I am on fire !

Well things seem to be going well with me in relation to all things weight loss.  Exercise has to happen, but at least I am eating right and tracking - that is something.  I do know what works for me, it is simply a matter of doing it.

 

This week was my first week back to work after annual leave, it was exceptionally busy -far too busy but saying that I do enjoy it, my boss does have a sense of humour.  He recently brought a bike, I told him no one was allowed to come into the office with lycra - you see in Adelaide we have the Santos Tour Down Under Bike race, it seems middle aged men like wearing Lycra, even if they look shocking.  At least my boss is tiny so not too bad.  So got some photos sent to my on my mobile, the cheeky bugger.

 

Mum and Dad are down, so it has been pretty quiet.   Got home lat night from work quite late, around 7 pm and I didnt feel like eating, Mum did and wanted to go to Fasta Pasta.  I made a choice of some minestrone soup and bread, it was amazing to think that it was too salty for me now.  I have been monitoring my sodium levels, it seems that certain foods are too salty for me.

 

Today's food has been spot on, I do have another 400 calories to eat, so will try and have something for supper.   It simply does my head in to think that eating too little is as bad as eating too much,but it is.

 

Had my nails done today, a nice shade of lavender.   I have a couple of favourite bags which have had to be repaired, so they went to my friendly Bag Repair Store - an absolutely roaring business.   I do have to wait a month, but saying that, it will be good as I love them and unable to use them.   Came home for breakfast instead of my normal eating out on Saturday morning and stayed home for lunch, so other than a quick trip to the supermarket to get some ingredients for dinner, didnt spend a cent.

 

Cooked my famous Tomato and Bacon Risotto.  The recipe has to be at least 15 years old and from an old WW recipe site, it is my Dad's favorite an always cook it for him when he is down.  As I use a tad too much bacon in it, I had a 1/2 serve - so was pretty chuffed with myself.  Having a glass of wine at present - so civilised.

 

Tomorrow I am heading over to West Lakes to meet Tina L and Sandy - my fellow weight loss buddies, so that will be nice and them home to do some housework and get ready for work on Monday.   At least I am making progress with the work, so hopefully by the end of Monday I am a bit more up to date.

 

I need to exercise, something that I struggle with as it is so boring.  I must and have to do it.

 

Overall, I am in a reasonably good spot -so pleased with that.  When my food intake is good, it seems my mental health is better - says it all really.

 

Anyway my darlings, hope you are in a good spot.  Vince the wonderdog is asleep, he is about to be woken up and given cuddles.   Love Martine xx

 

 

Back into it

Well it is 10am at night and Mum and Dad (who are down from Broken Hill) are asleep.  I have tracked my food for tomorrow, made my breakfast, lunch and Snacks plus checked over my tracker (via My Fitnes Pal) for the food I have eaten today.   So far so good.   Water needs just to be improved slightly and then the dreaded exercise.

 

Went on Tuesday night for a weigh in, as I do every Tuesday with my weight loss coach, and secured a 500 gram loss.  What had happened is that WLC (weight loss coach) checks my tracker remotely and as we suspect I have PCOS it is imperative that I cut back on the sugar, I had put in an entry of a skim capuccino, but must have entered a flavoured one as she made a comment about the level of sugar in it.   I was a bit miffed but saying that, what I learnt in 2012 was to address it.   Obviously the entry was in error, so I felt good and I thought she was saying to avoid lattes etc, that wasnt the case.   So this week I have found myself being back on track and feel much better for it.   For example, I had an apple today and so enjoyed it, I thought why cant I just feel like an apple rather than a vanilla slice - I suppose that is one of life's mysteries. My Tuesday night gang of girls support each other and email each other during the day, it is so lovely.  We are all determined to shed this weight once and for all.

 

Work is busy and everyone is really a bit stressed but I am making inroads with the work and hope in a few weeks that it wont be so hard to manage.

 

Not much else happening really,last night went up to my brother's place for dinner, we had pasta and just sat around the table and chatted -so lovely.  Luckily I had enough calories up my sleeve to eat the meal and not feel guilty.

 

Came home and got mum a glass of wine, I love a nice wine but saying that I can say no - I did that today as really want to be able to sit down tomorrow night and enjoy it. 

 

Dad wants me to make a Risotto tomorrow night - with salami !   So wont be having that, will make it for them or have a 1/3 of a serve - I wont to be able to prove to myself that I dont need a great big bloody bowl of rice.  

 

The success with weight loss is organisation, I really think if you plan your meals, make up your snacks etc and track it seems so much easier.

 

The weekend I am hoping for a quiet one, not sure when the folks are going back but plan to sort through some stuff and might head off to a movie.  

 

Anyway, better go to bed.   It is interesting, when my food intake is better - the sleeping which is always dismal is not so chronically dismal.   Hopefully tomorrow I can get a good run of work done, coffee with the lovely Lyn tomorrow (my weight loss buddy) and so that will be nice.

 

This morning was my Thursday morning coffee with Katie.  This is what life is about.

 

Be good and good night.   Martine xx

Back to work tomorrow !

Well today is the last day of holidays, I go back to work tomorrow, so that is annoying.  I love my job but saying that I know there is a great deal of work.   The positives is that I get to go back into a routine again.

 

The weather in Adelaide has been horrendous, Mum had a fainting episode at Broken Hill where the temperature for the next week or so doesnt drop below 40.   It was 47 the other day.   It reminded me that I must keep my fluids up and drink water.

 

Feel a bit annoyed really,  no particular reason.   M is recovering from his illness, I think he now has cold feet about going away.   Seriously, the universe is telling me something. I am going to push him to go away as I want to experience it, I suspect I will tell him he can't have his cake and eat it as well. I simply do not understand men at all.

 

The food front has not been too bad, with this heat it is hard to eat really, tracking is dismal- so really need to get into that asap.  I think once I am back at work that it will be a lot easier to keep on top of things.  I really need to start exercising -it is so good for the mind,but I hate it with a passion.

 

Will try and find a balance with work, I could work an extra 2-3 hours a day and still be behind, I am willing to work a bit extra but then everything else suffers.  Ideally if I go into work earlier  it will be easier to leave on time. 

 

Not much to report really, I do believe a week of good eating will find my energy levels improve.

 

The washing machine has decided to have a hissy fit, it is not spinning.   Trying to get people to come and repair it around work hours is impossible, saying that my boss is good in this department.

 

Well tomorrow I am getting up to drop my brother to the Airport, his flight goes at 6.15am, so I anticipate starting work at that time - I can go in and get my accounting jobs done and do it whilst I am concentrating without those damn phones ringing.

 

Anyway, must get into the ironing - such an exciting life I lead.

Martine x

Seriously, it is far too hot

Well in Adelaide it has been around 39 degrees, absolutely boiling.    Us

Voluptuous women  dont cope too well with the heat.  Went to my weight loss coach, disgusting - 3..5 kg gain - not good.  I told her that I felt sluggish all day, so we sat down, decided today was Week 1 and get back to basics.   The weight needs to come off - it just needs to happen and I need to focus on this like my life depends on it - which it kinda does.   I seriously feel like a whale.  So got up this morning and looked at my extensive notes I had written and got into it.   Although undiagnosed, I do believe because of various things that I may have PCOS, so we are going to tailor my eating around this (usually people with PCOS eat low GI foods mainly).  Anyway, I need to really focus on what I am doing.

 

I have been good today, my energy levels are shocking and saying that it is a direct result of the food that goes into my mouth.   She wants me to walk 2 times a week, use a fit ball (need to go to Kmart as they have a ball and dvd package) and then go back to my gym and do 2 minutes on the rower as a warm up (apparently people with PCOS have a lot of testosterone, so resistance work using body weight is ideal) then my bike, cross trainer and treadmill.   I wont like it, but once I get back into it, I should be right.   Work is going to be busy, so I have to either exercise in the morning so I can work back or exercise at night so I can go in early.  My boss is good, so plan to say to him - look I have a huge amount of work, I am happy to do extra but you need to know this for future etc.    It is a two way street.

 

Sorting out cupboards at present, hate it but once it is done, it does feel good.  

 

Last night at my weight loss coach (who happens to be a close friend and I usually stay for dinner often) we talked about 2012.   2012 saw me cope with my emotional eating, learnt more about nutrition and worked out what works for me with weight loss - my tracking via My Fitness Pal and looking at my nutritional levels of protein, carbs, sugar, sodium etc works.   I suppose if I want results, then I need to put the effort in.

 

Quite frankly, I am fed up - sick to death of running around after everyone, so Friday, Sat and Sunday plan to stay at home, relax and do some jobs in the vain hope that when I start work on Monday it isnt as bad as I think it might be.

 

The year is underway, I am hoping that the key word for me is consistency - consistency in my tracking, weight loss, consistency in the hours I work, consistency in how I am treated by others. 

 

Dinner is in the oven, although hot just doing roast vegies (baked) and chicken breast.  Brought a new dinner set, so will unpack that and eat from it.  

 

M is still ill, had the gall to ask me if I could get time off in a few weeks -NO I CANT. 

 

Well, must dash, Vince the wonderdog is barking -god knows what.  He doesnt bark often but he doesnt realise he is short with stubby legs, he thinks he is as big as a golden retriever.   Hope all is well with everyone in cyber world.  

The last day of 2012

Well today is the last day of 2012.   I will give a brief overview of what has been happening.   Started the new job, absolutely adore it but so busy I don't know where to start. My boss is great and understands the amount of work that I have to do, that makes life easier.

 

I am still fluffing around with my weight, the year has ended and I have made no progress.  Saying that I have been going to my weight loss coach with girlfriends and we are sorting out a lot of emotional stuff and the year has ended with me having a lot of new knowledge on nutrition.   Saying that, the thing is I know what to do, the right balance of foods and taking via my fitness pal has helped.   I just have to start the year by tracking and focusing on my food intake.  So tomorrow that is it.  I turn 50 at the end of August 2013 and want to at least be a bit further along.  I currently feel like a fat whale.

 

I was going away with M - for those who remember he is technically my "friends with benefits" that has lasted 16 years, it is more than that obviously.   We were going to Melbourne, it was a chance for me to decide what in the hell I am doing.  He doesnt want committment or a relationship but I do know he loves me -he has the issues and admits it.   We get a long great, but I am a doormat for putting up with it - just because we get along famously doesnt mean I have to give up my dream of a committed relationship.

 

My friend Jo who now lives in the USA came over during the Christmas break with her partner, he proposed on the spot they met and told me he had meet his "dream girl".   It got me thinking, after a chat to him at the international airport, it has got me thinking. 

 

M has rung and he is quite ill with some virus (foot and mouth) and has ulcers etc all over him, his dad is a retired GP and so he is quite contagious, the trip is cancelled until Easter - I am devastated as I thought it would be interesting to see how it would go being away with him.  I thought this trip would allow the universe to tell me what to do, I know what to do - I need to walk. 

 

So next year is nearly here, I am planning a night at home.  These are the things I wish to achieve:-

•  Save more and be more disciplined with my finances
• Track more regularly and try to lose 15 kilos in 2013
• I know work will be stressful, so exercising 3 times a week to cope with that.
• Put myself first.

I also want to blog daily, I find it theraputic.   This year has not been a bad one, i ended up with a job I love, M asked me away (a miracle in itself) and I find myself looking at 2013 and know that I can make it a good one, change the things I dont like and perhaps go online and find a man, one that is not committment phobic. 

 

So tonight I am staying home with the wonderdog, Mr Vincenzo Dally who is the love of my entire life - my father says I shouldnt talk to him all the time, but he is my little guy who happens to be a dog (although treated like a child).

 

So the year is ending, I am going to wake up tomorrow full of positivity, the year is what I make of it, I need to change some things - it is up to me to do it.  

 

I am hoping that the year is good for you too.

 

Love Martine xxx

 

The new job started today

Well Monday again, the weekend has gone far too quickly for my liking.   Today saw me start my  new job, it went quite well and I know I have made the right decision.  It is one of those things, I just knew today it was right for me and I feel quite calm about it all.

 

My new boss is a hoot, so that has been great - long may it happen.

 

Food has been brilliant, tracked every day and feel better for it.   I have been counting calories and going to my weight loss coach who happens to be an ex-Weight Watchers leader. I go with some girls that I used to go to WW with.  We concentrate on the food, what is right and how much etc.  I have looked at sodium levels and the right combination of fruit, vegies, protein, dairy and carbs.   So tomorrow I go to weigh and hopefully a loss - well I should say I know it will be a loss.

 

Usually when I get home Vince the wonderdog hears me drive in the drive way and waits at the front door, not today - he was deep asleep so he was sleepy when I woke him.   He is a time waster - 30 minutes of cuddles later.

 

All good with me mentally, I think at present I have come out of the depression with a new focus and more importantly I have faced up to what has caused it.  I even disagreed with a family member today which is unheard of.

 

Tomorrow in Adelaide is going to be 38 degrees, so will have to try and dig out something to wear - god knows what.

 

It is funny, I have missed blogging and how it is a chance to offload somewhat.   It is funny, some of my best buddies I have meet on line and others online that I havent meet I feel like I know - like the lovely and adorable Chris from NZ - (aka dietcoke rocks).   Her blog has helped me each morning to face the day, of course dozens of photos of puppies and Coco and my boy Teddy the doggies help.

 

So on we go, Monday is out the way, Tuesday is fast approaching and I am happy and in a good mood.   About to finish the ironing, it never ends and there is just me.

 

I am hoping during the week to start my walking again, exercise is not my greatest love but it is one of those things that once you get started, it is okay. 

 

Hope your day has been happy, mine has started out great, I am pleased I have moved jobs and pleased that my heart and mind have told me it is right..   I was and am blessed to have such support of lovely friends, a true blessing.     Love Martine x

 

 

 

Sunday, always a great day

I love Sunday mornings when you wake up and make a yummy breakfast, read the paper and have a few coffees before the day really begins.   Today the plan was to make some diet lemonade pancakes but that didnt seem to happen, so just toast with peanut butter and yoghurt and a couple of coffees using my beloved Nespresso machine.  I
 

Well work is one of my topics for today,  My now old boss recently on 5/9/13 joined a larger firm as a consultant, I joined her as well.  It was a big change and although a bit hesitant about joining a firm with a lot of women it turned out the staff were absolutely beautiful. As the work I was doing was quite different in some ways from what i was doing before and no client contact, I really missed my old job. Luckily, I was approached by another lawyer who we shared office space with recently to join him and his junior solicitor as their office manager.   These people I worked with (although not employed by) for a while - so I took the job and start tomorrow.   As a consequence of leaving what I loved and the client contact I enjoy, I didnt really cope with the larger firm and consequently suffered anxiety and depression..   What is interesting was the thing I was worried about most when we merged was working with large numbers of women was the thing I enjoyed the most.  Although they were younger by a lot, I feel in love with them all and a lesson was learnt by me that me as a person was good enough, even for the young and hip !

 

So tomorrow is Day 1 of the new job, although it feels somewhat weird as I know these people but not in the role of employer.  There are some things which I am a bit nervous about but overall I know the decision is right for me.  The move to a larger firm I knew wasnt for me when I went with my old boss but we are dictated by the need for a wage coming in.

 

So today is about getting my stuff together for work tomorrow.   Plan to finish the housework and have a nanna nap with Vince the wonderdog who yesterday scared the absolute crap out of me.  I came home from the nail and hair appointed and he was quite off, his head was drooping forward, he looked sad, was crying somewhat (couldnt see he was in pain anywhere) and turned down a treat.  So got him out the house and walked him outside my unit and across the court yard to my neighbour Marion who was outside gardening, she agreed he was a bit off.  As this dog is somewhat of a child, I panic but after an hour he was okay again - so god knows what it was about.  Sometimes I wish he would talk, other times I don't think I really want to know what he is thinking,.

 

At present I am mentally good, my "happy pills" (anti-depressants) keep me calm, saying that the recent bout of anxiety and depression was bad but would have been a thousand times worse if I wasnt on them.  At times it does my head in that I need to take them but have resigned myself to the fact they keep me balanced and happy.

 

I am up early as I havent really slept well, my insomnia is still around and drives me mental but I try to just not let it worry me and with a healthy diet it helps.

For some reason the day has flown by, at present at 9.49pm I am washing and about to work out my food for tomorrow and my calories - that is my topic for tomorrow or Tuesday.

Anyway, wish me luck for tomorrow and the new job.   Vince the wonderdog is asleep on the bed, I have woken him up for a cuddle and he isnt impressed - so glad he cant speak.

Hope you all are having a great day.  Love Martine x x

Well it has been a while !!!

Hi everyone !!1

 

It has been far far too long.  So much has happened since my last blog which was over 12 months ago.  I am back in it. I am hoping over the next week to outline all what has been happening.

 

Seriously where has the year gone.    I cannot believe it is nearly Christmas and next year sees me turn 50, which I plan to embrace and celebrate, as simply wallowing in an age is not going to help me.

 

Vince the wonderdog is still the single most love of my life, as pictured above and not impressed that I am wrapping Christmas presents while he is trying to rest on the bed.  This little guy is about to turn 10 years of age.  Where did that time go.   As like previous years, we are driving to Broken Hill for Christmas and it is a 6.5 hour trip with a dog that doesnt like the car !   Should be fun.

 

 

Today has seen me have my nails done and hair done (an expensive exercise) and I am now home trying to work out what to have for dinner - initally a Zucchini slice but I dont know if I can be bothered.

 

Anyway, i am trying to aquaint myself with how to save a post in draft before I publish it and how to go back to it.   Anyway, plan to do a long post tomorrow re weight and work.

 

Please feel free to post a comment.  I must admit I do miss putting my thoughts down.   Love Martine xx

Thank God today is nearly over !

Well what a week, it has been a shocker.  Last night saw me go up to the medical centre regarding this blasted headache, I was told it was a tension headache and to get a massage and take drugs.  This is not my normal doctor and asked me if I wanted to take some time off work.  I said, No - he looked like I had 4 heads.  When I am very ill and need those sicks days that is when I will take it. Of course the headache is painful and I am not enjoying it but golly gee I don't think I need to take time off.  He told me my blood pressure was up, it is normally quite normal.  Had it tested again tonight and it is high again - 157 over 97.  So have an appointment on Saturday to see my normal GP - I am not impressed.  There is a family history of stroke etc - so I need to be careful.  Consquently I have just eaten 2 chocolate eclairs for dinner.

I have gone to bed early, Vince the wonderdog obviously not in the mood to share the bed with his mother and is sleeping in the lounge room.  He will come crawling back to the "big bed" with his mum when he wants a cuddle.

I need to wake up early tomorrow,  make a healthy breakfast and lunch and focus on undoing the damage of the last two days eating.  It is a long weekend this weekend and other than catching up with the WW girls from all over the place for dinner on Sunday, I am trying to have a quiet one and perhaps watch the AFL footy grand final.

I have found it so nice to have the online community for support.  So please make a comment, even if it is just to say hi.

I plan to focus tomorrow on just getting through the day with my eating in place.  Not much else happening really, I feel slightly irritated with the world and of course I am feeling a bit feral, so going to have an early night and hopefully I will wake feeling slightly better.  Anyway, I have nothing very much to say really.  Sweet dreams.   Martine xx

Well where did Monday go ?

Well Monday was  my RDO, so planned to do wonderful things at home. I planted some herbs - Basil, Parsley and Coriander.   Met Michael for a coffee and chat, did a bit of window shopping, went to the library and then down to Cibo to have a coffee and thought I should do that ironing but will sit down and put some thoughts down on my blog.

I didnt go to WW last week as I had a migrane, these only rarely come prior to my period arriving but as I am going through menopause, my periods are a bit of a nightmare and the headaches are either none existent the day before it arrives, or terrible.  This month the headache was terrible and then I spent the night in bed and missed WW.   So this week hasn't been good, and as I thought at 1.1 kilogram gain, which was expected and a lesson learnt about what happens when you don't track.

Sunday night had dinner at a Thai Restaurant down at Glenelg last night with my friend "G" and sat and nattered all night, so that was nice. Sunday  was frantic and went and saw my friend "D" and her new babies James and sat and cuddled that little babe for a few hours. I was quite good and composed and realise that it wasn't going to happen to me, so there was no tears this times - some babies reduce me to tears and although at times I had a lump in my throat, I realised that there are other better things waiting for me - god knows what they are.

The plan this week is to exercise and keep on tracking my food. I have been quite vigilent with the tracking and so this week's gain and the lack of tracking is a lesson on why you need to keep the focus.  I had a rather nasty headache last night which went down my neck and shoulders, I have it again today so I am not impressed, if it still continues tomorrow I am going to have to get it checked out at the doctors.

I am needing to get things done at home, but there never seems to be enough time.  As I have chronic insomnia the mornings to do exercise is not great but I think I need to work on this as by the time I get off the tram after work, get changed and get to the gym (3 days per week) and come home and have dinner it is too late

Vince the wonderdog is a sleep on the bed, little does he know that in a minute he is going to be woken up and cuddled.  Tuesdays (my ww night) is a long day for a little guy to be home. I plan to take him walking with me on the alternate gym nights.   I have set a new weight loss challenge of 6 losses in a row, and will reward myself with something.

Anyway, it is late and I should be organising my lunch and food for tomorrow, but will do that in the morning I think. Hopefully tonight I get to sleep a bit better, my sleeping is dismal at the best of time.

I hope that if you read this blog that you put a comment down, especially if you have a blog of your own.  I find such great support from the online community, I have made such lovely friends because of it.  Trying to explain to some people about how wonderful it is can be quite annoying - they can't understand it all - their loss I say.   Anyway, tomorrow is Day 1 of a new WW weeks and always enjoyable.  Plan to focus on getting through the day, if I track I remain honest, it is not the tracking that does me in.  Anyway, good night and sweet dreams.  Love Martine xxx

I have run around like a headless chook all day !

Golly gee, I left home early this morning and have been running around like a headless chook. So far I have had my nails done and hair done, picked up a layby, brought a cushion thing for Vince the wonderdog, brought some herbs. The housework hasn't been done. Photo above of me, trying to take a photo of myself above

WEIGHT WATCHERS Well all going well in this department, the weight loss has been slow, there has been some hiccups. I had a 90 day cough and basically was sick as a dog for 3 months. It was hard to eat and with me if I don't eat enough it doesn't help me losing weight, so got over that. I am a huge believer that weight loss is directly associated with your mental state of mind. If you are enjoying the whole WW thing, like I do, then it is easier. I love my meetings, love my leader and class members, have a great online support basis and try and make myself enjoy the food that much more. Weight Watchers have excellent cookbooks and I use them regularly, people would not know you are cooking from a weight watchers cookbook. I have basically lost 1o times over 11 weeks, my record is 9 losses in a row. I have found I don't need or have the desire to set myself up with unrealistic expectations of say 1kg a week - it would be good but it is not realistic - as long as I lose then I am happy. I have got to the point where I have had to box up stuff for selling or giving away as they are too big, so that is great. I managed to get into my red Ezibuy dress the other day, when I brought it online it was a bargain - $20 but when I got it, found it was too tight around the thigh area - the other day I wore it and was so bloody excited I nearly died !!   Here is a photo of me in the dress - excuse the hair - it was taken at 6.30pm after a long day at work.

FAMILY are doing okay, my brother is looking after nephew 'N" full time, it is a hard job and all he does is work and look after his son, we are very proud of him and what he is doing.

WORK is going well, I am going to be helping out another law firm and doing some work for them as well as my own, this in itself is a good thing as there are times when I am a bit bored and it is good for the days to go quickly. I have been att this job for 3 years and now starting my 4th year, we specialise mainly in family law and workers compensation, so sometimes it is emotionally draining.

ONLINE SUPPORT - I have found over the last few years, the support and friendship I have received from the online community is just lovely. My friend 'G' fails to understand the whole concept and the concept of blogs - she says she is private - I don't understand this. I have found some of my closest friends are from the online community and when I meet them in person it is just like meeting an old friend. There are some bloggers that I must get to their blog every day otherwise I get all huffy.

VINCE THE WONDERDOG is still the absolute love of my life, he gives me so much love, currently he is a sleep and snoring on the lounge on his new cushion. The expression on the face is "Mum can you just leave me alone" - he is not impressed. Sometimes I am just so glad he cannot speak.

Well, it is 5.21pm and I must get up from this computer and get some jobs done and work out what in the hell I am going to eat for dinner. I am in a good spot, I am hoping that the exercise component of this weight loss journey starts to feel like something I want to do, instead of having to do. Anyway, if you are reading this and am not a follower, please follow me or send me a line. Take care everyone and email you tomorrow.

Martine xxx

Changed the name

Hi everyone Finally I have a computer at home. I am going to update this tonight. I have changed the name of the blog to The Life and Times of Miss M . All good with the weight loss, not so good with the exercise. The love life sucks !!! Vince the wonderdog is still the love of my entire life, he fails to understand that he is a dog. I have tried to understand dogs, don't sleep on beds with electric blankets - some sleep outside without a kennell. He looks at me like I am mad. Be in touch tonight Martine xxx

Days 129 and 130 - It is Saturday night and I am washing !!

Well it is Day 130, it is 9.30pm on a Saturday night and this little duck is washing - what a life ! All going well in my world. Friday was a good day, my period arrived and so the mystery of the 700 gram gain was solved, annoying but solved. The joys of menopause is that it is either late or early, this time 8 days early. This week have done my cardio and weights program at the gym on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and off at 8am tomorrow. The funny thing about the gym is that once i get into the routine of it, I feel so much better for doing it and mentally I am a bit more relaxed. I prefer to listen to a Podcast instead of music and at present am listening to Hamish and Andy and Jillian Michaels. Jillian's podcast is so informative I find that I am on the machines longer as I want to finish the episode. I would have gone to the gym today but it was a busy day, nails and hair appointments and some grocery shopping and a quick coffee with Jo and Ron saw the day pass by in a whirl. At 5pm I really felt like going to the gym, unfortunately it closes at 5 pm. I did laugh as that is a first.

My wonderful hairdresser who has been doing my hair since I moved to Adelaide and is a superstar is no longer doing hair as she is now a sales rep, so tried out a friend of her's and had a significant amount of hair cut off - I have enough hair for 3 people. So feel somewhat better. All things food wise is going great guns, brought some pretzels today to snack on occasionally for something different and they are not loaded with sugar. So worked out the pro points (3pp for 33 grams) which is quite a lot and a good snack. I am really focused on that 1.2 kg loss this week, so want to get as much exercise in as possible. The pedometer has seen me park the car far away and walk to where ever I go so I can get more steps on it, that is a really good tool for me, because the days I can't get to the gym, I can focus on the additional steps. have been invited to my lovely friend Kath's place on Friday night - thank god for those weekly points as no doubt it will be something not quite healthy and a dessert and a wine or two,but then that is what the weekly points are all about. I find E-Tools on the WW site an absolute godsend, for example any new product I buy that isn't in the list of foods, it is so easy to add them and put what serving size you want. I brought from Woolies some Banana Bread (a packet is sliced into portions and wrapped) - all right we know Gloria Jeans and McDonald's Banana Bread is horrendously pointed, on the old system the Gloria Jeans one was almost a day's points. The Woolies brand is 8 points per slice but it is good for an occasional sweet and is in the freezer. I am suddenly finding the energy levels have increased, so I am pleased I am not so absolutely buggered 24/7. Certainly the going without sugar in a coffee - WHICH HAS BEEN A HUGE DEAL FOR ME, is working well and I am now enjoying the coffee without it. The last few days in particular I have noticed that I don't miss it - but it is day 130 so it is worth persevering if you want to give up something. Anyway the washing machine has beeped and I must hang out those clothes. Luckily tomorrow is a quiet day. Gym at 8am and that will be about an hour - hour and half, drop off the car park ticket to a friend of mine who let me borrow her car park whilst she was away and return some library books, then home to do some more stuff at home then have a Nana nap and then walk the Vince the wonderdog, who by the way is cuddled up amongst the pillows on my bed - what a life. Don't forget to leave a comment or the name of any podcasts you listen to. Until tomorrow...............

Martine

Day 128

Well today saw me actually have a latte without sugar and not even thinking about the whole sugar thing, I enjoyed it and so with every day the sugarless coffee is going well. After Tuesday's night gain and the anger and frustration I felt I woke up on Wednesday morning more determined than ever to keep doing what I am doing. Gathered my bits and pieces for work (lunch, fruit etc) and went to work and ensuring that I tried to get as much incidental exercise and steps on the pedometer as I could then off to the gym for my cardio and weights programme - so that was an hour's exercise and if I wasn't hungry could have stayed for a while long and then home to eat dinner. Usually the gym is Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and the non gym days see me doing walks etc. Tonight home for dinner and then some house stuff. Quite frankly the gain on Tuesday didnt see me go down in a depressed pile and eat but focus on what I had to do to ensure this gain didnt happen again and focus on my personal goal of 1.2 kilograms, whether I lose that amount of not is not the point, it allows me to focus on what I want to achieve. Whilst at the gym was listening to a podcast by Jillian Michaels and it is so informative and keeps me focused instead of music. So if anyone knows of any good podcasts, please let me know. So all good, there is no social events this weekend and really am going to have to eat additonal food to use some of my weekly points - this does do my head in but I realised early on the daily points always need to be eaten and some of the weekly points. So may have Indian for Saturday night dinner as a treat. Have a good day and I will see you guys tomorrow. Please feel free to post a comment, it is always lovely to hear from the online community. Take care

Day 126 and 127 - That wasn't the plan

Well it is 2.50 am on Wednesday morning, I am still awake and stewing over my weigh in results, but before I post about that.

The week in review. The week was a good week, I had a dinner Friday night with a dear friend who is a skinny minny (size 8) and knew she likes to eat (god I hate people tiny as anything that need to gain weight) and so had saved my weekly points. Went to an Italian place we love called Vino on Unley Road. Tracked the food honestly as I normally do, my view is that if I track honestly then I can honestly review the enteries and then the scales should reflect my good work, or that is the theory. This week saw me increase the exercise, get back at the gym and doing lots and lots of incidental exercise on my pedometer which incidentally has been such a joy to have, I can't get over how it encourages additional exercise.

So Tuesday off I go to WW, the whole of the Tuesday I had a tension headache, now you see I am not the most relaxed person. I never need anyone else to put pressure on me, I do it well and truly very well by myself. I weigh and honestly track all my food or as my leader says "anal with the tracking" but that is how I like it. If I 100% track properly and stick with the programme then the results will show on the scales. Well not this bloody week. Got on the scales to see a 700 gram gain, I can tell you that being upset and totally pissed off was an understatement. Normally my beautiful lot of WW girls (4 normally but we have had a lovely friend come back after an illness so there are now 5) so 1 out of the 5 secured a loss. It is either a couple of things:-

A catch up from Christmas/New Year (remembering I had a loss)

Period is due in about 10 days

Peri Menopause

One of those things

So as much as I am upset and annoyed, I have just reviewed my weekly food and can't see anything too bad in the tracker. I ate my daily points of 36 pro points and all my 49 points. So this week I will do the same, exercise with all my heart and pray that next week's loss is a good one. My friend who goes to WW with me had a gain of the same amount, we are the same age and both going through peri menopause and we both equally annoyed.

The darling darling girls I go to WW become closer with each day, the support and encouragement they give me and even yesterday when I told them of the regular tension headache i have each weigh in day they supported me - I know I am my own worst enemy, I take a gain so personally.

The thing is - this gain is unexplainable. But you know what, it has made me determined to do everything in my power this week. My goal is to lose the 700 grams I gained this week and an additonal 500 grams (1.2 kilos total). I may not achieve it but it is a focus I can work towards. Luckily money is so tight this pay so it will be easy for me to get the runners on and take the wonderdog for a walk and go to the gym.

Success is not always on the scales - the fact i have dropped 1 size in dresses and tops at Autograph is something that I am going to focus on, the fact I weigh and track HONESTLY my food is what I need to look at.

There you go, it is going to be a long journey and not a race. Some days you just feel you aren't making progress but then again, I am.. I have changed my eating, cut out sugar in coffee, drink water, track my food and exercise more - that is success.

I am a bit sleepy now, so must go. Have entered my food for today in the tracker so have printed that out so I can make my lunch etc.

Finally, to my friends and blog readers from Queensland and living in the flood areas of Queensland my thoughts, prayers and love is sent your way. I can't get over how terrible it is, for those poor people to lose everything including life is shocking. I personally get distressed over the children that have lost life and the animals particularly. As a lover of children and animal - the thoughts that 2 toddlers have lost their lives is terrible and the fact there are whole families missing. I have to think that these floods are such an extreme from the recent droughts in QLD. So everyone in QLD my love to you all.

Martine

Day 125 - I am back at work

Well today I am back at work after a few weeks of annual leave, it was sure hard to get up this morning. So 2011 is well under way and the routine continues.

Tina and I went for a walk along the track near the beach at Largs Bay and had a coffee and a chat, it is always nice when you have someone to walk with.

Today got up had my breakfast (cereal and milk) and went for my small morning latte (Day 125 without sugar) and off to work. Pineapple for morning tea and then a large green salad with turkey and reduced fat feta and homemade roasted capsicum and a capuccino. Went to the gym and do about 40 minutes of cardio, I will ease into it as I can't believe how the fitness goes. Will go on Wednesday and do another 40 minutes of cardio and my weights programme.

Without weighing myself on the scales, I am not sure how I have gone this week - I feel that I have lost but what I have learned is the scales don't always reflect good eating habits. I always get nervous on weigh in day - I should learn to relax a bit.

Have been using the Pedometer, took it off whilst doing the cardio workout and can't get over how it encourages you to move more. I now always park the car as far away as I can to get extra steps (so thanks Tania !).

The next month will be tight moneywise as I did over spend during the Christmas period, so I am thankful that this will give me an opportunity to do a bit more exercise. I must face doing some classes, hopefully my BFF will hold my hand at a class. If I was brave I would do Zumba on Wednesday.

All good with me, my focus is just to do what I have been doing, I am pleased to say that I now think twice if I feel like something naughty, I can have those treats but now would rather plan for them and enjoy them and make an event out of it.

I will report in tomorrow about my results, I should be confident with the food I am eating - this week has been good but saying that I always get nervous. Luckily all the celebrations are over and done with for a while and Easter is a way off. Easter is another goal for me, I want the trifecta - Christmas, New Year and Easter losses.

Hope everyone is doing well, don't hestitate to put a comment on the bottom or email me, I am always up for some emailing. Take care everyone

Days 91 to 124 Oh Dear has it been that long !

Hi everyone, golly gee I didnt realise it had been a month since I last posted on my blog, that is far too long and promise to update daily from now on. Now where to start, there is so much.

Christmas was a busy period for me, work is always busy as we close over the Christmas period and the present buying for the family as well as Christmas presents for my brother in Broken Hill to give to my other brother's children. Our Christmas work show was great, fanastic french influenced food and my lovely boss brought her and I a $240.00 bottle of french red wine to drink - will post the name later on when I find it - it was like drinking silk, it was that smooth. Got thorough spoiled.

Drove to Broken Hill (6.5 hrs) on Christmas Eve and got there about 7.45pm, a long drive when you are tired and the wonder dog doesn't like the car. I had time to think driving up, I had decided to limit the wine and drink mineral water on Christmas day, as quite frankly I preferred to have a piece of dessert and felt I couldn't do both. I had tracked my food Christmas Day and although I didnt track the other days after that, I mentally added it up in my head. Christmas Day was a Saturday and I drove home on the Wednesday to Adelaide and got home and had a shower and drove to my lovely friend Tania's house and we both went to another meeting our Leader was a doing as our Tuesday meeting was closed. I had really thought about what I was eating over the Christmas period, together with the trip to and from Broken Hill which is notoriously a eating binge in years gone past, so I brought some yoghurt and a sandwich and thermos for my peppermint tea. I did stop for an icecream though.

Tania and I went to Wynn Vale Meeting and lo and behold I lost 300 grams, with Tania losing 200 grams, it may as well have been 100 kilograms as we both were so excited as this is the first year in the history of me being on this planet that I haven't gained 2-3 kilograms. It was for me an inspired moment, I have no hesitation at my meetings of showing my excitement with losses. The following week's weigh in was after New Years Eve, I had tracked for the whole week, cut back on the alcohol as I was going out a lot for meals, had pizza new years eve which was bliss and got on the scales on the Tuesday to see a 200 gram loss. So quite frankly I am bloody proud of myself to have lost over a notoriously difficult period.

Quite frankly I am simply focused and so proud.

I have been off work since 23/12/10 and go back to work tomorrow, I have rested and just recharged the batteries so I feel like I have had a break, although I have spent far too much money at the sales.

Before Christmas I meet the lovely Penny from New Zealand who is a reader of this blog, to be honest it was just a pure delight. The online community are such a support, we chatted for such a long period of time and when I drove her and her partner back to where they were staying a friend was formed. So last year was great I had meet 2 on line friends.

It is nice to be able to communicate with people on line. If you are reading this Effie I have sent you an email !

So everything is going well, I like the Pro Points programme, it simply fits in with my life and now that the program and the food values are some what easier it is time to ensure that the gym is commenced again. That is tomorrow. At the meeting I brought a pedometer after being inspired by Tania, I just can't believe how it encourages you to move.

I have made tomorrow night's dinner so that when I get home from the gym I only have to reheat the meal. Mornings are hard for me as I don't sleep but I want to try this week to go to the gym at 6am if possible - we will see.

How are you going? Off for a walk with some Tina and Sandy tonight, so that will be good.

Martinexx

New post coming

I have been a very bad girl in not posting on this blog. Will update either today or tomorrow. All going fabulously well with WW (with losses over Christmas and New Year). Totally focused. Martinexxx

Days 88 to 90 - All going well but..........

Well, everything is going well. Pro Points going fantastically but the scales are up and down, last week's big loss was great but this week it has been a struggle to get the scales at home to show a loss. The answer is put the scales away !. I know I have done all the right things so fingers crossed that I lose this week - that will be 4 losses in a row and my new Lorna Jane Gym Bag can be purchased. The weekend was busy AGAIN, this time of year drives me insane - I have far too much to do and no time to do it. I am making a list tonight and must work through it. My saving grace is that there is nothing on TV for me to get distracted by. Saturday busy running around and home Saturday night - BLISS. . Sunday over to the Central Markets for a catch up with some WW girls (Dee, Sharon, Kazz, Jo and myself) - always good and lots of talking. They are a good bunch and always make me feel good. Then up to my brother's as it is my niece's 5th birthday - she is so mega cute. Last night got stuck into the housework and made a quick ham and cheese quiche, although it needed to be cooked a little longer now back at work today - not that I feel like it. This week has been going GREAT, I am so focused at present and realise that in order for me to constantly lose weight, I have to keep on doing what I am doing. It is going well and I am pleased, will feel more settled once I get on the scales tomorrow at WW. I know the body fluctuates, the heat in Adelaide hasn't helped so I am ensuring that I get plenty of water into the system today. Focused on the next 2.2 kilograms. Have a good day. Sunday w

Days 80 to 87 - I am a LEGEND

Well as the name of this post suggests, I am a legend. Everything is just going so well. Since my last post, a lot has happened. On Tuesday went to Weight Watchers, in fact I had been eager to get there all day. I am thoroughly enjoying the new Pro Points Plan and it agrees with my lifestyle, the first weigh in on pro points I had lost 700 grams and that was with the big drinking session at Gill's 50th and this week I lost a whopping 1.9 kilograms. I am double tracking, sick and sad I know but I love it. I track on e-tools and also brought a WW tracker as I want to see after 12 weeks on Pro Points how much I loose, I want to be able to go back where I have had big successes and repeat the menu. God help me when the iphone APP comes in, I may need therapy as I don't want to triple track. But on the positive side of things, what is good is that tracking, and I mean honest tracking helps with the weight losses, I have always been aware of this and in this area nothing has changed. I do weigh my food, I want to be able to get on those scales and say that I have been good or whatever and know whatever happens I can accurately say I know why I have gained or lost that week. Last Friday was the best friends birthday. I had 3 courses and 1.5 glasses of wine and all perfectly tracked. I find that with the new points plan, going out is easier than ever. Sunday night saw Tina, Kazz and myself meet up with Gae from the WW Boards. Below is a photo of us, although my hair looks a bit puffy, that is because I was trying to tease the top of it. The four of us, chatted for ages about Pro Points, Gae who is a regular contributor to WW forums was like an old friend, someone that I felt I had known for ages. I just am thrilled I am communicating and meeting so great people online. The motivation is around 1000% at present, Pro Points has been great, my weight losses with the old and new program has seen me with a weekly average of 700 grams from the beginning of WW at Mawson Lakes to present, so that is great. Tonight I am having 2 glasses of wine with dinner, don't you love it - the fact my points are low, I thought for a treat, I would have some wine - how exciting. This weekend is fairly quiet - thank god. Sunday meeting up with some of the WW girls and meeting at China Town for a quick bite to eat, I think I might have some rice paper rolls. So overall, everything is good. The scales this morning, didn't state that I had a loss but know that I have done the right thing, plus our bodies do fluctuate. So roll on Tuesday, I am eager to see what I have lost. It is nice to finish the year on a good note, this morning as I was walking to work, a guy just said to me hello, I felt good, had my lovely red lipstick on and thought - you know I do feel good. I have a bloody long way to go, but if the head is in the right spot, then everything else falls into place. Tonight going to take measurements and will post tomorrow. How are you going? martine xx