A Timely Reminder for Myself.....

My First Mini Triathlon

The triathletes

Yesterday we were up at sparrow's fart (5am) and off to Albert Park Lake for the Pink Triathlon, all in support for the Breast Cancer Foundation.  The day started off with plenty of rain, but it thankfully cleared for us.  Paige took part in the Kids' Tri and she did so well for her first time.  It was so cute to see her get so nervous!  Unfortunately she had to walk the run leg of the race, as she had a stitch (or in her words "I'm dying").  She was pleased as punch with her medal.

Paige crossing the finish line

Dayna, Bec, and Nicole, all fellow 12wbters and girls we work out with regularly participated in the long course of the Tri, as well as Rachel and other 12wbters, and they all smashed it!  So very very proud of them!

It was then time for my short course Tri, and I must admit I felt ridiculous standing there ready to get into the water of the pool.  I am a terrible swimmer, so this was the leg of the race I was dreading.  It was nice to be in the company of other women of all ages & sizes, but I still felt like a fool for even thinking I could attempt this.  After a less than graceful entry to the pool, I struggled with swimming amongst so many people.  I kept kicking people & gulping down water.  It wasn't until I was about to get out of the pool that I realised I had entered the water as one of the first in the group, but I was getting out the water one of the last.

Smiling, not drowing

Note to self - LEARN TO SWIM PROPERLY!!!  I am going to get swimming lessons for myself this year!!!

I walked/jogged to the transition area & dried myself and changed my clothes.  It was then on to the bike - the one part of the leg I was confident I could smash it in.  How wrong I was.  Having sold my bike last week, I was on a borrowed bike, but unfortunately the gears didn't work & it was stuck in a low gear. My legs were going a million miles an hour & I just couldn't get up a good pace at all.  It was so disheartening as everyone passed me and I almost felt like giving up at that stage.  Greg and the two older kids were there cheering me on & supporting me which lifted my spirits as I finally came into the next transition stage from bike to run.

ARGH no gears!

I knew I wouldn't be very good in this leg of the race because of my ankle, but my breathing was good and I joffled (jogged/shuffled) along the track, with Callum running along side me for support.  Unfortunately I got a stitch that I tried to walk out, but it just wasn't easing, so I kept jogging, walking, jogging until the finish line.  I kept repeating to myself over & over "How much do you want this?" I crossed the line - I had done it!  I had finished!  Who would have thought 6 years ago, when I was unsure whether I would be able to walk unaided after the car accident, that I would be competing in a mini tri!!!

Dayna, Bec, Me, Rachel, Nicole and Paige

I was disappointed in my overall performance.  I hadn't trained for it, and I know I should have.  But it's a starting point, and now I know what to expect.  I will learn to swim this year.  I will have a new bike soon (I've put it on layby already), and I will be 30+kgs lighter next year than I am this year.  I will do the long course in 2014 and I will smash it.

Just call me Triathlete!  haha!!!

12wbt Round 1 2013 - My Commitment

Every round we have some preseason tasks we have to complete on the 12wbt, such as cleaning out our pantry, gearing up for exercise, setting goals, just to name a few.  The big task though, is "saying it out loud".  Michelle asks us to be women/man of our word, and make a commitment to ourselves for the 12 weeks.

So, here is my commitment to myself for Round 1 2013 starting on February 11th.... Bring it on!!

My commitment is to follow the 12wbt by utilising the tools Michelle gives me. I will eat clean, train hard, and be honest to myself. I will support my husband 100% on his 12wbt journey and together we will continue to guide our 4 children to live a healthier and more active lifestyle. I will stay off wine for the duration of the 12 weeks. I will work HARD at becoming the best version of myself and I WILL lose 15+kgs this round, whilst becoming fitter and healthier.

How Much Do I Want It???

This week I've seen a lot of posts from people I've met through the 12wbt and they've shared some amazing before and after photos.  One of them in particular was from the amazing Kate, who shared some photos of herself 10 weeks apart (the start of this 12wbt round & this week).  Others were of photos from when they began 12wbt last year & their current photos, but let me just say that some of these transformations (for want of a better word) are bloody AMAZING!!!  I love that people share these personal photos of themselves, as they are so bloody inspiring!  And Kate, you have inspired me today to push myself that little bit harder. 

Bunless Burger with bacon - YUMMO!

Thinking of Kate's pictures, I asked myself this morning "How much do you want it?".  How much do I want to be in double digits for the Finale party in Brisbane.  How much do I want to shed this weight & be fit & strong & lean & healthy?  How much do I want to look good and feel good?  I know I can push myself harder.  I know that I am just coasting along with it.  

Yesterday I didn't exercise.  I had planned to, but it ended up getting to late into the evening & I chose grocery shopping childfree rather than exercising. Sure enough, we are allowed a rest day a week, but still I was disappointed in myself.  I can't guarantee that it won't happen again, but I'm going to bloody well try not to get so lazy about exercise.  I got up this morning & smashed out 593cals on the xtrainer & doing the January challenges and I feel so fantastic for it!

Yesterday's weigh in saw a loss of 1.1kgs.  I'm now 103kgs, and it is a BIG ask trying to make my goal of under 100kgs in 2 weeks but I am going to push it.  I CAN do it if I put my mind to it!!!  I am still indecisive about whether Accelerator day is any good on a Monday or Tuesday, or whether it serves any purpose at all.  Will keep with it on Mondays & see how the next 2 weeks go.  I can say that no having any carbs for a day is SHIT!!!  

Oh, and of course I have the Pinky Tri coming up this Sunday.  GOD HELP ME!  I feel sick just thinking about it.  I sold my bike last night (as I want to upgrade), so that poses a little problem of what I will be riding.  AND I've just roped my two older kids into doing the kids triathlon as well.  Makes for a much more exciting day now!!!

Onwards & downwards..

It Doesn't Rain, It Pours....

...or that's how I am feeling at the moment in regards to my health.  The period before Christmas was just a blur to me, and I have started feeling guilty about the fact I did not enjoy the Christmas period with the kids as much as I usually do.  Because of the Ross River Virus, I didn't get to take them into the city to see the Myer Melbourne Christmas Windows.  I didn't get to take them to ride the Christmas train & see Santa (instead Santa photo was done at our local shopping centre).  They didn't see the Christmas decorations and lights around the city of Melbourne.  I just didn't have the usual Christmas "joy" I have because I was sick, and I feel so very guilty for not making it a magical time for the kids as I do every Christmas.  Ah, the joys of "Mummy guilt"!!!

Brush your teeth kids!

The gum with the big hole!!!

Then I broke a tooth, and mixed with fear of the dentist, and the dread of the cost associated with it, I put off the inevitable trip to the dentist until we returned from holidays last week.  The 2 weeks of holidays were spent in constant pain as the hole in the tooth grew & the nerve became exposed.  I was happy to have the tooth removed and looked forward to no more tooth pain.  How wrong I was!  I ended up with a "Dry Socket" (alveolar osteitis) where the blood does not clot & heal the gum and the jaw bone is left exposed.  ARGH the pain!!!!   However, today I made sure I was at the dentist the moment it opened, and all should be on the mend now.

And I hereby rule the rest of 2013 as a HEALTHY and FIT one for me!!!!!

I've been going great guns with the 12wbt the last week and the scales are showing my great work.  I may just make that double digits goal by Brisbane!!!  WHOO HOO!  I've worked the last 4 days, but managed to exercise most days & push myself really hard.  Both Greg and I are off the wine, and although I can't say I don't miss it (nothing beats a nice cold glass of white when the kids are in bed), I am enjoying being back in the "zone".  It was nice to return to work after 3 weeks away & have people commenting on how much weight I've lost.  Little do they realise I haven't really lost anything since they've last seen me, but it must make an absence for them to "really" see the weightloss that has been before their eyes all along.

Hello Baby!!!!

Last week saw the return of the "Accelerator Day" to the 12wbt.  Mish introduces this day into the last 3 weeks of the round to give weight loss a little boost.   It's a day of no carbs and no fruit.  It's on the Tuesday of the rounds, but quite surprisingly both Greg and I have not seen any benefit to it over the last 2 rounds we've done.  We've actually seen the scales drop a day later on the Thursday, so this round we've decided that we'll give it a go doing our Accelerator Day on a Monday so I will let you know of the results.  We didn't do it last week due to being on holidays.  Today we have bacon, eggs, baked beans & tomato for brekkie, Salad & tuna for lunch, and a bunless burger (burger on a field mushroom) for dinner.

After using the xtrainer at the gym on holidays, I realised how much I really love it, so spent a day cleaning out our study that had become a dumping ground over the Christmas/new year period.  Time to rekindle my relationship with my darling xtrainer!

Next Sunday is the Pinky Tri.  I honestly don't know what I was thinking when I signed up for this!  I am doing the short course, which is a 100m swim, 3km ride & 1km run.  Seriously, not a long distance at all.  The ride & run I am not worried about, but the swim really has me nervous - I am so not a swimmer! And then of course I have the worry about what I am going to wear to swim in!?!?!?  Geez!!

So, a busy week of exercise, good clean eating & kids on holidays.

Onwards & downwards.....

Home Sweet Home, and Back to the Grindstone...

We took our scales away with us on holidays.  I weighed in a day late as I forgot on the Wednesday & had been for a walk & consumed two bottles of water by the time I weighed myself.  I was happy with a loss of 300gms, weighing in at 104.4kgs, considering I hadn't been watching what I ate and had been drinking each day.  The difference to this holiday being that I kept up with the exercising!The caravan park is now equipped with an awesome new gym.  It has a xtrainer, rowing machine, 2 treadmills, 2 spin bikes, free weights & a weight machine/contraption that I couldn't work out how to use.  Oh, and a lovely view of the pool!  My only disappointment was that I really wanted to get to the gym with Greg at some point so we could exercise together, but it just never worked out for us.  

The caravan park also has a 1.5km walking track around it, so it was great to get up early some mornings & do a few laps to get my exercise out the way.  The sunrises were spectacular as well!

The last few days of being on holidays I didn't exercise.  I spent hours packing & cleaning up on our second last day, and was just too exhausted to bother.  I would have burnt in excess of 1000 calories for sure with not sitting down for hours on end!  Yesterday we packed & left for home, and then I headed straight to the dentist to have a tooth pulled out.  Feeling sore & sorry for myself today, but relieved it is out after a couple of weeks of painful tooth aches.

So, weigh in Wednesday is here yet again, and I can't believe it but I lost 300gms this week!  I have NEVER EVER lost weight after returning from a holiday, so to say I am over the moon would be an understatement.  I now need to keep the ball rolling, as I only have 3 weeks to lose 4.2kgs, so that I can be in bloody double digits by the finale party in Brisbane.  Will I ever get there!?!?!?!  I'm bloody well going to try!!!

As I mentioned in my previous post, I have set myself some goals for this year.  Small goals, and big goals, and I am sure they will have to be reassessed week by week, round by round, but here they are:-

Weight Goals for 2013:-

• Double digits by the end of this round - under 100kgs by 10th Feb 2013
• To lose 15kgs by the end of Round 1 - Weighing 85kg by 5th May 2013
• To lose 10kgs by the end of Round 2 - Weighing 75kg by 28th July 2013
• To lose 10kgs by the end of Round 3 - Weighing 65kg by 20th October 2013
• To maintain goal weight by Christmas 2013

Fitness Goals:-

• To exercise a minimum of 6 times a week
• To start weight training & improve my strength
• To be able to run 1km without stopping
• To be able to do a push up on my toes
• To be able to do a full sit up
• To do a decent bike ride at least once a week, and with that...
• To complete the Ride to Conquer Cancer in October easily

12wbt Goals:-

• To stay off the booze during the rounds, except for extra special occasions & finale weekends.
• To track my calorie intake
• Support Greg in his journey & welcome his support to me
• Water, water, water, must drink water!!!!
• To listen to the 12wbt videos each week & make time to read the forums & snip tips

So there we have it.  I need to sit down & revisit all these goals from time to time to make sure I stay on track.

Seriously, how good does Michelle Bridges look in this photo!?!?!  I'm going to print it out & stick it on my fridge for inspiration!!

Onwards & downwards.....

No Excuses!!!

Gym workout on a 40+ degree day = red face!

Day 6 of our caravan holiday to Cobram and it is bloody hot!! Most days have been in excess of 40 degrees Celsius! And Bushfire season has unfortunately hit Australia!!

My eating hasn't been on track although I've been trying to make an effort and we've been having a beer each day and a few wines each evening. However, I am so proud to say that I've made sure to exercise each day. The first day I didn't as it took me over 2 hours to unpack, make the 5 beds and tidy up. But each day since I've been out on the bike, worked out at the gym here at the caravan park or gone for a walk around the walking path around the caravan park. I've also been partaking in 3 challenges set on one of the 12wbt Facebook groups. One of the challenges is 1000 lunges per leg in the month, which equates to 33 lunges per leg per day. The other two are for Fab abs and Tuff Butts.

I've had lots of time while exercising to think of my goals for the year and targets I want to set. I'll post them another time when I'm not blogging from my phone (which is painful!). But this morning I was thinking about the shape of my body - the flabby skin, saggy boobs, big belly, etc. All this stuff came to mind as I had seen some before/during/after pictures on Facebook over the last day. Of course I m not making a comparison to others, but I just wonder when I will be able to see a difference in myself. Sure others see it and comment on it, but I just wonder when I will be able to acknowledged it!!!

THE photo that made me cringe!!!!

It seems whenever I think I'm starting to look good, I will see a photo of myself and I'll be crushed, such as this photo someone posted on FB last week (the one on the right with Greg & I exercising). It was a good wake up call to me!
Another week of holidays and keeping on track with the exercise. Can't wait to get home and be 100% back into 12wbt with measuring/weighing my food.
Onwards and downwards...

My first time on a rowing machine!

NO EXCUSES!!!!

Well, Hi There 2013!

It's 2013!!!  Can you bloody believe it!?!?  It's true that time flies by quicker the older you get.  By the time I'm fifty, I'll blink and the day will have ended!!

Greg and I saw the new year in quietly.  We let the kids watch the 9pm fireworks on TV, then we went out into the street with sparklers & glow sticks.  Greg and I enjoyed a few wines, and he was snoring in bed by 11.55pm!!!!

But, what better way to start the new year, and set the tone for 2013 than with a workout?  6 of our fellow crazy arse exercisers joined us, and we had a great session that has my thighs and arms still burning this afternoon!  I'm really looking forward to pushing myself harder this year.  There is really going to be no excuses now Owen is starting school, Aidan is at 4yo Kinder, and I will have 3 days a week without any children (insert me squealing and cartwheeling here!!)  I love my kids but geez I am soooo looking forward to it!!!

I've started up a little exercise diary to keep me accountable.  I want to see my efforts recorded so I can compare how well I am doing between now & the end of the year.   I am going to tell friends to ask to see it, and Greg to check it often, so that I can be held accountable.  I will record what I have done, how many calories I've burned, and also calories I've eaten (I will start religiously recording the calories I eat when we get back from holidays).

A fellow 12wbt-er asked yesterday on Facebook what one word will describe 2013 for you.  Her word was "radiant".  Greg's word was "determined".  There were a lot of great words from other members, and to tell you the truth, I could not for the life of me think of one until today.  There are words like "strong", "believe", "consistency" that I think I could use to sum up what I want from this year, but the word that I keep coming back to time and time again is "ME".  This year I am going to make it all about ME.  Of course, I am still a wife, mother, worker, friend, etc,  but for three days a week it is all going to be about ME and bettering myself so I can be a better wife, mother, worker, friend, etc.  Becoming a better version of myself will only benefit those around me, especially Greg and the kids.

So, hello 2013.  The year I get to my goal weight.  The year I get to be fit, strong & healthy.  The year I get to be ME!