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