Gutbuster busts a move

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Gutbuster

New member
This is a beginning to an end. I realised today that I've been attempting weight loss for the whole 5 years of my university career (with big successes in between). I only have one year left at uni and I want to focus on LIFE, not losing weight...therefore I'm giving myself one final year to grow up and take control.

I will reach my goal weight of 60kg this year (even this semester) and will be enjoying life along the way.

Last year I maintained my goal weight of 65kg for the whole year...until exam time, a trip overseas, christmas, and new years...followed by exhaustion and self-loathing. Weeks spent sitting at home eating and reading led to me now being 72kg. I remember previously reaching a plateau at 70 and trying SO HARD to get into the 60's and being so proud of myself..and now I've let myself get back there.

POSITIVE: I've realised in time, before it got too out of control and I ended back up at 90kg.

How will I do it? The same as I did after my daughter was born: hard work, dedication, organisation and a positive attitude.

AIMS :
To exercise every day
To record food and calories every day
To include my friends and family in healthy living (Sunday activities - bushwalking, cycling, park etc)
To Study efficiently
To recognise my achievements

The top two were the key to my previous weight loss of 25kg.

After all that, I better get on my bike and head to dancing class!
 
Day 1 - 31 Jan

I'm off to a good start...as most weight loss journeys start! Been to a very very energetic dance class, in the searing heat and cycled home, uphill...in the searing heat.

It's strange how habits are so ingrained into everyday living. I've slipped back into my uni routine without any hiccups. I thought that 3 whole months being a sloth would make it hard to get into the (wake up, get out, study study study, exercise, look after baby, clean, exercise, study, bed) routine difficult. I'm glad to be back to my active self so easily.

It shows that if you keep working, working, working to improve your habits (even after you go off track) they'll eventually become natural to you.

Ok..so to the nitty gritty:

Food:
45g cereal
1/2c light milk
1 coffee with 1 sugar

3 small apricots
2 rye cruskits with can of tuna
30g cheese

my parents bought take away over for dinner, but my dad thoughtfully bought some thai chicken noodle as a low(er) calorie option for me.

Exercise:
- 1 hr dancing
- 20min cycling
- 30min walk

So net calorie intake for the day is 963, a deficit of 1000.
 
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:waving:Hi and welcome to your journal on the WLF! I hope you find lots of encouragement, inspiration, and good advice here.

Best wishes on your journey! You seem very determined, and I have no doubt that you will reach your goal.:hurray:

Cheers
ABBA
 
Thanks ABBA girl for your welcome! I used this forum before when I lost a lot of weight, and it's good to be back...it's such a great tool to keep you motivated and truthful!
 
Day 2 - 1st Feb

Good fun for today, a family bushwalk followed by a play in the park, a game of hockey with my friends and husband. Great example for my child!

Here I will tell you one of my favourite soup recipes. It's easy and quick too (as are all my recipes):

Carrot and Coriander soup
- 1 onion
- 5-6 med-large carrots
- 1 - 2 large potatoes
- 1/2 tbsn oil
- ground coriander seed
- vegie stock cube

1. Fry onion in oil, and when soft add stock cube, coriander and a kettle full of water. (also can add some chilli powder here, gives a nice kick).
2. bring water to the boil and add carrots and potatoes.
3. boil until soft
4. whiz with a wizzer thingy and serve with natural yoghurt.

* Add in bacon, bread, chicken, baby spinach leaves, peas...whatever you like, once it's in your bowl. Enjoy!

Food:
- 45g cereal
- 1/2 c light milk
- 3 small apricots

- 2 X coffee with 1 sugar each

- carrot and coriander soup with 1 slice toast

- BBQ - 1 sausage, 1 slice bread, lettuce salad, pasta salad, 1 sip of red fizzy

Exercise:
- 1hr bushwalk (carrying daughter)
- hockey game
- dance practice 30min

Argh, made an apricot cake with my daughter, cut out some of the sugar and butter, but ate a big slice.
 
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Day 3 - Feb 2nd

First proper day back at uni tomorrow with only 12 weeks until exams. Hopefully I'll be at goal by then (with a HUGE effort). Already the study is piling up, I'm not prepared for tomorrow, but I'll hit the books when (and if) my daughter decides to go to sleep. I'm not going to stress about it this year, but just work when I can and enjoy my time left being a student.

I'm going to try getting up early and skipping for a short time before my daughter gets up. I'm terrible at early morning exercise because I find that I'm really weak at that time of day. I hope to start for short periods of time and hopefully I'll get used to it. The morning is the best time available for me to exercise, and I'd like to take advantage of that in the future.

Food:
- 2 eggs, 2 slices tomato toast
- 2 coffees with 1 sugar each

- chilli tomato tuna, cheese and 2 rye cruskits
- 1 cup tea
- 2 biscuits

- carrot and coriander soup with 1 tablespoon cream and baby spinach.

- 1 strawberry, 2 dates

Oh dear, probably not enough, but I haven't done the shopping and won't get any done for a while (unless I go for a hilly 40 minute walk pushing a pram....hey, there's an idea....!).

Exercise:
- weights at gym Only did chin ups and tricep dips, 1 set 10 each, 2 sets of 5 each
- run 15min intervals level 12, 15min manual level 11 (only managed 8min of manual at level 11
- 10min skip Raining outside...instead I did some intense dancing with my daughter once she got out of bed...jumping, bouncing on the fitball, throwing her 12kg up in the air...etc
- 30min walk to and from uni
- 40min walk to shops and back pushing pram and carrying shopping

Deficit = 1000
 
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Day 4 - 3rd feb PLAN

Today was sooooooo boring. I only got to see one patient to take some bloods from him, and the rest of the day was spent sitting in the staff room reading. Tomorrow I will show a bit more initiative and ask to see patients/follow nurses around....etc. The activities of the day mean that I didn't get much incidental exercise in, so it was lucky I walked to the wrong campus in the morning and had to walk back up the hill. I would have gone to salsa dancing but I've hurt my hip and you need flexible hips for shimmying in high heels! I will have to do a dvd tonight...perhaps tae bo flex? or envy girls abs and butt? Maybe both?!

Food:

- Omelette 2 eggs, milk, mushroom, spinach, herbs, 1 tspn olive oil

- 3/4 apple
- tomato and onion tuna with 8 captain's table pepper crackers.
- 3X coffees with 1 sugar each

- red kidney beans in spicy tomato sauce wrapped in a burrito with baby spinach and natural yoghurt.

Exercise:
- walk to uni, realised I'd gone to the wrong campus and turned around and walked to another one. = 30min
- 10min skipping in the morning
- tae bo dvd
- EG dvd 30min


Deficit: 1110
 
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Day 5 - 4 February

Getting some work done, getting interested in my work, much happier today! My hip is very very painful and I made the mistake of walking my daughter home from childcare. The usual 30-40min walk became a 1.5hr trip home (including a stop at the pharmacy and supermarket though). No excuses this time though, so I'll still exercise, but just be creative about it so my hip can rest.

Exercise:
- Tae bo - managed to do this in the morning!
- EG DVD - butt and abs
- walk pushing pram and shopping

Food:
- strawberry and banana smoothie
- coffee X 2
- leftover beans and buritto bread X 2
- skinny cappucino
- bite of biscuit
- 3/4 can Baked beans on toast X2 with butter, with peas and cheese.

Calorie deficit = 490
 
Day 6 - 5th feb

Got up extra early today! I fell asleep at about 8pm, while putting my daughter to sleep, so I'm up at 4.30am today after a bad dream. Good chance to catch up on study, exercise and diet diaries!

Exercise:
- High intensity cardio - BL DVD
- skipping 20min
- 30min walk
- dancing ~15min

Food:
- fruit salad (rockmelon, strawberry, banana)
- 1 glass immune juice
- coffee X 3
- 1 potato, 1 egg, spinach, capcicum, cherry tomatoes with dressing of apple vinegar, olive oil and coriander.
- + butterscotch choc biscuit, but I resisted the scones. Was feeling tired this afternoon and needed a sugar hit to get through clinic!
- wholemeal home-made mini pizzas with vegies and cheese. Didn't happen...I ate vegemite sandwhiches and dates when I got home, so I couldn't justify a later dinner. Ended up serving chicken curry to my husband and daughter and I skipped dinner.

Deficit = 1000
 
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Day 7 - 6th Feb

Last night I went to salsa class and danced for ages, but paid the price today by being very very tired. Usually I eat and eat and eat when I'm tired because I HAVE to stay awake and get work done, there's no afternoon nap. I controlled that today, and resisted chocolates, juice, breads, dried fruit, etc etc. There's always junk food available at my work, which is ironic considering we're treating the diseases caused by it!

I did end up having some cake, which was on offer at a meeting, but only had a small slice...but drank 4 cups of strong coffee today, which is a bit excessive but needed!

Food:
- Banana, glass juice, grapes
- tuna and pepper crackers
- 4 dates
- 1/2 slice teacake
- olive bread
- 4 coffees with sugar

Exercise:
- walk to and from uni
- bike ride to and from gym
- 30min run, 10 min stairclimber (level 10), chin ups and tricep dips: 10 X3, weights, 13 min rowing machine.

Calorie deficit: 1389!
 
Day 8 - 7th feb

Terrible day, I went really well until I had to go to my mum's house. Mum's house is a big weakness to me. There's nothing to do there, it's stressful and there's always biscuits, potatoes, cheese and nuts there. So ended up with my calories going over by 300, so lucky that I did such a great job yesterday. It's amazing how many calories one little biscuit has, or one palmful of nuts.

I'll do a good job tomorrow!
 
Day 9 - 8th February

Sunday is here, which is family day in my house. Will go on a 1-2hr bushwalk carrying a toddler, followed by some house cleaning, cooking, arts and crafts, and then dinner at a park.

Food:
- rice crackers
- grapes
- coffee with 1 sugar

- salad
- tuna
- 2 corn thins

- vegetable lasagne

Exercise:
- walk carrying daughter 60min
- EG dvds = 60min calisthenics/weights

= 1070 deficit
 
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Day 10 - 9th Feb

I got the day off today. Spent the whole day with my daughter who tested me greatly. Need to sleep more! Felt very tired in the afternoon and so did hubby so we all stressed each other out. Instead of turning to food like I usually would, I got on my bike and went to the gym for a run. Came home feeling happier and more awake.

Food:
- fruit toast and butter
- 2 coffees
- tuna and sakatas
- vegie lasagne
- pasta and meatballs
- tonic water with apple vinegar

Exercise:
- walking
- weights
- cycling
- gym

Deficit: 662
 
Day 11 - 10th February

The reason I haven't been eating ultra-healthy food is because we have no money this week. What we've been eating is the scrapings from the pantry and freezer. Luckily I bought milk and fruit bread from the cheapo shop with my last $7. Today I cooked scones because I had just enough flour and butter. They're for my family's lunch tomorrow, topped with homemade jam from my mother-in-law. Breakfast will be fruit bread, canned fruit and dinner will be risotto with carrots, peas, onion.

One good thing about having no money means no petrol, so we've all been walking a lot! Hopefully we get paid tomorrow or else I'll have to get creative on Thursday...perhaps potato pizza base with tomato paste, peas, herbs and no cheese? Steak with caramelised onions, with roasted potato and carrot? More rice?

Food:
- canned two fruits sprinkled with toasted muesli
- tuna and sakatas
- fruit bread and butter
- 2 scones with jam
- 2 coffees, plus one with a tim tam offered at uni.

Exercise:
- Biggest loser High intensity cardio (20min)
- 40 min walking
- 40 min body combat dvd

Deficit: 515

Why are cheap foods so calorie loaded? Those scones set me back 500 calories. That's a whole session at the gym!
 
Thanks for the encouragement trusylver. I find the exercise the easy part, I get sort of addicted to it quickly.

Today was my first 'failure'. I broke even with calorie intake and output today, but I managed to exercise, so it could have been worse. It was my snack-all-afternoon-until-dinner-time habit that got me today. Small things can have lots of calories in them!

To prevent this from happening, I ask WHY did I do this?
1. Wasn't hungry at breakfast, had some canned fruit.
2. Starving by brunch, but was stuck on the wards (no autonomy when you're only a student).
3. Tuna sandwich for lunch was awesome, but then went to the gym and worked really hard without snack for after.
4. Stress because I am doing TOO MUCH!
5. TIRED. Maybe because of lack of sleep (got up at 6am to exercise) or maybe working myself too hard (I don't actually get a break all day, or night. I get to take Friday nights off family but I usually fill this up with study and chores. I get the whole of Sunday, but that's filled with INTENSE attention on my family so that we actually see each other).

So...solutions?
1. Eat proper meals, especially early in the day.
2. Get enough sleep so I can deal with challenges instead of stressing about them.
3. TRY AGAIN TOMORROW!

Good news is that we got paid today! Bad news is hubby did the shopping...Will try to get to the shops tomorrow so I can whip up some delicious healthy meals - toast, scones, and tuna is getting boring!

Exercise:
- Run, stairclimber, rower and chin ups at the gym = 560 calories
- 60 min calisthenics and weights for the 6am workout = 230
 
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Day 14 - 13th February

So much for getting back on track, it's taken an extra day. Yesterday I wasn't hungry so didn't eat much, just some corn thins, coffee, fruit and then I went to my friend's BBQ and had 1.5 sausages, 1 piece bread and some potato salad.

Today I woke up late, skipped breakfast, but managed not to binge for the rest of the day. I think having a substantial lunch helped. Today was a good day though, and I learnt lots at school. My husband is trying to make me feel guilty but I'm not letting him upset me any more.

The weekend is here! Time to have some fun! Dancing, bushwalking, catching up with friends, cooking....but also cleaning the house and studying (which I will do super fast so that I can get on with the fun stuff).

Food:
- 2 big sushi rolls - 1 tuna, 1 avocado
- 2 servings nutella, 1 roll
- 1/4 savoury muffin (capsicum, onion, tomato, spinach)
- 2 coffees
- 1 tonic water with apple cider
- 1 slice turkey breast
- 2 dates

Not feeling very hungry today, just itching for some exercise because I didn't do any yesterday.

Exercise:
- 650 calories burnt at gym (awesome workout, having a rest yesterday made me really strong today).
- 25 min cycling (to and from uni and gym)
- 15 min walk

Deficit = 1585
 
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Day 15 - 14 February

Happy Valentines Day! I'm spending all day with my beloved textbooks, but having a break in the afternoon to see my friend. Perhaps I should do something with my husband too!

Food:
- Omelette (2 eggs, milk, 1/2 slice bacon, spring onion, rocket, basil)
- tonic water and apple vinegar
- 2 slices bread, with hommus, spinach, leg ham, tomato
- coffees
- beef stir fry
- sakatas and hommus dip

Exercise:
- 50min bike ride
- EG dvd = 60 min calisthenics
- 15 min skipping
 
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