Australian Herald Sun, Wednesday 5th December, 2012.

—-

Apparently, we’ve all been getting it wrong.

Have a read if your jimmies need a good rustling. I can think of many people out there that have read this and gone, ‘well thank goodness, now I know why diets don’t work! I should stop trying to exercise and eat well!’ No wonder everybody is so confused.

Last Week: {9/5/2012}: 99.9kgs / ~220.2lbs

This Week {16/5/2012}: 99.5kgs / ~219.4lbs

Weight Lost: 0.4kgs / ~0.8lbs

Total Weight Loss To Date: 20.5kgs / ~45.1lbs

—-

I really have to remember this feeling of happiness and success when I can report a positive result each Wednesday, because I need to have something to get me through the various cravings I have of a week. I tend to find if I’ve had a bad day food-wise I’ll drink heaps of water to make sure my body is still working properly and flushing out the crap I just ingested. D:

Took an initial trip to a workout and sports store and got some advice on beginners home fitness equipment. It looks like we’ll be buying a set of two free weights with several weight plates, and buy new plates in the future for more resistance, and an exercise ball. Later on we’ll get a bench to do different exercises on, and eventually (with a bigger house maybe) a squat rack. I also really want a kettle ball so I’ll keep my eyes open for a good one. :D So excited.

Last Week: {9/5/2012}: 101.7kgs / ~224.2lbs

This Week {16/5/2012}: 99.9kgs / ~220.2lbs

Weight Lost: 1.8kgs / ~4lbs

Total Weight Loss To Date: 20.1kgs / ~44.3lbs

—-

I kept getting on the scales over and over, like ‘c’mon scales, stop fucking with me, we both know you’re lying.’ …But then the number stayed the same and it’s still only just sinking in that I’VE HIT MY FIRST MAJOR GOAL WEIGHT.

So it’s a trip to Workout World for me and the bf, to get me some home-gym equipment (disposable income, awww yeahhh). Time to get shit done. Took me over a month to shift those last 5kgs but IDGAF, I’ll get there, no matter how slow I feel like I’m going. Also, I get to buy a cute nerdy/gamer shirt from thinkgeek or Jinx, in my goal size, to proudly display as motivation.

Also, in other news…my boyfriend might have casually let slip yesterday that he’d like to take me on a trip to New Zealand when I reach my Ultimate Goal Weight…

…so he can ask me to marry him.

o_o *crazy flail*

No more details are being revealed to me and I don’t care. Ultimate motivation, right there. I already knew that my wedding dress would be fitted for my UGW but this is more awesome than anything. Bring it on, fat, I’m going to kick your ass and you’re going forever.

-

So…I’ve been feeling pretty blah lately. Weight Loss is such a huge thing and there is no one right way to do it. I’ve been throwing ideas back and forth in my head, such as not weighing myself anymore and just taking measurements now that I might be putting on muscle weight, and working on what I am eating but worrying about ‘Do I eat this? How will my body react if I eat this? Is this allowed? Is this organic enough?’ Drives me nuts.

So I had to remind myself that I’m not just talking about it, I’m doing it, I’m getting there.

This is my first Progress Post and I (and the bf) were staring at it in shock as I put it together. I was planning to do this when I hit 100kgs but fuck it, this is important. I’ve taken to wearing this top and shorts around the house a lot now; I feel comfortable in it when I never have before. More than the scale are all the Non-Scale Victories I get to experience every day:
- Strong nails
- Soft shiny hair
- Much smoother complexion
- More stamina (run up ALL the escalators!)
- Chucking out huge clothes and fitting into smaller and smaller sizes
- Being able to tuck my knees up to my tummy
- Being able to cross my legs omg
- Everyone I know being floored by how amazing I look
- Possibly being noticed by some pretty male customers as well… (ohohohoho ^3^)

I have gotten this far from about 98% better eating habits, plus a bit of beginners exercise. I think I will print this out and put in on my fitspo wall. :3
So, yes…’Achievement Unlocked: Progress’…let the dancing commence…
-

This week {9/5/2012}: 101.7kgs / ~224.2lbs

Weight Lost: 0 {Gain of 0.3kgs / ~0.66lbs}

Total Weight Loss To Date: 18.3kgs / ~40.34lbs

—-

Could be worse, I have not eaten the best this week, but I did work out three times, so perhaps that managed to balance out OK. It’s not a huge gain, either, easy to fix.

I am almost confused by what my scales are doing, because I see such brilliant non-scale victories (clothes are too big, my waist getting smaller, seeing fat loss all over, etc) that it does not seem to accurately be reflected in my weigh-ins. It is so hard to know at any given time what your body is doing and how that affects your ‘weight’ minute to minute.

I am considering leaving the weekly weigh-in, especially since I might be gaining muscle, which will mean less fat, but no way to tell in the scale, and I will be disheartened every week regardless of my efforts.

If anybody knows an at-home way of measuring body-fat percentage, please drop me a line, as I am wanting to move away from weighing myself. I might make a visit to my doctor and see if she can help me. :3

Last week {25/4/2012}: 102.5kgs / ~225.9lbs

This week {2/5/2012}: 101.4kgs / ~223.5lbs

Weight Lost: 1.1kgs / ~2.4lbs

Total Weight Loss To Date: 18.6kgs / ~41lbs

—-

So here is an updated version of my weight loss tracking-thing, looking good overall. I’ve got only 1.4kgs to go until I hit 100 and I will get there and it will be AWESOME. 8D  Even better are the Non-Scale Victories, like moving from size 20 to size 18 jeans, and having everyone I know instantly commenting on all my weight loss when they see me (the girls at work are all jelly).

I will be doing some running and some other introductory exercises from now on, and when I hit 100kgs, I will be rewarding myself with some gym equipment for home to get me going. More excited than ever to keep going! 83

+ 30 Day Weight Loss Challenge +
. Day 30 .

[10 Facts About You! And now, what are your stats?]

1. Biggest thing I probably haven’t mentioned: I’m a yaoi and slash fan. Like, a big massive huge one. I will slash anything that moves (and sometimes things that don’t.) I’ve been a yaoi fangirl for about 8 or 9 years.
2. I’m a gamer girl, I’ve gamed my whole life since playing Zelda and Pokemon with my little brother as a kid (hell, I still play them). Games are a big part of my life, one of the biggest after yaoi. :B
3. Favourite Games/Series: Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Elder Scrolls (Oblivion & Skyrim), The Sims, Age of Empires Series, and I’ve played a couple of MMO’s (WoW, SW:TOR, and TERA. Considering GW.)
4. I have created heaps of OC’s for various things in the ‘semi-furry’ style (ears and tails, but human-looking otherwise), most of which I have coupled together and have written and drawn about in great detail. My characters are my children. I have very strong feelings about my babies. o-o
5. The ultimate, starry-eyed life goal is to one day be a published (and preferably popular) author. I have several ideas stewing away, so once I actually get around to writing something I’ll be good. :/
6. I love anime and in particular, manga. It ties in easily with being a yaoi fangirl too. I’ve been a fan pretty much since Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh when I was a kid. Favourite series in no order would be Evangelion, Gurren Lagann, Death Note, Elfen Lied, Ouran Host Club, and anything by Studio Ghibli.
7. I am an Australian and was born here but my Mum and all her family were from England. Apparently I still sometimes slip into an English accent out of nowhere for certain words.
8. Huge love of science and space (I blame video games and Symphony of Science). I love learning about the way the world works and how amazing our bodies are in what they can do for us every day when we take care of them. I think scientists and people who bring science to the world, people like Carl Sagan, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Richard Dawkins and Bill Nye, are pretty cool guys. *thumbs up*
9. If it wasn’t made apparent, I also draw and write with great love and vigor. I recently acquired a Wacom Bamboo tablet and Photoshop, and as soon as I figure out how actually effing use them, I’ll be uploading my own little fitspo/curvespo things on here. :D
10. As I’m writing this last thing I’m in my new workout clothes. With my iPod and my water. I’m going on my first run right now!


Stats (As of 30/4/2012)
(Start Weight: 120kgs / 264lbs)
Height: 167cm / 5’4”
Current Weight: 102.5 / ~225.9lbs
Weight Loss To Date: 17.5kgs / ~38.5lbs
{Also, since Day 1 of the challenge, I have lost 4.8kgs / ~11 pounds}

Measurements (As of 30/4/2012)
Bust: 109cm / 43 inches
Chest: 91cm / 36 inches
Waist: 93cm / 36 and a half inches
Hips: 123cm / 48 and a half inches
Thighs: 71(R) 72(L) / ~28 inches
Calves: 48(R) 49(L) / ~19 inches
Upper arm: 36(R) 34(L) / 13-14 inches
Forearm: 27 (R) 26 (L) / ~10 inches
Wow! I’ve lost a little pretty much all over, only one thing that didn’t record a loss, I think. 0-0 

-

What a fun month this has been! Thought I would cap it all off with a bit of old-school curvyness from Marilyn. Here is the link to Day 1, with my original measurements, as well as the original challenge image for anybody else that would like to give it a go.

Also, I wasn’t lying about the running thing. Here I am. (lol ignore the mess kthx.) Thank you to everyone that has followed me on this crazy trip so far, I hope you hang around, because I know I will. :D Right, off to run!

+ 30 Day Weight Loss Challenge +
. Day 29 .

[Your definition of beauty.]

D: Ah, what a tough question. I haven’t ever really thought about it. In this day and age, no two people see ‘beauty’ in the same way. As for me, I think happy people are beautiful. I think confident people are beautiful. But most of all, I think people that treat their bodies well and keep themselves healthy are beautiful. It is a great ideal to aspire to, giving your body the nutrients and energy it was always supposed to have, and this healthy eating manifests itself all over the body, not just in the weight. Healthy people shine with energy and happiness and I find that to be the traits of a very beautiful individual.

+ 30 Day Weight Loss Challenge +
. Day 28 .

[Do you want that ‘gap’ between your legs? Why?]

Well, I think I’d be lying if I said ‘no I definitely would never want to perhaps have a thigh gap’. It is such a weird thought to even consider having it because I haven’t had one my whole life. But the reality for me is that I keep a lot of weight and body shape in my butt and my thighs. And as a ‘pear shape’ I really kinda doubt that I’ll end up with one.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not high on the list of reasons to lose weight. :3 There are bigger things to worry about, but it’s one of those nice afterthoughts to have as a possibility.

+ 30 Day Weight Loss Challenge +
. Day 27 .

[How do you deal with being around food?]

+ At Family Outings/Parties: I allow myself to have a bit of fun. Short of bringing my own food there isn’t much choice in what I’ll be eating at those things, so I look forward to those events as treat meals, and enjoy it in moderation, and make sure to still drink plenty of water.

+ Out at the shops / Food Court: Luckily it is easy to make healthy choices here; there is a lot of choice including a great sandwich bar at my shops, so I can choose exactly what I eat.

+ No choice but McDonalds?: They offer salad instead of fries and water instead of soda at McDonalds, and several ‘healthy’ options, such as the grilled chicken wrap. Having a small sized meal helps too.

+ Snacking at home: I don’t keep junk food for myself in the house; my boyfriends food is just that: his, so I don’t touch it. That said, if I do want a treat, it is a small sized chocolate bar, or a small bowl of chips - moderation is key.

…And sometimes, I’m not able to adhere to this, and I might have a bad day of eating here and there. But I’m human, and I’m not perfect, and that’s OK. Getting back on track as soon as possible and not beating myself up is just as important.

+ 30 Day Weight Loss Challenge +
. Day 26.

[What excites you most about reaching your UGW?]

Kinda was looking forward to this question. :B There are so many things I cannot wait for, but definitely the thing that excites me most is the fact that finding clothes will never, ever be a problem ever again. :O Not only that, the act of clothes shopping will be a million times more enjoyable and not so disheartening and frustrating. I can go looking for clothes in the same stores as my friends and not feel uncomfortable just standing around while they shop. In Australia, if you are above a size 16, 18 at the very max, you have to shop in the ‘plus size’ areas, and the choices are so incredibly limited, it’s insulting. Never again. :C

As part of my UGW reward (it’s a big one!) I am getting a $100 voucher to a clothing store (not to mention buying clothes in the lead-up to it), I’ll be getting re-fitted for my new proper bra size and throwing a lingerie party (like a Tupperwear party…but lingerie), and getting a cute swimsuit for the first time and a really nice pair of expensive jeans.

There are heaps of other things as well, almost as important, and all I’m sure I’ll talk about in the future (being a sexy gamer girl/fitting into my dream wedding dress/having a healthy pregnancy and baby in the future/etcetcetc). The reasons are endless.

+ 30 Day Weight Loss Challenge +
. Day 25 .

[Have you ever purged? If you have, describe your first experience.]

In this context I guess this refers to the ‘eating-disorder’ sort of forced throwing up. Because I’ve had my moments when I’ve eaten too much and my stomach was just like ‘yeahnope’, and one time because I drank a fair bit, but never anything where I’ve thought ‘if I throw this up later it will be ok to eat it now’.

I always knew about the negative side-effects (damage to throat and stomach, malnourishment, stained teeth, etc); they were told to me by friends, parents, school, etc my whole life. So it never even entered my mind to use that as a weight-loss method, nor will it. :3

Last week {18/4/2012}: 103.8kgs / ~228.8lbs

This week {25/4/2012}: 102.5 / ~225.9lbs

Weight Lost: 1.3kgs / ~2.7lbs

Total Weight Loss To Date: 17.5kgs / ~38.5lbs

—-

Can’t believe it. So happy right now. When I have a few minor stumbles in a week I start wondering if or how it will affect my weigh-in that week. So to have lost all the weight I had put back on last week, but another 0.1kg to spur me on, I’m so stoked.

I want to work really, really damn hard this week, push past this last damn 2.5kgs and finally, finally get to 100kgs, my fourth overall GW and the first of 3 Main Goal Weights. I will be rewarding myself for getting there with a visit to a workout store, buying weights, an exercise ball, kettle ball, etc. Already have some workout clothes and a yoga mat (<3).

+ 30 Day Weight Loss Challenge +
. Day 24 .

[How do you feel about the terms ‘pro-ana’ & ‘pro-mia’?]
{Apology: Text Wall Incoming.}

I’ve noticed that this topic always seems to rustle a few jimmies in this part of the tumblr community. I’ve watched a fair few documentaries and programs about dangerous eating at both ends of the spectrum, and whilst I can only relate to and fully understand one end of it, I strive to have an understanding of the subject of eating disorders, so as not to comment on things I have no idea of. That said, there is a difference between a person striving to have a ‘thin’ body shape through healthy eating and taking care of oneself, and actively believing that an eating disorder is the way to be, at the expense of health.

Some ladies are very slim by nature and are unfairly put into this group, when they are still healthy and good to their bodies, and I can see how annoying that would be for them. But the other side - severe restricting of food, pushing the body to near-collapse from lack of nourishment, to the point that it forces the brain to make the body eat so it doesn’t die, and then the punishment for eating by more restriction - it does frighten me and I worry desperately for the women that are in the grasp of an eating disorder. The worst part is knowing that many of the cases are due to bad family life or past experiences, which means they have no close network for support.

In the end, an eating disorder affects the mind first, which then controls the body, and that is a hard thing to break. Nothing will be able to help those affected unless they wish change from within, which can be hard with no support or reason. It is a scary tightrope we walk, losing and maintaining weight without succumbing to the pitfalls and habits associated with these unhealthy lifestyles. I hope any women here that feel they need support in leaving that behind and moving forward know that there is a community waiting with nothing but love and encouragement for you.

+ 30 Day Weight Loss Challenge +
. Day 23 .

[Did the media play a role in your wanting to lose weight?]

Possibly? You can’t bloody tell nowadays how much advertising has seeped into your unconscious thoughts, but I’m not one for picking up the phone every time a weight-loss infomercial comes on.

My motivation for wanting to do this once and for all has come entirely from the fitspo community here at tumblr, I’ve mentioned in the past. Now that I am aware of how ridiculously easy it is to make the change once you ‘get it’, all the advertising and false expectations that are on the TV about weight loss frustrate me instead. (I swear, if I hear the words ‘rapid weight-loss’ one more time…)

There are some companies out there that are beginning to get it, I think (Special K is a cereal brand that encourages ‘gaining’ things like confidence, radiance, hope, love, etc through eating well. Their slogan is ‘What Do You Have To Gain?’ It gives me hope.) But media is everywhere, and unfortunately, it is advertising two things: food that makes you fat, and unhealthy ways to lose that fat very quickly. It keeps people in this eternally miserable place. :/ I prefer the way tumblr does things: positive messages, encouragement, and community support.