24th February - On The DL

Ok...Mike says to me this morning - so you're on the DL...I didnt know what he meant...but The DL is the baseball term for the injured list...and he should know - hes played baseball most of his life!

And yes - Im on the DL.

I have been to the physio and she feels that I have over extended and have inflamed L 3, 4 and 5 and that was probably done by making my low impact aerobics a high impact session...that coupled with the fact that I already had an unstable spine (bulging disc in L5 S1)was kinda asking for trouble.

Where does that leave me - that leaves me needing to see her again a week Friday and then spending some regular time getting my back together again. I will be able to work out before then but I have neglected my back so much its going to take time.

So I am taking it easy whilst the inflammation goes away - lots of heat, lots of water (drinking that is) and rest. Which sucks.

Mike is doing wonderfully well and we now weigh the same! So now he is going to over take me!!!! I have been super careful about my diet whilst I cant move - so thats the only control I have at the minute.

But better to get it seen to then suffer and make it worse....

23rd February - Ouch!

Ok - I havent blogged for a few days so that naughty. but you will be happy to know I have been a good girl.

I have done aerobics Friday, Saturday and Sunday and even went out for dinner on Saturday night and have managed to loose that weight and some more on top :)

I weighed in this morning at another 700gms down - putting my weight loss at 7.7kgs. Thats great! I know its not my official weigh in but I thought I would check the scales after the weekend.

On a downer note though I have hurt my back. I live with a constant amount of back pain - I have a bulging disc at L5 S1. But I did something doing aerobics last night and now Im in alot of pain. I have a physio booked for this afternoon - which is a really positive step for me. Usually I dont go and just pray it goes away - but as a commitment to my health I am going this afternoon at 420pm. Hopefully they will be able to do something because it really hurts :(

Im also hoping they can do something because I cant afford major time out from working out. I dont want to put the weight back on.

So I will let you all know how I go. In the meantime its wheat packs and Voltaren tablets.

I hope you are all traveling well and I just love hearing about your successes...leave me a comment and let me know how you are going :)

19th February - An Uphill Battle

This week has been hard yakka - I have had alot going on IRL and its taken its toll. I have been good on the eating side - just the exercise side has slipped by one day. I have just worked out now and let me tell you working out after dinner is NO FUN...I burped tacos the whole way through....But I did it and thats all that counts. I didnt exercise yesterday as I went to Perth and so thats the one day that's slipped.

I will work out as normal over the weekend and start the new week a fresh.

But TGIF...let me tell you.

17th February - Blergh

Two words

Fat - Day

Feel like hibernating.

Forcing myself to work out at lunch time.

Blergh.

16th February - Check in Day

Here are my stats from last fortnight:

Check In - February 2nd
Bust: 123cm -7cm
Waist: 119cm -14cm
Hips: 123cm -14cm
Upper Arm: 35cm -9cm
Thigh: 63.5cm -10.5cm
(minus figures are a running total.)

And I had lost a total of 4.2kgs.

These are my stats today:

Check In - February 16th
Bust: 119cm -11cm
Waist: 117cm -16cm
Hips: 120 1/2cm -16 1/2cm
Upper Arm: 35cm -9cm
Thigh: 63cm -11cm
(minus figures are a running total.)

And I have also lost - in the last two weeks - another 2.8 kilos - making my total weight loss 7kgs and a total of 63.5cms off my body.

I am so happy with this fortnights results! I know Im on the right track!

Congratulations To YOU!

Here I am going on and on about myself and I have forgotten to congratulated all of you! Plenty of you have touched base with me and told me that you have been inspired or decided to get moving from what you have read here. I think thats wonderful and I love hearing all about your amazing work...

So well dont to you all - you keep me inspired with your amazing work ..


xxx

Goal Re-Evaluation

I have been thinking about my goals and in particular my exercise goals. I have found that as I have moved into a regular routine - and one for life - that I am perhaps not built for, motivated towards and in need of the outcomes I set originally.

For example running. I am not in the position at the moment to take on running again - and I have discovered those through the exercises I have been doing. I mean - I can run...but with a bulging disc and a few more changes attributed to babies I dont think I am in the same physical zone that I was to be running. I also used running as an express to loosing weight. Not something I want to do now.

Here is what I wrote in the beginning:

Exercise Goals

Main Goal

To exercise at a rate which burns fat for 60 minutes 6 days a week with one rest day a week.

To be able to run 12kms a day again.

Half Way Goal

To be exercising for 30 minutes 6 times a week.
To be able to run 6kms a day by my birthday - 3 June.

Mini Goal

To exercise for 30 minutes a day at a rate which will burn fat 4 times a week.

These exercises can include walking, swimming and aerobics.

So....I think we can all agree that I have reached and maintained my mini goal - even with having missed three days this week I completed 4 days with 30 minutes of fat burning exercise.

So thats wonderful!!!!

Now my half way goals is to be exercising for 30 minutes 6 times a week and to be able to run 6kms a day by my birthday - 3 June.

Ok - well Im not too far off obtaining the first part but Im not sure about the running - I may be able to run 6kms on a treadmill - but certainly not road running.

And the my main goal is to exercise at a rate which burns fat for 60 minutes 6 days a week with one rest day a week and to be able to run 12kms a day again.

Again I confident I can do the first half but the running again is perhaps not so.

So I am going to make the running goals optional. I would like to start treadmill work and at the end of this school term I am going to join the gym here in town so who knows...maybe I will. But I am happy to make them optional.

Ok here are my weight goals.

Main Goal:

Lose 40 kilos in 52 weeks.

Achieve a BMI of 30 (or lower)

Reduce clothing size to a size 16-18 (or lower)

Reduce my waist to 100cms or lower (80cm is desired)

To reduce my blood pressure to a normal range of approximately 120/80. This may need to be checked routinely by GP.

Halfway Goal

To have lost 20 kilos by my birthday - June 3rd.

10% Weight Loss Goal

11.7kgs

Once mini goal is met then reset to another mini goal.

Rewards
Upon reaching mini goal - a full body massage at local massage centre.

So I think I am traveling well towards these and I am still happy with them.. Currently I am about 4.5kgs off my mini goal and I think that in the time frame I have been doing this that is an excellent and healthy achievement.

Only 4.5kgs away from a massage LOL.

I would like to be 100kgs or less by my birthday - that would be nice...and thats 10.2kgs away. I also have a wedding to go to in July and I am going to buy a new outfit for that as a celebration of weight loss and the marriage! So I look forward to seeing what my weight will be by then!

All in all I think I am traveling very well.

14th February - Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day to those of you so inclined...me not so much so - bit commercial in my opinion LOL.

I went and spent Saturday overnight with my inlaws as Mike had cricket in a town far far away so it was a nice opportunity to spend some time with family and not sitting here in the hot all day! Having said that I did not exercise and I ate too much! So today I have been super careful what I have eaten and I have just completed my exercise aerobics video - and I found it a little hard LOL

I have managed to miss 3 days this week so far and that doesnt thrill me. But I guess yesterday couldn't be helped - although I completely forgot that they have a tread mill in the garage....next time I will use that.

I have also this weekend tried that rye/pumpernickel bread that you get and I am going to have to say that I didnt like it. I am pretty open to new and healthy foods but I cant seem to get my head around the taste of this one. I didnt like it at all. But thats ok - I have tried it!

So tomorrow is circuit and thats always a monster workout - I love it to bits. Then weigh in day. Fingers crossed I do good :)

11th February - Water Aerobics!

I had a day off exercise yesterday - I am finding Wednesday is a good day to have off.... I need it after circuit and badminton.

Today I have done water aerobics and I challenged myself to the hilt today. We did interval training. I did the running on the spot with my feet off the ground which is the hardest position you can do and I also chose to do it all in deeper water. I am really enjoying the water aerobics and I am finding in particular this week - it more of a challenge...so thats great.

Tomorrow will be home aerobics and over the weekend I must get in some yoga as it has been a week.

I have trialed some new pasta tonight - its made from buckwheat and it is very nice. Mike thinks it interesting! I enjoyed it and its a low GI carb which will release slowly.

I have been having tuna at lunch tome which is nice too.

I have been weighing myself but Im not going to say what I am until Tuesday - but Im happy with the direction LOL

9th January - Busy Busy Busy

Phew - stop this train and let me off!

Things have been super hectic around here as we settle into out routines.

I had circuit traing yesterday and was super happy with the effort I put in. I wuld have to say thats its about the best workout I actually get all week. I managed to run and keep up with the cardio this week without busting a lung which was great and I actually sprinted...can you believe it! Note to self - get a better sports bra LOL.

I hurt a groin muscle on the last sprint so I iced it for the rest of the day and I pulled up great this morning.

Today was badminton and whilst its not the most strenuous of workouts its certainly a good morning and I have alot of friends there too. This afternoon was Laineys first swimming lesson so it was nice to get into the pool.

Tomorrow is aerobics and then maybe some yoga in the evening.

I have been eating really well too and really find the reintroduction of carbs has been a good move. I am less hungry and feel better for it.

I have been trying really hard to watch my food as I am watching the scales fall. I keep egging myself on and people are starting to notice too. On another note all my jocks are too big for me LOL as are pretty much all my clothes.

On a downer note I havent spoken to my family for about 8 weeks now and I havent seen them since August 09. My mother always always rode me about loosing weight and I wonder what she would say now that I have lost some and are looking so well. Not that I have done this for her - believe me shes the last person I would do it for - but I would love to go "see told you I could". Ok enough spite - its unhealthy.

Onwards and upwards.

7th January - Blink And You Miss It

Well that's another weekend down.

I didnt do any exercise yesterday (Saturday) as I was feeling a little off. I think that when I have been doing abdo work I have strained my already sore neck and I had a bit of a headache to be honest. Felt a bit ick...and plus I had a very over tired son who had completed a first week of school - he needed alot of attention.

Today I completed an aerobics routine - I did it this evening as we had a birthday party to go to at lunch time. It was an ok workout - more like "well I had to do that!" But Im showered and done now and I feel great for it.

We went to this party and I was very good. I just ate a plate of food and had one piece of cake - lots off the fruit platter and only three softies in three hours. Pretty good I think. And besides it was good for the soul being with friends!

I happy with how things worked out exercise wise this week - lets check it out:

Monday - circuit training
Tuesday -badminton and and yoga
Wednesday - rest day
Thursday - water aerobics
Friday - aerobics.
Saturday - rest
Sunday - aerobics.

I think thats pretty good!

Circuit and water aerobics only go for another 7 weeks so after that I am going to join the gym and go three times a week - twice during the week and once on the weekend I think. It will cost me the same as the classes and be a variety.

So it all looks great - as does my husband - he has lost about 4 kilos and goes to the gym just about every night! Hes amazing! I am very proud of him :)

5th February - The End of A Long Week

Blergh what a week - ups and downs for sure! But I survived and now its the weekend!

This week I reassessed my carb intake and strongly believe it was inadequate. So I am increasing that with healthy carb choices. We are also trialing a new breakfast cereal - Kelloggs Guardian. I like it - I think its sweet! We are also trialling new milk and butter with plant sterols which can reduce your cholesterol by 15%. So we will see if prolonged use helps.

I also purchased a large amount of fish to eat in the next fortnight. We have a fish truck which comes to town and sells frozen fish. I have heard very good reports so I am looking forward to it. I also bought 1/2 kilo of prawns as a treat - Im the only one who eats them!

My exercise for the week was:

Monday - circuit training
Tuesday -badminton and and yoga
Wednesday - rest day
Thursday - water aerobics
Friday - aerobics.

I still have Saturday and Sunday to come. I think I will more than likely walk on Sunday morning and probably do yoga tomorrow. That seems like a good mix for the week.

Update

About and hour ago the whole world was coming to an end....now after a sensible dinner Im a happy girl....its definitely something to do with the proportion of food groups. must add some healthy carbs into my diet again or else....

HELP....

Ok - heres the thing...Im slipping.

Today I have not done any exercises and that's fine - I was allowing myself to have the day off. Im sore and tired and I need to have a rest day every now and again.

But its the food thing.....Im slipping ....see now Im not eating snacks - so I get hungry and lightheaded and that doesn't help. I just made Mike and Jacks lunches for tomorrow and basically had a second lunch myself. What the fuck is that all about. Maybe Im not eating enough carbs or enough protein to accommodate for no carbs to get me through the afternoon. Its like the retraining with the exercise thing...I would reduce my food intake to bare minimum...literally the smallest amount I could eat...and then exercise my guts out. I feel I am reducing that intake now again sub consciously.

And the there is my period...FROM HELL... I came off the pill a while ago (no not to get pregnant just to feel better) and my periods have been slightly touch and go..so this one is massive - so heavy and just blergh. So I am sure that I am feeling some side effects of that - I feel tired and drained - you know what its like....but thats no excuse to binge and not exercise.

I feel lost. Its moments like these the 4.2 kilos I have lost feel like nothing as opposed to how great it felt the other day. I feel like my success is once again slipping out of my hands. Im scared Im going to end up like I was before. I need some focus - I need to ave some balance.

I think I need to reread my Portion Perfect book...maybe cutting the carbs out was not a good idea for me. Mikes doc reckons its the only way to loose weight.....

I felt really good before and I felt like I was making headway...maybe it is the carb thing.....

There is also the option of seeing a nutritionist/dietitian. Maybe thats what I need.

I just cant fail this time.

Ho Hum

2nd February - Check In Day

Here are my numbers as of this morning:

Last Check In - December 29th 09
Bust: 128cm -2cm
Waist: 129cm -3cm
Hips: 133cm -4cm
Upper Arm: 38cm -6cm
Thigh: 72 1/2cm -1/2cm

Check In - January 19th 10
Bust: 123cm -5cm
Waist: 121cm -8cm
Hips: 124cm -9cm
Upper Arm: 35cm -3cm
Thigh: 65cm -7.5cm
(minus figures from the last check in )

Check In - February 2nd
Bust: 123cm -7cm
Waist: 119cm -14cm
Hips: 123cm -14cm
Upper Arm: 35cm -9cm
Thigh: 63.5cm -10.5cm
(minus figures are a running total.)

I have also now lost 4.2 kilos - thats 1.19 kilos since my last check in.

I have now lost a total of 55.5cms off my body.

I know I should be happy but I wont lie - I would have liked more...but you see this is where I have to change my mindset. In the past I would go on diets to reach a goal - get pregnant, fit into a wedding dress yadda yadda yadda...so I did what ever it took to get to that weight - well nothing silly though...

So I know that 4.2 kilos over 52 days is awesome ...its sustainable and its healthy. It sets me up for great long term success.

I also find today I am tired and sore and a little light headed. Thats because I have dont so much exercise that my body is crying out for some rest. Im not necessarily tired but my body is....and that's something else from previous attempts. I have to move at every single possibility. At my peak when I was loosing weight to get pregnant I ran 6kms in the morning, did aerobics at lunch time and ran again at night. Not healthy. So last night I should have simply sat on my ass instead of pushing myself through a yoga routine. And tonight I will - I played baddy this morning so I dont need to do anything else. And tomorrow I am going to do nothing. My body needs it and I dont need injury or aches and pains turning me off.

I need balance - its a marathon not a sprint.

1st February - Circuit Class...Oh My Gosh...

Today Jack started full time school and I started a new circuit class. Jack had a great day - I had a hard class.

Before that though I walked Jack to school - a nice amble down to school and then I drove my car home (Mike drove it and went in early).

Oh my...I was not prepared for that. The stations had four exercises (there were 4 ) and after each station you had to run for two minutes. Each station had a cardio, core, muscle strengthening and something else (Im blanking it out LOL) and they were great. But I went a little hard on the running thing and you know when your chest burns and then you get that cough...yes that happened to me!

Im a little sore but very enthusiastic. I really like the difference and you know what - I know I said Im a lone wolf when it comes to exercise but I really enjoyed having people around for a change. So a nice change all around. And Lainey was so well behaved...its a class designed for mums with small kids and so there were other kids there for her to play with.

I also managed to squeeze in some yoga tonight - just to stretch out those aching muscles!

Weigh in day tomorrow!