iDiet

[a weight loss story]

*kathrynoh at nemesis dot com dot au*

::31.12.05::

Happy New Years!

Have a good (and safe) one everyone.

I'm going to post my serious goals/resolutions tomorrow but in the meantime I was thinking i need something that is crazy fun - something that will take me out of my comfort zone. I've mentioned wanting to do this before and I think in 2006 I want to learn to surf.

So what are you going to do that's crazy fun in 2006?

LOL we think alike - I asked something similar on my blog.

hmm but crazy fun, I think I want to join a hip hop dancing thing here. Hold me to that now!

Happy New Year Hun

By Blogger Dee, at 6:08 pm  

Ohhh I love questions like this (might ask the same on my blog)....

I want to learn how to dance. Im reasonably good dancer already but I would love to learn a sexy lating dance...

I also want to go indoor rock climbing...

God, I've got stacks and stacks.

By Blogger The Candid Bandit, at 10:39 pm  

HAPPY NEW YEAR to you too babe and how cool would surfing be! I love chicks on boards and have you checked out their thighs!! I am thinking of Layne Beachley atm and yeah, what would I do? I've got to think about it...

Can't wait to catch up with you!

By Blogger Mary, at 9:04 am  

HAPPY 2006 KATHRYN!!

Still thinking about that one, but on a slightly different tack I know I need to do things that put me out of my comfort zone, but I wouldn't call this crazy fun!

Looking forward to reading your list.

By Blogger CaramelKitKat, at 10:20 am  

love the question... you know i would really love to learn how to windsurf.... lol i'm just so unco!!!!

have a fantastic day!

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:20 am  

my little bro gave me rollar blades for christmas - if i can actually use them by next xmas I would be stoked!

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:52 pm  

Happy New Year Kathryn! Wishing you all the best for 2006!
As for your question, I really haven't thought about it! I'll get back to you...LOL

By Blogger Tina, at 1:12 pm  

 

OMG!

I can't believe this - it is so frigging weird. I did my weight and measurements this morning so I have a year end total and when I got on the scale it said - 80.2 - I got on three times just to be sure my sleep-befuddled eyes weren't playing tricks on me and it's true. The only explanation I can think of it is that was such a scorcher yesterday and I drank truckloads of water then I went out last night and stuck to water, loads more of it.

If I can work out how I did it, I can market that and be like the richest woman in the world!

So measurements:

10/2 31/12 change

waist 122 80 42
hip 104 112 28
boobs 127 105 22
thighs 50 50 0
arm 36 29 30
weight 110.1 80.2 29.9

Wow. I'm happy with that. I'm especially glad to get my waist measurement down to 80 cm because that helps with the diabetes. And I'm not surprised at the no change in my thigh measurement because I've always been like one of those kid's drawings - you know when they progress from stick men to the people with the circle middle and stick arms and legs. Plus the thighs are less fat and more muscle now.

So tonight I'm going to drink and dance and have a good time and not get back on those scales for a week cos I'm sure the numbers will be up again tomorrow. And by the way, I'm rounding it to a 30 kg loss cos what's 100 grams between friends.

On a completely different subject, yesterday when I was at the gym I asked the receptionist about their starter packs. In the book I got when I started, it said you got a pack with a sweat towel and I'd seen many people with the nifty little sweat towels around the gym. I didn't get any pack when I joined up. So she said she'd find one for me and to collect it on my way out.

So on the way out I reminder her and she grabbed me one. I was expecting a plastic bag with some crap in it but it was a really cool backpack. I've been meaning to buy a backpack for my gym gear for a while so score! Inside was a cap, some headphones, a drink bottle and a pen cap - I'm perplexed about the pen cap - but no sweat towel.

The session with the PT went well but, to be honest, he pushed me not nearly as hard as I push myself. He also told me that going to the gym every day is too much. That got me worried but I figure that's the way I do things. If I have a day off, it leads to two days off then three.... I spoke to a friend last night and he said doing cardio every day should be fine. He also said that Olympic athletes train twice a day so if it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me. I figure too that I vary my workouts enough. Plus too, the gym is air conditioned and my house isn't.

lordy! those are some amazing stats..

and i say pooh to the PT. you know your body! if you feel you can go every day, do it... the human body was made for movin', after all. i doubt the caveman ever said, whoa, can't hunt mammoth today, i've already done 3 x 30 minutes this week :)

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:40 am  

Well done - 30 kilos gone forever. You are such an inspiration. Happy New Year! Thanks for your support this year. I look forward to sharing our journies together next year!
All the best for 2006,
Bri

By Blogger Briony, at 10:50 am  

AWESOME weigh in!! and the inches and weight loss overall is just soo fantastic Hun - I'm cheering you on here! You've done such a great job.

Best advice I ever got about "exercising too much" is that professional athletes train so much a day (like your friend said) and if you can do it without hurting yourself but pushing yourself then it's fine. I think people underestimate themselves and their body too much.

Only you can know what you're capable of and if you (and the results show) think you can - I say just do what makes you happy!

Happy New Year ;D

By Blogger Dee, at 11:11 am  

Hi Kathryn,
Congrats on your weight loss so far...that is awesome!! I just wanted to wish you a ver Happy NEw Year and I look forward to getting skinny with you in 2006!!!

By Blogger Tina, at 12:55 pm  

wow love your stats... can i steal them....

wooooohooo on the backpack... maybe that pen cap is really an i owe you... a towel!!!!! ;o)

not really sure on the whole PT thingy... i had one for awhile but he left and i never got a new one...

have a fantastic night!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:16 pm  

WOOHOO WOOHOOO
Isn't that exciting! Next weeks weigh in wil probably be 7?

You may need a new PT - It can be hard to find someone you click with.

By Blogger Jadey, at 3:50 pm  

Wow! you have done so well this year baby! I am impressed and a half! I cannot believe how well you have gone and you are ending the year so close to the 70s its not funny! Bizarre that your thighs stayed the same - I wish I had your problem of stick figure legs : )

Happy New Year!

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5:33 pm  

I dunno why I was certain there would be a smaller number today! Sooooooooo well done kathryn!!

Needless to say I wish I had skinny thighs and legs...lol

And you are going to learn to surf! that's brilliant!

I want to learn to run...I have been having images of me in my head recently of me running and running and running...

january 7 starts the couch to 5 for this girl :)

have the best New Year's eve you can have and a bright, healthy and smiley 2006!

We will keep on sharing and we will keep on achieving!

With love,

me :)

By Blogger Argy, at 6:09 pm  

 

::30.12.05::

Weigh In

Woohoo - I lost this week. I'm down to 81.4. That's a loss of 1.2 kgs but still not as a low as a few weeks ago when I was 81.3, dammit.

But hey, I lost over Christmas week and that's got to be good. I think I'll do a weigh in and measurements on Sunday too so I can work out my total loss for the year.

Congratulations on your loss this week. How cool is that to actually lose weight over Christmas!

About the Australia Day Run. I've not done it before, but will be there this year.

A few of my friends who did it last year also commented on how hot it was, but didn't really say that it was a bad run or anything.

There is another run on Australia Day. It starts at Dromana and ends up at Rosebud, running along the ocean road.

If you are going to do the one around the Docklands, let me know and we can meet up before or after the race. I'll be with my running buddy Michelle.

By Blogger Jaykay, at 7:34 am  

hey chicken!

thanks so much for your visit to my site! I just can't imagine how you would feel after losing 30 kilos! You must be absolutely chuffed with how amazing you are! I am just about at where you started and have that whole journey to go through myself! Aargh!

So how does it feel knowing that you could be at goal by easter? that must make your bones tingle!

I will definitely be back - you r a great influence : )

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:51 am  

OMG awesome loss Hun!! can't wait to see how much you lost overall ;D

Keep up the great work

By Blogger Dee, at 9:42 am  

Well done and a huge congratulations. See you ARE a machine! hehe How nice was your Christmas tyre helper, wow, that's unheard of?
Have a great day.
Bri

By Blogger Briony, at 10:17 am  

My first visit!

What a terrific job you've done.

My new hero!

By Blogger The Candid Bandit, at 12:33 pm  

Thats awesome news hun!! You can be so proud of yourself while most of us are posting big gains to end the year LoL - Ah well! That extra gram will be gone in a day or 2 and you'll be back down where you want to be!!
Have an awesome New Year!!

By Blogger Jadey, at 2:19 pm  

Thats soooooooooooooo cool! You are doing so fabulously with all your exercise etc.

By Blogger Ang, at 2:24 pm  

Well done Kath, that's brilliant! Looking forward to talking to you more when I get back from Tas.

Happy new year!!

By Blogger philippa_moore, at 4:13 pm  

Congratulations. 1.2kg is a brilliant loss, especially over Christmas. Well done!! :o)

By Blogger Unknown, at 6:23 pm  

As if I did not know you are a star already, here you are giving me more proof!!!!

I bet tomorrow you will have a bit of a smaller number to record!!!

I'll definetely be checking tomorrow!!!

By Blogger Argy, at 7:59 pm  

how goods that loss...

how on earth did you manage to lose over christmas...

though i have to say i 'found' what you lost!!!! want it back!!!!! ;o)


well done!!!

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:38 pm  

Yay for your loss - Yay because I'm back ;)

What is this run around docklands that Jaykay is refering to?

I had something else to say but I can't remember, damn :(

By Blogger Lucinda, at 10:52 pm  

 

::29.12.05::

Hot

I decided I'd go to the St Kilda branch of my gym today because they have a pool but the pool was not functional. Damn it. So I went upstairs to do a workout and they had no airconditioning. What kind of primitive conditions are those? Still I soldiered on and did 50 minutes of cardio. I was going to do an hour but I faltered. Well truthfully, I needed the toilet and I wasn't going to run all the way down to the change rooms (down 2 flights of stairs) and then back to the workout room so I quit.

It was weird being there. Many years ago, before Fitness First took over, I used to go to this gym to workout and play volleyball and netball (both incredibly badly). The best part about the old gym was the bar. You could get a vodka tonic after your workout. That's all gone.

Being there made me remember a friend who played on our teams. He was killed in a car crash not long after the team disbanded so I had a sad moment but it is good to remember these people in our lives.

On a brighter note, someone in my house who isn't me bought toilet paper today. Miracles do happen. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention my Christmas miracle. Christmas Eve I made a last minute trip to the supermarket to get gravy because Andrew wanted it on his turkey. The thought of gravy with cold meat would never occur to me. On the way home, my car started going wonky. A guy sitting at a cafe on the street pointed to my tyre so I pulled over and it was flat as a tack.

The guy came down and offered to change the tyre for me. I unburied the spare from the piles of junk in the back of the car and that was pretty well flat too. I said if he could put it on, I only had to get around the corner. I could sort it out after Christmas. But he said no. Instead he carried the tyre back to his car and drove up to the servo and got it pumped up then came back and changed it for me. What a wonderful guy. He was my hero.

I must remember to get the flat tyre fixed now.

A bar in a gym - now that sound like my kinda place! I suppose there are so many bars in St Kilda that the owners saw an obviously untapped source of revenue. Still, too dangerous for me.

What goes around, comes around. Such random acts of kindness are really touching and all too few and far between. A few months ago in Coles a little girl had let her helium balloon go and it was out of reach. All the customers (except her surly mother) at the checkouts tried to retrieve it, but no cigar. Then a fairly rough-looking, young guy from the meat section, clearly on his break, came by and took a few running jumps until he managed to grab it. He then knelt down and tied it to her wrist. It certainly made the long wait in line worthwhile. So moved was I, I even went home and emailed Coles to tell them this kid deserves recognition and was rapt to get a phone call within a few hours to ask exactly what he looked like so they could reward him. I really hope they did.

By Blogger CaramelKitKat, at 11:39 pm  

Kathryn!

Thank you for all your support. Really thank you. I been a bad blogger, and I just wanted to tell you that I really am grateful to you for your daily posts. They manage to take my mind of the madness and make me feel a bit more human.

Have a gorgeous New Year's Eve and a new year full of good surprises and incredibly good health!

Love and appreciation,

moi (who is going to do her best to make it up for the last three weeks...thanks!!! ;)

By Blogger Argy, at 1:37 am  

 

Bits

My favourite summer snack at the moment is Nestle Refresh Citrus Mousse with some mango. I highly recommend it.

***
Last night I was in the kitchen and one of my housemates came in and was telling me how much weight I've lost. He always talks about his plans for losing weight and getting in shape but I've never seen him do anything but lay on his bed watching tv. It's like Dee's motto for last week - "action not words".
You know those moments where you think of things you should have said much later? Well it was only later that I thought - I should have let him in on my weight loss secrets. You know, doing things like putting out the bins and buying toilet paper and maybe sweeping the floors once in a while. Dang.
***
It truly sucks that I have no cash at the moment. I found the sports bra I want for heaps cheaper the other day but I can't justify spending $45 on a bra at the moment. But boy do I need one.
***
I have a personal training session at my gym tomorrow. Fun but scary.
***
I worked out my budget yesterday. I think I can survive for about a month tops before getting another job becomes urgent. That was a real eye opener. The whole point of not working is so that I can write. But I've done no writing - lots of moping around and lots of playing spider solitaire but no writing. Lots of gym time too. I think I need to organise myself so I do gym in the mornings or evenings because I find it hard to write when my day is broken up. Starting today, I'm going to put in a major effort. It just seems like such a huge task at the moment - I have a stack of rewriting to do - but like any big task, I guess the secret is break it into manageable chunks. I have got one thing done though - my application for the TAFE course I want to do next year. I'm going to post that off today.

Good Luck with TAFE! How exciting - I need to figure out what I want to do next year, thanks for the reminder!

So very very true @ having to break it up into chunks otherwise it's all so overwhelming, once you get into the groove of it - I beat it'll flow, hardest step is the is the first, right?

Have a wonderful New Year Hun!

p.s. you're making me want to check out the nearest gym near me, your adventures sound so inviting. Enjoy the Personal Training!

By Blogger Dee, at 10:42 am  

Hi, my names Hayley and i found your blog from Shontie. mine is www.madamx81.blogspot.com

I was just wondering where your new jym is, i'm looking for one at the moment and yours sounds wonderful :)

Hope you don't mind me visiting!

hayley.

By Blogger Madamx81, at 11:31 am  

LOL about the spider solitaire! I wish I was a writer, I have so much stuff in my head that I would love to write down but have no idea where to start. Maybe one day!! Have a great day.
Bri

By Blogger Briony, at 12:44 pm  

hey... thanks for commenting on my blog... love the idea of creativly stealing bits and pieces from others!!!! lol i did think about doing that... i'll just have to try that tonight...

you like the refresh mousse... each to there own i guess... i though it was horrible... though in saying that i only tried the watermelon flavour... that was enough to turn me off it!!!!

tafe hey... what did you want to study... i need to think up something else i'd like to study...

as for going to the gym in the morning... it's so much cooler, once you're up you're up, you feel good for doing it all day, and you're more likely to eat healthy cause you've done all that fantastic work at the gym...
now in saying that i need to get my own act together and do as i say!!!!
thanks

ali
www.allycats3.blog-city.com

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:37 pm  

Berlei sports bras are 25% off this week at Myer, a little cheaper than $45, they are $37.50. You could layby?

By Blogger Unknown, at 6:29 pm  

They had lots of nice colours too!

By Blogger Unknown, at 6:30 pm  

 

::28.12.05::

Bums

My Christmas bootcamp isn't going so well. The exercise is up to scratch - well except the tricep dips. Who was I kidding when I said that? Tricep dips are satan's own exercise. I'd do crunches before I'd do tricep dips. I'd even do chin ups.

But my downfall is food. It's like I have the sugar in my system now and I want more. Well that another itty problem. A problem called banana bread. See I've been going into the city to go to my gym and in the city is Borders. And in Borders is the irresistable banana bread. But no more. None. Banana bread, bad. There will be no banana bread while I'm over 80 kgs. And no alcohol either. Except for New Year's Eve. I mean, come on.

So today I went into Melbourne Central (I caught the train, I might be a machine but walking into the city two days in a row is fool talk). I did an RPM class. Not just an RPM class but a killer RPM class. Then I moved into the Relaxation Zone - steam room, sauna, aromotherapy room and monsoon shower. Have I said how much I love my new gym?

Then, to get my money's worth, I went to Pump tonight. Man, my first Pump class since I hurt my back. If I can get out of bed tomorrow, it will be a miracle.

I think a lot of the problem lately is that I've been feeling rather glum. Christmas can be hard - I just feel like it gets too big and I don't have enough family and friends to fill it. I think it's something I need to work on. I'm going to think about that for a while.

Hi Idiet, i do not have a lot of family either, and so this is usually a pretty quiet time of year for me. i have learnt to really enjoy the quieter gym sessions in other years, and the peaceful beach walks this year. After a few years of bringing my son up alone, and having such a hectic day on christmas day making christmas special for him, it does seem so quiet now he is grown up. i find your writing to be so entertaining and refreshingly honest and fun. you are a very talented writer. Hope your new year is fabulous, and hope that by fitting in the gym workouts rather than a heap of wine nights on the social scene, even though it is a bit tough and lonely joining a new gym and taking the path you know is right for you, even if it seems you do it alone, hope that you find yourself feeling absolutely great for the new year cos you know you are headed in the direction that is true for you. Good luck for a great new year and new you. The 70's and a great fit lifestyle are getting very close for you.

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:50 am  

Your new gym sounds amazing. What's a monsoon shower? I've never heard of that. Christmas is a hard time of year for all of us, don't be too hard on yourself. You really are a machine!
Have a great day.
Bri

By Blogger Briony, at 8:58 am  

Your new gym sounds fabulous. My sister joined a Fitness First gym in Sydney and all the little extras sound so great. Im fairly certain I'll join Fitness First too when I move to Sydney....

By Blogger Unknown, at 10:10 am  

 

::27.12.05::

Does the day after Boxing Day have a name?

Because my (new) gym is on holiday timetable, the only class on offer today was Body Balance. When I'm paying as a casual member, I tend to go for the most bang for buck cardio classes but since I'm paying a flat fee now, I decided I'd give it a whirl.

For those who don't know (like me this morning), Body Balance is a combination of tai chi, yoga, pilates and meditation. Easy peasy lemon squeezy, you'd think. But you'd be wrong. Man, some of those moves are tough - a couple of the newbies walked out before the class ended. I'd really recommend it though - I've been in the best mood ever since.

So I walked into the city (5.5 km) then did the class then half hour of cardio - yes, I am a machine. I really wanted to do the cardio before the class but I mistimed it. I had planned to go to see Narnia afterwards but didn't have time for that so headed to Borders and persued the new Slimming magazine and some other books.

Does anyone else read Slimming? What do you think of the change of focus? This month's issue had a 'Lose 5kgs in 2 weeks swimsuit diet' - a bit of a change from their usual healthy weight loss emphasis in the past. I think that's why I flick through it in Borders instead of forking out the cash now.

After that, I got caught up in the post-Christmas sales frenzy. Well I tried to - damn clothing manufacturers - they know I'm losing weight, I swear to god. Once you could never find a thing in the shops over an 18. Today every shop I went to had either size 10s or size 20s and nothing in between. I'd have liked some 3/4 jeans but no dice.

I did get finally get a body scrub - Sugar Plum. It smells so purty and it was reduced. Woohoo. I went into the Nike shop to try on shoes so I could I knew my size to buy them at a much cheaper price on ebay. I've never been in Nike before because I have ethical concerns about the way they treat their sweat shop labour although I'm never sure if Nike are any worse than other companies or if they are just targetted because they are the biggest. I do know a few years ago they paid more money to Michael Jordon than their entire workforce in SE Asia and that just isn't right. But, on the other hand, they are the only company that has the kind of shoes I want. Dilemma, dilemma. It was bedlam in there anyway so I left.

On the way home I called into a shop on Smith Street and found a Bond's yoga wrap top. I so wanted one of these when they first came out but they only went up to a size 16. Now they are discontinued and cheap and I'm a 16 so woohoo!

I think I need to take some time out of my busy schedule to laze in the backyard and work on my tan.

Wow!! You are a machine.
That is just soooo darn cool about the wrap top thingy! How cool does it feel to say that the clothes didn't fit because they were too big?? That kicks arse. you go girl.

By Blogger Ang, at 6:47 pm  

 

::26.12.05::

Christmas and other things

Like everyone else, I ate too much yesterday. Andrew made a chocolate ripple cake - his favorite - and I thought I was safe because I hate chocolate ripple cake. Trouble was, he told me to have a taste and it was the best chocolate ripple cake ever. He is the king of chocolate ripple cake. So I had three (small) pieces. He also made truffles (I'm not sure if what our family call truffles is the same as what other people call them - those balls made from crushed biscuits mixed with cocoa and condensed milk and rolled in coconut). They are my absolute faves. Luckily he'd eaten half of them before yesterday. Well he'd made one batch and eaten them and had to make a second batch - that is definitely a Christmas tradition in our family.

I picked him up yesterday morning for lunch and we exchanged presents. I'd gotten him a cheese grater. Aren't I the bestest mummy in the world? Ha ha. Well he wanted stuff I couldn't wrap - cash and tickets the Boxing Day Test - and I wanted to get him something. He said he didn't want chocolate and he is always complaining about not having a grater. I also got him some Ferrer Rochers so I could nick one.

He gave me some dvds - Bruce Springsteen unplugged (I'd already bought myself another Bruce dvd so I had a Bruce marathon last night) and the John Saffran Music Jamboree dvd. He'd promised to buy me the Music Jamboree dvd about 2 years ago and never did so that was really a late present rather than this years.

We had a yummy lunch - too much potato salad. That stuff is like crack for me. Then we watched the whole Music Jamboree dvd.

I took him home and went to the gym. It was deserted except for a family who had obviously never been in a gym before. It made me wonder if they were related to the dude working there because one of the girls was wearing thongs. She was telling the others what to do and how to use the equipment but she had no idea herself and I think they will all be very sore today.

I wanted to go see Chronicles of Narnia today but Andew said the movies would be bedlam so we are going later in the week. I should go do some walking before it gets too late.

At the gym yesterday, I realised just how happy I am to join my new gym. Half their treadmills don't work. They work okay for a while then suddenly stop, sending you flying across the room. Well not really, but they do jar you. They also don't have any air conditioning or any fans; they just open the windows. But the only windows that open are near the dodgy treadmills - so you can either risk jarring and stay cool or else sweat your arse off.

christmas is always bad for eating...the gym u r going to or leaving sounds horrid, i like the gym that i go to (when i get there) hope the new one brings a bit of inspiration :)

By Blogger laura, at 12:41 am  

Sounds like you had a great day. I love potato salad too, it's a killer, I could eat a whole batch by myself! Good on you for going to the gym, even if its a little dodgy.
Have a great day (I think we're the only ones left who are still blogging!) LOL
Bri

By Blogger Briony, at 9:08 am  

Just put a picture of "the chair" on my blog especially for you! Wish they came in adult sizes - it would be a great place to hide with a good book (and some chocolate!!).
Bri

By Blogger Briony, at 10:23 am  

 

::23.12.05::

Gym

Since I started with this whole weight loss thing, I have not joined a gym. I've said before, I'm a gym slut doing casual classes at several different gyms. Over the past few months, I've also been using guest passes at Fitness First to do some freebie classes there. So today I did something I'm not sure if I've done the right thing: I joined up for a one year Fitness First membership.

Since I signed on the dotted line (well it was more like a shaded box really) I've been screaming inside. I am such a commitment-phobe. I can't even buy a weekly train ticket. And now I'm a gym member. Damn it, people make decisions to join nunneries with less angst than this.

I thought I'd write down some of the reasons for joining to reassure myself:
  1. Boxing. I've been to a few boxing classes and the ones at FF are the best by far. I love these classes prolly more than any other class I've done. And one of the instructors is great. I have a wee crush on him.
  2. They have lots of gyms so it doesn't matter where I'm working or if I move, I'll be close to one.
  3. They have lovely clean showers. When you live in a share house, you appreciate that. The Melbourne Central gym also has an aromotherapy zone and monsoon showers and other lush stuff.
  4. The FF gyms are really nice gyms and since I spend a lot of time at the gym, I deserve to go somewhere nice.
  5. It isn't going to cost any more than I pay for casual visits and I can go as many times as I like.
  6. I can do pilates on a reformer bed.
  7. I can hang out in the cafe area reading fitness mags for free.

The cons of it are the expense and the commitment - arrrgh! And, I think, at the back of my mind is the thought that I don't deserve this. Fitness First is a pretty fancy gym compared to what I'm used to and part of me is saying - what is someone like me doing in a fancy gym? But you know something - I do deserve it. I spend at least 5-10 hours a week at the gym and I want to spend that somewhere nice. If worse comes to worst financially, I'll just quit smoking to pay for it.

In other news, weigh in today was arse. I am now 82.6 kilograms. That is a 1.5 kilogram gain. I reject what the scales tell me. It's not true. Screw them. But if it's true, which I'm not saying it is, I don't think I can lose 2.5 kgs before the end of the year. Aint gonna stop me trying though.


If you spend that much time at the gym you deserve to be somewhere nice, as long as it's not one of those pretentious places! Don't worry about your gain, maybe it's fluid and maybe it's time to give your scales a big kick! I haven't been on my scales in a week - i'm too scared.
Hope you had a great day yesterday.
Bri

By Blogger Briony, at 5:10 pm  

 

::22.12.05::

Christmas Bootcamp

While I was walking this afternoon, I decided I've been a bit of a slackarse lately. I know it's Christmas and blah blah blah... but I don't think I'll lose weight this week, maybe even gain a little. No biggie, except that I realised I really, really want to hit the 30 kgs lost mark by the end of the year. That means I need to lose at least 1.5 kgs in 9 days. I can do it. I know I can.

I'm going out for dinner tonight and I'm going to enjoy it without too many hassles and I'm not going to fuss too much on Christmas day - we are planning mostly healthy eating anyway - but for the rest of the 9 days, it's going to be Christmas bootcamp around here.

This is what I'm going to do:

  • 1 hours of cardio a day minimum
  • weights every second day
  • yoga/pilates or swimming on the alternate days
  • walk everywhere I possibly can and try to fit in brief moments of exercise - eg. 5 mins skipping or getting up and doing a little dance while I'm waiting for shit to download on my pc
  • every time I sit down at my computer desk, doing a set of tricep dips (ie. before I sit down, of course)
  • 50 crunches plus those evil hover things every day

Eating wise, I'm going to stick to 3 meals and 2 snacks a day. I'm going to try to bump up my protein as much as possible - I really don't get enough protein in my diet and I'm going to try to get my carbs in earlier in the day (ie. no carbs after 5.00). I'm not sure if the no carbs thing works but it's worth a shot.

I figure 9 days of giving it all I've got is doable and I'll end the year with a bang. Then back to regular programming next year.


and why the hell not, i say :) good luck, comrade!

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:19 pm  

Raaaaar! :)

I wish you had a live feed webcam so I could see you "download dancing" and doing tricep dips, hehe.

By Blogger Zara, at 5:42 am  

I'm booting campin' it too!

Good luck with it all..

See you in the new year!!

By Blogger Dee, at 12:16 pm  

You are my hero! I wish I had your motivation. Have a great day!
Bri

By Blogger Briony, at 12:36 pm  

you go girl... (can you hear me cheering from here) It is so do-able because you are so determined!
Well done. And good luck!
:) A

By Blogger Ang, at 1:24 pm  

Grainwaves.... chippy things :S yum yum.

By Blogger Ang, at 4:41 pm  

 

::21.12.05::

Blood

When I went into the city on Monday, I went to the diabetes shop and got some test strips for my blood sugar monitor. I am such a slackarse about these things and ran out around the middle of the year. It's just such a hassle to do these things, but necessary. So I've been measuring my blood sugar levels for the last few days and it's been around the low 4s of a morning, which is pretty damn good. I want to try to reduce my medication and that means being vigilant about measuring these things.

I had a preliminary (agency) interview for a new job yesterday. The job sounds fun and it doesn't start until the end of January which suits me fine. It was so weird having to get all suited up though. I've spent the last few weeks dagging around in trackies and cargo pants. My work clothes were getting to big for me when I finished work so were really on the baggy side yesterday. If I get this job, I think I'll need a whole new work wardrobe.

Arrrggh! Drank too much beer last night. We were drinking jugs which makes it too easy. Still I had fun. I've got lunch out today then tomorrow night we are going to CERES for dinner so I must be careful. I think I'll go light on lunch today and then have a big session at the gym before dinner tomorrow. The food at CERES is fantastic but last time I ate there, it was pretty heavy on the oil and I'd like to have what I want with no fuss, no muss. The rest of the week should be fine though.

I was going to do a lap of Albert Park Lake today before going to lunch but the weather is so hot and windy that I think I'll leave it and go to the nice, airconditioned gym tonight instead.

Almost forgot to mention, I ran into a friend of a friend who I haven't seen since about March this year. She said she'd seen me but didn't come over and say hello because she wasn't sure it was me, cos I've lost so much weight! Woohoo!

Brilliant! I love it when that happens, its such a buzz when someone tells you that, especially when they don't have to!
... and yes I will be the life of the party in my red dress, don't you worry about that!!! LOL
Bri

By Blogger Briony, at 1:06 pm  

just popping in to say merry xmas! hope u have a great one & a wonderful NY!

By Blogger Kt, at 5:12 pm  

great feeling hey, especially when u can see the genuine look in their eyes...not the 'i know ur on a diet, so i better say something nice' but its the best when its someone u havent seen i ages...well done :)

By Blogger laura, at 2:02 am  

Congrats! Whoot - I am hoping I will get some reaction at my family dinner tonight - positive of course!

I'll be back early next week, so in the meantime have a great christmas and new year. It was lovely to meet you this year, and we can start running in the ny!

:)

By Blogger Lucinda, at 2:19 pm  

 

::20.12.05::

Walking

I've been doing a lot of walking lately but I'm not sure if I should count it as exercise. I walk fast, but I don't exactly push myself unless I'm going for a walk specifically for exercise. Even then I find it hard to get my heart rate up high enough - it's like my legs aren't strong enough.

It's weird though. Not that long ago, I felt like I'd achieved a major thing when I walked home from the city. I so had to push myself that last km. Now I walk into the city and home again and am not even sure if I should consider it exercise. Walking into and around the city has such limitations anyway - traffic lights and other pedestrians (why are they all so slow and path-blocking?)

I'm still not running - I want to be 100% recovered before I start that but I did go to spin class last night. Today I'm going to have a long soak in the bath. I can do that because I gave the bath a huge clean this morning. I'm so sick of living in a hovel so I've been on a cleaning spree and god help my housemates if they make a mess.

You sound like you're getting really fit if you think walking into the city and back isn't exercise! Well done. Enjoy your bath!
Bri

By Blogger Briony, at 2:06 pm  

i love walking...if i could i'd walk everywhere (but then I get lazy) i think walking is fantastic, and its exercise, u sound like your doing sooo well...keep walking!

By Blogger laura, at 4:08 pm  

 

::19.12.05::

Weekend

I felt sick today so I gave myself licence to pig out. Why do I do that? Sickness is no reason to be a garbage guts. My biggest weakness is when I have easy to eat food in the house - things I can pick at without having to go to any effort. Luckily this has been mostly fruit (oh and some ham!).

I had brunch with my sister yesterday then we went shopping. I got some new sunnies (pointy, cats-eye ones) and some hair clips - nothing exciting. I went to buy the cowboy boots I've been looking at for months and they didn't have them in my size - I snooze, I lose - is the lesson there.

Tomorrow I have to post my ebay stuff off and pick up my mail from the city. I'm also buying myself a present - since no one in my family is buying presents, I'm buying my own. Well I buy myself a present every year but this year more so.

Otherwise, my life is uneventful. My arse is still busted so that restricts my exercise. I feel like I'm not working hard enough now if I just walk. It's damn frustrating. But tomorrow I'll go to Spin and the rest of the week I will work around it. Damn butt.

thanks for the comment on my site. hope ur feeling better, I got my weekend off for christmas we are headin out here on Friday evening after my sister in law is finished work she is our ride home. your doing great. should look into vegetarian. hamburger and such i know we have it here and most of it is good stuff.
I think I need to get back to that again......

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:03 am  

Don't worry, I do the same when i'm sick, or hungover, or just feeling down. I'm really hopeless! hehe
I love ebay - i've just recently started buying stuff and have only had one dodgy purchase so far. What kind of stuff do you sell?
Have a great day! Hope your butt gets 'unbusted' soon. LOL.
Bri

By Blogger Briony, at 9:15 am  

hope you're feeling better. Thanks for commenting on my blog - I'd love the carmen electra dvd. Please email me with your details so I can reimburse you - let me know how much you want fo r it. (digiscraptina@hotmail.com)

By Blogger Tina, at 3:13 pm  

 

::17.12.05::

Sick and Tired

I have literally busted my ass running! Last night I headed out for my run but the muscle that runs down from back down my butt to my leg was very ouchy so I stopped and walked instead. I've had trouble with this muscle ever since I hurt my back a few months ago. And I think I overdid things - doing the fun run on Wednesday then a huge workout at the gym on Thursday. Bums, I hate this shit.

And this morning I'm feeling all flu-ey. Damn it. I can't get the flu now. I'm on a mission. I'm determined to lose 30 kilos by the end of the year. That is only 1.5 kilos in the next two weeks - I can so do that.

I've talked in other posts about how I like to go to the weighing machine at the Jam Factory and get a print out of my weight and BMI. Well I swear that machine has it in for me. I got my printout yesterday, sure I'd foiled it and my BMI would be under 30. The bloody machine was saying I'm a centimetre shorter!

This morning I glued all those printouts in my weight loss notebook. I wish my scanner was working so I could post them but these are the results from each one:

20/03/05 - 102.3 kg - BMI 36
18/06/05 - 97.7 kg - BMI 35
16/09/05 - 89.1 kg - BMI 31 (I was a cm taller that time)
18/11/05 - 84.8 kg - BMI 30
16/12/05 - 82.6 kg - BMI 30

Next time I swear my BMI will be under 30 even if it means I have to strip down and do a naked weight in the middle of the Jam Factory.

LMAO at you naked at the Jam Factory (whatever that is! haha).
Us girls will do anything to get the results we want!
Hope you're having a great weekend.
Bri

By Blogger Briony, at 4:57 pm  

haha.... you'd get a few looks at least if you did it naked.
:) You go girl, it will be under 30 next time the way you are going.

By Blogger Ang, at 5:18 pm  

You are such a star Kathryn! Such a star indeed!

By Blogger Argy, at 9:06 pm  

Please let me know when you're going to do the naked thing at the Jam Factory as I'd love to see the faces of all the shoppers!!

So this machine also measures your height? Wow, some fancy machine that must be!

And I'd definitely be doing some major stretching of your bum muscles as it takes a little while before they stop hurting if you haven't used them for a while!

By Blogger Jaykay, at 10:44 pm  

i say drop the clothes...my work out inspiration...i have been lucky to have may muscle injuries over the years...deep heat...it works
got luck on hitting ur goal before the year is out

By Blogger laura, at 8:28 pm  

 

::16.12.05::

Weigh In

81.3 kgs this week. That's a loss of 600 grams. I'm happy with that, thank you very much. I wasn't expecting much after last week's freaky 2 kilogram lose, actually thought I'd have a gain with week because last week had just been a glitch in the scales.

In the personal victory - I'd have never done this before - category, I had a small achievement last night. I wore a singlet top to the gym. Even though I hate my upper arms and my arm pit area (does anyone else have flabby bits there but me? Sort of a side boob roll?). And I am so glad I wore it - it was damn hot in there.

Well done, must be all that walk/running you're doing! Congratulations.
Bri

By Blogger Briony, at 9:40 am  

*raises arm in awkward position* I have the side boob roll thing you're talking about LOL. It's horrible but I'm glad I’m not the only one!! When I said I needed to lose weight - I really meant everywhere, even there!

That's so awesome you wore a singlet to the gym - HOW bloody hot has it beeeeeen. I've been fighting the suffocating heat blagh - I wonder how the poor aussie contestants on BL are feeling it!

AWESOME on the loss, dang I can't believe you're almost out of the 80s how exciting is that and OMG CONGRATULATIONS!!! on being 13th and under 50mins, that's sooo brilliant and I'm sooo excited for you yay!

By Blogger Dee, at 11:25 am  

i got the bike...now ust gotta use it, i remeber the first time i wore a singlet to the gym...maqssive step..but well done so far any loss is a good loss

By Blogger laura, at 5:55 pm  

2.6kg loss over two weeks in the time leading up to Xmas - there should be some kind of medal for an achievement like that!

I have side boobs too. Last year I had a lump in one of them, and although I was scared about the prospect of surgery, a little voice in my head was doing a happy dance at the idea of having it chopped off. Thankfully, I still have it and look forward to removing it in a more positive way.

By Blogger CaramelKitKat, at 8:16 pm  

 

::15.12.05::

I am a legend!

I just got the results of the fun run last night. I haven't done 5 km in a fun run before so I thought I'd be happy if I did it in under 50 minutes.

The unofficial results are online - I did it in 40:48.7 and came 13th out of all the walkers. I can't believe it.

that is brilliant time. good on ya :)

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:20 am  

Woo-hoo! Congrats! Looks like thirteen's your lucky number.

By Blogger Jennette Fulda, at 2:32 am  

Isn't it great when you surprise yourself in a good way? :)

By Blogger Zara, at 5:26 am  

Well done, you are a legend!
Bri

By Blogger Briony, at 9:46 am  

 

Hairy

I woke up this morning and realised I love my life. I love that I can do what I want and, while not rich by any means, I have the money to meet my needs. I love getting out and moving - walking and running and going to the gym. I love my friends - my sister is coming down from Sydney on the weekend and we are going out for brunch and girlie shopping plus I'll probably go for drinks with favourite hunka burning love - Sugar Lips. I'm in control of everything and it feels so good.

Now to change the subject completely. Has anyone else noticed themselves getting more hairy as they lose weight? Well probably not more hairy - I think it's just that as the skin surface area shrinks, the hairs become more concentrated (belly - I'm looking at you). I guess this is a good thing, right? It means my belly is indeed shrinking. Better to be hairy than fat!

Anyway, I got a 20% off voucher for the Fila shop in my goodie bag last night so I think I'll walk down there this afternoon and get some new gym gear. I have an issue with logo-emblazened clothing but if it's cheap enough, I'll make an exception.

Update: the Fila shop had 50% off everything so I got that then my 20% off discount! Woohoo! I ended up buying a pair of trackies, a singlet and a t-shirt. I got XL and didn't bother trying them on, figuring if they were too tight they'd fit soon but they all fit fine.

I really wanted to get a pair of shoes for walking that aren't runners - something nice and casual but with some walking support. Much harder than you'd think. Any suggestions?

Hope you have a great time with your sister. I love shopping, i'm going tonight but I think it will be too busy and rushed to be enjoyable. Have a great day!
Bri

By Blogger Briony, at 11:52 am  

What a wonderful happy post. That is exactly how I feel too.

I don't think I am any hairier now than I was when I was 103kg but I certainly notice it a lot more because I can't remove hair by waxing while I'm on Roaccutane, so have to use the razor every few days. It seems to grow back very quickly!!

Hope you have a great day, and glad you enjoyed the fun run! xxx

By Blogger philippa_moore, at 12:37 pm  

i've been reading through some people on diets and blogging it...i'm just som amazed at how much strength and perseverence you have, i still live in hope

By Blogger laura, at 1:04 pm  

I think I'm hairier than I was! Like you, it round my tummy area- the wee line that runs down middle. To be honest though I think it's just cause I can see the underside of my less round tummy, more easily.

By Blogger Lainey, at 8:06 pm  

you sound so happy, its infectious!
sketchers make cute sneakers that go with jeans but can also handle some walking!

By Blogger Kt, at 8:21 pm  

Yes, I swore I would never buy Skechers because they used to be advertised by Britney Spears (to whom I had a serious aversion at the time) but a while back, I needed some decent black shoes to wear to work and ended up with their black leather not-exactly-trainers, which have been very comfortable. I'm actually considering buying a second pair as they still make them and I've had them about a year.

I do prefer Docs, but even I can see they're not appropriate for every work situation, and they take more breaking in before they're totally comfortable.

By Blogger K, at 9:06 pm  

I'm just so impressed that you run!I am not remotely close to be able to run, mostly since my boobs are way too big. And it just looks so awful to run down the street clutching your bosoms in your hands...

By Blogger Haloranch, at 6:30 am  

 

::14.12.05::

Fun Run

Tonight was the Christmas Fun Run at Albert Park. I so didn't want to go. If I hadn't paid for it, I would have not gone. I drove over at 4.30 to avoid peak hour traffic and sweltered in the car - not good exercising weather at all. To top it off, I got to Albert Park and realised just how big that lake is! Oh man, I was ready to run away. I've walked 5 km many times but it just seems so far when you can see the whole lot at once.

I had over an hour's wait for the run to start so I sat in the shade and made a special playlist on my ipod.

When the race started, I decided not to think about the whole distance. I'd just get to Carousel and then worry about the rest. So I got to Carousel and suddenly saw the 1 km marker. The next km was even easier, but after that I started looking for the water stand, thinking it would be at 2.5 km - the half way mark. That km seemed to take forever. I finally saw the water stand, just near the 3 km marker.

The last 2 km seemed to fly past. Around the last km, I was getting tired but decided to run. I ran past some blonde bimbo who gave me a dirty look. Ha. I owned her!

Got to the finish line and won a spot prize so had to wait around for the presentations to get a Fila drink bottle.

I'm so pumped now. I want to run more. I probably ran for about 10-15 minutes of the track and think I could have done more. Next time, I'll ran further and faster.

CONGRATS on the run Hun!!! I'm not brave enough to do that yet, but am looking forward to building myself up to it.

How awesome - total bonus you got a prize too!

LOL I smirked sideways at you owning that bimbo - NOW that is the real bonus!!

By Blogger Dee, at 11:41 pm  

Woo hoo! Go you. (And I am so glad I'm not the only person who has to tell herself she has to do things because she's paid for them.)

I am doing a 5K in January and am worried about being able to breathe in the cold. Sweltering doesn't sound so bad when you're in the middle of winter.

By Blogger K, at 2:18 am  

Well done, it sounds like you're getting hooked. I warn you, it's a slippery slope, this running thing!

By Blogger YP, at 3:02 am  

Just shows to go you doesn't it? Nice work!

Although, had you run away, that would have been exercise too...;op

I am going on an end of year break. Look forward to seeing how you are going in the new year. Have a good one!

By Blogger CaramelKitKat, at 7:43 am  

Look at you, sexy runner!

I know what you mean about seeing the distance all at once. That happened to me, too, on my lake run.

But you...you blasted through it! And pissed off a bimbo, too! SCORE!

By Blogger Zara, at 9:18 am  

Well done on the run (especially for passing the bimbo and ticking her off!! hehe) that's the bit I love the most!!
Bri

By Blogger Briony, at 11:51 am  

 

Quick Question

Does anyone else have a set of Camry digital scales? I borrowed mine off my friend and they weigh okay but the body fat % doesn't work. I know it did before they gave them to me and my friend thinks they just need resetting after being moved. Trouble is the instruction book is in his storage unit and he is on the other side of the world.

If you have a set with instruction manual, pretty please with a cherry on top leave me a comment letting me know how to reset them.

no sorry i dont but i think my sister does, but hers are dodgy and dont work properly. i will see if i can get the manual off her if i can remember.
well done on the 2kg loss the other day
fiona

By Blogger Baby Bump Wanted, at 7:07 pm  

Oh I laughed at yesterdays story... especially the naked flatmate. hehe.
:)

By Blogger Ang, at 7:19 pm  

 

Electricity

I'm not really feeling any pain after my gym session yesterday - a few twinges in my arms but nothing too bad.

Since my massive 2 kgs weight loss last week, I've been on the scales a few times and not seen a number nearly as low. I have a feeling that last week's loss was a bit of a freak and I might not even be that low this week. Oh well, guess I've got to just suck it up.

All yesterday morning, I looked forward to my yummy blueberry with banana for lunch. Except when I put my bagel in the toaster and pushed down the lever, the toaster sparked a little and all the power went out in the house.

I was home alone and had no idea what had happened - whether it was just a co-incidence or if I'd broke the electricity with my toaster. So I did the only thing I could - I went out for the afternoon.

I went on a huge walk and had a good browse through the shops on Brunswick Street then headed over to Lygon Court to Borders.

At Borders, I got some of their yummy banana bread. It's not at all low in calories but after that walk, I figured I had some calories to spare. I got a pile of books and magazines to flick through in the cafe and settled in for a while.

One of the books I picked up was about exercising for your shape. I am so definitely an apple - thick torso, no butt and shapely legs. They had a combination of gym and home workouts to do. For my shape, the focus was on toning the torso and further enhancing the legs. It looked like an interesting book but the problem with books like that is it covers all four body shapes so there is only about a quarter of the book you actually use.

I walked home via Edinburgh Gardens and watched the puppies follick in the park for a while.

When I got home, the power was still dead. I rang the owners to let them know but only got his voicemail. Then I realised one of my housemates was in the shower so laid in wait to see if he knew more about electricity than me. I jumped out to stop him as he went past my room and he must have thought he had the house to himself because he was NAKED! Luckily he had his clothes in his hands in front of him so I only saw flesh.

I ran back in my room and yelled at him from there but I couldn't stop laughing. He threw some clothes on one and showed me how to fix the electricity. There is some switch in a box that you have to flick and it makes stuff work. Pretty neat.

So I decided to cook my bagel and the power went out again. I ran back and flicked the switch and thought maybe it was a good idea to give up on the bagel. I think my toaster has turned to the dark side.

A great story Kath, as always!

Settling into the Borders cafe with a treat and a pile of things to read sounds like heaven, so good thing the toaster went on the blink, I'd say!

Hope you have a good day today xx

By Blogger philippa_moore, at 10:08 am  

Sounds like maybe Santa needs to bring you a new toaster! LOL, great story about your flatmate and you laughing. Thanks for brightening up my day!
Bri

By Blogger Briony, at 10:51 am  

 

::13.12.05::

Arrrgghh!

I went to the gym this morning to do a circuit class. My gym has two circuit classes - one on Saturday mornings in the park and the Tuesday morning one that uses the weights machines in the gym with some cardio in between. I've been meaning to get to the Tuesday morning class for the past few weeks but today is the first time I've actually made.

So I turned up and I was the only one there for it, which was good because I got one on one attention from the instructor; and bad because I got one on one attention! Nowhere to run to, baby. Nowhere to hide.

This was the first proper weights session I've done since I hurt my back and it was pretty full on. I just know I'm going to be as sore as hell tomorrow.

AWWW I feel your pain Hun - I went up a little in my home barbells yesterday and today I am sooorrreeeee.

THank you for answering my qns on spinning too - sounds awesome! I think I'd actually be someone who hates it tho LOL I may have to give it a try though.

now run out and get some deep heat!!

By Blogger Dee, at 11:58 am  

I bet you feel good though. Well done you!

Have you got a bath you could languish in? I've only got a shower and how I long for a bath!

By Blogger Lainey, at 7:47 pm  

you go girl!!!!

:)

By Blogger Ang, at 9:03 pm  

 

::12.12.05::

Some replies to comments...

Dee - spinning is a class on stationary bikes.

These unique indoor bikes have adjustable features that allow all body types to get a custom fit and a comfortable ride. A fantastic cardiovascular workout - burn up to 600 calories in a 45 minute class!

That is the description from my gym brochure, although my butt would argue with the bit about a comfortable ride sometimes!

Some gyms also have Cycle or RPM classes which are similar.

I love Spin. I think it's one of those things you either love or hate and it took me a few classes to learn to love it. I feel like I'm getting a great workout and because it's only 45 minutes, I can really push myself. Also you don't need to have all that co-ordination stuff that I am severely lacking in like you do for aerobics.

Debra - I noticed the absence of your blog. You'll be sorely missed.

Lucinda - I do Spin at the Collingwood Leisure Centre, not at Fitness 405 which has the $4 classes. I go to both gyms because I love the cheapness of $4 classes but they don't have Spin or Boxing. Oh and I also do the occasional class at Fitness First. I truly am a gym slut but I find it hard to commit to one gym.

As to the smoking issue - I think I'm just going to dwell on it for a while. That's what I did with all my other health changes. I actually started making lifestyle changes for about 12 months before I got serious about losing weight and think I lost about 5 kilograms in that time. Anyway the seed is planted but it will definitely be a post-Christmas thing. I can deal with no pigging out or boozing over the holidays but draw the line at quitting smoking too.

One thing I found interesting, in an old issue of Slimming magazine there was a study that said smoking caused you to carry your weight more in your abdominal section which is my biggest problem area. This is going to sound awful, but that makes me want to give up more than any of the health risks or even the prohibitive cost. Yes, I am that shallow.

The volunteer work was bad today. Not the work itself, just the array of snacks laid on. Tim Tams (I stopped at two even though there was one lonely biscuit left in the bowl. Once I've been as able to leave one biscuit sitting there as a cat could leave a big, juicy mouse playing under it's nose but I've evolved since then). Other than that, I had a few mints - those XXX strong ones that remind me of my Nan. Oh yeah, and about half hour before I finished they bought out the Pringles. Normally I can resist all manner of chips and chip-like products. You can surround me with packets of Samboys and Twisties and Burger Rings and I'll be like - blah, whatever. But my one weakness is Pringles. They are surely the fountainhead of savoury treats. So I had a handful or two.

I think knowing I had spin class this arvo made me more lax than I'd normally be with those kind of things. Bad me. But on the plus side, I've done over 1,000 calories worth of exercise today - walking, running, spin, swimming, more walking. I'm a regular athlete!

 

Running

I'm feeling a bit better today. This morning I thought I'd go for a run before it got too hot but it was already quite warm by the time I got out there. I only managed 10 minutes running time in total out of an hour of walking.

I've been thinking that I want to run 5k by the end of next year. When I first thought that, I didn't believe I could do it but then I thought that if I'd said I was going to lose almost 30 kgs this year at the beginning of the year I've of not believed I could do that either. So I'm going to try.

One thing that bothers me, even after the teeny efforts I've been doing lately, is that eventually if think I'm going to have decide between running and smoking. This morning, I could really feel it in my lungs.

I know that it would be mightly good for my health to quit smoking but I deep inside I really don't want to. It's a lot like losing weight really - you can know you have to do it and make half-arsed efforts but until that thing clicks over in your head, you can't do it. Maybe the time will come but, at the moment, I will just try to cut back especially just before and after exercise.

This afternoon I'm doing volunteer work at PBS then spin class. I think I'll pack my bathers so I can finish off with a swim.

Without wanting to sound holier-than-thou I think it would be great if you gave up smoking. It would make an incredible difference to your fitness, I think. Try to cut back and see how you go. It's definitely the best thing you can do for your health, but it's up to you.

BTW I taped Gilmore Girls on Saturday!

By Blogger philippa_moore, at 11:01 am  

If you don't want to, you are only going to feel like it is being forced on you and doing it anyway. And that is hopeless. It would help with the running though. Once you cough out all the crap in your lungs LOL.

Have a great Christmas. See you next year.

By Blogger Margaret, at 11:42 am  

I agree with Philippa about giving up improving your fitness but that being said I do understand how hard it could be to do, and you will know when you're ready to.

I've heard somewhere that it takes 7yrs for your lungs to regenerate completely from smoking and but healthy again?

The swim sounds like a refreshing end to the day!! Gawd how I would love to swim now... I never thought being down this south would be so hot BLAGRH.

I wanted to ask how spinning class is? I've heard it thrown around blogs for a while now and I'm always so curious about it.

Enjoy your day!

By Blogger Dee, at 11:51 am  

Giving up smoking can actually help with weight loss eventually (it cuts down on the orality that fuels both the habit of smoking and overeating).

By the way, I wanted to let you know that I deleted my blog, so you might want to remove Weighing On Your Mind from your links page. But I'll still be dropping by here from time to time. :)

By Blogger not specified, at 3:47 pm  

Kathryn 10 minutes running is better than no running in my book!!

It's a pity you don't live on this side of town as I'd be more than happy to run/walk with you.

Smoking...hmmm - you've got to really want to quit before you try.

By Blogger Jaykay, at 5:09 pm  

Hello!

Yes I did get your email about the tan - sorry I didn't reply - I meant to!

We will have to go running in the new year, I have pretty much written off all social/fun run activities until after new year - as things are still crazy here in pre christmas/hospital land.

I generally agree with the smoking consensus - but you have to be ready, and to put it bluntly, you don't want to lose all this weight get healthy and then die of lung cancer. I only say that because that was one of the reasons I started to lose weight, I beat cancer then die of coronary failure - for me it put it into perspective.

Do you do spin at that gym you told me about?

By Blogger Lucinda, at 5:13 pm  

 

::11.12.05::

Hermit Inertia

The title of this post is the name of an album by the fine Australian band, Pollyanna (now sadly defunct) and also describes my state of mind at the moment.

Leaving the house seems like such an effort. Even leaving my room is too much at times and I avoid it if my housemates are around - making small talk with them is too much effort. Outside is hot, and in my car is even hotter. Too many people are trying to do too much and getting far too pushy doing it. I've had a few nasty run-ins with people - over parking spots and such, getting ripped off by people and machines, and I'm truly fed-up with the Christmas shopping crowds. Once I'd avoid confrontation and bury those feelings deep down in the lard. Now I let rip, but I don't think that is the best solution either. I think I scared a man at the laundrymat with my punching and kicking of the change machine that stole my $10.

Luckily I've had some good people to see and good things to do - I met up with Phil and Ashley for some fun exercising at the Tan, with friends for drinks and nibblies on the banks of the Merri Creek, with Sugar Lips to watch videos. Next week I'm doing some voluntary work at PBS radio station plus I have the Christmas fun run on Wednesday and I'm starting life drawing classes - just have to get over to my storage space to pick up my cache of paper.

I guess that sounds like a relatively active social life but in a way it's not the doing of things that makes a social life but how you involve yourself in those things. At the moment, my involvement is minimal. I feel like I'm on auto-pilot. Even when I exercise, I'm beginning to prefer going to a run with my ipod on than going to the gym and being around people. In between times, I just want to sit in my room listening to Bruce Springsteen and playing spider solitaire.

Maybe this sounds like depression, but it's not. I'm not sad or unhappy. But I don't have much joy in my day to day life at the moment either. I have to push myself to get out, push really hard. I guess, maybe, what I need to do is just coast for a while. To accept that I'm on auto-pilot and go through the motions of exercising and eating well, of going out and meeting people, of living this life and in a few days or weeks I'll get my bounce back.

It's really beginning to hit me that losing weight doesn't fix the other problems - it doesn't stop you being depressed or lonely or bored. It just means you are thinner when those emotions hit.

i know what your going threw oh too well. my husband and i are going threw hard times right now. and we feel what other people are going threw nothing compared to ours. You are doing the right thing it will pass just try to keep going. your doing awesome with ur efforst and enjoy readingur journal....

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:23 am  

You're doing such an incredible job Kath with everything that is thrown your way. I guess it's only natural to feel like this sometimes - a bit down but not in the depths of depression. I get like that sometimes too, on days when being a stay at home wife is no fun!!

The fact that you can identify that you feel like this is very positive, and you can take steps to alleviate the "blah" feelings.

I thought you were looking fabulous on Friday!

By Blogger philippa_moore, at 10:19 am  

 

::9.12.05::

Weigh In Day

When I got on the scales this morning, I almost feel off again! Seriously, I was so shocked at the number.

81.9 kgs!

That's a 2.1 kilogram loss this week. Bloody hell. I don't know how I did that. Well I have a few ideas - the day before weight in last week I had eaten half a box of popcorn at the movies plus I got my period this week so I think last week's result included a whole heap of water. I also think that the little bit of running I've been doing has helped.

Still this would have to be my biggest loss since I started except for the first week and will probably be the last time I lose over a kilo in a week but I don't care. I'm back on track and walking around the house singing "Back on Track" to the tune of AC/DC's Back in Black but quietly so as not to wake and/or scare the housemates. Maybe I should wake them so they can join in the rejoicing!

This means I've past the 25% of original weight loss mark. Woohoo, go me. I am 3/4s of my old size.

I'm certain that I can get under 80 by the end of the year. The up side of being mighty unpopular is having no Christmas parties to attend. That would be so cool. In my last post I said one of my resolutions last year was to lose 10 kgs, so it would be uber-cool to start next year only needing to lose 10 kgs.

You go girl!!!!
80 by the end of the year!!! Course you will do it!!!!

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:11 am  

Hot Damn! :) You will be ringing in the New Year as a whole new person! Congrats on you big loss this week.

P.S. Now Back in Black is stuck in my head... ;)

By Blogger Zara, at 9:29 am  

OMG!

How awesome is that!!

Congratulations on the 2.1kg loss Hun!!!! Bloody awesome and that would be an amazing resolution to have next year.

*fingers crossed*

Now, that get that booty movin'

By Blogger Dee, at 9:35 am  

Wow, wow, wow. What a great loss. You'll be a 70s girl in no time.

By Blogger Sue, at 12:22 pm  

WOW - That is a stunning loss!! Well done, you sure will be ringing in the new year!!!

By Blogger Unknown, at 4:47 pm  

result! onya tiger :)

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:51 pm  

Yay! I'm so pleased for you. That's great. Nothing like an great loss when you expected a good one!

Clever girl!

By Blogger Lainey, at 8:55 pm  

WOW!!! That is sooooo awesome.
Your hard work and determination is paying off!

:) Keep it up.

By Blogger Ang, at 10:01 pm  

Whoooo Hooooo. That is so cool. And with all that dancing to ACDC I am sure there will be more to follow.

What a great motivation for the week ahead. Hope you have a great weekend Kathryn :D

By Blogger Margaret, at 11:38 pm  

wow - thats a fantastic loss! welldone :)

By Blogger Kt, at 7:00 pm  

Congratulations Kathryn, that's a great loss!

By Blogger Jaykay, at 5:03 pm  

 

::8.12.05::

After my last post, I wanted to clarify that my friend isn't always so mean - she has paid me some lovely compliments - but sometimes those snide remarks come out. I've noticed lately it tends to when she's drinking.

It's hard at the moment because I know she's desperately wanting to lose weight. Not just for the wedding - I think the wedding has been a catalyst for her to realise that she's been putting on weight for the past couple of years. And, of course, having to try on dresses then parade them around a showroom filled with size 8 girls must be awful. A couple of times she hasn't wanted to come out of the change room.

What's frustrating for me is that she isn't the sort of person who accepts help easily. I've offered to help on numerous occasions and try to slip advice into conversations without being heavy handed about it. I'm starting to realise that being an example to follow works better than giving her advice - I guess we're all like that. I know I hate being given advice. Lately she's started drinking wine spritzers like I do. Because I usually only see these friends once a fortnight or so, if we go out to dinner I don't worry too much about what I eat. I just eat what I want and, since it's so infrequently, it doesn't matter too much. Now I'm wondering if that's being a bad example - that she sees me eating what I like and thinks I eat like that all the time.

Lately she's been reading information on weight loss on the net and some of the ideas she's got in her head are plain wrong. For example, that alcohol is metabolised differently by the body so you can't put on weight from alcohol. Don't we all wish that one were true!

She also thinks she doesn't need to change her eating habits because she eats healthy food. That might be true but healthy food can do damage. A huge bowl of toasted museli full of dried fruit might be a healthy breakfast but is still high in fats and sugars.

I guess the lesson for me in all this is to sit back and let her work things out for herself - to just be there rather than to take over.

***

Lately, being the end of the year and all that, I've been thinking about New Year's Resolutions. For years I made the same three resolutions - to lose weight, to get out of debt and to work on my writing. Last year I got a bit more specific - I wanted to lose 10 kilograms this year and get my blood sugar levels stable, to finish my novel and submit 12 short stories, to save 10% of my pay and get out of debt.

Well a lot of unexpected things happened this year. I've mentioned before about the big financial disaster of early 2005 which resulted in me getting evicted from my house and basically hitting rock bottom. Despite that, I've achieved most of my resolutions.

I've well exceeded my healthy goals. Pretty clever of me to set my goal low - at the beginning of the year I figured 10 kilograms was something I could do and even a 10 kilo loss would make me healthier. I have to admit that I've been awful slack with measuring my blood sugar though - I need to go into the diabetes place and get strips for my blood sugar monitor and just keep putting it off. I know when my blood sugar is too high because I actually feel like my blood has turned into a thick, sugary syrup that flows slow through my body. I'm sure it's not nearly so dramatic but that describes perfectly the sluggish feeling I get - I used to get, I mean. It's so nice to ditch that feeling.

Financially I'm happy with the way this year has gone. I could have saved more, but that's always the way. I'm out of debt and that's the main thing.

And I've finished the first draft of my novel. At the moment I have a few people reading it and giving me feedback then I'll start on the next draft.

So, for next year:

I want to get to my goal weight (70 kgs) and then work on toning my body.

I want to save money and be in a comfortable position finanically. Being rich isn't important to me, but I'd like to have the reserves to go on a holiday if I so desire or get work done on my car. I really want to have a financial buffer zone in case I need to move house or have something unexpected happen.

I want to finish my novel and send it out to publishers. Ideally, I'd like to have it published. I am also applying to do a writing course next year.

I also want to do some things for me: To volunteer at Save A Dog - something I've been meaning to do for ages and to do life drawing class - something else I've been thinking about for a while.

Other than that, I want to have good times with my friends and family; I want to appreciate time on my own; to be open to making new friends; and I want to keep making progress on learning about myself.

you certainly set some good goals for the year ahead :) You've acheived so much this year!
hope your friend snaps out of the snarky comments soon & gets sensible about weight loss!

By Blogger Kt, at 8:01 pm  

nice goals for the new year!!

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:56 am  

 

::7.12.05::

Envy

Phillipa left a comment (about talking about other people's weight) on my last post , that reminded me of something that happened on the weekend. I'd spent the day helping my friend find a wedding dress and so the subject of weight came up a lot - she isn't happy with her weight and wants to lose some before the wedding.

I had dinner with her and her partner that night and walking back to the car she mentioned my weight loss. She told me I'd done a great job because I'd been so huge before, because I'd been massive.

I told her to shut up but she couldn't understand why - she wasn't saying I was massive now. She seriously couldn't see anything wrong with telling me I'd once been a big, fat heifer. To me, that is no way to compliment someone. While it's lovely to be told how much work I've done, I can do without being reminded just how big I used to be.

She'd said some other things that annoyed me throughout the day including telling me how horrible the dog I used to have was. You don't say mean things about other people's dogs. Ever. It's like criticising their children. I mean, fair enough if dog or child bites you but physical attacks aside, keep your mouth shut.

So a few nights ago, I was chatting to another friend and having a bit of a whinge. I told him that I'd asked her to go on a few fun runs with me and she always says she will but never does, and he said something that surprised me.

Apparently this friend is eaten up with jealous over my weight loss. At first I didn't believe him, then he reminded me of her attitude when a mutal friend bought her own flat - my friend became obsessive over it. It was all she talked about and she was so bitter until she got her own house as well. The same thing happened earlier this year when the same mutual friend went overseas.

It's so weird to me - that someone would envy me. I don't really understand envy. Sure if I found out someone I knew won the big one in lotto I'd have a twinge of it but mostly I don't care about what other people have. Why worry about that stuff? All I can do in life is make my lot better and be as happy as I can.

the "you were so fat before" comments really irk me, I am constantly telling people that they hurt me just as much - because geez I'm still the same friggin' person. I know that I'm not as big as I once was, but comparing me with words like massive and huge - it was still ME. You know?

The envy thing is weird - you'll be surprised who will actually resent you for losing weight, some take it personally and think it's a personal attack on them because you're doing something they've wanted to do but never did. My family is like this - One aunt asked me "why are you trying to lose weight, we know you as fat dee". I really didn't know how to take that, I still kinda don't...

In the long run you just have to put your head down and do what you want in your life and let everyone else deal with their own shit - instead of trying to pile it on you too.

Plus you have done fantastic with your weight loss - you should totally strut more ;)

By Blogger Dee, at 9:52 am  

Call me paranoid but someone says to me "I can't believe how good you look", I hear "I can't believe how bad you looked before!"

My sister said something lovely to me over the phone the other day. We were talking about my weight loss and she said that she couldn't believe that I was over 100kg in April. I assured her I was, and then she said "But I never saw that. Yes, you might have been a bit large, but you were still you." :)

The envy thing is a lot to take. You can't help but think that all these compliments are envy in disguise.

I read somewhere that jealousy is a secondary emotion, it is born out of feeling excluded and deprived.

I think your friend just has a lot of issues, and you just have to put her in her place. Say "it would be really nice if you could just say that I look happy and healthy instead of harping on about how big I used to be."

You've done a brilliant job, and you're still going strong and have every reason to be proud and showing yourself off!

By Blogger philippa_moore, at 12:12 pm  

I think it's especially foolish to envy someone who is doing something you CAN do! I am not at all surprised you were angry, I would've been, too. Frankly, her behavior reminds me somewhat of the friend I've been talking about on my site - different sort of circumstances, but I suspect the same cause - jealousy.

In your friend's case, she's jealous you've managed something she apparently hasn't, but in both cases, it comes down to choices. There are so many choices we make every day in life. All you can do is try to learn from the outcome of those choices and grow as a person as a result. However, some people choose instead to become resentful, jealous and angry - if not outright hostile. I don't get it.

*sigh*

Sorry your friend was such a thoughtless cow (heh, I'm American, just trying that expression on for size - how did I do?). Not very nice of her, but ya know what? At least you're on the path to finding your own happiness and health - and clearly doing a wonderful job!

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:44 pm  

Thanks for posting this. Reading it made me realise why I get so damn uncomfortable receiving compliments about my weight loss, it's because they're not really compliments at all ... the comments are an assessment of how I look and my "value" as determined by them. The "compliments" always come from people I barely know. The only way I know how to do deal with it is say "Thanks" embarrassedly and quickly change the topic.

By Blogger Sarah, at 1:18 pm  

The worse "compliment" I've ever had was from a colleague:

"If you could turn that fat into muscle, you'd be the strongest man in Europe."

Not quite veiled.

By Blogger John, at 2:18 pm  

Hey Kathryn - hope you are having a great week. I have just been catching up on your last few blogs. I hear ya with the HUGE comments - people just don't think before they speak. I agree with you that some people think saying certain things is hurtful or on the other hand OK. I know myself that I wouldn't even tell someone if I thought they had a bad haircut or needed to change lipstick for fear of upsetting them - but someone has told me I am HUGE and I didn't appreciate it. The problem you have with your "green" friend is the same problem I have with my family - they are all overweight and all they do is criticise me and sabottage me and never ever comment nicely about how well I am looking.....it comes back to my struggle lately - Respect yourself because you are the only one you can rely on. Take care and hugs.lb.

By Blogger Learning Leaders, at 4:29 pm  

There was a small article about this topic months ago in the age weekend magazine or something. A woman had lost a lot of weight, and she lost her friends in the process, I must see if I can find it - as it really hit home. There are the friends that know it's still you, and the ones that have no idea how to handle it.

This woman also had a very good 'bitch' about being a token fat friend.

By Blogger Lucinda, at 8:46 pm  

och, people are always greeeeeeeeen when someone has something/does something that they wish they could do. i used to get those vibes from my mum when i first started losing, but now she's lost heaps of weight she is nothing but supportive of me. people! people, i tells ya!

(do you think it's this same free-for-all-on-fat issue that you sorta mentioned yesterday, people always seem to feel free to say whatever they like about your weight, whether you're fat or formerly fat. do you ever say to a reformed alcoholic, "Good ON YOU for getting sober, because jeez you were a drunken ASSHOLE before!!!"?

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:21 pm  

Your last few posts have been nothing short of incredible. You are digging so deep and exploring so much about the human physceee (can't spell so thought I would go all out and stuff it up)

Envy is not pretty and can make people do some horrible shit. Not only do they usually sabotage themselves but try to do it to you (not going for a run, organising loads of dinners, bringing your favourite snacks to work etc) I am sure we have all done it too. Before we figured out that it just sucked and we need to get on with our own lives.

I know people are obtuse when they make comments. I choose (now) to only hear the good half. I don't care about where their comments are coming from anymore. If they say something nice - no matter how backhand - I am taking it. It is hard not too think about the other side, but I am trying. That way they can keep the bitchy / arsehole stuff to themselves and I take the good stuff.

Thanks Kathryn. Hope you get to the bottom of some of this stuff. :D

By Blogger Margaret, at 11:18 pm  

 

::6.12.05::

Hippos

The other night I was reading a book that said we don't judge or mock hippos for being big, so why do we mock people who are big.

I thought about this for a minute and, while I don't condone judging, I realised hippos aren't fat. Hippos aren't overweight, they are the size they are meant to be. People talk about being as fat as an elephant or a pig or a hippo but no animal (with the exception of pets with stupid owners) is ever overweight.

There is a question that I'm still trying to figure out (and I think I've talked about this before) but I'd be interesting in hearing other people's opinions on this. Would you say people who are obese have a mental problem?

I don't actually like saying "mental" problem. Maybe emotional problems is a better way of putting it. I mean, if someone has anorexia or bulima then you'd definitely say it was an emotional problem not a physical one. If someone has an addiction to drugs or alcohol you'd also say it was an emotional problem. Do you think someone can eat to the point that they make themselves sick and endanger their health without it being an emotional problem?

I guess that's why I've always had an issue with "fat acceptance". On one hand, I definitely don't believe that you should hate yourself because you are fat. In a perfect world, size wouldn't affect the way you treat yourself or the way other people treat you. But I think it's too easy to say - so what if I'm fat, I'm happy the way I am - and not do anything to fix the problems.

If I were 20 kilograms underweight and I said I was happy with how I look, people around me wouldn't accept that. I'd have an issue that needed medical attention. But I could be 50 kilograms overweight and the people around me will just ignore it.

I guess I do want to be a hippo - I want to be the size I'm meant to be - that is the size I'd be without emotional fat.

I totally agree with everything you said! and there are like a thousand things it's set off in my head I need to think it more...

But I wanted to say I do agree (well in my situation at least - because I know there are people who in their lives gain because of medication like radiation or thyroid problems) but in my case - being normal healthy gal I am, it's emotional.

I have linked so closely experience//feeling emotions with eating that it's not subject to just the negative ones. I eat when I want to celebrate or am happy too.

I am slowly learning of other ways to 'cope' or 'feel' about things and it's bloody hard.

As for the whole underweight//overweight thing, I think it depends who it is because I know that as much as I wouldn't tell someone I don't know who's overweight that they really should get in shape, I wouldn't tell a skinny stranger they're underweight and need to gain too...maybe it's seen as rude to publicise other's "issues" but I'd only ever say something to family or really close friends.

Thanks for the entry tho has given me lots and lots to think about.

By Blogger Dee, at 4:41 pm  

Oh Kath, you say such sensible and wise things.

I wouldn't say that people who are obese have a mental problem - most of them I would say would know how big they are. I think they just lack the motivation and self-respect to do something about it. And because telling someone that they're overweight is considered very insensitive, if someone is 50kg overweight, as you say, it's likely there's no one pushing them to do anything about it apart from maybe their doctor.

I've been reading a book called "Charm School" by Kathy Buchanan, a modern girls etiquette book, just for fun, and there's a section on what is considered polite and rude to say in certain social situations - "if someone gets a bad haircut", "if someone is blushing" - and there's a section on if people are under/over weight or have lost a lot of weight.

I love getting compliments about my weight loss but I hate it when people start asking how much I weigh, saying I look too skinny and should stop losing weight. It's insinuating that I don't know the best for my body. It's funny how people think "you look anorexic" is a compliment.

The overriding principle is that unless you are their doctor, another persons size is none of your business. Commenting on how skinny someone is can be as emotionally damaging and insulting as saying someone is fat. If someone has lost a lot of weight, the polite thing to do is to say how healthy and happy they look.

It would be nice if we could just be allowed to find out what our own body's natural weight and shape is - what we're meant to be - and accept it, and be comfortable with ourselves, without the eyes of society watching us, judging us, making us think that we'll never be good enough.

This has turned into a very long comment! Sorry!

Hope you're having a fantastic week.

And how's the book going?

By Blogger philippa_moore, at 9:29 pm  

See, I have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder w/Panic Attacks, a 'true' mental illness. I've always been curious if that had anything to do with me being larger and not doing anything about it. Because once I was diagnosed, I was able to think more clearly about who I am & what was good for my body

The main cause I find with my being overweight is that food was a reward/punishment system. Once I was programed that way, it's a hard battle to break. I'm trying to find other ways to reward myself for accomplishments, like my Italian Charm bracelet I'm starting.

By Blogger Paige, at 1:49 am  

 

::5.12.05::

Non-Scale Achievements

Since my scales are only moving in the wrong direction at the moment, I thought I'd focus on some non-scale achievements.

Over the weekend I read some information about running for beginners. Over the past couple of weeks I've been adding a few bursts of jogging to my walks but the sites all say NOT to run on concrete paths when you're a beginner - it's too hard on your joints. My walking track is all concrete. So this morning I changed things around - about 1 km along the path is a soccer field. I wanted to see how much running I could do. I figured maybe I could do half a lap and build up to a whole lap.

I jogged TWO whole laps of the ground. Woohoo! Go me. Sure, I know it's not exactly a marathon but it's far better than I thought I'd be able to do. I did another 1 1/2 laps on the way back too. The weird thing is, in all my years of high school hockey training (the only sport I willing played) I could never run a lap of the ground. That means I'm fitter now than I was at 14! Or maybe I'm just more motivated.

I also weigh less than I did at 14. I am like a 13 year old me. No, I'm not some super memory machine with all my childhood weights memorised - I was just such a beefy kid that my weight (in stones) stayed consistent with my age. The weird thing about that is that I can't remember growing much in height after I turned 10 - I was the tallest for 2 years then those damn boys overtook me in high school - so that means I would have been around the same height, maybe a few cm shorter, and 10 stone (65 kilos) at 10 years old. So why the hell did everyone nag the bejesus out of me for being so fat? I honestly believe that if I hadn't been nagged and pressured to lose weight, if the weight hadn't been such an almighty issue, then I would never have become so fat.

Anyway, how did I get onto that? Back to my morning walk. I also decided to turn my walk into a bit of a circuit (like the class I did Saturday morning) so every time I saw a bench I'd do some dips. I'm going to add more when I recover from the step-ups the other morning. The one thing I need to do though is push myself when I'm walking instead of slacking off with it. I'm going walking with Ashwee tomorrow so that might help.

I want to find a photo of me at 10 years old now to see how I looked. And you needn't think for a moment I'll be posting it on here because, from memory, in all my photos at that age I'm wearing bobby dazzler socks (with skirts). Haha, see how many people are old enough to know what I'm talking about.

Oh yeah, I'm selling some old clothes on ebay.

Wow!! Go you alright!!!!
I'm impressed girl, keep it up!
:) A

By Blogger Ang, at 4:05 pm  

good stuff with the running :)
WTF are bobby dazzler socks?? lol

By Blogger Kt, at 6:21 pm  

You really have made some achievements on the exercise front. 2 1/2 laps is pretty impressive.

By Blogger michelle, at 7:45 pm  

Well done with your jogging. Every now and then I try and add a bit in but I really struggle. If I do 100 metres I'm doing well so I am in awe of your laps - fantastic effort.

By Blogger Lesley, at 10:29 pm  

go for it the running is good, ive been trying to run a little i try to run for about 30 - 45 sec and then walk for a min and then run again i do this about 4 - 5 times. i havent pushed my self yet to see how far i can actually run, i dont want to pass out and have a heart attack - hehehe
have a good day

By Blogger Baby Bump Wanted, at 6:46 am  

Way to go Kathryn. Jogging never came easy for me. I didn't actually start doing any running until about 12 years ago and I started off really slowly.

Keep it up, you're doing great!

By Blogger Jaykay, at 8:44 pm  

 

::4.12.05::

Stuff

Yesterday I did a circuit training class at my gym. We went to the park and alternated slow jogging with resistance exercises - lunges, tricep dips, push ups etc. Since I hurt my back I've not done anything like that and I am in so much pain today. We had to do stepups on the park benches. Many, many stepups.

I went wedding dress shopping with my friend again yesterday. Just before we the wedding dress fatigue hit us in full force, my friend was saying to the shop assistant that she will lose weight before the wedding. The shop assistant asked my friend what program she's following. She couldn't comprehend that you can lose weight without following a program.

Arrgghh! I ate too much last night. I think ordering a banquet when going to dinner is a big mistake. I really need to work on recognising when I've eaten enough and making sure I stop then. Last night that probably would have been after the entree. I was going to go to spin class this morning and work it off but my poor little legs can barely work after that class yesterday. At least I didn't have alcohol on top of all that food. I will be very good for the rest of the week or I'll have another gain.

I am going to the massage school tomorrow to get a massage. That makes me very happy.

Hope you are feeling a little better by now. YAY for massage schools - I am sure that you will feel heaps better when you leave there tomorrow !
Have a good one !
Me

By Blogger Me, at 9:29 pm  

Hope you are enjoying / have enjoyed your massage today. :)

Have a great one Kathryn

By Blogger Margaret, at 1:37 pm  

 

::3.12.05::

Things I'd like to see...

Why don't ipods come with a timer or stop watch type function? It wouldn't be hard to add surely and it would be very practical.

In fact, a combination mp3 player/heart rate monitor would be tops. Does such a thing exist? Within my price range?

While they're at it, they should add a feature that can automatically select songs with a tempo to match your heart rate :) Fast songs when you're working hard, slower ones when you're cooling down

By Blogger Jennette Fulda, at 2:36 am  

I am here, not because I can offer any suggestions, but to see if anyone else did. I like pastaqueen's suggestion :D

By Blogger Margaret, at 1:36 pm  

 

::2.12.05::

Gain Again

So I weighed in today and I had a 300 gram gain. Not happy about that but what can do? Just try harder next week, is all. Damn me and popcorn eating at the movies ways.

So the plan for next week is to cut out all the extra treats. No alcohol this weekend, no chocolate all week, no cafe coffees. I can do it for a week.

Also, because I do all my tracking at Diet Club, I put in my food and exercise for the day then forget about it. Over the weekend, I might print off my food diary for the past week and do some analysis on it. I'm pretty sure I know what the issue is though. It's that I'll think - okay, I can have a little treat. But I've been doing that too often. I remember reading ages ago something that said one treat a day and you can lose weight, two treats a day and you'll maintain, three treats a day and you'll gain. It's not exactly scientifically accurate, but it's a good rule of thumb.

I know that exercise isn't an issue (and is probably the reason I've gained 300 grams instead of 3 kilos) because I've been pushing myself hard with the workouts for the last few weeks. My water intake could be better though, especially now it's getting warmer. A few weeks ago, I made up a big heap of raspberry and lime iced tea. I might try that again because it was yum.

I'm going to the market today so will stock up on lots of fruit and vegies. For something different, I thought I'd go with a Mexican theme this week. I know Mexican isn't normally considered the most healthy of food, but it can be done if you stick to things like fajitas and low fat chilli con carne.

I figure, it's not worth making all the sides - like salsa, beans and guatemole - for just one meal, but if I make a bunch then I can make a few different Mexican style dishes through the week and have the sides all ready to go. I mean, it's either that or throw a Mexican dinner party because I'm not going to all that fuss for one meal for myself.

If it goes well, I'll post up all the recipes on Ab Flab. The added advantage of Mexican is that you automatically add heaps more legumes to the diet.

Now I just have to work out what the weather's doing. I was thinking of a walk this morning but I don't know if it's going to rain.

Update - I went for my walk. Man, this is probably TMI but I got a about a km from home and started jogging. Jogging was not good, because it made me realise I needed to poo. So I thought I'd just walk. About another km or so and even walking wasn't good. I thought about turning around for home but a bit further up the track was a playground with a public toilet. I've gone past it heaps of times but you don't notice these things until you need them. I hate public toilets so much but what can you do? The thing was the whole time I kept thinking - damn you, poo, I bet you are that extra 300 grams!

Another update - I talked in an earlier post about a seminar I wanted to go to. Well I tried all week to find out about it. Nutrition Australia were running the seminar so I checked their website but it looked like it hadn't been updated in about a year so I emailed them and rang them a number of times but only got voice mail. I also rang the radio station and got the details for the show's producer. He didn't have any contact details and all he could suggest was to just turn up. I didn't feel comfortable doing that though. So I gave it a miss. Then this morning I got an email back apologising because I'd missed the seminar and trying to sell me a heap of stuff. I'm not impressed.

dont worry bout the gain, its only a small one and it will be gone by next week, stick to your mini goals for the week and you will be fine.
and your question on my blog, yep i lost heaps check it out

By Blogger Baby Bump Wanted, at 9:31 am  

Thanks for that. I was drinking a cafe hot choc at the same time as reading about your poo and actually sprayed my PC whilst simultaneously coughing and laughing. What a shemozzle LOL

But at least you jogged :) And bugger about the gain but I think you have a great plan to analyse and pick up the eating front.

And how much does it suck when people are so disorganised with their events not to update their website or answer their emails. This is something that annoys me big time too.

Hope you have a great weekend Kathryn :D

By Blogger Margaret, at 10:35 am  

Eww annoying @ the late email and trying to sell you stuff - I HATE when they do that!!

Sorry about the gain, but like you said atleast it's 300grams and not like 4kgs it'll come off in no time...

And about the poo, lol running//jogging will do that to ya, gets the bowls moving like craaazy. That's why I always make sure I go to the toilet before I start running because it's such a pain (but I'm glad I use my treadmill.. I loathe public bathrooms too!)

Mexican theme sounds fun, mmmmm makes me crave a bit of fajita mmmm.

By Blogger Dee, at 10:53 am  

Mexican can be fantastic low fat food - so fresh and spicy! Keeps well too. Fajitas are a fantastic healthy meal. I also really like enchiladas and making spicy potato wedges to go with salsa and guacamole.

Sorry to hear about the gain, but I'm sure it will disappear if you keep up your exercise and cut out treats for a while. But don't deprive yourself too much - you've still got to live life and enjoy it. Skinny cappucino won't do you any harm, but no cookies with it!

I HATE public toilets too!

By Blogger philippa_moore, at 11:11 am  

Fajitas....go the fajitas...hmmm may have to lob down to the supermarket later and get some supplies.

Bugger about the gain, still 300g is better than more than 300g!

How did you manage a walk/jog - it's pissing down at my place - and I have to get to the post office no less :( ... if it hasn't stopped raining by 7.30pm I may have to weights instead!

Have a great weekend.

By Blogger Lucinda, at 3:36 pm  

LOL about the poo. Running is the best laxative ever, ahem.

By Blogger Esther, at 6:30 pm  

hahah... oh that had me cracking up "The thing was the whole time I kept thinking - damn you, poo, I bet you are that extra 300 grams!"
I like the treat theory... one, two or three.
:) A

By Blogger Ang, at 7:07 pm  

 

::1.12.05::

Today

After resolving to not eat junk, I ended up wolfing down half a box of popcorn at the movies. Grrr! Why do I do these things? Popcorn is evil, I swear. I didn't buy it, my son did and we made a snap decision to go to the movies so I had no time to prepare healthy treats but I could have had nothing. I didn't need to eat. I'd had lunch. I can surely sit through a 3 hour movie without snacking. Oh yeah, the movie wasn't 3 hours, it was just there were about an hour of pre-Harry Potter trailers and ads. If I'd known that, I'd have ran into the supermarket for some air popped popcorn. Oh well, I guess there is nothing for it but to move on and be thankful I didn't get a choc top as well.

Ages ago I signed up for this thing called Note From The Universe. Every day I get an email. I used to read them but now I just delete them but am too lazy to unsubscribe. For some reason I read today's though -

I don’t quite get how there can be so many gorgeous people in time and space, Kathryn, yet so few who choose to see their own beauty.

Choose this, gorgeous.

I do,
The Universe

Are you kidding, Kathryn? You’re way above average! Oh, go on, laugh.


Woohoo! I'm way above average.

You know, I have ethical dilemmas about the most stupid things. Like, for instance, packaged salads. See on the one hand, I hate washing lettuce and I'm a lousy maker of salads. I like the convenience of grabbing a bag of salad from the supermarket. I put it in my trolley and then I hear my friend, Tim's voice in my head saying only stupid people buy packaged salads. You could buy the ingredients and make it yourself for around 50 cents. So I put the salad back. Sometimes I buy the ingredients but then half the time never get around to making the salad because it's too much effort. It is indeed a quandary.

Don't feel guilty about buying packaged salads! I think the extra money is worth the time you save. And it's certainly better than spending it on a doctor. We are living in a golden age of food preparation in that we basically don't have to prepare foods anymore. It's fabulous! I can buy skinned, deboned chicken breasts in a bag and save myself so much hassle.

By Blogger Jennette Fulda, at 2:29 am  

 

stats:

current weight:
76.6 kg

start weight:
110.1 kg

total loss:
33.5 kg

goal weight:
70 kgs

 

measurements:

boobs: 100 cm

waist: 81 cm

hips: 109 cm

thighs: 50 cm

 

Weekly Goal Lifestyle Changing Challenge-A-Rama

Week 1 - Drink more water

Week 2 - Cut out sugary treats

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