JDRF Walk: 3rd Year!

The email hit my inbox this morning, reminding me of the annual JDRF Walk for a Cure for Diabetes. I know I registered last year, but honestly can't remember if I went along... hopefully I did! lol

 

There was about 10 minutes of ummming and aaaaahhhhing before I decided to just do it. So once again I have signed up!!

 

Part of the walk is to raise money to help find a cure.  Any donations are welcome, the amount doesn't matter, so if you have any spare change you can offer it would be greatly appreciated!  Just click the photo below to make a donation... and who knows if I get donors then I will be even more motivated to walk the 5km!!!

 

Please donate!

Will have to post photos again like last time... and this year I am trying to put together a team of friends... which would be a lot of fun!!!

JDRF Fun Walk: 2nd Year!

I have been meaning to write this post for a while, but kept forgetting until the other day when I received an email that reminded me.

Last year I participated in the JDRF 5.5km Fun Walk with Carrie.  It was my first one I had ever completed, and I was proud of my result, but overall I was so happy to have done it as I felt as though I was walking for my friend who had passed away in 2007.

Anyway, I have signed up to do it again, as it's a lovely walk and a great charity to be involved in.  This year it will be on Sunday 21st October here in Canberra, but there are other ones around the country if you are interested in participating too :)

As it is a charity event, I may as well put up a link in case anyone would like to donate, but please do not feel obligated to.

Click to Donate

I have also been trying to find some other fun runs around Canberra as a goal to be able to run the whole thing, but I was really sad to see that there doesn't seem to be much on for the second half of the year.  The Brooks Spring Into Shape that I participated in last year doesn't seem to be on either, which is really disapointing.

There is the Canberra Times Fun Run, but that's on in just over a month... and I am just not ready for that!!

I'll keep looking, but if anyone finds any, let me know :)

Edited:  I just found this one on the 1st October... I might end up signing up for this... will talk to the PT today and see if it's doable!

Getting Back On Track... And It Feels Awesome!

I have been meaning to write this post since Friday, but have just not managed to do it.  Admittedly, I have been focussing on uni and getting my final report done for biology and with exam starting next week I think it will be heads down, bums up... and probably an iritiable and stressed out student!

However, we started on Lite n' Easy on Friday after our first delivery.  I was hoping to have some photos to pop in here, but the delivery came while I was at work. At the moment, I am doing 7 days of lunches and dinners and so far I am loving it.  It has really taken the hassle out of everything (especially as yesterday I had to work in the morning with a baby shower in the afternoon and barely anytime to get lunch, but B was able to quickly get it ready as I ran around the house getting ready). I have left off breakfasts as I usually like to have porridge or cereal anyway, so it works out well.

I do have to confess that I have had a bit of chocolate as I have been more than a little hormonal, but not as much as I ususally would (we have put the rest of the chocolate in the freezer as I really hate cold chocolate - so I would have to really want it lol!) and yesterday I did have 2 cup cakes at the baby shower, but overall I have been sticking to it and I have already had more fruit & veggies than I usually would - and I love it!

I have decided to keep my weigh ins as Wednesdays, so that it just stays as that in my mind, plus I like the idea of weighing in with everyone else. I think I am still a 12WBTer at heart!

As for exercise, I really need to get back into it, and so far I have been all talk.  However, months ago I did sign up to do the 5km run for the Mother's Day Classic (this coming Sunday), and I have decided that I will still be participating, however I have emailed them and asked them to switch me to the 5km walk for a couple of reasons; a) I haven't been training and I wouldn't be able to run it and b) I don't want to push my knee and do any further damage to it.  I think that a walk would be a good way to see how I go and I am hoping the fun atmosphere will help break my exercise drought.

I have also decided that after my exams are done (or perhaps even before lol) that I want to start going to the gym 3 days a week.  I think right now I want to try and do the C25K.  It has been playing on my mind a bit since my previous post on running. I would love to be able to run in a fun run... I think that in a way, it would be one of those moments that I know that I could accomplish anything, as I have always told myself that I could never run.

I have also considered maybe trying to do another fitness test like in the 12WBT... but I am unsure.  I do like that it would be a great way to measure results, but I am still undecided.

Cracked it... and now it's really time to take action...

By cracked it, I don't mean that I have gone bonkers... I am actually refering to the fact that I now weigh over 100kg... yup... I weighed in yesterday at 100.5kg...

I have come to the realisation that Easter and I do not mix well together... especially in a (now) 3 person household where one is a chocoholic (that would be ME!), one non-chocoholic (B) and one who would be a chocoholic if we let her (Miss 3).  Basically, we got 3 peoples worth of chocolate and pretty much only me eating it... which is really not a good option...

So, last night I had a really good talk to myself (hmmm.... am I bonkers?!) and I have come to realise that I am honestly feeling more at peace with getting back onto the wagon and getting it going again.  I have also decided to come up with a list of healthy snacks (my downfall) and I will be continuing to use the Menu Planner app on my iPad as it has honestly made life easier for us.

This morning I measured myself for the first time in months, and I have to admit, I was more than a little astounded by the numbers that came up!

Week 1
Wednesday 18 April 2012

		Change	Total Loss
Weight:	100.5kg	n/a	n/a
Arm:	30.5cm	n/a	n/a
Bust:	116cm	n/a	n/a
Waist:	125cm	n/a	n/a
Hips:	126cm	n/a	n/a
Thigh:	73cm	n/a	n/a

I have come to the decision that it is time that I start putting myself out there 100%. Owning up to my stuff ups and celebrating the wins.  I am only human afterall!

So, I am very much a goal oriented person, and as B and I have been thinking about taking a holiday (like a cruise) for a while now (I mentioned it a few posts ago that it may be a bit of a reward) I have decided to aim towards that.  I have also come up with a few other goals/rewards to help me along.  Now, I have put away all of the remaining easter eggs, although I do know where they are, I am hoping to use them as more of a reward.  Now, I know that you shouldn't reward yourself with food, but I am hoping that having them there will help to teach me a bit of self control.

I have put together the following list of goals.  I have pinched this idea and format from Mandy over at Fearless, Fabulous, Female... and Forty!! (hope that's ok Mandy!) I may add to this list, as I go along, but at this stage, this is it:

	Heaviest Ever	100.5kg
	Goal Weight	74kg
WEIGHT	MINI GOAL DETAILS	STATUS
99.9	Back to the 90's
95.5	5kg and 5% lost
	Fit into my 'fat' pants comfortably
90.5	10kg and 10% lost
89.9	in the 80's
	Complete the C25K
89.6	Get to Overweight BMI of 29.9
	Size 14 clothes
85.5	15kg lost
	Run a 5km Fun Run
80.5	20 kg lost
79.9	Livin' in the 70's
	Size 12 clothes
75.5	25kg lost
74.6	Get to Healthy BMI of 24.9
** 74 **	GOAL
70.5	30kg lost
69.9	in the 60's

 

 

See - gym bag is packed and is in the car!

I am really missing exercising too... and I am so afraid of injuring my knee further, I have been avoiding it.  My physio has given me a few exercises to do (which I really should do! lol) and overally is really happy with my progress.  I think I find it a bit hard to go to the gym and sit on the bike or the cross trainer for only about 10 mins (as much as I can take at the moment.) - mostly I think it's frustrating, but I need to start somewhere I know. In fact, today I felt so motivated that I actually packed my gym bag and put it in the car!!  Now I just need to get my sorry arse to the gym! I have been meaning to pack it and have it ready in the car... have to admit I am a little proud I did it... baby steps!

You might remember a while ago I set myself the goal of running in 3 fun runs.  Well, 2 of them have gone, but the Mother's Day Classic is coming up and I have recieved my tag and number, and I really think that it will be a good thing to do.  Now, with my knee and my fitness levels at the moment, I won't be running, but I do want to do it - even though it will be the weekend before my exams start.

I am also wanting to get the winter veggie garden up and running, so over the next week I am planning on getting the patch ready and planted. Speaking of the garden, I cooked up some of the most delicious tomato relish the other day using this recipe and tomatoes from our garden.  We have started using a lot more of the veggies we have grown and it's so wonderful to know that we are eating fresh and that we have grown it ourselves!

Where My Head Is At...

As requested (by Janie D :D lol) I thought I would pop up and write a bit of an update.  I had considered doing one both yesterday and today, but Janie's comment has spurred me on :)

I didn't realise it was going to be so long, sorry guys!  I think I just need to get all of these thoughts out of my head!! haha!

I am doing much better of the last couple of days.  I think that getting it all out there on Friday has really helped me - as well as seeing the number on the scales.

Since Friday I have been tracking my calorie intake on Calorie King and I have been making much better food choices.  Now that my will power has made an appearance, I have noticed less chocolate/sweet cravings, although they are still there. I was thinking about this today when I really wanted a snack, but other than trying to follow the 12WBT for Round 3, I honestly don't think that I have been even thinking about eating healthily for over a year now, at least not seriously. I came to this conclusion, as I couldn't remember what I used to eat as a snack.

As much I don't want to write this (because I know that B is reading :P lol), the truth is, I find it so much harder to lose weight when I am part of a couple... When I lost weight before I was single, so I only had to think about myself, and now it's not really that different, I can still eat how I choose, but it does seem to be s different mindset.  There is no way I blame B, because it's not his fault in any way, it's more that I don't think I expected my mindset to change so much.

Other than a change in relationship status, the other really big change for me was my routine.  When I first started to lose weight I was in a different job.  I had actually not long started it, but for the 4 years that I was there, I got into a routine with my eating/exercise habits that are now so completely different. As an example, I used to get up, have a coffee, get ready and head to work.  Once I was there, I used to get my breakfast (I basically took over the cupboards in the kitchen!) which usually involved cooking it, made myself another coffee and sat down at my desk to start my day. From there, my snacks and lunch were basically on a schedule as I knew when I was hungry and I had a set lunch break.  After work, my gym bag was all packed and I headed straight to the gym.  At this point in time, it was just me, 2 cats and no other committments - I didn't even have a social life!! (seriously! My friends were all busy with their own lives!) Looking back, the only stressful component back then was how crappy work was.

B and I have been talking a lot lately about how I struggle to accept my limitations.  I think that I have always pushed myself to 'be the best' or at least be able to identify myself as someone who can do well at everything that I try.  I really struggle with not being good at something (even though it is something new!!) and will either push on with it or drop it completely. I think that is is probably why I tend to disapear or withdraw when I am not coping, as I don't want others to think that I am weak... and the honest truth is - I think I am weak for not being able to do everything I want to do.

I am very much a perfectionist (as Janie asked in another comment), and this is such an annoying trait to have!  I don't know how to not be one!  I don't know how to be able to cope with more than one thing at a time (uni, eating right, exercising, life, etc) and trying to stresses me out so much more.  I have to admit that even with uni I am struggling to do more than one subject at a time (I am currently doing 3) because I feel like I can't give the subject the attention it deserves and I really don't want to fail because I can't remember what I am supposed to lol.

So, I also have a HUGE confession to make.  It is currently the start of Week 6 of the 12WBT and I haven't followed any of it... and I don't think I will... Don't get me wrong, I think that the program is great, I love what Mish has done and I love seeing people's results, but I find that for myself, I put too much pressure on myself with the program.  There is also the fact that there is a lot of the food that B and I aren't fans of. I think that if it was just myself in my old lifestyle, I could handle it, but with so much of my life in chaos at the moment (at least it feels that way) I honestly don't believe that I could cope with it.

Following on from this, I have a new plan, which continues on from my basic plan from Friday's post, and that is that I just want to get myself back to basics and back onto my own program.  I basically want to take myself back to basics so that I can find some new kind of routine (I really struggle to eat properly when I am at home) and find a way that B and I can make this work together.  As I have said before, I am lucky that B is so supportive, and will help me as much as he can.  So, my plan of action at this stage is as follows:

1. Find all of my ol' trusty healthy recipes and add them to my iPad app (so awesome!!  It puts together a shopping list for my meal plan for the week)
2. Start putting together a meal plan... and try to stick to it!! I am lucky in that if I plan it, B will cook it lol!
3. Start eating breakfast again... this is something I am surprised that I have stopped doing... in truth I think that I really miss having my scrambled eggs on an english muffin!  I tend to run late in the mornings and now that I don't cook at work, it was pretty much the first thing to go.
4. Start drinking more water.  I don't drink anywhere near as much as I should or what I used to.  My drink bottle used to sit on my desk at work... now I don't even really have a drink bottle... and I drink more coffee lol
5. Keep tracking my calories on Calorie King - I tend to slack off on this if I can't put the calories in correctly (such as eating out) because it won't be 'right' (there is that perfectionism again...)
6. At this point in time, exercise is not a priority, but I am hoping to find a way to build it back in... even if I only exercise a couple of times a week.  This might be at home or at the gym before work or uni when I start late.
7. Accept that I need to have time for myself.  Basically, this is giving me permission to knit.  It sounds strange, but I really need to knit as I find that without it I tend to get depressed and even more stressed out - seriously, just ask B - he has seen it first hand! haha!
8. Keep it simple.  Don't try to do more than I actually can, don't worry about what I 'should' be doing, and just eat right and the rest will come when it can... this sounds so simple, yet it's the hardest thing for me to follow...
9. When exercising, aim towards completing the C25K program.  I have actually registered to do the Mothers Day Classic Fun Run in April, so it would be nice to be able to honor this committment.
10. Find ways to de-stress, remember to ask for help and keep putting myself out there on this blog!  I keep forgetting how much writing it all down really helps!!

While I guess I don't really consider myself to be technically part of the 12WBT this round, I do hope that people do stick around and read my blog.  I just really need to do things my way for now and then when I am ready, I am hoping to use Mish's exercise plans to help me along.

So, from now on, I guess my blog will be reflecting this. As I said, I really hope you guys stick around, as the support that you have given me over the last few months has been amazing!!  I am sure that I wouldn't have been able to get my headspace to where it is now without you all checking in and reading.

The Blogger Challenge will, of course, continue.  The posts are all sitting there, ready to go and I will still be participating in it too as well as reading the 12WBT blogs and forum posts!!  I just love reading about how everyone is going and I love reading about all of the highs that come with it, and I hope that I can help you guys as much as you have all helped me!

So, I think that is my update on what I have been thinking about over the last couple of days.  And I will try to update more regularly, including weigh in posts, which I know that I have completely avoided this round!!

Oh and and how is this for a REWARD??  B and I were talking the other day about setting a reward, when I reach goal weight, we are going to go travelling - or at least start planning it a little more.  I think at this point in time it will be a cruise... so, I really need to get stuck into my action plan and get this happening!! lol!

MWAH! Love to you all! :D

Task 7: Organise & Diarise

Ok... here we are!

This is my favourite part of the pre season tasks - planning!!

Luckily for me, I have had my upcoming schedule booked in for a couple of weeks now as I am now at uni and definitely need to plan my life to avoid catastrophe!

I have created a pic of my schedule (below) - please try not to be scared (as I am!!) at how full it is.  I have had to fit in uni, work and my workouts into my week as well as taking some time out for me (saturday mornings).  It all looks a little chaotic, but I really hope that it's doable.  I have spent every moment of my free time in the last week dedicated to studying and I'm not yet where I would like to be! Hopefully the exercise and healthier foods will help my concentration levels!

To keep it simple, basically all of the purple are my workouts :)

Milestones

So, another part of this task is to come up with a 4, 8 and 12 week milestone.  Luckily for me, there are 3 fun runs in Canberra around those times!!

Week 4 - Sri Chinmoy 4km Fun Run/Walk - 12th March 2012

Week 8 - ActewAGL Women's & Girls 5km Fun Run/Walk - 1st April 2012

Week 12 - Mother's Day Classic 5km Fun Run - 13th May 2012

This one will be the BIG one - I have actually signed up to do the run!!!! (You can sponsor me below by clicking on the picture if you would like to)

I also have no excuses for not doing them, as I have already signed up to the Sri Chinmoy and the MDC.  I would have signed up to the other one as well, but their registrations aren't open yet.

Can't believe I want to be a runner... lol!

Task 3: Set Your Goals

It's time to set some goals.  This round I have put a focus on exercise more than anything else. Exercise seems to be my downfall as I just don't like it. I also know that if I exercise I am more likely to eat healthier.

So, these are my goals so far, but I may be adding to them over the coming weeks.

Overall Goal: Lose 15-30kg

1 Month Goals

• Lose 4kg - 1kg per week
• Be able to run 1km without stopping
• Not give up on the program when going gets tough
• Swim more - teach yourself technique
• Be able to swim 5 laps without stopping
• Do a fun run

How I will get there

• Follow Mish's exercise and eating plans
• Focus more on getting exercise in as this is a hard point for me
• Follow Mish's learn to run program
• Keep it simple, try not to stress so much, just get it done. Analysis Paralysis
• Go to the pool once a week, push yourself a little further each time
• Find out when the fun runs are and sign up straight away
• Train for the fun runs

 
3 Month Goals

• Lose 12kg - 1kg per week
• Be able to run 4km without stopping
• Advance to the intermediate level
• Not give up on the program when going gets tough
• Swim more - teach yourself technique
• Be able to swim 10 laps without stopping
• Do some fun runs 

How I will get there

• Follow Mish's exercise and eating plans
• Focus more on getting exercise in as this is a hard point for me
• Follow Mish's learn to run program
• Keep it simple, try not to stress so much, just get it done. Analysis Paralysis
• Go to the pool once a week, push yourself a little further each time
• Find out when the fun runs are and sign up straight away
• Train for the fun runs 

6 Month Goals

• Lose 22kg
• Be in the fit & strong category
• Be in more fun runs - Run a full one!

How I will get there

• Follow Mish's plan
• Eat healthy, balanced meals
• Don't beat myself up if I go off the rails
• Find out when the fun runs are and sign up straight away
• Train for the fun runs

12 Month Goals

• Maintain my weight
• Be slim and fit for Casey's Wedding 

How I will get there

• Continue eating healthy, balanced meals and exercising

Upcoming Fun Runs

• Canberra Day Fun Run/Walk - 12 March (unsure if I can do this one as I am supposed to be working)
• Women & Girls Fun Run/Walk - 1 April
• Mothers Day Classic - 13 May

First Fun Run: Completed

I can't believe I am typing this, but I actually completed a fun run!!  I honestly never thought I would ever do a fun run, even to walk one.  I am not a runner, I don't enjoy cardio, but I am a competitive kind of person and I do enjoy achieving goals.

This morning I was up at stupid o'clock to be up and ready to start the 4km race at 8am. Well, it was stupid o'clock for a Sunday morning at least!!  I even got to wear my Canberra Crew "Capital Punishment" shirt that I picked up yesterday!!  There were a couple of us there wearing them.  It was actually really awesome knowing that I am part of the Canberra 12WBT team and that there were others there doing it as well!  I even met a couple of other people who were doing the program, but not wearing the shirts - talk about being part of an awesome program with awesome people!!

Carrie and I caught up with one of our friends (Bec) who was doing the run with us that we know through knitting and her mum.  I can't express how awesome it is doing something like this with friends by your side and having that sense of 'team' right from the start.

We all crossed the start line together, running!!  I am not very fit, and I am not that great at running, but I am so proud to say that not only did I run for a bit at the beginning, but I also ran 3 more times during the race!!!  I even managed to get my heart rate up to 183bpm!!!  As the race progressed, we all got separated except for Carrie and I, as we decided to do it together.  It was actually really great doing it together as Carrie was able to push me a little further (and able to get me to run more, and further!).  I'm not sure how much I helped her, but I am so grateful to be doing it with her as I know that we help each other out and keep each other focussed and motivated.

Carrie and I completed the race at approximately 36 minutes (we will get the actual times later tonight), which I think is awesome!! 4km in 36 minutes!!! It was just so great to know that I finished it and I completed it!!!  Not only that, but I finished the race running!!!!!  And boy oh boy - it hurt!!! In that time I burned 557 calories!!!  I was so shocked when that came up on my HRM!!  I honestly wasn't expecting to burn that many in such a short time - looks like running really does burn the calories!!!

UPDATED: My official time was 0:36:35.8 which made me 64th out of 74 runners overall, 10th out of the 11 in my age division and 50th out of 58 women

And just to show you all, these are the back of our Capital Punishment shirts! Love them!!

Burning those Calories!!

Guess what guys?? Every time I have exercised this week (except once) I have burned over the elusive 500 calories!!! I have even burned over 600 calories a couple of times too!!  How about that!!!

Since my last post, I have exercised when I could.  The only day I didn't was Tuesday and that was due to having to re-home my kitties.  On Wednesday, I did my first pump class in about 3 weeks!  I lowered my weights back to just 5kg (2.5kg each side) but to be honest, I found it a little too easy, so will bump it back up for my next class.  On Wednesday I only burned 375 calories, but I think this is to be expected for a weights class.  Last night there weren't any classes on that Carrie and I wanted/could do, so we followed Mish's gym machine program.  It was actually the first time we have ever fully completed one!!  We did the ab exercises and then the stretches after the cardio machines.  Now, I am not usually a sweater, but when I was on the bike, I felt like I had sweat pouring out of me!!  I managed to burn 601 calories!!! Crazy stuff!!!  It was great though because while I was doing the learn to run portion, I realised that I have come so far since the first one I ever did and as of the next time I do it, I am committing to ramp it up and do the next level!!  It's good to know that while i have been sick, I didn't lose all my fitness!!

Tonight we are planning on doing another Active class, and then tomorrow we will head out to Lake Burley Griffin and do a workout with the Capital Punishment group - we even get to pick up our Capital Punishment tops!! YAY!!! I really can't wait to see them and to be able to wear them. I already have plans to wear my top on Sunday when I do my first fun run!!!

I have to admit that now that the fun run is getting closer, that I am actually really unsure about it all.  I know that I will be walking to majority of it, but is this ok??  Am I supposed to be running it?? I thought it would be a good way to ease myself into this kind of scene, but I have to admit the nerves are starting to set in now!!

Another confession that I have to make is that I have gone a little off the rails in regards to food.  Nothing major, I just haven't been planning, and have had to buy my lunch a few times and we hadn't done our grocery shop so we ate out a couple of nights.  Yesterday I did a rather large online grocery shop, so as of tonight we will have lots of delicious healthy foods all ready to go for the coming week!  I can't wait to try out a few more of Mish's recipes!

Just quickly, I was doing a bit of a tally in my head of calories I have burned this week, and what activities I have done:

• Saturday - 4 week Milestone Bushwalk - burned 500 calories
• Sunday - Walk for Diabetes - burned 673 calories
• Monday - Group Active Class - burned 514 calories
• Tuesday - rest day
• Wednesday - Group Power Class (pump) - burned 375 calories
• Thursday - Mish's Gym Machine Workout  - burned 601 calories  

And coming up I have:

• Friday - Group Active Class
• Saturday - Capital Punishment Circuit Workout
• Sunday - My first ever Fum Run (4km)

This means that in the last 6 days I have burned a total of 2663 calories!!!! Not bad considering my goal was 400 calories a day! Which means that after my workout tonight, I would have smashed that for the week!!!  First time ever!!!

Oh, and the finale details have been released, so B has said that he would like to come up too, so that's awesome!! Poor guy has had to deal with me doing the 12WBT, eating the same foods and dealing with me being so up and down - will be good for him to be able to celebrate the end of the round too!! lol  I just need to organise accommodation and tickets and stuff, but it should be awesome!!  I have to admit, I am terrified of the workout!! haha!!  I don't think I will be able to keep up with everyone!!!

Walk for a Cure for Diabetes

Today I did the 5.5km walk for diabetes.  I am so happy with how well Carrie and I did!  We managed to walk the full course at a steady, brisk pace and finish it in 55 minutes!!!  We thought it would take us an hour and a half to two hours to complete!!  By the time I got back to the car I had burned 673 calories!!!  I can't believe it!! that's two days in a row of burning 500 calories or more - a first while I have been doing this program.

I was surprised how fast I was able to walk and for how long before I started to feel it in my legs.  I got probably 3/4 of the way around before I started feeling it in my hamstrings.

I also managed to raise $220 for juvenile diabetes - definitely a good cause, and a great motivator to make sure I completed the walk. Below is a pic of the people walking around the lake, you can see that there are people all the way around.

It's been over a week since my last post...

Yep... I have been a bit slack haven't I?!

Well, I have had a bit of a rough week overall.  I have been sick (again!!) and I tried going to the gym last week and almost passed out.  So, I took that as a very loud and clear sign from my body that it needed rest.  So, this last week I haven't done any exercise other than incidental stuff.  

I have been trying not to feel too guilty about it.  In fact, I think I have been trying not to feel too guilty about the fact that I am loving not doing exercise.  I am one of those people who does exercise because I have to, not because I enjoy it.  I have taken a few extra days off from exercising as I am still sick, and I have been wondering if I have been pushing it all a bit too much and going back to the gym earlier than I should be.  However, I am now taking a multi-vitamin so I hope that will help, because I don't think I can take being sick again!!

Now, as I have been sick, I still haven't done my bush walk.  I can't believe it!! Something I was so excited about and I haven't been able to do it!! On the weekend, I struggled to move, so I know that I wasn't being lazy about it all.  I am the kind of person who likes to do things when and how they are supposed to be done.  So, with it now being week 6 and I still haven't done something from week 4, it is really getting to me.  This is one of those things that makes me feel like I am failing as I am falling behind and I can't seem to 'keep up'.

In saying that, I have done something which is definitely pushing my  comfort zone.  I have signed up to Walk for a Cure for Diabetes this weekend!  It is a 5.5km walk which I will be doing with some friends.  This is a free walk (for anyone who is interested in doing it near where you live), however they do ask for you to help with donations.  So, in honour of this, if you are able to spare a couple of dollars, I would appreciate your sponsorship.  In saying this, I have no intention of hounding people, I just thought I would do my bit.

In addition to doing this walk, I have officially signed up to do the Brooks Spring into Shape Series on the 30th October (so 2 weekends in a row!! crazy!) which is a 4km run/walk.  I have to say that I think I will be doing a lot more walking than running, especially if my body is still worn out, but I will complete it anyway, even if it is only at a brisk walk.

Hmmmmm..... what else...  Food wise I have most definitely been over my 1200 calorie allowance this week.  But I haven't been binging or having anything naughty, I have only probably exceeded my calories via cups of coffee! lol

Oh and I also had my weigh in last Wednesday and I lost 200g.  I don't think I will have a fantastic result this week.  But I am hoping to have at least lost some weight... We will see tomorrow morning.

Ok, well, that's it for now.  Will blog tomorrow with my weigh in result.  I really need to get my 12wbt mojo back!

Another Week - Another Weigh In

It's Wednesday again already - which means that it's weigh in day!!

Sadly, I gained 300g this week.  I am trying not to be too disappointed with it. In fact, I'm not disappointed in the program, only in myself.  I know that I managed to sneak in a few 'snacks' that if Michelle seen me eat, she would demand that I instantly drop and do push ups as well as get running on that treadmill!  However, that said, I take full responsibility for my actions (hence the disappointment in myself). I will tell u now, what I have eaten that was off plan:

• Carrot cake at the premium cinemas
• Caramel Sundae from McDonald's
• Family Dinner - as I said before, I didn't eat too much really

Now that those indiscretions are off my chest, time to move on.  Next weigh in will be all that I can make it.  Yes, we still don't have a proper fridge, but it just means I need to plan better! I also need to remember that exercising does not mean that I can eat more!!

So, what I forgot to mention yesterday (in that blog post that i meant to write!! lol) was that I didn't get my exercise session in on Monday as I needed to get home.  So, I told my gym buddy that I would do my work out at home.  I had the best intentions of doing it.  In fact, I wanted to do it, but then I started cooking, and cleaning and by the time dinner came around and we put Nessa to bed, I was done!  I couldn't be bothered doing it.  I even tried to tell myself to find something fun to do, which I found, but then I couldn't find my belly dancing workout - I know, I know, excuses, excuses, excuses!!!!  Anyway, that afternoon/evening, I couldn't help wishing that I had a treadmill at home, so I could just do it there and then.  That night I was on Facebook, and a friend of mine had her status that she was selling her treadmill!  So, I bought it!!! I am getting it tonight!! It's great to know that I will be able to have that there!! We're gonna put it in the bedroom, which works out really well as I will be able to watch dvds while running.

Speaking of running... I still can't believe I am going to say this, but I am going to do a fun run!!!  At first I was thinking that it would be a great sense of accomplishment to just finish a fun run, so I could just walk it and not put too much pressure on myself.  However, now that I have been 'following' (and I use that term loosely - will explain in a sec) Michelle's learn to run program, I am thinking that maybe I could run (probably jog! lol) the whole 4km course I am planning to do.  A friend of mine asked me if myself and Carrie (gym buddy) would be interested in doing it... my first thought was "I can't do that!!" my next thought was "Seriously?! Why not?!" So, here I am, planning on doing the Brooks Spring Into Shape on  Sunday 30th October!!  I still can't believe I am going to sign up to do this.  I think overall, I want to see if I can do it.  Will be registering in a couple of weeks.

Now, onto Michelle's learn to run program and why I have been following it loosely.  It's not so much the learn to run program, but more the cardio sessions at the gym.  Don't get me wrong, I feel like I am flogging myself, but as I mentioned on Monday, I couldn't keep up with Michelle's cardio gym program.  I only managed 3 mins on the cross trainer on the manual program, and I did do the 10 mins on the bike, but also on the manual program.  Well, yesterday I decided to once again do the Week 1, Day 1 Intermediate program, with a small change, I did rowing, running, bike and then cross trainer, to help with my legs/running.  Yesterday I decided to aim for 4 minute on the cross trainer, but I smashed that goal and did 8 minutes!!!!!!! *cheering with pom poms*  To be perfectly honest, I think I probably could have pushed myself to do 10 minutes, so that will be my next goal, actually, I might aim for 12 minutes lol!  The biggest reason I think that I was able to last so much longer, was because of a TIP I was given by a friend and fellow 12WBTer (and knitter lol) to run with my heels not with my toes.  I wanted to post this up here as it may seem like common knowledge to some, but to any beginners out there, I hope this helps you as much as it helped me.