Birthday Eve

Here I sit, bourbon in hand as I stare down the barrel of 30. Funny as for the last week I have dreaded this day as it heralds the beginning of 'age', yet I find that I am now very reflective and actually quite looking forward to it.

DH is almost 38 and most of 'our' friends are in his age group as opposed to mine. Of course, they tease me and called me Baby when I bought up the fear of 30. Much to their amusement, but not so much mine. After all, 30 will be the oldest I have ever been so of course it freaked me out :)

But now, here I am. On the cusp of true adulthood - all excuses for reckless nights binge-drinking out the window (unless its a nice bottle of Sav Blanc according to Desperate Housewives).

And tonight, I dont care a bit.

I am so grateful that I have laid the foundations in my 20's and very thankful that I have had an opportunity to do so.

I have a wonderful husband who is incredibly supportive, sweet, a wonderful father and my best friend. He makes life easy. He embraces all my idiosyncrasies with a grin and genuine love. He helps me watch my points, yet never makes me feel guilty for breaking them. He supports me in my endeavours and shields me from hurt. His humour and absolute love of life never fails to lift my spirits. He is hard working, a contributor to society with strong views on certain topics and absolute commitment to his country and his family. He shares my views on parenting down to a tee, and I am so grateful to have him in my life.

I could not be the best Me without him in my corner.

My wonderful son, the absolute light of my life. How did I exist before he came along? His giggle, his smile and even his cry make me feel alive. I take so much joy in watching him - watching him eat, put his toys in his toybox, stack things, unstack things, walk, fall over, and walk again. Drink, splash in the bath, 'pat' the cat (generally consisting of tugging on a tail or whisker), read aloud in his baby language, sit, sleep...... well, just everything really.

He is the reason I get up in the morning and nothing brings me more pleasure than knowing I have an entire weekend to do stuff with him. He completes me on so many levels that I could never have anticipated. I adore him. I cant wait until he is an adult with his own experiences and opinions, yet I never want him to grow up.

I can actually feel the world stop when he is cuddling me. I love him so deeply it is terrifying yet invigorating at the same time. He takes my breath away.

My house, my pets (5 cats and a dog), my work - all fulfilling in their own way.

The life I have, the goals I have met, and the challenges yet to tackle - I appreciate them all.

My wonderful friends who have picked me up when I've stumbled, and celebrated with me when I have succeeded.... all with 100% genuine love and friendship. True friends - the kind you spend your life searching for. I thank you, each and every one.

For the memories shared and the good times we have had. For being there with me when I've needed you - thank you all so much.

So I look forward to this new chapter of my life - I choose to accept 'age' with graciousness and gratitude, knowing that the next 10 years will bring me many more life lessons and enriching experiences.

Farewell 20's..... you have been so good to me. It is bittersweet that I see you off, but I truly appreciate all you have bought me.

Much love

Becca

WI Day

Well, I had the dreaded WI in on Saturday and I could have screamed (but as it was 6am, it wouldnt have been very sociable so I resisted).

Would you believe it.... I LOST!!!!! I LOST!!!!! 1.7kg!

OMFG! Take THAT you miserable, stinking plateau *kicks it firmly in the balls*
For 7 filthy weeks you had me in your clutches but I have emerged, victorious, complete with Superwoman outfit and fluttering cape :)

I'm a 60's girl! There is a total party going on in my head at the moment and I just want to dance, dance, dance. I am so relieved - this week I was either going to take a week off from WW or cut out carbs every second day (depending on how much I wanted to cry at WI) but YAY! I dont have to do anything drastic!! I stuck to points and drank all my water and I totally think the water made all the difference.

So, so, so happy!!!

Now I just have to work my bum off to make sure that I stay in the 60's - its been a shocker of a weekend with a housewarming party attended on Saturday, and a Farewell last night that involved Fish and Chips.

But its back into the water today and I'll be going for a run at lunchtime.

Wooohooooooo!

Breaking the mental hurdle (and this bloody plateau!)

Another week, another gain. I was certainly no angel, but I dont think I deserved 700 grams!!

The funny thing was, I was so resigned that I wasnt even too upset. Just a bit frustrated.

My goals for this week (which started on Saturday) was to exercise, drink my water, stay within points and have no alcohol.

On Saturday we went to an unveiling and then off to a kids birthday party in the afternoon. I had some drink (allowed as I had planned for it) and some nibbles and wasnt over too points too badly but on Sunday I really pulled my socks up. Drank my water, stuck to points, and biked to the gym for my weights circuit. No booze.

Monday - 5k run (nearly died!), no booze, drank all my water, was an angel with points.

Tuesday - rest day, all my water, had 2 bourbons and was within points until I had a late evening sandwich which took me to 3 points over

Wednesday - 3k run, weights circuit, 2 bourbons and stuck to points. What is it with me and bourbon! I cant say no :(

Today I am NOT having alcohol, I've already had 750ml of water (and its only 9.30) and I WILL stick to points. I also plan to go to the gym but I dont know whether to do weights or run. I'm thinking weights - running is pretty hard at the moment mentally and I wont feel guilty if I dont do it seeing as I've clocked up 8k this week already.

If I dont get a decent loss this week, I'll seriously be at my wits end. Overall I'm on track for points this week and will have some in the bank even come Saturday.

Can someone please give me some feedback and tell me where I am going wrong? I'm so desperate that even those nasty Shake diets are looking pretty inviting right now......

As an aside (and to end the post on a positive note - I get sick of my whining), I went shopping for a dress (!!!) yesterday and EVERYTHING I tried on was a size 12. And they all fit!!

Here is one of the dresses I bought - excuse the classy socks :)

On top of the world!!

I completed my 5k fun run! I did it!!! I am SO proud of myself!!

I had 2 goals for the run:

* To complete it without walking

* To do the whole 5k in under 40 minutes

I ran the WHOLE freaking way and you couldn't wipe the smile off my face for the rest of the day. Plus I ran it in 35 minutes! So stoked. I think I have the bug now.... I'm already looking at the next one I can do and I'm about to start a 10k training program.

To anyone that has ever considered doing it, do it! Set your own goals and try to achieve them. Money cant buy this feeling :)

I had WI on Saturday morning and lost 300 grams so I'm back to 70.1. Darn the elusive 60's! My challenge this week is to NOT drink ANY alcohol all week (except for a couple on Wednesday maybe when we go to a friends birthday dinner). I also need to reign in my points. I was starving on Saturday after the run so points went out the window. I ate healthily enough and figured I should eat when I was hungry rather than torture myself with starvation - but after tracking I wonder if that was wise. Saturday was a 44 point day if I added everything up right!

Last weeks exercise was

Sunday: 3k road run

Monday: Cant remember! Possibly went out on the bike?

Tuesday: Run 4.2k (treadmill)

Wednesday: Bike to work (3k), gym circuit at lunchtime, bike home

Thursday: Bike to work, Run 4.2k (treadmill), Bike home

Friday: Bike to work, Weights at gym, Bike Home

Saturday: 5k run

Not too shabby!

This week I plan to

Today: Bike to work, Weights at gym, Bike Home

Tuesday: Run 3k (treadmill)

Wednesday: Bike to work, Weights at gym, Bike Home

Thursday: Bike to work, Run 4k, Bike Home

Friday: Bike to work, Weights at gym, Bike Home

I had my gym assessment last week. The trainer was a different one to the one I had when I first joined (and to be honest, she's much better!). She took my measurements and body fat percentage - not much change but thats OK, and then gave me some tips about how to tone up. I've been doing the circuit which is 40 seconds of cardio, 40 seconds of weights x 8 times. She said I'm getting enough cardio with the running so flag the cardio stations and just do each of the 8 weight stations 3 times, and to do this 3 times a week.

I had my first crack at that on Friday and WOW! I didnt break a sweat (nice change!) but I was trembly for a good half hour afterwards. I cant wait to see results after a couple of months!

And to complete my ramblings (sorry - I've gone on a bit), the weight thing has been really bugging me the last 5 weeks. I just dont seem to be getting anywhere. So I took my measurements and am pleased to report that over those 5 weeks I have lost 2cm off my bust, 1cm off my hips, and 1 cm off my arms. Yay

Have a great week everyone!

Official time :)

My friend Wendy (her 1st 10k run) and me (hot and sweaty after 5k! lol)

Sweet relief!

Whew! I stayed the same this week! Awesome, awesome. Now I can really throw myself into the coming week with complete gusto. 500 grams until I get into the elusive 60's and I *really* want to make that happen over the next couple of weeks!

I had grand plans to go to the gym today, but after my nana nap, I checked their website and they closed at 3pm! I thought it was 5pm that they shut up shop on a Saturday and considering it was 3.07 when I discovered this, I was pretty gutted. So I threw Luke into the pram and took puppy with me for a walk. I still feel sorry for myself (as the gym is closed tomorrow), but the walk helped.

Tomorrow I'll be on the treadmill.

I had a great day yesterday with exercise - 7k bike ride, 40 minute walk and a 3k run. I bought the odometer for the bike today and went for a quick cycle to check it was all working. Yay!

I hope to squeeze a good ride in tomorrow, but as we are having SIL over for dinner and going to another friends in the afternoon, I'll have to see how I go for time. Running MUST come first at the moment.... 7 more sleeps until the fun run!

What a busy few weeks!

The race day was awesome, but not so that weeks WI. Despite gyming, running and sticking to points like you wouldn't believe, I still gained 700 grams. I was devastated and as a result, went off track over the next couple of days (copious amounts of booze at race day didn't help either!)

However, I picked myself up and dusted myself off and WI'd early on Thursday which was the date for my 70kg mini goal. It was still a loss, but I didn't reach my target - I was 70.4kg. This is where a handy dose of perspective comes in but I didn't really find that until this week. So I didn't reach my goal... yes, its disappointing, but 400 grams off is bloody great really, especially as I set that target months ago.

It was Luke's 1st birthday last week and we had family come over from Brisbane for the occasion. I decided to have a few days off tracking, so indulged in alcohol (my sister and her partner stayed with us for 3 nights) and party food (a friends sons 1st birthday on Saturday and Luke's party on the Sunday). I ate cake after spending HOURS working on it, and refused to beat myself up.

I climbed back on the wagon on Monday and have been a good girl since. I went for a run on Tuesday and down to the gym yesterday. DH picks up the bike I bought tonight and we have a long weekend for Easter so I plan to get lots of exercise in. TTOM hit this week so all things considered, I'm not really looking forward to WI on Saturday, but what will be will be. I'll use this week as a 'take stock' WI and not expect to have a loss. Next week will see me back to my former WW glory, kicking ass :)

Oh, a new achievement! I ran a whole 5k WITHOUT STOPPING last week! It took 40 minutes and it was on a treadmill, but still, I did it! I've registered for the 5k fun run next weekend and am really looking forward to it. Now that I've broken the 5k mental block, I feel way more confident.

A couple of pics to share

Here I am with my friend Wendy after my first ever 2k fun run a couple of weeks ago. Wendy won her 5k class!

Luke's birthday cake - it was soooo yummy!

My gorgeous family. A year ago I avoided the camera, but now I look forward to being in photos with my darling boy. If nothing else, this whole journey is worth simply that.

Have a great week everyone and enjoy Easter!