An apple a day

In order to get the boys I work with to stop eating McDonalds, chocolate and chips in front of me, I brought in a big of apples.  The first one up was big, bad Barry.

Way to go Kabazza.  Roachy had one a little later and Dylan and Joel made fun of him.  So that is what it has come down to???  If a guy has an apple instead of cheetos, he is not cool?  Buttheads.

Gangsta!

Just like in zumba, I do not look cool in Hip Hop class.

I look like I am nursing my arm instead of dancing.  Even surrounded by white, suburban Australians, I have no street cred.

When does it show up?

Well, I am down the same 2 pounds [1kg] that I keep gaining and losing for the past three months.  Since you know I had a bad day yesterday, it brings up the question AGAIN...when does your weight show on a scale?  When do 7 Tim Tams register as .

Saturday was not a model day

I won't even get into what happened at the races.

It ended with me eating a half of a package of Tim Tams.
They were really, really good.

More office support needed

There are two major food issues happening by going back into sales:

1 - I share an office with seven guys who drink and eat with zero care factor.  Example - pizza, potato chips and red wine while Joel and Dylan work on a proposal.

2 - The client breakfast, lunches and dinners are inescapable.  I am going to need a new plan to combat all of this bad food.

Contacts vs Glasses

As I get older, I don't like wearing my contacts everyday.  I like to give the eyes a rest, but exercising with glasses can be gross.

I ran with glasses on a few days ago and being spring the bugs were out.  Well, it was like driving a car in the country!  I had to wipe the dead bugs from my glasses as I go!  GROSS!

I could not be more proud

The girls ran their first race this weekend, the Frank Lloyd Wright Mile. [1.6k]

Erma ran her mile in 8.1 minutes!   WOW!  She came in 6th place for 3rd graders.
Willa ran her mile in 9.8 minutes which is awesome for a 1st grader.

How are they so fast?  SO PROUD!

This is the magic question

My osteo and I were talking about my weight loss and he asks me the million dollar question - what makes my weight loss work this time?  Why is this time different?

I don't know!
Why is this time different?
Hmmmm......
There is nothing that is specific that I can pinpoint.  Just a lot of little things.

One thing I do know is that I have to finish that habit book because I would go back to old habits tomorrow if I had a choice.  But, I don't.

The man didn't even question why I was taking a picture of his bum!!!!

I am not being self critical, it is just a fact.  When riding the tram and sitting alone on a seat, a new person will pick the seat with the smallest person.  They then have more room for themselves.

When I would get up every morning and take the 112 to work, it was always a bit of a game with me.  Would I be the last person selected?  It almost became a study in where people would select to sit.  And, invariably, I was almost always the last person selected.  What would make me mad was when people would choose to stand instead of sitting next to me.  REALLY????

Today I sat on the tram and I was fully sitting on the seat and they guy next to me was fully sitting on seat and OUR BUMS DID NOT EVEN TOUCH EACH OTHER!  Look how much room is available!  I admit that he was a smaller guy but still I really was only taking up my bit of seat.  Just my half.

Drinking calories = bad!!!

In general, I don't crave alcohol.  I like having a glass whenever.

But, Friday night I came home and the reisling Nandrew was drinking just smelled so nice.

I even made us healthy pizza for dinner but there was that nice glass of wine.

Then of course, there was the races yesterday.  A few more glasses.

I think I drank 600-800 calories.  So, if I am up .1 kg next week.  It is due to the alcohol. :)

Before vs Now

Races Oct 2010 vs Races Oct 2012

But the mini gelatos are so darn good!!!!

With the start of the spring carnival racing season, I knew I needed a plan to get through the race days which are full of champagne, food and more champagne!

So, here was today's strategy:
1 - get up and run
2 - skip brekkie to save calories* so I can have dessert and not feel guilty
3 - only one glass of champagne (unless I win big)

What I did:
1 - got up and ran a 5k!**
2 - skipped brekkie
3 - NO champagne as my throat is killing me because of allergies

But...I knew I would want dessert and out came a beautiful tray of treats - one of which was little mini gelatos!  I dug in!  YUM!!!  But no one else wanted one.  The only Victoria would have had two or three.  I really, really wanted another one but did NOT have it.

*I know some of you won't like the skip brekkie thing but I think saving calories once in awhile is ok.  Also, there is some research that shows brekkie may not be the big kick start once thought.

** I can NOT believe I can get up and run a 5k.  THAT IS INCREDIBLE!

Slightly obsessed but have yet to get to the good stuff

I am a little obsessed with the book, "The Power of Habit."  It is so interesting.  I want to learn how to create good habits!  So I keep quoting the book but haven't learned how to actually create a new habit.

"The problem is that your brain can't tell the difference between a good and bad habit, and so if you have a bad one, it's always lurking there, waiting for the right cues and rewards.

This explains why it's so hard to create exercise habits, for instance, or change what we eat.  Once we develop a routine of sitting on the couch, rather than running, or snacking whenever we pass a donut box, those patterns always remain inside our heads.  By the same rule, though, if we learn to create new neurological routines that overpower those behaviors - if we take control of the habit loop."

I need to learn to take control of the habit loop!!!!!!

Great weigh in!!!!

I am FINALLY less than a half pound [.2] away from getting to my lowest weight since fat camp.

In the words of the most embarrassing Australian ever.... COME ON!

I bet Ricky Martin would be really good at zumba

My new zumba instructor uses "Livin La Vida Loca" as a song during her class.  I have had other instructors use it as well.

The difference here is that my new instructor sings as she dances.  But, she is always singing the wrong words!!!

Her lips are devil red
And her skin's the color mocha

NOT the color Roca
There is no color called Roca

I think I will print the lyrics and stick them in her gym bag.

Favorite new co-worker

Today as I turned down chocolate from Haighs...Roachie (see below) said to me, "V, you are just so healthy."  REALLY? I am healthy?

That is like looking at me and saying "you are in shape" or "you are so fit."  These are things I never thought anyone would ever say to me.  EVER.

It's not all or nothing

Due to a client who would not stop talking...I missed my zumba class.  In the past I would have just given up but I didn't let it bother me.

Instead, I just went to the gym after the meeting and ran on the treadmill.

I need to get into the pattern of completing the exercise instead of getting bummed and giving up if my plans are waylaid.

b-boying, breaking, going-off, popping, locking...

Tonight I went to my first hip-hop class.  SO MUCH FUN!
I tots look like this -

Of course you know that I do NOT look like this but very very fun work out.

The scale is not my nemesis

It is just a tool.
Does it really matter if it says 218 pounds [99kg], 222 pounds [100.9] or 227 [103.1] pounds?


Do my friends and family love me less?  No.
Do I lose my job or financial security?  No.
Does my happiness decrease?  YES!!!!  So frustrating.

I LOST this week and I am still unhappy because it wasn't enough.  I am doing well since being back in Melbourne but not good enough.

I should not care what the scale says.  I know when I am being good and when I am over-indulging.  I know when I am healthy and when I am being OTT.

I want to start weighing once a month but can't bring myself to do it.

Get up and go for a run

Get up and go for a run
Get up and go for a run
Get up and go for a run

I just don't feel like it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is only funny because it is sooooooooo true

If you can't read the fine print....
1st pic - How I think I look when doing zumba
2nd pic - How I look when doing zumba

I zumba-ed both today and yesterday and I finally had to stop looking in the mirror because I really think I can booty shake like Shakira but I really do NOT look like Shakira.

In the words of TLC, "What about your friends?"

I have talked about this before but it just keeps coming around.  You need your friends and a support structure to lose weight.  It just makes it so much easier.

Just this week alone, I have had the following offers -

Run in the Color 5K? (Penny)
Do you want to use my personal trainer? (Nandrew)
Go outside and run right now! (Nandrew)
Join me on MFP. (Lisa)
You are my competition (or support) - I am going to have the same weight loss goal as you for Xmas. (Lisa)
Join my gym. (Tim)

THANKS FRIENDS!!!!!!!

Two days, no good

I have tried running for two days now and just can't get my mojo back.  Not sure what is up.
Today I have zumba so maybe that will do it.
Will try to run again tomorrow.

Water cramp

Every day I have been getting my 2 litres of water in and it is so hard.  Since I am not a sipper, I have to buy a bottle and chug it.  Then I go a few hours and chug another bottle and so on.  This is easier during the week when I have meetings.  This weekend I kept forgetting.

So, it is Sunday night and I have 0 water consumed.  I go and buy a 1.5 litre bottle and drink it.

My stomach starts cramping.  It is literally too much water in my tummy.

Must lay down.

Must lay down.