Operation Skinny Bride

Well, not long now till the big day! The days are flying by now... and thus, I need to pull my finger out. Scoop has been in the UK for the last two weeks and I have been comfort eating, and so have piled on a couple of kgs. I'll weigh-in tomorrow and post the weight on here. I've been inspired to start blogging again regularly- I have to be committed to post not only the good, but the bad and the ugly, if I am to confront my demons. No mucking around now.... there is a wedding dress to look hot in!!!!!

False start

You know that cold virus I mentioned in my last post- I still have it. Its had me feel very low for over two weeks now, and I am fed up. It has meant almost zero exercise, and lots of comfort eating... ahh well... something is coming up which to me equates to the ultimate clean slate- the 1st of a new month. Why is that so good? Because a month is about how long it should take me to lose the weight I want. So I plan on doing a June Bridal Blitz challenge. And I just had a thought- both my bridesmaids are in the same weight-loss fitness mode- maybe we could compete against each other!!! Maybe that's just the incentive I need... I'll be back :)

Where is it?

Well, I can't be looking hard enough for it if I haven't been posting! For my weight-loss mojo that is! So here I am again, having another crack at posting on my blog. I have had a lot on my plate, with my sister's wedding and arrival of her daughter (my first niece/nephew!) plus lots of other parties and celebrations. So basically I have been holding steady around the 73-74kg mark. Not bad going considering all the temptations I have faced. But the healthy habits are pretty well ingrained now,so any splurge has been countered with healthy eating and exercising regularly...

With 5 months to go to the wedding though, its time to get stuck in again. I would like to lose a few kgs before the wedding, but only a few. I realise now that my goal of 68kg from 2 years ago saw me look quite ill, being very lean in the face and upper body. So I think my new goal should be 70-71kg... that is only 2-3kgs from where I am!!! What is good about starting now is the pretty clean slate Scoop and I have socially- allows me to get 6 exercise sessions for the week, and avoid lots of bad food! I just need to get rid of this cold virus I have, then there will be no stopping me.

Lots happening on the wedding front- keep thinging of little things that need organising now we are getting down to the nitty gritty! While it is starting to stress me a out a little, the overriding feeling is one of excitement- it will be so much fun partying with our friends and family and finally becoming Mrs Cooper :)

Doing well

Have been doing well this last week- I managed to crack the 73s! So very happy about that. I have a particularly challenging weekend in front of me, going up to visit my sister and the rest of my family. That is usually dangerous food wise, as snack food tends to be eaten quite a bit! I think the key to my success this week was how I ate last weekend- one big treat meal Saturday night, and while the rest of the weekend was a little "relaxed" it was done with conscious choices to minimise carbs- ie getting a wrap for lunch, eatting eggs for brekkie. If I just think on the weekends "carbs are evil", it will go a long way to minimising the damage weekends normally wreak on my weight. I certainly don't believe they are evil- but my problem is I love them too much- rice, pasta, bread, cakes- I love it all! So portion control is vital to win the battle of the bulge :)

Ok- lets do it

Came up with my projected loss targets to get back to my goal weight of 68kg- if I were to lose 0.5kg a week, I should be back at 68kg in the first week in June. That seems like a long time off, but the year is rushing by! I can't believe its March! Anyway, keen to get slimmer again so I can feel happy in my wedding dress in October.

Yesterday was another good day, and had an absolutely thrashing at my PT session last night, so hoping the scales will do the right thing! I weighed in at 74.3kg this morning, giving me a loss of 0.75 kg for the week which is great. I really need to nail this weekend coming!

My plan for today:

B: Same as yesterday
L: Same as yesterday
D: Spag bol
S: Same as yesterday
E: Netball training- the first one!!!

Pretty good result!

I ended up having a pretty good weekend food-wise- quite restrained compared to what I have been eating on weekends. It resulted in the best Monday weigh-in result this year. Which is great as it gives me a good base to lose even more this week. Just have to nail this weekend coming as well. Have been getting some good strong training runs under my belt as well, which just gets more of the positivity juices flowing!

My plan for today is:

B: Ultra bran cereal, blueberries, strawberries, skim milk and breakfast juice
L: Baby spinach, roast pumpkin, pine nuts, fat reduced feta, basmati rice (1/2 cup)
D: Chicken satay (low fat) with basmati rice (1/2 cup)
S: Nectarine, low fat yoghurt, Bodywise muesli bar
E: 1 hr PT session

Day 10- Feeling good

Well, once again its Friday, and once again I have a good week under my belt and feeling positive heading into a weekend. What's the difference this time? The memory of feeling low on Monday after pigging out all weekend is still very fresh in my memory. I don't want to feel that again next Monday. The big thing though will be not drinking. I have my sister's Hatchling Party (Hen's/Baby Shower) tomorrow, so all I would be really missing is maybe one or two glasses of wine. No big loss!!

My plan today is:

B: Ultra Bran, strawberries, blueberries, skim milk, and a small glass of breakfast juice
L: Spinach, sweet potato, low fat feta, pine nuts (no rice)
D: Forgot to put meat out! If i succumb to convenience, it will be a WW frozen meal
S: Nectarine, low fat yoghurt, Bodywise muesli bar
E: Hill run- have missed out all week on doing this, so really want to get it done tonight!!!

Day 8- 0.35kg gain on last week

I weighed in for the week today- I am up to 75.05kg. How does this make me feel? Not sure... a bit "meh"! I am anxious about the weekend and about any potential weak moments I might have. I don't trust myslef to make the best choices. That's the bottom line. I can do it mid week so easily- I pack my lunch for work, and that's it- no temptation. Put me in a social situation, where there is plenty of temptation, and I have consistently "given in". I remember a time when I nailed my choices- how do I get back to that mindset?

My plan for today:

B: Ultra bran, blueberries, strawberries, skim milk and breakfast juice
L: Spinach, sweet potato, basmati rice (1/2 cup), low fat feta, pine nuts
D: Rissoles and vegies
S: Nectarine, low fat yoghurt and Bodywise muesli bar
E: Hill run (30 min)

Day 7- Self-loathing

Argh- well, it did all fall apart at the seams on Saturday night, and continued the food carnage into Sunday. There was a least 4 pieces of cake, cabanossi, crackers and dip, bottle and a half of wine and marinara pasta. I weighed in on Monday morning at 76.05kg absolutely revolted with myself. So I made another revelation (I am doing quite well at rediscovering the obvious)- drinking alcohol is not good for weight-loss. As such, I have decided I am on an alcohol free month from today- up until my sister gives birth, when I will have a celebratory champers.

My plan for today is:

B: Ultra bran with strawberries, blueberries, skim milk and juice

L: Spinach, sweet potato salad with no fat dressing

D: Fish fillets with vegies and basmati rice (1/2 cup)

S: Nectarine, low fat yoghurt and bodywise muesli bar

E: 1 hour PT

Day 4- Crunch time

Have nailed my plan yesterday and so far today, so feeling cautiously optimistic. Well I've almost nailed it- I had a small sliver of a cake I baked for Scoop last night- a very nice cake if I do say so myself :) But feeling in control, and constantly asking myself "How much do I want this?". Went to the supermarket and bought healthy food so I am prepared to keep sticking to my plan. The plan is today:

B: Ultra Bran with strawberries and skim milk and small glass of brekkie juice
L: Rice Thins with Extra Light Philly and smoked salmon x 3
D: Healthiest option at pub tonight
S: Yoghurt, white nectarine, nuts
E: Bike intervals with core exercises

Hoping my will power stays strong this evening!!

Day 3- OK

Such an inventive title! Anyway, today I'm feeling OK- I am sticking to my plan so far. Exercising last night made me feel great, and my lower back soreness is starting to dissipate. When I stretched my hamstrings last night, which are normally extremely tight, I felt a very painful pinching sensation- the worst tightness I've ever felt in them. Made me wonder if that was the cause of my lower back pain? Anyway- moral to the story is get stuck into my pre-bedtime stretching again.

My plan for today is:

B: Ultra Bran cereal with strawberries, blueberries, skim milk and glass of brekkie juice.
L: Spinach, sweet potato, l.f. feta, pine nuts and basmati rice (1/2 cup)
D: Lamb steaks with vegies
S: Nectarine, l.f. yoghurt, small slice of sponge cake with cream
E: Run 30 min (not sure if I'll do my hill run or intervals in treadie yet)

I am feeling "ok" as I have included cake in my plan. Now calorie-wise, I've swapped it for my nuts, so have managed to keep the calorie count reasonable for today. Its just the feelings of guilt I still associate with eating cake that's got me feeling just "ok"! And I am feeling nervous about putting my will power to the test tonight- I quite often get to Friday night and get stuck into my two fave comfort foods: red wine and chocolate. So will be working hard to resist that... also Scoop is keen for Indian tonight, which I hope to talk him out of! Another thing I may just go "stuff it" to and get stuck into. How bad do I want this?

Day 2- Feeling more positive

Today so far has felt great- I feel my mood has lifted a little compared to yesterday. I still have lower back stiffness, but still plan to do a gym session today and see how my body reacts to it, whether it adds to the stiffness or loosens me up. I have a theory I am keen to test- my moods are very closely linked at the moment as to whether I am exercising at the time. I know generally that is the case for most people, but I hadn't observed it in myself before until now, but I seem to be literally depressed on the days I don't exercise. Another good reason to be consistent with my training! My food plan today is:

B: Ultra Bran, strawberries, blueberries, skim milk and juice
L: Spinach, sweet potato, low fat feta, pinenuts and basmati rice
D: Low fat satay chicken with rice
S: Nectarine, low fat yoghurt, natural nut mix
E: Bike intervals and core exercises

Goals

I should start out with some goals! I need to make it small, as I think one of my big downfalls of late has been aiming big, falling short, and hence being very disappointed. The negativity just snowballs out of control.

So my first goal will be lose 2kg in 3 weeks.

That is doable!

Day 1

My food for today:

B: Ultra Bran with strawberries, blueberries and skim milk and small glass of breakfast juice

L: Spinach, sweet potato, low fat feta, pine nuts and basmati rice (1/2 cup)

D: Lamb roast with vegies

S: Nectarine, low fat yoghurt, natural nut mix

E: None (sore lower back from PT yesterday)

Feel like I am copping out a bit not going for a run today, but I am of the opinion that a sore lower back should be rested and isn't something to be mucked around with- not the best start to my new blog!!!

Weight: 74.7kg

A clean slate

I've been struggling the last few months, in a bit of a bit weight-loss/fitness wilderness. I feel like I can no longer call myself "the person who lost 30kg" as I have started to gain slowly over the last few months. So this blog is my fresh start. I am going to record my food and exercise on here for the benefit of myself and as a record for my trainer to check up on. So I guess at times this may read a bit like a confessional when I have "sinned". Something I have to work on is my attitude to food- the cycles of guilt and deprivation aren't healthy, and no way to live my life in a happy balance.