CONSISTENCY IS THE KEY

WEEK 4 progress

I really pushed myself running on the treadmill today, even though the bottoms of my feet hurt, I was really determined to continue running until I reached that 13 minute mark as I ran 12 minutes the Saturday before. Each week I push myself an extra minute on whatever I do during my record, and if that falls in the same week, well I push myself to run that and more. Wow, who would have thought? Me, running for 13 minutes. Maybe other people thought it, but I never did. Walking was bad enough. I ran up the driveway today and wasn't even puffed. I am sure if I walked up my hill, however, I would be puffing. Have you seen my hill?

I have been really surprised by my attitude with this program. I have lessened off the forums and writing on my blog about the program but I have  not lessened off the consistency of my exercise & healthy eating, if anything I have fine tuned it. I splurge everyday on yoghurt, the organic Aldi yoghurt, it is not low fat and it is so delicious but filling and that is something I just love to have everyday.

 I have looked at why I hurt so much all the time and have changed how I do things. So instead of feeling muscle fatigue daily and wondering if it would ever ease, I changed the way I did things.

Monday: Rather than do an all over body workout toning class such as PUMP (which is a fantastic class by the way) on Monday mornings, I do the RUNNING PROGRAM & TONING LEG WORKOUT.

Tuesday: I do BODY BALANCE  and then do ZUMBA that night. Love both of these classes.

Wednesday: I have an 1 hour and 15 mins to do a TONING ARM WORKOUT with a run, although today I did a bit of both as tomorrow I won't be at the gym all day due to a conference in Sydney to kick start my flower business (stay tuned for more info about that!)

Thursday: ZUMBA (usually only once as I think that was one of the many reasons why I was so sore all the time as ZUMBA is a great workout... I have probably mentioned that already as I love the fact that I can learn dance moves and burn calories at the same time... I have so much FUN.)

Friday: depends on whether I feel up to it or not, but I either have a day off or go to the gym and do whatever I feel I lacked during the week.

Saturday: Is meant to be an SSS  (super Saturday session) and I try really hard, I do, but I don't push it to the 1000 cal mark either. I usually do FAT BURNER or if I want something more consistent I will do the MB workout to the best of my ability. I do push myself pretty hard, but not to the faint level.

So my only double day is Tuesday now. It means that my body does not hurt so much everyday and I give it the rest it deserves. I also do not miss out on little luxuries along the way such as a glass or 2 of wine, or a chocolate or a biscuit. I don't deprive myself at all. I just love that God has given me this opportunity to prove to myself of what I can achieve if I truly believe in his goodness.

And even though my life feels like a train wreck sometimes, I am so thankful for my ability to JFDI regardless of whether I feel like it or not.

Washing my hands to purify my heart

Okay, confession time once again. I have put on weight this week due to alcohol and eating not as good as what I would normally. Boy, does it have the effect on my whole thinking! In past years, before MB, I would say that I was a "OH well, too bad, I have stuffed up this week!!! Might as well start afresh on Monday again", and use that as an excuse to slip off the rails. Well, I am not going to give in to that self pleasure. Yesterday morning as I was reflecting and praying, I found this verse in James 4:7-8:

"Submit yourselves then, to God. Resist the devil & he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands you sinners and purify your hearts, you double minded."

I have a James commentary by Tyndale. It says: "The devil's man purpose is the separate God and man. This separation of the Christian must resist. The devil will flee from you. Satan does not have the power." To draw near to God we have:
The external power = washing hands, and the
internal behaviour = purify your hearts.

1 John 3:22 says: "...and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him."

With this I say that I will not be tempted by what I desire when really the desire is short lived (just like Satan) and I will not overall receive what I really want, which is to lose weight and beat this addiction of food. If I truly wash my hands of this addiction, I need to purify my heart with God and pray instead of turning to food when I feel distracted to what I am meant to be doing or feel bored with what I am currently doing. I am not an emotional eater, so much as that I eat to avoid completing something I have to finish. I may use it as a way to have a break, although sometimes I break so much I eat more than what I am meant to and don't ever finish what I started out to do. I noticed this at uni when assignments were really hard and took so much time to complete. It almost becomes procrastination. I will not be a procrastinator.

Okay, so time to get out the determination I had the first round of Michelle Bridges. I was gung-ho completely for the program. What has changed? I am happy with my current weight, size 16 but I know I desire to be at a 14. I don't want to 'wish' I was a 14. I want to be a 14. So, to achieve this I have prayed to my heavenly Father asking for his help because I cannot do this alone. I will not let myself down on this. 

week 1 - round 1 2013 (Michelle Bridges 12wbt)

 Have you heard about the Michelle Bridges body transformation plan? If you haven't, it is amazing! The most amazing program I have ever been involved in. I have done all sorts of other stuff before. Weight Watchers, where I did learn many healthy eating choices but did not lose a great deal of weight (the most being 8kg); channel 10's recent weight loss campaign where I just spent way too much time in the kitchen preparing food; diet pills; shakes, that made me so constipated it hurt (yes, I know: too much info...); and other diet programs too numerous to mention (or remember).

Let's face it, the market out there is for healthy eating and so clever marketing people come up with a diet usually too good to be true; HOWEVER, THIS TIME I FOUND ONE THAT ISN'T... WELL IT IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, YET IT LIVES UP TO ITS REPUTATION. How can a diet live up to its reputation? Well for one thing, it is not a diet. BINGO. It is a healthy eating plan. For life. Let me tell you of some earlier struggles of mine.

Just over a year ago I was attending a gym at West Gosford (Planet Fitness) which I was very happy with. I was eating well, or what I thought was well and attending gym about 3 or 4 days per week. I was doing an early morning program called: The biggest winner. It was from 6-7am in the morning. It was really hard getting up especially since the program was in winter. It is hard getting out of bed that early at anytime for me, so this was a big commitment to achieve this. It went for 6 weeks, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I really thought that I would see results but I didn't. I was a little fitter but not at a pace I could run. I hated running. For our fitness test we were required to run for 1km but I could never make it and just decided that I would bike it instead of running as the running made the front of my legs hurt. Now, I don't know why this time was different for me but I can run now. And my legs don't hurt. I think it is because I do various aerobic classes now where at Planet I didn't. I do zumba 3 times per week, which I just adore. This has really changed me I think. I definitely was very discouraged when I was working at the gym last year (or the year before now...) That is why this program is so good.

I work out always Monday (pump class); Tuesday (body balance at 10:30am and zumba at 6:30pm); Wednesdays I sometimes have off, although today I wanted to get an extra tone class in so I did the MB program (learning to run program) which was toning legs and abs; Thursday I do double zumba at 9:30am and 6:30pm) although I have the option of doing yoga at 10:30am instead of zumba - I will see how I feel tomorrow); Fridays I do a mixture of cardio & tone - although ultimately I will probably do some learning to run stuff; and Saturdays it just depends, I sometimes do a fat blaster class but it is at 9:30am and I do not work at my best at that time I have found. It is funny, I can do pump class at 9:30am on Mondays but on Saturdays I usually sleep in a bit as I stay up late on Friday night. I always do some exercise regardless. And Sunday is my chill day, which of course I love too.

I will write up another post soon interviewing myself and so that will have less essay style questions and more straight to the point answers. XX

Hints on what has helped with my round 1 (MB round 4, 2012)

This was a part letter I wrote to someone on Facebook as part of a response about any hints I had for my weight loss. This is partly what I wrote:

I can honestly say that I did not do it alone. Over the years I have been addicted to many different things: alcohol, pot, ciggies, & food is no different. Since I rekindled my relationship with Jesus, 2.5 years ago, my life has radically changed for the better. I have recognised the hold that drinking has had on me over the years & I make sure that I am very strict with my consumption of it now. Also, I would never do pot again as the hold it has on me is ridiculous and is highly addictive to me so I stay clear of it & anyone that does it. Much the same way we remove ourselves from negative people in our life.

 Food and exercise is no different. I have always struggled with these things for as long as I can remember. Each year my weight kept going up, I accepted it and just purchased larger sizes. I was never particularly happy about it, but I did not know what to do either. I was really stuck. I have learnt (and am still learning) when I put my trust in God, things gradually change. They don't become easier, just different. He ultimately has power over all things. A great example of this is that he can speak and things happen. In a sense things do become easier as the thought processes behind is left to God (a part of handing it over to him and accepting that he will deal with it.)

We were created in God's image. With that being said if I were created in God's image then he must think I am pretty special. If he thinks I am pretty special, why don't I think the same? Why am I so negative about how fat I am? In the same instance, why have I allowed myself to give in to my cravings (especially sugar cravings; I love chocolate and sweet dishes with a passion) and follow a negative road? Am I just letting the enemy laugh at God? Do I really want that? I do not want to give Satan any thought of having any part of me as part of him. Does that make sense so far? I live my life for Christ, as much as my sinful heart can do and I really wanted to take this next step with my addiction over negative behaviours with food and exercise and go, "YOU know what? Stuff you Satan! You have no power over me. Jesus has all the power when he defeated death. Because I have chosen Jesus, I no longer choose your way of doing things." I think the hard bit for me was to accept this fact and move on, and so the next step is to pray intentionally. I asked that he remove the negativity that I had over my body and help me to love it again the way that he intended. I asked him for help to do this and that I had to have his help as I could not do it on my own. Now, I think you would agree, that we are both strong women and that is hard to admit that we are weak. (We are weak really when we compare ourselves to God and his perfection – we could never measure up to that.) I had to once again admit that this area had become unmanageable for me and that I needed God’s help. 

One day, I was coming home from somewhere and I just had this urge to find a gym in my area. I used to go to Anytime Fitness (where I go now) years ago and after a hard time getting out of the contract and having poor child care (my son was quite a handful in childcare and they couldn’t handle it, so I rarely got to work out at the gym), I was determined never to go back. Well, it worked out that the gym had changed a lot over the years and the gym classes were great (the owner was still the same). After comparing prices with other gyms and looking at extra fees for classes, I decided to rejoin as it was the closest gym and would have been manageable for me to attend as well as being open 24/7 my excuses were already shortened as I could go anytime. I was also encouraged as they had a good deal on at the time and I avoided any further fees. So from that day on, my son and I attended. About one week later, a friend was talking about the Michelle Bridges program and I decided to check it out. It looked good and I asked for help from God to help pay for it as my budget is terribly tight. That week my grandfather gave all his grand kids some money so I was able to do the program (it costs $200 upfront or $20 per week for 12 weeks.) I decided to turn around my thought process and make it about my health rather than about weight loss and the extra expense it would cost me with gym fees and the MB program. Prior to exercising every day I used to sit at the computer a lot. I used to get a lot of pain in my lower back and neck as well as my feet. I was checked at one time a couple of years ago and it was determined I had insulin resistance. She gave me some pills which I refused to take as I knew that it could be controlled by diet but really ignored that I had a problem for the next year until I started getting funny chest pains every now and again. My feet started to ache more and my belly just grew and grew. I remembered looking down at myself one day while sitting on the loo naked before my shower and just being quite disgusted with the way I had become. I just felt like God was trying to tell me something. I ‘felt’ that if I did not do something soon that I would die. Not kidding. I suspected a heart attack as I did so much sitting and even though I hardly ever ate fatty foods, I just did not feel that well. I puffed going up to the letterbox which was about 10 steps up the driveway and I generally just puffed doing short stints of exercise. 

To date I have lost 12kg and nearly 30cm off my body measurements. I have dropped from a size 18-20 (my 18’s were becoming incredibly tight) and now I am a 16-18 (with my 18’s being uncomfortable loose, although some 18s are quite comfy). I have noticed the most weight loss is in my boobs (it always seems to be the first place) and my tummy shape. My face also has lost some of its plumpness. My legs are quite toned now (they always tone up well; I love my legs – God gave me good legs). I can honestly say that it has been a joint venture of God, healthy eating 7 days, and exercising 5-6 days per week. Some days I do double days. For instance my week looks like this at the moment:

Monday – Tone - Pump class 9:30am gym
Tuesday – stretch – body balance class 10:30am; and then cardio at night with zumba 6:30pm
Wed – usually have a day off, depending. I try to go and do tone if I can but I don’t do it if I am really sore, which I usually am on Wednesdays.
Thurs – double cardio – zumba – 9:30am and 6:30pm (or I have the choice of yoga instead at 10:30, but I love zumba so much as it burns about 500cals & is enormously fun & makes me feel happy.)
Fri – gym machines for tone or a mixture of cardio/running and toning.
Sat – meant to be a gym day, but if I do some housework at home I go for it hard and then I kill 2 birds with one stone. I sometimes will go after church Saturday night, if I have nothing else on (about 8:30pm.) I did a really good clean of the balcony today scrubbed the tiles & and danced in between doing zumba moves and I worked up quite a sweat doing this. I sometimes even go for a walk on the beach if lovely weather, after church as I love doing this too.
Sun – rest day (mostly unless I feel like I have extra energy and I have the time to fit it in or if I have had 2 days off already that week.)

So it is meant to be: tone, cardio, tone, cardio, stretch, mission workout on Saturday. But I just work it around to suit the gym classes and my busy life. I can honestly say that the program is THE BEST program that I have come across and you can eat everything and nothing is restricted. God gave us abundant food to enjoy not to cull out of our diet because we think it is bad for us (some things are modified of course!)

Another suggestion is the get My fitness pal app on your iphone. Not sure if it costs anything (can’t remember) but it is well worth it as you can scan things and see how many calories it contains. Sometimes when I want to buy a bottle of wine I will take my phone and scan bottles of wine to see what has the lowest cals, although I have found I just stay clear of alcohol if I want the greatest loss. You can also look up things on it. I also purchased a polar fitness heart rate monitor (but I am missing part of it now, suspected lost in transit somewhere :(...   ) I really liked this as you can see how many calories you are burning. It also encourages you to not eat ‘that sweet’ as it has 100 cals when you know that 100 cals may equal 20 minutes on the cross trainer going full on (which is very hard work). Finally there is a great Facebook group called CC 12WBT (Central Coast 12 weeks body transformation) which has been incredibly supportive and wonderful and I have made quite a few friends and have seen some pretty amazing weight loss examples. I believe there is a group at Norah Head which meet for fitness too, if that is kind of in your area. The program can be done at home, outdoors or at the gym doing classes or gym machines. I love it. Hopefully this essay has helped you somewhat.

Last week of round 4, 2012 12WBT (my round 1)

Well, here goes. Most likely the last blog for this round (round 4, 2012 - My round 1) of the Michelle Bridges program. BEST PROGRAM EVER!!! Anyway, it has been life changing for me. I have lost nearly 12 kilos so far, well actually closer to 11 but 12 is the maximum goal I originally set myself at the start of the round. And I reckon by the time weigh in comes around on Wednesday, it will be 12... I am planning on doing a super dooper Saturday session (SSS) tomorrow and I might even go for a jog on Sunday!

Last week I put on 400g due to falling off the horse and being dragged along the ground for a few days. I really hit a wall. I was really tired after Jye (eldest son) worked till 12:30am every night and then I went to bed late after that. Killed me. Obviously not literally or my ghost would be typing, and actually ghosts do not exist, in my opinion so the keyboard is actually doing the writing. Now that is is spooky...

I will stop waffling, temporarily, to say that I had to reveal my weakness to you because otherwise I sound surreal, like I have just achieved this whole 12kg thing easily. For instance, one example is menu planning. It has not been easy for me to take time out every week to arrange the menu plans. There are things to consider such as:

• kid's fussyness: they hate eggplant, celery, asparagus, mushrooms, capsicum and other stuff that is really delectable, to me anyway; 
• every second weekend the boys go to their dads so I don't need as much food and I need to make meals that I can freeze/make ahead of time as my weekends are very full;
•  what days they both work as they generally eat at work;
•  easiness of meals - I double up a lot so I am in the kitchen less;
•  budget - some meals are more expensive than others so I modify between the vegetarian & normal;
• left overs - using everything in my fridge so that I don't waste food or money.
• planning around certain days that the program classifies as RED FLAG DAYS. RFD are days that have you know are possible problem days; such as: lunches out with friends, meetings, church bbq's & events, dinner parties, birthday parties, out for dinner, and you know those type of events where even though you may plan, you still are never quite prepared. Invites out are a big one where you least expect it. If I have something in the fridge, that is the best bet. If I am not sure after church where I will be going after, I will take my prepared lunch with me (I always ensure I have planned ahead meals for Sunday lunch as I am famished after church.)
  
  
  • In saying all of that menu planning is absolutely essential to get organised as it will be the making or the breaking, along with the exercise that will offer the greatest weight loss.
    
    
    So my wall hitting was in my head as well. It was really odd actually as it came completely out of the blue. It reminded me of times gone by when I have done really well with something and then I get kind of like Yeah, I don't think I will do that today... and the excuses start creeping back in. Excuses such as: I am too tired. I found that on the second day of not exercising that  that excuse was exactly what I needed to get to the gym to feel less tired. Last Saturday night I went to the gym after church and I really didn't feel like it but I went anyway. Well I did a great 500 cal workout on the cardio machines and I even shocked myself with doing 15 minutes on the step machine... I used to only be able to do about 2 minutes on that thing, it is hard work! I knew that I was going to bed too late and that was a huge reason for my lethargic spirit. I know I will feel like that tomorrow as well as Jye is working late again and I am up writing on this blog. Anyway I confessed on the Facebook page for the Central Coast 12WBT crew who I feel have been on this journey with me the last 11 weeks. Awesome crew!!! I was not going to let the 400g weight gain de-motivate me. If anything it has just encouraged me further to work extra hard this week. Okay, enough for now. I will write another blog at the end and post pictures up of my end of journey part 1. Thanks for reading, if you made it this far.

Hi

It has been quite some time so I do apologise for not responding earlier. I have been going really well on the 12WBT program so much in fact that I have elevated my expectations and have lost 11kg so far. I find it such an inspiring program and I am determined to make a difference this time around by pushing myself further toward exceeding my goals, which is really encouraging for me as I have always given up with weight loss before. This time it has been very different.

I must say that I have not been reliant on God as much with this journey as when I first started; however, I believe he has given me my new mind shift. It has been this mind shift which has been the most significant for me as I have taken on a whole new approach to how things are done. I just do exercise no matter what. JFDI (use a different 'f' word here) on every account, even on that really hot day last Friday I swam in my pool and did a pool workout which was quite good I must say. I have been doing double workouts most days at the gym and I push myself to do over 500 cals each session and double sessions usually get up to 850-900 cals. I also believe that exercising is about having fun so if an exercise you do is not fun, stop doing it. There are so many activities that are amazingly awesome so why do something which is too hard or boring?

I have had other issues to deal with in my life, namely my 16 year old son. He has been a handful lately getting into all sorts of strife and taking up addictive behaviors which are not very good. Yet, I have remained focused & probably even more determined as it could be become a good excuse, which was not on my original list of excuses!

Well, I need to go and get my shopping list organised. In a perfect world, which is never going to be the one we live in this life anyway, I would be able to download the list and go shopping. However, I have to organise it around my family and the red flag days and this week that day is going to be Australia Day by the looks of things.

Stay blessed, cool, calm and collected
Love Renee

Well, week 4 on the Michelle Bridges program is going better than expected. I am so blown away by how well I am doing. I am eating really 'clean' and exercising every day and really LOVING IT. I mean REALLY LOVING IT. I am very organised, which is me of course and my board constantly looks at me to keep me focused (the pre-season task board). I constantly PRAY too which helps me spiritually and focuses my attention on the important stuff. I have completed my first goal of losing 4 kg the first month and upon recording I have lost 10cms off my body. My clothes are feeling looser too. I just feel better. My legs are getting toned and my body just feels less stressed and tired. Very cliche' I know.

The thing is God had been prodding me for some time. As I used to sit here at the computer I would 'feel' like I should be doing exercise, but really having no motivation to really do it. I think God just smacked me over the head one day and said GO! Join the gym and just do it. Like MB says JFDI. And I go every day, except Sunday. Which suits me down to the ground.