Motivational Saying

"The key to creating passion in your life is to find your unique talents and your special role and purpose in the world." Stephen Covey

Affirmation Video for the Virtual Book Tour

Click here to go my Tuesday Weigh-in

We (Tara and I) are very excited that Simone is one of our Virtual Book Tour Hosts (thank you Simone). We are touring the virtual world promoting our recently released guided journal and companion meditation CD, Journal for the Modern Goddess.

Our Journal for the Modern Goddess is a beautiful hard covered, spiral bound writing journal that helps women uncovers the beautiful, unique and powerful Goddess that they really are.

She features inspirational quotes, guided questions, affirmations and lots of lined pages for journaling. The journal is divided into sections - Gratitude and Happiness; Moving Forward; Dreams and Visions; Journal Pages; Guided Meditation; and Sanctuaries and Sisterhood.

The companion guided meditation CD features 3 tracks that provide women with sacred journeys that inspire and encourage them to create positive life patterns. These tracks help them to recognise and invite magic, inspiration and loving energy into their lives.

As part of our stop we are providing Simone and her readers with a beautiful Affirmation Video because we believe affirmations can be used daily to bring more light, love and happiness into your life.

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjixfBy6QiI

~

Nicole Graham and Tara Spicer are currently on a virtual book tour promoting their recently released writing journal, Journal for the Modern Goddess.

The journal and companion meditation CD retails for $34.95 AUD including GST.

To view or purchase the journal, please visit Nicole and Tara’s website, Journals for Empowerment. Please click on the banner below:-

Tuesday Weigh-in

Stayed the same this week at 105.5kg. I actually view this as a victory. I went on to progesterone and about 2 days later my menstrual cycle of 8 weeks finally stopped and my hunger did not.

Two things probably tipped in my favour. One I worked really hard at eating, drinking and exercising for the last to days to make up for over eating.

Also it may be that my body just needed some extra calories. I remember before I go married that I would always eat a bit more in a particular time of the month but it did not affect my weight. I have no idea if it really works that way but a number of other women I have spoken to said that they experience the same thing.

I have two more weeks on the progesterone so I will watch my eating even more carefully.

My four day goal this week is to record my meals until 3pm. and to increase the intensity of my exercise. 2 days moderate to high intensity, 1 day weights and 1 day a yoga type activity.

Starting TODAY.

Reports

Sjoe - been a busy few days.

here is my reports

Day 2 Friday- 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 wholewheat pronutro and 1/2 tsp of sugar

Lunch - chicken strips, spaghetti and salad

Day 3 Saturday - muesli and yoghurt

Lunch: gluten, mixed salad, lentils and a broccoli cheese pie

Day 4 Sunday - 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 wholewheat pronutro and 1/2 tsp of sugar

Planning to have two eggs, toast, tomato and cucumber.

Concern my appetite has increased a lot since I am on the Provera but my menstrual cycle has stopped.

I had my second session with "Magic" - reflexology.

New 4 Day Cycle Report

Day 1

Breakfast: shake
snack: herbal tea
Lunch: 1/2 cup of wholewheat pronutro and 1/2 glass of milk

Walked up the hill to a friends house - was less out of breathe than usual.
Got my liquids in!

Day 4 Report

I had a shake at 10am this morning. - Reached my 4 Day Win goal.
Last night I did Tai-Chi for 20min. it was very relaxing.

I gave into stress today after going to gynecologist and for more blood test - this time for a hormonal profile. I have had a menstrual cycle for over 2 months now. I got a lot of small cysits - I have been put onto progesterone treatment for it.
I digress - I had a coke, 30g pkt of chips and a Ola Magnum Ice-cream - ARGHHHHHHHH.

Goals for the next 4 days:

record Breakfast, snack and Lunch.
Coontinue to drink water
Continue to Exercise

Journaling through Change

Read the following Guest Post: Journaling Through Change By Nicole Graham and Tara Spicer are currently on a virtual book tour promoting their recently released writing journal, Journal for the Modern Goddess.

Day 3 Breakfast Report

Glass of water & I have made a shake to take to school with me.

I seem to have lost my appetite a bit in the morning.

I sat in my exercise clothes yesterday but got up doing other projects in stead.

Tomorrow is a guest post on my Simone's Butterfly Blog from one of the Authors of the Virtual Tour I co-hosting with other bloggers. Be nice if stop by and say hi.

OOPs almost forgot that today is weigh in day - let me get on the scale.
YAY - 105.5 kg (232.6 pounds)

Last Weeks Stats: This weeks stats:
Starting:109kg (240.30 pounds)
Current:106.4kg (234.57 pounds) TODAY: 105.5 kg - a 0.9kg loss almost a 1 pound loss
Total loss: 2.6kg (5.73 pounds) Total loss: 3.5kg

TODAY - I am rewarding myself with a Reflexology session

To be honest I would be doing it anyway - a friend needed volunteers for 5 weeks 2 1hr sessions a week for her studies. Its a WIN-WIN in my books.

Later

Report on Day 2

Hi All

The strangest thing today is that I can't remember having breakfast. After talking to my daughter and husband we have concluded that somehow I did have breakfast today.


This is unusual for me I rarely skip meals. I did not take lunch to school either. I finally had a two egg omelet and rye toast at Mugg & Bean coffee shop at 3pm.

I did drink a cup of tea in the morning and a cup of coffee at work. Also had two glasses of water.
Yesterday evening I went swimming for 20min. So it was a good exercise day.

Having a cup of detox tea and planning to exercise before having a light supper. think my mind and body is still trying to recover from last weeks stress.

Day 2 Report

Hi All

The strangest thing today is that I can't remember having breakfast. After talking to my daughter and husband we have concluded that somehow I did have breakfast today.


This is unusual for me I rarely skip meals. I did not take lunch to school either. I finally had a two egg omelette and rye toast at Mugg & Bean coffee shop at 3pm.

I did drink a cup of tea in the morning and a cup of coffee at work. Also had two glasses of water.

Yesterday evening I went swimming for 20min. So it was a good exercise day.

Having a cup of detox tea and planning to exercise before having a light supper. think my mind and body is still trying to recover from last weeks stress.

Day 1 Report on Breakfast

I had a health Shake at 10am for breakfast.

Went walking on the Beach for 30min. Took photographs while I was walking.

I need to still drink more water, then my goals for today have been met.

"A goal without a plan is just a wish." Antoine de Saint

“Achievement seems to be connected with action. Successful men and women keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.” ~Conrad Hilton

Moving forward slowly

Yesterday I went for a lovely walk along the the mountains and coastline. My husband was bird watching.

Exercise and water have become part of my lifestyle now. I crave it.

This week I need to choose another goal that I can "attach" with 4 Day cycles.

Wonder what should that be?? I have not been able to maintain keeping a diary or cutting 100 calories per day. The key is to make it ridiculously simple - so here i go.

For the next 4 Day I will record my breakfast on this blog!!!

Have a great week.

The End of a Hectic Week

Hi

What a week. I am still exhausted. I have been so busy with extra-mural duties at school, that I have not exercises. I had to force myself to have at least a shake or tea for breakfast. I ate Mac Donalds and KFC and Magnum Ice-cream this week.

But I also drank a lot of water and actually ate less junk food than I would normally do under these circumstances.

So even though I did not exercise or write down what I have eaten I am very proud of the fact that I weighed in at 106.3kg - 100grams (0.2 lb) less than Tuesday!!

Today is our school Gala and I will be helping sell food at the Tuck shop - a continuation of my classes fund raising efforts.

I am looking forward to sleep and exercise this weekend.

Crash Diet

Send this eCard !

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

“Be miserable.

Or motivate yourself.

Whatever has to be done, it’s always your choice.”

˜ Wayne Dyer˜

Tuesday Check-in

Starting:109kg (240.30 pounds)
Current:106.4kg (234.57 pounds)
Total loss: 2.6kg (5.73 pounds)

YAY - its through water drinking, exercise, taking time to relax (meditate) and being conscious of what I am eating. I am trying to eat healthy Low GI food.

I am celebrating by having a professional facial done by Chameleon Beauty Salon.

You can still celebrate with me by just adding your name below.

Exercise DVD

My husband bought me an exercise DVD while he was in Ireland. I workout to it today. I did the warm up to sections of the dance aerobics and the cool down. One day I will be able to complete the other 3 dance sections as well.

Latina size with Lilia

Virtual book tour

I will be one of the host for a virtual book tour.

"A virtual book tour works the same way as a real-life book tour however, instead of stopping by actual bookstores, gift stores and the like, we are touring the virtual world and stopping by blogs, websites, online stores and radio shows. The virtual book tour enables us to travel the world, three times over without needing a passport or a packed suitcase.

We hope to be touring the world many times over through out 2008 and beyond.

With magical love and light,
Tara and Nicole"

The book is entitled Journal for the Modern Goddess. The purpose of the journal is for women to uncover the /beautiful/, /unique/ /and powerful Goddess/ that they really are.

Its uniqueness is not only in the beautiful imagery of the journal or the specifically tailored sections for self empowerment through guided self-study, but in the companion guided meditation CD that takes each journals owner on a magical journey to find their own personal power.

1. Simone's Butterfly - Tour Date: 20th February: Guest Post by Nicole.

2. 4 Day Win -

Tour Date: 28th February

Affirmation Movie that focuses on positive weight loss

3. Simone's Butterfly Website - Tour Date: 5th March: Interview

To find out more or to meet the other hosts click here.
Find out about the competition click here.

Walking

WoW - I remember as a kid watching the Comrades Marathon on TV. I was convinced that if I walked from the time it started until the firs person came in I could say I did the race to. At least one year I drove my family crazy by just doing that. I was forced to walk up and down the road outside. My brother was convinced that it was just an excuse not do my chores.

When I read about a walking dvd on one of the Healthy You bloggers blog. It got me thinking that is exactly something I would enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBDTGCs0yNk&feature=related

Update & Irish Diet

Hi

My husband has come home safely from his trip to Ireland.

I have been sick for the last two days - dizzy, nausea etc.... Menstrual cycle that has been going on for 7 weeks. Saw the doctor , put off for 2 days and referred me to a gynae. This happened to me last year, when he treated me for it I got worse.


Any way I wondered what an Irish Weightloss diet would look like so I decided to search.
I found that Anne Collins has designed a diet that supposedly incorporates the Irish way: Sample Diet 1300 calories - seems quite doable to me. Except I don't eat Pork.

An old Irish verse celebrates fond remembrances of the potato:
Did ye ever ate colcannon that's made from thickened cream,
With greens and scallions blended like a picture in your dream?
Did ye ever take potato-cake or boxty to the school,
Tucked underneath your oxter with your book and slate and rule?

Itching when exercise

So on Sunday I finally upped the tempo of exercise for almost 10min during a 30min video aerobics session. I perspired more and felt some itchiness. This happens to me whenever I start exercising after break.

It worse when walk."Now about those itchy legs. Believe it or not, itchy legs is a common complaint, particularly among new walkers. Some experts believe that it may be due to poor circulation. If sluggish blood flow is to blame, the itching should subside as your body gets acclimated to your new activity." Itching to Walk.

Tuesday Check-in

Evaluation
14 January I weighed 109kg

Four weeks later I weigh 107kg (total weight loss of 4.4 pounds - next I would like to have the 5 pound badge).
An average of 0.5kg per week. A little less than what I was hoping for. But I do not feel discouraged because I know it is true weight loss and I have managed through a stressful week without blowing it completely.

My 4 Day Win goals:

I have basically been 4 days on and 4 days off.
I have maintain my water in take, light movement to aerobic exercise.

This month I would like to not take any days off but maintain my 4 day cycles.
I think I have to refocus on my goals, I am not breaking down the recording my food and cutting out the calories to ridiculously small so that it is actually managable.
This is a head so I need to get my head into.

So I decided that my 4 day win goals are as follows:
* Maintain moderate exercise
* Maintain drinking 6-8 glasses of water/herbal tea
* Spend one minute visualizing my wild child, discipline side and watcher self
* Record what I eat after 5pm.

Not feeling well today - going to see the doctor. I hope this does not jeopardize my exercise program - will just do stretching to keep supple.

I am losing

I am sure that got your attention.

What I am losing?

Losing the the battle?

Losing the weight?

That is the question.

And..........

We have a winner - I have lost 0.5kg more. Tomorrow is my actually check in but I could not resist getting on the scale this morning. I just had a feeling.

To diet or not diet

The diet for some people is just a word, for other condemnation, self-respect, self-hate, a sense powerlessness etc......... We each have our connotations. One way people have tried to "beat" the negative connotations is by rephrasing, saying its not a diet it is a way of life.

This word seems to have so much power over us.

I have felt overweight all more even though I have not been overweight all my life.
As a child I was plump, when I turned 11/12 I felt like the ugly duckling turn swan, a butterfly coming out of the cocoon. I was slim, active and felt beautiful. I however preferred to wear a costume or tight fitting clothes when taking pictures. I wanted to look slim in photos and I wanted everyone to know that I was slim. Note my use of the word slim and not thin ( I have never looked or felt thin).

When I was 18 I went on a liquid crash diet with my friend to give her support. After that I started studying and working and struggling to maintain my weight.It fluctuated between a size 10, 12 and 14.

Just before I got married I went onto the pill and my weight shot up, I went onto another liquid diet and did not lose any weight after a month. I went off the pill and thank goodness managed to get into my wedding dress.When I got married at age 24 I was wearing a size 12 and weighing 58kg. Not knowing what else to do except for the pill I went back on it. I didn't feel that using a condom alone would safe enough to prevent pregnancy. Tried a different pill hoping I would not have the same reaction.
Up until now i had tried two - one made me so dizzy that I could not walk. My mom
was allergic to most pills on the market and the she could take was taken off because everyone else was allergic to it. My half-sister was on the pill for years (and no weight or problems, except 2 miscarriages), so I figured I had 50/50 chance with it.
Three months down the line I had put on a lot of weight, become depressed and suicidal. The doctor put on anti-depressants but my husband and I felt uncomfortable with that (he did not test physiologically or psychologically) and we were having our doubts about the medication being the best treatment plus one of the side-effects would be more weight gain.

We met a women doctor on a conference and she advise us to go off the pill and anti-depressants. I did that, I felt better within a month and I fell pregnant too. The one night we did not use a condom! I can tell my daughter the date, day and hour that she was conceived. At the height of my pregnancy I weighed 89kg ( I am now weighing 107.7kg).

I used the mirena (info on the mirena) until October 2006. I convinced myself that once I was off that I would lose the weight easier. Now a just over a year later I weigh more, my menstrual cycle is extremely erratic(flowing for 7 weeks at a time and then nothing for months), I found out I am allergic to nuts but other everything else is normal (thyroid, hormones etc.).

My husband had the vasectomy, he offered to that. We used the five years that I was on the mirena to decide whether we wanted to have a second child or not.

So here I am. This time its just me and myself and of course of husband, family, friends (you too) - and I am not going to let the word diet have anymore negative power over me - My Wild child is going to feel loved and fulfilled.

Candida

My reply to a question on how I dealt with my Candida:

The doctor put on a course of two herbal medicines from Germany - I can't remember the names - too weird. That was for immediate "shock treatment" for 7-10 days.
Also had to go on very strict diet - it was horrible. Had to give up coffee, sugar, bread, normal pasta. For 6 weeks. Almost everyday of the 6 weeks I ate 1 thing in small quantity that I should not.

I feel better and just did not go back to him. Did go for allergy tests and discovered that i have a slight allergy to nuts and most grass and inhalants.

Now I drink 1-2 cups of coffee a week, still have very little sugar, otherwise I am eating normally. My dietitian said that the elimination diets don't really work but you have cut out sugar and refined carbs. According to what I have read - I would probably be in danger of having full blown symtoms again in 2 years time if I don't keep it under control. But how to keep it under control seems to be a great topic of debate. The advice I have decided to take is to find my own path of healing.

Sjoe - that is a long answer (smile)

Pace setting

I can check off my first of my new goal.

The fire has started up again.
My daughter said that when the helicopter passed over the school she felt like it was raining.
She pictures her Principal took: here.