Despite being engaged, school teacher Kate refuses to try on a wedding dress until she downsizes with the help of friend and Challenge partner Karina.
Update 10
Whoops! Didn’t find time to fill in my diary this week!
Update 9
Whoops! Didn’t find the time to fill in my diary this week!
Update 8
Whoops! Didn’t find time to fill in my diary this week!
Update 7
Whoops! Too busy to fill in my diary this week!
Update 6
Personal training pushed me to my limits this week. I had a new trainer (Sammi) who got me to wear a 5kg weight harness as I power walked down the street. As I rounded the corner, there was a fairly steep hill in front of me which I had to go up and down three times. Every time I started back up the hill I said to myself ‘if she asks me to go back up the hill again, I won't!’ She did ask and I did it! It just goes to show how much of what we think we can do and how much we can actually do is down to mind over matter!
I was completely stunned at how much difference it made to carry 5kg around during my walk. My lower back ached more than usual, it was harder to take steps and I puffed out faster than normal. My trainer reminded me (in a nice way) just how many of those packs I carry around every day of my life. It certainly opened my eyes! It was a great pep talk and it was lovely to know that she cares. I think I am actually looking forward to Wednesday's session!
My wedding dress has just arrived! Now all I have to do is fit into it! The shop owner asked if I wanted to visit the store and try it on but I said no because I know it won't fit and I'm worried. It will probably be like trying to stuff a fridge into a sock – a very pretty, elaborately beaded sock.
Update 5
After a few weeks of searching I have a Nintendo Wii Fit! Most stores I tried were sold out and waiting for a new supply, but I managed to find an out-of-the-way store that still had a few in stock. I have been exercising for half an hour using the console each day and I really enjoy the variety of activities. I've tried the yoga and muscle strength activities and I can’t do all of the positions properly yet, but I know things will improve as my weight goes down and my fitness increases. The balance-type activities are still difficult for me but I know that I am getting better at them.
Karina bought a dance mat computer game this week and once we worked out how to use it, it was great fun and both of us were puffed out afterwards. I want to get one too so we can have a dance battle!
Update 4
I wasn't in a good place emotionally when I wrote my diary entry last week. Thankfully I've managed to get a hold of myself this week.
Food wise, I have done a much better job and I'm back on the quick start plan and enjoying it. I just love those Shakes and they are so easy to make. The Bars are great because I feel so satisfied when I eat them. The weather has been so hot and sticky lately that I haven't felt like having the Soups.
Karina bought a Wii Fit computer console and the two of us have had fun learning how it works. We had a play and before I knew it I had worked up to half an hour of exercise and it was really fun! I learned that my centre of balance is back further than it should be and slightly to the left and I think that perhaps because I am carrying excess weight on my front, that I overcompensate by leaning back.
Karina and I also had a group personal training session this week. I have never exercised so hard in my life! In each exercise I felt like I couldn't go on but somehow I kept going and found that there came a point where it became slightly easier. It was as if I finally 'got' how to do it and my body responded. After the session, I felt proud that I had finished it. It made me realise that I haven't been pushing myself enough in my exercise sessions and I need to step it up.
I was sore, sore, sore when it was time to get up the next day. It was worth it and I went out to some art and craft markets with Jason. A gentle walk around made my aching muscles feel better.
This week I plan to continue the training sessions with Karina and step up my exercise program and even improve my eating habits. Karina and I have pledged to call each other more often and we have even set up a schedule for this.
I weighed in at 139.3kg on Saturday, which isn't as disastrous as I was anticipating, but it is not a satisfying result for me.
Update 3
There have been some ups and some downs this past week. I am not happy with myself because of my lack of progress to date. I have hit the wall (like I always seem to do). Two good weeks and then the good habits start to peter out. It's the same old story. I was so motivated and on track when I started and now I'm not. I'm angry with myself for letting my motivation slip. I haven't stuck to my program, I haven't made the right choices and I have given in without thinking. In my last diary entry, I waxed lyrical about how I was going to make positive food choices and then I didn't do it. It's no one's fault but my own. Family and friends have been great – no one has tried to encourage me to eat badly.
I wish that seeing everyone else's losses had inspired and motivated me this week, but it hasn't; it makes me feel worse about myself. I feel guilty because everyone else in the team is doing a terrific job and I want to be happy for them, but I admit to being a bit jealous of how great they are doing. It just underlines my own failure. I am dreading the next weigh-in.
OK. Today is another day and today I am choosing to get back on track and really focus hard on what I need to do so that I can achieve want I really want. I will enter my food choices daily into the diary. I will add my comments. I will exercise. I will choose my healthy path in life. My confidence in myself is shaky right now, but one thing I do know is that I really don't want to spiral downwards and be out of control anymore.
I suppose, reading all this, you are as disappointed with me as I am. I guess I could pick out little things that have raised my spirits over the week but they are few and far between. I prefer to tell it like it is and this is how it is for me right now. Hoping that my next report is more upbeat! See you next time.
Update 2
This week has been hectic but I am pleased with how my eating plan is going. I really love the Meal Replacement Shakes; they’re my favourite and tops is the Wild Berry flavour – I savour each of these. Karina is not too keen on this flavour so she and I are planning to do some swaps.
My friends and family have been really supportive and everyone seems to be curious to know how I'm going. My partner, Jason, has again been wonderful. It's just lovely to hear him say that he's proud of the progress and the choices that I have been making. I'm proud of him too – he is doing well and modifying what he eats.
Having said all that, I had a bit of a slip up on Saturday night. A bunch of friends and I were out on a boat (going for a cruise around the canals in Mandurah) and it was wonderful! There were drinks and nibbles galore and I stuck to my sugar free cola. However, when the chocolates began to be handed out, I chose not to say ‘no’. Naughty me! It didn't derail me like it would have done in the past. This is one of the great things about my shift in attitude.
Update 1
Karina and I got off to a good start this week. We both started on our Second Chance Challenge on Friday while we were sightseeing in Sydney, and we have continued with the program all week, despite several social events involving food. The program and food in general doesn't have to be a big issue on social occasions though. I know that making smarter food choices and remembering portion sizes is all that it takes to stay on track. My Mum gave me a Biggest Loser Calorie Counter Book, which she swears by, and it has really helped to open my eyes. I never knew the true calorie content of some foods. It has helped me make smarter choices and it has been amazing to see what certain foods actually contain. For example, I now know that some sandwiches aren't as good as I thought they were!
Karina has done well on her plan. It's great that we are doing this together because we can support each other through it. We message or call each other regularly to talk about how the both of us are going and to report our progresses and our setbacks. The group emails that have been going around between members of the Second Chance Challenge group are very encouraging too.
This weekend has been a real test for me. I went to dinner with friends on Friday night followed by the Jimmy Barnes concert at Burswood. On Saturday, Jason (my partner) and I went shopping and then went straight to another friend’s place for dinner. I stuck to drinking water and Coke Zero, avoided nibbles and tried to make sensible choices for dinner. Instead of garlic prawns at the restaurant, I had grilled lobster. Instead of the usual Chinese plate at the food mall, I had sushi.
Exercise wise, I definitely need to step it up a notch. I did two sessions at my gym and did lots of walking at the shops (six hours with just a few short breaks). I bought a new pair of sports shoes with extra support. I couldn't afford expensive ones but these news ones should do for a while. I have a week's holiday coming up so I will have plenty of time to get to grips with extra exercise. That's no excuse for slacking until then, though!
I was disappointed with my weight loss compared to others in the Second Chance Challenge team this week. That was until I weighed myself this morning to see a wonderful loss of 4.4kg! So, look out at the official weigh-in tomorrow. I was very proud of Karina's 5kg loss this week. She did brilliantly and put us in fourth position on the leaderboard (when I last checked, anyway). That gave me the extra motivation to plough on. She's a top chick!
I am looking forward to another week of healthy food, exercise and a big loss at the end of the week.