My Journey

Mark and I spend a fair bit of our weekend time driving around looking at houses. Usually when the boys have finally fallen asleep and we want them to stay asleep so we drive around for an hour or two. After these drives we are either really excited about biting the bullet and going out to buy something or totally depressed that we are never going to be able to afford to buy anywhere decent and close to the city (which is where we want to live).

And that got me thinking about the 'right time' to do anything and how we afford to do it. When we moved to Sydney and started living the good life we never in our wildest dreams thought we could afford to have a baby - until one came into our life. Then we decided we would never be able to afford to have two - until we were lucky enough to have another. We couldn't possibly afford to put them in child care and keep working - until we did it. I couldn't afford to join a gym - until I did it.

There are so many things we put off in our lives because we are so afraid of the consequences or on the changes to our lifestyle. We get in a very comfortable pattern and don't want to stretch ourselves incase it forces us to change our patterns and compromise on our time. Weight loss is like that. Even though being overweight is a very uncomfortable place to be physically, mentally it can be very comfortable. Knowing that you are not expected to go out means you can stay home and eat and watch TV and not do any physical activity. Making the decision to lose weight means changing your patterns, getting our of your comfort zone, and making compromises in your life. And I think that is why it took me so long to start it. I couldn't see how I could possibly fit in the time to exercise, or afford the correct food to eat - until I did it. No one can do anything without taking the first step. And once you do - you manage to make it work.

I may not reach my goal weight in the original time I thought I might but at least I am not going to sit here in six months time and ask myself "what if...." I will sit here in six months and say "look where I am now"

******

Daily wrap-up

Follow Exercise Plan - Morning (no) Lunch (yes) Evening (yes)
Stick to 20 points - No (22.5pts)
Track all food - Yes
Drink 3L of water - Yes
Blog my daily results - Yes
Do something just for fun - Potted a plant to have on my desk at work

Posted by Margaret at 8:26:00 pm | Permalink | Comments

I know I have busted my tail this week. I know that I have eaten well. (There is always room for improvement - a bag of Chicco Babies really didn't need to be eaten!!) I know that I am smaller. But I wished that the scales would roar a huge loss at me instead of whimper out a 200gm loss.

But a loss is a loss, and if I keep going at this rate I will still reach goal. I will still be fitter. I will still be sleeker. My body is getting stronger but if the bloody scales don't agree with me next week I may have to go and buy new ones. Are you listening scales???? You are on warning.. LOL.

I'm up and ready to hit the week running. Not in my boots of course, they are still for walking around the house whilst I do the laundry - in my pj's. Thanks for all your wonderful comments I love my boots. And I am sure I will be game enough to wear them outside as soon as it is cold enough.

I am going to have a great week. Can't wait till boxing tomorrow :D

Posted by Margaret at 6:36:00 am | Permalink | Comments

Even though I did not even think of this as I bought them, the comments about whips and chains abounded in the office (from the blokes) as I showed the girls my new purchase. 37 years in the waiting I am now the proud owner of a pair of long black boots (Via Spiga - Leilani). I hit DJ's again as I was determined to part with my Christmas Vouchers and I tried on a few pairs. None were quite right and the sales lady I had reminded me of a jersey cow as she proceeded to chew gum and shrug her shoulders through the ordeal. After working my way through the shoe department I found a shelf of plain, square toed, long black boots. There was a size 10 on display. I could put my foot in it. I could zip it up almost all the way to the top. They were so comfortable. A different sales lady came over and was the most helpful person. She showed me a trick on how to get the zip up completely. She showed me where there was a seam created to enable a cobbler to cut and insert elastic if I need. She explained how to tell a cobbler where I wanted the boots to be stretched if I wanted to. She was devine.

Then I looked at the price (I know I should have done this first). They were $519.00...

......marked down to $245.00 Whooooo hoooooooo. (For the accountants out there that is a saving of $274.00 or approx 53%)

So thank you Mum and Dad for buying the left boot. Thank you MIL & FIL for buying the right boot. And thank you me for choosing to spend the money on myself.

Now how to tell Mark I plan on wearing them to bed tonight. On second thoughts I am not sure he will mind ;D



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I also bought some lingerie today - another bargain. Beckie and Vanessa are putting a business together to supplier larger sized lingerie. Now that they have determined the excellent quality they are ready to begin their business. Vanessa has some samples (new) that she is selling so if you are interested head over to her lingerie blog to have a look at the photos. Beckie is still designing the official site.

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Edit: I have just come from Lucinda's blog and found that there is a planned Melbourne Bloggers Meet. I heartily encourage all available bloggers to take the plunge and meet some great supporters. Hmmmm what am I doing on March 30? LOL. You guys will have a great time.

Posted by Margaret at 6:24:00 pm | Permalink | Comments

A day in the life of M.

Tuesday, 21st Feb

4.40pm. Walk to Central to catch bus to Broadway. It's good to stretch out the legs - they are getting a bit stiff
5.05pm. Try on a skirt in Sportsgirl. Saw it in the window and thought it might go with a top I have. It's too bulky and was a little too big. It was a 12.
5.12pm. Try on a couple of size 12 skirts in Portmans. Not sure how any of them will go with my top. All a little too big. I asked if their sizes were generous.
7.00pm. Watching TBL whilst getting the bath ready for the boys. When DH steps in to look after it I do crunches for the last 5 minutes of the show
8.15pm. Talk to my friend MF on the phone. Legs and arms starting to seize up a little but not feeling too bad.
9.30pm. Tidy up the kitchen. Wish I was asleep
9.45pm. In bed - good night.

Wednesday, 22nd Feb

5.45am. Alarm goes off and am reminded instantly of yesterdays activities. OUCH
6.15am. Have shower. OUCH - but feeling better already
7.15am. At work having breakfast. Wed is my early day so I can go home and have 'me time'. Tonight we had a visit from DH's cousin & his girlfriend who live in England. He is DS2's godfather and we love it when they can fit a visit in.
11.45am. Had an exercise rest day so hit the shops to try and find a skirt. (I am going to a wedding on 25th March and want to match a top and shoes I already have). As I have DJ vouchers I head there first. Nothing I can afford, or like, or goes with my top. Getting grumpy.
12.20pm. Step into Diana Ferrari. Did not know they had a store in the city. Very dangerous. Loved everything. Bought a dress (size 12 - whooo hooo) and now have different outfit for the wedding. Will go with black shoes I already have but tried them on with long black boots to see what it looked like. Fantastic. And had a little tear as it is the first pair of long boots - EVER - that I have been able to zip up to the top. Didn't buy the boots as they were the pointy toe variety and with size 10's I don't need my feet to look any bigger thank you very much. Am now on the lookout for long black boots.
12.45pm. Back in the office showing off my purchases. Can't wipe smile off my face.
3.30pm. Leave the office (my once a week special)
3.35pm. Hit Coles for the ingredients for tonights dinner. We had Pumpkin & Bacon soup - 1.5pts - (a recipe I got out of the ww recipe book going around on email - which I still have if anyone wants it sent) and Almond Chicken Salad with Asparagus - 2 pts - which I got off the SparkPeople site. Served with little dinner rolls I had a very tasty meal for 7 pts.
11.39pm. Guests are gone. Boys asleep. Kitchen tidy(ish). Still smiling. Time to Sleep.

I love my life :D

Posted by Margaret at 11:39:00 pm | Permalink | Comments

Entering a room full of suspicious looking characters, M spied an empty space in the corner. Deciding that was the place to be, M maneuvered past the straggling bodies and avoided direct eye contact with any of them. Once in position a familiar face appeared. "First time here" Juan asked with a casual glance at his watch which was resting on his incredibly toned arm. Was he waiting for someone? Was this a set up? Was this really a good idea? Panic was starting to set in and M looked across and saw the door was still open. Can she make it? No! The door closed with a definitive bang. Juan turned to her and said "It's time to begin........"


BOXING


Whoo hooo it was fantastic. I can say that now as I have recovered the use of most of my faculties and can stop making typing errors long enough to get this post in. My first boxing class. It went for 45 minutes and paired up with my friend MF we laughed and punched our way through the entire class. What a workout. I was absolutely, disgustingly drenched when I stumbled out of the class. But the kind of drenched that meant I worked it baby.. Worked it hard. I now just have to remember to bring a change of undies next time as sitting in my uniform all clean but squelching every time I move is just not a good feeling LOL. I think that may fall in the 'too much information' category. ;D

I am not sure which was harder. Being the boxer, or the boxee. Being on the receiving end of some of those punches really pushed my arms. Though the sequence of 8 uppercuts, combat roll on the floor, 12 jabs up high, combat roll on the floor, and 8 jabs really pushed both my physical and co-ordination limits.


I LOVED IT!


Same place, same time, same day next week. I am there :D

Posted by Margaret at 2:04:00 pm | Permalink | Comments

Negative self talk is a very damaging thing to have. It is something that used to plague me a lot before I began losing weight and every now and then it sneaks in but is beaten back into place. These last couple of days, however, when I have not been doing as I should in either the eating or the exercising department it has come back with a vengence. It adds to the feelings of disappointment and hopelessness and is part of a self perpetuating circle. If I think it - so it becomes.

I read somewhere that if the negative self-talk starts I need to write it down. Just sit down and write down everything I am thinking. Do not alter it or try to pretty it up as the words go down. Then for every negative self-talk sentence I am to convert it to an equivalent positive statement. Doing this is supposed to free the mind of holding the self-talk in. So I did it. And I feel so much better. I realise that having negative feelings from time to time is normal, and will probably continue for the rest of my life. But it doesn't mean that I have to continue having them constantly or that I don't have the ability to turn them around. Because I do.

I realise that as much as I sometimes feel lazy and undeserving of my weight loss I know that I do deserve it and a 100gm loss is a 100gm loss. So this week I am going to focus more on the 'doing it' and less on the 'talking about it'. Then hopefully on next weeks weigh in I can talk about it with a huge smile on my face :D

Posted by Margaret at 9:46:00 am | Permalink | Comments

Where do we find new ones? Argy ponders this question as she recounts all the wonderful goals she has achieved and the difficulty in finding a new carrot to dangle in front of herself, to get moving again towards her goal weight. I have this same difficulty. When I started I had one big carrot - get to my goal weight of 68kgs and this is still there. But along the way there were little carrots to entice me to keep getting closer to the big one. Walk without puffing, walk without chafing my skin to a bloody mess, buy clothes in a non big-girl section, drop a clothes size (or 4!), play with my boys instead of watching them, out-play my boys, jog the length of Hyde Park (it's only very small). All these carrots have been eaten and now only the big one is left. I need more little carrots.

So in light of Sue's amazing efforts with the triathlon I am setting myself a goal of going in the Sydney City to Surf in August this year. It is no where near as difficult as the tri as there is no bike or swim leg but it is 14kms and there are some pretty good hills to climb. What I am planning is to have the ability to jog for a km, walk for a km, etc till the end. This is an event that happens every year so this year will be my starting platform and then my goal will be to improve my time each year. I am not sure what training I would need to do other than get on the treadmill and start pacing it out so will start with that. And as treadmill walking/jogging is very different to pavement walking/jogging I am going to find some fun runs in the lead up to see how I go.

So that is my new carrot. And this is my new carrot patch - curtesy of DS1 who planted them himself :D


*Imagine picture here with just one carrot sprout. DH moved the computer and we can't find the cord to download the photos grrrrr*

Posted by Margaret at 6:33:00 pm | Permalink | Comments

One of the best things about reading blogs for me is where it takes my thought process. Sometimes I can think about a particular post, or comment to a post, and it gets me thinking about how that topic effects my everyday life. Then this usually leads me off into tangents and invariably it becomes something that improves my life and / or me.

Eating in the evenings is such a topic. Michelle (WA) made a comment the other day that she finds this really challenging and was wondering how I, and others, deal with this problem.

I follow the points programme so one of the things I can do if I feel hungry at night is to eat and drink things that are zero points value. Like vegetable sticks, with zero point dressing if I need, corn on the cob, water, sugar free drinks. But listing them here is easy. Sticking to this list is a bit harder. Not because the act of eating is more or less difficult due to the food type but the inclination is not there. I was keeping my hunger at bay in the evening by drinking at least 1.5 - 2L of d.coke at night but once I had confessed this out loud to other people it suddenly dawned on me that this was not a very healthy thing to do. So I have cut out drinking it at home. There have been two side effects. I wake up craving d.coke and am extremely edgy until I get my first fix with breakfast at 8.00am and the second is that I am more likely to go on the prowl to find things to eat. Which I have been doing. Thank goodness that due to bad planning and sheer laziness on my behalf there is little food in the house so the damage has been minimal. And no money in my wallet (except for bags of 20 and 50 cent pieces and we all know the pizza guy would have LOVED to receive that) has meant we have not phoned out for food.

When I was allowed 22 points a day the extra 2 points were used for a sweet snack in the evening. Now I only have 20 I use them all up during the day. This then got me to thinking about the level of planning I used to do versus the lack of planning I do now in regards to my food. Even though I only have 20 points a day this still equates to the ability to have an enormous amount of food - good food, with a few treats thrown in. I have dropped the planning in favour of grabbing items that I now instinctively know the points of and have been eating out of habits. Newly formed habits I grant you but I think it is time for a shake up again.

When I started DS2 was 8 months old and not mobile enough to cause me issues in the evening and DS1 sat and behaved nicely at dinner time. I started by having frozen meals in the evening so would microwave and sit with the boys to have my dinner. Easy. Now that DS2 is 18 months and taring around like a Duracell Bunny and DS1 has slipped into behaviour patterns that are a lot more boisterous AND I have been cooking meals I find that I can't eat until the boys are in bed. By which time I am so hungry I start picking at the boys leftovers, picking at the grapes, then can't be buggered putting together a brilliantly balanced meal so I eat points but I don't add the extra salad and vegetables to it. This could all be solved by making large batches of great healthy food we can all eat and freezing pointed serves for me during the week. But like Kathryn I haven't had takeout in so long that I have no containers. Is this a good enough reason to get Thai on the way home - NO! but I will call in and see if I can buy a few of their containers. I am sure it will be cheaper than the Glad ones. :)

So I think I have answered Michelles query from me. I don't deal with eating in the evenings well and I think it will always be challenging but thanks to her question I have addressed what I can have and have written those items on a shopping list so if I get the 'munchies' I will at least have some healthy options to choose from.

P.S. I went swimming in my new bathers today and they are sensational. They are a size 12 one piece *gasp* and whilst I am a bit busty and popping out slightly they fit really well and I am so happy with them. I think I may add in a lunch time swim more often. :D

Posted by Margaret at 1:55:00 pm | Permalink | Comments

These are the supportive type emails I receive from DH from time to time ;D


DANGEROUS: What's for dinner?
SAFER: Can I help you with dinner?
SAFEST: Where would you like to go for dinner?
ULTRA SAFE: Have some chocolate.

DANGEROUS: Are you wearing that?
SAFER: Wow, you look good in brown.
SAFEST: WOW! Look at you!
ULTRA SAFE: Have some chocolate

DANGEROUS: What are you so worked up about?
SAFER: Could we be overreacting?
SAFEST: Here's my paycheck.
ULTRA SAFE: Have some chocolate.

DANGEROUS: Should you be eating that?
SAFER: You know, there are a lot of apples left.
SAFEST: Can I get you a glass of wine with that?
ULTRA SAFE: Have some chocolate

DANGEROUS: What did you do all day?
SAFER: I hope you didn't over-do it today.
SAFEST: I've always loved you in that robe!
ULTRA SAFE: Have some more chocolate

Posted by Margaret at 9:08:00 am | Permalink | Comments

There is something so guilty and pleasurable in putting something called 'souffle' all over my body. LOL. If you can't eat it at least smother yourself in it :D

Back to business. Lost 300gms this week so down to 76.6kgs. Whooo hoooo. Going the right way.

Going to have another fantastic week this week. :D

Posted by Margaret at 7:04:00 am | Permalink | Comments

After climbing out of a bath filled with Natio Spa - Rejuvenating Bath Salts and slathering myself with the Moisturising Body Souffle (thanks Linda) I can almost hear the muscles in my legs that have traipsed at least 20,000 steps on Saturday (forgot the pedometre - damn!) and pushed to the edge in the "Amazing Boat Race" saying "Thank you".

What a wonderful weekend I have had. On Friday I picked Linda up from the airport with both excitement and trepidation. The "what was I thinking" thought popped into my head for about one second and out again as I recognised a face that I have seen on the blogs for almost a year. I had brought along DS1 for protection and as he was instantly bribed with a thoughtful gift I knew the game was up and we were hooked. Luckily her daughter was as easily pushed over as she agreed the car I drove made me a suitable candidate to entertain her precious Mum. And so the weekend began. Filled with lots of talking, and laughing, and solving the problems of the world, I am sure I have made a friend for life.

The lunch on Saturday at Chinta Ria was fantastic and was hard to accept we have all known each other for such a short time. For us (Linda, Mary, CKK, Julie, Jodie, Michelle, and myself) it seemed like we knew each other a lifetime and the flow of conversation and laughter attested to the fact that we were having a good time. After lunch we headed off to Cockle Bay Wharf to watch the Dragon Boat Races where I promptly removed both my t-shirt and my shoes. No I was not acting out on an impulse to jump in the water to join the race, but to give myself the opportunity to catch a little sun (I did have a singlet under my top thank you very much!) However I caught quite a bit of sun and now sport a lovely tan of the reddish variety. Which will go brown by morning. Which Mark is extremely jealous of. Which he would be seeing as how he is a pale skinned, freckle faced, red head. *chuckle*

Then, not happy just spectating, we decided to hold a boat race of our own and Mary and I, with CKK and Linda, hopped into the paddle boats for a bit of a laugh. Bloody hell if someone had told me what a workout it would have been I am not sure I would have taken the challenge. LOL. But crashing (accidently!) into Linda and CKK made up for some of the pain. :D I was definitely a bit wobbly in the legs but considering Linda, Michelle and I had been walking all over Sydney since 10.00am it was justified.. And as a huge bonus I finally got to meet Daniel who joined us as we went our separate ways.

Then to finish it off Linda, Michelle and I headed into the QVB for a spot of window shopping until we headed back to the trains to take us whence we came.

Sunday has been spent doing the normal things I would do on a Sunday. Leisurely walk at Balmoral Beach, swimming lessons with the boys, drive around some of Sydney's great spots, lunch at Bondi (after travelling hours! out of our way to fill the car with petrol - DH's fault) LOL
I had a fantastic time.


I am so glad that Linda took the risk to book a flight to Sydney. I am pleased with myself taking the risk inviting her to stay with us and for Linda to accept it. I am grateful that we all took risks to meet up with each other. These things are really hard to do. The first time. Before Linda came up I was grilled (as was she) about the why's, who's, why's, what's, why's of what we were doing. It was very hard for people in my life not associate with Blogging to understand. I know that what we were doing was risky. I also know it was an extremely calculated one and one that I was happy making. I have known Linda - and most of the people who came to lunch - for almost a year. In that time it is very difficult to keep up a front on the blogs and your true self can't help to come out. If you are not yourself it would make it very difficult to succeed in a weight loss journey as you are hiding the core of the reason you got overweight in the first place. So I was very comfortable that the Linda portrayed in her blog is the Linda I would meet. And she was. I also am smart enough to know to minimise any risk. Things you need to do to ensure people are who they say they are. Linda needed these things from me too as she was putting herself in my hands for an entire weekend. For us this worked really well and if my children have not scarred her for life I am sure we will meet up again. :D

Life is a risk.

I choose to take risks (albiet calculated ones). Well you have to when you get a dodgy paddle boat ;D


Thank you guys for a great Saturday. I had a ball and have learnt so much more about you. Which I will not divulge on threat of death LOL. Looking forward to catching up soon

Posted by Margaret at 9:34:00 pm | Permalink | Comments

As blogger is scheduling another outage today, and I am going to be busy having fun with Linda and other fantastic bloggers on Saturday & Sunday I thought I would do a silly little post today.

I often laugh at the searches people have done on Google and other search engines and end up at my blog. Here are the ones that have visited in the last 24 hours. I think some of them would have been a little bemused when they opened the site..

Sultana's as snacks
Pie & chips recipe
Sore butt
Office biggest loser
good arm exercises
My boys
Douglas Malloch
Be the best of whatever you are

I know there have been other obscure and hilarious ones in the past but can't recall them at the moment. I am sure you all get similar ones that make you laugh and wonder what people were looking for in the first place.

Things are going really well at the moment, and other than a bit of a marshmallow feast this morning I am still eating well. The balance thing is a tricky one to master but slowly slowly I am getting there.

I am going to have a great weekend and I hope that you all do too. A special good luck to Sue for her triathlon this Sunday. You are amazing and I can't wait to see a photo of you at the finish line. :D



**Edit** - as requested

With the statcounter I have (www.statcounter.com) there is a report called "Came From?" This shows me where people came from to my blog. Most of it is from other blogs that I recognise, and some that I don't. And very very few from search engines such as Google, or yahoo, or msn. I often laugh because I wonder what people would be thinking when they clicked the search result and it comes up with my blog. Probably along the lines of WTF?? LOL.

I don't go in often but when I do I have a bit of a look around. So that is interesting. Does that show the analyst side of me?? ;D

Posted by Margaret at 1:25:00 pm | Permalink | Comments

A benefit of losing weight that I did not expect to find has been that my personality and my thinking habits have changed. The main trait I am talking about is my controlling one. I am not sure if it is because it is inherent in a Virgo's nature to want to control everything in their life (including the minds, actions, and thoughts of others) or if it because I am an anally retentive dag. I would plan things, write up lists, and if one thing were to happen to throw the list or the plan out - it would all be over.

Take my exercise plan for example. I have listed quite basic things that I wish to achieve in a week. I listed them with full expectation that each week would present me with hurdles to achieving the plan as set out and that it would take longer than one week to organise myself to achieving it all. In the past this would have made me chuck the list away, do nothing for a week, then in a moment of remorse rewrite the list on a Sunday night with great expectations for the following week. This time that hasn't happened.

On Monday and Tuesday I stayed at home and did not go to the gym. Therefore the planned exercise didn't happen. So instead of wallowing in self-pity because another week was ruined I did different things. I went to pick up the boys early from kindy and as it is on the roof of a shopping centre I took the opportunity to walk down the ramps to the ground floor, then found the stairs and climbed them to the roof. I initially thought this would take about 15 minutes and I would do 3 - 4 laps to fill in an hour. It only took me 5 minutes!! I did 4 laps in half an hour (I slowed up each lap) and then collapsed happily in the car until I caught my breath. Today and tomorrow I will be at work so will do weights at lunch, then back to do cardio in the afternoon. On Friday I have the day off so will drop the boys off at kindy, walk into the city, do weights, walk back to Broadway then go home.

I have the ability to make changes on the fly (whooo hoooo). This is so liberating for me. And whilst I will still aim to do all that I have on my list I am safe in the knowledge now that not doing it all is not going to be the end of the world :D

Oh and the sore butt bit. The cardio today was the rowing machine. All the treadmills were busy so I thought I would do rowing instead. After 20 minutes I was perspiring quite a lot and I was keeping the speed on the machine quite high. The guy two machines over was talking to the lady next to me and I don't quite understandy why he thought I would not be able to hear him when he asked the lady to see what speed I was doing as he was doing 2:30/500m so I must have been doing at least 2:20/500. Hilarious. And I was doing 2:19 thank you very much LOL. AND, to top it all off this extra exercise did not make me late to pick up the boys at all. I think I may have solved my cardio in the evening problem. Do it before I go home.


Thank you Barbara for your lovely words lately - and your BL-A link :)

Posted by Margaret at 7:41:00 pm | Permalink | Comments

After an incredible week the scales posted a loss of 1.1kgs bringing me to a total loss of 18.4kgs. Earlier on in the week the loss was higher but a bit of rebalancing and a bit too much to eat on the weekend saw the gain pull back. Whilst I am not unhappy with the loss I posted I can see there is still room for improvement in my habits.

I enjoyed working to the exercise plan last week and will be working from it again this week. I did not do any of the morning exercises and will look at introducing it in at least a couple of days this week. Lunch time I achieved all targets and the evenings I probably achieved 50%. So with room to move I am happy to be starting another week.

The weekend was really hectic with Marks mother flying in. We asked if she could come so that she could play with & look after the boys whilst Mark and I got to the jobs that we just have not managed to complete in the last few weeks. We do try but as it is a bit hit and miss in the evenings with the boys going to bed I usually succumb to my bed as soon as I am able and another night passes without jobs getting done. So this weekend was a full onslaught and I am happy to say that we broke the back of it. It is always so satisfying to see a job (almost) finished. It's been a long time since I could see the walls in this room and am surprised to remember that they are yellow LOL. By the end of the week I will actually have a room that we can set up the exercise equipment in and have it safely out the way of little fingers. And if we have people to stay it will only be a matter of moving the equipment to one side instead of having to find another space for it completely. Very happy about that.

So I am on the way to losing my 10%. 1.5% gone - 8.5% to go :D


My weekly check up
3 x weights sessions - Done. I worked really hard but listened to my body too. By Friday I was so physically tired that I did not do the full three sets but still worked up an impressive sweat. Loving the weights at the moment.

2 x cardio sessions - Done. Tried a new machine that I will incorporate from now on.

Min 12,500 steps a day - Done.

Eat 140 pts for the week - Not done. I went over the points this week but only on the weekend so taking my bonus points into consideration probably did not go over all that much. SP's were a bit high (all on the w/end) so will be concentrating on this.

Plan my me time for Wednesday - Done.

Posted by Margaret at 11:06:00 am | Permalink | Comments

I think I just lost a big chunk of fat on the running machine.

Splash.

Oops think I just lost another blob near the treadmill.

Splot.

Gee I hope sweating in this heat turns into a nice lower number on Monday.

Melt.

Going to go and stick my head in a bucket of icy icy cold water.

*sizzle*

Aaaaaaaaah


Yes I know - I am strange LOL

Posted by Margaret at 6:15:00 pm | Permalink | Comments

Just came across a link to the contestants in The Biggest Loser - Australia. It gives a run down on each contestant and has been set up to gather information and photos as the series progresses. They all sound like fabulous people and I hope they all succeed in their journey.

**Edit. Looks like there may have been some issues with the link. It was working on mine, and I have checked it, but to iron out any bugs I have relinked it and re-published. Hope it works. :D

Posted by Margaret at 10:53:00 am | Permalink | Comments

Last February my DH was told by the Dr to get off the alcohol completely for 12 weeks and lose weight. Being a drinking sort of lad it didn't take too long for his work mates to catch on and in an amazing show of support the company declared February alchohol free month and a handful of guys joined together and formed the Biggest Loser Club. It was a roaring success, keenly followed by all staff and a wrap up of their comp is posted below. (I have changed the names to protect the innocent - but left Mark's in LOL)

For those that have been following the Losers Board located in my office it will be of interest to know that the competition has now closed and the entrants have been judged on their efforts (or lack thereof).

If was a close tussle to determine the biggest loser and there were some people that thought it was not necessary for a competition to determine who it was....................................however, the firm's undisputed and supreme loser is Scott. Scott started as a focused and firm favourite and never wavered from his target. Offer's of an "afternoon on the turps" or "just one" failed to dampen his commitment. Further, he continued to lose weight following serious injury to his person last week . After weighing in at a generous 92.2kg he is now a svelte 80.8kg. For the accountants amongst us that a reduction of 11.4kg or 12.68% in just 28 days. Scott has now sworn off alcohol completely and has taken up membership of an ancient tea drinking sect originally introduced to him by Tony. The remainder of the team, particularly Richo, are expected to follow suit.

Second biggest loser and the Doctor's favourite was Mark. Mark has lost 11.1kg to date (10.82%) and like Scott will continue to abstain from alcohol for as long as he possibly can. (I'll take 10 to 1 that this won't extend beyond April). As well as following his doctors instructions to the letter, Mark has demonstrated a remarkable fashion sense during the month of February. If you thought his ties were "out there" you were reminded that there were louder statements to be made when Mark donned his shorts and shirt for the saunter back across the bridge to Waverton. Mark is taking orders for blue and white checked "short" shorts to be worn with blotchy brown T shirts and orange socks, so be quick or you'll miss out.

Despite demonstrating some gritty determination Howie's run for "big loser" was never considered a serious threat. His total loss of 1.5kg is nothing short of woeful (Sorry about that Howie). It doesn't even bear measuring as a percentage. In some respects Howie may in fact be the "biggest loser" - all that effort, all that abstinence and so little (or is it so much?) to show for it.

As with myself, Geoff demonstrated a real lack of commitment to the goals set and potentially a very serious alcohol problem. (Nothing we can't talk about over a few drinks Geoff). We were never a threat to the real losers.

Last of all Tubby. Entered into the competition without his knowledge, he demonstrated an admirable sense of comradery by agreeing to compete, albeit with respect to wine only. Day one revealed that this approach was complete buls#$t. Tubby was never fazed by the attempts by others to deny themselves. He continued to indulge and enjoy. Tubby is our true winner. Congratulations Tubby - the drinks are on you.

It was so successful in fact that it is going to be an annual event. Every February will be the Biggest Loser Challenge. Last year there were 6 contestants, this year there are 45 as they opened it up to the girls, spouses, and staff from other states. So that I don't do my head in with two different official weigh in days I am emailing in my Monday weights to maintain a bit of sanity. The rules are simple.

1. Don't drink for the shortest month of the year, February (bugger with the Sydney get together - I may have to sneak off to the loos to imbibe)
2. Eat well and exercise to lose as much weight as possible (already got my skates on LOL)

The person who drinks the least and loses the greatest % of body weight will be declared the ultimate loser. Prizes will be arranged for the biggest losers.

I think it will be fun and as Mark's work will be putting on a get together for the presentation of prizes it gives me a great opportunity to meet a lot of people that I haven't yet had the opportunity to. So with all these combined challenges, contracts, plans I have built myself quite a net of commitments. And I am LOVING it :D

Posted by Margaret at 8:12:00 am | Permalink | Comments