Mt Ainslie and my #12WBT #SSS

Oops where has April disappeared to?  Following Easter I held strong with my 12WBT exercise, especially the Super Saturday Sessions (SSS).  This past weekend however, life got in the way, and I actually missed it!  Now, I don’t think I really missed the ‘during’, but the ‘after’ and the sense of accomplishment!

A couple of weeks ago I did a 13.6km SSS, kinda by accident.  I wasn’t really feeling it, but I thought I would head out with Mr. J and aim for 5km.  Well, when I finally decided to turn back, we had passed the 6.5km mark!  I actually got a little sun burnt, because I did not expect to be out for so long.  Yes, by the end and almost 2 and a half hours later, I was totally over it, but hey it was awesome!  And of course, I wasn’t complaining with the calorie burn:

The following weekend, unfortunately I was feeling the same – just a bit off, and a bit over it.  But what does MB say?  JFDI.  So off we went to Hackett walking tracks, and decided to see where the road took us.

Well,… it took us up Mt Ainslie – a first for me

A pretty easy walk, other than the elevation!

Isn’t it pretty?   Haha…
According to Runkeeper, it was a personal best for elevation -

Teehee!

 

Mt Ainslie – definitely recommended.  Get out there and feel the burn and check out the lovely views

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The Weekender – Googong

Looking for something to do this Easter long weekend?  While everyone else is over-indulging on chocolate and baked treats, perhaps a fun adventure is more your style… or is that just me?! 

After knocking over almost 12km around Campbell and Mt Ainslie, last weekend I was eager to push a bit further.  And looking to see somewhere new.  About a 15 minute drive out of Canberra, over the border, into NSW(!) we decided to do a longer hike/walk out at Googong.  After checking the web, the walks around the dam looked to easy (Ha!), and too short, so Mr. J and I decided to try the 14km, which was classified as a moderate difficulty.

Yep, I would say you could call it ‘moderate’ difficulty, if you are reasonably fit.  I am not sure what fitness level I would consider myself, but hey I finished it, it was tough at times, but the amazing thing >> I wasn’t that sore!  I was expecting major pain over the following couple of days.   But nope!

Some parts were beautiful, some parts were a serious slog – check out that elevation change in the middle!  I guess I am not really selling it really am I? 

But hey, if I managed to jog in the last km, I am pretty sure the moderately fit can handle it.

If not maybe the 4km around the dam might be more your style… I think that is next on our list, I think it would be really pretty.

Now, on to the numbers.  It is official.  For the first time doing 12WBT I reached and then surpassed the 1000 calorie burn!  So all it takes is 3hrs and 14km, and 1100 calories gone.  Ha!

Now the question is… what to do this long weekend?  I think another 10km is in my near future   Plus some home made hot cross buns… thanks for 12WBT recipe Mish!

Oh, and,

Happy Easter!  

And… keep a look out for a giveaway competition happening here on the blog very, very soon!

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The Weekender

This lovely Canberra weekend began with the goal of walking 10km.  Mr. J and I started in Campbell, and just decided to see where the ‘path’ would take us.  Which, in the end, was over some mega hills and all the way around Mt. Ainslie!

It was such a lovely morning with the sun out, but a cool breeze.  So many kangaroos around, and some joeys too.

Eventually we reached the back of Hackett, and we were surprised that we were that far over, then we followed the Ainslie link, before taking the Campbell Link Trail, hoping it would bring us back to, or at least close to where we started.  Luckily we guessed right, and we were only 1.8km over our initial goal of 10km.  When we stopped to look at the map, I was amazed at our achievement.  And, even better, I felt so awesome afterwards!

I even managed a couple of jogs in there… attempting to boost my calorie burn and reach the ever elusive 1000 SSS 12WBT calorie target.  Not quite, but pretty close.  And just really happy that I felt so great, a year ago I would have been suffering through, let alone jogging!

I am now looking forward to trying out other walks around the Canberra region.  I am thinking Googong Dam might be next on my list.  Who’d have thought I would enjoy this so much!?

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Zumba!

Zumba twice this week – I am pumped.  And loving it(!)   Definitely helps when one of your besties is in there with you.  She is a big reason for me continuuing to attend – and signing up for another term.

I wear my bodymedia armband every time, and I have been going for quite a while now.  Last night one of the instructors (yep we have 2 – makes it more awesome) stopped me on the way out — “how many calories did you burn”, looking at my armband.

The thing is, after all of these Zumb sessions, I’ve never looked at the actual burn for the class, I just check the daily burn.  Anyway – last night I decided to plug it in (which I never do)!

Wait for it …

400+ calories!!!!

I thought, yeah, I was pretty pumped tonight, maybe it was higher than usual.  So I checked back a few Zumba sessions, and every single class was at least 400, up to 430 or so.

 

Amazing!

 

And, on the wedding front >> 6 weeks to go.  Booked in for my first alterations appointment tomorrow.  Eeeek.

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The Weekender

Where does 20.45 kms get you?

Check out those hills!!  I am MEGA sore, now two days after that madness!  A little bit of sunburn isn’t helping with the muslce soreness.

And check out that calorie burn(!)  Definitely a personal record.  I can definitely see that I worked for it, it was a hardcore day 

After we finished the walk, we drove to a campsite, which was lovely – by the river.  Shame about the crazy huge flies though >they hurt!  Mr. J did his best to make the day/evening the most comfortable for me.  I rinsed off in the river, before a change of clothes and lots of fluids!  Most of our party of 10 drank wine/beer, but I knew better and stuck to water, and later in the evening – hot chocolate   My bodymedia tells me I got six hours sleep, and I am definitely experiencing some sleep debt right now.

20.45km plus my first ever camping experience – all in one weekend!

Photos coming soon 

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The Weekender

Started the weekend with Kenpo X from p90x.  At first I really didn’t like it, the whole martial arts type of moves aren’t really for me.  But when I saw the calorie burn, I was pretty happy.  24 minutes vigorous activity.  Kenpo, along with an attempted shopping trip, made for a great calorie burn

Unfortunately the shopping trip was a complete fail.  I need a dress for a wedding next week… but the whole colour blocking trend (translated in Aussie shops = fluoro and/or garish colours) isn’t really my thing.  Plus is everything mini-mini, or is it just me
Anyway, I did manage to pick up some Le Tan coconut oil…  30SPF.  Safe tanning – not sure there is such a thing.  But I have to admit I love being in the sun, and it’s got to be safer right?  And some moisturiser, L’Occitane, I heart you 

After that I returned home to Mr. J and poker.  He was having a casual game with friends.  I have no idea about poker    Two games, and luckily Mr. J won the second.  I expect a dinner date very soon 

Due to my mega calorie burn, I decided that it was okay to indulge in pizza on Saturday night.  Not a good idea, I overindulged.  Then of course, there were left overs to be eaten on Sunday.  And on top of that, Sunday was supposed to be a rest day… so I was pretty lazy… Went for a light walk… but after dinner my cals burned were still super low.  So, I did some cardio.  35 minutes, done and done.  Pushed my calorie burn for the day over 2000.

Not the happiest way to end the weekend… but I am starting to realise that when they say nutrition is 80%, they really mean it.

So Monday, I am going to start #NoSugarVember.  A week late, but I think that it’s time.

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November Goals

The last couple of months have been pretty tough for me.  It is never easy to come to terms with weight gain.  It often feels like I am starting all over again.  Of course that is not the case – I have maintained a lot of muscle, my fitness has not declined excessively, and … it is never too late to make changes.  Determination, strength, perseverence.  I don’t quit.

So I am loving the fact that it is November.  I am … READY for it.

Now that I have more time, it is time to really focus on nutrition, while maintaining exercise.  The facts are really pointing to weight loss being 80% nutrition, maybe even 90%.  And the last little 10-20% being exercise.  So, I got that 10-20%.  I will exercise.
Throughout November (and the beginning of December), I will continue to exercise with the following goals:

+ Continue with the P90x routine.  That a means maximum of one day rest per week.
+ Burn a minimum of 2100 calories per day.  (I think the best way to reach this goal is to monitor my calories over the next week or so, because a change in routine means my activity level will surely change, and I am not sure what my BMR will look like.  I am thinking that if my burn has been low, an evening walk after dinner will help).

But what about that all important nutrition?

+  Start logging my intake again.  With as much accuracy as possible.
+  Keeping my calories consumed under 1500, which means a minimum deficit of 500 calories per day.
This may be difficult now that I am moving toward ‘holiday mode’, but I want to try my best.  During the week, 100% no excuses.  But I do want to save one meal per week, (not a cheat meal), but a chance to eat out and enjoy myself without feeling guilty.

And of course,

+ To monitor my progress, weekly measurements and weighing.

I’ve sneakily filled in Nov 1st.  It’s good motivation.  Day one – exercise, tick, good cals burned, tick, good calorie deficit, tick(!)  Definitely going to stick with that trend!

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Pump

As planned, after some serious stats work (boring! mindnumbing!), I made it to Step on Wednesday.  As usual, I wasn’t really feeling it beforehand, but as soon as I am there, and got into it, it’s great.

All the new releases were out- And this was a tough class.  I guess that my body/muscles adjusted to the routine of the last one, because I hadn’t got my heartrate so high In Step for a long time.  Pretty crazy >>Thursday I was in class all day, and I had every intention of just heading home, but at the last minute I pushed myself to go to the gym.  I thought that Attack was on Thursday’s at 5:30, so I was getting changed thinking nothing of it, and as I walked into the class, I saw everyone setting up weights…(?!)  And then I realised – Attack is 6:30, Pump is 5:30!  So I figured that it was about time I sucked it up and gave it a go.

So the verdict?  Remember this is coming from me, who has never lifted weights before(!)

It was hard, but doable.  Although I had pretty light weights compared to the rest of the class and I still suffered.  I know people will say I could lift heavier – but for the majority of the sets, I was done by the time we reached the end.  Wasted… So I think I did okay.

And I am sore today.  And hungry, majorly hungry…(!)

Time for more tea, otherwise it will be lunch time and I will have eaten my daily intake!

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Weight Loss

I am trying to get back into my groove.  After a solid month of effort, my motivation certainly isn’t what it used to be.  21 days to make a habit right?  Well I smashed that…and me, habitual about exercise and healthy eating?  I think not(!)

I need to keep pushing myself, I don’t want to end up back where I started.  I have come so far…

Monday I went for a walk; I had a headache, but wanted to make sure that I got some activity in.  Here is what Monday looked like >>

It was 99.9% walking with a tiny run at the end – so pretty amazing how much vigorous activity that amounts to!  Nice big calorie deficit of 847 calories…

Tuesday I should have gone to the gym for a session after work, I really need to pump myself up to go to a pump class – Ha!  But ended up having coffee with a friend >>

But I still did pretty well calorie burn-wise… no complaints over here.

And this morning (Wednesday), I woke up to see a loss on the scales!  It is official:

2.5kg loss since August 1st 

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Out of Action

No, I haven’t fallen off the wagon – I just have no internets!   And a lot has been going on anyway really…  Crazy times, I am holding on to the fact that I only have a few months to go and I will be out of university forever!

So time for a re-cap I reckon

Monday – Working, working, not so happy about my current situation, but thinking positive and hoping things will start to look up.
Tuesday – Wasn’t too much better on that front.  But I did make it to the gym for 4.14km run/walk in 35 minutes.
Wednesday – Meetings, and more meetings… Then Step(!)  My favourite at the moment
Thursday – Class all day… not very exciting either.
Friday – Started the day with 30 Day Shred Level 3.  Then it was onto assignments, coursework, research etc, but at least I was at home    Later Mr. J and I hit up Friday late night shopping, a few errands, and then dinner at Gus’s Cafe.

Calories over the week were pretty average:
Monday – 2108 cals burned and a 559 cal deficit.
Tuesday – 2639 cals burned and a 822 cal deficit.
Wednesday – 2346 cals burned and a 803 cal deficit.
Thursday – 2126 cals burned and a 405 cal deficit.
Friday – 2436 cals burned and a 779 cal defcit.

Happy it’s the weekend, but also stressy about stuff that I should be doing – ahh the woes of being a student.

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