TR May 2010-An Aussie's Journey - California Here we Come

[SoonerGirl]

Sounds like a good plan! I've actually been doing pretty well on exercise. I meet a friend of mine at the park 5 days a week and we walk at least 4 miles at a brisk pace. I've lost 15 pounds just doing that, haven't changed my eating habits much at all. That being said, I have decided to kick it up a notch here these next 6 weeks before the trip and see what I can do!

Good luck!!

 

[PrincessInOz]

39 days to May!

It's my mum's birthday today and we had dinner with the family. So my eating habits were not so good today. I managed to stay on point till dinner:

• Breakfast: 1/2 a blueberry bagel; no butter or anything else. 1 skim milk latte.
• Lunch: 1 serve of tomato and basil soup with 2 slices of bread.
• Snack: seedless grapes.
• Dinner: medium serve of rice with chicken, roast pork and stir fry vegetables. Dessert included 1 slice of ice cream cake, some chocolate and jelly.
• Liquids: about 6 glasses of water, nothing fizzy or sweet. YAY!!

As we were at my mum's for dinner, I didn't get to go for a bike ride. But I walked for about 30 minutes today at lunchtime.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Sounds like a good plan! I've actually been doing pretty well on exercise. I meet a friend of mine at the park 5 days a week and we walk at least 4 miles at a brisk pace. I've lost 15 pounds just doing that, haven't changed my eating habits much at all. That being said, I have decided to kick it up a notch here these next 6 weeks before the trip and see what I can do!

Good luck!!

CONGRATULATIONS!! It must feel fantastic to have lost 15 pounds (about 5 - 6 kilos). I can only hope to do the same!!

 

[kcandbella]

We are getting so close!

I've been watching it, too. I've lost about five pounds the last two weeks. I started the couch potato to 5k program in Feb and have been running 3 miles about 3 times a week, but I didn't notice any weight changes until I changed my eating about two weeks ago. It was time to do something, I really need all my shorts to fit me in less than six weeks!!!

 

[PrincessInOz]

We are getting so close!

I've been watching it, too. I've lost about five pounds the last two weeks. I started the couch potato to 5k program in Feb and have been running 3 miles about 3 times a week, but I didn't notice any weight changes until I changed my eating about two weeks ago. It was time to do something, I really need all my shorts to fit me in less than six weeks!!!

WooHoo!! Fantastic! Congratulations on the weightloss. I can't run - have tried everything to learn how to run but I end up looking like a floppy disk when I run.

Trip is getting closer....

 

[PrincessInOz]

38 days to May!

Thankfully there are no celebrations today to distract me from my goal. Today I achieved the following towards meeting my goal weight:

• Breakfast: 3/4 of an English Muffin with jam. My son ate the remaining 1/4. Also had a skinny Latte, no sugar.
• Lunch: Went out to lunch with some GF. We shared a yummy warm salad of spinach, beetroot, sweet potato, snow peas, almonds and a raspberry and blue cheese dressing. I also had 1/4 of a Spanish Omelette with chorizo, red pepper and olives. Had a sparkling mineral water with lunch.
• Snack: N/A
• Dinner: small serve of gnocchi and tomato (marinara) sauce.
• Liquids: about 6 glasses of water, nothing sweet.
• Went to the park and cycled 4 - 5 km today (11 laps round the 360 m velodrome, 1/2 km to the park and back).

As I'm typing this, DH is doing some exercise around the house. Some years back, we shared a personal trainer and he showed us how to use the furniture for doing exercises similar to the gym. I'm going to join him and work on some upper body toning...the cycling will take care of my bottom half of the body. And yes, I'm going to be adding sit-ups and tummy tucks to the routine (been avoiding this for long enough).

 

[PrincessInOz]

36 days to May!

So the eating and exercising plans are going well. It's the weekend and I have a weigh-in on Monday....so nervous about stepping on that scale. Oh well, I can only keep up the cycling and walking; and watch what I eat. Wish me luck for the weigh-in; which will probably be my next update.

It's 5 weeks til I'm on a plane

 

[cdotla]

Oh groan! All my fellow May trippers are exercising and getting healthy and I haven't done a thing yet! That's it...I am starting tomorrow! Not much I can do in 1 month but I will give it a shot!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Good luck on Monday!!

 

[franandaj]

Joining in! I caught up with you on the So Cal board or wherever it was you asked about what to do in Long Beach. Looking forward to hearing all about your countdown and your trip! I could use to lose a few kilos, but it isn't going to happen!

In looking at your timing on your trip it looks like you're coming into Long Beach on May 14th. Just to let you know you'll be in Long Beach for Gay Pride weekend. That's not a bad thing, but besides the Long Beach Grand Prix, that is the highest grossing revenue weekend for the city, which means that the city is packed! You're lucky you've got your hotel room reserved, and if you're going to Catalina on the Saturday there'll be no problem. It's just a very busy weekend and parking is difficult in the downtown area.

I thought I would share a few photos of the top of Signal Hill that I mentioned in the other forum. These are from my Point and Shoot, and to join the DSLR discussion, we also have a Canon Rebel XT, but anyways, the pictures don't to it justice. When I was up there today I noticed quite a few people having picnics, there were four tables, two in the shade and two in the sun.

In this picture, you can see Catalina off in the distance.

Another interesting thing to do while you are here is a Zeppelin that is flying out of the Long Beach airport. You can find more information at www.airshipventures.com or call 650-969-8100 x111.

Here is a shot:

And here is a shot from Signal Hill looking towards Downtown LA

Looking forward to hearing more of your updates.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Joining in! I caught up with you on the So Cal board or wherever it was you asked about what to do in Long Beach. Looking forward to hearing all about your countdown and your trip! I could use to lose a few kilos, but it isn't going to happen!

In looking at your timing on your trip it looks like you're coming into Long Beach on May 14th. Just to let you know you'll be in Long Beach for Gay Pride weekend. That's not a bad thing, but besides the Long Beach Grand Prix, that is the highest grossing revenue weekend for the city, which means that the city is packed! You're lucky you've got your hotel room reserved, and if you're going to Catalina on the Saturday there'll be no problem. It's just a very busy weekend and parking is difficult in the downtown area.

I thought I would share a few photos of the top of Signal Hill that I mentioned in the other forum. These are from my Point and Shoot, and to join the DSLR discussion, we also have a Canon Rebel XT, but anyways, the pictures don't to it justice. When I was up there today I noticed quite a few people having picnics, there were four tables, two in the shade and two in the sun.

In this picture, you can see Catalina off in the distance.

Another interesting thing to do while you are here is a Zeppelin that is flying out of the Long Beach airport. You can find more information at www.airshipventures.com or call 650-969-8100 x111.

Here is a shot:

And here is a shot from Signal Hill looking towards Downtown LA

Looking forward to hearing more of your updates.

I LOVE your photos. I can't wait to have my own set like this
I'm actually in Long Beach at the start of the trip - so I'll be there from the 30 Apr - 2 May. I'll be staying with my aunt in San Marcos at the end and am seriously thinking about coming into LB for the Gay Pride weekend....until I read your views about parking. Might give it a miss..

Thanks for joining my PTR. Glad to have you here...and also in the SoCal section (thanks again for your tips).

 

[PrincessInOz]

34 days to May!

So I weighed in. And now I'm a little . After cycling an average of 4 kilometers a day (slightly over 2 miles); being SUPER diligent about food and quantities....I lost NOTHING! Yup, a big fat (ooh...should I use this word in my current frame of mind?) zero.

Oh well, it's better than gaining weight! So, on to this week. What am I going to do differently? I'm probably going to tweak my breakfast a little bit. I think that I might need to go to plain toast; rather than eating 1/2 a bagel.
I'm going to keep with the cycling and add some more 30 minute power walks during the week....
and I'm going to continue being good with my food and quantities.

I'm still targeting 3 - 5 kilos in the next month.

Won't be weighing in again for 2 weeks. WW is shut for Easter....

 

[SoonerGirl]

I know it's hard, but try not to get discouraged - you're getting healthier and that is what is important, the weight will come off eventually!

 

[TokyoDina]

Good for you! I work out a lot. Between 4 and 5 times a week. But I'm always doing something to get my body going. Weather it's Yoga, walking the dog, dancing or working out. I'm doing something everyday with my body.

I also eat five 1/2 meals a day.

So that's:

Breakfast
Snack
Lunch
Snack
Recovery drink after workout
Dinner.

I work out hard 3 to 4 times a week. Then I do not so hard workouts like Yoga and dancing between those. I can't say I've ever had a issue with weight but I know I wasn't on a good path as far as my eating was concerned. So I switched to a Vegetarian diet and began eating clean. I don't drink coffee anymore I don't add sugar, I try not to add salt. (That's a hard one!) But over all it's worked for me and helped me maintain the weight I'm at and even put on some muscle weight!

I hope you have success!!! I'm rooting for you!!!!!!!

 

[franandaj]

so I'll be there from the 30 Apr - 2 May.

That's good, the only exciting thing happening that weekend is MY BIRTHDAY! For which I will be staying out in Anaheim!

Don't get yourself down about the lack of weight loss, you're gaining muscle, or at least that's what everyone tells me. Keep up the good work.

 

[TokyoDina]

It's true! You are gaining muscle. You won't notice weight loss like you notice weight gain. But cutting out the bagel is good and replacing it with whole wheat toast would be very better. Or Oatmeal! That stuff is packed with vital nutrients you need.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I know it's hard, but try not to get discouraged - you're getting healthier and that is what is important, the weight will come off eventually!

Thanks you for the encouragement. I'm trying hard to stick to this lifestyle change.

That's good, the only exciting thing happening that weekend is MY BIRTHDAY! For which I will be staying out in Anaheim!

Don't get yourself down about the lack of weight loss, you're gaining muscle, or at least that's what everyone tells me. Keep up the good work.

I'll think of you when I arrive and will be really envious that you will be in Anaheim.

Muscle...yeah...muscle!!

But over all it's worked for me and helped me maintain the weight I'm at and even put on some muscle weight!

I hope you have success!!! I'm rooting for you!!!!!!!

I hope I have success too!!

It's true! You are gaining muscle. You won't notice weight loss like you notice weight gain. But cutting out the bagel is good and replacing it with whole wheat toast would be very better. Or Oatmeal! That stuff is packed with vital nutrients you need.

I've replaced it with Bircher Muesli...

 

[PrincessInOz]

30 days to go!! or even shorter .... 1 month!

The boards told me that the Wishes Dessert party was available for booking during the time that my trip is planned for.

Do I book or do I stay on my getting fit/weight loss plan?

Who am I kidding.....DESSERT wins out every single time!

The issue was - do I book just us or do I include the rest of the family? I know if I mentioned it to them, there would be the endless discussion about whether it is "worth" the money. And by the time the discussion finished, WDP would be completely booked out.

So, I've bitten the bullet and I've booked in for the entire party without their knowledge.
DH and I talked about it and we have decided to treat the rest of the family. And we booked in for Mother's Day; so it will be nice to have something special to do for this day for my mum (and me ). I know that Spectro isn't planned to run on this day - but looking at the boards, it would seem that we would get less than optimum view of spectro. Besides; I figured that Spectro parade would only get in my way of focussing on the yummy desserts.

And if the rest of the family decides that they don't want to come (I can't imagine why NOT...but we are talking about my family here), I'll be posting an alert out on the boards for anyone who wants to join me on this day

 

[cdotla]

Good idea about the dessert party...I am sure you will be able to get some Dissers to take over if the rest of the family doesn't want to join you.

Bummer about the lack of weight loss with all that exercise going on. But...I tend to agree with the others that you are likely gaining muscle mass.

Sadly, I have yet to do a single thing to attempt to get in shape and lose the many pounds I have accumulated over the past few years. I am so mad at myself because at 1 month before the trip there is obviously not much time to do anything.

Good for you for sticking with your plans and keeping at it. Don't let the scales this week deter you from your goal! I have to take the cue from you and the many other Dissers getting themselves healthy and in shape!

As for the bagel habit - that for sure would be a good one to kick. Personally I get a toasted cinnamon and raisin bagel for breakfast each day on the way to work. I know this is a big no-no, and is something that I need to cut out.

Keep up the good work and keep us posted on your progress!

 

[PrincessInOz]

27 days to May!

I've upped the tempo of my exercising and am now doing 5 - 6 km bike rides.
I've managed to get about 5 rides this week after dinner. Unfortunately, it's going to get harder to do this on a daily basis. Eastern Australia will lose daylight saving tonight and all clocks go back 1 hour. Yes...I get an EXTRA HOUR of sleep tonight.

So, I'm going to have to aim for riding 3 - 4 times a week and supplementing with longer walks during the day.

The eating plan is also working out well - I'm slowly weaning myself off sugar and also marginally reducing the quantity of food I eat. Oh...and bagels? None this week (so far). Been keeping with the bircher muesli or 2 slices of toast.

If I don't shift any weight, I'll be disappointed..but if I keep the exercising up, at least I'll be fitter for the World.