When it stops being about weight loss..

Hello lovelies-

So I've been on this weight loss journey for quite some time now, and its definitely had its fair share of highs and lows. Over the past few weeks, in preparation for this round, I've been thinking about what this journey means for me in the long run.
I've never felt that 12WBT was a diet, for me its definitely been a new way of life. But the benefits of eating well and exercising consistently lead to much more then weight loss- something I've only recently realised. Since losing weight, my heads clearer, I'm more confident and focused and more willing to try new things. I smile more- I still have bad days, but I manage find the time to appreciate how beautiful my life is. I love change, I love meeting new people and learning about them, whereas before I think I was much more closed and perhaps a little cynical 
I wanted to share this quote that I found recently that really resonated with me:

"Eat a clean diet because of the wonderful benefits that the food has to offer. Train with weights to shape your body and add sexy, feminine, curves as well as keep you strong, keep your metabolism high, and keep your bones strong as you age. Do your cardio to keep your heart and lungs healthy. Be healthy, be fit, train hard, and be the beautiful you! Stay in balance. Enjoy life, make the body that God has blessed you with its absolute best, laugh often and love hard. And just know, if you have the head games of “am I too big?” “Now am I too small?” “Can I eat this?” “What about that?”…. Change your thinking, break that stronghold, and know…. we’ve all been there!"
-Amanda Latona
http://www.muscleandfitnesshers.com/blogs/amand...
(Its a great article about head games, read it!)

I am so excited for this round... Because I feel like it's finally clicked with me that this lifestyle is completely sustainable, that anything is possible and the with time and balance, all things shall come to fruition!
xx

12WBT Rd 3 Pre Season Task 2. No More Excuses.

Excuses are something I got really, really good at during round 2. In fact, I think I have more excuses now then I did back in round 1 pre season. Ha!
Luckily I'm savvy enough to know when I'm bullshitting myself. I would think that the below acknowledgment of this bullshit will help me keep accountable to myself and also you, dear reader.

Internal Excuses

"But I need something sweet or I won't feel satisfied." (In reference to wanting dessert)
Have a herbal or peppermint tea, brush your teeth and drink icy water. If you're stomachs satisfied, tell your mouth to be quiet and carry on. No more snacking on fruit unless there's calories to spare.


"I feel faint/dizzy/starving, I need food NOW" (Afternoon energy crash)
Plan snack timing more effectively. Have some nuts, a piece of fruit, tuna or some ryvitas. Do not wait until after work to sneakily purchase chocolate or starchy breads. They'll only make things worse. And stay away from that stupid lolly jar.


"Oh, but I need some carbs" (In reference to the biscuit tin)
If thats the case, have a ryvita or a piece of rye toast. Do not give in to sugary starchy carbs like biscuits. They will not satiate- empty calories. Plus 6 biscuits spread out over the day still count as 6 biscuits. Stop being a goose.


"... but it's so yummy!" (In reference to dining out)
You know what else is yummy? A 6 pack and a cute toosh. Keep portions small if having a splurge and savour bites. Don't finish the plate. Stay away from rice, pasta and cheese. Don't go out starving and keep a clear head. Just because everyone else is gorging themselves, doesn't mean you're obliged to.


"I want it." (Shitty food in general)
Think about what you want more, a few moments of oral satisfaction, or a body that works properly and isn't reliant on sugar and fat to feel good? Break the cycle of wanting and having. Control yourself. It may be hard at first and you may get cranky, but it will be worth it once you're in control again.


"Can't I just lift heavy things instead of getting sweaty and gross in cycle?" (In reference to preferring pump class to spin class)
No. Whats the point of building all of that fabulous muscle if you don't burn the fat off thats currently covering it all up? Cardio works and you know it, and you even love it afterwards. Get in there and burn, baby burn. Get sweaty, who cares about greasy hair and pink cheeks.


"I havn't had enough sleep" (In reference to being a lazy bum)
Hate to break it to you, but that extra hour of sleep without exercise often leaves you feeling worse then less sleep with exercise. And you know it. No one's asking you to do extra if you're not up to it, but at least get the basics right. Get your butt out of bed, have a protein shake if necessary and get moving. Also, go to bed earlier, ninny.


External Excuses

"Works too busy to take a long lunch break for the gym"
... But what you really mean is "I hate getting home late so I'm just going to do everything in my power to leave work early". Bull. Make a sacrifice. You're in control.

"Can't eat properly tonight because I'm seeing such-and-such/ I have such-and-such to go to"

Where there's a will there's a way. Plan ahead, offer to cook. Pack extra snacks that could count as a meal. Learn to say no when things are practically thrust into your mouth. No one controls what and when you eat but you.

As you can tell, I'm a classic self-saboteur. Or shall I say I was. I no longer accept the above behaviour as my norm. No more biscuits and no more sneaky sugar. Shazam!

“It takes more courage to reveal insecurities than to hide them, more strength to relate to people than to dominate them…Toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles and an immature mind.”
- Alex Karras

Pushing through.

Today I weighed in, only to find that I’ve gained 1.5kgs since last Wednesday. Hows that for a kick up the ass?

The cause of my plateau is a mixture of complacency, laziness and dining out too often. I am a huuuuuge lover of food. Especially food made by someone else with greater culinary skills then myself. Anyway- recently, I’ve spent a lot of time socialising, a few birthdays, a few catch ups with old friends and just generally indulging more then usual and sadly, it’s really taking its toll. I’ve been hovering around the same weight for about 6 weeks, up and down within a few 100 grms, but this week my body retaliated and stacked it on. On top of that, a mixture of boredom and hunger at work has seen me reaching for the wrong foods- biscuits (last Friday I consumed 8 of the communal biscuits over the course of the day, yes, 8), chocolate, co-workers junk food etc. Its been disastrous- my self control seems to be have been slipping slowly and its finally becoming noticeable. So its time to cut the crap, and pull everything back in to line. 

And good lord, it’s hard! My heavy handed portions have re-stretched my stomach a little, so I’m back to getting hunger pains even after something that previously left me satisfied. I’m snacking too often (I should be having 300 cals worth of snacks per day- today I almost have 500cals worth). I know I’ll get past this point- my discipline for the past 4-5 months has been impeccable (excluding the past few weeks). If I keep it up, I know I’ll be at my goal weight well before Christmas. I currently have (as of today) 14.8 kgs to lose. My trainings fantastic- burning a butt load with all my extra sessions, unfortunately its a bit all for nothing with an imperfect diet.

I’ve been getting a lot of “You’re being to hard on yourself!!” from various people lately- but really, I don’t think thats true. Right now I’m at the exact spot where I slipped a few years ago and reversed all of my hard work. I’m so determined not to let that happen again that I need to analyse myself and figure out why here- again.  I want to go further with this then I’d ever initially thought I would. I’m setting big goals for myself- and I intend to achieve them, damnit!

New Kicks.

How could I not gloat about these ;)

Training Plan-Week 10

Hardcore? Yes. Ambitious? Yes. Awesome? Yes.

Monday

• 6.20am Amelia Burton Treadmill Workout 
• 7am RPM class
• Lunchtime Yoga class

Tuesday

• 6.20am Amelia Burton Treadmill Workout
• 7am Les Mills Body Pump class (45mins)
• Lunchtime Cycle class

Wednesday

• 6.20am Amelia Burton Treadmill Workout
• 7am Boxing class OR RPM class
• Lunchtime Les Mills Body Pump class (45 mins)

Thursday

• 6.20am Amelia Burton Treadmill Workout
• 7am Les Mills Body Pump class (45mins)
• Lunchtime Boxing class

Friday

• Sleep in!
• Lunchtime Kickboxing

Saturday

• Rest!

Sunday Smash Session

• 9.15am High Performance Cycle
• 10.30am Full Body Pump class
• 
  

The treadmill workouts I've slotted in this week to a. prepare me to not kill myself on the City to Surf and b. Shake up routine.

I don't run because I've never liked it. I love the idea of it, but that love has never translated well from theory to practise. I know that can change- and I'm ready to make it happen.

Catch up

Hello neglected blog. Have you missed me pretties?
Well I'm still here, and for the most part kicking ass. I've plateued weight loss wise (I've hovered around 77-78kgs for 6 weeks now)- a lot of it comes down to what I'm putting in my mouth and a lack of rest. 
The two are linked of course- Erin doesn't sleep enough, Erin gets tired, Erin reaches for lollies/coffee/biscuits to keep energy levels peaked at work. It's an odd cycle to pick up, because even when I was obese, I never had a sugar habit persay. My vices were always fried and carbalicious- chocolate was never my thing. It's also definitely because I'm expending more energy now. For the past few weeks I've been pulling double sessions at the gym on work days- to deal with stress mainly, and to also shake up my routine a little. This means early mornings, long lunches plus staying back at work too make up hours because of my long lunches (worth it). This would be fine- however combine this with an influx of late nights due to catching up with old friends, new friends and just generally being a procrastinating douche bag- I end up running on 5-6 hours worth of (disrupted) sleep per night.
Plus I've been eating out a lot- and have been failing to say no to dessert and other delicious tidbits. My tastebuds are loving it- my butt, not so much.
So my focus for whats rest of this round (and dear god, where have the past 3 months gone??) is balance.
Yes, I still intend to go hard in my training (I'll post the weeks plan), but also intend to fuel things properly with enough sleep and good nutrition. I need to re-discipline myself in so many areas, but I know that it's possible. I managed it last round with fantastic results, I've just got to get my mental mojo back.
Bam!