Blogger Challenge Week 3 - Motivation

Thanks to Jayne here is this weeks challenge topic. Motivation!

Here are the questions

what motivates you?

In a nutshell, my boys motivate me. I am married to my childhood sweetheart, who I still adore after nearly 20 years together. We have 3 gorgeous, cheeky boys, who are 9, 6 and 1. Our oldest son has asd. I want to set a good example for them. I want my boys to grow up and have a healthy relationship with food and exercise. I don't want them to look at me and think that it's ok to let yourself go. I think probably my biggest motivator is that I don't want my kids to be embarrassed by me.

What drives you to be a better version of yourself? 

I don't want to be shy any more. I used to dance and act in stage plays. I absolutely loved it. I would love to do that again. I want to have self confidence in myself again. I want to love myself again.

What is making you just get up early with no excuses and just getting out there getting your workout done and eating healthy meals.

Truth be known, I don't always get up early. In fact I rarely do. But I always exercise at some stage during the day. I always try to make plans to meet people and then I feel guilty if I don't turn up. With the food, that's easy I love clean eating now on the occasion that I have a blow out I always end up feeling revolting and it always remind's me of why I'm here and what I'm trying to achieve

What makes you push that little bit harder? 

I think a fear of failing makes me push that little bit harder and an overwhelming desire to prove to myself that I'm not worthless and I really, really can JFDI.

I wanted to share with you my Inspiration board that I did for the weekly task.

I really am a runner

Well that's what the little voice on my C25k app told me when I finished my 20 minute run today!

Yes that's right I finally did it. What a complete disaster the past 2 days have been, between me feeling sick on Friday, my kids being constantly sick and babysitting plans falling through, my Friday and Saturday plans to do my run were a complete disaster.

By hook or by crook I was doing this run today. I had hoped to meet my hubby during his lunch break at the gym so he could mind the boys while I did my run on the treadmill. But sadly he couldn't make it. So after I put my bub down for his sleep I got ready and went out into the back yard, which is a decent size. I wasn't happy though. I was having a real princess moment.....Why wasn't the world bowing down to me and doing exactly what I wanted. I didn't want to run in the backyard, I want to run on the treadmill. Even as the little voice on my C25k app was telling me all about today's run, I seriously could have cried.

So I started my 5 minute warm up and realised at about 4minutes that I hadn't turned my HRM on. Oh boy was I cranky (even considered stopping then and there). Then the run started and thankfully the bootiful Adam Levine came crooning through my ipod and Oh yes that boy certainly does move like Jagger. Well that changed my tune, I was happy to keep pace with his delightful voice. Before I knew the little voice was telling me I'd already run for 5 minutes. I nearly cried. On I ran for another 5 minutes and was delighted that my ipod was giving me constantly up beat music. Around the 10 minute mark I got a slow song and I started to panic, but it turns out Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis ain't too bad to run to after all. When the little voice told me I had run for 15 minutes, my arms went up in the air like I had just completed a marathon. And then before I knew...20 whole minutes had passed.

I RAN FOR 20 WHOLE MINUTES!!!

I'm a little shocked that I could actually do it. And I look back over the past couple of days and I can see my excuses shining through. Was I really feeling sick on Friday? or was I just in a state of panic about this run. I blamed my mum yesterday for not being home in time to look after the boys so I could do my run then. But seriously I know how unreliable my mum can be when it comes to positive things. I could have done my run during the day when my bub was sleeping.

It would seem I still have a long way to go when it comes to fighting my demons and ridding myself of my excuses. I'll get there eventually, I know I will.

LJx

PS - Thank you to the gorgeous Janie and Raelene who have been so supportive of my run, mwah to you both xx

Tomorrow will be a very important day!

WHY? I hear you ask....
Well tomorrow is day 3 of week 5 in the C25k program. Tomorrow I have to run for 20 minutes non stop. I won't lie, I'm scared.
In a nutshell I'm scared I won't be able to do it. It's the most I would have run in one go. I actually thought my phone app had it wrong & I checked in with the actually C25k website, but sadly no it is correct. Tomorrow I have to run for 20 minutes. The longest I've ever done is 8 minutes, I'm scared but determined! I'll let you know how I how I go
x

I blame my jeans!

I tossed up about the title of this blog for a few hours. I was going to call it "Why are the 90's tormenting me?"
But I finally decided that it's all my jeans fault. I blame them 100%. You see my current jeans have been falling off me, these are a pair of jeans that have always been tight on me, but not recently, so I felt for sure that I would show a decent loss on the scales this week.
So jumping on the scales this morning I was devastated to discover I only had a 200g loss. You see this should have been a momentous occasion as today I am finally back into the 80's. I guess I was just expecting to be a little further into the 80's than what I am. So I had my sook and went to the gym, 800 calories later I felt much better about my little loss.
But seriously it's not my jeans fault, it's my fault, I haven't been 100% this week, I've had a few blow outs, my kiddies are sick which means broken sleep and just general frustration. But I think maybe this was just what I needed, I've got my determination face back on. I feel like my mojo has finally come back to the party.
I'm going to smash this week!

Blogger challenge week 2

Two weeks in one day, happy to be back blogging and up to date with the challenge, thanks to Jayne here we go with week 2.............
This week is about our workouts.
I've been mixing it up as I like to do. I've been hitting the gym (which I love) and as always I have my trusty Mish dvd's at home for when I can't get to the gym and I love doing the outdoor program too. This round for me is about really pushing myself outside of my comfort zone, and so far to cement that, I've joined in 2 challenges. Last round I couldn't bring myself to join in challenges, I was always convinced I'd fail and didn't want to set myself up for that. But I've discovered, thanks to a very inspirational lady, that failing is ok
Firstly I committed (and secretly enjoying) doing Mean Abs June. Confession be known, I looked at the first few days and committed to doing this. After day 1 I looked at day 30 and nearly fell over, but instead of giving up, cause it's too hard, every day without fail, I complete my mean abs

My other challenge that I committed to was to burn the correct amount of calories every day. 500 per day and 1000 for SSS. Week 1 was a slight disaster seeing me only burning 1900 calories, but I've burnt more this week. I don't think I'll get to my total of 3500 for the week, but as I type this today I've burnt 2520 calories and I'm yet to do my SSS which is planned for this afternoon. So I might get there yet.

I've started running again, which I was absolutely loving last round until I managed a stress fracture in week 4 which ruled out running for the rest of the round. I started the C25k, where I left off and I was really happy that I could cope with that amount of running after having so long away from it. I am sticking to the treadmill this time though (as suggested my my doctor). No more road running until I can officially call myself a Runner :)

Until next week
LJx

Blogger challenge week 1

I'm a little late, but here we go ready to take up the blogger challenge again. Thanks to Jayne

1) Introduce yourself & tell us why your here?

Well hello my name is Melinda and I'm because basically in a nutshell, I'm fat, according to my BMI I'm obese, but I'm not as fat as I used to be. I am a different person to the person I was in January, not only am I 20 + kilo's lighter but my mind is in a different place now. I started this year as a shy, uncertain nearly 40 year old who ran the risk of not being there for the most important people in my life (my husband and 3 beautiful boys). I am now on the way to being the best version of myself and giving my boys the wife & mother they deserve.

2) Why did you decide to join round 2 of Michelle Bridges 12 week body transformation?

Even though I came a long way in round 1, I still have a long way to go. There is still a pesky 20kg to bid farewell to and I still have a very, very long way to go with my mindset. In between round 1 and round 2 I felt very lost and very uncertain and I was a little shocked at how easily my old (bad) habits started to creep back into my normal daily life. This resulted in me gaining 3kg's in between rounds and I was beyond devastated. But I owned it, I know what I did wrong and why I put on weight. But I'm back and I'm here to embed this program in to my psyche and make this my life.

3) How have you prepared for the challenge?

I haven't really done very much in pre season. I did my tasks with little enthusiasm, until I got to my excuses; which was a huge turning point for me last round. I'd saved it till last even though I think it was task 2. Doing my excuses got me right back into the 12wbt mindset and I was pleasantly surprised to discover how much my excuses had changed in 12 weeks. I'd gone from 3 pages of excuses to 1 1/2 pages. In 12 weeks I'd battled many of my excuses that were holding me back and only a handful remain. Even though I know I still have a long way to go, I was very proud of this


Until next time
LJ x

Apologies and Melbourne

I've been a tad neglectful of my blog since the end of round 1 and I do apologise. I have had some major uni work due and that has taken all of my focus of my blogs. But I'm back now and I'm excited to be back on 12wbt and back blogging.

So first things first....there was a little road trip to Melbourne.
WOW what a week away it was. So much fun, accept for a few little hiccups we had a wonderful week away.
The record breaking workout was so much fun and I got to meet a very special lady. My first pic is before the workout, this is with my dear friend Fairlie, she lives in Geelong and was very keen to come along and join in the workout with me. Fairlie has joined up to do round 2. It was so cold, I actually think my teeth are chattering in this photo lol.

Group workout time, these a just a few of the workout that my boys took.

 This one I love, I love my expression in this pic and that I know I'm thinking I'm on stage in a musical theatre production...LOL

The group workout was a heap of fun and even managed to burn a decent amount of calories

AND then a very special moment for me...I got to meet a young lady whom blog's I have been reading all round, a lady who has kept me so motivated and someone I am very proud to call my friend

This is Janie and my youngest little man Cameron.

So after our mammoth workout, we headed back to our hotel and got ready for our night out to celebrate. This was a bit of a disaster, our 10km from the CBD hotel was a lot further than what we thought and that night, due to a comedy of OH SO MANY ERRORS it took us 2 hours to get to the party. I was beside myself by the time we got there, but finally we did and we had a fantastic night.

 This is me and my gorgeous hubby, glad to have a wine in my hand after our trip from hell.

My dear friend Kate, we've been in this together from the start.
What a great night, lots of dancing and drinking, even though it took us 2 hours to get there, it certainly was a fabulous night. I loved seeing the winners up on stage and knowing that many of the winners were part of the 30+ crew, I felt so proud. I saw many of the 30+ girls but I was too shy to introduce myself, I still feel like I'm a nobody and they wouldn't know who I am - something to work on.

As I was leaving the party I got to meet another young lady who was my initial inspiration for my weight loss journey.

This is Angela Wallace and she is the reason I signed up for 12wbt. My starting weight was similar to Angela's starting weight and look at her now, she is gorgeous and such a friendly, lovely person and I was so happy I got to meet her.

Well I think that's all for the moment. I'll be starting the bloggers challenge in the next few days and I hope everyone has had a great start to round 2
LJxx