Where is Everyone?

Well, it seems with the Easter rush, people have forgotten about the Blogger Challenge!!

The next question is up and waiting for your answer! Consider this a friendly little nudge :D

Hope everyone has had a wonderful break :)

Blogger Challenge Email Confusion

There seems to be a bit of confusion regarding the email system I set up initially.

This system was set up to send out ONE email for when the blogger challenge was set to start. This will be the only one as I don't want to bombard people with a weekly email letting them know that the challenge is out (it just seems too spam-like to me lol)

I have since set up an email notification system on my blog, however this will let you know about ALL the posts that I write, not simply the blogger challenge ones.

If you aren't interested in this option, then please keep in mind that the challenge question is released each Friday at 9am.

I hope this clears up some of the confusion :)

Blogger Challenge Answer: Week 5 - Health

So, what does being healthy mean to YOU? What is it that has made you start this journey into being a healthier you?

Well, at the moment, I have actually come down with a horrible head cold, so health is actually something I am thinking about a lot at the moment.

For me, I can feel the difference in my body from when I am eating healthier and exercising compared to when I am not.  I know that all of the nourishing food that I am feeding myself is helping to build up an excellent immune system and it is all working towards helping me keep nasty bugs away.

The only way I can really explain this feeling, is that I just feel so much more "vibrant", I actually feel as though I am glowing. I don't think I really am, I think it also comes from a place where I am feeling great about myself; I am doing what I am supposed to be doing and all of the extra energy really makes me feel so alive!

Because I can always feel the difference between feeling vibrant and alive, compared to feeling down and have no energy, I think that my journey back into the world of weightloss has stemmed from that. I loved being able to finish a class at the gym and just feeling so pumped about myself and that I knew that while I felt like crap during the class, I would just feel so energised later.

I miss that feeling.

So, here is to becoming a healthier version of me, with all of the perks and benefits of eating right and exercising!!

Blogger challenge glitch

Hi all, I have just had a look at the post for this morning, and there seems to have been a glitch in the post going out (and I may have lost my post! Gah!!!) I will need to fix this up tonight once I get home. Sorry for the inconvenience!

Blogger Challenge Answer: Week 2 - Positivity

This weeks challenge is to look at what are you actually TAKING up? What are you giving yourself? Are you learning something new? Taking up a new sport? Giving yourself a social life?

You know, when I initially wrote this post, I didn't think that I would be writing what I am about to...

First off, I have to say that this round hasn't gone to plan.  In fact, to give you an idea of where my plan is, if I was to stay completely still, my plan would have lapped me twice and is in Timbuktu.

While this has been the case, I have come to realise that this round, I am really giving myself something special... I am finding the balance!!

I am living a goal that I have had for the last couple of years - to go to university.  While this isn't directly 12WBT related, it is in reality such a huge gift to myself that I have been able to do with the help of my partner.

I have been looking at this year as my time. I am finally in a position not to have to worry about everything all by myself (money, mortgage, food, work, study).  I have an amazing partner who wants nothing more than to see me happy and to see me succeed.

While this probably doesn't seem like much of a connection to balance in my life, it really is as for years I have always wanted to be able to find some time to focus on myself, to work my way towards a goal and to have some freedom in my lifestyle and mindset to be able to actively work on who I am now!!

So, while I haven't followed Mish's plans - in any way, shape or form at this point in the round, I have come to realise that part of learning balance is not to stress myself out so much... which is a big undertaking let me tell you!! I am such a stresshead, and I know that this isn't good for me at all!!

It is now week 3 in uni, I am still ironing kinks out, I am still trying to figure out how my brain will retain all of this wonderful new knowledge, but I feel that by taking a step back I am able to find my centre and be able to look at my tasks and changes and ease myself into it, rather than panicking and wondering why I can't seem to do so much like others can (note to self (and anyone else listening!: don't compare yourself - make you life, tasks, work, study, etc work for you!! No one else has your life, and you don't have theirs - everyone copes differently!!)

So, basically, at this point in time I am giving myself time to cope with all of the BIG changes in my life and learning to take baby steps to get to my goals!

Blogger Challenge Answer: Week 1 - Introduction

Well, I suppose I should answer my own questions now!!

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. What makes you, you?
   Let's see, I'm 27, I have just gone back to uni to study nutrition, I'm a crafter (mostly knitter), I live with my awesome partner and a gorgeous 3 year old girl.  I'm independant, outspoken, an expert procrastinator, a massive stress-head and I always (always!) bite off more than I can chew - if there is a task, I will make it harder! I have a sweet tooth, I always argue with myself in my head and I have recently gotten into gardening.
   
   
2. Why did you decide to do the 12WBT?
   I joined the 12WBT Round 3, 2011 to lose weight.  I didn't reach my goals, and I have come back to continue on my weightloss journey.
    
3. What are you hoping to achieve through the program?
   I would love to not have a sweet tooth.  I don't think that is possible, but I would also like to lose about 20-25kg and be able to maintain it. 
   
   
4. Why have you decided to blog about the 12WBT? What will be the main focus (eg, food, exercise, a bit of everything?)
   For me, it's everything.  I love chocolate and I am an emotional eater, so when I stress I wan't sweet foods.  I am also not a lover of exercising (give me my knitting or a good book any day!), but I would love to enjoy exercising and not have it be such a chore.
   
   
5. How will you be exercising this round? Gym, home, outdoors or a mixture?
   I will be exercising at the gym and at home.  I will also do a little bit of outdoors work when I meet up with the Capital Punishment 12WBT crew in Canberra.
   
   
6. What is your greatest strength that will help you?
   To be honest, I struggled with this question... my self confidence isn't as great as what it used to be... I suppose my greatest strength, is that I am always thinking about losing weight, so it's never far from my mind... other than that, I am a natural planner, so being organised helps.
   
   
7. What are you afraid of?
   Like most people, I am afraid of failing... again...
   What I try to remember is that if I don't try now, then I will be in the same place (if not worse off) in 6 months time.
   The other thing that worries me, is that I will let my fear of failure stop me from actually trying...
   
   
8. 
   What are you looking forward to the most over the next 12 weeks? My goal this round is to lose weight, but I think most of all, I want to be able to run 5km in a fun run... to know that I did it all on my own and that I worked hard for it.
   
   
9. What is your downfall? Food? Exercise? How will you overcome this?
   My biggest downfall is me!  I procrastinate and over analyse and then it doesn't get done.  I stress about the what if's that it actually paralyses and I don't get it done (Analysis Paralysis as Mish says!).
    
   
   
10. If you had to pick one word to motivate you over the next 12 weeks, what would you choose?
    I actually did have a word in mind when I asked this question, but I can't remember it at the moment... so for now, lets say
Routine

There it is!! First question answered!!!

12WBT Blog Post Ideas

Since writing my last few posts on the Blogger Challenge and How to Start A Blog, I have had a couple of questions regarding blog posts and when e blogger challenge will start.

The Blogger Challenge will start on Monday the 20th of February - this coincides with the middle of the first week of the program (the week usually starts on a Thursday) and I will post up a new Blogger Challenge question each Monday morning for the 12 weeks. These will be scheduled in so that they will appear at 9am each week on my blog.

As for what you guys can write about in the meantime, I did consider putting a couple of extra questions up, but to be honest, I really feel that you guys will have plenty of ideas over the coming 4 weeks. Mish will be posting up her preseason tasks which will give you plenty to write about. I would suggest writing some of them in the forums as she asks, but also putting them onto your blog. This not only gives you things to write about, but also makes it easier for you to refer back to them during the program. Plus, it also makes you accountable by having them there...

Other ideas which you can write about during the program are:

• your exercise - what you did, how you felt it went, how many calories you burned, if you tried something new
• your food - did you try a new recipe, did you eat on plan, were there any challenges?
• milestones - any special achievements?
• fitness tests - what were your results, what were the outcomes, are you happy with how you did?
• your weigh ins - how did you go, are you happy with the results, what do you think you will do the same/what will you change?

I hope this helps to give you some ideas, remember, you can also look at other peoples blogs for ideas. See what they are writing about, comment on their posts, make new friends - you never know when you will get inspired :)

How to Start A Blog

I don't pretend to be a master at blogging, nor a technological mastermind, however I can find my way around most programs.

Since announcing my plans to do the Blogger Challenge, I have had a few people asking me about how to start a blog.

Clearly, I am a fan of Blogger.com but I know a few people also really like wordpress (personally, I find their templates boring, but I am much more of a visual person).  There are many other blogging platforms out there, but I have found these to be the most common one.

As I am currently using Blogger, this post will be mainly focussed on this platform.

So, in a nutshell, these are my steps :)

1. Go to www.blogger.com to sign up for a new account, click on "Get Started"

 

2. In the next screen, fill in the form to create your account.

3. The following screen is where you will type in the title of your blog as well as the address which will appear in the address bar (what people will type in to get to your blog). Try to come up with a name that is relevant to what you are doing. The more unique the name, the more likely the name will be available.

4. Now comes the fun part (at least for me it is!) - the template!! here is where you will choose what your blog looks like. For the time being, unless you are feeling more confident, just pick one of the templates they have on offer by clicking one of the pictures as shown below (I have customised my template on this blog in another part of the website).

5. TA-DA!! You blog has now been created!! This next screen gives you the option of creating a blog post right away or customising the way your blog looks. If you are totally new to all of this, I would recommend just going onto writing your first blog post - worry about the look of your blog once you are feeling more comfortable, you can find how here (for Blogger)
 

By clicking on this link, you will have one of the two following screens - I am going to give you a basic run down of both:

Old Interface

New Interface 

With both of these interfaces, there are common buttons, however they are in slightly different places.  This is what they all mean:

• Red Arrow - this is where you type in the title of your blog post (for instance, the title of this blog post is "How to Start A Blog")
• Large White Rectangle - this is where you type your actual blog post - what you want to tell people.
• Blue Arrow - this is where you can add a label to the post so that it is easy to find/search for later on (eg 12WBT, exercise, goal, pre-season, etc)
• Purple Arrow - this will save your post but it will not make it appear to the public. Blogger also automatically save your posts as you type, however it doesn't hurt to save as you go
• Orange Arrow - this is your "Publish" button.  This is what will make your post appear on your blog to the public.
• Pink Arrow - This is how you can preview your post - so you can see what it would look like to the public before you hit the Publish button
• Black Arrow - this is how you go the the actual blog ie what the public sees.  Try not to hit this button while you are typing your posts, as it will take you out of that screen and to the public site.

How to create a new post
Ok, so your blog is now all set up and you have probably written your first introductory post!! WOOT!  Now, you probably want to know how you can write another one when you need to.
Well, these next points are based from the Dashboard (aka, main screen just after you log in)

Old Interface

New Interface

With both of these pictures, I have used a Black Arrow to highlight the button that you need to press to create another blog post - that's all you need to do to get back to the above "New Post Screens".


I really hope that this has helped you!!  Blogger has a great help site located here.  There are also a few specific pages that you might want to look into once you are feeling up for it:
How to customise the look of your blogs
How to add the little gadgets to your blog

Getting Back into the Groove

While I haven't had a new post in a couple of days, there has actually a lot of work going on in the background.  You see, I have decided to do a Blogger Challenge for the 12WBT for the upcoming round.  (This is an unofficial one - just for the record!)

I got the idea from Courage2Start from the one that she started for round 3, 2011.  I actually got a lot out of participating, and I found that I was really looking forward to the new questions each week.  I loved it so much, I had a chat with Kath and as she wasn't going to do one this round, I thought that I would give it a go!  

So, if there aren't any regular posts coming up, the reason is because I am busy typing up the posts/questions for the blogger challenge... These will all be scheduled so that they will go up each week at the same time.  Plus, if I have them ready to go before they are needed, if anything comes up, they will still be there and will go on the blog no matter what.

I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am about doing it.  This is my kind of thing... lots of planning and getting involved! haha!

I have been thinking a lot about the program and what i really want to achieve not only for this round, but also for this year.  I have been putting a great deal of thought into it all; mostly in regards to what my goals will be, what I want to focus on, what I think I will struggle with, and how I will overcome these.  I really feel that thinking about all of this now will stand me in great stead for when I need to answer the pre season tasks.

I have been in serious holiday mode since the end of round 3, and I have to say - the scales aren't looking good... This morning decided that it was time to start weighing myself again and trying to cut out the chocolate so that I can jump in, ready to go in just over 4 weeks time.  Now that our guests have left, and life is settling into a normal routine, I am hoping to get back to the gym (in the mornings!!!!!) and shed some of the weight.  I will own up to the fact that I have put almost all of what I lost in round 3 back on.  This morning I weighed in at 95.4kg.

I think that one of my biggest concerns at the moment is that I will be sick like I was last round.  I really found it to be so disruptive to getting into a routine and keeping my motivation up.  At the moment I am fighting off an infection (but not an illness, so that's something) and I am on antibiotics.  Once I finish the course of AB, I will be back at the gym.  I really want to make this round work!  What I need to do though, is to find a middle ground between being committed to the program and stressing out.  I am a bit of an "all or nothing" kinda gal... so this will be an interesting challenge!

Well, that's an update from me!  Back to getting this Blogger Challenge all ready to go!!

Blogger Challenge: I'm All Kinds Of AWESOME!

The next blogging challenge is up, and this one is All Kinds Of AWESOME.

The point of this post, is to tell you exactly how awesome I am - and I think in most cases, for me to see that too!

In most cases, we 12wbters look only to be skinny, and sometime throw around words like healthy and fit.  As Kath said, it's not all about being skinny that makes you awesome.

So, what is it about me that makes me AWESOME?! What do I love about myself and appreciate?

• I can knit!  And I love it! I love making things and seeing how they come together.  I love that I can pick up a pattern and understand it.
• I can sew! well, kinda - I'm learning, but I can do it!
• I am a planner! lol  not sure why this makes me awesome, but I love it!  I love to plan and have things organised, or at least have a direction in which I am going.
• I am generally a pretty bubbly person and tend to make friends easily
• I try to help people out where I can and try to offer support

That's all I can think of now really... although according to the boyfriend "your extreme awesomeness makes u awesome" - Thanks B lol!

Blogger Challenge: Motivation

This weeks blogger challenge is on motivation:


1. Describe in 25 words or less the you that you were before 12wbt
I was the person who had lost 20kg in the past over 4 years, but had managed to put almost all of it back on within a few months, something I had vowed never to do again.  All of those old habits crept back into my life after a big (but great!) change.

2. Now - who are you now??

I am now back to the person I was, trying to lose weight healthily, and trying to build up healthy habits to become the healthiest version of me.

3. What has the hardest been the hardest thing to make habit THIS ROUND?
Exercise!  I find it so hard to find the motivation and drive.

4. What has been easier to make habit than you thought it would be?
Eating. The food has been excellent, and other than the first couple of days, I haven't really found myself craving sweet foods.  While I might walk past the bakery and comment, I don't necessarily want the foods.... well, I might want them, but I recognise that I don't need them.

5. How has your body changed THIS ROUND?
So far, I haven't seen any major changes, but overall I don't feel as tired.

6. How has your mindset changed this round?
Right now I am in a bit of a funk, so I am struggling, but I am trying to keep pressing on, which is probably a change in my mindset as before I would have given up earlier.

7. Finish this sentence "I now know I am strong because ..."
I just did 31 push ups in a minute!! lol!!

8. Finish this sentence "I am proudest of ...."
The fact that I am still trying to make this work even though all I want to do is eat caramel tarts (although that could be the hormones talking lol). I am also proud that while I have struggled with exercise, that I am still trying to make it work even though I feel like I am behind everyone else.

9. Finish this sentence "In 8 more weeks you will see me ...."
Still here, slogging it out and making it work!  I will be slimmer, healthier and happier.

10. What word applies to you now - that you never would have used before 12wbt?
Oh gosh! lol!  I have no idea... I would say stubborn, but I would have used that before the 12wbt... hmmmmm maybe "fun-runner" as I am about to do one and I never, ever thought I would!

Blogger Challenge: Find the Joy

This week's blogger challenge was to "Find the Joy" - or, what (other than food) brings me joy?  So, here is my list (in no particular order - just as they pop into my head):

1. Hanging out with my boyfriend
2. Crafting - knitting, crocheting, cross stitch, etc
3. Finishing a project
4. Those amazing "alive" days - where the sun is shining, the window is down, the music is great and all you can think of is how much you are loving the moment
5. Watching a good movie
6. Catching up with my friends
7. Catching up with my brother, sister and Dad
8. Bubble baths
9. Warm socks
10. Curling up on the lounge with a doona during the rain
11. The smell of rain
12. Being organised and planning (mostly because it means I'm not stressing)
13. Travel - I miss it so much!!!
14. The Aussie Bush - love the smells and sounds (hence my 4 week mile stone is a bush walk)
15. Coffee!!! Oh wait - is that food?? lol I call it a way of life!! lol!! I really don't see it as a food product....

Blogger Challenge: Picture of Health?

Kate at Courage 2 Start has set the next Blogger Challenge:

I'm asking you to paint me a picture. What is (to you) a picture of health? What is health?

This really got me thinking... to me, what is health? My first though was that it's not being sick, but being healthy is so much more than that isn't it.

I guess for me, being healthy is eating right, not being overweight and being able to run, when I want to run as well as to avoid health problems.

Thinking about the above statement, it makes me realise how far I really need to go to be able to consider myself healthy.  

I know I should eat clean (and currently am), but how do I make sure that this is the way I eat forever.  I do prefer to eat foods that aren't as processed, but I still would love to chow down on chocolate! 

Currently, I am not only overweight, but obese.  Yeah, I may not look it, but currently my BMI is sitting at 31.  If I lose 2.7kg more, I will be in the overweight range, and once I reach 73kg I will officially be in the healthy weight range.  Admittedly, that number seems so far away!!  (Today doesn't seem to be a very positive day - sorry all!  I am struggling a little today to even consider that I might reach my goals)

Being able to run... I have said (and still maintain) that I have no interest in being a runner, however, I have come to realise that it doesn't necessarily mean that I don't want to be able to run.  I remember a few years ago when I started to lose weight and eat healthy that I used to get so puffed walking up my stairs (I only lived on the first floor! lol) a couple of years later, I was playing with my nephew and I ran from the mail box up to the block of flats and up the stairs - and I wasn't puffed!  It was such a great sense of  accomplishment for me.  Until that point I didn't realise that I had become so much more fit!  I'd like to be able to have that sense of accomplishment again.

As for health issues.  Other than avoiding all of the usual suspects (heart disease, type 2 diabetes, (which I have 'beaten' previously) etc) I have also suffered from PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome), which all in all makes it harder for me to lose weight, harder for me to conceive, a greater chance of miscarrying, missing periods, excruciating pain, a greater chance of type 2 diabetes and a greater chance of developing insulin resistance.

About 6-12 months ago I was at my lightest weight and I had my hormone levels retested and they came back normal - meaning no more PCOS!!!  Now that I have pretty much put on all of the weight that I lost over a 3 year period (how on earth did I do that?! grrrr!!) I am scared that my PCOS might come back again - I don't want to be in excruciating pain again, or worried about whether or not I can conceive.  I want to be healthy and able to rely on my body to do what it is supposed to do.

And coming to that conclusion, I guess that is exactly what being healthy means to me:

For me, health is being able to rely on your body to do what it is supposed to do with no obstructions, no detours and being able to be fit enough to run when I can an eating clean.

Blogger Challenge: Introduce Yourself

Blogger Challenge Started by Courage 2 Start

1. Describe yourself in 25 words or less. You can get straight to the point - or bring your creativity into play.
Hardcore knitter, dietician wannabe, sci-fi freak, coffee addict, family-oriented and avid traveler.


2. What brings you to 12wbt? Getting fitter? Losing weight? (Gaining weight??) Are you first timer, a repeat offender??
I want to lose weight, tone up, be happier and healthier.  I want to be able to wear what I want... including a bikini!


3. Why do you blog?? 
I have never really been able to stick to a blog before, but all of a sudden I seem to be wanting to keep updating this one. I find that doing this keeps me accountable, but also is keeping me interested.  Somehow, this time it seems to be sticking, which makes me feel even more positive in regards to the journey ahead. I also have a knitting blog where I talk about what I have been working on.


4. Who is your biggest inspiration in life and why (doesn't have to be weight loss)
To be honest, I have no idea... I guess I would have to say my Nana.  She is over 80 now and is still active in every sense of the word.  She is always on the go.  She walks every day, lives on her own and lives her life how she wants to.


5. What things in life bring you the most joy?
Knowing that I am happy... it sounds so corny, but I just love those moments where I know how happy I am.  Other than that, spending time with my boyfriend, he makes me so incredibly happy and I love the feeling of accomplishment when I finish something.  This can be for when I finish a knitting project or even when I can finish a 1km run/fitness test that I didn't think I could do!



6.What do you think your greatest challenge is going to be this round?
Staying committed. Avoiding chocolate and keeping the sense of "I can do this!".  It's going to be hard to try and keep the enthusiasm up enough to avoid all of the foods that I love that cause me trouble (like chocolate)


7. What are you most excited about 12wbt? 
I am excited about reaching a goal and completing it and being healthier and fitter at the end.


8. And what scares the pants off you?
In regards to the 12WBT? Failing!!  Screwing it all up and still being fat and unfit and pigging out on chocolate at the end of the 12 weeks lol


9. Tell me - right now - today - how do you feel about exercise in no more than 10 words
GAH!!!! love/hate relationship! excited and scared!


10. Complete this sentence - in 12 weeks time - on the last day of 12wbt I am going to be feeling FANTASTIC! I will be healthier, happier and fitter and have so much energy I will be bouncing around the room!