Sunday, 23rd December 2007...
Phew! Is Christmas over yet?? hehehe I'm over it already!!
Na....it's a great time of year but boy is it hectic. I think we all should be given a holiday to get over the holidays once it's over :)
We hosted our pre-Christmas Christmas with Scotty's family yesterday. It was a great day, beautiful weather, lot's of swimming and relaxing and chatting and a tonne of food as always. We exchanged our gifts with them all and it really began to feel like Christmas. But then I guess 7 children and a tonne of gifts, wrapping paper everywhere and delight all round will do that.
I did suffer a little through yesterday thanks to having had only 3hrs sleep! Scotty and I went out on the Friday night to the pub as we do most Friday's but we didn't consider what Friday this was. Being the beginning of my people's holidays is was PACKED!!! A packed pub is one thing (except for the fact I got groped by two different men during one trip to the bar!!!!) but a busy taxi rank is another. We waited 2.5hrs for a cab before we began the long 1hr walk home instead :( Now walking you know I don't mind....but in my sky high heels it aint a happening thing so I had to do it barefoot. I had already done the same thing the previous weekend for about 2km between pubs but this time it was 3.5km and oh my god my poor aching feet!!! Torture! We got home at about 3am, was in bed by 3.30am but then I was up again from 6.30am. With the hosting of the Xmas, cooking for it and cleaning etc I was too busy all day to really notice how tired I was. By the time I finally fell into bed at 10.30pm last night I was completely and utterly exhausted to say the least.
Now today Simon is at work (again!!) and I have to organise and pack everything for us to leave at about 5am tomorrow morning to travel to NSW for Christmas at my sister's house. It's about a 6hr drive so that should be fun - not! I have to get started on the washing, packing, organising and shopping etc that I have to somehow manage on my own today, around the kids and all they entail....is gonna be one hell of a day! Then this afternoon we have to meet Simon's sister for some duck feeding with Caleb, then home for tea, then out to look at Christmas lights for an hour or so after dark, then home to get kids in bed, then wrap all our Xmas gifts, pack the car etc etc etc all this while Scotty is coming around to see us before we go and do the gift thing with him etc. *SIGH* My mind is spinning out of control just thinking about all I have to do!!! But that's Christmas for you!!!
So I'd better get moving!
I just wanted to come on and have a quick catch up because god knows when I'll get the next chance. We'll be away until Wednesday evening, then I have my first shift back at work on Thursday, Saturday we host a post-Christams Christmas with Simon's family, then Monday we host a NYE party here for everyone....don't even get me started on Talyn's first birthday party I have to organise for Jan 12th.
Yikes!!!!!! Any chance Santa's going to give me a tropical Island holiday for Xmas??? *wink*
So on that note......
I wanted to say a big thank you for everyone who continues to read here. I know my appearances have been a little lacking this last crazy month but things will settle down again in the new year. The scales continue to say about 99kg which I am very pleased with (hope never to see those 100s again!) and I look forward to working towards the 80s in 2008.
Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!!
May you and yours have a sensational Silly Season.
*hugs*
Love Paulene, Simon, Caleb and Talyn
Xmas 07
Thursday, 20th December 2007...
It was a day of mixed emotions yesterday. My mom has been gone 12yrs now and yesterday would have been her 60th birthday. Was a sad day for me :(
Then I went to WW and my mood improved. I lost!! I lost just 0.3kg but it didn't matter to me what the number was. It just felt like my making it to the 90s and my 20kg lost the previous fortnight wouldn't seem real, or permanent, until I had managed another loss down from that point.
So that brings me into the 98's. While I had hoped to get to the 95's by Xmas I don't care one bit that I didn't quite make it. I think I was about 106kg when I set that goal so to be under 99kg now feels like a success in itself.
I'm a happy girl!!! Crazy busy but happy.
Finally finished the last of my gift shopping yesterday afternoon when I picked up the last layby from Toyworld. This afternoon we have to get the boys dressed and up to the shops for their photo with Santa. Then tonight we are taking them around to look at all the Christmas light display houses. Then that will be two more jobs I can cross of my lengthy to do list.
Today we are meeting two of my friends and each of their two children (all Caleb's friends) at an indoor play centre to have one last pre-Christmas catch up and to exchange gifts for the kids. I have to finfish this so I can go find the gifts out of the layby and get them wrapped.
Friday I'll have to mow the lawns and hit the dreaded supermarket. I not only have to get a few food items for the kids to take away with us to Ballina on Monday but I also have to shop for a Xmas dinner I am hosting here this Saturday. Our best mate Scotty (Talyn's godfather), his sister Rebecca (Talyn's godmother), Rebecca's 5 kids and Scotty's and Bec's mom are all coming to celebrate Christmas with us before we go away. The 2nd youngest boy, Joel, is Caleb's best friend and Talyn and their youngest, Layla, are very close in age and as all us adults are really close it's a great little group. A lot of mouths to feed and seats to find but I'm so looking forward to it. Then it will really feel like Christmas has arrived!!
Ok....time to go do some gift wrapping :)
TFTD: "You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it!!!"
Cheers P
Tuesday, 18th December 2007...
Managed to get a few more items on my ever growing list crossed off yesterday. Other then picking up a Toyworld layby I have now officially finished all my Xmas gift shopping. Now if I can only find a couple of child free hours to wrap everything...hehehe
I did manage to complete the update on Caleb's page yesterday. At long last. I'll have to do a much more detailed one there after Christmas but at least I've made some start for now :)
Can't even remember what exercise is of late?? Haven't done any in about 2-3wk's. Is Christmas over yet???
hehehe
TFTD: "Ho HO Ho....Christmas is coming!!!"
Cheers P
Monday, 17th December 2007...
A new post every second day huh?
Yeah I'm off to a great start on that *wink*
I swear this pre-Christmas craziness is going to kill me!!! I have a list of things to do today that is as long as my arm and the fact they all involve dragging two kids around various packed shopping centres/car parks/supermarkets etc. Aaargh!!
I also have a mountain of computer work and housework to do yet everytime I cross one thing off my list another arrives!!
I have managed one thing though at least. I FINALLY did a new update on Talyn's page at long last!!! I'm half way through one on Caleb's page too so that will be ready soon (in theory *wink*)
I can't see me getting to WW this week either with everything else that is on but I'll see how I go. If I don't get the chance then I'll at least take a home weight and post that here for you all.
Ok. Well short and sweet today. No time for more :)
Only 8 sleeps to Santa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TFTD: "You may have to fight a battle more then once to win it!"
Cheers P
Thursday, 13th December 2007...
It feels like all I ever do lately is come on here an apologize for not being here for ages *wink*
It's temporary, but still annoying I'm sure. I've just been so crazy busy with all the silly season and associated parties, school functions, shopping etc. That plus going back to work 2 days this week for training, Simon working really long hours in the lead up to Xmas and Caleb finishing Kindy yesterday and all the extra's that entails....well it's been crazy!!!
My goal for this week is to update at least every 2nd day. You can hold me to it and harass me if I'm absent *wink*.
Weighed in the same last night. Thought I would have lost a bit actually but I had different clothes to normal on and I had wet hair so I'm going to blame that. Tee-he. Not worried in any case as what didn't show this week will catch up next week. In the meantime I'm loving waking up to the 90s on the scale each day. Hoorah!!!! That sure hasn't lost it's shine yet :)
Now I must leave it here today and go and update the boys pages. They, like everything else in my life of late...are WAY behind. Will let you know here next update when they are done :)
12 days to Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!
TFTD: "The most important person to be honest with is yourself!!"
Cheers P
Thursday, 6th December 2007...
Well...........
I had my weigh in last night.......
And.......
I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not only did I make the 90's (SCREAM!!!!!!) but I also got my 20kg lost!!!!!!
Mind you I had to take my overshirt, watch and headband off to get the last 0.1kg to shift but it did and I got my 20kg!!!
I am now thrilled to say I weigh 99.2kg!!!!!! Another 1.2kg lost this week....another two goals achieved.....plus my challenge goal reached a week early also....and no more triple digits for me!!!!
WAHOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
My graph is going down on a real steep decline now after months of dawdling. You can see it here on the stats page if you are interested in a look?
SCREAM!!!!!! I just can't wipe the smile off my face today. Last night was the WW Xmas party too so that was a good night to get my 20kg. Several people came up to me to congratulate me and a lady came up to me afterwards to say how inspiring it was *blush*.
I'm into the 90s again BABY!!!! Now it's only a short hop, skip and a jump back to were I was before. Watch out 80s! I'm coming for you next!!!!!!!!!!!
TFTD: "You have to get up every day with determination if you are going to go to bed with satisfaction!!"
Cheers P
Thursday, 29th November 2007...
Only have the briefest window to update this morning but wanted to take it while I could. I apologise for my lack of updates just lately but have had much going on in life and just not getting online as much as I want to. As usual though these things fluctuate so I'm sure I'll be back into the swing of it soon with daily updates and more info for you all. In the meantime please accept my apologies and do keep popping in to read when you can.
Have just spent last hour or so catching up on all the challenge stats. Everyone is doing so well!!!!! I'm very pleased with my own progress this time round also. I'm still super hopeful of getting to those 90s next weigh-in. I have everything crossed and am trying to make good decisions.
Like last night. We had visitors around until late and then I found myself with nothing organised for tea. SO wanted take away chicken and chips that I've not had at all for over 3wk's. But stopped and thought about how I'd feel after and whether choosing take away would help or hinder my 90s goals for this week. Not surprisingly I knew it would hinder it so I made a better choice.
Simon cooked up a man's meal of BBQ steak, mushy's and eggs.....Caleb had a left over serve of spag bog from the night before and I made myself a chicken and veg stir-fry. It was yummy, filling and I felt great for my decision after the fact. As is usual for the last few weeks I also ate nothing after tea so all up it was a great day.
This morning I am taking the boys to meet my mother and law and (heavily pregnant) sister in law for brunch at a beachside cafe. I've not had breakfast yet so I'll have more points to spare and I plan to make the best choice I can while I'm there.
On the way I've also got to pick up our new family portraits. This weekend I intend to post those pics online for you all to have a look at as well as get the boys web pages up to date. I'm slowly making progress in catching up so bear with me :)
Yikes....speaking of which....if I don't move now I'm going to be late for brunch!!!
Talk more soon.
TFTD: "There is no right way to do the wrong thing!!"
Cheers P
Tuesday, 27th November 2007...
Sorry!
I know I'm hideously behind in updates but I'm working to catch up on them, plus challenge stats today.
So just a super quick entry to say I'm still here....still going strong and still losing!
I lost another 1.5kg today which now brings me to within 0.5kg of the elusive 90s.
Next week will be my week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TFTD: "If you want it bad enough - you will get it!!"
Cheers P
Thursday, 22nd November 2007...
Well not quite as good a loss as I was hoping but I'm happy all the same :)
Another 0.6kg gone and now I'm into the 101s!!!!!! Ooh those 90s are getting so close now!
The funny thing with last nights result was that my home scales are usually 0.7kg heavier then at WW. Yet when I left home my scales also said 101.9kg so I assumed I'd lose about 1.3kg....not 0.6kg?? Don't know how it happened but doesn't matter. Perhaps my scales have adjusted themselves back to right....or if some error did occur then it will work in my favour when it catches up next week.
All that matters is that I'm getting close to being back to 2 digits again and I can't tell you how good that feels!!!!
Almost as good as finding two more pairs of 'skinny' pants once again fit me today.
Oh happy day!!!!!!!!!!
:)
TFTD: "Stand still and watch the world go by - and it will!!"
Cheers P
Tuesday, 20th November 2007...
Yikes!
I hadn't realised it had been so long since I updated. Sorry :)
Have been super busy at home of late, had a couple nights out and have been busy organising things for my return to work.
I had my meeting with the boss last week and it looks like I'll be set on a permanent Thursday evening shift 2.30-11pm in the Acute Mental Health Inpatient Unit. I'm not looking forward to the danger/risk element in my life again but I've done it for 7yrs before and the money will be great! It's only one shift a week after all so how hard can it be?? It won't start for a while yet as I've got to get through some inservice training and criminal checks etc first but I think I'll be ready to begin the shifts around Xmas time or a bit after at this stage.
Things are still going great diet wise!!! I pretty much have cut out all snacks and bread in the last two weeks and am having very small meals, only when I'm hungry and feeling great for it. I've cut my exercise back a bit in frequency this last few weeks just from life getting in the way but when I do get the time I make good use of it.
I have continued with my new walking route each morning that has 6 steep hills during the 45minutes I am out (I do the same 3-hill lap twice) and I have built up my running so that I am now running every hill. Squeal!!! Loving that :)
Scales are looking great for tomorrow nights weigh-in. I'm looking forward to it. Will let you know how it goes then.
I know I am also behind in updating Talyn and Caleb's pages but will do so this week and let you know when they are done :) I have much to say for them.
TFTD: "Success is a journey, not a destination!!"
Cheers P
Thursday, 15th November 2007...
"I'm so excited.....ooh-ee....and I just can't hide it!"
Yep....I'm in the mood for singing today! I had a fantastic wardrobe experience this morning. As you know I have a stack of clothes in 18 and 16 from my pre-Talyn-pregnancy days that I have been desperately wanting to slim back into.
Last time I tried anything on from the pile I could barely get it over my ass and hips let alone do it up. Well things are changing!
Last night I tried on a pair of size 18, 3/4 white pants (a small size 18) that I used to love. Last time I tried them on I had no hope of doing them up. Last night they did up. They are still a little too figure hugging to wear just yet but the fact they now do up had me feeling great.
Then this morning I looked at a pair of short size 18 denim shorts that were in the pile. I said to myself..."don't be ridiculous!"...but I thought what the heck and gave it a try. Not only do they fit but they fit well enough that I have them on now and will be going shopping in them soon.
SCREAM!!!!!!!
I've been desperate to get back into these clothes and now it's finally beginning!!! It's only a matter of time before I'm back to all of them. I can feel it in my bones. I continue to eat way less then normal, listen to my hunger instead of eating out of habit/time routine etc and it's paying off big time. I'm certain I'll make my challenge goal of 99.9kg now and I can't wait to see just how low I can get it by Xmas.
Nothing tastes as good as this feels!!!! Nothing!!!
Last night I worked at WW and usually that would mean take away on the way home. But not last night. I came home and had my tuna on crackers instead while Simon devoured a whole pizza in front of me (thanks Chrisco!). Every point that would normally be a high risk trigger for me just seems so different right now in the head space I am in.
I want those 90s. I know no-one can get them for me. I'm getting them myself!!
In other news...it looks like I'm going back to work. Part time back at the Mental Health Acute Inpatient Unit (I'm a Mental Health Registered Nurse). I'll be doing one evening shift per week, 2.30-11pm on a Thursday. Have to go up there today (it's a 30min drive away) and fill out paperwork etc in preparation but think I may start as early as next Thursday. Gulp! More on that tomorrow when I know more.
TFTD: "No person has ever gone blind looking on the bright side of life!!"
Cheers P
Tuesday, 12th November 2007...
You little ripper!!!!!!
1.2kg down today!!! That's my biggest loss since April this year. Wahoo! This not eating thing is working great for me *wink*
Now settle petals....I don't mean actually not eating/starving or anything like that. I just mean not eating out of habit. Eating out of hunger, stopping when I've finished without grazing for more and making some habit changes. This week I had no bread except one subway meal and I only had one WW frozen dinner which has a lot of added salt (when I usually have one every day for lunch with 2 slices of bread) .
Not only that but I got this big loss on a week when I did less exercise then normal AND I had two big nights on the drink :)
Now today, weigh-in day is usually a free for all for me traditionally....but not today! I've had 9.5pt's with only tea to go. I am going to have a couple of beers tonight with friends over for tea but that's it. Overall it will still be DRASTICALLY improved on my usual weigh-in day fair. I really really really want to keep this momentum going and while it seems almost easy at the moment I want to make the most of that ease/motivation while I can.
Exercise this week:
Wed-Sun: Nil
Monday: 45min brisk walk including 7 steep hills (3 of which I ran up) + 20 calf
raises + 20 lunges + 45min aquarobics class
Tuesday: 45min brisk walk including 6 steep hills (1 of which I ran up)
As you can see I've changed my morning walk route again. I now do the section that has three hills in it but I do it twice in a row to get 6 hills. On Monday I even detoured slightly to include running up and down 'the hill' that I could previously barely walk up! The 3 hills I have been running are very steep and I didn't think I would be able to make it at a running pace but I just kept running and made it without even nearly dying. It was hard but it was definitely do-able. Yey me!!
I remain really motivated for this coming week and I'm hoping that by skipping my usual weigh-in day blow-out I may be able to achieve even bigger things next week.
Look out 90s....I'm Coming For You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TFTD: "Why not? Why not me? Why not now?"
Cheers P
Saturday, 10th November 2007...
Half way through the weekend and doing well so far!
Did do some good old fashioned binge drinking *wink* Thursday and Friday night but both times I tried a new mix. Instead of drinking high sugar mixers with my vodka or drinking too much diet coke with it I tried something new. I mixed the vodka with sparkling mineral water and on the first night I added frozen cubes of passionfruit pulp and last night I changed that to frozen cubes of pineapple in natural juice and some fresh lime. They were tasty, refreshing and oh so easy to drink :)
Although last night involved my usual weekly pub visit I made good choices and even when I got home at the end of the night starving from no dinner I made my fave Cruskits' and tuna to munch on. No guilt!
Tonight the tables are turned and it's Simon's night to go out with the boys :) He's gone to Scotty's house to play PS2 cricket all night so I got to make a delish stir-fry for tea with no-one to complain about it. Caleb is at Granny's tonight so I got Talyn settled into to bed then mixed a Birdseye create-a-meal frozen vege packet (Honey Soy sauce) with some chicken. I didn't have time to marinate any so I bought some marinated chicken kebabs/skewers and just pulled them off the sticks. So easy and oh so yummy.
As a treat for dessert I went out to Woolies and got myself a WW Caramel Sundae (only two points). Oh my those are so yummy!!! I'm not bringing chocolate into the house as I know if I do I'll eat it. So I just don't - and I don't. Too easy.
I've had a whole week off from exercise so far and it feels great. I'm not exhausted all the time yet after the break I'm keen to get back into the swing of things this coming week. I guess I just needed a little break from the relentless push to do more and more of it?
The scales are being divine to me and I'm just feeling good for once. My appetite has either strangely dropped or my willpower has boosted or ??? I don't know what but suddenly stopping when I'm full (instead of stuffed overfull) seems so much easier. Cutting out snacking has been much easier. And basically I just want those 90S so bad now I'm willing to forgo any short term high of a guilty snack for the long term joy of success!! Of course with my drinking on the weekends I'm no angel but hell I'm going to live along the way on this journey. I believe I can have my cake and eat it too - so to speak!! *wink*
TFTD: "Success if very often failure with a new coat of paint!"
Cheers P
Thursday, 8th November 2007...
Pity I didn't get to weigh-in last night as I'd hoped but at least I weighed at home I guess. This morning the scales are looking even better so I'm using that as my motivation to stay on track over the weekend. I'm sick of gaining every weekend then working my butt off at the start of every week to get things back on track.
This weekend I have a night out at pub planned for Friday night but Saturday night I'll be home alone with Talyn while Simon goes out and Caleb has a sleep over with his Granny so no excuses that night! I can cook what I like for dinner (I'm thinking yummy stir-fry at this stage?) and I can do some exercise while I'm home alone. Perfect :)
Speaking of exercise I've been a bit slack in that regard. Only one session last Friday and none since. Some week's I just get a 'bugger it' attitude to exercise or life gets in the way and strangely that often seems to be the week's I do better on the scales?? Go figure!
I'd love, love, love to get back to the 102's this week...but I'm not going to set myself up for disapointment. Instead my goal is a loss. That's it. No pressure....just a loss of any size and I'll be happy :)
Eating has been a bit weird this week for me. I've eaten well but it's been easier then usual? I finish a meal and the usual urge to graze more hits. Usually I can't resist it but this week I've delayed it a while and it passes. Also I haven't had my usual post weigh-in day off as such this week. I had one take away dinner but when I headed to the shops yesterday lunch time, feeling a bit blue, my intention was to get something sinfully wicked to eat, some chocolate and coke. Instead I bought tuna, crackers, light cream cheese and coke zero. I deliberately bought no chocolate as I knew if it was in the house I would eat it while in that mood so it was easier not to tempt myself. And it worked! Then last night we had planned take away after our seminar last night but instead I came home and had a WW frozen dinner and a WW ice-cream. Filling, tasty and guilt free.
I've just found myself stopping at each temptation point and asking myself whether I'd rather eat crap now, that will be gone in minutes and replaced with guilt and remorse....or whether I'd rather make a healthy choice and reach my goals sooner. For a change... the latter has been winning. Yey me!
I've also gone a long way to kicking my daily habit of a frozen WW meal for lunch with two slices of grain bread (no marg) which is my norm. I know it's still WW but it's highly processed, full of additives and salt etc and I think the bread does me no favours either. But in typical me fashion, I've become completely hooked on another lunch every day. Tuna, cream cheese and crackers!!!
I have Cruskits (which are 2 for only 0.5pt's), Light Philadelphia Chive and Onion Cream Cheese (1.5pt's for 40g mini tubs), tin Safcol tuna Teriyaki (2pt's) or Sweet Chili (1.5pt's), sliced tomato and cracked black pepper. SO tasty!! And point friendly. And another bonus is it's much cheaper then frozen meals at $5 each. Loving it :)
Like most fads, I'm sure I'll be sick of it soon but at least in the meantime I'm breaking the routine, keeping my body on it's toes and hopefully feeding it some more nutritionally sound fuel. Worth a shot anyway :)
TFTD: "Footprints on the sands of time are not made by sitting down!"
Cheers P
Wednesday, 7th November 2007...
Spoke to my mother in law this morning and she is not going to be able to get here in time for me to go to weigh-in before the seminar we are attending tonight so I had to go with a home weigh instead.
I took off 0.7kg which is what the WW scales usually weigh less then mine so I hope that's right? Sometimes the difference seems more or less so I can't be certain but I erred on the side of caution and took the 0.2kg loss that calculation gave me. Whatever may be different will balance out when I get on the WW scales next week I guess?
So yeah....not a cracking start to the challenge for me but a loss all the same so I'm happy with that :)
TFTD: "A women is not finished when she's defeated, she's finished when she quits!"
Cheers P
Tuesday, 6th November 2007...
I joined the gym yesterday!
I'm now once again a member of my old gym...and I'm so glad I am. I was going to join just for 3 months this time at a price of $135 but when she phoned me yesterday and offered me $1 a day (direct debited each month) I jumped at the chance. That's even cheaper then my previous gym was and I'm really looking forward to being back in the familiar surrounds of my old gym again. Their opening hours are only slightly less on a Saturday to the other gym and besides plenty of cardio machines (with no time limits!!!), and weights there are also some new items I saw while I was there too so I'm already looking forward to my first session.
I'm not sure what to do about my weigh-in this week?? I had toyed with the idea of weighing in this morning but it is a miserable rainy day here today and I just didn't want to take Talyn out in it any more then I had to. So that leaves my usual Wednesday night meeting but weigh-in for that is from 5.30pm and I have to be at a function at the other end of town at 5.45pm! We did some silly phone survey a while back but they followed up by offering us accommodation in exchange for attending a 90minute talk on travel and holidays. For doing this we get a voucher for 7 nights accommodation on the Gold Coast during the next 12 months for only $175!!!! Bargain!!!! Guaranteed no more to pay (except I expect it will be a small fee extra for the Caleb). Rhonda is arriving to stay with the boys at 5.30pm so I'm going to try to be ready to leave immediately and will try to weigh in on the way to the seminar. If I can't then I will take my weight at home and use that for this week's weigh-in. I know I weigh 0.7kg heavier on my home scales so I'll deduct that for an accurate reading. As of this morning I am about the same so I expect I'll see a small loss by tomorrow?
For the unnamed person who left a guestbook message asking me to add the new challenge page to the 'What's on this Site' page....all done for you now.
I'll leave you for today with a link to an article I read at www.sparkpeople.com about carbs. As you know I'm trying to cut down on carbs and sodium at the moment and must confess I didn't know half of the food that contained carbs until I read this article. A definite recommended read for anyone who's wondering about carbs, which are good or bad, and how many to have etc :)
Good luck for anyone having a flutter on the Annual Melbourne Cup horse race today. It's called the race that stops a nation but it won't stop me this year. I usually spend $10 a year and pick my favorite names with mixed success. This year I'm saving my money, but I did just win a sweep ticket on my radio station for horse #5 'Railings'. Come on number five!!!!! *wink*
TFTD: "It's not how you begin, it's how you finish the race that matters!"
Cheers P
Monday, 5th November 2007...
Nothing really to say today about me. Struggling on as usual. Weekend was a mixed success - as usual! Hoping for at least a small loss this week??
The exciting thing for now is that the Christmas Countdown Challenge has begun!!! Week 1 results are due this week, any day you chose between now and Sunday. I love it when the first results start to trickle in. I'm also excited about some first timers in this challenge - in particular my big sister who is trying it for the first time. I'll have to do good to keep up with everyone this time :)
Bring it on!!!!!
TFTD: "We'll never learn to live right until we learn to think right!"
Cheers P
Saturday, 3rd November 2007...
Before I forget....I've been meaning to mention Crisco for ages. As many of you know I am an agent for Crisco Christmas Hampers and I have got them myself for about 6yrs now....I love them!! Mine are being delivered in two weeks time and I can't wait!!! They now cater to the health conscious with hampers like diet softdrinks, diet frozen dinners, low fat pantry and freezer packs etc. So easy and so damn exciting when the giant boxes all arrive! For anyone who may like a catalogue for next years hampers just drop me an email with your postal address and I will mail one straight to you :)
I also wanted to congratulate all the Xmas Countdown challenger's on their goals this time around. Everyone has made really sensible challenge goals - a lot around 4kg for the 6wk period, and I think this is really important. We need to be realistic about what we can achieve and also ensure that we are not setting ourselves up for disappointment and failure. If we keep our goals achievable then we can reach them. And believe me.....NOTHING tastes as good as success feels! :)
It's still not too late to join! If you want to commit to 6wks effort to shift some kg's before the silly season arrives check out here for how to join. Sign up period ends tomorrow!
I'm off clothes shopping today. I desperately need some summer shirts and I've decided to go sleeveless again...too hell with what people think. The days are rapidly heating up and while I am not yet back to the form I was in when I began to wear sleevelss again in the 90 kgs range for the first time in a decade I dont' care! I just want to be cool and comfortable and to hell with my fat arms! They are getting tanned again in the pool which goes a long way to making them look better and with all my dips, push-ups and tricep extensions I'm doing....that plus overall fat loss is bound to have them looking better soon.
I feel nervous though. I hate clothes shopping again once more as I feel tense just expecting I won't find anything that fit's/looks good. Oh how I want to get back to the 90kgs again when I first discovered just how fun and addictive clothes shopping can be once you are a size 16 or below.
Oh speaking of sizes....you may recall a week or so ago I told you about a blogger who was giving away some clothes in bigger sizes. Well I got the skirt I asked for (the grey floral one seen here) and it fits and is FABULOUS!!!! Thanks Catherine! When I got it I put it away, decided I'd try it on when I'd lost a few more kilo's as I assumed it wouldn't fit and I just didn't want the dissapointment right then. But I went back later and took a deep breath and tried it on...and it fits great!! It's a size 18 and it goes really well with a shirt I have and my strappy heels! Squeel!!!
Now just let me at the piles of clothes I have stacked up in my wardrobe from my 90kgs period...they are smaller 18s and 16s and I so want to be back in them this Xmas. If it kills me!!!!! *wink*
TFTD: "Never let yesterday take up too much of today!"
Cheers P
Friday, 2nd November 2007...
So many thoughts that I want to get down today I'm not sure where to start! I started this entry yesterday but didn't get a chance to finish it (life with two boys got in the way) so I hope for better luck today. Talyn is down for his morning nap and Caleb is using his PS2 time up so I should get some me time for at least 30-45min's.
Caleb gets to play PS2 for 45min's every second day. He plays mostly Spiderman but the occasional Ant's Racing or Car Racing as well. He'd play it every day if he could but we don't want him to become a gaming nut who sits in front of the tube all day, hence our limit of it's use.
He's such a funny boy though in that regard. He always wants to know what is healthy vs unhealthy food (that we call 'sometime' food) and what is good exercise or not. He wants to be "big and strong like Daddy" when he grows up and he's really looking forward to the two of them joining TaeKwon Do next year. He loves trying out my exercise weights, boxing bags, bike and step etc. The other day I had to laugh when he said that if I kept doing all my exercise I'd end up with big squares on my tummy too (like the 6 pack abs he's seen on infomercial's etc I guess). Hehehe. Thankfully he doesn't have a concept of "fat" and he's never asked me why I may be heavier then some. Bless the unconditional love of a child huh! The main thing is that he see's us being active and exercising and making good food choices and I think that's the best start we can give him in life as far as his health goes. The rest will be up to him :)
As mentioned in my prior entry I went to the Dr this week to discuss my ever so slow weight loss. I took my exercise calendar in with me and talked about WW and the weight I had lost prior to the pregnancy. My GP is very straightforward and doesn't speak crap (which I appreciate) but I felt a little deflated when he said....you need to exercise more and eat less - bottom line. That's it! No investigation into any physical causes...no options to speed things up. I'm glad he didn't offer me some pill to solve it all but I was still hoping to at least rule out anything physical which may be slowing me down?
At the end of the day though he is, of course, right. It comes down to the most simple principle of all weight loss....Energy in vs Energy out. You simply have to move more to burn more then you eat to create and energy deficit and thus lose weight. Simple.
So on that note I'm trying to make some changes this week. I don't think there is a lot more I can do with exercise right now. I continue to try to up the intensity of the times I'm already doing (eg I changed my morning walk route again to include 4 steep hills now which used to be only 3 and before that only 2. Plus I continue to do spurts of jogging during my walk and I also do 25 dips now every walk as well). But I cannot find more time to do more at this stage. However I am doing what I think is enough hours if I continue to increase the intensity during that time and continue the variety. Actually I just looked at last months exercise calendar and I exercised 21 days out of the last 31 days. Usually for at least 45min's each day. I feel that's pretty good?? Certainly good enough for just now anyway.
So that just leaves food. There is still plenty of wiggle room for me to make improvements there. For one I'm trying to cut down on carbs and salt this week and in doing so eat less processed/frozen meals etc. While I love the taste, convenience and routine of my WW frozen meal most lunches I'm sure the salt content and processed nature do me little favours. Plus it's good to shake up your routine to shock that body into working more. I've also stopped having salty tin spaghetti for breakfast and changed to diet yoghurt and an English muffin with vegemite and low fat cheese. Good carbs, low fat dairy and a healthy solid start to the day. Worth a shot anyway??
For anyone interested I read a great article at Sparkpeople.com about salt intake. Check it out here if you are interested.
I'm also drinking more water and making a conscious effort to cut my diet coke intake. Actually I'm changing from diet coke to coke zero at the moment too due to some disturbing reports I read about diet coke. I don't like the taste of Coke Zero so much so I'm hoping that will further help my efforts to cut down. I don't drink tea or coffee so diet coke is my caffeine hit but I know that carbonated, and especially caffeinated carbonated drinks, are really bad for us to have to excess so I'm working really hard to drink more water. I drank 600ml yesterday which for me is a big improvement so it's a start. Today I am trying to reach at least 1L.
Speaking of fluids I know my recent alcohol intake has not helped either. I only ever drink one night a week (if at all) but I need to make sure that goes back to my old habits of vodka and a diet mixer again and not sugary pre-mixes, beers or too many energy type mixers. But if I don't drink diet coke and I hate soda water what else can I put with vodka from the bar? They don't have any other diet softdrinks and I'm not sure what mineral water tastes like? Nothing like soda I hope! I wonder could I get vodka, mineral and a wedge of lime or lemon or something??? Any suggestions greatly welcome :)
The other thing I'm doing this week is tracking. Even when things go off track like they did last night when I ended up buying take away for tea (noodles) I still need to track it to become more aware of my decisions and choices - good and bad.
Oh and I quit the gym this week!
I told them it was directly due to their ridiculous 10min time limit on the cardio machines and that felt good. When I went back to my old gym to get info on joining there again I heard that I'm one of many who are making the change. No surprises there! I'm going to buy a 3month block at the gym this time I think rather then sign up for a year this time. I'm still hoping a big, chain gym could come to town some day and I want to be free to move when it does. 3months will cost me $135 which is about $11.25 a week so that's ok. The time limit gym was only $7.95 a week but a few more dollars will be worth it. My old gym has got even more cardio machines in since I left, including some weird wobble ones I'm yet to investigate, and there are no time limits at all. Plus they have child minding available for mid-mornings so that's an added bonus. Unfortunately their roster of classes have dropped way back so I won't be able to get to many of those but I still don't' care. I'm happy to be back where I feel comfortable again :)
Thanks to everyone who has been sending in their start weights for the Christmas Countdown Challenge. Anyone who is yet to join has until Sunday to get a start weight to me. For those who have joined and haven't yet sent it .... don't forget! This challenge has dates written on every week so there will be no excuses for falling behind and effectively wrangling extra weeks this time. We are all on an even keel and it will be easy to see if you are keeping up with stats at a glance.
Wow...mammoth entry! Will leave it here for now. Have a great weekend everyone and as always...thanks so much for reading :)
TFTD: "Enthusiasm is contagious - start an epidemic!"
Cheers P
Wednesday, 31st October 2007...
I'm back at last!
(Happy Halloween everyone!)
We had some computer drama's over the weekend which saw us having to reformat and it has taken me days to get my email and website stuff back in order again. I have a stack of challenge emails to get to today so if you are one of them....don't worry I haven't forgotten you. I should be back up to speed by the end of today.
Also for anyone who looks at the Stats page...I cannot update my graph on there until I get Microsoft Excel sorted again so be patient on that one...it's coming :)
I did weigh yesterday....lost 0.3kg which I was happy with. It was looking much better until TTOM arrived on Saturday and pushed the scales right up....D'oh! Still it was my first one in over 2 months so I shouldn't complain *wink*.
I'm going to my GP today to discuss my weight loss and PCOS. I just think I am working way too hard for the teeny results I get so I want to have that looked into to see that nothing else is going on physically which may be hampering my efforts?? Will keep you posted on the outcome of that.
Caleb is very excited about the trick or treaters we are expecting tonight. It's the first time he's really got involved in it and he's excited to dress up and hand out some treats :)
I'm excited about the Christmas Countdown challenge beginning this week too. This is the week for start weights then next week the week 1 results are due. For anyone thinking of joining you have until Sunday to decide. Come on and get fit with us for Santa *wink* You won't regret that you did!
Anyway I'm going to leave it here for today as I have so much else to do. Just wanted to explain my absence and say that I will be catching up with a decent entry and then getting back to daily one's in the coming days. Thanks in advance for your patience.
TFTD: "If you don't do the work, you don't get the benefits!"
Cheers P
Saturday, 27th October 2007...
Despite my best efforts this morning my long anticipated sleep in today was a lost cause! I woke up at 5am as usual (a down side of a morning walk routine is the fact your body clock doesn't know what a weekend is!). I have been so incredibly tired all week. Talyn has been waking up to 10 times every night (teething again I suspect) and it just really wears me down as the week goes on.
Wednesday night we celebrated Scotty's birthday as planned. I had just one vodka and red-bull then had diet coke the rest of the night as planned so that I could be designated driver. I ended up leaving Simon at his place about 9.30 that night so they could play PS2 cricket and I could come home and relieve Granny of her babysitting duties. Despite saying he'd be home in about an hour he didn't make it until 2.30am!
I don't do well at home alone at night so I couldn't really sleep until he got home. Needless to say after getting up at 6am the next morning after just 3.5hrs sleep, Thursday was a VERY long day.
Last night I had one more unexpected pub trip when Scotty invited me with him just for an hour or two. I only had 4 drinks (vodka and energy drinks called 'Pulse') and was home by 9pm but Simon and I stayed up until midnight...and as I said I woke most disappointed to be awake at 5am this morning. I desperately tried to get back to sleep but it was no use so I got up at 6.30am and went for a 45min walk instead. May as well make use of being awake?
During the week I am on a very tight time limit with my walks before Simon's work so I figured today would be a good day to try a new route. I made a change that saw my walk include 3 big hills now instead of two and I still got back right on 45min's so I think that will become my main route from now on. That great site I told you all about (MapMyFitness) tells me it was 3.65km long. It's nice to have a change of scenery and that now gives me 3 different 45min routes to chose from.
I was sweaty and hot when I got home so I got straight into the housework, cleaning, washing and vacuuming then had a nice shower before we took the boys to Caleb's swimming lessons. It's nice to get the hard stuff out of the way early in the day. This afternoon after their naps we have to take our yearly turn at mowing the yards at Caleb's Kindy so that should be fun - not! The boys will play there with Simon while I mow so that will be some extra bonus exercise for me. Then tomorrow I will do another hour of mowing at our place. Hot work but bonus exercise so all worth it in the end :)
One more thing before I go....I read a great article yesterday about the benefits of morning exercise so thought I might copy it here for any of you needing a little motivation to give it a go yourself :)
“Top Ten Reasons” for getting up with the early birds to get moving:
1. Exercising early in the morning "jump starts" your metabolism, keeping it elevated for hours, sometimes for up to 24 hours! As a result, you’ll be burning more calories all day long—just because you exercised in the morning.
2. Exercising in the morning energizes you for the day—not to mention that gratifying feeling of virtue you have knowing you’ve done something disciplined and good for you. (Much better than a worm!)
3. Studies have shown that exercise significantly increases mental acuity—a benefit that lasts four to ten hours after your workout ends. Exercising in the a.m. means you get to harness that brainpower, instead of wasting it while you’re snoozing.
4. Assuming you make exercise a true priority, it shouldn’t be a major problem to get up 30 to 60 minutes earlier—especially since regular exercise generally means a higher quality of sleep, which in turn means you’ll probably require less sleep. (If getting up 30 to 60 minutes earlier each day seems too daunting, you can ease into it with 10 to 20 minutes at first.)
5. When you exercise at about the same time every morning—especially if you wake up regularly at about the same time—you’re regulating your body's endocrine system and circadian rhythms. Your body learns that you do the same thing just about every day, and it begins to prepare for waking and exercise several hours before you actually open your eyes. That’s beneficial because:
-Your body’s not “confused” by wildly changing wake-up times, which means waking up is much less painful. (You may even find that you don’t need an alarm clock most days.)
-Hormones prepare your body for exercise by regulating blood pressure, heart rate, blood flow to muscles, etc.
-Your metabolism, along with all the hormones involved in activity and exercise, begin to elevate while you're sleeping. As a result, you’ll feel more alert, energized, and ready to exercise when you do wake up.
6. Many people find that morning exercise has a tendency to regulate their appetite for the rest of the day. Not only do they eat less (since activity causes the release of endorphins, which in turn diminishes appetite), they also choose healthier portions of healthier foods.
7. People who consistently exercise find, sometimes to their great surprise, that the appointed time every morning evolves into something they look forward to. Besides the satisfaction of taking care of themselves, they find it’s a great time to plan their day, pray, or just think more clearly—things most of us often don’t get to do otherwise.
8. Exercising first thing in the morning is the most foolproof way to ensure that other things don’t overtake your fitness commitment, particularly if you have a hectic family life. (It’s so easy to wimp out in the evening, when we’re tired or faced with such tasks as rustling up dinner and helping with homework.)
9. More than 90% of those who exercise consistently have a morning fitness routine. If you want to exercise on a regular basis, the odds are in your favor if you squeeze your workout into the a.m.
10. Non-morning people can always trick themselves in the a.m. Having trouble psyching yourself up for a sunrise jog? Do what I did—tell yourself that you’ll still be so fast asleep that you won’t even remember—much less mind!
(Thanks to www.sparkpeople.com for this article)
TFTD: "Unless you start doing something different you are in for more of the same!"
Cheers P
Wednesday, 24th October 2007...
Another successful day behind me. And the ironic part....I checked on my scales this morning (Yes bad I know....but I can't help myself *wink*) and if I were to weigh tonight I think I would lose! Dammit!!
Not dammit that I lost but that I don't think I can get to my meeting tonight. It's our mate Scotty's 33rd birthday today and we have plans for dinner at the pub (I'm going sober as designated driver tonight so yey!) then pool at his place after and I think the times will clash with WW. However I'll see how I go and if I can call in there on the way then I will. If not I'll just put myself down as a no change and I'll have to wait until next week to see an official result.
I've just spent the morning at what will be Caleb's Prep School next year. So exciting to have a talk to teachers, get a tour and discuss all that they have in stall for him next year. I know how much he is looking forward to it and I also know that he will totally love the learning environment there. It's bittersweet that my little man is off to school already but mostly I'm just excited to see what he will achieve there I think. I know he'll love it!
Exercise this week has been:
Thurs: 45 min walk including 2km of continuous jogging
Fri: Rest
Sat: Rest
Sun: 10 min's on exercise bike + 100 crunches + 100 leg lifts (inner and outer) + 35
push-ups
Mon: 45min walk (3.8km) with 2 hills including 1.0km jogging (in 2 sections)
+ 25 dips
45min aquarobics class.
Tues: 45min brisk walk (3.8km) with 2 hills including running up 'the hill' + another
section also.
+25 dips
Wed: 45min brisk walk (3.8km) with 2 hills including running up 'the hill' + another
two sections also.
Anyhoo....I have to wake the other little man up from his nap and go run some errands so I'll have to leave it here for today. But just before I do I wanted to draw your attention to another weight loss blog I visited recently. The lovely Catherine there is giving away (yes FREE) some clothes in sizes 18/20. I grabbed the grey skirt with black flowers that you'll see there but as of yesterday she still had both the shirts and the tartan skirt available for whoever wanted them. How cool is this girl. Check it out here for yourself. Thanks Catherine!!!
TFTD: "Take care of your body, it's the only place you have to live!"
Cheers P
Tuesday 23rd October 2007......
Well time may have got away from me to do an update here yesterday but my diet goals definitely did not! As promised I am back on track and all I can think about it 9wk's to Xmas and I'll be damned if I will be 100kg+ by then. I'll chop off a limb if I have to but I will make those 90s by then!!! As I have listed on my goals page, I'd like to be closer to the 95kg mark by then but so long as I see 90-something it will be a merry Christmas for me :)
I've decided to be honest and tell you just how far off track I went. As you know my weigh-in last Wednesday night was 104.2kg. This Sunday morning I was horrified to see 108.9kg on the scales!!!!!!!!! Fark!!!! But with two days of determined effort and a lot of fluid loss I was pleased to see that I am back into the 104s this morning. 4kg in two days - not bad huh? hehehe Just goes to show it was mostly fluid as I've been running to the loo non-stop but still...No excuse! I'm just glad I've undone it before it was too late to stop the backward slide.
Yesterday was a great day. I finished on 24 points and included choices such as plenty of vege's, minimal carbs, skinless chicken and nothing to drink but water and diet coke.
Exercise this week has been:
Thurs: 45 min walk including 2km of continuous jogging
Fri: Rest
Sat: Rest
Sun: 10 min's on exercise bike + 100 crunches + 100 leg lifts (inner and outer) + 35
push-ups
Mon: 45min walk (3.8km) with 2 hills including 1.0km jogging (in 2 sections)
+ 25 dips
45min aquarobics class.
Tues: 45min brisk walk (3.8km) with 2 hills including running up 'the hill' + another
section also.
+25 dips
Dips. They are great for flabby tuckshop arms like mine and the Enforcer used to always have me doing heaps of them in the past. However since we've changed lounges lately and I no longer have futon's with wooden arms I've not had a great place to do them. I don't like to do them on dining chairs in case they slip but I really wanted to work them into my routine again. Then this week I came up with the perfect solution that I don't know why I hadn't thought of before. Every day on my morning walk I pass a perfectly good bus seat. So now each morning I stop and do 25 dips there before moving on. It's easy to include, done in a minute and I have peace of mind knowing that I'm working on that problem spot.
I was also stoked to hear at aqua last night that there will soon be a change to the program. Tues and Thurs nights will become aqua but Monday night will change to a deep water running class - yes!!! The Enforcer had me do a bit of that and it was a total killer so I'm really excited that I can add that to my routine in the weeks to come!
Hehehe. Listen to me raving on about exercise and getting all excited about it. I tell you I may not look forward to it but I love how it makes me feel after, not just successful but also strong and I love that. I drag myself out of bed at 5am each day for my walk (even today after a TERRIBLE night when Talyn had me up at least 10 times!) because I know that once I'm out there I'll be glad I did it. Today I was thrilled to once again run up 'the hill'. It's a path that cut's between streets up a super steep hill. I had worked up to running it back in Enforcer days but lately it just about kills me to even walk it. But today I was determined to run it - and I did!!!! It felt great. Well ok I thought I may actually die at first *wink* but I didn't. I got to the top, kept walking as I regained my breath and then smiled like the Cheshire cat for the rest of my walk. See it's true.....nothing taste as good as success feels!
Speaking of success....thanks to all of you who participated in the Spring Shake-Up Challenge. It is now complete but for a final few stats outstanding so if that's you then please send them in at your earliest convenience.
As mentioned in yesterday's post....the new challenge is ready to begin on Nov 5th. It's the Christmas Countdown Challenge and I'd love for you all to join me. Check out the link above for join-up instructions. Let's all sit on Santa's knee with a little less of us this year :)
TFTD: "People forget how fast you do a job but they don't' forget how well you do it!"
Cheers P
Sunday 21st October 2007......
Oh boy.
I am so far off track these last few days I'm not sure I even know where the road is anymore??? I've not exercised at all since Thursday morning and I've eaten non-stop crap!!!!
However.....there's only one way to fix that. Hunt that track down and get the hell back on it!!! :)
I made a start on that. Today I got my eating back on track. Tonight I have the exercise bike out ready in the lounge room to use while we watch Australian Idol. This week I am not weighing at WW and if I can at all help it I don't want to weigh at home either. But we all know how hard that is for me to resist *snicker* so I'll just have to give it my best shot and see how I go.
Tomorrow morning I am going to break out a new tracker book and make the best effort I can to at least get back into the 103's by my next weigh-in on Oct 31st. Ooh that's Halloween - is that a bad sign??? Tee-he. I'm also going to post my daily points intake here in my journal each day for extra accountability to you all.
One good thing is that I won't be going to the pub after this Wednesday night for the next two Friday nights. My partner in crime for that (Scotty) is going away on holidays so Simon and I are planning a quiet weekend at home this coming weekend. On Wednesday night of this week it is Scotty's birthday and I think we are going out for that but otherwise I can't foresee another pub trip until at least Nov 9th so I think that will do wonders for my weight loss efforts.
I know weekends are my downfall so this weekend I'm looking forward to tackling it quietly, no distractions, no alcohol....just active fun with my boys. I also read some great articles last night about the topic. One was called ''Weekend Survival Guide' and the other was 'Is evening eating destroying your weight loss efforts'. Both come from the brilliant people at www.sparkpeople.com and I can highly recommend the site for great weight loss info and insightful weekly emails should you decide you'd like to subscribe to them.
Did you know it's only 9 weeks until Christmas!!!!!! Holy Crap!!!! That means my goal of being 95.xkg by Christmas is looking highly unlikely!! That would mean a loss of at least 8.3kg in the next 9wk's. Yeah that would be a miracle....but you know what? I'm going to give it my best shot! I know that I always gain a little over Christmas so why can't I really knuckle down between now and then to be strict and make some serious progress before the silly season hits? I'd like to feel confident in my body and my clothes this Christmas. We are off to NSW to my sisters house and I'd like to not feel the need to cover up the whole time. Also we are thinking of hosting a NYE pool party at our house this year and I really need to be more comfortable in my swimmers and board shorts to pull that off in comfort. I've hosted many a party here for NYE that's seen me watching everyone else swim without actually making it in myself. Not this year!!!!!
So....I've got some serious work to do. The first tool towards that for me is to set up the next challenge. It will be called the CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN CHALLENGE!! It begins Monday 5th November. See the challenge page here for all the instructions on how to join.
Now....before I go and get my butt on that exercise bike I wanted to let you all know that I've updated both the boys photo pages this evening. You can see new Talyn pic's and new Caleb pic's. Enjoy!!
TFTD: "Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom!!!"
Cheers P
Thursday 18th October 2007......
Bugger!!!!!!
Well it had to happen. I've had a few weeks now when I've had to work my butt off in the last few days of the week in order to achieve a loss and this week I just couldn't be bothered. It had to catch up eventually and now that it has I feel much better. I could have cut back my food for the last two days of the week and really amped up the exercise but I was just too exhausted to put in the required effort. Talyn has been sleeping terribly just of late (although thankfully had his first solid sleep all night last night - no dummies or nothing for 10hrs!!!!!!!)....and well I gained.
I gained 1.3kg.
My first instinct was to skip the weigh in this week and work my butt off for a loss next week. But the more I thought about it the worse that idea sounded. For one I felt I would be cheating you all and all those who I encourage to weigh even when they know they will gain. Also then any hard work I did do this week wouldn't show next week if I only managed to get it back to what it was or lose just a little. I didn't mind facing the gain at WW - it was my challenge stats I was most worried about. This gain brings me to a 0.2kg gain overall. A gain overall!!!!! Drat and bother!
However it was worth facing as now I feel not only honest but also pumped and ready for a mega loss next week :) I hate that my challenge stats are a gain but it's the truth and perhaps the other's in my same situation will take heart in knowing they are definitely not the only one's who struggle. I'm human and god knows this weight loss this is a constant battle. It's a long battle too but one that I am determined to stick out no matter how long it takes.
Speaking of the challenge....last week this week ladies!!!! Best of luck. For those of you already looking toward the next one - I'll be doing another 6wk challenge that will finish prior to Xmas. I'll wait a few weeks after this one ends to begin the new one but will have the start date for you soon and call for participants on this page so stay tuned.
Ok so my exercise for last week ended like this:
Thurs: Rest
Fri: 45min walk including 2.1km jogging continuous
Sat: Rest
Sun: 1hr lawn mowing
+ 50 dips + 100 crunches + 100 leg lifts + 50 bicep curls with 3kg + 100 
tricep extensions with 3kg
Mon: 45min walk including 1.8km jogging continuous (in 15min's)
+ 30min's gym cardio (treadmill and crosstrainer)
+ 45min aquarobics class.
Tues: 45min brisk walk (3.8km)
Wed: 25min walk (so exhausted I cut it short and came home early)
I've already got this week off to a good start though with a 25min walk and a 2km jog this morning. I'm really motivated to work hard to get back into the 102's this week. Finger's crossed! :)
PS....not sure if I mentioned it here the other day or not but I did do a new update on Caleb's page last week for those who are interested.
TFTD: "If you cannot find happiness along the road you will not find it at the end of the road!!!"
Cheers P
Tuesday 16th October 2007......
Wow yesterday was a BIG day for exercise!
As usual I went out at 5.30am for my morning walk/run. I walked 30min's (1.5km) then ran 15min's (1.8km). Then when Simon got home in the afternoon I hit the gym for 30min's of cardio. I did 10min's on the cross-trainer (2 min's each of level 1-5), then I did 10min's on the treadmill (walk 2 min's, run 3 min's, walk 2min's, run 2min's, walk 1min) then finished off with another 10min's on the crosstrainer (1 min each level 5-10 then back down to 5 again). Then....as if that wasn't enough I went to a 45min aquarobics class last night!
It was my first one back and I had forgotten how great they were. Many of you will remember I went to a lot of them in my Enforcer days as she was the instructor. A new lady does it now and it was still great. I find it a really good workout for my arms and abs but not so much on the legs. They do legs of course but I don't find it really works them hard enough. The resistance of the water does great for arm movements though and they use a pool noodle to work abs. It was only a small class but I knew two of the ladies from WW and once you are in the pool it doesn't matter if you are alone or what you wear because you are away and before you know it the time is up.
I must admit I couldn't stop staring at the instructor. She was about 20 I would guess but her body was amazing! The kind of body I'd kill for. Toned and muscular but not bulky and still feminine. I can always dream *wink*
My exercise for this week now looks like this:
Thurs: Rest
Fri: 45min walk including 2.1km jogging continuous
Sat: Rest
Sun: 1hr lawn mowing
+ 50 dips + 100 crunches + 100 leg lifts + 50 bicep curls with 3kg + 100 tricep extensions with 3kg
Mon: 45min walk including 1.8km jogging continuous (in 15min's)
+ 30min's gym cardio (treadmill and crosstrainer)
+ 45min aquarobics class.
Tues: 45min brisk walk (3.8km)
Speaking of exercise I wanted to share a great website I found yesterday. It's called MapMyFitness and it's unreal. It let's you chose a street map of anywhere in Australia and then you mark out your walk or jog route and it tells you exactly how far it is in kilometers! Awesome! I highly recommend you check it out :)
TFTD: "Example is not the main thing in life, it is the only thing!!!"
Cheers P
Monday 15th October 2007......
Phew what a weekend! Is it Monday already??
Had a night out at the pub with Scotty on Friday night then spent Saturday at the public pool with friends (Scotty's family) then that night we all went out to dinner and drinks for his Mom's 60th birthday. The dinner was all you can eat Chinese - Gulp! I got one medium plate full only and stopped at that. I so wanted more and ever since then I can't think of anything else but how much I want more Chinese....hehehe....but I'm really glad that I stopped when I did. I only had two beers the Saturday night so all in all not too much damage done.
Exercise this week has been:
Thurs: Rest
Fri: 45min walk including 2.1km jogging continuous
Sat: Rest
Sun: 1hr lawn mowing
+ 50 dips + 100 crunches + 100 leg lifts + 50 bicep curls with 3kg + 100 tricep extensions with 3kg
Mon: 45min walk including 1.8km jogging continuous (in 15min's)
And thanks to my 15mins continuous jogging this morning I achieved another goal!! And on Friday I also got my goal of 2km straight on road jogging! Hoorah!!
Ok....well have to end it here short today as it's time to get these boys dressed ready for Kindy. Have a great Monday!
TFTD: "When you believe you can, you can!!!"
Cheers P
Thursday 11th October 2007......
I can't believe it!!!!!!!!
I lost!!!!!!!
I was thrilled to face those scales last night and see a 0.4kg loss! I don't know quite how it happened....well I do - lot's of hard work and sacrifice to undo the damange of my big night out. But it's there, I did it and I'm stoked.
102's now......Yey!
TFTD: "The thing to try when all else fails is again!"
Cheers P
Wednesday 10th October 2007......
Feeling much more positive today then yesterday :)
I'm ready to face those scales tonight whatever they may say. I didn't look this morning as I just didn't want the disappointment so I'm not sure what I'll see tonight at WW. I suspect anything up to a 1kg gain. But so be it! I'm ready to move on so bring it on :)
I suspect a part of my high mood today is due to the fact I achieved another goal this morning!! As you know I had hoped to build up my continuous jogging so that I could join my two 0.7km jogs up together and run the whole thing straight. Well I did that today!!! And to be honest I could have gone further had I of not made it back to home first. I ran 1.8km non-stop and it took 10-15min's. I'm not quite sure if I made the 15min goal so I'll check that next time I do it. I cannot tell you how great this felt!!
I measured what it would take to make a 2.5km straight jog and I hope to be doing that by the end of next week. Only a week or so ago I was running 0.3km and now I'm already doing 1.8km. There's no stopping me now!!!!
A big thank you to all who left guestbook messages re my gym time limits too. I'm thinking about printing them out (minus personal info) and showing them to the gym to help back up my argument??
A special thanks to Charlotte for your comments too...but remember....for all those who leave messages without an email address I cannot write back to you as I would like to :(
Anyhoo.....enough for now. I'll let you know tomorrow how the weigh-in goes. I don't much care now though. Did I mention I can run 1.8km straight!!!!! Hehehe
TFTD: "You are never given a dream without also being given the power to make it come true!!"
Cheers P
Tuesday 9th October 2007......
Ho-hum. Feeling a bit bummed today.
Of course I know why - it's those damn scales! They are still sitting about 1kg or more up at this stage and I'm in panic mode for tomorrow's weigh-in. My instinct is to exercise myself into oblivion and severely restrict my food to achieve a loss. Not smart I know and not healthy...but I'm being truthful.
I'm so sick of having my sense of self worth decided by the scales each morning. I just don't get it? I mean I know I had those drinks this week and that's no doubt to blame....but.....? Most weeks I don't do that and I work my ass off to do hours of exercise yet I get such small results. I keep thinking that if the average person ate what I did and worked out like I did they'd lose heaps. I guess it's my PCOS to blame as I know that it makes weight loss difficult. But there is difficult and then there is this.
I don't stuff my face full of crap food. I don't guzzle full sugar soft drink all day. I don't sit on my ass day in, day out. Yet what reward do I get?? 0.7kg down in a month! Grrrrr!
Now don't get me wrong. I know I'm having a bit of a whinge but of course I'll just pick myself up and keep on keeping on. It's just sometimes the battle wearies me. I'm even considering not weighing this week. Just avoiding the scales until next week, keep working at it and see what happens if I don't weigh each day.
But then I also think that's a cop out! I expect others to weigh and put it behind them so I know I should do the same. And if I was totally honest, if it was not for this site and my challenges I probably would register gains at WW and just get on with the new week. I don't fear them seeing a gain. It's you all out there I feel that I am letting down/setting a bad example for.
Like I said...Ho-hum.
To make matters worse I also slept in today and missed my walk/jog!!! On the day I really needed it too. By the time I woke at 5.30am it was too late to go and get back in time for Simon to go to work. Guess I'll have to start setting an alarm in future.
Oh well....exercise for the week has been this:
Thurs: Rest
Fri: 45min walk + 0.7km + 0.7km jogging (1.4km total jogging)
Sat: Rest
Sun: 30 dips + 100 crunches + 10min's boxing
Mon: 45min walk + 0.7km + 0.7km jogging (1.4km total jogging)
+ 40min's cardio at gym. (Treadmill walk 5.5km/hr for 5min's then run non-stop
for 15min's @ 7km/hr. Cross-trainer 10min's at an increasing level each
minute from level 1-10. Treadmill walk 3min's @ 5.5km/hr, run 5min's @
7km/hr then cool down with 2min's walk at 5.5km/hr.
Which brings me to my next whinge. I was FURIOUS to get to my gym yesterday and find that all the cardio machines (3 treadmills, 3 cross-trainers and 2 bikes) all had a sign saying to limit their use to 10min's at a time. 10min's!!!! What the hell are you supposed to achieve in just 10min's on a treadmill. Not to mention the fact that I am trying to build up my continuous running. I mean for god's sake - talk about ridiculous! If a machine is busy I don't complain, I just think first in best dressed and I go out of my way to try to get there in quiet times. I complained to the girl about the new rules but she basically said it wasn't fair to those waiting. Bullshit!!! So now I'm going to move gym's as soon as I find a better one. I cannot tell you how pissed off I was about it all when I got home!!! Does anyone else have these same limits on their gym equipt? Would love to know more from you about this.
However, by breaking their stupid rules, I did achieve a new goal!! I ran for 15min's straight on the treadmill. Hoorah!!!
PS In case you missed it see yesterdays entry for links to Talyn's new updates and photo's :)
TFTD: "Life is full of choices!!"
Cheers P
Monday 8th October 2007......
School holidays are over and it was back to Kindy today. *Big Sigh* They might be a break for the kids but they are a lot of work for the Mummy's....hehehe
I've just spent this morning finally doing an update on Talyn's page. It was huge as there was SO much that has happened since I last updated there. I've also put in a stack of new photo's at his Talyn's photo page. Pop in and have a look and let me know what you think? I'll be updating Caleb's page and photo's later this week and will let you know here when they are done.
Not much else to say for today. My weekly exercise total so far looks like this:
Thurs: Rest
Fri: 45min walk + 0.7km + 0.7km jogging (1.4km total jogging)
Sat: Rest
Sun: 30 dips + 100 crunches + 10min's boxing
Mon: 45min walk + 0.7km + 0.7km jogging (1.4km total jogging)
The boxing I did with Simon last night was fantastic. I'm very aware that my problem area's that are most likely to respond to toning (unlike my tummy) are my thighs and upper arms. The running will take care of my thighs but I am now adding back in all the exercises that the Enforcer used to whip my arms into nice shape last time.
As well as dips and push-ups, boxing was a really effective workout for the whole upper body. I had Simon hold a kick bag and some focus mitts and I put on the boxing gloves and went absolutely flat out!! It was fun but also very effective I'm hoping. I plan to keep that up at least 2-3times a week. Then I'll work at doing dips and push-ups every day again like I used to.
In addition to that, the Enforcer will be starting her aquarobics classes up again soon so I'll be heading back to those too.
My plan is all coming together nicely in time for Summer!
TFTD: "When in doubt, tell the truth!!"
Cheers P
Sunday 7th October 2007......
Woah what a weekend!!
Had a super big night out at the pub with Scotty while Simon was home with the boys watching cricket. Cricket! His loss - my gain ;) We drank WAY too much, went to his house and drank some more....then came home about 1.30am to drink more then finally all called it a night/morning at about 3.30am. Then I was up at 5.30am throwing up. Nice!
As a result I got nothing else done this weekend. No exercise and as usual some not so good food choices. Not to mention all the sugary mixers I had with the 12 vodka's that night (think Pulses, Red Bulls, Vodka Cruisers and Vodka Stoli's). I only had one of my usual vodka and diet coke as I just couldn't stomach them all night for a change.
So yeah....as usual some serious making up to do between now and Wednesday. Probably won't pull it off again this week for a loss - but will give it my best shot *wink*
On Friday at least I did make some progress on my jogging! I did two lot's of 0.7km continuous jogging during my morning walking route. So that was 1.4km all up. Now I'm going to work towards joining up the two sections and running the whole lot. I really love the jogging and I love the difference I can already see in my legs. Definite toning!
Now I just need to work more on my arms before summer. Dips, push-ups and soem boxing with Simon should do it :)
One thrill I had on the weekend was when I went out and bought a new skirt for my night out. Black, above the knee....but best of all.....size 16!!!!! Now I'm not getting too excited over it as I know that in all other things I'm pretty much an 18 but it's good to know that I am beginning to creep back to those 16s again. It had me feeling on top of the world (hence my overindulgence in alcohol to celebrate I'm sure!). I had the BEST night out though so it was all worth it.
Now I just need to tighten the belt so to speak and jog my ass off in the next few days to get those scales back in line. One day at a time.
TFTD: "Very little is needed to make a happy life, it is all within yourself!!"
Cheers P
Thursday 4th October 2007......
Hoorah! A loss!
Ok only 0.2kg down but given that just 3 days ago I was looking at a 2kg gain....well I'm stoked with my small loss.
I certainly worked hard for it (see yesterday's exercise tally for the week). That's my record for my biggest week of exercise time so far since before the pregnancy so I'm really pleased that I'm getting those hours back up again. I'd love to get to 7hrs this week just to push it a little further. However given that I have given myself a day off exercise today that means lot's of work in the next 6 days....but I CAN do that!! :)
TFTD: "The first step is always the hardest!!"
Cheers P
Wednesday 3rd October 2007......
Well I've done all I can to try to undo the weekend damage and I won't know until tonight if I have succeeded? According to my scales it's going to be very close! I may even try to do one more quick cardio session this arvo to try to tip the scales in my favour? I may still gain but if I do then I'll do so knowing I gave it my best shot and what doesn't show this week is bound to show the next.
After all I've worked hard!
Exercise this week has been:
Thurs: 45min walk + 0.3km jogging
Fri: 45min walk + 0.5km jogging
Sun: Nil.
Mon: 45min walk + 0.7km jogging
+ 1hr lawn mowing
Tues: 45min walk + 1km jogging
+ 30 min gym cardio session
Wed: 45min walk + 0.5km jogging
Total so far: 6hrs 15min's
I'm working at the product table at WW tonight and then I'm working there as the recorder next week. It's good that I'm trained in all area's as I'm always available as a fill in when the regulars are away. This way I don't have to do it every week but when I do it's always good variety and any earnings are a bonus :)
I'm feeling a bit burnt out today. Busy holidays, a lot of exercise and not so much sleep so hardly surprising. I'm taking the boys to the library this morning, Maze Mania with friends tomorrow then we are having a friend and 6 kids around on Friday morning for a bit of a morning tea pool party to end the holidays. Then on Saturday we are babysitting two kids all arvo and evening while the parents are at a wedding. One is Caleb's age and is a very good boy but the younger is 2.5yrs and VERY much a handful so I really hope that goes well? Gosh by Sunday I'm going to need a holiday!
Let you know tomorrow what the final verdict is on the scales. :)
TFTD: "Happiness is not the absence of problems, but the ability to deal with them!!"
Cheers P
Tuesday 2nd October 2007......
Today I kept thinking of the quote from the movie Forrest Gump where Forrest says that if he was going somewhere he "was a-run-ning!"
Today was a big day of running for me and I was able to achieve another TWO goals for my efforts too!!!
I measured yesterday's run that I did during my 45min morning walk/jog and it was 0.7km. This morning I set out determined to beat that, and I did! Today I achieved my goal of running for 1km straight!!! And in the process I also achieved my goal of running on road for 5min's straight! Hoorah!
Then as if that wasn't enough this afternoon I hit the gym for another cardio session. I did more running then too. First I did a 20minute routine on the treadmill as follows:
-1 min walking at 5.0km/hr
-2 min's walking at 5.5km/hr
-10min's running at 7.0km/hr
-2min's walking at 5.0km/hr
-2 min's running at 7.0km/hr
-1min running at 7.5km/hr
-2min's walking at 5.0km/hr
Then it was time for the cross-trainer where I did a 10minute session which saw me increase my level by one every minute until I had done one minute at each level 1 through 10.
All up only a 30min session + stretching but it was a hard core session and especially so given this mornings efforts. Tomorrow I have found another block to add to my morning route so that I can push the time back out closer to the full hour again and also to provide more jogging route for me as the current one ends just 3 doors up from my house so I can cool down before getting home. With the new route I begin the jogging earlier so cover more distance before arriving home. Simple!
I felt like I did the 1km with relative ease today as I really had my breathing going in a steady rhythm. So for the rest of the week I'm going to continue to try to add to it to see what I can achieve :)
So exercise this week has been:
Thurs: 45min walk + 0.3km jogging
Fri: 45min walk + 0.5km jogging
Sun: Nil.
Mon: 45min walk + 0.7km jogging
+ 1hr lawn mowing
Tues: 45min walk + 1km jogging
+ 30 min gym cardio session
Total so far: 5hrs 30mins
Food wise I've been great. The scales this morning showed that had I of weighed in at the Tuesday group this morning I would have gained approx 0.3kg. So now I'm hoping against hope that by tomorrow nights weigh-in at the Wednesday class I may have even pulled off a small loss.
I know my 90's by Oct 17th is looking unlikely but I'll be damned if I won't give it a damn good try none the less :) After all - it's not over until the fat lady sings and I aint singing yet! *wink*
TFTD: "The shortest way to do many things is to do only one at a time!!"
Cheers P
Monday 1st October 2007......
Welcome...to a new page and a new month :)
This was the month I'd hoped to reach the 90s in. My goal is set to reach 99.9kg by Oct 17th. That means 3.5kg to lose in the next 3 weigh-ins. Not likely!!!
This weekend just gone my eating really got the better of me after a night out on the town with my mate Scotty. We went to the pub and not only did I drink beers, vodka pre-mixes and vodka and red-bulls....I also ate some crap when I got home. Not too much but it was salty stuff and chocolate so neither is going to do me any favours on the scales. In fact this morning they are up about 1.5-2kg from last weigh-in. Holy Crap!!!!!!
However....I know that with a few days of careful eating and lot's of exercise that I will be able to bring that down. Perhaps not enough to get a loss but so long as my gain is less then 0.5kg then I can live with that. After all when you have as much weight to lose as me you are bound to have slip ups along the way. Life happens and I for one am not going to put my life on hold to be a diet saint. I can only do the best I can in social situations, learn from my mistakes and keep on keeping on. So that's what I'm doing.
Yesterday I didn't end up doing my ab session as planned last night - I was exhausted and still sore from my big gym session on Saturday. So I took the day off. My first day without exercise in 9 days. However this morning I was right back into it when I headed out on my walk/jog at 5.30am. It was really foggy this morning which was eery but kind of nice. You can feel like you are the only one on earth when you are walking around early in the morning like that.
As I mentioned last week my goal for this week is to jog on the road (not treadmill) for 1km straight. On Friday I did 0.5km and this morning I went heaps further. I'm not sure how much further until I measure it in the car when we go out shortly but I'm guessing it will be somewhere around 0.7-0.8km. Any improvement is good though and it will bring me closer to my 1km goal. The distance doesn't worry my body or my legs...it's my breathing that forces me to stop in the end. However I keep the Enforcer's words in my mind and take small steps, slow them down when I need to, relax my shoulders and just focus on my breathing. I love the feeling of having done a good jog and I can't wait until I can build it up to several km's or 20-30min's straight jogging. Then I'll feel like Superwomen!!!! *wink*
Will let you know tomorrow what the distance ended up being and then I'll try to top that on my next walk/jog. This arvo I have 1hr of lawn mowing planned for some variety and then tomorrow morning I think I'm going to head to the gym for the 6am express spin class. It's only 30min's long but it will be 30min's of flat out work so it will be worth it and it fit's in with me having to get home about 6.40am for Simon to get to work. Too easy!
TFTD: "Victory belongs to the most persevering!!"
Cheers P
