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Sunday, January 23, 2011

So Far So Good

It’s been a few weeks now since I started my health kick to lose weight and get fit and I’ve managed to keep on track. I’m pretty proud of myself as I’m not usually known for my staying power. So far I’ve lost 2kgs (about 4½ pounds) and I think I’ve lost a few inches as my clothes seem looser.


I thought I’d share my daily routine with you, just in case you are interested.

On weekdays my alarm goes off at 5.30am. I take about 15mins to wake up then I get out of bed and make sure my middle son is awake. I go back to bed and wait for him to leave at 6am. Once he leaves I meditate for 15mins or thereabouts. Sometimes I find meditation incredibly difficult as my brain doesn’t want to stop wandering. On those days I might only persevere for 10mins or so.

Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays I then do a few exercises. Using a thera band I work on my arms, I do some crunches and some back exercises. Every few weeks I change what I’m doing, usually when I find a different exercise to try. The whole routine takes about 10mins.

Then I start getting ready for work. I have a cup of black coffee and make a smoothie for breakfast that I take with me to work. If you want to know what’s in my smoothie, here it is:

¼ cup of uncooked rolled oats, 1 large tbsp LSA (a mixture of ground linseed, almond and sunflower seeds), 2 tbsp low fat or no fat plain Greek yoghurt, ½ cup frozen blueberries, 1 tbsp flaxseed oil and about ¾ cup low fat milk.

I did some googling on why middle age women have a problem with weight around their stomachs and, from what I read, it appears that after 40 years of age women make more testosterone than oestrogen and this is why weight gravitates to their middles. So I concluded that adding more oestrogen to my diet might help. Apparently flaxseed not only has large amounts of omega 3s which are really good for us, but ground flaxseed can help with oestrogen production and has lots of benefits for women. I haven’t found ground flaxseed yet so I’ve been using the flaxseed oil to start with. I’m no expert but I do feel better and have a lot more energy.

When I get home I change and get on the exercise bike for at least 30mins. I’ve cycled for 45mins a couple of times, but past that my butt hurts too much!

On weekdays my mornings are far more relaxed and often extend to afternoons. I still meditate but often for longer than 15mins. If it’s sunny I get up and sunbake for about 30mins. Then I get on the exercise bike for 30mins and after that I’ll think about breakfast. On Sundays I don’t have a smoothie because it’s Pancake Day! Of course I still have to fit cleaning into my weekends but I’m starting to look at it as another form of exercise.

I’m not too fussed about my diet. I limit the amount of wheat I eat – so far the only wheat I have is in pasta and that’s only because gluten free pasta is so expensive. I buy either spelt or oat bread and I use spelt flour for pancakes, etc.

I usually just eat smaller portions of whatever I’m cooking for the boys. Smaller plates and smaller bowls make the portions look just as big as normal. I drink heaps of water – I have to force myself because I’m not big at drinking much of anything. I eat more fruit than I used to. I’ve never liked sodas or sweet or fizzy drinks so it’s been easy to just drink water. I still have a couple of glasses of wine at dinner time.

I’m happy with my results and I plan to keep going. I would still like to lose another 3kgs and some of the bulge around my waist. Hopefully in a month or so I will have done that!

BTW – for those of you with small children reading this now – there is no way I could have had this routine when my boys were young. It’s only now that they have all left school that I can focus on myself.

11 comments:

  1. I never had trouble with my weight until I hit my mid 40s. I hate to excersise but do it in order to try and keep ahead of the game. Good luck to you, I'm sure you'll be amazing.

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  2. All of that sounds great!

    I'm on a challenge right now with my daughter and am having great results as well!

    Here's to being lighter and brighter in 2011! Great job Ca88!

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  3. I've got to hand it to you, you've got better will power then I do.
    Meditation, I'm lucky if I can sit still for five minutes at a time.
    I'll have to start adding flax seed to my diet now that I know about the hormone change. Even though I'm not 40 yet, I've already started early menopause and it sucks.

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  4. As my stomach grows further and further out towards your fine homeland, I appreciate the info. I'm impressed with your routine. I really need to follow your lead.
    xoRobyn

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  5. I love your routine but it's all I can do to get ready for work in the morning. I've got to start back working out and eating healthy!
    Great job!

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  6. Sounds like a great plan! I'm glad to hear it's working, and well done for following it!

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  7. Thanks for the info about the flaxseed. I had no idea. I'm going to add it to my list.

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  8. Congrats! I'm trying to incorporate more excercise into my life...so far so good!

    New follower...

    demitrialunetta.blogspot.com

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  9. There is no way I could get up at 5:30. Kudos to you!

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  10. you are a "trooper" doing well on your weight loss program. setting limits and activities is a key. unfortunately, over Christmas i messed up on my weight and struggling with getting back on track. i will continue to keep going in the right direction. best in your program Rose

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  11. Mrs Tuna - I can relate to your comments and I certainly hope I will be amazed by my results!

    Deborah - good luck with your challenge! Let us know how you are going.

    Domestic - early menopause must suck! I hope flaxseed helps. I think I'm developing more will power as I get older.

    Robyn - I think we all need to find routines that suit ourselves. I'll probably change mine over the next months, but change is good!

    gayle - I hate getting up in the mornings, but if I dont get things done then I have to do them later and I hate that too! lol

    Hart - thank you! fingers crossed!

    chele - there's actually quite a bit of info on the net - hope you find it as interesting as I did.

    Demitria - Hope you succeed with more exercise! Thank you for reading.

    Kristy - I never could either, but when my middle son got an electrical apprenticeship he had to leave the house at 6am (still does). He always slept thru his alarm, so I would set mine to make sure he got up and I guess I just got used to it!

    Rose - thank you! I'm sure you will get back on track.

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