OSB #2 Week 7: Its all about Balance!

Well i'm happy to say that my head has safely been returned to ME! Thank god. She had taken a one week vacation to "Head-fuck Island" and got up to all sorts of mischief hanging out with all these Sugar Lunatics. Geez, she didnt even ask for my permission! lol

So as you can see, i have had quite a traumatic experience this past week. As horrible as it was, it was a huge learning curve.... I finally deciphered the reason behind the sugar/fat cravings!

First i spoke to GA about my PB issue on saturday and ya know what she said?

"Shelly your body is cravings.... CARBOHYDRATES! You need to add some complex carbs back into your diet. In chinese medicine, without rice your body has no earth, therefore you are not grounded. The carbs will satisfy your cravings and your hunger. If you feel like some sweetness after dinner then have a  mandarin".

FYI, i have followed a low complex carb diet for forever. I still have a couple pieces of fruit per day, but things like bread, potatoes, rice, oatmeal have been off the menu for a long time.

Then on sunday, i had to attend a seminar for work. The topic was Nutritional deficiencies affecting Mental Health. It was actually really interesting (for a sunday lol) and i got the pleasure of picking the brains of one of the guest speakers, an expert on vitamins and minerals. I asked him the same PB question.

The first thing he told me was, "Your body is cravings CARBOHYDRATES"!... What the? Two days in a row. Then he asked if i was pregnant.....um NO! lol. He then proceeded to look me up and down and ask me if i follow a low-carb diet. So i explained the complex carb thing and he backed up everything GA had said to me on saturday. The PB cravings are definitely not a lack of EFA issue though incorporating them in my diet would only benefit me. He also said thats why the PB would never satisfy my cravings and i could keep going back for more was cos i needed carbs instead.

So i have taken on both their advice and added rice back into my lunch. And you know what? I feel fantastic. Within about half an hour my energy was up, my mood was bright and my focus came back. Motivational levels are up again WOOT!... oh and PB cravings are GONE!

I thing i did realise (well i think i have always known) is that food is all about BALANCE. For me, eating relatively lowish carbs AND fasting twice a week was a bit of overkill. So i am excited about seeing how my body responds in the weeks to come.

So onto results:

24/05/2010 Week 6
Weight:   64.2kg

31/05/2010 Week 7
Weight:   64.2kg

All i can say is thank god i didn't gain any weight with all the junk i consumed last week! Fingers crossed i am actually holding quite a bit of fluid due to the overload of sugar!

Mojo is back baby, 63kg here i come!

Sometimes we need to experience Rockbottom to refocus...

Ok, well i haven't hit rock-bottom, not even close to that BUT emotionally i have had a bi-atch of a week. TTOM, sugar/fat cravings, fluid retention, that 'fat' feeling and what does that all equate to? HEAD GAMES!

For the past two weeks i have been a little cocky (because i am in smokin shape due to great results from ESE!) and have allowed myself to eat get away with a little too much PB and 85% lindt after dinner. The extra cals haven't affected my results but that's not the point. Going back for seconds and thirds is the beginning of 'out of control'/ mindless eating....and you know what that leads to?.... BINGING.

Episode #1. Monday, attack of the Gluten & Dairy Free Melting Moments... WTF? I never eat that stuff!
Episode #2. Today, attack of the White Choc Tim Tams (No, i didnt eat all of them =)!, oh and PB too, go figure!

For fucks sake, my head has been in a whirl wind. That internal battle of should I? Shouldn't I?

The aftermath.... Well it just wasn't worth it. Upset stomach and sugar coma syndrome!
I had all these ideas conjured up in my little mind that it would taste sooooo good, but at the end of the day processed food just tastes like SHIT!

So i am now gulping down apple cider vinegar, green tea, lemon juice, spirulina and some probiotics to help me digest and clear the crap from my body asap!

In the midst of my sugar coma i realised that i have totally lost focus lately. My training has been solid BUT my motivation in regards to my goal of 60ml has been slipping. Yeah i wanna get there but i guess cos i dont have a definite time-line i've just been cruising along in the left lane hence the reason extras are just finding their way into my mouth. ESE is teaching me to develop a good relationship with all foods so i am ok with a treat here and there but the binging and excess PB has gotta stop! Just cos i fast does NOT mean i can do the latter!.. And there is NO WAY i will be strutting my stuff on stage until binging is a habit of the past.

So with that out in the open i believe that a time-line is ESSENTIAL for staying on track.

Monday 26 JULY is D-Day... 8 weeks to drop 21.6ml!

One thing that i will do (from tomorrow) is start taking my Fish oils again. I swear i posted about doing so months ago but ummmm.. my bottles still weighs the same lol...I think all these fat cravings are my bodys' way of telling me that it needs more essential fatty acids. I'm seeing my chiro next week so i will definitely ask him for his expert opinion what all of these fat cravings are related to!

So till them its full steam ahead.
My head space is all about feeling:
HEALTHY, ENERGIZED, VIBRANT, FIT, STRONG, SEXY, LEAN... and IN CONTROL!

60ml baby, bring it on!

OSB #2 Week 6... FUCK off FLUID! =)

Geez monday has rolled around fast AGAIN! So that makes it weigh-in day.... Week 6, half way there already!

17/5/2010   Week 5
Weight:        64.1kg

24/5/2010   Week 6
Weight:        64.2kg

Difference:   + 100g
Difference to Date:   3.1kg Loss

Yikes, a 100g GAIN!  ... Nah, i'm not too worried.... Its TTOM...go figure....Feeling like a beached whale hahaha.....F*k off fluid is all i can say LOL!

My upper body is still feeling pretty tight but all the fluid seems to swim around in my quads....they are like a water magnet..... Is this the same for you girls or do you hold water in other places during TTOM?

So come next monday it'll be interesting to see what my real weight is then. It'll also be time to get my skins done, so we'll see what the important numbers are then.... BODY FAT baby!

Last of all, has any of you tried chicken liver? Well, i decided to cook it up for dinner last night... you know its very high in iron yadayadayada.... The first thing was the smelll.... then came the weird texture.... then the foul taste.... and 12 hours later i still feel like vomitting..... NEVER AGAIN!

The Blogland Catch Up!

Well as most of you know, the INBA brisbane show was on yesterday arvo. It was an awesome event and the standard of bodies strutting their stuff on stage was no less then amazing!

The really exciting part was hanging out with the blogland guys and girls. I've had the pleasure of knowing Leisl, Steph & Ali for quite a while now, so it was great to cheer and scream with them. I also got to meet Hanni & Mick, Cathy, Leanne, Shannon and Selina. I tell you what, it is the most bizarre feeling meeting up with people for the first time when you know so much about their life! It was like we'd known each other for years!

Chatting with like minded fitness fanatics was such a breath of fresh air. When you are all so passionate about health and fitness its hard to keep your mouth shut.... What an amazing bunch of people, i feel so privelaged to be apart of their lives.

Being at the show made me realise just how important health and fitness is to me. Now that i am finally settled and well on my way to creating BALANCE in my life - body, mind, soul, food and training, maybe its finally time to let someone special into my life.... One thing i do know, they will DEFINITELY need to share this same love otherwise they won't understand me.

OSB #2 Week 5... Checking in!

Hey ya'll hope you had a fab weekend!

Mine consisted of slam class, followed by yum cha (again!) with the parents. Dad just got back last tuesday from his trip to Japan. He spent 5 weeks backpacking, filming a doco on the history of martial arts. Check out what he brought me back!

That my friends is a Samurai Sword, pretty cool huh!

They both then came over for coffee and helped me position my HOT new rug in the lounge room:

Deep Red is my new feature colour.... i LOVE it!

I also had a massage, went for a big walk around my burb, picked up my bedside table and had coffee with a girlfriend.

Onto results:

I did 2 fasts' last week. Breakfast to breakfast on thurs/fri and lunch to lunch sat/sun. I have to say it is definitely getting easier the more i do (have done 8 now). My body seems to know what is going on now so hunger really isn't an issue and the results are still coming! I've been getting a lot of compliments lately of how my body is looking and that my skin is glowing, and i have to say it is such a nice feeling when someone gives one without me mentioning a thing.

I've also been asked quite a bit of late if i'll be competing this year. The answer is ............... NO!

To date, i now have 6 friends whom are giving ESE a shot (disclaimer: i'm not getting paid to talk about ESE) because of my results so far. I know ESE is not for everyone (so i hope it doesn't sound like i am preaching!), there are plenty of ways of getting fantastic results but ESE is definitely working well for me.

11/5/2010   Week 4

Weight:   64.4kg

17/5/2010   Week 5

Weight:   64.1kg

Difference: -300g

Difference to Date: 3.1kg Loss

So not as big as the last few weeks, but hey a loss is a loss. It's not all about pulling big numbers (i have NO intention of losing any muscle mass, just FAT baby), just as long as the clothes are getting looser and i am feeling HOTTER! lol... That sexy six-pack is not far off saying peek-a-boo =)

It'll be interesting to see if a plateau will occur. I'll be keeping up my twice a week fast till i get to my ideal physique, only then will i cut it back to one a day. My nutrition is still pretty clean on non- fast days, but i do treat myself to a square of 85% Lindt and some crunchy PB most nights. And i am definitely enjoying my treat meals with NO GUILT woohoo!

Well gotta fly and hit the streets for a stroll in the COLD! Is it just me or is it bloody freezing for May? I really do not appreciate wearing tracksuits and ugg boots at any time of the year, let alone now!

BRING ON SUMMER!

SKINS (FINALLY!)

As promised, i finally got James to do my skins this morning:

11/5/2010 Week 4
Weight:       64.4kg
Body Fat:    16.0%
Skin Folds:   81.6ml over 7 sites

Chest:          8.8ml
Tri's:            13.1ml
Midaxillary:  8.3ml
Sub Scap:    7.4ml
Abs:             15.4ml
Suprailium:    11.5ml
Thigh:           17.1ml

Yay, i pretty stoked. So thats a drop of 1.4%BF and 8.5ml since the end of OSB #1.

As you can see my back (sub scap) is getting pretty damn lean, always the first for me. And of course abs and thighs will be the LAST to join the party, but I am getting there one day at a time.

I am aiming for the 60ml mark for 'lifetime maintenance'. How cool does that sound?! NO more yo-yo'ing for me. THIS IS IT.

So i will do my skins done again in about 3 weeks time.
My mini goal is to get down to 15% BF, 70ml, 63kg.

Till then, kick arse and love life!

OSB #2 Week 4: Sweet Results

Who has Mondayitis today?... That would be me! I think we have been spoilt by having 2 long weekends in a row, it just took me FOREVER to get going this morning.

Anywho i have some super cool results to report in.

3/5/2010 Week 3
Weight: 65.2kg

10/5/2010 Week 4
Weight: 64.4kg

Difference: - 800g!
Difference to date: 2.8kg Loss

Hell yeah. I am stoked and feeling damn fine!.... AND yes i wore BIKE PANTS to the gym on friday!

................

We celebrated mothers day on saturday as my sis had to work on sunday so we took Hemorrhoid (seriously i really feel this name is quite inappropriate now....gosh times are changing!) to Yum Cha... And i am proud to say that i suffered absolutely NO anxiety over the carb-rich delish food. I 'Indulged Wisely" as my girl KellyO puts it. Though admittedly i felt quite bloated afterwards as i am not used to eating so much startchy/heavy food i.e rice/glutenous rice! But it was no big deal, the bloating soon resided as i began my fast after lunch. I am definitely starting to re-build a very healthy relationship towards all sorts of food. (FINALLY!) Even my approach to food choices is becoming more holistic. Moderation is the key people!

This lunch to lunch fast (for me) was a piece of cake. What makes the time fly is keeping BUSY. That way you are not bored and thinking about food 24/7. The mind is a powerful tool and trust me, you can make yourself believe you are hungry when really you are not.

I saw GA in the arvo, then had the pleasure of building more flat-packed furniture....NOT! What a mission, it took me nearly 2 hours but i now have this awesome Daybed and Outdoor Setting in my courtyard. I can now chill out with a coffee and book in the sunshine or i can gaze into the stars at night. Just perfect.

I have had a few questions about training during a fast. IMO i think it is best if you either:

1. Completely rest or
2. Work-out, followed straight away by a Post-workout meal, then begin your fast or
3. Fast, then in the last hour of your fast do your work-out so you can consume a Post-workout meal

Personally, i would NOT do a big workout at the start or half-way through a fast as I believe that Post-workout nutrition is very important.

Well thats my weekend in a nut-shell. I have a ballmark figure of 61kg that i am focussed on achieving over the next 8 weeks, but if it takes longer then so be it. I may get to 62kg and be happy there but i may hit 61kg and still have a bit to go. We'll just have to see what happens! So stay tuned!

Skins will definitely be done tomorrow morning, i PROMISE!

And last of all, i am NOT impressed by whomever is Commenting (in Chinese) and leaving me links to PORNO sites. FUCK OFF! ..... in the nicest way possible =)