Day I don't even know... (Part two)

I started this round with the best of intentions, after seeing such good results last round. I did ONE of the scheduled workouts and thats it... i think ive weighed in once or twice, done none of these push up challenges i see people talking abt on facebook, no weekly challenges, ignored the videos and emails as its the same stuff from last round and not touched the forums.

Here it is, the good the bad and what I'm going to do about it... no particular order, just thoughts as they spill out of my head, down my arms and onto the keyboard so apologies...

- The last 3 - 4 weeks of my life have been interrupted by this gorgeous face...

Our new puppy. After the devastation of losing our two beautiful dogs to a deadly snake bite at the beginning of the year we have finally welcomed our new bundle of fluff and joy. With that comes toilet training, and feeding, and training and playtime. Pawrenting is basically a full time job in itself. There has been sleepless nights when the poor little dude has been up every two hours for the toilet, puppy diarreah and more. My boyfriend and I are SO in love with this stunning boy who is so clever and grows and changes each and every day.

I've also had more than one person tell me that their puppy was more hard work than their baby, and i believe them. If I had a real baby Tony Abbot would be paying me right now to stay home and be a sleep deprived mess not come to work and struggle though the day like a zombie on zzzz sorry i just fell asleep there!

So not to blame the puppy or make excuses but as I'm out of the house for 11 hours a day to work, the last 3 weeks has been all about him. Hence little excercise, and very little food prep.

- To join the gym or not to join the gym...

I intended on completing this round from home but there were a few things i didnt consider...

1) The programs require pyramid sets etc where you do the same exercise with different weights - which means constantly adjusting your barbell which is really annoying and time consuming

2) My garage is not bright and clean and nice smelling like the gym. And there is noone there to recognise me, or learn my name to make me feel like 'yeah! they know me - i must be doing something right'. My last gym i instantly felt alive and invigorated as soon as I'd stepped in the door.

3) Joining the gym relies on getting in the car and going - and even MORE organisation and time.

4) I have worked out that I really can only fit in a 30-45 minute workout in my day. I leave for work at 7am, come home at 6pm then god forbid spend time with the bf (when hes home from his fifo job) or puppy before cooking dinner, eating, cleaning up, prepping food for the next day then showering and collapsing into bed.

5) It would be safer to do things like squats & deadlifts at the gym with the appropriate racks etc.

6) I HATE meatheads at the gym, i HATE waiting for equipment at the gym.

7) I am going down to Fernwood tonight to check it out... I hope they have a decent weights section...

I feel overwhelmed...

I spend my M - F working and then coming home to cook, clean & prep, then I spend my Saturday cleaning, washing, grocery shopping and my Sunday finishing what I didnt do on Saturday and prepping food for the week with barely any time left for fun. Whats the point of being fit & healthy without getting to enjoy it. With bf working fifo i pretty much have to run the entire house myself, if only i didnt have to sleep...

Apologies for the complainey nature at the moment, hope to have something more positive to say soon

Xx

Feeling lost and need help...

Step one: confession...

I have actually only done ONE lean and strong workout... It's week 7... FUCK!!!!!

That's it - out in the open, no longer hidden.

Some serious thinking / blogging to do.

Why can't your blog give you kick up the butt when you haven't posted, that seems to be when I fall to shit..

Fuck....

 

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Day I don't even know.. HELP!!!

Feeling lost and need help...

Step one: confession...

I have actually only done ONE lean and strong workout... It's week 7... FUCK!!!!!

That's it - out in the open, no longer hidden.

Some serious thinking / blogging to do.

Why can't your blog give you kick up the butt when you haven't posted, that seems to be when I fall to shit..

Fuck....

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Day 87 - So confused, losing faith?

So its day 87 into my 365 day health and fitness journey and I have to admit that at this point in time I am feeling super confused and questioning my decision to sign up for the lean and strong program. Not because I dont like the food or the exercise (confession - ive actually done eff all of the exercise), but because I'm losing faith in the 'rightness' of the program for me.

The more research I do, and the more people I speak to is making me question whether eating 100 calories over my BMR and training 6x per week is actually the best thing to get me to my goals. I know right - little me questioning the allmighty Michelle Bridges? What do I know? Well i know that I'm hungry on 1500 cals a day - not the demon bitch I was on 1200, but still hungry - and proper hungry. This program is actually the only one to recommend training so often (most programs recommend abt 4 sessions per week) and eating so little to gain muscle. So I've kinda been doing my own thing, eating atm abt 1700 cals and will probably increase once im doing more regular training sessions.

I REALLY struggle to find the time in my day to fit exercise in - Even with a Sunday cookup. I am out of the house 11 hours a day for work and with everything else that comes with running a household, having any sort of outside interests or seeing family & friends I'm finding it so fucking hard. Cutting down my calories was easy enough as it only required a few hours food prep on a Sunday - but finding an extra 6 or so hours a week for training and managing to get 8 hours sleep seems near on impossible... am i just whinging? So I am thinking I follow the advice of just about everyone else and aim for 4 sessions a week. So basically I've just wasted $200 as everything but the recipes I'm really not using.

Man this post is turning into such a negative rant...

Definitely need to find my faith again... might have a chat to my pt tonight and see what he reckons...

Any advice would be much appreciated, has anyone else been in such a funk and dared go against the program in such a way?

Boo :(

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Emma's Superballs

Superfood and Protein Balls

 

Chop dates & goji berries, process almonds (I just used mortar & pestle for such a small amount)

Mix wet & dry ingredients

Add water (5-7 tablespoons) to get the right consistency

Roll into balls & freeze

Makes 16 balls @ 90calories each

1 cup oats

15g Chia seeds

20g Coconut oil

2 Tbs cocoa powder (or cacao powder)

8 dates

1 Tsp Cinnamon

2 Tbs Honey

20g dessicated coconut

½ cup almonds

10g goji berries

40g chocolate protein powder

1Tsp vanilla

Might still play with some of the quantities but they taste pretty good!

 

Enjoy!!!

X

 

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Day 74 - Here we go... Come at me Lean & Strong!!!

Hellooooo :)

So today was day 2 of the Lean & Strong 12wbt - and my first day of L & S training (I had a session with my PT yesterday). I should have known what I was in for when the name of the routine is HARD AND HEAVY! OMG!!! So already being sore from PT and a day of hardcore gardening on Sunday I have to admit I went fairly lightly tonight. I will build up the weights but I do want to ease into it a little more - plus Im doing the Western Mud Rush on Saturday which I'd really like not to be too sore for.

One of my goals is to get on here and confess / blow my own trumpet more often... I find that being accountable really helps - even if noone reads it, its like admitting to yourself that you could have done better when at the time its easier to close your mind and ignore the fact that your eating the rest of a box of lindt chocolates sitting at the back of the fridge cos you were 'saving' them to eat one at a time. Yep that was me last night... wierd thing is , if i knew i was coming on here to list everything I hate and process my thoughts I probably wouldnt have done it.

I made Super Balls on the weekend (a protein and superfood combo) and they are yum!!! Will have to post the recipe - makes 16 at 90 cals each. Ive been having them every morning when I get up as I dont eat breakfast till around 9 - 9.30.

Ive also been wondering about the 1500 calorie limit - I've been reading a lot of people going over up to 2000 cals... how do you know what your intake should be? On the 1500 plan I've stuck to the 300ish calorie main meals from the weight loss plan and just increased my snack intake as I find im constantly hungry and need to graze throughout the day. If anyone is reading this and has some advice please let me know!!!

Also I now own a Fitbit flex - still figuring it all out but i love it so far!

So now the time for accountability...

Food...

Breakfast: Protein Ball & Banana Bruschetta

Morning Snack: Coffee

Lunch: Leftover Sticky BBQ Beef

Arvo Snack: Fresh pineapple & strawberries, weight watchers ginger kiss bar,small yogurt (only ate half - Coles brand Simply Less Greek Yogurt - tasted horrible!!!) Oh and I bought an Easiyo so will post about that when I make it :) and another protein ball as I left my protein shake at work!

Dinner: Wholemeal tuna spaghetti with lemon & cherry tomatoes - this was super yummy!!!!!

Exercise: Day 1 Hard & Heavy - Legs, Chest, Biceps & Abs... owchie!

Off to bed now to recover! Here are some pics of tonight and last night' dinners... and my Super Balls mmmmm....

 

 

 

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Day 54 - Lean and Strong!

Hello there :)

So this round of 12wbt is coming to a close, and I have decided to give the Lean & Strong program a go next round. Im almost at my goal weight - lost 300g this week so only 500g to go. It really just proves that it is 80% what you put in your mouth (or dont put in your mouth!) and 20% what you put in at the gym. Which for me this round has been very little I have to say... I do 1 - 2 sessions per week on average but have been super pleased that I've managed to get the eating side of it down pat, with a few slips here and there but once again, 80/20 right?

Next round I need to...

• Do ALL of my workouts, INCLUDING sss
• Do the weekly challenges
• Maintain my good eating (soooo looking forward to 1500 cals!)
• Continue with Sunday food prep for the week - amazing how much time this saves in the week! Who would have thought weighing out portions of yogurt, meat, cheese etc would take so long!
• Write proper goals
• Find that willpower muscle and be stronger against temptation
• Finish the round looking and feeling hot in my bikini!
• Blog more!!! and take more food pics

Need to finish clearing out the gym / garage and set up my weights & equipment!!!

 

Food:

• Breakfast - Banana Quinoa Porridge
• Lunch - Chicken, orange and avocado salad - yum!
• Snacks - Grande Skinny Caramel Latte, Apple, Natural Yogurt, one bite of boyfriends icecream
• Dinner - Lamb with herb & feta peas and beetroot puree - would have photographed awesomely with the bright veg!

I also walked the dogs and had a PT session tonight - absolutely smashed!!!!

 

Now for bed....zzzz

 

Xx

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Day 36 - I'm baaaack!!! Let's do this...

Hello Bloggersphere :)

It's 36 days since I started my challenge, and this weekend I got back from a 3 week holiday with the boy travelling around our beautiful state, WA. I had SUCH a great time, was well needed (though not perfect timing) and now I'm back refreshed and ready to pick up where I left off. So...

The good... We were quite active on the trip, hiking through gorges and walking around exploring, let alone putting the rooftop tent up and down every day. Plus over the three week period I only put on 500grams, which is pretty impressive as its hard to eat clean on the road.

The bad... I did put on half a kilo. I chose to eat unhealthy foods much of the time, mainly snacks for the long drives... chocolate, lollies, museli bars, cookies, red bull.... the list goes on :( Drank very little water also.

The ugly... We got back on Thursday, and it took me a few days to snap out of holiday mode... we ordered pizza for dinner last night - I would normally only ever eat 2 - 3 slices, last night I ate 4... and felt gross for it.

Monday I'm officially back on the 12wbt bandwagon with clean eating, water, and tracking my cals. Exercise will come later, but it will come this time!!! I am only a couple of kgs from my goal weight - looking forward to smashing it :)

Xx

 

 

 

 

 

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Day 11 - 100g, Just scraped by!

So I know the entire internet must have been wondering why I didnt post yesterday :P I left my iPad at work yesterday so didnt get a chance to do a blog post.

So here's the wrap up...

TUESDAY

Felt much better, my cold seems to have mostly disappeared, just for this annoying cough - last couple of days I've had coughing fits either in a client meeting or on the phone to a client... classy one Em! Early nights, cough syrup and vitamins don't seem to be helping much. It MUST be gone by Friday!!!

Breakfast - Berry Museli

Lunch - Thai Beef Salad - huge portion, very filling, yum :)

Snacks

• Apple Cinnamon Chobani Yogurt
• Apple
• Fruit Tea
• 2 Arrowroot Biscuits
• White Tea

Dinner - Seafood Laksa - swapped the mussels for prawns (roughly same cals per 100g) and I thought this was yummy :) Something so satisfying about slurping up soup!!! Om nom nom!!!

Total Calories - 1193

Exercise - None, other than the usual short walk to the park to throw the ball for the dog.

 

WEDNESDAY

Now I'm really ready for this cough to shove off!!!!

Work is busy - I have so much to do before I leave, and home is busy - along with 12wbt getting everything ready for the trip. I am super excited though :) Last night I was wondering how may calories would be in a Smore, I reckon about 150 - 75cals in the biscuit, around 50 in the choc and say 20 in the marshmallowwwwww...

This is a smore... You make them by putting some chocolate (or a small freddo) and marshmallow between 2 biscuits, wrap in foil and heating it over a campfire - melted choc & marshmallow on a biscuit... ***drool***

WEIGH IN WEDNESDAY!!! Oh crap - being sick plus bad eating on the weekend does NOT make for good weigh in results :( Still managed to lose 100g - so glad it didnt go the other way!!! Hung on by the skin of my teeth. This will be the last weigh in before I go away - 56.7kg's. Almost at goal weight (55kg's) - which by the way is still healthy for my height. I'm hoping not to put on too much while I'm away - but in saying that I wont be depriving myself either. Lots of activity will hopefully prevent too much weight gain. When I get back and get to goal of 55kg's I'm considering going on to the Lean & Strong program to tone up and put on some muscle. But I also want to be able to run, I'm so jealous of people who can run. Hopefully by the start of the next round I can do my 1km time trial in under 5 mins, without stopping once.

I am so excited for my holiday but I'm also oddly excited to come back and get back on the meal plans and start exercising regularly - never thought I'd say that out loud! Well... type it out loud...

Life is crazy busy on 12wbt - and I'm not even doing the exercise part. By the time I get home at around 6pm, make dinner, God forbit sit down to eat dinner, make tomorrow's breakfast, lunches, snacks and clean up, and hit the shower its already 9pm and time for bed and a blog post if I have any hope of being up before 5.30am. I work long days and am out of the house for 11 hours which makes it harder, I sure don't know how these ladies with kids do it though!!!

Breakfast - Breakfast Crumble - forgot the Cinnamon AGAIN!!!

Lunch - Leftover Laksa - still just as good second day

Snacks

• Banana
• 2 Cruskits with Ricotta & Tomato
• Carrot stick & hummous
• Tea

Dinner: Basil and Walnut Pesto Spaghetti. Not bad, but i did think it could have used a bit more pesto and maybe some fresh baby spinach. Direct quote from the bf 'not bad for vegetarian', he was a little dissapointed by the lack of meat!

Exercise - Nothing to note here - I really should just stop including this part...

 

And finally something from my inspiration board thingo..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Day 9 - WWMBD (What would Michelle Bridges Do)

Ok so here goes...

I havent posted all weekend so I'll start with Saturday I spose...

SATURDAY

The day started off with breakfast for my best friends birthday - 12wbt Breakfast Burritos, yum!... and 2 glasses of low alcohol, low cal bubbles and it really just went downhill from there... Lunch was 2 Coronas, some twisties, Jatz & Dip and Choc chip biscuits as we visited the inlaws in their newly built house. I was planning on eating lunch at home and visiting later in the day but plans changed and boyfriend wanted to go then and there - no time to make a packed lunch, but I guess I could have thrown a banana or healthy snack in my bag. Dinner was looking up though with the lemon and chilli marinated pork medallions from the plan, and no more alcohol and no more snacks. Wait... I did have ONE evil little TeeVee snack that the boyfriend bought on our late evening shopping trip. Luckily he'd eaten the rest before I could think about a second... Over cals today by about 364 - not huge damage but no real exercise and not clean eating at all.

I completed part of my fitness test today - took 10secs off my running time which I was pretty pleased with considering I'm still sick, its 4 weeks further into Winter and I did my run much earlier in the day when its cooler. Measurements were reduced all round, except for my arms which stayed the same. WINNING!!! After the run I had an earache and a headache - running in the cold when sick is NOT a good idea, postponed the rest of the fitness test...

SUNDAY

Breakfast was the 12wbt Buttermilk pancakes. I made the full 3 serves, giving 2 thirds to the boyfriend and serving myself the other third with banana, berries and yogurt. I love this recipe - sign me up for any diet that let's you have pancakes, meat pies and pizzas!!! Though I guess thats where the whole 'its really a lifestyle change' comes into it - this is real life, and we need a treat now and then. I had planned to have the Chagrilled Brocollini and Salmon salad - BUT!!! Wasnt looking at the time and wasn't hungry as I'd slept in and had a late breakfast. Went out to do the grocery shopping, look at watch - 12pm, oh F#$k Im STAAAARVING!!!! No chance of getting through the shopping, gettting home, putting it away and cooking and sitting down to lunch now... so boyfriend got me a spinach and feta scroll from the bakery - came in at around 330 cals. Not Mish-worthy but within calorie limits. Only snack was around 120 calories in Lindt dark choc. Then we went out for my birthday dinner which consisted of (delicious) chilli mussels and bread (shared) and a very creamy Veal Scallopini and 2 glasses of red wine. Didnt even bother counting cals for this - I had 483 to spare to hopefully I wasnt more than 400 - 500 over.

Didnt get the rest of my fitness test done (abs / pushups / wall sit). I just piked, kept putting it off and before I knew it it was time to go for dinner, prep lunch and snacks and go to bed. Booo - fail on the fitness test front - I WILL get it done. I think I am just worried I wont see an improvement considering my lack of exercise...

So in summary the weekend didnt go to well food or exercise-wise, the whole time I just kept thinking to myself 'What would Michelle do / think / say if she saw me do this / eat that'? How does that lady get inside my head so much from just being on a screen!!! Surely I can't be the only one with Michelle barking orders at me in my head? I hope...

Week 4 Challenge

The challenge for last week was to try something new every day. I didnt quite get there every day but I have tried so many new things in the meal plans so far.

New things last week were...

• Quinoa porridge
• Lamb rump
• A new warming Rooibos tea
• Cranberry and Pomegranite Herbal Tea
• Cannellini beans in salad

Other new things tried so far on 12WBT...

• frozen berries
• ricotta and cottage cheese
• cous cous
• quinoa in salad
• lamb mince
• yogurt as dressing / sauce
• fish in stew

things i know i don't like so have avoided...

• baked beans
• artichokes (especailly canned)
• marinara mix

things i discovered i dont like...

• tinned olives
• roasted eggplant
• not a huge fan of zucchini or raw red onion

Week 5's challenge is to get to bed early every night, I am normally in bed by 9:30 anyway as I'm generally up between 5 and 5:30. Challenge sorted :)

 

Today...

Breakfast: Apple Cous Cous with Cinnamon Yogurt - One of my faves, so filling!

Lunch: Roasted Beetroot, Walnut and Feta Cheese Salad - This was nice, though not a big serve for a salad and way too much prep time for my week day lunches.

Snacks:

• Coffee
• Banana
• Peach Green Tea
• Weight Watchers Apple Crumble Bar
• Peppermint Tea

Dinner: Asian Chicken Patties and Noodle Salad

TOTAL = 1206

Exercise: PT Session, forgot to wear hrm.

I watched Michelle's Self Sabotage video last night and realised - woohoo thats not me :) She says its ok if you fail or have a weekend blowout because we're still learning, as long as we start back on the clean eating & exercise it will be ok.

That's JUST what I needed to hear after this weekend. I definitely think my planning and organisation and pre-empting last minute schedule change skills need improvement!

Now, for some zzzzzz's!

Xx

 

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Day 6 - TFIF!!!

Today is finally Friday :)

Feeling a little better today which is nice, busy busy weekend ahead...

Breakfast: Breakfast Crumble with Cinnamon Yogurt - Forgot the cinnamon so wasnt quite as tasty today. Tasty enough - the apple / strawberry puree does taste a little processed though.

Lunch: Rice thins with Salsa: Delicious :) Kind of like healthy bruschetta!

Snacks

• Banana
• Birthday cake - planned this, and allowed myself half a slice after I gave the rest out around the office.
• 1 Peroni light beer - a better choice than the sugar filled full strength cider at the Friday arvo drinks.
• Vege sticks

Dinner: Sweet potato pizza - yumm! Boyfriend is home tonight and I he had a leftover kangaroo mince pie, and loved it :)

Total cals - 1270

Exercise: None, planned to get up for a short walk, but I woke to find that the dog had been 'potty' in the house... needless to say cleaning that chewed up my walking time.

Fitness test tomorrow, a little nervous considering my lack of exercise still 4 weeks in... As long as I haven't gone backwards, which I may do being sick.

Wish me luck!

Xx

 

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Day 5 - Call the Waahhbulance!!!

Bleuughh.... I'm SICK!!! I feel like death :(

My alam went off at 10 past 5 to get up for a run, but I could barely lift myself out of bed so snoozed for another 20 mins before making myself a nice steamy bowl of boiling water and eucalyptus to hang my head over for a while.

Chiro after work tonight, helped me a little...

Have been struggling to get an early night the past few days making lunches and snacks takes up so much of my free time at night - note to self, must get more prepared on the weekends!!!

I am so dissapointed to be sick, I wanted to make a real go of it with my training this week. Booo!!! This must be a challenge from the exercise gods...

Breakfast: Banana Quinoa Porridge - I made this with precooked Quinoa from Monday, tasty and warm for a cold morning, this time i was at work so just chucked the lot in the microwave and mmmm :)

My breakfast, lunch and a snack

 

Lunch: Leftover Creamy Wholemeal Pasta Bake - once again, not impressed but edible. Feel so gross I probably couldnt taste it if it was anygood anyway. *cough.. splutter.. cough*

Snacks

• Lemsip Max
• 2 Kruskits with Ricotta cheese and tomato
• Greek Yogurt with Berries

Dinner: Herb Crusted Veal... well, Beef - This was just what I needed when feeling shitty on a winter night - nice and homey, feel good food. I couldnt get veal so used beef instead, I had some calories left over so added a little gravy and a half glass of red wine (yes thats actually measured out to 62.5mls!). Was yummy and filling - probably an even bigger serve of mash than I would normally dish up for myself.

All in all I need an early night, hoping to feel much better tomorrow, might manage a walk tomorrow... or another bowl of steam. Also on a positive note, boy is home tomorrow... yay :)

 

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Day 4 - 600 Grams!!!!!

Oh hello there :)

Needless to say that after all my nerves of the last day or so my weigh in went well - 600g down!!! I will do my measurements and fitness test sometime later in the week. I am SO pleased that I didn't have a gain this week. **head bowed in prayer to the scale gods!**

I had to skip my session with my PT tonight which would have given next week's numbers a good start, I had a remedial massage appt id forgotten about - whoops! Needless to say he put me through just as much pain as my pt... maybe more. Must be more organised!

Feeling today as though I am coming down with a cold, dosed up of vit C this morning and tonight - bugger off!!!! I dont need anything preventing me from training this week! Dissapointing not to train today but prob not the worst thing with this cold coming on - fingers crossed for a good night sleep and feeling better tomorrow.

Breakfast - Berry Museli. I have decided i LOVE frozen berries :) Normally they are very bitter but the Coles mixed berries I bought are super sweet and delicious :) Plus I love museli so this mornings brekkie was a winner. Big thumbs up!

Lunch - Tuna and Cannelini Bean Salad. Definitely not so keen on this one. Other than the onion, the flavours were really bland. And I've decided that I really dislike raw onion in salad... it was all I could taste all afternoon!!! I was hoping I would have liked this one, cannellini beans did a good job of filling me up for the arvo though.

My Berry Museli, Salad and some snacks

 

Love my herbal teas!!! Im developing quite the collection at work, I wonder ifyou can get chocolate or dessert flavoured teas...?

Snacks

• Coffee with milk and sugar
• Lemon and Ginger Tea
• 2 Cruskits with Vegemite
• Banana
• Cranberry and pomegranate tea
• Vege sticks and hommous

Dinner: Creamy Wholemeal Pasta Bake. The comments on this werent great so i used fresh veggies, added onion, garlic, mustard and a little salt and it was STILL super bland. Very filling and big portion I almost didnt eat it all. I would have preferred a smaller portion of a tastier recipe. Probably wont make again without some serious adjustments, but it will do me for lunch tomorrow.

 

Total Calories = 1180

Exercise - Zero :(

 

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Day 3 - Are you SURE its Wednesday tomorrow?

Ok so I have to admit, I am VERY nervous about tomorrow's weigh in. My birthday this week definitely put a spanner in the diet works. I can SEE that I have put weight on, I look more bloated than last week. Damn you alcohol and birthdays on long weekends!!!

My work surprised me with a lovely bunch of flowers and cheesecake shop birthday cake today... a lovely surprise - a surprise to my calorie planning for the day as well. As I was the birthday girl I couldn't exactly say no, so I had a slice and worked it into my cals as best I could. I don't feel guilty for it either - it was the only birthday cake I had this year (normally somehow i end up with a few) so I allowed myself a piece.

I ended up under my 1200 calories yesterday by 195 - Hopefully that helps... I am NEVER under calories but slept through until 9am so only had one snack for the day (a coffee and 3 x arrowroot biscuits). Hopefully my session tonight will help me rid my poor body of all the toxins I've been shoving in it's face over the last few days.

Breakfast: Breakfast Crumble with Cinnamon Yogurt. This was nice enough, and looked pretty with the fruit puree, yoghurt and muesli in nice layers, enough to fill me up until snack time - but no apple and ricotta raisin toast (my fave 12wbt brekkie so far!!).

Lunch: Beef Fajita with Capsicum and Red Onion: This was divine!!!! Does not at all feel like diet food - though I wasn't able to find a tortilla for 25g and I swapped out the Yogurt for Sour Cream (I used only half as much) as I had some leftover from another recipe so my meal would have been over calories, but it was awesome!!! Sorry I have no pics for breakfast or lunch as I eat them at work so the plastic containers arent as attractive... Will definitely be making this one again - I think the boyfriend and housemate will love it and easy to up the cals for the boys.

According to the plan I was supposed to have leftover grilled lamb, pumpkin and pinenut salad (last nights dinner - omg sooooo good) but this would not be the first time I've mucked up the quantities in the recipe when cooking for one - doh!!!! Luckily I had the ingredients for the Fajita ready to go and could whip that up after dinner last night - phew!!!

Snacks:

• Warming Rooibos Tea
• Fresh Pineapple
• Almonds
• BIRTHDAY CAKE!!!
• 2 dried apricots
• TOTAL - 1303 calories

Dinner: Marinated Chilli Fish with BBQ Corn. Fish and salad essentially... it was enjoyable enough but I probably wouldnt be rushing to make it again... I was not going to be firing up the bbq in a hurry on a winters night so just did it in the grill pan, corn came up nice and charred...

Marinated Chilli Fish with BBQ Corn

Exercise:

Marinated Chilli Fish with BBQ Corn

• 20 min walk with the dog - didnt wear hrm
• 12wbt Burning Bridges video - 403 cal
• TOTAL = 403 Calories

I keep telling myself not to be too disheartened if I see a gain tomorrow morning... fingers crossed I listen. I am loving this program :)

Goodnight, and good luck to any 12wbters who may read this!

Xx

 

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Day 2 - Monday Monday Monday...

Ok so I mentioned before that I'm LOVING the Michelle Bridges 12wbt (i've just posted a link to my blog on the forums so hopefully some of my fellow 12wbter's will be reading his!). Its the beginning of week 4 and so far I've pretty much stuck to the diet plan like glue.. with the exception of a few weekend treat meals and some birthday bubbly. I really enjoy having all of my meals planned out for me - all I have to do is buy the ingredients and cook them.

The part I'm having trouble with is the exercise... The first few days - week on the program I was ok, until I became sore from the exercise and weak from the significant reduction in calorie intake. I've always considered myself quite an active person - up until Feb when we lost our fur-babies I would walk with them every morning as well as a PT session and a Yoga class most weeks. But this, this is different. These training sessions are INTENSE!!! Michelle Bridges you are one wicked woman!!!
I've lost 2.6kg's on the program as of Wednesday - which was super surprising considering I haven't been putting in anywhere near the level of effort required in the exercise department. I weighed in to the program at 60kg's - I've been slowly loosing weight since I moved out of home in August last year, I was probably around 63-65 kg's but since I finished studying and in complete control of my own diet and portion sizes I've lost 3 - 5kg in the last 8 months, then another 2.6 on the program. I have never been 'fat' as such, but unfortunately muffin tops still look just as unattractive pouring over size 10 jeans, and cellulite strikes at any weight.

I am doing the Intermediate level program and hope to possibly move onto a lean and fit or lean and strong program for next round.

One thing I have to mention is I have a HUUUUUGE red flag coming up in 2 weeks. My boyfriend and are going camping for three weeks, travelling around North West WA. I have been looking forward to this for so long I cant believe its finally just around the corner. But that 3 weeks falls right in the middle of my 12WBT... booo... booo... and more booooo!!!!! I don't think I'll be able to follow the program while I'm away - I dont know how many corner stores in country towns would sell Quinoa.... but I will try to make healthier choices - ie not TOO many Smores (droool...) and we will be very active - swimming, snorkelling, hiking, putting the tent up and down every day so I guess my plan is to stick to the plan like glue for the next 2 weeks, go away - have fun and assess the damage when I get back....
Food

• Breakfast - Banana Quinoa Porridge. This was pretty tasty, I'm fairly new to Quinoa having only tried it in a couple of recipes on the program but I'd do it again - wouldn't have time to cook the quinoa or grill the banana during the week though so I made double quinoa for when this meal is repeated during the week and will just use fresh banana.
• Lunch - Satay Egg Corn thins. Meh... I used Rice cakes as i already had them in the pantry. Can't say I was overly impressed, but edible and filling.
• Snacks -
• Dinner - Grilled Lamb with Pumpkin and Pinenuts - delish!!!!

Exercise - C25K Run nope, after a bday weekend - today will be my rest day

I think I am going to like blogging... I am a very logical person so hopefully making sense of my thoughts enough to type them out will bring me some clarity!!!! And if it doesn't well I'm sure the internet wont mind one more person rambling on about themselves :)

Xx

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Day 1 - Time to get my shit together!

Yesterday I celebrated my 24th birthday. I am currently completing Michelle Bridges 12wbt and REALLY enjoying it so far - I've lost 2.6kg which is pretty huge for me. But my birthday got me thinking... about time, and milestones, and life in general.

24 years old means its been 6 years since I finished highschool (which only feels like yesterday) and 6 years till I'm 30 (which must only be tomorrow if highschool was yesterday). I've achieved many of my goals in that time - mainly in getting my degree and career on track. But since I left school, as most people do I became more inactive, more busy and put on weight. 2013 didnt exactly get off to the best start... actually it has been a pretty shit start for me and my family.

So I'm giving myself 365 days to get my shit together and reach my health and fitness goals and be the best that I can be - so that I don't get to 30, or wait till I've had kids and say 'I wish I'd done it then...'. A few major things have happened in the last 6 months or so, my boyfriend and I lost our 2 beautiful puppy dogs, and (on a happier note) my best friend gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. HUGE things are happening all around me all the time, and all you can do is make the most of it in that moment as you never know how long you have to enjoy it. And on that note... its time to get my shit together and really go at this thing like I never have before!!!

Wish me luck...

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