Pics and Honesty

So the wedding on Saturday was AMAZING! It was such a beautiful Wedding , I admit...I cried a few tears. It was so sweet!! I'm not usually one to cry at weddings, But it was such a lovely day. And the Bride was stunning! Anyway, as promised some Photos. The dress was so pretty!! It seemed my boobage issues were slightly less. They have started to slink away a touch. And I ended up at the hairdresser to have my hair done. ( which was pretty but $$$ and it almost didn't last the night)

Hubs and I ( and the dress).

Some New make-up Ideas I tried out.

So now for some honesty. The Look on my face in the first photo...Was a little bit of self disgust. I admit it. I was feeling good, the dress was so pretty! And then I seen the Photo before this one and I was sad.  The picture in my head didn't match the picture that was taken. I hate..Yes, I know that is a strong word but in this case it's very applicable....HATE my arms...so flabby, and my face is a lot fuller then I like. And I Know that this is because I have gained weight  (I know I am working to get it off again) . But it was a little bit of a kick in the pants. The scales have been kinda yo-yo like with me this last week or two and it was kinda getting me down.  ( Thought I did wake up with a great loss on Sunday It apparently came Back today).  I know I am eating right and exercising...maybe not quiet enough to see the same kind of results as I did when I did this the first time. But enough to be seeing some results on the scales.  But now I'm just more determined to get this thing under control again.  And I Will.  I want to be fit and healthy again. I hate feeling like my weight holds me back. and I feel like it does. its not about being skinny. Its about being comfortable in my own skin and healthy. And I don't feel either right now. Healthier for sure.But not at my healthiest. But this also will be.


Anyway, Im on holidays from work for another week yet and I have so much to do around the house. So much I want to get done before the crazy season starts. I have noticed in the last two days now that I have been able to relax and unwind a bit, just how tired and run down I am feeling. Yesterday I slept till nearly 10 am ( which I NEVER do even after a late night) and I was so exhusted that by 3:30 pm I was in need of, and did have a nap in which I clean passed out. I then was up til my regular bedtime ( 10pm) and slept fairly solidly till 7 am this morning. And was In need of a nap again ( but didn't) today after being out with Sa and the kids all morning.  Being back at work pretty much full time (5-6 days a week) since March on top of all the other things in life( kids Etc)  has been great I do enjoy it but Im very glad for a break now.  I have so much stuff that i want to get done. But I plan to do a few things for me too.

Anyway, that is enough ramblings from me for now. Planning to hit the gym for a class after school( Yaya kids are back at school!!) run tomorrow morning. Looking forward to it.

Ramblings of a Woman without a dress.

So I have a wedding to attend in just under 2 weeks. And I have an issue. I have NOTHING to wear. Now Im not talking nothing new/nothing that appeals in my wardrobe nothing. I'm talking absolutely nothing. Since I have gained weight back none of my lovely little black numbers fit properly. :( Which makes me sad, cause then I wouldn't be looking all over for something to wear. I have looked at a couple of dresses, but unfortunately I'm having Breast Overflow Issues ( B.O.I). There was two dresses that I have really loved . I just cant zip them up. Im just not going to be able to slim into them in 2 weeks. I did have the unexpected pleasure of being told I was an "extra small" in a certain retail store, which kinda made my day. But still did not allow me to find anything due to the fact they only had one dress left in that size.  Now I need to find SOMETHING to wear. And hopefully re-wear to another social function next month. So Im sure this will be a topic of great rambling till I find "The Dress".  I apologise in advance. :p

Anyway, I have been looking around on Pinterest and have made myself a "Inspirational" folder of images and quotes. I love this site. It reminds me of a giant cork board that you can share. It appeals to my inner stalker too. I can trawl through so many different boards, find images and ideas that I may not have found on my own!And borrow ( ok steal maybe) them! them. Like this beauty;

How perfect is that. That is EXACTLY what I am aiming for. To be Strong, healthy and happy. There are some really awesome images on Pinterest that really help me to feel inspired. Sadly there is also some really distasteful and unhealthy images Or as its called "thinspiration" . It makes me sad to think so many women aspire to be so unhealthily thin. :( I don't think that there is anything beautiful about an undernourished bone thin woman. I know that some woman are naturally very slim and I'm not saying that they are unhealthy. But intentionally depriving yourself of food or over exercising to achieve a bone thin silhouette, IS unhealthy. And its such a shame that there is so much pressure out there to be "skinny".  I aspire to be healthy. I hope you do too.


Aspiring to be healthy,

UGH and Other obscenities.

Ugh..Yep. This week has been a little lack lustre for me. Been eating well and exercising, BUT I have had several nights or really BAD sleep. Now for me to say they are really bad is a significant thing. I struggle with decent sleep on a daily basis,  I guess you could say I suffer from a form of insomnia.   I take herbal sleeping aids (Valerian, hops, passionflower etc) nightly to help me to get to sleep and wake somewhat refreshed. But for several nights I have woken up and been unable to get back to sleep for several hours. This resulted in me be flat out exhausted more than usual.  I was in a dazed fog on Tuesday, which lead to another issue. Whilst at the gym doing my thing I  have over done it a little and now my left knee (and my shins but not as much as my knee) is really causing me some discomfort. (pain!!!)  So no gym for me today. Will still try to get out and walk again. We did last night but I pushed it again and ran a little...probably shouldn't have..But I REALLY wanted too!  So I will be easing off on the running till it feels better. :(

On another note, scales are not being as nice to me this week. I put this down to a lot of soreness in my body and the fact I probably have not been drinking enough water. I know that water is very important when trying to lose weight ( and get healthy) and when Im busy I tend to forget. I did a few hours of housework yesterday and realised I had not drunk any water...Promptly got on that and felt a little better. I don't usually bring water with me when I walk either cause I hate carrying it and I usually chew gum. Another terrible habitat with water. But I do try to get at least my 2 litres in every day.

So today is also R U OK? day. This is a cause close to my heart, having struggled from depression and anxiety in my life. Its all about Suicide prevention. So many people out there feel so alone that they take their own lives,  leaving behind loved ones, families and children.  Simply asking those close to you, who might be struggling "R U OKAY?" could save their life. Have you asked your friends if they R OK lately??  I urge you to ask the question. It could make the difference to them. Do it today!

Anyway, Im feeling really good in myself, I feel fitter and already feeling more toned, less bloated and generally much healthier. and really when it all comes down to it, this is what Im aiming for. being a fitter, healthier, happier me.

Getting back on the horse.

So we have had so many set backs over the last few months. But 5 days Ago I got back on the horse and have been riding full steam at it. Eating well ( rode my bike to work a few times even) and gyming it twice in two days even! Now Im planing to Get back to blogging regular like. I need support and accountability. This blog is gonna be it. Im turning *cough cough mumble mumble* 30....*cough cough* in November, So I want to be looking more like me. I dont feel like me right now. I have gained back just over 20kg of the weight I lost back in 2009 (53kg). I feel frumpy and unhealthy. So Starting now( well 5 days ago) Im on the wagon. Back on the path to me. ( Im full of bad cliche's tonight) Im bring Sa along for the ride again. She has struggled recently, but we are both focused and on track to get our groove back.

Anyhow, I went over a heap of posts on my favourite blog last night (Ben Does Life) and watched some of his earlier clips of his journey to Do Life. And Im feeling full of inspiration. Had a few laughs at His Hijinx On the road recently (Great Lipsyncing action) and got some motivation up my sleaves. He has inspired me to attempt to run again. this is something I really want to be able to do. In fact it was one of the reasons I started this blog in the first place. I was doing C25K and got up to week 4 before I fell off. so Im hoping to gain some fitness back and attempt it again soon. I have been able to jog a little on the treadmil at the gym so Im not completely unable to do it. Im planing to keep at it. I WILL run 5k before this year is out. I promise.

Till Next blog.

FOOD! MMmmm Food.

So I thought I would finally do a food post. I talk a lot about eating healthy and well and I thought It was time to share some tips. Generally We dont calorie count. *SHOCK* But we do try to make wise food choices. Sugar free soft drinks if we drink them, sugar free sweets too. We both use Sweetener in our Coffee , Splenda is the choice in this house, And we aim for the good old 2 & 5 - 2 serves of Fruit and at LEAST 5 serves of veggies. I admit we love ( think pink puffy heart) Pumpkin so its an almost daily staple for us both.  We try, we I try to keep the food interesting and creative because it is very easy to get stuck in a food rut. Which means that your more likely to fall off the wagon. Some of those creative things I will try to share over the next few weeks.

Today Im going to share a lunch Idea... :)

Traffic Light Pizza! 

2 Round multigrain wraps

1/2 a red capsicum( pepper) diced

1/2 a Yellow Capsicum diced

1/2 a small Zucchini diced 

4 tablespoons Tomato paste

a sprinkle of onion powder

a sprinkle of dried Italian herbs

Diced ham/bacon/chicken

Handful of Mozzarella cheese for each pizza

 Assemble the pizza on a flat oven tray, - base, sauce, onion powder, herbs then generously cover in the Diced veggies and protein of choice. Sprinkle with cheese ( we are suckers for cheese admittedly) and  bake in the oven till the cheese is golden and base is crisp!

This is a fave for lunch around here! And its soooo good. I hope this helps you to keep your lunch choices interesting too!

This year one of my aims is to better the food eaten by ALL the family. Which sounds easy..but I have a fussy house! A kid that does not eat Veggies ( except potato, lettuce and the odd bit Of Grated Zucchini hidden in meatballs and strangely Spinach in a dip), One that wont eat salad, a 3 1/2 yr old, a Fussy male and a chick who doesn't eat steak ( but does eat minced beef)!  Im the easiest one around here!!  Some of the changes have already started..White rice- brown rice..Went down a hit! Everyone loves it!

The school lunch boxes are having an overhaul too. This week includes dried fruit, pretzels and Home made Banana and LSA (Crushed Lindseed, sunflower and almond) muffins, instead of chips and LCM bars.  Im also aiming to go as Litter free as I can! So we will see how this goes down! Alex ( Fussy 1) is the main issue. I struggle to get her to eat her school lunch at all! She would much rather socialise then eat! And she is a tiny little thing! Belle will pretty much eat anything you put in there...she is ALWAYS Starving ( her words). I will aim to share some of these ideas with you all too!

Anyway there is one more sleep till school tomorrow and i have LOTS to get done!!

Till next time,