The things I learnt this morning..

So after reading my morning array of weight loss articles and news there are quite a few things I didn't know. Here are just a couple.

To lose one pound or half a kilo, you have to burn 3500 calories AND cut your intake by 150 calories.
(My question is - how do you measure that? I mean sure you can be on the treadmill and the bike and see how many calories you burn on that, but what about when you do strength training or skipping or crunches and squats and all those wonderful things? Or do personal trainers work all that out for you?? )

Secondly, stress really does affect weight loss. And if you reduce your stress you maintain or lose weight, but if you continue to be stressed you'll continue to gain weight. Scary isn't it?

Supposedly coffee or caffeine is good for workouts. They just haven't worked out how much caffeine is needed, but apparently it helps you to go harder and longer, and actually want to go back and do it again!

You can exercise all you want, but really, if you don't eat right, there's no guarantee you'll lose any weight.
(While I already kind of understood this, its still interesting to read that people exercise, only to put whatever they want into their mouths and expect results.)

Well thats my learning from this morning summed up. Tomorrow I weigh myself again.. I'll keep you posted on how I'm doing!

Fitness First. Weight Loss Second.

Went to the gym last night. And believe me I was in the zone. It was great! I did 45 min on the bike, on level 9 and worked off 680 calories! Woot!

It felt Aaaamazing! And afterwards I wasnt event tired or sore or even panting hard.

3 weeks ago and I wouldn't have been able to have done that. 3 weeks ago and I would have barely made it through 10 min on the bike.

Its great to see results in my fitness, even if the scales aren't exactly reflecting that right about now.. but it got me thinking..

Should I really be worrying about my weight loss so much, when I am clearly in a better place than I was a month ago? I mean I'm eating healthier, exercising more often and harder, my skin looks amazing and I have so much more energy... shouldn't I be happy with that? Besides everyone knows weight loss doesnt exactly follow a logical order, and the scales don't reflect the amount of muscle that I might have either.. so maybe I need to chill and be happy with what I have.

Then, reading this article this morning, and thought I would share. Essentially it says that its maintaining and improving your fitness levels that prevents cardiovascular problems (heart attacks etc) not decreasing your BMI.

"It means that we can tell people to continue to exercise even if they're not seeing changes overtly physically," Narula continued. "It can be disheartening for people exercising and dieting to not see results. Being able to say its effects are going on at a level that you may not visibly see may translate into long-term outcomes; that's a powerful message."
"So, to live longer you need to exercise more even if you're not shedding pounds."

So really, if I was to become incredibly fit, and still weighed what I did today, I would still reduce my risk of heart disease.. good news!

(Secretly if I was incredibly fit I would hope my body didn't weigh the same as it does today- I mean, I want to look good too!)

But it does mean looking at going to the gym differently, I'm there to get fit, not just to lose weight, to be fitter and healthier. I want to be one of those people that can run marathons at the end of my weight loss, not someone that hate's the thought of exercising and gains weight all over again.


Ariticle : http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=659502

What motivates you? Do you need more reasons to go to the gym other than weight loss? (personally the good looking guys does help A LOT) Or is weight loss enough to motivate you?

Milestone:1

I have reached my first my first milestone! I can't believe it. After all that rant about having to be stricter and thinking I was about to tip back over the edge I did it! Woop Woop!

Milestone:1 Under 100kgs. Yup thats right UNDER 100 KILOS. For some, that might not mean much, as they started under, or they have lost like a million kilos, and I have only lost 6. Still. 6 kgs. AND under 100. I have been over 100 for pretty much the last 4 years. I lost 20kgs when I went over seas when I was 17/18 and that was the first time I could ever remember being really under 100. After that I just gained weight again; stress, uni, work, social life. It all adds up. Plus having friends who have no concerns about what they eat, how much they drink and how little they excercise doesnt help. AT ALL.

And I, like an idiot, wanted to be like them. When really I should have been think about my health and then I wouldnt have to be doing this all over again. Sigh. Oh well. I'm on track now. 6 kgs!!! Now only 29 to go :D ONLY.

Now in the very beginning I said I would treat myself to a day spa package or something, but I'm thinking a massage would be just as nice. Particularly as I am so very sore! Working out and using muscles you forget you had has its downside.

But right now, I am on top of the world! See thats me...well maybe in a year when I have lost my weight and if I had a sex change. But you get the idea. =D

Miss Piggy

So in my last blog I mentioned my money box where if I had a sweet treat it would cost me. The reasoning behind this was to associate more money with eating sweet treats ie eating sweets costs you and try and cut down. Saving money and my waistline!

So I have added a picture of my little money pig- Miss Piggy and all I can say is just how quickly what started out as a very cute gift from a friend turned into a very hard task mistress. Every time I look at those eyes and even think about eating that piece of chocolate, I feel guilty.

I feel guilty that Miss Piggy knows what I am about to do, and what I am about to do is bad for me.

Who would have thought such a little pig could hold so much power?

Pain!

I am in so much pain right now! In an effort to try and fight my creeping kilos I did some extra exercises at home. Maybe I shouldn't have.

The excercise were three reps of two different versions of squats while lifting weights. And omg! I didn't feel it at the time, but I swear 10 minutes later and I was in pain. Now sitting and bending take on a new meaning as I feel every single muscle.

All I can see is- it better be worth it!

Will weigh myself tomorrow to check....

Falling off the track

I had a moment on the weekend.  After eating out, enjoying frozen yoghurt, chocolate and alcohol on Saturday night, I jumped on the scale Sunday and bam I was up 2 kilos. Just like that!

Needless to say I was devo. I had been doing so well that I had lost my motivation and just wanting to enjoy myself meant giving in to all temptations around me. That day I ate well and gave myself a serious talk and some serious self loathing came into it.

It is always like this. I slip, I lose motivation, I get too comfortable and bam! I gain weight and hate myself again.

The thing is, it's not my body that I hate. I actually get along quite well with my body. We have gotten used to each other. (In fact I am even a bit scared of what losing weight will do to my body because it will mean more change and unfamiliar territory because I have never been skinny.)

The part I don't like is peoples judgement and looks I get when I go out with my super hot and skinny friends, or try to find clothes that actually cover up my thighs rather than sitting underneath my bum just waiting to flash everyone.

I don't like it when I think everyone must think I eat junk food, sit on the couch and watch telly all day. When thats not true at all.

But worse than that, is that I know I can be much more than I am. I can do better, I can be better. But I just have to find the will power and strength to do it.

So for the next two weeks I am going to go hard- harder than I have been doing. To make up for the weekend and hopefully reach my next goal of 2 kgs. If I can do that I can enjoy my friends birthday and have one or two drinks. (and actually feel good dressing up)

To help me stick to it  I have brought in my little piggy bank in, and every time I slip  ( that piece of chocolate for example) I have to put a gold coin in. Depending on how much I have in there the money will go towards getting some equipment at home, for example a skipping rope.

I am also getting up and half an hour early to do some lunges and squats and make my food for the day.

Hopefully at the end of the two weeks I will feel better about myself, feel motivated and on track and maybe even have reached my goal of being under 100 kgs.