Friday, April 29, 2005
Ouch
I really wished I had won Powerball last night (an Australian lottery drawn on Thursday nights). $22M would have been really nice. Two people won it. $11M each. Not me. Me I get to go back to work and earn another weeks wages. I am very lucky that I can do that. I still much rather would have won Powerball.
Since my workout on Wednesday I have noticed that the scales have drifted upwards rather than down. Can't help feeling a little sad. I have been advised that lactic acid buildup in the legs is actually heavy and it will take a few workouts for the body to get used to this and not hold on to it. I am very sore still and whilst today I can laugh without wincing, I still have to hold my stomach each time I cough. Walking is OK on the flat but if there is an incline or a step - ouch - my legs protest very much. I was able to wash my hair without too much pain this morning though I try not to lift my arms over my head very often. This makes me think that Cardio/Kickboxing at lunch today is either going to be a very silly idea or a really good idea. I am banking on the 'really good idea' thought.
Since my workout on Wednesday I have noticed that the scales have drifted upwards rather than down. Can't help feeling a little sad. I have been advised that lactic acid buildup in the legs is actually heavy and it will take a few workouts for the body to get used to this and not hold on to it. I am very sore still and whilst today I can laugh without wincing, I still have to hold my stomach each time I cough. Walking is OK on the flat but if there is an incline or a step - ouch - my legs protest very much. I was able to wash my hair without too much pain this morning though I try not to lift my arms over my head very often. This makes me think that Cardio/Kickboxing at lunch today is either going to be a very silly idea or a really good idea. I am banking on the 'really good idea' thought.
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Freddo and Friends
At my work we have a very good group of people who all pitch in from time to time when it comes to fundraising for our Christmas Lunch. Our company puts up a bit of money for food and we raise money during the year to put towards activities, prizes and booze. Our fundraising activities are varied but there is one I have been dreading. And it has arrived. The chocolate box. (imagine now if you will the music from 'Jaws'). So there it sits. At $2.00 for either a large Freddo or Caramello. Freddo is my choice. The money is not the issue but they are 4.5 points each. Each. Now I know that chocolate abstinence won't work and I have never said in my journey that I will never have chocolate again. I have been getting my fix from ww choc icecream (1.5pt) and the ww hot chocolate drink (0.5pt). But I have bought a Freddo. I have put it in the fridge to get hard and I will have half today and half tomorrow. I will count it as 2.5pt each half. I have to learn that I can manage my chocolate intake, that I can have a treat (wasteful on points as it is!) and not go overboard. And as long as I count it truthfully I am still going to win. And I will win. And you never know, maybe I won't want to eat Freddo, maybe he can just stay in the Fridge till next week. Unless someone eats him first. (music from 'Jaws' again).
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
I did it
Even though every muscle hurts, and I am very unsure the red glow on my face (entire face!) will ever dissipate, I quite enjoyed the step class today. I even didn't mind that for the past hour I have had to fight the constant feeling of wanting to hurl (vomit for the uninitiated). I lasted for all the class except the last 5 minutes when I had to race to the bathroom. Didn't hurl then and was able to return for the stretches. The teacher congratulated me and said I lasted longer than most people on their first outing. She also had some really nice things to say to me during the class like "great squat - you sure look like you know how to sit on a chair!" I had to give up the notion that I would be able to change, return to work and get on with my day as if nothing had happened, and accept that I had to sit at my desk in my gym clothes and wait till I could talk, my pulse slowed down, and my clothes dried out a little (sweaty clothes - yuk). My boss and his boss (we all work together in the same area) laughed and said at least there was one benefit for them from me exercising - I was quiet for a while !!! Funny boys...
Thank you for all your support today - it has really meant a lot.
Thank you for all your support today - it has really meant a lot.
I can do it
I am sweating, my heart rate is elevated, I feel physically sick - and I haven't even been to the gym yet!! Today is my first day. At lunch I have a step class, a 45 min step class. I am scared. Really really scared. But I am going to go. It has been over 10 years since I have taken part in an organised gym aerobics class. I hope that I don't die. If I do, please know that you have made my last few weeks extremely enjoyable. I won't die. I may look like death, and I may not be able to speak for hours (a sure sign I am not feeling well) but I will survive. I am kind of looking forward to it. Kind of. Just to see if I can do it. I can do it. I can't believe the thoughts going through my head. It is not like I am taking part in an exam, or a beauty competition (LOL at the picture that just jumped into my head), it is just a gym class, and I can stop if I want. I don't want. I want to finish the class. I will finish the class. Come on lunch time....
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Little steps
Buttons. Buttons. Buttons. The bane of my life, or used to be. My little win this morning is that I can now do up the button on my skirt. Not earth shattering you say, but for me. Wow. I can't remember the last time I was able to do up a button comfortably. It could mean that I just didn't have the right sized clothes - this could be correct, but as I sit here and type this I am not wondering if I am slowly cutting off the circulation to my brain (damn can't use that as an excuse anymore) or if my legs would respond when next I stand up. And the buttons on my shirt have not popped open for days (soon weeks then months yaaaa). These are my little steps. These are the little wins that keep me excited. I wonder what my next win will be? Can't wait to find out.
If anyone would like a copy of the ww recipe book I had emailed to me sent to them, please drop me a line at margaret_ev@telstra.com Don't post your email addresses here in case unscrupulous spammers pick it up. I will send it through as soon as I can. Have a great day.
If anyone would like a copy of the ww recipe book I had emailed to me sent to them, please drop me a line at margaret_ev@telstra.com Don't post your email addresses here in case unscrupulous spammers pick it up. I will send it through as soon as I can. Have a great day.
Monday, April 25, 2005
Weigh in - 03
One of the things that has been a stumbling block in my weight loss in the past is when I reach a point that I accept that I am worth the effort. When I accept that I am important enough to spend the time and effort on. Then I start to think that I am being selfish. That, compared to other events in the world, I am really not that important at all. Then I generally slide straight back into bad habits and feeling oh so sorry for myself. Today could have been one of those days. Anzac Day is a very important day and one that I feel every year has more, rather than less, relevance. It is a day to remember the past and reflect on the present and hope for the future. But today I decided that just because there are events in this world that are important to everyone, it doesn't make me less important to me. Or to those that love me. So after crying at the end of dawn service I woke everyone up, we had breakfast and went for a drive to the beach. It was sandy, and wet, but gee it was great..
P.S. It's official weigh in day today and the scales show a loss of 1.0kg since last week. I am hoping next week to hit my first 5.0kgs and earn myself my bookmark and reward. I am thinking a footspa - with all my new walking I sure need it ;)
P.S. It's official weigh in day today and the scales show a loss of 1.0kg since last week. I am hoping next week to hit my first 5.0kgs and earn myself my bookmark and reward. I am thinking a footspa - with all my new walking I sure need it ;)
Saturday, April 23, 2005
Mmmmm. Pumpkin...
It is 8.55pm on a Saturday night. Both boys are fast asleep in bed. The dishes are done. DH sleeping in front of the TV (nothing new there). And the first dinner party successfully completed. I just had to come in here and post. We don't entertain much in the evening, and when we do it is normally with friends who have children so the evenings pretty much finish around the 7.00 - 7.30 mark so that the travelling family can have the children in bed at a reasonable time. When I found out that DH had organised a get together I was very concerned as to what to cook. I wanted to stick within my points, I wanted to have fun. I wanted to cook healthily, I wanted dinner to be delicious. Well I did all that and more. Once I got my head around the fact that we would be having visitors I hit the ww recipe book I have. I have to add at this point a HUGE thank you to a ww forum member named Ivanka and another named Sam. Ivanka put the recipe book together and Sam emailed it to me when I posted a request that someone did. This book is 167 pages of the most diverse recipes - all with points attached. So I cooked today. I made two dips - an asparagus guacamole (0 pts) and an eggplant/olive spread (0 pts) that I served along side some salsa (0 pts) with a heap of cut up veges (0 pts). I also provided some rice crackers and corn chips of which I had 1 point. Dinner was the most scrumpious Pumpkin & Bacon soup (1 pt) with Sweet Potato scones (1.5pts ea) - I had two with dinner and ate two before they got there. Then I finished off with crumbed veal (5 pts) and salad (0 pts). Two glasses of wine (2 pts) and including breakfast I finished up with 18 points !!!! And the guests enjoyed the food and were full at the end. We didn't even need the dessert I made. Unbelievable.. Now I am going to go to bed, pretend to watch a movie whilst I fall asleep and hope that my gastromic successes don't come back to haunt me - if you know what I mean... ;)
Friday, April 22, 2005
Move it to lose it
The ww success program says that we have to conquer 3 areas to achieve our long term goals. 1) is eating better and I think that I am handling this one OK. 22 points a day and I have only gone over once (22.5) in three weeks. 3) is understanding our emotions and what makes us eat and through the use of this blog and reading other blogs and sites I think that I am accepting the reasons that cause me to overeat and am on my way to overcoming each emotional barrier that I have surrounding me. 2) is exercise. Well ummmm. I need to work on this one. When I got home last night my new bathers had arrived. Yaaaa. I tried them on and was happy to say that they fitted really well and I did not hate what I saw in the mirror. Did not completely love some angles but did not hate the overall picture. It will definitely not keep me out of the pool anyway. But I am basically a very lazy person when it comes to organised exercise and I am so good at making excuses as to why I don't have time to do this or why I can't get to that so I set about finding an exercise that would fit in to my day, that I don't have to sacrifice too much for, so that I won't chuck in the towel too early. I have come up with 2. One is to join the gym in my building. It is not a fancy gym, more like the sort you would find in a junior sports club (read: constant smell of socks and deep heat - which I quite like actually !!) but it does have a new class teacher who is taking a class on Mon, Wed, and Fri. They are FatBurner, Step, and Cardio Kickboxing. Sounds like fun (I must be mad). And as I need to move this booty I figured that would be a good way. And I know that as soon as it starts raining, or too cold I will not walk in the park anymore so had to come up with something. Now the 2nd part of my exercise plan is a little more silly. In fact I am a bit embarrassed to admit - I am a Big Brother fan. (hangs head and sighs) Every year I say "I am not going to watch that crap" and every year I end up hooked and cranky as buggery if I don't get my half hour fix a day. So I figured "why fight it". This year I am going to invent a Big Brother Workout. A half hour regime of crunches and arm and leg exercises that I can do in front of the TV making sure that I time the upright rows for commercials (it's too hard watching the TV through my legs!!). So that's my plan. When I work out the timings I will post an approximation of the program so if you too are a closet BB fan and want to do the program you will know that somewhere in Australia, in the world, there is another crazed ww point counting bb watching exercising nut doing exactly the same as you. I am mad..
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Feel Good Look Good
In the last 4 years I have had two work uniforms. My normal uniform and my maternity uniform - which got two workouts. I am very lucky to work for a firm that provides uniforms and they are very lucky that I have so much pride I never ask for a new one because I don't want anyone to see what sized clothes I need to wear (it has saved them a fortune!) So since I returned from maternity leave in January I had been wearing trousers (slightly too tight) and shirts that were at best snug. And I only had a couple of each so washing became an optional extra. Then I happened to overhear a conversation a girl in my office was having about needing to order a new uniform. You see she used to be my size. When she did finally bite the bullet and order a uniform in the right size she was disgusted to find she needed a size 18 and instantly started her diet. She has now lost just over 20kgs (well done JC) and needless to say her uniform doesn't fit her anymore. Now we can't send our uniforms back once they are worn and the normal protocol is to throw them out, so I ran down to her desk and said "I'll have them". I'm a second child, I'm used to hand me downs and I am not so proud that I can't wear someone elses clothes - I mean it's not like they are undies (though I do need some of these too ;) ) JC said OK in an instant - seems she needs the wardrobe space - and the next day brought in the clothes. OMG. It was like christmas, skirts, shirts (12 of them!) and blazers. I have never had a blazer as my position does not warrent it, but now I have 3.. And I look good. And I feel good. And it shows. And if I only get 2 - 3 months wear out of them before I need to order my own so be it. Because I feel good and it shows.
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Whistle whilst you work.
Losing weight for me this time is not so much about the goal - though that is an integral part of the direction I am heading in (and woe the scale if it should go in the wrong direction), but it is about the journey. Past weight loss attempts, some successful and some not, were all attacked at a frenetic pace and all sorts of short cuts taken to achieve the end result. The problem was they never addressed the bigger issue of ME. The last two weeks have probably been the happiest I have been in months perhaps even years. I mean, I am a very positive person, love to have a laugh, and generally never ever in a bad mood but over the past few months I found myself getting into some rather dark patches. I believe now it had a lot to do with the weight I was and in large part due to a loss of self. The decisions I have made about me and my body over the last two weeks have given me such a tremendous lift and feeling of power. It is a feeling I am loathe to give up and it is this part of the journey that convinces me that I will stay on till the end and beyond... There is one side effect however to my new found continuous happiness. Apparently I am too happy in the mornings and it is driving everyone at work mad! My boss even asked me to go for a little walk yesterday as he could not get his head around my humming, whistleing and singing (if you heard me singing you would understand). Oh well, so is my world at the moment. Now, how does the tune to "Tiptoe in the Tulips" go...
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Things that make you go
I think I am a good Mum. I rarely raise my voice (unless it is near the end of the day, I have eaten all my points, and no I don't want to watch the Incredibles for the third time thank you!), I don't have to threaten much (much if you don't count meal times every day - sit at your chair and eat or I will count to three and we will have no TV for a week 1..2...) and I don't use bribery EVERY day (If you sleep in your own bed all week and do all your poos in the toilet for a week you will get a little surprise on the weekend) and I am ever so patient when it comes to going out for a family excersion (if you are not in the car with BOTH shoes on in 5 seconds....) You get the picture. Well, inspite of all my best intentions my boys have turned out, and are turning out well. We forget that little ears take everything in that we say, and even though they can be concentrating on a puzzle, engrossed in their favourite film (the Incredibles at the moment) or playing make believe with their toys they hear everything we say - and remember it too! I was having a discussion with DH about something - not sure what anymore - but it had something to do with me saying I "could not do something". It was something that I was getting a little upset about and I can remember feeling like I just wanted to lash out and eat (a former habit of mine that I am currently succeeding in breaking) when all of a sudden I felt a little hand on my knee and a beautiful voice saying "Mummy, we can do anything - what can happen - we are Supers". Yes, we are all supers......
Monday, April 18, 2005
Weigh in - 02
I love Mondays. Monday is weigh in day and the scales this morning posted a loss of 1.5 kgs for the week. I am very happy. My clothes are a little less snug, my shirt gapes less than it usually does (isn't that a good look!) and even though I could not find a pair of matching work shoes this morning I am really happy with my pale pink slides that I am now wearing. They don't quite match my navy uniform but hey - I'm wearing shoes and that just has to be a positive. Another thing that has made me very happy this morning is that I have received some really nice feedback on my blog. Thank you to Janene, leighanne, and chubbymum (and kate for her previous comments on turkish delights!). This is the stuff that keeps me on a high. That and going for a nice gentle walk with DH, and the children strapped on, on a Sunday morning that turns into an hour marathon, most of it uphill (@#%$). I did thank him and say what a good idea it was - about 2 hours after the event when I could finally catch my breath. I am aiming to do it again next Sunday with a goal of being able to breathe normally within 1 hour after returning. I think it sounds like a smashing idea. I am going to have a great week.
Saturday, April 16, 2005
To Blog or not to Blog
Motivation is such a personal thing. Some people get motivated when they are confronted with the reality of themselves, and some people are able to stay motivated with just this one piece of 'evidence'. Me, I'm a little different. I need to have a constant source of motivation around me to keep up the spirit. And, as I am a bit of a techno lover and internet fiend, I find that internet sites dedicated to weight loss, hints, tips, ideas but especially community forums are what I need to immerse myself in to keep me going. When I made the decision to start my journey to better health, a better way of life, and a lower weight I was really happy to read the ww site and the links they provided to personal journals of those who had gone before or were on their way. These journals are such a wealth of information and show that, along with some struggles, there are people who are able to balance real life with a healthy eating plan. It is to these people I owe a huge thanks. It is due to them that I found this method of 'blogging' on-line (after reading this diatribe I am not sure everyone will be thankful!!). So blog away everyone and I will blog in return. Now back to moving boxes and rearranging the room - worth about 5000 points I think - or just one more ginger nut cookie :)
Friday, April 15, 2005
Ordered!
Following on from last post - I measured myself properly and have ordered my bathing suit. It should be here in a week or so. I am very excited. And I calculated all the money I have been saving by not eating in the foodcourt and it comes in at about the same price as the bathers. Yaaaaa me....
In the swim
It's the beginning of Autumn, the weather is getting cooler and in two weeks my baby starts swimming lessons. Well water confidence lessons anyway - he is only 8 months old :) That started me thinking about the fact that I am going to have to get in the water and have the lesson with him. My DH will be taking our other son to his lesson in the big pool so there is no way around it - I will have to put on a bathing suit. When I first thought about that yesterday my initial feeling was of fear, shame, and even panic. "How can I get out of it", "Can I get DH to get in the water instead", "Can I wear my jeans in the water?" Then I took a deep breath, counted to ten and wondered if anyone in the WW forums had had a similar scenario and what did they do about it. I did not find exactly what I was looking for, but I found something better. A link to a website in WA which makes swimsuits for ladies of all shapes and sizes. (The site is www.vivaswim.com if you are interested.) I entered the site with a bit of trepidation, hoping but not hoping to find bathers to fit (if you know what I mean). I am very impressed by not only what they had on offer, but by the testimonials that have been left on the site.
After working out what my size was according to their charts - another shock in store for me there - I picked out what I was going to order. Then I was led astray by my thoughts - don't order it as I was going to be smaller soon and won't be able to fit in them soon - wait till you are ready to buy a smaller pair. This is dangerous territory as it pre-supposes that I put my life on hold until I attain something that I have not yet got. When will I learn that I need to live today for today whilst all the while walking my path to the future. I know that I am large - now - and I know that I will be smaller - later - but I can't fit into a smaller bathing suit now and I never will unless I buy a bigger one now and get into the water. There - that felt good saying it. When I finish blogging I am going to measure myself properly and order a bathing suit that will fit me now, make me confident enough to get in the water now, and perhaps even join a class NOW. Then when I am smaller, when I need another bathing suit - I will get one. Simple. :)
After working out what my size was according to their charts - another shock in store for me there - I picked out what I was going to order. Then I was led astray by my thoughts - don't order it as I was going to be smaller soon and won't be able to fit in them soon - wait till you are ready to buy a smaller pair. This is dangerous territory as it pre-supposes that I put my life on hold until I attain something that I have not yet got. When will I learn that I need to live today for today whilst all the while walking my path to the future. I know that I am large - now - and I know that I will be smaller - later - but I can't fit into a smaller bathing suit now and I never will unless I buy a bigger one now and get into the water. There - that felt good saying it. When I finish blogging I am going to measure myself properly and order a bathing suit that will fit me now, make me confident enough to get in the water now, and perhaps even join a class NOW. Then when I am smaller, when I need another bathing suit - I will get one. Simple. :)
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Photographs
For a long time I did not want my photo taken. There are probably only a handful in the last few years. And that is sad. After speaking to a friend I realised that not having my photo taken was extremely selfish. As uncomfortable as it makes me, it is me. My children don't see me as "that fat woman" to them I am "mummy" and by not allowing myself to be photographed with them I am doing them a huge disservice. I keep saying "I'll have time later", "When I am skinny we'll take lots of photos", "They wouldn't want me in the photo's looking like this". BUT what happens if there is no later. God forbid - and touch wood, but that could happen, and has happened to people I know. What would be left for my children then? Does my 8 month old grow up thinking his Mummy didn't love him because she didn't want to be in photo's with me? Does my 3 year old wonder why it is only Daddy in the photo's? What does my husband have to show my children when they ask about their mother? Terribly terribly sad. Now I am not planning on going anywhere and recently I started getting more involved in photo's. It is one of these photos which perhaps gave me the real kick in the tail that I needed. You see, when you don't take photos you are left with a very unrealistic look at what you look like.
My husband took a photo of me on the couch recently with my two boys. We were all cuddled up and looking very happy and very much a family, but it was the dimensions of me v's the couch that just shocked me. And, to make it worse I remembered the outfit I was wearing - when I wore it to work that day I actually thought I had looked good! Remembering that photo now strengthens my resolve to keep on the correct path in my journey because I never, never, NEVER want to look like that again.
So take photo's, be at peace with yourself, and if later you are skinny and wonderful, just hide the photos you had taken previously and replace them with the new ones. At least your partner, your parents, your family will always have memories of you. Keep smiling.
My husband took a photo of me on the couch recently with my two boys. We were all cuddled up and looking very happy and very much a family, but it was the dimensions of me v's the couch that just shocked me. And, to make it worse I remembered the outfit I was wearing - when I wore it to work that day I actually thought I had looked good! Remembering that photo now strengthens my resolve to keep on the correct path in my journey because I never, never, NEVER want to look like that again.
So take photo's, be at peace with yourself, and if later you are skinny and wonderful, just hide the photos you had taken previously and replace them with the new ones. At least your partner, your parents, your family will always have memories of you. Keep smiling.
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Share and share alike
I know that weighing myself every morning was not always going to be the best thing for my morale, especially if it showed a weight gain. And I know that I said I was not going to let the fluctuations from day to day worry me. But who am I kidding. I am a girl, and on a mission, and even a little thing like the scales showing an increase since yesterday makes me feel a little sad. BUT unlike in the past when I have let that be the beginning of the destruction of my plans and goals, today did not go like that. I had a little talk to myself on the way into work and analysed everything I have done over the last two days since 'official' weigh in and know that I ate sensibly, I ate within my points, I exercised moderately (even shoe shopping is exercise !) and I drank heaps of water. In fact yesterday was a bit of a record for me with 2.5 litres. So when I got into work this morning I just continued as I have been doing and reminding myself that it will all balance out. This early on in my weight loss plan, and with as much weight as I have to lose, I know that the weight will come off relatively easy initially, if I follow the plan.
My support buddy was not at work today, home sick (hope you are feeling better Mel) but that has not deterred me. In fact talking with some of the other ladies in the office has brought up a great idea. We all like to cook and we are all eating well and most of us are following the WW points plan and we all suffer from the same problem when we cook up a batch of anything at home - we all get sick of it really quickly. So, this weekend we are all going to cook something in a big batch, and freeze it in single serve snap-lock bags. Then we are going to bring in the labelled bags to work and put them in the work freezer so we can all have a taste of what the other cooked. That should make for at least 5 lunches next week where I will be able to have a great home cooked meal with the stipulation that each portion can not be more than 4/5 points (preferably less). Sensational !! I know that I am not the best cook here so I am definitely going to win in this department. I am going to make the Pumpkin and Spinach curry which has 0 points. Sounds delicious and I know that I will be able to have a breadroll with it and even put some butter on it..
Today was my walking at lunch time day and I was hoping to have a beautiful day, and I got it. Sunny, not too humid, not too hot - just perfect. I could handle having a lunch time like this everyday, then returning to have a delicious ww chicken hotpot - yummy. I am feeling great now and even with the 'perceived' set back this morning, I am continuing down my road at my pace with a great big smile on my face. Looking forward to tomorrow :)
My support buddy was not at work today, home sick (hope you are feeling better Mel) but that has not deterred me. In fact talking with some of the other ladies in the office has brought up a great idea. We all like to cook and we are all eating well and most of us are following the WW points plan and we all suffer from the same problem when we cook up a batch of anything at home - we all get sick of it really quickly. So, this weekend we are all going to cook something in a big batch, and freeze it in single serve snap-lock bags. Then we are going to bring in the labelled bags to work and put them in the work freezer so we can all have a taste of what the other cooked. That should make for at least 5 lunches next week where I will be able to have a great home cooked meal with the stipulation that each portion can not be more than 4/5 points (preferably less). Sensational !! I know that I am not the best cook here so I am definitely going to win in this department. I am going to make the Pumpkin and Spinach curry which has 0 points. Sounds delicious and I know that I will be able to have a breadroll with it and even put some butter on it..
Today was my walking at lunch time day and I was hoping to have a beautiful day, and I got it. Sunny, not too humid, not too hot - just perfect. I could handle having a lunch time like this everyday, then returning to have a delicious ww chicken hotpot - yummy. I am feeling great now and even with the 'perceived' set back this morning, I am continuing down my road at my pace with a great big smile on my face. Looking forward to tomorrow :)
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Shoe Delight
Last night I ate the Turkish Delight. Well 3/4 of it anyway. Now before you start in with "you said.." I want to explain why. The house that myself and my family live in, we rent. And recently the owners put the house on the market. I can't begin to explain how much pressure that put me under, constantly having to have the house in a presentation stay - with 2 young children and working full time. Anyway last night the house sold and the new owners are currently living overseas. They are very happy for us to sign a new lease for 12 - 18 months which is when they plan to return to Australia. Well, that was cause for celebration. I looked up Turkish Delight and it is worth 4 points. My DH had 1/4 and I had the rest which was 3 points and within my 22 for the day. Now we have 12 months to be at a stage ready to purchase our own home - which is what we had planned anyway. It all worked out really well. I am feeling good today and ready to tackle another 22 point day. I may go shoe shopping in a sale at lunch today so that should be worth about 100 points I think! :)
Monday, April 11, 2005
April Showers
I went for a walk at lunch time today. I am very lucky that Hyde Park is only a block away so my plan was just one lap around the southern half then on to Woolies to get some salad and back to work. My my how we do get tested. As soon as I left the building it started to rain. I considered going straight to Woolies (as I could get there pretty much undercover all the way) but then thought "It's only rain - I'll dry" so on I went. It was funny seeing people running to take cover when the rain really came down and I just strode on past. It felt really good. By the time I got back to work I was quite wet and as I wear glasses I could hardly see (I really need those windscreen wipers!!) But as I sat down and at my lunch (salad with honey mustard dressing, tomato, cruskits, ww cream cheese with ww chicken slices) I felt really good about myself. My aim this week is to walk Mon, Wed & Fri. Hopefully I'll get at least one dry day ;)
Weigh in - 01
Hello and welcome back. The first weekend has passed and official weigh in this morning showed a loss of 2.4kgs on the scales. I am very happy with that result. The eating over the weekend was more difficult that I thought. Not because I did not understand my choices but because my dear husband (DH) would be helpful and make me an omelette in the morning (3 eggs!!!) and went shopping and bought me a Turkish Delight! I said no thank you and it is still in the pantry. As this is my favourite choc bar I thought it was a big step for me to say no. I have said to DH that I will have it next weekend as a treat. It is not really DH's fault as I have not told him I am following the WW points plan. I just wanted to do it by myself - for myself - for a little while and then I will tell him. It is funny with the weight that I lost that my first reward is that I am able to have 1 point less food per day! But that is OK as I am not finding it that difficult and I have been having 2 - 3 points every day in cough lollies and as my cough is subsiding I won't need to have these anymore.
One of the things that is really bringing home how it is so easy to overeat in terms of calories and points is how much certain food is worth. For example DH is following a gluten free / dairy free diet on orders from his doctor and we have found a range of foods "Freedom Foods" which fit this plan. One of the biscuits we now buy is worth 3 points! One biscuit..... And for dinner tonight I know we will be having organic sausages and I have worked out the points using the calculator and it will be 5.5 points per sausage. WOW. I will be having only one and lots of salad and veg. Normally I would eat two and perhaps later in the evening I would have a half. That would be 14 points. I think I am finally getting the whole balance thing, and it has only been a week. Another thing I noticed on the weekend is that I don't drink as much water as I do at work. At work I have a one litre bottle on my desk and I fill that up twice during each day. More if I walk at lunch - which I am starting today :) So if I drink more water next weekend I think the weight loss should remain consistent. See you then.
One of the things that is really bringing home how it is so easy to overeat in terms of calories and points is how much certain food is worth. For example DH is following a gluten free / dairy free diet on orders from his doctor and we have found a range of foods "Freedom Foods" which fit this plan. One of the biscuits we now buy is worth 3 points! One biscuit..... And for dinner tonight I know we will be having organic sausages and I have worked out the points using the calculator and it will be 5.5 points per sausage. WOW. I will be having only one and lots of salad and veg. Normally I would eat two and perhaps later in the evening I would have a half. That would be 14 points. I think I am finally getting the whole balance thing, and it has only been a week. Another thing I noticed on the weekend is that I don't drink as much water as I do at work. At work I have a one litre bottle on my desk and I fill that up twice during each day. More if I walk at lunch - which I am starting today :) So if I drink more water next weekend I think the weight loss should remain consistent. See you then.
Friday, April 08, 2005
No fail
Yesterday was day 3 and last night was really difficult for me. I changed my evening plans at the last minute and took the opportunity to go grocery shopping by myself (with 2 little boys shopping by myself is a huge pleasure). Unfortunately I did not eat first so was really hungry when shopping. Again it is one of those things that has made me realise how much I was eating. Normally I would not have been concerned to put in a chocolate milk, because I was thirsty, a packet of crisps, because I wanted something savoury, and perhaps a chocolate bar, a turkish delight because you know they are 25% lower in fat than most other chocolates!! Well hello, not having chocolate is 100% lower in fat than all other chocolate. I managed to complete my shopping without adding one 'extra' thing in the trolley. I am quite excited actually about the food I have bought to put in the fridge at work. By starting to create my "no fail" environment I will have a much better chance of not falling into my old habits. So I have yoghurt, 3 different types of salad dressings, cream cheese, ham slices, chicken slices, apples, bananas, hummos, carrot sticks. All I will have to get each day is a bag of salad. That way I will be getting it fresh and just adding my protein to it. In my filing cabinet I have cereal (fruit & fibre), ww fruit bars, choc chip cookies and cruskits.
I am not comparing weight day to day but always comparing to my start weight. For example if I weighed more today than yesterday but still less than my SW then I am not so worried. I know that weight fluctuates during a week. But I am very happy to say that the scale is showing a reduction and I feel it will be maintained until weigh in as I am eating so much better than before.
I am not comparing weight day to day but always comparing to my start weight. For example if I weighed more today than yesterday but still less than my SW then I am not so worried. I know that weight fluctuates during a week. But I am very happy to say that the scale is showing a reduction and I feel it will be maintained until weigh in as I am eating so much better than before.
Thursday, April 07, 2005
Lightening Strikes
My plan is only to make one entry per day in this first week, then one entry per week thereafter the morning after weight in. That way I will keep myself on track but not bore myself with repetitive information. However when something grabs my attention, that I feel note worthy, I am going to make an exception and type away. One of the things I have found in the past, when reading about the success of other "weight watchers" is that whilst I would really commend the person and be amazed at what they had done, it didn't really mean that much to me unless I could in someway relate to the person. For example, they were the same height as me, the same starting weight, the same goal weight, had a similar story in relation to children etc. So imagine my surprise and absolute shock when I found someone who was almost identical!!. I was reading the WW site and came across the success story of Marijke Hezemans. not only is she the same height - 175cm, very close starting weight 95.3 (only 200gms off) and a very similar goal weight, she is also Dutch and has a similar passion for Dutch licorice. The fact that she achieved her fantastic goal in 33 weeks is mindblowing. I am not going to measure my success on the time frame that Marijke did, but the fact that she achieved it at all has filled me with so much promise and anticipation that IT CAN BE DONE! I know I have taken the first steps but it is really heartening to read that someone who was "me" has achieved their goals.. Go me... :)
Virtual Model
Walked a bit slower at lunch today as Mel came with me and our aim was to shop! Still it beats sitting behind my desk all day. Had some fun on the PC with www. myvirtualmodel.com. When I opened the site I remembered that I had been there years earlier. My login and password still worked!! It was a bit of a shock to see the model I had created for whilst it did look like me I needed to add another 5kgs to make it reflect my real weight. I copied the BEFORE (current weight) pictures of me at every angle and pasted them into a powerpoint slide. Then I changed the model to reflect my goal weight and copied those pictures - the AFTER ones - and pasted them alongside the larger ones. It was a bit of a shock to see what I looked like in this representation, but really great to see what could be achieved. Now if they only allowed you to choose between smooth skin and cottage cheese ;)
I updated my spreadsheets today to reflect that Monday morning will be official weight day. I think that this will be a very good day physcologically as , in the beginning, it will scare me into staying on track on the weekends. I am realistic enough to know that I need to keep up the motivation and fear factor initially until the habits are formed and I can begin to see this as just a "way of life". It's funny, but I am starting off with quite modest goals this time so that I am more likely to hit them and continue my plan. My first real goal for the week is to stick to 23 points a day. Nothing else. but even though this was it, I am already finding that I am trying to add more 'incidental' exercise into a day. My goal for next week will be to incorporate 3 sessions of an aerobic exercise. I think this will be fairly easy as there are people at work who walk every day in the park and have already invited me to join them. I might just do that!
I updated my spreadsheets today to reflect that Monday morning will be official weight day. I think that this will be a very good day physcologically as , in the beginning, it will scare me into staying on track on the weekends. I am realistic enough to know that I need to keep up the motivation and fear factor initially until the habits are formed and I can begin to see this as just a "way of life". It's funny, but I am starting off with quite modest goals this time so that I am more likely to hit them and continue my plan. My first real goal for the week is to stick to 23 points a day. Nothing else. but even though this was it, I am already finding that I am trying to add more 'incidental' exercise into a day. My goal for next week will be to incorporate 3 sessions of an aerobic exercise. I think this will be fairly easy as there are people at work who walk every day in the park and have already invited me to join them. I might just do that!
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Knit 1 Purl 1
Today I am hungry. I had great meals and snacks all day. All accounted for and came up to 20 points. I have to ensure I eat at least 22 points to keep me from wanting to eat inappropriately. At lunch I went for a walk in the city for about an hour and as I am quite unfit I was sweating when I returned, so assume I earned some points. Whilst in the city I bought some wool to knit a scarf. I know that one of my fall-downs is hitting the pantry after the boys are asleep and sitting in front of the TV eating. So tonight I sat in front of the TV knitting, and knitting, and knitting..... It is always a great high to have a result of a creation after knitting. I chose soft chunky wool, size 9 needles, so in no time I had one ball of wool done which equals half a scarf. The other half will be done tomorrow so I can wear it on Friday. If it is cold enough!! Tomorrow I will go back to Lincraft and exchange 2 of the balls for a different colour as I had bought too much. Am quite happy with myself and really motivated.
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
My Journey Begins
Mel is in today and at lunch time we went for a walk to Coles to get some salad. Mel has found a bag of plain salad for $1.99, all free points, that lasts for 2 lunches. I added 1/4 chook, leg, no skin and some WW dressing. All up only 3 points. I was a bit hungry so had a WW bar. First day finished I ate exactly 23 points. Exercise 0 points. Mel and I are going to the Kylie concert on 20 May and Mel's goal is to get into a pair of jeans that she wants to wear. She asked me if I had a goal, was there something I wanted to fit into for the concert. I said yes. The seat!!! How honest is that. It made me realise how large I had become and that I really wanted to change. Today was a good start for that change. I had one moment of realisation how much I had been eating without thinking, when I purchased a new bus ticket. The guy I buy it from runs a tabocconist and lolly store in the foodcourt. Now normally I would have bought one, perhaps two, bags of lollies. Banana's, milk bottles, or perhaps bullets. When I went through today I just bought the ticket and thought about what I would normally have done. I am very pleased with myself.
Monday, April 04, 2005
The food court
Melissa is not back from holidays today so we are beginning our support program tomorrow. Generally I am a pretty good eater but I have my falldown times and areas. I have a good breakfast, usually yoghurt and fruit, and dinner is OK too as it is normally a protein and salad or vegetables with some nuts for a snack. My husband is following a no gluten eating plan on the advice of his doctor so the house is not in a bad state for good eating. However, between breakfast and dinner I am shocking. I work in the city, in a big building above a food court which supplies the most convenient & yes - tasty food. I worked out today what the points are in the lunches I have been having and they came in at a minimum of 20 points for some of them!!!! So my first goal is not to eat lunch at the food court for a month. Hopefully this will be the beginning of a good habit.
Sunday, April 03, 2005
I am ready
After thinking all the previous night and most of today about changing my habits for once and for all, I decided that I would do it. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. I logged onto the WW site and instantly found great exercises I can easily do (perhaps not fit into my day but that is one challenge!) and printed them out. I need to get my WW books out of the storage box and begin reading. Reading is always a huge motivational tool for me and I am going to read the WW site further during the week.
Saturday, April 02, 2005
How it all began
My friend Melissa rang me at home on the weekend. She is serious this time. She is fed up with not fitting into her clothes and she knows that I am too. Shall we work on a plan together. We could be support for each other at work. Lets follow the Weight Watchers point system. As a former WW member I know all too well how easily WW fits into a hectic lifestyle. The points system suits me well as it does not cut out any food. I just have to be accountable for each choice I make and ensure that I write EVERYTHING down. That includes any BITES taken from the children's plates! I have to think about this. I need to be prepared to accept the challenge and accept that I AM WORTH the challenge.
About me
- I'm Margaret
- From Sydney, Australia
- Hi. I am Margaret. Or M. I talk a lot, get distracted even more, but am putting things in place to focus on my goals. But those have been put on hold whilst I focus on crochet. Lovely crochet. :) (see - distracted!)
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Stats
- Height: 175cms/5'9"
- SW: 83.4kgs
- CW: 80.9kgs
- GW: 68.0kgs
- Total Lost: 2.7kgs
- Started: 9th October 2006
Monthly Progress
- Oct 06: -2.7 kg
- Nov 06:
- Dec 06:
- Jan 07:
- Feb 07:
- Mar 07:
- Apr 07:
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/ Ails
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/ A Mummy Losing It
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/ Jesse
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/ Jodie in Melb
/ Jods Back and refreshed!
/ Julie
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/ Kt
/ LBTEPA
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/ Little Grover
/ Living to Feel Good
/ LMS
/ Louise
/ Lucinda
/ Mary
/ Mel
/ Michelle
/ Michelle (WA)
/ Minnie
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