101 things to do in 1001 days

Start date: 1^st January 2012
End date: 28^th September 2014

1. Donate Blood
2. Leave an inspirational note inside a book for someone to find
3. Kiss in the rain
4. Don’t complain about anything for a week
5. Answer ‘the 50 questions that will free your mind’
6. Tie a note to a balloon and let it go
7. Go on a picnic
8. Buy a lottery ticket
9. Make a birthday cake for someone
10. Complete a colouring book
11. Spend a day at the beach
12. Write a message in a public bathroom
13. Learn to change the oil in my car
14. Host a board game night
15. Visit Shark Bay, Western Australia
16. Watch 26 movies I’ve never seen starting with each letter of the alphabet
17. Write a list of 100 things that make me happy
18. Finish a 500+ piece jigsaw puzzle
19. Listen to a new artist a month, for a year
20. Make a comic strip
21. Attend the midnight premier of a film
22. Take one photo a day for a month
23. Buy a pet fish
24. Write a letter to myself to open after 1001 days
25. Stay at a 5 star hotel
26. Learn the alphabet in sign language
27. Learn to cook a decadent dessert
28. Save $5 for every task I complete
29. Say ‘yes’ to everything for a day
30. Hike up a mountain
31. Be an organ donor
32. Make a sock monkey
33. Go on a day long bike trip
34. Design and name a cocktail
35. Get a family picture taken
36. Watch the sunrise and sunset in the same day
37. Give flowers to someone
38. Read Catcher in the Rye
39. Build a blanket fort and sleep in it
40. Slide down a slide
41. Try a new flavour of ice-cream
42. Finish a crossword puzzle with no help
43. Plant a tree
44. Go vegetarian for a week
45. Put an entire pay check into savings
46. Adopt a dog
47. Learn to parallel park
48. Ride a vespa
49. See a movie alone
50. Go to a state I’ve never been to before
51. Cook every meal in a cookbook
52. Give money to a street musician
53. Take a picture for each letter of the alphabet
54. Get a new hairstyle
55. Pick my own strawberries
56. Learn to hula hoop
57. Reverse-pickpocket someone
58. Paint my bedroom
59. Learn how to crochet
60. Buy a little red dress
61. Create a vision board
62. Take a photo of the same place every month for a year, and then turn it into a calendar for the next year
63. Make something out of clay
64. Knit a scarf
65. Go to Hanging Rock
66. Go to a restaurant by myself
67. Design and make my own dress from scratch
68. Have a dinner by candle light
69. Learn to make sushi
70. Cook a 3 course meal
71. Rent a beach house
72. Go on a road trip with no planned destination
73. Make a fascinator
74. Learn to play poker
75. Donate $100 to charity
76. Send a care package to someone
77. Take a walk in the rain
78. Make homemade bagels
79. Fingerpaint
80. Jump in a pile of leaves
81. Build a bonfire
82. Spend a day in the library/park reading a book from beginning to end
83. Learn to drive a manual car
84. Write all the things that make me happy on my closet door
85. Wear red lipstick every day for a week
86. Do a walk for charity
87. Play minigolf
88. Use a photobooth
89. Celebrate an obscure holiday
90. Make a pen-friend
91. Buy 1 entire op-shop outfit every month for a year.
92. Arrange a blind date for a friend
93. Make a friendship bracelet
94. Carve my name in a tree
95. Eat a new and unusual food
96. Go barefoot for a day
97. Jump into a body of water fully clothed
98. Spend a day in silence
99. Get a polaroid camera
100. Go 7 consecutive days without spending any money
101. Shoot a gun

Delicious Maths

+

+

+

(http://www.slimpasta.com.au/)

=

And all for less than 30 Calories.

You're welcome.

Jackie's Scrumptious Strawberry Crepes

I was lucky enough to win a prize in round 3, and that was a George Foreman slow cooker. It was in the weekly challenge to create your own meal under 300 calories, or dessert under 150 calories, and being the sweet tooth I am, I naturally tackled dessert. Here it is!

(Serves 5)
130 calories per serve.
Makes 10 crepes – 2 crepes per serve

As a kid one of my favourite desserts was crepes with a sprinkle of sugar and a squeeze of lemon juice, so I came up with this healthy (and extremely filling) version! Perfect for a warm Summer night!

Cooking oil spray (optional)
500g punnet strawberries, halved (126 cals)
1 and a 1/2 tablespoons honey (127 cals)
Juice of ½ a large orange (20 cals)
2/3 cup of rice milk (or milk/other milk alternative) (84 cals)
1/2 cup wholemeal flour (273 cals)
1 egg white (16 cals)
1/4 cup water

Combine strawberries, honey and orange juice. Cover and place in fridge for about 2 two hours.

Place milk, flour, egg white and water into a bowl and mix until blended, (alternatively put all ingredients into your blender and blend until combined).

Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat. You can use a spray of cooking oil if you think the crepes will stick.

Pour a tenth of the mixture (about 2 tablespoons) onto the pan and quickly swirl the pan so the mixture is spread in an even, thin circle.

Use your spatula to check the underside of the crepe, when it is golden in colour, flip the crepe.

Once both sides are golden, remove the crepe from the heat.

Divide the crepes between 5 serving dishes (2 crepes per plate) and top each crepe with the strawberry mixture. Roll and drizzle the syrup from the strawberries over the top.

TIPS:

These crepes are only 38 calories each and you can use various fillings, sweet or savoury, for some great meals. Top with smoked salmon and scrambled eggs for breakfast, or fill with chicken breast and mushrooms for a delicious dinner option. Another great dessert option is to fill them with grilled pineapple rings. Use your imagination, the possibilities are endless!

Too lazy to blog

Yeah, I've clearly been too lazy to blog an appropriate amount recently. Don't say you weren't warned though, remember the title of this blog?

Luckily for you guys though, I have made a new goal of updating at least once a week during round 1, 2012. I've also committed to doing at least one vlog per month. I should have made more blogging and recording related goals last round, because I would love to have more of a record of the stuff I did, and more photos and videos of some of the fun stuff I got up to with fellow 12weekers.

I've just signed up for round 1, and I am really, REALLY pumped. This round I'm doing Lean & Fit, with the ultimate goal of completing The Age Half Marathon in the middle of the year, and at least 3 other fun runs between now and then.

I've also managed to convince a few friends and even my baby brother to sign up, so I will have my own little 12WBT crew to keep me motivated. I've heard from a lot of people that your second round tends to be the round where the wheels fall off a little, but I am determined not to let that be me. I've come a hell of a long way, with a grand total of 14kgs lost in round 1, but I still have a lot of work to do before I will be 100% happy with my body, and until I am, I'm chaining myself up to this wagon and throwing away the key to the padlock.

At the moment I have two things keeping me motivated in the break between rounds.

One is this photo taken at the finale:

It basically describes the entire finale weekend. Amazing excitement and so much fun. This was taken right before the workout started, after we had sprinted our way to the front row. I don't think I had ever been more happy or excited in my life, and I'm not particularly ashamed to admit that at the end of the workout I had a little teary, because I have come SO FAR and once I had done that, I honestly knew that nothing can stop me now. The ladies pictured are the amazing Lucy, who was my first 12WBT friend and Bikram Yoga Buddy throughout the round, and the lovely Jess, who I only met maybe 15 minutes before that photo was taken, but instantly fell in love with, and can't wait to have her come stay with me when we go to some Round 1 events! I actually don't know who the person to the left of the photo is, but if you happen to be reading this, holla at me!

The second thing keeping me motivated is the most amazingly beautiful email I got via facebook just a week or so before Christmas, from a guy who I haven't seen or spoken to in quite a long time, and it said this:

Hey there...just wanted to say I had a look at some off the photos you have been posting lately and you look stunning! Whatever your doing keep it up! Have a merry christmas and a happy new year! Cheerio

How ridiculously sweet is that? And I have thought about it every run I've done since then because I have been on STRUGGLE STREET trying to run in this heat.

Kind of hard to believe that this time a few months ago I was chubby and depressed, and now I wouldn't trade my life for the world, and I am really excited to start using this blog again to start updating you all on my adventures!

Stay tuned lovelies.

Before and After

I wasn't going to ever post the underwear photos, but here are some clothed before and afters that I think show pretty accurately how different I look at 14kgs lighter!

I know I've been slack with the updating of this blog, but this program has been an amazing and life changing experience and I am so grateful that it has come into my life at such a perfect time. I needed this boost in confidence and self esteem now more than ever.

I'm sitting on the plane on the way to the finale workout and party right now, so I better turn my phone off before we take off.

Love and light!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Asking the Universe

So here I am, asking..

No.

BEGGING, the universe to please slide the last few pieces of the puzzle that is my life, into place.

There are two somewhat large things I need to happen and I need them to happen as close together as possible.

As a result of these amazing things happening, I will be able to finally get my life exactly the way I want and need it. I will have no obligation to keep the ridiculously toxic HM in my life as either a HM or a friend. I will be able to cull a lot of other really crappy people too. It's going to be like a breath of fresh air.

Except until then, until the Universe delivers, I am stuck here. Whenever I am home I feel the need to lock myself in my room. It's tiring. Draining. Makes me exhausted and teary.

So please Universe, I trust you in all your infinite wisdom to lead me where I need to be, and bring the things I need to me. I promise in turn to be the best version of me I possibly can.

I'm sure this is designed to make me stronger, but it feels like it's making me weaker, so if you can, please hurry.

Bikram Yoga

I've been a bit lazy with the updates! I apologise. It's end of semester so all my energy has been going towards assignments.

Since my last update, my newest love is Bikram Yoga.

For those who don't know it, it's yoga that takes place in a room heated to 39 degrees Celsius. Every class is the same unlike a regular gym class. The same postures and sequence are used every single class, and it goes for 90 minutes in total.

During the 90 minutes you are not allowed to talk or leave the room (but you are allowed to sit out of some of the postures if you are feeling overwhelmed).

Let me just say... it is NOT easy, but it's also amazing. During the class you are dripping with sweat from every pore on your body and your muscles and joints are being stretched to their absolute limit, but afterwards, you feel amazing. The sweat is amazing for the skin and weight loss. It's like you are melting away the kilos.

It can be a bit intense. Last class I went to a girl passed out, so you have to make sure you are extremely hydrated (and by that I mean a good 3-4L of water before the class) and recognise your limits.

The first class I went to I burnt about 750 calories, however each class I've been to since it has been significantly reduced, now I'm burning about 300 calories in 90 minutes, but the benefits for me definitely outweigh the low calorie burn.

Currently I'm going 2-3 times a week and loving it.

If you've ever considered it, give it a try. It's amazing for the mind, body and soul.

Namaste!

Home made muesli bars - NUT FREE!

For awhile I've been trying to find a nut free muesli bar recipe (since I'm allergic).

Today I decided to just make up my own, and they aren't half bad if I do say so myself!! Thought I would share them here. The best bit is, each bar is only 80 calories!

Jackie's yummy (NUT FREE) chocolate muesli bars:

INGREDIENTS:

3 egg whites
2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tbsp cocoa powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup rolled oats (I used uncle tobys multigrain)
2/3 chopped dates
2 weetbix (crushed)
1 tbsp buckwheat flower
1 tsp honey

METHOD:

Preheat oven to 160 degrees.

Line a baking tin with foil and give a light spray of oil.

Combine egg whites, cinnamon, salt and cocoa in a bowl. Add oats, dates, weetbix, honey and flower. Mix until everything is coated.

Pour into tin and make an even layer by pressing mixture down using the back of a spoon.

Bake for 20-30 minutes. Leave to cool in tin.

Once cool, cut into 16 bars.

PUMP it up

Yesterday I sucked it up and faced one of my biggest gym fears.

Body Pump.

This class has always intimidated the hell out of me, I think it's because of all the equipment, having to change the weights throughout, and the fact that I have skinny, overcooked noodle arms that don't lend themselves well to weight training.

Originally I was going to be going with a friend who goes to my gym, but she kept making excuses not to go, and I wasn't about to use HER excuses as mine. There was no reason I couldn't go by myself. So that's exactly what I did.

While preparing to go I googled a lot to find out what to expect from my first class, but couldn't find anything overly helpful, so I thought I would do exactly that in this blog for other first timers (I might also do some about other classes that I've attended).

Firstly, what is pump? (According to the LES MILLS website...)

BODYPUMP™ is the original barbell class that strengthens your entire body. This 60-minute workout challenges all your major muscle groups by using the best weight-room exercises like squats, presses, lifts and curls. Great music, awesome instructors and your choice of weight inspire you to get the results you came for – and fast! Like all the LES MILLS™ programs, a new BODYPUMP™ class is released every three months with new music and choreography.

If you've ever looked in on one of these classes you will know that they are pretty intense. It is, from what I've heard, the most popular LES MILLS class worldwide, and at my gym at least, they classes are often packed.

Keeping this in mind I decided to go to my first class on a Thursday at 2pm because it seemed like a time that would be less busy, and it's easier to learn without a huge crowd, and easier to ask the instructor questions.

When I got to the gym the first thing I did was go straight up to the instructor and said 'Hi, I'm new to this class so what do I need to know?' I've NEVER been good at talking to people I don't know unless it's absolutely crucial so even doing this was pretty hard for me, but I'm glad I did, she was lovely and straight away told me to grab a step (the same step you need for Step class) and 2 risers, as well as a mat, and then she showed me all the weights.

For my first class she only gave me 4 discs, all 1kg.

So in the end all the equipment I grabbed was

1 x step
4 x risers
1 x bar
2 x clips (I don't know their real name but those things that stop the weights falling off the bar!)
1 x mat
4 x 1kg discs

Then she gave me the following advice:

1kg for warm-up
2kg for legs, chest and back
1kg for biceps, triceps and shoulders
NO WEIGHT OR BAR for squats and lunges

Basically she wanted me to concentrate on technique before worrying about loading up weights, but even with a very small amount of weight I am still feeling the DOMS the next day, so there is no doubt it worked.

Since she knew I was new, I'm pretty sure she talked a lot more about technique than she usually would have, which is why it is pretty important to tell an instructor that you are new. If they don't know, they sometimes assume you have heard the technique spiels a lot of times, but if you don't do it right you could really hurt yourself.

I'm pretty sure my technique was terrible but I tried my hardest to take in her advice, and plan to keep using the light weights for another couple of classes and really get the technique down before I load up.

Once I knew my way around the equipment, the class was really fun and flew by. I'm really glad I did it, and especially glad I faced my fears.

The best bit is, next time I go, I won't be the new one anymore. You only have to be new once!

Wednesday Weigh In

I was scared for this weigh in. In fact I stayed in bed for quite a long time after I woke up because I was terrified that I had gained, or at least stayed the same (which wouldn't be quite as bad, but still slightly upsetting).

Not sure why I thought this though. I have stuck to the eating plan exactly, haven't had one single slip up or one day over 1200. I have trained 6 days a week making sure I burn a minimum of 500 each session, and 1000 on Saturday.

I guess it was because I was feeling heavy and bloated. At the risk of giving away too much information, my system was a bit backed up. I was sluggish.

Just like Mish said it would though, it worked. I now officially trust her. This woman is my new idol! I will worship the ground she walks on until the day I die.

Today I weigh 57.4kgs (That's a 1.3kg loss from last weigh-in)!
Today was also the first time I was unable to burn 500 calories in a single class, so my body is getting fitter and needs to be worked harder!

Today has been a GOOD day! My confidence, which as I said last post, was at an all time low, is slowly creeping it's way back to the top.

Skin is clearing.
Hair is looking good again.
I can see my collarbones!
My arms are looking more shapely.
My legs are MACHINES (I have now TRIPLED the resistance I can use in RPM from my first class).

I have been slacking on my running goals though, which is terrible, so my focus this week is to get in more running.

I FEEL AWESOME. Loving life. Cannot WAIT until next week and all the weeks after. Bring on life. I'm ready to enjoy it!

Confidence at an all time LOW.

Yes, you read right. My confidence SUCKS right now.

I'm bloated.
My skin is breaking out like it's nobody's business.
The bags under my eyes are foul.
My hair is constantly greasy.

Ugh.

I'm assuming this is my body detoxing. I hope. Pleasepleaseplease.

I would like clear skin and shiny hair to go with my new body.

Do not hate anybody.

Ultimate Reward

Who remembers that Sex and the City episode where Samantha decides to get nude photos done so that she can look back on it in years to come and remember how hot she was?

I've decided I want to do that. Tasteful of course, I'm not talking about anything pornographic here.

So, when I've got my body (and confidence) exactly the way I want it, I'm going to do the same thing.

Selfish on a Sunday

I've decided that these next 12 weeks I'm going to be as selfish as I want to be.

I'm going to say 'no' to things I don't want to do.
I'm going to go to bed when I'm tired rather than feel obliged to stay up and go out.

I'm not going to date anyone. Every offer will get a firm 'thanks but no thanks'.

I will NOT share my food.
I will not say 'yes' to extra shifts at work if it will interfere with my workout plans.
I will not feel pressured to drink alcohol.

I will not worry about losing friends over being anti-social. Real friends will stick around.

These next 12 weeks I want to find myself, figure out my limitations and my strengths. By Christmas I would like to be more at peace with who I am as a person and the direction in which my life is going. I would like to love myself without the love or approval of others.

These 12 weeks are mine.

My kingdom for a doughnut...

So while the food plan on this program is delicious, I am finding myself obsessing over unhealthy food.

McDonalds, chocolate, doughnuts, nutella straight from the jar, creamy pasta, icecream, mountain dew... the list goes on.

I'm not sure if I always thought about food this much, but just went out and ate it whenever I had the urge, or if I'm thinking about it so much because I haven't had it for so long. It's probably been about 5 weeks now since I ate anything like that or had any soft drinks, and only a few days since I've been limiting my calories to 1200, so I guess it's just my body adjusting.

Usually this is the point where I give into my inner demon and go out to the supermarket for a family sized block of chocolate (or two if it's on special), but not this time. I know I don't need it. I WANT it, but I've come to this realisation:

I want a rockin' hot body and some amazing self confidence more.

That's worth so much more than the temporary pleasure I get from eating chocolate.

Eye on the prize.

And this shall be my prize...

Challenge ACCEPTED!

Welcome to blogging challenge number one. Thanks to Kath for organising it!

And here we go!

Describe yourself in 25 words or less:

"Basically what we have here is a dreamer. Somebody completely out of touch with reality. When she jumped she probably thought she could fly."

What brings you to 12wbt? Are you a first timer or a repeat offender?

12WBT virgin right here y'all. I'm doing it for a plethora of reasons.

First and possibly most importantly, I am here to lose my 'Mickey Weight'. I spent all last year living in the United States and working for Disney, and while it was an amazing experience, I can definitely now understand why America has such an obesity crisis. Even their 'healthy' options are super sized or all you can eat!

On my way home, I spent a month in Europe gorging myself on french pastries and pasta in Italy. Didn't help matters.

Sadly, even though I've been home since Febuary, I have done nothing about this situation, that stops now.

I'm also here to learn about my body and my limitations. I have a huge list of things I want to do (climb to Everest Base Camp, run a marathon, become a Les Mills instructor) and these were all things I previously believed were pipe dreams, because only fit, young, healthy people could do these things.

WHAT THE HELL!? I am young and healthy and definitely soon to be fit. I'm not wasting my life wishing I could do things, I'm going to get out there and do them!

Why do you blog?

Because I'm a narcissist who thinks everyone wants to know what I'm doing all the time. Anyone who follows me on twitter will know that.

Seriously though, I find it easiest to express myself via writing, always have, and it's nice to have something to look back on at the end of a journey and remind yourself of things you may have forgotten.

Who is your biggest inspiration in life and why?

In my own life my biggest inspiration is my paternal grandfather. He's lived a crazy life, travelled all over the world, and slogged his guts out working for years and years. He is also the only person in my family who supports me 100% without ever saying a nasty or discouraging word. Making him proud is my priority! I love him and would be so happy if by the time I get to his age I've done even half the things he has.

What things in life bring you the most joy?

Trashy reality TV
Clean sheets
New clothes
Spooning
Forehead kisses
Big sunglasses
Bubblegum
Sundresses
Glittery nail polish
New car smell
Hanging out with my family
Woodfire smell
BBQs
Late night cruising
Humid mornings
Cheesy pop songs
Midnight beach trips
Laughing until you pee your pants

In short.. the small things.

What do you think your greatest challenge is going to be this round?

Battling my self esteem issues that I have already touched on in this blog. I hope the happier I get with what I see in the mirror, the easier it will be to be happy with who I am on the inside. I'm going to try my hardest to make sure low self-esteem days don't lead to self sabotaging.

I want to feel free, happy and in control of my life and where it is heading, I'm hoping this program will help me on the path to that.

What are you most excited about 12WBT?

Pushing myself out of my comfort zone and pushing my body to its limits.

Also won't lie, kind of excited to run into ex-boyfriends with rocking new body and matching awesome attitude so they know what they are missing. (Don't lie, there are more people than just me thinking the same thing!)

And what scares the pants off of you?

Failing. Both by giving up, and by trying my hardest but not seeing results. Either of these outcomes scares the crap out of me.

Tell me - right now - today - how do you feel about exercise in no more than 10 words.

This is how I feel about it while I'm actually in the process of doing it:

Woo! - Fuck, I'm stuffed already - Quitting time? - Now? - Finished! BOOYAH!

Complete this sentence - in 12 weeks time - on the last day of 12WBT I am going to be feeling...

Rejuvenated. As young as I actually am. Confident.

Most of all, happy within myself!

Terrible Confession

Day one. DAY ONE of 12WBT, and I did not work out.

There are no excuses. I let myself sleep telling myself my body needed it, and by the time I got up there was no time before work to do anything.

At least I ate clean, only the foods on Mish's program. Burning at least 1000 calories tomorrow to make up for it.

Terrible start but still going to get great results!

New day

I love this program so much because of all the lovely people that give so much support. The comments I got yesterday were so nice and made me feel so much better.

So in honor of a new day:




Happy kickoff everyone!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Lucky number 4

Fourth date with guy mentioned a few blog posts ago. Fourth (or is it usually third) date activities transpired.

Here to put in writing that if he does not call, I will not self sabotage. I will not eat junk and stay in bed all day. I will get over it. I will not let it determine my self worth.

Strong, independent woman. Hear me roar.

(Maybe I will also try and work on why my brain automatically assumes that once a guy has had his fun with me that he will immediately lose interest).

Intermediate! Wha..!?

Who would have though, lazy, unfit little old me would do her fitness tests and average an intermediate level rather than a beginner level (3 of the 5 tests)? I was totally prepared and ready to start at a beginner level, but now pretty excited to push myself in the intermediate level.

MY RESULTS:

1km time trial: 5.38.6 seconds (intermediate - 8.6 seconds from advanced)
Pushups: 28 in a minute - on knees (intermediate)
Abdominal strength test: Level 1 (beginner)
Wall sit: 33.2 seconds (beginner)
Sit and reach: -1cm (intermediate)

BOOM goes the dynamite.

Boy sabotage

More people who I allow to bring me down and sabotage me.

Boys boys boys.

I completely allow them to determine my self worth. A whistle out a car window can make my day, but being ignored by a guy in a bar can send me into a spiral of depression. I don't even KNOW THESE MEN.

Somewhat recently a boyfriend that I had, broke up with me for a plethora of ridiculous and selfish reasoning, but that's beside the point. The point is we broke up, and I got deleted from every aspect of his life immediately. I had no right of reply or any chance to come to any kind of understanding. Never to hear from him again (or so I thought). Until now. Now, months later, he decides it is appropriate to bombard me with messages such as this:

"Hey Jackie... you still think I'm hot, right?"

"Let's bang"

"Do you still have the rose from that date?? Probably don't. It would make sense if you didn't. You looked really pretty that night. On the occasions when you smile, it's truly beautiful. You could melt the ice caps with that smile and drown us all."

"You know why I miss your smile? Because it was so satisfying. I didnt see it that often, so when I did, it was like a reward. A beautiful, smiley award."

(Warning, sailor language ahead).

WHAT THE FUCK? Get the fucking McFUCK out of my fucking life you scumbag, asshole, piece of shit, life ruining, SON OF A BITCH.

Now my brain automatically thinks I want... no, NEED chocolate, bed and a depressing movie. It's been my go-to medication for all aches and breaks of the heart.

Since we broke up I have worked really had to try and not allow the male opinion of me effect my opinion of myself, but it's hard. Really, really hard. My entire life I have been taught by the media, and movies, and music, and society, and even to an extent, my friends and family, that life is nothing without love and approval and respect from a guy.

Therefore, whenever I didn't get it, I felt a kick in my self-esteem so hard the only thing that could cure it was eating and crying, and crying and eating, and eating and crying.

This year has been especially brutal in the men stakes, there has been a lot of drama and a lot of what I perceive to be rejection. I think it's partially because I'm 22, and it's being constantly pointed out to me that I am the same age my mother was when she got married, and I am still pathetically single.

From here on in I'm calling these thoughts out for what they are... ridiculous!

I'm 22! I will never be younger or have more freedom than right now, in this moment. I do not need a male to define me. I can define myself, as a smart, strong, beautiful, independent woman. Maybe one day I will meet a guy who agrees that I am all of these things, but I will no longer settle for guys who don't. I don't need them.

The only person I need love from is myself.

First workout with new HRM

I think my old heart rate monitor was lying to me. Seemed like it took a lot more effort to get to 500 this workout session, but it made me dig deep!

Session consisted of:

7 minute warmup on Xtrainer
Leg presses
Chest presses
Assisted chin ups
C25K week 2 on treadmill
Then back on the Xtrainer for 10 minutes + cool down


Usually I would have finished after the treadmill run but I really wanted to see those calories reach 500. Great motivator!

For anyone wondering this is the Polar FT60 model.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Small Wins

Two small wins yesterday that have made me feel AWESOME today. (This will be quick as I only have half an hour before I have to leave for uni and I'm still sitting here in my pajamas, oops).

Win 1: I jumped on the scale yesterday morning and the number staring back at me was 59.5! WOOOHOOOOOOO! Goodbye 60s. Never again will I allow myself to weight over 60kgs (unless one day I happen to get pregnant, one and only exception).

Win 2: I ran a whole 1km without stopping, walked some, and the another 1KM without stopping, which I know is lame in comparison to all the other 12WBT, but is huge for me since I'm recovering from a knee injury, so once again: WOOOHOOO!

Feeling a bit cute to be honest, lucky because I have a kind of a date thing tonight! Nervous and still haven't planned my wardrobe. Wish me luck!

YOU vs THEM

A forum member posted this video:

I thought it was awesome and really inspiring, so much so that I wanted it on my ipod so I could listen to it when I worked out, so I made it into an MP3.

Just sharing it here in case anyone else would like the audio only version! Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD IT HERE!

Cars and Calories*

Today was a beautiful day in Melbourne. It was sunny and warm, pretty much the perfect temperature. I was really good all day, got up for my workout, ate healthy food, got some new workout clothes. Everything was going well, and then THIS happened:

Yeah that is me. Yes, that is a slurpee in my hand. Not just a slurpee, the biggest slurpee you can buy at 7/11. According to myfitnesspal that is over 500 calories I just sucked down? Why!? Why did I do it? Well, mostly because my flatmate wanted to so I did it too. Now I feel gross, also like my morning workout was wasted.

Training extra hard tomorrow, that's for sure!

*The title of today's blog was inspired by the song Cars and Calories by Saves The Day.

Could it be working already!?

Not one, but two days in a row now, I've woken up before 5.30am to workout! Pretty awesome for someone who can easily sleep 10 hours and still be tired.

The first day (Friday) was a bit of a struggle. I was tired, some excuses popped into my head (the program hasn't started yet, I'll go after class, you haven't shaved your legs you disgusting ape so you cannot be seen in public in tights), but then my solutions to all my excuses popped into my head straight after them. My brain was automatically talking itself out of making excuses! Awesome.

Then this morning, I didn't even need the excuses, I just jumped out, and I wasn't even tired, and even better than that, I was PUMPED! I wanted to go to the gym, I sang along to loud tunes in the car and hydrated on my way there, and went hard when I was there.

Could it possibly be working this quickly or is it all a fluke? I guess time will tell!

How lazy is lazy?

Welcome to my blog. I am actually the laziest person in the world.

No really, don't bother arguing, I definitely am.

How lazy am I?

I would rather leave the mail in the box than walk up the hill to collect it.

I would rather pick up things with my feet than bother bending over.

If the remote is out of reach... I might just suffer through what's already on the screen.

Exercise is a foreign word to me.

McDonalds is a much easier option than bothering to cook something when I get home from work.

I can sleep for days.

My couch has a groove the exact shape of my ass.

I can tell you the story line of every tv show on the air and have seen every episode ever aired of Oprah, Dr Phil and let's not forget Dr Oz and Judge Judy.

Yes ladies and gentlemen, I am lazy, but my laziness hasn't stopped me from having adventures. In my short 22 years I've done some amazing things. These include:

Traveling solo overseas at just 15 to attend a new highschool in Canada and live with a new family.

Organized some amazing charity gigs for all kinds of organizations.

Climbed up and abseiled down some scary-ass cliffs.

Tutored refugee children.

Scored an internship with Walt Disney World.

Parasailed in Daytona.

Experienced the light and sound of New York City.

Hunted alligators in Georgia.

Travelled across the globe to meet somebody very special.

Braved a lot of heartache and heartbreak and laughed through it.

And these are just a few. In fact just thinking about these few highlights out of a million happy, amazing, brave moments in my life, makes me realise I can actually do anything I want. I've been living my life to the fullest, so why stop now?

I'm not. That's why I'm starting a little program known as the 12WBT. It's going to be tough, especially for the laziest girl in the world, but I also know that by the end I will be an even stronger person, with a better outlook and in better shape for even more adventures. (Hopefully I will even come out of it with a few more amazing friends).

So stay tuned for more adventures of the laziest girl in the world!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone