oooh 20 days

Since I last posted - very slack of me. I've been flat out basically. At work that is.

Had my knee op which went well - different result than expected, he excised a medial plica and debrided some blistering on the back of my patella. I played volleyball last week and am back to bellydancing today. I can run again in 9 days. I had put on a fair bit before the op - I believe I was 72.7 or so. So the fact that I completely eliminated exercise for a while didn't help and I finished up hovering between 72.5-73. As of this morning I am 72.2. So while I won't be paying tomorrow, I will be well over Goal. I will go to meetings every week this month til I am back under Goal and under 70. That's where I want to be.

Wish me luck!

Well I'm off tomorrow to have my arthroscope. Hopefully this means my knee will be all fixed and I can run again in 4 weeks time. I vow to wait for it to heal before I go doing anything silly!

Didn't weigh in this week, it can wait til after the op and after the scales are more friendly. I have just finished 5 nights in a row of eating out and I'm a bit sick of it frankly! So hopefully this week at home will be more friendly even if I can't exercise much at all. Again - wish me luck!

It's Wednesday and all's well

Well I had my job interview yesterday which went as well as it could have I think. It's not my area of expertise, but I think I carried myself ok. I doubt I'll get an offer though!

The festival of Graeme was held on the weekend. It was a good weekend full of too much good food. Oh well. My battle is to get a bit of it off before I weigh in next week. It'll happen, I'm not too fussed.

For once in my life I'm a tad lost for words. I must be tired. In fact I know I'm tired! We're going to a friend's place for dinner tonight, out tomorrow night, out Friday night, out Saturday night... when will it end! How am I meant to get any weight off!!! Oh well, it'll happen.

Yet another Friday

Good afternoon. Well, it's been an eventful week sort of. I haven't been well - I'm just so run down I think so wound up off on Wednesday. Weighed in on Tuesday and was 0.1kg down for the month leaving me at 71.3. At least it moved in the right direction, even if it was negligible.

I got a call this morning offering me a job interview. This is finally a good thing because I was starting to think I looked really bad on paper. So Tuesday's the first job interview of what I hope is a few. But that meant I had to tell my boss I got an interview. Which means it's really real for him (and me) now that I'll most likely be moving on. I need more than the 12 months they're offering me. I mean I need to be able to be flexible - maternity leave and the like. So bring on an ongoing job. I said to my boss I needed at least 2 years, so if he's going to come up with something, now's the time. Fingers crossed, cos I'd really like to stay. I like it here, I love the people, but I need more security. The time has come the walrus said....

In the meantime, my project is finishing up, final reports are done and I'm heading off to other things here on Monday.

It's my father-in-law's 60th birthday celebrations on the weekend. So a large weekend is planned. It should be fun, but it'll be a weekend of no sleep which is NOT what I need. Unfortunately. Another thing I must do considering I have an interview on Tuesday is buy a suit! It's a suit workplace and I don't own one, so shopping tonight. Hopefully I'll get some sleep tonight after going out for tea... I think I'll come back to work Monday for a rest.

Learn How to Knit - CHECK!

Well, technically I already knew how to knit, but "Learn how to cast on and cast off" was a bit more lengthy as a title... Went to my aunt's place last night for dinner and a knitting bee. I can now officially begin and end my own knitting - there ya go Mum, I'm still learning! Bring on the distraction from food and the knitting of baby stuff for friends and family.

Aside from that I've had a fairly good week. Struggling with the cold and exercise and comfort eating stuff though. I've kept my main meals good though and most snacking has been Core foods. I've decided to try a thing that's on my health insurance website. They have this free service for members which means that you can log in to their site and get health plans (exercise, fun run plans, eating plans etc). So I've created an eating plan which should help me lose some more weight. It'll be interesting to try to stick to it for a week, but I've changed the menu around to make it workable. I'll give it a shot starting Monday. Considering next weekend is the "Festival of Graeme" aka my father-in-law's 60th, a good Monday to Friday will certainly help.

I'm weighing in tomorrow morning in the community before we go away for the weekend. I hope they have nice scales in Oakleigh! Fingers crossed. The weight has not been budging this week.

I was thinking yesterday that perhaps staying the same all winter's not a bad thing. I mean in Summer I'll be more active and less comfort eatey and it'll be easier to shift a few more kilos. So even if I can't budge for the next couple of months I am not beating myself up. At least I'm not gaining! I'll give it a go though. Especially seeing as my mobility will be hampered for the first part of August after I have my knee 'scoped.

I am still in limbo with work. I am here technically at the moment til the 3rd of September. Fingers crossed for the future, but if they can only give me another 12 months I need more than that. So I'm still applying for jobs. Wish me luck!

Forgot to mention...

At Dee and Fraser's engagement party there were several people including Dee's brother who didn't recognise me! I spent a few days camping with many of her family and friends 18 months ago and everyone I met there didn't recognise me! Admittedly the hair has changed too - from longer and much blonder to shorter and dark (natural). But certainly the weight loss has helped! They were all gobsmacked. I thought it was really funny, and complimentary, but many of them felt bad for not recognising me!

Pretty good feeling huh :-)

Also, went to the orthopaedic surgeon yesterday arvo and am booked in for an arthroscope. I have a lateral meniscal tear (cartilage cushion in the joint on the outside of the knee) so it turns out the physio was wrong! Oh well. He says that post-op I should be able to start running again in 4 weeks. So the op's on the 8th of August, September I should be right to go. Wish me luck!

Engagement Party Photos!

Well, my beautiful friend Dana has sent me some of her pics from the engagement party. So here they are! One of me and her, one of the beautiful Tash and Dee and one of the happy couple announcing the news of their pregnancy! I would put the pic of Dee's belly in, but she says it's not big enough yet... Give it time chick!

We went to Dee and Fraser's engagement party on Saturday night. It was a great night. There was a lot of fun had by all. She looked absolutely gorgeous! Dee was my maid of honour last year, and the gorgeous Tash one of my bridesmaids. So much for picking bridesmaids who make you look good!

Oh, I loved my hair. You can't really see it in the pic, but I'd had bits of it curled with tongs at the hairdresser. It was really classy and girly at the same time.

Another Monday, another new week

Well... interesting week last week. Started well until we went to Dale's parents for dinner Wednesday. It was his Dad's 60th and I ate like there was no tomorrow. Lots of dinner, then lots of dessert. At least I wasn't drinking! Then Friday night I went to a pyjama party with the baseball girls. Much fun was had - watched Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. It was a good movie. Weird though. Then pictionary. Happy to say that Shona and I kicked butt. The fact that we were the only two sober ones had nothing to do with it of course! Ate the brownies and muffins on offer... Again, Saturday was good until the evening when I had Dana's engagement party. Much celebrations. I ate too much, but only wound up eating 25 points for the day, which is not too bad considering the crap I ate Saturday night. So now I have to get it all off again - it was TTOM last week, I mean for goodness sake it couldn't have come at a worse time!

I have set a Goal for the month. I would like to be under 70 by the end of July. A tough ask, but one I can do. So bring on the 60s!!! A girl can dream can't she? That would make my BMI 24 which compared with when I started - 34 (obese), and now - 25 (healthy!) is a bit lower. Still certainly healthy though (20-25). I will never EVER be 20. I can't see myself losing another 10kg. I wouldn't look like me, and I wouldn't look healthy. I'm pretty happy as is, but I'd like to get rid of the love handles a bit more.

It's definitely a Monday...

Despite having a wonderful weekend, this morning has brought tiredness and argh-ness (certainly not a word, but you know what I mean).

Back to the weekend though! I had a wonderful weekend with little planned :-) Dana and I had a lovely dinner and a movie on Friday night (noodle bar and The Holiday on DVD). A good movie - worth a watch as a girly movie. Saturday consisted of baseball. That was the only thing I had to do! So I got home and cooked up a big lasagne which has now seen 3 meals with one to come. Sunday I slept in - as I did Saturday, before lounging around watching a silly thing on David Hasslehoff (obviously before the recent wetting himself disaster) before heading off to DFO for some much needed shopping. Bought many a top - and brillance of brilliance!!! They FINALLY MAKE BRAs IN AN 8 BACK SIZE!!! Which means I am now an 8F, but I don't care, because they FIT!! And they were on special, so I got 3 bras and a pair of knickers for $70. Brilliant buy I reckon. Tried on lots of work pants with no joy - oh well I'll head back to Target. Still, very successful. You may ask where was DH? He had a hobby tournament all weekend. Left the house before I got up, returned after I'd gone to bed all weekend! Apparently three people stayed at our house Saturday night (I knew about 2).

And now it's Monday. Bring on Friday I say!

Actually, Wednesday arvo will do. Heading down to the in-laws for FIL's 60th on Wednesday night (2.5hr drive!), so I'm taking Thursday off work. I'm taking the dog to the vet (normal stuff) and hopefully shall have some hair removal (way too much info).

Then it'll be back to Bring On Friday!

I am so bored...

My work is so boring at the moment. It's frustrating when you know you have so much to do, yet nothing can be done yet because you're waiting on other people!! Argh! So instead I procrastinate. Well, technically it's not procrastinating because I have nothing to do, so am not putting anything off just filling in time.

Oh well. I have started looking at and applying for jobs again. I can't wait forever to hear news re this position. And although I'd like to stay, it's more important that I am employed in August! *sigh* I hate job hunting. I don't want to take a backwards step, which means that if I go to a job I can't salary package in, I'll be looking for an enormous payrise or I'll be taking a paycut - I know that doesn't make sense, but it does if you understand salary packaging. Also, I currently have 5 weeks annual leave. If I go to a job with 4 weeks annual leave on the same pay I'm on at the moment it's a big step backwards. I hate job hunting. I am routinely overqualified for half of a position description and underqualified for the other. Why can't I find a job that perfectly fits my skillsets? It's not fair. So I'm not getting interviews for jobs I would excel at. I hate job hunting.

Anyway... Everything else is just fine! Food is good, scales are good, exercise is good.

I'm loving pilates! It's challenging, hard work and you certainly feel it the next day. It's also nice to know that the work I'd been doing on core stability has been working and I've got a certain level of strength there. Bellydancing has helped pilates and I'm sure it'll work the other way too. They're both really about core stability. Just you wait pregnancy, you'll be a breeze!

First WI as LTM

Well I trundled up the 5 flights of stairs back to WI this morning and weighed exactly what I did this time last month. Not a bad effort I'd reckon. I think I gained and lost about 1.5kg through the month, but I feel a whole lot more in control now.

I had a ball at bellydancing last night. I'm really enjoying the challenge. Maybe it's taken me 3 terms to get that, but I'm loving it. Pilates tonight after shopping so that should be good fun too.

It's been a while!

Well I thought I should post seeing as it's been a while. I no longer have the weekly weigh in reminder to post. My first LTM weigh in is tomorrow and I was hoping to be a kilo or so down. But I've been up and down through the month and will probably be around the same as I was last weigh in. Could definitely be worse!

I am still unable to run. Got a referral to an orthopaedic surgeon but couldn't get an appointment til September! And I used to work for him! Disgraceful. So I called another one and have an appointment in a couple of weeks instead. Fingers crossed he can tell me what's wrong with the stupid thing and help me fix it. I've been riding the bike instead. Set a goal to ride 50k last week which I did - plus some. Wound up riding 61.7 for the week. So I've set my goal to go 65ks this week. Did 14k this morning so that's a good start (10min warm up, 20min intervals, 10min cool down).

Food wise this month I was going a bit nuts for a while, just eating too much really. It was driving me crazy but I didn't seem to be able to stop eating. I seem to have brought that mostly under control and have dropped the weight I gained this month. WW's having monthly weigh ins is a great thing. For me, accountability is key. I've enjoyed the accountability thread on the WW boards - it really keeps me focused. I shall post tomorrow after WI.

I plan to learn to knit. I want to have a workshop at my aunt's place so she can teach me to cast on and cast off. Then I can at least make a scarf! This is a goal of mine for the next month. By the end of July I will know how to knit.

I would like to make my personal goal of below 70kg. And I will. But I think having no timeline on that is a positive thing. I'd like to lose between 0 and 0.5kg each month this year til I'm happy, and be healthy. I have no idea where I'd like to sit. I think 68 is reasonable, but there's part of me saying I'd never want to hit 80 again even when pregnant and 65 would give me a good buffer. Don't know if that's a good reason to lose another 6kg though. We'll see...

Part of the struggle

I know I should have all the answers by now (hah hah), but I struggle with after dinner eating. Part of the problem is that I know I'm not hungry and I get the munchies, another part of it (perhaps the cause) is boredom, inactivity etc. I don't know. All I know is that I need to stop it. I have decided to allow myself 3 suppers a week and see how I go with that. So I've had my three suppers already this week (working week), so tonight and Friday are supper free. I should be able to do that! I'll see how I go with losing a couple more kilos when I do that.

It's the anniversary of WW at Work on Monday, and I'm going to be chatting to people about how realistic it is, and how do-able it all is too. I am happy to do this, because I know it works! Well, if you follow the program...

The dreaded lergie

I have been stricken. Or should I say, I was struck a week ago and it remains! Damn lergie. It's been a cold that just won't come and go and insists on staying around. The runny nose started this morning, which is usually the beginning of the end for my colds :-) Yay!

So I haven't really exercised aside from indoor cricket and bellydancing this week - and I'm playing volleyball tonight. Nothing apart from that - lol! Food has been good, I'm getting it all back under control. I'd really like to be a kilo lighter for my weigh in this month though, and I want to do that around the time I joined WW - my anniversary :-) That's my plan for the month anyway, slow and steady wins the race though and there is no rush. I am healthy and happy - it's been a good week (aside from the lergie).

Dale and I went away on Saturday night for our first anniversary. Back to the hotel we had our reception at. It was nice, but has changed hands and I think the current owners are a bit more bottom line focused than they are facilities/services focused. It was still really nice, got a good night's sleep etc.

I still continue the job hunt, although news may come to hand re that fairly soon which is good. I remain tired, unwell and wanting to go home! But looking forward to a pilates assessment this arvo which should be a bit of fun.

First week without weigh in

Well, after making LTM last week, I don't have to WI this week. And I think, same as the week after I made Goal, that I've had a bit of a "hangover". I ate too much on the weekend and am up on the scales. It was Dale's birthday on the weekend, and I catered a BBQ which was fine, but I ate too much of the good food and then had some of Dale's chockies - who would have known that a Lindt ball is 2 points! Anyway, I'm feeling back on track. I still need to get out of the habit of "needing" something after dinner, but I'm getting there. I made smaller portions for dinner last night and was still comfortably full.

I've started having bigger brekkies though, because I was getting into the habit of snacking at work - pray for me today as there is cake for morning and afternoon tea! So am having a large breakfast and will take a yoghurt along to morning tea. Fingers crossed.

On the rest of the life front, I'm still on the job hunt. My contract will finish at the end of July (it was extended from June) so I've still got a bit of time, but I'm being picky :-) I'll get something in the long run, and there's always agency nursing.

Anyway, short, a good weekend was had, food is back under control, I'm feeling a bit under the weather but still at work. Have a good one!

LTM

I went off to WI this morning and weighed exactly the same as I did last week. Thought I'd be a little bit down, but nevertheless got my key for lifetime membership (LTM). So an important day for me.

I've had an up and down weekend. Full of injuries which sucked, but spent some good time with friends. Girls' night on Friday night which was lovely, followed by a run on Sat am which confirmed my knee is still stuffed and I have to go see the doctor. Then I twisted my ankle at baseball Sat arvo and spent Sat night with my legs up and iced. Sunday I went out for brekky with Dee which was really nice, then had Bible study - always inspiring - followed by a really close game of indoor cricket which we lost. In this game we lost, I not only managed to play pretty ordinarily, I also got hit with the ball three times. Woke up Monday am very sore and sorry for myself. Am still sore! Must make sure I get a good night's sleep tonight.

It's Dale's birthday this Sunday, so must go finish the shopping at some stage! I really have no idea what to get him as an adjunct to what I already got! (can't mention that in case by some miracle he reads this) He's difficult because he really doesn't want anything. I'll find something I'm sure....

Another WI

Up 0.2 today - so really the same. I seem to mostly post here on WI days. Oh well, at least it keeps me honest! I'm honestly happy (see, honest) with where I am at the moment. In the next few months I might go a few more kg, but I might leave that til summer. I'm really pretty happy with being able to maintain this weight without too much difficulty.

I'm really suffering with the munchies the last few days. Must try to stay away from it! I've been eating good food, just probably too much of it. Oh well. Need to make some point free soup to munch on.

I'm off on a girls' night on Friday night. I'm thinking of leaving the car at home and getting a lift home (first time in a long time). I'm just hoping that if I do that, I wont go bananas on the drinks! I doubt I will, but just in case... It should be a lot of fun. The start of the usual busy weekend. At least I'm taking an ADO on Friday so I'll have a day just to me. Hairdresser's appointment on Friday arvo - that's always a bit of a pamper. I love it.

Have a wonderful weekend all!

Supposed to be WI day

Well, I was meant to WI today, but the scales were broken (before I stood on them!!!). So I'll WI tomorrow.

I had a difficult night last night. I just kept eating - healthy, but way too much. I went to bellydancing and wound up with a stitch. Silly me - won't be doing that again! Came home and did some exercise (after eating a yoghurt and banana - thought I'd learned that lesson) so at least did something about it all. Weird. Oh well, just one of those days I guess.

I'm off to the dentist this arvo which will be interesting. I do like my dentist, but he keeps wanting to do things to my teeth (which have been fine for 28 years thanks very much). He's looked after me since 1981 though so I trust him. After that (numb and all) I'm off to a friend's place for dinner which should be good for a catch-up. I'm planning an early night though, with much sleep to be had by all.

WI Today - and just because it's Wednesday

I've been feeling a bit "blah" the last week. I've been really tired for no reason and getting heaps of sleep. Non-specific symptoms of nothing except tiredness I think.

Aside from that, life is good. Baseball is ok despite the team being mixed and the comp being men's, indoor cricket is good, work is busy - the way I like it.

WI was today and I'm down 0.4 to 71.2kg. So I'm getting back to Goal for the end of maintenance - 2 weeks time. Excellent.

post-Goal photos

My friend the lovely Tash took the bottom one - she has a penchant for photos on an angle! But I think it's a pretty nice shot.

Lordy, I still have the boobs don't I. Can't wait to lose a bit of them! I bought the dress I'm wearing on the left the day of the photos (yesterday). I really like it. First dress I've bought since my wedding dress! It'll go really well with long boots. And for only $30, how can you go wrong? Hubby likes it too.

Thought you could compare it to the last dress I bought... June 2006.

Dandy Dash Pic

Here's me working my butt off at the Dandy Dash - thanks to the Dandy Dash website for the photo! I believe this is the last hill so I'm overtaking a few people here, feeling good - after the knee had come good.

WI was today, up 0.1 so nothing really. I had a couple of really nice nights out and am looking to get back under Goal next week. I'm off to a friend's place (Dana) to have some photos taken on Thursday for my official Goal pics. I'll have them up on here hopefully Friday.

Photo update

My boss was playing with the camera at work the other day and took a snap of me. Thought I'd post it here. Bit of a change in the face! I really should get on to taking some photos post-Goal!

I've been feeling crap the last couple of days. Really bad headaches and a sore throat. I haven't been sick for ages! I wound up taking some valium last night because it was feeling like muscle spasm headaches and now I'm a bit spacey. Food and exercise-wise it's been a pretty good week. But the scales are not being kind. I'll weigh in tomorrow regardless, but I wish my body would get its act together and look after me! I'm trying really hard to look after it!!!! Anyway, will update after WI tomorrow.

Today's WI

Well, I've been to today's WI, and saying I was back on track I was pleased to discover was NOT a lie. I was 0.7kg down today, bringing me closer back to Goal. I'll be back there next week. I'm setting my GWEM (May this time) for 69.9. I'd like to get under 70, then see how I feel.

My knee and other stuff

Well, I finally went and saw a physio on Tuesday arvo. I found out that my knee is fine! That's the good news. The problem is incredibly tight quads and fascia (the connective tissue going down the outside of your thigh). He got completely stuck into them (ow!) to try to loosen them up a bit. The bad news is no running for the next couple of weeks (bye bye Mothers' Day - I'll be there for support), and lots of stretching.

On a positive note, I feel much more in control this week. I've flicked back to points and am enjoying the discipline. I picked up the exercise bike I bought on eBay and it's great. Just have to find an allen key so that the handle bit isn't loose! Did 35 mins this morning (could have gone much longer but I needed to leave!) with 20 mins of the 8-second workout thing, where you go hard for 8 sec then ease off for 12.

Also - item number 3, the damn batteries on the scales died this morning. For the first time since the first WI, I don't know what the WW scales will say. Fingers crossed, I'm really unsure. I'm hoping for a decrease, but I have no idea! I guess I find out at lunchtime.

Daylesford Girls

Here are the girls at Daylesford (minus Erin who came up on Saturday) on the silly night we played dress-ups! From left: Sharon, Tash, BJ, Your truly, Dana and Bronwyn. Thankyou to my beautiful friends for a wonderful weekend!

A big weekend

Well, the title says it all. Saturday we had someone come to talk to us about making the most of our money, and really, for goodness sake. There is more to life than money.

After that Tash and I went and walked the course for the fun run on Sunday. We didn't quite navigate it correctly - lol, there are so many paths at Jells Park! But we did discover the enormous hill (800m long in the 4th kilometre)!! Afterwards, we (with Dee) rewarded ourselves with a trip to Chaddy. I successfully spent most of my vouchers and came away with new underwear and a skirt. Sat night was Bronwyn's birthday (I ate too much fondue) and Dale's sister's housewarming - it was good to catch up with his cousin and her boyfriend.

Sunday I was up bright and early for the fun run which really went pretty well. Considering how cactus my knee has been, I was happy with completing it and doing 34min. Bring on Mother's Day 8k. Tash has a photo of me after the event which I will post when she gets back in the country. We then had a BBQ to celebrate my friends doing the Oxfam walk. We played manic French cricket and there was much throwing of the frisbee. We proceeded to win our second game of indoor cricket for the season with a good team effort. It was good :-)

I'm looking forward to being back at work for a rest!

After the lovely weekend

Well, the week after the weekend has been a bit of a different story. In a nutshell, TTOM, hurt my knee, can't really run as much as I'd like, first ever coldsore, not getting enough sleep - and back at work. The scales have continued to rise this week, but I have a feeling I'm really bloated with TTOM (this isn't usual). But I went to WI this week and was up 1.3k. I expected to be closer to 1.5 up! Tomorrow is another day. I have a busy weekend planned, and am going to go back to Tuesday morning WI next week, so I've got a few days to recover. Saturday I am going to get up and go for a run (having a rest tomorrow, for my knee's sake), then come home and we have someone coming to talk to us about tax savings! After that I am going to Jells Park with a friend to do a walk of a running track we're doing Sunday. I'd like to stop in at a wedding on Sat - a friend of my little brother is getting married. Saturday night is Bronwyn's birthday so I'll be at her place having fondue. That's Saturday. Sunday - fun run (5k) at Jells Park, Baseball game, Bible study, Indoor Cricket, dinner, bed. That's a busy weekend. I have bellydancing Monday night.

So keep your fingers crossed for next Tuesday's WI!

Daylesford

Hey Guys,

I had a brilliant time in Daylesford with the girls. It started with Bronwyn and I planning the food for the weekend and going shopping. Then dinner Friday night. It was a really nice time to just sit back, eat some nice food (risotto, flourless choc cake with light ice cream and cream), have a glass of wine - then.... PLAY DRESSUPS!!! This house we were staying in had a dress-up rack. Oh my Lord, it took me back to my childhood. We had a ball - photos were taken, I'll have to get my grubby hands on them.

Saturday we started with a walk around Daylesford Lake (this is a beautiful walk), then breakfasted before wandering around the town and checking out the shops etc. This was followed by lunch and the first group of spa girls. Erin got there just in time to enjoy her clay wrap and massage, emerging looking like she'd just come out of a bedroom! The spa was great. We all really enjoyed our treatments, felt a million dollars and the people at Endota Spa Daylesford (not a plug really) were lovely. More food after this, great pastas and cous cous pudding for dessert. Then we enjoyed (not that we needed it) a cheese, dip etc platter while we played quiz and card games. This was followed by a trip to a dodgy bar. (just have to say we did around 18,000 steps on Sat!)

Sunday, again we walked around the lake (except Dana who needed some sleep after the port). Then we went out for a really nice brunch at this little place called the Black Cauldron, but I'm going to assume that that's not what our food was cooked in. We headed off to the Chocolate Mill after a trip around the Market. OMG!! The chocolate was lovely. Home beckoned after all this, and a good time was had by all :-)

An amazing day!

I am on holidays (ahh blissful holidays) at the moment, and went to weigh in today. At work - why do I go to work to do it when I'm on holidays? Well, this time it was important.

I MADE GOAL!!!! I lost a total of 1.8kg this week, leaving me weighing in at 70.9kg. I'm over the moon. I did a lot of hard work this week, was disciplined with my eating, did a lot of exercise and it paid off.

I'll take some photos soon and post them :-) I'm really happy for me.

Been a sub par week

Sorry it's been a few days. I've had a fairly crappy week. Work has been flat out, I've been really tired and a little bit depressed. I worry (so does Dale I think) that my emotions have become attached to the scales. I need to try to get rid of them. I was pretty down coming in to Tues/Wed and just got really hungry. I ate good food, but just ate too much of it! I got the munchies mid-morning - which never happens, and just was never satisfied.

At WI on Thursday I was up 0.4kg - surprise surprise! So I'm now 1.7kg from Goal. I really wanted to make it to Goal before this girls' weekend on the 14th, but have had a good talking to myself (a telling off really) for getting so goal-orientated. In the long run all that matters is that I continue to live a healthy life, what the scales say and when I finally reach Goal really don't matter! Mind you, it's a hard truth to swallow.

This week has started much better. Even though it's Easter. I found mini-hot cross buns at Coles which worked out at 1.5 points each so I was able to have a couple of those on Good Friday. I had one mini easter egg which was 1.5 points for 2, so 3/4 of a point. So all in all, a successful Easter. I've got the next few days off work, so I can concentrate on having a good week and embracing whatever happens on Thursday. Hopefully I wont have much to go in the following week :-)

I'm very good at not writing here in those down times aren't I! Oh well, they're not lasting long anymore - and considering they were my biggest downfall and a big contributor to me gaining so much weight in the first place, I'm doing ok.

Wish me luck for the next few days/weeks/months/years!

Been a while

Sorry it's been a while folks!

Dale and I finally had a couple of days off work together - novel concept! It was lovely, went to Gippsland for friends' engagement party, then stayed down there for some lawn bowls and catch up. We then proceeded to do nothing for a couple of days before Dale had to go back to work. It was lovely and relaxing.

Mum's been staying with us for the last couple of days which has been nice. It's always good to catch up, and we don't get to see each other very often. So I haven't had enough sleep the last two nights. Also my body clock is still in daylight savings time in the mornings and I'm waking up at 4:30!!! For goodness sake, that's just ridiculous.

WW-wise, I've been ok. I dropped a kilo last week (whoo hoo!) bringing me closer to Goal. Only 1.3 to my WW Goal to go. I've decided I'd like to go below 70 though, so that's my personal Goal. I would have liked to be at WW Goal by Easter, but there's only one more WI. So instead, the week after is still before my girls' pampering weekend in Daylesford which will be a fantastic reward (fingers crossed I've earned it!). If I'm not at Goal, well really, bugger it. It's not about making Goal in a timeframe, it's about changing your life and that's already happened. I still had cupcakes at the engagement party, a few drinks on Friday night and my brother's birthday cake last night. Life is good and the scales continue to fall - what more can any girl ask?

Oxfam

Four of my friends are doing the Oxfam 100k in 48 hour walk. I'm part of the support crew making sure they all finish up in one piece. If you would like to sponsor them you can do that on the Oxfam website - their team name is "We will walk 100k" or something like that! It's amazing. I would like the challenge, but wouldn't have been up for it this year - maybe next year. We'll see what shape their feet are in afterwards... I'm the first aid officer.

Keep your fingers crossed for them. Hopefully I'll get a photo of them crossing the finish line and post it here.

I have a ticker!

Finally I worked out how to put the silly thing on the page - it's nice to see how close I am to my WW Goal! I might push the Goal down eventually, I think I'd like to hit mid-high 60s.

Went to WI this morning. Didn't WI last week because I was off work sick, but today was down 1.1kg (for the fortnight) taking me down to 73.3kg. Still a steep effort to get to Goal by Easter (2 more WIs) but I vow to get there before my girls' weekend the week later. Even if it means forgoing hot cross buns.

I accidentally ate ice cream a week or so ago. Considering how much I love it, not a bad effort! As such, I have fined myself $5 to the Missionaries of Charity for my Lent money for eating the ice cream! I nearly did it again a week later, but took it off my plate and gave it to Dale when I remembered - didn't eat a bit of it.

Fun Run

Well, the fun run was actually fun. At least after the running was over it was. I really struggled with the first half, and felt awful! But I still made it in under my first goal which was 20 minutes for the 3ks. So now bring on the Dendy Dash. This is in just over a month and is 5k. I want to do the 5k in 30 minutes, so I am building up to that. (I'm waiting on a photo from a friend from Sunday - my camera was out of batteries)

Well, I say building up, but I have been sick this week so haven't been doing any exercise. Tomorrow morning I have a run and a walk planned so it'll be back on board. I'm also going to a community meeting tomorrow to weigh in as I haven't been able to at work this week. Wish me luck!

As well as the fun run, this week heralded my birthday. This was celebrated a few times - Afghan food on Sunday night, then a big lunch at Fifteen - this was brilliant. Aside from me taking the stupid decision to drive in without using the tollway, forgetting that Moomba was on and then finding all the streets closed. So I was late and upset when I got there. Thankfully, my family are beautiful, the staff were lovely and the food divine! My brother and I shared the special (it was for 2) - a rib eye steak. Oh my Gosh. It was the best steak I have ever had. Absolutely to die for.

On that note, fingers crossed for weigh in!

The pic I promised!

Well, I promised I would post the photo from a wedding a couple of weeks ago - I didn't actually realise before I wore it that the dress was a little bit see through! Oh well, I still felt pretty.

This week I finished the C25k running thing! I can't believe I can now run 30 minutes continually. I've never EVER been able to do that.

WI was today - only 0.3kg down. Making me 74.4, which is still the lightest I've been in my adult life! Feeling a bit tired and emotional today, but still - bring on Goal!

Challenges Ahead

I've got an interesting week on the horizon. WI is on Thursday which should be fine, but next week might be a bit interesting. I enjoy my birthday. Even though I shall be a year closer to 30, I will be celebrating. So dinner on Sunday with friends (Afghan place, so I should be able to pick a good option), then Monday lunch we're going to Fifteen (Jamie Oliver's restaurant) with my immediate family. (It's a public holiday on Monday) Fingers crossed I can do enough exercise to counteract the food I will be eating!

We made the baseball finals, so we have a game this weekend. Still waiting to find out where we'll be playing, but it will be hard fought either way. We can beat them. Next round here we come!

I'm also doing my first fun run on Sunday - 3k Beat the Boat Fun Run for Stroke research. It has special meaning to me. My father died as a result of a stroke at 49, his mother died at 76 after many strokes and his father is now in a nursing home following a stroke. My uncle (Dad's brother) had a TIA (transient ischemic attack) which can be a precursor to a stroke. So with a strong family history one might say I have a bit of self interest in making money for stroke research! Certainly in losing weight and getting fitter.

So an interesting week ahead following more trips for work. I'm still promising the photo from the wedding. I've now lost the charger for the camera and it's dead. As soon as I find the silly thing I'll put the photo on here!

GWEF

Well, my exciting news is that I made my GWEF. This is Goal Weight End February. I set it at 75kg and weighed in at 74.7 yesterday! I'm under 75kgs!!! I don't think I've been this weight since I was a teenager. Wow.

I've ambitiously set my GWEM (March) at reaching Goal. But I'd really like to make Goal by Easter. Keep your fingers crossed for me and I will do my best to make it.

Interestingly, I've had a couple of comments recently with the "you don't need to lose any more". I still see all the fat bits first. I guess I'm still waiting for my headspace to catch up with my body.

Promise I'll put up those pics of the wedding up next week!

Weekend

This weekend was a lot of fun. I'm now up to week 8 on the Couch to 5k challenge and am running 28 minutes. It's great! Dale and I went to a wedding in Yinnar (this is in Gippsland, Victoria - near Morwell, Moe, Traralgon etc). It was actually held in his parents' garden which just looked beautiful. The reception was interesting. The food was good - roast is always a good option! I did eat the sticky date pudding though which was YUM! Dale had an interesting night exploring the evils of beer. A much more interesting morning was had exploring the evils of beer. Suffice to say I didn't get much sleep and had a power nap on the way home despite not drinking Sat. night! Oooh, I did get a couple of photos taken with my new Review dress on. I'll post them later in the week I hope!

That's life I guess... So tonight I'm looking forward to bellydancing away the sticky date pudding. Dale got plenty of sleep yesterday and last night so fingers crossed he's 100% better today! Boy oh boy did I laugh!

This week's weigh in will have to be on Thursday. I'm off round the state for work for the next couple of days. I hate Thursday weigh ins! Tues/Wed they're in the morning, so I WI before breakfast. Thursday is a 12pm WI, so I have to have a light breakfast then basically not eat or drink before lunch! Argh! Oh well. Hoping to break the 75kg mark this week! I need to lose 1.1kg to do that, fingers crossed! I'd really REALLY like to make Goal by Easter so I need a couple of big weeks.

Lent Challenge

I have not given something up for Lent for years - since I was a kid. This year it has become important again. I have decided to give up two things. I was going to give up chocolate, but because I don't eat much chocolate it would really have been a bit of a furfie! Instead I've decided to give up something for myself, and something for the world.

For myself: Ice cream (this includes my favourite WW cookies and cream ice cream!!)
For the world: Buying coffee. Every time I would have bought coffee (every day at work for starters) I will put aside the money I would have spent and at the end of Lent, I will donate that money to the Missionaries of Charity.

My aunt Susan (Sr Maximillian) belongs to the order of the Missionaries of Charity. She is currently living in Kenya working amongst the poorest of the poor. She is an amazing woman, who always has time to take with her nieces and nephews - she has been very special to us!

For those of you who don't know - Lent is the 40 days before Easter that Jesus was tested in the desert. Shrove Tuesday (what is now called *shudder* "pancake day") is the day before Lent - you're meant to have pancakes to get rid of all your eggs, milk and flour which was traditionally what you didn't have in Lent. For us as kids, it was lollies that we gave up!

Organisation

Thought I'd let you know about something that I really think has made all the difference to me in this adventure. Before I joined WW, dinner was whatever I could be bothered cooking on a given night. This was usually a pantry pull-together of a fairly random sort, or take away when I was feeling very lazy.

What I do now is this: On weigh in day, I sit down at lunchtime and write the menu for the week - breakfast, lunch and dinner. I started off getting ideas from the WW menus. I then write my shopping list and Tuesday also is now shopping day. I make three shopping lists actually - supermarket, grocer and butcher. I firmly believe that a good relationship with your butcher is essential! Being organised with food has made a huge difference in my life - and in my husband's. We very rarely eat take away food now - and when we do, it's all about making good choices.

C25K

The Couch to 5k running plan (www.coolrunning.com) has been a major part of the change in my weight and body shape this year. At New Year's, I made a resolution - for the first time in my life. I said I would run a 5k fun run in the first half of the year, and a 10k in the second. I discovered the C25k through the WW community and started it in January. I am currently doing week 7 of the 9 week program, and am up to running 25 minutes 3 times a week - and loving it!

My fun runs are planned for the 11th of March (3k), 22nd April (5k), Mother's Day (8k) and I will find a good 10k in the second half. So far I am absolutely loving the new fitness, and I look forward to being able to run for the rest of my life!

20kgs!!!

On Valentine's Day, I not only celebrated my first Val Day as a married woman, but I also, and probably more excitingly broke through the 20kg barrier!! I weighed in at 76.6kg - 20.2kg down! I was absolutely wrapped.

This week was another half a kilo gone - down to 76.1kg. I still need a big week next week to make my goal weight for Feb - 75kg, but it's starting to look achievable. I'm on a high at the moment - I am going to keep riding it!

Size 12!

The week of the formal dinner I am happy to announce that I bought a size 12 dress from Review! This is a big big BIG day for me. I pretty much went from size 14 kids to size 14 adults. I'm really enjoying it. And last week I bought some new work pants - also size 12! I never thought I would be a size 12 on the bottom half! The size 14s I bought in early Feb/late Jan are already too big.

I also forgot to say that at the time the last photo was taken, I had lost 19.4kg, weighing in at 77.4kg.

February 2007

Remember how I said the journey went beautifully until Christmas 2006? Well, Jan 2007 was plateau month. I was dreading a plateau. I changed plans to the Points plan for the month and finally broke through. It was bloody hard work though. It's really hard to stay strong and do the right thing when your body is being a pain!

February was a different story though. I went to a formal dinner a couple of weeks ago which was a lot of fun. The dress I am wearing I wore to Mum's wedding when I was 20! 20! Can you believe that? (I can also now fit into the skirt I wore to my year 12 graduation) I was so happy to be wearing it, and it wasn't tight at all. It actually fitted.

It's a bit blurry, but you can certainly see the difference! The dinner was beautiful - the food was fantastic, the company good and I had a ball. I ate everything! Including the chocolate mousse. And I lost that week.

The journey to Christmas 2006

I think I forgot to say that my WW journey started on the 29/06/2006. My Goal weight was set at 71kg.

JuneUp to Christmas 2006 my WW journey was fairly uneventful. I steadily lost weight, I was feeling better, looking better...

8 kilos down

This picture was taken at my cousin's wedding in August 2006. I had my wisdom teeth out a couple of weeks before this, and was a bit chipmunky still, but it's fairly obvious I've lost a bit of weight!

15.5kg down - work Christmas party... I love that top!

This is a pic between Christmas and New Years - I made it under 80 for Christmas! Here I am weighing in at 79.5kg (17.3kg down). The boobs are still obviously enormous but the rest of me is much smaller!!! The tiny lady I am next to is the aforementioned gorgeous mother. My inspiration for everything. One of the strongest people I know. Thankyou Mum.

Those photos bring us up to date with weight loss. Well, I have a couple more, but I'll put them in the next post shall I??

The beginning

OK, So I've been inspired by all those blogs on the WW (Weight Watchers) community websites. Hah! Isn't it funny that I'm only comfortable blogging when I've finally lost enough to have a visible improvement.

My WW journey started after I returned from my honeymoon. I had intended to join after the wedding - I didn't want the stress of joining during all that planning. I was inspired by a couple of girls at work who were losing great amounts of weight and looking fabulous! One is now a lifetime member and one is pregnant. On my honeymoon I looked like this:

As you can probably imagine, I felt pretty gross on my honeymoon. In the bottom picture I am wearing size 18 shorts I got to be comfortable! Hah! Comfortable! I was busting out of them. I managed to convince myself that my stomach was still flat. I joined WW the week I returned from leave. I weighed in at 96.8kg. The most I have ever weighed in my life.

It was the best decision I have made for myself - apart from marrying my gorgeous, wonderful, beautiful husband.