New Kitchen!

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

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!

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!

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!

The scarf I am knitting at the moment!

Excuses.. excuses!

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!!

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

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.

:(

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..

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..

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.

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!!!

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

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!

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!

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

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...

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..

.....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!

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!