Garden Party Dresses

Last Wednesday, I went shopping to see if I could find something to where for my birthday. 

Over the last 5 months I've lost over 15kgs, and was looking forward to rewarding myself with a beautiful dress for my birthday. 

Problem was, nothing fit... still. 

It was massively discouraging... 

and now I keep thinking I won't be able to fit into something beautiful before my birthday. 

I really wanted to wear something lacey and feminine and it is really hard to find that in larger women dress-sizes.

Tonight, I thought I'd just have a quick look to see if there were any shops around with something like what I had dreamed of wearing. 

The first site google showed me, had 3 dresses I liked! 

Pity that their only store location is in Melbourne!!!

Anyway, have a look...

What do you think?

Choice one - because look at that lovely lace!

This would probably be choice two, because of the soft colour and long flowing nature of the dress.

Choice three... because of the gorgeous ruffles... this probably ties for second... the colour would look better on me.

Incentives

So, I'm still on the weigh-loss train. I've done pretty well... Since late October last year I've lost 13 kgs. Not a bad effort. But still more to come off.


A friend of mine suggested I should think of how I would like to celebrate my 30th birthday (in a couple of months time). As I've been weaving plans and dreams, it has offered me with the opportunity to give me some incentive to continue my weight-loss challenge.


Here is a poster that is currently stuck up in my kitchen, used to inspire me towards this goal...

Over the next couple of months you should see some more ideas and crafty activities that happen as I prepare from my birthday. Oh, and I really need to keep accountable to continue my weigh-loss journey!

Review Goal Session #1

Yes, today was the last in the first 9 weeks (it has actually been a little longer) of the Vision Personal Training Program. This meant I had to have a final weigh-in for the 9 weeks and have a whole heap of  other measurements taken.

Well, I was surprised to find I had lost 2 kilos over the last week, which means I have lost 10 kilos over the last 10 weeks or so. My blood pressure had been hyper-tensive when I started the program, but is currently perfectly normal and I've lost
10cms from my chest and hips.

It has been a tough road, with some rough trips along the way (falling down the stairs at the gym last week really didn't help).
So, I doubled the expected weight loss that the program allocated. I should feel like jumping up and down, but I just don't feel like it.

Weigh-In #8

I think I have missed a weigh-in somewhere, because next week the first 9 weeks (with the extension of the weeks I couldn't make it)of my weight-loss challenge is finished. 


This week I hadn't lost any weight, but hadn't gained any. My clothes were baggier so I thought I must have lost some weight - apparently not. Considering the extenuating circumstances of the previous two week, I was really happy with this. 


Typically, when i am distraught the first thing I reach for is comfort food - Especially cake. I only had a couple of small pieces over that time, so I was really pleased with myself. As things had been exceptionally busy the previous week, I was also happy that I had managed to keep my food pretty much on track.


So, one more week to go. I need to pump it up for the last few days. Tmw will be a hard day to do much as I have a lunch and dinner at church, but Monday and Tuesday I need to work hard at it. Both exercise and food.


Catch you soon!

Weigh-In #6

A quick log in to say I lost 2 kgs over the last week!!! YAY!!!!!

So that is 8 kg over 7 weeks!

Ok, back to work.

Weigh-In #5

This week hasn't been great. It started off well. I did some really heavy and physical gardening. But I think the fact that my PT didn't want me to count it as cardio really made it hard. Anyway, I ended up having 5 days where I just didn't want to get out of bed and had absolutely no inclination to go and exercise. I also had Belgian waffles, bacon and maple syrup for brunch on Tuesday.Really bad. So... with all that, I should tell you that I didn't put any weight on, but I didn't really take any off. Apparently I lost 50 grams (amazing that the machines can weigh that).


So there, I've kept myself accountable to you.

Weigh-In #4

Ok, so I'm a couple of days late... but I've been crazy busy.


This week I lost another kilo!!!!! So that makes a grand total of having lost 5.8 kgs in the last 4 weeks. I'm not planning on going looking for it either :)


This also means that I have achieved my goal weight for the 9 week program I am on. So my personal trainer and I decided to decrease the target weight by another 5 kilos. So that is 5 kilos more to lose in 5 weeks.


Keep giving me encouragement along the way and if you find any deliciously healthy foods or places to eat out there, let me know! (I'm not allowed to eat rice or pasta at the moment though... :( )

Weigh-In #3

Yesterday was my weigh in day. I had lost 0.8 kg over the last week. I wasn't enthralled, but at least I was still losing weight.
Each week it feels like it gets a little more difficult to maintain the diet. But I had a good conversation with Andy (my PT) and there was the agreement that my diet did not have to stay so restricted for the rest of my life, rather it is now to help me drop the weight. Once the weight is dropped, I can start re-introducing these things into my life, but I need to learn to do it in moderation and with thought.
There are so many things that require great thought at the moment. It is exhausting me. And I've had either a heavy head or a headache over the last 3 days. It's been a bit tough.
The most interesting reaction that Andy gave to my food diary this week was how I ate a teaspoon of bread & butter pudding. He wondered how I did that and shared that when out with a friend, instead of indulging in a cake with them (even though I had had a terrible day) I asked for a spoonful of their cake. They were happy to do that for me, it made me feel good to both get a little cake but also resist the urge to each a whole cake.
Anyway, please help me keep me accountable. 

Weigh-In #2

This morning was that day of the week again. I didn't feel like I lost much weight last week, yet the scales told a different story.
2KGS!!!!!!
In two weeks I've lost 4 kgs! I can scarce believe it. It has been and is really tough, but wow.
Anyway - I just wanted to keep accountable to you - let you know I'm still losing weight.  

Weigh-In

So today was my first 'weigh-in' day with my Personal Trainer. I wasn't exactly nervous, but didn't know what to expect. I've had a bad cold for the last couple of days and so I hadn't managed any exercise.
I lost 2 kgs!!!!!
Exactly.


The last week has been really tough for me. And I can't remember the last time I was grouchy for so long. I know I can be depressed, but not a grouch for more than a day. Things have been getting slightly better as the week wore on, however I think that is something that I need see change (ie. no grouchiness) for me to be able to maintain a weight-loss program and healthy lifestyle program in the long-term. I still need to give it a couple of weeks, as my body is still settling into a very new routine (with both food and exercise) - so I apologise in advance for any grouchiness that may come your way in the next couple of weeks.


Each week, I set a goal to achieve. As most of my grouchiness is due to the changes in my diet, frustrations in knowing what to eat when and eating really late (like 10pm) because it takes longer to prepare things, my goal this week aims at trying to combat this. Andy (PT) said to keep the goal small, so this week I need to work on 'snack management'. This does not mean I cannot snack. It means that I develop a healthy concept of what things I can eat as snacks, at what time of the day and how to deal with snacking when I am out.


So, if you are interested in helping me keep accountable to my goal for the week (along with maintaining my food&exercise), there it is...


My personal challenge, to find some baking recipes that are low carb and low fat (preferably higher in protein). Under 20g carbs per serve. That might not be possible, but we will see.

Grump!

Yes, I've been VERY grumpy.
The new diet has been exceptionally hard.
Within 36 hours of following the diet and going from grumpy to really depressed, I figured that a small friand would give me to the sweetness and texture that I felt my body missed most of all. I knew that it was off my diet, but felt as long as it was once when things are really bad, and small - that it wouldn't be heaps bad. Things did pick up a lot.
I've exercised 3 of the last 4 days with varying degrees of exhaustion, but felt pretty good on the whole with that.
I suppose the two big things with the diet I need to work through are:
1. What do I do for food when I'm out and about for hours without access to foods that fall within the diet restrictions.
2. I need to find the time to get some interesting ways to cook the evening meals. Also some quick, easy and yummy options. At the moment things are pretty ordinary. :S

The start of something new...

The time has come.

A change has to be made.

A change for the better.

A lifestyle change.

Does it mean I can't enjoy food?

NO!

I just need to think about what I eat and when I eat it.

Does it mean that I have to kill myself exercising?

NO!

I just need to plan to regularly exercise, make it manageable and do it.

Can I do this alone?

NO!

I need help.

My mind plays games, so it needs encouraging words.

I crave things that aren't healthy, help me see past the craving to the goal.

I will find it hard to remember that I am doing this to...

lose weight

to be healthy

enjoy the life God has given me

feel good about investing in myself

I will find it hard o remember that...

I will feel good about the outcome

this will not always be about saying 'no', it is just for now

moderation is key

that this will take time

there are people out there who love me because of the person I am inside, not what I look like on the outside.

I will record my progress here 

for you to see

 for you find out how you can be encouraging me

for you to be encouraged by the way God is working in my life.

Please come on the journey with me.

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