Epiphany

Big things happening this week as my title hints. One definition of ‘epiphany’ is “A comprehension or perception of reality by means of a sudden intuitive realization”. Sounds pretty dramatic doesn’t it? Well it wasn’t quite like that but there were a couple of things just all came together for me last week and now I have some brand new activities happening in my life. But first a review of last week. A loss of 400g this week – which is good but I’m greedy – just every now and then I would SO like a 1kg loss but I guess I really should know by now that my body gives every gram away reluctantly!! Alcohol – TICK – None (12 weeks!!!) Water – TICK Tracking – TICK Steps – just over 54,000 for six days – averaging 9,000 steps per day – was home sick one day so didn’t wear it that day Points – TICK – and my allowance has now dropped a point according to WW so now only getting 18 points per day Walking – managed 5 this week so that was a bit better So…… the changes? Well as some of you know from comments I’ve left etc., I’ve been thinking about getting back to the gym. I went for a couple of years but haven’t been in the last 18 months. One of the difficulties is that although there is a gym in the small town where I live, it’s pretty ordinary so I need to travel into town to get a decent one – putting almost an hour onto the time required. Then the gym I was going to gets incredibly busy between 5pm and 6.30pm so I used to go at 6.30. However that meant that it was after 8pm by the time I got home then I still had to have tea etc. I also was struggling then to fit in walks with the dog – I could walk at the gym but poor old Zanna then missed out. The other problem was that I seemed to have so many things to do week nights after work too – physio, hairdresser, beautician, dentist, food shopping, kids coming for tea and so on. I was reading an article on exercise in the WW newsletter and it all just came together for me in one of those lightbulb moments and the key thing was thinking of gym visits as an appointment rather than something I just fit in if I can. I mean I don’t put off going to the hairdresser if the kids want to come for tea that night so why should I do it for the gym. Then I got to thinking about how I could still accommodate walking Zanna. And so the plan was hatched - I get up half an hour earlier on week days – 5am instead of 5.30am and Zanna and I walk our 2ks which takes us just over 20 minutes. So that’s her happy. I started doing this on Thursday last week and I must say that by the time I leave for work just after 6.30am I’m feeling fantastic. Now the gym – decided to go to another gym in town which apparently isn’t quite as busy – No 1 son has been going to this one and reckons its pretty good. So I called in there last Thursday night and am booked for an assessment tonight. My plan will be to go to the gym Monday and Wednesday early evenings and Sunday morning at 9am. But there’s more ……again many of you will know from comments I’ve left that I’ve always wished I could run. I found out about the C25K programme a long time ago but at that stage didn’t know about the podcasts so thought it all a bit messy trying to time yourself etc.. Then after I found out about them I had to work out how to convert the files to suit my MP3 player. Then I really didn't want to be lumbering along the walking track meeting all these people I know, but figured that now I am going in the morning - there would be hardly anyone around and it's still dark and also cool. I finally got all my ducks lined up on the weekend and wait for it – I did Week 1 Day 1 this morning. Imagine – I ran for a total of 8 minutes this morning. And now here I am at work feeling absolutely invincible!!! Amazing what those endorphins can do for you. Other news – Bloss got back from his gallivanting around the country on Saturday – had a great time by all accounts but happy to be home (and I’m happy he’s back, although I loved my ME time and had just the right amount). Saturday morning No 1 grandson had his first game of footy (that’s rugby league if you live in Queensland). Must admit I’m an AFL girl! Had planned to insert a photo of him here which I emailed from home to work but just realised it hasn’t come through. Anway it was hilarious - he's only 5 and had only had two training sessions so really hadn't much of a clue - and he certainly wasn't alone in that! But so funny to see all these kids swarming all over the paddock chasing the ball and having such a wonderful time. All right good people – hope everything is well in all of your worlds and you have a great week. "If you have a dream, go for it. No one is stopping you, except yourself!" - Anon A little add on - Thanks Nanette for this idea - love it

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Gone Bananas

Well I can't say that this has been the best of weeks as far as healthy lifestyle and eating are concerned but overall it wasn't too bad and another loss of 300g taking me to 6kg in total. I certainly feel and see the difference in my clothes. A quick review of the week then I'll explain the title. Points - bang on up till the weekend then probably a bit flaky but probably still came in on target for the week. It was such a full on weekend that while I made best choices I didn't really have time to add them up and make sure that I was within my limits every day. But on reflection it was heartwarming to discover that I wasn't far off the mark. Tracking - as above really - good up till the weekend and then wasn't home to complete my tracker over the weekend Walking - absolutely abysmal - had an incredibly busy week and only managed one walk Water - this is probably the only really good tick this week Steps - stopped wearing my pedometer from Friday afternoon as it didn't sit well with my weekend outfits but had clocked 39,000 up til then - about 7,500 a day Alcohol - and despite being Ms Social Butterfly for the weekend I still didn't have any alcohol Now the reference to bananas. I got home yesterday around lunchtime from all my gadding about. I had armed myself with library books and DVDs ready to have a bit of a blobby afternoon as I was pretty tired. But I got the munchies! I recognised that it was just that and not real hunger but they wouldn't leave me alone so I had some fruit, then some crunchy combo sprouts..... love them, then some crackers and salsa. At this point I really should have gone for a walk but it was mid afternoon and still very hot and I was so tired.... excuses.... excuses. Anyway then I remembered that Bloss had some 'bananas' (the lollies) in a jar so I ended up having about a dozen or fifteen of them (actually not that bad - probably only about 4 points worth) but it meant that tea had to consist of a large plate of vegies and nothing else. That will teach me. Well while Bloss has been roaming round the country - has been as far as Wyndham on the WA coast and currently in Darwin, I have had such a busy week. Had visions of coming home to a nice quiet empty house every day after work and just floating around pleasing myself. but it just didn't turn out like that. Monday night the kids came for tea - we had a BBQ and I told No1 son he was cooking - he's happy with that. Tuesday was the physio and a catch up with my friend. Wednesday had to take the car in for the service, Thursday pick up the car and the physio again. Friday night S and I went out for dinner at a nice local restaurant (very reasonable as we had a voucher for reduced costs through our work social club) then we headed out to one of the local service clubs and caught up with some people we hadn't seen for ages and generally boogied on the dance floor, and had lots of fun and laughs. Particularly with an old friend who walked in past us without seeing us. I then SMSd him asking where he was tonight. He didn't notice the SMS arriving so then I called him but rung off before he answered so he'd see the message. He suffers the same problem as most of us in and around our age group - the old eyes ain't what they used to be so he couldn't see us and was having huge trouble trying to read my SMSs. So he disappears into the gents (better light in there) but every time the door opened we could see him holding his phone to the light trying to read the message and then phones me (which I don't answer so he leaves about 3 voice mails). Anyway he finally emerges back to the bar and SMSs back asking me to call him - I reply why doesn't he just come over and talk to me. Of course S and I are watching all this from a distance, by this time absolutely helpless with giggles and I have tears streaming down my face. Anyway he finally spotted us and called us all sorts of names for leading him on like that. But it was hilarious to watch and he saw the funny side of it. I stayed in town at S's on Friday night so on Saturday morning we did a spot of shopping then had lunch then I came home for a couple of hours, fed the dog, did the washing then got ready to go out again. Back into S's then off to another club for Chinese for tea, checked out the Irish pub which was full of kids so ended up back at the same club as the night before where yet another good band was playing. I stayed at S's again Saturday night then Sunday morning we visited the local monthly markets then I headed home again. And that's where the bananas came in. The no alcohol thing was great on the weekend - we normally would have been taking cabs to all these places - lots of money and lots of waiting- but instead took my car and just went where we wanted whenever we felt like it. And the bottom line is that I'm as silly as a wheel anyway so don't really need the alcohol to enjoy myself. All right - must go and be productive. Have a good week everyone. I'm going to try and get some more walking in this week and see if I can have another couple of good losses before Easter. "Life's too short just to exist. Do something!" - Anthony Candel

A squirrel and her nuts!

Well that’s another week over and another 400g gone. I think TOM is thinking about arriving but doesn’t seem to have made up it’s mind whether or not to visit this month. I just know that over the last couple of days water in hasn’t equalled water out! So I’m just happy that I have another loss – feeling like a little squirrel just storing all these little nuts up – one or two at a time. In review I’ve had quite a good week - Alcohol – none – 10 weeks now Tracking – yes Points – spot on Water – excellent – really hot here lately so easy to do – forecasting 38 here today – and with the high humidity we have it’ll be a killer Walk – managed 4 this week Steps – almost 63,000 with a daily average around 8,900 and by the end of today I’ll have completed my Walk around Turkey. Well I’m ‘spinsting’ (that’s meant to be the female equivalent of baching) for the next two weeks. Bloss has taken off with his mate to drive to the Territory for a couple of weeks – left yesterday and plans to visit Kununurra, Katherine and Darwin. I must admit I’m really looking forward to some ‘me time’. When Bloss worked shifts we both used to get some space without actually having to think about it but since he switched to day work a couple of years back, we’re both home at the same time. I’m a bit of a gadabout but he’s become a real home body so it’s not often I get the house to myself. I think I’m going to positively wallow in it! I started off with a trip to the DVD shop and five chic flicks! I’m not a TV movie watcher and usually if we do get a DVD out we get something that Bloss will enjoy too. So yesterday’s list comprised Ladies in Lavender (reviewed recently by another blogger - can't for the life of me remember who, The Piano, Brokeback Mountain, Little Women and Broken Flowers. I’ve already watched the first two and thoroughly enjoyed them both. Actually don’t think I’m going to have time for too much wallowing this week anyway. The kids are coming for tea tonight, got the physio tomorrow night, Wednesday night take the car in for a service, Thursday night pick the car up from service, Friday night my friend S and I are going out for tea then to one of the local service clubs to trip a bit of the old light fantastic! – for those of you are a generation of two younger than me – that translates to leaping round the dance floor! I’m totally hooked on the Biggest Loser – and was so happy to see the Blue Team win the weigh in last night and happy for Laura to get such a good loss – although towards the end of last week she was annoying me cause she was such a sook. Can’t make up my mind whether I want Munnalita or Courtney to go first– I’m seriously over both of them. But the preview last night looked like there’s a bit of something different happening so I’ll be tuning in tonight for the next thrilling instalment! Ok guys hope you’re all having a good week and are happy and focussed. And when you’re thinking that this journey we’re on is so long…. just remember "The only thing in this world that is instant is coffee." - David Parkin

Milestone No 2

As you can see from my sidebar I've created as many targets as I possibly can. Since I tend to lose slow and steady - no really spectacularly big losses - I find it helps to keep me focussed if I have little milestones along the way. So this week I achieved the 5kg lost goal - a loss of 600g this week.

It's been a real crazy week for me - have had so much on - but what makes me happy is that I sailed through all the visitors, meals out etc. without really thinking about it - just making good choices. Like we all know - it's that head space thing - when it's right it's all so straightforward. Wondering if a bolt through the back of my neck would ensure it stays in the right space!!!

Reviewing the week :
Alcohol - none
Points -spot on
Tracking - almost a habit
Water - at least 2 litres each day
Walking - twice - hopeless - too many demands on my time this week
Steps - 44,000 - that's only averaging 6,300 per day. Part of this was due to the above and partly that there were two days and a night when I was wearing clothes which wouldn't hide my pedometer and I didn't really want to flaunt it for all the world to see.

Bloss and I at dinner the other night - note glass of 'white champagne' in front of me and no dessert!! Did have one teaspoon of Bloss's citrus tart - yummy...

As I think I told you last week we went out for dinner on Monday night for Bloss's birthday. Tuesday was catch up with food shopping, bill paying, picking up X ray etc. Knowing I had all this running around to do I suggested to Bloss that I pick up pizza in town for his tea and I'd just have a WW meal. Anyway came out of Woolies, called the pizza place and since I had a docket with a good deal for 3, I ordered 3 (thinking I could freeze the others and they'd do for lunches for Bloss from time to time). I then packed the shopping in the car, popped into see the owner at the beauticians to show her what a good job she'd made of my spray tan, then raced round to the doctors to drop off my spinal X ray which I'd picked up earlier. Then I headed home - about 20 kms from town. It was as I was turning off at the last roundabout - 5 kms from home - that I remember the pizzas. Buggar!!! So instead of gooey pizzas, poor Bloss had a much healthier alternative - WW lasagne!!!

Wednesday we had the friend (from the birthday party who I hadn't seen for 35 years) and her husband come and stay overnight. Thursday night a friend of Bloss's was in town with his latest lady friend and wanted us to join them for dinner at a local restaurant. Friday was a big day at work, one of my team had their 10 year anniversary with the company so took her to lunch at the canteen - not my favourite place - you have to really work hard to find something healthy! - but I managed to find grilled fish and salad (not the caesar or the coleslaw) just the basic vegies.
I was so tired after all these late nights I was in bed by 8.30pm! Saturday was hairdressers again - the dreaded regrowth, then off for my echo cardiograph - an interesting experience and I won't know the results for a couple of weeks. The rest of the weekend was quite peaceful - girlfriend round for drinks before going to a party locally, the kids (No 1 son and family) here for tea last night.

My two glorious grandsons

Have had a couple of new commenters lately - so good. I get such a buzz from each and every comment One of them is Livy who is a brand new member of the blogging fraternity - so if you've got a spare minute, nip in and say 'Hi' - I know what a huge support you've all given me as I travel along the path of weightloss and healthy lifestyle.

On a slightly different but similar note I recently installed a stats counter - you can see the logo on the side - and it's fascinating. It shows me the ISP and town and country of each visitor and if applicable which site referred them. I currently have had visitors from Canada, USA, Finland, China, England, Dubai, and of course lots from NZ and Oz. It's so exciting to get up in the morning and see that during the night you've had visitors from all these far flung places. But hey you guys - I'd love it if you were to drop by and say hello.

OK - things to do - have a great week everybody and be gentle but firm with yourself.

Accept everything about yourself -- I mean everything, You are you and that is the beginning and the end -- no apologies, no regrets ~ Clark Moustakas