Dodging raindrops - Xmas challenge week 1

The weather here is pants. Windy and rainy and windy and rainy...you get the picture. I spend much of my pre walk time checking the rain radar to see how safe it is to venture out. Because of course I'll melt if I get wet :).

I've set myself an informal 'Xmas challenge'. The challenge is to stay 'on plan' between now and Christmas - I seem to be more successful with small time based goals to work to. Sometime's it's going on holiday or having visitors. This time it's Christmas. 9 weeks. And a few Christmas parties but I can do it.

This weeks wrap up:

• Weight: 84.3 (down 2.3kg) ☺
• Exercise: 4 / 7 days ☺
• Overall thoughts: Shit, I made it through a whole week and managed to exercise to make up for muffins and even lost weight.Yep, 3 years on and the fuel in / energy out equation still amazes me. No ☹'s this week.

A victory with portion sizes

Had a wonderful (unexpected) loss of a whole kg this week. Given I'm not doing any much exercise, and haven't been a tracking saint, I was a little surprised but not going to over think it too much :-).

I have noticed that my appetite seems to have finally matched what my portion sizes should be. It's only taken 3 years of measuring everything! I must say it's a slightly crazy feeling to polish off a small sandwich and not be consciously thinking about what else I can have or how hungry I am. Viva la revolution!

Toes are mostly healed (looking presentable anyway) and I'm ready to start the evening walks again at the end of the week. Am having an Epsom salts foot soak tonight while typing this and it feels good. Thoroughly recommend it - turns out Mum and my podiatrist might be on to something! Hope you and your feet are having a great week, toodles!

A successful weekend

Ambrosia courtesy of the
Healthy Food Guide

Just a super short check in to note a 400gram loss after a weekend with lunch out on Saturday and a BBQ with friends last night. Didn't make stellar choices at the BBQ (still had a cheesy sausage!) but I stayed off the alcohol and we had been for a 6km walk earlier in the day. Phew. We were asked to take desert - eek! Was very thankful for the inspiration of the Healthy Food Guide - went for the retro option and took (relatively) safe Ambrosia which was a mega hit all around.

Hope everyone had a good weekend whereever you are.

Itchy brain cells

We had a team morning tea today at work and I couldn't resist. I knew it was planned so I didn't take snacks and I tracked everything and am under overall. But I have an itch at the back of my mind that tells me I've underestimated the calories. Oh well.

Yesterday and today's achievements: I got walks in both days and hit my water intake. Yesterday I stopped eating marshmallows while there still some left.

Tomorrow I'm off to the Big Day Out (music fest thing). Plenty of exercise and little opportunity to eat since the only thing I hate more than paying for bad food is paying exorbitant prices for bad food :).

Year 3 Day 1 Over

Yep, I can't believe I've been trying at this for 3 years now. Sweet jebuzz. Anyway - this week may see daily posts in an effort to strengthen my own resolve while I get 'back on the horse' so to speak.

Yesterday's achievements: Weighed in (ugh), tracked everything, went for a bike ride that made my lungs burn.
Today's goal: Resist muffin, reach my required water intake, walk after work.

So far so good!

Weekend wrap up – down 10%!

It was one of those weekends where D worked so I was home alone for much of it and what usually happens when I’m home alone? I snack. I graze. I open the fridge repeatedly and start thinking about what I could bake using those boring pantry items that would turn into something calorific and yummy!

But this weekend was  different. I had chores to do outside and even when I was catching up on blog posts I didn’t have the urge to munch. Maybe it’s the spring weather. I went into town and kept D company at a Christmas Carols gig last night and took an ice cream in for dinner. All within my calorie budget for the day so no guilt attached (although after reading everyone’s posts on the new Weight Watchers programme I did have a momentary thought about fibre and protein…oops). 

The scale loved me this morning and the feeling was mutual. 88kg on the button. 10kg down, 10.2% off, that's 22 pounds! Any way I say it I’m pretty happy :). Can’t remember the last time I’ve been so consistent with downward progress – I’ll take it! Going off to book the reward massage now!

Winning weekend

Looks like water was the thing holding me back on weekends!  I chugged down glasses of the stuff at every opportunity I had and this mornings weigh in showed a (drum roll please) 3.5 pound loss. Wohoo! We’ve had a storm here so not much exercise over the past week – only physical activity has been cleaning up fallen branches and mulching trees for the garden.

Dying to get out on the bike again - pic of my purple baby below. I need to keep desensitising my butt so I can ride along Santa Monica beach during our holiday next month.

Been thinking about the holiday a lot (I'm an anally retentive planner / researcher when it comes to vacations) - dreamt about food 2 nights in a row. Although last nights dream about a cheesecake made from plain flour and dried potato flakes was more like a nightmare...hope everyone has a great week!

Yes we can!

This morning the scales showed 92.9kg – 204.8 pounds. Which is still too much but what is cool about that number is that it means I’ve lost 5% and met my initial October holiday goal. Freakin’ awesome!

So let’s up the stakes a bit – October holiday goal now set to 90kg - 198.4 pounds. 7 weeks to do it. Can we do it? YES WE CAN!

Support of a partner

This week was a great one. I got 3 walks in and a long session in the garden (man my hamstrings are sore today!), and while it may not be burning calories at a high rate it sure stops me from eating the junk food. Why the hell would I want to have to walk even further to burn it off? I also realised that I should have taken some measurements – jeans are feeling loose and I’d like to know what the changes are.

I need to give a shout out to D – he’s kicked the fizzy habit over the past 6 weeks, is trying to eat breakfast and has already lost 5.5kg (12 pounds). Not mention he's coming for walks with me and generally continuing his habit of being super encouraging and affirming. I have never had someone tell me I'm beautiful in my life. He rocks.

I’ve caught up on blog reading and feel totally humbled by the stories of determination and ultimate success. It’s reassuring that there are others out there having the same dumb feelings and thoughts as me. Nearly 2 pounds down this week – wohoo!

Ketchup

I've got 2 posts sitting in drafts that have just been abandoned. One was re weight 2 weeks ago and another bestowing the virtues of all the walking I'd been doing. All still true but the moment has gone.

This post is to congratulate myself for not binging while D has been away. We're in the middle of a long weekend (which pretty much guarantees he'll be away for work) and I've been out walking for 2 hours, eaten relatively healthy (oats, salmon, rice crackers and lots of water) and didn't go overboard at a friends engagement party last night. Haven't even been tempted to hunt through the cupboards for the pineapple lumps that I know have been hidden by D.  Today hasn't been that active but am catching up on my blog reading - some of you are absolutely rocking!

Hoping my project goes live at work this week - I may even start getting some time back to blog during the day again.

Week 17 weigh in

Almost forgot to post! Thought I'd better get one in before I leave work and it's associated Interweb connection.

Scales were very generous and allowed a .8 pound (400 gram) loss this week.  Not bad for a week of back-at-work-need-wine-non-counting-but-trying. Anyway that was 2 days ago - aiming for a super active weekend and an even better result next week.

Week 11 weigh in

There was a wohoo from the bathroom this morning as the scales showed another 800 gram loss (1.7 pounds). I'm now only 200 grams away from Christmas goal of 93 kg.

My project at work is finally making some forward progress which is awesome but also means 12 hour days. I'm packing plenty of healthy snacks to remove the vending machine temptation and am thankful that it's summer and my office doesn't have air conditioning - the heat sure does put a dampener on the appetite!

Will be working through the weekend but hope to make time to catch up on everyone’s blogs – your successes are awesome motivation!

Week 10 weigh in (10 weeks!)

The scales were good to me this week (to make up for last week) and show an 800 gram loss (1.7 pounds) wohoo!

I've been reading a lot this week about other 'losers' relationships with their partners and how they are sometimes challenged by the physical and mental changes appearing in their loved one who is getting healthy. I am reminded how incredibly lucky I am to have D who is super supportive (even if he does worry about my boobs shrinking). Last night he cooked on the BBQ (I even saw him pat the spray oil off the potato with a paper towel), had salad and had not only bought, but also hulled, a huge bowl of strawberries for desert. He rocks! This week is dedicated to him :).

Week 8 weigh in

Work has been exasperating over the last week and I’ve now got 4 gorgeous mouth ulcers that make me feel like I’ve been punched in the face when I wake up in the morning.

The little things that have previously been getting me through the day have been put aside… sugar free gum, yoghurt, tomatoes, rice crackers, even oatmeal is agony!  Chocolate milk and cheese is my friend. Never mind – 400 grams down (.8 of a pound). Can’t complain! 

Have started taking B12, zinc and iron to try and kick my immune system back to the 'on' position...now I just need to make peace with my failing project at work.

Week 7 weigh in

I can't believe it's been 7 weeks already!  300 grams off after a week of not counting calories much so I'm pretty happy. Have still been watching portion sizes and making sure the balance of protein, carbs and good fats is there (and no sugary drinks) - it's paying off!

Reading a lot of blogs for inspiration - there are some amazing achievements out there! Next mini goal is to get to 93kg for Christmas which will be the 5% mark...bring it on!

Week 6 weigh in

700 grams down and I'm under the 210 pound mark...small victory! Hoping that next week will see me in the bottom half of the 90's.

Been noticing that eating smaller portions and making good choices is getting easier. Another weekend on my own coming up so hopefully I can keep it going.

Week 5 weigh in

I did it! The 500 grams that came back last week are gone again. Back under the 96 kg mark - yay! Must remember to look at my postings and diary for this week when feeling disheartened as I've managed to lose this while still being very social and I only exercised once. I made some great food choices and it's shown on the scales...thank goodness!

So proud of myself

Am home from my work trip and I'm so proud of myself and the willpower I found while away. I turned down the offer of going out for a late dinner one night and got my sauce on the side, left fries on my plate and declined desert the second night. I also only had one plate at the breakfast buffet - the old me would have been too worried about what others thought to do any of this and not only did I do it but it wasn’t hard!

I am so excited that I had the inner strength to do this – I'm finally starting to develop the good habits I’ll need to succeed long term.

Breaking into a jog

I went for a 6.4km walk yesterday and my legs are really feeling it today. Which is great - I do practically zero exercise but I do like the reminder of calories burned for the next day or so 'post exertion'. And don't tell anyone but there was even a point where I broke into a jog just to see what it would feel like. I think the answer is 'jiggly'.

I also did really well with food choices over the weekend despite attending a housewarming, going out to dinner with a friend and spending Sunday by myself with only the TV and fridge for company. Am away for work over the next couple of days - need to find the strength to not pig out at the breakfast buffet!

Week 3 weigh in

This morning the scales finally dipped under 96kg but only just. A 200 gram loss feels pathetic. Even when converted it's less than half a pound. I should be pleased - a loss is a loss right? Am tagging this with success but it really doesn't feel like it.