Latest Update

Hi all, how are you?

I'm feeling quite refreshed from my few days in Melbourne over the weekend. But first things first - weigh in. Was completely ecstatic to have lost 400g this fortnight (no weigh in last Friday as was away). I ate and drank like a champion over the past week, but luckily all the walking around in Melbourne has helped out. I'm now in the 77's!!! YAY! I also did my measurements today. First time since March. I was over the moon with the results. Since March, 5 months ago, I have lost 34.5cm! Here's the results since last time:

		20/03/2009	7/08/2009	Loss
Neck		32	31	1
R Arm		34	31.5	2.5
L Arm		34	32	2
Chest		95	93	2
Waist		84	79	5
Hips		113.5	100.5	13
R Leg		60.5	56	4.5
L Leg		60.5	56	4.5
				34.5

 I'm pretty amazed with the hips and waist measurements. I was wondering what coul have led to this (the previous 3 months I'd only lost 10cm all up), and considering my weight hasn't dropped too much since then and guess what I started on the 19th March? Pilates. Could it be? This is really the only change in my routine. hehehe guess what? I just checked out my weight and I was 87kgs in 20th March so I've lost 9.3kgs since then - avg 490g per week loss. So yeah I have lost weight too but still those measurements are awesomesauce. I have been getting heaps of compliments and although I don't feel like I'm getting smaller, I guess I am toning and reshaping which is great. Still HATE my arms.

Anyway Melbourne was fantastic. GB and I want to move there... one powerball. We stayed at my Aunty's apartment which is about 200m from Chapel St. Ate at Bistro Guillaume - 2009 Best New Restaurant of the Year in Australia. It was awesome. We saw Avenue Q which, whilst slightly disturbing, was pretty bloody hilarious. That night we even walked home from the city (about 5kms). We also had a great lunch at Donovan's in St Kilda - saw Ian Hewie Hewitson having lunch with his family there too! We walked around the DFO in the city and around Bridge Rd and Swan St in Richmond, up and down Chapel Street. It was truly fantastic. Had a great meal at Movida's too which is allegedly Australia's best tapas. I'm still partial to Duende but it was very very good that's for sure.

I had a few issues with PBing and cramps everytime I ate something. I've got a terrible feeling I have a band slip. Also got some nice night reflux last night too. It doesn't matter what time I eat dinner, I always feel like it's still sitting in my easophagus (spelling anyone?) when I go to bed. I have an appointment next Wednesday so I'm going to ask for the dreaded barium swallow to check things out. Fingers crossed it's all good.

Ok well I better get back to work. Will try to catch up on everyone's blogs soon.

Em :)

Just stuff

Hey there, look at this - another post!

Just thought I'd drop a quick line to say GB and I had a great time at the beginners dancing course (Week 1). We learnt the progressive barn dance, progressive jive and the slow rhythm. I'd done the barn dance way back in high school and it did come back to me so that's good. They have a social dance after the class so you can practice alongside the intermediate/advanced classes. Got thrown around a bit by one of the other beginners and rolled my ankle (although I soldiered on for another 20mins!) so it's a bit tender. But we both enjoyed ourselves which is the main thing.

Yesterday I went for a swim with GB after work. Did I mention that in their infinite wisdom GB and 2 mates have decided to enter the 2009 Busselton Ironman? Well they have. Just for the unititiated, the ironman consists of a 3.8km open water swim, 180km cycle and 42.2km run (that's a marathon folks). A friend of ours did the whole thing by himself a couple of years ago - took 13hrs. GB and his friends are entering as a team, taking 1 leg each. GB is doing the swim. So he's bought a full body suit and doing some swimming lessons etc. He's asked for my support (which he has of course) in swimming a couple times a week. But geez it's cold! At least the gym up the road has an indoor 50m pool. Last night I did 1km and GB did 1.5kms. took about 40mins (forgot to check the clock). My shoulder is a tad sore though. Man, can I complain anymore??

I've just come out of my pilates class. Onto term 2. Felt super flexible today! GB has joined in too - he's onto his 2nd week. I don't think he's enjoying it very much but I'm sure it will help his core strength which will help his back problems that he has.

This past week I've been really uninterested in food. It's a complete first for me. Like I don't feel like eating anything at all. Of course I still am, we all need food, but I'm usually thinking about nice stuff to cook for dinner but the past week.. meh... don't care... crackers will do. It's weird I tells ya.

Anyhoo, best get back into my work clothes!

Em :)

Back in the game!

Phew! To be honest, when I had a sneak at my weight yesterday I knew that I'd lost what I'd put on but somehow overnight I got a nice big suprise with a 1.3kg lost from last week so I lost what I'd put on in the past two weeks plus more! YAY! So close to breaking the 82's now! After last week's disappointment and GB's frustration with not being able to crack his last kilo we did our measurements. GB has lost more cms (22) in the past 2 months than he did in the previous 6 months which is terrific! And I was relieved to see that although I hadn't lost much weight over the past two months, I've lost about 18cm still.

So this week I've done a couple of jog/walks of the 7km bridges loop. Best time was 62mins but I'm keen to get under 60mins over the weekend (weather permitting). After a month sans rain, Perth has finally hit winter with storms and torrential rain, strong winds the last couple days. I'm stressing out about our poor pooch today. The cleaner was coming this morning so I had to leave her outside. She has shelter under the portico but the wind is blowing the rain in all directions!!! I'll go and rescue her at lunchtime. We went and did the RSPCA Million Paws Walk on sunday with some friends. Got some great pics. One of our friends  has a 13week old border collie - SO CUTE! Here's some pics:

Happiest dog around!

For some reason the caption won't work here:

Abbie, Westie & Connor

So it's my birthday on 1st June - WA kindly having a public holiday to celebrate! I just found out the GB has organised a lunch with all our friends up in the Swan Valley on the Sunday! It was supposed to be a surprise but one of my friend's let the cat out of the bag this morning! Going to be a great day!

Oh and THANK GOD the chocolate challenge is over! Clearly though by my results this week it may have been a factor. I also cut down substantially my iced coffee intake (think I only had it twice) and started having a yoghurt for breakfast. So I guess I will try to reduce my chocolate intake even though this past week has been AWFUL!!!

BTW - my arse... sorry glutes... are super sore today. Pilates did an absolute number on them yesterday! GB is starting pilates with me next week so hopefully there'll be someone in the class worse than me at it!! On June 2nd we are starting a 7 week beginner's dance course too. I think it'll be fun and good exercise and will give us an idea about what we want to do for the "First" dance on the big day.

Well that'll do, don't forget to leave me a comment - even just to say hi!

Em :)

Well...

What do you think about my new background etc? A change is as good as a holiday as they say, but unfortunately I'm not talented enough to design my own layout so had to choose from one of the themes available.

200g lost this week. Fark. Maybe I'm not eating enough? Some days I don't have lunch because I often PB it anyway. This week with GB being off on his boys trip I haven't been cooking I must admit! I have had a few not so healthy snacks too. Here's what I can remember:

Sunday:
Yoghurt (lunch)
A sm pastry tart
Salad

Exercise - 6km walk (just over 1hr)

Monday:
Light Iced coffee (small)
Diet yoghurt
Salad (lunch)
Quiche (dinner) - violently PB'd up :(

Tuesday:
Light Iced coffee (small)
Diet yoghurt (PB'd)
Salad (lunch)
1/2 Potato, light sour cream, light cheese, bean mix (WW recipe)
4 x small  mince mix like san choi bow (WW recipe)
choc cookies
Coke

Exercise - 45min walk

Wednesday:
Light Iced coffee (small)
Diet yoghurt
Salad (lunch)
Small bowl pasta
3x small veal cutlets (PB'd)

Exercise - 30min calorie burner L5 bike; 20mins weights

Thursday:
Light Iced coffee (small)
Diet yoghurt (lunch)
Salad (dinner)
1 sml pack vege chips

Exercise - 60min pilates; 45 min walk

Oh and I had a chocolate most days. Hmmmmmmm

I'm definately not drinking enough water. Going to fill water bottle up right now. And, done.

Missing GB. He's off in the Northern Territory on his boys trip and has been out of range for the past couple of days so haven't even been able to talk to him which sucks.

Fighting with DPI. Went into one of their offices 5 weeks ago to renew my driver's licence, change my address, get a new photo and have my visual aid conditions removed (thank you laser eye surgery). 2 weeks later, when I still hadn't received it, I called them and was told there was a mixup with my address because I'd also changed it online and it went to my old address. I tell them I have a redirection so I still should have received it but I didn't. Apparently I have to wait till 4 weeks before they can request a replacement. A few days later I get a sticker in the mail for my old address. Helpful. Then when 4 weeks had passed I called them again, they need my new address in writing. So I fax them a diatribe about the situation again giving my details in writing for the THIRD time. Yesterday in the mail I get a change of address sticker for my new address. STill not helpful when I don't have a farking valid drivers licence to stick it too. Plus the whole point of changing it when renewing my license was so that my new license would have my new address on it and a sticker wouldn't be needed.

So now I've sent them yet another fax, giving them until next Friday to get me my farking licence or I'll take my complaints further. I don't know who too, but I'll find the premier if I need to. Geez. No wonder people have such disrespect for government departments. And I work for one!!!

So pilates yesterday was a lot more fun than last week. We did a lot of on the ball work which helped me because my core isn't very strong so I had extra support.  Backs of legs and shoulders sore today though.

Last Friday I did a mini health assessment at work. She crapped on about the importance of eating brekkie - didn't tell her about the band - just nodded along. Had to stand on one of those smart scales which we all know are highly inaccurate...right?? My results were:

Cholesterol: Normal <3 mmol/ltr
Blood Pressure: OK - 105/80
Body Fat: 42.1% (significantly overweight)
Total Body Water Percentage: 41.8% of total body weight. Females should be 45-60%
Muscle Mass: 48.5kg muscle (overweight - higher body fat % with moderate muscle mass)
Basal Metabolic Rate: 6681kj rqd for BMR (no where near that!)
Metabolic age: 50. Slowest you can get!
Bone Mass: 2.6kg - Women 75kg + = 2.95kg
Visceral Fat: 7 rating = healthy 1-12

EEK!

Anyhoo, that'll do. Please leave me a comment, even if just to say hi!

Em :)