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