Thanks to a suggestion by Kath @ The Courage to Start, tomorrow I am going to do a 'Day in the 12WBT life'. Unfortunately, they'll just be camera phone pics because we've somehow lost our point-and-shoot camera.
I just know you're all sitting on the edges of your computer chairs in excitement and anticipation. ;)
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
New habits
Yesterday morning when I woke up for my run, I got an SMS that gave me a nasty shock. Don't worry, it's not bad health news for me or loved ones, it's a financial shock due to a completely idiotic mistake I made a few weeks ago. Ugh! I felt awful.
The old me would have gone back to bed and hidden under the covers, probably with as much chocolate or sweet stuff as I could scrounge up - and being the Easter weekend, that would have been a lot. It was tempting, so tempting. But I was already half-dressed.
So instead I finished getting ready, laced those shoes up, and JFDI. Took out my frustration with myself, on the pavement and the steps of Jacob's Ladder instead. 3.5km there, 6 laps down and up, 3.5km back. 1.5 hours, more than 1000 calories.
MUCH better way to deal with it, I was pretty much over it by the time I got home.
Still have the bill to pay, though, who wants to buy some Phoenix cards?!?! LOL.
The old me would have gone back to bed and hidden under the covers, probably with as much chocolate or sweet stuff as I could scrounge up - and being the Easter weekend, that would have been a lot. It was tempting, so tempting. But I was already half-dressed.
So instead I finished getting ready, laced those shoes up, and JFDI. Took out my frustration with myself, on the pavement and the steps of Jacob's Ladder instead. 3.5km there, 6 laps down and up, 3.5km back. 1.5 hours, more than 1000 calories.
MUCH better way to deal with it, I was pretty much over it by the time I got home.
Still have the bill to pay, though, who wants to buy some Phoenix cards?!?! LOL.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Easter
I hope you are all having a great long weekend, whether or not you celebrate Easter as a Christian festival, a pagan one, a chocolate one, or just enjoy five days off work.
I went for a run on Sunday morning and it was bliss. The dual-use path that I often run on down by the river, is usually quite busy - it was deserted! Plus there was a light mist on the water and a few sprinkles of rain. This could have been cold but I have 2km to run before I get to the river, so I was nicely warmed up by then.
I've done okay with food. Personally I think if I couldn't eat chocolate at Easter I'd be very sad!! But I haven't eaten much, and I've kept active. We stayed at the in-laws last night and were there all of today; let me just say my in-laws are very fond of carbs, although slightly less so since my father-in-law was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes ... That said, I managed to politely refuse dessert, decline the bread basket at dinner, and not go for seconds. The hardest part was not having any protein at breakfast, only a slice of toast. I've become accustomed to 'proper' brekkies and I was starving by lunch time!
Oh, and I did find a dress on Saturday. I walked ALL around the city and found nothing satisfactory, ugh, things are expensive, I know I said I wasn't shopping solely on price but I couldn't come to terms with spending $300 on a dress. Plus a lot of the size twelves were a little big (yay! never thought I'd say that) and the size tens a little tight. That was frustrating. We dropped in to Hillarys Boat Harbour to get the kids some ice cream, and I took a quick peek in a little boutique there. 15 minutes, two very helpful sales assistants and $100 later, and I actually have TWO dresses to choose from. This is why I hate shopping.
I went for a run on Sunday morning and it was bliss. The dual-use path that I often run on down by the river, is usually quite busy - it was deserted! Plus there was a light mist on the water and a few sprinkles of rain. This could have been cold but I have 2km to run before I get to the river, so I was nicely warmed up by then.
I've done okay with food. Personally I think if I couldn't eat chocolate at Easter I'd be very sad!! But I haven't eaten much, and I've kept active. We stayed at the in-laws last night and were there all of today; let me just say my in-laws are very fond of carbs, although slightly less so since my father-in-law was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes ... That said, I managed to politely refuse dessert, decline the bread basket at dinner, and not go for seconds. The hardest part was not having any protein at breakfast, only a slice of toast. I've become accustomed to 'proper' brekkies and I was starving by lunch time!
Oh, and I did find a dress on Saturday. I walked ALL around the city and found nothing satisfactory, ugh, things are expensive, I know I said I wasn't shopping solely on price but I couldn't come to terms with spending $300 on a dress. Plus a lot of the size twelves were a little big (yay! never thought I'd say that) and the size tens a little tight. That was frustrating. We dropped in to Hillarys Boat Harbour to get the kids some ice cream, and I took a quick peek in a little boutique there. 15 minutes, two very helpful sales assistants and $100 later, and I actually have TWO dresses to choose from. This is why I hate shopping.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Dress shopping & body image
Today I am going to go shopping for a dress to wear to the finale party.
This brings up a lot of issues for me. For about the last five years, every time I've had a special occasion to go to, I buy something that is:
1. Cheap. Not so much in quality, just price. So clearance racks, op-shopping for brand-name dresses in good condition, you get the idea.
2. Just okay. Fits me, doesn't gape or bulge, doesn't emphasise the areas I was most unhappy with (legs, tummy), but doesn't necessarily actually flatter me.
Part of this is because I don't really have the time for shopping, at least not child-free, and anyone with kids understands that clothes shopping for oneself with the kids in tow is not easy. Evie is pretty patient, but there's still the problem that nowhere posher than Target actually has room for a stroller or trolley in the changerooms, heck, many nicer shops I can't even really fit a stroller in the shop without feeling like Evie is probably putting vaguely sticky 2-year-old hands over everything.
But part of it is because I don't feel I DESERVE something really gorgeous. If I'm not going to look great, I shouldn't be spending much money. I've been a SAHM for five years so there's also the notion of my value tied up in that, i.e. I don't earn any money so I don't deserve to spend much on myself. (Please note that this idea doesn't come from my partner, it's self-sabotage.)
So today I am going to go shopping, by myself. I am going to look at the sale racks, sure, but I am not going to buy something simply because it's on sale. I'm not going to settle for 'okay'. I've still got two weekends to go, so if I don't find anything today, that's okay too.
(The cheapskate part of me is not happy because I will probably also need new shoes and a new bra - my boobs have shrunk along with the rest of me, and the only ones that fit properly at the moment are sports bras.)
This brings up a lot of issues for me. For about the last five years, every time I've had a special occasion to go to, I buy something that is:
1. Cheap. Not so much in quality, just price. So clearance racks, op-shopping for brand-name dresses in good condition, you get the idea.
2. Just okay. Fits me, doesn't gape or bulge, doesn't emphasise the areas I was most unhappy with (legs, tummy), but doesn't necessarily actually flatter me.
Part of this is because I don't really have the time for shopping, at least not child-free, and anyone with kids understands that clothes shopping for oneself with the kids in tow is not easy. Evie is pretty patient, but there's still the problem that nowhere posher than Target actually has room for a stroller or trolley in the changerooms, heck, many nicer shops I can't even really fit a stroller in the shop without feeling like Evie is probably putting vaguely sticky 2-year-old hands over everything.
But part of it is because I don't feel I DESERVE something really gorgeous. If I'm not going to look great, I shouldn't be spending much money. I've been a SAHM for five years so there's also the notion of my value tied up in that, i.e. I don't earn any money so I don't deserve to spend much on myself. (Please note that this idea doesn't come from my partner, it's self-sabotage.)
So today I am going to go shopping, by myself. I am going to look at the sale racks, sure, but I am not going to buy something simply because it's on sale. I'm not going to settle for 'okay'. I've still got two weekends to go, so if I don't find anything today, that's okay too.
(The cheapskate part of me is not happy because I will probably also need new shoes and a new bra - my boobs have shrunk along with the rest of me, and the only ones that fit properly at the moment are sports bras.)
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Thoughts
I lost another 600g this week. It isn't much, but it means there are less than 4kg to my goal weight.
I don't regret for a minute signing up for this round of the 12WBT, but I've been thinking about it and I don't think I'll be back for Round 2. I justified the once-off cost, but now I am almost at goal, I *know* what I need to know, I just need to keep putting it into practice.
Michelle has a great Lean and Strong program for those who aren't wanting to lose more weight, but rather to tone up; however, I don't think this is for me. Weight and strength training are like pulling teeth to me, ugh, I don't do it enough and I don't enjoy it when I do it! Plus my major goal, which will feel much bigger to me than just losing the weight, is to be able to run a half-marathon in August. So I need that cardio in there. Plus, the L&S program is more suited to someone who can go to the gym regularly, and that's just not me.
Who knows, I might be ready for it by the time Round 3 starts, or I might feel I'm doing okay with what I've learned and with following Michelle's books. One thing is for sure, I am excited to be going to Melbourne for the final party of THIS round!
(And just a little nervous. Me + large social events = eeek! Breaking out of the comfort zone ...)
I don't regret for a minute signing up for this round of the 12WBT, but I've been thinking about it and I don't think I'll be back for Round 2. I justified the once-off cost, but now I am almost at goal, I *know* what I need to know, I just need to keep putting it into practice.
Michelle has a great Lean and Strong program for those who aren't wanting to lose more weight, but rather to tone up; however, I don't think this is for me. Weight and strength training are like pulling teeth to me, ugh, I don't do it enough and I don't enjoy it when I do it! Plus my major goal, which will feel much bigger to me than just losing the weight, is to be able to run a half-marathon in August. So I need that cardio in there. Plus, the L&S program is more suited to someone who can go to the gym regularly, and that's just not me.
Who knows, I might be ready for it by the time Round 3 starts, or I might feel I'm doing okay with what I've learned and with following Michelle's books. One thing is for sure, I am excited to be going to Melbourne for the final party of THIS round!
(And just a little nervous. Me + large social events = eeek! Breaking out of the comfort zone ...)
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Less than four weeks to go
We're in Week 9 of the 12 Week Body Transformation already! Wow.
So far, I've lost 11.6kg since the start of pre-season, 6.6kg (8.67% of my body weight) since the 12 weeks actually started. So it has slowed down; I've certainly not been perfect. There are now less than four weeks until the end, my tickets to Melbourne for the final workout and party are booked, and I have 4.5kg to go until my goal. Time to refocus and kick butt!
I recently looked at some family photos we had done before Christmas. I didn't realise until now that I really was overweight. No wonder people have noticed a change! Best of all, I can move more easily, my digestive system isn't playing up as much, and today I fit into a pair of jeans I still had stashed away from more than five years ago, before my second pregnancy.
(Laziness paid off a bit here. Last winter I needed new jeans, so I went to my favourite op shop on a 50% off day. I didn't have time to try things on, so I grabbed four pairs that looked like they'd fit and were in a style I like. At $2.50/pair, I figured I couldn't go wrong. Two pairs fit me and saw me through last winter. Two were quite a bit too small and I kept meaning to sell them on eBay. I never got around to it, and today they fit me perfectly! So I now have two 'new' pairs of jeans - one pair are Levis! - and one old favourite for this winter.)
So far, I've lost 11.6kg since the start of pre-season, 6.6kg (8.67% of my body weight) since the 12 weeks actually started. So it has slowed down; I've certainly not been perfect. There are now less than four weeks until the end, my tickets to Melbourne for the final workout and party are booked, and I have 4.5kg to go until my goal. Time to refocus and kick butt!
I recently looked at some family photos we had done before Christmas. I didn't realise until now that I really was overweight. No wonder people have noticed a change! Best of all, I can move more easily, my digestive system isn't playing up as much, and today I fit into a pair of jeans I still had stashed away from more than five years ago, before my second pregnancy.
(Laziness paid off a bit here. Last winter I needed new jeans, so I went to my favourite op shop on a 50% off day. I didn't have time to try things on, so I grabbed four pairs that looked like they'd fit and were in a style I like. At $2.50/pair, I figured I couldn't go wrong. Two pairs fit me and saw me through last winter. Two were quite a bit too small and I kept meaning to sell them on eBay. I never got around to it, and today they fit me perfectly! So I now have two 'new' pairs of jeans - one pair are Levis! - and one old favourite for this winter.)
Today was a better run
I still didn't manage to get up and do it before work, instead I did it after work, and it felt ok. Not as good as running first thing, but much better than the late afternoon effort the other day.
Evie was at daycare for the morning, so I had to pick her up by 12.30pm, but I wanted to get her a little early. I finished work just before 11am, went home, got changed and had about half an hour to spare. Not enough for a long run, so I just went to the park across the road and did interval running (1min faster pace, 1min30sec slower pace). My heartrate stayed quite high and I burned nearly 400 calories in the 30 minutes, so I'm happy with that! It's a tactic I'm going to have to use more now that I'm more pushed for time, and also now that it is darker in the mornings.
Of course, when I got to daycare Evie was asleep, so I should probably have waited to pick her up!! But we went and had lunch together as a treat: my going back to work hasn't been easy for her, either.
Evie was at daycare for the morning, so I had to pick her up by 12.30pm, but I wanted to get her a little early. I finished work just before 11am, went home, got changed and had about half an hour to spare. Not enough for a long run, so I just went to the park across the road and did interval running (1min faster pace, 1min30sec slower pace). My heartrate stayed quite high and I burned nearly 400 calories in the 30 minutes, so I'm happy with that! It's a tactic I'm going to have to use more now that I'm more pushed for time, and also now that it is darker in the mornings.
Of course, when I got to daycare Evie was asleep, so I should probably have waited to pick her up!! But we went and had lunch together as a treat: my going back to work hasn't been easy for her, either.
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