Monday, October 31, 2011

Healthy Lifestyle Change Week 1

Hello Blog World,

I have decided to record my progress week by week, I will record daily so I can keep a better track of things but post weekly, so here goes week one. (Beware long post, but there is a present at the end)

Overall I think I eat quite healthy (maybe a dietician will disagree) and of course I am only human and have moments of weakness.  What is my killer is doing that little bit of exercise I need to do daily to slim down to something vaguely resembling my wedding weight, which is my ultimate long term goal.  Baby steps first, 1 week at a time J

First some visual stimuli
 








Monday
A very up and down day right round - could have been a lot better, but I guess it could’ve been a lot worse.

Highs
  •       1 ½ litres of water consumed
  •         Healthy breakfast achieved – oats made with water – no sweetener
  •         Healthy Lunch achieved  - weight watchers frozen beef cannelloni
  •    Healthy morning tea achieved -  low fat, low calorie, low GI yogurt
Lows     
  •  No exercise (had all intentions to go for a walk/jog on my treadmill after dinner, but after cooking, and cleaning I was too bushed… I know I know excuses)      
  • Small slice of chocolate cake at work (it was someone’s  birthday)      
  • Small glass of Iced Coffee (husband bought a 2 ltr bottle and it needs to be drunk before going off)
Mixed Bag
  • Dinner was a mixed bag of good and bad, baked salmon which is low in calories and fat.  But the sauce was balsamic vinegar, white wine and sugar (not so good) with baby potatoes and steamed fresh green beans.
Tuesday
As I skipped exercise Monday night, I set my alarm for 4:30am!! to try and get half an hour in before leaving for work.  Needless to say my sleepy brain did not agree and snoozed until 5:15am to get up at my normal time.  But all ends well I got off my but and did 40 minutes on the treadmill Tuesday night and 10 minutes worth of strength training, sit ups, lunges, wall push ups.

 Highs
  • Over 2 litres of water consumed
  • 1Healthy breakfast achieved sort of ( hubby bought the wrong oats, he bought proper oats instead of quick cook) so I couldn’t cook in the microwave at work like normal, so I bought an Up n Go from our vending machine which is low in fat and calories
  • Healthy Lunch achieved – Lean cuisine frozen meal
  • Healthy morning tea achieved - low fat, low calorie, low GI yogurt
  • Healthy Dinner achieved -  small serving of steak, steamed broccoli, cauliflower, carrots with salsa as a sauce ( I have learned that salsa has very little fat and is quite low in calories)
  • 40 minutes of exercise achieved
Lows
  •  1 small glass of Iced Coffee
  •    5 gummy bears
Wednesday
Wednesday was a great day, lots of exercise and a lot of healthy eating; I am very proud of myself and hope to have more days like today.

Highs
  • Healthy Breakfast achieved – low fat yogurt with a handful of muesli mixed in
  • Healthy morning tea achieved - low fat, low calorie, low GI yogurt
  • Healthy Lunch achieved – multi grain sandwich, fresh chicken, lettuce, cucumber and avocado – no butter or margarine, no salt and no pepper, with a low fat Iced Coffee (it’s a really good brand here called Rush, and it’s better in calories, fat and sugar than most juices!)
  • Healthy Dinner achieved – tuna with a  garden salad and low fat tzatziki dip as a dressing
  • 30 minutes of step aerobics
  • 35 minutes on treadmill
  • Over 3 litres of water consumed
Lows
  • Small Glass of Iced Coffee consumed (it’s all gone now) 
Thursday
WOW!!! What a great day!! All healthy, lots of exercise and even some housework!!

Highs
Healthy Breakfast achieved – protein shake
Healthy morning tea achieved - low fat, low calorie, low GI yogurt
Healthy Lunch Achieved - Tomato soup with 2 slices of multigrain bread (no butter)
Healthy Dinner Achieved – Baked fish with lemon, baked onion, zucchini and tomato.
Over 3 litres of water consumed
30 minutes of aerobics
40 minutes on treadmill
NO LOWS!!!!

Friday
WOW!! 2 days of being really really really good in a row.  I was going to put no treadmill down as  alow and I though NO I have been good, I did the 40 minutes of aerobics and ate really well so it’s still a good day,  a bit worried about the weekend though…

Highs
  • Healthy breakfast achieved – oats made with water – no sweetener
  • Healthy morning tea achieved - low fat, low calorie, low GI yogurt
  • Healthy Lunch Achieved - Tomato soup with 2 slices of multigrain bread (no butter)
  • Healthy Dinner achieved – Grilled Chicken with a  garden salad and low fat tzatziki dip as a dressing
  • Over 3 litres of water consumed
  • 40 minutes of aerobics
NO LOWS!!!!

Saturday
I knew today was going to be hard and hard it was…no morning tea and a very bad lunch!! But I did expect the weekend to be hard.  No excuse it just gives me something to work towards

Highs
Healthy breakfast achieved – oats made with water added a bit of apple for something extra
Healthy dinner achieved - Tomato soup with 2 slices of multigrain bread (no butter)
Over 2 litres of water consumed

Lows
Popcorn Chicken for lunch
No exercise, I had full intentions of getting up but I sat down after dinner clean up and managed to fall asleep on the couch as hubby was watching some boring movie (I guess that’s what happens at 8:30pm when you get up at 4:30am on a Saturday 

Sunday
As I said I knew the weekend was going to be hard and having to go to my daughter’s atheletics carnival today made it a tad harder.  It was a great day but a long day, we arrived at QSAC (Queensland Sports and Athletic centre) at 7:30am and didn’t get home until 7pm! Needless to say no crafting, but as I said fun day nevertheless, but long.  Well done to my daughter who worked very hard all day and gave it her best go in all her events. 
Highs
  • Healthy breakfast achieved – Protein Shake
  • Healthy morning tea achieved – half of a ham and salad wrap
  • Healthy lunch achieved – 2 Tuna Sushi Rolls
  • Over 2 litres of water consumed
Lows
  • McDonalds for dinner ( seared chicken burger, small fries and a small juice)
Mixed Bag
  • Not much formal exercise, managed to fit in 10 minutes of strength training before my shower and I    did walk around QSAC for about 8-10 hours all day on a very humid and hot day.  

Well week 1 completed, it was a mixed week with some very very good days and some not so good days, but as I said earlier one day at a time.  I am not a superhero and I know I will mess up but I will get there eventually.  I did forget to take measurements this week so I don’t know if I had any decrease that way but I jumped on the scales this morning and WAH LAH 1.5kg lost. If my weekend had been better I may have lost that extra 1/2kg. 

Seeing this makes me more motivated, I wonder what week 2 is going to bring?

I hope whoever reads this gets something out of it or not but please let me know what you think.  Is a weekly run down too much?  Should it be daily or every second day to save on sooooooooo many words in one post??  I appreciate feedback and will take on board all criticism and suggestions. 

Onto the good stuff I want to see if anyone else is trying to be more healthier, share your ideas, success stories, failures etc... just link up below (i know you want to) and next week I will show case my most favourite. A link back would be appreciated ( I even have a new button for you) but not required.

But until then Happy Healthy Crafting ;) 
 






I will be linking up to the following parties


Confessions of a stay at home mom, Petite Hermine Sunday Link Party, Creation Corner & Lolly Jane Boutique Link Party

Saturday, October 29, 2011

FTL 164 & Color Throwdown

Hello Blog World,

What a productive week and day.  My healthy lifestyle change challenge thingy is going pretty well, there has been highs and lows but more on that on Monday.   I was busy today making gift cards for my sister in law and I also completed a challenge!! I haven't entered a challenge in ages so I was pretty nervous and excited creating this card.


I don't mind this actually, at first I was like mmmmmm I don't know but the more I look at it the more I like it and another good thing it was all made from scraps! Gotta love it when you use those scraps up.

So I am entering this in the following challenges


I am going to have some dinner now and then on the treadmill, until then Happy Crafting :)





Also linking up with the following parties
Feature Yourself Friday, Show and Tell FridaySimply Link Party & Tickled Pink

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Mrs.Perkins

Hello Blog World,

So there was another craft fair last weekend and off I went with my sister in law and another friend who is trying to get back into beading.  It was heaps bigger than earlier this year and boy did I show some self control, I could have easily spent hundreds upon hundreds of dollars, if not thousands.  But I controlled myself and didn’t even break $100 by the end of the day.

Check out the goodies that I scored…



As well as some more embossing folders, stamps, paper stacks.  A girl can never have too many supplies.  This time I spent more on papercraft supplies as you can see, where as earlier in the year it was mainly about sewing.  Regardless of what it is I simply can’t wait to play.
You may remember this little goody from the craft fair earlier this year from this post.

 
    

Well I have finally got around to using this wonderful material and I have turned it into this…

 


I didn’t have a proper’s doll needle so getting them legs one was a bit of a task but I managed.  Isn’t she cute?  The pattern is called Mrs. Perkins made by Molly and Me if anyone is interested in recreating it.
Off now to cook a healthy dinner of steak and salad, then on to the treadmill!!
Until then Happy Crafting. 





Sharing with the following link parties....

Skip to my Lou Made by you Monday's
Making Monday Marvelous Linky Party

Monday, October 24, 2011

Back with Purpose (and repurpose)

Hello Blog World,

Yes yes I know it's been a while but I am alive and well but full time work, full time mum and full time life doesn't leave much time for stuff.  But it's Monday and I am making some resolutions this week!!

Firstly a more concerted effort to update this space.  I had started this to record to my thoughts, my progress through my crafting journey and my progress through life really.  I won't say I will be here every day, but a few times a week expect to see news.  So it starts now!!

Secondly a healthy lifestyle change needs to kick in, as you can see from my beautiful family photo I could afford to lose a few kilos.  So no more iced coffees on a daily basis, no more sitting on the lounge watching telly, or sitting on pinterest for hours :(  I know I will have ups and downs but as long my ups outweigh my downs it's all good.  I feel if I share it here I will be more determined to do it!!! I will keep everyone posted on my progress.

Anyways on to what I do best...CRAFTING!!!!!
My work is going through a massive revamp and they were going to throw out these chairs!!!

WOWEEE FREE CHAIRS
As you can see they weren't in the best condition but I knew I could turn these old maids into a repurposed thing of beauty.  I ended up getting 6 of these chairs for nothing!! What a score!!! 3 for me and 3 for my sister in law.
So over a few weekends we sanded, we painted, we fought with staple guns and hot glue guns and WAH LAH we found the beauty.

These first three are my sister in law Kelly's creations, I have to say my favourite is the green with the little pink flowers.





And my creations.....



Don't hold this one against me, this is my daughters and she picked the fabric.  We call it the fuzzy monster!!!

 
Needless to say the black and white is my favourite. I am so happy with how they all turned out and the guys at work just could not believe the change in these chairs!!!

Well I am off to finish cooking dinner, then the treadmill for 30-60 minutes.  Until later happy crafting!








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The DIY Show Off