4 March 2011: My shape is changing: thoughts, notes and goals

I know it's been a month or so since updating the blog, sorry about that. There have been some massive changes - and not just my shape.

Ok: first things first - stats

Weight loss to date (since Jan 1st 2011) is 7.5 kilos. On the scales at the gym for their weight loss challenge, 5.5 kilos (started 17 Jan 2011) on my trainers scale - weigh at 6pm on a monday - usually a couple of kilos heavier, but for the first time saw a figure under the 85 kilo mark, as long as it is going downwards it's all good. But it's not just the weight stats I am tracking.

Measurements:

Date:            Bust:               Ribs (under boobs):            Waist:      Hips:

17/5/2010     108cm             not measured                        96cm       119cm (no wonder my clothes didn't fit)

27/12/2010   102cm             37.5 inches                            94cm       111 cm

19/2/2011      100cm            35 inches                               92 cm       110cm

Why the inches measurement? Well I have this dress, I wore it for my brothers wedding on the 26th January 2008 and it fit, it's A-line which means the tightest bit is directly under the boobs ... I'll post a pic) and it measures 34 inches at that point. So another 1 inch to go. And as you can see, the tummy is still a little big ...

It doesn't look like I've moved very far since the beginning of the year, but the difference is amazing. I can see the beginnings of bone outlines under the skin in my rib cage and in my collar bones. So that means I am burning fat and increasing muscle. This is good as muscle weighs twice as much as fat but takes up half the space. And this may gross you out but I can see the outline of my toothbrush when I am cleaning my teeth... which means my face is changing shape. As you can see from the pic, I still had a double chin (don't know what I weighed then - but it would be late 70 kilos if I had to guess).

What else has been happening?

Well on the exercise front, massive changes are occurring there too - As I mentioned in the last post I split my day into 3 time zones, 6am, noon and 6pm, some days I get all three in, others one or two - averaging about 9 hours of training a week, and yes I track it, I write all my training into a day book... it's large, it's unweildy but I don't care, it contains everything bar the food intake.

And talking of which - food:

• My meals don't change much from day to day. Breakfast is pretty much a boiled egg, 2 pieces of toast and some tomatoes - 5 days a week.
• mid am snack is 10 almonds (if I want it) - and yes I count them out and once they are gone I don't go back into my drawer for more.
• lunch is usually a tin of tuna, some salad / veggies, maybe a few nuts and I have to say this some low fat salad cream ... about the only thing to make the lunches less boring. Occassionally though I will bring in leftovers, those are great days. Love left overs.
• afternoon snack - if I need it, is 10 almonds, and one day this week I had an Atkins protein shake, simply because the green tea and water did not fill me up, and I didn't want to undo the good work when I got home.
• Dinner is usually protein of some sort, veggies but no carbs - 5 days out of the 7.
• I also have a couple of glasses of wine - yes I know, but I've swapped white for red and I do have a couple of days off a week.

Add in huge amounts of water, green tea and maybe 2 cups of coffee with milk each week and that pretty much sums up my diet. It's not exciting, but it does mean I don't have to think about it.

One thing I haven't done properly is add in a cheat day. Not wanting to tip the scales upwards I have to time this, and I'm thinking it's going to be for just one meal - maybe a wednesday night so I have chance to drop the weight again. Why have a cheat day then? Well enough studies have proven that if you restrict your eating too much for too long sooner or later you are going to go off the rails. I've made that mistake before so this time I'm going to control it.

Some health goals - completed or still to do

• Climb jacobs ladder - without stopping - completed 2010, now do 5.5 circuits, mostly without stopping for a breather on the way up.
• Climb the Kokoda track (Kings Park) - completed 2010, again do 5.5 circuits, although I tend to stop at least once on the up for 3 of the circuits - have not done this one for a while, simply because it's been too blinking hot. Will add back in once the heat and humidity cool down.
• Train with the football squad - completed Feb 2011 - finally got up enough courage to join in with training with a local social squad. I've not played a game for about 35 years, so felt good about that one...
• Run the Perth City to Surf - walked it last year, walked with 2 others and disappointed to say we didn't break the 2 hour mark... not sure how my lower back will cope with the running, I have sciatic problems.
• Complete 200 push ups - 4 x 50 with a minute break in between. First time trial 01/01/2011 was 10, 12, 15, 20 - and yes they were boy ones.
• Complete 200 sit ups
• Reduce BMI to healthy range (under 25) by end of 2011 (currently 28 and a bit)
• Reduce body fat to 25 (currently 37)
• Get into my Levi jeans (no lycra and a UK size 14)
• Throw away my size 16's
• Maintain my lower weight (whatever it ends up being)
• Have a professional photo shoot done
• Not be afraid to go on the beach wearing shorts

And no doubt many others that will cross my mind as I lose weight, change shape, gain more confidence, strength and stamina

Comments

[suzy]

You have got some good health goals there. I think it's important to write your goals down whatever they may be because it gives you some good structure to work from.

[Elle]

Thanks Suzy, appreciate the comments. Elle