Walk the walk...talk the talk...

So I finally did the last item of the fitness test, the one kilometer run/walk/crawl.

Holy moly was it bad. I decided that I needed to stop making excuses and find a way to do it. I am sick, really not well at all, but I thought one km isn't that far, right? Someone tell that to my lungs! I have a blocked nose and breathing is difficult. But I was driving out to visit my partner's grave today so I figured I had some time to myself without kids, without family, without interruptions. So I had better seize the opportunity!

Yes, that's right. I did my 1km in a cemetery. How's that for not allowing excuses to get in the way?

So before I drove out I pulled up google earth and measured a track that would be as close to 1000m as possible. I think it was actually 1040m but it was as close as I could do it while using markers in the grounds and not guessing. It was also up hill and down hill so I feel the two cancel each other out. I walked the entire way. I was ready to collapse after the first 250m. Great, I thought, I'm going to collapse in the cemetery no one visits!! Clearly I was being somewhat extreme and the reality of exercise was just too much for me haha!

So I did the circuit and fell into my car with my heart ready to burst out my mouth. I didn't bring enough tissues (running nose) and I didn't bring water. How naive can I be?

I completed the walk in nine minutes and four seconds. I'm happy with that considering I'm unfit anyway, I'm battling a virus and it's not the most relaxing place to exercise. Thankfully no one else was there and no one arrived until the very last minute when I probably just looked upset rather than exhausted.

I'll be doing the next circuits there too I think, have to keep it consistent.

So, all the fitness test tasks are ticked off, way to go me!

Now if I could just get my appetite back again so I can keep this body going.

S.

Sick. Sad. This situation sucks.

So, I'm sick. flu, vomitting, temperature, cough, all that awesome stuff.

Yesterday was a month since my partner died. Hard day.

Today my Grandad passed away. Harder day.

I'd really like to catch a break. And lose some weight through hard work, not grief.

Sorry, short post...just wanted to check in.

S.

Hello scales, It's me again

Weigh in this morning....ooh that moment of truth!

Drum roll please....................................................................................


down by one whole kilo! woot! I had to get off the scales and try it again a few times! I think this detox phase is helping, lots of water and no soft drink, lots of fresh fruit and vegies and nothing deep fried. Happy Days! I feel energised. Well, to a certain extent. My son and nephew have been up all night. I feel like I've not slept at all. I know I crashed for two hours at about 5:30 and was up at 7:30...so on my two hours sleep I am feeling super energised!

So for breakfast today I had the breakfast from yesterday's menu plan, the boiled egg and avacado toast. Yum! It feels substantial as well, perhaps it's the egg? I haven't had a boiled egg in years!! Looking forward to tackling the lasagne recipe for dinner tonight and making enough to freeze.

Do you see that BMI up there dropped down to 26.99? Awesome!! I can not wait to see it under 25!

I hope you all had a happy weigh in, but don't forget that this is only day three, huge results are not expected so early!

S.

I've made my mind up

So sore. All my muscles are screaming at me for daring to make them work. ouch!! I was up all night with my son...My son, nephew and sister are all sick. We all live together so I'm the only one who has managed to avoid this virus. Whining children, sister with no voice, panadol and used tissues all 'round. It's going to be an interesting day!

So while I was laying in bed last night, wide awake, listening to my son coughing, I had an idea. I'm not going to just do a twelve week exercise regime. Forget it. I'm going to do a body make over. I'm going to use this time to pay real attention to myself. All of me. Head to toe.

I can faintly hear my bank account shrieking...odd.

I was thinking about it last night. My hair needs a cut and colour. My eyebrows need waxing. I need to go to a dentist. My nails haven't been manicured in....forever. Years. My sisters wedding?? Oh gosh, forever. I've never had a leg wax or bikini wax..ouch. My feet have never been attended to. Ew. My skin is dry and needs some heavy duty exfoliating on both my arms and legs. I have a huge scar on my stomach and of course the stretch marks that most of us are sporting. There is a lot that I'd like to do. So why the heck not?

The small things, like dry skin and exfoliation I can start with straight away. I can get into a routine with that. Bigger things, like hair and waxing...that I think can wait for the end of the twelve weeks. I should be using them like rewards I think.  Yes! Rewards! I love rewards! And they're not made from chocolate or cheese. perfect!

I will think on it and get back to you....it's like my own version of the weekly surprise, but nicer and doesn't leave you in agony the next day!

S.

oh holy wall sit

Can we please let out a collective groan? This fitness test business is an eye opener!

I am yet to do the run, we woke up to rain today and it's still there. I'm hoping that either it will fine up this evening or I can get it done tomorrow. But given the rest of my results I'm fairly comfortable in putting myself in the beginners category.

Push ups? I actually surprised myself here. I managed twenty two! But I'm not counting the last because I think it was pretty poor form, so I've put myself down as twenty one. The problem I have though is no one was watching me to see if they were being executed properly? I think for the next fitness test I will video record it and see if I'm doing them to standard or just doing half the push up. All I know is my arms were burning by the end of it and I was laying on the mat wondering why the hell I signed up for this.

Ok, next. The wall sit. I was using my phone to time myself (It has a stopwatch and a countdown timer) so I put myself against the wall and lowered myself into position to see if I was reading the picture right. Ha. My legs shook almost straight away. Yes, definitely the right position! So I hit start on my phone and dropped it, pushed back against the wall and stared straight ahead. I'm sure I had been there at least an hour when my legs turned completely jellyfied and I hit stop.

Thirty seven seconds. Oh dear.

Ab stages. I managed one. Just one. And to be honest, again, I feel like my technique probably isn't correct. I think my back is doing the work, not my abs. Evident by the fact that without my arms for momentum I can't get anywhere.

The sit and reach is probably the most embarrassing stat out of the lot. I couldn't get anywhere near my feet. Mich says to give yourself three attempts and to take the best...I could have given it thirty, I wasn't getting anywhere. I've put myself down at -20cm because I think that's close to where I was. Definitely not even close to intermediate. I've decided I'm getting back into pilates, I can't believe how much flexibility I am lacking!

After laughing for a good few minutes in an attempt not to cry at the failure to wow myself I put on an exercise DVD. I guess biggest loser trainers are my thing at the moment, I had Jillian Michaels yelling at me to keep going with her 30 day shred video. I was barely coping, puffing, panting, sweating. It seriously kicks your butt.  But after finishing it I feel pretty good for making an effort. I wish I could afford a heart rate monitor so I could see just how much it's working my body! Off to stalk ebay and gumtree...

Today is food shopping day in our house. Unfortunately due to budget restrictions I couldn't change it to earlier so today I am not following the meal plan. For breakfast I had one piece of toast and I've had a piece of cheese and some crackers for a snack with my son (who also had sultanas and dried apricots). I've had two glasses of water. I'm feeling good for 11:48am on the first day!

I have grief counselling this afternoon...so after the physical work out I'm headed to the emotional one. I didn't go last week and I'm scared to go back again now.  He's been gone for four weeks. I'm feeling ok. Lonely and wishing I could hear his voice telling me he was proud of me. He was always the first to support me when I tried to be healthier. He would be doing this with me.

S.

Reality Check.......check.

So, I've done my preseason tasks.

I've thrown out the bad food.
I've bought shoes to go walking in.
I've stood in front of the camera. My camera is even still working.

I've weighed in. I've measured. I've checked that my measuring tape is actually accurate. It is. Bugger.

So the truth.

I weigh seventy nine kilos. It seems worse when you write it down with letters! The last time I weighed myself I was closer to 85 so 79 is actually pretty pleasing for me! The last time I weighed seventy anything was 2004-2005 when I was at Uni and went through a health and fitness phase. Clearly it didn't last.

My measurements. I hate measurements.
I immediately compare them to "standard sizing" at Target which is probably silly but it's where I buy the majority of my clothes and I want to be able to fit into them properly. If you want to check theirs you can look here.

So. The numbers.
Bust - 96cm
Waist (at belly button as requested by the 12wbt) - 89cm
Waist (narrowest part but not in line with my belly button) 79cm
Hips - 106cm....I feel like such a pear. I hold most of my weight in my hips and thighs. I hate it.
Thighs - 64/64. ugh.

BMI - 27.34 (I want this below 25 by the end of the 12wbt!!)

Now, I don't like the 12wbt measurement for waist because it isn't what everyone else calls the waist. But I understand our belly buttons aren't moving over the next twelve weeks and that's why we're using it as an anatomical marker. Shows how much of a belly I have going on though!

I am itching to get this started now. I can't wait to see the numbers fall!

Have you had a look at your 'my stats' page on the 12wbt? Very cool. I can't wait to see that BMI fall!

I have commited to eleven kilos to lose. I don't know if I will be able to get them all off during this first twelve weeks but the commitment is bigger than that. I want the healthy weight. I want the healthy lifestyle.

I think this has been the most sobering of the preseason tasks. It's so hard to be in denial when you can see the number on the scale and it doesn't matter how you shift your body it just won't go DOWN.  It would have been nice to hop on and hear the scales say 'I'm sorry, you don't need to weigh yourself, go and have some chocolate'....instead they let out a bit of a groan...like all that chocolate was putting a strain on the poor things. Who would have thought?

Fun starts tomorrow! Fitness test day!

The hardest task of pre-season

I'm sure you know which one...

Weigh. Measure. Photograph. The most confronting part but hopefully the most motivating as well. It will be great to look at the photographs in twelve weeks knowing it isn't the reality for me any longer! But gosh I'm procrastinating. I don't want to take the photos. I don't want to take the measurements. The weight I'm better with. It is just a number to me, I can be in denial about it. Tell myself I'm tall and carry it well....

Photos don't lie.

Eek.

In the morning. It's time to face the...well, camera.

The fun starts on Monday!

I enrolled in the 12WBT yesterday. I didn't have a clue that it even existed! A good friend of mine mentioned she was considering joining so I jumped at the chance to be on the band wagon...or...chase the band wagon while Michelle Bridges yells at me to keep up the pace!

I'm excited and I'm nervous. My world is quite literally upside down at the moment. I lost my partner and father of my beautiful boy twenty six days ago. I'm grieving. I cry every day and I am desperate for something positive and healthy to focus my energy on. I need a way to spend my evenings and I need something to get up for. I know, I have my son, but I need more than that. Life seems so empty now.

I am worried that I will get to week four and fizzle out. I have done that so so many times in the past. I get a few kilos off my hips and then give myself 'just one treat'...and that turns into a week of binge eating and the kilos are back as if they'd never left. It's depressing being a yo-yo. I don't want to be a yo-yo!!

So. Here is my commitment. I, me, the overweight brunette behind the screen wearing size fourteen jeans will stick to the twelve week body transformation. I will FINISH. I will lose weight. I will reach a healthy BMI.

Please, keep me honest.

S.