Big Day Out Part 1

We were having a slow start this morning so decided to head up the range for brunch and a walk at one of our favourite spots, Mary Cairncross Park. Almost nine years ago Jeff and I were married here in an outdoor ceremony (obviously!).
This is the view down towards our home in the mountains. Aren't they lovely? I always so LOVE to have my first peep of the mountains upon my return from any long trip away. This was the backdrop for our wedding ceremony. Not bad eh?
Here is my sweetie reading the paper and waiting for our order to arrive. We were married right there almost at the end of the table - which obviously wasn't there for the ceremony! :) Even the wildlife attended with a scrub (brush) turkey doing a streak through, jumping on a table and knocking some glasses down. A flustered looking park worker scurried through after him. We just stopped the proceedings and got on with it again when all had settled down. Interestingly, one of our gifts was a piece of original Aboriginal art done by an artist I know, the topic of which was the scrub turkey.
After a delicious and slightly indulgent breakfast, a second coffee and much pouring over maps of the Pacific Northwest in preparation for our trip, we headed into the rainforest for an amble. It was pleasantly cool, not too busy and we got to see and hear some wildlife. The cat birds were very vocal although we didn't spot a one. They make a sound sort of like a baby crying. Tried to get a photo of a paddymelon for you but wasn't successful sorry. We did the full walk which I've not been able to do for at least 10 years. It took about 45 minutes I suppose. GO ME!!

A brilliantly chaotic strangler fig. These trees absolutely rock.

An eerie valley of palms.

Progress Report

Yesterday was weigh in day, and I'm pleased to report that I'm down 1kg this week after less than impressive results over the past fortnight. That's my biggest loss since week1. There were quite a few big losses at weigh in this week with about 6 of us losing 1kg or more. I felt thinner but was surprised to discover that I'd had such a good loss.

For those of you who LOVE numbers....

Starting weight: 90.2kg
Current weight: 87.1kg
Total loss: 3.1kg
Time taken: 6 weeks

Measurements.

Chest.
Week 1. 113.5cm
Currently 107cm
Loss of 6.5cm

Waist
Week 1. 101.5 cm
Currently 96.0cm
Loss of 5.5cm

Hips
Week 1 119cm
Currently 114cm
Loss of 5cm

R/L Upper Arm
Week 1 36.5/34.5 cm
Currently 33/32cm
Loss of 3.5/2.5cm

R/L Thigh
Week 1 63.5/63.5cm
Currently 57/59cm
Loss of 6.5/4.5

I think the tape measure is my new friend! Far more impressive than what the scale is telling me. Also explains the Simon and Garfunkel undies (Slip slidin' away).

'Snacks' was the topic for discussion this week at WW and we compiled lists of favourite snack foods then arranged them into three categories. It was very interesting to see how many things like biscuits, lollies, chocolate, chips and other such foods made their way onto the lists. This led to a quick look at how the advertising and marketing industries skilfully convince consumers that these items (and many others) are snack foods. Just head down to the 'snack foods' isle in your supermarket and see what they think a snack is. I bet next to none of it will fill you up, give you slow release energy and stabilise your blood sugar! There is no nutritional value in any of it.

These are the things I snack on...

• fruit
• nuts (limit of about 8 per day)
• low fat yoghurt
• cheese stick (not an everyday snack, but ok for a couple of times per week)
• ricotta with blueberries and cinnamon
• smoothie of berries, perhaps some other fruit, spinach (I kid you not, you can't taste it), flaxseeds, and in a base of either water, keffir or some kind of milk - cows, rice, soy.
• ryvita or with tomato or cucumber and a protein e.g. philliadelphia cheese, slice of smoked salmon or ham/chicken
• vegetable sticks and hummus

Once a week or so snacks

• home baking (I have some lower fat recipes, like baking and at least know what's in the food if I make it)
• scone with a cuppa out at the shops.
• hmmmm, can't think of anything else

Treats that aren't really snacks at all

• the occasional mini chocolate (usually with PMS). Luckily I'm not a big chocolate fan. I know, there is something seriously wrong with me!
• potato chips

I used to crave potato chips with something close to a manic intensity a few times per month. I would scoff them (with the manners of my dogs) and once I'd finished the packet I'd not need or think of them until the next craving. Interestingly some blood work found that I was iodine and sodium deficient and my GP prescribed iodised table salt. I now use that on my meals and have not had one craving or one chip since. About 12 weeks and counting now. Just not interested. Obviously my body needed something.....the salt!

What do you snack on? I'd love to hear some healthy ideas.

Michelle and Julie

Hello ladies. Have tried to connect to your blogs via your comments but haven't been able to access them. Would love to pop in and say hi to you and see what's going on in your worlds. If you are happy for me to have a peep, let me know your details. You could put it in the comments with a 'please delete after reading' if that's how you'd like to contact, (very Maxwell Smart, although in that case my computer would probably blow up rather than simply delete!). If you have a more sensible alternative to passing on your details I'm open to it! Thanks.

Hope everyone out there is living healthily!

Bushwalking

On Monday we set off on a bush walk in our local area. It was so lovely to be out in the bush surrounded by wild orchids, grass trees (front right of above photo), and the unique sound and smell of the Aussie bush. The grass trees reminded me of my childhood on the farm where we used these to make spears and bows and arrows from them. Much fun was had and I'm pleased to say that no injuries occurred either! They are protected now so photos will have to do.
Looking back down the track to see Mt Tibrogargan peeking back at me through the trees.

I MADE IT to the top! Woohoo. As my niece Miss 4 told her mother on the phone, 'Aunty Sandy was very slow.' Gotta love kids! The last bit was quite steep and I was shattered for a little while - so shattered that it took me awhile to be excited about my accomplishment. I remember when I couldn't climb stairs and when I struggled to get myself off and on the toilet, so climbing a lookout is HUGE. Shocker photo if I say so myself. :)
View from the top. Mt Beerwah in the back at left. To the right is Mt Tibberoowuccum. These mountains form part of the Glass House Mountains. I grew up here on a farm and then in town (small), moved away for work and am now living back here, happily snuggled at the base of one of the mountains.

Here I am on the way back down. Shocker photo again but it made me realise that I can see a change in my body shape after only 2kg lost. I barely recognise myself in these photos. In recent years I've become invisible and not had many photos taken of me. Not on purpose really, just when there are kids around you tend to point the camera at the little people. I'm also sure that I haven't rushed to get into any photos too feeling as bloated and gross as I have. Here's to being visible again.

Sleeping with Mr Darcy

After a long and busy week I was feeling particularly weary this afternoon. I decided to plonk myself down on the couch and have a rest while watching Pride and Prejudice. I saw the scrummy Mr Darcy make his first appearance on screen and woke to the end credits. That's the third afternoon sleep I've had this week. Can't stay awake, dead-to-the-world type sleeps. I have been busier and more active than I've been for years so I won't panic yet about falling back into fatigue. Perhaps I've just overdone it.

We had a public holiday on Monday so I had to find an alternative Weight Watchers meeting to weigh in at. I've decided to attend this alternative meeting from now on as the leader was amazing, so well informed about nutrition and very entertaining and approachable. The meeting was very interactive too, we broke into groups and read nutritional panels then discussed them. Everyone was very friendly and chatty and the meeting was heaps of fun as well as informative. Ok, details for the week....I lost nothing. Not a gram. I've been a lot more active this week and have increased my cardio as well as continuing to count points. I did go over one day when we had unplanned take-away due to a blackout but I thought my extra activity would take care of it. Oh, well.

My current cardio involves me walking out the door and walking, not particularly fast for 20 to 30 minutes. I've pushed out to 30 minutes about 3 days in the past week. I also included a 45 minute bushwalk which included a small hill and I hope to do this each week. I'll keep an eye on my fatigue levels as I am hoping to push out all of my walks to 30 minutes. If I'm tired, I'll either drop the time back some days or include a second rest day. Not bad, I've gone from 10 minute walks to coping with 30 minute walks in about 5 weeks. Happy, happy, joy, joy, to be out and about being active!!

Any suggestions as to how to reboot my weight loss would be appreciated. I'd like to lose at least something next week. :) I was thinking perhaps increasing the weights I lift during resistance training to try and build some more muscle. Might help.

I'll post photos of my bushwalk when I can work out how to use my new camera and it's quirks. Hope all is going well for you all and you are staying happy and healthy.

Weekly Walk

I'm going to try and do a weekly walk somewhere different each week to get me out and about, to show you what it is like where I live, and to increase my fitness for our trip. I'm keeping my walks to around 30minutes until I'm permitted medically to increase the intensity and length.
This weeks walk was a pleasant meander along next to the waters of Pumicestone Passage which separates the mainland from the top end of Bribie Island. This area is about a 30 minute drive from home so it's nice and convenient. We've brought our bikes down here to cycle too and it's so much fun.
The weather is glorious at present. Low 20's (celcius) during the day and mid teens to 10 or below on a cold night. LOVE winter.
There are many picnic areas along this particular stretch, with plenty of room to set up your own if you so desire also. There are barbeques, shelters and a few kiddies playgrounds. Even when it's busy it seems quite relaxed and quiet.

I'm having fun thinking of all the different places that I'd love to walk for a change of scenery and to share with you. Where do you exercise? Do any of you change things up with a things like a weekly walk to make things interesting? After being stuck at home for so long it's indescribably, heart happily wonderful to be able to go and enjoy somewhere new and beautiful.

Stay well and happy ladies.

Life Happens

Today is a glorious Sunday here. Being in the sub-tropics, our winters are mild and tend to be dry and clear. I'm spending the morning getting organised for the week by making a couple of salad bases, a pot of vegetable soup and spending some time doing up a menu plan for the week. I felt a bit lost for options last week as I've been sticking to meals that I know the points values of. That means we've been recycling the same meals for a few weeks now and need a change. I think being organised is going to be essential for losing and maintaining weight. For me, being organised means having good, fresh and healthy food options available; having a menu plan to work from; having prepared or semi-prepared meals available for those rushed or can't be bothered times; and minimising the effect of getting caught out by always having my water bottle and a piece of fruit with me when I go out. My organisation also includes my schedule where I plan the time to do the menu, shopping, exercise etc.

I've scheduled in time next weekend to make up a heap of freezer meals as per the ones found at Saving Dinner. Essentially, you spend about 2 hours preparing meals to the cooking stage and then freezing them. In that time you make between 20 and 30 meals depending on how quick you are and how many people you are feeding. I started doing this on my better days when I was really ill and it was a Godsend. I used the food processor to speed up things like the dicing of onions. I found the concept of freezer meals saved me time in so many ways. Each night I'd look at the list of meals that I'd placed on the fridge and select a meal for the following evening. It would defrost in the fridge and the next night I'd simply have to cook it and throw together a side dish such as steamed veggies or salad. I found that I had very little washing up to do as all the cutting boards, knives and the like had been used and washed on the initial preparation day. Easy peasy. Initially I used the freezer menus from Saving Dinner but now I use a combination of our favourites from there plus recipes from other sources. If I was really clever and so inclined I could simply make up meals with all the same points values so I always know how many to set aside for dinner. Don't think I'll go there though!

This has been an odd week for me weight wise. I've spent most of it feeling full, bloated and just off. At first I tried to eat my points values for the day but then decided I wasn't doing myself any favours as I just felt gross. So I focussed on eating good healthy foods and increased my intake of probiotics both from food and in supplement form. I still kept an eye on my points but have only reached my points one day this week, some days I've had to struggle to eat half of them. I feel like I've gained weight but if that is the case I'm not worried as I know I've had something weird going on with my body. I've eaten good foods and balanced out the foods that I had. Life happens and I'm sure it won't be the last time that it puts a bump in my journey to health and weight loss. I feel quite chuffed with myself for having this attitude. In the past I always felt rushed to get from a to b. To achieve goals NOW, if not yesterday. Putting unnecessary pressure on myself and no doubt piling up the negative self talk as I didn't achieve as quickly as I falsely expected. Crazy. Here I find myself this week, quite relaxed, listening to my body and knowing that if I don't lose this week it's ok as I've still been moving in the right direction with my habits and thinking.

How are you all going? All well and good I hope. I'll pop out later today and get some photos for you to pretty up my blog.