Day 30 Results

This morning was my 30th morning, and it was a good one.

My weigh and measure went well. Photos will NOT be posted as I can't tell the difference and I'm not game to put pics of myself in my undies all over the internet just yet...

Weight change: 5kg down (exactly!) Not lost, gone. Released. Never to be returned.
Measurement change: A bloody ridiculous 72cm GONE from my body.
Mindset change: Dramatic.



Happy.

Trying new things Number 2

Today I tried a couple of new things. Go me!

Firstly, when a colleague suggested earlier in the week that we go and exercise together, before making an excuse, I said yes. Usually I only exercise with people who really know me, so I don't embarrass myself or feel like I'm letting them down by being slow/fat/unfit. So tonight, I found myself in the gorgeous Dandenong Ranges, hiking and attempting the 1000 steps.

The 1000 steps is a trail dedicated to the Aussies and locals who lost their lives on the Kokoda Track. It's a tough walk, and we managed about halfway up the steps before turning back. Another colleague who is much fitter ran ahead and we met her on her way back down. We've made plans to do it again next week and see if we can make it to the top. The best thing was that the colleague I was with is roughly the same fitness level as I, so we encouraged each other when needed and I really enjoyed myself.

The second new thing I tried was the new Raspberry flavoured e+shot from Isagenix.

It's a quick hit of caffeine derived from natural sources and was just the thing I needed before my walk. Low calorie, high energy - it didn't leave me jittery like other caffeine hits (tablets, energy drinks) and I'm about to head to bed with no fear of not being able to fall asleep. It was delicious, but not something I'll need to take every day.

What have you tried lately? Anything new in your life?

It's not a race!

I've been plodding along doing my Isagenix - tripping up occasionally but always pulling myself back up and continuing on. I'm looking at this as LIFE, not a diet, so I really see the bigger picture rather than getting hung up on having 'ruined' the day.

The most important thing, to me, is consistency. Being consistent doesn't mean denying myself all the time. It doesn't mean giving in all the time either, which is tough, but consistency is what will get me the results I'm after.

I'm yet to weigh in again - I'm not due for another few days to weigh and measure, but I know that the results will speak for themselves. I know that the results could be better, given my little 'trip-ups', but I also know that the way I have been going is sustainable. I am slightly disappointed in myself, but I am also proud that I have stuck to the plan 90% of the time. I'm most proud, however, that I am looking at this program as my way of life. I have no plans to stop. I have no plans for what I'm going to 'celebrate with' once it's over, because it won't be over. Yes, once I reach my goal weight I will shift into maintenance mode, but that won't be for quite a number of months, perhaps even a year, so the fact that I am looking long term means that this is THE way ahead for me.

My next post will likely be the results of my first 30 days, and I can't wait to see what I've achieved on paper.

Do you want to feel like I do? Do you want to see where this program can take you? Shoot me an email at thenewimprovingmrsp@gmail.com and I will show you how you can take control of your health, and maybe even your wealth.

The reality of war

Recently I have seen two war films - The Water Diviner and Unbroken. Both brought me to tears, and both prodded at my brain like I didn't believe.

Firstly, two completely unbelievable stories. The Water Diviner is based on true events, but a bit of creative licence has been taken (I'm led to believe) with the love story. Unbroken is also a true story. It blows my mind that these stories are not stories, they are lives lived.

Although I knew that we sent men off to war, the reality of war did not hit home to me until I saw a battle scene in The Water Diviner. Young men running across the battlefield, jumping into trenches, and physically punching people until they died. I imagined people on opposite sides firing guns, not this brutal hand-to-hand combat. I cried. Young men dying of fatal wounds, lying there, moaning. I cried. I wanted it to stop.

Then again, during Unbroken, where a couple of guys drifted on a liferaft for a month and a half, and then got starved and bashed up repeatedly in a POW camp, I cried. When they didn't break, through everything that happened, I cried.

War is huge. War these days is different, but still young men and women go off and get killed every day. Some of them don't even know why they're fighting, they just do it because they love their country, they love their freedom, and they want their families to be safe. In the two World Wars, so many families lost people, so many people lost themselves. Both sides had massive casualties. Both sides lost. It hasn't changed now, it's just a little more hands-off. People still die. People still lose.

I don't want my children to have to fight like that, to have to fight at all. I don't want my husband to go off and die so that we can still have a life. I might be changing my little part of the world by improving who I am, discovering who I am, and being who I was destined to be. But I am not enough. We all need to change, to accept others, to accommodate differing belief systems. We all need to believe in kindness over violence, to live together in a world that is great BECAUSE of it's diversity.

Deep. But powerful. More movies like these need to be made, and more people need to see them. More people need to tell their war stories, and more people need to listen. To be affected. To change. To really think about what has happened in the past and decide if they're going to be a part of the solution, or a part of the problem.

I want to be part of the solution, even though I have no idea how that is meant to happen.

Trying new things number 1

My husband and I have decided that our gym memberships are going to waste, so we're going to cancel them and just try new things to keep active. I've already dabbled in a few group PT sessions and a couple of online fitness groups, but there are so many other things out there and I want to experience some new things.

This week I went to a Zumba class. A few years ago, I bought the DVDs and spent a couple of hours trying to do them before giving up and giving them to a friend (who also gave up and gave them away). This friend subsequently went to a real life class and has been loving it and trying to get me to go for AGES. I caved yesterday afternoon.

I absolutely loved it. I had no idea what was going on most of the time - the regulars scream and shout and shake and shimmy.... and I just tried to keep up! I wore my heart rate watch, and I don't think I saw it go below 150 bpm the entire time. I was a sweaty mess by the end of it, but I couldn't wipe the smile off my face.

I'm going to go back regularly - there is a Saturday morning class that we're hoping to go to often and this week while I don't have cali I'll be going on Monday too.

What are you going to try?

The foot-stamping, fist waving tantrum.

The second double cleanse went without a hitch a week ago, and I sort of fell off the wagon from there. At the same time, I haven't fallen so far, so it's not all bad!

On Thursday I had a ridiculous craving for carbs after work, so had a ham and cheese roll and some pita bread that I found in the cupboard for dinner instead of my usual shake. Little did I know that would start a snowball effect that ended in me stamping my foot and waving my fists at my husband, whining and almost in tears the next evening begging for pizza.

Waking up on Friday morning, I was out of sorts - given my carb fest the night before I was all foggy and slept through my alarm. Running late, I didn't take my vitamins or have my shake or Ionix. I got eggs and toast for breakfast at work (did pretty well given we can order ANYTHING we like to be delivered and an egg and bacon muffin was calling my name), and had my usual chicken salad for lunch.

Dinner time came around and I had convinced myself (Evil Mrs P had done it, truth be told) that I was having pizza. Delish! How better to cap off the day of monstrosity than ruin it completely? Sadly, the husband did not have the same idea, and we had a standoff over how it wasn't happening that escalated quickly into me being a toddler and having a tantrum. We did end up ordering, but I had a steak and chips (of which I ate less than a third).

Saturday morning was like a hangover AGAIN. Lesson learned. Isagenix makes my body feel good. The pleasure of eating things that are not good for my body is not worth it the next day. I've spent the whole weekend trying to get that good feeling back, and I don't want to keep doing that.

Tomorrow is the beginning of my final double cleanse for the 30 days, followed by 8 days of shakes. Easy. I can do this. I just need to remember WHY, and that should do the trick. Hopefully Evil Mrs P and The Toddler can have fun playing with each other, so I don't get distracted from the big picture. Me!

The pizza

Tonight my husband ordered pizza. I had eaten lunch as my knife and fork meal today (delicious chicken and salad rolls made by my mother!) so was due to have a shake for dinner. When I got home from running around all day he informed me that he was ordering in.

DH: Are you having a shake for dinner?
Mrs P: Yep. Certainly am!
DH: I'm getting pizza

And then this happened in my head.

Mrs P: Great. He's getting pizza.
Evil Mrs P: Maybe we could have it too?
Mrs P: No. We are having our shake.
Evil Mrs P: Can we? Pretty please?
Mrs P: No. We are having our shake.

It pretty much went like that for an hour. I went into the study to encourage DH to order before I had the chance to cave, and he didn't hesitate in ordering his pizza and not asking me if I wanted any. Good job.

For the next hour, this happened in my head.

Mrs P: I really want pizza, but I'm glad he didn't ask.
Evil Mrs P: I really want pizza. Maybe we can steal a slice?
Mrs P: A slice wouldn't be too bad. I've been super good today and haven't eaten anything bad.
Evil Mrs P: A slice or two. Maybe that would be okay.
Mrs P: Yeah, couldn't be too bad. What am I thinking? It will be bad. I can't eat a whole slice, even if it is only a medium and not a large.
Evil Mrs P: What? What is this nonsense?
Mrs P: I really shouldn't eat a slice. I'm glad I have my shake.
Evil Mrs P: What about just a bite. Like one bite combining crust and topping and maybe an extra pepperoni bit.
Mrs P: Nope. Shake it is.
Evil Mrs P: Just a bit. Not even an edge bit, just a tiny bite.
Mrs P: I suppose that could be okay. We'll just have a bite.

The doorbell rang. DH rushed to collect his bounty, muttering on his way back to his study that he was 'bloody starving and glad it finally came'. I followed him, and opened the box that was on the desk.

Mrs P: Hmmm which bit should I take my one bite from?
DH: None of them. You're not having any.
Mrs P: Are you kidding? Just one bite. That's all I'm having.
DH: Are YOU kidding? How hard have you worked today? How hard have you worked this whole week?
Mrs P: Urgh. You're so frickin' SUPPORTIVE.
DH: Yeah I am.

I walked away, made my shake, had my vitamins, sulked a little. Smelled the smell, and realised that this guy had my best interest at heart. I've had that pizza before. I remember what it tastes like, what it feels like in my mouth. I'll have it again another day. Just not today.

Just for the record, it looked better than this.

Day 8 - This is life now

This Isagenix caper is beginning to feel like a good habit to be having. I don't think I need to do daily updates now, as most days are the same. Shake days or cleanse days, only two types of days. In real life, there are heaps of different types of days, but the basis is the same.

This morning we slept in (love being on holidays!), headed out for some mid-morning shopping, and came home around lunch time. I'd bought some prawns and had some veggies pre-cut from earlier in the week, rustled them together with some quick noodles and called it a meal. After putting it in to MFP a little later in the day, it came out to about 750 calories, which is too high. The recommended intake is 400-600 calories for the 'knife and fork meal', but I could have easily done with half the amount of noodles. Another lesson learned. The meal kept me completely satisfied though, so that's a major plus. Learning to have a delicious meal that ticks all the boxes is definitely difficult.

I've started a list of foods or meals that I want to eat, foods that I probably shouldn't eat, but still want to eat. This list will be used on the couple of 'free' days I have allowed myself over the course of the next few months. You see, yesterday, I set some guidelines for myself. I sat down with my diary and mapped out the next few months. You heard correctly. The next few months.

With 60kg to lose, I'm going to be on the 'losing weight' plan for a long time before I get to be on the 'maintaining weight' plan. Isagenix has plans for every goal, but this specific weight loss bit is the one I'll be following for at least 150 days. That's 5 30-day blocks. So I picked 5 days in that 150 days that will be free days. Days where I don't take the Isagenix products, and I eat whatever I want from the list I'm writing as I go. Chances are, when they come up, I'll choose right. But sometimes I'll choose wrong, and that's okay too.

There are some public holidays, long weekends, and other special occasions in that time, and I've tried to work my free days around those occasions. It's not a foolproof plan, but it allows me to put off 'being off plan' until those times as I've scheduled them in. Giving myself a time to look forward to, a chance to rebel. I find that if I say I'll never have xxx again, I want it all the time, but if I say I'm not having xxx until next week, it doesn't seem so bad. Delaying the gratification.

The next free day is Australia Day - 26 Jan. So until then, I'm on a cycle of shake days and cleanse days. Monday is my first weigh-in on the program, and I'm excited and scared to see what it will show. The weekend in town was a bit of a glitch, but I'll be happy with a loss on Monday morning.

Day 6 and 7 - Where I went off track and then got back on

Image courtesy of Google

Sometimes you go off track, and that's okay. I did it most of yesterday and a bit of today. But not really, because it was all planned.

Yesterday was New Year's Eve. It was also our first wedding anniversary, so a bit of a celebration was to be had. We booked a room in a swanky hotel (The Stamford Plaza*), and spent the afternoon and evening in town. I had intended to have my 2 shakes at home and splurge on dinner, but then we left in a bit of a rush and I realised halfway there that I had forgotten to have my lunch shake. Off track.

DH wanted Nandos for lunch as he hadn't eaten either so I got some grilled tenderloins and had three of his chips. The kj count was roughly the same as a shake, and the protein levels in the chicken matched the shake as well. I was just missing those vital other goodies that are in a shake, but on the whole not a bad deviation. Dinner was pizza - one of those gourmet places where the toppings are scarce and the dough thin and crispy. It was delicious, and I ate two slices more than I should have, but as well, not too bad. I also had a Coke with dinner. Oops.

After dinner we decided to walk back to the hotel and on the way discovered 7-11 sold Ben and Jerry's. This is the major stumble. We got a tub each and ate them in bed. I felt a little sick, but I kept eating until it was gone. Half a litre of delicious fudgey goodness.

For the rest of the night I felt sick. Pains in my gut and a horrible headache. That'll teach me!

This morning we had the hotel buffet breakfast which I went easy on. I had planned that I would be having breakfast as my 'knife and fork meal' today but after last night's sugar rush I felt like restraint was definitely warranted. I had some scrambled eggs, baked beans, sauteed mushrooms, some bacon, a tiny hash brown and a chicken sausage. I skipped the toast, waffles, pancakes and pastries. I was surprised I didn't want any of them! Usually I'm a carb fiend! I even had to give half my bacon to DH as I simply couldn't stomach it. The sausage, though small, was also too much and left me with a horrible taste in my mouth and I only ate it out of habit.

So then the holiday was over, and we were back home. I got straight back into the water and had my shake for dinner. The late breakfast kept me full all day so I didn't think I needed 2 shakes today. I haven't taken the Ionix tonic or any vitamins today, but rest assured I'll be straight back on them in the morning. I want to feel good again.

What surprised me were two things. Firstly, I cannot believe how gross I felt after a couple of not-so-terrible meals. The sugar in the icecream was definitely too much, but even the other meals made me feel gross. There's a lot to say for a meal full of veggies, good protein, and good fats. Secondly, I thought about food a lot yesterday - trying to work out what to have for dinner and lunch - and everything I thought I would want I immediately crossed off as I knew it didn't fit my new goals. This is crazy to me - the girl who used to buy a sweet and a savoury and a chocolate and a chip and a biscuit and a cake and a muffin for a binge.

I don't WANT the sugar and the fat and the carbs, because I know that it's not what my body needs to function correctly. I sure hope this desire continues because I have a buttload (literally) of weight to lose, and this is the year it is going to happen.

This is the year.


*The Stamford Plaza was a wonderful hotel, and I'd love to write more about it except they didn't pay me to write nice things, or nasty things, or anything at all, so this little snippet is all they get. We will be going back though!