My Lunchbox

Monthly weighin + ultrasound results!!!!

2006-06-01T10:45:00.000+10:00

We are having a boy!!!! i had a feeling it would be a boy and have said this since day 1!!!! yay! his boy-bits were massive and really hard to miss - so i doubt there will be a mixup and we will have a girl.

i weighed in a couple of days early cos i still dont have batteries for my scales and i used a friends scales.

I put on 2.7kg this month but im fine with that - even tho its more than what i wanted to gain each month. i am still under my goal weights so it all evens out in the end. i had alot of growing to catch up on this month and my belly FINALLY looks well and truely pregnant!!!! its gotten so big in the last 2 weeks. so i knew this month would be a big one.

Im positive next month I will be in the 1-2kg gain that i strive to achieve.

******************************

Pre-Preg Weight 68.6

Date - Timeframe - Goal Weight (Actual Weight)

8/4/06 - 12w - < 70kgs (68.8kg)
6/5/06 - 16w - < 72kgs (70.4kg)
3/6/06 - 20w - < 74kgs (73.1kg)
1/7/06 - 24w - < 76kgs
29/7/06 - 28w - < 78kgs
26/8/06 - 32w - < 80kgs
23/9/06 - 36w - < 82kgs
21/10/06 - 40w - < 84kgs

16 week preg weighin!

2006-05-15T08:35:00.000+10:00

hi all! i doubt anyone still reads this blog as i am rediculously lazy and havent posted in about a bazillion years! ive been blissfully relaxing and catching up on my scrapbooking but thought id drop by and post my weighin results.

i should have done this on the 6th may but my scale batteries were dead and they dont sell my batteries in this hick country town i live in. so i had to wait till i went into town to visit family this weekend.

i weighed a blissful 70.8kg!!!!!!!!! that is 2 kilo in 5 weeks of pregnancy! a total of 2.2kg in 17 weeks! im in shock - i really am. cos my belly has REALLY popped and sticks out heaps - i thought i would be more. so cos im a week over im guessing i would have been around 70.4kg when i ws SUPPOSED to weigh in. thats cos i gained an average of 400g a week this last month.

this is fine cos i wanted to gain between 1 and 2 kilo each month tops. and ive come in at 1.6kg.

im still eating tonnes of fruit and walking when i can. i sometimes overdo the walking and regret it afterwards. like last week i went for a 3 hour stroll and while i felt fine afterwards - that night i was not feeling too good. so im not doing that again. i didnt mean to go for that long. but i walked to the supermarket, then to the scrapping store, then to the library, then to the park, then walked home - all with Bee in the pram. never again!

i hope u are all well. big belly rubs to all u preggers women :D

Twelve Week Preg Weighin

2006-04-08T09:25:00.000+10:00

my weighin went really really well! this morning - i was 68.8kg. so im basically the same weight as before i got preggers. but the last 12 weeks has seen me jump to 70kg (in the first 4 weeks), then I dropped down to the high 66's (around the middle), and now Ive settled down to what I was at the beginning!! so it has been a turmulous time that I will blame on the hormones and my changing body

but overall - im very happy with this result as it puts me ahead of my goal!!

Pre-Preg Weight 68.6

Date - Timeframe - Goal Weight (Actual Weight)

8/4/06 - 12w - < 70kgs (68.8kg)
6/5/06 - 16w - < 72kgs
3/6/06 - 20w - < 74kgs
1/7/06 - 24w - < 76kgs
29/7/06 - 28w - < 78kgs
26/8/06 - 32w - < 80kgs
23/9/06 - 36w - < 82kgs
21/10/06 - 40w - < 84kgs

I have been eating ALOT of food. but i really have been trying to make good food choices. I will just not focus on the two pieces of carrot cake i ate yesterday! i baked it with good intentions - but those intentions went out the window when i realised how damn good it tasted!

ive been staying away from the chocolate though because that really is a weak spot for me. I know I shouldnt dabble there cos I cant stop myself once i have a bit. Easter may be hard for me this year. but Im gonna be asking family members to either get me something else that isnt food related, or get me a couple of those tiny choc eggs. if i get those individually wrapped tiny eggs then its alot more effort to eat them. damn those things are hard to unwrap sometimes!

have a great weekend everyone :)

starting to look preggers!

2006-04-06T08:32:00.000+10:00

so far so good in regards to weight. but its my first preg weighin the day after tomorrow so i wont ruin any surprises by posted my weight from today :) you will have to come back on the 8th to check my weight!

my belly has well and truely popped out though. my pants are getting mildly snug lately. and i can feel the difference. i seem to have popped out in the last week because i really noticed it while visiting mackay.

morning sickness is a thing of the past now. and im starting to feel less tired. i think im entering the blissful 2nd trimester. this is a good part of the pregnancy i reckon. well, at least it was with Bee. although i did just suddenly remember the HORRIBLE heartburn i used to get every day. i nearly forgot about that!!

its raining today in moranbah. i love the rain. bee just went down for a nap so im gonna snuggle up in bed and read a book for an hour till she wakes up. i love how long she sleeps for! last night she slept through from 7pm until 6am. then just went down for her morning nap at 8:15am, for most likely a 1.5hr nap. that is her normal naptime length.

such a good girl!!

Cyclone

2006-03-21T10:41:00.000+10:00

we are alright! we live way down the bottom of the "warning area" so all we got was some overcast skies and 1 shower of rain. i really feel for those in innisfail. it would have been so scarey. espeically for those with kids. i woulda just packed everyone up on friday and went driving west to keep out of the way.

on the weight side of things this morning I weighed 67.2 so all is good. my morn sickness has disappeared except for when i let myself get really tired and dont eat enough. so im sleeping when i can!

im starting to collect second-hand stuff for the new nursery - such fun!!! i need a toddler bed for Bee cos i wanna use her cot for the new baby. plus a new chest of drawers. i want a comfy breastfeeding chair for beside the cot (kids sleeping in seperate rooms). and im getting 2 room dividers from an office that is renovating in mackay - so im gonna cover them in colourful material and sew big pockets in it so i can store toys/books and stuff in it. brighten up the room and will help seperate off the play/sleep areas.

i love this sort of thing!

for those that are interested - i posted up more pics of Bee in Flicker yesterday.

have a great week.

Current weight: 67.5kg

2006-03-13T10:42:00.000+10:00

i thought id be around 69 so was extremely pleased with this result!

i also posted my goals for weightgain during pregnancy on the left to help keep me on track.

quick post

2006-03-12T14:40:00.000+10:00

ive been in mackay for the last 1.5 weeks visiting family so that is why i havent posted. just wanted to let u know that i am still alive! a couple of dot-points:

EDD: 21st Oct - thats my brothers birthday!
I lost weight and got below my WW goal weight (I got down to 67kg), but now im back up again!!!! Weight at the moment is around 69kg. ill weigh tomorrow and post results.
Basically no exercise cos have had bad morning sickness and always tired.
Eating lots of fruit and fresh produce - thats great!
I have a feeling this is gonna be a boy!

Cyas later!

Catch-up!

2006-03-01T16:09:00.000+10:00

Food/Exercise:
I cant even keep up with how much food im eating now!!! ive had all-day nausea every day since i found out i was preggers. so im eating basically every 1 - 2 hours to keep it bay. Im trying to stick mostly to fruit so im finding that im having around 5 serves of fruit a day! so i have widened the range of fruit i eat so i dont get sick of it - nectarines, grapes, apples, oranges, bananas, plums - i eat it all.

In regards to exercise i have just been too sick and tired to do it. even a small walk just seems to be too much at the moment. but once the first trimester is over i really want to do more exercise.

Weight gain over pregnancy:
I've heard that the plan should be to gain 1-2 kilo in the first trimester, then 1-2 kilo every month after that. so that is my plan!

Bee's sleeping:
I have taught her how to go to sleep on her own!!!!!!! previously i was rocking her to sleep. now she cries for less than a minute and SLEEPS THROUGH!!! i cut out all her night feeds cos she doesnt need them anymore. so now i am getting more sleep at night and more rest during the day. she really settled into this routine nicely. it only took 1 night of being unsettled for her to set the new routine and we have had 4 nights of sleep-throughs since then! hallelujah!!!

Dr Shultz is weird!

2006-02-23T15:25:00.000+10:00

I went to the hospital here at Moranbah to check out the facilities and to get a referral for the dating ultrasound for Monday. I saw Dr Shultz and he is so weird! he is really cranky and said that I needed to go to his private practice to get that referral cos he couldnt do it there.

I honestly think he was just doing that so he can get money! He said he will bulk bill it but then he gets the money back from the government. Why would I go see a docter as a public hospital, only to be told to go to a private doctor so i can get an ultrasound at that same public hospital???

What a waste of my time.

Plus that hospital doesnt do births there. So that is a bit of a worry. I wanted to go to Mackay Birth Centre like I did with Brianna, but I wanted this hospital to be a backup in case I went premmie, or there was an emergency. So much planning to do ...

Some really exciting news ...

2006-02-23T08:38:00.000+10:00

Im pregnant!

For those who have been following this blog may know that over the last 6 months I have been battling to get my weight down. Ive gone from 83.2kg to 68.6kg - with my weight watchers goal weight being 68kg.

Now that I was only 600 grams away from my goal weight I am pregnant - lol!!! SO CLOSE!

Im packing away my scales because I dont want to weigh myself while pregnant.

When I was pregnant with my first I put on 22 kilo through eating the wrong foods and not exercising. Now that I have established better eating habits and an exercise routine I would love to continue this on into my new pregnancy.

I am just hungry all the time and I know that I will need the support to keep eating good foods and not get into the "oh Im preggers I can eat anything" mindframe.

My food goals with this pregnancy are to eat as much fresh produce as possible for my snacks and to eat smaller meals more frequently. This way I am eating all day so minimising the morning sickness. Last time I was pregnant if I ate a huge meal I would be hungry 1.5 hours later. But if I ate a small meal I was hungry the same amount of time later. So I would be constantly eating way too much food in one day. But if I am hungry I am definitely going to eat. I will not go hungry or try to diet. I just want to make better choices.

My exercise goals are to walk as much as I can. I live in a country town so I want to walk to everything now instead of driving. Most things are within a 20 minute easy walk. I joined the gym last week but they are going to refund my money (God bless them!). Because I now cannot do the aerobix classes I joined up for

Another goal Im setting for this pregnancy is to sleep more. I dont get enough sleep.

Wow so exciting! I dont have any idea what date I am due as I have only had 1 proper period since my daughter was born 13 months ago. so i got an appointment at the doc today - then im getting a dating ultrasound done on Monday.

weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Weighin Results

2006-02-22T08:29:00.000+10:00

I stayed the same. No loss or gain. So that is ok. Im not over the moon about it for obvious reasons, but Im not disappointed. The good news is that I managed to work off the gain I had attained previously in the week!!

Im skipping the FatBuster class today and Im going to go for a walk instead. I need a few groceries so Im gonna walk to Coles today to get them. My new rule at home is that I only take the car if I am in a rush. Moranbah is so small and I live only a few minutes walk from all the main shops/utilities I use.

Yesterday I walked to the WW meeting, then the cafe for lunch where I had the BEST brushetta (sp?) I have ever tasted! And then walked home. I asked the chef about the ingrediants and she said that the tomato mixture itself would only be 1/2 point because she said there is only about half a teaspoon of olive oil in each serve. The rest of the ingrediants are point-free. And it was served with 5 pieces of toasted crusty bread which I guestimated to be the same as 1/2 slice of bread each. So all up its 4 points. Im sooo going again.

The Biggest Loser
Last night I was once again flabbergasted at the way the contestants on TBL are treating each other!! When they were in the pool competition the looks between the teams were deadly! I think this show is bringing the worst out in them. But I still love the show. I wonder what happened with Bob - I guess we will find out tonight!

The Biggest Loser - Week One

2006-02-20T07:35:00.000+10:00

I love this show! I am totally hooked. And my husband knows it too, so that is good. He helps me out at nights now so that everything is done by 7pm. I cant believe how much weight they lost last week!!!! I was absolutely flabergasted at Wal's 15 kilo loss!!!! In ONE WEEK! That is all the weight I have lost in 6 months! He had to be feeling that his clothes were bigger.

But I must say that I dont really like the attitude of some of the blue team. They seem so obnoxious. Saying "Red is dead". Not very good sportsmanship.

On the blue team my fav is Fiona. She is just so beautiful and is such a nice person. On the red team my fav is Kristie. I was crying when she shared that she had lost a child in the last year. My heart just went out to her and I really connected with her. As a parent I dont know what I would ever be able to do if my daughter died. So incredibly sad.

Tomorrow is weighin and I think that I will be down from what I was last weighin. Two weighins ago I got down to 68.6kg. Then I jumped up to 69.1 at the last weighin 12 days ago. Then I joined the gym and saw my weight go up to 70.3kg on my homescales (which are really dodgey) on Thursday. But on my homescales this morning I was in the high 68s so I think I wont be too disappointed tomorrow. At least it wont say 70-something I hope!

I have really been working my ass off at the gym. Im going to go again tomorrow morning before weighin. But here is my exercise regime for the last week:

14/2 - 60 min PowerBar class at gym
15/2 - 60 min FatBuster class at gym + 30 mins cardio
16/2 - 60 min power walk to the shops and back
17/2 - 20 min treadmill - 20 min bike at the gym
18/2 - 20 min treadmill - 15 min bike - 10 min abdominal exercises till my tummy felt like jelly and wouldnt do anymore
19/2 - same as the day before
20/2 - 60 min Step combo class
21/2 (to do tomorrow) - 20 min treadmill - 15 min bike - 10 min abdominal exercises

Total: 345 mins

I cant wait till I get my PT session so I can get started on the weights.

Light dinner tonight so I dont bloat for tomorrow. Maybe a frittata ... mmmmmm

Im putting on weight!?!

2006-02-17T10:27:00.000+10:00

eeeek I weighed myself this morning and Im up over 70kgs. I have been eating really well so I think its the gym. I saw a post about this on airlie's blog where she was going to the gym heaps and then this week she gained weight also!! So i think the same thing is happening to me. Its really disheartening but I know its for the best. itll just take a bit of time for my body to calm down then I will hopefully lose that weight plus more.

Yesterday I didnt end up going to the gym. But instead, after Brianna's morning nap we went for a walk to the local pool (about 20 min walk), then swam for an hour (not much exercise benefit tho cos I played with Bee), then walked back home. There is a slight inclination on my street so I could definitely feel the legs working!

Today I went to the gym but didnt do a class. I wanted to give the cardio machines a go so I did 20 mins on the bike (I did the repeatedly up/down hill cycle - hard!), and then 20 minutes on the treadmill (I set it at a pace of 6.5 so I got some really nice long strides happening).

I might take Bee to the pool again today. But Im not gonna walk cos today is hotter than yesterday.

Have a great weekend girlies!!!

To Gym ... or Not To Gym

2006-02-16T07:46:00.000+10:00

I am loving the gym at the moment. But this morning Bean woke up an hour early - so this means that she is due for a sleep right when I wanna go to the gym!! So if she is awake then Ill take her. But if not I may not be able to go to the gym today. They only offer childcare for 1 hour a day so my times are limited.

Yesterday I did a fatbuster class in the morning but then got a chance to slip back over for 30 mins in the evening while Bean slept after DH got home from work. On Tuesday I did the PowerBar class. That was heaps fun but I really felt I got more out of yesterdays FatBuster class.

I am so sore though! So if I go today I wont be going to the Step class. Ill just be doing some cardio so I can pace myself. Maybe even just do 30 mins.

I really hope it all pays off and I lose weight on Tuesday!

Im back!

2006-02-14T11:33:00.000+10:00

I really miss being able to play with the side panels of my blog so Im back to this format haha! The other blog I cant edit anything! frustrating cos I cant update my butter :)

A couple of bits of news just quickly. Last week I put on 500g - but Im on my way to work that off again. Last weighin I was 69.1kgs.

I joined the gym this week and plan to go 5 times a week - 3 classes and 2 gym sessions.

I skipped WW this morning cos I plan on being AT GOAL next weighin. So check back on TUESDAY cos Im gonna be posting that I reached my goal weight :)

Starts a mantra - Im going to be 68kgs next Tuesday! Im going to be 68kgs next Tuesday! Im going to be 68kgs next Tuesday! Im going to be 68kgs next Tuesday!

New blog

2006-01-30T12:52:00.000+10:00

I have realised that i am struggling to get motivated to post in this blog. so I have created a new one. Maybe the fact that this one will be a blog about my weightloss as well as my scrapbooking hobby will motivate me to post more. ive chosen to move away from Blogger as its easier at this place to post up my layouts.

http://www.scrapbook.com/places/milkshake

I chose "Milkshake" as my URL and login name cos Im a breastfeeding mum and proud of it!!! :D

Love the country lifestyle

2006-01-24T09:51:00.000+10:00

I know this blog is sposed to be about my weightloss but I just wanted to mention how much I love Moranbah so far! This little mining town is soooo under-rated. I heard so many bad comments from ppl when I said I was moving out here but I think its great. Its so peaceful. The people are really friendly. The library has a better space for kids than the library in Mackay does. I certainly dont miss the humidity. Plus I love how quiet it is.

I must admit though. Ive wanted to walk the federation walkpath since I got here but still havent gotten off my butt and done it. My two sisters are coming to town overnight on Wednesday night so I will walk it with them on Thursday morning.

I cooked again yesterday. Its so hard to eat good when Im making yummies for DH. I made "Werthers and Cadbury Bikkies". One of my DHs fav foods I bake. I just make up a normal basic biscuit mix but I use half normal sugar and half brown sugar. Then before I roll the mixture into balls I add 1 family block of cadbury milk chocolate (crushed) and a 135g packet of Werthers Chewy Toffees (chopped). It is devine. Gotta love both those brands :) But definitely not good points-wise.

Ive spent the last couple of days trying to do the "No Count" plan but I find it way too difficult. I need the flexibility in my eating. So Im going back to counting. I forgot to post yesterday's tracking so Ill start with todays now:

TRACKING:
Incidental exercise - 1 hour housework
Planned exercise - none

Food:
Breaky: lg banana (2p), 2 slices toast (3p) = 5p
Morning Tea: 2 home-made "Werthers and Cadbury Bikkies" (oooops) = 3p
Lunch: egg and lettuce sandwiche with mayo = 6p
Afternoon Tea: 10 rice crackers with salsa = 1p
Dinner: 1 sausage (7p), 1 potato (1p), point-free veges (0p) = 8p
Dessert: TBA

Doin' the Happy Dance ...

2006-01-20T11:54:00.000+10:00

I went to WW while in Mackay yesterday because I couldnt wait until next Tuesday - I weighed in at 69.2kgs!! This means that I lost 1.5kgs over Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yay!!! 1.2kgs left till I reach goal.

So now Im back to counting my points and tracking what I eat. I was going to do the No Count plan but I am finding that I really need the flexibility.

And I finally have the Net at home so I can get back to posting everyday. If I dont I will lose track again. So I am looking forward to getting back to reading everyone's blogs. I have really missed the communication and support Ive recieved and hopefully given over the last 5 months I have been blogging.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Happy New Year!!

2006-01-10T14:09:00.000+10:00

sorry about not posting but i have been sooooo busy plus I have no internet at the new place in Moranbah. Im at the library using their net at the moment.

Firstly, I didnt get to my WW goal weight but I am a 60s girl now!! I cant remember what weight I was at my last WW weighin before christmas but I think I was 70.4kgs. This morning I weighed myself and I was 68.8kgs. I am DEFINITELY thinking that my scales broke on the way from Mackay to Moranbah. This is the first time I have weighed myself since I moved here.

The WW meetings are on Tuesdays here - and I will be busy next Tuesday so it looks like itll be another 2 weeks before I get a chance to go get myself weighed officially! If my home scales are right though it looks like I may actually be at goal by then! They may be right because of all the packing boxes and moving I did. I have no idea.

Moranbah is fantastic. I am loving how quiet it is here - and everyone is so friendly! The scrapping store here is great. They stock all the brands I love. And have a big pile of Basic Grey papers (my fav).

I hope everyone is doing well. I will try to get back here to post again late this week. Its Bee's 1 year birthday party this weekend so Im back into Mackay for a few days so we can celebrate with friends and family. Busy busy busy! But hopefully htings will start to settle down once I am back out here on Wednesday.

NoCount

2005-12-22T13:26:00.000+10:00

Today I got the first book of the NoCount plan as I didnt go last week. Ive decided Im going to give that a go. Try to get my motivation back.

I lost 0.5kg this week so now I am 70.7kgs. I wont make goal but i dont mind - i know its my own fault :)

With me packing stuff up and moving it should budge the other 0.8 in 2 weeks to put me in 60s!

dont think ill make it

2005-12-21T16:04:00.000+10:00

Mum picked a fight with me today so I emotionally ate. I wont go into details about the fight cos its personal, but lets just say I ate alot of sugar this arvo! Plus it was a stressful day at work - my last day there - so that made it worse.

Tomorrow I am anticipating around 70.6kgs - we will see. I technically have until Saturday morning to lose the weight though cos its Christmas Eve then.

Have a great night!

Home weighin - 70.2kgs (4 sleeps left)

2005-12-20T14:08:00.000+10:00

Hopefully itll move a bit more further south before Christmas Eve :)

Daily reports on weight until Christmas Eve morning!!! I have to get to 60s!

Have a great day!

Mum graduated from TAFE last week!

2005-12-19T09:26:00.000+10:00

Bee and Grandma Mallett at her TAFE Graduation Ceremony - Dec05

We are so proud of her. She has come through so many battles in her life and this is just another confirmation that she can rise above it and make changes. She graduated with a diploma of business and marketing. Go Mum!

On the weightloss front I weighed myself this morning and it came up at 70.2kgs. So it seems promising for Thursday but I dunno! I gotta work my butt off to try to lose this weight.

Im not off to a good start though cos this morning I had 3 snack-size turkish delights :( Three sugar points straight up!

I made some beautiful fruit salad yesterday - so Im gonna be munching on that today as my snacks. It has in it: apple, banana, passionfruit, nectarines, cherries, plums, rockmelon, watermelon. Tastes sooo good. I love love love stonefruit! Especially nectarines.

Its been ages since I made my own fruit salad, as opposed to the canned stuff. It just doesnt compare. But I must say that its quite expensive making your own!

Im gonna get back into tracking.

TRACKING:

Incidental exercise: washed car, hung tonnes of nappies on the line

Planned exercise: none yet, maybe a walk later

Food:
Breaky: 2 slices multigrain toast (3p), 2 eggs (3p) = 6p
Norty After-breaky snack: 3 snacksize turkish delights = 3p
Morning Tea: Fruit salad (2p), 100g diet yogurt (1/2p) = 2.5p
Lunch: Garden salad (0p), tuna (2p) = 2p
Afternoon Tea: Fruit salad (2p), 100g diet yogurt (1/2p) = 2.5p
Dinner at mums: TBA
Dessert: none
Total points:

Not weighing in today

2005-12-15T08:57:00.000+10:00

Bee in the garden at home - Dec05

Im too sick. Ive decided to have a morning off. I took some photos of Bee this morning so Im gonna go get them processed before work.

I dont think ive lost any weight this week so Im gonna work my butt off for the last weighin before Christmas.

For those who weigh in today - best of luck!!! :) Have a great day everyone.

Flickr set up

2005-12-14T10:33:00.000+10:00

Bee - Silly Faces - Dec05
Originally uploaded by KarenDay.

Ive set up Flickr and Im going to upload photos to it. Last night Bee was acting like a total doofus and kept pulling these silly faces. i think she musta had a booger tickling her nasal cavity or something cos she kept screwing up her face like this.

Just as well I had the camera handy to catch those classic faces ;) Feel free to browse through my photos!!!

Sick :(

2005-12-14T10:13:00.000+10:00

This is just a quick post to say I am still around - just quite sick. Sore throat, nauseous (sp?), sniffly nose ... feel yuck.

Done no exercise cos i just wanna sleep all day. Not eating too bad. Definitely not drinking enough water.

Week 17 - 700grams lost - Current Weight: 71.2

2005-12-08T12:56:00.000+10:00

Yay a good loss!!! I keep saying that I am going to get back into this 100% but for some reason I just cant! I eat the foods (occasionally too much), and I do the exercise (not as much as I used to) and yet I still lose weight. But I feel that I am cheating! And because I am still losing the weight Im not getting the kick up the bum to get myself doing it properly again.

I could be losing so much more weight if I was doing it properly. I might have even been into the 60s by now. But ive started saying 'yes' to the sweets, and 'yes' to the slightly larger serve of pasta, and 'yes' to the aircon instead of walking.

Maybe Ill do it this week. But knowing me the motivation wont stick around longer than a day.

But Im not really too down about this - only cos Im still losing weight!

So now Ive lost exactly 12 kilo. Im happy with this :) Im only 0.2kg from my original WW goal weight (and my personal goal weight). The WW leader today said I can change my WW goal weight back to 71 if I want. But I told her no. As much as I would love the free meetings of being a lifetime member I feel that I wouldnt keep the motivation to get down to the 60s. So Im going to leave my goal weight at 68.

Itd be too easy otherwise. I wanna work for it.

The Mocha Fruit Cake was a hit at the WW meeting. Everyone loved it.

TRACKING:
Planned Exercise: none
Incidental Exercise: 160 stairs at work

Food:
Breaky: 1 slice toast (1.5p), 150g Baked Beans (2p), 1 egg (1.5p) = 5p
Morning Tea: WW foods. I didnt count the points but I tried a few things so I guess itd be 5 points maximum
Lunch: McDonalds Chicken Tandoori Deli (5.5p), apple (1p) = 6.5p
Afternoon Tea: cup of tea (1/2p), Mocha Fruit Cake (2.5p) = 3p
Dinner: lg piece fish cooked in lemon (5p), point-free veges (0p) = 5p
Dessert: 1 scoop lowfat icecream (1p), mango (1/2p) = 1.5p
Total points 26/28

Boss wants me to stay :)

2005-12-07T16:22:00.000+10:00

The boss doesnt want me to leave cos he doesnt want to have to train a new person up. So he wants me to keep working for the company, but from home at Moranbah!!!!!!! So this is awesome. He said he will just email updates to me and I do them from home and log my hours. I get paid minimum of 2 hours work each time, even if it only takes me 30 mins. So Im LOVING it!! This is fantastic. I can do the work when DH gets home from his work in the evenings.

Last night I wasnt as well behaved as I should have been, so Im going to go low on points today. Im proud of the way I have handled food thus far today, considering I went to McDonalds for morning tea this morning with friends. I took watermelon to Maccas!!! And then I just ordered a coffee. So I did well :)

Today I tried a WW Mocha Fruit Cake. I cooked it this morning for the WW Christmas morning tea tomorrow and its beautiful!! So easy to make too. And cheap! $7 of ingrediants for the whole thing.

MOCHA FRUIT CAKE - 2.5p per slice - 25 slices per cake

1kg mixed fruit
150g fruit and nut chocolate - chopped
2 cups self raising flour - sifted
2 cups strong coffee - cooled

1. Mix the coffee and fruit together and refrigerate overnight (all liquid will be absorbed)
2. Mix the fruit with the chocolate and flour.
3. Bake in 180 degree oven for around an hour. The recipe originally said 50 mins but I had to cook mine for 70 minutes. It could have done with a bit more cooking though.

If the top starts to burn cover it with greaseproof paper and continue cooking.

TRACKING:

Planned exercise: 45 min walk to shops and back
Incidental exercise: 80 stairs at work

Food:
Breaky: 150g baked beans (2p), 1 egg (1.5p), 1 slice toast (1.5p) = 5p
Morning Tea: sk cappucino (1/2p), watermelon (1/2p) = 1p
Lunch: pointfree salad - lettuce, cucumber, tomato, beetroot, carrot (0p), tuna mixed with mayo (3p), 1 egg (1.5p) = 4.5p
Afternoon Tea: 4 Lite crispbread (1.5p), tomato (0p), cheese (1p), taste of WW fruitcake I made for tomorrow (1.5p) = 4p
Dinner: Pointfree veges (zucchini, carrot, beans, brocolli), 1 tbs honey soy marinade (1p), Udon noodles (2p?) = 3p
Dessert: None
Total points used: 17.5 points

Water Intake: 3 litres and counting - Ive been peeing all day :o

Ive resigned!!!!!

2005-12-06T15:35:00.000+10:00

wow I was so nervous!!!! I seriously was sweating in the 23 degree aircon. The boss took it well, after an initial "aaaah f**k". He tried to talk me out of going - saying that Moranbah was a terrible place to live blah blah blah - but Im convinced.

Who would say "no" to living in the same town as their husband and not having to work! I will get to spend the whole day with Bee. Plus Ill be able to get back into scrapbooking. And more time to do exercise! ooooooh I cant wait! I have 2.5 more weeks left.

TRACKING:

Planned exercise: 50 mins Steps video
Incidental exercise: 80 stairs at work

Food:
Breaky: 1 slice toast (1.5p), 150g baked beans (2p), 1 tbs lowfat cheese (1/2p), 1 egg (1.5p) = 5.5p
Morning Tea: watermelon = 0.5p
Lunch: Spreadable tuna (2p), multigrain breadroll (3p), cheese (1p), pointfree salad (0p) = 6p
Afternoon Tea: Rice Wheels - from the healthfood section of Woolies = only 1p!
Dinner: TBA - but its Pizza Hut!! Im going to behave though
Dessert: TBA
Total points used: /28
Sweet points: TBA

Water Intake: TBA

Survived the weekend

2005-12-05T15:45:00.000+10:00

Yay I survived Troy coming to town! Normally I go a bit haywire with food. Last night I had ppl over for dinner and tried out 2 recipes from the WW cookbook "Single Serves". I just multiplied the ingrediants by 4 to make it for 4 ppl.

The Sticky Rice with Mango was fantastic! Its normally 4 points a serve so I halved the brown sugar and halved the servings and had 1 scoop lowfat icecream instead. So instead of a serving of 4 points, it was 1.5p of Sticky Rice, 0.5p for mango, and 1 point for low-fat icecream - 2 points. It was really tasty.

The 2nd recipe I tried was the Lime Chicken with Mango Rice and the mango pickle was FOUL! I have never tasted anything so vile in my life!!!! Just as well I served that on the side! And I added point-free steamed veges cos I could tell it would be quite bland. So that was nice too. Ill post the recipes later in the week.

I was supposed to be handing in my letter of resignation today but the boss was away - I guess itll have to wait until tomorrow! So nervous!

The last 3 days Ive had a different breakfast. I normally have cereal with skim milk and thats it - but Ive switched to 1 slice of toast (no butter) with 150g baked beans, topped with 1 tbs lowfat cheese and 1 egg that has been cooked in cooking spray. It is so tasty and it keeps me going longer than cereal! It is more points, but I reckon its worth it. I went from having 3.5p to 5.5p for breaky, but then at morning tea Im having 0.5p instead of 3 points! So it really is even. Then I am having lunch later, at 1pm - whereas normally Im really hungry at 11.30.

TRACKING:

Planned exercise: 1 hr walk around Gooseponds in the evening
Incidental exercise: 240 stairs at work

Breaky: 150g baked beans (2p), 1 slice toast (1.5p), 1 tbs lowfat cheese (1/2p), 1 egg (1.5p) = 5.5p
Morning Tea: watermelon = 0.5p
Lunch: Asian Salad (no dressing) - lettuce, celery, carrot (0p), chicken (3p), almonds (1.5p), 1 tbs dry noodles (1p?) = 5.5p
Afternoon Tea: Ducks Nuts (3p), choc slice (3p) = 6p
Dinner: Chicken/Vegetable/Cashew Thai dish (8p) with 3/4 cup rice (2.5p) = 10.5
Dessert: none - had a choc slice at arvo tea
Points used: 28/28

Water: TBA

Yay I got some sleep!

2005-12-02T15:32:00.000+10:00

Bee FINALLY slept good last night. Its a miracle!!! Its not even that hot at night-time, its cool enough to have a sheet on. But lastnight I co-slept her and I put on the aircon. And she slept!! She woke up twice for a feed, but she always did that anyways. Im usually back in bed within 15 mins. So it was so good to wake up and have her legs across my chest - cos I woke up fresh and energized.

And she was so cute - she kept snuggling close to me and putting her hand on me. And then she would work her way away from me again. Then come back in for another cuddle in her sleep. She is such an active sleeper. Adorable.

Ive discovered these great little fruit and nut snack packs brought out by Sunbeam. They are quite point-hefty at three points for a pack. But are really nutritious - with sultanas, peanuts, almonds and cashews. So its quite filling.

TRACKING

Planned exercise: 50 mins Steps video
Incidental exercise: 80 stairs at work

Breaky: 60g Crunchola (3p), 1 cup Skim milk (1p) = 4p
Morning Tea: ww mint choc bar = 1.5p
Lunch: small fillet fish grilled in lemon juice (3p), pointfree salad (0p), 1 teas ww mayo (0.5p), cheese (1p), 2 slices bread (3p), 2 teas ww butter (1p) = 8.5p
Afternoon Tea: Sunbeam Fruit and Nut snack pack (3p), Tea with milk (1/2p) = 3.5p
Dinner: Chilli Rub Pork (recipe posted in Aug) (5p), with steamed veges (0p), 1 cup mashed potato (1.5p) = 6.5p
Dessert: ww mousse = 1.5p
Points used: 26/28
Sweet points: 3 points

Water: 2.5lts

October Wrap - November Plan

2005-12-01T16:24:00.000+10:00

First things first - Today's Weighin
Today's weighin went better than expected! I lost 200g and I thought I definitely woulda gained weight!!! So I am happy with the loss today. Imagine if I hadnt pigged out this week - I reckon I woulda lost around a kilo. I now weigh 71.9kgs.

My original goal weight was going to be 71kgs, but I made is 68kgs cos another girl I was joining with was gonna lose 15 kilo. So I had said I would lose that much too - and I changed my goal weight to 68. She now has stopped WW as she wasnt doing it right and wasnt losing weight.

So I am now 0.9 away from my original WW goal weight which I am pretty proud of. I had thought I would struggle to get to 71 - never mind 68! But now I know I can (and will) get to the magical 68kgs. Its just a matter of when.

I wont list the good/bad points of this week - cos it was pretty much all bad :P But I will say that I am going to behave this week. While I wont get much of a chance to do exercise I will eat 25 points a day and exercise if I can!

Bee had another bad night last night - I got 3.5 hours sleep. So I am like the living dead today. Cos WW was on in the morning I didnt have time for my morning "Nanna Nap". Im going out for dinner tonight cos mum handed in her last TAFE assessment today. But Im going to behave and not be tempted by dessert.

Today at WW they were selling the WW cookbook called "Single Serves frm around the World" for only $1!! I got the last one - yay! And there are some super-yummy sounding recipes in there such as Lime Chicken on Mango Rice. mmmmm. So I hope I start having more time soon so I can cook up some yummy recipes.

I reached my 72kg goal today as well!! But I bought a new outfit and some new shoes last week as a splurge so I will count that as my reward. I keep forgetting to post pics but I am DETERMINED to do that tonight. Hopefully I wont forget :) I think Ill set up a Flickr account as I wanna put up a few pics of me and Bee.

November in review
Beginning weight: 74kgs
Ending weight: 71.9kgs
Total weightloss: 2.1kgs

Goal Status: Im now 3.9kgs away from my WW goal weight. And 0.9kgs away from my Personal goal weight.

Starting BMI: 23.4
Ending BMI: 22.7

Commendable aspect of November weightloss: I altered my WW plans to accomodate more for my current lifestyle - instead of keep plodding along the same as I was before. Its good to be able to accept that changes have happened and wont always go to plan. I reached the next goal in my plan - 72kgs (just!). I have now lost FOURTEEN PERCENT of my total weight!!!! Wow thats alot.

The areas I said I would work on at the end of October were: Re-increase my water intake again to a solid 3 litres at least (not done!), try something new in exercise (I didnt have hardly any time for exercise!!!). My goals this month really didnt work out well did they.

December Plan

Goal Reaffirmation: Well - its obvious I wont now get to goal before Christmas. But I want to be a 60s girl. So I have to lose at least 2 kgs for this to happen. I have 3 weeks and a few days to do this in - so I would love to do this for my weighin on Thursday 22nd December.

Plan for December: Where do I start?!?!!? There is too much to get back on track:

Water intake - 3 litres a day
Exercise - I MUST make time. Even if I ask the babysitters to bath Bee before I get home so that I have that bit of extra time to take her for a walk in the pram. I need to delegate more so I have more time to exercise.
Food - Im pretty good with this. But I have had a few too many sugar points this month that I could have avoided. So get remotivated with sugar.
Try to survive the Christmas Silly Season!!!!! Ive only got 1 more christmas party (apart from Christmas day) - and I know I will be strong for that.

Christmas food drive

2005-11-30T14:25:00.000+10:00

well, ive been so keen to be good this week before weighin - after having my disasterous weekend. But today I ate a piece of chocolate slice that was about 1.5 inches wide by 3 inches long. Its not a complete meltdown, but I still feel a little disappointed in myself. I have no idea how many points that is - ill have a look in my points book tonight.

Bee slept really bad last night so I didnt exercise today. I slept during her morning nap again. I feel like such a Nanna - having my little "Nanna Nap" to help me get through the day.

I am so inspired by M!! She is just an incredible woman. Her blog is by far my favourite - with her witty posts, great ideas, and warm personality. Once again I logged in today to see another great idea. She has lost 20kgs (wow amazing!!!) and so she donated 20kgs of food to the Christmas appeal.

So she has inspired me to do the same. I have lost just over 11 kilo, but itll be up to around 12 kilo by Christmas so Im going to donate that much food. Ive been so blessed with the comfortable way I live - and too often I forget about people who arent as lucky as I am.

So after work one day this week I am going to walk to Woolworths (10 min walk away), and I am going to buy 12 kilos of food, then walk it all home again. I dont know where is doing a collection of food, but Ill find a place to donate it to.

Thanks M for such an inspirational idea - it is a reminder that not everyone will be living it up at Christmas time.

TRACKER:

Planned Exercise: none
Incidental Exercise: 160 stairs at work

Food:
Breaky: 2 x HiBran Weetbix (2.5p), 1 cup Skim milk (1p) = 3.5p
Morning Tea: 10 rice crackers (1p), low fat cheese (1p) = 2p
Lunch: Tuna (2p), pointfree salad (0p), multigrain breadroll (3p) = 5p
Afternoon Tea: Chocolate slice (??)
Dinner: leftover chicken tacos - 100g chicken (2p), 3 soft tacos (4.5p), pointfree salad (0p) = 6.5p
Snack: 1 slice toast (1.5p), tomato (0p) = 1.5p
Total points used: TBA
Sugar points: TBA

Water: TBA

Yay for Moranbah!!!

2005-11-29T14:45:00.000+10:00

CSC told my DH today that they are going to pay half our rent so that me and Bee can move out to Moranbah!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!! But the bad news is that I dont get to choose it - they are gonna pick a house for us. Which is weird. But if I see a house that looks good I will be passing the info on to DH for him to give to his boss ;) Im a woman - I have to meddle!

DH also said that he thinks its only gonna be 3 bedroom. But I we could easily fill a 4 bedroom house - nursery, main bedroom, office and spare room for visitors. Our family will be coming out every few weeks so itd be good if they didnt have to pay for a hotel. So Im trying to get DH to drop hints about that too.

Sometimes I wish he was more confident to say stuff like that. I definitely would let them know what we need. But he doesnt want to 'rock the boat'. He likes to say "beggers cant be choosers".

So we will officially become Moranbites as of the new year. We will be moving between Chrissy and New Years.

So lookout Shawnnita!!! We are comin to town! :D yay! I cant wait to come scrap with ya at the shop.

TRACKING:

Incidental Exercise: none
Planned Exercise: 30 min walk (not done yet - to do tonight)

Food:
Breaky: 2 x HiBran weetbix (2.5p), 1 cup Skim milk (1p) = 3.5p
Morning Tea: 2 crumpets (2p), 2 tbs honey (2p) = 4p
Lunch: tuna (2p), salad (0p), multigrain breadroll (3p), watermelon (1/2p) = 5.5p
Afternoon Tea: pumpkin scone = 2p
Dinner: Chicken Soft Tacos - 4 soft tacos (6p), 150g chicken (3p), pointfree salad (0p), taco seasoning (0p), salsa (0p) = 9p
Dessert: 1/2 scone (1p), diet jam (0p) = 1p
Total points used: 25/28
Sweet points = 2p

Water: 3 lts

guilt-free splurge weekend

2005-11-28T12:43:00.000+10:00

hi all!

The weekend at Moranbah went fantastically! I didnt wanna go! I wanted to stay there with DH forever. But unfortunately I had to come back :(

It was stinking hot there. When I left at 1.30pm yesterday it was 40.8 degrees. HOT HOT HOT!

I enjoyed my weekend - food wise. On thursday night before leaving I went to dinner with my sister so had chinese. Then had chinese again on Friday night for DH's christmas party (will post photos tomorrow). Then Saturday dinner we went to the Black Nugget hotel for the buffet - and I ate too much yet again! Had a very small scoop of tiramisu for dessert, with some fruit salad.

Sunday lunch we had red rooster - I tried one of their grilled chicken baguettes and it was so yummy!! 97% fat free too so I would assume it wasnt too bad on points.

But I enjoyed every morsel of the food, and refuse to feel guilty for having a weekend off :) I bet I feel bad on Thursday, but I will try to minimise the damage by doing well for the rest of the week.

I wont even bother trying to remember what I ate. In regards to exercise I didnt do any while away. But last night I washed the Turbo - took me an hour cos it was covered with filth from the highway. So it was a reasonable workout. The car looks so good today. I love my car. I drive a mandarin coloured Ford XR6 Turbo, BA model. Such a waste of money, but DH wanted it. And I let him buy it. Pity it stays here with me every week instead of at Moranbah ;) It cost me half my unit!!! $53,000 for a car is a waste of money in my opinion. Plus it takes premium fuel, so costs us $70 for fuel every 10 days to drive.

TRACKING:

Planned exercise: 50 min Steps video

Incidental exercise: 160 stairs at work

Food:
Breaky: 2 x HiBran weetbix (2.5p), 1 cup Trim milk (2p) = 4.5p
Morning Tea: Smoothie - 200g Nestle Diet yogurt frozen (2p), 1/2 cup canned mango (1/2p), 1/2 cup Trim milk (1p) = 3.5p
Lunch: Multigrain breadroll (3p), can spreadable tuna (2p), garden salad (0p), cheese (2p) = 7p
Afternoon Tea: cup tea with milk = 0.5p
Dinner: Chicken stirfry - 200g chicken breast (4p), 2 tbs marinade (1p), lots of pointfree veges (0p) = 5p
Dessert: lots and lots of watermelon = 1.5p
Total points: 22/28 - deliberately went under points as I had a high-point weekend.

Week Fourteen Weighin - 0.1kg down. Current weight: 72.1

2005-11-24T12:28:00.000+10:00

Well, the expected happened. My weightloss went to a stand-still cos of no exercise. I knew it would happen but I couldnt help feeling disappointed. Now I definitely know I wont be at goal for Christmas - but I am used to that fact now. Im over it. I have done so well so far, this isnt a big deal.

So I have 4.1 kilos to go - thats not much! I will definitely get to goal in January I reckon! Especially with moving house mid-january. All that packing and moving will definitely budge the weight :)

The Weightloss Tracker I posted about last week says that my "target date" is 7 Jan - so we will see if that is accurate or not.

I spoke to my WW leader about not eating as many points on the days that I dont do exercise and she said that if I want to I can go down to about 25 points, but no less than 24. So I will do that - but only on the days I dont do exercise.

Bee had ANOTHER bad night last night - I didnt get to sleep until 1am. Then I was up at 4am for about 20 mins. Then up for the day at 7am. At least she slept in a bit! So I had about five and a half hours sleep last night.

So I skipped my walk this morning. But I am going late-night shopping with my sis tonight to get my outfit for DH's Christmas Party so I will at least get a bit of walking in. It may not be fast walking but at least its movement.

The vege bake I had last night was beautiful!!! All I did was chop up all the veges I had in the house - potatoes, brocolli, carrot, pumpkin, sweet potato, beans - and threw them into a casserole dish. Then poured over two thirds can of Heinz Extra Special Country Chicken soup (6p per can). And then topped it with 30g of cheese. 200 degrees till veges are cooked. It made enough for dinner lastnight and lunch today - 4.5 points per serve. But it depends on what veges u put in, and how much. I didnt put much potato in, but lots of the point-free stuff.

Also, I discovered the "Golden" brand crumpets have no sugar in them - so not sugar points ;) One point each. The Mighty Soft ones have sugar in the top 3 ingrediants, so dont get them. So I bought a pack of crumpets for a change. Mmmmm.

TRACKER:

Planned Exercise: none

Incidental Exercise: 160 stairs at work

Food Plan:
Breaky: 2 'Golden' Crumpets (2p), diet strawberry jam (0p) = 2p
Morning Tea: 200g Nestle diet yogurt (1p), ww cheese nibblies (1.5p) = 2.5p
Lunch: Leftover Vege Bake = 4.5p
Afternoon Tea: 2 slices raisin toast (4p), butter (2p) = 6p
Dinner: Small plate of chinese at shops - 3/4 cup rice (2.5p), beef + black bean sauce (guess 6p) = 8.5p
Dessert: low-fat muffin at shops = 2.5p
Total points used: 26/28

Well, I ate normal points after all :P

Dont think ill make my Christmas goal

2005-11-23T12:21:00.000+10:00

Last night Bee had ANOTHER bad night of sleeping. So this morning I napped instead of doing exercise. I dont know why her routine is suddenly upside-down. Maybe she is getting more teeth in? I didnt go to bed till after midnight, got up at 3am when she woke up for 30 mins, then went back to bed till she woke up at 6.30am. She had an extra long morning nap though - 2hrs instead of 1.5hrs - so I got just over an hours sleep before work.

This is the third time in a week Ive had to skip exercise in the morning so I can have a nap. Im just so exhausted. It means I either dont do any planned exercise that day, or I do a teeny bit at night, like a walk to the shops. It means Im not going to be losing as much weight this week at weighin I reckon.

So to try to reduce the damage Im going to eat less calories on the days I cant do exercise. Im not burning off the food so I dont think its good for me to eat 28 points a day. Im going to go for 22 points a day instead. I dont know if I am supposed to do this or not. Ill check with my leader tomorrow morning at weighin.

I am already putting pressure on myself to lose 0.8kg a week so I reach goal before Christmas - now I doubt I will make it. But Im not angry or annoyed, Im just a bit disappointed. But Im not letting it get me too down. My emotions are already hightened due to sleep deprivation. As long as I am in my 60s by then I will be happy - because that was my original goal.

TRACKER:

Planned exercise:
none

Incidental exercise:
160 stairs at work

Food Plan:
Breaky: 2 x HiBran Weetbix (2.5p), 1 cup Trim milk (2p) = 4.5p
Morning Tea: 10 rice snacks (1p), Mocha Yogurt Smoothie - frozen 200g Nestle Diet Mocha yogurt (1p), 1/2 cup Trim milk (1p) = 3p
Lunch: 2 slices multigrain bread (3p), mayo (1.5p), egg (1.5p), lettuce (0c), 1 cup watermelon (1/2p?) = 6.5p
Afternoon Tea: 4 Paradise Lite Crackers (1.5p), lowfat cheese (1p), tomato (0p) = 2.5p
Dinner: Madeup recipe "Vege Bake" - various veges, Heinz extra special Chicken soup, sprinkle lowfat cheese = 4.5p
Dessert: 1 ww choc chip biscuit (1/2p), 1 teas lowfat icecream (1/2p) = 1p (I put the icecream on top of the biscuit - mmmmmm)
Snack: 1 crumpet (1p), diet jam (0p) = 1p
Total points used: 23 points
Sweet points: 1 point

Water: TBA

Im happy with the food plan above - its got a good combination of healthy fresh foods. Im not having any meat today, but I had an egg so I at least had some protein. And I still get my sweet at the end of the day.

Injuries!

2005-11-22T14:43:00.000+10:00

Today I was doing the Carmen Electra DVD number 2 - the Workout one. And I just kept hurting myself! I dont know why my body was fighting this workout. For those who have done this workout, I firstly hurt myself doing that move thats like a "somorai sword" (spelling?). I got a big cramp in my side. Then I was lifting my leg for the floor exercises and I felt a 'pop' in my muscle, which hurt. And then when I was on all fours and was lifting my leg up and down (working the glutes), I got a cramp in my hip.

I dunno what I was doing wrong but my body just wasnt into it today. So I took out that DVD and took out the first DVD in her collection to start on the dance moves. That is less intence and thought itd be good for me to do some low-intensity exercises seeing as my body was shutting down.

Yesterday while shopping at Coles (I normally shop at Woolies) I saw Mocha flavoured Nestle Diet yogurt!!! I didnt know this existed. Is it new? So I bought 2 tubs, and its so nice! Its a really light flavour. I was worried itd be really heavy in taste. It didnt taste like yogurt I reckon. Definitely gonna buy that again. Im gonna freeze some of it and then blend it up. I reckon itd be a great 1p dessert done like that!

TRACKING:

Planned Exercise:
30 minutes Workout (medium intensity)
20 minutes dancing DVD (low intensity)

Incidental Exercise:
80 stairs at work
1.5 hours walking around shops

Food:
Breaky: 2 x HiBran weetbix (2.5p), 1 cup Trim milk (2p) = 4.5p
Morning Tea: 200g tub yogurt = 1p
Lunch: Garden salad (0p), 1 tbs cheese (1p), chicken (2p), 1 egg (1.5p) = 4.5p
Afternoon Tea: 10 rice snacks = 1p
Dinner: 140g steak (3p), 1 sm potato (1p), 1 sm pumpkin (1p), beans, carrot, brocolli (0p), 1/4 cup gravox gravy (1p) = 6p
Dessert: 1 cup tinned mango (1p), 2 ww biscuits (1p), 1/2 scoop lowfat icecream (0.5p) = 2.5p
Total points used = 19.5/28
Sweet points: 1.5p

Water: 2.5 litres

last post was true ... but a bit melodramatic!!!

2005-11-21T14:50:00.000+10:00

Wow last week was a hard week. I apologise for the last post, but I must admit, what I wrote in there was accurate. I normally wouldnt have written it all, just thought it. But in my sleep-deprived and emotional state I wrote it anyways. I just didnt come back to fix it because DH was in town and I dont normally post on weekends.

Im still feeling really run-down due to Bee having another bad night of sleeping last night, but I am feeling better. I managed to have a 1.5 hour nap this morning when Bee went down for her nap. I am so thankful her day sleeps are so good!!!! Pity her night sleeps are disrupted by frequent wakings lately. But they will fix themselves soon - they always do. I very much am into a "take-things-as-they-come" style of parenting, that includes on-demand feeding and sleeping. I dont try to set routines, but rather let Bee form her own routines. Up until now they have been perfect. They will settle down again soon.

Good news - I have another excuse to go shopping. This weekend is DH's work Christmas party. And cos its the first time I will be meeting his boss/colleagues I wanna make a good impression. I am alot more confident now that I have lost this weight and am really looking forward to finding a new outfit to wear. Im not on a huge spending budget but Im positive I will find something nice for about $60. At least its not formal - just smart casual. Ill take a couple of pics and post them here because itll be the first time Ill be dressed up since BEFORE Bee was born!! Gosh thats sad.

Oh, I just realised I never posted about last week's weighin!! Ok Ill do that now:

Week Fourteen Weighin - 0.8kg down. Current weight: 72.2kgs

Good facts about last week's progress: I did four lots of exercise & I ate reasonably well. Im still on track for my Christmas goal.

Areas for improvement: Water! Im starting to slacken off, and I need to keep at it.

If I keep losing at least 0.8kg each weighin before Christmas Ill be at goal weight before the end of December.

I normally do no exercise on the weekends but I did go for a short 30 min walk on Sunday morning because I missed Friday's exercise.

I wont have much time for exercise during the rest of the week, but the plan is:
Tonight: 20 min walk to shops, about 45 mins shopping, 20 min walk back
Tues: 50min Steps Video, take Bee to the pool
Wed: 30min Carmen Electra Workout
Thurs: 30 min walk in early morning before WW meeting
Fri: 30 min walk in early morning if I have time before work at 8am. No time in the arvo as I am going to Moranbah for DH's Chrissy party!

TRACKING

Incidental exercise:
160 stairs at work

Planned exercise:
To Do - 20 min walk to shops, about 45 mins shopping, 20 min walk back

Food:
Breaky: 2 x HiBran weetbix (2.5p), 1 cup Trim milk (2p) = 4.5 points
Morning Tea: WW Cheese Nibbles = 1.5p
Lunch: Ham (3p)/Pineapple/Cheese (2p)/BBQ sauce (1p) on Lavash Bread (3p?) = 9p
Afternoon Tea: 220g tin Baked Beans = 3p
Dinner: sm potato (1p), sm pumpkin (1p), carrot, beans, brocolli (0p), fish grilled in lemon juice and freshly ground pepper (3p) = 5p
Dessert: mini meringue (1/2p), canned mango in natural juice (1/2p), 100g diet yogurt (1/2p) = 1.5p
Total points used: 24.5/28
Sweet points: 1/2 point

Water: TBA

hello? anyone there?

2005-11-16T16:12:00.000+10:00

With me combining my tracking and my posting I seem to have lost some of my readers. Well, Im still getting hits, but hardly anyone leaves comments anymore. Is it too confusing having them both in the one blog? If it is please let me know and Ill go back to the other way. Its just more convenient for me to have them combined.

My stats are going ok though, so people must be visiting. Since I started WW on Aug 11 Ive had 3,833 page loads. That is between 2,815 people. So I must be interesting enough :P

Its bizarre how when you start something like this, its mainly for yourself. But then over time you get readers and you wonder if you are really doing this for yourself still? Or are you blogging for the benefit of other people?

Ive never been concerned about stats before, or the amount of comments I get. So it struck me as odd that I would worry about a lack of comments on this blog.

This makes me ask myself, am I really being myself in here? Or the person who I think you all want to see? I think in a way I do take on the persona of someone who I am really not. I guess its automatic considering we are engaging in a face-less medium.

I dont want my blog to be like that. I want to be 100% myself and return this blog into being about the real me. If I dont, then I cannot consider this a true indication of my weightloss journey. I want to read back on previous posts and think "oh so that is what I really thought about that", or "that is what I struggled with at that time" ..... not "now was this what I was really thinking? Or was I writing that because it was witty? I cant remember back that far".

I think I just needed a reminder that this journey is for ME. If I do this for anyone else - whether it is any of you guys, or my DH, or my family - it's not going to work.

I dont know if this revelation is accurate, or its just me talking out of sleep deprivation! I only had 4 hours sleep last night due to Bee having a sore tummy and not sleeping. I guess the only way I will know is if I wake up tomorrow morning and read over this thinking "what a lunatic", or if I stick to the thoughts I shared today. Time will tell.

Thanks for reading.

TRACKING

Planned exercise:
none

Incidental exercise:
none

Food:
3am snack while Bee kept me up for hours at night: mango weis bar (2p), pumpkin scone (1.5p), ww butter (1p) = 4.5p
Breaky: 2 x HiBran Weetbix (2.5p), 1 cup Trim milk (2p) = 4.5p
Morning Tea: Fruit salad = 1.5p
Lunch: 2 slices bread (3p), ww butter (1p), lowfat cheese (1p), point-free salad (0p), ww choc bar (1.5p) = 6.5p
Afternoon Tea: Went to Coffee Club - mug skinny hot choc (2.5p), 1/2 lowfat muffin (2p) = 4.5p
Dinner: Went to Thai Restaurant - 3/4 cup Fried rice (3.5p?), some beef curry dish (6p) = 9.5p
Dessert: none
Total points: 31/28
Sweet points: 6 points - oh my goodness

Water: 1.5 litres

Bad bad bad day of eating. I was tired and emotional.

TRACKING: Tuesday 15 Nov 05

2005-11-15T23:59:00.000+10:00

Planned exercise:
50 min Steps video

Incidental exercise:
none

Food:
Breaky: 2 x HiBran weetbix (2.5p), 1 cup Trim milk (2p) = 4.5 points
Morning Tea: Homemade fruit salad - 1 sm banana (1p), sliced mango (1/2p), 3 strawberries (1/2p), 1/2 cup pineapple (1/2p), 1/2 tub yogurt (1/2p) = 3 points
Lunch: lg point-free salad (0p), 95g Greenseas 98% fat free flavoured tuna (1.5p), lowfat cheese (1/2p), 1 tin ww pumpkin soup (1p), 1 slice bread (1.5p), ww butter (1/2p) = 5 points
Afternoon Tea: homemade pumpkin scone (low fat butter, skim milk) (1.5p), ww butter (1p) = 2.5 points
Dinner: Rib eye steak (6p), potato (1p), pumpkin (1p), brocolli, carrot (0p) = 8 points
Dessert: 1/2 tub yogurt (1/2p), small meringue nest (1/2p), 3 strawberries (1/2p) = 1.5 points
Total points used: 24.5/28

Weight Tracking Tool

2005-11-15T15:05:00.000+10:00

Personals First ...
Im feeling so super-motivated at the moment. I feel like I am on my way towards goal weight, its only a handful of weeks away! I cant wait until weigh-in this week. Hopefully I will have lost 800grams this week.

I was thinking today about when I may have another baby. I know that I am definitely not going to eat as much as I did when preggers with Bee. I ate too much, and the wrong stuff. Is there some sort of guidelines when pregnant and wanting to continue counting points? I assume that its the same as a full-breastfeeding mother - 32 points. Surely if this is enough points to feed both mum and baby post-partum, then its enough for pregnancy. I wonder if they even let pregnant people sign in at weight watchers meetings to keep track of their weight!

I am so determined not to do the same wrong things with next pregnancy. I want to continue with walking and eating properly. I want to be one of those hot pregnant women :P Not all huffing and puffing with a stomach the size of a house.

Im not dropping any hints though! I am not quite ready to start expanding the family yet. Plus Id have to talk DH around. Im just contemplating the future and how my new lifestyle could be affected by it. My mind got onto this topic because a friend of mine who has a 7 month old daughter has just found out she is pregnant again. Bee is 9 months old, and I couldnt imagine being pregnant already! I want to enjoy Bee at the moment, before having to share myself with other children.

Weight Tracking Tool

I was looking through my files today and I found this file called "Weight Loss Progress Chart". I have no idea how long Ive had this or where I got it from but it would have been somewhere on the net. Sorry for the lack of source and correct referencing.

I dont know why I havent filled this in before - I guess I plain forgot that it existed! Its a three-page spreadsheet in Excel where on the first sheet you put your goals, then on the second you fill in weekly your weight. Once you put in your weight it will automatically fill in the following columns: This week's Loss/Gain, Total Loss, Average Loss, Estimated Target Date, Current BMI.

How cool is that!!! So you dont have to worry about the rest of the info cos its all automatic!

Then on the third page is translates this information into a line graph for you. So you can steadily see the decrease in weight and marvel at how steep the decline is!

It estimates my Target Date as 25 Dec 05!! haha that is my goal date! how weird is that!

I also have a recipe point counter Excel spreadsheet if u want that also, just let me know.

If you would like a copy of this Weight Loss Progress Chart or Recipe Point Counter please send me an email at: karen (at) dotmackay (dot) com (dot) au <-- I put my email like that so the web-crawlers dont get it and sign me up for spam :) So make sure you change it accordingly.

TRACKING: Monday 14 Nov 05

2005-11-14T23:59:00.000+10:00

Planned Exercise:
Made up my own workout -

10 minute Steps warmup
(butt) 3 x 8 repetition Squats
(butt) 1 x 8 repetition Squat presses per leg
(legs) 2 x 8 repetition upper-leg lifts per leg
(legs) 2 x 8 repetition lower-leg lifts per leg
(butt) 2 x 8 repetition "super-mans"
(tummy) 30 1-count crunches
(tummy) 2 x 8 repetition 2-count crunches
(tummy) 2 x 8 repetition trunk twist
(arms) 8 bar curls
(arms) other random exercises with the weights but I dont know what they are called!
5 minute stretch

Incidental Exercise:
160 stairs at work

Food:
Breaky: 3 x weetbix (2.5p), 1 cup Trim milk (2p) = 4.5 points
Morning Tea: Choc banana smoothie - diet choc topping (0p), 1/2 cup Trim milk (1p), 100g Diet vanilla yogurt frozen (1/2p), sm banana (1p) = 2.5 points
Lunch: apple (1p), Multigrain roll (3p), leftover roast pork (2p), pointfree salad, ww mayo (1/2p), ww butter (1p), lowfat cheese (1p) = 8.5p
Afternoon Tea: ww salsa nibbles (1p), Diet yogurt (1p) = 2p
Dinner: 1 slice roast pork (2p), 1 small steamed potato (1p), pumpkin (2p), beans (0p), corn (1/2p), carrot (0p), brocolli (0p), 1/2 cup gravy (1p) = 7.5p
Dessert: 1.5 cups milk flavoured with diet topping (I had a craving for more dairy!) = 3p
Total points used: 28/28
Sugar points: 0

RECIPE: Smoothies!

2005-11-14T14:00:00.000+10:00

As the weather heats up people often turn to cool refreshing drinks. And (apart from water) what better drink to have than something that is packed full of fibre and nutrition, while being low in fats and processed sugars! I love smoothies. And since I just bought a new blender to puree Bee's dinners I am on a bit of a smoothie binge!

Tips for smoothies:

Use low-GI fruits such as apples, oranges, cherries, peaches, all berries, plums and pears.
Canned fruits are just as good as fresh if they are in their natural juices (not syrup)
Diet yogurt can be frozen to use instead of icecream
If no icecream/icecubes/frozen yogurt are used, use frozen fruit
To thicken smoothies you can add a weetbix (3/4 point per biscuit)
If you dont want dairy, soy can be substituted

Below is a few smoothie concoctions I have created myself or found online, but really u can smoothie basically any fruits:

Smoothies

PEACH SMOOTHIE
1 cup frozen peach slices
1/2 banana, sliced
3 tablespoons Diet vanilla yogurt
1/4 cup orange juice or apple juice
1/2 cup skim milk
optional Splenda to taste

TROPICAL SMOOTHIE
1/2 cup canned mango in natural juices
1 medium ripe papaya peeled and diced
1 kiwi fruit peeled and diced
1 banana peeled and diced
1 cup Diet vanilla yogurt

CHOC BANANA SMOOTHIE
Diet chocolate topping
1 cup Skim milk
ice cubes
1 banana, peeled and diced

COFFEE SMOOTHIE
1 cup of coffee chilled
1 tsp of sugar, honey, or chocolate syrup (to flavour to your liking)
1 banana cut into chunks
1/2 cup skim milk

Enjoy!

Problematic patterns promote poor personal growth

2005-11-14T09:49:00.000+10:00

Ive noticed that on Sunday nights I get a bit miserable because DH leaves me to go back to Moranbah to work. This generally extends into some of Monday, with me seeking out sugars and snacks. So I need a plan of action to help me avoid the sugars on Sunday nights, cos he leaves at 5pm.

I go to Church on Sunday mornings but Im finding that more and more I am placing other factors of my life before God. So Ive decided that I am going to go on Sunday nights as well. It starts at 6pm so the timing is perfect ;) Not only will my faith strengthen by participating more in the church, it also will keep me busy on Sunday nights!

I enjoy going to church, I dont know why I havent gone to a night service before. But I just generally only go in the mornings.

So two problem patterns being fixed with the one solution :)

TRACKING: Sunday 13 Nov 05

2005-11-13T23:59:00.000+10:00

Planned Exercise:
none

Incidental Exercise:
none

Food:
Breaky: 3 x weetbix (2.5p), 1 cup Trim milk (2p) = 4.5 points
Morning Tea: Homemade smoothie - 1/2 cup mango in natural juices (1p), 1 cup pineapple in natural juice (1p), 1/2 tub diet yogurt (1/2p), 1/2 cup milk (1p) = 3.5 points
Lunch (main meal): roast pork (6p), gravy (1p), 1 tiny roast potato (1.5p), 2 small roast pumpkin (4p), beans (0p), corn (1/2p) = 13 points
Afternoon Tea: ww choc bar = 1.5 points
Dinner: no dinner, too full from lunch
Supper: McCafe with mum - tall skinny hot choc (4p), low fat apple/blueberry muffin (4p) = 7.5 points
Total points: 30.5/28
Sweet points: 6.5 (holy crap!!!)

Eeek ok so I ate alot of food today ... and alot of sweet points :D My bad, Im over it already. I had a big lunch cos I cooked a roast for DH, he loves them! I didnt mind going over points though because I go under them most days.

TRACKING: Saturday 12 Nov 05

2005-11-12T23:59:00.000+10:00

Planned Exercise:
none

Incidental Exercise:
3 hours walking around shops

Food:
Breaky: 3 x weetbix (2.5p), 1 cup Trim milk (2p) = 4.5 points
Morning Tea: Smoothie - ww peaches (1/2p), 1 tub yogurt (1p), 1/2 cup Trim milk (1p) = 2.5 points
Lunch: Chicken (2p), point-free salad (0p), mayo (1p), multigrain breadroll (3p) no butter, Mango weis bar (2p) = 8p
Afternoon Tea: 4 crispbread (1.5p), cheese (1p), tomato (0p) = 2.5 points
Dinner: Yogurt crumbed chicken (6p), pointfree salad (0p), lowfat cheese (1p), tbs avocado (1p) = 8 points
Supper: Salsa nibblies = 1 point
Total points: 26.5/28
Sugar points: 2 points

Water intake: Poor, around 1.5 litres

Info for chocoholics

2005-11-11T09:54:00.000+10:00

I was browsing the WW forums and I saw a thread about chocoholics. People posted some low-point chocolates they have been eating. It made me drool so I thought I would post the info on here to give u some ideas as well. I hadnt even thought of buying some of these products before!

WW choc mouse (I have a tub of this a couple of times a week) - 1 point
Mars Bar Lite - 45gms - 3 points
Snack size Mars Lite - 12gms - 1 point
Snack size Turkish Delight - 12gms - 1 point
Caramello Koala - 15gms - 2 points
Lindor Balls - 2 points each
WW Rich Chocolate Icecream - 1.5 points for tub
WW Choc Mint Icecream - 2 points for tub
LCM Kalidoscopes - 2 points each (never heard of them!)
Nestle Mint Pattie - 20g - 1.5 points

The thread also pointed out that the Aero Chocolate Mousses are the same point value as the WW choc mousses. So if they are on special one week u can have them to save money!

If you know of a low-point chocolate fix feel free to share it :D

Week Thirteen Weighin - 1.0kg down

2005-11-10T12:47:00.000+10:00

Yay Im down another kilo - making me 73kgs exactly. Now, if I lose at least 0.6kg each week before Christmas Ill get to my WWGW :D But the Christmas Tracker above is for the minimum I wanna lose before the festive season.

So Ive hit my 10kg mark, 10.2kgs lost. Wow thats alot. That is 20 tubs of butter. TWENTY!!! Thats disgusting.

Im still waiting cautiously for Mr Plateau to show his ugly head .... he's been hiding in the shadows waiting to pounce for a few weeks now, as I get closer to goal. Exactly five kilos left till Im right in the middle of my healthy weight range. So its about now that he strikes so Ive been told. But at least Im ready and prepared and wont be an unmotivated pile of untracking, unexercising, unbehaving mess.

Im happy with my exercise plan of last week. I stuck to all of it basically - except for when I fell asleep halfway through pilates :P

This week's exercise plan:
Fri: 6am walk around block with pram
Sat/Sun: none, DH is in town
Mon: 50 min Steps video
Tues: 30 min Carmen Electra Workout video
Wed: 50 min Steps video
Thurs: none, no time on Thursdays

RECIPE: Chicken and Almond Stir-fry

2005-11-10T06:09:00.000+10:00

Review: Oh my goodness this was delish!!!! I have never tasted a stirfry that had this type of flavour - I think it was the Thai basil leaves.

Source: Simply Mains WW Cookbook, page 26

Stats: Serves 2
Points per serve: 6 points

Ingrediants:
250g chicken breast, cut into strips
1 fresh birds eye chilli, deseeded, finely sliced
2 garlic cloves, crushed (I just used minced garlic)
cooking oil spray
150g green beans, trimmed, diagonally cut in half
1 tbs fish sauce
1 tbs soy sauce
1 tbs whole blanched almonds, toasted
1/4 cup fresh Thai basil leaves, torn (They sell this at Woolies in veg section)
1.5 cups cooked white rice, to serve

Method:

Heat wok over medium-high heat
spray with cooking oil spray
cook chicken, chilli and garlic until brown
transfer to bowl
add beans to wok and stirfry unti lbright green and tender crisp
add chicken and sauces. stirfy for 1 min or until hot
spoon rice amoung serving bowls, top with chicken stirfry. scatter over almonds and basil. serve

Ive never cooked with fish sauce before and it stinks really bad. but once its in the dish it tasted/smelt nothing like it had originally smelt. thank god. cos i was a bit dubious after smelling it. definitely try this one if u are a stirfry fan!!!

TRACKING: Wednesday 10 Nov 05

2005-11-10T05:52:00.000+10:00

Planned Exercise:
20 mins pilates (but really didnt put much effort in)

Incidental Exercise:
160 stairs at work

Food:
Breaky: 3 weetbix (2.5p), 1 cup Trim milk (2p) = 4.5 points
Morning Tea: 1/3 tin ww fruit (1/2p), 1/2 tub yogurt (1/2p), 1 tablespoon Crunchola cereal (1/2p) = 1.5p
Lunch: Lg breadroll, no butter (3p), 1 tin ww pumpkin soup (1p) = 4 points
Afternoon Tea: 4 crispbread (1.5p), tomato (0p), 2 tablespoons ww cottage cheese (1/2p) = 2 points
Dinner: WW Simply Mains Cookbook dinner - Chicken and almond stirfry (8 points cos I had a slightly larger serving then in the book)
Dessert: Weis Bar (2p)

Total points: 22 points
Sweet points: 2 points

Water: 2.5 litres

First time doing pilates ... didnt go so well!

2005-11-09T12:38:00.000+10:00

Note to self - Dont do pilates if u are really really tired!!!!!

This morning I did a pilates video that I rented yesterday. I was thinking that I was really tired, but wanted to exercise first, then sleep. Anyways, with all the relaxing music and talking, after about 20 mins they said to do a few deep breaths (I was laying on floor cos just did floor exercises). The next thing I know, 30 mins has passed and the DVD is finished.

I didnt even know I had fallen asleep!!!

So I dont think that this pilates was giving me any exercise benefits if I was so relaxed I fell asleep! I must say though, I was doing a pretty half-assed job because I was so tired.

When reading the latest WW magazine I saw how the people who had won the awards had done comparisons of when they were fat, and now. So I thought I was do up my own :)

I used to be the person who:
- Overate - If it was yummy I couldnt say no to seconds, even if I was already full.
- Ate when bored
- Confused hunger with thirst. When I thought I was hungry I would eat, when I was actually only thirsty and a drink of water would have been suffice.
- Was embarrased to wear tight shirts when I sat because the material would be sucked in between my fat rolls and be really obvious.
- Was still wearing some maternity clothes ... when my daughter was over 9 months old.
- Would get puffed very easily and would avoid running.
- Hated raising my arms to 90 degrees as it made my "tuckshop lady arms" really obvious.
- Looked terrible in photos because of my size. I thought my cheeks looked bigger in photos so I wouldnt smile properly. Looking back now I shouldnt have even bothered - they looked big either way!
- Would keep Bee indoors when I was at home as I had no energy to take her on walks at the park or to the pool.
- Would sit through movies and eat popcorn, maltesers, full-sugar softdrinks and lollies.
- Wouldnt buy new clothes because I knew I would look fat in them. So didnt bother.
- Let my fat-feelings about myself affect intimacy between my husband and I. I was convinced he thought I was fat and would think about this when he was trying to be intimate.

I am now the person who:
- Puts about 2/3 the amount of food on my plate, and doesnt go back for seconds. I know that this is all the food I need.
- When bored I go for walks or take Bee for a swim, instead of eating.
- When hungry I drink a glass of water first.
- Happily goes shopping for new clothes. But while I dont buy much, its not out of embarrasment, its out of the knowledge that my body will shrink before I get proper wear out of the garment. So I am waiting a few more weeks.
- Put my maternity clothes in storage for the next baby. But even then they wont fit because I wont gain 20 kilo during the next pregnancy!
- Happily pose in photos - this is the best Ive looked in ages and I want proof!!!
- Take Bee outdoors as much as possible, to teach her the importance of being fit and active
- While watching movies I munch on cereal, rice crackers or ww snacks
- Is keen for a romp in the sack because I know I look great - plus I have more energy ;)
- Is taking positive steps towards making my future better, plus the future of my husband and daughter ... and any future kids.

TRACKING: Tues 8th Nov 05

2005-11-08T23:59:00.000+10:00

Planned Exercise:
Carmen Elektra workout DVD 2

Incidental Exercise:
15 mins shovelling dirt in garden
2 hours Spring Cleaning
80 stairs at work

Food:
Breaky: Crunchola (3p), 1/2 cup Trim milk (1p) = 4p
Morning Tea: 1/2 tub yogurt (1/2p), ww fruit (1/2p), mini pavlova meringue base (1/2p) = 1.5p
Lunch: Large point-free garden salad (0p), 1 egg (1.5p), handful chopped cold chicken (3p), 1 tbs cheese (2p) = 6.5p
Afternoon Tea: tub yogurt (1p), ww salsa nibbles (1p) = 2p
Early Dinner (5pm): sm homemade lasagne (6p), point-free salad (0p), lowfat cheese (1p) = 9p
Supper (8pm): 2 slices fruit bread (4p), 2 teas ww butter (1p) = 5p
Total points used: 28/28

Water Intake: 2 litres

TRACKING: Monday 7 Nov 05

2005-11-07T23:59:00.000+10:00

Incidental Exercise:
160 stairs at work
1.5 hours of high-energy housework (moving furniture/lifting boxes/etc)

Planned Exercise:
50 mins Steps video

Food:
Breaky: Crunchola (3p), 1/2 cup Trim milk (1p) = 4p
Morning Tea: Diet yogurt (1p), 1 slice raisin toast (2p), 1 teas ww butter (1/2p) = 3.5p
Lunch: ww frozen dinner = 5p
Afternoon Tea: Apple (1p)
Dinner: 4 slices thin&crispy vegetable pizza (12p)
No dessert cos I ate like a pig at dinner.
Total points: 25/28

Water: very good - 4 litres!!! wow

Notes: I dont like what I had today to eat. I didnt have enough fresh fruit/veges/salad. but i had so many points leftover at dinnertime and i dont get to eat pizza often so I thought I would eat it. And I regretted it straight away. I would have rather gone way under points and had a sensible dinner. I felt gross afterwards and even contemplated spewing it back up so I wouldnt get a bellyache. But immediately kicked myself for even thinking that way. So instead I drank a litre of water to try to dilute the pizza in my stomache. Felt better after drinking water.

Tomorrow Im going to eat extra fresh food to try to get some nutrition into my body.

Just a chat

2005-11-07T15:26:00.000+10:00

Im a bit bored so thought I would post again for a bit of a chat. I bought the WW magazine this bi-month and its a really good edition! There is lots in there to read. I loved reading the slimmer of the year articles. Its amazing to see the before/after shots. All the women looked so much younger after having lost the weight. And one lady lost about 60kgs if my memory is right. Amazing.

The struggles that they must have gone through in ditching their old lifestyles and taking up the new ones. It reminded me of this show I watched last week on TV at about 10pm at night (cant remember the name of it) and it was about morbidly obese people. They had 2 main people on the show - a man who weighed over 1000 pound at his heaviest, and a chick that weighed over 1200 pound!!! That just amazes me. Both of them have currently lost half their body weight.

But BOTH of them said it was in their genes. But that got me thinking. If it is in their genes to be fat - then why have they managed to lose the weight? They need to at least take partial blame for their bodies getting the way they are. Obviously they had to be consuming WAY too much food, and not exercising enough. The guy on the show had been married for something like 4 years and still hadnt consummated the marriage! Poor wife!! :)

With the WW magazine I also got a 2006 calendar. So you get good value for money with this edition. There is some yummo dessert recipes on the calendar that I HAVE to try - like Tiramisu. mmmmm.

I went shopping on Saturday and bought a new denim skirt - SIZE TWELVE!!!! So that is now 2 dress sizes lost on the bottom, and 1 on the top (Im now 12 for both, instead of 14 on top, 16 on bottom). I didnt even squeeze into the skirt, it was a perfect fit. But Ive got a few size 12 skirts at home from before I got fat and they only just fit. So im still not a perfect size 12. It made me happy to see the difference in size when I tried on the skirt. Its a fashionable stretch demin one.

Exercise-wise today has been great - and I feel fantastic for it!! If you read my weekly plan on Thurs I had planned on doing 50 min steps video today, with extra arm exercises. Well, Ive done the 50mins steps, but instead of doing some extra arm exercises I did 1.5 hours of Spring Cleaning. I love Spring Cleaning because everything gets changed/updated. I worked on the rumpus room today and moved around all the furniture into a new layout, got rid of alot of stuff we dont use anymore. Got such a good workout - especially my arms. And the room looks fantastic. DH said it didnt need to be done but I told him that he wasnt here to stop me :P So he will get a surprise when he comes home to find I got rid of some of his stuff he doesnt use anymore. He is such a horder!!! But I did warn him that stuff was going - he was fine with it.

Tomorrow Im going to do my steps video again and continue with the cleaning instead of going for a swim. I plan on finishing off the rumpus room and start cleaning out our storage cupboards - again alot of arm exercises. I still have tuckshop lady arms!! If anyone has any suggestions for exercises to do that target this and work really well please let me know.

Dinner at the Tavern

2005-11-07T08:24:00.000+10:00

Ive discovered that at the Andergrove Tavern it is only $5 for a kids size buffet - and I live directly behind it!!! Because of the smaller plate size I eat a small portion of food. Its the perfect size for trying to eat the correct portions. The plate is slightly larger than the bowls that the WW meals frozen meals come in - to give u a visual. Fantastic!

And for $5 that is a bargain! So with me being home by myself 5 nights a week I think I will go there once a week. I love cooking at home so I wont go more than that. But itll give me a night off without me having to cook up a ww frozen meal. They arent that fantastic.

I feel like a slug because I didnt do much exercise over the weekend. But I knew this was going to happen with DH only being home on weekends. But I have put it in my exercise plan so I have planned for it each week. I need to plan when things may prevent me from eating right or exercising because otherwise Ill get off track.

"Those who fail to plan, plan to fail"

Have a great week!

TRACKING: Sunday 6 Nov 05

2005-11-06T23:59:00.000+10:00

Planned Exercise:
none

Incidental Exercise:
Walked to dinner at the Tavern and back - 15 mins

Food:
Breaky: Crunchola (3p), 1 cup Trim milk (2p) = 5p
Morning Tea: Salsa Nibblies = 1p
Lunch: Tuna (2p), point-free salad (0p), multigrain roll (3p), ww mayo (1/2p) = 5.5p
Afternoon Tea: 1/2 tub yogurt (1/2p), ww fruit (1/2p), 1 tbs crunchola (1/2p) = 1.5p
Dinner: Kids size meal at Tavern - 1 small slice of roast lamb (1p), 1/2 cup rice (2p), 1 small scoop of teriyaki beef (3p?), 1 small potato (1p), 1 small pumpkin (1p), gravy (1/2p), point-free salad (0p) = 8.5p .... im not positive about the teriyaki beef, so I guessed 1 point for sauce and 2 points for the beef.
Dessert: 1/2 tub yogurt (1/2p), ww fruit (1/2p), mini pavlova meringe (1/2p) = 1.5p
Total points: 22.5/28
Sugar points: 1/2

Water Intake: Not as good. 1.5 litres. Grrrrr disappointing.

TRACKING: Saturday 5th Nov

2005-11-05T18:40:00.000+10:00

Exercise:
None

Food:
Breaky: 3 x weetbix (2.5p), 1 cup Trim milk (2p) = 4.5p
Morning Tea: 1/2 tub yogurt (1/2p), ww fruit (1/2p), mini pav meringue (1/2p) = 1.5p
Lunch: 1 1/2 pieces homemade chicken pie = 12p
Afternoon Tea: light drumstick (3p), 1 crispbread with ww cottage cheese (1p) = 4p
Dinner: grilled fish (3p), burger bun (3p), point-free salad (0p) = 6p
Dessert: yogurt (1/2p), banana (1p), 1 tbs crunchola cereal (1/2p) = 2p
Total points: 30/28

I had a bad day of eating today, but I have gone under most days lately so it doesnt matter. But I have to watch my sweet points cos today I had 3.5.

TRACKING: Friday 4 Nov

2005-11-04T23:59:00.000+10:00

Planned exercise:
30 min walk with Bee in pram

Incidental exercise:
Wash the Turbo
80 stairs at work

Food:
Breakky: 3 x weetbix (2.5p), 1 cup trim milk (2p) = 4.5p
Morning Tea: 1/2 tub yogurt (1/2p), ww fruit (1/2p), mini pav shell (1/2p) = 1.5p
Picked at food I was cooking (norty me): beef strogonoff = 2p
Lunch: 1/2 ww meal chicken tikka masala (2.5p), pointfree salad (0p), low fat cheese (1p), sm apple (1p) = 4.5p
Afternoon Tea: plain crispbread (1.5p), cup tea with milk (1/2p) = 2p
Dinner:
Dessert:
Total points:

Water intake:

TRACKING: Thursday 03/11/05

2005-11-03T23:59:00.000+10:00

Planned Exercise:
None

Incidental Exercise:
160 stairs at work

Food:
Breakfast: 2 sm slices toast (2p), ww butter (1p), tomato (0p) = 3p
Morning Tea: WW salsa nibblies (1p) = 1p
Lunch: Greek spinach pie (2.5p), pointfree salad (0p), cheese (1p) = 3.5p
Afternoon Tea: 2 slices raisin toast (4p), ww butter (1p) = 5p
Dinner: mussaman beef (8p), 3/4 cup rice (2.5p) = 10.5p
Dessert: ww choc mousse (1p) = 1p
Total points: 24/28

Water Intake: about 2 litres

Week Twelve Weighin - 0.7kgs down

2005-11-03T12:43:00.000+10:00

Well I was close! I had guessed that I had lost 0.9kgs this fortnight ... and I lost 0.7kg (Ill fix yesterdays post). I had guessed that I would have a low weightloss this fortnight as I was so norty when on holidays. But a loss on holidays is MUCH better than a gain on holidays.

Also, Im thinking that Im not going to bother with fortnightly weighins. Next week Im going to buy myself another 6 weeks of prepaid meetings and just keep going weekly. Ive decided I dont want to risk losing motivation - not when Im so close to goal.

So I am exactly 74kgs - another 6 exactly to get to my WWGW. 3kgs to get to my PGW - I may get that this month!

Exercise plan for this week:
Fri - 30 min Carmen Electra Workout DVD + wash the Turbo
Sat - Nothing. DH is home.
Sun - Nothing. DH is home.
Mon - 50 min Steps Video + extra arm exercises with weights
Tues - 50 min Steps Video + swim at pool
Wed - 30 min Carmen Electra Workout DVD + 30 min walk with Bee in pram
Thurs - I might do OzAerobics for a change? If not, the Steps video.

I do most of my exercise when Bee is sleeping now, so these videos/DVDs are working out great for me!

Im also going to start putting my food & exercise tracking in here. Cos I have lapsed in BOTH of these in the last 2 weeks and I need to get back into tracking.

Cmon Karen - get your butt into gear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TRACKING: Wednesday 02/11/05

2005-11-02T23:59:00.000+10:00

Planned Exercise:
Carmen Electra DVD2 - 30 min workout

Incidental Exercise:
160 stairs at work

Food:
Breaky - 3 x weetbix (2.5p), 1 cup Trim milk (2p) = 4.5p
Morning Tea - sm tub yogurt (0.5p), 1/2 banana (0.5p) = 1p
Lunch - curried prawns (2.5p), 3/4 cup rice (2.5) = 5p
Afternoon Tea - 4 crispbread (1.5p), cheese (2p), tomato (0p) = 3.5p
Dinner - 2 x Greek spinach pie slice (5p), point-free salad (0p), cheese (2p) = 7p
Dessert - 2 sm scoops lowfat icecream (2p), diet topping (0p) = 2p
Total: 23/28 points (2 sweet points)

Satisfactory water intake, but would have liked more. I had just over 2 litres.

October Wrap - November Plan

2005-11-02T15:38:00.000+10:00

October in review

Beginning weight: 77.8kgs
Ending weight: 74kgs (confirm tomorrow morning)
Total weightloss: 3.8kgs

Goal Status: On track - I want to be a 60s girl by Christmas!!!

Starting BMI: 26 exactly
Ending BMI: 24.7 (confirm tomorrow morning)

Commendable aspect of October weightloss: I reached my pre-baby weight - and have passed it, I lost 10% of my body weight, I lost half my goal weight to lose, I bought some new clothes and look fantastic in them, I dropped my BMI by 1.3, my father-in-law has started calling me "slim" as my nickname (gotta love him!), I lost the most amount of weight in one month since I started. I wanted to be 75-ish by the end of October, so I made it way past that :)

The areas I said I would work on at the end of October were taking up swimming or riding (I started swimming), increase my water intake to a solid 3 litres at least (NOT DONE!), eat more nutritious points, instead of "empty" points (done, apart from holidays). So that is pretty good, two out of three. So I want to get back on top of the water issue - although that mainly has been lapse when I was on holidays. I was fine before then.

November Plan

Goal Affirmation: I would love to be a 60s girl by Christmas - preferably at my goal weight of 68. So to do this I would love to lose around 3 - 4 kilos this month. I have exactly 5 weighins (4 full weeks) this month to work on. I know this is alot to ask with me being so close to goal, so its just an ideal.

Areas to work on in November: Re-increase my water intake again to a solid 3 litres at least. I was going fine in October until I went on holidays, now I need to remotivate myself in water intake, food and also exercise. Maybe I will try something new in exercise as I am not getting to the pool as often as I would like. So my goals for November is to get everything back on track!

Recipe: Greek Spinach Pie - very low point!

2005-11-02T10:39:00.000+10:00

Tonight my sister is coming over for dinner to keep me company so Im cooking up a Greek Spinach Pie.

Stats:
Serves 6 – 2 ½ points each (havent had a chance to double check this point guide yet)

Ingrediants:
1 large bunch spinach
1 tbsp olive oil
2 onions chopped
½ bunch shallots chopped
2 tsp garlic
2 beaten eggs
150g reduced fat feta
150g cottage cheese
Pinch nutmeg
¼ teaspoon pepper
10 sheet filo pastry

Method:
1. Preheat oven 180
2. Wash and chop spinach
3. Heat olive oil and cook onions till soft
4. Add garlic, spinach and shallots, cook until wilted (1 -2 minutes)
5. In separate bowl add eggs, cottage cheese and feta, nutmeg and pepper
6. Combine the two
7. Put half of filo layered on bottom of pie dish, spraying with olive oil in between
8. Add spinach mix and top with remaining filo
9. Cook 40 minutes

Im going to serve it with a garden salad.

************************

Update: This is BEAUTIFUL!!! I loved it. definitely going to cook it again. But I found myself having 2 pieces :P but it fit into my points so its all good :D Plus, before I put it in the oven I sprinkled a tablespoon of sesame seeds over the top and it turned out great. Sis loved it too. She had 2 pieces then took a piece home for lunch tomorrow!

Recipe: sweet chilli ham and potato pizza

2005-11-01T08:40:00.000+10:00

Last night I cooked this and it was pretty tasty - and quick! Its from the WW book: Simply Mains.

Stats:
serves 1
5.5 points

Ingrediants:
1 large lebanese bread
1 1/2 tbs tomato paste
1 small potato, peeled and thinly sliced
1/2 small red onion
2 slices ww ham, thinly sliced
1 tbs grated low fat cheese
1 tbs ww sour cream
2 teas sweet chilli sauce
1 tbs fresh coriander leaves

Method:

Preheat oven to 200 degrees
Spread sauce on base
Layer potato, onion and ham.
Sprinkle with cheese.
Cook for about 10 mins or until base is crispy and cheese is melted
Cut into wedges and dollop with sour cream, drizzle with sweet chilli sauce and sprinkle with coriander.

Ways to bulk up the serving but without adding points: Add extra point-free veges on the pizza such as capsicum, mushies and tomato.

Ways to reduce points: It doesnt really need the sour cream. I didnt use it and it stil tasted great.

Prawns in a Mango Curry sauce

Tonight Im cooking Prawns in a Mango Curry sauce. There is no recipe for this. I just bought some 97% fat free Indian Tonight Mango Curry simmer sauce (1.5 points per serve), I shelled some prawns this morning (100g is 1 point). Im going to serve it with 3/4 cup cooked rice (2.5 points) and some steamed beans and carrots (0 points). So all up its a 5 point dinner. Depending on how hungry I am tonight I may also chop a potato up into 1cm cubes and add that to the sauce as well. Sounds yummo!!!

eeeeek ... holidays + no blogging = bad me!

2005-10-31T15:59:00.000+10:00

Wow I havent posted in ages! I thought with me having last week off work I would have MORE time to blog and read other people's blogs. But alas this just wasnt the case. I had DH home with me for most of the week so we did the whole "family" thing and went out to lunches/swimming/shopping/cinemas/etc with Bee.

It was great having him home so much to spend time with!! We went to Moranbah together for the weekend but I had to come home without him because he starts his new job out there today :( I miss him already!! He is gone from Sunday night - Friday night every week until Christmas. Then I am moving out there with him. Im going to miss him soooo much!!!!!!!

Moranbah seems really nice! I went to afternoon tea with Shawnnita and she is fantastic!!! (hi shawnnita!).

Im looking forward to moving out there because its a really nice quiet little country town - plus then I wont be working. yay!

But on the downside of last week - I was a norty girl. I didnt do too badly but I enjoyed my holidays a bit too much on a few of the days. The bad bits were: wine & cheese baby shower (eek too much cheese), a full-fat drumstick on the same day that I already had 2 bits of slice, a choc-top when I went to the movies, I WAY over-ate when we went out for dinner on Saturday night, and I wasnt drinking enough water nearly the whole time! Im used to drinking 1.5 - 2 litres each afternoon at work. And cos I wasnt working I wasnt drinking the water.

So Im in "Damage Control" mode until weighin on Thursday. Its so hard to stop eating sweets now that Ive had them last week. All day Ive been craving a big bit of the passionfruit slice I KNOW is at my mums house. eeeeeek stay away from it Karen! be strong!!!

I was good with my exercise though - I kept up with the Steps video, and we went swimming together, plus we walked heaps at Moranbah with the Pram to see around the place. And I did a tonne of housework during the week.

Ive started my fortnightly weighins so didnt weighin at WW. Im going to do an informal weighin at home on the bi-week - but I wont be reporting it here as it wont be as accurate.

Im trying a new recipe tonight from "Simply Mains". Ill post back tonight and tell yas how it went, plus ill put in the recipe.

It feels great to be blogging again. It really truely helps me stay on track.

Catch yas lataz :)

Things I couldnt live without ... support and goals!

2005-10-21T10:14:00.000+10:00

Firstly I just wanted to say that I appreciate the immense support that I get from you guys!!! I feel much more comfortable and gain so much more feedback from this online community of bloggers than I do in my local ww meetings! The advice and ideas I gain from your blogs and your comments has not only helped me understand this ww plan more, but has motivated me to no end. So a huge big gigantic THANKYOU to yas :) I dont think I would have made it this far without yas.

I originally joined WW with a friend - she still goes to meetings but she doesnt track or do exercise. In the 10 weeks of doing WW with me she has lost half a kilo. I dont know why she keeps coming. She loses 100 grams, then gains 500 grams, then loses 600 grams, then gains a kilo. I think its all to do with bloating and all that. If she was honestly doing the plan and having those results than I would understand - but she isnt even trying! So I have gained no motivation/ideas/advice out of her. My leader is nice but is always busy talking to everyone else so I dont really chat to her about my weightloss. And so really the only people that will listen while I go on and on and on about points is u guys!!! So thanks for your support :)

Secondly, me hitting my 10% has super motivated me to get the rest of this excess baggage off my lardy bum! Me getting to my pre-baby weight was a major thing I have wanted to do since I was pregnant - and now Ive done it!

So that was really phase 1 of my weightloss ... now I am entering phase 2!

Goals for Phase 2

Last Christmas I was a massive pregnant lady. Due to me putting on 22 kilo during the pregnancy I went to the HUGE family christmas lunch weighing something around 98 kilo. The Christmas before that I was doing the Atkins Diet so was around 70 kilo. So for those who hadnt seen me for a year must have really been thinking some thoughts about my weight.

This Christmas I really want them to think about my weight again - but this time in a positive way!!!!

Most of DH's family I havent seen since Christmas and I really want to be as close to my goal by then as possible. So Phase 2 consists of me losing 5 kilo before Christmas morning - 9 weeks and 2 days away.

Im going to put a second ticker in my top banner to help keep me accountable.

I know I can do this - I just gotta work my butt off. I did last week and look at the results - I lost 1.4 kilo!!! So if I cant do it I know that its because Ive been slack.

Its only 10am, so I reckon Ill be back later for another post. But until then, have a great Friday :)

Week Ten Weighin - 1.4kgs down

2005-10-20T15:57:00.000+10:00

Yay all the hard work payed off! I am down 1.4kgs this week meaning four things:

1. I am now my pre-baby weight!!!!!!!
2. I have lost 10% of my body weight!!!!!!
3. I am in my healthy weight range!!!!!!!
4. I am in the second half of my weightloss!! 8.5 down, 6.1 to go!!!!!

So excited. But in my excitement I did a boo-boo with my eating today. To celebrate I ate not 1, but 2 WW chocolate bar thingys. But its not that bad cos they are 1.5 points each - so only 3 points. Not catastrophic - I just dont feel very well cos they were really sweet. I froze them and they are delicious frozen! They go really crunchy. I do suggest you try them frozen if u buy them.

My weightloss this week I credit to the Steps video my mother in law gave me, the amount of water I drink, and also the trips to the pool. I am going to keep these three up this week and see if I can have another loss of a kilo or more.

Im positive that my weightloss has to slow down at some stage. I cant keep losing weight at this fantastic speed. But I may as well ride the wave while its happening!

This was my first big goal to reach. It really meant alot to me to get to under 75kgs. But the reward I initially chose out, a bike and bikeseat for Bee, I dont want anymore. Its way too hot to ride a bike everywhere. So I am going to change my reward, but I dont know to what!

Maybe a season entry to the pool? I have no idea how much they are. I can see myself going to the pool all the time this summer until I move to Moranbah. But thats not till January so maybe they have some monthly pass? I dont want anymore clothes, not yet anyways.

I did buy myself my first WW cook book today! As you may have guessed I love trying out new recipes. But I mainly just find recipes off the net, or I change around recipes I have been cooking for years. I heard that "Simply Mains" is a great WW cookbook so I bought it.

So over the next few weeks I will be trying out heaps of recipes from this book. If they are good I will of course share them with you so you dont have to buy the book :P

In 8 weeks I am going to Brisbane for a holiday so Im hoping I will at least be at my personal goal weight by then - 71kgs. That is 4 kilo in 8 weeks. I havent seen my brother since before I joined WW so I would love to go down there and surprise him! I miss him and my nephew so much! The last time I saw my nephew he was only 3 weeks old. He is now 3 months.

So my goals/plan for this week - feel free to check my exercise logs to keep me accountable:
Exercise - Fri (1 hr steps), Saturday (gardening + swim), Sunday (rest), Monday (30 min steps + swim), Tuesday (1 hr steps + swim), Wednesday (steps), Thursday (rest).
Food - Dont go over points anyday (I never do anyways)
Water - Keep drinking at least 3 litres a day (this is a habit now so isnt too hard)

Sorry I havent had much time to check people's blogs lately!! I have all next week off work so will get lots of chances to catch up with you all then.

Sending huge fat-burning vibes out to yas all!!! Byes!

PEERtrainer

2005-10-20T07:09:00.000+10:00

An anonymous poster gave me this link: http://www.peertrainer.com

It sounds pretty interesting! Apparently u sign up for free and then you can create a group of people who can all be accountable to each other. But u can only have 4 people per group. Its a shame ya cant have more than that cos then we could have a Bloggers group! Ill create a group, and if u wanna join to see what its like u are welcome to! Just post below and I will invite you. If we have more than 3 ppl comment then someone else can start a group and we can have a few groups going.

My group is called "WW Bloggers". If we have more than one group going I think I can change the name to maybe WW Bloggers Team 1 or something.

Info about PEERtrainer:

Know what to eat and how to workout but not following through?

PEERtrainer is a peer-based weight loss and fitness program. It's not a diet. PEERtrainer is a community of PEERs who put their collective knowledge of diet and fitness regimens into action.

Why it works:
Just 15 minutes of cardio a day and eating fewer calories will help you lose weight, but only if you do it. At PEERtrainer, you join or form a group of PEERs who answer to each other. PEERtrainer works because:
- groups have 4 members to keep you accountable
- it keeps you on track when laziness takes over.
- you set your goals to whatever works for you.

PEERtrainer is free. We offer:
- a daily log to record meals, workouts and goals
- a small customized group with focused interaction to help you stay motivated
- a calorie counter, lounge, diet and nutrition tips and more!

Chicken Paprika

2005-10-19T08:22:00.000+10:00

Ingrediants:

cooking spray (0 points)
1.5 kilo chicken breasts, cut in half fatness-wise - so that its made into 2 skinny pieces (30 points)
1 medium onion, sliced (0 points)
1 carrot, sliced (0 points)
1/2 cup sliced celery (0 points)
2 tbs paprika (0 points)
3 tbs plain flour (3 points)
1 tbs tomato sauce (1/2 point)
1 1/2 teas salt (0 points)
1/4 teas pepper (0 points)
1 can chicken soup, about 1 3/4 cup, undiluted (6 points - may vary with brand)
1/2 cup low fat sour cream (3 points - may vary with brand)

Method:

Coat frying pan with cooking spray.
Brown chicken until golden on all sides.
Set chicken aside.
Re-coat the frying pan with cooking spray.
Saute carrot, onion and celery for about 5 mins.
Add 1/2 cup soup, mix till reaches boiling point.
Stir in paprika, cook 1 minute.
Remove from heat.
Stir in flour, ketchup, salt and pepper. (At this point itll be looking pretty foul!)
Gradually stir in the rest of the chicken soup.
Cook over medium heat until sauce reaches the boiling point.
Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.
Add browned chicken. Simmer, covered, for 35 - 45 minutes, until chicken is tender.
Remove chicken to a warm platter.
Stir sour cream into the sauce. Heat through - do not boil!
Pour some sauce over the chicken pieces and serve the remaining sauce with the meal.

Stats:
Serves: 6
Total WW points: 42.5 (7 points per serve)

Serve with: Anything really. I served mine with 3/4 cup cooked rice and some point-free veges as I found there wasnt enough veges in the dish. This meant I ate less chicken too, so consumed less points.

Review: It was nice, but time consuming. If you have the time to make something like this give it a try. Its yummy :) I just dont have much time cos I finish work at 5pm, then have to bath/feed my DH and my 9mo baby.

2005-10-18T15:59:00.000+10:00

Last night I cooked a new recipe - Chicken Paprika - It was nice, but I dont think Ill cook it again. It was alot of hassle and the other meals I have tried have been just as nice but didnt take as long to cook. But if you have the time you may as well give it a try!

Ill post the recipe up tomorrow cos I cant be bothered typing it up now :D

This morning we called off swimming cos it was overcast and windy and I didnt want Bee out in that weather. Instead I did a 30 minute Steps exercise video from home while she slept. Then we hit the shops for 2 hours for a bit of retail therapy. So I got a fair bit of movement today.

During my retail therapy I bought my first set of scales! They are digital and were on special for $40 from BigW. So a bit of a bargain. I hadnt realized how expensive scales were!

I also bought a couple of new tops. My first new clothes since I started WW. It feels good to have clothes that fit! I got them from Just Jeans which is my ultimate favourite clothes store. I love them because they have larger sizes (they go up to XXL), they have a great 2 for $35 special on all the time, and they have great looking clothes! Today I got 2 tops and a singlet from there.

Todays food
Todays exercise
TIAGF: Just Jeans 2 for $35 specials. They always have such great clothes!

Like a duck to water .... not quite!

2005-10-17T15:10:00.000+10:00

On the right you may have seen links to my exercise and food logs. I generally am pretty good with tracking my food there - however I have been a bit slack with recording my exercise! Sometimes I can go for nearly a week and not log anything.

So Im going to try to be extra diligent with recording this information. It should help me keep moving! Because it makes me accountable to all you readers. So from now on at the end of each daily post I will include a link to that day's food and exercise, and a TIAGF.

I have recently found out that TIAGF stands for - "Things I Am Grateful For". So if I start slacking off whack me with an e-stick and tell me to get my butt into gear :P

My first lap-swimming - although I use the term "swimming" very loosely!

Today I swam my first laps - I did a grand total of TWO! I was a bit nervous about getting into the big pool. Its a big step from the wading pool with Bee to the "big person" pool. I saw all the others swimming their laps - and to me they looked to be naturals. Almost as if I was attempting to swim alongside Ian Thorpe himself. Needless to say - I was feeling "full sick" ... but not in a good way! (I hate those TV commercials!)

Anyways, I decided to start off in the shallow end so in I jumped and got started on my laps. I started off with Freestyle because that is the one I could remember the most. But somehow it didnt feel the same as it did when I was 13 years old. I felt like I was sinking. So after trying really hard to look coordinated (unsuccessfully) I stopped swimming and looked up to see how far I had went. I was already exhausted and was sure Id be close to the end of the pool. But I was only about halfway!!! If I was going any slower I woulda been swimming backwards. People must have thought I looked like a fool.

I was kicking my legs so hard just to get that little bit of distance. So Ive decided that tomorrow I will buy some flippers so I can make more controlled kicks with my legs.

So I decided not to swim anymore freestyle because I musta looked dangerously close to drowning - so I tried a warped style of backstroke. I was on my back kicking, but I didnt use my arms properly. I used them in a bit of a propella style under the water. I didnt want to leave them straight because I wanted them to get a workout also.

By the time I hit the other end of the pool my heart was beating fast - so at least I knew I was getting a good workout. So I just turned around and went back.

So I did a total of 2 laps. No idea exactly how long it took. But I felt really good afterwards - even though I looked like a fool. Im determined to keep going because its way too hot to walk. Itll get easier as I go.

Today's exercise
Today's food
TIAGF: Swimming pools in hot weather!!

Shawnita's Blog

2005-10-15T20:14:00.000+10:00

One of the great advantages of starting up this blog is that I have been lucky enough to meet some wonderful people. A girl I recently met online has decided to start up with weight watchers and Im positive she will have a very successful weightloss journey!!!

Shawnita has set up a blog at http://shawnnitas.blogspot.com/ so if you have the time please head on over and have a chat. She is a fantastic lady!

Current trend

2005-10-15T10:15:00.000+10:00

Ive noticed around the Blog World that a current trend is to finish a number of certain sentences. It looks like a great activity so Im going to follow suit:

Complete the following phrases: (Here are my answers)

I am eager to … better my life in 4 main areas: family relations, my health/fitness, my spiritual growth and the way I contribute to the lives of others.

I doubt myself when … I let the opinions of other influence the way I think. It stops me from re-evaluating myself in a self-honest way.

I feel powerful when … I end the day knowing I have had a good day of eating/exercising (cos it proves I am in control of my health), Bee is happy and sleeping peacefully (cos it proves I am a good provider for her), and when my DH comes home from work to find the house tidy and dinner cooked (cos it gives me a great feeling to know I am managing the household for him). What can I say, Im an old fashioned gal!

I'm proud of myself because … I have taken the first steps with improving my health.

My 10 favourite things are … DH, Bee, my parents, my 1 brother and 2 sisters, crispbread with tomato and cheese (im obsessed), waking up on a saturday morning knowing I have my DH home with me all day, socialising with friends, trying out new recipes, scrapbooking ... and scrapbooking some more!

I am most grateful for … the immense love I get from my family and friends. I am blessed to have such caring and loving people in my life.

I can simplify my life by living without … housework. I wouldnt mind someone coming to my house while I work and doing the housework :P

I feel my mission in life is to … give Bee an upbringing that promotes a healthy self-esteem, explores thoughts values and theories in a boundry-less environment, nurtures her spiritual development, and creates a happy homelife.

In my wildest dreams, I … never thought I could love 2 people as much as I do - DH and Bee.

I believe in myself because … I am a child of God and I can do all things through Him who strengthens me! If someone as wonderful and powerful as God can take a keen interest in me, then I know I am worthy of my own self-worth. I know that He will never put anything in my life that I cannot handle.

Enjoy your weekend ladies.

Weighin every second week

2005-10-15T06:16:00.000+10:00

I'm coming towards the last few weeks in my 12 weeks of pre-paid WW meetings and I'm realising that I probably dont need to go to the WW weighins every single week. I know that its great for the motivation - but if I devote myself to going every second week then I will still get that inspiration.

When I go I listen to what my leader says about half the time, the other half the time Im paying Bee attention because she is sooking.

I still dont own scales here, and that wont change. But on the off-week I will get myself weighed at my Mother In Laws. Cos she has digital scales that are correct. If I feel myself slackening off I could always go back to going every week. I know you guys wouldnt let me be a lazy bugger :P

But Im definitely going to WW this week cos I want to know if Im going to get to this 1.2kilo loss this week.

M has got it right. In one of her comments on a post 2 days ago she said that I have to "shift my tail". She is so right. I'm getting a bit complaicant - which is the worst thing I could do! Im working so hard this week, to get myself back into the habit of exercising.

Do any of my readers only weighin fortnightly or have some story of someone who did? Did they lost motivation?

untitled

2005-10-14T17:43:00.000+10:00

Today Bee went for her first swim in the pool! Addy cancelled her swim with me, although I dont know why Im surprised. She cancels on me alot. But I didnt let it get me down - I just rung up Jen instead and invited her to the pool. She has the day off work because today Kent is moving out and she is organising changing everything to her name. So she had a break from all that and came to the pool.

Although I didnt get a chance to swim laps (was too busy chatting to Jen), I got some exercise in the pool with Bee. I did stuff like holding her under the arms and running backwards so her body was swooshing through the water. I did this for ages as she loved it - plus I could feel my butt muscles and upper legs getting a good workout. All up it was about 30 minutes of light/moderate workout. So there was still benefit.

Last night I bought a pair of swimmers!?!?! I walked into A-Mart really apprehensively. I took Jen with me for some moral and fashion support. Browsing through the swimmers I was a bit nervous about anyone seeing me with such a small bit of lycra attempting to hide my fat rolls. Alas they hid nothing - which ultimately I knew they wouldnt. So I settled on a plain navy swimsuit. Its nice but nothing fancy. Plus I got a good special. Original price was $50, reduced to $20. Probably because it was a size 16. And people with a size 16 body dont usually go parading around in swimsuits all the time.

But I am determined to get into swimming!! So I bought a pair of shorts to wear over the top until I get comfortable with everyone seeing my shape. Plus the shorts help hide my baby belly to a degree.

So ultimately it was a successful shopping trip. I wasnt embarrased when I went to the pool today and wore them. Probably because I was with Jen. And being my sister I am 100% comfortable with her.

Last night we had a blackout just as I was starting to cook dinner, so I told DH he had to take me out to dinner. I didnt want to sit around in our hot house in the dark, waiting for electricity. So we went to Pizza Hut for a meal. I was so good though! I didnt want to break my points budget. I'd had a fairly low point day so far so I had 16 points to spare. I had heaps of point-free salad, 1 piece thin+crispy supreme pizza (4p), 1.5 cups of pasta (dont know points, work out tonight), small amount bolognaise sauce (about 3 points), and for dessert I had 1 taste of chocolate mousse (less than a teaspoon, 1/2 point).

loooooong post - lots on my mind

2005-10-13T13:58:00.000+10:00

I had such an emotional night last night. Firstly, my sister broke it off with her boyfriend. Which was a huge shock. I knew she wasn't 100% happy - but I didnt know things were this bad. I got a phone call at 7.30 asking if she can come over for a chat. Of course, I said yes. Anyway, she gets here and its obvious she has cried all the way over here and she just breaks down and starts sobbing. And me being the emotional person I am started crying as well.

Her boyfriend doesnt have a job, and hasnt had one for close to 2 years. She was working 7 days a week (a fulltime job plus subway on sat/sun) but got rid of the subway job about 6 months ago. Anyways, she has been on his case for ages to get a job because then it would take some of the strain off her.

Last night he apparently admitted that he never intends to get a job, and that she shouldnt force him to get a job because he isnt forcing her to keep hers. He reckons that she should quit her job and they will both live off Government money. But she doesnt want this - she wants to own her car, buy a house, get set up for the future etc etc.

She has grown so much since they started dating. She was 17 and he was 18 when they started dating. Jen has sorted herself out fitness wise (she is a gym junkie now!), career wise (she now works as a litigation secretary and loves it), and family wise (she is soo close to Bee and loves her to bits). And yet he is still exactly the same as when he was 18!!!

Anyways, so he is moving out this weekend.

But while Im chatting to Jen a friend of mine rings up to chat to me (its now 9pm). And she wants to go get a cup of coffee cos she is having some problems at home. And when I get there she tells me that she is thinking of leaving her boyfriend!!!! He apparently is seeing other women and all this other crap.

I wont go into that story though because yas are all probably bored by now so Ill stop going on about it. It was just such an emotionally draining night last night. And I was going so well on points up until they rang up. When Jen rang up I was exactly on my total points for the day, but when I met with Sally I had a muffin at McCafe - putting me over.

But the scales forgave me today! I know every week I say its a shock loss and I never expected to lose that much - but I mean it every time!!! And this time I feel the same way. I promise! I did one lot of exercise this week - I did that this morning. A half hour walk. I didnt track alot of the days this week so I have no idea about points. Plus I didnt drink enough water.

And I lost 0.5kg. Not much, but way better than a gain!

So my goal this week is to lose 1.2kgs. This is magic number for me because when I lose this 1.2kg and hit 74.9 it means:

1. Ill have lost exactly 10% of my body weight
2. Ill be at my pre-baby weight
3. Ill also be exactly in my healthy weight range for my height

So its really weird how these all are at the one weight!!!

But to do this I need to remotivate myself and get myself back on track. No more slacking off. Ive had a cruisy week. But now back to business.

Im starting swimming laps tomorrow. Im going to do this three times a week because its getting too hot to walk. Im going to start at 3 x 30 min swimming sessions (each session consisting of 15min swim, break, 15 min swim) a week. And hopefully bring it up to 45 minute sessions before the end of October.

So tonight Im off to buy a new swimsuit. Yay for late night shopping! Im going to look hideous in it with my post-baby belly still poking out. But the good news is:

1. Once Im in the water noone will see it.
2. I will get a head-start on my tan for summer (Ill be sunsmart though).
3. Although I look big now, Ill be skinny soon enough. It's bitter sweet.

So wish me luck. Im really going to need it this week because I want to be very good. Im going to avoid temptation and not go out to morning/afternoon tea at all! Cos its too tempting when I go out. Ill stay at home and have yogurt/fruit. And Im only allowing myself 1 sweet point a day. This way I can keep having my banana splits for dessert :P (1 scoop low fat icecream, a banana and 2 tablespoons of diet caramel topping). That will be my reward for being good for that day.

Sorry for long post. I just had alot on my mind. Love yas and thanks for reading :)

Good day today

2005-10-11T19:21:00.000+10:00

today was a pretty good day all up! This morning's walk with Addy was cancelled cos it was too windy - so when Bee had her morning sleep I got a 1.5 hour nap!! oh my gosh that hardly ever happens. I felt so good when I woke up. Then we had a lay-in for about 20 mins in my bed. Which I love - because I love her cuddles.

Work was cruisy. The boss is out of town for awhile. Short shift of only 3 hours.

Then I went for a walk this evening for about half an hour. So it was a pretty good day!

Dinner was superb - homemade pizzas. I cooked up some chopped chicken tenderloins, mushrooms and onions in cooking spray and then put it on the pizza with capsicum and tomato. The base was bbq bacon salsa. mmmmmm was so delicious. 4 points per slice though I estimated. So its not exactly low in points.

Have a great night all.

Chilli Rubbed Pork Chops

2005-10-10T16:37:00.000+10:00

oh my gosh what a crazy crazy few days. Firstly, I went to a scrapbooking crop day that was a fundraiser for Angel Flight. It went for 10 hours (2pm till midnight) and I got to go for nearly the whole time! I took Bee with me for the first half, then DH took her home for the second half so I could have some time to myself. It was soooo much fun. I made my first paper bag album yay!

Weightloss wise I have three good points I noticed yesterday:

1. I figured out that I have lost Bee's weight off my body! She weighs about 7kgs. So I spent ages yesterday holding her out and baffling over how much weight it actually is! Ive noticed a change, but it didnt occur to me that it was really that much.

2. I discovered that I can now take off my fav denim skirt without undoing any of the buttons/zip!!! While this is good, its also bad. Because its the main staple of my wardrobe outside of work - so I really am going to have no clothes soon.

3. I can fit back into my wedding rings. When I was preggers I gained a massive 22 kilos. Because it was in the middle of summer last year it was really uncomfortable under my rings. So I took them off. To my shock I couldnt get them back on after the birth. Now I can :)

On a not-so-good note, I havent tracked for a few days. I know I didnt go too bad on points cos I was eating basically the same foods, but I didnt write them down. Norty me.

I also havent been visiting other people's blogs - so sorry about that! I appreciate everyone's visits and posts and am sorry that I havent been able to reciprocate the favour. I will try to get around to everyone's blogs tomorrow!

I forgot to post that yummy recipe that I was telling yas about last week so here it is:

Chilli Rubbed Pork Chops

Ingrediants:
1 1/2 tbsp chilli powder
1 tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
4 thick lean boneless pork chops
500g beans, steamed
4 carrots, cut into strips, steamed
1/2 tsp fresh lemon juice

Method:

Preheat frying pan and coat with cooking spray.
In a small bowl, combine chili powder, sugar, cumin and garlic powder.
Add Worcestershire sauce and stir until paste forms.
Rub paste onto both sides of each pork chop, place on prepared pan and broil 4 minutes on each side until inside is no longer pink.
Serve with string beans drizzled with fresh lemon juice.

Serves 4.

WW Points: 4 pt.

It was soooo yummy! But I used a bit less chilli powder cos I dont like it too hot. Definitely try this one. I only post recipes I have tried myself and loved. So you know you are getting quality. I liked that this recipe has cheap ingrediants apart from the pork. So although I needed to go buy some of those spices they were only $1 each. Plus its a really quick thing to make.

My husband said that it tasted "just like a restaurant meal". But I had arranged it so the carrot and beans all were facing the same way, then placed the meat on top of the veges. So it was really well presented.

So I reckon I had a winner with this recipe! The only down-side about the meal he said, was that it wasnt filling enough. So next time I will serve it with some mashed potato as well. Thatll fill him up.

Have a great night everyone!

He got the job!!!

2005-10-07T14:15:00.000+10:00

YaY! He starts in 2 weeks but I plan on going out to live there in Jan next year. This way he has a chance to trial the job and see if its really what he wants. Plus it gives me a chance to work a bit longer in town and then move out there to be a SAHM. But he will be coming home for the weekends so its not that bad.

Yesterday I didnt even bother to record my food in my food log. I ate so many bad foods. Not fatty - but sugary!!! I was in celebration mode because of the job situation. I didnt go over points, but definitely not the best choice of snacks!

Bee is sleeping so im off to finish off the housework and then hopefully i will be able to catch a nap as well! Life is so good for babies ...

Week Eight Weighin - 1.2kgs down

2005-10-06T16:07:00.000+10:00

YaY another successful weighin. I lost 1.2kgs this week putting me at 76.6kgs - 1.6kgs away from my pre-baby weight!!! Ive now lost 6.6kgs.

I definitely think its all the water I am drinking because I only exercised twice this week plus I went way under points on a couple of the days.

YaY for weight watchers!
YaY for water!
YaY for the 1.2kgs of body mass that mysteriously disappeared!

Also, DH went for his second interview today for this job and it went really really well. DH thinks he definitely has the job. Im getting quite excited about the thought of possibly moving. I love where I am now - its our first mortgage! But I really want to be a SAHM. A good thing is that a friend of mine is interested in renting our place when we move out - so itll be good to have someone I know and trust there. Id hate for someone to trash the place.

Gotta run, Im at work. Im trying out a new recipe tonight so tune in tomorrow for a recipe if it turns out to be nice. The only hint Im giving you is that its a pork recipe. It will be nice for a change! Im eating too much chicken lately.

Chicken Potato Bake

2005-10-04T13:49:00.000+10:00

Yesterday I had a complex day with food. Firstly, I had run out of cereal and milk so had 1.5 peices of toast, one with tuna, and the other with half an egg. And boy did it make a difference to how I cope with food during the day!!! The Sultana Bran I normally have is much better at keeping me feel satisfied during the day. When I went to work in the afternoon I had 0 energy. I was nearly falling asleep at my desk.

I will admit that Bee had a bad night sleeping the night before, but I havent felt so sapped of energy in such a long time. So lesson learnt: Dont let myself run out of cereal again!

Next I didnt have such a good lunch either. I had Paradise Lite crispbreads with tuna on them, and a very small salad. I dont know if that attributed to the lethargic feelings I had in the afternoon but it could have.

I also had run out of fruit at home, so for morning and afternoon teas I had yogurt each time.

What made it worse was that I was at work and I didnt take my wallet so couldnt go down to the cafe and get some food.

So total of 21.5 points yesterday when Im supposed to have 28!!!! Way way under points. I dont know what I am supposed to do now - should I try to catch all those points over the next few days? Or should I just forget yesterday and do proper points today? I already struggle to get to 28 points. Calling all WW geniuses to grace me with your advice! :)

At least dinner was beautiful. I tried out a new recipe that everyone should try:

Chicken Potato Bake
4 servings @ 6 points a serving

Ingrediants:
3 medium potatos peeled and sliced thinly
535g can chicken soup
500g chicken breast
large handful of ham, shredded (I dont know how many grams I used)
low fat cheese
Grated point-free veges (zucchini, carrots - basically anything)
Chopped point-free veges (eg. brocolli, cauliflower, mushrooms, asparagus - basically anything)
Dried parsley

Method:

Cook chicken in cooking spray
Coast casserole dish in cooking spray
Arrange half potatos on bottom of dish
Top with chicken
Layer vegetables
Top with ham
Sprinkle parsley
Pour half of soup over the top
Arrange rest of potato on top
Pour over rest of soup
Top with cheese
Moderate oven for about 50 - 60 minutes

Ways to cut back points even further:

Use less chicken - I used 300g and found it was enough
Use less potatos - if you sliced the zucchini lengthwise instead of grating you could alternate the zucchini with the potato to make it less points.
Watch how much cheese you add, or even go without the cheese. Its not really needed.

It was yummy!

One last question: I see "TIAGF" on lots of ww blogs ... what does this stand for?!?

WW Recipe Cards from 1974 - LOL

2005-10-03T16:09:00.000+10:00

http://www.candyboots.com/wwcards.html
Clickity Click ^^

Definitely take the tour. The starting link is at the bottom. Their desciptions of the recipes is classic!!!

September Wrap - October Plan

2005-10-03T13:38:00.000+10:00

September in review

Beginning weight: 80.6kgs
Ending weight: 77.8kgs
Total weightloss: 2.8kgs

Goal Status: Goal not reached by 0.8kgs (I wanted to be 77kgs)

Starting BMI: 26.9
Ending BMI: 26 exactly

Commendable aspect of September weightloss: My water intake is huge compared to what it was. I really have been concentrating on my water over the last few weeks. I reached my first 5 kilos. Im eating TONNES of fruit. Im trying different exercises (Aug was only walking). And my BMI dropped by 0.9!

The areas I said I would work on at the end of August were my water and fruit intake (now fixed), longer walks (not really, but I now do other exercise instead), and a steps class once a week (I sometimes do it twice! But from home via a Video). So I have fixed all those problem areas.

October Plan

Im no longer doing timed goals, however I would like to see myself close to my pre-baby weight at the end of October - 75ish.

Areas to work on in October: I want to take up swimming or riding ... or both! And I want to increase my water intake again to a solid 3 litres at least. September saw least 2 litres, with some days being over 3. I want to not slacken off. I've realised Ive started getting a bit lapse with eating. Im eating the right points, but i could be eating more nutritious points, instead of "empty" points.

Moranbah?!?

2005-10-03T09:00:00.000+10:00

DH has applied for a job that he has a pretty good chance of getting. There is just one problem - its in Moranbah!?!?! Now, I currently live in Mackay, which is 2 hours drive from Moranbah. But its like going from a reasonably rural town, to live in an ountback country town that mainly is filled with miners! Moranbah is a mining town!! So I dont know what we are going to do if he gets it. I think mainly itd be me staying in our current home for a few months to see if he likes it there. He comes back into town on the weekends.

Then if he decides he likes it enough Ill quit my job here and move out there. Buy a second house cos we dont want to sell where we live now. The good thing is that this job pays more than both our current jobs put together! So it means I can be a stay at home mum at Moranbah.

They should have a weight watchers. But a way that it will positively influence my weight is that everything is fairly close in together, so I will be able to ride my pushbike around alot - for trips into town and all that. But to tell u the truth I have never been there - so Im going off hearsay.

He goes for his second interview on Thursday so I guess we will know by the end of the week. He has already done a telephone interview and that went well - so the guy is driving into Mackay to meet Tr0y face-to-face.

Ooooh nervous. I hope he gets it because of the financial benefits. But on the other hand we will be moving our whole family so Im very nervous if we are making the right decision.

bust beauty firmness ... does that still exist?!?

2005-09-29T16:26:00.000+10:00

"Specialized bust beauty care with firming and skin-tightening actions. Rich in natural plant extracts, non-oily. Ideal to address first signs of skin slackening, especially after pregnancy or weight loss to improve overall bust beauty firmness."

Im thinking of adding this to my list of "rewards" for when I hit goal ... my bust beauty firmness doesnt exactly exude much beauty ... or firmness to be exact. Thanks to breastfeeding Bee the "Milkbar" is slowly starting to sag closer and closer to my belly-button. Plus I can already see the effects of weightloss on them. When I lose another 10 kilos they will be shockers :P

I also doubt the credibility of the product ... Maybe a roll of stickytape will be more effective. Either that or I can learn the fine art of origami to get them to fold and hold into place without the support of a bra!!!

Week Seven Weigh-in - Bookmark worthy!!!!

2005-09-29T13:01:00.000+10:00

Today I weighed in and I lost 0.8kgs - putting me at 77.8kgs. Im pretty happy about thisloss because its a nice size loss - plus it means I lost my first 5 kilo (5.4kgs to be precise) :D The leader didnt announce my weightloss though because the girl who operates the scales obviously didnt tell her. But Im a patient girl, I will get my bookmark next week.

Ill weigh myself on Saturday cos that is technically the last day of the month, but I wont get to my 77kg goal for September, Im 0.8kg off. But I am not fussed at all about this. I know I stuffed it up with that gain at the beginning of the month. Im thinking that from now on I wont put a timeframe on my weightloss goals - because its too stressful to think that way.

My next goal is 75kg because that is my pre-baby weight. Well, I am guessing anyways. I got weighed when I was 12 weeks preggers and I weighed 76kg. So Im just saying my pre-baby is 75. So that is 2.8 kilos away. Ill have to buy myself something when I get there as this will also mark me losing 10% of my body weight. If you have any ideas let me know, but Ill have to think about this one. Maybe Ill get a bike for me and a bikeseat for Bee. Plus DH will HAVE to take me out for dinner to Hogs Breath so I can get the Thai Beef Salad - 7 points. Followed by the Strawberry and Banana pancake stack (no cream/icecream, plus jam on the side instead of poured over) - 4 points. I havent been out for ages, so itll be good to get out of the house without Bee.

Im actually really surprised at how easy this WW plan is! Im eating beautiful food and have discovered I actually really love fruit/salad/veges. I am enjoying getting active and taking Bee out for walks. Im enjoying watching my weight go down, and look forward to my weekly WW weighins. My skin is alot clearer. Im enjoying becoming a "Blogger" and recording my feelings on this blog, and also reading other peoples' blogs. My sex life has even increased because Im starting to feel better about the way I look. My DH is enjoying that too - so its positively affecting my marriage. ;) It seems to be bettering every aspect of my life.

Im so glad I took this step.

Mmmmmmmm look at all that butter on the right. Imagine if I bought all that butter and slathered it all over my body. It would be very gross - but so inspiring!!! :P

11 Superfoods for Weight Loss

2005-09-27T15:19:00.000+10:00

I found this article linked from another blog and found it so interesting I thought I would share it around :)

[ Source ]

11 Superfoods for Weight Loss
By Linda Kallman

These nutritious foods will satisfy your appetite and help you get to your ideal weight.

Those Extra Pounds
So many of us carry around an extra five or 10 pounds that we'd really rather not have. Though fad diets may help us lose weight quickly, they don't teach us how to eat healthy for the long-term. So before we know it we're carrying around saddlebags again.

Lisa Sasson, of New York University's Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health, says you can achieve successful weight loss by choosing the right foods and taking it slowly. The ideal program is a gradual weight loss of one to two pounds per week. How many calories is that? Sasson says multiplying 10 times your current weight will give you an idea of the number of calories you need for slow, proper weight loss, unless you are severely overweight. Someone who weighs 128 pounds should eat no less than 1,200 to 1,300 calories per day. Below that, your metabolic rate drops, and you lose water rather than fat.

Sasson says the key to weight loss is a balanced approach. Eat when you're hungry and vary what you eat so you don't get bored. Make sure you include foods from all the major food groups. Have three healthy meals and a few planned snacks, and watch your portions. Choose foods that are easy to find and prepare. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains will fill you up with fewer calories. Eat slowly and stop when you start to feel full. Drink plenty of water throughout the day and with meals. And finally, allow yourself an occasional treat.

Foods for Weight Loss
Here are some suggestions from Sasson for meals and snacks that are loaded with the nutrients
your body needs and that will keep those hunger pangs at bay.

Scrambled Eggs, Toast, and Strawberries
Fasting or skipping meals does not lead to successful, long-term weight loss. A healthy breakfast gets your body going, boosts your metabolism, and helps to regulate your appetite for the rest of the day. So scramble a few eggs, which are a great source of protein, vitamins A, B2, and B12, phosphorus, and iron.

Add some whole wheat toast and fresh strawberries for fiber, plus almost 150 percent of the RDA for vitamin C in the berries. Using a little bit of butter or margarine on the toast or for cooking the eggs will help your body absorb fat-soluble vitamins.

Recommended Serving Size: 2 medium eggs, about 130 calories or 1 medium egg and the egg white from 1 egg, about 80 calories 2 slices whole wheat toast, about 138 calories 1 pat butter, about 36 calories or 1 pat of margarine, about 32 calories 1 cup of strawberries, about 49 calories

Nectarines and Almonds
Having the right midmorning snack will keep your metabolism humming and your energy levels up, and will help you avoid eating too much at lunch out of extreme hunger. A medium nectarine along with some almonds gives you fiber, protein, a variety of vitamins and minerals, and heart-healthy fat.

Recommended Serving Size: 1 medium nectarine, about 60 calories 6-8 almonds, about 40-60 calories

Colorful Spinach, Veggie, and Chicken Salad
Throw together a spinach salad with cucumbers, carrots, red peppers, cherry tomatoes, and some cooked chicken breast. Top it with an olive-oil-based vinaigrette dressing for a low-fat, low-cal, and filling lunch. Vitamin- and mineral-rich spinach provides over 50 percent of your RDA for vitamin A, plus dietary fiber and iron. As a rule, colorful vegetables are more nutritious, and this combination is rich in fiber, tons of vitamins. and the phytochemicals that may
help prevent chronic disease. Finally, the protein in the chicken will keep you full until your midday snack.

Recommended Serving Size: 1 cup spinach, about 7 calories 1/2 cup sliced cucumber, about 12 calories 1/4 cup grated carrots, about 10 calories 1/2 cup red peppers, about 12 calories 6-8 cherry tomatoes, about 18-24 calories 2 oz. chicken strips, about 75 calories 2 tablespoons vinaigrette dressing (with olive or canola oil), about 90 calories

Yogurt and Grapes Snack
You'll get calcium, protein, fiber, and vitamin C from this super snack. Plus, grapes pack cancer-fighting antioxidants.

Recommended Serving Size: 6 oz. low-fat yogurt, about 160 calories 10 grapes, about 50
calories

Tuna Steak and Broccoli
This dinner will satisfy your taste buds and fill you up without adding on the calories. Fresh tuna is a great source of heart-healthy fat and omega-3 fatty acid, which helps prevent heart disease and stroke. Broccoli, a cruciferous vegetable, gives you over 80 percent of the RDA for vitamin C, 30 percent of your daily calcium, and disease-fighting phytochemicals. A side dish of Spanish rice is an excellent complement to the fish.

Recommended Serving Size: 3 oz. cooked broiled or grilled tuna steak, about 118 calories 1 cup broccoli, about 25 calories 1/2 cup Spanish rice, about 140 calories

Low-Fat Vanilla Ice Cream with Fruit Topping
Don't deprive yourself of that tasty dessert you crave. This one is refreshing and satisfying but is also a source of calcium, as well as some vitamins and minerals. Just remember to watch your portion size.

Recommended Serving Size: 1/2 cup low-fat vanilla ice cream, about 120 calories 1/2 cup mixed fruit, about 60 calories

Lisa Sasson, MS, RD, is Assistant Clinical Professor, NYU Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health; a Registered Dietitian; and a member of the American Dietetic Association. She also has a private practice for people with diet and weight-control issues.

****************************************

Obviously you dont want to be eating exactly the same food every single day - but the suggestions she has make sence. It wouldnt hurt me to eat a few more strawberries or almonds. Or to start having more tuna.

Increasing walking distance

2005-09-26T15:31:00.000+10:00

Ive noticed how I now have started really relying on other types of exercise except for walking. I am finding that its a bit tiresome now and I dont look forward to my trips to the Gooseys as much as I used to. Of course I am still meeting Addy and Maddy there every Tuesday and Thursday, but apart from that I no longer go on my own.

Good news this week about that - we have decided that we are able to start doing 2 laps so will start that as of tomorrow. Hopefully we will be able to sustain as quick a pace as we normally do, and want to do it in an hour tops. It normally takes us around 25 mins to do one lap. 20 mins if we really push ourselves. So we are confident that our second lap wont be too much slower. Ill blog tomorrow our time, and will actually find out how many kilometers around it is!

As the weather heats up I am finding that I have absolutely no nice summer clothes. Last years' summer I spent pregnant so bought nothing - so everything I have is from the summer before that ... when I was skinny!! So now nothing fits. But I really dont want to buy new clothes because Im planning on losing so much weight.

So my three options are basically:
1. Look like a complete dag in clothes that really dont look good, but at least are summery and fit
2. Sweat my way through the next few weeks in clothes really meant for cooler weather
3. Spend some of my valuable "rewards money" on clothes that arent going to fit me for very long.

Ooooooh I dont like the sound of any of those options!!! But because I live in north Qld I guess Im going to go for Option 1. I really want to save my $500 for when I hit the low 70s. Besides, my real friends will forgive me for wearing daggy clothes for awhile - ie: troy's tshirts with some old shorts. But I do have a nice denim skirt and a couple of nice singlets - they will be for when I venture out the house. At least I work in aircon so can continue to wear long pants to work.

I did a huuuuuuuuge blog-surf today - I must have viewed something like 20 or 30 ww blogs. They all looked so interesting!!! I have a feeling my list of blogs I visit regularly is going to grow in a few days. So make sure you check that out soon and visit some of those blogs. I love reading about other people's journeys to better themselves.

A food that I have discovered lately to snack on is a homemade version of McDonalds' Yogurt crunch. 1 chopped banana + 133g tinned ww fruit of any type + 1/2 tub yogurt + 10g ww muesli = 2.5 points of yummy deliciousness that is really filling!

Have a great week!

Another one bites the dust ....

2005-09-22T10:44:00.000+10:00

Wow! Another 1.1 kilo down! I wasnt going to weigh in today because Id had a bad week - only exercised twice, ate under points alot of the days, I didnt monitor my water so was sure I wasnt drinking enough, and I had 2 sweet points when I said I would have none! So I wasnt going to go to Weight Watchers but decided I would because I have to be accountable for my mistakes.

And what a surprise to find out I am now 78.6kgs! So exciting :) But the pressure is on for next week with my September goal!! I need to lose 1.6 kg this week to get to 77. I actually am going to stick to my weekly goals this week:
- drink water as much as possible
- exercise 6 times this week
- as little sweet points as possible (preferably none)
- track and stick to points

Gotta run, work in an hour.

Photos

2005-09-21T10:09:00.000+10:00

Bee is finally feeling better today so Im off to work. Sorry about the slowdown in posts but I was sooo busy with Bee hanging off me 24/7 I havent really had a chance to post. I even didnt track on 2 or 3 days this week. I havent been eating enough points either, so norty me! Sometimes its hard to concentrate on exercise and eating. I havent had much time to exercise so Ive been trying to do as much incidental exercise as possible.

Today during Bee's nap I went through some photos and uploaded a couple of my favourites. Soooo hard to do considering I have over 800 photos :o In her first 12 weeks of life I took over 300 photos. Just as well I have a digital camera.

Some of my fav pics of Bee on her own, and couple of me with her:

Classic look on her face!!

Me and her clowning around at home.

Most recent photo - days ago.

Now, this next photo is the photo that made me want to lose weight - its disgusting!!! My husband does NOT know how to take a good photo - completely the wrong angle!!!!

Anyways, I start with in 1.5 hours so Im off to get ready. Have a great day everyone :)

Bee has bronchitis

2005-09-18T08:44:00.000+10:00

Oh yay! NOT! I took her to the doctor yesterday and he informed me she had bronchitis. But I am lucky in the sence that it hasnt turned into an ear or throat infection as well!!! So she is on antibiotics for the time being. But she seems to not totally hate the taste of them - raspberry flavour!

Yesterday I had a tonne of points leftover for dinner - 11.5 to be exact. And I had no idea what to do with them. We had originally planned to have subway for dinner as I had my main meal for lunch but when the boys came over they said they wanted McDonalds. Lucky I did have those points! So I wanted something high in points but not totally un-nutritious. So I opted for a McOz burger (9.5p), a garden salad instead of chips (1.5p) and a sm diet coke. For dessert I had a small skinny cappucino with an equal in it (0.5p). So total points was 11.5 - right on target. It was fatty I know - but I needed alot of points!

yummy dinner

2005-09-16T20:57:00.000+10:00

Wow I just had the best WW recipe! It was chicken parmigiana:

Chicken breast pounded so its about 1 cm thin. In a bowl mix 1/2 cup multigrain breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup parmesan cheese and 1 tbs dried parsley. Beat an egg in a seperate bowl. Dip chicken breasts in egg, then coat in the crumbing mixture. Bake in moderate oven for 30mins.

Heat 2/3 cup tomato pasta sauce then spoon over chicken. Top with low fat cheese and grill till melted. serve with veges/salad.

Tasted sooooo good. DH couldnt believe that I made it here, he thought it was a bought one. 6 1/2 points plus whatever points for ur veges/salad.

And for dessert, Im going to have yogurt with banana. not too exciting but still tastes good.

enjoy ur night :)

Bee is sick :(

2005-09-16T08:45:00.000+10:00

Oh my goodness what a hard night I had. Bee woke up at midnight with a fever of 38.6 - eeeek. Anyways, I tried to breastfeed her to give her comfort and she refused, which is really abnormal of her. So we gave her some infant panadol but she spewed up everything in her tummy.

So off we went to the hospital at 12:30am to see a docter. There was a 20 minute wait while there though, and due to the air conditioning her temperature went down. By the time we saw a docter she was all smiles, so they gave us the usual speal and we went home.

Unfortunately her temperature came back when we got home and she was up for three hours!!!! She finally went to bed at 3am with a slight temp, not too bad. Woke up at 5.30am with a temp of about 38 (i didnt measure it, just guessing). She had a quick cuddle and went back to sleep. Then got up for the day at 7.30.

So I havent had much sleep. I called in sick for work too, so im here for the day. Her temp is currently 38.3.

Norty me, but at 1.30am I was soooo tired and desperately wanted a biscuit so I had a cup of tea and 3 ww rasp tarts. I know I said no sugar points but this was an exception!!! I needed an energy boost and I couldnt stand the thought of eating fruit at that time of the morning. I hope yas all forgive me!!

I gotta go, Bee is crying.

Im a 70s girl!!! YaY!!

2005-09-15T12:47:00.000+10:00

Wow I am sooo over the moon! Today I weighed in and I lost exactly a kilo over the last week - putting me at 79.7 kilos. Im finally 70-something!! As you can tell, Im a bit excited.
Only a few more kilos and I will be my pre-baby weight.

There are a couple of things that I think helped me lose a kilo this week, but I think mostly it was the water. It definitely wasnt the exercise cos I did less this week! I tried really hard to drink alot of water. A couple of days I went under, but mostly I tried to drink 2 or more litres.

Friday: 1 litre water
Saturday: 3 litres of water
Sunday: 2 litres of water
Monday: 1.5 litres
Tuesday: 2.5 litres
Wednesday: 2 litres
Today: Its 1pm and Ive already had 2 litres.

I did well on my points this week, I had one blowout but was sensible and went under points the next day.

My September goal was to be 77. I dont know if I will get to this because of that gain in the first week of the month but I am going to try!!! Severely doubtful though. That is 2.7 kilo in 2 weeks and 2 days. Because of that this week I am going to have:
- No sweet points.
- More exercise.
- Exactly the amount of points Im supposed to.
- Keep drinking water.

Which reminds me - Bee started 3 solids a day yesterday so my points allowance is going to change. I was allowed 30 before, but now she isnt feeding as much so I need to go down to 28 points.

I definitely will be able to handle this easily because I am on most days trying to eat more points by eating cashews or by having half an avocado with my salads. It will actually be a relief to not have to worry about not getting the points.

I think I will post again later, Im too pumped and motivated about my weightloss. Im going to need to write about it again :)

Enjoy your Thursday!

As promised - Carmen Electra Striptease Aerobix Review

2005-09-14T12:16:00.000+10:00

Today I finally managed to spare some time to do the Carmen Electra Striptease Aerobix DVD and I loved it!!

(I dont know how to spell "volumne" - my bad!)

Volumne 1

This DVD really doesnt involve any stripping and is more just dancing. It is sensual dancing - but all clothes stay on! And it really is quite modest for those who are shy. I've only done the warmup routine and part of the first real routine but so far the instructions are clear, they go slow to help you learn the moves, and it is heaps of fun!

It is great for a beginner (like me), and while it is really low-impact, at least its movement! Better than sitting on the lounge watching Dr Phil.

Another good aspect is that you get to choose your own music. Whether you prefer HipHop or Rock or whatever else it was they offered.

Volumne 2

This DVD doesnt involve any dancing at all, but rather is a proper workout with Carmen Electra and some Personal Trainer guy with big muscles. I would put this workout at a medium intensity - it made me sweat and I could feel my muscles burning - but I could do all the exercises (bar one) and do them for the whole time given on the program. So if you are super-fit you may find this a bit too easy. But for me it was perfect.

The menu of this DVD shows that you can do shorter workouts targetting specific areas, a floor workout, a cardio warmup, or a 30 minute workout. So you really have alot of range depending on how much time you have and what specifically you want to work out on! This is a plus.
Today I chose to do the cardio warmup, followed by the 30 minute workout.

The cardio warmup was fantastic. He didnt dwell on any one exercise for too long, so there was alot of variety and it stayed interesting.

When I went to do the 30 minute workout I realised that it actually included the cardio warmup! So I ended up doing the cardio twice. The 30 minute workout is great. I was sweating at the end, so I was pushing my body, but I recovered well and was able to do nearly all the exercises.

Something I really liked about this workout DVD is that the moves are really quite different! I hadnt most of the exercises before, and he gave some really good tips. One of the good tips he had was to clasp your hands together and hold them out the front of you while working out to help your torso get more of a workout (instead of swinging them by your side). I could really feel my abs working!

Final Verdict

Volumne 1 and 2 are really great. I would recommend them for someone who is of moderate fitness who is trying to spice up their exercise routines. Today I did the workout first (cos I thought it would be boring - how wrong I was!), followed by the dance DVD. All up it took me just over an hour, but didnt seem that long.

I will be incorporating these DVDs into my exercise plans at least twice a week (Ill do the 30 min workout, followed by a dance routine or two). Sometimes walking can be boring, so this will not only work different muscles, but also keep me sane.

If you try them feel free to let me know how you go!!!

My local video store also has volumne 3 and 4 but I will wait until I get bored of these ones before getting the others. Ill review those when I get them.

Feeling good

2005-09-13T20:39:00.000+10:00

Ive been moping about how I havent gone for a walk so today I did something about it! I invited Addy for a walk but we went at a moderate pace - 40 mins. So afterwards I did a second lap of the Gooseys on my own and pushed my body to walk as quick as it could. And managed to nearly halve the time it took with Addy.

It felt good to push my body after a few days of sloth-like behaviour.

Food was good today. Had hot chips for the first time since starting WW and it was surprisingly easy to say "no"! I had alot of ppoints because I had a low point lunch so I decided I would have a few chips. I looked up the value and saw that 150g was 7 1/2 points. So I allowed myself to have 50g (2 1/2 points) and it was enough for me. Just a handful.

But I still had points leftover so now its 8.30 at night and Im going to have a banana split :) mmmm .... a banana topped with 2 scoops of "light and creamy" icecream (1p per scoop), with some diet syrup. AND I also have to eat some cashew nuts as well. I came in at 22.5 points today. I really need to plan my days more, otherwise I dont eat enough during the day.

Weigh-in in 2 days!!!! eeeep nervous after last week's gain. Tomorrow I have a busy morning but Im going to try to get out for a walk or do the exercise DVD before heading out for the day. I need to prioritise exercise over housework - so the laundry will have to wait!!!

Sleep well everyone. Goodnight.

Re-Prioritising to fit in exercise

2005-09-12T13:07:00.000+10:00

Over the last few days I have been pretty lazy when it comes to exercise. This is partly due to disappointment at not losing weight last week - but I tried not to let it affect my motivation but it did!! I couldnt help it. And because of last week's BSC I got out of the habit of walking hard. Another reason was that I didnt prioritise exersice over the weekend. We had people over nearly the whole weekend. And I should have just gone out walking anyways, and leave DH to entertain.

Friday - no exercise
Saturday - body step class (that was good)
Sunday - no exercise
Monday - no exercise (and I dont have time at nights to walk, was supposed to go this morning)

I was determined not to get this bad!! So I am going to refocus on this diet. I feel as though the daily goals are too hard to set at the moment because I want to focus on exercise at the moment, so Im getting rid of those (gosh that didnt last long!). It was a good idea so I will come back to it, but I want to focus on getting my butt off the lounge.

But a good thing about the weekend was my water consumption! I drank truckloads of water, and Im determined to keep that up this week until weighin. Hopefully soon itll become a habit to drink water.

My food habits are good at the moment though. Apart from that one day last week I am sticking to my points and I feel very positive about the way I eat. Im eating ALOT more fruit and veges and I feel great about that.

Second Body Step Class
Some people may have read last week the details of my first BSC. Oh my goodness it nearly killed me!! This week I went to a different gym and it was fantastic!! It was really hardwork, and for the last half I didnt even use a step, but I didnt ache for days afterwards.

I was totally worn out, and still red/puffing. But I felt really really good afterwards! I will keep going to that gym I reckon.

blah blah blah

2005-09-09T13:46:00.000+10:00

Firstly, daily score for yesterday: 10/10. Yay. I know I only had 24 points but I was evening out the points because the day before I went 5 points over - so technically I didnt break that goal. So today I will have 29 points and my points will all be even again.

Im a bit frazzled today. One of my really good friends rung up this morning to say she is moving out of town THIS AFTERNOON!!! She has left her partner and is taking their two kids up north to Townsville to live. So sad!! Im going to miss her alot. Plus its a pretty sad situation because her two kids are 16 months and 6 weeks old. So very young.

So she came over for morning tea to say goodbye - but we will keep in touch so that is the main thing. Plus now I wont have a little newborn to cluck all over. Bee is getting old now, she seems like a toddler already and she is only eight months old. Cluck cluck cluck ... DH's worst nightmare!! :)

Bee had a horrible night sleep last night - in the end I gave up and co-slept her. She didnt too much better in our bed though, and DH ended up moving out to sleep on the lounge. She is getting her teeth through and the poor little darl must be in some pain. She is also really clingy at the moment which makes it hard to do anything around the house.

I really wanted to get that Carmen Electra Aerobics DVD out this morning for a workout but I didnt want to run the risk of my friend walking in while I was halfway through!?! Woulda scared the poor thing seeing me prancing around the livingroom.

Got my second BSC on tomorrow at 9am ... eeeeeeep so excited. I hope this one is better than last week's class! Im going to a different gym though. Im shopping around to see which class I like the most. I might even try a few different types of classes - like a body pump class instead of step. We will see.

Let me leave you with a fact I read on another site a few weeks back: "stressed" spelt backwards is "dessert" ... so I suggest if you have had a stressful week, try a new low-point dessert tonight! It will help you put aside the past and get on with the future. I suggest trying Pineapple Angel Food Cake:

Ingrediants:
1 box name-brand angel food cake mix
1 can crushed pineapple
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Method:
Combine the dry cake mix and the pineapple, including juice. Mix well. Pour into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish, and bake for 30 minutes

Yield: 12 servings
WW points: 3

Sounds good to me!! Have a great weekend! Bubyes!

Epiphany in Baltimore - Weightloss Tips

2005-09-08T14:24:00.000+10:00

http://epiphany.diaryland.com/weightloss.html

^^ Click on that link to see a list of fantastic weightloss tips. They are compiled by some guy that lost 50 kilos so he really knows his stuff. Although I have already know a few of them, its good to get them reinforced.