tomorrow (so long as it is not raining as it is now) I will be heading out again for an early morning walk at 5.45am. If I can just keep those up each weekday at least I will feel a lot better about things.
I’m really not worrying much anymore about the weight thing. I am just accepting that I will have to work hard at it again after the birth and in the meantime I don’t want to waste any more of this miracle on stressing over it. What I do worry about though is losing all my hard fought for fitness. I hate to watch my tuck shop arms returning and to see my previously well-defined calf muscles disappearing. Hence why I need to get back into walking and toning as best as I can to maintain what I am able to until the time comes to get back into some intense workouts again. I already miss the gym and I’m mad that after wanting to try spin classes for months, waiting for them to be introduced to my gym, I only got to do one before finding out I was pregnant. Hehehe Just you wait bikes…I’ll be back! *wink*
I’ve continued to work at WW again each week for the last month or so and I think I have two more weeks to go (in fact two days next week then one the following week) before the regular staff returns and I go back to being on as ‘as needed’ basis again. I’ve really appreciated the opportunity to be able to keep at it and absorb the info and inspiration that is available there. I’m so looking forward to hitting the lactation plan myself next year!
In the meantime I’m looking into doing something else I’ve always wanted to do. I’m researching ways to develop my website and it’s associated aspects into something that I can one day build into my own business. I won’t be making any changes until after bub is born but today I did register my own domain name so I may have a new link for you to this site in the coming weeks or months. I’ll keep you posted. I’m so excited!
On a final note I wanted to say a big congrats to all the challengers that are doing fantastic in the SPRING SLIMMING CHALLENGE. Almost 4wks in and over 35kg lost already…awesome!
TFTD: “Nothing holds greater power over the body than the beliefs held in the mind!”
Cheers P
Tuesday, 5th September 2006...
Oh no!
I’ve killed my crockpot/slow cooker!!!
I put on the sweet chilli chicken drumsticks this morning and placed it on its usual spot on the cook top. I then turned on the oven for something else and in doing so had to turn on the wall switch, which sends power to the oven and cook top. What I didn’t know was that one of the cook top plates had been left on! So when I turned on the wall switch it started up also. I came out a few minutes later to investigate a funny smell and noticed the crockpot on a funny lean. It was then I realized one leg had melted off and the electrical cord had melted almost all the way through!! Ahhhh! My beloved crockpot :( So now I’m going to take it to a repairer to see if I can get a new lead put on before I decide whether or not I will have to buy an entirely new one. Bugger!!
Our garage sale went great on Saturday. We made $200 for the morning and now we can’t wait to do another one after we finally get around to really cleaning out all our cupboards/wardrobes of all the crap stored in them.
Sunday we had a lovely bbq breakfast in the park for Father’s Day and my Dad joined us too. Caleb played while we gas-bagged and a great time was had by all.
On the way home we checked out the Penthouse suite that we booked at a local resort for New Year’s Eve this year. We always hold a party at our house for family and friends each year but this year I’ll be about 38wks pregnant and I just can’t face the party or the clean up afterwards. So instead we are renting this spectacular penthouse for only $160 and all our friends/family can join us there, swim in the pool, drink on the balcony and watch the fireworks on the beach nearby at midnight. Can’t wait!
Today I booked my baby boy into Kindergarten!! Competition is really fierce here for a spot but I have had him on waiting lists at both centre’s since he was about 2yrs old and we got an offer this week from both of them! I went and checked them both out today and ended up booking him into the same one I had attended as a child (albeit in it’s new building now). He will go Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from next year before beginning prep year at school the following year. Oh how my Caleb is growing up!
Not a whole lot else to say today. I haven’t been doing any more exercise (bad I know!) but I am doing so-so on the eating front. Despite gaining 12kg in the first half of this pregnancy I am still hoping to come out of it under 20kg in total…but if I don’t so be it! I’ll worry about that after the birth. (Ps new update at pregnancy page completed for you to read here)
I must dash now as I have been invited to attend our best mate’s Mom’s naturalization ceremony today to become an Aussie!
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie…Oi Oi Oi!
TFTD: “Unless you start doing something different you are in for more of the same!”
Cheers P
Monday, 4th September 2006...
Congratulations to Wendy and Trevor who just welcomed their first baby into the world.
Savannah, born Sept 3rd weighing 8lb I believe (though I may the weight or name spelling wrong?)
I haven’t spoken to Wendy directly yet but I have been told her and her baby girl and doing well.
Congrats to you all!!!
And on a sad note…I’m sure I speak for many Aussie’s, and in fact people all over the world, when I say how sad I was to hear the tragic news of Steve Irwin’s (The Crocodile Hunter) death today after being stung in the chest by a sting ray off the coast of Cairns. I feel especially sad for his wife Terri and their children Bindi-Sue and Bob :( RIP Steve.
Full update to follow tomorrow…
TFTD: “The greatest legacy you can leave for your children are happy memories!”
Cheers P
Friday, 1st September 2006...
Welcome to the first day of spring!
What a day to confess my weigh at last huh? Hehehe As promised I said I would tell the ugly truth at the half way point…and here it is. 20wks into this pregnancy, half way through…I have gained 12kg to reach 106kg!!!
Ugh!
Nothing really to say about that - the numbers speak for themselves.
With Caleb I gained 17kg in total and had really hoped to go less than that this time if possible…not bloody likely now – hehehe
I think thought that starting the last pregnancy at 115kg I wasn’t as likely to gain quickly as my eating habits were already shithouse and exercise was non-existent. This time I was beginning at 94kg and coming from doing 1-2hrs exercise a day to hardly any at all. That’s bound to result in a quicker gain I think? I can only hope it doesn’t continue on this pattern now but manages to slow down in the coming months. At this rate I am averaging a gain of 0.6kg a week and if that were to continue I would gain up to 24kg all up! Holy Shit!
But alas…I am not going to stress about it at all. I have spent the last few weeks terrified of what the Dr would say about it at yesterday’s appointment – and he didn’t even ask! I had neglected to tell Simon what it had become as he hadn’t asked either up to that point. So now it’s out. You all know, Simon knows – and he gave me nothing but support.
This last week I have had another scan of bub and a Dr checkup – see pregnancy journal for all the details – and as my entry there yesterday explained…it has finally sunk in what is to come. I am now getting really excited about the baby to come and I refuse to waste one more minute of this magical journey worrying about my weight!
My eating is hit and miss. Mostly good until afternoon munchies strike and I look to food in a desperate attempt to gain energy. Exercise is off and on. In the last month I only managed 4 x 1hr sessions and 4 x 30min sessions (mostly walking) but so what? It was the best I could do under the circumstances and considering I did absolutely no exercise last pregnancy I can only give myself credit for doing whatever I can manage this time around??
I have checked out a few pregnancy weight gain calculators here, here and here and basically the general consensus is that I should weight about 97-100.5kg at this point. That puts me about 6kg over target…but so be it? The world will not end because of it. Bub is healthy, strong and growing by the day. I have managed something I thought was beyond me – a naturally conceived pregnancy. I know that when this journey is over my new journey to goal weight will resume and I cannot tell you how weirdly excited I am about that!
I cannot wait to get back to real, sweat breaking exercise. To join the WW lactation plan to weight loss and just see those numbers going down each week again instead of up! I am pumped and super excited about it all and I know that no matter how much I gain this pregnancy…I can and will lose it again!! My interim goal is to get back to 89kg by my birthday…. June 29th and about 6 months after the birth. It will give me something to work towards and that’s the main thing. Ooh I wish I could start right now :)
In the meantime I must take my vicarious weight loss success from the amazing efforts of the challengers in the Spring Slimming Challenge. I notice that week 3 is proving a really difficult week for many…I wonder why that seems so universal over the challengers?? Weird huh? In any case…no one is giving up no matter what his or her hurdles. You are all working your best towards you goals and for that I congratulate you all! Bravo!!
Tomorrow we are hosting our first ever garage sale so I’ve got heaps to organize for it today. I’m going to go through our cupboards, garages etc and drag out all that I can to sell. We’ll make a few dollars and downsize some junk in our house too – always a bonus!
Sunday is of course Father’s Day and we are meeting my Dad at a park for a BBQ breakfast that day then we’ll spend the rest of the day doing whatever Simon would like to do. I’m cooking him his favorite roast pork for dinner that night and spoiling him all day long as all good Dad’s should get :) Be sure to tell the Dad’s in your life how special they are on Sunday!
Have a great one.
TFTD: “Banish doubt, life is an attitude!”
Cheers P
Tuesday, 29th August, 2006...
What can I say today…. except F*CK I am exhausted!!
Honestly…. I expect to feel this way in the latter months of pregnancy but if this is going to continue right up until then I don’t know how I’ll get through it??
I am not sleeping hardly at all at night and what sleep I do have is light and very broken. This is really wearing me down and I spend the day dragging my sorry butt around in a bit of a daze just trying to get through the day and keep up with Caleb. I have been napping in the arvo when Caleb does out of sheer necessity but then I’m sure that makes my night time sleep even worse…Aargh! What’s a girl to do?
I finally see my OB again on Thursday after he has returned from his holidays so I’m going to speak to him then about it and maybe get my iron levels checked? In the meantime I’m trying not to turn to food for energy and trying to do a walk when I can.
This morning I had my alarm set and all my walking clothes ready but I woke to find it pouring with rain…dammit! So there went that good plan. Then I had decided to do an upper body weights workout today at some stage while Caleb is at day-care but after doing some errands and grocery shopping I know that I just couldn’t workout if I tried.
I really need to do some arm work, as my upper arms are all gross and fatty again. This is what always prevented me wearing sleeveless shirts for the last 10yrs or so and it was only last year that I finally found, and fell in love with, the joy and freedom of sleeveless tops. This year is the year I really need to be able to do the same to stay cool but again I am wanting to cover them up with over shirts and the like. Ugh! Must work on that as soon as I have more energy!
Sorry to sound like such a whinger but it is what it is.
TFTD: “What are you going to do, starting today, that is going to make a difference to your life?”
Cheers P
Friday, 25th August 2006...
Well now I can personally recommend the crock-pot Lasagne listed in yesterday’s entry and say that it was FANTASTIC! It was by far the easiest Lasagne I’ve ever prepared and it tasted fantastic! I thought it would dry out and stick etc but it was just like an oven cooked one and even had crispy cheese on top…. A+ We had ours with salad and garlic bread and it got the big thumbs up from Simon too :) Definitely one to try out on company next time.
I was recently contacted by a lady who wanted to feature an article about my weight loss on her website. Her site features weight loss success stories of people doing various programs/diets and my finished article is now posted. You can see it for yourself here Cool huh?
A pretty quiet weekend ahead for us. Our mate Scotty is coming for his usual weekend dinner with us and will probably be here the other night too playing PS2 Golf with us – our latest vice *wink* Otherwise on Saturday I am changing one of my 4 foot fish tanks from the large cichlids currently in it to a specialty breed tank. I’m not sure what breed I will decide on yet but will play it by ear. I already have a 4 ft community tropical tank and a 3ft goldfish tank and this tank that I am changing has previously been a marine tank also so I’m ready for a new challenge. Yes I love my tanks!!
I did manage to get out for a 30minute walk this morning…hoorah! I left the dog at home in favour of my iPod today and it felt great. I don’t feel too tired today so I think the 2hr nap I had when Caleb slept yesterday afternoon must have helped to rid me of some of my fatigue? I hope to get some more exercise done over the coming weekend too but will just play it by ear and see how I go?
Not much else to say for today. I’m posting a new belly shot to my pregnancy site today also…Eeeek! I also can’t resist adding the latest portrait we had done of Caleb as it just makes me melt every time I see his cheeky little grin J
Ok…. well have a great weekend all!
TFTD: “Make the changes that will make the difference!”
Cheers P
Thursday, 24th August, 2006...
Ok it’s time for another crock-pot recipe and this is one I know Karan has been waiting for *wink* so here it is…. and ps this lasagna requires NO pre-cooking – Awesome!
Lazy Lasagne:
~~Meat Sauce~~
-2 cloves garlic crushed
-1x400g can diced tomatoes in juice
-1x30g pkt tomato or tomato and onion soup
-800g minced lean beef
-1/4 cup tomato paste
-1 tsp each of basil and oregano
-2 tsp instant beef stock (I used vege stock as it was all I had)
-1 cup hot water
-250g lasagna sheets
~~Topping~~
-2 tsp corn flour
-1 large egg
-3/4 cup milk
-1 cup grated tasty cheese
-Paprika
Method:
-Turn slow cooker on HIGH to preheat and coat bowl with non-stick spray
-Place all meat sauce ingredients in bowl and mix well to combine
-Place all topping ingredients in a separate bowl and mix well to combine
-Spread 1/3 meat sauce on bottom of bowl and top with ½ lasagna. Repeat. Finish with last 1/3 of meat sauce then top with Topping mix and sprinkle with Paprika.
-Turn slow cooker to LOW and cook for 8-9hrs. Serve with green salad and garlic bread.
Sounds pretty easy huh? I have yet to taste it but I just put it on myself and the entire preparation took me only about 15mins…much easier then any other lasagne I’ve ever had to cook! I’ll let you know tomorrow how it turns out.
Oh and I have been meaning to say that I saw recently that the WHO magazine were again calling for participants into their 12wk challenge for this year. Oh the nostalgia of it all *wink* Hehehe
I worked at WW again last night and as usual thoroughly enjoyed it. I am very lucky to at least be able to stay in touch with it all while I am pregnant and not actually doing the program myself.
I have taken heed of my body signs yesterday and skipped this morning’s early walk in favour of some more sleep. I plan to go again tomorrow and just see how that leaves me feeling for the rest of the day and then plan future walks depending on how that goes? Will keep you posted. I didn’t want to try it out again today when I would then have to keep up with Caleb all day. Speaking of which I think me and the lad will head to the library and Maze Mania today so he can tire himself out. I'm already feeling tired *yawn*
TFTD: “The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up!”
Cheers P
Wednesday, 23rd August, 2006...
Well as I just finished explaining in my pregnancy journal update – I am feeling completely and utterly exhausted right now and it’s only 9am!
Sunday night I only got 4hrs sleep due to a combination of my pregnancy insomnia, middle of the night toilet trips and Simon’s snoring…. Ugh! Not surprisingly I skipped my early morning walk that day and somehow stumbled through the day in a zombie like state. Then Monday night I had all intentions of catching up on some sleep so I could walk early Tuesday…but then Caleb came down with some mystery bug and I was up all night tending to his fevers and cries…D’oh!
Yesterday the poor little fella was so sick I had no choice but to keep him home from daycare. He had alternating chills and fevers, muscle aches, headaches and light sensitivity and was just plain miserable. However after a 3hr midday nap he woke up good as new and has been great since so is off at day-care today.
So this morning, after 7-8hrs sleep last night I got up at 5.45am for my 30min walk. I felt fine while I was out but seemed to hit a wall at about 8am this morning and have been like the walking dead ever since???
I know lethargy can be par for the course with pregnancy, and to be honest I have felt like I have been dragging my butt around a bit of late…but today takes the cake! So after doing some computer work and journal reading I’m going to crawl into bed for a mid morning nanna-nap *wink* Then this arvo I plan to take it easy with some TV watching, reading and maybe a bit of PS2 golf – our latest vice…hehehe
The worst thing is that when I am feeling like this my food choices leave a LOT to be desired. I am tending to crave carbs and whatever other means I can find for a quick energy hit. Ugh!
I’m such a lost cause :)
TFTD: “No success is final!”
Cheers P
Sunday, 20th August, 2006...
Oops! Hadn’t realized it had been so long between updates.
Things are going along ok here. I did manage to get out for one early morning walk last week…my first day back to that routine in about 3+months…and it was fantastic! I left at about 6am and it was light enough that I decided I could go even earlier next time and still have plenty of light to stay safe.
I walked for 30minutes, including 3 steep hills in my route and it was great. In the few months since I’d done my regular walk I spotted houses sold that had been for sale, houses built that had still been in construction when I last saw them and lot’s of new gardens and things to look at in peoples yards. I love getting landscaping idea while walking around checking everyone else’s front yards out. Hehehe.
And MAN was the dog excited!! I think Mojo had all but given up on the morning walk routine that he loved so much, he was almost hysterical to be heading out again :)
Unfortunately that night (Wed) Caleb was up vomiting all night and I only got about 3hrs sleep so I was in no form to go out early on Thurs morning. Even Friday I was still feeling weary and drained so I decided to take another day off and start back tomorrow morning and hope to do the full week.
Although I definitely need to sort out some new walking clothes. The pants at least are getting way too snug. I grabbed my old exercise pants that I had bought not long after starting the WHO challenge…. I think they are an 18? But they are way tight around the waist band now that I am resembling a bloated watermelon on a good day *wink* Must dig a little further back for some comfy old stretch ¾ pants for tomorrow.
On the food front I have been doing 7 day menu plans for the last 2 or 3 weeks now and it’s fantastic. I don’t plan each day as such but each Monday I just list 7 breakfasts, lunches and dinners then shop for all the ingredients I need for the week on Tuesday morning after dropping Caleb off at daycare. Not only is it so much easier just to grab the list each morning and chose what I’ll have, but I am also getting great variety, trying out heaps of new recipes and saving a BUCKET on impulse grocery spending :)
Speaking of new recipes I know I had promised you the recipe that I tried in the crock-pot this week….
BBQ Beef Buns:
-500g blade or flank steak
-flour to coat
+
-75g tomato paste
-1/4 cup tomato sauce
-1 tbsp balsamic or wine vinegar
-1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
-1 tbsp soy sauce
-1/2 tsp chilli powder
-1/2 tsp dry mustard
-1/2 tsp salt
+
-round bread rolls
-salad of your choice (e.g. lettuce, tomato, cucumber, red onion)
Method:
-Turn slow cooker on HIGH and coat with non-stick spray. Place steak in plastic bag with flour and shake to coat. Discard flour and brown steaks in a non-stick pan with a little spray oil over high heat
-Place meat in cooker with 1-2 cups hot water (recipe called for 1 cup but I had to add a second after it dried out half way through cooking). Put lid on and cook on high for 1hr. Mix all sauce ingredients and set aside.
-After an hour turn the heat down to LOW and cook for 3-5hrs more or until meat is so tender it can be shredded with two forks.
-Drain water and add sauce ingredients and stir to coat…adding back some cooking liquid if required to coat meat sufficiently in the sauce mix.
-Serve meat on bread rolls with salad of your choice for quick, easy and delicious burgers all round!!
I still have not got around to trying out the slow cooker lasagna yet but will probably be doing that later this week so will let you know how that goes. Tonight we are repeating the easy glazed chicken recipe of a few weeks back and making some low fat fried rice to go with it and some steamed veg…. yummo! I usually do a roast every Sunday night but as silly me forgot to get the pork out of the freezer that will have to wait until tomorrow night this week :)
For anyone who may have missed it I had my 18wk ultrasound this week and have to have a repeat one on the 29th of this month. See pregnancy journal for details.
TFTD: “Without action there are no results!”
Cheers P
Tuesday, 15th August, 2006...
Phew! After the morning housework, day-care prep and drop off, doing grocery shopping, coming home and unpacking groceries and packing and freezing portions etc, putting tea in the crockpot and putting on a load of washing…. my “me” time finally begins :)
I have been adding people’s links to the challenge page as they’ve come in. If you want to visit someone’s site you can find their link just below their name on the challenge page. For all those who want their link listed but haven’t let me know…just drop me an email and I’ll have you sorted in no time.
I am trying out another new crock-pot recipe today. It’s BBQ beef buns and is basically just the beef cooked to super tender in the crockpot then tossed in a special made bbq sauce … then you simply place this in hamburgers with salad. Should be yummy! I’ll post the recipe with my next journal entry after I’ve tried it and can let you know how it goes.
I’ll also have another new crock-pot recipe for you later this week after I try my first crock-pot lasagna!! Eeek! I’m also doing the easy glazed chicken again that I posted a few weeks ago, as it was so simple and yummy.
I LOVE my crock-pot :) Especially on day-care days when I can put it on then know I can relax right up until Caleb and Simon gets home without having to worry about getting tea cooked and prepared.
Darling Caleb came and climbed into my bed at 5.55am this morning and since I was then awake I had a bit of a light bulb moment. It was just light! This meant that I could again start my morning walks. I am just not sticking to them when doing them during the day but when I walked each morning I very rarely missed it. It was my quite time before Simon went to work and I was left with a chatter-boxing 3yr old all day *wink* Before I used to walk for 50-60mins but from now on I’m going to do 30mins. Mostly because there is only enough light for this for now to allow me to get home before Simon has to leave for work about 6.30am. Also I think this will be more then enough for me in the coming months as the pregnancy progresses anyway.
I’m really excited about having made this decision, as I know the benefits will be many. Firstly I’ll be able to rack up 5 x 30min walks a week without any trouble. Also mentally it will be great to know that I am doing something to help slow my weight gain as well as go somewhat towards helping for an easier labour/delivery.
Speaking of weight gain…. It’s terrible!!!
Honestly every day I get on the scales I am heavier then the day before :( It is really getting to me and I am very ashamed of how poorly I am going. So I’ve decided to wimp out on providing my stats this week (yeah I know…I’m a chicken!) I’ll post my next weigh in two weeks from this Thursday – that will be 20wks and the half way mark! Let’s just say that I will be very happy if I can make this far with a less then 10kg gain. You’ll have to wait and see if I can make that or not? I’m not even sure I can myself but I’m hoping getting back to the exercise will help.
I was a bit offended by a crude and insensitive comment about my weight on Sunday just gone that I simply must vent about. I went to my corner store to grab something sweet for our dessert that night – now having said that we very rarely eat dessert anyway so I was feeling ok about this decision. Anyway the guy who owns the store knows all about my weight loss from the newspaper article last year.
Now let me begin by saying this guy is FAT, FAT, FAT! I don’t usually like to label people (other then myself…. hehehe) with this label. So much so that I have instilled this in Caleb and he will stop me if he hears me say it and tell me very sternly “We don’t say 'fat' Mummy, that’s a naughty word!” Hehehe bless him. But this man has obviously been grazing a little too heavily on his own fried foods because he seriously looks like he is due any day with twins or even triplets. His great hulking stomach hangs down to his mid thigh area. He’s also the sort who always has something smart to say to everyone and he thinks he’s so damn clever.
Anyhoo…on Sunday I was lingering over the ice-cream cabinet when he spots me. He goes “What are you doing…. you worked so hard to lose the weight and now you’re stacking it all on again!” Now this man KNOWS I am pregnant and when I am due. I promptly replied “Well that’s what happens when you have a baby growing inside you”…but what I wanted to scream was “Look at you, you fat f*ck…what’s your f*cken excuse buddy!!!” I was so angry. I came home and vented to Simon but I am still fuming that the insensate prick had the gall to have a go at me like that when he is obviously not one for taking his own advice. I swear the next time he says something like that to me he’ll be getting it from both barrels!! Grrrr!
TFTD: “You must plant the see first before you reap the harvest!”
Cheers P
Saturday, 12th August 2006...
Ok here’s the deal.
Rachel has tagged me on her site to list 5 weird things/habits about me as she has done on hers.
So here goes…drum roll please ... Tee-He
#1- Like Emily, Simon and I have the list of 5 celeb’s we are allowed to ‘do’ without consequences should the chance ever arrive. (Any die-hard ‘Friends’ fans like us will remember the hilarious episode when Ross missed out on Isabella Rossilini after bumping her off his list for someone local!) Anyhoo – my list is ever changing but right now from favorites from number one down would be … JD Fortune from INXS, Eminem, Sawyer from LOST, Angelina Jolie and I guess Brad Pitt – even though I don’t like him as person since he dumped Jen I can still admire the bod *wink* I’d happily take number 4 and 5 as a combo deal *Hehehehe*
#2- The TV shows that Simon and I have loved the most and watched obsessively are Friends (we own every episode on DVD and could seriously quote any on request), Seinfeld – our original favorite and one we are currently building our DVD collection of, good old Melrose Place for trash value, Big Brother and Survivor for reality shows and currently LOST absolutely bloody ROCKS!!
#3- I am a terrible call screener. I just have really gone off talking on the phone lately for some reason. I’ll chat to anyone on email or text but when the phone rings I more often then not don’t answer it (unless I recognize the number) and just think – if it’s important they will leave a message.
#4- I am the worse paranoid passenger you’ll ever get in your car – if you could get me in there to begin with. Over the years it has even become habit for me to drive us everywhere because I annoy the hell out of Simon by clinging on to my seat, using the invisible brake on the floor and gasping audibly when he drives even moderately lively. I am, of course, totally comfortable with my own driving though (hehehe can you say the word “control freak”?) so if ever a driver is needed I’m your girl. The best thing about having kids is now I have an excuse to drive my car places due to the need for child seats
#5- I have told everyone I know that my funeral song is to be Green Day’s Good Riddance/Time of your life. That song has just gets to me.
Hmm that about covers 5 weird and wonderful things about me for now. Anyone else like to join in? I’m not one to tag back really but if you do your own let me know so I can visit for a read :)
Now speaking of your websites, I’ve had a great suggestion from Dianka (a challenge member). She has asked that I provide links for challengers who have their own websites so that if you are interested in their progress you can visit them to find out more. What a fabulous idea!! I’ll link it directly from their name on the challenge page or may even provide the link just below their name? I know many of the sites already but to preserve my own sanity, and to ensure your permission, could you please email my your link IF you want me to include it on the challenge page. Thanks.
I had planned a big whinge today about the damn scales but have lost my mojo for it after getting this far. Instead I am going to finish it up here before tackling some housework and going to collect Caleb from Granny’s for his swimming lessons. He spent the night there last night and tonight we have the float parade and fireworks to attend so we are looking forward to that.
After swimming lessons we are going to take a family walk out on that pier again. The hours walk will do me good and help me to put those scales and their horrible, horrible results out of my mind :(
TFTD: “We must take full responsibility to what happens to us!”
Cheers P
Tuesday, 8th August 2006...
Well the new challenge is up and running!
It’s an exciting time – even when I am not in it myself this time. It’s great to see what everyone can do and after getting it all set-up there’s nothing more satisfying then seeing the great results roll in :)
I’m afraid the dreaded scales are still being horrible to be! I keep peeking at them most days and despite my best efforts I seem unable to get them to move down at all. I know that I am of course bound to gain weight these days but it’s always confronting to not be able to drop weight quick with just a couple of good days eating/exercising like I always could in the past. So for now I’m just working on maintaining for as long as I can. If things continue as they are I am going to end up gaining more this time then I did when I was pregnant with Caleb (17kg) and that was definitely NOT my plan!
However I guess the best plans for pregnancy are no plans. I’ll just have to do my best and I try very hard not to let it bother me too much. I hate having this weight thing really hanging over my head this pregnancy and when I can manage to forget it I feel a whole lot better. Ho-hum.
I’ll post a new weigh-in result next Thursday (18wks) for you all to see anyway – Gulp!
My eating is hit and miss…some days good, most mornings good but then the afternoon munchies strike and I’m undoing all the good I have done…D’oh!
At least my exercise has picked up again at least.
The last 5 days have been:
Thurs: 1hr walk
Fri: 1hr weights workout
Sat: 1hr walk
Sun: nil
Mon: 30min walk.
In fact yesterdays 30min walk took more out of me then the 1hr one’s I’d done previously. I was pushing Caleb in the pram so I guess that’s at least 20kg of extra load but boy did it wear me out. By the time I got back to the car I was stuffed and reminded of just how much our abilities change when pregnant.
Later today I hope to do the lower body workout from the Buff Mom’s To Be book (see full exercise list in journal entry below).
And as always I aim for my best with the food intake. Practice makes perfect right?? Hehehe
I've just updated Caleb's site with all his latest news. Some funnies in there today! You can visit it here.
TFTD: “Become the kind of person you’re proud of!”
Cheers P
Sunday, 6th August 2006...
Phew! What a busy weekend it has been.
Saturday I took Caleb to swimming lessons solo (while Daddy stayed home nursing a hangover – tee-he!) Then to give him some extra time to recuperate I took Caleb down for a walk out on the pier. Now we have several little jetties dotted along our beach but the main pier is actually 0.8km long. By the time that Caleb and I walked out to the end and back though (1.6km) it had taken us 1 hour! Of course Caleb is not exactly a consistent walker … stopping every few metres to point out a sign, pelican, fisherman or a little crab down in the sand that we could see as the tide was out. However given my current state of energy a leisurely stroll along it was just fine by me :)
Then last night we packed up our chairs and rugged up warm, grabbed some take away tea and headed to a park with out friends for a picnic tea. Then about 7.30pm we were able to watch some nearby fireworks before heading home. It was great, cheap fun for the whole family.
Then this morning we grabbed Caleb’s ‘Ascott’ (his teddy bear that he takes to bed – it’s actually a puppy dog and the name came with it!) and headed off to the annual Teddy Bear’s Picnic in the park. We spread out a blanket and watched the various clowns, kids music groups and other entertainment. Caleb had his face painted as a fierce tiger and then was lucky enough to have a clown make him a balloon dog, which he was thrilled with. As I write this he and his Daddy are off now doing some fishing while I have some quiet time at home.
What a weekend!
On Friday I FINALLY did my first workout from the ‘Buff Moms-to-Be’ book. It took 90mins to do and consisted of the following:
Warm-Up Stretches: Standing quads, seated hamstring, calf, inner-thigh, heel to heel, glutes, sitting glutes, lower-back, prayer stretch, cat stretch, standing neck, chest/shoulder, triceps, deltoids/shoulder stretch.
Workout:
-1x10 modified push-ups
-1x10 push-ups on Swiss ball
-2x12 chest press on ball
-2x10 overhead press on ball
-2x10 alternating arm raises
-2x10 upward rows
-2x10 lateral raises
-2x10 concentrated curls on ball
-2x10 alternating bicep curls
-2x10 hammer curls on ball
-2x10 triceps extensions overhead
-2x10 triceps extensions on ball
-2x8 triceps dips
-2x10 one-arm triceps kickbacks
-12 x dumbbell squats with weight
-2x12 step-ups
-8 x each side lunges
-10 x butt lifts on ball
-2x15 kneeling leg lifts
-12 x calf raises on step
-2x10 side leg lifts
-12 x abductor squeeze with pillow on ball
-2x12 abductor leg lifts
-10 x pelvic lifts
-5 x pelvic tilts
-10 x one-arm dumbbell rows
-10 x ab ball rolls
OH MY! I can tell you that I was stuffed by the end of all this. The next day I was sore as hell too from the dips and push-ups that I hadn’t done in ages (and which were much harder to do now).
In future I’m going to break up the lower and upper body sessions over two days but it was great to give it all a run through for now at least.
So for the last 4 days that makes it:
Thursday: 1hr walk
Friday: 1.5hr weights session
Saturday: 1hr walk
That is by far the best effort for exercise that I’ve made since becoming pregnant and one that I hope to keep up from now too. I am careful not to overdo it and I’ll just do the best I can.
Ok well it’s almost time for the boys to get home from fishing so I’ll leave it here for now and go make them some lunch.
Oh and one more thing…. Happy Birthday for my oldest sister Vicki who is turning 37 today!!!
TFTD: “We teach best what we once needed most!”
Cheers P
Friday, 4th August 2006...
And another fabulous Friday rolls around. It’s a beautiful sunny day here today…a little cool but nothing to complain about :) I for one am enjoying the cooler weather before summer hits with a vengeance this year. I’ve always dreaded summer when I was fat…and this last year was my most pleasant yet after losing almost 30kg. Then I thought this Summer I would be at goal – not 9 months pregnant! Eeek!
Anyhoo…I know that after bub arrives mid January I will be back at WW and doing the lactation plan and things will be on the improve once more. I watched my friend join while still breastfeeding and she went on to lose 15kg and reach goal all while still feeding so I know it’s possible! She also had many many more points to use then I did, despite being much lighter, so I know the lactation plan is very generous and allows room for plenty of extra good food to help the milk supply stay good and to help bub grow big and strong while mum shrinks *wink*
I have another crock-pot recipe for you today. This was one I tried yesterday and, as all of them have, this one got the thumbs up from the whole family. It was also so simple I can recall it from memory:
Sweet Chilli Chicken
-6 chicken drumsticks
-flour to coat
-3 tbsp apricot jam
-3 tbsp soy sauce
-3 tbsp tomato sauce
-3 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
Method:
-Spray slow cooker with oil spray to prevent sticking and turn on to HIGH
-Pat chicken dry with paper towel then place in bag with flour and shake to coat
-Mix remaining 4 ingredients in slow cooker and add chicken – turning to coat in sauce
-Turn on LOW and cook for 7-8hrs or HIGH for 4hrs
-Spoon over remaining sauce to serve.
Now I’d definitely recommend going the low setting when cooking as this sauce can burn a little if left on high for too long. We had ours with salad and chips but rice or mashed potato and veg would go just as nice. It was so yummy and so easy that I know I’ll be doing that one again for sure! As usual the chicken just fell from the bone on serving.
Bit of a busy weekend coming up for us. Tomorrow morning we have Caleb’s swimming lesson then I really hope to get my messy car cleaned out before lunch. At about 5pm we are meeting our friends and their children at a local park for a picnic tea and play. Then from where we are we will be able to watch some fireworks set off at 7pm. Caleb loves fireworks!
Then on Sunday we have our local “Teddy Bear’s Picnic In the Park” to go to. It’s run at our botanical gardens from 9am-1pm and is packed with lot’s of fun things for kids and families alike. I think after that we are going to join the same friends down the beach for some play in the sand and a picnic lunch but will have to play that last part by ear.
I love weekends like this when there are lots of free activities to do that are out and about in the fresh air. Next weekend our city has it’s annual festival with float parades, music, carnival rides and again more fireworks. Yippee :)
Ok now I hope you are all sitting down for this?
…. Are you prepared?
Yes! I finally did some exercise yesterday *wink*
I took Caleb down the Esplanade to ride his bike while I walked beside him (trying to keep up I might add) for 45mins. It was great and boy did I sleep well last night. Today while he is in daycare I’m making myself a delish noodle stir-fry soon for lunch then after Dr Phil *tee-he* I’m going to do that weights workout from the Buff Mom’s to Be book. Will let you all know tomorrow how that goes!
Only 3 more sleeps until the new challenge begins now! Good luck to all those who have already entered. If you have not yet entered but want to…it’s not too late! See entry below dated Aug 1st for details.
TFTD: “The only limits we have are those we impose on ourselves!”
Cheers P
Thursday, 3rd August 2006...
For those of you who read my pregnancy journal you would have already read about the women with a bad case of car park rage who abused and cursed at me at the hospital yesterday. I just wanted to talk a little more about it here today.
For anyone who missed it…the short version was I unwittingly took this women’s park and she reversed up to behind my car, honked her horn and let loose a torrent of verbal abuse and swear words at me – with Caleb in the car I might add!
This woman was VERY overweight and obviously aggressive and abusive in nature. As I watched her find a park elsewhere (from the safety of our car) and waddle inside the hospital I was struck with a strange sense of dejavu.
I was once that woman.
I was once so filled with hatred for my own appearance and lack of self-discipline and motivation that I took my anger and frustration out on anyone around me. Anyone looking at me longer then I considered appropriate was prone to a tongue lashing about whether they would like a camera to get a better look. Anyone who I perceived to have slighted me did it on purpose and was therefore deserving of being belittled and swore at.
How sad is that?
I am truly a different person now. Yet I could see myself so clearly in this woman. In the past I would have swore back at her but yesterday, especially with my son in the car, I wound down my window to apologize and explain that I did not know she had wanted the park. This was cut off and droned out by more filthy swear words and Caleb asking me from the back seat “Why is that naughty lady yelling?”
Hmmm!
What can you say? “Caleb that lady is no doubt angry at herself and the only way she can rid herself of that toxicity is to lash it onto others?”
Certainly gave me some food for thought about how far I have come as a person as the kilos have melted away and as motherhood has impacted on my life. Thank god I am no longer that women. I hope that one day she can be happier in herself also!
TFTD: “You are as happy as you make up your mind to be!”
Cheers P
Tuesday, 1st August 2006...
Ok…some quick challenge housekeeping to begin with today.
As you know the SPRING SLIMMING CHALLENGE begins this coming Monday! Woo-Hoo! We already have 27 participants signed up and ready to go. If you’ve yet to do so and are interested…just send me an email with SPRING SLIMMING CHALLENGE in the subject line and include your screen name, your goal for the 12wk challenge (either a weight you want to reach, or lose 5kg, or get to 80s etc) and your start weight.
For those who already tried to send me a start weight you will know I asked you to send next week’s weight instead. This is because anyone who gave a start weight from today or yesterday for example are in effect beginning the challenge one week earlier then everyone else. I know this means you would also finish a week earlier…but just so we are all on the same page – the closer you can get your start weight to the challenge start the better. So if you don’t have a specific weigh-in day make yours as close to the end of this week as possible or next Monday. Then stick to that same day each week to send in your updated weight emails.
I’ll be sending out a group email to all the challengers with some more info before the challenge begins so stay tuned for that. I have got myself much better organized this time and have added each challenger to a specific mail folder I have created so that I can send out group emails with ease for anything I need to tell all the challengers about. I’m slowly perfecting this all with each passing challenge :)
As for me…well I continue to suck at this healthy eating while pregnant jig!
But I have a plan. I have sat down and devised a 7-day eating plan that I intend to begin tomorrow. It includes no take-away or junk food and I’m hoping that by following this for a week I may be able to get things back in order and stop the rapid weight gaining I am experiencing. I’ll have my next weigh- in after that (next Thursday) and let you all know the result.
On the exercise front…I’ve still done none! Big surprise! But the book I ordered from America “Buff Moms to be” arrived today so I’m going to develop a workout regime from this and begin on that tomorrow. I’m hoping that plus better eating will bring me a much healthier figure on the scales come next Thursday!
Keep you all posted :)
TFTD: “The best way to escape from a problem is to solve it!”
Cheers P
Friday, 28th July 2006...
Well I worked at WW again on Wednesday night and it was fantastic. As I used to work at this one more often then the Tuesday morning group I really felt like I was returning home :) Everyone was so lovely and really made me feel missed which was very touching. Turns out I’ll be doing it a bit more in weeks to come, having already been lined up for next Tuesday and Wednesday and some more Wednesday nights in the coming weeks. Hoorah!
For anyone who may have missed it, I’ve now completed the new challenge grid for the Spring Slimming Challenge! The entrants are already rolling in but anyone missing the details can read all about it how to get in on it at the entry below dated Wednesday, 19th July.
There is also a new element to this challenge. Thanks to a fabulous suggestion from MAK I have added a goals column also. This enables each entrant to set his or her own personal goal for the duration of the 12wk challenge. It may be to maintain, to lose a little or a lot, or for some it’s just to get to the next weight decade e.g. from the 80s to 70s etc. I think it was a great suggestion and one that may really help some bring their goals to reality. Thanks so much MAK for the suggestion!!
I am also eager to wind up the current challenge ASAP. Anyone still not having given me final weights by next Friday will be removed from the challenge to enable it’s completion. So if you have those last week's stats outstanding send them into me pronto please!
Now as promised, here is the latest crock-pot recipe that I tried out last week…
Spicy Lamb Shanks:
-4 lamb shanks or 6 lamb knuckles (I used 6 lamb cutlets)
-2 tsp sesame oil
-I medium onion, chopped
-2 garlic cloves, chopped
-2cm piece fresh ginger, grated
-2 cups hot water
-1 cinnamon stick
-1 star anise flower (I substituted some Chinese five spice powder)
-2 cloves
-1 or 2 small dried chillies optional
-2 tbsp soy sauce
-2 tbsp Sherry (I substituted 1 tbsp vinegar)
-2 tbsp brown sugar
-corn flour to thicken
Method:
-Cook the onion, garlic and ginger in the sesame oil in a non-stick pan for 5 mins or until onion is transparent then transfer it all into the slow cooker
-Turn the cooker on HIGH. Add the hot water and as many of the next 7 ingredients as you have/like, adding chilli if you like a ‘hot’ sauce.
-Place the lamb in the slow cooker. Cover with lid and turn heat to LOW.
-Simmer for 7-9hrs, or until meat is very tender
-Lift out meat. Strain and reserve cooking liquid – discarding various bits and pieces in it. Thicken with corn flour then return the sauce and the lamb back to the slow cooker and leave on LOW
-Turn the lamb in the sauce and serve anytime in the next 2 hrs or so.
As usual with the slow cooker… the meat was so tender it just fell apart on your fork. I did find the sauce a little oily so I would say just use some spray oil when cooking the onion etc and perhaps chose as lean a cut of lamb as possible. Not surprisingly Simon though this was absolutely delicious!! He has just loved all the new slow cooker recipes so this weekend I ‘m going to get him to chose his own dish from the book and I will cook that for him next week.
I have now cooked lamb cutlets, corned beef, chilli con carne, glazed chicken, meatloaf and sausage casserole from this recipe book (all recipes in prior entries) and I still have a dozen or so I want to try. Easily the best recipe book I’ve ever bought…which makes a change from the usual stash, which I look at but barely use. For those who may have missed it the book is called “100 great ways to use Slow Cookers & Crock pots” and is written by Simon and Alison Holst. Hands down a must have for any crockpot owner/lover!
It is a rainy, cloudy day here today so I plan to snuggle up in bed with my book and chill while Caleb is at day-care. I have still had this lingering cold for over 2wks now and since Caleb has picked it up this week also I am feeling quite run down and sleep deprived. I had planned to keep him home today but he picked up considerably after breakfast and even said to me “Let’s get dressed and go to day-care!” Yikes he must be sicker then I thought!!! *wink*
Alright well I guess I’ll finish it up here for today. Please consider joining my next challenge and let me know what you decide. The more the merrier :)
TFTD: “A misty morning does not signify a cloudy day”
Cheers P
Tuesday, 25th July 2006...
My WW leader phoned me yesterday and asked me to work at the Wednesday night meeting this week and probably next week too – Hoorah!
Besides the few extra dollars I can make, it is far more valuable to me in other ways. Just being back there last week did wonders for me. I felt part of that WW world again…reminded of all I wanted to achieve and all that I had. I hope that I can continue to work there as much as I am needed in the next 6 months to stay focused, ready to jump back into it as soon as bub has arrived and things have settled down soon after.
Speaking of bub…for those who may not have seen it, I posted a belly shot on the pregnancy page last week…. Eeeek! I also spoke about the way people will touch your stomach without invitation when you are pregnant. The lovely Jacki gave me an interesting slant on this. She reminded me that people only do this if you look pregnant – as opposed to just fat – so I guess that’s another reminder to me not to focus so much on the weight I am gaining. To remember that I don’t look half as bad as I fear and to basically just take a chill pill over it all. Having said that though Jacki…. the devils advocate in me says that the two women who touched me so far both knew I was pregnant already *wink* HeheheHahaha!
I’m trying out a new recipe in the crock-pot today. It’s meant to be Spicy Lamb Shanks but I’m using lamb cutlets instead. Will let you all know how it turns out.
Not much else to say today. I am eating like an absolute Carb-Craving lunatic…that and chocolate milk I can’t seem to get enough of – Ugh! God help me :)
I’m off now to create the new challenge grid so if you want to join…see instructions below from Wednesdays July 19th entry for details.
TFTD: “You are as successful as you make up your mind to be”
Cheers P
Friday, 21st July 2006...
Did I ever mention how much I love my husband?
He is such a support to me and I am so lucky to have a man like him!
Last night we had a big talk about weight gain and eating/exercise in pregnancy etc. I was moaning (as I do) about how fat I was and he of course said, “You’re not fat – you are pregnant”. However when I insisted I was more fat then pregnant he didn’t just humour me…he told me some hard truths I needed to hear.
He said that yes I was pregnant, yes I was going to get bigger and yes the scales would steadily climb. He also pointed out that this did not mean I could do no exercise and eat crap all day and not expect to gain a lot extra. He asked how I’d feel after having the baby if I was back to square one of my weight loss journey again? The answer – devastated!
I explained how hard it was to keep up my motivation to exercise and to deprive myself of the foods I wanted when I knew that unlike before when the rewards of this could be seen each week on the scales – this time the rewards would be 6 months away.
He listened, understood but still encouraged me to do the best I could. To try as hard as I could not to gain excess weight that I would regret later. Then ended his pep talk by telling me he loved me regardless and I’d always be beautiful to him.
Awww shucks!
So with his words in mind I’m trying to make better choices. Yesterday I had a near perfect day and I’ll try to keep that momentum going. I went to the library and hired a bunch of books and videos on pregnancy exercise but was disappointed to get home and find them more about stretching and preparing for birth rather then toning and ‘real’ exercise that I wanted to learn how to do safely now. So I have ordered a great book from USA called “Buff Mom’s to Be” and I think this will be just what I am after. I also emailed the Enforcer for some advice and basically…it seems that low impact cardio and circuit/weight exercises would be fine with some exclusions of course, e.g. no ab work and nothing that would present a risk of falls or stress on joints etc. Will let you know how I find the book.
This morning I stood on the scales with no shortage of trepidation. In fact I was terrified of what I would see. The result …. 99.6kg. So, all up a gain of 5.7kg in the first 14wks of pregnancy. Not great I know but not as bad as the 100kg+ I had steeled myself to see. So were to from here? Try my best to rein things in the next two weeks and I will weigh again at 16wks to see how I’m going. My goal for then – to still be under 100kg. I’ll be happy with that!
Now one last thing before I go about the SPRING CHALLENGE. Some people are a little confused about the weigh in procedure. Let me just clarify that a little. Let's say you weigh on a Friday (or whatever day??) The Friday before the challenge begins you send me that weight as your start weight. Then on the first Friday of the challenge (5 days into it) you'd send me that result as week 1's loss (each week from then will be 7 days so don’t worry about a short first week). Then each Friday (or whatever you day was) from then keep sending them in? Clear as mud??
Any other questions please feel free to ask.
Don’t forget to check out the pregnancy page for the latest baby news too!
TFTD: “Failure is success if we learn from it!”
Cheers P
Wednesday, 19th July 2006...
Well after yesterdays terribly sad post I guess I will catch up on my news today.
As many of you know we celebrated my Dad’s 60th birthday on the weekend. My two sisters, their families and many other family and friends joined in the celebrations that were held at my house and a good time was had by all.
It’s so much work having visitors, especially for an anal control freak like me *blush* who likes her house ‘just so’ and stresses no end about the mess and chaos visitors can cause. I always feel relief when everyone is gone, and yet I do love having them here too? Ho-hum.
The party was, for me, a very sober affair. My first party like that in some time…hehehe…however it was nice not to suffer any drink induced embarrassment or any morning after hangover for a change.
I have been run down with some flu/virus of sorts that saw me virtually lose my voice for the party but overall I have not felt too bad with it. I haven’t seen a Dr but I figure, as I can’t take anything anyway, there is not much use in bothering. I’m feeling better today so I think it’s pretty much gone for now.
I am, in fact, feeling much better in many respects now that those draining and ill first few months have passed. I have more energy now and I’m hopeful that I may get my lazy butt back into some form of an exercise routine soon!
A step in the right direction however was to work at my WW meeting yesterday. I filled in on the bookwork/money taker job for the day and it felt fantastic to be back there again. I really missed it, and didn’t realize just how much until I was back there. Even though I can no longer ‘diet’ as such I really benefited from listening to a meeting and being surrounded by so many people on their way to their own goals. I have asked the leader to please keep me in mind for any future work opportunities, as often or rare as she likes as I really enjoyed myself.
I have still not been back on my scales since last Thursday. A record for me, and surprisingly not even difficult to do. I think I just don’t want to feel discouraged by it all again when I have just begun to enjoy this pregnancy without worrying about the weight focus. I know I must face them again soon but for now I’m happier in ignorant bliss. When I do weigh again though I will be sure to give you the updated figures.
Now one more matter of business. The challenge.
As you can see most of the challenger’s are drawing to the end now. Some who started a bit late are a week or two behind but for the most part it should be finalized in the next week or two. I would like to sincerely thank each and every one of the participants…those who completed it and those who only made it part way. You have all helped to inspire and motivate others and myself and I am in awe of all that you can achieve.
Some lost a lot, some lost a little…but simply by trying to do anything you are all a success in my book.
So…the next challenge? Yes I will be running another one. It will run over 12wks again and all are welcome to participate. To allow time to complete the current challenge the new one will begin August 7th 2006. Anyone interested in joining please send me a separate email with SPRING SLIMMING CHALLENGE in the subject line. Please include the screen name you wish to use. Don’t include start weights yet as it will be too early but I ask that you send me a start weight the week before the challenge begins, on whatever day you usually weigh yourself. Then this will be your weigh day each week and you can then send me an email with updated stats and screen name for me to add to the challenge page each week on this day. Clear as mud?
Hehehe Good luck to all who enter and I look forward to sharing the journey with you!
TFTD: “No matter how far you have gone on the wrong road, turn back!”
Cheers P
Tuesday, 18th July 2006...
Well I did have a bit planned to say today, since my absence over Dad’s 60th birthday weekend.
However after catching up on some blogs I have lost all urge to ‘chat’.
I was devastated to read of the loss suffered by Emily and Jonny when they lost their own precious baby at 16wks just a few days ago :(
Any mundane chatter I had planned, pails in comparison to what you are both going through right now.
I offer you my sincerest sympathies and I ask all who are reading this to remember this gorgeous couple in their thoughts and prayers at this tragic time.
Hugs to you both!
TFTD: “Tomorrow is not promised to us, so take today and make the most of it!”
Cheers P
Tuesday, 11th July 2006...
5 days since I stood on my scales and I’m feeling fine!!
Not only has that got to be a record for me…but also I think it’s a trend I plan to continue for some time!
It has made the world of difference to me emotionally – I can’t begin to tell you. Instead of stressing over the numbers I am continuing in blissful ignorance and enjoying the pregnancy, as I should be able to. I know that I can’t just stay off them indefinitely as I need to keep some sort of monitoring on how things are going but I think maybe each two weeks will suffice.
In the meantime I feel pregnant and fabulous for the first time in the last 3 months. I have just got a huge score of bargain maternity wear (see pregnancy site for details) and I’m finally able to wear comfortable clothes that look good but feel great and I have cast aside all my fears of “it’s too early to wear maternity clothes – I’ll just look fat!” etc. To hell with that and to hell with what anyone else thinks! All the maternity wear is size 14-16 (with one sz 18 shirt) so I’m feeling more confident that it’s not just me getting fat that is making me outgrow all my old clothes…I’m just pregnant - D’oh! *wink*
I’m happy and in the end that is by far the best for my bub and me :)
Now…slow cooker recipes. I cooked the Chilli Con Carne that I listed in my prior entry and it was delish! I highly recommend that one! Just now I have tried out another new recipe…
Sausage Casserole
For 4-6 serves:
-500-700g sausages
-2 medium onions
-2 green apples
-2 tbsp oil
-2 tsp curry powder
-1 or 2 cans of baked beans
-1 x 400g can whole peeled tomatoes in juice
-2-3 sage leaves chopped optional
-1-2 tbsp brown sugar
-Chopped parsley
Method:
-Coat the slow cooker bowl with non-stick spray and turn it on to low. Arrange sausages in the bottom of slow cooker
-Slice onions and unpeeled apples into a non-stick fry pan, add oil and curry powder and brown the onion and apple over moderate heat until nicely colored. Turn off heat and add beans and their sauce and the liquid from canned tomatoes. Mix well, adding sage and brown sugar if desired.
-Pour everything from the pan over the sausages in the slow cooker. Roughly chop tomatoes in can and put them on top of bean mixture.
-Put on lid and cook on low for 6-8hrs. Everything should be cooked after 6hrs but will be fine left for several more hours.
-Stir to mix everything and sprinkle with chopped parsley to serve.
How easy does that sound…and hopefully yummy too! Will let you know on that one. I love all these new slow cooker recipes to try, as I really do love the convenience of it all. Will have to decide on some new ones to try next week too.
I have all my family arriving on Thursday night in preparation for Dad’s 60th birthday party on Saturday. My two sisters, their husbands and their 3 children will all be staying with us so it’s going to be a full house! Caleb will love the company of his cousins though :)
In the meantime that dear husband of mine has repainted the inside of our house. Despite only being built 5yrs ago the walls were so marked and scratched from Caleb’s toddler years that now everything looks brand new. He has painted all bar 3 bedrooms and their feature walls, and the lounge feature wall, which we’ll get to in coming months. Ahhh I love my sparkling, clean house. After the party it’s time to tackle all the hidden mess in coming months. Wardrobes packed to bursting with boxes unpacked for years, kitchen cupboards and pantries that need spring cleaning, linen cupboards that need de-cluttering. It’s all gotta go and be done on my two day-care days a week and before I get too big and cumbersome. Oh the joys of nesting! *wink*
TFTD: “You are what you make of yourself!”
Cheers P
Friday, 7th July 2006...
A much better day today :)
I faced those dreaded scales yesterday and was in fact relieved to read 97.7kg. Ok it’s a 3.8kg gain in 12wks of pregnancy but who cares?
Yes I do but I can’t do anything about it and I’m so sick of stressing about it. I still have moments every day that I despair over it all but in my heart I know that whatever I gain, I’ll just lose again afterward. If it’s 10kg or 20kg it won’t stop me reaching my goal in time. I want to relax and enjoy this pregnancy and the only thing standing in my way right now is those scales and my dreaded body image so this week I’m going to work really hard on keeping all that crap out of my mind.
Those of you who have visited my pregnancy journal this week will see that I’ve had a bit of stress re the pregnancy when a heartbeat could not be found on Wednesday. I have a scan this afternoon and while I’m fairly sure all will be ok it has given me a new perspective on it all. Nothing else matters right now more then this miracle baby.
Not how fat I get, not how few clothes fit me, not how much I have to lose after. I need to keep reminding myself that I began the last pregnancy at 115kg and ended it at 132kg just fine so I’m never going to get that high this time so who cares?
Of the 17kg I gained last time, I had lost 11kg of it by the time I went home from hospital on day 4, leaving me only 6kg to lose at the end. This time I would be stoked to come home under or close to 100kg and I think I’ll manage that so with all my might I’m going to try to stop stressing about it.
I’m only going to get on those scales each Thursday and that’s it! This week I am trying very hard to have a good week, and in fact had my first great day in weeks yesterday. Next Thursday I hope to have inched those numbers a little lower but if not then so be it. What will be will be! Enough said!
A follow up mention on the article that was to feature in Weight Watchers magazine about weight loss blogs – it’s been canned…Bugger! No real reason given, just that they may still use the article in future but for now it’s not going in. I am hoping that means the whole article and not just me?? Eeek now that would give me a complex…. hehehe. Will just have to wait for the next issue to see.
I was given a great idea from one of the challengers, Megan, this week. She suggested making up a snack bowl each day of healthy things I can nibble on. This means I feel free to graze but at the end of the day I will know that I have done it from healthy options and in moderation. What a great idea! Thanks again Megan :)
I’ve busted out the old crockpot again this week and I’m trying 3 new recipes from it.
Yesterday I made an Easy Glazed Chicken dish that was divine to taste and just fell apart on the fork it was so tender!
For 2 servings:
-2 large chicken breasts or thighs (I used skinless thigh fillets)
-1-2 garlic cloves finely chopped or grated
-2 tbsp soy sauce
-2 tbsp tomato sauce
-2 tsp corn flour
-2 tsp sugar
-Flour to coat
Method:
-Turn slow cooker on to high and coat with non-stick spray.
-Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels. Mix the garlic and the next 4 ingredients together in the slow cooker bowl to form the glaze mixture. Put the flour in a plastic bag, add chicken pieces and toss to coat evenly
-Turn the floured chicken in the glaze mixture in the cooker, coating the skin side first, then turn the chicken over so that the skin side is uppermost.
-Put the lid on the cooker and cook on high for 3hrs, and then turn down to low. Chicken should be cooked after 2hrs on low. Leave on low for another hour is desired. Serve with remaining cooking juices spooned over the chicken.
Yummy! I had it with steamed veg, fresh corn on the cob and mashed potato and it was a big hit with the whole family. Using thigh fillets I did do most of the cooking on auto level rather then high though but there was not doubt when it was done as it just fell to pieces with I tried to turn it. Highly recommended.
This morning I have just put a Chilli Con Carne on to cook.
For 6 serves:
-1 tbsp olive oil
-500g lean minced beef
-1 tbsp ground cumin
-1 tsp chilli powder
-1 tsp dried oregano
-2 medium onions finely diced
-2 cloves garlic chopped
-140g tomato paste
-2 x 400g can diced tomatoes in juice
-1-2 400g cans of kidney beans rinsed and drained (I used only one)
-1 medium red or green pepper deseeded and diced
-1-2 tsp salt
Method:
-Turn slow cooker on high to preheat and coat with non-stick spray
-Heat oil in large pan. Add the mince and cook, stirring frequently until lightly browned. Stir in the cumin, chilli powder and oregano and cook for 2 mins longer
-Transfer the mince mixture to slow cooker and add the next 6 ingredients. Stir well to combine, then cover and cook on low for 8-10hrs. Season with salt to taste before serving.
-Can be served with bread on side, over rice or as a filling for baked potatoes, tacos or tortillas.
I’ll let you all know how I find this one but I can say from the smells filling the house that it’s going to be yum-mo!
Later this week I’ll be trying a sausage casserole recipe in the slow cooker but will let you know the recipe for that one then. It’s great to try all these new recipes in it and now I love my slow cooker more then ever! *wink*
One more thing before I end this massive entry for today. The next challenge!
I am so proud of how everyone is going on this challenge and I think we will be able to crack the 150kg mark before we end…Hoorah! I will be running another one after this one so think about whether or not you would like to join and stay tuned for when I call for new entrants here in the next few weeks.
Ok well enough for now. Having a fairly quiet weekend this week…. working on yards and gardens etc in preparation for the 60th party we are hosting here for Dad next weekend. My sisters and their families begin to arrive from Thursday so it’s going to be a big week. Have a great one everyone!!
TFTD: “What are you going to do, starting today, that is going to make a difference to your life?”
Cheers P
Tuesday, 4th July 2006...
Firstly I’d like to say a big thank you to you all for your many birthday wishes last week *blush* I was very spoilt for the day indeed and had a fantastic time!
I received my much anticipated Ugg boots for my gift from Simon and Caleb that morning and have barely worn anything else since…oh so warm and cosy! Then I was treated to a BBQ bacon and egg breakfast before we organized Caleb for day-care then headed of the movies. Simon and I watched the new Adam Sandler movie ‘Click’. It was a great movie…very funny (except for the tear fest I had towards the end when it brought back memories of my mom’s death) … but otherwise a very enjoyable film.
Then we called into my Dad’s house and I had to laugh at his gifts. A bottle of wine and a card all about how a good birthday is judged by its hangover. One word for you Dad – pregnant! Hehehe That’s men for you huh? Oblivious to the limitations on a pregnant woman – hehehehe In any case I’m sure it will be nicely aged by mid next year when I can finally drink it!
Then we went to my favorite seafood restaurant for lunch, followed by a spot of retail therapy where I bought a nice, long sleeved white shirt to wear out to dinner that night. I practically live in black shirts so it was nice to get something bright for a change. I’m feeling very depressed about my wardrobe at the moment (more on that below) so it was good for me to buy something new that I liked.
That evening we all headed out to another restaurant for dinner with my Dad and his wife and Simon’s mom, brother, sister and her husband. Caleb was very well behaved and it was a most enjoyable night. Then we finished the evening with our mate Scotty while the boys played PS2 golf and I vegged out on the couch watching them.
Scott has brought me gorgeous bonsai plants for my last two gifts (xmas and birthday) but as I foretold that I would, I managed to kill them both, despite desperately doing everything I could to keep them alive. Apparently they don’t much like our local climate the growers tell me? Anyway…he took great glee this year in presenting me with a mounted air plant – the kind that is virtually impossible to kill! Ha ha funny bugger he is! It is gorgeous though and mounted on a dish featuring a parrot and rocks etc and is beautiful. Then when we arrived at our holiday destination the next day his mom gave me a lovely red jeweled candle holder and his sister gave me a stunning hand painted dish and bowl in red and gold (I have a red feature wall in our lounge hence the red theme). During my birthday dinner Simon’s family also gave me a delicate glass and wire crab wind chime and a pamper pack which is for manicures and pedicures. It has dozens of polishes, creams, lotions etc and even a battery operated nail buff/filer. *bliss*
So yes…I was VERY spoilt!
Our weekend away was so much fun…but rather then repeat myself you can read about it all and see the pics on Caleb’s site here.
Weight wise…. I suck! I have been really depressed at how dismally I am going :( Every day I begin with plans to track, eat well and make progress…. but finish the day wracked with the guilt of all I have not achieved and the exercise I have not done.
I am rapidly growing out of my clothes and my confidence is near rock bottom. Ho-hum.
On Thursday I will be 12wks pregnant so I will face the scales again then and see what damage I have done but secretly I suspect I will be back to close to 100kg again. Ugh!
The mere thought of it makes me want to cry. Why can’t I stay in control of my eating, and exercise as I had planned? Why am I undoing all my months of hard work? Why am I allowing myself to go right back to the dark days of old where I loathed by body and all it represented? If only I could get things back on track and enjoy this time instead of stressing about the food/exercise side of things????
*Sob*
TFTD: “You develop a habit through repetition!”
Cheers P
