Back on track

Today I weighed in and to be honest I wasn't too sure how I would go.  My clothes were at times feeling a little tighter and other times felt the same.

It is nearly that time of the month a gain and I have delayed it by taking the "Pill" so I knew I would gain some weight from just doing that.  But I am happy to report that I weighed in today at 78.4kgs.  I was around 76.4kgs the day that I left.  So around 2kgs weight gain.  I am OK with that and that shouldn't be too hard to lose and pick up from pre-holiday training.

I have already been to gym today and while I did struggle - I felt so happy to be there and managed to burn a sweet 600calories in 45mins.  My heart rate quickly got up around 140-150 which was a real surprise.

So anyway I am off to replenish my kitchen pantry as I have zip in the fridge - Have a decent coffee and some decent Sushi which I couldn't find either on the Gold coast.

I will post a little snippet that I found about low carb foods today.  The good carbs.  These are the ones that help you with energy and keep your blood sugars balanced so you don't get those pains of feeling like your hungry after less than an hour of eating.

Examples of Low-Carbohydrate Foods

Vegetables: Carrots, Broccoli, Green beans, Snow peas, Green leafy vegetables, Cauliflower, Zucchini, Squash, Fennel, Celeriac, Asparagus, Mushrooms, Peppers, Eggplant, Radishes, Cucumbers, Cabbage, Onions, Leeks, Spring onions, Celery, Pumpkin, Avocado, Brussels sprout,

Dairy: Milk (low fat), Yoghurts/cheese (without whey), Grains/cereals, Oatmeal, Brown rice
Lentils: Barley, Beans (kidney/chick peas/butter)
Fruits: Strawberries, Blueberries, Blackberries, Raspberries, Cantaloupe, Tomatoes

Eating my way through Queensland

Ok since my last post everything has gone up the creek.

I have been enjoying myself a little bit too much and suffering daily with belly aches.  The weird thing is that I go and do it all again the next day.  I simply can not eat cheese like the old days.  I live with two males who tend to eat cheese on everything.  All the Take-a-way is covered with cheese but its OK.

I will deal with it when I get home.  The weather has been lovely and for the first time ever I am going home with a tan.  When in Queensland I usually smother myself with factor 30 sun screen so I usually go home with a white zink covered skin with no tan- This time I have stuck with 30 on areas that I don't want to age or get damaged and 15 on everything else.  Its kind of weird growing up Factor 15 was like super strength and the factor you used that has now been replaced with factor 30 or even 50.  I know Tanning is not good for us but a little colour makes me feel like I have had a holiday and Vitamin D is a good thing, Right?

I am actually missing the gym and feel really sluggish as the days roll on.  I feel like a bloated puffer fish today and noticed my clothes are a little too tight.   I miss healthy foods.  Honestly there is no where around here that makes decent sushi or coffee.  Everything is super sized and covered with some sort of cream or deep fried.

I cant even drink the water up here as it gives me huge belly aches so we have had to buy boxed water.

So when we land back home to cold Melbourne tomorrow.  I am guessing I will be a good 5kgs heavier which most of it will be fluid retention from all this salty fatty food.

I am hanging for one of my stir fries, some sushi and a decent cafe latte.  But they will all have to wait until I have done a decent work out.   We are staying in a self contained Unit but with really crappy crappy cooking equipment.  Nothing is "Non-stick" the oven cant cook anything and while the BBQ is Ace you have to cook everything in oil so it doesn't stick.   I miss some of my home comforts.

One thing I am is pain free.  No knee pain, hip pain but I notice when I have been on the computer for more than 30-45 mins I get the neck pain.   It did take about a week for the hip pain to settle down so I will have to investigate what is causing all of this back pain when I exercise.  I thought having a break would make it easier to work out where the pain is coming from or what is causing it but I can clearly see that one problem is my laptop sitting on the table.  Its not ergo for my back and I am starting to wonder if my calf/knee problem might be caused from my new running shoes.  As I haven't worn them for over 10 days.

Who knows but I can tell you I miss gym and I miss some healthy eating.

Holidays

I haven't had a chance to post before leaving for our holidays.

My last weigh in was 76kgs last weekend.  I am happy with that and really what else can I do but be Happy.

So I am on holidays and I have to admit that I am not really in control of my eating.  I am being as good as I can but with theme park visits and not being allowed to take our own food into the parks. I have tried to make good choices when I can but when I couldn't I have just gone with the flow and made sure that my next meal is a better choice with healthy food groups boxes all ticked.

I have had a few alcohol days since being here but honestly I am relaxing doing heaps of walking, swimming etc when I can.  I havent bothered going to gym and I am sure its probably going to be hard getting my groove when I get back into the gym next week.

Well must be off time to walk down to the cafe area for dinner.  Can't be bothered cooking tonight as we have been at Wet N wild all day.

Stuck

I haven't posted for the past week as all of my posts sounded so down and dull when I tried to.

I figured it was best to not post anything if I had nothing nice to say. Haha.

I am still stuck at the 76 mark.  As of Saturday I was back down to 76 and I was sure when I weighed myself on Monday morning, I would be well and truly into the 75's.

So my shock horror when I opened my eyes and found 76.8kgs screaming back at me.  I got on and off the scales several times just to make sure, but there was no chance of it being wrong.

Last week I struggled big time, with a friendship that I have always known when I'm dieting is best to be put on the back burner.  While ultimately I am responsible for what goes into my mouth and how I allow peoples words to affect me, there was just some serious mental game playing going on.   Which after 3 weekends in a row, I believe had taken hold of my weight loss.  I started to doubt everything and I had so much negative stuff going on that the only way I could explain it was that I had been deprogrammed.   So I have slowly been reading my Craig Harper books and watched his DVD, reread my Michelle Bridges books and been kind to myself.   Gone back to doing what I know (apparently) works for me.

I find it hard because I want to talk about what I am doing and how great I feel.  I want to share this journey with others but its hard.  I worry that I am boring people, that I have become dull, because I get so much pleasure from exercising and that I do plan and think about my food more than most people do.  But I have to as I have watched counted and exercised for the past 19weeks and have only lost 13kilos (since 1/5/10).

My body is playing up in ever section of my large muscle group and just when I think we have sorted the problem, Bang! something else gives out.    It will be interesting to see what happens while I am on holidays.  If my body just needs some time out to fully rest and recover.

I read something the other day that explains that every time you workout/exercise you damage your muscles that is what caused the muscle tissue to bulk up blah blah blah but the bottom line is, your body needs time to repair before you go at it again.

While I thought the lovely new muscles in my thighs that I can feel, was part of the new Me process.  Where as in fact they shouldn't be this hard when I am resting and there is an underlying problem somewhere that is causing everything to seize up.

So while I am disappointed yet again that I didn't make my goal by my target date (remember my 12 week challenge final!).  There is still 5 days before I go away and might still be a chance that I make it to 75kgs.  This in all fairness always was my goal for Queensland to be at.

Other factors that are probably contributing to my very slow or no weight loss this month.

I have gone back on the Pill after 10 years and I believe this can cause weight gain.  I have a tumor on my inside girlie bits which is to be further investigated when I come back from holidays (Yes I am scared shit less) and the emotional crap that goes with it alone probably has a lot to do with no weight loss.

I have also been taking "Sculpt" women's protein shake.  I must admit its nice to drink and really good to have when your on the go after gym.  It can be used as a meal replacement with skim milk and its very filling and great for muscle recovery.  However it does have a whopping 200+ calories if your drinking it just as a snack.  I have tried to use it as a meal replacement a few times this week but I miss crunching on food.  The upside is that I have my energy levels back up again.  Downside is my weight has gone up not down.

Sleep again has been a huge issue and I plan on catching up on lots of it while on holidays.  At the moment I take half a prescription sleeping tablet, which I hate doing but my son is an awful sleeper, who wakes me several times a night and its the only way I can fall into a deep sleep quickly and go back to sleep after being woken.    Natural sleeping tables no longer work for me. However it is my goal while on holidays to stop taking them.  It will be interesting to see what happens weight loss wise when I have do medication going through my system.

So when I come back from holidays, it will be  8 weeks until Christmas.  So already my goal will be to in the 60's by then.  I figure at this weight now I only have 5kilos to lose but there will be for sure, holiday kilos to get rid of as well.    My plan for the holidays is to be as active as possible (we walk everywhere and take public transport) to keep eating well, with a few nights out at our favorite restaurants.   There is a gym close by so if its raining etc and I can bring myself to go into a new gym that I don't know anyone.  I will head off for some cardio as I do worry about my fitness dropping.  I know how I felt when I allowed myself to have 2 days off a few weeks ago it took nearly a week to get back into the swing of pushing myself again.

See I am so boring,  I am already planning but I guess thats the key.  Thinking about what I know I want and where I want to go for dinner etc.  Getting the exercise in and not throwing it all away just because I am on holidays.  I so don't want to have to lose weight that I have already lost before.  What would be the point of that.  Sure I can handle a kilo or two but anymore than that and I will be a nervous wreck.

So today Tuesday I have allowed myself to have the morning off from gym.  I am sore and will be going to physio later today.   Depending on how I feel after physio I will go off to gym tonight and do a light cardio.

I will use my holiday to recharge and start setting some new goals.  So who wants to join me for a 8 week cyber challenge when I get back?

I'm such a goose

I did aqua aerobics today and burnt a whopping probably 250 cals

I then went back and did a pump class and burnt a whopping 267 cals.

Honestly what a waste of 2 hours.  I burn 600 cals in around 45mins on an easy day doing cardio in the gym what was I thinking?

Plus my back is playing up again.  within 5mins of doing pump it all went up the creek.  So no more pump for me until we find what is the cause of all this pain.

I was blog surfing the other night (restaurant blogging) and found, this heart attack on a plate.

It's a beef burger, with 1/2 pound beef patty, shreeded pork, extra creaming coleslaw & fried onions.  I wont go into the rest, as  you maybe able to read it on the add.

So lets talk about what I eat these days as some people have asked me generally what I eat.

Now, I am no saint and the last two weekends have been evil for me and my diet. 

However, this is what I would have on a typical good day that has only had light or no exercise.

BREAKFAST:

40grms of Albran Honey & almond flakes with 100mls of Pauls Skinny Milk and 1/4 teaspoon of sugar.

1 or 2 teas with a splash of skinny milk.   (Ceral/milk = 204 cals)  Tea's around 20 cals but possibly less.

Or - small can of baked beans (130 cals) whole grain bread (65 cals) & poached egg 70 cals.  Some saute'd mushrooms.  (This is my big breakfast) I would have this for brunch or if I am going to do a mid morning class at gym and need to get through the morning.  Or if I just feel like it.

Snacks - Cruskets (25cals) with a scrap of devondale light butter and vegimite/promite or light ham and tomato (not butter).

small banana, Nestle 97% free yogurt around 80cals.  Small tin of tuna on cruskets or water crackers.

Sushi if I am out (check cals first as they can vary in Cals from 90 - 250 per hand roll).

Cashew nuts.   I sometimes have a packet of "Mainland" extra tasty cheese and crackers they are the little mini ones that have 3 or 4 pieces of cheese and water crackers.  A packet is around 120 cals.  

I like Coles brand organic popcorn its in the chip isle of the supermarket (Coles) I like just the plain one as a treat or if I have had a hard training day.  Much better option than CC's or chocolate.

Choc paddlepops are a treat instead of chocolate.  I also like the Body Wise bars at 120 cals a quick snack when your on the run.

I also treat myself daily to a mug of coffee with a satchel of "Vanilla" cafemate.  My dear friend Ruey got me hooked on it and its so yummy at 40cals (with the coffee) I don't add sugar.

Goodies I use.

Dinner and lunch depends on what I have been doing.

Mostly for lunch its a stirfry with lots of green veggies and chicken around 120grms or a salad and ham sandwich with avocardo (around 20grms) about 50grms of ham a scrap of butter on one side or both if I skip the avocardo.  NO CHEESE!

Or a big chicken salad with aspargus, steamed beans just about anything that takes your fancy a cup of salads  is about 45cals.  I also have dry baked pumpkin, olives and use a fat free dressing or a dash of sweet chili with lime juice.

Sometimes for lunch I with make up an asian style salad and have it with a serve of "Birdseye" steamed fish with Thai style sauce.  Now I like to keep everything fresh and natural but sometimes I am busy, or just feel like something different, so having these steam fish things are OK it only has about 150cals its not, everyones choice of fish.  I dont mind it and when I am hungry I will eat just about anything.

Dinner is just about the same sort of thing sometimes I will have about 120grms of eye fillet now it doesnt look much but its all you really need so I buy the very very best cuts (just for me) BBQ some mushrooms and steamed veggies or salad.  Depending on how many calories I have burnt for the day I might add a small steamed potato or a small serve of "birdseye" Steakhouse chips (oven chips).

Some meals I have when I am wanting to eat what the rest of the family is having.  I make pita pizzas loaded up with light ham and lots of veggies etc.  20grms of pizza cheese is plenty and delish.

Or we like to eat "Woolworth's" brand organic beef burgers they are around 120/150cals (I would have to look it up) - I will have it with all the trimings and light bacon and cheese if I feel like it and I just wrap my burger in lettuce like a roll up.  I skip the roll.  However if you have burnt the calories and feel like a bun go for it. 

I also cook up chicken breast marinated in "Nando's Perri Perri sauce" and will make "Nando's style" chicken wraps either in pita or just lettuce (again depending on how many calories I have spare for the day).  I personally like it just in lettuce these days.  That way I might have some cheese or a some light bacon (not a fan of bacon anymore).  Its all about playing around with your calories.  

All my meals are based on my daily limit of 1300calories.

Oh my I had two days of no gym

& I survived plus I didn't put all the weight back on.

I must admit that I did eat a few things that I shouldn't have but I survived and it wasn't the end of all my hard work.

I like being able to listen to my body now and it had been screaming at me all week that I am doing way more calorie burning than food back into my body.   I am back up to 76.6kgs today but I feel alive again full of energy.  From Wednesday I had no energy and was burnt out.

I had a bonus day yesterday went to have my myotherpy but could only score a 30min deep tissue massage and when my session was over the next client hadn't turned up or cancelled so he gave me another 30mins on the house as Daryl had to keep his hands warm.  Oh my all I needed was the warm beach of Bali and a cocktail and I would have been in heaven.

By the time my husband came home from work I was struggling to get motivated to go to gym. I was happy to go but once I allowed myself to listen to my body and said "No lets have another day off" I feel amazing and today I woke up at 5.30am ready to start the day.  Dam the week before daylight saving starts too much sunlight way too early.

Anyway basically I guess this post being kind to yourself and that a day or two off gym or even off your diet doesn't mean its over.  I am back to eating well today and planning.  We have people over again today for the football grand final replay but I am going to go to gym once my hubby is home from work.

I am still focusing on being 74kgs by the 17th October and if I get lower than that it will be a bonus.