Fitness Test and the Week That's Been

Last week was a tough week.... A combination of internal excuses and red flag events that I didn't plan around. I stopped keeping my food diary half way through the week which is a telltale sign. I did all of my workouts bar what I was planning to do on the weekend (which is always my biggest downfall). I used excuses, 'I'm too tired' and 'I'm too busy'. Really annoyed at myself about that. On the food front, now that I think about it, it wasn't as bad as I thought, but it certainly wasn't good. Nachos one night (but only half the plate), party on Saturday night but only two vodkas, kumera chips but instead of dinner when my friends had whole meals, a few tim tams and chips on Friday night and basking on Sunday although other than the odd taste test I didn't actually try any of my cooking. I guess all in all, it could have been a LOT worse, especially for me when I spiral out of control from one bad meal. I made a few good decisions this week though so I'm glad I am learning some restraint (i.e. ordering a fruit salad at breakfast on Saturday). Needless to say I am very concerned about the weigh in, and the 12wbt could not kick off fast enough, because the 100 - 200g a week I'm losing despite intense training is quite demotivating.

There are two things I'm finding quite difficult at the moment. The first is that I do bootcamp (30 mins x 2 per week), personal training (30 mins x 1 per week) and now a friend has got me going to these 1 hour sessions on the other days which are 1 hour bootcamp sessions basically. All of these sessions incorporate strength and cardio and I always do 20-30 mins of cardio before my bootcamps or personal trainings. This makes it really difficult to fit in with the plan of 3 x cardio sessions, 2 x strength sessions and 1 stretch session a week. I really would like to stick to the plan precisely but this is stopping me. I know that as long as I am exercising and counting calories then I will get results, but I'd feel more certain about my program if I was doing Mish's program to the T.

My other concern is the fitness test today. These are my results:
1km time trial (rowing machine): 4:35 - ADVANCED
Push ups: (20 Toes, 30 knees) - ADVANCED
Abs: S3 - INTERMEDIATE
Wall sit: 1:30 INTERMEDIATE
Sit & reach: +10cm ADVANCED

I realise these results point to advanced, but I am so overweight that I just don't see how I could be advanced. I didn't do those with ease. I have been training for a while before this fitness test but my training is usually sporadic. I guess if I didn't go advanced it would be because of internal excuses, so I guess I will give it a go. If I"m really, really struggling afterwards I can always go down to intermediate.

Bring on week 1! Can't wait to get the meal plan. A friend of mine that I work with and I are going to split the lunches, so that we each bring one in every day. Will make it a bit easier.

The week in review

Well I haven't blogged for a little while - why? I haven't actually had too much to deal with... the pre season tasks have been pretty reasonable, I mean my cupboards are always filled with healthy foods and I am geared up... also despite my best efforts I only lost 200g this week... plus my body fat percentage increased!!

But I am back. I have learnt a lot this week:

1. Keeping an honest food diary is key. I have kept a food diary in the past and have never been honest, or I have stopped on the weekend. This week I know exactly why I haven't lost weight. My personal trainer is also reviewing it, so it is good to be held accountable! When someone else knows your consumption it makes you think twice about it.
2. Have an open mind about exercise - a 'can do' attitude. This week my friend told me about a new gym she was going to with a bit of a different work out (http://www.ludusmagnus.co.nz/). She asked if I wanted to go with her to try a class. If you look at the website it is scary! They look like warriors and the pictures aren't much different to reality. It was intimidating and it was hard. So hard! But I finished and felt like I could do something and that I wasn't as unfit as I thought! I will be going back for sure (tomorrow morning in fact)
3. Positive thinking is needed - I didn't lose weight this week, but on the plus side I realised that exercising 4 - 5 days a week at lunch time is now a habit. I don't mind doing it at all, it is just another part of my day. That is amazing for me! I also am feeling my muscles and feeling strong. The scales may not show a reduction but there is no way that my exercise/ food last week did anything other than help me! I now want to meet my friends for walks or any other exercises and not dinner and drinks. This was a big step for me :)

Now, there was something else I learnt but now I've forgotten!

The current task of diarising is great. I love organisation. I go to kiki k and get excited. I have a diary already and I already mark in my work outs. The more organisation I have though, the better. I am following the forum very closely on this to see what has worked for other people. When you are cooking for one it is hard (but not impossible) to fit in all of the preparation needed.

Now I just need some mini milestones!

I have some questions this week -

• It is Winter almost and Auckland is renowned for being horrible at that time. If I want to catch up with my friends, what type of things can I do and still burn calories when it is cold and wet outside?
• What tools are you using to plan cooking, shopping and work outs?
• What are your mini milestones?

Please share your thoughts :)

I am a woman, hear me roar!

My COMMITMENT is to lose 20kgs.

I am prepared to do the WORK to get me there.

I am a woman of my WORD.

NOTHING will shake me!