I've made it through week 4 of the 12WBT with just as much enthusiasm and determination as when I started. Wow! Week 4 is also mini milestones and measurements week and the first repeat of the fitness test I did at the start of the program.
Measurements: In 4 weeks I have 'only' lost 3.4kgs, and I used the word 'only' because I am a serial dieter, and I have never dropped weight this slowly at the start of a program before ever...but I have also never exercised and toned at the same time! So, I've only lost 3.4kgs, but I was amazed to do my measurements and see that I have lost an amazing 32.7cms off my entire body!!! That's more than a school ruler of fat gone! The most was from my hips where I dropped 11cms. I'm still in a state of happy disbelief.
Mini Milestones: My week 4 mini milestone was to step outside my comfort zone. I hadn't really planned how I was going to do that, but when I saw a friend post on Facebook on Thursday afternoon looking for someone to fill in at a netball game, I knew that was my opportunity! I have not played team sports since high school phys ed class, and even then it was only because I had to. At my weight, the thought of running around with spectators watching sent chills down my spine, but I put myself out there, gave it a go and had a surprisingly good time. I even scored a goal!
Fitness Tests: This is just going to be an out and out brag - I took 1 minute and 31 seconds off my previous time trial time! Speechless. It's only been 4 weeks! I managed to run non stop from one set of goals around the oval to the other set of goals...may seem like nothing but it's a huge achievement for me. My push ups test wasn't all that accurate, as when I started going to the gym I realised I'd been cheating in the push ups for the first test, but I can tell I've improved so that's all that matters. I was still a zero for abdominal strength, but 4 weeks ago I was an absolute 0, this time I was about a fingernail away from being in category 1, big improvement! My flexibility has improved by a huge 12cms, I can now stretch 20cms past my toes and I also improved my wall sit time, although that still kills my knees to do, so I can't do it very long.
All in all, a great confidence booster of a week. Looking forward to week 5 weigh in day tomorrow, bring it on!
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Sharing the Wins
It has been a big week! I've had a few minor mental hurdles that occupied a bit of my headspace, but I'm so pleased I managed to jump over them much easier than I previously would have thought possible. The negatives always seem to take up more time than the positives, so to balance it out I'm devoting this post to my wins for the week...and there have been a few, yay!
Win 1: I was able to up the weights I'm capable of on most machines at the gym. This is the third time in 3 weeks that I've been able to see noticeable improvement of my strength.
Win 2: The last couple of weeks when I walk with the boys in the pram, I try and jog from one telegraph pole to the next, 2 or 3 times during the walk. This week I reached the next telegraph pole and thought 'hey I'm not too puffed, I can keep going!' and jogged from one street to the next street. I did that 3 times during the walk. Baby steps, but a big sign for me that I'm heading in the right direction and making progress. And I can't let myself forget that not only did I do that, I did it pushing 40kgs of pram and children too!
Win 3: I've had a pair of brand new jeans in the wardrobe for months now, I bought them in my usual size without trying on, but when I got home they were a lot smaller than the other ones and I could only get them half way up my hips. This morning I couldn't find my comfy jeans so thought I'd try them on...they fit! Ok, so I have a little bit of a muffin top, but nothing a pair of control pants didn't fix ;)
Win 4: I went out with the family for breakfast at my favourite cafe, skipped the (oh so yummy) bread and ordered something within my calorie allowance and had a herbal tea instead of juice or an iced chocolate. And didn't miss a single thing, thoroughly enjoyed my meal without wishing I could have ordered something else, or looking at everyone else's plate feeling ripped off.
Win 5: I BOOKED MY TICKET TO SYDNEY!! I'm flying to Sydney on my birthday to attend the Round 3 12WBT Finale group workout and party! So so excited, and it gives me a little boost to put in all the hard work I can muster so I can celebrate some fabulous achievements and meet some wonderful ladies on the night that I've been chatting to online and have been so supportive.
Week 4 begins tomorrow, time is flying and I'm starting to tangibly see some results. I never thought this would be something I would ever say...but I'm looking forward to the Week 4 Fitness Test. Yes, you did read that right! Watch this space on Saturday for the results :)
Kylie x
Win 1: I was able to up the weights I'm capable of on most machines at the gym. This is the third time in 3 weeks that I've been able to see noticeable improvement of my strength.
Win 2: The last couple of weeks when I walk with the boys in the pram, I try and jog from one telegraph pole to the next, 2 or 3 times during the walk. This week I reached the next telegraph pole and thought 'hey I'm not too puffed, I can keep going!' and jogged from one street to the next street. I did that 3 times during the walk. Baby steps, but a big sign for me that I'm heading in the right direction and making progress. And I can't let myself forget that not only did I do that, I did it pushing 40kgs of pram and children too!
Win 3: I've had a pair of brand new jeans in the wardrobe for months now, I bought them in my usual size without trying on, but when I got home they were a lot smaller than the other ones and I could only get them half way up my hips. This morning I couldn't find my comfy jeans so thought I'd try them on...they fit! Ok, so I have a little bit of a muffin top, but nothing a pair of control pants didn't fix ;)
Win 4: I went out with the family for breakfast at my favourite cafe, skipped the (oh so yummy) bread and ordered something within my calorie allowance and had a herbal tea instead of juice or an iced chocolate. And didn't miss a single thing, thoroughly enjoyed my meal without wishing I could have ordered something else, or looking at everyone else's plate feeling ripped off.
Win 5: I BOOKED MY TICKET TO SYDNEY!! I'm flying to Sydney on my birthday to attend the Round 3 12WBT Finale group workout and party! So so excited, and it gives me a little boost to put in all the hard work I can muster so I can celebrate some fabulous achievements and meet some wonderful ladies on the night that I've been chatting to online and have been so supportive.
Week 4 begins tomorrow, time is flying and I'm starting to tangibly see some results. I never thought this would be something I would ever say...but I'm looking forward to the Week 4 Fitness Test. Yes, you did read that right! Watch this space on Saturday for the results :)
Kylie x
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Here we go again - Toilet Training!
Life would be so much easier if kids just woke up one morning and taa daa, toilet trained. Mini Man #1 who is turning 3 next month was almost toilet trained a few months ago, I was jumping for joy and patting myself on the back for getting it done on the second attempt...then we went on holidays and not only did he regress, he point blank refused to go anywhere near a toilet when we got home. Oh well, no big deal, my philosophy has been that he will get it when he gets it, no pushing or pressuring, follow his lead. But I will admit it was a bit disappointing after putting all that work in. So I decided to just leave it, wait for the warmer weather and then see if he was more open to the idea then.
Out of the blue this morning, he told me he doesn't want to wear a nappy or undies, he just wants to wear no pants and do his wees on the toilet (I have no idea how he's not covered in goosebumps!). And he hasn't had an accident yet today. This should be a good thing, I should be happy...child is ready, parent is not! Oh well, I best go stock up on paper towel and disinfectant, here we go again :)
Out of the blue this morning, he told me he doesn't want to wear a nappy or undies, he just wants to wear no pants and do his wees on the toilet (I have no idea how he's not covered in goosebumps!). And he hasn't had an accident yet today. This should be a good thing, I should be happy...child is ready, parent is not! Oh well, I best go stock up on paper towel and disinfectant, here we go again :)
Image from Montessori Tides School
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Week 3 Wobbles
I'm working my way through a couple of mental hurdles at the moment, and I'm pretty impressed that I haven't tripped and landed face first yet. I have been using a heart rate monitor (HRM) since the 12WBT started to see my heart rate while exercising, as a guide to know when to kick things up a notch or when to back off and have some recovery time, but the big thing is to track those elusive calories burnt. The first 2 weeks, I was flying, I was working hard at the gym, enjoying it (unheard of, I've never exercised in my life), and was seeing some decent calories burnt at the end of the session. The calorie burn quickly became my little reward. I'd put in the effort and sweat and at the end of it I'd get a nice little number that was my virtual pat on the back for a job well done.
On Friday, I received a brand new Polar FT40 HRM and a signed note from Mish (it's now on my fridge...if a note from Michelle Bridges staring at me every time I open the fridge doesn't stop me, nothing will!). I was so excited, ripped it out of the box, set it up and was ready to go. Saturday is my big session of the week, I was aiming to burn double the amount of calories as I do on weekdays. I worked so hard at the gym, I pushed myself further than I ever have before, I had absolutely nothing left at the end of it. When I ended the session on the HRM, 595 calories was staring back at me. Huh? What the? Where's the rest?? I normally burn that in a normal length session. I figured I must have set it up wrong, got the strap in the wrong spot, all sorts of explanations sprung to mind.
Over the last 3 days I have tweaked, adjusted and worn that damn HRM strap in every position known. I've tucked it in under my bra, even though I was worried I'd never find it again, I've had it sitting low, high, loose, tight, yet it STILL is not showing me the numbers I want to see. I'm short, fat, and beyond unfit...why aren't I burning bigger numbers? Why is there such a huge difference between this HRM and the old one? The Polar is meant to be one of the most accurate HRMs on the market, so I am inclined to believe it is correct, yet the feelings of failure that have come with not being able to reach my daily calorie burn target has really knocked my confidence, something that I wasn't expecting.
The second hurdle I'm jumping at the moment is the numbers on the scales. I really worked hard this week, I stuck to the nutrition plan, stuck to my allowed calories, I worked out 6 days a week, and I lost 700grams. I know, I know, I know, any loss is a good loss, it's a marathon not a sprint, blah blah blah, but it still doesn't change the fact I was pretty pissed off! I felt like the reward was not fitting of the work that I had done.
I realised today that I had started obsessing over these numbers. I'd started obsessing over why the machine was wrong, over how many kilos or grams my 'lady cycle' could really effect me by, whether I'd be in for a big loss next week or not. But here I am now, telling myself...the machine is not wrong, it's most likely 100% right, and who cares about the scales when you can see collarbones forming under the surface and the semblance of a waist beginning to happen and you're enjoying exercise...GET OVER IT! If I keep doing what I'm doing, the weight has to come off eventually. Yes, I will struggle to meet my daily targets for the foreseeable future, but who cares, I'm exercising, I'm pushing myself and I'm doing the best I can do...which is more than I have ever done before.
The old me would have turned these things into excuses to give up. The new me did not consider giving up once, and took myself off to boxing class this morning :)
Kyles x
On Friday, I received a brand new Polar FT40 HRM and a signed note from Mish (it's now on my fridge...if a note from Michelle Bridges staring at me every time I open the fridge doesn't stop me, nothing will!). I was so excited, ripped it out of the box, set it up and was ready to go. Saturday is my big session of the week, I was aiming to burn double the amount of calories as I do on weekdays. I worked so hard at the gym, I pushed myself further than I ever have before, I had absolutely nothing left at the end of it. When I ended the session on the HRM, 595 calories was staring back at me. Huh? What the? Where's the rest?? I normally burn that in a normal length session. I figured I must have set it up wrong, got the strap in the wrong spot, all sorts of explanations sprung to mind.
Over the last 3 days I have tweaked, adjusted and worn that damn HRM strap in every position known. I've tucked it in under my bra, even though I was worried I'd never find it again, I've had it sitting low, high, loose, tight, yet it STILL is not showing me the numbers I want to see. I'm short, fat, and beyond unfit...why aren't I burning bigger numbers? Why is there such a huge difference between this HRM and the old one? The Polar is meant to be one of the most accurate HRMs on the market, so I am inclined to believe it is correct, yet the feelings of failure that have come with not being able to reach my daily calorie burn target has really knocked my confidence, something that I wasn't expecting.
The second hurdle I'm jumping at the moment is the numbers on the scales. I really worked hard this week, I stuck to the nutrition plan, stuck to my allowed calories, I worked out 6 days a week, and I lost 700grams. I know, I know, I know, any loss is a good loss, it's a marathon not a sprint, blah blah blah, but it still doesn't change the fact I was pretty pissed off! I felt like the reward was not fitting of the work that I had done.
I realised today that I had started obsessing over these numbers. I'd started obsessing over why the machine was wrong, over how many kilos or grams my 'lady cycle' could really effect me by, whether I'd be in for a big loss next week or not. But here I am now, telling myself...the machine is not wrong, it's most likely 100% right, and who cares about the scales when you can see collarbones forming under the surface and the semblance of a waist beginning to happen and you're enjoying exercise...GET OVER IT! If I keep doing what I'm doing, the weight has to come off eventually. Yes, I will struggle to meet my daily targets for the foreseeable future, but who cares, I'm exercising, I'm pushing myself and I'm doing the best I can do...which is more than I have ever done before.
The old me would have turned these things into excuses to give up. The new me did not consider giving up once, and took myself off to boxing class this morning :)
Kyles x
Sunday, September 9, 2012
A New Beginning - NO EXCUSES
I have started, scrapped and re-started this blog site several times now, I've never had the time or discipline to stick with it. But this is the start of a new me and I feel I have to record and share my progress. The time and discipline excuses are just that...excuses, and I will make time to post regularly.
Ten weeks ago I signed up on a whim to the Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation. My weight has been an issue my entire life, I was the chubby baby, roly toddler, was always told I'd lose the 'puppy fat' as I got older...I never did, and am now an obese mother of two. A couple of friends had some really good results in Round 2 2012, and I signed up mostly because I thought it was something I should do, rather than something I really wanted to do. An unhealthy mama who eats too much and never exercises is not the kind of role model I want my boys growing up around, but at the same time I was loving my life and my weight was not holding me back from anything...yet.
So here I was, I'd paid my money, was already in the back of my mind doubting that I'd even do it...and then Pre-season kicked off and Michelle's video's started coming at me twice a week. Wow! The strange thing was, there wasn't a lot that I hadn't already heard before (me and diets go way back!), but there was something in each and every clip that really resonated with me and got my mind working, thinking, ticking things over. Towards the last few weeks of Pre-season I'd already decided to let go of my 'I'm waiting for the program to start' excuse, and started making some changes. By the time the official 12 weeks started I'd already lost 1.4kgs and was so determined, focused and committed to seeing this through - not just to the end of the 12 weeks, but to get rid of a whopping 44kgs forever.
Now my commitment is out there! I will lose this weight and get myself into a healthy weight range. I will set a good example for my boys about healthy eating and exercise. I will be able to run around the park with them without the earth shaking in its boots. I will give myself the best opportunity to live a long and healthy life in order to see them and their children grow up, whilst myself and my husband grow old and wrinkly together. I will do this so that my husband no longer has to worry about me. I will do this for me.
I am also committing to updating this blog regularly, starting...now! To share successes and setbacks, and to share not only this journey, but bits and pieces of the rest of my life too - all of the things that make me ME!
I hope you will join me :)
Kyles x
Ten weeks ago I signed up on a whim to the Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation. My weight has been an issue my entire life, I was the chubby baby, roly toddler, was always told I'd lose the 'puppy fat' as I got older...I never did, and am now an obese mother of two. A couple of friends had some really good results in Round 2 2012, and I signed up mostly because I thought it was something I should do, rather than something I really wanted to do. An unhealthy mama who eats too much and never exercises is not the kind of role model I want my boys growing up around, but at the same time I was loving my life and my weight was not holding me back from anything...yet.
So here I was, I'd paid my money, was already in the back of my mind doubting that I'd even do it...and then Pre-season kicked off and Michelle's video's started coming at me twice a week. Wow! The strange thing was, there wasn't a lot that I hadn't already heard before (me and diets go way back!), but there was something in each and every clip that really resonated with me and got my mind working, thinking, ticking things over. Towards the last few weeks of Pre-season I'd already decided to let go of my 'I'm waiting for the program to start' excuse, and started making some changes. By the time the official 12 weeks started I'd already lost 1.4kgs and was so determined, focused and committed to seeing this through - not just to the end of the 12 weeks, but to get rid of a whopping 44kgs forever.
Now my commitment is out there! I will lose this weight and get myself into a healthy weight range. I will set a good example for my boys about healthy eating and exercise. I will be able to run around the park with them without the earth shaking in its boots. I will give myself the best opportunity to live a long and healthy life in order to see them and their children grow up, whilst myself and my husband grow old and wrinkly together. I will do this so that my husband no longer has to worry about me. I will do this for me.
I am also committing to updating this blog regularly, starting...now! To share successes and setbacks, and to share not only this journey, but bits and pieces of the rest of my life too - all of the things that make me ME!
I hope you will join me :)
Kyles x
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