Day 5 of 1MKC - Friday

I am absolutely BUGGERED so all I can say is TGIF!!

Today has been a good day, busy for the most part (photos) but there has also been a few stop and put my feet up moments (even if it was for only 10 minutes at the most) which have been very much needed.

The highlight of my day was my very first training session with NexgenFitness aka Craig Harvey, which was challenging and enjoyable.

Kettle Bells, TRX Cables, Rower, Medicine Ball, Boxing Gloves, Kick Pad = An interesting mix of Cross Fit / Kick-Boxing.

Gotta say that my favourite part was the Boxing/Kick Boxing even though it really pushed me to the limit...bring on more of that I say!  

Not only was it physically challenging but I really needed to focus mentally too as we did some things I haven't done in ages and so I wasn't sure how my knee would pull up BUT it and I survived =)

Here's a recap of my Food for the day....

Breakfast - POWER OATS.  These were incredibly filling but also very tasty - I am looking forward to having them again.

Power Oats - Serves 1

½ cup of rolled oats

½ cup boiling water

¼ cup Yoplait Forme yoghurt (We reccomend French Vanilla or Berry Cheesecake flavour)

4 strawberries- sliced

2 tsp ALPS Blend

1 tsp honey

Combine oats & boiling water in a small serving bowl and cover with cling wrap and stand for a few minutes.  Uncover, stir & add yoghurt, strawberries, ALPS & drizzle over honey.

Nutritional Information:

252 cals / 1052 Kj

7.0g Fat (1.7g Saturated)

8.8g Protein

57.9g Carbohydrates

10.7g Sugar

6.6g Fibre

47mg Sodium

ALPS

Makes 4 cups worth of a healthy, crunch mix.

1 cup pumpkin seeds

1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup toasted flaked almonds
½ cup flax seeds

½ cup sesame seeds

¼ cup poppy seeds

¼ cup chia seeds

Combine all ingredients and store in an airtight container.

Snack - Skinny Cap with 1 sugar and wonderful company

Lunch - Left over Sticky Chicken (see yesterdays dinner), 1/2 cup Basmati Rice and Green Leafy Salad with Balsamic/Sesame dressing. 

Snack - Forme Yogurt (Fruit Salad Flavour)

Dinner - Fish and Vegetables (with 1Tbs Tartar Sauce)

Baked Fish with Herb and Lemon Sauce 

Vegetable Platter for Two

Summer Vegetables - Serves 2

2 medium sized zucchinis, cut in diagonal slices cm thick

1 large eggplant cut in cm thick slices lengthwise

1 bunch of asparagus- woody ends snapped

1 cob of corn

1 Tbs of balsamic vinegar

Juice of a lemon

1 Tbs pinenuts, toasted

¼ cup fresh chopped parsley

Steam / Grill vegetables and then arrange on platter and scatter over with remaining ingredients and season to taste.

So, I'm not a big lover of Fish or Eggplant and usally I would have margarine/butter on my corn BUT I actually really enjoyed this meal.  I did find however that even though I got full whilst eating it the feeling of fullness didn't last very long.

Snack - Peaches (Snack Pack) and Low Fat Custard.  I feel that I definately over endulged but it could of been something worse like ice cream or chocolate both of what I am craving like crazy right now, for the obvious reason.


Well, with that all said (typed hehe) its time for me to just chill a little before I hit the hay.


Wishing you a wonderful weekend xox

Read more "Day 5 of 1MKC - Friday"

Day 4 of 1MKC - Thursday

SO my day has been one that has seen me running from here to there and back again and getting this and that done by this or that time so I can get here or there on time SO in other words HECTIC!

Photos, Photos and more Photos (for the Moorabool News - one of the hats I wear), cleaning, cooking, personal training session and a visit to a friend for some sanity to cap off my day :)

6.45am - Alarm goes off and I hit snooze for another 15 minutes and another 15 minutes again and then it was time to get up and at em and ensure the normal school madness!

Today was the first day back for the year!! :)

Ace Riley and his GR 2 Teacher Miss Gleeson

Jazz MacKenzie and his GR 1 Teacher Miss Russell

Snack - Renew Juice. I forgot the ice so it wasn't as nice.

Lunch - Multigrain Ham and Pickles Sandwich

Snack - Forme Yogurt

Dinner - Sticky Chicken, Asian Greens and Basmatic Rice

Sticky Chicken - Serves 2

¼ cup sweet chilli sauce

¼ cup soy sauce

¼ cup crunchy peanut butter

4 free range chicken thighs - skin & excess fat removed & cut in half

Fresh coriander

Preheat oven to 180 C. Combine chilli & soy sauce with peanut butter in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat until blended.

Mix chicken with sauce & marinate for as long possible.

Place chicken pieces in a sprayed oven proof dish and bake for 30-40 minutes

Note: 

For those with nut allergies, you can replace peanut butter with a store-bought or homemade sunflower seed spread. 

Asian Greens - Serves 2

Bunch of broccolini

2 baby pak choy- cut in quarters

4 baby buk choy- cut in quarters

1 spring onion- thinly sliced

1 Tbs light soy sauce

1 tsp sesame oil

½ tsp dried chilli flakes

2 tsp lemon juice

Wash vegetables and place broccolini in a steamer over boiling water. (If you don’t have a steamer use a colander over a saucepan of boiling water and cover with a lid). Cook for 1 minute then add the remaining ingredients and cook for 1 ½ minutes.

Serve and spoon over sauce and shallots.

OMG my taste buds have gone to heaven - this was D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S and to think I screwed my nose up at the sound of it ;o)

I did however make a few changes:

I used breast chicken and not thighs 

I pan fried it in 1tsp of sesame oil instead of baked 

I forgot to make the sauce for the vegetables 

I used Basmati instead of Brown because thats what was in the pantry 

I didn't do a proper exercise session today despite the attempt to try but as I believe in signs and the power of 3 I figured that it wasn't supposed to happen.

Whilst 5 minutes into my spin bike ride the seat tipped back 

The WII wouldn't play my cardio disk 

My knee is swalloon 

Todays biggest win: 

Glenn offered me some 'low fat' caramel Ice Cream and I said NO and even though he sat next to me while he ate it I still didn't back down.

Todays treat was 2 X hot milo

I AM EXHAUSTED - I really really need to get my sleep pattern back on track!

Read more "Day 4 of 1MKC - Thursday"

Day 3 of 1MKC - Wednesday

Wednesday 1st of February 2012 - Day 3

Weighed in at 85.0kg - No Change :( 

Pt Session - Endurance with Rolando (plus 15 minutes on the Spin Cycle)

Despite Glenn complaining about being sore from Mondays session (harden up princess was my response plus an evil laugh) he still came along with me to today's session and all I can say is that we both know we are alive that's for sure!

Rowing, Kettle Bell Swings, Burpees, Farmers Walks, Lunges, Run, Stairs over and over and over and over again!!

BREAKFAST (Late again!) - 1 Slice of Multigrain Toast with 220g Baked Beans (Salt Reduced)

Finally some movement :) Whoo Hoo!!  It only took a whole Nulax bar but it was worth it.

SNACK- Banana Smoothie

Serves 1

1 cup skim milk

2 tbs cup rolled oats

2 tbs low-fat yoghurt

½ a small banana

2 ice cubes

Blend all ingredients for a few minutes & serve.

LUNCH - Yogurt (Nestle Forme)

LAPBAND APPOINTMENT


Weighed in at 83.5kg
So I found out today that I still have fluid (8.5ml worth) in my band but apparently its at a point where there isn't restriction - hence why I have been able to eat and keep food down (for the most part anyway).  I have to say that at first I was really disappointed and felt like a HUGE FAILURE to the point I asked if she could take the whole lot out then and there (her face said it all and it was a NO) BUT then I realised that I have been the one doing the hard work regardless of whether I have the band there as a tool or not.  I am still the one making the choice to eat or not to eat the wrong foods AND I am the one getting up off my butt and moving it.  I do have to admit though that it has made me wonder about things like the amount of food I would be eating if all the fluid was out and also I am guessing that I would get a proper feeling of hunger.  Hmmm  I am back to feeling insecure about my ability to do it on my own all over again which induces stress AND THERE IT IS....one of the reasons I got the band in the first place - To take away the stress, pressure and anxiety!

SNACK - Apple

Burnt off 1000calories

*Family* DINNER - My sisters amazingly delicious Spaghetti Bolognaise, Salad (with homemade dressing) and 2 slices of Garlic Bread

Walk

SNACK - Freddo Frog Milk Chocolate

OVERVIEW:  I am guessing that I didn't eat enough today but I was so worried about over eating at dinner that I didn't want to over do it during the day.  It was also the reason I made sure I burnt 1000 calories before dinner.  Hmmmm is this something I need to watch?

Read more "Day 3 of 1MKC - Wednesday"

Day 2 of 1MKC - TUESDAY

Tuesday 31st of January 2012

Today is my gorgeous man's 47th (not 48th like we both miscalculated ooops LOL) Birthday and since we decided to venture out it was one that saw many challenges presented. All in all however, I managed to remain true to my mission of living a healthy lifestyle with the allowance to give in to temptation on occasion in moderation. 

Unfortunately I wasn't organised enough to make Glenn breakfast in bed and as I had to rush out the door to get to work on time (Baby Photos for the local paper) I decided to make something quick, easy and delicious and so a 'Mango Smoothie' it was (Day 3 1MKC Breakfast).

Breack 

(Breakfast and Snack)

Mango Smoothie Serves 1

1 cup skim milk 

! fresh mango 

2 Tbs rolled oats 

2 Tbs low-fat yoghurt 

2 ice cubes

Combine all ingredients in a blender.

Lunch was the birthday boys choice and so the Hogs Breath Cafe it was.

After looking at the menu for AGES and weighing up this against that I finally decided on the Calamari Balsamic Salad (a mixture of fresh cos and mesculin lettuce, carrots, cucumber, mixed beans, spanish onion and balsamic italian vinaigrette with salt and pepper calamari drizzled with a honey sweet chilli sauce and garnished with a lemon wedge) and it was very enjoyable. Those of you who know me well are probably re-reading that last part to make sure you read it right but YES I HAD CALAMARI and ENJOYED IT - miracles can happen!

Next it was a choice of the Movies or Ten Pin Bowling and luckily he chose bowling as my will power to avoid the wafting smell of Buttered Popcorn saying EAT ME! EAT ME! EAT ME! wasn't very strong and Buttered Popcorn would have to be my BIGGEST weakness I can eat a whole large tub on my own and go back for more.

After bowling we went to Max Brenner for a coffee OR in my case a white chocolate chai, which was devine BUT left me feeling bloated and guilty :(

Dinner was the birthday boys favourite meal....BEEF STROGANOFF which I cooked from scratch (cookery the australian way cookbook) and he said was the BEST he has ever had which made me feel very special. And as if having the fish wasn't enough I even had some of this despite the mushrooms. Have you fallen off your seat yet? LOL!

SOOOOOOOOO I guess you are wondering about the cake?? Well, I am so very proud of myself as I could of purchased a full size one and then had a slice or three but instead I brought mini cupcakes and had only 1.

Looked funny with the candle in it but it was still special

And that was our day - no official exercise but we did walk around the shopping centre.

When I asked if he had a nice day Glenn said that he was happy to have a gorgeous woman and beautiful kids to spend his day with. This is where you all say AAAAAAWWWWWWWWWW!

ADDITIONAL NOTE:

I wanted to take this opportunity to also mention Glenn's daughter Stephanie who would of been celebrating her 18th Birthday today. Sadly Stephanie died in a tragic motorcycle accident on Christmas Day. Words cannot express the emotions inside our hearts and we will never understand why but we believe that things happen for a reason and she will always be in our hearts.

Read more "Day 2 of 1MKC - TUESDAY"

And away we go....Day 1 of the Million Kilo Challenge!

Day 1 of the Million Kilo Challenge (MKC) is almost over and for me its been a day of rushing to here and there and to get this and that done, which isn't exactly the way I like to do things considering I am an organisation freak BUT I still managed to make it a good day.

8.15am - Woken by the phone, Thank you so much Lisa for being my alarm clock

8.45am - Cup of Tea (White & 1 sugar)

Note: I am so proud of myself for cutting down from 2 sugars to 1. I can't believe that there was a time that I had 3 sugars - obviously I wasn't no where near as 'sweet' as I am now.

9.15am - Strength PT session with Steve (Upper Body)

I managed to convince Glenn to come with me today and despite the fact that he really wasn't all that keen, he pushed through and did an awesome job AND it was good training with him again. I can't believe that I managed to get myself, him and the 2 boys dressed and out the door AND was only 5 minutes late for the session - phew!

Assisted Chin Ups, Incline Push Ups, Bench Press, Upright Rows, Skull Crushers, Bicep Curls and Dips....I love kick starting my week this way! 

10.15am - BREAKFAST (Late but better than never) 1 Slice of Multigrain Toast with 220g Baked Beans (Salt Reduced)

12.00pm - SNACK Renew Juice - Despite the Ginger making it a little hot and spicy for me I really enjoyed this and felt energised by it. It made about 200ml for the serve.

I can't believe that I brought my Juicer a few years ago and today was the first day I used it, its Awesome and I will be making sure I use it more often.

This is a great juice to cleanse the body.

This is a great juice to cleanse the body.

Serves 1

½ Carrot

1 stick of celery

¼ small beetroot

½ small cucumber

½ knob of ginger

¼ bunch of parsley

3 mint leaves

¼ whole lemon

Process all ingredients in juicer and serve with ice. For a runnier consistency, add a little water.

12.30pm to 2.00pm - Food Shopping and all I can say is Grrrrrr. None of this, none of that. 

2.15pm - LUNCH 1/2 serve (shared with Glenn) Coles Asian Salad with a boiled egg. Despite me throwing this together and eating it on the run it was really satisfying.

2.30pm - Doctors! After the scare with my Uncle (Didn't know he was Diabetic and just recently lost his foot because of it) I decided to go and ask for a Diabetes check as well as finally look into my migranes.

*More Shopping for things not able to be brought at Coles*

3.45pm - Centrelink appointment.....need I say more!

*More Shopping for things not able to be brought at Coles or IGA*

4.30pm - SNACK. I brought a Banana at the fruit shop in Woodgrove which is a big achievement considering that I think the Chinese Takeaway Pork Dumplings are delicious and the Banana was a little under ripe for me.

6.00pm - DINNER Warrigul Greens Frittata

Serves 2

100g Warrigal greens (or baby spinach leaves, silver beet or rainbow chard)

1 bunch asparagus, woody ends snapped off & cut into 3 cm lengths

1 clove of garlic, crushed

4 eggs

½ cup low fat yoghurt

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp pepper

½ tsp cumin

¼ cup chopped mint leaves

1 tbs grated Parmesan

Preheat a grill to high. Bring a saucepan of water to the boil and add Warragul Greens. Simmer gently for 3 minutes, drain and rinse under cold water.

Heat oil sprayed non-stick fry pan over medium heat, add asparagus and garlic, cover and cook for 3 minutes, tossing regularly. Add greens and cook for another minute.

Whisk eggs, yoghurt, salt, pepper & cumin and add to fry pan. Cook over low to medium heat until the base is set, sprinkle with cheese and place under the griller until golden and set.

Scatter mint and serve.

Considering that some of the ingredients were left off the menu plan (cumin, cheese and mint) and the plain yogurt wasn't on the shopping list (so I didn't buy it) I still managed to 'kind of' pull this off successfully. I say 'kind of' because I used a tin of Asparagus instead of fresh (one of the things I couldn't find at Coles today) and I replaced the plain yogurt with Vanilla Forme. Also the consistency was more like scrambled eggs, but I think that was just my cooking because I was impatient. I really enjoyed this and served it with a Basic Salad of Lettuce, Cucumber, Celery, Parsley, Pinenuts and a yummy homemade dressing.

Dressing: (1 tbs per serve)

Makes just over 1 cup

¼ cup lemon juice

¼ cup balsamic vinegar

1 Tbs wholegrain mustard

clove of garlic- crushed

salt & pepper

small red onion- thinly sliced

Whisk together lemon juice, vinegar, mustard, garlic, salt & pepper and add onion to soften for as long as possible.

7.00pm - Massage Client

8.30pm - Some nuts PLUS - 2 X Coffees

I had some Nu-lax tonight so hopefully it will get things moving so that I can do what it tasted like LOL - Go for the chocolate option instead!

I'm curious to know what the calorie intake for the day is on this plan....think I might do a little check up but that will have to wait for another day because its nearly Midnight and I want to go to BED!

LATE ADDITION!!

Forgive me '1MKC Father' for I have sinned this is my first confession and its a doozy!

Glenn and I had one of these (pictured below) for no reason other than we had them in the house....

AND to make it worse because of our guilt we didn't emjoy it!

Read more "And away we go....Day 1 of the Million Kilo Challenge!"

1 Million Kilo Challenge - TEAM TASH

Channel Tens national initiative The ‘1 million kilo challenge’ starts this Monday, January 30.

Are YOU up for the Challenge?

If so, then why not join TEAM TASH so we can support each other on the journey to a happier and healthier version of US.

I believe that if you have a good support base behind you it helps to make reaching your goals so much easier and what better way to get moving in the right direction than taking on the challenge with a nation of other like minded individuals.

The challenge which is a free 10 week online program encourages healthy eating, exercise and happier lifestyles for all Australians and I am really excited about using it to help me make the changes needed to achieve my goals. 

Even though I have lost over 40 kilos I feel that on some level I cheated as it wasn't achieved through lifestyle change - the band did the majority of it for me.  Whilst the path I took was in no way the easy way out, I want to know/feel that I did it by learning the right tools so that if I ever choose to have the band removed(which I have considered) I could still manage to maintain/lose weight. 

Also by doing this I will be able to accept peoples wonderful compliments with my head held high, which I must say I have been able to do more of these days because I feel that I am deserving as I have been working my butt off. 

And, above all else most of all I want to be a good role model for my children so that they never have to know the heartache of self hated from obesity.

I will freely admitt that it is my nutrition that lets me down each and everytime and as the equation is 80% Nutrtion and 20% Exercise I figured that I had better start making some changes NOW because once I have my operation I will have a period of 6 - 8 weeks where I won't be able to rely on the exercise to get me across the line anymore - it will be 100% Nutrtion.

So in saying all of that I am now more determined and motivated than ever to reach my goals and I think that this is just the get up and go I need.  

I am calling on YOU as a TEAM TASH '1 Million Kilo' Challenge member to work with me to make sure that we both stay true to reaching our goals.

I am pledging 11kg toward the nations 1 million kilo total and I AM GOING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN!!

NOTE:

Firstly join up as in a individual then go to the team section and find 'Team Tash' (the corny picture of me in my red biggest winner t-shirt), send a request to join and I will accept it asap.

There are no losers on Team Tash only WINNERS!

Read more "1 Million Kilo Challenge - TEAM TASH"

Operation Goodbye 7kg

Holy cow can you believe that we are already approaching the end of January, at this rate it will be christmas again before we know it (insert an 'eek' sound HERE!).

So,  as I mentioned in my previous blog getting my butt into gear was high on the agenda for 2012 and I am happy to report that so far, so good.

On Wednesday January 4 2012 I declared to the world (of  facebook - via my status update) that the laziness was over and that it was officially time to get my butt into gear.  With only 9 weeks until the wedding (my baby sister's not my own) and 10 weeks until I go in for surgery (tibial tuberosity transfer and patellar realignment on my right knee), it was time to commence Operation 'Goodbye 7kg'.

STARTING WEIGHT - 86.9kg

GOAL WEIGHT - 79.9kg

Talk about being tested right from the get go, on Day 1 we went for a family road trip up the coast which also included an impromtu visit to friends which went late into the evening - that's 3 big tests right there.

1.  Road Trip munchies (a BIG downfall of mine)

2.  Beach = Fish 'n' Chips

3.  Offers of tempting treats

The 1st was covered with a Protein Shake, an Apple, a Bottle of Water, snacks packed separately for the boys as well as the distraction of a magazine.

The 2nd was replaced with a healthy Turkey Salad which was very delicious and so much more satisfying than greasy fish and chips that I can never keep down anyway.

And the 3rd was handled with a great deal of will power that saw me say 'NO THANK YOU' to a Garlic/Cheese Pullapart and a Cheese and Crackers Platter.  I did however allow myself 1 can of sugar free lemonade and 1 celebrations milk chocolate - both of which gave me heartburn :(

I have to admitt that I was very proud of my efforts and on top of that everything I put in stayed in which was another win :)

Day 2 saw me head back into the gym after 3 weeks of sitting on my butt doing nothing and I got the ball rolling again with a 30 minute Strength PT session with Steve (Neverless-Ftiness) followed by an hour on the Spin bike chatting with my little sister (working out with a friend is always better than doing it alone).

By Day 4 the abuse I had put my body through over the holdiay period was clearly evident from the Detox Migranes...but its a good thing right? 

Despite the headaches I still pushed through and even added on walks with my Mum.  (See our routes HERE)

WEEK 2  (85.3kg) - ‎1.6kgs down :) and only 5.4kg remaining of Operation Goodbye 7kg! 8 weeks until the wedding and 9 weeks until I go in for surgery...I'm more motivated than ever - YAY!

So despite quite a few sleepless nights a sore throat and a stiff neck I still pushed through my PT session.  I will admitt that I was very tempted to call and cancel BUT that's not going to get me results and besides that there are always nana naps LOL!

We went away for some much needed R'n'R to Halls Gap / Grampians on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (we stayed HERE) which again I found to be a real test food wise BUT luckily I walked and walked and walked and so burnt off all the snack calories.

What a view

Mother Nature in all her glory

I could of soooo easily stayed an extra day but I wanted to get back for my Monday Morning PT session and also we had the boys booked in for School Holiday program which ofcourse meant SANITY!

WEEK 3 (84.7kg) - Down another .6kgs taking my loss to 2.2kg in 2 weeks. Only 7weeks to the wedding and 8 weeks to the operation and only 4.8kgs left of Operation goodbye 7kg.

I CAN do this, I AM doing this :)

OK so since I am so determined to make this happen I decided to give my training a boost and take on an extra session per week doing some Endurance/Cross Fit training with Rolando Jimeno (Melton Personal Training Studio) AND desite only having a total of 2 hours sleep the night before I SURVIVED!

OMGosh it had been so long since I'd done an endurance session like that AND I even managed to RUN, it wasn't a marathon or a sprint but it was still a run - so PROUD of me.  What an awesome way to start my week.

The rest of the week however wasn't as good....

Movies with popcorn, Playdate with hot chips, Party with cake and unfortunately the change in diet meant a change in how the body functions or doesn't function...in other words 'no poop'.

WEEK 4 (85.0kg) - Up .3kgs meaning my loss in the 3 weeks is now only 1.9kg.  Only 6 weeks to the wedding and 7 weeks to the operation and now I have 5.1kgs left of Operation goodbye 7kg.

Anyway as the saying goes 'There is no use crying over spilt milk' and so instead of letting it defeat me I am going to make sure that it does not happen again.

This is where The 1 Million Kilo challenge and TEAM TASH comes into swing but you will need to read that blog to find out more (insert wink here).

Read more "Operation Goodbye 7kg"