Pathetic-ness overcome (Femina)

Okay, pathetic-ness isn't a real word, I know. Here's what happened: I went to the gym this morning feeling only slightly motivated. After about 15 minutes I walked out of the gym area to take a toilet break... and decided I couldn't be stuffed to do any more exercise, so I got my bag from the locker and went out to my car. I unlocked it, sat down and then thought, "Oh come on, that's a pathetic effort!" I went back in to finish - and my reward was, I ran into a friend and we motivated each other to do a decent workout. (And now we're going off to have a nice, low-fat lunch!)

The Unofficial Reward (Manda)

I should own up to what I've been thinking of as my "unofficial reward" - a pair of jeans I bought six months ago under the influence of a good salesgirl, my boyfriend and my own pair being rather baggy at the bum. 

You know you they say to buy them tight as they'll loosen up when you wear them in? It only works if you can get into them in the first place.

I can officially put them on and do them up (hooray!) though admittedly with a pretty healthy muffin-top at the waistband. Thus they'll be my unofficial reward - here's hoping that they'll fit properly when I'm at goal...

The redistribution of ... er... fat? (HJ)

I have some happy numbers, but I was expecting to lose more centimeters. I've been feeling so slim that I was expecting more. Maybe it's just that new shirt I was wearing.

I've lost another 400gms this week. That's a sustainable rate of loss and I'm happy with it. I've heard that a kilo a week isn't actually good - it's too fast. Mind you, I have no problem with that in the weeks that it actually happens.

That's 4.5 kilos overall, and I'm quite happy with that. We started about a month ago, didn't we? I'm impressed with myself.

The part that amuses me is that I also measure my circumference at strategic points, which gives me an idea of what size of clothes I'll be headed for. The thing is, some of the points are difficult to get straight or find the exact same place every week.

I'm going with that theory because some of my measurements go up and down. Of course, some things (bust and tum?) are going to work up to a certain point, then do a drastic reduction about 13 times a year. That could explain the fact that I've lost nothing around my tum in the same week my waist took a 2 cm dive? Or that I've stacked on 2 cm in the bust this week?

It almost seems as if one week I'll lose a significant amount from one place, to find that the very same number of centimeters have been redistributed across a few of the other places. Matter is neither created, nor destroyed and all that. Except that every bit of me has lost centimeters during the last month, so maybe despite the fact that the universe resists the destruction of matter, I'm winning.

I'm particularly impressed with my waist measurement. I always used to have a waist. It's coming back, and I like that concept. I don't know if all the TV stations have been airing the latest health warnings we've been getting about women's waists should definitely be below 88 cms and better still below 80cms. Today mine is right on the 88cms and that is the best it's been since January 2005. I feel healthier already.

P.S. my parents and grandparents have provided a solution for my 'don't work out your weight in pounds' thing. In the 'olden days' they used to weigh people in stones. There are 14 pounds to a stone, so it would end up a much, much smaller number. I like that concept. Therefore, as of this morning I weigh about 11 & 1/4 stone. Nah, it doesn't work for me because I have no point of comparison. Worth a try, though.

Holding Pattern (Givinya)

Over the last few weeks of freaking out and eating stupid, I'm still 68kg. Haven't lost any, but haven't gained any either, and I see that as a good thing. Must ... get ... motivated ...

I made it! (Louisa)

Hi girls

I weighed in today despite the many obstacles, foremost my will to do it. In the end I decided that I could do with either being encouraged or kicked in the butt!

I was encouraged!

1.1kg loss this week. I did weigh in the morning and normally do it in the evening but I am taking the loss none-the-less and will just factor it in to next week's weigh...or will just start going in the morning from now on :)

Total loss so far, 4.4kg!

All this means is that soon I'll be able to fit into some of my pre-pregnancy clothes...but hey, it's a start!!

Hope you all enjoy the weekend :)

May I start again? (Femina)

I think I need to call this Week One for me. It may have been obvious that my heart hasn't been in this up to now, despite the fact that it was partly my idea to start this blog. I have been under some stress (go the comfort eating) and have been particularly unmotivated to exercise. I'm back at the gym now and I actually want to start eating better, so this feels like the start of a proper effort.

Additionally, I have just bought new scales because my last scales, despite being digital, only measured in half-kilo increments. This meant that unless I lost a full half-kilo it didn't show any loss at all (on the up-side, though, it also didn't show any gains unless they were a full half-kilo... hmmm... maybe I should use those when I've had a bad week...) My new scales measure in 100g increments so I'm getting a much better picture. Unfortunately, the new scales show me as about 2kg heavier than the old scales... which makes me think the old ones were crap, since the scales at the gym also weighed heavier.

So, given that I've been giving this only half my attention up to now AND I have shiny new scales, I'm declaring a "do-over" and starting in earnest from now. No, really. :)

Starting weight: 74.5kg
Goal weight: ummm... probably around the 64 mark. That's the lowest weight I've been and I was happy with my size at that weight. Really my goal is to fit back into my size 12 clothes (whilst still being able to breathe) and to lose the wobbly, wobbly tummy.

The Plan:
Gym workout three times per week
Bring my lunch from home instead of buying it (ooh, and a money saver too - win win!)
Eat breakfast - I'm very bad at this. I usually sleep late, spend time stuffing around and then realise I'm about to be late so I rush to the car without breakfast and end up buying a muffin at 10am because I'm starving.

The Rewards:
Since I want to lose roughly 10kg I think I'll reward myself at each 2.5kg, because that's nice and neat and also more achievable than waiting until the end.

First 2.5kg: Flowers. This doesn't seem like much of a reward but I live alone and I never bother to buy flowers for my house... however, I get such a lift from seeing them that's it's a good reward for me.

Second 2.5kg: Candle holder (and candle). I love candles and I've been eyeing off a couple of gorgeous glass candle holders, but have resisted buying them because I really don't need any more. I don't need them... but they would be a great reward.

I haven't decided yet on rewards for the other two milestones.

Of course, if I'd thought of this last night I could have been organised enough to make my lunch today... oh well! The supermarket does a good green salad and it's a decent walk down there too so off I go...

Weigh-In Wednesday (Manda)

And it's owning time.

Last week: 74.1
This week: 73.6
Change: a loss of .5 kilos
Total loss so far: 2.4 kilos

What did this week: a whole lot of not-as-muching. Not as much excercise, not as much stopping myself snacking, not as much counting.

What I'll do next week: as-much.

Fun with the Scales (Manda)

In response to Femina's recent post about scales and the continuing saga of my new electronic ones:

I thought I was the only one conducting a... "scientific experiment" this week. But the upstairs bathroom has had noticeably more traffic of late, and this morning I found out why. My Dad, all decked up in his bike-riding outfit, was on his way upstairs when he remarked: "Those new scales are pretty snazzy... Have you been weighing yourself before and after you use the toilet?"

Why yes, I have. 

...Have you?

"Yep."

Mystery solved. 

Too much information? 

(Then don't read this bit: the results are in and I average a half-kilo difference between before and after.)

In which I gained 2.5kg in 15 minutes... (Femina)

I finally went back to the gym this morning (yay!) and had an assessment prior to the workout.  I stepped on the scales and they displayed my weight as roughly 2.5kg more than my scales at home. Ouch.  I know all scales are different but still it was a bit of a shock to see a number so much higher than what I'd seen about 15 minutes earlier when I weighed myself at home.  (Fortunately my scales at home still said what I expected, so it's all good.)

Tell you what, though... gaining 2.5kg in a quarter of an hour is a heck of a motivator.  It was a good workout! :D

Lurker Warning...

I just thought I'd better warn you guys that we have a lurker. She's scary and has followed via links from my blog to this site.

She is known to be very straight (read vicious) in giving me her opinion about whether my hair-style and clothes look good or not, whether I need to lose a bit around the middle... and whether I'm allowed to have cheesecake this week.

Thankfully she has no blogger profile, so cannot comment on this blog (thanks Femina for that added security of not allowing anonymous commenters) - but she is watching us!

It's my Mum. Say hello to Mum, everyone!

Whoops!

I forgot to come back on Thurs with my update. 1.7kg loss over the past 2 weeks. Feeling good about that, shame about the chocolate I've eaten this weekend...

Struggling (Givinya)

I am falling off the wagon with the moving thing.

Mr de Elba hasn't told the people who call him boss about the move yet, so I can't blog about it! Argh! Without blogging as my outlet, I'm munchin thru some pretty ghastly food.

300 grams - better than a chair with three legs ...

Hello girls - better late than never ....

Well I did do the Wednesday weigh - in and 300 grams was gone. This is a good thing :) And I am happy as it is still stepping in the right direction.

I have added weights to the pro-active list now. MIC has moved the weight bench to the back deck. Being the encouraging boy he is he has set up two weight ranges - one for him and the piddly tiny ones for me.

I love the weights. I only do three kinds - here are the technical descriptions ...

1) the lying down on you back pushing your arms up holding the weight bar.

2) the siting up with legs pushing the leg thingo out then up.

and my least fav ....

3) lying on your tum doing the leg curl thingo back towards your butt.

Why do I love weights .... cos I like to feel strong. After all the wee lads are not so wee anymore and I like to be able to fling them round a bit .... MIC tells me I am pressing all of 10kgs ...

Anyways I won't ever be HUGE !!

Congrats to all of you who have done so well this week - you are an inspiration ! And the girls who stayed put - well your determination to move forward is awesome !!

Best to all - le

Celebrate with Meee!!! (HJ)

I've reached my first goal of 4 kg! Actually, 4.1kg (9 pounds!), but the main thing is to reach one of my interim goals. One quarter of the way along my total goal route.

So I now graduate my Grade 1 weightloss, with the aim of maintaining it over the Christmas Season.

Best yet, I'm now eligible for a massage!


And I don't know how I did it, because I had a few pig-outs on chippies, and only did 3 small rowing sessions. (I tell ya, it's those non-green veges and fruit that stack on the weight!)

I don't know how I've gone from sold on rowing to putting it off. I used to feel good and was sleeping better, and any excuse I was on it in the evening, even if I'd rowed in the morning. I did 20 minutes the other night and could have continued, but couldn't be bothered. I need a mind-set transplant. Mind you, the last couple of row sessions have got me back to sleeping OK, so it doesn't take much. (and I never should have said that, because now I won't sleep tonight)

It might be easier to walk a couple of days a week now. I might have found myself a walking partner - which means I have to set aside the time.

This coming week:
- back to 4 rows and 4 walks (30 mins each)
I will try to control chippie pogging - no hassles for today - Hubby finished off my packet last night. Still on the elimination diet, so there's no chance of other naughties. This might be the secret to the no effort weightloss I'm currently experiencing.

I hope this week is going well for everyone else. I'll exercise if you will! :)

Bovinity, here we come!

My Bad (Louisa)

I actually hate that expression but it seems appropriate given my long absence in updating here!

Currently my "weigh-day" is Thursday so I'm a day late and actually a couple of hours early as I'm not off to get weighed until 5pm. Argh! the anticipation!

According to the gym I have lost 1.4kg this week BUT I've been weighed in the morning and today will be weighed in the evening so am feeling quite nervous that I am not going to like what I see tonight...

wish me luck!!!

What have I been eating? (Givinya)

This morning I noticed I have an ENORMOUS muffin-top spilling out over the waistband of my favourite 3/4 jeans.

It must have come from eating too many muffins.

Then as I turned around, I caught sight of my thighs.

Crikey.

I don't remember eating the dugong.

Weigh-In Wednesday (Manda)

So, in response to last week's trouble with reading the scales, I bought an electronic set. Thus, I can be completely sure of myself when I say

Last week: 75

This week: 74.1

Change: a loss of .9 kilos 

Total loss so far: 1.9 kilos

What I did this week:

I struggled a bit more with party food on Saturday, but got over it and back on the... wagon? I exercised twice, one short of the three I had planned. I'm finding that exercising is helping me sleep (thus the theory in Femina's post).

What I'll do next: Keep the exercise up, with the added bonus of buying a sports top along the way (ooh, and a proper sports bra! Good thinking!)

Humph. (Givinya)

This week, starting on last Weigh-In Wednesday, I've been in a completely different place.

Last Tuesday, my biggest life goal was to lose weight.

Starting last Wednesday, my biggest goal has been basic emotional survival.

I've been violently opposed to moving, distraught about moving, accepting about moving, tentatively excited about moving, terrified about moving and absolutely sick in the guts about moving.

When it all comes down to it, I don't want to move. It's a truly bad idea.

I have exercised zero times, had a few nights of weight-decreasing worrying, had a few days of Dammit I'll Eat What I Want To, and a good dose of I-don't-care-how-fat-I-get.

Net result: 68 kilos, after the mindless drinking of water first thing in the morning. Approximately the same, maybe a slight gain.

I've just had a phone call from the beautiful kindy teacher at Sonny's new kindy for next year, asking if we are moving or we aren't moving ... because someone else really needs the kindy place if we're moving ...?

I got off the phone and collapsed in a puddle of tears. If I play it safe and pull him out (of the nice kindy that was supposed to make up for all the crap I've had to put up with from this year's ghastly kindy teacher) well, that is really beginning to cut ties with this place that I love in a very real way.

I talked to Mr de Elba and we decided to keep him in kindy for Term 1. We can't envisage being ready to move before Easter anyway. At least it will keep him out of my hair 3 days a week for packing and stuff. And I get to feel like I've sent him to the lovely kindy at least for a few months, even if there's nowhere with a spare place for him for the rest of the year in Toowoomba.

I guess in that case, he can have a "gap" year, like a lot of school-leavers have before starting Uni.

Ha ha ha haa aa a a sob sob sob ...

Oh it's wednesday again....

I forgot to weigh last week... I forgot to weigh again this morning. Oops! I will attempt to in the morning...

If my lack of wanting to weigh in is any sign... I am probably not going to be doing well on the scales!

Weigh in- whatever!

Sorry, very unmotivated at the moment...

Weigh-In Wednesday (Femina)

Actually I'm going with Weigh-In Tuesday, because I weighed myself yesterday morning and I'd lost a kilo, but when I weighed myself this morning I'd stayed the same.  So clearly today's weight is wrong and yesterday's was right. The vital stats are:

Starting weight: 72kg

Weight two weeks ago: 73kg

Weight last week: 73kg

Weight this week: 72kg

Loss: 1kg

Obviously I've just lost the kilo I put on two weeks ago so technically I'm back where I started, but hey - a loss is a loss and I'm definitely counting it.

I haven't been to the gym or done any exercise for over a fortnight - which, as Manda pointed out to me this morning, may be one of the reasons I've had more episodes of insomnia lately.  In any case, I do need to get back to it, so I have my gym clothes with me and plan to go straight after work today.  Ask me about it - I need accountability!!  I'm having a re-assessment at the gym next Tuesday and I'm going to get them to take measurements too (they only do that if you ask for it) so I can start using that as an indicator. The assessments are 5 or 6 weeks apart so unless I do absolutely nothing for the next month I'm sure to see a difference next time they take measurements.

Would you like a coffee? (Givinya)

Whose bright idea was it to have no sugar in drinks?

Now that I've promised you that I won't be having sugar in my drinks, I tend to decline them altogether. No point chugging down something I don't like is there? Whenever someone asks me if I'd like a coffee, I can honestly reply "No," because I know that I simply won't enjoy it if I accept.

Eating healthy is getting easier. The healthier I eat, the less rubbish I crave.

I was going to tell you how I used to have no trouble staying thin. I used to (until Sonny Ma-Jiminy was born) have the most revolting panic attacks. In those ghastly years, I'd often be unable to eat much, but force down a little bit of whatever I could manage. I'd feel sick a lot of the time and when it was really bad, I'd have vomitting and diarrhoea to make it all that more tricky.

I always wanted to have a little more on my bones, but couldn't keep it on. But the panic attacks were so bad that I never really cherished my skinny cow-ness. I always said I'd rather be fat and happy.

And now I am! Congratulations, me.

So now, although I hope to lose weight, I acknowledge that I'm better off not having those ghastly attacks.

Now here's an interesting thing. Big life changes going down here at the de Elbas. It looks like we may have to move house and follow a great job opportunity in Toowoomba. Exciting in many ways, but totally devastating to leave the place we love so much. And guess what else ... panic attacks!

They've been mild and intermittant, but over the first night after hearing the news of Mr de Elba's job offer, I lost a kilo.

When I get my head around this huge thing, I'll be relying on blogging a lot to help me process this - it's a big thing for me to contemplate! And if you're a praying person ... I'm going to need a lot of prayer!

Holy Cow!

Some photographic funnies for your comment.

Would one of these win the vote for maybe being added to the explanation under our header, or a changeable photo in our side-bar? Are there other caption options? Should I keep looking for a better photo? Comment and I'll see what we can do!

A: Or should the caption be "Look at me, look at me!":-




B: For those weeks where motivation has simply not been available:-

C: When worried about whether our clothes look good today:-

D: When someone else has just posted really good results:-

E: On those days we don't feel very bovine and definitely don't want it recorded for posterity:-

F: And, just because it's me:-

Here's to our increasing Bovinity, Cowgirls!

Although I was asked this week if I was pregnant... (HJ)

After being asked if I was pregnant on Thursday night I was a trifle concerned about my obvious weight gain. I should have remembered that I probably haven't seen that particular acquaintance since the beginning of the year when I had lost a bit of weight (before putting it all back on).

But then again, I have done a grand total of 10 mins rowing and no walking.

I have probably had more naughties than planned. Due to the fact that the elimination diet restricts what I can have, I've been having golden syrup on my rice porridge and almost daily small serves of plain potato chips (craving salt - or any flavour at all, really). Obviously it's the non-green veges and fruit that stack on the weight! ;)

But then again my naughties of chocolate, cheesecake or other temptations have been out of reach, so maybe not.

I'm tempted to go into numbers, but like Givinya I don't want to be compared with others because, frankly, one of us has to lose out!

Loss this week:
1.5kg (3.3 pounds* - he, he, he)
2cm off my waist
2.5cm off my tummy (so I'm actually less pregnant-looking than I was a week ago)

These results could well include the expected monthly fluctuation.

Loss overall:
3.7kg (8.1 pounds* - now isn't that spectacular!)
This means I only have to lose 0.3 of a kg to reach my first celebration milestone!
2cm around my ribs under my bust
4cm off my waist
3.5 off my tum
3cm off my hips
1.5cm off around the top of my upper arm.

The plan for this week:
So, obviously the elimination diet is working (actually, as it is not designed as a weight-loss diet, the authors do suggest that I increase my calorific/fats intake if I were to find myself losing weight - yeah right! ), but I will continue to have golden syrup on my porridge and small serves of potato chips.

I will get back into the groove of exercise, but honestly, I'm still feeling the post-cold lethargy and a little light-headed and shaky (possibly from the additional Ventolin to help me breathe). Small amounts of rowing are probably best because I can stop immediately if I begin to feel dizzy/shaky, rather than having a 10 minute walk home.

So I'm having another gentle week, and hope to lose 300 grams, which would result in a massage.

*WARNING:
Do not under any circumstances take my cheeky method of working out what I've lost in pounds (because the larger number makes me feel good) and applying it to your current weight or how much you have to lose. One is horrifying, the other is depressing and both are de-motivating. Just. Don't. Do it.

Mozzie motivation

I lost a bit of weight this week... by getting my hair cut shorter. Ok, had to think of something to put here, other than the usual biking.

I am doing a bit more of the exercise bike each day while the girls play in the sandpit or swings. If it was easy to get inside, I could sit there while they had a bath, but sometimes they are out quick, so it would be a waste. There are mozzies under the house too, so I have to pedal faster so they don't land on my legs.. good incentive?

Le Wednesday

Howdy thar girls .... Just asked my dear friend - the arty one - to whizz up a pic for the posts ...

I have another for right royal days with a crown ... have to save that for 'big loss days'.

Anyways the damage this week was 0.7kg off. I am very cool with this.

I am keeping up the wee morning walks and have done a 200 metre slow jog. I am going to work on extending this metre by metre until we are off and running the whole darn thing.

If you feel like you might want a post pic from the arty one just pop over to the Third and enter the six days of aussie creative give aways ....

We are on day four and the arty one is the feature tomorrow.

So this week I will aim to :

a) increase the speed of the morning walk

b) rediscover the weight bench

c) drink more water.

Hope to hear from you all soon - le xoxo

Error of Measurement? (Givinya)

Hi All. I think I need to start NAMING NUMBERS. I wasn't going to do that in case anyone with bigger numbers than me felt thingy about it, or if anyone with smaller numbers than me made me feel thingy. But I'll just give them to you and you can choose not to feel thingy.

When I started: 69.4
Last week: 67.1
Today: 67.2

I remember you told me last week to weigh myself in the morning before I'd had breakfast. Well, I did, but first I had to put my contact lenses in so I wasn't squatting & squinting like Manda (heh, cool description Manda), but in my case I'd have to squat a VERY long way because I am so terribly short-sighted. And when I put my contacts in, I have to have my medication, because otherwise I forget and my blood pressure gets a bit high by midday. And when I have my BP medication, I also have a few vitamins, and so I need a drink to wash them down, which I did. I must have chugged 250mL before weighing myself and I wonder if I put on a cool quarter of a kilo before hopping on those scales.

So here's a continuation of my initial query about error of measurement. We're supposed to drink 2 litres of water a day, and pee some of that. That's 2 kilos we're expecting to gain and lose across the day. Also, we eat food, we -erm- get rid of yesterday's food, we put on clothes, we take a few layers of clothing off. So, when we see something like a gain of 100g or a loss of 400g, I'd like to know what that really means? Anything or nothing?

What's the smallest fluctuation that we can confidently call a fluctuation?

They say that a weekly loss of 1 kg is fine. But that is within the expected fluctuation of drinking and peeing, according to my calculation. How do we know if we've lost a kilo or if we've peed a lot, dehydrated or forgotten to drink water? Hm?

Well, anyway, it would appear that I gained 100g. Or perhaps I lost 150g, according to what I assume the scales would have said before I slammed down that glass of water.

At any rate, last night I noticed fat rolls, so I'm not all that encouraged.

So here's what I'll do this week:

1. Write a post telling you how I used to keep all the weight off, and why I'm okay with my fat rolls now (most of the time).

2. Push two fussy children in a double stroller around the neighbourhood three times this week, and I'll swim once.

3. This is a hard one: I'll stop drinking calories. I'm going cold turkey on sugar in tea and (gulp) coffee. If that means I don't like it, I'll just drink water instead. I don't usually have a lot of sugar, so there's no good reason why I need any at all.

Wish me luck!

PS my new scales haven't broken yet from me standing on them, like the old ones did.

Weigh-in Wednesday (Manda)

Last week: 76
This week: 75
Change: a loss of 1 kilo! Hooray!
Total loss: 1 kilo

This is officially the lightest I've been since about... year 10?

Meanwhile, I've come to the realisation that a non-digital scale - analog? - is perhaps not the most precise of tools (picture me trying to balance while squatting low enough to read the dial).

What I did this week:
- Exercised three times. 1 pump class, 1 basketball match (we were smashed), 1 "funfit" class
- Ate well. I stuck to my points values on most days, and ate a lot less from the cupboard. I didn't do much comfort eating.

What I'll do next:
- Keep excersing, aiming for three times this week
- Get better at sticking to the points for dinner (a few times I went over what I should have, simply by not choosing to check along the way).

Rewards:
- For 2.5 kilos, I'll reward myself with a 30-minute massage

- For 5 kilos, I'll reward myself with a facial
- For 6 kilos, the big goal, I'll reward myself with a lovely new dress in whatever size I happen to be.
- And then, for staying at (or under) 70 kilos one month after I reach the Big Goal, I'll reward myself with... ooooh, a day trip to somewhere splurgy.

(Note: Today is Femina's Birthday, and I'm about to eat cake. I am allowing for this, and won't let it put me off my Skinny Cow Goals.)

Edit: One set of scales had me at 75.5 to 74.5, but I decided to stick with the heavier scales until I buy a digital set.

No-Weigh Week (Femina)

Well, kind of a no-weigh week. So far I've maintained my same weight this week... but Wednesday is my birthday and tomorrow is a birthday brunch with a couple of friends. Oh, and on Thursday night at Bible study we're having ice-cream cake made for me by a 16-year-old boy - made as only a 16-year-old can. We're talking a layer of chocolate, studded with Maltesers, then a layer of Cherry-Ripe-laced strawberry, then a layer of Crunchie-encrusted vanilla.

So given that it's a part-ay week I think I need to admit right now that there's no point weighing in on Wednesday! :) I don't plan to go overboard, but there will definitely be cake.

Update:
Okay, I just bit the bullet and weighed myself. I weigh the same as last Wednesday. Given what I ate yesterday this is nothing short of a miracle. It was a GOOD birthday brunch. It wasn't good FOR me, but it was good. Chocolate mousse with raspberry sauce for morning tea (which, I'm ashamed to say, was in fact breakfast for me), a huge BLT for lunch with chips on the side, 1/3 of a piece of cookies-and-cream cheesecake (we weren't exercising restraint; we were just too full to eat more than that), several pots of English Breakfast tea... I have it black with no sugar so it didn't add to the calories, but normally I drink decaf tea so between the tea and the sugar I was completely wired and hardly got any sleep last night. Consequently, for my birthday today I look about 58 instead of 38! :) I don't care, though - it was a wonderful day with two very dear friends and I wouldn't have changed it for anything.

I have two more cakes and two birthday dinners to get through. I shall try to exercise more restraint because I'm feeling the effects today of yesterday's overeating.

Manda and Body Pump

There was once a time when I attended my gym once or twice a week. Pump classes were my favorite because they didn't require so much coordination - it's less along the lines of step/twist/pirouette/lift and more along the lines of lift/lift/lift/lift at various speeds. You choose how heavy you want the bar to be before each different exercise set, so you can pile on 5 kilos (yes, I am a bit of a sissy) for your strengths, and take it all off for your not-quite-as-strengthy-strengths (is anyone out there actually good at lunges?). It's great because you end up working as hard as musclewoman over there; perhaps she has more weight on the bar than you do, but who counts?

Anyway, I went back to Pump for the first time in a year on Saturday. On Saturday, I felt good. On Sunday morning, it had started to twinge. By Sunday night, my thighs were officially on fire. And they still are! 

There is still a silver lining to this story, however. Every time I stand I can remember how hard I worked on Saturday. My muscles will be happy with me after they decide to forgive me.

I love Pump.

Weigh-In Weekend (HJ)

OK, so the 'scrappy insurgent' is back with her weekend rebellion. (Yes, Femina, I believe you should know where that comes from.)

I have to preface this report by saying that my expectations before going were not high. I wanted to maintain my weight in the face of 2 days of Chaplaincy Affirmation days, then 5 days of state-wide church meetings. This means sitting down for hours, and being presented with really yummy food options. The whole time away I was visiting friends and staying with people I don't get to see very often - this means sitting down talking for hours and really yummy food options.

However, I did really well for the first bit. I walked my friend's dog in the morning before meetings. I avoided morning and afternoon teas, drank lots of water and kept my quantity of food under control.

Then I changed location, and went for a walk along the beach and a swim in the surf before meetings. I avoided most bad food, and kept the quantities under control.

Then I was the 'happy' recipient of a cold in the head (Thanks, Mum). Exit swimming or walking up the hill from the car park (I took the shuttlebus). I was eating/drinking anything I could lay my hands on to soothe my throat. Cough-drops, lollies, cakey-things - it was all fair game.

Then I had a fish & chips with ice-cream incident last night when I really couldn't be bothered cooking. Just to confirm that the ice-cream was not actually eaten with the fish & chips, in case you're wondering.

Needless to say I was not expecting the scales to be my friends this morning.

I lost 0.4 of a kilogram! I'm excited, despite the fact it's probably just loss of muscle tone. I did however lose some small amounts from my circumference at various points, too. So maybe not. I'm happy to live in the mystery until next week. Hopefully I'll be able to get some excercise in, although I'm still feeling pretty miserable. I also think that I should be kind to my body while it's fighting something off, so I'll aim for later in the week.

Where's the Pedometer?

I wish I had had a pedometer on me yesterday. In the morning, I did my Field Research in a paddock, traipsing round for an hour and a half, in the stinking heat. Sweat stinging my eyes.

Then I had to go while away 2 hours at the shopping centre, and I walked the length and breadth of it 4 times, not counting walking around in the shops themselves. I even pushed the trolley with the two girls in it up the ramp, did not use the escalator.

(I was searching for red shirts and white sand shoes for the girls' Christmas dance presentation, and being a penny pincher, it took a while - did not end up with the sand shoes but got 2 nice shirts for $8)

I am trying to think how long the centre is , I think maybe its about 1km long so I did a fair bit of walking yesterday...... good exercise.

Weigh Le Wednesdays

Hello girls.

First I must say I am inspired by the grand efforts documented here - and the honesty and joyful approach to what can be a sometimes daunting task.

My news is reasonable - 700 grams. Mostly due to my personal trainer MIC - my husband - who totally has me on the band wagon of good eating.

It is raining today so no walk for me. Poor excuse and lazy me as I do have a stationary bike I could jump on. MIC is trying to figure out how I could balance the lap top on the bike and pedal power it as an incentive to use the bike ... hmmm.

Anyways this week I must ...

1. Drink more water - so important - and now I am not at a desk Monday to Friday I am forgetting
2. eat a better breakfast - just any breakfast would be better - I often seem not to have anything till around 9.30am and I know this is a weight loss no-no
3. do something during the day with Darling Boy in tow.

Well that is be done for now .... many hugs all round to the great girls at OSC - le xox

What? It's Wednesday?

How did Wednesday come up so fast?
I have not done a great deal the last week. A bit more on the bike, bit more fruit....

Tried out "Equal" and "Sweet and Low" for my sugar addiction, but can't take it! Ugh!
Coffee is just not the same. Anyone tried the others?

I worry a bit with all the artificial sweeteners, they are chemicals I guess, after all is said and done.

So maybe a bit of weaning is due... but its haaard!

Weigh-in Wednesday (Long dark hair, blue eyes)

This week I have lost 200 grams.

Yay!

OK - maybe that isn't the whole story.....

Last week I refused to weigh-in because I had had a bad week. Or should a say a really good weekend of socialising and overeating with zero exercise? Plus last week I had put on just a little bit of the weight that I have previously lost - NOT HAPPY JAN! So this week I have been better at eating less and much better at exercising and have lost what I put on and an extra 200 grams

Yay!

What I want to do this week

This week I am going to improve my will power. The reality is that there are always going to be summer rolls in the kitchen at work for the bargain price of $1 which support the children's charity. There are always going to be biscuits with coffee at my friends places. There will always be temptation but this week I am going to try to eat less of the things I know I don't need. I will let you know how it goes.

This week I am going to exercise on the weekend. I am generally good at walking after work but sit on my bottom all weekend. This weekend I am going to go for a walk on both Saturday and Sunday.

Weigh in Wednesday (swift Jan)

Last week:
Start Weight: 87.6kg
Last week's weight: 87.2kg
Loss: 400 grams

This week:
Start weight: 87.6
This week: 86.2
Total loss: 1.4kg

Woo HOO!! I lost 1 whole kilo this week!!!! How did I do that? I really dont know?!!!? But never the less, I did & I am chuffed!

Manda's First Post

I'll start off by saying that I've done this before... kind of.

In my last year at school and first years at uni, I had this nasty habit of eating chocolate bars for dinner. When I was encouraged to start Weight Watchers by a friend of mine (let's call her "Dietta" as she is likely to pop up in my tale from time to time) in 2005, I weighed in at 93.4 kilos.

That number was enough to spur me on for the good part of a year, and I lost 17 kilos by eating well and excercising (down to 76, the top of my healthy weight range). After I could no longer make the meeting I attended, I tried to join other meetings, but without the accountability of a friend, I didn't last, and I decided to keep trying on my own.

The bad news is:
I didn't quite keep to the points guidelines, and I exercised less. I stopped losing weight.
The great news is:
While I failed to lose weight, I didn't eat enough to gain any. I currently weigh 76 kilos. (Hooray!)

But I had never properly finished, and the nagging "almost there" remained on my mental cassette loop. So now, with accountability (in the form of this blog) in tow, I have decided to do it properly again.

My big goal: Lose 6 kilos (to 70) and fit into a size 10-12 (without sucking tummy in).
Currently: 175 cm, 76 kilos, and a size 14. And I have a big tummy!

How I'm doing it:
1) NOvember. In order to combat the YEStober I just had, I'm going to say no to the food people offer me, unless I am positive I can have only one and it won't be going over the points. These people include church and small group members (see femina's recent post) and my boyfriend. (I'll review this in ?cember).

2) Paying attention to my (Weight Watchers) Points Count and refusing to graze mindlessly.

3) Excercising. As people motivate me, I've joined a weekly basketball team. The excercise is fun and I don't need to force myself to do it. I'm also going to build up to a fitness class or two.

4) Prayer! I need to keep in mind that there are many more important things in God's eyes than my weight, but also I need His help to avoid obsessing about food (either eating it or not eating it).

Things to watch out for:
The kitchen cupboard. As of last month, I am residing once again with my parents. There are 4 shelves in their clever cupboard design:
- foil, glap wrap, boxes and cough lollies at the top
- chocolate bars, biscuits, lollies, cookies, and sweets at eye-level (there are about 25 different kinds of sugary food represented here)
- cereal, bread and salted nuts
- soup, rice, noodles and things that have long since passed their used-by date
It's the second shelf that is the problem. I wonder if they'll let me tape a curtain over it?

Ok, I'll talk about rewards later. This post is definitely long enough.

'Weight' just a minute ... (Givinya)

I actually wrote that post last night. I wasn't sure I'd remember to weigh myself today. I did again this morning, and this time it says I've lost 2.3 kilos! What's going on? Not being a person who weighs herself often (ever), I'm not sure what error of measurement I should be accepting.

I don't think I could pee the difference (2.4 kilos) overnight. That's all.

Should I be tentatively encouraged?

Weigh-In Wednesday (Givinya)

I swam.

I pushed the double stroller around.

I was run off my feet.

I did housework, I ran after children, I had a very busy day at work last Friday.

I ate fairly healthy most of the time.

(But remember I was on that retreat with all the food over the weekend.)

I denied myself so many snacks, and was proud of myself.

I felt like I'd lost a few kilos.

And I put on 100 grams.

It must have been the bacon.

(I guess a quick wee would sort out that extra 100 grams, wouldn't it?)

Weigh-In Wednesday (Femina)

Here are Femina's tips for gaining a kilo from one Weigh-In Wednesday to the next:

1. Work in a church. This is a vital step to gaining weight. Try to find a church where many groups meet during the week - eg, playgroups, women's Bible studies etc. Ideally, they will feel sorry for the office manager who is there on her own and will bring in treats from their morning tea. Muffins and slices are particularly helpful for reaching your weight-gain goals.

2. Try to have insomnia or some kind of sleep disturbance most nights. This will leave you fuzzy-headed in the mornings and too tired to eat a proper breakfast or make your lunch, leaving you free to buy a fattening lunch at a cafe.

3. Have a couple of emotionally wobbly days. Feed your emotions with coco-pops (yes, because I'm twelve) or a nice bacon and egg brunch. Or both. Feel guilty about it - hopefully this guilt will lead to more emotional eating.

4. Attend a funeral with the most awesome catering you've ever seen. Preferably it should be the funeral of someone you knew slightly well but not very well - this means you'll be sad but not so sad that you can't get stuck into the unbelievably good cakes at the morning tea afterwards.

5. Completely forget that you're meant to be eating better until after you wipe the last sweet, sweet muffin crumb from your lips. (Oops!)


Hmmm... yeah, not a great week for me. I'm not as distraught as you'd imagine though, because if I'm honest I can't say that I was really trying hard. Or, you know.... at all. I did, however, have a fantastic workout at the gym on Saturday; and I now have vegetables in my fridge again so I'll start putting in an effort this week.

Hope you all did better than me... but if not, at least you have company! :)

The bacon had my name on it too...

I was next to Givinya in the line. We selected the bacon, one after the other. The bacon was good. It was delicious!
So was all the chocolate, lollies, cake, biscuits and coffee!!

I was bad! I was very very bad. I dont care either.
I do however need motivation to get back on the skinny cow though.... c'mon Inspire me!

A must read

Hey girls

I just read this amazing post over at Her Bad Mothers Basement. I really encourage you all to check it out.

One of the main reasons I've joined the gym and WW is because I want to be an example to LP (who I fear has my metabolism) that it is possible to eat well and be a healthy weight. I want to show her that it can be done, properly. I did my Honours Thesis on the representation of women's bodies in the Australian media in the 1970s and during my research the message that came through to me is that while not all women have eating disorders, many have a disordered approach to eating.

At the same time I don't want to pass on to her my battle and this post has something powerful to say about the power of words and the message we send to our kids, both daughters and sons, about weight and how you need to be.

Hope you enjoy!

The bacon had my name on it

Hi Cowgirls! I totally loved that retreat that Swift Jan and I went on! Swift Jan did an AWESOME job of organising it - she's a wonder.

I wasn't planning on falling off the wagon, but I did, sorta. And the funny thing is, although I didn't crave sweet stuff and I didn't feel like I needed it, IT WAS THERE so I just had it. Hopeless. Not having junk food in the house is a large part of my defence system. Not all that infallible, is it?

And there was bacon for breakfast on Saturday morning. Grr. It was good though.

There was a fair bit of chocolate, and the sweet hot chocolate drinks were pretty awesome. I'm the sort of person who can eat 30g of chocolate and appear to immediately put on 3kg - I'm not sure how that works, but I think it's a verifiable fact.

I had the opportunity to watch the eating habits of my Skinny Friends. Their eating habits were a little like how mine use to be. They'd have smaller portions and get full quicker. Then they'd be back for morning tea. I've never been convinced that snacking is the way to go, so I've tried to avoid morning and afternoon tea, focussing on a healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner. The thing is, it takes a lot to fill me up.

There might be something in all that. I'll experiment with that this week.

But I'm dreading weigh-in Wednesday. Just so you know.

Thinking of you ...

Hello dear ones - welcome Louisa.

As I left for my walk early this evening I grabbed $2.60 and thought I'd 'treat me' to a chocolate bar on the way - it has been a longish day with a preceeding bad night.

Then I thought of you and OSC and put the money right back.

Thanks for will powering me along girls - hugs le