Yo-yoed

I didn't realise so much time had passed since I last wrote. Life changed just a little bit ... I got a job. I cannot tell you how surprised I am to have this job, it's a short term contract that takes me up to around Christmas and is keeping me busy.

The commute is losing me about 9 hours a week - it's not a complaint, just a fact of life. (On the days when I have the energy and elbow room, I get in some knitting, so that's a win). Plus I've been working hours much longer than those in Queensland, so there is a lot less time for 'me' stuff right now. Which is why the blog has been horribly neglected.

The week that saw me travel to Queensland to my friend's 30th resulted in weight gain of a kilo. I'm not surprised really. All that alcohol and fatty food. But in the following week I corrected with a loss of 1.3 kilos, so overall was ahead. Don't know how I'll go this week, I suspect it will either be stagnant or a slight gain due to TOM and bloating/water retention. Right now I hate you - HATE YOU - if you are one of those women for whom your period is a mere minor inconvenience rather than a severe shitstorm that temporarily unhinges your life.

I'm still plodding along with the 12wbt - following the diet, not religiously, but fairly closely, has given me a modicum of control. We're now at the start of week 5 - one quarter of the way through. I'm happy continue on with my original plan of using this challenge to get routine and eating back on track and then ramp up the intensity with exercise next time around.

Meanwhile, have some frightfully blurry pictures of meals I've been enjoying while on the plan.

Berry and ricotta bruschetta

French toast with maple poached peaches and yoghurt

Prawn pad thai

Mixed veggie wrap

Satay Chicken and mixed veggies.

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Damage control

Thursday to yesterday (Sunday) was a gluttonous affair. I did not count calories, I drank everything under the sun, ate the worst possible food and generally ignored this twelve week challenge.

Thursday night - due to some scheduling conflicts, we ended up having a five minute dinner of latina stuffed pasta. Sparkling Rosé.
Friday - a KFC burger for lunch (again as a result of poor timing) and Virgin Lounge food for dinner (hot dogs, crackers nuts). A cider and a few glasses of white wine.
Saturday - Brunch of eggs and bacon on Turkish Bread, followed by an afternoon of snacking on party food. Mud cake. Ice cream, ice cream and more ice cream. Many glasses of white wine.

Am now suffering the consequences of my actions.

Yesterday - I had the worst hangover I've had in a very, very long time. Let me tell you, air travel is not fun while you're poisoned. Couldn't even sip water until well into the flight. It was an unpleasant experience for everyone involved. Luckily, I was surrounded by sympathetic friends, who I strongly suspect have been in this situation more than once themselves. The only food I ate yesterday (and kept down) was a KFC burger and 1/2 box chips.

Today, I feel ... weary. I'm still dehydrated and working on getting a few litres of water into my system. I'm strictly eating very clean food. My digestive system feels heavy, sore and bloated - punished for too much alcohol and junk foods, not enough of the stuff that is good for me. My pain levels have increased. I don't know if that's just something that is going to happen now when I travel, or a result of the food etc (maybe I should do some research into managing pain through diet? IDK).

Such attractive imagery.

The weekend away was thoroughly enjoyable but need to learn how to manage myself a bit better. Planning and what-not. I'm terrified of getting on the scales - I fear I've undone all the good work of the proceeding 10 days.

Meanwhile, we're at the start of week three on the 12 week body transformation - good time to refocus and recommit to what I want most. And that is to feel fit and healthy.

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Week 2 Weigh-in

A week of almost religiously sticking to the (heavily customised) plan has paid off.

Between last Wednesday and today, I have lost a whopping

1.8 Kilograms

In one week!!!

That's 4lbs! 

That's what eating well, doing a little extra walking and not giving in to the cravings does.

My starting weight (yes, I'll admit it now) 113.3. Eep.

Today's weight 110.9 

This coming week may not be as successful. I'm having a very quick trip to Brisbane for a friend's 30th birthday, so I don't have as much control over what I'll be eating. And there will be alcohol. But I'll do my best.

And with food like this, how can I not?

Yesterday's breakfast

A parfait of fruit, yoghurt and granola (with a few ingredients I won't list for copyright reasons)

 Yesterday's lunch

Baked ricotta with herbs, mountain bread crisps and crudités 

PS If you're enjoying reading my blog, and want to support me (not financially!) etc, I now have a Facebook Page you can 'like'.

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Survived

Friday was far more a struggle than I conveyed in my last post. On the inside, I felt like a three-year-old having an epic tantrum.
Fighting my impulses, controlling them, saying no to myself. It was far from easy to get through. But I did, and now:

I can do this. 

Even today, when I am being tortured by horrid allergies, sinus pain and a whopping headache, I don't feel like I've been defeated. Longer term followers of my blog would know I'd be wailing at this point about how unfair life is and that the universe is out to get me.

I know it will happen again. Knowing that I've battled this Boss and defeated it, and scored some pretty good loot (sorry for the nerdy gamer chick reference) - confidence, motivation etc, will hopefully make the next time I face the impulse control demon easier.

12WBT - Week one review

We've now finished the first week of the 12 Week Body Transformation program, so I thought it would be timely to give a quick review.

The Nutrition Plan
So far, I think it's fantastic. Not all the food has been great, (using stock powder as a primary flavour in a recipe - yuck), but the ability to customise menus on a daily basis and have a shopping list automatically generated is a big win for me. Cancelling out meals where I know I won't be at home, knowing that Saturday night gets to be a special treat, calories-aren't-counted meal is something to look forward to, and making sure there are choices that my darling fusspot will eat makes it easy and comparatively stress free. There is also an ability to program in left over meals if you're making a recipe that caters to more than the number of people you are feeding - reducing wasted food, a big problem I have had on a certain other program that helps you watch your weight.

The only downside (and it's a pretty minor one) is the way the nutrition plans are classified. I've put myself on the 1500 calories per day diet because I know that this will work better for my psychologically. Also, I have a lot to lose, so when I get closer to my final goal I can drop down to the 1200 calorie plan.

The Exercise Plan
To be honest, I've ignored most of this due to still being in recovery mode. From what I've seen, I'm impressed that it caters for people who go to they gym and use either machines/weights or attend classes, and for people who exercise at home. You're asked to workout 6 out of 7 days, but I know I'll end up with worse injuries if I do that, so I'm starting with 2-3 days and I hope by the end of the 12 weeks I can do 6 days per week.

The support
Forums have helped me this time - participating in and reading. It's good to know there are other people out there facing the exact same challenges as me. Seeing how other people deal with it - 'confessions' of people who have 'broken' the diet and people who've battled their demons and won. I'm not comparing myself to anyone else either, so seeing people who have lost a huge amount of kilos this week isn't getting me down and making me feel like a failure. I'm in the tortoise zone.

There are also podcasts and vodcasts to help participants along the way. These have been helpful. Motivating.

Despite being ill, I feel hopeful. Like in 11 weeks from now (which, you should know is the day I turn 36 - mark it in your calendars, people!!) I'll be happy with the result.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to return to the horizontal before my head explodes.

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Danger Zone

Friday afternoon and I'm heading right into the ... 

I'm uncomfortably cold, a little sad after getting yet another job rejection and slightly immobile while my sore hip & shoulder settle down. 

I want to eat.

Stuff myself on hot, filling food that will provide pyrrhic comfort. Radiate heat from the inside.

I'm dreaming of deep-pan Pizza, cheese toasties, freshly made custard, rich hot chocolate. All manner of things that will destroy the good work I've done over the past few days. To counter it, I'm keeping my hands busy with my current knitting project and am up to the gills in hot tea (Girly Grey).

Can't remember the last time I fought so strongly against myself like this. I so very rarely sacrifice what I want now for what I want long term. My weight problem is fairly reflective of my entire approach to life - short term wins and deal with the longer term consequences later.

On one hand I feel so out of control with the desire to eat all the things yet on the other so determined to not give in and get the long term goals.

This is so. frickin'. hard. 

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