Hi Everyone -

Sorry I dropped off - Uni is already flogging me!

Ani: That sucks about having to move. But I hear from my Auntie that Freeo is a really beaut spot, and who knows, it might change everything for the better. These things usually have a way of working out.

LittleKiwi: A Travel agent? That is cool - I thought about becoming one of those. (My career plan changes weekly!) And I really am sorry to hear about your friend's mum. It is good of you to be there for them both.

Augigi: I know what you mean about CalorieKing!! I still haven't worked out the quirks and jerks of it, but I am soooo happy that it caters for Aussies!!

Vonni: At least all that extra mopping is probably doing wonders for your arms!
I would put on some groovy music and use my mike/mop to sing my way through the house (with the occasional guitar solo of course )

Woo. Things are going pretty well over here. Because the plan I'm on is quite strict, I am saving money!! Because I find myslef reaching for cokes, or lollies or whatever, and I'm not allowed them, so I don't buy them! It's also making me notice how often I do that without realising.

Ok, off for my first accounting lecture. boohoo. lol.

Kylie

Yay - I'm not going to be homeless in three weeks. I loved the house, and the area it is in… close the the river AND the beach, and just five minutes down the road from Freo! So the drudgery of packing, moving, cleaning etc is about to get underway.

How lucky am I? I was listening to the radio here yesterday morning, and there were people phoning in and crying because they'd been looking for a place to rent for months and had no success. It took me less than a day … but as I said yesterday, it was a friend of a friend, not a real estate agent!

My weight loss is going well this week. I feel really motivated, and determined to do well - and have eaten well and exercised quite a bit.

Kylie it's good to hear from you. I thought about you last night and wondered where you were.

Kathy and Barb - are you lurking? I hope everything's OK with you both.

Hope everyone else is doing well, and feeling inspired.


Ani

congrats on the house find Ani. Make sure though that your comp is the last to be packed or we'll miss you round here. So glad to see you so motivated.

I been wondering where Cite is too! Seemed to just drop off the edge of the planet. Hope all is well with them.

I've been a little slack and feeling frumpy the past week. DH can't seem to get it that I NEED to walk. He gets sulky. Like I exist purely for him and it's selfish of me to want to go for a walk alone and clear my headspace while exercising. In saying that, I haven't had much walking happening. Probably once in the past week.

Little Kiwi - Do you stay places as a famil to suss venues for future sales? Lucky you if you do.

Kylie the mopping might be all the exercise I get for a while. So I'll get that music out I think. I taped an aerobics session from Austar the other day but was a bit to fast paced for me. Might try my luck with a different one. The one I taped was a funk with Madoona someone. Trust me, I'm no dancer at the best of times let alone at high speed. I looked like a defective orangutan.

Must go. Wonder how Lindor is going with her week away?

Cheers
Vonni

Congrats on the house Ani! Sounds great! Lucky you to get it sorted so fast in this rental market!

This week, I'm using calorie king to refine my protein/carb/fat intake. I'm flying a little blind, but just plan to try different combinations until I find the best one for me for weight loss and just in how they make me feel in terms of training and hunger.

Worked out for the last week I had: 64% (50-60) carbs, 22% (15-20) protein and 14% (<30) fat. That is quite low-fat but still reasonably high-carbs. So this week I'm trying to increase my protein and decrease my carbs. I'm aiming for 40-50% carbs, 20% fat, 30% protein.

It's quite obsessing working this stuff out - glad CK does it easily and lets you review the averages for the week etc!! Also interesting to check your nutrient intake of sodium, potassium, calcium, iron etc. Really makes me horrified to think of what I have been putting in my poor body for years though...!

Oh - spent more money and bought a fancy-schmancy heart rate monitor watch too so I can try to monitor my training a bit better.

Hey guys

Just a real quickie as i am soooo tired at the moment. I will chat to you all hopefully tommorow but just wanted to let you know that i am still lurking.

I am overwhelmed at the moment with Uni. My work load already is gi-normous and i am really tired. I think i haven't quite worked out when to study, eat, iron, shop, cook, clean etc etc all in the week. My life is upside down and i quite literally am buggered. I am lucky DH is helping with the domestics but i can't seem to catchup on even week 2 stuff at uni and it will be week 3 in a blink. Soooo much reading and then the questions even before i get to the lectures or the tutorials. Enough wingeing as i knew it was going to be a challenge with my already crazy life....i just need to re-organise stuff and i'll be right i'm sure(or hope)!

Weighed in at WW today...only lost 0.5kg this week. I have had a crazy week with food(disorganisation springs to mind) so i am happy i even lost.

Must go and read about Nursing Research, Methods, Appraisal and Utilization...does that sound thrilling....not!!!!

Hey Leeny!!

I only started Uni last year, and for a while I thought I was going to go mad...who has the energy to clean the house after all that rushing around all day? And DH/bf/SO would rather you sit and talk to them than do your readings etc etc etc. !! Don't Panic!

Although I am no role model for organisation, I reckon planning your day and your week is absolutly the best thing you can do to manage your time. I write in my lecture/tute times, then work times, then AIESEC committments, then gym times, and then you can see where you have left over to study. Doesn't seem to leave much does it!! A little less sleep, a little more coffee, and prepacked, precooked, healthy meals and snacks will get you through.

Good Luck with it love, you'll feel better when you get on top of it, and into something of a routine.

Kylie

Hi girls,

Just a quick check-in (I feel like the worst friend as I have hardly any time to spend on here anymore), so I do apologise for not doing personals (as usual)...but I have been lurking and catching up on everything. Glad you found such a great place to live Ani!!

Lost another 1.5kg this week. I really didnt think I had because I have been getting the munchies due to my fertility meds (which arent working by the way!), so have a few "extras" - mostly pretzels and cheese. But, it seems I havent done any damage, so am relieved for that. On week 3 of Lite N Easy now and still enjoying the food for the most part. I just really like how I dont have to obsess over everything Im putting in my mouth. I dont have to think that much about it at all, and that keeps me from feeling deprived. Its just something I can do for the long-term and not feel like Im on a diet, so thats been really good for me. Still not ovulating and that has gotten me quite upset. I feel like my body has completely failed me as we have been trying now for 5 months and I have not ovulated ONCE in that time! Ive lost 6kgs now total, so am hoping that might get things started again in the near future. In the meantime, we're taking a break. Im really over all the temping, charting, drug popping, emotional rollercoaster, and even the sex! For my own sanity, I need a break. I really dont know how people do this for years ans years....

Anyway, sorry for a bit of a whinge...feeling sorry for myself a bit (as you can tell). Off to make the little man his breakfast - has got a chest infection, so has been keeping me up at night as he has been waking on the hour for the last couple of nights...

Proud of all your weight loss achievements girls! Keep it up!!

Britt

Hey Britt I think a break might do you the world of good. Sometimes it's the pressure you put yourself under that stops you from falling pregnant. I have a niece who couldn't fall pregnant, so she and her husband went through IVF. It was a long, horrible and stressful process - but eventually they had a successful IVF pregnancy and a baby. Less than a year after he was born she fell pregnant by 'accident' and now they have a second child.

You're doing an amazing job with your weight loss - I'm really proud of you, and maybe this is the time for you to concentrate on becoming more healthy. Let that weight fall off you, and who knows what lies ahead for a smaller, healthier Britt. I think it will be awesome!

leeny, slow down! You sound almost out of breath . I know that the first semester of Uni can overwhelm you - they just throw you in at the deep end and expect you to cope. I completely agree with Kylie about planning - I found that when I was at Uni, time management made the difference between sanity and becoming overwhelmed.

My ear/throat infection is back with a vengeance. I'm in no doubt that it's because of the stress of having to move - and all the associated stuff. It's bad enough when you need to move house, but having to relocate a business AND a menagerie as well… blurk!

But I'm determined to keep this weight loss journey on track. I have set myself the goal of reaching 90kg by the end of March - and I intend to get there!

Hope everyone is having a good week.


Ani

I agree Britt - I know SO many people who've either a) stopped trying and fallen pregnant naturally or b) lost weight and become pregnant naturally. This way, you can focus on you and getting healthier, and give your body a break as well. More time to enjoy the little one you've already got!

Leeny, don't forget that there are lots of resources available at uni for "returning to study" workshops etc. Mature age students tend to work much harder than first-timers! I found the most helpful hint at uni was to follow your unit outlines to guide your study - don't read or study EVERYTHING, just the important stuff! I agree that it gets much easier as you get into a routine as well. I remember all the useless crap we studied in first year (nursing theory/framework etc), so I don't envy you.

Then again, my masters subject this semester is Research Methodology, so I don't envy me either!!

Had a work lunch thing today - had a nice seared prawn salad, only 350 calories. Whew.

Hey ladies

Congrats Ani on the new place! As they say, a change is as good as a holiday and I'm sure everything will go well for you.

I had a boxing session at the gym last night and my shoulders and arms are really feeling it today. I seem to be able to get the exercise part right but while my diet isn't too bad, I really should be losing weight and I think that there are areas in my diet that could be improved upon. Will take my measurements some time this weekend and hopefully there will be a change there.

I've checked out this calorie king website that you've all mentioned but it seems that you have to live in Australia to use it

I don't know if I had a 'day off' or an 'off day' yesterday, but I think I did everything wrong. I ate too much, did no exercise and didn't drink enough water. It's TOM again, and it was one of those days where I felt hungry from the time I woke up until I went to bed.

Oh well - new day today, and I'm going to start it by going for a walk.

At the moment I am experiencing that horrible limbo feeling. I no longer have any interest in being here, but I have another two and a half weeks until I can move to my new home. I'm feeling lethargic about it all - I know I need to organise moving-type things, yet I feel really tired.

LittleKiwi I wish I could do boxing. I have a friend who did her training with a boxing instructor for two years. She lost 30kg and got super-fit. I'm not allowed to because of my back, but I'm really glad you're enjoying the benefits.

Anyway - must get walking! Have a great day everyone.


Ani

Wore an old suit today that hasn't fitted me for at least a year and a half! And it's loose!

Hello all!!!

I'm back and I am buggered!!!

It's been a long week and unfortunately the diet and healthy choices went out the window and exercise simply did not exist!!

The course I went to was well presented and more helpful than I expected it to be, so it wasn't as bad a week as I had expected.

I am still to read over all your posts from the week...from a quick glance it looks like some of you have had some stuff to deal with!!!

I will read up and respond appropriately after a shower and tidy up and after the dogs and cat have reassured themselves that I am sticking around for a while!!!

For now, just wanted to say I was back

Welcome back Lindor!! I'm glad the week went well for you, in regard to brain food at least!

Augigi!!!! That must be such a great feeling to get into that suit! Wow - I cant wait to have an NSV like that...I am so happy for you!

I have been busy giving lecture presentations at Uni, along with attending my own lectures, manning stalls, and finally presented an Information Session today about AIESEC. woo! We had about 30 people turn up, which was more than we expected. Phew. I am glad this week is over!

I went to my first BodyBalance class tonight...was just what I needed. It's Tai Chi, Pilates and Yoga rolled into one, I feel so limber and relaxed now, in fact I didn't even get mad at the dodgy drivers on the way home!

My meal replacement stuff is really working! I am feeling really good, I think I may have lost a bit of baggage from my hips, and there have been no negative effects AT ALL. It's really motivating to feel changes.

Hope everyone is feeling GREAT!!!!

Kylie

Good to see you're back safe and sound Lindor

I finally heard back from Coles Express customer relations about that incident in the petrol station. They are claiming that the rude pr!ck was just trying to suggestive sell chocolate to me - so I went off my head at them. I told them that if they weren't prepared to run a No Fat Chicks campaign, I would do it on their behalf, and let the whole world know that Fat Chicks shouldn't go to Shell/Coles Express service stations.

Now I am writing to the board members of Coles Myer - and I want to go and graffiti No Fat Chicks on the service station. Trouble with that little strategy is they'd quickly figure out it was me