NZ HERE WE COME..............................

Howdee! Well excitement is looming now! Just have to get my camera fixed!!!

Hair got done yesterday, - got a bright red/brown put through it while keeping up with the fine golden blonde foils through front and side. Am packing, and tidying up again!

I deleted the last post as I didn't start the challenge quite as promptly as I said I would, no excuses! I'm in warm up mode now, am kicking off a new lifestyle challenge tomorrow. Holiday will be more about keeping on an even keel, doing some training and learning to ski but I have fitness plans on the go for when I get back, (triathlon training toward better performance and strength with view to doing a few triathlons from between Oct and April and still achieving under 68kg/100mm skinfolds). I will be assessing doings weekly and working in 'blocks'. This challenge isn't just fitness, - it's controlling all those habits like spending, wine drinking, personal organisation, nutrition, training etc to work together in a manner I'm happy with and to achieve various targets! And it lasts for a year, (to be re-assessed after that!)

Pip

JUNE 12...................................

Wow! Not long now, - under 2 weeks and we will be on holidays, - whoohooooo!!!
Perth has chilled off somewhat the last couple of days but I'm sure nothing to prepare me for the chilly weather that is gonna hit us! 5 years since I've been to NZ in winter!

So what's been happening? With me just the normal, - work, some training. This week I've bought some awesome new running shoes (which are only for running, - NOT to wear to work!) Super nice!!! Last night BF came over, great to see him after he'd been away working for a bit. My younger sis and her fiance are now on 'holiday mode' about to set off on their big OE which is exciting!

All is good! After being SOOO close to 68kg, (68.4) I can't report any further scale drops though as I did fall 'off track' for a week. That cost me 3kg but I've now fought extra hard 3 days ago and got back to my version of 'on track' and those 3 kilos have started to drop. I wrote an exhaustive list of how being or making 'off track' choices makes me feel and it was huge! I'm just gonna to refer to that when wanting to 'give into things I know I will regret' haha! I'm not very strict really so that won't be too hard/restrictive and it's working so far. Still aiming high! Less talk, more action is working! Am totally enjoying the 'Guess' Jeans!

Gym time now! Have a good one and great weekend all!

EDIT: Hit gym, did my best treadmill 30 min run in ages, (over a year). 5.86km in 30 mins, - really hard! Was stoked to run at 12kmph for first 21 mins before having to drop it a bit, but then put it up high for last 4 mins, - a killer!!!!! Then onto weights, got to failure in shoulders and abs. Mmmm: why I consider myself reasonably strong for a chick I still suck at weights, (particularly shoulders) compared to guys! Something to work at which is good!

Pip :-)

JUNE 7

Howdee all!!! Hope everyone is having a nice weekend.
Just thought I'd do a bit of an update.

2.5 weeks till the trip, - YAY!!! Work, been steady there. Training nutrition etc, - holding my own, have done some and skipped some training. Had a few things on this week. From now till NZ trip I am inspired to be really focussed with training. Am doing well with my sleep goals, am averaging close to 7 hours in bed per night and slept over 9 hours last night, much better than last year!

I bought some new jeans yesterday from the GUESS shop. Ya know 'Guess' handbags, watches etc as well as clothing! I took 30's slim fit light blue bootlegs into the changing rooms thinking I'd be lucky if they were OK, but prob better in a 31 as I considered GUESS a small make! There was still some room so I tried the 29's! OMG they were fine, (firm but fine, no muffin!) I liked the colour, (light blue) and style and purchased so I can take two pairs of jeans I like to NZ! There were gorgeous tops as well in the shops, nice to be in Mediums!

Got in a nice 9.6km run this morn. 53 mins, 40 secs which I was happy with today. Am sure it's my best time for 2009, still a bit off my PB of 50 mins, 5 secs back in 2006 but I vary my training now, then did mainly running so good effort I say!

Talk soon! Off to get washing in and watch the footy!!!

My sis is arriving back to my parents today with the new bridesmaids dresses for Nov she has purchased off the rack! Can't wait to see mine when I arrive!

Pip

JUNE TIME...........................

Howdee! Thank you Frankie, Hilary and Amy for you're kind comments on my last post. Yep, under 70kg feels great. Now just wanna work on fitness performances and a bit more on self control, consistency and get and stay under 68kg and 100mm skinfolds, it's exciting as it's all so close!

I'm rapt with the new Oakley sunnies, really am enjoying them, - I'm a bit of a sunnie queen! I had wanted to get the gold framed ones for months but when it came to crunch time I decided I liked the darker lenses in this colour and the purple frames on me better.

At the weekend I got new tyres and tubes for my roadbike. I bought quality ones so am hoping for no more punctures! They are great tyres to ride with though! And I spent the long weekend up at BF's which was great!

Younger sis has bought her bridesmaids dresses, - ones she likes, straight off the rack. Mine is in size 12 so can't be any bigger than that, - if I'm smaller dress can be taken in! A nice bright orange/watermelon colour from what I hear and I think it takes into account my current bust measurement!

3 weeks till our trip tomorrow! Cool! And as well as training, nutrition etc, lots of focus will be put onto how I spend my money as of tomorrow and making some hard changes there!

Till next time!!!

Pip

Gidday!

I'm now at BF's and finally able to upload some pics onto blogger! These are me, as of last week. Say 69kg in these even if I was in the 68's earlier in the morning. Interesting to compare with a pic of me 20kg heavier at 89kg. If daring enough flick to the December 2007 archive and scroll down right to the bottom of the photos and the bottom two pics there show me 20kg more than now. Never to return to bigger sizes again! Still a couple of kilos to go and more fitness go gain and but close to goal here! And my new sunnies as shown above, - 10 days old and my pride and joy! I had wanted the gold framed Oakleys for months on end but when I finally got them I thought this colour had better lenses and actually suited me better!

I'm even up with the fashion colours with clothing I see haha. Definitely I think I look younger with less flab around the face!

Till next photo installment!

Pip

68.4...........................

Whoohoo!!! Yep, this was sure my weight, (kilos) this morning before brekkie hahaha!

And infact my lowest scale, (on my scales) read since um 2006 when I got down to 66.8 at one point! Last year my lowest read was 68.5 which lasted one morning before I fell off the rails. But no extreme pigging out or off track behaviour today so that's a start!

I went to the Levis shop in Perth yesterday for some fun trying on! I tried on 4 pairs of levis size 12, they all fit!!!!! Some stretch, some non stretch! There is this nice pair of size 12 stretch fitted but bootleg Levis and a size womens medium Levis denim jacket I want to match and have for a while!

I tried on the outfit a few weeks ago when 72kg and needed a 13 in Levis jeans then, now am a 12, whoohoo!!! I clearly remember on many occasions when I couldn't fit the largest size, (16 when available in Levis) and the Womens XL jacket looked far too tight!

However these items still remain in the shop because:
a) can't really afford them
b) they serve no real urgent purpose right now, (won't be uesful or warm enough in NZ)
c) I actually have a few pairs of size 12 jeans that fit now, and one pair of stretch Lee rider size 11 jeans I wear often now!

There is still some fat I can lose around my body, habits I can improve on and this is great cause I've been on no hard or restrictive diet which feels hardcore or unmaintainable long term at all to get to this point. I know I could still do much better to get better sports conditioning which I am slowly working toward! Lucky I enjoy healthy food and do lead and active lifestyle and like challenging myself in training. But self control is the biggie! I did go off the rails for 3.5 days last week and don't want to do that again, (or too often for more than a day). It is doable, I don't find I need a 'strict diet' but do know I need to 'suck it up' if I've indulged a bit of late and feel like continuing to do so. A hard training session is the quickest way I find to get back into right headspace if I go off rails temporarily!

Talk soon!
Pip :-)

STILL ON TRACK.....................4 WEEKS TOMORROW!!!!!

Howdee! That is 4 weeks tomorrow till BF and I will leave for the airport to fly to NZ!!! Exciting stuff! I have a set of thermals, a fleece, some cheap ski pants! Am thinking I will get into my old ski coat in NZ, if it's a bit tight I think my Roxy water resistant coat will do! We will freeze our arses off! When it gets down to 3 or 4 degrees overnight in Perth like it has lately I think it's cold, ya see I've softened! It's 5 years since I've experienced a kiwi winter!

69.6kg today, still on track with food and on the agenda is my 9.5km outdoor run. I need to run today as I want to get my bike in to get new tubes and better quality tyres so I stop continuously getting flatties, and yep, I stick to roads and bike tracks haha! That will still leave a 1km swim, and either an RPM class or 30km training bike ride and my 20 mins of circuit work to complete. I'm aiming to get 2 of them outta the way tomorrow, and maybe the swim and ride which will allow a day off this week! Am pleased with my performances this week.

I wanna update with some photos, - it's not easily as possible as my laptop is now completely stuffed and a new one isn't in the budget for a while! Will take some pics in NZ, and a couple before and hopefully get them up, - maybe in NZ from my parents computer or laptop, - will see!

Talk soon!

Pip :-)