This Past 2 Weeks or So + Plus City2Surf

So these past two weeks I have been a little up and down.  The week before last I had a good week at weigh in and lost 0.8.  This week I found out I lost my partner and from their everything went down hill.  I didn't care what I ate, I didn't care that I wasn't training, I had pretty much hit rock bottom.  But then I had a bit of a light bulb moment thinking "Why have I gone and done this?  He wouldn't want me to be ruining myself by doing this.  Mind you this didn't kick in til about Thursday and didn't really help me with my impending weigh in on Saturday and I gained around 2.5kg.  Since then I have been really good with my eating and getting back on track with everything!

Today was the day that I had been training for - City2Surf.  Now with everything that had happened I hadn't really done much running leading up to the event.  But I'll talk you through the day (which was just awesome!) and see how we go!

Firstly I was up at 6am on Sunday morning- definately not where I wanted to be on a Sunday- which is usually my day of rest, not usually out of bed before 8.30am and that was a challenge in itself!

Then it was time to get ready.  Money- check, tights- check, singlet-check, bra- check (can't forget that one!), bib- check, and everything was good and I was ready to go!

I don't know I was actually smiling at this house

Then off to the train station for our journey into the city and onto the City2Surf, where I met up with my friend Robyn who isn't the most morning person around, so we got the photo on the train as we were heading in and she fell asleep!!

Robyn and I on the train to City2Surf

We arrived a little bit early, so we thought you know nip down to the bathroom before we start the race, and OMG! The line was huge!  I think about 50 people had the same idea as us!

Then it was a short walk back to the starting line, where we get ready to start our journey from the City 2 the Surf!!

Waiting at the start line

At the start line again- where I look like I've just woken up and Robyn- not a hair out of place for the whole run!!

Me starting to get nervous now!

I love this photo! So beautiful!

 And then before we knew it- we were shuffling our way to the start line!  There was so many people in our group! I couldn't believe it! It was such a made house!  During our journey we definately meet some interesting people!  From Blue Boys, to ladies in PJ's to Super Mario Brothers and Bananas! Only got to grab a few photos, sorry they aren't very clear guys :(

Not a great photo, but gotta love the ladies in the pink PJ's

Hahaha, love this sign, I only got the back half which read, if you have stamina, call me with the guys phone number!!

Ah yes, our good friends the storm troopers!

The Jamacian Bob Sled Team!

Can you find the banana

Sea of people!

Our good storm trooper pal!!

As Robyn and I progressed along the course, I really wanted to take the photos at the 5km and 10km mark, and I was checking the time as I went- I was so happy, because I knocked around 7 minutes off my 5km and around 12-14 minutes off my 10km time!! Check out the photos! So happy!

5km mark

10km mark- only 4k to go!!

 Then by the time we hit Bondi Beach and we got through to the finish, which I was so happy about because by this point I was struggling to walk big time!  We were both hungry and tired so we got the train back to Central and chowed down on well what probably wasn't the wisest food to have, but we were hungry hadn't ate all day and this point almost falling down.  So we chowed down on burger and fries!

Grilled Chicken Burger and Fries

By this time Robyn and I were both pretty much out of it, so we posed for some quick post race medal photos and then we were pretty much both so tired after such a big day, slept most of the way home 

Post race medal photo- see and not a hair out of place!

Post medal phto

And dead after such a big day!

But apart from the sore feet and the blisters.  I had a really awesome day, will definately plan to do it again next year, almost at my goal weight and training for that starts next week, because I don't think I'll be walking for the rest of this one!!!

Weigh In 25/6/11

So today came weigh in day again.  I weigh in on a Saturday morning, I just find that during the week I am too busy with work and training, and weighing in Saturday morning also gives me a motivating start to the weekend.  Anyway for those of you that weigh in Friday, Saturday and online users even Sunday, do you find that your working week flies by?  Mine goes so fast I look at my tracker thinking Day 5, hang on thats Wednesday!! Where did that week go to!  It just seems to sneak up on us quite quickly!

Today I had weigh in and lost another 1.5kg! I couldn't believe it, I knew that I had, had a good week, I had trained 4 days (was sick the rest) and tracked everything I ate.  But to pull 1.5kg I was over the moon, which now takes my total loss to 11.7kg in 8 weeks!

Todays weigh in!

To reward myself for getting such a massive number I bought a new cook book at the meeting, so I'm looking forward to trying out some of the new recipes!

Now onto a new week.  I have planned all my meals and am scheduling in exercise, I have just noticed right now that my surgically repaired knee is coming up bruised and a little swollen

So I am just icing it down at the moment and will see how it pulls up in the morning- might end up doing an early morning swim instead of a walk / run.  Hopefully its nothing serious- might just be over use, but we'll rest and ice it and see what happens!! Fingers crossed

Hope everyone has a fantastic week- remember to track, make good choices and think positive and you will achieve your goals!

Week of Reflection and Achievements

So this week for me has been a good week.  Monday was a little bit dodgy because we had a public holiday, but I managed to kick some ass the other 4 days after Monday to pull a 1.1kg loss and finally achieving my first 10kg loss!

Weigh In this week and hit my first 10kg loss

My weight loss from yesterday has really set me in a good focused mood heading into next week.  I never do any exercise on weigh in today, but as soon as Saturday is over and Sunday is in the house- so is exercise.  Today I went swimming this morning and did around 40-45 minutes, which unfortunately due to the chlorine in the morning it leaves me with really bad allergies.   I was just about to crawl into bed this afternoon to try and sleep it off, but next thing Jason rang asking if I wanted to Knapsack, now at first I was a little bit hesistant, I thought I'm already sneezing and about ready to fall asleep, but he was like you'll be find the fresh air will do you good.  I admit I felt better for getting out and doing it but then I got home and the allergies started again!

This week is definately going to be a good week though I can feel it as they say in my bones.  I have got through the weekend, tracking well, made plans to combat the coming week.  I have selected my meals I'm cooking for the coming week.  This week I'm cooking Mexican Beef Pan Fry, which I have actually just finished cooking

Prepping the food

Finished Product- so filling!

The other dish I am doing this week is Italian One Pan Lamb, both these recipes are out of the "Love your food" book that comes with your binder.  

Time to making some more positive changes for the week ahead and continue to do what is working for me as well, which is:

- Training - both incorporating running, swimming and kickboxing
- Tracking- which I'm counting every morsel that goes in between my lips get tracked
- Positive Food Choices- Making choices of healthy foods that are going to assist my with my weight loss
- Focus- Stay focused ton what I want to achieve and work hard towards it
- Support system- Stay in contact with friends who support this decision both on and off facebook and the Weight Watchers Online Community.
- Attend my meeting next Saturday and weigh in and aim for another good loss

What positive changes are you looking to make this week?

Self Discipline (or lack their of)

Okay guys, let me fill you in.  Here in Australia we have just had a 3 day long weekend, as yesterday was Monday and the Queens Birthday, so we had the day off work.  This is the worst thing that could possibly happen!

In addition all the Weight Watchers Meetings were closed so people who weigh in on Monday are going to have to wait another week to be weighed in.  If it was me and I knew I had trained hard, ate well- I would want to wait another week to be weighed in, but hey that's just me!

To be honest this holiday Monday didn't go so well, you see I have no trouble sticking to my Propoints during the week while I'm at work and even on the weekends.  But this holiday I struggled big time!  

I mean I went over by 6 Propoints.  Now most of my friends and family would say "You know Gill it's only 6 Propoints- you did a big run on Saturday (10km) and you would have burnt that off don't worry about it" Or "Its only 6 Propoints- you'll burn that off running on the treadmill during the week or in your kickboxing class" and last but not least "You have those extra 49 Propoints to use during the week- just take it out of them".  These are 3 very valid points and options that I have.  But what they don't understand is the fact that I felt like I needed to go over them and that I did!  I'm very disappointed in myself.  

Now I know that I can't change the past, and in my new philosophy is that "I can't undo the mistakes I made yesterday, but I can change the future by making positive choices".  This I think is the best way to be.  Remember the mistakes, but don't dwell on them, you will only obsess.  The best way to do this is to focus on making good, positive, healthy choices to impact your future.  This is exactly what I plan to do today.  I'm starting off the day with scrambled eggs on toast with grilled tomato.  

Promise to myself today- To make healthy choices and tackle today head on!

The food I over ate on yesterday

10km Run Today

So today I decided it was time to tackle the "big block run".  Which is from my place, down the Northern Rd, down Andrews Rd, along Castlereagh Rd, then up Coreen Ave, til we reach again the Northern Rd, then run along there for around 1.8km - 2km til we reach home again.  

I measured the distance and it was 10km even!  Nice new running track for me!  The last time I ran 10km it took me 2 hours and 10 minutes this was at Norwest.  Today I ran it in 1 hour 40 minutes!  So stoked with how much I have improved.  Its definately all the running and kickboxing its starting to help strengthen the leg muscles, and its getting the endurance / miles in the legs in prep for City2Surf.  Now only 63 days to go!  Time to rip into the training and get the miles in and break in the new shoes and get some running done!

Morphing into a Runner

Now as most of you know I am not a runner I don't generally enjoy it I guess mainly because I was 140kg and trying to run was painful the body and also running out in public with everything wobbling around its not the nicest feeling.  But in saying that I'm no down to 118kg and am no longer worried about what people think if they wanna yell idiotic things or whatever then thats their problem.  I did actually get a few honks on this mornings run, which was kind of nice.  So stoked I got through it though.  

I am going to do Knapsack with Robyn tomorrow which is going to be awesome I can't wait!  I will definately be icing down tonight and tomorrow so my knees will be okay to handle knapsack tomorrow.  

But now since I am running almost everyday now, I am kind of starting to enjoy it (damn it! My physio - the runner said I would start to enjoy it! He was right) But my week started yesterday and I'm already 10km down.  Gonna try and aim for between 15-18km this week and see how we go! 

Bring on Knapsack tomorrow, will post photos soon!

Running Intervals + Kickboxing

So during the day today I had every intention of going home getting changed getting to Jabout early and do some running before class.  Then it got about 4pm and I don't know what came over me, but I just didn't want to do, maybe it was just the cold weather.  It got to about 5.45pm and it was sitting at home twiddling my thumbs thinking - "what I should do" and just thought screw it - I'm gonna go to Jabout kick my ass on the treadmill and stay for the class and I'm so glad I did!  

I ended up doing interval sprints for 3km on the treadmill @ 10km hour started at 1 minute on 1 minute off, but as I started to fatigue it was more like 45 seconds on 1 minute off, but I did that continually til I reached 3km and then stuck around to tackle the 1 hour kickboxing class at 7.  Which I managed to get through, but was flat out on the ground afterwards!!

But I know I definately worked hard today burning 1618 calories in 2 hours of training

Its not a very clear pic- but training time is 2hrs 11 minutes, 1618 calories burned and HR 122BPM

I've run 6km total this week, Lappo says I need to get a 10km week, so I'm thinking either just smash out 4km tomorrow or do 2km tomorrow and Friday, but we'll see how the legs feel tomorrow!!

Knapsack 5/6/2011

I woke up this morning trying to decide what type of exercise I should do today- hmmm I was a toss up between hitting the pool for some laps, heading down to Nepean River and do the bridge to bridge walk or head up to Knapsack at to the hard trail.  Previously I would have chosen the course I think to be the easiest which probably would have been the river, but decided to challenge myself and do Knapsack.  

So I jumped in the car around 0730 this morning and headed up to start my walk.  There is quite a few different tracks you choose from but I did Margarets Lookout, which is considered one of the harder ones.

Track Options

Once I had decided which track I was going to tackle it was time to hit the 1km trek to the bridge

These guys definately had the same idea as me!

Then once I finally got to the bridge, I was beginning to rethink my options about the track I had chosen- 3 new options

The first path - takes you upto another lookout- didn't choose this one

Not really sure where this one goes, so didn't choose this one!

Winner!

 The I made my way almost at a jogging pace to get to the rocks at the bottom to start my journey to the top

Now having done this track before I knew exactly what I was in for a steep accent and lots of stairs and boy do I mean lots!! Check em out

So proud- I did these stairs all unbroken!

 I shouldn't really say the "whole track" was stairs, there were a few flat bits also

But I knew I could so this as much as I was in I was determined to get to the top!

I knew once I saw my rock sculpture friends that I was so close- check em out!

 
Next thing I knew I was powering to the top.  I had done, I had a few mishaps along the way like falling flat on my face, lucky I don't have a photo of that!!  But I did it! Check out the celebratory photo and the view from the top

Me celebrating at the top!

View from the top!

The it was time to make the journey back down the track and at this point I was really quite knackered and was in search of some breakfast so I think I almost sprinted back, except for the path to get back to the bridge.  I think I was almost rock climbing vertically, check it out!

Getting ready for the trek back

The track to get back to the bridge

Me at the end red as a beetroot but happy I did it!

 Such a great way to start the weekend- what did you guys do?