Blogger Challenge Week 8

 WEEK 8: REWARDS

Jayne's Blogger Challenge: This week I'll be using a blogger challenge questions from a blog that I followed last round! ~Whirlsie~ her blog is http://nutritionally-yours.blogspot.com.au/ she has kindly let me use her questions from last round :) Thank you x

So, my question to you is: How will you acknowledge and reward yourself during Round 2, 2012 of the 12WBT? What are the small wins? What are your big accomplishments? How will you achieve these and how will you reward your efforts? (food doesn't count!)

rakscraps.com

  

12WBT Round 1 Reward

During Round 1 I had a specific reward in mind à reach my goal weight and treat myself with getting my hair cut and coloured. Goal weight was achieved on 06/06/12 and hair appointment was booked for 09/06/12, the day that I was to attend a friend’s wedding – perfect timing!

Reward from Hubby & Little Man

Mother’s Day gift from Lorna Jane. For working so hard and sticking to the program, my boys spoilt me this year with the Mother’s Day gift pack from Lorna Jane, a Lorna Jayne bathrobe and a $100 voucher!

Reward for completing Round 1 and incentive to continue the program

1. I bought myself new runners - love them!
2. Hubby & I decided on a new piece of equipment: x-trainer (currently set up in our garage)

 

 

 

 

 

Where to from here?

So now we're currently in Round 2 and I  haven't even thought about rewards. I still have my $100 Lorna Jane voucher, so maybe I'll use that as a reward at the completion of the round. 

But what I'd really like to do is start  participating in events, like:

• 1000 Stair Climb @ Katoomba
• MS Colour Run
• Sydney Running Festival
• The Color Run Australia

Crazy huh? Would never ever have thought of these events as "rewards"....but oh how things have changed thanks to 12WBT!

Blogger Challenge Week 7

Week 7 – Top 50 38 Reasons why I’m doing 12WBT 

Jayne writes: Hi team! It’s Marianne from Life is a Journey and I’m filling in for Jayne this week. We’re in week 7, which means we’re officially on the home stretch! For some of us, it’s been smooth sailing and we’re eager to finish the next 6 weeks on a high. For others, the last six weeks may have been a struggle, and we’re not sure how we are going to survive the next few weeks.

Well, this week’s challenge is all about listing your top 50 Reasons for doing 12WBT.

Is it mainly due to weight loss, to improve fitness, or to compete in events? I can’t wait for you to dig deep and write down your top 50!

rakscraps.com

Ok I’m not going to lie…this was a lot harder than what I thought it would be! I really had to think about it and it actually took me a few days to put my list together. So here it is, in no particular order…

Why I originally signed up for 12WBT Round 1 2012

1.    To lose the extra weight that I was still carrying after having my first baby

2.    To comfortably fit into my clothes again

3.    To not have to think about which clothes are my “comfy” clothes when choosing an outfit

4.    I refused to buy bigger clothes when I had a whole wardrobe full of stuff

5.    To improve my fitness….which was pretty much non-existent (thanks to Lupus and c-section)

After completing Round 1 of 12WBT, I realised that this program was more than just about losing weight, and so, here are my reasons for continuing to follow the 12WBT program even though I had reached my goal weight.

6.    Maintain the good habits that I learnt in Rd 1

7.    Maintain my goal weight

8.    Improve my fitness

9.    Toned arms and shoulders please!

10. Lose that last bit of my baby belly

11. Attempt the lean and strong program

12. Maintain the friendships that I made during Rd 1

13. Challenge myself to do things that I never thought I’d ever do

14. Learn new things about food and nutrition

15. Inspire more people to get involved in 12WBT

16. Change my lifestyle so that fitness and nutrition become part of the everyday “norm”

17. Be a positive role model for my family – especially my little boy

18. Learn new recipes (new love of cooking thanks to 12WBT)

19. Learn more about how to make healthy choices when it comes to eating out

20. Maintaining an achievable balance between work, life, program

21. Continue to set new goals, whether it be fitness based, nutrition based or balance based

22. Track my progress and remain accountable

23. Encourage friends around me as they continue their 12WBT journey

24. To improve my resting heart rate (lupus-related)

25. To improve my high blood pressure (lupus-related)

26. To improve my mobility (lupus-related)

27. To be more active together as a family

28. To curb my bad habit of snacking

29. To learn to appreciate my body and what it can do

30. To participate in a fun run / triathlon

31. To gain confidence when it comes to my fitness. It’s a place that I lost a long time ago when I was diagnosed with lupus, but I’m slowly finding my way back.

32. To conquer my fear (lupus-related) and do the Giant Staircase Walk in Katoomba

33. To keep improving myself as a person

34. To look and feel awesome!

35. To be in the “right place” (mind & body) when it comes to planning baby #2

36. To learn how to lift weights

37. To learn how to run (I saw this as a training option during Rd1 and thought to myself… “pfft….as if?!” and now it’s something that I think I could actually do!

38. It gives me something to work towards

Ok so I didn't get to 50, but I think it's a pretty good effort!

After reviewing my list, it’s pretty amazing to see the dramatic change in the way I now look at 12WBT. Originally I saw it as a weight-loss program, but now I see it as a lifestyle.


A girlfriend asked me on the weekend if I was still doing the Michelle Bridge’s program. I told her, “No, I finished the 12 week program back in May. Now I just eat clean during the week and relax on the weekends. I make sure that I keep active and exercise a few times a week. I’m focussed on maintaining my weight – don’t need to lose anymore.”  Um hello?! That is 12WBT, but now it’s not simply a program, it’s a lifestyle, and it’s my lifestyle!!


I no longer see myself following a program. It’s just what I do.


Yes, of course there is plenty of room for improvement, and that’s what I love about it – there is no finish line. There is always a new challenge, a new adventure, a new goal. I have a long way to go, but I’m definitely enjoying it!

Blogger Challenge Week 6

WEEK 6: REFLECT AND REVISE

 

Janye writes:

We are half way through the challenge! Week 6 is here!!!

I want you to reflect on what has been and get yourself ready for the next 6 weeks! By this point you may have gotten off to a flying start or some of you way have not. I want all of us to finish strong no matter what has been! after all this is about the rest of our lives! Every effort you make will only bring you closer to your goal. Be honest and move forward.

 

Have you been doing your 6 days of training? How has your nutrition been? What needs to change? Is there anything you want to do differently going into the next 6 weeks? What are you committing to? Commit to your fellow bloggers! Lets support each other!

 

What are your goals? To lose x amount of weight or are you training towards something?

Why you want to do it? How will you get there? What's your plan of action?

What is your ultimate goal if you have one? Remind yourself of what your every positive action will get you closer to!

We can do it!!!! Anything is possible! If we put in the work! I also wanted to make a shout out to anyone that would like to do a guest post on any challenge week and we can all respond! Please let me know if your interested! Thanks :)

rakscraps.com

Original Round 2 Goals

·         Maintain my goal weight

·         Increase my fitness/strength

·         Follow the 12WBT Lean and Strong program from Round 1 (I haven’t signed up for Round 2 so I’m using my Round 1 info as a guide)

 

 

 

Reflect and Revise

Ok so we’re half way through Round 2 and I’ve managed to tick one goal off my list – maintain my goal weight. I’ve achieved this by focussing primarily on my nutrition, but unfortunately my training has been neglected – badly.

It’s been three weeks since I got an upper respiratory tract infection and I’ve still got an annoying niggling cough that I just can’t seem to shake. I know it doesn’t sound too serious, but when you have Lupus you can’t afford to ignore these kinds of things. So for the last 3 weeks my training has been limited to incidental housework and playtime with my little munchkin. But now it’s time to finally get back into a routine and simply make time for my training.

 

The Next 6 Weeks

Prioritise and diarise.  I love this statement. This was used during Round 1 and it’s stuck with me!

I’m one of those people who has to write everything down! I love diaries, calendars, notebooks and writing “to-do lists”. Nothing gives me more satisfaction than crossing an item off my action list! So that being said, I’m going to plan out my week – nutrition and fitness – and stick to it!!

I know my limits (i.e. family, work and health) so I’m going to have to be realistic about my schedule, and work towards creating an achievable balance.

 

Proposed Schedule – Training

Monday – No scheduled training (work)

Tuesday – No scheduled training (work)  

Wednesday – No scheduled training (work)

Thursday – Work out at home (exercise DVD/x-trainer/weights while little man has his nap)

Friday – Work out at home (exercise DVD/x-trainer/weights while little man has his nap)

Saturday – Work out at home (x-trainer first thing in the morning)

Sunday – Fun in the sun with the family (playing in the park, going for a walk)

  

 

Proposed Schedule – Nutrition

• Plan each week’s menu and stick to it.
• Make sure I do a big cook up on Sunday afternoon so that healthy dinners are ready for those days I have to work, and don’t have time to cook.
• Eat clean during the week and relax on the weekend.
• Limit of one coffee a day (this is only a problem on the days that I’m at work).
• No hot chips or fizzy drink (enjoying these as a “treat” is simply not worth the upset tummy afterwards!)
• Increase calorie intake to 1300 cals/day (in order to effectively maintain goal weight).

Blogger Challenge Week 5

Week 5: FOOD!!

Jayne writes: This weeks blogger challenge will be all about food! I want you to think back!

 

What were your old food habits like? What were you like before embarking on this journey to become a healthier version of yourself? How did you feel?

 

Was there anything you struggled with but have over come?(etc addictions soft drinks, chocolates are some examples) How did you do it? Was it just a decision you made? Or did you do it slowly?

 

Now I would like you tell me and maybe tell others that aren't on the journey what has changed? What are your new eating habits like? How do you feel now? What is the difference? Tell us how it is changing your life? It can be hard at times! But tell us why it has been and continues to be worth it?

 

Express yourself however you like! :) Can be brief, long, pictures and you don't have to answer everything :) its up to you how you interpret my post!

rakscraps.com

I love food. Always have. And still do.

The only difference now, is that I know how much energy & effort I have to put in to work off the “bad stuff” and honestly, it’s just not worth it!

 

 

My Weight – A Brief Summary

I’ve never had weight issues. Ever. Of course, growing up I was a typical girl & always thought that I needed to lose a few more kgs, but honestly, there was nothing wrong with my weight.

It wasn’t until I was diagnosed with Lupus in mid-2005 when my weight and my appearance started to change. The copious amounts of medication I had to take (and still do), played havoc with my body, and a drug called prednisone changed me in more ways that I ever thought possible.

 

From then on, my weight fluctuated depending on which drugs I was taking and what dose I was being prescribed. Typically I would be on higher doses during a flare and also had to be on high doses before, during and after my pregnancy (I was a high risk pregnancy, and prednisone was just one of the many drugs I had to take).

As part of my lupus pregnancy journey, I had to be on a crazy concoction of meds, which included high dose steroids. It felt like I put on 5kg almost instantly when I started the new drugs! And that, combined with pregnancy itself, saw me put on a whopping 20kg!!

Once baby was born, I dropped 10kg in a matter of a few days, but it was that last 10kg that just wouldn’t budge.

 

 

State of Mind

Old Habits

·         During the week we would generally eat clean – well I guess in comparison to our weekends, it was clean.

·         Friday night would be our “take-away” night, which would typically stretch across the entire weekend.

·         Portion sizes were way too big!! And I would always finish everything that was on my plate.

·         I always had at least 2 biscuits with my cup of tea, and I averaged about 4-5 cups of tea a day.

·         Buying foods that were quick and easy, and not necessarily healthy.

Old Favourites

·         Coke (I was addicted to Coke & oranges during my pregnancy. Unfortunately the Coke addiction seemed to hang around after baby was born.)

·         Chocolate (need I say more?!)

·         Biscuits with my tea

·         Take away (KFC, McDonalds, Hungry Jacks…..) you name it, I’d eat it.

  

New Habits

·         Planning our week – setting a menu & sticking to it

·         Only buying what’s on the shopping list and not buying something

       because it’s “new” or “on special”

·         Eating clean during the week so that I can relax on the weekend (but still 

       be sensible about my food choices)

·         Trying out new recipes (Resources from 12WBT Round 1 and Mish’s

       cookbooks)

·         Eating fresh instead of out of a jar/can

·         Drinking more water

·         Eating more fresh fish (prior to 12WBT, the only fish I ate was frozen and

       came out of a cardboard box!)

New Favourites

·         Tandoori chicken (12WBT Round 1 recipe)

·         Lindt dark chocolate (I can still get that sugar fix!)

·         Greek yoghurt!

 

My 12WBT Weight Loss Summary

End of Round 1 of 12WBT = total weight loss of 7.9kg (back to my pre-baby weight)

Start of Round 2 of 12WBT = a further loss of 2.4kg, bringing my total loss to 10.3kg (at my ultimate goal weight)

I went from a size 12 to a size 8.

I didn't train 6 days a week but I did follow the eating plan.

 

What I've Learnt

Discipline, organise & diarise, motivation and plain hard work!

Getting my nutrition correct is so important when it comes to weight loss, and now, maintenance. For me, I know that I will have days, weeks or months, where my fitness plans will need to be put on hold - that's just the reality of having Lupus - but I can always control what I choose to fuel my body with.