My Journey

I've often heard the saying "If it's too good to be true - it probably is" and have it built into me to avoid at all costs things that fall under this umbrella. Things like magic diet potions that can turn you from your normal, albiet overweight, self into Elle McPhearson in 5 days with no dieting and exercise. These things still turn my head, and I read all the ads, spam, literature that comes across my desk, but my brain and my heart now understand this is false and I just won't buy into it.

However there are some things that probably fall into the catagory of 'Used To Be' too good to be true that are now coming true and I am finding it hard to break through and accept that I am allowed to have all these things - AT THE SAME TIME.

I am allowed to:
be free of back pain
fit into nice clothes
to enjoy my food
have treats
say no to chocolate
say yes to chocolate
enjoy exercise
have off days
have fantastic days
look good for my age
look good for ANY age
be sexy
be daggy
be myself.

I am taking it one day at a time but I do believe I can have it all. :D

Trackback - 27th April
Points: 22.5
SP: 2
Exercise: None


As a side, my Mum said I was looking 'hip' this morning (do people still use that term LOL) I am wearing my boots (yaaay finally it is cold enough), my black jeans, a black high neck knit top, and over the top of it all my retro type print wrap dress that I bought at TEMT with Mary. Even though wearing dresses over jeans is just, like, so 2004, I seriously think it looks good ;) Wish I had a camera.

Posted by Margaret at 8:27:00 am | Permalink | Comments

Playing around with Virtual Model today (I promise I have done my work first Linda LOL) I saw the difference in what my face and my shape look like in this Virtual Progression. The first shot is where I started at 95kgs. The second is now at 78kgs and the last is where I will be at goal. Even though the differences in the last two are small I think they will be significant and ones I will notice in my clothes. For example, there is more light between the legs, the bust is noticeably smaller, the face looks younger, the lines look leaner. Just wish my body was as lump and bump and flab free as these guys LOL.



I will be taking a similar but 'real' photo for my Now shot before I start my 12 week fitness challenge. After I have finished I will take a real photo for the Goal shot. Then it will be very interesting to see if they look like the above shots at all.

Today has finished on a great note. I have finished all the laundry folding and preparation of Mum's room. Didn't quite get to put all the clothes away but know that I will have time to do that tomorrow after work.

We had the soup with some toast and butter (lite of course) and finished it off with the last of the Strudel and Ice Cream. I feel decadent but satisfied. I feel good. I like feeling good. Remind me of this when I am not feeling good LOL.

And should you not have seen the good news already Philippa has reached her goal. Having done this from home, moving states, going through international holidays, ups & downs with work, and the highs that come with living life the way she wants to, Philippa is a fantastic example of how you can live life and whatever it throws at you, and still lose weight and achieve your goals.

Trackback
Points: 19
SP: 3
Exercise: 4km walk around Balls Head Bay (hard), 30 walk up and down the hallway (medium). Total of 10,156 steps.

Posted by Margaret at 10:10:00 pm | Permalink | Comments

It has been a long time since I could honestly say that I had a lot of energy during the day. The sort of energy that lasts through the dinner/bath/bed routine of the kids and keeps going to allow me to get the house in order before bed. Well during the last couple of days my energy has returned. And I feel like I am positively bouncing around at the moment. And it feels GREAT!

It is easier to get up in the morning. It is easier to focus and make dinner and not pick. It is easier to get those horrid tasks finished today rather than leaving them for tomorrow. It is easier to just put my shoes on and move. I don't know what it is. Whether it is the renewed focus, the good food I am having, the lack of junky food, or the Blackmores Sugar Balance I am trialling, but whatever the cause I am happy for it to continue. I can't remember the last time I was so organised to the point of cooking dinner last night, having dessert (fantastic Mixed Berry & Apple Strudel), and having dinner reading for the next couple of nights as well. We will be having Creamy Bacon & Pumpkin Soup tonight which is an absolute winner on these cold nights. I know I had a day off tomorrow, and one today, and this does make it easier to plan and to get things done, but I am hoping I can keep it going during the rest of the working week too.

Today I am having off to finish up all the laundry and finally get the clean clothes in the wardrobes. I need to clear them all off the spare bed because my Mum is coming to visit us tomorrow and will stay for a couple of weeks. I am so excited. I haven't seen her since Christmas and it will be great to be able to catch up and just hang out together for a while. She will be spending a few days with her very good friend in Emu Plains who flew over to spend a few weeks with Mum when she was recovering in hospital and I think Mum is really excited that she still has the opportunity to come over and spend some time with her too.

So all good things happening here. It is 11:35am and I have been for a 4km walk, I have cooked, I have cleaned and I am going to make myself a delicious lunch (mountain bread wrap with ww cream cheese, smoked salmon, lettuce, cucumber, tomato) and enjoy the next hour in front of the pc reading blogs until I get back into my chores. :D

Posted by Margaret at 11:24:00 am | Permalink | Comments

Serves 4 @ 1 point per serve

Ingredients

1 - 1.2kg pumpkin (any variety)
1 cup water
1 onion, finely chopped
pack ww bacon, finely chopped
2 cups skim milk
1 teaspoon curry powder
freshly ground black pepper

Method

1. Cut up the pumpkin and place in steamer (or pot) with 1 cup water. Cook until soft.
2. Place pumpkin and water in a food processor. Process until smooth.
3.Place onion and bacon in a 2-litre microwave save dish and cook on high for 3 minutes. Add the milk, curry powder, and pumkin. Cook on 70% (medium-high) for 6 minutes or until hot.
4. Return to the food processor and process until smooth.
5. When serving sprinking with black pepper if desired.

My comments

This is an absolute favourite in our house. The whole pot is HUGE and is only 6 points. Serve with salad or vegetables for a low point lunch or with some protein and bread for a substantial meal. Bacon can be omitted for a vegetarian dish.

Posted by Margaret at 11:14:00 am | Permalink | Comments

Serves 6 @ 1.5 points each

Ingredients

425g canned apples
300g bag frozen mixed berries, defrosted
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons caster sugar
4 sheets filo pastry
cooking oil spray
1 tablespoon almond meal
6 scoops WW Vanilla Ice Cream

Method

1. Preheat oven to 190 degrees C. Line base of a baking tray with baking paper. Combine the apples, berries, cinnamon and 1 tablespoon of the sugar in a bowl.
2. Lay one sheet of filo flat on a clean tea towel. Coat with cooking oil spray and sprinkle with almond meal. Repeat with the remaining filo sheets, layering them. Transfer to tray
3. Place fruit mix at one end of the pastry and roll up lengthways to enclose fruit. Cut slits in the top of the roll, coat lightly with cooking oil spray and sprinkle with remaining sugar.
4. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until golden and crisp. Accompany with a scoop of the ice-cream.

My comments

Check that the many month old filo pastry in the freezer is ok to use before you use it. Recipe will still work with filo in little bits and pieces but presentation is not as nice.

Ensure you have 6 people to eat this recipe or cut into 4 and allow 2 points per serve. Is very yummy :D

Posted by Margaret at 11:08:00 am | Permalink | Comments

Fear is not the thing to dread
Disrespect for fear should be feared instead.

During this journey I have to admit to being absolutely shit-scared that something would happen in my life and I would put myself in a situation where I allowed myself to gain back all weight lost and more. This fear, whilst not obsessive, was a way that I ensured I stuck to points, exercised appropriately, and did all the right things. Then I stopped being afraid. I realised that I could keep in control of my food and live my life and still be able to lose weight, or maintain when the time came.

But there is a difference between being unafraid and being blase. I fell into the blase catagory. The "she'll be right" mentallity that can serve well at other times does not always do so with weight loss. Each day I would pick at something extra and say "I'll walk that off" or I would eat something purposefully saying to myself "I deserve that" when really I had no intention of doing anything extra or would conveniently forget that I had to do it. The result of this has been an increase in weight to 78.8 yesterday. This is the weight I will begin with on Paulene's 12 week challenge and for me personally as I now wake up to what I have been doing and refocus.

I am still unafraid about gaining all my weight back. I won't give that fear the power it thinks it deserves, but I have stopped being blase. I UNDERSTAND the consequences of my actions and at the moment the only consequence I will accept is a legitimate weight loss or improvement in shape and/or fitness. So to ensure I get this consequence I have to be prepared to take the actions that will get me that result. And I am. And I am doing it. Every day.

Trackback
Points - 23.5
SP's - 6
Exercise - 30 min walk at Balmoral (easy), Total of 8,771 steps.

Posted by Margaret at 11:05:00 pm | Permalink | Comments

On day 1 of Paulene's 12 week challenge and day 1 of my renewed focus on my food I have remembered so many things that I can't believe I have allowed myself to forget. Like

the taste of a really fresh orange
the feeling of the beads of sweat racing each other down my back after I have finished a walk
the satisfaction that comes with taking back control
the simple joy of making a wrap for lunch with fresh ingredients and LOVING it
the full feeling that comes with drinking enough water (you would think I would remember this one!)
the soreness I get in my legs when I have walked hard
how it is not always simple to say 'no' but it is do-able

And in view of my new simple approach I have reverted to a basic simple Blogger template. The less complicated I make everything the more likely I am to continue with motivation, and gusto, and the more time I have to exercise. I don't think anyone has this exact one but sorry if you think I am copying ;)

I know it is only Day 1 but It's been a good day :D

Trackback
Points - 19
SP's - 1
Exercise - 45 min @ lunch (hard), 20 min walk to and from mall (easy), 25 min walk to Broadway (hard) Total of 15,940 steps.

(Blogger and my pc have both been playing up so I drafted all my posts and posted them when possible)

Posted by Margaret at 10:30:00 pm | Permalink | Comments

I had a great time catching up with Mary and Cath on Saturday and as soon as I saw them the thought popped into my head "why don't I do this more often?" quickly followed by "d'oh because you have kids you silly girl"

I enjoyed the Fitness Expo but was very happy that we did not have to pay to get in. It was not worth paying $17.00 for. That being said I took away one really great piece of information from it. And that was worth the entire visit. And that was that I already have everything I need to success in my weightloss/fitness goals. I have workout DVD's. I have a mini-tramp. I have access to a gym. I have the ability to walk out my front door and find hills, paths, and palks to walk on/in/around. I don't need the latest gadget. I don't need to follow the latest fad. Yes ensuring that I don't get bored is a key to continuing and keeping up my motivation but really I question whether I am bored or lazy sometimes ;D

So armed with bags and bags of information and samples, Mary and I said our farewells to Cath and then sat on the boardwalk around Cockle Bay wharf eating our very sensible, healthy & delicious lunch (yes it is possible for those words to not be mutually exclusive). The sun was beautiful and it was so calm and lazy feeling. Fantastic. Then after Mary hopped on the train home I met up with Mark and the boys by the Opera House and wandered off into the parklands with a couple of balls and flying gizmo's to play with. It was beautiful. There was a great tree that both boys played in and tried to climb. Darcy and I lay on the grass and looked through the canopy of the tree pretending there were Baboons jumping from branch to branch. Darcy insisted they were trying to do poos on us so we kept having to roll out of the way LOL. Oscar kicked the soccer ball around with Mark and I think he was trying to 'pick up' as he kept kicking into a family group where there was a very cute little girl about the same age. *sigh* It begins already LOL.

So all in all, a great weekend.

Oh, and I bought new shoes. I think they are the ugliest pair of shoes ever to be created for a womans foot but after I tried on about 5 pairs I had to admit these were the most comfortable. I only tried on shoes that were specifically for my gait and foot shape and also were for fast walking or running!! so I knew all shoes would be appropriate, but I ended up getting a pair of Adidas Adistar Control Running Shoes. This picture is off the web but my colour is completely different. Imagine grey and lime/green. Should stop me looking at my feet when I run though.



Am very happy it is Monday and looking forward to hitting the gym :D

Posted by Margaret at 9:50:00 am | Permalink | Comments

Today is my Mums birthday and to be honest I never thought she would still be here for me to embarrass myself with another terrible live version of "Happy Birthday" over the phone. But she is. And I did. And she loved it :)

I want to thank everyone for your continued support and concern with my Mum. A few lately have asked how she is and I have grappled with the answer. Not because I don't know it but because I have been a little afraid to say out loud in case I jinx her. But after talking to Mary about it on the weekend I felt really good - and I realise that my saying anything, or nothing, won't affect the way she is.

So how is she? Really good actually. She is now in her 6th month or 4th cycle of treatment. At the end of each treatment cycle she has scans to measure the mass and see if there are any new growths. So far there has been no growth, no changes. Which is excellent. She is in no pain and only infrequently has to take some medication to help her sleep at night. She is still getting out and about but has learned to pace her activities as she does get tired more easily. So instead of Bingo and Cards each week, she alternates. She is quite the social butterfly LOL. Her hair is still there, and whilst it does start to thin by the end of a cycle, it starts to grow back in the 3 weeks she has off before the next cycle begins. In fact the only thing that hurts her sometimes is when they put the needle into her vein to allow treatment. As it is done in her hands, and each successive cycle starts to corrode the veins, it gets harder to get a good line and she ends up with big bruises. The option of putting a line directly into her chest has been discussed and will probably be taken up. She is no bikini model so she is not put off by the asthetics and if it means she can have full use of her hands all the more reason to do it.

So in a nutshell, she is doing well, still has plenty of time to win the lottery and leave it to me before she drops off the perch. ;)

Posted by Margaret at 8:42:00 am | Permalink

It's a Friday and that is a good thing. Even though I know that lifestyle changes don't start 'tomorrow' or 'next week' I am happy to admit that I have made a committment to put these last couple of weeks of excesses behind me and start afresh on Monday. Why Monday? Because I don't like saying tomorrow, or next week (as they invariably never arrive) and on Monday I will have my new shoes. On Monday I will have my food plan for the week in my hot little hands. On Monday I will fill my recently cleaned out tub in the work fridge with all the good things I need. On Monday I will happily go to the gym and crank up the treadmill and see how long it takes me to fall off. On Monday it is my Mum's birthday and if there ever was a better reason to keep on my health and fitness path she is it. On Monday I will have my mind set in a positive frame that will not allow the disruption of my routine to allow me to fail. As much as I LOVE public holidays I have allowed the break to be a huge excuse not to stick to my plan. So now it is over and even though there are holidays coming up they will not interfere with me.

I am really looking forward to going to the Fitness Expo in Sydney tomorrow with Mary and Cath. If you are in Sydney and want to catch up with us we will be meeting at 10.00 (see Mary's blog for more specific info).

Have a wonderful weekend. Especially those who are sneaking away for romantic get-aways with their husbands. You know who you are :D

Posted by Margaret at 10:46:00 am | Permalink | Comments

Whew. With work piling up to the level of the lawn that is currently my armpits LOL (actually ewwwwww. *note to self* Get the whipper snipper out) I have been keeping my head down and bum up. Unfortunately this doesn't do anything for my heartrate or muscles. I will be buying new shoes on the weekend because it is driving me insane that I can't go for a decent sweat inducing walk. INSANE I tell you. So I will ride it out this week and try to minimise any gain caused by inactivity.

Back to it I am afraid. But before I go I did a bit of hunting after my last post started a cross Tasman debate about the proper slang for a Swimsuit. Found this at Australian World Map:

Togs

plural noun a swimming costume. Compare bathers, cossie, cozzie, costume, swimmers, swimsuit.

Contributor's comments: All over Queensland and in New Zealand.

Contributor's comments: As a Queenslander I always used the term "togs" or "swimming togs" but moving from state to state, especially in WA, I have been almost ridiculed by the use of the word - and now I don't know what to call them!

Contributor's comments: 'Togs' was also used in the Top End of the NT, certainly in the 1950s-'70s. None of the other synonyms (bathers, cossie, etc.) was used - we all wore togs when swimming.

Contributor's comments: Togs is basically the only term I've heard used in Queensland for "swimming outfit", despite southerners insisting that we have been known to call them swimmers or bathers. The only other acceptable term is bordies or boardshorts since the demise of DTs.

Contributor's comments: I have lived my 50 years in WA and as kids we always called bathers "cossie" or "togs".

Contributor's comments: My Dad, from Adelaide, mostly uses togs or trunks for "swimming costume". My kids now refer to swimmers as "trogs".

Contributor's comments: I grew up in Qld and togs were what you swam in. On moving to the NT in the mid 70's togs was often used to describe your clothes in general. On moving to SA & then WA there is no way I would use the word outside our home as people look at you as if you have just been beamed down from a passing planet. Swimmers or bathers is now the go.

Contributor's comments: We used to use this term for swimming costumes when I was growing up in South West WA.

Contributor's comments: Intrigued to see your map includes the ACT - where I found that the only people who used 'togs' were Queenslanders, and everyone else used either 'cossie' or 'swimmers'.

Contributor's comments: I grew up in coastal western Victoria, around Lorne in 1950s & 60s. Togs were definitely the only things anyone wore when going swimming.

Contributor's comments: I've heard `togs' very occasionally in Melbourne, but it's usually `bathers', and if someone says `cossie' you know the speaker is a recently arrived Sydneysider.

Contributor's comments: There are an array of words used to describe togs. Possibly more because of the lack of universal acceptance of the alternate names. Common terms used include speedos, DTs (abbreviation of "dick togs"), sluggos, swimmers.

Contributor's comments: You should extend the coverage of this word into northern NSW - down as far as Byron at least. My family are from the Tweed, they & theirs use "togs".

Contributor's comments: Anybody that calls 'swimmers' 'togs' in the Illawarra or Shoalhaven region is likely to have their head punched in.

Contributor's comments: As a Queenslander swimming gear was always called "togs".

Contributor's comments: During my high school years I moved from Ipswich Queensland were "togs" meant swimming attire to a grammar school in Melbourne where "togs" meant any sporting attire. At the very first cricket training we were told to go and get into our togs for training. I was confused so I went slowly to see what others were changing into. Then I put on my cricket clothes when it was obvious the coach didn't want us to go swimming!

Contributor's comments: Since coming to the West Island from NZ, I have (like your other correspondents) almost been ridiculed out of the use of the word "togs" which was used exclusively on the other side of the Tasman when I was a kid. I'd never heard the expression "costume" for what one wore in the water, for example: the first time I was invited to "bring my costume" to a family sporting event, I wondered whether clown or fairy??? I notice that 'cossie' now seems to be fairly common in NZ, but usually in a semi-joking way! "Togs" must still be what everyone thinks of themselves as wearing!

Contributor's comments: In Perth during the 50s and 60s I NEVER heard this term; they were universally "bathers" or "bathing suit" (for girls).

Contributor's comments: Clothes you wear for swimming: "Have you brought your toggs to the beach?"

Contributor's comments: Wrong wrong wrong, togs is most definately not used in Darwin, to use such a term would invoke considerable laughter by the masses and the majority saying ... What!? ... are you a Queenslander or something? After all what is a tog?

Contributor's comments: It was always togs in our family in Geelong. Wasn't till I got to high school and for some weird reason not many other people called them togs. And I changed to calling them bathers to save the embarrasment.

Contributor's comments: Known as togs on King Island in the 60s early 70s.

Contributor's comments: Cossie was the name for swimming costumes when I was growing up in the Riverina, however, my brothers used the term togs for theirs.

Contributor's comments: As a child growing up in Williamstown (postcode 3016) in the 50s & 60s those things you swim in were always called "togs" but now togs is almost a forgotten word and most people I know refer to them as bathers.

Contributor's comments: In Orange all my friends called their swimming gear togs or scungies, for small ones but not shorts or boardies, but my wife from Sydney and our children in Newcastle call them swimmers. Some friends in Victoria call them bathers. Togs could also mean other types of clothes eg: 'sporting togs' for sports uniform, and you were told to get dressed by 'get your togs on, we're going out', etc.

Contributor's comments: 'Grab your togs, we're going swimming', comment used regularly at the height of summer in East Gippsland.

Contributor's comments: I can't believe one of your Riverina contributors called togs "cozzies". In SW Riverina they were always togs, but just across the border in Swan Hill it was also sometimes togs and sometimes bathers. I agree with other contributors that people in Perth seem to find the word togs completely ridiculous. It's such a good word though that I'm not giving it up, despite the protests from the kids.

Contributor's comments: [Melbourne informant] Always used as a slang for bathers in our house, usually when in a hurry - "get your togs on - we're heading down the beach"

Contributor's comments: used in the Brisbane area.

Contributor's comments: I attended a Christian Brothers school in Perth. Most of our teachers were from the eastern states and always referred to bathers (swimming costumes) as togs. Apart from the use of that term at school, I have not heard the expression here in WA.

Contributor's comments: I arrived in Brisbane in 1961 from UK. It was always togs used by everyone I knew. It used to be swimming trunks in UK, but I have never heard that here. I lived at postcodes 4122, 4152 and 4151 for 25 years before coming here.

Contributor's comments: This word is purely a Queensland/ Northern Rivers term - I have not heard it used at all since relocating to NSW and am looked at strangely when I use the term.

Contributor's comments: I grew up in country NSW, of mixed parentage (NSW and Victorian). We all wore togs for swimming. We moved to Queensland in the fifties, and were relieved to find that the incredibly twee expressions "cozzie", "swimmers" and "bathers" were not in use.

Contributor's comments: I am amazed to hear togs described as a Queensland term. I grew up in Melbourne where we always swam in togs (the only other use of the word was in "work togs" for special work clothing). "Bathers" was used only as a very formal term. We were amazed to hear a big boofy Sydneysider use the hilariously effeminate term "cossie". When I moved to Queensland (Mackay and Redcliffe) in the 1980s, togs was unknown except as a rare term for clothes in general. The Queenslanders all wore "swimmers".

Contributor's comments: Funny no mention of togs in Canberra. Coming originally from Sydney/North Coast it was swimming costume or cozzies, but I recall togs creeping in. That seems to be a Melbourne usage, and maybe it came with the big Public Service transfer from Melbourne to Canberra in the '60s. I well remember the first terylene racing swimsuit and, from then on, it was definitely speedos!

Contributor's comments: It's always been togs for me living in Queensland.

Contributor's comments: swimming costume: "Put your togs on for a swim."

Contributor's comments: Swimming costume: "Grab your togs, we're going for a swim."

Contributor's comments: bathers, swimmers... typically said by fathers: "Get your togs on so we can go swim in the dam."

Contributor's comments: As a kid growing up in Richmond in the early 60's, the "only" word to use was togs. I knew of no other at the time. I think that words such as bathers or swimmers came into common usage in later years.

Contributor's comments: Definitely "put your togs on to go for a swim" in Albury, now my children do that in Sydney!

Contributor's comments: In Melbourne in the 1940s and 1950s we used the term togs. My Dad did grow up in a number of places in Australia inclucing Western Australia and Thursday Island. Mum was a Melbourne girl.

Contributor's comments: I was born in Melbourne, Victoria and lived in the Victorian countryside for a few years and have called my swimming clothes - togs - always, I've never used any other word.

Posted by Margaret at 7:27:00 am | Permalink | Comments

One of the things that I am most grateful for at the moment is friends. In a society where not everyone lives with or near their extended families it is heartening to know that friends can step in and fill that void.

This Easter weekend was one of the most busy and most enjoyable I have had in a long time. After thinking we would be spending the whole weekend at home Mark received an invitation from a work colleague for our family to join his at their holiday house in Copacabana on the NSW North Coast on Friday and Saturday. Only his parents would be joining them so would only be a small group. As they had 3 children of their own and Mark got along with his colleague well he accepted. Then told me. To be honest I was extremely nervous about going. I had not met any of these people, yet would be spending two days and one night with them and was most certainly expected to go to the beach with them. I was not sure I would be able to handle that so I purposefully did not pack my bathers. What an idiot!!! They were a lovely family with whom I clicked with straight away. They were our age, grew up and married in Adelaide and moved to Sydney about 10 years ago. Had three great kids who were cheeky but polite and really great with my boys. The wife has lost about the same amount of weight that I have, and has the same amount to go. And when we went to the beach (she in her bikini & sarong, and me in my tracksuit!!) I could see that her body was so similar to mine - and it didn't look that bad. It didn't look that bad. I was such a doofus. I ended up getting in the water with my clothes on and we all laughed about it but I have learned a valuable lesson and I think I am better for it :) After a fun and relaxed couple of days filled with backyard sports, shopping, beaching and walking we said our farewells with the promise to meet up again.

Monday was great fun as a girlfriend and I went to the show. It was fantastic. I sampled every ware in the Food Dome. I sampled every wine available on offer in the 6 or so wine stalls. I got very giggly - as you do, then proceeded to walk very slowly around all the fruit displays, the art and craft, the flowers. Then headed off to the showbag pavilion to battle it out with about a million other people. It was such a scream and without having to worry about children it was wonderful fun. The boys were happy with their showbag and I was happy with mine :D

Now it is a short working week and time to reign in the Easter excesses and recover some ground.. Looking forward to a good week :)

Posted by Margaret at 12:27:00 pm | Permalink | Comments

Whooo Hoooo.

We are in. The team we put together to represent The Big T in the Global Corporate Challenge has been accepted. The Big T are promoting this challenge and had offered to pay half the $700.00 entry fee for the first 3 teams presented, and any others case by case across the business units. As we were first we got in. The teams are made up of 7 so we still each needed to commit to paying $50.00 but as we can do that via payroll deduction it minimised any impact felt by parting with the money. The entry fee gets us a sports bag, pedometer, drink bottle and a host of other sponsers goodies which are a surprise. I LOVE suprises. LOL.

The challenge starts on the 25th May and finishes on 25th October. That's 22 weeks!!! The aim is to do as many steps as possible during each day and enter your steps in their website. The average is taken from all team members and as you walk you progress around the world. If you know of any other teams in it, you can flag them and monitor their progress compared to your own. Perfect for ultra competitive people like me :D All that practice I have had with the Walking With Attitude site will come in handy now. I am going to aim to walk 15,000 a day and as the City to Surf falls within this period I am sure there will be some days where I hit 20,000. Can you tell I am excited about this. :D

And this challenge ties in really well with something else I have been thinking about. On Monday I received an email from my gym with a link to their first newsletter. It was brilliant. Really well laid out, lots of information, great downloads of classes etc. Anyway, they had a section on all of their Personal Trainers and what each person specialises in. I had been thinking about booking a session with a trainer to redo my program so this was good information for me. THEN. They had a discussion article where they talked about '12 week challenges'. They said that it is completely possible to change your body shape and get great results in a 12 week period. Without supplements. Without drugs. And without becoming a body builder. This interests me a lot. Even though I fit into size 12 Witchery jeans (which I am wearing now whoooo hoooo) they give me a very unsightly muffin look which I am covering up with a looser fitting shirt. There is a huge difference between being a flabby size 12 and a toned size 12. I want toned.

I have been thinking a lot about surgery lately. I figured if you cut out my gut and my butt I would be at goal and probably lower. Then I stopped and realised that I have not really made a concerted effort to try and tone up on my own. A couple of half hearted efforts that last a couple of days will not cut it. So I am going to commit to 12 weeks of a committed, monitored program. I am going to hire a treadmill for the 12 weeks so that I can focus on weights and swimming in my lunch times. And I am going to give the gym a list of the goals I want to achieve and get them to choose which trainer would be best suited to helping me achieve these goals. I am going to start on the 15th May which will mean the 12 weeks finish the week before the C2S. This should be perfect as one of my goals will be to jog/run for 5kms.


What I would like to achieve

To be able to jog/run continuously for 5kms
To be able to jog/run without wetting my pants (aaaah the joys of childbirth)
I want to know what my body fat % is and to get it down to a healthier level
I want to tone up the flabby areas of my body which are (but not limited to) my stomach, inner thighs, knees, underarms and bust
I want to have defined muscles, but not be muscle bound
I want to have lean muscles
I want to lift my butt and bust to where they should be

So what I do now after this ramble? I am going to print out the list for the gym and drop it in on Tuesday when I go swimming. I will make an appointment for a couple of weeks prior to kick off date so that I can run through the program and really understand what I am supposed to do. And I will make sure that my little feeble mind does not see the time before the challenge starts as a free for all in the eating department. Because it is not.

I wish everyone a safe and happy Easter break and hope that you all get to spend some quality time with people you love. And a special good luck for Sarah who is getting married tomorrow.

Onwards and forwards :D

Posted by Margaret at 3:01:00 pm | Permalink | Comments

M is for

Monday which is weigh day which showed a loss of 400gms. Now 76.6kgs. I am happy with the loss but extremely annoyed at myself as I know I am eating too much. The exercise is fine. And yes, I am perhaps more hungry because of it but I seemed to have lost the ability to say No to myself when it comes to food. So this week it is back to basics for me. Tracking, planning, water and exercise. I know it is Easter on the weekend but I still have to try.

*******

M is for

Mallory
Valarie
Emily
Meetzahs
Just
Served
Us
Nine hundred and ninety nine
Pizzas

Which is the little ditty by Dr Suess that has been going around and around and around my head as Darcy learns his planets and what order they come in. In case you have forgotten, which I did and have to admit to never knowing off by heart as I do now, they are

Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto

*******

M is for

Madness which reigned supreme at the Kindy Easter Bonnet Parade yesterday. Oscar wore a hat I had made for Darcy when he was two and looked very cute. It was a paper mache (sp) balloon that we had painted to look like a big Easter egg. And after the parade I gladly gave it away to a Mum who expressed great love of the hat. It has been hanging around the laundry for two years and I am happy to see the back of it. Darcy wore his requested balloon hat which ended up being a Wallabies beanie with blown up water bomb balloons pinned all over it. It was hilarious. And easy to make.

*******

M is for

My work load which has gone through the roof this week and for the next two weeks. One of my bosses staff is on leave and I have picked up all the backup work. This will keep me busy busy busy and I must admit I am enjoying the speed of the day. I am also remembering that I have forgotten a lot of the work so all the work processes have come out again. I feel like a newbie. :)

*******

M is for

Me. Who will keep plodding on and who is very happy that the next three weeks are all 4 day working weeks. Whooo Hoooo.:D

Posted by Margaret at 8:30:00 am | Permalink | Comments

You know, it still makes me smile when I get up in the morning and put on my size 12 bonds undies - and they fit. :D

Posted by Margaret at 10:20:00 am | Permalink | Comments

Following on from yesterday, I walked the walk today and made it from work to Broadway in 28 minutes. (I would have taken longer doing it on my head but chose to use my feet - thanks Sue LOL). And I beat the bus I would have caught at Central so was very pleased with that. Am thinking about walking into work now but will see if I can beat that very silly idea out of my head by morning.

***

In the last few weeks there have been a lot of bloggers in Melbourne, Michelle, Ails, Jadey, & Beki to name a few who have done the Kokoda Memorial Trail stair climb. And even though it is 1,000 steps of a seemingly agonising climb I have been secretly (and not so secretly) jealous that I don't have 1,000 steps of my own to climb in such beautiful surroundings. Then Linda posted about her climb at Mt Warning and that was it. I went off on a serious Google mission to find my own. And find it I did.

The Blue Mountains are a magnificent part of our Country and are riddled with walks of all gradings and lengths. I found a brilliant site which lists all walks, with their gradings, accesses, expected timings, lengths and what sort of views etc to expect on the way (listed below). Mark and I will go in the next couple of weekends and take the boys on their first bush walk. We will tackle an easy to medium walk of about 2 hours. As we will both be walking with the boys in backpacks (12kgs & 18kgs respectively) we think this will be a good place to start. Then I will plan to tackle the Giant Stairway. One of the girls at work said she would come with me and I think it would be great to go it as a group. I have 3 other seats in the car that I can fill so will let all know when I am going and anyone who is interested in coming along for the drive/walk/drive is more than welcome. Please provide own first aid and resuscitation kits. Only kidding. I am sure they have them there. Well at least I hope so LOL. I thought it a good walk as it is downhill to start and if you feel you can't make it up there is a railway to take you back up. Though I plan to walk it back.

But before I do I will have to go and buy new shoes as the special blister bandaids I bought weren't worth the money it cost me as not only did it not protect the blisters I already had but when I peeled my socks off tonight the bandaid had a huge hole in the middle where a brand new blister has appeared. Dagnabbit !! Will have to survey my shoe collection to see if I have anything suitable to walk home in tomorrow. Perhaps a pair of backless Ferragamo's ;D




Blue Mountain Links

The Giant Stairway

List of Popular Bushwalks

Specific information on a few of the walks

Posted by Margaret at 8:05:00 pm | Permalink | Comments

I like the show Myth Busters where they take an everyday thought or myth and break it apart until it is either proven or completely demolished. Today I busted a myth of my own!

As has become my habit I now walk to Central before getting on a bus to Broadway. Broadway is not that far away but somewhere in the deep recesses of my mind I figured it was quicker to go by bus which gave me that time I needed to do a bit of grocery shopping before I picked up the boys. I was happy because I was getting that little extra incidental exercise in, but still sticking to my time schedule.

Well.

Today I walked with JC as she has decided to start walking from work to Ashfield. She'll start off slow and then increase the distance until she can walk the entire 10kms. Apparently my little jaunt over the bridge has inspired her. So we walk to Central together then I get on the bus and off she strides. When I got off the bus at Broadway and walked back to the main intersection to cross the road I bumped straight into her... It took the SAME time to walk up that damn hill as it did to catch the bus. And I thought the bus had moved quickly tonight. Not too many traffic lights. So with that myth well and truly busted I have now set myself up for walking all the way to Broadway each evening - except when I walk home of course. In fairness it is only a 25 - 30 minute walk so I should be able to do it standing on my head, and with the cooler weather heading our way it probably would be a lot more comfortable to walk with my sweats on rather than my uniform. All in all a win win situation I think :D

Posted by Margaret at 8:50:00 pm | Permalink | Comments

Happy Anniversary to me,
Happy Anniversary to me,
Happy 1 year on this weight loss journey anniversary to M,
Happy Anniversary to me.

Today I could concentrate on the fact that I am not yet at goal after 1 year (12 months, 52 weeks, 364.25 days). I could concentrate on the fact that my weight loss over this period averaged out at 356gms per week after initially starting out at 1kgs per week. I could bemoan the fact that I am still going. But I won't

I will CELEBRATE the fact that I am still going.

I will celebrate that I :

am 18.5kgs (40.7lbs) less than when I started
have lost 19.37% of my body weight
now wear size 12 witchery jeans instead of either size 18 maternity jeans or size 36 mens.
look younger today than I did one year ago
have got off the bus opposite McDonalds every morning for a year and have not gone in there once for breakfast
have noticed the girls starting to perk up again after all the gym work I have been doing
can notice muscle definition in my arms and in my torso
can keep up with the fast ladies
have met new people I am proud to call my friends
am not afraid to do things and go places I would not have thought to do before
have taken ownership for myself and have taken steps to get fitter and healthier
can make an informed decision about food
know a binge or a blowout occassionally does not undo all the work I have done
am able to keep going, through ups and downs, great days and not so great days - I can just keep going.

And keep going is what I am going to do.
With a great big smile on my face :D

Happy anniversary to me, and if I keep losing weight at my average I will reach goal in as little as 27 weeks and I am prepared to take that long to be the best I can be (thought if it comes by quicker I won't be complaining LOL)

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

No not my weight - that must stay down - forever, FOREVER. LOL

I had the best start to the weekend ever. DH took DS1 off to tennis whilst I packed up the goodie bag to take to Jodies. My theory was that if I packed enough enticing food and games and toys for the boys, then they would leave us alone for at least 5 minutes to have an adult conversation. I put in sandwiches, sausages, fruit (nectarines, grapes, watermelon, rockmelon), fruit bars, cheese sticks and little muffins. And I super filled a bag of toys to keep them entertained for hours. Or so I thought. It always takes a visit to another house to make me realise how talkative, inquisitive, exhasperating my two boys are. Jodie was the most gracious host and did not make me feel like we invaded her home (which we did) and we had a great time. I am so grateful that she invited us into her home, in the midst of her own eventful week (she can fill you in on this) and we spent quite a few hours talking, looking at baby stuff and more talking. And oh, if you ever go there for a meal, pre-order the baked potatoes - yummmm, though it comes with a word of warning, it is very hard to stop at six. ;D

When I drove out the driveway I thought I would have a nice peaceful drive home as I was certain my two would be asleep by the time I turned the first corner and I could drive the rest of the way without listening to Aladin for the millionth time. I could not be more wrong. Only 10 minutes in and DS1 started complaining of having a sore stomach. Sore to the point where he started screaming and crying. Then he would calm down and start to fall asleep before it all started again. I pulled into a servo to get some lemonade hoping it would cause him to burp and perhaps release some gas but that didn't work. I rang DH and made arrangements to collect him and head to the Dr's. I am not normally a panicked person but the sounds coming out of this young child was almost more than I could bear. By the time we reached the clinic DS2 had fallen asleep so DH and DS1 headed in. 5 minutes they were back with instructions to go to North Shore Hospital Emergency to request an apendicidis check. So off we went and OMG was emergency busy. 5.00pm on a Saturday and all the sporting injuries were in. A busted arm courtesy of netball, a broken wrist courtesy of soccer, and a broken ankle courtesy of rugby. That's it my kids are playing chess!!

We were taken out of the main waiting room pretty quickly and into the childrens emergency waiting room. After a few questions and prods and instructions to get a sample we were left alone. For 4 and a half hours. 4.5 hours of reading stories. 4.5 hours of keeping DS2 (who is 19 months old) entertained by competing in a "who can jump higher contest". 4.5 hours of being asked "can I eat something soon please" to which the reply was always "we need to see a Dr first to see if it is OK". 4.5 hours of numerous trips to the toilet as T.O.M. hit unexpectedly and I was unprepared (isn't it always the way). Anyway I digress, I was never more proud of my boys as they played, read, and actually behaved themselves so well during this time. After 4.5 (that .5 is very important!!) hours had passed and the Dr had not yet come to see us, DS1 had not complained of pain for more than 2 hours and I made an executive decision that we were going home. I explained to the Nurse that I felt DS1 was OK now and unless the urine sample we sent in had something wrong with it we were leaving. She checked the form and said it was all fine - thanks and have a good night.

Please don't get me wrong. I am extraordinarily happy that I have access to a good hospital, and nurses, and doctors. I just think there is something amiss with the system that allows only 1 Doctor on, in the childrens emergency section at a time. By the time we left our section was very full and after I advised another mother her cardigan was on inside out we said goodbyes and wished them luck. I think they were in for a long night. We, on the other hand, headed straight for McDonalds (for the boys of course - we ordered pizza LOL) and went home for a very late night.

So that was the down bit. The up bit was getting to enjoy every second of todays Autumn weather. What a cracker. 23degrees. Sunny. Little bit of wind. The perfect day to go to the beach for a brisk walk, hit the shops for some wool (DS1 loved the crochetted rug at Jodies and placed his order for one in Buzz Lightyear colours), put together a flat pack IKEA shelving unit and watched the Australian Grand Prix. Yep it was a top day :D

*** Edit

Blogger has been playing up for me lately and I am finding quite a few blogs that I read I am unable to comment on. Sometimes I can't comment at all and sometimes I can only comment if there has been a comment left already. It is really strange. So if I have your email address you will see my comments there until Blogger settles down.

Posted by Margaret at 8:55:00 pm | Permalink | Comments