Yet another 'start'

How many times do I need to say “I’m starting tomorrow” or “I’ll do better tomorrow”

Seriously, I feel some days like I need someone to slap me!

Over the last 2 weeks I’ve been good, and bad.  Valentines week was crazy.  We spent a lovely family weekend together filled with activities: of which none involved preparing for my meals for the week ahead.  An order book filled with orders for Valentines day, left me munching chocolate buttons far too often.  Once Valentines was done it was on to baby showers, and again munching munching.  Maybe I need my mouth wired shut?!

The week after, goodness knows.  I do suffer terribly in the heat, and workouts at a gym with no air-conditioning have been short.  The new place opens March 12^th so I do look forward to that!  However, I do feel that my extra thermal layer of fat does keep me warm. 

So alas, here I am, starting again.  This time, I’m writing notes and sticking them to my bathroom mirror… something has to work!

I’ll Start Again Tomorrow...

As I write this its 4.45 on a balmy Sunday afternoon, and I’m munching falafel (nyom nym).

Last week was okay-ish.  Over last weekend I hit the gym on Saturday with a legs session which resulted in me doing zombie walks, toilet hovers and grimacing every time Miss Lucy tried to climb onto my lap.  Ouch.

Sunday was another workout on the upper body, followed by a day off on Monday.

More workouts on Tue, Wed and Thursday were on the cards, at which point, I do believe I had reached more workouts than I had totaled last year!

Friday, a busy day with clients: a gym workout planned but due to tiredness I had a day off.

Saturday, hubby working and we had date night immediately afterwards… we went to see Django which (imo) is brilliant.  A day with the kids, and failure in meal preparation had me snacking; which hasn't stopped!  Why is it we can be so great during the week then easily give in on the weekends?

Sunday (today), another workout planned but by the time I could get there, 3pm, I couldn’t be bothered.

I’m much prefer to get workouts done in the morning.  If it gets past noon, I’m bound to flag it, opting for the next day. Especially at the moment with the days so hot, and no air-con in the gym…maybe once the gym moves in March it will be a different story.

Crikey… I seem full of excuses! 

It’s too late

It’s too hot

I’ve got other things to do

There’s always tomorrow

And tomorrow is legs training.  It’s gonna hurt!

PS  Wine consumption over last 7 days.  ZERO

Last Friday for January

Friday - weigh day!

Still under the 70kg but up from 68.9 to 69.2kg.  Increase of 300g.  That’s still okay!!  I could be one of those girls who blames it on that time of the month, but when I honestly look back on the week its no surprise

Here’s my last week:

Sat and Sunday.  Final of the finale suppers pre gym crèche opening!  Yes I know I have already had a ‘last supper’, but I decided on another!

Monday.  First day back at gym.  Ate 100% to around 4pm. Ate too much leftovers from Sun, didn’t need dinner then at 9 HUNGRY. Had some more ‘uncompatible food’.  Naughty!!

Tuesday. Wrote myself a note of ‘to-dos’ in the morning, topping it with ‘I will eat 100% clean today’. And did just that + a gym session.

Wednesday.  Wrote the note again.  Food perfect.  No gym. I had the discovery that due to the previous 2 days I was unable to reach behind back to undo my bra, and I also had a great deal of difficulty removing a tee shirt… the sorest of sore muscles.

Thursday.  Planned for gym.  Had a bake orders to fill and deliveries took a little longer than expected, and I had Lincoln on a promise for a movie.  I didn’t even have time to stop in at home for my prepared lunch.  Opted for 3 pieces of salmon sushi + a bag of Sweet As popcorn at the movies…which is a lot better than the ‘old me’ who would have consumed fizzy drink, movie popcorn plus an icecream.   Dinner time I found myself eating delicious vegetable fritters I had made the kids. It seemed to be one of ‘those days’ when I was chasing my tail and grabbing whatever I could

Friday.  Note obedience for 100% clean must be obeyed (so far so good at 6pm).  I’ve been to the gym and feeling great!

Wine consumption:  0 for Mon - Fri :)

Water consumption: massive.

Feeling this week:  Stronger, healthier and a tad more in control

The weekend brings… dinner cooked by my husband and he has the freedom to serve what he wishes, 2 gym sessions and a whole lotta baking for www.cakepopandcookie.co.nz

Next week… Boys High starts for Lincoln (Far out, where did the years go!?). School back will give me more time to do the things I need to do (like lose my saddlebags!)

It's Going Down

Today was time to check my weight again: WAHOOOO 68.9kg!  It feels so darn good to see that I’m under the 70kg mark.

How it happened…. 80% adherence to food plan.  Work-outs Nil.  I'l;l be back to the gym on the 21^st.

On Monday I had my body stats done…and I had actually hit 71.3kg… I was mortified, but then, I had gone a little bit silly over the weekend with knowing that “Monday was my start point”.  This can often happen, and I have heard it time and time again from my training clients who have a few last suppers before they start.  Just to let you know, my body stats have been done by the same person for around 4 years now.

Bikini Class: Lucy at 5 months

2 days ago I was having a clear out of my office.  I came across body stats from when Lucy was a baby.  Oh wow.  Oh dear.  I am heavier, and have more body fat from when she was 2 weeks old!  Somewhere in my distant memory I recall being so motivated to get back to my trim state, I was up at 5am every morning doing spin sessions and was showered and ready for the day when the kids woke.  Hell, when she was 5 months old (to the day) I was even on stage again in a bikini class.

I also found my stats from when I got married… a leaner body at 62.3 kg.  Maybe that’s why I can no longer fit my engagement ring!  Goodness know how many times Matt has told me to get the ring resized, but to me, that’s like going and buying a new wardrobe a size bigger.  So, my precious get to hang around my neck, as a reminder that I actually own it!

Butterflies and Rainbows

Classic Rainbow Cake (pixelatedcrumb.com)

Yesterday I completed a cake for little Miss Amy’s 3^rd Birthday.  Her mother, Janine, liked the idea of the

 popular ‘rainbow cakes’ but had concerns about loading toddlers up with food-colouring, not to mention the layers of butter-cream.

Janine also told me that Amy really liked butterflies.  We discussed flavours and this is the outcome…

Amy's Butterfly cake in Rainbow Colours

The bottom tier is chocolate with a layer of wild-berry preserve through the middle, and raspberry swiss butter-cream.  The top tier is banana with a delicate lemon curd centre and mild lemon swiss butter-cream.

The look on both their faces when I delivered it was priceless!

What have I done!?

I hopped on the scales this morning.

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!

Nothing like a fright to send you making exercise/health/fitness goals!

A quick overview: I am what my husband calls 'a reformed body-builder'.  That is, I decided some time ago to no longer compete.  This sent me on a journey to learn to enjoy my body as it is, without the need to weigh and measure every portion of food; that I ate at specific times of the day.

Food was replaced with 'what do I feel like eating' and going for it... indulging, too much wine, pastas, cheese, and of course taste testing far too much baking.

Jennifer Aniston

I grew softer, and learned to love curves and my soft belly.  After 18 years of body obsession this was lovely.  Hmmmmm.

A couple of days ago I went to put on a pair of pants which could only go up to my hips (or is that saddle bags) ... never mind attempting to do that zipper up!   Sure, I haven't worn them for some time, and I have been purchasing new items but this was a bit of a wake up call.... as were my thighs, lets make that legs, as they squelched together in a skirt.

Sooo, the scales tell me I am 70.3 kilos.  My husband, bless him, tells me I look great.  As do my wonderful friends.  I feel ... honestly, a tad embarrassed, sluggish, and a little too round.  I've never been 70 (unless I was pregnant).  62-64kg is where I look, and recall, feeling great.  I do remember stepping on the scales last year and seeing 66, and was okay with that... but over 70 is a shocker for me!

70.3kg.  11 January 2013

Stepping onto the scales also reminded me of another goal I have... to look the best I ever have on my 40th birthday.  I think Jennifer Aniston looks amazing (shes 43), and also Kate Beckinsale who is 9 months older than I am... obviously these women have totally different lives, but they still find the time to work out!  I'm 15 months away from my 40th, so it's time to get cracking!

Kate Beckinsale

Kate doing Lunges

What to do?  I've booked in to have my body-stats done next Monday. And will embark on a new fitness regime to lose 5-6 kilos.

Next week I'm planning bike rides with the kids as the school holidays are on, and then the gym creche is open again ... wohoooo!

70.3, see ya!

Funerals

I’m a sook…not all the time, as most people think I’m a tough chick.  But really, I’m a sook.  I have emotions, and I shed tears1

Today I went to a funeral.  Generally this is the time for one to cry, but I didn’t know the man who had passed away.  Before you think I had gate crashed a funeral, I’ll have you know that I had met Mr. C Pollard, otherwise known as Charlie very briefly on 2 occasions.  Over the past 2 years he had fought a very tough fight against bone cancer and had finally decided that it was time to rest.

My reason for going was to support my very close and beautiful friend who was the Grand-daughter of Charlie.   We’ve been there for each other in good times and bad, and when I was told Charlie had passed, I had no second though about being at the service.  To be there for her, (even though her family would be there), but also to assist with her 2 young children, if she needed them taken off her hands.

From the moment I saw my friend I cried.  To see her so sad was heart-breaking, and all I could do was hug her as she sobbed into my shoulder.

The service started with the song “It’s time to say good-bye” and for me, its time again to cry.  Maybe it’s because I’ve recently thought of my fathers own death… but I found myself weeping small tears for the next hour as family members spoke of the wonderful stories, proud moments and fond memories they have of these amazing man Charlie. 

It made me wonder about the love I have for my own family – would they speak about me with such admiration?  If I passed away tomorrow what would they say?  And after hearing out this wondrous life Charlie had lived, it was a reminder, to live each day with passion, wit, bravery and above all, love.