Who's The Cat That Got the Cream??

Ah, wedded bliss!!!

I met Greg when we were both working at the major petroleum company's head office in the Melbourne CBD.  It was my first (and only) job in the city, and God how I loved working at the top end of Melbourne, near Parliament house.  Lunchtimes were spent shopping (goodbye pay-packet!!), or eating out (hello expanding waistline), and Friday's after work were spent with work colleagues drinking to excess (Well Hi There Sailor!).  I look back so fondly on those days - some of the best days of my life!  It was an enjoyable job, a great company to work for (with a nice discount on petrol!!), and brilliant work colleagues that were great to socialise with after hours.  I was single for the most part, and living on my own, and life was just one big friggen fantastic party!!!!

Those calves!!!

I'd been working there a few years when this big red haired fella started contracting there.  He was full of himself, obnoxious, crude, overweight, drank too much and he fancied one of my friends.  Of course, I was smitten!!!

It wasn't until a week before I was moving overseas to the UK that we finally got together.  My trip overseas was cut short to 3 only months, as I came home for him.  Not long after that, the big red head and I got pregnant, moved in together & got married (yeah, not quite the traditional order of way to do things!!!!).  We were both overweight, unhealthy, drinking too much, but happy & in love.  I look back now & wonder what I saw in that big oaf.  Bu then he could probably say the same thing about me!!!

Fast forward 14 years.  

I'm now married to a fit, healthy and handsome forty year old.  A terrific father to our kids.  With great calves to boot!  And no, I didn't have to get remarried!!  I couldn't be prouder of him & his achievements in the last 10 months!

Who's the cat that got the cream?  Yep, that's me!!

Our 11th Wedding Anniversary in Sydney

Why Do I Want to Lose Weight?

Someone asked this in one of the 12wbt groups on facebook the other day.  It made me stop in my tracks.  "Why do I want to lose weight?".  I've never thought about it so bluntly before.  The list of "whys" is probably endless, but here are some I've come up with...

1. I don't want to be fat anymore.
2. I hate the feeling of embarrassment that comes with being fat.  Like when I am eating out, and people look to see what food choices I am making, because as a fat person, sometimes you shouldn't be eating "that".  Yep, it's true, and I know it's true cause I have found myself recently walking through a food court at a shopping complex & looking at what overweight people are eating!!!
3. I want to have a healthy body, to enable it to live for a long time to be around to see my kids grow up
4. I don't want my kids to be fat by following in the footsteps of their mother.  I want to be the best role model I possibly can be!
5. I want to feel strong and fit.  I love the feeling that exercise brings to me now, and how strong & fit I feel in comparison to what I used to be!
6. I want to look good and feel sexy
7. I want to be able to buy & wear nice clothes, not just something that I wear because it fits.  
8. I want to be able to do anything I set my mind to.

I could go on & on with this list, but I think they are the 8 most important to me.

Another question that was asked : What's you ultimate reward for goal & what's your magic number.

65 has always been my magic number, but I'll just go by whatever my body is comfortable at.  I never thought I'd see the day I was in double digits, so I now know anything is possible!  And it's bloody exciting.  I have no idea what I will reward myself with when I get there - maybe just a nice piece of jewellery or a family portrait.  Just something to remind me of the special occasion.  Can't wait!

I had a visit to the physio last week & did some acupuncture in my leg.  Since then, I have been in such pain, so much so that it actually wakes me from my sleep when I move my leg.  Will organise another visit to see what's going on. It's not the first time I've had it done, although it has been a few years.  I don't recall it hurting as much afterwards.

Weigh in this week saw me lose 300gms.  I have eaten over my 1200 calories on too many occasions and not exercised very much at all.  I'm not phased by it though - I'm cemented in double digits & that's where I'm staying.  I am going to take it easy the next 2 weeks, as there is just SOOO much going on with Finale & I am working a hell of a lot, and then I'll get ready to go full throttle in my next round.

The family before the run

Saturday night we did the Glow Run with the kids. Greg wasn't very impressed with the organisation of it.  It definitely wasn't what we expected.  There were 4 small tents along the route that had DJs and lighting.  We both expected the whole course to be lit up.  Running proved difficult as I had sore toes & Paige wore inappropriate footwear (of course you wouldn't wear runners to a FUN RUN!!!!), but we all had a ball (except Greg!) and I will do it again with the kids next time.  The 2 little ones fell asleep in the pram early on into it, but Owen did wake up to cross the finish line.

Running over the finish line.

Onwards & downwards....

The Dreaded Gastro Bug

I've nothing much to post since my last entry.  On Sunday I woke up with an upset tummy, which seemed to go away as quickly as it came on.  But then Monday both myself & my 5yo Owen were unwell.  Then my daughter came down with it Monday night.  It seems everyone is now fit & well in the house except for me, as I am still feeling nausea with my belly in knots.

Weigh in this week saw a loss of 700gms.  I honestly thought it would be more with the bout of gastro. It's been interesting to see the scales not move, as obviously my body went into survival mode and stored everything I had to get through the sickness.  Unfortunately no exercise the last few days, and I will wait until I am 100% to get back into it.


So, that's my boring update!  2 more weigh ins to go & then Finale.  Cannot wait!

No Holds Barred - 3 Weeks to Go!

Weigh in this morning saw a measly loss of 600gms.  Thinking about what I consumed whilst away (and to be honest the day after I got home from holidays as well), I am lucky to have any loss at all!  But I have worked hard with exercise & trying to keep on track with my eating.  I started tracking my food again on My Fitness Pal, and quickly discovered I was eating well over my 1200 calories a day - it's so easy to do, even with clean food!  A handful of almonds here, an extra coffee there, a rice cracker or five as I pass the kitchen, and I was over my calories!  My gorgeous friend Heather in Perth is keeping an eye on my food diary, so I am keeping myself in check.

The Western Warriors punching it out

Exercise has been consistent!  Saturday we had our usual garage session.  It was our 8 week Mini milestone week on the 12wbt, so 13 of is got together for a great workout.  Such a great bunch of local people we've met on the 12wbt.

Sunday I had a Vic Crew workout.  It consisted of a triple class workout - Body Step, Body Pump & a choice of either RPM or Zumba.  I was late & missed the Body Step class due to being in Geelong that morning (will explain why further on), but made it for Body Pump & RPM.  I'd never done Pump before, and loved it!  And I really wish I had of been brave enough to give my unco-ordinated body a go at Zumba, as it looked like a lot of fun.  Monday I had a nice 7.2km stroll with some local 12wbters & last night another garage session.  I always find exercise difficult on school holidays, so haven't been stressing too much about it with the kids home, but thankfully it's been easy to get some workouts done. I know I'll get right back into my riding next week when our routine is back in place, and the kids are back at school & Kinder.

The 12wbt Vic Crew Triple Workout

On Ya Bike!

Body Pump... Loved it!

Greg had a huge day on Sunday with his first attempt at a Half Marathon.  He has signed up for one in July, but when a friend had to pull out of the Geelong one on Sunday, he thought he'd take her place & give it a crack.  What was the worst that could happen?  He would have to walk some of it.  To date, his longest run had been 14km.  And I couldn't believe it when he finished it on Sunday morning & he announced he ran the WHOLE BLOODY WAY!!  21.1kms!  I still can't believe it!  So very, very proud of him & how far he's come, my half marathon man!!!!

Crossing the finish line, with Owen & Aidan cheering on

Absolutely stuffed!

So only 3 more weeks to go on this round of 12wbt, and I'm keen as mustard to sign up for the next round as well.  As usual, I'm not going to hit the goals I've set for this round.  I always aim high & expect to do as well as I did in my first round, but as long as I keep going, the scales will get there.  I weigh 99kgs as of this morning, and I've set myself a short goal of finishing under 95kgs by the end of the round.  4kgs in 3 weeks should be a piece of piss if I work hard & stick with the nutrition.  I just cannot imagine what it would be like to see the scales staring back at me with a number in the 94s!

Bring it on!  25 days left!  LET'S GO!

Make the Impossible Possible!

This week's 12wbt challenge is to tell Michelle in less than 100 words how we've defied our own expectations and started to achieve amazing things.  This is my entry:

Since starting the 12wbt, I have found ANYTHING is possible!

P articipated in my first every triathlon!

O ne push up done on my toes - MY FIRST EVER!!!

S ydney Harbour Bridge climb conquered

S mashed double digits - weighing the lightest I've weighed in 10 years

I can now do sit-ups, for the very first time!

B ecoming the best role model I can be for my 4 kids

L oving & living life to the fullest

E very SSS I train with fellow local 12wbters in my garage workout session

12 Years Ago Today.....

....I gave birth to the most beautiful baby I'd ever seen (don't all us mothers think their babies are the most beautiful?).  He was perfect in every way.  Greg and I had no idea what we were in for, since it was a "surprise" pregnancy, and we were only new into our relationship, but the love & joy we felt on that day when we lay our eyes on our newborn son can never be explained.

And today Callum turns 12.  I just cannot believe it.  I've felt teary all morning.  Not sure if it is because i've been reminiscing about that amazing day 12 years ago, or if I am lamenting that my eldest is growing up.  Or if it is just the realisation that I am getting old!!!!

So, today my baby enters his last year before becoming a teenager.  And I can't believe how proud I am of him.  He's such a lovely kid.  Sweet, loving, kindhearted, caring, and a brilliant big brother to his younger sister & younger brothers.

Happy Birthday Callum!!! xx

No Regrets

We've been away on our Easter break to Cobram.  It started off well, with glorious sunny weather, great relaxation time, and lots of time to get plenty of exercise done.  I actually didn't miss not drinking alcohol on our holiday, which was something I was worried about.

Easter was indulgent, and although I hadn't planned on being "naughty", indeed I was.  Very naughty indeed.  Chocolate, it seems, is my nemesis, especially when TTOM (That Time Of the Month) is looming!  Aidan became sick over the last 5 days of our holiday, which resulted in no exercising time for me.  All this added up to a gain of a kilo on the scales come weigh in day.  That triple figure of 100kgs is looming too close for my liking!  Time to get back into the saddle.

So, yes, I have been feeling 'regretful' about my choice over the week away.  Two nights of eating at buffet style dinners with large portions on my plate (including desserts!), and a dinner of Chinese takeaway.  But, of course, it is only one week out of the rest of my life.

The old saying of "no regrets" has been spinning around in my head for a few days.  It is hard not to have regrets.  Some of the things I would think that I regret are:-

1. Getting my hair permed when I was 16
2. Wearing that blue taffeta dress to a ball when I was 15
3. Breaking the heart of Lennie when I was 17 - such a gorgeous bloke who didn't deserve me being such a bitch to him
4. Not buying a house when I had an opportunity to at the age of 24, and then at 27, instead of squandering my money away!
5. Not staying in London on my first trip to the UK.  I had a British passport & no reason not to - except for my dog Daisy, for who I came home.
6. Quitting my Credit Job after 8 years at the sugar refinery at the age of 25 - so close to long service leave & such a great job for someone at my age.
7. Not stopping before leaving work for the toilet even though I was busting to go, on that fateful night in July 2005.  If I had of stopped to go to the toilet, I would have missed the head on collision with the drunk driver.

There are dozens of others I can think of, too numerous to list of course.  But I could offer up the argument that I don't regret any of these events because:-

1. Had I not had a perm, I wouldn't have known how bad my hair looked with a spiral curl
2. I wouldn't have been "in" without that blue taffeta dress, which was all the rage when I was 15
3. If I hadn't broken up with him, Lennie would have been stuck with someone who treated him like shit, instead of someone who deserved his kind heart
4. Buying a house, I would have spent all my money on a mortgage & not travelled overseas
5. Planting my roots in London, I wouldn't have come home from my UK holiday to a new job, where I met Greg!!!
6. As above, not quitting my sugar refinery job, would have meant I wouldn't have the new job where I met Greg!
7. Without the head on collision, I wouldn't have been given a new appreciation for how precious life is!  And the old saying about your life flashing before your eyes is absolutely true!

By far, the one thing I can say that I may regret at this very moment in my life is that I didn't start the 12wbt sooner.  But that is something I can't change, so maybe it is true I don't really have any regrets.  Live in the "now", not looking back on what could have been.  I will make sure I live with no regrets!!

Week 7 Weigh In

Loss of 700gms for me today.  Of course I'm always hoping for larger losses, but every bit counts in the grand scheme of things.  My goal for this week was to be in the 98's, to cement myself away from that 100kg mark for good.  And I did it!

Exercise is going brilliantly this week, and will only get better.  We're going away to our caravan in Cobram, and as we're off the booze, there'll be lots of gym sessions, bike rides & swimming.  Cannot wait!

I hope you all have a brilliant Easter break.  I know I'll be indulging in hot cross buns & Easter eggs, but I'll be making sure I put in extra to work them off!

It's The Little Things!

I was a bit disappointed with my weigh last Wednesday - 99.3kgs.  A loss of 600gms.  Yeah sure, a loss is a loss, but I still felt disappointed after a week of pretty perfect nutrition & good exercise.  Sure, I had an extra couple of rest days during the week, but I had stuck to my guns about not eating after dinner.  My ONLY downfall for the week, and it was a little one, was that I had a couple of extra skinny lattes on the weekend from our coffee machine.

Greg reminds me that it can sometimes take a week for the scales to catch up, which is definitely true, so I just have to keep doing what I'm doing.

However, I've had a few good reminders over the last week about non-scale wins.  Here's a run down of them...

• I went for a 45km bike ride with a friend who I consider to be fit.  But she struggled, and it took us 4 1/2 hours to do a ride that would usually take me less than 2 hours.  It made me remember back to when I had struggled to ride 8kms only 12 months ago, and how much my bike fitness has improved.  I am so overwhelmed with pride at how far I've come (and how fast I am on the bike now!)
• My engagement ring flew off my finger last night in the car.  I can't wear it or my wedding band anymore for fear of losing them.  Will get them resized when I am at goal.  
• On a plane on the weekend, I realised I had a huge overlap of the seatbelt, and it was comfortable.  I remember I had to get a seat belt extension for our flight to Malaysia years ago.  No more squashing into airline seats & overflowing onto the seats beside me.  No more struggling to get the seatbelt done up!  *Big fist pump!!*
• Being on a weekend away with Greg, I realised that we now ALWAYS make wise food choices when out & about.  It's just what we prefer to do!  And we flew interstate with all our snacks packed so we wouldn't be caught out.  We are actually LIVING this life now!  And loving it!
• And whilst on the weekend away, we chose to spend Saturday doing the walk from Maroubra to Bronte Beach, just because we could!
• My fitness just keeps improving, and I can do things I only dreamed of - like tricep dips.  Yep, I can do them now (and no, I don't like them!!!)
• I am actually looking for fun runs/walks that we can do as a family.  If I see one advertised I check the dates, my work roster, Greg's availability & if we can actually do it as a family.  Who is this woman??  The new ME!!!
• I have collar bones! 

  

  An amazing 10km walk we did on Saturday!

  
  

  

  Wedding Anniversary Lunch at Doyle's in Watsons Bay 

So, a great little list of things that actually remind me why I am doing this, how far I've come in 10 months, and how great the future is for us.  

I've been sitting here drinking my new love, Lady Grey tea.  Move over Green tea, there's a new boss in town!  Delicious!  Apparently Nigella used to promote it.  I love my coffee, but there is something therapeutic about a nice cup of tea in the afternoon & evening.  I'm looking forward to my cold winter evenings with my uggs boots on, and a nice cuppa in hand.  I definitely prefer Summer, but Winter is great for good nutrition with yummy hearty soups & casseroles for dinner - delish!  Can't wait!

Anyway, I digress.... I am sitting here with my cuppa, and have just had a read back on my blog to June 2012, when we started on the 12wbt.  I can't believe what a grumpy emotional troll I was!!!  I remember that very first week & how hard it was, and that the first night it took me over 2 hours to burn 500 calories & I was a sobbing helpless mess, thinking that the program was a farce!  

I will be forever grateful to the "guru" Michelle Bridges, for attempting to do something so major as tackle Australia's obesity crisis.  I'm thankful for my bestie Jenny who told me about the 12wbt & said it was this amazing new program that seemed "right", and her encouragement since the very start.  And of course, I'll be forever thankful for the support I get from Greg, who I couldn't have done this without!  Together we're a force to be reckoned with!

Beautiful Sydney

Today Is Your Day

I just can't explain it, but it is so surreal that I am in the 90s now!  I weighed myself about 100 times this morning every time I was near the bathroom, just to be sure I wasn''t dreaming!  I even took photos EVERY time!  Yep, ridiculous, but can you tell I'm excited?

Yep still double digits!

I went for a quick ride this morning.  I estimate it was about 30kms, because I unfortunately turned my GPS tracker off half way accidentally. I couldn't believe how quick I felt I was riding with a head wind - only 22kms per hour, but my legs just felt so strong & fast & I felt like I was flying.  I have times like these, they're not often, probably every couple of months, where I notice the difference in my body.  How much stronger I am.  How much fitter I am.

I remember when I first started riding earlier last year and at a particular corner on a bike track near home I had to slow down to get around it.  I felt awkward by the fact I wasn't agile enough on the bike to lean into the corner and take it quickly, as a normal cyclist would do.  It wasn't until today that I realised I don't slow at that corner anymore.  I don't know when it happened, but I am obviously a lot more agile on the bike & fitter & stronger.

It's days like today that make me happy to be alive, make me thankful for all that I have around me, reminds me of how quickly it can be all taken away (as the events in the last few days have proven).

Melbourne - the best city in the world!

From the wise Dr Seuss:-

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own.  And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

You'll look up and down streets.  Look 'em over with care.
About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there."
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

And you may not find any
you'll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you'll head straight out of town.

It's opener there
in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen,
don't worry.  Don't stew.
Just go right along.
You'll start happening too.

OH!
THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!

You'll be on your way up!
You'll be seeing great sights!
You'll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.

You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed.
You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you'll be the best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don't
Because, sometimes, you won't.

I'm sorry to say so
but, sadly, it's true
and Hang-ups
can happen to you.

You can get all hung up
in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on.
You'll be left in a Lurch.

You'll come down from the Lurch
with an unpleasant bump.
And the chances are, then,
that you'll be in a Slump.

And when you're in a Slump,
you're not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done.

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.
Some windows are lighted.  But mostly they're darked.
A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin!
Do you dare to stay out?  Do you dare to go in?
How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And IF you go in, should you turn left or right...
or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?
Or go around back and sneak in from behind?
Simple it's not, I'm afraid you will find,
for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

You can get so confused
that you'll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place...

...for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or a No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.

NO!
That's not for you!

Somehow you'll escape
all that waiting and staying.
You'll find the bright places
where Boom Bands are playing.

With banner flip-flapping,
once more you'll ride high!
Ready for anything under the sky.
Ready because you're that kind of a guy!

Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done!
There are points to be scored.  there are games to be won.
And the magical things you can do with that ball
will make you the winning-est winner of all.
Fame!  You'll be famous as famous can be,
with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when they don't.
Because, sometimes, they won't.

I'm afraid that some times
you'll play lonely games too.
Games you can't win
'cause you'll play against you.

All Alone!
Whether you like it or not,
Alone will be something
you'll be quite a lot.

And when you're alone, there's a very good chance
you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you won't want to go on.

But on you will go
though the weather be foul
On you will go
though your enemies prowl
On you will go
though the Hakken-Kraks howl
Onward up many
a frightening creek,
though your arms may get sore
and your sneakers may leak.

On and on you will hike
and I know you'll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.

You'll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You'll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life's
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So...
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
you're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!

Double Digits Baby!!!!

YEAH BABY!

I did it!
I conquered my Everest!

My bathroom mirror counting down!

99.9kgs!
I'm there!

I've been sitting here infront of this computer screen for ages trying to put into words my feelings, but there is nothing I can write to express my elation of getting past that bloody 100kg point.  Sure, it's a physical weight thing, but for me it was a mental game.  And I won!

What a bloody huge week for me....

• I nearly ran for a whole 2kms pushing a pram with 35+ kilos in it
• I did my first ever sit up (and did 50 of them last night!!!!)
• I did my first ever push up on my toes
• I made double digits!

And now I need to ensure this week I go hard & cement myself under the 100kgs so I don't slip back over it - EVER!!!  I'm on a mission to get into the 80s before the end of the round.  BRING IT ON!!!

And I have started "Mission: Finale Dress", just like my beloved Kate & her "Operation Yellow Dress".  I bought a beautiful dress before the last finale and it has been too tight for the zip to do up.  Damn these big boobs!!!  I was hoping I would be able to wear it for our Wedding Anniversary on the 23rd March, but it is still too tight, so I've made it my goal for finale.  I will wear this dress to finale!!!


On a sadder note, one of my dearest friend's Mother passed away last night.  She was taken far too quickly by Motor Neurone Disease.  From the time my friend found out her mother had this cruel disease until her passing yesterday, was far too short a time.  I am so lucky to have this gorgeous friend in my life, and she is a living testament to what a beautiful soul her mother was.

It puts everything into perspective.  Tell your family you love them every day.  Tell your friends you love them every day.  Life passes by so quickly for all the bullshit that goes on.  Treasure your loved ones.  Live a healthy and meaningful life.

RIP Marie x

Greg puts it all into words so much better than me.  Check out his latest post here.

Nearly There!!!

This morning's sneaky weigh in.... 100.2kgs!!!!



I am NEARLY there!  And of course, straight away the heart palpitations started, the shortness of breath and the thoughts of "I just CAN'T be under 100kgs".  But one thing has changed - there were no thoughts of self sabotage!!  I didn't immediately think of what I could eat to be rid of these thoughts & keep me at my comfortable weight.  I thought of what I would eat today at a BBQ I am going to and what exercise I would do to ensure I was in double digits this Wednesday.  That's an immediate win for me - no self sabotage thoughts.

Why is getting into double digits so important to me?

I was at the hospital about to give birth to Paige by caesarian when they weighed me & I was just over 100kgs.  I remember my embarrassment at weighing so much, and how horrified I was to be in triple digits.  I was 41+ weeks pregnant!  And although I would have lost weight with the birth of Paige to get me into double digits, I never actually weighed myself, so have never known myself to be in double digits since then.

Weight wasn't a big issue to me then.  I had a 20 month old son, and a newborn daughter, and a husband who loved me unconditionally.  I don't even think we owned a set of scales back then.   I knew I was overweight.  I knew Greg was overweight.  But we were both blissfully happy in our little cocoon - we were newly weds, had 2 gorgeous little kids & a circle of wonderful family & friends.  We had a huge social life to boot, which added to the food & drinking and weight gain.  But life was good.  No, actually, life was bloody brilliant!!!

Roll on 10 years, and the weight just kept piling on.  There were periods of huge weightloss (30+ kilos lost on Weight Watchers), with me only to pile it back on when I got close to double digits. Bloody double digits - my nemesis!  My unattainable goal.  My Everest.

Until now.

I will conquer this.

Watch me!

Thank You!

I know I've mentioned it previously in posts, but we have a garage session at our house on Saturday mornings with some of our local 12wbters.  These guys & gals thank us all the time for opening our home up to them.  What they don't realise is that they are doing US the favour!  It allows Greg and I to train together in a group without having to worry about someone to look after the 4 kids for us.  It's fun & a great way to get together with other like minded people.  So to those Western Warriors who join us on Saturday mornings....

THANK YOU!

At yesterday's training session I made sure that everyone watched as I did a sit-up!  I'm not very good at them, and wasn't able to do many of them, but I am so proud of myself that I can now do them!  I never thought I would have strong enough tummy muscles to heave this massive body up.  I can't believe how far I've come!

Boxing it out

I announced how my next goal was to do a push up on my toes, so they all encouraged me to try, and I did it!!!!  Not one, but five pushups on my toes!  Sure, my technique needs improvement, but if it wasn't for the support of the fantastic members of the Western Warriors, then I wouldn't have even tried to do it as I didn't think I could do it!!!  Can't believe that no one got a photo of me doing it!!!

Squats - my favourite exercise

Mel, one of the girls there, suggested I start doing wall pushups, where you lean against a wall in the pushup stance and I can build up my arm strength that way.  So yesterday on my breaks at work, I did my usual running up and down the stairs in my building & whenever I reached the top landing I did 20 wall pushups.  My arms today are screaming at me, but I am loving it!!!

I've added in a couple of photos my daughter took of me during the session yesterday.  I couldn't stop looking at these photos of me - sure I am still overweight & have a long way to go, but I think I am finally starting to really notice the changes in my body.   I can feel the changes, but looking at these photos, I can really see the changes too.

So now another thing has been crossed off my bucket list today - one push up on my toes!!!  Life just keeps getting better!!

OMG OMG OMG Newsflash!!!!

I can't believe I forgot to mention this in my earlier post!!!  I crossed another thing off my bucket list!!  Yesterday, I managed to do my first EVER sit up!  Well, my first ever whilst being morbidly obese.  And I cried!  I never dreamed this flabby old tummy of mine would have enough muscle to hoist me up off the ground, but I did it!!!  A sit up!!!

WHOO HOOOO!!!!

Next task, a push up on my toes!

Brooks Sunset Series Pictures

We just received some pictures of Wednesday night's event...

Mini Milestone Week

The boys and I ready to go!

This week marks Week 4 of the 12wbt and what is called "Mini Milestone" week.  Greg and I have never done anything for our 4 weekly mini milestones, but I did mention to him I would like to start doing something every 4 weeks to mark these.

The boys wanted to run over the finish line with me!

So, on Wednesday night we did the Brooks Sunset Series Fun Run/Walk.  Greg once again did the 8km run, in hot sticky conditions.  I'm just so proud of how far he's come!   I did the 4km walk with the 3 boys.  Paige missed out on the fun as she was at Ballet.   Callum, my eldest boy, commented how bored he was with walking at the 2km point, so we decided to run.  I can't say that I ran the whole 2kms, as I did stop & walk to catch my breath 3 times, but I must say, I can't believe that I actually did it!  I ran!!!  And it was easier than I expected!  Many runners passing me were just so lovely with their comments of support & to tell me how great I was doing pushing a pram laden with 2 kids.  It was so uplifting and actually brought a tear to my eye at one stage.  To those dozen or so anonymous people who made comments to me - THANK YOU!!  It made me keep on running!

Greg crossing the finish line

Weigh in this week saw a little loss of 400gms on the scales.  I am trying to not be disheartened about it.  I can feel my body changing, and actually see the difference the last 4 weeks have made.  I am feeling strong & healthy & will just keep going.  One thing I am making a conscience effort of changing this week, is to not eat after dinner.  I have noticed the last couple of weeks I have been having an evening snack, even if it puts me over my calories for the day.  So from now on I am not eating after dinner & will stick with my green tea, except on Saturdays when I will have a 12wbt dessert or a Skinny Cow icecream for treat night.  I am sure it will make a difference on the scales next week.

After the run/walk

My exercise & calorie burning over the last week wasn't as big as the one before, but I am really enjoying the regular exercise.  I am loving being able to get out on the bike on my childfree days and did 40km ride on Monday, and a 26km ride yesterday.  My new bike is an absolute dream to ride.

Cruising at Williamstown Beach

This morning Greg signed up for the Run Melbourne half marathon on July 21st.  Who is this man?!?!  The man I married weighed 156kgs not so long ago, and now he is training for a half marathon!  Just amazing!!!  So, I thought stuff it, I will sign up for the 5km run/walk as well.  Okay, not such a big thing as a half marathon, but for me, it's a big goal I am setting myself - and I am going to try & run as much of it as I can!!!  Callum signed up for the kids 3km run the day before.  I just love having the kids involved!!!!

So, is this our new life?  Bike rides, fun runs/walks with the kids, 4 weekly mini milestones?

If so, I am bloody loving it!!!

Aidan showing us his pushups technique

FINALLY!!!!

Finally the scales are moving in the right direction!!!  Woot Woot!  A loss of 1.9kgs this week and now weighing in at 101.7kgs.  Once again I am staring down the barrel of double digits, and already I am panicking.  Stupid thoughts are running through my head - "What will I look like at 90kgs?", "Surely my body is meant to weigh over 100kgs!", etc.  I will NOT let these thoughts derail me.  I have my eye on the prize and I am determined to blow that 100kgs out of the water within the next 2 weeks.

I.CAN.DO.THIS!!!!

A big 12wbt cook up!

I burnt a total of 3994 calories last week.  That's the biggest week of exercise I have ever done!  I've set the bar very high, but it is my goal from now on to burn at least 3500 calories a week (5x500cals + 1x1000cals) which is what we're supposed to do on the 12wbt program anyway, but something I've never been able to achieve.  I want this, and I will do this!!!

Pretty nails!

I rewarded my hard work over the last couple of weeks with getting my nails done today!!  After biting my nails all my life, it's nice to have nails now that can look nice.  Ah, it's the little things!  But sitting in the nail salon today, it did get me thinking about habits, like nail biting.  All my life, well as long as I can remember, I've been a nail biter.  I would go through periods of not biting my nails and growing them long for a week or a month or so, before biting them all down to the quick again if something stressed me out.  It was a VERY hard habit to break, but I am glad I did break it last year.  And I guess it's the same with any habit - smoking, drinking wine nightly, overeating!  It's bloody hard to break the habit, but once you do, how great do you feel?  And it's the habits of exercising regularly, eating well, drinking water, that are the habits we don't want to break!!!

Onwards & downwards....

Tonight's dinner - Nasi Goreng.  YUM!