Down in Monterey

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Got to the gym yesterday morning at 5.30am after feeling very guilty and fat after yesterday. Had a healthy 2 eggs and toast breakfast and jumped in a Mustang and drove thru' Carmel and some amazing golf courses, down Californian Highway 1 (for 5 hour round trip) so lots of sitting but spectacular scenery. Last night had dinner at 'Casanovas in Carmel by the Sea' and had the most delicious medium rare lamb 'chops' I've ever tasted. Been here 2 days and haven't seen Clint Eastwood yet. Just about to go to the famous aquarium in Monterey and 'be good'.

Off the chain


Flew from LA to Monterey. Staying in marine sanctuary. Beautiful hotel on Cannery Row. Very grateful.

OMG... Three course breakfast, three course lunch, cocktails and a four course dinner. Today was pretty much 'off the chain! Granola, berries and salmon were some good choices...

It's Tuesday... so it must be Santa Monica

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

It has been a whirlwind since my last post. I'm in America for two weeks and as always the stress of going away makes me really need a holiday! Only the usual - work, home, children, dog, elderly mother etc. but we got on the plane!

I'm in trouble with my trainer for not posting and got a text yesterday from him as he's worried that I'm going to bring the fat, old lady back home with me. At this stage of my trip so am I.

It's going to be difficult here in the US to stay on track as even the portions of good food are 4x what I need to eat. Yesterday we had lunch at Malibu on the pier and almost everything was deep fried. So the answer will be lots of exercise - hotel gyms, pools and lots of walking.

Dinner last night was one of my favorite restaurants in the 'whole world'. Last time I was in LA we went to The Border Grill and it was fantastic to go again. It's a creative, modern Mexican restaurant, run by two celebrity chefs who have a cable food channel show called Two Hot Tomales. Wonderful salads, spicy lamb soft tacos, ceviche (raw fish 'cooked' with lime juice and ginger), guacamole, chicken (fried) with more hard tacos, beans and a great sauce. Sorry, but I also had to have two margaritas (...when in Rome).

Trouble in paradise

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Weigh in this morning. Put on 0.4kg. Relieved.

Made a list of why and how. 10 drinks over the five days in Singapore/on the plane is the equivalent of eating around a loaf of bread!

Now is about the time I realise that this is all too hard and divert my focus.

This time I won't. I'm back on track.




Water and steamed rice... Yum

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Singapore would have to be the best place in the world to be at the moment.

We were at Level 33 (a bar ... 2 beers is the answer to your text Alex...it was hot) overlooking the GP track, amazing harbour, light show... amazing+, when the qualifying rounds started... OMG what an unforgettable sound. It gave me goosebumps... so exciting.

So ... alcohol... I've had 4 drinks since arriving Thurs night. Omelettes and toast for breakfast at the enormous buffet - food generally pretty good - minced chicken and steamed rice, steak sandwich, steamed fish and vegetables. Snack may have been cheese and water crackers and a glass of Moet but by a resort style pool with friends, it was perfect. Lots of walking. And lots and lots of water.

I've brought my protein powder with me and will have a shake before we are out today. Went to the gym at the hotel this morning. My husband took a photo as proof - not my best side, sorry - so it's not going up for the world to see!

Lunch planned with unlimited 'flowing champagne'. Mmmm might be a bit tricky. What's my strategy? I'm sure there will be lots of flowing water as well!

And my first Grand Prix tonight. Can't wait.

Week 2 Weigh in

Friday, September 21, 2012

Minus 0.3kg.

Didn't 'ring the bell' for me. That's what I get for having a great birthday weekend. I was ready to have my cardio session with my beautiful new pink boxing gloves but it was time for a chat with my trainer, Alex.

We went into the 'Results Room' and I was half expecting to come out 5 kgs lighter with an arm amputated, but that didn't happen. We talked about not being 100% focussed (I know... still can't stay focussed eventhough I'm doing this blog! It's helping). How I can improve my weight loss? I'm actually feeling fitter and slimmer, so that's great. I'd had a good few days but no accelerator day and the positive is that I've lost 0.5kg in 2 weeks. This is great as I'd been piling this amount on very week prior to knuckling down. An accelerator day would have really helped but thought it best not to be too grumpy as there were a few family things on.

I'm flying to Singapore this afternoon for a few days to see friends and the Grand Prix. Looking forward to it and Alex has given me a few strategies for staying on 'track' (Grand Prix joke). I'll keep up the blog, get to the gym in the hotel, drink a lot of water - it's 32 degrees and do lots of walking.

Off to the gym

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

I didn't make it to the gym this morning as I had a big proposal to complete for this afternoon. It's now done, so I'm leaving the office early and going to the gym. I've only ever been twice in my life after work, as I find it best to go before I actually wake up in the morning!

It's very easy for me just not to go after work even with the best intensions. I'm tired and hungry.

My trainer Alex may well have a heart attack. I'm only really going because I told him I would in a text message. Why did I do that? I'm sure once I'm there, I'll be glad I went and once I'm done I'll feel fantastic.

Happy Birthday

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Had a perfect day with my husband. He'd drafted the itinerary and put it it my birthday card! Lots of walking (3 hours) around Cockatoo Island on the second last day of the Biennale and a fantastic dinner and play at the Opera House.

My neighbour said that chocolate on your birthday doesn't count when she gave me some fantastic salted caramels. I decided that a couple of glasses of wine were OK too. My husband ate all of my birthday cake (a sculpture of handmade chocolates and toffee) for me after I blew out the candle. I made some good food choices and some bad food choices. Am I feeling guilty about it? No.

First Challenge weigh in

Friday, September 14, 2012

Lost 0.2kg.

Let's just say I was disappointed. I thought that I'd lost more. I'd been 'pretty good'. I should really throw out the bathroom scales that I have at home.

It just goes to show that I didn't  have a 'perfect' week. I didn't stick to the food plan I'd made when I was out, didn't add up my macros every day when there was a variation to my plan, didn't do four hours of cardio or drink anywhere enough water. I didn't do my PT session on Monday and even though it was moved to Wednesday it was enough to get me left to my own devices for a few days. Dangerous.

Mmmmm. So, I've got lots of things to improve on this week.

The moment of truth


I had an important function at Parliament House to attend on Wednesday night. It meant a new outfit and (new) hair - both very quickly on Wednesday afternoon.

After hair, I went to David Jones to quickly grab something appropriate. Walking around the racks I don't think I've ever felt so depressed. I was in the 'fat lady section' and everything was 'for old fat ladies'. It was all awful. I ventured out of the section and everything else was just a 'smallish' 14 or 16. Right now, I'm definitely an 18.

It was the realisation of what I'd let myself get to. How much weight I'd put on. I won't mention the struggles in the change room with things that were just too tight.

I went into two change rooms. One was lit so brightly that I just wanted to run screaming to my car and go home. The other was quite dim and it made the extremely boring grey suit (think Penny Wong), that I came home with, look OK. It is so dull however that it is an incentive to lose weight so it doesn't fit me for too much longer.

I really just felt like crying.

Image: Pinterest

Shopping Tour

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Did the Shopping Tour at Coles. I've done a few and it was really to remind me of what's available and especially what's new. Jenny was full of fantastic tips throughout the tour and it was great! I recommend it to everyone.

I took lots of notes and left with a basket of new interesting things.

Things I need to do:
Vege/fruit smoothie in AM
Large mushroom filled with mince
Mushroom hamburger (mushroom instead of bread)
Cauliflower mash

What I learnt:
1/4 of avocado is ok
Preferably milk and yogurt (not so much cheese ) as dairy
12 almonds are ok
Smoked salmon frittata made in cupcake moulds
Ribeye and porterhouse steak is preferable to scotch filet (too much fat)
Lamb is not great
Chicken breasts preferable to thighs
Almond milk is good
Might as well drink full cream milk because of sugar content in skim milk

Things I'd forgotten:
Smoked salmon
Rockmelon and prosciutto
Green tea spikes metabolism
Batch cooking in my slow cooker using packaged sauces

Exercise Plan


To reach my goals I've been advised to do at least 4 hours of cardio a week and plan this out...

Monday AM  PT Session 1/2 hour (weights) + 1/2 hour crosstrainer/treadmill/bike/rower
Monday PM  1/2 hour walk

Tuesday AM 1/2 hour crosstrainer/treadmill/bike/rower
Tuesday PM  rest

Wednesday AM  1/2 hour crosstrainer/treadmill/bike/rower
Wednesday PM  1/2 hour walk

Thursday AM  PT Session 1/2 hour (cardio) + 1/2 hour crosstrainer/treadmill/bike/rower
Thursday PM  rest

Friday AM 1/2 hour crosstrainer/treadmill/bike/rower
Friday PM  rest

Saturday AM  1 + 1/2 hour walk
Saturday PM  rest

Sunday AM  rest
Sunday PM  rest

Total  = 5.5 hours

This gets me to the gym every weekday morning and around the Bay Run on Saturday mornings.

Now, I just have to do it. I was tempted to put in that I'd get to the gym after work as well, but that has only ever happened twice in my entire life, so I didn't want to set too many unattainable goals at this stage ;-)

Whirlwind weekend

Tuesday, September 11, 2012


It was a big weekend for the first weekend of the 'Challenge'. It could have been easier and I would have preferred to be more focussed on planning food, but it was all last minute going out stuff.

On Friday night I went to see The Sapphires (Do yourself a 'feel good' favour). Had dinner at an Italian restaurant and had grilled atlantic salmon on a bed of rocket and pear. Drank water. Easy.

Saturday, up at 5am to be the first at a polling booth and got prime real estate for the local government election posters etc. Then lots of walking throughout the day. Then, I had a function I'd forgotten about in the evening - steak and steamed vegetables and just left all the other stuff on my plate.

Drank one glass of champagne.

Not too bad.

Sunday, a lovely family lunch at Drummoyne Sailing Club with one of my brothers back off to live overseas. More grilled atlantic salmon and salad. Drank water. Easy.

So, I don't really need to stay home to eat well. And I certainly can't plan my days all the time.

Image: Pinterest

Actions speak louder than words




















Are there any secrets to making this weight loss journey easier?

There are three things that I know work for me.

1. Have a protein shake when I get home from work/before dinner.

2. Plan my food and pack snacks/lunch if I need to be out and about.

3. Don't have that first drink.

Image: Pinterest

The Nine Week Weight Loss Challenge

Saturday, September 8, 2012

I had my goal session for the Weight Loss Challenge on Thursday morning. The world's worst photo was taken and it really is only up from here!

We talked about the next nine weeks and how I'd like to lose nine kilos. Apparently, I need to do a minimum of four hours of cardio each week to reach that goal, so need to work on an exercise plan.

I've also lost 0.5kg in the past 3 days, but that's nothing to get too excited about.

I was feeling really drained on Thursday and decided to go to my GP for a check up. It had been a while and I thought perhaps I could compare any results with those after the challenge. Was it the first accelerator day that made me feel so bad or was there something else? Had all the usual tests and they came back "perfect", so I may have just been overdoing it. Any bad results would have been motivation to stay on track, but I'm going to have to use all the other reasons to lose weight.

I also saw my physiotherapist. Dave and his team at Sports Lab, Drummoyne (best ever) have worked wonders with my knees in the past and he needs to work on them and now my hips, if I'm going to be able to move for the next nine weeks. I also had a half hour massage on my hips/thighs - overcompensating for my bad knee and sore and inflamed. Oh, the joys of middle age. 

It was great to see Dave and I left feeling fantastic and walking normally (sometimes it's just too painful). Congratulations on the amazing new digs - they've moved into their new space. I've also got some non load bearing exercises to do and some Volarin to take. I haven't been to the physio since November, around the time my weight started to pile (back) on. It really is something I just need to do. 

Accelerator Day

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

It has been too long since I've had an Accelerator Day (very low carbs).  My husband was going to leave home for the day as I have been known to be a bit sensitive.  I have found it hard to concentrate and had to head off from work through peak hour traffic which made me a bit fragile. Looking forward to having an early night but it's not going to happen. It's been a really trying week dealing with IT problems at work and I'm drained, but my issues were resolved this afternoon.

I'm not sure if a menopausal woman should be allowed to eat so few carbs. To be truthful, I cried once, screamed at a service provider twice, swore at another and had someone turn down a lift as they'd rather catch the bus than be trapped in a car with me. So it hasn't gone very well. To say I've been a bit touchy is an understatement!

Gym this morning - boxing session with my trainer. '100 high' yeah sure... I'm old! But I did it!

I've got my Goal Session tomorrow for the Weight Loss Challenge.

Don't be so grumpy

Tuesday, September 4, 2012


On Sunday mid-morning, I was grumpy (and hungry). I was wondering how I was going to get through the day and stay on the program/not eat too much food and drink more wine than I should. 

It was Father's Day and I had lunch and dinner to prepare and the family to host. In hindsight I should have had a protein shake and I might have felt more human.

I walked outside and there in the sky above my house was this smiley face. 

Mmmm, maybe I shouldn't be so grumpy.

The boys in the back seat



If you read my second post about my journey/road trip, these two are on my journey with me – my trainer Alex and his boss Jeff from Vision Personal Training, Drummoyne. 

Gee, have they both got a lot to put up with and how do they look so good and be so cheery so early in the morning?

I just need to lose that fat old lady in the front seat next to me.

Monday morning

Monday, September 3, 2012

Lost 1.3kg. I've been on track so I was pretty happy. My short term goal was to lose 4kg in August and I've now done this. Yeah!

Food Plan for next week

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Using the tools available I've completed my Food Diary for next week. Now I just have to double check it and then eat it all. Even planned my Accelerator Day – it's Wednesday. 

Alex, my trainer is going to be in a state of shock.


Spring has sprung


First day of spring + gorgeous weather + Jack Russell wants a walk = Bay Run.
P.S. As I go through my wardrobe of too tight exercise gear, I'm reminded that it's not a fashion parade.

Ready, set, go!

Friday, August 31, 2012



In his ebook Ready, Set, Go Andrew Simmons talks about being ready to lose weight. I'm actually feeling that this week has been about getting ready. Getting back to eating – and shopping well,  making a food plan, no alcohol, getting back to the gym – gentle exercise to get me loosened up,  and trying to forget all the stuff I remember about losing weight – it's just not going to work this time. Oh, and starting my blog.  Read more here.

Image: Ready Set, Go - Andrew Simmons

The treadmill


This morning I was at the gym without my trainer. If I'm going to 'lose the fat, old lady' I'm going to have to be there a lot more. I spent time on the bike and the cross trainer. I was scared to go on the treadmill, as my bad knee (long story) had started to really pinch (OUCH!) because of the weight I'd put on. Today was an experiment and it was OK. Fantastic!

I felt great for going and it has put me in a good frame of mind for the day. I'll be back.

Image: Pinterest

My mantra

Thursday, August 30, 2012


In a 'session' a couple of weeks ago trying to get me back on track, we devised a new mantra and I need to remember it.

People care (my trainer isn't about to dump me because I wasn't committed 100%. He's there to help me)
There's hope (because there always is)
I can do this (I can do anything I set my mind to)

Image: Jeff's iphone

97.2kg


It is all about the food I eat. This morning my trainer helped me with planning my food and went through all the new tools available to me. I have been at the gym three mornings this week and this is a recent record.

As I was walking out I was reminded that I should go in tomorrow to 'exercise' and I think I said, 'I'd try'. Of course, that meant 'yeah sure, I won't be there', on past records. Prompted, I then said, 'Sure, I'll be there'. Oh my god, I actually now have to go – four times in one week!

I was also 'up to' being weighed. It could have been worse. In November 2010, I remember I was 78kg, (after losing 22kg) so I have put on 19.2kg. Mmmm. I think I'd better get some of those 'Hey Fatso' bathroom scales.

Image: Pinterest

Just do it

Wednesday, August 29, 2012



Today for the first time in about 30 years I am taking time out from the studio and going for a walk at lunch time. Wasn't my idea, (thanks Ingrid) but it will be fantastic to get moving and look at the water nearby. It will also be a chance for us all to get some exercise and some fresh air.

Sitting at a desk all day is no good for me.

Image: Bay Run, Drummoyne  29/8/2012

Visualise this




It has been put to me that I am on a journey for the next four months. The scenario is that I'm on a road trip. I'm driving, and I have my trainer(s) in the back seat giving directions.

I'm in control but my trainer(s) will guide me to my destination (i.e. to be fit and fabulous).

In light of how I'm feeling at the moment, I have in my mind an old, fat lady sitting in the passenger seat next to me! So my plan is at the first opportunity to ditch her at the first service station - just drive off without her. Only then will I be ready to start.

Image: Pinterest

The journey begins





How many times have you rattled off a 'very well thanks' when asked how you are? 

How are you really feeling? How am I really feeling?

Would you 'really' like to know that I'm feeling old, fat and unfit? Would you prefer if I went into great detail about all my aches and pains, the food and wine I've had whilst I've been overindulging the last few months, how busy and stressed we are at the studio (and home) and how I haven't had five minutes to really think about 'me' lately. Of course not!

This blog is a positive journey of thoughts, food, recipes, life, things I like and the transformation from the 'bottom' (teary on the bike this morning) to a new me (the me I used to be). It's the journey I'll make with the help of my personal trainer Alex, who has put up with many excuses and his boss Jeff.

Image: Pinterest

Well... All rights reserved © Blog Milk - Powered by Blogger