ASN 10 Week challenge update #15 - 'Officially' finished !!!

Can you really believe it?? Like really!!! I have just finished the 10 week ASN Challenge. And sure.. I've had my 'downs' through the 10 weeks but on a whole, I think I've done a pretty good job :)

There will be 1 more blog update that will feature the final 'Weight and Measurements' and the highly anticipated "AFTER" image! Are you all excited? I hope so :) I'm sure thats why half of you are really sticking around (not because you find my food pics interesting). The photo will be taken either Thursday or Friday this week as it isn't officially due until the 11th :) So lets finish these next 4 days off strong!

And again, we are blogging on a Tuesday! And proudly brought to you by the comforts of Teagie's (my Sister) computer room and iMac! As my computer, ever so conveniently has had a meltdown and freezes every time I open it!!! Freaking awesome, right?! Nope, not so much :( I'm having all sorts of anxiety attacks right now!! Mainly as I am a photographer and my files are full of memories you just can't get back :( I am hoping that the little external hard drive has all my files back up ever so nicely! I am hoping it is fixable and will be as good as new before the final blog is due! And if not.... well, I'll quite possibly be $2000 poorer!

So.... When I signed off last Monday.. It actually took all my might not to 'de-activate' my ASN Challenge posts! I was not in the right mindset (The previous week had played heavy on my mind and just life in general). But, really, who was that going to help!? No one and it was all of you that kept me from doing it! I know I have a fair few followers that read every week (some, that actually stalk my page, for the link on a Sunday)! And then quite surprisingly, some that I never thought would read, that have seen me out and commented on how they love to read my blog :) So.. I realised that just because I was having a 'meltdown' didn't mean that I had to take away one thing that may have kept YOU motivated, committed or continuing on your journey (whatever that may be)!

Anyway... Lets get last week 'Blogged'! (Thank god I got the images edited and uploaded to the internet before the iMac had a tantrum)!

As we all know, I had quite a shit week when I last blogged and struggled to the point of 'Giving up'! But something in me, just pushed through! :) It's in all of us, I have no doubt. But this message that I received was a clear reminder to me, why I do what I do and keep living my life as healthy as I can. I read and re-read it all week and I still read it every time I have a 'moment'!

And a reminder of my goals to 'Inspire'!


Monday breakfast! My fave.. Banana protein pancakes.


PT done and dusted (Although it was a teary session)... Home for a healthy lunch :) Need to stay motivated even after a set back.


Finished off Monday as per usual with a Punchfit session at Get Fit Gladstone :)


Tuesday stared with the normal fasted treadmill walk and some 'Inspirational' breakfast! Sometimes you just gotta 'Believe' in yourself!


Another one of Lilli's meals! Breakfast with a 'twist'!


Morning session was 1/2 upper body weights and then 1/2 Hiit! Nothing like smashing out a bit of cardio to get the heart pumping ;P

Bicep Curls
Back Rows

Chest Press
Tricep Pulldowns

Lat raisers
Crunches

Hiit - 45 Secs on and 15 secs rest x 8 rounds per each exercise!
10 Jump Squats/10 Pulsing Squats
10 Star Jumps/20 Butt kicks
Boxing - 20 Jab cross/20 Uppers/20 Hooks

Afternoon tea....


Tuesday night, Lilli was being a little 'difficult'! And at the moment, it doesn't take much for me to 'Loose my shit'! Needless to say... I was a little 'cranky'! And as it turns out, very proud, but sad at the same time.

Below is a conversation that Lilli had with Mama (my Mum)
Mama: Did Mummy get cranky at you tonight?
Lilli: Um, not really, A little bit.
Mama: I'm sure she didn't mean too.
Lilli: It's ok Mama, I know she's busy... She has the ASN Challenge, Blogging to do, housework and Edit some photos. I understand!

Seriously, she's 5 and has a heart of gold.... for her to say that, I was so proud of how she has grown up but also 'stabbed in the heart' at her little words that shows she loves me and supports her Mummy in anything I do even if it means that I am a mean, crazy nutcase sometimes. I love her more that I can explain, even though a lot of the time I really suck at being a Mum!


Fasted cardio began Wednesday for me :)

And some Back, Biceps, Bum and Abs! Still trying to 'Build a bootie'! It will come, it will come!

After our workout... Teags and I were on a mission to get my hair looking a little tidier for the After photos! Pain is beauty, right!?


Wednesday Arv is usually a Hiit session with Stacy... I was all sorted for Adam and Lilli to drop me off before their bike ride and walk with Ella down at the Marina.

Lilli: Mummy, do you really have to go to Hiit? Can you just come for a walk with us!

Again... Broke my heart and I felt like 'Mother of the year', NOT! It was the slowest 2kms I've walked but it was worth it to see her enjoying her bike ride and as a Family! See I'm not such a bitch after all! I guess we take for granted the most important people in our lives and just sometimes we need to remember.. they are the ones that'll be there through everything! So make 'Time' to share your 'Time' with the ones you LOVE :) You will enjoy it and they DESERVE it!



Love my coconut curry chicken so much, I almost ate it all before I could take a photo ;P



Was feeling a little 'drained' on Thursday... But nothing a 'Super' smoothie and some good carbs couldn't fix! So in the blender went, 1/2 banana, protein powder, blueberries, ice, water and a handful of spinach! Wizz it up and down it goes! Yummo! A piece of wholemeal toast with ABC spread on the side :)

Feeling much better at PT on Thursday morning... even the scales were feeling my 'better-ness'! :)

Home for lunch (Left overs from dinner)



Off to Boxing to finish off Thursday :)


Friday, off to Yeppoon, to drop off my 'old' gym to my Sister (I have no doubt it will get some love)! But off for a fasted walk to start the day :) Followed by a yummy breakfast!


Then, on the road, but not without a prepped 'food bag'! Stopped in at Boost juice for a 'Vegie Garden' lean Green smoothie to go with my boiled egg!


LOVE that my Family is so supportive of my journey!! This is what I was greeted with when I got to Kylie's! Thank you so much!


After lunch we got the 'new' gym set up for Kylie.... And really, how can you not try it out!! ;P So we smashed out a full body weights session, finished off with some cardio boxing!! And a couple more chin ups by me!!! I have another video for proof but you are all probably sick of seeing me do chin ups now! Kylie, you did awesome although you felt like you wanted to spew and probably hated me right at that moment! :)



Friday night we headed to the Yeppoon tavern for a Cheat meal!! Crispy skinned Salmon on a bed of mashed sweet potato! It was so yummy!



Up nice and early for the Farmers Markets!! I love me some fresh fruit and vege! Even at 10 degrees at 6.30am on Saturday morning!


At Easter, I asked Kylie to go to Kaboozies and get me some limited edition handmade Easter chocolates for a cheat meal when I finish the challenge :) This little bag contains so much goodness.... almost can't contain myself ;P And yes, It has been in my fridge for 4 days now and not one craving! I have only one thing on my mind right now and that is the AFTER photos!


Feeling absolutely exhausted today! Really flat, so rice cakes for lunch... Tried out my yummy yellow egg tomatoes that I got from the markets! So sweet :)


Had to head home early so I could make it to the FINAL ASN Challenge Bootcamp! Its kinda sad that it was the last one! But Cross Fit Gladstone along with ASN Gladstone didn't disappoint!!! We had to team up with another person to smash out the session they had planned!!! I was lucky enough to pair up with the lovely Tamara Murphy from The Ultimate Body! This just made me push and work so much harder!!! Who wants to 'fail' while partnered up with a Personal Trainer! OMG!!! It was a tough but awesomely fun session! Thanks Tamara for being my partner :)


Home for some dinner before heading off to Charmaine Wilson on Saturday night with some 'specials'! Had a lovely night out, could have easily finished it off with a coffee and cake but headed home instead!




Sunday - What the hell?! It's not Winter yet, is it!? I LOVE Winter! Well, that was until I realised that I HAVE to get out of bed and get dressed every morning as I have a Preppy and she has to go to school... cold or not! So, I have revised my love of Winter and I prefer Autumn!

So on this chilly morning, I tried out my new muesli and yoghurt that I got from Lilly Pilly Organics while burning a new smell from my fave shop 'Karma Kandles'! It just 'worked' this morning!


Bloody kids Birthday parties.... They'll be the death of me! ;P All those lollies and party food! Aside from me, and my willpower.. the kids had a great time! Thanks for the invite Sarra... And we hope Dayenara had a wonderful day!




Sundays.... Its rest day! Ummm..... Nope, not today! I just had this urge to do a workout! And we all know how much I rely on my Polar heart rate monitor!!! Well.... It died (flat battery)! OMG, it almost made me give up and not finish! LOL.... But I just powered on and finished off another Full body session!


Sunday dinner was Chicken mince 'Bubble and squeak' with greens!



This brings us to Monday again!!! And.... As my silly computer has shit itself! I don't have any pics for yesterday so I will catch up next blog post :)

I hope you all enjoyed today post and I am sure you will all be waiting the FINAL post! Stay tuned.... It could be worth it :)

ASN 10 Week Challenge update #14 - On the home stretch!!!

Holy Moly!!! Who would've thought that I'd be sitting here blogging 1 week out from 'Official' finish date!! Wow... felt like yesterday that I was deciding whether to blog about it at all!! Well, I can say, that I'm totally glad I did!!! And so happy that most of you have all stuck with me from the First update!

So I've worked out that there will be another 2 posts after this one. Yay!? I think! ;P As the challenge officially finishes on Monday the 5th of May (next Monday), My 'After' photos are not due until the 11th May! (almost 7 days after)... Which means I can smash out almost another week to see how far we can get :) I am thinking that I will take the 'After' photos on Friday 9th! So that's almost another week that I can blog about if you are all up for an extra post... and the 'Final' result! Pressure much??

So, last week we 'dealt' with Easter and probably not in the best way that I could have, but It's behind me now! Back on the right track :)

Tuesday, fasted walk :)


Then Teagie came over for a workout! I changed it up a little! We did 1/2 hour of upper body! As heavy as we could manage. Then smashed out a 1/2 Hiit session! First 'Real' cardio Teags has done since her surgery! Hence the reason she looks a little 'buggered' and had the feeling of either 'passing out' or 'vomiting'! LOL..... After something to eat and some water, she was feeling a little better! Love you Teags :)

Superset Weights Workout was:

BB Bicep Curls
BB Back Rows
Sitting Chest Press
Skull Crushers
BB Upright Row

Followed up with a Hiit session! 8 rounds of each exercise. 45 seconds on and 15 seconds rest!

Jump Squat to Chin-up
Single Leg Step-ups
Pendulum Swings with Double Jump


Dinner was Chicken rissoles topped with grilled Zucchinni and greens on the side :)



On Wednesday, I had planned a fasted walk but for some reason my body allowed me to sleep past 5am... right through to after 6.30!! So I had to skip the fasted cardio this morning so I was on time for school drop off! Teags couldn't make it over for a workout cause Lucie wasn't feeling well :( But Shann joined me for some Back, Bums and Abs!!! 'Building a Bootie' is such hard work! Not sure i've made any progress! I guess measurements on Monday will tell me :)

DB Single Back Rows
DB Sitting Reverse Fly's

Lat Pulldowns
Leg Raisers

Sitting Cable Back Row
Weighted Sit ups

Donkey Kicks
Weighted Oblique Twists

Weighted Bridges
Crunches


After my workout, Adam and I headed up to check out the new 'Hoggies' to celebrate our 14 year anniversary :) I wish I could have ordered Steak and Prawns with curly fries and then a Sundae for dessert but... I ordered the Lite cut Prime rib with steamed veges! No dessert :(

Finished off Wednesday Arv with a Hiit session at Get Fit Gladstone.

Picture of my 'boring' Lunch and dinner.... Which was Turkey mince with parsnip and cauliflower mash and greens :)



Thursday - PT was a little bit of Chest and some cardio :)

Lunch was left over dinner from the night before! And One of my snacks. Cucumber, spinach and chicken.


Some 'selfies' from Thursday. (Seriously... who doesn't love a selfie?) After PT, Do I have to go shopping?, and off to Punchfit!



Friday, Fasted walk. Stuggle street! And, really, who can blame me.... look at the motivational pics that I have up on the wall in front of the treadmill!? Really.... I need to give it a make over or install a TV!


Quick Back, Biceps, legs and Abs for this morning before heading off to the Marina with the kids and Teags for a Picnic! I made myself a Chicken salad to take with me! Beautiful day :)


This wasn't one of my snacks today, but it was one of Lilli's! Healthy, and she loves it! Just thought I'd share in case any Mum's are struggling with healthy snack for their kids. Apple slices with peanut butter.


It's 'Flex it Friday!' Altough I haven't got a lot of 'popping' muscles! I thought I'd share some of my Upper body 'flexing'!





Uncle Ray was my baby sitter for my 'Outside' morning walk on Saturday!


Legs, Bum and Ab's session downstairs:)

I am so happy that Lilli finds keeping heathy and fit, FUN! She has been nagging me for weeks to go to the 'Exercise' park! So we spent some of Saturday at the Lions park.. In the Exercise park!




Chin up time!




So... here's something exciting!!! Do you all remember that one of my Original goals at the start was to do 1 un-assisted pull up!?? Well.... I think I did it!!! I have video proof and I tried to upload it here but it didn't happen so you can check it out on facebook!

Saturday arv... I smashed out a Hiit session by myself :( Kinda like having company to keep my motivated and sometimes Lilli yelling 'One more round' isn't exeactly what I need ;P

Exercises were:
Boxing bag
Toe Taps on a stool
10 Bicylce crunches / 10 Ankles taps

Followed up with a Pumpkin and Chicken soup for dinner!



Sunday was REST day although I really felt like doing something but i didn't!

Snack and Lunch :)


Then, spent the rest of the day hangin out with Lilli. Bit of Trampoline fun! Holy Moly.. doesn't that get the heart rate up ;P


Oven baked fish and greens for dinner :) Followed up with a 'Stress Less' green tea to stop those sweet cravings!



So here we are... Monday - Again! Blogging! Just finished PT and weigh in! I am, well, completely shattered and dissapointed in myself! The 'Easter' showed! (A day of eating not much else but Chocolate). I'm going to be honest with you all again... cause, really, whats the point in 'fibbing'! A while ago, I worked out that as much as you say you've done the right thing, If you haven't.... It will show :( I have been a binge eater since I can remember! I used to think that If I eat one thing 'bad' then...... 'That's it, I've ruined the whole day! I'll just eat everything that I want and start again tomorrow!' Nope, not true! I know it's hard, believe me! Easter Sunday.... something came over me and I felt 'that' person coming out! (The one that want's to eat everything). I can't really tell you why... I'm not sure! I think I was concentrating to hard on the 'End' result and It freaked me out a little and the fact that it's the 1 day a year that it's 'acceptable' to each chocolate all day!? What if that 'after' photo isn't as good as I expected? At least If I 'binged' so close to the finish I'd have a 'reason'!? I think it's called 'Self-sabotaging'! I can honestly say, that this is the first time in a very long time that I had felt like that :(

The food that is in my house, has dramatically changed in the last 18 mths! Sure, Lilli still has some 'not-so-good' snacks that go to school with her but other than that, it's pretty 'clean'! Which makes it's easier for all of us to eat 'Healthy'! So feeling like I did on Easter Sunday and having all that chocolate in the house was too much for me to handle! (Really.... I should have just sucked it up and not done it.) Needless to say that the day of Chocolate was a huge mistake and I regret every minute of it :( In having said that If I keep thinking about it, it will get me down so, I'm sure you'd all agree that we just 'get on with it'! I know that I have 'Motivated and Inspired' a few others! But sometimes I think I need be inspired and motivated myself :) I think I'll spend this week focusing on 'Me'! And instead of promising everyone else that I will do well.... I'm going to make a promise to myself :)

See you all next week!

ASN 10 Week Challenge update #13 - 2 Weeks to go!!

OMG.... It's Tuesday! Yep.... extra late with this post. I hope you all had an awesome long Easter weekend with Family and Friends! And Enjoyed all those little chocolatey goodies ;P You are probably all wondering if I 'caved' and had any??? You'll have to read til (almost) the very end and find out ;P

Lets just get to it and load these pics! :)

Last Sunday (Rest day) Hanging out with nothing much to do but watch a movie :)
My weekly coffee! Yummo, with some healthy breakfast to start the day.


Loving my new headband that Teagie bought me :)


I was feeling like Fish and Chips all day on Sunday from the Rainy weather! But I settled for vege chips, grilled chicken on wilted spinach and homemade avocado dip! See... just like 'Fish and Chips'!



Monday, Stacy was back!! And PT was BACK! Yay :)


But I didn't make it to Boxing on Monday night... wasn't feeling very well with a cracking headache. Hence the reson there was only the 1 pic from today!


Tuesday, I started the day with a fasted walk on the treadmill and followed it up with an awesome Back and Biceps session :)

Warmed up with some Yard sprints, star jumps and butt kicks before heading into the weights for some supersets.

Bicep Cable Curls
Cable Back Rows

Hammer Curls
Single DB Back Row

BB Bicep Curls
BB Back Row

Laying Back Extensions
Reverse DB Back Flys
Lat Pulldowns

Tuesday arv, I had some energy (Not sure where it came from) but I headed downstairs and did a quick 30 min run on the treadmill followed with some Ab's!

Lunch - Brown Rice, Tuna, Beans, Broccoli and Boiled Egg!
Dinner - Turkey meatloaf with Greens and Sweet Potato


And my kind neighbours came over with a gift for looking after their Cat and Fish for the week they were on holiday! Just what I needed!!! NOT!!!! Arghhhhhh freaking Chocolate. It'll be the death of me! I unwrapped them poured them into a black bucket so they weren't staring me in the face everytime I opened the freaking cupboard door!!! Did it work? Yep :)



Fasted walk first up Wednesday Morning.... Then Triceps and Legs for weights today! (Sounds weird, I know! I had my reasons!) Another superset session! I love supersets :)

Leg Extension
Triceps Dips

Jumping Lunges
Overhead Triceps

Smith Machine Squats
Triceps Cable Pulldowns

Weighted Bridges
DB Kickbacks

Calf Pumps


After our workout we headed off to Splash Zone with Teags, Lucas, Lucie, Shann, Eb and Noah! Was a lovely day! Fresh air and great company :) I even wore a Bikini! Although I'm still not game enough to take off my shorts!


I also washed and prepped some Beans for the week ;P


Morning snack was Beans, Spinach, Carrot and Eggs! Healthy fuel for a hard workout :) And Dinner, some of those nice washed Beans with Broccoli and Lemon, Thyme and Rosemary Sweet lip!



Thursday!!! Lilli was so excited because Porsche and Kylie were coming to visit for a couple of nights!! But first, fasted walk (I don't normally walk on Thursday Mornings but I did as I knew I wouldn't get to boxing cause we planned to go to Family Night at the Harbour festival). Then off to PT with a boiled egg for some energy :) PT was Chest and Cardio on the spin bike!


Off to visit Nan and G'dad and then home for our visitors! Yay!
I had leftovers for my lunch before we headed to the Hungry Cow to catch up with the Girls :) I ordered a nice Green Tea although I so could have had a nice Vanilla Thickshake and a piece of cake!



So we were all getting ready for Family night and Fireworks!! But then the 'Rains were here'!! Outta nowhere! Oh dear... what to do!? I really didn't fancy taking the kids down to a packed out harbour festival with mushy wet grass and possibly still raining so we compromised and headed to the Tavern for dinner! I ordered the Haloumi salad! It was so so yum, that I didn't even get to take a pic! Sorry guys! Teags and Kylie will tell you how good it looked!!! ;P


Friday!!! I got to walk outside! Thanks to Aunty Kylie for watching Lilli (asleep) while I went for my fasted walk!
Such a beautiful Morning too!! A nice 5ks down before 7am!



Then we headed down to the Festival Markets and let the kids have some Festival Fun!



Adam got his normal 'Dutch Pancakes' and I took my Protein shake with some Almonds!

Before heading to Teags for a Yummy dinner, Kylie finally got to do a workout with me! We've only been trying forever!!! So glad she bought her workout 'attire' to Gladstone this time! We did some Shoulders, Legs and Ab's! But not without PT Lilli Gosley, yelling out what set we were up to and how good we were doing! After our workout we downed a Protein shake, Lilli.. a Bubble 'o' Bill!



BB Shoulder Press
Jumping Lunges

DB Front Raisers
Jumping Squats (Weighted)

Military Shoulder Press
Leg Extension

Upright Row
Sumo Squats

Tank Toners

Weighted Situps
Oblique Twists

Lunch was Tuna, Avocado and Chickpea salad! Dinner, Fennel, Lime and Garlic Parrot fish with some yummy salads that Teagie prepared!! The 'Fried' rice was even made from Brown rice :) Winning!



Another outside walk on Saturday!!! Thanks again Aunty Kylie! You are so awesome!


Kylie joined me again for another workout session this morning! Superset of Fully body!!

Bicep Cable Curls
Overhead Triceps

Bicep BB Curls
Skull Crushers

Sitting Chest Press
Lat Pulldowns

Plate Chest Press
BB Back Row

Smith Machine Squats
Calf Pumps

Leg Curls
Leg Raisers

Kylie - I know you are reading this! I know it probably felt like I was 'killing' you! But you did awesome and I so wish you lived closer so we could do it more often! :)

Then we headed off to have some lunch with the Girls before they hit the road for home (They needed to get home for the Easter Bunny ;P) Miss you all loads and we'll see you soon!
Rice Paper rolls for me!


Saturday afternoon I had to go get the 'Evil' Easter bunny chocolates that I sent home with Mum 3 weeks ago!!! OMG..... I did so well! Lilli wasn't very well Saturday night... she had a temp and a headache! I'm pretty sure it was from the couple of big days we've had! Early bed and early bunny in this house!


Sunday Morning!!! The Easter Bunny strikes!


The day started so well!!!


The Eggs that I was 'Allowed' today! And my snack :)


And this is where you will find out that I DID cave and I DID eat chocolate :( It sucks to have a mega sweet tooth! So after a very quick visit to Nan and Grandad with an Easter pressie... It was home to drown my sorrows ;P This is my completely dissapointed face! This freaking close to the 'Finish' line and I stuff up! Well... no need 'dwelling' on what could have been and what WAS! Just man up and carry on!


Just hung out with a sick little girl for the rest of Sunday.



Easter Monday! Get back on the ASN Challenge Train and charge ahead! Up early for a fasted walk and then a Legs and Abs Session with Teags!

Deadlifts
Machine Squats

Hack Squats
Leg Extensions

Leg Curls
Weighted Lunges

Jumping Lunges
Jumping Squats

Weighted Sit ups
Obliques Twists

Leg Raisers
Plank Holds



That finishes of the week that was and the start of the week that 'will be'!

Hope you all have an amazing week! Kids are coming down off their 'Sugar highs' and settling back in at school so a great week ahead and no more slip ups for the weeks left to come :)