The past week...

What a way to end a busy week. I've been working more and having a 6 day work week so I sincerely apologise for not getting around to everyone's blogs promptly. Unfortunately after work, the last thing I want to do is sit at the computer *urgh*.

This is also the first week I hadn't planned so I had absolutely no fruit or vegies in the house. The shock, the horror! Unbelievable. I ate junk food every single day. It got to mid week and I just thought okay, I'll go with it for this week. I was having such severe cravings for junk that I embraced it and now I am well and truly over it.

My weigh in for this week is 73.4kg. That is a gain of .8kg and definitely not unexpected. I actually thought it'd be more. I know I had several Boost bars and copious amounts of coke. Unbelievable.

So here is a quick run down of my weekend which I really enjoyed!

• Friday night, Cath's Birthday dinner + drinks at the Botany View Hotel in Newtown. Cath's a cutey and has LOADS of friends. Lucky M and I had eachother LOL :-)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Saturday day, Nordic Walking with Anja Horst. Amazing but it was raining so we didn't go for the whole two hours. Anja has promised to make it up to us by giving us another session so when we work out the new date, there'll be another invite for anyone to come and join us!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Saturday night, off to the movies to see XMEN 3. Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, nice and Famke was looking pretty nasty hot herself. It's not the best movie but it was fun and I was after fun.
• Sunday, worked and then played blog catch up.

I tell you what, it really sucks having a one day weekend but lucky this is only temporary. Before the night is through, I need to make sure I do a Greengrocer shop so I am fully prepared for a fruit and vegie onslaught this week. Wish me luck!

PS. Hey KT, yep...eating junk for a week led to bad sleep, bloating, indigestion and a general feeling of yuckiness. I think I was more tired from the eating than working because my body was going crazy trying to process all the junk. I can handle 1-2 days of bad eating but all week was just plain digusting. I can't believe I used to eat like that.

Letting go of the past...

There have been a few significant moments in my life where I've let go of something and felt really free. One moment in particular was when I had the honour of having tea with Vali Myers and her friend Marianna, in Vali's Melbourne studio back in 2001. I was going through a messy period in my life but she made me feel so empowered with her spirit. Vali and Marianna also opened my mind to "loving my cunt" and appreciating it's power. I will never forget that afternoon. I was so young. That one chance meeting was a major turning point in my life and a moment that I will treasure forever.

Today I feel like that again. I feel free and at peace, something I have not felt for quite some time. I marked this moment today by physically discarding of items in my life that have kept me in the past emotionally. It's such a liberating experience and I encourage anyone that reads this to discard of one material item today, that keeps you attached to a past that is simply no more. It feels so good to acknowledge the past and then to let it go.

"To all that is wild, To all that is free..." Wendy Rule

May Challenge - End of Week 2

Goal Weight: 70kg
Last Week: 73.4kg
This Week: 72.6kg
Loss/Gain: -.8kg

Points Allowed: 154
Points Eaten: 167
Bonus Points: 26.5
Points Left Over: 13.5

I'll be back later in the week, busy busy...

Nordic Walking - Saturday 27 May

Would you like to join me for an introductory Nordic Walking group session?

Date: Saturday 27 May
Venue: Centennial Park NSW
Time: 10am - 12pm
Cost: $17 (inc. pole hire)

Walkers so far:
myself, M, Sarah, Cath, Bron (5)

from Anja, Health Concepts
"We can make a special session for you and your friends. If you want to experience Nordic Pole Walking a bit deeper, I would suggest we make a 2hr session. We could organize that at any location, but the Centennial Park is really nice to do Nordic Pole Walking. I'm happy to offer you a special price for this. I would propose we make $12 per person for the 2hr session and $5 pole hire. Basically that means you would only pay the group class price and still have the first hour free plus you would have your own class and I'll make sure that it will be fun for everyone."

May Challenge - End of Week 1

Goal Weight: 70kg
Last Week: 74kg
This Week: 73.4kg
Loss/Gain: -.6kg

Points Allowed: 154
Points Eaten: 193.5
Bonus Points: 30
Points Left Over: -9.5

So this is how it began...

• two nights before, we have an anniversary and ate big
• one night before, I ate Butter Chicken and know only too well that I instantly gain 1kg after eating that meal
  
• first and second day, my eating is right on target
• third day, it's Dan's birthday and hell, I can have my cake and eat it too right?
• fourth day, I realise that I'm not in maintaining mode anymore and that Butter Chicken and those two pieces of chocolate sponge cake WITH cream are NOT going to sit well
• fifth and sixth day, I was sitting pretty at 74.4kg
  
• seventh day, thank the goddess I enjoy exercise!

Exercise Completed

• Sat - 2 hr walk
  
• Sun - rest day
  
• Mon - 1 hr power walk
• Tue - 50 mins weights/resistance
• Wed - 1 hr power walk
• Thu - 50 mins weights/resistance
• Fri - 1 hr power walk

Weekly Saturday Morning Walk

This week we were introduced to a new little support buddy, M's DS2 *awww* who sang and danced for us. I gotta say, M was a legend. We walked for two hours fairly solidly and she held up strong. DS2 was an extra 12kg on her back so Cath and I had it pretty easy this week.

Once again, any Sydney Bloggers out there that would like to join us on the early Saturday morning walks are quite welcome, just send any one of us a message. We start walking at 7.30am and usually finish by 9.30am so you have the rest of your day to do whatever it is you do :-) It's a fun walking group, no pressure or prejudice, and it's an awesome way to get to know Sydney a little better too.

Have a great weekend guys and I'll finally be able to catch up on everyone else's blogs too this weekend. Cheers!

Great way to start the week...

Today I'm taking an Annual Leave Day and not doing any work for ANYONE. Some time out is in order and family time.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DANIEL *mwah*. Now what does one get for someone who is currently taking time off to finish their novel? A Retro 51 Tornado Groove Writer to sign their first contract with! I also spent the morning decorating the house and making breakfast, nice. That's some kind of love I reckon LOL.

So food wise, the weekend was a success getting completely back on track but this morning's efforts well, I will make up for it with a few extra walks/cycles this week. We don't have birthdays everyday 'round here.

Greengrocer also delivered a box of goodies this morning. I love buying the $30 box of fresh fruit and vegetables which is always a great mix and of excellent quality. We're all stocked up now so no excuses not to be eating all the good stuff.

A nice cup of tea...

and a sit down. I've just come back from a 2 hour walk around Darling Harbour, Harbour Bridge, The Rocks, Circular Quay, back up Macquarie Street, then Central and home again with the fantastic duo, Cath and M. What a super walk and an absolutely nutty way to start the weekend. I usually walk for an hour but 2 hours? Uh huh, it feels good though. We are going to try make it a weekly walk from now on so if any other Sydneysiders are up for it as well, drop any one of us a line.

Do you like my new *lipstick red* teacup and saucer? It's a bit of a novelty drinking tea out of something so pretty. They were on special at Myer and would you believe, Country Road? I like bold shapes and colours.

I've also decided that I want to get down to 70kgs. My exercise is back on track but my eating is still a little care free so I need to plan a little better. I looked over my food diary and realised that my biggest losses were when I didn't eat carbs at night, usually just a simple chicken and vegies. Now I know, I know, I'm not getting fanatical on you or anything but I can honestly look at my food diary and see patterns that show my carb intake could be halved. I eat a lot of bread and pasta and way more than is recommended for my daily intake.

I am entering my 4 Week Challenge phase today, starting right now (I forgot to weigh this morning). I hope to be 70kgs or pretty damn close to it by Sat 3 June which I figure is realistic. I was losing on average 800g per week when working towards my initial goal so all I can do is try my best. I need this focus right now and I think if anything, it'll help me with a few other issues in my life right now (study, work, family...).

Food Groups - Daily Intake

I need to make sure I get enough of each of the following food groups, daily...

• 1 serve protein
  
• 2 serves dairy
  
• 3 serves fruit
• 4 serves vegetables
• 5 serves cereal, bread, grains
• 6 glasses water

Four years on...

Life's looking good. Tonight was Dan and my 4th year anniversary. We're not a very conventional couple but we work and dinner tonight was at City Extra LOL, very classy. For a shifter, 24 hour eat and drinkeries are a favourite. Plus the clientele are a lot more interesting than at any flash restaurant I care to be uncomfortable in. Cheers babe!
Food wise? I'll be paying for it.

Quick Update

I needed to delete my previous post because it was a little too personal. Here's a link to the book I mentioned though because a few people have asked about it since - Toxic Parents by Dr Susan Forward. It can seem a little full on but with any self help book, you should only take what you want and need from it and if it helps you great but if it doesn't, try something else.

My own life is put back in perspective now. Gosh, I tell you what, I reckon someone is watching over me and making sure I don't wallow in my own self pity. Every time I have a crisis in my own life, someone else around me has a bigger one. I gotta laugh right now don't I? It's really bloody ridiculous.

Thank you to all the amazing support via email! You guys have really helped me see things a little clearer and made me realise that I am not alone in my experience. All we can do is the best we can hey!

So how about my exercise plan? It's going great guns. There's nothing like a medley of emotions, including anger and frustration, to get me motivated. My arse and abs are killing me now! Obviously not having worked certain muscles for quite possibly a month now, they're letting me know it. I love this feeling. I feel like I am walking on air and have so much more energy now that I've shaken up my routine. I am definitely a morning person.