The Scales

Life is all about balance. My mom's favourite words to me were: Simone you need to find a happy medium. Her way of telling not to take things to their extreme.

When it comes to using the scale to weigh myself that is one thing I have great balance with. I only do it once a week. Now I like numbers I like working things out. Whenever I begin to make some healthy changes i start calculating the possibilities. Up until now in last ten years it has gotten me no where.
I see the scales as a little blankie for some odd reason they give a little comfort. I know I can use a measuring tape - waist measurement is a good way to measure weight loss and an important figure (88cm is apparently what we should aim to get down to). But as soon as I got a little extra money I bought a scale - LOL.

There are pros and cons.
if you can't resist getting on everyday , then I say follow the dietician's recommendation and get rid of your scale.
If you don't have money - don't bother - use a measuring tape instead.

I have a challenge. My husband is away for two weeks. I am on my own and need to stay motivated. I have a head cold and a daughter to look after. Easy to slip into doing things the easy way.
Yesterday I had to get our camera after dropping my husband at the airport but the shop was still closed. tesco was closed - only KFC and M was opened. so We went to Mac Donalds - I had the vegetarian meal with orange juice. Hows that for a balancing act - LOL

Sticking my head in the sand no longer

I have been avoiding the scale. I too scared to get on it because I know I have gone off my program once again.

Today I got a letter about taking my daughter to her follow visit to the dietitian. Most the sport activities she has been involved in has come to an end and today a childrens Aerobic DVD via Lovefilm has arrived. I have to be a better example to her - she is my motivation - when she gets back from school this afternoon we will exercise together and start recording what we are eating.

Project 36 - 4 Days at a time

Tomorrow I begin to implement my wellness vision.

I have decided to call it Project 36 (which means it will last for 5 weeks and a bit - 9 increments of 4 days).

My goal for the next 4 days:

- Get up at 6am
- Spend 20min doing visualization and relaxation exercise
- 5-10 min reading something spiritually engaging
- 10min Journaling
- 10min planning the rest of the day
-10-30min exercising
- Drink 4 glasses of water

REWARD: Buy a hair mask - treat myself to face and hair mask treatment.

NEXT WEEKS REWARD:claim the free pedicure my beautician friend promised

My weight has slipped back up to 110.4 kg according to the new scale that I have bought.

Weigh-in # 4

I am down 0.5kg/ 1.1 pounds - YAY. Total loss so far is 3.1lbs - I hope next week I can put up the 5lbs weightloss badge. Now weigh-in at 109.5kg/ 241.4 lbs.

Yesterday while walking, I did a lot of self-talk. I was really questioning my-self about what i really want. My weight is in my hands and I have the power to let go up, down or stay the same.

I wonder sometimes if dwelling on my weight is negative - really has not helped me lose any. At the same time ignoring it got me nowhere. My mother has always told me that I need to find a happy medium. Even though I don't really believe in star signs - I do seem to have the typical traits of Libra. Needing balance is one of them.

The song from High school Musical keeps playing in my head. Got cha head in the game. weighloss is not really a game but maybe if I look at in more playful manner it will be more mangable, fun and achievable - also it wont be overtaking my whole life. i know its just one part of my life. Its important but it does not define me.

Weigh-in # 3

I have been exercsing as planned the water drinking has not gone as well as I planned.

I have lost 0.2kg/0.4lbs. I now weigh in at 110kg/242.2. Total loss of 1kg/2.2 pounds.

Really feel its time for me to step it up a gear and get more focused!!

Hopefully taking some reading everyones posts will help.

The important thing is that I am losing and I am making small positive changes. Just getting exercising again is a big step in the right direction.

Weigh-in # 2

I have lost another 0.6kg/1.3 pounds. Sounds so much better in pounds - YAY.

I have been exercising and drinking water.

Now its time to tackle my diet!

More on that later today.....

Earth Day Dieting

HYC Report: I have maintained at 107.2kg.

I walked to school 10min and walked back home this afternoon another 10min.

Tomorrow I would like to add in some extra exercise in the afternoon or morning.

SparksPeople: Earth Friendly food and fitness

100 Day Challenge:
Eat a plate of veggies before lunch and supper. Any veggie you like even if its cucumber

I hve not yet implemented this but I plan to start this evening.

Recipe: Garden Vegetable Frittata

Tuesday Check In Week 13

The moment of truth. I got on my friends scale again yesterday (mine is still missing) and I am afraid to report that last weeks weight gain (which I did not report) was not an April Fools joke.

In the two weeks that I lost my scale, wrote the itels exam and was dealing with my painful prolonged bleeding and cysts I gained all the weight back that I had lost since I signed up - 3,7kg.
Last weight was 109.7kg and yesterday 109.2 kg.

And though I feel tempted to get down on myself, I also feel good about myself. Its strange. I feel as though I have been through a mini-crisis and come out richer (hehehehe not in weight gain) .

I am not sure how to express but I have learned new things about life, supplements, food and myself. I don't feel despair and I like giving up.

Good news is that since I have been taking the natural supplements I have not had a menstrual cycle for almost two weeks. That is win for me. NON SCALE VICTORY -passed the the Itels exam and the application to Ireland is almost ready. Just waiting for a few original letters from Northern Ireland - the school, the pastor we will be renting from and my husband's employee to say he has been offered the job.

Weigh-in Tuesday

I weighed myself at my friends but I have decided that she must have played an April's Fool Joke on me cause there is no way I could have put on 3kgs in the last two weeks that I did not weight in.







QUOTE: "Fear less, hope more; eat less, chew more; whine less, breathe more; talk less, say more; hate less, love more; and all good things are yours." ~ Swedish Proverb

Todays Report:
I did a run/walk around the block with my daughter. Going to measure it with the car tomorrow.
Splashed around in the pool this afternoon

Drank 3 glasses of water
3 glasses of herbal tea
1 cup of coffee with sugar and milk

Breakfast 1 apple
Snack 1 medium popcorn and coke (went to the movies)
Lunch 2 slices of cheese and onion bread
Snack Few grapes
Supper 2 slices of toast and butter

International Womens Day

This got me thinking about celebrating who I am no matter my weight. Self-acceptance and self-love, a positive self-esteem etc. are better arsenal in your attach on the fat. This is something I know but have not necessarily truly accepted and owned for myself.

I think most of us believe that we have to hate ourselves or least our fat in order to stay motivated to get rid of it. Well 8 eight years of battling with my weight and health have shown me that this does not work. Last year I decided to accept the fact that I am this weight and I still deserve to look and feel good. So I bought myself a new work wardrobe. I went off the anti-depressants as well. One year later and I have managed to get myself out of dark points without medication.
This year I decided to add on to my new wardrobe and it has given me confidence to face my challenges.

My health challenges have continued and my weightloss has been slow. But with help and encouragement from my friends, my on-line friends and myself, I am able to hold my head high, enjoy my journey and keep moving.

Thank you to the women of the Healthy You Challenge for your support and inspiration.

Womens Day is a celebrated as a public holiday on the 9 August in South Africa. Its today the 8 March is celebrated in other places of the world.

"Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History" Laurel Thatcher (Harvard historian )

Measure Progress Without the Scale An Arsenal of Tools for Your Motivation
-- By Liz Noelcke, Staff Writer- Click Here to read article

Belated Check-in

Was too sick on Tuesday to even think of weighing myself. Decided to stay home today. Waiting for a call from my gynae.
Got painkillers from the chemist yesterday, I could not bear the pain anymore. Managed through day. Slept at 4pm and got up at 1am, did a few non-essential stuff drank more pain-killers and then went back to bed at about 3:30am.

The Verdict on my weight: Down 0.5kg (1.1 lbs). Weighing 105 kg (231,48lbs).
YAY

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.

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.

Tuesday Check-in

As you may have noticed I have not blogged for a while. Work has been hectic and my husband left for Ireland for 10days - to investigate possibly moving there in the future.

I have been feeling a bit stressed and overwhelmed. Kept up the water drinking and light exercise. Did not implement my eating goals yet.

So whats the damage?
Sjoe 107.7kg - a point 0.1 loss. I am relieved that it did not increase. A crawl forward. Today I will pay more attention to my health goals. I will achieve more and cope better with stress if I exercise, eat well and feel healthy.

I have experience 2 days of insomnia. From past experience that can cause a spiral downwards. I must reverse that today. Between exercise, chamomile tea, lavender spray and a sleep CD I should be able to do it.

Health You Challenge

I am at my highest weight ever 109 kgs (240 pounds). When I started this blog I weighed in at 105.7kg.

I have gotten up early this morning so that I can exercise and plan my day.

My goals for today are:

Drink 4 glasses of water
4 glasses of herbal tea (no sweeteners or milk)

Eat at one fruit, one vegetable and one yogurt serving.

I feel sad about my weight and about my ability to keep my commitments to myself. But I am not going to give up.