Yummy

One of the reasons I usually give up on eating healthy is because I am a fussy eater, I get bored eating the same thing all the time. I do like veges and fruit but usually on their own or raw and it's not always about the taste. I don't like the texture of a lot of foods especially when they are cooked together.
For example, I like most of the ingredients in minestrone separately but not together, uck.

So knowing this is a problem for me I'm making a real effort to branch out and find new recipes. I tried Mish's chickpea, beetroot, feta and basil salad for lunch today (with lettuce instead of basil). I was surprised at how filling it was and it tasted great. That one is definitely on my list of approved meals.

I've also picked up some cottage cheese to try from some snacks and some tofu. I've never wanted to try tofu before but I thought what the heck. Although I'll have to wait until tomorrow night to try that because OH says tofu is the devils food and has no interest in trying it, spoil sport. If it's good then I'll sneak it in one night without him knowing.

Why Monday?

Monday wasn't the best start to the week.

The day was great, I took my lunch and snacks to work and wasn't tempted by any of the goodies I sell. I didn't even eat the broken off little bits of rasp/white choc muffin that I usually tell myself don't count because it's not really a full bit.

How ever things started to go pear shaped on my way home. OH picked me up and I thought great I'll get home a little earlier, I can start dinner, exercise then study. Nope I was wrong. OH had decided we needed to go buy a new pantry and the shop was only open for another 10 min, not enough time to drop me home.
Then on getting home I remembered I'd have to clean and refill the new fridge that had turned up Monday morning while OH put together the new pantry. After an hour and a half the kitchen was still in no state to cook so take away it was.

Naturally the BBQ chicken shop was closed, as was the kebab place so fish and chips it was. Except I don't eat fish so I had a burger.
It wasn't the worst of nights, I didn't just sit at the computer saying I can't be bothered and I did try to keep the damage to a minimum by not having the extras like dimsims and cornjacks.

I've got tonight planned out, get home workout, cook dinner, study. I will be doing these 3 things tonight, no excuses.

Say it out Loud

Preseason task 5

I am committed to loosing 10 kg while doing Michelle Bridge's 12wbt. I am committed to exercising 6 days a week and eating a healthy diet. I am committed to doing this for my health and well being, not just to fit into a smaller dress size (although that will be great).

Off to a great start

I'm feeling really good at the moment, just had my weigh in and I've lost 1.7kg since I started the 12wbt pre season.

That has mainly been through change of diet. I have been exercising but only lightly. I've had a couple of bad days, mainly around cooking dinner but I didn't give in to my inner voice that was saying "just get take away, it's only one night, you can make up for it tomorrow" I squished him and cooked soup instead.

I picked up Michelle's Crunch Time cook book last night, I can't wait to try out some of the recipes. One of the main reasons I don't succeed with healthy eating is I don't really know what to cook and I get bored with the same things everyday so I'm really hoping to find some good easy meals and snacks to make.

My next step is to find the Crunch Time DVDs.

Yay shopping - the task I've been waiting for

Pre season Task 4

Ok so this task isn't all about shopping. It's choosing where I'll be doing my exercising. I flirted with the idea of going to the gym but if I'm being honest with myself (which I am) then I know I wont go. I've got a whole range of excuses for not going, it's too far, I'm settled at home, I have to cook dinner etc. But also I just don't like the gym, I might look at classes as my fitness gets better but for the mean time its a no-go.

So rather than use these excuses I'm going to be doing my exercise at home. I'll be able to fit it in around my study better, if I don't have time for a full hour I can break it up. I will be able to start dinner before I start exercising (gotta love multi tasking) and it's defiantly not too far to get to.

But this also means I get to go shopping. I have some work out gear but I could do with another sports bra. I will be buying Michelle's work out DVDs and getting a heart rate monitor.

I know it's going to cost a bit to set up but in the long run it will be worth it.

Things are working

It's amazing how much of a difference one small change can make. Since starting preseason I've been making an effort to drink more water during the day. Already I've noticed I'm not getting as thirsty at night and I'm sleeping better (finally, no getting up at 3am to pee yay).

In hindsight it shouldn't have taken a weight loss program to point out the blindingly obvious to me but it did.

I can't wait for the 12 weeks to start to see what other useful little gems I will learn.

Setting my goal

Pre-season task 3

This task was much easier than the last. Although I never thought about braking down my ultimate goal into smaller ones, even though it does make a lot of sense.
These goals aren't set in stone I will be coming back to revise them when the 12WBT program begins. In the mean time it gives me something concrete to work towards.


1 month goal
Lose 3kg

How will I get there
Start regular 20-30min exercise sessions 5 days a week. Increase healthy foods, cut back on snacking.

3 month goal
Lose 10kg
Fit into my goal bikini for new years eve.
Be able to wear a skirt in warm weather, without chaffing.

How will I get there
Follow 12WBT program

6 month goal
Lose 15kg

How will I get there
Follow what I've learnt through 12WBT
12 month goal
Maintain weight loss

How will I get there
Follow what I've learnt through 12WBT

Still on first week high

We're into week 2 of pre training and I have to say I'm still feeling great about doing this. My OH is being very supportive but he has admitted he has reservations about if I'll stick to the program or not. He's seen me try and fail so many times. He says he's happy with me the way I am and I believe him, but he also wants me to be happy and this is one step to making that happen.

Putting my first photo up on Saturday made me feel a little sick. But it's a good wake up call and I can't wait to see that photo slowly change to something better.

It's been interesting to see how often I use excuses to get out of eating right and exercising. I haven't been giving into them, I'm more aware of them now.

2 small changes

While waiting for the official 12wbt to start it's recommended you start with making two small changes.

They should be something that's easy to 'win'. We're talking baby steps here.

So here's my two changes -

* Drink a 600ml bottle of water a day. More often then not I don't really think about drinking during the day. I have a cup of tea in the morning and maybe another one or a coffee around lunch time. Then around 8pm I start to get really thirsty and have 2 or 3 glasses of water just before I got to bed and that's never a good idea I'm up and down like a yoyo at night.

* Mini training sessions at work. Between 9 and 11 I'm usually sitting at my computer or reading a book with the occasional customer, great time for a bit of a workout. I wont be able to do cardio (sweaty is not a good look working in a cafe) but I can do strength exercises like curls (milk bottles make great weights), squats, lunges and bench push-ups.

My Excuses and Their Solutions

Pre-season task 2

I found writing down my excuses for putting off exercising harder than I thought. For one thing seeing them on the screen makes me realise just how silly they are. 'I don't have time' really??? in the 3 hours of watching TV when I get home I can't find 30min to exercise??? Of course I can.

So here's what I came up with as well as solutions I can use when these excuses come up.

Internal excuses
I'm too tired.
I look silly.
It hurts too much.
I don't want to do it by myself.
I can start tomorrow.

It takes too long to cook.
I was good all day, I can have dessert.

Solutions
Exercise will energize me. I'm not as tired as I think.

No-one is watching me. I look like I'm getting fitter.

It will hurt a little less each time. I don't need to go super hard every session. It will get easier.

Jump on the forums, I'm not alone.

Tomorrow never comes, start today.

It takes just as long to drive to get take away. Once I start I enjoy cooking.

Berries make a great dessert.

External Excuses Within My Control
I don't have enough time now.
I wont have enough time when my study starts.
It's too cold/hot.
I have nothing healthy to cook.
Solutions
The computer/TV will still be there after I work out.

Study hasn't started yet, I have plenty of time to start now. Take 10 min workout breaks, it will break up my study time and re-energize my mind.

Cool the room down before I start. Try yoga or something less physical. Exercise will warm me up.

Make a stir fry with chicken and vege's, it's quick and easy. The fridge is full, there's plenty of things to cook.

External Excuses Outside My Control
Family crisis.
Dog crisis (need urgent vet care)
I get sick.

Solutions
The crisis will pass. This is just hitting the pause button, not the quit button.

Take things easy. Eating healthy will get me better quicker.

Pre season

 The 12wbt isn't just about improving diet and exercise habits it's a life style change. It works to change the way you think about food and the way you live.
In keeping with this there are pre season tasks to do to get ready, I like to think of it as easing my way into it, I'm not just jumping in the deep end and hoping for the best.

So I've introduced myself on the website and started making connections with some of the other participants, which is the first Task.
We're encouraged to participate in the forums which I actually find a little daunting. I'm a member of a few different forums, I love reading what other people have to say but I'm reluctant to join in. Usually because I don't feel I know enough about the subject and on some forums people can tear you to pieces for the smallest thing.

Luckily the 12wbt forums look to be full of encouragement and help. Everybody is working towards a similar goal, some have just been doing it longer than others.

So whats it all about?

If your here reading then you may be thinking this looks a bit like a weight loss blog and you'd be correct.

I've decided after complaining all too often about having nothing that fits and not going out with friends because of it that its finally time to do something about it, again.

Yep you guessed it, this isn't my first attempt at weight loss. I started in January last year and I did manage to loose 7kg but all too soon it came back. I need to learn more than what to eat and what exercises to do. I need to change the way I think about things.

That's where Michelle Bridges 12 week Body Transformation comes in. I'm also hoping that making myself accountable here will help.

I hope you'll join me on the journey. I can't guarantee it will be entertaining, although I will try to be and there may be a few tears but I hope to stay up beat. Yes loosing weight is going to be hard but that doesn't mean it can't be fun as well does it??