6 Week Challenge - some positive changes over the last 5.5 weeks

So the 6 Week Challenge is almost over, although I think we are catching up again next week, due to missing last week and my neck being so sore for the last almost 4 weeks.

All in all, given how little exercise I actually ended up doing, starting on some new medication at the beginning and then changing that again 2 weeks ago, (so have been VERY low on energy), I am really pleased with how it has gone. My diet has changed hugely, and that was the part that needed the most work. I have cut out/right down a lot of things that didn't need to be in my diet. 

My "wee man" and I at the Fireworks on the Waterfront this weekend.

I find that I still slip up easily when it comes to comfort eating, but I am working on it, and am trying to not keep the tempting kinds of foods that I like so much in the house. Does make it easier.

The 3 biggest changes I have made are firstly cutting out bread/white flour/white rice/potatoes. This was a huge deal for me and one that was not easy. It's just lucky that I like brown rice and love kumara and pumpkin!!

The second huge change was cutting my carbs right back at night time (and changing the kinds of carbs I was having). No more potatoes, packet pastas etc here. Prior to the challenge, the majority of my meal was potato/rice/bread/pasta, closely followed by meat and lastly by a tiny (if any) serve of vegetables. My vegetable intake has increased A LOT and I still feel just as full.

Thirdly, portion sizes. I ate waaaay too much. With dinners, as I mentioned above, my portion of vegies has gone right up and carbs down, but portion sizes have decreased at all my meals. This can only be a good thing.

I did say not all my choices were good choices...

I admit, there have been days when I have hugely slipped up, but I am learning that a bad day/weekend isn't the end of the world. Just get back on the proverbial horse and carry on and don't let it get you down. I think that has been the biggest learning curve for me, that because I stuffed up, I don't have to climb right off the wagon and give up, as has been the case every other time in the past.

I can honestly say that the 6 Week Challenge, although it involves quite a lot of committment and being prepared, to me, it really is sustainable. So much so that seeing as at the end of this week when it finishes there is 12 weeks until the week of Christmas, so I have decided I am going to carry it on. But this time I am going to focus on the 3 main parts that I need to work on, since the diet side has improved so much.

EXERCISE!!!! I need to increase this heaps. With injuries subsiding, my son starting kindy, getting used to new medication (and medication helping to improve pain levels), and the warmer days, I know that this will get easier.

INCREASE MY WATER INTAKE!!! When I was working, water was easy. Had a bottle beside me, water coolers in every corner of the room, it was simple. At home, with 2 little kids, it's really easy to forget to drink.

INCREASE MY SLEEP!!! Unfortunately, this is only going to happen when Amber decides to start sleeping through the night again, instead of waking 2-4 times a night like she currently does. She has been sick and also had a infection to a wound on her hand, so I can't really hold that against her, but more sleep will be good in every aspect of my life!

How could you mind not getting any sleep 
when she's this cute?

So there you have it. I will be back on Friday with the final results. I know the KG's/Measurements could be  better, but the changes I have made make me feel so much better about myself, and I know that the results will come in time and I feel that this time I am really going to stick with it and not get back up to the 94kg I was before getting pregnant with Amber.

Remember if you want to get started with Le, you can contact her either on 021 543 804, via the website, www.formhealth.co.nz or on her Facebook Page, https://www.facebook.com/formhealthandbodymanagement

Some big and exciting changes are ahead

Ok, so here I am. And I actually have something to write about for once!! So here goes, a big update and hopefully a promise (one that isn't empty) to continue to blog more regularly now that life is starting to (temporarily) calm down.


First up, the biggest news, I am currently 13 weeks pregnant with baby #2 YAAAAY!! "Sprout" as we have named him/her, is due 23 January, although given that I had an elective C Section last time, and the health reasons for that have not changed, it is likely to be another c section, so probably earlier than 23 January.
It really is true that you "pop" earlier with your second. Gooollly. I looked like I had eaten all the pies from about 8 weeks! At least now it is starting to look more like a bump and not just fatty boom booms. (Although, if I am honest, a large part of it is)


So here is "sprout"

I am already pretty attached :)


Next is not that interesting, but when you add it to being pregnant, it is a little more so. I broke my big toe in 2 places just over a week ago. Who knew that you use your big toe so much? I never noticed until I couldn't put any weight on it whatsoever. It was done in what can only be described as a sleep deprived preggy moment. It was stupid and I am embarrassed!


And since also just over a week ago, Master D has had firstly, a yucky tummy bug. His first ever, and although the vomiting only lasted maybe 12 hours at most, the other end is still going, over a week later. On the Sunday just gone we took him to the doctors, he had been up and down all weekend but his temperature had been 38.4 on Saturday, came down to 37 and he cheered up so we were happy, then all of a sudden on Sunday it was 39.4! He was absolutely miserable so off to the Doctors we went and had to strip him off, sponge him down, give him popsicles etc. He is now on a cocktail of medicine, turns out besides the residual tummy but AND nasty teething (those last big-boy molars coming through) he also has a really bad ear infection. Poor wee poppet. He has just had one of his longest day sleeps ever though, 2 hours 50 minutes. I was very impressed. This is him last weekend in full tummy bug mode.

He's normally such a smiley wee man, it was horrible to see him so sick. But he does appear to be getting better now, and as much as I hate him being on antibiotics and pamol etc, it's only his second time on antibiotics and they are helping so worth it if the end result is a happier, healthier chappie.


That's enough for one post I feel. I have so much more to tell you, but I wouldn't want to do it all in one hit and have you reading forever, so more in a day or so :)


Miss you all, hope to "talk" to you more often again now


Nikki xx