4 x 1000

Day four of getting more than 1000 calories burnt! Yesterday we went for that bike ride to the city and I blogged about it on my other blog space Vegan Family V's Omni World so you can read about it there if you are that keen! Today we went again to Coburg Lake and stopped at 2 parks before heading back to High Street shops and then home. All up about 3-and-a-half hours worth :) I didn't even bother with the HRM! It was playing up REALLY bad yesterday, so I must show it some love and go get a new battery for it.
Technology-free week started today so hopefully I also get a bit more incidental moving in, instead of sitting on the couch, playing on blogger/facebook/forums and watching TV.

Til tomorrow

Tahn

do do do

So again today we went for a ride/scoot/jog to Coburg Lake. I was very annoyed with my HRM as it was not reading the correct HR. For example, I was cruising up a hill and my HRM said 117, but I know I was doing about 174 BPM (cause I know my body and I also did my own check!!). So I don't believe that my total calories for the jog were correct. Not that it matters too much (it's just a sign to get new batteries, really!), total calories after a cool down stretch was about 950, then we spent the rest of the afternoon outside, including lifting 25 bags of soil (I reckon they weighed about 25kgs each) up to chest height and had to tip them out into the new vege garden. Got a bit sunburnt (beautiful spring weather!). Going for a ride tomorrow to enjoy the sun.

84 days

Ok, so I just realised that Popeye has 84 days to go before he is home. Well, I didn't just realise that (especially since I have recorded it day by day in my diary!), but I just connected that 84 days is 3 months and 3 months is 12 weeks and 12 weeks is the perfect amount of time to lose some serious weight and look really hot for xmas (and Popeye!). Hopefully this will take my mind off how long I have to wait for him and give me something to focus on. So, I am about to drag the chill-dies away from the cartoons (it's so funny, they are LOVIN' the new channel 99, which has all the programs I grew up on - Bewitched, I dream of Jeannie, The Jetsons, The Flintstones! Classics!) and put them on their bikes while I go for a jog along the Merri Creek Trail to a park. Gotta get my thousand calories burnt today.
I have a new mantra to get me through...Why are you doing that?
I'm gonna ask it every time I am lacking motivation or am about to do something to sabotage myself.
Finding it hard to get motivated to do exercise? Why am I doing exercise? To get fit, lean and feel good about myself. Who would say no to that?
Snacking on crap from the fridge? Why are you eating that? Not sure really, maybe I am thirsty, or if I am really hungry maybe I need something more wholesome.

SEE, in theory it works!!!

I'll give it a go and let you know! Starting now...

Why are you going for a jog? Because I want to burn 1000 calories each and every day, and I love the feeling I get at the end when I have completed a jog!

Oh yes I do! Off I go!

Tahn

MIND OVER BODY

So, I didn't do much today. Finally dragged myself out of the bed and did a little exercise on the bike. I also had a few swills of coconut oil. For dinner I had a small bowl of spaghetti and sauce made by one of the kids, followed by a bowl of fruit salad and small amount of custard. Getting a little bit more motivated. I'm trying to get my head to tell me it is full instead of stuffing myself until it comes out of my ears! It is the night time that gets me. Especially sitting at home, all alone, kids in bed...sounds a bit like a sob story!!!!
Just gotta get my mind over body

CHANGE OF BLOG NAME

Ok, just a quick post today.
I have decided to change the name of my blog today as I didn't complete my 12 week challenge and it wasn't helping my cause by looking at that title every time I logged on! Hope you all stay with me

Tahn

Nine Hundred and Seventy Three

That's the amount of today's calories burnt!

I walked the kids to school and then jogged to the Merri Creek Path and went all the way to CERES and back! Not sure of the kilometres (maybe about 8?), but it took me 1 hour and 20 minutes. Actually, it may be more than 8km, because I can easily do 2 laps of the 'Tan (almost 4km each lap) in slightly under 1 hour. I would like to know how many km I do...should have bought the foot lap counter thingy that went with my Polar HRM. Oh well, CERES is a good marker, maybe I'll just try to improve my times.

I thought tomorrow I might jump on my pushy and ride to Dight Falls (is that the name of it?). I think it is about 9km one way. Something different and I wan't have to fight the traffic! Oh, just remembered, I have to pick up my visitors tonight, LATE, and I wonder if I will actually get to exercise? And Tweenie (she just turned 11 a couple of days ago) has an orthodontist appointment on Thursday...

At least the sun is coming up earlier, and the days have been warmer. It was quite hot today when I went jogging. Will need to invest in a flattering pair of shorts (not sure there is such a thing for me!) to exercise in this Spring.

I have been doing a bit of baking and cooking recently and really growing in this area and was thinking of starting another blog to post pics of the food we eat. Not sure if I will post any recipes though, I am very much a recipe follower (I follow every step!) and so none of my recipes are made up by me! I have a stack of vegan cookbooks and I frequent the internet for more. (Actually, as I typed that I looked up to my tabs and counted TEN tabbed internet pages with vegan recipes on them!) What do you think? Probably just another time waster! haha! Something I am good at!

Anyway, must go. Have a house to clean in anticipation of guests tonight and I also need to rearrange my gym room to fit in the mattress for them.

Til tomorrow

Tahn

I'm feeling good today.

I rode to Moonee Ponds (9km) to train Jean's mum, we walked to the park, then I stepped up her training quite a bit today and I joined in. Then we walked back to her house and I again rode 9km, only back home. I checked my HRM and I expended 1738 calories! Feeling good!

I also just checked my emails and got one from my mate, who apparently won some footy tipping at his work and is offering to take my family and another of his friends out to Shakahari! AWESOME! I've never been to Shakahari, and have heard it is the BEST vegetarian/vegan restaurant (fine dining for vegans!) and that it also has the price tag to go with it!

I am very proud to have such wonderful, selfless friends! Thanks Andrew!

Well, I managed to convince my mum to come over here to recover and She has stayed with me for a week and now she is with my sister until Thursday. Then she is coming back here for a while. So...I have done NO exercise while she has been here! Tomorrow I have a friend and her family coming over from WA. That should be fun! There maybe a bit of alcohol consumption occurring while she is here!! :)

Time for a nice, warm shower!

Til tomorrow (maybe!)

Tahn

A New Day

I think I have turned a bit of a corner...instead of heading down the straight path of depressive nothingness.

I have a little spark of renewed interest in starting up a personal training business. Swinging back to my first thought for a business which is training women instead of the children thing I was focusing on. I think that in my avoidance of going back teaching is a huge big hint for me. I don't want to work with children! I cannot be bothered with the discipline side of things that tends to take over the whole day (actually teaching the kids is FANTASTIC and so rewarding, but I cannot deal with telling kids off ALL day long, then coming home to my own kids with NO patience for them).

So I need to work out what area I would like to focus on. Definitely WOMEN, but do I leave it that broad or focus on elderly woman and fall prevention? I am really thinking about woman aged between 45-70 maybe(?) who may have a bit more time on their hands plus now have no children left at home to care for so may have extra money to spend on themselves.

Today I went for a jog along the Merri Creek trail up to CERES in Brunswick. I've decided to make a conscience effort to expend at least 1000 calories per day. So, this could be 40 minutes in the morning on the stationery bike and another 40 minutes of cardio at night. Or an hour and a bit jog. Or maybe a bike ride. Riding to Moonee Ponds takes about half an hour and I expend just over 400 calories each way. Not bad. Plus the weather is warming up and getting lighter in the mornings - good for jogging.

I think that if I continue to sit at home and do nothing every day I will never get a job, will have to start teaching again, be unable to step out of my comfort zone to begin my own business. I don't want to get to 60 and have regrets, I should have done this or that. I need to get proactive - easier said than done in my case, but I hope to take my own advice.

On another note, my mum had to return to hospital last week as she developed pneumonia! Uggh! Poor thing! I'm hoping she will be able to come over to rest and recover. She wants to get back to work although she needs to REST! Hopefully I can convince her.

I hope to post again soon. I am better at expressing my emotions in writing than I am verbally so this may give me a kick up the bum in all aspects of my life! (although my writing is in no way poetically written!- I just type without any thought about making sure it is entertaining for readers! Sorry bout that!)

Tahn

start again

Well I'm back...

After being in Adelaide for a holiday and then stressing over my mum being in ICU, I feel like I am back on track!

Today I rode the kids to school and then headed up to the gym to complete a lower body workout. I then jumped on the treadmill and did a light jog for 20 minutes while I waited for the step class to start. After an hour of step class, I jumped on my bike and rode to Pascoe Vale South to pick up the coconut oil for my detox (more on that soon) and then home again!

Killed another 2000 calories! After I pick the kids up this arvo, we are going for a casual bike ride on the Merri Creek Trail for an hour. Cha Ching! Rackin' up the numbers!

Now, about the coconut oil detox. (Thanks dad). I am going to start introducing it into my diet for the next 2 weeks before I replace my current food with the the coconut oil for 3-7 days. I think I will do it for 5 days - Monday to Friday. This seems to be the easiest for me. Weekends are usually packed with places to be, people to visit etc, and is reasonably hard to start perfectly on track. I will let you know when this has started (probably 2 weeks from today). I'll make sure I weigh myself before I start also.

Anyway

TIl tomorrow,

Tahn

Power Day

I've had a fantastic morning - exercise wise!

I rode in to meet Chris for an awesome training session, then rode to AIF to pick up my business certificates, home to the local centrelink, up to my neighbourhood Post Office and then home. All up, 3 hours and 40 minutes worth of exercise! Plus I burnt more than 2000 calories!!!! I don't have an exact number because on the ride to the city my heart rate monitor decided not to register and I don't know how long it was offline for. I was spewing cause as I got to the top of that horror hill on Punt Road I wanted to see how high my heart rate was...and it said 00! boo! And as I said, I don't know how long it was off line for. So the total calories my watch said was 1907 calories, but I believe it was WELL over this! Good shit, huh!

Yesterday I had a bad food day...I ate some lollies and some vegan biscuits the kids made. But that is to be expected I suppose after having nothing bad for 2 weeks. So now I need to make sure I keep on track while I am in Adelaide. I want to have at least a small loss. Should be ok...will be doing lots of walking and making sure I include at least 1 hour of cardio or circuit each day.

I am going to change my weighing day from Monday to Friday. This is because I have no doubt that one day on each weekend will be my free day, so if I go awesome during the week, it will be better to weigh myself before I have a free day! So I will miss this week's weigh because I am in Adelaide, so the next time I weigh myself will be in about 10 days time. I'm aiming for 1 kg loss for that time, including the time I am in Adelaide. I'll be happy with that!

Anyway,

Til tomorrow

Tahn

2 weeks down, 10 to go!

Yeee Haaa!

I successfully completed my 2 week eat clean challenge!

Jumped on the scales this morning, this week I  lost 1.4 kg. This brings me up to 3.7 kg loss for the 2 weeks!!!

I'm down to 74.1 kg! The lightest I have been this year! Only 4.2 kilo until my first goal is reached (first goal = get into the 60's! [even if it is only 69.9 kg!])

The next 10 weeks will pretty much be the same, food and exercise wise, except a little less strict on the food side.

I've included 3 other posts - all with photos from when I started 2 weeks ago and comparing them with photos of now. I know there is not much difference, but I am happy enough to be able to see the change in only 2 weeks. Please add comments and tell me what differences you can notice!

As for numbers, here they are:

Start Now Loss

Weight 77.8 kg 74.1 kg 3.7 kg

Waist    91 cm 85 cm 6 cm

Hips      106 cm 101 cm 5cm

They are really all the measurements that matter! Not bad for 2 weeks! I think it is going to be tough to see the numbers dropping now, the rest of the weight gain is from when I first moved to melbourne 18 months ago - can't see it falling off too easily. Never mind, I'll just keep plugging away at it!

On a sort of side note, I'm about to do a circuit today. I've got plans to meet Chris tomorrow for a session before I head to Adelaide on Thursday.

I'm going to save my 'free day' to one day at the end of the week when we are in Adelaide so I really enjoy it (and hopefully don't end up on the toilet for too long as a result of putting un-clean food into my system!)

Anyway, would love to hear what you think of my photos and weight loss progress so far.

Til tomorrow,

Tahn

spot the Difference - front

Spot the Difference - side

Spot the Difference - back

Day 12/13

ONE MORE DAY TO GO!!!!!!

Soooo can't wait to weigh myself Monday morning!!

Today I ran around the Botanical Gardens with Shantini and Leilani! Shantini and I did a warm up lap around, leaving Leilani to do her own pace. Then we turned around and caught up to Leilani by sprinting and a short recovery walk back to her, and doing another sprint. All in all Shantini and I probably ran well over 8 km and burnt 995 calories!!!!!!!!

PLUS we both held the 'plank' for just over 2 minutes!!!!! OUCH!

Also have been doing some light work in the garden this afternoon. We are putting up a new fold down clothes line around the side of the shed, out of the way. Also we have been pulling out weeds, moving bricks, digging holes (ok, I wasn't digging the hole!), cutting back trees and vines etc. More to do tomorrow.

Have eaten well over the last 2 days and like I said, I can't wait to weigh myself!!

I have a big challenge coming up...I'm heading to Adelaide for 6 days and 5 nights. Only one of those days will I allow myself a free food day, but all of those days I am going to exercise in some form.  Let's hope I can achieve this as well. If I can make 2 weeks without eating shit, I think, with proper planning, I will be able to do this no worries!

Off to have some seed coated tofu and salad. Yum

Til tomorrow

Tahn

Timmi be thin, for self esteem, by January!

Day 11

Well couldn't really be bothered today :)

Eventually completed my circuit as per Tuesday, but maybe with a little less enthusiasm on the interval cardio part. Went and played half court basketball with the kids after school.

I'm off to Apple again tomorrow. They have some great activities to learn and I might as well since I really have nothing to do. Have go to try and find some time tomorrow to complete my upper body workout. ohh, here's a thought...maybe I swap Friday and Saturday sessions around and do cardio tomorrow and head to the gym on Saturday. Hmmmm. I'll think about it.

Still going well with the food. Am really looking forward to Monday's weigh in. The best part of the day is first thing in the morning - I always look the skinniest then!

Oh well, nothing much else to report.

Til tomorrow

Tahn

Timmi, not even sure you are reading these, but I want to slim down to see if I have the will power to complete all 12 weeks as it will prove my determination to myself. 

Day 10

Ok, first I am going to start off with a scary photo! Sorry about the lack of warning! I have a photo that was take in the first week of February 2009 by my wonderful brother-in-law, Daniel. Every now and then he sends me this photo via sms to get a giggle. Last night, Jean send me this photo to give me some inspiration to keep at it (he sent it as I was making dinner and I nearly threw up! No, seriously! Not a good visual to get when you are not expecting it!)

Remember this was taken only about 5 months ago (and Jean and I had just retured from a fat time in London and Europe)!

(excuse the bogan gesture!)

HOW SCARY IS THAT!!!!!!!!

It is definitely a photo I would like to remain hidden but this blog is all about getting it out, right? Maybe my B-I-L can now stop tormenting me with it - since it is now out in the open! I doubt it! I'm sure he lives to give me shit! hehe

(By the way - am proud of myself that I worked out how to bluetooth this photo from my phone to my computer- love my Macbook Pro!!!)

Now, just for comparison (since my photos are now in the 'older post' section) I am just going to repost my starting photo here (hopefully this will make me feel better!)

Ok, better, but not by much...still got a long way to go!

Anyway, back to today!

Today has been MASSIVE!!!! I rode to St Kilda Road to train with Chris (12.2km) and then trained with him for 1 hour and then rode home (12.8km - a different way) - 3 hours in total!

Yes, you can all say 'Well done', pat pat (on the back) and thumbs up but I am going to give a blow by blow account so you can REALLY grasp the intensity of this session! (feel free to skip it if it bores you that much!)

I left my house at about 8.55 am after taking the kids to school and rode 12.2 km to see Chris at Genesis on St Kilda Road. This took me 44 minutes along Hoddle street, up through Punt Rd (man there was a HUGE hill to get to the turn off at Toorak Rd!). I burnt 497 calories just getting there. It's not a bad run along Hoddle street because you mostly have a bus/bike/taxi lane to yourself without worrying whether you are going to be run over - well not too much anyway!!)

It was great to catch up with Chris next (haven't seen him for 4 months since we both finished the AIF course).

Chris put me through my paces for an hour and I burnt 577 calories (although I forgot to start my watch until Chris reminded me after the first super set so I think we should make that about 600 calories).

Chris - you know how you asked me about the intensity of the session with you? I was thinking that I was probably perfect, considering my ride home I have to endure after training with you! But again, I'll leave that up to you :)

Then I decided to try a new way home. I went through the city, up Russell st to Lygon and on to Nicholson before turning onto Bell to get home. This took me 50 minutes (it was 12.8km) and I burnt 590 calories. Not too shabby.

I think it took me a bit longer getting home for a few reasons:

1. It's a longer route

2. There are a few hills in the city!

3. I had a huge headwind all the way up Lygon and until I got home (well over 8 km worth!)

4. I was BUGGERED

5. There are WAY more traffic lights on this route! This could have its good and bad points -

bad

Had to keep stopping and starting! 

good

I suppose you could look at that as interval training

bad

lose your momentum

good

mixed it up a bit

I forgot I had another nasty hill when I got onto Bell, but the downhill run to my house made it all worth it!

Anyway, got home exactly at 12pm! 3 hours of exercise! A total of approximately 1700 calories burnt today!!!!!! Yay!!!!! Go me!!!!!!Go Chris!!!!!!! Yay!!!!!!

My Polar watch said I had done 5 hours of exercise this week (well 3 of them today!!) and had expended 2950 calories since Monday! Yeeee Haaaaa! Looking forward to Monday's weigh in!

Must go, now that I have bored you, because I am STARVING after all of that exercise! Plus, I have been a really shit friend to my mate, Jo, in WA. She had baby number 4 a few months ago and all she got from me was a sms saying congratulations. Shit, huh? She has sms'ed me another photo of baby today, so I MUST go ring her!

Til tomorrow

Tahn

Ps - Leave a comment re: my photos! I'd love to hear from you!

Timmi, I want to wear sexy underwear again and feel good in it (I know that saying this on THIS post with crappy fatty photos probably isn't the best time to do so! And may conjure up awful mental scaring for some of you!) Aiming for Christmas, to be able to buy a nice pair to show my man :)

Number Nine

Hello!

Back again. I've got sore abs today, but not too much elsewhere. Completed a circuit and interval session today that was comprised of:

30 

burpees, 

body weight squats

push ups (I've returned to my knees for push ups- but making sure I go ALL the way down and touch my chest on the floor - I wasn't doing that when I was completing push ups on my toes)

60 (30 each leg)

walking lunges

mountain climbers (ouch!!)

bicycles

followed by 20 minutes of interval training on my stationary bike - 1 minute hard, 1 minute recovery

I burnt about 600 calories, and I feel great!

This morning when I looked in the mirror I thought that I noticed my little c-section fat pouch is getting smaller (my 'fat pouch' is a flap of skin that overhangs my caesarian scar - even when I was nice and skinny I still had this!). Happy about that!

I'm looking forward to tomorrow's training session - I'm meeting up with Chris and I'm riding my bike into the city to meet him. I've already planned a different way home - up Lygon street and Nicholson st instead of down Hoddle street(although I will travel this way on the way there because I know how to get there down this road!).

Anyway, kids home soon.

Til tomorrow

Tahn

Ps - put your hand up if you are still watching me. Good, glad to see your hand in the air! You gotta make me accountable by keeping an eye on me!

Timmi - I want to get thin to be able to fit into the 'skinny' clothes I bought to Melbourne with me when I moved here 18 months ago, because otherwise it was a BIG waste of money! I'd like to be able to do that by the time I go to Bali in January. 

     

Day Number Eight

2.4kg LOST!!!!!

OH happy days!!! It makes it all SO worth it!!

But I do need to explain it- just a little. I weighed myself on the Wii. Not sure how accurate it is, but if I keep using it to weigh myself I should be fine. Also, the last time I weighed myself was 2 weeks ago - a week before I started this Mission. So that could even itself out to 1.2kg per week (which is still FABULOUS!!) but I doubt it. The week before I started this Mission I scoffed all the things I wasn’t gong to be able to have (you all know what I mean - everyone does it!!) - Lollies, cakes, pies, soft drink- whatever I wanted!!

So the end result is a happy Tahnea! SO excited that I am typing this while I sit on the train!!! (heading to apple mac one-on-one training in Chadstone) Couldn’t even wait until I got home tonight!! He He He!

I have already trained my lower body today. Hope I feel as sore as I did last week! Bring on the DOMS!!!!

(ooo, just saw a poster for an Organic Exhibition on July 25/26 at the Exhibition Centre - I’ll be attending that!)(ooo that’s this weekend!)

Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, I wanted to tell you my starting and current weight. I weighed myself a week before this challenge started (as mentioned) and I weighed 77.8kg. I’m now down to 75.4kg (but you knew that cause you worked it out in your head - clever little thing you are!). The lowest I have been this year according to the Wii-ster is 74.9kg. Looking forward to giving that number a big kick up the arse next week! I think at least a half-a-kilo loss next week is very reasonable to expect! BRING ON THE SIXTIES!!!!!!!!!!! (First mini goal - 69.5kg) (any suggestions for a non-food reward when I make it???)

Anyway, gotta put my computer away, nearly at Flinders Street.

I may add more later, depending on if I have anything newsworthy (or should I say blog-worthy!!)

Til tomorrow (or later tonight!)

Tahn

Ps Dad-hope you found me!

Timmi - I want no muffin top, because muffins are fattening (despite what muffin makers have you believe!) and 77 days would be a nice time to achieve this by!

Half Way Through The Clean Fortnight!

Sunday, Day 7.

I feel I have done really well this weekend. Got out of bed reasonably early for a Sunday. Lonan was making apple pancakes for breakfast for everyone, so I helped him with this...and didn't even have one myself! I made myself my regular oats and protein shake, but had a small glass of the apple, carrot and honeydew melon juice I made for everyone.

Then we headed for the shops, which was supposed to be a quick visit,but it wasn't! So I was STARVING by the time we got home and ready to chew people's heads off! Luckily, I had made a big batch of lentil dahl last night and all I had to do was reheat it for everyone. It was really yummy.

I did exercise today, but I did have to cut down the time a little because we had to go out and I was running out of time. Usually I would do 3 rounds of the circuit and then 20 minutes of interval training, but this afternoon I did 2 rounds (although I upped the reps from 12 to 15) and about 12 minutes of interval training. I don't feel too bad. It least I did something.

We went to the Moreland Hotel to celebrate Jean's dad's birthday. I didn't eat ANYTHING! I took my rice cakes and hommus to eat when we first got there, drank a heap of water and then I made my protein shake to 'eat' when everyone else had their meals (with some cashews). I didn't feel like I had missed out on anything although I do wonder how crazy I appeared! Never mind, got through another 'challenge'.

Gretel (Jean's sister - Hi Gretel, don't forget to push 'follow' and add some comments!) was saying she felt I was very brave (was that the word you used?) putting my 'fat' photos on now while I am still fat. Most people are happy to show you how fat they used to be AFTER they have lost a heap of weight and are in a comfortable place mind and body, showing off 'before' and 'after' photos, whereas I am putting my photos up before I get to the 'after' stage! I agree! I hadn't thought about it like that. No wonder I was having difficulty pushing the 'publish ' button! Oh well, job done - looking forward to posting my 'after' photos real soon!

I've got to go and plan my next weeks exercises (and slot them in - no excuses!) and tomorrow's food. As they say..Fail to plan...Plan to Fail!

Til tomorrow,


Tahn

PS Contemplating jumping on the scale tomorrow. What do you think? Or should I wait for the 2 weeks to be complete?

Timmi: I want to lose weight to fit down a slide! Because it is no fun when you get stuck and you can't slide freely! In the next 11 weeks!

The 6th Day

Oh, the weekend.

Usually a time for forgetting about eating correctly and exercising. Jean usually comes up late Friday night, we stay in bed most of the morning Saturday and Sunday. And eat what ever we feel like (there is a FABULOUS vegan bakery just up the road and on Saturdays when we head to the markets, I usually grab a vegan pie and a YUMMY vegan apple slice!). But for the next two weekends that has to change (after that, though, I think I might make Saturdays my 'free day'- LOVE the vegan bakery!) .

So this morning I went to the Botanical Gardens with Shantini (Lonan piked out!). I haven't seen her for AGES so we did a warm up jogging lap around the 4km track and caught up on all things important! On the second lap we completed it with a 3 light pole sprint, followed by a 4 light pole recovery walk and a 2 light pole jog, before repeating the whole thing again! At the end, we took turns to encourage each other to hold the 'plank' for 2 minutes! Shantini made it! I didn't! (By the way, the wind was quite chilly!)
I wore my HRM and I had burnt almost 900 calories. Happy about that. On the 3 pole sprint I got my HR up to 182bpm! Nice!

When I got home I finally gave Chris a call! We are going to meet for our first session next Wednesday! Thanks heaps, Chris! I am really looking forward to it!

We've just returned from the Preston Markets. (Oh by the way, Shantini, I got Jean to check out the fish and dead animal section to see if there was still stuff there at that time and apparently there was! After lunch is the best time to go for all the bargains - in the fruit and vege section anyway!). We loaded up again on fabulous fresh fruit and vegetables. I had a lengthy chat with a lovely older Italian in one of the deli shops and he gave me the low down on all of the different types of dried beans. Looking forward to trying out some of the fresh dried beans and comparing them to the tin versions I usually use. I discovered that the tin canellini beans are really just white kidney beans. I never knew that! I have been trying to look for 'black beans' which seem to be only available in USA, but nice Italian man said they were just black kidney beans. Good to know. Now can try some of those yummy sounding recipes in Vegan A Go-Go (By Sarah Kramer if you are interested - one of the best vegan cookbooks I own) that require black beans.

Speaking of Vegan A Go-Go, I am about to use one of her AMAZING soup recipes to make my lunch meals for the next couple of days with all the DELICIOUS vegetables we just bought!!!! MMMMMMMMMMM, getting excited just thinking about it!

For dinner, I am planning on making a lentil dahl. Double mmmmmmmmmmmmm.

All of this talk of food is making me salivate! Off to go make me some soup!

Til tomorrow,

Tahn

Hey Timmi, I wanna lose weight to look awesome in a short skirt, with twigs as legs (instead of tree trunks!) because short skirts look good on skinny people! I'd love to be able to wear one this summer!

Friday, Day Five

Back again.

Posting late today because I wanted to wait until I had done my exercise to post - so I could 'tick' it off with you all :)

Felt a bit low today. Sent the 2 younger kids off to school, and jumped back into bed for a half hour kip. Then still couldn't be bothered doing anything. Doesn't help that I don't really know anyone or have absolutely NO money. Best to stay home to avoid the impulse buying habit I am so well known for!

I had already planned to do my circuit/interval training after the kids got home from school because Lonan wanted to do it with me. I did manage to go for a walk to the supermarket to grab some loo paper and lentils about 2pm. Then continued on to the school to pick up Leilani who was returning from camp and hang around until the other two finished. I got home and still couldn't be bothered training!

But did eventually get out there! I always find it a bit difficult training with the kids around. I prefer no distractions but Leilani was fast asleep (she blamed the boys at camp for her lack of sleep!) and I asked Macy to leave me alone and she obliged - good girl! She has felt my wrath before when she has gotten in the way of one of my training sessions (being asked silly questions while you have sweat dripping off your face, pushing heavy weights, on the last three reps is REALLY annoying!!). It was okay with Lonan because he is quite interested in 'getting big muscles' and so will participate and follow instructions. So he completed 2 out of the 3 circuits with me before he had had enough! Good Job!

Food was a bit tricky today (although, all good!) because I trained in the afternoon instead of the morning which made me re-arrange my food choices. But got there in the end. Note to self: try to train in the morning!

For the past 2 days I have been able to have the Spirulina supplement at about 4pm. WOW! What a difference! Definitely filled the gap! Must have been craving food at this time and again I have learnt something about myself by blogging - a hungry Tahnea is a grumpy Tahnea (therefore, one to be avoided!). Hopefully the 4pm Spirulina will mark the end of the devil's arrival.

Today's food included:

Supplements: Vital greens, barley grass, glucosamine

Meal one(20 minutes after supps): Oats, Protein shake, flaxseed oil, Vitamin B12

Meal two: a couple of rice cakes with hommous

Meal three: a lentil burger minus the bread. I had a lentil burger patty,and stacked dry fried mushrooms, grated carrot and baby spinach on top and ate it with a knife and fork. YUM (could have put more veges on here, but Friday is the end of our food week - we hit the Preston Market around 1pm Saturdays for the fruit and vegetable bargains to feed us for the week)

Spirulina drink
Megaslim green tea supplement

Meal four: Protein shake (after training)(should of had a banana, too but see note above)
Glutamine, vitamin C

Meal five: Roasted chickpeas (just finished them before I started to type this up! Not the best meal, I am fully aware but the kids just made whatever for dinner tonight and I didn't really feel like making anything for myself. Besides, I am actually not that hungry, and the chickpeas actually filled me up just nicely!)

Before I go to bed tonight I will have some more glutamine and vitamin C, plus my second glucosamine tablet for my knees.

A bit of a mixed up day food wise, but I will post a 'normal day' next time.

Plenty of water has been downed (I have more than 2L just taking my supplements!).

Off to run the 'Tan with Shantini and Lonan tomorrow.

Til then,

Tahn

Timmi:
I wanna look thin
to feel comfortable in my own skin
by my birthday

xxx

Day 4 of 84

Well, I'm back.

Still going strong, food and exercise on track. Went to the gym today and did an upper body workout. I never get a FANTASTIC upper body workout by myself. I always feel like I could have pushed more, but I think I am scared of not being able to to hold the weight. You just need that little bit extra help to finish the last 3 reps. Ya know what I mean? Maybe you could help me out with this, Chris? But I am happy for you to plan whatever too, Chris! (will probably call you tomorrow).

I think I finally figured out the crabby afternoon thing. When I thought about it, I did actually have protein on day 2 and more yesterday and I was still a little strung out. I think it is just that time of day for me (and probably most people) - the four o'clock slump. The time when we all pick on bits of food and maybe even throw a few lollies down! ( maybe that is just me!). But I think I have a cure. I am supposed to be taking a spirulina supplement mid afternoon, but have forgotten or have been out with the kids and have remembered about 6pm. So I am going to try and remember to take it at 4pm today and see if it helps with the demon mood! Spirulina is supposed to be a bit of an appetite suppressant, too. I'll fill you in on the success of that tomorrow.

Feeling a little flat today, but putting that down to a late night (well, my usual bed time pre-'mission' but have been trying to get 8 hours every night this week). I went to bed after midnight and hence only got about 6 hours sleep. Bloody internet! We have watched NO television for nearly a week and I am not missing that one bit but the internet is a different story!!!

I am feeling great though, and my stomach is definately shrinking! As embarrassing as it is, I think this blog is the best thing I could have done! Now I have NO more excuses! I have known what to do and eat for years (thanks Dad for your influence!) but it is the commitment part I lacked at times! Relying on other people, not taking responsibility. Now that I am a qualified Personal Trainer, I need to walk the walk (I can definately talk the talk!). Who in their right mind would come to me for personal training looking the way I do? I wouldn't that is for sure! Well, I am nearly four days closer to my goal!

Hey Timmi, I want to look hot! Remember one day you were training me AIF in Melbourne and I pointed out that chick with the awesome looking back? I want that! I want it because it is sexy! I'm not sure I will have a back like hers by my birthday, but I want to be well on my way - no more back fat!

Til tomorrow

Tahn

Ps. PLEASE keep checking on me, adding comments so I know you are watching and that I can't slack off! I love the motivation!

Day Three

WOW!

First I want to start by THANKING you all for 'following' and for your fantastically motivating comments! It made me feel really good and I know that if I have a bad day I can just go back and check out your comments and it will pick me right back up!!

So thank you, thank you thank you!!

And please post more - and check back here regularly! 

If you haven't actually pushed the 'follow' button (Bec, Melissa) please do!

Chris, I will definately take you up on that offer! I know you know how hard I like to train! (unlike other crappy trainers I have been to). Let me know what time you would prefer to train me and hopefully we can catch up!

Now, enough of the sucking up! I am sure you want to hear how I have been going!

Well, I wanted to share my other highlight of the day (besides everyone's support!). When I went to pick up Macy and Lonan from school yesterday (Leilani is at a school camp in Anglesea) I hugged Lonan and he put his arms around my waist and rested the side of his head on my stomach (as you do- that's where he reaches!) and he made a comment about my stomach being smaller already and not so squishy! How cool! So.....later that evening, I had to check for myself and sure enough the bloating has lessened already, and my bellybutton measurement was right back at the measurement it was when I finished my Cert III and IV at A.I.F!!!!!!! And that is only after 2 days!!!!!!! Can't wait for the first two weeks to be up - am going to re-weigh and measure myself then and take more photos. Hopefully you will all be able to notice a change...however small!

My other good news is about my knees. As most of you know, I have had a knee reconstruction on each of my knees and lately they have become very creaky and sore. If I crouched right down to touch the floor I found it VERY difficult to get back up. In fact, I was unable to get back up just using my body strength as my knees were so stiff and I would need to push off the floor with my hands.

Well, on Monday, along with other supplements that I have been taking religiously since starting this 'mission', I began taking a glucosamine supplement (although not the usual one that is made from the shells of crabs etc-very UN-VEGAN- but one I found made from a vegetable source). And it has been FANTASTIC!!!! In only 2 days I have both of my knees working WITHOUT any creaking or stiffness!! Not sure why I waited so long to start using this supplement but it is one I will NEVER do without again!! If you have joint problems, I highly recommend it!

Today I finally caught up with Leanne (after what feels like centuries) and we went to the gym together and we did an hour of mixed cardio - 20 minutes on the treadmill (I did intervals), 20 minutes on the stepper (man, that gets your heart rate up!) and 20 minutes on the rower (could have gone harder here, but we were talking a bit - opps!). Then I rode home on my pushy. Expended about 1000 calories. Pretty happy with that!

Last night I was QUITE sore! Quads, hammys, calves! And even though I was aching, it felt soooooo good to feel like that again. You know you have worked hard when you can hardly sit on the toilet seat without holding onto the wall! (I was telling Leanne at the gym today -'Ya know how when you are sooo sore and you have a restless sleep because you keep waking up because your muscles are aching?' and Leanne replied 'Yes, I know exactly how that feels - you did that to me once!' hehehehehe, thought that was funny! Sorry Leanne!)

Food wise, have been following my plan perfectly. I did notice yesterday afternoon I was a bit crabby to the kids. And when I thought about it, I think that I really didn't have much protein at that meal and I think I was still hungry. It was a yummy soup I made. Today I have the rest of the soup to eat but I am going to add some protein to that meal and see if that changes anything. It is amazing when you write everything down how much you learn about yourself. That's why this blog is going to work for me! (fingers crossed)

Anyway, til tomorrow,

Tahn

ps. sorry, had to come back and edit this post...I forgot to write my reasons for Timmi (re: comments). I am going to try to do this every day, Timmi.

How do I want to look?- I want to be able to look in the mirror and be comfortable in my own skin. I realised today that not even Jean (my gorgeous man - I love you) has seen me this undressed! Hey, Jean (when you finally join my blog), this is what I look like semi naked! Surprise!

Why do I want to look like this?- I feel it will totally increase my confidence, self esteem etc and I want to be able to buy ANY clothes I want without wondering if it will cover my hips, pot gut or if it comes in an XXXL!

When do I want to look like this by? Well definately by January, as mentioned in my original post, but last night I booked a single ticket back to W.A for my cousin's wedding a week after my birthday in November. So I want to feel fab then so I can buy a hot dress to wear there. Last year I went back for my sister's wedding and probably shocked most of my family about how big I had gotten. I felt awful in the clothes I bought and now that image of me is forever a reminder in the wedding photos :(

It is with my eyes closed, and and my teeth clenched that I add these photos. I truly hope that they do not give you nightmares! 

For those of you with NO children...let these photos serve as a WARNING to you!

Day one and two

Hi all

I know that at the moment I am the 'all', but I really hope lots of people I know will get on board and support me in this latest mission!

My first mission, one of at least 4 I would think, is two fold- Firstly I plan to eat clean for the first 2 weeks of this personal 12 week challenge. And part two is to complete the remaining 10 weeks by eating clean at LEAST 6 days out of seven. I'll explain all of this in a minute.

But firstly I am (scarily) making this my first publicly viewed blog to make myself accountable to others.  Hopefully I can recruit at least 20 of my family and friends to watch my daily (hopefully) blog, add comments and encouragement, and generally keep an eye on how I am going. This SHOULD make me feel accountable should I not exercise or eat something that is not good for my body. So PLEASE, come on board and comment on how I am going!

I'm on day two today (only 82-and-a-half to go!).  For the first two weeks I plan to:

* drink only water - at least 2L (ie. no alcohol) - this should be pretty easy for me as I usually only drink water and don't often drink alcohol

*  have no white bread or pasta - rye/wheat free acceptable

* NO SUGAR - ugh - the hardest for a lollie junkie!!! But hopefully this will cure my addiction

* no junk food, fast food, cakes, biscuits - should be ok on this one

*  no carbs at night - we all know carbs are for energy, so why have them after 6pm when most of us are winding down for the day? They will just store as fat!

I also plan to exercise daily. This is why I am hoping to record on my blog daily, to tell you all if I exercised and ate correctly :)

After the first 2 weeks, I aim to complete the above mentioned for the remaining 10 weeks but for at least 6 days out of 7.  I will allow myself one day to eat/drink whatever I chose on the 7th day, if I want to.

So, I think that I will need to complete a few of these 'missions'. I have a goal of looking H-O-T by the time my family all meet in Bali at the end of January next year for my mum's birthday. I want to be able to buy clothes in Bali that fit the thin people!

Occasionally I will post a photo -ugh- I know! But what better way for you to see how things are going. I will add today's photos - front, side and rear (I am surprised I fitted on the camera lens!). I don't particularly like photos, but it all about accountability, right?

So, this is day 2! I am feeling really good! I even got my monthlys today with no cramping! (Sorry guys - not sure you really wanted to hear that!) I trained lower body yesterday and today I completed a whole body circuit. All yesterday and so far today, I have stuck to my eating guidelines. So far, so good.

Tomorrow I will post my measurements. I have already taken them (yesterday) but my ass is so sore right now from yesterday's training session that I don't want to move just yet...it hurts!!!

Please post comments/suggestions and tell me what you think!

Til tomorrow,

Tahn