Home From Ankle Surgery... Ouch!

Yesterday I had the long awaited surgery on my ankle to remove metal ware. It apparently went very well, and I was able to come home the same day at my request due to breastfeeding Owen. I was told I could feed him straight away after the surgery, so I thought I might as well come home & do that, rather than being up all night expressing at the hospital anyway. We now have a stockpile of breast milk in the freezer that wasn't needed after all!!!
The downside of my surgery was that I had an arthroscope (camera) to look at the damage in my ankle joint. The surgeon informed me that the cartilage in my ankle is very badly cracked, and unfortunately that is something that cannot be repaired, so it will give me terrible grief on the long term with severe arthritis. Of course that is something I did not want to hear, but I have to now concentrate on the short term and make the most of my recovery now & also look at ways I can prepare for what is to come in the future.
Last night's sleep was a terribly broken one, as I found it difficult to get comfortable with my leg elevated on a pillow & beanbag. I have to have rest for the next fortnight, and keep the leg up at all times. Today was a lot more painful, but I rested as much as possible.
Have had a couple of days of "comfort" eating - Thai green curry last night for dinner, McDonald's burger & chips for lunch today, and chocolate tonight in front of the TV. However, tomorrow I am back into it 100%.
Onwards & downwards .... with lots of rest....

Family Portraits

These are the black & white portraits we had taken a fortnight ago. I hate having photos taken (which is why you won't find me in many), but I was extremely happy with the way these three poses turned out. Aren't the kids gorgeous??

Week 12 - 10kgs Gone... Whoo Hoooo!!!

I am extremely happy to report a loss of 1.2kgs this week. I got myself back on track, resisted any temptation the hubby threw up at me, and without exercise I managed to crack my 10kg goal & receive my little star on my bookmark. I am over the moon. The official total since starting WW in April last year is 20.6kgs, so I am nearly back to the weight I was in November last year (which was my lightest on WW), when I was about 6 weeks pregnant.
After the horrible week last week, I was very disheartened with myself and thought there was no way of achieving my 20 week Christmas goal of reaching 100kgs, but I am happy to report I am only 300 grams off target!! YAY!!
I have just recovered from the flu, although I am still a bit stuffed up & phlegmy. And can you believe it is now only 5 sleeps now until my ankle surgery? Unfortunately I have started to loose sleep over it. I am just panicked at what an inconvenience it is going to be with me on crutches, and little things like how am I going to get Owen from his cot to the lounge room whilst trying to hop & hold a crutch in each arm? ARRGGHHH just don't want to think about it!!!
Speaking of my darling 15 week old baby, he is just a delight! We are very fortunate to have such a happy smiley & adorable little man in our family. Yes, we are all still besotted by him!!
Anyways, I am happy that I have been able to still have a loss even though I can't get on my beloved treadmill because my "good" foot is still sore & the physio still wants me to rest it. It will be a big test this week when I am in hospital, and then when I come home I will want "comfort" food (and probably lots of wine!!!). I will TRY and be strong!
Onwards & downwards, and here's to a new ankle with less metal in it!!!

A Horrible & Depressing Week 11

Have had the worst week on WW that I can remember since starting in April 2006. My bad ankle started playing up, and then my good foot got really painful with a condition called plantar fasciitis - an inflamation of the band of tissue that runs from the heel to the toes, common in women who have just had a baby, who are overweight, and who do walking or running as exercise! Yep, I'll tick those three boxes!!
So, for 3 days I was unable to even walk or wear shoes. I saw my physio twice & he taped the foot, but advised me exercise is out the window. This was not what I wanted to hear, especially 2 weeks before my ankle surgery and when I am travelling so well on the weight loss journey! And what I did I do - I overate, stopped the water intake, and stopped tracking my food completely.
I knew I was in for a gain (my home scales confirmed this!), so I didn't go to my meeting on Thursday. Sure, I had a physio appointment & the mother-in-law coming to visit, but I know I could have made it in time to at least get weighed (even if I had to miss the meeting), but I found all the reasons in the world not to go. And I can't begin to describe the guilt & disappointment I feel within myself. It's the first meeting I have EVER missed. I always make it a point to attend even if I expect a gain, because it gets me back on track again.
Anyway, I started afresh on Friday and have been struggling to keep within my points, but have finally got the "mojo" back. It's disappointing not being able to exercise, but if I can eat perfectly, then I should still be able to lose a little each week. I WILL DO IT!!!
Anyway, a great weekend foodwise for me, but unfortunately we've had a sick household with all 3 kids full up of colds. Have had baby Owen at the doctors today as he has a horrible cough, and I am sick with a runny nose & head pain as well. BUT I am still on track & guzzling down my water.
We have also bought a brand new PC, which is so very fast & makes everything more enjoyable. And I have started expressing milk to make sure the baby has enough milk when I have surgery next week - talk about leaving things to the last minute. I am going to have to express 1 - 2 feeds a day between now & then, and I am panicking about it! And don't want to even think about the surgery as I feel like vomiting when I do - the thought of having to go through all the pain & recovery again, as well as being on crutches is an absolute nightmare!
Anyways, I'm so happy within myself to be back on trackand I'm hoping this week that I have at least maintained my last weigh-in weight - I think it is a little too much to ask for a loss!!!
Onwards & downwards.....

Week 10 - 800g Loss, 9.1kgs Gone

Had a good loss of 800 grams this week. Extremely happy that I am only 900g away from my 10kg goal (which will be over 20kgs in total since starting WW in April 2006).
I have really battled this week to stay on track. I think I am just so exhausted and it would be easier to fall back into old habits, so I've really had to work at it. However, the results are proof in the pudding what exercise and a bit of will power can do!!
Not much else to report, except I desperately need SLEEP!!! And hopefully next week I will be celebrating receiving that extra star on my WW bookmark to show 10kgs gone.
Onwards and Downwards.....

20 Week Christmas Challenge

I have posted the spreadsheet for my Christmas challenge (to lose 16kgs in 20 weeks) in the sidebar to the right -->> and will update it weekly. So far I am 100g ahead of my target to reach 100kgs by Christmas. I have this spreadsheet printed out & stuck on the wall infront of the treadmill to spur me on!

Week 9 - Loss of 700g, Total 8.3kgs

Phew, had a loss today, which was such a shock! I weighed heavier on my home scales this morning than I did last week, so was expecting the worst, but ended up with a 700g loss. Extremely happy about it, and have now learnt my lesson in regards to weekend binges, and am not going to make that mistake again this week. Still on target for my "20 Weeks Until Christmas" goal. I just can't imagine how good it would feel to be under 100kgs... can't wait!!!

I've been working hard on the treadmill, and aim for at least an hour a day, although sometimes I can only manage 15 mins, due to either time restraints or ankle pain.

Only 1.7kgs from my 10kg loss mark, so aiming high this week! Onwards and downwards!!!

Some recent photos of the kids following...

Why Oh Why Are the Weekends So Hard???

We have just come home from our weekend down the coast at our caravan in Ocean Grove. I really struggled with spending time at the van last year when I was on Weight Watchers. The whole mindset we have around being there is relaxing, drinking and eating!
The weather this weekend was absolutely gorgeous (so much so that I had to put sunscreen on the kids!), but I was just out of control!!! I had a McDonald's burger for lunch yesterday, helped myself to handfuls of the kids' corn chips yesterday & then had a couple of glasses of wine last night to wash it all down. Today I had a huge lunch (although not a bad one), and then helped myself to more chips!!! I am so frustrated & disappointed in myself. AND I also did absolutely no exercise!
At Christmas time I usually spend about 4-6 weeks down there with the kids during the school holidays, so I am really going to have to set myself some boundaries & rules, and find a meeting nearby that I can attend to keep myself in control!!

Week 8 - Shock.... 600g Loss!!!!

Well, I am extremely happy as I have lost 600g this week. I have no idea how after the huge weekend I have had. It must be the hard work I put in over the following 3 days to make up for it. I am so pleased with myself, and am definitely on track for my goal to be at 100kgs by Christmas, which would mean a grand total loss of 32kgs since I started last year! My only concern at the moment is that my surgery may slow things up a bit since I won't be able to exercise, but we'll just have to wait & see.
I am also back on the green tea. I have missed it, and since it was part of my WW routine last year, I am getting back into it. Whenever I feel like I am hungry, I have a cup of green tea, which seems to cure the hunger.
Mum is currently on holidays, so wasn't at the meeting today. She'll be back in 4 weeks time (in time to help me out with the kids when I have my surgery), but she is doing heaps of walking to keep the weight down. Her only downfall when she is away is the alcohol intake - must be where I get it from!!!

I have been terrific with my exercise this week. I have made an effort every day (when my ankle can handle it). And foodwise (except on the weekend) I have been brilliant. Hubby has finally got his act together after weighing in last week at his heaviest, so although he is not 100% on track like he was last year, he is cutting back & I am sure it will make a difference in the long run.

Bubby Owen is great & thankfully my weightloss hasn't affected my milk supply at all. That is the one thing I am paranoid about, and why I am drinking loads of water - just to ensure nothing happens with it!
49kgs to go to goal, 14kgs to go until my goal at Christmas.... onwards & downwards.....

A picture of me from Last Christmas 2006 that I have just found on my parents' digital camera. I was pregnant here & weighed about 115kg, and thought I looked pretty good after losing about 20kgs. I am about this weight now, so the sight of this photo has definitely spurred me into action! YUK!

Expecting the Worst!

My home scales are showing a kilo gain, and it's all because I let loose on the weekend when we had friends over for dinner. It started when I was given a bottle of Domain Chandon by one of them.... oh dear! And then of course I had to try the fruit crumble (with cream & custard) for dessert. My Mexican dinner was all healthy, but I just ate too much of it! And then on Sunday the trend continued! I even had to have some more fruit crumble (with cream & custard again of course!!!!). Soooo, I am preparing myself for the worst at weigh in this week, but in the meantime I am in damage control & trying to minimise the gain as much as possible before then!
I have also received in the mail today the forms & information in regards to my surgery in 5 weeks time. I feel sick when thinking about it. I am just sooooo not looking forward to being on crutches again! I just pray this is the last surgery I will need, and hopefully I will be walking without a limp in the near future!
Onwards & downwards......

Week 7 - Another Kilo Gone

This week we had my Mum's 59th Surprise birthday party. It was a great day. We had a BBQ lunch, and I totally blew my points for the day on champagne, 2 slices of cheesecake, a piece of chocolate cake (although I made a low fat one) and party pies. I knew I was going to have to work hard all week to counteract it, so I made sure I exercised, and saved points throughout the week to balance it out. It obviously paid off with a loss of a kilo this week. I am extremely happy that I have lost 7kgs in 7 weeks!
As of last Monday, it was 20 weeks until Christmas. I have challenged myself to get to under 100kgs by then. That means I needed to lose just over 16kgs in 20 weeks, which is VERY doable. I have lost 2 kilos so far, which means just over 14kg in 18 weeks now - I am on a mission!!!

Week 6 - Loss of 1kg, Total 6kgs

Weighed in this morning with a loss of 1kg. Very happy to have a total of 6kgs done & dusted! Only 50.6kgs to go (OH MY GOD!).
This week I have been on the treadmill each & every day, and I finally worked myself up to 60 minutes yesterday!! Very proud of myself, although my ankle is a bit sore from it today.
Speaking of which, I went to see the Orthopaedic specialist today and I will be having surgery in approximately 4 weeks time to remove the plates from my leg! I am glad something is finally being done, but at the same time, I am panicked that I will be immobile and back on crutches again!! So I am madly trying to pick a date for the surgery, and organise babysitters, helpers for ferrying the kids to school/kinder, etc.
Another week ahead, and hopefully another kilo down the drain - onwards and downwards!!!

Week 5 - I've Found My Mojo!!!

I've had a brilliant week! It's all come back to me - counting points in my head; making wise food choices; wanting to exercise, etc. etc. And I feel so good because of it! My clothes are starting to feel looser! The treadmill is just wonderful - I cannot rave enough about it!!
I had a great loss of 1.7kgs this week which brought me to my 5kgs - and I received my bookmark. I am now only just over 3kgs from what I weighed when I fell pregnant, which I think is just brilliant!
My goals for this month of August are as follows:

• to get below 115kg


• to exercise for at least 15 minutes a day


• to track every morsel of food that enters my mouth

Another exciting thing this week is I have found Yellowglen Jewel champers, that is only 4.5 points for an ENTIRE bottle. I've sampled, and although not as nice as the original, it is a fantastic drop for a low joule alcoholic drink.

Week 4 - 900g Loss, Total 3.3kgs

I have worked really hard this week to make up for the 300g gain I had last week. I had one night where I had a points blow out with a couple of wines, and too many Snakatas, but I have exercised all week to combat that & stuck within my points every other day. When I weighed in today for a loss of 900g, I was really disappointed at first. I guess I am expecting to have big weight losses like I did when I started on WW last year. However, I have to drum it into my head that any loss is a good loss, and my body is still recovering from pregnancy and the caesarian, and I am also eating like a horse because of my breastfeeding. My body could also be adjusting to the shock of exercising after doing none for so long. So, I am going to be more leniant on myself. As long as I lose, then I should be happy!
For the last 2 weeks we haven't had home scales, which has been killing me. I like to weigh myself before my shower each morning so I can see how I am going, and if the scales are heading in the right direction. Fortunately today I exchanged my faulty scales for some new ones - YIPPEE!

Small Gain - Yippee!!

I had a small gain of 0.3kgs this week. Silly me had 2 large cappuccinos before weigh in, so that definitely could have equated to 300 grams!!! I am extremely happy because I ate & drank whatever I wanted to on Saturday, but then worked really hard all week to counteract it, and it has obviously paid off. If I keep it up this week, I am sure I will have a big loss. Still, I have lost 2.4kgs in three weeks whilst eating like a horse, which is an excellent effort!
The big catastrophe of the week was that our home scales broke! I hate not being able to weigh myself every morning and know where I am at. I was expecting a huge gain this week, which is why I wasn't caring that I had the coffees before weigh in, but if I had of been able to weigh myself this morning I would have seen that wasn't the case, and just restricted myself to my cereal for brekkie.
I have been making an effort to get on the treadmill every single day, even if it is only for 10 minutes. Unfortunately last night I was unable to due to the incredible pain in my ankle causing me to limp badly. It was the final straw and I have booked in to see the orthopaedic specialist to have the metal ware removed from my ankle ASAP. It is going to be extremely difficult being on crutches with a newborn, but I have to have it done, and the sooner the better!
Unfortunately the baby has been sick the last couple of days, and hubby has been home sick for 4 days now. I am exhausted due to the extremely broken sleeps I am having trying to comfort the baby, and am so very proud of myself for not turning to bad food for comfort, which is so easy to do when tired and stressed.
Here's hoping for a very good loss next week to make up for this week. Onwards & downwards!

Week 2 - Loss of 1.5kgs, Total 2.7kgs

I have really struggled this week. I just want to eat & eat & eat. And if anything "naughty" is in the house, then I will devour it! Luckily when I scour the cupboards and the fridge in search of something, there are only good options for me to chose from. I was not confident going to my meeting this morning, especially with 2 nights this week eating out (although I made good choices), but to my surprise I had a loss of 1.5kgs! I couldn't believe it! Obviously the breastfeeding is assisting my weightloss (and the reason for my increased appetite of course), but if this keeps up, then I am breastfeeding Owen until he is 18!!!!!
We were very lucky this week & were able to purchase $39 airfares to the Gold Coast!! So we are going back to Qld for 5 nights on December 1st, and we have booked the same gorgeous 2 storey penthouse apartment in Broadbeach. The kids are very excited, as they absolutely loved our trip to Qld last year, and they can't believe they will actually be flying in a plane this time (we drove to Qld last year). Owen will be 6 months old by then, so at a cute age to be taking to the pool & beach, etc.
I remember when we went to Qld in November last year, although I was still overweight, I felt great because I had lost 22kg. And I wasn't worried about getting in my bathers at the pool and the beach. This time, I want to be nearly at 100kgs (10kgs less than last year) - that's my goal anyway. Hopefully this time I won't be coming back from Qld and announcing I am pregnant like last year!!!
We are still continuing to plan out our dinners for every night of the week from all my Weight Watchers recipe books. We had some lovely ones in the last week - "Lemon Chicken & Couscous" from "The Ultimate Family Cookbook" and "Bombay Chicken with Spinach Rice" from "The Extremely Contented Tummy Cookbook".

Week 1 - Loss of 1.2kgs

Well, the first week is over, and unfortunately I am not finding it as easy as I have in the past. I am just so very hungry with breastfeeding! I have been making wise food choices though, and it has obviously worked - resulting in a 1.2kg loss this week. Our new treadmill is wonderful, and although I struggled with it initially due to my sore ankle, I am now up to 20 minute stints on it, and hopefully that will improve now that I am back to seeing my physio again (after having a 6 week break due to Owen's birth).
I have been sitting down every Sunday for the last 2 weeks and planning out the whole week's dinners by picking recipes from Weight Watchers Cook Books. It has just made life so much easier without having to pick my brain day to day deciding what to have for dinner, and we are eating such a huge variety of delicious dinners - it is wonderful and something I hope to continue.

The Beginning of Being Slim.... Again.....

Started back at Weight Watchers today, weighing in at 121.6kg. Was more than I had hoped for, but since I have been eating like a horse for the last couple of months, I expected to be 10kgs or so heavier than my last weigh in before Christmas last year. I weighed 113.1kg when I fell pregnant, so have gained a total of 8.5kgs.
My Mum has joined up with me, and she has a total of 12kgs to lose all up. I wish!! I have 56.6kgs to get to goal, which as previously said, I am going to do by Christmas 2008. WHOO HOOO!
Our new treadmill arrived last night & it is wonderful! Will start exercising on it tonight - no excuses not to exercise anymore!

Weight Watchers.... Take 2....

Baby Owen was born on Monday 4th June at 11.51am, and he is perfect in every way. See my BABY BLOG for details.


It has now been 3 weeks since his birth & today I have started back on Weight Watchers with my hubby. I will be going back to my meetings this Thursday for my official weigh in, so will update all my stats & figures then. I am extremely happy to be getting back into it!
We bought a treadmill on the weekend, which should be delivered early next week, so there will be no excuses not to exercise, rain, hail or shine! Because I am breastfeeding, I am on 32 points, which seems like a lot, but I am eating like a horse, so should have no problem consuming all the points anyway.
My first goal is 20kgs by Christmas! BRING IT ON!

My Two Precious Babies

Paige's Ballet Concert last December was "Alice in Wonderland" and all the littlies were "lollies" that danced around Alice in a couple of the scenes. I finally got around to getting the photos done and they arrived this week. Isn't she absolutely gorgeous?

Callum's first school photos arrived yesterday. He looks like such a big boy and so very handsome. I was disappointed he wasn't giving a big smile, as he has so many teeth missing, it would have been very cute. I just love this photo though.

I Am A Goose!!! and only 26 Sleeps til the Baby Arrives!

I was just having a look at the settings for this blog, and noticed I had 51 comments that I had not even noticed, that needed moderating and then publishing! I am a goose!!! For months people have been leaving comments & I didn't even realise!! ARRGGH!! Anyway, I have sorted them out & have now published them. Apologies to those who read my blog who thought I was being rude!!!!
I have also given into temptation and weighed myself this morning. I have officially put on 12.3kgs since falling pregnant! I'm a bit disappointed with it, but know I will lose it after the baby is born.
For some strange reason I have woken up this morning all gung-ho about WW and weight loss, and I am soooooo looking forward to counting points again & seeing my body shrink. I am not going to worry about it for the time being, as I am just eating what I feel like and when I feel like it, and plan on doing so until for another 26 days.

Taking a Break until Bubs is Born....

I am taking a break from this blog. I am stressing myself too much about my weight gain whilst pregnant, so am concentrating more on eating healthy (okay, with chocolate added in now & then), and what weight I gain I know I will lose when I return to my Weight Watchers Meetings when the baby is 6 weeks old. I am missing the meetings terribly - just the people & the support received there, so can't wait to get back into it. And at least I KNOW I can do it, as I was doing it easily before this little alien started growing inside me.
I am still updating my baby blog, so you can check out my pregnancy blog for my updates.
So, until I return in approx. 12 weeks time.... Adios!

Week 42 - I'm Sick... Boo Hoo for Me!!!

My weigh in days are on Thursdays, so on the scales I hopped yesterday, only to discover a gain of 1.8kgs. How this was possible I do not know - growth spurt of the baby? Scales misfunctioning? Fluid retention due to the hot weather & me consuming litres upon litres of water?? Anyway, weighed myself today (Friday) and it showed a loss of 200g (2kgs less than yesterday), which is a more realistic figure and the one I will be using, thank you very much!!!

Wednesday night at work I had the sneezes, and sure enough I woke up the next morning with a feeling in my throat like I was chewing razor blades, and sore sinuses. Hubby worked from home today and looked after Paige & did the school runs for Callum so I could stay in bed IN DAY! How it is possible to sleep ALL day & still need more sleep is something I don't understand. I am up just now for a shower, updating this blog & then heading back to bed. Managed to get to the Doc today who claims I have a sinus infection and gave me a prescription for some antibiotics that are safe during pregnancy. I have opted not to take them as I prefer to be drug free, just in case.

Forgot to mention that at my second ultrasound last week we found out we were having a boy! It wouldn't have really worried us what we were having, but at least now we can get a little bit prepared! I have already bought some little blue outfits, bibs, socks, etc - hopeless! I am really starting to look forward to having a little baby in the house again - the smell of the baby, the gorgeous little noises they make, the bond that you have when breastfeeding. Can't wait!! Only 15 more weeks to go!

Will get some fat tummy pics on here in the next week or so.

Onwards and downwards......

How Did It Get So Hard???

Reading back on my blog, I found weight loss with Weight Watchers so very, very easy. How did it recently become so hard?? I absolutely hate not having complete control over my body whilst pregnant!! Don't get me wrong, there is nothing more wonderful in the world than being pregnant & feeling a little one grow & move inside you, but it just drives me insane that I am having cravings I can't ignore or control!!!
Anyways, I lost 100g this week. I am thankful considering I gave into my chocolate cravings a few times, and have had a few wines as well (which I won't be doing anymore!). Will start the exercise regime ASAP to shift this extra 5kgs!
Onwards and downwards (slowly, slowly wins the race....)

Frustration & Disappointment....

Arrghhh, I put on 900g this week. I am so disappointed, as I tried really hard this week. I just can't seem to stop eating - it's like I have worms (and yes, I do realise that I have 22cm worm inside me!). I am back at the weight I was when I conceived in August - over 20 weeks ago!! It just fills me with dread to think I worked so hard to get all this weight off and now it just seems to be piling on so easily!!!
Oh well, today is a new day and I cannot let it get me down. I am looking forward to getting into a routine next week with the kids off to school/kinder and will start exercising!
So, my goal is now to get to 110kg before the baby is born - surely that is achievable!?
Anyways, following are pictures of the baby taken from my scan this week - first one is front of skull, second one is tiny foot. Not very clear, but cute anyhow.

Back On Track & Feeling Great!!!

Yesterday was the first day I tracked all my points properly and I even did a small amount of exercise by having a very small walk and doing a bit of gardening and cleaning. And it feels good today to know I am FINALLY back on track! The scales were even kind to me this morning, so I will work on it to ensure a loss on Thursday!
Going to try to go on another small walk today, and will get back on track next week with exercise when school & kinder start - only 7 sleeps to go!!!

Going Backwards!! Gain of 4.2kgs

I am absolutely devestated this morning. I have put on 4.2kgs in the last 5 weeks!!! Time to pull in the reins and get serious! I really wanted to maintain my weight of 110kgs throughout the pregnancy, or at least for the first 30 weeks, so I am bitterly disappointed.
I am going to get serious with my exercise plan once the kids are at school/Kinder. I am planning on exercising at least 5 days a week as follows:

Mondays - walk
Tuesdays - aqua aerobics
Wednesdays - walk or swim
Thursdays - aqua aerobics
Fridays - Rest day (or swim)
Saturdays - walk (or rest day)
Sundays - Rest day

Anyway, I am trying not to be too hard on myself (although that is difficult) cause I have to remember I have a growing baby in me!
Speaking of school/kinder, only 11 sleeps until Paige starts "big girl" Kinder and Callum starts Prep. I am having terrible dreams about Callum starting school - I keep dreaming I have forgotten to pack him lunch, or he is late on his first day at school with the wrong uniform on, etc. I will be glad when it is all over & we are in a routine.
Onwards and downwards (well at least 4kgs downwards!).

Home From My Month Long Holiday

We arrived home yesterday from our holidays and at first I was extremely happy to be home, but now I think I am dreading the thought of getting back into a routine, and Callum starts Prep in 2 weeks time! It's all going too quickly and the kids are growing up too fast!!!
I am now 21 weeks pregnant & my belly is growing too quickly - I feel enormous! I have my "official" weigh in this Thursday, but had a sneak weigh in this morning and have put on over 3kgs since the week before Christmas, which isn't too bad considering I have eaten what I have liked, not exercised, and hardly touched any water. Back on track today & counting points, so hopefully the damage won't be that bad by Thursday's weigh in.
My Mum started on WW a couple of weeks ago, and there are some changes to the program I am a bit confused about, so hopefully I will be able to work out what they are on the WW website.

Week 34 - Only 4 Sleeps to Christmas

It's been a while since I have updated my blog, so I thought I had better not be a slacko and get an entry done before I head off on holidays for a month after Christmas.
I am still not tracking my points!!! I do the sums in my head and make very wise food choices (I have gone crazy on apples and drinking water!), so I am happy with the way things are going. The last 2 weeks I have had small losses, but I am happy I am only 800g off my next goal of getting under 110kg.
I am now starting to feel much better with the pregnancy. Although I still have days of feeling sick and tired, most days I don't even remember I am pregnant - until I feel the baby kicking. I am now 16 weeks along, which has really flown. I honestly still think I am denial and don't really believe I am having another baby. I'm not sure when it will really sink in.
In 2 sleeps time Paige turns 4 - I can't believe my baby is such a big girl now. We have had a busy 2 weeks with ballet concerts, Kinder concerts, Kinder farewells and Christmas parties and birthday parties. The kids and I are heading down the coast to our caravan for a month after Christmas. Greg unfortunately has to work, so will be commuting back & forth now and then. I cannot wait for a month of no work & relaxation!!! Just have to watch the points and make sure I eat healthy!!! My biggest worry before I was pregnant was limiting my alcohol intake when on holidays, but at least I don't have to worry about that now that I can't drink!!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS and have a great NEW YEAR!!

FINALLY Back on the Wagon!!!

At last week's weigh in, I put on 400g. I was quite happy with that considering I had consumed 2 bowls of cereal, a bread roll and a bottle of water before weigh in. However, not happy that the scales are heading in the wrong direction.
I have just felt so tired and sick with this pregnancy, that I can't be bothered with anything at the moment. However, Sunday night in bed I made a promise to myself that I would begin tracking again from the next morning. And I woke up feeling much more happier with myself due to the fact I knew I was going to be back on track again. I need to track to see how I am going, and I know when I was in Qld I felt lost without tracking (after doing it for 6 months), so I am looking forward to getting back into it.
Well, after only one day of tracking I feel fantastic! I feel in control and am back to making wise food choices when thinking about how many points something is.
I was going to start my exercise regime this morning with aqua aerobics, but unfortunately yesterday I pulled a muscle in my bad ankle and could hardly walk! Visited the physio this morning, so it is much better, but am going to spend the morning icing it rather than working it.
I can't believe it is only 20 sleeps until Christmas! And only 18 sleeps until my baby girl turns 4 year old!!! Where did the year go??? It's good to know I am over 20 kilos lighter than I was last Christmas!

Week 30 - Welcome Back to Plateau Weight

Weelllllllll, I had a gain of 900 grams this week and am very disappointed in myself. I am back to the weight I was during my big plateau. But really, I should be thankful that it wasn't worse! Reasons I gained this week are:-

• I didn't track my points at all
• I didn't exercise at all (except for one small walk!)
• ate takeaway Indian (including the worst dish - Butter chicken) on Sat night
• ate takeaway pizza & pasta last night
• ate the biggest piece of cheesecake Sunday afternoon
• ate bowls of icecream nearly every night of the week
• ate a box of chocolate scorched almonds on Tuesday
• ate a couple of mini sized Mars Bars, Kit Kats and chocolate biscuits

The good things I did this week (and there was only ONE):-

• Drank lots of water!

Unfortunately my hubby has lost the plot also since our trip to Qld and has gained a significent amount. But we have both agreed to get back on trap and stop the nonsense!

In regards to the pregnancy, thankfully I am starting to feel less nausea. However the tiredness hasn't yet eased up and I am absolutely exhausted, especially with my 11pm finishes at work.

Week 29 - Loss of 1.7kgs WHOO HOOO!!

Had a brilliant loss this week, which I am absolutely stoked about. I was really hoping to get under 110kg this week, but I have to be thankful for the huge amount I lost, and I'll lose that measly 200g next week to hit that goal.
Unfortunately I haven't started exercising again since our Qld holiday, so I will try & do some this week. I just feel so "blah" with the morning sickness (or I should say 'all day' sickness) and am exhausted beyond belief, especially since I have started working until 11pm at night!
AND I didn't track this week. I tried to do it all mentally in my head, and was worried it would backfire for me, but obviously I am doing it right! However, I will get back to tracking, as I know I am stricter on myself when I have everything written down.

Week 28 - The Result from My 2 Week Qld Holiday!

I had a gain of 900 grams today! Absolutely devestated, but I can't expect to eat & drink what I want for 13 days and not gain anything. So really, I should be thankful it was under a kilo!
Feeling like crap with the morning sickness, so it is taking all my willpower to stay in control, but I am, which is a huge achievement! I am desperate to reach my next goal of getting under 110kg, so am going to work hard to get there in the next few weeks.
Once again, onwards and downwards!

The Explanation Behind My Plateau...

I'm pregnant! Yep, very unplanned and unexpected, but I am between 7-10 weeks gone. Will visit my Doctor later in the week and will probably need an ultrasound to confirm the exact due date.
The kids are over the moon, hubby is in denial, and I am still in shock!

I'm Baaaaacccckkkkkkk!!!

Well, back from our holiday to Queensland. And what a blast we had. Exhausting, but fun! And I had the best intentions of staying on track with WW whilst away, but after the first day it all went out the window! It was just too hard to keep track of points without my online tracker (never realised how much I rely on it!). So, unfortunately I just ate and drank what I wanted, although I tried not to go too overboard! I know for sure I consumed more than triple my sugar points per week in alcohol alone!
Fortunately we had heaps of exercise, with all the walking around the theme parks (Movieworld, Seaworld - twice, and Wet'n'Wild) and all the swimming & frolicking in the pool. The first week I attempted to get to a meeting in Port Macquarie, NSW, and when I turned up at the hall it was supposed to be in, there was no one there! I later found out they had changed the night of the meeting only the week before!!!
The second week I got lost on my way to a meeting on the Gold Coast, but eventually arrived and weighed in with a loss of 100 grams! To say I was stunned was an understatement!
However, home now and back on track!!!
Following is a picture of the kids on our first trip to Seaworld (we went twice!).

On Holidays Until 6th November!

GOLD COAST HERE WE COME!!!!

Week 25 - The Dreaded Plateau!!!

Weighed in this morning at my meeting and I am exactly the same as I have been the last 2 weeks at 111.1kg! I think it is incredibly strange I am EXACTLY the same and not even 100g more or 100g less. I have definitely hit the dreaded plateau everyone talks about!
Sooooo, what am I going to do to get things moving again, especially since I am on holidays in a week's time? I have read up on "No Count" today & honestly cannot see it working for me. I might try & see if I can bust this plateau with an increase of exercise and changing some things in the way that I eat and if all else fails, then I will jump on the "No Count" wagon. No alcohol for this week (I am on Day 4 of my No Alcohol Challenge!!!) might help to get the scales moving as well!
I was paid the nicest compliment today. I was chatting to one of the mothers at my son's Kinder who I haven't talked to before (besides saying hello) and after 5 or so minutes she said "I meant to tell you a few weeks ago that you are looking really great. You've lost a heap of weight, haven't you?". I was absolutely over the moon. It was so nice to hear it from someone who had no idea I was on Weight Watchers! Well, she knows now - I cannot help but sing the praises of WW and how it is not a diet, but a healthy eating lifestyle.
6 sleeps to go until our Qld holiday - WE CANNOT WAIT!!!

ARRGGGHHH Struggling......

Yes, TTOM is coming up & I have been a ball of grumpiness. Hubby seems to be slackening off a bit with Weight Watchers, and unfortunately he is leading me astray in the process. Why is it so hard to say NO when he asks if I would like a glass of wine? Fortunately I haven't been too bad, but just over my points, and due to the lack of exercise in the last week and a half, the scales are not being nice.
However, today is a new day & I am determined to get back to my old self (the one hubby calls the "Weight Watchers Nazi"). I really need to pull in the ropes before our holiday in 9 sleeps time, or all my hard work will be wasted. AND I really want to get as close to 100kgs as I can by Christmas/New Year.
A couple of challenges I am in -

• Kitty's 10kg New Year Challenge
• Bec's Commitment to NOT touch Alcohol - I am doing this until we leave for holidays (starting from today!!). Surely I can go 9 days without booze?? Can't I??????

Week 24 - Stayed the Same 111.1kgs

Absolutely over the moon as I stayed the same today - 111.1kgs! I was really expecting to put on due to constipation over the last 4 days, and was so stoked to weigh in the same! I am sure I am going to have a good loss this week and reach my goal of being under 110kg. I'll just have to keep off the pain medication to get my bowels back to normal!
It's going to be 33 degrees in Melbourne today! Unfortunately too windy so a yukky day! 13 Sleeps until we leave on our holiday - whoo hoooo!!!

A Painful Week

This week has unfortunately been a bad one pain wise. My shin has been playing up terribly, so much so that I ended up at the RMH Emergency Dept on Saturday night to get something done. However, after waiting 5 hours to be seen, I decided to go home and "self medicate" with lots of alcohol. I saw my GP on Tuesday, who believes I have an infection and am currently on a course of antibiotics, and I also had some xrays done for my Othopedic Specialist appointment on Friday morning.
So, due to my bad week, the alcohol content of the week has been rather high, and the exercise level has been low. In fact, the only exercise I had was 10 minutes of aqua aerobics which I had to stop due to the severity of the pain in my shin! Otherwise, I have been good on the food side, and have been tracking religiously still. However, not confident for my weigh in tomorrow at all. Oh well......

Week 23 - Loss of 800 grams

Weighed in this morning with a loss of 800 grams! I was a wee bit worried due to all the eating and drinking I had done on the weekend, although I did track everything that passed my lips, and saved points during the week to make up for it.
I must say that I absolutely love the online tracker - it takes all the hard and tedious work out of tracking, and carries over the bonus points for exercise, and any saved points, etc.
Unfortunately my shin is still playing up this week and causing me a lot of grief. I have been unable to do much exercise without great pain. I saw my Doctor this morning for a referral to an orthopedic Specialist, as I am sick of getting the runaround from the public hospital system. Every surgeon I have seen has given me a different opinion as to whether I need further surgery to remove the plates and pins, etc etc.
In other news, my parents have bought a new house this week!!! They have decided to sell and move closer to us kids as they currently live about a 50min drive away on a 1/4 acre block, and since they have retired and are away alot with their caravan, they wanted somewhere lower in maintenance. I am so very excited that I will be able to call in and have a cuppa with my Mum at any time, instead of it being a big excursion out to see them!!!
I had Callum (my 5yo son) take some pictures of me this afternoon at 111.1kgs. He didn't do a bad job at all.

Week 22 - 20kg Goal Reached FINALLY!!!

Whoo hoooo!!! After weeks of trying to hit the 20kg mark, I finally did it today with a loss of 500grams. The last couple of days I have fallen sick with a cold and for the first time in 22 weeks I have been feeling really unmotivated. The thought even crossed my mind (although fleetingly) to give up! Luckily today I reached my goal, and it has made me more determined to trudge along to my next goal, which is getting under 100kg. Only 1.9kg to lose to do this!
The kids came to my meeting with me and were delighted with everyone clapping me when the extra star was put on my bookmark. At the meeting I bought a points calculator (to take on our Qld trip with me - only 27 sleeps to go) and a new recipe book - can't wait to try some new things for dinner!
AND, I have just gone and bought some new bras because I was sick of hitching mine up all the time due to them becoing too big and I am pleased to say I have gone from size 24G to size 20F!!! WHOO HOOOOO!
Also, one of my best friends, Chris, is extremely excited about the new bag she bought and received in the post today. She wanted me to post a picture of it here on my blog for everyone to see. AND she has names it "Fanta". Yes, she has names for her handbags and even some of her shoes! And yes, she is a nutter!!!!

Week 21 - Another Kilo Down, Total 19.5kg Lost

I am so proud of myself!! I have stuck to this Weight Watchers program for 21 weeks now! It's a record!! I would love to know how many times I have previously joined, and I think most times I never went back after about 6 weeks. I seriously think this would be about the tenth time I have joined, and thankfully, it will be my last!!!
So here I am at week 21 and I lost another kilo this week! Initially I was extremely disappointed as I really wanted to get to my 20kg this week, but after speaking to a few friends about it, I have realised I am being silly. I have lost 19.5kgs and I am feeling great!!! Life is good!!
We also had a dinner this week with the group Greg did the Kokoda Track with in July. It was great to hear the stories and even better to see everyone's pictures (our camera died just after Greg arrived in PNG so he only had a couple of photos). I thought I would post some pics of Greg and Papua New Guinea that I like. I had forgotten how proud I am of him!!

6 Kilos in 6 Weeks Challenge

A couple of my friends and I have set ourselves up on a "6 Kilos in 6 weeks Challenge" to see if we can shift that much before I get in my togs on the sunny Gold Coast. A big ask, but I will give it a try! I will update my progress here every week.

Never Mind - Week 20 Gain!!!

This morning I woke up and weighed myself on my home scales and it showed a 200 gram gain. I was absolutely devastated! I have been on track all week, and made an effort to exercise on days when I usually don't, so I was very upset that I didn't lose! Had my official weigh in at WW and it showed a gain of 300 grams. However, I am more positive about it now. That 300g could have just been the large Gloria Jeans coffee I had before weigh in, or the fact I needed to go to the toilet, or something little like that.
Anyhow, I now have 1.5kg to lose before my 20kg goal and I am definitely, no questions asked, going to lose that this week!
Below is a chart of my weight loss progress so far. Onwards and downwards!!!!

Updated Photo - Sept 12, My 34th Birthday!

Well it's my 34rd birthday today, and although it was a bit of a shit day, I was glad for the fact that I weighed less today than I did on my 33rd birthday! And looking forward to my 35th birthday when I will be a skinnie minnie!
Anyway, I had hubby take a photo of me. I thought I looked rather nice today, and isn't it terrible when you look at a photo of yourself and all you see is yourself as FAT! Oh well, not for long!!! Think it's time I updated my wardrobe!!!

Week 19 - 18.8kg Down.... 48.1kg to Go

WHOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! I am absolutely over the moon as I had a loss of 1.7kg this week! I am soooo happy and quite a bit shocked actually as I have been sick with a cold and struggled to exercise at all this week. Soooooo, I have to really make an effort this week and try & shed the next 1.2kg to make the 20kg goal. My aim for this goal was next week, so I will be pleasantly surprised if I am on target.
Also, have posted some pics of me on my wedding in March 2002. I have no idea how much I weighed then, but I know it was under 100kg. I tried my wedding dress on last weekend whilst having a clean out of my wardrobe, and it doesn't fit at all - too small! I'll look forward to the day when it's too big on me! So, the pics are as follows:-

1. Moi with Greg (both tired & drunk at the end of the night). I found out a week later I was pregnant with Paige!!! And she was born 9 months to the day after our wedding.
2. Moi with an 11mth old Callum. All the boys wore kilts, so Callum was very cute in his! Mind you he was hospitalised with croup the next day so we spent the next night sleeping together in a hospital bed!
3. Moi & my Matrons of Honour - Jenny & Penny (no I didn't purposely pick them to rhyme!)
4. Moi & my massive boobs! They never really recovered from breast feeding and I am looking forward to them getting smaller!

I ATE IT!!!!

Feeling sick and miserable with a cold, I succumbed and ate the Giant Caramello Koala that has been calling out to me for the last 2 weeks! It was so yummy as I slowly ate it, but afterwards, I felt sooooo sick that I thought I was going to vomit. Oh well, at least I know I won't want to eat another one in a hurry again!!!

Week 18 - Total Loss 17.1kg & 49.8kg to Go....

This week I had a great loss of 1.1kg. I was so happy, especially after the big day I had on Saturday with friends over for a visit. I catered with a nice low fat antipasto platter, but consumed 2 bottles of wine!!! These friends stayed 8 1/2 hours, so it turned out a big one! I was very diligent for the rest of the week, which obviously made up for it! (It was also TTOM).
Anyhow, just wanted to post a picture of the Giant Cadbury Caramello Koala I bought 2 weeks ago and have had sitting on my bedroom dresser ever since. It is worth 4.5 points on WW and I really can't see the value of wasting that many points on it! However, I think I might treat myself and eat it when I have hit the 20kg goal, or at least share it with my hubby and kids then. But, just wanted to show how strong I have been to see it there every day & resist it! It is one of my favourite treats!!!

My End Goal - 2007 Great Victorian Bike Ride

I have decided that I want to do the Great Victorian Bike Ride next year. I did the GVBR in 1994, 1995 and 1996 (although I didn't complete it in 96 due to my knees not handling the Great Ocean Road!). I found the rides to be such great holidays and very satisfying when you realise how far you have ridden! Greg might do it with me, but regardless, I will be doing it. Will have to put my order in with Santa for a bike for Christmas, so I have at least 12 months to get my bum used to riding again, and my ankle strong enough to handle it! And I will hopefully either be at my goal weight of 65kg or very close to it by that time! How very exciting!!!!

Only 4kgs Until My Next Goal

I lost 500 grams this week. I always feel disappointed when the amount is under a kilo, but that is something I am just going to have to get over! I have to remember that any loss is a good loss and every little bit adds up. I have now lost a total of exactly 16kgs! WHOO HOOOO!!! And I have only 4kgs to go until I have lost the staggering amount of 20kgs. I am so proud of myself and what I have achieved over the last 17 weeks and still can't believe I have done it!
And to change the subject, Callum had a multicultural day at Kinder today, so my husband had the great idea (or not?!!) to dress him up as a Scottish Knight. All the kids had to take some food to share, and I decided against haggis (haha), so I made mini WW muffins iced with blue and a white cross for the Scottish flag! You can tell by the picture Paige is really happy the attention is not on her!!!

Time to Pull My Socks Up... and A Groan About My Groin!!!

Well, on the weekend I had decided that it was time to pull my socks up and get a move on with this weight loss and reaching all the goals I had set for myself. I only lost 400 grams last weigh in, and 100 grams the week before, so it's time to get strict again! The last couple of weeks I have been plodding along and letting my points blow out on the weekends, (but have been making up the points in the days following), and have been thinking about increasing my exercise.
Sooooooo, this week was going to be the start of my new exercising every day regime! On Sunday I went to the pool and did laps, and it was during a lap of breaststroke that I felt a "twang" in my groin twice. I was able to keep swimming and later in the afternoon went for a walk with my family. However, yesterday it was a different story and by last night night I was in a lot of pain and hardly able to walk.
I saw the physio this morning who manipulated my hip flexor and some nerves in my back relating to it, as well as my right buttock, which was excruciatingly painful, but helped somewhat. All I was worried about was that my exercise was going to be have to be put on hold for while, which is so disappointing considering I was going so well and my ankle was improving rapidly. Booo hoooo. BUT I am trying not to let it get me down and know with rest and icing of the groin I will be able to get out there again soon!!!!!

"The Van" - My Biggest Challenge of All!!!!

My hubby and I are fortunate to have a caravan and annexe on site at a caravan park in Ocean Grove, which we bought about 3 years ago. We spend a lot of time down there, especially over the summer months. The kids have a lot of friends in the park and they have an absolute ball there. They can safely ride their bikes, scooters, play ball games, etc etc whilst we, the parents, can all sit back and relax.
Unfortunately, this is where my biggest challenge lies!!
We haven't been to the van for a weekend since I started on WW, and we have just returned today from spending the weekend there. The weather was beautiful, and as I have been feeling so much better since being 15kg lighter and with my ankle improving, I was able to be more active with the kids. We all went for a walk to the park, and I was able to hit the tennis ball back and forth to my son, etc. However, somehow being at the van and relaxing makes hubby and I want to drink!
Soooooooo, that's exactly what we did. I drank 7 Pure Blonde (low carb) beers and 2 glasses of wine! I finally saw the light and stopped and had a hot chocolate, but by that time my points were blown out the window and I had eaten 2 Freddo Frogs. I was so disappointed in myself today, but got right back on track.
However, it has now dawned on me that this is always going to be a very hard challenge for me at the van. EVERY adult there sits around drinking during the summer months, and am I going to be able to resist the temptation? It is something I am really going to work hard on for the next four months before I spend 3 weeks down there after Christmas.

Week 15 - 100g Loss and Revised Goal Weight

Weighed in this morning and lost only 100 grams. I was happy with this, as I expected to put on or stay the same for a number of reasons.....
This week I found it difficult to find the time to exercise! I did my usual Tuesday aqua aerobics, then walked a couple of times as well. My ankle is feeling better, so I am glad I gave it a bit of a rest, but this week will get back into the walking again and I'm hoping for a really good loss next week.
I am currently on 24 points per day, and some days struggle to keep under that, so I can only imagine how hard it will be when I am down to about 20 points a day. That's when I will have to do lots of exercise for the extra points!
I have noticed this week also that Greg and I have been doing a lot of late night snacking. I have broken my rule of only snacking on celery at night and have been snacking on Snakatas almost every night (I am addicted to them - especially the salt and vinegar ones!), so that is something I am going to have correct this week. I also had my first "binge" since being on Weight Watchers. It was Monday night and I am still unsure what prompted it, but I just wanted to eat everything in sight. Fortunately we don't have any chips or chocolates or rubbish in the cupboards or fridge, so my pig out consisted of the biggest plate of celery and carrot sticks you have ever seen, with some WW cream cheese, and then a box of Snakatas, as well as three glasses of wine. Not too bad, but still made me blow my points. I am sooooo very glad we didn't have any junk food in the house because I definitely would have eaten it!
I also ate out over the weekend. Saturday we had a lunch at the footy, and I had both entree, main and shared a cheese platter for dessert, washed down with a champagne and a couple of wines. Sunday I had brunch with four of my best friends, and had a large brekkie with too many coffees, but went for a walk with the kids afterwards to work it off.
I have revised my goal weight from 70kg to 65kg, as WW only recognise the goal weights they set, so if I want to get to maintenance and become a life member, then 65kg it is! It's only 5kgs!! I can do it!!! However, 51.8 kilos to go!!!

My Poor Foot and Ankle......

My poor foot has been out of action and out of an enclosed shoe for a year now. I bought some Saucony trainers last week and have been increasing my walking. Unfortunately, my foot prefers the good old Birkenstock sandals I have been wearing since I was out of a cast and cam walker, and is protesting about the enclosed shoe. My physio wants me to persist and says it will calm down after a few more weeks. Thought I would take a photo just to show the difference in the size of my ankles and feet (and the scar, broken blood vessels, and just the yukkiness of it!).

Things That Have Helped Me Lose Weight.....

At my meeting yesterday my Leader gave me my 15kg Star (and my 7 week Achievement award as pictured above) and asked me for any tips on what I was doing that was helping in my weight loss. I have given some more thought to this and compiled a list as to what I think has helped me in my weight loss so far...

• Thinking and knowing I can do this. This time I have a totally different mindset involved. I began by thinking I WILL do this, and have never looked back
• Counting and tracking points religiously. I have found the online tracker invaluable and so easy to use. I hate writing it down manually and have found it so easy online.
• Weighing when in doubt. I often can estimate now and only weigh if the food is something I am not familiar enough with to "guesstimate".
• MOVE. It's been a year since the car accident and although I can't walk without pain, I have made a concentrated effort to increase my exercise, no matter how small. I don't look for the closest car park to the shop anymore, and I have started walking again with the kids. Aqua aerobics has become the exercise I adore and I do it at least once a week (unfortunately the other times it is on don't suit me due to work and the kids' activities on a Saturday morning).
• Cutting back on alcohol. Before WW I was drinking between 1-5 glasses of wine a day and many times it was late at night when I got home from work. And with the late night drinking always came the late night snacks (usually chips). I drank a lot after the car accident because it helped me to sleep and blocked out the pain along with the pain killers I was on. I still absolutely love my wine, but now I don't drink it on "school" nights and count it within my sugar points. I love chocolate, but offer me a glass of wine or a sweet and I would rather use the sugar points on the wine, thank you very much.
• Setting myself small goals. I felt so overwhelmed when I first weighed in at WW. How the hell did I let myself get to 131.9kg?!?!? And how the hell was I going to lose over 60kgs to get to my goal!?!? So, I set myself small goals of 5kg blocks. Fortunately WW rewards you with 5kg Stars, so it makes me more determined to get those little stars. I set myself a date that I want to lose the next 5kg by, and so far, so good. My "big" goals are to make it into the next weight bracket, ie. under 130kgs, under 120kgs, under 110kgs, etc. My ultimate goal at the moment is to make it under 100kg and into double digits by 1st January 2007.
• Tracking my Journey in a Blog. I kept a few diaries when I was a young girl, and kept diaries of both my pregnancies and my kids' lives so far, and then when I had the car accident I found a website called mybrokenleg.com which was full of helpful information for me from others with broken legs, so I started an online diary to keep track of my progress and record my emotions, especially since I encountered a period of depression that was tough to get through. I like to read back and see how far I have come and I love the fact I can post fat photos on my blog, and look forward to the day I can put up some skinny ones! It spurs me on to never look that way again!!
• Sucking Up the Support and Encouragement from Others. My friends and family have been extremely supportive of me since joining WW. Of course, they all want me to be healthy for my sake and that of my kids. I made the decision in the first week to let everyone know I was on WW so they could keep me on the straight and narrow (in the past I have never told anyone about it), and I knew that I would always be too embarrassed if I didn't succeed when they all knew about it! The WW boards on the website have introduced me to so many lovely people from all over Australia that are on the same journey, and it is easy to support them, just as they support me.
• Green Tea. My husband has been drinking this for a while now and I hated the taste of it. I am a tea drinker and always had my tea strong white with no sugar, but after joining WW I drank black tea as I wanted to save my points for other things rather than using them on milk. I then became accustomed to the taste of Green tea, and to say I love it is an understatement. I am addicted!!! And I have 3 or more cups a day of it. It is supposed to be terrific for weight loss, but I find it a great pick me up and when I feel I am getting a bit hungry, I have a cuppa first.
• My Husband Greg. Greg has been inspiring to me this year and achieved something I never thought he would or could do when he first told me about it - trekking the Kokoda Trail in 6 Days. He put his mind to it, and although sometimes he needed a kick up the bum to get motivated, he trained long and hard and pushed through physically and mentally to achieve his goal last month. He also raised over $2000 for the Starlight Foundation in the process! Greg has been my biggest supporter (although he sometimes leads me astray) and he is counting his points with me to lose weight as well, which makes it easier for me to stick to the program. His praise and encouragement are invaluable and most important to me, as are his sarcastic comments along the way!!

Week 14 - 15kgs Down, 46.9kgs to Go!!

I worked hard this week with extra exercise to make my next goal I had set for myself of achieving a 15kg loss. I needed to lose at least 900 grams this week to make it. I got to my meeting this morning and stepped on the scales and only lost 800 grams. I said to the girl weighing me that I was disappointed as I wanted to make my 15kg goal this week, and she suggested I quickly dash to the toilet and re-weigh myself. I was embarrassed to do it, but she persuaded me and after the smallest wee ever, I hopped back on the scales and couldn't believe it - I was 116.9kg. That tiny wee was 100 grams worth!! LESSON #1 - always wee immediately before being weighed! Absolutely hilarious and I am still laughing about it! I received my 15kg Star on my Bookmark, as pictured.
I have been brave the last week and have given some of my closest friends my blog address. I was previously embarrassed about them knowing my weight, but they are such a great support and offer the best encouragement that I thought it was time to show it to them. I also KNOW that I will be reaching my goal weight next year, and will never be this heavy again in my life, so why not show them where I started. Hi Jen & Bel!!! They're also on their own weight loss/healthy living journeys and are doing brilliantly. It's nice to have friends to share the experience with and who understand what you are going through.
My next goal is another 5 kilo loss, which will put me at 111.9kg. I have set myself the goal of achieving this by 14/9, which is 5 weeks from today. I achieved this goal today of 15kg two weeks ahead of schedule (I originally gave myself until 17/8 to be at 116.9kg), so I am hoping it I might be able to get ahead on the next goal as well. It's 85 sleeps until we go on holidays to the Gold Coast, and if I can lose 10 kilos before then I will be more than happy! And then it won't be far until the ultimate goal... being double digits under 100kgs!!!

10% Goal Blown Out of the Water

I was very determined this week to reach my next 2 goals which were to get under 120kg and reach 118.7kg which was my 10% goal set by Weight Watchers. I am happy to report that I had a great loss of 2.3kg this week, which made these goals achieveable and I am now weighing in at 117.8kg. I received my little star key ring to mark the 10% goal. Only a couple of kilos to go and I will be at the weight I was a year ago before my car accident. I am absolutely stoked!
As per my previous post, this week started as a bit of a struggle until I got hubby back to counting points. It wasn't actually him leading me astray, but I find I am easily swayed into having that extra glass of wine, etc. I had hotdogs on Saturday at the football (that we brought from home) and fish'n'chips with the kids on Sunday (although I had grilled fish), but I made sure I still stuck to my points. Because I was unable to get to aqua aerobics this week I walked the kids to Kinder on a few occasions. My daughter unfortunately struggles with these walks, otherwise I would do them every day. I am debating whether or not to purchase a cheap stroller for her if I am going to make a habit of it. The dog is also obviously not used to it since my car accident, as yesterday I was concerned she was going to drop dead after our hour long walk!!!! She is probably also not used to eating as much as she has been lately, as it was always me eating the kids leftovers, and now it is her!
Bought myself a new pair of earrings, a cute little stand for all my earrings and 2 miniature teapots (as I collect teapots) as a reward for myself for getting to my 10% goal. Greg and I also bought ourselves some new Saucony trainers so I can get out walking a lot more with support for my broken ankle (my physio has been nagging me to get some for ages).

Broken Ankle Update

I had my update with the Surgeon last Friday in regards to my broken ankle. It has been a year since the surgery to fix the ankle now (car accident was 13th July 2005) and I had a CT scan a couple of weeks ago to see how it is mending. Anyway, to cut a very long story short, the surgeon is happy with how the ankle is healing. I had a very serious break of my tibial plafond (the bottom of my tibia) as well as my fibula, and it looks that the tibia bone breaks are nearly completely healed. They don't want to remove any plates as yet, because if the break didn't hold it would result in a mess to try and mend in my ankle. The surgeon urged me to continue losing weight as he explained it is an impact of 6 times my actual weight on my ankle every time I walk. He wants me to continue with the physio twice weekly and in the pool as much as possible. I was so happy that I don't have to have surgery yet!!
On the other hand, I had a period of a few days there where I felt I was losing my way on WW. I just felt like this since hubby returned home, as I struggled with him being a bad influence on me, especially when it came to alcohol. Why I am not strong enough to say no when he offers a drink, I don't know. And I always know when I have a wine or two, I need a snack to go along with it! However, I have finally encouraged him to get back into counting his points, so am back on track again (as is he)!!! YIPPEE!!

Week 12 - The Damage is Done....

Weighed in this morning and have put on 100 grams! After the initial disappointment of gaining weight, I sat and thought about my week, and have decided I should be thankful that 100 grams was all the damage done as it could have been a hell of a lot worse. I have drank wine every day for the last week and a half, therefore blowing my "sugar" points right out of the water. I had half a large pizza, beer, wine and nibblies on Monday (smoked cheese, kabana, dips, etc), so I am very fortunate. I was also unable to exercise due to the difficulty of having 2 children full time whilst hubby was away, so I was able to do water aerobics once the whole week.
1.4kg to my 10% goal and although I said I was on a mission last week, this week I really mean it! I am going to try and exercise every day, no matter how little it is, drink all my water (which I replaced with wine last week!) and stick to my points. Easy!!!

10 Reasons Why I Want to Lose Weight

Someone started a thread on the WW boards about the 10 reasons why you want to lose weight. Here are my 10 reasons:-

1. I don't want my kids to be embarrassed of me when they get older and kids tease them for having a fat Mum
2. I want to be able to shop anywhere and not worry about having to go to the larger sizes stores
3. I want to buy beautiful matching underwear sets
4. I don't want to be embarrassed when I go to the pool/beach in bathers
5. I want to be slim and sexy for my husband
6. I want to help the recovery of my broken ankle with less weight for it to support
7. I want to shock people who haven't seen me in a while by them telling me how good I look, rather than them thinking "God she's put on weight since school", etc.
8. I want to go out all the time and enjoy life, rather than being embarrassed to be seen
9. I want to not worry about whether the seatbelt in a plane/taxi/car will fit me
10. I want to be healthy and grow old with my husband and be there for my kids when they have their own children

Week 11 - 50 Kilos to Go!!!

My aim for today 13/7/06 was to be in the "teens" - at least 119.9kg or less. Unfortunately today I weighed in at exactly 120kg! Just 100 grams more and I would have made my goal. Nevermind, I am happy anyway as I honestly was worried I would put on this week due to my lack of exercise (only one water aerobics session) and my alcohol intake whilst Greg is away. So I am very happy with a total loss of 11.9kg in 11 weeks.
As for Greg, he is home in one more sleep and I cannot wait to see him. He is in the local paper today with a nice picture and article on his fundraising for Starlight. The kids were very happy to see it. Have scanned a copy (at right).
Anyways, it is my aim this week to break my next 2 goals - get under 120kg and reach my 10% weightloss. In order to do that I have a total of 1.3kg to lose this week. I'm on a mission!!!!!

Measurements

Unfortunately I either forgot or couldn't be bothered measuring myself when I first joined Weight Watchers. What a shame!! I did so for the first time on 17th June, about 7 weeks into it. I measured myself again today, 3 1/2 weeks later and I have lost a total of 20cm! Very exciting!
The main loss has been on my belly with 7.5cm lost, neck 2.5cm, upper arm 1.5cm, boobs 3cm (Thank God!!!), Waist 0.5cm, hips 3.5cm, thigh 1cm and lastly calf 0.5cm. I am so very happy about it, and am a bit shocked to realise that not only is the weight coming off on the scales, but actually in my body mass as well! Hooray!!
4 Sleeps til hubby comes back!! Although I have been great with my eating whilst he has been gone, the bottles of wine have been going down waaaaayyyyyy too easy! Oh well.......

Week 10 - A Day of Mixed Emotions

I have had a good week, although limited in exercising. I was able to do aqua aerobics on Saturday, but then had to cancel Tuesday as my daughter was sick (and therefore I couldn't put her in the creche at the fitness centre). And the week was just busy and disorganised, so unable to get any walking done either. I also had a few too many wines (my ONLY downfall on the Weight Watchers program), and therefore went over my limit of 14 sugar points. I did still manage to lose 1.3kg, so I was once again very happy (and shocked!!). The total now lost in 10 weeks is 11.4kg! I only have to lose 500 grams to get under 120kg and 1.8kg to get to my 10% goal - how exciting!!!
However, I am sitting here very sad & sullen as my husband Greg is currently on a plane to Cairns. Tomorrow he flies to Port Moresby (PNG) and then on Saturday he starts his trek on the Kokoda Trail. It has only been about 2 hours since I saw him and I miss him already!!!! I don't know how I am going to last for 8 days!!!! I am very happy and excited for him, and I have been a nervous wreck with hardly any sleep all week, but now I just feel heavy hearted and sad. Only 8 sleeps to go (and they will be lonely ones!).

10.1 Kilos Down and 51.8 Kilos to Go!!!

Weighed in today and lost 600 grams. I'm a little disappointed, but I always weigh heavier when it is TTOM (that time of the month) so I expect a big loss next week. However, I did receive my 10kg Star on my bookmark (as pictured), and the group clapped me at my meeting, which was embarrassing but nice. The kids thought it was great!!! Total loss is now 10.1kgs so I have lost 16% of the total 61.9kg I need to lose to get to goal.
Still finding it really easy with the only difficulty I have encountered being sticking to the 14 Sugar points per week (especially with wine!!!). I have upped my exercise with adding a few walks with the kids which I am trying to do at least every second day. It has been nearly a year since the car accident, so it is nice to mark the anniversary by getting back to walking (well, a cross between waddling, limping and walking) & feeling "normal" again. The kids and dog are really enjoying the walks as well!!!
It is now only 7 sleeps until hubby Greg leaves for PNG and his trek on the Kokoda Trail. I couldn't sleep last night worrying about it, so no doubt I will have another 7 nights of restless sleep (if any at all) and then 8 nights of no sleep whilst he is away (although I'm looking forward to the week I am having off work while he is away!!) . He has started his own blog on the trip (see link on right).

Fat Photos Taken Today - Oh My God!

I had my husband take some photos of me this morning before I left for aqua aerobics (in my t-shirt & board shorts), so here I am in all my glory. I am shocked at how horrible I still look after losing 9.5kg (I can imagine how I looked 8 weeks ago!), but it has made me more determined to move my butt!!

Motivation and Inspiration

In case you can't read it in pink, it says "Nothing tastes as good as being slim feels". I heard this quote at a Weight Watchers Meeting a few years ago when I joined after I had my first child, and it is something that has always stuck at the back of my mind.

I am also posting a photo of me from when I was 21 as inspiration. I always used to think I was so fat back then! What I would give to be that "fat" again!!! Take note of the size of the video camera back in 1993 - it's a wonder it didn't break my arm with the weight of it!!!

Week 8 - Total Loss 9.5kgs

Well I am absolutely stoked!! I lost 2.3kgs this week, making it an exact total of 9.5kgs lost. Only 500 grams to lose to receive my 10kg Star and I am on a mission to make sure I lose at least that next week. VERY VERY pleased with myself today, and I am really noticing the difference in my clothes. I was able to fit into my old Size 18 boardshorts last night, although they are not yet comfortable enough to wear, so will wait another couple of months for that. Just dying to lose a bit of weight off my breasts!!!

A Bit About Me....

Just thought I would show you some pictures in regards to my life. The first is a pic of my kids taken in May this year. Callum is 5 and Paige is 3 1/2. They are gorgeous kids, although they can be quite a handful when they want to be. Family portrait also added with my hubby Greg.
The next pictures are of my x-rays and my car when I had my car accident on July 13th 2005. A drunk driver hit a traffic island whilst speeding in the rain and hit me head on when I was on my way home from work late one night. I broke both my tibia & fibula in my left leg, and my break on my tibia is called a tibial plafond, which is a very serious break from which not all recover. I also broke my big toe on my right foot, so was unable to get around on crutches, and I remember July through to September last year as the worst time of my life. Very hard & a big struggle for both me & my family to get through, both mentally and physically. Unfortunately for me, 11 months later I am still unable to walk without pain or a limp. I am waiting to see if further surgery to remove one of my plates is necessary.
So, aqua aerobics and swimming is it for me for excercise. It is painful to walk too far and I can't do excercise videos at home because I can't get down on the floor (my left knee is still injured from the accident as well).

15th June - 7 weeks and Not Happy!!!

I had my weekly weigh in today and I gained 300 grams. I was (and still am) absolutely devastated! I had my suspicions beforehand that I may gain, due to the fact I was a bit "lenient" with my sugar and alcohol points this week. It also didn't help that I was unable to get to the pool at all with the hubby out walking the 3 days of the long weekend, in his preparation for the Kokoda Trail in three weeks time. My son was also sick, so I couldn't get the kids into the creche at my pool (the pool being the only exercise I can do due to my recovery from my broken ankle). I am disappointed that I am limited in the types of exercise I can do, especially since I can't get on the floor to do any workouts on DVD or anything like that.
When I got home from the weigh in, it did cross my mind to "pig out" in retaliation as I would have in the past, but thankfully I realised what I was thinking was the wrong thing to do, and I made myself a healthy snack instead. I am going to work extra hard this week and get to the pool at least twice, and am determined to lose over a kilo next week!!! I still should be happy that I have lost 7.2kg in 7 weeks!!!

Virtual Julie

I have seen some other people on the Weight Watchers website who have created virtual models of themselves, so thought I would give it a go for a bit of fun.

First one is my goal weight - 70kg
Second is my start weight - 131.9kg

12th June 2006 - 6 Weeks In

A photo of me with my daughter Paige when she started 3 yo Kinder - taken in Feb 2006. I couldn't find a more recent one as photos of me are few and far in between - I am too fat for my photo to be taken!

I have lost 7.5 kgs in 6 weeks and now weigh 124.4kg. I am absolutely delighted and have found the journey surprisingly easy! I think a huge part of it being so easy is that my husband is following the program and counting points with me. He is off to do the Kokoda Trail in PNG in 4 weeks time, so has been walking a lot (a 6 hour walk in the Dandenongs today), and he has dropped well over 20kgs in the last few months. He is an inspiration to me and we are keeping each other on track.
I think I have a whole new mindset in regards to losing weight this time. I know I HAVE to do it, and have just come to thinking that I WILL do it. No matter how long it takes, I am going to stick to Weight Watchers. And I am really loving it.
I found it challenging at first to be planning our meals all the time, but now I am enjoying all the cooking I am doing. Excercising was always going to be an issue since I am recovering from a broken ankle and leg, and will never be able to walk properly again in my lifetime, but I have found I absolutely love aqua aerobics and I am doing it between once & three times a week! It is definitely helping me to keep motivated and moving!
The other thing is, I am telling everyone I know that I am on Weight Watchers. I used to join up and not tell anyone, because I knew I would waver and stop going after a few weeks, and didn't want to be embarrassed, but I think that because I am telling anyone who will listen about it, that it is keeping me strong - I won't ever be embarrassed to tell them that I am not going anymore - because that is just not going to happen!
The Weight Watcher website is also terrific. I find counting points in the online planner so easy and enjoyable, because in the past I absolutely hated writing down my daily points. I also find the Message Boards a terrific source of inspiration, and check them out all the time.
My WW 5kg bookmark is displayed proudly on the fridge!