Wednesday, 28th December 2005...
Honey I’m home!!!!! :)
Yes I’m back and mighty pleased to be home. Holidays are great and all but there is nothing like falling into your own bed at the end of a long days driving and knowing that Christmas is behind us for another year.
We certainly had a great time. Caleb was most spoiled by Santa, and everyone else for that matter. He got lot’s of great toys but I’ll save more on that story for his own website that I’ll update later in the week.
My family, and in fact my brother-in-laws family also, were very vocal about the changes in my appearance. It seemed to be the topic of the weekend sometimes and they all made me feel so great about what I had achieved! I was constantly squirming under the glare of the attention and compliments – something I’ve never been good at accepting – but boy it sure felt nice to get such positive feedback from everyone. Just wait till I see them all at goal now!!!! *wink*
Of course I ate a lot of naughty things…. drank a lot of alcohol…but I don’t care! I’m back home now and I’m happy to face whatever those WW scales say next week. It was Christmas…. it was fun…. and now it is done. So what if I gain a kilo or two?? It won’t stop the ongoing strive for goal. It just means I’ll have to work extra hard to make my new goal…. REACH GOAL WEIGHT BY MY BIRHTDAY JUNE 29TH! That’s the plan and you can bet on my stubbornness to get me there :)
I will be starting the new 12wk challenge on Jan 9th. It was to be Jan 2nd but as a lot of people will be away over that time I don’t want them to miss out so hence the 1-week delay in starting it. As with the previous challenge ... just email me your name (to go on web page) and starting weight as of Jan 9th (or whatever your latest weigh-in result was from the week prior) and we’ll be up and running in no time. There is no set weigh-in day. Just continue to weigh weekly from whatever day your start weigh-in was on. Each week email me your results in kilograms (and your screen name) to be added to the challenge.
I am aiming for a 10kg loss for the next challenge. Depending on what the final Xmas gain may be, losing 10kg will bring me within 5-10kg of my final goal!! Woo-Eee! That would be awesome!!!
I may be enrolling in the Enforcer’s 12wk group exercise challenge also during this time but I still have to wait to find out more about session times to see whether or not it will suit me?
So that’s the plan. For now though I need to get on with undoing some Xmas damage. With that in mind I headed to the gym this morning…but it was Closed! Dammit!!! I’m not sure for how long but I’ll find out later today. I really hope it’s not still shut until New Years or something horrible! So I came home thinking I’d go to an aqua-aerobics class this morning instead – not on either!! LOL Here I am ready to get back into it and I’m shut down at every turn. :) Oh well … can’t be helped. I could have gone out for a walk instead of course but it’s so damn hot I’m going to leave that until late this evening I think.
We are having a belated Xmas lunch with Dad here today then Simon’s Mum is coming this afternoon to exchange some gifts too so I’ve gotta go hit the shops so I have something to feed the starving masses *wink*
I hope everyone else had a magical Christmas and has a ripper New Year's planned ahead (I know we do!!).
I look forward to catching up on everyone’s journals soon!
TFTD: “Never, never, never quit!”
Cheers P
Tuesday, 20th December 2005...
Well it’s over for another year!
I’ve had my last WW weigh-in this morning and am pleased to report another loss – this time 0.5kg. I was thinking I’d had 15 consecutive losses now but in fact I had not. I forgot that the first few weeks of the challenge saw missed WW meetings and one stay the same despite losing every week on the gym scales … so ‘officially’ my consecutive losses now stand at 11. Still very happy with that :)
I have also summed up the year’s progress using the same format that I used last year. Bear in mind when comparing results though that last year only consisted of the final 7 weeks of the year.
2005: The year that was:
Total loss in 2005: 19.7kg (last year 7.4kg)
KG to WW Goal: 16.1kg (last year 35.8kg)
Average Weekly Loss: 0.45kg (last year 1.05kg)
Biggest Loss in 1 week: 1.9kg (last year 4.2kg)
Smallest Loss in 1 week: 0.1kg (last year 0.1kg)
Biggest Gain in 1 week: 0.8kg (last year no gains)
Centimeters Lost in 2005: 74.8cm lost (last year 23.5cm)
Body Fat % Lost in 2005: 6% decrease (last year 1.4% down)
Starting Clothes size in 2005: 20 (last year 24-22)
End of 2005 Clothing size: 16-14 (last year 20)
Most Consecutive Losses: 11 weeks (last year 7 weeks)
Total Number of Loss Weeks: 28 weeks (last year 7 weeks)
Total Number of Gain Weeks: 10 weeks (last year nil)
Total Number of Maintain Weeks: 5 weeks (last year nil)
Not too bad huh?
I’m really happy with the year overall and I cannot tell you how nice it will be to go into a new year feeling like I can carry on successfully instead of yet again promising myself to start over!
At my WW meeting this morning I was given a publicity/promotions form to complete. It’s basically a run down of my story/progress for WW that also gives them consent to use the information in future publications and advertising etc!
Holy cow I could have more “out there” moments to come *wink*
This week went as such:
Exercise Log for the week:
Wednesday: 45 min lap swimming (22 laps/1.1km)
Thursday: 50min bike ride + 1 hr gym
Friday: 45min walk + 1hr aqua aerobics class
Saturday: - nil
Sunday: - nil
Monday: - nil
Tuesday: 45 min bike ride + 45 min gym treadmill alternating 5mins walking 6.5km/hr with 5 mins jogging 7.5km/hr.
With only 3 days left until we go away on holidays I am beginning to wind down and look forward to the upcoming break. I’m relaxed about any possible (read probable) gains and I know that I’ll take whatever happens in my stride. I’ll keep on regardless and I can tell you now I intend to make 2006 my year to reach my goal!!!
I cannot wait any longer to finalize the WHO challenge so anyone who has yet to give me stats must sadly be withdrawn so that I can close it down and prepare for the new 12wk challenge I’ll be running for you all from January 2nd. I’ll keep you posted on the details for that, as it gets closer. In the meantime I’ll be emailing out certificates for all who successfully completed this challenge. We lost 206+kg so WELL DONE!!!!!!
I’ll be away from Dec 23-27th but should be having some more updates to do before our departure. If for some reason I don’t get back though I wanted to take this opportunity to wish all of you and your families and Safe and Happy Silly Season! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
I also wanted to say a special thank you to those of you who have really supported me this year and helped me to achieve the success I have:
-Enforcer: You’ve changed the way I look at exercise FOREVER! I have learnt so, so much from you and I’ll be forever grateful of your dedication and determination in helping me to reach my goals
-Gayle (WW Leader): Thanks for never making me feel bad every time I joined up all over again. You always made me feel that this time would be the last time. And this time it will!
-My Simon: My other half and my daily support person. You kept me going day after day, cheering on every achievement and consoling every slip. You never lost faith in me so for that I thank you baby!
-Julie: My best friend and weight loss buddy. It’s great to share this journey with you and I’ll be sharing yours all the way to the end too. 2006 is our year!
-All my website and email friends: you are far too many to name but you know who you are. The daily input and encouragement I got from you all was my biggest blessing. I wish you all luck on your own journeys and I look forward to sharing in your success in future.
Merry Christmas everyone!! :)
TFTD: “Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance!”
Cheers P
Monday, 19th December 2005...
Well I survived the last pre-Xmas weekend relatively intact *wink*
Had a big night Friday when we went out with Julie. I had mostly vodka and diet coke but a few brewsky's did find their way into my hand at times…. hehehe
I had a Caesar salad for tea that was divine and resisted pre and post drink nibbles that others enjoyed. Before we left I had two big schooners of water so I wasn’t too hung over in the morning…just dead tired from about 4hrs sleep. I woke up and went straight from bed to the pool though and that helped :)
Saturday we vegged all day then had to take Caleb up to the hospital in the late afternoon. He had a swollen, red, hot ear, hand and foot. Turns out he was probably bitten by some insect/spider when he stayed with Granny the previous night. There was nothing to do but let it go down of it’s own accord though and he wasn’t bothered by it so it was all good.
Saturday night we went out to the local Carol’s by Candlelight at the park. It was a great night! Caleb loved staying up till 9pm with his little friend Jordyn, singing and dancing and getting into the festive spirit. He really enjoyed the fireworks display at the end too!
Sunday was a pretty slow day…. finally got my 3 big, four-foot fish tanks all cleaned out…a job that I have been meaning to get around to for weeks. Lucky I only do it twice a year, as it’s a job that sucks big time! :)
Today Caleb and I went to the cemetery to take flowers out for my Mom’s birthday today. She would have been 58 today :( Then we went to Maze Mania 4 kids for the morning and wore him out!
Weigh in tomorrow morning. I am expecting a loss but not sure how much at this time so I won’t jinx it by guessing.
I was asked about getting a comparison shot of Julie and I to post beside the ‘before’ pic of the two of us. I’ve done that so check out the change for yourself here!
TFTD: “A great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do!”
Cheers P
Friday, 16th December 2005...
Ok…. gotta dash this out quick today…. my bestest mate Julie is coming tonight and we are going out to paint the town RED!!!! :)
Thank god it’s Friday!!
This morning I DID not want to get out of bed. I decided to skip my walk and do aqua-aerobics later this morning. Then I decided to get up and walk and skip aqua. Then I decided to skip both. Eventually I did both! Hehehe I seem to recall this pattern last Friday too come to think of it??
So that makes the week look like this so far:
Exercise Log
Wednesday: 45min swimming, 22 laps (1.1km),
(Couldn’t do evening aqua class as planned as it was cancelled due to huge storm)
Thursday: 50min bike ride + 1hr gym (45min fat burn program level 8 on treadmill, 5 mins rowing, and 100 crunches)
Friday: 45 min walk, + 1 hr aqua-aerobics.
An amazing thing happened at the gym yesterday. There was a lady there who had apparently asked of me earlier but the reception lady wasn’t sure who she was referring to. So when we were both there yesterday she goes “that’s the one” and they called me over to ask how much I had lost so far etc. This lovely woman then said I was her ‘inspiration’! WOAH! That felt real nice. We chatted about how it was going, tips etc … but boy that lady made my week! So if by chance you happen to read this – Thank You!!!
Planning to do my best tonight. Going to make a low fat choice from an unknown menu…. drink vodka and diet coke and order a water with each one to minimize the killer hangover tomorrow. I’m under no illusions that this will be an early night…. we haven’t’ gone out together in about 8yrs so I am totally excited about it and planning a big one :)
I’m enjoying a subway lunch and waiting for her to arrive. I’m pumping a stack of new CD’s I’ve bought of late – Eminem’s new album ‘Curtain Call’ (of course!!!)…. Madonna ‘Confessions on a dance floor’… Black Eyed Peas ‘Monkey Business’ and Kelly Clarkson’s latest. A nice mix of profanity, wicked beats and even some pop Idol thrown in *wink*
Have a fantastic Friday night everyone…. you can bet I will!!
TFTD: “Worry is like a rocking chair – it will give you something to do, but it will get you nowhere!”
Cheers P
Wednesday, 14th December 2005...
Wacky Wednesday today :)
I began the new WW eating plan today…. the ‘No Count’ plan. In all honesty I’ve been trying a preview of it off and on for a couple weeks now but after getting all the info on it at the meeting yesterday I’m going to give it a dedicated try this week. It basically means that if you eat from a list of free foods and you don’t have to weigh, track or count points. The list is all basic whole, healthy food so it’s common sense I guess. Portion sizes are left open so you can learn when you are full/satisfied and stop yourself. Instead of 23 pts a day I now have 21pts a week for anything not on the free list. And any snacking from the free list outside of meal times must be counted in the weekly points. The only snack you can have for ‘free’ is fruit and diet yoghurt. Simple and easy. I’ll let you know how I find it as the week goes on.
Pretty quiet day today. Had a friend and her 4 kids around for a play date but otherwise have done little else.
Got up and went swimming at 5.30am today and will do 1hr aqua class tonight at 6pm. God I hope my new blonde hair doesn’t turn yellow in all this chlorine *wink*
After a conversation with a friend I tracked down this site http://www.onlineconversion.com/clothing_womens.htm
which converts international clothing sizes. I forget that others might visualize my size differently based on our Australian clothing sizes. So here are my various sizes:
Australia – Was 22…now 16
US – was 18...now 12
UK – was 20...now 14
Size 12 in US!!! Gee can I move there now thanks? :)
Exercise Log
Wednesday: 45min swimming, 22 laps (1.1km), + 1hr aqua-aerobics class
TFTD: “Do not wish to be anything but what you are, and try to be that perfectly!”
Cheers P
Tuesday, 13th December 2005...
Well after some careful eating and extra exercise I managed to pull off another loss this week…. number 14 in a row!! I lost 0.4kg so my total is now 26.6kg gone…. only 16.6kg to go!!
I was finally able to stay for my meeting to collect my 25kg lost bookmark from three weeks ago. I also had to stand up and give a little talk on the challenge and about the newspaper article. Man I HATE public speaking! Although lately between websites, newspaper and magazine articles you’d never know it *wink*
I went back to the pool for more laps yesterday at 5.30am instead of my usual walk. This time I did 20 laps (1km) in the 45mins so that was an improvement. This morning I went back to my walk but did lots of jogging along the way. Probably more then half was jogged. I also changed my toning exercises a bit for more variety.
My full week’s exercise log is as follows:
Wednesday: 1hr walk, 35 dips, 35 push-ups, 1hr aqua-aerobics class
Thursday: I hr walk
Friday: 30 min walk, 40 dips, 40 push-ups
Saturday: 40 min swimming laps / 16 x 50m
Sunday: 1hr 20mins of heavy lawn mowing
Monday: 45mins of lap swimming (did 20 which is 1km), 1hr gym: 40min fat burning program (alternating incline and speed) on treadmill at level 7 and 10mins recumbent cycle alternating intensity on level 7
Tuesday 1hr jog++/walk, 20 each of dips, push-ups, squats and lunges
8.5hrs all up so not too shabby :)
Not much else to say for today? We were introduced to the new WW program in the meeting today. I have been trying a sneak preview of it for a couple of weeks on the sly and I love it! I look forward to doing it this week with all the info. Keep you posted on how I find it.
I’m off now to update Caleb’s site. I have a heap of Christmas and family pics of us to share so see it all for yourself here.
TFTD: “Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off your goals!”
Cheers P
Sunday, 11th December 2005...
Sorry for the delay in posting the newspaper pics. It took a bit more work then I was expecting. I have now scanned them and added them to the photo’s page. Incidentally, after getting a lot of feedback about the delay in that page loading up for some people I have given it a revamp today. I have taken out many of the photos and left just the most important ones in the hope this may speed things up. Could you let me know if there is any improvement in loading time?
As for the newspaper pics…. you won’t be able to read the words in the pics but if you would like to, just drop me an email at paulenesjournaljourney@dodo.com.au and I will be happy to email them to you for closer inspection.
Of course I have edited the pics to remove any reference to my city or surname … probably not necessary but one can never be too safe these days :)
I’ve also added the billboard picture to the left of these journal entries. Can you believe it said that!!! I saw this as I walked into the shop and almost died right there on the spot! It’s like every fatties worst nightmare….”Extra! Extra! Read all about it…. Paulene’s a big fatso!”…. hehehe The stuff nightmares are made of *wink*
I have already got great feedback about the article from the guy who owns my local corner store and also the lady who served me at the servo yesterday afternoon. I was surprised the servo lady even recognized me?? But then my pic is on the front page and she’d probably sold dozens of them over the course of the day?
It was weird to walk around town yesterday. Everyone I passed I was thinking, “They may have read my weight in the paper!”….”or them”….”or them” etc. Very paranoia inducing … and totally bizarre. Every few minutes I’d think of someone else who may have read it from my past and wished a hundred times over that I could take it all back. But I can’t. I’m out there now! This web address was included in the article so who knows who may be reading this locally now??? Arghhh!!!! If that's you please visit my guesbook and say hi (link above left).
I have also done some more updating to the challenge page. The last results are trickling in and still more have been withdrawn from not sending me stats. I can’t wait forever? By removing some more stragglers I have at least been able to award the Biggest Loser of the week award for weeks 10 and 11 at last. Week 10 was Glenys with a huge loss of 2.1kg. Week 11 was Lucinda with an awesome 1.6kg loss. Well done ladies …you should be very proud of yourself :) BRAVO!!!
I feel like I’ve gone a bit of course this week. I’ve let the intensity of my exercise slip and more then a few naughty foods have found there way into my mouth :( I think I needed to have a bit of a break from the workouts and I feel revived and ready to get back into them again tomorrow. Having said that I actually have still exercised every day this week so it hasn’t been too bad. I just know I could have done more??
Yesterday morning I got up at 6.30am and was all keen to hit the gym, as I knew I couldn’t make it to my usual 10am circuit due to a friends birthday party. I got dressed, got organized…then checked the times only to find out they didn’t open until 9am! So I thought I’d give something new a try and head to the local pool to swim some laps. Wrong! They didn’t open until 8am…. Bugger!! So in the end I dithered around for an hour then hit the pool at 8. I had to leave by 8.40 to make it to Caleb’s swimming lessons at another pool at 9am but I was glad I found the time when I could rather then missing the whole day entirely. I bought myself some goggles too as I am planning to make it a regular thing. In the 40 mins I did 16 laps of the 50m pool in freestyle, breaststroke and sidestroke. Not much I know but it was a good starting point. I’ll improve those times in sessions to come.
Food wise, I’ve had a few take-aways over the weekend and I some alcohol as well. But neither was in drastic proportions so I’m hoping I’ve not done too much damage. And if I have it cannot be helped now so all I can do is keep on keeping on and accept whatever those scales say at WW next week with grace.
I have less than two weeks left until we go away for Christmas and I get to reveal the new me to my family. I really wanted to make the 80’s by then but with 3kg +?? to go that seems unlikely. So I have added a new goal. As you may recall I began this journey with a BMI of 38+ and ‘morbidly obese’. When I dipped below 35 I became just ‘obese’. However when I reach 91.8kg I’ll be below 30 and therefore just ‘overweight’. A small victory perhaps but I know it a HUGE victory for my health and longevity so that is my next goal. I’ll think of it as my Christmas gift to my body *wink*
I’ll still strive for those 80’s but I may not see them until January. My plan for WW over Christmas is this…. Maintain-maintain-maintain! I will only be away for one weigh-in and my goal is to return from my holidays within 1kg of my departure weight. Now I’ve only ever achieved that once before…. let alone over Christmas but I’m determined to try. Any gain is just more I’ll have to lose again so I don’t want that. But I’m human and prone to a drink or three with my family who I rarely get to see. C’est la Vie! I’ll do the best I can and that’s all we can ever do.
I am going to be starting a new 12-week online weight loss challenge beginning Monday January 2nd. Same process as this last one – just send me stats each week to be added to the challenge page. As a group we lost over 200kg this time so imagine if we can do that again! Don’t send me anything yet but I’ll be calling for participants soon so stay tuned on that one.
Boy this entry sure is growing!! Best list my exercise log for the week so far and call it a day I think:
Wednesday: 1hr walk, 35 dips, 35 push-ups, 1hr aqua-aerobics class
Thursday: I hr walk
Friday: 30 min walk, 40 dips, 40 push-ups
Saturday: 40 min swimming laps / 16 x 50m
Sunday: not sure yet?? Perhaps evening walk?
Monday: plan for 1hr walk, 35 dips, 35 push-ups, 1hr gym
Tuesday: plan for 1hr walk, 35 dips, 35 push-ups, 1 hr gym
Hope everyone has had a great weekend!
TFTD: “Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t … either way you are right!”
Cheers P
Saturday, 10th December 2005...
You know those billboards outside shops advertising the newspaper headline for the day. Well in our town today they say “WHO WANTS PAULENE’S WEIGHT TALE?”!!!!!!
OH MY GOD!
The story is on the front-page, continued page 5.
OH MY GOD!
Will scan and post it here later today…. stay tuned!!!!
Cheers P
Friday, 9th December 2005...
Hmmm what to say today?
Don’t feel very talkative so won’t bore you with unnecessary dribble.
Had newspaper photo’s done yesterday. The article should be in some time in the next week. Shit!
Got up this morning for walk … about 3 times. I just didn’t want to do it. It was made worse by the fact I had woken from horrible dream and just wanted to stay in bed and snuggle. Instead I got up…. stood on scales…. said I was going…then crawled back in bed…Big Mistake! Getting up the second time is even harder than the first. In all honesty I changed my mind about whether or not I was going at least 4 times during dressing. But I went.
I went because I knew I had said on this site just yesterday that I had never broken my record and piked out yet. I could hardly do it the very next day then could I? Plus I knew that it was Friday so I’d have the next two mornings to sleep in.
I headed out for a 30min walk and 40 dips and 40 push-ups. I took an alternate route with a hill to climb and I justified doing 30mins by telling myself at least it was better than nothing.
Have taken rest of day off…. been shopping this morning and finally finished the Christmas shopping…Hoorah! Now the wrapping, posting and card sending to be done. Does it ever end?
Going to the pub with the boys this arvo for a couple of drinks then not sure of plans for rest of the night? May go out if we have babysitting…or may have drinks at home…. or may do nothing at all? As you can tell plans are still undecided.
Eating has been fine today. Got Hungry Jack’s for the work boys today to take to the jobsite for lunch. Was tempted to buy something yummy but settled for a large diet coke and a soft serve cone - so survived that one :)
Feel a little blue. Not sure why? You know how it is – we’ve all been there and had those times!
Have a fantastic Friday and an even better weekend.
TFTD: “I count braver she who overcomes her desires than she who overcomes her enemies!”
Cheers P
Thursday, 8th December 2005...
Thursday…. sigh!
These 5am walks really wear me down as the week progresses. I really didn’t want to go this morning but knew that I’d be really angry with myself if I didn’t so out I went. I haven’t missed one yet so that’s a good motivation not to break the winning streak *wink* I did at least try a new route today for a change of scenery. The Enforcer suggested I have one hilly route, one normal and alternate these each day with a bike ride on the 3rd day so that my body doesn’t get bored with it all. Might do the bike ride tomorrow?
I’ve got the newspaper photographer coming this afternoon, he had to reschedule from yesterday. I’ll be glad when it’s over. If I can, I’ll scan and post the article to the site so you can all read it and share in my public squirming *wink*
Yesterday I did my normal morning route but only minimal jogging, as I was pretty sore from Tuesday’s gym session with the Enforcer. I did my 35 push-ups and 35 dips too. Then last night I went to aqua-aerobics at the last minute. I had planned on going to either that or WW (I weighed in Tuesday but haven’t been able to stay for a meeting to get my 25kg bookmark since earning it two weeks ago). I was tired and just wanted to stay home with my boys but I knew I’d feel better for doing the aqua so off I went. It was a really intense session last night I thought, with some advanced moves given for extra oomph so I’m really glad I did it.
I guess I’m just feeling tired and a bit run down from all my recent illness etc I guess and that’s affecting my drive for exercise. But if I just keep on doing it mindlessly without giving myself any other option it will all come good in the end. As the photographer is coming this arvo I’m taking the rest of today off from exercise so I’m glad I got my morning's hour session done at least.
Tomorrow I’m going to do another aqua class or gym session in the morning then I’m off to a neighboring town to finally finish my Christmas shopping. Only about half a dozen presents to go then it’s over for another year. We’ve paid for our motel for our Christmas holiday and have our spending put aside already so after present shopping the financial strain of the season will be over.
Ok…well this little boy is hammering for some attention from me so I’m going to leave it here for today.
Hope everyone is feeling more energized then I am today :)
TFTD: “If you have knowledge, let others light their candles with it!”
…and “You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it!”
Cheers P
Tuesday, 6th December 2005...
Golly I knew I was overdue to update but I didn’t realize it had been 4 days!!
Sorry :)
Well, as I said last entry, the WHO challenge may be over but my journey is not so I have kept at it this week…. full steam ahead to my 89.9kg goal before Christmas.
I lost 1kg at WW this morning, which brought me to an even 93kg so with only two weigh-ins to go, I may not make my goal but I’ll give it a good shot.
Health wise I am continuing to improve. My cold/flu is almost gone and the whooping cough is finally settling down. Still phlegm etc going on but not as bad as before. They said the cough could last 6 months so I am grateful it has at least eased off in the meantime.
My weekend went well. Went to the work Xmas party on Saturday…. fully catered and free grog and all I had was diet coke! We went out to the pub after and I had one beer and one vodka and diet coke. I wasn’t kidding when I said the big bender the weekend before really cured me of my desire to drink for quite some time *wink*
Exercise has been as follows:
-5 days of 5am 1hr walk/jog + 35 dips and 35 push-ups each day during the hour. I have increased the jogging so that I’m now doing about half jog, half walk…alternating each every 100m or so.
-1hr aqua-aerobics
-40 min gym session (25 min treadmill on weight loss program -alternating incline/speed and 15min Xtrainer)
-50 min gym session (20min cycle going hard for 30secs, moderate for 30secs and repeat throughout the 20mins; 30min weight loss program on treadmill; 100 ab crunches
-1hr gym session with Enforcer (15min Xtrainer with varying resistance/speed; 3x1min steps ups; 3 x lunges walking; 3 x 10 push-ups; 3 x boxing 1min, rest 15 secs, box 30 secs, rest 15 secs, box 15 secs and finally 3 x 10 super slow medicine ball sit-ups)
So all up the 8.5hrs is down a bit from the previous 11hr average but I still feel like I’m working hard without running myself into the ground.
I forgot to say that I bought new shoes for my after shoot. The old Nike women’s running pair were getting a bit old after a year of hard work so I got a great pair of Adidas women’s runners this time for $160. Expensive but so worth it to protect me during jogging etc. They look and feel great!
I am also going to be in two of my local newspapers in the next week or so. One will be my before and after shots to promote the Enforcer’s 12 wk challenge beginning January and the other will be a story in the main local rag which have been doing a series of weight loss stories on people. They just rang and did the interview and now I have ANOTHER photo shoot with them tomorrow….Eeek! At least this time is sounds like Caleb and Simon will be in the photo so it’s not just me standing there alone like a big git! *wink* I’m nervous but trying to be proud of my achievements and just go with it??
Well that’s a bit of a catch up for now. I’m sure there is more I wanted to say but I can’t think of it right now so I’ll leave it here for today.
TFTD: “People with goals succeed because they know where they are going!”
…and “When I am giving of my best, that is when I feel successful!”
Cheers P
Friday, 2nd December 2005...
It’s over…. Hoorah!!!
Just got back from the WHO ‘after’ photo shoot and I’m relieved to say the challenge is finally over. Now I’ve just got to wait until Dec 30th for the issue to hit the stands.
I ended up going WAY out of my comfort zone in short shorts and a tight black singlet. I know the photographer wanted bright clothes but come on! A girl can only change so much in 12wks *wink*
You know that game ‘6 degrees of separation’…where you link yourself back to a celeb in 6 steps or less?? Well now I can link myself to Delta Goodrem in 1 step!! The photographer has taken pics of her, sports stars and more. Hehehe my claim to fame can now be that Delta and I have shared a photographer. LOL!
I had to do a whole host of dorky poses and arm gestures but I know that’s just my own insecurities talking and I’m sure the end result will be well and truly worth it!
I cannot tell you how eager I am to learn more about my fellow challenger’s and how much weight they have lost. The photographer says there is at least one male and the rest are women. However mine was his first after shoot so he couldn’t give me any scoops. Come on Dec 30th!!
So from here…the journey continues.
I have been doing my 5am walk every day still. The last two days have been thundering and sprinkling rain off an on but I went all the same and both times made it home dry. It would have been easy to use the weather as an excuse but then I know I’m only cheating myself so what’s the point. I am still super focused on my goals and this last 12 wks have just shown me that I CAN reach them!
I’ve increased the reps of the dips and push-ups that I do, mid walk, from 30 to 35 and hope to keep adding an extra 5 to each every week or two. I am also doing more jogging throughout the walk as well.
Yesterday I went to the gym and did 25min of fat burning interval work on the treadmill (varying intensity and incline) and 15mins on the cross trainer. I was drenched with sweat and buggered by the end of it though so thought I’d best call it a day by then. I’m mindful that my body is still fighting this whooping cough and the cold that’s jumped on board too so I don’t want to push myself too far. So long as I can just keep up a steady pace of 9hrs of exercise a week and healthy eating I should continue to see the results I’ve become hooked on.
12 consecutive losses is by far my best effort ever and I’m ready to make that 13 next week. I am not going to slack off now this chapter is done. I can’t! Not until I reach the finish. And even then…. I’ll never go back to my old life, the old me, the old insecurities…Never!!
As a group we have now lost over 200kg!!! 200kg!!! That’s amazing!! Give yourself a big pat on the back for your part in that. I am thrilled I’ve been able to be a part of such a huge load of fat burnt away for good from this world :) Still waiting on the final results from a lot of people so stay tuned for an even bigger total! You Rock!
TFTD: “Success is a journey, not a destination – half the fun is getting there!”
Cheers P
Wednesday, 30th November 2005...
Super quick entry today.
Did my walk and exercises first thing this morning. Heading off to aqua-aerobics tonight.
Did my WHO interview over the phone yesterday and the ‘after’ shoot is scheduled for 12.30pm Friday…. Eeek! I’m too wear exercise gear for the photo so I guess I don’t have to worry about what to wear so much now??
I was surprised to receive a bottle of champagne in the mail from WHO today!! How nice :)
Now at last…. I have new photos!!! I’ve had Simon take some body shots and a face shot to show my hair … check them out now at the photo page and let me know what you think. I CANNOT believe the difference between them and the very first ones!!
TFTD: “Image is what people think we are. Integrity is what we really are!”
Cheers P
Tuesday, 29th November 2005...
Ok…the reality is setting in.
The challenge is over…but the journey is not :)
Before I go too far let me tell you that I just weighed in at WW at 94.0kg and have made my 25kg mark!!! I’ve lost 25.2kg now all up!!!
As my regular leader is back from holidays next week I asked them to keep the presentation of the bookmark until then so I can share it with her. Plus I know she’ll want me to talk to the group about the challenge so I’d rather get up in front of everyone just once (if at all) *wink*
So with today’s weight I’ve hit three more goals. I’ve lost 20% of my starting body weight, I've lost 25kg and I also realized I hadn’t checked the goal of being able to take my rings off. While I’ve been doing that for a few weeks now I just hadn’t noticed it in my goals list. Now I have to really make some new goals, as I don’t have many other small one’s in my list. There is still so much I want to achieve! But for now my next goal is to make 89.9kg by Christmas and surprise my family with my new 80’s body (they haven’t seen me since I was over 100kg).
I’ve got a stack of emails and guestbook entries to reply to after this update. Thank you all for such lovely words of congratulations and support. It means so much to me!
Yesterday I gave the Enforcer a big bunch of flowers and a thank you card from Simon and I. I have another part of the gift to give her later this week when I can collect it so I won’t say here what it is as I know she reads (Ha ha you thought I was going to say it didn’t you!!). Hehehe
The most amazing thing is that she has volunteered to continue to train me twice a week until Christmas…at her own expense!!!! How bloody amazing is this women??? So now my future plan is this:
-Continue the 5am walk/jog, 30 dips, 30 push-ups
-Train with Enforcer for 1hr Tuesday and Friday (gym or beach??)
-Attend her aqua-aerobics class on Wednesday evening
-Go to the gym circuit each Saturday morning
That reduces my current exercise from 11hrs a week down to 9hrs. Still a good effort for the week but allowing myself a little less pressure and fatigue.
In January I will either begin her 12wk weight loss challenge if the times suit me or I’ll continue with her once a week at my own expense until I reach goal. This woman has changed my life FOREVER and I’ll be forever grateful for her generosity, patience, kindness, knowledge, support and unwavering encouragement! Thanks Kim!
The final measurement losses for my 12-week challenge were as follows:
-
Chest loss of 8cm
-Waist loss of 11.4cm
-Hips loss of 10.9cm
-Thigh loss of 4.7cm each
-Arm loss of 2cm each (measured from week 6 only)
-Kg loss of 13.7kg
-Body Fat loss of 4.2%
Very, very happy with that!!!!! :)
So now I have to find another charm for my bracelet and I haven’t even had the 20kg one soldered on yet! I guess I’ll just add the two of them at the same time once I find the next one. I’ll post pics of them when they are done.
I also promised updated photo’s once I reached 95kg so I guess now that I’ve gone straight past that weight already I’d better get my finger out and have Simon take some for me. I’ll let you know when I post them.
When I got up for my 5am walk today it was raining!! I couldn’t let the first day off the challenge be the first day I missed a walk so I headed out regardless. I left the pooch at home in the dry and took my umbrella instead. I also jogged heaps today…maybe half of my regular 45min circuit so that felt great. I think as of tomorrow I’ll start to increase the number of dips and push-ups I do on the way too (currently 30 of each)?
I also had great fun doing some clothes shopping this morning. I’ve bought heaps of new summer singlets of late but all my shorts and pants had my ass looking like the saggy baggy elephant!! Hehehehe So I hit Target this morning and within 20mins walked out with 3 new items all from the regular sized section…Yey! I got a pair of sz16 denim shorts, a pair of sz16 ¾ denim pants and a sz14 peasant skirt. I was stoked with the sz14 skirt that fit with ease…. Damn that felt good!!!!
Ok…well I’d better make a start on these email replies I guess. Keep the final challenge stats coming and I’m crossing my fingers we’ll make it to 200kg lost as a group. It’s close!!! We Can Do It!!!!
TFTD: “The greatest legacy you can leave your children are happy memories!”
Cheers P
Monday, 28th November 2005...
IT’S OVER!!
The final weigh-in was 93.7kg…. a loss of 1.9kg this week and 13.7kg overall for the 12 week challenge!!!
:)
Will update in full tomorrow with measurements etc…. Just wanted to share the final figures with you for now!!!
I’m thrilled!
Cheers P
Sunday, 27th November 2005...
I’m never drinking again!!!!
Haven’t we all said that at one time or another when we are feeling so under the weather we can never foresee another instance that would lead to us taking even the smallest sip of alcohol??
The Christmas party was great fun. We hooked up with some of Simon’s work mates and eventually left the original pub for another one further up the road. We had one drink there then all staggered out to continue walking to the next one. By the time we got there I was onto the water for me but alas the damage had been done! Ugh!!!
We were asleep by about 2am and up at 8am … well Simon was up. I couldn’t make it out of bed until I absolutely had to at 12noon to make my 12.30 hairdresser appt. So yes no gym yesterday :( I will be counting yesterday as my day of rest and doing an hours exercise today instead.
At least I didn’t eat like crazy when I was drunk. Simon ate hotdogs with bacon and cheese at the Xmas party and Scotty and I walked to a nearby Chinese take-away instead. I got the smallest container they had and had just stir-fry – refusing to even look at all the other deep fried delights in the smorgasbord. I feel good about this decision and know that it’s a far cry from what I would have done in the past had I been faced with my red light food while less than 100% decision making capable.
Yesterday I was too sick to hardly eat at all so again the day went by without any further damage. This morning the scales are finally lower than last weeks weigh in so I’m fairly confident of a loss of at least 0.5kg tomorrow.
However I’m hoping for 0.7kg. The amazing Glenys has lost 12.4kg in her 12wks of this challenge and I’d love to pip her at the post for the title of biggest overall loser *wink* Sorry Glenys but I gotta try? Hehehe I can’t stay and exercise after weigh-in tomorrow due to other plans so at least I can get a hard workout in during the day beforehand without worrying about being too tired for after. I’ll do my 5am walk then probably head down the Esplanade with Caleb during the day to sweat off any last minute pounds :)
I’m sick still too. Others have suggested it to me and I too am wondering if my body is trying to tell me something? After tomorrow’s final weigh I'll back off a little on the exercise and see how I go. I'll keep up the morning walk 5 days a week, and gym circuit on Saturday, then do a second hour's training maybe 3 days a week instead of the current 5?? I’ll just play it by ear and see how it goes.
Well the hair! Oh the hair! As you know I had some blonde coloring done yesterday. It was to be foils but on the hairdresser’s recommendation we went for streaks instead. Oh my! I don’t know if it’s just a matter of giving it time to get used to it or what?? But I don’t like it that much! It seems so severe around the face line but not so different at all in other places? My sister in NSW, who is a hairdresser, is even considering coming up to fix it before the photo’s but I’ve told her it’s not worth 12hrs of travel for. I’ll take some pics when I can to post on here but in the meantime I’m just avoiding mirrors…hehehe!
Damn why didn’t I leave well enough alone? I know I wanted a change but golly I think I bit off more than I can chew :)
Well with only one day of my challenge to go I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you who have supported me throughout this challenge. I couldn’t have done so well without your help… so thank you! As a group we have lost 190kg all up, with still more results to come. Let’s aim for the 200kg mark…we can do it!!! I’ll be sending certificates to all those who complete the challenge once all the stats are in so stay tuned for that.
TFTD: “A good example has twice the value of good advice!”
Cheers P
Friday, 25th November 2005...
Thank God it’s F-f-f-Friday!!!
With the final week of the challenge drawing to a close I’m tense. I’m sick. I’m nervous. I’m excited.
Firstly I cannot believe that I am sick again, and not with the whooping cough, but now a cold. I have still yet to resolve the whooping cough and Bam! A cold/flu thing hits me. Who did I piss off in past life I ask you?? At least it is the final days so I won’t let it stop me now, but dammit! … I thought I was supposed to be getting healthier not sicker!! *wink*
The nervous tension is all about the next 3 days. I have only 3 short days to blitz as much weight as I can in the final days of this challenge for maximum results for the finale. A peak on the scales today showed minimal movement at all. But surprisingly that doesn’t worry me that much. I know I’ll lose by Monday but I want to lose as much as I possibly can!
And that brings me to the weekend. Caleb is staying at Granny’s tonight and we have a tradesman’s Christmas party for Simon’s work. And it is being held at our local pub that we go to all the time. It’s free alcohol. It’s Friday night. I told the Enforcer I’d do my best not to drink until the challenge was over. I want to go out and let my hair down. I know I cannot. Yet go I shall.
So I’m nervous about how I’ll go? I have limited food choices there – but I’ll come back to that in a minute. I have limited drinks to choose from for my waistline too …it’s either water or vodka and diet coke. At least that’s the lowest point alcohol I’m likely to drink anyway, I’m a bit off the wine at the moment. Although come to think of it the Enforcer did recommend a wine and soda water combo that I could try??
I’m just scared that I’ll blow out. I know I can control myself on the food front tonight but I don’t want to waste too many empty kJ’s on alcohol consumption either?? Yet at the same time I could really use a drink or three today.
Food wise I am being very careful this week. I’m limiting carbs after lunch and so that rules out my usual noodle stir-fry I enjoy at that pub. So I’m thinking roast meat and veg with gravy on the side or salad will be the way to go. That’s if they even do roast meals??? Either that or I’ll just hang out until I get home and have a WW frozen dinner or something? We are going about 5am so it’s a bit early to eat before we go?
I just want it to be Monday already so I can weigh and be done with it. Knowing I’ve done all I can and rejoicing in my results?
We’ve gone back to maximum effort in training this week, or as close to as we can given my health. The beach session with the Enforcer yesterday was a killer! We basically walked along the Esplanade with lot’s of good (read *hard*) things thrown in along the way :) These included 30 push-ups, 25 dips, 2 x 1min high step-ups on a giant tree stump, jogging laps of a jetty and 5 laps up and down a tall staircase at a jog. Then we came to the worst bit. A section of the Esplanade has a long and huge concrete staircase down onto the beach. Picture a giant concrete bleacher that stretches for maybe 100m?? I had to jog the length of it…going up and down each of the little staircases that pepper the top section along the way. That wasn’t so bad. Then on the way back I was on the actual bleacher type stairs and running in a zigzag up and down them. So I ran down them on a vertical angle, taking one step at a time which is about knee height and deep set…. then I run up them in a vertical line back to the top. And so I went along the length of them…. up and down, up and down. Boy did that suck!! Hehehe but in a good way because my butt is sure sore today!
This morning I did my 5am walk with 30 dips and 30 pus-ups along the way. Then it was off to aqua aerobics. I took my mother-in-law along for her first go today and it was lot’s of fun. My newly deteriorated health put an end to any idea’s of another session this afternoon and tomorrow if I can’t do the circuit at the gym I’m to do a treadmill session with various incline etc.
Did I mention that I can’t freaking believe I’m sick again!?
I’m also beginning to stress about Christmas. I am not going to over do it this year! It’s only one day after all and there is no reason I can’t enjoy nice food and a few drinks without going overboard. I’m not one for Christmas desserts and traditional fare like rum balls, eggnog and white Christmas anyway so it’s really only a cooked breakfast and a big lunch that stand in my way. And I can make good choices at both of those anyway so I’m telling myself not to worry. I’m going to be at my sisters this year so I’m just looking forward to sitting back as a guest for a change and enjoying the non-food aspects of the season.
I am really excited to be seeing everyone this year for a change though. Every year for the last 10-13yrs I have endured Christmas and New Years with vows of how different I’ll look the following year. How I’ll wow everyone with my new body and lifestyle…blah, blah, blah. Only this year I really have done it so I’m hoping to get some reactions.
I did get one from an unexpected source just this morning. When I dropped Caleb off at day-care the Director called me aside to say that she had noticed my weight loss and that I was looking noticeably different and she wanted to know more about what I was doing that was working so well :)
Speaking of which I know a lot of you are asking what comes after the challenge. Will I continue with the Enforcer and what my plans are etc. I don’t want to say too much for now but I will say that it won’t end here. I will continue to see her in some form up until Christmas then in the new year I will either be joining her new 12wk weight loss program or I’ll be seeing her once a week for a personal session of some kind. I’m so hooked on the changes she can bring that my hope is to stay with her until I reach my goal and even one day a week is better for that than none. But I’ll let you know more about that as I know more.
Today is tinged with sadness for me. It is 10 years ago today that my mum died. She was 47 and as a result of lead poisoning as a child had suffered ill health all her life until chronic renal failure claimed her life in the end. While I had always known her to be in and out of hospital when I was growing up, at 20 years old, I was not ready to lose her when the time came :( 10years can seem like only yesterday on days like today.
TFTD: “Be brave. Even if you are not, pretend to be. No one can tell the difference!”
Cheers P
Thursday, 24th November 2005...
Only five days to the final weigh-in and I can hardly believe it’s almost over. While I’d like more time to get more results … I am relieved the constant pressure will soon be over. It will be easier to fit in my exercise at a time that suits me when I’m doing it solo but at the same time I’m so going to miss the Enforcer’s constant support, encouragement and expertise. I hope to find out today about the 12wk program she is running in the new year and whether or not it’s times and costs will allow me to participate. I hope so!
Yesterday I worked a bit harder on my 5am walk and did about 5 stretches of jogging too. Probably only 100-200m each time but it’s better than nothing. I also did my 30 dips and 30 push-ups on the way round too. Then I did 1hr of aqua aerobics last night. This morning I’ve done my walk, dips and push-ups again and I’m meeting the Enforcer later today for a beach session. It’s bound to be hard so hence no jogging this morning.
I was chatting to a friend on email yesterday about singlet tops. I know many women who have some weight to lose avoid them like the plague…as I have always done myself. But about 6 months ago something changed. I finally stopped caring. I have spent way too many a summer sweating under big baggy black T-shirts and looking enviously at those nice and cool in singlets and other sleeveless tops. So lately I have begun buying lot’s of sleeveless. Some I still used to wear a sheer open shirt over the top of to begin with but now I’m stopping that too! The 3 shirts I’ve recently bought in size 16 have all been thin-strapped singlets and I love them. If you get one with some detail around the neckline or front it draws the eyes away from the dreaded tuck shop arms anyway. And even if it doesn’t…who cares?? I’ve seen many a girl much bigger than me baring her arms and let’s face it – if people have nothing better to do then look at my arm fat then good luck to them!! I for one, refuse to waste another summer worrying about it!
TFTD: “Until you make peace with who you are you’ll never be content with what you have!”
Cheers P
Tuesday, 22nd November 2005...
Well the new week is well under way and I am thrilled to be back to my hard workouts again. I know I never thought I’d say that about exercise but it’s true. I felt like I was slacking off the whole time I was sick – even though I know I wasn’t – but it’s those old mind games going on I guess. Now I know I am kicking butt with two hours a day again it feels great!
Yesterday was of course weigh-in day and another loss of 0.4kg saw me hit 95.6kg (95.8kg at WW this morning). 95’s!!! Wow! The 120’s don’t seem so long ago yet here I am at 95 already!!! Just goes to show what some hard exercise can do.
Speaking of exercise…let me recap the last two days.
Monday was of course begun with my 1hr 5am walk. Then it was off to the gym for the afternoon session with the Enforcer. We began with 5mins rowing, 5x1min boxing bag work, 10mins recumbent cycle intervals, 5-10mins cross-trainer (I got a bit feint so had to stop), 30 super slow medicine ball crunches and 30 pulsing crunches holding the medicine ball out with straight arms as I went. Phew!
Then today it was back to the gym again. I’ve just got back and am stuffed. I did 15mins on the recumbent cycle with alternating levels of resistance, 15 mins on the treadmill with alternating speed and incline, 10mins on the cross-trainer with alternating levels of resistance, 3 x 1 min steps ups, 3 x 1min lunges, 2 x 1 min steps lifting hand weights above my head with each step then finished it off with abs: 3 x 20 crunches and 3 x 15 pulse crunches. Of course I also did my 1hr walk at 5am this morning and added in 30 push-ups and 30 dips half way round (which I plan to continue doing each day from now on). So all up a big day but a great one :)
Tomorrow is the walk and aqua-aerobics in the evening and then it’s down to the beach for a session on Thursday. Not sure what Friday holds yet but I imagine I’ll be doing the gym circuit on Saturday as usual.
I haven’t been able to update my two weight trackers above today as there is something wrong with the site but hopefully I’ll be able to have them up to date tomorrow?
I went out this morning and got myself two more size 16 singlet tops. Both the same as the one I bought a couple of weeks back. I liked it so much in the black that today I got another one in brown and one in pink too. I love buying size 16 from the regular size section of the store!!!!
On Saturday I finally went and got myself fitted for a new sports bra as the other one just wasn’t fitting right anymore. I bought the first one 10 weeks ago in a size 20DD and this week I got my new one in a size 18D so that felt nice (although don’t ask Simon his opinion as he’s sad to see ‘his girls’ shrinking! *wink*)
I also made my appt today for my new ‘do’ on Saturday. Hubby wants to see me blonde so as a compromise I’m going to get a lot of light highlights done before the ‘after’ photo shoot. He doesn’t know it yet. I hope it turns out ok?
Well I guess that’s about it for today.
I updated Caleb’s site the other day with all his latest happenings so pop on over for a look if you are interested?
TFTD: “You have to get up every morning with determination if you’re going to go to bed with satisfaction!”
Cheers P
Sunday, November 20th 2005...
Sunday lovely Sunday :)
I love my day of rest … even if I don’t entirely rest *wink*
This morning my lovely husband got up to Caleb at 5am while I slept in until almost 8am *bliss* Then he got stuck into the lawns while I finished my weekly housework. Then we had a late BBQ breakfast of bacon and eggs (extra lean bacon of course) and he’s watching a movie now while the boy naps and I catch up on some computer work. Then he and Caleb are going to watch Aladdin this afternoon while I do the grocery shopping. I know it may not sound like a day of rest but I love getting all the ‘work’ out of the way on a weekend so I don’t have to worry about it during the week.
With only one week to go of the challenge I’ve done a bit of a tidy up of the challenge page and withdrew everyone who was weeks late in sending me stats. Every body is up to at least week 10 now so please remember to keep those final results coming. As a result of the withdrawals I can now finally announce the weeks biggest losers for week 8 and 9. Week 9’s Biggest Loser was Suz with a loss and 1.8kg and week 10 was a tie for Biggest Loser with both Barbara and Michelle losing 1.3kg for that week. Well done girls!!!!!! I can’t help but notice a distinct lack of stars beside my own name but oh well…. hehehehe I’ll just have to settle for vicariously enjoying your success instead *wink*
I’ve had a great weekend of eating and had no socializing or alcohol, which has made staying on track easier. Despite feeling like doing anything but going to the gym yesterday morning I did make it for the 1hr circuit. At the beginning I wasn’t sure I’d even make one lap but I just kept at it, stopping to cough when I needed to, and managed to finish the full 5 laps. Each lap included boxing, ab crunches, skipping (pretty hard with my lungs at present), seated rows, pull-downs, pushdowns, pec deck, bicep curls, leg curls, leg extensions and step-ups with hand weights. It felt great to get through it and I’m really glad I didn’t wimp out on it all together.
Today I am feeling more improvement in my overall health and I’m hoping I’m seeing the last of this dreaded whooping cough. Fingers crossed. I still cough on exertion and just cough in general but less overnight to impact on my sleep and the phlegm is almost resolved so I’m feeling much better overall.
TOM arrived today…thank god! The Enforcer and I were both praying it did so that fluid retention did not play havoc with my final weigh-ins of the challenge. I expect it has not come soon enough for much of a difference with tomorrows weigh but I’m holding out for a good loss for the last week of the challenge.
The last week!!!! God where has the time gone??? I’m still going to work at reaching the 80’s before I go away for Xmas on Dec 23rd as I really want to make a big impact when my family see me for the first time in months. Then I’ve got to stay on track over the silly season and then keep going into the New Year to reach my goal before my birthday in June. I can do that!
I worry about how I will feel at goal too. In my late teens I was very unhealthy in regard to eating, body image and the like. I used to eat maybe one meal a day.... smoke and party way to hard...feint all the time from lack of food ... yet lay on the floor feeling my hips bones jutting out and thinking I was fat :(
I hope that when I make my goal this time I am happy AND healthy.
TFTD: “Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do!”
Cheers P
Friday, 18th November 2005...
Hallelujah!
Finally I was able to get back into some decent exercise today. Nothing like the hard days gone by, but a great start after two weeks of doing no more than walking.
I did, of course, do my 1hr walk this morning at 5am. You know it’s funny that I thought doing that would be so hard to stick to yet I’ve not missed a day yet! I just get up before I can think about sleeping in and before I know it I’m out the door and on my way. After only a couple of weeks my ditzy dog now wakes me whimpering beside the bed to go just before 5am anyway so it’s easier to just get up and ‘Just Do It’ as Nike says :) When I get back Simon and Caleb are up and I have time for a quick shower before Simon goes to work and I get my day started. It’s lovely.
Today I also met the Enforcer down the beach for a session of mostly walking. We walked briskly along the Esplanade for most of the hour but stopped along the way for the little extras. Like 30 push-ups, 20 dips, 2 x 1min step ups, 5 runs up and down a staircase, 5 laps up and down a hill in the soft sand … like you do *wink* It felt great to be fatigued again and know I’ve worked hard – but not too hard! I didn’t do more than my body could handle right now.
Yesterday I was meant to get to the gym but Simon ended up working late, right up until tea time and it just couldn’t happen so I did some toning work at home instead. I did 50 push-ups, 50 lunges, 100 crunches, 25 squats, 30 dips, 50 x bicep curls with weights, 50 x lifting weights straight up above head and 50 x having arms straight above head and bending elbow back so weights end up behind shoulders (no idea what those last two are called obviously *wink*)
Tomorrow morning I get a sleep in but then I’m off to the gym at 10am for the 1hr circuit. I haven’t been for the last two weeks so I’m looking forward to getting back to that again. Then if I feel up to it I think we’ll do a big family bike ride on Sunday if the weathers good. With only 9 days of the challenge left any activity is good activity!
Nothing much else planned this weekend. Yard work, housework, washing, and swimming ... the usual :) No drinks or nights out planned either. I do have to go and get fitted for a new sports bra though … my current one was purchased about 9wks ago and I was fitted as a 20DD … can’t wait to see what I am now!
Today I was chatting online to my best friend Julie, and she sent me some pics that were taken of us about 3yrs or so ago. I have posted one on the photo’s page for you to see because I simply COULD NOT believe how disgustingly fat I looked in it! I was about 120kg I guess, and at the time probably thought I looked ok that day … but I SO DO NOT! Ugh! I would have been devastated to look at that photo today if I still looked the same but it’s ok now to know that I’m not that person any more. And never will be again!!
CONGRATULATIONS to Lynne for being the Biggest Loser of the week for wk 7!!! I’m sorry they are always awarded so late but some of you do straggle with getting the results to me *wink* This is Lynne’s second star now so you go for it girl!!
Just before I go I wanted to have a whinge (‘what’s new?’ you all say) about a phone call I received yesterday. Some company were following up on a survey I completed a few years ago about smoking. Now I don’t usually mind doing surveys so I was happy to participate. He tells me it will only take 5mins of my time and at the end they will send me some free cigarettes to try and let them know what I thought of them. When I told him I’d happily give the survey but that I did not want the cigarettes he asked if I was a smoker still and when I said no he said ‘thanks but you don’t qualify then’. Hmmm to be rejected for being a non-smoker … that makes a nice change *wink* Hello though??? Free cigarettes to try?? Do these people not know the epidemic that is smoking related deaths and diseases crippling our health system??? What are they thinking?? Simon is working very hard to quit (yet again) at the moment and imagine if he’d received the offer of free smokes…. or a teenage child was the lucky survey respondent? Grrrr!!!!! Ok…anti smoking rant over … hehehe I was a smoker for about 12yrs so it’s not like I don’t remember what it was like … but I can’t help it … I HATE smoking now!!
Anyhoo…hope everyone has a great weekend planned. Have fun and stay safe.
TFTD: “Setting an example is not the main means of influencing others, it is the only means!”
Cheers P
Thursday, 17th November 2005...
Bloody Hell!!
The blood test results are in from the doctor….
I have whooping cough!!!
Great…just what I needed!
Apparently there is a bit of it going around at the moment – another good reason why kids should have immunizations to eradicate diseases such as this. While I was immunized for it as a child it seems that in times of lowered immunity I may have picked it up from another infected person coughing or sneezing around me – Nice!
Caleb and Simon are asymptomatic so it sounds like they have escaped getting it … thank god! It is a notifiable disease in Australia so Qld Health (State Health Dept.) have been informed that I have it … golly it’s like having leprosy or something *wink*
I’ve started yet another new antibiotic that will hopefully clear the phlegm issue but the doctor tells me the coughing could last up to two months yet…shit!!! Apparently the usual “whoop” sounding cough doesn’t usually happen in adults so it often goes undiagnosed and untreated. Apparently my main concern should be for infants under 2 months who are yet to be vaccinated and the elderly … other than that I’m fairly safe to mix with others. Just as well seeing as I have been going about life as normal for the last 2 weeks that I’ve had it!!! I shudder to think of all the young bubs I was around at playgroup yesterday but as I didn’t get particularly close to any of them it should be fine. I’m also going to give aqua-aerobics a miss tomorrow, as most of those doing it are older ladies.
So as far as the challenge goes I guess I can only keep doing what I can. I was still coughing up heaps while on my morning walk today but the cough seems to have taken on a new form today which I am hoping is a teeny sign of some coming improvement. Especially that I am now on the right anti-biotic at last.
I’m off to do another solo gym session this afternoon and tomorrow I have my morning walk and then a beach session with the Enforcer at lunchtime. This will be my first real workout with her in about 2 weeks and I know she wants to work me really hard to make up for lost time. I’ll still be coughing like crazy I’m sure, but she won’t push me harder than I can handle.
On a brighter note…today is the 13yr anniversary of when Simon and I became a couple!! 13yrs – golly has that gone fast! As it’s not our wedding anniversary we don’t really celebrate it but we still always remember it :)
Happy Anniversary Baby!!
TFTD: “Stand still and watch the world go by – and it will!”
Cheers P
Wednesday, 16th November 2005...
Great day today!
Got back to basics with my eating … no frozen, pre-packaged or convenience foods – just good, lean, wholesome food :)
Did my 1hr walk this morning and finally got back to the gym this afternoon. I practically begged the Enforcer to give me something to do, as I couldn’t stand to see another day go by wasted.
I really couldn’t do anything too intense but I managed 30mins on the treadmill with increasing incline; 20mins on the recumbent cycle; 50 push-ups; 50 crunches; 25 side crunches to the left and 25 side crunches to the right.
I really couldn’t get my heart rate up above 115-120 without coughing up a lung but I guess it’s a start.
Speaking of that cough – I got a phone call from the Dr’s surgery today to ask me to come in tomorrow to discuss the results of my blood test! Not sure what that means but it doesn’t make me feel too confident…Eeek! Will keep you posted on outcome of that.
TFTD: “Well done is better than well said”
Cheers P
Tuesday, 15th November 2005...
Well it was a loss! :)
Hooray!!
Only 0.6kg but since I’ve done nothing more than 5hrs walking and one hour of aqua-aerobics this week I was very pleased to lose anything at all *beams*
The measurements were nothing flash, I didn’t write them down today so I’ll post them at a later date but it only added up to about 3-4cm gone overall in the last two weeks …but again…a downward movement so I’m still happy.
I can’t believe the challenge is over at the end of next week!! Wow where did 12wks of my life go?? I’m sad to see it ending as it has been such a huge motivation and momentum keeper of late :(
Still, The Enforcer has taught me so much over this time that I am forever grateful and so, so pleased I didn’t’ chicken out of the whole thing as I considered doing in the start.
In some ways it will be nice to lose the intense pressure of the challenge but I guess it’s that pressure that has kept me going so well.
I’m still bloody sick – Dammit!! So no training again today other than a 1hr walk this morning and I’ll do another one this afternoon. I went back to the Dr and told him his last course of anti-biotics did jack shit for me *wink* so I have been started on a new course today, a cough elixir and have had blood tests and sputum tests to see if he can get to what is causing this. I stressed to him that I just need to get rid of the cough ASAP so that I don’t lose the last 2wks of my training in this challenge so here’s hoping the new regime will bring results soon. I’m so sick of coughing and the resultant sleep loss and I’m forever getting headaches from the coughing and sore chest/diaphragm muscles…boo-hoo! I’m such a whinger aren’t I? Hehehe
So heading into the last fortnight I really need to shake things up a bit. The Enforcer has made it clear that as soon as I’m physically able we will be going into some hard-core training for the last few days… Eeek!! Hehehe I need it though, and dare I say it I even miss it a little (just a little!) so I’m ready and hopefully soon will be able.
I also want to make some changes to my eating this next two weeks. I am allowed 23pts a day on WW (I think it goes down to 22 after I reach 95kg – must check that) and we are allowed to save 4 pts a day from this total. So for the rest of this challenge I am going to stick to 19pts a day and not spend the last 4pts each day. I’m also going to further decrease my diet coke and chug down gallons of water. As well as that I want to make wise low-carb choices and basically just whittle things down to as fresh, healthy and low point as I can. It’s only 2 wks after all and if it helps to shift things a little faster then it will be well worth it. That and the no alcohol thing should help :) If anyone has any more suggestions of how to bring about bigger and faster (but healthy) results before the final weigh and photo session please let me know!
One last thing before I go… I saw this on Kate’s website and thought I’d do my own too (see below)... enjoy!
Cheers P
12 things about me
Twelve movies I like
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
There’s something about Mary
Titanic
Dirty Dancing
Threesome
Happy Gilmore
8 Mile
Unfaithful
Pretty Women
Bridget Jones
The Blair Witch Project
The Lord of the Rings trilogy
Eleven great bands/ Artists
Eminem
D12
Aerosmith
Eminem
Kylie Minogue
Eminem
Britney Spears
Green Day
Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Madonna
Eminem (Yes I love him!)
Ten Things about me
I have been with my husband Simon since we were in year 12
We have a son named Caleb who is the axis of my world!
I am a Registered Nurse – Psych Endorsed
I always wanted to be a housewife
I am an email, blogger, and Ebay junkie
I HATE to be tickled – it makes me REALLY REALLY MAD!
This Nov 25th will be 10yrs since my mom passed away when I was 20
I am a total control freak and a little obsessive compulsive in some things
I hate to see old people upset or taken advantage of
I want to be the best Mom I can be
Nine good friends
Simon
Julie
Scotty
Marion
Donna
Melissa
Rebecca
Nathan
All the girls in weight-loss-blog world
Eight favorite foods or drinks
Chicken
Mango
Coca-Cola
Portello soft drink
Chocolate
Spaghetti Bolognaise
Chinese food
WW chicken hotpot frozen meal
Seven Things I wear daily
Oil of Olay Total Effects Moisturizer
Rexona Sport deodorant
Lip-gloss
Concealer on my ‘red spot’
Underwear
My rings (my wedding, engagement, & eternity ring…mom’s wedding ring, my Aunt’s eternity ring and a 2 piece ring set my sister gave me for my 18th birthday)
My sunglasses
Six things I hate
Science Fiction, Action and horror movies
Shift work
People staring at me
Peanut butter and all things nuts (except satay dishes strangely enough?)
Money stress
Seeing my son upset/hurt
Five things I do daily
Shower
Kiss my son and husband
Tell my son and husband I love them many times a day
Read stories to Caleb
Drive my car
Four Shows I watch
Survivor
Big Brother
The Bold and the Beautiful
The Biggest Loser
Three places I love
My home
Fraser Island
My en-suite spa bath
Two Things I want
A daughter
A happy and healthy family
One Person I want to see right now
Caleb – he is at daycare and I miss him so!
Monday, 14th November 2005...
Hi everyone…sorry for being offline a few days :)
Between the funeral Friday and going away over the weekend for Today’s funeral I haven’t had a chance to update before now.
We just got home about 4pm today so I’m off to weigh-in tomorrow at WW and also weigh and measure for the challenge.
Will update before lunch tomorrow to catch you up on the latest :)
Cheers P
Thursday, 10th November 2005...
Well I’m still sick…. Blah!!!
I just don’t see any improvement at all yet? I’m still coughing up yucky phlegm (sorry!) all day long and off an on I feel bloody awful. I’m so worried about the days slipping by with no training but I know there is nothing I can do about it? I have at least done my hour’s walk at 5am each morning still so I guess that’s something. I’m going to do a second walk this afternoon on the Enforcer’s advice then I’m off to aqua-aerobics in the morning if it kills me *wink*
The week is looking even more out of wack to come with more bad news arriving yesterday. As I mentioned in my previous post, our best friend Scotty’s father passed away on Sunday and we have his funeral to go to tomorrow morning. Then yesterday Simon’s other best mate (Caleb’s Godfather) rang to say his Dad had just passed away too! So now we have to travel to Esk (about 5hrs away) on Sunday for a Monday funeral. We won’t get back to town until late Monday, so I’m anticipating having to weigh a day late this week for the challenge? I’ll have to discuss it with the Enforcer in the morning but I can’t see any other option. I don’t suppose one day should make that much difference anyway. But that also means I’ll most likely get no workout in on the Monday either.
Man I’m certainly being thrown some curve balls in the last weeks of this challenge. But I can’t let it beat me. I’m just trying to eat well, do my walks, and accept that I may not lose this week. It won’t be the end of the world. In fact normally I wouldn’t mind at all after 9 losses’s in a row – but with the challenge the pressure to lose week after week is immense. Mostly by my own doing I imagine but I feel it nonetheless. Ho-hum.
Cheers P
Tuesday, 8th November 2005...
Still feeling crappy today in the chest … did so much coughing yesterday my whole upper body and head ached with every cough. On a brighter note though I feel good otherwise so I’m hoping the anti-biotics the Dr started me on yesterday can clear up the cough soon too.
Although I couldn’t train yesterday I still did my early morning 1hr walk and I did another 40min walk in the afternoon so the day was not a complete loss. Today I have again done my early morning 1hr walk but the Enforcer has told me to take the day off from training again. I struggle with this as I feel guilty doing that and I really want to put in maximum effort rather then let anyone down. At the same time I understand that she says my body needs to rest and recover. So rest I shall! It’s day-care day today for Caleb so now I am really looking forward to a leisurely day to myself *bliss*!
Weigh-in for the challenge was a bit disappointing yesterday … a loss of only 0.3kg and 1% body fat (at least the body fat drop was good!). Bugger!! Piddley little losses like that are not going to get me to the 80’s by the end of this challenge. Still a loss is a loss so I’m trying not to be too disappointed and just focus on the week ahead.
The Enforcer has advised me that I be really strict with my eating while my training has decreased and also to lay off the alcohol for a while. With 3 wks left of this challenge I am going to try not to drink for the next 2 weekends at least. My best friend is visiting on the third weekend with the express purpose of us going out together but I don’t see why I can’t have two alcohol free weeks until then. If it helps to shift some more weight before the end it will be worth it ten fold.
Off to WW soon... expecting only a minimal loss if any since both weighs tend to correspond fairly well. In fact yesterday there was some doubt over the calibration of the gym scales so I’m not sure what to expect at WW today?
The one thing I MUST do today is read up on all my other journal friends. Every week I promise to catch up and every week I just run out of time. I rely on the support this journal gives me so it feels hypocritical not to return the support to others. Since I am not training I am going to devote at least 1hr today to catching up … so look out for me at your place soon *wink*
Some thoughts for today from the last 3 days:
-“We’ll never learn to live right until we learn to think right”
-“It’s not how you begin, it’s how you finish the race that matters”
-“A women is not finished when she’s defeated, she’s finished when she quits”
Ps…. Just back from WW…. lost 0.1kg. Enough Said!
Cheers P
Monday, 7th November 2005...
Sorry girls :)
I’m still here … it’s just been one hell of a weekend.
Let’s start with Friday. I did my 1hr morning walk and then 1hr of aqua-aerobics. We went out to the pub that night but I stuck to my new usual of a stir-fry for tea and about 6-8 vodka’s and diet coke. No other snacks or munchies so I feel like it was a good night over all.
There was one great thing about that night…I bought a new skirt for the occasion. In SIZE FOURTEEN!!! Yippee! It was a short black skirt with fine white pinstripes. I took in an 18 and a 16 to the change room but the 16 just didn’t fit right. In the end the 14 is fairly snug but as I know the rate I am shrinking it will be perfect in no time – Joy! Many of you can relate to buying something just cause it fits – and that’s what I did. Only for a change it wasn’t because it was the only thing that fit … it had a size 14 tag … it fit and I HAD TO HAVE IT! *wink* :)
Saturday morning I missed the usual gym circuit as I just felt like absolute crap. I guess it was a hangover but I’m surprised it was so bad because I’d only had a half a dozen drinks and was even in bed by midnight for a change? But then it may have more to do with being sick.
I’ve had an annoying cough for about a week but in the last 24hrs it’s got ridiculous. I just can’t stop coughing and there is heaps of phlegm and other great joys (sorry!) I’ve got to get to the Dr today to see if I can shake this thing before it gets any worse. I’ve had to cancel my arvo session today and the Enforcer and I will just meet her to weigh-in instead. Dammit!!! Why did I have to get sick now with only a few weeks to go on this challenge??
I did get out for a 1hr bike ride yesterday afternoon with Simon and Caleb though so that made up for missing Saturday’s gym session. We rode hard and I made it up that killer hill again so that was cool.
We had some very sad news yesterday afternoon. Our best friend Scotty rang to say his Dad had just passed away :( Not entirely unexpected but devastating all the same.
So that’s a super quick round up of the weekend. Sorry to be so brief. I’ll catch up with all the challenge stats and emails when I can.
Cheers P
Thursday, 3rd November 2005...
My apologies for the lack of update yesterday… these days time just seems to get away from me.
Ok to catch up on the workout news let’s start with Tuesday. I met the Enforcer down the beach - in the rain – not that I minded as it kept it nice and cool. We had a warm-up walk first before heading into a mini circuit on the jetty. I started with running up the staircase, then jogging out to the end of the jetty and back, then jogging down the boardwalk and stopping at one chair for 10 dips and the next chair for 10 push-ups. Then it was more jogging down to the beach before walking along the beach back to the staircase to start it all again. We did 3 laps of this before moving down into the water. As I suspected it was finally time to do some water walking. That just meant going out to knee-deep water then walking along at this depth parallel to the beach. We walked for a few hundreds metres then back. That might not seem far but believe me it is when you are working against the resistance of the water. Then 3 sets of 25 crunches when I got home rounded out the day.
Yesterday I was back into my 5am walk routine after having to do it later in the day the two days prior to this. It was great to get it out of the way again early. Then that afternoon Simon, Caleb, Scott and I headed out on the bikes for a 1hr ride. We were gone 90mins all up but allowing for about 3 x 5mins stops for Caleb to look at things, or the boys to get drinks along the way, I’d say it was more like 60mins of hard riding. Having the others with me meant lots of racing and speeding along the Esplanade bike path trying to overtake each other so I worked really hard. Then the best bit was the ride home. As always I had to go up the killer hill near home … the same hill that I always either walk up or get picked up down the Esplanade so as to avoid. I was ECSTATIC today to ride up the whole way for the first time ever and I did it with ease!!! The last time I attempted it was probably the first or second week or the challenge so I was really happy with the obvious improvement in my fitness. Simon and I had exchanged bikes before coming up the hill so he had the bike with Caleb’s 16kg weight on it for a change – but it was so much easier I still think I would have made it on my own bike. Yippee!! It felt great :)
We fell into the pool when we got home then by that time it was after 6pm and I’d prepared nothing for tea so I had to make an unexpected take-away decision. While Simon enjoyed burgers and greasy spring rolls I opted for a Chinese stir-fry (Cantonese Beef) and a ww ice cream for dessert. It was filling, yummy and best of all fit great into my points.
Today I again walked for an hour early this morning and this afternoon I’m heading to the gym for a solo session. The Enforcer has told me what to work on as our schedules and childcare issues prevented us getting together again today. I’ll be seeing her at Aqua-aerobics again in the morning but I’m not sure if I’ll be asked to stay back after the class for more work or not? She did say she wants to have a more ‘intense’ week next week … but I feel like every week is intense so I’d like to have a chat with her about that?? I feel like I’m still giving my all to this challenge but I get the impression she may not, so I want to clear that up when we chat. I am so lucky that she devotes so much of her time to me that I don’t want her to think I’m giving her anything less than 110% in return. It’s just some weeks things get in the road of us meeting. I am still doing my 2hrs of exercise a day even when we don’t meet, eating carefully and doing everything I can to make sure I don’t disappoint her or anyone else while on this challenge??
Speaking of challenge I am still being frustrated by the lack of stats some people are giving me. After this I’m going to remove the last of the stragglers from the challenge and go ahead with awarding some Biggest Loser’s of the week. Leighanne romped it in for week 5 with an astounding 2.5kg loss and my best buddy Fette did me proud in week 6 with a 2.0kg loss. Well done girls!!!!! And Fette is the first challenger to get two stars - You Go Girl!!
Lastly I wanted to include here a section of an email I received this week from the lovely Barbara. She included this amazing positive visualisation for me and has agreed to let me share it with you all. It left me feeling so serene and ‘can-do’ that I hope you may think of writing your own the next time things seem too hard:
"I have this picture of how you are going to feel when you pass the 95kg point. i.e. you move into low 90's. You are feeling such an increase in fitness and strength at that time. And as you walk down the street, you will know you have lost about 25kg. This will give you a sense of great achievement. You have gorgeous eyes, skin, hair, and your newly shapely body will mean the goddess emerges. You will know your blood sugar, arteries, liver, and general health are so improved over this last year or so. You will be walking along and know that you are feeling fantastic and on your way to the 80's. You will be enjoying your yummy healthy food, and loving the way all the water you drink is making your skin so beautiful.
Wow, you will be feeling that feeling so soon. On your way to the 80's. You will feel it as you get just a bit further along, and after you lose a bit of the tiredness of the hard workouts you have been doing, and get a bit of rest. Then you will feel the health, vitality, lightness, and energy that goes with being fit. Hope you get some rest, and recharge. Do not forget, some days are higher energy than others, some days the body is cleansing or we have other things to get done, but we can still move towards our goals a step at a time. Some days it’s a big step, others a little step.
So I am getting the feeling that after the emotions come out, you will pace along at a steady groove this next month. With no sense to have to push it too much, more with a sense of faith that what you do works, that you only need to persevere in a moderate way. If too many aches start, you learn to ease a bit, and if it’s going a bit cruisey, you push it a bit again. I think over this next bit you will get a good sense of your groove.
So hope you can hang in there thru the next bit of the journey, cause you are close to the low 90's, things will seem so much easier then. Exercise will be more fun, and a great feeling of success will also empower you.
How Zen is this woman huh? Thanks Barbara!!!
Yesterdays TFTD: “Things turn out for the best for people who make the best of the way things turn out.
Today’s TFTD: “Never let yesterday take up too much of today”
Cheers P
Addit:
Ok…. this is my second entry for Tuesday. I just had to get it out in type before the adrenalin stops coursing through my body.
My WW friend gave me a bag about 6-9months ago, of clothes she grown out of as she approached her own goal weight.
None of them fit me at the time.
I’ve tried them on perhaps once every 2 months since then … none of them fit.
Today it’s probably been about 2 months since I last gave them a test run.
Today I tried them all on.
Today they ALL fit!!!
Each and every single last one of them!
***SCREAM***
:)
They were all denim jeans and long pants and one denim skirt. Some were size 18, some were size 16…and they all fit! Two pairs of denim jeans in size 16 and a denim skirt in size 16 actually fit me right now!!!!!
**SCREAM**
Now I know I had the size 16 board shorts revelation last week. But I guess I know now that I didn’t believe it. I rationalised it away saying oh well it’s board shorts and they are generally fairly loose fittings blah, blah, blah. To hell with that!!
I really am a size 16-18 now. The 20+ sizes are behind me FOREVER!!
:)
See what I mean about adrenalin!
This is how eating good and working out hard can make you feel.
This is what success feels like.
I want to feel like this every day of my life :)
Cheers P
Tuesday, 1st November 2005...
I’ve made it past half way!!!
I tell you what, if you had told me 12months ago that this time I really would stick to program and make my half way goal 1 year later I’d probably have said “Yeah Right!”
But here I am … actually PAST halfway now and it feels great!! *Beams*
Both the challenge weigh-in and this mornings WW weigh-in showed 96.9kg on the scales…. 96’s!!! Woo-Hoo. Now I finally believe that 100kg aint never coming back!
95.3kg is my next goal now as when I reach that I have lost 20% of my starting body weight. Hopefully next week!
I have just a few minutes spare before racing out the door to meet the Enforcer for today’s session. It’s on the beach and something tells me it’s going to be in the water so I get the feeling it’s going to be hard. But then so was yesterdays session and I survived that so I’ll survive this one too :)
Yesterday at the gym we started with about 25mins on the treadmill. The incline was added intermittently and the speed varied from a walk up to jogging at 10.5km/hr! After that it was into a killer circuit. I did 2mins continuous step-ups… then 2 mins of sit-ups where each time I sat up I threw the medicine ball to the Enforcer, she throws it back and I catch it as I’m going back down into the sit up again – if that makes sense? … Then 2 mins of continuous skipping …. And finally 2 mins of walking lunges back and forth across the room. When that was all done it was another round at 1min each stop. The final punishment was working my arms with 5kg disc weights. I did one’s where my arms started above my head and bent down behind my head each time from the elbow (2mins + 30 secs continuous) and one’s where my arms started above my head and came straight down to in front of my neck then back up again (2mins + 30 secs). Finally 5 mins on the cycle and some great partner stretching finished out the hour…. Phew!! My arms were really sore last night but surprisingly everything feels fairly ok today. I guess I’m really getting used to all this work as I go along.
My measurements were another great thrill yesterday. Since the challenge begun 8 wks ago I have lost the following:
Chest: -5cm
Waist: -10.9cm
Hips: -8.9cm
1Thigh: -5.2cm
1 Upper Arm: -0.6cm (only began measuring this last fortnight)
So all up: 30.6cm gone in 8 weeks!!!
Wow!!
I’m getting lots of comments now from people I run into - mostly "you can really see it in your face now!" …from people at the gym, at WW, friends and family and it feels great!! My WW leader told me this morning I’d be slimmer of the year next year … hehehe now that’s a nice thought :)
Anyway I’d best go dress and sunscreen for the next session. I only managed a 30min walk this morning due to timing issues but I hope to finish the other 30mins this arvo when it’s cool? Will have to see how I go. Simon’s out of town job will finish tomorrow then I can get back into the 5am walk routine. Gee this exercise jig gets addictive *Beams*
For all you punters out there today … Good luck for the Melbourne Cup!!
Cheers P
Monday, 31st October 2005...
Ok well I know I’m in need of a catch up so here goes….
Friday night went to the pub again, but this time with Simon and Scotty. Had only 4 or 5 vodka’s and diet coke so I stayed within points again. I had to make an impromptu decision on what to have for tea from the pub menu and settled on stir-fry chicken and hokien noodles with sweet chilli sauce. It was a huge serve though so I only ate half and sent the rest back. I also resisted the pizza and chips the boys were stuffing their faces on. So all things considered a successful evening. We were in bed by about 3 or 4am then I was up at 8am and off to the gym for circuit at 10am.
There were only 3 of us there for circuit so it was rather short and sweet – just what I needed. We did 3 laps of boxing, ab-roller crunches, seated row, pull downs, pushdowns, chest press, leg curls and leg extensions, step-ups and push-ups. I did not too bad in the push-ups actually, 12 the first time, 16 the second time then superman’s for the last one (balancing in a full push up type position for as long as you can – a killer!).
Saturday night we had Scotty and my mother in law around for tea and drinks. We all had a lovely fresh BBQ tea and I had one can of red bear vodka but that was it. Everyone joined me in a healthy dessert – Pavlova nests, diet choc mousse and fresh fruit…Mmmm! Finally an early night and we were in bed by about 10pm.
Sunday I was up at 8am and straight into the pool. Then Simon and I took Caleb to the park for a play, bike ride and picnic lunch. We actually bought our lunch on the way and I had a Red Rooster chicken salad – Yummo! We spent more of the afternoon in the pool and did not much else.
Today Simon begins a 3-4 day job out of town, which means he leaves about 5.30am and doesn’t get home until about 5.30pm…Ugh! That meant no early walk this morning so instead I got some housework done while Caleb ate breaky then we headed out for an hours walk at 6.30am. Home for more housework then it’s off to the library for us later today.
I had to organise my mother-in-law to baby sit this afternoon while I meet Enforcer at the gym for weigh and measure at 4pm. Tomorrow will be easier to train while he is in day-care then Wednesday will be difficult again but perhaps I can get to the 6pm aqua session that day instead? Will have to work it out. I hope the job is finished by then, as it really is hard to fit training in without Simon available to watch Caleb.
Then I get a phone call from my work this morning to say they are desperate for staff (mental health RN) and can I come back - even part time!!! I don’t think that’s an option while this challenge is going on but it’s something I’ll talk to Simon about and maybe do in the New Year???
I have enough on my plate for now.
Ok…. that’s a quick catch up for now. I’ve got heaps of challenge stats to input and emails to answer so bear with me for a bit longer. I’ve had most of the weekend away from the computer and now it’s all waiting for me to catch up on :)
I have been forgetting to add my thoughts for the day but I thought I’d share the best of the ones that have gone by last week:
“Take care of your body, it’s the only place you have to live”
“Unless you start doing something different you are in for more of the same”
“If you don’t do the work you don’t get the benefits”
And today’s is….”Enthusiasm is contagious – start an epidemic”!!!
Cheers P
Friday, 28th October 2005...
Sorry for the no entry yesterday. The day was pretty much a total write off for me with HUGE family dramas that I can’t go into here. Short version is ‘shit happens’…had to cancel bike session with Enforcer…. horrible, emotional day…. find time in arvo so hit the gym solo to pound out my frustrations…. then me and my friend Scotty hit the pub last night to talk and drink (as you do) and so I end the night half cut to boot and staggering to bed about 11pm trying not to wake Simon!
Hehehe But the good news is I stayed within points… Despite only sleeping about 3hrs overnight I dragged my sorry and seedy ass up out of bed at 5am for my 1hr walk ….I still got 1hr walk and 40mins gym done yesterday despite the day from hell …. Got shit sorted … and in much better frame of mind today. See that’s the short version *wink*
At the gym I did 25mins treadmill on fat burning program with alternating incline, walking and jogging ... then 10 mins on the cross-trainer and 10 mins on the cycle. At 40mins it was well short of the usual hour but that was honestly all I could physically or mentally manage that day.
Today after the morning walk it was straight to aqua-aerobics after dropping Caleb at day-care. We did a pretty intense session today that felt great to really blow the hang over cobwebs away.
After a quick change I was off to the shop to do some clothes shopping. I really needed new board shorts and bikini bottoms as I spend half the aqua lesson pulling them back up. Despite the fact I only purchased the board shorts new for the 'before' photo 7wks ago, they are now seriously too big. So keeping in mind the chat I had with the Enforcer about clothing sizes I dubiously grabbed an identical pair in a size 16. They fit!!! Perfectly!!! SCREAM!!!!!!!!! Now to clarify…. the exact same shorts…first pair 7 wks ago a size 20, today a size 16!!!! I’m ecstatic about that!!
I also found the most adorable shirt that I want to wear for my 'after' photo in a few weeks time. It’s a size 16 so a bit of a stretch but I love it so much I had to lay-by it. It fits now but it is a close fit that shows a bit too much tummy fat for now but I’m hoping 5 more weeks of workouts might improve it’s fit yet.
Oh and before I forget again…I don’t think I mentioned it at the time but dear hubby got me a gift from the jewellers the other day. To celebrate getting under 100kg he bought me a gorgeous pair of 9ct gold earrings. Good boy!!! *wink*
Not much planned for weekend…. Scott for tea tomorrow night…. other friends and their kids for BBQ lunch and swims here Sunday and maybe lunch with my Dad and his wife tomorrow. Ok maybe that is a bit planned after all … hehehe
I have many emails to answer and challenge stats to input now before I can get on with catching up on some other journals. But I must say – I have scanned each email as it came in and everyone is on fire this week!! It’s one big loss after the other so you go girls!! Almost 150kg!!! Wow!
Cheers P
Wednesday, 26th October 2005...
Feeling a bit flat today.
No real reason…just tired I guess from some early mornings and late nights.
It’s only 7.45pm but I’m heading to bed after writing this to catch up on some sleep and that should help
Got up at 5.15am today for my one hour walk then followed it up with aqua-aerobics tonight at 6-7pm. I’m felt pretty sore in my abs today but surprisingly (considering yesterday) my legs are feeling ok.
Finished on about 15pts today. Didn’t meant to be so low but I’ve been flat out all day trying to do 3 months worth of bookwork for our BAS appointment with the accountant this afternoon – I don’t know why I always leave it to the last minute? Between that, playgroup, aqua and daily chores I’ve barely stopped all day until now.
I’ll make a concerted effort to eat more tomorrow.
I’m doing another walk at 5am then after I take Caleb to Kinder gym, the Enforcer is meeting me here for a bike riding session. I’m dreading it! I find bike riding hard enough just by myself and Caleb on the back so I am freaking out about what it may be like tomorrow when lead by Superwomen herself *wink*
If I can drag my sorry ass to the computer after it I’ll let you know how I get on … hehehehe
I wanted to make special mention tonight of a great new site in the world of blogs. My online buddy Wendy has just started her own site and spent weeks preparing it before hand so it was all complete and ready to go from the day it went live. It’s bright, funky and oh so motivating so check it out for yourself here.
One more thing … I know a lot of people wished they’d seen the challenge in WHO magazine that I initially wrote in to so take note! The TV show ‘The Biggest Loser’ is coming to Australia with the same trainers and all. Applications can be made at www.thebiggestloser.com.au so if you want a challenge to change your lives don’t hold back! I’d love to do it myself but I’m hoping that by the time it got started I’d be almost done. Still I’m going to have a sticky at the site all the same.
Ok…sleep calls.
P.S…. today it is one year ago since I began this journey. 21.2kg in a year…. I’m happy with that! :)
Cheers P
Tuesday, 25th October 2005...
Grab a drink for this one folks as it’s bound to be a long one :)
First let me recap on Monday. It was a super low points day yesterday, as Monday tends to be on challenge weigh-in day and before ww weigh-in day. Weighed in at the gym at 98.0kg so a loss of 1kg for the week which I was most happy with, and also another percent in body fat gone.
Then it was straight into the workout. I did a 5 min treadmill walk for warm up then a timed and monitored treadmill fun for 25mins continuous. The enforcer monitored my heart rate etc along the way and says we will repeat it in a few weeks to monitor the improvement in my fitness so I look forward to hearing the outcome of that. Then it was 3 x 10 push-ups and 3 x 10 of those extra slow medicine ball crunches.
Then the bombshell arrives. From now on I’ll be changing to 2hrs a day working out! 2 hrs!!! Kill me. Kill me now *wink*. No … I’m only kidding about the kill me part. The added hour is to help me hit my 80’s goal and it was me who set that after all so I asked for it. I’m to do a 1hr brisk walk each day on top of my existing training and I’ve chosen to do it at about 5am each day. It’s the only time that I can guarantee to fit it in each and every day and to be honest it’s kind of nice to get some time to think to myself while the rest of the house sleeps. Then I’m home in time for when Caleb wakes and Simon goes to work so it works out great all round. Man I love the new me! I love being able to say that I work out 2hrs a day – wow do I really do that??? It feels great to be so proactive in working towards my goals :)
This morning it almost didn’t happen though. I woke in the early hours of the morning to pouring rain and while hubby offered to turn off the alarm I told him to keep it on. Sure enough when 5am rolled around it was thundering, and lightening … but no rain, so out I went. My house sits in the middle of a figure 8 of two 30min walking circuits I do so I figured I’d do one loop then reassess. It was still threatening weather after that but until then no rain so I kept at it and finished the full 1hr circuit in 50mins. Of course it was bucketing down within a few minutes of my return but I’d made it dry, and more importantly I didn’t use the bad weather as an excuse so that felt extra great.
WW this morning also registered 98.0kg on the scales so a loss of 1.3kg for the week … and … MY 20KG REWARD!!! Yippee!! In fact I’ve now lost 21.2kg in total so next week I should have no trouble passing the magic half way mark. Wow!
While up the front accepting my 20kg bookmark I had to give everyone in the class an update on the challenge and what we were doing. I answered lots of questions and got to give the Enforcer a good rap which is the least I can do given all she has given me throughout the last 7 wks.
I got my 20kg charm from Ebay the other day … a gold set of scales … but they are a slightly different shade of gold to the rest so I think I’ll keep looking for now for another set.
Breaking past that 20kg barrier has been a real mind hurdle jumped for me. There is something about having lost 20+kg that sounds so much better than 10-something??? I know that doesn’t make much sense but I just feel that now I’ve come this far it’s less daunting to believe that I can go all the way. I can and I WILL!
So after WW it was home for another quick change of clothes then off for training session number 2 for the day … and boy was it hard! We met at a park and warmed up with walking. Then we came to this big hill on the road and I had to jog up, and walk down it, 5 times!! I used to joke that everything in training came in three’s but now I see they come in 5’s too…hehehe.
Then it was running and weaving through road barriers and sprints back to the start then straight into 3 x 10 dips … followed by step ups for 1 min … then more walking to get my breath back. As soon as I was recovered it was back to the giant stair case I’d tackled a few weeks back. This time it was up and down 5 times (Ugh!) We then headed down the beach for walking, sideways walking in the sand and 3 x 10 push-ups. The final torture was running up and down a big sand hill 5 times before walking back to the car park for stretches. Oh My God! What a session. By far the hardest I’ve done in a while so it felt great to get through it all.
Tomorrow it’s another walk at 5am then aqua-aerobics at 6pm. The extra hour of walking will be 5 days a week so adding that to the existing 6hrs a week I’ll be working out for 11hrs a week all up. Holy mackerel!!!
So that brings everything up to date and another week begins. I’m quietly confident I can crack the 80’s by the end of this challenge. That means I have to lose 8kg in the next 5 weeks but I reckon at this rate of training I can do that…or come damn close anyway :) And let’s face it… I’ve got nothing to lose for trying.
Cheers P
Sunday, 23rd October 2005...
Had an awesome night out last night … in more ways then one. Myself, Simon and our birthday buddy Scotty had a great time, going between several pubs and clubs before coming home and falling into bed about 3.30am … what joy it then was to hear the Caleb clock wake us all only 2 short hours later at five thirty … Ugh!!
The best thing about last night was how well I stuck to program. It was a real mental victory to not cave in to sugary drinks or stodgy pub grub. I stuck to my vodka and diet coke all night. I lost count of how many I had in the end but I’d say I had more than 7, less than 12, I think! Hehehe. Certainly way under the 13pts I had saved anyway.
I resisted the two heavenly smelling garlic breads delivered to the table at one pub … I resisted the sausage rolls and meat pies at a servo stop mid clubs … I resisted yet another servo run at the end of the night (sticking to a diet energy drink instead) and I resisted all food when I got home. Yey!!!
I woke up this morning feeling very tired, hung over and with an ashtray mouth – but not guilty about some food or drink I had eaten the night before. It felt great!! :) I even got on the scales and was thrilled to see a nice loss so far this week.
And before the lectures fly in… yes I’m back to weighing every day at home! But in all honesty it’s better for me. The week I didn’t weigh – all I could think about all day and night was weighing myself…it became such a focus that it was very distracting and hard to resist. Now that I’m back to the usual morning weigh, I do it first thing before I get dressed then don’t think about it for the rest of the day! Much better.
And on days like today it’s a great immediate reinforcement for my hard work last night. So lecture me if you must – but I’m sticking to what works for me :)
Ok…. Well the boy is tucked in for his nap so it’s a nana-nap time for me after I have some lunch. I’m having a ww frozen lasagne and I’m making myself a stir-fry for tea while the boys have BBQ steak, eggs and chips – then everyone’s happy.
God I hope I have a good result on the scales tomorrow afternoon. It would be great to get a good jump-start on that 9.1kg. 80’s here I come!!
Cheers P
Saturday, 22nd October 2005...
Well after days of endless rain this fine Saturday morning has dawned bright and sunny so today’s our chance to finally get the yard mowed while we can … exercise bonus!
I was doing a bit of a tidy up around the site this morning and found, to my surprise, that I have actually hit two more goals without even realizing it!!
The first was to be able to remove my rings off my fingers. My wedding rings, and previously all other rings, have always been fixed firmly on my fingers. I can remember, years ago…. when I was probably about the weight I am now, some work colleagues got bored on night shift and spent hours plunging my hands into ice water and coating them with lubricant to get my other rings off. That just left my wedding rings … which of course increase in size from engagement, to wedding band, to eternity band as I got bigger each year. The fact that the smallest engagement band was in the middle stopped me getting the wedding band off all this time. But no more!! I’ve been able to get them off sporadically for the past few weeks but now they come off every time!! Yippee!! This will be especially good at the gym because wearing them while punching the boxing bag really hurts sometimes when they spin around (a new found joy!) and dig into the finger next to it.
The second goal was to buy clothes from a regular sized section in a store that I usually buy in the plus section from…eg Target. The two new pairs of gym shorts I bought last week (size 18 and size 16) were from the regular sized section! Don’t know why I didn’t click onto that earlier. And of course the two short denim skirts I own in a size 18 are also from the same section. The same skirts that now can slide down over my hips without even undoing them!!!! :)
As a few people have queried the varying weeks people are on in the challenge page I thought I’d copy here an explanation I wrote someone last night. What happened was I announced the start date (my start date) as Sept 5th and I announced it a week or two before it began...so as people joined in they started giving me their start weights at different days...all I could do was to record it when they gave it and they then carry on their 12wk challenge from their start date which is somewhere near my own. They will still finish after only 12 wks but that may be 5 days or whatever before someone else?? Does that make sense? That's why I am into my 7th week of the challenge and some people, who may weigh on a Friday say, would have given me their week 7 results yesterday but as I don't weigh until next Monday mine seem to come a week later.... but it all balances out in the end. Within a few days of me finishing everyone else should be also?? So as a general rule of thumb you should be the same week as me or one ahead…. if you are behind that I need your stats!
I’m up early with Caleb today … cunning plan on my part so that Simon takes his turn tomorrow morning when I’m tired and probably hung over *wink* We’ve got swimming lessons first then I’m off to the gym for the 1hr circuit. I’m looking forward to putting in a hard effort today.
I had another great day of eating yesterday … over the last 3 days I’ve been 13 points UNDER my allowed allocation. I know I can only officially save 4 pts per day but I reckon if I don’t need to eat them then I should allow my body to regulate it’s own hunger and stop when it’s full. I couldn’t go under so far every day and still maintain healthy losses but I think occasionally it’s ok. I stopped eating at about 7pm last night after having a milky way after dinner and that was it! That was a great Friday for me, as you know weekend nights are always my hardest.
We are, as I said, hitting the pubs tonight but I’m confident I won’t do anything to jeopardize my progress this week. If I want to hit that 89.9 goal in six weeks I’ve got to give it 110%. Nothing else will do :)
Cheers P
Friday, 21st October 2005...
Feeling back to normal today :)
Caleb didn’t get it so far and we are hoping now that he won’t. I was finally able to eat something of substance last night so I went for a nice healthy and convenient Subway for tea…so yummy! Needless to say my points were really low by the end of the day (16.5 from memory) so I guess that may be a bonus on the scales next week *wink*
I certainly wasn’t up for my training session with the Enforcer yesterday, and then rain washed out Aqua-aerobics this morning so we hit the gym for an hour’s cardio this morning instead.
I was a little weak overall so it wasn’t too strenuous (although it still felt like it). I did a 20min fat burning programme on the treadmill, 5 mins rowing, 20mins on the recumbent cycle with fluctuating levels of resistance, then about 8 mins on the cross-trainer before finishing off with 100 crunches on the ab-roller…. Phew!! I felt like a bus had hit me by the time I was done but it felt great to know I’d done a good session after already having 2 days off this week.
I’m doing the 1hr gym circuit tomorrow morning and I had planned to workout Sunday to make up for yesterday but the Enforcer insists I need the day of rest more so that my body can recuperate. So I guess that will mean only a 4-day workout week this week but not to worry … I’m just thankful it was such a brief bug and didn’t interfere with training any longer than it did.
I have nothing planned for the rest of today. Caleb is at day-care and men are here at present installing air-con into his room. We have air-con in our bedroom already and a main unit in the living area of the house but it doesn’t reach the bedrooms so well. Also as Caleb’s door is shut when he sleeps this now means we can just run both bedroom units overnight and leave the big one shut down…. much cheaper!! And he’ll love having his day naps in a nice cool, dark room now *bliss*
I’ve set myself a high goal for the remaining half of this challenge. I’d love to be in the 80’s when my weight is published in WHO magazine. That means a loss of 9.1kg over the next 6 weeks!! I lost 8.4kg in the first 6 weeks so I guess it’s not totally out of the ballpark but it’s going to be a stretch. Still I’ll aim high but be happy with whatever I can achieve :)
We are planning a big night out tomorrow night, as it is our best friend Scotty’s birthday celebration. The 3 of us used to always drink jugs of beer in days gone by but now I’m choosing between the lower point options of vodka and diet coke or wine with maybe mineral water mixer??? Will have to see what takes my fancy on the night. I think I’ll be having a ww tea before we go out then just get a salad at the pub, as most of the pub grub on offer is pretty fatty. I also thought they might do a fruit salad in the dessert menu which could be another option?? Will just have to play it by ear.
I hope you all have a lovely weekend planned. Enjoy!
Cheers P
Thursday, 20th October 2005...
I’m sick today :(
Vomiting and diarrhoea…Ugh!
Simon had it overnight and mine started first thing this morning.
Now we are both really hoping that Caleb doesn’t get it!!
Simon had to take the day off work to look after Caleb, as this is my first time today away from the bedroom or bathroom.
It’s 3pm and I’m just starting to come good … I think. I’ve managed to keep down two glasses of V8 Fruit and Vege juice and a half an apple so far today. It’s one way to lose weight huh? lol
So no training today…. and not much else of anything else.
I’ll be back to update all the challenge stats and do a bigger entry after aqua-aerobics late tomorrow morning.
Until then….
Cheers P
Wednesday, 19th October 2005...
A big CONGRATULATIONS to Nichole for losing 2.1kg and being the *Weeks Biggest Loser* for week 4!!!! I apologise for the late reward of it but I didn’t notice that the last of the results had trickled in.
Unfortunately I have to keep withdrawing people from the challenge when they don’t let me know their stats. As I’m sure you can appreciate, it takes a bit of work to keep up with this challenge, both online and in real life, and I just don’t have to time to chase people up every week. I’ve got to keep the results up to date so that people, like Nichole, don’t have to wait until two weeks after the fact to be awarded their Biggest Loser Star…. Such good work should be rewarded sooner :)
So if you are a challenger please, please, please get your results to me each week as soon as you can…Thanks!
Ok whinge over… sorry girls. Hehehehe
Let’s look on the other side of this equation. As a group of 53 beginning challengers we have lost a combined 127.2kg!!!! Ok everyone give themselves a big pat on the back *grins* That’s AMAZING!
I’ve had a great day of eating today. I didn’t overdo it on the pizza last night but I did enjoy a slice of chocolate torte so I wanted to be sure to have a great start to the new week today. I’ve finished on 22 points and did a killer session with the Enforcer.
It wasn’t bad in any way but really hard work. As you know I felt earlier like it wasn’t hurting so much anymore…. I take that back *wink*
But I love that post-exercise-ache now…I love how it reminds me at unexpected times during the day what I’m doing each day to improve myself! God help me if I don’t become addicted to this exercise jig *rolls on floor laughing – while holding aching abs!* hehehe
My abs have been killing me since Monday when I did those ever so slow while going down crunches, holding the medicine ball to my chest. That one sure did some good!!
Today we met at the Esplanade and travelled the beach down and the pedestrian/bike Esplanade path back. We did lots and lots and lots and lots of jogging. Did I mention the jogging? Hehehe I love how I am improving at it though … I’ve never called myself a jogger but I’d like to in future :)
In between the jogging ... We did 3 x 10 dips, 3 x 10 push-ups, 1 min step ups, lunges walking and sideways running in the sand … oh and more jogging *wink*
I’m pretty sore all over as I sit here … just now remembering my posture and jolting up ramrod straight (Homework *Tick*).
I’m in a bit of a cheeky mood so best end it here before I get myself punished…. hehehe
Hope everyone had a great day.
Before I go I just wanted to say a special shout out to my online buddy Karen k who also cracked the big 100’s into the 90’s today…. Well done!!!
Cheers P
Tuesday, 18th October 2005...
The results are in.
Not quite the kilo I was hoping for but the cm’s more than made up for that.
I weighed in at 99.0kg at the gym scales (Wow now I really believe the 90’s might just be here to stay!!!! - *scream*). That’s a loss of 0.8kg for the week and now 8.4kg lost in 6 weeks of challenge :)
WW scales this morning were, as usual, higher than the gym scales and I weighed-in at 99.3kg which was a loss of 0.5kg. TOM is here at the moment so I’m not surprised there is some fluctuation between the two weigh-ins. So that brings my WW total to 19.9kg – Aaaargh!! Only 100 grams off getting my 20kg loss reward bookmark. The good thing is that it should be a sure bet next week now!!! Wow! My mind and self-image are just starting to integrate a drop of 20kg into my system of self-beliefs and it still totally spins me out!!! Hehehe
As I said the tape measure showed great results yesterday. Remember that when I was being measured once a month at Curves gym, I was averaging losses of 2-5cms most months over 7 body locations. Now compare this to the last TWO WEEKS when I lost 9 cms in only 4 locations! In 14 days I lost 1cm off my bust, 3.4cm off my waist (!!), 2.8cm off my hips and 1.8cm off each thigh!! Holy crap. I was actually more interested in the tape measure results this week than the scale and now I’m hooked for more!!
After our measurements we went straight into our workout at the gym yesterday. 5 mins of rowing, 20mins of cross-trainer, lunges onto a step (3x10 each side), step ups while touching hand weights about my head for 1min, step-ups for 1min then onto sit ups while holding a medicine ball against my chest and going down each time so slow you barely move – I did 3 x 10 of these and man alive are they hard work! I had another little dizzy spell during the step-ups but soon recovered enough to continue.
I have asked for the day off today’s training as I’ve got killer cramps :( I didn’t stay for my WW meeting either, as I just wanted to come home and go back to bed. Luckily for me I often don’t get any discomfort so when I do I’m glad it’s usually gone after day 2 so I should be back on track tomorrow. Tonight is our once a week take-away and I plan on having pizza for the first time in probably 2-3months…Yummy! I’m not a huge pizza fan but Simon loves it so he’ll think all his Christmas’s have come at once when we all have it for tea tonight (except Caleb of course…. damn cheese! I might even get organised and make him a homemade one without dairy later this afternoon so he can enjoy it too).
Otherwise I’m taking it easy and enjoying the day to myself. I’ve got a stack of WW reading and Slimming mag too so I’m going to jump into bed and read on this rainy day *bliss*
I was given homework this week from the Enforcer. Posture!! I’ve got to make an effort to think about it during the course of the day and work really hard on standing tall and to stop trying to slouch into the background. She wants me to grow in confidence while I shrink in size and what better confidence booster then the illusion of being even skinnier by standing up tall *wink* Oh and she is also going to focus on my bingo wings/tuckshop arms (whatever you like to call them) over the next few weeks…Yippee – skinny arms here I come!! :)
I had to spend $40 at WW today with my winning voucher so to make up the money I got one of their Daily Inspirations Calendars to add to each day’s journal entry.
TFT: “The thing to try when all else fails is AGAIN”
Cheers P
Monday, 17th October 2005...
Weigh in day rolls around once more!
I don’t feel like I’ve had a big result this week despite avoiding alcohol, take-away and junk all week and doing heaps of exercise. I know I’ve got the old TOM bloat going on but as it arrived today (at last!) I know what I don’t loose this week will show up next week on the scales. I’ll be happy with any loss today but I’d love at least 1kg so we’ll just have to wait and see how it goes this afternoon??? I have measurements done each fortnight which will be today also so I’m looking forward to that.
Tracker for Sunday:
B: 1 green apple, ½ hash brown (2 pts)
MT: Fun sized Milky Way (1pt)
L: Red Rooster chicken salad, WW Caesar dressing (5.5 pts)
AT: 1 slice no fat cheese, Fun sized Milky Way (1.5 pt)
T: BBQ chicken fillet and skewer, lettuce, cucumber, tomato, corn, WW honey mustard dressing, sweet potato oven chips, hard-boiled egg (8.5pts)
D: ww ice cream, (1.5pts)
Drinks: Water 600ml, 1 can diet coke.
Total: 20 Pts
As you can see I’ve still been having one or two mini milky way chocolates a day … as I have all week. Now that TOM has arrived though I won’t have the chocolate craving I have for one week every month so they will be back to just a few a week instead of each day *wink*
Overall I saved 1.5pts this week so I’m really happy with that. I hope the scales reward me later today??
Keep you posted on the outcome!
Cheers P
Sunday, 16th October 2005...
As the weekend draws to a close again I’m looking back on what was a fairly successful one. I’m like a chocolate craving lunatic at the moment (TOM overdue) but I’m trying to keep things in check with a few mini milky ways each day. It satisfies the choc craving without blowing too many points. I’ve also had no alcohol at all this week which is sure to help balance the scales a bit more for me.
I was looking at the stats for the Challenge page yesterday and did anyone else notice what happened in Week 4? That was the week that I only lost 0.1kg and it seems everyone else had the same small result. While most weeks average 20-30kg losses that week only totalled just over 8kg lost!! How weird is that?? Seems we really do stick together! J If that’s true then I hope for a good loss this week because I’ve sure been putting in some big results for the other challengers this week. Well done to you all!!
Ok to catch up on the trackers…
Tracker for Friday:
B: 1 toast (no butter), WW baked beans, 1 slice no-fat cheese (3 pts)
MT: 15 rice crackers (1.5pts)
L: WW frozen chicken hotpot, Soy Linseed bread roll, apple, WW ice-cream (8.5 pts)
AT: Fun sized Milky Way (1 pt)
T: Spaghetti Bolognaise (8pts)
D: ww ice-cream (1.5pts)
Snacks: 15 rice crackers (1.5pts)
Drinks: Water 750ml, 1L diet coke.
Total: 25 Pts
Tracker for Saturday:
B: 200g tin spaghetti (2 pts)
MT: Fun sized Milky Way (1pt)
L: WW frozen chicken chow mien, Soy Linseed bread roll, Diet banana yoghurt (8 pts)
AT: Apple, Fun sized Milky Way (2 pts)
T: 100g extra lean roast beef, Roast potato, pumpkin, sweet potato, carrot, onion + steamed green beans and corn cob, Gravy from powder, Dinner roll (5.5pts)
D: ww berry ice-cream, ww choc pudding, mixed frozen berries (4.5pts)
Snacks: 1 fun sized milky way (1pt)
Drinks: Water 750ml, 1L diet Lemon, 1 can diet coke.
Total: 24 Pts
As you can see both days went 1 or 2 points over this weekend but as I am only 1.5pts over for the whole week (and haven’t used any of my allowed bonus 12 pts from exercise) I’m not too worried. To think a few months back that I used to have take-aways and alcohol each weekend and use all my bonus 12 points - plus some – this is a huge improvement for me J Overall I’m very happy with how my week has been.
I’ve done 6 hours of exercise this week…5 hrs of which has been pretty solid cardio…and it feels great. Had you have told me a few months back that I’d be putting in 5-6hrs of hard-core exercise a week, every week…. I’d have laughed at you…. but look at me now! Yippee! Yesterday I went along for the Saturday morning circuit at the gym but the usual person wasn’t there to run it and it became a bit of a shambles so I hit the machines for 60mins cardio instead. I did 10mins treadmill, 15min cross-trainer, 20min cycle, 5 mins rowing and then a 10min fat burn programme on the treadmill to finish off the hour. I was drenched in sweat at the end but glad of the effort I’d put in.
I’ve just done a Macca’s run for Simon this morning while I was out shopping (I bought myself another 2 new singlets) … but I was a good girl and just had half a hash brown with my apple from breakfast and I grabbed a Red Rooster salad (no dressing) for my lunch today too. Then it’s a BBQ and salad for tea. We LOVE BBQ’s!
Weigh-in at the gym for me tomorrow afternoon then WW weigh-in either Tuesday morning or Wednesday night this week. Keep you posted on the outcome!
Cheers P
Friday, 14th October 2005...
I did a killer of a gym session yesterday!
I was talking to Simon the other night about how the exercise was going and I admitted that for the last couple of weeks I didn’t feel that I was working as hard – whether by The Enforcer’s plan or by my own decreased effort. Simon, being the wise owl he is, pointed out that perhaps it could just be that I am getting fitter and thus finding it less of a challenge. D’oh!!!! That makes perfect sense but being the negative thinker that I am I just didn’t click to it. So anyway I was sharing this revelation with the Enforcer yesterday – and by a huge coincidence I’m sure *wink*, yesterdays workout was super hard. Me and my big mouth *hehehehe*
We started off with a PB session of 30mins on the cross trainer at level 4 (the last 10mins of which was double usual speed). Then it was onto 4 x 1min bursts on the boxing bag and apparently I have a mean hook punch! I then did 3 rounds of a circuit, which included 1min step-ups, 10 push-ups, 10 dips then 1min ab crunches … boy this circuit was a killer. Then to finish off we did some side leg raises (on each side it was 20 lifts, 20 circles, 10 inner leg lifts) and cooled down with some stretching.
And I can assure you … after all this I was definitely tired and sore again like old days *wink*
Which brings me to today’s workout. Aqua-aerobics, which was heaps of fun. I really like the change of setting from sweating it out at the gym or down the beach. The Enforcer keeps it fresh and active so the time flies by. I was expecting to do more deep water running with her after the class was over but she sent me home instead! Joy!! It’s like being let out of school early…hehehe.
So after a quick change I headed out to the shops to finally reward myself for my 90’s achievement. I went to Target and grabbed two new sets of gym clothes in size 18’s and even another 16 (silently screams with joy in dressing room). Until now I’ve worn big baggy T-shirts over baggy ¾ length pants – not very flattering. So today I got two pairs of shorts that sit above the knee but not super short…and two singlets as well (Ee-Gad no sleeves!). A chat with the Enforcer yesterday convinced me to stop hiding behind baggy saggy clothes when I work out and dress with new confidence instead. In my opinion the only way to do that with confidence is to ‘fake it till you make it’ … so that’s what I intend to do :)
I have had an unexpectedly large amount of feedback on my list of positive changes (see entry immediately below). Everyone seemed to really enjoy it so I can highly recommend it to others. If you feel like the challenge is sometimes too big sit down and list just how far you’ve come. Like me, I’m sure you’ll be surprised. A big thanks to Philippa who’s own list on her journal prompted me to write my list in the first place.
I printed out another copy for my WHO diary and one for my little album of inspiration. I also added to both a cut and pasted list of all the guestbook and email compliments I received for breaking the 100kg barrier. You all made me feel so great about it I thought it might make a great resource for support next time it all feels too hard.
One reader asked me what made it different this time…why did I now believe I can do it? One word – Caleb. Of all the hundreds of diets I’ve tried over the last 13yrs this was my first attempt as a mom – and no coincidence I’m sure that this is the first one I’ve stuck too. I know everyone says you need to do it for yourself … and sure I want it too … but more so I want a healthy mum for my baby boy and one who sets the best example of what a healthy lifestyle and diet is all about. Go my boy!!!!
As I said in an earlier post I’m listing my tracker each day this week so here is yesterdays effort:
Breakfast: 1 slice grain toast (no butter) and 1 x 210g can of spaghetti (3pts)
MT: nothing (oops)
Lunch: I Red Rooster chicken salad, WW Caesar dressing, 1 apple (5.5pts)
AT: I fun sized Milky Way chocolate (1pt)
Tea: 2 chicken skewers on bbq, ½ pkt Continental Lite Pasta and Sauce, I hard-boiled egg, Salad with lettuce, tomato, shallots, capsicum, cucumber, tomato, WW Caesar dressing and I slice of fat free cheese (9.5pts)
Snack: 1 green apple, 1 diet choc mousse (2pts)
Drinks: 750mL water + 2 cans diet coke
Total: 21pts (allowed 23)
Finally…. after much promising (and much harassing on your part *wink*) I have added the new full body progress pics to my photo’s page. I have spent a good hour or more on the page today so judge for yourself the changes you can see :)
To leave you today I just wanted to include a little something I read this morning that really turned me off potato chips. I’m not a big fan of them to begin with but this I will remember next time they tempt me:
Next time you’re about to gulp down a large serving of fries, or even a small one, picture this – all the fat that those strips of potato absorbed to get so crisp and tasty congeals into one solid greasy lump which travels through your body into your blood vessels and comes to rest along your artery walls. Of course, this image is far from biologically accurate, but essentially it’s what happens when you overload on saturated fat.
Still want fries with that???? Ewww! :)
Cheers P
Cha-cha-changes!
· I have lost 19.4kg.
· Scales aside, I’ve lost over 80cm of body size.
· I have new muscles, where only flab once lived.
· I can now begin to see my waist where once only giant rolls of fat hung out.
· My aerobic fitness has improved out of sight - I now actually jog in public and no one stops to stare and point (ok they didn't before but it felt that way)
· I can now do over 20mins on the cross-trainer where initially I could only do 5mins.
· My clothes size has gone from an 22-24 to an 18.
· I now look for clothes in the regular size area of Target instead of the ‘Options Plus’ range.
· My watch is loose – instead of clinging to my arm like a second skin it now swings around my wrist
· I enjoy exercise, rather than dreading it, and I look for excuses to be active.
· Takeaways are much more scarce in my diet. We used to eat take-away at least 3-6 times a week and now I have it once a week after my weigh-in.
· When I buy take-away I now buy just regular one person sized meals…..not super size of everything.
· My skin looks great thanks to my healthy lifestyle
· I drink more water than I used to; since before I didn’t drink any, having 1-2L a day now is a huge change
· I used to drink up to 2L of Coke a day…now I’ll have up to 2 cans of diet coke.
· I can now take all my rings off my fingers for the first time in many, many years
· I am now an active member of a ‘real’ gym, working out 5-6 times a week instead of running a mile from any establishment that might be filled with ‘gym bunnies’ and ‘buff boys’.
· I now try new styles and colours in clothes. No more all black, baggy, long sleeved cover ups for me!
· I can now wear skirts without the dreaded thigh chaffe factor.
· I now won’t buy any skirt that hangs below the knee (yes I’m a tart at heart!)
· I now own a pair of knee high boots that do all the way up.
· I can, and always do, cross my legs now at the knee instead of the ankle.
· I choose to eat grain bread over white at every opportunity
· I now eat several pieces of fruit a day…instead of several pieces a year!
· I eat only low fat dairy and dressings.
· When I go to Red Rooster I order a chicken salad instead of a chicken and chips.
· When I go to Subway I always order from the 10g of fat or less menu.
· I know now that when I was a teenager, starving myself because I thought my size 11 body was horribly fat … I was wrong. Very wrong! I now “know” real fat.
· I’m no longer always the fattest person in the room.
· I am now comfortable swimming in board shoarts and tankini top instead of togs underneath with bike shorts and big baggy T-shirt over the top…Ugh!
· I now only rarely have a Nanna-nap when Caleb does during the day. I have far too much energy for sleeping now.
· I’ll try almost anything now without fear of getting any ‘accidental’ exercise as a result or embarressing or hurting myself in public.
· I can ride the swings with Caleb at the park.
· I now plan social activities and outings to include exercise rather than avoiding any exertion at all costs!
· I now park my car central and walk when I can rather than trying to park right next to the door.
· I now snack on fruit, yoghurt, lean turkey, rice crackers and fun sized choc bars instead of the old chips, chocolate, biscuits, Coke and greasy food.
· When I go out I drink wine or vodka and diet coke instead of the old binges on beer or sugary pre-mix drinks.
· I’ve learnt to order healthy options from just about any menu.
· I don’t deep fry ANYTHING at home…I oven bake, stir-fry or bbq.
· I am setting a great example to my son of how to eat healthy and stay active.
· I no longer feel the need to isolate myself from others … I’m eager to make new friends.
· I’m beginning to learn to shop for clothes I like instead of just buying whatever fits.
· I love buying new underwear and sexy flimsy nighties etc and dress like a women for my hubby instead of someone who wants to fade into the background (previously a preferrbly dark background *wink*)
· I LOVE to shop now :)
· I feel fantastic about being almost half way to goal and for the first time I believe that I really will make it this time.
Cheers P
Thursday, 13th October 2005...
Great day under my belt yesterday :)
Had planned to do a 60min bike ride with Caleb on the back of my bike yesterday afternoon but the weather looked too ominous for that (Thanks Jakkii for forwarding me the severe weather warning!). Instead I headed off to the gym for my first solo visit since beginning this challenge almost 6wks ago.
I didn’t know how much I’d missed it. Not that I don’t love having the Enforcer there to push me hard and achieve more than I would have otherwise … but yesterday was just plain good for the soul. I’d had a shocker of a day with Caleb, I’m sure he was intent on reminding me just why people complain about the ‘terrible twos’ *wink* By the time Simon got home I couldn’t wait to get away and pound out some of my frustration at the gym. Because I was alone I could take my MP3 player and lose myself in the music … oblivious to all around me.
I did 5mins rowing, 22mins on the cross-trainer (new PB – to think I was only doing 5mins on it when I started out!!), then 5 mins walking on treadmill, 15mins working really hard on the recumbent cycle, then all finished up with 13mins solid jogging on the treadmill. I was drenched with sweat by the time I finished but my mood was 1000 times better and I felt great :)
I have been asked a few times of late by readers about my daily eating and some have asked me to post my tracker each day. So that’s what I am going to do for this week. I think I could really do with the added accountability for a 7-day stint so here’s how yesterday went:
Breakfast: 1 apple, 1 banana (2pts)
MT: 50g lean turkey breast (0.75pts)
Lunch: WW frozen chicken hotpot, 1 soy & linseed roll, 1 mango (8pts)
AT: 50g lean turkey breast (0.75pts)
Tea: Beef and Vege casserole, 2 bake at home dinner rolls –no butter (8pts)
Snack: 1 green apple, 1 diet choc mousse (2pts)
Drinks: 1.5 L water + 2 cans diet coke
Total: 21.5pts (allowed 23)
Heading to gym at 4pm with Enforcer today. I’ve got kinder gym with Caleb this morning so I guess that’s a little extra movement in the meantime.
Have a great Thursday everyone!
Cheers P
Tuesday, 11th October 2005...
I MADE IT!
I MADE IT!
99.8KG!
DOUBLE FIGURES AT LAST …INTO THE 90’S AND NEVER SHALL I GRACE THE DOOR OF 100+KG AGAIN!!!
:)
Can you tell I’m a little pleased with this result??? Hehehe
I went along to the gym yesterday… not sure if I’d make it or not … and when I did I don’t think I knew what to make of it. I thought about it all night. It was like it wasn’t so real at first. And I felt like I’d made such a big deal of it that once I got there I was like – “ahh ok… so what now?” But then the more it sank in the more proud I became. I have carried the shame of 100+kg for ten long years and finally, after breaking through that point, I look at the rest of the journey differently.
My mind has never really updated its image of myself this last 19.4kg’s. Whenever I thought about how far I had to go it was always 40+kg in my mind. But now that I am only 2.2kg away from the half way point I am suddenly realising that I am now only 20kg overweight. Not great by any stretch of the imagination but way better than 43kg over.
As far as goals go I achieved two this week. One was obviously the <100kg mark and the other was that I have now lost 15% of my starting body weight. The specialist we saw for IVF recommended I lose at least 5-10% body weight to improve my chances so I guess theoretically I could fluke a natural pregnancy any time now. And as much as I want that, I think I want my goal weight even more first.
I’ve been re-reading my Dr Phil book again and really working on my negative thinking and cognitive processing of events and thoughts. Today in the meeting my leader told everyone about my 90’s achievement. My immediate thought was ‘Oh god now they all know I was over 100kg!’ but instead I should have been focusing on the fact I was 20kg over it and now I’m under! It’s all about perspective.
However…. the journey certainly does not end there. It was straight into this week’s workouts and heading toward the next goal (I have 0.6kg to lose to get to my 20kg loss reward). Speaking of rewards … I’m still undecided what to do. Simon gave me a lovely long massage last night, which was nice. And I’ve found my next charm for 20kg off Ebay – (it’s the Libra sign of scales but in my case weight loss scales). I’m thinking that when some money comes in on Friday I might have my first ever professional massage or facial. Something pampering and fat free *wink* I am treating myself with our once a week take-away day tonight but I’m going to chose a stir-fry from Chinese…. Yummy!! And last night I lashed out and had two glasses of REAL Coke…. Mmmm my old friend *wink* Otherwise I must stay on course and do nothing that could risk a backwards movement. I NEVER want to go back to 100kg+.
But back to the exercise. Yesterday at the gym I did 30mins of fat burning programme at level 8 on the treadmill, 20mins on the cross trainer and 10mins on the recumbent cycle. Then today it was down to the Esplanade at 11am. It is SO hot and muggy that I really didn’t want to move at all today but once you’re into it it’s over before you know it. We did heaps of interval walking/jogging, 21 push-ups, 30 dips and 2 x 1min step-ups. By the end I was as red as a beetroot and very sweaty … but as usual very happy with the effort we put in and therefore the results I can expect.
Now as promised I will be getting Simon to take some new full body shots to go on the photo’s page as the last ones taken were at 114kg. The new face ones on the home page got such a huge reaction (from myself included) then I can’t wait now to see the full body changes.
A BIG BIG congratulations to Fette who has been awarded the *star* for Biggest Loser in week 3 with her massive 4kg loss!!! This girl is very close to me and a very special person in my life so I am extra thrilled for her achievement. Go you!!!
But enough rabbiting on from me for now. Before I go I have some congratulations for two women welcoming growing babes into their life. The lovely Kim who's journal I love to read has revealed she is pregnant (no need for me to keep that secret any longer *wink*) and Jodie who is also doing the WHO challenge is pregnant too!! Babies everywhere. Congrats girls :)
Cheers P
Monday, 10th October 2005...
The challenge weigh-in day has arrived and god only knows what result I’ll see? I was sure I’d reach the 90’s last week and was bitterly disappointed when I did not. This week I feel like I still may not make it but strangely I’m not too bothered by it. After all, my rational mind tells me that sooner or later it will happen. It has to with all the work I am doing.
I was reading the Dr Phil book yesterday and thinking over his views on negative thinking and challenging thoughts that can lead to negative self-image and ultimately emotional eating. I got to thinking about the whole 90kg thing. Ultimately what is more important to me…. what the scales say or the actual physical size of my body and the clothes it fits into??? I know which one I want more…. the physical shrinking! Only the tape measure can reflect this change…. not always the scales. So I am trying to minimise my emphasis on those scale numbers and just keep focusing on my changing body shape.
Now having said that…I’ll still be screaming for joy and jumping up and down like a mad thing when I finally crack those 90’s…. but if that takes another week so be it :) Slow and steady wins the race on that one
I’m really pleased with how my weekend went. I made lots of good food choices and between the gym on Saturday and a stroll yesterday I stayed active. Now before you all remind me about the day of rest thing I didn’t work hard yesterday at all. Caleb loves his new found ability of riding his bike along the pedestrian path of the Esplanade. So Simon and I just strolled along behind him yesterday for about 20mins but this morning I’m taking him again and we’ll stay out for as long as he can keep it up before we head to the library to get his weekly stash of new books. That way I’ll get a nice relaxing walk in…he’ll get lots of exercise in and will hopefully have a nice long nap this afternoon (see my ulterior motive *wink*).
I am getting a little frustrated with chasing results for the 12wk challenge lately. 95% of you are getting them to me promptly every time and I thank you heaps for that … but the minority are ruining it for the others. It’s not fair that everyone else wait to see who is the biggest loser of the week until their results dribble in. Those who I’ve emailed personally about this have to the end of today to submit results or I will be removing them from the challenge. I don’t mean to sound harsh about this but I did set out that condition from the start of this challenge and it really requires everyone’s effort to keep things running smoothly.
Ok rant over :) I hope everyone had a spectacular weekend? I won’t be updating again until tomorrow morning but keep an eye on the challenge page late this afternoon as I’ll add my weigh-in to it when I get home from the gym about 5pm. Stay tuned!!!!
Eeeeek the anticipation is going to kill me today!!!
Cheers P
Saturday, 8th October 2005...
Well I’ve finally reached the end of my exercise week. No more now until Monday afternoon…. yippee! To be honest I still feel compelled to workout on Sunday also but I have learnt my lesson from last week about how important it is to give my body at least one day to rest and repair each week.
Went to the pub with my friend Scott last night…. we were home by about 11pm I think it was so not too late. Then when we got home we joined Simon in sitting around gasbagging until about 2am so feeling pretty sleep deprived today. Ugh!
I was up about 7am this morning and at the gym by 10am for the circuit workout. It was an intense hour with 5 laps around the usual circuit stops … exhausting but most satisfying. I am constantly amazed at how much I am really enjoying these workouts and the fact I start to look forward to some of them even – perish the thought.
I was really craving chicken and chips this morning…. as you do after a big night. But with my 99kg goal firmly in mind I settled for a ww dinner instead. I’m having a chicken salad for tea tonight so that may satisfy some of that chicken craving.
Went shopping for some clothes to wear out last night yesterday and was most pleased to purchase my first size 16(!!). Now hold the fanfare because I know that there is no way I am a 16 and this was just a very generously sized shirt … but none the less it felt great. At this point I am still not fully size 18 in some things, though I won’t buy anything new anymore that is any larger than 18. I guess 80% of things in a size 18 fit me now and by the end of this challenge I’d love to be saying the same thing about a size 16. God I can’t even imagine how cool that would be!! :)
I had a funny side effect last night of yesterdays aqua class. Those who know me know that I am a total sunscreen Nazi and so never leave home without it, and a hat, when I’m heading outdoors. But on Friday morning I forgot my hat but felt ok knowing I’d be done before 11am and I was sun screened at least. Well partially as it turns out! We recently changed to those handy spray bottles of sunscreen but rather than spray it on my face directly I spray it onto my hands then pat it on. Problem being that I patted both hands on … but left a strip right down the centre of my face and nose with none – now a nice red stripe! Attractive…hehehehe
I’ve had a few nice comments about my progress of late. On Thursday my next-door neighbour commented on how much weight I was losing and this morning a lady at the gym did also *beams* Boy I will NEVER tire of hearing that!
I also forgot to mention that I won the raffle at my WW meeting last week. So now I have $40 to spend on their products but have no idea what to get?? I already have so many recipe books already and I have all the current points guides etc so I guess I’ll probably just hang onto it for now until I see something I want.
Nothing exciting planned for tonight. Catching up on the latest Mole and Survivor episodes and that’s about it. Tomorrow we plan to head out to a park down the Esplanade so Caleb can have a big bike ride then a play on the beach if the weather permits.
I haven’t had much time to catch up on other journals of late but don’t think I’ve forgotten you. I’ll be there to say hi as soon as I can :)
Have a great weekend everyone!
Cheers P
Friday, 7th October 2005...
Thank God it’s Friday!!!
Not that it brings a day off for me until Sunday but I still love weekends to have my hubby home and hanging out with Caleb and I.
Had a tough session with the Enforcer yesterday down the Esplanade. Not so much the work but the heat I guess. I had Caleb with me in the pram so we set out on a brisk walk and back. Along the way we stopped for push-ups, dips, heaps of step-ups, stair climbing up and down, jogging and soft sand jogging. Exhausting but in a good way. I feel like I’ve had it easy for most of the week so it was good to get out there and really sweat some of that fat away :)
Today I went along to the aqua-aerobics class the Enforcer runs at the local pool. As you know I tried aqua last year at another pool and today was SO much harder! I guess the other instructor must have gone easier on everyone…either that or I just put in much more effort today…. but either way I loved it! It was great to try something new and it’s so much cooler to work out in the water. After the class had finished I went with the Enforcer for some deep water running. Oh boy is that tough work!! Lot’s of running, kicking, and skiing type movements in the deep water which really pushed the heart rate up.
I was absolutely flogged by the time I was done but feeling great all the same. I even braved the public pool for the first time without a T-shirt over my togs. But then it was the same outfit as my ‘before’ photo so I figured it was nothing the whole world wasn’t going to see soon anyway. *wink* I did have trouble with my board shorts though…they kept falling down!!! How cool is that?
Simon’s watching the boring old cricket on the TV tonight so our best mate Scott is taking me out to the pub. I’m planning on a bottle of wine for drinks and I’ll try to avoid the pub food altogether. If I do eat there it will be a healthy salad or some such thing…probably the only healthy choice that I’ll find but it will be fine. I may just wait and eat when I come home instead??
Hope everyone else has a good weekend planned. I’ll be hitting the gym again tomorrow morning after Caleb’s swimming lesson. First time I’ve been to the gym without the Enforcer since I begun with her. I hope the circuit will be running but if not I’m going to hit the cardio machines. I’ll probably need it to burn off some of the wine I’ll be consuming tonight *wink*
Have a great one everybody!!
Cheers P
Thursday, 6th October 2005...
Ok…must make this a quick entry this morning. Off soon to take Caleb to Kinder Gym then I have to meet the Enforcer down the beach again at 11am.
Yesterday we met at the beach and ended up doing a very brisk one-hour walk along the Esplanade. I’m sure I won’t get out of today as easy *wink*
Not looking forward to beach days now that the temperatures are climbing into the 30’s again … bring on the air-con gym I say :)
Finished yesterday on 22.5/23 points so a good day all round. I ditched the usual ww frozen lunch for a salmon salad then backed that up with a BBQ chicken salad for tea. Very yummy and fresh in the hot weather.
Had a real Caleb triumph yesterday. As you may recall we have been doing the toilet training thing for a few months now without much success. He’d use the potty fine but when in training pants would only tell me ‘after’ he’d done a wee in them. Well something seemed to click the other day and now he tells me ‘before’ he does a wee in his pants and we make it to the potty every time. (I think a star chart really helped with this). Anyway yesterday’s playgroup was his first outing without nappies and he did great!! *beams with pride* He stayed dry throughout play, we went to the potty before we left, then he stayed dry while I did grocery shopping and right through lunch as well. Yey for my little boy finally being toilet trained!!!! :)
Anyone with week 3 stats outstanding could you please get them to me ASAP.
Have a great day everyone.
Cheers P
Wednesday, 5th October 2005...
Not much to say today.
Really enjoyed my day of rest yesterday … although I kept thinking I should be getting out and doing something in the form of exercise – God what happened to the old couch potato me?? Hehehe But I followed the Enforcer’s orders and gave my body the day of rest it will no doubt need to get through the rest of the week ahead.
I have had so many lovely comments about the photographic evidence of my weight loss on the home page. Wow you girls are so complimentary!! *Blush* In all honesty though I can’t stop looking at it myself. I have to pinch myself to believe that I’ve really changed that much already. I can tell you that what just what I needed to give me the boost to get through another 8 wks of this challenge. Just imagine what changes I might be able to achieve by the end of it!!!
Now I just need to get hubby to take some body shots to compare too. Might get him onto that tonight.
Not sure of workout plan with Enforcer yet today. Will hear later.
I am going to try to shake up my eating a bit this week. Really increase my water intake and make better snack choices. More fruit and yoghurt and less diet products like diet mousse, crackers and chocolate etc. Natural fruit and healthy yoghurt will be much better for my body and for my new lifestyle habits overall. I'm also going to change my usual ww frozen lunch to a salad each day this week for something diffferent.
I'm hoping these changes might bring the results I crave on those scales this week. Fingers crossed! Either way I’m not going to focus on that so much this week as I don’t want the disappointment again. I’ll just keep plodding on and knowing that I’ll crack that 100kg mark EVENTUALLY :)
Ps I thought I’d leave you with some Wacky Facts I borrowed off the lovely Angel’s journal. I hope you don’t mind Angel but I thought they were too good not to share around!
Wacky Facts to Ponder!!
* The energy (calories) from one piece of chocolate cake could light a 60-watt bulb for 1½ hours
* The average chocolate bar has eight insect legs in it. (Eewwww!)
* A single chocolate chip provides sufficient food energy for an adult to walk 150 feet
* Coca-cola would be green if food coloring wasn't added to it.
* Every time you lick a stamp, you're consuming 1/10 of a calorie.
* Americans on average eat 18 acres of pizza a day.
Interesting :)
Cheers P
Tuesday, 4th October 2005...
Well…. I should start by saying Thank You!
Thank you to all the lovely people who emailed and signed my guestbook with words of support and encouragement. You were all dead right of course! My body is laying down some serious muscle right now and I should be using this time to focus on my measurements instead of what the bloody scales show. Lecture duly noted *wink*
As suspected, yesterday’s weigh-in was most disappointing. 101.4kg, so only a 0.1kg loss. But big picture… it’s now 6kg gone in 4 weeks so why am I complaining? I also had my measurements taken again yesterday as we do those each fortnight. The results ... much better!!! Since beginning the challenge four weeks ago I’ve lost 2.5cm off my chest, 5.5cm off my waist, 4.4cm off my hips, 3.2cm off each thigh and 1.74% body fat!! So all up 15.6cm down (and 6.7cm of them in the last two weeks…yey!)
I went along to WW this morning expecting more of the same and was not surprised to see no change at all on the scales since last week. Still TOM is coming so I guess I’m lucky I didn’t gain :) Now that would have been ugly!!
Yesterday our workout was mostly cardio. 15mins on the recumbent cycle, 18mins on the cross-trainer (PB so far), and some seated rowing too. Then it was some more abs work and an early mark home … just what I needed. Today I have asked for the day off training and the Enforcer has kindly agreed. I was given a little talking to about the fact I went for a 45min brisk walk yesterday and Sunday when I was supposed to be giving my body a rest day…tut-tut *wink* So my rest day is now today then back into it tomorrow. Caleb is at day-care today so I am planning a day of rest, pampering spa’s and quiet computer time *bliss*
I’ve finally got around to updating some photo’s on the site today. I’ve added my 15kg reward bookmarks and my latest gold bracelet charm. The charm was added back at 15kg lost but I forgot to update the pic of it after my camera was fixed. For those who don’t remember, I added a tortoise last time – for slow and steady wins the race. Hmm perhaps something I should have remembered these last couple of days *blush*
I’ve also updated the graph on the stats page and be sure to check out my home page today too. It’s always had the close up pic of my face taken at about 120kg. Today I added a current one at 102kg and the difference is ASTOUNDING!!! Have a look for yourself and let me know what you think? When I finally make the 90’s I’ll be adding more full body pic updates too so we can scrutinize any differences in them too…. hehehe
This week I have to give my baby away. And no, not my baby Caleb. My baby scales!!! I obviously could not trust myself last week so this week I’ve asked Simon to take them away. I’ve promised the Enforcer I wouldn’t weigh again until she weighs me next Monday and I dare not break my word to her *wink* So if you see some women crouched in a gutter somewhere…. pulling out her hair and grabbing chunks of body fat while muttering about her long lost scales…that will be me!!
Hehehehe
Have a great week everyone!!
Cheers P
Sunday, 2nd October 2005...
Ok … well I have some bad news to report today.
But before I get to that let me review Saturday.
Eating … excellent! Simon and Caleb got Red Rooster again for lunch yesterday. I picked it up for them on the way home from the gym … and what did I get myself?? A diet coke!! The chick even tried to push fries on me to make Simon’s burger and drink into a combo but I said no. Instead I came home and had my usual WW’s frozen dinner and soy and linseed bread roll instead.
Last night stayed in control. I had two vodka’s with diet lemon soft drink, mineral water and a slice of fresh lemon. Very refreshing and only 1 point each for the vodka of course.
Yesterday morning I did my gym circuit. It ended up going well over the hour and I was absolutely exhausted by the end … but felt great!
We did 6 laps around a circuit of boxing, crunches, seated cable rowing, chest pull downs, pushdowns, chest press, bench press, leg curls, leg extensions, step-ups with hand weights and more of those lovely uphill sit-ups and crunches on the bench that’s on a 45 degree upwards angle. Full on but great fun at the same time. By far my favorite workout in the repertoire so far :)
But then comes the bad news.
You see.... I failed :(
I weighed.
It was not good.
I could barely believe my eyes when I hopped on the scales this morning to
be greeted with 102 ... 102!!!!!!!
What the???
I could have almost cried then and there ... I was devastated :(
I cannot believe that after a week of bloody great eating if I do say so
myself...and near killing myself with an hours exercise a day that the
scales would actually not move at all (they were about same on my home
scales last Monday when I weighed at 101.5 at gym scales).
SHIT!
Now I know this is exactly why I did not want to weigh early.
I cannot let this sabotage me.
But at the same time I am so bloody thankful I didn't have to face this
unexpectedly on Monday.
So what now??
Well after settling down and thinking things over I remembered what the
enforcer said about possible weight gains due to increasing my muscle
bulk...and boy if any week was going to do that I guess this was the one???
Then I got a fantastic email from the lovely and always wise Barbara and it all made sense and helped me to see the bigger picture. Overall fitness and health and, from a cosmetic point of view, shape, is more important than what those bastard scales show.
A website Barbara visited spoke of how, despite the fact the scales may not say much, that real shape changes should be evident by the end of week 4 and that's exactly what I have found all this week. Every time I touch my waist or stomach or legs or butt etc it feels smaller. I look leaner in the mirror and my face is definitely changing too. I guess because of all this I thought I was a sure thing for a big kg loss too ... Mmmm wrong on that last one.
So where to from here??
Well I just have to keep at it.
I can't let this setback sabotage me.
I'm going to stay on track with careful eating today and tomorrow before
weigh-in. I'll go for an hour walk this afternoon now and may also do another one
tomorrow morning too. I'll steer clear of carbs and other bloat foods for the next 48hrs and just hope to God that my body pulls out a miracle and that the scales finally catch up before tomorrow afternoon.
I'm sure there will be lectures a plenty to come about the scales but live
and learn I guess. All things considered I’m glad I looked. Now I can be really careful with eating and put in even more effort on the exercise front for the next 2 days instead of blindly bumbling along expecting to be in those 90’s.
I don’t expect that any more :(
V.Dissapointed P
Saturday, 1st October 2005...
Had a very successful Friday this week :)
Yesterdays Enforcer session at the gym was exhausting but satisfying. There was something about being there of my own choice that made it feel so rewarding? We did 15min cardio programme on the treadmill, a 15min cardio programme on the cycle, 3 x 1min skipping, abs, abs and more abs before stretching it out at the end. I had to do those horrible uphill sit-ups and crunches (15 of each) on a bench that’s on a 45-degree angle up towards my feet…man alive is that hard work!!!
Then when I arrived home Simon and our best mate Scotty were here and announced that we were off to the pub for dinner and drinks…. Eeeeek!!! But I kept well in control. We took Caleb this time so it was never going to be a long night for me. I enjoyed 2 vodka and diet cokes with them and then Caleb’s plate of hot chips and chicken nuggets arrived at the table! As usual it was way too big for a kids serving so I watched at the big boys tucked into it too. It looked so yummy that it was very hard to resist. I knew though that if I had one it would lead to many more so I disappeared to get a round of drinks instead. By the time I came back only the yummiest crunchiest ones were left but I kept my 90’s goal firmly in mind and my mouth firmly shut!
I was on my way home with Caleb by 7pm and the boys followed later in a cab about 10pm. I felt so good about my resolve at the pub! After the boy was settled into bed I tucked into one of the new WW frozen meals…mushroom agnolotti pastas…. very delish and only 5.5pts! All up the day finished on 22/23 points so that felt GREAT :)
This morning we have Caleb’s swimming lessons then I’m off to the gym for the circuit class…yey for 6 days/6 hours of exercise this week!!
Simon and Scotty are working on some building project here today so I’m going to cook them a BBQ tea tonight and I think I’ll try the ww potato bake dish in one of the WW recipe books. I’ve already got marinated chicken steaks and kebabs for Caleb and I and big meaty steaks for the boys…. feed the men meat and all that!
Hope everyone is having a great weekend.
Only 2 more days until I can weigh…. boy was yesterday hard to resist. Those damn numbers better be in the 90’s come Monday afternoon! :)
Pinch and a punch for 1st day of the month!!!
Cheers P
