Noodles - yum yum.

It's been too long since I last posted but I really didn't know what to post.
Leanne and I are now in the second month of 'Insanity' and the workouts are really hard, kind of like being back to day 1, but we're still loving it.
This is pretty much my daily look now

Red and sweaty - not such a good look lol.

I haven't weighed myself in weeks. I haven't got a handle on eating too many treats and tbh I'm now too scared to see what the scales say. I don't think I've put anything on as my stomach is definitely smaller and less bloated but I won't have lost much either. I can control my meals, it's the sweet snacks I seem to be really struggling with.
I'm now waiting for a good 'dietbet' game to begin and I'll join in with that.

One meal I'm hooked on lately is chicken and noodles

I have no idea of the calorie content but it's certainly healthier than what I used to eat and takes just minutes to prepare.
Here's what I do.
Toss chicken pieces in Chinese 5 spice then fry them in coconut oil.
Once the chicken is cooked add stir fry veg and mushrooms and a few squirts of  Soy sauce, then throw in a handful of egg noodles.
Serve on a bed of Spinach - num num!

Isotonic sport drink

Today I had the worst Insanity workout ever despite it being one of my favourites of the set - Plyometric Cardio circuit.
The problem? A lack of Isotonic sport drink - we'd run out. I really didn't think a lack of the drink would affect a workout quite so much, I mean I discovered once during a 10k that not having it throughout the run resulted in me finishing the race and almost puking and incoherent but I thought I'd be able to get through an Insanity workout without one - I guess it shows just how hard these workouts with Shaun T actually are.
At one point during todays workout I declared I was stopping, luckily that statement disn't last and it only took a couple of seconds for me to say that I hadn't stopped a workout yet and wasn't about to start now. But throughout this workout I struggled for energy and constantly got cramp in my feet and glutes and had to keep stretching out, couple that with no energy and it made for a pretty crappy workout.
I've now restocked the Lucozade sport drink but I'm certainly going to look into alternatives so that I have something for a backup if we run out again.

Dairy milk chocolate!

So we're coming toward the end of the 4th week of 'Insanity' and I'm really excited about starting a whole new round of workouts once we complete next weeks recovery week.
So far Insanity has been insane and amazingly hard work but we've loved each and every workout and let's face it, who ever regrets working out!
Both Leanne and I saw fantastic improvements in our second fit test. I'm not sure whether the improvments are from fitness levels though or the determination to beat our last result so I'm going to do the next fit test without checking out my current results first and see what happens.
One thing I have noticed though is that all the moves I find difficult and put down to me being over weight and 40 something leanne finds difficult too and yet she's super slim and 20 years younger. I don't know what that proves other than no matter what size or age you are Insanity doesn't care!

Now if I could just get a handle on my food intake I'd be on track for super weight loss. I do fine during the day and eat perfect proportions and healthy meals but then Mr SG comes home (who happens to be super skinny and fit) and suddenly I'm craving sweet things :(  I've also discovered that night time is an issue for me as well because I tend to want to settle in front of the tv with chocolate - especially with the cold dark nights.
I came up with a plan to keep me busy at night while watching tv - I've ordered some wool and needles and I'm going to be knitting baby clothes for my niece/god daughter who's expecting her first child. It's been a while since I clicked the old needles but I'm hoping I haven't lost the skill :)

I also have a new good reason to lose weight, we're looking into booking our holidays with our dear friends back home in England. We're not sure where it's going to be just yet but we should be hitting the Caribbean this time next year. This time last year the four of us were in Jamaica and there are certain things I regret all of which have roots in my weight. Holidays are so expensive nowadays that it seems stupid to pay all that money and not do all I can to make sure that I'm not uncomfortable and self conscious.
With this in mind I'm yet again trying to be more aware of what I'm eating, I can control portions no problem but I have to conquer this sweet tooth.

This is my achilles heel *Warning food porn ***

I could easily eat one of the family size large bars each and every day. In fact I could and have given up meals just so I can eat one of the large bars, not good is it! Especially as I get a pounding, racing heart after eating it - the nurse explained it's my body over producing something or other in an attempt to battle something the chocolate secretes. She also said I need to stop eating huge quantities - I completely understand how people hit the 600lb mark even though they know the food they eat is killing them!

Insanity workout - so addictive

Don't let this passive relaxing image fool you into thinking Insanity'Cardio recovery' is easy.

This is what you'll look like by the end

Insanity is insane y'all!
Nearing the end of week 2 and we're still loving it. There's been a couple of times where we've had to double up the workout because we missed the day befores workout and I so do not recommend it! One Insanity workout is hard enough but two is almost impossible, we figured we would double up on the Thursday (yesterday) due to it being 'Cardio Recovery' day but don't let the name fool you into thinking Shaun T goes easy on you for one day - he doesn't! While 'Cardio Recovery' may not be the usual jumping in the air, gasping for breath routine the rest of the week entails it certainly isn't my definition of recovery either - it's hard!
The message here is that Insanity needs to be done on a daily basis, try not to miss a workout but if something happens to prevent a workout do not double up unless you are super fit in the first place - it got to the point where Leanne and I could not even lift our legs and although we finished evey single workout I don't for one minute think we did those double ups to the best of our ability simply because we were doubling up.
You may think this is sounding all too tiring to try, Insanity sounds waaaaaay to difficult to even bother pressing play but I guarantee you, if you try it you will love it and a couple of weeks in you will find a sick sense of satisfaction watching that sweat puddle appear on the floor. Pressing play is always difficult - especially when you know how hard the workout is (Yup, I ain't gonna lie it's hard) but you will never regret it I promise you that.

I finally got around to weighing myself one week late. I was supposed to do it the day I started Insanity but kept forgetting so finally remembered on Tuesday. I never used to post my weight on this blog, just the amount I had to lose but I've decided I need to face it head on and to do that I need to be accountable for my weight. So with that in mind on 21/01/2014 I weighed 213.2lb. It seems like such a huge number when I write it down, especially as I was under 200lb before christmas but I'm looking forward to watching the number drop again and I'll be adding some kind of weight charts to this blog once I manage to find what I'm looking for.

Day 2

Day 2 of Insanity and I'm amazed by my lack of coordination, strength and overall fitness! Why I would be so shocked is beyond me but there you have it. I literally struggled through todays routine - Plyometric Cardio Circuit - and literally had nothing left by the end BUT "I'm smiling cos I love it".
On the plus side, there can only be room for improvement - Shaun T you rock!

To anyone that is considering 'Insanity' but feel they won't be able to do it or that they're too overweight to do it I recommend giving it a go. Realistically I am 5 stone overweight (70lbs) and yes it is hard especially with asthma thrown in the mix, but I cannot tell you the sense of achievement you feel after each workout. Even when you have a rubbish workout and feel that you could have done better it doesn't put you off, in fact it makes you more determined to nail it the next time. I'm struggling with the workout at the moment but so is my daughter who is 20 years younger than me and extremely slim so it's not ageist, sexist nor weightist, you get out of it what you put into it and as you get fitter you'll be amazed by what you can achieve - moves that seemed impossible when you first started are suddenly much easier.
And if you're one of those people that hate home workouts because they're boring (as am I) then prepared to be addicted to this one.
Go for it!

You know you need to lose weight when

1) Despite only filling the bath tub 1/4 deep it still spills and sloshes over the side when you lie down in it.
2) You find yourself reaching for a night gown at night because the elastic in your huge PJ's just will not stretch any further.
3) You find yourself reaching for a night gown at night because you are suddenly very aware that your PJ top appears to go no lower than your boobs.
4) Walking past a full length mirror you notice the 10 second time lapse between your stomach appearing and the rest of you.
5) Attempting chin to chest exercises is pointless because your chin is permanently sitting on your chest.
6) When attempting any dance that involves a twisting action you notice that your stomach takes 10 seconds to catch up with the direction you're currently going.
7) It really isn't the double thickness trousers causing your legs to rub.
8) Doing up shoelaces means you literally have to hold your breath for 10 seconds due to the bulk preventing you from breathing properly.
9) Your side of the bed looks decidedly lower than the side of the 'lighter' person.
10) You find yourself scrutinising the stability and rigidity of every chair before you dare to sit down.
11) You stand wherever possible.


All things that I have been having to consider of late and ask myself whether I want things to get worse or want things to get better.
I'm opting for better as always and as as such I have once again stepped foot onto that carousel that calls itself 'weightloss'.
Healthy eating is the plan - Day1 today - NO dieting! I am hoping to track all my food on this blog but we all know how that usually ends up - either I don't log stuff or I only log the good stuff. I'm going to be 100% realistic on this journey though, I am not expecting that slim svelte 8st girl that i once was, I'm a realist i can handle 8.5st!!! just kidding!!! I'd be happy to just get to a weight where I'm comfortable and where I don't mind having my photo taken.
I began Insanity with my daughter today but haven't taken a weight check so I will have to do that tomorrow morning but I'm definitely going to be sharing it on here this time - no more hiding behind numbers.

working on that date!

Well the time is nearly nigh!
I promised myself that after the past few months of piggin out on pretty much whatever I wanted and NOT exercising, I would set myself a date in January where I would start back on a clean eating programme alongside some kind of exercise.
I'm eager to start running again and now that my foot is pretty much heeled I think I would be able to cope with it however my heart is set on Insanity again.
I suffer with awful back problems every day and have done ever since I first prolapsed a disc when I was about 17 but the one exercise programme that I have found to work and alleviate that pain is 'Insanity' - which is strange considering it's an intense workout programme. I'm guessing it must be the daily yoga style stretches that Shaun T incorporates into the programme that is doing most of the help but I think all the core work also helps to protect my back.
The date isn't set yet as I have something to get out of the way first but this month will definitely be the start - though it's NOT one of those dreaded resolutions!