Monday, August 31, 2009

Its weird not being used to your shadow...very odd

So its time for that update
Last 2 weeks Have been mint! As you have read Ive hit the original target that I set for my challenge but it wasn't just that, I had one of those weeks where things head in the right direction, people you feel like catching up with end up crossing your path, you get asked to be a godfather (YAY!), you feel like you are learning things about you, your work, your worldly faith, your fun... its been one of those times and I think its important to take the time to acknowledge it.
Right , thanks for that nice moment.

Sooo... one of the practises employed during this mission has been to apply some magic or just plain trickery of the mind, a bit of conditioning - I have been telling myself for weeks that I enjoy running.. and, you know what, I think I have actually got to the point of believing my own word over what I thought was true reality - do I actually like running? i say "err yes" I believe so.
Having the understanding that you really can condition yourself into believing something is pretty cool, to me its a part of the big puzzle - When you look at running in a very simple form you realise you are throwing yourself from leg to leg to the point of near exhaustion.. jolting, jarring,sweating, aching, sweating , puffing and sweating.. I struggle when isolating the physical aspects to understand how people can say they enjoy it, really I only enjoy the moment you stop running to about 15 seconds after it, when you feel like your body might fall apart and the only thing holding it all together is your sense of self achievement - that is the addictive part. Muscles ache with dignity. Powerful.
Another example of conditioning practised is illustrated below in the photo, these four signs have been on my bedroom wall for about a year - so well before my diet, the whole time they have been gearing me up for a change.





I know the posters are a bit wanky, a bit shameless, but they have helped - not everyone who See's them may understand their purpose at first but time and action can illustrate. Never underestimate the power of your word, and the power of the message that you tell yourself (and others!). That is truly the foundation to self evolution. Wow..deep, must have been organic veges tonight.. apologies. ;P .
Righto, so today I weigh in at 102kg, weight loss has slowed down as expected but still continues. about 1kg a week now.. its been a good week of running Monday through to Sat, killer calves all day sat - I had to stretch out on every step or ledge I could find, think I might have to talk to someone more experienced about my warm up and warm down stretching routine - the one I learnt in school for Jump Rope for Heart just doesn't seem to cut it anymore ;P If you happen to know about stretching please fee free to drop me a comment and let me know what you think is a good stretching routine prior to and after my run and cycle.

My Dad and step mum, Deb came to stay in the weekend which was really nice, we got to hang out and cruise together, went out for a really nice night at neighbourhood (bar and restaurant), caught and had dinner, yay for the Mediterranean Salad. Sunday we went to the Albany Westfield and walked around indoors - shopping malls are handy to walk in when its raining hard outside. Scored a cool shirt too on my travels.

Am traveling off to Brisbane next week for work and will for the first time in the 5month mission will get the opportunity to catch up with our company founders, I'm looking forward to seeing them in person to show them the new me. As I said the other day too I would also share an updated photo of me.. so here's one taken right now...excuse the tired eyes its 11:13pm and I had a big run tonight..eeka..




Just looking that photo makes me sleepy and I know that Ive realised I have to rise early to start work early tomorrow, I'm going to call it a night - end of a post just like that, seems odd for such a deep post to have a flippant end :P I like.

Peace.

M

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

If your happy and you know it clap your hands...it helps circulation :)

Its quite hard to type while skipping out a celebratory dance...

Today I am officially 60kg's lighter than I was 153 days ago!!!!

This is a very quick post because I'm in the middle of a mission day!

Probably obvious for me to say but things are going great! - weight moved slowly this week but 1/2 a kg fell off while I was asleep last night pushing me over the 60kg point so I am a happy chap!

I will get online hopefully tonight or tomorrow and post some quality, a run down of the last week, exercise, encounters with friends etc..and will throw in a few supporting pics for good measure (one of me and my shaved head..Eeeee!)

The mission is far from over with another 12kgs to get to my new goal weight..but for now I just want to celebrate the fact that I originally set out to hit 60kgs and that day has come.

*clinking glasses of sparkling water everywhere*

Speak soon!

Peace.
M

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Not to far now.. 60 kg goal - getting close

Hi All!!

Well, what a mint week it has been, have worked out of town so enjoyed the delights of regional New Zealand (Gisborne and New Plymouth), managed to walk the streets of both towns and even got to do a 6km walk around the bays in New Plymouth - beautiful even in the bleak winter!

When I started this blog I set a target of 60kg.. that would put me at about 103.5kg.. today I weigh 104.6kg... SO CLOSE!! YAY!!!

I have decided that I am going to push out the goal posts and target for total loss of 71.5kg bringing me end goal weight of 92kg. Why 92kg? you might ask..fair enough, however I'm not sure why, think I may have read an online survey suggesting that other guys believed 92kg's is an ideal weight for my height- even though the ideal weight from a medical perspective is about 85kg or something of the sort!...I couldn't imagine being 85kg's, I think I would look unwell (no disrespect to all the 85kg'ers out there).

So I have been away all week with work which put a dampener on the running (didn't want to pack running shoes and clothes in my already very full bag, or maybe was actually just being lazy and decided I would like the week off), like I mentioned above I did get to hit the streets a fair bit and had a really mint coastal walk in New Plymouth.

I stuck to the Optifast while I was away but also had two dinner meals that had meat in them - one night I had salmon and salad and the other meal I had a chicken salad, was really nice although the night I had the salmon I did feel a little bit sickly an hour or so after - think it was just a bit rich for me after not having eaten proper food for sometime.

Got back on Friday night and went a run on Sat morning - just a 2.5k'er. Today I did a 3.8km run and notched up the speed a bit to 7.5km.. went really well.

Still having to buy clothes quite often - just got some new Jeans yesterday...Its crazy to think that at my peak weight I wore a size 52 pants and yesterday I bought a size 38.. wowza... put a smile on my face all afternoon, got a really cool shirt too, Ive gone from 5-6XL down to XL so that's pretty ace!

Body is going well - still have a fair gut on me, but have always known that it will be the last part to go. Skin is as expected..excessive in parts, I guess that will be the next thing to deal with once I'm at goal weight, its kinda dumb that you cant fix everything completely with weight loss, I have done some irreversible damage to some of my skin and will have to live with that for ever, I'm not down about it - just aware that my final result will include inevitable battle scars from the life that was. I still think that I will end up having surgical follow up -an abdominaplasty, Ive been told that I will have to wait a couple of years and hold my weight at my goal point for that time before I would even be allowed to have any surgery.. guess it will give me some time to save up the +$15k required. If anyone knows anyone that can offer advice on how to get it through the public health system then don't be a stranger..get in touch. Please. ;)

So have a busy week ahead and should be showing my face in Auckland, Whangarei, Hastings and Tauranga all before the week is through.. I will no doubt get to catch up with a few of you! Will post again the moment I find out that I have made the 60kg point (will weigh in at 103.5KG), hopefully it will be within the next week.. approx 7 weeks ahead of schedule!!

Right its 11:51pm and time for bed. Have a great, happy and healthy week everyone...

Peace.
M

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Belated Update - like most of them ... :P

Hi Everybody!

Wow, this year is CrAzY - the further into the year we get the crazier it seems to be. The last two weeks have been a bit madhouse for me, lots of traveling and work related stuff going on, our store in Whangarei had a flood which we believe may be due to the fact a natural spring has sprung.. I know, seriously, whats that about? does mother earth not understand how busy I already was without having to rip up carpet and rip out counters.. I guess not. haha

Weight is going well still - think that I'm losing about 1.5kg a week now. Am weighing in at 107.5kg today so yeah 56kg loss. Still doing the exercise missions - running and cycling although I missed a night (last night) due a work dinner. Running is getting easier now.. seem to be able to handle a lot better! Got back into the weights too after a couple of weeks off, not sure if you remember but I dislocated my shoulder in a wee (not that kind of wee..) accident a few weeks back and have been cautious about lifting on it, pain seems to have completely stopped now so that is a bonus....although I have to be honest - the weight session nailed my chest for a couple of days afterwards - but its that good pain, the one that tells you its working.

Have a pretty full on couple of weeks ahead with traveling around for work, realised this afternoon that I wont even get back into the office until the 20th of August!!

Overall things are going mint for me at the moment - I have really enjoy my new lifestyle and although I cant say I was ever 'down' on myself before -I can say am definitely a happier and more confident person these days.. maybe its just a bit of ego inflation due to every 2ND person I bump into telling me how different and great I look now. bless.

I know I said that I would post a pic of me looking like Chris from Family Guy (according to my charming little brother Steffan!), haven't managed to find a scanner when Ive had the photo on me so am going to go budget and do the photo of a photo thing - apologies for quality.. .

Here it is.. Christmas 2 years ago... Yagagaaa!



Yeah so bit different now!!!


Anyway - hope all this shamelessness has brightened your day!

Peace.
M