I want to look HOT!

If I had to name my biggest motivation for losing weight and if you wanted a real answer...I want to look HOT!

Most of my life I have struggled with my weight. In around 2002/3 I lost a whole stack of weight and I looked great! (All modesty aside of course!) I could fit into a size 10-12 pants which I can hardly believe now. I am annoyed that I allowed myself to gain weight again and blossom to my state today.

Before I get all depressed again, I have to remember that I did use to be 10kgs heavier than I am today, so at least I am not where I used to be and I have a goal for where I want to be!

I want to be able to wear clothes from Witchery, Country Road, Ojay, Portmans  and all of those other gorgeous brands that only really fits people up to a size 12! I want to be able to wear a shirt tucked in! I want to be able to wear a belt! A dress! A skirt! Things other than black! I want to be able to wear something sleeveless!

Ok, so say you walk into an apparel store. You avoid all the clothes that are for tall people (oh, did I mention that I'm also 5'1?...I know vertically and horizontally challenged!), so now we're down to 75% of the store. Next we have to avoid anything with a "cling" to it, which takes us down to 50% of the store. Our next items to avoid or walk straight past are all the light coloured items - especially white, cream, beige, so now we're down to 25% of the store. All dresses and skirts - OUT, so now we're at 10% of the store. Prints, horizontal stripes, patterns...gone...gone...gone...now we're at 2%.

Out of the leftover items, out of the 2% of the store...what's left? Size 8 and accessories! PUH-LEEZE!!!!

Exercise Gear

One thing that I do have to mention, only because it made a difference, I worry about what I look like in a gym. I know, I shouldn't, but I do. I want my flubber to stay put, I don't want wobbly bits entertaining others!

When I was in Singapore last year I invested in some good quality Nike sports gear. Great leggings that have the right support pockets to control the cellulite from their own little disco and a great bra/singlet top to control any extra bounce above. I completed the look with a t-shirt that was long enough to cover the tummy, but not too big that I couldn't move..and VOILA! Great exercise outfit that feels great, looks decent and is efficient.

Bottom line, if you are serious about weight loss, then spend some time commiting to good quality gear that takes away one more excuse for exercising.

Travelling again...

Once again I'm away from home for work. This time I'm in Auckland, New Zealand.

I have to tell you about the place that I'm staying in.

The Langham.

Wow! The service is impeccable! The room is amazing! I spent the first few minutes in the room taking pictures (I'll share some as soon as I can work out how to download my photos without a cord...)


I took this photo of Trip Advisor. The gorgeous detail is in Pink and Gold. The upright books are the books of services and In-Room dining. The pretty box is the compendium with your writing elements. My room has a beautiful diary on a stand.








The details in this place just definitely earns them their 5 star rating.

For example, room service breakfast comes with a toaster! I know! How clever! This way I don't have cold toast this morning I have freshly toasted warm delicious toast!!!

I will have to share my photos over the next few days.

What I can say is that I'm packed this time with my gym gear...the intent is there...Now to find the time...

Stresssssssssssssssssssssssssss

How is one supposed to deal with stress really?

I've had a stressful couple of days at work...little sleep...lots of silly people that don't know how to think properly...and in the midst of it all? I was scrounging around for chocolate...like looking for a quick hit...

Then someone had a birthday...so I ate a piece of cake...

The desire for sweetness consumed me...

Do you honestly think that at a time like this I would be reaching for a carrot stick to calm me down?????

Then, I got a hold of myself. Yes, I had the piece of cake...but I stopped my salivating, got up off my paws and realised that I was looking for something sweet, yes, but it was probably because I was stressed and restless. So I improvised on the sweetness and had some grapes...woohoo! Yeah me!

Today even though I was stressed again, I made sure the healthier option was at my reach.

All I could think about was getting home and having a drink. Come on, who could blame me?!?!?! If you could drink at work I would have started at 9am!

However, I didn't consume a bottle...I came home, spent some quality time with my husband and daughter with some great laugh time to release those happy cells, and then relaxed with one glass of wine over dinner.

Oh my goodness...I think I'm changing my behaviour!

How easy is it to say "no"?

When offered food, especially food that I love (i.e. chocolate) I find it almost impossible to refuse.

Even if I'm not hungry, it's like a mindless automatic answer that comes out of my mouth..."oh yes please"

I don't know why? Does this make me obsessed with food???

My thoughts would be...no...I think that I've trained myself into a habit of not truly thinking about what I'm eating. I believe that I need to learn to listen more to my body and not my cravings.

For example: Just because buffet breakfast is part of my room charge, I don't have to have three courses. I don't have to have the bacon and eggs option. I can think before I select and choose the healthier option.

Another example: It's lunchtime and lunch is served in a conga line and you have to take a plate and serve yourself. I don't need to put abit of everything on my plate. I can be selective, enjoy some things but not others.

It's afternoon tea, there are biscuits and cakes out. I don't have to take one just because a waiter is offering me one...I CAN SAY NO...for goodness sake...not brain surgery...but just soooooooo hard to implement!

Exercise: A key to any weight loss journey

I HATE EXERCISE!

Ok, now that I've got that out of my system...here is today's blog.

Every single person should have exercise into their daily routine. When it comes to weight loss there is a simple formula that applies to everyone.

Energy in = Energy Out

Calories/Kilojoules in = Body functions, energy burning activities (including dedicated exercise time!)

If we have more calories going into our body than what we are using every day, the body will store these in our fat cells, and wah-lah! We put on weight.

If you're anything like me, and have a job where you are predominantly in the office behind a computer, then I have news for you...we have to actually dedicate some serious exercise time during the time to burn off what we eat (and more if we want to lose weight!)

It's an ugly truth, but none-the-less essential.

I know the theory but I am the biggest procrastinator when it comes to exercising. I will think of all the excuses first before actually exercising.

So my first of many exercise tips is this...

When you decide you need to add exercise to your weight loss journey, DO IT TODAY! Don't wait for tomorrow because you will find that tomorrow will become the next day, and the next and so on...

I have followed my own tip. Today I made the decision that I need to get on my exercise machine at least 20mins a day. I would normally say "ok, I'll start tomorrow!"...this time I decided to do it straight away!

So now I have at least 20 mins of exercise logged in for today and I feel like I've accomplished something!

Of course I know that you should be doing more than 20 mins a day, but what is more important is to make it part of you. Make it something that you fit into every day...now there is a challenge!