Two Steps

This was me 2008 - Casual Day - Needless to say I've blossomed since then, but watch out 2011.

2010/10/22
OMG (Oh my goodness)
I can’t believe it. I weighed myself this morning and I have lost a total of 4.7kg in the past two weeks. I am out of this world. I found myself walking different this morning, doing my daily tasks differently. I can’t see where the weight has dropped off (I feel as if it is all in my head –), but I feel thinner and more confident. I decided when I started this journey not to focus on the big goal, but rather smaller and more achievable ones. I am not on a diet as in “Do not deviate off the road” If I want to stop and sightsee at something that takes my fancy then so be it. I will however be in control of how much sightseeing I am doing.
I also started walking last night. Due to the fact that my foot has been in so much agony the past few months I battle to walk for long distances and sometimes I battle to walk at all. Especially at night – after a long days slog. I started the treadmill, got my latest “Twilight series” book and started walking. 23 minutes later I packed it in, but felt satisfied. However, my foot decided on some major and intense revenge, when I couldn’t sleep due to the pain.
This morning when I got up (With more of a jumpstart than yesterday –I have to admit) and I weighed myself I felt that it was all worth it. I am not one for major physical jerks, dumbbells and so forth, but the walking will at least get me to a level where my fitness at least improves and that for me is more of a bonus than the whole weight loss saga.
At work we are very safety conscious and our motto is: “THE TWO STEPS TO SAFETY – WHAT CAN HARM ME AND WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT”
Well I’m looking at my health the same way. What can harm me (lots of cakes, chips, pasta etc) and what can I do about it (Don’t eat all those fattening, artery clogging, health risking foods or I can change my mindset and think healthier and thinner) I will never stop eating pasta, but I won’t heap my plate the way I used to, or I will slim down what I put on the pasta. Of course there is no substitute for some foods – cheese for example. Love the good old toasted sami, pasta dripping with melted cheese, just plain cheese on it’s own – MMMMMmmmmmmmmm. So now instead of having a cheese sami I might have some fruit and cheese. I prefer savoury foods to sweet and I think that is why a diet has never really worked for me. All the shakes etc are all sweet. But while I might be compromising on some muchies without compromising on what I feel like eating at the end of the meal I feel more satisfied by the fact that I’ve eaten properly compared to feeling dissatisfied about having stuffed my face because I could.
Furthermore I am not one for log sheets of what I’ve eaten and spreadsheets and diaries to make me feel guilty about what I’ve allowed to pass my lips.
So peoples, hang in there, all good things come to those who wait and for those who persevere in the face of adversity – BONUS.
You gain strength and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face … You must do the thing you think you cannot do – Eleanor Roosevelt

Getting Square

2010/10/19
I was watching the movie “Legion” with Denis Quaid and Paul Bettany the other night and the one character says ”If you don’t wake up tomorrow if it turns out that today is your last day on earth, would you be proud of what you’ve done in this life, because if you ain’t, you better start getting square” that really got to me and I remember the first time I watched the movie that it made an impact on my life. Hold on to your skirts - Now don’t get me wrong – I’m not saying go all religious or over zealous with your faiths or what and whoever you believe in. We all believe differently and the point is that we need to make the most of the life we have. I want to have a good ‘today’ and tomorrow I want to be able to say that “Yesterday was a good day, I am proud of what I achieved”
I am so proud of myself, health wise, because I want my last years on earth to make a difference and the only way I can do that is by being as health as I can be for my “height” Ha, Ha. I know that there is a joke out there that goes: “I’m not over weight, I’m under tall”. As I can’t get away with being under tall and I don’t want to be overweight. I have taken the bull by the horns and got off my lazy ass and slowly but surely I am starting on my new health regime. (Baby steps)
We had a ladies lunch last week and I amazed myself at my constraint. Normally when someone else cooks and the food is to die for I try to eat as much of the good stuff as I can. I had a divine potato soup for a starter instead of a creamy puff pastry fishy starter, Main course was wild pig (I think) stew, rice, various veggies (some laced and dripping with sweet, sugary, creamy saude), salads and gravies. I scaled down to just some meat, a small portion of rice, two small portions of veggies and salad. Deserts of course consisted of a gorgeous looking milk tart, a hot desert, fresh fruit salad and custard. I opted for just the fruit salad. At the end of the day I was content with what I ate and walked away satisfied and not craving for more. What had happened is that I had changed my mindset and convinced myself that I only needed so much and no more.
Now if I am full I stop eating, regardless of what is left on my plate. The food does not get wasted, it gets recycled. (sons, husbands and dogs work well for this purpose).
To date in the last week I have lost nearly 2kg. Now I know a lot of you might think that I might be on a starvation diet, but I’m not - I am merely making a conscious effort to change my habits.
If and when I feel like binging and trust me I do. (I eat when I am stressed, when I’m bored, when I’m moody and emotional, any excuse will do.) I open the fridge door, look at all the cheese and spreads and cherries and fizzy drinks and either take a bottle of water of opt for fruit.
As mentioned before I am not a morning person and with our EARLY work schedule I have bad eating habits. No I take this back I HAD bad eating habits. I am now eating a special K breakfast bar for breakfast with a cup of coffee or a bottle of water. For lunch (which I also normally did not eat) I am having a plate of special K cereal. By the time I get home I normally want to devour the whole fridge – door and all. Now I can easily wait until I have made supper and I find myself now looking for healthier meals.
Mark loves salads and in the heat we live in it is a nice healthy option. Our only drawback is that we don’t have a wide variety of Fresh and healthy looking salad goodies to choose from, but I make do. Charl my son, and I both love pasta and the easiest meal for us would be 2 minute noodles, macaroni and cheese or anything related.
My all time favourite meal is Lasagna or Spaghetti Bolognaise the way my mom taught me. Rich and spicy. I hate having to think of everyday evening meals, I find it such a bore. I love catering and baking and inevitably end up cooking up something delectable and orgasmic to take to work. Now, I find myself looking for easy healthy meals and GOOGLE IS MY BEST FRIEND. I don’t always succeed, but I can still cook up a storm that is not detrimental to my health and the health of those around me. I am not going to die if I do eat a piece of chocolate cake; I now just eat smaller portions or fewer portions. I don’t beat myself up if I crook, I just drink more water (which by the way I absolutely loath, hate and detest, and that doesn’t even cover how much I don’t like water), BUT if I want to do more with my life and with those around me, if I want my last days on earth to count for something. I want a better quality of life and if I have to give up some of the finer things in life then so bet it. I might lose on the swings, but I’ll win on the roundabout.
I battled with Bronchial Pneumonia a couple of years ago and since then if someone walked past my office building and they had the sniffles and snotters I would get sick. As a result I have a menagerie of vitamins that I take each day to counteract this vile onslaught. Basically it consists of an immune booster, multivitamins, hair and nail growth vitamin etc. Then at night I take Calcium and Magnesium vitamins or enhancements. I haven’t taken for two weeks now and I have found that the vitamins are causing me to have serious munchies. Now I’m not saying ‘Stop taking Vitamins’. I’m saying (as any good dietician most likely would) find your vitamins and minerals and the immune boosting nutrients you need from the food you eat. For me taking a vitamin pill has always been the easy and yes the LAZY route. But I have to make a change and look elsewhere. Keep in mind that our bodies are very different and what works for me might not necessarily work for you. So I leave you with the message I started with: “If you don’t wake up tomorrow if it turns out that today is your last day on earth, would you be proud of what you’ve done in this life, because if you ain’t, you better start getting square”

2010/10/19
I was watching the movie “Legion” with Denis Quaid and Paul Bettany the other night and the one character says ”If you don’t wake up tomorrow if it turns out that today is your last day on earth, would you be proud of what you’ve done in this life, because if you ain’t, you better start getting square” that really got to me and I remember the first time I watched the movie that it made an impact on my life. Hold on to your skirts - Now don’t get me wrong – I’m not saying go all religious or over zealous with your faiths or what and whoever you believe in. We all believe differently and the point is that we need to make the most of the life we have. I want to have a good ‘today’ and tomorrow I want to be able to say that “Yesterday was a good day, I am proud of what I achieved”
I am so proud of myself, health wise, because I want my last years on earth to make a difference and the only way I can do that is by being as health as I can be for my “height” Ha, Ha. I know that there is a joke out there that goes: “I’m not over weight, I’m under tall”. As I can’t get away with being under tall and I don’t want to be overweight. I have taken the bull by the horns and got off my lazy ass and slowly but surely I am starting on my new health regime. (Baby steps)
We had a ladies lunch last week and I amazed myself at my constraint. Normally when someone else cooks and the food is to die for I try to eat as much of the good stuff as I can. I had a divine potato soup for a starter instead of a creamy puff pastry fishy starter, Main course was wild pig (I think) stew, rice, various veggies (some laced and dripping with sweet, sugary, creamy saude), salads and gravies. I scaled down to just some meat, a small portion of rice, two small portions of veggies and salad. Deserts of course consisted of a gorgeous looking milk tart, a hot desert, fresh fruit salad and custard. I opted for just the fruit salad. At the end of the day I was content with what I ate and walked away satisfied and not craving for more. What had happened is that I had changed my mindset and convinced myself that I only needed so much and no more.
Now if I am full I stop eating, regardless of what is left on my plate. The food does not get wasted, it gets recycled. (sons, husbands and dogs work well for this purpose).
To date in the last week I have lost nearly 2kg. Now I know a lot of you might think that I might be on a starvation diet, but I’m not - I am merely making a conscious effort to change my habits.
If and when I feel like binging and trust me I do. (I eat when I am stressed, when I’m bored, when I’m moody and emotional, any excuse will do.) I open the fridge door, look at all the cheese and spreads and cherries and fizzy drinks and either take a bottle of water of opt for fruit.
As mentioned before I am not a morning person and with our EARLY work schedule I have bad eating habits. No I take this back I HAD bad eating habits. I am now eating a special K breakfast bar for breakfast with a cup of coffee or a bottle of water. For lunch (which I also normally did not eat) I am having a plate of special K cereal. By the time I get home I normally want to devour the whole fridge – door and all. Now I can easily wait until I have made supper and I find myself now looking for healthier meals.
Mark loves salads and in the heat we live in it is a nice healthy option. Our only drawback is that we don’t have a wide variety of Fresh and healthy looking salad goodies to choose from, but I make do. Charl my son, and I both love pasta and the easiest meal for us would be 2 minute noodles, macaroni and cheese or anything related.
My all time favourite meal is Lasagna or Spaghetti Bolognaise the way my mom taught me. Rich and spicy. I hate having to think of everyday evening meals, I find it such a bore. I love catering and baking and inevitably end up cooking up something delectable and orgasmic to take to work. Now, I find myself looking for easy healthy meals and GOOGLE IS MY BEST FRIEND. I don’t always succeed, but I can still cook up a storm that is not detrimental to my health and the health of those around me. I am not going to die if I do eat a piece of chocolate cake; I now just eat smaller portions or fewer portions. I don’t beat myself up if I crook, I just drink more water (which by the way I absolutely loath, hate and detest, and that doesn’t even cover how much I don’t like water), BUT if I want to do more with my life and with those around me, if I want my last days on earth to count for something. I want a better quality of life and if I have to give up some of the finer things in life then so bet it. I might lose on the swings, but I’ll win on the roundabout.
I battled with Bronchial Pneumonia a couple of years ago and since then if someone walked past my office building and they had the sniffles and snotters I would get sick. As a result I have a menagerie of vitamins that I take each day to counteract this vile onslaught. Basically it consists of an immune booster, multivitamins, hair and nail growth vitamin etc. Then at night I take Calcium and Magnesium vitamins or enhancements. I haven’t taken for two weeks now and I have found that the vitamins are causing me to have serious munchies. Now I’m not saying ‘Stop taking Vitamins’. I’m saying (as any good dietician most likely would) find your vitamins and minerals and the immune boosting nutrients you need from the food you eat. For me taking a vitamin pill has always been the easy and yes the LAZY route. But I have to make a change and look elsewhere. Keep in mind that our bodies are very different and what works for me might not necessarily work for you. So I leave you with the message I started with: “If you don’t wake up tomorrow if it turns out that today is your last day on earth, would you be proud of what you’ve done in this life, because if you ain’t, you better start getting square”

Fortune favors the prepared mind

2010/10/11
We had our latest Photography Club Meeting last night. The project for the month was funny.
I am never short of subjects for photographs, but I found myself with a real challenge this month. Other than having someone pose for me I found very few genuinely funny photo opportunities.
It made me realise that the internet is abundant with funny pictures and video clips and yet trying to find one around us was more difficult than any of us in the club realized.
This got me thinking, what are we doing to contribute to the fun factor of those around us? Do I make other people smile and laugh and want to be in my presence? Do I instill in others a feeling of happiness and joy? Am I creating funny moments? OK! I don’t want to be one of those Utube moments or a FAIL Mail, but I want to make a difference, and I had a Eureka moment when I realized that once again it all starts with me.
I am lucky enough to be surrounded by amazing people both at work and at home. My husband Mark is the proverbial “Morning Person” He get up with a hop, skip and a jump in the morning, singing and whistling as he goes about getting ready for the day.
Me, Myself and I on the other hand is a whole different kettle of fish. Between the three of us, I wait until the last millisecond before I have to drag myself by the scruff of my neck and slowly make my way through my morning routine. By the time I get to work just before 06:00 I am barely awake and I can still feel the impression of the pillow on my face.
But then a change happens and I brighten up because I know that deep down inside I am responsible for people besides myself. I am in contact with so many people during my day and if I don’t make the effort to be happy I can be treading on someone’s moment of joy. Maybe all they needed to get doing for the day was a smile and a cheery welcome. Let’s be honest some people are more of a challenge than others. I know that I am also a challenge more often than not. But by making a concerted effort I can change all that. By putting others first I am actually getting more of a blessing than they are. I am paying it forward and getting is back in heaps.
To add to my woes my health and weight have been a reason for me to be unhappy. And I again realized that once again my happiness and peace lay in my own hands, so instead of grumbling and bemoaning my fate I am putting my foot down and saying no more. Mostly I am going tor try and put my foot on the treadmill more often, Ha Ha.
As today is the start of a brand new day and together with the promise of rain is the promise of a new beginning, a fresh start and a hell of kick ass future.
As I have said before I am going out of this world kicking and screaming………….. J
Fortune favors the prepared mind. --Louis Pasteur

Journey verses Trip

Most people are on a journey. I have discovered that some people are on a trip.
Not much of a difference, but which one would you rather be on!?

Fears and Phobias

I was recently sent a newsletter by Bradley Thompson about Fighting Fear Phenomenon.

It reads as follows:

This is Bradley Thompson from the Self-Development Newsletter
Fear is a powerful thing, isn't it?
http://www.tenminutecure.com/ It can keep you from experiencing the great outdoors.

It can stop you from mingling with other people.

It can prevent you from enjoying the wonders of nature.

It can hold you back from progressing with your career.

That's what I call POWER!

And yet, it's not the physical act that does the damage.It's not the spiders, the open spaces, heights, flying, crowds, speaking in public...It's the fear itself!It holds you in its grip and makes you incapable of doing the things you want to do.

And that's why I URGE you to check out The Ten Minute Cure as soon as you get the chance.It's an NLP-based program that helps change the way you think.

Using scientifically-proven "brain language" it helps you come to terms with your fears.

It puts the power back into your hands.It wipes your fears away from the inside out.

And it does this in JUST 10 MINUTES!If you're sick and tired of living with a phobia, then this program is exactly what you need.

Give it a try and see for yourself how easy it is to quickly eliminate ANY FEAR from your life -- for good!

Now this got me thinking

We all have fears and phobias - and don't try to deny it. wW mask them as dislikes and sometimes with disinterest. Other times our fears and phobias can clearly be seen.

Well I've realised the just like a fear and a phobia there are many aspects in our lives that have the same effect on our day to day living and breathing.

I injured my leg 30th August 2009. I was in a cast until Feb 2010. And although I can walk as normal. I am experiencing some serious problems with my feet. I have never been one for exercise and have somehow always found an excuse NOT to waste my hard earned rest at the end of the day. Having said that I have also not been "Tinkerbell" and have always been on the "cuddly" side. But as time passes I realise that enough is enough and that I have to put my "fear" of exercise aside and do something drastic. Just as a fear would, my weight is stopping me from going out and enjoying life, mingling with people, experiencing the great outdoors, progressing in various interests in my life and career. And yet is is more than just the physical me getting my lazy ass off the couch.

I have to first and foremost exercise my brain. If my brain and mindset is not up to the challenge the body is not going to follow.

I have to release the grip that my mind has on my body so that I can be capable of doing all the things I know that I can do.

Where I live there are the occasional gyms, but I am not one for exercising in public even though I know that maybe that would be the encouragment I need.

I have everything I need at my disposal. Treadmills, walkers, exercise belts and balls, dumb bells, skipping ropes, exercise charts and plans, and a husband who will support and encourage motivational speakers in my iPod and healthy eating plans. So what else do I need? Ah yes the will to change...

I'm getting there slowly but surely. I need to set myself small goals, that's about all i can manage for now. The larger goal is far too daughting and scary to comprehend. Baby steps.

So watch this space people.......... My plan is simple - There is going to be more of by there being less of me :) Until next time - I'm keeping the faith....

The fish, a bicycle, and a Chinaman?

This is always the part I struggle with. I’ve decided on the course of action, aqua it is. Just as I’m placing that blog post I get a call from the gym telling me that my contract has been cancelled due to lack of attendance. Really! I mean give me a break.

The whole weekend I’ve wrestled with the meaning behind that. (I analyze, EVERYTHING!!) Is there something else I’m meant to do? Am I not ready for this yet? Will I be able to mount up enough courage to do the walk to the pool? What is it?

While I’m working through all this other stuff, my shopping self said “what the hell go crazy chic”. So I bought the leotard, with what is called “boy leg”, this is a short thing down there! Procured the latest in swimming caps, which cost almost the same as the leotard!! Hello! And found a very cute pair of Reebok water shoes on sale, very trendy!! I look like saving Nemo on steroids! All I need now is a sports bra, in my size, oh, wait they don’t make them in my size, huge surprise. Will have to figure that one out! Other than that, I’m ready!!!
Now all I have to do is rejoin the gym. Logged in on the website on Friday, giving all my particulars, and no one has called me yet, so will wait. Not sure how much money it took to get me this size, it’s costing a fortune just to “maybe” get it off.

That’s all on the physical side, I’m also having to do some work on the mental side. Other than being scared out of my mind, no really, talk is cheap. I’m aiming for the “gratitude attitude” thing. Being grateful and thankful that I have friends, family and an opportunity to get to do this! Before it’s too late! Balance is also important, will talk a little about all those things later on!
I will have to take a picture and put that up – it’s a scream! But plenty of guts needed before then!

Mwa
xxx