Naughty Consumption

I have developed this bad love of something new.  It's certainly not a daily indulgence, it's a once a week treat that I have been working it into my daily calories on the day I have it, so it has not affected my weight loss.  It counts as two snacks for the day as it's 230 calories per serve.

Fortunately this is only a seasonal drink, it is around only for the Christmas season.  This beverage will cease to exist on the 6th January, so from then I will not be able to have it any more....  thank goodness!  Well, until next year that is.  We go away on the 31st December, so really I only have another three days to indulge in another one before they finish.

What is this naughty consumption that I'm talking about you may ask?

Well it is none other than the Gingerbread Frappuccino from Starbucks.  I get it made on skim milk to reduce some of the calories.  But yes I do still have the cream on top, but I don't drink much of the cream.

Here it is....

Starbucks Gingerbread Frappuccino

Receiving Compliments

I don't know what it is, but I don't know what to say when people notice that I've lost weight.  Particularly people who I haven't seen for a while.  I guess they can see a big difference.  I've lost about 13 kgs now.  I guess that is a lot, but I still have about 12 kg to go and I don't know I know there is a difference in my clothes, I've gone down two to three clothes sizes.  But I just get embarrassed and say "Oh thank you.  I still have a bit to go".

At the Christmas Eve party the other day, there was someone there who I hadn't seen since I first signed on for Round 3 of 12WBT this year (2012).  That was back in August.  The round hadn't started, but I had signed on.  We were having lunch at a coffee shop with a few friends and we were talking about it and I hadn't seen any menus or exercise plans at that stage, so I was feeling very motivated that I was going to lose this excess weight that I was carrying but I didn't know how the program would be, if I would like it, or even if it would be a success or something I could maintain long term.  I didn't know anyone else who had done the program, I only found it whilst searching google for something, I'm not sure what.  I actually wasn't looking at joining a 12 week program.

Anyway when I saw her on Monday night she yelled across the room.  "OMG, dieting diva" (although she used my real name, LOL).  "Look how much weight you've lost, there's nothing of you".  Well all night, she kept saying, "I can't believe how good you are looking, I just can't believe how much weight you've lost, I keep looking at you, your face is different".   This is lovely to hear, compliments.  But I don't know.  I find it hard to hear.  I sort of get embarrassed.  I just say "oh thanks, but I still have a lot more to go".  Many are saying "from where?".

I was at the office the other day and my dad has been away for a few months.  He had noticed I'd lost weight before he left.  But I was standing at the office the other day, the day after he arrived home and he kept saying "you have just lost so much weight", "you are looking so good", "skinny minnie".  I haven't told my dad that I'm doing any sort of weight loss program.  I don't know why, but he and my brother are very very fit, very healthy.  Yes they have their treats, chocolate, ice cream.  But neither of them have ever been over weight, ever!  They have never even been on the high scale of normal BMI, they have always been thin (not too thin), but more towards the bottom of the normal BMI for their height.  They would never say anything about being me overweight but I'm sure they don't understand (I could be wrong)

Anyway, my dad just kept going on and it was lovely, he was being nice but again I felt uncomfortable hearing those compliments.  I said I still have a bit to go and he said "doesn't look like it".  He said you must have been working really hard!  And I just said "oh no not really", when in reality I have!

Not sure how everyone else feels getting these compliments about how they are looking.  Am I the only one that gets sort of uncomfortable, embarrassed by the compliments?  Guess I should just enjoy it, LOL.

Christmas Weight Loss

I had a Christmas/Birthday Party on Christmas Eve, then the big family Christmas lunch on Christmas day.

Our Christmas Tree (before the presents and I have lost the tree skirt, so apologise for the naked tree)

Christmas Eve

I did allow myself to enjoy some of the yummy food on offer and didn't deprive myself too much.  On Christmas Eve, I made this heaven Salmon Pate or sort of a dip.  It's thick and you spread it on a slice of bread stick.  It is SOOOO yummy, but as it's filled with mayonnaise and lots of butter it is NOT low fat or low in calories.   Well as it's my favourite thing and it's not something I make very often and I have been so good over the last few months on 12WBT,  I limited my calories during the day, knowing that I would be indulging for dinner.  I had three bits of dip on bread.  It was SOOOOO good.  I could have eaten the whole pot and it's one of those things that once started is really hard to stop.  But I did stop and I just enjoyed and savoured every mouthful.

For dinner there was lamb, salads and potato bake.  Well potato bake is another weakness for me!  I LOVE it.  So I did have some, but not my usual half the plate full.  I had just a small tablespoon full. A small piece of lamb and then half the plate of salad.  I then did indulge in dessert!  Pavlova!!!  Who can resist pavlova.  I got up and cut my own slice and I literally had a sliver.  The kept handing me a "small piece" to which I would say, no I'll have a really small piece and would pass that piece to someone else, just like a shaving was all I wanted.  So in the end I just said, "can I cut my piece".  Which I did and it was only about half a cm thick but it was enough to have about 3 mouthfuls with some cream and fruit on top and I got the flavour and it was really all I wanted.

Christmas Day

So I survived Christmas Eve.  Now it was time to survive Christmas Day!  Now my family are not known to skimp on the Christmas lunch servings!  We have roast turkey, baked ham, roast potatoes and pumpkin, asparagus mornay (my favourite), broccoli, peas, stuffing and lashings of gravy!   I again asked if I could do my own plate as I could see the serving sizes were just massive.  I just had a small piece of turkey, a smaller piece of ham, one small baked potato, once small piece of pumpkin, spoonful of peas, a dessert spoon of asparagus, a large floweret of steamed broccoli and instead of the usual, plate drowning in gravy, I just did a small drizzle over the meat.  It was about half the size of everyone else's, but it was plenty for me!

Then came time for dessert.  There is a little history there.  Growing up, my aunt always made the Christmas puddings filled with treasures that we would exchange for money, topped with brandy custard.  I on the other hand have a nut allergy, so I was never able to have it.  So I always had my own pudding, it was a chocolate chip steamed pudding with chocolate custard.  Over the years, people... family members, were getting jealous of my special pudding.  They wanted that too.  So slowly but surely the traditional Christmas pudding vanished and all that was served was the chocolate chip steamed pudding with chocolate custard (also filled with treasures).  So this year was no different.  We had steamed chocolate chip pudding with home made chocolate custard and served with home made chocolate and vanilla ice creams.  OH MY Goodness!  I can tell you my blogging friends, this is a dessert that is out of this world.  I was not going to miss out on my favourite dessert of the year!  So I again served myself.  I had just a tiny piece, about a 1/4 of the size of everyone elses.  A small spoonful of the chocolate custard, instead of the pool of custard everyone else had and then a teaspoon full of each of the ice creams, as apposed to the large scoop of each that everyone else had.

It was a spectacular couple of days.  Filled with lots of laughs, great company, great food and just a really festive time.

After the last two days I was not expecting to lose any weight today for our usual Wednesday weigh in.  But I have to say that even though I did indulge in some naughty things.  I did watch the calories, I did have small portions and I guess I didn't go overboard.  I am pleased to say that I still lost 400 grams this week! 

I hope that you have all had a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends.  Next challenge... New Years Eve and a holiday to Hamilton Island!

Merry Christmas

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas.  Hope your holidays are filled with love, fun, family and joy on this festive season.

Doctor Visit Update

I saw the Doctor today about my high blood pressure medication and about possibly coming off it as my blood pressure is now on the low side.

When I started this journey, just 4 months ago.  I was on 300mg a day of medication.  I was then reduced to 150mg a day and today I was put on 75mg a day.  The Doctor said that if I continue the way I am then I will be off the medication soon.  Unfortunately with blood pressure medication it is not something you can just stop, not when you have been on it for a long time as I have been.  I've been on it for about 2 years now.  So the only way to come off it is to wean off it.  So I have been reducing the dosage and have gone from 300mg a day to 75mg a day.  I am to stay on that for a few weeks, maybe a month and see how my blood pressure is, to make sure it's stable,  then reduce to 75mg every second day.    I am not sure what  happens after every second day.  Maybe be off it all together then.

Anyway it's an exciting day!  It's a real step in a positive direction and it shows that the changes I have made in my life so far thanks to Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation are improving my health.

The only downside to the Doctor visit was the unpleasant man sitting opposite me in the waiting room. He was coughing and not covering his mouth, spreading his germs everywhere.  But the final straw was when he sneezed... a huge sneeze.... and he again did not cover his mouth so the two ladies who I was sitting beside along with myself were sprayed with his vulgar germs.  It was absolutely disgusting and I almost threw up.  Bad enough being exposed to germs but to have someone actually sneeze on you, not cover their mouth, was just an all time low.

Baggy Shorts... again

At the beginning of this journey, at the beginning of round 3 12WBT.  I purchased a pair of shorts.  Bright green shorts.  I absolutely loved them but was a bit nervous about colour.  I feel very self consious wearing bring colours on my bottom half.  I don't want to draw attention to my large area!.

So I purchased the shorts.  I bought a size 14.  They were a really firm, if I hadn't known that I was going to be losing weight, I would have bought the size 16 as I did have quite a muffin top and they were not comfortable, I knew I was losing weight so would get into them eventually.  Well about 7 -8 weeks later, I was wearing those shorts to a friends house and she said.  Oh, look, I just have to say, those shorts are too big, they don't look right!  Now someone may be offended by this comment, but I was thrilled.  I knew they were getting baggy and are the type of shorts that stretch as they are worn, so when I got home I did look in the mirror and they were looking too big.  So I went out the next morning and bought the size 12.  Yes, that's right, the size 12!!!!!

I am now at the beginning of week 4 of 12WBT.  I have lost about 12kgs, but I know I have lost a lot of cm's.  I'm looking forward to this Wednesday weigh in as it's a milestone week, so we do all of our measurements again.

Now for the exciting thing.  I have been wearing the size 12 bright green shorts for the last 7 or so weeks and on Thursday I was in the office and someone said to me.  Gosh you are looking good, those shorts are too big!  AGAIN, someone else talking about my shorts!  So on Friday I popped out and bought the same shorts in a size 10.  Can you believe it, a size 10!

Now I know I still have about 13kg to go.  I wouldn't say that I am a size 10.... yet.... Whilst the 12 are getting big, the 10 are quite firm, but I know that in a couple of weeks, they will fit nicely.  They were the only 10 left so I wanted to snap them up, after all it's only the beginning of summer and I don't want to be without my cute green shorts for the rest of the summer.  I have gone down three clothes sizes!  

The size 10 is firm, like the size 14 was when I started this journey, but I can not wait for those too to become baggy and too big and I will then have to slip into the 8!  Won't that be a day of celebration!

Time To See The Doctor

I have been on high blood pressure medication for a couple of years now.  I didn't ever have what was considered high blood pressure very often.  I had borderline hypertension.  Sometimes it was up, if I was stressed it was high.  It was always on the very high side of normal, just tipping into high.  But after tearing my artery, I was put on medication to lower my blood pressure as the Dr's were worried about the long term borderline hypertension may have been the cause.

Well I have lost close to 12kgs so far (about 26lbs) and I will be honest.  I haven't really been monitoring my blood pressure for a long time.  My machine was out of batteries, I'd been meaning to buy more and just kept forgetting.  I have been taking my medication daily though, never miss it as I don't want to tear the artery or another artery again due to my blood pressure.

The last week I have been getting quite light headed.  Particularly when I get up, but sometimes just standing there, or sitting on the couch.  I have also had this annoying tingling feet!  I thought it may be magnesium or my iron levels as I'm regularly with very low iron.

So yesterday I started taking my blood pressure.  Not sure why I suddenly started monitoring it again.  I guess I just wanted to make sure that it wasn't high.  To my surprise, it is LOW!   107/60.  104/62.  96/60.  That is why I have been feeling light headed I think and low blood pressure I have just googled (never had it before so never knew the symptoms) can cause tingling feet!  Maybe losing this 12 (26 lbs) odd kilograms is bringing my blood pressure down.

I know this has been a goal of mine on this 12WBT journey.  To get my blood pressure down and get off this medication.   Until I tore my artery I had never been on regular medication (except asthma puffer when needed).  So I am heading off to the DR on Monday to speak to him about it.  I am now on the lowest dose of the drug I'm on, so I guess the next step will be to take it every second day for a little while or maybe if it's consistently low stop ween me off  it all together.

Anyway I'm doing a happy dance!  I have not seen my blood pressure be anything other than on the high side of normal to high for the last few years (even on medication it was still always on the high side of normal).  I have joked with a friend who has low blood pressure that she can have some of mine, but now it's looking like I don't have any to give away (if only we could, LOL)

12WBT!  You are my saviour!

I'm In Pain

I did the Michelle Bridges Gym Ball workout the other day.  Oh boy, I am still sore!  So I guess that means it's a good workout!  LOL.

Two days later I am still having trouble walking down stairs thanks to my thighs.  Then to use my stomach, oh dear, that is agony!  I did realise that my core strength was almost non existent  but I didn't realise my thigh muscles were in such bad shape.

As the saying goes No Pain, No Gain!  So I'm taking this pain as a good thing.  Now to get through a Super Saturday Session, eeekkkk!

12WBT Round 4, Day 2

Today I met a friend at a small local gym.  I had heard they were having an introductory special this month.  $15 for 30 days.  That includes the gym and classes.

We were just meeting there for a coffee as we heard there was a coffee shop there too.  I really wanted to check the gym out first as it is not the usual sort of gym I have been a member at.  This certainly has a lot of classes and good facilities, but it's not, I don't know, it's not all nice and sparkly.    The last gym I was a member at had lovely change rooms, pretty new, hair dryers, shampoos, big TV screens to plug your headphones into the machines to listen to, treadmills with tv's built in.   A little bit of luxury.

This gym is not like that.  It has modern equipment.  It's very clean.  But it's not in a modern premises, there is NO luxury, it's very basic, sort of a no frills gym.   But I wanted to have a look as for $15 for a month trial, it was almost too good to pass up.  I want to give it a go.  I don't know that I really need all of the luxury.  I mean, really I don't use the hair dryers.  But I did use the TV's.

When I arrived my friend was already there.  She was at the counter filling in a form.  I said Hi and was passed the form.  I said "are we joining", she said "well yes, what did we come for?"  I said "oh ok, I thought we were just checking the place out?"  She said "well for $15 we may as well join and check it out for a month!"  So I joined.

I am now a member of a gym for 30 days!  I am not sure if I will keep going there after.  The weekly price is almost the same as another gym near by, one that I have been a member of before.  I cancelled that membership because I used to have an asthma attack whenever I went.  Mainly when I was on the floor doing push-ups, sit-ups etc.  I think the carpet was not well cleaned and I am allergic to dust.  The thing that I like about my new no frills gym is there isn't any carpet.  Therefore it will be good for my asthma, no dust mites can live in a hard floor.   I was also hoping to find a gym with a pool, I really want to swim laps, but my no frills gym does not have a pool.

I know it sounds crazy, but I get so embarrassed going to the gym.  I just feel like everyone is watching me, like they are wondering why someone my size is going there.  Crazy I know as i don't think that way when I see people there.

Anyway I will keep you posted.  I have the membership, now I just have to use it!

12WBT Round 4, Day 1

Today started well on this first day of round 4 12WBT.

As I have mentioned before, my focus on this round is exercise.  I need to get my exercise mindset in check.  For me round 3...  Food mindset, check... Exercise mindset, cross.

So round 4 is going to be food mindset, check.... exercise mindset, CHECK!

I know this is going to be hard.  I was doing my workout this morning and I was just saying to myself.  I really don't like this.  I know that's not a good thing to be thinking whilst you are bouncing away to Oz Style Aerobics and Michelle's super shredder DVD.  I wasn't fully into her DVD I will admit.  I'm hoping that will change.   I do get a lot of amusement out of Aerobics Oz Style.  I feel like I'm stepping into a time warp.  I feel like I did when I was a kid and my mother was doing aerobics.  The outfits are a sight to be seen!

But I did it.  I did a workout and I will do it again.  I have also seen that there is another Aerobics workout on Foxtel.  It's on at 7am though, which is just way too late for me, so I recorded it this morning, then tomorrow I will be able to do today's, tomorrow and tomorrows the next day etc.

I am seriously considering about rejoining the gym.  I just wonder about finding the time to go.  I'm a single mum, so going outside of school hours isn't really an option as I can't leave my son on his own at night.   So the only time I have is during school hours.  But I work then!  He is a little old to do childcare at the gym.  I would consider leaving him during the day hours but never at night (not sure what the difference is between night and day but in my mind there is).

Anyway I haven't ruled out the gym.  I have three that I am looking at.  Will fill you in about those later.

I hope you are all having a good first day (for those doing this round of 12WBT) and for those not doing it, I hope that your goals and dreams are being fulfilled too!

Bye Round 3, Hello Round 4

Today marks the end of my first round of Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation.  I have to say that I'm a little sad to see it go.  I do get rather attached to things and do not like change.  But it's ok as I am starting Round 4 today.

I am really excited about round 4.  I really want to get on top of this exercise mindset that has been letting me down.  It was my downfall in Round 3, even though I did lose 9.7kg and 44.5cm, that was done with diet alone, not through exercise.

Round 4 is my exercise round!  I am going to take control.  I have such strong will power when it comes to diet.  I have not had one problem sticking to the 1200 calories.  I have not one time gone over that and not one time have I given in to temptation.  Despite all of the cupcake baking, oreo pop making, birthday dinners, brownie making, fathers day lunches, pancake breakfasts every Sunday (not for me), school fetes working the cake stall and many more temptations and I have had this willpower to say no.  I have been so determined.   I will continue this in Round 4.  I am confident in that.  I know I can do it so am really not worried.

I am however not so sure about the exercise.  I'm not sure why I can't get that same sort of willpower that I have with the diet into the exercise mindset, but that is going to be my goal for this round.  To develop the same mindset and willpower with exercise that I have with the food.

I'm looking forward to following many new 12WBTers journeys.  Seeing your transformations and your successes.  Sharing your ups and downs as lets face it, there will be times of ups and downs.  I think that is natural.  I am sure I will have my exercise up's and down's on my way to a fit and healthy life.

Good luck to everyone who is on their journey, good luck to all of those who are starting Round 4 12WBT today/tomorrow.   It's going to be an awesome round, I can just feel it!

Round 3 Before and After Shots

Here are my before and after shots from Round 3 of Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation.

Total of 44.5cm lost and 9.7kg.  I will do my final weigh in on Sunday night, as that will be 12 weeks exactly.  I still have 14kgs to get to my goal, so I'm still a fair way off my goal.  As much as sharing my before and after shots is terrifying to me.  Here they are and all I can do is hope that by the end of round 4, there is an amazing difference!  I'm so embarrassed doing the big reveal, but here goes.

Top Photos Before - Bottom Photos After

I hope you can see a difference.  I have gone from a size 14 to 16 (These are Australia Sizes, that would be a 12 to 14 US sizing) I was on the verge of both, 14 was too tight and 16 a little big.  Now I am easily in a size 12 (US size 10).

I'm happy with my results.

Solar Eclipse

There was a solar eclipse this morning.

I did take some photos.  I wasn't silly enough to actually look at the sun, I just aimed my phone in that direction and clicked away.

I have to say it wasn't what I was expecting.  I thought it would be like you see on TV or in movies.  Where the sky would go black, like it was nighttime and it would have that strange black dot with a light ring.   But there wasn't any of that.  The sky did go an eeire colour.  It was very strange.  There were lots of shadows around and the sky went kind of dark but it was still bright if that makes sense (no I don't think it does).

Anyway here are a couple of shots I took.  I am sure you will be impressed with my point and shoot, without looking shots.  These were taken with an iPhone5 too so nothing high tech.

Doesn't look like a Solar Eclipse, but it is.

Wednesday Weigh In

Today is our final weigh in for Round 3, 12WBT. I lost 1kg (2.2lbs) in this last week, I'm thrilled with that.    Well I will be doing a final weigh in on Sunday (still 4 days away), to get my final results for the 12 week challenge.

But as of today I have lost 9.7 kg (21.38 lbs) and 44.5 cm in the last 11.5 weeks.  I am happy with that, although I did not get to my goal of 12 kg.  I know the only person I have to blame for not reaching that goal is myself.  I know I could have worked a lot harder in the exercise department.  But I am proud of myself for getting my head in the right space with my diet and my mindset has definitely improved.

So I have signed up for Round 4, which starts next Monday, the 19th.  This round will be great, over Christmas, lots of yummy Christmas food but the right foods.  Round 4 is going to be focused on my exercise (whilst maintaining my current diet headspace).  I really need to get my exercise head in the game and get some great results in this upcoming round.  I have 14.4 kg to get to my goal.  I don't expect to do that in this next round, but I do expect to get really close!    So that does mean I will sign up for the first round next year.  I am going to keep with this program until I have reached my goal and until I have my mindset completely under control.

I have been having a lot of people noticing a difference in my body shape in the last couple of weeks.  It has taken long enough for people to notice, LOL.  But I guess with 300 grams off losing 10kg, they really should have noticed.   What was really nice was a birthday card I got from a friend yesterday.  She addressed it to Skinny Minnie!  A much better name than my son currently calls me.  His name for me is "Miniature Mother".  Now he does not mean miniature because of my shrinking body, he means it because he has passed me in height and it seems almost by the day, that he is towering further and further over me, LOL.

I am happy to report that my major red flag day was successful yesterday.  I insisted that there be no cakes and everybody respected that.  Thanks to my pre-planning and looking at the restaurant menu before going last night.  I ended up having the grilled tuna with vegetables.  So on my major red flag day, I did not exceed my 1200 calories!  Probably helped with my 1kg weight loss this week.

After photos for this round will be done this afternoon.  I will post my before and after shots here.  Yes I will.  I wasn't going to, but I will, surely you will be able to see a difference after losing 10kgs.

So whilst this round is almost over, my weight loss journey is not!  It has only just begun!

Red Flag Day!

Today is a red flag day!  I have had challenging days, like making cupcakes and oreo pops.  But tonight is different.  It's my birthday.

Tonight the whole family is going out for dinner.  Where to?  To Italian!  Could it get any worse?  NO I don't think so!

What is worse, is that tomorrow is final weigh in!  Tomorrow morning!  After a night out, after a non controlled dinner.  If I was at home, I could have controlled what I had for dinner tonight.  I could have made sure that I had not a drop over my daily calories.  But tonight I step into the unknown.  I step into a restaurant with their sauces, high salt content, oils, calories calories calories.

I have checked out the menu from the restaurant and really don't know what to have.  There is Grilled Crispy Skin Salmon (which I wouldn't eat the skin) on top of a salad.  There is Tuna Steak with some sort of salad, but I'm not sure how the Tuna is cooked.  There is Chicken Marsala.

I've just looked at the calories and they are all seem to be ok, well not really.  But I haven't had any of my snacks today, so I have the 300 calories from my snacks to eat tonight too.

I wouldn't normally worry too much.  When I have stuck to the food portion of 12WBT the whole way, I guess one night out isn't too bad.  But WHY does it have to be the night before final weigh in?  Why?  Why couldn't it bee a couple of days before, then I could work my tail off to burn those calories.  But I'm going to go to bed after this off the plan meal, this un-caloried controlled meal, this meal where I really don't know how what is in it meal, then waking up a few hours later to weigh in.

Oh well, nothing I can do I suppose.  I have done all I can by checking out the menu before so I can do rough calculations of calories.  I just hope that I can behave myself and not blow it out too much.

Wish me luck!

Top 15%

I received an email last night from Michelle Bridges (yes I know, it's not really from her, LOL).

Anyway it said that I was in the top 15% of this round 3 of 12WBT!  I've lost 10.34% of my body weight so far.

I'm thrilled!  To be honest I didn't think I would be any where close to that.  I know I have been sticking to the food/diet portion of the program but I have been very slack in the exercise department of the program.  Why?  I don't know, I had some setbacks at the beginning with the skin cancer and I just haven't got back into it.  Imagine how well I would have done if I had stuck to the exercise 100% too!

I have already decided that for round 4 (which starts in 10 days) I will really focus on the exercise.  I feel that I have the diet under control.  I have not been tempted at all.  I am really in a good headspace with the diet/food side and have been loving the whole thing and found it relatively easy.  Not being a junk food eater or soft drink drinker before.  My main change has been my portion sizes, which used to be at least twice but I think sometimes up to four times what it should have been.

Next Thursday Michelle will announce her top 20 finalists for this round 3.  We have a little over a week left of this round.  At last measure (week 8) I had lost 37cm, so I'm really looking forward to seeing what it will be next week.

So I'm top 15%.  YAHOO!!!!!

Amazing Sunrises and Sunsets

I have witnessed some beautiful sunrises and sunsets in the last couple of weeks.  Really just beautiful, so I thought I would share.  All photos are taken on my iphone, nothing high tech.

Sunrise one morning.  iPhone5, no filters

Sunset, no filters, this is the colour the sky was!  Gorgeous

A close up of the previous photo.  

Another magnificent Sunset, no filters, this is the colour the sky was.

Stunning skies!

I OvercameTemptation Torture

For the last two weeks I have had a number of occasions that have been temptation torture!  I am happy to say that not once have I given in to temptation.  I don't know how on earth I did it, but I did.  I did not even lick my fingers!

Now I will give a WARNING!!!! at this time.
READ ON AT YOUR OWN RISK.  
Disclaimer:  The post below does contain photos of mouthwatering deliciousness! 

Once last week and once this week I have had to make large quantities of Oreo pops.  I have then had to go to the fetes that I have made them for and had to sell them and not only them, whole tables of home made cakes, cupcakes, cookies, fudge, lollies (candy), donuts and much more.  I have had to smell the BBQ and all of the sausages being cooked.  Whilst at these fetes I have had to watch other people wandering around eating their sausages, their ice creams, my Oreo pops and all of the cakes etc.  Again, not once did I have anything!

For the fete yesterday as a prize I also had to provide a very large jar of lollies.  I had to buy an enormous jar, I had to go to the store and stock up on massive bags of lollies, snakes, milk bottles, teeth etc and fill the jar.  Then look at it sitting there for a week, waiting for the fete!  I did not have one lolly, not one!   I then had to provide prizes for my son's stall.  I had to buy boxes of chocolates and bags of mixed lollies.  I went and bought those had have had to look at those for a week, just desperate to hop into the box and have just one block of Milky Bar - Cookies and Cream chocolate.  But no, I didn't.

Then came the two occasions that I had to make Oreo Pops.  The first batch I made 55 and the second batch (that I made on Thursday)  I made 120.  Now on Thursday, making my 120 Oreo Pops, this took me 8 hours!  I had 8 hours of breaking open Oreos (THAT I LOVE), dipping a stick in melted white chocolate (that smelt SO good) and placing the stick in the middle of the cookie.

Oreo Pops now on with sticks, ready for dunking.

Then I had the joy of melting 8 bags of choc melts over the day, yes 8 bags, that once melted just looked and smelt divine.   I could have just drunk the whole jug, straight up!  But I didn't.  I then had to dunk the biscuits in this warm melted chocolate.

Dunking the Oreo Pop in melted chocolate, YUM

I then decorated them in cute little characters, flowers and hundreds and thousands.

My decoration station

Oreo Pops with sport and jungle animal decorations

Oreo Pops with cute flower decorations

Oreo Pops with hundred and thousands sprinkles

I then wrapped each individual Oreo Pop in a little plastic bag and tied it with ribbon.

Oreo Pops, wrapped and ribboned ready for the fair

Oreo Pops wrapped and ribboned for the fair

And here they are... On sale at one of the fetes, all ready for little boys, girls, ladies and gentlemen to munch on.  They were at HUGE success at both events.

Oreo Pops on display in a large polystyrene block

Oreo Pops on display in a large polystyrene block

So after the last two weeks of temptation, the masses of Oreo Pops that I have made, I still have never tried one.  I don't actually know if they are any good.  Everyone was saying they were, people kept coming back for more.  Some people were buying lots to take home with them after trying one, so they must have been ok.

But for me,  I am 100% focused on getting rid of my weight and becoming healthy, so for now, it's no Oreo Pops for me.  But boy did they smell good!

Weekly Weigh In

I haven't had great results for the last couple of weigh ins.  I haven't gained any weight, but have only lost 300 grams and 400 grams in the last two weigh ins.

Well this Wednesday I was absolutely thrilled with my 1.1 kg loss this week!   Wonder if it's the Aerobics Oz Style, LOL.

So that is a total of 7.8kgs so far this round.  My goal is 12kgs, and with three more weigh ins, if I can average a kg a week until the end, then I am looking at hitting my target.

Can't believe how quickly this 12 weeks has gone.  I'm glad I have signed up for Round 4 already as I know my journey is still ongoing.

Aerobics Oz Style

In my promise to JFDI, this morning I awoke at 5am to take my son to his morning sport at 5.30am.   As I was up I decided to get on with some morning exercise.

With my DVD player broken and needing to get a new one I decided to turn on the TV as I had seen that there was an exercise show on at 5.30am each weekday morning.  And there it was... Aerobics Oz Style.  I have to say this was a flash back to my childhood.  I remember my mum exercising to that show when I was growing up.

So I am dressed and ready to go.  I have the TV on and the show starts.  I have to say it made me chuckle.  The series stopped being made in 2005 and had been running since 1983, so the episode that was on this morning was not from the modern 2005.  The episode today was hosted by Michelle Dean and I think it's from the 90's.  I almost felt like I was in an Olivia Newton John Physical video, LOL.  It was a real blast from the past.

The workout started.  I am not known for my co-ordination.  I am glad that I was home alone during this workout as I know if my son was home he would have been laughing at me.  But it wasn't too bad, I picked up the moves (that were being played to awesome 90's music, cool down/stretching was done to Randy Crawford, Give Me The Night).  The one thing that I didn't like is there are ads!  So you are doing a routine and then they cut to commercials and it's not the same rhythm and you have to try to keep the routine going during the ad break.   Being extremely un-coordinated, I really do like having the person to follow, but with the ad break, there was nobody to follow and I was tripping over my feet, LOL.

 

 Aside from the ad breaks it was not too bad.  I didn't mind it.  I wish it went for an hour rather than just half an hour, but I have set it to record so I can always do it twice, or once I get my new video player I can do a video as well.

I have set it to record again in the morning.  So will continue at the moment as it suits me to exercise at home.

For anyone interested.  Aerobics Oz Style is on Foxtel, Channel Aurora at 5.30am weekdays.

Meeting Michelle

Today I went to the Health and Fitness Expo and met Michelle Bridges.

I am so embarrassed!  I was so nervous and so intimidated.  I ended up being a nervous babbling nitwit, LOL!  Seriously, Michelle will be thinking that that girl (me) is a lost cause!

Now there was no reason for me to be nervous and certainly not any reason what so ever to feel intimidated as Michelle was so warm and friendly.  Michelle is so tall.  I didn't realise she was so tall and she is SO fit!  I don't know what came over me and why I was so nervous and babbling.  

I went up with my cookbook for her to sign.  Here is how our conversation went....  I told Michelle I was in my first round this round.  She asked how I was going.  Well, instead of saying "Great, I've lost 7.2kgs, I've lost 37 cm's in 8 weeks".... I say "oh good, I'm not there in the mindset yet"!  WHAT!  WHY WOULD I SAY THAT?  She asked me why that is and I said "oh I don't know, I haven't been exercising as much as I should, I had a skin cancer removed so couldn't do a lot during that time, but I was walking".  EXCUSES EXCUSES!  WHAT DOES MICHELLE DISLIKE?.... EXCUSES.  I did say I had her DVD's.  But why didn't I say that I have her stepper too and I love it?  That I have been using the stepper and the DVD it comes with?

Then I ramble on that I tore an artery and can't lift over 4kgs.   Now really, what has that got to do with the price of tea in China? There are plenty of other exercises I can do to get around lifting 4kgs.   I am meeting Michelle Bridges, for the first time, first impressions count I know this!  And I start babbling in a negative tone with ridiculous excuses.  Then, she asked me about my nutrition.  Which I really have been sticking to 100%, I'm loving the meal plans, loving the food, have been changing some meals out for others on the program (like the satay meals, being anaphylactic to peanuts rules those out).  But I am sticking to the 1200 calories, I have not been tempted once, even whilst baking cupcakes several times, even last week when I made 50 Oreo pops, filling them with white chocolate as I add the stick, the covering them with dark chocolate!  I didn't have one, I didn't lick my fingers, I was not tempted at all.

I know I have been slack with my exercise but I have not with my food.  Why wouldn't I just say that?  But NOOOOOO.... What do I say "oh good, but that really wasn't a problem before", now I can see the look on her face, it was a, yeah sure lady, who are you kidding kind of look, LOL. You didn't get this size from eating well kind of look, so knowing that what I just said sounded ridiculous, I then said "oh portions were my problem, we have eaten a pretty much organic, no processed food diet for a long time".  Now this is true.  We don't drink soft drinks, we don't eat chips, I don't keep any junk in the house.  We have eaten whole grain for years, it's all my son knows.  Lots of fresh fruit and vegies.  Portions were my biggest problem!  I was eating two to four times per meal what I should have been.  So that's means instead of having three meals a day, I was having the equivalent of 6 to 12 meals a day!!!!!

I then had my photo taken and said bye and off I toddled.  I couldn't believe it!  I just felt like such a nitwit and I know I really came off as an excuse ridden person.

Michelle if you ever get to read my blog,  I am so sorry that I was not showing my positive self today.  I am not entirely a negative excuse ridden person.  I LOVE your program, I've lost 7.2kgs so far this round, no I have not been exercising enough.  But I LOVE the meal plan, I love the snip tips and the weekly videos, I LOVE the forums, I have signed up for round 4 already as I know this program will get me too my goal weight and will change my mindset back to what it used to be.  It's not there yet, I don't know why, it's there in the food side, but not for the exercise.   I am full of excuses in the exercise department!  I want to exercise but I think I'm scared (here comes excuse number 100).  That sounds crazy I know, but I don't want to have another stroke or tear my artery again, which getting my heart rate and blood pressure too high could do, that could tear my artery again!  But not getting my weight down puts me at great risk of it happening again, so I need to JFDI.  I have Dr's restriction with what I am allowed to get my heart rate too and the weight limit I can lift.  So why don't I do that?  I NEED to exercise, I NEED to lose this last 17kgs!  I don't want my son to become an orphan, his dad died when he was young. Mind games, I wish I could shut my mind off sometimes.

So, tomorrow I am going to JFDI!   I am going to lift my exercise game.  When I meet you next Michelle I am going to be many many kg's lighter and I will be fitter!  I promise.  I will get my mind under control.  Please don't think that I am a lost cause, I know I did come across that way today at the Expo.  I feel mortified, I had a brief time with you and I wasted it with excuses!  When I should have been telling you how much I love the program, how much I appreciate all that you give to people, thank you for being there for everyone, complete strangers, giving your time to change peoples lives!   I appreciate that and I am so grateful! Thank You!

Words That Inspire Me

Just wanted to share some of the words that inspire me!  I love to go and read these to get my mind back to where it should be.

                                 

    

            

           

         

           

           

What words or sayings inspire you?

I have decided to add to this post.  As there are more words that inspire me.  Some I have been reading the last couple of days.  They are the words of others, in their blogs, that I read.  They inspire me, they often make me look at things and give me a slap in the face and make me pull myself together.  They make me feel like I can do this, this weight loss journey, this turn my unhealthy life into a healthy life journey.  They make me feel not alone as they share often what I'm feeling, they could be writing the post about me, which inspires me to know that I am normal.

So here are a few of my favourites.  I do have many more, but these are ones that I have read the last couple of days.

• There is Greg, from "20 Years of Living in the Dark"  His post about The Big Picture was very moving and uplifting at the same time.  Here is a link to it The Big Picture

• Another inspiring read is by Casey from Finding my way back to the Thinner Me .  Her latest post Don't restrict yourself to stereotypes is great!  I love reading that.  Here is a link to that post here.... Don't restrict yourself to Stereotypes

• Then there is COCO BUTTER - Coco Girl's transformation, out of the COCOon and into a BUTTERfly  
• This post Undressing myself  was just such a wonderful post, I really recommend a read.
• Coco Girl's latest post is Cinderella and here is a link to that Cinderella
• But I can also highly recommend a read of this post too HERE

• Then there was this post by Angela.  Feeling Lost and Taking Control: Can you relate?  Um yes, I sure can.  Another inspiring read!

I have many other blogs that I follow and love to read, but I hope you get some inspiration from those amazing man and women as they share their stories and feelings and get as much inspiration from them as I do.

Week 6 Results

I have been feeling much better this week.

The last couple of weeks I was feeling a bit down, not very motivated.  I have been sticking to the 1200 calories without a problem, but I have not been exercising well.  I think I have only gone over 1200 calories once, and I think it was by about 5 calories.  I just haven't been feeling right, I'm not sure how to explain it.  But just not my usual positive self.  I have been needing a major change in mindset as I have been letting things upset me that I normally wouldn't.   I think I know what it is, it is a group I have been involved with and they are not a positive group, so I have removed myself from that influence and decided to just concentrate on the positive influences, positive people, inspirational people, positive groups! And I am getting my exercise back on track!  I am not used to negative people.  I am generally a very positive person, try to find the glass half full, try to find the good in people, treat others as I like to be treated, respect others and like to surround myself with like minded people.  I do find it fascinating how other peoples negativity can have such an impact on your own thoughts and feelings.   Sometimes you really do have to remove yourself from those people and again surround yourself with positiveness (is that a word, LOL) .

So... my weight loss this week.  I lost 900 grams (almost 2lbs).  That brings my total so far to 6.2kgs (13.66 lbs).   So I am right on track to to hit my 12kg loss goal for this challenge.

Now I know it's not the done thing, but I have already signed up for Round 4 of the 12WBT .  I know that I will not have lost all the weight I will want to so decided to just sign up now.  I do love this program, the meals are just delicious, they are great serving sizes, the support on the forums is fantastic, the little videos and snip tips from Michelle are awesome.  The exercise has so much variety and flexibility for home, outdoor if you are not a member of a gym (I have not learnt to love the exercise yet, LOL).  So I know this is a program for life change, it's something that is able to be carried on after you have lost the weight.   I haven't been to the round 4 forums or anything as I am wanting to concentrate on this round (round 3).  But round 4 will be getting close to Christmas and we all know how expensive that time of year is with all of the gift buying, end of year school functions, cooking, so I just wanted to get the payment of that out of the way now, so that I don't have to worry about it when the time comes.

Another exciting milestone that has been accomplished in this week.  I am back in the overweight BMI after being in the obese BMI!  Woo Hoo, I'm really quite excited about this!
I'm overweight, YAY!

Anyway I hope that you have all had good weeks, had losses that you are happy with and if not, today is another day, this week is another week and we can refocus, pick ourselves up and JFDI (I do love that saying, LOL).

Social Media

I need to get off the computer!

There are so many social media outlets out there now to be involved in that I seem to be spending so much time online, when I really should be getting out and exercising.

With the 12WBT website, Michelle's videos, the 12WBT forums, the Facebook groups, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, MyFitnessPal.com, then there is reading others blogs and of course maintaining my blog.

Like now for instance, its Midday and I really have not accomplished much as I have been sitting here on the couch, on this public holiday reading blogs!  Then I will popped over and had a look at some of the Facebook groups and read some more blogs.  I've been on Pinterest to do some re-pinning, I have had a look on twitter and liked some photos on Instagram and now here I am updating my blog!  Thank goodness I don't really know anyone or participate much on Google Plus!

How does everyone else keep up and get anything done with all of this social media activity out there these days that brings us back to the couch and computer and away from activity????

During the week is better, there is work, school drop offs, pick ups, kids to their activities, shopping, cooking, laundry, housework, trying to squeeze in exercise, which doesn't leave too much time for the social media but I still spend time that could be used doing other things.

That is my whinge for the day, I just got a shock when I looked at the time and realised I have accomplished nothing today other than spending time on the computer! I will get off the computer now and go and vacuum, do laundry and come cleaning, fun stuff :(   Then I will take the dog for a big long walk (or he will walk me would be a more accurate statement).

Social Anxiety

I went to a function last night.  I was REALLY nervous about going!  This is not a weight thing, its an anxiety thing.

I am a very reserved person in real life and extremely shy around those that I do not know.  I don't know why, as I am fine around those that I know, but with those I don't know, I am a mutant!  I don't know what to say, I don't talk much, I just will sit and listen.   Situations where I am going to a party where I know a few people, but not many, makes me sick, I will actually get an upset stomach and a massive headache as the time to go draws near.  I regularly back out of going to functions.  I will buy a ticket, then just not go.  I will have a "headache" or a "wardrobe malfunction", they are my usual excuses for backing out last minute as the anxiety of going it just too much.  The headache is not always a lie, often I am just so nervous about going that I do actually get a bad headache, but as soon as I send that text message and get out of it, the headache goes.  I'm just not a big party or big function sort of person.  Maybe that's just the way I am, I think I have always been this way.

I love small gatherings, like having lunch or coffee with friends (provide I know everyone or most of the people going).  I don't love them so much if there are say 10 people going and I know only one or two people, then my social anxiety takes over again.  I often have to really force myself to go to things. Most of my friends now know that I don't go to things.  They do invite me and more often than not I do buy a ticket to the event (they are usually fundraisers of some description) but then I don't go.   I will sometimes just use the "I have to work" excuse and not buy a ticket, but this can be a bit tricky!  A month ago, the week before 12WBT started I was out shopping one day, grabbing a few last minute things before it started.  I was at Big W and I received a text from a friend saying "where are you?"  It was a mother from school, not someone I talk to often, really someone I catch up with at school events, but I thought she may have seen my car at the shopping centre.  I sent her a text back saying where I was and I didn't hear back.  I spent most of the day shopping, then when I got home I logged into Facebook and saw photos of her and the rest of the group at their luncheon!!!!  It was the luncheon that I had said I couldn't go to because I was "working".  OMG, I was caught out on my made up excuse.  When I went to school pickup that afternoon, one of the mothers stopped by my car (in her car) and put down her window and said "so, you were out shopping, I thought you were working".  I had to then say that "work didn't need me (it was volunteer work at a local charity), so went shopping, I thought it was too late last minute to get a ticket to the function, so went shopping instead", LOL.   She then said "when we text you, I told everyone you don't go to things".  OMG the pressure!  Of attending a function!

Everyone is going to the 12WBT finale in Sydney, to the final workout and/or the finale party.  The thought of going to that party is terrifying.  I know that there is just no way I will be able to go.  I don't know anyone going, all of these people going seem to know lots of other people going.  Who will I talk to all night at the party.  It's the standing by myself looking like a friendless weirdo that worries me.
I have joined groups on Facebook, all of these people seem to be working out together, meeting up to exercise and I can not bring myself to go.   I would like to go and find some exercise buddies but for some reason I just don't feel that I can.  I may be ok turning up knowing that everyone going is in the same boat, but these groups seem to all know each other already, they have been exercising with each other for other rounds.

When I got to the function last night it was fine.  I chatted to those I knew, had a really great night and was so glad I went.  I almost didn't go.  It was a fundraiser event.  I had got 4 of my friends to buy tickets to the event, so I couldn't back out.  I couldn't get people to buy tickets then not go myself.  Then about an hour before the event started I received a text message from two of the friends who were cancelling.  They said now you don't have to go, LOL (they know me so well, they are the ones I got caught out using the work excuse with).  I told them that it was fine!  I was the queen of the last minute cancel, LOL,  so it wasn't a problem and that unfortunately I had two other friends going so I HAD to go.  Anyway it was an awesome night, all of the people that I work with at my local charity were there and it was lovely seeing them, I had fun with my friends.

I don't seem to have the same problem though in situations like this.  Blogging, or on forums where it's anonymous,  I can be myself, well the non reserved self and chat with strangers, I just can't do it face to face.  I wonder why that is?  I don't think I could be the same on my blog or on forums, if any of my friends or family knew about my blog or followed the same forums.

Oh well, that's just the way I am I suppose.  A friend gave me a book on "Highly Sensitive People" and that's me!  I did a test online to see if I was a highly sensitive person and I am definitely one of those people.

So here I am, chatty and free to express myself here, not worried about what anyone else thinks.  But if any of you ever meet me in person and I am quiet and don't speak much, it's not you,  it's just because I am painfully shy and reserved and nervous.   I will loosen up as I get to know you.

Mortifying Moments

I know we all have moments where we just want to shrivel up into a tiny little ball and become invisible.

I had one of those moments just before I started on this program (12WBT).  I hurt my knee, badly, it blew up like a balloon, I could hardly bend it.  It would give way from under me.   I had it for about two weeks and it wasn't getting any better.  Well it would, the swelling would go down, when I was sitting with my leg propped up on a cushion, but as soon as I would start walking around up it would go again.  I limped horribly as it hurt so much to bend the leg and I had to be careful that it didn't give way when I walked on it.

People would ask "What did you do".  What I wanted to say was that I was heli-skiing in Switzerland and when I landed I hurt my knee.  I wanted to give them some exotic or great reason that I hurt my knee.  When the reality was I bent down to put food in the dogs bowl and heard a massive pop.    The reality is that my knee has trouble holding up my weight and it's not operating as it should!  That's the reality.  But I much preferred the skiing story, LOL.

So I went to the Dr, he ordered an MRI and I was found to have a ruptured bakers cyst, a torn meniscus (something like that) and the beginnings of arthritis!   So I was sent to a specialist.  Now the specialist I was sent to was a parent at my son's school, I knew his wife, our son's are friends or were friends (you know how kids change their friends when they are young).   So he inspects my knee, tells me that it may require surgery but then proceeded to get out some charts and put crosses here and there, he was circling areas.  Then just went into it.  SO, you are obese, you are here (pointing to one of the crosses he had drawn on the chart), you need to be here (pointing to another cross he had marked on the chart).  He then pointed out the obese definition (thanks for that, like I didn't know the definition already).  He then, without looking up, proceeded to tell me that I needed to exercise, I needed to reduce my calories, improve my nutrition and get the weigh off as being obese is a big problem.  If I lose the weight then the arthritis will stop developing further.  He just went on and on and not in an overly friendly way.  It was all very clinical, direct, not much emotion.

I was absolutely mortified!   I think it was worse because I know the Dr, I have to see him at school and I felt I was being looked down on, I felt like a sub-par human being.   I was so embarrassed and just wanted to turn invisible on the spot.  I've had Dr's tell me I needed to lose weight, both my cardiologist and neurologist (my torn artery doctors), have told me to lose weight and that was when I was 18 kgs lighter than I am now, but they didn't seem to deliver the words in the same way, or maybe it was because I didn't know them.

So here I am now, busting to lose the weight.  I can't wait until I can turn up at school and be a toothpick and say, "there I did it".  I know that he won't care.

I'm just looking forward to not being looked down on any more by those who are not overweight.  It happens all the time.  My brother is the worst!  He looks down on me and is SO condescending due to my weight.  He is SO fit, SO healthy, has studied nutrition.   So it will be nice, to be a fit version of me, so I stop getting the condescending comments and disapproving looks all due to my weight and not have that feeling that I am being judged because I am not thin.

A Yummy Lunch

I have a few lunch options that I absolutely LOVE from 12WBT.

The other day, taking ingredients we have been having on the program, I created my own recipe.  One of the items that I have been introduced to on the 12WBT program is Mountain Bread.

Chia Mountain Bread

This is so delicious, so nice and light.  As my son eats more calories than I do, when i make these I give him two slices of mountain bread, whilst I only have one.

So this is one of my favourite lunches at the moment, it is 261 calories (so you could increase this slightly by adding more salad items or a little more turkey).


I start with a slice of chia mountain bread

I spread 1/4 of an avocado out over the whole slice of bread.

I then measure out 120 grams of oven roasted turkey breast.

Weigh the turkey to ensure you have the right amount.

I cut off all fat (sometimes there is a little around the top) and lay this out over the avocado, covering the mountain bread.

I then sprinkle a large handful of radish sprouts over the whole mountain bread (about half a cup).

Radish Sprouts (or microgreens)

I then wash some english spinach (about 1/4 to half a cup, it's only 2 to 4 calories for 1/4 to half a cup of spinach so add as much as you like)

I then carefully roll the mountain bread.

Creating a perfect long yummy turkey, spinach, radish and avocado sausage.

Voila, this is how it looks.  Yummy, filling and healthy!

I like spreading the ingredients out over the whole mountain bread, rather than just putting them in the middle and rolling as you get a mixture of bread and ingredients the whole way through.  At just 261 calories, this is a delicious and filling lunch!