Day 72 - Feeling Fit & Strong on Tighten Up Tuesday

Really enjoyed Shockwave this morning. Can't believe I almost didn't get out of bed - so glad I did! I was fastest again on the rower, and also felt so strong for the rest of the workout, especially the abs which is awesome as that's always been my weakest. Still a long way to go, but feeling pretty chuffed with myself today!

We babysat for T&C last night and cooked there. We made the Garlic Prawns with Rice, Lentil & Green Bean Salad. It was pretty yummy, but needed a bit more flavour. Not sure what else you could add though. I enjoyed it regardless, and am looking forward to the left overs for lunch.

I think I need to sort out my morning snacks a bit better. I always do afternoons well, but struggle a bit on what to have in the morning. I sometimes do a coffee, but it's a bit unsatisfying, and also sometimes a mission to go get when I am busy and it's not nice outside. Might need to have a look through the recipes and see if there are any that jump out at me. It's a bit strange as there are loads in there, but some I just don't like the idea of in the morning.

I think we're heading to the driving range tonight after work. Looking forward to hitting some balls again and hopefully being better than I was at Mona Vale!

Week 11 Exercise & Meal Plan

Day 71 - 2 Weeks to Go!

Bring it on! Only two weeks to go. Was mostly pretty happy with my choices over the weekend. I didn't drink Friday or Saturday, and didn't overeat too much either. It was the Crows Nest Festival on Sunday, so had quite a bit of wine at the wine tasting stalls, but didn't have any extra when we got home, and also made the really yummy Chickpea, Ricotta and Tomato salad for dinner.

Ended up being a really fun weekend in the end. Friday we left work early and went to play at North Bridge. I played fairly well. Did some awesome shots, including getting on the green from my tee shot on #5. Stoked with that! Was so tired after we just chilled at home and Greg made us a pizza out of whatever he could find - it ended up being super yummy! It had mince, zucchini, feta, olives and other things.

Greg putting on #3 at Northbridge.
Check out the little ducklings on the right. So cute!

From the tee on #5 at Northbridge

Fuzzy fuzzy ducklings! All I can think of now is
"all the ducks are swimming in the water. La la la la la la..."

On the green (just) for one.
That little pink dot at the back of the green is my ball :)

On Saturday I got up early, did a tiny workout then got some work done. We then went to the driving range and then to Mona Vale for 18 holes. So much golf! I played terribly. I think I just freaked myself out. By the 15th hole I was so over it and just gave up. I said to myself I'm going to make myself finish this hole then go sit in the car and wait for Greg. I then hit my best drive of the day and continued to actually play quite well from then on. I'm pretty sure I was just over thinking it and trying too hard to begin with. I was topping almost every ball and miss hitting a lot. It was so frustrating. I also had a little tanty and threw my club! Not the best behaviour. Luckily Greg was super patient with me and was so nice. When we got home it was pretty late and we were exhausted so ordered take out. Was super average and didn't really enjoy it. At least that meant I didn't eat too much of it!

Mum stayed again last night after her conference and we got up and went for a lovely walk this morning. Was so peaceful and nice being out with her and chatting. I'm so glad I got up and did it! Wasn't the full workout it should have been, but we walked for an hour.

I said at the beginning of the weekend I still wanted to be in the 83's at the end of the weekend, and this morning I was! Very happy with that. Now to power through these next 2 weeks, and lost at least another 3 so I can finish under 80. I can do it!

Freaky red sun and eerie feeling due to all the bush fire smoke

Day 68 - Fire Fire Fire

Had a lovely evening on Wednesday, then day yesterday with my mum in town. Wednesday night we went to the Night Noodle Markets which were great! Actually was pretty restrained on the food, but not so much the wine... was pretty hung over on Thursday morning! I think the best thing we ate was the ramen burger - basically a burger patty with lettuce etc between ramen noodles baked into a cake on top and bottom for the bun. Yum! Also had lots of tasty dumplings and some delicious prawns.

On Thursday mum came into work with me and we had a lovely breakfast out, then went to the Body Balance class at lunch time. I so enjoy that class! It was the flexibility one so lots of stretching and balancing. There's also a strength one - I enjoy both. I think mum liked it too.

In the afternoon the light started turning all weird and eerie from all the bush fires. There's over 100 fires burning in NSW right now. Pretty crazy! It's so hazy and smoky smelling and tasting outside now, and the sunset yesterday was spectacular. Feel so sorry for all those people losing their homes. It's just been so dry and hot recently, and yesterday was so windy.

Mum had to get the ferry to Parramatta for her conference, but we missed one so had time for a lovely glass of wine down at Circular Quay. She took all these awesome photos of the smoke in the sky.

I also had basketball last night at 10pm. So late! We played awesomely though and won convincingly. Got 13 rebounds, and second highest efficiency. We have a new girl in our team who is really good, and is exactly what our team needed - she's quick and can shoot threes. I think our team is going to be hard to beat this season when we're all there and are playing well. Looking forward to the grand finals!

I was so tired this morning due to my late night, so didn't get up for my exercise this morning. I have my stuff for the gym, but not sure if I will make it. We're planning on leaving early to go play golf, so at least I will get some exercise walking around the golf course. I'm adamant that I'm going to lose another 3kgs and get below 80 before my 12 weeks end. To do that I'm going to need to keep exercising, but also need mostly to just eat clean, and not drink! We have nothing on this weekend, so should be easy enough, but next weekend is our niece's 1st birthday so I'm sure there will be lots of wine flowing! Just need to ensure I don't drink too much, and that I keep the eating under control. Then the following Friday is a friend from work's leaving do and I'm sure we will have a lot to drink there too... Just need to make sure those are the only two occasions I drink.

Week 10 Weigh In

Starting: 90.4kgs (pre-season: 93kgs)
Current: 83.0kgs

Since last weigh in: -0.6kgs
Since start: -7.4kgs (including pre-season: -10kgs)

Yay!  That's the 10kgs mark (including pre-season). Should be down more, but happy with that!

Day 66 - Running in the Morning Sunshine

View from Northbridge on my run this
morning - loving the sunshine

Good morning so far today. Got up and went for a 7km run and felt really good! Was pretty slow, especially to start with (I walked for the first 8mins to get warmed up), but I managed it in 55mins. It's such a beautiful day too, so nice to be outside in the morning.

We played golf again last night at Lane Cove and I did ok.  Definitely getting better.  And again it was a glorious evening. A little cooler so no flies luckily! I hit some absolute rubbish shots, but also probably the best drive I have ever done. Lost a few balls getting over the gully though as my slice made a reappearance! That's 4 golf rounds in 5 days! Really enjoying it, both the actual golf but (though that is rather frustrating at times), but also the just being out and about and doing lots of walking and spending time with Greg. The only problem is it's costing us a bit of money. We need to get our own clubs and sort out where we want to join.

My mum arrives today - so looking forward to seeing her. We're going to head to the Night Noodle Markets tonight with mum and some of the gang. Should be fun!

My ball is the pretty pink one. I was here for 2,
but then stuffed the next shot :(
Greg (white ball) was here on his drive!
It's hole #5 which is a par 4

About to tee off on hole #5 (in my new golf outfit).
This ended up being a pretty good drive!

Day 65 - Tighten Up Tuesday #2

Smashed my shockwave workout this morning. Was fastest on the rower again, and beat my best time - 16sec for 100m! Pretty happy with that. It was also on my second row at 100m, so I beat my first round. The instructor said she's never seen a girl do that fast in any of her classes, and most of the guys can't even go that fast. Maybe I should have taken that rowing scholorship when I was back at school...

Last night I didn't do my workout though. Was planning to, but we went to the supermarket and Greg decided he wanted to see Gravity movie. We almost went out for dinner, but I decided no, we had to at least eat at home seeing as we'd just been to the supermarket! We had the Chickpea, Tomato & Ricotta salad and it was super yummy! Then went to the movie which was pretty good, but not as great as it's been made out to be. The visuals were spectacular. I also had an ice cream at the movies... I enjoyed it, but not that much. I shouldn't have had it.

Am currently sitting at my desk starving and trying to decide what to do. It's Tighten up Tuesday, which means no coffee, but that's my usual morning snack so not sure what else to have. I guess seeing as it's decaf it might be ok?

Planning on golfing a bit tonight. Hopefully we'll get home early enough to head back to Lane Cove or Castle Cove, but if not it will be the driving range later. I really enjoy it, and Greg is obsessed! It's costing us a bit of money though.

Day 64 - Good Weekend, But Feeling Down Today

Mmmm... Grange!

Ouchies!

We had such a lovely weekend. Lots of friends time and even played 3 rounds of golf in 3 days! Friday twilight, Saturday morning and yesterday evening. I played pretty good on Friday, and even better on Sunday, but so rubbish on Saturday. Possibly due to being a more than a bit hungover and getting up so early in the morning!

On Friday night after our golf we went out for dinner with T&C to Cafe Giulia Hulia which is part of Urban Food Markets and has the most amazing meats. We were celebrating Chad's new job, and it was BYO so we had their bottle of Grange which he was given and told to save until it was 20 years old. It was awesome! Especially combined with the setting - lime green walls! The food was delicious - pork scratchings and tater tots with chipotle mayo to start, followed by various yummy meats. Definitely not Michelle Bridges approved! We went back to theirs afterwards (once the owners finally managed to kick us out as the restaurant was closing) and had a little more wine and borrowed their golf clubs.

Saturday morning we woke up so early and decided to go for a round of golf. We were so hung over, and I played terribly! Not sure it was the greatest idea, but it was lovely being out there so early in the morning.

After we played golf the girls became the "Lady's Who Lunch" at The Morrison. It was really nice to sit around and chat with all the girls while drinking lovely wine and eating yummy food. Another Michelle Bridges UN-approved event! After lunch we went and met up with the boys at T&Cs house where they were looking after the 2 bubbas and having their own boys event. It was such a nice afternoon just sitting round and relaxing with everyone. I tried to convince a few to come back to ours after, but I'm glad they didn't in the end as I was shattered when we got home, and just wanted bed!

I got up super early again on Sunday morning for my trail run, which was awesome! It was 6.5kms through Centennial Park and I did it in about 40mins. I felt pretty good, and like I should have gone faster, but it was so damn hot! At one stage I was running along and had managed to catch the girl in front of me as she slowed down to go over some rough bits. I powered past her and was running along thinking how awesome I was and how good at the rough bits I am when... I totally hit the deck. I managed to get myself a skinned knee and a lot of embarrassment. I got up pretty quick! I'm doing it again in November, so will be trying to beat my time, and hopefully no more skinned knees next time. It was so nice to be out and about again in the morning, and the park is such a lovely place to be. It was so still and peaceful.

The cutest fuzzy yellow gosling chilling in the park

Centennial Park - so still (and already so hot) at 7am 

Sunday afternoon we headed over the bridge to Fratelli Fresh to lunch with D&V. Was anotehr lovely lunch, but again, not Michelle Bridges approved. When we got home I was so tired I crashed on the couch. I couldn't stay awake to even read my book! Finally felt alive again a couple hours later and Greg convinced me to play more golf. I was so glad we went though as it was another lovely day and I played really well. I'm really enjoying the golf, and I am getting better.

Chicken & Leek Pie w Mushy Peas

We made the Chicken & Leek Pie with Mushy Peas last night for dinner (at least that was one good decision!) and it was really good. Definitely one to remember.

So, with all of that I obviously didn't eat so well over the weekend, and didn't finish my burpees challenge as was just too tired on Saturday and then forgot last night. I also didn't get up for my workout this morning, and work is sucking at the moment too. Was feeling pretty down in the dumps this morning, but feeling a little better this afternoon. I've just had a conversation with my boss about work, and made my plan for this week, and going to try be motivated enough to do my workout when I get home tonight. Here's to making this another great week so I can achieve my goals!

Lane Cove Green #1 on Saturday morning around 8am - yep that's my ball on the green after only 3 shots!
Ended up with a 1 putt to get 4 on the par 3. Happy :)

Week 10 Exercise & Meal Plan

Day 61 - Insane Bolt!

The oval I ran round and round in for Insane Bolt

I did the Insane Bolt SSS this morning, and yup, it was insane! It went a little something like this:

• 10 mins rolling intervals (1min 50%, 1min 80%, 1min 90%, 1min 100%, 1min recovery, repeat)
• 5 mins interval sprints (30secs 100%, 30secs recover, repeat)
• walking lunges and sumo pulses
• repeat 3 times!

I did it at the oval just down the road, running round and round in circles. Wonder how many times I went round? It was hard, especially as I got it wrong and ended up doing 10 mins of interval sprints the first two times! I wondered why it was taking me longer than expected! It was super hard to being with, and I nearly stopped a couple of times, but I persevered and got it done, and now feel so good! So tired, but so good!

I was so stuffed at the end, I wasn't going to do any burpees today, but I decided to do at least a few, and ended up doing 50. I'm making good progress. Only 270 left to go to get to my 800 challenge this week. Should easily be able to do those over the weekend.

It's a pretty gloomy day compared with yesterday (which ended up getting to 37). I just finished my workout and got into the car when it started pouring with rain. Good timing!

Was also in the 82's when I finished my workout - first time being that low! I'm happy with my progress this week, especially on the exercise front. Done a few really hard workouts and am proud of myself. Now just need to keep it up!

Went to the driving range again last night, and was good, but a bit frustrating. I didn't hit very many clean shots, but more went straight, so that's good I guess. Was pretty tired, and it was also still at least 30 degrees at 9pm, so was pretty warm. I'm looking forward to playing tomorrow. Just hope my legs hold out as they are so tired right now, and they need to be recovered enough for my trail run on Sunday.

Had yummy pizza last night too. They sound a bit boring when you read them, cos no real cheese or anything, but they are actually really tasty. We used pita bread as the base, then topped with ricotta, prosciutto, cherry tomatoes, olives, rocket and basil, and then added a little olive oil once cooked. Yummy! Forgot to take a photo unfortunately...