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

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...

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!!! :)

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! :)

Living the High Life while away!

I got to go to a gym! A real, fancy gym! My little $50 exercise bike that I am riding to the death at home is going to be so jeolous when I get back after riding the fancypants ones I did yesterday! Heart rate monitor and everything... I had fun!
Anyway, yesterday I did my first pump class in at least three years (possibly more, and even then I only think I have done two in my entire life before now...). I really enjoyed it, and my mum (who does them all the time) was right next to me so I could just copy her, and bug her with all my questions!
Surprisingly enough, I am not really very sore this morning either! So TEAM Sexy Arms, I think we have been doing a very good job!! I am a little stiff, but no more than I have been every other morning, due to sleeping on an air mattress. I am goign to need a very good back adjustment when i get home! grrr, evil air mattress...
Mum is really keen to get to the gym three more times while we are away, so PUMP, here I come again! YAY! :)

Sixties Girl!

I am in the sixties!!!
WOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!
I have to say, I don't know what to say, I am just very very excited about it all! Over the last few days everyone around me has been eating chocolate by the blockfull, and meals have been fish and chips, kfc, airplane snacks etc... And I have managed to keep portions down and drink water and eat and apple where ever I got the chance. Its been really stressful, and I've had little sleep, but I am really proud of myself. (So please excuse the bags under eyes in photos... I look barely with it, but i am happy! REALLY!!)
My reward for getting into the sixties, getting to 69, has always been a haircut! I have been needing it for SO long, and even though it is shorter than what I asked for, I am really coming to love it!
Though I got a funny comment from my uncle... he gave me a hug and commented on my hair, and then said "but you seem so short!". Even my hubby agreed I look shorter (but oh so cute!) with my hair shorter, I wonder why this is?
odd...

How to... Put your stats in side bar :)

It took me a while to work this one out, cos I had seen them on other people's site, but am not very computer literate. However I am very stubborn, so kept going until I got it figured out! I found out that if you go to the view' menu, and click source', then you can see what other the site is made from (I know it has a fancy word... Is HTML right?).
So while on my page, get the source for it, and scroll down (about 3/4) you will see a block of text about my stats. They are pretty hard to miss, cos they are the only real 'Block' in there.
If you cut and paste the whole stats section into your own source, then you get them too!
So when you have logged into blogger dashboard, click on TEMPLATE, then scroll down until near the end (you have to go past the whole content section) and you will get to the profile content part, under where it says end profile, then put this in. With your stats though, of course! Then click PREVIEW to check it is right before you save anything!
If you get stuck, just look at where they are on my source and try and put them in the same spot on yours and it should work out.
I tried to put the whole thing on here so you could just cut and paste it, but blogger is too smart, and keeps converting it to real stats... And I don't know how to stop it!

For the photo on the profile, you have to get a web posting. I know it recommends one on blogger, picasa or something, but that wouldn't work for me. Someone told me about www.photobucket.com, you can put your photos onto the web to use easily,and you can use them for profile. Its free sign-up, so even easier!

For everyone who likes my bellydancing costume, thank you! I made it myself! The pants in particular are very simple, if anyone wants the 'pattern' (cos I really just made it up so I am not sure it counts as a pattern!), just let me know!

p.s the smiley face does not relate to anything in particular, I just felt like it!

Team: Sexy Arms! The 'How to' of Push-ups!

This one is for Berrie and Jen! HI GIRLS! :) [see Jen at www.jenhoon.blogspot.com!]

I have been finding out lots about Push-ups, I want to make sure I'm doing them right, so that all the Team Sexy Arms ladies get their sexy arms, and don't injure anything in the process! This is only the beginning, I will add more as I go! :)

The Three Levels of Push-ups:
Starting out – (Little upper body strength):
Opt for the wall push-up. Stand on your toes and place hands slightly wider than shoulder width apart on the wall, at about shoulder height. Press into the wall slowly, hold, and press out again as exhaling.
The Further away your feet are from the wall, the greater angle you have and the harder it becomes. So if you are getting comfortable, move the feet out and keep challenging yourself!

Moderate level
Knee push-up. Like a Full push up, except with knees on the ground and feet up in the air, ankles crossed together. Follow instructions as fornormald remember to keep back and body straight!

Serious Push-ups! :)
Up on toes and keeping straight, lower and lift with arms.

Helpful technique tips:
1 Your palms should be at shoulder level, and slightly wider than shoulder width apart.
2 Your feet should be together and parallel to each other
3 Look forward rather than at the floor (I think this is so you don’t bump you nose on the floor if you collapse! : )
4 Don’t bend or arch your back as you push, keep your body straight.
5 Exhale as your arms straighten out to the ‘top,’ and pause at the 'top.'
6 Move slowly and pause slightly at ‘bottom’ as well.

I find number 3, looking forward, and number 5, exhale as going up, interesting and am going to have to try them out!
I also found this useful piece of information on Muscle Definition. As women we don’t want to bulk up, but nicely tone. So this could be useful if you do want to work on a particular part of the chest, or if you want to not work a particular part! For example, if you have been having your hand slightly further out, and don’t want to have that muscle defined, move them back in a little! :)
To Make push-ups harder:
If you get used to your push-ups and want to make them harder, then slow down! Go slower down, hold and slower up. Much harder!
You can also go onto your knuckles, (also good if you have bad wrists, like me, I find it less pressure... each to their own!) or even onto dumbbells or bricks (I think I'll leave all those options for my hubby! :)


Muscle definition
To gain greater definition on different pectoral muscles, do the following:
Top of pec: Do your push-ups with your feet on a higher surface (decline push-up).
Bottom of pec: Do push-ups with your hands on a higher surface (incline push-up).
Outside of pec: Do push-ups with hands spread SLIGHTLY further from the body.
Inside of pec: Do push-ups with hands SLIGHTLY further under the body.

And my most important tip (which I actually only found meantioned in one place, and I think it's more important than that!) is:
***Don't go past 90 degrees with the bend of your elbow! [I've gone further... you don't get back up, and it hurts things!! Just don't! :) ] ***

I think one of the good things of doing this research is that it has mostly reassured me that i am doing them right, and not badly. Would hate to grow an extra muscle or something from doing them badly!! *big grin* Hope everyone else finds something interesting too! :)

Belly Revealing!

I'm sorry if I scared anyone with that first photo, but I need it there to prove and celebrate the NEW belly!
The first photo was only 4.5kgs heavier. Can you believe it?!
I am amazed at the difference those kilos (and sit-ups!) have made! I have a belly, and it's not all rolly! Sure, there are some lumps and bumps still, but those are being ironed out, and those arms are being motivated by the rest of TEAM: SEXY ARMS (HI girls!) so they will be even better too! I have never shown my belly off before, guess there is a first time for everything!
p.s I have thrown out that blue bikini, no way it fits anymore! I might just have to go buy myself some gorgeous new beachwear when the cold weather retreats!
p.p.s I must be feeling fearless after getting the guts up to publish those before photos, cos I am no longer worried about what everyone will think when they see me in this state of dress! :)

Before Photos!

I feel there is enough reasonably current photos on here, however up until now I didn't have any really clear (as in you can see the fat. They are not very clear, focused photos I'm afraid) before photos, as they were all on film. So I have actually attempted to take photos of my before photos, and I hope you can see them alright, and see the difference to me now too! :)
It was the photo on the top right that really made me cry. It was taken about 18months ago. I had got all dressed up in a dress that I wore as a bridesmaid, which was a 16, but when I wore it for my friends wedding it was quite loose (I just need the room around the chest...) anyway, I was still thinking I was that same size, and I put this dress on to go out in, and it was tight. Really tight. And it had a laced back top, and BIG skirt, so that's saying something. I ended up wearing my black trenchcoat over it most of the night (which didn't do up anymore anyway!) and when I got the photos back there really was no room for denial. I weighed in at a BMI of 34. Not pretty on a short girl!
So that photo is the one I show, when people want to know. It is the one in the front of my WW passport, and I think I will always keep a copy if it handy, just in case I get lazy... Because I never want to look like that again.
I did a lot of hiding in photos, so the other photos are older. The other photos are actually from high school, but at around about the same weight- though my chest did grow even bigger than that! My weight went on VERY quickly, and I think when these were taken I hadn't even realized it had happened! Looking at them I don't know HOW I couldn't have noticed, but denial is a powerful thing. I managed to lose a little at the end of high school, and had troubles again when left for Uni, but have been overweight (ok, obese according to the BMI and now the photographic evidence!) since my teens.
Never Again.

My Fabulous Bellydancer Figure :)

Oh I got a fabulous comment last night! I am sick, have very little voice, and was at a dear friends 50th birthday party which was dress up. We had to dress up as something starting with A or B. Well I had all sorts of ideas.. And they all fell flat on their faces, and I was looking like having the leave with no costume, and then... I thought of my bellydancing bells! I did a bellydancing course a few years ago (when I was a lot heavier I might add! Good thing it was women only!), and have some bellydancing gear, and Bellydancer starts with B! YAY!
so I had a costume and I went along, with my flimsy pants and scarves and bells, and although I didn't do the revealing belly (which I considered, because I am starting to like said belly, it was just far to cold and I have been sick!) I was still a little self-conscious. I was soon put at ease however, when I a lady I didn't even know came over and started talking, and said
"oh, I'd thought about that [dressing as a bellydancer], but I don't have your figure to be able to pull it off!"
HUH! LOOK AT THAT! PRETTY GOOD COMPLIMENT, HEY! :)
I like compliments. I love giving them, and I love receiving them, and so I am going to celebrate every single one!
I really feel people don't give compliments as much as they should, even when they want to, so I am going to try hard to be kind, polite and complimentary whenever an opportunity arises!

Afterthoughts...
And the photos of me are actually quite ok, but you can see how desperately I need a haircut! Must get into 60's so I can cut my hair to flatter my face again! And must get better, so my neck glands are not so swollen, I even look at the pics and they hurt more! tehehe :)

How to create a Virtual Me...

It took me a while to work it out too... I used the virtual model from My Virtual Model, which is designed so you can try clothes on before you buy them!
Its found at http://myvirtualmodel.com/en/index.htm, and I used it through the marieclaire site. You just go in, click personalize, put in your figures and adjust until right. You do need to convert your weight into pounds, so just times your weight in kilos by 2.2 (cos there is around 2.2pounds in a kilo).
My computer is very old, and wouldn't let me establish the model as mine, but I could use the image just by right clicking and saving. Maybe a newer computer can? If so, have fun with the clothes! :)

Very Brave Today!

My BIG brave move...

Today, I re-heighted myself, so I would know, for good or bad, what height I actually am. When I started, I had been heighted at 160cm, but I really knew deep down that this was being generous, so I stood up and measured in at 158cm. Which is actually 1cm taller than I thought I was, so that is kind of cool!
This 2cm means a big 2kgs decrease in my WW goal weight, and I am being good, so I'm going for that. Even though I think I could get away with the 64, I am being honest to myself! I've changed my stats, and my ticker, and I have even changed my personal goal weight to 59. Figure if I have to be less, I may as well be in the tiny little 50's! :)

Now, To Week 3 Challenge Weigh-in!

I am pleased to report this week that
I, Little Rae Rae, lost

800grams!!!

WOOHOO!!!

Needless to say, I'm pretty happy with that! And to top it off, in another half a kilo, I'll be in the 60's! (which is where I really need to be, now that my goal weight has changed!)
*very big grin*

To celebrate such a good loss, I am starting the search for my new haircut, which is my reward for getting to 69 (and that is getting closer, yay!). I have been needing a haircut for quite some time, so I am REALLY looking forward to it! See pictures above! I am not sure what will suit me, but as I have quite thick hair layers work well... and it has been a while since i have a chin to show off, so i don't want to hide it! :)

Virtual Me

I had noticed these virtual pictures on other peoples sites, but it has taken me a while to work out how to do them! Had lots of fun though, especially as I keep wondering what size I will look like etc...
that being said, the "fat" one still has a flat tummy? As if!! I've only been able to SEE my belly button the last 6 kilos or so. Maybe its genetic, I look at Fiona on the biggest loser and I have no idea why she has the tummy she has, because I can't remember very well a time when I felt like I didn't have rolls...
I remember feeling fat when I was a (younger) teenager and competitively swimming and dancing. Looking back now, I can see I was tiny, but I felt fat. Probably all the muscle, cos I weighed more than a lot of my friends, but was probably smaller. I guess I needed to get that out, because I want to be happy with my body, and I think my body image is probably already much better than it was back then!
hmmm... New resolution, as part of getting into the 60's, I'm going to get my fat before photos scanned so I can put them on here. I wanna do the comparison for real!
I am rambling a bit today, but I feel the need to. I have had a temperature and major pounding headache and awful throat, and so now that the fever has broken I've started thinking again... So I feel the need to just record my feelings etc. I also have weigh-in tomorrow, and have no idea what to expect, because of going away unexpectedly mid-week, and being unwell again. But I am not going to stress about it, I'm just going to do my best and keep on track, and have faith that everything will fall into place. Thinking at this rate I'll have to throw a party to celebrate getting into the 60's, because it's becoming quite a battle! :)

Famous Short Women

I got to thinking the other day, about how everytime I watch a movie or TV show etc, I think to myself, I could never look like that because they are all so TALL. So I took it upon myself to find some shorter famous women, and see what they looked like. I found a site that lists heaps of people by height, it was really quite fascinating... These are the most relevant to me and my shortness, as I am around 5'2".

Judy Garland 5'3"
Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) 5'3"
Melissa Joan Hart (of TV's "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch") 5'3"
Vivian Leigh 5'3"
Natalie Portman 5'3"
Jennifer Love Hewitt 5'2-1/2"
Gillian Anderson 5'2" [1.57m]
Tori Amos 5'2"
Christina Aguilera 5'2"
Paula Abdul 5'2"
Rachael Leigh Cook (star of "She's All That") 5'2
Sally Field 5'2"
Holly Hunter 5'2"
Avril Lavigne 5'2"
Shakira 5'2"
Elisabeth Shue 5'2"
Reese Whitherspoon 5'2"
Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia in Star Wars) 5'1"
Janeane Garofalo 5'1"

Since realizing that while I still have 7 kilos to go until I get to the top of my range, I am currently fitting into size 12 and now 10 clothes, I have actually started to get a little worried. I haven't been in the healthy weight range since my teens, and before I had fully matured at that, so I really don't know what to expect. But at the rate I am am going, I can actually see that I might just be quite petite after all. I think I will still have broader shoulders and chest, I am a swimmer after all, but I can see the petite-ness emerging, and it's really quite fun!
Most of the people above seem to be at a healthy weight, and they are all petite, so I don't mind having them as my inspirations! Its better than looking at those Olsen twins or Lindsey Lohan or any of the other waifs I see on the magazies everytime I just want to buy some groceries. I would love to be as cute as Vivian Leigh though, bring it on! :) and when I was little I used to pretend to be princess Leia (which worked really well, as up until a few years ago my hair was very very very long!), though not with the metal bikini, I'll give that one a miss.
I am very interested in the role models that children and adolescents have, and therefore thought I should explore my own role models too, so I think this might become a little bit of a theme for a while.
To all the beautiful short women out there, What do you think of the role models we have in the spotlight for our height?

Dotty

I'm feeling kind of dotty at the moment, it has been a long day, and a long couple of days. But I don't think I'm really ready to expand on that right yet. I am, however, exceedingly happy with the fact that I have been surrounded by people eating chocolate for almost a week in some very stressful circumstances, and I have been able to say no without too much worry! This is a big thing, I have had a huge problem with comfort eating, its kind of odd when it doesn't happen now!
Anyway, in my dotty mood I decided to get creative (my answer to everything! No wonder I'm a visual arts student!) and capture my mood. What do you think?

I think i need to ge something on this computer that has more scope than 'paint'!

:)

Is that the right size for you?

I had an undercoverwear party on Saturday night, and I came out wearing something that I had put on and really just assumed was fitting right without looking (cos it was "my size"), and I went out to get the opinion, and got asked this question:

Is that the right size for you?

Oh gosh did I freak! First thing that popped into my head was "silly you, what makes you think you are a size 12, you are much bigger than that! They are all looking at you thinking 'she is going to break those buttons!'", and so I kind of mumbled "I think so...". Then my friend, who had made the comment, spoke out again and said "there seems to be a bit of spare room in it!" and I looked down and found all this space I wasn't taking up! The size 12 was actually too big; I needed the ten.

THE SIZE TEN!!!!
THE LITTLE PEOPLE CLOTHES!!!

About then I was a little too overwhelmed, so I went and got changed again (into my clothes that are falling off me...) , and by the time I got back out I was ecstatic! I'm so excited! And I tried on other non-stretch fitted skirts and tops etc, in size 10, and they all fitted!
I guess until now I have been saying I am only a ten in really stretchy items, but I don't think that applies anymore! YAY!

So in conclusion, I am a VERY HAPPY

Little Rae Rae :)

Week 2 Challenge Weigh-In

Well weigh in time comes around every week, and brings new emotions every week... and this week they were decidedly unimpressed emotions. Even though I had the flu, I still did 210mins of exercise in the week (I had a great start to the week!), and I didn't exceed my extras, or eat all my sugar points. So I guess I went expecting a good loss.

Well, i Lost...

200grams.

Thats it.

GRRRRR...

Anyway, I am over it now. When I got home I was good and did my measurements and in just a week I have lost around the middle and legs. So thats great. I really, really want to be in the sixties though! *sigh*

To make myself feel better, (cos I know chocolate won't help, it's only a fair weather friend...) I made myself a picture of me at goal, in a gorgous dress from StopStaring (as seen below!).

Feeling better already! And I WILL be a sixties girl!
:)

Gorgeous dresses!

I was just visiting Tracey Anne's Site and she has the most gorgeous dresses from a site called http://www.stopstaringclothing.com/ and I want to buy all of them! Tracey has some awesome things she is going to do when she gets to goal, she has inspired me and I feel all motivated to achieve my own goal!
I have a red polka dot dress that I got a s a reward for getting to 74kilos and wore it for Christmas and weddings and I'd just love to have of these dresses too, and I'd feel GORGEOUS everyday!


Tracey Anne's weightloss journey: Go directly to GOAL. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200.

This time last year...

This time last year I was running around like a chicken with its head only holding on by a thread...
My flatemate and I were busy finishing making bridesmaids dresses, making and decorating the wedding cake, and finishing off all the decorations and had people arriving from everywhere as well. And I had uni assignments to do and classes, boy was I busy.
anyway, it was good, and it really seems a very long time ago! The photo I put on here is one of my hubbies favourites (you'd think the finish product would deserve more attention, but he likes this for the cuteness factor I think!), I think its quite funny!
looking over the year in regards to my weightloss, I have to be quite happy with it. I am 4 kgs lighter than I was when I got married,a and a much better body shape at that! And that is with having pneumonia last winter and subsequently putting on 6kgs while recovering from that. So those kgs are gone again plus more, and I'm well on my way to goal. I have also learnt since then to not eat badly when ill, and during this flu that I have had the last few days, I have been eating (good start!) and I have been eating good no count food (even better!). So I feel positive in what I have achieved and my progress for the year.
apart from weightloss, I have loved this first year of marriage! We have had some hard times, but I am really happy and love my hubby more and more each day! And I miss him now that he is away! Oh so much! But another thing I have conquered is the need to eat because I'm lonely, so YAY for me! :)
Feeling very pleased with myself today! :)

The Evil Flu Elephant

I couldn't resist myself! I found this awesome elephant site http://www.hinandus.net/elephanteris/index.html (all images curtesy of them) and thought they summed things up quite well...

First the elephant virus flies in all mean and nasty and infecting...

Squishy Pinky

Then the subject turns into a little squishy pink object and their eyes go cross-eyed...

Brain fog

and then the brain fog sets in and forms funny dancing elephants in a fun far away land....


*GRIN*

The Flu Elephant

Today I feel like I a flu elephant. I feel like my nose is as long as the room, and my fingers feel far to big and funny to type properly, and my skin feel grey and weird... THE FLU ELEPHANT!
anyway, obviously this huge elephant is getting in the way of me doing exercise, but I am being good with food til I am better. Besides, I don't really feel like eating much anyway. But eating to keep the metabolism up is good. :)
Still, I exercised really well at the beginning of the week, so I reckon I have a loss coming my way!
KEEPING POSITIVE! :)

Powering Along :-)

Well my darling husband has started a new job and it's in Sydney which means during the next 40 days I only get to see him 3 times. :( But I'll be busy, and I am going to Perth for a few days as well, so I'll get by. I just honestly hadn't realised how much I would be affected by it. This is the first time since we got married that he has been away, and it is our first wedding anniversary on Sunday and he is working for it. It means however, that I have extra motivation for completing this 6 weeks in a very stylish fashion, because in May we will hopefully be going away for a weekend or something to celebrate our anniversary properly, and I want to be a hot, in the sixties, and very close to goal kind of woman by then! :)
I was flicking through photos that we had, and might get a little sentimental, but hey, that's fine! Thought I'd start with a funny one of me loaded up with camping stuff and a broken arm. Twas the second half of our honeymoon, down at Jervis Bay, and it was beautiful. :)

My Challenge is still going well, I POWERED through an hour long swim yesterday, doing 2kms in only 3 short stops for water, and a short aquarobics Rae-style workout to finish off. I felt fantastic afterwards! And today I rode constantly on my exercise bike, and did a fitstrip, push-ups, sit-ups and starjumps workout tonight to top it off. I have really wanted to eat everything in the house today, but am glad to say the shelves remained stocked, and I'm not going to let myself get run down or mopey or general sook at the fact that I don't have a ready supply of hugs and kisses whenever I need them! :)

First Challenge Weigh-in

I LOST!
YAY!
I weighed in this morning and lost 0.6kgs, which (at the end of the day) I am happy with. This morning I really was hoping for big dramatic "moving off the plateau into a new stage" numbers, but it is a loss and its good!
Sticking to my goals for not eating bonus points, and I don't want to use all my sugar points either, I'd really like to keep that low and hope it effects a good loss. I have also set up my exercise for the week, it looks like this:

SAT - cycle 20mins, 25mins yoga
Sun - swim for 1 hour (I am aiming for 2.5kms!)
Mon - Fitstrip DVD and 20min cycle
Tues - swim morning 40min- 1.7kms, swim evening 1/2 swim & 1/2 aqua running
Wed - pilates morning, 20min cycle
Thurs - Week 8 dvd and 45min swim, 1.8kms
Fri - I'm going to try jogging for 30mins along the bike track.

It's been an interesting day, went to WW, got to go to dinner at a friends (always exciting). I also got the newspaper for the first time in weeks, which (sad to say I know...) has been really quite exciting for me! I have been reading an interesting article about some research saying that they think that the current obesity crisis is caused by a virus. Personally I think it is a bit of a reach, if anything it just makes people more susceptible to weight gain, you still have to eat to much energy and not burn enough for it to work.

I've pasted the article below, as seen in the SMH on the 18th of March.

Virus blamed for obesity epidemic

By Deborah Smith Science Editor, March 18, 2006

AS MANY as one in five Australians may have contracted a virus linked to obesity. Blood tests on 2000 Australians, carried out in the US, showed about 20 per cent of them had been exposed to a virus called Ad-36, which some researchers say can cause weight gain.
The idea that fatness is catching is controversial. However, Richard Atkinson, Emeritus Professor of Medicine at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, who did the testing, said a fat virus could help explain the worldwide epidemic of obesity.
"I believe obesity is a complex disease of many causes, one of which is viral infection," he said. How Ad-36 caused fatness was not known exactly, but it had been detected in fat cells in people and animals. In the laboratory it stimulates cells that are pre-fat cells to become fat cells.
Ethically, it was not possible to obtain proof of its role by infecting a lean person with a virus to see whether they got fat, Dr Atkinson said. "We would not have a whole lot of volunteers for that."
But he and colleagues have shown that chickens, mice and marmosets become fatter after infection with Ad-36 - one of more than 50 human adenoviruses that usually cause colds, eye infections and diarrhoea. Ad-36 was easily transmitted between animals in the same cage. "The uninfected animals got infected and got fat," Dr Atkinson said.
Tests on more than 500 Americans found about 30 per cent of obese people had been exposed to the virus, compared with 11 per cent of non-obese people. They identified 26 pairs of twins where only one had been infected with Ad-36.
"And just as we predicted, the infected twins were heavier and fatter," said Dr Atkinson, who has established a company that tests for the virus.
The Australians studied were also twins, but he said labels on their blood samples had been mixed up in another American laboratory, so a similar comparison was not possible. However, Professor Nick Martin, of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, who collaborated on the project, said his analysis found no link between Ad-36 infection and body mass index.
Ian Caterson, Professor of Human Nutrition at the University of Sydney, said that while it was possible a virus contributed to obesity, people should not worry they might have caught it. Any link "is still to be proven".
Obesity in Australia has more than doubled since 1980, a rise blamed on overeating and inactivity.

There was also an article about some tests they have done with mice and genes etc. I really would not like to be a mouse in these labs. They fed some a high energy diet, and guess what? they got fat. Then they fed them a controlled energy diet, and guess what? They lost weight. Then they gave them heaps of healthy food, but instead of maintaning their weight, they gorged on healthy foods and gained there weight back. Great, huh?! So they reackon that the body likes to "protect" its weight. Not good news for us losers, means we have to work really hard to keep it off! The mice also confirmed some things we already new, that genetics do play a part, and some people can eat junk and not gain weight. We ALL know one of those... grr to them...They also talked about the weight around the middle vs around the bottom and seemed to come to the conclusion that that is not just genetics, but related to the foods you eat, which is not what has been said lately, so is interesting... I think I might explore this more later. :)

Basically I feel the moral of the story is that it still comes down to what you eat and how much you exercise, and you can have heaps of excuses that you can blame, but you still have control. Except for the .001% of people who have that rare disease... but seriously, so many things are linked to obesity, and your genetics, health, even stress can affect your weight, but you still get to make the choice of to eat the choc or to not, or to sit on the couch or walk out the door. I chose the happy life! :)

Thursday's sweet sweet cravings...

I WANT SUGAR!
I'm no letting myself have any, I'm going to have jarrah hot choc instead! Still, sometimes I really hate being a woman with all these craving hormones and all...
I did pilates for the first time this morning I years, it was good. And I've discovered something amazing:

I CAN DO PROPER PUSH-UPS!!!

I'm really excited about this :)
My hubby and I are doing push-ups and sit-ups, and just added those handslaps that they do on TBL, during the ad breaks of The Biggest Loser. I set another friend on the challenge as well, so we are both going to be nice and toned, just wait and see! :)
Swim time soon, I need to get out of the house, chlorine and sugar don't mix well, so I'll be safe at the pool!

Wednesday's Girl

I wanted to add this photo onto here because it was a kind of milestone to me. This was taken on Jan 26th and next to me are dear friends (and former housemates!) that are both petite size 6's. I love them both, but when I weighed in the 80's it was very hard getting back photos at all, let alone with beauties such as these standing next to me!
This photo was great, because when I saw it my first thought was NOT "gosh I look fat!", but instead it was "wow, I look good!"
I saw this and I felt like I fitted in, not that I stuck out like a big pimple or something. Its a very nice feeling. YAY! And there isn't a double chin in sight (actually mine was more of no distinction between my neck and chin... either way, it's gone!)

My Challenge- Tuesday

I am so proud of myself today! I went for my swim event though I could have happily gone back to sleep, but I had organized it with a friend, and that was got both of us there! So that was great, I found it hard because I haven't been swimming as much as I used to - I've been using my exercise bike more, and now I think I am too used to that as exercise. So I pushed myself along and did 1.5 km in 30min, which I feel is a good start. AND I'm going for another swim with some WW buddies this arvo, so double the workout for today!
I got to look after a whole room full of little kiddies today, and I loved it. They were all quite good too, not like last week, where I turned up and it seemed everyone was crying or screaming! Anyway I enjoy it, and I also resisted the home-made choc chip bikkies that were there for the taking, feeling very good about that! I came home to my nice no count lunch instead!

First week of my challenge - Monday

Well I had a pretty good start to my challenge, over the weekend I had a former housemates 21st which was great, and even better by the fact that I didn't eat the chocolate mudcake, and I only had pepsi max and water to drink, so I'm pretty happy with myself! I got some exercise in, and even planned an extra swim with a friend of mine for tomorrow, yay!
Today was a really horrible start to a day, as a uni student I don't work heaps, so I spent all morning trying to work out with centrelink if I could get a health care card and I still didn't have it by the time I saw the doctors and I get really stressed by doctors, so by this time I was a little teary. BUT, instead of doing what I felt like doing, which is eating all sorts of comfort food, I had a banana, some water and some rice wheels, and felt a whole lot better for it! So YAY for me, I'm feeling good! I'm going to go ride my bike for my 40 minutes right now, and then enjoy a yummy no count lunch! And I'm de-stressed by reading the WW Boards to, so I'm ready to face uni and work and the rest of my day! :)

My 6 Week Challenge!

MY 6 WEEK CHALLENGE!

I have set myself a challenge!

My challenge is to
1)exercise more often and more varied, to
2)eat only my 21 extras (not bonus points too, like I have been lately!), and
3)count all my sugar points, and to ultimately
4)lose 2.5kgs in 6 weeks.

Because of recent illness, I have let some of my good habits slip, but I am going to get my head in the right spot, my body moving more (and differently), and my eating organized in advance and free of overdoing the sugar or eating to many extras by using all my bonus points. I haven't been really bad of late, but I also haven't been as great as I can be, and I want to live to my full potential! So I am writing out my exercise plan, following the lunch and dinner recipe's on the weekly booklet, and not letting myself get carried away on unnecessary extras and sugar points. I write my exercise and count my extras and sugar points on a whiteboard on the fridge, but I'm also going to put them here so I don't have any way to forget them!

My exercise plan for this week is:
Sat: cycling 40min @36km/h
Sun: Swim 45min 1.6kms
Mon: cycling 40mins @36km/h
Tues: Swim 45min 1.7kms
Wed: Day off, to busy today
Thurs: Swim 45min 1.8kms
Fri: Tennis with friends, minimum 1 hour

My next task is to write the shopping list for ingredients so I can make some of the yummy recipe's in this week's planner! I LOVE the menu planner, it is keeping my food varied and interesting and very yummy, and variety is what I need to get of this 72kgs that I have been stuck on, and down into the 60's!

I'm gunna be a 60's girl soon! I haven't been in the sixties since I was 15 and doing swimming training all the time! YAY!

Getting rid of a little baggage

You know when life just get so busy that you forget to do anything for yourself to look after yourself? I feel had one of those weeks, and even though we were organized enough to get all the groceries at once (big achievement of late!), and cook all the lunches and dinners from the no count menu planner, I am still a little nervous about weigh in. I don't usually get really nervous, but I have been stuck at the same weight for the last 6 weeks and it is starting to get to me. Oh well, if I make good, healthy choices, they will catch up to me, eventually!
I have also had to tackle a few emotional trails lately, and that is my BIG habit I am always working on and the reason I am blogging, to get everything out and not bottle anything up that could pose a exploding, binging danger... :)
So things I have done this week are to plan, so I can't fall to eating whatever, and when wanting chocolate, I put it away in a container, not left it in the packet where I ca nibble and nibble... So I feel really good about that. I also chose to not hide in big clothes. I hid very well behind my weight, and previous attempts at losing weight were very half-hearted (though I can only see this by hindsight!). After a very bad boyfriend experience in high school I really let myself off the hook for all my eating behaviours, saying that I wasn't beautiful or worthwhile, and really doing everything I could to keep myself fat and 'unattractive'. Not anymore! I have a loving, wonderful husband and those awful emotions are behind me, and I won't revert back into the habits that I formed back then whenever I have bad day, or am feeling down, or anything! This is my changed, permanent life!
I like rambling, it's very helpful!
:)

Mini Goals- all the way to GOAL!

This bloggin' thing is really quite relaxing really. I am a painter, but since I am at uni and therefore painting becomes 'work', it is nice to have something else to do as relaxation. I have been checking out other people's blogs, to see what everyone is doing , and I love the dedication everyone has in writing out completely their mini goals all the way to goal. So I have decided that that is what I am going to do toady, so that I can see them right in front of me and be inspired every day to keep on going, because it is worth it!

Current Weight : 71kgs

First Mini Goal : 69kg
Reward : Stylish Hair cut and colour! (I really need this! Very motivated!)

Second Mini Goal : 66kg (almost there!)
Reward : Start leader's training, I am really looking forward to that! I love helping others :) - Also a new pair of jeans so I have something to wear during winter!

Third Mini Goal : 64kgs (WEIGHT WATCHERS GOAL WEIGHT!)
Reward : I am going to get a belly button ring (and pierce said belly button... and it's going to be on a very nice belly button by then! :)

Ultimate GOAL! : 60kgs - I have no idea what I will be like at a healthy weight, so I am just going to have to play it by ear on the exact figure!
Reward : I have always wanted to have one of those glamour photos done. My hubby and I are putting aside a bit of money as we go, so hopefully I can have a photo shoot to remember!