Monday morning

And it's pouring with rain but I did my 5 laps. Well, I figured that once I was soaked I wasn't going to get any wetter so I kept running.

I ended up going to Bentleigh and getting 4 new tshirts. Well Target had 20% off so I had to.

I forgot to mention that One wasn't successful in his interview for the fire brigade. He doesn't seem too upset about it. If anything, he is relieved that he knows one way or the other and says that the pressure is off. We think his age went against him. He was the youngest in his interview by a long shot. He will probably apply again (you get three chances and then that's it) but not for a few years. In the mean time he has a job he loves and his boss is very happy with him.

I was very flattered and touched with Miz S's entry about me over the weekend. As I've said before, I have met some fantastic people over the internet and she would be one of them. She does make me sound rather impressive but I can assure you, I was just your average run of the mill fat mother who didn't like herself. And who was fortunate to have someone who was able to take charge and get me started on this thing.

OK. I think I'm dry enough to go and have my shower.

Have a good day everyone.

The journey in pictures

These two were taken at Two's 21st. It was the night of the meltdown and a week before I started this amazing journey. I was wearing size 16 stretch pants and the shirts were 18 and 20. And tight. I was miserable.





These two were taken last night. In the top I'm dancing with Three. I still have a long way to go but the dress is a medium (size 14). And I am happy.


Yesterday we went shopping. I bought the above dress as well as a couple of skirts and three tops. The skirts are 14 and the tops are medium. I am wearing one of the skirts today. It feels so good to be wearing a skirt again. Especially as it's actually a little loose! The highlight of the day was trying on some size 12 shorts. And I could get them up and do them up! They were a little tight so I tried on a stretch pair which were fine but the zip was sewn in badly and they didn't have another pair in a size 12. I'm not fussed as I know that by the end of Summer I will be smaller again. I have enough clothes now to see me through and I may need to get some of them taken in in a couple of months.

We had a great time last night. The birthday girl was the Mermaid's daughter and I've known her all her life. It was so good to be out with the three boys and Himself. The boys had fun dancing and chatting up sundry females but were still happy to stand around and laugh and chat with their aging parents.

Today is hot and windy. I was going to go back to the shopping centre to try and get a start on the Christmas shopping for the boys but it will be packed so I'll go next week or even after work one evening. It would help if they would give me their Christmas lists!

One has had to go into work and I'll go and pick him up when he's finished. He didn't drive his car as he had a few beers last night and never drives if there is the slightest chance of him being over the limit. I'm sure he would be fine but I'm happy he has the sense to not risk driving when he's not sure.

Himself has gone to Bunnings to get a cord for the lawnmower. Three has just gone out with a mate to look at cars (for the mate, not Three ... Three has an old Subaru Liberty which we swapped with Two and GGF for One's old Mitsubishi Verada and will be getting fixed up for him. He's currently driving the old Benz which Himself wants him to sell when the Liberty is driveable ... confused? You should try being here).

I thought about a bike ride or a walk but it really is unpleasant out there. So I think I might pop down to Bentleigh and have a look at the shops and maybe grab a coffee. Or I could put my feet up and read a book. Or I could do both!

There is a Target Country in Bentleigh and I think I'll see if they have some tshirts. The ones I bought a few weeks ago are all 16 and are getting a bit loose. They are OK to run in but I want something a bit more fitted for wearing with jeans and my new skirt.

Jeeez, life's good at the moment.

6 Months

Six months ago today I weighed 93 kg. My body fat percentage would have been over 50%

Today I weigh 75.6 kg and my body fat percentage is 38%.

I have lost 17.4 kgs (over 38 lbs) and more than 12% body fat.

I have gone from wearing size 18-20 to size 14-16 (more 14 than 16!!)

I have lost many centimetres.

I can run 6 kilometres ... and still be able to breathe at the end.

I have confidence I had forgotten existed (if it ever did).

I shop for clothes in 'normal' shops and enjoy the process.

I haven't dieted ... I eat what my body wants and it often wants chocolate or cheese. I don't eat low fat food unless it tastes bloody good - which is rarely.

I have fitness goals. I want to do a challenging bush walk and will start training for that in the new year.

I still have a long way to go. I want to lose another 12 kilos and 13% body fat but I know it will happen if I keep focused on my fitness and not the scales.

Six months ago today Fireman Sam came over and started the regime that has resulted in this incredible internal and external transformation.

And I feel fantastic.

A Day OFF!!!

Blogger won't let me upload a photo :(

I have been in my new role for 6 weeks. And because I am full time I get an accrued day off every four weeks. Tomorrow is my first. I have never been so excited about a day off! My boss is good and let me leave an hour early to make up for extra time I've put in.

I went to Camberwell to pick up One and went for a wander down Burke Road. I ended up in a shop and bought a new skirt and three new tops. Well, I bet you would have too if you were able to buy MEDIUM sized clothes instead of XL. Now I need some new summer work shoes.

We came home and I started cleaning up the house. It really needed a good going over. Himself has done bits and pieces but it's never had all the floors done, the surfaces dusted and the bathrooms cleaned. I have tidied the main living areas and our bedroom, dusted all surfaces (coff coff) and swept the tiled floors (most of the house). My back started to really hurt so tomorrow I will vacuum the carpets, clean our bathroom, change our sheets and wash the floors. I had hoped to have it all done tonight but I want to run tomorrow and don't want to risk knackering my back. Hopefully from here on in I can keep on top of it all.

Speaking of running, I did the 5 laps (6k) in one go yesterday. It took me 50 minutes but that's OK. The new regime is running MWF and weights and ab work T and Th. And probably one day on the weekend. And I plan to do something at the weekends, either a good long walk or a bike ride.

It's 9.00pm and Three has just arrived home with pizza so I'm off to watch some telly, enjoy a glass of wine and eat pizza. And then hit the sack so I can get up and run tomorrow.

I am stoked!

I have just got back from the early morning training session. I ran 3 laps of the park which = 3.6k. I then had a break as One sprinted shorts laps in training for his fireys fitness test. I then decided that I had another lap in me so set off and as I was coming round the final bend Fireman Sam was there telling me to keep going. He ran with me and I did a 5th lap!! So in less than 6 months I have gone from not being able to run 20 metres to running 6k. That is now my benchmark. From now on I run 5 laps.

GO ME!!

Sunday afternoon

The weekend has snuck away from me again.

Yesterday I played golf with my usual partners. It's a small course and the fairways aren't very long but even so, I was gobsmacked when I shot a hole in one!!!!!!!!! Thank goodness the girls were with me and we were all watching my ball. Very exciting that was.

The boys have been out and about all weekend. Himself has been fitting blinds to the windows at the back of the house to keep those rooms cooler. It's getting hot early this year. Forecast for 37 degrees C tomorrow.

I had great plans for a long bike ride or at least a good long walk this weekend but haven't achieved either. It's now nearly 4pm so neither are going to happen but I'll go for a walk around the block and park shortly.

Fireman Sam and I had the morning to ourselves on Wednesday as Gina and One couldn't get themselves out of bed. We were talking about other goals and he mentioned a mammoth bushwalk in southern Tasmania. It is only for experienced bushwalkers and the conditions are very rugged. I have always wanted to bushwalk (hiking for those non-australians out there!) but have never found anyone to walk with and it's not a good idea to go bush on your own. I could join a bushwalking club but that's not really my scene as I prefer to do things with people I know well, like family. Anyway. My ultimate goal is to do the South Coast Walk one day. So I need to start with small walks. With Christmas fast approaching (and I've done NOTHING!) I doubt I'll get out until next year but Fireman Sam says he'll put together some walks and we'll see where we go from there.

Work is really good. I am enjoying it and getting really good feedback from my immediate boss and the manager of the department for the network.

On Friday I popped into my old department to see if a particular patient was there (he was and I was pleased to see he is doing as well as can be expected). Another patient was having treatment. This bloke doesn't have cancer but requires treatment every 6 weeks or so for a blood disorder and has been coming for years. He commented on not seeing me for a while and I explained that I had changed jobs. He asked if I had lost weight to which I replied 'yes'. He then said "You look good. You look REALLY good!" I'll take compliments wherever I can find them!!!

On that note I'm going for a walk. I still need to lose another 10 kilos to get into the healthy BMI range. It's very easy to become complacent when receiving positive comments and having more choices with clothes shopping but I don't want to stay where I am. I want to get super fit and the weight loss will be a pleasant by-product.

I'll try and update more regularly now that I'm not so knackered after work! Have a great week everybody.

Where did the weekend go?

On Friday night Himself and I went to a different place for dinner. It was OK. We fluttered on the pokies and won enough to pay for one meal so that was good. We will go back to this place and probably become members.

Yesterday I played golf with Jenny. More good holes than bad but I'm still a crappy player and really need to get some lessons. Time is the problem.

In the afternoon I went for a walk down along the beach at Brighton - and took my trusty camera. The above are all from that walk.

Two came over for dinner. It was good to have him around. One went out with some friends. Three rang to say he had fallen at a shopping centre and split his chin. It had been raining and was very slippery underfoot. Tina took him to hospital and he has stitches. I guess he was lucky he didn't do more damage.

Today Three and I went shopping for shoes. The ones he was wearing last evening had no grip left on the sole! I tried to find some casual summer shoes for me. I have been looking for the past few weeks and have found them but the shops either don't have them in my size or are so understaffed I get irritated and leave without being served. Today was the latter. Again.

The house needs a good clean but it's been raining and people keep traipsing muddy footprints all over the place so I might give it a go on Tuesday which is a holiday - Melbourne Cup.

I will be training on my own this week. One, Fireman Sam, Gina and Steff are going away for a few days leaving tomorrow afternoon but none of them want to get up in the morning!

And on that note, I'm going to bed.

Have a good week, all.