I hurt...

Holy crap I'm sore... I haven't had this level of DOMS since the first workout I did a few days before Round 2 commenced! Mostly, it's due to the Group workout in Brisbane, with the rest of the 12wbt family. OMG, it was great. The atmosphere was insane, and the weather was glorious. I burnt 680 calories, but left feeling as though it wasn't too hard.

Fast forward to Sunday morning and I was in pain. Arms, chest (loads of push ups), thighs and hips all groaning. By this morning (Monday) my upper body had gone back to normal, but my thighs were still sore. I had Sunday as my rest day, so was straight back into it today. I can't do my SSS on a Saturday, so I tend to do it on a Monday. Today, I did a mega session, and now I wonder if I'm going to be able to even get out of bed tomorrow! Here's what I did today: C25K Week 3 Day 2 around the reservoir in the glorious sunshine = 401cals, then tonight I went to the gym and did C25K Week 3 Day 3, 15 mins on the cross trainer, then a 50 min Step class, followed by a 45 min Pilates class = 1222 cals. So, all up I burnt 1623 cals today! I'm feeling very stiff tonight.

I'm so excited that 7 of my friends have now joined Round 3. I hope they all have amazing success. I often feel that I would love to be able to bottle how I feel right now. I hope they get to feel it too.

A few milestones to celebrate!

I am the first to admit that my self esteem has been at an all time low for quite a while now. I was too scared to join a gym. Then, once I overcame that, I was too scared to do a group fitness class. Then, once I overcame that, I was too scared to run on the treadmill in front of everyone. Then, once I overcame that, I was too scared to take off my T-shirt.

Well, I have smashed all those fears. I'm at the gym 6 days per week. I take classes whenever I can. I am doing the C25K program on the treadmill, and rocking it. And today, I wore a singlet and was NOT self conscious of my arms, as they are now no longer hideous! I have a, relatively, little tummy and waist, so I deserve to wear a singlet. Sure, my arms and hips still need work, but I am travelling a whole lot better than 50% of the girls at the gym, and this gives me confidence. None of us are there to show off, we're all there to try to be a better version of ourselves, so why should I keep being so hard on myself?

I wore the singlet in front of the kids, and Lara said, "I love that singlet" which was a massive thumbs up for me. If my teenage daughter approves of me wearing a singlet, I've gotta be happy, right??

Lord, it feels good to feel good. I can't believe that I felt like shit for so long, and did nothing about it. I feel like grabbing every sweet friend who is overweight and shoving this program down her throat, but I know that everyone has to find their own way here. God knows I had enough attempts before I was finally ready to do what it takes. In fact, I read Mish's CrunchTime books back in March, when my weight was probably at an all time high, and I thought, "OMG, she's too black and white, so harsh". It wasn't until a sidebar popped up on Facebook, I think it was, and I went to investigate the 12wbt, co inciding with turning 40, that something clicked. And clicked it has. I can't imagine not burning off 500+ calories per day, or eating clean.

People keep asking me about my "secret". I tell them, that it's what we know we all should do. Eat less, move more. Simple as that. I think though, that each person has to reach their own personal "low" in order for this mindset to kick in.

Week 12 Round 2.

Well, today was the final weigh-in for Week 12. My official stats are: 16.7kg lost, 54cm total gone from body, and a truckload of emotional baggage gone! We still have the rest of the week (until Sunday) on the program, so I'll weigh in again on Sunday and see what the tally for the full 12 weeks is.

I took my "after" pic today, and on first glance I thought "well that's not much different" but when I put them side by side I was blown away. And a little emotional!

There's about 4 weeks until Round 3 begins, and I don't plan to relax my diet or exercise one little bit. I've been constantly ramping up the training side of things, so that's gotta speed things up.

Inner Mongrel Monday

In the 12wbt we have names for certain days of the week. Tuesday is "Accelerator" day, where no simple carbs are consumed. Saturday is "SSS" which translates to Super Saturday Session, and Mondays are called "Inner Mongrel Monday", where you unleash your inner Mongrel and work out like a demon! I did just that tonight. 1175cals burnt in the gym, and I got to connect with a couple of friends, as well as meet up with a new 12wbt friend.

In other breaking news, I appear to be developing collar bones! Yes, they've always been there, but now I can JUST see them starting to emerge from underneath the fat that once was there. Woo fricken Hoo!

Sunshine-y day!

It's a beautiful day here today. I can't wait for the weather to start warming up, especially since I'll have a whole new wardrobe by summer! I'm only buying very inexpensive items, and even then, not many things. Just to get me through until I get to my goal, and I can buy a permanent wardrobe! Luckily (is one way to look at it) I've been various sizes over the years, so I do have a few smaller sized clothes already. I'm on this program for life now, so I know that I'll never need the bigger clothes again, so as I reach a smaller size, I'm throwing out ALL the fat clothes. I've kept them in the past, but now, if my clothes start to get tight, it's not going to be as easy as reaching into the back of the cupboard for the bigger size. NO! If they get tight, I need to get off my arse and do something about it, or face the humiliation of going out and buying a bigger size.

Did another massive session in the gym today. Feels amazing. Did 10mins bike, 15 mins x-trainer, then did Body Step for an hour. Sweated up a treat in there, it was a great workout. Then, since I didn't really have anywhere to be, I jumped back on the x-trainer for another 15 mins. Look at me! I'm an exercise junkie! Who knew??

In other news, I'm very thankful for good friends. I wasn't involved in, but was supporting someone who was, some ridiculous nastiness this week. From grown women (mothers!) who should know better. Life's too short for this sort of crap. I don't know how some people sleep at night, but that's their cross to bare. I know I sleep well, especially comfortable in the knowledge that I make an effort to banish troublemakers and drama queens from my life.

Have a great day!

Yay for eating clean!

Woo Hoo! Even though I only got to the gym 2 days last week, I kept my eating squeaky clean and I lost 1.2kg this week. That brings my total to 14.5kg.

I was fitting into the occasional size 14, but now if you throw anything 14 at me it fits and even may be a bit loose! I've gone down a bra size too! Very happy to drop some poundage from the cans.

In even more exciting news, my back is almost better and I've been putting in some great gym sessions since Monday. I am very excited to report that a few weeks ago, I got on the X-trainer for the first time and only managed 2.5mins before I was done. In my defence, I had just put in 1.5hours of cardio work on the bikes and treadmill. Today, after 15 mins on the bike, I got on the X-trainer again and it was hurting, but I got into the zone and was up to 15 mins with my HR over 170, and I only got off because it was time for my class to start. Jesus. The class is another story of blood, sweat and tears. I was the only "new girl" and the instructor gave me permission to have a rest now and then, but that made me all the more determined not to. I even did ALL the jumping jacks while I saw others were taking the low impact option!! I left there, totally spent, having burnt over 900cals, feeling very proud of myself.

I read an article in the Women's Weekly today, about Michelle Bridges. I got a bit teary, actually. I can honestly credit Mish with changing my life. I have self esteem again, I feel like I'm 30 again, I am feeling so strong and fit. And I owe it all to her. Of course, I've done the hard yards and made the changes, but she's the one who has given me the tools to do this. I will sing her programs praises forever now. I am a huge advocate of the "whole shebang" approach. I've tried diet by itself, I've tried exercise by itself. The thing that appealed to me about her program was that it combined diet, exercise, and mindset sorting. I still go back and listen to her podcasts and mindset lessons if I'm feeling a bit blah. It makes so much sense and it just works.

I have to write it all here as it's sort a like a diary. I can't talk to too many people, outside the 12wbt forum, about this as it comes off all preachy and cult-like. I love the program, it's working for me, and I am so freakin' happy!

Hey, hey, I'm back so soon!

Look at me! Two posts in one week! Unfortunately I may be blogging more and exercising less for a day or so. I hurt my fricken back again, and it's spasming all the way down my legs. So, I'm bed/couch bound for a day or so. Ugh...

In brighter news, I lost another 1kg this week, so my total climbs to 13.3kg. Mish assures me that if I keep eating clean, I'll still lose weight without the exercise, so let's hope so!