12WBT 2015 February Round week 2 & 3

In an effort to be more reliable and post more frequently, today's post will update the last two weeks. My blogging goal: to post once per week from this week onwards!! Lets see how I go. 

So, how did weeks 2 and 3 go? 

Pretty well I think. See, historically my 12wbt rounds fall into one of two categories - very successful (10+kgs lost) or unsuccessful (characterised by gains). There has been no happy medium. I think that this time, I set myself up well. I did my preseason tasks, I signed up early to give myself time to be ready to 'give things up' and focus on my goals again, I set up a sticker chart (cause who doesn't love stickers), got my reward jar back out and gathered all the items I would need for Mich Workouts at home.

My sticker chart - week 1

My reward jar

As soon as the menu plans were released, I logged on and customised my week's food to ensure I could minimise my costs; printed both an overview and the recipes I didn't already have; and printed out the exercise plan for the week. I laminate all the recipes and keep them in a lever arch folder. I also used the shopping list, adding extras that we needed for hubbie at work or home items.

The other thing that I did was get more active on social media. I started posting regularly again in several facebook groups I belong to, full of supportive women. I was surprised how many were in the same or similar position to me - having put on weight - some lots, some a little, but all after losing focus and 'giving up'. I really like the quote below. It was posted on one of those pages and it really spoke to me. The power of admitting that something is wrong, or needs to change. If you can't admit you've been making poor choices or that you need help, how can you possibly make a change. 

I posted my previous post in one of the bigger support groups 12wbt 30+ at the urging of my friend Kate, and opening myself up like that to a group of strangers and friends was a big part of confronting where I've been for the past 12 months....down in that chasm. I'm happy to say, I'm well on the road to climbing out. I no longer feel like I'm rock climbing the sides of that chasm without a rope or harness, with just my hands and feet, with the fear of falling in the forefront of my mind. I now feel like I'm harnessed up, rope attached leading up to the edge, with a group of amazing friends who take turns holding my rope, and more recently a rope ladder has been thrown down so that I'm no longer trying to find hand and footholds. 

 

Back in week 2 I had the advantage of that harness and rope (online friends) but that ladder hadn't come down yet. I was still finding my confidence in myself and my ability to be consistent. I lost a good amount of weight - down 1.7kgs, 2.6kgs in total. I also decided to keep taking photos of my weigh in to help with accountability.

 

Week 2 weigh in
 

Week 2 results!

 I also stepped out of my comfort zone and started posting more on Instagram. I started with calorie burns and the results for each week's weigh in. 

 

A very yummy meal!!

At the end of week 2, we went camping at Forster for the first time, with our dear friends the Nelson family. I took the gorgeous bangle the lovely Debbie bought me last year to help remind me of my goals and keep me on track. Packed into the car was my gym bag, towels, weights and my mat. There was no way I was missing my SSS on the Saturday. 

 

My inspiration

It was an emotionally tough weekend for our friends. The friend who had arranged it has been their dear friend for a long time. His wife who was also their close friend, passed away years earlier and this was the first occasion when they had spent serious time with their friend and his new (8 or 9 years) wife. She had brought along her sister which was why our friends took us with them. It was seriously difficult for them for a variety of reasons but that isn't the story I'm here to tell. 

Despite the temptation to drink wine and eat constantly, I didn't. I drank lots of water, got up early and did my SSS, ate my planned breakfasts and had a great time. It's hard when your friends are having a hard time, but it was still a nice weekend. We used to camp a lot in Queensland and it amazed me when the camp people tagged me on entry!!

Wrist tags to prove we were paying campers!

Workout setup at Smugglers Cove Holiday Village!

 Week 3 saw me participating in Cathy Sheargold and Bella Fountain's #COA (crack of ass) challenge. I had to get up and be exercising before 6am. Now in order for me to get up and exercise before work I have to be up at 4am, so none of my collages had beautiful sunrises like the other ladies as it was pitch black outside...but I did it...for a whole 6 days. It felt so much better exercising before work rather than doing it when I got home. So I plan to continue in Week 4 if I can manage it!

 

Day 1
 

Sunrise as I left for work!
 

Day 2
 

Day 3
 

Day 4
 

Day 5 - devo at the low burn...
 

Day 6 - SSS made up for it with a 1000 cal burn

There were prizes to win, but I didn't get chosen - but I figure I'm a winner anyway for completing the whole week. Plus I earned a bunch load of stickers as you can see below, and stickers = $$$!!!

 

19 stickers + bonus in week 2 = $21

26 stickers + 3 bonuses in week 3 = $32

So the way the stickers work is when I meet my daily goal in any area, I get a sticker. I'm not so good at getting to bed early so I get the minimum 7 hours sleep, and getting up at 4am makes that harder too. Then if I get 7/7 in a goal area, I get a bonus sticker. Each normal sticker is worth $1 and each bonus sticker is worth $2. It all goes in my reward jar, ready for buying clothes etc further down the track! 

Reflecting on the last two weeks I think my success has been dependent on my planning. Planning meals and doing my shopping, printing the recipes, laminating them and having them ready in my folder. Having my gear ready the night before so I just roll out of bed, have a pit stop, get dressed and get going. It's certainly been a long while since I've seen my polar band drying in the shower every day.

Polar strap hanging out in the bathroom ready to go!
 

Clothes and shoes laid out :)

In week three I lost 1.1kgs, 3.7kgs in total,  which after our weekend away, I was thrilled with. My major goal is to reach 5kgs lost this round within the next two weeks, and to maintain consistency until week 12 - a feat I have not managed on one single occasion of doing 12wbt! So this will be a first!!

 

Working out in my kitchen at 4:30am!