How Did That Happen?

I put on a pair of pants on the weekend and they were noticeably looser.  My weight hasn't changed in God knows how long, I haven't been strict with my diet but have been training consistently and eating a reasonably healthy diet (with the occasional dessert or treat). Could it be possible that I have this balance thing down pat?  I'm not complaining!

Magic Spag Bol

I was on the verge of yet another meltdown as there was no change in the scales this week but I was sticking to my guns (I'm like that) and continued with eating and training as I normally do. It is sometimes so tempting to do the whole crazy diet/exercise thing to get results fast but what of the long term damage as well as the fact that a number on a scale doesn't always equate to looking fit. Wednesday night is a crazy night which calls for an easy dinner. Moo has dancing until 6:30 but is always running late and Mal had touch footy at 6:15 by the time I picked up Missy T from the footy field it was closer to 7 pm. We decided that Mal would prep some spag bol for me to reheat when I got home. I have to admit to feeling a little bit apprehensive having that for dinner but was rather relieved when I recorded a 0.5 kg loss on the old scales this morning. It surprises me just how often that happens and I'm starting to think that there are some magical weight loss properties in spaghetti bolognaise. LOL!! It goes to show that I don't have to cut carbs to get results :o)

One Workout Stronger Than Yesterday

This is my mantra that I got from one of my favourite Lorna Jane Inspirational singlets, I use it when I'm feeling blah and frustrated with my lack of progress. There are times when it feels like it's slow going but I know that I am improving everyday.

I have finally replaced my batteries in my scales and lo and behold I have gained weight. Not that surprising considering the last couple of weeks of dance concerts and visitors. On the plus-side, I'm still under the 5kg weight gain limit post comp - I just need to maintain this weight which may be challenging with all the social activities at this time of year. I just need to remind myself that I am stronger than yesterday - both physically and mentally.

Blah!

It was bound to happen. Both Missy T and Moo have had a tummy bug recently and the lovely little dears have passed it onto me. Nice of them to share with their Mummy! Don't they realise I don't have time to be sick? On the plus side, I lost another 100 g since the weekend making my weight at 48.1 kg this morning. Maybe not the best way to lose weight though ;o)

The girls had their ballet exams yesterday and Mal had to take the day off work for which I am eternally grateful. Both girls were very happy with how they performed which was a total relief. I get so frustrated with their ballet teacher as she has this habit of getting Moo (Missy T has fun no matter what she does) into such a state prior to their exams. I don't get why a teacher would tell a kid that that the examiner is really strict and she is going to fail, it seems to go against the reason you put your kids into sport; to build self-esteem and confidence. I think it's time to try another sport or maybe go to another school. It's a shame as she loves to dance.

Update

I had a further drop today, now I'm sitting at 49.0 kg. The scales flicked to 48.9 kg to a second and then settled on 49. I feel like I've been in control this week even though I was hit with some major sugar cravings thanks to TTOM. Some dessert tonight should help in that department.

We are having a soiree for Mal's birthday tonight and I will be having some cake and pumpkin pie. I managed to get through baking them without so much as a taste which is a pretty big deal for me. The rest of the food will consist of roast pork and lamb and veggies so nothing too bad there - I will just have to be conscious of amounts. Mal, the legend he is, has organised nibblies of veggie sticks and hommus (as well as other stuff for everyone else). He is such a sweetie!

Whoosh Fairy

Finally the whoosh fairy decided to make an appearance. About bloody time! This morning I'm sitting at 49.3 kg and haven't felt like I have been starving myself to do it. Yet again it goes to show that you can reach your goals if you stick to the plan.

Monday Rambling

I'm in a much better spot this week, very likely due to the arrival of TTOM last week. I've been training hard and eating well but not restricting yet. I was talking to the girls at work about competing in September and after bringing in photos to show them that fire in my belly returned. I feel like I have unfinished business and I'm not talking about a trophy on the mantlepiece but there is so much room for improvement that I will always wonder if I could do better if I don't compete now.

This weekend was a much better one foodwise. I managed to put Lucy my inner labrador on her leash and was happy to see my weight drop down to 50.8 kg yesterday - it is back up to 51.3 kg today as Malcolm made is divine apple crumble last night and I had to have a taste :o)

TGIF

Phew! What a week! Training hasn't gone exactly as planned this week but I still managed to get most of my sessions in. I guess I'm going to have weeks like that and as some people who are a hell of a lot smarter than me said, "This is a marathon, not a sprint." Despite missing some workouts and not eating to 'plan' I've managed to drop a couple of 100 g. I think this will set me up nicely for when I really have to starting leaning out, I shouldn't have to do anything too drastic to get lean.

We are off camping this weekend and I can't wait. I have been looking at the BOM website and the minimum at Monto looks like it will a balmy 2degC at night. FAAARRRK! We have packed our winter woolies and blankies and will definitely have the campfires going. The days will be gorgeous though and we are looking forward to chillaxing. I have prepped my meals plus I have a stash of my fave hommus so I can't see me eating too badly, mind you, I've also packed some red wine ... but that's to keep me warm :o)

Hope everyone has an awesome weekend!

Week 11 Weigh In

The normal Wednesday with an increase of 400 g since yesterday so I have recorded yesterday's weight instead. I'm really noticing a difference in my clothes as I have become Miss Baggy Pants again - it will be interesting to see my measurements and how they compare with my comp prep measurements.

It's hard to believe that it is the second last weigh in. I'm not sure how to keep my momentum after we've finished the 12 weeks, I fear I will go back. It's crazy because I love training and eating well but I don't seem to do so well when I don't have a reason to do it but then I think why do I need a reason to be healthy? In reality, when I'm by myself I still train but I don't train with any intensity and tend to stick to what I like to do not necessarily what pushes me. I need to learn to push myself for me, not to please a third party.

Week 9 Review

It has been a pretty good week this week. I'm slowly chipping away with my weight down 100 g from last week. I'm not exactly breaking any weight loss records but I'm happy with how things are going. Some days I really don't want to get up at 5 am for our morning walk or run but once I'm out there I appreciate the gorgeous autumn sunrise or the smell of the eucalypt in the air. It's these little things that make it all worthwhile.

Aaaah ... that's better!

There is a lot to be said about having a content tummy. After a day of hissy fits and not being able to fill my ever rumbling belly I decided to go off-plan and have a feed of spag bol, baked pears for dessert and then finished off with a chai latte. I was satisfied and woke up feeling much better. I had to laugh as only a day or so before I saw a tweet from a PT who is helping out with the 12wbt saying that hunger pangs only last for 10 minutes and you should distract yourself or drink water to get through it. I think she needs to tell my stomach that as it can rumble all day sometimes!

Oh, and for my little effort last night I dropped 300 g. Go figure!

Week 4 Summary

I've had a great week this week. I seem to have lost that 'comparing myself to others' thing I had going on which is a relief. I think PMT had a lot to do with that. With that came the whoosh fairy and I am sub 52.5 kg again. My pants are fitting a lot nicer and I'm back to loving my training again, to me that is so much more important as last year I seemed to lose my passion for anything and I felt like was just going through the motions with life in general. It's nice to be back.

I said to Mal this week that I would like to make Sunday a Family Fun Day. We seem to get so busy that on Sunday we spend the day lazing around the house and I would dearly love to get the girls out of from in front of the TV for a little bit whether it be a trip to the beach or a bike ride. Today we had the cricket junior break up and Mal, as a committee member and captain of the senior A-grade side, wanted to go along. We had a lovely morning at the park and the girls spent the morning climbing trees with their friends - exactly how I like to spend Sunday morning.

Wednesday Week 3 Weigh In

For some reason my body doesn’t like Wednesdays, my weight was up 600g from Saturday – I know it will be down by the weekend so it’s no big.

I know that what I’m going to say can seem like sour grapes, that’s not my intention so I apologise if it comes off that way. The challenge has some awesome prizes with first prize a trip to Fiji. Now I would love, love, love to win a trip to anywhere (even Brissy would be fantastic) but, as I have said previously, I don’t have snowballs chance in hell in winning anything. I have noticed that so many people are going well above and beyond the program. One person did something like 3.5 hours of exercise yesterday and I know I just can’t compete with that workload. It concerns me that so many people are training like that as well as not having their snacks throughout the day which means more often than not they are consuming well less than the 1200 calories. Instead of the experts explaining the dangers of overtraining, it seems as though these people are congratulated which worries me. I feel like the competition isn’t about Michelle’s program because those who choose to follow the program are being left behind. On the flip-side, before I had children I would train like a demon, going to the gym, then doing an aerobics class and then play touch footy so I guess there are people in the challenge that have the time and energy and I need to remind myself of that.

There are shout-outs for people who crack the 1000 and 2000 calories burnt in a session. I understand that this can dependent on the individual’s size but then you have others that are feeling guilty and busting their gut to try and get ‘into the club.’ Now I don’t know how many cals I burn in one session as I don’t have a monitor but I know I would struggle to come close – does that mean I am not trying hard enough? No! But that’s the way I (and several others) are feeling. I wonder if it would be different if there weren’t prizes. I also wonder how many of these people are going to crash and burn after the challenge is over. I hope I’m wrong.

Weight Loss Myths?

Do you ever wonder how the stories start with regard to the best way to lose weight? I mean has a study ever been done on a group of people who at carbs at night and another who didn't and they came up with the fact that you do in fact lose weight by cutting the carbs or those horrible carbs turn into fat as soon as you go to sleep. Or what about eating dinner after 7 pm? If I have dinner at 7:05, will I become obese? How do these stories start? How can you tell fact from fiction?

Counting Down To The Weekend

My mood has been somewhat better after my little hissy-fit on the weekend. Nothing like a good tantrum to get oneself to re-focus. I went out on the Sunday to buy our groceries and stocked up on loads of veggies and then baked some biscuits. I based the recipe on Kek's Choc-chip Macadamia Cookies replacing the chocolate and macadamia with cranberries as I had some in the cupboard that needed to be used. The verdict was not too bad and will definitely make them again. I've been revisiting Paleo style eating again this week but with a little twist by including some potato. I actually prefer eating this way and I'm not really sure why I stopped (I'm pretty sure that its laziness). Training has been great and I have been suffering from DOMS the last few days (gotta love that). I had a 'wrong way dickhead' moment with the scales today and doubt that I will reach my sub 52 goal that I had set myself for the weekend. No matter - I know I've put in the hard yards and the weight will drop off soon enough.

I'm so looking forward to this weekend as my girlfriends and I are heading to the beach for the weekend. It should be a lovely time without spouses and kids, a chance to sit around and gasbag. I feel lucky to be surrounded by such beautiful friends and while I don't get much chance to see them with our hectic lives I cherish the time we do have together.

So Over Food

I don't know what is going on with me at the moment but I am just so over thinking about and preparing food. I am sick to death of porridge for breaky. Lately all I have been having is protein shake as the idea of oats made my skin crawl. Its strange because I usually love porridge and Wheat Bix etc. Yesterday I tried brown rice with dried fruits (cranberries, apricots and prunes), sunflower seeds and yoghurt which was OK. Dinner is pretty much the same, I open the freezer and nothing really inspires me.

On the plus side, I have lost 1 kg and am losing a few mm from my tummy, hips and thighs.

Week 2

I haven't been able to post for a couple of weeks. Busy training and the usual hectic schedule. Training is going really well, I have been able to get to Body Attack a couple of times this week as well as Balance Friday night. Eats are not so good, I have been so hungry (which usually happens when I up the cardio) but unfortunately I have been craving sweets :( I think I need to plan a bit better and have some nice things in the cupboard to treat myself. Anyway here are the stats thus far:

Weight = 49 kg (-1 kg)
Chest = 76.5 cm (+0.3 cm)
Waist = 62.2 cm (at the smallest part) (+0.9 cm)
Waist (around navel) = 67.5 cm (-0.5 cm)
Calves = 36 cm (=)
Arms = 24 cm (=)
Thighs = 52.5 cm (-0.5 cm)
Hips = 92.7 cm (-0.9 cm)
Body Fat = 21% (-1%)

My waist circumference has increased a little but I'm not too worried as I have had some bloating in the last few weeks. Its great being a woman, isn't it?