I'll have what he's having...

A few weeks ago I posted about THE MAN and his resolve to sample the 5:2 diet.

At around the same time, he saw an exercise / muscular-skeletal therapist who gave him a stack of exercises to strengthen his areas of weakness and increase flexibility.  As very seldom happens with anyone who receives a plan, he has stuck to it.  With incredible results.  And combined with the 5:2 fast diet, I'm pretty amazed at the changes.

Three weeks in and he's dropped around 2 kilos from the one place that weight goes on - his middle.

And combined with the stretches, he has abs.  Visible abs.

So what's a girl to do but join in?

My first fast day was Saturday.  I had a good breakfast post-parkrun.  An omelette with mushrooms, tomato and spinach.  Plus a coffee of course.

I didn't feel like eating again until around 2pm, but I diverted the pangs with more water.  And then even more water.  By 4 O'Clock, it was getting harder to distract myself, so I hit the floor for 15 minutes of core work.  It's impossible to feel hungry when you're working your core.  Water.  Water again.  And before I knew it, 6pm had come around and it was legitimately time for dinner.  It was almost a shame to break the fast.

We went easy for dinner.  Steamed flathead tails with salad.  Light and delish.  It was enough.

At bed time I was a little shocked to discover a 1.5kg loss for the day.  I was also shocked at how self-satisfied I felt at conquering the hunger pains and remaining in control.  Like a test that I had passed or something.

Will I do it again?  Absolutely.  But it'll have to wait now until next week.  I've got a half marathon to run on the weekend ;)

Weigh In - R3 - Week 12

Three rounds down!

I can clearly remember that internal debate over whether to sign up or not for my first round.  Would I stick to it?  Would I be able to do the exercise?  And now at the end of my third round, I can scream the answer loudly and proudly, YES!




Current Weight: 65.0kg
Last week:      67.2kg
Week's loss:    -2.2kg    
So far:        -32.0kg


As seems to happen on the last weigh in of each round, I've met my goal.  My third goal to be exact.  There's still a little bit of weight in a couple of places.  And usually when I have a huge week like this it's followed by a quick rebound.  But that's okay.  It's all part of the weight management tidal changes.  I plan on riding the waves for the rest of my days.

Oh, I'm still sugar-free too.  It's been a challenge the last few days as the pre-event stress is tightening big time.  Still haven't had a coffee.  Still haven't eaten a packet of chocolate coated raspberry bullets.  Still am choosing to be kind to my body rather than loading my insides with even more stress caused by crappy food choices.  On Sunday afternoon when it's all done, I'll quiz the man and see if I've handled the stress better or worse than normal this year.  But will he be honest??

The major up-side of this event being over is I can go back to reading my nutrition texts.  I wonder if I can fit some formal study into my pretty jam packed lifestyle?

So from here it's on to another round of 12wbt.  Do I dare attempt some weights on the Lean & Strong program?  Hmmm.  Maybe!

Weigh in - R3 - Week 6

Well...I've finally cracked the 30kg mark on a weigh in AND I'm now less than I was at the start of this round.  Not that it worried me too much as there was clearly some muscle gain and the tape measure was singing a tune I like the sound of.



Current Weight: 66.7kg
Last week:      67.5kg
Week's loss:    -0.8kg    
So far:        -30.3kg



Really enjoying eating squeaky clean and trying some new foods to boot.

Life is good.  Very, very good.

Weigh in - R2 - Week 11

Sooooo close;

• close to the end of this, my second round
• close to the magic 30kg lost mark (100g to go)
• close to the end of my busy verging-on-insane time at work
• close to Spring

Current Weight: 67.1kg
Last week:      67.9kg
Week's loss:    -0.8kg   
So far:        -29.9kg


I've started a little challenge with my team at work.  We've called it "woggin @ work".  As in a bit of walking a bit of jogging =  wogging.

The idea is that everyone sets themselves a 4 week fitness goal.  They post proof every time they make progress towards that goal on a closed facebook group, and if, by the end of the challenge they have met their goal, then it's reward time.

My team have decided a mobile masseur at work would be the go - and I agree that it sounds a bit dreamy!  Really, I just wanted a guilt-free way of getting out of the office, but if my peeps get something from it too, well that's an extra bonus!

We started this week;
Monday  13/8 = 6.14km in 57:41
Tuesday  14/8 = 5.17km in 45:30
Wednesday  15/8 = 8.76km in 1:05:38*

* I'm putting a disclaimer on today's time.  I took a call near the end and couldn't stop the timer on my iphone app while I was talking.  Damn people messing with my stats...lol!!!

In other news... I need to go shopping pretty badly.  I seriously have NOTHING to wear that fits.  Here's a pair of size 18 shorts that were pretty snug on me at the start of last summer;

Bella (the white fluffy) is thinking "WTF are you doing Mum?"

I've even been entertaining the idea of pulling the sewing machine out of retirement to whip up a couple of summer dresses.  This could go horribly wrong on many different levels.

Wow.  I can't believe I used to fill those shorts out.  Never, never, never again!

Weigh in - R2 - Week 10

Lordy, lordy, lordy, I CANNOT believe what the scales came up with this morning.  Like...completely blown away...




Current Weight: 67.9kg
Last week:      70.4kg
Week's loss:    -2.5kg   
So far:        -29.1kg 


There are a couple of things I've changed this week;

Exercise: I'm coming to the end of my 2 week doctor enforced ban on working out.

Nutrition: I've increased my calories to around 1350 per day.  Have completely deleted sugar, which includes staying off those dreaded lollies, and have swapped my coffee for herbal tea.

Mindset: We've booked a holiday, for September, which is really soon, so I feel as though there's light at the end of this long, cold, winter of 6.5 days work per week. Hello frequent flyer points.  And hello Palm Cove Queensland. (would have loved Fiji, but we have a rather large and expensive event to pay for early next year!)  And when we return my working week reverts to 4 days.  Just as the weather starts to clean up its act.  Right through until the start of March.

Happy days :)

Weigh in - R2 - Week 9

Current Weight: 70.4kg
Last week:      69.8kg
Week's loss:   +0.6kg
So far:       -26.6kg


My body has decided that I've lost enough weight.  I tend to agree!  Time to bump up the daily intake and have a play with maintaining this level of weight / fitness / toning.

Still feel pretty ordinary, but it's nothing that a week in FIJI won't fix :)

Weigh in - R2 - Week 8

Happy happy happy dance...

Current Weight: 69.8kg
Last week:      69.9kg
Week's loss:     -0.1kg 
So far:         -27.2kg


I'm still in the 60's, and still on the decrease.  A tiny 100g decrease with a disclaimer.  We ate very late on Tuesday night.  10.30pm type late, which usually results in a less than impressive reading the next morning.  I think my lack of consistent exercise this week may have more to do with it if truth be told.

Hitting the sub 70 mark has made it easier to come up with incredibly plausible excuses for not breaking a sweat. It's winter.  I'm tired.  I got home late.  I've had a crap day. I could have easily ditched boxing in favour of a warm house, a warm meal and a total veg out watching the Masterchef Finale.  Good thing Judy was waiting at the gym for me.  Accountability at it's best.  And we had a great workout which always lifts your mood.  The man had dinner pretty much ready to dish up when I walked in too.  (I really MUST learn to ditch the guilts over not being home before him)

So as some extra motivation I'm going to sweat for an hour a day this next week;
Wednesday:    Boxing circuit @ Cardinia Life
Thursday:       Cardio session @ Casey Race
Friday:            Lunchtime walk / jog
Saturday:         Run coaching session
Sunday:           10km walk around Berwick Springs Lake with the man
Monday:          Strength session @ home
Tuesday:          Body Combat @ Casey Arc

Then, keeping my nutrition tight as well, I may even see an 8 as the second number next weigh in :)

Weigh in - R2 - Week 7

They say a picture is worth 1,000 words, so;

Need I say more?  No, but I'm never short of a word. 

This is the second time I've touched below the 70kg mark.  The last time was on my birthday a few weeks ago.  Normally, when I hit a low point, it is immediately followed by a largeish spike.  And that was no exception.  So now I'm under it again, the challenge will be to keep going and get to this mark on my night time weigh.

I've re-set my weight loss goal for the final time.  67kg is where it ends.  That magic little number will get me to 30kg removed - still freaks me out a little tiny bit!

Weign in - R2 - Week 6

Today's weigh-in is brought to you by Duracel, the makers of the little round 2032 batteries scales need to keep alive.

Current Weight: 70.9kg
Last week:      71.2kg
Week's loss:     -0.3kg 
So far:         -26.1kg



As a serial weigher (and proudly so), imagine my distress when all signs of scale life were distinguished.  Yep, in seven months I managed to completely drain the battery.  It was strange not being able to weigh in at all for a couple of days.  I went from thinking "yay, I can eat whatever I want and it won't show on the scales" (I know, dumb, dumb, dumb) to "Michelle is going to come after me if I don't weigh in soon".

And it came at a particularly bad time!

On Saturday, my first number was a 6.  The next a 9.  Then a .  And then a 7.

Blown away much?

And that was my last reading - RIP battery.  I'm then second guessing myself; I've read of chicks who get an awesome reading, only to find their scales died the next day.  Apparently they give false readings when they're at the end of their life.  So is my 6 a real 6, or a battery failure induced, artificial low?

But we don't go and get a battery straight away.  Oh no.  We have to prolong the drama (I swear I'm Nina from Offspring), and the wondering.

So today I'm 70.9.  Usually when I hit a low point I spring back up by a kilo, sometimes 2 pretty quickly,and then it comes off again more slowly.  Now that I've seen the 6, I want to see it again, and again,and again.  Maybe even at night.  That's when you know you've really made it past a milestone I reckon.

I've got so much to write, but I'll leave it here today; mindset lessons and subtle cyber attacks that sting like a snake bite are all trying to leap from my fingers, but for another day.  Right now, Chicken & Broccolini Laska beckons :)

Weign in - R2 - Week 5

Week 5 - CRAZY how quickly this round is going. Next week will be the half way point, and whilst my weight loss this round hasn't been massive, it's not as though I'm really trying to ditch the poundage.

Current Weight: 71.2kg
Last week:      71.5kg
Week's loss:     -0.3kg
So far:         -25.8kg

 (edited to correct my ordinary maths!)

I will though, admit to being a little disappointed in my 300g this week.  Yeah, I know that any loss is a good loss, blah blah blah.  But I tried REALLY hard this week.  At least I trained hard.  Perhaps a few extras slipped between my teeth.

It's all perspective really.  Would I be happy with a 300g loss if I wasn't pushing to get to the magic 70kg by Saturday?  Hells yeah!  But with a goal on the horizon - a goal that I probably won't reach - I'm a little disappointed.

In the big scheme of things, does it matter to anyone else if I'm not 70kg by Saturday?  Nooooooo.  My original goal by my birthday was 75kg.  Happily that was ticked off ages ago.  So anything below that is, in reality, a bonus.

So I'm going to take the pressure off myself, and just celebrate the fact that these lifestyle changes I've made are here to stay.  That's probably the best birthday present I could give myself.  Hmmm.

70 by 7/7

Lurve the number seven.  Especially because I was born on the 7th day of the 7th month.  Anyway - a fellow 12wbt'er, who has her birthday a week later (same year - too freaky) on 14/7, (a top, ace chick that I love to death) set me a challenge to reach 70 by July 7.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.

This morning I weighed in (I know it's naughty but it's pretty much my only vice) at 70.8kg.  800 grams in 8 days?  Yeah - I can do that!!

Although you don't read this blog - thank you Judy Street - top, ace chick you are xx

Weigh in - R2 - Week 4

Flawless week nutritionally, buuuuuuuut a few excuses were made around the exercise side of things.

Still - a 500g loss at this stage of the trip is, well, pretty trippy, mostly coz this is new weight I'm losing :)

Current Weight: 72.0kg
Last week:      71.5kg
Week's loss:          -0.5kg 
So far:          -25.5kg




And as I edge closer to that magic 70kg mark, I'm starting to believe that I really will get there.  And when it does happen, I promise that I'll only re-set my goal one. more .time.

Weign in - R2 - Week 3

Three weeks into round 2 - can you believe it?

I feel as though I'm in control of my weight, of my food and my body, and this week's loss takes me back to just above my lowest point.

Current Weight: 72.0kg
Last week:      73.0kg
Week's loss:          -1.0kg 
So far:          -25.0kg  




Loving being back at the 25kg mark.  And I think there's still a couple more kilos to be granted their marching orders.  But I've noticed a definite change of shape in the past couple of weeks.  It's a much firmer, more toned 72kg.  If I could wave the magic wand and deduct a few centimetres from specific places, I'd choose a couple of cms from my back, about 5cm from my hips and a couple from each thigh.

Looking forward to my first ever bikini this summer.  A size 10 summer dress.  Imagine wearing a dress without your thighs rubbing together. Seafood & salads. Warm air.  Oh, how I'm going to love this summer.  Being thin.  Does it get any better?

Weigh in - R2 - week 1

Current Weight: 71.9kg
Last week:      72.9kg
Week's loss:          -1.0kg 
So far:          -25.1kg





Great day today!  Feel on top(ish) of my workload.  Have followed Mish's exercise plan to the letter. And have been rewarded with my lowest weight so far.  Feels good to be losing weight for the first time rather than re-losing stuff I've put back on.

Here's todays HRM report;

Totally ripped training today.  It felt great to complete the same set of sprints easily today that I struggled with on Monday.  And the 20 minutes of steady state jog was almost comfortable.  So much so, that I was able to increase the speed to 8.5kph and  then up it again to 9kph for the final minute.

Onto today's facts and figures;

Calories in         1009
less training        525
less BMR            1455
deficit              971

An all time low

Just yesterday I posted how I was aiming to be at my low point of 72.2kg before this round officially starts on Monday. So when I jumped on the scales this morning and read this...

...I was feeling on top of the world.

And why wouldn't you be on a beautiful, sunny, autumn day in Melbourne?  So nice that I took a leisurely stroll up to the local Coles for the top-up shop...

...and got a strength workout at the same time by carrying two bags full of fresh produce home.

Was completely ravenous, so cooked up one of my favo 12wbt lunches, Pumpkin & Quinoa Salad;

On days like this, working all weekend in exchange for a weekday to myself seems such a worthy trade off.

Happy Thursday :)

Weigh in - R2 - Start

Oooooo... will you look at that?  There's a "2" as the second digit again. Not so long ago it was a "4". And there was even a couple of days where panic set in as I discovered a "5". Don't take offence 5, but really, I thought I'd seen the back of you.

I really worked for it this week. Nutrition was virtually flawless. I trained every day. Even yesterday with a crappy sore throat and major headache.  So I know I can do it.  I would LURVE to get another 700g off before the round officially starts on Monday, so I'm back to my end of R1 weight. Then onto my next mini-goal of 70kg by July 7.  I CAN do this.

Current Weight: 72.9kg
Last week:      73.9kg
Week's loss:          -1.0kg 
So far:          -24.1kg

Back on the wagon

I've been a little slack over the past couple of weeks.  Round 1 finished. Work got crazy type out of control.  I made some weak decisions about food. Even weaker about exercise.  Strangely enough, some weight has found it's way back on.  Remembering I had a low point of 72.2kg when round 1 ended, I'm a little bit disappointed in myself to now be losing weight I've already lost once before.

Current Weight: 73.9kg
Last week:      74.4kg
Week's loss:          -0.5kg 
So far:          -23.1kg



Since Saturday's workout I've re-found my mojo, have been to the gym twice and have burnt 500+ calories in both sessions.

Not that you can see all that clearly on the image, but today's sesh was 529 cals in 1:29:40.  Yep, it DOES take a LOT longer now to get a decent burn happening.

So I've got a new goal.  70kg by July 7th.  That's about 6 weeks from now.  650g per week.  That's totally achievable.  Then to keep it off!!!!!!

Week 12 weigh in (my week 26)

Current Weight: 72.2kg
Last week:      74.2kg
Week's loss:          -2.0kg 
So far:          -24.8kg    

It's been a couple of weeks since I've posted.  3 to be exact.  Caught up somewhere between a floaty love cloud of engaged happiness, wedding planning mode, a relentless work schedule and life in general, I've not had the time to pop in here and bang out a post.

This truly is a milestone week.  Not only does it mark the end of our 12 weeks, but it's also 6 months since my back surgery.  The event that kicked this new lifestyle off in the first place.  I'm so proud of myself and what I've achieved in that time and the program itself.

Here's a look at how my 12 weeks panned out;

I'm a smaller, faster, stronger and definitely better version of myself.  This program has changed my life in so many ways. I've regained my confidence in the kitchen. My mood and general attitude to life is at polar opposites to where it was 12weeks ago. And I have "met" whether that be in cyber space or in real life, some of the most amazing, generous, clever, motivated and generally awesome women that have made this journey all the richer.

I've signed up again for round 2.  Why, I hear you ask?  Well although I've bettered my original goal weight, I just want to make sure that my new lifestyle becomes my permanent lifestyle. And I now get to go shopping for a very expensive white dress - in a size 12.  SIZE 12!  Dreams do come true - if you want them badly enough.

Week 9 weigh in (my week 23)

Current Weight: 74.2kg
Last week:      74.9kg
Week's loss:          -0.7kg 
So far:          -22.8kg    




For the life of me, I DO NOT KNOW how I managed to lose weight this week.  The man whisked me up to Sydney for Easter, which meant relying on meals that I hadn't prepared.  Mostly I made good choices; lean protein and salad or veg, except for our last night - chicken parma - ummm ahhhhh.  And NO scales to check my daily weight.  And as for exercise, well sure we walked for several hours each day, but there was no intensity about it.

You can imagine my excitement / relief when this week's weigh in showed a 700g loss.

I'm not expecting a repeat performance.  The routine is out the window - no meal plan, no lunches pre-prepared.  Aaarrrggghhhhh...I don't like this out of control feeling.  Back to a good orderly plan next week :)

Week 7 weigh in (my week 21)

There was a party, parade, festival type celebration in my bathroom this morning.  Coz of this...

Current Weight: 74.7kg
Last week:      77.6kg
Week's loss:          -2.9kg 
So far:         -22.3kg   




What an incredibly incredible week!  I'm actually a bit lost for words.

Healthy BMI. Goal weight.

Enough said.