A Little Rae of Sunshine

On we go...

2010-02-21T10:10:00.002+11:00

I'm having one of those weeks this week. Xavier is getting his molars, so it's been no sleep, temperatures, gunk coming from ears and nose, and this morning, the worst poos ever. Have you seen the ad on TV for number 3's? Thats my dining roon today. I've scrubbed and scrubbed, and antisepticed everything, and I can still smell it. Needless to say, I'm off to the doctors with him today, just to check there is nothing else going on.

Anyway, thats my whinge. no great changes in weight for me, I've been too tired/busy to focus on it. But I know I need to track, even when life is yucky, so I've pulled up the tracker, and am being a good girl.

At least, until the internet drops out again. :P

Back in the right direction.

2010-02-06T13:23:00.001+11:00

So I just have to keep it going!

Pre-tracking is working well for me, I'm tracking my entire day at the beginning of the day, and then sticking to it. I know I don't have room to justify things this way! And down 0.7kg, on a week where I have been sick all week, and ttom, I'm happy with that. :)

Onwards we go!

It's February already?!

2010-02-01T21:32:00.004+11:00

I honestly don't know what happened to January. It seems to have been lost in a black hole. Unfortunately, there must have been food in the hole, as I seem to have found some extra kilos, but I am back in control, and moving them off again.

Actually, I do know what happened to January, it was highly populated! 4 new baby's have arrived in the lives of those around me, and I'm been clucking so loudly I'm sure you have all been wanting chicken for dinner...

I am feeling the pressure from Duane for another child very strongly, and have been rather sad about the fact that we can't yet (we still need to finish the list of things needed to be in place beforehand), but am trying to funnel that into getting those things done. Like getting my weight down as much as I can. I've started looking for a wheelchair friendly car, so that I may actually be able to get out a bit. I need to look into the cost of a carer, and Xavier still hasn't been accepted into childcare, but if I keep focused, I won't lose the plot. Well, not too much. :)

I'm just rambling, but it is good to ramble. I've adjusted my goals out a little, and I am determined to not compromise myself or my health. This is a bit deal, and I am making it a priority!

I hope you had a great January ( I had a wonderful time with all the baby cuddles... oh so many babies... so CUTE!) and that February is as sweet as it is short.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T15:39:00.005+11:00

It's just a quick post from me, I have had an army of people at my house for the last 10 days, and it has been fantastic, but I am completely exhasted!

I haven't given a thought to WW, but I also haven't been silly, and I'm delighted to be sporting a great loss over christmas, and I am hopefull that it will still be there when I go to my meeting on Saturday. Either way, 2010 will see a trim little RaeRae before we start trying for another child. Hopefully next NYE I'll be sharing pregnancy news!

Have a wonderful last day of 2010!

On the mend :)

2009-12-13T13:34:00.005+11:00

I'm finally feeling a bit more alive, so am pulling myself back onto the wagon, and plan to be on track for my 50's challenge, I've only go to get 0.2 off in the next two weeks to be on track. That is achievable, even with Christmas looming!

I'm still very sore and exhausted from surgery on Wednesday, but my ankle has settled enough to let me off the crutches (still painful, but I can walk straight on it, which is what I need to do for my hips), so I am happy about that at least. Unfortunately the surgery didn't go as well as hoped, but I've had my few days moping about that, and I'm just going to keep on going now. :)

My aims this week are:

combat negative thoughts - whenever I catch myself getting negative or down, write it down and turn it to a positive.
No exercise - need to heal
Therefore, I need to be perfect with my tracking.

Well we have our church Christmas event on this afternoon, and I singing in the choir (hopefully, providing I can stand that long) and then face painting the kiddlywinks. So I should get myself on the move!

I hope you are all enjoying beautiful summer weather,
Rae :)

It's been one of those weeks...

2009-12-08T15:21:00.002+11:00

Well I can't say I'm the happiest of chookens. It's been a shocker of a week. I'm back on crutches, because Duane accidentally knocked a large heavy box onto my ankle, which I then hobbled around one, and subsequently put my hips out very shortly after. Then on Saturday, my gorgeous 3yr old cat Sora sickened and died overnight, we think she may have been bitten by a spider or something, we have no other explanation. Then a lovely lady from church that I have know for years, has become a widow with 4 young children, when her husband died of a heart attack on Sunday at the age of 38. So we are ALL cut up about that. Throw in a shop audit on Thursday, and surgery tomorrow, and I'm well beyond stressed and grumpy and teary, into the world of just plain BLURGH.

*big breath* Sorry about the rant. It's been an awful week. I didn't get to WI on Saturday, as I was bawling my eyes out as the cat was buried. I think I may have put on about 0.5kg, (also TTOM - just for laughs) but I am just going to leave it blank, and record my weight on Saturday. At least with surgery tomorrow I am not allowed to eat anything all day, maybe that will shrink my appetite back to more sensible proportions!

Doing the Happy Dance on the scales this week!

2009-11-28T09:26:00.003+11:00

I'm So excited today! I weighed in at my meeting, and I've lost a WHOLE KILO! That is unheard of for me! WOOOOHOOOO!

Only 4 weeks until Christmas, and I'm feeling great. I can't wait to have my family over, and friends that I haven't seen for a while. We will be getting family photos done (Dad has already given me advance warning, I should probably book haircuts now actually!) and they will be my first family photos at a healthy weight. Well, there may have been a kindda healthy one at age 12.

Speaking of which, I currently weigh the same as what I did when I was 13. How scary is that?!

In honour of my sudden desire for Christmas to be here, I've put up some of my scrapbook pages from Xavier's first Christmas. He has discovered the joy of presents recently, so it should be really exciting this year! I have also bought some cheap little disney books that we can wrap up and give to his friends, because that is a far more important that I want him to learn, the joy of giving. :)

Well I have a dessert to make and its even WW friendly. I'm making Apple and Berry Crumble to take to a BBQ tonight, so I know that I'll have something non-dairy to eat, that also won't burst my tracking streak. I haven't had a single point out of place for two weeks. And I'm happy to keep it that way!

I hope you are all having a WONDERFUL weekend!

I'm thankful for...

2009-11-27T15:13:00.005+11:00

Safety pins!

My pile of sewing is getting larger, and my available wardrobe is getting smaller... which is totally fine! However I noticed today, that I have been wearing a minimum of 1 safety pin each day this week, with the maximum being 6 on my dress on Sunday. It fell off without them!

Anyway, I just thought I would share my little secret, my new little friends. You save me from many an embarrassing moment! I love you safety pin! :P

I'm hoping the increase in pinnyness (yes, I know it is not a word!) means I'm in for a good WI tomorrow. Or maybe the sleeplessness and the perfect tracking will just cancel each other out. I'm curious to see!

Off to a good start

2009-11-21T10:40:00.003+11:00

Well I am back under goal, so that is a great start! I weighed in today at 64.8, so down 0.7 since last saturday. I'm still feeling a little tight in clothing that fit only weeks ago, but Duane has already asked me if I have gotten smaller, so I probably lost some of the bloat that has been hanging around.

My hips and joints are really painful at the moment, so I'm taking things easy. It just means I have to be exact with my points. I love eTools, best thing I ever invested in! All my meals are planned, including lunches, which I don't normally plan (I always do the dinners, but lunch has been my downfall lately), so I'm ready to rock 'n roll.

I've put a pic up of one of my artworks I have on exhibit at the moment (it sold on opening night though, so I can't exactly call it mine anymore!). Just to remind me why I want to lose the extra weight. :)

Thanks Jen for still reading, I really appreciate it! *hugs* :)

A new challenge!

2009-11-17T23:51:00.006+11:00

Well I am rather sad to say that I am struggling! I have had a very busy few weeks, but no excuse will be allowed for the extra 1.7kgs I am now carrying. So I have set myself a new challenge. I have very good reasons to lose a little more weight in the next 6 months (think cute, lovable, and baking for 9 months), so I need to get myself into gear, as I know it will be slow going to get under 60kgs, but I am determinded to give myself the best possible pregnancy next time, and delay the wheelchair and bedrest for as long as possible.

So I have given myself a 50's challenge. I aim to be in the 50's for March next year, which is our tentative date for resuming fertility treatment (and therefore hope for a pregnancy to follow quickly thereafter!). There are a few other things that have to be achieved before then (toilet training, Xavier accepted into a daycare centre, etc) but I am moving this up the list. I started at 66kgs last time, and every extra kilo hurt that much more. And I only gained 7 all up. So if I can start at 7kgs less, hopefully that will be a much easier load for my hips!

So I'm tracking everyday, I haven't been over my points since last friday. Now that the Art Exhibition has opened (so I am no longer spending every waking moment painting, or some of the sleeping times...) I am planning to get back into exercise. Considering I was quite fit prior to Xavier, I need to make sure I get some serious core strength together, to help my hips.

Anyway, so that is my challenge. It's really just getting back into weightloss mode, but I have found without a solid new 'goal' the weightloss mindset has been completely lacking. I'm being realistic though. 5kgs in 4 months, it's less than 300gs a week. I can totally do that! :)

On the flip side through, we went camping recently, which basically meant I not only wore my new bikini out in public, but I basically lived in it for 3 days. Duane took this pic of me and Xavier as we were packing up to leave, and he somehow made me look a little like a supermodel! Must be because you can't see my tummy... but anyway, I really like it, and am so excited to actually have photos from a holiday that I don't cringe at. Well, not too much anyway! Besides, Xavier is just so cute... he loved camping so much, but he was exhasted and feel asleep before we had even left. Most days, I just love this age!

I got to lifetime today!!

2009-10-17T17:21:00.006+11:00

HIP, HIP, HORRAY!!!

(I'm very excited, just in case you can't tell!)

32.5 pts, in one day!! EEEK!

2009-10-06T12:50:00.002+11:00

So things haven't been so great the last few days. We were over at a friends house for dinner Saturday night, and even though I had 7 points ready for dinner, I went over by 7.5, as we had takeaway pizza. Then Duane and I both had a yucky 24 virus, so that wiped any hope of any redeeming exercise on Sunday.

Then yesterday, I had a whooping 32.5pts.

It's all a bit crazy, isn't it!

So I still have to make up 21 points to break even, by weigh-in on Saturday. Which means treadmill everyday! I can't remember the last time I have ever had such a bad time, I have been tracking perfectly for so long, it just feels so terribly wrong!

To be fair, I did try. Our store got broken into in the early hours of yesterday morning, so after we got the call from the police, we then went in to the store to take a look at the damage. at 4 in the morning. So at 5am we had Macca's. Which I don't ever have, and had no idea on. Needless to say, I was not happy to work out I had started my day with an 8 point breakfast! Then out for lunch, and a few of Duane's malteasers at the movies. And there you are. Easy as that! No wonder we all put on weight so easily! I'm proud of the fact that I still tracked every morsel. And I probably estimated the malteasers and lunch a little high... but I'm going to make up those 21 points.

Hopefully it won't kill me! :)

Size, shape, and all those conformities...

2009-10-01T08:38:00.003+10:00

Does anyone else find it impossible to work out what their shape is? I know what it used to be... it used to be fat. Now it is not. But what is it? I don't seem to fit any of the boxes... I wanna know how to Trinny and Sussanah it up!

And then there is the sizing measurements. If I was to believe what size I am from the measurement charts, I come out like this:

Bust - size 6 (YEAH RIGHT!!)
Waist - Size 14 (EEEEEKKK!!)
Hips - Size 10

So yeah, that was really helpful, wasn't it!

That's it, that's my rant. I just don't get it...

My 10yr High School Reunion!

2009-09-29T15:22:00.007+10:00

It's over! The 10yr High School Reunion I've been planning for most of the year was on Saturday, and it was great! We ending up with a rather small gathering, so I changed the venue to this GORGEOUS restaurant called Ellacure in Bruce (visit it if you are in the neighbourhood, you won't be disappointed!) and had a wonderful time catching up with old friends. It was wonderful to not only get compliments on how I looked and on my little red dress, but to just feel normal around the people I always felt humongous next to. That was a truly wonderful feeling. To not have to worry about squishing anyone in photos, or that I as popping out of my hold-everything-in underwear (which still didn't eliminate the tummy rolls), it was just plain good. :)

I even made an event of it at my WW weigh-in! The white T-shirt with the black print (left hand photo) was a freebie I got, size XXL. That picture was taken the last day of high school, and I'm wearing my daggy freebie shirt, cos honestly, I didn't have a lot else to wear! It was even too small to fit over my hips, so just kind of bunched around the middle. Anyway, I wore it to weigh-in, over the top of my reunion dress, and under my coat. Being very brave, I went up the front of 30 or so men and women, and took of my coat, and showed my photos of me 10yrs ago and my size XXXL school jersey (Which was also uncomfortably small. I think it was the biggest size I could get though. And it came down to my knees...). Then, while they were exclaiming about that, I showed them what I was wearing that night the reunion, and it was GREAT! I've never had so many cat-calls in my life. *blushing*

So that was my weekend. I am paying for it on the scales this week, eating 5 meals out in 3 days will do that! However I'm getting on top of it before it becomes an issue, and I'm looking forward to getting my lifetime membership in 3 more weeks!

He's 2!

2009-09-28T17:57:00.000+10:00

It's been a very busy month in the Green household. On the 17th of September, my little boy turned 2! I'm still in denial, but we had a party for him anyway. :)
In fact, he had a birthday party, followed his actually birthday, and then a cake at Playgroup the following week. So it was a week long celebration! Gotta love birthdays!

Obsessed with Thomas, and spoilt for choice. Nearly every present involved Thomas!

Opening presents is so exciting!

With some friends at the party. It's not really about the kids, is it... :)

I get my very own Birthday cake? YAY!

I MADE IT TO GOAL!!!!

2009-09-05T22:43:00.003+10:00

Well, so much for blogging! I can't believe how terribly slack I have been, I didn't do a single post since I rejoined WW in January. Well at least it has been successful in other ways, because I have finally made goal! IN fact, I'm under it. Even better.

So, after 13 or so years of being overweight or obese (with the exception of when I was pregnant, which funnily I was at a healthy BMI for most of it), I am here. The Healthy Weight Range. I'm a bit in awe actually... I think it will take some getting used to!

I think that is why, after all this time, I remembered to blog again. Because this will be something totally new to me. The idea of being no longer labeled as "big", "fat", "overweight", "obese", I'm finding it hard to wrap my head around. So I think writing down my thoughts again might just be the thing I need right now.

On a really positive note, this means dress shopping for me! I have my 10yr high school reunion in a few weeks, and I'm getting a cute little dress for the occasion, since I made it to goal. Duane even bought me flowers today as a congratulations. :)

So this is me. Having my own little celebration party on my neglected little blog. I have only told my mum, husband and 2 friends that I have made goal as of my WW meeting this morning. So it feels nice to send this out onto the web. Like I'm telling someone who has been there through all the ups downs and blank periods. It's a cool feeling. :D

hmm... I just went looking for a recent picture of me, and I couldn't find one! So all I have from the last few months, is a rather unflattering one of me at the Perth Zoo. Better get Duane to take some. Opps! At least there is plenty of Xavier!

It's been a looong time, but I'm back again!

2009-01-21T12:30:00.004+11:00

Ok, so it's been more than a year, but we can forget that right? I'm back into the blogging!

It was a very big year for me. I was still in a wheelchair at the beginning of 2008, but I left it without walking aids. In fact, I've been aid free for over 7 months now. In that time I've been mostly maintaining my weight. I've been up a bit, down a bit, but I'm glad to say I haven't ballooned, so thats something at least!

Right now though, I'm struggling to get out of the random snacking habit that has crept back in again lately, so I've joined up at WW again. It also come down to simple maths really, I can spend a small fortune on a new wardrobe so that I'm not always feeling slightly uncomfortable in too tight clothing. Or I can just lose a couple of kilos. Makes sense really!

So I signed up last night, joined the unlimited program so I can't just go whenever I feel like it, as it has already been paid for, and moved chocolate off the bench and safely into the cupboard! I will admit to dressing very heavily and drinking 2L of water directly prior to weigh in though, as I wanted to make sure I did have 5 kilos to lose to get to goal, though I overcompensated a little I think! WOOPS! So My official rejoin weight is 73.5, however I'm only about 70. I'll dress normally next week. Plus I found out when I got there that you only have to lose 3 kilos now, I wish I'd known that before I went!

Well now that I've almost done my first weightloss post in over a year, I also want to add, that I'm going to be very relaxed about it this time. I still don't have great movment, and my physical recovery is of a higher importance than weightloss. However losing weight means less strain on my pelvis, so it's well worth it!

So if there is anyone still reading my old forgetten blog, HI!!

Rae :)

How to get to "goal" in one easy step...

2007-11-21T22:26:00.001+11:00

Funny story this week, I am "apparently" at goal again!!

As I am in the wheelchair still, and was having great dilemmas getting onto the scales and balancing, the lovely staff at my meeting pulled out the old scales and the wheelchair attachment to weigh me last week. So it went as follows:

1. wheel self onto scales and hold on to wheels so don't go zooming into a wall.

2. watch as an ugly number (actually, almost exactly my original start weight - YES, I used to weigh as much as me, the wheelchair and a full and heavy nappy bag combined... eeek!)

3. Hop out of wheelchair and watch as it and nappy bag (it lives on the bag of the wheelchair and I'd forgotten to take it off) get weighed.

4. show of my mathematically inclined brain when I look at the number and say "uummmm.. I don't thinks that's right, because that is a very big loss!"

5. wait around while the staff use the calculator and figure out that I lost:

5.5kilos!!

teheehee!!

Anyway, they decided we are writing it down and just going of that next week. So I think I'll be changing my "goal" to 62 or so (have updated the ticker to reflect that)...

Realistically though, I think I lost about 1.5 kilos this week (from the digital scales at home), so there was still a great loss in there!

Unfortunately I won't be able to make a meeting this week, as we are going to Sydney on Friday for a wedding (which of course is very exciting and totally worth missing WW for!! Plus i hope to see Donna too while I'm there, Xavier wants to meet you Donna!!! *grin* Will email you in just a sec...) and I haven't managed to find a way to another meeting. And I'm also sorry to say there has been fish and chips, plus an unusually large amount of chocolate this week, so I have some good balanced tracking I need to do!

So that was my funny story for the week! :D

Other than that, I've been really busy lately! Xavier had his immunizations on Monday and has been a little off, so needing extra attention, but otherwise we are all going well.

Definitely bed time now though... so will try and get back on here soon, otherwise watch the blogs for wedding photos soon!

Love, Rae :D

1kg first week loss!

2007-11-11T15:53:00.000+11:00

Yep, 1kg while eating 26 points per day and no exercise!! WOOOT!!!

Having a lovely weekend, it's bright and sunny and we have really enjoyed having a good friend come visit!

BBL, Sunday is family day as it's the only day Duane has off!

A little more than i thought, but it's all good!

2007-11-03T17:46:00.000+11:00

I went and joined up at WW again today, and weighed in at 72.5... however the top of my healthy weight range is now recorded as 66, so it's only 6.5 to go til I hit that! I can so do that!

Honestly, I'm so proud of myself for getting out the door this morning for an 8am meeting with a wheelchair and a baby... granted I fed him after all the joining up etc while listening to the talk... but still, we got there! I am so Lucky that I have someone to take me and hold and help me up on the scales etc... yay!

Anyway, onto the points for a little while, so I can get used to eating 26 points.... WOW that is heaps! I would love to go back to my lovely friend NoCount (oops, sorry CORE...) but I think i need to track for a while first, as i also want to balance food groups, and also have a record of what I have eaten so I can work out which are the foods that seem to effect Xavier more.

I am so excited about being back into it all, bring it on!!

Plus we went shopping afterwards, and let me tell you wheeling a wheelchair which has somewaht flat tyres is a VERY good workout! :D

Have a great weekend everyone!
Rae :)

I'm back on the bandwagon!

2007-10-27T11:36:00.000+10:00

HEY EVERYONE!!!!

been so long between post.... oops! But I have been very busy with my gorgeous little man! And my mum has been staying too, which has been great, I've been able to get out of the house much more often lately! But seeing as she leaves tonight, I have to get used to being a homebody again, oh well!

I am still wheelchair bound for out of the house, but getting much better movement with the walking frame in the house, and have even (as of yesterday) started practising with crutches in the hope of being able to start trying harder things like STAIRS in the next few weeks. So that is great! And our church has been wonderful and has set up a roster of help for during the week while everyone is at work to help me with things that I can't do, like washing... oh the washing is HUGE with a baby isn't it!

Anyway, I have decided that next saturday, providing I get the ok from my OB on monday for my 6 week check-up, that I'll be going back to weight watchers! When I came home from the hospital I was about 1 kilo above goal... but since then then I have been RAVONOUS and have been eating too much obviously! So I am keen to get the breastfeeding info and get going back to goal! I think I have 4 or so to get there, and I'm happy for it to take as long as it likes since I can't exercise... so long as the scales don't continue the upwards motion!

anyway, best be off to tend to my Little man, from now on I'm going to get smaller while he get bigger! :D

We are finally home!!

2007-09-28T22:42:00.000+10:00

Xavier and I are home from the hospital!

We are doing well, but it has been a long 12 days, so will update more tomorrow! there is new photos on our family site though:

duaneraegreen.blogspot.com

love to all!!
Rae, Duane and Xavier!!

Don't get your hopes up...

2007-09-08T18:15:00.000+10:00

Because I'm still pregnant!

We do have a c/s booked, but don't mind if Beanie comes sooner! Due to hospital policy they won't do c/s as early as they would have induced me if they were going to let me have a VB, so gotta do a bit more waiting!! And it isn't the middle of September yet Vegie!! :-P

Thank you so much for all your positive comments regarding the c/s, it has been really helpful for me! I do know this is the best option, and I have come round to the idea quite well now. :)
And besides, I'm going to have a much longer recovery from the Pelvic Instability than I will from the c/s, so what does it really matter?!

If you are all sitting round waiting for Beanie to show though... feel free to offer name suggestions! We think we have a girls name sorted, but can't seem to get a boys middle name to go with the one and only boys name that we agree on... so fire away!

HOPEFULLY next post will be baby news!
Love, Rae xx

Nearly Spring... bring on Beanie

2007-08-27T11:29:00.001+10:00

HI Lovely Ladies! I hope you are doing well, and that spring is making itself known a little more to you! I am so excited that this LOOOOOONNNGGG pregnancy is almost over. I have conveniently forgotten to count how many weeks/months I have been confined to this bed (I love our bed, but I am very sick of it!) and the fact that if I counted my outings in the last few months, including OB's and hospital appts, I probably wouldn't even need to use my toes!
Anyway, because I'm such a severe case (as in the first they have ever had this bad, it's rather amusing to be so special I guess!), they are not going to even let me attempt a vaginal birth, so I have spent the last couple of weeks rather depressed while I have been coming to terms with my upcoming Cesarean section. I am feeling alright about it now, as I know this avoids the possibility of further damage leading to a permanent disability (definitely good to avoid!!!) and should hopefully also mean a shorter recovery time for me, I can't wait to walk again! Actually, I can't wait til I can even sit again!
Anyway, it is my Dad's birthday today, and he requested photos, so I got to go out into the backyard yesterday!! I am really happy we have some recent photos actually, I have been wanting a nice photo of Duane and I before Beanie makes three, and we finally have one! YAY! The other exciting thing for me this week has been getting a VERY overdue haircut, and I'm loving feeling pretty and not wild! YAY!
I'll try and update again soon, but otherwise stay tuned for a Baby announcement! We have a c/s booked, but if i go into labour early then c/s gets done then, and there has been a few funny things happening in the belly department... so we may be in for an arrival very soon! Besides, it's only 3 more days until Beanie is considered term!

2007-08-02T16:41:00.000+10:00

Well seeing as i am missing my job recently (you know how you get all nostalgic and conveniently forget all the bad things about a job when you have been out of it for a while, and it my case, doing absolutely nothing...), I decided to do a self portrait, what do you think? this is my 33wk bump, still don't have a outie belly button either! And though I still would love to spend the whole baby bonus on a new camera (I'm not going too, of course) I think my little camera did alright!
So anyway, keeping myself occupied...
I'm now on strict bed rest, if I flout it, I get admitted to the hospital, so I'm being good and resting up. Sitting and standing and moving are all out, but I have been lent a laptop (I'll be online a lot more now!) and so am beating away the boredom while lying in bed, though I am also enjoying the new pain killers, yay! My brother is being fantastic and is helping out a lot and Duane's boss is letting him have an entire month off, so we are feeling very lucky!
The engagement party went well, we will hopefully have photos soon, we are just waiting on them from Duane's Brother. I had to stay put for the entire time, so it was a little boring while everyone was out admiring the view from the outside of the boat, but it was really lovely seeing everyone. And beforehand I got to meet up with the forever lovely Tiny Donna, (who is definitely living up to the tiny part, you are looking gorgeous hun!!), so that was fabulous! We are having a little baby party on the weekend after next, and I am greatly looking forward to that!
Oh, as to birthday, I spent the whole day in bed reading Harry Potter, and not much else! I did get a GORGEOUS pressie from Jen though, thank you so much! I have the motherhood book sitting next to the bed and I keep reading little bits from it, it's gorgeous! And the incense smells divine! Thank you so much! You are such a gem! And Donna got me the most gorgeous shell necklace, which I wore on the cruise and everyone loved too. I feel so special, thank you!!
This is an average day for me, kitty loves having sleeps with me and beanie (I think Beanie is going to be born responding to the sound of purring!), and my big pillow with the laptop and both phones all at hand. :-)

Hope everyone is going well! And now that it is August, I can say that Beanie is due next month!YAY!!
love, Rae

It's almost the end of July! eek

2007-07-21T15:05:00.000+10:00

Just a short little update today, I have been trying to visit a few blogs, and I'm loving catching up with everyone! Good luck to everyone struggling with the cold, I know exactly how you feel, I hate winter! Funny, this winter I'm allowed to put on and I'm still not doing too bad! YAY!

Well life is pretty same old around here, I'm on bedrest, have to walk with a walking stick, or wheelchair when I'm out of the house. *sigh* so I am finding that a little hard! We are off to Sydney for a cousin's engagement party though this weekend, and have been doing lots of organising so that I can get around ok, here's hoping! Trying for just walking stick too, as wheeling is so much harder with taxi's etc. So think of me, and pray I survive to show lots of photos afterwards!

Thought I'd put some cute photos on though, this is Peanut, a teddy I've knitted for Beanie, and he is so soft! He may be a little wonky, but I'm very proud of him! And he had a few days without his arms and legs attached when he looked very much like a peanut, hence the name, it stuck! :)

The other pic: my friend and I made moulds of her little son's hands and feet, arn't they cute?!?! we went halves in a moulding kit, so i have my half sitting in wait of Beanie's hands and feet... tehehe

With the ticker, it should update everyday! Unless your computer has saved my address, in which case it may need to be refreshed, but as of today I'm 31wks and 2days, and providing I get to term... I'm due sept 21st. hmmm, today is the 21st isn't it?!?!

Take care everyone!

Love

Rae :)

Going through a growth spurt!

2007-06-27T13:36:00.000+10:00

WOW! Time is flying, and going slow at the same time, does that make any sense?
Well as you can see, My belly has done a little bit of growing lately... and most of it in the last couple of weeks! And I have been keeping myself busy, and taken up knitting! Considering I'm mostly housebound these days, that means everyone I talk to has to hear about my knitting dramas, cos I don't have much else to talk about! Tis all rather funny actually... :) So I thought I'd share with you girls too, these are my first ever pair of booties, and then I branched to a slight pattern with the mittens, and I'm now almost a 5th of the way through a baby blanket! And I'm now in the 3rd trimester, YAY! The nursery is mostly organised, just have a few bits and pieces to get together. Sora is growing bigger and bigger, and is a great source of amusement for all! She is lovely company, comes and has naps with me... bit is also still in the annoying kitten stage of biting and scratching everything, so trying to tame her a little before beanie arrives!
As this is really my weight watchers blog, I should also report that I am putting on weight (finally!), but not too much, so I'm happy with that! I am now 71kgs, which is a good amount for this stage, so I'm proud of myself, being good for me and baby! I am so looking forward to being able to do exercise again though. I have to admit to being a little down lately, I do find it hard being so restricted. To make things worse I find myself getting irritated at the state of the house, cos I can't even bend and pick things up from the floor, I can't reach the bowls in the cupboard, or empty the bottom of the dishwasher, and so I have to rely on others to help. And in general, everyone else is BLIND to mess... so I just have to suffer a messy and dirty house until I snap and go drill Sargent on everyone... *sigh*
That's enough whinging! I just wanted to let everyone know I'm still here, even though I'm a bit of a recluse! I don't find sitting at the computer very comfortable, so I don't spend mush time on here, but I do intend on getting round and visiting and catching up with every one's blogs, so look out for my comments over the next few weeks!
Love, Rae :)

2007-05-23T16:44:00.000+10:00

Ah-harh, success at last! Ignore the fact that these photos were taken at about midnight (never a good time for me to be awake still) but these are the most recent photos of me, so they will do! and I really did have fun with the mask!

I think I might have to do another belly shot though, I am still getting everyone telling me how small I am, but I am very proud of my belly, I think it is doing fine! :)

Plodding along!

2007-05-23T12:58:00.000+10:00

{pic from 20w4d}

Hi all!

Sorry it has been a while, I haven't had my own access to the computer (but I do now, YAY!), and I STILL have morning sickness! Can you believe it?! So I'm sorry to say I'm off work, and completely bored. To add insult to injury, I have SPD, basically my pelvis has separated and it's really painful, and makes my hips and back exceedingly painful too. So I am now wearing a brace full-time til the end, and have been told no walking, restrict movement etc, so basically makes for a very bored Rae!

Enough whinging! As you can tell, I'm not exactly enjoying pregnancy... But I am really happy and excited about being pregnant, so it's all good! We are getting things together bit by bit, and being spoilt just a little bit too, my Mum came to visit us from Perth for a few days, and while she was here she bought us the capsule and the stroller that we wanted! Duane's Mum is having fun making all sorts of things for us too, and I'm trying to stop myself from buying too much stuff on eBay with all my free time! *grin*
On a very exciting note, we got ourselves a Kitty! and we are loving having her as company! Her name is Sorcha (Sora) and she is exceedingly playful, but very cuddly too, so she is great to have around! I just hope she doesn't mind when the baby comes...
I have been getting some kind of a life lately though, each weekend for about 6 weekends we have events on, and all of them involve travelling! Last weekend we were at a Masquerade party in Wagga, the weekend before we where in Nowra, and it has been wonderful being able to catch up with friends! This weekend we are in Sydney for an engagement party which I am looking forward to so much! So that's very exciting!

Well as blogger has decided it won't let me put anymore photos on here, I'll try again later, cos I had fun making my mask and I like showing off anything interesting at the moment! *grin*

I hope you are all well,

love

Rae :)

Don't you just LOVE weddings!

2007-04-16T16:14:00.000+10:00

We had a love time at Sal and Ben's wedding on the weekend! It was lovely, and I am so happy for them! I think it's rather funny though, that we have been relegated to "old married couple" so soon, partially because we are having a baby, but also, Sal was one of my bridesmaids, and at that time she hadn't even met Ben! She was still on the "there is no one out the for me" train! tehehe, I love how things change! :)

{gifninja.com}

As an added bonus, my belly decided to pop out seemingly overnight! It's very odd! My hubby thinks it's hilarious, he can't stop rubbing it, but I haven't had to deal with anyone else rubbing it, it really is quite small still, but BIG difference for me! There is one really great shot above, the angle seems to have picked up the belly VERY well, it's not really that noticeable yet though. :)

It was also lovely getting out and about a bit more this week! I'm still not heaps well, but I'm feeling happy about what I've been achieving! Hubby and I both got haircuts, and have cleaned up a bit more of the baby's room (not going to be the junk room for much longer I hope!) as well as having a busy but lovely weekend away in Cooma, where the wedding was. It's gorgeous down there, they are still affected by the drought, but not as bad as elsewhere, cos there was beautiful green in lots of places! It was lovely!

{Cooma driving}

Well I think I'll leave it there for the moment, I've tried to get around and check a few people's blogs, but now I'm tired and I'll catch up the rest later, sorry! I love reading everyones blogs!

Rae :)

Just letting you know I'm still alive! :)

2007-04-11T18:22:00.000+10:00

{pic from 13w4d}

Hi Lovely Ladies!

This will only be short, I just wanted to assure everyone that I am ok! Thank you so much for your concern, it means SO much to me, as I am pretty much a recluse at the moment! Unfortunately my morning (all the time) sickness is probably worse than ever, I've had to stop working completely for the moment, and it has shown no sign of letting up! Top that with constant bad headaches (made a lot worse by the computer, hence not being around) and I've pretty much been a hermit.

That all being said, I love that fact that we are having a baby! YAY! I really am very excited about that! I think I just hate being pregnant! Especially when everyone was assuring that this second trimester is so much better! I'm still hoping I guess.

Hmm, I guess I don't have much else to talk about, still weigh less than I did when I got pregnant, but at least I've stopped losing! We have started looking and some buying on baby things, which is very exciting! The hard part is stopping relatives rushing out and buying us everything, without any input from us (on important things, like strollers and car seats!), though this is the first grandchild for everyone, so they are all entitled!

I have the next big scan all booked in, I'm 17weeks this week, and all is going good. I hope I'll be on here again soon, I'd love to catch up with all your doings! So keep well everyone!

Love, Rae

Oh, due to the whole being sick thing, I'm sorry to say I don't even really have a bump! I still fit my normal none stretchy jeans!! ARGH! But I think it may be threatening popping out soon! My dress for Sal's wedding (which is this Saturday, so I'll be back soon with photos probably!) is stretchy, so maybe I'll have a bump? *grin*

home again, home again, jiggidy-jig :)

2007-03-06T16:02:00.000+11:00

I can't remember the nursery rhyme that that's from, but I always thought it was a cool saying!

Anyway, we are back from our big trip, lots of driving and lots of people to see, so I have to say I am EXHAUSTED! I didn't take many pics, but here is some of the boys skim boarding (MUCH harder than it looks!) and my Brother-in-law showing off his new tatt (he wants my hubby to get one too, hmmmm, not convinced...)

Well as you may have noticed my ticker up top has changed a little, spot the difference?

YES, it's true, I've made goal. Actually I'm under, but the tickerfactory didn't seem to understand that, so I'm leaving it this way to do the nice big zero thing. :)

Here's the twist though:

*whispers* I am actually trying hard NOT to loose weight at the moment.

One guess why...

Yes,

You are correct,

I'm Pregnant! :)

It's all very exciting!!!!

So now all the family knows, we had a lot of telling to do while we were away, and my Darling Hubby had to do all the driving due to the motion sickness only making my all-day-and-night sickness worse. Hence the fact I have been sick for some time, but that life is good. Anyway, I am 3 days away from being officially in the 2nd trimester, and on my way to a September baby, YAY!!!
I am so excited, I've been wanting to scream it from the rooftops for AGES!!!

Anyway, here's a little sneak peak... I've already had two ultrasounds, and I've got another on the 20th, so I'll have a better pic then, but this was at 9w 6d. :)

So yes, I could seriously talk baby all day, but the computer screen makes me feel sick, so I'm be good and get off now! I'm really hoping that I get that return in energy soon!!
So thats my big annoucment, I'm really glad I can finally share this with you all, cos you are all so lovely and supportive! I'll post again soon, seeing as my m/s doens't seem to be getting much better, I may end up being at home more often and be able to post more often!

Take care,
Rae and Beanie (gotta have a nickname! and they looked like a bean in the first ultrasound, so the name stuck!)
*grin*

HI EVERYONE!!!

2007-02-20T08:48:00.000+11:00

Well, here I am! Thank you so much for all the "we miss you where are you..." comments, it means a lot to me to know you all care, thank you!

Well I'm alright, but I could be better. A lovely and special friend of mine died suddenly, and that has been hard to come to grips with, especially since I feel so removed in Canberra, I haven't really made solid friendships here, so I miss my Wollongong friends even more. I miss her so much, but I know I'll see her again, I actually grieve more for her fiance and family and everyone that now have to go on without her. She was a such a bright star in all our lives.

Now that I'm crying again... just a little bit... lets talk about something else. I wasn't avoiding posting just cos of stuff happening, I actually haven't been able to. The Internet we have PAID for over a month ago, STILL isn't working. And I'm getting sick of spending my days off on the phone to this stupid company, it's driving me up the wall! We are using a temporary account now, but still, huge grrrs to them!

And the other thing is that I have been barely coping with life in general, I've been constantly sick for the last few weeks. I've had to take some time off work, but mostly I've been at work then come home and crash, then get up and repeat. I'm absolutely exhausted! But I've been a bit better over the last few days, so here's hoping its on the way out!

Don't get me started on work though, they have been completely unsupportive!

Anyway, that's my little "woe is me" post. I'm not really woe-ing too much, I'm actually pretty good, it's just been busy with "life" lately. We are heading off to Port Macquarie (see the pic, isn't it beautiful! I get to see beach again, YAY!!!) on Monday to visit the In-Laws for a week, which is great, as we haven't seen them for a year, not even at Christmas, so this is quite a big thing. I'm not particularly looking foreword to the drive, it's even longer now we are in Canberra, and it's hot... not fun at all, but I'm sure we will get through! I'm just have to make sure my fair and freckled hubby is lathered up in sunscreen! Maybe I'll just paint him with flouro zinc, that sounds amusing for a few hours! :)

Anyway, so my next post may be after we get back, but I hope everyone is well, and I'll talk to you all again soon!

MWAH!
RaeRae :)

p.s I found the Jillian DVD's in Kmart, and I know Big W has them too, so they are most places! I have to say I love watching the biggest loser too, i wish i could join in some of the challenges and stuff, they look great!

The first workout after being sick...

2007-01-08T10:26:00.000+11:00

Is the only one I hate!

I love working out, I've MISSED working out (gym has been on reduced hours, and I have been working on all of them so haven't been for a while - and walking doesn't cut it for me anymore I've found...), but I hate the first workout after being sick!

I managed a whole 15mins before saying to myself "thats enough, you need to rest, you can't expect to be straight back into it!", and had to stop. :(

Thats ok, it was still kindda fun. I just want to get back up like nothing happened! oh well!

I am just glad I decided to do kickbox with Jillian rather than at the gym... harder to stop and walk out at the gym! That being said, I think Jillian almost pushes harder!

Hopefully pump tomorrow will go better! It is nice to be better and eating again! Yay for food! And thankyou for all the lovely messages, it means so much to me! Thankyou!

groan...

2007-01-04T15:33:00.000+11:00

I have the dreaded lurgy!

oh my tummy feels horrible! So I have consoled myself by spending a pleasant hour commenting on peoples bloggies, hope I didn't miss any, I love reading your blogs!!!

Going to go curl into a ball again!

*cyber hugs* (the only non contagious ones!)
RaeRae :)

Christmas, a great day to look back and say YAY for the changes!

2007-01-02T10:07:00.000+11:00

Thought I do my little compare trick... I really enjoyed all the compliments I got this year. Last year Dad got new digital scales for christmas, and when I weighed on Christmas day on them I was in the 76's, this year I was in the 66's (and will be again very shortly!). The first photo I was probably about 79 or 80, so not heaviest but heavy enough! I loved my new dress last year, and was really proud of what I had achieved to that point, and I am even more proud of this years efforts! YAY for WW!! :)

P.S. Like the look of the new page? I don't! I tried to update and it lost everything, and since I am not on my own computer, I don't have any of the images or anything. So I promise new and exciting things in a week or so when I finally get our very own computer out of storage and up and going again! YAY!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

2007-01-02T09:27:00.000+11:00

Hugs for everyone!!!

WOW, it's a busy time of year, isn't it! We are house sitting at the moment, so I am sorry I haven't had the chance to post or even check the email in ages. But I have a day off today (with no other plans!), and I feel it is long overdue!! I also have a new phone, the old one wasn't taking calls or msgs or anything anymore, so I really have been in a black hole! Not anymore though, yay!

Though, my day off is a little marred by the fact I have a very sick hubby home with a vomiting bug, poor fellow! I'm really hoping I'm not next!

We had a lovely Christmas with my folks, and considering they are leaving for the other side of Oz in only a week, we have been making the most of the time! They got me some fish, which were dead by morning (poor things, 20ppl in one house stressed them out REALLY bad), so that was sad... and amusing... and I got my hubby a weekend Rock Climbing adventure in the blue mountains (and get to go too, otherwise it'd be like sending him away...) so that is exciting to look forward to! Anyway, it was a fabulous day, and I managed to stay the same weight as I have been lately, all up until yesterday in fact. I am very sorry to say that yesterday we went out to the movies in Sydney, and forgot to have lunch before leaving the house, and realised once out that NOTHING was open except the movies, and subsequently I ate a lunch of maltesers and movie popcorn (which I hate, it smells like... well, horrible). So today the scales are saying 68.4 EEEK!!!!! That's 2 extra kilos!!I know I'll get back down in no time, but still, I really didn't want to eat them, but I was SOOOOO hungry!

Hmmm... what else... I have been working so much I really haven't done much else! I have put some pics up of the family opening pressies, they are about the only pics I have at the moment! the pic of me was taken at the end of the day as I realised that -hang on- I hadn't got any pics of me, and I needed to show how much better I feel this Christmas 10 kilos lighter than the last! like my dress? I love it! I bought it for a wedding a couple of weeks ago, any excuse for a new dress!

2006-12-11T12:13:00.000+11:00

Gosh, it's been a while since I have got online, hasn't it! SORRY!

But as you all know, it's an exciting time, and no I am not talking about Christmas, but about the WONDERFUL DONNA AND I IN THE MAG!!!

WOOOOHOOOO!!!

Go check out Donna's blog if you haven't already... I'll but the same pic up here... but you have to wait tile the official release day for the rest!

Well I have spent all morning trying to convert to the new beta blogger (hopefully now I can post comments on EVERYONES blogs!) that now I have run out of time, I'll have to do more later!

2006-11-27T09:33:00.000+11:00

Well I went with the popular vote, and wore the black and white polka dots dress, and i'm glad i did as it was very warm, even if i felt like i had nowhere to hide my tummy by the end of the day! Not that i ate too much, in fact i came in UNDER my points for the day, and you know how at the end of the day you feel more frumpy...? That and i did a fair bit of crying... so i'm still a little blotchy in these photos, but who cares, right?!
Anyway, the wedding was beautiful, the Bride was gorgeous, but she always is, she is one the most lovely, kind, funny, amazing women i know, and it was so lovely seeing her so happy with her new husband!
It was lovely to again spend time with Kel too and spending time with Duane on the trip up and back was fantastic! We used to do quite a lot of car trips, and i haev missed that conversation time! We are going to another wedding in 3 weeks time in Wollongong, so YAY for more trips, and it was SOOOO lovely seeing friends we haven't seen in a while, all in all, a great weekend! :)

More later...

Help!

2006-11-23T20:19:00.000+11:00

I need fashion help!
I am going to a wedding on Saturday, its a daytime and afternoon one, so I don't need a long dress or anything, but I do like to dress up!
I have a couple of choices, most of them I haven't worn before cos I got them cheap on eBay. The light blue one is a bit big I think, I look frumpy and pregnant... not sure about the others, I think the bright watermelon colour may be a bit... well... sexy for a wedding? I need help! ARGH! Tell me what to wear, please????!!!!

Other than my fashion delima, I am going well. I have been a bit up and down lately, and I know as women we do that, but I have been swinging badly of late, and am getting a little concerned, so I promise to see doctors about it. Today is the first day in a week without a sugar bender, so at least thats an achievment! See, I'm still trying to be positive! I do want to apologise to my wonderful friends whom I haven't emailed or talked to lately, I miss you all, and I am so sorry. I have been a bit withdrawn, I'm trying to come out of my shell again, don't give up on me! :)

I am looking forward to the wedding on Saturday so much, It's going to be so happy and joyful! Don't you just love weddings?!

Bikini Update!

2006-11-14T14:10:00.000+11:00

Well here is the update, and yes, I still am as pale as ever, cos it's turned bitterly cold around here! URGH!

Anyway, I got my hubby to take the pics this time, and so they are from a different angle, cos obviously he is taller than me, but I guess that just means I get to see what everyone else is seeing! But the side on is looking better, I can see a difference particularly at the bottom part of my belly, and mum took one look and said, wow, look how your shoulders have changed, so go the pump classes! :) Wasn't on my list for changing in my little challenge, but I am not complaining!

The front view didn't work, when I got it too the computer it was all fuzzy... Don't know what happened, but my hubby had fun taking photos, so I'm sure I can try again tomorrow. :)

Well I went to the Gym (pump) today, first time since in a week due to this flu, but did well, didn't drop my weights down at all, and only had to stop due to coughing twice (actually that was embarrassing, as the instructor actually asked me if I was alright in the middle of the tricep track... ooops... And please don't look at my face too hard in the pics, I look terrible!). Anyway, it was good to be back, I have been sitting around figetting, wishing I could go to the gym! Does that make me a gym addict yet? I think I qualify, I am sure I had withdrawal symptoms! tehehe *grin*

And for my gorgeous gal Donna, this is my new velvet dress, which I have to say, looks terrible on camera! It's the flash... Anyway, I love it, and now I know not to wear it somewhere that's going to have lots of photos! It's the kind of dress I always wished I could wear, kindda princessy and romantic, I would have loved to have been able to wear this kind of dress in high school, all my friends did, and it just never worked for me, I had much to much top half! So it's very exciting for me! And it's red... my favourite colour! :)

Can you relate?

2006-11-10T21:25:00.000+11:00

This post is for everyone who has ever said "I only lost point (something) this week."

I have said it, I hear it EVERY week at weigh in, and I think it's part of how we think. We think that cos we have worked hard, we should get big rewards.

So let me put you at ease.

We ARE getting big rewards!!

This icky disgusting blob, is symbolic of fat. As many know, my amazing mum has been very successful on WW and is a leader, this is her demo blob thingy (sorry if you want one, she was given it, so don't know where they are from!). It used to be a kilo, but it lost some weight, and is now 0.75 kg. Its a point something.

LOOK AT THE SIZE OF IT!!!!

Take a look at your keyboard, see the size of that... It's really very large!

My goodness, I would be happy to lose a quarter of this blob for a hard weeks work, its a big blob!

So next weigh in, think of this blob when you hop on the scales. Even if you (only) lose 100g, its a lot less fat around your belly or thigh or hips or where ever!

It's November already!

2006-11-09T10:34:00.000+11:00

Poll Results!
Well you are completely correct Thoughtful, you have me all sussed out! The meals are actually all the same points value! yes, even the one that has the gelato... all 18 1/2 points. the points are straight out of the eating out guide.
So the purpose of such a poll? beware of the "healthier" options. Not surprisingly, the Thai choice was the majority vote, but the mixed vegies (I did all as a serve value) are 5 1/2pts, thats a fair bit for vegies! I have fallen into the trap before (actually quite recently) where i had a good portion controlled take away meal, but was still hungry so ate a whole heap of the mixed vegies as well, thinking it was a great thing to eat, can't add up to much, but when i added it up and wrote it in my tracker... not so good. So make sure you think things through and stick to portions too. Personally, for the same points value, i would be going indian! YUMMM!!! :)

Has anyone else noticed that the year has ALMOST DISAPPEARED!!! Oh my goodness! I guess I will just have to use it as motivation to get to goal before the year is out! I am doing well, have been planning meals using the 7 day planners with Mum, and have been keeping the gym up. Unfortunately have another rotten cold, as well as fever... So that's been annoying, but I have keep up eating even though I haven't felt like it, so I should come out of it ok.
So anyway, I am at home sick today, but I was thinking it's about time for a pic update, so stay tuned, come Monday I'll post new bikini pics, and hopefully there will be a difference to be seen! I feel like my belly is doing better, so here's hoping!
hmmm, it's been a while since I posted, but it's mainly just busy stuff, nothing much interesting, except that I went to Sydney for two days to visit my wonderful friend Kel, and had a fabulous time. We went to her gym (FitnessFirst) and I put her through her very first Pump class (have your legs recovered yet Kel?!!) in a room full of gym bunnies... Seriously the average size must have been a 4... Anyway, then we went out to DFO, which I have never been too, and had a great time shopping. And I am so proud of you kel, into all those 12's, I'm going to have to post before and after shots of you I think, just to show you off! :)
I bought a gorgeous velvet dress from a shop with really weird sizes... Then again, it's kindda fun to say I'm a size 2... And some shirts for my hubby, and all in all, it was great.
Well that's enough computer screens for me I think, I hope everyone is going well, the end of the year is almost here!
Actually, I think this might be a good time for another poll... :)

Feeling Good...

2006-10-31T11:31:00.000+11:00

Which is great!

I have been a little down lately, so it's good to be able to say I'm feeling good! I have been having some hormone problems (still) and my body is doing weird things, so I have been feeling pretty awful. But I have preserved, I've still been going to the gym even though I have felt permanently lethargic for more than a couple of weeks, and I am so glad I have done that, cos now I feel ready to face anything, and to get to goal and conquer the mountain once and for all!

I have even gone to the gym when out of area, I was working down south and so was my hubby, but he started 3 hours earlier than me, so instead of shopping and eating, I killed the time at the gym! Abs and butts class, followed by step, then pump. I'm so proud of me! I had done pump the day before too, so exceedingly impressed!

Mum and I are determined to be at our best come Christmas time, so we have even pulled out the good ol' weekly menu planners and are following them for the next few weeks, so here comes the new us!

Oh, and I don't think I had updated everyone on the house news... Well my parents are moving to Perth. In fact Dad has gone already, Mum and Daniel follow at the end of the year, and my other brother (20) is planning on staying in Canberra, provided he has steady employment. So we are going to rent the house from them, which is fantastic, cos there is simply PITTANCE in the way of rentals in Canberra. In the meantime, we are happy staying here, so it's worked out well.

Oh, I lost 1/2 a kilo this week, am happy with that!

Today's pictures are my AWESOME new runners which I just love, and sure, I paid a fortune for them, but they will last and be great support for me! And a pic from a few weeks ago of me and my wonderful Hubby.

Funny thing last night, the leader had asked me to bring in my before photos as she was interested and had already said she couldn't imagine me bigger, anyway her friend - who saw me give them to her - asked "who's that?". I'm unrecognizable!!! OOOOOooo, I could work that to my advantage I'm sure!!! tehehehe *grin*

Fairy Floss - The Results are in!

2006-10-31T11:09:00.000+11:00

Well, I guess we can say that the majority of people think that Rae was a regular piggy wiggy when eating that fairy floss! A staggering 36% voted 21.5 pts, and 40% voted for 12 pts.
And you know what? I don't blame you! I, before WW, would have said the same thing - that fairy floss is EVIL! But do you want to know the real answer?

The exact points, of the ENTIRE bucket (and it's not exactly a small bucket!) is

1.5 pts

Yes, you read correctly, only 1.5pts. I attached the nutritional panel, 5.5 pts for 100g, and there is only 25g in the tub. So next time you are at the fair, the show, the movies, and you don't want to miss out on all the fun, fairy floss is the way to go. I mean it's still sugar, and definitely count the sugar points, but I think I could do a whole lot worse!!! In fact it's kind of like letting yourself go on a bender, and it being perfectly ok!
For reference, the eating out guide states that I stick/bag (which is how I always have seen them at the show) is 1 pt.

COOL!!!!!

*grin*

So I hoped everyone enjoyed the poll, should I do some more? I was amazed at how many votes it got, I was honestly expecting about 20! BTW, you can still view the results of the poll below if you are interested, I sure am! :)

A Little bit of fun!

2006-10-18T07:01:00.000+10:00

Over the course of two days, within that eating spree i meantioned in the bikini post below, I ate this entire bucket of Fairy Floss (only had a little help!) - though I was good and counted the points! So here is the challenge, what do you think is the damage?! (Do you think I have been looking for an excuse to create a poll?!?! *grin*)

She wore an itsy bitsy...

2006-10-17T07:41:00.000+10:00

BIKINI!!!
What am I thinking?!? (oh, and if YOU don't want to see the blinding bikini... Don't keep scrolling! *grin*)

I am thinking, that's it's time to get REALLY SERIOUS!!

I have been getting very slack lately. I am generally so comfortable with myself, that I haven't been making the best choices that I possibly can. I have been eating a bit more, of whatever I feel like, I ate a TRUCKLOAD of food last week, I was sick and felt STARVING and just ate and ate and I didn't even think.
So all in all I have put on 2 kilos in the last two weeks.
Pretty bad, huh!

Anyway, I have been talking about getting a bikini and taking pictures for a while, well I finally have got the guts up! I didn't have the guts to go try stuff on in a store though, so I took a huge leap and signed up for ebay and bought a bikini. Oh you should have seem me, I almost DIED when I pulled it out of the packaging, it is tiny!!!!
So I had a little panic, and seriously considered not even trying it (and definitely no photos!). I can't hid ANYTHING with this bikini. I guess that is the whole point, isn't it!

So anyway, you may not want to look at the pics that I have posted today - they are "warts and all" pics, no sucking in my belly, no angles, no nothing! URGH! But you know what? It has REALLY helped me!
For starters, it doesn't look as bad as I think it does (or I think it should?). It shows me that my chest really is a LOT smaller, in my head I still think it's bigger... And I can see my belly button!!! I thought it had actually gone for good! *grin*
Secondly, there is some definite work still to be done, and stripping down to the bare minimum has definitely helped me to see the muscle tone I have now, and where I like things to improve!

As a comparison, I have put in a pic of me when I had lost about 8 kilos and thought I was looking great and wore a bikini... hmmm... It's from a post from earlier this year, belly revealing ng, and it's nice to see that I have changed so much since those belly dancing shots too.
Hmmm, the more I look at these pics, the more I really don't want to post them... but I am going to anyway, and you can expect (demand? someone keep me accountable!) regular updates on progress. It's only about two months til Christmas, and I'd love to take some time off down the coast after the busy season at work is over, so gotta look good!

Well this morning I am going to get the ball rolling with an half an hour run on the treadmill before Pump with mum. Should be good! We have been housesitting a place for a little while and have had no internet, so I promise to get around and look at everyones blogs in the next few days, so expect comments!

AND BRING ON SUMMER!! WooT!! :)

Finding Clothes...

2006-09-29T16:34:00.000+10:00

That scare the jeebies out of you!!!

Yes, I got a shock the other day when we were cleaning out what used to be my room 6 years ago, and is now where my hubby and I are staying. It still has a little "junk" in it, and as I was putting away our clothes into the draws I opening the bottom draw to find a whole stack of old shirts. And they are SCARY!!!

The one that hurt the most? My Rock Eistedfod Tshirt from year 11. We had to take our own shirt in, and we screen printed them. So it's actually kind of special to me. Anyway, I looked at the label. It's the background on on the pic.
SIZE 20!!!
When did that happen!! ARGH!!

The one I am holding in the pic I got at my first work experience with the Writers Centre. I had convinced myself that it was a small make, and that's why I was wearing the XL. It was really too tight (but it was the biggest size they had), I could hardly pull it over my hips and it was really tight on my chest, I have many uncomfortable pics in it.

The zoomed in? Funnily enough (cos it's the same size), this tag hurt heaps, cos I wore this size the 7 years I worked at the Australian Geographic shop, up until 2004. Goes to show, that even when I thought I was doing ok weight wise, I never got out of those size XL work shirts.

On a good note, I found a size 14 GIRLS shirt in there, even that was too big.

And when I ordered my shirts for the new job? The manager told me they were a small make, better order the size up. So I ordered a 10, perfect. THE SIZE UP IS A TEN!! HAHAHA!! :)

So these pics above are a little old now, and it's an unflattering shot of both of us as we had been moving stuff all day, but aren't these Orchids GORGEOUS! I love them, and I miss you guys in Wollongong!

Hmmmm, other than that, a Huge Hi to the Team Sexy Arms girls, we may have been a little quiet of late, but I am all fired up, and we are going look stunning in those sleeveless tops this summer - with our flat bellies too!!!

Oh, and for Patricia, I don't use a very special program at all! I do all my pics in Paint (the one that comes standard on Windows!) just before we moved a friend upgraded our computer and I have some great programs on there... When we finally get settled somewhere... Until then, paint it is! It's quite effective though!

I FOUND IT!!!!

2006-09-26T16:56:00.000+10:00

I FOUND MY CAMERA CORD!!!!
Ok, so why is that exciting, well, cos I love sharing pics, and now I can again! I have Monday tues off, but my hubby only had Monday off... So I have today to myself, so I went and searched... And succeeded!!!
WOOOHOOOO!!!!!
*grin*

(I love pics, ok!!!)

So anyway, I have several posts to catch up on, cos I now have photos! YAY!!

Hmmm, what else is new...

I got up the nerve to do my measurements again, haven't done them in a while (cos I was expanding a little...) and I have finally updated my total loss of:

125.5cms!!!

How good is that!! I was pretty amazed, I have lost all those cms that had hit my bust and waist, and am now significantly than I was beforehand! GREAT!

I'm a little without voice at the moment, I'm hoping a good night sleep will mend that (had a fever, the throats just tagging on i hope), and I am REALLY keen to catch up on everyone's blogs, i haven't had a chance lately, I will do so shortly, so expect comments everyone!
MWAH to all!

So these pics with the red top on is today. This arvo. As recent as you can get. And yes I know I look sick and blerh, so I put on a pic I really like of me from Sydney too.
Keep scrolling for more posts... and still to come I have photo evidence of my hubby cleaning our old place in the Gong, and some beautiful spring flowers from the garden and the flowers the WW girls in W'Gong got me... and hopefully Floriade soon too... I love photos!!
:)
Rae :)

The Cruise (FINALLY!)

2006-09-26T16:44:00.000+10:00

Yes, we finally went on the Lake Burley Griffin Dinner Cruise! We had a lovely 3 course dinner, though I didn't have any dessert, didn't like either option, so I guess my points didn't get blown after all!
Besides it was a birthday dinner for my pal Sal (and thats her fiance - very exciting! YAY for weddings! oh yeah, I put engagement pics up earlier didn't I! tehehehe)
Anyway, 3 hours on the boat, and we didn't even feel like we were moving it was so smooth. The lights of Canberra are very pretty, all the buildings light up. Though I think we went up and down about 3 times, the lake just isn't all that big! :)
My favourite sight was something called the 'Corrillian', it was all lit up in Red, and was gorgeous. I am going to have to find out what it is... something about a gift from England? I'm completely ignorant on this one!

My brothers Birthday!

2006-09-26T16:12:00.000+10:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DANIEL!!
I loved being back in town for birthdays, both Daniel's and Dad's! and Father's day too, there are definate perks to living in Canberra! :)
Mum thinks it's good too, I do all the boys (dad + brothers) haircuts when I'm around...

Go Tiny Donna! YAY!!

2006-09-26T16:03:00.000+10:00

YAY!!
Photos from my camera of our time in Sydney!
I think if you click on it it gets bigger! i'm just tired and can't be bothered waiting to download individual photos!
ENJOY!
:)

Always look...

2006-09-20T21:12:00.000+10:00

on the bright side of life!
Okay, so I have a really bad day, and a not so great week, and I could let it get me down... But I am not going to let it. Seriously, today I hit rock bottom, but when I hit the bottom and heard the thud, I decided I didn't like the bottom (its not much fun) so I am just going positive.

Just this "looking positive" thing is a huge positive! The old me wouldn't have done that. The old me probably would have quit my job or binged on chocolate or something equally stupid. So that's a great thing!

I have been struggling to eat well with no count lately, mainly because I am not in control of the day to day food. That lack of control was bugging me, but instead of whinging and keeping on 'kind of' doing no count, I have actually dug out a tracker and tracked, yes the no count queen has been TRACKING a solid 19 points per day, aren't I good? For the record, I lost half my weight on points, but could NEVER see myself doing it forever, and was a terrible tracker anyway, I think it was mostly exercise that got me through, but now I am being really good.

I am allowing myself some kind of treat (eg. lollipop, 85% dark choc square, scone) every day, so that I love to eat still, and don't surcumb to any unplanned splurges.

I have been open with my feelings, instead of bottling them up. This is a good thing.

I have been going to the gym. In fact, I increased my weights in body pump and really challenged myself.

I have a loving husband, wonderful friends, and many dear and caring online readers. Thankyou for reading, commenting and caring. A special thankyou to Kristy and Alicia, for the beautiful messages on your blogs, and for actually coming back and leaving 2 messages, I felt so special when I saw that! thankyou! mwah!

I think that will do for today! I will try and write more tomorrow or something... I have missed blogging and emailing etc, so expect more of it! :)

Pulling myself up and onwards!

2006-09-11T15:58:00.000+10:00

Well I guess I needed the space, even when I have been online lately, I have just been an observer. For soon reason everytime I sit down to type anything I stop and can't do it. So I thought I had better just bite the bullet and get on with it. I WILL be back around on the boards, and I will cry less and talk more. I guess that's my problem, my hormones are everywhere, so I cry easily, and I just don't want to do anything to make it worse.

Firstly though, I want to thank everyone who left such lovely comments to my last post. I really means a lot to me to know that you all care so. It has been a real blessing being in the same house as my parents, and I have a job I enjoy, so I am doing better. I am not myself though, my confidence has dropped heaps and I am a lot quieter than usual, which is not good at all. In fact it's a bit of a problem at work, I am just not being as talkative and assertive as I need to be, as you can imagine I have to take control in the studio or the photo shoots are a complete bust. But I am working on it, I'll get there.

I am just getting stuck back into exercise and WW now. I haven't been eating bad or anything, I have been eating very well, I just haven't had my weight as a focus, I have had my health (iron, fluid, rest etc) as focus instead. But I have started going to Bodyworks Gym where my mum goes, and am really enjoying it. "But wait!" you say, what happened to Curves? It's just too far away! And the open hours combined with distance equals me not being able to go. So I decided to bite the bullet and go somewhere I can go, instead of sticking with Curves but only getting a half-effort exercise plan.

So anyway, I went to a pump class with mum last week, went so light on the chest presses due to the major change and pain in that area lately, and my abs are not so good... But other than that I went well, and then I did a step class on Friday, and besides looking like a gumby for the first 20 mins or so, that went well too. But this morning I think I found my weapon for getting to goal and beyond... BOXERCISE. Seriously, I almost died. I thought I was going to die at the step class, cos everyone is always complaining about how hard and high energy they are, and I was completely fine, in fact I felt like I was hardly getting my heart rate up enough! But Boxercise? Oh my goodness...

It was great though, and I keep thinking how I would have gone if I had tried to do this at my heaviest... I think there would have been an ambulance! Granted, I feel really unfit and wiped, my body has been through a lot and I know I am not as capable as I was, but I jogged/ran on the treadmill beforehand, was pleased with that, then class turned out to be only me and another girl and the Trainer, who is really a personal trainer, so basically we had a PT session. We skipped, we then went for a run outside and up and down "heartbreak hill' (ok, this is when I had to admit I have had a recent miscarriage, and I started walking...) then run back to the gym, then punches and push-ups with running in between, and duck walking and punching with weights and step-ups (the step was higher than my knee!! I HATE being the short one!! ARGH!!), more weight punching, more step-ups, me running to the toilet wanting to ... but I didn't (very surprised), more punching, room spinning....

Anyway, the PT said I did very well, and that cos it was so one on one he pushed us a lot harder... But I can't remember when I have had such a great workout. I feel so weird though, I am so used to feeling fit, that this just seems wrong. Anyway... I think I might plan so more "punishment", cos it was still fun! Oh, and I still don' t have the cord for the camera, it's got to be somewhere, so I put this pic of someone at a boxericse class, and see the blur that is her hand? Fast and hard and lots of it!

The rest of today has been not so good, as we are still having no luck with the househunt, the places are taken almost before they are advertised! At least the livable ones... so that's about it.

I really do want to Thank You all for you support, feel free to remind me to post if I disappear, I need the support, I want myself to the fittest and healthiest I can be!

That being said, it reminds me of a funny thing I thought when I was filling in the gym application. It asked how I would describe my physical state and why, and I said fit and healthy cos I have lost weight etc. And then it asked for goals, and I didn't really care about the first box about losing weight. The toning up etc is so much more interesting to me now, the rest of the kilos will shift in their own time, but they are not the number one for me now. Anyway, I think I am rambling, it was just an interesting insight into myself. I do really want to get to goal, but when I comes to the gym, I go because I love exercise, it's not a means to lose weight and that's all, it's a healthy lifestyle thing. It's interesting when things hit you like that, isn't it?

Enough babbling from me, ciao!

Yes, I've been avoiding...

2006-09-03T08:19:00.000+10:00

But not for any longer. I needed to give myself some completely people free time, not just internet free, I've pretty much been avoiding the whole world lately.
I fact, I was planning to not write this post. To just not post for a while, and then start again as if nothing had happened. But I can't do it. I don't think I can get to that point, I think I just need to write it and stop procrastinating... But I am doing that procastinating so well! *grin*
Anyway, last week I miscarried at 10 and a bit weeks. And I have been miserable, hormonal, and a mess ever since. I hadn't told anyone except my husband and parents, I had hinted (or said I hadn't tested yet) and a few people had guessed anyway, but I was going to announce after passing the 12 week mark. Guess not.
I feel like it is my fault, I've been so busy with moving and then the shoot in Sydney and new job, I definitely haven't taken things easy. The doctor said it's not my fault, and I do have a medical condition that I know will make things hard, but it's still awful. The doctor even said it's likely I'll have 4 or 5 miscarriages before we succeed, but I am really not going to let myself think like that.
We really want children, and we are young. And the doctor said that the only reason that I wasn't in hospital was because I am fit and healthy. So we are going to keep playing the best cards, and see where it takes us. Young, fit, healthy.
*sigh* I feel like crying again. I have been a lot. Work has been great, it distracts me by keeping me really busy. It's sitting at home that I find hard. Except for the pregnant mums at work. But I am not jealous, just sad, but hopeful too. I think I am breaking through the sadness a bit now. Maybe that's why I can write this. Can I press the post button? I'm not sure.
In a way, I am really worried about when the pics come out in the mag. Cos I was so happy that day, and physically I have changed a lot since then anyway. I lost 3 kilos (not in a good way obviously) in the first few days, and my body is going back to smaller shape. I completely lost it on my phone interview for the mag, which was only a few days ago. Bawled my eyes out, I couldn't help it. Will I re-live that when the mag comes out? That day I thought everything was wonderful, new job, new me, meeting Donna, being in the mag, and looking forward to the new addition in the family. Besides the fact I was complaining about the very painful gigantic breasts, I was so excited!
I do feel better for getting this out here. Otherwise I'm not sure I would have come back and blogged again. But I know you who read this are friends, even though we have never met I value your comments and encouragement always, and I am not the negative (and fat!) person I used to be, I am a positive new person, and I will get through this fine.
Thankyou all so much for your continued support,
RaeRae :)

The Shoot!!! grin

2006-08-25T08:27:00.000+10:00

WOOOOHOOO!!! Well I am back in cold Canberra after two wonderful sunny days in Sydney being madeover over and photographed, but even better, getting to meet and hang out with my gorgeous pal Tiny Donna! (who really is tiny, isn't she gorgeous!)
At the moment I have "stolen" some photos from Donna and Mary as I have no idea where my cord that links the camera to the computer is, so more coming soon!
It was great fun, but I think I went a little hypo! (did I scare you Donna? tehehe) But you will have to wait and see the mag, buy lots! *grin* The mag comes out in December, and its the Jan/Feb issue, so summertime fun!
oh, and we went shopping... Oh so much shopping... I feel like I spent heaps, but I think I was quite restrained actually! When it comes down to it I tend to try on heaps of stuff (and really enjoy it) but only buy a few things. But I'll post pics soon! The black dress that I a wearing in one of the pics is new though, I picked it up on my lunch break as I walk past the Myers sales everyday... Oh and the other day I picked up 5 items of clothing (including black work pants and a dress) for $3 each! How cool is that!
ok, so I am really busy and have to go, but I saw Kristy's comment so just HAD to post something! Sorry to keep you waiting everyone! I post more soon, hopefully complete with camera photos and a much more details ramble!
:)

I've been Tagged!

2006-08-17T22:25:00.000+10:00

I've been got... I feel like the donkey in pin the tail on the...

Anyway, so here goes! It's seriously going to be the first things into my head cos it's late, so I have no idea what I will say!

Firstly, here are - THE RULES: The player of this game starts with "5 weird things/habits about yourself ". In the end you need to choose 5 people to be tagged and list their name's people who get tagged need to write a blog about their 5 weird things/habits, as well as state this rule clearly, then tag 5 more victims. Don't forget to leave your victim a comment that says "you're tagged!" in their comments and tell them to read your blog:

Weirdness No 1: I am allergic to Flaxseed. You know, Linseed. I come out in hives. Have you heard of a sillier thing to be allergic to?!? Seriously, ALL the breads (at least all the good grainy ones that I like...) have linseed in it! And when I told the doctor about it her comment was "no one is allergic to Linseed!" So I showed her the hives and she believes me. But seriously, it's a weird thing. :)

Weirdness No 2: I owned my first pair of Ug boots at the age of 20. I had been making subtle, followed by not so subtle, followed by really not related to subtle at all hints to everyone about the gift possibilities FOR YEARS, but it was friend, who later became my boyfriend, who is now my husband who finally got me a pair of Ug boots for my 20th birthday. How sad is that! Maybe I married him for his Ug boot buying capabilities? *cheeky grin*

Weirdness No 3: I still get asked for I.D, yet when I'm out with my Mum, people have mistaken us for sisters, or at least thought Mum wasn't old enough to be my mother. How does that figure?

Weirdness No 4: While I am thinking of mum, I take after dad in most physical features (colouring etc), but Mum and I both sound very similar on the phone, and almost identical when answering the phone. This means I have had some very interesting conversations with mum's friends who haven't let me breathe and butt in long enough to tell them that I will hand them over to Mum. Actually, I have freaked out quite a few people in the 3 days I have been back here, especially since some people I don't think even knew she has a daughter... :)

Weirdness No 5: ooo, I am stretching it, I need to think of one more thing...
Does my phobia of elevators count? I loathe the things, I lose my stomach everytime and don't find it again for ages. I especially hate buildings that only have elevators, and alarm the fire escape stairs. grrrrr...

Moving - the most tiring exercise!

2006-08-15T10:50:00.000+10:00

Well, we are moved!!
I would show pics of very tired looking us... But I have no idea where the cord for the camera to computer is... In fact, I have no idea where a lot of things are!!!
so today, we have a photo from our pirate party a few years ago! We are staying at my parents place until we find a place, which hopefully will be today, we have a whole list of places to look at, the first one being in only 20mins time, so this will be a short post I think! At the rate I type at least!
anyway, to the people who don't know, I thought I had better put some very exciting news up!!

Donna and I are going to be in the WeightWatchers Magazine!!!

WOOOHOOOOO!!!

The photoshoot is in 6 days time!! And now that the move is over, I have plenty of time to get REALLY REALLY NERVOUS!!!!

Oh my goodness!!!
so we are going to be in Sydney for the shoot on Monday, then Tuesday I say SHOP SHOP SHOP!!
It's all very exciting! Any Sydney bodies who want to catch up for a coffee I am sure we could find some time...

But even before that, I start my new job tomorrow! Photos of cute little kiddies, here we come!! Not that I will be able to put them on here, but you can take my word for it, they will be cute!! tehehe

ok, well should get myself ready to go find our new place!
WOOOHOOOO!!!
hope this makes sense, cos I think my brain shut off several days and ago.. Or it is packed in one of those boxes!
*grin*

Jeans! Glorious Jeans!

2006-08-09T22:10:00.000+10:00

I have jeans!

The last pair of jeans I bought were a size 14, but I was given not one pair, but THREE PAIRS of jeans from a friend who's almost exact comment was "look at you, how tiny you are! I have some pants that would fit if you'd like them!"
Anyway, it's great! They have even been taken up cos my friend is a shortie too!
This is the pair I was REALLY self conscious about, cos they are really skinny/straight leg, and I keep thinking about how big my thighs were, and do they look like that still? So I got my hubby to take photos for me, and I am amazed! Seriously, how can my body perception be so far out?!? Must work on that!
anyway, after not having jeans in quite some time, I am somewhat enamored with them, so expect pics of jeans for a while, cos I have two more styles to show off! These are light ones, the others are dark, and are already favourites! Though I feel better about these ones too!

Only problem with this free-jeans-thing is that I think I had better think up a new reward, as jeans were my next reward! Oh well! I am not complaining!

As for todays food and exercise, feeling good about it! Did almost an hour on the bike, riding at no lower than 40k/hr, it was tough but good! And I went for an hour walk into town and back. Not fast or anything, the toe really is a bother, but good walking nonetheless, as Wollongong is all hills!
I am feeling really keen and motivated to get to goal and stop the being-close-but-not-there feeling!

Busy Busy Busy

2006-08-07T21:02:00.000+10:00

I am feeling a little stressed and out of it at the moment. It's all the traveling I think, that and I feel like I have made no headway with my weightloss in ages, so am kind of sliding... So to cheer myself up, I have been going through photos at mum's again. Is it weird that I find looking at fat photos fascinating and encouraging and mood lifting? I think it's a little odd... But it works, so I think I'll just keep going anyway! :)

gosh... It looks like I stretched the photos... I promise I didn't! I really was that big... And you know what? I think these were when I really didn't realize I had put on weight. There was complete and utter denial going on. urgh... It's a little bit worrying, though you get to see my hair before I cut it! I had it long for so long, but since then I have been very adventurous with my hair, cos I know it always grows back!

Just in case you think I am rambling... I am. That's just my mood right now! We are in Canberra again, for a job thing for hubby, and looking at rental places. Then driving back tomorrow morning. I definitely think I need to go to curves today, need a pick my up!

*later*

Curves was just the stress buster I needed, especially as the lady for Hubby's job info thing wasn't able to come so it is postponed til next week! ARGH! Why did we drive all this way?!?!

Anyway, over that now... Heading back in the morning, so should get myself rested up!

It's nice comparing those photos above to the photos of our party though, yay for feeling good! :)

Belle of the party? :)

2006-08-06T09:16:00.000+10:00

I don't mind if I wasn't, I had a fabulous time! :)
and everyone loved my new party dress, I had so much fun swishing it! it has a lovely swish! :)

seriously, my dress wasn't all the party was about... It was lovely to see everyone together and talk and laugh and get everyone's addresses written down in the one spot.... tehehe

It was really good, and Canberra is only 3 hours away, so I hope to be able to see everyone reasonably often! And one of my friend's told me last night that they might be moving to Canberra for work in the next few months too! So that's extra exciting! It's funny how everyone seems to move all at once! Most people go from here to Sydney though, about a third of the party last night was from Sydney! We saw about 25 friends, and had our own little room at the restaurant, so it made it lovely to be able to get around and talk to everyone! Quite a few people had last minute dramas and couldn't make it, so hopefully we will be able to catch up with the rest of our friends during the week! Hopefully for dinner so we don't have to buy takeway after our kitchen is packed?!?!?! *grin*

I didn't cry either, and neither did anyone else, which is probably to reason I didn't! No, all in all it was a happy, enjoyable time, not a soppy tearfest! Much better I think! :)

well boxes are getting packed, junk it getting culled, the salvos are taking our AWFUL wardrobes so I never have to see or fight with them again. Everything is busy, but we are doing well and enjoying it! it's nice having the time to pack and see people, rather than starting work in Canberra straight away!

oh, I don't think I had actually said what my new job is?! I'll be working as a photographer for Portrait Place! I'm so excited about it! Creative, meet lots of people and kiddies, and fast moving and exciting, I'm going to love it! Anyway, I'll let you know how I go when I actually start, cos it is all theory right now!

hmmm... What else....

oh! I have to tell about the dinner cruise last week!
well, what was supposed to be a cruise....

We turned up, and were so excited, and were heading towards the boat, which was looking suspiciously dark... And darker and darker as we walked. We got there, and there was no sign of life. At all. So we stood around in the freezing Canberra cold, and then we saw a figure rushing over the cold grass to meet us... Could only be bad news!

We were to ONLY booking, so they couldn't very well take the boat out for 4 of us. Problem was, that they had written down the wrong contact number, and had been trying to ring for 4 days (they were taking it in shifts and had even rung everyone in the phone book with the surname we had booked it with, except that they aren't from the area so obviously not in phone book!)
So anyway, they said we could either transfer to another time or have a full refund, but that we didn't have to decide right then - as dinner, drinks, EVERYTHING was on them for the night!
So we had a great time! I had this gorgeous Atlantic salmon fillet and steamed vegies and they keep asking us if we wanted more drinks, here's some bread, what would you like for dessert, can I get you a coffee... hehehe we were spoilt! I had some of the most divine cherry ripe tart (just a little - I was the only one not rolling out of there, actually I was fine! There was groaning from my husband though! haha!)
anyway, so we rescheduled to later in the year (we had saved up and paid already, so why not!), around Floriade time, and we all feel very happy with how it all turned out! Especially as it started raining anyway! :)

so eating has been a little tempted this week hasn't it... Last night I had grilled prawn fajitas... Which was great as I got to make them up myself, so no cheese for me! I did have some of our birthday/farewell cake though, which was caramel mudcake, but I only had a little amount, and I have said that I don't need to eat any of the leftover pieces sitting in the fridge, so I will be fine! I also exercised everyday last week, and will be riding my exercise bike today for sure.
Also, this will be a very no count week, I think half of my sugar points were used last night on the cake!
Oh, weigh in yesterday, I put on .4 which I wasn't expecting as I was sure I was significantly down for the week, but I had had a huge meal the night before, so that was probably still sitting in my belly! I was good though, even with going out, so I am not too worried. I'll get through, and next time I'm here to visit I hope to be at goal!

ring ring*...

2006-08-03T17:43:00.000+10:00

WOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I got the job!

Hurrah!!!!

Right now have friends over, so details later! Tonight we are heading out on a dinner cruise on Lake Burley Griffen for my friend's (tallest bridesmaid in photos below) Birthday, so thats very exciting too!!

I am so happy! WOOOOHOOOO!!! :)

*happy dancing*

*grin*

Pacing...

2006-08-03T10:09:00.000+10:00

I am so agitated right now! I know I shouldn't be, but they said they would ring today about whether I have the job, and so I just want to phone to ring!! ARGH!!

Well I have found the closest Curves, and went yesterday and this morning. It's quite exciting actually, as it is a more established Curves, so they have two machines that my usual don't have, and they play games and stuff as well, so I have enjoyed it. Thought the resistance is less on these machines (cos they are older maybe?) so I have to change the way I work out a bit. And I still can't run/jog, so I am not getting as good a workout as I would like to. Anyway, I had fun, though it is a fair distance away, so I can't wait til they open up the one they have planned for right near us!

RING!!! ARGH!!!

I have had about 5 phone calls this morning, but not the one I want!

well once again... Keeping the boredom at bay by flicking though photos on the computer... So today you get some more wedding photos (everyone loves wedding photos!) and I found one of what I think is the Christmas before last... So end of 2004? And it's not even at my heaviest! (I always seem to get a little lighter around Christmas/summer and a lot heavier in winter... Not any more I say!)

In Canberra - but not too cold!

2006-08-01T17:18:00.000+10:00

...And for that, I am very grateful! ;)

Well all is going very well for me! On Saturday, after my other post, I got a call back about the job, to come down for a second interview today! So I drove up the morning, and it went really really well, so hopefully I will be able to report some very good news soon! :) I'll definitely be shouting it from the rooftops (blogtops?!)!!

at the moment I am sitting on my Mum's computer, wondering what to do with my day tomorrow, as we have a dinner cruise for a friend's birthday on tours, and so are staying up here until then. I fell kind of lost... Though I have looked up both Curves and my hubby's gym, so I think those are definitely on the agenda! :)

and how good am I? I not only have been able to start walking on my poor broken toe, but I went yesterday and this morning- before having to drive up to Canberra for the interview! I fell very proud of that! Would love to get back to the jogging/running, but one thing at a time! It was lovely, I met up with a girl from my WW meeting, and so we yappered the whole way, makes it much more enjoyable!

well you know how I like to only do posts with pictures... So today's picture comes courtesy of my mum's computer photo collection... I have had fun! :)

DETERMINED!!

2006-07-29T14:09:00.000+10:00

People keep saying to me about how much smaller I am, and how I'm there already and looking great etc, but I am not there, and I am determined to get there! And even though over the last few months my weight has stayed around the same (or gone up slightly), my measurements are going down still, so I keep getting these comments.

But I am going to ignore them, and I'm going to make GOOD headway on my get to goal plan!
I filled out the weekly card from this week on my journey to goal, and it's stuck on the wall. I'm planning to get back into walking again this week, especially as I am going to be in Canberra for a bit and not able to get to Curves.

Speaking of which, I AM SO TIRED! I got a call on Thursday arvo for an interview in Canberra on Friday, so drove down in the morning, had the interview, where I was for about 4-5 hours, and then drove back in the evening, then saw friends for a very late dinner. It was really good, and I'd LOVE the job, I had a fantastic time, but as I had to get up and be at the WW meeting at 7:30 this morning to set up, I am just exhausted. I still went to curves though too... So I feel good and positive, but am tired!

Anyway, I hear about the job on tues, and it's immediate start, so I might have to go down sooner than expected if I get it!
Oh such a hectic life I have!
:)

At least I get to see people at our birthday/farewell party next weekend, I'm so excited about that! Right now though, I think it is time for a nap! :)

A Beautiful Wedding Day for Our Gorgeous friends

2006-07-29T13:40:00.000+10:00

We have been really busy over the last few weeks, and with packing and everything it's only getting busier! One of the highlights of the last little while was the wedding of some dear friends of ours, on the 15th. And it was just so beautiful, that I felt like sharing :)
Hubby and I had a fabulous time, though it was a pity I couldn't dance because of my toe. It was all good though, cos it meant I got to watch my Hubby boogie instead, ad that's very entertaining (I LOVE HIM!! :)

I'm BACK!!!! :)

2006-07-27T20:02:00.000+10:00

The computer is fixed, and it's wonderful!! YAY!!!

For those that were not aware, my computer died. REALLY died. But luckily I have a computer GENIUS for a friend, and she got new part and reformatted and everything, and now not only is it working again, but it's upgraded!! :)
It's very exciting, now I have all these programs to play with, like adobe acrobat... Never got that to work before.... :P

So much to catch up on!

Firstly, a HUGE thank you for all the birthday wishes, I had a lovely day, and even got to go shopping and got 2 (count them TWO!) new dresses!!!! I'll put pics of one, but the other you'll have to wait cos it's for our big birthday/farewell bash that we are having before we ship out. :) So under wraps til then.... *grin*

oh, and questions....
Jessie, I made my top pics on paint and just pasted into the HTML code, after being inspired by BeeBeeJayBee (go have a look, very good!)

and yes Lisa, I suddenly seem so much closer to goal. This reason being as I got heighted again at doctors and once again was completely different, so I decided to conduct an experiment. I heighted myself all throughout the day, and found to my utter horror that I shrink around 7 cms EVERY DAY!! ARGH! So I decided to take my original height at WW (and is what is still on my card anyway) of 161cm, giving me a goal of 65kilos. Actually, when I first wake up and my spine (I have scholiosos) is all stretched out, I'm 162.5cms, so am actually heaps taller than I thought I am! By the end of the day though I am around 155.5... not good at all. Then if my hubby cracks/stretches my back I grow another cm...

ok, so that's the rant about my height... Hope no one fell asleep! :) the very fact I shrink 3cms in the first 3hours after I get up, is just plain depressing! ARGH! Anyway, my point somewhere in here is that I was just writing about it and changing everything when the computer died, so that's why things just changed with no explanation. :)

Oh, and as for my studying, that is going on hold, however I'm looking into attending Uni in Canberra next year. Right now, for our family, and for my Hubby's sake, we need to move, and so my priorities are on health and relationships first, getting the degree finished, not so important. :)
I am actually really excited at the prospect of just working for a while, it is really appealing right now! :)

Anyway, enough for now... Though I'll try and put more pics up over the next few days! cos I love pics!

La de dar de dar...

2006-07-13T07:58:00.000+10:00

What day is it today?
Oh that's right, it's Thursday!

Got a case of the brain fog monster at the moment, that and a case of Kermit the frog throat... :)

Anyway, I have a few days and a lot of stuff to catch up on! Some days I feel I have nothing interesting to write, and today is not one of them!

The stamp party on Sunday was great fun, if you get a chance to go to one, GO!! So much fun! It only ended up being small, but the people who came were absolute beginners, so it was good cos they got lots of attention. By the way, my Mum was the demonstrator, and she is loving it, the company is "stampin' Up!" and I positively drooled over all the stamp sets, and they are such good prices! Anyway, enough drooling, I put a pic of the card I made on here, what do you think?

The rest of Sunday was nice too, Mum and Dad stayed around a bit and it was great to catch up. Dad was really keen I think to do a bit of recon, cos we have some news...

WE ARE MOVING!

We have put in notice on our lease, and started looking for jobs in Canberra. I am not really keen to go, I have a thing about Canberra and how STUPIDLY COLD it is, and there is no beaches... But it's the best thing for our little family at the moment. My husband has been out of work for a few months now, and there is just no jobs (and ridiculously high unemployment) here in Wollongong, and there are a bizillion jobs in Canberra. So off we go!
I am treating it all as a grand adventure, oh and Donna, I am sorry we aren't moving to Melbourne! It's our second choice, so if Canberra doesn't pan I'm sure you will see us! :)
anyway, so I have been applying for jobs over the net to get a feel for what's going, and I have already done an initial interview for 3 jobs and I only started applying on Monday! ARGH!

Enough about moving, as it will probably come up a lot over the next few weeks!

Tuesday was my hubby's birthday, and he had to put up with me spoiling him! I made him a bacon and egg english muffin breakfast, and followed it up with a muffin with candles!
I was able to take the morning off work, so we watched a DVD, then went out to lunch at a gorgeous restaurant called the harbourfront, overlooking the wollongong harbour, it was gorgeous, and the food was FABULOUS! I had a grilled dory thing which was to die for!
That night I baked him a butterscotch surprise cake cos I knew something he didn't, I had invited some friends over for a dessert things, and he was so surprised and thought it was great, it was wonderful! We are going to have a big birthdays/farewell thing in a few weeks, so he wasn't expecting anyone, it was great :)

Only down side for Tuesday? Silly silly RaeRae broke her toe!

I know, I know, you are all thinking I'm the little attention seeker, breaking my toe on my Husbands birthday, but I didn't mean to honestly! *grin*
Anyway, luckily the doctors where the quickest I have ever seen, so it hardly took any time out of the day, except for the fact my limping is slowing me down a whole heap! :)

So I am more than a little annoyed, as this means I have to be good with my food and get results that way, as I don't have the exercise to back me up... And I don't have a good track record with no exercise, cos I love it too much! *sigh*

So all in all, it has been an eventful week! I was rather down yesterday, from pain in toe, little sleep cos of said pain, and also both my hubby and I haw come down with rotten colds, and my throat is feeling much more like an infection with every swallow... At least I'm not eating... It's too difficult! Ok, I'll be good and go try eat some breakfast. :)
I did get a little sleep last night, so that was good, and I'm feeling positive and motivated. Especially since we have been cleaning, culling and packing, and I came across a photo I thought had been lost or destroyed forever... I think I had better put it up so I never feel inclined to "feed my pain" *grin*

My secret weightloss strategy?

2006-07-09T10:08:00.001+10:00

Lots of yummy treats!

:)

This week, despite very tight purse-strings, I bought fresh dates and strawberries (actually they were $1.99 a punnet so wasn't too bad), as well as a packet of Choc Crisp bars - which I never buy, but have been having chocolate cravings so needed something- and I proceeded to lose:

1.6kgs!

So that's a big hurrah for No Count, as I really didn't go drastic or anything, I just stayed real.
Isn't WW wonderful?

So my big gain is almost gone, I am heading back to the nice small numbers that I was... And I am loving the fact that people are telling me I'm looking smaller, clothes are fitting better, all in spite of the numbers. Centimetre/size wise, I am only getting smaller, so I glad I'm not listening to just the yo-yoing scales.

My only gripe at the moment is that the "new" bras that I bought only recently (ok, so maybe its a couple of months ago...) are getting towards ridiculously small... Very frustrating. Can't afford new ones either, so might be time for another undercoverwear party to get some more for free!

Last night I had an AWESOME time at my friend's Hen's night, we went to a TepanJapanese place, where they cook the food in front of you and throw things at you etc... Very cool!
And this afternoon I'm having a stamping (craft, scrapbooking) party, so that should be fun, but I had better go clean up the house!
Don't you just love weekends?!?!
:)

My second Curves month!

2006-07-03T23:05:00.000+10:00

Doesn't time fly! I feel like I only just reported my first month and I've just measured in for my second month! Maybe I am feeling like this as I have been sick for half the month... Oh gosh, this means my birthday is almost here too! ARGH!!

Anyway, I really didn't want to go weigh and measure today, as I really didn't want to see those scales go up (which they did but it's not like I would have lost that 1.8 in two days...), but I went anyway.

and I've lost another 7 cms!

I feel very happy with that, and actually the weight wasn't that bad either... Over the month I still think I've lost. And the cm's go to show much better anyway, and explain why I haven't felt like I have gained.

So it's all good.

It felt so good to be back into Curves and exercising today, oh so good. I haven't had to use my puffer at all today, and that's an achievement in itself!

Emotionally though I really want comfort food right now... My best friend has now officially moved to New Zealand, and I am going to miss her so much! We have been flat out over the last week, with traveling up and down and moving stuff and cleaning, and yesterday was the farewell, and dedication (see picture, and the white dress stayed white!), and I think I am just going to have to get better about writing and replying to emails, as I don't think our phone can even do international calls!

I have had such a busy, hectic, full day, so this post is really all over the place.

I got a whole heap of compliments of how much I have lost tonight though, from people I haven't seen in a while. Actually was rather interesting, cos it was work related, and then they announced that they are going to run a biggest loser competition with everyone... I want to know if I can back-date mine, cos I'm close to the smallest now! tehehe :)
Narh, I still have my kilos to lose, have to get to goal!!

I'm going to stop rambling and take myself to bed, goodnight! Sleep tight! *grin*

Brand new week! YAY!

2006-07-01T13:19:00.000+10:00

Today, I have started well! I have drunk lots of water, and am thinking positive and organizing my week to create a good, positive lifestyle. AND I'm feeling a lot better, though tired, as I had a busy day yesterday helping my best friend clean and pack up their house - actually, my job was mainly keeping their 10 month old gorgeous baby daughter out of the way! But I am sure that helped heaps too!
Anyway, yesterday was also not so good food-wise, we had fish and chips for lunch and Macca's for dinner, and I unashamedly ate the chips and fish, though made good choices at Macca's. So coupled with being sick, and the before mentioned eating earlier this week, I put on 1.9kgs.

And I am owning the whole 1900grams, and am not ashamed. :)

Really, I don't mind. It's quite fine to have a week or so in life where everything goes a little haywire, and so I am quite fine with this. I don't feel any tightness in my clothes, and I'm back into mostly normal patterns after tomorrow. Tomorrow is the farewell for my friend and hubby, as well as their daughter's dedication. I am really going to miss them, and I do have to admit that I am sad and stressed at the thought of them being overseas, but we will be fine!

So this afternoon I think I will cook up the vegies I have ready for soup, and get my costume ready for a birthday party tonight, and will generally enjoy this fine weekend!

Also, to all my dear internet friends who are feeling hurt, betrayed or distressed this weekend, I wish you all the best, and many hugs from me to you! Please don't hesitate to email if you need a listening ear! ***HUGS***

Sunshine

2006-06-29T15:21:00.000+10:00

I've been sick again the last few days, in fact my lovely boss sent me home today cos I was in danger of fainting or having an asthma attack... So yet again I am bored and on the couch, and I can't even go exercise (which you know I love to do and hate not doing... So it's pretty annoying!).
Oh, and you know how I have been proud of myself for not not eating when sick lately? I still am proud of those achievements, but not as impressed on my behaviour this time. I ate and ate and ate on Tuesday, and not as bad but not good on Wednesday. And the little switch that tells me I've had enough? It must be sick too, or on holidays! So basically I am expecting a gain this Saturday, but I am not letting it get me down at all. And THAT is something to be proud of I think! I have made some mistakes, but I am still tiny, I have still achieved so much, and it's not worth my worry. I'm just going on with life!

It's such a beautiful bright sunny day today, and I love it! We have been getting so much rain lately, it is a lovely and welcome change! So I thought I would share the view from my wide open window (though I just had to close it cos of the whole keeping the chest warm.. grrr... It was lovely while it lasted!)
Hmmm, as I am basically housebound, I don't have much to write about! But I thought I would update anyway, and leave you with a thought from the book of proverbs:

A happy heart makes the face cheerful!

So if you are feeling down about your outside appearance, work on the inside first and it will work it's way out! :)

WWW - What a Wonderful Weekend

2006-06-26T21:13:00.000+10:00

Wow am I tired! I've had a great weekend, had a friend's Kitchen tea on friday night, then drove to Canberra straight afterwards (got in around 2:30), and then got up and had family photos done with my family, which turned out to be really fun! The last family photos were about 5 years ago, and so we didn't have the complete family (addition of my hubby!), and we have all changed so much... oh it's so exciting to be able to not cringe at the thought of the frame going up on the wall and knowing that everyone can see my fat face beaming down... no more of those photos ever! HURRAH!! I took photos of the sample photos we have, we get the real ones in two weeks and they are going to look SO GOOD! And we finially got long-overdue haircuts as well, so even better! This is just a selection too... for the first time ever, everyone is happy with them so we went the whole hog and got a package!

Anyways then we went to the engagement party of one of my bridesmaids (and best friend from school), and that was really fun and exciting, and it's so wonderful seeing friends happy and with lovely fellas who treat them right! :)
My youngest brother took advantage of my visit to get us to take him and his friends to the movies after church on sunday to see Over The Hedge, and you should have seen the sugar high's afterwards! Oh my goodness, I don't know how I got them home in one piece! I made them walk there and back, and made tem do some starjumps... and they still were bouncing... but I had fun, they are great kids. :)
Actually, with my brother in his first year of high school, I am not sure how much longer I can call them kids... especially since I seem to be getting shorter and shorter or they are much taller and taller... I'm such a shrimp...
We had a such a great (and full) weekend, and I feel even better about it fromteh fact that apart from a few fantales, I didn't eat anything remotely bad, and despite the bitter cold, I went walking with Mum for 45 minutes both yesterday and today, though I borrow gloves after the first time! It was so good walking though, gives so much time for conversation!
I think for now I have to get off, cos after travelling back today (and napping in the car a bit...) I seem to be a little hypo and overstimulated, and think I should get myself to nice warm bed!

2006-06-26T21:05:00.000+10:00

More Pics, from engagement party!
Went a little camera happy didn't I... *grin*

I'm back in the swing of things!

2006-06-22T13:46:00.000+10:00

I'm feeling very proud of myself at the moment, I was really struggling to get going and eat right and get back into exercise after being sick last week, especially since I still have to be careful of overtaxing my lungs, but yesterday and today I have really felt back in control, have been eating perfect No Count food, not using extras and exercising happily, it's such a good feeling to be back into my normal routine!
That in itself is saying something, isn't it? I'm not used to to NOT exercise, and not eating right, that I really hate it when I don't/can't. Shows this is a lifestyle thing, YAY! :)

And my Hubby has been back into the gym! I'm so excited, because he is so much happier and energized when he is exercising regularly! Unfortunately doing three weights sessions in a week seems to have lead to a 1kg gain for him (so does this mean I still have a shot of getting to goal before him?!?! MUST DO IT!! tehehe :)
Still haven't got a pic of him riding and playing xbox at the same time, though I did try it out myself! I have a thing for Spyro the Dragon on the playstation (I know it's a kids game, but I obviously don't have the game players skills...), and I tried to play and ride, but I kept stopping every time Spyro needed to stop, or a baddie jumped out or whatever. So I think I'll stick to more conventional methods of exercise!

My only drama this week is that I'm away on the weekend, and so will not be able to weigh in as normal on Saturday. So I weighed in last night at a different meeting and lost 0.4kg since Saturday, so I'm pretty happy with that! Now I've got to just remain in control at a hen's night on Friday and an engagement party on Saturday, and not be distracted by all the treats that I'm sure will be sitting temptingly in my parents pantry when we go visit!

Oh, and I don't think I've meantioned it yet, but I have filled out my City to Surf form, It's all ready to go! So 8 weeks to go, and I'm looking forward to it! My hubby is going to go in it too, so I even have a training partner... though I think he thought I meant Cho-Cho-Train...

tehehehe :)

Enough rambling from me! If the rain eases up, I'm hoping to be able to go for my weekly walk with two friends from WW this evening... please stop raining... pretty please! Or at least, go fill up the dams instead!

Collage Pics...

2006-06-21T09:42:00.000+10:00

Tehehehe, I wonder how clever you will think I am after I reveal my magic collage technique...!

We have been very blessed in the computer department. Both my husband and I had computers from studying and when we got married it meant we had a few parts. Both the computers we were using we very old (I bought mine for less than $100 in 2000, it was old then! I think my Hubby had his given to him for free about the same time), but a computer savvy friend pulled them apart, as well as some other old parts we we given, and put them together into something a bit better. That did ok... not great. Then another friend gave us his old computer for free when he got a new one, so we jumped from a 586, to a Pentium 1, and that was exciting, and now due to a few more parts, its a little better still!
Anyway, the point of my rambling, is that the programs we have are only what happens to be on the computer. When we got given the Pentium 1, it had Kodak easyshare on it (I don't know whether this is a standard thing or not? Maybe you can download it?), and my all time favourite program:- PAINT!
It's funny actually, we were given a canon camera for Christmas and birthday present combined from my parents, but the programs won't run on this computer cos it is too old. So I actually save everything as paint pictures, and use Kodak for some editing!
So that's my secret people, I use paint to make my collages. I did learn however that if I edit my images using the Kodak easyshare program and save them in size as "best for web" they all turn out roughly the same size, and that makes it much easier to use. Also saving them as jpeg instead of bitmap in paint makes them easier to upload to blogger.

So, here are my tips for making a easy collage:
1. Save you image first. I save all my images in paint on their own, cos that way if I make a mess I still have the pic somewhere easy.
2. Make sure the image is the size (or close to it) that you want, as it is hard to adjust them without squishing.
3. Use the edit menu, and select "paste from" to find your image, or simply cut and paste.
4. Position it exactly where you want it before you do anything else, cos it becomes harder to move things around after you click off it.
5. Save often. That way you have something to go back to if disaster strikes!
6. Save as jpeg, better for net and blogger. (at least for me)
7. HAVE FUN!!

To demonstrate, I made a collage of wedding pics, very simple, took just a few minutes but saved 20 minutes trying to download separate pics to blogger!
So my advice, is go play! If you have never even heard of paint before, it is a standard feature (on IBM's at least), found usually in your Start; Programs; Accessories menu, next to things like the calculator etc.

It's a new week! I love that fact! :-)

2006-06-19T16:57:00.000+10:00

Anyone wondering where I have been? So have I! I spent last week sick and having chest/asthma problems, so I didn't get on here, especially as this is a very cold room and that is really not a good thing for me.
I had a wonderful weekend though, as not only was I feeling a fair bit better, but I got to go down the coast and visit friends, and also see my parents who were visiting too. I even won at cards (hurrah for Queen Rae!! tehehe) - we play a game called Philadelphia whenever we get together, and it's great fun. Keeps everyone in the same room at the same table for hours! :)
Then on Sunday some lovely friends of ours dedicated (christened) their beautiful daughter, and then had a lunch party, where I enjoyed myself heaps, but also enjoyed all the sweet things heaps... oops! I hoped on my exercise bike in the evening though, and made vegie soup for dinner, so I think it'll be alright overall. I just can't let myself treat every event as a a chance to go nuts (I didn't exactly go nuts but you know what I mean...), cos we have a special event (engagement party's, christening's, weddings, birthday's) on every weekend until August. And then some in august (haven't looked that far, but I think it just keeps going!!)
So must keep some perspective!

Anyway it was gorgeous, she was beaming and laughing and being really good. And the whole service was a family service so lots of kiddies everywhere and there were puppets and it was great! My hubby had to keep telling me not to get too excited and clucky! But sometimes I cant help it! :)
My reflective mood is obviously still ticking over in my head too, cos we took pictures yesterday, and when I saw the one of me I really noticed how much I have changed just in the last few months. I only started blogging in February, and the first pic on my blog was the one above with my hubby, and the next two are Feb as well, and then the one of me yesterday! For starters my chest has disappeared... And the top I'm wearing is a size small, and used to be tight and stretchy, and was loose on me!
Actually, with all the weddings etc, I really need to go shopping... Oh what a pity! Will just HAVE to go to the Myers sale and shop.... tehehehe :)

WW in Review

2006-06-12T09:23:00.000+10:00

I thought this fine public holiday morning, where I am in my jarmies (my hubby isn't even awake yet but I have no excuse to prod him cos its a public holiday so I guess he is entitled!), that I would do a review of my WW experience. All of it!

So Beware this is long and possibly very dull, but useful for me to see what hasn't worked, why this has been a struggle for so long, and for me to move on and not think of myself as that fat person anymore. :)

My WW awareness started with my mum back in around 1997-98, when she started WW after years of gaining weight, and then a little more after my youngest brother was born. At this point, I was still a kid, and was swimming training all the time and was fit, healthy and active. I really had no awareness of my weight, except for the fact that most of my friends were considerably lighter than me, but when I asked my dad whether that meant I was fat, he showed me that it was muscle from swimming, and since he couldn't do the pinch the belly test it was all good. So I was fine with that.

Mum went on to lose 35 kilos, over time (no quick fixes, just lifestyle change!) and became a leader and has been for at least 7 years now. She got so interested that she took up studying Nutrition at Uni, and graduated in 2004, and this year decided to go back a do her Masters of Dietetics, I am so proud of her! :)

[Mum's graduation!]
Anyway, unfortunately, while Mum got small, I got Big. Quickly. When puberty hit, everything went wrong and all my hormones went far from normal. I have a thyroid and piturity gland problem, which has caused problems with my ovaries and basically left me sick for years... And I got glandular fever and resulting low immunity to everything, so I was sick and miserable for years. The problem was that I allowed myself to console my feeling sick and miserable with food. So it's not all being sick, it's me keeping myself that way.

Basically I went from girls clothes, to size 14 women's, do not pass go, do not collect $200. And really, I didn't even seem to realized it had happened for a good while. I still thought I was the same. In year 10 it did hit me, I went to the year ten formal looking like a blob, and I realized it when I saw the photos. So from that point on I tried to count points at home (had all mum's books) and my year 12 formal dress was still a 16, but it didn't look to bad.

It was other emotional issues that lead me to gain (more) weight when I moved away to Uni. I had some exceedingly bad experiences with guys, and found myself hiding behind my weight. And at this point I joined WW. In the following years I have gone up to hit my heaviest at 83.4, I have been down to hit 74ish a couple of times, and have battled more than a few health problems. The smallest I have ever been though in my entire teen and adult life has been a 12-14, and never have really been within throwing distance of the Healthy BMI. But in the approx 2 years since my heaviest, and despite putting back on 6kgs after the pneumonia last winter, I have gone from a 16-18 (meaning I couldn't fit the 16's, but I was too proud to buy 18's so I was just really very uncomfortable and avoid shopping cos I didn't fit anything...) to now a size 8-10 (mainly 8 on top, mainly 10 on bottom, though some 8's, and some random things in the cupboard with weird sizes... :)

[Pic from first year of Uni]
Some of my biggest hurdles has been changing that attitude of consoling myself when I get sick with food. That has been the thing to always ruin my best efforts, when I have got sick, I have gotten bigger. So that's why I have been so keen to celebrate my triumphs over the colds I have had lately, cos I am changing that attitude. I really feel on that front that I have conquered the mountain!

The other hurdle which took years to overcome was those male issues. I felt less likely to be abused if I was unattractive, so that lead to the years of ups and downs, all the while still going to WW, because deep down I did not WANT to be slim and attractive, I was safer how I was. I did want to feel better about myself, but I had to deal with those emotions first, and that took time. My hubby and I were very good friends for 18 months before he asked me out, and at that point I at my biggest, but was just figuring out those emotions and moving on. 18 months later we got married and I was the smallest I had been in ages, the dress was a 14 but I was fitting into some 12's. I can honestly say that I have deleted those issues of the face of the earth. My hubby is a wonderful man, and those scared days are well behind me. Looking back I can see how different my 'journey' to control my weight has been since I got through and rid of those issues and mistrust.

A hurdle I wasn't expecting was the scared of being really tiny. I was so used to being me and being bigger, that when I hit a size 12, I got really comfortable. It was such an average size! I fit in with everyone else! I kept reading stories of successful slimmers who where all excited about being a 12, and I had never, ever been smaller than that. I skipped the 'tiny lady' clothes, and I never did the teenage clothes. So I got stuck on that weight/size for quite some time, and I had to shift focus again. I had to say to myself that the important thing is to get to the healthy weight range, and I have to do it for my health, and also as the best chance for me to have children. And No Count has also been a huge help in that, as I really am a terrible tracker, so I have made my lifestyle a healthy No Count one that I can happily do the rest of my life!)
This is an interesting hurdle for me to look back on, because I am hitting similar issues at the moment, in that I don't want to be smaller than an 8, as I want to be able to fit and buy clothes! Once again though I am focusing on the healthy weight range, and I know I have a little way before I am an all over 8, so that should be ok. I hope!

A strange one that I have had to reconcile to myself is that some people see losing 14-15kilos as not much of an achievement. This was really ticking me off, but have found since showing my before photo first, when asked how much I have lost, people have a much greater understanding of just how much that 15 means on my body. A lot of people say look like I have lost 30, and I was thinking about it, and figured out that if I was average height, according to the BMI change I would have lost 25-28ish kilos. So that makes me feel pretty good. :)
Also I worked out that averaged out, a dress size is LESS THAN 3 kilos for me.
Very interesting...

So basically this really has helped me. I can see how much I have changed, and I can see what is really bugging me at the moment and could be in the way. It's not the fact that I have stayed the same for the last few weeks, as I have been on so many plateau's before, and also I know my body shape is still refining itself, and I have never ever been a big, fast loser. No, it's the thought that I am happy with my body, and I feel like I should be at goal. I feel like at this size and shape, the scales should recognise me as being at a good place. What they are actually saying to me is that I am still not at the World Health Organization's recommendations, and that I need to lose more.
So thats what I am going to do. I can be happy with my body, and still strive for the healthy BMI. I just don't want to continue the trend of losing a dress size every 3 kilos or I'd be in trouble! I don't think that could happen though, I think I'll be alright. It's just all new and different and will take some getting used to! :)
I am really looking forward to my new jeans, and I would love to get there soon, as the sales in june do make things a little easier on the purse-strings... and the jeans I am wearing look a little like elephant skin, and are getting old and are kindda thin anyway. So I will keep on striving, and will not lull myself into rut.
ONWARDS AND DOWNWARDS!

[just a pic of me right now

- complete with dressing gown-

to combat those images of

my woobly chin and cheeks!]

Oh, and I will post the breakfast muffins below in the post that I was talking about them, so go have a look if you want the recipe!

One of the positives from last week...

2006-06-11T15:33:00.000+10:00

I started drinking more dairy! I am lactose intolerant, and have had soy milk for so long that I am just sick of it! So besides yogurt (the bacteria eats most of the lactose in yogurt, cool huh! And cos I'm not really extreme or anything I can handle yogurt fine, unless I go overboard...) and occasionally cheese, I was not having much dairy. Then, last week, I found a SKIM milk variety of the lactose free milk, and I decided to give it a go, and it's good! I tried the normal variety years ago and I didn't like it. It was too sweet and being the full fat one... Just wasn't so keen on that...

But now there is skim! It's awesome! Someone will probably tell me it has been around for years and it's just my area that has finally caught up, but I'm excited none the less. The excitement of actually having a glass of milk and enjoying it and not having to run to the bathroom shortly afterwards, oh it is BLISS!! (Every so often I would say "oh a little milk won't hurt" or "yes I'd love some ice cream" and my hubby and my friends would grimace cos the results are not pretty, and then I'd be good for 6 months, then do it all over again!)

So anyway, now I can definitely get ample amounts of calcium, and it's No Count, and I can happily ward of osteoporosis (rampant in my family!) and fight the fat as well! HURRAH!!

Oh and behind the milk is some yummy muffins from the WW favorites Cookbook. They are Breakfast Muffins, and they are yummy! They have yogurt and stewed apple and caramel topping in them... 1 point each! Don't mind if I do spend an extra point or two on them! My hubby loves them, and they are much better to have around than some slices etc that he would like to have baked! :)

Muffin recipe!

serves 6, 2 1/2 pts each
when I make them it makes 6 x 1 1/2 pts ones (for hubby)
and 7 x 1pt ones (which i get o eat most of... if i beat hubby... :)

seriously, the books 6 must be huge, mine are a good muffin size (they aren't the tiny ones!)

1 3/4 cups s/r flour
1 tbs caster sugar
100g reduced-fat artificially sweetened yogurt
1 egg
3/4 cup skim milk
1 cup canned pie apples (or stewed yourself!)
2 tbs low-joule caramel topping
2 tbs low-joule caramel topping, extra for serving

1. Lightly coat microwave-safe muffins pans or ramekin dishes with cooking spray
[I don't have a microwave, so just do them in the oven. So pre-heat to 180 if using oven]

2. Sift flour into medium bowl, stir in sugar.

3. In separate bowl combine yogurt, egg, milk, apples and topping, then add to flour mixture. Stir gently until just combine, there may be flour pockets and some lumps, but that is ok.

4. Spoon mixture into pans and microwave on high for 6-7 minutes. Serve with extra topping.
[cook in oven for 15-20 minutes or until a light golden brown]

Enjoy! :)

Giving Positive Thinking a flying chance!

2006-06-11T11:27:00.000+10:00

I have had a shocker of a week, you know "those" weeks where everything bad happens and the world seems to be just little bit against you? Yep, it was one of those. Yesturday I even typed out a whole post about it, and my computer died just as I was going to post it.

After that happened, I got to thinking. Do I really want to whinge more and more about this last week? What will it achieve?

Answer: NOTHING

SO, I am giving the power to positive thinking.

Yesturday before I left for work (on a saturday...) I asked my hubby if we could go out and have a nice night. Something special. We don't have alot of money so we don't get to go out much, so it was SO NICE to be able to go out for Thai and then off to the movies to see Take the Lead, which was just lovely, and makes you want to run out and book ballroom lessons straight away! Even my hubby wants to! To top the night off, we just got in to Woolies before it shut and got some merange nests and Fruche and make little desserts with a little canned fruit as well, and they were DELICOUS! Only used up 1 1/2 extras points too! :)

So I had a lovely evening, and have had a relaxing sunday morning, complete with cooked Sunday Breakfast.... yummm... No Count really is wonderful! Nobody but WW would make me feel that bacon, egg and baked beans with mushrooms could possibly be guilt free! :)
Now we are going to go wonder through town and brouse the shops, cos it is too wet and miserable to go down to the beach today.

As for last week, I was really good with both my food and exercise, but the result on the scales? Put on 0.1kg, which makes 4 weeks of pretty much the same weight. So this week I am taking some advice I was given, and as you can see by my exercise plan for the week in the side bar, I have cancelled planned exercise for the WHOLE long weekend. Then just lighter for the rest of the week. I think my body deserves a break, and I haven't not exercised for ages, so now is a good time to do it, as the gym isn't open til tuesday anyway, so that stops me a bit! :)

So we will see how my experiment pans out, I know I have still been changing my shape, but it would be nice if the number would chaneg a little too! I am also not going to use any more than 8 sugar points, I want to keep them down in the hope of a shake up and downwards!

Have a fabulous long weekend everyone! And a HUGE THANK YOU to all who have left me such beautiful comments, I love getting them, it really does brighten my days! THANK YOU!

Isn't it great...

2006-06-05T10:12:00.000+10:00

How others benefit from WW when you are on it?

Today I want to dedicate a post to my husband. He isn't a overly tall man (works well for me cos I am short!), and has always been a healthy weight, but after we got married he found himself developing a belly. And so the belly complaining began. And then the pants complaining began. I had a look, and it was at "that point", where we would have had to buy all new pants at the next size up, OR things would have to change. So I said well why don't you join WW with me, and so he did.

Since then he hasn't been having bread with every meal, just eating the lovely WW meals I've been making (and I had been making all along!), and he has even been getting onto the exercise bike and riding while he is playing his xbox to relax (it's really funny, I'll have to take a pic sometime...). He has kicked the "but the donuts were on special!" habit that he had if I sent him down to woollies to get something - particularily at night when things have been reduced, and he hardly ever has fast food (which I have to say he LIVED off in the days when we were courting, and he was doing full-time work and part-time Uni). In fact, he had Chickos (his favourite! Used to be Hungry Jacks at uni...) the other weekend as a treat, and he doesn't even enjoy it like he did anymore!

Anyway, just on the weekend I noticed his belly is almost gone!! Its so exciting! He only had 6 kilos to get back to the top of the healthy weight range when he joined, and he is now 0.6kg off it!!

I have to say I may be a little jealous that he will have joined, hit goal and become a lifetime member before me. But I'll deal with it! Cos he looks so handsome... and we don't have to buy new pants! WOOHOOO!!
:)

As of yet I can't seem to find single supporting photo of his loss (he always seems to be behind me!), So I just thought I'd put a photo from our wedding on here (which was definately pre-belly!). I'll have a look for photos later and see what I can come up with!

Isn't he handsome?! I love him so much! :)

I've created...

2006-06-04T14:57:00.000+10:00

A recipe!

I have a tendancy towards the end of of the week, in the days before I do a new food shop, to create recipes out of whatever is around. Today's worked out exceedingly well, so I thought I would share!

basically that genius of my recipe scheming lay in the fact that I made dumplings from the damper recipe...

oh they were yummy...

:)

so basically if was a fish casserole with dumplings.
so that can be it's name.

Ingrediants:
Fish (cos I had some in the freezer, and no other meat in the house)
red lentils (about a 1/2 cup ish? I didn't measure, whatever feels right. :)
2 carrots
celery
green beans
vegetable stock

Cook together in a saucepan with just enough water to cover them all, boil away for a while...
While it's happily cooking, mix

1 cup wholemeal s/r flour
pinch salt
1/4 milk
1/4 cup water
Good shaking of dried oregano
Good shaking of mixed dried herbs

in a small-med bowl, until sticks together and still a little sticky.
Then put the whole contents of the saucepan into a casserole dish (with a lid), make dough into dumplings (I made 2 for my hubby and 1 for me) and place in the mixture (which should be thick by now cos all the lentils have stuck it together), and spoon a little liquid over the top of the dumplings so they are moist. Then stick the lid on and stick it in the oven for 20 mins or until the dumplings look so good you just have to eat them.
:)

Ok, so that was half recipe and half commentary. But I have fun cooking, and I don't make notes or anything, I just go with the flow!

Anyway, all the ingrediants are No Count, and it's lovely and warm and filling. And it also isn't too "fishy" which I was glad about. It was just right.

Good, but oh so tired!

2006-06-03T17:00:00.000+10:00

I had my WW weigh in today (I am glad I don't have to weigh in at curves more than once a motnh, this is confusing me!) and I stayed the same as two weeks ago. Last week was "that time" so I had put on a bit but had chickened out of finding how much, and I was so right that is was all gone this week, cos it was nowhere to be seen! I would have liked to have lost, but staying the same is ok. So long as it's down again next week.
So today have been up at 6:30 to get to work, gone to the gym, and then an engagement party where I ate a sensible but yummy lunch and didn't have any of the dessert except for some fruit, and now I really tired. Super tired. So tired I think I am going to post this and go and have a nap!
*yawn*
:)

I'm getting warmer... right now!!

2006-06-02T18:29:00.000+10:00

Well I always said I wouldn't be one of those people with the furry jackets etc, but I am and its so warm and comfortable and now that I am not big I don't find that I look like a box anymore, I think it looks alright! (it's not fur by the way, all acrylic, the whole idea of wearing furs is harsh, unless you are a caveman and thats all there is to keep warm... we have so many other options!)

And I have noticed lately my jeans are looking a little odd now, they are getting baggy around the knees and around the belly is quite bad too (but i can hide that)! I need to to get to my next mini goal soon, I need those jeans, pronto!

though I was saying that they will be size 10 jeans... this is a size 8 jacket... it will be interesting, very interesting!

I LOVE BEING A SIZE 8!!! It's still freaking me out, really it is!! I need to keep reminding myself, cos I picked up a 14 and moved at least three steps before realising what i was doing!

Anyway, weigh-in tomorrow morning! Despite the excitment at Curves this morning, I think my I am heading for a small gain this week (due to cold/flu thing? Cos I have been SO good!). The Curves scales weigh about 2 kilos heavier though, so I really have no idea. Weighing in twice is just weirding me out...

oh my jacket is so warm!! It's so thick and so warm!!!

My first Curves Month :)

2006-06-02T09:10:00.000+10:00

Well today marks the end of my first month (or beginning of my second?) at Curves, and I have loved it! I think by my results, that it loves me too!
Today's measurements say that I have lost:

12.5cms

2.1 kilos

and 0.9% body fat!

I think that is pretty goods for a months hard work!
Now speaking of work, I have to go and do some!
:)

Learning the Layering...

2006-06-01T16:05:00.000+10:00

How very art-y of me... This is what it has come down to, me wearing a dress over a jumper and jeans (and shirts underneath...) plus a HUGE knitted scarf that a beautiful friend of mine made for me, and my hat, all just so butt doesn't freeze and I could leave the house last night and not be shivering all the time!!!
I guess the positive side of it is that the dress that I am wearing over the top of all these clothes was the size 10 little black dress that I have had hanging in my wardrobe for probably a decade, and was kind of my "goal outfit". And I am wearing it over things! So that's pretty good, yeah?
Oh, and just ignore the red puffiness of my eyes, nose, ok my whole face! I am getting better, I promise! Just not as quickly as I would like to! But I have continued to be good, and even exercised when I can, so hopefully it will all good for weigh in on Saturday. In the meantime though, tomorrow marks my first month at Curves, and I have to brave the body fat % thing, and the measuring tape... Should be interesting... I'm getting a little nervous, I hope there is something to show for my month!

The SOUP!

2006-06-01T12:55:00.000+10:00

YUM...

According to the book:

Serves 4, 1/2 pts per serve, and it is No Count and suitable to freeze
(personally we had more than 4 serves!)

Cooking oil spary
1 brown onion finely chopped
2 garlic cloves crushed
1 tbs mild curry powder
1kg cauliflower cut into florets
1.5L (6 cups) veg or chicken stock (using stock cubes)
400g can brown lentils, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup low-fat natural yogurt
2 tbs chopped fresh coriander leaves

1. Heat a large saucepan over medium heat. Spray with oil, add onion and cook stirring for 3 minutes. Add garlic, curry powder and cauliflower. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.

2. Add stock and bring to boil. Reduce heat ad simmer, covered for 10-12 minutes or until cauliflower is tender.

3. Blend or process soup in batches until smooth. Return to pan and add lentils and yogurt. Stir over low heat until hot. Taste and season with salt and pepper.

4. Ladle into bowls and sprinkle coriander on top to serve.

To go with it I made the Wholemeal & mixed herb damper

serves 8 points per serve 1 1/2, No Count

1 1/2 cups wholemeal plain flour
2 tsps baking powder
pinch of salt
1/4 cup chopped fresh mixed herbs (such as parsley basil or chives)
[I only had dried, and used oregano and mixed herbs andit was yummy!]
1 cup skim milk
[I used water and a pinch of milk powder]

1. prehat to 220 degrees. lightly flour a baking tray. Mix flour, baking powder and salt into large bowl. Stir in herbs.

2. Add milk, mis unitl dough comes together. Turn onto lightly floured surface and knead for 2 minutes or until smooth. Shape into a 20cm disk. Place on tray. Score surface 3 times.

3. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until damper sounds hollow when tapped. Transfer to wire rack to cool slightly and serve warm.

Both recipes are in the new Really Contented Tummy Cookbook, get it! It's awesome and so yummy...

ENJOY!!! :)

Proof of a new me!

2006-05-29T12:55:00.000+10:00

Today, I am not moping. There is no eating whatever is around, or random eating throughout the day because my brain is fogging and I'm just not focusing. Nope, none of that today. Last year when I was recovering from a BAD bout of pneumonia, I wasn't very hungry and got really fussy (meaning I only wanted hot chips and pies), and the moping random etc happened. ALOT. Last night I went to bed so early, and have slept for at least 14 hours, and have a horrid cold thingy, but I am not defining my day by it. In fact, I downed the cold/flu battling thingys, put my gym stuff on and went to the gym (where I did not cough or sneeze and used plenty of antibacterial gel stuff - so never fear on that front).
So I am so proud of me! Because it didn't even occur to me to have a 'I'm sick so I deserve a day off' kind of day, I just went on with business as usual. Every other time I have got sick I have still had to battle to get control. In fact I am sure there are other posts about it in my history, because I really do catch EVERYTHING that goes round.
So I really am counting the positives right now, and that makes me even happier. So far this week (my week starts on Saturday as that is weigh-in day) I have only used 4 1/2 extras points and of that only 2 1/2 of them are sugar points, which has got to be a weekend record for me. So I am hoping to keep that low, and hopefully it has a great effect on my weigh-in this week!

*update from last post*
THE SOUP IS FABULOUS! And my husband absolutely LOVES the wholemeal herb damper too. I used to make a lot of damper for us, but not with herbs and using normal flour, but since going on No Count I have made it a lot less. This damper he actually enjoys even more (and we just used dried herbs not even fresh, but I intend to try the fresh too!), and it's completely No Count! WOOHOOO!! So we have made again since as we still have soup left to eat... I love soup...
And Curves is wonderful, excellent, love it, can't reccomend it enough. It's also less than half the price of the other gym's around here, though I have heard that it is more expensive in the city. Then again, everything is isn't it?
It doesn't matter what exercise you do, those endorphins kick in no matter what, but the quaility of exercise is definately boosted at a gym! SO GO ENJOY EVERYONE! :)

chicken sounds bweerrrak! bwerak bwarck...

2006-05-27T18:24:00.000+10:00

I chickened out, while on the scales actually, from weighing in today. I think I put on a kilo, and I know exactly what it is (see post below) so I just didn't want to see it, cos it is not real, does not reflect on what i have done this last week, and most importantly it will be NOT THERE next week!
So I'm fine with that. I'm just assuming for the time being that I have stayed the same (cos I usually put on 2kilos at this time, so this is a "normal" thing).

And now i am looking forward to this next week! I am still having trouble from cramps but not nearly as bad now a few days down the track, and I went to the gym and PUSHED myself (instead of slacking off a little over the last few days), and that felt great. Then instead of hanging around doing not a lot at home this arvo, I told my hubby and a friend who is over for the weekend that we were going for a walk down to the beach and around etc, and that was lovely. It was great to get out in the sunshine and talk and explore rocks and have a great time. We live right near the beach that we got married on, so it's always lovely to wonder down regularly cos it is so pretty and special to us. That's why I am have put one of our wedding photos on here (one where I, thanks to camera, don't look too heavy. I was about 10kgs lighter than my heaviest at the time, so it was a good thing... :) That bust is all gone now though!

All in all, I am really looking forward to a bright new week. Right now I have a pot of cauliflower and lentil soup cooking and some wholemeal herby damper in the oven, from the new Really contented Tummy Cookbook, and they are smelling yummy! And we are doing a food shop tomorrow, so will be all No Count planned out for the rest of the week! YAY!

Oh, and on friday I will have been at curves for a month, which means first measurement day is almost here! I am really looking forward to this, I want to see what that body fat % is doing! Should be interesting!

Curled up in a ball...

2006-05-25T21:06:00.000+10:00

Sometimes, I just curl up in a ball. I'll give you one guess why...
Yep, you got it, I'm a hormonal mess right now.
Unfortunately I have a few hormonal problems, which means that I have never had a normal cycle, and when I get graced with the womanly curse, even the prescription meds can't stop me from curling into a ball in pain. Though they did stop the nausea at just nausea, I don't think I could have handled anything more.
Anyway, since dinner and nausea passing a bit, I have just eaten and eaten and eaten. And my belly is STILL rumbling and telling me that it is starving hungry. I just don't know what to do, so I've brushed my teeth and still have my water bottle next to me, and I have the faithful company of my lifetime pal, teddy. Seriously, teddy and I never even went anywhere without each other until I was four or five, and my hubby is out until the small hours of the morning, so teddy is sitting on my lap, helping me vent my frustrations into typed form. Better than eating I guess! Or crying, because that's my other choice right now.
*sigh*
*hugging teddy*
I think it's early bedbed for this little RaeRae.
Teddy does make me feel better though, so here is my ode to teddy!

Oh teddy my dear,

yellow furry ol' friend,

I know you will be here

til the nights cold end,

Through the young and the old,

and the loss of most hair,

It can always be told,

that you'll always be there,

For Me.

tehehe

ok, that just cheered me up mightily, so I bid thee all a sleepy but cheery goodnight!
*sleepy grin*
:)

One cold tiny bunny...

2006-05-23T13:40:00.000+10:00

I'M FREEZING MY TINY TAIL OFF!!
Has anyone else found that they are far, far colder since or during their weightloss? I know this is not the first time I have complained about it, and I garrentee it will not be the last either!
So anyway, today I am wearing a million layers (see photo) and I know I look a little silly (refer to photo!), but I don't care anymore!

Actually, I am feeling a little better about it all now, because I just checked the current temperature and its a whole of 13.5 degrees, and its kindda spitting too... so it's cold. For me. Here on the coast. I know my parents in Canberra would tell me I am being silly, but it's just stupidly cold there!

Anyway, enough of me rambling about the weather- but my Dad is a weather man so it's in my genes- I wanted to celebrate that fact that I am not letting myself go overboard and eat and eat and eat to combat the cold. Believe me, I would really like to, but I am trying the zillion layers approach to the problem! I just had a big bowl of vegetable soup, and my hubby decided he wanted to make some savoury muffins, so he slaved over the oven and produced these lovely Spinach, Sun-dried Tomato and Fetta Muffins, from the WW Favourite Recipes. So I thought I would share. They arn't No Count, but I appreciate my hubby for them all the same!

Spinach, Sun-dried Tomatoes and Fetta Muffins
makes 12, 3pts each.

150g frozen chopped Spinach, thawed
2 cups s/r flour
1/2 cup pl flour
pinch cayenne pepper
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
100g reduced-fat butter, melted
50g sun-dried tomatoes, rehydrated, sliced
150g fetta

preheat oven to 200 degrees C. Coat 12 hole muffin tray with cooking spray. Squeeze excess moisture from spinach.
Sift flours into large bowl, season with cayenne pepper. Beat together spinach, eggs, buttermilk and butter, and add to the flour.
Add the tomatoes and fetta and fold gently til just combined. spoon into tray
Bake for 25-30mins, until goldern and risen, leave for 5min before removing from tray.

When we made them we made more than 12, so I would say 2 1/2 pts, and very filling. YUM!

MY BIG WEEK!!

2006-05-21T10:44:00.000+10:00

Well as I already commented, I was a little unsure if my major amounts of exercise would be a good or bad thing this week. And coupled with that, last week I had an unexpected, unexplained, VERY large gain of 1.5kilos! So I was really hoping that was all gone (though I was sure it was, was feeling majorly bloated last week...). Anyway, this week I hoped an and lost 3.2kilos!! So basically my body is a little crazy, but I already knew that, so it's all ok. :)

I'm so excited about it anyway, no matter how crazy my body is!
tehehe, actually getting more excited the more i think about it! :)

So I am once again feeling happy about my weightloss as a whole. Oh, and i hadn't changed my weight on my stats for a bit, cos I didn't trust that gain (and didn't want to see the Perth gain either... Ok so that may have been a little silly of me but it is off again now!), so they are correct again now. I just didn't need to see that change in front of me, I needed the motivation to get back to what I was. ;)

In more exciting news this week, I bought my very first size 8 top! I hope you can see the pictures, they should be visible, but my monitor is playing up so I can't tell! I was so shocked though, I have been loving trying on all the size 10's in the shops (though unfortunately not having the money to actually buy! Oh well, it's still fun!), but it was a huge shock to fit the 8! It only happened because there was no 10 (and it was a sale rack, hence me actually looking and buying this time! YAY!), so I said oh well, I can see how far I have to go to an 8, and it fit! I showed my hubby (not telling him the size), and he said get it cos it is cute, and after getting it and walking half the way home I finally told him that "well actually it's an 8", and it's just a good thing he wasn't crossing the road cos he went all speechless and stumbled and stuff. It was really cute and funny. Anyway, I am really loving the whole new tiny me, but I am feeling shorter and shorter by the day... I guess all that bulk I used to have made me feel taller!

I have had a busy but lovely weekend actually, friends I haven't seen in the while were down my way so we went out for Indian last night (where I enjoyed but was sensible!) and breakfast at this LOVELY cafe on the North Beach of Wollongong. And a very tiny friend of mine was amazed and told me how tiny I am looking and that was lovely. I really do love myself and life and all the energy I have, it's so refreshing and invigorating! I was reflecting back on how many years I have been struggling with my weight, and about being a fat teen in high school, and I am ready to close the door on that existence for good. I have tried and tried and not made it stick, not gone the distance, but this time I have and I will keep on going!

I'm adding more cycling back into my exercise this week I think, haven't done that for a while. Need to keep things different! And watch out, here I come towards goal!

:)

Sunday arvo update...

Rae's New Stats,
which I have learnt from Jessie (beyourself-onlybetter.blogspot.com)

- Age: 22yrs
- Body Fat Composition: 33.0%
- Weight: 68.8kg
- Lean body Mass: 46.1kg
- Fat Mass: 22.7kg
- BMR: 1433cals, or 5990Kj

New thing I have learnt this week:
BMR stands for Basal Metabolic Rate, which is the amount of energy you need each day, just to keep your body working, and not taking into account any movement or exercise.
I was surprised at how much we actually need to keep going... interesting... go see Jessie blog if you want to learn more... :)

Rae's body fat % aim: to get to 27% after my first 3 months at Curves.

How much exercise have i done this week...?

2006-05-19T12:05:00.000+10:00

HEAPS!!! I have actually made a commitment to my Husband that if I don't have a good week on the scales this week I will really pull back my exercise next week, cos with the kayaking and hiking and my normal exercise, my week total is more than 580mins of exercise! Which is almost 10hours this week!! OH MY GOODNESS!!
Anyway the pics are from an email Berrie (see Berrie's amazing transformation so far at tinydonna.blogspot.com!) sent me and I think they describe me perfectly right now! I feel like warrior woman slaying dragons, and I am running around and around and around and around and around and around cos I have so much energy these days! I love it!

*grin*

I also want to say a HUGE thankyou so everyone who comes and visits me here and leaves little comments, I love getting them! Thankyou so much, you brighten my day! :)

Weigh in day tomorrow, and I have a new top to wear as well, which i am extra specially excited about...

Adventures galore!

2006-05-16T13:41:00.000+10:00

I just got back from a wonderful few days away at the Colo River, with a very dear friend who is practically a sister to me (we grew up next to each other and even when we were on different postings we have stayed close!), and my hubby too of course. :)
Anyway it was great fun, we went bushwalking for an hour and a bit on Saturday after we got there in the arvo, and that was lovely, the cliffs are amazing and the river is so pretty. Then on Sunday we got all dressed in our short shorts and t-shirts and went Kayaking for a good three hours. We think that we went about 15kms by looking at the map. And we stopped on the banks and had a picnic lunch and made a little fire and had billy tea and it was just lovely. I am so grateful for Team Sexy Arms though, without all those push-ups I definitely don't think I would have been paddling as strong as we did! We even got to explore a little tributary, it felt like we were in the Amazon! Was very cool...
anyway after the bright sunny Sunday we woke up to a miserable Monday, but that didn't stop us going on our hike/bushwalk from the top of Colo ridge to the Colo river, going up and down ravines etc! It was great fun, and Hannah and I were delighted to discover how fit we are! We were very impressed with ourselves! We descended 350m, along a 7km track, and none of it was level.... Anywhere...
and it was wet and all the plants were wet and we were SOPPING wet by the end, but we had a ball!

Rae's first (cute) HAT! :)

2006-05-12T21:06:00.000+10:00

I am so proud of my hat.

It sits so cute with my new hair, and my hubby loves it too and keeps telling me how cute I am (I am currently in my massive dressing gown and still wearing it...).

It very exciting, I feel like I can survive the cold now, because at least all my warnth will not be able to escape out the top of my head now... so hopefully I will need less clothes layers on! So therefore solves the problem of not much that fits... :)

Would you believe I have never had a cute hat before? It is very exciting not to look like a bauble/pompom/ball-face!!! :)

oh and I think that I have caught TinyDonna's camera addiction... I seem to love taking lots and lot and lots of photo's these days!

I've got the Winter Blues

2006-05-09T19:08:00.000+10:00

I have the Winter Blues. I really don't like being cold, it's oh so depressing! Every winter since my teens (when I suddenly started feeling the cold...), I have put on weight. So I have a whole lot of Winter baggage I think! Last year I got pneumonia and was sick for months and put on 6 of the kilos I had worked so hard to lose, and there is NO WAY that I am letting that happen again!
I guess I am struggling with the very thought of many more weeks of this cold before I ever feel the comfortable warmth again. Then again, TinyDonna (who loves the cold, I am glad someone does! Really!) has informed me that Spring (which is still too cold...) is only 18 weeks away! I am so going to be at goal this Winter. It am not going to let the cold misery in!
I think one of my problems may stem from the fact that really have very little warm clothes to wear. Last winter I was a size 16, I haven't been smaller than a 14 during winter for 6 or 7 years!! I have NOTHING!! This is definitely going to have to change... I think I may have to do a bit of an Op-shop crawl and see what I come up with! Hmmmm, I'm feeling a bit better now that I have come up with this plan!

This weeks Weigh-in

2006-05-08T21:18:00.000+10:00

I forgot to put this week weigh-in on here!!
This week I lost....

Drum-roll please...

da-dum!

1.1kgs!!

Understandably I find this result quite pleasing....

*grin*

oh, and I have beento Curves 3 times now and am loving it! They have a wall of star for people to put up for each 10cm they have lost... I found myself wishing i could back-date it though!

Real Denim... scary... and a new outfit...

2006-05-08T15:53:00.000+10:00

Well this week the beautiful Tiny Donna has inspired me to do something I didn't think I could even contemplate, let alone do, and that is to actually try on jeans in a "real" jeans store. I am ashamed to say I have never actually done that! And I have NEVER tried on jeans without stretch, for some reason I thought that was the only way to have jeans...
Anyway, if you haven't heard about Donna's jean experience, go over to tinydonna.blogspot.com and check it out now!!
Actually I have to thank Nadine too, because her aim to get back into her size 9 jeans helped push close that change room door too!! You will get them Nadine!! :)
So I did the whole jeans thing really quick, cos I wasn't sure I would do it otherwise. The shopgirl must have thought I was a little weird actually... Anyway I walked in, didn't even look at the style of jeans, just looked at the labels, grabbed the first size 10 I could find, yanked it out and walked rather (ok, very) briskly to the change room and closed the door before I could think twice about it. Then I put them on... With all the usual comments going through my head (eg: these are little little little people clothes! Just cos you can fit other size ten's doesn't mean anything! I mean we all know that jean store are tiny sizes, right!)

And they fit! ARGH!

Why do I keep deluding myself?? I just don't get me!!! argh, I am so happy!!!

Anyway, I didn't buy them (shopgirl wasn't happy about that... woops. :) The reason being is that I am going to buy jeans for my next reward. But now that the ten fits... What size will I be by then??? Who know... But I am sure it will be a very exciting event!! I think I might have to take a girlfriend along though, I might get too excitable for my hubby to handle shopping with!!
:)

oh and the pics up the top are for my dear Berrie, to show off the new and improved Sexy Arms!

(GO TEAM SEXY ARMS!!!!!!)
WOOOHOOO (imagine me waving imaginary pompoms!)

AND, it is also my VERY FIRST, BRAND NEW size TEN top! It's for exercise, but still!! I am sure I will get some pretty tops sometime later, it's just that this was more urgent for support reasons! :)

Team: Sexy Arms! NEW push-ups I've learned...

2006-05-05T08:31:00.000+10:00

While I was away my Mum and I did 4, count them 4, PUMP classes in the space of 8 days. Are you proud of me? I am! Anyway, I learnt a lot in these classes, here are some of the things I learnt:
1. I REALLY need to keep doing weight training exercise more regularly than I have been.
SO, I have joined Curves and am looking forward to going!
2. I may have come a long way with push-ups, but I have a lot further that I can go!
SO, I am going to keep pushing myself, and I'm going to get back into my everyday habit of doing them!
3. That there are more ways of doing push-ups, and that is what I am going to share right now!

Tricep Push-ups

Variety One
Put your hand underneath you with the index and thumbs forming a DIAMOND shape, and keep the rest of your fingers together. Your elbow should be sticking out the sides (think: chicken wings!). Either raise to toes or knees, then dip down and up like a regular push-up, and you should feel it down the backs of your arms.

Variety Two
in push-up position, bring your elbows in to your sides, with your hands directly below you shoulders. Your upper arms should be tight into you body. On knees or toes, slowly dip and up. To make it harder (which i definitely don't yet!), lean forward slightly so you are further out over your hands.

Try starting with 5 of each, and work your way up.
If you do then all on knees to start with, then try and introduce some toe ones, and over time increase the amount of toe ones you do, until one day you find you do them all on your toes! HURRAH! :)

Cardio Push-ups

Not sure what to call these, but I thought this was a rather appropriate name!

For this one, you will need to grab a phone book or some other raised and steady object of about 10cm high.
Put the Phone Book in front of you and get ready for a push-up (knees or toes), but have left hand on the phone book and the other hand on the floor. Push down and up, then switch so that your right hand is on the book and left is on the floor (just move your weight around on your arms, don't move your knees/feet. They should just swivel!). Go down and up and then switch again. Do these fast but steady, and they will definitely get your heartrate up as well as working out those muscles! GO GO GO!

When I do these I kind of switch of my brain and say "down, up, SWITCH, down, up, SWITCH, down, up, SWITCH!" There isn't room for any other thoughts!
Set yourself a goal, so to do 20, and keep repeating it is your head and your body will follow!
Make sure you remember to do these after your workout so you are all warmed up already!

I'm BACK!!! :)

2006-05-03T11:14:00.000+10:00

I'm so excited, the computer seems to be working for me again! Let's see how long this lasts!
Well I am back from my travels over west, and had a great time, was very busy (I am so I didn't getto see you Jen, I would have loved to! I'm guessing I will be back over there soon-ish though!) but it really was good. Unfortunately the cd that I have put all my photos onto has been corrupted somehow... so I am going to have to wait until I can get some from my mum :(
So instead I have put a pic of the flowers that my GORGOEUS HUSBAND bought me on here, and a recent pic of me... in the only pair of pants that I have that fit, and that my mum keeps calling my skinny pants, so I like them alot right now!!! :)
Funny story about the flowers actually (I really desearve these ones!), I got home - from flying throught the night and a long stopover- to Canberra, and then a 3 hour drive back to my place (my parents are in Canberra, otherwise I would have flownto Sydney, it's much closer!) , only to discover that my darling husband had locked the deadbolt when he had come down for a day while I was in perth, completely forgetting that my key to the deadbolt doesn't work! So I got here and all I wanted to do was crash on the bed and not move... and I couldn't get in! Anyway, I had to stay with some lovely friends (and play with there beautiful baby girl all day... so not a huge sacrifice there!) until my hubby finished up his job in Sydney and finally came home to me! Hence, he got me some beautiful flowers, and attached to the ribbon was a brand new set of keys that actually work... YAY! :)

Well now that I am back I am REALLY keen to get to goal, preferably by the 24th of July, which is my birthday. I'm aiming for a loss of 0.6 each week which would get me there, and I have just joined up to Curves gym so I can have regular weights training to keep on toning me up! (and since I am a student, it's so much cheaper than doing PUMP classes, which I have loved doing while I was away with my Mum).
Unfortunately I haven't got to go Curves for a workout yet, both hubby and I have come down sick. grrr. so taking it really easy and getting better in record time! :) So in the interest of getting better I am getting off from in front of this screen right now, and will ramble on more later! :)

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