12 week challenge blog

I have decided to start a new blog for my 12 week challenge so if you are interested in following the journal side of things please visit

http://ashleys12weekchallenge.blogspirit.com

I will still post my results here but will be journalling there!! Although I do change my mind a lot so check both!! Haha!

To goal we go!

Lost 0.8kgs this week!! I am now 81kgs on the button!

Also lost 5 cms.. The cardio is working but I am going to start weights training with a personal trainer soon to shape my body and help me burn more calories through the day.. Muscle burns fat just by being there! Even when youre sitting down doing nothing!!

I am feeling terriffic!! Had a light workout this morning- 30mins of brisk walking on the treadmil.. enough to work up a sweat but after an intense spin class last night I felt like taking it a bit easier.

Having PT with Sarah on tuesday at a yawn inducing 6:30am! Will write more about that after the event!

Has anyone ever tried OT's cereal and milk bars!? They are my new favourite treat! Chewy and yummy and an allowable indulgence at only 1.5pts per bar! Have been getting into salads recently but it makes it really hard to eat all my points as I am full of point free salad and can't fit in a lot of meat or carbs.. Yesterday I had a garden salad with cheese and croutons for lunch (2pts) and a grilled chicken breast and green salad for dinner (4pts).. not enough, so I added about 3 pts worth of couscous and rice. Very yummy!!

To goal we go!

Going swell!

First, to reply to the question about my height- I am 174cms (ish) tall and weight watchers set my goal at 76kgs. This is the highest weight in the healthy weight range for my height.. I am thinking I'll get to 76kgs and decide from there if I want to keep going for a few more kgs. I think maybe 73 or 70 or something, but we'll see!!

Here's all the exercise I have done this week

Monday: Combat

Tuesday: Spin

Wednesday: 30 mins walking/jogging and then heaps of walking around the tennis and Richmond

Thursday: Body Pump

Friday: Spin again

Saturday: Too hot! still may go for a walk tonight when it cools down

I am so looking forward to weighing and measuring on Monday because I have worked really hard this week.. Done a lot of cardio- more than usual... Just have to make sure I stay on track tomorrow and I should see some good results!

Something excellent I realised the other day- I have no asthmatic symptoms from exercising any more! That used to be an excuse I used for not exercising and now I naver have that tight feeling after a cardio workout!

I will record some of my daily journal pages on here soon! Thanks to everyone for replying and taking an interest in my journey!

I hope all the Melbournians stay cool tomorrow! 43 degrees is just not right!

:)

Week 2!!

I weighed in at 81.8 on Monday!! Very exciting!! Even more than that, I lost 11 cms from my body including 4 around my waist!!

This week is going fantastically! I did a body combat class Monday, Spin yesterday and did 30mins jogging/walking this morning (plus walking to and from the tennis from Richmond..)

I am going to send my photo etc to Women's fitness and enter the 12 wk challenge properly!

No more time to post today! Hope all is going well!

:)

12 week challenge

I started this 12 week challenge on Monday.. I kind of made up the rules but got my inspiration from Paulene's site.. I will be posting my results here and on Paulene's site. Philippa is doing the challenge with me! Nothing like a buddy to come along for the ride!

Ash's 12 week Challenge

The guidelines:

• Must eat all 22 points of food each day unless saving up for a reason
• Avoid foods that are not good for my body
• Exercise 6 days per week including pilates or yoga
• Rest 1 day per week
• Weigh and measure every Monday (no more, no less)
• Journal at least once a week recording feelings, changes etc
• Do a daily devotion to help keep my life in balance

So there it is.. I began on Monday and so far so good.. 6 days down. I am feeling absolutely fantastic!

I have exercised my 6 days and today is my rest day.. Monday I did 45 mins of cardio in the morning at the gym plus a deep water aqua class in the evening (If you haven't tried one, you simply must!), Tuesday I did a spin class, Wednesday I went for a very hilly 30min walk with Philippa and Mezz, Thursday I did pump plus 15 mis of jogging/5mins walking, Friday I did soft start class but pushed all the moves to high impact and Yesterday I finished the week with a very relaxing yoga class.. I really needed the stretch out after all that!

I really feel I have so much more energy after that! The only setback I have had so far was when dad came out last night with a bowl of icecream and pudding for me.. putting me over points by like 6 points or something.. Normally I would say no thankyou but this was such an unexpected and thoughtful thing for my dad to do.. He doesn't usually do things like that! If you knew him, you'd eat it too! He would have been so hurt if I had refused.. he doesn't understand what I am trying to do but he doesn't mean any harm... Luckily I only come to his place once a month (if that). So all I have to do is have a couple of low point days and keep up the exercise and I should be fine.

Anyway, My first weigh in on Monday was 82.3.. the lowest so far! Yay! Can't wait for weigh in!! I feel like I have done really well and my jeans are feeling looser. So glad I am measuring too as I really need to see results and I've been doing weights this week and may not see a huge jump on the scales.. I'm going to be a 70s girl soon!

Thanks to everyone for all their messages!!

PS. Ask Philippa for the recipe for her yummy moroccan lentil soup!

Holiday Fun!

I'm back after a slightly longer absence than expected.. I have been enjoying the break from blogging but now feel refreshed and ready to press on towards my goals using this as a tool to help me along the way.. Hubby, his sister (my best friend) and her hubby took a week in Queenscliff which was much needed and thoroughly enjoyed by all of us!

I have managed to get through Christmas and new years without too much damage done weight wise. I think I may have put on a half a kilo or something not too drastic.. I do need to set myself some new goals though as my motivation levels have dropped... so here they are!

1) Get back to the eating plan this week without deviating too much, eating all my points unless I decide to save up for something!
2) Attend a weight watchers meeting to weigh and get the new no count program (I don't weigh there usually)
3) Exercise every day this week for at least 30 mins- doesn't matter what it is... loving the swimming!
4) Post photos of our holiday for all you readers!

Great! Those are soooo do-able!

I am working in a shoe shop in Richmond a few days a week at the moment which is a nice change... don't have to care about it too much.. I can go home and forget about it unlike working with people with brain injuries!

Hope you have all had a great break (if you got one!)