Guess whose back?

Ok so it seems it's been a long time between drinks, or blog posts rather. Mainly because I set up this blog to track my 12wbt journey and I've been off track for quite sometime. I've just signed up for the December round to kick my butt back into gear. Since I did my first round I've regained all that I lost and some, putting me at my heaviest, and the most unhealthy I've ever been and also felt- I feel sluggish, I feel bleh. So I've come back to what worked for me- a program which dictates what to do but has flexibility too. I've come to hate meal planning and working out what to have, I like following something and then modifying the little details as I go.

So here I am. And I'm going to kick some of this bloody weight and get back some of my fitness and strength. I'm saying it out loud- I'm here for some success this round. More ramblings will follow I'm sure, I just thought I should put this out there (especially since I link to this blog from my 12wbt posts!).

xo

And so begins a new round of 12wbt

Well nearly a year on from the start of my journey and I'm back on 12wbt (and back at my blog!) After a really successful first round last year (Round 3, 2012), I half-heartedly participated in Round 4- Christmas and life got in the way and hey I'd lost around 10kg and felt pretty good about myself. I started a new job in January and my priorities slowly changed- I lost motivation at the gym, I tried a new gym and then rejoined my old one. I stopped making time for myself and rather than get up in the morning I opted to stay in bed for that little bit longer. Stress at work reached an all time high and all those good habits I learned and those bad ones I had banished came back with a vengeance- emotional eating featured daily. Rather than try and deal with the reasons that made me feel like I needed chocolate I just ate chocolate. And here I am. Right back where I was 12 months ago I think. Depressed because the dress I bought to wear to a wedding next month no longer fits, as don't any of the nice things I bought myself after I lost weight and toned up. I went full circle and went downhill pretty hard in the last few months- what I had managed to maintain through to about March, blew out as I made so many bad decisions and knew it. I completely sabotaged myself and knew I was doing it.

In a spur of the moment decision last night I joined this round of 12wbt. I am not following the meal plan to a tee- rather counting my calories so as to keep a little bit of the norm in my household. I am doing the learn to run program which I am looking forward to- I think the exercise program was what I missed most, I enjoy mixing things up and hate making decisions myself, so to have something different to follow each week it was a no-brainer to come back :) I can't say I'm not disappointed in myself and how hard I worked and how quickly it all went back to the way it was. But I'm giving it another go and hopefully will relearn all the tools I need to go it on my own eventually. Baby steps.

So here I am, shouting it out to the world. I am going to kick these bad habits. I am going to eat better and exercise. I am going to look after respect myself. I am going to take responsibility for my actions.

The halfway mark

Ok so I'm a rubbish blogger- but at least I came back and didn't just chuck it in :) Plus I'm not even sure anyone is out there!

Back to the blogging though! The end of this week marks the halfway point of my 12WBT journey! It's gone pretty quickly I'll have to say. I'm still enjoying it- I'm switching up the meals a bit more now though and not doing a big cook-up rather doubling dinners to get lunch the next day. Most of them are pretty quick to prepare so doing it at night is fine. Plus I enjoy cooking at night, it's a bit of a release from the day.

On the fitness side of things I've been fairly consistent in following the gym program to a tee. Bar this week where I only got through four workouts- my lapse was a bit of I can't be bothered. But I kicked myself from Thursday and got my butt back to the gym. I also did an outdoor boot camp last weekend that I really enjoyed but find it hard to justify the extra money when I've got my gym membership. I might attend on weeks where I have a red flag event to give an extra boost.

I've had a few blow out moments too this week- having a chicken parma with chips from the pub on Thursday and then on Friday having a sausage sizzle and beer at an after work do. But I figure I need to be realistic and I'm not going to be a saint forever. I think I've been a little disappointed with my progress- I'd hoped it to be more since I'd been following fairly strictly and I had a few moments of well I'm trying hard and it's not working so why can't I have that Parma and chips. Getting to the nitty gritty I'm actually doing really well- I think comparing myself to other people who may have more weight to lose than me is what's getting me down. I'm going to focus more on me! And on that note- check out my awesome SSS workout. I may have been guilted to go a bit harder after I indulged in cake with my coffee but am proud I did an extra 30 mins on the treadmill after the program. Toot toot :)

Hope everyone is smoothly sailing along xo

No more girly pushups for me!

I just wanted to blow my own trumpet- I decided to actually try some pushups on my toes this morning (I've always told myself they would be too hard and I wouldn't be able to do any) and I could actually do them! And more than I expected. I'll have to try more things I think. I don't think I'm brave enough for burpies not on the bench yet though!

Week 4 already?!?

Week 4 of 12WBT has kicked off with a bang! After completely disregarding my resolve last week to make smart food choices and exercise while I was away I'm here to own it. I went a bit stupid, and I don't really know why. Cos I could? Cos I was away? And I knew I was doing it, but still did it. I need to learn to say no, or make the smarter choice. I don't need 2 scoops of creamy gelato. Just one of a fruity sorbet would be fine. I don't need to eat all the sour cream on top of my baked potato, just put some to the side. It's like I was out to defy myself- my head told me what to do, but then I just did the opposite. No more. I've joined up to make changes. Over indulging for the sake it is stupid. Everyone now and again and a one off is fine. But 4 days solid. No deal.

Now thats out of the way! This week is also a mini milestone, where we do measurements and the fitness test again. I'm not going to pretend I wasn't a little disappointed with my results- my measurements haven't done anything dramatic (my thunder thighs got more thunderous, go figure) and my fitness test wasn't really any better from the start. But these things happen. I was tired from the mornings gym session, so maybe that slowed me down. Next time I guess. I'm not going to make any excuses though or chuck in the towel either. I've got twelve weeks. Fingers crossed things change by then, as I've been following the program pretty darn closely bar last weekends blowout.

My chin is up and I'm solidering on. Good-luck to all with this week- hoping everyone has a positive one :)

Week 3 starts!

Ok. So I'm a fairly sporadic blogger. I'm now starting week 3 of the 12WBT, so I'll back track a bit!

Week 1 went really well, I followed the meal plan, did all the training and had a bit of success on the scales. I haven't weighed in to see how week 2 went, but I was pretty good in what I ate and once more did all my training. I only really digressed and had churros on Sunday. But I had a kids serve so I think that's a step in the right direction ;)

I'm feeling really good with myself. I've been getting up at 5.15am (with the hubby) and doing my workouts then so I have no excuses at the end of the day. Its out of the way and then I don't have to worry or feel guilty and not do it. The food I've been liking too. I've made sure I've spent one weekend night doing a big cook up so I'm prepared for the week ahead, and being in control like that feels great. I've got a bit of a stock in the freezer too so when I feel a little less enthused I've got stuff to fall back on :)

My first real test will be this weekend- we are heading interstate for a few days, so I am going to have to crack out the big guns and stick to my resolve. I'm not going to pretend I'll be a saint, but I am going to try to make good choices. I'm also going to do my training- I've checked out the place we are staying has a gym so I'll do my stretch Friday and some version of cardio on Saturday. My hubby has gotten quite into the gym thing too so having him onside certainly helps. All in all, I'm going pretty well. I hope everyone else's journeys have gotten off to as good a start. Fingers crossed for a good weigh in tomorrow!

No love