My 40 KG Weight Loss and Reward!

The beginning and now, the changes are huge!

 It still blows my mind!  I can't believe the transformation, not only in my face, my body, my clothes, how I am physically, but also emotionally and mentally.  EVERYTHING has changed for the better.  I didn't expect this much to change, I didn't expect me to change so much internally. 

I almost don't recognise the face in the first photo or the person.  I used to be so down on myself, I had no self respect and I hated myself.  Now, I'm like my own personal cheerleader and I can honestly say, without cringing, that I love and respect myself.  I'm still a work in progress and I have my bad days, but there are definitely a lot less bad days.

Getting there! :)

If the weight loss progress ticker above is anything to go by, I am just over half way.  Now, I'm not sure what my "ultimate" weight is, I'll let you know when I get there.  But, if it's going to continue to be as awesome as it was losing the last 40 kgs, I say BRING IT ON!  

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your love and support during this.  I couldn't have done it without you! xxoxx

My precious!

You know that I have to have a weight loss reward and it's probably more than likely going to be makeup related! Surprise, it is! ;)

Now, I may be a little embarrassed of the size of my makeup "collection" and I definitely don't need any more!  So, I decided that an artist is only as good as her tools.  If you're going to get some high quality makeup brushes, you can't go past Hakuhodo brushes.  What makes them so great? They are created from real animal hair (cruelty free).  The brush hairs aren't cut, which makes them extremely soft and they blend like a dream.

I have a Hakuhodo face brush that I bought at IMATS a few years ago (I believe it's the B103BkSL Powder Blush Brush Pointed, but they didn't use to print the numbers on them) and it is my favourite brush, ever.  I purchased the B J142 for blending eyeshadow in the crease and the J005 for applying gel eyeliners and smudging out liner/shadow for smokey eyeshadow looks. 

I can't wait to try them out on my more defined face. :)

As of today, I am now only 6.8 kgs away from a 50 kg loss! :O  I can't believe it! I want to do something really special for this, as this was my first big goal!  I need suggestions please!!! 

Weigh In Wednesday! - Week 61 Weightloss Journey

42 KG! Gone! 0.7 kg loss this week

Weightloss Week: 61

Weight lost this week: 0.7 kg (1.54 pounds)

Starting Weight: 148.8 kg (328 pounds)

Current weight: 106.8 kg (235 pounds)

Total weightloss: 42 kg (92.6 pounds)

Thoughts on this week

If you have read my blog for a while, you might know that I have jaw problems. I recently found out that I have Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (more info here), I have read that many Chiari 1 Malformation sufferers, like myself, have TMD.  There doesn't seem to be any proven treatment for TMD, however, I am hoping to work through this with my amazing Physio.  

My Physio has recently found a new trouble spot lower in my jaw and did some needling.  Since then, I have been in constant pain and had constant headaches and migraines.  It's amazing how exhausted being in constant pain makes you, it completely drains you.  Due to this, I haven't been blogging.  I hope you can appreciate, that it's almost impossible to concentrate in front of a computer with a constant throbbing head. 

After all of this, I do have some positive news. :)  I went to see my cardiologist last week and it seems after the ablation (read about it here), it has healed itself! This means that I don't have to have the procedure again and it may have cured my heart condition!  I have a heart monitor for the next few weeks to see how I go, but it's looking pretty good. 

Goals for next week

It's going to be Easter, I don't have a problem avoiding chocolate anymore.  But, I will be staying with family, so I may not blog during the next week.

I hope you all have a happy, safe and healthy Easter! 

Guilt is a useless emotion in weight loss, just enjoy and get straight back on it! 

Love, Mel xxoxx

Weigh In Wednesday! - Week 51 Weightloss Journey

Week: 51 - 0.7 kg loss - Total Loss: 37.1 kg

Week: 51

Weight lost this week: 0.7 kg (1.54 pounds)

Starting Weight: 148.8 kg (328 pounds)

Current weight: 111.7 kg (246 pounds)

Total weightloss: 37.1 kg (81.79 pounds)

Thoughts on this week

Wow! I can't believe that I'm 3kgs off a 40kg loss! Crazy! My first big goal is to make it to 100kgs and it's really not that far away either! This week has been tough due to my health.  I've been pretty unwell most of the week but I'm slowly getting more and more tests done and slowly getting to the bottom of it.  Due to this, it has been really challenging to get in exercise.  I just have to be patient and push on my good days.

I haven't been counting calories since I've been on Paleo and it seems to be working for me.  I just make sure I eat when I'm hungry and drink enough water. 

Goals for next week

I really want to balance out my meals more.  I need to read up more on Paleo as I haven't really.  I know what isn't allowed but I need to ensure that I'm getting enough protein, fats, carbs (from veggies) in each meal.

Paleo Ice Cream - Weight Loss Journey Week 51 - Day 5 - 7

Week 51
Day 5 - Sunday
11/01/2015

No more smoothies

Breakfast: Smoothie
(Mixed Berries, Banana, Kale, Almond Milk and Chia Seeds)

I really think that I should stay clear from smoothies unless I need something quick on the busy days.  I just don't think that this is enough to keep me going for the day.

What is wrong with me? 

Lunch: Egg Baked in Tomato with Kale, Egg Baked in Avocado, Sweet Potato Fries & Roasted Pumpkin

I know that you probably think I am crazy for having a hot lunch on a really freaking hot day and you would be right.  But I just didn't want salad today and I wanted to have dinner prepared as much as possible. 

The eggs baked in tomatoes are great, but please don't try the egg baked in avocado! Disgusting! Don't waste your avocado and have it fresh, trust me!

Paleo preppin

This is where I like to cook as many vegetables/meat as possible as I know that when dinner comes around I usually can't be stuffed!

Mmmm...it's no peanut butter but it's close

Afternoon Snack: Apple & Almond Butter

Dinner is so easy when you're prepared

Dinner: Steak, Roasted Pumpkin, Sweet Potato Chips, Eggs & Kale baked in Tomato & Avocado

All I had to do tonight was cook some steak and heat up the veggies left from lunch and dinner was done!

Glasses of water: 8

Week 51
Day 6 - Monday
12/01/2015

Yum!

Breakfast: Poached Eggs with Kale, Onion, Tomato, Zucchini, Mushroom & Avocado

This was so delicious and so much better than having just a smoothie.

Kunara Organic Marketplace - Coffee with Almond Milk

I visited the Kunara Organic Marketplace today (website here). This place is HUGE! It's basically an organic supermarket and it even has an organic butcher and cafe.  

Why can't I just have a sandwich?

Lunch: Honey Mustard Beef Stir-Fry

I was feeling slack for lunch today so I just cooked up some steak and some pre-cut stir-fry veggies I bought from the markets.  I just mixed through some mustard, honey and olive oil.  I love eating healthy and I do feel better for it, but sometimes I wish I could just have a freaking sandwich! So much easier! 

YOYO COYO! :)

Afternoon Snack: Coyo - Acai & Blueberry 

Ingredients: coconut milk, tapioca, pectin, coconut nectar, stevia, acai berry, blueberry.

I picked up some Coyo (website here) coconut ice cream at Kunara.  It is Paleo friendly and it is nice to be able to have a treat every now and then.  I have had the Vanilla and Nutmeg version, which was delicious, but they were sold out :(  So I decided to pick up the Acai & Blueberry and Chocolate (Cacao).  

The Acai & Blueberry was good, but the coconut flavour was too strong in this one.  The consistency is really creamy. 

Spicy!

Dinner: Salsa Chicken & Avocado Pancakes

I really like the flavour of this chicken dish and it's really easy to make.  I will post a recipe up for this soon and the avocado pancakes.  Basically the pancakes are half a large avocado and two eggs. 

Glasses of water: 8

Week 51
Day 7 - Tuesday
13/01/2015

So yummy!

Breakfast: Banana, Date & Nut Porridge

Sometimes you get sick of eggs or a smoothie for breakfast and I can't remember the last time I had cereal!  I decided to make this for breakfast and I'm so glad I did, it's delicious and really simple.  I will post a recipe for this one too, I promise.  It's just banana, date, almonds, honey and almond meal.

I can't be effed to make lunch, lunch

Lunch: Scrambled Eggs & Avocado

(Zucchini, Carrot, Onion, Capsicum, Kale, Garlic & Tomato)

You don't have eggs for breakfast, so you have them for lunch.  I haven't been feeling too well lately, so my enthusiasm for cooking is at an all time low.  This was really quick, simple and tasty.

YUM!

Afternoon Snack: Apple, Carrot, Almond Butter with Sultanas & Coconut

I think I have found my new favourite snack today.  Carrot, almond butter, sultanas and coconut.  Yep, sounds strange but it's delicious! Trust me on this one :)

I didn't have to cook = WINNING! 

Dinner: Gluten Free Pizza with Marinated Olives, Capsicum, Sweet Potato, Bacon, Spinach, Tomato Paste & a tiny bit of Cheese

Remember how I was saying that my enthusiasm for cooking is at an all time low? Even though this isn't Paleo, I wasn't passing up the offer of someone else cooking dinner for me!  

This was made on a gluten free pizza base, so it doesn't contain grain, however, it's still full of processed ingredients which is definitely not Paleo.  But if I eat something that isn't Paleo, I don't worry.  I'm trying to eat the healthiest I can and if sometimes I have to eat pizza, then I have to eat pizza. ;) 

Glasses of water: 8

Yay for ice cream! :)

Desert: Coyo - Cacao Ice Cream

Ingredients: coconut cream , cococnut nectar , tapioca ,organic agave ,organic cocao. 

This was the other version of Coyo I picked up from Kunara.  I liked this one better than the Acai & Blueberry, but there still wasn't enough chocolate.  I think the one I like the most is the Vanilla & Nutmeg.  I would definitely recommend the Coyo ice cream it to my fellow Paleo eaters. :)

Hello 2015 - Weight Loss Journey Week 50 - Day 2

Week 50
Day 2 - Thursday
1/01/2015

Hello 2015!

How is your head this morning?

Breakfast: Coffee Banana Smoothie (Recipe here)
*I use frozen Banana, omit the ice, use honey and Almond Milk

Because I'm a creature of habit and if I ever there was a day that I couldn't be effed, today was that day!  Definitely needed a coffee and something quick for breakfast on new years day!  My head wasn't sore this morning but lack of sleep came into play.  Hope your heads weren't too sore. :)

I suck at cooking, I know this :)

Lunch: Lazy Frittata (Recipe here)

I seriously need to go shopping as I have hardly any fruit or veggies left.  I decided just to throw this together for lunch.  Yes, it fell apart and no, I'm not going to hide the fact that it did :P

Lazy dinner

Dinner: Porterhouse Steak with Balsamic Onions

I cooked up a whole onion for lunch, only used half for the frittata and kept the left over onion for dinner.  If I can save just five minutes of my time preparing dinner, I'm all for it!  I mixed in a little balsamic vinegar with them just for something different. Served the steak with sweet potato mash (added some almond milk and seasoning) and carrots.  Not a very exciting meal tonight but my laziness was at an all time high.

Glasses of water: 5 

This is not enough water at all and I've been really bad with not drinking enough water lately.  I really need to work on this.  You guys have to keep me in line okay! ;)  There is a first mini goal for the new year. 

How was your new years?  Do you have any resolutions or goals for the new year? Let me know, I'd love to hear from you! :)