My Itty-Bitty Christmas Miracle

100 itty-bitty grams (3.5oz) to be exact...

I weighed in this morning and was over-the-moon to see 95.1kg! Not only did I successfully counter-act the two days of Christmas damage, I even managed to lose some (Okay, okay, it was minuscule, I'll stop...)

But I was pretty happy... That's all I'm saying...

:)

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I potentially made a pretty bad decision today, however. Being Friday, I am supposed to be living it up, Lazy Style with a scheduled rest day. This is probably pretty important since, with all the 'Christmas Schedule Shuffling', the last rest day I had was the 20th... That's ten long day ago and not within the one day per week recommendation. But this isn't really the issue... My reasoning behind the decision is the bad part. I have switched my rest day to be Sunday which, by happy coincidence, is New Years Day. Given my gung-ho plans to be well-behaved and raring to go on NYD, this should be unnecessary, right? Unfortunately, dear readers, I have such little faith in myself to be 'well-behaved' that I will break pretty much every rule in the training book!

• Don't train the same discipline two days in a row (by the end of tomorrow I will have run three days in a row)
• Rest one day per week
• Don't be a weak sissy and give into the temptation of too much celebratory NYE alcohol.

Berate away, I need a stern talking to!

I'm not going into this with my head completely screwed on backwards. I read this article on SparkPeople that gave me some tips for reducing the damage and, at the end of the day, the memories of the fall-out from last NYE are still vivid enough to keep me relatively on the straight and narrow.

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I'm not sure I will post another entry tomorrow so I want to wish all the people that stop by and check out my blog a Happy New Year. I am wishing you all only good things for 2012. Danny and I are meeting with some friends for dinner and then some shenanigans at one of their houses :) Hopefully the neighbours won't be too generous with their noise complaints!

What are your big NYE plans? Will you be naughty or nice? :)

Thanks for reading... K

The Mysterious Cardi + A Scary Video

Before Christmas, during a rushed lunchtime shopping trip, I went in search of a cardi at Target to match a dress I wanted to wear over the festive season. I already had one in a black size 16 (US12) but I needed one in pink or blue to go with the dress. As I flicked through the racks I could only find the right colour in a size 14 (US 10). I grabbed it, without time to try it on, and just hoped it would fit. After all, it was only one size smaller than the one I had, right?!

When I got home I tried the cardi on. Cue the sausage arms... I was a bit horrified. How can one size make so much difference?? I chucked it my washing pile ready for my 'still to small' collection and sulked a bit while pulling on the mis-matched black version.

A few days later, as I was folding the offending cardi, I went to pull the tags off when I noticed something weird.

You say what now? 12??

Okay, I know that I definitely grabbed a size 14 hanger but I guess it's not such a 'rare' thing that the wrong size would be hung on the wrong hanger. But then I looked at the actual ticket...

I'm really concerned about my observation skills! One difference I can understand, but two? *Oh dear!*

'Scuse the hair, I hadn't broken out the straightener :)

I don't feel so bad about the sausage arms now! The cardi will remain in the 'too small' pile but it's pretty exciting to know that I am so close to being able to wear a size 12 (US8)

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I had the great displeasure this afternoon of finding some videos that Danny had taken during our 2009 holiday to New Zealand. I had never looked at these because I was always too ashamed but I forced myself to watch. Danny walked into the room as one was playing and we were both pretty shell-shocked. Somehow, we both hadn't realised just how big I was (135kg, not even my heaviest!))...

Here is one clip... I was distraught when this skirt got too big because I thought it looked great... What was I thinking?

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Today is officially one calendar month until the triathlon. I am feeling unprepared yet ready at the same time!? I have decided that December is probably a really sucky time to be training for... well, anything, but at least it's keeping me relatively on track!

Weigh-in tomorrow! *Eeep*

Thanks for reading... K

The Salad That Saved Christmas

Reading through some blogs I feel a little bad. I read about people who are doing everything in their power to lose weight and, as hard as they try, it's just not working for them. I count myself pretty lucky that I don't seem to have problems getting rid of the weight, albeit at a seemingly glacial pace sometimes. I know that I could lose more each week but I love food too, too much and if I restrict myself too much there, it will only lead to an all-out, flecks of food flying everywhere, junk food feast.

While I find it relatively easy to drop the kilos, I can put them on at an alarming speed! Christmas this year made me remember that in a very swift fashion. My pre-Christmas weigh-in on Friday had me at 95.2kg. Monday evening, just out of curiosity, I hopped back on the scales for a look-see. Probably not my brightest moment considering I had just eaten a bowl of leftover pudding with soy ice-cream, raspberries and maple syrup :( Mental note: Weigh yourself before eating the dessert you were already too full to eat, it may just stop you from making a bad decision.

Needless to say, when the scale read 97.4kg I was pretty sh**ty at myself. I take full responsibility because every single thing I ate was my own decision. No one once said "Here, you simply must try this" or "One more won't hurt".

I promptly spooned the rest of the pudding and ice-cream into a bowl and made Danny eat it and devised a plan to combat the Christmas bulge. Seeing as I was/am already pooped from the triathlon training, adding more exercise in wasn't really an option. At the same time I needed to make sure I was getting enough energy from my food to fuel myself, especially seeing as double sessions start this week. After all the planning and remembering things that Christmas brought, I wanted a plan that was going to be idiot-proof and easy. The less I had to think about food, the better. And, most importantly, I wanted it to involve food I enjoyed because there was no way any plan was going to work if it was based on eggplant and silverbeet... *blergh*

I won't bore you with the exact details of it all but I have kicked out all of the Christmas junk and processed foods. Coffee stays but the alcohol, that was becoming a little too common around here, is gone. And, thanks to the legendary Angela @ Oh She Glows, I have my magic weapon! Earlier this month she started a '12 Days of Christmas' full of healthier festive options. When I spied her 'Over the Rainbow Cabbage Salad' I knew it was going to be a winner. I made it that night and about 5 times since then adapting it a little along the way. Danny likes it, it's filling and, for bonus points, it's damn pretty! 

 Food photography is not my strong point! 

Check out Angela's blog for some beautiful pictures.

How am I utilising it in my plans for World Domination reversing the yuletide damage? Lunch and dinner consists of half a plate of this salad, the best tartare sauce in the world (thinned with a little water to make it more 'dressing' consistency), a protein and a small amount of carb. The salad keeps for a few days when stored in the fridge and I am getting about three cups of vegetables with each meal. I am not the biggest fan of salads as a general rule, but this one has won my heart. Okay, enough gushing about a damn salad, here's the recipe! Oh, did I mention it's super easy and very quick...

The Salad That Saved Christmas

Adapted from THIS RECIPE at 'Oh She Glows'

1/2 head of Red Cabbage (10-12 cups approx)
2 Carrots, peeled and then shaved into long strips with the peeler
2 Red capsicums (bell peppers), diced
3 sticks of Celery, chopped finely
1 medium White Salad Onion, diced (if you can't find a salad onion, a red onion will also work)
50g Snow Pea Sprouts (small handful)
75g Baby Spinach (About 3 big handfuls)
1/2 cup fresh Parsley, chopped finely

Combine all the ingredients into a very big bowl (or two not so big bowls) and toss until well mixed. Serve as is or with your chosen dressing. Angela's Tahini Lemon Dressing is delicious with this!

I really encourage you to play around with this salad, as I did with Angela's original version. Don't like peppers? Replace them with something else! I suggest something else red so that you keep the 'prettiness factor' intact. Really like onion? Add more! Find it boring on it's own? Add your favourite dressing or try out a new one!

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Thanks for reading... K

Monday Training Update #4

Late again... At least it's only a day this time and I am playing the Christmas card!

Another week started as it usually does with Monday :) I'd changed things up a bit and instead of a trip to the pool I was due to jump on Sprocket. Mother Nature had other plans and when the sky opened up and a massive storm passed through I climbed onto the exercise bike instead. An hour on a bicycle is mild torture, an hour on an exercise bike is excruciating! Even with a good movie on it was boring as hell.

Tuesday was supposed to become pool day but with a work Christmas dinner that night I figured I could either bust my gut trying to fit everything in or make another switch and use up my rest day instead. I knew I would regret it when Friday rolled around but it made life easier.

With the change the day before, I ended up at the pool on Wednesday. In order to avoid the big after-work crowds and lack of available lanes (Seriously, why have only 4 lanes open at the busiest time of the day!?) I took my lunch break early and went to the pool in the morning. Despite this there was still enough of a crowd for me to end up in the 25m pool. The swim itself was good and I had my lane to myself the whole time. I am still trying to work out exactly how I can time myself when I am at the 'Big Kids Pool' because the only easy to read clock they have is one of those official timing clocks that don't really assist when trying to time more than 100m.

Thursday became run day. The mid-week run went from 30 minutes to 45 and the awesome pace I had recorded last week disappeared :( I shouldn't be too down about it because it's not like it was a hideous pace by my standards, I was just hoping the increase in speed was going to be permanent.

When Friday rolled around I reaaaaalllly wished it was rest day but alas, the Tuesday swap meant I had to head back to the pool. I stupidly thought that, being the Friday before the Christmas break, that the pool would be a little quieter. What I didn't realise was that Friday is the day that every person in the local area over the age of 65 gets together at the pool. Now I do not for a second want to seem like I deny them the opportunity to maintain their fitness by swimming. But they didn't seem to be doing that. Little groups of elderly people would gather at the ends of the lanes set aside for lap swimming, giggling and gossiping like teenagers. I chose the least populated lane and started my laps getting more and more angry about the annoying old man at the end of the lane that insisted on floating around, smack bang in the middle of the lane, a metre and a half from the wall. In the 10 laps I did he did one!! And this was in the 'medium speed' lane that was clearly marked 'for lap swimming only'!!! Okay, so I am still a little worked up about it...

On Saturday, the schedule went back to normal and I got my run and strength training in before I started cooking up a storm for Christmas. My run was at the slower pace again and it aggravated me no end but my mind kept drifting from concentrating on my speed to thinking about all the things I had to do and remember.

On Christmas Day I did something I have never before done in my life. I exercised!! In my 26 years I have perfected the art of a slothful Christmas Day, moving from one gathering to another, feeding myself along the way. Don't get me wrong, I still ate wayyyy too much food and I am sure I will pay dearly for it come weigh-in day but my Sunday bike ride would wait for no man (or celebration). After he ingested a mountain of pancakes for Christmas breakfast Danny decided some exercise wouldn't be too bad either so we rode Sprocket and Huffy for an hour which gave me a fantastic opportunity to try out my most favourite gift, a iPhone bike mount! The only thing that would have made its debut even more awesome? If I had remembered to charge my phone before we left. We got 45 minutes in before RunMeter shut off because of low battery :( 

 

 

Next week's schedule

Double sessions begin!! *Eeek*

MONDAY

AM Swim (400m)

PM Strength+Cardio (TBL Weightloss Yoga)

TUESDAY

AM Run (45min)

PM Cycle (65min)

WEDNESDAY

AM Swim (400m)

PM -

THURSDAY

AM Run (45min)

PM -

FRIDAY

AM Rest:)

PM Rest:)

SATURDAY

AM Run (50min)

PM Strength Training (Cardio+Weights)

SUNDAY

AM Cycle (65min)

PM Run (45min)

Thanks for reading... K

I'm Still Here!!

It's been a week since I wrote an entry and about that long since I had a chance to catch up with what's been happening with everyone else in blog-land. I totally blame the crazy Christmas rush. It's the one time of year that I really do miss being a kid. Your biggest job as a wee tacker is to wake up and open presents! But alas, I am a grown up now, with important grown up jobs to do!

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas, but I hope they didn't eat as much as I did and have a major case of the Boxing Day guilts! Thank goodness it happens but once a year!

The Friday before Christmas I had a good weigh-in, losing 0.8kg. I really wish that I could still have losses of 1kg+ but I guess it has to slow down at some point! I haven't updated the data in the right hand column yet because we are so close to another Friday weigh-in that there's not much point.

What I did do however, was drag out a picture from Christmas Day last year and do a side-by-side comparison. I can remember that last Christmas I had lost 20kgs and I was feeling pretty good with how I looked but when I look at the pictures now I really can't see why. It really makes me wonder how I will perceive pictures from now when I am at my goal weight because I feeling pretty happy with how everything shaping up right now!

Hell yeah, I got to wear shorts and they didn't automatically bunch up at the thighs like they have had a nasty habit of doing in the past! WIN!

I spent Christmas Eve with my Dad, who travelled in from out of state, and the extended family from that side. I hadn't seen lots of these people in at least a year so there was lots of positive comments. Danny later told me that I have to get better at taking compliments but I really don't want to step over the mark of gracious into the land of 'full of myself'.

(I've deleted this bit to avoid any future 'family tension' issues)

Enough with all of my negative bitchiness... I had a fantastic time with my extended family and my lovely husband -

On Christmas Day we were up bright and early to make pancakes for breakfast with Danny's family. We got to spend the morning with the newest addition to that side of the family. It's also the first girl on that side so everyone is pretty excited. She had only left the hospital the day before!!

While I'm not ready to have kids myself, I really do love my nieces and nephews! I had lots of fun playing with my nephews and all their new toys. 

When we got home I got to play with one of my own new toys! My Brother-in-law had gotten me an iPhone bike mount! While I loved all my gifts this was by far my favourite. I attached it to the handle bars and Danny and I went for a Christmas Day bike ride. It turns out that Danny runs on pancake fuel because he was powering along. Me on the other hand? I felt like the pancakes and the food from the night before was weighing me down and I wasn't moving anywhere fast.

By the time I got to my Mum's house for dinner I was exhausted. Thankfully, of all our family members, my Mum is probably the 'easiest'. She is always super accommodating in terms of food (given the vegan thing) and it's all very laid back, just like Christmas should be. I sat, I ate (too much food) and I drank wine (too much wine *gulp*). My Mum has a huge vegetable garden so we had fresh strawberries and raspberries for dessert and Danny found me a new pet

It's a teeny tiny snail!!

And before I went home to go to bed in a wine-induced happy Christmas haze we got one more photo for comparison purposes... The first picture is Christmas 2008 when I was at my heaviest weight. I can't wait to see next years picture!!

Hahaha, I've just realised my Step-Dad is wearing the same t-shirt in both pictures! A lucky Christmas shirt perhaps?

Thanks for reading... K

Monday Training Update #3

Another training week started with my Monday trip to the 'big kids pool'. I really wasn't feeling it... I had a doctors appointment scheduled for afterwards and, while I'm not afraid of the Doc, it does cause some mild anxiety. I tried so hard to concentrate on my swimming but my mind would drift. I was getting overtaken in the slow lane (although I think this was more to do with my lane mate being in the incorrect lane) and I found myself panicking that I wasn't get enough air which lead to me almost hyperventilating. This was a big concern for me because the last time I swam competitively (Swimming carnival, 1^st year of high school) this was exactly what happened and I barely finished the race. I got on Twitter and put out a call to arms and TriGirl was lovely enough to offer a suggestion that I put in my metaphorical back pocket until Thursday’s swim session.

Tuesday... Oh Tuesday... I achieved a big goal but I wish I could erase the memory. I had a 60 minute bike ride scheduled, just the same as last week. I picked my bike up from Danny's work a few minutes later than I would have liked. As I walked from the building where he worked he mentioned something along the lines of “Well, I guess you won't get as far as last week” referencing my late start. One hour and 37 minutes later I pulled into my driveway, almost 40kms from my start point. Danny arrived home in the car seconds later. So what happened? My dear, darling husband decided to go to the hardware store on the way home! I stood in my driveway, barely able to form coherent sentences, convinced that my will to live had fallen out of my butt somewhere back on the road... Perhaps at kilometre 36? 37? Danny was kind enough to put my bike away for me... So kind...

After last weeks post-cycle run, I was a little hesitant about Wednesday's run. Picking up my shoes (Yes! Finally!) off lay-by gave me the boost I needed to get excited about the run. Ahhh, fresh shoes... What a fabulous feeling! I could feel almost immediately that they were going to do wonders for the annoying plantar facsiitis issue I had been having in my left foot. What I didn't count on was them feeling so good that I would manage a PB time! I made 4.67km in 30 minutes... Slow for some, but I am a bit of a penguin at the moment. I am getting closer to that sub30 5K though!!

On Thursday morning I woke up feeling like I was living under a giant fatigue cloud. I wandered through the day stifled by this overwhelming sensation and I wondered if I was doing too much. Had I completely forgotten that I was still a fat chick and that perhaps I was pushing too hard? I was pretty relieved that only a pool session stood between me and a glorious rest day. I am happy to report that, even though I was tired, the trip to the 'kiddies' pool was excellent. After having to share the space with Mr Splashy last week, I had it all to myself again this week. AND best of all, I gave TriGirl's breathing suggestion a go and lo-and-behold, it worked wonders! Why I was surprised I don't know, she knows her stuff! The bad news is that the 'kiddies pool' now shuts until mid-January for holidays and repairs so I need to get a new plan for my Thursday swims :(

Friday, rest day, no words required ahhhhh

My schedule got a bit of a switch up on Saturday which would continue through to the middle of week 4. Instead of my Saturday morning run I was back on the bike for another 60 minute ride. My butt was still a little tender and I forgot to re-start my RunMeter after stopping to blow my nose so I lost about a kilometre of data but it was a pretty good ride. I had strength training scheduled for the afternoon but I thought “Why would I wait a few hours to do weights which will mean having to do some cardio to re-warm my body if I can do them straight after my ride?” So that's what I did and I saved myself 30 brain-draining minutes on the exercise bike warming up! Probably not the best idea when it comes to burning more calories but I figured the 1,000+ I had already burnt was sufficient for the day.

I so wanted to sleep longer on Sunday morning but I needed every hour I could get. I started out with my scheduled 45 minute run which was pretty fantastic. I run up one big hill during my usual route which I have kindly named 'Ass Breaker Hill'. It's only 350m to the top but it still sucks. At my normal pace I hit the ten minute mark at the bottom of ABH so I was a bit confused when I was at the top, breathing like a freight train and my RunMeter App hadn't told me I had passed the ten minute mark!? I got worried that I hadn't started the timer properly or the app had malfunctioned and then the little voice chimed in and told me I was at the ten minute mark!! I had gone almost 500m further than I usually did and my pace was smoking! Well, for me it was pretty fast :) I had not only bust through the 6:00km point, I had smashed it with a 5:43km pace! Whoo hoo! I am convinced that these shoes came with complimentary fairy dust!

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I had to make some changes to next week's schedule due to festive season commitments *sigh* This social butterfly thing is such hard work LOL

Next week's schedule

MONDAY

AM Strength Training (TBL Weightloss Yoga)

PM Cycle (60min)

TUESDAY

AM -

PM Swim (400m)

WEDNESDAY

AM -

PM Run (45min)

THURSDAY

AM -

PM Swim (400m)

FRIDAY

AM Rest:)

PM Rest:)

SATURDAY

AM Run (45min)

PM Strength Training (Cardio+Weights)

SUNDAY

AM Cycle (65min)

PM -

Thanks for reading... K

The Cherry Cure-All

Today has been a bit of a rollercoaster day. I started out with a run and I swear my new shoes must be magic because I have had two awesome runs this week with PB pace. I was pretty happy on Wednesday when I broke through the 6:30km mark... That was nothing! This morning I kicked 6:30 in the pants and smashed a 6:00km pace with 5:43km!

 I haven't found the wings yet but I am sure they are there!

When I got home Danny and I put our kayak on the trailer and headed out. When Danny had suggested  taking the kayak out last night, even though I knew I had a run to do, I didn't say no because Danny usually avoids physical movement (aside from bike rides) like the plague. On the way to the jetty we saw that our local cherry farm had opened! SCORE!

Fresh cherries! Christmas must almost be here!

We had a lot of fun paddling up and down the river with Danny paddling me into pylons and me 'accidentally' splashing him. Last time I had been in the kayak I was over 20kgs heavier and together Danny and I were over the weight limit for it (it's a two-person kayak). I spent the whole time either panicking because I was convinced we were going to sink or whinging about how hard it was and taking paddle breaks. But today we paddled our little butts off for an hour and all was well until the last ten minutes when I started to get really hungry. Hungry Kristin = Crabby Kristin. Luckily for Danny we were soon back at the car and the bag of cherries and all was well with the world again.

 Danny gives the big, blue kayak a bath!

We got home and I rushed a lunch together before Danny had to leave for a work function. Once he was gone I felt a bit melancholy... I think it was a bit because I was tired, a bit because I had such an awesome morning with Danny that the prospect of an afternoon and evening alone was a bit crappy. 

Then I got some bad news... Nothing major but in my already crap-a-licious mood it was definitely a case of 'All aboard the pity train' and I wallowed around as the emotional eating monster reared its ugly head. Thankfully, I've learnt a thing or two about him and I successfully squashed the urged to eat everything in the house... The pretzels, the beer nuts, the chocolate coated muesli bars... Everything except some more cherries :) Those things are freakin' awesome and I would have been eating more of them this afternoon anyway!

Instead of eating myself to temporary happiness I let myself lounge around on the couch for the afternoon. I watched some trashy TV, read some blogs and ate my cherries. And then I started to feel pretty good. Yes, I was at home, alone... Yes, I had gotten some less than stellar news BUT I since waking up this morning I had run a PB pace, gotten to eat some amazing cherries (seriously, I know I keep going on about them but they are A-MAZING), had an awesome morning with my husband (with beautiful weather to boot!) AND I had kept the emotional eating devil at bay for another day!

Plus, Danny being out of the house means I get the remote all to myself! I may go mad with power!!

Thanks for reading... K

The Baby Thing aka My Passive-Aggressive Way of Dealing With In-Laws

Disclaimer: I am not as nasty as this post may make me sound. Some of my in-laws and I don't get along like best buds (to say the least) and I have some wonderfully truamatising stories to share with you as time goes by about just exactly why that is but for now, when you read the line "how you wished your son married someone else" please note, this isn't me being paranoid! My MIL actually told me, at my engagement party, that she wished Danny was marrying my friend instead of me... She's a gem!

 

source

 

This really has nothing to do with the topics I normally blog about but as time goes on I am guessing I will run out of running/exercise and weight loss specific things to write about. Seeing as I find this blogging thing quite therapeutic I guess I should get used to writing about different topics. 

 

Lately the baby talk from my in-laws has gotten a bit full on. I know that they have been talking about me and babies because they each keep bringing it up with me... Will she, won't she? When? Why not? I honestly feel like telling them to get a new project.

I recently got a blood test done and commented on Facebook that it was the first time I had needed to get blood drawn. My sister-in-law's response to this was “You've done well not to have had any blood tests. Was it for a pregnancy by any chance......just impatient. Have been waiting 6 years now.” Maybe it was the picky mood I was in already or maybe I had just had enough of their unwanted comments but I got a bit peeved about it all. I commented that it will happen when it happens even though I wanted to say so much more! Because that's how Danny's family roll you know... Everyone smiles at each other so sweetly while sharpening a knife behind their backs.

source

So what would have I said if I knew I wouldn't have to deal with the fall out from the in-laws and the 'why-did-you-have-to-do-that's from Danny? 

I would say "Firstly, I am 26. I am not an old maid who is running out of fertile years. Just because you have a preconceived notion of 'the right time' that has no impact on me. In fact, out in the real world, away from the little bubble you are comfortable living in, it is not the norm for people to be settled down, married, popping out kids by 25! More power to you if that's your life choice but I have ONE close friend from school that has had a baby! One!! And only two that are married!! I am in good, child-free company. 

While you (to my sister-in-law) spend your money on nappies and child care or (to my mother-in-law) bailing out your daughter who has no money left until pay day because the price of baby formula has gone up, I choose to spend mine on me and my husband, on paying off my house, on doing the things I know won't be possible when I do have a baby. This is my choice, so yeah, you might be impatient but I am not you. 

And why would you want me to have a baby right now? Or any time in the last six years? For the majority of the last six years I have been morbidly obese. Not chubby, not overweight, I have been a walking heart attack in progress! My blood pressure was sky high, I couldn't climb the stairs at work without feeling light headed and gasping for breath!! 

 This body was not 'baby-ready'

And right now? I am still 20kgs (40lbs) above a healthy weight! I am not in any condition to give a baby the start in life that I want to provide but sure, if you say I should because you are ready for me to have a baby, who am I to be concerned about such pithy things as health? 

I will have a baby when I have the time to devote to him, the money to give him all the things I didn't have and the temperament to raise him to be a better adjusted than I am. (Note: my ill-adjustment is clearly evident in this, and my many other, angry posts! Definitely not ready for a child!) 

So the next time you get bored bitching about how I can lose weight and you can't, or how you wished your son married someone else, find another topic to discuss instead of my future child. Or even better, reflect on your own life and what's missing from it and take a second to realise that your advice and comments, especially when they are unsolicited and rude, are often wrong. 

I am me, you are you... The End"

When have people given you unwanted advice? And how did you deal with it? Were you brave enough to tell them face-to-face or did you go the 'random blog post that they will never see' route too? Am I just an uber-b**ch who uses her blog to rant and rave? (Ignore that last one, I know the answer)

Thanks for reading... K

Monday Training Update #2 (On a Friday... Good Job Kristin!)

It's Friday! How's that for a Monday training update!? Better late than never I guess...

My triathlon training officially started on Monday with swimming. I dragged Danny to the Olympic sized pool that's 40 minutes from our house because, while I love my little local pool, I really had to test my skills out in the same size pool that I will actually be swimming in on the day. (Yeah, the triathlon I am doing is a women's only 'for fun' event, no open water for me!) I have to say, it was A LOT different to my little pool. For starters, there were heaps of people there and obviously, the lanes were longer. I couldn't keep my iPhone on the edge of the pool to time myself so I just swam for about twenty minutes until the anxiety of all the people got too much and I went home. *errghh* I had strength training in the afternoon... 30 minutes on the exercise bike and then full body weights for half an hour. *yawn* I hate strength training...

On Tuesday I had a bike ride on my schedule. 60 minutes apparently... I hadn't spent sixty minutes on a bike, ever. I wondered exactly what this would do to me bum and if I would be doing John Wayne impressions the next day. When I set out after work, in my mind I had a rough idea of where I would end up after cycling for an hour. I was off... WAAAAYYYYYYY OFF. As I rode past the point at which I thought I would be finishing I didn't know whether to do a little dance or hang my head and cry because my RunMeter told me I was only at the halfway mark. I neither danced or cried because they really wouldn't have worked on the bike... Instead, I kept on riding. I ended up 6 short kilometres from my home when Danny finally pulled up beside me to rescue me pick me up. He asked "Are you sure you don't want to keep going so you can say you rode all the way home?" I told him that I had just ridden for an hour and twenty minutes (he was a little late to the rescue!) and covered 32kms. No, I did not want to keep riding, I wanted to sit down on something that wasn't a bike seat and relax.

When I woke up on Wednesday I was happy to find that I wasn't walking like John Wayne at all! I was surprisingly okay! I was pretty relieved because the thought of having to do the schedule 30 minute run with cowboy legs did not appeal at all. My joy was short-lived because as I started running that afternoon I experienced a sensation in my legs that I've never felt before. It wasn't pain... Far from it... It just felt like they weren't there! Well, obviously they were there but they felt numb. My mind told them to lift and they put in this shabby, half-hearted effort at lifting and then flomped back down! I briefly considered detouring around 'ass-breaker' hill but convinced myself I was doing no-one any favours by not including my one and only hill. I honestly felt like a slow moving mass of molasses so I was very surprised to find that my pace wasn't completely in the toilet! Hurrah for me!

By Thursday I was more than a little tired. I thanked the heavens above that Thursday was swimming day because, as anxious as I get about the whole swimming thing, it really is the easiest (I find) of all the disciplines. I was back at the little, local pool and I knew that once my required distance was done I would get to flop around in the warm, cozy water for the rest of my booking! What I didn't count on was rocking up to find an older gentleman was sharing my booking! What the...! What was even worse was that he wasn't there to swim, he was there to do a variety of exercises that seemed to involve causing as many waves in the water as possible. *sigh* I did my laps, randomly getting a big wave in the face as I tried to take a breath. Instead oh having a relaxing float for the final few minutes I got out of the water early in a huff and left him to swing his arms and legs around to his hearts content.

Friday... Glorious Friday.... REST DAY! Otherwise known as, celebrate-all-your-hard-work-with-an-astronomical-amount-of-fat-laden-Thai-food-day! Lesson learnt!

I felt re-charged when I work up on Saturday morning which was pretty lucky because it was going to be a big one! I did my run (40 minutes on the schedule, 45 minutes completed). My shoes were so far past their used by date that the plantar fasciitis in my left foot was screaming towards the end. I vowed to pay the rest of the money off my show lay by as soon as I got paid on Wednesday. I came home and instead of doing my strength training I spent four hour- baking and decorating a giant cake for Danny's Work Christmas Party. I was pretty proud of the cake but angry at myself for missing strength training :( I was even angrier at myself for eating a butt-load of the cake at the party *grrrr* I had just posted a gain that morning for goodness sakes!!

And finally Sunday rolled around and I rolled out of bed at 10am... Yes, despite all my bravado and posts about how wonderfully behaved I was going to be over the festive season, I had drunk too much again. Thankfully, by lunchtime, I was feeling 100% so Danny and I took Sprocket and Huffy on a road trip so that I could get my second 60 minute bike ride of the week in. Things moved at a much slower pace with Danny in tow but I was okay with that. I love getting out on the bikes with him and I figure if Tuesday's solo rides can be about speed, Sunday's rides can be with Danny and just count towards... I don't know... Technique?! Butt cheek vs. bike seat practise? Whatever!

And that's the week that was! One week down, seven to go!

ETA: Next week's schedule

MONDAY
AM   Swim (300m)
PM    Strength Training (TBL Weightloss Yoga)

TUESDAY
AM   -
PM   Cycle (60min)

WEDNESDAY
AM   -
PM   Run (30min)

THURSDAY
AM   -
PM   Swim (300m)

FRIDAY
AM    Rest:)
PM    Rest:)

SATURDAY
AM   Cycle (60min)
PM   Strength Training (Cardio+Weights)

SUNDAY
AM   Run (40min)
PM   -

Thanks for reading... K

A Nifty Footie NSV

I think this blog is well and truly ready for a good news story instead of my constant moaning and groaning. 

I hear every Blog worth it's weight in gold 

has a picture of the author's undergarments!

I bought these tights (pantyhose?) in October to wear to my friend's wedding. I bought them because they had nifty little footies that meant that I could wear open-toed shoes without being able to see the seam that you usually get with normal tights. 

I was wary...

At this stage I had two pairs of tights in my possession. Both were plus-sized because I had stopped fitting into regular sized tights somewhere in High School. Don't get me wrong, I had kept on wearing regular sized for a long time! I would yank them on, tear the gusset in about two seconds flat and then proceed to spend the day tugging them up all the while putting ladders in them from all the pulling and experiencing some horrific chafing... Delightful! A pair of tights would last me one wear.

Unfortunately, these little gems with the nifty footies only came in regular size *eek* I purchased a pair and headed home and gingerly pulled them out of the packet. As I pulled them on I can't tell you how surprised I was when they went up and stayed up! 

On the day of the wedding I put on my nifty footie tights (and the rest of my outfit :) ) and partied the night away. Then I wore them to work with a new dress, and again. Then my cousin's wedding rolled around and on they went. (Note: There was numerous trips to the washing machine in between these, just so you know) That night I made the unfortunate mistake, after two hours of non-stop dancing, to kick off my heels and keep dancing with just my precious nifty footie tights protecting me from the floor. 

When I went to wash them the next day I saw about two or three little ladders running along the bottom of each foot. I was as sad as you could be about pair of tights. I felt like we had a bit of a bond. So I did what any sane person with a very normal attachment to an inanimate objects does... I washed them and wore them again... This time to Danny's work Christmas Party. And do you know what? Even though there were little ladders in the nifty little footies, because I no longer had to constantly yank the tights up, they stayed right where they were, under my feet... No embarrassing 'stairways to heaven' developed!

The next day I did have to admit defeat though. At a measly $7 a pop, I realised I could just go and buy a new pair of the same tights. 

As I said my final goodbyes standing over the rubbish bin I thought about exactly why these tights meant so much to me. I realised that they summed up the person I have wanted to be for so long. I want to be comfortable, I want to be able to wear things that sit right, that I don't need to constantly have to pull up or down. I want my clothes to last more than one or two wears because I have stretched them too far or poked holes in them from the constant adjusting. I want to be able to choose clothes that are trendy or have a handy function like (yeah, I'm going to say it again) nifty little footies, not be dictated because there is only one thing that fits. 

So the reason that these tights mean so much? Because they mark the fact that, even though there is still a way to go on the scales, I AM the person I have wanted to be for so long. I get to wear clothes because I like them, not because they are the best of the dowdy items on offer. And when I wear them I can put them on, and just wear them instead of tirelessly pulling my top down or my pants up. 

So, who cares if I didn't have the best night on Saturday, if I have a stack of work on my desk that I should be doing instead of writing a blog entry, or even if Bupa tells me I should be doing a beginner 5K program! I can wear regular-sized tights and that's all that matters right now!!

ETA: Just did a spell-check... Who knew?! 'Footies' isn't a word?!? LOL

Thanks for reading... K

Stuff You Bupa!

I have often blabbed on about my love of my iPhone and, in particular, all the different apps. Today, bored with the options I already had, I went in search of something new that would occupy my fleeting attention span for at least five minutes.

This is how I stumbled across 'Ready, Set, Run!' from Bupa Australia. Apparently it can tailor a training program for you based on a Running Health Check that you complete, also via the app. This check asks you a lot of pretty standard questions - Medical Info, Lifestyle Info, Current Activity Levels including current training (pace, days per week). The very last question is "What goal would you like to achieve?" With options ranging from a 5K through to a Marathon.

There are a few important points for new readers here -

Yes, I am still considered to be obese

Yes, I am relatively new to this running thing BUT

I can run 5K

I can run 10K

I can run at least an hour without stopping

With this in mind, I selected a Half-Marathon as my goal.

And then this...

WTF!!!??? A beginner 5K program? I had just answered questions saying that I currently run regularly for decent amounts of time!

To rub salt in the wound, I decided to check out exactly what this Beginner 5K Program consisted of -

Point 1 - I AM a regular runner

Point 2 - I have a good running routine

Okay, so what kind of training should I be doing Bupa?

Are you kidding? This is the equivalent of Week 1, Day 1 of the C25K Program!!

So just for poops and giggles I thought I would see what the final day of this whizz-bang training program Bupa recommends I try out. Check out day 56!!

Needless to say, I am deleting the Bupa App. I am thoroughly offended... I might have to go for a run to relax... But don't worry Bupa, I'll be sure to run 1 minute, walk 2 minutes just as you say!

Thanks for reading... K

A Ways to Go

This weekend I learnt that I am not 'all fixed' when it comes to some of the issues I really struggled with at my highest weight.

I didn't get off to a wonderful start with my weigh-in resulting in a gain... It sucked... I am, of course, full of excuses and reasons. I started taking a new vitamin supplement during the week which resulted in some *ahem* issues... Let's say that I was a day away from splashing out and buying some Metamucil and we will leave it at that. I also tried to blame the increase in my physical activity... I mumbled to myself something about increasing my muscles etc etc. What I tried to ignore was the dinner I had indulged in the night before. Not only did I eat too much, the food was very high in sodium and the dessert... Oh dear Lord, the dessert... It was a Thai concoction with warm, creamy and very sweet coconut milk with doughy dumplings. High fat, high sugar, high carbs... But nooooo, the weight gain was because I was moving more...

I got my run in on Saturday morning but Danny's desperate last minute pleas that I make a cake for his company Christmas party meant that I ran out of time for strength training. I felt lazy and fat and angry... Not really the best mood to arrive at the party in...

The cake looked pretty awesome though!

I was wearing a dress that I had bought a couple of months before. I had bought it a couple of months before but I was only able to do the zip up this week. I was so excited but once I had it on I was massively peeved because I juts didn't sit 'right'. The chest section gaped and feel down leaving me in danger of flashing everyone :(

This was my reaction when Danny told me there was 'too much of me' to fit in a full-length picture!

It was kind of a big deal for me to go to Danny's work Christmas dinner. I hadn't been to the last two because I was self-conscious, shy and honestly thought that no one wanted to talk to me. I decided that this year I would go. I felt more confident and, due to my current dress obsession, I had some outfits I needed to start wearing. 

Turns out my confidence isn't quite as developed as I imagined it to be. I really did make an effort to talk to people and be interesting and approachable but I found myself hiding in the corner for most of the evening. All I wanted to do was burn up the dance floor like I did at my cousins wedding but my nerves just wouldn't let me go. So, I ended up doing what I do best, sitting at the table, alone, watching everyone party the night away while I proceeded to drink too much...

This morning Danny and I mooched around in bed, watching cheesy TV until 10am. I battled through the general ickiness that comes with too much wine, painfully aware that I was going to need to get off my arse and onto the bike. But not before feeding my hangover with the most disgusting things in the house... oven fries and leftover cake... That's right, after a weight gain, with perfectly healthy options available, I ate s**t I didn't need... So now I am neither as confident as I thought OR as smart with food choices! Dammit

Thankfully, the crappy food and a shower did wonders and Danny and I eventually made it to our cycling destination. With an hour to burn on the bikes we headed out. We battled wind and light rain and we are definitely going to need to get Danny some nifty padded shorts like mine because the complaints about his nether regions wore a bit thin towards the end.

We ended up having an awesome afternoon. The hangover was gone and we got to have some fun at a playground. We grabbed some lunch (I made much better choices this time!) and my day ended much better than it started. Now if I can just stay away from that stupid cake that keeps calling me from the fridge!!

Pointing out my sweaty bike butt

If you don't make strange faces, you're doing it wrong!

 As above

 So excited about lunch I couldn't even keep my eyes open!

Do you have any tips for me for being more outgoing when I am out of my comfort zone? Or do you suffer from shyness too?


Thanks for reading... K

Strawberry Fields Forever

The weather here has been a bit ridiculous. (I know, I know, talking about weather, how naff am I?) We are officially 6 days into summer and today was the first semi-acceptable 'summer' day. Despite the gloomy skies and rain that just doesn't want to disappear, I know summer is here. 'How?' you may ask.

PROOF!

Excuse the lack of make-up, I'd just been swimming

This weekend, on my way to the pool, I spied a sure sign that summer was on the way. THE FRUIT MAN! Each day, for three short months, The Fruit Man sets up his truck on the side of the highway and sells the best strawberries, cherries and apricots... And jam and relish and other yummy things! 

On the way home we stopped for cherries but sadly, there were only awesome strawberries left :) I had my giant tub full for just long enough to take the photo above before this happened...

And then this...

I ate a stack of them as is, and the chucked some in a banana protein smoothie. Unfortunately, I had already made a vegan version of Ali @ Running w/ Spatulas Strawberry Oat Muffins using a peach and a nectarine I had instead of strawberries. I spent a big chunk of my weekend reading through Ali's blog (in amongst strawberry feasting). She seems like such a down-to-earth, laid back person which is why I like reading her blog because I often feel so uptight and stressed it's like is balances me out a bit. I hope she doesn't mind me sharing the muffin recipe I came up with based on hers. THANKS ALI!

Fruity Oat Protein Muffins

Makes 12

Adapted from this recipe @ Running w/ Spatulas

• 1/4 cup water
• 1 tbs chia seeds
• 1 cup non-dairy milk
• 1 tbs vinegar
• 1 cup rolled oats 
• 3/4 cup plain flour
• 1/4 cup vanilla protein powder (vegan)
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped fruit of choice (Ali used strawberries, I used peaches and nectarines)

1. Preheat oven to 180C (375F) and line a muffin tin with liners.
2. In a small bowl combine the water and the chia seeds and set aside to thicken. (This is your egg!)
3. In another small bowl combine milk and vinegar and mix briskly. Set aside for 5 minutes.
4. Mix oats into the milk mixture and set aside.
5. In another bowl mix your dry ingredients; flour, protein powder, salt, baking soda and baking powder.
6. In one last bowl beat together the chia seed mixture, oil, sugar and vanilla extract.
7. Add the oat mixture to the wet ingredients and then mix through the dry mixture. 
8. Fold in the fruit gently and spoon the mixture evenly into the muffin pans.
9. Bake for 15-20 minutes until a skewer inserted into a muffin comes out clean.

---

What's your favourite way to use strawberries? Or do you prefer them au naturel?

Thanks for reading... K

Monday Training Update #1

So it starts... 8 weeks of goggle wearing, wheel turning, pavement pounding training for Triathlon Pink. I thought instead of random ramblings inside my regular posts I would do a weekly update on Monday. That way I know where to come when I want to look back on my training when the need takes me and it will make it easier for you guys to skip my training musings if it's of no interest to you! How friendly am I?

Obviously, being Day One I don't have a whole lot to report on my training so far! Last week I gave myself a fairly 'easy' week activity wise to make sure I was feeling good for the official start. I ran on Monday and then not again until Saturday. I swam on Thursday night and did weights on Sunday and Tuesday. That's right folks, I had two guilt-ridden rest days! I figured, all things going to plan, this was my last chance for that luxury for at least two months. 

So, my schedule for the week coming? I will be doing two runs, which is one less than normal and I already know I am going to miss that third run :( But the decrease in running will be more than compensated by an increase in other areas. I will still be strength training twice a week too.

MONDAY
AM   Swim (200m)
PM    Strength Training (Cardio+Weights)

TUESDAY
AM   -
PM   Cycle (60min)

WEDNESDAY
AM   -
PM   Run (30min)

THURSDAY
AM   -
PM   Swim (300m)

FRIDAY
AM    Rest:)
PM    Rest:)

SATURDAY
AM   Run (40min)
PM   Strength Training (TBL Weightloss Yoga)

SUNDAY
AM   Cycle (60min)
PM   -

Despite my relaxed week, I am starting my training with two blisters (one per heel!), and a shitty case of plantar faciitis in my left foot. I had been ignoring it up until last weekend, but my evening of burning up the dancefloor in heels really aggravated it to a point that it was no longer 'ignorable'.
I am tackling it with a combination of orthotics (Thank you Dr Scholl!), stretches and Epsom Salt foot baths (thanks to Courtenay @ I Swear My Legs Are On Autopilot for her tips!) but if anyone has a miraculous cure I am all ears! I am pretty sure the arrival of my new shoes will mean some relief because the ones I have are overdue for a trip to the bin by about two months!! Fingers crossed I will get them this week.

Thanks for reading... K

The 'Shockers' File

I've been reading through a few weight-loss blogs recently and there seems to be a common thought amongst many of the writers, this being that they didn't/don't like photos of themselves at their highest weight.

I wasn't really one of those people that shied away from the camera, even at 142kg. I kept hoping that one day the camera would magically take a picture of me that matched the image of myself that I had in my head.

I got an email from my bestie Nell after I posted this picture in an entry about the devilish hangover I gave myself last NYE. 

Shocker #1

She wrote, “I feel really bad - there are so many photos that you don't like that I have taken! You should have told me to take them down! I still can if you want!”

She needn't have felt bad because the pictures she put on Facebook have given me two things. The first is the knowledge and comfort that my best friend is, quite possibly, the best in the world! She never even looked at these photos and thought, "Wow, Kristin looks like a whale in this picture, I shouldn't post it!" Nell is one of those people that are truly good all the way through to her core so I am a very lucky girl indeed.

Shocker #2

The second good thing I get from these photos being posted on Facebook is access to heaps and heaps of photos that I would have otherwise deleted. And if these would have been deleted, I'd be left with the photos that I deemed 'okay' for the public (ie. Lots of photos from the neck up, from my 'best' side and not much else) and the reality of who I was at my heaviest weight would have been lost forever!

Shocker #3

I relish the fact that I can look back on the bad photos and have an accurate representation of where I have come from because as the kilos starting coming off there was no chance for a re-do. I wasn't going to lose 5kgs and gain it back, just so I could have an accurate 'before' photo!

Shocker #4

So now I keep a file on my computer aptly named 'Shockers' where I keep all the pictures of myself at my very worst. When I am having a hormonal 'fat' day I have a look inside the file and say, "Yeah, I've got a ways to go and I am feeling really round today but look at what I have done so far!".

Shocker #5

I am proud of the hard work and time I have spent working my way back down from 142kg and, although I wish more than anything I hadn't ever gotten to that weight to start with, I will never pretend for a second that I wasn't severely obese once upon a time. So to my awesome pal Nell, you go right ahead and leave those pictures right where they are and don't feel bad because my name is Kristin and I used to be severely obese!

Do you have a stash of 'before' photos? How do they make you feel?

Thanks for reading... K