Sun, fast paced trot past historic shops and houses of Thames

(Pics: I was so busy walking fast, I did not take pics but here are few stolen ones off the web of some of the main street old wooden buildings here)

Today I was finally feeling a lot better after the blimin awful headcold of the past week. I am finally caught up on my blog as i could not post when so very sick, it is now 11pm at night with all this blog catching upping...

It was a windy rainy day one minute and sun the next (very spring-ish). I did not want the kids out in the rain and wind and had a hankering for a really fast walk by myself. So started at one end of town at the historic old wooden shops from the goldrush era (Thames is famous for it's goldmining history) and walked a quick clip all the way down to the end under the covered verandahs, it's apparently one mile long. Walked back and I'd only done 30 mins So I went the opposite way down little old lanes looking at all the lovely old villas and miners cottages and old gold mine shafts. Many old houses were covered in wisteia and rambling roses, heavenly!!! Just more fuel on the fire of why I love living here! (I love old buildings and history). We only moved here about 18 months ago from big city life in Auckland and I am still head over heels with our lovely town.

wake up 8am
Smoothie 8.45 am (half of it)
10.30 second half of smoothie
Luch 1pm
95g tuna. 1TBSP olive oil, 1/4 c red/green peppers, 1 chopped cucumber, 1/4c kidney beans, 2 very small apples
3.20 2 oz walnuts (from pm snack)
75g cooked chicken breast
7pm dinner 140 g chickn, 1 c pf combined capsicum, green beans, cauli, red onion and cooked silverbeet

Sat day 34

Thank God it's rest day. I so needed this rest day. Then I heard from family wanting to spontaneously visit in a few hours for dinner and stay the night. Which is great but the house was  mess as i'd been sick and guest room needed total spring clean as been out of use over winter. So I sent three hours plus in serious cardio housework. Rest day was not so restful, but good to getthat housework one and have visitors

wake up 7.10
7.30 BF 3/4 hot cereal mix, then cook, add 1/2 c quinoa
11 quickshake
12.50 2 c spinach, 1 sliced hard boiled egg, 1/2 sliced chicken breast, 4 sliced mushrooms, 2 TBSP oile oil + lemon
3.30 1c blueberries form pm snack that I dont usually eat afetr dinner. I used to think these berries were a luxury but they are a nescessity!

6.30pm 140  g steak, 1/2 c asparagus, salad with a little tomato and cucumber. My stirfry did not happen as had guests and too shagged after all the cleaning and still being sick to cook 2 meals!But tried to have same ingrdients, different way

Friday day 33

I was so very glad it was rest day the day. This week had been so hard with this bliming cold, could heardly breathe, such a labour to do this, took longer. Hung in...just. This was my last day of calorie cycling having missed Tues.

wake up 8
9.30 1 boiled egg, hate scrambeled
9.50 1/2 c oatmeal plus 1/2 apple

11.30 1/2 c berries (heaven)
1pm 1 oz walnuts, 95g tuna, 1/2 tomato, 1/2 carrot, 1/2 TBSP oil, lettuce
5pm 1/2 TBSP p/b
6pm 1/2 protion chicken, 1 tomato, 1/2 c aparagus

water 2.5 litres + herbal teas

EXERCISE
Jacknife and pushup 14,14, 14 fail
Chin down 14,14,14
Lunge curl press 14,14,14
Toetappers 22/22, 22/22, 22/22 (only to mid cannot cross body...)
Squat curl press 14,14,14
Front dual dumbell raise 14,14,14

Thurs day 32

Slightly better today, still quite sick but was beginning to improve, was going to bed at 8.30 this week to rest as much as poss plus mega water. My notes for food from this day are brief in my book, i wrte in big letters COLD but again I know I was good and did not cheat, I followed it, come hell or high water

This is what I did write..

(2nd day of half portions for me)
wake up 7am, breakfat 9am (half portion of oatmeal recipe)
lunch 12.30 1/2 portion chicken, 1/2 apple plus salad
3.30pm 1/2 apple
dinner 6.30pm full portion of steak + dinner veges (I must have felt I needed the full protein and not the half for dinner)

FLUIDS
4+ litres + herbal teas

EXERCISE
Jacknife and pushup 14,13 fail, 13 fail
Chin down 13,13,13
Lunge curl press 13,13,13
Toetappers 22/22, 22/22, 22/22 (only to mid cannot cross body...)
Squat curl press 13/13/13
Front dual dumbell raise 13/13/13

Wednesday - sickest day

Just when i thought it could not get worse the head cold turned to a head and chest cold and I could hardly breathe plus a vice was sqaushing my head (that is why I am only writing this now days later..). Lucky I use my book journal and can write it up from there as those days are a total blur

Start half portions today and ran thru to Friday instead as missed yesterday

Wake up 7am
10am 1 egg, 1 egg white, 1 c silverbeet, 1/4 cup capsicum, 1.5 mushrooms, 1/2 onopm 1/2 banana
12.30 Smoothie (half version), I use water with 11grams of protein powder as my muscles were very sore and I felt i needed protein for repair being so run down this week, 1/2 c berries, 1/2 TBSP p/B

m/tea 1/2  of the half of what was left of the mexican sald prepared earlier in week, 80g chicken
4pm 1/4 cup kidney beans
6pm 95g salmon (forgot to half due to fuzzy head), other 1/4 of mexican sald, 1 egg, 1 TSP oil, lettuce slad with cucumber and tomato

FLUIDS
4+ litres + herbal teas

EXERCISE
Jacknife and pushup 12,12,12
Chin down 12,12,12

Lunge curl press 12,12,12
Toetappers 18/18, 18/18,18/18 (only to mid cannot cross body...)
Squat curl press 12,12,12
Front dual dumbell raise 12,12,12

Tuesday

Smoothie day
Man, I was so sick these days, I did not write my food down, BUT I know I followed the food to the letter, except I did not calorie cycle I was so stuffed in the head and dizzy i forgot. And probably just as well as I proabably needed full power to get better. Even though I was sick, I still stuck to it and did all the excercise though I felt like dying and crying with the effort...

Woke up that morning feeing like I'd been hit by a bus. it was those jacknife pushups, I could tell when I did them again that monring, oww! every time I cough it hurts! Pain is in rib area, upper abdo. BUT even after one dya I can visually SEE the little pad of fat that was there is half the size/leaving, that must be why it's hurting?! Unfortunately I have never measured that part, but i bet it would be down. Had a evry busy day today was just go go go from dawn til dusk and I ahd to write huge lists the day before to plan it all successfully. I did it all, but I forgot one thing, the calorie cycling today. Just as well as I am so so very tired/low on energy and I ahd so much to do and travel int eh car, I couls not have done it on a "half day" today




I DID write down my exercise

Jacknife and pushup 11,11,11
Chin down 11,11,11
Lunge curl press 11.11.11
Toetappers11Fail. 16/16, 16/16 (only to mid cannot cross body...)
Squat curl press 11,11,11
Front dual dumbell raise 11,11,11

FLUIDS
Man, 5 + litres, plus copius berry herbal teas to try to drive the cold away

Monday day 29

Cereal was YUM@! and the spinach salad lovely (was not sure on it as i dont dig spinach cooked, but raw it is really nice!). Toe Tappers made me almost cry

wake up 7am
BF 7.30am 2 cups of large flake oats, 1/2 cup of wheat germ,1/4 cup of ground flax seed, 1/4 cup sliced almonds, 1/4 cup of sunflower seeds, 1/4 cup of raisins, 1/4 cup of dried cranberries (unsweetened) 3/4 cup cooked.
Did not add quinoa but cooked some for later in the week to add, we use it a lot in summer here for quinoa salad - a vegetarian dinner

am snack 10.45 Quick shake 10-15 g vanilla protein powder, 1c water, 1/2 banana,
1/2 cup frozen berries

Lunch 1pm Simple Spinach Salad: 2 cups of fresh spinach,1 sliced hard boiled egg,1/2 sliced chicken breast,
3 sliced mushrooms. 2-3 tbsp of oil and lemon juice dressing

Afternoon Snack 3:30pm 1 carrot

5.30 pm feeling totally whacked /low sugar, so had my evening blueberries at this time
Dinner 6:30pm Stir-Fry made with:
2-3 cups -broccoli -mushrooms, cabbage. celery
3/4 cup sirloin steak veggie broth for sautéing and flavoring, 1 tbsp of olive oil. 1 cup of fresh spinach leaves

EXERCISE
Cardio (power walking up hills) 5 min warmup, 2.30 high, 2 mins med x5
Jackknife and pressup 10,10,10
Chindown 10,10,10 (my first time on the iron gym, getting used to the fact i wont fall off it/it wont break..!) . Whilst not dropping like a stone, it was pretty quick descent!, will improve daily no doubt
Lunge curl press (with 2.5 kg weights each side) 10,10,10
Toe Tappers, just about cried in frustration, could not do these damn things, thought it did not LOOK hard, but all I can do is get one leg off the ball and move my outside leg in and out to about in line with my hands on the ground, cannot cross beyond that in front of me 0,14/13F,14/14
Squat, crl, press (ewith 2.5 kg weights each side) 10,10,10
Front dual dumbell raise 10,10,10

FLUIDS 3 litres + herbal teas

Sunday rest day

Rest Day, did family fun cardio on Sat as it worked out better that way weather wise

FOOD Wake up 8am
BF 9am
Omeltte 2 eggs, 2 egg whites, 1x silverbeet, 1 c capisucms (had no mushrooms, so made it ip with caps), 1 diced onion
10.30 Quick Smoothie w berry option. 1 orange (forgot from BF)
12.30 Lunch 2 c lettuce, 1 c tomato and carrot combined, 150grams chicjkne breast, Coaches dressin. 1 apple
2.301/2 c kidney beans
6pm 1/2 c apasparagus, slices tomato, cucumber and salmon patties

Sat day 27 Family fun cardio day

(Picture off the Te Aroha Pools website as I forgot my camera)
Weather getting worse and had opportunity to take kids to the hot pools at Te Aroha today and do family fun day today on Sat and rest day on Sunday instead. Horse around as actively as poss in the pool with the kids for 2.5 hours in the water. Te Aroha is an Edwardian spa with lovely hot pools and old wooden buildings set in a park beside a Mount Te Aroha. In the old days people would travel here to "take the waters" (and even drink them) as they were considered therapeutic. There are many thermal areas like this in NZ. most famously Rotorua.


FOOD
Smoothie (had all for BF/am tea as going on long drive and had BF late)
Smoothie 1c water, 1 banana, 1c berries, 1/2cwhole flake oats, 4TBSP plain low fat yoghurt, 1 TBSP flax seeds, 40 grams vanilla whey protein powder.

12.30pm Lunch...95grams chicken, 2c salad. 1/4c kidney beans, 1/3 long telegraph cucuber, 1/4 cup capsicicim, 1 carrot (swappede pm brocolli for carrot at lunch. Coaches dressing

4pm afternoon tea 1x raw broclli, 1 TBSP peanut butter (swap for oil from dinner)

6.30pm dinner 145g chicken, 11 tomato 3/4 c fresh asparagus. 1x orange (forgot to eat my fruit at lunch somehow)

Friday day 26, on the road

Another crazy day due to travelling in the car long distance and couold not leave til I had done my workout so I left much later than I would normally and this threw the whole day into delayed mode. Got my iron gym though!  Seems a huge challenge right now, but hey I could not do pressups three weeks ago.

EXERCISE
Warm up Step warmup 5 mins, High intensity Step 2.30, med intensity Step 2 mins x4

(I have a Step DVD and I can easily fast forward to the high peak cardio tracks and back to the lower intensity cardio tracks, this is way more fun than the boring old eliptical, I dislike/hate! being stuck in one place. Since starting exercise I realise I really like exercising outdoors most (walk/jog etc) or indoors in a group with pumping music.

Jacknife on ball 16,16,16 (fell off once...LOL...)
Single arm band pull downs 16,16,16
Alt lunges with curl (5 kg weights today, 10 kg total ) 20,20,20 to failure (these are the hardest for me, but must be working those legs really good! (and the heart)  Nearly lost balance a couple of times)
Pushups superset 15,15,16
Dumbell bench press on ball (5kg weights each side) 30,30,30 (added more reps rather than waste time sticking more weight on and taking it off again.)
Squat, curl, press (5kg weights on each side) 15,15,15
Band rotations on ball 15,15,15 (band held in again, replacement ready to pick up on weekend)

FOOD
7.30 am wake up
8am 2 hardboiled eggs (hate scrambled!)
8.30 am 1 cup cooked old fashioned oats w cinnamon

workout...

10.45 1c blueberries, 2 oz walnuts
1pm Lunch picnic style in the carpark in the rain...1/2 tin tuna, lettuce, 1 tomato, 1 sliced carrot, 1 TSP oilive oil +lemon

was out all afternoon, much longer than expected only food option during priavate house visist was homebacked cake, nice but not fr me. had a herbal tea instead
Long drive home...lots of water, luckily dinner alredy cooked when I got home
Dinner 8pm 100grams chicken, 1 tomato, 1c brocolii and 1TBSP P/B (from afternoon tea). Just realised  writing this a day later I missed a piece of fruit somehow...arghh!

Thursday day 25 Too much drama...

---STOP PRESS--- Another Tsunami alert today after an earthquake in Vanuatu. I had just got to the beach with the kids for a school holiday trip when the alert came in. I decided to immediately up sticks and head 15 mins drive up the hills and back home. The alert was then cancelled about 20 minutes later. And I must have worked hard this monring as I was still feeling a little heady and dizzy and the heart racing a bit (endorphin release I guess) and then the Tsunami alert, I was really pumping. It's like you've drunk pots and pots of coffee and I feel a bit spacey and unfocussed and easily irritated. This could also be not only because I worked really hard, but also being on the last cal day. It was almost unsafe to drive I was that spacey, almost like I'd had a few glasses of wine, and I never drink and drive. Too much drama, not much food, hard day, but survived. I would not recommend being in charge of a vehicle over a long distance on a low cal day, after a 1 hour 20 minute hard workout...


No weight loss today, same as yesterday on the calorie cycling. But I know it's not about the scale anymore, so not worried. My arms and legs have been sore which is a sure sign something is happening there. So I measured my arms and found them to be 2 cm smaller than when I started. Waist remains at 5 cm smaller since I started FLP. I think that alone is an awesome result! My husband seems to notice bits of me dropping away everyday, which is also helpful. Last night he said my butt was smaller.

I went back into the wardrobe fuelled by Coaches comments to not keep "fat clothes", a big NO NO and I found more hiding there! Out they went too. I am down to about 9 pieces (so I have some clothes to wear!) and even hung my work out teeshirts in the wardrobe just to make it look less lonely in there! I cant see the need to buy anything new as I am still losing weight obviously and will be for about another year, almost as much as I ahve lost already again. If I ahve an occasion requiring something new, I'll get it or just buy the odd really nice thing on sale. There is no point having to turf out the new wardrobe again in 12 months time - well we cant afford that, I would rather pay the mortgage off faster or buy something more practical/longterm. I did buy a lovely "going out" top months ago and a skirt, which the occasion I brought it for, did not happen. Now I hope I can get one wear out of it for our 20th wedding anniversary at the end of october (after FLP). Quite possibly the size 20 skirt will fall off my waist by then and I've given all my bigger skirts away. Will have to wait and see and if someone else gets a brand new unworn skirt out of it, and I have to buy another  that's cool/good!.

EXERCISE

Warm up 5 mins, walking up hill. High intensity 2.30, med intensity 2 mins x4 on elilipital, resistance level 6

Jacknife on ball 13,14,13 (fell off twice...never mind...)
Single arm band pull downs 14,14,15
Alt lunges with curl (5 kg weights today, 10 kg total ) 18,18,18 to failure (these did me in, talk about cardio...! nearly lost balance several times, hard these...)
Pushups superset 13,13,15
Dumbell bench press on ball (5kg weights each side) 25,25,25 (added more reps rather than waste time sticking more weight on and taking it off again. I could do more weight on this, but not the alt lunges, that is a max)
Squat, curl, press (5kg weights on each side) 14,14,14
Band rotations on ball 15,15,15 (band held in, no word on replacement..hurry up!)
FOOD
7.45 wake up
8.15 BF 1/1 apple, 1/2 c oats, 1/2 TBSP almonds, 1/2TBSP flax seeds
11.30 m/tea 1/4 c yoghurt, 1/4 c blueberries
11.50 (feeling very shaky after workout and have a drive ahead so decide to eat a bit of lunch early to help) 75g chicken, water
1.30 (while escaoing Tsunami threat in car....) 1 apple (1/2 from lunch and 1/2 from afternoon tea = 1 apple)
2.00 Home safe, lunch Salad 1/2 c tomato + lettice, olive oild and lemon. SWapped the afetrnoon tea peanut butter for 1/2 avocado
6.20p, Dinner 1/2 raw carrot. 1/2 c cauliflower. 3 oz steak, no fat
8 pm 1 oz walnuts (not really hungry but still a it woozy, so trying to rule out lack of food by wating what i should, even though I usually dont eat the after dinner snack)

WATER
3 litres + herbal teas

Wed day 24, 2nd day of calorie cycling

Weighed and after the first days calorie cycling yesterday lost 400 grams. Had a good day today, not feeling hungry but sure know when it's meal time..! You can't slack and be late! Workout was good too. I put my round plates on my bar for all applicable excercises and so was able to lift my weights up to 5kg per side (10 kg total). That made it a lot more challenging, as it was too easy before and I went to failure on the lunges with the extra weight. And luckily my nicked resistance band coped with the workout today, hope it last til the replacement arrives!

FOOD (half portion day)
Wake up 7.30
BF 8.45 1 egg, 1 eggwhite , 3/4 c silverbeet, 2 small mushrooms, 1/4 cup capsicum, 1/2 onion plus 1/2 of an orange

morning tea quick smoothie 1/2 scoop of protein powder (about 8 grams). 1/2 TBSP P/B. 1/2 c mixed berries, 1/2 c water.

Lunch 1pm. Half of the half portion remaining of the mexican salad with 75grams chicken. 1/2 TBSP olive oil + lemon

4pm afternoon tea 1/4 c kidney beans

Dinner 5.30 75 g fresh fish (should have been tinned slamon but we so very rarely have fresh fish and it was beautiful too. Other 1/4 of the mexican salad, with no dressing (as same sort of thing as in the salmon patties anyway) 1/2 c green beans.

FLUID
3 litres. + couple of herbal teas

EXERCISE
( did not see the increase in time on high, until second read of the email after workout sorry! Will do from tommorow)
Jacknife on ball 12,12,12 (they were fun, ball trying to roll and me trying to stabilise it, did not fall off...!)

Single arm band pull downs 12,13,13
Alt lunges with curl (upped to 5 kg weights today) 14,13,13 to failure (harder with more weight now, good exercise though)
Pushups superset 12,13,13
Dumbell bench press on ball (upped to 5kg weights) 20,20,20 (upped weight and reps, as not too hard for me. I am used to benchpressing 5 kgs each side for a whole song in Pump... I will try 6kg per side tommorow that will really slow me down!
Squat, curl, press (5kg weights) 13,13,14
Band rotations on ball 14,14,14

Change of goal !!!

With only some thought, I decided most definitely and passionately to change (reword) my goal from reaching 75 kg in Oct 2010, to comfortably fitting a pair of size 14 jeans in Oct 2010 (had to keep the timeline!). I was not going to break that goal I amde 2 years ago for nothing and noone, but this is a BETTER goal, so it's all good. I dont care WHAT I weigh as long as my butt is that small! Some may say that is not small..but I am curvy girl and I look really good at size 14. I am not interested in being in a stick with no boobs...LOL, I'm happier with the more the Marilyn Monroe hourglassy type (and I know my husband is too). So there's the NEW edited goal...I like it! When we discussed this, my husband was even more excited about the prospect of a size 14 chick running around (cannot repeat what else he said from there..blush..). He keeps commenting on my waist being smaller/looking good etc, which is a great boost for me. My 10 year old said I am mini version and soon he will be able to fold me up and put me in his pocket..cute..!

Tuesday day 23 - first half portion day

Although my weightloss in cms has not stalled, my weight on the scales has for a few days now (yet I lost 2 or 3 (cant remember now) off my waist in the last week. So I am less than worried. HOWEVER, in the interests of serious butt kicking whilst I am on this for 6 weeks only out of my life, I will try the calorie cycling to experiment with the results. It has worked with me before, but I have to say I am quite happy witht he results, but why not crank it up aye?!

So today was the first half portion day of three in a row this week. Actually it was fine. I was a little wee bit hungry at times, but very little and it was soon time to eat again and there is alwasy the old water and herbal tea to fll the gap if required.

Excercise good! Loving this new routine. Wish I had some 5kg dumbells, or plates with holes for your hands though. My heaviest is only 2.5kg and I really need more. My 5 kg round plates have no hand holes and are awkward to hold, they're not designed to be held really. I need to borrow some weight off someone, the cost of those 5kg plates or dumbells is insanely high (70 +!) and I already have the irongym to get this week for $70 and it was the resistance band last week for $45. I will set up my bar with more weight and try to use the bar where poss to be able to increase weight.

EXERCISE
Jacknife on ball 11,11,11 (they were fun, ball trying to roll and me trying to stabilise it, did not fall off...!)
Single arm band pull downs 11,11,11
Alt lunges with curl (2.5 kg weights) 18,16,14 (big improvement knee going really far down, can touch floor now, phew...!)
Pushups superset 11,11,12 (think my goal of doing pushups by end of this week, is pretty much achieved, wow!)
Dumbell bench press on ball (2.5 kg weights) 11,11,11 (as I need more weight I am also doing 10 with arms extending out to side and coming in at the top)
Squat, curl, press (2.5kg weights) 11,11,11 (double pressing at the top, to add effort as this weight is too light for me)
Bamd rotations on ball 14,11,11

FLUIDS 3 litres water + lots of hot water and hot herbal tea as cold today

FOOD (half portion day)
wake up 7.30

BF 8.15 1/2 c berries, 1/2 banana, 1//4 c oats, 2 TBSP yoghurt, 1/2 TBSP flax seeds, 1.5 scoops powder (20 grams), retained 1x of water to add extra liquid, was fine, bit runny, but I woudl rather have the extra volume. Had half.

morning tea 11.15 other half of smoothie

Lunch 1pm 1.5 c lettice, 1/8c kidney beans, 1/2 cucumber,  50g tuna, 1/2 TBSP olive oil + lemon juice, 1/8 cup capsicum + 1/2 an orange

afternoon  tea
1 ox (40 grams) grilled chicken breast. 3/4 c cauliflower raw with 1/2 TBSP peanut butter (sub oil from dinner salad)

Dinner 6.15 1/2 tomato, 95 g chicken (1.5 oz approx) 1/2c cauliflower, 1/4 cup asparagus

Day 22 Monday, start of week 4

So this morning the scale still said 97.5 kg, the weather hampered cardio effort yesterday woudl not have helped! Yet my body is certainly shrinking, just not showing in the scales so much, but that is cool. I ahve a basic lay persons understandng about weightloss versus fatloss and that we need to look at size, not the scales etc. So I know it's all good. However in the interests of experimentation and kicking as much off my butt in these 6 weeks as I can, I will try the half portion days T, W, Th as suggested by the coach. I find the meals fairly big (get them down OK though!) and hope I will cope quite well with it. I guess the proof will be on the scales and tape on Friday...

I did a similar thng once before, but my personal trainer called it a zig zag. I'd been on a plateau weight wise for weeks (but cm were falling slowly) and she suggested I eat twice as much for three days and then half as much for three days, to shock the body. It worked, I lost weight and the plateau was over. So I suspect this method works for me. Just as long as I can function and exercise on the half days of food. I have not been hungry at all really on this plan so being hungry, if it happens, wll be a new challenge I have to deal with (drink lots of water?!). I already drink 2 large glasses of water just before eating and that is a good way to fill your tummy up!

EXERCISE
(I thoroughly enjoyed the new routine today, needed a change as it was getting too routine for me, change is good)

Jacknife on ball 10,10,10
Single arm band pull downs 10,10,10
Alt lunges with curl (2.5 kg weights) 12,12,12
Pushups superset 10,10,10 (whew those pushups getting good now! Just need to get my butt down more now, arms are much stronger now and can bend pretty good, i am impressed with myself!)
Dumbell bench press on ball (2.5 kg weights) 10,10,10
Squat, curl, press (2.5kg weights) 10,10,10
Bamd rotations on ball 10,10,10

FLUIDS 2.5 litres + copious herbal teas as it was freezing cold today

FOOD
wake up 7.30 am

BF 9am 2 boiled eggs (scambled makes me nauseous, dont know why..) + 1 c cooked whole old gashioned oats w cinnamon and 1 grated apple. (I pinched the apple from afternoon tea for breakfast to liven up the oats and I took the 1-2 c of raw veges from eveing snack (which I never have) to have with my PB at afternoon tea....
morning tea 11. 1c blueberries. 2 oz unsalted peanuts.
Lunch 1.15
4 oz (110 grams) grilled chicken breast), 1 tomato, 2 c lettuce, 1 carrot, coaches dressing

afternoon tea 4pm 1c raw cauliflower, 1 TBSP P/B
dinner 5.15 1c cauliflower, 1 tomato, half an avocado (instead of olive oil dressing), 4 oz lean beef steak, no fat

Sunday day 21

Well unfortunately we had a rare Spring day here where the weather is like winter?! It was raining heavily, grey and very very cold and strong southerly wind. The family was in no mood for 'family fun cardio". Our extensive list we brainstormed a few weeks ago was all outdoors stuff. I could not think of anything indoors and free we could do (those with no kids would another indoor cardio option open to them wink wink, nudge nudge). We live in a small ish town and dont have giant malls to walk around, or ice rinks etc as they have in Auckland. So the best we could do was a bit of a fun race with the trolley around the one and only local supermarket to get my FLP supplies. Any ideas for indoor (preferably free) family fun cardio activities?!!!!

Wake up 7am
Breakfast 9am Omelette with 2 whole eggs, 2 egg whites, 0.5 cup silverbeet, 3 sliced mushrooms, 1/2 diced red onion. 1x orange


Morning tea 11am Quick Smoothie with 12.5 grams protein powder, with 1c water, 1 TBSP p/butter with 1c berries (berry option is much larger and thicker than the 1/2 banana version, so i prefer it)


Lunch 1pm lunch95 grams tinned tuna with mexican salad, 0.5 red onion, 0.25 red and 0.25 green pepper,  3 medium tomatoes, 0.5 cucumber, pinch salt/pepper with 1TBSP olive oild with lemon juice rather than lime


afternoon tea 4pm 0.5 c kidney beands (sub for the edmame)

6pm veges for dinner (1 c couliflower, 0.5 c asparagus)
9pm...! Remembered I had not had the salmon patties so made them and ate them, although I was not hungry, figured I should get that protein in (got distracted by the clothes ridding exercise in my wardrobe which I have already blogged about)

FLUID 3 litres + herbal teas

Getting rid of old friends

I have some old friends I've had for years now. They have been part of all those memorable events in life, prizegivings, weddings, parties and I love them. Tonight though, I got rid of my old friends, at great pain to myself. My clothes...yes my old friends, the clothes I have loved so dearly (and paid so dearly for in some cases) , are in bags in the spare room, to give away...

Three people in the last 3 days have told me I need to stop wearing my baggy old clothes and give them away, to show my new shape (remember I have now lost just over 30 kg). Not wanting to do this really as I just loved many of them and they were not cheap (you pay big money for "sexy"/nice "fat girl" clothes - ie clothes that are not the usual sacks fat people have to wear). Some have a very strong emotional connection for me, but when I tried them on, the material was gathering up by the bunch full at the back and sides. I almost thought I could cope with it loose like that when my husband pulled them in tight at the back and the new hourglassy waist suddenly appeared from uner all the fabric and looked impressively awesome to me in the mirror. He said you've got shape now, you need to show it, not wear sacks that hide your shape. So that was the death knell for those clothes. We went through and 18 things bit the dust.

There are mixed feelings. Elation at knowing I've lost the weight and I really love my hourglass shape. Excitement at the prospect of one day buying new clothes that will look even better than I thought the old ones did. Slight anxiety at  the potential price of such replacements when we are on a budget. And also just the psyschological thing of accepting that I really have lost a lot of weight so far. Although I did it, expected it and planned it each and every day for the past year, it still sometimes surprises me to look in the mirror and look different! Without the old clothes, I think it will help that paradigm shift move forward. It is also a permanent step to permanent weightloss, *knowing* with absolute certainty that I will never fit these clothes again, so I dont need them. No need to hide favourites in the back of the wardrobe just in case...So this has been an interesting experience, quite powerful and one I am still going over in my head with interest. I am doing the physcial work required, but I do need to keep up with the brain work required too, so spending time considering all this and learning to "let go" the weight physically and psychologically. I read Magda Subritzy say that the first half of your weight loss is physical, the second half, psychcological. It is feeling that way for me too.

Saturday Day 20 FLP

Behind on my blogging due to being away Fri and Sat with no PC access...

Sat, rest day

wake up 8am
BF 9am 1c oatmeal, 1 TBSP almonds, 1TBSP flax seed, 1 grated apple
10.45 Morning tea 0.5c low fat plain yoghurt w. .05 c frozen blueberries
12.30 Lunch 150g chicken, 1.5c lettuce, 1 tomato1/4 c capsicum. coaches dressing. 1 orange.

3.30pm afternoon tea (in car travelling) 1 apple

6pm (what shoudl ahve been afternoon tea...0.5 c kidney beans, as dinner was still cooking
7.30 lean wild pork 140 grams, 0.5 c roast pumpkin, 1c brocolli (no fat, no gravy etc)

water 2.8 litres + herbal teas

Friday day 19

A very bad day in terms of timing of eating food as I was travelling from pillar to post in Auckland. Meals were seriously badly delayed as I was fitting in with others meals, not being in control of timing in my own kitchen. Part of the problem was also due to me leaving later than expected in the morning as I was doing my workout and organising my food for two days. Luckily I did not feel hungry, or tempted to eat anything other than my plan. But I know the importance of regular meals for my metabolisim so I was quite anoyed with how that turned out

I was aching and was glad it was my last exercise day for the week to be honest. It has been really hard for me as it is the school holidays and the kids are home. Normally I love this, but when I need to take out so much time with the exercise etc, I feel I dont spend enough time with them. I make them watch a video, not really my parenting style normally. They are back to school in one week, beginning of week 5. Next week could be worse as I am down the oldest child and that will leave the youngest at a distinctly loose end without her big broher, so she will want to play with ME all day..!

FOOD
9 am Smoothie 1c water, 1 banana, 1c berries, 1/2cwhole flake oats, 4TBSP plain low fat yoghurt, 1 TBSP flax seeds, 40 grams vanilla whey protein powder. Had 1/2 of that. 1

11am Other half of smoothie (and then now running late drive to Auckland..)

3pm Lunch...95grams tinned tuna, 2c salad with 2 small tomatos. 1 orange.

6pm afternoon tea...(I know...) 1/2 c kidney beans

9.30pm dinner 150g chicken, 2 cups salad greens with tomato, capsicum and 1 c fresh asparagus

WATER 2.2litres + sevral herbal teas

EXERCISE
5 minute warmup (walking up mild hill). 2min high, 2 mins medium intensity x 4

(elliptical on resistance level 5)

Get Ups (with straight arm, yes!) ***with 5 kg weight*** 14,14,14
Push ups 16 , 16, 16
Burpees with jump (1 kg weight in each hand) 16,16,16
Walking lunges with weight 20,20,20 per leg
Standing band rotations 16,16,16 (I brought a high resistance band as felt I would be strong enough and it is fine, medium would have been too easy)
Band pulldowns 16,16,16

Thursday day 17

Been a funny day for me. That tsunami threat yesterday really threw me and I slept really badly with bad dreams. I feel out of synch and  a bit woozy and brain foggy today as a result. And I find this menu day hard for me as there is so much to prepare and also to eat. I really miss my little bit of carbs (oatmeal) in the morning and find the omelette OK but would have the oatmeal any day personally. I cant blame the lack of oatmeal for the wooziness, as I did not have that issue the first day I did this menu day. Must be the lack of sleep that is jading me, early bed tonight...






Weightloss has slowed on the scales. Was 2.5 kg lost in the first week, 1.5 kg second week and only 500grams so far this week (total 4.5 kg). My measurements are kind of up and down, probably where i am measuring, that's why I like my friend Jo, who is a personal trainer to do it. I know I'm getting smaller, the pants I was glad to get into a couple of weeks ago are now quite loose, to the extent my husband said I needed new pants (already). I was going to get a new pair when I go to Auckland tommorow, but cant see the point as I estimate I will lose nearly ten kilos on this six weeks. the pants wont fit me again in 3 weeks. So I'll hold off.

It's a very busy day for me tommorow as I am off to AKL for the night and not back til Sat, so I have to organise to take all my food (and kids food), bedding etc etc with us. Hard to organise with such a fuzzy brain, though feeling better after the fresh tomato tonight. Hope I will get access to the internet, otherwise my post may be late Sat night, for Friday. Depends on access.

wake up 7.30am
breakfast 9.30 am Omelette with 2 whole eggs, 2 egg whites, 1 cup silverbeet, 3 sliced mushrooms, 1 diced red onion. 1x orange
11.30 morning tea Quick Smoothie with 12.5 grams protein powder, with 1c water, 1 TBSP p/butter with half a banana rather than the berry option
1.00 mexican salad (left over from last time) with 95 grams tinned tuna (had no other lean protein left) and .5 cup of kidney beans meant for afternoon tea as I was feeling really full and knew I would not be able to eat afternoon tea later

4pm 1 exotic fruits herbal tea

7pm dinner salmon patties, 1 tomato, 1c cauliflower, 1/4c carrots (my husband put honey in the carrots, which I did not realise untl the second piece, thought they were just sweet carrots. I told him it was like giving an alcholic Christmas cake with sherry in it (which I have inadvertantly done myself..shame...), so I had the honey without knowing it. Was not happy as I have been 100% sticking to this plan, so it was an accidental honey dose, not much he assures me. He wont be doing that again..!)

FLUIDS 3 litres + herbal teas

Exercise

(elliptical on resistance level 5) 5 minute warmup. 2min high, 2 mins medium intensity x 4

Get Ups (with straight arm, yes!) ***with 5 kg weight*** 13,13,13
Push ups 16 , 16, 16 to failure
Burpees with jump (1 kg weight in each hand) 15,15,15

Walking lunges with weight 18,18,18 per leg
Standing band rotations 15,15,15 (I brought a high resistance band as felt I would be strong enough and it is fine, medium would have been too easy)

Band pulldowns 15,15,15