Thursday, July 12, 2012

30 Day Detox Challenge : A week and so in

So its been a week or so into my "detox".

Ok, I have not been good. Lets say its no longer dry July and the holidays got the better of me. Nothing over the top though, just quiet glasses of wines here and there. Also anticipating a big housewarming party this weekend roadtripping away with the dogs, and also next weekend where I celebrate an awesome landmark in my life looking back on the things and people I have standing behind me. I have alot to be appreciative and thankful for!

But anyway, so being naughty with my no drinking. FAIL. And I have not made concious meal decisions though, I mean who doesn't eat on their holidays! plus food is one of my biggest passions - both the cook and more importantly the indulgent bit called EATING! :) I have swapped meals for smaller healthier options when it counts, especially when I am eating in. "Especially" probably isnt the best use of the word, because it would sound like I made a special effort. Not good.

Given that though, after this week and so since I embarked on this, I am down to weighing 56.5KG, which is 0.9kg less then when I started. Could I do better, possibly. With the way I am going and my own rules that I am breaking it doesnt really "count" for me.

I still have halfway to go towards the end of the month. Drinking - im going to keep it to only on one day of the weekend (influence of the social calender my friend!!). Eating - let's do 2 fruit 5 veg, and crack on to more wintery warming soup and the raw stuff aie!!

August will be a pretty busy month. I will give myself a week to reasses if I am mentally prepared to accept and stick to it! I havnt done very well this time around, not even disappointed actually. Its hard doing something when you don't have your mind in it.

Time to add some brain food in the mix young lady!! :)

Sunday, July 01, 2012

30 Day Detox Challenge - Day 1

1st of July - Day 1!

So, I'm going to do something I have never done before, not to anyone and never in a million years would I ever. But, how can you keep track of progress without keeping track of numbers? That's right. For everyone who has tried to carry me with me refusing, or asking me to sit on their laps when theres a seat shortage or too many people to sit in the car. I weighed myself today!

So as of today, I weigh (drum and tummy rolls) : 57.4 kg
Its not very accurate to gudge base on weight alone because you can have a very heavy but tall person. The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a better indication of one's obesity level, it compares your weight in proportion to your height. Based on that, you are put into numerical categories to give you an indication of your "weight":

  • Underweight = <18.5
  • Normal weight = 18.5–24.9
  • Overweight = 25–29.9
  • Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater

  • Its pretty easy to calculate; here's a gingle they had back in Singapore!
    Take a look at your weight. Take a look at your height. Then divide your weight, by your height times height! :)
    Or, click here to go to a site that does it for you. 
    So based on my 57.4kg and tallness of 157cm, I'm sitting on 23.3 on the BMI which is in normal weight. I;d like to see if I can bring it down towards the lower range in that category, somewhere in the 21.5 - 22.5 range, if thats realistic? Its only consulation, my main objective is to FEEL healtheir and look it wouldnt hurt either.
    Despite pulling up abit rough this morning from having after work drinks, I kick started my detox with Multivitamins and Calcium Complex tablets, and a late breakfast with Joe at the cafe down the road, Ootong and Lincon. And my most beloved Eli of corse (still the chick magnet!). I had a Tuna Patty with Salad on the side. Pretty tasty and though the salad was abit of a dissapointment, it was a "smack, bam get your ass into detox!" type thing with crisp raw greens. Post brekkie walk on the beach, beautiful Sun-shining-Sunday - cant complain! Other then Eli's 3rd public poo that he seems to be most comfortable doing at the water's edge. Edge, till it gets waves over it!!

    I had a MASSIVE chocolate craving so I cracked open the Chocolate and Peanut Butter nutritional bars as a quick snack. It was gooood, pretty nutty! Definately hit the spot with getting sugar slapped on my taste buds! And then off to work with the bow wows I go! During my shift though I got hungry and started thinkings about food though it wasnt too long ago since my last feed, so in terms of the reducing of cravings and surpressing of appetite goes, I dont think the bars have quite done it for me yet. But we will see in time!

    Been wanting to sink teeth into a hot bowl of creamy soup all day! Dinner time rolls on and to Clancey's Fish Pub we went! I'll have the Seafood Chowder, thanks! Satisfied, indeed! No beers for me, just a lemon lime and bitters.

    Pretty cruisy first day easing into the whole challenge, no sudden shocks only rude ones with the potency of my farts in the later part of the day. Like pho, god damn! (Pho, mmmm!) Soup season is definately here!!

    Going to sleep nice, warm, snuggly and soundly tonight. Eli already ahead of me so that's me for today. Looking forward to a week with more dinner catch ups and cook ups, and Sydney this Thursday night!

    My July 30 Day Challenge!

    So following my health kick last year where I did a 20 day detox (10 days short of my goal because an old friend came round with Coronas!), I actually lost 4kg in those 20 days. I started the detox with the goal in mind of clensing my body of the evils I've put it through becaue of late nights out at the pubs or lazy lunches where I dont even have to leave the comforts of my car. Yeaaah, guilty. And I wanted to be more atheletic for the Touch Rugby season that summer. The weight lost was definately a bonus, but I felt so much energetic and lighter in my steps. No, I was not an extreme porker pre-detox, I literally could feel a spring in my step! That, and the liberation of controlling my lifetyle choice!

    My main detox rules were simple:
    1. LOTS of water. I aimed for 1.5L a day, and try to double that on days I do exercise or have games

    2. NO ALCOHOL! Empty calories was a no-go, that, and the fact that in the whole detox process in where I clense my body (of the bad stuff!) and just do good to it, it does not make any sense to just make way for a fast-track for the nasties in alcohol to get into my system! Think about it, would you sanitize the kitchen bench, wipe it down then dry it off with the floor mat? YEAH, something like that.

    3. DIET - Small meals throughout the day, that means waking up early for breakfast too! I try and cut out as much carbs as I can, and the main goal is simple; the less cooked or the less cooking required, the better. Salads, wraps, soups, multigrains (or bird food crackers my friends have called it!) lots of fruit, beans and legumes.

    I am no diet Nazi though! Its no secret, I love my food. And I was not going to begin to torture myself with what I can and cannot eat. What's the point in that? Throughout the 20 days, I made choice. I've not deprived myself of the food I love like LAMB! (MMMMMMMMM), procuito (mama!!) or well in summary meats and seafood. It was by no mean a vego diet. It became pretty fun challenging myself to come up with new recipies for the next meal, I found that planning ahead for the next meal was a big contributing factor to empowering myelf with choices in what I put in my belly. And boy did I come up with great recipies! Never boring coming up with killer salad combinations to top the last one off, mmm!!

    The detox by no means ruined my social butterfly lifestyle either. I would still have meals out while catching up with mates and still head out for a boogy or 2. The difference? Planning ahead! Knowing that I would probably treat myself when we are out with a big meal (with consideration to what it i or how its prepared), I would have "better" meals during the day leading up to eating out. If it was bigger then I expected, I would just make up for it the next day. And when it came to going out on the town, I would swap my alcohol for a drink of choice. Mine was lemon lime and bitters - so it feels like I am still drinking something, even though its sugar loaded its not alcohol! And I had a rad time everytime! :) Alcohol did make a big difference to my detox, I lost lots of flab on my tummy-doughnut and saved my liver along with alot of money :)

    Detoxing this time around I have similar goals in mind; lifestyle choices to become more atheletic, energetic and healthy! Add self control and decipline to the mix because this time around I admittedly feel like I have less motivation (for some reason) maybe partly because I would be squeezing some travels in this month. It will be a challenge!

    This time around I would not only try and keep in the same rules as before (because it worked and more importantly it suited me and my lifestyle!) but also I am trying a range of products by Melaluka, which is a wellness company that has eco-friendly and organic products the focuses on, surprise surprise, Wellness.

    So I purchased the this "weight management" pack, which includes Nutrion Bars (chocolate peanut butter, and sweet and salty nuts!), Sustain Electrolytes, Organic Tea in yummo hibiscuz and rosehip flavourflav!, Calcium and Multivitamins for women. I just wanted to personally trial these products and see how far I can push myself to achieve results! It will be a challenge, but I ACCEPT!