Chocolate, pasta and bread.

The three dreaded carb words in the weight loss world. I have a different take on them. Tonight for instance, I made a pasta dish, but the difference I find is not using a heavy pre made tomato or cheese base sauce and instead use lighter ingredients. For instance, tonights pasta dish was small macaroni pasta, cooked in vegetable stock, with peas, tomatoes and topped with a small dash of parmesan cheese. It was delicious. The vegetable stock gave the pasta a little flavour and the combination of tomato and peas was actually quite yum.

I really do believe in everything in moderation. So if I have a chocolate, then I cant have anything else sweet and higher in calories for the rest of the day, so cue the fruit and fresh vegies for dinner. Depriving myself of chocolate, well it doesnt work because then its all I can think about. I may even have a little bit of chocolate every day, it really does help keep the cravings at bay. Its the same with coke, I love real coke, so I buy the small 200ml cans and I am allowed one a day, I dont have one every day, but knowing that its not off limits means I dont crave or even want it every day. So next time you reach for the chocolate, I say have some. Dont overindulge, have enough to satisfy your cravings and then make sure you look at healthy options for the rest of the day. I count calories, and I know for me I can have a treat and stay within my calories.

Stay tuned,

Megs 

2012

My last official blog was on the 10th december. I really cannot believe it has been that long. I have to say, the fitness side of things hasn't been very impressive. Before we left middlemount I said to both S and my PT I was worried that I would come back to "civilisation" with all the temptations (fast food, restaurants, nights out drinking) and I wouldnt cope, I would find myself falling back into old habits. And I have to say it was a bit of a self fulfilling prophecy. Its not even that I couldnt havent kept up the good work, I just let myself be slack. I also started working full time and I just felt so tiiiired. Christmas came and went, as did new years and my trip to Japan, cue lots of food and less exercise. I did throw in some compensary trips to the gym and some walks with the dogs, but really my heart wasnt in it. Overall I have put on around 2.5kgs, which I am counting my lucky stars it isnt more, but what I havent done is measure the cm's because I am sure they have crept back on which is why some of my clothes dont fit quite right.
Its sad, that I had all the right tools and the knowledge, but somehow I gave myself permission to get slack. The real wake up call has been recently, I have been watching friends find this wonderful motivation to become fitter and I have felt jealous, jealous that it wasnt me. And then I stopped and thought about it, why on earth isnt it me? Instead of reading about them, how about I just get my butt back into gear. Today S and I went to the gym, I did some intervals on the bike, 15mins of jogging on the treaddy and some weights. I feel a bit better but I know I have a ways to go to get myself back. I know I have it in me, I just have to reconnect with what it is I was working for.

Stay tuned.
Megs xx

Cravings.

One issue with falling off the bandwagon is that when you try and jump back on it, you get the cravings from the wrong side of life. My biggest craving has been chips, hot chips, specifically from hungry jacks. I love their veggie burger and chips. Yesterday I had a really massive day at work, it was great but just very tiring. I am learning new things and it has really wiped me out. I knew I had today off so I came home and had a nap. During the day I had eaten some naughty stuff as there was a party and I allowed myself a treat. I wasnt really hungry so S and I decided to have a cook your own night. I spent about 1/2 an hour after waking up debating if I wouldnt bother and just go and have hungry jacks for dinner. I had a treat (or several, damm rocky road slice) that day and I was craving the sugar, I KNEW I was craving the sugar. The problem with giving into your cravings is that as soon as you have finished, the feeling of remorse smacks you up the side of your head and you wish x 1000 that you had just chose the healthier option. Finally I got up off the computer and stood in front of the fridge. I had all the healthy options I needed in there and with a sigh I ended up making myself a roll, multigrain, avocado, light cheese, egg and mustard and I had a small packet of Sakata's as dessert. I immediately felt like I have conquered the insurmountable, so because I was refreshed after a nap and because I knew I was headed in the right direction I went to the gym. I didnt get there till 8.30pm, but thankfully my gym is a 24hr one and I was able to spend as much time as I liked. I warmed up on the rower, 5 mins and then did a lovely 5k jog. So much for my plan to take the running easier, I was just so happy to be running along that I kept going and going. This morning my ITB is sore, but so very worth it. I finished off with a 5min cycle on the bike and I was done :) Happy times. This is the Meighan I have come to know!

Take care,
Megs xx

A new mindset, a new program...

I think we all get tired. Tired of trying to make the right choices and be the best version of yourself. Since I moved and since I started to have a busier lifestyle, I became tired. I sort of let myself go. My fitness, my motivation and I embraced an old lifestyle that, to be honest, I was scared would come back. I joined ww again, which I blogged about but after a week I was really over it. I have done ww, sometimes sucessfully, sometimes not. I just feel like I need a fresh start, I need to look at my lifestyle now and how I can improve on that. I needed someone to aspire to, someone who has faced similar struggles and thats how I came across Amy. Amy is an exceptionally insprational person. I cannot express how awesome she is. Her blog is www.aimtochange.com.au She started at 190kgs and is now down to 95kgs. Honestly I cannot describe what an absolute inspiration she is for me. So I started to really go through her blog and see what is was that worked for her. And thats when I came across the biggest loser website. I know the TV show, I dont think there are many people out there who dont. The website is http://biggestloserclub.com.au/ . I started to read what others had said and then I thought, is it really going to hurt to try? So I decided to give ww a miss, and try the biggest loser online weight loss club. After doing all the standard data entry, I decided to print off their shopping list. Now I am probably not going to make the same meals as them, but then I thought, well if I have the same food in the house I can make my own versions. S was really amazed at what was in the fridge, it was bursting, but with healthy foods. Even if I dont eat their meals, I can still track my calorie intake with my daily diary. I also get exercise goals for the week. Exercise has been my main concern at the moment, I am so tired. Full time work is absolutely flogging me, so instead of trying to fight with my body and because I am still fighting my leg/running injury, I have decided to exercise more conservately. My main exercise atm has been walking the dogs, with the odd gym session thrown in, mainly when I am on days off. Its not my most hearty effort, but I am trying not to beat myself up and just let my body do what it needs to do atm.

I am down to 101kgs again which I am really happy with. Which means a 20.4kg loss again. So Ill just keep plugging away.

Take Care,
Megs xx

Where has my mojo gone?

The love of running, the 90min gym sessions, eating well, thinking positive.

Have you seen it?

Back on track...

My first week of ww has seen me lose 800gms. Pretty happy with that. It wasnt a completely on track week as I was getting used to having to log on and enter all my food and I was a bit lazy at times. I made sure I at least walked with the dogs for exercise, not as much gyming as I would like, I am going to have to work out a better schedule for that!

Today was a day off though and I got out with the dogs for a 30min walk, then headed to the gym and did a 30min jog, a 20min bike ride at random intervals and a 10min cool down. All up I burnt 610calories which I am happy with.

S has been away for two weeks and as of this friday he wont have to go away in two week blocks anymore so I am hoping to alternate days where he can walk the dogs alone and I go to the gym after work and vice versa. I really struggle going to the gym in the morning when I working, it sounds lame but I am already getting up so early and have such a physical job that I find more energy after I finish than first thing in the morning. But at the end of the day its that you went, not what time of day you go!

Should probably go, have an appointment early in the morning. Take care,
Megs xx

I joined back up...

To weight watchers.

I have decided to be more proactive with my food. Clearly intuitive eating doesnt work for me as I am still harbouring lingering binge eating tendencies and I just dont get that clearly full sensation.

I will reach my goal. I signed up for unlimited so I can go to meetings when I am not working! Its on a Tuesday night. I also need to make an effort to use the gym more, its a 24hr facility so there really isnt any excuse!

In good news I did the Valley Stampede 5k mud fun run today with S. www.valleystampede.com.au
It was insanity. Took us close to 1.5hrs (official times should be out over the weekend). But we had a laugh. Ran the first part but once we started to get soaked with water and covered in mud the running pretty much stopped and we walked and crawled our way to the finish line. Got some bruises and sore body parts but alot of great memories!

Take care,
Megs x