Saturday 2 July 2011

Planning for Perfection

Well, after another shaky week I've been forced to take stock and really think about where I'm failing, and, what made be successful in the first few weeks of my 12 week body transformation.

My number one excuse is time - not enough of it and not wanting to spend it at the supermarket.

The gym, surprisingly, isn't a problem for me this time.  I'm lucky enough to be the member of a super swanky gym in the City - it has its own app so that I can book classes.  Now the motivation here is that if I don't turn up I get an email ticking off - and if I miss 3 sessions in a month I'm not allowed to book for a month - this would not be good news for my new found passion for Pilate's Reformer - the battle for a bed in this class is vicious!

However, any personal trainer worth their salt will tell you that exercise is only 20-30% of it - the big key is 'clean' eating.

This week I've still eaten within my calories, but I've been scratching around empty cupboards, and 3 nights in a row of pasta and pesto isn't exactly nutritionally balanced - it really hasn't been easy getting in my 5 and 2.  So, today, I have taken myself in hand and taken 10 minutes to sit with all my favourite 12wbt recipes - put myself a shopping list together and dragged myself to Coles. 

So, why does having a kitchen full of food help with a diet?

Well, I'm a girl who likes to know exactly where my next meal is coming from.  If I don't, I think about it - Constantly!  I start to obsess about what I might eat and then I convince myself that I'm hungry, and must eat urgently - then I start to make crappy decisions!

Now I have cupboards bulging with good choices.  I know that every night this week I have a sensible and delicious meal choice to come home to,so, this is it, time to get my mind back to the place it was in the first 5 weeks.

So, stay tuned, I'll keep you posted (pardon the pun!)

Where do you find yourself wavering?  What's the one thing that you do that you know helps keep you on track?  Do you find good planning makes a difference?

Saturday 25 June 2011

The Begining (ish)

I remember at 9 doing Callanetics in my family home with my big sister....I think thats when the weight loss battle really began...I would work out like a crazy woman (girl) for, oooh, sometimes as long as a week...then I would be back sneaking chocolate Hob Nobs while the families backs were turned. 

Fairly consistently since then I have continued the cycle of weight loss, not a gentle, seasonal cycle, I will often lose a bit and then, how can I put it...stack it back on in record time...yes, I think that would be fair.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not morbidly obese (although I was clinically at one stage).  I'm 5ft 3 (about 165 cm's) and at my heviest was just shy of 14 stone (89 kg's).  I know lots of people would have looked at me then and snatched my hand off to weigh 89kg, just as I was looking at those of 65kg with a great deal of envy (no doubt they were looking at people of 55kg etc, etc), but that is a chubby weight, and it is unhealthy.

Now, at 32, with a wedding in 9 months and, actually, just really starting to feel the effects of my boozy and indulgent lifestyle I have to start taking (real) responsibility.

Out at dinner one night (as I am quite often...part of the problem?!?!), a girlfriend who had transformed her body for her wedding (seems nothing else motivates you like it), though had also managed to maintain her transformation for some months afterwards, mentioned Michelle Bridges, 12 Week Body Transformation (#12wbt).

I had never heard of the 12wbt, amazing really as I had tried everything else.  In the UK I was a member of Weight Watchers 3 times - since I have moved to Australia I have also been a member a further 4 times!!  I have also tried Slimming World, Detoxing, diet pills (a particular low), various meal replacements and calorie counting and, the all time favourite of, cereal for breakfast and dinner and 2 rounds of toast for lunch.  Its not to say that none of these things work.  They do if you stick with them long enough, and actually stick to them...now here lies the problem...sticking with it....

I have now been on my 12wbt for just over 5 weeks, I have lost 5.9kg and 17cm from my body...amazing, its one of the best results I have ever had, however, this weekend, its coming up for 'ladies week', I've had a few functions on, and I have slipped, big time.  Why, after weight loss results like that I seem to subconsciously reward myself with failure I do not know...so that brings us here....to this blog...surely I'm not alone in these behaviours...?

When starting the plan Michelle says tell as many people as you can that you are committing to this so you are accountable to others as well as yourself.  Well, my friends have been hearing these great declarations for years..now I'm declaring it to the world.  I will change my habits, it may take a while, and I almost certainly won't get it right all of the time, but I will share with you every success, every failure, every technique I use and my crazy ideas.....I hope you enjoy and find inspiration.

Do you relate to these habits?

Whats the craziest fad you have tried?

Let me know, would love to hear from you,

Chubby x

and we're off......

It's time....join me on my journey from Chubster to Champion...