Yay! Meeting JT for a session this afternoon. So ready to be killed by him. Never thought I would hear myself say I missed exercising...
So far I have stuck to my plans for the week. The Spanish Chicken last night was yummy and I enjoyed the netball game. Tonight is the Veal Rolls and I went a bought some lovely fresh beans to go with it. Definitely looking forward to that one!
Last night I was chatting to James and we decided it would be great if I set a health goal. So I am hoping that within the next 6 months I will be able to drop my HbA1c (I explained that one in an earlier post) from 6.2 to under 6. Under 6 puts me out of the diabetic range. I will never not be classed as diabetic, once diagnosed that's it, but I can have it well and truly under control and that's what I'll be aiming for.
I am going to list my goals and give them to JT. That way he will keep me a bit more accountable. Accountability is so important in this journey and it is something I struggle to be. When there is no one to actually report to it's easy to make excuses. And my motto for the next little while is NO MORE EXCUSES!
So my goals for the next month are:
Fitness - get back to being able to jog a kilometre;
Weight - lose 2kgs; and
Mental/Emotional - to plan food and stick to it.
Will keep you updated on how these go......
Tuesday, 11 October 2011
Monday, 10 October 2011
Plan for the week......
So I have decided that I need to plan week by week. If I plan too far ahead the plans seem to fall over. So bringing it back to week by week.
Dinner tonight is Spanish Chicken with a Garden Salad. I'm about to go and cook it now. Yummo. Exercise for today is.....Netball!! A friend needed a fill in so I get to play. Yippee!!
Tomorrow we will have Spinach & Feta Veal Rolls (I actually use beef schnitzel for this as I'm not too keen on veal) which we will have with a big pile of mixed green vegies. I'm hoping that JT will be free for a session tomorrow - I need to do some HARD work!
Wednesday it will be slow cooked Balsamic Lamb Shanks with mash and beans. The big netball game is on that night - Australia vs England at the AIS and we have tickets. Very excited! Will have to get in a good walk/run during the day as we will be busy cheering at the game in the evening!!
Thursday we will be eating Steak with Polenta Chips and Salad for dinner and again I'm hoping to get JT onto our case.
Friday is the start of a new week for me. I will do the meal plan on Thursday or Friday and shop on Friday. So I will post the next plan then!
I am off work for the week as the kids are on school hols. My challenge will be to avoid snacking! I will be super busy though as I am going to clean up and clean out both Sophie's bedroom and our terribly messy study. Hopefully I'll get through it all......
Dinner tonight is Spanish Chicken with a Garden Salad. I'm about to go and cook it now. Yummo. Exercise for today is.....Netball!! A friend needed a fill in so I get to play. Yippee!!
Tomorrow we will have Spinach & Feta Veal Rolls (I actually use beef schnitzel for this as I'm not too keen on veal) which we will have with a big pile of mixed green vegies. I'm hoping that JT will be free for a session tomorrow - I need to do some HARD work!
Wednesday it will be slow cooked Balsamic Lamb Shanks with mash and beans. The big netball game is on that night - Australia vs England at the AIS and we have tickets. Very excited! Will have to get in a good walk/run during the day as we will be busy cheering at the game in the evening!!
Thursday we will be eating Steak with Polenta Chips and Salad for dinner and again I'm hoping to get JT onto our case.
Friday is the start of a new week for me. I will do the meal plan on Thursday or Friday and shop on Friday. So I will post the next plan then!
I am off work for the week as the kids are on school hols. My challenge will be to avoid snacking! I will be super busy though as I am going to clean up and clean out both Sophie's bedroom and our terribly messy study. Hopefully I'll get through it all......
Saturday, 8 October 2011
Blog Title
So has anyone wondered about my Blog's title? I have been wondering for days if it makes sense to other people. I guess it really doesn't matter if you guys get it or not, it's my blog and I'll name it what I want, right?
Anyway, it's meant to be a bit of a play on words - 'Losing' because obviously this about my journey to lose weight. 'My mind' because I truly believe that weight loss is an emotional/mental journey way more than it's a physical one. So together 'Losing my mind' is about breaking down all the emotional and mental barriers I have built up over all these years so that I can 'Find me', the real me, the person I don't really know but is slowly beginning to emerge - the strong, calm and confident person. The one who knows her strengths and weaknesses and accepts them with good grace.
Sadly, this isn't always happening :( There is still a lot of self sabotage going on. A lot of which relates to laziness....
I planned dinner last night, I had even defrosted the meat. And then Julia invited a friend over to stay the night. And then we went to get a DVD for them to watch. And then it was late. And then we decided to have take-away. One little pizza won't hurt will it? Will it?!?!?!
I am so angry with myself this morning. I loved every bite of that pizza. But it's going to cost me. Big time.
So why did I do it? To save myself 20 minutes in the kitchen? How dumb is that? And the scariest bit of it all is that if I had that time over again I probably would do the same. Us fatties seem to think we can justify eating something like a pizza. 'oh but it was a small one, I used to eat a large!' and 'I'll eat better tomorrow and do some exercise'. These are just stupid excuses my mind makes. They are not the truth and they are not acceptable.
*Sigh*
Anyway, it's meant to be a bit of a play on words - 'Losing' because obviously this about my journey to lose weight. 'My mind' because I truly believe that weight loss is an emotional/mental journey way more than it's a physical one. So together 'Losing my mind' is about breaking down all the emotional and mental barriers I have built up over all these years so that I can 'Find me', the real me, the person I don't really know but is slowly beginning to emerge - the strong, calm and confident person. The one who knows her strengths and weaknesses and accepts them with good grace.
Sadly, this isn't always happening :( There is still a lot of self sabotage going on. A lot of which relates to laziness....
I planned dinner last night, I had even defrosted the meat. And then Julia invited a friend over to stay the night. And then we went to get a DVD for them to watch. And then it was late. And then we decided to have take-away. One little pizza won't hurt will it? Will it?!?!?!
I am so angry with myself this morning. I loved every bite of that pizza. But it's going to cost me. Big time.
So why did I do it? To save myself 20 minutes in the kitchen? How dumb is that? And the scariest bit of it all is that if I had that time over again I probably would do the same. Us fatties seem to think we can justify eating something like a pizza. 'oh but it was a small one, I used to eat a large!' and 'I'll eat better tomorrow and do some exercise'. These are just stupid excuses my mind makes. They are not the truth and they are not acceptable.
*Sigh*
Thursday, 6 October 2011
Eyes on the Prize....
So I am forgetting about how far I have come. I think this is where my 'Battle Fatigue' is coming from. I forget that six months ago I could barely run, wore size 26 pants and thought that it was OK to be this way.
Today I'm in a size 22 pants (that are almost too big), I can run (really run, not just shuffle along) and I know that the way I lived before is not OK at all.
Remembering these things and reminding myself sometimes about where I've come from rather than always thinking about how far I have to go, or getting upset at the scales not moving, is something I think I really need to do. To keep me motivated and feeling good about what I'm doing.
It's kind of like Kazz's 'Faking it' from yesterday. While I'm faking my desire to do the exercise and to eat the healthy food (why does high-fat, high-sugar food have to taste so damn good?) I can remind myself of why, I can look back and say THAT is why.
So keeping your eyes on the prize is important, I think that having a backwards glance sometimes can be just as important.
Today I'm in a size 22 pants (that are almost too big), I can run (really run, not just shuffle along) and I know that the way I lived before is not OK at all.
Remembering these things and reminding myself sometimes about where I've come from rather than always thinking about how far I have to go, or getting upset at the scales not moving, is something I think I really need to do. To keep me motivated and feeling good about what I'm doing.
It's kind of like Kazz's 'Faking it' from yesterday. While I'm faking my desire to do the exercise and to eat the healthy food (why does high-fat, high-sugar food have to taste so damn good?) I can remind myself of why, I can look back and say THAT is why.
So keeping your eyes on the prize is important, I think that having a backwards glance sometimes can be just as important.
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
'Fake it til you Make it!'
Some sage words of advice from the amazing Kazz. She has lost an incredible amount of weight and is such an inspiration to so many people. Truly mind-blowing. Check out her journey here on her blog.
So I faked it and pretended I felt like going for a walk yesterday afternoon and I'll admit it did feel good to go out and get some fresh air. And the dogs appreciated the walk too!
Wednesdays are Netball days. I love my netball - it's so much fun and now that my fitness has improved I can actually participate so much more and I feel so much more like a productive member of the team! This will be my first game back after hurting my calf so I am super excited about tonight! Pity the game is at 9pm......
Because we play netball on Wednesdays I am always looking for good recipes for things like soup. Something that can be made ahead of time, is low-fat and full of nutrients and is light on your tummy. If we eat before a game we both feel quite sick so we usually wait til after. But because tonight's game is so late we will try to eat early but it will be something fairly light and easy to digest. So I have this lovely recipe to get us through tonight.....
________________________________________
Hearty Chicken and Root Vegetable Soup
Weight Watchers Recipe - 6 ProPoints
2 tsp Olive Oil
1 Leek, washed and thinly sliced
1 Parsnip, cut into 1cm pieces
1 Carrot, cut into 1cm pieces
2 Garlic Cloves, crushed
3 Cups of Chicken Stock
400g tin of Diced Tomatoes
2tsp fresh Tarragon Leaves
400g Lean Chicken Thigh Fillets, fat trimmed and thinly sliced
1 medium Desiree Potato, unpeeled and chopped into 1cm pieces
Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add leek, parsnip and carrot and cook, stirring for 5 mins or until soft. Add garlic and cook for 1 min or until fragrant.
Add stock, tomatoes and tarragon and bring to the boil, reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 5 mins.
Add chicken and potato and simmer covered for 15 mins or until potato is tender and the chicken is cooked through.
_________________________________________
This is such a yummy soup and so easy to make. I actually cheat and use dried tarragon because getting fresh isn't always easy! The flavour is really nice so I like to use it and dried works just as well. Not sure how much I use cos I just sprinkle it in!!
My one last thought for today - Back on 20 June I blogged about not being able to think of 5 things I liked about me. That thought has remained with me all these months and I think I'd like to have a stab at it now. So her goes....
1. I like my determination. I am stubborn and I don't give up.
2. I like my strength, both physical and emotional.
3. I like my courage. For doing this and for talking about it.
4. I like my planning. I think ahead and make plans for dealing with life.
5. I like me. Wow. Didn't ever think I'd say that. But I do. I like the person I am becoming. Strong, determined, courageous, calm and happy!
So I faked it and now I'm makin' it!
So I faked it and pretended I felt like going for a walk yesterday afternoon and I'll admit it did feel good to go out and get some fresh air. And the dogs appreciated the walk too!
Wednesdays are Netball days. I love my netball - it's so much fun and now that my fitness has improved I can actually participate so much more and I feel so much more like a productive member of the team! This will be my first game back after hurting my calf so I am super excited about tonight! Pity the game is at 9pm......
Because we play netball on Wednesdays I am always looking for good recipes for things like soup. Something that can be made ahead of time, is low-fat and full of nutrients and is light on your tummy. If we eat before a game we both feel quite sick so we usually wait til after. But because tonight's game is so late we will try to eat early but it will be something fairly light and easy to digest. So I have this lovely recipe to get us through tonight.....
________________________________________
Hearty Chicken and Root Vegetable Soup
Weight Watchers Recipe - 6 ProPoints
2 tsp Olive Oil
1 Leek, washed and thinly sliced
1 Parsnip, cut into 1cm pieces
1 Carrot, cut into 1cm pieces
2 Garlic Cloves, crushed
3 Cups of Chicken Stock
400g tin of Diced Tomatoes
2tsp fresh Tarragon Leaves
400g Lean Chicken Thigh Fillets, fat trimmed and thinly sliced
1 medium Desiree Potato, unpeeled and chopped into 1cm pieces
Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add leek, parsnip and carrot and cook, stirring for 5 mins or until soft. Add garlic and cook for 1 min or until fragrant.
Add stock, tomatoes and tarragon and bring to the boil, reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 5 mins.
Add chicken and potato and simmer covered for 15 mins or until potato is tender and the chicken is cooked through.
_________________________________________
This is such a yummy soup and so easy to make. I actually cheat and use dried tarragon because getting fresh isn't always easy! The flavour is really nice so I like to use it and dried works just as well. Not sure how much I use cos I just sprinkle it in!!
My one last thought for today - Back on 20 June I blogged about not being able to think of 5 things I liked about me. That thought has remained with me all these months and I think I'd like to have a stab at it now. So her goes....
1. I like my determination. I am stubborn and I don't give up.
2. I like my strength, both physical and emotional.
3. I like my courage. For doing this and for talking about it.
4. I like my planning. I think ahead and make plans for dealing with life.
5. I like me. Wow. Didn't ever think I'd say that. But I do. I like the person I am becoming. Strong, determined, courageous, calm and happy!
So I faked it and now I'm makin' it!
Tuesday, 4 October 2011
Battle Fatigue
Well I have to thank a Weight Watchers member by the name of anniem24 for the inspiration of todays post. She discussed how everything was a war and how we use those terms for so many things. She was just going to focus on being at peace with herself. Great sentiments and I wish her well.
But the title struck a real chord with me for another reason. I am fatigued. Completely tired and worn out but to me this is a war and one I intend to win. Even the greatest Armies have a rest sometimes, and they have more than one battallion ready to fight. Me? Well I only have me.
So how do I find the strength to keep going? How do I continue the battle when I am so tired, so unmotivated and so overwhelmed by the task at hand?
These are not rhetorical questions people and as yet I have no answers for them. If anyone can help I welcome the advice.
I will not give up and I will not give in. I just need to find some MoJo, some spark of inspiration again.
Oh and I have discovered I can link these posts to Facebook! So I will start doing that too, maybe someone in FB land can help.....
But the title struck a real chord with me for another reason. I am fatigued. Completely tired and worn out but to me this is a war and one I intend to win. Even the greatest Armies have a rest sometimes, and they have more than one battallion ready to fight. Me? Well I only have me.
So how do I find the strength to keep going? How do I continue the battle when I am so tired, so unmotivated and so overwhelmed by the task at hand?
These are not rhetorical questions people and as yet I have no answers for them. If anyone can help I welcome the advice.
I will not give up and I will not give in. I just need to find some MoJo, some spark of inspiration again.
Oh and I have discovered I can link these posts to Facebook! So I will start doing that too, maybe someone in FB land can help.....
Friday, 30 September 2011
Wow - I've been seriously MIA!!
OMG - almost 3 months since I blogged. Sorry, life has just been super hectic and we have had everyone in the house sick at some point or another over this time. But back to the grindstone of life now. I need to get back into my blogging - it is such a good way to be accountable, to get my feelings out rather than eating them down (literally!) and just to be honest about this whole journey.
So what's been happening while I've been away? Well the biggest thing for me was that I tore my calf muscle. It has stopped my doing the high intensity exercise for the past 5 weeks and I have to admit I used it as a bit of an excuse to 'have a rest' and do nothing. As a consequence my weight loss has pretty much plateaued and has actually crept up a bit. I have now lost a total of 12 kilos in almost 7 months. Still pretty good going!
And my weight isn't the only thing that has changed during this journey. I recently saw an Endocrinologist who felt that I was doing an awesome job on the weight loss side of things and that I didn't need to be on anymore medications. He sent me off for a blood test and I see him again in 4 months. The blood test is called an HbA1c - it measures the average blood sugar level over the previous 3 months (red blood cells hold memory for this period of time). A reading of under 6 is what a 'normal' person would have. The target range to be as healthy as possible with diabetes is 6.1 - 7. My first one this year was 7.9 and my blood pressure was 140/100. This is what kicked off my weight loss plans. The test I had this week.........was 6.2 and my blood pressure is 125/78!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG! OMG! OMG!!!!!!!! That's almost normal. If I keep losing weight and stay healthy I may even be taken off some of the meds at my next visit! I'm so happy I could cry!
So I have now been cleared by the physio to get back into the exercise and I have done some work on my mind set and I'm ready to start the big push again.
I was reading somethinig today that has made me want to commit to certain habits/thoughts/ideas. It's from Dietriffic.com The author of the website has a free e-book you can get called 'The Lifestyle Makeover Guide'. In it she ask you what motivates you towards your goals and to list 3 things that really motivate you. The first one for me was easy - My health. After that I did have to think a bit but no2 wasn't a real stretch - For my kids. To set the example for them. Lastly I really had to think. Really. I ended up coming up with my appearance. This was a bit odd for me as I have always thought that I dressed well for my size, I take care with my appearance and figured that if this is the way I was inteded to be then so be it. It's only been recently that I have started to really feel unhappy about my physical size. And it's certainly something I will explore at a later stage.
For now I've written enough. I will begin sharing meal plans and recipes as well as my thoughts and feelings. There's so many topics I want to talk about but I will pace myself so we can chat more often!
So what's been happening while I've been away? Well the biggest thing for me was that I tore my calf muscle. It has stopped my doing the high intensity exercise for the past 5 weeks and I have to admit I used it as a bit of an excuse to 'have a rest' and do nothing. As a consequence my weight loss has pretty much plateaued and has actually crept up a bit. I have now lost a total of 12 kilos in almost 7 months. Still pretty good going!
And my weight isn't the only thing that has changed during this journey. I recently saw an Endocrinologist who felt that I was doing an awesome job on the weight loss side of things and that I didn't need to be on anymore medications. He sent me off for a blood test and I see him again in 4 months. The blood test is called an HbA1c - it measures the average blood sugar level over the previous 3 months (red blood cells hold memory for this period of time). A reading of under 6 is what a 'normal' person would have. The target range to be as healthy as possible with diabetes is 6.1 - 7. My first one this year was 7.9 and my blood pressure was 140/100. This is what kicked off my weight loss plans. The test I had this week.........was 6.2 and my blood pressure is 125/78!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG! OMG! OMG!!!!!!!! That's almost normal. If I keep losing weight and stay healthy I may even be taken off some of the meds at my next visit! I'm so happy I could cry!
So I have now been cleared by the physio to get back into the exercise and I have done some work on my mind set and I'm ready to start the big push again.
I was reading somethinig today that has made me want to commit to certain habits/thoughts/ideas. It's from Dietriffic.com The author of the website has a free e-book you can get called 'The Lifestyle Makeover Guide'. In it she ask you what motivates you towards your goals and to list 3 things that really motivate you. The first one for me was easy - My health. After that I did have to think a bit but no2 wasn't a real stretch - For my kids. To set the example for them. Lastly I really had to think. Really. I ended up coming up with my appearance. This was a bit odd for me as I have always thought that I dressed well for my size, I take care with my appearance and figured that if this is the way I was inteded to be then so be it. It's only been recently that I have started to really feel unhappy about my physical size. And it's certainly something I will explore at a later stage.
For now I've written enough. I will begin sharing meal plans and recipes as well as my thoughts and feelings. There's so many topics I want to talk about but I will pace myself so we can chat more often!
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