12WBT Round 1 - Warm Up; Round 2 - Crunch Time!!!

This is so exciting. I never want 12WBT (i.e. 12 Week Body Transformation) to end - and for me it won't.  This is my life now ... and I'm just getting warmed up!!

I've trudged through the flabby mud of pain and despair with the Biggest Losers (BL) on TV over the past 11 weeks. I've shot off the back of my treadmill with their highs and lows. I've balled my eyes out as Margie (BL contestant) swung off the canyon, for me, in Switzerland. I cried and cried for her fears, her strength, her determination, her success and for myself... For all I've lost, for all my heartache, for all my regrets, and now for my own successes. I truly am a mad woman running and crying on my treadmill (watching BL). Thank God my kids love and support me, as well as laugh heartily at me, um... with me. 

(Biggest Loser Australia Series 7 Week 14 Switzerland Canyon Jump)

I've gained in strength and lost in weight. I have a ways to go and now I must journey on and on and on, as I really get it. I use to diet with a the mindset of ...when I'm slim I can eat this pie again, ... if I lose 5kg I can enjoy all those foods I'm denying myself. That is so funny now.

I love the food I am eating now and, even more exciting, my family does too. I look forward to and savour treat night; without the tasteless insatiable glutinous gorging that I lived before. The sheer joy of sipping a glass of wine and being satisfied with just one, or biting into a fresh baguette with pesto and truly tasting it, positively enjoying the experience with all it's delicious sensations. And most importantly knowing what I am doing, knowing it is a well earned treat meal, not a treat day or week or month or …

Warm up is just about finished; soon it will be time to smash out a great round 2 - for growing longer legs for bigger strides.

A Challenge for Myself

Well I did it. Last night I did 600cals in one session. Had I been pulling the wool over my own eyes for all of round 1, thinking that was "toooo hard" and "I CAN"T!!"?  [We've heard that nearly daily on the Biggest Losers at the beginning of the series] ... or because of round 1 was I able to imagine digging a little bit deeper and raising the bar? Do you know what, I think I have been holding back on myself. Haha it wasn't that awful. It did take me 1 1/2 hours of treadmill walking/sprints and wild dancing with my new iPod strap on my arm with high energy music pulsing through my head and rhythm flowing through my body.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is, what was impossible in week 1, somewhere along the line becomes so possible, so do-able that it was a no-brainer but I missed that point of when it was possible by continuing to think it was impossible. Wow I will have to keep my mind open for my next increase in level of fitness as it approaches in round 2. I have set a goal to climb Table Top Mountain in Toowoomba - always been too scared of the effort and pain but not now. Was to do it today with my sister Lauren but it got rained out. It has been rescheduled not cancelled. Will update with photos. P.S. I am talking about beginner stuff, as some people would scoff at Table Top Mountain, Lauren has done it plenty of times, but it is my Mount Kosciuszko.  Cheers

Opps! Sorry Leinie, I stuffed up :{

Well the temptation of Easter and Easter holidays was interesting. What one week of little exercising, dinners out and coffee shops will do. My old nemesis, my undo-er of all past good efforts. Oh my, I love holidays too much.

Okay, confession time - I gained 1.1kg over that period. Boohoo :( 

And that is all I have to say about that  ;)

Stay tuned for the big turn around 'cause as we know an aeroplane does not fly in a straight line to get to its destination, it meanders slightly off course and corrects, then meanders slightly off course again. The main thing is that it continues to self correct. Also on this theosophical note, meandering off course is a great time of learning, ... again   (said with Forrest Gump's disheartened intonation).

What I have to do now is reflect on the changes that my journey so far has made to my life and refocus on them:

1. I have gone from a tight size 18 to a real size 16, not an almost, too tight 16!!! And my dear sister Lauren who is one step ahead of me, on her health trip, has given me an entire arm full of wonderful shirts and trousers. I have been wearing not-so-dressy T-shirts for so many years now that all my work colleagues have commented on how good I look.

2. When I wake up in the morning I no longer shuffle stiffly along from the bedroom to the bathroom like an old lady, I kid you not, I was shuffling - but now - no more.

3. This is my favourite: Arriving to work there is a long and steep set of stairs to get into the back of the building. I use to walk up them puffing and panting, bent over and pushing my hands on my thighs to climb up them. After resting at the top, I would continued puffing all the way through the building right into my office. That puffing was a right give away if I was trying to sneak into work late. Ha ha. NOW, I love it as I mount those stairs in my new upright and spry manner.  I spring into those steps on the balls of my feet with a huge grin on my face. I'm up at the top before I know it, and without a break in my step I stride into work.

4. Ha ha - this one is yukky and awkward to talk about, but important for all those that experience this............ I now can cut and paint my toe nails with ease. (Eek ... that was embarrassing to write).

5. I know I'm happier, I sing more (well that one was easy as I haven't sung for years) and I'm always dancing around my kitchen, laughing and waving my arms in free abandonment, with or without music -  and yes scaring my kids and dogs. Hee hee!!!!

Anyway - back on the horse or bike or treadmill, or whatever - Lookout happy me!!!!!

Look out for the Speed Wobbles!!!!

Wow four weeks have flown by. I have never been so busy. I'm up at 5am to do my mindfulness practice (meditation) and then exercise gear on  at 6am where I go crazy for 45 minutes. Needless to say I'm exhausted after a full day at work from 8 to 4.30. Then it's mother's hat on for after school activities and home duties. Saturdays are just as busy with 'Super Saturday Session' (my big Saturday exercise session - part of the 12wbt), mother's sports duties, washing, ironing etc, etc.

Thank goodness for online shopping, as up until recently the only time I had to get the groceries was Sunday after church (now doesn't that sound wrong). So with a huge smile on my face I welcomed Mr Coles as he brought my shopping to my door last night. 

Part of the program is nutritious meals of 1200Cal per day. From berry smoothies, tandoori chicken salads to tonight meal - Grilled stuffed zucchini with tomato balsamic chutney. The best part is that every meal we have had, both Dominic and I have LOVED!! Now I've been on many diets with meal plans and have never been able to say that before.  Each week when the new weeks meal plan, recipes and grocery list is unlocked (online) Dominic and I get excited about the coming week. Yippee there is green prawn, steak and mushroom sauce, laksa curry, salads with goats cheese feta and walnuts - yum yum!

So how have I gone??? I have gone from 85.8kg to 81.0kg. I ran/walked 1km in 8.50minutes 4 weeks ago and this week I did it in 8.10minutes. I can do 13 more push ups in a minute than I could 4 weeks ago and my body is 15cm smaller. {Big Smile}. My children and I went into out first fun run - Toowoomba Peak to Park. Anna and Dom did the 10km run and Lara and I did the 4km very fast walk (lol). I had sore muscles for 2 days after that. 

However with such determined dedication to my health, children and home duties, the wheels were getting really wonky and the speed wobbles where getting a bit scary. With so much to do the one thing that I haven't been doing was my uni assignments (and my blog haha). Not that I'm a high achiever (sure), but this has put such a huge strain on my mental health that I've decided to reduce my working hours temporarily to 4 days/week. This will be interesting when I get my next pay slip. Eek!

Well that is 4 weeks in a nutshell - lets hope that I don't wait another 4 weeks to write.

                                                         Speeding around Quinn St oval!!!

Chilly 7am at Picnic Point Lara & I ready to go.  Lara needing an ice pack after a little slip at the end

                                                       

What a great team!! I'm so proud of my children and the support they have been giving me. 

Thanks guys. XXX

Thighs trembling, palms sweating, I'm standing at the starting block!!!

Wow this is it. It is about to officially begin. Am I nervous - you bet I am. I have told everyone. Facebook-ed about it, blogged about it, told everyone at work about it (wish I didn't do that one). I certainly got it out there. I am feeling a wee bit ill about that now. I really, really hope this isn't another "Take 397" and fall flat on my big fat tummy :(   ... Any hoo enough selfdoubt.

So... I have the menu plan, the shopping list and the exercise plan printed off. I have got myself organized with a folder, will go shopping tomorrow and have a practice of my exercise plan.

 

 Nah just kidding - something to aim for - in my dreams. Ha Ha.

Today I did the fitness test and I came in as a beginner - love the photo's? One girlfriend sent me a poster with -"No matter how slow you go, you are still lapping everybody on the couch!" I absolutely loved that and while I was doing my 1km run/walk/crawl I kept that in mind. (Time achieved - 8:49 minutes). My personal trainer, motivator and cheer squad for the day was my middle daughter Anna. She did the 1km in 5:00 minutes. I did 16 wonky knee pushups in a minute, Anna did 32.

Anna and I doing my fitness test together. We ended the session with a yoga class that Anna does at work - still flexible: once a dancer always a dancer!!! Hee hee.

 

"Now I shout it from the highest hill. Even told the golden daffodils!!!"

My pledge to myself and to all who care to read!

I am committed to do the work it takes to get me there. I am committed to losing 10kgs this round of the 12 week body transformation program. I am committed to losing 20kgs this year. I am committed to mindfulness (MBSR) to improve my focus, my personal inner strength and integrity.   Michelle (Bridges)... I accept you outstretch hand and I shake it with enthusiastic determination. I will trust in the process of your 12WBT.

I accept the outstretch hands of all my supporters, my cheer squad, my family friends, my dear girlfriends,  my sisters, my extended family here and far away, my mother, my father,  ... my children. I shake your hands, each and everyone of you. In return for the support and love you all give me and the faith you have in me, I commit to this to you ... I will be growing longer legs for bigger strides NOW!!!

This pledge is printed, embellished, embossed, coloured and plaster all over my fridge. 

Goodness, I'm a bit nervous now, (like very) about posting this blog. Writing this was easy, but now to push post is making me feel ill. However shouting it from the highest hill I must and from the highest hill I will. 

... I have just had a most wonderful remembrance of Nana Holm, ... my goodness I have goose bumps, as her presence is so strong. She is reminding me to say, "three quick Hail Mary's followed by three, Our Lady of the Way pray for me."  This was how we always started any car journey with Nana.  I use to do that too with my own children.... I wonder when I stopped. Thank you Nana, I miss you. Big tears. Lots of them lately, but tears and pain embedded in adipose tissue will give an interesting topic to blog about another day. Ha ha.

Sooo...... With 3 quick Hail Mary's and 3 Our Lady of the Way pray for me, the journey has begun, it can't go wrong. How can it with so much support behind me, including myself (the strong, determined, committed, intelligent, caring woman that I am).

Go on push post, ... go on ... GO ON WILL YOU!!!!!

Feel the wobble, embrace the wobble 'cause soon it will only be a memory!

"Here I stand on the precipice of a great journey. I have stood here many time before over the past 8 years and have not reached my goal. Will I succeed? I don't know. Though saying that is not being defeatist, any more than screaming I shall succeed, leads one to prevail. What I do know is that I wish to succeed, I desire to succeed, I want to succeed ... I need to ...

    Can many small steps, no matter how dogged, trump past inept good intentions? ? ? Yes that is it. That will be my motto, 'Many small steps', for now, and maybe in time I shall grow longer legs for bigger strides."

Excerpt from my journal 27th December 2011, after my caring daughter pulled me aside to voice her concerns about my weight, my health. I could not envision at that time the possibility of anything more than small steps. Only 1 month has past and I can feel the possibility. Truly taste it. Feel it in my waters (as my Nana would have said). Gone is the motto, 'many small steps' - dogged and all, as I am growing longer legs for bigger strides NOW!! 

I joined Michelle Bridges 12WBT, joined forums, getting involved and getting ready. The 2012 / 1 season hasn't even started yet. I haven't seen a single eating plan, nor put foot to pavement but have lost 3 kg already.  We are in preseason and wow we are getting it together.

At first a bit impatient to get thing going but I now realize how important this preparation time is, as I am getting real, gearing up and taking control. I had an awesome 90 minute dance session in the kitchen today to high energy music. I danced and danced, I sweated, I laughed and cried. Sounds funny but it was truly the beginning of my 12wbt journey. 

My body was doing it's thing, my soul was reconnecting to the dancer I once was. I was so joyfully in the moment and I let it rip!! I shook, I shimmied, I pranced and twirled. I heffalumped grand jetes through the lounge room.  The music was blaring and I thought ... feel the wobble, embrace the wobble for it will soon be only a memory. And I did, I trembled, I quaked, I moved in any way I could to shake that stuff, for I was giving it notice ... "Thank you for being there to protect me during those long dark year but now it's adios amigo".

This is all about the weight.

I'm a single mum of three - two still at home. One is in high school and the other is a young adult with disabilities.  My middle child is in Brisbane at uni. I live in Queensland, work full time and study part-time at uni. My weight has been a sneakingly increasing issue since my divorce 8 years ago. Now I'm 50 this temporary gain has grown to 20kg and looking permanent.

 It was one of my children who, with serious concern, said at Christmas that she loves me just as I am, always has and always will, but now she is worried about my health. That was my wake up call to stop and have a good look at myself. As a health professional I know only too well how serious the health risks are and how they skyrocket with each passing year. She is right - it is time.    

Me on the right 2004

January 2012

I have always loved practicing mindfulness meditation and dancing, both of which I have neglected for some time now. So I'm kicking off my 12wbt 1/2012 with a 'Glee dancing in my kitchen' party for one, with hair down, twirling, arms waving, feet tapping - bring it on!