week 7

Week 7 was mainly about trying new foods and things like that. I have tried many many new things in the past few years and at this point have tried everything new that I'm willing to. So I haven't really participated this week, but I thought I'd add in my usual stuff anyways.

Push ups Last week 30!!! Didn’t do them this week

Intermediate/Advanced:

Monday: rest/ill

Tuesday: rest/ill

Wednesday: work high activity, 42 mins 5km run

Thursday: 50 mins Jillian Michaels trouble zones circuit video.

Friday: 4.12 km in 35 mins run 1.2 km 5 min bike 10 min weights =50

Saturday: ill

Sunday: 4.13km run 35 min, 50 mins weights, 11 min bike=96

Sunday after my run. I felt like I was going to die!

Total minutes = 238

Lost .6 kg on 06/02/12 Lost 1kg 13/02/12 (total 1.6kg) Gain 20/02/12 0.3kg (was throwing up night before previous weigh in and ate 500 calories that day) (Monday in weigh in)

I started week 4 of C25K this week. 2 3 min runs, 2 5 min runs. I can do the first three intervals no problem but I struggle around halfway through the last interval.

I also started back at uni today, so back to studying and fun fun fun. (notice the sarcasm). That is all for today.

Update

Hello. It's been a while since I posted other than part of the 12 week challenge, so I thought I would.

Since Jan 1st, I have lost 12lbs (as of mon jan 6th), feeling better about myself and working on running. As you know we've been working on the couch to 5km again. I am currently on week 3, which is 90 seconds of run, 90 sec walk, 3 min run, 3 min walk repeat. Some days I get through this ok, and some days I struggle. Here's a pic of me after my last run Friday. (please excuse the sports bra peeking out the side).

I ran hard and did over 4km in 35 mins, which is a LOT for me (my 4.5km was 39 mins for the fun run). The picture does not clearly show just how red my face was and the sweat dripping off me.

Anyway, it's going to be a few more runs before I can move up to the next week, which is 3 mins then 5 mins run. I'm not quite ready for that yet. I haven't had side stitches in a few runs, I seem to have been able to rewire my breathing without thinking too much except for right at the beginning of trying to fix the issue. Also, my knee is not too bad as of late. I've been icing it as soon as I can afterwards and it seems to be helping.

We have been counting calories for a month now, and it's going pretty well. I don't so much like rest days though. I always feel like I'm not going to have enough to eat.

We've also been doing more classes. We're going to a light and low class, which is really neither, and have been to pump and zumba and a surprise circuit class (was meant to be light and low). I think we've been doing really well with eating and being active and I'm happy with my running improvements. I feel like my endurance is slowly increasing and I don't always feel like I'm going to die if I run for 3 minutes straight. YAY.

That's all for now.

Mel and Sa's Week 4 12 week challenge

So this week, since it's 'buddies' week, we're doing one blog entry, and each adding our own bit.

So our activity has been pretty well the same this week.

Push Ups. Last week (sa)22, (mel)30 this week (sa)20, (mel) 40

Intermediate/Advanced:

Monday: (sa)jog 3.32 in 30 mins, (mel)jog 3.55 in 30 mins

Tuesday: (both)light and lo class 75 minutes (INTENSE)

Wednesday: (sa) (high activity work) 1 km in 7 mins to bus stop

Thursday: (sa)4.5 km in 39 mins, (mel)4.5km in 37 minutes

Before the race

Mel's Time

Sa's Time

After the race ( Nevermind the half naked dude between us! Awkward!!)

Friday:rest

Saturday: (both) Pump class 60 minutes, Zumba 60 minutes. =120

Before Two classes

After Two classes

Sunday: (sa)30 min, 3.44km, (mel)30 mins, 3.7km 45 mins weights =75

Weekly Total =346 minutes

4 Things that impressed me this week about SuperSa,By Sunshine/Mel

1.Pushed beyond her struggles ( Running - stitch/sore knees and back) to continue running.
2. Eating well and even trying new things! *yay*
3. Improved her Fun run time on last year by 2 minutes!
4. Puts up with My crazy desire to run ( and tags along too) and even crazier ideas like doing two classes at the gym Back to back.

Why I think SuperSa should Win, By Sunshine:

Melissa has not ever really shown any desire to run, it wasn't anything that she thought that she would be able to do. She has been running with me now since I started on this crazy quest. She extends herself through the pain of sore knees and most recently Stitches in her side , and the heat and humidity of running "fun runs" on hot and muggy Australian summer days. She pushes her self above her limits when I suggest doing crazy things that she isn't always sure she can do. Saturday, I decided I was going to do 2 classes. Back to back. A "Pump/weights" class followed right up with a Zumba class. She was doubtful about doing them, but still came and rocked it out. It had been tough, But she finished both classes, even though she was well and truely out of energy. Her determination to succeed in-spite of maybe not being the fastest runner or being within her comfort zone inspires me to push myself just that little bit more. She is rockin!

Why Sunshine should win this weeks challenge.

Like a lot of us, for many years Sunshine struggled with her weight. After her third child she was at her biggest and unhappy within herself. When he was about one and a half, she decided it was time to do something about it, and she was serious. She joined a women’s health centre, which helped her drastically change her diet and get her started on circuit workouts. She was dedicated and began to succeed. She joined a regular gym as well and began working out there on her own and doing classes. From her dedication, change of diet and lifestyle and without use of commercially pushed weight loss products she was greatly successful! Sunshine lost a whopping 53.5 kg or 117 lbs in about 12 months through pure hard work. Now during this time she inspired many people, myself included, to change their lifestyle and get healthy. After reaching her goal weight, she even went and began working at the weight loss centre she started her journey at. With her before and after pictures on the wall, she helped many women begin their own healthy lives, and they knew she had been there and if she could do it, they could do it.

With Sunshine as my workout buddy, she always pushes me to go just a little further than I’d do myself. “just a little further Sa, just run to that tree, just to that pole, to that car”. She’s supportive and encouraging and I couldn’t ask for a better workout partner. If I have an issue (back pain, stitches, knee pain) she looks into what could help me with it. I honestly know that without her, I’d still be in size 22 sitting on the couch watching the world go by around me.

Even though we may have slipped a little through a very rough year, we’ve both got back on it and are working hard to get back to ourselves. Our healthy selves.

4 things that impressed me this week about Sunshine

1. Encouraging work mates to participate in a race when they wouldn’t have on their own.

2. Beating her own time from last year by 4 minutes at the fun run!! AWESOMENESS!!

3. Suggesting we do BOTH Pump AND zumba, right after each other. Perhaps insanity

4. Constantly having a positive and can do attitude even when she looks like she’s pushed herself within an inch of death after a workout!

Basically, Sunshine is a positive inspiring woman who deserves to win, perhaps she hasn’t inspired as many people as Mr. Ben here, but there are many many people whose lives are better because of her.

By, Sa

Sa's week two 12 week challenge

I firstly appologise to the blog readers to the repeat pictures. This is an entry for a challenge. Deal with it! :P!!!

So as I wrote before in one of the threads, I had trouble with paying it forward. Not because I'm a mean person, but because I'm horribly shy and introverted. In my daily life, I do small nice things for people all the time, but with this challenge, I really felt pressured and that I HAD to, which really sucked the joy out of it for me and made me anxious to the point that when I finally did do it (by giving the guy at the counter at the gym the money for the next person who wanted a gatorade) that my hands were shaking and I was having a near on panic attack. Not what was intended by this challenge I know, but this was not just out of my comfort zone, but put me over the edge into anxiety. I think it also says something that it was Sunday before I could do it, literally the last day possible.

Besides that part of the challenge, I think the week went well, even with a few days of forced inactivity (due to blood donation and an allergy attack).

1. Tell a story of how someone went out of their way and changed your day or your life.

2. Where are you right now physically? Where do you want to be in 11 weeks?

3. What area of your life from last week can you improve on this week? Food? Exercise? Family? Career?

1. I think the first thing that comes into my mind was once when getting on a plane and leaving my family I was quite clearly very upset. I was crying and lingering, not wanting to leave, as I didn't know when I’d be back. The flight attendant was patiently waiting for me to board (I was the last one) and gave me a sympathetic look. Once I was seated, before we even took off, she approached me and placed a gentle hand on my shoulder asking me if I was alright and offering me a bottle of water. This small act made a world of difference to me, enough that I emailed the airline complimenting her service and care.

2. Right now I’m feeling better about myself, but I know that I still have a long way to go. When I was unable to workout, I felt like I was slacking and I WANTED to be doing something. This is a good sign, the fact that I missed moving and wanted to do more of it. In 11 weeks, I hope to be nearer to my goal weight and fitting into my smaller clothes.

3. I’m attempting to improve my stamina. I think this really needs some work and this is the area I’m focusing on currently. That and getting ready for the 5km fun run in a week and a half. I want to be able to do well, well by my own standards.

Five quantifiable goals reassessed at the start of week 2

· No more junk food. Chips, chocolate, cookies are my downfall

-Awesome. No naughty food at all this week.

· run/jog 3 x/week

-went 4 times last week, three times this week, even with the week messed up with allergies.

· Drink more than 3 bottles (600mls each) of water/day

-drinking 3 ½-5 bottles (depending on activity level) every day

· Improve my 5km a little time every time I do it

-I’m working on this, however the bathroom issue is a major hindrance when road running. The gym helps with this, but I can’t run 45 mins-ish at the gym. Far too boring.

· Get out more with the kids walking (at least once a week)

-plans to do this Friday …DONE and continuing

Push ups

Last week 15, this week 17 20

Intermediate/Advanced: 30 extra minutes of intense work like last week + 200 jumping jacks. (all at once or spread out)

Monday: Rest (blood donation)

Tuesday: 70 minutes light and low class (Intense) 9x8 = 72 jumping jacks 17 pushups

Wednesday: (high activity work, allergy attack)

Thursday: Felt really off and hot

Friday: 32 minutes 3.5km (17 pushups), 43 sec plank (back issue) 10 min strength, 70 min 6km=112 minutes

After 5kms of the 6km walk with Kelly and the kids.

Saturday: Zumba 60 mins (48 jumping jacks) 10 min strength 23 sec plank, 20 pushups =70minutes

After Zumba! We had a ball!!

Sunday: ran c25k, 3.4km in 31 mins, strength workout 60 mins (including 80 jmpjks) =91 minutes

After the treadmill attack. It's not pretty, but it's real.

Weekly Total =343 minutes 200 jumping jacks

Write 4 things you did well every night

Monday: off low carb but ate lower than normal carb, was motivated and handed in Uni papers and hung flyers to sell books, drank 3 bottles of water, wasn’t sick on a windy hilly road (yay)

Tuesday: pushed through class, made monte cristo sandwiches for the kids, and had tuna, crackers and veggie sticks for myself (yay), had dill pickles for an afternoon snack, ate normal portion for dinner even though I was starving!

Wednesday: stayed at work even through massive allergy attack, just drank my goal water, did not snack on kindy sandwiches and instead had a healthy mango smoothie.

Thursday: did some washing, ate well, drank well

Friday: Went to the gym even though I didn’t want to, took the kids for a walk (ride) around Riverway, about 6km (one of my goals), Drank LOADS of water.

Saturday: Tried something new, ZUMBA, and it was fun. Ate awesomely with calories to spare, started tracking with myfitnesspal, did 20 pushups.

Sunday: had awesome gym session and pushed myself and a friend, did exercises I normally avoid, ate well, drank loads

Sunday morning ass kickin

So we've recently (yesterday) started using Myfitnesspal. It se
ems good, but a little frustrating when it doesn't give you credit for calories burned during weight training. Right now I feel like I'm on the right track. Tomorrow is weigh in day. (Yay?) I feel good. I know I've lost a few cm in my belly which is great and my waist.

Today was day 2ish on c25k week 2. I suffered a little near the end. The treadmill I was on did not incline and I usually have it at least on 1 and I couldn't, so I ran flat. My calves started hurting about 2/3rds of the way through. I pushed and pushed through (I stopped to stretch my calves twice but only for a couple seconds and jump back on). I actually did better than the last time with 3.4km in 31 mins. (YAY)

So here's me after the treadmill attacked me today.

Sa no like running sometimes. I look a little stunned and had literally just stopped running and was still breathing hard. (Attractive picture eh?)

So after this, we did a couple weight machines, but then went into the empty class room to kick our butts a little. Our buddy Kelly came for a good ass whuppin and got one! We started out with a little boxing, (two boxed, one did jumping jacks) Got in the remaining 80 today and completed our 200 for the weekly challenge. We'd switch around so everyone got a turn doing everything. Did some lunges across the room, some squats and wall sits, tricep extensions and dips, crunches and a few other things at this point which I don't remember.

So I feel sufficiently worked today and expect to be sore tomorrow (when we will be going bowling and using those arms, well the right one, even more). That's me for today.

Sa plays catch up.

Hello loyal readers :)

So, because of circumstances beyond my control, I haven't been able to do as much as I would have liked to this week. Today, I feel like I made up for it. This morning Melanie and I went to the gym and ran week 2 of c25k. I did alright although by the end I was a bit pooped. And speaking of.... I didn't even have to stop! Was waiting for it for sure! But I digress...

We also worked on our pushups, and planks. I'm still sitting at 17 push ups, after much deliberation about form. And 43 second plank, but my back spasmed at that point and I had to drop.

After the morning run, I went for a walk in the afternoon with a friend and the kids around Riverway. We walked the whole thing, which is just short of 4km, then walked back to the park for the kids to play (another 1km) and back again to the cars (another 1km). We ran a little but it was much much too hot to keep it up for long. Was definitely a good walk for sure. It took us between 60-70 minutes for all that walking. Which is pretty good with 4 kids in tow stopping for drinks and bike issues.

So here's a selfie of me from my new phone once we finally sat down. The kids had donuts, we shared a protein bar lol

Apparently I'm winking for some reason. I dunno why. I actually like this pic though!

anyway, I feel like I've made up for the lack of movement at the start of the week. YAY for me!

Sa's Week one, 12 week challenge

So here's my first entry for the 12 week challenge on the Do Life Movement forum.

First off, Me at the end of week 1, don't I look excited! lol

Please forgive me, I had some formatting problems!

I don’t have a clever poem or anything else witty to say, just something from the heart.

I was never the skinny kid not the really fat one either, but most of my friends were smaller than me. I watched my Mom struggle with her weight, although she never really looked big to me. She did something similar to weight watchers when I was a kid, and they tried to feed me healthy meals. I was picky, but I ate fairly well. As a teenager I discovered Jazzercise and LOVED it. I went regularly, 3 times a week, sometimes two classes a night. At my fittest then, I was about 160 lbs or 72kg, (I’m 5’6). At 19, during my first real relationship, I ended up living with my ex’s parents for a while. They ate fast food 3-4 times a week, and in that first year, I packed on 60 lbs or about 28kg. That’s a LOT for one year. It just stayed on after that. Gaining even a little more every now and then. I lost my love for activity and grew pretty lethargic. I stayed heavy, my heaviest at 245lbs or 111kg. I started Jenny Craig then and lost about 15 lbs, but still didn’t have the initiative to move. I tried to get it back a few times during these years, but my low fitness level discouraged me and I quit.

I met my friend Melanie and a few years after knowing her, she lost a huge 53kg (over 100lbs). SHE has been my inspiration. I knew that if she could do it, I could. She set her mind to it and through hard work of eating right and exercise she did it! And so did I when I moved out to Australia. I lost 30kg (60ish lbs) and felt amazing. After about a year or so, we started to slack and gain weight again. I’ve probably gained back half of what I’ve lost, so I need at least another 15 kg off. We both felt wrong and out of sorts in our own bodies and so here it is again. My pledge to keep it off this time. It was too much damn hard work to just let it fall apart again.

There was a better photo, but I accidentally deleted it.

I don't know why this is underlined, but I can't seem to

remove it.

Anyways, I think this can go for both eating something I shouldn't, 'are the calories worth the 10 seconds of pleasure?'sometimes this is yes, but mostly NO, or the workout 'is the effort worth the result? YES'

Five quantifiable goals and current status at the beginning of week 1

1. No more junk food. Chips, chocolate, cookies or tasty treats from kindy. These things are my downfall

-Have been eating whatever I want

· 2. run/jog 3 x/week

-Began this 2nd Jan. have done it a few times years ago. Am committed to keep going.

· 3. Drink more than 3 bottles (600mls each) of water/day

-BAD at this. Currently drink about 2 depending on activity and temperature

· 4. Improve my 5km a little time every time I do it

-. 5 km average is about 48 minutes atm

· 5. Get out more with the kids walking (at least once a week)

-Don’t do this at all currently, but the kids need the activity as well. Once a week even around Riverway (walking paths) would be good. They can bike, skateboard or walk.

As many pushups as I can

Modified but straight torso as opposed to bending at hips: 15, more than I expected WOOT!

Do 120 minutes of exercise this week/ Add 30 minutes to your average week and push the intensity

Monday: 45 min 5km jog

After our first 5am jog

Tuesday: 70 minutes light’n’low aerobic class INTENSE

Wednesday: (worked at kidy high movement)

Thursday: (worked at kidy high movement) 48 min 5km walk/jog intervals

Friday: 15 mins Jillian Michaels 30 day shred & 45 min 5km jog =60 mins

Still beet red after 20 minutes sitting in front of the fan!

Saturday: 40 min 4km jog

Sunday:25 min 10km bike, 5.5 min 0.5km hike, 1 hr 20 min weights =1hr 50 mins

Weekly Total = 373 minutes or 6 hours 13 minutes

Identify your biggest excuse.

· I’m tired.

Ways to eliminate.

· Just get up and do it! You’ll feel better after!

· Go to bed earlier.

Each night before bed, write four things you did well that day

Monday: Got up at 5am for a jog! Ate well, Cleaned up the whole garage/toy room, Drank loads of water

Tuesday: Worked hard at gym, Took the kids to the aquarium, Ate well, Drank lots of water

Wednesday: No energy drink, Worked even though I was exhausted, Packed a great meal for lunch, Resisted delicious smelling banana cake

Thursday: Got up early for jog, Resisted awesome chocolate cake, Cleaned the house when got home from work, Ate well and drank loads of water

Friday: Ate well, Drank 5 bottles of water (600 mls each), Initiated own exercise (jillian dvd), Put all I had into my run

Saturday: Ate meals and one snack, Drank plenty of water, Organised myself to sell uni textbooks, Ran even though I didn’t feel very well

Sunday: Got up earlyish to go to the gym even though I wanted to sleep, Stuck to the food plan on the last day, Gave it my all at the gym, completed 12 week challenge homework!!!

Day 6

So last night everyone else went to Jeff's parents for a bbq. Melanie told me to go ahead and run if I wanted as they were probably going to be a little late. Well, I decided I wasn't going to run, but I'd do Jillian's 30 day shred. Well after eating and everything I put it on just before 8 and only got halfway through before everyone came home. So, naturally I stopped, but Melanie was keen to go for a jog then so off we went.

We did fairly well, we had 10 intervals of running totalling probably 15 minutes worth at least. I pushed as much as I could push last night. We made it in 45 minutes 44 seconds (I bought a stopwatch). I also got pedometers and Melanie's was about 2000 more than mine! Apparently though I was wearing it in the wrong place, so next time we'll see. It should be a it closer.

Anyways, I was beet red after and my face was soooo hot!

This was taken more than 20 minutes after I got home, sitting in front of a fan even.

I had a crappy time falling asleep last night though. I'm not sure if it was all the exercise just before or not, but I was exhausted and couldn't fall asleep until after midnight.

Anyway, eating is going well. Only one or two more days with no carbs, then likely we'll do LESS carbs.

I feel like I'm doing well on the 12 week challenge as well (it's only week one, but I'm keeping up on the challenges).

I ended up doing 15 pushups (at a time) on Tuesday at the class, I tried to do more last night but my arms were still sore and I could only do 12. So sticking with the 15 lol.

Anyway, that's all for now. Looking forward to our big gym session tomorrow.

Gotta love a great workout!! - Day 2

So we dragged our backsides off to the gym this morning to checkout a class, we have done this one before and the instructor is always fantastic at making you work really hard! But OMG, it had obviously been WAY too long between classes cause she was ON it today! We went a whole 1 hr 10 minutes today and did not stop moving at any point. My whole body already aches all over. We did So many damn squats today...My legs hurt so much!! We did some good push ups too! YAY! But we knew that we would need proof that we worked hard...So of course we got a photo! WOOHOO!

Two very sweaty girls after a good arse kicking workout!

So there it is. it was a great class and we totally did the extra Intense workout that we had to do for the Challenge.


Now food wise, we have been ROCKING!. Eating well, sticking to the plan and enjoying trying a few new things! Its great. I'm looking forward to seeing the changes in my body and on the scales! I already feel a lot less bloated! Water in take has been pretty good too. I have notice that my sugar withdrawal symptoms have been the worst this time round. Which really does not surprise me, considering the crap we had been eating. But yesterday was far worse than today. I got by without a nap too! Hahah!   The side effects most felt have been headaches and general lethargy which is jut from lack of direct sugar fuelling our bodies. our bodies are relying on a different form of fuel.

Anyway,

Feeling great and still excited to be on this ride!

 <3

aaaaaaaaaand GO

Both of us up at 5am this morning for our first jog of the year/new us. We did a fairly good pace for our first movement really in a long while. We did measurements last night and weighed in this morning. We didn't take before photos this morning but we will tomorrow.

We mostly walked at a quick pace but we jogged a little about 5 or 6 times. It's 6:45am now and I'm feeling pretty good.

Today's the first day of Quick start too. Cheesecake muffins for breakfast it is!!! So glad I live with a creative cook who finds new and tasty things we can eat.

So here's our after run photo from this morning. It was really about 5 minutes after we got home, but I'm still beet red as always.

Tomorrow the plan is a class at the gym if they're having normal gym routine and not a holiday schedule.

So expect more posts here from us now.

YAY!!!!!! GO Us!!!

Better late then never.

 So we have been a little slack around here.I have been crazy busy at work and making time to work out has been difficult. I will say eating wise we have been mostly good. we had a small blow out on Friday Night. I had a really long day to end off a really long week and was feeling shit. But we are back on track and Hit the gym today.

I had that family Function last night. It was so great to see all my family and catch up. It was my grandmothers Surprise 70th birthday. We travelled out of town for the Night and came home late so I was really tired today. But we went and we biked and did some weights and I was glad I went. It felt good.

I have been really slack about getting my one month update photos up so I will do that now. My weight has been stable the last week or so. But I know that is because I have not been active enough. But Plan to get on that this week.


Anyway..here are my pictures. i can see a slight difference. I can feel it in myself and In my clothes.

So anyway, that is my update.I promise to be around a bit more. I will be more active and Working out more regularly.

till next time!

Photo update

So here we are about a month in to getting back into it. I don't feel or see really much difference which is disappointing. I know that it is not a fast process, and takes time, but some results would be good. I meant to jump on the scale this morning but had had coffee and breakfast before I remembered.

We took pictures AFTER the gym this morning (so we look a little scruffy) because we didn't really have time before. Upon looking at them and comparing them to last months, we've realised a few things. 1. We really should wear the same clothes so we can see changes. Some things are looser, some tighter and doesn't give a good idea. 2. We need to take them in the same spot, mine we moved to a different area because the camera wasn't focusing, and it's hard to tell as the background wall is another colour. 3. We need to try to get the same distance and zoom, as a closer picture is hard to compare to one further away. But alas, here are my October

pictures. I do not see much/any difference.

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.

Week 4 C25K - A PB!!!

So Its about 24 hours late...But last night I had the desire to go for a spontaneous run. So off I went after dinner..It was dark..and WAAAY cooler then trying to run in daylight. Ipod loaded up with my C25K week 4 podcast. a small bottle of water... and Shock horror..no gum. ( I have to run with gum or my mouth gets really dry and it bugs me!!) I dashed out the door at 7 :42 pm ( after Telling Sa that if I was not back in 60 mins to come find me!) , Ran our usual route and watched the lightening roll in. Lucky for me the rain held off. But it would have been kinda nice. It was still humid as hell.

So warming up I sorted my game plan. I would do the podcast, pace myself well and not try to push myself too unreasonably. Aim..to hit our turn around point at roughly half time.. I knew If I did this I would be doing amazingly well. But alas it was not quiet to be, I hit half way with the turn in my sight but non the less I kept up till I got there...Touched and returned back towards home. By now my mouth was dry as And I hate drinking a shitload of water on a long run..(its sloshes and makes me feel sick), My Last 5 min run...was HELL. Im running along this dark street...giving myself a verbal pep talk..."Come on Mel...Nearly there...you can do It Mel...Push through it..." Rinse and repeat.  It would have sounded mad to anyone crazy enough to listen to me.  I hit the end of my cool down for the podcast just around the corner from home. Slipped on some random music ( It happened to be Stacey's Mom) And paced myself out the last 900m home. I hit the front step as it ended. So I did a pb! 4.43k in 32 mins(podcast time) and "Stacey's Mom"(3:16 min)....For an official time of 35:16. ( dumb arse me has logged it as 36:16 on Daily mile) knocking over 6 mins off my time from the IGA fun run less than a month ago!!!!


To mark the occassion...I took a photo.. ;)

Hot mess Me!

Yay For Personal best times!!! On my way to hitting that Magic 5 k in 30 mins!!!!

Australia Day Fun run!

So we were up at the Crack of Dawn this very Fine Australia day to participate in our very first Running event, The Walters IGA Australia Day Fun run. We had no intentions of placing. It was about doing it and getting it done!

It was a nice day..clear blue skies... humid and hot. There was a great turn out. I was amazed at some of the costumes!!! We seen Bush rangers, boxing kangaroos , Australian decked out Girls, dogs with Aussie flag coloured tails and little ones with painted faces! We were not so creative. Lol.

We had planned to use our pod cast to help pace us. But neither of us actually did. Jeni and I got a bit ahead of Sa, I had to remind myself to pace myself and Not try to pace with Jeni. She has longer legs and is a better runner. But I managed to keep pace with her for the most part.( sorry for holding you back Jeni!!) Sa struggles in the heat and humidity, but caught us up on the home stretch! So we all managed to finish together! We did really well considering the fact that Sa and I are NOT runners! We finished in less then 42 mins. Jeni was first around 41:46 min, Then myself at 41.48 min and Sa at around 41:50 min.

We even managed to get some photos!!!

 Jeni , Me ( Mel) & Melissa

 

Finish time!

Finish place?

Sa's finish Card

Jeni, Me and Sa at the end!

 

A nice Stranger took this one for us!

So that's our First even done! Im so pleased with how well we did! The next one Im aiming for ( Sa swears she is NOT doing it again! lol) Is the Mothers day Run in May.  Hoping to be much fitter and in a better running space by then!

Til next time!

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,

C25K Week 2!

In the bag! It was a little bit of a struggle. My Right leg felt like it was gonna give way..But I soldiered on and finished it up with a better pace and distance then week one! WOOHOOO! As promised..My Photo...

I did 3.312 in just over 30 minutes. With a pace of 9.22 min/km. Im a little unsure about next one..Lol. I have not read what to expect of the intervals on week 3. But hey, I am up for the challenge!!!

So We weighed in again on Wednesday...I was down another 700g so I was happy..Sa was down too..Still up some but had a decent loss.   So that what matters. So next weigh is Monday! Bring it on!

We got our Miracle Noodles on Tuesday too. Just in time for spaghetti night! They were awesome!!! Was so good to be able to have spaghetti and not feel like I was blowing all those carbs! Check out the Links we love for the site!

Till next time...:)