The Final Countdown - Bring on the Wine!

See that big smile - that's because the challenge is over and I've lost 5.4kgs.  I've gone for 12 weeks (84 days) without a drop of alcohol passing my lips and on every one of those 84 days I've drunk at least 2 litres of water. But it's been well worth it - I feel fantastic although the car tyre isn't quite down to a bike tyre yet so I'm going to savour one or two glasses of wine tonight then hop back on the wagon and see if I can get it down to a bike tyre before we leave for Europe - that's 10 weeks away.

A couple of comparison photos - the one on the left was taken just before I left Scotland at the end of our trip last year.  The one on the right was taken last Thursday night before we left to go and see Wendy Matthews in concert.  The difference - very close to 10 per cent and 7.8 kgs.

We spent Saturday in the garden - I did a ton of pruning to all the shrubs, weeded the garden beds at the front - Bloss did the same at the back - and then manhandled and spread 18 bales of hay for mulch.  Here's my handiwork.

As I said above we went to see Wendy Matthews on Thursday - I was a bit disappointed - she has a wonderful voice but her choice of songs just didn't do it for me.  The first set was all Billie Holliday stuff and as someone behind me commented at the end of it - 'that was like watching paint dry'.  It was serious jazz - and I'm not a real fan.  The second half was a bit better but still all very slow and dirge like - I just wanted to crank up the pace a bit. 

Jimmy Barnes and Shannon Noll are coming to town in June so we've booked tickets for that concert - should be a good one.

The bathroom and toilet are almost finished - our poor builder has been working night day and weekends to get it done.  He and his family leave to go on 2 weeks holiday tomorrow and he had about 5 jobs to finish before he went.  He's been absolutely brilliant and his standard of workmanship is outstanding.  The painter was in to quote on Saturday so hopefully he can do his bit later this week.  I'm delighted with how it's all coming together and very happy with our choice of tiles.  No photos yet but will definitely show you once it's all finished.

Hope you have a great week possums
Love Zxx

Ladies Lunch

Hello possums - another good week back on the healthy bus -see my table below.  I've managed to up my Wii activity to 30 minutes each morning so feeling good about that.  I had had a sizeable loss this morning but we'll wait and see what tomorrow morning brings - I find that Sundays are often lower than the rest of the week because I get up later and seem to be lighter when I sleep longer.  Solution - sleep constantly!!
Woo hoo!! another 500g off this week - just over 5kgs for the challenge and still one week to go.

Day	Water	WW Pts	Wii Fit/ Walk	Wine
1	2 ltrs	20	30m	None
2	2 ltrs	18	30m+20m	None
3	2 ltrs	22	30m	None
4	2 ltrs	20.5	30m	None
5	2 ltrs	16.5	30m	None
6	2 ltrs	16.5	34m	None
7	2 ltrs	16	0m+40m	None
Totals	14 ltrs	129.5/126	4hr 4min	None

Another flat chat week at work - gee it sure makes them go fast.  The builder started on the bathroom on Tuesday so there was lots of dust that night but he says that's the worst of it past and my cleaning fairy was here on  Friday morning so everything sparkly again.  Tony our builder is in and out most days - doing little bits here and there and reckons he'll start tiling on Tuesday - stay tuned for before and after photos.

Clive had told me at Easter that a friends husband was suffering pancreatic cancer and had only about 6 weeks left.  This couple were good friends to my ex and I but were one of the casualties of our breakup - they found it really difficult to be on both sides and so I just backed out of the picture and figured he probably needed their friendship more than I did at that stage and in fact they introduced him to his new wife.  We've always kept in touch but just not very frequently.  Anyway I phoned on Thursday to see how things were - to be told that he had passed away the day before - Ev sounded not too bad and the funeral is next Friday at their home so I'm planning to attend that.  But another wake up call when you lose people not very much older than you ( he would have been 65 I think and not long retired) - yes -  must live every day like it's your last!

Yesterday was our monthly ladies lunch - a group of us - many from work but a few other ring ins have started to meet once a month for lunch - changing the restaurant each time.  There's about 13 of us in the email distribution list but the idea is you go when you can and no big deal if you can't make it.  So 7 of us there yesterday and the usual talk fest - great fun.  A couple of pics below.

Heather and I

Shaz(my holiday buddy) and Michelle

I've been doing a bit of research on some of the Wii fitness programmes and from what I'd read figured this would be good for a change.  So bought it yesterday and plan on starting one of their 30 day challenges next week once I finish the Biggest Loser challenge on Monday next week.

Ok must away and get tea organised - Grant Tiff and the boys are coming.  Will add an update in the morning of  my weightloss then post this.

Have a wonderful week good people

Love Z xx

Why?

I've been thinking about this a fair bit this week - I've been on this challenge for 10 weeks now and to be honest I'm finding it really easy not to mention very rewarding. So how is it that I was able to get my head into the right space to make this possible?  I have no idea but if I did I could make a fortune selling it! I mean last year I had the trip to Europe and I so wanted to lose some weight before that - and I would have enjoyed it so much better if I'd been 5kgs lighter but do you think I could get my act together and knuckle down and do what was necessary.  I knew what was required but I just couldn't get it together. And it's the same I know for so many of you out there - there's Chris over at Diet Coke Rocks - she's been bemoaning the weight she'd put on and for a long long time half heartedly trying to do something about it  - then suddenly bingo - it's as if a light went on and she's off and racing and truly focussed, then there's Jenny who's just had her daughter's wedding and wanted to shed a few kilos for that but would it happen - no and Nola who's battering herself round the head that she hasn't got her act properly together and isn't losing the way she should and that's only a couple of you - I know that Julie, Caroline, Linz and Starfish Sue are all struggling too.

When I came back from Europe I knew I had to do something about the kilos I'd put on as nothing looked good on me - and I did knuckle down and lost a couple of kilos before Christmas but then lost the momentum in January.  But then it was like all the planets aligned for me - I read about the 12 week Biggest Loser challenge on We are Slimming and I just decided to do it - but why was it right for me then? Yea sure the next holiday coming up - but that didn't work for the last one.  I've no profound answers to these questions but just wanted to I guess, commiserate with those of you who are struggling to get back on the horse of 'healthy eating' and maybe at the same time give you some hope that if you never ever give up, some day soon it will come together again for you.  And by the way I'm not for a minute saying that I won't wander off the track again - nothing surer than I will but better going for a wander after I've lost a kilo or six than wandering when I've still done nothing to shift that kilo or six.  My problem is usually holidays too - I maintain reasonably well between holidays but then gain on holiday but come back and go back into maintenance mode rather than loss mode.  However this trip we're only gone 4 weeks and Shaz battles her weight constantly too so we're kind of hoping we can keep each other from straying too far and then I'm planning to hold out the carrot to myself that after getting back in August from Europe - then the next trip is to Scotland in December - so the intention is that I'll jump straight back on the healthy eating horse.  Meantime although the challenge finishes in 2 more weeks I'm going to continue in loss mode right up to the holiday and try and get as low as I can.

So this week -here's my table - I've upped my exercise a fair bit and it seems to be making quite a difference - I'll update this tomorrow with my loss for this week. OK - 600g off this week - much happier with that and in fact yesterday it was 800g so feel like things have started moving properly again.

Day	Water	WW Pts	Wii Fit/ Walk	Wine
1	2 ltrs	17.5	20m	None
2	2 ltrs	16.5	21m+20m	None
3	2 ltrs	16	31m+20m	None
4	2 ltrs	16	31m+25m	None
5	2 ltrs	16	31m	None
6	2 ltrs	14	30m	None
7	2 ltrs	21	0m+25m	None
Totals	14 ltrs	117/126	4h 14m	None

I don't think I have much other news worth sharing - it was a short but busy week at work.  The work on the bathroom was due to start on Friday but the builder rang to say that he'd been held up on his previous job with a late delivery of timber so will now be starting on Tuesday.  This weekend I went and bought most of the small items for the new bathroom - stainless pedal bin, loo brush and toilet roll container, shower caddy, towels - bath, hand and washer - all black.  Tried to get black toilet mat - but could only find the one with the deep pile which is no good in our loo as the door opens over the mat and if it's the deep pile the reverse is true - it doesn't open!  Anyway found a set on EBay so have ordered them.  Meanwhile the spare room is chocka - all the contents of the bathroom vanity plus all the new gear for the bathroom plus my suitcase into which I pop bits and pieces as I buy them that I plan on taking with me.

Sorry it's all a bit waffly this week possums.  Hope you all have a top week.

Love Zxx

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Well given it was Easter and I've had a wonderful four days just relaxing around the house my table doesn't look too bad - I sampled half a hot cross bun with no butter and had one white chocolate Lindt ball - these are my very favouritest chocolates and so I savoured just one last night and was quite pleased with myself for stopping at one.   So I finished bang on points for the week.  I wakened Friday morning with a horrible headache so didn't do any Wii Fit and gave myself permission to have both Saturday and Sunday off since it was Easter - but back on track today.  And still no alcohol - that makes 9 weeks since I last had any. And my loss this week was a measly 100g - feel like I'm watching paint dry sometimes, - it's so bloody slow.  But as they say patience is a virtue and everything comes to he who waits and all that jazz!

Day	Water	WW Pts	Wii Fit/ Walk	Wine
1	2 ltrs	15.5	22m	None
2	2 ltrs	16	20m+20m	None
3	2 ltrs	14.5	20m+20m	None
4	2 ltrs	18.5	20m	None
5	2 ltrs	19.5	Sick	None
6	2 ltrs	17.5	Rest	None
7	2 ltrs	23	Rest	None
Totals	14 ltrs	126/126	2h 2m	None

Now to more exciting things-  I got a call on Thursday night that my ring was ready to pick up - but I was on my way out to join Bloss who was at the pub for a work function and had suggested I join him around 7pm and we'd have tea there so I couldn't race into town to get it.  I had to wait till Saturday morning to get it.  But I'm absolutely delighted with it - it looks bloody amazing and the design is just so different and special.  I've posted a few photos of it below - I haven't been able to show how much it sparkles as if I leave the flash on it rebounds off it and the result is no good.  My plan originally was to wear it on the same finger as my wedding ring and I got it sized accordingly but I think my fingers must have lost weight! as it also fits my middle finger and I now think it deserves a finger all to itself so will probably wear it on that one.

Got a huge compliment at work during the week.  The Training Superintendent at one of the sites I work at is transferring and the HR Manager asked if I would be interested in the position.  It would be a promotion for me but I've said no.  I used to have a team reporting to me but when I transferred to RT Services a bit over a year ago I opted to no longer have anyone reporting to me as I wanted a break from being a leader and just to enjoy focussing on me and my skills.  I'm still loving it and really enjoy my work.  Anyway this role would involve taking on a team which needs some serious work done to get them pulling together, working efficiently and sorting out a problem child or two.  So whilst I believe I could do it - the bottom line is I really don't want to.  It would mean lots of stress which I currently don't have and don't want, I'd have a 75km round trip 5 days a week rather than only 2 at present, and while I'd get a pay rise, I'm earning an excellent salary right now and so would end up paying the bulk of any increase in tax.  However nonetheless I'm highly honoured that I was considered for the role - as the HR Manager said it would be a real challenge and requires someone with 'a big boot' so nice to know I'm considered as having that capability.

The builder started on the bathroom/toilet renos on Thursday - he's got the toilet floor retiled and the new loo installed and I'm delighted with the way the new floor tiles look.  He's back again this Friday to start the bathroom and will be here on and off for the next two weeks getting it finished.  Must say I'm very impressed with the way he works - everything beautifully finished and leaves everything spotless when he's finished.  

Had Josh and Curtis on Saturday for the afternoon as Grant and Tiff went to the races. I took them both down to the local park and when we were ready to come home Curtis said he wanted to be carried so I sat on the park bench and told him to hop up behind me and jump on my back.  Next thing he's squawking like mad and when I looked round one of his legs had gone right down between the two slats on the seat.  He couldn't manage to pull it out and was yelping when I tried to get it out.  So I left Josh minding him and ran back to the house to get some washing up liquid to smear on his leg to let it slide out.  I arrived back puffing and panting, clutching a bottle of Fairy Liquid, to find him sitting up on the seat smiling happily - after I'd left he'd managed to get it out by himself!!  

So that's the news for this week - hope you all had a lovely Easter break and didn't do too much damage but anyway it only comes once a year and it's a long time till Christmas!!  Have a great week possums.

Love Z xx