Bit of a catch up

Hey, it's been a while so I thought we should catch up. Put the kettle on, make yourself a cuppa grab a biscuit and I will fill you in on what has been happening. (it actually won't take that long my life is not that exciting)

So the last few weeks have been busy with the usual normal family 'stuff'. You know school, homework, 3yr old tantrums at the supermarket. All the usual Mum things. We get very busy in winter with sports. We have footy training Tuesday, hockey Wednesday & my hockey training Thursday night. Then hockey pretty much all day Saturday and footy Sunday morning.

I also organised and went to country week hockey. For those who don't know this is a competition in Perth were each association send teams to compete over 3 days. Usually all the girls from our area stay at a hotel together and it's a great weekend away. This year however was a little different and I stayed at my sisters house and had my 3yr old tag along for the ride. I was very fortunate to have a lovely family friend look after her on the Friday for the day and then my sister and brother shared the rest of the babysitting duties while I was playing 6 games of hockey over 3 days. It was a great weekend as always but I must say next time I will be staying with the girls!!

I have also been to visit a physio recently. I have been having pain in my lower back. Mostly when I stand for a long time and after hockey. I have been twice now as it is hard to make regular visits when you live 2.5hrs away. He has given me stretches to do everyday and I am definitely feeling the difference. Now I need to strengthen my non existent tummy muscles. Basically my muscles at the top of my back, butt & hamstrings were so tight that my lower back was doing all the work. Also my core is not strong enough. I HATE sit ups always have. But they might just have to become my new best friend. This getting older & healthier thing is not all it's cracked up to be!! ;)

12wbt.....................................................Well.........................I have not been the greatest with my nutrition. Sound familiar??? I think I say that every couple of weeks. There are 3 weeks to go so I am determined to make the most of it. Today is Tighten Up Tuesday which means sticking to the plan!!!!!

The exercise is going well. I am on day 9 of 30 for 30. This is 30 min of exercise for 30 days. So far so good. Sunday I didn't get out and exercise but I did a LOT of housework and sometimes that is more of a work out then any run or training session. It is great thought because it is making me find the time. Like yesterday for example I got home from a day trip to Perth at 4:45pm. Usually by the time I unpack the car I am ready to drop on the couch and not move. But yesterday I unpacked the essentials, got changed and headed out to run around the sheds.

We are off on holidays on Friday and I can't wait!!!!! We are heading north to camp on the beach with great friends. We will be 'bush' camping which means no toilets, camp showers & generator power. It also means fresh air, beach, freedom, fishing, fun & camp fires. I went to Perth yesterday to shop for the trip and we will stop on the way up to buy fresh fruit & veggies. I am determined to keep up my healthy eating and fitness while on holidays. Nothing like a bit of beach running. Might even try and come up with some games to get the kids involved.

So that's about it really............I am looking forward to heading to some warmer weather for a week and spending some family time together.

Farm v Town v City Running.

On Sunday afternoon I went for a run in the town where my parents live. It's a small county town and they just happen to live at the top of a pretty big hill. Anyway it was about 4:30pm on Sunday afternoon and whilst I have been running here before it was always earlier in the day so you come across the occasional runner or walker. I have to say I got some strange looks as people where coming home from the local footy game or out in their front lawns with their families.

Anyway it got me thinking about how different it is to run on the farm, in a country town & in the city. So here is how it compares.....

Farm Running

Well pretty boring as there is no one around except some sheep and the occasional Kangaroo. But you can wear what ever you like as no one sees you. You don't have to worry about being on the right side of the road. You don't have to cross the road. You do have to climb over the occasional gate and dodge the sheep pooh. It's quiet which is great!!! I don't have to drive to a park or running track. I can run around the sheds if I need to because the kids are home & hubby is at work. The air is fresh (except for the sheep pooh) and I love the freedom of living and running out here.

Town (my parents town) Running

There are footpaths most of the time. There is a massive hill at the end of the run. People................people who aren't running who look at you like you are an alien. People who are walking into the local shop trying to work out who this person is running and why don't they know you because they know everyone in this town. You have to cross lots of roads but luckily there isn't much traffic so mostly not a big issue. Running past people sitting on their front verandah drinking, eating nibbles & generally having a good time while I am a sweating, puffing mess. I do get to look at some beautiful gardens and houses.

City Running

Most of my city runs have been around the bridges and the beautiful Swan river. I have done a few runs around the streets near my sisters house. I love running around the river. There are a lot of other runners & walkers. You can run on the grass or the path. It's flat (other then going up to the bridges) and mostly smooth. I do put more effort into what I wear. The shirt that rides up exposing my muffin top is definitely a farm only top. I love when you make eye contact with another runner. I love being surrounded by other people doing the same thing. I do hate that there always seems to be that one old man walking along smoking and I always run past just as they breathe out a big cloud of smoke. (that never happens on the farm) It has taken a while I actually feel comfortable and confident running with other runners around. I even overtake people now which is something I never thought would happen. Although most of then are finishing their runs and I am at the start of mine. ;)

So which is my favourite........................

All of them! Any run is better then no run!!!

Week 4 Wrap up

Wow 4 weeks has gone by very fast!!!

Week 4 on 12WBT is when you re-measure & redo the fitness test to see what non scale related progress you have made.

Perhaps my biggest excitement this week was taking 11 seconds off my 1km time trial!!!! When I did it I thought I had only knocked 4 seconds off. But once I looked at it I realised I had knocked 11 seconds off. Very stoked with that!!! WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

So how did week 4 go well.............it was very much like week 3 in that I was unorganised and unprepared on the food front. I didn't follow the plan but I did use the recipes. I used the excuse that I worked most of the week but that's just an excuse as if anything that should have made me more organised. And to be honest when I work it is only a couple of hours a day. And that is no excuse for what I ate on the weekend!!!

 So here is the true confession of what I ate over the weekend.
Saturday - Breaky - Toast
                   Lunch - A couple of party pies, little red sausages & lollies (picking while the kids had party                                     food. Then we had Chicken pieces & salad. (chicken was coated in a yummy flavour)
                   Tea - KFC 2 pieces of original & some chips, A very yummy piece of chocolate caramel slice                              thingy

Sunday - Breaky - Toast
               Lunch - Squid rings (very yummy) & a couple of chips pinched off Lochie's plate & an onion ring
               Tea - Hot Chicken Roll & some chips at the footy followed by a caramel sundae from Maccas on                         the way home.

My only saving grace was that I didn't eat at all between meals. But with all those calories why would I need to????

My exercise goal for last week was to run a total of 20km. I just missed out as I did 17.3km. I was very proud of the way my exercise went last week. I made the effort to get out there when I really didn't want to and when hubby didn't want me to. I am really enjoying running again and finding it easier and easier.

I am making a good start to this week. As I type this I have pumpkin roasting in the oven ready to make Garlic Pumpkin Soup, I have chicken marinating in the fridge to make a few batches of Chicken Tikka Masala, I am making Cauliflower Soup &  Woolworths even had containers for half price yesterday so I can freeze it all in portion sizes so I can just whip it out and eat it when I need to. On those footy & hockey training nights.

So there is week 4 done & dusted!!! Weigh in tomorrow..............very nervous after my weekend blow out.

Week 2 & 3 Wrap Up

We are starting week 4 already!!! Where did that time go?!?!? So last week I forgot to do a week 2 wrap up so this will cover the last 2 weeks.

I have to admit I have fallen into old habits. Not the ones you are thinking of but the habit of using 12WBT as a recipe guide. I haven't been following the eating plan properly and I can give you a list of excuses but that's all they are EXCUSES!!! It all comes back to poor time management and poor preparation. But this is a new week which means time to get back to being organised!!!

I have been watching the mindset videos and I have been watching what I eat and cut back on snacking so it's not all bad news.

I did manage to not cook 3 different meals most nights. And I have found some great new things to have for lunch. Lunch is where I really struggle. If I have left overs that's awesome, easy and quick. But if I have to make something I generally don't feel like what is on the menu plan especially with the cooler weather. I am craving soups and warm lunches but am not organised enough to make it before hand and quite often these things take a while to cook.

I had a 100gram weight loss in week 2. And a 1.3kg weight loss in week 3. Pretty happy with that and it gives me the motivation to keep it up. I am still hoping to hit 85kg by my birthday which is in 2 weeks. I need to lose 2.7kg to get there.

I did fall into a little trap over the weekend. I played hockey on Saturday afternoon and then I did the 12km HBF Run for a Reason on Sunday morning. I used this as an excuse to eat Pizza Saturday night & too much pasta Sunday night.

My Diet Coke addiction is going OK. It just seems to be the weekends when I 'slip up'. I find it hard when out and not drinking to find something to drink that isn't water or soft drink. So still struggling a bit with that one.

My exercise has been great. I have to say that it one part I am not slacking on. I am really enjoying running again. I am making the time to get out there and run even if it's running laps around the sheds and driveways. Yes I ran 6km on a 900m track around the sheds and driveways.

Anyway Onwards & Downwards (on the scale)

Keep an eye out for my re cap of yesterdays fun run.

Quality Over Quantity

I used to always think that you HAD to exercise for an hour. It was always an hours walk. Half an hour was a waste of time and 45 min was OK but in my head it had to be an hour. This was also an excuse as if I didn't have a spare hour I wouldn't go.

Then I started running and have had it in my head for the last little while that anything under 5km wasn't worth it. Given that it takes me around half an hour to run 5km I had it in my head that I needed a spare half an hour to 45min. (time to shower afterwards)

I have realised just in the last week or so that this was also creating an excuse as to why I couldn't go for a run. Well yesterday I got home from work at 4:45pm and while I had tea to cook, kids homework to supervise, washing to bring in etc etc etc I put it all on the back burner. I walked in the house got changed told the kids I would be just outside running laps around the house.

3.5km & 20 min later I was done. Because the fairies weren't going to come and do all those jobs for me while I was running. I am really starting to think that fairies don't exist.

I had a bit of a light bulb moment. As tends to happen when I am running because it's about the only time of the day that is when I can think without someone climbing on me, talking to me, whinging at me etc etc etc.

As with everything in life from time with kids to food to clothes to appliances. Exercise is no different. 20 minutes of running is better then sitting on the couch all night feeling guilty for not getting out there. It's better then trying to squeeze in an hour when you don't have an hour and running around like a mad chook for an hour or so afterwards trying to do all those other things you need to do.

I will remember this next time I think I don't have time. And one of the best parts about running in the afternoon is that I usually have at least one of the kids join me on their bike. At the moment it's Miss Molly on her brand new bike. She will whizz past me with a big smile on her face and ask me how many more laps. Love seeing this healthy lifestyle rub off on the kids.

She loves a post run/ride selfie too! 

12WBT Week One Wrap Up.

WOW as I went to write this I saw that this will be my 100th blog post!!!!! Not too sure what to say about that but thought it was worth a mention. I might have to do another post this week in honour of that. But I will have to have a think about that one.

So onto what I came here to write about.

12WBT Week One!!!

Where to start???? Well it was a great week I got up Monday morning did a wee, stood on the scales, got out the tape measure and recorded all my stats. I had done the fitness test on Sunday afternoon. So I was pumped and ready to get going.

Weigh In day was Wednesday and I woke up excited to see what a difference I had made in 3 days. Only to find that my scales wouldn't work!!! I was not happy at all. It was one of the few times I have been happy that I weigh myself ever day so I used my weigh in from Tuesday. Which showed a 1kg loss!!! While I was in town that afternoon I got a new battery hoping that was the problem as I really didn't want to have to buy a new set of scales. I like my scales and I am worried if I get new ones they will give me a different weight.

I had to work this week cleaning at our local primary school. I had done this 12 months ago and now I just do as relief. So knowing I was working all week you would think I would be organised. Well you no. Being out of the house from 2:30pm until 5pm through my evenings into a bit of a blur. Combine that with seeding which means hubby leaves the house at about 4:30am and returns any time after 8 or 9pm. (he usually gets home just as I am all settled to watch a show that he doesn't really like)

While I had all of my meals planned out I hadn't really planned the family meals for the week. And while some recipes are for 2 serves you need the second serve for lunch the next day. I know I could double the recipe but some are not so kid friendly. Taking all this into account I had one night where I made 3 different dinners!!! Sausages and veggies for the kids, casserole for hubby & a beef & barley dinner for me. Not really something that you want to have happen every night of the week.

Thursday saw me have baked beans for breaky followed by Chicken Tikka Curry for lunch. Luckily I had hockey training that night and was out in the fresh air........(I will leave it at that)

I have to admit I didn't follow the exercise plan at all. I chose to go running instead. I had hockey training Thursday & hockey on Saturday so that covered those work outs. I do need to get more exercise in and that's this weeks goal.

Over the weekend I ate off plan as I had hockey all day Saturday and then we were out for lunch yesterday. I still tried to be good or probably more mindfull of what I was eating. I did over indulge in drinking yesterday and I have gone over my one a week Diet Coke limit. But I still felt like I made good choices.

I am pumped for week 2 which means new recipes, exercises & of course weigh in on Wednesday!!!! It's 4 weeks until my birthday and I have set myself a mini goal of getting to 85kg by my birthday!!!!!!

Round 1 kicks off & here are the starting stats.

Here we go again............Day 1 of 12WBT.

So here are the starting stats. They are a little scary and I am a bit embarrassed but here goes

Weight: 90.1kg
I have gained about 6kg I was hovering around the 84kg mark for quite a while but the kg have slowly crept back on.

Measurements in cm
Chest: 107
Waist: 109
Hips: 117
Arm: 33
Leg: 62

I will update my weight every week and do the measurements every 4 weeks.

Here are my fitness test results

1km time trial: 5min 29sec
Push Ups:  10
Wall Sit: 37Sec
Plank: 30sec
Sit & Reach: -15

I have been really good with my water intake and avoiding Diet Coke. I had said I would have one a week to start with. On my way home from hockey on Saturday I brought a 600ml bottle. I had 2 sips of it and that was it. Then at the pub on Saturday night I had a can. That was going to be my one for the week. But I still had the bottle in the car from the afternoon with 2 sips out of it. Then yesterday after an interrupted and stressful food shopping trip I bought another bottle for the 1hr drive home. Again I only had a few mouth fulls. I finished that bottle off last night. So I am getting there slowly. There is an almost full bottle sitting in the fridge looking at me and while I should just throw it out I want to challenge myself and see how long I can leave it in there without giving in.

I am off to make an interesting lunch. It includes Zucchini and I am not a fan unless it is in a zucchini slice or something. So wish me luck!!!!!  Look out on Facebook for my weigh in results on Wednesday and next Monday I will do a wrap up of week one.