tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91569424137204169102024-02-19T19:05:56.888+10:00Be - Do - HaveA record of my quest to lose weight and the trials and tribulations I experience along the way.
It is sure to be a rollercoaster ride - join me if you are game enough !!!Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354091089461892924noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156942413720416910.post-56202182317811336602010-08-04T22:24:00.000+10:002010-08-04T22:24:38.705+10:00Getting the balance rightThose of you who know me will know that I am generally an all or nothing kind of girl - I am either committed to something 100% or can't be bothered as it is all just too hard. I am starting to learn that life doesn't have to be this way - I can take the middle road on occasions and nothing bad will happen to me. <br />
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My exercise of late has not been as good as was a few months ago. I think this is mainly due to the cold weather because I am a big wus and don't like being cold so it became easier for me not to exercise rather than exercise in the cold. Unfortunately, once you are out of the habit of exercising, it is harder to get back into it. But, we are working on it and while we don't manage to walk every single day, we do walk more days of the week than not. At one point I was almost obssesed with having to do 10,000 steps each day - so much so I would run up and down the passage trying to make my steps for that day. Now I have realised that some days it just isn't going to happen - and, it isn't the end of the world if it doesn't. Sometimes life gets in the way of exercise and that is just how it is, and, if I don't make 10,000 steps today, the sun will still come up tomorrow (unless we are having really cr*ppy weather in which case it will be lighter than if it was night time !).<br />
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I have not been in the right head space to really concentrate on losing these last bloody 7-8kgs - maybe I am meant to be the weight that I am because I have found it relatively easy to maintain this weight since the middle of June. When I write it like that it seems like a long time to be dicking around and not getting serious about what I am doing but then it has been winter and everyone knows that we eat more comfort type food in winter - and maybe I am being too hard on myself. Being able to maintain my weight is what I am aiming for - if I practise a bit along the way to losing all the weight - is that such a bad thing ?<br />
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It is certainly a lot easier to watch what I am eating at my new job. We are in an industrial area with nowhere to buy food so any food I want to eat during the day I have to take with me - no vending machines close by, no servo within walking distance and I can't be bothered getting in the car and driving 5kms to the nearest shopping centre for a chocolate. So, it should be easy, shouldn't it ???? But it isn't, because I haven't been getting much work from Coles which means I am sitting at home at night, often by myself, and what is the best thing to do when you are home alone - eat, of course !!!!! I tried not having junk food in the house - that worked except that even if you eat too much of any 'good' foods, the calories still mount up. I need to work on how to deal with this issue - maybe I should be doing my paperwork or yoga or pilates - anything but eating !!!<br />
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Work is improving and today I really enjoyed my day - although I did spend nearly 4 hours on two conference calls and for some reason I was the one doing most of the talking !!!! I am not sure how that happened except that maybe seeing as I am the newest member of the team, I had the most questions but it certainly kept that 3pm slump at bay. I am really excited about the new system that we are moving to - I think it is going to make my job so much easier and free up some of my time so that I can persue more worthwhile projects - at least that is what I am hoping will happen !!!<br />
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On that note, I am off to do the washing and then get into bed - far away from the kitchen and the food - to read until Al gets home from work. I can't believe that it is Thursday already tomorrow - another week has just flown by.<br />
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Take care and go safely !<br />
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<i>TFTD : There is a prayer that lives in the centre of your heart. If you pray it, it will change your life. How does it begin - Matthew Anderson</i>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354091089461892924noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156942413720416910.post-80165258321156412192010-07-25T16:08:00.002+10:002010-07-25T16:08:41.628+10:00Surprise !A surprise birthday party for me is what I walked into when we got home from picking up some DVD’s last night ! A and K had organised another surprise party for me without me suspecting a thing – he really is amazing at being able to do this. When I look back now I can see the signs and the reason for some of the questions and decisions that were made but at the time I had no idea. <br />
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I don’t know how he knew I was going to suggest getting some DVD’s last night and he won’t say what plan B was if I didn’t suggest getting them. K got home from work and I said “What about getting some DVD’s ?” and she said “OK” so off we went. Then she was calling A to check if he wanted to see what we had chosen (Law Abiding Citizen and Dear John) and he said they were fine (not sure if that was what he really said actually !!!). Next thing, her phone rings again and she tells me that he has called to say that they really are OK – I am sure that they were just making sure we didn’t get home before everyone got there !!!!<br />
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When we drove down our street, I saw my folks car and said to K “Wonder why Gogo and Papa are here ? They don’t normally come this late in the evening.” She replied that maybe they had come to check mail. So I left it at that. Anyway, got inside and as I walked into the kitchen she said I had to close my eyes – I thought that it was just my folks there but there were other family and friends as well. It was just lovely.<br />
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They had organised all the food – nibblies, meat, salads, rolls, dessert – everything !!!!! A and I had had an amazing day together and it was just the perfect way to end the day.<br />
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I am so lucky to have the wonderful family that I have. I couldn’t have asked for a more caring, mostly unselfish daughter who is not always just totally wrapped up in herself, or a husband who is also my best friend who I wouldn’t swop for anything in the whole wide world. I love you guys both so much – I wish that I had words to tell you just how much.<br />
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Thank you both for a blast of a birthday – now the downward slippery slope to 50 is calling !!!!! Bring it on is all I can say.Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354091089461892924noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156942413720416910.post-28460345877691051702010-07-20T21:44:00.000+10:002010-07-20T21:44:21.411+10:00First day downWell all the nerves were for nothing - I think that I am going to really enjoy working at my new job ! I guess I should have known that the nerves and the churning stomach were for nothing when they were happening but you know what it is like sometimes - even though you know something in your head doesn't make it not happen in your body !!!!!<br />
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Hopefully now (well from next week probably) - some sort of normalcy will return to my life and I can get back on track with losing these last 8-10kgs. I guess the good think is that over the past couple of weeks I have learnt what I need to do to maintain my weight - always a good thing given how many times I have lost these pesky kilos, only to gain them back at a later stage !!<br />
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Financially we are going to have to pull our belts in a bit as I have taken a drop in salary to leave Council but I think that in the long run the opportunities that I have at this company far outweigh the financial loss which is hopefully only a short term issue. If The Body and Feet Retreat continues to grow, we may even be able to look at giving up working at Coles (although we may stay on as casuals so that we continue to get the 5% discount on our groceries !!!!!)<br />
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I am feeling so much happier in myself and I am sure that I will be able to translate this into continuing with my weight loss. My plan is to take the rest of this week off and to seriously get back into a healthy lifestyle from next week. I can't say that I need to be more conscious of what I am eating because I have made conscious decisions to eat and drink what I have, but they haven't always been the best choices that I could make. My exercise has sort of fallen by the wayside because I have had lots of reasons (read excuses here !!!!) for not exercising BUT I can feel it and I know that I need to get back to exercising daily and NOT finding excuses about why I can't exercise UNLESS there is a legitimate reason e.g. getting home from work at 5.30 - seeing a client from 6-7.15 and then working from 8-12 - I don't expect myself to perform miracles and try to get 60 mins of exercising in between all of that. Instances like the above are the ONLY reason I shouldn't be exercising. (I may have to have a re-read of this next week when I forget about this decision !)<br />
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Have a great week everyone - I am happy, happy , happy and I wish you all you wish for yourself !<br />
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<i>Every choice before you represents the universe inviting you to remember who you are and what you want.</i>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354091089461892924noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156942413720416910.post-76473421099229928472010-07-17T18:30:00.000+10:002010-07-17T18:30:03.216+10:00Too long !It's been ages since I posted but I haven't felt like I have had anything worthwhile to post about so figured there was no point in posting about nothing !<br />
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The whole job issue has been on and off since about 10 June - I am just so glad that it has finally been resolved and I can start the new role on Tuesday. I was hoping to finish up at Council on Friday but they are holding me to the 7 days notice that I had to give but that is OK. It gives me one more day to go through things with the new contractor.<br />
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My weight and exercise seem to have come to a bit of a standstill at the moment but that is OK. I am maintaining my weight reasonably well - have put on 0.4 in 2 weeks but we have been out to dinner a couple of times where I have made choices that were probably not the best I could have made but were things which I really felt like eating so figure that is what maintaining is all about. I also had dessert both times we were out. I have been out to lunch a couple of times with people wanting to say goodbye - made reasonable choices but again, could maybe have made better choices. Again, I have been happy to just able to maintain at the moment because of the stress in other areas of my life. I am learning to find the balance between my weight and what I eat and how I cope with other issues in my life. I guess this is what the key is to being able to maintain - what I need to do now is get back to how I thought about 4-6 weeks ago so that I can lose these last 8-10kgs and get to the weight that I want to, and then be able to maintain at THAT weight. The I will be happy - not because all my worries will be gone, but because I will be at a weight that I am happy at. I realise that losing weight doesn't mean that all my problems are lost as well, it just means that I can deal with my problems at a lower weight that what I used to weigh.<br />
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Not only have I had the stress of the job happening but I have also had some health issues which, after some exploratory stuff, we are no closer to finding a resolution than we were before they started. I have decided to just put it all out of my mind, just wish my family could do the same.<br />
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But, it is all good from now. On Tuesday I start my new job, on Wednesday I turn 45 (which is a pleasant surprise as I thought I was already 45 turning 46 !!!!), and I feel like I am getting back into the right head space to be able to tackle these last few kilos and get rid of them. I know that as I get closer to my goal weight, the weight takes longer to lose, but I am prepared to just keep at it until it happens. I KNOW that I can do this - now I just need to make it happen. (OK - having eaten 3/4 of a packet for biscuits this afternoon isn't going to help) - that has happened and maybe I just need to do some damage control over the next couple of days to counter act what I did.<br />
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I do think that once things have settled on the job front, everything else will fall into place. It seems that I can't really concentrate on two many fronts at once - clearly I am not as skilled at multi-tasking as what I thought !!!!!! Or maybe I just use having a few things on the go as an excuse to have a lapse in my healthy eating - whatever it is, it is going to stop - now - tonight - OK, maybe tomorrow as I am at home by myself tonight and I can hear all sorts of food calling me !!!<br />
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Hopefully the weather will be good tomorrow and we will be out there exercising and enjoying ourselves. Last weekend we did a 28km ride on Sunday - Al said, "Hey, if we just do this route another 3 times, we would have just finished the Brisbane to Gold Coast" - that is our next cycling goal - the 100km Brisbane to Gold Coast cycle. Our next walking goal is the 14km Bridge to Brisbane at the end of next month - best get out there in our walking shoes or on our bicycles otherwise we aren't likely to achieve those goals.<br />
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<i>Choose being kind over being right, and you'll be right every time - Richard Carlson</i>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354091089461892924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156942413720416910.post-19696116072736597012010-06-27T17:54:00.002+10:002010-06-27T17:56:18.560+10:00We did it !!!!!First off I want to thank A and K for their encouragement and support during the ride and the training - it was a great family effort and I think we all did really well.<br />
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We were up just after 4am - got the drinks and last few things packed and we were on our way. Arrived in Brisbane with plenty of time to spare and managed to get a parking right across from the park where we needed to be. Thankfully it wasn't as cold as we thought it could have been although it was a little chilly out of the car. <br />
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I guess next year we will tackle the start of the race a little differently - we went close to the back so that we were out of the way of the pack but then everyone started joining from the side so, even though we were there and waiting from about 6.15am - we didn't actually get to leave until just after 7.30 - a long time to be waiting around for something to happen.<br />
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Anyway, got onto the course and, as my friend said, before I knew it 9.5km were gone and I hadn't even realised it. The hills were as bad as I remembered them and in most instances I just fixed my gaze 2m in front of my bike and just kept pedalling. What I had forgotten was that the majority of the hills were in the second 25kms !!! But that became apparent when we got to the compulsory half way stop and we still had some horrible hills to go. But, it was all good. We had a banana, some trail mix and some energade and then took off again. I was having a lot of pain in my right kidney but that seems to have gone now so that is good.<br />
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A and I used our camelpaks but they were leaking and we found ourselves with wet pants and then wet shirts as we were trying to feed the tube around so that it didn't drip - will have to see about replacing some of the parts - maybe they have perished from not being used !!!! I only dry heaved once which was great - normally that happens at the top of most hills !!!! Sometimes I was at the back going up the hills and sometimes I was in the front - and sometimes I was even in the middle. We weren't sure how we were going to be able to stay in contact with each other and said we would catch up at the halfway mark if we lost contact but it was relatively easy once we were away from the crowd.<br />
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The second half I think was definitely harder than the first half and I kept on getting cramp in my toes. A said that his toes were really cold and suggested that maybe we shouldn't have laughed at the guy all kitted out with the cycling gear who had socks over his shoes !!! It was quite funny at stages - people all kitted out in, what looked like the most flash outfits and shoes etc etc, walking up the hills. Thankfully I managed to keep my bum on the saddle the whole way - no walking for me !!! I was very proud of that although if things had got to tough I would have walked if I had to.<br />
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Our average speed for the 50kms was 20kph which wasn't bad given that I was going up some hills at 8kph !!!! I also reached a personal best - fastest time of 47.78kph - obviously on a downhill !<br />
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K slept on the way up and the way down. My legs were really sore and stiff on the way down and, although I was going to sell tickets to see us getting out the car when we finally got home - it probably wasn't as funny as it could have been as I was busting to go to the toilet and so the minute the car stopped and the garage door was open, I was out the car and into the house without thinking too much about how much my legs hurt ! After unpacking the car we showered and then spent the afternoon in front of the TV - dozing, watching TV, reading and knitting.<br />
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What a great way to spend a Sunday - can't wait to do it again next year and now the Brisbane to Gold Coast isn't as frightening as it was before this morning - bring it on !!!!!!<br />
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Have a fantastic week, take care and go safely !Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354091089461892924noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156942413720416910.post-16997408410847054192010-06-24T20:34:00.000+10:002010-06-24T20:34:17.732+10:00Weight down, mood downMy weight was down 0.4kg this morning – I was hoping for 0.5 but it wasn’t to be – and that is OK because it is what it is. That takes my total to 21.9kg in 23 weeks. <br />
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My motivation today is lacking – even my FOCUS post-it on my computer didn’t do it for me. I don’t know if it is the weather that made me just want to eat whatever I could lay my hands on but I don’t like it. I feel like I am out of control with my food and I don’t like feeling like that – I don’t want to think that the food is controlling me. I NEED to be in control of what I eat – that is how I have got as far as I have. I don’t want to undo the good that I have done so far, but I am going to have to find something from somewhere to turn this feeling around. It was only a few weeks ago that I was really happy with life – granted there is something happening that it probably the cause of this, but, until decisions are made, I can’t change what is going to happen and I just have to accept it. Easier said than done, I know. <br />
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Maybe it is the lack of exercise that is also contributing to making me feel down – those endorphins haven’t had much chance lately to get pumped around. While I understand that it is OK to exercise when the weather is cold, I think it probably isn’t a good idea to exercise in the cold when I have a cold which is why I haven’t had as much exercise lately as I would have liked. I don’t know if the race on Sunday is playing on my mind as well – I know that we can cycle the 50kms and finish (we don’t have any times in mind for how long we are going to take), but I am still nervous about either stacking it myself or someone else stacking it and causing me grief. The fact that the roads are not being closed is of concern as well – knowing that many motorists have such little regard for cyclists. <br />
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Yoga was good although my right thigh is feeling a little tender now after some of the poses that we did. We worked on pigeon pose and other variations which were good - these poses always get me in the glutes. We did a really slow, contemplative salute to the sun which I really enjoyed and, of course, the meditation which is always the best way to finish the class. Somehow the energy there is so much better than when I try to meditate on my own at home.<br />
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This is a bit disjointed – sorry my mind is all over the place tonight. So much so I am using my TFTD from work here as well !!!!!! Yes, I know that I need to read this particular TFTD and take it on board because it speaks directly to how I feel right now. <br />
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<i>TFTD : Whatever we are waiting for – peace of mind, contentment, grace, the inner awareness of simple abundance – it will surely come to us, but only when we are ready to receive it with an open and grateful heart - Sarah Ban Breathnach </i>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354091089461892924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156942413720416910.post-6555896261570164512010-06-21T22:18:00.000+10:002010-06-21T22:18:10.346+10:00Last weekMy weigh on Thursday saw a loss of 1.4kg taking my total loss to 21.5kg in 22 weeks which I am very happy with. I am feeling so much better in myself – not surprising with that amount of weight gone. Now if I could just get rid of this head cold that I have it would be great ! What I am worried about is not being able to exercise – (a) because it is too cold and (b) because I feel cr*p but I don’t want to get out of the habit of exercising. I get cranky when I don’t exercise – my family don’t like it !!!! (And neither do I actually !) <br /><br />K has been battling a head cold for a few days now and has been taking some OTC stuff to try to help with a blocked nose and sore throat. That finished yesterday and I stopped at the chemist on the way home from work to get some more stuff for her and I – at the moment no point in going to the dr because there is no infection or anything like that. <br /><br />We decided to give yoga a last week – couldn’t imagine doing downward dog or salute to the sun with a head that feels like this! <br /><br />Sorry for the lack of posts lately - things just seem to be so hectic at the moment although I am not sure why because with us being sick, we haven't exercised as much as we normally do or as much as I would like. I guess this past week has made me realise that, while exercise is good for me, I also need to listen to my body when it is not feeling 100%. I have been looking at my charms a lot lately - my runner keeps reminding me of how much fitter I am now than I used to be and my yinyang charm reminds me to keep the balance and if that means not exercising because I am not well, then that is what I need to do, no matter how much my head is saying "Get out there and exercise !!!!"<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">TFTD : If you are too careful, you are so occupied in being careful that you are sure to stumble over something – Gertrude Stein</span>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354091089461892924noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156942413720416910.post-26146915474349035482010-06-13T14:21:00.000+10:002010-06-13T14:21:12.452+10:00I did it !!!!Today A and I went up to Brisbane to cycle 'the hill' before the race on 27th June. We did it - twice ! Man it feels good. What I did notice was that, you know how sometimes things seem to be much bigger issues in your head than they actually are - well that is what it was like with the hill - some of the hills that we did a few weeks ago when all three of us were cycling were WORSE than 'the hill' today !!!! Clearly 'the hill' had grown in stature in my head but now that I know that I have conquered it twice, it doesn't seem like such a big deal anymore. I am REALLY glad that we did the other hills so that I know what to expect when we get to them on 27th !!!<br />
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I wonder how often in life I have imagined something was going to be worse than what it turned out to be - how many times I have worried about issues that never happened, or wasted energy on something that never materialised ? Today was such a great example of how powerful your mind is - in my head, this hill was maybe going to be impossible for me to get to the top of but in reality, it wasn't anything like that - I made it up there twice in the space of about an hour. I really would like to keep this incident alive to remind myself that often the reality is not as bad as the imaginary !!!!<br />
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I had to laugh at A - when we were on our way back to turn around and do the hill the second time, I overtook him and was riding ahead of him and as we turned I asked if we could stop and make some adjustments to my bike. Anyway, before we pulled out again he said that I should ride ahead of him because he could see how much weight I had lost and how sexy my butt looked ! It made me feel really good to know that he had noticed it and that he cared enough to comment on it. I am always the one cycling at the back - whether there are two of us or three of us. A was an international athlete, K probably had the potential to compete at a really high level of whatever sport she chose had she chosen one, but me, I will always be the fat girl who lost weight and just likes to exercise - I will always be the one at the back of the pack but that is OK. I bet that even though K has done less training than me, she will beat the pants off me come the day and that is fine she is 27yrs younger and about 13kgs lighter than me so she probably should beat the pants off me.<br />
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I am off to shower and then attack some chores that very kindly waited for me to finish cycling and get home so that I could get them done.<br />
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<i>TFTD : Every huge success starts out as one simple thought.</i>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354091089461892924noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156942413720416910.post-12711349206671925382010-06-08T22:55:00.002+10:002010-06-08T22:55:50.771+10:00Staying focussedToday has probably been the hardest day for me to stay focussed on what I want to achieve – mainly because I was busy with the most mind numbing data capture work. Don’t get me wrong – I enjoy the fact that I get paid as a management accountant to do a data processing job but that doesn’t stop the boredom from hitting or make it easier to stay focussed on what I want to achieve. I have come so close, so many times today, to just eating for the sake of it, but so far I have managed to resist – long may it last because my unofficial weight loss this morning is over 20kgs !!!! Have to stay focussed enough so that I can see that number (or less) on the scales on Thursday morning when I weigh-in.<br />
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FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS – that is the key for me at the moment.<br />
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<i>Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle</i>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354091089461892924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156942413720416910.post-47699108216142500362010-06-07T21:30:00.000+10:002010-06-07T21:30:05.914+10:00Rest day or lazy day ?This weekend I did not exercise at all – nothing, zip, zero, zilch, no walks, no cycles, no jogs. I had lots of good intentions but they just didn’t happen for lots of reasons. But, am I using the excuse of a rest day as a way of justifying what I didn’t do ? A keeps telling me how important rest days are when you are training but I am not sure if it is just a way to justify the times when you don’t train.<br />
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At 9pm last night I felt really guilty when I realised that we hadn’t done any exercise the whole weekend but not guilty enough to get out from under the blanket and go and do something about it !!!!<br />
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I did work packing shelves for 3 hrs on Saturday night at Coles so I did sort of do something but it may be a stretch to call it exercise.<br />
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My food intake this weekend was really good given the circumstances – I had good breakfasts both days. Made good choices for lunch when we were out. I had about 6-8 chips with lunch on Saturday and paid the price with an unsettled stomach the rest of the day so said to Al that, in future, please remind me about the fact that, while I love hot chips, my body doesn’t like them anymore and it isn’t worth the discomfort to have them. So yesterday when we were sitting down to have something to eat he reminded me and said he didn’t mind if I had them (as I would have had some of his !!) but that I had asked him to remind me not to have them. I didn’t have any and felt so much better for not having had them.<br />
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I also managed to stay focussed enough to not have a muffin or an ice-cream that they had over the weekend. I did have one Ferrero Rocher chocolate but figure that wasn’t going to break my motivation or send me off the rails – I could have eaten a whole heap more but managed to say only one, only one !!!!!!<br />
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My unofficial weight loss was just under 20kgs this morning – oh how I wish the 20kg mark would arrive – I am hanging out to get my yinyang Pandora charm !!!!! Someone said to me today that I should just go and buy it but I said that didn’t feel right – if it was to acknowledge my 20kg loss, how could I justify buying it if I hadn’t lost the 20kgs yet ?<br />
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I am focussed on doing some exercise tonight – will be going home and making sure that, come rain, hail or snow (OK that isn’t likely on the Gold Coast), I WILL be exercising tonight. Not so much because I have to, but because I missed not exercising on the weekend. Our plans to cycle the horrible hill in Brisbane went south when all arrangements changed on Saturday but, you get that some days and sometimes it is about being able to adapt and adjust to the current situation.<br />
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TFTD : If you have love in your life, it can make up for a great many things that are missing. If you don’t have love in your life, no matter what else there is, it’s not enough – Ann Landers</i>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354091089461892924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156942413720416910.post-85101020593409385882010-06-04T19:47:00.000+10:002010-06-04T19:47:26.811+10:00Another great day !Well day three of doing exactly what I need to do is just about over - so completely happy with that. Unofficially, total loss of 19kg this morning but it doesn't count until I am that weight on a Thursday morning weigh-in.<br />
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There were times today when I was so tempted to have something from the vending machine and I looked up and saw my FOCUS post-it note and had a drink of water instead - I LOVE IT WHEN I AM SO MOTIVATED AND HAVE THE WILLPOWER TO RESIST EATING WHAT I SHOULDN'T - can you tell I am happy ??????<br />
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Have a great weekend everyone and take care !Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354091089461892924noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156942413720416910.post-8939091929232553802010-06-03T21:16:00.000+10:002010-06-03T21:16:01.643+10:00Just for todayJust for today ...... I ate what I was supposed to<br />
Just for today ...... I drank my water<br />
Just for today ...... I did my exercise<br />
Just for today ...... I went to yoga and thoroughly enjoyed it<br />
Just for today ...... I did all of the above because I wanted to and not because I had to, and I enjoyed them<br />
Just for tomorrow ...... I am going to do them all over again (except for the yoga which is only on a Thurday night !!!)<br />
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Have a great Friday and an even better weekend !<br />
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<i>TFTD : There are three kinds of people: 1. Innovators. 2. Imitators. 3. Idiots - Warren Buffett</i>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354091089461892924noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156942413720416910.post-9123412837735411102010-06-02T21:13:00.000+10:002010-06-02T21:13:14.605+10:00FOCUSThis is what the post-it note that is stuck to the top of my computer says. I am hoping that it will help me to remember what it is that I am working to achieve – a healthy lifestyle as well as some weight loss. This is to help me think about what I am putting into my mouth BEFORE I put it into my mouth rather than sit regretting it after I have eaten it.<br />
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My weight has been creeping up this week which is not the way I want it to go but it is because I have not been as focussed as I was a few weeks ago. I have found excuses for why I should have the extras and felt that it would all be good – but it isn’t and I need to get it all back to being good quickly !!!!<br />
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<a href="http://apps.facebook.com/blognetworks/blog/art_of_living_and_slimming/">Kathy</a> also suggested that maybe just walking isn’t enough to burn off the excess calories now that we are so much fitter than we used to be. We did the 4th in the 5 race Corporate Challenge Series on Sunday and knocked another 1 mins 50 secs off our time. This means that over the course of the three races we have taken part in (there was one race on while we were away) we have knocked 3 mins 50 secs off the time we did in the first race – that has to mean that we are getting fitter but I think it also means that I have to work harder to burn the excess off. Kathy also said that with the time limits that she has she is trying to work harder for the same period of time rather than just for a longer period of time. So tonight we jogged for sections of the walk along the side streets – sometimes it is a little difficult with the dogs – if I run with Alfie, he almost pulls me along whereas sometimes with Rosie she tends to dawdle and doesn’t keep up with me !!!!! Will try this for the next week to see what sort of results I get – OK, I probably need to try it for more than a week but you know what I mean. My legs didn’t feel heavy at all which was great.<br />
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I am tossing up the idea of going to a personal trainer for 30 mins a week – don’t think I could do more than a 30 min session. I asked Al if he would come with me and he said a flat out no thanks. I asked him if he would like to think about it and he said no thanks, he did two years conscription in the navy and said that he doesn’t want someone telling him what to do !!!! I asked if he could think of it as them training him but he isn’t keen. K said she would come with me so need to seriously think about whether this is what I want or not. It will tie up more of my time but I think if I could use him (one of my client’s husband) to tone up my arms, legs, tummy and butt, it would serve a purpose. Will let you know what I decide. Of course, if you have any stories about what to look out for with a personal trainer, I would love to hear from you.<br />
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I am going to try to have an early night tonight. Despite my history of sleeping better when I exercise, this is not happening. I wake up at least once or twice, sometimes even three times, an hour and I am soooooooo tired. I don’t understand how I can be so tired but not be able to sleep – it just doesn’t make sense. <br />
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I am not looking forward to my weigh in tomorrow – I am expecting a gain but that is totally my own fault. I have not been nearly careful enough with what I have been eating but today, the first day of the rest of my life, I have had a good day. I haven’t eaten anything I am not supposed to eat, I have exercised (including some running) and I have remained focussed on my goal of losing some more weight.<br />
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TFTD : Self-worth makes you extremely attractive. </i>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354091089461892924noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156942413720416910.post-71565060992578534602010-05-31T23:49:00.000+10:002010-05-31T23:49:28.726+10:00Complacency or ................ ?I am starting with the TFTD today because it is so relevant for me at the moment.<br />
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<i>"You may have a fresh start any time you choose, for this thing we call 'failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down" Mary Pickford</i><br />
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Having lost 18.5kgs, I am feeling successful in my weight loss endeavours but I am also finding that it is easier to eat those things that are not assisting me in losing the next 12-15kgs that I want to lose to get to the weight that I want to be. Initially, it was so much easier to just say no to the things that weren't helping me get to where I want to be but now it is harder. I feel more like I am entitled to have a life without total deprivation, but am I if I can't control it ????????<br />
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Yesterday is a good example - we got up early and had our breakfast before going to the race. Got home and walked the dogs down to the park at the Broadwater to run and fetch the ball. Came home and showered and off to Robina to do some shopping. At 11.30 K said "I know it is early for lunch but I am starving." I suggest sushi or Subway. A suggests Grill'd. Off we go to Grill'd because the weather is a bit cold and we want something warm. That is fine - I have a grilled chicken burger and a couple of chips (OK more than a couple because I felt like cr*p about 30 mins later because I had eaten said chips !!!!). I didn't eat the whole roll and left some of the salad stuff out as well because there was just too much. Had a Coke Zero - so far, not too bad. Then we walk past Darryl Lea - liquorice - 98% fat free (never mind all the sugar !!!) so we buy a packet. After a couple of hours it is time to go to the movies - we have booked to see Robin Hood using the Gold Lounge tickets that Al got for his birthday. We get there and get a drink - only diet drink is Pepsi Max (which I hate) so I have Solo. Strike 1. Then the movie starts and they bring us each a box of popcorn. I have about 1/5 box and realise I am just eating it because it is there so stop but really, that is Strike 2 ! Prior to going into the movies we ordered spring rolls and chips at 4.30 and then sticky date pudding with ice-cream at 5.30 - these come and I happily partake of them 'because this is a once in a lifetime opportunity - we aren't going to pay $35 each for movie tickets no matter how comfy the chairs and why should I deprive myself' - Strike 3 and, if I was playing baseball or softball, I would be out.<br />
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Am I getting too complacent with my loss to date ? Or, is life for living and it can't be all about denying the nicer things in life ? Or, it is about being able to do it all in moderation ? I think it is a bit of the first and last question - I AM getting complacent with my loss to date - my clothes are fitting better, people are commenting on how much weight I have lost and I am feeling good about myself. Will I feel better in another 12-15kgs time - for sure I will. Will I be able to lose that next 12-15kgs - not so certain. Can I have a bit of those extra things without going overboard - I have ALWAYS been an all or nothing kind of person. I am either totally committed or can't be bothered - there is very little that is middle of the road for me and I need to find the balance between being totally obsessed with my weight and living a life that is enjoyable and worth living. Just how I am going to do this I don't know. What I do know is that my TFTD today is one that I am going to keep with me to remind me that I am NOT a failure until I stop picking myself up and trying again.<br />
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Have a great week everyone and take care !Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354091089461892924noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156942413720416910.post-58097061184949051452010-05-28T18:45:00.002+10:002010-05-28T18:45:59.994+10:00Nothing to say !Those of you who know me will know that the title of today's post is a little unusual - I usally have lots to say about a whole range of things. Tonight I sat down to blog and I went "I have nothing to say today". I have sat here wracking my brain for a few minutes and I still "have nothing to say" - so on that note, I am going to go and give my child a massage that she asked for.<br />
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Have a great weekend !<br />
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<i>TFTD : Life is like a sandwich - the more you add to it the better it becomes.</i>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354091089461892924noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156942413720416910.post-78687080531119833212010-05-25T17:10:00.001+10:002010-05-25T17:10:40.784+10:00The dreaded snooze buttonDoes anyone dislike the snooze button as much as I do ? I think I dislike it more than the actual alarm going off in the morning. Mine might be a bit dodgy which is why sometimes it snoozes for just a minute and other times it snoozes for the conventional 5 minutes – but, no matter what it snoozes for, it seems to me that I just doze off and it is going off again. I know, I know – if I just got up when the alarm first went off I wouldn’t have to worry about the snooze button – but I can’t. No matter how many times I try – I just can’t get out of bed when the alarm goes off – I NEED to have a few ‘snoozes’ before I get up. I don’t know why – A doesn’t know why – but I am sure he wishes that I would just get up the first time it goes off. He generally doesn’t get up until after me so there must be mornings when I snooze for about 30 minutes with the alarm going off every 5 minutes it must drive him nuts but, given he has never said anything, maybe it isn’t that bad !! Of course winter time is worse because the chance to stay snuggled under the doona for those extra few minutes sometimes is just too hard to resist – the down side is that, the longer I lie in bed, the more I have to rush or the later I will be for work which probably isn’t the end of the world but if I am too late I have to stay later to make up the time (or just get paid less) and, the chances of getting a parking space diminish in direct proportion to how late I am.<br />
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This adds to the dilemma of how short to cut my hair. The shorter it is the more often I have to wash it – at least if I can tie it up, I only have to wash it every other day instead of every day and, with winter on the way, I would prefer to spend every second longer in the morning in bed rather than getting up earlier every morning to wash and dry my hair UNLESS I went really, really short but my head may not like that during winter – at least with long hair, I have a chance of keeping some part of my body i.e. my head, warm. Given how much I feel the cold, this is probably going to be the deciding factor in the decision on how short to cut my hair. There is still a part of me that wants to go really short but that part may have to just wait until closer to summer (and more kilos gone).<br />
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<i>TFTD : There is no need to go to India or anywhere else to find peace. You will find that deep place of silence right in your room, your garden, or even your bathtub.</i>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354091089461892924noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156942413720416910.post-78287400306441837162010-05-24T17:15:00.002+10:002010-05-24T17:15:54.256+10:00Another MondayHow come Monday seems to come around so much more frequently than Friday ? It seems like every time I turn around it is Monday again but man, I have to wait and wait and wait for Friday to get here. I suppose that it is just one of those things that are part of the unexplained.<br />
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We had a great weekend – a good mix of clients, chores around the house, exercising and resting. We got up to Brisbane yesterday and cycled 28kms of the race – boy are the hills in Brisbane something else when compared to those on the Gold Coast – I guess everything really is bigger and better up there ! The worst thing is that we didn’t get to do the worst hill – the one that dog legs about 3 or 4 times. Will try to get to that one next time we go up – probably in two weeks time as next Sunday we have the fourth race in the Corporate Challenge races so think we will just cycle locally on Sunday and do some hill work around here.<br />
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On our way home we stopped off and got two new saddles as A and I are still battling with our butts on the saddles we had. Unfortunately our butts did not like the time they spent on the saddles yesterday so we have decided to stop dicking around trying to change the angle of the saddles that we have and to get new ones – these have a 90 day money back g’tee so you had better believe that if our butts don’t like these ones, they are going to be going back.<br />
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I think that I am soon going to have to put a ban on us going to Anaconda – just like I had to do with Bunnings when we first moved into the house. You will be amazed at all the things you didn’t know you needed until you go into one of these two shops and then – BAM – it hits you – gosh this would be handy to have, wow this would work really well over here, gee this is amazing and I am sure that we will be able to use it so much – it just never stops. The worst thing is that you go there expecting to spend maybe $2 buying a washer for a leaking tap and come out having spent $150 on stuff that you didn’t even know you needed but which you are really sure is good value for money !<br />
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A’s hand is progressing slowly – he has taken leave this week from Coles so it is going to be great having him at home in the evenings. I am also another step closer to a different marketing strategy thanks to the help of a very dear friend, I now have a one colour DL size flyer ready to be saved as a pdf file and sent to the printer for printing and distribution. I just need to decide what areas I want to target and how much money I can afford to spend.<br />
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My weight is slowly coming down this week – not as fast as I would like but then it never is, is it ? Today I could so easily have walked to the Arts Café and bought a milk chocolate macadamia cookie but kept putting it off until it was just about home time and there is no point in eating a cookie that close to going home – could just wait and have a fruit cup when I get home and save those calories for another day when I am really desperate for something sweet.<br />
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TFTD : You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don’t try.</i>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354091089461892924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156942413720416910.post-52291797739790391962010-05-21T18:19:00.000+10:002010-05-21T18:19:37.213+10:00The weekend is here !There were times during this week when I wondered if the weekend would ever arrive – but it has and I am happy !<br />
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Unfortunately the Saturday morning yoga classes have been cancelled as the yogi’s husband now has to work on a Saturday so won’t be starting my weekend with a yoga class anymore which is a little sad but these things happen.<br />
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I have one client booked in and someone else interested in an appointment so will wait to see if anything eventuates with the second client. Other than that, I have to go for a blood test in the morning and then that is probably me for the day. I might take some time out and try to rest up a little – I haven’t been feeling all that flash this past week and wonder if maybe we are overdoing the exercise a little. A keeps reminding me that rest is an important part of exercise – maybe tonight will be a good night to have off seeing as it is raining and, while I know we won’t melt, A’s chest is not all that good and the chances of him getting sick as a result of walking in the rain are rather high. I would rather forego one night’s walk and not have a sick husband than the other way around !<br />
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We had a look at the paperwork that we have received for the race next month – BIG BUGGER – they don’t close the roads to traffic while we are cycling – BUGGER, BUGGER, BUGGER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How did we miss seeing that somewhere before we registered (probably because we didn’t have the paperwork we have just received or maybe we just didn’t read all the pages on the website !!!!!) – so, now do I not only have to make sure to stay clear of any cyclists who may have stacked it ahead of me but I have to worry about bloody cars driving right next to me as well !!!!! Bet there aren’t any cycle tracks along the route to help us either !!!! This is getting to be more than a little harder than I originally anticipated but, it will all be good when we are finished, in one piece (I hope) and proud of what we have achieved !<br />
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My eating is going along at an OK kind of pace – I am doing my own breakfast and having a L&E meal in a bowl for lunch and then the L&E dinner but I am finding that I am spending more time thinking about what I would really really like to eat and that is probably because I am bored at work. I need to find a job that is challenging and busy (not in a frantic way but enough to just keep me going the whole day) that tests my brain and what I am capable of achieving. I did see a job yesterday that I want to apply for but I know that it was advertised about 3 or 4 months ago so have to wonder what happened to the person who was appointed – should probably check to see if I applied for it when I saw it that time ago. You would think that if their first choice person didn’t work out (for whatever reason), they would have looked at other candidates who applied. Never mind, I will send my application off tonight and see if anything comes of it.<br />
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<i>TFTD : When we were children, we used to think that when we were grown-up we would no longer be vulnerable. But to grow up is to accept vulnerability …. to be alive is to be vulnerable.</i>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354091089461892924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156942413720416910.post-9831530056563546502010-05-20T19:46:00.002+10:002010-05-20T19:46:37.688+10:00So close .......to the 20kg mark. A loss of 2.1kg this morning took my total loss to date to 17.9kg – I can almost smell the 20kg mark. I just need to be patient and continue to do what I have been doing. We have been tracking our weight loss (since the beginning) and exercise (not as long) and I want to try to find the time to have a look back, week for week, to see whether the amount, type or intensity of exercise has any bearing on my losses. <br />
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One thing that I have noticed is that the plateau that I was in before we went away is well and truly gone. I think that my plan moving forward is going to be, firstly, have a look to see how many weeks we had been watching what we were eating before I hit the plateau and when I get to around that mark again, take a week or two off – eat what I want, within reason, and just have a break. The break that we had when we were away really seems to have given my weight loss a good jolt back to where it should be. I am still amazed at my losses, while I am being good about what I eat, I didn’t think I had been that good to have lost just on 4.5kgs in two weeks this far into my journey. Maybe it is the exercise that is really helping to burn these calories – I have noticed that when we are out walking each day, we don’t just stroll along, we walk quite quickly although there are times when we do seem to slow down a little and when I realise this, I step it up a notch again.<br />
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I love the feeling that I get when exercising but I also need to start listening to what my body is saying to me while exercising. My right thigh was twinging a bit last night and the night before but we still walked the longer route. When I mentioned it to A he said that it may be muscle fatigue because we have done quite a bit lately so we have decided that we will just do the ‘short’ walk tonight and see how it goes because it is only on the extra bit of the walk that I have felt the twinging happen. <br />
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I need to get about 4-5kgs more off so that I can fit into my next lot of clothes – I seem to be at the in-between stage and it is very frustrating. I have one pair of work pants that fit me nicely, the others are all too big, and, while I can wear them, they are really quite uncomfortable. Maybe if I get a chance on the weekend I will get the next lot of pants out the kist and see just how far off I am being able to get into them. I know that a while ago I thought to myself that it was about 5kgs but maybe it isn’t that much anymore.<br />
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We are planning a cycle along the route in Brisbane on Sunday. It won’t be the full route – just part of it so that we can see how the bikes handle the cr*ppy roads of Brisbane ! Also, we will probably pick a section that has a couple of hills reasonably close together so that we can get some hill work in at the same time.<br />
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<i>TFTD : Do not let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past nor for the future. By living your life one day at a time you live all the days of your life.</i>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354091089461892924noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156942413720416910.post-18739762555623907032010-05-19T21:27:00.000+10:002010-05-19T21:27:14.371+10:00Life is good !I have been doing some thinking lately as I have a few health issues that need to be addressed – and they always make you think about other stuff, don’t they ? Anyway, even though I have these things to deal with, I was thinking about how good life is for me right now (geez, I hope I don’t jinx it by saying this !!!!). I have a fantastic family who are loving and supportive of what I do, I have a business that I am growing which does take a lot of energy but it is good to see the results of the energy spent when I get repeat clients, my weight is moving towards being in a healthy range and I love exercising and find I can get a bit cranky when we have to miss exercising for whatever reason – life is good !<br />
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I don’t know if it is my attitude that has changed or whether things are just better but I don’t feel nearly as stressed as I used to. Financially we aren’t doing as well as I would like but even that doesn’t seem to be getting me into the spin that it used to – maybe because now I realise that we are doing what we can and there isn’t much more we can do to generate extra funds (winning Lotto would be great but I don’t think it would be wise to hang everything on that happening). I could hound Coles for more shifts but I don’t think that is the answer – the one thing I would love is for the business to really take off so that A could give up Coles (but I am working on that and it will happy in time – I just hope it happens sooner rather than later !)<br />
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On the job front things aren’t all that flash – in fact, they are bloody awful – but I have realised that in order for me to concentrate my energies on my family, our business, my weight loss and our exercise, I need an area of my life that demands nothing of me other than that I show up each day, ready to put in my 9 hrs and leave at the end of the day – not having to take work home with me, not even having to take thoughts of work home with me. The last permanent job that I had saw me working 70-80 hour weeks and I know that that isn’t what I want for myself or my family – the money and the prestige of the job just aren’t worth the sacrifices we had to make for me to stay in that job and the reason why I left, for the first time ever, without having another job to go to. Probably one of the hardest things I have ever had to do but geez am I glad I did.<br />
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I am now starting to appreciate the down time that I do have instead of feeling guilty because I am not rushing around ‘doing’ something !<br />
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I think one of the things which is really keeping me motivated is the compliments that I have been receiving – people are really noticing the weight loss and that seems to help me stay focussed on what I need to do to continue to keep the weight coming off. When I was phoning to make an appointment with one of the specialists yesterday, the receptionist asked me what my weight was because she said she would need it for the anaesthetist – I told her what it was but also said that it wouldn’t be that in July when I have the procedure because I hope to be a lot less by then. She then asked me what I had been doing and I told her and she sounded so happy that I had lost this much weight and wished me good luck with continuing on my journey – it was just great because she doesn’t know me from a bar of soap so really had nothing to gain by being happy for what I had achieved especially as she said she had about 30kgs to lose and would love to be my current weight !!!!<br />
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To all those people out there battling and struggling with their own issues – hang in there, it does get better. There were times when I wondered if I was doomed to a life of worry and lack, but now I realise that it is up to me to make my life the best that it can be. Sitting around doing nothing but expecting it all to arrive on my doorstep is not how the universe works – nor does it work on a one for one basis of you do something for me and I will do something for you – it does except us to get up and go out there and grab hold of what we want and make it our own. And that is what I am doing – I am taking responsibility for the things that I can control and I am not worrying about the things that I can’t. I am going to use my energy in positive ways rather than negative ways and I am going to be the best person that I can be. (I am also going to ear mark this post for days when I feel like it is all turning to cr*p so that I can come and have a re-read of how positive I can be !)<br />
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<i>TFTD : The distance is nothing, it is the first step only that is difficult.</i>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354091089461892924noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156942413720416910.post-8091611990755225502010-05-17T23:20:00.001+10:002010-05-17T23:23:26.630+10:00The birthday week that wasWell the birthday week is over after much celebrating and eating and drinking - thank goodness birthdays only come around once a year - except of course if you are born on 29th February in which case they only come around once every four years. The only problem is that everyone's birthday comes around once a year so in actual fact you land up celebrating more than just once a year if you add up everyone's birthday that you celebrate you would find that some months it would be hard to get through the month without more than a few birthdays sneaking up on you - this makes it hard to lose weight when you don't want to offend anyone by picking at your meal or their birthday cake or snacks or whatever they have provided you to eat and drink. But, celebrate with our friends and family we do and then hope that we can increase our exercise enough to work off the additional calories we ate and drank in the celebrations.<br />
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K had a wonderful birthday week and it was fantastic watching her enjoy the time with her family and friends but I am glad that we can return to some sort of normalacy now. I have been doing the best I can with the food choices available and have increased my exercise where possible so the scales are showing a loss so far this week taking me (up to today) to a loss just under 17kgs. I am happy about that but just wish that I could shed these last 15kgs quicker - mind you I think I also keep moving the goal posts because originally I said I wanted to lose 30kgs - now that has crept up to 32kgs - maybe what I should do is have a look at how I feel and look when I get closer and then decide on the number but for now, the number seems soooooooooooooooooo far away and I want it to be closer. I guess eating those extra snacks and biscuits won't help, will they ?????<br />
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We did a 48km cycle yesterday in preparation for the race at the end of June - the first 20kms incorporated hills along Turpin Rd, Johnstone St and Ferry Rd down to Broadbeach but then the cycle home, via the Spit was all flat - not good preparation for hills but good preparation for butt time on the saddle as the ride landed up being about 2.5hrs. Will be doing more of these rides over the coming weekends.<br />
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I have a couple of repeat clients booked in this week which is always good - I am still planning on getting my walking/cycling in every day because I need to do it to achieve my weight loss goals. This week I have stuck to my promise to only not exercise if I had something else on or was injured in some way - I have had lots on but I haven't been injured so have exercised at every opportunity and I do believe that that has helped with my weight loss this week - of course the party on Friday night could still catch up with me and if I don't stop sneaking a few extra biscuits for my afternoon tea, it is definitely going to show up so I guess I had better get my act together before weigh-in on Thursday morning.<br />
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Someone asked me a while ago if I was happy with my weight loss and I said to her that it was slower than I would have liked but faster than I expected and I put this down to the fact that I am more consistent with my exercise than I have every been before. Previosuly I might have done my 30 mins 3 x per week and that would have been it - if I was really daring I might have done it 4 x per week whereas now we are walking the dogs almost every day (at least 6 out of 7 days) and cycling on top of that when we can plus our walks are faster and longer. What I don't want to happen is that I become complacent about what I have lost which I think is beginning to happen hence the extra 1 or 2 biscuits for my snacks which can sometimes turn into another 5 or 6 at night when I am finished with my clients and feeling a little peckish - yes, I could probably have a fruit cup but how interesting is that ??????? I used to think that would be fine to have - now I don't so I need to find that part of my brain that says, when you want something sweet late at night, have a fruit cup instead of a handfull of biscuits. If you find that part of my brain anywhere on your travels, please send it home to me.<br />
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On that note, I am off to bed - a lovely, electric blanket warmed bed that is going to keep me cozy until A gets home from work.<br />
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Take care and be good to yourselves !Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354091089461892924noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156942413720416910.post-18592754875329286762010-05-12T22:46:00.000+10:002010-05-12T22:46:48.074+10:00Another year older - not me, K !Where has the time gone to – it certainly doesn’t feel like 18 years since I went into hospital to have K. As with all families, we have had our ups and our downs but we are so proud of the young lady that she has become and I have to thank Al for being the fantastic Dad that he has been – I could never have managed without him.<br />
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I haven’t had a chance to blog about our holiday because the notes that I made are my phone and, for whatever reason, won’t allow themselves to be mailed to an address where I can use them from so I am going to have to (at some point in time) sit down and transcribe them from my phone – when I get a chance !<br />
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We had a fantastic break. The weight wasn’t all that flash but within 2 days of getting home I had lost the weight that I had put on while away on holiday so I really can’t complain about that. The highlights for me of the holiday were :<br />
Being comfortable in an aeroplane seat and not having to extend the seat belt in order to be able to do it up.<br />
Being able to go into a whole range of shops, take clothes off the rack, try them on and then decide which of them I wanted to buy or not buy as was the case in most instances – not because they didn’t fit, but because I felt that I didn’t really need them.<br />
Being able to eat what I wanted without feeling guilty (most of the time) because I knew that when we got home again, we would be back on track with our eating and our exercise and it would all be good BUT we did have to make choices. Most of our choices were healthy choices but then sometimes they weren’t – the main thing, for me, was that we stopped, looked, checked how much we wanted something and then, if we didn’t want it that badly, put it back and made a better choice.<br />
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We went to a live NRL game as well as a live AFL game – AFL now has three new converts ! What an experience that was. We are going to see Brisbane Lions vs Geelong Cats on Saturday night with someone who has more of an idea of how the game works than we do so that will be good.<br />
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We have nearly a week of celebrations for K’s birthday – family dinner last night as she only finishes uni at 8pm tonight and we thought that it was too late to get the family to wait for dinner, drinks tonight with us after uni, party on Friday night for her friends at home and the off to the AFL on Saturday night. Breakfast this morning was supposed to be weetbix and fruit but how can you have that for a birthday breakfast ? So we decided to have pancakes, syrup, lemon juice, cinnamon sugar and ice-cream instead. Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do !!!!! To be honest, I thoroughly enjoyed my breakfast this morning but it will mean an extra long walk this evening. I think this is the key to maintaining my weight loss when it is finally all off – eat something extra, exercise more and it will all be good !<br />
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Last night we didn’t have a chance to walk the dogs before dinner and so we said we would do it when we got home. Well after a lovely grilled piece of barramundi and a few spoons of sticky date pudding, when we got home the last thing I felt like doing was going for a walk. Plus, Grey’s Anatomy was on and that would have to be one of my favourite shows so, after booking our tickets for the AFL on Saturday and checking out the GCFC website, I sat down to watch. Al asked if I was going to walk with him and I said “No thanks – I’m watching Grey’s and I am comfy and warm here.” BAD MOVE !!!!!! I should have gone for a walk because when I eventually got to bed last night I felt so guilty about having sat watching TV rather than going walking – it was just awful. I said to Al that in future – unless there is a really good reason for me not to walk (not just a show on TV that I could actually tape !!!!) – I was going to walk. It is just so hard now that it is getting colder in the evenings – so much nicer to curl up under the blanket and just watch TV !!!!!<br />
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We are planning a 2-3 hr cycle on Sunday – have to increase the time our bums spend on the seats otherwise it is going to be a long 50kms in just over 6 weeks time. That ride will include some hill work along Turpin Road and Johnstone Street and then probably down to the Broadbeach markets and home again – that will give us a fair idea of how we think we might do in the race bearing in mind that there are going to be a gazillion other cyclists there as well as we will probably stay somewhere near the back so that we don’t stack it if other riders do ! If you are interested in sponsoring me, please give me a shout and I will send you the link.<br />
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Have a great rest of the week – take care and go safely !<br />
<br />
<i>TFTD : When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you till it seems you could not hold on a minute longer, never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn. – Harriet Beecher Stowe</i><br />
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Added later : Have to love going to the drawer and pulling out clothes that you think won't fit - and they don't BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO BIG !!!!! Loved the great walk we did tonight before collecting K from uni and going out for her first legal drink and play on the pokie machines.Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354091089461892924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156942413720416910.post-52709453892979370372010-04-22T21:40:00.000+10:002010-04-22T21:40:09.001+10:00To go down or to go up ? What will my body decide to do ?Things have been tracking really well with my exercise and eating this week but I am not seeing any loss. Have I reached the famous ‘plateau’ that everyone talks about ? Is my body saying ‘Hey, this is too fast – where is all my insulation going ? Don’t you know that winter is coming up and I need it ?’ which doesn’t really help me accept that the weight is not moving even though I am doing everything the same.<br />
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Yesterday I did have a summer roll chocolate – and I thoroughly enjoyed every morsel of it. I figure if I can’t eat something worth about 160 cal without having heart palpitations over it, my life probably isn’t worth living anyway. And one chocolate in I don’t know how many weeks surely can’t be too bad for me. I got home last night and really didn’t feel like walking but A was up for a walk and I felt a bit guilty over the chocolate so went walking. I don’t think I walked as fast as I normally do because my thighs were quite tight and tender. The important thing for me was actually getting out there rather than staying at home and working my way through the list of things that I had to do last night. I tackled those when I got home and apart from one thing which wasn’t on the list because I had forgotten I wanted to do it, I managed to get the rest of the list done so felt really good about that.<br />
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I have one client tonight so, depending on the weather because it is peeing down with rain now and has been raining on and off most of the day, we will go for a cycle or a walk and then home to dinner and my client.<br />
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I found a training program for us to use in the lead up to the bike ride. The main problem is that it is a 12 week program and we will only have 7 1/2 weeks from when we return from holiday so I think I may just start the program off at week 6 and see how we go. It may get a bit tricky trying to fit it in with clients and two jobs but we will do the best we can.<br />
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Only another two work days and then we are on our way – I can’t wait !!!<br />
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Have a great day and take care.<br />
<i><br />
TFTD : Bad times have scientific value. These are occasions a good learner would not miss. – Ralph Waldo Emerson</i>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354091089461892924noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156942413720416910.post-70522197592680351922010-04-18T21:15:00.000+10:002010-04-18T21:15:06.055+10:00A great weekend !I can't believe that the weekend is over - the good thing is that we have managed to accomplish so much. <br />
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Friday night I promoted my business, The Body and Feet Retreat, at a friend's kindy's Ladies Night and it was really worthwhile. I got to bookings and heaps of enquiries which was great - all for the princely sum of $10 and the donation of a free reflexology treatment.<br />
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Saturday morning K and I went to a really good yoga class. After that K went to work and A and I went to Brisbane. We visited a friend in hospital who is doing really well and may be allowed to go home tomorrow. After that we drove the route of the 50km bike ride that we are going to ride at the end of June - boy do we have a whole heap of hill work to do in order to complete this race without killing ourselves !!!! The hills are more numerous, steeper and longer than what we have around here so we have our work cut out for us. BUT, they are all do-able - it is just that more training would mean an easier ride. I know that it is all in the gears, but I was still a little startled when I saw some of the hills - we will get there I know. A says that he is more worried about all the other people cycling with us and avoiding us stacking it more than he is worried about the hills !!!<br />
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We stopped off at DFO on our way home and, I can now shop at Lorna Jane !!!!!!!! - YAY because their clothes are so comfy - am waiting until I am closer to goal before I go back again ! Got home and then took the dogs for a really long walk to get my steps for the day over the 10,000 mark and got caught in the rain on the way home so had a nice hot bath to warm up.<br />
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This morning we were going to cycle down to Broadbeach to the markets there but once we started, we realised that there was a fairly strong head wind so we decided to go along a road that has a few hill. I was so excited when I got to the top of the first hill which I have been DREADING cycling because I didn't think I would make it - BUT I DID !!!!! I was soooooooooo excited. Anyway, we didn't get quite as far as we wanted to go because half way up the last long hill, I wasn't sure I would make it home if we went all the way to the top so we turned around - I was disappointed afterwards because I felt as if I had stuck it out I probably would have made it. Next time I am not going to stop half way !<br />
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We got home and then went out and bought some slicks for our moutain bikes at a really good price and swopped the jeans we bought the other night from black to demin. After that we to Anaconda to swop the speedo that A had bought for my bike and the guy we saw was just amazing. He really knew his stuff and we spoke about getting new road bikes. The bottom line is we went back and landed up buying new bikes - unfortunately, we had taken our bikes there for him to see and then we had 6 bikes and a bike holder for 4 bikes so K and I waited there with the other two until A could get home and drop the first 4 bikes off. By the time we got home it was too late to go cycling - how disappointing !!!!!!! But, they are all ready and waiting for us to use them tomorrow.<br />
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A was busy putting the speedos on the new bikes when we decided to go walking except by then it was raining. So we waited 10 mins and it was fine to go walking ! Managed to get my 10,000 steps up by running on the spot for 80 steps before I had a bath. I have twinged the muscle in my right quad and am off to massage it a bit and put some heat on it and hopefully it will be all right for me to try out the new bike - I can't wait !!!!!! <br />
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We have had a great weekend and next weekend we are off to Melbourne - life is good right now ! Take care and have a great week.Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354091089461892924noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156942413720416910.post-73185800216263321392010-04-15T19:09:00.002+10:002010-04-15T19:09:32.053+10:00It's back .................... sort of !The motivation that I was missing yesterday is back today. Last night I realised that it is up to me to change my attitude if I don’t like what is happening – I don’t have to be a victim of my circumstances and so today I started the day in a different frame of mind and it is working – I don’t feel down like I did yesterday. It is all good and I am happy.<br />
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I had a hectic night last night but that was OK because I knew it was going to be hectic so had a bit of plan for tackling everything. I had a late client so it was after 9pm by the time I was finished with her and then K wanted a massage so it was closer to 10pm by the time I as ready to eat by which time I no longer wanted to eat – so I didn’t. I figured that missing one meal wasn’t going to kill me and it was probably better for me not to eat that late in the day although I do think that it gave me a false reading at my weigh in this morning. Down another 1.4kg taking total loss in 13 weeks to 15.2 ! That is just about half way so I am quite happy with that. Someone asked me the other day if I was happy with how my weight loss was progressing and I said that it was probably quicker than I think it should be (or what it has been in the past) but not as fast as I would like it to be !!!!! I think what has made it a bit easier this time is that the whole family is doing it and while K&A never tempted me and supported me in my weight loss endeavours, there is something different about them supporting me to them actually doing what I am doing. Plus we are doing heaps more exercise that I have done in more years than I care to think about !! Having said that I am really enjoying it and the feeling of accomplishment when we get home after a hard walk or cycle is fantastic ! Just knowing that I got off my butt and did something is good.<br />
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Have a great Friday tomorrow everyone !<br />
<i><br />
TFTD : The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you are willing to work – Oprah Winfrey<br />
</i>Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354091089461892924noreply@blogger.com1