ASN 10 Week Challenge update #12 - Heading into week 8! 3 weeks left

Happy Sunday everyone :) I know..... Crazy huh? I've blogged and it's before Midday! Don't expect it every week :) There are about 3, possibly 4 more blog posts left :)

We are getting into the final weeks of the challenge. 3 weeks til the finish line. These coming weeks may quite possibly be the hardest weeks of all. I'll be pushing myself more! (Yes! It's possible). Eating even 'cleaner', training harder, lifting heavier, and hopefully sleeping more ;P Unfortunatley, the last 2 weeks have been a little 'difficult'! Been struggling a little with 'Everything'! (My normal 'routine' has been up ended with the school holidays and my trainer being away. So my 'Normal' hasn't been so normal, therefore my eating has been a little 'off' as I am used to eating certain foods at certain times) But seriously, there is no 'Excuse' I should have been more prepared and 'sucked' it up ;P

But I promise I will bring this challange home STRONG! I will finish feeling happy! And I WILL have a great 'After' photo for you all to see :) There is no way I can dissapoint all you loyal Blog followers!

Last week, as you all know, I 'fell apart' (with the Easter Egg situation) as I had accomplished my big goals and I didn't have any 'Back up' goals! I also said that I would be making new mini goals! Well.... I've been thinking!

Mini goal #1 - Build myself a 'Bootie!' (We all know I've lost my butt along with that 20kgs!) So lot's of legs and bums sessions coming up!
Mini goal #2 - Work on my back muscles! Leaner and more defined :)
Mini goal #3 - 'Pop' thess Ab's that I so know are in there just wanting to break out!

Overall Big Goal - You'll have to stick around and see if I can convince myself to commit to it ;P (Got ya thinking now hey?)

Bring on the photos for this week I say! I don't think I have actually posted a 'full' day of my eating for you! So on Monday (which wasn't probably the best day as I had quick snacks as we went to the cinemas and it's a little hard to carry in some ABC spread and crackers!). I took a photo of everything I ate :) It was hard enough to 'smuggle' in a protein bar! Anyway... Monday is brought to you in 'iPhone' pictures :)

First on the agenda, early morning walk outside as Adam was home!


Dressed in my new clothes :)


Off to see the long awaited LEGO movie! We had some pretty excited kids!


My snack, that fit nicely in my wallet (as all bags are to be inspected)! They are so yum. Mixed berry is my favourite! Some almonds wouldn't have gone astray but I didn't push my luck ;P


So, still no PT sessions this week but I scored myself a 'new' gym off the classifieds! (Thanks Babe, for being 'addicted' to that stupid facebook page). I had to try it out! So after my afternoon snack of 1/2 quest bar, almonds and some XT50 Green tea, I was off to pump out a Back and Bi's session on the new machine! :)


Superset Session consisted of:

Biceps Curls with the bar
Single back rows with DB's
Hammer curls
Reverse back flys
Concentration curls
Lat pulldowns
Overhead back extensions
Legs raisers
Weighted situps


Felt so weird to NOT be heading of to Punchfit to finish off my Monday night.

Below are my 3 main meals from the day :)

1 - Banana Protein Pancakes
2 - Rice thins with, Avo, Spinach, Ham, Beetroot/cabbage salad and cottage cheese
3 - Honey Mustard Chicken with greens and sweet potato. Marinade for Chicken was: juice of 1 lemon, dijon mustard, bit of chicken stock, garlic and honey. Mixed together, throw in chicken breast and let marinate for about 20 mins (can be longer!). I was just in a hurry!


Cup of green tea to finish off the day:)


Tuesday, I was lazy.... no walk for me :( But I got organised for a Chest and Tri's session before I was off to do some stuff for Nan and Grandad.

Another supersetting workout:

Sitting Chest press
Skull crushers
Standing chest press with plate weight
Overhead triceps
DB Chest flys on the ball
Tricep cable pulldown
Leg raisers
Obliques twists with weight
Weighted ball crunches


Stopped in at Teagie's place for a visit (and so she could have a go at 'de-dreading' one of my dreads)! Right on lunch time... lucky she had shopped a couple days before! Made myself some Lunch :) And, I'm not sure that I have blogged about 'coffee' before but here we go.... I've never been a BIG coffee drinker but I NEVER went a morning without a coffee (before my day started). When I began the challenge, I also said that I would give up coffee through the week when I'm training and only have one on my rest day! Not for any other reason than, that skim milk is high in carbs and sugar! So, really, it's best to use 'real' stuff and add water to it to make it 'Skim'. That cuts out all the extra 'additives'! But today.. I was craving one so so bad, when I stopped in at Nan's on the way home I 'caved' and grabbed a 'watered' down coffee from the cafe! Burnt the shit outta my tongue, but it was just what I needed (The coffee, not the burnt tongue!) ;P


Snack for afternoon tea, greek yoghurt with vanilla protein powder mixed in, topped with a sprinkle of cacao nibs.


Dinner for Tuesday night was roasted chickpea and vege salad with Pork, fennel and Mustard sausages! I just love it when I throw something together and it just 'works'!! And bonus... leftovers!!! I LOVE leftovers! Makes for a quick 'already prepared' healthy lunch!



No walk on Wednesday AGAIN!!! Lucky I smashed out a full body session! Felt great after I'd finished except that my dodgy neck was playing up!! Rainy day, sore neck, school holidays... it was screaming for Green tea, wheat pack, zen spray, sloppy joe, lunch on the couch, cuddles and movies with my #1 Girl :) It was nice even if I had to sit through Dora, Peppa and Barbie!


Snack after my workout and leftover lunch! Always taste better the day after :) Should have kept Adam's lunch as well and sent him with a boring Ham sanga instead!


Dinner for Wednesday was Salmon! Chop a bit of garlic, squeeze a bit of lemon, add a dash of fish sauce, wrap it in a piece of baking paper and pop it in the oven :) (I much prefer frying it a little in coconut oil, giving it a yummy crispy skin!!) But no skin for me at the moment! So once it's baked in the oven, the skin just peels right off :)


Served with greens (did that surprise you all?) and some sweet potato.



Thursday morning cardio done and dusted on the treadmill before an exciting cupcake lesson!! Angry bird cupcake decorating with 'Surprise me by Heidi'! It was a winner and we'll definately be back next holidays. Lilli loved it and so did I. Lilli shared her creations with her Cousins and her Daddy! And cause I am a mega sweet tooth and LOVE icing!!! ANY icing (I'm far from picky ;P)... The last cupcake was wrapped and frozen for this 'Mama' after the challenge!



Next stop was Lucas and Lilli's pick! Tavern for lunch!! The Tavern now have some healthier options on their menu! They even have Kangaroo :) (Much to Teag's disgust). I ordered the Tuna with Avocado, spinach, rocket, tomato and pear salad with a wasabi mayo which I asked for on the side! This way you can choose how much you consume instead of your salad dripping in a calorie packed dressing! You are paying for your meal so you get to have a say in it ;P I left the dressing and most of the Pear as it is quite high in carbs and sugars... but the rest of it was yummo!!!


Thursday afternoon must have been 'selfie' day!! ;p Anyway, headed downstairs for a leg session.

And on the 'Challenger' page they are having a week of competitions. First comp is to show your 'Fit Face'! So a picture before/during/after your workout! I almost didn't post mine. I look scary and my veins are popping from my forehead! Those leg extensions were heavy!! Don't laugh too hard!


Easy dinner! Leftover salmon, spinach and feta omlette!



Friday... 'Blast from the Past'! Headed over to Yaralla gym for a session! I haven't worked out at Yaralla since I was about 18! I kinda fell back into place! Was good to change up my workout scenery! Thanks for a great Legs and shoulders session Stace :)

All I have from Friday are my Main meals!
Breakfast: Wholemeal toast, ABC spread, Banana and a vanilla/cacao protein shake.
Lunch: The 'normal'!
Dinner: Lemon, Thyme, Rosemary, Garlic and Parsley baked Chicken breast with the 'normal'!



Saturday started with a 45 min treadmill walk :)

Then off to visit Nan and Grandad! Of all bloody days to visit!!! It was Wally's (one of the residents) 65th Birthday! I ordered a 'watered' down flat white coffee (OMG... 2 coffee's in one week! I'll be buzzing all day) to keep my cravings under control! LOL..... It was actually not all that bad even though I was sitting close to this table full of sweet goodies! On the left is the 'Party' food and on the right, what I came home and made for Lunch :)


The competition on the challenger page for today was 'Secrets of your gym bag'!
1 - Towel
2 - Water bottle
3 - Bombshell
4 - Protein in a shaker, ready to go
5 - Weight gloves
6 - Polar heart rate monitor
7 - Car Keys
8 - Activated Almonds
9 - XT50 Green tea
10 - Headband to hold back my wild dreads ;P
11 - My iPhone (cause you can never have too many selfies rights?) with a pic of my Family (The reason and reminder of why I changed my lifestyle 18 months ago)


Finished off Saturday afternoon with the 4th ASN bootcamp session! Held by Tamara Murphy from the 'Ultimate Body' and Rob Guinea from 'Body Dynamix'! Thanks guys for a smashing cardio session :)

I'm going to blame the fact that my legs were so sore and not functioning properly for the reason I have no photos!!! ;P Sorry guys!

Which brings us to now! Sunday MORNING!!! Raining! Wondering whether or not the Street Parade is still going ahead for the Festival this afternoon! Oh well... another movie day coming up I think :) Weigh in tomorrow... While I'm not super confident.. What will be, will be and I will soldier on!

But before I go, I'm going to get a little 'real' here.... (and it has nothing what so ever to do with my blog, or fitness journey).

A few weeks ago, one of Mum's Friends and her Family had been given some devastating, unexpected news. A Father/Husband has just been diagnosed with full blown bone marrow cancer. They have 2 children with slight 'special needs'. They have had to up and move (without any warning) to Brisbane where he will undergo treatment in the hope he may be cured. They are staying in the housing provided and the kids have been enrolled in a school down there. This will be there new 'home' for at least 6 months if all goes to plan. He has also recently caught the 'Flu' so this battle has just gotten even harder. I can't imagine what this little Family is going through right now. I'm not one for 'Praying' but they will be in my thoughts :)

This has made me realise that even though we sometimes think things can't be any worse for 'us', there is ALWAYS someone out there dealing with something just as challenging, if not, worse. I've also realised how short time spent with our loved ones really could be! I know that at times, they drive you crazy, they annoy you, send you to loose your shit! But please, please, right now... tell them you love them, give them a hug and a kiss. And keep doing it, even when they are back answering, forgetting to put the bins out, leaving there stuff everywhere for you to pick up! Life's too short to 'sweat the small stuff'!

Thanks for reading everyone! Catch you all next week :)

ASN 10 week Challenge Update #11 - 4 weeks to go! Bring it on!

Arrrhhhhh Sunday again! They come around all too quickly :p And I bet 'some' of you didn't think I was going to make the blog post again! ;P Well.... Its here! Yay!

So we are officially on 'School Holidays'! Yay for not having to pack lunches every day and not having to do the school run every Morning and Afternoon! But..... something is telling me I am going to be completely sick of play 'Schools', reading books, doing puzzles and playing Barbies by the end of this 2 weeks!

So last blog post I left you on a 'High' with ALL but 1 of my goals being accomplished! This week, well.... some ups and a few too many 'downs'! This week I have learnt something quite valuable that I'd like to share... When doing something like this, you need to have goals (which I did), and then you need to have 'Back up Goals' (incase you actually smash those first goals out of the park) :) This week I came a little 'unstuck' and I know it is because, for a long time I have been working towards those goals, thinking I'd never get 'there'. And when I realised that I was 'There', there was 'nothing' I was actually working towards! Do you kinda get where I'm going????? I hope so! In the short story.... When you get close to those original goals you had set... sit down and make some new ones!!! Trust me, you will be happy you did! Needless to say that this week I will be doing some re-assessing and hard thinking about what I am working towards and what my long term goals might be :)

Below is a pic of my weight and measurements from 18 Mths ago and one of where I am right now :) It CAN be done....


So... Monday, after PT, I was feeling on top of the world for reaching a very long awaited 20kg loss.... I headed to lunch with Mum, Teags and a Friend. Still ordering the 'normal'! Salmon with a fennel and rocket salad. Was pretty yum!


Off to Punchfit in my new pink top :) If I could just buy workout clothes everyday of my life, I'd be super happy ;P Thanks Rikki-Lee for this cute comfy tank!


Mum also came over to stay for the week.... So I could 'teach' her that eating food is actually quite good for you!!! That she doesn't have to live on shakes and work her arse off at the gym!

Her first 'test', Turkey mince stiry fry. She loved it!



So Tuesday Morning I got up and woke Mum up for some (bootcamp) fasted cardio. Downstairs for 15 min treadmill walk and 15 min bike ride :) Followed up with a healthy breakfast that she actually quite enjoyed ;P

I cleaned out my workout drawer... Yes, you heard correctly 'Cleaned it out' and I still can not shut the drawer!


As my PT, Stacy is away in Melbourne having an awesome time, she did my workouts up for the week... so Tuesday was Chest and Triceps that was pushed into the afternoon as I was off to the Chiro in the morning. Mum joined in and Lilli asked her why she 'Looked so funny'? We were unsure as to what she meant.... 'Because you are sweating Mama!' LOL.... Must of had her working in overdrive ;P


No photos, but Kanga burgers for dinner with steamed greens and to her surprise, Mum actually finished her whole meal and really enjoyed it. I decided not to sing the 'Skippy' theme song while she ate ;P


Wednesday, Mum and I went for a walk 'outside'! Nice change from the treadmill. And I managed to not 'pause' the Lorna Jane app this time ;P


School drop off and back home for some weights! I switched Back and Biceps to Wednesday cause I had planned Legs for Thursday!


Off to pick up this munchkin while her Mummy had an appointment! What better way to keep her happy than the Icing from a cupcake! (Yep, JUST the icing) which is a little bit of a tease as Aunty Lis is sitting there with her skinny flat white staring at that Vanilla cupcake that we are just going to chuck in the bin! At this stage.... willpower won and in the bin it went!


After doing what I had to, it was almost time to get Lilli but not quite enough to head home and do anything. So I stopped in at Nan and Grandads for a visit! Thank god the cafe still had a salad left over!


Oh no!!!! This was the start of my 'unstuckness'! Lilli was 'lucky' enough to recieve some little easter gifts from classmates. Shit, why couldn't it have been CARROTS!?


Dinner on Wednesday was coconut chicken curry and steamed greens! It is always yummy and one of my favourite meals! Recipe below:

500 Grams Organic Chicken Breast
Can of Organic Banaban Coconut Cream
2 tsp of Chicken Stock
2 tsp Organic Curry paste (This is up to you - how 'hot' you want your curry - I use an massaman base)

Whisk all cream, stock and curry paste together. Pour into frypan, ALMOST bring to the boil, put in chicken, reduce heat to a simmer and cover. Doesn't take long to 'poach' the chicken. Turn chicken over once during the simmer. The sauce will be quite runny, so you can reduce it by removing the cover or adding a little cornflour/almond meal. Personally, I like it a little 'runny'! Serve with steamed greens and/or Brown rice.


After dinner I always struggle with something 'sweet'! Normally I have a green tea and be done with it, sometimes a small 'chunk' of a quest protein bar... and ocassionally 1/2 of a Choc protein brownie from ASN! OMG.... amazing! But as I said, ocassionally! Well..... Green tea didn't cut it tonight, possibly because I knew Lilli had easter eggs in the cupboard from school! Really?? Who am I trying to kid... of course it was because I knew they were there! I'll say no more....

This was probably my face when I was having a battle in my head of 'Eat those Easter eggs / DO NOT eat those Easter eggs'



Thursday.... Whole school 'Beep off'!! Lilli wasnt to concerned about beating the 'beep'.... She was just having some fun! Parents were allowed to participate and I was asked by a few if I was going too.... But Leg session coming up when I left school so I need all I could to get through, hence the reason I didn't participate ;P


Lucas, on the other hand, had his shoes off and he was on a mission to do well! He did.... he came 2nd out of all the grade 1's! He was so puffed but we were so proud of him :)
Before the 'Beeps'


Lunch... I filled my wholemeal wrap that much it split! LOL..... yeah, I am allowed to fill it that much!


Thursday night..... Normally Punchfit, but Stace being away, no sessions for 1 1/2 weeks! So some of us girls got together and came up with our own little 'boxing' session! I LOVE 'routine'! We did pretty good too :)

Can't remember what dinner was :( All I remember was more freaking EASTER EGGS!!!! Willpower, where did you go!?


Friday - fasted walk for 45 mins and a dodgy 2 week progress snap (showing a very small difference from the 4 weeks shot), some breakfast and then the normal morning routine before the day went 'wonky'!




School 'Wet day'! Was so much fun for the kids and us Mum's that stayed to watch.

I ate my morning tea way too early @ 9am - I usually push it out to 10 ish or after. Then nothing til after I left and was waiting at an appt when I thought it would run late, I dashed to the car for back up Almonds at 1pm (yep, 4 hours without anything). Not a good thing. The nuts didn't even make a dent in my grumbling stomach. I was cranky at myself as I am usually more organised than this. So now knowing my appt wouldn't be done until 2... I ran across the road, grabbed some sushi. (Not terrible, but not too good after the easter egg episode)! From that point on, I was just hungry and craving anything :( Friday afternoon was crap! I felt crap, I ate 'crap'! No one could have been more dissapointed in me than myself....

So leaving Friday where it had finished and realising that I need to make some changes and think about some new goals, brings us to Saturday :) So, off for a fresh 5km morning walk outside... Clearing the head and thinking of what I want from all this hard work...... (stay tuned, as it's a difficult process) ;P


Breakfast, Buckweat cereal (yeah, it's in there under that protein shake) with crushed almonds and seeds.


Back downstairs for a quick Shoulders and Abs workout (as we had BAM plans for the afternoon). 35 mins - 250 Calories, Not a bad effort ;P

Morning tea, rice thins and avocado.


Lunch, Chicken, Feta and Walnut salad. With an XT50 iced tea :)


Off to the Markets for some 'timeout'! And a new bracelet! I think i've earned it ;P


And although both Lilli and Lucie lost their marbles and had a tantrum when we left... I think it's just what I needed :) I am the happiest I have been in a very long time and sometimes I just need to slow down and see where I have come from and where I am right now :)

Lilli and I have been a team of 2 at nights for about 3 whole weeks now with Adam being on Shutdown .... and after a big Saturday, A Chicken, and green veg omlette seemed like a great idea :) And wait for it.... all back on track, a green tea to finish off the night and we were in bed by 7.30 (lame, I know) but it's been a busy week and we both needed an extra few hours sleep!



So, here, we are Sunday.... REST day! (And I have a sore foot) so I really had to rest, although I wont lie, I almost went for a run! But I know, I know.... If I don't rest, i'll be out for longer ;P

Lilli and I had a 'Girly' day while Daddy slept off his last night shift (Yay... I may have just lost my shit, if it went for too much longer)! A visit with Nan and Grandad for the Sunday brunch then off to see Teagie at Jay Jays, 'Mummy' tried on some new clothes, as I am currently juggling 3 pairs of shorts that actually fit me. And we had a win.... currently sitting at a size 10! Haven't been there since I was about 16!

Lilli had a milkshake and cookie at Jamacia Blue, Mummy, a flat white :) Then over to Kmart and got a couple of winter bargains for Miss Lilli, before a few groceries and home for a relaxing afternoon, oh and to spend 2 hrs blogging of course ;P

Lunch was a little late... But not 4hrs late ;p Red cabbage, Beetroot, feta, spinach and Chicken salad. With 10 almonds.


Afternoon tea, feeling like something sweet (whats new?) So a greek yoghurt, 1 pumpkin crunch bite, crushed up and 1/2 a choc fudge protein bar chopped! Yummo!!!



Hope you have all had a great weekend and have an even better 1st week of the holidays! We are off to the movies tomorrow so, I'll be smuggling in my almonds for morning tea!

Remember... If you have a 'big goal' please, please, please follow it up with a couple of little ones for when you get that big one and don't know what to do with it!

Once, again... thanks for the continued support and to those who religiously follow me.. You are the reason I am still here!