12 weeks!

Please join me on the next phase of my journey. I will be doing another 12 week challenge- this time with Body For Life. If you would like to join me please email me and I'll happily share the address with you!

Ash
xo

October calorie burning challenge!

At The Healthy Body Club we have a challenge going to burn a target amount of calories (set by self) by the end of October. I set myself 8000 cals and boy is it proving to be a challenge however it is helping me get into good training habits for the triathlon!!

Last week I did:
1 x spin class 689
2 x 60 min swim sessions 1745
1 x 30 min brisk walk 184
1 x 20 min vigorous upper body weights 184
Total: 2802
8000-2802 = only 5198 to go!!

This week has not been quite so full on but here is the progress and plans...
Thursday: 1 x 30 min moderate walk 152
Today: 1 x spin class 689 and lower body weights 184
Friday: Early morning 60 min swim fast/slow intervals 437
Sat: rest
Sun: 4 km fun run 367 (??)
Total: 1829

Would anyone like to set a target for themselves to reach before the end of October??

I went to see Becky on Singing Bee the other night- we had a blast but I can't divulge any details until the episode airs.. sorry!!

I have been sent a Body for Life pack with some inspirational DVDs and am feeling another burst of weight training enthusiasm coming! Planning to get back into serious weight training after the triathlon as I am focusing on building my cardiovascular fitness right now. I know that the only way I am going to get lasting results in my body shape is to train with weights.. I have done it before with a lot of success and I'll do it again!!

Congrats to N and N on the safe arrival of their new baby daughter Miya. She's absolutely gorgeous!

Okay, that's enough from me!

Ash
xox

Going great guns...

I have been pretty quiet recently so I thought it was time for an update...

Health:

I'm feeling great. Had a few weeks of blah with poor food choices and not much exercise but have since picked up again with the looming 4km fun run and triathlon pink helping me to keep motivated. I am eating very well right now as I know that everything I put into my body will affect how well I am able to cope with training and the events. I have been training four times a week alternating swimming, cycling, jogging and walking. I know I should be doing some weights but I just don't have the time and I'm trying to concentrate on building my cardio fitness again. Not sure if I mentioned that I lost 9kg during my 12 week challenge- then put on 2 and lost them again *lol*... If anyone wants to do some tri training with me please let me know as I'd love some company.

Family:

My dear family are doing well. John's out playing a gig at the Espy right now- very late for a school night! Dear dear! He has also moved his recording studio (Cherrystone) to a new spot in Parkville. Very noice! Molly is now 9 months old and getting cuter by the day! She is now crawling and pulling herself up on furniture and beginning to walk along the couch. She's also able to do a few signs "drink" being her favourite, and is saying mumma, dadda, bubba, and calls my mum's dog Buffy by yelling out "Buuuupi!" She also waves and says "buh bye" and "ta ta" and puts both fists in the air when we say "superman!".... Clever little cherub!

On the home front:

We are moving house toward the end of the year. Very excited as we will be moving in with my best friend (John's sis) and her hubby and little boy in Footscray- trying out living in intentional community. I have a lot I could say about this but wont start here as I'll never stop writing. If you are interested in hearing more about it please email me. We will be part of a house church living out Micah 6:8 "do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your God"... Definately our style... and we'll be very active in community life (including a community garden yay!). We feel we have come to the end of our time here caring for our housemate (he has a disability and we live here rent free in exchange for us acting as live in carers)- there is only so long you can do a job like that for and we feel we need our own space and more room for Molly.

That'll do for now!

Brief I know, but that's about all that's been going on!

Here's some photos for you all!

Ash

xox

Freaking out!!

Just registered for the Spring into life 4km fun run in October and Triathlon Pink in November!!! AAAARRRGH!!!

Need to start training! What a way to get me motivated!!

Anyone have a bike I can borrow??!!

Ash
xox

Photo post...

Molly having fun with her great-poppy

Nearly crawling... She drags herself around on her belly using one arm and one leg. Looks like an injured soldier!

A kiss from Grandad's dog Missy

Aren't dogs the funniest!!?

Cute eyes for daddy

More cute eyes from the car seat

Just ate a WHOLE big banana for lunch at the Collingwood Children's farm farmers market.. Her hair looks very ginger in this pic

Guess whose learned to point!?

And again...

Fun on Great Nan and Pop's lawn... gotta love trainers and a hoodie!

Ash

xox

Comic Relief...

Check this out... I tried to post it straight to my blog but it wouldn't let me. It's very funny- go have a look!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-ia__1d_rM

Wow! It's been a while!

I can't believe my last post was August 13th! That's ages ago! I guess I haven't had a lot to report. Just plugging along with my eating and trying to exercise enough. As you will probably have guessed I have kind of lost my mojo a bit and the end of my 12 week program has come and gone but I have been maintaining my weight since then. Not on purpose- but I am glad I haven't put any back on.

I really want to lose 10 kilos by christmas- that's about four months away and if I am going to do it I need to get serious again! My MIL wants to change her lifestyle and is using me as a bit of a counsellor and moral support and I have been finding myself giving her advice that I know I should be taking on board for myself. I'm struggling to say on track with food and I need to get out and exercise more. John's really busy at the moment and hasn't been able to look after Molly while I go to the gym. There is a creche there but I have been nervous about leaving her there with the bad flu that has been going around. Once that passes I'll feel better about it again. The weather has been great and I have been getting out for walks quite a bit which has been lovely. I have been sunburnt twice already! Whoops!

My aunty and I have found a new happy place- The Collingwood Children's farm... if you get a chance, go there! Becky, next time you're in town with Bradman we're going there! It's so peaceful yet all the workers are busily tending the animals and plants. We watched a cow being milked and all of the sheep had been lambing in the last week. CUUTE! I am going to volunteer one day a week as I have been wanting to learn more about veggie gardening and they have a horticulture person there who teaches the volunteers. My aunty is going to look after Molly.

What else?... I smashed my toe yesterday on the leg of the bed at mum's place and it has gone all black and yukky. I haven't been able to wear a shoe on my right foot today. I think it might be broken. Oh well- not much you can do about a broken toe! Ouch!

Happy father's day to all the daddy's out there!

That'll do from me today!

Ash
xox

Monday morning...

Baby is down for her morning sleep,

Drinking cranberry and elderflower tea,

Still in my big red pj pants,

Feeling cruisy.



Dishes and laundry to do,

They can wait- no need to rush,

Taking time to just be,

Sitting in the morning sun.



Love it!

How to have more money...

(Great tips from Kindred)

Regaining Sanity: Discovering the Balance between Time, Money…and your Life Part I
By Anna Jahns

Want More Money? Spend Less! Frugal families find ways to use less money by purchasing mindfully, asking, is this in sync with our family values? Voluntary simplicity's philosophy of conscientiously reducing, reusing and recycling is summed up as ‘Use it Up, Wear it Out, Make it Do, Do Without!'

• Think cooperatively! Form food and babysitting co-ops.
• Borrow and share rarely used items.
• Take light-on-the-earth, light-on-the-pocket holidays — go camping, share equipment and costs with friends and family.
• Buy secondhand wherever possible; especially clothing and furniture.
• Browse through classified columns full of creative possibilities to repair, reuse, restore, refurbish!
• Enjoy eating and entertaining at home, and friends' homes — including birthdays and holidays.
• Consider eating lower on the food chain more often, involve children in growing your own veggie garden.
• Car pool, bicycle ride, or use public transportation wherever possible.
• Remember all the ways to economise with gas, water, electricity, telephone, to reduce household utilitites in everyday ways.
• Use cotton cloth diapers instead of disposable diapers, and save $4,000 per child. 7
• Buy in bulk, check out places like www.thebulkwarehouse.com.au
• Shop less often, (once per week) and only from a pre-prepared list (and NEVER when hungry!).
• Collect coupons, plan meals by the week with special offers, check for sales.
• Compare at least 3 well-researched quotes for any large purchase.
• Keep a handy list of better things to do than shopping or watching TV!
• Make gift giving a creative family effort — birthdays and Christmases are so much more meaningful when loved ones receive handmade gifts.
• When starting a family, consider taking on the financial burden of a mortgage once the children start school, not from the moment they are born! Stepping back to a single income for the first three years only takes a small percentage away from the average couple's entire working career — and yet, in these few years, the entire emotional foundation for their children's life is established, something that cannot be overvalued or made up for further down the track.

Great food philosophy...

In the persuit of gaining a buff mumma body I have unwittingly lost track of my own food philosophy- aka the way I want to live the rest of my life and the way I want to teach Molly to live. I have been living on less and less whole foods and more supplements and protein powders (which have their place when weight training but should not constitute the bigger part of your diet).

Beck has recently posted about getting back on track and focusing on eating real, unprocessed foods and she has reminded me of what I have been striving to achieve for the last few years- a natural, whole, nutritious diet free of unnecessary chemicals and additives. Thanks Beck!!

I just stumbled across this video (the bottom one with the lady) online about whole foods and it provides an excellent explanation of wholefoods and why 70 to 80% of our diets should be made up of them. I would highly recommend going to have a look if you're at all interested.

John has been sick over the last few days (but is better now) and molly has been very irritable with teething (they're now through praise the Lord!) and hasn't let me leave her side so I haven't been to the gym this week. I have been for a couple of brisk walks and have done one home weights session. I have Personal Training tomorrow night (the last of my free triple pack- Thanks Jadey!) so I just need to do a couple more cardio sessions and one more weights and my exercise will be sorted for the week. Cripes! It's Thursday- better get a wriggle on!

Food has been OK but I've certainly had better weeks. I feel a change in the air with this fresh look at wholefoods and the way I want to live so it's all good.

Molly had swimming today- she's adorable! Today I let go of her under the water for the first time and she kicked up to the surface like a little frog. She also had a try of floaties and an inflatable ring- she frog kicked all over the pool. The instructor said she is very pleased with Molly's progress. She has caught up to all the other babies who started at the beginning of the year and we've only been going for 5 weeks! Clever little sprocket!

That'll do from me today!

Ash
xox

Questions...

Thanks to everyone who asked me questions! Here are my belated responses.


How many children would you like to have???

2 or 3 I think. We'll have to wait until we have the 2nd one before we decide if we'll have a 3rd. It actually depends on lots of factors... money, space, whether I want to go back to work and use my hard earned degree etc etc.

What did you do for a living before your gorgeous baby girl came to be???

I just graduated from Social Work at RMIT and have been working in social and community services for the last 5 years.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now???

Hmmm.. the 5 year question- In my dreams we'd have our own home somewhere, John's band and recording studio would have taken off and I'd be spending my time looking after the kids, working with and supporting people in the community and persuing the things I love to do. I'd love to become a childbirth educator and doula as I felt such a strong connection with the whole process of childbirth. I also feel I've neglected my creative side in the last 4 years and would love to be painting, drawing and singing regularly.

The Rove question- Who would you turn gay for???

Umm... never thought about it- I think The Waifs are pretty unreal but I wouldn't go as far as saying I'd turn for them! *lol*

How do I motivate myself to turn a bad eating/exercise week into a good week???

Not a good week to ask me that question! Haha... Don't know what's gone wrong but the wheels have fallen off the wagon in a bad way recently. :( In the past I have been able to sit down and reevaluate my goals- write new goals down and tell people for accountability. But more than anything- when it comes down to it- to quote Nike (boo hiss) "just do it"- as motivation doesn't last but just plodding along and getting on with the task at hand really does work. It may be a 2 steps forward, one step back scenario biut at the end of the day you're still a step ahead arent you?!

I'd better go.
The screen is getting blurry as I'm so tired! I can barely type- I'rm surprrrised yyou can stiull understandd whats I'm talkkkkking about zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

STOPPPPP!!! AAARGH!!! Get back on track!!!

I have had a BAD week!!

I need to get back on track this week... only 3 weeks left of my training package and I need to make the most of it!

SO! What am I going to do this week??? Eat clean and train hard!

I am calling the gym creche on Monday morning to book Molly in for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings so I can do upper body, cardio and then Lower body... Then I have Personal training on thursday night and all I will have to do is another couple of cardio sessions and I'll be swwweeeet!!

OK. Bad week over- got some chocolate eating out of my system... feel better now.

NOW! I'm bored! Ask me anything and I'll answer honestly! Go on!! Come on lurkers- time to surface!

Ash

xox

Happy Birthday John Boy!

John was 26 on the 26th... haha

Just a short post just for John to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY!!



Love you lots and lots.



xox

Ash

Selfish and materialistic post ahead...

Things I REALLY want but can't justify spending money on...

A Pink Ipod. I think I'm the last blogger not to have one. (My husband is very proud of me for this... he'd still have a gramophone if he could). I have a little mp3 player which never gets used *blush*... But you can't get an arm band for my little one... and it's black not pink.. haha.. lame I know! I'd love to download some of those workout podcasts I have heard other people talking about.

A Polar sports watch... Since I've been getting fit and healthy (about 4 years now) I have wanted one of these. For those who don't know, they count how many calories you've burned and takes your heartrate etc. Basically they are very posh and whiz bang and I'd LOVE one!!

A bike. I used to have one when I was a kid. It was bright pink and I got rid of it before we moved house. I love spin class so I imagine I'd love cycling outside where there's something other than a pulsating, girating gym instructor to look at. I'd also love one of those little kid-trailors to tow Molly along in. I love walking/jogging along the beach from StKilda to Brighton and I'd love to ride along there.

A super cute, bautifully styled hair cut and colour- something like this would be nice with some blonde highlights for a bit of a change but not as blonde as this. I get my hair cut at Just Cuts at the moment and although cheap and usually good, you don't get the salon experience... I want someone to bring me a latte and chocolates while I wait for the colour to process- at Just Cuts you are in and out within 15 mins... It's all about the experience!

A pamper session. I haven't shaved my legs since Molly was born so I'd love to go and get a full grease and oil change and a wheel alignment thrown in just for fun! Ahhh... massage and facial- HEAVEN! But it aint gonna happen any time soon.... Why am I torturing myself with this stuff??

Haha. That'll do for now. Enough with the "I wish's".

Ash

xox

Just right...

I have just been reading Catie's blog and something she said really resonated with me. She wrote about always striving to be boyishly thin all her life and recently coming to the realisation that being naturally curvy may not be such a bad thing. I mean, look at the girls in the pic above. All look gorgeously healthy but none look like the size zero models and actresses that monopolise all forms of media right now. They are not overweight or underweight- just right. That's what I want to be. I want to be just right for my body type which is naturally curvy.

Ash

xox

Week 7 recap...

My most favouritist bestest picture at the moment...

I've had a much better week this week although I was certain I was going to put on weight as I didn't feel any lighter (dumb I know!) and I sms'd Kerryn a bit stressed out that I didn't get all my (4 sessions of) cardio in. Kerryn gave me a pep talk and I managed to cram in a big walk yesterday afternoon to try and make up for my lack of cardio during the week.

I was pleased to see 86.6 on the scale this morning- a 600g loss from last week. Not too bad- at least it's enough to motivate me through the next week.

I'm at the hard point in this challenge where I see the end coming too quickly and I feel like I am not going to achieve all the things I hoped to achieve in the 12 weeks. Kerryn reminded me that I CAN do it and I just need to knuckle down and power through the next few weeks. I'd like to lose another 4-5 kilos before the end of the 12 weeks. I forgot how hard it gets to move the numbers down on the scales once you start building muscle. I know I am sculpting a magnificent masterpiece (if I do say so myself) under a layer of fat but I just have to get this fat outta here before we'll be able to see the beautifully sculpted muscles I've been working so hard on. I can FEEL a difference but am having trouble seeing anything just yet. I know I am smaller- fitting into my pre-pregnancy jeans again, and I am stronger (I've gone from using 2.5kg dumbells to 5kg ones for some of my upper body workout and from a 10kg to a 20kg barbell for my benchpress) but I just don't have the shape yet.

I was watching this buff lady working out in the gym yesterday and I had to stand back and say WOW! As I know what hard work she must put in to get her body to look that good. It's all about dedication- I bet she eats clean and works out to a strict schedule. That's what I am going to do to get me through these last few weeks (and beyond of course!). I felt like going up and congratulating that woman for how fit she looks but I thought it's be a bit weird...ME: "hey there! You're hot!!"...BUFF LADY: "um.. do I know you??"

Anyway... Better go!

Ash

xox

Week 6 recap...

This week has been a bit of a downer.. not sure why. I didn't eat that badly but not that well either. Put on 500g but did 2 hard weights sessions and feel I have built some muscle.

Just for interests sake, here is the comparison between my week 1 and week 5 photos...

I can see a big difference between the side and back shots.

Hope you're all having a nice day!

Ash

xox

Quick post...

Weigh in: 86.7kg!!

That's a loss of 1.8kg this week!!!

Go me!

Ash
xox

Oh baby baby...

My little girl is skinny.... a bouncy, bubbly, chattery active baby who loves mum's milk, avocado, apple, pear, mashed pumpkin, natural yoghurt and just about anything she is offered... but she's still skinny. Too skinny apparently- according to the health nurse. :(

She has dropped from the 90th percentile to the 10th on her growth curve chart. She has grown in length and head circumferance but just not enough.

I did notice other babies seemed chubbier than her but I have just been putting it down to her being so active and naturally lean.

I feel ok about this but know I need to work on fattening her up. I have been advised to start her on dairy products, ground/shredded meat and to put some olive oil in with some of her food to boost the fat content.

Hmm... hope it works!

Other than that, she is doing very well- the health nurse thought she was particularly cute.. That's really something! Coming from a woman who sees thousands of babies!

Better go and do lower body weights...

In case anyone's interested here's my progress for the week so far and plan for the rest of the week.

Mon: Body attack class (apparently the hardest Les Mills class- go me!) and upper body weights

Tues: 20 mins cardio, yoga and walking around for 2 hours with Molly in the sling

Wed: Rest day

Thurs: Lower body weights

Fri: Upper body weights, 30 mins cardio or a class

Sat: 30 mins cardio or a class

Sun: Rest day

And here's a sample of a days eating at the moment:

B. Porridge with 100% whey protein powder and a dash of skim milk

S. Yoghurt or fruit with some protein

L. Lean chicken or fish with veggies and rice

S. Fruit or yoghurt with protein

D. Veggie soup with beef or chicken and 2 slices of burgen soy lin with a drissle of olive oil or some natural peanut butter

S. Fruit

Ash

xox

Week 4 recap...

Well! Here we are at the beginning of another week!

Sorry to all the girls who attended for piking out on another blogger catch-up! I hope you all had a fantastic time bowling.

This week has been good on the training front- not teriffic but good... I have eaten very well and did more exercise than last week but I have stll felt a bit blahhhh.... I think it's because the house is a bit of a mess and I can't get on top of the laundry. Oh well- I did get into the gym to do yoga and cycle and feel my cardio fitness has improved a lot.

My weight stayed the same this week but I feel a bit bloated and haven't had enough water so I'll make sure I have plenty this week and see what happens. My body fat has dropped 1% this week so maybe I've built some muscle too.

Here's some piccies of little miss cuteness and her cuzz..

Ash

xox

Week 3 recap...

Isn't it funny how when you begin some new health and fitness task/challenge/program the first couple of weeks are so exciting and you feel so motivated and then it comes to week three or four and you wonder how you ever had the energy to continue what you have been doing?!

That was me last week. It didn't take much to throw me off kilter- one sleepless night with Molly. The poor little darlin' vomited all Wednesday night which meant I didn't get any shuteye and consequently had a tired and lethargic week. I only did 2 weights sessions and one brisk walk. (Molly is fine now btw)

One good thing was that I still stuck to my eating plan like glue and managed to lose another kilogram. So I'm 88.5kg now.

Joined Fitness First last night as Contours really isn't doing it for me so this week I will go back to my good ole group classes and treadmills. How I have missed them *lol*!!

Ok.. better be off- going to try and talk my way out of paying a giant exit fee (don't think I'll have much luck!!)

Ash
xox

Week 2 roundup!

Molly tries avocado.... more please mum!

After 2.7kgs lost last week (nearly 6lbs) I wasn't expecting much as I am weight training and figured I might have gained more muscle than the fat I lost however I was pleasantly surprised to see 89.5kg flash up on my scale this morning- a loss of 1 kg! (2lbs).

I'm an 80s girl again! Yaaaaay!


I am pretty sore from the combination of my weights and pushing Molly everywhere in the pram. I think I'll find a local yoga class to do on saturdays to stretch the kinks out.


I have started having a yummy treat for my arvo snack... an eggwhite pancake with 1 tbs natural peanut butter... yum! I had been forgetting to eat my portion of good fat this week so have been having this snack.


That's it for now...


Ash

xox

Week 1 round-up...

I am so stoked about my result for this week. I have worked really hard doing 3 weights sessions and 4 cardio sessions and I have not let one thing pass my lips that shouldn't have. So I guess I deserve my 2.7kg loss!!

That brings my weight down to 90.5kgs- SO close to the 80s! Hope I get some 80s action next week!

For those who asked for recipes, I haven't forgotten you- I'll pop some up when I have a chance this week. Not much to report today except that I did upper body weights and a 40 min brisk walk.. My plan of action this week is to go for another walk tomorrow, do lower body wednesday, some kind of cardio thursday, and upper body and cardio on Friday.

Kek's tips to remember this week...
- when walking remember to keep asking myself "am I walking as fast as I can go?"
- eat on a small plate to make my portions look bigger

John's just making dinner... I appreciate it, but it always takes him soooo long to cook! Hopefully it will be ready soon as I am STARVING!!! My afternoon snack was a boiled egg and an apple at 4pm so I am well and truely ready for some tucker! He's making baked herbed chicken breast with roasted pumpkin, parsnip and carrot. YUMMY!

Better go and watch some quality television and get Molly ready for beddy-byes.

See ya!

Ash
xox

Semi Naked Flab Pics...

Quick post to share my photos with you all... this is a very scary thing as I haven't had any semi-naked flab shots done for a LONG time... But it's good for me to put it out there! I can't wait till my 12 week pics!


Here are a couple of pics of the haul of food I bought on Sunday to prepare myself for week 1 of my 12 week program.

Nighty night...

Ash

xox

New Program...

YAY! I have my new program and I have stuck to it like glue for the first two days.

I am alternating upper and lower body workouts with a day of cardio in between (some days I have to do both on the same day but need to make sure I do one in the morning and one later in the day. My lower bod is quite sore from Monday's workout! I pulled out one of my old aerobic dvds yesterday for my cardio as the weather was terrible and I didn't want to go out for a walk or swim- it tired me out though so that's a positive!

Kerryn has also given me a whole list of recipes to try out. I have already tried the lime basil chicken stirfry, protein pancakes and tuna and sweet potato patties. Tonight will be homemade chicken burgers with salad or steamed veggies.

Yesterdays meals went like this:
B. Protein pancake with splenda and lime
S. cottage cheese, natural yoghurt and mixed berries
L. Chickpeas with tuna and steamed vegetables
S. Small protein bar and an apple
D. Tuna patties with steamed carrots, broccoli and cauliflower
S. A pear microwaved with cinnamon and splenda (yumm!!)... Ok.. I'm off to do upper body!

Ciao!

Ash
xox

Yeast Infection and my 12 week program...

I am really excited as I get my new 12week training and nutrition program this week written by Kek (www.fitbodies.com.au)!

I have worked out why I have been so miserable recently...I have had a yeast infection in my nipples (and probably other places in my body too... eeew!) and Molly has had it in her mouth- the poor little cherub! So to combat the yeast growth I have gone off bread, pasta and anything with sugar in it... which is really a good thing as I am starting this new nutrition plan soon and it wont be a huge shock to my system when I detox from the sugar my body has been used to recently. The thing about yeast infections is that it makes you CRAVE sweet things and simple carbs... so I am pleased with my efforts! Molly has had some medicine but it has made her poo really yukky so I went to the health food shop yesterday to find out what natural remedies there are. So we are now both on a probiotic powder. I hope it works!

I really need a haircut as my most recent do is beginning to resemble a german military helmet! So I think that's in the plan for today!

Ash
xox

Lacklustre...

Feeling a little flat and low recently... don't feel like blogging much so I'm having a little break. I don't see the point in doing this when I'm not enjoying it.

I'm starting a 12 week training program soon and when I get the details I'll post about that. But until then I'm having a rest from blogging.

Hope all is going well.

Ash
xox

Exercise, food and breastmilk....

I have been thinking about ditching Contours as it has no childcare but have decided to keep it- not because I have worked out a good childcare solution, but because it is going to cost me over 400 bucks to get out of my contract and they do not offer membership transfers.. :(

I have asked around and so far I can get my sis in law and mum in law to look after Molly- so that's 2 possibly 3 days covered... I just need to get myself organised and we should be ok.

This week has been good- I haven't been focussing on weights much as I have been waiting to get this gym stuff sorted but have been for 3 2 hour long pram-pushing, hill-climbing/descending walks. One of the mums from mums group lives near by and is trying to lose some weight too so we push each other to go a bit further and a bit faster.. My glutes are really sore! Ya!

My eating is still not 100% but I'm feeling good and my milk supply is getting better. I am taking fenugreek capsules to try and boost my supply a little so I can express- gee they smell!

Tomorrow I am going to have a nice clean eating day as follows:
B. Oats and some yummy scrambled eggs
S. 1 apple and 2 corn thins with vegemite
L. 1 tin salmon, salad, 1/2 avocado and a super grainy roll
S. Aussie bodies rtd protein shake, veg sticks tatziki dip
D. Chicken with stir fry veggies

I am going to an afternoon tea party thing at a friends house and for the first time in ages I am going to say NO to all the junk that will be on offer and will eat my veg sticks and yoghurt dip while I'm there.

Wish me luck!!

Ash
xox

Long time between drinks... erm.. I mean.. posts!

Well, Here I am...

To be completely honest I just have no felt like blogging much recently. I have been sneakily reading other blogs without commenting much and have just joined the Rally Room at buffmother.com and have been posting a little in the forums there. It seems that all is quiet in the blogging world at the moment... maybe it's the colder weather (for the Melbournians).

I don't have much to report on the health and fitness front... I have been hovering around the same weight for the last week which is fine with me as I have just been plodding along without really tracking. The only exercise I have been doing is walking although pushing the heavy pram has been making my arms, shoulders and quaddys hurt so I know I am getting a decent workout.

Molly wise, there is some news... she cut her first tooth today! She's only four months old for goodness sake!! I couldn't stop laughing when I found it today as it's so rediculous... she was only just born!!

I have been offered a month of work beginning next Saturday taking all telephone, website and email enquiries for Birthready. This was a fantastic childbirth preparation and gentle exercise class I did during my pregnancy and I feel very excited to be able to be involved. Any preggy ladies in Melbourne should definately do these classes as you will feel much more informed and prepared for your (and your baby's) labour and birth.

I've been very busy doing nothing worth reporting but I am back on the face of the blogging earth.

Love to all

Ash
xox

Molly's weight etc...

I was stressing out about Molly's weight gain as I feel she looks really skinny compared to all her little friends so I was really looking forward to hearing what the nurse had to say. I had no reason to be concerned. The nurse took one look at how bright and alert she is and even before weighing her she knew she was fine. Phew! It's funny how I try not to be a stress head of a mother but it still comes out in me every now and then... Anyway she had put on 690g sinse our last visit and passed all the four month tests even though she is only 3.5 months so we don't have to go back until she is six months! Yay! I must have enough milk for her after all!

I must say that Molly is the one of the only bubs in mum's group who is exclusively breastfed so it is no wonder she is a little skinnier than the roly-poly formula babies!

In answer to Cranky's question left in the comments of my last post- I don't feel bad for asking for John's help... I think I worded that wrong in the last post. What I meant was that it feels weird to think of having time just for me as everything I am is invested into this little girl and I rarely spend time without her... I feel weird, not bad, asking for help... does that make sense??

Anywhoo... that's all for now!

Ash
xox

Weigh in...

I was going to give myself another week to get back on track after my Easter gain but I wanted to weigh miss Molly and the best way to do that is to weigh myself and then do it again while holding her and then subtract my weight from the total... I was expecting to see somewhere around the 93.9 mark which would have been a 600g loss after Easter (which would have been terrific!). But I was staggered to look down and see 92.6kgs! Which is almost two kilos gone since the chocolate fest!! The funny thing is, I haven't been counting calories or points or even exercising very much. I have just been living normally but trying to make every food choice a healthy one with a few treats thrown in for fun. But they have been in sensible portions and not every day...

It is funny how quickly one can fall into the habit of having treats every day when it is really not good for you or necessary! When I am in that headspace I feel that a NEED or deserve a treat every day and it takes quite an effort not to but once I sucessfully do it it feels SO good! What I really do deserve is to have a healthy body that is fuelled with the food that it is meant to process...

Yay!

Ash
xox

Eughhhh......

In stark contrast to my last post I am today feeling flat and low... things are still going really well between John and I, and I had a great day in general and food wise however I am tired, I have a cold and just feel blaaahhh!!! I have NOT been allowing myself much time just for me at all recently and I haven't been eating very well either. It is really taking a toll as I have had 2 colds in the last month.

Beckie has just written a post about the way you treat yourself manifesting in either sickness or health and I believe this to be true. I need to make more of an effort to make time for myself and time alone with God. Just to sit and be still. My life is go go go right now and I rarely think about my spiritual life, which is really important to me.

I have asked John if he can take Molly for half a day on either Saturdays or Sundays so I can do some things for myself whether it be just being still, reading, catching a movie or some other nice thing. I felt bad in asking for help but of course he was really excited at the thought of spending more one on one time with his little girl... "just Molly and me" he said with a grin.

So I already feel a little better.

I haven't written about my fun night out with the blogger ladies for Phil's farewell but there have already been a couple of write ups (see Kate, Phil, or Beckie) so I'll let you read up and look at the funny pics from the night over at their blogs. All I can say is that I had an absolute ball and despite the fact that I am still tired and a bit sick from all the smoke at X-Base I had the best night I have had in a long time. I love spending time with all you girls. For the first time in my life I have a group of girlfriends who I can totally be myself around. I have always felt uncomfortable in groups in the past and spent my time comparing myself with the other members of the group (I always managed to find skinny friends) and was always wary of other girls because of some horriffic bullying I experienced in year 7. For that reason I spent most of my time in one on one relationships where I could feel confident no one was ganging up on me... Sad huh??

But that said, I LOVE having girlfriends now... MWA to you all!!

I got my new-old car from Philippa last night and I am very excited to have 4 DOORS!! It is very hard on the old back getting a bubba in and out of a 2 door Echo! After dropping off my new car Phil and I visited Brunetti in Carlton for divine Italian hot chocolates with whipped cream. Hot choc so thick you can practically stand your spoon up in it!! We also shared some yummy low fat nutella cheesecake. It was our last proper one on one time together before Phil begins the next chapter in the adventure that is her life. I am so excited for Phil. She is ready to step into this new phase of her life and she goes with all of my prayers and positive thoughts. She knows I will always be here for her as her Melbourne sister. I love this girl. I will miss her... I will miss YOU Phil!!

I feel better just remembering what a nice time we had last night.

My mums group have just started meeting outside of the health centre and we had lunch today at The Cherry Hill Hotel in Templestowe. I really like my mums group. It makes me happy... another example of me feeling comfy in groups.. ya!

Better go, John has just bought me a take away coffee from down the street... what a sweet sweet man!!

Ash
xox