New Journal page for Oct-Dec here :)
Sunday 30th September 2007...
Super fast entry today. Had to do at least one more entry on this page before it's time for yet another new page from tomorrow for Oct-Dec 2007.
Have had crazy busy weekend...but on a good note I've broken an exercise plateau. I've now worked out 11 days out of the last 13 days....I've done 8 days in a row so far...and for a change exercised every day this week instead of not starting until the usual Sat or Sun.
My week has been as follows:
Thurs: 45min walk + 0.3km jogging
Fri: 45min walk + 0.5km jogging
Sun: Planning ab roller session tonight.
Yesterday at the gym for my weights I increased 6 out of the 10 stations by 5kg on each to really push myself harder. It obviously worked as I'm pretty sore and tender today. I went grocery shopping this morning and everytime I had to reach up a shelf my chest/arms/shoulders hurt....love that post exercise reminder of a job well done :)
This afternoon I've just got back from taking Caleb to the cinema to see the movie 'Surf's Up'. It was ok...nothing earth shattering. The main thing was that we got to spend some quality time just the two of us and besides, Caleb loved the movie so that's all that matters :)
The run that I did on Friday was twice as long as the day before and when I measured it later in the car I was pleased to see that the continuous jogging part was 0.5km in length. In total the walk was 3.8km so now I'm going to work this week at building my jogging portion up to 1km non-stop. Easy to do on the treadmill but oh so much harder in the real world sadly.
I'm also planning some lawn mowing tomorrow and hopefully a spin class during the week and we have booked a tennis court for Simon and I to play on next Sunday. All up should be a good all round variety of workouts for the week along with my usual morning walk/runs.
TFTD: "Things do not change - we change!!"
Cheers P
Thursday 27th September 2007...
Well I didn't lose last night....but I didn't gain either so Hoorah!
Given the PMT induced choc cravings this week and the associated bloat that time of month brings I feel like I did pretty good overall with a maintain.
My exercise was better at least:
Sat: 1hr 6am walk
Sun: 1hr 4pm walk
Mon: 1hr 5.30am walk
Tues: 1hr 5.30am walk/jog
Wed: 20minutes cross-trainer at gym (1 min each at level 1 up to 9, then 3min's level 10, then 2min's each at level 9 down to 6)
Total: 4hrs 20min's
This week however I am finally going to break that early week lack of activity pattern. I've already done a 45 min walk/jog this morning at 5.30am and my exercise calendar shows it's the first time I've exercised on a Thursday all month so yey for positive changes.
I got my ab-roller this week (although I couldn't find a second hand one and got a new one for $20 it was worth it) so this arvo I'm either going to the gym or I may set up a home circuit using my exercise bike, step, hand weights and ab roller. Whichever I don't do this arvo I'll do tomorrow arvo. And either way I'll do another walk/jog in the morning and that will make 2hrs of exercise already in the first two days of the week! I'm beginning to add more and more jogging on my morning walks too so I'll be reaping the fitness and measurement/toning benefits of that soon too.
This week I really want a BIG loss. I'm happy with my 0.7kg and 0.8kg losses that I've been having but only 0.5kg in the last 3 weeks is a bit slack again so this week it's time to shake things up. I've pulled out my tracker and I'm going to faithfully track every morsel that passes my lips this week. I'm also going to try to get a 6hr+ exercise total this week at least but I'll try to make it as far as 10hrs if I can. Like I said...I want a BIG loss. Summer is coming and I've got to be ready for it.
We've been busy here with Caleb on Kindy holidays. So far we've had play at home like sandpits, cars, colouring etc....yesterday was the beach....Tuesday we explored the recycling plant....today we are getting DVD's and taking flowers to my Mom at the Cemetery and my Aunt and Uncle at the crematorium.....and tomorrow it's a day at the park with his best friend. Then I think Simon is taking Caleb to work with him for a bit tomorrow too so he'll love that! This weekend we are doing a stack of yard/garden work and revamping our back garden. I'll take before and after pic's to share with you when we are done. At some point I'm going to take Caleb to the cinema this weekend too to see 'Surf's Up' and Simon and I are going to play some tennis on Sunday. So like I said...busy busy here :)
I'm off to update some stats now and by the end of the week I'll have new updates and pic's on both Talyn and Caleb's pages but I'll let you know here when they are done.
TFTD: "Persistence is behind every success!!"
Cheers P
Tuesday 25th September 2007...
Walking, walking, walking. I feel like I'm always walking :)
I've done an hours walking a day for the last 4 days in a row and while I know I need to up the work a bit and add more variety sometimes it's easier just to walk out the door and keep walking.
I'm kind of off the gym at the moment?? It's near impossible for me to get to a class these days while my mother in law is working and unable to watch the boys and I'm a bit sick of the cardio machines and weights. I also get a bit self conscious there and hate having to worry about what I look like before I go. With a walk I don't care if I'm sweaty or if my hair is a mess...people get a glance of me and that's it. But at the gym....??
Still I know I need to variety and the intensity so I'm planning on heading there this arvo for a session. I might do a 15minute cardio warm up then do my weights program as I've not done that in ages and just lately I've been really conscious of the need to tone up. I'm wishing I had the variety and intensity that the Enforcer used to provide me but I'm just too self conscious and lazy to work like that alone I think? I guess I just need to bite the bullet and get stuck into it again and to hell with what I look like/feel like. I'll be glad I did when I see the benefits :)
Otherwise all is good here. We all got clear results from our mole/skin checks yesterday which was good. And after driving out to the recycling yard for that ab roller we found they were shut! They are open today though so we are going to go out soon and have a scout around to see what we can find :)
I'm kept pretty busy with the boys at the moment while Caleb is on holidays from Kindy but I find that by getting back into the routine of my 5.30am walk each day I can start the day at peace knowing that even if all else fails I've done at least an hour of exercise. And today since I've already done a load of washing, housework, dishes, bottle washing and vacuuming and mopping....yes and it's only 9am.....I'm going to take the rest of the day easy until gym time.
Later!
TFTD: "Success comes in can's. Failure comes in cant's!!"
Cheers P
Monday 24th September 2007...
Another weekend over already!
Well at least this one gone I finally got some exercise in instead of waiting until today to begin it in a blind panic with weigh-in looming.
I did a 1hr walk at 6am Saturday morning, a 1hr walk at 4pm yesterday and a 1hr walk at 5.30am today. I'm so tired, and still a little sick....but let's face it - you gotta be pretty sick to not even be able to do just a simple walk. And as for sleep....well I'm always tired so nothing new there :)
You know how I said in last entry that I had a sweet tooth attack. Well that stayed with me all weekend. Then last night I found out why. After being 4-5wk's late (!!) I finally got TTOM. Now I know why I was craving sugar so much! I'm feeling a bit bloated and the scales are up today but I'm hoping that I have enough time between now and Wednesday nights weigh-in for that bloat factor to settle? If not it will next week so I'll just keep at it and see how I go.
I'm going to the recycling centre this morning to get an ab roller. You know those things that most houses had in them a decade or so ago when they were all over the TV. You lie down with your head in them and use the curved bars to roll up and down while your head stays supported on the head cushion? I used to have one myself but tossed it long ago. I saw a new one in the shops this weekend for $20 and got to thinking about how I missed them. The Enforcer always had me on it at my old gym but my new gym doesn't have one. I had thought they were crap but the Enforcer (and the gym) had faith in them so they must be ok. Also I know I could do a killer ab session on them that left my abs screaming for mercy but for a change I didn't pull on my neck and get pain there which I always do when I do crunches without one. Usually my neck stops me way before my abs do so I'm going to hunt one down so I can punish my abs once more *wink*. Also I heard there were dozens of them at the recycling centre for only a dollar or two each - bargain!
Then this arvo the whole family are going to have our yearly mole/skin check at the skin clinic. As I have something called dysplastic neavus syndrome I have to be very careful with my skin. I had two moles out as a teen and had two cone biopsy's on other's last year so I'm always very much the sunscreen fanatic around my boys. Never a bad thing to Slip, Slop, Slap and Slide (slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat and slide on sunglasses for those of you who have forgotten the old TV jingle with the bird practicing it's suncare). Hehehe
TFTD: "Your body is the baggage you must carry through life - the more excess the baggage the shorter the trip!!"
Cheers P
Saturday 22nd September 2007...
Well I'm halfway through the weekend and doing half way ok *wink*
Had an attack of sweet tooth last night so have been very careful today to compensate. I began the morning with a 1hr walk at 6am when I couldn't get back to sleep....due to the fact I'm sick....AGAIN!! Can you believe that???
I've been sick twice already in the last 2-3 months with terrible flu's, and I put my back out in between the two of them....now I have a cold. My nose is constantly blocked yet miraculously can constantly run also :) Today I've begun to cough also and my head feels tight enough to pop. But yeah...otherwise great hehehe. Thankfully I don't have the horrible viral/temp/ache thing going on that the flu's had so really I'm grateful this is all it is (so far - Eeek touch wood!)
I kept far too busy today to eat and at this point I've had 18 points of my allowed 24 for the day. I've had three good meals but I didn't have any snacks because I was flat out all day. After we got Caleb's last swimming lesson for the term done we dropped him off at his Granny's for a sleepover....took a break just now to give him a good night call....Awe I miss him when he's not here. The place is so quiet without his constant chatter and noise :)
While Caleb was away today I stripped his room bare! I did a big clean out of all his toys and clutter and tidied everything up in his wardrobes, bookcases and drawers. I took two giant garbage bags of toys and balls to a charity collection and 3 big bags to the rubbish. We had to clean out every nook and cranny under his bed and tables and everything, looking for marbles and other small objects that could be harmful to Talyn. Now that he's on the go all the time with his commando crawl or in his walker we really need to reapply all the old childproofing strategies once more.
Then I did the same in Talyn's room, boxed up his outgrown clothes and organised his newer things. I created a toy box for him and moved all of Caleb's old baby toys out of storage and back into circulation. Oh the joy of two boys!!
Then after cleaning the study, some vacuuming, a load of washing hung out, dried and brought in and cooking .... I got lots of yummy baby cuddles (Simon was doing most of the baby care needs for me today)
Now the rooms look fantastic and I was far too busy to snack. Hoorah!
Anyway I'm only here for a quick catch up tonight as we have a friend over and I'm just using this time to catch up on website's, emails and stats updates while the boys play some PS2 cricket *yawn* Also a storms brewing so I'd best shut the computer down.
Everyone in the Spring Shake Up Challenge is going great. Just being accountable to it here is a lot of work for some of us and that's reason enough to feel successful :) Keep up the great work.
TFTD: "Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important!!"
Cheers P
Thursday 20th September 2007...
Wahoo....a loss of 0.5kg last night which brings me into the 103s!!! Ooh I can smell those 90s now they are so close :)
I really need to maintain the exercise in the early part of this week. I'm taking a day off today but I want to get back into it tomorrow. Usually I go hard Sun-Tues/Wed prior to weigh-in and then do nothing until the pre-weigh-in anxiety hits again after the weekend.
This week was typical of that:
Thurs: nothing
Fri: nothing
Sat: nothing
Sun: nothing
Mon: 30min's cardio at gym
Tues: 1hr morning walk + 1hr lawn mowing
Wed: 1hr morning walk.
I also really want to work hard to stop the weekend damage every week. Then I wouldn't have such a stressful push to get the numbers back down at the start of every week. I guess it's a classic yo-yo dieter pattern only I go through the whole cycle of up and down within each week. Not only is that bad for my body but also for my self esteem and stress levels also.
Last night at WW I was awarded my 15kg lost bookmark. I HATE having to get up in front of everyone and say how I've done it, what helps me etc. I'd never make a public speaker. That's why I love my website....I can talk all I want but the only thing looking back at me is my monitor *wink* I guess that also goes a long way to explain why I always turn down anyone who wants to meet me in person. I just don't have the confidence. But before...as I reached the 80s my confidence was improving dramatically. Oh how I want to be back there again. But before the 80s come the 90s...so bring them on!!!!
TFTD: "You cannot be hoping without acting and wishing without doing!!"
Cheers P
Tuesday 18th September 2007...
Well my busy weekend is behind me and I don't think the damage was too bad? I'm back in the 104's this morning but still a little bit up at this stage. I need to get to 104.0kg by tomorrow night to achieve a maintain or into the 103's for a loss. Either way it will be close so I feel a lot less stressed about it then I did yesterday when the scales were in the mid 106's!!! Eeek! Thank god for short term water bloat huh? :)
I wanted to say a big Well Done to all the Spring Shake-Up Challengers too. As at this moment we are sitting on exactly 900kg lost in total since I began the challenges (this is our 8th one now). How bloody awesome is that!!! I hope to add a little to that total tomorrow night myself - or at least just not take too much off it *wink*
I hit the gym yesterday arvo for another go at the crosstrainer challenge (see last Tuesday's entry for details). However I couldn't get a treadmill for the warm up so just went straight into the cross-trainer regime. Then I finished up with 5min's running and 5min's walking on the treadmill.
This morning I've been out at 5.30am for a 50min walk and this afternoon I have another hours exercise planned while mowing our lawns. It's great to get the bonus of a nice lawn from exercise like that :)
Yesterday my gym trip was later then expected and we ended up with take away for tea. Once more I got a skinless grilled chicken wrap from Red Rooster and I avoided the yummy hot chips there by having potato and gravy and roast pumpkin with it instead...success!
Anyhoo....the boys are both still asleep at the moment (a miracle at 7am) so I'm going to leave this here and go and make a start on the housework.
Have a great Tuesday everyone!
TFTD: "Problems are opportunties for growth!!"
Cheers P
Saturday 15th September 2007...
Sorry to be missing in action for a few days. It has been one crazy busy week that's not over yet!
Yesterday as an example I had to get the boys fed, dressed and ready for playgroup and all the housework done by 9am. Then after that I had to tackle Woollies with them for some groceries. Then it was home for lunch and naps before getting them up and dressed again for a 1yr old afternoon birthday party at our friends house at 4pm which we didn't get home from until bedtime. Today it's swimming lessons, grocery shopping, cooking up baby food and housework before we go out with our mate Scotty tonight to the pub for Simon's belated birthday outing. Then tomorrow morning I have to tackle a hangover while getting everyone organised to get to a 31st birthday party by 10.30am. When we get home from that it will be time for me to mow the lawn before organising tea and lunches for Monday. Like I said...crazy busy!! :)
So let me catch up on the weeks weigh-in result. Yes I stayed the same! I've gotta say though....It was a foolish decision to have a bit of a big night drinking (on Simon's birthday night) on the night before weigh-in....hehehe. What probably would have been a very small loss instead was a nothing. However I could easily have gained instead so I'm not beating myself up over it.
While I did drink 5 extra heavy beers that night I didn't eat bad. Ok I had a sliver of the birthday cheesecake but dinner was a BBQ and salad and I didn't eat anything else for the rest of the night so all in all I felt it was a success.
However I'm dead scared about next week's weigh-in. I nibbled way too much at the 1yr old's party last night....and tonight it's a big night out at the pub...and another party tomorrow....Eeeeek!
I have been inspired and astounded at the awesome results that have come in for week 1 of the Spring Shake-Up Challenge and I so don't want to disappoint by posting a gain in my second week :( However it's not too late to hope to turn things around. If I don't, I don't and I'll face the music regardless but I'd really like to pull off at least a little loss to get my challenge started at least??
I also know that I will be awarded my 15kg lost bookmark at my next meeting. I didn't get a chance to get it last week when I earned it and this week my leader forgot to give it to me. When I asked after the meeting about it she insisted I wait until this week as she was going to have a supervisor attending that night and really wanted a good award to present in front of her. Gulp! I'm currently sitting on 15.2kg down at WW so if I do gain I really hope it's not enough to push me back under the 15kg mark!!!!
There's nothing else to it...I just have to lose!!! I'll have to eat super careful from now to Wednesday night, get in as much exercise as I can possible manage - and just hope for th best??
Keep you posted!
TFTD: "You are the caretaker of your own body!!"
Cheers P
Tuesday 11th September 2007...
Happy 33rd Birthday Simon! :)
On a sadder note a special thought to all those affected by Sept 11 attacks - and let's face it....who of us wasn't?? It was a horrible time in life and one many of us will never forget. Enough said.
I was emailing one of the Spring Shake-Up Challenger's Rebecca recently and she was talking about how sore she was from her new gym regime. At the time I remember thinking "Hmm I never feel sore anymore from the gym??" It got me thinking and I concluded that I must be getting lax and not putting enough effort into things. Well let me tell you....today I am sore all over!!!!!
My arms are sore every way I move them from the massive weights workout I did with them on Sunday evening while watching TV. Then after yesterday morning and this mornings jog/walk plus yesterday's crosstrainer challenge at the gym....oh my legs! So yeah....I am happy to hurt once more. Hehehe
The cross-trainer challenge was given to my by Jacki, another challenger. It was given to her at her gym and she challenged me to try it. Boy do I owe you one Jacki! For those who want to give it a go this is what it involved.....
-10min's treadmill warm-up. (I did 4min's walking at 5.5km, then 3min's jogging at 7km, then 3min's walking at 6km)
-2min's crosstrainer at level 5.
-1min crosstrainer at level 6
-1min crosstrainer at level 7
-1min crosstrainer at level 8
-1min crosstrainer at level 9
-Repeat last four steps until you reach the end of 18min's total (so four full sets)
-1min crosstrainer at level 10
-1min crosstrainer at level 5 to cool down.
-10min's treadmill again to complete cool down. (I did 3min's walking at 5.5km, 2 min's running at 7km and 5min's walking at 5km).
Now even though I can now do 30min's straight on the crosstrainer I always use it on level 1. I wasn't even sure what level 10 was going to feel like but it was ok. It was bloody hard...but given that it changes each minute it's ok. And every time it was time to go back to level 6 and build up again it was a mini relief. Overall though it was a great workout and one I look forward to doing again soon.
This morning when I went out for a 5.30am walk I again did 4 periods of jogging throughout the 45min's I was out. There is this one really steep footpath that runs between houses and connects two streets to each other. Back in Enforcer days I was running up the whole thing (just). Yesterday I made it half way and today I made it half way and probably 5m or so further. I'm going to keep adding to it this way until I'm jogging all the way again.
I'm really focused on jogging right now and building up my distance/time that I am able to continuously jog. I really want to do more for my legs/butt etc but also for the mental thrill of it that I mentioned last post. The only way to do this is to just do a teeny bit more each day. Be it one more lamp post or one more metre of the killer hill. At the end last time I'd got to jogging a whole block so I will do that again. In fact....I might go add it to my goals page now!
Love the thought for today below :)
TFTD: "The definition of insanity is doing this week what you did last week and expecting different results!!"
Cheers P
Monday 10th September 2007...
Well after a couple of weeks hiatus while I had the flu from hell....I have finally started to get back into some exercise this week.
Last night I was watching Idol on TV and desperately trying to curb my desire to snack. So I decided I needed to do something proactive about my weight while at the same time keeping my hands too busy to nibble. I keep a set of 3kg hand weights under my coffee table so I dragged them out and worked on my arms. I did it for about 45min's and included all sorts of different exercises. All up I would guess that I did about 300-400 or more reps in total with 3kg in each arm. I also did 20 push-ups and 15 dips as well so I'm feeling a little tender in the chest/arm region today.
I was saying to Simon how, when I lost the weight the first time, one of the biggest signs of success for me personally was to finally be able to wear sleeveless shirts and short skirts after a decade or more of wearing neither. And now with Summer fast approaching I am determined to be back to that point again in time for the hot weather.
This morning I got up at 5.30am and headed out for a walk. My walk though turned into a walk/jog and I did 4 lot's of jogging (about 100-150m) each during the 45min's I was out. It's a starting point and one I intend to build on from here. I know that jogging really did wonders for my butt and legs before so I want that again. Also it's a real mental hurdle for me. I went literally 10yrs or more not running anywhere at all.....so to go jogging on the street....feels AMAZING!
This afternoon I am off to the gym to try out a cross-trainer challenge I was given by a friend. Will let you all know in tomorrow's post what was involved and how it went.
Tomorrow (Sept 11th) is Simon's 33rd birthday. I need to get out super early for my walk so that I can get back in time to open presents with him from the boys and myself before he heads off to work. Then we are having 5 people around for a birthday BBQ dinner tomorrow night and a night out drinking at the pub this Saturday night.
I'm still undecided as to whether or not I'll weight Tues morning or Wed night at WW this week?? I guess it will depend on the scales. They've gone up a bit at the moment and I think ttom is coming so I'm really hoping I don't end up with a gain in my first week of the challenge!!! Eeek! However if I do, I do. It's only one week and I won't let it stop me :)
TFTD: "You don't ever have to be the same again after today, only by choice!!"
Cheers P
Friday 7th September 2007...
Another weekend, high risk period begins and yet again I find myself online....trying to keep my fingers busy and away from mindless nibbling :)
After my last entry when I spoke of caving into bad take away on Monday night....I went and had take away again last night!
However there was a change. First of all let me say we do not usually have take away two nights running....it was just a circumstance thing. Anyhoo....last night I made a much better choice. I had a grilled chicken wrap (6.5pt's) and chicken salad (4pt's). I had the points to spare and it was a really filling meal and felt like a splurge when in actual fact it was a sensible choice, fully tracked and within points for the day. Bargain!
I also got to thinking today about where I am of late. About how I used to feel the first time I reached my 15kg mark. I am wearing the pair of size 18 jeans today, for the first time since the pregnancy, that I once slimmed down to in time for my 30th birthday. At that time I was around 104kg also and I felt like I was achieving so much. This time however instead of saying to myself 'yey I've lost 15kg' I always follow it up with "yeah but I had lost 30kg so I've got a ways to go before I get back to where I was'. And when I look in the mirror, where as the first time I noticed the improvements at this point, now I see only what is not what it was for a while there. I'm so impatient to get back to where I was that I forget to see where I am now.
I'm going to endeavor to change that self destructive thinking this week. Can't hurt to try :)
TFTD: "We are the sum total of our actions!!"
Cheers P
Thursday 6th September 2007...
Another day, another battle of willpower :)
Had an unexpected blip last night when I ended up having chicken and chips for take away last night after a previously perfect day. Ho-hum. But one meal is not the end of the world so it was straight back on track this morning and today has gone perfect. 3.30pm and so far have had 9/24 points. We are having a roast chicken dinner for tea so I'm saving up for that and trying to avoid snacking this arvo when I get restless - hence why I'm online now keeping my hands busy while Simon is keeping the boys busy.
Speaking of the boys....there is a new update to read at Talyn's page. And for those who missed it a few entries back I now have new pages done for both Caleb's photo's and Talyn's photo's.
Nothing much else happening today. It's our second rainy and miserable day here trapped indoors with tomorrow looking to be more of the same. I always used to love rainy days but with kids it sends them (and me) a bit stir crazy!
I'm trying to keep the new challenge in the forefront of my mind this week. I'm very aware of the fact that I do not want to gain in my first week so I MUST lose this week no matter what. So I'm reminding myself every time I'm tempted that I want to post my 4th consecutive loss this Wednesday. Fingers crossed! :)
TFTD: "If you want things to go your way - go after them!!"
Cheers P
Wednesday 5th September 2007...
It's a rainy day here today so a good day for staying at home with bubba. Not that it helps my plans of a pram walk and some shopping that I was going to do today but .... oh well - tomorrow is another day.
I've just been updating the Spring Shake-Up Challenge as the beginning stats begin to roll in. Remember...if you've signed up for this challenge then you need to have your start weights to me before this Sunday. And for anyone thinking of joining - it's not too late!
I think we are slowly getting back to good health here. The boys are good but Simon and I can't shake our shocking cough. It keeps me awake for hours on end overnight and Simon coughs so bad each morning that he actually vomits from his gag reflex...lovely huh? God I hope it goes entirely soon as I really want to get back to some exercise but it's impossible to do much for now as it just triggers horrible coughing spells everytime I exert myself. Kind of like when I got whooping cough during the WHO challenge.
I'm really conscious of my need to do really well this week. I've had three good losses in a row now and that little evil voice in my head tells me it can't last much longer. Yet this is week 1 of the new challenge beginning for me today so I really must be super strict on myself. No way do I want to end up with an overall gain like I did last challenge!!
As those numbers are finally dropping I can almost smell the 90s so close again. One more loss next week and I'm into the 103's and that's so close to them. Oh how I want to see those double digits again!!!
It's almost time to drag out some of my smaller clothing sizes for another try on again - squeal! I'm so dying to get back into my smaller sizes! I've been a 20-18 of late but I think I'm a true 18 now so I may begin to fit into more of them soon. Can't wait.
Oops there goes my boy waking again. He always seems to know when I'm online??
Better dash.
TFTD: "You can't do everything at once but you can do something at once!!"
Cheers P
Tuesday 4th September 2007...
Wahoo what a great day today!
I weighed in and not only did I lose but I also hit two more goals also. I lost 0.8kg today which brings me down to 104.0kg. This means I achieved my goal of 104.4kg to be 1/3 of the way to goal and I also achieved my goal of 15kg lost (actually now 15.2kg in total).
Yey me!!!
I'm thrilled with that result. Also the fact that I am finally making some decent progress with 3 good losses in a row now is a relief.
So that makes 104.0kg my start weight for the Spring Shake-Up Challenge. I've set my goal for the 6wk challenge to be 99.9kg to get back into those double figures. Now that would make me a happy girl!!
Just quickly before I go...I've finally done new photo pages for Caleb and Talyn. Pop in for a look to see some of our latest snaps including pic's from Talyn's recent naming ceremony.
Speaking of the cherub, he's just woken up and is screaming for me so best leave it here for today. Will write in more detail tomorrow :)
TFTD: "Nothing holds greater power over the body then the beliefs held in the mind!!"
Cheers P
Saturday 1st September 2007...
Ah the first day of spring! New beginnings and new possibilities :)
In that vain I began today in the way I hope to continue the season. I finally got back to exercise! After two weeks off with my back injury and two weeks off with this dreaded flu...it's been a while. I woke up at 6am this morning listening to Simon's horrible coughing...then I chimed in with my own and I knew sleep was a lost cause. In fact I've nearly forgotten what sleep actually is? With the last two weeks of having a sick baby wake me all night every night, now Talyn is sleeping slightly better at last (but still nothing like before - I probably get up an average of 10 times a night!)...but now even when I can sleep I can't because I have these horrible wracking coughing fits that just won't go away. Just when you think you can doze off another wave hits and so it goes on. I tell you I am absolutely exhausted but at the same time powerless to stop it??
But anyway...I digress. So I was up at 6am and decided I may as well go for an hours walk. I did my old figure 8 circuit with my house in the middle and it actually took me 45min's so that wasn't so bad. I've changed the route slightly to add two extra hills for a bit more of a workout. I coughed all the way round but it felt good all the same.
The the day just flew by with Caleb's swimming lessons and grocery shopping, washing, housework and then an aborted attempt at an afternoon siesta. About an hour later I gave up trying thanks to the coughing and instead mowed the lawn! Simon was going to do it but I like to do it for exercise (with a bonus lovely yard for my troubles). It's a 1/4acre block and it takes about 1hr to do it all non-stop so it's a great workout.
So that's 2hrs of exercise in for the first day of spring and I hope that's how the month may continue. After a shaky start to the week (first chocolate craving in two weeks...saw me buy and eat Dad's father day chocolate gift twice!!!!!) I've tracked and eaten well today. I even tried out a new recipe tonight of my own creation.
Sweet Plum Noodle and Chicken Stir-fry:
-1pkt hokkien noodles
-300g skinless chicken breast sliced
-snow peas, red capsicum and sliced mushrooms
-'Woolworth's Select' Oriental Sweet Plum (with a hint of chili and ginger) Marinade/Stir-fry sauce
Total points: Serves 2 - 6.5pt's per serve
It was really yummy and I even took a pic to share with you all :)
Speaking of pic's. I'm almost done creating my new online photo albums. The latest pic's will include our recent trip to Aust. Zoo and also Talyn's naming ceremony. Will let you know soon when they are complete :)
My apologies for the lack of updates this week but I've struggled to get even the basics done let alone much computer time. Between being sick, having a sick husband and two terribly sick boys it's been quite a week! However we are all getting better now (other then our family of coughs) and all looking forward to celebrating Father's Day tomorrow. For all the Dad's out there I hope you have a special day planned. I'll be sharing it with my own Dad as well as my Super-Dad of a husband :) Happy Father's Day Simon!
TFTD: "Unless you start doing something different, you are in for more of the same!!"
Cheers P
Thursday 30th August 2007...
Wahoo!!!!!
Not only did I get another loss....I lost 0.8kg.....plus I got into the 104's again....plus I achieved my goal of beating the invisible floor at 104.9kg. So now I am back into what I call born-again-virgin fat. The lowest I've been since the pregnancy!!!!
Stoked with that!
Now it's onwards and downwards to the true virgin fat (89.4kg).
Very happy :)
TFTD: "Every great journey begins with a single step!!"
Cheers P
Monday 27th August 2007...
Apologies for again making this a short entry but this house has been so crazy of late it's really all I can manage for now. Talyn and I are slowly beginning to recover from our flu but now Caleb seems to be coming down worse with it and even Simon came home early feeling lousy. I expect Caleb will have to stay home from Kindy tomorrow so what were already hard days are about to get harder :(
Talyn's sleep is the main culprit - or should I say lack of it. I think I got up to him about....oh....30 times overnight! That plus 4 times to Caleb meant I probably had less then an hour or two all up myself. The only time that Talyn's slept for more then 30min's straight was 3am-4.30am...the rest was regularly broken by his coughing, my coughing, his crying...and in the the end damn near my crying. I didn't of course but boy I felt like it! Needless to say that things like computer time are rare for me right now, hence why I have still not got the photo's uploaded from the naming ceremony. I haven't forgotten them but you'll all just have to be a bit patient with me for a while.
You'd think with nights like we've had all last week that Talyn would at least have good day naps - no such luck! I think in the space of one short week I've totally forgotten what it feels like to be well and rested??? What is sleep???
But enough of that. I wanted to quickly mention that thing about the diet Coke that I promised yesterday. As you all know, I drink far more diet coke then I do water on an average day. In fact most days were no water at all and totally diet coke. Then I was reading an article in Slimming & Health where a nutritionist reviewed a mans diet. He was drinking 2L a day and she said to him "Your diet Coke consumption is too high. While there is no energy in diet soft drinks, there are a host of undesirable artificial additives, colours, flavourings, preservatives and sweeteners. While Food Standards may say these are safe we really don't know what the long-term health impact is. We do know these drinks erode teeth - reason enough to ditch them in my book". It really got me thinking about my own consumption of the drink. Yeah it may not cost me anything on WW points terms but what is it costing my body?? After reading that I've only had 3 cans in the last 4 days and I'm trying very hard to limit myself to one can a day from here on in. After all...we know there is nothing wrong with, or in fact nothing better for our body then water....nuff said I reckon!
KISSx4....Keep It Simple Stupid x 4 - Sunday
1. Track everything that passes my lips this week (good or bad) - done :)
2. Drink water. Even a glass a day would be an improvement on now.- 750ml :)
3. Do not weigh at home after Wednesday 22nd...Done :)
4. Make a journal entry here each day to report on my progress. - Done :)
I'm feeling very ambivalent about my weigh-in this week. I'm fearful that the flu was to blame for last weeks loss and that it will catch up with me this week and I'll gain. While I know I've done good this week I don't feel I look or feel any different so....??? Only the scales will tell I guess. I'm certainly going either way and will be weighing in Wed night as I have some training to do there then before working the following 5 Wed nights. I'm keeping my Xmas goals close to mind and I know that one week will not end it all - no matter what they say this week!
TFTD: "What are you going to do, starting today, that is going to make a difference to your life??!!"
Cheers P
Sunday 26th August 2007...
Ooh that was close....nearly forgot to do my entry for today.
Must keep this brief as it's nearly bed time for Caleb etc but just wanted to pop in to say I survived the weekend intact and on track....Wahoo!
Oh and before I forget...the Spring Shake Up Challengers are beginning to roll in but a funny thing I noticed was that every one so far except me has a name that begins with the letter K...is that weird?? Hehehe
Now back to my weekend. Saturday night ended well. The only thing I ate after dinner was one of my fave no fat choc puddings (1.5pt's) and that was all. Great finish for a Saturday and particularly one when we were entertaining friends. So.....
KISSx4....Keep It Simple Stupid x 4 - Saturday
1. Track everything that passes my lips this week (good or bad) - done 20/24 :)
2. Drink water. Even a glass a day would be an improvement on now.- 1L :)
3. Do not weigh at home after Wednesday 22nd...Failed 1/3 :(
4. Make a journal entry here each day to report on my progress. - Done :)
I realised that I had written down that I failed my weigh in for Friday but it was in fact Saturday that I weighed (the only one this week so far) so I've fixed that up now. My tracking and staying on points is going great and today has been a big success for that also. Man it feels good to be on track!!!
Tomorrow when I have more time I must talk about diet coke. I've had a bit of a revelation with it...hence why my water intake is finally going up! But more on that tomorrow.
For now I'll end it here but just before I do....as promised, for those who are interested I have completed new updates at Talyn's and Caleb's pages if you'd like to read their latest - enjoy.
And one more thing..... a big congrats to our dear friend Karl (Caleb's godfather) who just welcomed his own little angel into the world this weekend. A little girl named Zoe born on Friday! Congrats guys :)
TFTD: "Little pickers wear big knickers!!"
Cheers P
Saturday 25th August 2007...
Oops...I know I missed a days entry yesterday but I had a good excuse. Wild-crazy weather and more of my killer flu. As for the weather, the main problem was we were without power for 5hrs - kinda limited my online time as you would imagine. We had 100km/hr+ winds here that lifted our pool shed off the ground. Mind you it was bolted into the pool pavers but it also lifted them clean out of the ground! I had to go out in the middle of it to get a load of wet and wildly whipping sheets off the clothesline before the shear weight of them dripping wet in such winds threatened to potentially bring the clothesline down. Like I said it was CRAZY! We had roads closed due to fallen tree's and power lines, damaged buildings and flooding rain....and here I was out in the middle of it doing battle with some willful washing (that much of it that had not yet scattered around the yard!). I couldn't open my eye's for the needling rain and the wind was out of this world but boy was it exhilarating *wink* See that's what I get for using my clothesline instead of the dryer for the first time in about 6months!! hehehe
And then there was the tragedy that became of my crockpot chicken *sob*. My favourite 'easy glaze chicken' slow cooker recipe, that I'd been craving all week and finally, yesterday I mustered up the strength to actually prepare and put on to cook ... oh about 30min's before the power went out. For the first hour or so I was thinking it would probably be ok. After the 5th hour of it sitting on the bench with no heat I knew that chicken was done - but only in a rubbish-bin-bound kind of way :(
Which then brought about my next challenge....what to do for tea?? My stomach was screaming KFC - although strangely enough all I wanted was their potato and gravy and bread rolls (a surprisingly low point meal)...but I didn't trust myself not be tempted by all the many worse things there if I was sitting in the drive through. In the end I made a mushroom omelette and had it with baked beans instead. Close call.
Unfortunately did not do as well with the after dinner munchies. Had a biscuit, camembert and cream cheese plate with Simon. Not Good!
Which brings me to my second and last slip-up...I weighed this morning. Ahhh I'm such a junkie!!!! hehehe I just couldn't help it. I was really stressed about something else and I said to Simon... "I've got to weigh"...it was like I needed a hit?? I was strangely much relieved and calmer once I did it (especially since they looked kind) so I'm glad I did it. Of course had they of not been kind I would have probably spiraled off onto some weird depressed eating trip or something - which is precisely why I have this goal not to weigh in daily in the first place. The other scenario is if it's too good you think you can be laxed all of a sudden thinking "oh I'm doing so well what's one biscuit going to hurt". Right? Wrong!! That's why I know how important a step this is for me to master because I truly believe, despite being a daily or more weigher for about 10-15yrs...I need to stop! I think it will make a massive difference on my weekly losses. I truly do and I urge any other addicts like me out there to give it a go and just see how your eating is honestly effected without the daily emotional highs and lows the scales can bring.
Ok so let's bring the KISSx4 up to date. I owe you Thursday and Friday's:
KISSx4....Keep It Simple Stupid x 4 - Thursday
1. Track everything that passes my lips this week (good or bad) - done 20/24 :)
2. Drink water. Even a glass a day would be an improvement on now.- 1.25L :)
3. Do not weigh at home after Wednesday 22nd...Done! :)
4. Make a journal entry here each day to report on my progress. - done :)
KISSx4....Keep It Simple Stupid x 4 - Friday
1. Track everything that passes my lips this week (good or bad) - done +pt's :-
2. Drink water. Even a glass a day would be an improvement on now.- 500ml :)
3. Do not weigh at home after Wednesday 22nd...done :)
4. Make a journal entry here each day to report on my progress. - Couldn't :(
Overall I'm somewhere like 10 out of 12 for the week so far so I'm feeling ok about that. I'm not going to weigh tomorrow that's for sure and I'm going to try really hard to finish today well.
That's the only way to get through it some days....just one day, one meal at a time. I'm just trying to remember from last time that as time went on it did get easier. You get into a momentum and it was easier as the kilo's lost started to hit the 15-20 mark and you could really start to see and feel the differences. I tell you the Xmas goal (see Wed entry) is burning bright in my mind right now and I really want to make it.
I'm looking forward to really working hard this challenge too! After this I'm heading over to update the Spring Shake-Up Challenge page with those who have emailed to join so far. Are you going to do it....??
TFTD: "Make the changes that will make the difference!!"
Cheers P
Thursday 23rd August 2007...
What the????
I just don't get my body sometimes??? There has been many a week lately that I have worked myself near into the ground with exercise and dieting only to end up gaining or maintaining on the scales. Then when I took a week off from the gym a few weeks back I lost a kilo. Then this week, when I'd planned in advance to have a week off the scales after my weekend celebrations, I go along after all....and lose 0.7kg!!?? Go figure?
Not that I'm not stoked mind you!! Wahoo...that brings me back into the 105's at last! I've dithered around in the 106's for far too long. My first dip to the 105's was in April this year...what a waste of 4 months to get back to this point. Still, it puts me well on track now for my Xmas goals so I'm not going to complain.
I tell you I barely made it to weigh-in though...and that's something else that worries me. I have been SO sick :( Simon has had to take more time off work to look after Talyn and I and today was by far my worst day (touch wood it won't get even worse). I've had sweats and then I'm shivering with the cold....my nose does not ever stop running....I've got a mega headache that's never helped by my constant cough and basically I just feel bloody lousy. So I'm HOPING that my loss this week is not due to my flu and that I won't bounce back with a gain next week?? Please don't let me gain next week!!!
Ok...so KISSx4...
KISSx4....Keep It Simple Stupid x 4 - Wednesday
1. Track everything that passes my lips this week (good or bad) - done for today :)
2. Drink water. Even a glass a day would be an improvement on now.- 500ml today :)
3. Do not weigh at home after Wednesday 22nd...This will be hard this week I know!
4. Make a journal entry here each day to report on my progress. - done :)
I really want to work extra hard this week as there is nothing I'd love more then to dip into the 104's again next week. My next goal is to get to 104.8kg....my lowest weight since the pregnancy and this would also signal an end of this eternal plateau I seem to have found myself on. The funny thing is I was looking at my stats and I found that I also spent about 3 months hovering around 106kg the last time I was there in 2005? How weird is that to have happened again at the same point??
As promised it's time to think about our new challenge!! This one will be called the SPRING SHAKE UP CHALLENGE and it will run for 6wk's duration. It will commence on September 10th. This means I need your start weight, screen name and personal challenge goal on the week prior to this so that you have your first weeks loss or gain result in the week commencing Sept 10th. So don't send me your start weigh in the first week....I need it the week BEFORE we begin. Then whatever day you chose to weigh...send me your week 1 result then (Sept 10-16) then every week after that on the same day. Simple right? hehehe So for anyone who's interested....send me an email to slimming4health@dodo.com.au with Spring Shake Up Challenge in the subject line and let me know what screen name you wish to use. I've created the new challenge page here.
I'm excited about a new challenge and I intend to do much better in this one then I did in the last one. I also hope that by doing one of a shorter duration that we may have less drops outs and more success overall. Please...if you don't intend to see this one through to the end then don't begin it. I want committed people who are focused on giving it their all and who are sure they will keep sending me the stats each week - regardless of whether they may be a loss or a gain. I think we can crack the 900kg loss overall mark this challenge....then it's only a few more challenges until we break the 1000kg lost overall!!!! Now that's something to feel proud of isn't it? :)
TFTD: "Be your own best cheerleader!!"
Cheers P
Wednesday 22nd August 2007...
Well day one of KISSx4 and we are off and running. Will let you know tomorrow how the first day went.
For today though I wanted to talk more about goals. As you can see from my goals page I have always valued the goal setting process. When I lost the 30kg prior to my pregnancy with Talyn I used dozens of small goals along the way to prevent myself being overwhelmed by how far I had to go. Working towards each little goal (often only a couple of kg's apart, or a BMI measure or a clothing size etc) was an achievable working time frame and reaching each one gave me a sense of success along the way.
So it's time to update my goals to reflect my current focus. And what is that focus? For now I just want to get back to where I was... 89.5kg again! I know that after I get there I'll still have another 14kg or so to lose until I reach my WW goal weight but I need to refine my focus until I get to that point.
In the 80's again I'll have my confidence back, my beautiful size 16/14 wardrobe that's waiting for me to shrink back into again and most importantly I'll be setting a healthy example for my boys. I've spent far too many Summer's covered up and the year that I got to the 80's (2005....I was heavily pregnant summer of 2006) I was wearing singlet tops, tiny denim skirts and barely even felt the heat for a change. I so want that again this summer! I'm so sick of having a cupboard full of clothes and only being able to wear 15% of them. I'm tired of covering my arms and legs up again....I want to show them off baby! *wink*
So I'm going to break it down like this. There are 17 weigh-ins until Xmas. I have 16.8kg to lose to get back to the 80s in time. When I look at it like that it seems unlikely, given my pattern of small losses, to think that I can achieve almost 1kg a week over that time...but by golly I'm going to give it a go!!!
Going by this timeframe that means I need to get back to the 90's in 8 weeks, which is Oct 17th.....95kg in 12wk's/Nov 14th....and 89.x by week 17/Dec 19th. Incidentally, Dec 19th would have been my Mom's 60th birthday were she alive - that seems kind of like a sign to me :)
Check out these goals....plus the other's.. on my goal page. You are going to see a lot of them checked off over the coming months! Watch this space!!!
ps in tomorrow's entry I will be discussing the new challenge starting September 10th. Tune in for details on how to sign up for it :)
TFTD: "The best way to make your dreams come true, is to wake up!!"
Cheers P
Tuesday 21st August 2007...
Phew what a weekend!
As mentioned previously this weekend just gone we held Talyn's Naming Ceremony. For those of you who have asked...a naming ceremony is like a non-religious form of a baptism/christening. It's a chance to formally introduce the bub to loved one's, celebrate in his name and to appoint godparents. In Talyn's case we chose my best friend Julie, our best mate Scotty and my friend Rebecca (who is also Scott's sister). We held the ceremony in the local botanical gardens and it was just perfect. I won't go into any more detail here as I will update it all on Talyn's site over the coming days and will let you know here when it's done. I also have a stack of photo's from the ceremony to share so will tell you where to find them when they are done also. I've yet to update Caleb's page for this month either so in the next few days I'll get that all done then let you know when it's all ready to view.
So....all things weight wise??
Well as planned in my last entry I've kind of had a few days off from it all. I've had both my sisters and their families here for the weekend, my friend Julie staying and many other visitors to contend with so I gave myself a holiday from the weight loss stress and let my hair down for a few days. I had more then a few drinkies (had a big party here on the Saturday night after the ceremony), I had some naughty food and I took a break from the exercise also.
Speaking of exercise....you know of course that I had to take a week off when I injured my back almost two weeks ago. Then I had one session back at the gym last week when I achieved my cross-trainer goal before taking another break from it all this weekend. Yesterday was meant to be the day that I got back into it. But.....can you believe I am now sick as a dog - AGAIN!!!! Poor little Talyn has it too :( Apparently it's a virus but it's so much worse for him as the blocked nose etc makes sleeping and drinking hard for him and his cough sounds just awful in his poor sore little throat. Of course being sick - AGAIN - myself is bad enough but with a sick baby who keeps me up all night....well let's just say there is no way on earth I could force my poor body to exercise right now.
So that just leave's eating. Despite getting off to a false start yesterday I finally dragged myself back on track today and things are looking surprisingly good. I had a look at the scales this morning to assess the weekends damage. I was expecting a short term gain of anywhere up to 2-3kg so I was pleasantly surprised to see that I was still within 1kg of my last weigh-in!!!
At this stage I'm not sure if I'll weigh-in tomorrow night or not?? As you know I had planned in advance to skip it this week and put in max effort until next week's weigh-in. However if I have in fact somehow managed a loss by tomorrow I will weigh-in after all. Basically I'll just weigh at home tomorrow and see what happens. If I lose I'll weigh at WW, if not I won't. However in either case, after tomorrow's weigh-in I plan to again attempt a full week of no weighing at home.
Yes that's right....it's time to pull out the old KISSx4 again!
KISSx4....Keep It Simple Stupid x 4
1. Track everything that passes my lips this week (good or bad)
2. Drink water. Even a glass a day would be an improvement on now.
3. Do not weigh at home after Wednesday 22nd..
4. Make a journal entry here each day to report on my progress.
I had to change the daily exercise one for this week due to my illness so I substituted it for the scales one instead. In addition to these I'll just workout when I am well enough to for this week.
I've also overhaulingmy goals.....but more on that in tomorrow's update. I'm revved and ready to go. Summer is coming around once again and I refuse to spend another year covered up. 2005, at my slimmest, was my best summer ever and it's time to get back to that point. Stay tuned tomorrow for more details :)
TFTD: "No success is ever final!!"
Cheers P
Wednesday 15th August 2007...
I was giving some thought to the coming week last night and I think I've had a change of heart. As I was saying in yesterdays entry....I have a big week coming up. What with Talyn's naming ceremony, out of town visitors and a night or two of drinks coming up while my sisters are here.
Even though I did maintain this week I know the effect that the previous week's gain had on me and I am reluctant to expose myself to that sort of disappointment again so soon. I think I'm going to decide in advance to skip next week's weigh in then go back the following week.
However if I am to do that then I need to earn it. So I have decided to be a bit relaxed this weekend - within reason - then begin a renewed effort on Monday. I will weigh myself at home for the last time on Monday morning (just to get an idea of damage I may have done over the weekend for added motivation) then I will not weigh until my WW meeting 9-10 days later. Eeek!
Now although last week was my first ever successful attempt at not weighing at home, and I know how bitterly disappointed I was to finally see the resulting unexpected gain....I also remember the excitement of not knowing. It was so motivating for me not to be led astray by false comforts of daily weighs. I can go head down and bum up with the KISSx4 principles for those 9 days and once more go back for a surprise.
Now having said that....I will never allow myself to get my hopes up again in the same way that I did last time as the disappointment was almost too much to bear. But I'll do the best I can, work out hard, track and drink my water and come here each day with an update to let you know how I'm going.
Then when I weigh-in....I'll face whatever they may say on the day? Good or bad I'll try to take it on the chin and keep pressing on. I'm actually a bit excited about it just thinking about it now.
So that's the plan. I'll get through this weekend then begin in earnest. I wonder what I can achieve???
TFTD: "Very often a change of self is needed more than a change of scene!!"
Cheers P
Tuesday 14th August 2007...
Well I did it!!!
I went to the gym yesterday arvo (my first visit back since my back injury) and I was determined to achieve my goal of 30min's continuous on the cross-trainer. Not only did I do it but I then followed it straight up with 10min's running on the treadmill (1min warm up and cool down and 8min's actual running in the middle). Because the TV in the cardio room has lost it's sound at the moment I took my iPod and I just worked as hard as I could to the beat of the music. It made it so much easier!
Given the week I've had I really needed to achieve that goal for my own confidence....so yey!
Also went to weigh-in this morning. Wasn't sure if I'd gain or lose but I just knew that I wanted to put the last week well and truly behind me and move forward.
Was pleasantly surprised to see a maintain this week so was super relieved that I did not gain - as I probably deserved to this week (unlike last week!!!! - but we won't go there again *wink*)
I have a big week coming up. Talyn's naming ceremony is on this weekend and I have a lot of out of town family and friends coming in for it. It's sure to lead to some unplanned eating temptations, not to mention drinkies but I'll do the best I can and face whatever comes of it.
I'm in this journey for the long haul....so whatever happens,happens. Big picture is that it's only one week after all :)
TFTD: "Without action there are no results!!"
Cheers P
Monday 13th August 2007...
Ok.....well I'm back.
I've had a week to think about things and I've came to the conclusion I already knew last Tuesday. There is no success to be had by giving in. So I had a major disappointment on the scales last week.....so I was majorly pissed off and spun off into self punishment land....eating crap and drinking alcohol (two nights to excess), doing barely any exercise and basically just doing what I liked.
But I'm back!
I'm ready to get on with it and I can only do that one day, one meal at a time. Today is the day to begin. Thankfully the scales are not too bad (for today at least - who knows what they'll say by Wed night's weigh-in). Regardless I'm ready to move on and for them to move down. If not this week then next...but they have to move down eventually and I'm in this for the long haul so it can take as long as it has to....I'm never going to quit!
19 weigh-ins left until Christmas. I'd love to make the most of that time. Just imagine....I could be back to low 90's by then!!!! Ho-ho-ho now that would be some Christmas gift to myself.
And in the spirit of achieving goals....I noticed the other day that one of my goals is to do 30min's continuous on the cross-trainer. I'm going back to the gym this arvo and by damn I'm going to achieve that goal today!! Just you wait and see :)
TFTD: "The burning desire to win is essential to success!!"
Cheers P
Tuesday 7th August 2007...
I give up.
I did EVERYTHING by the book this week. I tracked, I drank water, I exercised when I could before I injured my back. I said no to all the things that I wanted and I forced myself to do all the things I should have done. I didn't eat at all after tea for all bar one night this week and I finished the week under points.
But most importantly I went to weight watchers to weigh without once, stepping on or peeping at the scales this week. This was by far the hardest thing for me personally to achieve this week. It was monumental for me to do this.
So I go along, sure I'll have a big loss. So excited about what I would see on those scales! Last night I was looking at my body critically and I was SURE I could see changes. I was hoping for a loss of 1.4kg or more to get me back to virgin fat...but secretly I'd even dared to hope for 2kg or so.
So along I go....step on the scales....and what do you think I saw??
A gain!!!!!!!!!!
0.1kg up!!!
Now don't tell me that it was a teeny gain and blah blah f*cken blah! I gained!!!
I DESERVED to lose!
I am so furious. At first I was devastated and dissolved into tears the minute I was safely back in my car. I can still barely walk today but I dragged myself there...sure that the results I'd expected would help to lift my spirits. Instead I'm gutted by the results. I'm over being sad about it now. I'm f*cking furious! And I'm done with it!
I'm sick to death of working my ass off for nothing! To get this result this week of all weeks was the ultimate kick in the teeth for me.
I'm pissed off. I'm taking it out on my body today and to hell with the consequences.
I'm past caring.
P
Monday 6th August 2007...
Ok.....going to have to make this SUPER brief!
Did my back in yesterday. No obvious incident, it just started to really hurt in arvo and by today I was unable to sit/stand without pain and the worst part is I cannot hold Talyn or lift him :( Totally useless so Simon had to stay home to look after boys.
Went to see remedial massage man today at the chiropractor. Something about hip flexor joint or something??? Had massage, given exercises to do etc. Told to only sit for 10minute periods (hence brief entry today). Hoping against all hope it will be good by tomorrow as Simon has to return to work then?? Aargh!
Told to do no exercise until at least next week!!!
So for that reason that step of the KISSx4 is out for now. Otherwise going great. Tracked yesterday, drank water and did entry. Now sitting on 88/96. Probably will weigh tomorrow morning so that I don't have to go out Wed night??? Will just have to wait and see how my back feel's tomorrow.
So in any case.....although quiet I'm still here and still kicking ass!!
TFTD: "You must plant the seed first before you reap the harvest!!"
Cheers P
Sunday 5th August 2007...
Day three down and still on fire!!!
Have to make this super quick entry today as we have to be at the Teddy Bear's Picnic in the Park soon this morning. Besides, I did such a mammoth entry yesterday who want to hear any more dribble from me?? Hehehe
1. Track everything:
Sure did! Finished on 23.5/24 points bringing my total now to 66.5/72. Yesterday after that yummy cook-up we had for breaky I had a WW frozen meal for lunch, and spaghetti bolognaise for tea with our dinner guest. No snacks, no alcohol and no late night grazing...not even a morsel! Woke up this morning feeling hungry but so incredibly satisfied with my progress. And for dinner I changed the usual garlic bread for a fresh baked dinner roll (no marg) and cut my usual spag bog serve by half. See I told you .... I'm on fire! *wink*
2. Drink water:
Did better on this today then yesterday. 700ml all up. Still working on improving this one further yet.
3. Exercise every day this week:
Didn't exercise again today...way too hungover. Which just goes to show that the effects of drinking alcohol are more then just the calories you consume at the time. Today I am flat out with the picnic all morning, grocery shopping this arvo and cooking a roast dinner for tea that I know I won't get out for a workout today. So my plan is to get on the exercise bike tonight while watching Idol on TV.
4. Make a journal entry each day:
Check!
So there you have it. 3 days down and I have successfully survived my ultimate high risk period. Not only the weekend but a weekend that included a night out at the pub! Wahooo!!!
TFTD: "Progress is not without it's price!!"
Cheers P
Saturday 4th August 2007...
Day two of my KISSx4 regime and while it held some challenges I feel thrilled with how I survived them :)
1. Track everything:
This I did successfully for the second day running. I had a total of 25.5pt's which now brings my progressive tally to 43/48....I still have 5 saved up my sleeve for the week and that's not even counting the bonus points from exercise which I never use towards extra food even though we are allowed to. I'd rather save them for faster weight loss.
2. Drink water:
Barely got any water in yesterday....only 250ml's which I drank after coming home from a BIG night at the pub. Still my challenge this week was to simply drink some water every day instead of none for a whole week which was the norm. So a tick for this!
3. Exercise every day this week:
Didn't exercise today. Not great but hey it was Friday and I can live with that. So long as I still make all the other days of this week with exercise I'll be happy :)
4. Make a journal entry each day:
As you can see I can check this off the list for today too.
So....more on those challenges I faced and conquered. For one, as mentioned above I went to the pub last night! Simon stayed home with the boys and insisted I have a night out instead. I knew that if I was to manage that successfully I had to go back to the drinking habits that helped me to stay on track back in the party hard pre-Talyn days. This meant no more red-bulls and vodka or sugary pre-mixed vodka's or beers. Instead I stuck to Vodka and Diet Coke all night. Ok so I had 10 of them.....*snicker*...but I still came in under points so I'm really happy with that.
I went there without having had tea and to be honest I didn't have a clear idea in my head what I would do about that. I had hoped not to eat there but to have a responsible meal when I got home. However since the hours ticked by and I didn't get home until just before midnight that didn't happen. Now usually I would have launched into an eating free for all as soon as I got home and to hell with making healthy choices. But this week I seem to have steel resolve and instead I had my water and nothing else.
While at the pub I was challenged when two packets of pork crackling chips were opened up on the table for everyone to share. I was offerred some of course but I declined saying that if I started I'd never stop so they were moved out of my reach and it was that easy! Not a single one passed my lips. Then I was asked to share a plate of nacho's but I declined saying I wasn't hungry. Thankfully they never got them either since I didn't share them so that was another hurdle avoided.
I'm funny that way. I've always been a bit of an all or nothing girl when it comes to food. For me having none at all is easier then to eat in moderation in these situations. It's too easy to have a few, then a few more and loose track. But if you tell yourself you won't have even a single nibble there is no grey area. You either stick to it or you don't....and I did!
Now let me just say at this point that I do not of course advocate replacing a meal with 10 vodka's....hehehe. I know this wasn't great but at the end of the day I'm so pleased that I didn't have the 10 vodka's + whatever horrendous post pub pig out that would usually have followed the drinks....so in my book the day was a rousing success.
I woke this morning (if you can call it waking after only about 3hrs sleep - Ugh!), not having eaten since lunchtime the day before and I was starving....but I also knew I had to be careful. I did not want to fall into the trap of the greasy hangover breakfast my body was calling for. So I began the day with a sugar free Redbull energy drink and an apple. Then I got stuck into the housework etc while Simon had the boys at swimming lessons then I jumped in for a well needed shower. When the boys got home I was ready for something more substantial but again I knew I had to make a wise decision. So I had a WW friendly version of a fry-up! I toasted two slices of grain bread (no marg), added a slice of super low fat cheese and some cooked mushrooms (no oil) and a poached egg cooked in water. So all up it was 4 points for this (plus 1pt for the apple I'd had earlier). I felt full and like I'd had a really yummy treat but also entirely satisfied with my decisions. Wahooo!
I cannot tell you how hard it was to not stand on my scales this morning!!!! It was torture! Especially since I had not eaten in so long I was so tempted to see what they would say - but I resisted. I now have not weighed since Wednesday and while it's killing me it's also so damned exciting. Every time I think of going to weigh-in on Wednesday night not knowing what I'll see I get butterflies in my tummy. I know it's got to be a good result and I know that makes it easier to go with the surprise result, but still......??...this is HUGE for me! I'm loving this trial of not weighing at least once, often 2 or 3 times a day and if I can pull it off for the first time this week I may just be hooked!
It's all made a bit easier by my appetite too. I cannot believe what a massive difference I feel in my hunger levels since the Implanon implant has been removed. The Dr said it caused weight gain by increasing the appetite. While I did not notice it go up, and just assumed my will power was slipping....boy can I notice it now that it has gone back down. I am no longer looking for food all day long and I am even stopping myself eating by the clock/routine. I'm trying to listen to my body and eat when I'm actually hungry. Which is what worked last night. Even though my head was saying.....you haven't had tea- let's eat!....my body was saying it wasn't hungry so I didn't need to eat anything. I just feel like I'm on such a roll and I cannot tell you how bummed I will be after this week if I get on those scales next week and there is not some serious movement!
As for how much? Well I'd love a kilo or more but I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much. We all know how much those scales have defied me of late. In a perfect world I'd lose 1.4kg and that would take me back to virgin fat - my lowest weight since Talyn. Alternatively...if I really let myself dream, a big loss of 2kg would see me achieve my 15kg lost mark again. We can all dream huh? hehehe But at the end of the day anything of 1kg or more would be great :)
I've just been having a little sticky around at the new Weight Watchers site. It's great. I found a yummy recipe for beef and red wine casserole which I'll add here when I cook it next week. I also found 10 exercises to do on my fit ball which I've printed out and hope to try later tonight. For anyone looking for extra incentives they now have a fortnightly email you can subscribe to here. It's packed with tips, recipes and education so I'm really looking forward to receiving those from now on.
But anyway......I've just about talked your ear off for today so I'll leave it here for now. We've got our mate coming around for dinner so I'd best get some things sorted for that. I want to make tonight another resounding success and chalk up a great weekend success for a change. Keep you posted tomorrow!
TFTD: "Become the kind of person you're proud of!!"
Cheers P
Friday 3rd August 2007...
Well my KISSx4 regime is off to a cracking start!!
1. Track everything:
I began my new 12wk tracking journal yesterday and I not only tracked and stuck to points but even came in under points. A total of 17.5 /24. So often I let my Wednesday night post-weigh-in free meal run into a free for all on Thursday too so it was with a real sense of accomplishment that I did well yesterday. I even survived a trip to Maze Mania with the kids and resisted all the yummy hot food, chips, chocolates etc that are there and had nothing more then a can of Coke Zero. I even managed to say no to the yummy plate of salty hot chips my MIL was having there. Then for tea Simon and I had a little run in over my planned meal of stir-fry. I know it's not his favourite meal but I only ask him to have it 2-3 times a year. If I was single I'd live on it I reckon! Anyhoo so I had a pork and noodle stir-fry myself (and packed up the other portion for another day) while they had fish and chips. The fish held no temptation but the chips....again!!! I knew that I'd feel like I'd failed if I had even one so I just folded the paper up so I couldn't see them and concentrated on my stir-fry instead. Success!
2. Drink water:
Well for weeks now I've only drank water at the gym and pretty much survive on nothing but diet Coke. Yesterday I had 800ml of water. Not enough, but for me that's a great start.
3. Exercise every day this week:
Back to the gym yesterday for the first time in 2wk's. It felt great too! I did 20min's on the cross-trainer and then my weights program. 1hr in total. I feel really motivated with it at the moment as I believe that it will make a difference now that the implant is gone.
4. Make a journal entry each day:
As you can see I'm going just fine with that so far :) It really helps me to keep focused when I know I have to come on here and fess up to any sins I may have committed.
Plus I'm sure this sounds crazy but I feel slimmer already?? I guess it's all the fluid I've dropped lately that has my tummy sitting a little flatter. It sure is a nice change to feeling fat and bloated.
I cannot tell you how hard the scale resisting is but I am so determined to do it for the first time ever. Even if I never do a full week again I just want to do it at least once. I'm guessing the big changes I'm making this week may bring big results so what better week then this for a surprise weigh-in result?
Just a quick mention about the Autumn Challenge before I forget. I tallied up all the final results last night (bar two that are outstanding still) and the result is a combined loss of 7.1kg. Nothing like what we have achieved in past challenges but that does not mean it's all bad. I had a bit of a revelation while writing an email to a lady who had gained this challenge - one of many who did so including myself. We don't have to look on this as a bad thing. Some people tell me they feel that they have 'failed' in the challenge if they have gained. But don't you see what you have gained - besides weight? Insight! If you were not in the challenge you could easily tell yourself you are doing ok. You've had a few gains but some losses too so you're doing ok. But to look at the total like that over a 3month period really makes you think of what good you make of your time and effort. I know that I myself kept thinking....3months hard work and I'm up overall! What a wasted effort! I now use this as serious motivation. I want to make the next 3 months count. Summer is coming back once more and I'll be darned if I'll face another one at 100kg+. So if, like me, you gained this challenge....use that to your advantage. Get mad - and get even!
Tonight....Friday....Eeek! I don't know what it will bring yet as plans are still up in the air but I do suspect it will involve alcohol. So I guess it's time to go back to my old fave that I always had pre-Talyn days. Diet Coke and Vodka + occasional waters. I know that drinking also weakens my resolve when it comes to my food choices too but at least at only 1pt per drink it doesn't have to spell the end of the days points. I just have to stay strong after the drinks *wink* Have a good one!
TFTD: "The only limits we have are those we impose on ourselves!!"
Cheers P
Thursday 2nd August 2007...
Wahoo!!! Another loss :)
I lost 0.5kg last night - much to my surprise! I had been going to the toilet a lot in the last 48hrs so I'm guessing I was dumping the extra fluid I'd stored due to TTOM.
Also I can notice that my appetite has decreased obviously. I guess what they said about the Implanon contraceptive implant causing increased appetite was dead right in my case. Now I go to eat out of habit/time etc but stop myself and think...am I really hungry?? If not then I don't eat...simple!
So today I begin my Kissx4 strategy (see entry below). This is only the beginning of course but I figure once I master these basics I can keep adding to it as I build my weight loss strategies back up to warp speed *wink*.
As part of this Kissx4 I am of course updating here daily. I've also bought a new 12wk tracker from the WW meeting last night to use from today on. Kind of like a fresh start for a fresh new progress. I've updated my graph on the stats page and I hope that it will now keep it's current downward trend.
I'm going to Maze Mania today with the kids and I don't want this Thursday to be like so many others where my post weigh-in night off runs into the next day. I'm going to have a can of diet coke and ...shock horror...a bottle of water while I'm there and I've decided if I really need something (as they have SO much yummy food there!) that I will have a water based icey pole instead. I am determined to blow those scales away this week.
Speaking of scales...I also fought and won the urge to stand on mine first thing this morning as I always do. I REALLY want to make my first ever week of not weighing until weigh-in. I want it bad!
Talk more tomorrow :)
TFTD: "Today is a new beginning!!"
Cheers P
Wednesday 1st August 2007...
I feel like time is ticking away on me. I'm so far from where I wanted to be by now and I just feel that ever looming pressure in my mind. You know the sort when you had an exam coming up and instead of studying you were doing something else. You'd feel this tension all the time and know you should be making better use of your time but you just didn't want to put in the effort required? That's me right now.
I know what I want to achieve. And in my case it's not even my goal weight. I just so want to get back to the early 90s where I was. I guess anything less than that is such a dim memory I can't really visualize it? But the early 90's are burned into my mind. A brief time in my life when I felt confident, where I loved my clothes and every day was begun with a spring in my step.
Instead now I feel like I am back at 120kg again. I HATE my clothes, I hate how I look in them and I hate how I want to feel invisible again. I don't want anyone to look at or notice me and I just feel so uncomfortable in my own skin.
I feel like if I can just get back under 100kg again I'll pass that mental hurdle and I'll be well on my way again. But everything I try seems to go nowhere. For a couple of months I got back to working my ass of in the gym but it was for seemingly nothing. It's one thing to punish yourself and just about kill yourself to fit in time for exercise when you are rewarded for the struggle. But to gain instead has seen me lose all enthusiasm for exercise. I just feel like...oh why bother??
So the only way forward is to keep going. The old 'behave like the person you want to be until it becomes you' type theory. So I need to be concrete this week.
I think I'll call it the KISSx4....Keep It Simple Stupid x 4
1. Track everything that passes my lips this week (good or bad)
2. Drink water. Even a glass a day would be an improvement on now.
3. Exercise every day this week.
4. Make a journal entry each day to report on my progress.
Simple enough huh? We'll see if it get's me any success. Even if nothing else, full and 100% accountable tracking will clear my mind of any doubt that I am doing all I can do to achieve the results I crave.
Of course there's tonight's weigh-in to get past first. *Gulp* SO SO hoping for a loss ... and I think I just may pull it off???
TFTD: "If it is to be it is up to me!"
Cheers P
Tuesday 31st July 2007...
Oops....time keeps getting away from me and getting entries done of late. My apologies for those who come on days when there is nothing new. I'll try to keep it up a bit more regular this week. I have a fellow WW'er emailing me each day with her progress and it seems to really work to help keep her on track. In the past when I've committed to updating every day I think I've done better too so I won't promise but I will try to pop in to say at least something each day this coming week.
This week's progress....well likely a gain - AGAIN!!! TTOM has arrived again (only 2wk's after the last) so I'm trying to tell myself that's the cause and that my body is obviously still getting things settled down again? But who the f*ck knows??
I've decided this week to avoid all scales if I can. I know I've tried that before (NEVER successfully for a whole week I might add) but I truly think I need to keep trying. The last two days I have been feeling really down and flat and I know it's because of what I see on the scales first thing each morning. So after tomorrow night's weigh-in I want to try to avoid them all week.
Other then Saturday nights drinks I think I've done ok this week. I've had two nights without after dinner snacks and the nights I have had something it's mostly been 99% fat free cup of soup or a fat free choc pudding. I also tried a dish my leader told me about. She use's WW nibbles for 1pt (which are just like rice/corn type crackers) with grated cheese (I used 25g of Bega So Light for only 1.5pt's) and salsa. All in the microwave to melt like nacho's. Sooo delish and only 2.5pt's.
Last night I watched the finale of Big Brother 2007 for Australia. Always sad to see it go for another year :( Speaking of endings....I finished the last book in the Harry Potter series today. RIP Harry (in whatever form I may mean that *wink*).
I've just about finished my course of antibiotics now so my terrible cough that I've had for 4wk's is pretty much gone at last. I'm hoping that may help me to feel better and get out of this funk??
TFTD: "You are as happy as you make up your mind to be!!"
Cheers P
Sunday 29th July 2007...
Another big weekend draws to a close. I hosted a dinner party last night and tried another new WW recipe (see below). I also polished off a 6 pack of Vodka UDL's and one heavy beer. Good and bad points about that. Bad was of course the points wasted on the drinks. Good is that I was so under the weather at the end of the night I crashed out before raiding the pantry. I did have some rice crackers and salsa while we played a board game with our guests but otherwise nothing so that's good.
Don't know if I'll manage to lose this week now after all those drinks but as I've always said....life is for the living. I'm still going to have a life along this journey :)
Today we met friends for 3hrs of tennis again at a local court. Unfortunately Talyn's need's meant I only got to play myself (doubles) for about 45min's but better then nothing I say. I've got walks and steps lined up for the next two days with my mother in law so I guess I'll get about 3hrs all up this week. Better then nothing I guess.
Ok now for the recipe. It is also from the WW Extremely Contented Tummy recipe book. As pre-warned by Mellisa I definitely found this to be a fussy recipe to prepare and somewhat time consuming. However next time I would have the potatoe's pre-cooked and the meat mix also precooked which would save heaps of time.
WW Shepard's pie potatoes:
Ingrediant's
-potatoes 4 x 240g washed and dried (buy pre-washed one's - unlike me *wink*)
-olive oil 1 tsp
-brown onion, 1 finely chopped
-mushrooms, 50g chopped
-extra lean beef mince, 250g
-grated carrot, 1/4 cup
-diced tomatoes, 400g can
-low fat milk, 1/4 cup
-finely grated or shaved parmesan cheese, 1/4 cup
Method:
-Preheat oven to 170 degrees Celsius. Prick each potato 6 times with a skewer. Spray with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt flakes. Bake for 1hr or until tender. Cool. Cut each potato in half lengthwise and scoop out the flesh, set aside. Spray inside of shells with oil. Bake for 15min's or until crisp and golden.
-Meanwhile heat oil in a non-stick pan over med-high heat. Add onion and mushroom. Cook, stirring, for 5min's or until softened. Add mince and carrot. Cook for a further 4 min's. Stir in tomato's and bring to boil. Reduce heat to med-low. Cook for 2min's or until sauce has thickened. Season with salt and pepper.
-Add milk to reserved potato flesh and mash. Spoon mince mixture into potato shells. Top with mash mixture and sprinkle with parmesan. Spray with olive oil. Bake for 15min's or until cheese is golden. Serve.
Serves 4. Points Value per serve 3pt's.
Now I did this dish as a side dish at a BBQ so it was much to big for the girls (although the men had a full serve). The girls just had one half of the potato so incredulously it must have been about 1.5pt's. So cheep on points for such a yummy dish!!!
TFTD: "Begin as you intend to continue!!"
Cheers P
Thursday 26th July 2007...
That's it! I'm quitting the gym.
The last two weeks I work my ass off for over 6hrs each week at the gym and gain both weeks. This week I don't go at all and .....drumroll.....I lost 1.0kg!!!!!
Wahoo!!!!!!!
Hehehe Of course I won't be quitting the gym, only kidding about that. But it sure does make you think huh? I think more then likely it was more about the implant removal and my body settling down after that etc that finally saw those numbers dropping again.
I hardly ever lose 1kg or more so I was stoked with that result :) Unfortunately still an overall gain for me this challenge but I've made my peace with that.
I've also worked really hard to conquer another problem area for me this week - after dinner snacking. I've now done 3 nights in a row eating nothing after dinner!!
Onwards and downwards I say! I want those 90's!
TFTD: "The best way to escape from a problem is to solve it!!"
Cheers P
Wednesday 25th July 2007...
Well if I weighed in right now I'd have a small loss. However by tonight's weigh-in, after the days eating, who knows what will happen. I suspect I may gain after all? Still it will be close either way so I'm not going to stress about it.
I know I haven't done any exercise this week for a change but I did the best I could under the circumstances. With holidays, accountant appointments (not to mention all the BAS work I had to finish ready for the accountant) and just general family stuff there will be some weeks like this that I don't work out. Also the fact that I was a bit jaded by the last two weeks gains despite 6-7hrs a week at the gym for seemingly nothing....well I felt like saying to hell with exercise this week.
I guess if I came this close to a loss without it I must have eaten ok. I know that we are making a concerted effort not to snack after dinner at night and for the last two nights I've had nothing! A big change for me :)
Anyhoo...I'd best go finish the morning chores before Kindy time. I started the last Harry Potter book last night - gotta love 'em! Working at WW tonight and weighing in then so will let you all know tomorrow what the result was.
I updated Talyn's page yesterday with all his latest news and some new pic's so pop on over for a look if you are interested. I'll have Caleb's updated in the next few days also.
TFTD: "What you leave in your children is more important then what you leave to them!!"
Cheers P
Tuesday 24th July 2007...
Well one more day to weigh in and I am quietly hopeful for a loss. Nothing big mind you....and knowing my luck of late I'll probably be surprised with a gain instead but I'll remain hopeful.
It's funny that the week that I have been flat out and didn't exercise at all (except walking at the zoo) may just be the week I lose at last??? Usually I do 6+hrs a week and nothing and now this week I do zip and am hoping for a tiny loss. Go figure!
I tried out a new WW recipe last night that was so yummy I wanted to share it all with you. It's from the WW recipe book "The extremely contented tummy".
Beef Casserole with Tomato Dumplings:
Ingrediant's
-Lean beef chuck steak, 600g cubed
-Brown onion chopped
-2 celery sticks chopped
-200g chopped button mushrooms
-1 cup beef stock made from cube
-2tbs garlic and herb tomato paste (I just added garlic and mixed herbs to normal paste)
-1tbs plain flour
-1tsp dried thyme
-1.5 cups SR flour
-40g reduced fat margarine
-20g sun dried tomato's (not in oil) chopped
-3/4 cup skim milk
-1tbs chopped parsley
Method:
-Preheat oven to 170 degrees Celsius. Spray a non-stick frying pan with oil and heat to high heat. Cook the beef for 5 min's or until browned. Transfer cooked beef to 6 cup capacity casserole dish
-Add the onion, celery and mushroom to the pan. Cook, stirring, for 5min's or until softened. Combine the tomato paste and plain flour in small bowl then add it to frying pan, stirring continuously for 1min. Add stock and thyme and stir to combine.
-Stir onion mixture into casserole dish to combine with meat. Cover tightly and cook for 1hr 30min's. (Note: I had to add a 2nd cup of stock about half way through this as it had dried out and would have burnt)
-Sift SR flour into large bowl. Add margarine and using your fingertips rub it in until it resembles fine bread crumbs. Stir in sun dried tomato's and parsley. Make a well in centre and pour milk into it. Using a flat knife, mix until sticky dough forms.
-Drop 1tbs dollops of the dumpling mixture evenly over casserole to cover. Bake for 20min's or until dumplings are cooked and golden.
-I served ours with fresh corn on the cob and steamed beans. Delish!
Serves 4. Points Value per serve 7.5pt's.
Although is was a bit of work to make, and moderately high in points....served with free veg it was more then filling and a satisfying meal for us all :)
Enjoy!
As we enter the last week of the Autumn Challenge I just wanted to wish all participants well and say a big thank you for you continued participation. A big shout out goes to Kylie too who is absolutely going off in this challenge! She's hit her goal and then some so Bravo Kylie!
I will be running a new challenge after this but they will only be 6wk's duration from now on. I'm hoping this may help to minimise some of the repeat drop-outs. We can all commit and focus for just 6wk's right? I'm also taking a bit of a break from them after this one and expect I will begin the new one Sept 3rd at this stage. But I'll keep you posted on that when I have decided for sure.
Until then....keep at it. Because remember - we never fail until we quit trying!!
TFTD: "A misty morning does not signify a cloudy day!!"
Cheers P
Sunday 22nd July 2007...
We are back from our weekend away and it was a little shorter then planned!
We were to go away for two nights and to spend the day on Saturday at Australia Zoo. Well we did the zoo but ended up driving straight through to home afterwards rather then go back to the motel.
The motel was nice enough....probably the SMALLEST room I've ever stayed in, let alone the fact it was supposed to sleep 6 and us 3 adults plus the two boys could barely move for bumping into each other. This meant that Talyn's portacot had to be in the 'lounge' area beside our bed so he was very disturbed all evening until we finally gave up and went to sleep about 10pm. This was the point the neighbours decided to begin a very loud party. There was music, slamming doors, very loud swearing women smoking outside our door and so on. Between that and the uncomfortable portacot Talyn was up and down all night. We all got up feeling like the walking dead and just wanted to be home in our own bed's last night.
The zoo though was FANTASTIC!!! It was a bit sad at times as the last time we went was prior to Steve Irwin's tragic death and this time the various tributes and lifesized pic's of him around the park were a bit sad. They had one big display of khaki shirts and tributes from his funeral there and we were all tearing up reading them :(
Otherwise though we all had a great day. Talyn did good in his pram and Caleb just had a ball. We saw so many animals but from memory they included kangaroo's, koala's, elephants, cheetah's, lion's, otters, Tasmanian devils, birds galore, crocodiles, giant tortoises, snakes, lizards, baby farm animals, dingo's, and many many more. Caleb got to touch a baby crocodile, a koala and he and I both touched a snake. It was a great day but exhausting.
By the time we got home and unpacked it was take away for sure. Between that and the crap food I ate while away - well let's just say the scales are up again *but of course!* Hehehe I'm ok with that though as it's alright when you know what you did wrong and you face the music ok. It's when they go up for seemingly no reason at all that I struggle.
Having said that though....it's 4 days until weigh-in so I'm hoping I'll get it down for a small loss at least?? Keep you posted.
ps see left for my new favourite pic of my boys having a cuddle! Love it!!!
TFTD: "Take the time to laugh, it's music to the soul!!"
Cheers P
Thursday 19th July 2007...
As expected (see below)....I gained.
Up 0.5kg in fact. Not quite as bad as I had expected (especially since I resisted the urge to starve all day and ate as normal)....but still. Not happy! I am appalled at my progress in this challenge - or lack there of!
Tomorrow we go away for the weekend for our trip to Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo. While I'll do plenty of walking at the zoo I expect that's all I'll fit in until at least Monday. But after killing myself at the gym this week for no results I find I don't really care if I don't get as much in this week.
I'm hoping that whatever my body is doing as it adjusts back from the implant removal is to blame and that it will settle down soon. Otherwise....? I guess there's squat I can do about it. Just keep on keeping on as best I can and knowing that even if I remain fat on the outside I must be getting healthier on the inside??
I doubt I'll get on here tomorrow before we go so I'll be back for a new update on Sunday or Monday. Have a great weekend everyone :) I'll try to come back with a fresh new attitude on my return....can't get any worse then yesterday at least *blush*
TFTD: "You are as successful as you make up your mind to be!!"
Cheers P
Wednesday 18th July 2007...
What the f*ck is going on!!!!!!!!!
I am so mad/upset/frustrated right now that I want to curl up in a ball of tears or stuff my face with food in some screwed up revenge coping mechanism. :( I'm hoping coming on here to vent about it may be a more healthier strategy?
All week I've been working my ass off, running myself into exhaustion trying to fit exercise into my already too busy of late life with looking after the boys, running the house, dealing with some financial stressors etc.
Last night was a perfect example of how much sleep I get...I was up 9 times between 9pm and 6am and was awake from 11pm-1.30am of that. Yet despite feeling utterly exhausted I push myself day after day to fit in 1-2hrs exercise....sure that my hard work has to pay off. And does it? Big FAT f*cken No!!!
This week I have watched the scales with anticipation....thinking that after an unexpectedly high gain last week that I was in for a big loss this week as whatever happened settled back to normal. That plus exercise and careful eating would surely bring me a decent loss. You'd think.
Instead I watched it go up 0.5kg and stay there all week. Day after day I'd work harder thinking it was going to do a big sudden drop any day now. Finally this morning I get on the scales....feeling sure I'd see a great result. But does that happen? No! It goes up another 1kg overnight!!!!!! What the????
So now I'm going to gain like another 1.5kg or so tonight for the second week running and I have no idea why? I've done 12+hrs exercise in the last fortnight and I'm beginning to wonder why I bother? Why am I killing myself for nothing?
This weeks exercise was:
Thurs/Fri: none
Sat: 1hr spin class
Sun: 1hr lawn mowing
Mon: 2hrs walking + 222 steps on the killer staircase
Tues: 1 hr high impact step class + 1hr walk
Total: 6hrs 15min's.
What was the point of all that? I have to go to the meeting tonight to work so there is no avoiding it. I am considering talking to my leader and explaining that I won't weigh this week but what does that change? Better to register it I guess so that any change I do manage to make next week (if any) can at least show up.
But I am pissed. So pissed that I want to scream!!! "What the f*ck has a girl got to do to get results?" I'm sorry for any who may be offended by my language in today's post but I can tell you I am censoring it about 95% from what I want to actually say!
So there you have it. Another big gain coming my way. I feel ready to give it all up. Everything. :(
TFTD: "Life happens!!"
Cheers P
Saturday 14th July 2007...
Unusual for me to be here on a Saturday night doing an update. But it's a good strategy for keeping the hands busy and away from food and the mind on all things weight loss. *wink*
I've been answering some emails and updating stats before doing this and some of the conversations got me thinking about things.
I keep focusing on how slow I've progressed this challenge, and the fact I've actually gone backward instead of forward. But I've got to change my negative thinking and try to see it all objectively.
It's been 6 months since Talyn was born. In some ways it seem's like just yesterday but sometimes it seems like so long ago. When I think back to those early days with post c-sect complications, Caleb's broken arm and the challenges of a newborn into our well oiled routine....boy it seems like another time in my life *wink* I had hoped I'd get further towards my goals in this time but I guess I need to accept I'm doing the best I can??
The scales are going crazy of late and I don't know what's going on or how I should go about fixing it. I can only hang in there because sooner or later I've gotta come out the other side of this plateau period.
\Be it a plateau on the scales, in my motivation, of my willpower and determination... who knows?? I just know I want to move slowly but surely forward once more. I so want to be back to the low 90kg's again....like I can't describe!!!!
But what stops me? Why do I sabotage myself on whatever level I do it? For I must do it right? I mean nobody else on this earth can lose this weight for me except me. I've done it before. I lost almost 30kg before the pregnancy and for the first time in over a decade I felt really good about myself. So what obstacle am I putting up in front of myself that keeps blocking the way forward? What self sabotage am I practicing?
Then again I had exteneded periods of plataues before (see stats) and I got through them so I can again. Nuff said!
On a completely different note...exercise. Hadn't done any until today. But I did drag myself out of bed this morning to go to a spin class with my mother in law. After a nightmare week of sleep deprivation with Talyn I was so enjoying my sleep in (thanks Simon) but had to get up as I knew I'd regret it all day if I didn't. My MIL also said she would have stayed in bed had she not made plans to pick me up for the class. It just goes to say that what they say is right.....exercise with a friend and you are more likely to stick to it!
On that note....I'm out of here. Time to go catch up with the forum's.
:)
TFTD: "Failure is success if we learn from it!!"
Cheers P
Thursday 12th July 2007...
As expected I gained...and I gained big!
1.4kg up last night so that put's me back to 107.2kg again.
D'oh!
Lucky birthday's only come around once a year huh?
I'm just glad I've faced it and it's behind me now. Now I hope I can have a big loss next week to make up for it. Fingers crossed!
My little man Talyn is 6months old today!!! Wow has that gone fast or what? 6 months since the birth and I'm 13.8kg down from my highest pregnancy weight. I guess that doesn't sound so bad??
I know I haven't posted any new pics of them lately but I'm getting about 250 photo's developed this week (half price printing special on) so when I'm editing them ready for printing I will post a whole stack of them for you to view. Will let you know here when they are done and where to find them :) The photosite I currently use is closing down so I think I'll just go back to having a photo page on the site for each of them? Still giving it some thought for now. Stay tuned :)
TFTD: "Tomorrow is not promised to us so take today and make the most of it!!!"
Cheers P
Wednesday 11th July 2007...
I'm so bummed today about the scales. It looks like I'll gain anywhere up to 2kg and I'm spewing about it!!!
I know I made some poor food choices this week but they weren't that bad. Of course I haven't weighed in for two weeks and that takes in my birthday blowout as well so.....??
I've tried to do everything I can humanly do to counteract the gain with exercise and strict eating but I can do no more.
Tonight I face the scales and move forward.
I can only hope that a gain like that this week may show a big loss next week??
Stay tuned....
TFTD: "No matter how far you have gone on the wrong road, turn back!!!"
Cheers P
Tuesday 10th July 2007...
My exercise is going off this week!
So far I've done:
Thursday: 1hr walk
Friday: 15min walk to park with pram
Saturday: 45min walk including 6 running laps up and down the killer 37 step staircase at beach (222 steps). + 15min walk to park with pram
Sunday: 45min social tennis, doubles
Tuesday: 1hr step class.
The step class I did today was my first one and ....Oh My God!!! Talk about hard work. It was run by the same Superwomen who does spin class and I just love her attitude and energy. It was all very high impact, high cardio content, lot's of stepping, jumping, kicking, running and moving and finished with a killer abs session.
Foodwise I am doing well but sadly I think I left it too late to undo the damage of the weekend excesses (as usual). I have to work at WW tomorrow night so that is when I'll weigh in and I know I will gain but I've made peace with that and I just want it over and done with already.
Let you know the damage when it's in :)
I'm feeling very PMT like right now but with this random frequent bleeding that the Implanon gives me who knows what's going on?? I guess that could account for some of my increased weight due to fluid gain too? I'm looking forward to having it taken out on Thursday in any case.
As for the challenge...thanks to those of you who emailed and left guestbook entries re my comments about the challenge in yesterdays entry. I would like everyone's idea's but at this stage I'm thinking a longer break between this challenge and the next (probably 6wk's) and I may also reduce the overall length of the challenge?? Opinions and suggestions gratefully accepted!
TFTD: "You are what you make of yourself!!!"
Cheers P
Monday 9th July 2007...
Another weekend over...and as usual not so good. Had drinks on Friday night and made some poor choices so now I'll have to face the BAD news on the scales on Wednesday night, no matter what they say. Ho-hum :(
I did go to the GP today and have made an appointment to have my Implanon contraceptive implant taken out. Not only has it resulted in regular break through bleeding in my case but I also believe it has contributed to my plateau/gain of late on the scales. The Doc says it does this by increasing my appetite so they have prescribed an oral pill which hopefully won't do that anymore so I'm hoping to get things back on track again soon.
I did at least keep up my exercise over the weekend. This week so far has been:
Thursday: 1hr walk
Friday: 15min walk to park with pram
Saturday: 45min walk including 6 running laps up and down the killer 37 step staircase at beach (222 steps). + 15min walk to park with pram
Sunday: 45min social tennis, doubles
Today I plan to do weights/cardio at the gym for an hour and tomorrow I'm going to try my first 1hr step class there also.
As the latest challenge begins to approach it's conclusion I'm feeling none too happy about my progress on it. After this week's expected gain I'll be at least a couple of kilo's up for the challenge overall and that sucks!! However I'm hopeful that I will be able to make even a small total loss by the end of it in the final two weeks??
I must admit though that I am feeling a little jaded about the whole challenge thing. I am really getting sick of people dropping out all the time and wasting my time. As I've always said....it doesn't worry me if you gain, so long as you keep trying. Yet so many gain and then want to pull out to hide away from the reality they have created for themself. And so many do it over and over again challenge after challenge. :(
It's got the point where I am not sure if I'll run any more?? I really wanted to hit the 1000kg lost mark and one or two good challenges more would do that...but I'm not sure I should bother? DO any of you really want them to continue or am I wasting my time??
TFTD: "What you eat in private you wear in public!!!"
Cheers P
Friday 6th July 2007...
Onto day two and so far so good :)
Yesterday I ate well all day. I had weet-bix and skim milk for breakfast, a WW frozen meal with bread for lunch and I cooked Silverside in the crockpot and served it with potato/pumpkin mash, cabbage, carrot and broccoli for tea. It was delish. Then after tea the usual munchies struck but I soothed them with a bowl of yoghurt and fruit. It was really filling and I told myself I'd have nothing other then that - and it worked :)
I overcame a personal hurdle at the cinema and managed to avoid all the yummy popcorn and chocolate etc and had just a frozen drink and 3 lollipops instead.
In the afternoon I was flat out doing the end of financial year bookwork and payment summaries for the employee's and I had a massive pile of washing waited to be folded and filthy floors waiting to be vacuumed....and then I still had to do some exercise.
So instead of putting it off any longer, I finished the business bookwork and went straight out and did my walk. I knew the housework would wait until today but my exercise would not. It was the maiden voyage for my new shoes...and they were FANTASTIC! I really wanted to run in them but didn't have a sports bra on so next time I will wear one and really fly. They feel like I could run with ease in them. Love 'em!
When I got home I found that my lovely Simon had done the vacuuming for me (while wrangling the two kids)...aint he a darling! Now I have to face that washing pile today but it was worth it to get the walk done and finish the day good all round.
Caleb is having a sleep over at his Granny's tonight so I only have the morning to fill in before he is picked up. I think when Talyn wakes shortly from his nap I'll bundle him in the pram, get Caleb's scooter out and we'll walk to a nearby park for a play. It's only a 10min walk but I figure any activity is good activity.
Have a great weekend everyone!!! :)
TFTD: "Things turn out best for people who make the best of how things turn out!!!"
Cheers P
Thursday 5th July 2007...
Well today is day one of 7 days of hard work. I don't know if I'll be able to undo my birthday gain in enough time to show a loss at next week's weigh-in but I'm going to give it my best shot :)
This afternoon I'm going to strap on my new super duper shoes and give them a whirl. I think I'll do a 1hr walk today then hit the gym tomorrow when Simon get's home a bit earlier.
This morning Granny is coming around soon to watch Talyn while Caleb and I have some special time alone. We are going to the cinema to watch Shrek 3. My usual instinct is ... yummy cinema food...but not today! I'm going to get a diet softdrink and a couple of lollipops to suck on throughout the movie. I don't intend to go off the rails on the first morning of the week that's for sure.
I'm actually really excited about my walk this arvo just to try out my shoes. Funny what a new pair can do for your motivation huh? hehehe
I've finally caught up on all the stats etc that I was behind in so it's smooth sailing from here. Talk more tomorrow! Toodles :)
TFTD: "The road to success has few travelers, because so many get lost trying to find the short cuts!!!"
Cheers P
Wednesday 4th July 2007...
Well there is a big footy game on here tonight so I'm taking the opportunity to get online and catch up with all that I have fallen behind in. Another half hour or less should do it now and I'm all up to date again. Golly it's lucky we only have birthday's once a year huh? :)
I had a surprise call from my WW leader today asking me to come back to work again. I did tonight and I've got the next 4 Wednesday nights to do while the regular recorder is away on holidays. It felt so great to be back there again. A great group of ladies and a good dose of motivation.
Although I am handling finances and book work while the meeting is going on, and well after it, I do hear everything on some level and it's amazing what you can pick up each week. I guess that's why they always say "Those who weigh and stay loose weight, those that weigh and stray lose interest"
I've not stayed for a meeting since having Talyn so this is a great opportunity for me to get into that again. And if I can get there for 2.5hrs to work then I have no excuse for not going there for 40min's on other weeks!
I am still struggling to get myself back on track. But since I know I'll be there to weigh in next Wednesday night my WW weeks begins tomorrow morning. Here's hoping I can get my eating back on track and get those awesome new gym shoes on and try those babies out on some serious exercise this week. I'm thinking weights day, spin class, walking day, beach workout day and maybe a cardio day too this week should do it.
It's time to get my butt into gear. When I think of how little (In fact gain overall) I have achieved in the last 9wk's of this challenge it burns me up to think of the time I wasted. I should have been into the 90s by now. Instead I'm stuck on this infernal plateau around 106kg. It's time to kiss that number good-bye. Sooner rather then later would be great *wink* :)
TFTD: "A second on the lips, a lifetime on the hips!!!"
Cheers P
Tuesday 3rd July 2007...
Finally!
I'm so sorry it's taken me so long to get back online and catch everyone up on what's been going on. I've had several emails asking where I've been and a hilarious one from Jacki asking if I was still drunk from my birthday/sick/gyming/in the midst of baby mess etc...hehehe Yes I am still alive and yes I am still fighting the fight. Losing it I might add but still fighting it!!
My birthday weekend was SUPER! My best mate Julie came for the day and we had so much fun. Simon and I took the boys to McD's with friends for breakfast....then Julie arrived and we shopped and caught up...then that night we went out with our mate Scotty and a work friend to the pub for dinner and (lot's of) drinks. It was such a fun night and I really enjoyed having Julie here to enjoy it with.
The next day I was a bit ordinary. More tired then hung over but as we had to meet up with 11 other people for a belated birthday lunch I had no time to feel tired. All day Simon and I were counting down the hours until we could go to bed again. It was that sort of day all round.
I was very spoilt with gifts. Simon got me a $75 voucher for new gym shoes, Talyn got me a framed picture of himself and Caleb got me a CD - Ministry of Sound Sessions 4. I also got Good Charlotte and Timberlands new album too (funny how the 3 cd's I mention to Simon somehow all arrive from various people for my birthday *wink*). I also got a necklace, flowers, candles, a beautiful orchid and my lunch paid for the next day. All in all very spoilt.
This afternoon I went out and bought my new gym shoes....Squeal!!!!! I had to add $55 to it as they were $180 marked down to $130 but they were worth every cent. My last pair were Adidas and had been well worn out over the last 18months. These are New Balance and I have NEVER EVER felt shoes so comfortable. They are designed for gym and running so they should be just what I need for the coming year.
As far as weight goes....well let's just say I'm glad I decided to take this week off weighing. The results are terrible :( But I'm ok with that. I only have birthday once a year and now that all has settled back to normal I'm ready to get on with the job ahead.
For now I am focusing on our trip away on the 21st of this month to Australia Zoo and I'd like to get below the 104.8kg plateau by then. We have finally organised Talyn's naming ceremony for the 18th of next month too so I'd like to be getting close to the 90's again by then when everyone arrives. I may or may not make that goal but I'll give it all I've got. We are also going away overnight on the last weekend in August so that's something else to work towards. Plenty of stuff happening in the next month or so, so I'll have to work extra hard to make my goals become reality over this time.
Suffice to say....I'm back on the wagon, back to my site and back to the real world. Oh and did I mention I am now 32. Aaaargh!!!!!!!!
ps I know I'm hidiously overdue with adding stats to the challenge page but I'll work on that tomorrow....promise!
TFTD: "When you set a timetable you turn your intentions into a commitment!!!"
Cheers P
