Still Kicking

Still kicking along. I have an aversion of some kind to losing weight and I can't quite put my finger on why. I know there are a lot of pros, I know there are a lot of cons. Why do I lean one way more than the other?

Trying to find motivation

It's the age-old problem, trying to find motivation for losing weight. It doesn't make any sense to only put some effort into this once I cause a health problem. But it seems that's the track I am on. How ridiculous.

Repeat repeat repeat

Well I haven't got anything new to say. Just the same as I always do.

My theory is if I don't have anything new that can help me, I may as well just keep repeating the same stuff over and over until I get it through my thick head.

So today I think I will list all the positive things I get out of being fat, and then see if I can find their exact opposite which might eventually help me make a change.

What living a fat lifestyle has going for it:

• Every option at a restaurant is open to choose from
• I can eat a range of unpackaged and prepackaged foods as I choose
• I can eat anything friend's provide when I visit them for dinner
• Going out for drinks with friends is always an option
• I don't have to take food with me if I stay over at a friend's or otherwise wont get home/to a kitchen to make food
• I can skip meals if I want to
• I don't have to deal with comments from people about my weight changing
• I don't have to get up early to prepare breakfast or any meal
• I enjoy feeling like I'm not attracting anyone's attention when I walk passed

And now the other side of the coin, what being skinny has going for it:

• I will spontaneously go out with the bf and his mates without thinking inside that he might get picked on by his friends for me being fat
• I wont have to move so far over to squish passed people in a small opening
• Less backfat from a bra
• I wont have to squish my fat arms in so much at the theatre/cinema/anywhere I have to sit next to someone
• I will be able to cross my legs again! And, no, I don't mean the ankle cross, I mean up at the thigh!
• I wont have to fuss over how clothes are sitting on me to cover up particular areas
• I will have more energy in the morning from good foods that I will want to get up a touch earlier to actually do my hair, more than a quick brush or put in a pony tail
I will have a general feeling of being able to move around better, taking up less space
• I wont have such heavy footsteps when walking around
• I'll be able to go caving without wondering about moving around and getting through spaces and my general size

And the reality of living now:

• I find it hard to find clothes
• I get grumpy in yoga because I can't move parts of me certain ways due to my [insert body part here] getting in the way
• I get pins and needles way too easily and often
• I worry I'm judged at work because of my size
• I feel messy when I eat around people, like I have a fat face that is just scoffing food
• Sex life could be better
• I just feel large, generally large

How did I get here?

• I used to be the skinny friend, the more attractive one. I had way too many passes from friends' boyfriends that I think being fat has made that situation much easier to deal with
• I like feel indulgent with food - though often I don't take advantage of the fact I can be
• I want people to judge me on who I am solely, not in combination with how I look... though I would like to get it into my head that this isn't possible
• I honestly don't think I look that large ... but I do and I need to get this into my head

I need to get it into my head that:

• I look larger than I think I look
• People judge me based on my appearance regardless of whether it's attractive or not
• I wont magically have a predator after me just because I'm thinner
• I can handle any sexual advance I may receive
• I wont out-shine my friends because I'm thin
• It's ok to out-shine people sometimes, I can't keep keeping myself down
• Following a weight loss plan doesn't have to take over my social life
• There are only positives to losing weight, no negatives

Pending

Well I got off to a terrible start, as my previous post will show.

I woke up with a nasty cold on Monday and now that it's Wednesday I'm trying to get my head around re-starting. I still haven't got through all the reading as my mind is full of fog (not to mention other stuff which my three boxes of tissues are helping clear) so I still don't have a proper understanding of what I should be doing. And I still don't know how I'm going to work my existing life into it, even though I know it's only for a "few weeks".

Back to work again tomorrow and I'm not organised at all.

One bonus I can say is that I've taken the opportunity to get all of the caffeine reliance out of my system (it takes 72hrs right?).

Day 1

Well off to a bit of a rocky start to Day 1 of my 12-Week challenge.

Woke up with tonsils the size of golf balls and it's dark outside in the mornings these days. Grabbed the two protein drinks I'd prepared last night and the meat and salad container and headed off to work.

Left work just passed 11am, feeling like death.

It's currently 1.15pm and I have had that protein drink while at work and the salad while home. I'll have the other pre-prepared drink tomorrow so I don't have to make up any new ones.

Feeling hungry, want to eat the easiest thing laying around. Could do with a good milky coffee too.

Can only blame myself though - I've had two out of the six meals for today and it's passed lunch time, I've also only had one out of the 12 glasses of water I'm supposed to have. Feeling a bit out of sorts.

Had a HUGE weekend this weekend and last weekend so I didn't have the 'few hours' to go over all of the rules and guidelines and also my exercise plan. Honestly though, I am booked in for Yoga tonight, not sure if I want to change it to something more rigorous. I want to get well.

I keep fighting the urge to argue with the food plan and my "I know better" attitude lol. I think I'm doing ok with it so far though. But it's still early.

So that's the update so far.

Feeling under prepared, hungry but don't want to eat, haven't had enough to drink, have a headache, aching joints and a nose that wont stop (obviously not related to food, I've caught a bug from someone).

EDIT: OK I don't get this AT ALL. How if I don't get home from work until 5pm and I have Yoga 6-7pm am I supposed to cook and eat dinner? A. Where is my travelling time, and B. how do I get there and not be absolutely stuffed I can't morph myself into those positions???

I've got the flu.

The absolute best biscuits ever! ... not lc

I have ALWAYS wondered about this. Now I have a history :)
Not lc though, I even tried to find/make an lc version some years ago but without success.


The Anzac (biscuit) story

By Rebecca Davies
23 April 2010
NineMSN


It's Anzac Day this Sunday, so here's the story of how these tasty treats actually came about.

The past…
Anzac biscuits have always been associated with Australian and New Zealand soldiers in World War I. Legend says that the wives, mothers and girlfriends left at home were concerned that their fighting men were not getting food of any nutritional value, so they cooked up a recipe for treats that they would both enjoy and nutritionally benefit from.

Made from ingredients including rolled oats, coconut, flour and sugar, these biscuits were ideal to send to soldiers abroad because they kept well and would survive the long transit to the frontlines. At first, they were named "soldiers' biscuits", but were renamed Anzac biscuits upon landing in Gallipoli.

The present
Nowadays, Anzac biscuits are manufactured commercially and sold in supermarkets all year round. RSLs all over the country also regularly use them as a fundraising item to raise money for veteran soldiers. They have become worldwide fare and are apparently still issued to Canadian troops at Christmas time.

The recipe
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup plain flour
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup desiccated coconut
125g butter
2 tablespoon golden syrup
1 tablespoon water
½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

Sift flour into a bowl and stir in oats, coconut and sugar. Melt butter, golden syrup and water in saucepan, then add bicarb. Stir into flour mixture. Place rounded teaspoons of mixture 5cm apart on greased baking trays and bake at 150°C for about 20 minutes or until biscuits feel almost firm. Remove from trays with spatula and leave to cool on wire racks.

Source: http://recipefinder.ninemsn.com.au/newsandfeatures/1043339/the-anzac-biscuit-story

To tell the people around you, or not to tell

What are everybody's thoughts on telling people about your changing eating habits?

There are pros and cons for both, so how have you found which side you have chosen?

I've drawn up a few that spring to mind straight away... (click for the full image)



My mum is going through a few changes in her life (aka. menopause - what fun!) and with that she's started worrying about her weight for the first time ever (she doesn't have a weight problem) and is trying to be as tactful as possible about suggesting different foods I could eat that would be good.

I hurt my back a few weeks ago and it was terrible. I really feel for people that have chronic back pain. It would take 10mins just to get out of bed (and loads of frustration and swear words) and although not one person mentioned it, not even the osteo or Dr, I know that having a large tummy really contributes to back weakness. I'm using it as motivation to just make a change and be happy about it.

Tuesday 26 January 2010

Happy Australia Day everyone!!!

I haven't joined IBO like I said I might, I've decided to wait until summer finishes before I embark on a heavy exercise regime. Until then, I'll just concentrate on getting the food right :)

How is everyone's day going? Hope it's all fabulous!

EDIT: While I'm not especially a fan of the Number 1 in the Hottest 100, I LURVE number two!! Now that I know the actual title I will have to go out and buy it! :)

Monday 4 January 2010

Hi all!

Well since Sureslim went belly-up about a month ago, I've been following my own plan but thinking about what to join next. The reason I joined Sureslim wasn't because I didn't know which eating plan to follow, it's because I wanted the face-to-face check in.

So, a compromise is that I'm reconsidering joining IdealBodies - remember me talking about it a few posts ago?

It's not quite a face-to-face checkin, but the only others like that that I can find are over $100 a week (sometimes including food) and IdealBodies, though still not cheap, still is cheaper. I've also just found out a long time online friend of mine followed their program for 18 weeks last year and is still following the plan well and easily without them, so that's excellent!

Anyway that's where I'm at right now. I'll decide within the next couple of days whether I'll join up or not. :)

Sooooooooooooo how is everyone else? I've already checked out Harry's and Vadim's blog, so I'm off to check out everyone else's now. Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!