Blog Closed!

I am no longer using this blog anymore, it is full of negative feelings and I want to be free of that. So I have set up a new blog for the start of my new round of 12wbt where I will be successful!

Peace out!
xoxoxoxoxox
If anyone wants the link to my new blog just FB inbox me as I doubt I will be back here!

It's been 2 weeks since my last confession ;)

I keep forgetting to update my blog. 2 weigh ins have passed by since my last post. In week 2 I lost 1.6kg and week 3 I lost 400grams.

 I haven't been able to fit in much exercise unfortunately. For the last 3 weeks I have been completing a full time course and then when I got home from there I was straight into cooking dinner and taking the kids to their sports. Then I headed straight to work. I really haven't had any time to stop and smell the roses, it's been pretty full on lately. And that is not likely to stop anytime soon. I start full time work on Tuesday for 10 weeks (yah yah yah) and I am keeping my part time night job also. So once again I am just going to have to rely on clean eating.

Speaking of clean eating, I have been doing really well, there have been a couple of crappy days but overall I am pleased with my efforts. I am enjoying the foods on Shannan's challenge but I so miss being an official member of the 12wbt. So much so that just tonight I have registered my interest for round 4 this year :)

In other news I am missing my spunky 14 year old terribly. He has been at Mt Hotham with his school for a ski camp since Monday. He is due home at about 9pm Friday night, but as I will be at work and I am sure he will be exhuasted I won't see him until Saturday :( This camp is a reward for kids who excell at sport and show great behaviour at school. And he most certainly deserves this reward <3

Week 1 of Shannan's 8 week challenge.

I was so happy to stand on the scales this morning and see a decent loss. My clean eating and getting back to the gym had paid off. Yahhh! It has given me the kick start I needed again :)

Tomorrow I start my new training course so I won't be heading to the gym all week, therefore, I will have to make sure my eating is 100% clean. My plan is to be as prepared as I can be by making my lunch and snacks the night before, as the mornings are pretty chaotic around here.

A little bit of visual motivation

The re-launch

So it's no secret that I bummed out big time with 12wbt rd 2 2012, I am sure it happened to lots of members at one time or another over the previous rounds and on different weight loss programs.  However, the difference with me is I am still hanging around. I may have gained 7kg but I am certainly not throwing a tantrum about it and giving up altogether. I am still here fighting with my head and it is definitely a hard battle to win. But I am determined to do it.

So that brings me to Shannan Ponton's 8 week challenge which started on Monday. My friend Raelee signed up before so we can now support each other on this journey even more. My goal for the 8 weeks is to lose as close to 10kg as possible and I figure I should do that quite easily as my body will be detoxing from all the crap I have been eating and drinking recently. Weigh in day has now moved from Wednesdays to Sundays and I am really enjoying the basic quick meals on the menu plans, although I think C-Dog is missing the fancy 12wbt meals, so I might have to throw a couple in every now and then!

In other news I am really excited about starting a training course on Monday, it will get me out of the house and stop the 'boredom eating'.  I am a bit concerned about it being in a male dominated field and I really really hope there is another female in the group. If not though I am sure I will cope. Being at the course will also put another halt on me going to the gym that I have just got back into. But my plan is to utilise my lunch break with a walk/jog every day :)

Ohh Ohhh Ohhh I nearly forgot. Yesterday I found out the date for Hollie's grade 6 graduation December 12th. Now for some primary schools the grade 6 graduation is quite small and a quick quiet affair. Well not for my kid's school. It is a pretty big deal with a reception venue hired, a 3 course meal served, boys in suits, girls in formal dresses with their hair and make up done, parents and teachers also dressed up. The children mostly all arrive in limos or fancy cars of some description. Hollie has already been looking for a dress to wear and I am finding it a bit diffcult to help her chose one. I am finding being 12 is such a hard age for dresses. Some are just too young and others are just too old. There doesn't seem to be that in between age styled dresses. Or maybe I am just being a prude with the 'too old' ones she has shown me?! Anyway this got me to thinking of what dress will I wear and how hard it was to chose one for the 12wbt finale a little bit ago. So this is just another incentive to lose some more weight so my options are almost endless :)

Hollie just loves Taylor Swift and showed me these 3 dresses. While I think they are all gorgeous I am just not sure the styles are appropriate for a 12 year old??

I can do that, right?!

I have been watching a bit of the Olympics on Foxtel and I find myself getting caught up in the excitement of each event. I am not fazed if an Aussie is winning or not, just to watch any nail biting events is enough to get me cheering. Yesterday afternoon I was watching the water polo Australia VS USA. I had to leave for work before it finished but it was so exciting and they made it look so easy. It got me thinking of what events I could try out for next Olympic games ;)

I could become a hockeyroo, I played a bit of hockey in high school, and Jeremy is representing his school today is a hockey tournament. Tennis was my all time favourite sport as a kid, I won heaps of trophies for it and I had everyone guessing with being a leftie, I would definitely make that team!!! Handball is another sport that interests me. I was a champ at handball at primary school, (although the Olympians play it differently to how I use to play it). Or there is Rhythmic gymnastics, that looks very similar to calisthenics and I did that for a few years and I am awesome at watching and supporting Hollie and her team at her cali comps. There are just so many sports that I could chose from that I could compete in. Judo is another one, I have heaps of skill and experience at playing 'tackles' and 'stacks on' on the lounge room floor with the kids. I have always wondered what the big deal with boxing was and why the heck it would be an Olympic sport, that was until I have participated in a few boxing classes at the gym. OHMEEGEE the adrenalin you get from punching at someone is freaking awesome, I could totally do that sport to win a gold medal! And the final sport I could totally win multiple medals at is table tennis. I am so epic at the sport, I kick everyone's butt in this house. Me being a leftie makes me even more awesome at this sport. And I own a table tennis that's folded up in the garage with dust all over it. Too easy.

So in saying all this I have all the experience and skill level needed to be the next Olympian. Right?!
Now, where do I forward my Australian Olympic Team uniform order request to?

Around this time last year...

I was sifting through all my family cruise photos and I had a light bulb moment about my weight. I knew it was time to do something about my health. I was adding the holiday snaps to facebook and an advert for 12wbt.com came up on the side. I took a look at the site and read about the program. I found some stories on members who had lost an incredible amount of weight. I knew this program could work for me. After I joined 12wbt I found out that I wasn't actually overweight, I was severely obese! What a kick in the pants that was. I knew I was fat but I didn't realise I was THAT fat!

Today while at Hollie's calisthenics competition it really hit home at how many kilos and centimetres I have actually lost. I didn't struggle to climb the stairs at the theatre, I fitted comfortably in the small theatre size seats with room to spare on either side of my seat (last year I had to squeeze my butt into the seat and I could feel myself oozing out the side of my seat and touching the person next to me). This morning when I put on the clubs uniform (tshirt and jacket), I could zip up the jacket with room to spare. Last year I couldn't even get the zip to meet together.

Another thing that just about brought me to tears happened last night. Yesterday it was my first borns birthday, he turned 14 and while I was wishing him a happy birthday with a kiss and a cuddle, he cuddled me back and was able to wrap both of his arms completely around me. He even managed to squeeze me hard and lift me slightly off the ground. I actually don't recall a moment when any of my kids have been able to fully hug me. It felt so good <3

Also with it being Jeremy's birthday yesterday and Callum's tomorrow (Monday) it made me think of how old I am (I can never remember) LOL. I will be turning 37 in October and definitely want to be entering my 40s as the best version of myself.

Last night at work I received a FB inbox from a charming person that calls themself KarBare, she (I'm guessing) wrote

'NicoleF, I am so glad you have failed at losing your weight, I knew you wouldn't be able to do it for long. I am actually surprised you lasted this long in the first place. I can't wait to see you stop posting altogether as I know you will be up to your original weight in no time, or even heavier. Have a good night :) KarBare.' 

WTF?? I have no idea who KarBare is but obviously she has some major issues. I tried finding her from the profile through the inbox but I'm assuming she has blocked me as FB just takes me to an error page.

What KarBare doesn't realise though is that she hasn't upset me or stopped me from my journey, infact her message has done the opposite. I am now more determined than ever to prove her wrong along with all the other haters. I have lost 20kgs before and most certainly can lose another 20kg.

I won't lose it in my original time frame but I will definitely do it :D and if I work my butt off it will be still in 2012. As I have said in previous posts I am not going to solely focus on the big number but the little loses instead, I am still going to reward myself for every 2.5kg lost. I have had to change my rewards however, as money is extremely tight at the moment (hopefully not for long though).

• M new rewards are  
• 84.5kg - Entry fee for Sussans Fun Run
• 82.0kg - Dusk candle
• 79.5kg - Movie ticket
• 77.0kg - Nice top
• 74.5kg - itunes album'
• 72.0kg - Jodi Picoult Book
• 69.5kg -  concert ticket money
• 67.0kg - make up
• 65.0kg - ink

ohh ohh ohh

I have a big goal to set my sights on. This evening I got an early bird email to register for the Sussans Womens fun run in November before the general public. I get a discount for competing in it last year. I did this event by myself and had so much fun, it was a great atmosphere. So I definitely want to do it again this year. I haven't been this excited about exercise in a while.

Rumble Jumble.

While I haven't got back into proper exercise yet, (I think I am close to a month of not entering my gym), I am slowly working my way back into it. I have got back into walking around my neighbourhood. Walking is the way I started my journey back in September and I enjoyed it so much, so I thought I would start back with basics. Also it is pretty much all I can fit in ATM as my diary is full with specialist appointments, sports duties, finalising costumes for Hollie's first calisthenics competition on Sunday (every year I leave them till the last minute!).

 I have been dealing with Hollie's anxiety levels for a week. She has been stressing about her braces coming off and being fitted for a plate. She was quite emotional on Sunday about it as Monday was her appointment date. She was more concerned about the unknown and she didn't know how Dr Scott was going to get the braces off. And then there was the mould and how she remember what it was like when she got it first done several years ago (OMG that was a nightmare back then!).

Thankfully her appointment went without any dramas (there were a couple of tears when the glue was being scrapped off) but other than that everything went smoothly. Now she goes back tomorrow to have her purple sparkly plate fitted.

Also Jeremy had an appointment with Dr Scott and is scheduled to have his braces put on in September after footy season. I can also expect Callum to need them in the next few years too. All thanks to my crappy teeth!

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

I'm still on the lookout for a job and I'm still applying for 10 a day but I haven't had many interviews, okay, I have had 2 this year!!!!

Thankfully the footy season is coming to an end, although there are still finals to be played also, Callum's team has definitely made the finals, but Jeremy's team need to win the next two matches to make it. And while Hollie's calisthenics season is about to begin at least it is not every week, I think she has 6 competitions this year between this Sunday and November. So not so bad in comparison to footy.

But I wouldn't change any of it for the world. <3

Oh and my current job sucks balls! We have just got a new store manager, the 3rd one in 2 years (!!!) and he has already earned the name Hitler! We have uniform inspections at the start of every shift to make sure skirts are at the appropriate level, name badges are worn, shirts are clean, tattoos are covered, mobile phones are not being used. Everyone has always followed the correct procedures (well maybe not with mobiles as all previous managers have been VERY relaxed with them especially for my area of work as most of it is done when the store is shut. The tattoo issue has just come and if we have tattoos showing they now need to be covered at all times even when the store is shut. I'm sort of ignoring that rule as I wear a cardigan anyway and I mostly wear it all the time but some nights it does get warm in the store and I either pull up my sleeves or take off my cardi. My supervisor is quite relaxed but if the store manager is still there when I am I will just have to sweat it out with my cardi on :/

Anyway it is time to have dinner - Spinach and Ricotta Cannelloni before the sport taxi service starts and then I head to work!

Failing scares me!

I always fail!
I do this every time!

This always happens!

It always ends the same way for me!
I can never stick to anything.
It's the story of my life!

 found this little doozy today and it sums up me to a tea. I have been on endless amount of 'diets', most just lasted 10 days before I gave in. I have never completed any courses that I so 'desperately' wanted to do. One of the courses I did, I got so close to passing with very high results until I decided I didn't want to do it with only 14 days left of the course! I quit my full time job just 12 weeks in as one of the other staff members were giving me a hard time.

I promised myself when I decided to join my first round of 12WBT that I would never quit at my new lifestyle/weight loss journey this time. I promised myself that I would embrace change and I would reach my goal weight. I promised myself and my family that I would succeed no matter how long it takes me. I promised myself that I would be determined, that I would believe in myself (hence my Believe tattoo) and that I would try my hardest at all times. Most importantly I told myself that the journey wouldn't be easy but it would be worth it, because I AM WORTH IT!

So in saying all that, this little road map definitely shows my journey right about now. Although I am closer to the end of 'Struggle Street' but 'Boring Bvld' does keep raring its ugly head. I have made it to 'Challenge Chase' and I did enjoy spending time there. I am actually quite excited about getting back there shortly. I just need to get back in the driver's seat and head on the road trip to my destination 'Awesome Avenue'.

The story of your life isn't the path that you have already travelled - it lies in the moment you raise your foot to take the next step.

What's changed?

Why am I struggling more with my weight loss in 2012 than I was when I started in 2011?

Why does it all seem too much and too hard now than when I first started?

Why are I constantly thinking about the wrong food choices whereas from September in 2011 I found my food choices a breeze?

Surely it is meant to get easier not harder?

Why have bad habits crept back in at full force?

Why did I break my 200+ days of being coke and chocolate free?

These questions plus many many more have been going around my head all day today, and the disturbing thing is I have NO FREAKING IDEA why I have gone backwards.

What happened from about February to suddenly turn things around so much? Since then everything stopped working properly - my thoughts, my care factor BLAH BLAH BLAH.

Who in their right mind loses just shy of 25kg and then just goes BLAH???

Why am I so good at offering advice to others but I can't take it on board myself?

It would be so much easier if I can figure out why my brain isn't cooperating anymore rather than playing these stupid ridiculous mind games with me. I used to be a great sleeper and would be sound asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow, now I find myself tossing and turning thinking about all the crappy things I did or didn't do during the day. Most often than not I cry myself to sleep. Then I come up with a plan to sort it all out but when the next morning comes I am back to square one again.

I've always been known and the 'carefree' and 'funny' girl, and quite frankly I am neither of these atm. Lately I've been wearing my pretend carefree and funny face just because it is easier to push the real faces and feelings out of the public eye.

I just wish I could figure out what's changed?

Sally the scales.

Yesterday was weigh in day. I wasn't looking forward to standing on the scales as I was only really starting to get back into the full swing of eating properly and exercising again. So after opening my eyes and checking what the scales (I've decided to call them Sally Scales) had to show, I was quite surprised there wasn't another gain showing. And while I also didn't have a loss, I was semi pleased with that Sally did have me in tears. So as of yesterday I am sitting on 87kg.

100 reasons why I want to lose weight!

I have been making up this list for about 3 weeks now, the first 20 or so came to my mind instantly and I was going to stop there but I thought I would leave it for a few days and come back again. Then I got to 50 and again I thought I was done so I left it for another week. When I came back to my list I had another writing spurt and got to 95. There was no way I could stop at 95, so this morning I made it to 100. I might even keep adding to it at a later stage.

  1. For me.
  2. For my health.
  3. For my family.
  4. To feel better.
  5. To be able to buy nice clothes.
  6. To be able to buy any clothes I want.
  7. To look better.
  8. To look nice in photos.
  9. To not hide from the camera.
10. To not cringe when my husband touches me.
11. To not be embarrassed about my body.
12. To not embarrass my children about my body.
13. To be healthy.
14. To fit into my clothes comfortably.
15. To not have people judge the food I eat.
16. To have more energy.
17. To be a healthy role model to my kids.
18. To be able to clothes shop online.
19. To lower the risks of heart disease, stroke etc
20. To not keep the family cycle of obsesity going.
21. To look good naked.
22. To show those who have doutbed my efforts that I can and I did do this.
23. To not be self conscience.
24. Because I deserve it.
25. To not be asked if I am pregnant.
26. To wear bathers with confidence.
27. To wear a bikini.
28. To buy nice sexy lingerie.
29. To not be the fat friend.
30. To lower my risk of cancer.
31. To be able to run.
32. To not be heavier than my husband.
33. To go on a clothes shopping spree.
34. To stick to something I have set my mind on.
35. To feel comfortable in my own body.
36. To add more years to my life.
37. To be able to not worry if a seat will hold me or I will fit into it.
38. To have a smaller firmer butt!
39. To be able to walk into any boutique store and know their clothes will fit me.
40. To have an inpsiring 'before' and 'after' photo.
41. To finish this journey I have started.
42. To inspire others to lead a healthy lifestyle.
43. To enter my 40s as the fittest and healthiest person I can.
44. To have a BMI under 25.
45. To have my weight in the 'healthy weight range'.
46. To show my kids (especially my daughter) a positive body image.
47. To be able to wear crop tops with confidence.
48. To get rid of my chubby tummy and spare tyre.
49.  Because I can.
50. To say I am happy with my body.
51. To get my body fat under 22%.
52. To never cringe at the word F-A-T.
53. To not have rolls of fat.
54. To be more postitive.
55. To prove everyone wrong.
56. To feel comfortable in knowing I can do any activity - sports, rides etc.
57. So people won't stare at me because of my weight.
58. To get a regular sized towel around me.
59. So I can fit into smaller jeans.
60. Be less self conscious about my body when I’m with other people.
61. To build muscle.
62. To stop whining that I need to lose weight.
63. To make exercise fun.
64. I want one chin.
65. I want to be strong.
66. I want to get on with life and stop obessing over losing weight.
67. I want to enjoy Summer and not wish Winter would hurry up to wear clothes that cover my body more.
68. When I am at my goal I could find a new New Year’s Resolution.
69. To show my husband that this is not another 'fad diet' that I will fail at.
70. I want to see my toes when standing up straight.
71. To be proud of myself.
72. To help control my asthma more effectively.
73. I want to feel comfortable with the lights on during 'intimate times'.
74. To be able to own a 'little black dress'.
75. To get smaller boobs!
76. I want to be able to stand in front of a mirror and like what I see.
77. To not have thighs that rub together.
78. Have a flatter stomach.
79. Feel sexy.
80. To feel excited about the future.
81. To look younger.
82. To feel younger.
83. To not feel like the biggest person in any room or at any function.
84. To feel inspired to dress better/nicer.
85. To wear size 12 clothes comfortably.
86. Be in control of my eating. Eat to live not Live to eat.
87. Prove to myself I can do it.
88. I want to know I am nurturing myself daily.
89. Regain confidence.
90. To get off the 'yo-yo' dieting mentality.
91. To show everyone that I will not gain the weight back.
92. I want to look great for my daughter's Grade 6 graduation at the end of the year.
93. I want to feel in control of my life.
94. To feel better mentally and emotionally.
95. To inspire others.
96. To show people I can walk the walk and not just the talk.
97. To say good bye to being the 'fat chick' who is sketched in my brain.
98. To reach the goals I set.
99. So I can sit on my husband's knee and know that I am not hurting him.
100. BECAUSE I AM WORTH IT!

This was a hard and heart wrenching list to make but I am proud of it <3

If this isn't a reward and motivation then I don't know what is!

Today a friend (Hi Raelee if you're a stalker yet!) mentioned to me that her husband is going to buy her a $1000 piece of Tiffany and Co jewellry when she reaches her goal weight, that's so freaking amazing and such an incentive for her as she adores her Tiffany bling! I have no doubt that she can achieve this goal <3

So I told Clint about Raelee's reward and he said he had one already planned for me but he didn't want to tell me about it until I was at my goal. But seeing as he mentioned it I just had to know straight away!!!

He said once I hit my goal of 65kgs he is taking me to ....

OHMYGOD!!!!

I have been dreaming about going to Paris since I got married nearly 15 years ago. It is on top of my travel wish list with the USA coming in a close 2nd.

With such an incentive like this I want to get rid of 22kg as quickly as I can <3

Here's to clean eating and mean training :) :)

10 ways to recharge your motivation.

Tonight I found a really cool site that offers snips and tips for general life stuff and everything in between. I can't stop reading through it, even though I should be in bed at 3:17am!!!
This is a gem I just found :)

People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.
-Zig Ziglar

Achieving goals is not a matter of possibility, it’s a matter of motivating yourself to focus on the right things. You know you should be doing something, but sometimes you just don’t feel like doing anything. This stagnation can last a long time if you don’t head it off and take action.

Here are some daily motivation tricks that work for me:

1. Get started!

This is by far the most important tip in this article, because in the end, all of the other tips in the world won’t make as much of a difference as this simple and timeless instruction: Sit down and start! Do you feel the push-back of laziness? There’s no better way to overcome it than to just start. Reading more about motivation won’t help. Reviewing your to-do lists won’t help. Only doing actually helps get the momentum going. And the only way to do something is to just start.

So stop thinking about how hard the task is going to be or how long it’s going to take you. Just get started! Not starting is failing. Start telling yourself, “As soon as I start working, I’ll feel more motivated.” Because once you start, you’ll realize it’s not nearly as hard as you thought it would be.

2. Find and use your positive voice.

As Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” Be aware of your self-talk and stay positive. Positive thinking can be amazingly powerful.

You have the choice to replace negative self-talk with a more encouraging and friendly voice. A voice that will consider your goal as not just a possibility, but a probability. A voice that does not look externally for validation before taking action, but rather uses self-belief as its driving force. A voice that realizes that any person who has ever achieved greatness had to do so against similar odds, and that all things are possible to those who commit to their vision.

Tell yourself over and over again that you can do it. Try saying, “I want to go to the gym,” “I am going to nail this presentation,” “I am going to have a great day,” etc. See what effect it has. Persist with this kind of positivity and eventually you’ll feel better about whatever it is you want to get done, and you’ll even start to fool your unconscious into believing it’s true.

3. Spend time with people who inspire you.

What better way to recharge yourself for improvement than spending time with someone who inspires you. They are smart, driven and motivate you to be better. Study their qualities. Study their habits. Surround yourself with them, talk to them, learn from them; they are already living and producing results at a level you admire and aspire to. Compare stories, successes and failures. Let their inner light guide you.

4. Start a friendly competition.

You can really raise your motivation with some friendly competition. We are all competitive in nature, take advantage of this by using it to fuel your motivation. Find a co-worker or friend with similar goals and turn it into a competition or game. The key is to find a way to make it fun. This will make the task or project seem less like work and more like play; and it will also encourage you to avoid defeat.

While you’re at it, mutually support each other toward your goals. Staying motivated on your own can be tough. A partner in crime always helps.

5. Think about how far you have come.

You have made so much progress, you just don’t realize it. Open your eyes and give yourself credit for all that you have accomplished. Think about it. Write down your past successes. Consider using a journal to keep track of them. You’ll probably be pleasantly surprised when you review your results. It’s a great motivator to see how much you have improved and how far you have come. You felt at the top of your game before and you can do it again.

And don’t forget to be patient. The problem with many of us is that we expect quick results. Think long term. If you want to run a marathon, you won’t be able to do it overnight. If you don’t see the results you want, don’t give up, give it time. Think of your goal as a long-term journey, and your slump is just a little bump in the road. In the mean time, be happy with your progress.

6. Embrace failure as a positive learning experience.

Ask yourself: What have I learned from this? As Michael Jordan once said:

“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

Do not judge failed attempts and mistakes as an indication of your future potential, but as part of the growth process. Something does not have to end well for it to have been one of the most valuable experiences of a lifetime. When times get tough, take a deep breath, and know that most great things come when you least expect it. Being defeated is a temporary condition; giving up is what makes it permanent. And most people that gave up didn’t realize how close they were to success. Push through!

7. Review, refine and breakdown your goals.

Set and pursue S.M.A.R.T. goals. These goals must be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely. And don’t be afraid to set big S.M.A.R.T. goals either. Establish goals that inspire you even if they seem slightly out of reach at the moment. If you set goals that are too easy to achieve, you likely achieve far less than you are capable of. As Les Brown said, “Shoot for the moon, and if you miss you will still be standing among the stars.”

Break down your big S.M.A.R.T. goals into realistic, high impact tasks that you can track. The thought of accomplishing a huge task can be overwhelming. Try taking small bites at a time. Break down your large tasks into mini goals. Daily actions will yield greater benefits than biting off more than you can handle. When you start to see your progress you’ll feel more alert and ready to tackle the next step.

For example, if you want to change careers, that goal may be driven by several smaller goals like going back to school, improving your networking skills, updating your resume or getting a new certification; and each of these smaller goals is then supported by even more granular sub-goals and associated daily tasks. And it is these small daily tasks that, over time, drive and motivate larger achievement.

Also, make sure your goals are truly YOURS, and in line with your values. If you’re striving for someone else’s goals you are never going to be motivated to pursue them.

8. Let the whole world know what you’re up to.

When you’re trying to do something you’ve never done before, it can take a lot of concentration and effort, and life can get lonely pretty quickly. To keep your motivation thriving, it’s important to let others know what you’re up to. Don’t be shy! Announce to the world that you are going to achieve a certain goal by a certain date.

Trap yourself. None of us want to look bad in front of friends, family and co-workers. If you’ve made a commitment to all of them, then the shame of saying you didn’t try will outweigh the effort of doing it. Hold yourself accountable, don’t just commit once, but commit to giving progress updates to everyone at least once a week.

9. Visualize your successful outcome in great detail.

Before we do anything our minds start seeing pictures of how everything might turn out. Close your eyes and visualize how great the events will unfold – see yourself smiling, hear yourself being positive and feel how great you will feel doing the task, leading the project, playing the game, attending the meeting. Form as clear a mental picture as possible. Do this every morning for at least five minutes. This is a surprisingly effective technique that will raise your motivation and enthusiasm, and get you into the right mood before you begin working each day.

Another great visualization / motivation technique is to post physical reminders all around you. Post a picture of your goal in a place you’ll see every day. Set it as your desktop wallpaper, or post it on your wall, refrigerator or bathroom mirror. The idea is to keep your mind focused on end result and keep your excitement going.

10. Spend some time every day working on a passion.

There are some things in life that you just have to do, even if you aren’t passionate about it – cleaning the house, paying bills, finishing that task for your boss, etc. But the dilemma of doing these things is greatly reduced if you spend a decent amount of time each day working on something you love – something you’re truly passionate about. Because subconsciously you know that regardless of what you’re doing, your passion is still part of your day. 

So make time to focus on doing something you really want to do. Take an hour break and work on something that’s meaningful to you. Engage yourself in a meaningful personal project, or pull the trigger on starting something you’ve wanted to do for a long time, but haven’t yet had the resolve to do. Do so, and your motivation and happiness will skyrocket.

STOLEN from HERE

I'm back!

After a terrible a few weeks I am back. I have re-focused on what I want and I know how I am going to get there. I am actually quite excited about the next few months.

After talking to some very dear friends to me - Hi Raelene and Judy!) I am now focussing on smaller more achieveable goals - 2.5kg at a time. I have set up some rewards for when I reach these goals. I have posted them over on the right side so that I can see them often at a glance. I will post it here also :D
                                                         
84.5kg - Dusk candle
82kg - Piercing
79.5kg - Ink
77kg - Movie ticket
74.5kg - Phone repaired
72kg -Manicure
69.5kg -Concert tickets
67kg -Make up (good quality)
64.5kg - Ink

Some goals I am going to achieve.

I have always struggled with my water intake, some days the only water I have is the amount I drank at a workout session. I always have good intentions of making sure I am having the correct intake but for whatever reason I don't follow through with it. However, that is going to change. Previously I would just use any bottle that is lying around the house, I have never had my own drink bottle before. So tomorrow I am going to buy myself one and I will have it with me at all times. It will be mine and noone will be allowed to even look at it. I am even going to mark on it like the one if the picture. My water intake is a major goal to achieve for me this round.

A friend posted this picture in my local CC12C group. I have joined in the fun of working on my abs. They have been negeleted for so long I know they will love this lol

Round 2 2012 - Week 1 Measurements and Fitness Test

Round 2 2012 - Week 1 Measurements

Weight - 84.1
 Chest - 103cm
Waist - 93cm
Hips - 109cm
Thigh R - 56cm
Thigh L - 57cm
Arm R - 28cm
Arm L - 28cm


FITNESS TEST - Week 1
1km time trial - 6 minutes 37 seconds.
Push Ups toes - 10
Push Ups knees - 35
Abominal strength - 1
Wall sit - 1 minute 15 seconds
Sit and Reach +11

                                                 These photos were taken yesterday, I weighed in at 84.1kg.

I changed my mind!

A few weeks ago I said I wasn't going to join Round 2 of the 12WBT, well I ended up joining again during the week. I so need this. I need to re-focus and I need to Just FUCKING Do It! I am up to date on the pre season tasks, I have looked at my excuses, and my goals. I need to work more on the organisation but I am going to succeed. I am going to lose 10kg this round. I am going to be harder on myself and I am going to be the best version of myself. I am going to make others proud and I am definitely going to make myself proud.

                                   I am worth it!

Round 2 celebrations at the workout and finale party

So it all started on May 18th with the 12wbt mock workout for Mish to talk about the world record attempt on the Channel 10 morning show. I was there as I really wanted a chance to get up close with the woman herself as I knew that would be vitually impossible on Saturday. I am so glad I did, it was so much fun and not only did I get a photo and a signature I also got to have a little chat with Mish <3.

On Saturday I was up bright and early to pick up Lisa, Judy, Katrina and Anita so that we could head to our apartment and then off to the 'before the workout shananigans'. Melbourne really showed everyone what it can do weather wise. It rained the whole way into the city and by the time the workout started it was sunny and slighly warm!

I loved the workout, it was great to spot so many people that I have 'meet' online before and I was able to get photos with Margie and Alex from The Biggest Loser. Margie was an absolute hoot :D I thought it was great that little circuits were set up for us to move around to, I thought it was extremley well organised, I actually wish it went a little longer actually lol

It was totally awesome to be a part of the world record for so many people at one group exercise at once :) A very proud moment for Mish and her 12wbt crew and team. She totally deserves everything that comes to her.

After the workout we headed back to the apartment to have a few pre-finale drinks and we did a spot of shopping.

We then all got dressed up ready to party the night away. Everyone looked so beautiful and it was nice to see everyone in dresses/suits instead of workout gear.

The venue was spectacular and so elegant. There was a slight lack of service staff around for drinks and nibbles but overall I thoroughly enjoyed the evening. It was so much fun :) After the party we headed to the casino for a few drinks and a chat. Although we are not as young as we think as we weren't there that long. We were tired and sore and wanted our beds.

Big hugs and kisses to Jude for letting us stay in her family's apartment, it was very much appreciated xx

Photos to come :)

end of 12wbt round 1 2012

Oppsy I got slack again :/
25th April - 82.9kg  loss of 400 grams.
2nd May - 82kg loss of 900 grams.
9th May - 83kg gain of 1kg :/
So I ended round 1 2012 at 82kg, for this round I lost a measly 4.3kg

Tomorrow is WWWW and I am not sure what to expect, for once I actually haven't stood on the scales several times a day every day this last week. I have had an up and down week, with only basic exercise and some crap choices. I'd be happy with just a tiny loss this week.

In other news I WON the video blog competition on the 12wbt site. I'm now stalking the postie for my $500 worth of Natures Way products :)


So now Round 1 2012 of 12WBT has come to an end and I can say I didn't have a very good round. Actually I would go as far as saying I bombed out. I haven't checked my goals that I set but I don't think I acheived any of them.

I seem to be chasing the same 3-4kg over the last 12 weeks. My 12 weeks went like this - loss, loss, gain, loss, same, loss, same, loss, gain, gain, loss and a loss. I guess this just shows how meast up my head was this round.

However, I'm not sitting here having a pity party! It has been my own doing and I need to get myself out of it. I need to own this whole 12+ weeks and move forward if I want to be able to reach my goals.

My fitness test was completed and I have improved overall. My results for this round are-

 I know I am much fitter today than I was back in September when I started my journey. I am much more happier than ever before. I need to be accountable to me and not everyone else around me. I need to get my focus back and I need to JFDI. And I have to realise that while it is all hard work it is so very much worth it. I am worth it.

I won't be signing up to Round 2 of the 12WBT but I most certainly will be continuing my journey. I am going to be putting less pressure on myself though. Of course I do want to reach my goal weight of 65kg by September but if I don't have good weeks I am not going to punish myself.


                                                             Taken 5th May 2012- 82kg
                                                             total loss of 23.5kg.

My ultimate goal weight reward has been decided.

I am 17.9kg away from my ultimate goal of 65kg. My reward for this goal is something quite major for me. It will change me completely and make me so much more confident and happier. Obviously losing 40.5kg will do a reward in itself but I am after more than that. I'm not ready to share my reward yet, as it is quite personal but between now and September (when I plan to be at goal), I will be researching about it as much as I can. :)

What a day!

This morning I was woken by a text message from Liv (a friend from CC12C) saying 'yahoo for you'. I had no idea what she meant so she told me to check my emails and the CC12C page. After looking I found an email from Mish saying I was one of the finalists in 'making the impossible possible' video blog competition. How cool is that. I have never won one of the competitions on the 12wbt site before. And now the 12wbt members need to vote for their favourite video blog. If you want to vote for mine then you can do it here -

Vote for Nicole F in the video blog competition

My next lot of news is that it is also WWWW today :) I was super nervous all last night about weighing in this morning, I didn't sleep too well because of it. My water intake wasn't as good as it could have been for the whole week, my exercise effort was only about 70% and my food was about 75% so I was expecting a small gain. Instead I was surprised with a loss of 400grams. I am taking that and running :) So I'm now 82.9kg.

News #3 is I found a dress for the 12wbt finale :) :) :) :)

I have always dreaded clothes shopping, I found it depressing and such a chore, I always just wanted to get into the shop and get out as soon as I can. I hardly ever tried anything on and 'just hoped for the best' when I got it home.

Well that has now changed. Today I had an absolute ball spending hours looking through gorgeous dresses ...and trying them all on. While some looked a bit plain or just not right, I didn't care. The fact that I actually took them off the rack from the 'normal sized' section made me feel amazing.

My choices were cut down from 6 dresses down to 2 and I still love the 'runner up' dress, however, the winning one made me feel so comfortable and on top of the world. I adore it. I might still go back for the 'runner up' just to have in my wardrobe.

Todays shopping adventure has really nudged me back into top gear to get to my goal. I can now see a clothes shopping addiction coming soon :)

Weight in time ....again !

Just as I thought I had a gain this week, it wasn't a big gain (300grams) and I am ok with it. I mean I did this to myself noone else. I am definitely owning it and I am moving on now. I weighed in at 83.3kg.

                                         This picture definitely resembles my round of the 12WBT!

Ready to get back on track.

For a few days my mindset wasn't co-operating with me, my food choices were crap - actually I wasn't eating much at all but when I was, it was processed foods, I wasn't drinking any water and I definitely wasn't exercising. I had no energy, I felt blergh and I was making excuses after excuses. I hadn't made a menu plan for the last 2 weeks, I was just 'winging' it for each meal. Today I have pulled myself out of my slump and I am fired up to get back on track now. I have made up the menu plan for the week and I am ready to go. I will get back to eating 1200 calories a day and I will be smashing out 500 calories a day with my training. I have decided not to focus on how many weeks are left in the 12wbt anymore, I am focussing on my journey as being a forever lifestyle change for good. I am reassessing my goals and I'm going back to basics in terms of setting smaller goals and rewards :)

My first goal is to be a 70s girl. I have been sitting in the 80s for far too long. I am now 2.1kgs away from 79.9kg. Being 79.9kg will also move me from being obese to overweight :)

I am expecting a slight gain on Wednesday but for now I am back on track.

I forgot to note down my weight from WWWW on the 11 April - 83kg. (400 gain)

I think I'm redeeming myself

Phew ! Today I walked and jogged my little legs off. I went on a 10km walk with some 12WBTers along an Aqueduck Trail in Pakenham. It is mainly a gravel track with a couple of hills. It took us about 1 hour 40 mins to complete and I smashed 860 calories away. When I got home I finished off some housework to make it to my 1000 target :) woo hoo. I was planning on mowing the lawns but the rain didn't let up today and I had to go to work so I was strapped for time anyway.

I love the duck (as it is know to the CC12C team) so much that I am taking the family there tomorrow for some last chance training :)

Today I also had a bit of fun playing with some photos and an iphone app I found and this is what I acame up with -

                                          The photo on the left was taken on our family cruise holiday
                                               in July 2011. I think I was about 106kg then.

                                         The photo on the right was taken on Saturday (7/4/12)
                                                                   and I weighed 82.6kg.

Easter 2012

I don't want to see another Hot cross bun ever again. I ate a few this weekend and I didn't enjoy them like I used too,  yet I kept going back for more :( Yesterday I had 3 (2 fruit and one plain) and last night when I went to bed I felt so sick and bloated. Today I had another plain one and I did enjoy it but I didn't really want it, I just ate it because it was there. Stupid hey ?!

My plan this Easter was to stay away from CB and Easter eggs and I did really well up until this weekend. Yesterday when I bought the kids a rabbit each (and some other pressies - Jeremy an itunes card, Hollie Twilight DVD and Callum nothing but I found some hidden sherbert at home), I also bought Clint and myself an egg each. Clint got a small cherry ripe one and I got a small crunchie one. I ate mine for breakfast, I think I just wanted it out of sight lol. It was nice but now I do regret eating it, especially as I am so close to 2 mini goals :/

I have a lot of work to do to get all that crap out of my system to have a loss on Wednesday morning.

I'm feeling really good today !

I always knew this weight loss thing would be hard work, hence me taking so long to get my arse into gear and for my mindset to be focused.  As a child I was solid and into my teens I was overweight, this continued into my adult life and moreso after having children.  I have tried many many programs before and had ok success within the first few weeks, but then it all fell apart very quickly. I either sabotaged myself with binges or I just got plan bored with the food I was having. However, I kept going back to diet after diet and pills and shakes were also appealing. At one stage I even looked into surgery, the only thing that stopped me was the financial cost of the operation and hospital stay. Now though I am so glad I didn't go down that path as I don't think it would have taught me anything about the right food choices, calories and portion sizes.

So once I found out about Michelle Bridges and her 12WBT program I pretty much knew I was onto a winner from the minute I signed up. I have NEVER lost the amount of weight I have before on any other program. I have said this before but I truly it has been successful because of the pre season tasks and the mindset lessons. In round 3 2011, (my first round) I got so much out of them all and I was blown away when I lost 16.8kg in that time. I was hoping to have the same KG lost results this round but that hasn't happened and I am sure that has everything to do with me being less organised this round and for letting my portion sizes get too big. My food choices have been great, it is just the sizes on my plate. I am focussing on that though. My exercise is really good and I am enjoying it, I have changed things around so it stops boredom before it hits. 

I do also owe a lot to my local 12wbt group - CC12C, these ladies are absolutely incredible, motivating and inspiring. It is so awesome to be able to hang out with people who have a common bond with me. It is so good to know that you are not the only one going through ups and downs relating to similar issues. These girls rock :) :)

So in saying all that, today I am feeling freaking awesome.

                                                     82.6kg - taken Easter Saturday 7/4/12
                                                                       22.6kg lost

Week 8 fitness test

 I got PBs all round :)
1km time trial - 6minutes 4seconds (1.03 faster)
Push ups (toes) - 10 (6 more)
Push ups (knees) - 35 (21 more)
Sit & Reach - +17 (12 more)
Wall Sit - 57 seconds (32 sec more)
Abdominal Strength - 1 (1 more)

Happy Easter to everyone and try not to over indulge too much on the chocolate and hot cross buns :)

Milestone Week 8 - weigh in and measure up

I had a 1.2kg LOSS this week, I am so happy with that result after the last month's results being dismal. Hopefully now I am back on track and I can finish this round much stronger. So I'm now weighing 82.6kg and in total I have lost 22.9kg. I am still much further behind than I wanted to be in terms of weight loss for this time frame, but I figure at least I haven't given up :)

I did my measurements this morning -
Chest - 104cm
Waist - 96cm
Hips - 113cm
Thigh L - 60cm
Thigh R - 59cm
Arm L - 30cm
Arm R - 29cm

Since starting round 1 2012 I have lost 35cm from my body. From starting round 3 2011 I have lost 59cm.

Doing the calculations it seems so far I have lost more kgs in round 3 but more CMs in round 1.

4 weeks worth of weights

Oppsy I just realised I haven't been adding my weights on here each week. They haven't been anything to rave about at all.

The last time I noted my weight done here it was on February 29th - 84.7kg. Then it followed with -

March 7th - 84.3kg
March 15th - 84.3kg
March 21st - 83.8kg
March 28th - 83.8kg

hmmmm there seems to be a pattern happening and I am not happy about it ! I am really hoping for a decent loss this week - for me that means more than 1kg.

How times have changed.

I have always watched The Biggest Loser but this season is the only one where I haven't watched it while chomping into chips, chocolate and coke ! In previous seasons I never cried at the contestants journey's or I have never had a favourite trainer or I have never been really inspired by anyone on that show. However this season, things have changed more than ever. I love watching the show ( I have to record it and watch it the following day or so because I work at night), I love knowing how they actually feel after a big training session and the mixed emotions that go with a weight loss and lifestyle change journey.

So to be given the chance to do a training session with the trainers and the contestants was a dream come true, it happened at just the right time as it has now given me a much need boost :) I loved being able to share the experience with friends - Lisa, Judy, Raelene, Bec, Chantelle and Alicia. It would have been extra special if some time was actually set aside for photos and signatures with the trainers, but other than that I loved every minute of it <3


                                               Lisa, Raelene and Judy at Melbourne airport.         
                                                       

                                                                          Me !!!!                                                              
   

                                           Judy, Raelene and Lisa in our 12wbt CC12C tshirts

                                                       The lazy girls way of doing squats !

                                                                 The CC12C represent :)
                                                 Judy, Bec, Chantelle, Raelene, Me and Lisa.

                                                                
                                                                      Girl Crush <3

  The trainers - Tiffiny, Michelle, Shannan and drool The Commando

                                      Judy and myself were lucky enough to get a photo with Tiff

                                          I was able to get my CC12C tshirt signed by Tiffiny

Look where I'm going TOMORROW ....

                                                
                                                 WOO HOO I am so freaking excited !!!!!

So myself and and some of my other CC12C friends are going - Lisa, Raelene, Judy, Chantelle, Bec and Alicia aswell as some other randoms ! It is being held in Sydney so we L, R, J and myself are flying out first thing in the morning and we can't wait. I am super nervous but totally pumped for this experience. I personally can't wait to meet The Commando as I am sure he is just a pussy cat and not a tiger hee hee. The contestant I was hoping to meet the most was Simon, I think he seems like a lovely bloke who has worked his butt off this season, but now that he has gone I am on the look out for Casey :)

                                                  check out this video of the trainers <3

More than just weight loss.

I have been very fortunate to meet IRL some amazing, caring, friendly and inspirational people since joining the 12WBT. One that I am very thankful for is Raelene, she is such a great motivator and is so freaking funny. I have trained with her several times and she really knows how to push everyone to go harder. Raelene and I did a group training session a little while ago with the gorgeous Lisa Farmer and at one stage we were running against each in intervals, my HR managed to get 160 several times !!!! That's just insane but it was so much fun. Anyway, a few weeks ago Raelene gave me a heaps of clothes that are too big for her now (20kg lost for her baby!) and I am so so so thankful to her. They are all gorgeous pieces of clothes and I love them all <3 Thanks chicky :)


                                       This was taken today (25/3/12) my last weigh in was 83.8kg

This was taken Monday 19/3/12 at 84.3kg

Hmm after looking at these pics more, I really would like the double chin to be gone !

Relay for Life

On March 16th and 17th I particiapted in Relay for Life with some of my local 12wbt crew - CC12C is our name (Casey-Cardinia 12 chicks). It was a fantastic exeperience to be apart of and I thoroughly enjoyed my 24 hours at the event. It was extremley tiring but worth every minute. Our team raised over $3000 to go towards cancer research which is something to be really proud of. We are already registered for next years event !

Challenge 5.

1. What adjustments have you had to make to your exercise regime over the last 6 weeks? 

I have started using the C25K program more seriously. I am now more determined than ever to be able to run/jog.

2. What have you changed in regards to your food intake? 

I have had to cut out some of the regular 12wbt meals and it was starting to impact on my family financially, so I now follow the dinners but I am more laid back with the breakfasts and lunches, however I am still sure to stay within 1200 calories a day. 

3. What is the difference in your mindset? 

 

I am definitely more confident with everything in general. I wear clothes I have never worn before (tighter fitting). I am more open to taking compliments more postivily now whereas previously I would have put it back on the person giving a compliment.

 

 

Challenge 4.

So, what does being healthy mean to YOU? What is it that has made you start this journey into being a healthier you?
It means not having to rely on using my Ventolin puffer all the freaking time. It means being able to exercise while having fun. It means enjoying being able to play sports with my kids. It means being less tired and grumpy. It means being more happy and spontaneous.

Challenge 3.

How will you acknowledge and reward yourself during Round 1, 2012 of the 12WBT? What are the small wins? What are your big accomplishments? How will you achieve these and how will you reward your efforts? (food doesn't count!)

Since starting the 12wbt last in round 3 2011, I have been rewarding myself at every 10 kilos.

At 10kg I got a new tattoo :)

At 20kg I bought a pink Polar FT4.

The next 10kg have been really really hard so I think I will re evaluate my goals and rewards and I might drop them down to 5kg intervals.

Challenge 2.

So this weeks challenge is to look at what are you actually TAKING up? What are you giving yourself? Are you learning something new? Taking up a new sport? Giving yourself a social life?

Since starting my 12wbt journey last year the greatest thing I gave myself was a gym membership which has made exercising so much more fun. I now exericse with new found friends and it really takes the hard work and pressure out of building up a sweat.

Stolen !

A friend who I meet through this awesome 12wbt has shared her blog with me and I feel really honoured to be able to share her journey with her. The lovely Raelene has joined a blogging challenge and I have decided to copy it, (although I'm not apart of the challenge).  I hope that is not bad blogging ettiquite (however it is spelt).

Anyway, this was the first challenge -

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. What makes you, you?

I'm a mum, I have been a mum for almost 14 years and really that is all I feel I have been known as. My kids are my world and they have always come first with everything I have done. I have always put myself and my needs 2nd to theirs. I have always figured that is what mums do. Now I know that there is time for me and that there needs to be time for me. I need to be the best person I can be to be the best mum those 3 cherubs need me to be. So losing weight and getting healthy is definitely my top priority now.

2. Why did you decide to do the 12WBT?

I decided to join the 12wbt back in August 2011 when my family came home from a wonderful 8 night cruise on a P&O ship to the South Pacific. I was sorting through our holiday snaps and it finally hit be that I was FAT, or moreso not just fat but moridly obese. It was the same day I came across Michelle Bridges on Facebook. That day my life changed forever :)


3. What are you hoping to achieve through the program?

Obviously weight loss is my number 1 reason for joining the 12wbt, but not I realise there is more to it than just weight loss. I want to have the right mind set  and I want to learn how to make the right choices. I also have found it a great way to make meet new people with similar goals to my own.

4. Why have you decided to blog about the 12WBT? What will be the main focus (eg, food, exercise, a bit of everything?)

I decided to start blogging last year as a way to keep myself accountable and to put my thoughts on paper without any judgement. Most of what I write is focussed on my achievements.

5.How will you be exercising this round? Gym, home, outdoors or a mixture?

At the gym. I am so in love with the gym and the classes and equipment that it offers. I have joined a gym previously many years ago when I thought I was ready to lose weight but I think I only ever walked in the door 5 times. Now though, I go 6 days a week.

6. What is your greatest strength that will help you?

My greatest strength would have to be my support network. I definitely couldn't do it with them all.


7. What are you afraid of?

F.A.I.L.I.N.G

8. What are you looking forward to the most over the next 12 weeks?

Having the tools to guide me to make the right choices in all aspects of my life.

9. What is your downfall? Food? Exercise? How will you overcome this?

Definitely food. I am a lazy cook and I take short cuts all the time. I need to be prepared in advance.

10. If you had to pick one word to motivate you over the next 12 weeks, what would you choose?
twelve (size)

Week 4 Fitness Test and Measurements

Today I completed my week 4 fitness test and I had some great improvements.

Yesterday I did my fitness test -
1km time trial - 7 minutes 10 seconds - 41 seconds faster than week 1.
Push up - toes 4 (haven't previously done these on my toes before ) knees 31 (17 more than week 1)
Strength test - level 1 (no improvement)
Wall sit - 40 seconds (15 seconds longer than week 1)
Sit and Reach 16cm (11cm more than week 1)

Measurements-
Chest - 104cm (previously 105cm)
Waist - 100cm (previously 104cm)
Widest - 114cm (previously 128cm)
Thigh R - 60cm (previously 63cm)
Thigh L - 60cm (previously 63cm)

The blog updates have been few and far between but I have been busy kicking exercises butt !

oppsy, I keep forgetting to update in here, this round I have been very blog slack !

Since my last update I have been really busy trying to kick some more kilos. I have had some up and down movement on the scales since the official start of the round kicked off.

I started Round 1 2012 at 86.3 and since then I have weighed in at 84.8, 84.2 and last Wednesday it was 84.7. To say I am disappointed with my results is an understatement but I have noone else to blame except myself. The exercise has been exceptional especially when I got a Polar FT4 as my 20kg reward and I could actually track my calories smashed. The nutrition side of things is freaking hard work still. I mean I am not eating anything nasty, I am just eating too much of the good stuff, my meal portions definitely need to be monitored more closely. I also found last week I skipped lunch 3-4 times in the week. I just didn't feel hungry at the time but then come dinner time I was starving. Anyway, I know where I have been going wrong and I know what I need to do to fix it all up. Also a few days away with girlfriends and lots of alcohol certainly doesn't help :P

I forgot to mention last post that on Australia Day, Clint, Lisa and Myself did a 6km fun run on the Peninsula. It was a great day walking/jogging along the foreshore. We all even got a medal for our efforts :) My goal was to do it under 1 hour and I did it in 58 minutes I think it was :)

I have also climed the 1000 steps a few weekends ok, I think I recall I did that in about 40 minutes, I am hoping to improve on that.

Last week Clint, myself and some of the fabulous 12wbt local girls in my CC12C group did a 5km and 10km run/walk. My goal was to do it under 45 minutes and I made that by the skin of my teeth... 44 minutes and 59 seconds !!!!

I am loving the fun runs that I'm doing and I would love to be able to do more but financially it is really hard unfortunately. I really wanted to do the Run for the Kids, but right now I will have to give it a miss. There are just too many other 'more important' things that need my money atm.

Last weekend my local gym was raising money for their support group and they organised a Dance Party of 2 hours of Sh'Bam and Zumba, once again the CC12C girls came along and we all danced the morning away in 38 degrees. Phew it was hot !

This Saturday coming I am doing my very first boot camp session to help raise money for the RFL, a few of the girls from CC12C are also doing it so it should be good fun

Something that I am really looking forward to it happening in 2 weeks. Relay for Life. I'm staying for 24 hours to support and complete as many laps as possible, it is for such a good cause and will be a lot of fun :D

As I said the exercise part is well and truly covered. :D

Week 1 Fitness test and measurements

Yesterday I did my fitness test -
1km time trial - 7 minutes 45 seconds (intermediate)- 7 seconds fast than week 12.
Push up - 15 (beginner) 1 more than week 12
Strength test - level 1 (beginner) same as week 12
Wall sit - 35 seconds (beginner) 5 seconds more than week 12
Sit and Reach -

Measurements-
Chest - 105cm (previously 115cm)
Waist - 104cm (previously 112cm)
Widest - 128cm (previously ??)
Thigh R - 63cm (previously 70cm)
Thigh L - 63cm (previously 70cm)

My BMI has gone from 39(severely obese) in September to 32(obese) today !

I'll be taking my Round 1 2012 before photo later today. I can't wait to compare it with last years :)