HI EVERYONE!!!

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...

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*...

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!

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!!!

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!

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!

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!

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????!!!!

Which dress should I wear to daytime wedding in Sydney this weekend?

Cream and Blue patternedblack and white polka dotWatermelon halterWatermelon with a cardi?pale blue dressoriental top with black pants

Free polls from Pollhost.com

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!

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?

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!

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...

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!

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!

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*)

How many points is this entire bucket of Fairy Floss?
	21.5 pts
	12 pts
	1.5pts
	7.5 pts
	9 pts
	3 pts
Free polls from Pollhost.com

She wore an itsy bitsy...

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 revealingng, 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...

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!!!!

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!)

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!

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!!

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!
:)