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Day 1 of the training program went really well! It’s essentially my own plan to get me to 9kms by the 19th September, when I’m going to do the 9km race. It’s based off what I learnt on the C25K and have read through other gradual programs.

But it isn’t the C25K, even though I fully believe that it can work for you. You might remember that I used to do the C25K, got up to week 5 - 6, then stopped because I went travelling for a month and a half. But I do think the C25K can work for a lot of people, but it doesn’t work for me. I have some problems with the program, for several reasons: 1) I am one of those people who just doesn’t own a watch, which makes timing the intervals really hard. 2) Even if I did own a watch, I am really unco and can’t run and check the watch at the same time. 3) Last time, I tried to use my iPod and the song times as my guide, and I ended up spraining my ankle….and couldn’t run for a good two months.

So, the C25K just didn’t work for me. But the running program I made up is based around the idea of progressively increasing what you can do. I can already run a km. Today I did 1.25km, which was hard (mostly because of a cough). I always have to focus on my breathing. I usually end up doing what I call a ‘double breath’ which seems to help. I breathe in, then force myself to breathe in further. It feels kind of like I’m stretching my lungs, for want of a better term. And that’s the only thing that seems to help. When I first started running, it was a novelty for me to have tired legs before I had tired lungs. Which meant that the first time my legs got tired, I just stopped. Now I’m beginning to learn how to manage my body, which is nice.

Tomorrow I’ll be out again, though normally I’ll be trying for every 2 days. The plan for tomorrow is powerpole runs, which can be harder on the knees but are great to use to build up distance, etc. If I run every second powerpole, I’ll do a total of 2km, which is kind of cool. Today, I made it exactly 1.25km (the furthest I’ve gotten) and not a step further. I walked the rest of the way. But I just love this sense of accomplishment, it’s amazing!

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I am in the zone. Yep, right there. I’m making the right choices and, more than that, it’s easy to make the right choices. I sat down last Saturday, after recovering from the hellish ’submissions week’ in order to do a meal plan. It’s no mean feat — I have to work out meals so that there’s no leftovers, I come in under points, I get all my fruit and vegies, etc. etc. etc. Then as I go I order online so that I make sure I have everything (and x chocolate doesn’t slip into my basket).

And today is the 3rd day in a row that I’ve stuck to my meal plan! There’s been a few replacements (sausages instead of steak, as it wasn’t thawed), and some last-minute substitutes (low-fat youghurt instead of my daily chocolate), but overall it’s basically exactly what I planned. And each day I actually look foward to what I’m going to eat. I make sure lunch is always something that I actually like, since that’s when I’m most likely to get off track.

I’m focusing on food at the moment because I think it’s incredibly important that I get it under my belt. It’s the first in a long line of baby-steps. I’d like to go for a run tomorrow but if I don’t, then I’m okay with that as long as my food remains as it should. I can always add in exercise once it becomes more natural.

But yes, I am zoning. I can’t believe how easy it is.

I think this has been sparked off by the fact that I am officially a dress size smaller Australian standard. In January I went shopping for new jeans and I bought 2 pairs in a size 18, and one pair that was just a bit too small but on sale and comfy so I thought “…Why not?”. I brought them all with me, the idea being that if I managed to lose enough weight, I could just swap over. Well I did and I have. My non-stretch 18 jeans have been falling down for weeks, but I’ve been using a belt to keep them up. I tried on the size 16 jeans about a month ago but they still weren’t quite right. And then while I was cleaning up my room, I tried them on and hey presto! perfect fit.

After all the difficulty last year, I just can’t believe how much easier it is. And it comes down to having the power to make your own decisions — something I completely lacked last year.

The other amazing thing about this is that the average woman is now a size 14 -16. I am now average. When I walk into a room, I may not necessarily be the largest person there! I may just fit into a crowd!

I’m so excited. Since I’ve been here I’ve lost the use of 1 (almost 2) pairs of jeans and a skirt. Next stop, size 14, and then onward and downward (as they say!).

Posted at 11:20 pm | No Comments »

So a couple of days ago, I posted about Baby Steps, and about how it is important to focus on doing the little things.

And then I realised yesterday that I should focus on Baby Achievements, too, because they’re just as important. And I had some pretty big ones yesterday. Firstly, I tried on size 18 jeans — and they were too big. I’m not sure if they were so big I should have tried on the 16 (I didn’t bother), but they were too big to buy new and look nice in.

And secondly, I had a photo taken yesterday for my Student Railcard. And for the first time that I can remember — I didn’t hate the photo that was taken. Maybe it’s because the instant photobooth printer did something wierd (my eyes in the photo are brown, when I’m really blue-eyed), but I don’t hate it. It’s not the most amazing photo ever, but I can look at it now and think, “Actually, my lips are a really nice colour. And I have cheekbones starting to emerge from underneath the fat. And my skin looks so healthy…” It was a new experience, to feel that way.

And finally, I went to WW in Edinburgh. I didn’t intend to sign up — and I don’t think I’ll go again, but I needed to get my current weight (I left Australia a month ago on the 8th), and I needed to get the materials to find out how much changes in the food here. I weighed in at 89.4, but I consider that a maintenance. At home, first thing in the morning, wearing a summer dress, I’m 88. Here, at night, wearing jeans, two dresses and a (did I take it off?) jumper, I’m 89.4. Now, I just want to accelerate the process. (But I’ll post about the goal-setting tomorrow, because I have to get ready for Uni now.)

Posted at 10:10 am | No Comments »

C25K! Week 3, Day 1 today. I was so very reluctant to go into it because I was convinced in my mind that I couldn’t do it. 3 minutes? My mind would say. You’ve never stuck to strenuous exercise for 3 minutes in your life! You get winded at 1 minute!

My alarm went of at 4:55 this morning and I lay there for 10 minutes, partly trying to go back to sleep, and partly trying to think of what the best excuse to use on my Mum would be today. I didn’t get much sleep, I thought. And I’m not going to be able to have a nap today. Really, it’s better for me to go back to sleep. That’s totally reasonable. And then my Mum bursts in. “Come on!” She says. She’s got her ‘no excuses’ voice on. It’s the one thing that will never stop fitting her. It’ll never be too big or too small. She wears it far too well. “It’s time to go! Hurry up!” I groan and roll over. Benefit of a small room: I don’t have to get out of bed to go to my clothes dresser.

The thing I always find amazing is that it takes me 7 minutes to get ready for the gym at college. I know this because I have my sleeping timed down to a T, to maximise the happy-place. But at home, regardless of how organised I am the night before, it will always take me 15 minutes to get ready. At least. Always.

So the end result is: We ran. And for the first time in my life, I ran for 3 minutes straight. I was supposed to do it twice, but that dreaded stitch happened halfway through the second time. I can outrun a stitch for 30 seconds or so, but not for a minute and a half. It just hurts. But each time I go, it takes longer for me to get it, so by the end of this week I should be able to do it.

And, I think my sentiments to my Mum at the end of the run stand true: “Mum,” I say, “I just ran for 3 minutes. I am obviously the most awesome person on earth. I mean, who else can run for three. whole. minutes?!”

She just grins at me. “Yes dear,” she says, “You’re the most awesome person on earth.”

Gosh, I love mothers.

C25K
Day 1, Week 3
Distance: 3km
Time: 23min
Average: 7:40/km

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My alarm clock breaks into it’s soulful rendition of You Could Be Happy and I roll out of bed with a groan. I search blearily for my clothes and it’s only when the sports bra sits securely on my chest that I begin to feel like doing what I planned.

Mum’s already waiting for me and we head off. I react to viciously early wake up calls and punish the world by being obnoxiously perky at obscene hours. It’s just who I am. “Good morning sunshine!”

She grunts.

We start the interval training and by the third running session I’m there. I smile, let myself get into it, rather than pace alongside Mum, let my legs get into it. It’s amazing. I love that my body can do this, that I can feel so basic and so wonderfully complex. I can feel my legs stretching and my lungs working and in that instant, I feel like I could do it forever.

Five seconds later, I get a stitch and have to stop running for the next few intervals. But that feeling just beforehand — that was awesome.

C25K
Day 3, Week 1
Distance: 3km
Time: 29min
Average: 9:40/km

Posted at 8:23 am | No Comments »

I’m not one of those people who have difficulty when I’m home alone. I don’t really snack so much as stare — if you were a fly on the wall you’d no doubt see me get up and, trance-like, open the pantry and just stare. The novelty of having a pantry and fridge and food just available whenever I want it is like a siren’s call. But I’m never really fussed enough to actually eat it. I just like looking.

Plate Food (capital letters required) is another story. When I was a kid I was a picky eater. I ate carrots and beans, potatoes and peas, sausages and bacon and ham and white bread. That was about it for a dinner meal. Mum must’ve hated me. But we always went around to a family friend’s place for dinner and I remember not being allowed to leave the table without finishing. I was a slow eater even when I enjoyed my food, but when it was something I liked — I could finish 30 minutes after everyone else had left the table. But I wasn’t allowed to leave. So Plate Food is a big deal for me.

Today, I didn’t finish all of my Plate Food. I left about two bites. Which seems ridiculous, but is a big deal for me. I was ‘listening’ to myself. Hurrah! Onward and downwards.

Posted at 12:59 pm | No Comments »

. I went shopping the other day, and bought my first ever size 14 dress. Granted, it’s an elastic top, very summery and loose cut — but at the same time, it was a size 14 from a real-person shop! That’s inspired me, in part, to try to be more aware of what I’m eating.

Exam time, as most students can attest, is generally quite difficult on any sort of eating program. My old method used to be something like this: eat sugar in order to get a ‘high’, and drink caffeine to maintain it (or coke, which had added sugar for a bonus high). This exam block has been hard — some krispy kreme donuts and a much-regretted trip to KFC — but after some quick-footing I’m back on an even keel for the week. And I’m concentrating on getting all my water this week, on eating salads and vegetables and just changing what I’m doing. It’s hard, but it feels good. And I like that I can sit back at the end of the night and go, “Actually, all I snacked on today was water?”

Of course, on the off chance I need snacks, I have some: 1pt Dove dark chocolate (which just hits the spot!) and 1.5pt ‘Lite’ Buttered Popcorn. I’ve also got yoghurt, which I’ve stopped eating, and some other sweeties. But I just don’t feel the need for them at the moment.

And one of my friends just turned me on to Barocca, which I’ve never taken before yesterday. I had some just after lunch, and while it wasn’t like I was pinging off the walls, it did stop that (previously inevitable) 3pm slump.

I guess we’ll see the results next time I weigh-in, which I don’t think will be Saturday (exam at 9am. Ouch.)

Posted at 9:51 am | No Comments »

Things I have learnt about myself: 1) contrary to previous belief, I am not ‘naturally talented’ in the kitchen, and can stuff up even the most simple of recipes, and 2) people are starting to notice the weight loss.

Number 1 refers to my attempt to create a low-fat caramel slice. I worked it out in the online tracker and it’s only 2 points a slice, which isn’t too shabby, really. So I set about getting the ingredients and trying to make it. Now, either the recipe lied or the low fat condensed milk (blasphemy, don’t you think?) changes the cooking times, because I’m not sure it’ll work out too well. I’m not certain yet, because I’m still waiting for it to cool to room temperature and then I’ll add chocolate and we’ll see the damage.

Number 2 refers to an e-mail from a friend: Hey bella.  Normally I am completely oblivious to weight changes - always have been.  I only notice my own from how my clothes fit.  But I must say, you are looking particularly smokin’ hot in the photos recently added on Facebook. ;)  Was looking at some Ball and Conception Day photos, and you look healthy and gorgeous.  I think I might have to follow your good example and get to some gym classes!

Posted at 12:54 am | No Comments »

Am wonderful today. Finally got the motivation I need in the form of some information regarding points and group exercise: 10 points for a class like BodyJam or Boxercise. 10 points. Here I was the entire time, thinking that these classes would be a nice sort of break if I got tired but they wouldn’t really be on the same level as solitary workouts…but that’s basically double what I can do on my own in an hour. And it’s more fun!

So I hit up the Body Jam class and loved it. Loved the instructor, loved the work out, loved everything. I left feeling exhausted but not in a bad way. And then I came back to my room and got back on my ‘100 Push Up Challenge’ horse. The poor thing got neglected for a while, but luckily, I was able to complete Week 3, Day 1. Hurrah!

Now all I have to do is finish my damnable University work before I leave for home on Thursday morning, bright and very early.

100 Push Up Challenge
Level: Week Three, Day One.
Push Ups Day 2: 50!

Posted at 4:59 am | No Comments »

So following a thread in the forums, I’m going to write a list of everything single thing I can come up with:

Things I Love About Myself

• My sense of fair play
• My ability to have a joke
• My hair. (Because it’s nice and fine and always soft.)
• My eye colour. (Blue)
• My skin (because it’s nice to me and is very rarely splotchy.)
• The fact that even at my largest, I had a waist.
• The way I try to see the best in people.
• My loyalty.
• My breasts (*Ahem.* A little revealing, but true.)
• Three dark freckles on my collarbone that remind me of Orion’s belt.
• My passion
• My dedication.
• My skill with make up.

…That’s all I can think of for now. But it’s enough to feel good.

Today I didn’t get up for breakfast, and I’ve realised how much harder it is to get each of my goals (Vegetables, Calcium, etc). And it made me realise how much my focus has changed. Yes, I still really, really care about losing weight (obviously), but more than that, I’ve broken my day down into little itty bits: have I had enough calcium? Vegetables? Water? Am I under my points? And so I can take it day by day and honestly believe at the end that I’ll lose weight. Ka-ching.

Posted at 2:56 am | No Comments »