Day 27 - Snowboarding with the Family and SSS

Had an awesome day today. Went up remarkables with the family. Me and greg, my sis her husband and 2 kids and my parents. Such a lovely day! Was pretty easy going ski wise due to the kids but that was perfect for greg and I as we were so tired and first day back on our boards since honeymoon. Loved it. The kids are 3 and 4 and are amazing! Hugo is going completely by himself and totally in control and loves it. Was hard to get him to wait at the top long enough for greg amd I to strap in. And Tilly was going great guns too. So good by herself when she felt comfortable. And they are so cute! Had such a good time.

When we got down I was so tired. Didn't get to bed til after midnight last night and I woke up at 5 (nz time which is 3 our time!).  Wasn't going to do any exercise session as so tired and had snowboarded, even if was an easy day. But my sis got me going and I did it! The crazy cards SSS. Was good and quite challenging. Had to do burpees every time we turned a royal. I hate burpees! Did them all though. And final blast was 10mins of stairs. I did that, then added another 10 up and down for good measure. I think my legs might be a little sore tomorrow but super glad I did it.

Had a lovely dinner with the family, including grandpa who arrived today. Must be so hard for him as he can't hear much but I think he's pretty happy to be here. So hope we get up the hill tomorrow.  Its raining pretty hard right now so might be crap. Hopefully we will get an afternoon half day. Will be 4 generations on the snow together!

Looking forward to a sleep in tomorrow. The boys are still up watching rugby and drinking whisky.

Last night went to la rumbla in arrowtown for dinner which was great.  Perfect for a group. And I made all the right decisions. Ate a little of everything. Didn't overeat. And didn't touch anything sweet even though others had dessert and offered me some. Pretty happy with that! Was a little useless with the platter today. Ate a bit much but at least all healthy veges and hummus etc. Dinner was healthy too and I choose right at lunch as well. Been drinking a lot but that aside been doing well. Happy :)

One cat slept with us all night last night, and I have the other purring on my arm now. So nice! I really miss having a pet.

Cuddels with Ses

Day 26 - Queenstown Bound

A glimpse of the snow through the clouds

Watching the clouds go by

On holiday.  Yay! So happy with myself this morning.  Got up at 5! So I would have time to exercise before going to the airport. So glad I did though a little tired now. Did the JFDI Bootcamp video. It was really good. Worked up a massive sweat. Hard work but really enjoyed it.

Made it to the airport in loads of time. Got my mac makeup (yay!) and some duty free of course. So proud of myself too as greg had mcds but I had breakfast at home so didn't have any. And didn't really want any either! Also got a wholemeal sammich and salad for lunch on the plane instead of more mcds or buying crap jetstar food which is what we would normally have done. Making the right decisions so far! Well, mostly. Must admit to the couple glasses of wine. Can't go on an airplane at the beginning of a holiday without that!

Played bball last night. Parts were really good and I did a couple awesome moves and even got a couple shots. But parts were crap and we lost. the stats ladies weren't there so I wasn't able to add to my rebounds numbers. Im currently top in the league! Pretty happy bout that. Just hope I can keep the standing even though I can't play next week as will still be in QT. I hope we make the play offs but unlikely.  We were sitting 4th but depending on the other games, last night's loss may have stuffed it for us. And next week likely a loss as we are playing the top team. Ah well.  I play cos I love it. Not cos I have to win. Though winning is always good too!

Was lightest so far this morning. 85.0! Still a long way to go, but it feels good to be down there. That makes 8kgs in 8 weeks. And first 4 were preseason. Here's hoping... no. Here's committing to making the next 8 weeks great and losing at least another 8 and the rest.

First though got to get through QT. Just need to keep making the right decisions and I will be fine.  Need to remember how good I feel today for doing my exercise and making the right food choices.

I CAN DO THIS!

Landing in Queenstown

Day 25 - Can't Wait - On Holiday in 2 Hours!

Last day of work today before a whole 7 days off work! Yay! Just need to get through today.

Got up and did my fitness test and measurements this morning. Initially was disappointed with my measurements as I thought they would be a lot less as my clothes are fitting so much better and I've gone in at least 3 holes on my belt. Thought through it some more though and realise that 3cm of my waist and 5cm off my hips is actually pretty good! I also took some more photos and can definitely see the difference. I'm really far behind my goals though - think they were a bit optimistic and need a bit of revision...

We had T&C over for dinner last night. I had the best intentions, but the second Greg brought out the platter they disappeared. I had planned to not drink at all and no platter foods. Complete fail! Ate lots of trout, hummus, bread, cheese. Had about 5 glasses of wine I think. And also had seconds for dinner. Though, my firsts was really small, and my seconds even smaller. I guess all in all no where near as bad as normal, but still not as good as I could have been. Getting a bit worried about Queenstown now, as if I can't even control myself for one single dinner at home how am I going to survive 10 days? Will just have to do my best and keep flexing my will power.

Just had about an hour relaxing in the park with my book. It's so nice out. Going to be a bit of a shock to get to QT I think! Spoke to the family this morning and they are skiing in 15cm of powder today. A little bit jealous - hope there is still some good snow when we get there, and that the weather is ok. I think there is another front on the way...

Week Four Weigh In & Mini Milestone

Week 4 Fitness Test Results

Starting: 90.4kgs (pre-season: 93kgs)
Current: 86.4kgs

Since last weigh in: -0.2kgs
Since start: -4.0kgs (including pre-season: -6.6kgs)

Feels like the week since the last weigh in went so fast! Was still making bad decisions end of last week and had a couple blow outs over the weekend but am back on track. So glad I went down from last week. Should have gone down more, but at least it's moving in the right direction! Now just need to keep that happening while I am in Queenstown. Going to be a challenge!

Did the weigh in on Wednesday as usual, but the rest of the fitness test and measurements on Thurs. Happy with the fitness test results, but thought the measurements would have been better. Still, total 11cm lost in 4 weeks is pretty good I guess! If you average all the percents out, it's 42%. Not sure what that means, but it's good right? Photo looks better too. Still lots to go, but making progress!

Week 4

Day 24 - Attack!

Gym done! Sitting in the sun with my breakfast
(Oats, grated apple & milk) and my kindle,
waiting for the train - perfect start to the day!

Had an awesome workout this morning at attack. I worked so hard and felt so good. Every time I felt like slacking off I decided to keep going and keep pushing. For the first time I think it helped having the heart rate monitor on as I could see my heart rate between tracks and see how hard I was working and how many calories I was losing. Still not sure how to get the calorie count up - I worked so hard for 40mins, and still only 350 calories. I don't think I should need to do more exercise than that in a day surely! If I did I would be so exhausted!

Also finding it so much easier this week to "bounce" out of bed in the mornings. This morning I even woke up before my alarm. Might be the weather being so awesome and it being lighter when I get up has something to do with it. Regardless of the reason I'm loving it.

Enjoyed my 10 mins with breakfast in the sun at the station again. And stole another 10 mins with my coffee earlier. It's such a beautiful day! Can't believe we're going snowboarding on Friday - seems bizarre with the weather so good here. Spoke to my sis this morning and she said it's snowing hard out in Queenstown. Hopefully it stays like that, and they don't lose it all before we get there. The weather forecast looks atrocious though! Ah well, will be nice just being there with everyone regardless! Need to keep up this mindset somehow. Make sure I make the right food decisions, and the days when we're not snowboarding need to get up and get my exercise done.

Greg is on his way in to join me for lunch and then go shopping for some new clothes. He needs new pants, and I figure I can get a couple small things - my jeans are way too big now. Still got a LONG way to go, but jeans are not too expensive, and I would like ones that fit for Queenstown!

Had yummy nachos again for dinner last night. So good to have comfort food which tastes awesome, but doesn't make me feel bad for eating it!

Day 23 - I'm Back!

Had a kind of up and down start to this morning. Woke up to an email from a club re some errors from the upgrade last night. Was stressing that I would be late, but somehow managed to get that sorted, get my lunch made and get out the door and to the gym only a couple mins late for my class. And my class was awesome! I worked really hard and really enjoyed it. I smashed everyone on the rower, and even got my personal bests! 25s over 150m, 105 over 350m and 17s for 100m! Felt pretty good, and so glad I was able to get there.

I've got myself into a nice little routine on the mornings I go to the gym. Pack my breakfast of oats, grated apple and milk into a container, and then treat myself to a few minutes in the sun at the train station eating my breakfast and reading my book while waiting for the train. I used to do this, but with something from the bakery, or if I was feeling naughty then possibly even something from McDs. Funny thing is I actually enjoy my home-made breakfast eaten out of a container so much more!

Just had lunch in the park - falafel and cucumber salad box. So tasty! Found some falafels at Thomas Dux and they are really good, especially with the cucumber, hummus and tomato. Also had pita with them and while that was nice, I think next time I will just go for more hummus or falafels instead as the pita was a little plain.

We went to the driving range last night and I totally nailed it. Hit some beautiful long straight shots, including a couple with the driver. Was fun, just hope I can hit a couple shots like that when we're playing next time as I was so rubbish on the course! Greg wants to go again tonight, and I am kind of keen, but my hands are a bit sore. Also I rally need another early night as I am so tired! And we've got a lot to do this week to get sorted for Queenstown and also get our house tidy so T&C can move in! Would be good to go though.

So glad I am feeling better this week. Was worried after last week! I'm going to say was just cos the time of the month. Will try and watch for it next month, and see if I can be aware of it coming and do better!

Day 22 - Ready to Smash Week Four!

Feeling so much better today - ready to get back into it despite having a late night last night and being so tired this morning. I actually reset my alarm to get another hour's sleep before getting up, and so nearly didn't do any exercise. Made myself go out for a run and really enjoyed it! Started off pretty slow and felt like it was going to be horrible, but once I got going it was great! Had planned to do the intervals (2min jog, 1:30 power walk), followed by power walking. Felt so good I ran a couple of the off intervals, and also ran at the end! Then came back inside and finished the final blast (squat jumps and push ups) and the ab section. Even did some of the push ups on my toes! So glad I did it, even though I was pretty rushed getting out the door this morning, and ended up being super late to work. Oops! Pretty lucky that my job is so flexible.

Had a nice afternoon yesterday - Greg and I went and played our first couple of holes of golf. I was useless! Was a bit frustrating at times. At the second hole you have to hit over a really big lake! Let's just say we both lost some balls... I think it's quite a hard course, with lots of skinny fairways. The longer bigger open ones were better for us - although it took a lot more hits to get there at least we didn't lose so many balls! I can see us spending quite a bit of money on balls for the next little while! It was such a lovely evening and I really enjoyed walking round with Greg. Looking forward to the next time, but a bit nervous about playing in Queenstown with my sis. I think my problem mostly was just I tried to hard. Need to relax and remember my technique.

Were so tired afterwards, and had to go to the supermarket. Really didn't want to, but we did! Although we went out to dinner first - just local Mexican. And I'm proud of myself. I just got a salad. A super yummy, super big salad with loads of ingredients. But I only ate half. Was happy with that as every other time we've had Mexican I've always overeaten so much as the portions are huge!

Just had the left over Mexican for lunch lying in the park in the sun. So nice! Started reading my book, but so sleepy! Had to put it down and slept for a half hour! Was so good.

Week Four Challenge - Train with a Buddy

So, the challenge this week is to train with a buddy. That's going to be a little hard with me as Greg will not get out of bed in the mornings. I think I should have it covered though with Basketball, and also once I get to Queenstown can hopefully so the SSS with the whole family.

Seeing as I failed so miserably with last weeks challenge (to give up a vice), I'm going to continue with that this week, although I will tweak it a little...

So, my three challenges this week are to:

• Eat only whats in my plan
• Log EVERYTHING that goes into my mouth
• No alcohol until we get to Queenstown on Friday

I haven't been logging my food this past week, and hoping that by starting to log again I will bring a bit more accountability to it, and feel more like making the right choices!

Updated Tues 17/9:
Managed the train with a buddy - did my SSS with mum and my sister, and it was great!
Didn't do so well on the other challenges though as had a whisky tasting part way through the week... Think I managed to log most everything though.

Week 4 Exercise & Meal Plan

Day 21 - Week Three Over - Start Again Now!

Shabu Shabu with the girls.
Veges, meats and dumplings cooked in
seaweed flavoured water.
Was delicious!

What a pathetic week :( Have been really useless with my eating. I've been pretty busy with work, and we've just been too tired and lazy to cook properly.  So stupid! I've been exercising properly, but have still gone backwards big time.

In the good news - my team won the foundry event at work. Was a really great experience, though there were so many lollies and chips and soft drinks around which just did NOT help! Wasn't quite ready to face that just yet. Also went out on Friday with the team to celebrate and had a few drinks. Then last night the boys had whisky at my house, and the girls were at T&Cs for bubbles and shabu shabu. Was good fun, but again - too much eating and drinking!  At least the shabu shabu was healthy!

We go to Queenstown on Friday - need to eat super clean between now and then and try get back to at least where I was. I have 5 days. This is not going to be easy, but I can do it! Need to get back on track and I know I will feel much better about myself.

Just reminded myself of the week three challenge - to give up a vice. I was not going to buy any food midweek and was also going to have 6 alcohol free days.  Complete failure on both fronts! The week four challenge is to find a workout buddy. I think I will have that covered once I get to Queenstown, and will see if I can rope Greg into a couple with me.  But I also think I will try the give up a vice challenge over again, and also start logging my food again.

So, starting right now - first things first - I have freezing toes, so need to find some socks! Then I'm going to make breakfast of oats with grated apple, then I'm going to come back to my desk and get on top of some work. Hopefully I can get it done quickly, then when Greg gets up we can go enjoy this gorgeous day.