My Dad

Tomorrow my Dad goes in for surgery.  An update on the cancer.  It seems to be contained as from the CT scan.  However, a length of his colon has to be removed along with his appendix.  He made the joke that he will no longer be a colon but a semi colon now.  Dad humour, but to his credit that was a good one.  While the recovery will take a while, it seems all going well he will be back to normal in time.

My Dad reassuring and settling my nerves before going down the aisle

Proud Dad with new son in law

Father of the Bride speech

I love my Dad.  He has always been the strong one and looked after me.  It is hard to see him in this position.  It has made me aware that my parents are aging.  It is scary.  Now it is my time to help look after him.  This event has truly made my family closer, and I'm glad to get leave from work  - going down home for a week on Sunday to help Mum while Dad is in hospital and then when Dad comes home.

It has been a hard couple of months.  As much as I have tried to not let it affect me at work etc, it has.  The students have been surprisingly understanding.  My mind will be on Dad tomorrow, so hope there is not too much chaos in the classroom ;)

Bad As.....

Weightlifting competition on Saturday.  I can now have weights on all lifts..woo hoo!  Get my t shirt for the competition on Thursday and now have to work out my starting weights and what ones to warm up on.

At the moment my best weights are:

Clean and Jerk - 40kg (88lbs)
Bench Press - 54kg (118.8lbs)
Back Squat -  57.kg (126.5lbs)

Looking forward to it and been doing a far bit of training.  Who knew I would be doing this a year ago??

Weight Loss...

The Paleo Challenge is in Week 3 now.  Have lost 2 kilos since my last weigh in.  Am feeling better (kind of detoxed)even with everything else going on.  So now I have lost 36 kilos (79.2 lbs).  More and more clothes dont fit properly.  My whole body is changing shape as well as getting smaller.  I have gained muscle with more exercise, but am finding some loose skin in places....yuck!  Have definitely found having coconut milk in my protein shake in the morning instead of milk satisfies me more, and it is yummy!

And finally...

If you need a good laugh and some light hearted stress relief.  Watch this!

 Loved it!

The 30 Day Paleo Challenge

Another challenge for me.  In a time where everything is processed including our food, my trainer has shown me a way of eating where everything is natural.  Called the Paleolithic Diet - it simulates what man ate in Paleolithic times (Stone Age) a period of about 2.5 million years duration that ended around 10,000 years ago with the development of agriculture.

Centered on commonly available modern foods, the "contemporary" Paleolithic diet consists mainly of meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, roots, and nuts, and excludes grains, legumes, dairy products, salt, refined sugar, and processed oils.

My gym has encouraged us to partake in the 30 challenge to help one of the members who wants to work on her energy, weight loss etc for boxing.  We buddy up with another member - my excellent inspiring partner is Ann.  We have decided to share our food diaries each day to keep us accountable and avoid the consequences as listed below.

DETAILS OF THE 30 PALEO CHALLENGE

Start Date: May 16th

For 30 days, eating clean – what does that mean?

Are you completely new to primal eating (chocolate Milo cereal for brekkie, sammies for lunch and couldn’t recognise a zucchini if it bit you?) or a veteran (can’t remember the last time you ate sugar and you kill your own meat)?

It’s tough to make changes to dietary habits that may have been a part of your entire life. So take it slow. If you can meet the requirements for an entire week, try the next step.

Step one (Week 1)


• Cut out all liquids except, coffee, tea and water.
• Try to add veggies/fruit to every meal/snack
• Eat some form of animal protein at least 2 times a day
• Reduce, then remove all sugar from your diet
• Take 3 grams of fish oil a day or at least up your fish intake.

Step two (Week 2)

• Reduce, then ultimately eliminate all grains from your diet (oats, rice, corn, quinoa can be the last to go as they don’t contain gluten, but they are still very high in carbs)
• Ensure a serving of healthy fat at every meal/snack (A serving is 1-2 tbs of oil or butter, or 2-4 tbs of avocado, coconut or nuts)
• Eat some form of animal protein at least 3 times a day
• Continue to focus on veggies and fruit, but try to emphasise veggies more.  A 3:1 ratio of veggies:fruit is good over the day.

Step three (Week 3)

• Only consume dairy, fruit or starchy veggies such as potatoes, kumara and parsnips AFTER exercise, and only if it lasts longer than 20 mins or is at high intensity. If you can handle dropping the spuds, do so as they are much higher in carbs than all other veggies and are actually not that nutritious.

Step four (Week 4)
This is for people who have their nutrition extremely well dialed in and want to fully lean out. Try for just 30 days.

• Drop dairy, fruit and starchy veg completely

CHEAT: you will owe your partner $40 and 100 burpees. This is borrowed from CrossFit New Zealand who currently has their own challenge underway. If you CHEAT 3x in 30 days, you’re out!

Achievable?  I think so!!

What I did in my school holidays By Cassie (age 33)

I finally have got around to blogging about the holidays.  Finally after an 11 week term, two weeks of pure bliss.  No teenagers, no work politics, no bells and time for me and sleep ins!

I got to start the holidays early as the Friday was the last day of our adoption course.  Now completing the course, we will soon be allocated an adoption social worker, be assessed a little more, work on our profile for the people to choose us from (has to be in a binder, like a school project - going to love the presentation factor part - no digital software/dvds etc allowed).  I guess then after that, we go into the pool and wait to be chosen.  For us, adoption is the way we have chosen to go.  Foster care - we are just not at a place in our lives to cope with a lot of the baggage these kids come with.  Maybe in later years.

Anyway, much of my holidays was spent in my hometown - Dunedin.  I hadn't been down for about nine months so the last time was about 3 months before I started on the road to getting banded and beyond.

Good to see parents.  Dad greeted me at the airport, and while waiting for luggage questioned whether I thought the op was worth it since I had restricted my food choices.  I simply said to him I had lost over 30 kilos, was doing so much more with my life and my health was on the improve.  Many of the food choices I have restricted myself on are because if I start eating things like bread (which is sticky anyway) I may not stop.  I love bread.  It is easier just not to have it.  I have had to put chocolate in a similar category.
Mum was funny.  After giving me a hug - said there wasn't a lot there to hug anymore - awww - But trust me still heaps there!

My brother has seen me every few months, and had only seen me a couple of weeks before my visit.  He is very supportive of what I've done though and will give me compliments in his brotherly sort of way :)

I saw a few friends while down there too.  My best bud Fran who is due to have number two any week now.  Number one Otis is almost two.  It is amazing how he has become a little person with a lot of personality since I last saw him.  Fran also commented on the changes, even though she only saw me in January - apparently my face had changed.

What I love about my close friends is their honesty.  Fran and I went to look at clothes one day (Easter sales)  We at a shop and I was trying stuff on, when Fran goes "Cass, you need a new bra.  That one isn't supporting you.  You don't want your boobs to be hanging by your elbows!"  I guess with losing weight, the bra I had on was too big and no longer supportive at all.  So for the first time since I was 12/13 - I went and got fitted for a bra.  When bigger, I would have never done this.  However, since all the procedures I have over the past year or so - I just don't care anymore.  And the lady in the lingerie shop was just lovely and found bras that were just lovely.  Not the small selection I had to chose from previously.  So I got two for now (she said with losing weight - don't buy too many in one size) - one sport, one normal.  I may buy another.  But it was a fun experience!  And I do recommend.  Having the right bra - my clothes look so much better!

I also caught up with my friend Julie and her two girls.  Julie was the person who encouraged me to go into this journey, stating at the time, I had to look after myself and be selfish for once.  Also stating that money should not be a barrier.  I have so much to be grateful for.  Julie had also struggled with weight during her life, but one day decided it was going and did what she needed to to do it.  She looks terrific and has stayed that way.  She is a very positive person and highly motivational. It was cool, she could not get over the changes - the body, face, and even my gums were looking healthier.  I had never noticed to be honest.  Also my nose was thinner.  Her girls kept saying you are so much smaller and didnt recognise me at first.  He he - found that funny. 
 

Me, Fran and Julie's girls Charlotte and Madeline



Julie, Fran and Me


Saw other friends.  All were very positive about how I had changed.

While down in Dunedin, I was pretty good with the diet, desperately wanting to get rid of the kilo that I had gained in my week of indulgence.  Did a bit of exercise.  Did a lot on my return to Wellington. Also slept a lot.  I realised during this time just how much easier it is to concentrate on good eating and exercise when the stress of work is not there!  As said in a previous post I was rewarded with a 3.2 kilos loss. I also got a small fill (.2mL).  I'm thinking I may just need a .1mL this week to put me fully in the green zone.  See what the nurse says.

The holidays were over too quickly, but I did get to see a couple of movies (Fast 5 and Thor plus DVDs), read books, and caught up with many friends.

On the day I returned to Wellington, I dropped my Dad off at the hospital for some tests.  On picking him up at the ward, the doctor informed my Dad (plus me and my bro) that they had found a growth in his colon.  They had to a biopsy and have since confirmed it is cancer.  I am devastated.  My Dad is the strong one.  He simply said it is all part of life's rich tapestry (about as much emotion as Dad will show - he is British).  It is hoped that it has been caught early and has not spread.  He will have surgery in about 6 weeks or so (tbc) and all going well they can remove the tumour and part of the bowel and it will be all good.  I am really really really hoping for the best case scenario.  So I will be going back to Dunedin to help out where I can.  I feel useless as although I do know there is nothing I can do - the distance and being so far away is hard as I can't just pop over and help where needed.  The phone has been used a lot more in the last week.  In stressful situations like this it is hard not to pick up that chocolate etc, but I made the decision that I need to be at my fittest/healthiest for my Dad so I can help him when he needs it.  I have not touched the chocolate, and found that exercise has helped the stress.  I am in a feeling of disbelief, don't know really what to feel at the moment.  I feel numb.

The rest of the holidays went by quickly.  School work, coffees, lunches and of course the Royal Wedding Party - that was lots of fun.  Pimms cups, tiaras, cucumber sandwiches, British flags, royal waves etc were the order of the day.  Shown at night here, the party continued into the wee hours of the morning.

Crazy? Yeah Maybe :)

It's about time in this journey to make some NSV goals (along with the scale goals aswell of course).  There are the clothing sizes, inches lost etc, however I feel the need to go outside my comfort zone.  And this goal/challenge will do it.  I have entered the following:

This will take place Queens Birthday Weekend.  So at the beginning of June!  It is at the gym I now go to, and is aimed to get women into lifting weights.  My friend Kate reminded me, that once in a hypothetical situation that weight lifting would be my sport of choice if I was to enter the olympics :)  Who knows where this could lead! 

There are 3 lifts to do. 

Squat

The starting position must be completely upright, with the knees and the hips fully extended and with the chest up. The hips are lowered until the top surfaces of both of the legs at the hip joint are lower than the knees, and then the bar is lifted back up. The bottom position is identified by A) the apex of the crease in the shorts formed as the hips are lowered, B) the surface of the top of the patella, C) the plane formed by a straight line between the two, and D) the dipping of the hip end of that plane below horizontal. The finish position is the same as the starting position, and the athlete must return to it before the bar is racked. When the finish position is secure, the bar must be walked back into the rack and successfully replaced.
Any halt in the upward motion of the whole bar, identified at its position on the back rather than at its ends, constitutes a missed attempt, as does any change in position of the feet against the floor during the squat. Any deliberate attempt to lower the bar counts as an attempt.  The squat will be done in the cage and no spotters will be necessary.

I found this pic - good motivation :)

Bench Press

Spotter will assist lifter in getting the bar out of the rack. The spotter will guide the bar over mid chest. There may be communication with your spotter to signal you are ready. The lifter must touch the bar to the chest, then move the bar back up to full lock out position (elbows in full extension). The spotter will then assist to get the bar back in rack position. If the bar touches the rack before the spotter grabs it, there is no lift.
The butt must be in contact with the bench and the feet must be on the ground at all times.

Ground to Overhead (aka Clean and Jerk)

Two hand overhead, anyhow. The most efficient way to accomplish this will be with a clean and jerk. You must lift the barbell from the ground to overhead and finish in a stable, unmoving, locked out position. The athlete’s elbows, shoulders, hips and knees must be locked out and unmoving, and the athlete must wait until the judge gives the audible and visual cue to lower the weight. The bar must be dropped in a controlled manner, with the athlete’s hands on the bar past the hips, for the lift to count.

As can be seen from the above pic, technique is all important.  I am just learning the clean and jerk movements - it's hard!!!  But I will be in that competition - just watch me!!!!

I am loving exercise in general at the moment, the motivation is definitely there too, not in previous years when quite often the pic below described how I felt a lot of the time about working out. I love when it is just easy to want to work out.  I want to stay on this train!!!  Crossfit training rules :)

Under 300 pounds....Yeah Baby!!!

For the first time in well I don't remember, I stood on the scales last week at the clinic, and I had lost 34.9 kilos (76.8lbs).  Working and focusing on being successful with the lap band during the school holidays really paid off, with losing 3.2 kilos in 2 weeks :)  I was stoked!!!  Amazing how easy it was to focus on eating and exercising when there was no stress or work in the way.  YAY!  I haven't actually posted my weight before, but this is a milestone in the journey for me and that is what my blog is about.  So now I weigh 135 kilos (297lbs).  Onwards and downwards I say!!!

So what weighs in at or around 34.9 kilos?  Well there are some interesting things:

This boy

Drinks Dispenser

Baby Camel (awwww cute!)

This sculpture of Keith Richards (made entirely of chocolate!!!)

6 month old polar bear

Fish

Rice dispenser

And I know it's gross, but this tumor!