Song's to Move to #1

There are some songs that I just can't help moving to.  When I hear them, my feet start moving, I just wanna get up and dance, or run about.  So, they are PERFECT for working out, walking or running to.

#1.  Weapon of Choice - Fatboy Slim

Temptation of Takeaway

Last night my husband told me he wanted to get Takeaway. My brain went into panic...Noooooo, not takeaway!  

That was the last thing I wanted to hear, just starting out on Michelle Bridges 12WBT.  I had made a commitment last week to not have any takeaway for the week. I had it in my mind that I wanted to continue with that this week and more as i have some pretty big goals to reach.  It felt like my efforts were being sabotaged!

I tried to convince hubby that I could cook something, but his mind was made up that he wanted takeaway. He did, however, say that he would go for something that was a healthier option.  So,  in an effort to find something that would be better than the average junk food option I went onto the 12WBT facebook page and asked the question of what takeaway options were there that would be a better choice.

A few people responded, but it came down to something like Noodle Box (not all dishes, but some are lower in calories) and Subway (the less than 6g fat range).

So, hubby decided on Subway.  I was still in the state of indecision - what should I do?  Do I just count the calories for Subway and leave it at that?

I could choose to take on the mindset of "It's ok, it's only this once.  I can get away with it."  But you know what?  It's exactly that mindset that has got me to the position I am in today - Over 50kg overweight!

I felt like I was being pressured to get takeaway too.  Ok girl, stop playing the victim card and pretending that I have no control here!  I decided to ask hubby a question:  "I know you want to have takeaway now and then.  That's ok - that's your choice.  Would you be upset if we got takeaway for you and i just cook something for myself at home?"   The answer - No, not at all!  He was quite happy for me to do that.

Ahhhhhh, (sighs of relief).  Fantastic!  Feeling really great...and powerful for having taken back control over myself and what I wanted to do to create different results than I have had.  If I set the example, have resolve, and stick to my commitments around weight loss, then who know's what effect this will have on others - and my hubby, to change their eating patterns too.

I am SO glad that I didn't cave.  Subway may have been an ok option for me to have.  But so early on this journey I didn't want to de-rail my progress.  If it wasn't for asking that question, then I just may well have done that very thing!

Cooking - when does tasting become eating?

Something become very evident to me yesterday, that I do a lot of tasting when i am cooking.  I love to cook, and don't often follow a recipe when cooking meals - I just wing it.  I love creating new and old dishes, and this requires tasting to see if more spices, salt etc are needed.

But it occurred to me that I do this a lot more than necessary.

I know when I am hungy and I'm cooking I'll often sneak a spoonful of whatever it is I'm making.  And not just one spoonful.  If it's super yummy...I'll sneak a few before it even gets to the plate.

Hmmm  Hidden Calories!  Not Good!

What I am wondering now is just how many more calories is this adding to my diet every day?

This is something that I am going to be much more aware of and put a stop to this bad habit.  Yes, food may need to be tested at times, but maybe I will get a teaspoon out and limit it to a small tsp full to get a taste - no more eating before it gets to the plate!


ps.  I just got told today that I'm looking good, and asked if I had lost some weight!  Woo Hoo - love it when others start to notice...even if it has only been a couple of kg's.

My first FUN RUN!

Woo Hoo!  I just completed my first ever fun run - RUN BALLARAT!

I ran as much of the 6km as I could, and had to walk a lot, but I'm counting this as a Win as my goal was to complete the course. Now I know what to expect, when they have it next year I intend being 30-50kg lighter and much fitter.  Overall they raised well over $165,000 for the Ballarat Base Hospital Childrens ward, which is just amazing!  So glad to be part of it.

My race time was 1:04:23

My goal was to be in it, and to complete it!  So goal achieved!  Awesome!

Music to MOVE to!

I love it when a song gets me going...you know, makes you really want to move.  They are the gems that I am trying to collect here - a good list of feel-good, toe-tapping, booty-shaking, move it or lose it, get this party started kind of songs!

You can help me with any suggestions - please leave me a comment and I can add them to this list.

My list to start with is:


Song                                                           Artist

Stand Up for the Champions                       Right Said Fred
Let's get it started                                        Black Eyed Pease
Woman on a Mission                                  Gabriella Cilmi
Absolutely Everybody                                 Vanessa Amorosi
Permission to Shine                                     Bachelor Girl
Rise Up                                                      Cast of Australian Idol 2003
Learn to Fly                                                Shannon Noll
Smooth Criminal                                         Alien Ant Farm
What doesn't kill you                                  Kelly Clarkson
Raise your glass                                          Pink
Rock DJ                                                    Robbie Williams
Cold Hard Bitch                                        Jet



Cool Down Songs

Cruisin'                                                      Gwenyth Paltrow & Huey Louis


I'll add some more later, but this is all I can remember off the top of my head - I know I have heaps more, so keep checking back here!

Changes I'm making this week

Nothing too dramatic - just a little change.  Something to kick this thing off with.

My commitment this week is to:

1.  Cut out Junk Food

2. Increase my water intake

My hubby is being very supportive and is going to do this too.

Weigh in Time

OK, time to get on the scales.



Here's the honest and brutal truth:



current weight:  134.9kg

goal weight:  80 kg

To Lose:  54.9kg

Hi, my name is Susan - let me introduce myself.

Hi, and thanks for visiting my blog.  
OK, just to start with, let me introduce myself and share a little about me before we start this journey:

My name is Susan, I am 40yrs old, but don't feel a day over 30!  lol  Me and my husband Michael live in Ballarat in Victoria, Australia.  We don't have kids, but we do have a fur-baby, my 16 year old cat Monty.

I have a lot of baggage from childhood - things that I had kept bottled up inside of me and never started to address until about 10 years ago when I realised they were eating me up from the inside out.  I'm still working through them, but I'm a hell of a long way from where I was.

It was around that time that I decided to take control of my weight issue and I lost about 2 stone and was feeling amazing!  I was healthy, energetic and determined to keep the weight off.  But then something happened that derailed me.  It was something that I allowed to affect me emotionally and rather than get control of those emotions I played the victim card - you know that 'poor me' and 'why does this always happen to me' mindset, and wallowed in self-pity for an entire summer, sitting on the couch eating and watching the entire series of Sex in the City!  I was really not in a good place. I was giving up on me.

It was not long after that when I met my husband.  He makes me want to be a better person every day of my life and I love and appreciate him so much for his continual love and support.  After just 1 short year of being together he was diagnosed with Huntington's Disease and could no longer work.  I was doing 4 hour daily commutes to work and we were not able to more - this went on for 8 months.  I was exhausted all the time, and on weekends when I had more time I really didn't feel like it...so I did nothing....and the weight piled on.

I was in a very negative mindset.  I was not happy.  There was often a lot of tension in our relationship.  I was having outbursts of anger at complete strangers and then feeling so down on myself as I did not want to be that person.  

After being retrenched in the Global Financial Crisis in 2008, I came across a business opportunity that was in Personal Development. I had read a lot of personal development books in the past, but had not seen anything like this program, so I purchased the program and got started in my own business, and I am forever grateful that I did, as this is what has helped me turn my life around from negative to positive!

lol...as I'm writing this I can't help but think - you really have to hit rock bottom sometimes before you can start fresh and lift yourself up.

Not long after that we decided to move from Sydney to Ballarat to be closer to my family.  So, no more commute, a lot more time, but even still, my exercise was very sporadic.  When i was at the gym I enjoyed it, but getting there in the first place was the challenge.

As hubby was unable to work and with our debts I was still working full-time, caring for him and the house and running my home business in my spare time.  I rarely made time for me.

I have been using my personal development program to help my mindset, and I am happier and so much more positive than I have ever been in my life.  It has helped me to learn how to make better choices.  It has taught me to take action and not just think or talk about it, but to BE about it. But, there was one BIG thing that I had not addressed - and that was my health, fitness...and my weight.

Last year came with a health scare - having gallstones and needing an operation to have my gallbladder removed.  My brother has just been diagnosed with diabetes, which my dad had until he passed away in 2005.  So all of this is screaming out at me that I had better look after my health now, before it's too late!  I want to get back in control - I want the old me back!

At the moment in my program I've been studying about the anatomy of a decision, and what it takes to carry that decision through, how to course correct and actually get the result.  So, in applying that to my health I decided to take action.  Not later, not next year...but now! 

So, I signed myself up for Michelle Bridges 12 week body transformation.  

For me, this journey is about taking back control, making the commitment, and taking the consistent action needed to get the results!

I have done the hard work in the past to lose a lot of weight and I know I can do it again.
I know what foods I should and shouldn't eat - and I know how to diet.
I know how to exercise and train and what it takes to get the results.

But...having the support of a trainer, that also uses mindset lessons to help you make the changes for good - that's what I'm going to get out of this.  And the support of an entire community who are aiming for the same goals.

If you want to achieve a goal - surround yourself with others who also want to achieve their goals.  Your success is dependent on it. 

This has been an emotional journey for me, but one that I am thoroughly looking forward to because I know how grateful I will be when I get the fitter, healthier and much slimmer body that I deserve!

Bring it on Baby!!!

15.10.2012