A New Challenge

A few things I've been up to :)

Hello! It's been quite some time since my last post.  A LOT has happened since April and I have never felt better!  I no longer have a heart condition (read more about it here) and my migraines have vanished!  I honestly can't remember when I had my last migraine, it's been over a month.  This is pretty exciting for someone who suffered from them daily for the last two years and they were really debilitating.  

I still have some pain and headaches, but it's manageable and no where near as severe.  The heart condition got pretty bad at one point and I was in and out of hospital.  I had no energy, chest pain, numbness, my hands started turning blue and the doctors were worried about the oxygen levels in my blood.  I'm extremely lucky to be alive and I'm thankful for it every day. 

So, I have been enjoying my life again without these issues.  I've caught up with friends and been out a lot more than usual.  This is one of several reasons that I haven't been blogging.  I have also been really busy, helping out family, house/pet sitting and moving house to name a few.  I'm in my new place now, but I still don't have a few of my things here yet, like my scales, so unfortunately I can't tell you how much I weigh, how much I've lost or do a "weigh in Wednesday" for you.  

I know that I have lost more weight due to my clothes.  But, to be honest with you I'm okay with not knowing how much I weigh.  It's really just a number.  I do continue to weigh myself to track my progress, but I'm not as concerned with the figures as I once was.  Scales don't measure how healthy you are and that is what is really important.

 I don't want to disappear on you again and wait until my scales have returned.  I've decided to do something a little different for the next month.  I was discussing confidence with a friend recently and she said that she didn't really have any.  I don't think that I'm the most confident person in the world either, but it's definitely increased since I first started this blog.  It didn't just happen, it was a conscious effort to push myself in small ways.  

I think it's something that everyone can improve on, so I've decided to create a "28 days to confidence" challenge. I think it's important while losing weight to focus on becoming more confident now, instead of waiting to reach your goal weight.  You can look different on the outside but still feel the same on the inside, so why not start now?  I'd love for you all to join this challenge with me.  I'll be putting up tips every day for the next 28 days, with examples of what I've done to achieve it that day.  

Let me know your thoughts, I'd love to hear from you!

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

My Thirty Kilo Weightloss! - What A Difference A Year Makes!

Starting Weight: 148.8 kg Current Weight: 113.5 kg Total Loss: 35.3 kg

What A Difference A Year Makes!

 When you look at your progress day to day it doesn't seem like much but when you take a step back and look how far you've come over a year, you can really see the impact.  When I started this blog and my weightloss journey, I was a completely different person and not just physically.  Reading my first entry (here), I realised just how much I've changed (look how unhappy I was in the first photo).  I just want to give past Mel a big hug and let her know it's all going to be okay.  I was in a really bad place when I started this blog and I am never going to feel like that again!

I was almost 150kgs! It was uncomfortable doing ANYTHING, even walking a few steps.  I was so low and self conscious about my weight I let it stop me from living and I was so afraid of ridicule and judgement that it stopped me walking out the front door!  I hated clothes shopping and would shop online to avoid embarrassment if the clothes didn't fit.  Now, I try to get outside and walk whenever I can!  I love being outside, even when I'm not well and I don't have a fear of the outside world and I no longer care what other people think of me, if they don't like me, f#$% em!  I've realised that it doesn't matter what you look like on the outside, it's all about how you feel about yourself on the inside.  It sounds cliché I know, but it's completely true and I never truly understood it until I went through it myself.  I love trying clothes on now as I can see how far I've come and I no longer have "chair anxiety" LOL.

Even after losing 35 kgs, I still have issues medically, even though I was told losing 6 kgs would be beneficial.  It's not going to stop me losing weight, I still have a long way to go.  When I started I was on Lite n' Easy but then specialists recommended I try gluten free, dairy free and now the Paleo diet.  My nutritionist/dietitian is now saying that I don't get enough calcium and I need to eat more carbs.  I've been told so many different things about my health, my diet and pulled in so many different directions that in the end I just have to decide what is best for me and what works.  I may be trying an elimination diet in the future, but for now I'll be sticking to Paleo and cutting out processed carbohydrates. 

I'd like to thank all of you that have joined me on this journey so far, for all your support and encouragement especially during the tough times.  If it wasn't for all your support, I would not be where I am today.  I look forward to smashing more goals with you next year!  

All the best for 2015! Love Mel xxoxx

Coastal Scents Revealed 2 Palette

It wouldn't be a weightloss progress post without a weightloss reward right?  Every 10 kgs I make sure to reward myself with something that isn't food.  When I started out, these rewards were incentives and they still are, but the weightloss is really it's own reward.  I still think it's important to celebrate the milestones in some form.

My reward is the Coastal Scents Revealed 2 Palette (it's currently 40% off) which is a dupe for the Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette.  I was wanting the Urban Decay one but considering how many palettes I have, I just couldn't bring myself to pay $80+ on eyeshadow, it just seems crazy to me now.  The Coastal Scents palette has similar colours and I don't have any other colours like them in my "collection".  The quality of the eyeshadows and the pigmentation is great, if you're considering this over the Urban Decay, I say do it! 

I know it's a little while away yet but I'm trying to think of something for my 50 kg loss!  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated everyone!

OMG Dessert! - Weight Loss Journey Week 43 - Day 3

Week 43
Day 3 - Friday
15/11/2014

OMG Dessert!

Lemon water to start the day

I've been trying really hard to drink more water lately, so I try to come up with ways to bring it into my daily routine.  In the evening I slice up a lemon, fill the bottle with water (this one has a built in infuser) and leave it in the fridge overnight.  This gives the lemon plenty of time to flavour the water. 

I try to drink a glass every morning before any food or other drinks.  Drinking water first thing in the morning can speed up your metabolism and lemon water has loads of healthy benefits.

Will it blend? Yes, will it taste good though?

Breakfast: Smoothie...will it blend?

Needing to use up some fruit I thought I would just throw this into the blender and see what I'd get.  I don't usually gamble with my smoothies but I couldn't be bothered researching a recipe (super lazy).

Apple, pear, spinach, avocado and chia

I added two apples, a pear, half an avocado, some spinach from the garden and some chia seeds.  It was okay but not the best smoothie I've had.  I definitely like the Green Monster Smoothie better.

Who needs Patties anyway? Pffft

Lunch: Failed Turkey Patties Salad :)

Thinking I'd be prepared today I thought I'd make turkey patties with steamed vegetables on the side...let's just say I forgot about the most essential part of the patty, binding.  That's right, being Paleo I forgot that I can't use flour, I did add an egg but that didn't turn out.  So, I ended up with turkey mince and steamed veggies with salad.  Shhh... don't tell anyone!

Stuff them, so they can stuff you! :)

Dinner: Turkey Stuffed Capsicums
Recipe HERE

At least these turned out lovely! ;)  I kept half the turkey mince from lunch and made these delicious stuffed capsicums.  They were pretty yummy and quick to make.
   
PS - Thanks sis for the idea! <3

Will you DATE me? NANA :P

Dessert: Date Me Banana Pudding
Recipe HERE

I really didn't feel like I'd eaten enough today, especially after my walk in the afternoon.  I was still quite hungry after dinner and I really wasn't sure what to have.  I thought that yummy desserts were a thing of the past due to Paleo, but I was wrong. 

I searched for quick Paleo recipes and found this recipe.  I didn't have all the ingredients and wanted to add some of my own, so I thought I'd give it a try.  I'm so glad I did!  It was so delicious!  It was sweet, spicy and to me it tasted like a full-fat banana and date muffin!  The texture was a little soft but that didn't stop me from demolishing it!  Definitely making that again! It's so quick too!

The puns shall never end.  Pffft FIGures :P
(Image from www.kappit.com)

Polar FT4 Heart Rate Monitor

Exercise: Walking
49 Minutes, 502 Calories Burned
Glasses of water: 8

I walked further today than yesterday but I burned more calories today, yay!  I know that I won't be able to push myself everyday so I appreciate the days that I can.

Sunset porn for you ;)

Weigh In Wednesday! - Lite n' Easy Week 22 Weightloss Journey - Week Twenty Two Weigh In

22.6 KG in total, 1.2 KG Lost This Week

Week Twenty Two

I was so sick this week due to side effects from medication I'm taking for migraines.  I will do a separate blog post on it as some of the side effects were quite severe and I hope it helps someone else out there suffering.  

I was so sick I couldn't exercise and while I did stick to Lite n' Easy, I know that this weightloss is likely due to the medication.  The only positive from the medication in my experience.

Weightloss Week 22

Weight lost this week: 1.2 kg (2.65 pounds)

Starting Weight: 148.8 kg (328 pounds)

Current weight: 126.2 kg (278.22 pounds)

Total weightloss: 22.6 kg (49.82 pounds)

Thoughts on this week

While I did suffer from the medication, I am glad that I know my body well enough to know when something isn't right.  Slowly it is making it's way out of my system so I'm hoping I can be well enough to get back out there again. 

Goals for next week

I'm really going to listen to my body and I think once I'm over this medication I can exercise.  I'm hoping to even get some dancing in next week :)

Weigh In Wednesday! - Lite n' Easy Week 21 Weightloss Journey - Week Twenty One Weigh In

Total Lost - 21.4 KG - Lost This Week - 1.5 KG

Week Twenty One

I thought that the scales were going to play a trick on me again and in a way they did...I did not expect to lose 1.5 kg this week!  Awesome!  I’m now well over the 20 kg mark!

I’m so happy to be back on track!

Weightloss Week 21

Weight lost this week: 1.5 kg (3.3 pounds)

Starting Weight: 148.8 kg (328 pounds)

Current weight: 127.4 kg (280.87 pounds)

Total weightloss: 21.4 kg (47.17 pounds)

Thoughts on this week

There have been a lot of outings, dinners, lunches etc etc and I've still managed to keep things in balance and not go overboard.  I’m pretty impressed with that.  It proves if you stick with it and stay motivated you can still lose weight even if you don’t stick to it 100%

Goals for next week

Keep the water and training up as always J

Weigh In Wednesday! - Lite n' Easy Week 20 Weightloss Journey - Week Twenty Weigh In

19.9 kg Lost in Total! 0.5 kg Loss This Week

Week Twenty

Don’t worry I haven’t gone mad (no more than usual), I know it’s not Wednesday but I was pretty ill yesterday so I didn't get to blog but I did weigh myself. 

Glad to be a loser again this week ;)  Ha ha ha I laughed when I saw that I was 100 grams off 20 kg!  It would have been great to have that round 20 kg figure in 20 weeks in a nice little neat bow but life just doesn’t work like that and seriously its 100 grams!

I’m so proud and happy with what I’ve achieved, it’s strange that we put so much on these round numbers though, isn’t it? ;)

I can’t believe it’s been 20 weeks and I’m still going strong!  Best decision I have ever made in my life and I haven’t regretted one moment of it!

Weightloss Week 20

Weight lost this week: 0.5 kg (1.1 pounds)

Starting Weight: 148.8 kg (328 pounds)

Current weight: 128.9 kg (284.17 pounds)

Total weightloss: 19.9 kg (43.87 pounds)

Thoughts on this week

I think I’ve done pretty well.  I’m sorry if it seems that all I’ve done is complain about being in pain but I’ve been in a lot of it lately.  Things are looking up though and I think I’ve dealt with things pretty well.  Things are only going to get better from here J

Weigh In Wednesday! - Lite n' Easy Week 19 Weightloss Journey - Week Nineteen Weigh In

Nothing lost, nothing gained

Week Nineteen

This is a new one, I didn’t gain or lose this week but stayed the same and I’m okay with that.  I have lost 19.4 kg and I am comfortable in my own skin again and that is far more important than what the scale displays.  It took me a long time to realise that. 

Sure, it would have been nice to make it to the round number of 20 kg this week, but I will get there and there is no rush.  Because it’s about more than the destination, it’s all about the journey and I’m having too much fun sharing it with you all ;)

Things have been all over the place and I’m just getting things sorted and getting back to routine.

Weightloss Week 19

Weight lost this week: 0.0 kg

Starting Weight: 148.8 kg (328 pounds)

Current weight: 129.4 kg (285 pounds)

Total weightloss: 19.4 kg (42.76 pounds)

Thoughts on this week

I’ve been in quite a bit of pain due to my jaw but I’m off to the doctors to get it sorted out, it has been causing a lot of issues and migraines.  I am slowly getting back some solid sleep so I will soon be back into a regular routine and then it will flow on to my food, exercise, weightloss etc etc.

Goals for next week

Slowly but surely get back into the swing of things, it’s a slow and steady process but I can’t wait to be back into a regular exercise routine!

I've decided not to include the extra figures on Muscle Mass, Body Fat Percentage etc, as since February they haven't really changed.  I still have my initial figures on this blog so I will compare them later on in my journey.  If there is a significant difference I will mention it in the weigh in post.

Weigh In Wednesday! - Lite n' Easy Week 18 Weightloss Journey - Week Eighteen Weigh In

0.9 kg Loss This Week.  19.4 kg Total Loss!

Week Eighteen
Weightloss Week 18

Weight lost this week: 0.9 kg (1.98 pounds)

Starting Weight: 148.8 kg (328 pounds)

Current weight: 129.4 kg (285 pounds)

Total weightloss: 19.4 kg (42.76 pounds)

Thoughts on this week

It was a short week really, I did weigh in Wednesday on Friday, so I lost 0.9 kg in 5 days!  I'm pretty happy about that!  I'm no longer worried that it's about stress.  I'm eating well, looking after myself and exercising when I can.  It's not huge amounts of weight so I'm not concerned.  

I'm so happy to be under the 130 kg mark! And 20 kg is 0.6kg away! WHAAAAT???? I couldn't believe it!  I have no idea what to do for my 20 kg reward as I'm not in a great financial state at the moment so it may have to wait for a while, but that's okay.  The loss is a reward in itself, isn't it ;)  I don't need something shiny to tell me how great I feel and look!

Goals for next week

Well I definitely have been keeping up with the blog.  I have really been loving it and I love the support and encouragement I get on here and I love being able to help out in any way I can too.  I'm not putting too much pressure on myself at the moment but I know my water intake hasn't been great so I'm going to increase that over the next week.

Fingers crossed for the big 20 kg next week! Let's wait and see! How exciting! 

I've decided not to include the extra figures on Muscle Mass, Body Fat Percentage etc, as since February they haven't really changed.  I still have my initial figures on this blog so I will compare them later on in my journey.  If there is a significant difference I will mention it in the weigh in post.

Weigh In Week - Lite n' Easy Week 17 Weightloss Journey - Week Seventeen Weigh In

0.7 kg loss this week! 18.5 kg in total!

Week Seventeen

Miss me yet? ;)  I know, I've been neglecting you but you haven't been far from my thoughts.  Hello! :)  Yes I'm okay and doing well!  I'm still sticking to my goals and can't wait to be blogging and interacting with all of you on a regular basis again.  Stay tuned! 

Weightloss Week 17

Weight lost this week: 0.7 kg ( 1.54 pounds)

Starting Weight: 148.8 kg (328 pounds)

Current weight: 130.3 kg (287.26 pounds)

Total weightloss: 18.5 kg (40.78 pounds)

Thoughts on this week

Oh to the em to the geeeeeee!  I can't believe that I have almost lost 20 kg!  I have some other AMAZING news for you.... *drum roll* I went and saw a Neurologist earlier this week and he said because of my weightloss, he believes that I have erased the Benign Intracranial Hypertension that I had!  (It's basically excess fluid around the brain, read about it here). I'm completely blown away! 

The human body is an amazing thing!  Just think of all the things I was doing to myself over the many years and I have been able to reverse something as severe as this in four months! Imagine what I can do in a year! Watch out world! ;)

Goals for next week

I want to get back into the swing of things and blog, blog, blog! ;)

I've decided not to include the extra figures on Muscle Mass, Body Fat Percentage etc, as since February they haven't really changed.  I still have my initial figures on this blog so I will compare them later on in my journey.  If there is a significant difference I will mention it in the weigh in post.