"clean eating" challenge

For those that know me well, housekeeping is not my forte. I do it, but not particularly well. It is definitely not a task that comes naturally.

So when I first heard of clean eating I got excited, because I thought it meant I could eat while I was cleaning. And I LOVE eating.

Turns out I was wrong. So very VERY wrong.

I've done some research, and had a good hard think about it, and decided I might try it anyway.

Today is day 1 of the Move Nourish Believe - 7 Day Clean Eating Challenge

Surprisingly I feel fine. I'm not hungry. I'm not tired. I have prepped a few things today like the tahini ball snacks so that the rest of the week runs smoothly.

I'm still wondering when my desire to clean will kick in though..............

another Vanity post.

It's all about me again. 


I have been tuned into a lot of diet talk again recently. More to the point I feel like everywhere I go people are talking about what new fancy schemes and tricks they are trying or want to try. Everyone knows someone who tried this or that and seems to have an opinion on it. 


I am fully aware that what works for me may not work for everyone else. I know that I have made the right choices for me. I also know that other peoples success can be feel threatening because it highlights your own failures - and I know because I have sat in that space all to often in my short life. It is no longer important for others to do things my way. I have no need to have the approval of others to make sure that I have done the right thing.


Approval now comes from success. So get ready for some extremely vain opinions of myself!


This was me towards the end of last year. I had already started my healthy journey so I'm sure I probably looked far worse - but I never let there be any photographic evidence

And this is me now 21KG's lighter!

Ha - Don't I just love myself sick right now!

Now I would like to point out that I am not wearing any "shapewear" in these photos,(but I truly do believe that every girl should own some for every red carpet event and that includes grocery shopping and school runs!)

My body type will never be stick thin, and I am OK with that. Perhaps your thirties are for accepting the body you have and not trying to make it into something unattainable.

I got here from no secret remedies or potions or fads. Just one day at a time healthy living. My unhealthy life was built much in the same manner, one day at a time of bad eating and no exercise and sad excuses.

I now include myself in life much more. The idea of bathers doesn't make me want to hurl. And I have loads more photo's of myself with my kids, because I'm not more worried about how I look than capturing the memories.

I still have demons - ones that feed on sugar and doubt. But now they only have visits in my head instead of taking out long term leases. 

Life is good.

the aftermath of chocolate

I survived Easter Sunday without eating chocolate and silly things.


 I DID NOT survive Easter Monday without eating chocolate and silly things!


 At the end of the night I gave in and polished of a whole 100g cadbury bunny and was stupidly hating myself for every bite, but still did it anyway. So I knew that I hadn't even been to the gym all weekend and yet knowingly added and extra 535 odd calories into the mix. And on top of that didn't even take the time to really enjoy it.


I can hear all the psyhco-analysing right now, "you're self sabotaging", "you put too much pressure on yourself", "was it emotional eating?", "you are using the festivities as excuses not to take responsibility".

SHUT UP. Shut up because they are probably all true but at the end of the day it doesn't change the fact that I did it. So today I am gonna suck it up and hit the gym twice. One session of shred already done this morning which is hopefully about 450 cals burnt. Maybe a walk with the kids this afternoon, which I don't count as calorie burning, just to get them out too and then Zumba tonight, which will hopefully burn another 370 cals. Then tomorrow instead of still holding this dread feeling I will just be sore and weary, which is a much more productive feeling! 


 But I'm not gonna stop there. I think some of my problem is that I have hit my goal weight and haven't set myself a new goal. I didn't want to rush into anything initially because I wanted to really enjoy what I have achieved so far. It seems that I don't have the personality type to do that quite so simply. And so the new phase begins. But with no time frame. And the reward I want is a new pair of sneakers. Flashy and pretty ones like these 

.

Yep I know it's lame but I think that having these sneakers will keep up my motivation, because I'll want to be seen in them. I mean who wouldn't want to be seen in these gems? And maybe even some new skins. Not that I'll be strutting the streets in those though.

still going strong in my big girl knickers

Recently this blog has been all about school lunches and kids things. 

So I think I need to make this post 

ALL ABOUT ME. 

Just to keep things even of course.

Some many have been following or heard about my new healthier lifestyle. To date I have lost a disgusting 17kgs and 11 of those since I joined the gym. I say disgusting because I'm not really sure how I found all that weight to begin with. And I'm pretty sure when I look in the mirror I look like the same person just with added collarbones. So how does that work exactly.

Last night on the way home from the gym Lucy exclaimed that I didn't have any kilo's anymore! We asked her to explain and she said that apparently I am skinny now so I don't need to go to the gym. Unfortunately that is not true. The gym will have to be a part of my life forever I think.

That basically means that majority of the week I look like this:

and this

All panda-eyed and my makeup has completely melted off my face from sweat. Yes I wear makeup, basically because I usually have either just done school drop off or pick up and I'm one of those people who would hate for the other Mum's to see my natural skin complexion.  So yes that means I usually need 3 showers a day plus i have to do my hair and makeup twice. 

Don't judge me. Please. I only have a few vanity issues!

I have finally thrown out most of my big clothes and maternity wear (Those elastic waisted pants were my saviour, friend and hero for so long) with the intent that I will NEVER need them again.

Thankfully in my semi-hoarding way I still have heaps of jeans from over 10years ago, the last time I was this size, so I don't have to go completely broke buying all new clothes.

I am so close to my goal now that I can almost smell it. 

On that note I'm off to Zumba. Gonna shake and shimmy my booty off!

biggest loser australia 2012

Even though only the first episode has aired, I am already addicted and excited. All of the networks baiting and teasers have worked (you know leaks about romances and people being kicked off for boozing) I spent last night choked up at the contestants stories and hopes for love and companionship. They are so brave admitting it to the world.

In the past I have watched and followed each series of B/Loser with good intentions of getting healthier myself. But each year I can admit to watching most nights with a big bowl of carb loaded pasta etc and loading it down my throat oblivious that I was doing the exact opposite!
This year I am not using the program as inspiration or a reason to start. I thankfully found that in myself last year  and now realize that no tv program can be responsible for that. Watching this year I am excited to watch their journeys to self respect and confidence.

And on the topic of healthy living, my new lifestyle is flowing on to my kids. They have always been good eaters - in the sense that they will eat most things and they don't poo-pooh veggies or salads or even unsweetened natural yoghurt's. But I did fail them with white bread and pasta. I haven't completely given away with white pasta's, although they probably only feature about once a month round here. Now though we eat mostly quinoa in place of rice, cous cous, potatoes and pasta. It's just so easy to cook and they love it. Also I have been using only wholemeal bread for them and this morning they had wholemeal pancakes as a treat for breaky and didn't notice anything different. I do wonder how they will cope with the extreme sugar high which is sure to come from Lucy's party in a few weeks. But you are only a kid once right? And who wants a party with no cake an only carrot sticks! NOT ME.

my fitness challenge

This year I had a good hard look at my life and decided that I was going to make some changes. Basically I could have almost written a novel length list of the things that I didn't like about my body and the way that I look. I don't want that for myself anymore - or for my kids to be like that either. So I challenged myself to think differently. I stopped focusing on what I would prefer to be and started acting on what I had and what I could do about it. I joined a gym. I started making the effort to put makeup on everyday and trying to accept more compliments and positives about myself.

Then I set my self a fitness challenge - I had to do 40 workouts before Christmas. It wasn't about reaching some magical number on the scales or fitting into a certain sized clothing. I just had to do 40 workouts.

It hasn't been easy. Some things had to suffer - I chose that to be housework and I cook a little bit less, and unfortunately I have less time for sewing. That being said it hasn't been impossible.

Some great things have come from this challenge. Clint also joined the gym and he has been very supportive - and through that I think it has strengthened our relationship. Also the I feel happier. I'm not sure but it could be endorphins or something like that. I am physically stronger and fitter. So now if I had to run for my life I might not actually just die! Oh and I have lost weight - which is a great by-product considering I tried not to make it my goal.

I am on the home stretch now with only 7 workouts to go. But have already enjoyed my effort. Here is a pic of me before (in Melbourne this year) when I bought this dress. I could only just squeeze my boobas in.

And here I am wearing the same dress at a wedding last month.

With the completion line in sight now I am really excited about my next challenge. Just have to decide what it will be. I think a new dress however is on the horizon. And probably some new gym gear - other than scabby old tracky dacks and super baggy tees.

Half way mark

I have made it past the half way mark on my personal fitness challenge! Today the kids and I caught up with friends for breakfast. While the kids played we had talked about how good we are feeling in ourselves. She had remarked about how others thought we were nuts. She was one of my inspirations to get going and I think since we both started (we do different things in a similar way) we feel stronger, not only physically but emotionally. Definitely an unexpected benefit.

The idea of another 19 workouts before Christmas seems completely achievable.

My new motto (www.pinterest.com)

What are you goals for the rest of 2011? Is it to get through Christmas without any family arguments? Is that possible? Is it to try and get all you present shopping done before December?

motivation meltdown

He didn't quite understand where a moustache fits on his face!

Almost there.

 I have hit that point in my fitness challenge where I have to really push myself to keep at it. I guess this is the point I would usually fail all my past diets and then gain double what I had lost.
I refuse to pack it in this time, but still need something to re-kick start. I am proud to say that I have dropped a full size in my jeans and feel stronger. Maybe a new mini goal?
Tonight will be workout number 16 of my 40 that I had initially set myself. Plus this weekend is the PMH 6km big walk and hopeful a Zumba class. Who knows maybe I will feel different next week.

Eeek - must remember makeup!