Ani, I feel for you with the heat! I know I hate it!!! Why do I insist on living here!?!?

I think I prefer the cold - it is easier to warm up than cool down I think! If I didn't have airconditiong (and a bonus of an airconditioning reduction on my power bill during the warmer months, thanks to my job) I think I'd have left by now!

Actually think I'd like to move anyway...just have no idea where I'd go!

I can't put my finger on any one thing that really keeps me here. I used to use my house as an excuse. I use my job right now, but if I really think about it, I am capable of doing any kind of clerical job and they are easy enough to find anywhere.

And I am really getting tired of the small town mentality of the people here. Hard to do anything without people gossiping about it, and that annoys me because I am a private kind of person.

I'll stop whinging about it now...no doubt I'll be in the same place physically and mentally this time next year!

So I've just finished cooking up a batch of Potato Topped Chilli Con Carne. Three serves in the freezer and one in the fridge for tonight! I don't know what it tastes like yet because, by the way it smells, I know once I taste it I won't stop eating it!

Going to spend the rest of the day bludging now (with the exception of 30mins step-ups this evening)!

I know, Lindor - on days like this I wish I lived in Sweden :-).

Not only is it revolting outside, but humidity is at 46%. I stopped walking after 55 minutes today - I was lathered in sweat, and not from the workout, and started to feel a bit sick from the heat.

So whatever I do today will be in the loungeroom (except for going to the airconditioned supermarket in an airconditioned car)!

I'm having a home-made pizza today. I use lebanese bread - put tomato paste on (and then throw basil, chives and oregano on top of that), then capsicum, mushroom, tomatoes, spring onion and sundried tomato … then grate up some low-fat cheese. The way I make it, it's about 380-400 calories for the whole pizza, and it's yummy!

Then for dinner it will be low-fat chicken sausages (grilled) and a green salad – that's another 450 calories.

I must be bored - I'm talking about food!

Good on you for cooking up a storm! It's great to see you motivated and trying different things.

Right - off to the stupidmarket!

:-)
Ani

I'm forming a workout group in North Sydney (St Leonards Park near North Sydney cricket ground/bowling club on Ridge St.)

The plan is to hire a personal trainer from 6-7am between 3-5 days per week and split the cost between 5 people. (The cost is eqivelant to hiring a personal trainer once a week on your own).

I'm 28 y.o female whose goal is to shed 35kgs - so I'm looking for others with similar goals to form an ongoing work out group.

If you can commit to exercising with a group from February for at least 3 months then give me an e-mail [email protected] for a chat.

Love to hear from you,

Kelly

Six perfect days completed!!! Seven if I include last Sunday!!!

I struggled with my step-ups last night, I really didn't want to do them, but I forced myself! I am wondering if maybe I should allow myself one day off of them each week, because the one thing that was really weighing on me last night was the fact that I don't get a rest from them! So, starting today, I am going to add it onto my plan that Sundays are Step-up free days! I will continue to do my squats in the mornings though!

My meal last night was yummy! I'm going to be cooking up a Tuna Pasta dish tonight!

Right now though, it is coffee, breakfast and then off to do my share of overtime at work!

Have a great Sunday all!

Here we go - 3rd day in a row of 40ºC or more. How is it possible to live this close to Antarctica and have this sort of weather?

I'm getting really grumpy and it hasn't improved my mood to see that next weekend's forecast is for another 3 days of this bloody sweltering heat. Scrap grumpy… throw in my unpredictable hormones, and a sad lack of sleep over the last two nights, and I'm turning into Freddy Kruger's menopausal mother :-)

I have to work today, but I would like to go for a walk at some point - especially as tomorrow is weigh-in day. But here's the thing - does anyone have ideas about how you maintain a regular exercise regime in extreme weather? I've been hoping I could take advantage of daylight savings and walk in the cool of the evening - but the last two nights it has still been around 36ºC at 11pm. No chance!

Sorry - I don't mean to grumble quite so much. In terms of weight loss I've done pretty well this week sofar - not set the world on fire, but managed to reach my goals I set myself.

Barb, are you out there? Last time you posted you said you were struggling with your motivation - what's happening?

Alright, off I go to try and snap out of this mood and get myself moving.

:-)
Ani

Hey all

Yes it is hot here too but i don't think as hot....you win over there. The humidity is fairly gross though and i have no airconditioning. We thought about it once but every one i know say "no" don't do it...all the furniture and curtains etc. go mouldy. One of my girlfriends has one and her house always smells musty. We have ceiling fans and our lovely big pool out the back. I get up in the mornings and put on my swimmers and don't seem to get out of them for days. Lovely look my bikini but who cares at home and "i'm cool". Very embarrassing when someone pops in though. My parents did that yesterday and i quickly grab for a shirt and shorts...no-one else sees the flab!!!

Went off track for 2 days this week. I don't know what happened really. We even went for a drive up the range one day, stopped for an icecream and i had one too. Very nice when your hot, but not good for the diet. It's like i go for about 3 weeks and then my brain stops and i forget where i am going and what i am supposed to be doing...i rebel with the brain i think. Back on track yesterday and just had a sneaky weigh in as i know it would be up,.,,,yes,,up 0.8 from last Wed. Do...i must be good today. I too have not exercised...although you have been walking Ani and Lindor with the squats and steps(do some for me will you). I try and do some swimming but the kids get in the way and jump all over the place and i seem to stop. Maybe today...it is only supposed to be 32 today so thats a bit better. We may venture to the beach and i will force myself to walk. Went on Friday and got terribly sunburnt(thats make you evenhotter).

Need to go the "stupidmarket" as Ani puts it and get some school food supplies. Back to school tommorrow for one and Tues for the other. YEAH!!! I'm hoping i will get into some form of routine then and bakc on track totally again. I don't start Uni until 19th and i am hoping to get my house in some form of order by then as well.

Must away...still sitting in the PJs and it si 10.00am...no beds made and no breakie as yet. Have a nice weekend and find some shade somewhere ladies...xxxleeny

Hey leeny - I understand about the humidity. On top of our 40ºC we have a thunderstorm brewing off the coast, and coming in this afternoon so it's an extremely "pleasant" day here too. I really envy you having a pool.

I have a couple of small ponds – but even if I could fit in them I doubt my goldfish would appreciate the company!

I hope you're not going to get despondent about a few bad days. We all have them, and you have been really inspiring of late. Be patient with yourself, it will all come good!

I didn't walk this morning. The heat/humidity combination was a wee bit too much. I might drag my dumbells and stability ball into the lounge room this afternoon and do some exercises.

:-)
Ani

Hey girls, just a quick hello.

I've been so bad this week, wallowing and eating and all the wrong stuff too. I've decided to pull myself up by my bootstraps and get my life back on track again, and work on my health. so it means proper eating, no junk in the house, and plenty of water. I dont want to do it, but I'm going to do it so that I dont end up with diabetes complications, I'm sure its the diabetes that caused the miscarriage.

I'm going to start C25k as well, probably next week once dd is at school, that way I should have the time for a run after dropping her off. I have the first week downloaded on my MP3 and will download more onto my mobile so I'm not carrying 2 items plus keys when running. What does everyone carry their keys and phone etc in when they are running/walking?

Although I still feel numb from recent events, I have to pull myself back together, and I know I can do it with your help. You are a great group of girls and its a pleasure to know you.

chat soon.

Kathy

Hey Kathy,

I've been wondering how you are this week. I wouldn't beat myself up about having a bad week with food and stuff - not after what you have been through. I'm glad you dropped in here to let us know how you're travelling - you know we're always here for you .

We've had a bit of a cold snap this afternoon. It's almost 6.30pm and the temperature has dropped to 36ºC. I ended up walking for 1/2 an hour, but had to stop because I thought I was going to faint!

Hope everyone else has had a great weekend!

:-)
Ani

Leeny! Trust me (and I know you know anyway) you can pick yourself up after a few bad days! Don't beat up on yourself!!!

I think the heat is hitting everyone just now - although I think Perth has it hotter there than I have it here!

I tend to keep my exercises inside because it is just too hot outside for exercise nine months of the year here. Strange saying that considering I gave my exercise bike away which would have been, and was, an ideal way to exercise inside! I actually enjoy my step-ups in front of the TV for the most part.

Ani, have you considered getting yourself to one of your huge shopping centres first thing in the morning on the hot days and walking through that?? You'd just have to remind yourself every now and then of your reasons for being there and ignore the food and coffee outlets

Kathy, good to hear from you again! It is good to know you are holding up ok. As Ani said, we are here for you

I've had another good day! I actually feel relaxed in that I have given myself the day off of the step-ups. I actually thought I'd make myself do them out of guilt!

And for all those who thought I'd stick to my word and go two weeks without a weigh-in this week, I have decided I will weigh-in tomorrow!

I am quietly looking forward to it...is that a good thing???

I would have been surprised if you hadn't weighed in tomorrow Lindor - and given how good you've been I hope you get the right result on the scales.

It's an excellent suggestion to go walking in the shopping centre. We're meant to get another heatwave Friday-Sunday this coming week, so I will do just what you said. I'm not usually tempted by the food halls in those places, or the coffee shops for that matter, so I'm pretty confident I can do the right thing.

OK - I'm off to bed. My brain has turned to mush, and I'm hoping to get some sleep tonight. Mind you, it's still 33ºC right at the moment, so it still feels a bit hot yet, but I am way overtired from the heat of the last few days.

And I feel bloated. Maybe it should be me avoiding the scales in the morning!

:-)
Ani

Hey ladies!

I can't believe the heat that you guys are having to deal with, it's crazy! I've been complaining about the weather here this summer but that's because we've hardly had any warm weather so far. Lots of grey, rainy days and I'm so sick of it. Thankfully the weekend was quite nice and it looks lovely outside today .... long may it last. Really though, I don't envy you guys having to deal with temperatures in the 30's.

I didn't get to the gym on Friday .... instead I went home from work and was in bed asleep by 7:30pm! Saturday I went for a 50 minute walk which was good and my eating was well under control the whole time too.

Last night I cooked up a huge batch of chicken & vegetable stir fry so that's lunch sorted for the next couple of days. Bought lots of lovely fresh salad veges too so that will be dinner.

Back into the gym tonight and will give the running a nudge again. Here's hoping that the scales will have gone down or at the very least, stayed the same!

Keep up the good work ladies

I lost 0.7kg this week - weighed in at 94.5kg. Mind you, for the past two months I've been yo-yoing between 94-96kg and it's getting a bit frustrating. I know that some of it has to do with TOM coming so frequently, and now the 40ºC+ days (both things make me retain fluid) - but I must be doing something wrong.

I reached 95kg on 11th December - and here it is seven weeks later, and I've only lost a further 0.5kg.

If I can find any time today I am going to sit down and try and tweak things a bit. Maybe it's time I changed things around, and included swimming in my exercise regime. I might also need to drop down to 1600 calories a day if I can manage it.

Little Kiwi, you're sounding motivated - good for you! I hope you have a great week and see some positive results for your weight loss.

How did everyone else go?

:-)
Ani

I'm feeling really depressed now...it's going to be tough to be good today...this week!!

After staying spot on track all week, no slip ups, no cheats!! I jump on the scales this morning and nothing changed!!!! Still sitting on 83.5kg

I would have been better off not weighing in this morning.

Ani, well done on the drop! Try not to feel too discouraged with it. You are doing everything right...your body and the scales will join the party soon enough.

I need to listen to my own words right?

Alright, going to work hard on being good today! It's been seven days straight now...wouldn't it be sad to ruin my run now?

Staying the same weight in a week is not a bad thing!

Staying the same weight in a week is not a bad thing!

Staying the same weight in a week is not a bad thing!

Staying the same weight in a week is not a bad thing!

Staying the same weight in a week is not a bad thing!

When you think about it, it's bizarre that we spend a whole week making decisions about our health - sometimes several times every day. Yet when it comes to measuring the success or otherwise of those decisions we rely on a very flawed external measure – the bathroom scales.

Was it a good week for you Lindor? You bet it was - you ate well, made healthy food choices, did some exercise…

Scales are only a snapshot. They don't divide mucle/fat/water – they just average it out for us. So there's no way to know if your step-ups have built muscle (which weighs heavier than fat) - a tape measure would tell you that much more accurately than the scales.

I know I'm retaining fluid, and I have a suspicion that TOM is on its way again. Can my scales know that? Not a chance.

But what I do know is this. I weigh 10.5kg less than I did six months ago. My waist and hips measure 11cm less than they did last August. I can walk for an hour without too much effort almost every day. My clothes are beginning to feel loose.

And while I weigh myself every day, I will not be a slave to those numbers. Of course I would LOVE to be able to move into the low 90s, and then progress down through the 80s. I will do that - but in the meantime I intend to enjoy every other benefit that my new lifestyle is giving me.

Now I'm off for a walk. Humidity is 65% this morning (hideous) and thunderstorms are lurking - so I'd better get on with it.

Chin up mate - we'll get there.

:-)
Ani