About Me

While I have been blogging for a while now, I have never really put together an "About Me" page.

I have to admit, it's actually really hard - how do you describe yourself and give an accurate point of view? So, I guess I should warn you now... I am about to write a novel!!

First off, I figure I can tell you about why I have this blog. I realised a few years ago now that I quite enjoy blogging about my weightloss journey, and that in turn, it helped to keep me focused and motivated.

I guess you are asking yourselves now, if you have been blogging for a few years, how long have you actually been on this weightloss journey?  The truth is, I started it back in April 2007. I weighed in at 99kg and avoided exercise like the plague!  I ate anything that came out of a box or could be cooked in a microwave... and fruit and veggies were the enemy.  As you can imagine, I was a poor specimen of a 22 year old!  I had high cholesterol, high blood sugar levels (so much so that I was pre-diabetic!) and I had PCOS, which had a whole range of other medical issues associated with it.  My doctor firmly told me I had to do something, and as I had never seen him so serious, it scared the crap out of me, so I got my butt into gear and cut out processed foods and started to exercise.  I was too embarrassed to go outside to exercise, and I couldn't afford a gym membership, so I saved up and bought myself an exercise bike.

2008 - Paris with a tourmate

Initially, I didn't believe that I could do it, I had no self confidence, and each week when I saw the loss on the scales, I told myself that the scales were wrong.  It wasn't until I had lost 7kg that I suddenly had that lightbulb moment and realised that I could do it, and I was doing it!!  By December 2007 I had lost 12kg.  After this, I thought I would join a gym, and so I joined Healthy Inspirations (a circuit gym) where I was a member for a couple years before my local one closed down.  I didn't really lose much actual weight there, but I sure did tone up! What I loved most about HI was that when I walked in there, there were no skinny bleach blondes in tight gym clothes.  Admittedly, the first thing I thought of when I walked in was "Oh good!  Fat chicks! Like me!"

When HI closed down I joined a new women's only gym in town which was great.  I was going so much and I soon became addicted to pump classes.  However, I did find that I actually managed to stress myself out when I went there as no matter how much I exercised it was never enough, and soon I found myself jogging on the cross trainer and then doing back to back classes.  Needless to say, I burned myself out.

2009 - My brother an I in Vanuatu

Around about this time, I decided to save some money on parking for work, so I parked in the parliamentary zone (which is free) and walked 40 minutes to and from work in the city.  I loved walking around the lake, even in winter!  So, I quit the gym, and stuck with the walking.

Since this time, I have done a few other programs like the Biggest Loser Club, Weight Watchers, Lite n Easy and Michelle Bridges 12WBT. But I have to say, that I much prefer doing it on my own.  In truth, I think I used these programs mostly as a quick fix, as much as I tried to justify it to myself (except the Biggest Loser Club, I mostly liked the forums and I used the calorie counting tools, never the meal plans), and I have since realised that I tend to put myself into all-or-nothing mindsets, which in all cases, eventually will set me back.

So, here I am, 5 years later and I am bigger than I was in 2007!  I would, however, like to point out that I have only put on all of the weight again in the last year or so.  My inability to cope with change and stress has led to increased eating and decreased exercise.  At my lowest, I was 77.7kg, and it seems strange now that I wasn't happy with how I looked back then, especially how I am now (I just wrote a post about this actually). I have had some of the most amazing things happen to me over the last year, which if I had to choose between them and the weight gain, I would choose to put on the weight!


2011 - B & I on the Gold Coast

Right now at this point in time, I am living some of my dreams! I am living with the most amazing man I could ever hope to have in my life. He supports me in any way he can, and this is why I have also gone back to uni.  I also have a gorgeous 4 year old step-daughter who is so much fun. I have come into an instant family, and considering I was single for 8 years, it's a hell of a change!  So, now I am in the situation where I am trying to find new routines, and new ways and mindsets to get back on the weightloss wagon.

I would like to also mention though, that I have never and will never use meal replacements of any form (shakes, pills, etc).  I see no point in them... at all!  When I first started to lose the weight I had so many people suggest all kinds of meal replacements to me, because it will be "quick", "easy" and "fast".  That may be the case, but what about the health aspects? And the biggest part for me was that I just didn't know how to eat properly!  How was I going to be able to keep the weight off if I was still going to eat like crap after I lost weight? I learned so much by doing it my way.  I eat most fruit and veggies now. I cook a lot more and have found new ways to prepare meals.  I even have my own veggie garden!!

I have learned so much from losing weight, not just how to do it, or what is healthy and what isn't but I have learned so many life lessons.  I actually learned to love myself and I overcome depression. While some people may not consider these linked, I do as at the time it was all going on, it was all so intertwined and by taking control of my weight, I took control of my life and in turn, I learned that it is ok to be me.  I had so many people coming to me for advice on weightloss, that I eventually decided that I wanted to become a dietician, because I can talk about this all day!

So, that's basically my weightloss history and it has been such a huge part of my life.  However, I do have other interests! As I have already written so much I won't go into too much detail, so here are some bullet points:

• Knitting - I love to knit!  I've been doing it since I was 6 (If anyone is on Ravelry, my username is whirlsie) and it helps me to relax. 
• I love creating things in general, so I have recently been getting into sewing. I am trying to make my own clothes, so far so good lol.  I also do crochet and cross stitch.
• Reading - I love sci-fi fantasy and all time favourite author is Traci Harding
• Travelling - I love to travel!  There is nothing better than going somewhere new and going exploring!!

So, this is me, or as much as I can think of writing at this point in time... I hope you like my blog! I always try to be as honest as I possibly can and this means that there are a lot of ups and downs, but life is a rollercoaster!