12WBT +62

TGIF - finally!


This seems to have been a long week.  Not sure whether it's as a result of all the different weather we've had; that work's been a bit slow (particularly during the first couple of days); that I'm getting more and more excited about our holiday; that I'm now starting to look forward to Christmas...or what it is!


Had another early meeting today.  Rushed into the kitchen to make sure I had my brekkie first - a couple of naked crumpets (I'm now at the stage where I'm repulsed by the idea of butter on them).  Quickly scoffed them and off to the meeting.  Had to type up a report from the meeting but put that off to focus on my data set (loving this!).  Worked through lunch (as I thought I might start doing :( ) - I did eat my wrap though.  Wasn't going to miss out on that!


As it's Friday, I'm back to having this as my rest day.  Just the weekly walk to the gym to meet Wifey after her one-on-one PT session.  It was enough.  Friday's seem to drain me and I look forward to whatever I do on Saturdays and Sundays more.  Weird.  Hey, that's me ;)


Once again, we walked into the house to make a bee-line for the kitchen and start on dinner.  Tofu Pad Thai (with hoi-sin rather than fish sauce).  I thoroughly enjoyed this dish.  After finishing it, I really wanted more...but showing it's all in the mind, five minutes later I'd forgotten that I'd felt peckish.  Go team EP - haha.

12WBT +61

Rather than doing a DVD, for a change again we thought we'd go off for a walk.  This worked out rather well considering we had mail to post (over 12 months after we moved in and we're still getting mail for the previous peeps) and clothes to drop off at the charity bin.  It wasn't a long walk (maybe 45mins) but we were out there in the fresh air.  Also served a secondary (tertiary?) purpose - I've been needing to try and break in some new shoes and what perfect way than to go walking.  Yes, I was worried that my feet would be completely destroyed by them (I have a habit of blistering very easily and quickly in new shoes - I'm a delicate person you know).  Luckily, no blisters.  This bodes well as I think I'll be wearing these shoes a bit when we're away in Africa - especially when going up to see the rellies (gorillas ;) ).


Our walk was only down to the reserve, a loop around the wee track there and then through the bush track home (as opposed to the easier and quicker road).  I had a bit of a sweat up afterwards, which surprised me given that it didn't feel overly strenuous and it wasn't that warm (being the evening and all).


When we got home it was a case of making dinner (I wish the faeries would have come in and done that whilst we were out - domestics are such a chore ;) ).  Chickpea rissoles.  These didn't look much as they were being prepped - they seemed a little, well, runny.  Rolled them in breadcrumbs to see if that would help.  Seemed to do the trick.  Only thing with these is that one should never let EP put in the chilli flakes.  2 teaspoons...and another couple, just in case they've run out of kick, later...  They did have a nice wee bite to them, which was tasty.  Wifey also whipped up a nice wee side salad with them (including beetroot - I love beetroot!).  I rate this dinner, thanks.


Lunch was a rushed salad.  I'm over doing lunches each day.  It's a chore and a half.  This was just a case of a handful of leaves, a tiny tin of mixed beans, beetroot, cottage cheese, tomato and cracked pepper (oh, and a splash of balsamic for luck).  Was tasty but perhaps a few too many flavour sensations for today?  Hmm.


Got all excited at work - I was sent a data file from a survey that I've got to do the analysis on.  How exciting!  It's the first chunk of a project I'm working on so it'll be great to sink my teeth into something substantial.  I'm working across two areas at the moment so it's starting to get a bit tricky juggling my time.  I'll cope.  I need to start getting out for a walk during lunches again - although now with my data I fear I'm going to want to sit in front of it playing :)

12WBT +60

Disappointment doesn't even begin to explain my feelings after stepping on the scales this morning.  Yes, there was a loss of 1.4kgs, for which I am more than grateful for, however given I had a great PT session on Friday evening and followed this up with a killer of a walk on Saturday, I thought it might've been at least 2kgs.  I'm kinda saddened it wasn't.  Nevermind.  I'm not going to get down about it - that could end up sabotaging my efforts.  When I looked at the stats page when entering my weight, I smiled.  With the exception of the first week (where there was no change), I've only gone up on two weigh-ins - and then, neither were more than 1kg.  A 100g loss is better than a 100g gain :)


Worked seemed much more like a Friday than a Wednesday today.  Not sure what that was all about.  Managed to get lots of small things achieved - my way of putting off a larger task that I have hanging over my head.  Oddly, it's a task that I'm happy to do but I have to be in the right frame of mind to get done.  It's like some of the domestic chores - you will do anything else but this...knowing you're only putting off the inevitable (I guess losing weight was in the same boat for me, too).  I know I'll buckle down and get stuck into it, it's just a matter of when...and knowing that something more enjoyable is coming up in the next week, I should get this done soon!  Ahh, if only I could win the lottery and retire...


Had my usual Special K, rolled oats & linseed (with yoghurt, blueberries and apples) for brekkie.  I really must start getting into the habit of having a cup of tea with it (am enjoying the nettle tea on the rare occasion I do have a cuppa).  The wrap for lunch was tasty.  I added a boiled egg to it, for a bit of extra flavour.


When I got home and thought about today's exercise, I realised I'd not really been focussing on toning (short of the core work done in the usual DVD).  Dug out the toning one and went through the motions of that.  Phew!  It shows how piss weak my core area is.  I really struggled with most of it (perhaps why I've not done it in a while?).  I think I should add a 10min session of it to my daily DVD stint - just to play it safe and improve on the middle (which is my Archille's heal - not the actual one, of course).  PT wants to move our Saturday morning session to Sunday morning this week.  Not sure if I'm totally happy with this idea, but I don't have much choice in the matter.  I must do a DVD on Saturday morning instead.  Not quite the same as PT, but still...


I know I'm not the world's biggest red meat fan but boy did I enjoy the steak & corn salsa for dinner!  The portion size of steak is perfect for one who's not a great fan.  Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy a good steak - just not terribly often.  It works well with the salsa (without the avocado, of course).  Nice little bursts of flavour in the mouth (not to mention the splashes of colour on the plate).  Deffo keeps me happy.

12WBT +59

Accelerator day.  Crap.  What happened?  Because it was a salmon salad, some twat crossed off the ingredients without thinking about substituting for the salmon.  The same, aforementioned twat also didn't want to get up earlier to make the omelette for brekkie.  Hmm.  I think we need a new twat in our house - lol.  


Brekkie was two boiled eggs.  Lunch was to be a store bought salad (and another boiled egg I took in for luck) but I was still full from the two eggs at brekkie.  All I had was a small handful of mixed seeds.  To be honest, even when I got home from work I wasn't hungry - not even peckish.  I figured I'd do my exercise (back to the DVDs now that the spare room is free of house guests and I have room to move).  I've said it hundreds of times, but I really, really enjoy these DVDs.  Lots and lots!  Mind you, I wonder if it's because I'm now also starting to enjoy exercising (e.g., enjoying the PT session last Friday - so much so I even told PT this!)?  I could get used to this exercise lark.  If I lose my jelly belly I might start getting more serious.


I got a nice wee email yesterday that was very encouraging - supporting me going to the gym.  The ironic thing is that what was said in it was pretty much, word for word, what PT had told me...and what Wifey said to.  Funny how it can depend who says something to you how much you take heed of the advice.  I'm going to.  I'm now adamant.  Whichever comes first - 85kgs or the start of the next 12WBT round - I will start going to the gym!  It has been committed to paper (albeit electronically), so it shall be.


Reckon I will start losing interest in exercise once my calories start dropping.  At the moment I'm doing about 680-ish in 50mins (doing the DVDs) or around 1000 after a PT session.  I was well chuffed to see my count at 540cals after only 35mins today.  Thought that was impressive - kinda.  I try to work on the basis of burning about 100cals/10mins.  It seems to be a nice, easy to work with, number.


After exercising it was time to get dinner ready - and brekkie & lunch for tomorrow.  A bit mundane, but hey!  Gotta get done or we have mini catastrophes on our hands ;)  The steak was nice and the salsa scrummy.  I really enjoy this meal.  Quick, simple & tasty.  Could have a bit more frequently, too.


I keep thinking about my body shape.  It's great that I'm losing weight - am really stoked that I've finally gotten up off my rear to do something about it.  Clothes are looking a bit daggy on me because I've lost some cms too.  Am happy about all of this!  What I'm not happy about is that I still can't seem to get rid of the jelly belly that's haunting me.  Wifey tells me that it's getting smaller (well, maybe it is) but it's still there.  I don't want to have all this excess flab hanging about - I need to rid myself of it.  I guess I should focus more on some of the core work to see if that helps - or up my cardio - or both.  Most likely both.  I will need the core work to tone what skin is left behind after cardio.  Gee, who'd have thought exercising and getting fit would also work the ol' grey matter? haha

12WBT +58

As I was having another lazy day (dear God, just shoot me now!), I was mucking about on the 'puter - iTunes to be exact and threw it on random shuffle.  What was the first song that came up?  Yup.  Robbie Williams' Lazy Days.  All I could do was groan.  Even iTunes was picking on me for being lazy ;)  I don't often pay attention to the lyrics of songs - I might know them as I'm (badly) singing along to them, but ask me what they are without the song playing in the background and you'll end up with a blank, expressionless look (most likely followed with a shrug and a mutter that may or may not resemble 'I don't know').


Anyhow, today I listened.  As I did so, I was thinking about why I have lazy days.  It's sometimes because I'm knackered for whatever reason.  More often than not I think it's because I'm having a bummer day - I think it was last week that I called it a 'fat day'.  Whatever I call it, I'm sure it's the reason I have a lazy day.  So, the lyrics in this song seemed to resonate with me for whatever reason:

     Lazy days, don't let them get you down
     Wear your smile
     I don't want to see you frown
     Don't let them get you down

I guess, next time I'm having a lazy day (or days) I should just brighten up and build that bloody bridge (or find 20c to call someone who cares ;) ), get up off my arse and do something.  No ifs.  No buts (note: buts - not butts ;) ).


Brekkie: rolled oats, strawberries & blueberries and yoghurt (with cinnamon and linseed, of course).  I was going to have Special K...but for some odd reason stuck with rolled oats.  Just to be different (for me).  Am so loving breakfasts now.  A few weeks ago I wouldn't have thanked you for it (well, I would've.  I'm not completely rude - just have my moments).  Now.  Mmm.


Lunch: carrot & ricotta wrap.  The problem with this is that it needs to be assembled at work and I can't be bothered with that.  Doing it the night before (or even the morning of) makes for a very soggy wrap.  Tasty, but soggy.  Maybe I should try wringing the carrot out first?  Should've thought about that earlier, huh? ;)


Dinner: pizza.  Can't go wrong with this.  The bonus for us was that we found a wholemeal base :)  Me, being fussy and all, didn't want olives (disgusting creatures they are) so popped some onion on instead.  Tasted good to me.  Perhaps I'm not as fussy as I once was?  Oh no, not another change in me!?


While on the topic of change, I've found I'm getting rather vain.  I keep looking to make sure all my chins are disappearing (not all of them, I'd be happy being down to just one - the bone one).  One of the women at work even commented today about losing some of the weight around my face.  I didn't think it was that noticeable, but now that I'm checking every few minutes (slight exaggeration)... ;)

12WBT +57

Following yesterday's effort was nigh on impossible.  So I didn't.  


I had a slack-arse day - even though I was up and bouncing about at 5.45am.  Did the mountain of ironing that had been sitting in a corner; hidden from view as much as a mountain-sized pile of clean clothes can be.  That was a solid three-hours of my life I'll never gain back ;)


With the house guest, I thought it would be rude to have brekkie before he surfaced, so I waited.  Read the paper in the sun.  Pottered around in the garden.  Wasted a bit of time playing on my phone.  He finally got up around 11ish - to head straight out.  Oh well.  No brekkie - brunch for one instead.  Omelette.  My new fav brekkie/brunch.  That was actually enough to hold me over until dinner - which a few weeks back would've been nigh on impossible.


Wifey decided to come home from her Duke of Edinburgh expedition - knackered.  We sat and shot the breeze over a cup of tea before heading to the wonderful world of Woollies.  Grocery shopping is such a tedious chore.  I am pleased, however, that our trolley doesn't look anywhere near as bad as most.  I now cringe when I see trolleys full of fizz, biscuits, crisps etc.  Not that we have ever been like that but still.  I'm pleased to say that our trolley is virtually empty until we get to the fresh fruit and veg.  Kudos to us - haha.


As we plan our shopping around the next weeks menu, we didn't have anything for dinner - Wifey improvised and did a wee risotto for us.  Very nice.  Not the best thing; not the worst, either.


Mr Grumpy came out to play as we were doing dishes.  I think I may've been just a tad tired...

12WBT +56

Today was to be the triathlon day.  Guess who was so oblivious to that as he was trying to work out what to do this weekend?  In my head, I had a mini-milestone challenge (for which I was going to use the 10km fun run last weekend but changed my mind as I thought of that as cheating too much).  I'm nuts!


During the week I'd been plotting what I could do.  In the end, I decided I'd go for another walk.  The last mini-milestone saw Wifey and I walk from Taronga Zoo to Balmoral, which was about 13-odd kms.  I had to top that - mainly because I'm figuring I must be getting closer to being fitter than I was (given I'm a wee bit less fatter).  My idea - to do my old walking route (that includes steps, hills, off-road and...umm, pavements) not once.  Not twice.  But three times (and I know one shouldn't start a sentence with 'but' - sue me...not literally, unless you want to pay off my student loan debt in NZ; I'd happily part with that).  Three times.  Say it like that and it doesn't seem a lot.  I guess it's not really - but, one lap of my route is 10kms.  That's 30kms all up.  Sounds a s**t load more.


Alarm set for 5.45am (I wanted to do this as early as possible, which unfortunately didn't sound too appealing to our house guest who would've otherwise been happy to come along for a stroll) but I was clearly looking forward to this too much as I woke up at 5.30am.  By 5.50am, I was walking out the door for my mammoth effort.


Lap one.  Fine.  No probs.  Well, no probs if you ignore the fact that I'd forgotten to put my glasses on and on one of the bush tracks (about 30mins - if that - into the walk) went for a six.  Tripped on a tree root or something, rolled my ankle and grazed my knee.  I was most grateful that at not long after 6am there wasn't anyone around to see me do it!


Lap two.  Not quite as quick as lap one.  The sun was starting to get hotter and I could feel myself waning during the bits in the shade and picking up the pace in the heat of the sun (just to get out of it).


Lap three.  Knackered.  Pooped.  You're getting the picture.  I did the first lap in 1hr 15min, the second in just on 1hr 20min - the last was about 1hr 35min.  I see a pattern.  Still.  I'm happy.  Scarily, I felt that I had a wee Mish sitting on my shoulders (though she would've been flying off when I tripped earlier on) telling me to get a grip and get on with it.  She was showing no mercy with me the whole way around.  I could hear her saying silly little things like, "suck it in" or "shoulders back, chest proud".  It was weird.  Perhaps I was still sleeping.


All up, I was walking for 4hr 05mins.  The only stops I made were to fill up my water bottle.  What I think impressed me more (other than the number of people who seem to go for walks/runs/jogs around 7am on a Saturday) was that I, possibly for the first time in my life, have finally gone into calorie deficit! Huzzah!  In fact, if I stick to my usual eating plan, I'll be in calorie deficit for the whole weekend - even if I don't do anything else for the rest of it.  I burnt off a massive 3006 calories in the 4hrs.  Go me!  Doubt I'll ever be able to do this again, but hey, most people who climb Everest only do it once too ;)

Non-stop walking, baby!

Oh, bugger.  Not quite 30kms then - 29.5.  Close enough.  If I allow for a margin of error there may be a chance of it being more than 30kms...  This doesn't show the elevation, but it's not all on the flat.

Whilst on the topic of burning...after getting home, showering and having a shake for brekkie (I don't think my stomach could've coped with anything heavier), I threw some laundry on and thought I'd have a lie down in the hammock and read until the laundry was done.  1.5 hours later I woke up...my legs are slightly red.  Ouchies.  So are my arms...and my face.  Moral of this story, don't lie in the lovely warm sun with a book and tell yourself it's only for 15-20 minutes - especially if you have a known knack of falling asleep quickly (including a witnessed time of literally falling asleep before your head hit the pillow!).


Aside from that, an uneventful day.  I hope my legs will be less stiff tomorrow.  PT sent a text asking if I wanted to do a weights session tomorrow.  Hmm...  Over 4000 calories in two days?  What would you say?


Food: 1 whey shake, 1 bowl of puffed wheat with Greek yoghurt & honey, 2 slices of banana bread (that nice stuff from week 1 or 2's menu) and some rice crackers.  Had almost zero appetite today.  Did drink litres of water though - could explain the lack of appetite?


PS:  today is exactly 2/3 of the way through...only another 1/3 to go.  Would you believe I'm already getting excited about the next round?  :)