So this morning I toddled off to meet a bunch of people I met on the Internet in a park for a morning Booty Call. Sounds dodgy doesn't it? But it was our Melbourne Tone It Up meetup!
We all met to workout, share a coffee and a laugh and I am happy to report they are every bit as lovely as they seemed on Twitter! It was so good to have the chance to put faces to the names of girls who have been so supportive of each other even though we had never met before.
We did some boxing and a HIIT workout, attracting many curious looks from passers by, before heading out for some breakfast and coffee.
It was fantastic to share our favourite recipes, share tips about how to find TIU approved foods locally and discuss our favourite (healthy) desserts.
Becky took some fun group shots (you can see them on her blog here) and Lindsey filmed some check in videos (here and here).
Thanks for the lovely catch up Becky, Kari, Emma, Lindsey and Katelin! Look forward to seeing you all again soon! :-)
Sunday, 20 May 2012
Monday, 7 May 2012
Motivation Monday: How I Got Started
I can remember the exact point I started my weight loss journey.
I knew I wasn't where I wanted to be with my body and my health but I told myself it was due to my crazy hours with study and work and I'd never thought of myself as being "fat" just a bit wobbler than I would've liked. I finished my uni course in November then worked more crazy hours in retail all through December and January, telling myself that I would workout when I got more time, I'd eat better when I wasn't working so many nights with only takeaway shops nearby. Then in March I got a full time job and was sent for a standard medical check before starting. It was late in the afternoon and I had to leave work early to make the appointment so I grabbed a burger on the way and raced into the doctors. When I stepped on the scales I weighed 68.8kgs - the heaviest I've ever been in my life. This put my BMI into the "overweight" category.
The doctor tried to reassure me this wasn't too bad and that everyone weights slightly more at the end of the day but it was the wakeup call I needed. I was never going to allow myself to be classified as "overweight" again. I'll admit, I was pretty bummed about it the whole way home. I couldn't believe I had allowed myself to make excuses for so long. I already had a gym membership, but I went sporadically and made excuses to not work out as hard as I could. My favorite dinner option was a creamy gnocchi and I'd often head out for ice cream with friends after work. I was so overworked that most days I'd sip a huge can of energy drink Mother just to get me through the shift. Long days away from home (uni followed by work) made taking my own food tricky and I couldn't get myself organized enough to take healthy options.
But finally I had reached a point where enough was enough. It wasn't just about the way my body looked either, I was tired of being so tired I relied on sugar to get me through the day then struggled to get a decent nights sleep. It was a cycle I hadn't been able to break - I'd eat badly when I was tired and I was tired because the foods I was putting in my body were making me uncomfortable and stressed.
I started looking at the packages of the food I was eating and realising just how many calories were in my food choices. I knew from my cardio at the gym just how hard and for how long I would have to sweat to work it off and it was the first point in making me think about my choices. The other thing I realized was just how many servings I was eating - I'd eat four servings of something in one sitting! Sure, some days I'd have berries and yogurt for lunch but I was eating so much that it wasn't possible for my body to burn it all off by the end of the day.
I've tried all sorts of things to lose the weight and quite a few helped. But it became tough to stick with something where I didn't feel hungry or deprived. One of my favorites was Lite n Easy but I grew tired of the large amount of pre packaged and highly processes foods and found the fresh food was average by the time the last few days of the week rolled around.
One day completely by chance I found some exercise videos on YouTube by a team called Tone It Up. These girls had seriously amazing bodies and an infectious and fun style that made me want to follow along with their (free) routines. I also got a few recipes from their blog and I loved the way they were fresh and tasty and they even found ways to make healthy versions of some "naughty" foods. About a year after I first discovered them I spent the $150 on their diet plan and for me it has been a perfect fit. The spirit and support I have found through connecting with the girls themselves as well as people from all over the world who are making healthy diet and workouts a part of their lives has been invaluable. I now have a much greater understanding of the effects certain foods have on my body and why they make me feel the way I do. I had already discovered dairy made me feel sluggish and bloated and now I am finding foods that nurture my body and help me to get more from my day.
When did you reach your health and fitness turning point?
I knew I wasn't where I wanted to be with my body and my health but I told myself it was due to my crazy hours with study and work and I'd never thought of myself as being "fat" just a bit wobbler than I would've liked. I finished my uni course in November then worked more crazy hours in retail all through December and January, telling myself that I would workout when I got more time, I'd eat better when I wasn't working so many nights with only takeaway shops nearby. Then in March I got a full time job and was sent for a standard medical check before starting. It was late in the afternoon and I had to leave work early to make the appointment so I grabbed a burger on the way and raced into the doctors. When I stepped on the scales I weighed 68.8kgs - the heaviest I've ever been in my life. This put my BMI into the "overweight" category.
The doctor tried to reassure me this wasn't too bad and that everyone weights slightly more at the end of the day but it was the wakeup call I needed. I was never going to allow myself to be classified as "overweight" again. I'll admit, I was pretty bummed about it the whole way home. I couldn't believe I had allowed myself to make excuses for so long. I already had a gym membership, but I went sporadically and made excuses to not work out as hard as I could. My favorite dinner option was a creamy gnocchi and I'd often head out for ice cream with friends after work. I was so overworked that most days I'd sip a huge can of energy drink Mother just to get me through the shift. Long days away from home (uni followed by work) made taking my own food tricky and I couldn't get myself organized enough to take healthy options.
But finally I had reached a point where enough was enough. It wasn't just about the way my body looked either, I was tired of being so tired I relied on sugar to get me through the day then struggled to get a decent nights sleep. It was a cycle I hadn't been able to break - I'd eat badly when I was tired and I was tired because the foods I was putting in my body were making me uncomfortable and stressed.
I started looking at the packages of the food I was eating and realising just how many calories were in my food choices. I knew from my cardio at the gym just how hard and for how long I would have to sweat to work it off and it was the first point in making me think about my choices. The other thing I realized was just how many servings I was eating - I'd eat four servings of something in one sitting! Sure, some days I'd have berries and yogurt for lunch but I was eating so much that it wasn't possible for my body to burn it all off by the end of the day.
I've tried all sorts of things to lose the weight and quite a few helped. But it became tough to stick with something where I didn't feel hungry or deprived. One of my favorites was Lite n Easy but I grew tired of the large amount of pre packaged and highly processes foods and found the fresh food was average by the time the last few days of the week rolled around.
One day completely by chance I found some exercise videos on YouTube by a team called Tone It Up. These girls had seriously amazing bodies and an infectious and fun style that made me want to follow along with their (free) routines. I also got a few recipes from their blog and I loved the way they were fresh and tasty and they even found ways to make healthy versions of some "naughty" foods. About a year after I first discovered them I spent the $150 on their diet plan and for me it has been a perfect fit. The spirit and support I have found through connecting with the girls themselves as well as people from all over the world who are making healthy diet and workouts a part of their lives has been invaluable. I now have a much greater understanding of the effects certain foods have on my body and why they make me feel the way I do. I had already discovered dairy made me feel sluggish and bloated and now I am finding foods that nurture my body and help me to get more from my day.
When did you reach your health and fitness turning point?
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