Basic Steps

So you know how I bought a step but a I figured that I would be able to find some exercise dvds or youtube vids that would get me moving but wasn't full of complicated moves. I've been proven wrong. I've tried Kathy Smith - but I get lost. In fact I did her thing morning and by the second combo I didn't get what she was doing. I've tried two Fit for Duty vids - but in one the instructor does something strange and they both did some stretchy things at the start which I don't like. There is one more that I'm going to try tomorrow. To be honest - I'm even thinking about going non-English. Jennifer Hößler has a warm-up vid on youtube that looks pretty good. I might even learn some German - I think that's what she is speaking.

Killed me

So to shake up my routine for the next few days I decided to take on some hard cardio. I went with Jillian Michaels (who else would it have been?) 'Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism.' Holy crap it killed. 50 odd minutes of torture. I didn't make it all the way through every exercise. Tomorrow I will do better. If I do this for the next few days I won't feel so bad because I'll be on holidays and in a hotel room again, eating every single yummy thing that I see. I'll be taking 'Walk Away the Pounds' with me for some gentle action.

It's December? Seriously???

I don't know how that happened. One day it's January and the next it's December. What happened to the year?

At the start of the year I was all gung ho get fit.  I loved feeling fit and that my body was changing. I was full of energy and loving life.

Towards the end the year I was sick and sore. I felt unhappy that I kept missing out on exercise, which made me feel even worse.

Now I don't feel I exercise enough, so I've put on weight. I'm back to walking off the pounds and enjoying it, still Zumba'ing every time there is a lesson although this week killed my sides, I also like using dumbbells so my arms are looking better and better.

During my holiday break I want to pick it up a notch again. I will be traveling around a lot so I don't know what I'll do but I hope to doing something daily.

Yesterday I did this:



I had thought that I was doing okay with my arms lately but this one pushed me again.  I even went down a weight size!

Proof!

Photographic proof I did exercise! My black cat hangs around while I workout and during stretching joins me - demanding attention of course.

Another week down the drain

I can't believe it - it's like the universe is against me at the moment.  This week I've had some serious sore knee issues.  For a few days I had to ice me knee.  So, starting to walk again today.

Photo time?

It's been a while since I shared a photo - I still take them once a month but I haven't felt like putting myself out there. But today I am.

Compare the fronts from 12 months ago:

Not to much of a change after my 2 months of being sick, not eating well and no exercise.  But you can see the smaller tummy, upper arm, boobage.  Overall though I feel a lot healthier - I can feel the muscle developing under the fat, I can take a walk for an hour and I don't think it would matter - running is another topic though :(

Workout plans? Another week of walking - today I did the 2 mile routine. Hopefully Zumba will be on this week. For next few weeks it's all about getting moving more.

Oh my!

Still feeling sick - have an awful cough and still feeling it in the bones and muscles. 

But enough was enough - today after crawling back into bed for a bit of extra sleep in (today is a holiday in our town) I decided I really had to do something. 

I weighed myself recently and I had gained back 2kg already.  Plus clothes that I was considering giving away now fit better because I have put the fat back on.

So I started from the beginning again and did a Walk Away the Pounds 1 mile walk. Yes it was easy - I couldn't use the dumbbells though. So I'll need to keep on at it.

Did I mention that my birthday was yesterday?

Confession

My week of no excuses turned into a week of having a cold. Everyone at work is sick too. Luckily tomorrow is the last day of the week - yay for weekends, and then Monday is my birthday and Tuesday is a town holiday :)

So all over this!

So I've just had a play around with creating my own Tabata style video :)

Hopefully this upload will work but this makes it pretty easy for me to workout.

Week 30

What's Motivating Me This Week?
My manly muscles - if only I could rid of the flappy arms

What's Bugging Me This Week?
The flappy arms

What's Puzzling Me This Week?
Why can't I stick to the routine? I make excuses for myself in the morning like,,, 'I've had a bad night's sleep' or 'I just did Zumba last night so I don't really need to workout this morning.' So I've planned two rest days after Zumba nights and not giving myself excuses otherwise. Last week I only ended up doing the Zumba classes - grrr.

What's Encouraging Me This Week? 

Tabata? I tried 'The world's fastest workout video' although I didn't do the first exercise properly - I did my it without the push up and the jump. The problem is that you can't really tell when to stop and start with this video if your concentrating on the exercise.

What's the Plan?

Random stuff

Have you seen this?



And just for a laugh!

Week 29

This seems to be becoming the excuse post! Two weeks ago I went on a conference and ended up getting sick while I was away and then last week while I was still getting over my cold I was entertaining an in-law that came to stay. So I was really looking forward to this week - a week of holidays and a week of no excuses exercise!

What's Motivating Me This Week?
Feeling like I kick arse!

What's Bugging Me This Week?
I look totally fat in my photos

What's Puzzling Me This Week?
Should I keep sharing my photos? It kind of puts me out there.

What's Encouraging Me This Week? 

My husband telling me that I have more muscle than him.

What's the Plan?
Trying a variety of 10 minute workouts.

Week 28

What's Motivating Me This Week?
Complements from people, trying on a pair of shorts I bought last year and laughing because they are so huge.


What's Bugging Me This Week?

I pulled a muscle in my right arm about 3 weeks ago when I had all that muscle soreness. It still is sore when I move my arm in certain directions. My knee has also been a little tricky - at Zumba two weeks ago we did a new set that involved a lot of twisting and lunges so I did hurt myself a little.

What's Puzzling Me This Week?
Why can't I do a lunge successfully?



What's Encouraging Me This Week? 

I tried on a pair of size 14 jeans last week. They were a little tight (and they were plus size 14) but still I'm excited.

What's the Plan?
Last week wasn't so bad - I went to Zumba and I did workout some during the week but I didn't feel I was doing enough. I'm doing some strength this week and leaving the cardio for Zumba.

Week 26 - Yes I'm back!

What's Motivating Me This Week?
 I took some more time off overcoming some crazy flu like thing that wiped me out. Plus I somehow pulled a muscle in my right arm - in my sleep! So anyhow I'm keen to do some exercise this week.


What's Puzzling Me This Week?
Should I try these tops at Virtu?


What's Bugging Me This Week?

Those stupid pins on pinterest that make you think - oh a new fitness blog I could follow, only it turns out its a link to the man trying to sell you his weight loss stuff with a monotone voice.

Also not working out for the last 2 weeks or so means I've put on weight. Oh well.

What's Encouraging Me This Week? 

I have a step coming to me, as well as my next lot of dumbbells, and a foam roller! No more sore calves and shin splints for me.

What's the Plan?
 New step means I want to start doing some step videos - obviously. This 'Fit of Duty - Basic Step Workout' is pretty easy - so I'm pumping it up with weights. The step won't be getting here quickly mind you - but I'm keen anyway.

Hey folks,,, folk,,, anyone?

I've been taking a break from blogging my health stuff. Partly because I've been way too busy and also because I was getting to caught up with hating myself if I did miss a workout or if I didn't do as well as I should have. So I cut it back to just Zumba lessons if I could make it.  

This weekend was my chance to get back on the wagon so to say, but I ended up not feeling well on Saturday. I spent most of the day napping on the couch or sleeping in bed.  Today, I woke up feeling sore all over still, but I still needed to spend most of my morning in front of the computer doing school work and most of the afternoon on the floor marking school work.

So this week I will do Zumba again and probably not much else until the weekend.

In the mean time, did I tell you fitted into a pair of size 16 jeans?

Funny!

It was a funny week this week. I was meant to do the previous week's plan again.

I ended up getting all sorts of sickness,,, I won't gross you out. At the moment my voice is threatening to die on me.

So although my weekend was great exercise wise, I missed a Zumba class and did only 2 other workout with weights. Shocking.

But I had a funny moment today. In art class we started on our paper mache masks. I had opened up a new 5 litre bottle of glue to use and was pouring the glue into their bowls.  During the lesson some groups ran out of glue so I told them to help themselves to it.  Not one of them could lift up the bottle to pour it properly. I had one boy ask me how I could be so strong.  They are so sweet!

I'm not looking forward to photo time this weekend.

Nope - no bike

Hopped on the bike hoping for a little cycle action - got 2 minutes in and decided it wasn't worth the pain. Looks like I wasted $15 on a bike seat then - hopefully the husband will use it still.

So instead I'm using "Low Impact Cardio Workout for Beginners - Beginner Cardio  Toning Workout Routine" but after all the fluffing around I did before hand I don't have enough time to do it all - I'm taking a quick breather while I my peas and carrots are cooking in the microwave.

Week 25

What's Motivating Me This Week?
Great music - I spend a bit of time today finding new music to workout to. 

 

I also found this YouTube channel, FitnessBlender.com. The low impact cardio looks good so I'll try that next week - or this depending on how I find the bicycle with the new cover - all I know is that I tried to ride again and my v-giny hurt!

What's Puzzling Me This Week?
How could my waist have gotten smaller but my hips bigger? Just of shits and giggle I looked up my waist-to-hip ratio - it's 0.83 - so close!

What's Bugging Me This Week?
I was on the phone with an in-law this week and was asked how my diet was going.  Why do people think that you are on a diet when you are getting fit?  I know she meant fad diet, or even simply watching what I eat but it frustrates me how little people actually know about health. I've been day dreaming about studying again - maybe picking up the health side of my degree... but I don't know.

What's Encouraging Me This Week? 

Getting back on track and feeling please with how strong I still feel after a holiday.

What's the Plan?
 I really want to increase my cardio, but also enjoy strength stuff - I used my new 1.5kg dumbbells today and thought to myself, 'actually should have bought the 2kgs'.

Radio Silence

Sorry - let me catch you up.

I've traveled up and down the state during my holiday. The first hotel I stayed in barely had room to swing a cat so no exercise. Then I was at my parents so I got in a workout a day. Then I stayed in a unit so I did a few more workouts. I finally ended up in a tent and didn't get any conscious exercise done. I did walk buttloads during the holidays, I also ate everything!!!

So in all I put on a few kg - but I had a great time.

Back at work now, thrown back into it, I did manage to go to 1 Zumba class and do 1 Tiffany Roth workout.

However the other things I achieved when I was away:

• new yoga pants (x4) I looked everywhere and only found them in Big W.  I was seriously pissed off that exercise stores don't cater for larger sizes. Do they not think that if they did, and pluz sized girls bought their workout gear, who then worked out and lost wieght and thus need more, but smaller, workout gear that they wouldn't get repeat business??? Fuck it - Big W I love you.
• new dumbbells (x2)
• new exercise bras (x4) at 15% off
• seat cover for the bike (x1)
• I looked for a foam roller - hell they were expensive so I didn't get one (x0).  I'm going to look online.

So my plan today is to set up my exercise bike and go for a ride and think about what the plan is going to be for the rest of the week.

Also, while everyone else is doing it on pinterest I may as well give it a go too - the Weight Loss Simulator

This is me (sort of) at the moment - and this is me (sort of) at 80kg.

Week 24 and photos

What's Motivating Me This Week?
I feel so strong at the moment. I have had to take my exercise pants in this week - by adding darts or shortening the elastics.

What's Puzzling Me This Week?
Should I get jazz shoes? My current shoes just don't do it for my when I'm at Zumba because they are just too grippy.

What's Bugging Me This Week?
For the last few weeks I have had really tight calves.  I've been doing extra stretches for them and use my water bottle to roll the muscle - I'll need to get a foam roller next week when I'm near shops. In the meantime I am worried that it will led to major damage.

What's Encouraging Me This Week? 

My husband said to me this morning that he has is crazy funny girl back again.

What's the Plan?
This week is the last week of school, so soon I will be back on holidays but I will be travelling so although I would love to comment to a Jillian Michaels' challenge again, I don't think I will be able to for a large part of that time will be camping.

Anyway I'm about fun and fit this week!

PHOTO TIME!!!

I decided to just go without the camisole - so you can see it.

 So not happy with my back -the fat rolls make my stomach tighten. But check out that butt! Can you tell I had to bring the back seam of these pants in by 4cm?

This isn't too bad. Again - two darts added taking another 2 cms out each.

Not a skinny chic - but getting smaller every time.

Online-stopwatch.com has an interval timer you can download. I downloaded it but haven't tried it yet. The online one works well.

My sister-in-law emailed me this link, The Highly Sensitive Person.  This is so me and I probably need to get that book.

Fat Girl Running is a new to me BLOG - I hate running so I don't understand why someone would actually volunteer to do it, but she is so funny and so motivated. Love reading it.

Week 23

What's Motivating Me This Week?
Last Thursday at Zumba the person behind me came up to me after the workout and told me that I looked good, the instructor also said that I have great legs.

What's Puzzling Me This Week?
I got my Swiss ball blown up this week and have been using it as my office chair.  I don't think it is hard enough though. How full should it be?

What's Bugging Me This Week?
Nothing much - I ate my dagwood dog, had an ice-cream cone and bought lots of fairy floss yesterday, but I'm okay with that! I also did well in the photography sections - husband came runner up for the whole show.  So I'm pretty chuffed with myself.  I do have heaps of marking and report cards to write still... but nothing about my health is bugging me.
 
What's Encouraging Me This Week? 
That I didn't find level 1 of 'Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred' too hard.  I had to stop more than a few times to pull my pants up, I did modify some of the exercises and I did my push ups against a bench. I'll keep doing that a few more weeks, I think, until it really is easy.

What's the Plan?
Workouts in pajamas to encourage me to get out of bed when it's cold.
Wednesday is now my rest day - between two Zumba nights.
Week now starts on the Saturday.

Show Time!

Well the show is in town this weekend which means show rides, dagwood dogs and fairy floss.  I'm totally going to blob out!!! I also have report cards to write -_-

So this week I did the same-ish thing as last week. Two nights of zumba, I did the Sparkpeople kickboxing video.  I skipped Wednesday's workout because I'm thinking of changing Wednesday to my rest day, and I also didn't workout Friday because I had a athletics carnival ALL day to attend.

But anyhoo,,, this morning I decided I really need to find something that I can do in my pajamas...


I found this easy video on YouTube and 'thought that's a goer!' It's a nice warm up and I did it my PJs this morning - I then did my weight ball exercises and push ups. I'm only just getting through the 10 reps I have set myself for each exercise but I'm getting better.



I also saw this, just had to watch. Despicable Me is one of my favourite movies. I had an 'I Love Evil' cup that I bought for my own Xmas present; I took it to school and used twice before someone stole it. Rat bastards.

Photos of interest

I thought that this would be a simple post - just sharing my reward system etc. But the photos ended up being sideways - so I had to Google a fix - turns out I need to use Picasa - so I did that.  Anywhooo,,, photos!

This is my weighing station - just outside of the bathroom sits my scales, my shoes and my shoe calendar.  I'm going to write up my weekly weight on Mondays when I remember.  I'm also using stickers on the days I workout. Please ignore the case of beer there - they are probably out of date but here people use a barter system for favours - my husband must have done something great to earn a whole carton of beer!

This is my cat Squish.  He's the baby and has abandonment issues, so has to know what you are doing at all times. I'm taking a photo of you, der...look how worried he is...

Cute jar that at one time had awful toffees that were thrown out.  It sits in my office on top of my stationary draws. The white box with the grey pattern contains the glass pebbles. The storage containers behind them are just plain old boxes that I trimmed up and wrapped in some fun jelly bean wrapping paper.  I do that a lot.

Cutest top ever! While I was sick I decided to cheer myself up by buying some clothing that was cute and that before I had lost weight wouldn't have fitted into!  It's a size 18 but it comes from a 'normal sized' clothing company, not a 'plus sized' one. I also need to take it in at the sides.  Oh, you can just see our other cat, Chihiro sitting beside the top - that white fluffy thing.

Week 21

Ignore the fact that the picture says week 20.

What's Motivating Me This Week?
Stickers and glass pebbles - photos to come.

What's Puzzling Me This Week?
Still stuck on the fringe - I even dreamt about it last night - but in my dream my hair was too thin for bangs but I tried cutting them anyway and it was a disaster.

What's Bugging Me This Week?

Remember a while ago I bought a pair of jazz pants? I put them into the cupboard and didn't wear them because they were a little tight and I thought I would spare the world that look. I wore them today for my workout,,, and now they are too big. I kept having to pull them up. I do like the look of them so I might have to look into a pattern to make my own, in the meantime I'll take these one in a bit because they were pretty expensive only to have worn once.

 
What's Encouraging Me This Week? 
All these new to me fitness videos on YouTube.

What's the Plan?
GET ACTIVE!

Perfect Strangers prediction

According to the ultimate prediction game - 'Perfect Strangers: Nothing's Going to Stop Me Now', I have a 82% chance of getting fit!!!

Although note in the 'The Dream Board' someone else has a 100% change of getting fat!

And then I received my highly suitable ranking - Rank: #4 - Pumping Iron Jennifer...

Oh yes,,, this blog is the best ever!

Links and motivation

Great YouTube channels include:
Popsugartvfit - 10 minute workouts
Redrita12 - longer vids some taken from Exercise TV. Lots of these look hard - I like the look of the Dorm Room Workout.
FigureRobics - Not necessarily a single channel but an example of where you can get it from. Cute Japanese doing workouts.
Sparkpeople - the first youtube fitness vids I found
Blackcutegirl's - Lesmills Bodyjam videos

I'm really trying to motivate myself into exercising. I really have taken a step backwards and feeling demotivated, mainly because when I do exercise I am disappointed that I'm not a fit as I think I should be. I know that in other people that would be a great motivator - like competing against yourself to get fit again.  I'm just not competitive. So for now I'm looking for extrinsic rewards.

I used to use stickers as a reward - but I no longer print my exercise sheets out - I should but I don't. Maybe I will buy some new stickers and start that again.

I kind of like this idea - sorry I don't know where it really came from other than pinterest.  But my money is my money and I can spend my money when I like within reason... plus I never have any change to put into a jar.

This one I've seen around heaps. Would work well, but I'm metric and kilos are larger than pounds so it would feel like I'm not getting anywhere.

Maybe I could combine those two together - every time I exercise I put a glass pebble into a glass container? That way I can see my progress.

I did this workout this morning: I didn't find it hard, I was just really clumsy. This is going to my video for the week.

Going to go and find a pretty jar or something...

Awesome!

We raised just over $170 today - not bad for a week's notice.

So now I need to get back into fitness - seriously.

This is a new to me tumblr that I love!

I found blackcutegirl's YouTube channel. It has some awesome fitness videos on it! I've been watching them to see what ones I could do.

So unfit

I can't believe how unfit I feel. 

I went to Zumba last week twice, as well as on Tuesday.  But today I had off, I've corked my calf and I have been baking up a storm for tomorrows biggest morning tea that we are hosting at work. It raises money for cancer.

I jumped on the scales and I've lost a bit more weight - no where near the 80kg yet but slowly going down.

Photos - at last!

Holy crackers and cheese!!! Sorry - that's so not what I look like!!! Sorry when I edited the photos by rotating it looks like Blogger ate a lot of fried foods and had a heart attack. Let's try that again...

I have no idea why they are on their side!  Anyway... if you tilt your head...

My middle tummy is pretty much gone bye bye under clothing.

You can see that below my knees the pants are loosey goosey

Week 20 - Almost forgot!

I was just thinking that I should get ready for bed, when I thought back over what I had accomplished.

Dyed hair - check
Vacuumed up drill shavings around wardrobe I had to fix yesterday - check
Printed out assessment sheets for this week - check
Put videos for lessons onto USB stick - check
Loaded apps onto ipads for school - mostly check
Exercised - check
Uploaded photos and work out plan - ch... hold on!

What's Motivating Me This Week?
Getting physical again after being sick for almost 3 weeks

What's Puzzling Me This Week?
Should I get my fringe/bangs cut again? It looks cute but it's annoying sometimes when it gets longer especially when I'm exercising

What's Bugging Me This Week?
Investing in some more 'beginner' workout DVDs. 

What's Encouraging Me This Week? 
I will be able to do a proper push up! I just have to work up to it.


What's the Plan?
I did the mile walk today using the 1kg dumbbells - no problems - maybe I should try the 2kg for the last arm routine to see if I could do it.  The other strength exercises using 2kg feel great too.

Today is the first day in weeks that I feel human. I can't seem to hold down a whole big meal at the moment since I wasn't able to eat much while I was sick and I think my stomach shrunk, also my throat is sensitive from so much coughing, but my coughing has subsided to mornings and evenings, I have my voice back, I'm not feeling sore, I'm thinking relativity clearly.

Time for a little motivation now to do some exercise again.

Come one Pammy! Get up and do something physical!!!

My exercise ball and 'dumbbells' arrived yesterday. Dumbbells are in quotes because they actually sent me toning balls - Doh! I sent them an email letting them know their mistake but honestly I can't be bothered to return them.  We'll see how we go.  I also have to figure out how to blow up the ball - that way I can use it as my office seat and look out for some fitness videos for it.

Photos tomorrow I promise.

Still sick

Nothing new to post.

Got over one illness and caught another.

Sick as bro

This week has been a total wipe out. I've been so sick and haven't done any exercise except on Sunday.  Zumba is on tonight but I would die.So you don't get exercise stuff or photos of me until the weekend.

I will link you this great article A Fearless First: Spin Class.  Hilarious. This explains why I haven't done too much on the bike like I had planned. I'm puttin off buying a seat cover - I don't know why.

I did buy myself some new dumbells - 2kg (thats 4 poundish) and a swiss ball that were on sale. I really wanted 1.5kg so I will see how I go once they arrive.  I might surprise myself.

Being sick means that I have lost a bit of weight this week. I need to come up with a weighting routine, I'd better research this a little more.

Although I wasn't physically productive this week - I did manage to read the Hunger Games series. 2 days of just being in bed, and being a fast reader helps. My sister-in-law recommended it. I now know what this means:

Week,,, wait what week is this? 19.

What's Motivating Me This Week?
Back to school, keeping up a good routine.

What's Puzzling Me This Week?




My scales arrived this week but there is a pretty big difference between what the Wii says and what these scales say. I'll post about it later.

What's Bugging Me This Week?
Not much actually. 

What's Encouraging Me This Week? 
My calves are awesome.

What's the Plan?
Get walking again, the music and the exercise will really get me going in the mornings. 
Fitting in the bike rides.
Did 'Jullian Michael's Cardio Kickbox' this morning. I was a little frightened but I did alright!  I did a little better then the easy option, next week I'll 'kick' it up a notch.

 

Let's talk about boobs

Yesterday I saw this hilarious comic called, Busty Girl Comics. All of the comics spoke to me, because they are all so true!

I'm posting two that relate to my blog today, but you MUST go the actual website and read all of them!

I have lost count the amount of times I have said that last bit!

This is me when I do star jumps. 

Star jumps is too pretty a name for the torture that they bring me.

As a women with the hugest boobs that I have ever seen - I know that there are people bigger than me but I've never met them - I really don't get much of a choice of sports bras. I look at my friends and the people in exercise vids with envy.

The bra that I use, Energize by Elomi, is here (Brava) and here (Big Girls Don't Cry).  It's not pretty, it comes in black, white and skin. I wear them every day - for exercise and for work because they do a very good job, most of the time, except when I have to jump. I do have a few 'nice' bras for when I want to feel pretty.

I saw these, D+ Max by Shock Absorber, at Brava yesterday, and saw that the blue ones were on sale. I'm in between a HH and J cup, so luckily they had a HH in my size, in stock.  I can't wait to wear it - probably over my Energize bra.

 

The other bra that I would like to try is this one,  Triaction High Performance. It's obviously not for jumping in and it's not as stylish as the D+ Max.

The only other sports bra that I have tried and can get in my size is this, Impact Free by Royce. It fits well, and is quite comfortable, but it has a huge chunk of Velcro on the back that can stick into you and make tearing noises when you move. The bottom band also flips up on me. I rarely use this one.

So there you go, a 'brief' discussion about bras, being that there is so few choices available to me :)

Edit: Wearing the D+ Max over the Energize is awesome. These puppies only move a litte. It is a little uncomfortable under the arm with the two layers squishing everything in but I think that is a small price to pay for not having to worry about bouncing boobs.

Frack Yeah!

Okay, although I missed a few days, I am officially finished the 'Shape Up - Front' challenge!

I'm drenched in sweat as I type this, but feeling pretty chuffed with myself.  I ditched the bench dips for this last one, basically I cried everytime I did it because it hurt my shoulders and my wrists in a not good way - instead I did some extra weights exercises that you do in the video anyway.

What other modications did I do? I can't jump very well - my boobs, even in my sports bar, just can't handle that so instead I high knee jogged whenever I had to jump. For the horizontal mountain climbers I had been doing the easier version but today I went up to the harder level.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow's measuring - I really hope to see some difference.

Power on!

So, the Easter long weekend kind of stuffed up my plan. We went camping and then C stayed at home and convinced me lay on the couch all day watching the X Files with him and enjoying each other's company. 

I did however download a new app, Get Running, which is for running obviously, but I'm using it on our bike. I did the first 'run' last night. It's quite good, except today I have a sore butt because the bike seat isn't the most comfortable - I'll have to take a squiz at it later.

I do have to say that I feel really strong and fit at the moment. My husband often makes fun of me that I wiggle whenever I hear music, but lately I've actually been dancing and kicking as well - just because I can.

I was reading this article about the phases of fitness - I'm pasting them here but please read the original article.

•  Excitement and Highly Motivated
•  Doubt Toward Goals
•  Conquer Doubt
•  Total Change in Energy Level / Confidence
•  Make New Fitness Goal / Challenge

I can really see how the phases happens for me, I've only just gotten over the doubt step and hopefully into the conquering bit, I just now have do some exercise. Tomorrow I'll get on the bike again and kick some arse with the Shape Up - Front DVD.

I'm procrastinating doing Sparkpeople quizzes instead of exercising - lol.

After I exercise I will reward myself with a long hot bath. Come on! Let's go!

My thoughts

After my workout this morning and after I bought my scales, I read 'Sweet Poison'.

The first thing I checked was if there was a list of references or a bibliography. There really wasn't. This didn't put me in good stead for the actual book.

It was an entertaining read, it was interesting, it reflected a lot of my training in nutrition, but it was a persuasive text rather than an analytical text.  It was persuading me that fructose was basically evil and that I need to cut it out of my diet - which yes I agree with - but it made out that correlations between data sets was actual proof that fructose was the only cause for western affluent diseases, like heart attacks. Overall it was a great way to spend most of my day, and made me feel guilty about wanting to eat a Creme Egg.

We then went to dinner at a friend’s house. They had found a food diary app and have been filling in theirs.  My own food diary app keeps crashing and so I had given up. Therefore I was interested in this new one, MyFitnessPal. It’s pretty cool so far.  Before I plugged in my details I needed to know how much I weighed – so I used their Wii Fit. I'm 96.5 Kg, I guessed 95 so I wasn’t too far off. This puts me in the obese category - surprise surprise.

My friend’s husband was being very defensive about the whole keeping a food diary issue – as in, he kept defending his food choices and his lifestyle and about why he shouldn’t have to keep one, but I don’t see a problem with it unless it becomes absorbing.  These sorts of things are, in my opinion, good to keep you honest about the foods you eat (no more lying to yourself) and gives you a ‘rough’ guide to how well you are going. Even after eating a Creme Egg I was still below my suggested calories.

I also had to give myself a goal weight. I picked 80. It seems like a nice number.  So far I think my only goal has been to lower my hip to waist ratio, which is still 0.86.  Grrr.

The other cool thing about today was that I saw an image for iwonstopuntilimtiny.timblr.com – which is now http://iwontstopuntilimfit.tumblr.com/

I think that is pretty clever, except I don’t want to use rubber bands, maybe I can make up elastic beaded bracelets.  I drink from a 1.5 L bottle, so I suppose I take one off every time I have a huge drink? Or maybe I put one on, every time I have a huge drink. Let me think about this some more.

Holy cow, what an essay?