I can't believe that June is just about over. Its frightening how quickly the year is flying by. Someone told me that the older you get, the faster time flies... This scares me! This means that I am only 9 months away from turning 30!!!! eeek

However, the good part about this is that I have 9 WHOLE months to get to goal. *grin* Thats 9 months to lose around 15kg's... I am so going to do that!!! Imagine being at my birthday party (you HAVE to have a 30th birthday party!) and borrowing something from my sister to wear hehe or even better, going to one of those shops that only seem to cater for stick insects and buying something there!!! I don't really want to be a stick insect (they are quite creepy) but you get the picture!!!.

YAY, another personal challenge for me!!! Gota love it.

Can't wait to see how much I lose by November (my brothers wedding). I am going to the dress maker tomorrow for my first fitting. How kewl will it be to have to have my dress taken in just before the wedding. And yes folks, this WILL happen. hehe

Ooh ooh, I discovered a shoulder bone last night!!! I was getting changed and glanced in the mirror and saw this strange object at the top of my arm! It wasn't my collar bone (discovered those a while ago). But it was that nice roundish bit at the top of my shoulder!!! How amazing is that!!! Its as if I am sculpting myself!!! Now, if only I could get the bum, thighs and calf muscles right... mmm Anyhone got a decent body sculpting for dummies book that I can borrow? ;)

I have been having major bouts of sister, nephew, brother inlaw missing. I am going to put it down to PMS because I was "blessed" with TOM today... but I think it could just be that I miss them :( *sniff*
My sister says that my nephew is sitting by himself now :) And changing rapidly and that I won't recognise him in November when I next see them. It really breaks my heart. At least my sister is really good at posting regular photos and video of him online. That is my saving grace... (what exactly does that mean anyway?)

Have a great weekend and be safe and STAY FOCUSED!!!!

It was either madness or extreme dedication that drove me out of my nice, warm, snug, warm, comfortable, WARM bed this morning, into the freezing coldness that was the outside world - for spinning class...
It was -2 degrees centegrade this morning, I don't think it is much warmer now. By the time I got out of the gym, the windscreen on my car had a sheet of ice over it!!! Yes, ice!!!
I think that if I wasn't wearing a beanie over my head, my hair would have been frozen solid (I was all sweaty).
Now THAT is how cold it was this morning when I dragged myself out of my nice,warm bed!!!! for gym!!!

Wanna know what else happened to me this morning, just after I got out of my nice warm bed??? Well!!! you see, as per my last post, I bought myself a washing machine on the weekend. So, my dad came to my house yesterday to change the pipes on my hand basin in my bathroom so that I could attach the hose from the washing machine to the hot water. Anyway, the tap is now a bit loose on the basin and it isn't shutting off properly and doesn't stop dripping.
So I turned off the water at the mains over night so that I wouldn't waste water.
Anyway, this morning I didn't really want to brush my teeth using ice cold water, so I opened the mains on the hot water pipe and suddenly ICE cold water burst from the pipe all over me!!!! *weep* That folks is NOT a pleasant way to wake up!!!

So anyway, now i'm at work (there is a heater next to me) so i'm okay... I survived!

I finally made it back to gym!!! Wow, what a relief. There is nothing quite like the feeling of getting all sweaty first thing on a Monday morning.

I went on an evil spending spree this weekend. I got paid on Friday and I have no idea what came over me but Im sure that got posessed by the shopping demon. I did have fun though ;)

I don't think I did too badly, I HAD to get 4 new tires for my car (which cost a bloody fortune!). And then I just HAD to get that really nice washing machine (that just happened to be on sale). And then of course I HAD to buy all those groceries and things that I have always wanted and needed and never had in my house... hehe So now I do kind of feel sick from all that spending. And yes, I am already broke (and July hasn't even started yet) BUT I needed that stuff ;) I really did... really.... I mean it... mmmmm

Has the price of petrol gone mad in your country too? I can't believe how expensive it is getting!!! Every week it seems to go up more!!! At this rate I think it will be more expensive to fill your car then to fly overseas ;)

I had a really nice relaxing Saturday night. I had a friend over and we got Take out and watched Pride and Prejudice - what a fantastic movie! I loved it :)

As you can see I don't have anything really significant to say today so i'll shut up now and read all your blogs instead :)

I got this off Snackiepoo's blog and I just couldn't resist:

1) How old do you wish you were?
24, somehow I still feel like I am 24 and I like feeling like that... so yeah...

2) Where were you when 9/11 happened?
Driving to my parents house (can't remember from where). Spent the rest of the day glued to the TV.

3) What do you do when vending machines steal your money?
Well, the only vending machine I tend to use is the one at the office, so I usually go and call the boss to give me my darn food!!! Or I just assume that it is fate telling me that I don't really want whatever I have chosen.

4) Do you consider yourself kind?
Definately, although sometimes on a bad day I am unkind.. but that is rare ;) I am just wonderful, fantastic, amazing... hehehe

5) If you had to get a tattoo, where and what would it be?
Not really a tattoo person, but I would consider a little rose on my ankle (yes, very cliche).

6) If you could be fluent in any other language what would it be?
Zulu and German

7) Do you know your neighbors?
neighbors? what are those?

8)What do you consider a vacation?
Going to the game reserve / bush, sitting and looking at animals while drinking a glass of Jameson. mmmm

9) Do you follow your horoscope?
I used to be glued to the darn things, but I haven't bothered with them for the last five or so years...

10) Would you move for the person you loved?
yes, as long as I had a good internet connection.

11) Are you touchy feely?
Not at all... I do like hugs etc but I am very VERY anal about my space so STEP BACK !!!

12) Do you believe that opposites attract?
Yes.

13) Dream job?
I want to write, but i'm not very good at that.. I also wouldn't mind being a tour guide to the rich an famous (great tips).

14) Favorite channel(s)
I love BBC Prime, The Cooking Channel, Sci Fi and erm.. home improvement.... :)

15) Favorite place to go on a weekend?
I love going to friends for BBQ's, or for long drives in the country...

16) Showers or Bath.
I shower ever day, but on cold winter nights there is nothing quite like a nice, hot bubble bath.. mmmm

17) Do you paint your nails?
Not all the time. In summer I always have my toe nails painted but it does tend to chip and look dodgy for a while.

18) Do you trust people easily?
Not really. Actually, not easily at all. But i'm working on it.

19) What are your phobias?
I am very claustraphobic and a bit scared of the deep sea...

20) Do you want kids?
In a big way. I've always wanted them. At least 2 :)

21) Do you keep a handwritten journal?
No, too scared of someone finding it.

22) Where would you rather be right now?
In a nice hot bubble bath :) mmmmm

23) What makes you feel warm and safe?
Nice, hot bubble baths, Being with my family, being in bed (with my electric blanket on).

24) Heavy or light sleep?
Very very light :( Sleep and I tend to fight eachother a lot.

25) Are you paranoid?
I can be. Depends what for but yeah.. I suppose I am.

26) Are you impatient?
Yes and no. I am particularly impatient when I am driving but I have to be patient in everything else coz I am always very early wherever I go. So I have to sit around patiently most of the time.

27) Who can you relate to?
A lot of you bloggers out there. My best friend Nathan.

28 ) How do you feel about interracial couples?
Whats the issue?

29) Have you been burned by love?
Do blind dates count?

30) Whats your life motto??
If it doesn't kill you, it will only make you stronger.

31) What's your main ring tone on your cell?
OKay, let me try and sing this one.. it goes "RING RING" :) yes, i am boring.

32) What were you doing at midnight last night?
Dreaming of having a nice hot bubble bath...

33) Who was your last text message from?
Nathan

34) Who's bed did you sleep in last night?
Mine

35) What color shirt are you wearing?
Orange

36) Most recent movie you watched?
Pride and Prejudice - stunning!!!

37) Name five things you have on you at all times?
Purse, Cell Phone, Hand cream, chewing gum and a bottle of water.

38.) What color are your bed sheets?
Beige

39) How much cash do you have on you right now?
About R55

40) What is your favorite part of chicken?
Breast.

41) What's your favorite town/city?
Melbourne, Australia

42) I can't wait till...
November

43) Who got you to join myspace?
Just found you.

44) What did you have for dinner last night?
A bagel and Veggie Soup.

45) How tall are you barefoot?
Five Foot nine.

46) Have you ever smoked crack?
Nope

47) Do you own a gun?
No chance. I am very anti guns

48) What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
Green Tea and Coffee (not together)

49) What is your secret weapon to lure in the opposite sex?
Um, mmmm, think think... Well whatever it is isn't working so to hell with it...

50) Do you have A.D.D.?
No, but sometimes I have been known to suffer from O.D.D :)

51) What time did you wake up today?
4:45am

52) Current worry?
My shakey steering wheel.

53) Current hate?
Blind Dates and Power Failures.

54) Favorite place to be?
In bed with a good book.

55) Where would you like to travel?
I'd love to go to Morocco, Thailand and India

56) Where do you think you'll be in 10 yrs?
Hopefully at home with my kids and husband.

57) last thing you ate?
Kellogs Special K with Natural Yoghurt and Honey.

58) What songs do you sing in the shower?
Only the ones in my head...

59) Last person that made you laugh?
Funnily enough it was me, on my way home from gym... it was quite bizarre.

60) Worst injury you've ever had?
Two broken toes.

61) Does someone have a crush on you?
Well I wish they would let me know if they do!!!

62) What is your favorite candy?
Dark chocolate and Jelly Snakes

Happy Monday!!!!!

Guys, have a quick squiz to your left at my CW... I know I am gloating but I am also in shock!!!! I weighed myself this morning and OMG!!! I have a feeling that my wok will be mine as of this time next week!!!! *huge big grin* I don't EVER remember being this weight. EVER!!! YAY me!!!! hehehe

Okay, got that off my chest ;)

I can't wait to go to ww tomorrow. I know that my ww weight will be higher then my at home weight (clothes etc) but I don't care!!! *grin* I am losing again and thats all that counts. All my hard work is really paying off now. And its so easy!!!  *sips water* I just had to get my head around that little mental block of mine that keeps popping its evil self up when I really don't want it to.

Its bizarre really, I haven't been to gym once this week and I am still losing!!! *sips more water* I am actually shitting myself that when I do go back next week that I will start gaining weight again because I will be building muscle. But really! I am being rediculous (I hope). I mean I doubt very much that by not going to gym for one short week, that I would have lost all my already built up muscle.. so why do I think like that???

I'll tell you why!! Its the years and years AND YEARS of conditioning. My brain is set in denial / sabotage mode! I hate that! How do I reset my brain? Anyone know where the button is? I keep sticking things into my ears to try and find it but its getting a little painful now, although my ears are very clean!! ;)

I am in such a good place right now with myself and yet I still have evil thoughts running around my nogin... DAM YOU evil thoughts!!! *big sip of water*

At least I am fully aware of them and hopefully that will be enough to quell their effects.

So, its Friday again. The game plan for today is to have a lot less in the way of snacks. I am having sushi for lunch so I will fill up on Miso soup and try keep the sushi intake low! And then tonight (family dinner) I will fill myself up with veggies and have very little of everything else. :) This Friday thing is getting a lot less stressful. Still working on it though.

Hope you all have a super weekend. Stay warm, stay cool and STAY FOCUSED!!!

*sips water again*

ps. Don't forget to check out the nifty ww points calculator on the side bar of my blog!!! It works so well *grin*

Firstly a BIG BIG BIG squishy thank you to my Genius of a friend nj for making the stunningly amazing points calculator on the left. It works so well!!! Let me know if you'd like the code for your blog sites and i'll be happy to send it over :) THANK YOU NJ!!!!! *huggles*

Forgive me bloggers for I have not gymmed... It has been 7 days since my last workout... hehe

To be honest, I think the break has been good for me. I had made up my mind and was going to go to gym this morning but then last night my chest wasn't quite right yet and I decided to give it another day and see how I feel tomorrow. I will hopefully do my lunchtime walk today and if my lungs survive, then I am definately going to be at gym tomorrow!

There are some really dodgy flues going around and I am so happy that mine hasn't been nearly as bad as some of my friends. I think it must have something to do with the fact that I am so much fitter and healthier in general and my body is much much stronger!

I've definately gone down a notch on my belt!! My jeans are starting to feel looser and I know that my body shape is starting to change a bit too! What a feeling!!! *grin* I got on the scale this morning when I woke up and it was the lowest its ever been!!! I'm gonna be getting my wok oh so soon!!! wok wok wok!!!

Now, onto something completely different.
I work with a lady who is HIV+, she was raped over a year ago and contracted the disease. She must be in the advanced stages of the infection as she is covered in shingles (all over her face) and she has gone beyond stick thin. It breaks my heart to see her like that and I can't even begin to imagine what she must be going through. BUT, she always has a smile on her face and always seems happy. It makes me think how often I am depressed and miserable about my "condition" and yet I have the ability to DO SOMETHING about it! and its so easy to do! Being overweight is not a life sentence! This lady has maybe ten years, if that, to live and yet she is making the most of her life and doesn't seem to let it get to her. I don't even want to think about how i'd be in her situation but it does make me put my life into perspective.

I actually feel selfish to think that my weight is that much of an issue?? I know that for me it has been a problem for most of my life. BUT I have, am and CAN doing something about it.
I want to learn to enjoy my life to the full, to see everything for what it is and not look too deeply into everything.  

If I knew that I only had a short time to live, what would I do with it?:

I'd spend most of it with my family because family is VERY important to me.
I'd go deep sea diving
I would do a cycling trip to somewhere obscure.
I would try and write a book (always wanted to, just don't know where to start)
I'd go sky diving and bungee jumping!
I'd walk on the beach in a swimming costume!
I'd go in a hot air balloon.

There is so much that I still want to do! Too much to list here... So why don't I start doing all that now! None of the things on my list are impossible :) Screw it, I am going to start living my life now! If I can cycle in a 100km race and do a REAL summersault on a trampoline then there is nothing stopping me doing anything!!!

Imagine if you only had a limited time to live... What would you do with that precious time?

wow, that was deep ;) but I feel better now!

***********************************************

Guys, please can you go and sign this Petition. It is to stop a very cruel Vet from getting his horses back.

Please visit http://www.g33kgirl.net/Petition/index.html to view the photographs and newspaper articles covering this story.

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/SPCAcase/petition.html

I had the most amazing long weekend ever. I just wish it could have been a leeetle bit longer.

I went to the game reserve with my brothers and some of their friends. We left Johannesburg at 5h30am on Friday morning, only to get stuck at the first petrol station (about three blocks from my house). The car battery was flat and being extremely early on a public holiday, there was vertually no traffic on the road and therefore no one to come and jump start us. My brother drives an automatic so we couldn't even push start it. So we waited at the petrol station for just under an hour and eventually someone came by and got us started. And then we were off!!!

It took just under 6 hours to get to our destination. It is right on the border of South Africa and Mozambique and the resort is literally inside the game reserve. It overlooks the beautiful Crocodile River.

This is me and my brothers on the balcony of our cabin. As you can see, the view behind us is breathtaking. There were Hippos and buffalo in the river but you can't see them in this pic.


On Saturday morning I went into the reserve for a bit of game viewing. We saw so much. Here are a few of the animals I got to see:

Giraffe at Sun Rise

Guinea Fowl Tree

Giraffe having breakfast

This elephant actually pushed down a whole tree!!! The most increddible thing i've ever seen!!

A Hornbill

After the game drive, we went back to the cabin to relax and chill.

Me, relaxing and chilling

Then later that night we went and jumped on the trampoline and I did my first ever proper summersault (forward flip). I still can't believe I actually did it!!! *huge grin* There is no way on earth I would have even gotten onto a trampoline about  a year ago, let alone done a summersault!!!
I even have proof!!

*grin*

I went on holiday with such good intentions of sticking to my points etc. But somehow I didn't :( I feel very guilty about it but its happened and its done and I am back to being super good today! It is so hard to stick to healthy eating and sticking to ones points when everyone around you is eating chocolate and chips and custard. I am just angry with myself for being weak and giving in. But as I said, what's done is done...

I can't even go to gym and work off all the food coz I have got a horrible chest infection. I am hoping that coughing burns a lot of calories. Anybody know if it does? ;) hehe

So, back to work today. I am sad that my holiday was so short, but I had the most increddible time.

I feel rather grumpy today. I didn't get to go to gym this morning as I went to sleep too late last night and I feel cheated! I missed out and I am not happy about it. I guess thats a good sign then ;) Its amazing how quickly my gym "addiction" has grown and I can already see/feel my body changing again. It has been so long since I have been this motivated and seeing results so soon is extremely encouraging.  I am still annoyed though ;) I NEEED my gym!!! Especially since I am going away tomorrow until Sunday (to the Game Reserve) and there are no gyms and I can't exactly go for a jog because my chances of being eaten by a lion are quite strong ;) Oh well, I guess i'll just have to catch up on my sleeping and reading - poor me.

Due to my impending, long weekend holiday, I won't be going to ww on Saturday and therefore I won't be able to weigh in for this week. However, I have been keeping an eye on my home scale and I have definately lost again. I will have to wait until next Saturday though before I can tell how much I have lost. I'd rather just base my weight on one scale because there are quite big differences between the two. And at home I usually weigh myself first thing in the morning before I jump in the shower and therefore I don't have any clothes etc to weigh me down.

Do you guys have a weigh in ritual? I try wear the same clothes every week (depending on where I am ;) obviously if i'm at home then I am sans clothes). I also don't eat breakfast or drink anything before WI. But my ww group is from 9-10am and by the time it is finished I am usually shaking from hunger. Why do we do these bizarre things to ourselves? I watch people at ww and its amazing what they think will make them weigh more... I've noticed people removing their hair clips!!! hehe Okay not that often but it has been done! Surely if you know you've been good then it shouldn't matter. Why does the scale have so much power over us? Its just a machine!

So now I am going to have my coffee and try to snap out of my grumpy-not-been-to-gym-todayness.

I won't be posting till I get back from my holiday so be strong, stay focused and have a GREAT weekend!!!

Thanks for all your sleeping advice :) I tried the bath and relaxation technique thingy last night (as well as the rescue remedy) and I slept like a baby!! I even woke up one minute before my alarm clock went off this morning ;) I really love feeling so awake!!!

Does anyone out there know how many points Quinoa is?

As i'm sure most of you have heard, or know, or maybe you haven't, but Johannesburg is very well known for its bad drivers and road rage incidents.
Well lucky me, I got to experience that first hand this morning.

I was on my way home from gym. I drove onto the onramp going to the highway. Now the rule is that if someone is coming onto the highway they have right of way and the person in the slow lane must let them in. This stupid bearded asshole (no offense to people with beards) was driving in the slow lane and he saw me coming and just sped up so that I had to swerve to avoid hitting him, then he started gesticulating wildly and swearing at me as if it was my fault!!! So I hooted at him (beeped, honked) and then he drove into the middle lane, slowed down and came behind me in the slow lane and started driving up my bum!!! I was dumb struck! What a jerk!!! Anyway, I just drove on as if he wasn't there and let him vent his small penis frustrations...  But it did freak me out a bit.

I'm over it now ;) just wanted to share. I should have taken his licence plate details and posted it all over the net. Now that would have been fun!

Have you had any road rage incidents?

I think I over did the water drinking a bit yesterday :) I have rather sore kidneys today. Although maybe it isn't related to the water drinking at all. Who knows... Still made it to gym and had a GREAT workout!!! yay!!!

Stay focused!!!

*bounce* *grin* *smile* *bounce*

Does something suggest that I might be a little happy today?!? ;)

I lost a wopping 1.4kg this week!!!! I am so happy coz I really worked hard for it and I tell you one thing, this has really motivated me :D  go meeee!!!!

I did have a bizarre eating weekend though. I managed to stay in my points but I ate at the strangest times and really odd combinations in order to stay in points... Oh well :) at least I can say that I had a variety of different things. I am very glad to be back to normal today in my usual routine. I definately am a sucker for routines.

I've had a bizarre pimple break out! I haven't had pimples like this for ages!! Maybe it is because I have changed my diet again? Who knows. Could be the 2.5 - 3 litres of water I am drinking every day? hehe Oh well.. Thats what makeup is for ;)

I can't believe its Monday already :( At least this is a short week for us. We have a public holiday on Friday! I might be going to the game reserve but I am still trying to decide if I feel like driving for over 6 hours just for 2 and a bit days. I do need to get out of Johannesburg but maybe I'll just do a day trip somewhere instead.

This morning I really pushed myself at gym. I ran for 15 min straight :) I want to push it to 30 min but our stupid gym treadmills limit us to 20 min of exercise so that people don't hog the machines. I have noticed people running for a lot longer and I wish I knew how they do it. I haven't figured out how to make the time limit longer. Anyone know? I also did 20 min on the exercise bike on a nice high resistance. By the end of it I was soaked and felt soooo good!

On another topic altogether. I am having such issues with sleep at the moment and it is driving me mad. I just can't fall asleep easily at night. I feel exhausted but as soon as my head hits the pillow, it fills itself with millions and billions of thoughts all at once and no matter what I try, I just can't fall asleep!!! This is a real bugger coz I know that I have to get up at 4h45am for gym and if I don't get enough sleep I am a real zombie the next day. I've tried meditating etc but that only fills my head with more thoughts :) I think i'm an insomniac freak! I'm going to try rescue remedy tonight before I go to bed. Someone suggested it and hopefully it will sort me out. BUT if you have any other good ideas they would be most welcome.

So, another week is upon us!!! I hope you are all having a GREAT Monday!!

Yay! today is friday which means two main things... okay besides it being weekend tomorrow ;)

1) Tomorrow is weigh in day! I am so excited about it. I haven't gone over points once and I have been SO good!!! I really really really REALLY hope I lose but I have this horrible nagging fear that I won't and to be honest, if I don't lose I will be so upset. Then I know that I am truly stuck. BUT I am still on my be positive quest so I WILL LOSE tomorrow!!!!

2) Another thing about it being Friday is that its our family dinner tonight. (4 courses) I ALWAYS over eat and lose it on Fridays but today I HAVE to stay in my point and I WILL NOT go over. I have made provisions for tonight by making a very low point salad for lunch. And that way I can have a little bit more for dinner :)

I was so not well yesterday. The night before I couldn't sleep at all and felt terrible the whole day yesterday. BUT last night I think I fell asleep before my head hit the pillow and I got just over 9 hours sleep!!!! *huge grin*

Its quite funny how now that I am on my positive weight loss mission, I have been observing everyone around me and how they handle food.
It seems that almost everyone around me has one hang up or another about food. There are maybe five people in my office who don't seem to worry about their weight etc. and they don't have to.

One lady is always saying how she keeps putting on weight and is really trying hard, but I see her every day eating chocolate, having 3 spoons of sugar in her coffee, having a muffin and yet she still can't see where she is going wrong? Then she'll decide that she is on diet, she'll be super strict for about 2 days, buy all the right food and will tell everyone about her new quest and then she loses it again a few days later and goes back to her old ways.

Why do we do this to ourselves? I wish that I could talk to these people and tell them that they are actually doing themselves more harm then good and how by making a few adjustments to their daily diet they can make a huge difference.

It really saddens me to see how unhappy most people are with themselves. Why can't we just enjoy being alive?

I have been running through different scenarios of how, if I were in charge of my company, I would run it more efficiently in the sense that the environment would be as healthy and food friendly as possible for my coworkers:
1) I'd make a rule that the windows have to be open for most of the day (unless its too cold).
2) I would only stock healthy food in the vending machine - health bars, dried fruit packs, sparkling and still mineral water, fruit juice, dark chocolate (because we can't go without chocolate), raisins, nuts etc..
3) I would put a water cooler at every corner of the office.
4) I would encourage groups to go walking during their lunch hour and would enter teams in as many group sporting events as we could find.
5) I would keep a bowl of fresh fruit in the kitchen.

How would you change your working environment to make it more health friendly?

I hope you all have a GREAT weekend. Stay focused and stay healthy and drink more water!!! And most importantly, enjoy being alive!!!!

Okay, aside from it being TOM at the moment, I am very pleased to say that I am still going strong and am honestly more motivated then I have been in a long long time!!! In fact, I can say that I truly believe I am back at the same level and fram of mind that I was when I started off on my big weight loss journey.

I am so happy that I have found "myself" again :) Its just about writing everything down and thinking before you put anything in your mouth. I love being this disciplined. Some might think that I am going a bit over board but to me, this is when I am most happy because I know that I am in total control over myself.

Best of all is that I am not depriving myself of anything. If I want it I can have it as long as it fits my points allowance for the day. I am on a mission folks!!!!

I just wish it wasn't TOM coz I am so sore an uncomfortable right now
:( *weep* At least I am not doing my normal binge session where I give myself permission to eat everything in site, specifically if its sweet ;) NOT TODAY!!!! I am sticking to lots of cups of tea and maybe a cup of hot chocolate (lite) IF I really need it.

Didn't get to spinning this morning :( but seeing as I am not binging I am allowed to have today off... I will hopefully still do my lunchtime walk though.

How bizarre is this!!! In my Australian ww points finder, it says that 1/2 cup of couscous is 3 points and yet the South African one says that 1 cup is 3 points?!? WTF?? There are quite a few differences and I don't quite know why. Good thing I am following the Aus one :)

Anyone know how many points a chupa chup lolly pop is?

Just had a funny experience :) One of my colleagues / friend was busy cutting cake (it's someone birthday at work today) and she was offering it to everyone. Now, she has been saying since this morning how excited she was that it is someones birthday today coz she can have cake... Anyway, she came to me to offer me a slice and of course I said no thanks :) so then all of a sudden she put the knife down and said "I don't feel like cake anymore, don't know why but suddenly I don't want it". hehehe I think it is my powerful brain waves of self control that are leaking out and influencing others... *grin* I love it!!!

I really feel so good when I see myself motivating others. I don't meant to sound vain but I had to share...

I bit the bullet this weekend and re-joined WW. I have been following the program since I left Australia a year and a half ago but as you all know, I have been stuck pretty much in Limbo. I am very glad and proud that I haven't actually gained weight, but I should be at goal by now so that is why I decided to join up again.

I still find the South African ww system a little archaic (not sure if any of you remember 1..2...3 success). BUT my team leader assured me that there is a brand new, exciting program on its way to SA as we speak. I really hope its the same as the Aus program coz I really love it. I am also using my Australian books but just being weighed in here and attending meetings.

So far I feel GREAT and extreemly motivated. I was feeling motivated before but I feel that I WILL do it now. No more excuses. I am writing down every single item of food that passes my lips and so far it is going very well. I forgot how much it helped to be so strict with my points. I am also not going to use any extra points that I get from exercise. To me it is like undoing all the good I have done by doing the exercise in the first place :) But thats just me ;)

I have also decided to start expirementing more with the ww recipes and making my lunches more exciting. I was living on salad almost every day before and it could explain why I was getting bored and frustrated. You can only have so much cucumber!

I went to the most amazing spinning class again on Sunday. I was supposed to go cycling but the weather report said it was going to be a max of 15 degrees celcius and there is no way I was going to wake up at 6am and go outside when it would have definately been 0 or below. I love cycling but not that much :) Im sure that I got a far better workout at spinning then I would have by going cycling :)

I still haven't got my wok... but somehow I know I will be getting it VERY soon. (when i reach 85kg). Can't wait!

I hope you are all having a good monday :) Don't forget to write everything down!!

I just want to say a big thank you for your advice and comments on my previous entry. It helped me to put things into perspective.

I still haven't heard from the guy so I guess it really isn't going to happen. I am going to take some of your advice and try to stop looking. I am also trying to figure out a way to get my social life on track so that I can meet new people. Any ideas?

My life at the moment consists of waking up really early for gym, going to work, coming home, trying to relax, going to bed early so that I can get up for gym the next day. I hardly go out these days and if I do its out with friends for dinner or to their houses. I don't think my chances of meeting new people are very good at this rate.

The friends I have are great, but I feel that I need to expand my social circle a LOT. Most of them are in relationships, or are married with kids. I don't want to be stuck in a rut. I am still young (I think so anyway) and I need to be out there having fun!  

Here is a little fun / totally sporadic quiz:

1) What do you like to do on a Saturday night?  
2) How many single friends do you have?
3) Whats your favourite way to unwind after a hectic week?
4) What hobbies do you have?
and just for fun...
5) What is your most funny / scary blind date story?

That should get you thinking...

Here are my answers:

1) I enjoy going out for dinner with friends and having one or two glasses of wine.
2) I have 3 single friends.
3) I love sitting on my couch with a glass of wine / whisky listening to smooth jazz and reading a book. Reading really does it for me!
4) Cycling, Pottery, Reading, Shopping.
5) Firstly this guy was at least a head shorter then I am (I have issues with height because I am quite tall).
We went for coffee, "small man" ordered a filter coffee which came with one of those coffee cup shaped filters that fit ontop of your coffee cup. The waiter poured the hot water into the filter and instead of waiting for the coffee to filter through into his cup, he proceeded to try and drink from the filter!?! Needless to say, there was coffee everywhere.
Now, that wasn't the bad part of this story... While we were sitting there I noticed an elderly couple walking past a few times and every time they walked past they would look at us. Eventually I asked "small man" if he knew them and he told me that they were his parents. He was 28 years old (I was 22) and his biggest ambition in life was to get his drivers license. In South Africa we don't really have decent public transport and most people get their drivers licenses as soon as they turn 18, this is quite normal. So he came to the date with his parents...
But wait, there is more!!! 
"small man" actually told me that he wanted to get married very soon and asked me what I thought of that!?!

Yip, now you can understand why I have blind date issues.... 

Oh, I had a totally bad binge day yesterday :( I don't know what came over me but I had a mega sugar craving... Oh well, whats done is done. I am being super good today.