Back on track

How can you not wanna train on a night like this?

After a couple of not so good days at the start of the week, I've smashed out some awesome training sessions and feeling back to my good self again. So Yay and thanks to my 12wbt training buddies for pushing me through this and apologies, for the previous rant, it really was a tough day!! Thanks also to a wonderful friend in KB for her wonderful words of wisdom and encouragement... Anything is possible when you put your mind to it :) ...

So first things first ... Yesterday was weigh in day... And as suspected, I didn't lose anything on the scales, instead i gained... I gained 400 grams.. Initially I was upset but I know it's muscle and my body adjusting.. I know I'm losing everywhere else, and as long as I'm feeling healthier and fitter, I don't really care.. It's just a shame that such an emphasis is placed on numbers and how much you've lost on the scales. Can't wait for our mini 4 week milestone next week where we'll have to do our measurements and complete another fitness test, to see how much we've 

really improved.  Bring it on.

Tonight's Thai Beef Larb.

Today also marks the last day of Feb Fast... I'm hoping I can continue on this journey, so to my friends out there, i ask you a favour. Please support me and do not encourage me to have that beer or glass of wine. I really need to keep this up so I can achieve my goals...

And with that - I think it's time to hit publish and shut down so I can go to bed. Mish is yelling at us through Facebook to get to get bed early .. In her words, "At the risk of sounding like a nanna I have to say GO TO BED EARLY! I've set a challenge for my Round 1 members to do 14 days straight of going to bed early and waking up early. Click LIKE if you are up for the challenge!! Now get off Facebook and go to bed!" 

Better listen to Mish hey, so Nigh Night all xo

Is it only Tuesday?

Who said Sunday was a rest day?

I don't even know where to begin with tonight's entry.. Other than I'm sore, I'm tired and I'm cranky... Just got off the netball court so am feeling some what happy with myself but man Id forgotten how hard the game is and how much fitness is required. Guess I can only get better. 

Since Sunday, I've been feeling a bit blah and haven't been giving it the 100% I probably should be. So, yes, I am just a little bit worried about tomorrows weigh in day. Sunday we went to the hanging rock harvest picnic. It was a long day and a very hot day so lots of cold soft drinks. (A big no no, but water just didn't cut it). There was also lots of gourmet food and free tastings, etc,  so as you can imagine very hard to pull yourself away. By the time we got home, we were so exhausted that we ordered Fish n Chips for dinner. Thankfully, I did save my treat meal til Sunday and we also hiked our way to the top of the rock (on my rest day) so I didn't feel quite so bad but what can you do hey?

Taking a moment

All I can do now, is build a bridge and get over it.. Will just have to get up tomorrow and give it 110% to make up for the last couple of days... 

Oh yeah, how could I not finish without talking about food... 

I would have to say that my favourite meal of 12wbt so far would have to be the Bimbap meal..  

A Korean inspired dish that I've never tried before... Was so fresh and so tasty - can't wait to have this one again!!! You should definitely give a go!!

Bimbap meal

And with that, I think it's nigh night from me. 

Keep your fingers crossed there will be results on the scales tomorrow.

xo

Smashing Todays SSS

12WBT French Toast

So for those who haven't figured it out yet SSS stands for "SUPER SATURDAY SESSION" designed for us to try and burn up to 1000 calories in one session. Crazy you might say, yes, especially for little people like me... It's certainly  a challenge that's for sure!

Today's SSS was like no other. I was up at 7 to watch the mighty Melbourne Storm take on Leeds to become "World Champions"....  The perfect start to get me in the mood for a training session especially after we coooked up a storm with this amazing french toast with berries, banana and maple syrup - so yum!!!

Not more burpees

I made it down to our local park to meet up with my other 12wbt training buddies where we smashed it... Steps / cardio / push ups / the dreaded burpees, the plank, you name it, we did it! Still didn't get to the 1000 calories that was expected, but like I said, I don't have as much to lose as others, and I guess that's a goal I can work on over the next few weeks. I have no doubt, you'll hear about it when I reach it :).

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Saturdays we also normally get a treat meal for dinner after all our hard work, but tomorrow, we're off to Hanging Rock for the annual harvest picnic so I'm gonna save it for then. Instead we cooked up 12wbt's spaghetti and meatballs - so so yum, and believe it or not, under 300 cals.

So as you can imagine, I'm exhausted and ready for bed. But not without my barney banana of course !!!

Until next time, nigh night!! x

Week 2 weigh in day

Asian Chicken Salad with a warm noodle salad

What a day! Wednesday is weigh day for the 12wbt family and with it being the first full week I was quite nervous jumping on the scales. 

But thankfully I had nothing to worry bout, I was shocked to see that I've dropped 1.2 kilos since last week and it's the first time I've been under 65 Kilos in a long time. That's now a total of 2.2 kilos gone on this journey so far *insert happy dance*. 

I'm really starting to notice a difference with my clothes as well and can't wait til we do our measurements for our first mini milestone in 2 weeks time. I'm feeling stronger and fitter by the day and so proud that all this all hard work is paying off. I just hope I can keep can it up, as for me, as I truly believe it will be more about the cm's I'm losing and toning rather than the kilos. I guess, watch this space, hey!

In others news, I loved tonight's Asian Chicken Patties with a warm noodle salad - so fresh and so yum and looking forward to the leftovers for lunch. Is it sad that I spend my days, looking forward to what I'm gonna cook up next?

My new hear rate monitor!

I also finally got myself a heart rate monitor and gave its first real work out tonight. Happy Jan... Money well spent I say. Was the perfect evening for a run around the park and I'm so glad the heat wave over! 

Cant wait to get out there and do it all again tomorrow.. Bet ya never thought you'd hear that come out of my mouth!

Night Night! x

Confession time

It's 35 degrees and we decided to pull the pin on our outdoor training session that we'd originally planned to do. What insane person would go running in 35 degrees? Certainly not me that's for sure.. Instead I came home, put on the earn and burn video and sweated it out in front of the fan in my sports bra and knickers. Ridiculous I say. 

Basil & Walnut Pesto Spaghetti

This consistent heat is killing me. Living in a two bedroom town house with no air con and a noisy water cooler, means not much sleep and I'm struggling to get up at 6 to get my work out done in the morning. Any one else got any wise advise on beating the heat ??

Otherwise I am very proud of me. The old me, would have stumbled home from the train, grabbed a beer out of the fridge and ordered fish n chips or something as i couldn't be bothered cooking in the heat. Instead, I came home - cooked up the lovely Basil and Walnut Pesto Spaghetti with Roasted Pumpkin and Tomato and did a work out video. Crazy huh... 

Here's hoping this Melbourne heat wave finishes soon, cause I don't how much longer I can go on for like this. Luckily for me, there is a savior! The old classic, and my favourite, the Barney Banana! So yum and only 80 calories. Magnific!  

Loving it!

Almost at the end of week 1 and I'm feeling great... I really feel that the program is working and it's by far, the most focused and determined I've been in a long time. I also truly believe it comes down to the great support that's offered in the on line forums, and the lovely group of girls (pictured below) I've met on this journey so far. Normally I would have gone it's too hot or I can't be bothered, but instead this week I put on the sunscreen, chucked on a hat, sucked it up and did some awesome outdoors sessions.  

And apologies, at the start of the week I probably should have put up my results from my fitness test and week 1 measurements, but I forgot (whoops) so here they are. Hopefully after week 4, 8 and 12 you'll see some real improvements :)...


FITNESS TEST
1. 1km Run Time trial - 8 mins 20 secs

Our 12WBT North West Group (most of us anyway)

2. Push ups (knees) - 27
3. Plank (toes) - 51 seconds
4. Wall Sit - 46 seconds
5. Sit & Reach - 4 cms

MY MEASUREMENTS 
Weight: 66 kgs
Chest - 94 cms
Waist - 79 cms
Distance from knee - 20 cms
Right thigh - 54 cms
Left thigh - 53 cm
Right arm - 29 cms
Left arm - 28 cms

And with food like this, what's not to like... 

 These strawberries were extra special cause my boy brought them for me for Valentines Day knowing that I couldn't eat chocolate or drink any champas.. Isn't he lovely..

Balsamic and Basil Strawberries with Ricotta

These lamb koftas were so Yum!! However, the portions were quite small, so I suggest saving them til your treat meal on Saturdays and some rice or a wrap!

What's not to like about banana on toast.. Especially before a big SSS!

Banana Bruschetta

 That's a wrap! Bring on Week 2!!

Tough going

Beef Fajita

So 3rd day in I'm finding it tough going. Lower back is quite sore and I'm not sure whether it was the extra game of netball last night on top of my morning workout or if its just that my body isn't use to exercising every day. Maybe I haven't got my technique right yet, I'm not sure. 

I struggled getting through this morning's cardio workout and ended up following the beginner routine rather than intermediate. I was good though and made up for it at lunch time by chucking on my runners and going for a walk! Yay me! I'm still frustrated.. Might need to get myself a sports massage me thinks. 

On the upside I really enjoyed the beef fajitas for dinner. I had some extra calories for the day, so added a little bit of corn and cucumber instead of the onion. In the words of Manu - it was "Magnif".. Even my boy loved them, so I have no doubt this will be a repeat. 

Fingers crossed tomorrow will be better.

And on that note, that's wrap & goodnight, SK.

And so my Journey begins

So here I am. I've just completed Day 2 of Michelle Bridges 12 week body transformation otherwise known as 12WBT and so far so good. I hope that over the next 12 weeks you'll join me on my journey and watch me "transform" into a fitter and healthier Sarah. 

On Thursday I was as excited as a little girl on Christmas morning. when our nutrition and exercise programs were revealed. There are so many amazing recipes I don't know where to start and can't wait to try them all. I guess my biggest challenge will be exercising 6 days a week as I'm use to only doing 3-4. But so far so good. The last two mornings, I have jumped out of bed at 6.15 and did Michelle's earn and burn work out and then this morning, Mish on possible. This morning's was tough, but it can only get easier right? People must think I'm mad as I've also signed up for the Run for the Kids 5.5km fun run. My goal will be to complete the course within 30 min, so guess I'd better get my bum into gear and start training.

I'm excited, I'm nervous, but most of all I'm determined. Determined to become a happy healthier me. I have an amazing support crew in the 12WBT North West Melb group (thanks ladies), and of course my family and friends. Together we will encourage each other to reach our goals, share our tears & and triumphs, and never ever give up. As the saying goes - lets JFDI!!  

And that I believe is a wrap, well for today anyways. Better get my beauty sleep so can get up early in the morning for another work out. 

BRING IT ON!

My Weekly Meal Highlights!!!

Who says dieting is hard? With yummy low calorie meals such as these - 

I'm never gonna go hungry!!

Chicken Pad Thais

Cumin Crusted Cutlets and Brocolini Salad

Lamingtons

Tomato & Basil Warm Pasta Salad

Cajun Beef Fillet & Coriander Salsa