I'M EXCITED.......:D :D :D :D :D :D

I just decided on a whim to change channels and there on Home and Health was an exercise show just beginning.

I did a whole 25 minutes of TOTAL BODY SCULPT wooohooo.:cb:

I suprised myself that I managed the upper body stuff without too much stress, but the lower was a killer. You'd think being on yr feet all day you'd be right, but those leg raises just about killed me :exercise:. And do you know how hard that is with a baby trying to jump on you while doing crunches :rofl:

I'm sitting here right now with my body tingling all over but feeling great.

I'm going to do it again tomorrow. (minus the baby) Think I'll tape it and do when she goes to bed hmmmm, though if she jumps on me I guess it adds weight to the resistance. :dizzy:

Vonni

Just saw yr post Lindor. That ticker is great. You are amazing. Someone back there said it was nice to know that we're not just a computer to you, but that you go away and think about us as people. I agree wholeheartedly.

Actually, I get the impression that everyone thinks about others on here as valuable people and thats a really nice feeling. :goodvibes

In such a short time you guys have become great friends on my journey and even when I reach goal I will continue to post here.

HUGS to you all :grouphug:
VONNI

Just a question, but are any of you going to reasses your goal when you get closer to it?

Renny Sue I'm pretty short and I have been 46kg comfortably without looking scrawny. (I've always been lucky enough to have feminine curves.) Admittedly that was when I was 20 and my body shape has since changed with 3 more children (2 c-sections) MORE CURVES.

My goal I have set for myself is the highest weight for height. When I get there I may reassess and aim for 54, but no lower.

Over all, I'm ok with most of my body. It's my fitness level that started me on my journey. To put it bluntly.... It sucked. And was virtually non existent.

There are only 2 parts of my body I dislike my stomach and my arms. But even when small I had larger arms (my poor daughter has inherited them and hates it lol) so I guess they'll never 'go' as such, just get more toned.

about my tummy here goes another novel ---- My first c-section was a critical emergency and very traumatic. The Drs couldn't get baby out of incision and I ended up with 4 hands, plus numerous instruments digging into me. Apparently during this my muscles were torn severly and will never be the same. I tore into my uterine artery lost half my blood and they had to repair that fast and get me sewn up rather than take time with the muscles. Wish they could have fixed it though during last surgery.

Enough about that.

The short answer to your question........ YES

Ah crap I hate it when I reply and the cyber gods lose it...

Happy to be in the group challenge - I love a competition! Thanks, Lindor. Will have to adjust my starting weight to 92.2kg though.... easter sins and ttom have combined to see a 1kg weight gain this week!

Working extra hard to get it off again though - increasing my running speed most every day now. Burnt 637 calories in 35 mins running last night - new record!!

I can't decide yet whether to drop down to a goal of 67kg - I think I'll leave it for now and reassess when I get below 80kg. Don't want to overwhelm myself, and I haven't been under 70kg for the last 17 years.

Not a bad day yesterday. I walked for an hour & ate under 1800 calories - still impersonating a camel, but I'll sort that one out too.

Lindor I can't decide about whether to drop the "non-reporters" out or not. If you keep them in the equation it might keep them accountable while they're off being naughty :). That reminds me - where is Barb? It would be excellent if she was in on the challenge.

Vonni you make me laugh. I have a picture of you trying to exercise while being a human jungle gym. I have a similar problem, except with kittens. They love it when I'm doing situps and stuff - they think I'm playing with them!

OK - off to walk today. Cannot let the team don't so early in the week!!!

:)
Ani

:) Hi

I would love to join in as the challenge as well. I weiged in this morning at 82kg and my goal is 65kg.

Cheers

Sue

I've sat here and spent the last hour typing a really long and depressing post, but the computer decided you didn't really want to read it so I've had to start again!

I'd like to join in on the group challenge if thats ok. My new and current stats are: Start weight - 94.1, Current weight - 94.1, Goal weight - 68. What a great idea Lindor!

I'm off to the doc's to get myself some help. I don't want to burden you all with my misery anymore.

See you all really soon.

XX
Barb

YAY - the group challenge is getting bigger and bigger. Lindor, you are a genius :). I want a team t-shirt now… well a singlet actually. I don't care how big my arms get, I am the singlet queen of Perth!

There's a reason for it. Someone tried to strangle me once, and I've never been able to cope with anything near my neck since then (clothes, jewellry - anything. Even seat belts challenge me).

Anyway, I'm just reporting in - I walked today and have eaten well. Trying to do my bit for our team :dizzy:

How is everyone else going?

Barb, I'm so happy to hear from you, and happy you're in the challenge - YAY. What's going on?

:)
Ani

Did much better today. No ****, even though I did have more Pepsi Max's than normal. I'm defentitly sticking to the night time workouts. Feel on top of the world!

I'm SO pissed with my gym though. I'm at Fernwood and pay close to $50 a week. Its worth it for me, cause the gym is welcoming and my trainer is awesome. However tonight, I ended up not being able to finish my workout because another girl booked the treadmill and there were NO OTHER machines. That's simply not good enough. I'd already done 1/2 hr, but I'm aiming to get up to 45 min ATM. I've put a note in the suggestion box and if it happens again I'll be calling the manager. Its simply unacceptable for that money that I can't workout because of lack of equimpment.

Morning all!

I've added Barb and Sue to the Group Effort and the ticker has been updated accordingly. I have also reassessed our first goal...lets go for 929kg by April 30, that's a small group loss of 6kg in nearly two weeks. But I am thinking this kind of challenge is going to be tough to keep track of if we have to add/remove members often. I wonder if we just set ourselves a goal of losing Xkgs a week or fortnight?

I don't know? Ani says I am a genius? I am wondering what the heck I have got myself into :lol:

I didn't do so well yesterday with my food. I had to go buy milk and guess what else jumped into my shopping basket!! I did still manage 20mins of steps and I drank 1.25L of water. And I feel like a bloated cow this morning :lol:

I am determined to make up for yesterday though, I won't let the team down! ;)

Barb, I hope you get the support you need. Remember when talking to your doctor to mention you are trying to lose weight too, because I believe a lot of the antidepressive drugs have a side effect of weight gain...that is assuming you will go for drug therapy if the doctor suggests it. I am glad you are taking steps to get this looked at, depression is very real and can be very debilitating.

Renny Sue...any way you can book the equipment in advance? Hey you never know, it might mean you have to commit yourself to going and using it too! :lol: But I agree, you pay to use the equipment, the equipment should be readily available for your use!

Ani! Great idea!!! I nominate you to be the PR rep for our group! You can organise the shirts/singlets! :p If I had to we'd probably be wearing something in a fabric that doesn't breathe and is baby poo green in colour!! :lol:

Alright, I gotta get to work! Poo!!! :lol:

Have a good one ladies! :)

You can book the equipment, but regardless there still weren't enough machines for everyone to use. (people were standing there waiting)

Of course, tonight guess which dickhead left her joggers at home? I'll make it up Saturday.

Having seven kids including one that is still a baby, I can understand how baby poo green might grow on you :p


Where is everyone today???? :?:

Renny Sue, at that price they should have brought one just for you . Dam straight!!!! go a have a word with the manager.

Barb, good to see that you are getting some help, these things can creep up without you even knowing it.One of my boy's is taking meds for this and it's made a big differance in his out look on life, I call them his ugly pills, lol because without them he can get really ugly.
7senuf, POO GREEN!!!!! Just wondering about the shade of green.Is that before or after peas etc?
Great ticker!!! Now I will really have to bum into gear so as not to let everyone down.
OK, off the start the day.
Have a great one people, be good, or a least as good as you can.

Naaa she doesn't like peas. lol.

I'm here Lindor. Running around like crazy trying to get house organised before I go away next week. That gives me an excuse to be moody when I get home and find a mess lol.

Visited a friend yesterday that I have not been to visit in nearly 2 years. She only lives hal;f hour away, but both lead busy lives. We had a wonderful day. Caught up on all the goss. Spent 5 hours and could've been there five hours more.

Been pretty good with the eating. Water is soso. Will post tomorrow when I dont have to go work.

Cheers
VONNI

Ah Renny Sue, you reminded me why I hired a treadmill rather than joining a gym!! I'm having a very disciplined week, although I don't feel lighter! You know.. how you sometimes just KNOW you're going to have a good weigh in because you FEEL lighter? Yeah... I don't have that this week. Going to go swimming this afternoon for the first time in aaaaaaaaages! Thought it might be nice to test my heart rate monitor in water, as well as give my poor old achilles a rest from running. I forgot years ago how injury-prone I was when I played sport many moons ago!!

Well my doc has put me on meds (Zoloft) and I feel better just knowing that I've finally taken a positive step towards getting better. He wants to see me again in three weeks to see how things are going. I asked about weight gain while taking them and he said on their own they don't make it harder to lose weight, in fact most people he prescribes them to lose because the incidents of emotional eating are less! When I see him next, and depending on how I'm doing, I might ask about counselling. Anyone got an idea if you can get this bulked billed, bit short of $ at the moment!

Bathroom Scale Diet Tricks:

1. Weigh yourself fully clothed after dinner and again the next
morning without clothes and before breakfast, because it's nice to
see how much weight you've lost overnight!

2. Never weigh yourself with wet hair.

3. When weighing, remove everything, including eyeglasses. In this
case, blurred vision is an asset. Don't forget to remove jewellery
as it could weigh as much as a pound!

4. Buy only cheap scales, never the medical kind. Accuracy is the
enemy and high quality scales are very accurate.

5. Always go to the bathroom first.

6. Weigh yourself after a haircut, this is good for up to half a
pound of hair (hopefully).

7. Exhale with all your might BEFORE stepping onto the scale. (Air
has weight, right?)

8. Start out with just one foot on the scale, then holding onto a
towel rod slowly edge your other foot onto the scale while slowly
releasing the towel rod. Admittedly, this takes time, but it's
worth it. You will weigh at least two pounds less than if you'd
stepped onto the scale normally.

I got this in an email this morning, thought it might give you all a little giggle!

Have a great day, I hope to.

XX
Barb

HAHA I love it all. But call me silly but..... Number 2 and 5 I live by. I have really long hair (well did till cut 7 inches off 2 weeks ago) and never weigh after a shower. And I always pee before stepping on the scales. :D

Barb good to hear you are getting some help. I have a friend on Zoloft and she's doing ok. I took them for a short time. My Dr just gave me sample boxes. He thought a month or 2 could be just enough to break me out of the depression... he was right.

About cheap counselling - I know some Drs refer you with a "credit" book. It is for people who really need it but otherwise can not afford to go. It has to be approved by some medical board but I am pretty sure they do this with a quick phone call. My friends little boy was given 10 free counselling sessions this way. Failing this, what about asking to be referred to your local public hospitals mental health counsellors. No they are NOT there only for the severely mental ill, they are there to help anyone in need.
I hope you are ok and all goes well. :hug:

I looked at hiring a treadmill and it was to expensive. I'll just continue with the total body sculpt when able and occassional walk. Been jumping around while doing the housework too. Much to baby's delight. She thinks it's a game and bounces around waving arms about.

Gotta go get ready for work.
Vonni :)

Hey girls -

Wow. I leave and look what happens....baby poo is the highlight of the week! :P

I'm back, after three days of superdooper great learning. The conference was wonderful, learned alot, taught a bit. The campsite was lovely, filled with beer, chocolate, biscuits and a constant supply of coffee...I mean, it was up in the hills.

Suffice to say I did nothing for my waistline this week, but conferences are not something that happen often, so I enjoyed it for all it was worth. That said, I am back at it as of Monday, the return of uni. Normality brings more IsoWhey, and a regular gym schedule. Group Challenge! Woo bring it on.

Well, I'm sleep deprived, seedy, and trying to make sense of the last few days. I'll give you all the family update next time.

Kylie

Oh Barb, good on you. I don't know if you've been following, but the same thing's happening in my neck of the woods. Haven't been to the doc yet, will see about that this week.

Morning all!

Good to have you back in the gutter of 3FC Kylie, where baby poo has been about the most interesting conversation we have had in you absence!! Are you glad to be back? :p

Barb, I hope the meds help! Your doctor sounds as if he knows what he is doing. And his take on weight gain/loss on antidepressants makes sense! Thanx too for the laugh! And yes, I'll admit to doing some of those things too...but I won't admit to which :lol:

Actaully, I laughed one weigh in, a week or two ago, when I appeared to have lost about 15kgs!! It took me a few minutes to work out (I blame the drugs :lol:) but I had a lot of back pain at the time and I was using the towel rail in the bathroom as support while I weighed myself. For some reason it didn't initially occur to me that holding onto that rail was affecting my weigh in! :lol:

My efforts over the last couple of days has been far from great!! Actaully BLOODY AWFUL doesn't seem to come close to describing it! But I was reinspired yesterday afternoon! A saw a lady at work yesterday who I haven't seen in a few months or so. She looks great! She has lost 25kgs and she is soooo happy and proud of herself it was really quite infectious! I want to feel that way again...AND I DAMN WELL WILL!!!

So Kylie, I am back into it AGAIN with you!!!

Now, where is our Ani???

I wrote a big reply last night and it's gone! Barb, glad you're getting some help. If your GP writes a referral and "mental health plan" (ie. prescription for x amount of therapy), then you can bulk bill psychology visits as of Nov 06. Makes a huge difference!

Vonni, it's quite dangerous going on and off Zoloft. It should be used for 9-12 months for depression and be reduced gradually - it is NOT suitable for short term, "sample size" use!

GPs are so clueless sometimes...

Thanks for concern Gen. I know usually u go on meds to be weaned off, but Dr gave me the sample just to see how I was with them before he wrote a script, as I have been known to suffer side effects from all kinds of drugs - even panadol used to affect me. I have some mental illness in my family and my brother has had bad side effects with so many meds before they found the right one for him so Dr kept close tabs on me. Turns out I probably would have been ok without them, just needed to pick myself up and change some things in my life that was contributing.

LMAO Lindor u crack me up. Can just see u standing there with a grimace on yr face from the pain then that grimace turns to a cheesy grin at the sight of the weight loss. Then again a grimace of despair when u realise yr holding onto that towel rail. Oh dear.

OK have to run. bubba to bed and then chilling out for the evening. I got Red rooster for dinner tonight, but only ate a handful of chips and 2 bites of a chicken strip before my tasebuds took over and was yuk. YAHOO finally I might be ridding myself of the junk food fetish.

Vonni

Hello Barb, I am glad that you have sort treatment. I know a few people on Zoloft and they are all doing well on it. Remember it isn't a short term thing and it isn't something you should just cut out.

As for free/cheap councelling I don't know what may be in your area but I live in the Port Adelaide area and I know that my neighbours son (adult age, 24) and my friends daughter (12) see councellors which they got into contact with through their doctors and also through ASIS (?) well that is what it sounds like, it is an acrinim for something. I will try to find out the name of the place, it is a government agency.

Good luck, and be patient.

Take care,
Jennylee

I'm here Lindor… just taking a break and trying to catch my breath after the frenetic last month of moving and uprooting my life.

Hasn't been a particularly good week for me in terms of weight loss. I started out at 88.9kg and I have a terrible feeling I'm going to be above that on Monday. But I'm here giving myself a slap around the head (metaphorically, of course), and I plan to put the weekend to good use!

Hopefully if I work hard enough and get my head right I will at least be able to stay at 88.9 for Monday's weigh-in and not let the team down.

What does everyone have planned for the weekend?

:)
Ani

I bought a second hand bike on ebay, and just picked that up! Haven't ridden a bike since I was a kid, but looking for ways to exercise that won't stress my achilles, so here I am. Bought a helmet, now just have to figure out how to reassemble the wleels and chain, since I took them off to fit it in the car. I think I'll get it serviced on Monday - only $60 for them to check it all over, sounds like it'd be worth it to test the brakes , clean the chain, adjust the seat etc.

Other than that, I'm going swimming tomorrow morning with my training buddies, and on call for work both afternoons (but secretly hoping they won't call!).

Have had a brilliant week foodwise to make up for last week, and snuck on the scales for a very pleasant reading this morning! Hoping I'm under 90 for Monday!!

I wore a Tshirt I haven't fitted for 4 years today - it is special to me because i bought it the same day I met my ex-boyfriend, and it has the name of the town we met on it (I was travelling, so it was a souvenir). Sniff, good memories.

I had lost my computer for most of the week and have been re-loading everything over the past two days. :(

I have been asked if we can go surfing tomorrow so unless something else crops up we are going south and will be surfing the day away. :)

As for my weight this week I am a little frustrated. :( I have been really unwell since the early hours of Wednesday morning, I have only been able to eat 1/2 a cup of veggies on Wed night, nothing Thursday and then a slice of toast last night, and nothing today so far. I have been trying to keep fluids up but that makes me feel worse. SO HOW MUCH HAVE I LOST SO FAR THIS WEEK?........ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. :( If I was pregnant I wouldn't mind the nausea so much but I am not and I am sick of this. :( Wouldn't be so bad if the weight was coming off either.

Jennylee

It's so easy to slip back into old habits. For the last month, since I moved house, I've been falling back into some of my old and familiar habits - not all at once, and not in a way that is even really noticeable.

For me the 'danger zone' has been a lot more subtle than that: walking 3 times a week instead of 6, eating the odd extra thing because "it won't hurt", not drinking enough water… and while I haven't gained weight (or maybe gained a kilo), I haven't been committed to losing any either.

I lost sight of my goals, and of my reason for wanting to lose more weight.

I've felt really restless: my best friend is overseas, my mother is still in hospital, and I'm not yet settled into a new routine here.

At least I'm still here. Didn't fall off the wagon completely - but the main things that have kept me from totally stuffing up are a) the fact that I threw out my big clothes - all of them - about four months ago, and b) knowing that I am part of Aussie Chicks. In a strange way you girls keep me accountable.

I woke up this morning feeling bloated and hideous. It's time for me to realise that I'm only part of the way through my journey towards getting healthy, and to rise to the occasion. I'm not quitting - I refuse to do that. So it's an attempt to get back to the basics for me for the next three months.

So I'm setting myself one small goal - and a reward for reaching it.

• To lose 4.4 pounds (2kg) in the next 4 weeks. If I make it by 21st May I am going to reward myself with a day trip to a town in WA I have never been before.

And I'm starting today. I have lined up a friend to go for a walk around the river this morning, and after that I'm going to do some work in my garden.

This afternoon, while I'm watching the footy (and probably watching my beloved Freo Dockers get thrashed), I'm going to do my dumbell exercises.

I will drink at least 1 litre of water - and more if I can force myself.

I will eat no more than 1800 calories!

Truly, I am my own worst enemy sometimes. Don't get me wrong - I am really proud of losing 16-odd kilos. Every kilo you drop is worth a pat on the back. But 16kg isn't the deal I promised myself when I undertook this journey last August.

So hopefully I can get back on that wagon and get to work on the next bunch of kilos.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

:)
Ani

It's so easy to slip back into old habits.
OH yeah this is me. I feel like I am getting no where fast!I am today in a 'poor me' mode. Just feeling fat, flabby, and really yuck.And just P'd off with the world :( And to top it all off I was thinking about a change of diet. I am doing weight watchers, and was thinking of swapping to counting cals, just to find that most of the stuff I have in the cupboard is in kj's. I will have to have a look around and find kj's on the site.
16 kg's Perth Chick You do indeed deserve pat's on the back. :cp:
You have just made me feel better, and I am getting off this chair, doing the dishes that have been sitting on the bench for the last 2 hours(self drying lol) and going to the gym. Might even get this body into the spa.Have a need to do something I don't normally do today. Just for me!!!!!!!
Have a great day

Hello I am another aussie who has found this site- My name is Vanessa, 31 years old, single mum to Liam, I live south west of Sydney - I joined a gym at the beginning of the year- and have got used to juggling work, working out and being a mum, and I am now looking at ideas for my diet...

What do you do? Weightwatchers? Lite and easy? Tony Fergusons? Any suggestions on what is working for you?

Before I was married I lost a lot of weight on Lite and Easy but I cant afford that anymore, I choose to join a gym, which I think is a better way to spend my money... I want to lose weight using everyday foods because I still have to prepare meals for my 3 year old...

Anyway I hope I get to get to know you all better...

Hi Vanessa, welcome. There are lots of threads here about different types of programs. Personally I think WW is great to get you started and give you an idea about which foods are "good" and "bad" for you. I started on WW (online only, no meetings) and lost about 10kg in 12 weeks. Then when my membership ran out I came to CK - better diary, better boards, and it's free!!

THe most important thing is drinking water, and tracking what you eat - everything you eat. Whether you choose WW or CK, it's all about keeping track. I like CK now, it's much easier than WW as you don't have to calculate points, and my HRM tells me what cals I burnt with exercise so I can enter that. Things like Lite N Easy don't teach you how to cook or eat properly.

Welcome Vanessa, weight loss is a trial and error thing I find. Sometimes what works for one person doesn't always work for another.

The main things to do, I find, is to stick to low fat foods, lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, low fat cuts of meat and then LOTS AND LOTS of water. I love my water so that isn't generally too hard for me to do.

Then trying to get exercise in in your day is the next important thing.

Good luck, there are lots of people here to help you out.

Take care,
Jennylee

Welcom Vanessa - you've stumbled across one of the friendliest groups on the internet!

Meanwhile, back in Kylieland, things are not going to plan. In fact, it seems there is no plan. I was on what's known as a 'post-conference high', where saving the world seems possible, and you just can wait to get back into activity. Yeah, I knew it wouldn't last. My walls came tumbling down earlier today, and I feel miserable again. I know I should see the doc, but I dont want to. I'm a bit embarrassed, and I don't know if she'll just say "what are you on about?" like it's not bad enough to be something. or something. I dont know.

Back onto IsoWhey tomorrow, the best thing for me. That way, chocolate and fizzy drinks are no longer options. gosh darned with sprinkles on top I'm so mad.


Kylie

:welcome2: to Mumtoliam. These guys are a wonderful bunch. Always ready with a virtual hug when down, advice when confused and funny when on a good day. Even when feeling crappy we still manage to bring a smile to someones face somehow. And JennyLee is right, you will learn over time to do what is right for you. We are all different and our bodys work in different ways. And yep as they both said - lots of water. I find that over the past few weeks I haven't been drinking much and I am hungrier than usual and not losing well.

Ani, Mary and Kylie :hug: I wish I could reach through and give you a big squeezie and soak up some of your sadness and despair :cry:

"Just feeling fat, flabby, and really yuck.And just P'd off with the world" Mary we all have days like this - and it's a horrible feeling.

I feel terrible when I see you all down. I'm hoping some of my "I had a great weekend" vibes can buzz on down the data lines to you all.:goodvibes

JennyLee how are you feeling? Any better? Have you been to see Doc? It's odd that you even feel unwell with fluids. Do u have a tummy bug perhaps? Isn't it weird how people are so different.... When I'm sick, I am ravenous and would eat the crutch out of a low flying duck if I could.

Lindor??? Is everything ok? Where are you? Are you lost? Or studying your math ready for tomorrows ticker. :book2:

Speaking of tomorrow, who's weighing in? I can't wait, as I feel good the past few days as Several months ago I bought jeans in 2 sizes. The 1st of my jeans no longer stay up and i finally fit into the next size down :D

Have a great day tomorrow all. Hope things get better for all who are having a hard time. :val3:

Vonni

Kylie, the doctor might say that, given their ignorance about psychological issues. Why not get a referral to a counsellor/psychologist, and just go talk to them? It's bulkbilled if you have a plan from your GP. There doesn't have to be something massively "wrong" for you to feel blah, or struggle with your journey through life. You have a lot of responsibility, and big goals - it can help to discuss things with someone objective.

I went swimming today for the first time in a few years, in the outdoor pool at North Sydney - gorgeous! It's right under the harbour bridge, so good views! Very salty though.. ick. I managed 20 laps, although it took me 45 mins. Very slow in my old age, plus my cap kept falling off, so I was trying to breathe through a curtain of hair! Annoyed that my whizbang heart rate monitor wouldn't work in the pool, it's definitely meant to. Ah well.

I hope weigh in is good tomorrow - I feel very confident this week after an angelic food & exercise week! Going to call the osteo tomorrow as well to get some treatment on my foot - has been a month now that it's been stuffed, so I don't think it's self-curing!

augigi- Maybe a silly question but what is CK?

ARGH!!!!!! I've had a **** week. I went to the gym on Wed, forgot my shoes. Went home and haven't been back since. I pigged out all Thursday and gave myself such a bad migrane that I didn't get out of bed till Sat morning. Then ate noodles and drank eight LITRES of Pepsi Max over the next two days. What is wrong with me? I've been doing so well.

All I can do is start afresh tomorrow and keep going. Next time this happens, try and stop the rot earlier. I also didn't go for weigh in on Sat, as I still wasn't 100% and didn't feel right driving.

Sorry Vanessa, it's calorieking.com.au - free to join for aussies, great food diary and database etc.

How good was weigh in today....wait for it....I'm under 90kg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 89.8 to be exact! So I lost 2.4kg this week, which is my biggest loss since I started apart from week 1, I think. Very happy!

Firstly, sorry I have been AWOL over the weekend. I've spent most of the weekend flat on my back with back pain again. It hurts to sit up here for any duration. I'm putting on a brave face this morning because I have to go to work shortly, and I am trying to convince myself the pain is not too bad!

So, this morning I weigh in at 84.0kg! Somehow I managed to lose 900g???? Might be because I skipped dinner last night and went to bed instead?

It was another poor dieting week, but like Ani, I seriously need to turn myself around! And this is the week I am going to do it...for me and for the Aussie Chicks Team!

I have also decided to set up a reward system for me...of which I receive nothing until I reach goal!! For every good day I will deposit up to $7.50 ($2.50 each for calorie intake, exercise and water). For every bad day I lose up to $15.00 ($5 each for too many calories, no exercise, not consuming at least 2L water).

As I reach other achievements like a full week of good days, or making a 5kg loss, I will deposit other little bonuses. Don't get me wrong...money is not exactly the motivation here. I have never really set myself a reward for reaching goal. Yeah, I may have said a holiday or something before, but in my mind I have never really worked toward anything. So I figure while the jury is still out on what I want to reward myself with, I can at least be saving for it in the form of rewards for my efforts!

Now, for our team thing...

Humour me here ok, at the moment my brain is a little doughy with the pain drugs I am on (that's my excuse anyway!) :lol:

I know we don't all weigh in on the same day and I am not asking you to, but I need you to make it very clear to me when you are reporting a weigh in and what your new weight is. I don't want to stuff up by deducting too much or not enough.

And Vanessa, welcome to the group! We have a little thing that we have just started - A Team Effort - where we have totalled up all our starting weights, current weights and goal weights and we are working toward a combined goal weight. It is explained in a little more detail if you flick back a few pages - are you interested on being in on it as well?

Gen, I'll deduct your amazing loss along with mine now ;)

Alright, sorry for the lack of personals, but I gotta run (:lol: with my back! I wish!). I might try and pop in this afternoon if my back copes ok with the day.

Have a good one ladies!