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12 weeks!

2007-10-12T19:33:00.000+10:00

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!

2007-10-11T09:55:00.000+10:00

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...

2007-09-26T22:40:00.000+10:00

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!!

2007-09-16T15:42:00.000+10:00

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...

2007-09-10T09:52:00.000+10:00

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...

2007-09-10T09:45:00.000+10:00

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!

2007-09-03T15:19:00.000+10:00

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...

2007-08-13T11:12:00.000+10:00

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...

2007-08-09T10:29:00.000+10:00

(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...

2007-08-08T16:21:00.000+10:00

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...

2007-08-06T21:44:00.000+10:00

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!!!

2007-07-28T16:03:00.000+10:00

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!

2007-07-28T15:55:00.000+10:00

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...

2007-07-21T00:24:00.000+10:00

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...

2007-07-20T23:32:00.000+10:00

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...

2007-07-16T15:48:00.000+10:00

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...

2007-07-09T21:35:00.000+10:00

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...

2007-07-01T22:13:00.000+10:00

Weigh in: 86.7kg!!

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

Go me!

Ash
xox

Oh baby baby...

2007-06-28T11:02:00.000+10:00

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...

2007-06-25T13:32:00.000+10:00

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...

2007-06-18T10:35:00.000+10:00

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!

2007-06-11T17:25:00.001+10:00

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...

2007-06-04T19:17:00.000+10:00

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...

2007-05-31T22:53:00.000+10:00

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...

2007-05-30T09:54:00.000+10:00

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...

2007-05-24T10:32:00.000+10:00

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...

2007-05-19T23:19:00.000+10:00

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....

2007-05-09T23:38:00.000+10:00

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!

2007-05-03T22:27:00.000+10:00

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...

2007-04-19T20:42:00.000+10:00

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...

2007-04-18T22:14:00.000+10:00

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......

2007-04-17T20:28:00.000+10:00

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

Freedom....

2007-04-15T23:07:00.000+10:00

In a couple of weeks I will be starting a new program designed by fellow blogger Kek... This lady is amazing, turning her life around and then building a career around helping others turn theirs around. Her personal training business "Fit Bodies" does, among many other cool things, 12 week training and nutrition packages with full email and phone support. I have decided to do a 12 week program as I feel I have been lacking accountability and expert support. I know how great my last 12 week challenge went and a lot of that came down to having a great plan and a system of accountability with a trainer who knew just what I was capable of.

I am really excited! Stepping out of the Easter chocolaty haze I feel that there is a freshness in the air both physically and spiritually! I feel like I am waking up and walking into the crisp air of morning and everything in my past is just that... my past. Each day is a new one, filled with opportunity and potential. This is going to be a good year. I can feel it... now I just need to do my bit to make it happen. Over the last few days I have experienced an amazing closeness with God and with John and it feels amazing. This has come about by a conversation that John and I had a couple of nights ago in which some truths were spoken... things that were not easy to discuss but once they were in the open, were extremely freeing for our relationship with each other and with God. We didn't realise we had any walls up in our relationship until they were torn down... Praise God! Since then John and I have been so much more touchy feely. I nevery realised we'd stopped!

Anywho... I am really tired. I have a twitch in my belly which feels like a baby kicking (impossible!! *lol*) and that is sign enough that I need some serious hours of revitalising sleep!

Love to all!

God is Good!!

Ash
xox

Giggle pot!!

2007-04-12T23:15:00.000+10:00

Molly giggles for the third time!!

Holiday snaps...

2007-04-12T20:06:00.000+10:00

Molly, John and I were driven out to the airport by my mum at 5:30am (God bless her!!) on Saturday morning. We had a 6:30am flight to Adelaide lasting 58mins. It sometimes takes me just as long to drive to my Mum's in traffic!!

We stayed in Aldinga beach in a big beach house with John's Mum, Dad, Sister Mezz, her hubby Byron and their little boy Felix. It was about 40 minutes out of the city and was a lovely place to relax.

The reason we travelled over was to attend the beautiful wedding of one of John's family friends. The wedding was on Saturday afternoon so once it was over we had a good few days of pure holidayness to look forward to. During our stay we visited Glenelg (say it backwards!!), Victor Harbor, The City, Aldinga Beach and did some other general driving around exploring.

Easter was great. John's mum hid eggs all over the house on Sunday morning and we had to run around saying "He is risen" and smashing eggs on our heads. It was a lot of fun.

Here are some snaps of the fun and festivities!!

A gorgeous pic of Felix and Mezz playing

Mezz and Byron doing what they do best.... stuffing around

One of my new fave pics of Molly

Mezz with Molly and me with Felix... hmm.. who's the bigger handful??

Nice hair Molly!! Haha!

I love my girl!!

And here are the two little poppets sitting up with their daddys

Scene 1. Felix give Molly a hug (notice the fast moving hand next to Molly's left ear)

Scene 2. Felix loved Molly a little too hard!!

This is a birthday cake I made for John's bro's girlfriend Tarryn. I only put this pic here to show off... she thought it was a candle!

More pics to come!!

Back to reality... oops there goes gravity!

2007-04-12T14:23:00.000+10:00

I'm back from our lovely trip to Adelaide... We flew in last night after a great five days with John's folks, Mezz, Byron and Felix.

I have some photos to share and a funny video of Molly giggling but they will have to wait as I am just writing this quick post from Nan and Pop's place while Nan is singing Molly to sleep.

See you soon!

Ash
xox

PS. Ate a LOT of chocolate over Easter... put on a kilo and a bit... back to the ole' drawing board!

A loss after a SOUPER healthy week...

2007-04-02T09:57:00.000+10:00

Last week I weighed in at 94.5kgs... It was a gain, and a step in the wrong direction. So I decided to focus on eating fresh, gorgeous healthy, home made food for the week and made a HUUUUGE pot of veggie soup...

Some of you might find it extremely boring but I am a big fan of the odd monterous bowl of veggie soup and this week I ate it for lunch and dinner almost every day. I would add some protein by throwing some poached chicken or some mixed beans in and I made sure my calories weren't too low (as can happen when eating lots of low cal soup!!). I have been feeling so vital this week! Veggies are magic I tell ya!! My moods have evened out as well... it is like a miracle! I have not been eating any processed foods or refined sugar and I feel a million bucks!

So, the result.... a loss of 1.4kgs! Down to 93.1!

I have decided to do it again and make a couple of other soups to freeze into portions to defrost when I need them. Philippa used to make a lovely soup that had chicken and rizzoni in it. She gave me the recipe a while ago as I thought it was so delicious. So I'll make that one and a yummy lentil and smoky bacon soup that I found in the little "kick start diet" mini mag that came out with New Idea last year. Yum!

I am so happy the weather has cooled down so I can enjoy soup again!

The other thing I have noticed since eating soup all week is that my stomach capacity is far less than i was before because I keep having to leave half my food on my plate/in my bowl as I am filling up so quickly. Probably because of all the liquid I am consuming- soup is very filling!!

Anywhoo, I'd better nick off and do some work around the house... although I have already been very productive today. It's only 10:12am and I have already got our housemate* ready for the day (made his lunch etc), made up a few sandwiches to freeze for the boys lunches, hung out one load of nappies, put another load of general washing on and hung it out, hung out our housemates washing as it was sitting in a basket getting stinky, cooked and ate a boiled egg and lean bacon for brekkie (yum!!), fed and played with Molly, dressed her and put her to sleep... now sitting here taking a load off looking at blogs. But I have lots more to do!!

Bysies!!

Ash
xox
*Our housemate has a disability and we are live-in carers- he's not just a lazy bloke like most are!!

Here are some photos of my baby girl... The 2nd one is of Molly with her friend Amy... awww cute!!

Owww!

2007-03-27T20:47:00.000+10:00

I didn't manage to walk to mum's group today like I planned.

Normally I would feel a bit lazy and guilty for not doing this but today I just couldn't manage it... why? My scalp is KILLING me! I don't know what's wrong but it has been bothering me for a few weeks and I just figured it would go away. But it hasn't! And it is giving me a splitting headache. I have tried different shampoos, thought it might have been from tying my hair up too tight as it is that kind of feeling but alas... no luck! It looks as if I am going to have to visit the doctor. I remember Linda having something like this last year... what was the cause of your scalpy soreness Linda?? Did it clear up quickly once you started treating it??

On another note I have a new net addiction... Health Nuts! Thanks to Mary for setting this community up!

I am seeking a buddy... someone who is seriously interested in teaming up with me to burn the flab! I need someone who will be able to commit to a few days a week of exercise (no bailing out without a REALLY good reason! *lol*). I am really wanting to get serious and I have always done better when I have a buddy. So if you are interested in making a committment to exercise with me regularly please drop me a line here.

I'd better be off. I have made a decision to spend less time on here in the evening as I need more quality time with the lad and I've also been getting nothing done around the house.. so goodnight!

Ash
xox

Get it together woman!!!

2007-03-26T20:39:00.000+10:00

What is wrong with me??!!

I have not got my act together... My house is a mess, I have to book flights for out trip to Adelaide for an Easter wedding (have been meaning to do this for weeks), I haven't done washing in over a week and I'm down to my "scungies", I am loving chocolate just a little too much (dangerous so close to easter) and I have been staying up too late and waking up too early... AAARGH!!

I have a yukky cold which has been making me all light headed and preventing me from exercising as it makes me dizzy. I have Mum's group tomorrow and if I feel ok and it's not too hot I'll walk there and back. I think it will be about half an hour either way so that will make me feel better about myself I think.

On a slightly lighter note.. how cute was that video of Molly!? Haha! She's just started doing that high pitched noise... you'd think I never fed the little thing but she had eaten just half an hour before that!

Oh... what a boring post tonight.... I apologise! I will try and think of something to post worth reading- it's just so hard when you feel so bleahhh!

Ash
xox

Funny Molly

2007-03-24T23:39:00.000+11:00

Body dysmorphic disorder...

2007-03-22T19:56:00.000+11:00

(From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_dysmorphic_disorder)
"Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a mental disorder, which involves a disturbed body image. It is generally diagnosed in those who are extremely critical of their physique or self image, despite the fact there may be no noticeable disfigurement or defect...

...Ironically BDD is often misunderstood as a vanity driven obsession, whereas it is quite the opposite; people with BDD believe themselves to be profoundly ugly or defective.

BDD combines obsessive and compulsive aspects which has linked it to the OCD spectrum disorders among psychologists. People with BDD may engage in compulsive mirror checking behaviors or mirror avoidance, typically think about their appearance for more than one hour a day, and in severe cases may drop all social contact and responsibilities as they become homebound. The disorder is linked to an unusually high suicide rate among all mental disorders."

Thank you Kenz for being so honest about how you feel at the moment surrounding your own self image and for bringing some much needed attention to the topic of distorted body image.

When I got to 75kg early last year (well within my healthy weight range for my height) I still felt fat.

I was very proud of all I had achieved and I could even compliment myself on different parts of my body that I liked. But in my head I still imagined myself as the 112kg girl I started out as. I still looked to the back of the rack for clothes whilst shopping even though I was a healthy size twelve and I was still disgusted when I looked in the mirror and at photographs.

I didn't realise this was happening to me until I began putting some weight back on during the pregnancy and I looked back at photos from that time, realising that I was not just not fat... I was SLIM! And not just slim, I was muscular, my skin was clear and I was in perfect proportion.

But I just did not see this.

Reading over my 12 week challenge blog I found a post talking about wanting more... more weight loss and more results. I used the saying "If I can do this, I can do better" which is a terrific saying, however I was using it as a catalyst for obsessive thoughts and behaviours around my weight.

This is not a healthy way to live...

Has anyone else ever felt this way?

Ash
xox

A goal...

2007-03-21T23:32:00.001+11:00

During one of my many pondering sessions today, I started thinking back to the 12 week challenge that I undertook at the beginning of 2006. Click here to visit the blog I dedicated to the challenge. This challenge helped me to lose the last 8 kilos I needed to lose to get me to my goal. It was plain old clean eating and dedicated exercise that worked.

One of the things that made the challenge so successful was the fact that I set very specific goals for myself and committed to achieving them.

So, thinking about all this has led me to try and work out a goal for myself. Nothing drastic- just a longish term goal to work steadily towards. I have figured out that it is reasonable to aim to be back in the 70s by Molly's birthday. 79.9kg is fine as long as I am in the 70s. So, that is approx 14kgs to get me there and that is totally doable! That is 1.5kg per month.

Sound sensible?? I think so!

Ash
xox

Just got back from the gym...

2007-03-21T16:50:00.000+11:00

... and just have to say just how GREAT I feel today.

Food good, exercise done- house is still a mess but oh well! I actually put up all my weights at the gym today as I didn't really feel like I was giving it my all. I also decided to do skipping at each cardio station and boy did that get my heart rate up!! I did really well and am very proud of myself. I was still a bit sore from Booty Camp but am feeling fitter than I have in a long, long time.

Molly's just woken up and is squawking for a feed so I'd better go.

Ash
xox

Ouch... ow... ouwwie.. ooh... ahh.. oww!

2007-03-19T22:17:00.000+11:00

I am hurting EVERYWHERE tonight!

Me pushing Molly up a BIG hill!

Yeaterday morning I got up bright and early (5:30am!!), strapped Molly into the pram with little socks on her hands (forgot her mittens) and a lovely warm knitted blanket and made the chilly, dark, 20 min walk from my Aunt's place (where Molly and I stayed over) to the Alexandra Gardens to meet 31 other women for AJ Rochester's Healthy Body Club's BOOTY CAMP!

It was such a great morning!

AJ organised her own personal trainer Andrew to come and kick our (mostly large) booties. We started with a lap of the Tan track which usually takes about forty minutes to walk around at a brisk pace. Well... it took us 1.5 hours as Andrew sent us up and down every hill and set of stairs we came across. It was HARD!

We then went back to where we met to begin with and he ran us through some sit ups, push ups, dips, squats and he made us do this thing where he would yell out "TREES!" and we'd have to run around and touch ten trees.

To finish, we played a game of fun soccer (I kicked a goal and Kate headded a goal!!) and had a pep talk from Andrew about nutrition.

FYI: Andrew, who is an experienced trainer believes that weight loss/maintinance is 70% nutrition and 30% Exercise. He also believes we are a society of carb addicts who are on a carb merry-go-round having energy slumps and feeding them with loads of carbs and then peaking.. slumping.. peaking.. etc etc. He wasn't suggesting a no-carb diet but one that relies on good quality low gi carbs, veggies, fruit and protein. I must say I agree with him. What do you think??

He also challenged us to include some good fats in our diets to keep us satisfied and said to try, on one night to eat some white fish and salad, then the next night to try some deep water (fattier) fish like salmon and see which one is more satisfying. He assured us it would be the latter.

We finished off the morning with a yummy breakfast at Blue Train where AJ Handed out the Booty Babe award and medals for everyone! Even Molly got one! Thanks to Ails (I stole her photos) Check out her blog for more piccies!

Molly receiving her medal

Ajay Rochester presenting me with my medal

My weight was up a little bit this week but I'm not going to let that ruin how awesome I feel about myself for pushing that heavy pram aound the tan with everyone elses belongings (note to self: if you take the pram you WILL become a pack horse). My muscles are so sore today and I know they'll be even worse tomorrow. Only one way to fix that! More exercise!!!

That'll do from me tonight!

Ash
xox

Feeling lighter...

2007-03-15T21:45:00.000+11:00

... because I reckon I had about a kilo of hair cut off today. It's actually short!

We have no batteries for the digital camera so I can't post any pics right now but I will definately have some up here soon.

I love it... I just went in to get a trim and have some of the volume taken out of my enormous mountain of hair. While I was waiting for the hairdresser to finish cleaning up after the last client I picked up a hairstyle mag and flicked through. I stopped on a pic of a girl with a shaggy unevenly cut short style and I thought for only about 10 seconds before I decided to just go for it! So I did!

Had a pretty good day food-wise today and got my butt to Contours so hopefully I'll see a positive result on weigh in day.

Need an early night today as I feel like tiredness has been contributing to my "down-ness"... we'll see how I feel after a couple of pre-midnight hours kip.

Nighty night all... sorry I am positively boring at the moment!

Ash
xox

What's going on in my head???

2007-03-14T19:17:00.000+11:00

Pantry bingeing. Standing in front of the open pantry gazing in, waiting for something, anything, to jump out and down your throat. Eating and eating and eating because you can... because no one's there to judge you...out of a sense of sadness/lonliness/control/emptiness??... definately not out of hunger.

This has been a popular topic of discussion in the last 24 hours. Many bloggers have come out of the woodwork, sharing their own experiences whether past or present. Beginning a cascade of honesty.

It is a wonderful, scary, and uncomfortable feeling to come face to face with your own demons. The things you hide from the world out of guilt and shame. Pantry bingeing was one of those things for me. After reading Beckie's post last night, reading the responses and finally chatting with other bloggers late into the night, I began to feel really vulnerable and raw about this issue. My stomach began to tie in knots, my throat closed up and I just wanted to cry as I began to realise that the issue of pantry bingeing is not some distant topic of conversation I was casually discussing. It is me to the core right now.

It is something which I thought I had dealt with and overcome over the last few years, but throughout my pregnancy, fell back into the habit of. I did not realise how controlled I am right now by my urges to eat. Disturbingly, as I was reading about pantry bingeing I became so overcome with emotion that all I wanted to do was eat eat eat. I had to make myself go to bed so I'd stop thinking about food. I have not felt this out of control in a long time.

What am I feeling when I am standing looking into the pantry? Not sure...boredome, sadness, emptiness too- but I don't know what I want to be filled with.

Luckily, I usually only have healthy food in the house as it is what I enjoy eating the most. So my binges are nothing like the days of old. However- eating and eating to excess, even on healthy foods, is just not good for the body or the soul so I have to work out what's going on in my head.

I have to go now, but still have a lot of thinking to do.

Ash
xox

So much to think about...

2007-03-14T00:40:00.000+11:00

I can't write a proper post tonight but have been thinking a lot about Beck's post regarding "Pantry Bingeing". This has hit a raw nerve for me as it is a habit I have slipped back into. Will have a good hard think and come back with a post.

_______________________________________________

Blogger Hall of Fame

Kate

Kate has lost an amazing 27.8kgs and has just posted her "before" pics. She's definately an inspirational chickie! Go and visit her and make sure to leave a comment! Go you good thing!

Ash
xox

Wooo!

2007-03-12T22:21:00.000+11:00

Tina just reminded me that I'm nearly in the 80s! WOOOOO!

Weigh in...

2007-03-12T09:38:00.000+11:00

Whoops! I was supposed to be updating every day wasn't I??

Well the last few days have been really nice. I have been trying to listen to my body and what it wants and eat as much as I feel I need. I've not been tracking but have been focusing on exercise and eating fresh, healthy foods with a few treats thrown in because I felt like them. And the result is... A loss of 300g! I guess my body does know how much it needs when I really listen to it!

Last week: 94.2kg
This week: 93.9kg

It was lovely to meet Persistent Girl and Brookie for lunch on Saturday. Molly and I met these lovely ladies at Degraves Espresso where we were served yummy porridge, fruit toast, eggs and fresh juice by an intensely hyperactive and lovely actor working as a waiter to pay his way from show to show.

That'll do from me this lazy public holiday morning...

Ash
xox

2007-03-09T08:47:00.000+11:00

From www.rawfoods.com

"Fresh juices are a tremendous source of enzymes. In fact, the "freshness" of juice is one of their key features, because enzymes are destroyed by heat. When you eat cooked foods, whether its meal, grains, fruits, or vegetables, if the food is cooked at temperatures above 114 degrees, the enzymes have been destroyed by the heat. Since fruits and vegetables are juiced raw, the enzymes are still viable when you drink the juice.

Coincidentally, many of the phytochemicals that nutritional researchers are focusing their attention on are either enzymes, or more often, they are substances that help build or activate enzymes that play essential roles in protecting cells from damage.

In addition, fruit and vegetable juices are good sources of the traditional nutrients. Citrus fruits (grapefruit, oranges, etc.) provide healthy portions of vitamin C. Carrot juice contains large quantities of vitamin A, in the form of beta carotene. A number of green juices are a good source of vitamin E. Fruit juices are a good source of essential minerals like iron, copper, potassium, sodium, iodine, and magnesium, which are bound by the plant in a form that is most easily assimilated during digestion.

Plus, since juicing removes the indigestible fiber, these nutrients are available to the body in much larger quantities than if the piece of fruit or vegetable was eaten whole. For example, because many of the nutrients are trapped in the fiber, when you eat a raw carrot, you are only able to assimilate about 1% of the available beta carotene. When a carrot is juiced, removing the fiber, nearly 100% of the beta carotene can be assimilated.

Finally, fruits and vegetables provide one more substance that is absolutely essential for good health - water. More than 65% of most of the cells in the human body are made of water, and in some tissues, for example the brain, the cells can be made up of as much as 80% water. Water is absolutely essential for good health, yet most people don't consume enough water each day. Plus, many of the fluids we do drink, coffee, tea, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages and artificially flavored drinks each contain substances that require extra water for your body to eliminate. Fruit and vegetable juices are free of these unneeded substances and are full of pure, clean water."

Sounds good to me!!

Ash

xox

Mmmm... juicy!

2007-03-08T19:06:00.000+11:00

Look at my new toy!!

Bargain huh??!! And PINK!! My nan saw it in the Harris Scarfe catalogue this week and offered to buy it for me. I have been talking about buying a juicer for ages but could never justify the expense as it is a definite 'luxury item'. THANKS NAN!!

Does anyone have any great juice recipes? (preferrably not tomato based... can't stand tomato juice!!) My favourite is carrot, celery, beetroot, apple and ginger. Drinking a glass of that rich brew is like swallowing a glass of health! I know that juice is high calories but for a big glass of nutrients I'm willing to use some of my daily allowance.

I felt better today than I did yesterday. Thanks for your comments. I did, however, feel really hungry today and ate a couple of hundred too many calories although I went for an hour walk today and it should even it out. I just wanted CARBS CARBS CARBS! I missed my pill two days ago so that may be something to do with it... progesterone only- have to use other protection for two weeks now dammit!

Gotta go- Taking Molly to see Nanna and Pa Carr...

Ash
xox

FOOLS AND ANGELS

Saturday night @ Brunswick Hotel

Sydney Rd Brunswick 9pm
The boys will be playing a 40 minute set Follwed by The Wireless and The Collectables

Free entry

They would LOVE to see you there!!

Update...

2007-03-07T20:00:00.000+11:00

Felt a bit blah today...

Not sure why. Just really down. The smallest things would send me off into a stomping huff, like realising the kitchen was messy two minutes before we were supposed to leave this morning. Some days I can shrug it off and say "hey, we can fix it later" but there was NO WAY I was leaving the kitchen in such a state this morning.

I stayed in this huff until about 10am when I realised that I was choosing to feel sour and actually didn't want to feel happy. I don't know what my pay-off was, but I was enjoying my misery! Now that's screwed up!

So I put on a happy face and chose not to let little things bother me and ended up having an ok albeit wasted day.

I did manage to get to Contours for a killer workout and walk from there for the half hour it takes to get to John's folk's place.

Food good... lots of water... very tired...

Nighty night.

Ash
xox

The Tan

2007-03-06T21:14:00.000+11:00

This is one of the pictures that came up when I did a Google image search for "Melbourne botanical gardens"... hmmm

Here are some other cool pics...

1861- newly planted trees and plants

2005- How things change!

The reason I was looking for these pic is that I went for a lovely walk around the tan with Mezz this morning... I don't have much else to say today except that I ate really well today- lots of fresh veggies.

Feelin' GOOD!

John's band Fools and Angels has a gig this weekend and he's asked me to plug it on here. The boys are really great and if you would like a sample of their music please visit www.myspace.com/foolsandangels

FOOLS AND ANGELS

Saturday night @ Brunswick Hotel - Sydney Rd Brunswick

40 min set 9pm Follwed by The Wireless and The Collectables

Free entry

They would LOVE to see you there!!

Ash
xox

Surprising result and honesty hour...

2007-03-05T12:16:00.000+11:00

Me, Molly, Felix and Mezz

I had a post planned for after my recent weigh in explaining my poor eating last week leading to an inevitable gain.

Feeling a bit down about my lousy effort with tracking (no Calorie King due to lack of Internet access last week), I stepped on the scale Saturday morning only to find a loss of 1.7kg!!

Last week: 95.9
This week: 94.2

I put this down to balanced resistance and cardiovascular exercise and sensible albeit UN-tracked eating. I am sure the resistance is working as my clothes are beginning to feel looser.

The only way I am going to be able to at least maintain this result, let alone losing any weight next week is by staying on track. I said in my last post that I have made a discovery about myself. I have looked at my behaviour pattern and weight loss from week to week over the last couple of months and have realised that I have not eaten well and exercised for more than one week at a time. I have a good week then a slack week... good week... slack week... and so on. And the results are consistent with this pattern.

So, my challenge is to eat well and exercise for TWO WEEKS STRAIGHT, including two free days where I can eat those things I have been thinking about during my "clean" days (I like using the word clean as I still feel like a junk food addict in remission).

Another part of this challenge is to post a quick daily update to keep myself more accountible. You may not have realised that I have had slack weeks and good weeks as I have not been completely honest here. I have not outright lied to you however have omitted my slip ups. This is not a good habit to get into as I end up lying to myself too and that is just plain unhealthy. Who does it benefit?? My ego? Certainly not my waistline!!

So, first little bit of hosesty. Yesterday I made the most appauling food choices. I have not had such a high calorie day since before I began getting healthy four years ago! I had a fish and chip shop hamburger and half a small bag of chips with chicken salt for lunch, savoys, dip, philly cheese and sweet chilli, chips, skittles and sugary soft drink in the afternoon and 3 slices of pizza and 2 pieces of garlic bread for dinner. Did it make me feel good? NO! Why did I do it? It was not for emotional reasons, but out of lasiness and convenience. I was out and about and that's the food that was on offer. Good enough excuse? NO!

I am not writing this on here because I want comments about how terrible my eating was yeaterday. I don't even want advice, as I know that I ate too much junk and don't need to be patronised and made to feel like a "naughty girl". In fact, I don't even believe in labeling food or myself as naughty or bad as it is totally degrading. I have posted this here as I know I am a part of a supportive community of strong women (and some men) who are taking their lives back by choosing a healthy path. This is about getting honest with myself in persuit of a healthy mind as well as a healthy body.

Feeling good now.... off to the gym!

Ash
xox

Live well my friends!

For the record, check out my super-clean food day today!!

Breakfast
1 serving, 2 biscuits (40g) of Sanitarium: Breakfast Cereals: Weet-Bix, Hi Bran
3/4 cup (250mL) of Vitasoy: Soy Drinks: Fresh, So Milky Lite

Lunch

1 salad of Meals: Salads, Garden / Side Salad, small
2 slice (47g) of Country Life Bakery: Bread: Rye
1 serving, 95g can drained (70g) of Safcol: Fish, canned: Tuna, Gourmet on the Go, w. Fresh Tomato & Basil in Springwater, drained
1 large (160g with skin) (105g) of Fruit, fresh: Banana, Common, without skin

Dinner
1 serving, 1/2 packet (180g) of Birds Eye: Fish, frozen: Steam Fish Fillets, Thai Coconut Curry
1½ salad of Meals: Salads, Garden / Side Salad, small
1/2 serving (22g) of Always Fresh: Vegetables, packaged: Tomatoes, Sundried
1 teaspoon (5g) of Oils: Olive
1 serving (150g) of Riviana: Rice: Basmati, cooked

Snacks
1/2 small bunch, 22 medium size (120g) of Fruit, fresh: Grapes, Black, average all types, raw

1 bar (28g) of PowerBar: Protein Bars: Pria, Mint Chocolate
1 1 bar of Myoplex Bar

Total Calories: 1663

Exercise Calories: 385

Exercise

30 mins Contours Body Circuit

Missin' me??

2007-03-02T19:33:00.000+11:00

After a frustrating week without an adapter I managed to find the right one at our local computer repair shop. Hoorah! Who knew 19v adapters were so very hard to find!

Thanks for all the lovely "we miss you" type comments! I feel loved!

So... laptop- CHECK!.... adapter- CHECK!.... internet connection- UMM.... no...

We have wireless internet and rely on our landlord's connection for ours to work. I was SO excited to buy a new adapter and finally be able to turn our computer on, so when I finally managed to try to come online I was so annoyed to discover it wasn't going to work for the rest of the week as our landlord had gone interstate and taken her laptop... grrr! Anyway, she's back tonight- drama over!

Oh how I have missed the land of blog!

Can't do a proper update right now as I'm at mum's again and am being very antisocial however I will be able to come online again very soon with a riviting post about something new I have discovered about myself... and no, I'm not coming out of the closet or anything really interesting like that!

The new discovery will be leading on to a new challenge for myself!

See you very soon my dears!

Ash
xox

M.I.A.

2007-02-24T17:22:00.000+11:00

I don't know if anyone noticed but I have been missing in action for the last few days. Just after my last post my laptop cord and adapter gave up the ghost and I haven't had access to the internet since. I am at mum's now and thought I'd sneakily whip up a quick update post.

I was pleased with this weeks weigh in- I have been madly tracking on calorie king all week, have been to Contours three times and have walked a decent distance on three separate occasions this week. Feelin' pretty darn good.

I'm back down to 95.6kgs this week which is a loss of 600g and my body fat percentage stayed around the same again. So, if I keep doing what I am doing, the scales will keep moving down, my clothes will start feeling looser and I will become fitter very soon! Yay!

That's all for now- we'll be getting a new laptop cord very soon and I'll be able to come over and comment on all your blogs again. I tell you- I'm such a blogger geek now that I really feel like I'm out of the loop not having access to the net.

Love and kisses,

Ash
xox

The winner's journey...

2007-02-20T19:14:00.000+11:00

I'm just watching The Biggest Loser and have been totally inspired by Damian. This boy is over 200 kilograms and just doesn't give up!

During his one on one training session with blue team trainer Shannon, Damian ran to the point where he thought he couldn't go any longer and fell to the ground. All it took was Shannon saying "This is the first time I have been disappointed in you" for Damian to spring back up to push his hefty tired body for another 6 laps of the gym!

The difference between a sucessful person and a failure is that never give up attitude. This is the same with the life-long journey to a healthy body, mind and spirit. Giving up is not an option if you REALLY want it. Although, luckily, there is no such thing as failure on the road to health and fitness as there is always another day. There will always be good days and bad days however it is a journey with many twists and turns some expected and some unexpected, unwelcome and unplanned for. The awesome thing about it is that we can always draw a line in the metaphorical sand and start afresh.

Do NOT wait until tomorrow! Start NOW... put down the chocolate bar, chips and coke and take yourself out for a walk. Or if you are sitting at your desk at work do some butt squeezes and tummy sucky-inny things.

Let me tell you, it feels good, GREAT, FANTASTIC to achieve your goals and it feels especially special to be able to put on that pair of pants that didn't fit a month ago. But the most satisfying feeling is to look at yourself in the mirror with total self respect, knowing for sure that you are doing the best for that amazing body of yours.

Respect yourself.

Hugs!

Ash
xox

It's a mad mad mad mad weekend...

2007-02-19T20:23:00.000+11:00

Some weekends are just not worth writing about... but not this one! I had such a full weekend that I will need to use headings just to organise my thoughts. So here goes...

Molly's hearing test.

We took the cute one to have her little ears tested on Friday. Drs recommend that babies who have spent more than 48 hours in the special care unit have their hearing checked. She passed with flying colours! The tester said that she has very sensitive hearing so all good there!

Linda's 40th.

The birthday girl receiving her gorgeous Tiffany & Co necklace! (pic taken by Ails)

Thanks to Linda for putting on such a great do! Apparently we made an impression on the family with our killer dance moves by the pool. Molly and I turned up around 10:15 and the party was well and truely under way. It was a great feeling walking into a garage full of strangers with the music pumping and the lights throwing rainbows onto the streamers hanging off the cloud of balloons bobbing around the room. I knew I was in for a good night!

Molly stayed for about 15 minutes, just long enough to say hello to all the blogger chicks and then I walked her back to our house, gave her her last feed for the night and put her in bed before returning to the party. (It's good having a bub who sleeps all night!!)

The girls and I danced our shrinking butts off in Linda's back courtyard playing a game of "copy the dance move". We worked up quite a sweat shakin' our groove thang on such a balmy night. Several party goers popped out with their cameras to capture a snap of we veluptuous vixens cutting it up.

Before we knew it, it was 3am and most of the guests were gone. So it was just family and bloggers! Haha! Can't keep a good blogger down! Linda received 2 beautiful Tiffany pieces- a combined pressie from the family... lucky girl! You deserve it Linda, you are one in a million! I hope you had as much fun as I did!

I started to fade by 3am so Beckie and I drove the 1 minute trip around the corner to my place. It was my pleasure to host Beckie but was quite embarrassed to put her on a bed made out of couch cushions and an empty doona cover! She said she slept fine and hopefully she's not fibbing! *lol* Becks, I loved having you stay with me and seeing you with Molly and Felix on Sunday showed me what a natural and beautiful mother you are. I look forward to getting to know you better.

(Photos from Phil)

Breakfast with Beckie and Kate.
Sunday morning we dragged our tired bodies out of bed, got showered and dressed and headed to The North Point Cafe at the end of North Road to meet Kate and Felix for breakky. We all ordered the big breakfast but I counted my points and still fell comfortably within. It was a lovely relaxed morning spent chatting, laughing and people watching. There were lots of tanned bodies cycling past and a few lobster like beach goers sizzling as they went by. Thanks for a nice morning girlies! We MUST do it again!

(Pic from Kate)

Weigh in, food and Contours.
Now for the boring part of the weekend- weigh in. I was back up to 96.2 again this morning however my body fat stayed the same so feeling ok about it. My food has been pretty clean this week but have just signed up to calorie king to make sure I am getting the tracking right. I had my first visit to Contours on Saturday and boy did I work up a sweat! It is the first time since falling pregnant that I have worked out to my capacity and it fel bloody unreal!

That's enough from me tonight! Going to have an early one as I haven't recovered from my big night on Saturday!

Ash
xox

Fitness... for women on the go!

2007-02-15T20:42:00.000+11:00

I have been thinking about what exercise program I want to do now that I have been given the Doctor's all clear to work out. I knew I couldn't go back to Fernwood as it just doesn't suit my lifestyle now. Then I thought about joining the gym near me attached to the local pool but that is big and impersonal and I like a smaller more intimate environment. While wandering around Blackburn on my walk yesterday I stumbled across Contours and thought "BINGO!" just what I'm looking for- a small club, not too expensive at $13.50 per week and most importantly VERY close to John's parent's place which means that I can drop M off while I pop in for a quick workout a few times a week.

You probably all know how these kind of places work but for those of you who don't, it is a circuit which is always running from the time the place opens until closing time. It is made up of both cardiovascular and resistance stations to provide a whole body workout and the aim is to go in whenever you feel like it and enter the circuit at any station after warming up. It takes 36 minutes including including warm up, 2 laps of the circuit and stretching. I feel this will be perfect for me as I can go at any time that is convenient rather than having to plan around the classes I like. I can also walk to and from John's folks place so I can get a bit more exercise in if I have time.

Contours also has a very sensible looking eating plan focussing on balance and energy in vs energy out. It is very flexible and basically helps you to eat in a more structured and purposeful way for building muscle and losing fat. I'm going to try it and add a few hundred calories for breastfeeding.

Edit: For those who were wondering, Contours is a lot like Curves.

I haven't been going particularly well with this week's bloggest loser task... actually I haven't cleaned anything since Monday! But I'm planning to have tomorrow morning at home so I'll try to get some more stuff done then. I have been exercising every day carrying over last week's task- trying to solidify that new good habit!

I am SO excited about starting my course... I even bought a new 3 colour pen- pink, purple and blue!! (even though I'll probably be typing mostly, and I have exactly one million pens already*lol*). Thanks for the offer of help Brookie, I am 100% sure I'll need it! I have no idea what I'm getting myself into but I LOVE that feeling- I get so excited about facing the unknown.. I think that's why I was able to be so positive and excited about labour and birth.

On a much more important note how good was the twist on The Biggest Loser tonight!? Who else wishes they'd swapped Courtney for another one of those girls?! I'm so bitchy but I can't stand that boy! I feel like punching him... is that wrong?? *lol*

Molly has a hearing test tomorrow- I'll take a photo of her wearing the cute headphones... stay tuned!

Ash

xox

Following my dreams...

2007-02-12T22:10:00.000+11:00

I have just enrolled in a correspondence "Health and Fitness Magazine Writing" course delivered by the Australian College of Journalism (Through Thomson Education Direct). I am so nervous! It's really funny as I have been studying for the last four years and received a degree with honours. Writing assignments and sitting exams became like second nature to me, however journalism is an entirely different type of course to the Bachelor of Social Work I just completed.

My study pack should arrive in the next 5-10 days and I can get started any time I like. I have 18 months to complete the course although I will probably finish it sooner as I have plenty of time to study. I will need to work 6 hours a week to complete it in 6 months or 2.5 per week to finish in 18. I'll probably fall somewhere in the middle. I am glad I will need to be scheduled again as I struggle not having any routine. I am more organised when I am busier as I make appointments with myself to do things like cleaning and exercise. When I have no schedule I put things off and end up not doing them... like my exercise (or lack thereof...) this weekend. I am SO excited to have an excuse to buy stationary again as I was beginning to grieve the loss the opportunity to use cute pens, highlighters and folders! Haha! LOVE STATIONARY!!

I am looking forward to finding out this weeks task on The Bloggest Loser!

Edit:

Task is to spring clean the house this week...

Tasks completed today:
1) Vacuumed all carpets
2) Mopped kitchen and bathroom floors
3) Cleaned kitchen benches, wiped down cupboards, dishwasher, fridge
4) Cleaned toilet and bathroom vanity
5) Did a load of washing

I am pretty happy with that effort! Things to do this week- clean oven and griller, clean out fridge, wash the big living room windows, give anything and everything we don't need to the op-shop.

Great challenge Beckie!

Need a good kick in the pants to get me going again this week. I am meeting Kate tomorrow morning for a walk around the shops. It's going to be hot tomorrow so a shop walk sounds just about right.

Ooh, I forgot I haven't mentioned the lovely mini blogger meet I went to on Saturday night. It was lovely sharing a meal at The Stokehouse in St Kilda with Linda, Phil, Brookie and the lovely Bee and Amanda. I have some photos but can't be bothered uploading them now.

I am very tired and if I don't get me some sleep it will be even harder to exercise tomorrow! Hope everyone had a fab weekend!

Ash
xox

Saturday morning...

2007-02-10T08:12:00.000+11:00

Weigh in day!

Had a great week over all with my food and walked the 3 days I said I would. I am going to try to walk every day for this next week. Ate a little bit of stuff I shouldn't last night including a bowl of ice cream, which I really really wanted so I don't feel too bad about, and a couple of snacky things (teeny-weeny tart things... petit fours, is that what they're called??) at the meeting last night, which I didn't really want at all and just ate because they were there. I also ate some chocolate a few nights ago which I didn't even enjoy and ended up throwing the box out.

Over all though, I am very happy with how I went and once again was excited to jump on the scales this morning.

Enough with the yabbering, here's my results for the week.

Last week: 96.2kg
This week: 95.9kg
Total kgs lost: .3kg

Last weeks body fat: 43%
This weeks body fat: 42.2%
Total body fat lost: .8% (must be from all that pram pushing and baby carrying!)

Not too bad! Slow and steady wins the race!

Ash
xox

Walkies!

2007-02-09T19:10:00.000+11:00

Molly and I went for another lovely walk today. This time we headed down to St Kilda to soak up the sea breeze. What a beautiful day it was- perfect for walking, 26C degrees with a light breeze. Mmm the only thing wrong with the afternoon was that it wasn't long enough! I'd still be there now if I didn't have to come home for a planning meeting for our housemate (he has a disability and we get together with all of his support people once a month to plan with him around issues in his life like work etc.).

I went to the Dr for my 6 week post birth checkup today. She examined me and was very impressed by how well I have healed. I have been given the all clear to do whatever evercise I feel like as long as I take it slowly. Yay!

I have to go now but will be back with a pic of my very lazy excuse for a salad (take-away thai beef salad.. hey- I didn't say I'd make ALL of the 7 salads!!)

Ash
xox

Edit: Here's the yummy thai beef salad... And my beautiful baby girl!

Salads 4 and 5! Yummo!!

2007-02-08T19:02:00.000+11:00

Salad 4

Chicken, broccoli and couscous

Marinated the chicken in Hoisin sauce prior to cooking... doesn't look as nice as the other salads but it was yummy!

Salad 5

Good old tabbouli salad

Served this one with teriaki chicken skewers... hmm going to have to eat some other meat at some point!

The Bloggest Loser task of the week to get up early and exercise is going well. Yesterday I woke Molly at 6am, fed her, dressed us both and we were out the door by 7 for an hour long walk. I forgot what it felt like to be outside as the sun is rising. I love it. The crispness of the air as it gently blows across the little beads of sweat on my nose and cheeks is so revitalising. I worked myself as hard as I could handle, powering up hills pushing my little girl and feeling fitter than I thought I would.

I couldn't help but think what I good habit I am going to instill in Molly. By the time she is old enough to realise what is going on going for walks will just be a part of life. I would like walking and exercise to become so unremarkable and routine that it would feel weird for us NOT to do it- not the other way around.

This morning was a little bit trickier as Molly uncharacteristically woke at 4:30 instead of 6. I had so much trouble deciding whether to take my butt out for an early early early morning walk and be tired for the rest of the day (no time for a nanna nap today) or schedule in a walk in the afternoon. We did the latter and boy am I glad I got the extra sleep as I had a rather busy day. Our walk this afternoon was great. I stripped down to my singlet (let all the lumps and bumps be seen) as the sun was shining and I didn't really care who saw me. I had to pick John up from work at 5:30 so an hour and a half before that I drove to the carpark in the school he works at, loaded Molly into the pram and took off on an hour long walk winding our way around unfamilliar streets, looking at all of the different houses and gardens... You certainly miss a lot when you drive everywhere! It was glorious to spend time in the fresh air once again!

Thinking about what I'd like "normal" to be like for Molly I remembered something I posted on the Healthy Body Club forum the other day in response to a post about crash dieting and starvation. I thought I'd post it here too for your entertainment!

"I have tried so many different diets over the years and each one ended with me feeling miserable, tired, hungry and putting on all the weight I managed to lose plus some more once the "diet" was over. When I was on a diet all I could think about was the end, when I finally got to eat like a normal person again.My problem was that many of the people around me did not have "normal" eating habits- well not how "normal" should be anyway. It was normal for all of my primary school buddies to feast on chips and chocolate at recess and drink poppers of fruit drink laden with simple sugars.

We need to redefine "normal" for the sake of the next generation.

Also, I feel that we lovely ladies don't celebrate the awesomeness (is that a word??!) of womanhood nearly as much as we should. If we stood back once in a while and examined how clever our bodies are I feel we would wind up respecting ourselves a lot more. I have just had a baby and am still dumbfounded at what an amazing thing my body has done! I feel strong, proud, womanly and POWERFUL!

Respect for ones self does not begin with a fancy pill, potion or diet shake- it wont even come from losing weight the slow and steady healthy way. True self respect must come from a much deeper place. It's not always easy to find this place, but with hard work and perseverance it is truly breathtaking!

Hope you are all feeling womanly today.... unless you are a bloke, I which case I hope you're feeling manly *lol*!!!

Ash
xox

PS. Have decided today that I do not know nearly enough of you so would like to set myself a goal of meeting 20 new bloggers in 2007. Drop me a line if you're in Melb and would like to meet! I'll also be in Adelaide in May.

The Bloggest Loser

2007-02-06T22:22:00.000+11:00

This week's task on Beckie's "The Bloggest Loser" is to get up an hour earlier and do some exercise. I have committed to do this 11 week thingy (at Beckie's suggestion we're not using the word challenge as people often fizzle out after 2 weeks of a "challenge") following the losers in the house, so I have to try to work out a way to get myself (and Molly) out of the house for a walk to be back by 8am. This is going to mean leaving at 7. Molly usually wants a feed at around 6 or 6:30 but this week I am going to wake her at 6 to feed for 30 mins, leaving plenty of time for me to jump into my trackies and shoes, dress her, eat a banana or something and head out. I am going to have to get my (soon to be) little butt to bed earlier and not stay up too late talking on Beckie's Gabbly Chat.

I think morning walks are a great habit to get into as it means the day has begun. The rest of the morning will be productive as I wont be blobbing around in my pjs at midday! I will come home, shower, get W (our housemate) ready for his day, have brekkie with my hubby, do any dishes, vacuuming, washing that needs doing and by the time Dr. Phil and Oprah come on I wont feel guilty for sitting doing nothing while I watch ithem. I am really looking forward to this! It will help me be more organised and on top of things.

During my 12 week challenge at the beginning of last year I was getting up at 5:30-6am nearly every day to toddle off to the gym for either a personal training session, hard weights, cardio or a class. I loved the feeling of my face prickling with sweat and heat as I stepped into the cool air of morning after a spin class or body attack. My gym membership will come off suspension in a month or so and I have to decide what to do. I think Fernwood is just too expensive for what it offers a person like me. I loved it last year as I needed that kind of gym. But this year I have a bubby and a tender post baby body that needs to ease into exercise and therefore the option of swimming would be ideal. My local pool/gym is less expensive, has childcare and offers more than Fernwood. So I think in the long run it would be cheaper to cancel Fernwood and go there. I probably wont join up straight away as I would like to focus on walking and a bit of at home toning work. I might even just get a swimming membership or buy 10 passes at a time or something... we'll see!

Melbourne Blogger Picnic

I have been wanting to organinse a meet for a while now and I figure since the weather is pretty nice most of the time at the moment it may as well be SOON! I would love to meet somewhere nice like the Melbourne Botanical Gardens where we can all sit on blankets, eat yummy food and yak. We could even go for a walk around the tan before lunch to work up an appetite!

I'm keen to know who would be in! When's good for people?? Saturday or Sunday?? Early March sound good? Please leave me a comment and let me know!

Well, if I don't go now it's going to be really hard to get up in the morning for my walk... best be orrrf!

Enjoy the early morning exercise challengers!! (...erm, I mean task-ers!!)

Ash

xox

Salads 2 and 3 and the Bloggest Loser...

2007-02-06T19:43:00.000+11:00

I am LOVING this 7 salads in 7 days challenge! It is really making me think creatively!!! Last night we made a yummy salad with chickpeas, avocado, cherry tomatos, lettuce, low fat cheese and baby spinach. Tonight I marinated some chicken in tomato and basil pesto, pan fried it then added it to some cooked pasta, avocado, sundried tomatos, rocket and baby spinach and it was by far the yummiest yet!

Salad 1.

Salad 2.

Beckie has started "The Bloggest Loser". I'll be back to talk more about it later!

Ash

xox

7 salads in 7 days...

2007-02-04T23:45:00.000+11:00

This is my new challenge for this week. I am going to make a different delicious and healthy salad each night and post a picture here- just for a bit of variety. I already started tonight by making my own version of the salad Kate mentioned on her blog.I'm sure it is very different to the one you had Kate but it sure was delicious!

A yummy spicy Thai chicken salad made with lean chicken mince, red onion, coriander, bean shoots, lime, lemon, chilli, ginger and soy sauce, served on a bed of cos lettuce with a tomato cut into wedges. YUM!! I am definately making this one again some time!!

I had a fab time last night at Brooke's get together. Linda, Phil, Ails, Jadey, Sassy, Brooke and I got together to relax and spend some quality time together. I took Molly along to meet all her pretend aunties and she was a perfect angel! The girls all indulged in Jelly shots and pizza and watched chick flick DVDs.. ahhh.. heaven! I really enjoyed finally meeting Sassy. We had been planning to meet a little while ago (pre Molly) but never managed to get our butts into gear. We had a lot in common and chatted away like monkeys in trees.. hehe.. I like that saying! See Brooke's (in my sidebar) post for a more detailed description and some photos.

I have stolen this pic from Brooke's site as I think it is BEAUTIFUL! Isn't Brooke a talented little shutterbug? I haven't liked the way I have looked in many photos recently but I feel that this one really shows the joy I have in motherhood. My eyes are genuinely happy. That is really how I feel right now. I adore my girl and my life. I am happy with my body for the first time ever. It's like I have accepted it with all its flaws because I was able to watch it perform one of the greatest tasks ever- making another human being!! I am totally blown away by the power of the female body. What an amazing, spiritual thing it is to be a woman!

I am really excited to be feeling so good. John and I got out for another walk yesterday and I am feeling very ready to get back into proper exercise. I don't want to be silly and go too hard too soon but I am just really looking forward to feeling fit again. I think I will to couch to 5k as soon as I feel up to running. There is a Healthy Body Club booty camp in March which I plan to do and am VERY excited about!

Molly is getting such a strong little neck now and smiling all the time. I can't believe how fast she's growing and becoming more aware of what is going on around her! Here are some more cute photos of her doing her exercises during tummy time this morning.

I have never known love like this!

That will do from me tonight... I am sleepy!

Ash

xox

Wow.... Huh??

2007-02-03T11:50:00.000+11:00

WOW...

As many of you would know, Saturday is my weigh-in day. Now, I was particularly keen to jump on the scales this morning as I have had such an awesome week filling my body up with sensible portions of fresh and healthy food- hitting 32 points or just below each day. I feel absolutely fantastic! I have been sleeping very well and did my 1st intentional exercise since having Molly yesterday with Kate (a big walk to the "big shops"... had a fantastic time Kate!). I have consumed at least 2 litres of water every day and am really proud of what we've done. I have not had one "treat" thus proving to myself that I don't need to have a little bit of something off the plan every day... only sometimes! I have been the goddess of the Weight Watchers world!! The QUEEN!! I ROCK!!

HUH??...

Now here's where the "huh??" comes in. I was so excited to feed Molly, go to the toilet, strip off (hey... my undies are heavy!!) and jump on the scales, expecting to see a big loss after the killer week I have just had. 96.2kgs... 96.2kgs!! WHAT?? Thats a GAIN of 700g!! Undoing the 600g I lost last week plus another 100!! Would someone please tell me what the heck is going on?? I wish I had've taken notice of the body fat percentage as it may explain something. I have not done any resistance apart from lifting Molly and pushing the pram so I doubt it would be muscle... I'm stumped!

Kate mentioned in her blog about our lovely day together yesterday. I arrived at her house at 9:30 and we chatted till 10:30 when we loaded up the prams and headed out for a walk. It was such a gorgeous sunny day with a cool breeze- perfect for walking. We stopped for a drink and some fruit at the 1/2 way point and grabbed a yummy sushi lunch 3/4s of the way home. I got a bit sunburnt- I have spent the majority of the last few months indoors.. didn't really feel like baring my swolen pregnant self at the beach this summer!!

Our lunch was delish! I am completely addicted to california rolls. It's not like I never ate them before this week but I have rediscovered those tasty little fellas on this fresh food challenge. Kate and I spent the rest of the afternoon half watching Scrubs (gotta get me some of those DVDs!) while we chatted and looked at her before pics. That girl has come a LONG way my friends! Nag her to find her scanner so she can post the pics!!

Now, of the three things I said I was going to do this week I have only done one... hmm disciplined huh?? I did manage to get my butt into gear enough to make up my own muesli which is delish! I thrw together some rolled oats, sultanas, peanuts, coconut, almonds, dried pawpaw and pineapple, prunes, dried apricots and lsa. It was sooo yummy! I grated a big green apple onto it and it was magic!

I did not make bread or peanut butter although I have all the ingredients there ready to go so I WILL do them over the next couple of days.. Phil, I might take you up on the breadmaker offer! *lol*

Next week I aim to walk three times. Our challenge has officially ended but we have started some really good new habits (or should I say, we have retured to our old good habits) so we will continue to eat this way as much as possible with a bit more flexibility.

That will do from me for now...

Hope you all have lovely weekends!

(Note: Since writing this post I have recieved a couple of comments about how many pts I should be having- saying 32 pts might be too much for me.. Just for the record, I have been following the WW points system for 4 years and it has worked so far- It got me to goal! WW recommends 32 pts for breastfeeding mums feeding as frequently as I do no matter their weight so I I feel like this has been a good amount for me... by the way.. just hopped back on the scales remembering my memory function and discovered I have lost 1% body fat this week.
So 32 pts looks about right.)

Ash
xox

She's officially smiling....

2007-01-31T16:21:00.000+11:00

I know this is my weightloss blog but I just feel I HAVE to share this cuteness! She's smiling at us when we make funny smiley faces and noises... not just when she's about to do a poo! How excitment!

Lookie what we got yesterday?!

2007-01-30T19:45:00.000+11:00

*Note- for some reason I have not been able to do paragraphs so I apologise for the big block of writing... I HATE reading blogs like that!!*

Thanks to Catie for posting this gorgeous t-shirt for Molly!!

It was so exciting pulling it out of the post pack realising what it was. Catie bought one for her daughter Joss a little while ago and I commented that I loved it... a month or so later, one arrives in the mail!! Thanks sooo much Catie! It was such an unexpected and special surprise! Molly is going to look like such a little spunky dudette when she grows into it... my Nan's going to hate it! *lol*

Catie, if you're reading this- I can't access your blog. Can you please add me to your invited readers list as I'm dying to see what you've been up to.

John went back to work today... well, for an hour and then he was home again as there was nothing for him to do today... Hoorah! Extended holidays!

We went to Eastland this afternoon and had a yummy lunch- I had a moroccan couscous and chicken salad... mmm! John had sushi hand rolls and we shared a freshly squeezed apple, carrot, celery, ginger and beetroot juice. While at eastland I bought a new long black cardigan and a v-neck grey 3/4 sleeve tee. I LOVE the cardy as I have been looking for one like this for ages. It's a thin knit and goes with just about everything I own.

We had to eat slightly off plan for dinner tonight. Our housemate cooked spaghetti bolognaise for us today. If he was just any old housemate we would have told him what we were doing with our challenge and frozen our portions to have next week. But our housemate has a disability and cooked dinner with the help of his carer today. It wouldn't have been fair to not eat what he had spent time and a lot of effort preparing. Apart from that though, food has been great. Both John and I are finding it really easy to stick to the plan. It's really strange that we can all of a sudden have no trouble resisting temptation just because we both agreed to give it our all for a week. Life isn't any different from how it was last week however it is like a switch has been flicked and all of a sudden it's easy! We both feel so fabulous for doing something really good for ourselves.

I am going to get out for a walk tomorrow. It will be the first time since Molly's birth that I have gone out to do intentional exercise. I have done a lot of incidental exercise walking around different shopping centres for hours on end but this will be a great "1st" to accomplish.

I heard an interesting piece of conversation today. Two girls, about 20 years of age, were walking and chatting in Eastland. One looks at a very obese little girl walking by and says to her friend "Look at that girl!" to which the other replies "Yeah, it's so sad- look at her dad... it must be genetic". I found this really interesting. That "genetics" is the first thing to be blamed. Hmmm... call me mean but me thinks it may not be genetic. Very rarely are weight problems genetic. Families often have a "big frame" that is passed on but that doesn't mean a healthy weight cannot be achieved. I used to think that I was "genetically fat" as all of my family are overweight. It couldn't possibly have been the fact that we all loved consuming copious amounts of rich food at every meal and greazy, crunchy, fat filled foods for snacks, or the fact that instead of playing out in the fresh air we spent our time playing Super Mario on the couch...

No way... it must be genetic!

Today's Foodies:

B. 2 slices burgen toast with ham tomato and low fat cheese (5)

S. 1 apple, 1 nectarine (1.5)

L. Moroccan chicken salad, 1/2 a regular fresh juice (7)

S. Skinny decaf latte, some red grapes and a nectarine (2.5)

D. Spaghetti bolognaise(6)

S. Natural yoghurt with 1 tbs honey and a small banana (2.5)

Total: 24.5

H20: 2.5 litres

Will have a bit more food this evening.. maybe some air popped popcorn

New stuff...

2007-01-30T17:31:00.000+11:00

Here's a few photos I thought you might like to see... Our new bookcase and chair and one of Molly's cute little shoes...

I'll do a proper post later tonight... Molly's squawking for a feed right now.

Ash
xox

Challenges...

2007-01-28T20:27:00.000+11:00

Day 2 "Fresh food challenge"

______________________

After a few suggestions from two loyal readers I have decided to try to make some of the things I am used to buying.

Three things I am going to make this week:

1. Bread! I don't have a breadmaker so this will be quite an experience!

2. Muesli

3. Peanut butter

After reading Kate's post on persuing further study this year (you go girl!!) I have decided to do a course by correspondence. After many years of focussing on health, fitness and weightloss a particular course has caught my eye- Health and fitness magazine writing! It teaches you how to go about getting your writing published (and many other aspects of the job) and I figure I have done so much blogging about different issues that I'd already have a huge amount of material to work with. It's also something I can persue from home around Molly. If I am sucessful and manage to get some writing published, GREAT! But if not, then at least I have spent time learning about an area I am very interested in. I know I have some instant rent a crowd readers in you people!

On that note, where is everyone?? I recieved over 100 emails asking for the address to this blog and I am only getting a few comments from a select group of faithful readers (you know who you are ;))... Now if I am going to be a spectacularly sucessful magazine writer some of you are going to have to come out of the woodwork every now and then!! *lol*

Today has been another very good day food wise. Events today have included 2 lunches out and I haven't strayed from the challenge once!

Foodies:

B. 2 slices grainy bread with leftover beef from last night's roast and slices of cold tomato (6)

L. Teriaki chicken bento box (made to order with fresh ingredients) including broccoli, tofu, rice, chicken and fresh coleslaw (YUMMM!) (7)

D. Ham and salad, 1 hardboiled egg, some low fat cheese (5) and a mango (1.5)

Snacks. Handful mixed nuts and seeds, a big piece of watermelon, a few spoonfuls low fat yoghurt, 1 sushi hand roll (5)

Total:24.5 (will probably have another peach and some more yoghurt tonight)

H20: 2.5 litres

Exercise: more shopping centre strolling

Day 1 of the fresh food challenge a success!

2007-01-27T23:18:00.000+11:00

Yay! What a great day! Had no trouble eating to plan today! Feels GOOD!

Decided to allow grainy bread in this fresh food challenge as I need the carbs and was having trouble eating enough points! I know it's a "packaged food" but if I keep to grainy Burgen bread I think it's ok. Also having low fat cheese and low fat yoghurt.

Today looked like this...
B. (pre-supermarket, thus pre-challenge) 1 slice grainy toast with peanut butter, 1 banana (4)
L. Wholegrain sandwich with ham, cheese and tomato (4)
D. Roast beef (just used a little olive oil), 1 med potato, pumpkin, asparigus, broccoli and corn (6). And for sweets some low fat yoghurt and 1/2 a banana (2.5)
Snacks. 1 handful of raw mixed nuts and seeds and 2 peaches (3)
Total: 19.5

Ok... better go eat some more- It's gonna be hard making up 32 points with all this fresh low point stuff!!

Ash
xox

Weigh in...

2007-01-27T12:08:00.000+11:00

I cannot believe I acutally managed to LOSE weight this week!!

Last week: 96.1
This week: 95.5!!

Yay!! I must be doing something right!!

John and I have decided to set a challenge for ourselves this week. As of this afternoon (when I can get out to the supermarket and fruit shop) we are starting the "fresh food challenge". We have set some rules for this challenge as follows:

1. No pre-packaged or processed foods
2. All meals prepared at home must be made from scratch with fresh ingredients
3. Whilst out and about the rules still apply
4. Must drink at LEAST 2 litres of water per day
5. Must have protein (meat or legume) with 2 meals per day
6. No caffeine

I am so excited about this as I know how bloody AWESOME I'll feel by next Saturday! I will have set myself a goal and achieved it and that will feel so GREAT!

Let me know if you would like to join us on this challenge!

Ash
xox

Wish me luck.... I'll need it!

2007-01-26T22:57:00.000+11:00

Tomorrow is Saturday... do you know what that means? WEIGH IN!!

I am expecting a gain this week after the amount of choc chip cookies I consumed last night. I got myself into a very destructive mindset, telling myself "you've already gone over points- who cares if you have another hundred cookies!". I haven't been in that place mentally for a long time and I guess I just forgot how to talk myself out of that kind of behaviour. The cookies were fantastically delicious and I would have enjoyed them so much more if I had just had 2! Oh well. I guess I should be proud that this doesn't happen to me very often any more. It wont happen again any time soon as I am much more on the ball since it happened so in a way it's kind of a 2 steps forward, one step back experience. We are still moving forward albeit slowly!

John and I went to Ikea today... I LOVE Ikea despite the fact I get hopelessly lost every time I go there! I have been suffering from a sore back recently from breastfeeding in an awkward position on my bed so we decided to go find a lovely feeding chair for our room. We ended up getting one with a light coloured wood frame and a red fabric cushiony bit. It is very comfortable and bounces so will also be handy for settling Molly. We also chose a red bookcase, 3 white baskets to fit in the bookcase, some knobs and handles for a chest of drawers we have, some potted herbs and tall CD/DVD thing to sit alongside the bookcase.

What inspired us to visit this wonderful world of Sweedish design? The baby bonus just came through!! $4100.00!! The current Australian government is actually good for something! Never thought I'd write a sentence like that on my blog!!

Today's foodies:
B. 2 slices toast with jam and a cup of tea (3.5)
L. 2 california sushi hand rolls, shared a small frozen yoghurt with the boy, and a diet coke (7)
D. 1 sausage, 1 medium baked potato, pumpkin and peas (5.5), olive oil (.5) small bowl ice cream (3)
Snacks. skinny hot chocolate, 1 banana, 1 slice bread with peanut butter, 2 chocolates (7)

Total: 26.5pts
H20: 2 litres
Exercise: Walking around the shops for 3 hours slowly pushing the pram

Comment: More fruit, more fruit!! Less sugar... good choices for lunch and dinner... loving the california rolls!

Nutella, chips and transformation...

2007-01-24T18:44:00.000+11:00

Nutella "a great source of low-gi energy for kids"..... What the hell? Who believes this crap? Obviously many misinformed parents. I have been getting angrier and angrier watching commercials for foods that claim to be healthy when they are in fact extremely detrimental to the health of children and adults alike. There are so many lies being told by large companies who market their highly processed products containing many dangerous preservatives, additives, fillers, colours etc. Not to mention the large amounts of sugar in most products and fat in many.

Foods claiming to be "high energy" are usually filled with what many nutritionists would call "empty calories"- simple carbohydrates (aka sugar), which if not burned up leads to weight gain and the current crisis that is childhood obesity. Kids do not need fun looking, sugar filled products to be happy. If kids get used to eating fresh unprocessed foods as young children and if the rest of the family reinforce this behaviour by doing it themselves, they will not learn to rely on colourful packaging or foods filled with simple sugars and "bad" fats to be satisfied.

We need to take the lead from non-western cultures who give their children the same home prepared, healthy foods that the adults eat. How many other cultures do you think have a "kids menu" in just about every restaurant?? I was in a pub bistro recently for a family dinner. On examination of the menu board I happened across the "kids menu". I had never really twigged just how obscene it is to offer children the range of choices that were on this menu- chicken and chips, chicken nuggets and chips, fish and chips, hamburger and chips, bowl of chips... fried, fat laden, salt laden RUBBISH!! Not a green veggie in sight. How are children supposed to learn how to make the right choices when there is nothing to choose from? Given, the parents could just order a smaller serve of something else healthy on main menu but that is beside the point.

Rant over... I could go on, however I will probably start boring you faithful readers! Ok... that's what has been bugging me for the last week or so- I just haven't bothered to write it down.

I thought I would include a few old "fat photos" to remember just how far I have come and also post a photo of me at goal to show where I want to be. I find this a really great motivational tool.

Me at my biggest 2003

John and me at Mezz and Byron's wedding 2003

Me at the footy 2003

April 2006

Me at Port Fairy March 2006

Run for the Kids 2006 (I was pregnant and didn't know!)

April 2006 (1st and last time we try putting the cat on a lead!)

So there they are... Quite the transformation if I do say so myself! I do not feel like I'm loving myself too much in saying that because I worked so flippin' hard to achieve it. It took 3 years to lose 35kgs- the reason it took that long is because I decided to do it properly. I was not in for a quick fix. I had a LOT of emotional issues to deal with before I could lose the kind of kgs to get me into a healthy weight range. The awesome thing is that the psychological work has already been done now so I know it is not going to take me another 3 years to lose it all again. Hopefully this time I will be able to learn how to maintain the weight loss before getting pregnant again (not on the cards for another 3 years) and then maybe I wont put on so much next time.

I am nearly feeling up to exercise again which is fantastic. I have been getting out for gentle walks and I get puffed out just walking up slight hills! I cannot wait to feel fit again! I am going to enrol Molly in a swimming class designed for 3 month olds which means I have to get into bathers in 2 months! A great incentive to get my act together!!

The last few days my eating has not been as clean as it has been recently however I have still managed to eat around the right amount of points per day (av.) so it will be interestng to see if the scales move next Saturday!

Foodies...

22nd Jan

B. 1 slc wholemeal toast with peanut butter, 1/2 croissant, 1/2 escargot

S. 1 banana, 1 peach, k-time twist

L. Cream of chicken soup with 2 slices wholegrain toast with light butter

S. 2 pastitzis (sp?) and chocolate cake

D. 2 sausages, 1/2 potato, pumpkin, peas, carrot, zucchini, 1 ww icecream

Total: 33.25

23 Jan

B. Ktime twist, 1 banana

S. 1 peach, 1 caramel crown and 10 choc sultanas

L. Egg and salad sandwich with mayo on wholegrain bread, ice tea

S. 4 snack right biscuits, lemonade

D. 3 slices pizza, small serve light and creamy frozen yoghurt

S. Ice cream cake

Total: 31.5

Today

B. Natural muesli with blueberry and vanilla vaalia

S. 1 fruit mince pie and a cup of tea

L. Yakitori chicken don and rice, mineral water

S. 2 choc chip cookies and a cup of tea

D. 1 slice home made pizza and WW chickpea curry ready meal

S. Small serve icecream

Total: 28.5

I think that's enough from me tonight...

Ash

xxx

Yummy dinner...

2007-01-21T20:33:00.000+11:00

I just demolished the yummiest, easiest meal!

I really felt like some roast veggies as the weather finally allows for it (praise the Lord!!) so I bought a couple of washed spuds, some pumpkin, carrots, lovely fresh asparigus, zuchini and a couple of chicken breasts. All I did was pour a jar of tomato and herb pasta sauce over the chicken, threw the roastable veggies in a baking dish with a bit of olive oil and baked the lot for about 35 mins... I blanched the asparigus, chucked it all on plates and voila! An EASY and delicious meal for 2!!

Do try it!

I have had a great, restful weekend! John and I spent last night at my mum's watching funniest home videos (it's turned into a ritual for my family) and eating the scrummy prawns, oysters and whiting she cooked for dinner. We had such a nice time that we stayed till 1am! It was the latest we've been out since Molly's been in the world! I'm a bit tired today but not too phased as the next few days will be quiet and I'll be able to grab a nap here and there where I need it.

Poor little Molly woke up with conjunctivitis this morning! It got bad so quickly that we decided to take her to the doctor. She was prescribed some drops which we've been putting in every hour and it seems to be clearing up already. The poor little thing looked so cute and helpless with her bleary, puffy, sticky eyes. I nearly cried every time she looked up at me- it was as if she were saying "fix me!".

I am feeling so "in the zone" food wise at the moment. I feel really in control! I am actually making decisions around whether or not I eat food that is not good for me rather than mindlessly shovelling it in! Today I enjoyed a mince pie and a small piece of cake at my mother-in-law's and said "no thanks" when I was offered more than I could afford point wise. I was explaining to my friend today that I used to need to leave the room if there was junk food in it. I couldn't control myself and had to remove myself completely from the situation if I wanted to avoid a binge... Oh how things have changed! My relationship with food is totally different. I still LOVE my food- which is a great thing as, just as sex is designed for pleasure as well as to perform the important job of reproducing the human race, food is meant to taste good and thus be enjoyed... if not, we wouldn't have been given taste buds!! That said, I am no longer controlled by my urges and that is a turely liberating experience!

I weighed myself yesterday. Last week I was 96.7kgs... This Saturday- 96.1! So a loss of 600g! Not bad for my 1st week back. Apparently I'm not supposed to lose more than 500g per week or I could compromise my milk supply.. This means I need to really focus this week on ensuring I eat up all my points. It's really hard to do without eating junky food. So I will try to have a few more healthy but higher point food items like nuts and seeds this week.

Todays Foodies
B. Muesli with skim milk and one slice of wholemeal toast with peanut butter (6)
L. 1 frankfurt (skin off) (4) 1/2 cup rice (1.5), 1 slice wholemeal bread (1) and salad (0)
D. Medium chicken breast (4) baked in tomato and herb pasta sauce (0) with pumpkin (.5), potato (1.5), asparigus, carrot and zuchini (0) cooked in olive oil (1)
Snacks. 1 mince pie (4), 1 small piece sticky date cake (2), 2 mugs of ovaltine light break (2)

Total: 26
Still have 6 points to play with so might have something extra within those points tonight.

Just realised, after looking at my food intake for today that I have eaten NO fruit today!! I have had plenty of water, veggies and wholegrains so I'm not worried about fibre or constipation however I usually aim to have 3 pieces of fruit each day. We were out and about today and I just forgot! Will have to make sure I have some tomorrow.

Tarns, I don't have permission to come visit your blog. Can you add me so I can follow your journey too?

Hope everyone has a healthy week- body mind and spirit!

Ash
xox

Lovely day!

2007-01-18T21:09:00.000+11:00

Today I met the lovely Kate (Thick 2 Thin) and her gorgeous son Felix for a sushi lunch at Chadstone.

It was wonderful to meet them! We realised last night in Beckie's chat what a small world it is as Kate lives right near where I went to high school! It was a last minute decision to meet up but I am so glad we did. I feel like we have a lot in common especially about pregnancy, birth and raising bubbies... both of us having strong ideas about how we want to do things but also having an understanding that sometimes you just have to do what works for you despite what the "experts" say. I forgot to take a photo of our meeting to put on here- maybe next time!!

I told Kate I'd try to organise a mini blogger meet soon so she can meet some more lovely Melbourne girls so if anyone's interested just let me know and we'll arrange a time for some fun and festivities!

Had another successful day health wise today. I spent another couple of hours before meeting Kate walking around Chaddy. It really is all I can manage as far as exercise goes. My back hurts as it is. I think I need to go see my remedial therapist for a massage as I really feel that something's not quite right. It hurts right across my bra line and around the front of my ribs. Its probably from getting into awkward positions to breastfeed. I feel like I need to have my back cracked.

Todays foodies:

B. 2 slices raisin toast with low fat butter, a small bowl vaalia yoghurt, some pieces of banana, nectarine and raspberries (6)

L. 5 california rolls (5) and a sparkling mineral water (0)

D. Chinese, flavoured mineral water (12)

Snacks. Chocolite, 1 white peach, 1 vitawheat with vegemite, small handful choc covered peanuts (7.5)

Total: 30.5

Oh how lovely it is to be able to eat sushi and softserve again! They were my 2 fallback takeaway items pre-pregnancy.... I have always loved Colombo/Chocolite/Chocolo as a sweet treat!

Here's some pics of Molly and me going to the wedding the other day! Cute??

Wednesday... creative title huh??!

2007-01-17T20:17:00.000+11:00

What an overwhelming response to my vox post asking for people to email me if they wanted to come over here! I had 30 emails in the space of a couple of hours today! Welcome to everyone! I encourage the lurkers to pop in and say hi every now and then as I had NO idea how many people were tuning in to my adventures!!!

Well! The 1st day of the rest of my life was a successful one! I managed to eat well and exercise! Well... not really "exercise" as such... I went clothes shopping! LOL! That IS exercise for me at the moment as it involves more than sitting on my bed, the couch or in the car! John and I wandered around Box Hill Central for 2 hours while I tried on clothes and looked for a few other essentials.

I bought 2 singlet tops, 2 dresses and a pair of dark grey tailored shorts. Lovely! Will post pics soon!

I am sad to say that I am floating between a size 16 and 18 at the moment so I'm not going to buy too many more clothes before I drop a few more kgs. I WILL keep my eyes peeled for things I like though so I can use them as rewards for every 5kgs I lose. I still have a lot of size 12-14 clothes in a suitcase under my bed from when I hit goal last year so I wont have to spend a fortune at the other end... although everything will be out of fashion by then anyway!

I have heard that there is a new weight watchers program where you need to count veggies now!! They also want everyone to eat 2 tsp of runny oil each day as research has proven that WW members were deficiant in essential fatty acids. I am not keen to go back to WW any time soon but like to use points to track my food. I had a lot of success counting points in the past using the old program so I have decided not to worry about the new program and just go on the 32 points a day allowed in the old program for breastfeeding mothers. I'm not gonna start counting veggies now as I don't believe you can ever eat too much salad I eat avocados, tuna and use olive oil in cooking so think my EFAs are fine.

Todays food:
B. 2 pieces wholemeal toast with peanut butter, 1 peach and 1 small nectarine (6)
L. Wholemeal sandwich with light cheese, tomato and a smidgen of avocado (4)
D. Pita pizza with light ham, veggies and low fat mozarella cheese, 1 banana and vaalia yoghurt (10.5)
Snacks. Skinny latte, 1/2 a piece of banana bread, 1 freddo, grapes (5.5)
H20: 2 litres

Total: 26pts
I overate yesterday so am making up some points today... I may have some more grapes and a cup of tea tonight so that will add a couple of points.

Once again, welcome to everyone!!

Ash
xxx

ps. Brookie, would you help me create a fancy shmancy header??

Fresh new beginnings...

2007-01-17T12:41:00.000+11:00

Hi there,

Welcome to my new blog. I have created this space to help me in reaching my health and fitness goals.

It is a place where I hope to be able to find support and motivation, to track my progress and make a note of my goals.

I have approximately 20kgs to lose and I am hoping to do achieve this goal by Christmas 2007. I know I can do this as I have done it before! Bring it on!!

Stay tuned as I embark on the journey to slimville once again.

Ash
xxx