Shock Horror!

It's taken me a few extra days to write this cause I've done the unthinkable - - - PUT ON WEIGHT, and I was hoping that if I left it a few days I may be able to cover it up a little by loosing it again and writing about it later. But, as promised at the start, I am keeping it real so here I am to 'fess up.' I weighed in as usual last Wednesday and to my dismay I had put on a kilo. Current weight 95.4kgs - (sigh) Now I feel like I'm 2 weeks behind and the pressure is on.

How did this happen? I went away for a few days down south to catch up with family and I ate and drank too much. At the risk of sounding like a real lush I probably drank more than I ate and now I'm paying the price. We went out for a family dinner and I had Lemon Meringue Pie. You know the ones that sit tall and look awesome in those cafe display cabinets, they always look better than they taste, always, and I know this. I actually know this and I still had it. I also went out to Breakfast twice and, although I didn't have any carbs, it was still more than I'd usually eat. Add to this that I missed out on one days Training and was basically inactive most of the time I was there and it's pretty easy to work out where I stuffed it all up.

As I write this I'm still 1kg up and it's two days till my next weigh-in.

David & Craig have been so supportive helping me bring it all into perspective and getting my balance back. This week I'm getting an additional Training session in with Craig (here comes that "Body Shock") We're off to do Jacobs Ladder tomorrow and I'm really looking forward to it. Craig runs up and down it several times every week and I haven't even walked up it once yet so this is going to be interesting (for the want of another word....)

I haven't been sleeping that well the last few days, I keep waking in the middle of the night and find it near impossible to get back to sleep. By the time I do it seems like the alarm goes off. Weight management is not all about nutrition and Training, apparently sleep, down time and rest are all vitally important. David is teaching me the importance of all of this but I still have so much to learn. Lifestyle Improvers are the full package, I honestly can't thank them enough.

So with that in mind I'm off to bed.

Clint

6 Weeks Through ~ 5 Kilos Lost ~ 7 Weeks To Go!

800gms - not as much as I was hoping for but when you weigh out that much butter for a recipe, and I do regularly, it's a whole lot of fat and I'm bloody glad that I'm not carrying it around. Current weight 94.4kgs.

Some people I know have told me that they have tried to post a comment on my Blog and, for some reason, they haven't been able to. I'm sorry but I have no idea why it's not working. If you have also tried with no luck then I apologise. I am waiting on an answer back from eBlogger, apparently many Blog users are experiencing this problem.

I'm half way to my current goal and my focus is stronger than ever. In the past I'd always been able to 'eat for eating sake' , my stomach had no memory. I'm embarrassed to admit that I've actually never known the true feeling of hunger, if something was yummy and available I'd pop it into my mouth and gobble it down without a second thought no matter what the time of day. I must have thought it but food was not my friend. What kind of food you ask? Well, being a Chef, some would probably say I'm a bit 'up myself' when it comes to food and perhaps their right. I guess it comes from being around quality ingredients most of my life.You would never find me in a Fast Food Chain, any of them ~ HJ's, Maccas, KFC - I'd look down my nose in disgust at the suggestion of giving any of it gut room. I never have soft drink either, just the thought of sweet fizzy drinks makes my teeth hurt. Life is just too short to eat shit! However, having said that, really good quality Fish & Chips, that's another story. I got fat eating too much good food, really good food - just far too much of it. Caralamised Pork Belly, Garlic Barbecued Seafood, Roasts, Creamy Potato Bake, Chocolate and Homemade Cheesecake...Mmmmmm..! I even made those around me fat, my partner, my friends, family and my dogs. I'd entertain several times a week and cook so much food that my guests would have take home packs. I also couldn't bare to throw anything away, I will not tolerate waste so everything had to be eaten. When you cook for up to 200 people a day it's hard to come home and cook for two. Eat, Eat, Eat - it's the way I loved everyone. Gosh! It must have cost me a fortune to make my health suffer so much.

Now that I'm seeing results again I'm on a roll and back in the 'weight loss zone' , don't even try to tempt me!


Clint.

Sponsors So Far

To date I have a total of 25 Sponsors with pledges ranging from $1 a kilo to $50 straight donations when I achieve my goal. Dollar amount is $510. Cafe Mulberries is matching all funds raised so thus far we have $1020. I think we can do better than that, I was hoping to have at least $2500 to hand over to the Cancer Council. I'll have to organise a Morning Tea at the Cafe for all my supporters during the first week in December and invite a representative from the Cancer Council to tell us a bit about how our hard earned dollars will be used. If anyone would like to donate then you know what to do.

The Plateau - My weight loss this week was 100gm, a little disappointing as I was a very good boy due to my lousy result last week. Total weight loss so far is 4.2kgs, current weight 95.2kgs. Now, if you have read the rest of the blog, you will know that I'm no stranger to weight loss, so I'm not going to be discouraged by 2 lousy weeks, as this pattern has happened many times on my weight loss journey. My positiveness is not artificial, and I certainly don't want to put a 'hex' on myself, but, if I'm true to form, then I'm predicting a substantial weight loss next week. Stay tuned - will I be smiling or very red faced?

My Training routine has just changed again and I will be telling you more about it soon. David & Craig are mixing it up to keep it interesting, challenging and fun. They were telling me that if my plateau lasts any longer that they'll design a "Body Shock Training Session" that will cause a huge metabolic internal fire (wot tha?) and that together with a 'Clean & Green' nutritional intake to 'fuel the fire' will have me zinging along in no time. Body Shock Training Session - I have no idea what's involved but it sounds pretty scary, ah what the heck? I'm gonna do it anyway. I will keep you informed.

I have just created a truly yummy dry fried Mushroom, Cherry Tomato, English Spinach & Fresh Herb Egg White Omelet that, when teamed together with a simple salad or steamed Green Beans makes a delicious light meal packed with protein and pure goodness. It's now on the menu at the Cafe if you'd like me to cook it for you or I'm happy to share the recipe with anyone who's interested, all you have to do is ask.

Clint.

The Confession.

No fat loss this week, thankfully no gain either, and it's my own fault! I'm so weak, I gave in to temptation and now I'm feeling a little annoyed at myself. I could blame the public holiday on Monday - it's strange cause when I'm around food all day at work I don't think about it, but on Monday all I wanted to do was eat and catch up on some sleep, however, the only one to blame is myself.

I'm not going to beat myself up too much though because at least now I know exactly what I can eat to maintain my weight and as Craig (Master Trainer & part of my support crew) said this morning - 4 kilos in 4 weeks is still very good going.

Me with 3 of my sisters. I was 137 kilos. Why did I let this happen?

I shudder when I think of where my 'Head Space' must have been at this time.

Another one, I had just climbed the steps (175 I think) to the entrance of the Batu Caves in KL Malaysia. I can remember feeling totally stuffed. I'm going back one day just so I can run up them. My sister says my man boobs look bigger than hers. Why didn't I see this when I looked in the mirror?

97 kilos

I'm currently 95.3 kgs and, believe me, now when I look in the mirror I can see fat. My closest friends tell me that I've lost enough, that I look great, don't loose anymore. My goal was always to be under the 100kgs and now I want to be under 90kgs. I WILL DO IT THIS TIME!

Clint.

PS I just remembered how amazing it felt to fly when I'd lost the 40kgs. I felt like I was in first class, it was so comfortable. There was even about 30cm left on the belt, I could even cross my legs. I remember laughing when I found out that the meal tray could actually be pulled forward towards me - that never happened before as it was always wedged up against my stomach. When I see fat people flying now I can't help but think of how uncomfortable they must be.......

What a Week!

Current Weight 95.3kgs, that's a loss of 1.6kgs, the most in one week so far and a total loss of 4.1kgs in 3 weeks. I must admit that I'm a little surprised and very happy. This accountability factor is keeping me in line. I wore shorts to work today that haven't fit comfortably for ages, it's such a good feeling. At the end of this I may have to buy a complete new Summer wardrobe - dam what a bummer! I can actually notice a real difference in myself, my tummy has shrunk and my face isn't so puffy, but to date no one else has noticed and that's what I'm waiting for. Lot's of customers enquire on my progress which sometimes makes me laugh cause if there's one thing that keeps me on the straight and narrow is someone asking me about it. Any thoughts of deviating from the plan go away immediately.

The Diet

Breakfast ~ 1 cup of natural muesli with 250mls of rice milk, 6 fish oil capsules and 1 multi vitamin.
I use rice milk as I'm also on a cholesterol lowering diet.

Snack ~ A piece of fruit

Lunch ~ 3 cups of salad vegies with 120gms of canned Salmon (or 120gms of very lean chicken breast) with a dressing of balsamic vinegar, squeeze of lemon, fresh herbs and a grind of fresh pepper. Totally yummy.

Snack ~ A piece of fruit and a few raw unsalted nuts.

Dinner ~ 120gms lean protien (beef, chicken, fish or scallops) with leafy greens, small amount of roasted sweet potato (not every night) steamed green beans, bbq corn on the cob, mushrooms that have been marinaded in a little lemon juice and garlic.

Sometimes I'll have a little crumbled feta cheese and a few olives tossed through my salad but until my cholosterol is back in order I'm going to avoid all other diary.

Being a chef I like to be creative so I do mix things up to keep it interesting, but this is my basic daily diet and, although, it may sound boring to read, I'm really enjoying the natural flavours of fresh, live, natural, healthy foods that leave you feeling satisfied and not weighed down like you've just eaten a brick. By the way, I still enjoy a glass or 2 of wine twice a week.

This diet, along with my training is working wonders for me. Obviously my energy in - energy out ratio is a well rounded formulae and will be adjusted when I've reached my goal. I don't reccommend anyone following this diet without the advice from a health care proffessional. We're all different.

Any questions, just ask. I'd love that.

Cheers,

Clint.

I'm No Stranger To Weight Loss

2 Weeks Down ~ Ten Weeks to Go!


A loss of 1.1 kg - current weight 96.9 kg.

I'm stoked with that. If I keep going like this I may even loose more than the ten kilos I hope to do before my challenge ends. It is possible to loose weight faster I know but I'm going by the old rule of 'the slower you loose it, the least likely you are to put it back on'.

I must have been a mouse in an earlier life as I'm really missing my cheese. I could eat cheese three times a day, and all kinds of cheese at that, I'm yet to find one that I don't like. (by the way, I'm not talking about those artificially coloured rubbery yellow poor excuses for cheese either - it's just the good stuff for me.) So my plan is the same one as I've adopted for chocolate - have a small piece or 2 of the best quality I can find once a week and enjoy it really slowly. I have to purchase small amounts and not have any left in the house at night in case I weaken. I have totally de-crapped my kitchen cupboards of all things fattening because night time is when I usually like something sweet or naughty. I never think about sweet foods during the day which is good I suppose but when my days work is done and I sit down to relax and watch telly in the evening those nasty little voices in my head start wrestling with my conscience. I am trying now to change my evening routine, altering the chain of events that leed me to the same battle most nights. Now, instead of sitting down in front of the tv, I take my 2 small dogs for a walk (easier now the weather is warming up), read a book, drink lots of water or do some work on the computer, keeping my mind occupied I guess, and it's helping. Anyway, I'm only cheating myself if I loose control and that makes me feel really lousy the next day.

My Training at Lifestyle Improvers has been my saviour. Big statement I know but it's true! I almost border on the obsessive when I'm telling people about how much more I'm getting out of life since joining that I'm aware that I could be annoying them with my raving on. Folks ask me if I'm on the payroll but I'll happily chat to anyone who's interested for free with the hope that I could inspire them to do the same. I can't praise David & Craig enough for their professional guidance. Knowing myself as well as I do I'm totally amazed that it's almost 12 months now and I still look forward to each of my 3 sessions a week with genuine enthusiasm.  I definitely know that if I walk in feeling crap, I'll walk out feeling on top of the world.

I'm no stranger to weight loss (I used to be 137 kg - I'll post a few photo's soon) I've been over weight all of my life. My initial goal was to get under the 100kg and I did that 12 months ago. My weight loss journey has been just over two years now. Lifestyle Improvers has helped me maintain and get stronger - so much stronger. Now it's time to loose the next 10 to 20 kgs and for the first time in my life feel free.

I'm off for a walk with my dogs to the park while the sun is still shining.

Till next time.

Clint.

Will Power or Won't Power?

This weekend was a real stretch for the willpower, my mind kept telling me I was hungry even after I'd eaten all the yummy and nutritious foods that I'm allowed. Thinking about it now, they should actually call it won't-power. Instead of telling myself 'I will' have this and 'I will' have that I was telling myself 'I won't' have anything at all, and that takes power. So there you go, It's Won't Power from now on! Having these cravings must have something to do with the weekend being my usual relax/friends/social time. I watched a movie on Sunday afternoon and for the first time since I can remember I never had any chippies or chocolate or ice cream and I must admit that it did feel like my throat had been cut. Whoever has heard of watching a movie with no treats at all, next time I'll have to make myself a fruit platter?  With David's help I'm starting to train myself to change my habits and to practice more positive self talk. On a side note I once heard that a certain supermodel said that nothing tastes as good as what skinny feels, and, not wanting to offend anyone, even though I'm a long way from knowing what skinny feels like I still kind of agree with where she's coming from.

The best feeling while waking up this morning was quickly thinking about what I'd eaten yesterday and realising I'd been so good. It's such a relief knowing that I don't have to start over again. (I have been on that self destructive merry-go-round before, it's exhausting.) I gave myself a pat on the back and somehow it gave me the strength to maintain my focus all through the day, which was great as the Cafe was pretty slow and I'm a full on sufferer of 'boredom eating' - made even harder by being surrounded by lots of yummy food. I don't want to lose sight of the big picture - fitting into some recently acquired Calvin Klein Jeans that I deliberately purchased 2 sizes too small.

One more day till my next Weigh In and I already feel like I have lost weight. My tummy isn't feeling as bloated either.

I'll be back on Wednesday to report my weekly result and let you know about my diet and training.

I'm pooped so it's off to bed for me.

Clint.