Almost finished

master 4 the masterchef 

Round 2 is coming to a close,
things have been pretty insane around here but I will do a full rundown after I finish my fitness test.

Proud to report however I am 7.1kg down for the round, and 35.5 cm

Could have been more but yesterday I had lunch at the kinder restaurant,
I ate pumpkin soup, garlic butter, homemade pasta and a half a yoyo all lovingly prepped by Master 4's kinder group.

My jelly was in front of me for about 10 seconds before it was eaten by master 4....

I ate too much but I regret nothing!

Our menu eat your hearts out cause it was yummy! 

Day's like yesterday made me realize I will never make a good kinder teacher, but I sure as hell thought they were cute as buttons doing the chef, waiter, server, bartender roles but trying to keep fifteen 4 to 6 year olds on task for 2 hours would leave me in a blubbering mess.... not to mention my brain probability would have exploded

Both kids are also sick with colds, so getting them to eat anything has been an adventure, they are both living off yogurt and fruit muffins and once they are well again I will start dishing them up the 12wbt meals hopefully they will get on the bandwagon with minimal fuss and continue to show me that this program can work for families.

Master 4's drawing of me and him, and trying to write his name! and the little present we got when we arrived 

Winning

Master 4 getting in to the meatball prep

Work lately has really been getting me down, so much that I cannot change no matter how I want to, I've noticed that my attitude and sleeping patterns have been off because of it. I've taken 3 weeks leave with my final shift being last night. To be honest I have been entertaining the thought of changing jobs but continually putting it in the too hard basket while doing 12wbt. D also has next week off so I'm hoping for some clarity and a chance to really sit down and think about what I want and where I want to be career wise. I know it's not Friday but I have posted some winner NSV's on Facebook this week so I though I'd document them here, so that I can look back on those days when I'm feeling really low.

Even though I missed my dinner break at work last night, I didn't stop at Macca's on the way home, I bought a sandwich and a bottle of water from the service station. Didn't even consider getting chocolate.
I also looked at the nutrition panel, and choose with my head... though the chicken schnitzel one did look yum, wasn't worth the calories though!

I am $30 away from a brand new pair of Asic's that are on layby... I'm so excited as my poor old puma's are almost ready to fall apart.

We love meatballs

I take the high options at Attack and Combat classes, no more 'I cant' I do, until I physically cannot anymore instead of always option for the low options.

Kids have continued to eat EVERYTHING that is being dished up to them. Master 4 is interested and engaged and loves to 'help' cook. At the supermarket he takes great pleasure in getting the veggies that we need and even asks for help. He asked the produce worker where the Gai Lam was today as he couldn't find it.... hence we ended up with two bunches of endives instead but we will go with it.
You can stir fry that right?






I climbed the fire trail at Mt Dandenong with a good friend, took us 2 and a half hours, we got lost twice but made it up and back alive and almost willing to do it again. Though my butt was sore for a good two days.

Snapshot from the top, foggy but still beautiful 

I finally got into the workout tight bandwagon, snaffled some from Aldi, bought L and XL.... the larges fit like a dream so now not sure what to do with the XL pair... :D
My ass looks pretty hot in them too...

Last week had sore and aching muscles for 5/7 days, and kind of liked it

Have turned down yummy foods on offer and opted for better options, Been going to bed early and though still slightly addicted to popcorn and ginger nut cookies is much better than the bag of potato chips and lollies that I used to consume at night.

I ran a km in 6 minutes... does that make me a runner? I never in my wildest dreams thought that I could make that kind of time, that's real running time, not fat shuffling time.
That was with needing to slow and pull up said running tights, does that make them too big? or just gravity and my rolls not compatible at high speeds?



Fingers crossed for a good result tomorrow, though even if I lose nothing on the scales, I feel that I've all ready won :)

Weigh in Wednesday

Today I broke the the 4 week standoff that has been occurring with my scales and finally dropped below 85kg. I am most excited as 85kg was my pre-12wbt September goal with the long term goal of being under 80 by NYE this year.

I'm thinking it may be time to reassess that goal!

My internet was very rudely slowed to a snails pace due to master 4's habit of streaming ABC of the ipad then leaving it unattended only to start the stream again... the cheeky bugger has now worked out to install the app from the app store so deleting it is no longer a solution. Needless to say said technology has taken up residence in the shelf about the stove.

I am trying to think of ways to change up my exercise routines a little so have been swimming with the kids twice last week, I am thinking of having a go at an aqua aerobics class, just for something different. Did cycle at gym on Monday morning instead of running also my circuit class also recommenced last week and my SSS was a smash. Have a masterclass Saturday night so hoping that will take care of my SSS this week. Supposed to be at gym tonight for attack but my partner in crime had her wisdom's out so isn't sure if she can or not. I'm trying to think of something different to try but have yet to be struck by inspiration.
Master 4 and I had some post swimming ice cream yesterday but it was so worth it. I've found this week I've been around 80% complaint with the program, though on average am consuming around 1300 cal a day rather than the recommended 1200. For the moment it's working so I'll go with it as I think my head for some bizarre reason seems to think 1300 is a much more reasonable amount.... not sure on the origin of that logic but it is what it is.

Half way point of 12wbt, part of me can't believe i'm still going strong. The other part is furious I didn't sign up sooner!

Week 4 Weigh in Wednesday

Today I lost 200g

For some reason my mind continues to flutter back to a forum post that I have been stalking, that asks How committed are you?
I feel 100% committed, like I paid for this thing so now I WILL complete it... Grrr! I Track everything and I stress over meals and shopping lists, even on non pay week which makes it even harder. I feel that my commitment has not waned or devotion to the program.
However, If I am honest this week I've not been following the meal plan... well I have been eating the meals but not as the plan sets out. We swap days around or a dinner from Monday and a lunch from Thursday and my snacks are really not great.
I keep within calories most day but when my snacks are made up of 4 ginger nut snaps and flake all eaten after 10pm surely isn't the plan that MB had in mind. I think I need to go back to basic's and not play with the meal plan, surely the meals are in that order for a reason.
My exercise has been haphazard at best,  A few days of using my fitbit burn and wagging workouts but that's life for me, sometimes an addition 4 hours per day would be ideal. When I do work out, I smash it for everything I've got.

So although my compliance level with the plan could be rated at around 50% this last week, I feel my commitment to the program is still very strong.


                 Last weeks winner, fried rice... everyone ate this! 

My goals for this week,
1) Improve my snacks, go through the suggestions and actually prepare some wholesome and filling things not just treats and coffee.
2) I will complete all of my exercise this week, no excuses
3) I will stick to the meal plan, no more swapping, or if I do need to shuffle I'll move whole days rather than meals.

These past 4 weeks have been a journey for me, but not a negative one, I don't feel deprived, my hunger is sated and  I love not having to come up with meal idea's on my own. My partner and kids have adapted and are supportive and helpful with keeping me on track most of the time.
I am wearing my size 16 jeans and they aren't even tight, they fit well and I love myself sick in them.
My stamina has improved 10 fold on what it was before the program started, I now jump, run and sweat buckets when doing zumba and les mills classes, where before I ALWAYS took the low options, now I only take them if I need too.
My love affair with my teapot and assorted herbal blends knows no bounds and if I anyone had told me that I would be drinking tea over coffee 5 weeks ago I would have laughed in their faces.
I can overcome obstacles, say no to treats and still function when i'm sick, or my kids are sick.
I am almost ready to quit smoking, to the point where money is tight enough that I'm willing to give them up for a gym membership.... (who is this person?)

So I'll take my 200g loss, it might not be impressive and it may reflect a week of poor choices but they were mine to make and I don't regret them. A loss is still a loss and overall 4kg in 4 weeks is nothing to be laughed at.

Alas Miss 1 is very unwell so the past 2 days have meant lots of cuddles and thinking up new and exciting ways to coax her into eating and taking medicine. Master 4 is taking it in his stride and being a very loving a supportive big brother. Yesterday after realizing that I'd eaten nothing at 2pm and scoffed down a ham and cheese toastie I did feel guilty but I also knew it was the best  I could do. Being mummy comes first and sometimes despite our best intentions life does come to a halt and we just do the best we can. It's not always pretty but it's life. Damage control mode is better than out of control and the fact I still have half a block of lidnt chocolate in the pantry means things are changing.

Changes aren't always bad and scary, so even though I'm tired and a little hungry from not eating breakfast until 1030 I feel that I've stepped into a brand new world, and I like the way it looks.

Begin

So lets begin with an introduction,

I am 4 days shy of turning 31 years old, and for all of those years I have been 'big'

For the past few years I have gone from the happy fat girl to really caring a more about my weight. Not in the classical sense of I cant wear a bikini but because of the health implications. I speak no word of a lie when I say being big has not really bothered me, I was and still am a happy and outgoing person, I wore what I wanted and did what I wanted.
Through my teen's I worked hard, partied hard and didn't really pay much attention to what was going into my mouth.
Through my 20's I worked hard, studied, met the love of my life and became content in my chosen career. I also became a mother. I learnt some terrible and wonderful lessons in my time.
Then I turned 30, and my focus shifted it's not just about me anymore. I can keep being fat or I can change my ways. I have a family that needs me around, I want to be a grandmother and a great grandmother  want to be a blessing on my children, not a burden.
Now I have a family Master 4 and Miss 1 I am noticing the relationship that I have with food also reflecting onto my kids so the buck has officially been stopped. My son would live of chicken nuggets and chocolate and he LOVES to eat. Will my bad habits become his. All those times that I was told no, only to save up and eat that bag of potato chips alone and savor every mouthful. I don't want that for my babes,

I do not want my kids to be comfort eaters
I do not want my kids to be bullied or teased for how they look
I do not want my kids to grow up thinking that they deserve less because of how they look
Most of all
I do not want to be a hypocrite, how can I insist they eat well while I eat like garbage.

I have been slogging it out on my own using snippets of information and tracking what I eat. Though I have been losing it is painfully slow I have had failed attempts at a number of plans and programs that for whatever reason didn't work for me.

I have just signed up for the Michelle Bridges 12wbt,
and I'm excited, my other half is on board and my kids will have to come along for the ride.... kicking and screaming if need be.

That is the purpose of this blog not only to keep myself accountable but to show that this program can be kid friendly, I know it was my biggest concern signing up.

Life has changed, it's not just me anymore, whatever choices I make have a ripple effect on those I love so I need to tread carefully and be the best I can be which will hopefully result in my children being well informed and healthy adults.

Master 4, the hard sell

Miss 1, will try anything once 

I am not perfect but I will do everything in my power to set my children on the right path, and correct my own