Lightening Online

The fitness and weight loss wagon that is.

Today I started back with my Fitness Trainer at our tiny local gym.

It’s been almost 2 years since we were meeting together on a weekly basis.

We were away and then she went on Maternity Leave.

I have battled on with my fitness myself but I KNOW I do so much better when I’m working with her once a week.

However, my fitness is less of a concern to me than my eating habits.

I have a disfunctional relationship with food.

I remember feeling hungry a lot growing up and suffering from a lot of stomach aches (stress and hunger induced).

I now have an intense fear of feeling hungry.

Going wheat free has certainly helped with the stomach-aches and hunger pains (that were actually stomach aches).

Yet still I struggle with weight loss/gain.

Up - Down - Up - Down goes my weight constantly.

And if I ignore it, it just goes up and up and up.

Some days I get tired of the constant battle with my weight and wish I could just “give up”.

But I know where that will take me.

UP.

So, today begins a fresh attempt at losing a few kg’s.

The good news is that in the past 12 months I have managed to lose around 8kg.

The not so good news is that before that, I managed to gradually gain 19kg.

So there’s still 11kg to get back to the lowest weight that I’ve been in the past 10 years.

15kg to get back to what I was before kids.

But I’d be happy to lose another 7kg.

Actually, I’d just be happy to lose another 1kg.

That’s all it takes doesn’t it?  1kg at a time.

Between my weekly sessions with my trainer at the gym, netball training and netball, I think I have the physical activity pretty much covered.

If I can just stay away from the junk food….

Easier said than done!

But I’m going to give it a go.

Farmboy and I were lamenting with one another the fact that we could both do with losing 10kg.  I could probably do with losing a few more but 10kg would be a good start.

We have these conversations on a semi regular basis and then share some cheesecake or chocolate.  LOL.

This time around, we’ve decided to get a little more serious.

We tossed around the idea of having our own little “biggest loser” type competition.

That had a couple of problems:

1.  He tends to lose weight much easier than I do (he just tries to a little less often).

2.  Competing against each other is more likely to create an environment of sabotage rather than support as the spirit of competitiveness takes over.

SO, instead we decided to run a challenge TOGETHER.

Our goal is 20kg COMBINED weight loss (hopefully that’ll equate out to around 10kg each but any weight loss is better than none so we’ll just see what happens).

Rewards are based on 5kg increments of COMBINED weight loss.

This is what we’ve come up with:

Goal 1 - lose 5kg combined.  Reward: Go Out For a Meal

Goal 2 - lose 10kg combined.  Reward: Undecided - need some ideas

Goal 3 - lose 15kg combined.  Reward: Day Out (including shopping for new clothes)

Goal 4 - lose 20kg combined.  Reward: Night Away somewhere nice.

Sundays are our “weigh in day”.

I prefer to live in denial so was reluctant to face the truth.  Turns out I was lighter than expected.  Yah!  If I can succeed in losing 1okg I’ll be back to pre-baby weight (which still isn’t my ideal weight but a good milestone to achieve).

We haven’t set any time frame for our weight loss.  We’re just trying to encourage each other when it comes to daily exercise and not overdoing it with junk food.

I hope it helps!

Image via Wikipedia That’s my nickname for the week we do “weigh and measure” with my PT. Because I usually pay for the next 6 week installment at the same time.

The first few times, I found it kind of ironic that I was paying for the “privilege” of having to get on the scales. I wasn’t really, but it was an interesting mental connection.

So today was “pay and measure” day.

And I noticed a mental connection of a different kind. It didn’t bother me the way it has in the past.

Being weighed and measured I mean.

Not sure if that’s a result of how comfortable I feel around my PT or that I’m more comfortable in my own skin. Possibly a combination of both.

Up until now I haven’t wanted to know what the figures were saying but today I really looked at them.

The Good News:

• Waist measurement is down
• Blood Pressure is down
• Weight didn’t go up despite my weight going up twice this month (I’ve been able to lose what I gained)
• Measurements reflected about what I expected. I’ve noticed when I gain weight and then lose it again that the weight is shifting - the measurements reflected what I’ve noticed in my clothing so at least I know I’m making some accurate reflections on my changing body shape.

My Current Goals:

• Stop gaining weight so that when I DO lose it, it’s an actual loss and not just a “back to where we started”.
• Exercise daily to improve fitness, get into a “habit” and help my body crave healthier foods (which it seems to do if I’m exercising daily).
• Get my waist measurements to a healthier size.
• Fit in my gold & black dress. I can actually wear it but a tiny weight loss would make it slightly more comfortable.

PT News

For those who don’t read my comments section on a regular basis, my PT has just won the highest netball award for our area (Best & Fairest A grade in the association).

And she still made it today after a big afternoon of celebrations yesterday!!! Must be built tough!

Speaking of tough, I need to go and fall into bed I think. I’m a wee bit weary. I always sleep well on a Monday night. Don’t think I’m built tough.

Image via Wikipedia I had this great idea that joining the Bloggest Loser Challenge would give me the motivation to actually DO something about my current weight issues.

Not that they’re hugely bad. Other than the fact that they’re currently in an upward direction.

Anyway, I was WRONG!!!

Which hardly ever happens!!!!

Because the thing with weight is, you don’t tend to lose it unless you’re ready. Unless you want it BADLY enough.

And I’m not sure if I do.

Yet!

*sigh*

Not sure what to do about my lack of motivation.

Because I’m REALLY going to kick myself if this upward trend continues and I put on the rest of the 20kg I lost a couple of years ago.

Aaarrrggghhhh!!!!!!!!!!

I know what works for me. Running. Every. Single. Day.

So, if I could just do that. You’d hope the rest would just fall into place.

We’ll see.

What do you mean “that’s your job”?????

I worked my muscles hard today and I suspect I’m going to feel it tomorrow.

It’s a funny kind of pain though. It lasts such a short time and tends to be followed by that “I did it” elation.

Okay, it’s actually usually followed by me collapsing in a heap. But the high is still there somewhere.

I might not be succeeding when it comes to weight loss (yet!) but I’m definitely noticing an improvement in my fitness and strength. And at the end of the day, I think that’s more beneficial to my health.

Not that my health wouldn’t benefit from losing a few kilo’s.

I just think it’s benefiting more from the increased fitness and strength.

I know my self esteem is really benefiting.

I’m doing badly. REALLY badly.

Like, “not sure if my jeans are going to do up” badly.

And it’s all MY fault.

I’ve tried to think of anyone or anything else I can possibly blame it on.

And I can’t!!!

Cos it all comes down to me really.

And the worst thing is that I KNOW how to lose 0.5kg per week. I’ve done it before. By running. LOTS of running.

Okay, jogging. It’s not really fast enough to be a run.

Anyway, this coming week is likely to be a write off.

It’s busy and I’ll be around LOTS of food.

Yummy food.

So, I’m thinking maybe I’ll start again in a week.

Because that’s the great thing about weight loss.

You get to start over as many times as you need to.

*sigh*

Image via WikipediaAs promised, here is my exercise run-down for the week:
Sunday - froze at least 10kg off at a Football Carnival (okay, in my dreams but it’s the closest I came to exercising on Sunday - and it was FREEZING!!!!)

Monday - Billy Blanks DVD (4o-45 minutes)

Tuesday - Cleaned the House in 4 x 15 minute blocks. Only low impact exercise but that counts yeah?

Wednesday - Gym with my Gym Buddy. It nearly killed me but I did end up with 45 minutes of exercise. Followed by a Mars Bar.

Thursday - Awesome netball training. 1.5 hours (we usually train around that amount but it does vary depending on many factors)

Friday - does walking around shops count??? What about exercising my credit card???

Saturday - 3 x 15 minute quarters of netball plus the warm up before hand.

Today I had grand plans to go for a walk/jog but by the time we got home this afternoon I was just feeling too tired. So it didn’t happen. I am wondering about making Sundays a “rest day” in terms of exercise. I’m torn because it’s a day when Farmboy is around so it’s an opportunity for me to go for a run.

So 4 actual exercise sessions for the week.

Eating This Week:

No vegemite on toast despite almost giving in a couple of times.

Too much chocolate although given the hormonal status of the week I think I did well.

Big day out on Friday and while I didn’t go silly, I did have a bun for morning tea (no butter though) and KFC for lunch. Does Subway for tea help counteract that????

Weight Loss This Week:

Oops, I forgot to weigh myself this morning. So I’m not sure. 

Goals For the Coming Week:

Aim for 5 exercise sessions (1 up on the 4 I managed this week).

Work on eating healthy lunches. I’d been doing well in this area but have slacked off a bit. Will have to see how much pumpkin soup is left. I LOVE soup for lunch at this time of year.

Image via WikipediaAnyone know what week we are “supposed” to be up to? I know that this is my second “progress” post but I’m not sure if I’m a week behind others.

Not that it really matters in the scheme of things. The most important thing for me is progress and using this as an opportunity for some accountability.

So, how did this week go?

Better.

The “no butter on toast” challenge: I DID IT!!! Go me!!!

I did have butter on my hamburger roll on Friday night. Deliberately. I don’t want to go the “all or nothing” approach and give up so I tried to only focus on the “no butter on toast or bread” for this week.

Exercise didn’t go as well though. I had several days where I didn’t do any. Which isn’t all that great considering I’m trying to build the habit of some form of exercise every day.

BUT.

I did lose 0.5kg which is my weekly goal.

Total weight loss for the challenge so far: 600g (500g this week and 100g last week)

Considering I went to a birthday party last night and really ate more than I needed to, I’m happy with that.

My challenge for this week will be to keep a diary of my exercise each day and publish it as part of my check-in next week.

Plus, continue my “no butter on toast or bread” challenge for another week.

How did others go this week?

Image by amyliagrace via FlickrAt losing weight that is.

I’m pretty good at finding it though. I must be a “good looker”. LOL.

So, here’s the thing.

I have been fighting weight gain my. whole. life.

The scales are my nemesis.

If I don’t weigh myself semi-regularly, I WILL gain weight. Or at least, that’s been my experience for more years than I’m willing to count.

If I do weigh myself I tend to get hyper-obsessive about minute fluctuations, too obsessive about food and simply down on myself in general.

Blah!

The best remedy I’ve discovered so far has been exercise. And LOTS of it. And trying to eat moderately healthy.

Calorie counting is counter-productive for me. The more I focus on food, the more I WANT to eat. If I try to deny myself anything at all - I only want it more. AND I HATE being hungry. Ever. Even if my body just thinks it’s hungry (when it’s not). I cannot cope with that.

I signed on for the Bloggest Loser Challenge in the hopes that some accountability and comraderie might help give me the kick start I need to move a few kg’s. I’m still hoping it will but this first week and a bit hasn’t resulted in glowing results.

My weight tends to fluctuate quite a bit from day to day. According to the scales this morning, I’ve lost 100g this week. I know that is probably better than nothing but really??? I have exercised every. single. day and lost 100g.

Anyway, I really cannot afford to give up now. Because giving up will result in a GAIN and I really don’t want anymore of that.

My biggest downfall right now?

Buttered toast. When I’m cold and hungry and feeling a bit blue, hot buttered toast with vegemite is where I turn.

So I’m going to try a no butter week. Just one week. Surely I can do that yeah? If I REALLY have to have toast, I can. Just without the butter.

And if I make this a public declaration then maybe, just maybe I might be more inclined to stick with it. I hope.

Wish me luck - I think I’m gonna need it.

Image by amyliagrace via FlickrI got on the scales this morning to see what damage I did while we were away recently. The news was not pretty. Despite my increase in exercise through personal training, netball and going to the gym, I’m just not winning the Battle of the Bulge.

Sadly, I am currently carrying 10kg MORE than I was at a similar time last year.

On a positive note, my fitness and strength IS improving. So it’s not ALL bad news.

However, I would REALLY like to get the scale numbers moving in a downward direction. I don’t really mind how slowly they move down as long as they start moving DOWN (rather than UP).

Other than my recent gain after being away, I have at least stopped the upward motion since beginning my personal training sessions. So that is good news.

Anyway, when Leigh from Crazy Meezer issued her Bloggest Loser Weight Loss Challenge, I decided this might just be the accountability and kick start I need.

The challenge runs for 12 weeks and I’m already a tiny bit behind as it began on Monday 7th (while I was away GAINING weight!!!!). Check in’s are planned for Sundays.

I’m setting myself a goal of 6kg for the 12-weeks. I prefer the “slow and steady” approach when it comes to weight loss.

I have no plan whatsoever on HOW I’m going to achieve this goal yet (and today my head is rather foggy due to med changes so no plans will be formulated today).

If you want to join in, I’m sure you would be more than welcome. Just head over to Crazy Meezer and let Leigh know you’re in.