Day 11 (of 14)

Bloody scales were up 300 grams this morning - WTF?

This is getting harder and harder when I thought it would get easier.
When I did this the week before Xmas, I lost 2.7kgs in 1 week now I'm going to find it hard to hit 2 kgs in two weeks...grrrr.

Anyway I am feeling better in myself which is a bonus and I am definately more active.

Can't go to the loo again this week (happened about the same time last week) but I'm going to take something to 'help me along' this week as I feel horrile last week after 4 days.

Work is really busy at the moment as we are in a tourist town and everyone eats bread (our business) so we are busy busy busy which is all good.

I also had the neighbours kids (11, 8 & 5) today and they have just left and taken my kids with them (gotta love that) so I have a bit of peace and quiet which is bliss after having 5 kids in the house most of the day.

I got some chicken breasts for dinner which I'm going to have with some stir fry vege's (looking forward to that) and I've had my 2 shakes for the day.
My water intake has slacked off the last couple of days (its 2pm and I've only had half a litre today) so I need to get that back up.

Day 9 (of 14)

I've given myself a bit of a 'talking to' because I was letting a few little things creep in which is silly because I didn't need them but I was just being lazy.

I feel much better now and can't believe how well I can do when I focus.
I need to be super organised and its easy (well not easy but EASIER).

I've FINALLY been to the loo and feel a whole lot lighter which the scales are also telling me and I was 700 grams down from yesterday morning's weigh in.

I'm doing this 'shake' thing in support of a very good friend (which I have mentioned before) and I must say she is doing BRILLIANTLY and I am blown away by her dedication. Her mother (also another friend) is also doing it in support of her girl and is also 'creaming it'!.

Hi girls *big waves*, so excited for you.

Our visitors which were going to arrive yesterday (after our 1st lost of visitors left at 4pm last night) are now coming on Thursday which is great as it will give me a bit of time to get my house back in order before they arrive.

I took Reece out for the day today (Adam's turn tomorrow) and we did the usual McDonalds (him not me) and then he wanted to go shopping as he got some money from his cousin and Nanny in Australia he wanted to spend. He definatley takes after his Mum as we were out for about 3 hours going from shop to shop and he loved every minute of it. I'm taking Adam out tomorrow but he will walk into the 1st shop he see's, grab something and want to come home (just like his father..haha).

Right I've had over 2 litre's of water today and need to go to the loo again (visit 760) so I'll love ya and leave ya for tonight.

Day 4 (of 14)

Going great guns here, shakes are still yum and the water is getting easier to drink but the toilet stops are still the same - heaps.

Had a few visitors yesterday so didn't manage to get on the treadmill and haven't again this morning but am definately getting on later today (again waiting on a visitor to arrive).

Last night I had another huge salad (I really don't get sick of them AT ALL) and added a couple of bits of feta cheese - yum. I didn't have any eggs to add (hence the cheese) and the boys ended up having sausages, chips and baked beans (yuk!).

I think the thing I'm finding the hardest at the moment is coffee, I am usually a 6 cup a day girl but have been trying to only have 3 maximum and without sugar. I don't mind it THAT much without the sugar but find the hardest thing is not putting it in as it is habit. I made one this morning to take to work and automatically put a teaspoon of sugar in and didn't realise until we were half way to work and I had a sip. I must admit it tasted very sweet to start with but I enjoyed it all the same.

I'm finding mid afternoon still the hardest time for me as I am getting peckish but the extra salad in the fridge has helped. As we live in the Hawkes Bay we have an abundance of beautiful, fresh, variety of fruit and my fruit bowl is full with nectarines, plums, apricots, apples, oranges and golden kiwifruit and I just want to eat it all but have decided not to indulge myself but stick to the plan (2 shakes plus I main meal of protein & salad/vege's) as it is only for 2 weeks and I am DYING to see what the results are.

Of course I jumped on the scales again this morning (I'm such a daily weigher) and they are down 800 grams bringing me to 1.8kgs in 3 days (long may it continue). I had an expectation of losing 2.5 - 3kgs if possible and this is still my goal but if things go better than that, well who am I to complain right?

My main focus is to make sure I do my treadmill and water as I think I have the eating side of it sorted.

Since its such a beautiful day here today I am going to get outside and potter around (after the visitors leave) and then go and get the weekly grocery shopping while the kids go to the neighbours for a 'tea party' (so cute).

Day 1 (of 14)

Day 1 over and done with and I did fantastically.

I drank ALL my water (2 litres) plus some and BOY did my bladder feel it PLUS I think I did enough exercise just running to the toilet and back without needing anymore.

BUT I did unhook the ole' treadmill and managed a brisk 20 minute walk which nearly killed me (boy its been a long time) and I felt elated afterwards.

My eating was also brilliant and I had my morning shake about 9.15am and then my lunch shake around 1pm. By dinner time I was absolutely starving and managed to polish off the remaining huge salad and tiny bit oflasagna from last night which was (again) yummy.

Jumped on the scales this morning and was happy to see a kilo gone, so I'm hoping to double that (at least) by the end of the week.

Today's plan:
More treadmill (either longer or a faster speed)
All my water (look out bladder)
2 x shakes (not a problem)
Either chicken or Steak for dinner

I have also made up a huge salad that is sitting in the fridge for when I get hungry (as well as for my dinner) as I found that I was really hungry late afternoon as well as first thing in the morning. I just looked at my watch and it is 9.45am and I haven't had my 1st shake yet which is leaving it way too late, so I will have to work on having that earlier.

We have more guests staying Saturday and Sunday and then more arriving Monday for either 2 or 3 days. This makes 'things' difficult when having to cook for other people and try to explain to them why I'm either not eating (what they are) or why I'm having a shake etc and then listen to their opinion on it all (which I can do without but sit there smiling and listening).

Be back tomorrow.

Shakes

These are the shakes I take (this is a picture of the fat burner tablets but the image is the same on the shakes), they come in Vanilla, Banana, Berry and Chocolate and are yummy.......yes you read it right, I actually like the taste of them and there's no other shake out there that I can say that about.

I mix it with 250mls trim milk (or half milk, half water) and they cost approx. $22 for a tub which usually lasts me 2 weeks.

Weigh in & Protein Shakes

Loss: 700 grams
Total loss: 21.8kg
Current Weight: 88.5kg

REALLY happy with that and I know I was good 'most' of the time but I reckon those yummy protein shakes really did the trick for me. I said I wanted to drop a couple of kilo's in the 2 weeks I was doing the shakes and that's exactly what I did, I lost 2kgs exactly over the 2 weeks......noice!

Got home from weigh in and Andrew had made my favourite meal at the moment with is unpronoucable (sp?) but is an indian dish that he gets the sauce from one of his dairy retailers with garlic and corriander roti and vegetable fried rice. It was really good and I enjoyed every bite.

Andrew went to Gisborne this morning with a mate to go Whitebait fishing with his Mother, she has the best spot up there and we just LOVE whitebait.

So me and the kids have a few outings planned and tonight we are going to stay with my mate Jo (who I went to Auckland with a few weeks ago) and her kids for the night as her hubby is also away. Lasagne and curry is on the menu (wierd combination I know but I had lasagne out of the freezer and she has left over curry) with a salad, so I should be able to choose wisely. Andrew's mate's wife is also coming over later on for a few wines which will be lovely.

I have a Hen's night on Friday night for a dear friend (her 2nd marriage) who I work with and I am also looking forward to that as we are meeting at my sister's (its also her best friend) and starting with a few drinks and the 'naughty' presents and then moving onto the Workingmens Club (Yes yes I know, nana's!) for dinner and some dancing. I have decided to drive (less hassle) so will be partaking in one wine and then heaps of water (drunk through a penis straw.....LOL), and will try and get lots of photo's.

Haven't heard from Leenie today but will be ringing soon to see how she is getting on. Ta ta for now.

Helena Update

Hi guys and gals, just to let you know that Helena has come through the op wonderfully and even had something to eat last night.

Craig's text to me last night:

Hulo craig here, leenie is awake and starving she is feeling quite narrow she is happy and chatty

How cool is that!! If you pop over to her blog, her hubby (Craig) has updated and will hopefully update again today.

Protein shakes:
I am feeling 100% better today and have been having my protein shakes and drinking loads of water.

Had a nice hot bath when I got home and jumped into bed and read my book which I bought at the Spring Fair on the weekend (Watermelon by Marian Keyes).


**********GUESS WHAT??????????**********

Helena just txt me as I was typing this update to tell me that the Doc took off 9.8kgs (500g with lipo) and because she weighed in at 102kgs on the hospital scales, she now weighs womewhere in the region of 92-93kgs.............*sqeals with delight*, she is SO HAPPY and is up brushing her hair and teeth......wahoo!

Oh Oh another 'guess what'??

I've just spoken to her on the phone and she is feeling fantastic, eaten twice and been up and about. The nurses and doctor are totally amazed that she is doing so much and said she could more than likely go home tomorrow (originally it was to be Thursday). She has been taken off the 'hard' drugs and is now just on one pain killer and panadol.....wow!

Right I've been gas bagging to her and typing this for the last hour so I'd better get some work done me thinks....

Healthy to very unhealthy

Last week I was ON FIRE! I was doing my shakes, feeling great, getting a little exercise, drinking ALL my water plus some and just generally feeling fantastic.

This week.............disaster!.

Saturday

Spring fair, decided I would eat when I got home but ran late and didn't get home until after 2pm and then just started getting the food ready for the BBQ with our friends who were arriving at 5pm.

I then proceeded to make the salad's for dinner and kept popping things in my mouth that I usually never do. Now you would think alarm bells would be going off right about now but NOooooooooooo, onto the mango philly cheese with crackers and dip and don't forget the packet of chippies that I taste tested while Andrew went and picked up our guests.

I then ate 3 BBQ'ed sausages (not on the plan) and half a loaf of garlic bread (not good) a large piece of steak and minimal salad......WTF? I then proceeded to ice the chocolate eclairs and make the fruit salad and put the marshmellows out and had a huge bowl with everything in it???????

I'm sure the 2 bottles of wine did nothing to help me either.....*sigh*

I then got up Sunday morning and made Andrew his 'Father's Day' big breakfast as well as giving the boys eggs on toast and I just had 1 piece of toast (all good). When Andrew left for golf I then found my way to the pantry and ate half a bag of left over chips and 3 more sausages out of the fridge. I then made the boys lunch and had 3 sandwiches (yes 3) with vegemite and cheese on them. I had had no water for over 24 hours but about 6 coffee's.

This was about the time I started to feel really sick and bloated and had to think of what to make for dinner for Dad and Andrew (Father's Day again). I ended up roasting a chicken with pom pom potato's and left over salad (there was heaps thanks to me not eating bugger all the night before) and dinner rolls.

I finally gave myself a talking to and had a shake and was quite satisfied and not hungry so I sat at the table with the family while they ate tea (no promblems right?......wrong) and I started picking and ended up having 2 dinner rolls with chicken and stuffing on them.

I really have NO IDEA what that was all about because 9/10 times when I ate, I wasn't hungry. I'm not due for my monthly so I can't blame that and I had good choices to make (ie salad) but chose to eat crap........I am so kicking myself today.

This morning I've had my 30g WW cereal and trim milk and a shake for lunch plus 2.5 litres of water and feel 100% better (but not back to normal) and I'm at a loss as to why I did that to myself on the weekend. Looking back, I thought maybe because I was missing my carbs (ie bread) so just went crazy which may be right but I felt horrible, sluggish, bloated afterwards and do not want to eat bread the way I use to (only a month ago).

I have weigh in tomorrow night and pretty much think I have stuffed this week up but it is also my last week of protein shakes and I think I haven't achieved what I wanted (which was to drop a bit of weight faster than I usually do) but I will wait and see what the results are tomorrow night.

I don't think I will give the shakes away completely as I really rate them as far as stopping me snacking (ignore this past weekend) and really filling me up, so I might have one or two a week when I don't have time to eat properly.

OK, this is a horrible negative post and I just HATE being negative and down on myself but I can't hide from what I did and I have left this post to really late in the day (which isn't like me) because I didn't want to post what a bad weekend I'd had but then decided that I wanted to be honest and you guys need to know that there is good and bad weeks (no suprise to anyone I bet) and I have to face up to it rather than hide from it.

Rant over.......

On a brighter note, Leenie is in for her op today and I'm busting to hear from her hubby about how it all went (hurry up Craig!).

Protein shake - Day 9

Still going strong and feeling GREAT.

Food yesterday:

Breakfast: WW cereal and yoghurt
Lunch: small packet of sushi (hubby bought it into work for me.....ohhhhh)
Dinner: berry shake and grapes

Snacks: 1 mini packet of sakata crackers (10 in each packet - 1 point)
Water: 4 litres

I have also been having 3 coffee's a day which is one more than I had planned but still think 3 is better than the 6 or 8 I usually have.
My carbs have been nearly non-existent and I haven't had bread in 9 days and feel fantastic for it.

I have the most annoying tickle in my throat which hasn't turned into anything (like a cold etc) but it is driving me crazy and the only thing that gets rid of it for a little while is gallons of water, hence my 4 litres yesterday. So really the negative of having the tickle has turned into a positive because I'm drinking my water without even thinking about it......LOL

Saturday I will be down at the fruit and vege market early and then going to get my hair cut and coloured (it sooooooo needs it) and then I'm off to have a look around the Upper Hutt Spring Fair. It is always a lovely fair and that's where I usually get Andrew and Dad's father's day presents. I'm also meeting a friend afterwards at a coffee shop up there to have a coffee and watch the people walking up and down the street (its a yearly thing we do - weird aye?).

We have a few friends coming over on Saturday night and we are going to try and have a BBQ, I'm hoping the weather is wrong (forecast is rain) because there will be 4+ kids and I want them outside as we only have a tiny house plus I don't want hubby to get too wet while cooking the BBQ.....hahaha.
I actually chose what we were going to have because I was trying to think of something that the adults AND kids will eat and a BBQ is meat and salad which will be easier to prepare and be excellent for my eating plan.

Sunday being fathers day, Andrew will get his BIG BREAKFAST with all the trimmings and then he and Dad are off to golf for most of the day and I will have a BIG ROAST DINNER for when they get home, so most of my day will be taken up cooking, cleaning up and cooking again (I'm such a good wifey).

I won't be around tomorrow as I have a full day course (Industrial Medic) and won't get to my computer, so I'll catch you all next week.......have a good one.

I feel good.....da nah nah nah nah nah nah

Yep Tuesday morning and I am feeling awesome.
I have had a relatively good week with food/water/exercise and I feel heaps better for it. The shakes are still amazing me as far as flavour and how effective they are. I was saying to Helena on the weekend that I have set morning/lunch/afternoon tea at work and usually when that time arrives I am hunting for food because I am hungry but since being on the shakes, I haven't felt hungry (I'm not eating morning or afternoon tea) which amazes me no end.

Yesterday was a bit of a challenge as it was hubby's birthday and the kids wanted 'party' food and the old man wanted an ice-cream cake (healthly food - I think NOT!). So I did a huge bacon and egg pie and little party pies (mini savories) with fairy bread (kids love it).

That's what everyone had and I had (wait for it)..........cereal and yoghurt...hahahaha got I'm boring. So that was the 2nd time I had cereal and yoghurt yesterday (also had it for breakfast) but I really love it and it fills me up.

We also had friends (and my Dad) around to 'cut the cake' and we all had a piece. Now I have NEVER been an ice cream girl because the creaminess of the ice cream give's me reflux and I suffer for it but thought I would chance it as it was something I haven't had for years and guess what? MAJOR REFLUX all night (will I ever learn) so I was really peeved that I suffered for one little indulgence but it did give me resolve not to touch the bloody stuff again.

I also get reflux from pastry (hence no bacon & egg pie) mince and chops do it to me as well (fat content) so luckily for me I can quite easily stay away from this stuff 99% of the time.

God I ramble............

OK, weigh in tonight and I will be happy with whatever the scale gods bestow on me. I have no magic figure in my head of what I expect or anything, just a loss will be fine. Until tomorrow :)

Sunny Wellington Weekend

What a fabulous sunny, warm (not hot yet) weekend we had here in the capital.

Andrew went to golf so the boys and I thought about what we wanted to do and when I asked them if they wanted to go to the park or the Warehouse they chose the Warehouse.....hahahaha shopaholic's like their Mother (so proud *tear*).
Didn't really get anything, just went for a wander.

Saturday night we went to Lonestar for dinner (finally) and it was well worth the wait. I had heard the meals were huge so Andrew and I decided to share an entree (guacomole) and we didn't finish it as we really wanted to 'save' ourselves for the main. I had ordered the chicken breasts that were stuffed with mushrooms and other yummy stuff and then crumbed with a lovely mushroom sauce and Andrew got the stuffed pork and both came with roasted potato's and coleslaw (the coleslaw was amazing). So I ended up with 2 chicken breasts which blew me away and the only thing I managed to finish was the coleslaw and most of the chicken but I stayed away from the potato's (only a few) and Andrew also only got through about 3/4 before he admitted defeat. When asked for if we wanted the dessert menu we both said "yes please" and when we looked at it we decided there was NO WAY we could eat anything more.....LOL

BEAUTIFUL!! Really enjoyed it and can recommend it for a really good meal but be warned they are MAN size meals plus.

Wandered over the the Michael Fowler Centre and had a coffee/beer in the bar there and waited for the Tony Orlando show (he sings tie a yellow ribbon around the old oak tree - I kid you not!) which was Andrew's birthday present (he is 38 today) and I was DRAGGED along. He was a good performer and the band was brilliant but it really wasn't my sort of music, Andrew loved it and actually got up and danced to one song with all the other oldies......LOL The people next to us told us we were too young to be there and we were actually the youngest people there.

Sunday was breakfast/brunch with the girls (Janene, Chris H, Sue, Jenny, Anne, Jo & Rose) to have a last cuppa with Helena before she goes in for her op and it was excellent catching up with these women. It amazes me that we are all so different and come from different places but we all get on REALLY well.
We then headed in to the Women's Expo (minus Jo and Rose) for a wander around for a couple of hours and I really enjoyed it. I haven't been over to Chris H's blog this morning but I bet there are some fab photo's.
Grabbed a takeaway coffee (thanks again Sue) and headed up to Sue's apartment in town which was gorgeous.

Home by 3.30pm.........brilliant!

Sat down with the boys for a couple of hours and made birthday cards for Andrew with my card making stuff. Heaps of fun and they couldn't wait to give them to their Dad this morning (5.45am).

Protein shakes - I had two shakes on Friday and a lovely salad for dinner with a corner of Andrew's steak.
Saturday I had one shake for lunch (cereal & yoghurt for breakfast) and then Lonestar for dinner.
Sunday I had a shake in the morning before we left and then muesli, fruit and yoghurt with the girls at brunch and then a handful of raw cashew nuts when I got home and corned beef and salad for dinner.

Back into it today.....

Protein shake - day 2

i think I will record what I have eaten and whatnot so I can look back at it in future.

Hubby has decided that since I don't like the chocolate shake, he will have it and has found that he isn't snacking after dinner (he still eats 3 meals a day + the shake) which he thinks is great.

Breakfast: Berry shake
Lunch: 8x vitaweats with vegemite, grapes
Dinner: Vegetable stir fry and berry shake
Water: 3 litres

Great day I think and I wasn't hungry once! I even left some of my vege stir fry (unheard of) because I stopped and thought about if I was hungry rather than showelling it down my throat until it was finished.

Had a phone call from Adam's daycare yesterday morning to say he had fallen off the trampoline rebounder and cut his head (not enough for stitches) and they thought we needed to take him to the doctors to see if there was any real damage done. As Andrew was in the area, he went and got him and I got a phone call on the way to the doctors (from Andrew's car) from Adam saying "I got a cool hole in my head Mum"....LOL he is so different to my oldest who would have cried for a month.

Got checked out - all OK, back to daycare after his Daddy took him to McDonald's for lunch.

Went and got the grocery shopping after work and I have managed to get it down to $400.00 for a months worth and then I just top it up the other weeks. That doesn't include fruit and vege's which I have been getting from the Riverbank market we have here on a Saturday morning which usually costs me about $35.00 a week. So all up I am only spending $160.00 a week on groceries for a family of 4 which I reckon is bloody good. In days gone by when I use to shop weekly, I could spend about $250 - $300 easily. Mind you now the kids don't have nappies and formula that has saved heaps.

Even if I can say $10 a week that is $10 towards my spending money when I go to Aussie in January so I can buy CLOTHES.

Shake, shake, shake.......

Day 1 - done and dusted!

Breakfast - Berry shake.......yummo!
Lunch - WW cereal with yoghurt and some green and red grapes for lunch......yum.
Dinner - Mesculin salad leaves, cucumber, spring onion, red and green capcicum's, 60g shaved ham and a sprinkle of Lite Italian dressing......yum AND a chocolate shake (not so yum - I'm not a chocolate girl).
Water: 2.5litres

I usually get peckish about 9pm and last night I was shocked to see it was 9.45pm and I was thinking of going to bed and I hadn't even thought of food (gotta love that).

Was suppose to do my ironing and exercise bike last night BUT (here comes the excuse) it was SO COLD so I cuddled up to my husband on the floor in front of the fire watching mindless TV.

Feeling GREAT, chat tomorrow - Bye *waves*

Protein Shakes

Yep I'm gunna try the ole protein shakes.

I feel I need to get back into the swing of things and drop a couple of kilo's to get my head back in the right place and I am doing my usual thing which is trying to not put on weight rather than trying to lose weight.

So I am weighing in tonight and starting the protein shakes tomorrow. I have also gone out and gotten some low GI fruits which I will have with my protein shake and then limit my evening meal to a small amount of protein and lots of either steamed vege's or salad. I am going completely cold turkey with all carbs (bread, potoato's, pasta, rice etc) and lowering my dairy intake as well as cutting out all alcohol.

I will do this for 2 weeks only as I know it isn't sustainable long term and I don't want to be substituting my meals for shakes as I really enjoy food but I need to get some control back as my portions are getting bigger and I am picking HEAPS more because I think I'm hungry and I'M NOT!

LET THE SHAKES BEGIN....................

On other totally unrelated news, I had a lovely weekend which started with me up and out of the house at 7.30am to the Hutt to get my fruit and vege's and then back to pick up the hubby, father and kids and get down to soccer which we discovered was cancelled when we got there (I really need to listen to the radio in the mornings).

Helena came around for a coffee and we talked non stop (as we do) for a couple of hours (thanks mate, love your visits).

Then got the thomas the tank engine train tracks etc out and built a massive track in the loungeroom which the kids thought was 'cool'.

Saturday night we had one of Andrew's friends come around for a couple of hours to visit.

Sunday - Totally Mum and the boys!!
Went to the warehouse and got one of Reece's mates a present for his birthday next week then asked them what they wanted to do and they wanted to 'go visit people'......hahaha social little butterflies just like their mother.
We ended up at my eldest sisters for banana piklets (yep I had 3) and muffins (didn't have any muffins) then went to another friends where it was just coffee and the kids ran around for a couple of hours........nice.

Got home just before Andrew came home from golf, cooked an easy dinner (eggs on toast for the boys with sausages) and I had a vegetable stir fry.

NO ALCOHOL, what a bugger!