Sarah's got her groove back!

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ASarah,

Yes what a long week, still only Thursday here though, at least for a few more hours! Sorry about your husband :-( supporting a partner can be really difficult. Hopefully he will see quickly that a crash diet it not the best way to go about things. Hopefully he will be positively influenced by your example. It's so good that you are able to keep yourself on track despite whatever else is going on around you.

Now go enjoy a fabulous and relaxing weekend. You definitely deserve one!

PS I still find your workout ethic to be so motivating lol. It is a huge positive influence on me :)

~Ava
 
Hi Sarah, Hopefully your LH will follow your good example, as Ava suggested. You are being such a good example for everyone, including him, & that's really the best you can do. You are inspiring Sarah and are benefiting all of us. Much love, xo Cate.
 
Hey Avatea and Cate,and everyone else!


Well, the crash diet didn't last too long with my husband...so I think we're back to normal now!


I've been on a plateau for what seems like forever, losing weight ever so slowly and today, I stepped on the scale and I've actually gained some weight...up to 82kg from just a week ago at 81kg!...it's not my official weigh-in, and maybe it's just water retention..but I don't think so. I certainly have over eaten this week, so I can't seem too surprised, but this is the 1st time in 13 months that I've actually gained weight :cuss:..and since I've been counting calories (April this year), I have eaten more in the evening and I'm also pretty sure I have been underestimating the calories and lulled into the thought that I should be eating more to stay above the BMR etc...so I've decided that starting today 7 July 2012, I go back to my old routine that has worked so well for me up until now...and after this little upswing, I'm motivated to get the weight off. Of course it didn't help that I slept late today and didn't exercise first thing so with the weight gain and feeling guilty about lack of exercise...I'm double motivated to get these last 35 pounds off! . I'm going to hit it this afternoon after I do some errands...


Gotta also admit that right now, I feel good with my look in my clothes (still not too comfortable with the naked me yet!)...part of me says this is enough, you're about where you were 20 years ago, that's good enough...then of course the other part of me says', you set at goal for 143 and if you stop now, you're copping out and you won't be successful until you reach your goal. I think I'm having hormonal swings!!!:leaving:


Bottom line is I've committed to get to 143 and that's where I'm going! So, I'm counting on all of you to help me out...and learn from my mistakes and successes...just as I learn from yours!!


Let's get this off together!


Sarah
 
AHeya Sarah :)

I just love your motivation. It blows me away every time i read your diary. Ya know what......I know you will reach your target (whether you need to or not, seeing as you are learning to accept how you look now) because you are one bloody determined woman and i totally admire that. You rock.
I really wish i had your determination, i really do. I have been faffing (english word for being bloody rubbish and not getting nowhere lol) for months now and you have been steady plodding on and losing every month :) You are truly inspirational :)

You had better not leave the forum when you reach target (jess has already freaked me out by saying that she is happy where she has reached and i am worried that she will not post anymore) i wont allow it. You have to maintain for the rest of your life so you had better keep posting to keep on top of things (i'll say anything to keep you around lol)

Love and hugs Xxx
 
AWow...the first time you've gained in over a year!? Don't be too upset with yourself as that is quite an amazing streak!!! Sometimes I think minor setbacks can even be beneficial in re-motivating us. So just keep going, you are doing amazing.

Glad your hubby is over the crash diet :) that is very good to hear.

Anyways, let's both commit to having a great, successful week. A mini challenge for ourselves! :) we can both get closer to our goals, I just know it!
 
Hi Sarah, That last week won't have done you any harm in the long run & has been a wake-up call. "If it ain't broke don't fix it" is a good Irish saying and what you have been doing all along has been working. Plateaus happen to everyone & it has been wonderful to see you losing steadily for the last 13 months. You will continue to do so I'm sure because, as Kate says, you are a very determined woman. You will know when you are slim enough & happy to stop. Give yourself the potential to say that you love how you look. I don't know any perfect people & I try not to look at my wobbly bits but I am happy with my body these days, even though I could & may be still 5kg less than I am now. You will do it Sarah, I'm positive about that. Lots of love, xo Cate
 
Cate and Avatea ! Thanks for your awesome comments...so welcome on a Monday Morning! Cate, so glad to see you back dear!! I'll catch up on both your diaries tonight, as I'm in a bit of a rush right now (on my way to work!)


Yes, Cate, I think it was a bit of a wakeup call...and good motivation to go back to what has been working...it has been a good 3 month get to know my body better and knowing more about the food I eat has been a good education..now to combine that knowledge with just plain ole good food choices and steady exercise to get this last 35 pounds off is the key!


Avatea, thanks for the mini challenge...I'm game! I want to make it a great week too! On the 20th, I have to go to the US on a business trip, then I'll be in S. Korea on vacation for 1 week, so I have to make sure the time before I go on those trips are max calorie burn! Thanks for a great reminder and motivator!!


Sunday morning early, I went for a run in a park here in Shenyang. I got an email from a friends advertising a 5k run that will be held there on 1 September, so my husband and I are both deciding we are going to run it! I don't know how far I ran as nothing was marked off and I just went for a number of songs on the ipod! I'm pretty sure it was close to 5 k though given the amout of time and sweat! I felt great afterwards and came back for a nice shower and then late breakfast. The park is about a 30 minute drive, so I can realistically only do it on the weekends, so during the week, my friend the elliptical and treadmill will have to suffice.

Getting back on the no food after 6:00pm program as of Saturday 7 July, and even though I was hungry last evening, I just sucked it up and saved it until this morning after I exercised again on the ellpitical 45 min...that time of the month for me so feeling just "great" right now...but this too shall pass!



Good choices to all this week!


Sarah
 
Hey Sarah -


Ahh! That is so wonderful about the 5K! Good for you! I am so jealous that you are going to be in S. Korea. A few of my very best friends live there. Have so much fun :) I love seeing the dedication you have to sticking to your plan. I've said it before and I will say it again...that is so inspiring for me! Anyways, I hope that you have a very fabulous week ahead. I know that we will both make wonderful choices this week and that we will be rewarded for them!


~Ava
 
AHey Ava, one of the perks about being an expat is the ability to see an entirely different part of the world...I love Seoul, S. Korea, and this time we'll stay there for a coup,e of days, then going down to Bussan in the south of the country...never been there and hope to take the train and just explore some!
But, that's still a few weeks away, so I need to focus on today and make my good choices today!

I am continuing the pushup challenge by the way...changed it up a little in that I'm only doing 2 sets, but my repetitions are up to 25 now...hard for me to believe...I can actually do 25 pushups in a row...boy, full pushups...count 'em 25...then turn around after 5 minutes and do 25 more...struggling..but doing it! My goal is to get to 50 in one fell swoop by my birthday(end of September) . This should guarantee that I can max the fitness test for pushups! I think I can up my game in setups and now that I've signed up for a 5k, I will increase my run time...feeling like the fitter and thinner person I want to be!

Today at work, I had a meeting with my career manager, visiting from France. It was the first time he has seen me since this journey has started, and the finest words out of his mouth was "quelle transformation". Meaning what a transformation. I have known him for several years, and he just couldn't believe it. Of course I wore a newly tailored silk blouse that fit me perfectly and a slimming pair of slacks!! He was very complimentary (which is always nice) and I'm sure it will help me in my career too...I told him I knew I had to work on myself as hard as I worked on my job...and it was time...I have a huge amount of work ahead of me in this job, and I know it will take every ounce of energy I've got to pull it all together...so I'm sure this physical change in me also showed him that when I decide to do something, it's going to happen! If I am anything, I am determined!

Good choices to all!

Sarah
 
AHeya Sarah :)

I'm loving that you are running too now :hurray: :hurray: 5km, get you girl :) I am off to the gym in a minute and am going to try and do 10km :eek: I woke up thinking i can't do that far but then i thought 'how cool will it be to be able to tell my buddies that i actually did ti' see........you guys are my motivation :) I have to just go and bloody do it now lol

25 FULL press ups X2.... :eek2: i could probably manage...........ummmmm say 3 lol Uber impressed my lovely :hurray:

I too am totally jealous of the amount of the world you get to see. It really must be mind blowing sometimes :)

Ok, off to the gym to attempt my 10km......Wish me luck :eek:
 
AHey y'all! Well, today started out so good...went to the fitness center, did my walking at 10 incline, and then, yes, I ran about 4km on the treadmill at 2 incline, then cooled off while walking quickly at multiple inclines. Then had a great, big breakfast...then well, let's just say the day went down hill...a teleconf at work went overtime and I missed lunch,, then another long stressful meeting...and at 4:30, I just decided I really needed to come home and get something to eat and de-stress...now, I could have totally blown it, but thankfully I didn't...I had a couple of nectarines, a banana, a can of tuna, then a mango and lichi nut ans banana salad. Strange combination of healthy comfort food! Now to blam out and relax and try to get re upp'd for tomorrow!

Kate, you are so awesome running 10k!! So doubly impresses with good food choices and running!! You are my hero!!

Good choices to all!

Sarah:hurray::hat:
 
Good morning all! I wrote a post last night...then I obviously didn't submit it 'cause it's not here...wasn't anything earthshaking there anyway so no big loss! Yesterday was a break day for exercise which I needed after my run over the weekend and again on Wednesday. I had a good food choices day and felt slimmer during the day...my slacks felt looser and over all so I'm thinking my measurements are going to be good this weekend.

I ordered a "fitbit" the other day...anyone ever tried one of those? It's a gadget you wear which records movements, sleep (if you wear it to bed) and not sure what all else..and it talks wirelessly to a website and uploads this stuff where you can also track weight etc (I also broke over and bought the scale which records body fat and weight, which also talks to this website!). I'll pick it up when I go to the US next weekend and haul it back in my suitcase! May be too much information...but thought it would be interesting!

Otherwise, it's Friday the 13th...I wish everyone good choices today!!


Sarah
 
Hi Sarah!


Sorry I have been MIA...crazy week for me. But I have definitely been thinking about ya and hoping that you are having a great week. That fitbit thing sounds so cool and interesting. I kind of want to check it out now! Please let us know how it works out for you/what kind of experience you have with it.


Anyways, by the looks of things, you have been doing really great!!! Keep up the great work and I promise to check back more regularly now. I actually have felt sad that I haven't gotten to keep up with you these past few days!


Have a great weekend !! :)


~Ava
 
Checking back in and reading through...


yes definitely re sometimes, special days, just flinging oneself into the joy of living, which includes a wonderful gourmet (from the sound of it -- I love dumplings!) nosh-up with friends.


I smiled at "gets on a wild hair", which is a phrase I haven't heard before! Good for your husband, in deciding he wants to get fitter, and here's hoping that the neck-or-nothing style simmers down to the steady good choices style soon! Ahhh... (reading on to the next page) you've said he's settled down a bit...


Oh... up to the bit about weight gain, and calories. :) I know it will only be a temporary blip. Solidarity, Sarah! and I absolutely agree with AvaTea and Cate, re your determination. As for calories.. I was recently very dashed to learn that a carrot (on average) has only 35 calories, while a mango (on average) has 130. Oh, gloom! How bitterly unfair, because nice and all as carrots are... well, I do love glorious fresh, succulent ... errr...never mind. Back to reading ... :biggrin:


oh! I'm up to "quelle transformation!" and "newly tailored silk blouse that fit me perfectly and a slimming pair of slacks!!" Brilliant!!!!!:hurray:


and wow! for the gadgets, which are really interesting -- thanks for telling us about them! (and in passing, homage to you and katehunibun as well for the running -- you are both really impressive!)


oh, yes, echoing AvaTea -- have a great weekend! :seeya:
 
Thanks for dropping by again Ava...I'll let you know about the fitbit when I get it all set up! Hope your week is ending up better than it started!


Today is Saturday, 14 July (happy Bastille Day to my French friends!) I have very fond memories of picnics in France on this day and eating way too much french bread!! I can still taste it as I type this...but I digress! The good news is that there is really no good substitute for real French bread...so it does not tempt me here! Even the lovely pastries on the breakfast buffet don't tempt me because I've had them...and they are not good! It's mid month and I took my measurements and I'm pleased with the results...so even if the stubborn needle on the scale won't move I know I'm making progress! Here's my chart of progress.



According to the US Army measurements method, my % bodyfat is 38% ...the minimum acceptable for a woman of my age is 36% and my goal is to be at 25%...still got a long way to go, but such a long way from where I started that I'm pretty happy about it today! I don't know if it's accurate, or even consistent because it depends on my measurements and some times I may not measure at exactly the same place etc...I guess I'll check it when the %bodyfat scale gets here...although I've read that you have to be careful about those too since they depend on the water in your body. Too much science for me!


Here's the chart I've been keeping since March of this year...who knows that this thing would have shown this time last year!





Good choices to all!


Sarah
 
ALooks like more slow steady healthy losses, well done :)

I find that bodyfat scales always read a bit high for me personally (I get caliper measurements done) but they are good for tracking trends if you use them under the same conditions each time.
 
AHey Sarah :)

:hurray: :hurray: :hurray: Well done you on the measurements and the other stuff (i have to admit i didn't understand it but that's me and i'm speshal :) ) You, my dear are totally rocking it.

It is so weird that we have bread issues, unfortunatly i managed to get my hands on some amazing bread (sigh) that wont be bloody happening again!!!

Well done again.

Love and hugs :grouphug:
 
Hey all! Just got back from a 45 min run...yes, 45 min!! This time last year I couldn't do 45 min of anything...what a difference a year makes! So totally inspired by Kate in this forum to get out and "just do it"! Thanks Kate! I'm still not sure how far I ran today, I'm guessing by my slowpoke pace, it's somewhere around 6 k..not sure, but felt good to move my bones, outside and relatively protected from the traffic.

I can run outside 1/week with my schedule and probably only 1-2 other times on the treadmill, but it is feeling good, gotta admit to get out of the fitness center!

Had a big breakfast after I got back and cleaned up..2 fried eggs, bok choy, fried rice, 3 slices bacon, 1/2 orange, 1 cut watermellon and some muslie with walnuts on top...yep, a big breakfast and feeling so content right now! It will probably be a "lite" day going forward, but it feels so good to be full! Going to the eye glasses place today to order some prescription safety glasses...that should be fun here in China!


Kate, it's always fun to see your posts...you make me laugh and get pumped up at the same time! One of these days, we'll both have a bread-fest on the same day, then wallow in self-pit...and feel soo bad...but know that it tasted sooo good! Just run a few extra miles and it will be all better dear!! As always thanks for your encouraging words..you really do motivate me and inspire me to go the next steps!


Noparsnips, my diary goes all over the place...as you see! Every once in a while there is a gem that I feel helps me and can possibly help someone else...but finding them among all the rants, blah blah blah is the challenge! I'm enjoying your diary and it's so good to see your progress! Glad you are feeling better now!


Trusylver, thanks for your encouragement...coming from the queen of resistance training that means alot to me! One of these days, I'm going to have to explore that area... I know it's the key to the next frontier for me...just not ready right now!


Good choices to all!


Sarah
 
AOMG!!!!!! I have just sat here open mouthed gawping at what you just said about me!!! I am on my iPad so can't figure out how to get the jaw dropping smiley up (speshal :) )

totally inspired by Kate in this forum Wow, really! Thank you so much.

I woke up feeling flat at useless again this morning, even though I managed a good food and exercise day yesterday. (no idea what's going on with me right now........head case lol) BUT.......you, my dear, dear friend made me smile and feel a little bit better about myself. You are truly a wonderful person.

[COLOR=FF00AA]loves ya :grouphug: [/COLOR] I tried that in colour, not sure what it will come out at.

Oooooooh by the way (there's me talking self self self again) :hurray: :hurray: :hurray: OMG well done you!!!!!!!!!!! 45 min run!!!!!! So so proud of you sweetie :hurray: :hurray: :hurray: it proper feels good doesn't it?!?

Love and squishy hugs Xxxxxxxx
 
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