Stat week. Or the week - stat!

OK then, let's do this, shall we?

Weigh-in Wednesday brought this:

Under the flash, it says 83.95kg. Trust me.
Please ignore the hairy, mid-winter in Canberra legs.
But how nice are my shellac toes?

It was Fitness Test week as well, as part of pre-season.

Not pretty - it scored 38/50, which apparently puts me at "beginner" level for the exercise plan. I don't like "beginner" level. So I might stick with "Move 2" to get my ass moving again, really nail the eating plan plan, and then when I don't resemble a whale,  can start running again.

It was also Measure Up week:

Again not pretty. I will be happy(er) when I'm less than 80kg again. I tried to upload my "before" shot, but I haven't been technologically successful.

This was my original Before shot:

Nov 2012 - 77.3kg

Feb 2013 - 69.9kg

Fuck me. How depressing.
Aug 2014 - 83.9kg 

Well. That's bloody good motivation! Let's do this! (and just quietly, how brave am I for totally putting myself in all my glory out there!?).

Weigh In Wednesday!

And so it starts again - the accountability.

I know the only one I really have to be accountable to is myself. But this is my way of doing it. Keeping the bastard honest.

So this morning - 84.9kg (187.2lbs).

That's a lot. But it's less than last week, so chin up Ingi! It's a start!

And one more try for the dummies!

I turn 45 today.

I'm now 86.5kg.

I'm struggling to tie up my shoes.

It's time!

For realz and for good.

Let's do this!

Trying AGAIN!

Hello all my lonely readers! You can take my silence here and on Facebook as confirmation that I have, indeed fallen off the 12WBT bandwagon (again).

My life has been very stressful of late, and although I know that following Mish's advice and guidelines will help me lose weight, look better, feel better and be healthier, it was just the straw that broke the camel's back and I couldn't deal with "being good" on top of everything else I've had to do.

And so I've been paying Mish $20 a week (again) for nothing. Well not nothing, because I've saved her recipes and running plan to my computer this time.

As you would expect, living a lifestyle of crap food and plenty of wine and little (no?) exercise does not lead to good things on the scales. I'm back to 78.9kg as of yesterday. Sigh. I'm on the yo-yo.

So, Weight Watchers, joined gyms, bootcamp, Couch to 5km, Run Fat Bitch Run, juicing, Weigh It Up, 12 Week Body Transformation - I've done them all - lost kilos, run further than I ever imagined, gained kilos...

However, a friend posted something earlier this week that piqued my interest - the Fast Diet (or 5:2 Intermittent Fasting) as "discovered" by Michael Mosely (love his science docos!) on the Horizon documentary Eat, Fast, Live Longer. Go watch it. In his case (and mine!) that all the standard advice is not working.

The idea is that you fast on two (non-consecutive) days a week - where you only eat 500 calories (or 600 for men) on those days. Eat what you want on the other days. Sounds doable! Fasting made easy! And with some good science to back it up. I went and bought the book.

So yesterday, I fasted for the first time. I was HUNGRY in between breakfast (cottage cheese and apple) and dinner (pork yakitori, pumpkin, feta and beans). But I didn't cave - because today I am enjoying my standard fare of raisin toast and chai latte. I really had to stop myself reaching out and just mindlessly eating. It took some thinking, but I did it! And I am so mentally relieved that I don't have to watch what I eat every day - just two days a week.

Just for fun, I took all my starting measurements yesterday - and today, 24 hours later, I am 1.5kg lighter. 1.5 KILOGRAMS! I expect much of it is water, but wow. On Thursday, I'll do it again and then go back to normal.

It is obviously early days and my long-term track record is not great. And as always, I'll blog about it - good, bad and ugly. Because I know I'm not alone here. Keep following me on my journey!

What I missed about running

Finally got my butt off the couch and out there this morning. Just my usual run down at the beach. Me and the dog. Did a little warm-up walk and then jogged (with the odd walk-break in between) for 30 minutes. 3.91km according to my little iPod nano as my Garmin wasn't charged and I now have a humongous "phablet" for a phone which is ridiculously large to run with. Not terribly accurate, but I'm not a terribly elite athlete or anything.

Anyways, I was out there and thought to myself "gee, I really miss this!". Not the huffy-puffy of it all and the tight calves and the niggly sore hip (which is sore without running, so not sure how putting it under duress will pan out), but the joy of running.

In particular I missed:

• Being out in the fresh morning air, looking at the pretty beach scenery. How lucky am I to live next to the ocean?
• Listening to my music! I really missed just listening to uplifting, boppy music that sadly has most of it's origins in the 80s (although I can boast the Veronicas and Pink on this morning's playlist as well).
• Taking my dog for a walk. My slow running pace is his perfect trotting pace. But I wish he didn't feel the need to claim the park grass as his own and pee every 20 metres (note to self - I am the pack leader, he does what I tell him!).
• The sweaty, tired feeling of a good workout. I'm hoping I'll sleep like a baby tonight. 
• The smug, self-satisfied feeling that I went for my run this morning.

Do you run?

What do you love most about it?

Stalled...

Yesterday was Weigh-In Wednesday. 69.6kg (a 400g gain). Happy to say that this morning 300g of that has gone. But my weight loss has stalled somewhat. The post fun-run thing has kicked in. It's almost as if I'm too scared to run. My hip hurts and although recovering, my groin hurts. My holiday starts in just over a week. I don't know why, but I'm just not freaking doing it.

But I'm eating OK (not following the plan 100% but not going over). At least this thing has taught me how much I can eat and I'm making better food choices. I've lost 10kg and that is a huge achievement. I like how I look in the mirror a lot more now.

I've read some stuff on the interweb lately where women are trying to deal with body image - more specifically, the fact they are overweight. This is such a huge issue. And some of it has bagged out Michelle Bridges and the 12WBT program. Apparently we are all  being sucked in by media and this chick who uses plastic surgery to achieve her look. If you believe what you read.

There is a large campaign to not view your self-worth through the lens of media-constructed ideas of beauty. That we need to accept every body is beautiful.

I have mulled this over.

Yes, I agree, your size or your weight should not be connected to your worth as a person. Losing weight is not magically going to make you happy. If you are overweight, it does not automatically mean you are lazy, ugly and stupid. There is a hell of a lot more to life than a number on the scales.

But... Ultimately, being overweight is not good for your health. It means you are consuming too many calories, whatever way you cut it. It means you are at risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease. It means you have fat sitting on your internal organs. It means you are not really looking after yourself.

So when I look at photos of me looking like this:

I know I've lost 10kg and can "run" 10km. But - I need to lose another 10kg. I still have rolls of fat around my middle and therefore in my insides. Those legs are working too hard lugging all that extra weight around.

So. I'm going to get off this keyboard and onto my rowing machine. I might be too scared to run and further aggravate my hip, but I can do something cardio related! This journey isn't over just because I reached a couple of big milestones! This is the hardest thing about this journey - it just never "ends", does it? I know I'm not the only one out there dealing with this - the forums are full of people like me who "fell off the bandwagon" or "lost motivation". 

But we just have to keep on putting one foot in front of the other, don't we? Because I do not accept this body yet - I love it for what it has achieved, but I also love myself enough to keep going.

How do you feel about your body?

The ecstasy and the agony...

The ecstasy:

I can see that I do pronate a fair bit and my Mizunos work hard!

But yay - no heel-striking!

A smile for the camera!

Nearly finished!

The agony:

Friggin' hell it was hot.

And really, really hard work.

And since that day, I've not run at all. AND I've pulled a muscle in my groin and it really hurts (I did this trying to sit cross-legged on the ground - obviously I am too old for that now!).

I want to run but I don't want to exacerbate an injury. I need to get back into a routine (any exercise, I'm not fussy right now). I can see an eery sense of history repeating and I don't want that. What's Mish say? JFDI...

Wednesday Weigh In!

Alrighty. So if you recall, last week (Week 1 of Round 2 of 12WBT) saw a gain and sadly had me back in the 70s, after scraping into the 60s at the end of Round 4.

This week, I've eaten well (95% of the time), done a 10km fun run, walked the dog and done my toning. What happens when you stay consistent?

69.2kg!! 152.6 lbs

Woot! That's 1.5kg gone from last week! I'm sure a lot of the weight gain was fluid retention from the birthday weekend wine - and a good incentive to stay away from the stuff!

Hopefully, that's the last we'll see of the 70s. And my BMI is now 25.7 - still just in the Overweight range, but ever so close to Normal!

I'm so proud of the 10+ kilograms I've shed. I've been consistent, not silly, however I still have few more to go judging my some of my photos from last weekend:

Rolls of fat begone with you!!!

It's interesting, because when discussing (my obvious) weight loss, some people feel the need to say "oh you can stop now" or "don't go getting all skinny on us" or similar. Well, that's just annoying, people! Because this week I picked up some interesting blood results back from the tests I had just before Christmas - my Fasting Glucose Levels were 5.6 - which by some standards indicate Insulin Resistance or Metabolic Syndrome, especially coupled with my high blood pressure and waist circumference of over 80cm. It's not drastic yet, but I need to keep working on this - not just my weight, but my health too. Luckily all my triglycerides and cholesterol levels were OK :-)

I think those comments come from a place of denial, maybe guilt. I certainly view all my previous excuses about my weight as just that - excuses. This healthy lifestyle CAN be done, it should be done. Sure it involves some choices - less wine, no thanks to chips etc. But that short term "pain" is a hell of a lot better than long term insulin injections!

Other milestones that don't involve the scales this week are my "tight" jeans shorts getting loose:

The things I subject you to!!

And I blogged a while ago (on my homeschooling blog) about putting my "too small" clothes away. I found the bag in the shed after a big cleanup on the weekend - and lo and behold, my size 12 shorts fit me!!! I couldn't do them up 4 months ago!! 

I have a ways to go before I go and buy a bikini and get back to the good ol' days, but if I keep on being consistent, that just may be a goal that's in sight:

That's me in the orange bikini circa 1988!!

Next "mini-goal" is to get to 66kg - that's as low as I got in 2009 when I did bootcamp when I was teaching (but I wasn't starting at nearly 80kg then!). Next week should see me a tiny step closer!

Meh. Wednesday Weigh In.

Well, I had a sneaking suspicion my week of dodgy eating and lack of exercise might catch up with me:

70.7kg - 1.1kg gain 

It was a bit bloody depressing to have to record a 1.1kg GAIN for Week 1 of Round 1 of 12WBT. 

Not freaking happy Jan.

How damn easy was it to gain that 1.1kg? No effort at all - and just goes to show how at "my age", the body is designed to hang onto those extra calories like it's life depended on them! What it thinks it needs them for is beyond me.

But I will be consistent! I'm back on track with diet. Apart from a case of DOMS, I'm back on track with exercise.

Well, I actually find that rather depressing....

That's a bit more like it!

I have my 10K fun run on Saturday - I'm excited and nervous at the same time!

I have tentatively started the half-marathon program for Round 1, but my hip/glute is starting to play up again, so after Saturday, I think I will have to back off the running a bit, focus on the stretching, massage and strengthening and rotate my cardio around a bit. Maybe I might try the Intermediate program until we go on holidays. I definitely don't want the big injury thing raising it's ugly head too - now that would be depressing.

Onwards and downwards!!

Round 4 ends with a whimper...

After my great results in the last weigh-in, life has de-railed my good intentions a little! So these last few days haven't been filled with consistency - either in the nutrition or exercise stakes.

A trip to Sydney staying with relatives meant I had to do the best I could. I did a big walk (got lost, so it was longer than I intended!), but no running, no toning and compromised food choices. However, as far as possible, I opted for smaller serves and only two glasses of wine.

Garmin says it was 94% humidity! It certainly felt like it  - sweat-fest!

BUT, I did get to Lululemon and treat myself to a new running top and new socks!

Still in their largest size, but pretty funky, don't you think?

Padded running socks for blister prevention (and Max the helper)

It was my Hubby's birthday and for the first time in forever, we had a nice night out by ourselves a local restaurant. The tapas-inspired menu was YUM and I was able to enjoy tasty bites without filling my plate. I do, however, now remember why I cut back on my wine intake...I was in no fit state to do my long run yesterday morning!

I haven't run in nearly a week! I feel quite weird about that. Back into it today with a tempo run from Week 1 of the Half Marathon program! We shall see how that progresses with a 4 week holiday in the middle of it...but for now, I want to keep up the running momentum (last week not included).

Are we going for a run, huh? Are we? Can we?

I know I haven't gone completely off the rails, but I bet it impacts on the scales. It pisses me off no end how hard I have to work for a loss and how easy it seems to be to gain! But things are back to "normal" (whatever that is) now and back to good choices. Bring on Round 1!!!!

12WBT - Round 4 Wrap-Up

After 12 weeks (and also Warm-Up and Pre-Season) (late October 2012 to early February 2013):

What the world sees

What I (and the internet!) see

What the scales see

% body fat (what my insides see!)

I have lost:

• 10cm off my bust (of course)
• 9cm off my waist (yay!)
• 5.5cm off my hips
• 5cm off each thigh
• 2cm off each upper arm.

I can:

• do 10 pushups on my toes (up from 0), 
• do 30 pushups on my knees (up from 24)
• reach 19cm past my toes (up from 10cm)
• run 1km in 6 minutes 26 seconds (down from 7:13)
• sit against a wall for 2min3sec (up from 42 seconds)

I have gone from a size 16 (some tight!) to a loose size 14 and sometimes a size 12 (woot!).

My belt has tightened up 2 notches.

My watch is loose.

My skin is glowing.

I can run 10km without stopping (when it's not 90% humidity and 25C).

I can eat cottage cheese and like it!

I only drink maybe a couple of nights a week and then only a couple of glasses of low alcohol wine.

These are big changes for me. I am feeling healthier and more energetic. If I'm tired, it's usually a good, physically tired from a big workout. I have started a healthier lifestyle, which will benefit my weight but also my blood pressure, heading towards diabetes, cholesterol, my liver etc, etc. 

My family eats more healthily and my husband has lost weight too.

I have further to travel on my journey. I have more goals to achieve. I am still in the overweight category of BMI, my waist measurement is still unhealthy, my blood pressure is still high.

I'm sure I'll have bits where I lapse, but I hope my lifestyle has turned a corner and will be consistently healthier.

Thanks for your support so far - can't wait to do this post in another 12 weeks and see more progress!!

Too far...

Can I smash all of this open

Can I pass the hurt with a little pain

I wanna see all of it crumble

Start afresh and over again

Another "red flag" day on Friday - a work do at the local pizzeria. I skipped my snacks, ate clean and went and bought low-alcohol bubbles. And stuck (mostly) to the vegetarian pizzas (which were delish!).

And the biggest test of how far I've come of all - the dreaded muffin-top jeans. These are the "too tight" pair that give me indigestion. But not tonight! They are fitting much more comfortably (nicely, even) and maybe, just possibly, are a little loose around the legs!

Might need to clean the bathroom mirror...

And other little things are becoming noticeable - when I'm not sweaty, my watch is looser too:

Saturday morning - I had all the excuses under the sun not to do my long run:

• it was dark
• it was cold (southerly change blew up, bringing winter-like conditions)
• my running buddy couldn't make it
• I got my period the night before
• my blister was sore
• I had to be at work at 9am
• my hair was all lovely and straight from the hairdressers
• I didn't feel like it

All of these went through my head on Friday night and also Saturday morning when the alarm went off at 5:30am (noooo!).

But I Just Freaking Did It. I got up and ran. And it was about a billionty degrees cooler than last week and I ran the whole bloody 10km and then a little bit more (the hard bit around the golf course). I felt strong and for the first time, I felt that maybe, just maybe, this half marathon idea is not so crazy.

OK, so Usain Bolt has nothing to worry about
 and don't even talk to me about the pathetic amount of calories burnt!

I'm not totally sure of the distance there, because Garmin thinks I swam part of the way...

I'm scared of pushbikes to be contemplating a triathlon any time soon...

So here we sit on the threshold of Week 12 of the 12 Week Body Transformation. Will I have "transformed" my body? Not totally, but damn, I'm sure I've made a good start! 

Not sure I'll get to my little goal of being in the 60s by Wedneday's weigh in, so stay tuned for that and the "big reveal" of the before and after shots (eek!).

Where there is no one else

Where I'll be from under and can uncurl myself

Too many, too much, too hard

Help me, this time I went too far

Wild Again!

What wild weather we've been having - bushfires, heat waves, flooding and mega-surf:

Yacht washed up on the breakwall
(actually, it smashed against the side,
then a crane lifted it up - but it looks freaky!)

Wild and woolly surf conditions for my run this morning!

Makes for fun running anyway!

But enough of that, Weathergirl! What of it being Wednesday and all???

Possibly in the realms of over-sharing and Too Much Information, I have been suffering with a lack of toilet-going in the lead-up to this morning's weigh-in. Alas, Metamucil and water have not been sufficient to unblock me, so no "bog and log" (as a Facebook friend so eloquently put it!) this morning.

I hopped on the scales and was pretty happy to see 70.4kg. Went and got my iPhone, which apparently weighs half a kilo and saw this:

70.9kg - 156.3lbs

Try as I may, the bugger would not go back to the original reading! So (sniff) I'm going with 70.9kg this week and have bowel emptying, clean eating, no drinking and the 60s and a total 10kg weight loss in my sights for next week!!!

What a difference a year (or 12 weeks) makes!

It's getting to the pointy end of the 12 Week Body Transformation now. We have started Week 11 - just two more weeks to go, and I have to say, I'm getting a tiny bit excited about taking my "after" photo and comparing it with "before" (which I hated taking and bravely shared with you). I reckon I will look a bit different.

But after checking out Finding Carol, and how much just her face had changed in 12 months and 3 Rounds of 12WBT, I was curious. You are too, aren't you?

January 2012

January 2013

That photo yesterday, even though I was a beetroot, was the first photo in quite a while that I actually liked the way I looked. 

And now, comparing it this time last year (even though they are not from the same angle), I'm really happy with my progress! I have more work to do and this "lifestyle" has to be a permanent thing, even when I reach my goal weight (and I will!), but when you see evidence like this, it makes it worth it and you realise just how far you've come.

Stay tuned kiddies, more over-sharing to come!!

Like a blister in the sun...

"When I go walking, I strut my stuff and I'm so strung out

I'm high as a kite, I just might, stop to check you out"

Don't panic, I'm not strung out and I'm not doing drugs! But I enjoyed listening to this song again (ahhh the joys of my youth) whilst re-watching Gross Pointe Blank the other night (huge John Cusack fan!).

And you know how I had a callous that I ped-egged:

And you know how last week in the rain, that baby-soft (well, not really) area got a blister?

And you know how I ran for 10km yesterday? Well, the last couple of kilometres, apart from being hot, sweaty, humid and just freaking hard work were also a bit painful, because baby came back:

How lucky are you lot
  that I own an iPhone
and get to record
every tiny detail
of my life to share with you???

I posted a thread about blisters on the 12WBT website and got good feedback, which I will share with my extensive readership here:

• if it's small (no) and not in a inconvenient spot (no) leave it alone. If it's big and giving you grief, insert a sterilised needle and let the liquid ooze out of it (it spurted out of mine! Gross!).
• don't pull the skin off - it will get infected
• cover with Compeed (or similar) blister bandaid thingy
• to prevent further blisters, make sure your shoes fit properly
• get good running socks (thought I had, but I'm going to look into 1000 miles socks)
• cover offending area with said bandaid thingys or athletes tape

You can rest assured I will share with you the gory details of how I get on!

"Let me go on, like a blister in the sun

Let me go, big hands I know you're the one"

(I have no idea what those lyrics mean, but I know I dance like a demon to them!)