Wine food and words

12WBT: week eight update

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 09:28:15 +1200

Another `12WBT round up! Sorry it’s been so quiet around these parts, although I should have enough of it, time just feels to be in short supply these days!

Sticking to 1200 calories

I can definitely do this. I’m in the habit now of knowing what calories my usual foods are and can fit them in no problems. If I know i’m having a higher calorie dinner, I will plan around it and make it work. The days I’m going over 1200 calories are days that I haven’t planned, or tell myself I can get away with the treat. Essentially, it’s more of a mental thing. I’m working on it. I’ve also noticed my fruit and vegetable intake reduce a bit lately, gotta get that back up to 8+ a day!

Exercise

I’d say 70% of the time I have no trouble getting up at 5.30am to get to the gym before work. Once I’m there, I push out 500 calories or so and head home a sweaty and happy mess. The days I don’t get out of bed immediately are the bad ones (and interestingly usually the days I overeat as well!). I tell myself I’ll go at night, but by the end of the day it’s usually the last thing I feel like. Same on the weekends – unless I get out of bed by 9am (still a pretty generous sleep in) I’m less likely to push out those SSS. I have had a few weeks of doing Sunday sessions as well to make up for a missed workout during the week, but I’d rather keep those days free of the gym!

Results

Given the few off days I’ve had both eating and exercise wise, I’m really happy with my results to date. It’s motivating and makes me want to have no-slips in the coming weeks to really give it my all:

Week 1 – no loss (WTF right? But this was only after Monday and Tuesday so I wasn’t that surprised).
Week 2 – -1.2kg
Week 3 – -1.3kg
Week 4 – -0.7kg
Week 5 - -0.4kg
Week 6 - -0.3kg
Week 7 - -0.9kg
Week 8 - -0.3kg

So 5.1kg since starting the programme, 7.2kg since signing up and 11.2kg since the weight loss began properly late last year. Granted, I’m not seeing HUGE results each week and this is down to the eating – I could definitely be eating cleaner and some treats are starting to work their way back in. Something to work on and something which should be relatively straight forward as there are still loads of 12WBT recipes I want to try. Hard in that I’ve got five meals out in the next seven days and then a birthday, but as they say, willpower is just another muscle that you have to work out for it to get stronger.

My measurements are also looking happy – I’m 27.5cm smaller than I was eight weeks ago! 8cm of those are from my waist, another 8cm from my butt and 4cm from my chest (sob). The rest is made up of a bit here and there.

My fitness is also improving, as it should be with all the gym time I’ve been putting in! My baseline fitness was zero push ups on my toes and 19 from my knees in a minute. Now that’s nine on my toes (!!!!) and 20 from my knees in the same time. My reach has improved by 11cm (think sitting down with legs out straight and seeing if you can touch your toes), I’ve knocked just over a minute off my 1km time trial (!!!), my wall sit has improved 280% and my plank is getting stronger and longer also.

It will be interesting to see how I go in these final four weeks, especially as at this point I haven’t been to the gym in a week because of the lurgy. My chest and throat are all still full of goop so I don’t see hardcore cardio in my immediate future, but I’m going to start back on the weights because I don’t want to lose these fantastic results!

At this stage I’m also thinking I’ll be signing up for round 2. I’m loving the support and encouragement the programme supplies and still have a lot to learn to embed this behaviour 100%.

Week four

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 14:13:00 +1300

Today marks the beginning of week 5 on the 12WBT programme.

I’ve had my ups and downs so far – the occasional treat that I justify by “I’ll work doubly hard at the gym tomorrow” or simply “All my skinny friends can have this, why can’t I?”. I definitely think that this is a programme that sets you up for life – but as part of life, I don’t plan on giving up those occasional treats (chippies, fries and wine being my treats of choice). Interestingly (and not altogether surprising) is that after a few of those treats I’ve felt totally rotten. Mind and body-wise, that is.

Sticking to 1200 calories
This has been easy and hard. At the start I stuck a lot more to the meal plans provided. Over time I found these weren’t quite right for me – I was swapping out 4+ dinners per week, and all of the ingredients required for different breakfasts and lunches everyday was wasteful. Now I stick to my favoured breakfast smoothie most days and for lunches I’ll try to have leftovers from dinner, buy something within my limits (still a learning curve) or have some emergency meals at hand. Lately I’ve found that, although sticking to the calorie limit, I’ve managed to sneak in more processed-type foods (I have an addiction to Danny’s garlic pita) and the vege count has reduced a bit. These are things to work on!

Something I’ve found a bit crazy, and which wasn’t intended – is the huge reduction in my alcohol consumption. Before this, I was guilty of having 1-2 glasses of wine at least 5 nights a week. Now, because it’s just not occurring to me to open a bottle, I’m probably averaging 1-2 glasses a week and I really don’t feel like I’m missing out. But I am really loving it when I do have it.

I think not having a massive sweet tooth has helped me in the after dinner area. Although my bf is a ‘dessert after every meal’ sorta guy, it just doesn’t scream out at me. There are no pangs of jealousy when he goes in for that tim tam or bowl of ice cream. Although there was an afternoon tea last week where we had the best chocolate cake known to man (Chocolate Whiskey cake from rocket kitchen, fyi) and I indulged in a {very small} slice. I accounted for the calories and went to the gym after dinner (so twice that day) to make up for it.

Exercise
I think I’ve let myself off the exercise a few times, justifying that it’s 80% food. This is not good enough. In saying that, I’ve probably only missed 1-2 sessions the entire five weeks – even going when we were out of town for a weekend. I’m not necessarily sticking to the exercise programme 100%, but I am making sure I’m working off 400-800 calories (plus the 1000 SSS). I’ve found toning days are a lot lower, but trusting in the programme on those days – and I’ve definitely increased my strength since starting.

Some of the exercise I’ve found downright impossible to do, but I’m working at it. One SSS I think I did something a bit wrong with the ab work, and for a few days getting up and down was hilarious, and any exercise that used my abs wasn’t just sore, it was painful. I’ve laid off anything like that for a week and now I think i’m back to normal.

I’m enjoying the weights workouts, I still hate burpees, and the cross-trainer is the best ever machine when it comes to working off calories in a short amount of time.

I was doing the C25K programme, completing 3.5 weeks but started to struggle fitting it in on top of other stuff. I’m doing a few ‘run for a bit, walk for a bit’ moments now, and today’s interval training was KILLER. I can’t wait to do that one again. Generally on cardio days I’m now doing 30 minutes cross-trainer and 30 minutes treadmill (plus the ab stuff and stretching).

I noticed in my latest fitness test that while I was improving in some areas, the areas with exercises I didn’t like as much I didn’t see a result in so much…are you surprised? Yeah. Neither.

Results
Given the few off days I’ve had both eating and exercise wise, I’m really happy with my results to date. It’s motivating and makes me want to have no-slips in the coming weeks to really give it my all:

Week 1 – no loss (WTF right? But this was only after Monday and Tuesday so I wasn’t that surprised).
Week 2 – -1.2kg
Week 3 – -1.3kg
Week 4 – -0.7kg

This weight loss means I’ve lost 3.2kg since the programme started, 5.3kg since the start of the year, and 9.3kg since May last year.

On top of this, I’ve lost 15.5cm off my body (that’s a cm here, a cm there added up). Pretty stoked.

I’m fitting into clothes I’ve kept because I really like, but haven’t been able to fit for about FOUR YEARS. Also, last winter I bought two pairs of jeans – one the size I was then, and another the next size down. Those next size down jeans are now baggy. That’s a win.

Fitness test wise, I’ve knocked more than 30 seconds off my 1km time trial, more than tripled my wall-sit, added 9 push ups to my max and 8cm to my sit-and-reach.

My goal for today was to have lost 3kg and exercised consistently. I’d say I’ve knocked that one off.

My reward was going to be new sneaks (ideally so i’d have a gym pair and an outdoor pair), but I’m still deciding if I want to do that yet. Maybe another month or two down.

In all I’d say so far, so good.

Committed

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 09:31:06 +1300

The most recent 12WBT task is ‘Say it out loud’.

The idea is that you let everyone know that you’re doing this thing.

I’m not telling everyone, instead I’ve chosen to tell my biggest supporters - that’s my live-in bf, and two good friends. I’ll possibly tell a few more as I catch up with them. Oh, and here - I’m tell you (ha, as if I have readers!).

I’m committed to losing 10kg on the 12WBT programme, and another 10kg throughout the year. I’ll be following the six-day-a-week exercise plans and the food plans provided. I’ll let my supporters know if I’m struggling, and I will accept compliments and encouragement in the spirit they’re intended.

Bring on 11 February!

All in

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 14:00:00 +1300

Sometimes, unhealthy food is just easier. Sometimes, I am hungrier and just need more food, it’s healthy-ish so it’s ok to have twice as much. I’m way too tired to go to the gym tonight. It’s too hot to work out today. It’s too cold to work out today. I don’t want to get up early to work out. I have social plans, that means I can treat myself.

They’re just excuses.

That’s just some of the banter that goes on in my head and it ain’t witty. And certainly not pretty. You don’t get to be this chubs without justifying a fair amount of not-exercising and bad eating.

Back in 2007 I hit that ‘ermagad’ moment where you can’t handle it anymore. I joined chubby buddies (weight watchers) and lost 10kg in three months. It was FANTASTIC. The best bit? It wasn’t hard. I adjusted my eating to work within the then points program (even eating things like pizza, burgers and fries) and started walking for exercise. Easy. Good habits? Not so much.

The end of that three months was around the end of the year and I fell off the wagon. It took me about 1.5 years to fully gain back the weight (and thankfully not any additional) and I fluctuated about 5kg ever since, occasionally hopping back on the wagon but never committing.

Last year, that moment happened again. I made constant, small changes to my diet, and I started working out at the gym 3-4 times each week. The weight came off S L O W L Y. Slowly, but still adding up – 6kg as of the beginning of December. Yeah. December. By the end of the month my weight loss was 2kg. Somehow (that’s silly, I know exactly how) I gained FOUR kilos in one month. (Boy, it was a fun month).

I started 2013 with the definite goal to lose 20kg. That’s not even the total amount I need to lose. In total, I’m aiming for more like 25kg, but since ‘the last 5kg’ is so notoriously difficult, and 20kg is a lot already, that’ll be next year. (That’s not an excuse, it’s being realistic – is that an excuse??).

With that in mind, and my weight already coming down from not being in December habits, I’ve signed up to the February intake of Michelle Bridge’s 12WBT. I am already impressed by the range of tools and challenges we’ll get, and am excited about what the program will bring. I’m aiming to lose 10kg over the 12 weeks, and continue on with the habits that will have formed to lose the rest. I’ll leave it to the end of the 12 weeks to decide if I sign up for the next round (there are four each year).

We’re now in the first of four ‘pre-season’ weeks. Each week we’re getting two tasks that we need to complete that will help us be in the right frame of mind for the challenge. The first task was coming up with all the excuses we’ve told ourselves before, or could do in the future – and coming up with solutions for them.

It’s going to be hard – 12 weeks of meal plans and six-days-a-week workouts, but it’s going to be the start of even better habits. I’m really looking forward to the food part – for me, it’s about 1200 calories a day, which I’ve already started doing and not finding too difficult. Essentially, if I don’t eat the crap I know I shouldn’t eat, I’m ok.

The bf is on board and is going to follow the meal plan with me for dinners which is a HUGE help (he’ll eat normally for the other meals since the blokes have to have more calories each day).

I’m going to try and keep you up to date on this here blog with what’s happening and my progress, so wish me luck!

365+1: the end

Sun, 06 Jan 2013 17:50:13 +1300

Because the 366 days don’t fit neatly into 52 weeks…

December 30 - Balcony lunch in Nelson, overlooking the beach

December 31 - best way to see in 2013!

THE END!

Am I glad I did it? — Yes

Would I do it again? — No

There were many, many days I almost forgot - getting out of bed at 11pm to go open the fridge and take a photo of whatever I could find.

It didn’t make me a better photographer — because I didn’t try.

It was a nice challenge, I’m glad I finished it, but I’m glad it’s over!!

365+1: week fifty-two

Sun, 06 Jan 2013 17:46:21 +1300

December 23 - Travelling fuel

December 24 - So humid. So much water. {This is in Palmy…}

December 25 - Christmas truffles!

December 26 - Mostly liquid diet.

December 27 - Baby wine!

December 28 - Pimms at christmas number 2!

December 29 - Best lunch of the year

365+1: week fifty-one

Sun, 06 Jan 2013 17:34:53 +1300

December 16 - Celebrating berry season!

December 17 - Friend got me this sub and it definitely brightened my day!

December 18 - <3. This made me smile.

December 19 - Late night baking. White chocolate and cranberry slice.

December 20 - Pink lemonade.

December 21 - Celebrating no more work for the year!

December 22 - Made my bro peanut butter.

365+1: week fifty

Sun, 06 Jan 2013 17:26:57 +1300

December 9 - Meat is missing

December 10 - Went a bit overboard at the wedding buffet…

December 11 - ROSE

December 12 - Erm…

December 13 - Sunshine, wine and a good friend

December 14 - <3 smoothies

December 15 - More picnic-ing, this time on a walk in the Hunua ranges

365+1: week forty-nine

Sun, 06 Jan 2013 17:11:00 +1300

December 2 - Making {healthy} lunches for the week

December 3 - Finally gave in to the xmas mince pies

December 4 - CHEESE

December 5 - Best thing to come home to!

December 6 - Christmas party season in full swing

December 7 - Grease is the best hangover cure / lazy dinner

December 8 - Pic-a-nic!

365+1: week forty-eight

Sun, 06 Jan 2013 17:00:00 +1300

November 25 - Yummy rose. Purchased purely for the label but it’s actually good. And now sold out. I’m savouring my last three bottles.

November 26 - I got a bit obsessed with roasting broccoli and green beans…

November 27 - MEXICO!

November 28 - I went to a macaron class. It was amaze.

November 29 - More scrolls.

November 30 - Nom.

December 1 - This shizz is good.

365+1: week forty-seven

Sun, 25 Nov 2012 20:27:41 +1300

November 18 - Prepping Monday’s vege lasagna

November 19 - Chocolate truffles

November 20 - Tuesday night: water and recipe books

November 21 - More japanese in my belly

November 22 - Such a good meal. Chicken with mushroom sauce, mash, roasted broccoli, roasted green beans

November 23 - Pizza base (yes, we’re addicts)

November 24 - Cucumber, carrot and apple juice

365+1: week forty-six

Sun, 25 Nov 2012 20:17:53 +1300

November 11 - Chicken, bacon and spinach rice

November 12 - Yep, more pizza.

November 13 - Katsu!

November 14 - 1.1kg of gummi bears. They lasted about 10 days.

November 15 - Toasted sandwiches for dinner. Must have been a hard day.

November 16 - Meh.

November 17 - Lick the plate clean.

365+1: week forty-five

Sun, 25 Nov 2012 20:10:50 +1300

November 4 - Bacon and eggs

November 5 - Milk and cookies!

November 6 - Thought this wasn’t been made anymore. Excited

November 7 - Boyfriend lunch date. He likes pies.

November 8 - Lunchtime sunshine and sandwiches

November 9 - Asian steak salad. Delish.

November 10 - Ice cream weather

365+1: week forty-four

Sun, 25 Nov 2012 20:03:09 +1300

October 28 - Turkish bread. Tomato butter. Haloumi. Avocado.

October 29 - Larb gai

October 30 - Saussies

October 31 - Favourite course from our degustation at The French Cafe

November 1 - Taco salad

November 2 - End of a long week

November 3 - High tea

365+1: week forty-three

Sun, 25 Nov 2012 19:47:44 +1300

October 21 - Birthday lamingtons!

October 22 - Moooooore pizza

October 23 - Garlic bread

October 24 - I can’t remember what this was, or if it was tasty.

October 25 - This happened

October 26 - Pie

October 27 - Picnic!

365+1: week forty-two

Sun, 25 Nov 2012 19:40:40 +1300

October 14 - Spinach and egg breakfast wrap

October 15 - We eat a lot of pizza

October 16 - Chicken

October 17 - Bubbly!

October 18 - Pizza garlic rolls

October 19 - Cheers!

October 20 - A nice cuppa tea after going walkies

365+1: week forty-one

Sun, 25 Nov 2012 19:33:35 +1300

October 7 - A super delayed flight means dinner options are slim

October 8 - Half a pizza, obviously.

October 9 - Salad

October 10 - No recollection of this. Potatoes and feta?

October 11 - Fajitas!

October 12 - Boyfriend bought me fries.

October 13 - Chocolate dairy food: childhood nostalgia

365+1: week forty

Sun, 25 Nov 2012 19:26:44 +1300

September 30 - Taco salad

October 1 - Giant, tasty garlic bread

October 2 - Amazing burger. Not healthy.

October 3 - Some nights you just gotta go gourmet

October 4 - Hot dogs!

October 5 - Orange beef, oh how I have missed you

October 6 - That’s an award winning burger right there

365+1: week thirty-nine

Sun, 25 Nov 2012 19:19:46 +1300

September 23 - Hot wings

September 24 - Trying out the Singapore sling

September 25 - Leaf plates!

September 26 - Chocolate as a spoon makes dessert even better

September 27 - Random blurry photo of sausages

September 28 - Spring rolls!

September 29 - Coconut fail cake with ice cream

365+1: week thirty-eight

Sun, 25 Nov 2012 19:10:31 +1300

September 16 - Beef bacon. Not as good as actual bacon.

September 17 - Wine time!

September 18 - Risotto balls a la Jamie Oliver

September 19 - Margaritas in 40 degree heat = amazing

September 20 - Modern red bull wins over original red bull

September 21 - Oh how I miss you

September 22 - Japanese feast