First Round Final Stats in Rd1 2013

Finally the official 12th week weigh in and measurements is done!
So here are the results. (Graphs courtesy of 12wbt website)

Weightloss over the 12 weeks.
Start weight = 87.2kg, Final Weight = 78.1kg, Total loss = 9.1kg 10.4%

Over 17 weeks

Start Weight = 96.2kg Total Loss = 18.1kg 18.8%

Ok Pushups on toes are more "attempts of push ups".. Can't get chest to floor far from it actually.. But I was proud of the fact I could attempt 7 even if my arms were only bending a little bit.

28% time cut on my 1km run! (First one was free run last one was treadmill)

I still hate pushups.. I just want stronger arms!


Wall sit has blown me away. I could barely hold myself up for 14 seconds the first attempt. I have finished at 2 whole minutes!

I've improved almost 2 minutes on knee planks. And 1 min planks on toes with ease now in my work outs

I've always been fairly flexible from dancing most of my younger life. So didn't expect much change here.

 

37.5cm lost all over! Glad my left side is starting to catchup with my right. I've always been asymmetrical. But I guess that's normal!

What's Next?

I have signed up for a second round. Love to lose another 10kg (even though I didn't hit that mark in the official 12 weeks of the first round).

What I really want to focus on is my stomach and my arms.

I know I have lost a bit of weight around my middle. After all i see it in the clothes I wear! But I guess after having an "apron" for so long, I shouldn't get my expectations up for it to disappear... but I'm hoping I can still trim it up more. Now I'm used to its shrunken state, I am starting to feel "fat" again.

As for my arms - still my most frustrating part of my body. So going to try and focus on more weights for the upper body. I would like to have some better arms.. work my triceps and get rid of some of those chicken wings!

I'm a bit nervous about doing a second round. If I will shift a decent amount of weight. But I am hoping the need to report in and watch mindset videos etc will help me keep on track. 

I keep looking at PT and Crossfit options, but money and time of day doesn't allow me to put these considerations into motion.

Oh well. Wish me luck!

Round 2 starts May 13. So if you have been umming and ahhing to take on Michelle Bridges 12 week body transformation (or any weight loss mission) and you are ready to change your lifestyle... I say JFDI! (Just fkn do it!) :D

$20 a week or $199 for the 12 weeks is actually quite small when you are staring down the barrel of health problems for the latter part of your life!

One more week to go! (till end of Rd 1 2013)

Haven't forgotten about my blog as such. Just haven't felt like I've had much to write about.
This weekend was a red flag weekend.. Oh glorious cake.. I love making them just as much as i love eating them :| To top it off I decided to try making cake pops with the left overs (it was an iggle piggle cake so I had offcuts I didn't want to go to waste.

What I found though, probably since I was so active during the cake making, I was still losing weight (while I was sampling bits of cake, icing etc...)
Though after the cake making, I did notice putting on weight - no cake making workout to offset it.

BUT... all the cake is gone thank god... It is my weakness. Just like chocolate and most sweets.

Some things I have noticed over these weeks of transformation.

I feel MSG, Aspartame and dairy might not agree with me. Whenever I consume these products I go through a stage of feeling like I cannot get a full breath and my right ear gets blocked. When I was younger I had my breathing checked whenever I felt like this, but the Dr said my breathing was fine. I was getting a full breath.. I just felt like it wasn't a full breath (hope that's understandable!). Dairy... I'm not sure if it is or not...I think when I have skim milk it's not as bad..

So weigh in for week 11... 78.7kg! Wahoo... 2.3kg to go to my 20kg gone... I was hoping to do it by the end of the round.. but I only have myself to blame! Going to get to 20kg gone by the start of wk1 round 2.

Speaking of which, I have signed up for Round 2 of 12wbt. I thought I might do it alone as I have all the tools to keep going with weight loss, but I thrive when I need to report to someone... Having the charts the ritual of wednesday weighins I feel is what drives me to do better... I guess what works eh?

What I have learnt is, everything in moderation. I know it's not advised, but I have been throughout weighing myself everyday. It kind of shows me what I do during my day affects my weight. I am not worried about whether I have a big or little loss or gain, but I can see what affect of my food especially has on my each day.

Last week I was able to run 15 mins non stop for the first time on a treadmill. Now though I can't be eff'd. I'd rather do 30 mins on the cross trainer with 10 mins of 30 sec on 30 sec off sprints afterwards.

Still my upper body strength concerns me, but I am still plugging away at it. I feel the muscles in my arms now which is nice :)

I have started buying size 14 clothes. It feels so good to be able to try on clothes that fit now :) I used to feel so depressed at the thought of needing to look for clothes, because I just knew it wouldn't sit properly on me.

Anyway... time to rest up and hit the gym tomorrow!

16.5kg Later... Finally a comparison photo

It's funny... when you are really big, you don't think you are as big as you really are.

I see changes now, but living in my body everyday.. I feel like I haven't changed much.
I pulled out my license the other day to check something and I looked at my photo and thought... "Wow my face has really changed!"

After constant reminders from some friends I finally decided I will do some comparison photos.
So tada. My first one i'm willing to show the world

 I never actually took some decent photos fully dressed at the beginning of my weightloss, so I have found some photos from the end of last year to try and compare my photos from last night to.

It's nice to see how far i've come :) I'm starting to think how I could have gotten so big. No wonder I was miserable at myself when I looked in the mirror.

I wonder how I'll be when I lose it all.. Only time will tell!

Just a bunch of numbers

So this week I have started attempting steady state jogging. Never thought I could jog at a steady pace ever again hah.. though it was just part of me getting old and I would have to accept it.

Monday I jogged for 10 mins! I was quite chuffed.
Monday night i rolled my ankle at netball, but was fine after the game. Tried walking on it in the middle of the night and crunch... shooting pain through my ankle. So tuesday end up just being weights weights weights (plus I was exhausted as chubbachup decided waking up at 12:30 was how things were done)

Wednesday weigh in day
Finally! 3 weeks ago I made it to 81.2kg - a few days later got down to 80.6kg then my next official weigh in I went up to 81.7kg. Last week back to 81.2kg so today it was such a relief to weigh in finally under 80kg. 79.7kg! Wahoo! Last time I was this weigh was probably very early twenties.

Next milestone will be 20kg gone :)

Numbers
Today i jogged for 15 mins (after doing 15 mins on the Xtrainer).
Followed on by 10 mins of 30 sec sprints 30 sec rest
Total of 560 cals for this morning's workout
From Wk1 of 12wbt I have lost 7.5kg - 8.6% of body weight gone
From Warm up wk 4 (so 5 weeks prior to start of 12wbt) I have lost 16.5kg - 17.15% of me gone!
Every night I have started doing 100 pushups before bed. I really wanna get my upper body strength better. I feel weak and only hitting bear minimum weight suggestions from my strength exercise programs.

So there are my bunch of numbers... but they are what have been driving me. I have learnt not to get down about my unfavourable results and move forward and keep going. I haven't felt so driven and focused about something in such a long time. It is such a great feeling :D

Finally.. not a big follower of BMIs but it's nice to say I am no longer considered as obese on that scale (as per Michelle bridges calculator) which is an awesome feeling too!

Fitness Test 3 (Week 8)

That time again fitness test.
So as I mentioned I have a new found core strength and so I really pushed myself in this test.

I really find running around an oval for 1km so boring so instead I did it on the treadmill instead - which probably resulted in a better time if I was to free run... but at the end of the day I ran 1km! (with a 30sec walking reprieve) but I did it :D

Wall sits really make those thighs burns! (Well I noticed it more this time.. maybe because I could hold myself longer.)

So courtesy of Michelle Bridges 12wbt here are my stats for this week

Time Trials - over 1km Start week was a free run, Week 8 treadmill run

Pushups - in 1 minute, started with 6 on toes and dropped down to my knees for the last 30. Upper body strength still really sucks though

Wall sit - wow 14 seconds seems like nothing now!

Ab strength - I was impressed with 42 second plank on my knees in week 1, but in Week 8 I managed 1:26 on my toes and another 1:02 on my knees.

 

31 cm lost overall! - though my arms aren't doing much :| I think I need to focus on upper body strength eventually.. though you would think carrying a 15kg 11month old would be enough of a work out!

The Gain

Ahh 500g gain this week!
Not surprised though.. after eating crap last week and missing 2 gym sessions.

But on a positive note. 2 weeks ago I could hardly plank on my toes for 5 seconds. I would get a pain in the lower back and collapse. Today I held on for 50 seconds! I'm soo happy! Even started doing toe pushups! Only problem is my upper body strength is still annoying so I can only like do 3 before having to go back on my knees

Also did 20 burpees this week (used to chicken out and just do bench burpees could i was scared i couldn't get back and and would look like such a dork!).

So the positive I have taken away is that my fitness is noticebly better.. but im soo close to 80.. i really want to crack it.. just need to somehow get my focus back..
I'm starting to lose my mojo for the gym... I do go.. and i do make myself do it.. but i cant be fkd.
But it maybe because Im not getting enough sleep either.. so maybe im just exhausted.

Also started to get leg cramps in my sleep :( So might need to look at vitamins again... It's like im pregnant again! ergh

Anyway.. work will be less hectic next week.. i should come home on time i should sleep better and really get back on focus. I really need to get back on track....

Time Time Time...

This week I have been burning the candles both ends.. late to bed (due to trying to clean up after the boys go to bed) then up early to go to the gym and go to work early just to keep on top of things this week.
Definitely has taken its toll on me...It's definitely not a sustainable lifestyle, so glad it was only this week.
Things I have realised.
Rest is soo important...
I haven't realised how much I have needed it this week, trying to fit EVERYTHING in my day that I really wanted to do. My colleague has been on holidays, so I have been putting in a few extra hours before and after just to try and stay reasonably on top of everything.

Lack of rest increases my laziness and poor judgement. Poor food options was definitely an issue this week. Refined takeaway breakfasts and coffee (first time I have had coffee for a long while).
I hit below 81 by wednesday.. but back over 81 on Saturday. Reflecting at my food journal I know where I have gone wrong and why.

Also this thursday and friday I chose not to go to the Gym so I could get another hour shut eye. So less calorie burn plus bad food choices has definitely affected me. But luckily I have 3 more days before next weigh in.

It felt so good to go this morning though. I miss the sweat the burn the feeling of working hard.

Above all, time wasnt on my side this week. But here's to a new week, better choices and getting back on focus.

All these weeks of exercising will power...

So I thought I'd give myself a test last night.
Hubby and JellyBean wanted pizza for dinner. So I let them.. after all I have been resisting much temptation for the last 10 weeks.. how hard could resisting Pizza be?

I cooked my marina linguini... enjoyed most of it (except didn't feel like half the linguini.. which was ok).
But then I could smell that garlicky aroma of garlic bread lofting throughout the house... ok half a piece of garlic bread.. thats ok!

One piece of thin and crispy supreme pizza (sans italian sausage and pepperoni). Ok I've had my fix.. I don't need anymore....

But wait hubby has a pepperoni on puff crust .. just one piece... :S

Ok I've screwed myself tonight.. I'll just finish off JellyBean's remaining half a tube of m&m minis

THANKFULLY though.. according to my fitness pal I ended up eating the calories I burnt... so it wasn't an overall bad result... but it was definitely an awakening that even though after 10 weeks of focus.. of resistance... my senses have definitely not been desensitised and I still have a sweet tooth (Oh I miss baking!)
I guess on the upside I didn't eat the WHOLE loaf of garlic bread, and 6 pieces of pizza like I would used to.

But weigh in was good today.. another 600g (same as last week).
So sitting at 82.5kg - I haven't been this close to 80 since... I don't know!.. maybe 6 or so years?
80kg is so close! But yet.. it feels so far away

I found out how I pulled my thigh muscle. I'm so out of condition I can't sprint! Monday morning I tried to do sprint intervals on the treadmill and i felt that "pang"as soon as I tried my first interval. Netball that night wasn't so bad.. but it's frustrating knowing what I need to do and how I should move in a game... but my body won't keep up! I want to get that fitness back.. to be able to run meaningfully around the court and contribute more.

I need to work out how to fit more sleep in.
Up at 4:30am Bed by about 9-9:30pm.
Jelly bean goes to bed at 8:30-9... So that remaining half hour is to finish tidying up and somehow contribute to the house.

Made a kangaroo mince meat pie tonight with mushy peas.. It tasted really good.. none of that fatty taste you get with a normal meat pie and good flavours too. Definitely keeping that recipe ;)

Fitness Test 2 (Week 4)

This week I joined an indoor netball team with some girls from my 12wbt Newcastle Group. A little nerve racking at first! When I was like 10 years old I played for 2 years (probably the peak of my fitness as the first year I was Centre and we came runners up - the following year I slumped a bit and was stuck in defence as I couldn't keep up being centre anymore). Then the next time I played was maybe 12 years ago with some friends from highschool.

This time, I ended up as a shooter, which was cool. We lost by 1 point but it was definitely fun.
However regardless of the exercise I have been doing I managed to cork my right thigh smack in the centre and my left glute was a little sore but bearable. The drive home was UNBEARABLE for my thigh though, got home iced it, rolled it out with a can of vege and put some arnica based rub on it. Happily enough, I was able to do squats and step ups etc on it the next day, though still sore to touch.

So yesterday I completed my fitness testing and measurements and am SOOOO happy with my results.

Courtesy of the 12wbt page, here are my fitness test results.

Also need to include
Start Week: 45sec plank on knees
Week 4: 2:21min plank on knees

I am soo please especially with my time trial, wall sit and plank.

But I still feel so weak in the arms :\ Hopefully they'll get stronger!

Below is my total measurement changes for week 4 (courtesy of 12wbt page). 19.5cm in total goneski!

I have finally bought a new pair of work slacks (only one!) as my previous ones were at the stage of just sitting on my hips - would be a bit embarrassing to lose them at the office! Hopefully in a few more weeks time I can move down another size. Won't hold my breath though as it feels like nothing is going from my stomach (ok it does say I have lost 5cm in my waist .. but still.. maybe I'm just unhappy with the wrinkly yucky stretched marked skin there)

Seeing Changes

Today I want to share the changes I have noticed since I started this almost 7 weeks ago.


This week I bought a new pair of jeans! My current jeans I need to wear a belt with.. but they are that baggy around the top that the belt doesn't sit properly on it anymore! That feels awesome :)

I have a stack of Tommy Hilfiger Polos which use to sit tight around my stomach. They are loose now! Fit comfortably. Actually all my current shirts are now loose to wear around the waist.

I have a zip up jacket i used to have to suck in my gut to do up at the bottom and would sit very snug. Today I didn't have to suck it in just to get it done up.

Left - 11.7kg later

Still not ready to show full body pics.. but this pic of my face definitely shows a difference from 11.7kg ago.







There has definitely been changes in my fitness too
I could barely hold a plank for 45seconds at my first fitness test - just recently I could hold 1min 30secs.

In the beginning I would get constant shin aches and calf cramps when trying to walk 6km+ - now I can walk comfortably at an incline at this pace.

First few weeks, I couldn't even last a minute on the X trainer - now I have a love hate relationship with it, pushing myself for 15 mins at level 6 on random.

Went shopping the other day with hubby and the kids, and I said something smart ass to him which he always reacts by pinching my side waist fat. To his pleasant surprise he couldn't grab anything! I couldn't be anymore grateful to have such a proud and supporting husband.

As of today I am below 85kg! That is such an awesome milestone. 10kg lost was great but cracking 85kg is very exciting!

Rest day tomorrow... If I can force myself to rest!

10 Kg Gone! 20 to go!

This week I conquered a mini goal.
10kg gone! 86.2kg is something I hadn't seen for about 6 years, before the lifestyle of working shift work and living in Sydney with super handy fast food/ food courts/home delivery of foods was right there.

What has made these 10kg successful?
1)
Well. I think having a life changing moment really propels you in the right direction.
As I mentioned, after spending the previous week consuming 2 packets of nasi goreng noodles for breakfast and standing on the scales wish wish wishing that it hadn't really affected me; and seeing the 96.2kg flash up on the scales before me... that was my life changing moment.

Before this moment, I remember Dad making snide comments about I should exercise/eat less/stop eating crap, every time I saw him. It made me want to rebel against him even more and eat more of what I liked (that was my relationship with him my whole life though - pushing back against his "criticism").

So I didn't tell him I was going to the gym and I told mom not to tell him - or tell him but tell him to keep his mouth shut. After the 3 weeks I finally started mentioning it to him and now 6 weeks from making the change, I love boasting I have lost 10kg and "look how big my pants are!"

2)
Having a plan - a direction to follow. I work well by rules/direction/processes.
Eat 1200 cal - check
Exercise 6 days a week - check
Quite simple saying it like that really!

What else has helped me plan
Using Michelle Bridge's crunchtime cook book helped me keep my dinners in line for the first 5 weeks before the 12wbt started and now having an exercise plan on top of it now points me in the right direction. I know exactly what I am doing each day.

 3)
Seeing results.
I have been always a control freak. I want to be in control of what affects me and my family. If I don't see results of my actions I lose focus - I worry and get anxious.
What has helped is seeing what I am losing after each workout. Yeah it's generally not a good thing to weigh yourself everyday. But I thrive off seeing results of what I do.
I have prepared myself mentally for plateaus and I can always explain a weight gain. There is no hiding when you record everything you eat!
The results in my clothes are awesome! Loose pants loose shirts.. loose tummy (Not a nice sight but it DOES mean I'm losing weight)

4)
JFDI - A simple mantra. If you question yourself answer yourself with JFDI (Just fkn do it!)
Why question doing something you should do every day..

5)
Fantastic Support Network . Hubby has been fantastic - I've been able to shoot away to the gym at 5am and if Chubbachups wakes up while I'm gone he will tend to him. He boxes with me on the weekend. If I need to go to bed early he will tend to the kids.
Friends. They constantly encourage me and say words of praise which mean so much!
Forums/Facebook groups - Awesome way to discuss questions and find out information

I can't wait to see what I will look like after the next 10kg. I am so excited about getting into the 70s. It is something I have only dreamt about for the last 7 years... It's time to make it reality! and nothing is stopping me!

Killin' Day One

12wbt Round 1 started today!
Below are my starting stats. Let's hope in 4 weeks there is some improvement!

Yesterday was Jelly Bean's birthday. Kinda let loose. Ate things I wouldn't normally eat now. But I guess I have been going so well for 5 weeks, so a little celebration is not so bad?

Today I smashed out Mish's intermediate program. Me who has only lasted 7 mins on a X trainer on level one, did my 10 min sesh at level 3 Yay!
So proud of myself and was able to burn 475cals in the process (Little more than what I was doing just doing walking and cycling for 55 mins)

Had to get a medical for work today, so I was home early and convinced hubby to come to the gym again! Smashed out the same session again and to top it off I did the cross trainer again for 10 mins on level 6!! Wahoo!

Tomorrow is a strength day. Learning how to use different weights. I know not to expect a high calorie burn tomorrow and its necessary. So I hope I go ok (I am so weak in my triceps but have awesome biceps from carrying a 14kg 9mth old Chubbachup lol).

It's so true once you really get into exercising, it is soo addictive. 6 weeks ago I would never imagine exercising the way I do now. 6 days a week. Guilting myself into a sneaky lil sesh on the 7th. Hah. It's great.

Anyway till later

Few more days till it all starts!

So today I got meal plans and exercise plans.

Definitely need to modify my meal plan (can't make different breakfasts and lunches everyday). But I guess its basically what I'm doing now - I have been watching my calories for the last 4 weeks and am used to it now.

The exercise plans.. well the X trainer still scares me.. I feel like my knees are gonna give out every time I use it. No longer will I be doing my cycling and power walking.. there is a mixture of things...
Little bit anxious though. No idea how to use the weight equipment at the gym and at the moment I just don't have the time to come in during staff hours to get shown. However, lucky enough those toning days I can probably do in the back yard/garage instead of going to the gym... I don't know how that's going to work as the mornings get darker again... we'll see.

Oh and my fitness test put me in intermediate... better than I thought.. but a little daunting... Oh well got to try everything once.

Also did my measurements today, though I'll share them later as I'm in desperate need of sleep after Jelly Bean's 3rd birthday today!

Fitness Test #1

Fitness Test Time!
This is how I went:

• 1km time trial - 8:52min
• Pushups - 22 in a min (knees)
• Plank - 42 secs (knees)
• Wall Sit - 14 secs
• Sit and Reach - 12cm

 At the gym I can power walk a km in 10 minutes, so I'm happy I went faster than that! :) Stamina wise, I was fine, just my shins and arches were killing me and that was why I would have to go back to walking. I've always had issues with my arches. All through highschool I avoided any sort of out door running because they would kill. Now I am fairly good on a treadmill. Maybe because of the dead flat surface? Who knows.

Pushups I'm fairly impress with too didn't expect to do that many, but my arms (what's that muscle along the back of your upper arm?) were soo cramping afterwards!

Planking I impressed myself again as I haven't really planked before

Wall sit I found shocking.. especially since I cycle everyday, I thought I would do alot better, but OMG!

And sit and reach.. well i used to be a dancer and I know I have lost lots of flexibility so I don't think I did too bad :)

It will be interesting to see how I improve over the 12 weeks!

Anyway today I weighed in at 87.75kg!
First time I have seen myself under 88kg for about 6 years :) So motivation is high for the start of 12wbt next week. I'm so pumped!

Winning!

Just a quick on this morning. Wanted to share my excitement of another 800g this morning! so 7.8kg in TOTAL!
The last time i was 88kg was 6 weeks after chubbachups was born and I said I wasnt going to go back in the 90s... well i wasn't prepared and fell off the horse...
But  this time it feels the real deal! I get so excited each kilo I go down. I think I will be in tears when i get to 85kg!

Anyway gotta get the kids to swimming :)


 02/02/2013 11:53 Eastern Summer Time (New South Wales)

I just wanted to add, after swimming we go to mom's where the kids stay for the afternoon so hubby and I can do the groceries (and some alone time). I stay at mom's while hubby dashes home to have a shower (from swimming) and I wash both kids in the tub. This task has always been a struggle for me - squatting down to wash them, get them out of the tub... dressing them.. (Note: Jellybean has a shower at home  with daddy's help every morning and daddy gives Chubbachups his baths as I'm usually at work by then)...

... but today I have felt such a big difference! Down and up without problems, I didn't feel like my body was groaning at me everytime I went through the motions. I'm having such a high day today.... though I know I will be pooped by the end of it as Chubbachups had mommy and daddy awake all night with teething :S

The start is near...

Can't believe it is 10 more sleeps to the beginning of 12wbt rd1. The Warm Up period and Pre Season has gone so fast. But I don't think I have ever been so prepared.

Movement
Since taking the first step of signing up for 12wbt, I had never thought going to the gym would become part of my everyday life.
Looking back at the last 4 weeks, I remember:-
Week 1

• I had migraines for most of the week
• I was recovering from a head cold and hocking up the crap in my throat.. but going to the gym actually stopped me from coughing constantly
• I found it difficult to walk more than 5.5km/hr and my shins and calves ached ALL week
• I struggled cycling for 15mins on level 1 at 75rpms
• Sunday weighed in around 93kg

Week 2

• Started cycling on level 2 at around 80rpms however would start to get sharp cramps in my calves
• Started walking at varying inclines however still kept getting sharp sudden cramps in my calves 
• Felt guilty not going to the gym so did my Kick Boxing dvd and an hour of boxing drills with hubby
• Sunday weighed in around 91kg

Week 3

• Doms in my back and side muscles from boxing.. took till Thursday to feel normal again
• Cycling on level 3 around 80-85rpms. No more leg cramps!
• Walking on varying inclines at level 2 5.7km avg
• 1 min bursts of jogging
• Plateaued Friday-Sat- Sun
• Sunday again couldn't shake the guilty feeling of not working out, so did my kick boxing dvd again while Chubbachups watched me (everyone else was still asleep) and boxing with hubby again
• Sunday weighed in 89.9kg (lowest 89.7 this week)

Week 4

• Inner thighs and buns aching from the buns and thigh section of dvd (which I didn't try the week before)
• Cycling on level 4 around 82-95rpms
• Walking up onto 3% incline avging 6.2km/hr
• Stopped the jogging as I seemed to record more calories walking fast and maintaining my heart rate  around 140rpm+ than  spiking up to 160bpm then back down to 130 again.
• As of Friday currently 89.2kg. 7kg LOST! :D

Eating
As for my eating, I haven't felt more fuller, satisfied and all over good about my food choices in a long while.

I've tried to adopt the saying eat like a King for breakfast, Prince for lunch and Pauper for dinner, usually eating my last meal before 6pm. Someone mentioned on one of my forums the other day to drink some water before going to bed helps your metabolism while you sleep. Figured I have a fairly strong bladder for it to not wake me in the middle of the night so have been doing it the last couple of days - don't know whether the weightloss numbers is coincidental though.

Normal day currently consists of

• piece of fruit before the gym
• breakfast bran with blueberries and banana (or variations of what is in Michelle Bridges crunchtime - enjoyed the baked beans and fried egg on occassion!)
• piece of fruit for a snack
• Generally at work it's either mountain bread, whole meal wrap or cruskits with avo/tomato/cucumber, cold cuts and either mayo/cottage cheese/tzatziki
• piece of fruit or yoghurt for a snack
• Dinner is generally something from Michelle Bridges crunchtime cookbook

Eating out I generally go with sumo salad or subway and I actively use my fitness pal to diarise and check everything I eat.

Changes I've noticed

• Clothes are looser
• stretch marks (from my pregnancies) are now very wrinkly, like a crumpled plastic shopping bag. As much as its yuck. It does remind me that the flab beneath it is going!
• I have more energy during the day, however feeling dead tired once the sun goes down!

What's next.
My next hurdle is familiarising myself with other gym equipment. I know the exercises provided to me would be more than just treadmills and bikes so I'm feeling a lil apprehensive - also since I'm at the gym at 5:30am - so no one really to ask. Though worse case scenario is I can choose to do Outdoor/at home options for the exercises I find awkward to do at the gym, so I have flexibility!

Jelly Bean's 3rd birthday is this week. Small family celebration on Thursday (so I have to rely on mom's cooking and being conservative with what I eat) and a bigger bash with friends on Sunday .

A task this week was to organise and diarise - except, I am HOPELESS with hand written diaries - no I am hopeless with all calendars electronic or hard copy. But I am forward planner in general, so I'm thinking maybe sticking to what I am doing now will help as I have covered some important elements such as making the gym part of my life/routine now and I prepare the weeks menu so I know what to shop for. I'm aware when birthdays/events are coming up and I have been handling them well I feel.
I'll see how I go, I guess if I start to struggle I can go get a diary/notebook and start jotting it all down.

This week is measurement time! be interesting to see what my numbers will be! I have measured my waist once... I need to find what it is so hopefully there will be a change from then and this week.

So anyway time to recharge my batteries for a full on Saturday of gym, bringing the kids to swimming lessons and grocery shopping! Night :)

Plateau #1

Plateau #1 - I know there will be many more. But it's how I will get through them that will make me this time.

So I do that faux pa of weighing myself daily, same time everyday. So maybe this isn't a plateau. But let's just say it is a long weekend plateau. Because over the whole long weekend the scales haven't budged (though it is a DEFINITE positive that the numbers didn't go up).

I have to say, I stood on the scales 10 times this morning, just hoping the next weigh maybe 50..100g lighter?

But it's not all to do with numbers is it? After all, it feels great to wear a pair of shorts comfortably that made me feel like a rolled pork roast only a few weeks ago. Tops are looser and I walk around with a energy and a purpose now. No longer do I dawdle around like I'm 36 weeks pregnant.
That I have achieved on my own in the last few weeks, so how much better am I going to get when 12wbt starts in February?

I just have to focus on the positives and stick to it. I will get through it :)

This Mornings Stats:
Exercise: Walking/Jogging (yes I am jogging more and more now. Still short stints, but more often)
Time: 65mins
Distance: 6.62km
Climbed: 26m
Avg Spd: 6.12 km/hr
Avg Heart Rate: 142bpm
Calories: 557
Where I'm hurting: Yesterday I did a kick boxing dvd and im feeling it in my inner thighs (probably from all the side kicks)!

Making the Commitment

In the evening of 6th January 2013, I went to Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation site and signed up. My heart definitely jumped into my throat, I was forking out money to make this happen. So it was an anxious moment.

During work the next day, I signed up for a 7 day free trial at my local gym. Stopped by after work to get my key and after dinner I went straight back in. I was only going to hang around for 30 mins.
I stayed for a little longer as I actually found it quite "nice".

When I went to sign in earlier, I saw someone pedaling away on a bike, so I thought Ill go with that as I always complained about how my feet hurt when I ran and my knees hurt (excuses!).
So, tried 15 mins on the bike, then jumped onto a treadmill. OMG my calves and shins were on fire! How have I gone through the last few years of my life and have lost the ability to walk at a decent walking pace without being in pain!
But I just kept telling myself "JFDI" (Just Focus and Do It.. or if you're being all bad ass on urself Just F****n Do It!)
15 mins past... bumped up the timer 2 more times... till I realised I told hubby I would be home by now.

The rest of that week, I would rush home from work and go to the gym for an hour from 4:30-5:30pm before picking up the boys.
Excuses started to pop in my head again. This time is inconvenient for the boys. The evenings are so rushed. I'm missing out on time with them. So Thursday after my workout I handed back my free trial and signed up for the year!

First Week I went to the gym 5 days :) And I was starting to feel guilty on the 2 days I didn't go.

Next Monday, I switched it up. The excuses were NOT going to conquer me. After all I used to get up at 3:40am to commute to Sydney, why can't I just wake up earlier and get the gym out of the way before everyone else woke up?
So for 2 weeks now Mon-Sat I have been getting to the gym by 5:30am.

I never thought of myself as ever running again. I always complained about aches in my arches. But I did have some decent shoes I never had used to their full potential (a purchase from an earlier fitness phase I didn't follow through on). So 3 weeks in and I have started jogging on and off on the treadmill now and I can feel my fitness is improving. I can't wait to see what the following weeks hold.

So where has all this blogging and wanting to express myself coming from? Well this weeks challenge in 12wbt was to say it out loud.
I am notorious for not following through on things I started. I give up to easily. So I thought, maybe because I haven't really made myself accountable for what I am doing. I like showing people what I can achieve. So last night (25th Jan 2013) I made a list of friends  on facebook that knew me over my years, who were non judgemental, who have inspired me, who have been there fore me, who have just known me and called them my 12wbt brag group. So when I want to share something about my weightloss, I can share my status straight to them. Quick and easy.

This is what I wrote:
"Sooo.. everyone I have selected to see this status... I am making a commitment to those selected. All of you I've crossed paths in different stages in life...
You have seen me at my fittest and at my frumpiest, seen me through school, my work life and through kids... and I will admit there is no surprise I have had issues with my weight all my life!

As some of you already know I have committed myself to tackle head on Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation and my task right now is to "Say it out Loud!"

So hear it goes!
My commitment is to lose 30kg in total!
Wow .. it's out there... very scary and surreal, but a big wake up call to what needs to be done!

Wish me luck!"

 I have no excuse to be able to accomplish this and I have made myself accountable. I haven't been so focused about anything... ever.

Since the 6th Jan, where I weighed myself and was disgusted with what I saw, I have changed how I eat and have maintained exercising. I am please to say as of 26th Jan 2013 I am now 89.7kg! I am below 90kg and am NEVER heading back. I can't wait to see what I can achieve doing 12wbt (starting Feb 2013).

How I Got Here

All my life I have been "bigger"than those my age. Maybe not overweight to begin with, but definitely some time during primary school. You kind of wonder how you get here.
I danced ballet (and jazz and tap on and off) from when I was 4 till I was 14(ish?). I played netball in primary school. I went to tennis training during highschool. Yet I became overweight.

Something I have noticed when my mom looks after my babies (well especially JellyBean). The amount of icecream, juice, chocolate, treats she sneaks into his diet. Yeah he's a skinny kid. But with such focus on kids nutrition it is such an eye opener.
I bring it up on occasion with mom, but she is like "Oh it's only every now and then, he eats lot of good food".
Maybe that is the issue. The idea treats are ok because they get heaps of other good stuff. But the more I think about it, JellyBean knows he gets chocolate and icecream and juice from his grandmother, so is it putting the idea I can eat all this yummy stuff on demand in his head so young? Anyhow that is another issue for another time. But something I have been having stern words with mother about.

So back to it. I was fairly active through school. Though I guess technology got in the way in the later years. The internet came to town, and gaming became interesting. I got my license and could just drive anywhere and look! Drive straight up to take away food! And to top it all off I started working at a fast food restaurant. This was probably the beginning of the next 20kg.

I ended up being a manager and spent 5 years surrounded by convenient food for breakfast lunch and dinner.

When I finally left that life, I ended in an office job and with already being used to the convenience of food, what better way to eat than to eat out!

Somewhere during that time I jumped on the WeightWatchers band wagon online. Once the support ended, so did my motivation. No one to send results to again. Meh why bother. Secondly, no one really knew I was doing it. So it was easy for me to give up. I never made myself accountable for what I was trying to achieve. I kept it to myself, so when I failed, no one would know.

So as I previously mentioned, 2 babies on I've run out of excuses. Late 2012 I blatantly said to myself, "eat what you want, food tastes awesome, its meant to be enjoyed".

I think I just almost hit rock bottom right there....
Rock bottom was seeing that 96.2kg and feeling disgusted with myself.

Mogz Out Of Excuses!

Hello out there.

Right now I'm feeling a bit anxious about sharing my journey I am about to embark on. But, I guess blogging it, will help make me accountable, hopefully will give me enough information to help me improve on myself as I go and give me something I can reflect on to see how I have become who I will be!


So, to the start of 2013 I was admiring the wonderful work a few of my friends had done on improving themselves, living a healthier life and showing the rewards they reaped! I was in admiration and had toyed with the idea of starting a weightloss journey myself as I really had run out of excuses for being as big as I am. I had umm'd and ahhh'd about Cohen's Weightloss before I fell pregnant both times. I did the research this time and found quite a few not so desirable things about it. Then I read inside and out, the Jenny Craig webpage. How could I not, with Mel B, Dame Edna/Barry Humphries etc being rubbed in my face as I gorged my face while enjoying evening television.
I came across some before and after photos of a few friends that had completed Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation. So again I read, looked around. But I was still undecided on whether I was ready for this. But I was out of excuses.

My Excuses.
- I want another baby, what is the point of losing the weight if I'm gonna be looking and feeling crap again
- I do a 6 hour commute to work 3 days a week. When will I find time to exercise and cook proper meals for myself if I am never home and when I am home I want to spend quality time with my babies.
- Food tastes so good. Why do I have to give that up? I don't care how I look like. I have my family now, I am happy (This was far from the truth - hated trying to find clothes to look decent when going out)
- I'm self conscious. I can't go into the gym. I will be judged
- I can't exercise at home. It's too hard and i get all tired and sweaty
.... the list goes on.. but you get the idea. EVERY EXCUSE UNDER THE SUN...then I ran out.

Sometime on 6th January 2013, after I spent several days of downing 2 packets of nasi goreng noodles for breakfast (amongst other take aways and yummy treats), I thought I would have a sneak peak at what I weighed.

96.2kg
Nargh! Such a big number. I had only weighed this twice before - during both my pregnancies with JellyBean (who's turning 3 in a couple of weeks) and Chubbachups (9mths).

This number really freaked me out. It was on the other side of 95, too close 100kg for my liking. Did I really want to be happy eating the food I enjoyed whenever I wanted, if I'm gonna be hanging out in the triple digits?
I have seen morbidly obese people before, I always said to myself, I will never be that. But really this is where I was heading and it wasn't fair to my boys and my husband if I didn't look after myself because I enjoyed my food. My boys need a mom and hubby and I are a team when we raise our children.

So this is where my journey begins - the realisation I cannot be this person anymore.