Friday 30 March 2012

87.7kg

Exercise:

I've continued to exercise daily by going on my 6.7lm power walks. I missed out on one day though; final weigh in day last Friday.

I have a concern but it's a "good" concern. My weight in this morning was 87.7kg [no clothes]. I don't want to loose too much. I'm more than happy to hover around the 88-90 mark.

I'm considering cutting my walks down to 4-5 per week.It'll be interesting to see what happens.

Eating:

Last Friday night Toni and I went out for the first time in 6 weeks. I probably had about 6 schooners and shared a bottle of red. We had Japanese for dinner.

Apart from that, we've been very good and continued the good habits we developed over the 6 week period. People at work have said "Stew, you're finished now so for god sake have a piece of cake or a buscuit".

That's fair enough. I know that sort of stuff in moderation is fine but the thing is, I don't really feel like it. If I don't feel like it, I'm not going to eat it just because it's there. It's probably not a bad habit to get into to.

We aren't going silly. We're just enjoying the healthy eating. We will eat junk every now and then but only when we really feel like it ...

Day 44 and beyond ...

The biggest challenge is now maintaining the weight loss which I've achieved.

I've decided to keep this blog alive by posting each Friday with my weight and a small summary of the week. The summary will include what exercise I've done [or haven't done] and whether I'm maintaining my healthy eating habits ...

Day 43 [23 March 2012] - WEIGH IN DAY!!!!

I made my way down to Terrigal for the final weigh in. I was to weigh myself on Stephen's scales as they are the ones I originally weighed in on.

My final weight?

88.8kg.

I was happy.

The winner? ...

Scott with a final weight loss percentage of 12


We had a breakfast at Bellyfish Cafe across the road. Surprisingly there wasn't much bacon ordered!

Our next meet up will be at the Terrigal Hotel on the Thursday before Easter for dinner and drinks.

I suggested we do another weigh in then but that idea was shot down pretty quickly ...

Day 42 [22 March 2012] - LAST DAY!!!!

Well, it's finally here. The last day of the six week challenge. The final weigh in will be held at Terrigal tomorrow morning @ 7:10am.

I think Scott has it in the bag. While I've been very good during the last week I did let loose a bit last weekend. Doesn't matter though; it's the $100 I've ever spent!

It's been the best thing I've done in years. I'm feeling great, it's helped me get back into and most importantly enjoy regular exercise.

It's also proved that I can be quite disciplined when I want to be. At times I've questioned that about myself.

I'm definitely, without question, going to continue the what I've started. Toni and I will relax a bit but we are going to keep most of the habits that we have picked up during the last 6 weeks.

My daily walk will continue each and EVERY day. I think this is very important and a leading factor in my weight loss. I'll also be getting back on my bike. I've recently got a new car [a Nissan Dualis ST] and one of the first accessories I ordered were roof bars and a bike carrier ....

I've also been speaking to some friends I use to play teniis with about starting up again. We stopped around 3 years ago after playing for years.

Ok, so what am eating on my last day? ...

Breakfast ...

3 Weet-bix + lite milk.

I've been having weet-bix at work for breakfast for years so nothing will change here. I'm just having lite milk instead of full cream.

Morning snack ...

A skim flat white + a banana.

After a 5 week break from having coffees at work I'm starting up again. Importantly, I'm on skim milk now. I had a break for 2 reasons ...


1. to save up the $100 6 week biggest loser entry fee
2. to see how'd I go. I wasn't surprised that I didn't suffer withdrawal systems though.

Lunch ...

Chicken & salad wrap + a small tub of low fat yoghurt.

I'll be continuing to have the tuna [or chicken or turkey] & salad wraps. I love them! The big change with lunches is that I use to grab a packet of chips probably twice a week. I haven't had a chip in 6 weeks and I'm not missing them at all!

sorry for the delay in coming back and concluding my blog ...

this is the the sort of stuff I'll be giving a wide birth  ...

lollies; we always seems to have some hand in the office ..

Teri has threatened to make this soon ...

 

Exercise ...

My last walk within the 6 week challenge period!

No fear; I will be continuing to do it each and every day ...

Dinner ...

My usual Thursday night fare ...

Day 41 [21 March 2012]

Breakfast ...

3 Weet-bix with lite milk.

Morning Tea ...

A skim milk flat white + a banana.

See the S for "skim" ;-)

Lunch ...

2 Turkey & Salad wraps + a small tub of low fat yoghurt.

Dinner ...

We took the skin off. First time I've done that!

Roast chicken [skin off!] & salad

A small tub of low fat yoghurt.

Day 40 [20 March 2012]

Breakfast ...

3 Weet-bix + lite milk.

Morning tea ...

A skim flat white + banana

Lunch ...

2 salmon/salad wraps + a small yoghurt [with sunflower and pumpkins seeds on top] + an apple.

Exercise ...

Another 6.7k's in 55 minutes ...

Dinner ...

Left over pizza from Monday night, some salad and corn on the cob [with no butter!]

A small tub of low fat yoghurt.

Day 39 [19 March 2012]

The beginning of the last week!

I had a horror weekend. It'll be interesting if it shows on Friday!

Breakfast ...

Weet-bix + lite milk

Morning Tea ...

A skim flat white + a banana.

Lunch ...

Salmon [freshly cooked last night], capsicum and mixed lettuce wrap.

A small tub of low fat yoghurt with some mixed nuts on top.

Exercise ...

Same old same old ...

6.7k's in 55 minutes. It's amazing how many people choose to stay home when the weather turns a bit sour. It was cloudy, cool and there was a bit of misty rain about.

It was very quiet along the Merewether Baths to Bar Beach car park stretch ...

Dinner ...

3 of Toni's home made healthy pizzas! ...

Day 36 [18 March 2012]

My sister Carolyn's 50th Birthday ...

It started well but ended badly!

Exercise ...

A 45 minute walk around Wollstonecraft and Crows Nest.

Breakfast ...

Two pieces of wholemeal toast with organic peanut butter [no butter or marg] + a skim flat white.

Lunch ...

A two course lunch at the Buddha Belly in Terrey Hills ...

BRUSCHETTA [2 pieces]

BUDDHA BELLY TRIO - Chef’s daily tasting plate

BUDDHA BELLY TWICE COOKED DUCK - With steamed asian vegetables, coconut jasmine rice and tamarind jus [this also came with a piece of Pork!]

 

A skim flat white.

Had a great afternoon though. Here's a photo of Stephen with his cake and candle. We weren't really celebrating his birthday [which is today; the 19th] but we kinda had to so as not to be rude.

Exercise ...

Back home so did my usual 55 minute, 6.7k walk. It was nothing to do with guilt ...

Dinner ...

One banana sandwich on wholegrain bread + a tub of low flat yoghurt. That's all I felt like~

Day 35 [17 March 2012]

Breakfast ...

3 wholemeal crumpets with extra lite cheese [it crumbles when you cut it] + a cup of tea.

A challenging weekend!

In a few hours I'm off to Sydney to celebrate my sister Carolyn's 50th birthday with the family. It'll be a challenging weekend. Mexican tonight then Thai tomorrow for lunch!

I'll be good though.

Updates with pictures will be posted tomorrow [Sunday] afternoon ...

So, here we go ...

A small skim flat white on the the way down to Sydney.

Lunch ...

My sister Carolyn made Mum and I a very healthy Omelette + Salad.

Afternoon Tea ...

A cupcake [yes, a cupcake] and a cup of tea. We were visiting Aunty Bub who I haven't seen for 20 odd years [Linda and Stephen's wedding actually]. She's 78 and got her daughter to specially go to DJ's and get them. I coundn't say no!

Exercise ...

A 50 minute walk around Wollstonecraft & Crows Nest ...

Dinner ...

Bad stuff!

Mexican up in Crows Nest.

No need for words ...

A skim flat white after dinner ...

Day 34 [16 March 2012]

The Penultimate Weigh In! ...

Yep, it's the end of week 5. The time has really flown.

After starting @ 99.2kg I'm now down to 90.1kg which I'm extremely proud of!

Remember, no weird diets. Just commonsense stuff ...

Moderate exercise for an hour a day [every day; NO EXCUSES!] and eating sensibly.

Exercise ...

Both Toni & I are off today so we thought we start off the day with a walk. I did my usual 6.7k's and Toni followed another route. There's no point us walking together. The pace I do, I'd leave her in the dust!

Breakfast ...

As a treat, we met up at Longbench Cafe for breakfast; out first one out since the start of the challenge.

We had 2 poached eggs on sourdough toast with a skim flate white each.

Lunch ...

We were out 'n' about most of today so it was a footlong Subway Vegie Delite [just to prove this is not about starving myself!] for lunch.

Afternoon Tea ...

A skim flat white at the Homemakers Centre @ Kotara.

Exercise ...

My second 6.7k for the day. I love the walking. Strange isn't it!

2 glasses of red wine ...

I haven't touched beer for 5 weeks and won't for the another week.I love a beer but am not a big consumer of the amber liquid. On average we'd go out and have 5 or 6 schooners every 2 weeks.

We don't keep any beer in the fridge but do try to keep a few bottles of red in the kitchen. We like to have a bottle a week. It's supposed to be very good for you!

Dinner ...

Toni, you're a great cook! Tonight was the one of the most tastiest meals I've had.

It was a seafood marinara & pasta dish. FU$K IT WAS GOOD!!!!!

Day 33 [15 March 2012]

Breakfast ...

Wheet-bix + lite milk.

Morning snack ..

A banana and my FIRST COFFEE at work for just under 5 WEEKS!

... and it was a skim of course! - no more full cream from now on.

Yep, my plan was to give my weekday coffee's a miss until I had saved $100. The $100 saved is the entry fee for the Six Week Challenge.

And what did the other's have for morning tea today?? ...

A ridiculously huge chocolate cake made by Teri for Gene who turns 26 tomorrow. I'm not missing this sort of sweet stuff though. I wasn't a big sweet eater but it just feels better not eating it if you know what I mean ...

Lunch ...

A Tuna & salad wrap, an apple and a small pack of those chinese crack things from Aldi.

Exercise ...

6.7k's in 55 miniutes!

Dinner ...

  Two poached egges on two wholemeal crumpets. Different but very nice!

Day 32 [14 March 2012]

Breakfast ...

Weet-bix + lite milk.

Morning snack ...

A banana.

Lunch ...

A cheese [extra low fat; it crumbles when you attempt to slice it!] & tomoto wrap.

A small tub of low fat, no added sugar yoghurt.

Afternoon snack ...

An apple ...

Exercise ...

6.7km in around 55 minutes ...

Dinner ...

A poached chicken breast with mixed frozen vegies and a homemade tomato based sauce.

Day 31 [13 March 2012]

Breakfast ...

Weet-bix + lite milk.

Morning snack ...

A banana + nectarine.

Lunch ...

Tuna Salad wrap, tub of yoghurt and a glass of water.

Exercise ...

For the first time in 4.5 weeks I, for a few seconds, contemplated not going on my walk. I had photographed Lake Macquarie's Harmony Day Celebrations in the late afternoon /evening and didn't get home til 7pm. But, I did go and once again, really enjoyed it. I had ELO's Balance of Power playing and it was a fantastic evening out ...

Dinner ...

We had a late dinner so just heated up some leftovers from lst week; a tuna vegie pasta meal.

A tun of low-fat yoghurt.

Day 30 [12 March 2012]

Breakfast ...

Weet-bix + lite milk.

Morning snack ...

A banana and an apple.

Lunch ...

Left over chicken stir fry from last night's dinner.

Small tub of low fat yoghurt.

Afternoon snack ...

An apple + a cup of tea with lite milk.

Exercise ...

 The usual 6.7km power walk in just over 50 minutes.

Dinner ...

Toni made her home made healthy pizzas ....

 After dinner snack ...

A tub of low-fat yoghurt with some mixed nuts.

 

Day 29 [11 March 2012]

Exercise #1 ...

Was awake at 6:30am so thought I'd do 6.7k's.

It was a great morning ...

Breakfast ...

2 boiled eggs, 2 pieces of wholegrain toast + a skim flat white.

Lunch ...

Left over green curry chicken.

Exercise #2 ...

It's amazing what a month of regular exercise can do. Very early on in this challenge I did the Westfield Kotara, up Madison Drive, down the highway, through Highfields and down the Fernleigh Track walk.

Madison Drive, as some of you may be aware, has a very long and steep section. When I first attempted this I struggled a touch. I need to stop 3 times and rest for 10 or so seconds. My legs were heavy.

Today I flew up the hill at a very quick pace. I would have been upset if I hadn't been able to do it!

Dinner ...

A chicken & rice noodle stir fry ...

Day 28 [10 March 2012]

Breakfast ...

2 Boiled eggs + 2 pieces of wholegrain toast + a skim flat white.

A late lunch ...

2 sushi rolls at Charlestown Square

Afternoon tea with Mum ...

A skim flat white.

Exercise ...

Another 6.7k's.

Dinner ...

An absolutely beautiful green curry chicken made with the same CARNATION Light & Creamy Coconut Flavoured Evaporated Milk.

Day 27 [9 March 2012]

Off to Sydney today to visit Toni's brand new Nephew!

Breakfast ...

3 Crumpets with Vegemite & Honey at home. A skim flat white from Macca's at the twin servo on the freeway on the way down

At Jane & James place ...

2 very small cups of coffee [on skim] from one of those Nespresso machines.

Half a glass of champagne.

Lunch - Roast Pork with potato salad & another beautiful salad.

There was wine or beer available but I stuck with water.

Dinner (at home) ...

Beef Stir Fry with Vegies & Noodles

Day 26 [8 March 2012]

Breakfast ...

Weet-bix + lite milk

Morning snack ...

I've been having breakfast a bit earlier lately so have gotten a bit hungry by mid morning. So, in addition to my usual banana I had 2 rice cakes with lite cottage cheese.

Lunch ...

The usual wholemeal wrap with salmon & salad.

A small tub of low fat yoghurt and a small bag of mixed unsalted nuts

What did my workmates have?

Takeaway chinese!

Exercise ...

Same walk. Another 6.7k's in 55 minutes.

Dinner ...

The usual Thursday night dinner. 2 boiled eggs with 3 pieces of wholegrain toast.

Day 25 [7 March 2012]

Breakfast ...

Just the usual ... ;-)

Morning snack ...

A banana + a cup of team with lite milk.

Lunch ...

Just the usual the again ...

2 wholemeal wraps with salmon, tomato, carrot and some baby spinach.

A small tub of low fat yoghurt.

Afternoon snack ...

An Apple.

Exercise ...

6.7k's again!

Dinner ...

Steamed Ocean Trout with Buckwheat Noodles!!!

I love this. Toni made it back on Day 7. It's oozes with health!