Apples and pears

So as I said in my last post, I have been on a mission to improve my health for over a year now.

When I joined the gym I weighed over 96kg, wore size 18 and had a waist measurement of 120cm.  The instructor who assessed me called my statistics 'alarming' (thanks, helpful...).

I didn't create a 'before' photo because I was fairly certain I would fail yet again in my 10 year quest to lose weight.  The closest I could find was a photo of me at my son's third birthday in November 2011, featured in my last post.  You can see I was an apple-shaped fatty.

A year on and I can grab a few handfuls of the fabric on that dress when I wear it, which is great because the weight around my organs was going to make me very sick and now I have three pairs of back boobs less.  About 30cm has gone from my waist. So I guess I've gone from apple to pear....

These days I usually wear size 14 or sometimes 12 or basically a size 'medium'.  I've lost weight on the scales in the order of 12kgs. I'd like to lose some more (one day at a time!).

So how did I do it? The first six months I just tried to ‘get a grip’ on the quantity and quality of food I ate. Just tried to stick with ONE mini chocolate bar a day instead of 500g of chocolate (oh yes I DID –ugh!).

I went to the gym EVERY morning at 5.30am and slogged away on the cross trainer for 40-50 minutes at a time. I didn’t want to do any resistance training because I felt like I really needed to just ‘sweat it out’. I took up a bit of boxing (something I’ve always loved) and wore a heart-rate monitor.

Most of the time, with very little exertion, I got my heart rate to about 170bpm. I was SO unfit. I struggled to do a 3 minute row over 500 metres, I nearly died during boxing classes and in the first week at the gym I actually face-planted straight off the back of the cross-trainer because I was so shaky.

I did okay over this time. I lost a bit of weight and some centrimetres off my waist. But BY GOLLY I WAS BORED!!!!!! I asked the trainers for some more interesting activities. One started me on intervals on the bike. Again, nearly died but managed to get better at them over time. Then I started spin classes. Then I bought a road bike and started to commute to work and back (30kms) twice weekly.

I was getting fitter each week and then would get bored and try something new but this plateaued around three months in (and the scales were not moving at all despite my low-fat, high-carb diet). Then I came across a video on a Facebook page one day and thought ‘what the hell is this?’.

It was a CrossFit promotional video. Life was about to get very different for me!

(to be continued...)

So, what's YOUR excuse?

About a year ago, I was really overweight, completely lacking in energy and had not done anything close to decent exercise for about 5 years. I had a two-year old and a one-year-old to care for, almost zero iron and could not function particularly well on many levels.

But the fact of the matter was that I had not prioritised my health and wellbeing. I had not taken the time and care to look after my body and it had caught up with me.

So, I'd made the decision to 'get into shape' and try dieting once again and I'd lined up an appointment at my local gym to kick things off.

 

But it was actually a phone call I received as I was leaving the gym that truly changed the way I felt about my body. 

 

I’d read in the newspaper about some ultramarathon runners being burnt the previous day but didn’t think much of it.  Then I received this call from my mum telling me that one of the women I'd read about was our friend Kate.

 

I was shocked and distressed at the prospect of losing Kate.  But when I heard she would probably lose her feet I was utterly devastated for her.  Here was a woman who LOVED to run and who would be battling to survive a coma, only to wake up to the news that she would possibly never run again.

 

That morning I decided it would be disrespectful and selfish for me to take my body for granted.  I felt like I owed it to Kate to look after what I had.  And everytime it feels 'all too hard' I remember what Kate has been through and what she is still going through today. 

So next time you want to give up early or miss a session because you can't be bothered, think about the people who would dearly love to be able to the things you take for granted every day. 

Then get off your fully functioning bum and do it.

Sea change, see change...

Hello

Been quite a long time since I posted.

Not much happened between then and now.

Just got my certification as a personal trainer (night school).

And moved from Melbourne to Perth with a two and four-year old...

I'm hoping to post once or twice a week from now on, provided my kids don't send me completely batty and I end up in an institution.....

We have moved to a great sea-side location.  The wind here drives us all a bit nutty and the sun can be strong, but for the most part the change has motivated me to keep moving, to get outdoors with my kids and to soak in all that life can offer.


(Image courtesy of Scarborough Beach Surf School)

Being busy and a bit strapped for cash means that I am not really attached to a CrossFit obsession, I mean, gym.  I really miss my old box in Melbourne - makes me sad to see everyone still getting flogged there.  So I'm taking this time to hone some basic body-weight skills, kettlebell swings, get my fitness up through running (when my knee allows it), stretching and treating a chronic hip problem with the help of a brilliant osteopath.

My Paleo diet went a bit wonky in the move and through the Christmas festivities.  But when I weighed myself at the start of this week I was down 2 kilos for the month. Which has convinced me that nothing helps weight loss like a bit of stress relief and relaxation.  However, I'm so glad to have my kitchen back and I have started cooking again - more information in following posts.

Down time has helped me start to lift heavier again and has given me the opportunity to reflect on my goals and dreams. And it has apparently reduced the size of my bum too (according to an eyewitness who reflected on this fact while I was bending over to run a bath for our kids).