Goals for the Next 6 Weeks

Week 7 = 1.5kg
Week 8 = 1.5kg
Week 9 = 1.5kg
Week 10 = 1.5kg
Week 11 = 1.5kg
Week 12 = 1.5kg
= 9 kg

My goal over the next 12 weeks is to go from 89kg to 80kg, from a size 16 to a 14 and to fit into all my size 14 clothes! I know I can do this and this is how I will do it:

My plan is to stay under 1200 calories EVERY DAY of the week and to not snack other than my usual apple and mandarine a day.

Mondays:
6am - 40mins on X-Trainer
4.50pm - Core (15minutes on stepper before class)

Tuesdays:
6am - 40mins on X-Trainer
5pm - BIKE
5.50pm - PUMP

Wednesdays:
6am - 40mins on X-Trainer
5pm - BIKE
5.50pm - PUMP

Thursdays:
6am - 40mins on X-Trainer
4.50pm - PUMP

Fridays:
6am - 40mins on X-Trainer
5.30pm - KIMAX

Saturdays:
8am - KIMAX
9am - BIKE
10am - PUMP

Halfway Mark - Week 6

This week was my 3rd week in my new job, I have set up 8 houses fully with all items needed to live in them, its been so full on and pretty tiring, but at the end of each day this week I have made my way to the gym and I can HONESTLY say that I havent had BURSTS of motivation (apart from Wednesdays weigh in which was 89 kg! Finally back in the 80's!).

This weeks' mindset lesson is on motivation. Michelle talked about not needing to be wound up and pumped to exercise or eat right, she talked about needing to be CONSISTENT. Take the emotion out of exercising, take the "I dont FEEL like exercising" and turn it into "this is just part of my routine". I'm proud of myself for making exercise simply a part of my day, finish work, get changed, drive to the gym, exercise for 1-2 hours, come home, prepare healthy low cal dinner, clean up, shower, bed.


This has become a part of my life and I now dont NEED to be motivated to get fit (then stay fit), after I achieve my goal I wont have the same motivation I have now which is to get fit and toned, once I'm fit and toned having the attitude that EXERCISE is a part of my life and I will consistently turn up to exercise.



TOOLS for Success:
1. Flex your willpower muscle (didnt know if I could keep going some days this week during a class but I FLEXED my willpower muscle and did it anyway!)
2. DONT THINK! - Go into ROBOT mode! Dont think about things, just make things a habit
3. 10 MINUTE RULE - Days I dont feel like training, adopt 10 minute rule, just do 10 minutes and if I dont really feel like training - its all about turning up and getting it done
4. JFDI - Just Freakin' Do It!! 

Anyway, will post again in a minute with my goals for the last 6 weeks. So far I've lost 4kg and now fit nicely into my jeans and denim short skirt.

Week One & Two Over - 1kg lost!

Well, week one and two are down and am now doing week 3!

Week One went very well and I lost 1kg, worked my BUTT off (literally!), burning at least 1000calories each day and sticking to my calorie count.

Week Two started well but I came down with a viral chest infection and by Wednesday afternoon I was not feeling well (meaning I was coughing my guts up, nose was running like mad and head pounding).

I had Thursday and Friday off work (and gym), lost another 200g! Saturday & Sunday I also spent relaxing  and dosing myself up on everything, garlic, vitamin c, olive leaf extract etc etc.

Today I went to work still not feeling 100%, left at 10.15am to go see my doctor who suggested I spend the day in bed tomorrow to try and get over this thing.

I dont know how much exercise I'll be able to do this week, might only be a Saturday Super Session.

I learnt from this experience that you cant expect so much from your body without putting back into it what it needs. I was doing all this exercise and eating right but wasnt taking anything to build up my immune system. From now on I'll be taking my multi vitamin, olive leaf extract & garlic tablets daily to prevent another set back.

Anyways, will get back to relaxing and focusing on getting well.

Before Photos - finally taken and uploaded

Ok so I finally got James to take my before pictures, first try they were too dark so these are the second ones, it was embarassing getting him to take the first ones, by the second time I just didnt care! I want to win this and want to achieve AMAZING results!

I get paid today so will be able to shop for the rest of the week and I get next week's plan tomorrow so can also shop for that, am hoping I'll be spending less now that I have the menu all planned and set out.

On Saturday I'll do a big cook up for next week (especially Tuesdays and Wednesdays as I'm at the gym until nearly 7pm).

Anyway, here are the photos:

I know the pictures are pretty depressing but I'm feeling very motivated (obviously!) and know I can do this!

Today was weigh in day for week 1, I havent lost any weight yet BUT I havent fluctuated either which is a new for me!! Woohoo!

Anyway, off to work I go, then I have PUMP & BIKE tonight, burnt an awesome 1050 yesterday and only ate 1086!

The Transformation Begins!!

Yesterday was the beginning of the 12 week transformation and I'm really proud of myself for doing so well!

I stuck to 1200 calories (just under actually) and didnt snack when I got home from work which is something I would normally do.

I was super tired but still went to the gym, because its my routine now, its simply a part of my life! I did a 4pm BIKE class immediately followed by a tough CORE class and burnt a whopping 1,127 calories!! Which meant I only consumed 73 extra calories!! Looking forward to burning another 1200 calories or so in BIKE & PUMP tonight! Evidence of my effort below :-)

Oh and James took my before photos last night but they were too dark, will have to get him to take them again tomorrow morning, I really want them to be as accurate as possible so I can be judged and possibly win the transformation!!

Anyway, must go check the vegies I'm baking right now for a lovely healthy low calorie meal of baked vegetables with a seasoned lamb cutlet mmmm yummy!

Visit to my doctor!

Ok I just have to say I went to my Doctor on Tuesday to get a blood test to check my Iron and Vitamin D and as we were talking I told her I would be going off the pill in December after I lose 35kg so I can "stop preventing pregnancy". She thought this was a GREAT idea and encouraged me in my goals. I also talked to her about immunisations before I get pregnant and she suggested I get checked for Rubella immunity and Whooping Cough immunity and that we would need to test now!

I'll be getting a blood test next week and will know if I need iron and vitamin D. 

I'm really excited now, even my doctor is excited for me and is supportive of my weightloss goals :-) Cant wait to go for my pre-conception test and see the look on her face when she sees how much weight I've lost!

Pre-Season Task 8 - Measure Up

Ok, this is the final task and its all about MEASUREMENTS - arrrrgh!

Basically I need to take all my measurements so I can track my progress, I dont have a problem taking the measurements its just the BEFORE PHOTO I'm really embarassed about because it has to be in my underwear and James has to take it, I told him he just needs to snap a picture and NOT look at it but he said he has to to check its ok, he said dont worry honey I've seen it all!

When I first told him and warned him of HIS task which was to take my picture he just said he'll be looking at me through the eyes of faith! Oh I do love my man :-) I wonder sometimes how he can find me attractive at the moment, I guess he knows I'm working on it and remembers what I WAS like a few years ago.

Anyway, here are my measurements:

Weight = 92cm

Chest =  104cm

Arms = 40 (L) 38 (R)

Widest (Hips) = 119cm 

Thighs =  71cm

I will get James to take my before photo tomorrow and post it here.

So, Task 8 is nearly done and WEEK ONE opened on Thursday, I've already bought ingredients for Monday & Tuesday and will do the rest of my shopping Wednesday next week! The meals look nice and healthy and I cant wait to get started!

Pre-Season Task 7 - Organise & Diarise

This task was all about organising and diarising EVERYTHING!
Last week I ordered my ITS ALL ABOUT ME JOURNAL and received it yesterday!
Honestly, its the best journal, its small enough to fit in my handbag, has one page for exercise one page for food intake.
Its great and accurately records everything.

I've gone through and penciled or rather PENNED (so it cant be rubbed out) in what I will be doing each day for the next 12 weeks.

This task is DONE! Cant wait to get my meal plan for Week 1 tomorrow!!

Pre-Season Task # 6 - Kitchen Makeover

This task is about clearing out my kitchen of all the tempting crap food that has been holding me back, and restocking it with the right foods!

I checked out my fridge/pantry and really dont have that much to get rid of! We generally eat really healthily and the bad stuff is more the things we buy on weekends.

Anyway, when I get the meal plan I'll add more about diet.

Pre-Season Task #5 - Say it out Loud!

This task is all about making a commitment to myself, and a commitment to others. 

Michelle asked us to voice our goals, saying them out loud to family, friends and colleagues.

The first person I voiced my goals to was James, he told me he wouldnt be surprised when I achieve my goal of 15kg in 12 weeks but he would be PROUD because he knows if I put my mind to something I'll achieve it!

The second person was to my bestest buddy and long time gym buddy Megsy who is ALWAYS so supportive and believes in me and helps make my workouts so much more fun than if I was doing it by myself.

Jo, my gorgeous big sister was the next one I told, she asked me when I would be getting preggers and I said I was about to start a 12 week challenge and planned to lose 15kg, then do another challenge to lose another 15, and lose the other 5 in between rounds! She told me she knew I could do it and said she couldnt wait to see me at the end of the year in a bikini!!!

Next person I told was my darling Mumsy! As always she's ALWAYS supported me and I cant wait to fly home and surprise her and show off my new ME!!

I told one girl from work who was excited for me and went to see my doctor yesterday who I told about the challenge and my goals at the end of the year of going off the pill and letting what happens happen!!! She was very supportive and wished me luck!!

So, here I am putting it out there, saying out loud what my goals are for the next 12 weeks:

I, Danielle Amee, commit 150% to giving this program my ALL! I commit to working out 6 days a week and going until my tank is empty. I commit to following Michelle's plan to the letter and not waver from it.

I will do EVERYTHING I possibly can to lose 15kg in 12 weeks.

I like this  quote:

 "There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstances permit. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results."

I WILL NOT BE ACCEPTING EXCUSES, ONLY RESULTS!!

Pre-Season Task #4 - Gear Up! DONE!!

This task was all about preparing for the next 12 weeks worth of exercise.

I had already purchased new Saucony shoes (will post a picture of my gear soon), I bought my Heart Rate Monitor last year but recently replaced the batteries.

I am already a member of a gym so all I needed to do was work out what I would be doing and what classes/times I would be attending, basically this is what my schedule is looking like:

MONDAY:

AM = 40 minutes on X-Trainer

PM = 4.50pm CORE class

TUESDAY:

AM = 40 minutes on X-Trainer

PM = BIKE Class 5pm then PUMP class 5.50pm

WEDNESDAY:

AM = 40 minutes on X-Trainer

PM = BIKE Class 5pm then PUMP Class 5.50pm

THURSDAY:

AM = 40 minutes on X-Trainer

PM = PUMP 4.50pm

FRIDAY:

AM = QUICK RESULTS 6.20am

PM = KIMAX 5.30pm

SATURDAY:

AM = KIMAX 8am then BIKE 9am

SUNDAY: REST DAY

So thats TASK 4

SUPER SATURDAY SESSION!!!

Ok I just want to say I'm PROUD of myself!!!

Yesterday, I started off the morning with a KIMAX (boxing/kickboxing) class, and each Saturday I normally do a KIMAX class and have recently started doing a BIKE class after, I decided to not only do BIKE but to go all the way and do a PUMP class and then a YOGA/PILATES class too!!!

I burnt a whopping 1800 calories and worked until my tank was empty! I'm proud of myself for NOT making excuses, proud of myself for going further than I have before, and most of all proud of myself for challenging myself and not even once considering giving up! 

I have found I have an inner strength and determination I didnt know was there!

Looking forward to many more power sessions and to working hard to achieve my goals in the next 12 weeks!!

Pre - Season Task #3 - Take Control, Set your Goal!

Ok next task is all about GOAL SETTING!!

Here are my goals:
1 month = 5kg and fitting into my size 16 clothes
3 months = 15kg and fitting into ALL my size 14 clothes (loosely)
6 months = 30-35kg and fitting into ALL my size 10 clothes
9 months = Fit into my size 8 clothes, go off the pill, and GET PREGNANT!! WOOHOO!
12 months =  Stay fit during pregnancy, try not to put on any weight except baby weight, start studying fitness cert

So, there it is, my goals for the rest of this year and some of next year :-)

Pre-Season Tasks #2 "Get Real - No More Excuses"

Well, with Pre-Season Task One out of the way (basically just to introduce myself to other members on the forum), I'm now up to number two!

Basically this task is about taking responsibilty for the excuses I make and having a solution in the event I make these excuses:

1. Internal Excuses

I've been working all day, am too tired
I cant be bothered
I'll just have today off and work out tomorrow
I need to stay home to make dinner
I have a headache
I simply just dont feel like it.

Solution:

I've been working all day, am too tired = GET OVER IT! YOU'LL FEEL BETTER AFTER YOU HAVE WORKED OUT

I cant be bothered = THINK OF THE NEW SEXY ME!

I'll just have today off and work out tomorrow = IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOU MUST BE CONSISTENT

I need to stay home to make dinner = ORGANISE DINNER TO BE MADE THE DAY BEFORE/ASK HUBBY TO HELP

I have a headache = THE ONLY REASON YOU HAVE A HEADACHE IS BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN SITTING  ON YOUR  BUTT AT A DESK AND YOU NEED TO GET MOVING

I simply just dont FEEL like it = DO YOU FEEL LIKE STAYING FAT!

2. External Excuses

Its FREEZING
I'm too busy
I have too much cleaning to do
I have no spare time
I'm too tired

Solution:

Its FREEZING = put on some warm clothes and get to the gym, you'll be warm enough soon!

I'm too busy = other things can wait, its only 1 hour out of my day, get up earlier

I have too much cleaning to do = get the kids to help out more, the cleaning can always be done later, its only 1-2 hours max

I'm too tired - go to bed earlier

3. External Excuses

Sickness
Family Emergency
Taking Kids to appointments
Picking the kids up from school at a certain time

Solution:

Sickness = Even if I can go to the gym I can still take a refreshing walk and stick to my  calorie limit

Family Emergency = I can still stick to my calorie limit
Taking Kids to appointments around my class time = Do a morning class
Picking the kids up from school at a certain time = Do a later or earlier class

At the moment though, I havent been making excuses, I'm so motivated and determined I dont miss a day at the gym and have been working especially hard in my training.

Anyway, I've aired my "dirty laundry" so to speak and am signing off to get some much needed energy sleep!

Night

Signed up and raring to go!!!

Well, I took the leap! I signed up for the toughest but most rewarding 12 weeks of my life so far!
I plan on losing 15kg and am committed to following Michelle Bridges plan to the letter. No more excuses, no more procrastinating.

I want to get down a size 14 and get back into my wedding dress by the end of this round!

New ME here I come!

Anyway, will keep you posted, need my ENERGY sleep. After signing up for the 12wbt I went to the gym and burnt 940 calories (stepper and pump class) so I'm tired and sore.

Night 

Only 1 day to go!!!

Soooo excited! Only 1 day to go until I'm signed up and ready to start pre-season tasks in preparation for the 12 week body transformation!

I am so motivated  and will put in 150% over the next 12 weeks in order for me to achieve my goal of losing 15kg. If others can do it I CAN TOO!!

I know if I follow Michelle's plan to the letter and do EVERYTHING she tells me to, I'll lose the weight and before I know it, Round 2 will be over and I'll be ready to lose the rest of the weight (another 15-20kg ) in Round 3!!!

Over this Easter Long weekend I've been great in the exercise department but food hasnt gone too well.

I've decided over the next few weeks until the 12 weeks officially starts I want to lose 3kg between now and the 23 May (Round 2 kick off).

This is the year for me to succeed in something. I've tried and failed too many times and this time I'm READY! Ready to be consistent, ready to break through walls, ready to re-discover the new me.

Signing off for now,
Dani

THIS IS ME! I WILL NEVER GIVE UP!

The beginning of a new me!

Well, here goes!

I decided it was time for me to start journalling my weightloss journey over the next 8 months!

I'll start from the beginning of my journey 4 years ago when I started putting on weight.

It all started to happen when I met my wonderful husband James, at first, early on we would go for a lot of walks and were fairly active, I kept up my fitness regime of working out at the gym twice a day, 6 days a week and then it just all started going downhill. We became less active, I started going to the gym less and less and spending more time together. We started to develop a few bad habits like CHOCOLATE and SCI FI! We discovered a shared love for watching SCI FI and could sometimes spend hours watching it.

When we first met I was at my fittest, I was a fit size 8-10, 57-59kg, within 6 months I had gone up to a tight size 12, then a year later when we got married I was a size 14 and was up to about 75kg.

The FIT me!

We moved to Melbourne and I got a job as an Admin Assistant in an accounting firm and sat for 8 - 9 hours a day.

In Melbourne - Office jobs arent condusive to a healthy lifestyle

6 months of office work and virtually no exercise (minimal) I had gone from 80-90kg. We decided to move to Darwin and I made a pact I would lose the weight.

My first taste of HOT & HUMID Darwin weather - me at 90kg

 However, I got another full time role in admin and had much more responsibilty, 8-9 hours sitting again and I put on another 7 kilos.

I tried all sorts of eating plans, shakes, you name it, I tried it, what I lacked was consistency and determination.

9 months later we moved to Tasmania and I had reached my heaviest weight and size, 18 and now 97kg. 

Over the 2 years we had been married I had tried all sorts of things to lose weight, was consistent for a couple of weeks then dropped off. Then I'd try some stupid fad and then stop because it wasnt working.

Having been fit before I started putting on weight, I knew EXACTLY what I needed to do to achieve weightloss but I still kept trying all sorts of things to lose weight.I knew I needed to become SINGLE FOCUSSED.

I'd set goals, then not achieve them and started slipping into a bit of a pit of self pity and despair. I HATED the way I looked, couldnt stand going shopping, felt frumpy and old. I'm such a proactive person and getting to this point in my life was horrible, I'd always been the type of person who saw a problem and worked out a way to fix it, but couldnt seem to fix my OWN problem.

Last year sometime around August, James said to me "lets have a baby"! I had been waiting for him to say that to me and the day had come when he finally did say it, and I wasnt ready. I had decided I didnt want to fall pregnant until I had reached my fitness goals and wanted to go through pregnancy being fit and healthy!! I then felt like I had let myself down big time because if I had only lost the weight by now and achieved my goals I could be ready to start a family.

Still, I kept procrastinating, I started to change things and then fell back into old habits, I really wasnt serious.

It wasnt until I went away on holiday with James and the kids Christmas 2010 to QLD to be with my family for 2 weeks, looking back on the photos, I deliberately stayed "out of them", I was always the photographer and the photos I was in I looked fat and uncomfortable and didnt like what I saw.

It was then that I decided I didnt want to go back home the same as I was then. I wanted to be a new me by the time I went home again.

Me at my heaviest - 2010

Me at my heaviest - 2010

So, as soon as we got back home I started seriously exercisising, but still hadnt done a great deal about my diet. It wasnt bad, but I wasnt losing weight so something wasnt right.

I was doing all this exercise, burning massive amounts of calories and yet wasnt dropping ANY weight. Sure I wasnt putting any on, but it simply wasnt budging.

The last couple of weeks I've been working so hard at the gym and still hadnt been seeing the results.

So I decided it was time for something DRASTIC! I need structure and to have it all set out for me and all I need to do is simply follow instructions!

Thats when I decided I would sign up for Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation.

I am counting down the days now until Pre-Season starts and have decided to do this Round and the next Round.

I start on Wednesday 27th April 2011! Am so excited! 

My goals for the next 12 weeks are:

Lose 18kg = 1.5kg per week

Get down to a size 14 for our anniversary in July!

In the second round of 12 WBT I plan to:

Lose another 15kg

Get down to a size 10 by the end of the round!

I know I can achieve this, I have the determination, am putting in the hard work, I just need the structure!!

Anyway, thats it for now, many more updates to come!