Brief post-Christmas check-in

Christmas then weigh in Wednesday - bumma hey!! Was absolutely stoked to lose 1.5kg!! I'm still on holidays (living out of my car pretty much) so was hoping to atleast maintain, so happy that fitting in a few runs/walk and being mindful of my eating has kept me on track. 10.8kgs down for the round so far! Need to get back on track with weekly surprises etc when I'm back in civilization early Jan! Hope everyone has had a great Christmas and have a safe new year xx

The non-numbered wins

We've all had that moment where we see a number on a scale, and that is what decides our mood, its the same with measurements and clothes (although I do believe that measurements are a great reflection on the effort put in).

Take some time to think of the "other" wins you've experienced.

I'm currently on holidays for three weeks, interstate, camping, living out of my car. The first win of the trip, was taking photos of me and my partner that I love! And even more exciting is we will have many more photos to take along the way. And win number two was getting up at 6am (body clock still thinking it was 530am due to time zone change) and going for a run!

By the end of the 12 weeks, I will have written a list of 84 non-scale wins :)

14-20!

I guess this is a follow on from my previous post about numbers and sizing.
Although my shopping trip to target wasn't at all successful, i was still left with the dilemma that i had no shorts that fit me! Thursday i was in a shopping center for work, so decided to see what Kmart had to offer - it completely blew me away, in the one shop, i was fitting into stuff ranging from 14-18! I'm sure i would have fit into some of the 20s as some 18s were extremely snug, but there was no way i was even going to bother trying any on! seeing as i love getting a bargain, i went away with about 10 pairs of shorts in various sizes, styles and colours, all for around $7-$10, and two pairs of jeans for $7 each! :) While i was on that high, i decided it was about time i got a few new tops, all my current tops are at least 1-2 years old, and have stayed with me throughout the 20kgs lost, so needless to say some are quite baggy on me and make me look larger then i am! Got a ride into the city with my partner, and off i went with a positive frame of mind - initially the plan was just to go to k-mart cos everything is nice and cheap, but after only having luck with one top there i decided to stroll around and bravely entered jeans west, it may be nothing for some, but its the first time iv entered a 'normal' shop in a looooong time! but the amazing thing - when asked if i needed help in the change room - I HAD TO ASK FOR SMALLER SIZES!! i thought i was obviously the largest size they had, and that was with me planning on squishing everything into the fabric, but nope!! in some tops, i was a medium! for some bizarre reason i still went with the large :S im planning on jumping online and ordering said tops in a medium cos i loved them, and it was kind of a feel good moment!
Anyway - enough of a rant about my shopping trip! Hope everyone has had an amazing weekend and is ready to smash out week 5!!

Don't let a number break your spirit!

The scales seem to hold the ultimate power - they have the ability to make or break your day, and your spirit. But i think we all need a reminder sometimes that there are many more important things then just a number on the scales, while it might not be changing, your measurements may be changing, your skin may be clearer, you may have more energy. There are so many positive things that being healthy brings about, but often people are so focused on the scales that they ignore the rest, and give up.

Yesterday i tried on a pair of goal pants, previously, iv never been able to get them over my butt!! but today they went up and over. huge fist pump moment!! while i was on a high, i decided to go to target on my lunch break and get some new pants (as all of mine are falling off), this was where my day started going downhill, i know clothing sizes are inconsistent, but it is a huge slap in the face when a size smaller then im currently in was a bit snug, so to get ones that would fit, i would need to get the same size that i am. i refuse to buy the same size! so, will look at kmart and big w, but otherwise, ill be waiting till i shrink a few more cms off myself. I could have focused on the negative that i havent really dropped a size, and dont get me wrong, i did for a little bit, but then i reminded myself - i fit into the pair of lorna jane pants that iv been wanting to wear for over a year!! (only downside is cause im a shorty they are a bit longer then the 3/4 style they are meant to be)

So, next time you get a number, or result that is disappointing, take a moment to reflect on the positive changes you've been making to your life, and those around you!

It's ok to be selfish!

All week, i have been tossing up who to nominate for this weeks weekly surprise, which is to nominate a blog.
I found it a hard decision because there are so many inspirational bloggers, and how do you choose just one, when so many have made a difference in your life?

It was coming close to cutoff, and my vow for this round was to enter each weekly surprise, so selfishly perhaps, i nominated my own blog.

Now, i felt a bit strange doing it, it's not something i would normally do, but that's why i did it, get out of my comfort zone and all of that! What i didn't expect, was the back lash of someone from a local page i was previously part of, saying i was selfish for nominating my own blog, and that i should be supporting others for a change. I think my jaw literally hit the ground when i heard this had been said - firstly, i have done an embarrassing amount of rounds, yet i am barely lighter then i began. Why? partly because i never got my shit together, and partly because i was too busy putting OTHERS first. This round i decided to remove all negativity from my life, which lead to me removing myself from some local facebook pages, primarily so that i could focus 100% on me. It also lead to me being more active in the SWSYD facebook page, and also the 30+ facebook page - both of these pages are full of amazingly inspirational and supportive women, and i am so grateful to be sharing this experience with them, even if it is only through a computer screen!

So, if i could nominate an unlimited amount of blogs, I couldn't go past http://jayne12wbt.blogspot.com.au/  - I can't remember how i came across her blog a few rounds ago, from memory, it was through a mutual friend that we both met through the program, i can still remember lying in bed reading her blog bawling my eyes out, i was amazed, inspired, and 100% full of jealousy! I'd seen her at finale, and to me she was that stunning skinny person, she still is that person, but the respect that came after seeing her before and after pictures was unexpected, she was one of the first people to show me that it really is possible, and she did it all with young children that kept her on her toes! I had the pleasure of meeting Jayne at the finale in Perth, it was a fleeting hi, but it was enough to enforce that she truly is as kind and beautiful in real life as she is on facebook!

I'll be here all day if i list all the reasons why i love these blogs, so read them for yourself and be inspired :) 
http://www.shehascuterunners.com/
http://cocogirlbutter.blogspot.com.au/
http://sarah12wbt.tumblr.com/

There are many, many more out there that i would recommend reading, but these four are the four that stand out to me, all four women have shown me that anything is possible, and all four women embrace the 12wbt spirit in my opinion!!

For anyone that is still reading - I would like to say a HUGE thank you for reading, i know there are hundreds of blogs far better then mine, but knowing that a few read it gives me encouragement to keep posting and stay honest on this journey!

We aren't following your diet on christmas day!.....

I love my family, they have been my number one supporters this round.
BUT, when on the phone recently my sister made the comment that i hope i know they won't be following my diet on Christmas day, i was a little bit hurt. Of course i wasn't going to expect them to only do food i wanted on Christmas day, when i replied and said i didn't expect them to, that im happy just having a little bit of meat and salad, the response i got to that was - it's only one day, it's not gonna kill you to go off the program for one day.

Now i know her words were in no way meant the way i took them, i know she was merely letting me know that on xmas day there wont be many healthy options, and that it's ok if i relax on the day. But it got me thinking - do i want to pig out and feel horrible and regretful? Wouldn't i rather enjoy Christmas with family (the first time all of the family will be together in about 10 years), and make good food choices so i can be proud of myself? If i have the calories, i might have a small treat, but it will all depend on where my head is at, and if i've been exercising much, and it will be 100% my decision, and a conscious decision, not a decision made based on the desire to binge!

I am away for three weeks over Xmas, 2 weeks will be road tripping/camping, and one week will be at my sisters, now for the rest of the week she is happy for me to choose the meals, and she is actually really healthy anyway so im not too worried about the food side of things, but i just don't want people to be telling me that a little bit is ok. If i was a recovering alcoholic, you wouldn't offer me alcohol, so i hope that when i say no to certain foods, that people respect that and don't try to shove them down my throat!

How many of you jump on the forums, read a post (that no-one else has commented on), and then exit the page? I know lots of us don't have much free time, BUT, some days, when i see a reply on something i've posted, it gives me the boost i need to keep going, and it reminds me that i'm not alone.

One thing i'm going to try and do this round on the forums, and facebook pages, take the time to reply to those comments that numerous have read, but no-one has replied to. I may not be able to help, but by posting a comment it will help keep the thread alive, hopefully for someone with more knowledge or wise words to see! Hopefully it will help someone else realise that they aren't alone, and there is support when they need it :)

Operation 3500 - mission accomplished??
Hell yes!!
In all honestly, when Monday night rolled around, i thought id bitten off more then i could chew - but i also realized it was a turning point for me - if i could have a weekend where i completely fucked up, and get back on track the next day, then i would succeed. Before weigh-in i got to around 2970 calories burnt, or something similar, and i realised that to burn off my food, plus do my daily calories, thats all i needed to do, the extra 500 was wednesdays calories, which i did after weight in :)
I was still a bit hesitant wednesday morning jumping on the scales - but my hard work had payed off and i got to see a 1.8kg loss!

Week 2 Done and Dusted

This week was harder then the first - temp was high 30s/40, which made am exercise difficult! Managed it Monday and Tuesday, but it was just way too hot! So, I only did my gym sessions for the rest of the week.

It was a week where I've worked 7 days, so I'm a little bit proud that I still managed 3500 cals for the week. Mon to Fri eating was spot on, have had a few hiccups over the weekend which has helped reinforce a few things i needed reminding of!

My mission for Monday and Tuesday is to burn off the excess cals from the weekend, as well as doing my normal 500 cals for the day. Ouch! this is going to hurt, but it's ultimately my own fault!

Operation 3500 cals gone by wed weigh in commences!!

Week 1 Recap

How can you not love this quote? It sums up my experience so far perfectly.
It's great to have supportive people, and to have those people try to motivate you, but ultimately, until you are ready to give 100%, from deep within, then success is only going to be temporary.

I feel that this is where i'm at, for months and months, even the past few years, i've wanted to make changes, and in small ways i have, brief stints of eating healthy, brief periods of going on the 12wbt website, but even with all the encouragement in the world, i never succeeded. I was lazy, i chose not to change my habits, and that is where the problem lies.

Week 1 is done, have i stuck 100% to the meal plan set out on the program? No. Does this mean i'm once again going to fail?? NO! I did my own plan this week, something that i knew i would be able to stick to, something that worked. I did the more time consuming meals on days where i do an earlier gym session, and on the days i get home later, i did nice quick meals. Did i follow this plan 100%? nope, i followed it 95%. One dinner made leftovers i wasn't expecting, so that became my lunch for the next day. Do i believe that i gave week 1 100% of my effort and dedication? YES! i can honestly, say yes. Yes, ofcourse there was things i could have done better, longer in the gym, less dressing on a salad. But i'm not going to beat myself up about that. I made changes, and so far, i can say that i am succeeding. To me, for now, that is enough.

I fell in love with eating good food again, I made a curry that tasted better then the indian version we had a few weeks ago, i tried new meals, and loved them.

Week 2?? Bring it on!! Meal plan sorted, shop done, this afternoon i will slice and dice and bag up ingredients ready for the week ahead.

My mission for these 12 weeks, is to succeed, because if i can succeed while working 7 days a week, while also being a full time uni student, currently finishing off exams, while also surviving the festive season where i will be away for three weeks, then i hope that i am able to give anyone the courage and belief that they too can succeed!

Not ready for the world to know?

Have u ever had that moment where u feel that the "journey" ur on has become kinda public, when ur not ready for that?

Ok, let's scrap the word journey, we will call it an experience, and replace the public, with my partners parents.

Anyway, I'm just not at the point where I'm ok with everyone knowing, I've said it out loud to the people that will support me, but other then that, I feel that it's noones business :S

Being overly dramatic? Probably. But when it was brought up at lunch today, I felt uncomfortable. Ashamed perhaps. I know that this time round I'm going to suceed, but that doesn't mean that everyone I know needs to know I'm on a weightloss expedition! I'm not ready to answer the questions that come with it!

Week 1 so far

Day 1 
There is something different this round, I can't put my finger on it, but for some reason i am 200X more determined then i've ever been before.

Not once have i organized myself for day 1, let alone week 1, yet this time i planned everything.
Planning = Success! 

Did my time trial (halfway through a 6km walk), wall sit, and pushups. So just need to get around to the ab test and sit and reach. On my list of "to do" for later in the week!

Day 2
I've always been the kind of person that gets up 15 minutes before i need to leave for work, i've never eaten breakfast, and even when i did, it was generally an up and go that i had on the way to work.

Seems as though my body clock is happy having early nights and getting up early, so, 6am im awake ready to go for another morning walk, which then means im back home with plenty of time for a shower and breakfast.

 Day 3 
 Woke up feeling a bit blah. Had a headache and decided i'd roll over and go back to sleep till a more reasonable hour.

NOPE! My puppy had other ideas, she wanted her walk/run that she'd gotten used to (after only two days of it lol), so she wouldn't stop breathing stinky dog breath in my face until i got out of bed, looks like she won cos 5 minutes later i was out the door, funnily enough, my headache was gone by the time i got to work, and i'd once again, had time for a relaxed morning.

It was also weigh in #1 - amazingly, 2.2kg loss in 2 days!! how insane that my diet really was that bad beforehand. It really is as easy as eating better!! Today was also the first time in a loooong time that anyone has ever said my lunch looks really good and they are jealous (it was also the first time in a looong time i've been around people when i have my break), so it was a good feeling to know that a) it doesn't look like diet food, and b) it looks yummy!!

 Day 4
Body clock decided to get me up even earlier, 545 am i was shuffling out the door. Funny when im sitting down eating breakfast and my normal alarm goes off :) Was tempted just to buy lunch today, i was in the city and there's healthy options, but nope, i have all the ingredients, and iv planned all my meals, so definitely no need to do anything other then make my lunch :) So, all in all, I've had a pretty successful week so far i reckon! Have exercised twice a day 3 days, and once a day one day, my puppy is much happier getting a long walk everyday, and in general, i feel on top of the world!!

Healthy means starving

Here's a pic of my food for work today. How can people honestly believe that u will go hungry if u eat healthy? (I'll admit, I used that as my excuse until now) :)
Banana, watermelon, apple leftover from breaky, herbed yoghurt chicken salad for lunch :)

Will report back about my week so far when I get a chance!

Organisation is everything!

Sunday night before it all begins.
Many will be having their "last supper", while others will be using the time to get prepared.
I (for once), fall into the get prepared category.
My weakness is snacks, so that's what I got prepared for.
Veggie sticks cut up, choc fudge balls made, cheese cakes made, eggs boiled.
This time tomorrow I will be reporting back what a success my first day was! :)

Operation comeback commences!

A common question, how many rounds of 12wbt have you done? My answer, none.
Yes, I have paid for many, but have I ever become organised enough to give it 100%? No. Food. That's my problem. It tastes good, so I eat, and eat, and eat! I also love exercise, so for a while, I've been playing this game of maintenance. Not so bad? Well, if I was at goal weight, sure, perfect, but I'm currently 40kg above goal weight.

So that brings me to today, why am I delusional enough to think this time will be difference? Christmas period? Seriously?
That is why I will succeed! I already know what the biggest hurdle is going to be, and that is why it won't beat me.

Today I did my menu plan, tomorrow I pick up my groceries, Monday I start!

BRING IT!!