liljem’s BodyBlog

Okay, so I have been absent for the last couple of weeks. Well, I’ve been busy!! Okay, you got me. I am making excuses.

So let me explain … not that it makes any difference. I’ve had some sudden work developments and it required me to be away from home for a few days. And, for about a week I was shattered (very tired!). It just threw me right out of routine. Consequently, I haven’t done much for the last two weeks … and I haven’t been eating the best.

But I will pick it all back up on Monday (such a monday-starter!). I’m still determined to achieve what I want to achieve and I’m annoyed with myself for letting it slip … but there’s no point beating myself up about it … what good would that do??

So I finally plucked up the courage to post up my before pics. And they are hideous. I can’t believe I let myself go like that. I was so close - as you can see by my profile pic - and I just threw it all away, only to start again. Nutter!

I’m feeling pretty good today. This morning threatened to turn my day bad - I got stuck in a negative thinking pattern. Fortunately I picked up my weights and did a damn good workout and that lifted my spirits substantially! What a fabulous miracle pill weight-training is! Within 5 minutes I felt a lot better - and I was very focused.

I feel like I am making progress, I’m not seeing a huge change on the scales (although, I only weigh myself once a week), but I’m feeling firmer and I really think my upper body is coming along well - I just wish the tummy, back and thigh fat would disolve! I guess I just have to be patient - they say that where fat goes on first, it comes off last. I’ll keep working on it.

I haven’t been training as well as I would have liked. I’ve been getting my weight-training done, but I’ve been skipping cardio work - I’ve been pretty ill with a cold. Damn, I hate winter. I had bad head, neck and body aches for about a fortnight - then I got the sniffles and they lasted for a day and half. Then it disappeared. I thought I had nailed it - I was so pleased and I threw myself back into training with gusto! But the bugger returned - back to head, neck and body aches, then sore throat, sniffles and a nasty, chesty cough. So I eased up again on cardio. Such a pain in the arse.

I’m going to brave a 6am HIIT session in the morning and see how I pull up. No weight-training tomorrow. I’d really like to put in a good workout and see how it affects me for the rest of the day. Got a friend coming for lunch, so excited, havent’ seen her for ages … good incentive to get my cardio out of the way!

I’m sitting here eating my yummy egg-white omelette thinking about how much I have changed in the past four weeks. I really feel like I am getting my eating under control. Yeah, I still slip up … but as a fully-fledged chocaholic, I think I am doing a great job, and you know, I have so much more energy when I don’t consume sugar 24/7.

I have a cold at the moment so I am feeling a bit crap, but I am determined to battle through it … yesterday I was very fatigued and spent a lot of time on the couch. I didn’t do my cardio yesterday, but I ate well and that was something I could do to help stay on track and it reflects one of my favourite quotes:

“Life isn’t about waiting for that storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.”

It’s true … there never is the perfect time to get in shape … it’s all about making it the right time for you. I feel that my determination will overcome any obstacle I face. I’m really starting to feel good about what I am doing … I’m getting fitter, I’m losing weight, I’m continuing to improve my eating, I’m thinking more positive thoughts  … it’s all coming together.

I still battle with the sugar thing on a daily basis, but I am proud of my progression so far. I’ve turned things up a notch and ditched my girly weight-training video and doing it all myself. I’m following the Body-For-Life method and I am lifting heavy, but I am changing it up a bit. I’m experimenting with plyometrics today. I’m a bit scared!! I need to be able to walk tomorrow!! But, frankly, the muffin top (I’m still going on about it) and the back fat have got to go, the thighs need to shrink, the butt needs to lift, and don’t even get me started on the love-handles!

I’ll get there … I know I will!

I am one-sixth of my way through my 12-week journey (which will of course be a life-long journey!) and, well, I’m ashamed to admit that I dropped the bundle in the final few days. I had about two-and-a-half free days. Not good enough. Did enjoy Mother’s Day though … it’s MY day!!

So I just have to regroup and concentrate much harder on eating the right foods. I am trying to make sure I get my workouts done earlier in the day - when my son is sleeping - so that I don’t put them off for a day. I am trying to get up early and go walking or running - it’s a great way to start the day and I find I have more energy.

I have set myself some goals for the next fortnight, including:

6 weights sessions; 12 cardio sessions; 2 litres of water EVERY day (something I struggle with!); Daily meditation (trying to change my mindset - my thinking patterns).

So I shall stay focused … because I want to see my abdominal muscles in all their glory!!!

My first week is almost over and I’m pleased with how I’ve eaten this week. I’ve been really good for me!! And I haven’t had any major cravings, I’ve not thought about chocolate at all. I had my free meal today though … hubby suggested fish and chips for lunch and well, that was the end of it! But I’m back on track for a healthy dinner and I have tomorrow’s menu all planned out.

I surprised how much more energetic I am just with eating healthier. I have a much more even source of energy - I’m not jumping up and down one minute and almost asleep the next. It’s fantastic.

I do need to be a bit stricter with my workouts. I missed one this week … and I was making excuses. There’s just no room for excuses if I am going to hold myself to a higher standard.

So my goals for week two: 1. Get up at 6am every morning for cardio or yoga. 2. Stay focused in my weights workouts and work hard (I do always work hard, but I don’t always stay 100% focused). 3. Continue to improve my eating, ie: drink my coffee with sweetner, not sugar (must get used to taste).

So there, I think that’s realistic for me. I’m really looking to make progression … I’d love to have lost at least 1kg when I weigh myself on May 13.

This is the beginning … it’s the beginning of something great. There will be no end, this is a life-long journey. That’s what I keep telling myself … and I am starting to believe it.

Funny thing, when I started, on Monday, I wasn’t that enthusiastic. Usually, I’m hugely motivated and all "Changing My Life Now!". It’s different this time around, I’m hoping that’s a good thing, because the other times didn’t last long. I’m trying to be a bit more relaxed about the whole thing. I don’t have to be perfect, I just have to make progress.

I’m concentrating on getting the eating down. That’s my biggest downfall. I love crap food and I eat too much. I’m really focussing on eating good food, and trying to focus on what I can have, not what I’m missing out on. And I realise, I haven’t thought about chocolate for about four days! Well, not in any sense of "wanting chocolate". This afternoon I would have liked a caramel slice … but I didn’t think about it again and the urge just went away …. YES! A victory!!

So, I’m going to use the victory as motivation and I’m now going to work the crap out of my legs!! It’s going to be tough walking tomorrow …. thank God we have no stairs!