Gen it is so hard when you change your routine - and especially when you consider that you've recently quit smoking. For me, the whole moving/weird housemate/new routine has really had a big impact.

I was tempted to hide my scale when I started to lose my way (after I moved here), but I realised that no matter what the scale didn't see, my body was still recording every decision; good, bad and indifferent.

When are you going to America? Maybe it's worth setting a goal to lose a few kilos before you go, and that might give you some new incentive.

One of the girls from our Biggest Loser group is coming to look at the house today. She works in the city so it might be a bit far away for her to live here - but it would be cool if she did move in for a while, because her weight loss has stalled - and maybe we can inspire each other.

At least she works!

It's raining here today and there's a sever weather alert for Perth, so I don't feel like walking. I'm going to put my back brace on and vacuum and mop the whole house though - that should give me a decent workout!

Tomorrow I will get started on my new plan too. I know I have gained weight again this week - blurk! But I'm determined to drop that 5kg during sprint and jump right back on this wagon.


Ani

Hey Kel, sorry - I wasn't ignoring you. My routine doesn't go out the window, but I imagine when you have a partner, baby and friends to catch up with, you are suddenly at the mercy of other people, and their needs.

Maybe it's worth just setting yourself some goals. Or maybe rope other people in to working with you on going for walks or doing something that YOU want to do.

In any case I want to know what your plan is for getting to 80kg

my hubby really good but we dont go for walks on the weekend and that is when i am most likely to be naughty at lunchtime... which is funny coz i spend all week doing lunch with a different friend every day..... we go to pubs and cafes and all sorts of places but it never seems as bad as on the weekend.... benji also does a lot of stuff for me so i get lazy on the weekends and TOTALLY take advantage of him taking over some of the baby stuff so i can think about other stuff
only kinda works i usually just tell him what to do with the baby!

i am getting my doctor brother to find out more about me doing a modified type optifast diet while breastfeeding, but think i am just going to kick my arse into gear and THINK ABOUT SUMMER! if i only lose 5kg in spring i will still be a whale by summer time, so my hubby and my baby will be gorgeous in their togs at the beach and i well not so!

want to see jemima's first touch of the ocean? http://www.totsites.com/tot/jemimaalice
the photos are in the 6 month and beyond section

how did the flatmate hunting go?

gen YOU have to get back into it so that you look and feel awesome for OS.

damn
brother just got back to me.
cant do optifast, he made it pretty simple for me to understand
i starve then the baby starves.

Hi everyone. 97.1kg. Ahem.

Will come back later when my face stops being so red.

please tell me there is a typo and you mean 87.1kg??

Well, my number is not a typo, so I'll just sit here and die of shame and horror!

Then I'll get back on the horse. Sigh. Why do I always f up my little victories?

I'm up again too Kylie - gained 0.6kg this week. This stops NOW for me!

Does anyone want to join my Spring challenge? Kel, it doesn't have to be that you try and lose 5kg with me, it just means you set your own goals, and we challenge and support each other to reach them.

My goal is to be 81.8kg by the end of November. It's just less than a pound/week, and it means I have to call on those qualities that got the first 18kg off: courage, motivation, patience, determination, and stubbornness!

I have managed to lose a whole 1.2kg throughout winter - but I hope I have learned enough about myself, and can use that information to translate into further successful weight loss.

This week's goals are:

• Eat 1600 calories every day;

• Walk for an hour/day;

• Do a few light weights & situps 4 times;

• Drink 1.5L water every day; and

• Report in here every day.

I have found a new housemate - and to the surprise of almost everyone I know, I chose a straight man from all the applicants. I really like him, he's kind of quirky. He works full time, drives a souped-up Holden ute, collects antiques and fancies himself as a chef. He also has access visits with his 6-year-old daughter (who is very sweet), and takes her to his parents every second weekend.

So fingers crossed that he turns out to be house trained and fun to share with.

At the very least it has taken a load off my mind financially - he's moving in this weekend.


Ani

Gen we must have been posting at the same time. What can we do to support you (this is for both you and Kylie), and encourage you to jump back on the wagon?

I know it's tough - especially to keep it up after the 'honeymoon' is over. Boredom sets in, we lose sight of what we want, or we trip over our emotional baggage.

Please don't give up! Your body won't stay the same if you ignore your weight loss. Come on girls - we'll do everything we can to support you.


Ani

No Kel, that's definitely 97.1kg

At first, I thought - Well bugger this, I might as well aim for the century...

But bf and I have sat down, planning healthy meals for the rest of the week. There is now a soft drink ban in this house, along with sweets, lollies, chips, cheese (addicted to triple cream brie) , etc etc etc. I will be scheduling time to go to the gym three times this week, and I will concentrate on drinking more water, too.

I will also be taking some photos of myself, but I won't put you all through that particular horror!

I think the Spring Challenge sounds like fun - its my Birthday on 4 November, so perhaps I should aim for some improvement by then?

Kylie

I'm here and red faced too. I am 71.8 grrr! No matter how hard I try to convince them otherwise.... chips and chocolate STILL won't be my friends!

Has anyone ever tried the rasberry heaven white choc??? It IS heaven lol. But that is the last of my indulgences for the week at least. I am going to still let myself have the occassional, that way I hope I won't binge.

Today I drank water and I had a sandwich for lunch. 2 small biscuits (tiny ones) for smoko. No junk yet. Curried snags for tea, and I have only had 2 coffees.

I have to fly, my son is whining at me to go take him to rep soccer training. And I have a migraine. Kylie thank you for MD info. Consider it taken on board. I've just started my note taking for assignment. I have 7 sunjects needing studying this week. about 20pages each workbook and lots and lots of reading. So I better pull my finger out and get dinner organised and get cracking.

Vonni xxx

It's a mental challenge for me, if my head is right then everything else follows. I don't know how to get it screwed on straight though!

Well, I may as well join the gainers club too!

Weighed in at 90.2kg this morning!!! I am not happy...although I was expecting something really disgusting like 96kg!!!

I am even more disgusted that I spent nearly $300 buying size 18 clothes over the weekend!!! This was SO not meant to happen!!!



I was chatting with someone last night and was asked about my weight loss. Went on my usual line 'Oh I've been a little slack these last few months and have gained a tad'.

I thought about that afterwards and a 'few months' of being off the wagon is in fact nearly a year!!! It started to crumble last September as I was adjusting to a new job...then came the BIG issues with my neighbours...then the stress of the sale of my house...the move...holidays...the concern of how long I'll have this place...other work stresses (including the death of a workmate)...FAMILY...etc!! It has just been one thing after another these last twelve months!

But I am with you Ani!! This stops NOW!



This morning I had my usual cereal and coffee for breakfast.

I walked to work (20 mins), I walked to the shop to get lunch (5 mins), I walked home from work this afternoon (20 mins again).

I had a sausage roll, an apple and 600mls diet coke for lunch (probably not the wisest choice).

I plan on something (semi)tasty from a cardboard box for dinner!

Water? Water!!! Damn...I've neglected my water today!!


The advantage of walking to work (other than the benefits of exercise) is I don't come home via the shops after work with a sack full of Pringles, TimTams, nuts and Iced Coffee!!! I am buggered if I am going to carry that home while walking!


So, I join you with the Spring Challenge! I also set myself a short term challenge of NO TIM TAMS, NUTS, PRINGLES or ICED COFFEE for the next seven days! I will expand on those seven days and make it fourteen if I am successful! To describe the intensity of that challenge...I have been living on that sh*t at least four days a week for at least six weeks now!!! I am a disgusting pig!!!

I'll shut up now!

But be warned though...Lindor is BACK!!!


Kylie, Kel, Gen, Ani, Vonni...WE CAN DO THIS!!!

Gen

I miss your enthusiasm

I am going to start by writing down why I want to lose this weight in big red letters and pin it up on the bathroom mirror! That way I got to face that first thing every morning! It might motivate me?

Try it with me?

Lindor - welcome back! It's good to hear you sounding determined too .

I know that for some weird reason I have a lot more success with my weight loss when you're here to make me laugh and inspire me.

I've had a pretty good day so far. I ate my usual cereal concoction for breakfast, a Lean Cuisine for lunch, and a home-made pizza for dinner (total 1330 calories). I've walked for an hour, and had 1.8L of water … and is now the time to say I really want chocolate?

Good to see so many people back here. Yay!

Gen I agree that the biggest battle is with our heads. I don't know what the answer is, but sometimes we just need to get stubborn and demand more from ourselves.

And to forgive ourselves for the bad times.


Ani