Weekly Weigh-In: Week 2

I'm squeezing in the weigh-in early this weekend because I have my work Christmas party starting at 10.30am. We're doing a wine tour in an area that also specialises in fudge and cheese, so I think my weight may go up by the end of it. :) I was doing really well with my goals for last week for the first two days: I went to the gym for 5km runs on both Monday and Tuesday and only snacked on 5 Malteasers at work. Wednesday and Thursday I didn't get to the gym because I start work at 8am (I normally go to the gym around 6am) but I did play centre for netball rather than goal keeper so lots more running. It all came crashing down on Friday though. I only went to the gym for 20 minutes on the cross-trainer as the running had been giving my trouble with my calves. We had an 'offline day' at work, which is esentially a planning/catch-up on work day but they always involve a lot of sugary snacks and take-away for lunch.

Overall I did make some progress and lost 0.8kg which is encouraging. I'm also keeping track of measurements for my waist, butt, thighs and arms and it appears I lost all of that from my thighs so my goal now is to spread that loss around a bit more. I'm hoping if I go back to adding in some weight work at the gym that will help. I'm also going to focus on eating healthier at home. It's previously been common for me to come home from work and have a handful of chocolate biscuits and some ice cream before dinner. This week I've picked up extra fresh fruit and some yoghurt.

Week 2
Weigh-in: 73.7kg
Progress since last week: -0.8kg
Overall progress: -0.8kg
Fitness goal: Continue with 3 gym sessions, one to include a weights session.
Food goal: healthy snacking at home.

We are the Apples of his Eye

This photo is one I've been meaning to scrap for a while now, because I don't get too many ones of most of my family all together anymore. It was taken after we had gone out for breakfast and bowling for Father's Day last year. Not a bad effort for a self-timer effort. :)

The background was fun, I love getting to mess with paint and I use really bubble wrap rather than the Kaisercraft stamp (though I'm starting to wonder if the stamp would be easier). The cute button down the bottom is from Lil' Red Rocket, the two flowers are from Pretty Paper Petals (so upset this store closed, I loved their stuff).

This is also my entry for The Lollipop Ladies DT. This fortnight we were inspired by toffee apples. I went with the green/red/brown/white colour scheme and used a lot of circles in my LO.

The added challenge was to use acetate. I've use a little piece for an embelishment, as you can see in the close-up below.

You can add your entry any time in the next two weeks to be in the running for a $10 gift voucher to Annabelle Stamps.

Weekend Weigh-in

In the lead up to to my wedding I was going to the gym quite a bit because I wanted to look my best on the big day. I started 2011 weighing around 71kg (I'm 175cm, just so you can put it into perspective). For the last month or two before my wedding on the first of May I was going to the gym 5-6 times a week, plus playing basketball and netball as well. This resulted in me getting down to 68.5kg and looking like the photo below which was taken whilst on honeymoon. Would you look at those abs?! I had totally forgotten I had them. :)

In the 6.5 months since the wedding I have not been to the gym once and netball attendance has become sporadic. I've also started snacking on a whole lot of junk. As a result, my weight has soared to 74.5kg which is the heaviest I've even been (I managed to gain 1kg just this past week!). I've decided it's time to take action and get my butt back into shape. I work best with some kind of accountability and right now I don't have the funds to pay a personal trainer to provide that so I'm going to detail my fitness goals for the week, and hopefully my weight loss progress, here. If I can work up the courage to get back into my bikini I might add some 'in-progress' photos too.

Week 1

Weigh-in: 74.5kg

Progress since last week: 0kg

Overall progress: 0kg

Goal: attend 3 gym sessions

Food: no snacking at work

Unleashed LO

My husband is down in Melbourne this weekend for his best mate's bucks party so I've been left to my own devices since Wednesday night. I decided to fill in some of the time by attending a scrapbooking class at my LSS. It's been AGES since I've done a class. The last couple of times I've had the time I haven't liked the pages that were due to be taught. Anyway, I couldn't go past this fantastic design so I decided to sign up and do another page of Ben's lovely doggie Bonnie.

Class was by Lynda of Addicted to Scrap, who now teaches at The Stampers Hut in Ashmore, QLD. Papers are by imaginessence.

Giveaway Winner

So my blog giveaway ended over the weekend and I only had two entries. :( The winner was Toni Cartwright, with the runner up being Crafterkhush. If you could both get in touch with me by email at loz_ritchie @ hotmail.com and let me know your addresses, I'll get the prizes out ASAP.

You Make Me Happy LO

It's been a while since I've worked with a palette of such mixed and vibrant colours, but a couple of the challenge for this month called for just this. I had a great time using up some of my left-over paperscraps making the background on this LO. The banner is differing fabrics and was such a pain! The big orange flower is by Pretty Paper Petals, the green button by Lil' Red Rocket and the other two buttons by Ronnie Doll.

The first and primary challenge I made this LO for is The Lollipop Ladies blog. Inspiration this fortnight is sour gummi worms with the added challenge of sparkles. The prize this fortnight is from Mad for Markers.

The colours of the gummi worms also tied in nicely with the Get Picky inspiration challenge #13. This challenge has the addition of having to use fabric, which can be found in both the banner and the flower.

Lastly, I used the sketch at Handmade by Suzanne as my inspiration.

Young Crafters Unite Blog Hop

As you probably already know, since I'm assuming this is why you're here, Young Crafters Unite is having another blog hop. You should have come from Jessica's blog, Country Scrap.

The current challenge for this month is to create a masculine themed card. I thought I'd whip something up using some of the scraps I had from the Blue Awning range. The chipboard is from Scrapmatts and the saying is from Kaisercraft.

 

While I've hopefully got some new visitors to my blog I thought I'd also take a chance to promote my blog giveaway, which is ending this weekend. Full details can be found here.

Anyway, thanks for stopping by and I hope to see you again. If you're following the blog hop you should be popping of to Scrapping and Life by Alanna. It's a blog well worth checking out, she's a lovely lady and does beautiful work.