It's not just a journey...

So I've started a new Blog..

2012-01-20T21:27:00.003+10:30

I know it's been a long time between posts but I've missed blogging so I'm going to continue in a new blog. Shazzy Is A Leader Now is where I'll be posting from now on.

The cutest thing!

2009-12-02T13:24:00.003+10:30

So many things to tell you

2009-10-15T13:15:00.002+10:30

Firstly thankyou to all of you who have contacted me, yes, I'm still alive just really busy lately, but I hope that I settle down a bit soon. I am now doing 4 meetings a week, was doing 5, so that gives me a whole other day I have no meetings to do "stuff". I still love doing meetings and LOVE my members! You guys rock!

I put myself on maintenence over winter so I am still not quite at goal, but my goal is to be there by Christmas, there I've said it and it's in print and published even!

We went "home" a few weeks ago for my cousin's wedding so I will attach some pics for you!

Ready to hit the town! Well ok, I did have 2 small champagnes! :)

At the reception.

Daniel turned 5 September, which really deserves a post all on it's own AND has started big boy school.. I think I should do a separate post later. TFL

Soo Busy!

2009-05-07T15:58:00.002+09:30

I've been really busy doing subs and taking on extra meetings of late, so I've had little time to do much at all other than work! LUCKILY I love it! I have the best job in the world and I'm blessed to have really lovely members!
Goal wise, everything is moving in the right direction for me again, 1.7kg to go!

Daniel and I

2009-04-20T21:32:00.003+09:30

It's been a while since I posted a pic, so here's one of Daniel and I taken on his Kindy Camp..

Madness

2009-04-18T19:43:00.002+09:30

This is crazy! I lost 1kg over Easter.. I made Hot Cross Buns (recipe on my blog) and I had chocolate, but I also did a bit of exercise and saved some points too! (and in fairness I had gained the 2 weeks prior so I'm probably just playing a bit of "catch up" atm.

I've been getting lots of wonderful people emailling me and it's fantastic! I do need to applogise though, there was a couple of emails this week that were deleted from my junk box before I had a chance to reply to them, so if it was you I'm sorry!

I'm doing a couple of subs this week and there will a few more over the next coming weeks.. so watch this space, I could be coming to a suburb near you!

Also some excitement for me personally.. size 8 Target black pants.. do I need to say more??

Until next time... keep smiling!

Time Flies!

2009-04-11T13:09:00.002+09:30

I'm so sorry everyone, I have neglected my blog a tad of late! Let me try to fill you in on the last few weeks.

Sadly as you know I lost my Nonna and then subsequently had to go home for the funeral a few weeks ago.
Mum has had her op and recovering every day she still has a couple of weeks of no driving then the Dr will assess her to see if she can drive again.
I have gained a little over 2 kilos but it's it should all be good this week, if I can resist the chocolate and hot crossed buns!
I have taken over the Thursday morning (10 am) Lockleys meeting permanently.
I have trained to do 1 on 1 consultations at the Myer / Weight Watchers Lifestyle Centres.
I've done my first shift and I'm working there again this week on Friday afternoon, pop by and say hi :). It's great fun and quite different to meetings.
The stress of the past few weeks seem to have caught up with me, firstly getting my first coldsore in about 10 years and now thanks to Daniel (he just loves to share), conjunctivitis, but I'm starting to look normal again now, so it's all good!
I've finally finished painting Daniel's new room and we'll move him in over this weekend.

So that's me in a nutshell. Happy Easter everyone, please drive safely, and I promise I will update more regularly now that I'm back to "normal", whatever that is!

Nonna

2009-03-16T21:56:00.002+10:30

My beautiful nonna passed away this afternoon, she was 87 and has been very ill, the past few weeks in particular. I'll be travelling home once we find out when the funeral is.

Riposa in pace Nonna, ti amo per sempre.

Ups and downs

2009-03-04T13:19:00.005+10:30

I haven't been sleeping well, there are heaps of things going on at the moment that are playing on my mind the 3 that concern me the most are, my nonna isn't well, I feel that she won't be with us for very long, my uncle's cancer isn't responding to the chemo, so they are going to try him on another, and mum is going to Sydney for an operation next week for a triple prolapse.

I really had no idea what the scales would say today but I was thrilled to see that I lost another 0.3kg. I have 1.3kgs until goal. But even more exciting is that I have lost 4 weeks in a row.. I'm on a roll!

Last week I had so many comment from people I see all the time about my WL. One older gent I see most weeks at the restaurant that we go to each week, said "You know Sharon, you are almost not here!" LOL

Something fantastic happened at the meeting this morning.. we were celebrating losses, as we do, and we had 2 fabulous people lose 0.1kg. Now "usually" when there is a loss of 0.1kg people don't usually celebrate and don't even really mention it but instead of using the ONLY word (ie. only 0.1kg).. they both used "another" so they lost "another" 0.1kg! How fabulous is that! I love the positivity! All the little losses add up, you can't expect to lose a kilo every week. EVERY minus no matter how big or small counts!

Have a great week everyone!

Who's the biggest loser baby??

2009-02-25T15:47:00.002+10:30

MEEEEEE!! I had a fantastic WI this morning, (at a different meeting, different scales and all that!) But I lost, are you sitting down?? 1.3kgs!!! Total lost is now 57kgs and I have 1.6kg to get to goal! YAY me!!

Meetings are going really well, and I love doing them!

The results are in!

2009-02-19T21:49:00.005+10:30

I made it.. I'm a leader! I'm sooooooooo excited!

I'm doing 2 meetings back to back in the city tomorrow (11.30am and 1pm) but these won't be my regular meetings.

My regular meetings are at Para Hills Tuesday 12.30 & St Agnes 9am Saturday mornings. Also next week I'll be doing a meeting for another leader at Gawler on Wednesday morning and Lockleys on Thursday morning.. so it's all happening! If you happen to pop into one of my meetings make sure you come and say hello.. I won't bite.. promise!

I'm not sure if I mentioned or not a couple of weeks ago that I've started Belly Dancing!! I go with a friend and we have a ball! It's great fun!

Weight wize is looking good with another 0.3kg loss this week.

Heat Wave!

2009-02-04T15:45:00.002+10:30

It has been soooo hot here in Adelaide, we've not seen these temps in over 70 years apparently. 6 days over 40°c and the top was last Wednesday at 45.6°c Urgh! Needless to say there has not been much activity in the last week! I'm also still not 100% but finished taking antibiotics last night and feel HEAPS better than what I did. The result of little activity and antibiotics showed a gain of 0.6kg this week, which is so much better than the over 1kg gain that happened last time I took anti biotics, so all in all a positive out come today :).
My first leader assessment has been deferred til Friday lunchtime at the city meeting, so'm very excited and nervous about that and now that I can talk without coughing and spluttering it should be great!
I should be able to post Friday night to let you know how I go!

Thank you!

2009-01-28T13:19:00.003+10:30

Thank you everyone who has commented and e-mailed me after the WW published my success story! It really is motivating for me to know that I help keep you inspired and motivated. Anyone can do it, you just have to want to! It's all about YOUR attitude.

You know, you only really need to follow the plan for one day? TODAY! And when tomorrow becomes today you follow it then too! And then repeat. Before you know it you have been following for a week, month, year.. Can you follow the plan for just one day?

I'm not well at the moment. I went to the Dr yesterday and I have a chest infection and now I'm on antibiotics, so who knows what will await me on the scales next week, but for this week I can celebrate a 1 kilo loss. I'm getting there slowly, whoever said the last few kilos were the hardest was right!

I was due to have my leader assessment tonight but seeing as I can't string together 5 words without coughing, I've asked for it to be postponed til next week. I would have actually preferred to have gotten it over and done with, but it can't be helped.

Tomorrow is my birthday and the plan is coffee with the girls (just coffee, no cake!)and dinner out somewhere WW friendly if I'm feeling ok (and as I'm on antibiotics there won't be any bubbles!), so it should be a great day!

And the story is up!

2009-01-27T10:20:00.003+10:30

Enjoy!

http://www.weightwatchers.com.au/success/art/index.aspx?sc=17

What an exciting week, lots of news!

2009-01-21T12:51:00.004+10:30

Last Saturday I went to the WW Leader course, which was great! It was good to meet other new leaders too. So next Wednesday night I will have an assessment (I'm required to do a motivational start and finish to another leader's meeting among other things) and providing I pass that I will be given my own meeting. How exciting!

I've also started ( well I went to a trial run) of belly dancing lessons! It was sooo much fun and great exercise the class went soo quickly before we knew it an hour was done. I can't wait for the "real" classes to start.

Now the news some of you have been waiting for! Remember back in October when I went to Sydney for the photoshoot? Well the photos and story should be online from next Monday 26th January! I can't wait to see it!

It's also my birthday Thursday week so don't forget to send the flowers and gifts!! lol jk

WI this week wasn't as exciting, I gained 0.3kg, but it's not the end of the world, I feel bloated and a bit "chesty" (Daniel is sick again and he just loves to share his germs!) foodwise I have been "on track", I haven't been out for as many walks as I should though and my water has slipped a little, so I know it is only a temporary, and not a true, gain.

What goes up.. must come down!

2009-01-14T13:01:00.003+10:30

Well it seems like it has been forever since my last post, and it has been! Sorry everyone! As some of you may be aware we went to mum and dad's for Christmas and got back just this week. (and couldn't recover my password while I was there so no updates for you unfortunately)

We had a fabulous time and a little too much great food and alcohol, but it's all part of the season. There are heaps of little stories I have to share but it will have to wait as I seem to be a touch time poor at present. Suffice to say weighins (yes I went to weighin while was away) went like this -0.9kg first week, then +1.8kg Christmas week and +1.0kg New Years week. This week at weigh in I lost 1.8kgs so I'm still 0.1kg heavier than when we left and 1.0kg heavier than my lowest ever weight so all in all I'm pretty happy about that!

Ciao chickens!

Sorry it's been a while

2008-12-16T22:19:00.003+10:30

I've been awol because I had a wonderful occasion I had to prepare for. The occasion was one of my bridesmaid's engagement party interstate, which I told her I wasn't able to attend, being so close to Christmas and all! I didn't want to risk her or anyone who knows her finding out that I was indeed attending. The surprise came off wonderfully complete with a phonecall to her on the Friday (just before I was to leave from the airport) to wish her all the best and that we'd be thinking of her, and we'd see her when we were "home" for Christmas. She was so excited to see me and it was great to see people that I hadn't seen in 5 or 6 years! They were very surprised to see me with some not actually even recognising me!

Another reason that I have been awol is that being WW staff I was privvy to the new Satisfaction Plan a couple of weeks ago. It pleases me that in essence die hard point followers are being encouraged to eat filling foods, essentially from the old core food list. Also while core has been discontinued, I'm happy that there is a version of the satisfaction plan that you can do which essentially is CORE. Simply filling is Core in everything but name. While I haven't had great success on the new Satisfaction plan, it is not all that different to what I have been doing for the last 2 months, pointing core with 18 points! I have been following the Fast Start but I have not had very "normal" weeks.. with weddings engagements and illnesses. So I will reserve my judgement until I can to it "properly". I'll attempt to update with WI results tomorrow!

I thought i was soo smart..

2008-12-03T14:15:00.002+10:30

Getting through winter without so much as a sniffle.. well that has truly come to bite me cos now I have a doozy! I was so sick over the weekend that I went to the Dr at the medical centre on Sunday! Sunday! I didn't wait to see my usual Dr. The Dr at the medical centre "thinks" I "may" have whooping cough but since it takes a while for the bloodtests to come back to confirm, he has given me antibiotics and panadiene forte (which apparently suppresses cough)to take "incase" it is whooping cough as I'm going away for the weekend and I'd really prefer not to be feeling as crappy as I was last weekend. As a result of taking the antibiotics and panadeine forte I had a surprise on the scales today with a GAIN of 0.7kg.. GREAT huh? Although I did not do any planned exercise last week, I was spot on with my food, so I can only assume it was the Anti b's and the pandeine which did it.

I had Dazey Dee's wedding on the weekend! It was lovely. Pics are here. (and yes I am wearing the same outfit as we wore to the wedding a couple of weeks ago.. a girl's gotta get milage out of her clothes. ;) )

Secret news revealed!

2008-11-26T13:32:00.005+10:30

I have noticed there has been a lot of negativity lately, not just on the WW boards, but at meetings and in general, maybe it has something to do with the moon phases? Silly season? Who knows what it is? Anyway, whatever it is it's best to remember that at the end of the day we are in control of what goes in our mouths and whether or not we choose to exercise. (News? What news??)

I stayed the same this week and I'm ok about it as I haven't been well (just a coldy/fluey thing) so I'm sure my efforts will show sooner or later. On Sunday I went to Dee's High Tea (at the Stamford Grand at Glenelg) for her kitchen tea, it was such a lovely day and great time, nice to have something to dress up for!! I allowed myself 1 scone (which were quite small and very light!) with a teaspoon of jam but no cream. and a couple of the sandwich fingers and of course some of the lovely fuit platter that was eventually placed in prime position right in front of Dee and me! YAY! (ok, ok I'll tell you)

A couple of weeks ago I told you I had some news for you all.. the news was that my Dr gave me a letter to say I'm at goal, I just had to get WW to approve it and I WAS going to use it, but after thinking about it I have decided not to. I have decided that even if I limp all the way.. I will get to goal. If I were to use the letter I would have been dissappointed in myself. So that was it, I know, not all that earth shattering now, but it would have meant I was at goal if I used it, sorry to dissappoint, you'll just have to hold on to the streamers, balloons and flowers for a few more weeks!

I am almost 1/2 way through my busy schedule.. what do they say about not raining, but pouring? That has been the last couple of weeks for me and will be the next couple too, but I will get though them in time to hopefully have a little relax before the man in the big red suit comes in just over 4 weeks.. can you believe that? Seriously how fast has this year gone???

While going through some pics..

2008-11-20T13:18:00.006+10:30

I found this particularly UNFLATTERING pic of Brad and I, Daniel was 6 moths old so it was 3.5 years ago. Just so you can compare the pics from the wedding I posted last week! I seem to be Postie McPost lately!

Brad has lost almost 25kgs so between us we have lost over 80kgs. Amazing when you think about it!

and here is another shocker of me, I thought I looked good in this top! DENIAL (De Nile) is not just a river near Egypt! lol

Quite a difference eh?

Guess what??

2008-11-19T13:05:00.002+10:30

I lost 0.8 this week which brings my total up to...................

(drum roll please.....)

.......................... 55.5kgs!! I can hardly believe it myself! These last 5 kilos have been so difficult to shift! I really didn't think I'd have as much problem as I have had! I have 3.1 kgs to get to goal. Lets hope they don't take as long to come off!

All dressed up!

2008-11-17T08:44:00.009+10:30

We had P & W's wedding on the weekend and I have to say it was one of the best weddings I have been to in a very long time! (Congrats guys) We had such a lovely time even though we both had/have colds!

Before the wedding

And at the reception, looking a bit windswept, but would you check out the view we had!

And just as a teaser.. I do have some news for you all, but you're going to have to wait to find out! (and no I'm not pregnant!) :)

Good news, bad news..

2008-11-06T12:36:00.006+10:30

And it's not really even bad news, just an almost there moment!

A positive week this week! With a 0.7kg loss YAY.. but my total loss so far is 54.9kg.. Argh! 100 grams off 55 kilos! So mildly disappointed, but still happy :)

I am lighter than I have ever been which is fantastic, I feel fabulous, I'm still discovering bones and muscles I didn't know I had. I am now 3.7kgs away from goal. The magical number is 62kg, and just as a warning to my leader, weigher and recorder, I will be stripping off if I'm 100g from goal! LOL

Ask the next question..

2008-10-30T13:39:00.003+10:30

Senario..

You are stuck in a food court or at a restaurant with little or no point friendly options or core foods for lunch. What do you do? Just get something, anything? Or get nothing and be ravenous by the time you can find something?

Something I've learnt is to ask the next question. On my recent Sydney trip, we had Chinese take away for dinner on the Thursday night after scouring the menu I thought my safest bet would be terryaki chicken.. so this is how I ordered it.. Can I have the Terryaki Chicken with a steamed rice please, now I could have left it at that and I was so tired I almost forgot to ask for what I really wanted. Before I left I remembered to ask.. "oh and is it possible to have the terryaki chicken cooked with little or no oil and if you can put double the vegies and less chicken that you usually put in it please." The answer.. "No problem maam". So I got what I wanted, there were heaps of vege, and not much oil. I asked the next question.

A similar thing happended for lunch on the Sunday.. what will I have hmmm Sushi.. all the sushi had either avocado, mayo or both so I asked if I could have some made "no problems", "lovely, I'll have the salmon with cucumber, no mayo thanks!"

The moral of the story.. "Ask the next question" Don't be scared to ask for what you really want. What's the worst that can happen? They say no and you get left with having what you would have had anyway.

♥

I'm gutted!

2008-10-29T12:55:00.004+10:30

For so many reasons..

I found out during the week that I am no longer eligable to enter Slimmer of the Year. Why? Because I am a staff member. I asked when I first accepted the position if it would hinder my chances of SOTY and was told I could still enter, I can't. There is a staff and leader category though that I will enter, but it's not the same :(.
Our leader left. She has been my leader since the begining (Over 2 years) and I'm very sad that she has left but I understand why and I wish her all the best in her new endevours. I will miss her. ALLOT!
I was bitten (on Saturday) between my toes by "something" in the garden- I told you gardening should come with a health warning! I'm not sure what it was exactly. I'm "guessing" it was a spider, but it could have been anything as I didn't see it! It came up in a pussy blister and my feet and legs swelled. I'm ok, but I am still retaining fluid from the bite and I gained 0.5kg today at WI.

On a happier note.. Mum got to goal today! I'm so proud of her, she has done soo well! She is off both her blood pressure and cholesterol medication, and she feels great! Good on you mum!

Amazing Sydney Trip

2008-10-20T09:36:00.010+10:30

There aren't actually enough adjectives to describes what an awsome, fantastic, fabulous, amazing time I had while I was away. Even the weather was perfect, I couldn't have ordered it better.

Thursday afternoon Daniel and MIL drive me to the airport, Brad was working close by, so he met us there. Just as the first boarding call was announced Daniel says, "Mummy I don't want you to go." :( So I say "It's ok mate, you'll have a great time with Daddy and you'lll stay at grandmas on Saturday night, and mummy will be home Sunday night, I'll be back before you know it". Then he says with a sad puppy dog face... and just remember the kid has just turned 4.. "But you're leaving the people who love you the most!" :( :( So I walk to the plane with tears rolling down my cheek.. roll forward to Friday when I had a chance to talk to him and he says " I can't talk to you now mummy, I'm playing my game, I'll talk to you later, ok?" Right! So he's obviously REALLY destraught that I'm not there! lol I stayed with my oldest friend K and her fiance on Thursday night and K was so wonderful, she took me both to and from the shoot. Love ya K!
Friday I was at Sun Studios at Alexandria by 9am and met "The Crew" Emma and Janelle from WW, DD the hair and makeup chick, Bee the stylist, Fab the photographer and his assistant who's name I can't remember but I think it was Kristy. First I got to look through some clothes to see what I might like to wear, and of course I have no idea so the girls helped me and found something fantastic for me to wear for my casual shot. Then into hair and makeup where DD fought with the cow-lick in my fringe (but she wasn't going to let it beat her, lol) There were 3 other slimmers due to arrive at different intervals. Carl, Jan and Denise.
Fab started taking the photos and every few DD would jump in fluffing my hair and touching up my makeup! Not too long after Carl arrived and then just like that.. it was done, they had "the shot". Back into hair and makeup for my "glam" look. DD forced my fringe into submission, by parting it against the natural part. Dress on, jewellery on, shoes on, and more pics! Which then meant I not only had to walk in these heals but I also had to dance around in them too. They felt like they were about 3 inches tall, they may not have been, I've no idea really how tall they were, but they were taller than any heal I had ever worn before! Before I knew it they had the shot and the next slimmer arrives.. It's Jan, (wombat) from the WW boards! How cool.. I "knew" someone. Everyone looked amazing all dolled up! We had lunch and I had a little chuckle that the only 100% core thing on offer was fruit kebabs! But a girls gotta eat, and it was lovely! After lunch it was back into hair and makeup for the final time for our group shot. My, fringe, remembering what DD had done to it last time, gave up and sat exactly where it should! Again I had rather tall heals to wear (gee anyone would think I was short.. or something!) and then before we knew it .. it was over :( Thank you Emma and everyone else involved, it's right up there as being one of the most amazing days in my life! The pics will probably be online within the next month and then in the magazine, sometime next year!

K picked me up from the shoot and we headed off to meet a friend for coffee. Due to a technical hitch (ie flat battery in my phone) we had to go back to K's place first to charge it, just to make sure there weren't any messages from my friend I was about to meet at Roselands shopping centre. There was, but we sorted it out the little hitch and we had a lovely time. I also got to pop into the WW shop in Myers to "check it out" I have to say I was impressed! That night I stayed with my aunt and uncle and it was lovely to spend some 1 on 1 time with them as I am unsure if we will get to see them at Christmas time when we go home to mum and dad's.

Saturday I headed off by train to The Rocks where I would meet some girls who I have known online, some of them for almost 6 years, but never had met irl. I had aranged to meet another friend there as well , I was running about 10 minutes late, because being the weekend I had to wait a little longer for the train than I thought I'd have to. So thinking everyone else would be there I tried calling and messaging people that I thought would have their numbers, no luck! Anyway I finally get there and M and her gorgeous girl L were there but there was no sign of the others, so we wait a little while then order. Just as we had finished the others arrived. Apparently they had changed the time and forgotten to let me know! lol. It was fine though we fed the children (L, L, and N) who were all divine then headed out to check out the rocks markets, which were just as I remembered them. I think if I lived in Sydney I would make it part of a regular "thing"walking around the Circular Quay and The Rocks area. As luck would have it my brother and his family were in Sydney, staying at Manly, for a wedding. So I took the opportunity and headed over by ferry to see them. What gorgeous children my nephews are! (J is 4, L is almost 2) We went for a little walk around The Corso before heading back to the motel, where some other wedding guests had congregated. So we stopped and chatted (I even saw someone I used to work with and her daughter and SIL) Then it was time for me to make my way back as we had a BBQ to go to that evening. The BBQ ended up being a sausage sizzle and there was absolutely nothing core on the menu, not even fruit! There were lovely nibbles complete with cheeses, chips nachos and cob dip (all my old friends, it was like a reunion). For dinner there were sausages, thick and thin, white bread, asain noodle salad and caesar salad, and for dessert apple and apricot pie! I am glad I had an apple and a peach before I left. Ended up being a really good night, even though every time I opened a mineral water, it sprayed over me and anyone standing in the vacinity! I was designated driver, by choice.

Sunday was the day of the WW meet, I was picked up by "Carlton" and ShonaW, and taken to Bankstown where we met (JMEHALEY) Janice and (GESIUOL) Lou. We did coffee (Lou had an ice coffee I believe the pics are on Shona's Facebook, see what you can do at goal, lol!) and then some shopping (I bought the most amazing dress to go to the weddings I have in November and some pretty funky shoes, not for the wedding , just because I liked them!!) we had lunch, and a great chat. It never ceases to amaze me how easy it is to talk to people you have previously met online, you know things about them , you know some of the issues they have or the problems they have gone through. It's just like meeting up with old friends. Often though, you have no idea what they look like, and that is the tricky bit, replacing the vision of what you think they look like to what they actually do. We were having a lovely time when it was time for me to leave to get back to K's for her to take me to the airport. ANd then before I knew it my sydney trip was over and I was greated at the airport by my boys (Brad and Daniel) Daniel was wearing his MUM ROCKS t-shirt, bless him.. It's great to be home.

Sorry it took so long to write, as you can see it's a long one!!!

WI was yesterday -0.8kg YAY!!

Sydney is getting closer... only 2 more sleeps!

2008-10-14T09:20:00.004+10:30

I leave on Thursday night and I return Sunday night. 3 whole days in Sydney! I can't wait to catch up with family and old and new friends while I'm there! (There are many people I have "known" online, some of them, 6 years and I will finally be getting to meet them irl and I will also be getting to meet gals from the WW website that I have been chatting to for about 2 years!) To say I'm excited is a tad of an understatement!

I'm all set for the photoshoot, complete with my strapless bra and new hair, so it's all systems go!

So

2008-10-01T18:34:00.003+09:30

I went to the Dr on Monday to get my results from the tests and my iron stores are lower than I expected with the normal range being between 10-100... I'm sitting at 12. The Dr seems to think they would definitly be having an impact on my very slow losses too (from about February) as your body has to work alot harder to burn Calories if you have low iron strores, so I'd have to do LOTS more exercise to get the same result. So here's hoping that's why and I'll start losing again and get down to goal soon :).

I took my wedding/engagement ring (I only wanted 1 ring, I like things symmetrical) in to be resized on Monday - so I have have it when I go to Sydney, and I'm picking it up tomorrow (from where I used to work in town). The ring is going from R down to an L 1/2 (that's 5 1/2 sizes) I'm also having my chain shortened and there is enough left to make a bracelet. A standard size 18cm bracelet, not an exta long 21cm one that I used to have to wear. Daniel and I are having a "day". We're going in on the bus (o-bahn) and then we'll walk around the city, have a ride on the tram and then we'll see what else we have time for. Should be fun!

A loss of 0.4kg for me this week.

A Possible answer..

2008-09-28T13:21:00.003+09:30

After a few weeks of my weight not really doing much at all I decided (after someone gave me some gentle persuasion) to go to the Dr for a checkover to see if there is a medical reason why my weightloss seems to have stalled. He sent me off for a blood test and he rang me with the results on Friday (which I will get in more detail when I go to see him on Monday) I have "very low iron stores". I am a little annoyed as I only gave blood a few weeks ago and I thought that was one thing they do check. Anyway I have started on iron tablets to try to increase my ferratin levels, lets hope it works!

I am now the proud owner of my first ever denim skirt, and it's a MINI!

How do I feel in it? Cool (as in temperature), almost naked and just a tad bit SEXY!!!

The count down is on, just over 2 weeks til Sydney!

Just over 2 years ago..

2008-09-22T16:45:00.002+09:30

I joined WW and what a trip it has been!

I can't imagine not being like this now, not feeling the way I do, not looking the way I do, not having as much energy as I do. I love the new me, I love my life! I won't go back to what I was, simply, I can't. I won't allow myself to! I fully expect there will be hurdles, but what are hurdles for, if not to overcome them?

Thinking back I am so glad that I decoded to join Weight Watchers. It has been one of the best decisions of my life!

Sorry! I'm a naughty blogger.. but I have some exciting news!

2008-09-17T17:22:00.003+09:30

I'm really sorry I know alot of you look at my blog waiting for updates! I've been really, really busy!

I've had an up and down few weeks. To see me back to where I was at last blog. I can't put my finger on why really as I have even tracked points in the last week in an endevour to check my portions and shake things up and a bit! I have started walking again and last week clocked up an amazing 68.68kms on my pedometer (the show was over 14kms just on that day) and I gained this week :(. I am taking anti-inflamatories though for inflamed tendon in my elbow and H (our lovely recorder) told me not to be surprised if this causes fluid retention, so I'm hoping that is the case, and so should be back to normal next week!

The show was so much fun! It was Daniel's first show, he was so excited!! He had a go on "titanic" first the kids had to climb a rope ladder and then slide down a huge inflatable slide. We weren't sure how he would go as some obviously older kids were balking at the top but he had a ball. He also went on the "teacups" ride with Brad. Yes! We had to pay $5 so Brad could go on the ride with him. Highway robbery really but what can you do? He had a go on the "clowns" and he won some fluffy dice lol. He thinks they are pretty cool! He also got a few showbags! He had a great time, we stayed til after the fireworks and he was so tired and more than ready to come home! I couldn't believe it though at the show I was able to have grilled trout and salad for dinner and it wasn't even all that expensive $8! Later I got a corn on the cob unbuttered! The lady got one straight out of the pot for me! Can't get any fresher than that! I also did have some of Daniel's fairy floss. :).

Now to the exciting news... no I'm not pregnant, I'm not sure why everyone assumes that when I say I have exciting news, but it isn't that! So a couple of weeks ago I was contacted by WW online to go to Sydney to have a PHOTOSHOOT! I am soo excited!!! The shoot is not til 17th of October so I'm sure you will be reading more about it as the time gets closer. But how amazing hey! I will be all glammed up and I'm sure they will get some fabulous shots!

Who would have thought almost 2 years ago that this would be happening to me! It's just like a dream, but one I don't want to wake up from. I love my new energy, I love being able to buy clothes and I love my life!♥

The good the bad and the ugly of the last couple of weeks!

2008-09-01T21:18:00.009+09:30

So much has gone on in the last 2 weeks.. my head is still spinning!

THE GOOD

It's Daniel's birthday today. He's 4! We had a lovely party for him yesterday and I even had some birthday cake! He had a great time.

The Cake!

Pressies!!!

Blowing out the candles!
The chocolate smile says it all, he had a great day!!

THE BAD

The reverse cycle ducted aircondtioner / heater that we paid $7,600 on 2 months ago, stopped working on the 24th August (one of the pannels blew up) and we are without decent heating til 23rd September.
The electrician was here last week and took 5 tiles off the roof, and didn't put them back on, it has been raining and I've had drips in the kitchen through the ceiling, who knows how much damage that will cause!, and of course he didn't answer his phone. (I contacted the builder and he's come to put the tiles back on).
We have a carport we can't use because the driveway hasn't been done yet! (should be cemented tomorrow.
The tiler has scratched my benchtop. (it's not bad but I know it's scratched)
I'm sick of living in mess and dust and I just want it over NOW!

THE UGLY
My dermatisis is playing up big time (due to stress, the only time it has been worse was prior to our wedding!)

I lost 0.9kg last week, but gained 0.8kg the week before so I'm still basically the same :) BUT my Levis fit well now AND got some great Op Shop bargains today.. 2 tops $3 ea :) Gotta love a bagain!

Slow and steady right?

2008-08-14T07:40:00.002+09:30

A loss of -0.2kgs this week. TBH I was disappointed because I did gain last week so I did expect a little more, but at least it wasn't a gain, and it is moving again in the right direction. So I am pleased about that! I tell you I will be glad when all these renovations are done and my life can get back to being normal again!

Just over 2 weeks till my little "baby" turns 4! He goes to kindy 1 x 1/2 day per week at the moment and he absolutely loves it! We're planning a Spiderman (who happens to be the flavour at the moment) birthday party so I'm sure he will have a great time with all his little friends!

Daniel turning 4 marks my light bulb moment about NEEDING to do something about my weight, so my 2 year anniversary with WW is coming up (20th September) I have been trying to remember what life was like pre weightwatchers and how I felt, and I tell you I thought I felt "ok" but really?? I was tired ALL the time! I had pain in my hips and ankles. My feet were always puffy! I had to have regular massage because my back was always aching. I could never find anything that looked good at the clothes shops, I just had to find something that fit! As long as it fit, it was ok (even if it looked like a 2 man tent!) I had no energy and always "watched" and hardly ever participated, unless it was to do with food or sitting on my tush! Where would I be if I had never started WW? How would I feel? What would I look like? Certainly nothing like I do today! I would guess as I was putting on an average of 5-10 kgs a year I'd be at least 130kg at the moment and probably pushing 140kgs . Now please remember I am 157cms (I'm a shorta$$) I will be forever thankful to Weight Watchers for giving me a life!

The yo yo continues..

2008-08-07T20:17:00.009+09:30

Plus 0.6kg this week so over the 3 weeks I have been doing maintenance I have basically stayed the same which was the aim, so I'm ok with the gain.. I would have preferred it to not have been quite so much but ah well! Back to core this week and we shall see what happens next Wednesday. On another note here are some during shots of the renos!

Before..
After the trees were ripped up
all that was left of them :o

After the concrete was done under the new carport (all the rendering is done now, and most of the fence is done)

And the new room (office) with the feature wall :) Yes they are powerpoints and data points The new desks should go in tomorrow - I hope!!

Oops!

2008-08-02T22:58:00.004+09:30

I forgot to update! (Thanks H for reminding me! :p)
Still painting (and will be for a while we're painting the whole house) I've done the feature wall in the office it's Dulux Wooed I thought it may look too dark, but it's fine :)

I bought a rice cooker today! A Russel Hobbs stainless steel one with a vegetable steamer attachment. I've been wanting one for ages and I'm sooo impressed! I made sushi tonight (tuma & corn and Teriyaki chicken, carrot and cucumber) and it was soo easy, it cooked the rice perfectly! I think I may have a new favorite appliance!

Another loss this week 0.4kgs :) Still slow, but at least we're moving in the right direction again. I more week of maintenance for me and then back to core :).

Stick to it!

2008-07-24T19:08:00.002+09:30

Don't give up!
Don't lose faith in yourself!
You can do this YOU just have to want to!

Scales are moving albiet slowly for me again. This weeks loss 0.3kgs
Renos are still happinging! From Friday to Tuesday I did 40 points worth of painting according to etools. Anyone want to earn some bonus points? lol

Sometimes

2008-07-16T19:38:00.002+09:30

Our bodies don't do what we expect them to. This week I feel thinner, my Levi's that I bought a few weeks ago are able to be worn in public (without a muffin top), I've lost cms and yet I gained 0.1kg on the scales. I pointed core to make sure I was eating enough/not too much. I am at a loss to what to do! I'm thinking of "formally" going onto maintenence for a couple of weeks (I'm maintaining anyway so it can't hurt really? Right?) So we'll see what happens!

Things are progressing with the renos and I should be able to start painting on the weekend! Just think of all that ladder climbing and incidental exercise!!

And Again

2008-07-11T17:10:00.002+09:30

I stayed the same again at WI. I seem to have maintenance down pat! (PITY I'M NOT AT GOAL YET!!) My leader even re-heighted me (to make sure I'm not taller! - I'm not) as this would increase my goal weight. It's times like thise I remind myself this is not a journey.. it is a lifestyle and my body doesn't always do as it's supposed to each week.
I'm pointing core again this week to make sure I'm eating enough.

I've bought some spiderman material and cushion panels to make Daniel a spiderman quilt. Spiderman still seems to be the favourite, and we're panning a spiderman 4th birthday party for Daniel.

The renos are going well with the office and 4th bedroom almost finished! I should be able to start painting next week! I've chosen a Dulux Hogs Bristle half as the main "colour" throughout. and we will have a feature wall in the lounge, office and our bedroom.

We're creatures of habit!

2008-07-02T13:07:00.002+09:30

Good ones or bad ones we are creatures of habit! It doesn't take long to form habits. Bad habits are often harder to break than good habits.

A theory that I have been contemplating too has to do with chaos. I was looking back over my WW passport and I've noticed that I've lost 4kgs since February (yeah I know it's OK but it's not great!) - February is when we started renovating. I wonder how much chaos in our lives translates to chaos on the scales. I'm really over the dust, mud and mess everywhere. I just want to be painting, because to me, that translates to "almost done", and then we can return to some sence of normality. I didn't manually track my 21 points this week, but I stuck to my 3 points per day use them or lose them rule, I notice that I seem to be craving sweet rather than savory, which for me is not a good thing! This week I will manually track and make sure I drink my water.. even on the weekend!

Weigh in this morning I stayed the same.

This weeks equation

2008-06-25T22:28:00.003+09:30

Is much better than last week's..

New Kitchen + ability to cook properly + ate out 1x (as usual) + water + some exercise (but still not as much as normal!) + normal leed up to WI = 1kg LOSS..

so I'm still behind by 0.3kg but I'm inching my way back. See what happens if you don't give up?? You get back on track and you lose!

Brad reached 2 MAJOR milestones with his WI today! He is now under 100kgs for the first time in about 8 years & he has officially lost a mammoth 20kgs! I'm so proud of him, he's really doing well! ♥

The Equation..

2008-06-20T11:19:00.002+09:30

This weeks equation goes something like this..

Poor water intake + eating out 4 times (^sodium) + not enough planned exercise + poor sleep + constipation + different lead up to WI = 1.3kg GAIN on the scales this week!

But hey I have a new kitchen!! Foodwise I was good last week and even eating out I stuck pretty much to core. So I'm not terribly concerned as I know it will come off quickly. Here's to a nicer number on the scales next week!

New Kitchen!

2008-06-18T19:54:00.007+09:30

BEFORE

AFTER - Obviously it hasn't got tiles, splashback or rangehood yet and there is one more cabintet to go in to the right of the fridge.

Thank you

2008-06-12T10:01:00.002+09:30

To everyone to suggested I point core this week! Let me see now in no particular order.. Toni, Di, Christina, Heather, Tracy, Karen.. I dedicate this weeks loss of 0.6kg to you all thank you!

Isn't it funny how a number on the scales can dictate how you feel. A good loss will have you on a high for the whole week, a smaller loss for a day or so, and a "stay the same" or gain can make you feel rotten. It's at this stage that people think "is it all worth it?" I think what you need to do is accept that there will be gains along the way (and sometimes for no particular reason) and learn to look past them. Where would I be if I gave up after my first gain? Certainly not 53.1kg down I can tell you that for certain. I can't stress it strongly enough.. DON'T GIVE UP! Don't not go to WI just because you "think" you have gained.. If you have blown it.. go into damage control.. go for an extra walk or 2, save a couple of points for the next few days. Minimise the damage! You can do it.. but YOU have to want to!

I seem to be maintaining nicely!

2008-06-05T20:36:00.003+09:30

Too bad I'm not trying to, I stayed the same this week, after 2 weeks of losing 0.2kg.. I guess I've hit another plateau so I'm pointing core this week to ensure I'm eating enough as this was a concern of some of the people that I was talking to from my meeting last Wednesday. So far I seem to be as I only have 18 points to play with. So I guess we will see what happens next week! If it doesn't but I may have to return to points for a week or 2, but I really would prefer to stay on core or at least Coints (Thanks Ek for the word! lol) for as long as I can, as I truely believe that long term it is what will keep me at goal.

Can I just say a huge thank you to everyone who reads my blog regularly. Knowing that you are reading helps to keep me on the straight and narrow. I know some of you don't comment online and that's ok (Hi J) because you tell me anyway! :) So thank you again everyone, your support means alot to me.

I'm often asked how I stay so positive, it's simple maths really, no it is.. I only want to lose the weight once, I don't want to lose the same kilos 2, 3, 4 or 5 times.. I CAN'T go back to what I was, I won't allow myself to.

Be the person you want to be, and live the life you want to live!

Ooops!

2008-06-01T09:15:00.002+09:30

I forgot to blog!

Loss this week of -0.2kg again.. slow and steady wins the race! Although slightly frustrating, I know every little bit counts and I will eventually get to goal, and more importantly stay there because I love the way I feel, I love the way I look, I love not feeling embarressed about my size!

Before the meeting I work at on Monday I popped into the Op Shop attached to the church looking for a new pair of Jeans. Well I found some they are Blue Ridge brand so just from Big W BUT they are a size 8 yes that's right! I own a pair of size 8 jeans! If that wasn't good enough, they cost me $2! I bought them with the loose change in my purse! I'm not completely delusional though, I know I'm not size 8 everything else I try is either a 12 or 10, but that's not the point! lol. Continuing with the Op Shop theme I decided it was time for my first ever pair of Levis! I found the perfect pair at another Op Shop(except the will need taking up) they are still a bit firm and so I have a muffin top when I wear them so stay tuned for when they actully fit and I can wear them, it should only take a few weeks! They cost me $6.75 and still have the sticky tape down the leg that tells you the size and length! They haven't even been worn! Do you think I'm hooked on op shopping yet?

I've been really busy this week with "house stuff" The ground has been built up, the foundations were dug and cemented, so things are happening and hopefully will happen even more quickly next week. Our builder is teasing me by asking to start packing up the kitchen, I'm trying not to get too excited... yet!

Just a couple of pics!

2008-05-23T20:06:00.004+09:30

The scarf I am knitting at the moment!

Excuses.. excuses!

2008-05-21T14:22:00.002+09:30

It's time to stop making excuses! You know the ones? I make them too.

I'm too tired, it's too hot or cold, it's raining, I haven't got time.

We have to stop making excuses and just do what we have to do to achieve our goals. Whether is the excuse you use not to exercise, not to drink your water or to have that piece of cake that you haven't allowed for.. we have to stop making them, they are what is holding us back from getting us where we want to be.

So stop making excuses and "just do it!"

Thank goodness!!

2008-05-14T12:49:00.002+09:30

I've lost it!

No, no don't laugh! I lost what I had gained over the last 2 weeks. What did I do differently? I tracked everything (on WW etools) to take in to show my leader what I had been doing as I couldn't see for myself what I was doing that was causing me to gain. (I usually only track what's not core). So I tracked everything that passed my lips this week I lost 1kg. I'm not sure if it's because I was tracking that it was making me focus more on what I was doing or what, but I will be tracking again this week! We ate out a fair bit last week too (with our anniversary and Mother's Day) but I am confident that I make sensible choices while out.

Friday night we went out for dinner as usual, we go out for dinner every Friday night (and have done since before I started WW) to a buffet style "all you can eat" restaurant. For me it's not about getting my money's worth, it's more about going out as a family, it's "the" thing we do on Friday night. I know I will be there every week, so if there is something I REALLY want to have that isn't core I will wait a week and if I still want it the week after I will have it. I had hot chips this week. 4 of them! I allowed for them I knew I'd have enough points to spare this week, so I had them. I usually have 1 thing that is totally not core and allow for it like salt and pepper squid or a chicken satay stick. (the squid I have 3 or 4 pieces.. the satay I have with minimal sauce and I pick a small one, because I'm really just after the taste.) I do have chinese and steamed vegies, and salad and seafood, I certainly don't sit there and starve!

Saturday night Brad and I went into town for sushi. I started with a miso soup and then we had a sushi boat of assorted sushi. I allowed a point for the non core portion of the boat, ie avocado and mayo and we both had a wonderful evening!

Sunday was our anniversary and Mother's Day so the rule was, NO COOKING!! We went to the food court of the local Westfield for lunch (I had a "weight watcher's" potato) and for dinner, we had Noodlebox I asked for them to be cooked with no oil and to only use oyster sauce (both meals totally core)!

I was presented with my certificate for my 50kg loss this week. It still amazes me that I have lost a whole person and I really can't imagine walking around now with an extra 50 kilos! Just imagine though how much weight I could have gained in 18 months had I not started WW. *shudder* I'd easily be tipping the scales at 130-140kgs I'd imagine. Not a good look on someone who is only 157cms tall!

Focus on the positives

2008-05-07T13:37:00.005+09:30

It's sometimes REALLY hard to focus on the positives especially this week as this is my second gain in 2 weeks (only 0.1 but it is still a gain!) and I'm not sure I can put my finger on why. It certainly won't make me quit but it is disheartening, but as disheartening as it is I know I will keep going, simply because I can't go back to what I was, I DON'T WANT TO! It's time to focus on the positives!

*I used to be tired all the time, now I have HEAPS of energy!
*I used to be a size 24-26, now I'm a 10-12!
*I didn't care what I looked like, now I make sure I have some makeup on, and dressed nicely before I leave the house!
*I used to think people were staring because I was so big, now I don't think they do because I look "normal"!
*I used to buy a chocolate bar EVERY time I did groceries to eat on the way home, I can't remember the last time I bought a chocolate bar from a supermarket!
*I used to have to have the car seat back and my stomach would still be hitting the steering wheel, now I've got the seat forward and my stomach is no where near hitting the steering wheel!
*I used to feel old, unattractive and embarrassed by the way I looked, now I feel younger and more attractive and I'm not embarrassed anymore!
*I used to have to buy clothes because they fit, now I buy them because they look good!
*I never had much confidence, now I stand up myself!

I will be diligently tracking everything this week (not just non core food -what I usually do) to see what happens next week!

Sometimes I feel like I've been doing WW forever.. and something I realized this week is that I WILL be doing WW forever, it's not something I can say right I'm at goal now, I'm cured, everything will magically fall into place and I will never be overweight again.. It's not going to happen that way, I will have to be diligent forever to maintain my weight.

Some words of wisdom I gave to a member recently was "The weight didn't go on overnight, I shouldn't expect it to come off overnight either!" I really need to start listening and taking my own advice!

It is our 6th wedding anniversary on Sunday (which is also Mother's Day) We're having a DFN (Daniel free night) and going out for sushi on Saturday night.

:(

2008-04-30T16:25:00.002+09:30

I gained 0.8kg this week. I did everything I do in a normal week except I found it hard to drink my water as it has been so cold, so I "think" my body is holding on to it as it thinks there is a drought! I also had lunch with a dear friend today who was also a WW leader (Hi T) and after talking to her I'm thinking maybe I also didn't eat enough last week (isn't it funny I give people this advice as a weigher, yet I didn't pick up on it until I was telling someone else) .. So this week I will make myself drink water and keep a close eye on what I'm eating to make sure I'm eating enough!
I'm positive it will come off just as quick as it came on, and on another positive note, I've gone down to the next hole in my belt so it's all good. :)

Chipping away..

2008-04-24T20:33:00.002+09:30

I was talking to the recorder at our meetings last week and she asked how far I had to go til goal.. it was then 7kg and she said.. Oh the "hardest" 7! I was hoping it wouldn't be the case, but it seems as though it might be. This week -0.4kg (and 6.6kg to go) so I've decided I'm going to keep switching it around, and make sure I don't have the same things for breakfast, lunch and dinner.. and I'm going just keep chipping away at it.. If I don't quit I have to get there eventually right? So that's what I'm going to do... celebrate every loss as every loss is a step in the right direction and just keep chipping my way to goal!

It was mentioned on the WW boards recently that we shouldn't put too much emphasis on the number that goal is, but for me it is ALL about the number! I have so many unfinished things... cross stitches, paintings, scrap booking.. This is one thing I want to achieve for ME!

Some one asked me..

2008-04-15T11:01:00.002+09:30

How often I fell off the Wagon.. You know what?? There is NO WAGON! It's simple if I can't allow for it in your allowance you just don't have it, you have the power to say no! You just have to. If someone offers me something I can't allow, I just don't have it. I don't ruin weeks of effort to be polite. There have been times I have been to peoples houses and desserts have been offered which I simply couldn't allow for, so you know what? I said no thank you! I often bring my own yoghurt so I can have that as others are having their dessert.

It's really basic! you follow the plan and it works.. you don't follow the plan and it (sorry to tell you) WON'T. Both WW plans work IF you stick to them! It's up to you!

Not the best week.

2008-04-09T18:45:00.002+09:30

And I know it could have been alot worse but I gained 0.3kg this week. I know exactly what I did and what I have to do this week to fix it!

I did not get out for as many walks as I usually do. I didn't wear my pedometer every day (which does make me move more!). I didn't drink enough water every day, some days I "forgot", I still don't understand how somedays I easily drink 3L+ and other days I forget to drink! I also seemed to use more weekly allowance points on sugar than usual.

So I'm starting with renewed enthusiasm this week!! I will drink my water EVERY day. I will get out for my walk at least 4 times this week, and I will wear my pedometer EVERY !DAY

69.4!!!

2008-04-02T13:01:00.003+10:30

Wooohoooo I made it into the 60's!! Who would have thought that hey? Me weighing sixty something! :)

Self doubt is a huge hurdle to overcome. I never, ever thought I would be concidered anything but "the fat girl" and I sometimes wonder how people describe me now.

Not looking too far into the future, or obsessing too much about the amount you have to lose, is a really big thing when it comes to losing large amounts of weight, and I guess even smaller amounts too, taking each day as it comes, accepting what happens on the scales (good or bad) and moving on (no good having a great loss and then splurging for the week!). Looking back is a far better gauge, "I've lost xkg and now I can do this this and this.." is a much better way of looking at things.

You know if you never stop going to and doing weightwatchers you will eventually get to goal?What is the saying? "Winners never quit and quitters never win" Well, this is my turn to be a winner! Who's going to join me!

Back to core

2008-03-20T13:34:00.004+10:30

So happy last week to be back eating core. It's funny when you are "allowed" to eat crap, and sugar you tend to crave it more. A loss of 0.6kg which is great BUT I was hoping for (at least)0.7kg to take me into the 60's but alas I'm smack bang on 70kg! Oh, I'm not complaining, I'm more than happy with 0.6kg, it just would have been nice!

Easter is this weekend and while it would "usually" come with it's own set of challenges I'm confident that I won't be tempted by anything that hasn't been allowed for. Everyone knows now not to buy me chocolate! I'll be making some hot crossed buns tomorrow and freezing those we don't eat. (2.5 points each, I'll post the recipe on my recipe blog, the link to it is on the right ->>>>) and I will have 1 small Lindt chocolate square for 0.5 points (but 1.5 if you have 2) very affordable points wise!

We've been having some renovations done over the last few weeks, so I am getting quite a bit of incidental exercise sanding and polishing new deck, cleaning after the builders etc.. and there is more to come, painting ripping up carpet etc... I can't wait til it's all done!

Have a safe and Happy Easter everyone!

I did it.. I did it.. oh yeah, yeah, yeah!

2008-03-12T11:33:00.005+10:30

This is what greeted me today as I entered my weight in etools on the WW website. Today I lost 0.8kg bringing my total loss to 50 amazing kgs on the dot. I am so proud of myself and so very happy! Who would have thought on just over 17 months I would have lost 50kgs?? No one will wipe the smile from my face today or for about a week I reckon!

I successfully broke the plateau by swapping to points for two weeks, but I'm back to core this week!

I can sniff goal now it's so close but I know at the same time it does not mean the end of healthy eating and exercise. I know I can eat and exercise like this for ever. Weight Watcher's really do set you up to suceed in loosing and maintaining weigh. They give you all the tools you need and you choose how to use them.

If I can give everyone 1 piece of advice? Just don't stop! You will only NOT suceed if you choose not to.

♥

Better than nothing!

2008-03-05T18:34:00.004+10:30

I lost 0.4kg this week, at least I didn't stay the same again. I'm pleased it has started to move again, albeit s l o w l y!! As you can probably tell I was getting rather frustrated!

It's all good though, there is no way I'd give up! EVER! I'm 0.8kg away from 50kgs.. that's HUGE! I've lost a whole person!

I'll be doing points again this week so that I should get more of a difference when I switch back to core next week! :)

The plateau

2008-02-27T16:29:00.003+10:30

So operation plateau breaker didn't work! It's time for drastic measures!

Week 3 and I'm maintaining nicely, too bad I'm not trying to! Not so much as a 100 grams off at WI this morning. I am currently smack bang in the middle of a dreaded plateau. It is soooooo frustrating!

In the last 2 weeks I have
*changed my exercise, exercised some mornings, some nights some none and some twice, walking sometimes, jogging sometimes, some skipping and some jumping on the trampoline.
*drank a small swimming pool everyday, (at least 3 L)
*had mostly carbs at lunch (except sometimes potato or corn with dinner) and not every day*cut out all alcohol (I haven't had any since Christmas)
*last week NO sugar point at all except choc powder on top of skim cappucino

The only thing I haven't done, and tbh I'm dreading to do is swap to points, but I really don't see that I have much choice. :(. It will be hard so after over 10 months on core. I'll be down to 18 points (last time I did points I was on 24!) I will update during the week!

And again...

2008-02-21T13:03:00.003+10:30

Rather frustrating to say the least, but I stayed the same again at WI, looks like I have a plateau happening at the moment, so this week it will be operation plateau buster and if that doesn't work, shock horror I might.. I said MIGHT consider swapping to points to see if that shakes things up enough. This is my very last option, and I won't unless I feel it's absolutely necessary. So this week I'll be upping my water, swapping my exercise and food to try to shake things up!

Wish me luck!

No gain..

2008-02-13T18:56:00.002+10:30

.....and no loss, I stayed the same.

This week I've drunk a small swimming pool in water, eaten at least 5 serves of vege and 2 fruit every day.. walked and jogged more kilometers than I care to calculate, consumed no sugar or alcohol and I didn't lose 1 single gram. I also decided that I'd not eat white pasta or rice at all last week, thinking it would shake things up a bit, but alas it didn't show on the scales. I am a little dissappointed (as I always am when I don't lose) but I'm hoping what I did this week will show on the scales next week. I have a plan to put in place so we'll just have to see what happens next week.

A crazy couple of weeks!

2008-02-07T09:52:00.000+10:30

So busy last week I didn't even get to do an update! It was my birthday last Tuesday and Wednesday I gained 0.2kg at WI. I was a bit dissappointed as I stuck to the plan and didn't do anything for my birthday as I was working at the meeting in the evening (we went out last weekend for it instead) I looked back over my week and noted I really didn't eat very much, I mean I ate and was satified but when I really looked, there were heaps of salads and veges and not much else! I paid particular attention to that (adding protein, bread or vitaweats with lunch, having a few points worth of nuts here and there- they aren't core but I allowed for them from my points allowance) and even though I went out for lunch, and 2 dinners last week I lost 0.8kg this week.
The first restaurant is the one we go to every Friday night (and have done since well before I started WW) It's a Smorgasboard (all you can eat, buffet style), Chinese and seafood place. I do treat myself at the restaurant, usually having a couple of pieces of salt and pepper squid and a chicken satay (with very little or no sauce) Basically everything else I have is core (with exception of the oil and cornflour that is used in the chinese style veges that I allow for too) they do steamed vege, grilled fish, I make a prawn cocktail with fresh prawns, plain lettuce and lemon juice. Fresh fruit for dessert, a green tea and I'm done!
Saturday night we asked Brad's mum to have Daniel overnight so we could go out for my birthday dinner. We went to a mongolian BBQ place which was very, very nice and very CORE friendly! Basically you choose your meat (which is prepared for you, thinly cut and still frozen) you have a choice of kangaroo, beef, lamb, chicken and pork, then you choose your veges cabbage, bean shoots, pineapple, onion, celery, carrot and some others I can't remember then you chose your sauces.. Soy, garlic, ginger, chilli, sesame oil, hot pepper oil, sugar water, cooking wine, sweet and sour, hot pepper oil... Then you give your plate to the chef who cooks your meal in front of you on a giant curved hotplate (kind of like an upside down wok) and then hands it back to you when it's cooked, no oil, unless YOU add it, BRILLIANT! So as you can see it's very easy to have a 100% core meal at this place! We'd never been there before, but no doubt we will go back! Afterwards we went for a little walk and got a skim cap and then came home. Great food, great night.
I'm doing the Valentines day raid on the WW core board this week for hopefully a bit of a boost and a lot of fun this week!

As requested :)

2008-01-24T22:55:00.001+10:30

Sorry! I didn't do my hair or makeup and I'm not even standing us straight! lol!

For pics in my before clothes go here!

I'm sitting here... (warning shouting to follow)

2008-01-24T14:24:00.001+10:30

IN SIZE 10 JEANS!!!!! Sorry I had to shout but how exciting!!!

My size 12 3/4 jeans have been feeling a bit big and I've been wearing them with a belt so today while at the Target end of season sale I was having a look and tried on a pair of size 11 jeans. They fit but of course they only had 11 long, and of course me not being long I would have had to cut far too much off so I put the 11's back thought oh well the 10's will probably fit by winter anyway grabbed a pair of size 10 short (did I mention for $15) and to my surprise when I tried them on when I got home.. THEY FIT! They're boot leg so probably a bit wider than a "normal" 10 would be, but they are a size 10!!!!!! (and I don't have to take them up!!)

♪♫ I'm doing a happy dance!! ♫♪

2 weeks in a row

2008-01-23T15:54:00.001+10:30

Yep that's right 2 weeks in a row I've lost over 1kg. I'm a happy little camper! I have been doing a raid on the WW core board so that would have helped as would that I am walk/jogging now. I also try to get a couple of "extra" walks in a week (besides my normal hour morning walk.) It all helps! I pay careful attention to hunger signals, only eating if genuinely hungry, and stopping when comfortably satisfied, not stuffed full! I make sure I drink at least 2L of water each day and I'm mindful of the good health guidelines when planning my meals.

I did it

2008-01-16T19:25:00.000+10:30

I'm overweight and yes I'm excited about that as it's so much better than being morbidly obese - which is what I started out as! Today I lost a fantastic 1.1kg at WI which brought my BMI from 48.9 (16 months ago) to 29.9 (today) . Next step HEALTHY at 24.9. Bring it on BABY!!

I promise to update pics soon and I will include pics wearing my original "fat clothes" as a few people have requested.

♥

Sunday ponderings

2008-01-13T08:32:00.000+10:30

Or should that be ramblings??

While walking this morning I was thinking, as you do, about why I think I have been sucessful so far. I'm often asked at meetings, and in general so here it is..

Shazzy's hints and tips for sucessful weighloss!

Tell everyone you know you are doing WW.
-This helps in a number of ways. People are expecting you to lose weight, so you will feel less inclinded to let these people down. I can't imagine saying to someone if they ask how WW is going.. "Oh, I don't do that anymore!" If you keep WW a secret, no one will know except you, this will not keep you very accountable.
-People will encourage you more, they aren't scared to ask if you have lost weight, when they can see it, they will tell you!
-You're less likly to be given gifts of food hampers or chocolate.
-Friends will often make sure there is something that you can have if they invite you over, and are less likly to push a piece of cake or biscuit on you.

If you go to meetings to be weighed.
STAY for the meeting, I don't understand how people can pay to get weighed and then leave the meeting. It just doesn't make sence to me. You've paid anyway, you may as well stay. It's a great way to share and brag about things you're proud of, or if you're having "issues" it's a great place to get support, afterall everyone there is in the same boat as you, a different stages of the program, but everyone is in the same boat! I've made some fabulous friends at meetings!

Use the WW website
There is a wealth of information on it as well as recipes and hints and tips. Use the community message boards. I like to think of it as my daily meeting. Any time, day or night I can log on and get or offer advice or encouragement. Motivating others is great motivation.

Success breeds success.
Think about how you feel when you achieve your goals, whether they be major or minor. Man I could be a rich woman if I could bottle that feeling! Remember it, it will help you through the harder times, and there will be harder times! You may be 1/2 way to goal or you may be able to do up those jeans you haven't been able to wear since the kids were born. Celebrate them with non food rewards. A book, a magazine, a massage, a manicure, a bubble bath, a hair cut and/or colour or new clothes, it doesn't have to cost alot either. I've recently discovered op shopping! Great clothes = not much $$ it is the luck of the draw though. I was also told at our meetings that you can ring TAFE and offer yourself as a human guinea pig for people needing to practice manicures, pedicure, massage, waxing, haircuts - ok maybe I'm not THAT brave but still it is a great idea, that won't cost you alot, and you are helping someone else in the process.

Measure your success
We've all been there, you have done absolutely EVERYTHING right you have been a perfect WWer all week, did all your exercise, drank all your water, got in all your serves of fruit and vege, you're expecting a kg + loss and you get 0.1 or the scale doesn't move. I know only too well how frustrating it is! How long has it been since you've taken your measurements? Are your clothes feeling loose? Does the towel go all the way round you now?

If you have a slip up
Don't beat yourself up over it. It's over, move on! You will only truly fail at this if you give up and don't stick to the plan/s. If you just don't stop you will eventually achieve your goals.
Follow the plan
Whether it be core or points, do it properly! Track! Track! Track! If you "cheat" you're only cheating yourself!

So there you are. I hope it helps someone out there in cyberland!

♥

We're back!

2008-01-09T17:47:00.001+10:30

We had such a fabulous time while we were away. I got to catch up with heaps of friends and family. I had lots of great comments about my weight loss and how I look while I was away, (they usually started with Oh my God!) Others stared as they weren't quite sure if it was me or not :).
Some really exciting news... Mum bought me a skirt and top for me for Christmas while I was away and just guess what size it was?? A size 10!!! A 10!! Can you believe that? Last Christmas I was wearing a 22-24!!!
OK now I'm not totally delusional because I'm certainly not fitting into 10's in anything else, so I'm sure it was a "big" size 10 and it was a touch firm, but I wore it all day Christmas day! No one could wipe the smile off my face!

Quick Update

2008-01-02T16:40:00.000+10:30

Still at mum and dad's. Gained 0.1kg Christmas week, amd I was really happy with that! First week of 2008 and I lost 0.7kgs. I'm really pleased with myself! Will update in detail when I get home next week! ♥

New cut and colour!!

2007-12-22T06:56:00.000+10:30

You like??

Busy, busy!

2007-12-20T07:09:00.000+10:30

I just realized that I didn't even update my blog last week! December just seems to fly by doesn't it? We leave to go to mum and dad's on Sunday.

I seem to be maintaining nicely at the moment, I gained 0.1kg last week and lost it again this week, which would be great if I was trying to maintain!! Anyway I'm going to try shaking things up exercise and food wise this week, see what happens, it will be hard to work out if it helps as I won't be able to weigh on Wednesday as the meetings are closed on Boxing day, but there is an 8.30am meeting on Saturday I might go to.

My plan for Christmas is to not gain, I'll be happy to stay the same, and if I loose, that is a bonus! So I will eat totally core, as much as I can until Christmas, and treat myself on Christmas day paying careful attention to hunger signals and back to it again on Boxing day!! What I need to remember is food will still be there after Christmas and really who wants to be uncomfortably full all day??

You won't believe what I did last night! I had a Lindt Ball! I haven't had any "nice" chocolate since I started WW all those months ago, I mean I've had a few WW Choc Crisp bars and while they're nice, they don't even come close to what is an utterly delectable morsel of swiss chocolate! I actually promised myself to have "1" about 20kgs ago, but I could not find 1 to buy, there were packs of 3, 6 and then boxes of so many points I'd hate to think, but I only wanted 1, I didn't want to buy more. As it happens my MIL won a raffle a couple of weeks ago and in there was a small packet of Lindt Balls, so I asked her for 1! It sat in my fridge for a little over a week. I ate it last night. Can I tell you? It took so long to eat that Lindt Ball I scraped it with my teeth, I nibbled every last orgasmic bite and boy did I enjoy it! I was chatting to a friend last night and she asked if I needed another one now? My response even surprised me, "No thanks I'm good!" I might not wait so long to have the next one as they are pretty affordable points wise (2 points) so instead of being 16 months it might only be 6!! Or maybe when I get to goal! There is no IF, I know will get (and stay) there, that's a promise I made to myself a long time ago!

If I don't get a chance to blog before, have a fabulous Christmas everyone and I will try to do an update from mum and dad's! ♥

I've been a slacko!

2007-12-11T09:59:00.000+10:30

Gosh it's a busy time of year! I didn't even post my loss from last week . I lost 0.3kg which I'm pleased with considering my big losses lately.
Post raid update... it went really well and I will continue with it til Christmas, despite losing 0.3kg on it (I was expecting more, but the raid really wasn't that much different to what I do day to day anyway, so.. ) all in all it's not too bad.
Daniel and I went to the park with a friend (Hi C) and her little girl yesterday.. It had the biggest slide you've ever seen! It was great fun! Yes I had a go too, what a difference a year makes! This time last year my ass wouldn't have fit! lol

Here is Daniel on the slide! See what I mean?? In his words it's HOOOGE!!

and another of Daniel just for good measure! (pics of course taken with my new camera!)

Time Flies!

2007-12-04T19:08:00.000+10:30

Wow I can't believe this week has gone so quickly, scrap that, this YEAR has gone so quickly, this time in 3 weeks will be Christmas eve.. that's just CRAZY talk!
Monday I started doing a RAID on the WW boards ROX (Raid Operation Xmas). I'm in the Christmas Core-acker team. What is a raid? Well basically you have to agree to this pledge

I ______ , a Hard-Core Christmas Core-acker, pledge that everyday, for the next 7 days I will:
*Get amazing energy from my Core plan
*Do a minimum of 45min continuous exercise
*Drink 2L of water
*Eat 5 serves of vegies and 2 serves of fruit
*Consume no alcohol
*Consume no sugar
*Not use any exercise points that I earn
*Report in to the Core-acker Thread.

In the event of a special occasion (ie. Christmas Party) I may apply for a pass, BUT … I must make the best possible choices available. If I am unable to fulfil the ROX Raid requirements I must bow out OR make up for my indiscretion with a suitable punishment as negotiated with Kerri Core-acker and fellow Raiders.

Day 2 of the raid and it's going really well, it's basically what I do day to day anyway except I do include small amounts of sugar in my diet. We'll see if it shows at WI :)

45kgs gone!!!

2007-11-28T11:45:00.000+10:30

I just want to shout it from the rooftops!!! I lost 1.1kgs this week, bringing my total to 45kgs. I'm in shock! I have no words, but I'm very, very happy!! :) I'll come back later when I can think clearer!! ♥

What has changed since I started WW?

2007-11-21T15:27:00.000+10:30

Well apart from the obvious!

- I can cut and paint my toenails and put on my shoes and socks without having to hold my breath.
- I can fit down a slippery dip.
- I can walk for hours if I need to, I used to have to have rests all the time.
- I get up at 6am most days to go for a daily fast paced walk, I used to avoid exercise
- I can get up off the floor easily, I was never able to before.
- I'm not the biggest person in a crowd anymore, I always felt like i was before.
- I can sit comfortably in a chair with armrests without having to squish in.
- I look for ways to get extra excercise, I used to always look for the "easiest" way to do things.
- I don't eat mindlessly when I'm bored, happy, sad, angry...
- I enjoy helping and motovating others.
- I can see bones in my wrists, hands, collarbones.
- I have to get all my rings resized, they're all to big!
- I have new clothes, all the old ones are too big!
- I get compliments constantly, I never used to.
- I can shop in "normal" sized shops, I used to have to shop in plus size shops.
- I can say "no thanks" to chips and chocolate, I was never able to resist before.
- I don't look for the closest car parks.
- I wear make up more often.
- I like myself.
- I have more confidence.
- I smile alot more.
- I am proud of myself.

A great loss this week -0.8kgs. :)

Heading into NEW territory..

2007-11-17T10:12:00.000+10:30

Some of you may remember this post about me buying size 12 jeans on special for $5 back in August? The plan was to be able to wear them on Christmas day. Well guess what peoples? I'm wearing them today with NO flabby overhangy bits! I'm also wearing a size 14 top today that I bought on our shopping expo yesterday to Harbourtown. Last time we went I didn't find anything that fit!! This time? So many bargains! I'm a very happy girl today!

Breaking the trend and new pics!

2007-11-15T08:52:00.000+10:30

The last few weighins have gone something like good loss, gain, same, good loss so I was kind of expecting a gain or a same, but I lost 0.3kg, so I'm really pleased about that! I'm still walking at least 6 days a week. I was wanting to try to do the c25k but my poor "old" knees won't let me, so I will stick to walking.

Do you know what I have found the hardest since starting WW? Learning to take compliments. I've never really had many compliments before and I always used to brush them off. I've since learned that all I have to do is say thank you! :)

I was asked at this weeks meeting how I stay motivated for so long. Tbh I think the first few weeks are the hardest, when you aren't seeing or feeling the results, but once you have lost about 7 or 8 kilos you really do start to motivate yourself. You have lost a dress size, you start looking different and you start to believe that you can do this - AND YOU CAN! I have never missed a meeting - NEVER. Even when I go away (usually to visit mum and dad in NSW) I always make sure I go to the meeting. Keeping a blog helps me stay motivated to, it's different to just keeping a diary as I'm accountable to everyone who reads it not just me. I have never kept my attempt to lose weight a secret. EVERYONE and I mean EVERYONE that I know, knows that I'm doing WW. Even my butcher knows and asks me each week how I've gone. I log in daily to the WW Website to see how everyone is going and to post about my celebrations and breakthoughs, but not only that... Motivating others and patting them on the back gives me a great feeling! All these things help keep me accountable. I can't wait for Christmas when I get to see all my family and friends agian in NSW. I love the shock factor each time they see me, as it's more dramatic because they only see me a couple of times a year.

Some updated pics for you.. you can check out all the pics here. Enjoy!

Well that's more like it!

2007-11-07T19:55:00.000+10:30

I lost 1.1kg this week. Thank goodness as I was just getting ready to throw in the towel! NOT! lol sorry! You don't really think I'd quit now do you? I know I can do this and I will. I am confident that it is only a matter of time before I get to goal! I'm confident that I will be able to maintain my weight with the help of core.

I have realised over all this time that Weight Watchers is all about choice.

You can choose to do it or you can choose not to. I chose to do it.
You can choose to "kinda" do it, or you can choose to not kid yourself and do it properly. I choose to do it properly.
You can choose to make excuses, or you can choose not to. I choose not to make excuses.
You can choose which plan you want to do. First I chose points, now I choose CORE.
You don't just fall off the wagon, you choose to hop off. (Oh yes you do! No one force feeds you at night with a drip) I choose not to fall off.

So now tell me... What do you choose?

And so it begins

2007-11-02T10:34:00.000+10:30

The comments.. everyone has an opinion don't they?
"Oh don't lose too much more, you look good now"
"Careful you don't become anorexic" - yeah like THAT'S going to happen!
Don't get me wrong I'm really liking the way I look, and the changes that I have made, but I'm still obese! Not just overweight, obese! I really want to get to the healthy weight range for my height (which is my goal weight) I'm confident that I will, I mean I've managed to stay on track for almost 14 months, it's not always difficult.

I have treats when I have allowed for them. I've very picky on what I choose to use my allowance points on. I don't have to have something "because it's there" Some of you would cringe if you saw what was in my fridge, pantry and freezer. There is ALWAYS chocolate frogs, or some kind of chocolate in our fridge, Brad likes to give it to Daniel as a treat (a packet of chocolate frogs lasts for months!!). I haven't had actual chocolate (except 1 ww choc crisp bar the cookies and cream flavour and only then because I wanted to taste it) since well before Easter. The pantry has an assortment of WW Choc Crisp bars (Brad likes them), nuts (again for Brad), biscuits and little packets of shapes for Daniel. I've had a packet of marshmallows open for over a month, that I have 1 or 2 of occasionally. The freezer usually has an assortment of cakes (we have a client who has a bakery and likes to send Brad home with lots of yummy treats, including croissants and Danish pastries) .

I love the saying if you "kinda" follow the plan, you will "kinda" lose weight, because I don't want to "kinda" lose weight. I want to lose it for ever, so if that means I need to be strong and not have all these naughty foods that lurk in my house, it's what I have to do. I always have plenty of fruit and yogurt on hand so there is never an excuse, I can't say but there was nothing else to have, because there ALWAYS is, I make sure of that!

Frustration

2007-11-01T08:28:00.000+10:30

I stayed the same at WI yesterday. Very frustrating, but I know I have lost cms as I need to buy a belt to keep my jeans up (I don't want to have to buy a smaller pair of long jeans, because eventually it is going to get and stay hot isn't it?) So I'll keep plodding along and really make an effort to "mix up" food and exercise and drink my water this week. Stay tuned...

Well, doesn't that just rot your socks?

2007-10-24T17:48:00.000+09:30

I gained 0.3 this week!
I hate it when I do everything to the letter and I still gain :(. I was expecting it though as I have been feeling fluidy (this hot one day, cold the next, weather doesn't help) for the past few days, so I'm not overly concerned I know it will come off next week (well I hope so) and well life, just wouldn't be life if there were little detours along the way. One thing it won't do though, is it won't send me searching the pantry for whatever naughties might be in there. No siree, I've come too far to go down THAT road. Binging won't make me feel better when I step on the scales next week, now will it?? So I will continue to plod along and I will get there, I'm confident of that!

I am Woman!

2007-10-17T12:35:00.000+09:30

I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much to go back an' pretend
'Cause I've heard it all before
And I've been down there on the floor
No one's ever gonna keep me down again

Oh yes, I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained (or lost)
If I have to
I can do anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman

You can bend but never break me
'Cause it only serves to make me
More determined to achieve my final goal
And I come back even stronger
Not a novice any longer
'Cause you've deepened the conviction in my soul

Oh, yes, I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained (or lost)
If I have to
I can face anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman

I am woman watch me grow
See me standing toe to toe
As I spread my lovin' arms across the land
But I'm still an embryo
With a long, long way to go
Until I make my brother understand

Oh, yes, I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to
I can face anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman

Oh, I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong

I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong
I am woman

(Of course these are the lyrics of "I am Woman" by Helen Reddy)

What a great song hey? And that's exactly how I'm feeling right now! I have kicked the 80's to the curb, and I didn't just hobble into the 80's either I kicked butt with a massive 1.7kg loss this week! I'm so pleased. I feel invincible, this week I can do ANYTHING!!! I'm a 70's girl and I won't ever be eighty- something again!!!

I'd like to thank the Academy...

2007-10-10T12:45:00.000+09:30

I did it!!!! A loss today of 0.6kgs means I have lost 40kgs!!! (Well 40.3kgs actually!) That is 80 tubs of margarine! YAY!!!! After hovering for a couple of weeks I finally did it! I can't even tell you how I feel, it's all a bit surreal at the moment, but I'm doing a happy dance, and probably will be for a while!!

Thank you everyone for your support!

So proud of myself.

2007-10-05T08:37:00.000+09:30

As you may know I have set myself a challenge. An extra exercise challenge. I think I've mentioned that I have been getting up at 6am most mornings and go out for a walk by myself for an hour. If it is raining (very rare), I don't go. If it looks like rain, I still go and wear a rain jacket.

The exception being one day on the weekend and Wednesday (weigh in) mornings, I don't like to drink excess fluid on weigh in morning so instead when I drop Daniel off at MIL's on weigh in morning I also drop off the pram. Then walk to pick him up (uphill on the way there, down hill on the way back) and push him in the pram on the way back. Ususally takes an hour.

It feels really good going out in the early morning and getting some exercise done early, then anything else I get to do during the day is a bonus. Not bad for not a morning person, hey?

Thanks goodness!

2007-10-03T12:13:00.000+09:30

Weigh in wasn't as bad as I had predicted. After showing a 1kg gain on my scales all week, at weigh in I was pleased to have lost 0.3. not much but it sure feels better than a 1kg gain would have. This brings me to 0.3 from 40 kgs lost. I'll get there... eventually!!! So here's to another good core filled week and we'll see what happens next week (I hope the extra exercise catches up!!).

Midweek update

2007-10-01T13:02:00.000+09:30

I'm not feeling 100% (sore throat) both Daniel and Brad have had a cold for the last few days, so I'm guessing it's my turn :(.

Overcast here today but I did go out for a short walk this morning (1/2 hour @ 6.30am on a public holiday mind you! - Who is this person??) I have been out most mornings for at least 1/2 hour, mostly 1 hour.

I had a sneak peak at the scales today and I'm not liking what I'm seeing, but I will wait and see on Wednesday (I'm hoping it's my scales having a spaz!)

I gained 0.1kg :(

2007-09-26T19:26:00.001+09:30

I gained 0.1kg this week. I know not the end of the world but a bit disappointing none the less. I've increased my walks this week. I now go out most mornings by 6 and I'm back by the time Daniel wakes about 7.30. (Don't worry, Brad is here, Daniel just has to wake him if he's up too early and I'm still walking.) I've stuck to core 100% most days only using 10 of my weekly allowance points, I'm still drinking heaps but, I seem to be a bit constipated and I feel really bloated. :( So I'm attributing the gain to that. Needless to say I'll be upping the fibre this week to see if I can get things "moving" lol.

Updated pics

2007-09-26T19:19:00.000+09:30

Here are the updated pics as promised. Taken 25/9/07. Just after my 12 month anniversary with WW and 39.5kg lost.

52 weeks ago

2007-09-19T23:34:00.000+09:30

I started WW, and wow what a ride!

I was secretly hoping to lose 1.6kgs this week to bring my total for the year to 40kgs, and although I didn't happen I'm more than happy with my results. I did lose 1.1kgs which makes a grand total of 39.5kgs in 1 year :).

I'm more confident. I like the way I look. I'm proud of myself. I know everyone who loses weight says "If I can do it, anyone can do it" but it is so true, there is nothing stopping anyone from losing weight if they want to, except themselves.

I will post some updated pics soon.

I see bones!

2007-09-12T11:40:00.000+09:30

I see them in my wrists, I see them in my feet, I feel them everywhere! It's amazing! Sometimes I look at my hands and I don't recognize them as mine, lucky for me they are attached hey? lol! I even mentioned at the meeting this morning that my bed is becoming less comfortable as I feel bones rubbing against each other (ankles and knees) which is a good thing, right?

We were asked this morning to work out how many tubs of margarine we had lost so far... 76! 76 tubs of margarine!!! Unbelievable!

I'm changing and not just physically! My attitude to life has changed. My attitude to food has changed. My attitude to exercise has changed! I stand tall.

I'm not the biggest person anymore. I used to look around at shopping centres and I was the big person, praying that the chair didn't collapse under me each time I sat.

Next week will be my 52nd week at Weight Watchers. A whole year! WOW! I will have to post pics!

A loss of 0.7kgs for me this week. :)

I still lost..

2007-09-05T12:45:00.000+09:30

0.6 this week, even with the lead up to Daniel's party, and Father's day I still managed a great loss. I know I didn't get to do as much exercise as I would have liked to either, so I'm very happy! I was actually saying to Jen (hi Jen) at last week's meeting that I'd be happy to stay the same this week, so a loss of 0.6kg is brilliant!

Sometimes we say things to people and we don't really know how it affects them. A few weeks ago I was chatting to an older lady "M" at our meeting (I chat to her quite often) who was feeling a bit bummed about WW and how it was taking so long for her. This week she got to her 10kg loss YAY and when our leader asked what has made the difference in her journey she said "Sharon". I didn't know, but the week that we had chatted she was ready to give up and throw the towel in but I pointed out to her that she had in fact achieved something, that week she had gone into double digits, she was under 100kg and she hadn't been that weight in a long time! It gave her the boost she needed to keep going. It made me feel really good to be acknowledged in that way too. :)

Happy Birthday Daniel!

2007-09-01T19:15:00.000+09:30

Here is the cake! It ONLY took me 5 hours to decorate it, but I was happy with how it turned out! Daniel had a great day :) He was very spoilt with lots of fantastic pressies!

Food wise for me was ok, I did have some cake, some (lite) cheese and rice crackers (which weren't core) but it could have been allot worse, so I'm proud of myself.

-0.2kg this week

2007-08-29T18:29:00.000+09:30

Every little bit helps hey! :).

I can't believe it's my little boy Daniel's birthday this coming Saturday. He'll be 3. I'm planning core friendly party food for the adults hommus, tsatzki and salsa dips with vege strips, fruit platter and popcorn. The kids will be having frankfurters, fairy bread, lollies and cheezels etc.. I'm making the cake from Annette Sym's, Symply Too Good To Be True cookbooks @ 3 points a slice. So hopefully we'll have a great day! Will post pics :)

I'm still here!

2007-08-22T14:05:00.000+09:30

Another great loss of -0.9kg this week! Bringing my total loss to 36.9kg and over 30% of my start weight.

Who would have thought that 11 months after I started I'd still be going strong?

Certainly not me in the beginning! Originally I thought - you know, even if I lose 5 or even 10 kilos I'd be that much better off. But as I went along and hit these milestones (and many more since then) and for me, it hasn't been that difficult to continue. The fact that I'm not feeling deprived has made it so much easier to continue on the downwards spiral to goal. I do have little treats along the way, but not every day. Eating CORE I find fantastic as I am not obsessing about food as much as I was on points. I feel fantastic and I'm actually starting to like the way I look, I was looking at my shadow the other day while on my walk and it's very noticeable to me how much it has shrunk! I even bought a pair of size 12 denim 3/4 pants on special for $5! It will be a while before they fit (I'm not even into 14's quite yet), but I know I will eventually get into them - hopefully around Christmas, size 12 for Christmas, what more could a girl ask for?

I'm obese! YAY!

2007-08-15T16:18:00.000+09:30

Which feels and sounds a whole lot better than being morbidly obese! LOL. By losing 0.9kg this week my bmi has dropped from 49 to 34 since I started WW almost 11 months ago. You can work out your own BMI here.

Bring on the next step... being overweight!

35kgs gone forever!

2007-08-08T12:56:00.000+09:30

I hit another milestone today. I lost 0.5kg to bring my grand total to 35.1kgs lost. Boy that sounds like allot hey? I rewarded myself with new undies as I think I have only 1 or 2 pairs that DON'T fall down when I go on my walk (always a good sign that you need new ones I think LOL) So with the purchase of new bras last week and new undies today I'm all systems go in the underwear department, well for another few months anyway!!

New Pics

2007-08-02T12:36:00.001+09:30

Here they are, please excuse the goofy smile and hair (I let it dry naturally)

It worked!

2007-08-01T12:57:00.000+09:30

I drowned the plateau lol. ☺

Seriously though I was so pleased to see that I had lost 0.7kg this week! Onward and downwards and hopefully will have another great week next week. I will keep up the water drinking, and will up the exercise again this week and see what happens. I hope to update pics this week too, might get Brad to take some tonight if he gets home at a reasonable time, so stay tuned.. ♥

"Operation plateau buster" UPDATE

2007-07-28T08:47:00.000+09:30

I've been drinking over 3L of water a day! (It's been surprisingly easy - I usually struggle to drink water in winter!)
I bought a skipping rope yesterday, so will do some skipping today as it is overcast and sprinkling which should get my heart rate up! Stuck to mostly core last night at the restaurant so that was good and so far this week I've used about 5 of my weekly allowance points. So everything seems to be going to plan so we'll see what happens! Will try to update again later before weigh in on Wednesday.

2 weeks in a row :(

2007-07-26T10:39:00.000+09:30

Don't you hate it when you seem to do everything right and you are greeted with a gain on the scales :(. This is the second week in a row I've gained 0.1kg. I think it's the beginning of a dreaded plateau.

So this is the plan for this week... (I don't want to have to switch back to points if I can avoid it, but will next week if I have to!!)
- I'm going to shake things up. Not have the same breakfast, lunch or dinner on consecutive days (sometimes I have the same breakfast ALL the time)
- I'm going to up my water intake, I have been a bit slack in this department over the last couple of weeks so I am forcing myself to drink at least 2.5 litres a day. I know it can be done because yesterday I really pushed the water and got up to 4 litres (funny cos sometimes I struggle to drink 1 litre)
- I'm going to shake up exercise as well, I won't go for walks every day but a few day I will do other cardio stuff here at home, I'm going to buy a skipping rope and do some steps (up and down the back steps) and may even buy some hand weights.
- Where possible I will eat 100% core.

So we'll see what happens next week and hopefully my efforts will pay off. ☺

Well I wasn't really expecting that.

2007-07-18T13:23:00.000+09:30

A gain of 0.1kg. :( In the overall scheme of things isn't that bad and I certainly didn't expect to lose as well as I did last week, but I am a bit disappointed. I know how much effort I put in to following the plan to the letter and I only had 2 non core days (and on those days I didn't go wild, using 5 points one day and 6 the other), I can only assume that the little exercise week (when I wasn't well) has caught up with me. I'm getting to know my body and I'm learning that it doesn't always do what I'm expecting it to.

But does this mean I'm going to throw the towel in and say "stuff it"? Hell no! I look at how far I've come and I know I can do this and I know this is my new lifestyle and the way I want to live. Looking back at my before pictures I can't understand how I didn't see it earlier and why I didn't do anything about my weight a long time ago. I guess because I've always been overweight I got used to seeing myself like that, and I guess others have been used to seeing me like that too. I didn't think I looked that bad. In hind site though I see now I was not ready mentally and emotionally to take on this new phase in my life. I know that I am ready now (and have been since September) I haven't let small hiccups phase me along the way, every week is a new week with it's own challenges. I try to learn the lesson I was supposed to and move on. The trick is not to lose focus along the way.