Whole9 30 Day Challenge Day 24

School is taking over my life - not sure if Im liking that!  Hope for a change in a few weeks.

Today was my full day today
4 classes, house meeting, duty and meeting with parent and filming after school!  Phew! Favourite parting the filming for our house assembly in a couple of weeks.  Was a lot of fun :)

Breakfast:  Breakfast Slice and coffee, plus a long black on the way to work :)

Lunch - Salad and Tuna

Dinner - Kebab - did not eat flat bread - had mixed meat and veges inside it, with some beetroot sauce to make sure it went down plus water of course.

No exercise today.

No work was taken home tonight.  I needed some time out so went to the movie - Chronicle - had a cup of cashews (heated with a little salt) not the best choice but it cured my hunger for a couple of hours until dinner and had lots of water in the movie.

It was good movie a little like Cloverfield in the filming but an interesting storyline.  Made me wonder what I would do if I had all that power...

Going to bed at an incredibly early time for me tonight - 930 - lets see if I sleep until morning.  Lets hope!

Whole9 30 Day Challenge Day 23

Whew...what a full on day.  First of there was rain.  Great way to start.

It was the first day of classes.  First day impressions - the classes seem alright although all quite large in numbers, not too many spare seats - In my Year 11 classes - 30 15 year olds definitely take up a lot of room!.

Not quite how my classes look these days!

Breakfast - Breakfast Slice and coffee

Lunch - Left over Thai Chicken Curry and salad

Dinner - Paleo fish cakes with salad - band wasnt liking it though.  Didnt eat all salad - took ages.  Fish cakes were yummy though!

Snacks - nuts and baby carrots

Drink - water and too many long blacks - it gives me a kick but hope after get into school I ease up on them a bit!

Too tired for gym - physically wasted - body was going no where when I got home!

Walked dogs at the beach in the wind and rain once I had chilled out for a couple of hours, I was glad I made the effort (as were the dogs :) )

Whole9 30 Day Challenge Day 22

The little Year 9's were in at school today.  So cute, all keen and perfect uniform.  Long may it last!

Had the worst sleep last night, grrr.  I hate when I don't sleep that well.  Coffee was seriously on the agenda today!

On the way to work - dropped into Alicetown Espresso -  a new coffee bar very close to where I live and completely on the way to work.  Of course had the long black - was good, and quick service :)

Someone asked me what a long black was - I realise this is a coffee that has the name in Australia and New Zealand, not realising it may be different in the rest of the world.  So here is what a long black is: 

From Wikipedia :)

A long black is a style of coffee, most commonly found in New Zealand and Australia. It is now becoming available in the UK, predominantly in London.
A long black is made by pulling a double-shot of espresso or ristretto over hot water (usually the water is also heated by the espresso machine). A long black is similar to an Americano, which is made by adding hot water to the espresso shot; but a long black retains the crema and is less voluminous, therefore more strongly flavoured.
The order in which a long black is made (water first, espresso second) is important -- reversing the steps will destroy the crema from the espresso shot and make an Americano.


So at work I played Dean today - no longer Form teacher.  I visited classes.  Lots of walking around - its good to be out and about like that.  Will need to make sure am wearing good shoes if this is what Deaning involves!

Breakfast: Breakfast Slice and coffee

Lunch - Salad with tuna

Dinner - Thai Chicken Curry - coconut milk, chicken, curry paste.  Instead of rice I had egg plant - was delicious!

Snacks - Baby Carrots, nuts

Not enough water as left water bottle at home, and maybe a little much coffee at work.

Dog walk at beach.

Lots of work needed to be done - not going to bed until after midnight!  That has to stop!

Whole9 30 Day Challenge Day 21

3 weeks down! 9 days to go!  I have to say Im pretty used to the changes now, although with the pressures of school have made me start to crave coke zero - so far so good though - no crack in the wall :)

Monday - a full on day - first really as an official Dean.  The older year groups were in for timetabes etc, there was a lot of walking around school.  Lots of time in the Deans office, department meetings, and trying to get myself orientated, both with my classes and teaching them! 

With school I realise, I have to be organised!  My fabulous husband made a breakfast slice with eggs and lots of veges and chicken in it.  Kind of like a crustless quiche.  Divide it into 8 pieces and its lunch for the week!

After a full on day - managed to get lunch at 4.30 just before going to the gym.  I had salad with left over lamb - a bit of a pick me up before going to Crossfit.

Workout consisted of working on:

5 x 5 Thruster/Jerk then 5 Rounds For Time: 10 KettleBell Swings 24/16kg, 10 Lunge Steps with your kettlebell and 10 Hand Release Push Ups.

Results were: 
Thrusters – 15, 20,25, 30, 30 kilos
Metcon – scaled push ups – 7.51
After a very decent workout I went home to dinner - lamb with stir fry veges - yum!

From there it was off the the first Craftsman quiz of the season!  A snack there was chicken tenders and a long black - awesome.

We won the quiz - good start to the year!  Love the movie and tv quiz.  However, the long black left me wired, and hyper!  Not a lot of sleep for me tonight!

Whole9 30 Day Challenge - Day 18

Today was the first full staff day at school with meeting after meeting.  Did not seem to get any breaks - closest was 10 minutes to get a coffee.  It was to say the least Full On!  A little overwhelming after a long break.

Anyway - breakfast - scrambled eggs (3 eggs) plus coffee

Lunch - at 4pm - Tin tuna and salad (homemade)
Dinner - roast vege salad (seen below) - was delicious - put a little green curry paste and rosemary in the mix and was fab!  Nice and easy when I was just plain exhausted!

Drank a lot of water as well.  Had a couple of black coffees and a berry herbal tea.

So tired after school I fell asleep and napped  for a couple of hours!  I missed both evening gym classes, but once up again made effort to get the dogs to the beach for a walk- damn cold by this time but good to get out and move!

Day off Challenge - It's my Wedding Anniversary!

Four years ago today, I married my best friend.  One of the happiest days of my life!  Where has the time gone?  Heres to many more!

Only at work for the afternoon today for Deans training.  I was good most of the day but for dinner all bets were off.  It was time to celebrate my anniversary and have a few hours not worrying about what I ate.

So breakfast - Scrambed eggs with mushrooms

Lunch - was out at a cafe in Upper Hutt, catching up with a friend.  I ordered a zucchini slicewith salad and a long black.  Unknown to me when I ordered, when I started eating it, I realised it had cheese on top, bummer.  One thing you can't be 100% sure on at cafes is all the ingrediants.  Live and learn!

Dinner - We went to Uncle Mikes Kansas BBQ Restaurant in Petone after hearing some good recommendations about it.

Entree - Chicken nibbles with BBQ sauce

Dinner - Smokey Chicken with beans and coleslaw

Wine and Arnold Palmer - not as good as hoped - after not having sugar for a few weeks, it was just too sweet.  Disappointing.  The water was better! (Did I just say that?)

Dessert - Rocky Road Magnum - was alright but I think I had it as part of the celebration not because I actually wanted it.  (Who is this person, and where has Cassie gone??????)

Snack:  Nuts (Almonds and pumpkin seeds)

Lots of water!

Anthony got an impressive slab of pork ribs. 

After he got through the majority of that - no room for anything else!

Restaurant was great and very good value for money :)


No exercise today

Whole9 30 Day Challenge Day 17

First full day at work with the senior students for course approval.  I'm learning that I will need to be well planned to not fall off the wagon at school.  A good day, quite full on, but good to see the students again :)

Breakfast

Scrambled eggs with mushrooms, capsicum, etc
Coffee

Lunch

Salad with leftover meatballs from last night

Could not take any of the free lunch - biscuits, fruit and breadroll.  Glad I had my salad.  Kept me honest :)  A warm day, also a lot of water

Dinner

Some grilled steak and salad (yum)


Managed to get to Crossfit.  Another decent workout.  Worked on Front Squat and got a PR in the 3x5 of 50kilos.  Pretty happy with that :)

Workout was: 
Front Squat or Clean 3 x 5

Then:
10-1 Hand Stand Push Up (I did press ups, just not at that stage just yet!)
1-10 Pull Up (I did body rows)

Also went to see Sherlock Holmes too - loved it - just as good as the first one!

Whole9 30 Day Challenge Day 16

I never sleep well before the first day going back to work - even if I go to bed early, my mind still races with all that I need to do, what is going to happen during the day etc.  I usually get up on the first morning shattered, wondering if I had even had a holiday - today was no exception. 

The work day was not too strenuous, it was a couple of hours in my new role as a Dean working with my co-dean and Head of house and the house leaders to plan the first part of the year.  Mainly it involved - getting to know each other, planning the first days for students, the first assembly, the leaders role, and Athletics day.  It was pretty productive, I must say and I left the meeting all excited and motivated :)

I have a new desk in the Deans office - thats exciting!  Once I get my own key I can move in and make that area my own (plus it is another place I can put my stuff...he he he).  There was a bit of organising, then looking at students results, and signing kids into courses, or on the other hand - taking them out as they didn't meet the entry requirements.  It got done, and I got to go home - pretty shattered.  This working business sure takes it out of you when you have just had a pretty decent holiday!

Anyway onto the food:
Breakfast - Scrambled eggs, with ham and mushrooms
               - Coffee

Lunch - Homemade salad with lite chilli tuna (from a can, but looked reasonably ok to be able to eat on this plan)

Dinner - Salad with homemade meatballs - with the meatballs been made of lots of vege with mince- very tasty.

Snacks - Almonds, and sunflower seeds.

Drinks - A lot of water, and herbal tea.

Exercise was an hour long walk along the river bank on a beautiful Summers night with no wind :)  Both Anthony and I loved it, and the dogs well their enjoyment goes without saying really.

I'm Back - Still Alive and Kicking!

3 months has gone by since my last post.  A lot has gone on in my life since then.  As many say - with such events - the weight loss has taken a back seat although stayed within a 5 kilo range.  A new year though, and time to kick start the weight loss to achieve my goals!

This post is just to sum up 2011 for me.  While there was a lot of positive - there are many things Im glad that I can (almost) leave behind in 2011.  I don't call 2011 a winning year.

Here is the summary:

Lap Band Surgery - Late January 2011

After a failed attempt due to a muscle relaxant allergy - I finally had success with getting banded.  Almost 12 months later I stand between 40 and 45 kilos lost.  Today I was looking at old photos - and I was disgusted on how I was and let myself get that big.  I'm still big even today but shrinking :)  It is not instant - but a journey which requires effort and using the lap band tool to assist the weight loss and improvement in health.  After about 3-4 months my energy levels did pick up and I have noticed an overall improvement in my general health as the year progressed.  May it long continue.




Just before First Op - 2010

 

December 2011

The School Year

A busy year.  Not the happiest for many staff - morale rather low with building destruction/construction, the threat of redundancies, some losing managment units, and having ERO (the school inspectors) visit - always stressful.  A couple of tough classes.  Events happening outside of school didn't help, but I made it through.  When the Dean position came up for applying - I had got to the point - what have I got to lose?  Nothing!  I applied, and got a fixed term position for 2012 - totally stoked and a fantastic challenge for me.  I was going for less stress this year, but they do say change is as good as a holiday!  I'm excited and get another desk to put my stuff on - wicked!

End of Year Staff Do - 2011

Dad

Dad was diagnosed with bowel cancer earlier in the year.  Quite a shock and extremely upsetting.  I am a Dad's girl and while delayed - the effect hit me hard.  He had surgery - got his bowel resected, and commenced chemo.  After about 5 months he was taken off the chemo - the effects were starting to out weigh any good it may have been doing, and the oncologist was quick to stop it.  The chemo was a precaution if any cancer was still remaining.  Since finishing chemo - Dad has improved everyday - back to the Dad I know and love, getting more active all the time.  Im guessing he will go for tests sometime early this year.

Mum

A couple of weeks after we returned from Melbourne, I found out that Mum had been diagnosed with breast cancer (two parents in one year - what are the chances).  It was detected early due to Dad nagging Mum to get a mammogram.  A small lump it was removed in mid November through a lumpectomy and she has recovered well.  She will start radiation therapy in late January.

I have spent a lot of time down south in Dunedin this year, and due to go back down for a week during this week.  I'm hoping that this pending visit will be more positive than the few previous ones.

My Bro

2011 was an awesome year for my lil' bro.  He found love with a fabulous lady who is also a designer who has her own line of products including teatowels, prints, etc.  I hope to get to know her better over time. They moved in together in Dunedin in November and seem very happy together - just lovely :)  He is a different person to a year ago. He also took redundancy in his job which was slowly killing him, and started up his own business which seems to be going well with many job opportunities popping up for him in digital/computer design - including designing websites and city council maps.

Crossfit

When my personal trainer sold his business, I was referred to MaD crossfit.  I had never heard of crossfit before, but now will never look back.  It is truly one of those great things that has happened to me.  Using your own body weight and no machines but weights and just the rower, I have pushed myself more than I have ever done in any gym previously.  I have become so much stronger, and on Christmas Eve, I deadlifted 120kilos!  I love the weight lifting aspect, and have also got better at push ups, a scaled sit up, step ups etc.  I have even done short runs now and again - never thought that would happen. I got myself inov8's - barefoot running shoes which actually made running more comfortable for me. The coaches and people who go there form a very supportive community in which I am very appreciative. They also keep us accountable and keep things varied - so definitely not boring!

They adapt the Paleo lifestyle, which while hard to do at times I have stuck with a couple of aspects of it.  Essentially in a nutshell - it descourages eating processed foods, including processed sugar, dairy,  alcohol and grains etc.  It encourages fresh vegetables, and meat along with some nuts and some low GI carbs (eg kumara).  It is a huge learning curve and I am starting a paleo detox for 30 days on Monday.  It is hard to do strict long term, and has been said can take a year to really adopt the lifestyle properly.  The biggest issue with me - sugar - I like the sweet.  With the band - I have little to no bread, dough or rice as it is too uncomfortable to eat.  I call it a bonus as I avoid it now which is good since I used to chow down on the baked goods.  The Paleo does make you feel fab after about the first week of so of getting rid of the crap in the system.  This will be good post Christmas!

Sara

Mid-year I found out I had a sister - yep that's right - I was as surprised as you are!  Turns out my mother had a daughter about three years before I was born and before she met Dad.  A dark skeleton in the closet! My brother and I were found via facebook by a P.I they had hired.  Initially and honestly for a while - I was what the?????  My brother approached Mum about it and she is basically a closed book about it and won't talk about it.  To my surprise - Dad doesn't know either - not entirely sure how that is possible but seems to be the case.  So if you know my Mum and Dad - this is NOT a subject you bring up in conversation.  I would hate to think of the fallout from it.  Anyway, I met Sara, her husband and son Angus when we were in Melbourne.  Just a couple of occasions - to the Aquarium and lunch, then drinks and the Casino. I now say I have a sister (half-sister) and when talking to her - it felt like I did know her - definitely something there.  She looks a lot like my Mum and definitely holds herself like Mum too.  My husband found it unnerving talking to her as he siad it was like talking to Mum.  I do aim to find out more about the whole saga - I have many jigsaw pieces - I just need more to start putting more of them together!  Its exciting now.  On a selfish side - I do feel a little ripped off that I have missed out having a sister for 33 years of my life, but at least I have got many years to get to know each other.  Also I got bumped down to middle child (biologically that is) - still oldest by nature though - Im far to bossy.  It's cool to have a nephew too - Angus is pretty awesome :)

Adoption

In December, after 1.5 years going through the application process (with gaps) we have been approved for domestic adoption.  From here, my holiday job is to make up our profile which gets sent to the biological parents when they are choosing the adoptive parents.  By the end of January - we should be finally in the selection pool and then the wait to be chosen begins.

Friends marriages/babies

Nicky and Jamie

Frances and Isla

Davanea and Caid

Kelly and Riki

Fiona and Sophie

Laura and Hami

Ed and Ava

Michelle and Andy

Engagements, marriages and babies continued in 2011.  My bestie Frances and husband Shane welcomed Isla - a brother for Otis in May.  One of my best friends Ed got engaged to Sarah and in August became parents to baby Ava.  Fiona and Sam had their second daughter - baby Sophie in May.  Laura and Hami got married in February.  Michelle and Andy got married in July.  Mel and Nick had baby Charlie. Megan and Shaun had baby Jackson.  Davanea and Nick had baby Caid in March. Duane and Tash got engaged.  Kelly and Riki got engaged.  Nicky and Jamie got engaged and are soon to be expecting their first child.  My cousin Christine is four weeks off having number 2.  Many work people had babies or are not long off doing so. 2012, I'm sure will be no different.

Melbourne

The trip to Melbourne was fantastic - loved it so much.  Weather was fab, seeing friends and family awesome, and so much to do, see, and enjoy.  Food was fab, and spent a lot of quality time with hubby.  Best parts:  meeting my sister, hiring a flash car and driving the Great Ocean Road, the hotel we stayed at,  the zoo and aquarium and shopping! Could easily go back to explore all the things we ran out of time to do!

Anthony and the dogs

Nearly 4 years of marriage this month.  Anthony had truly been my rock in the past year with all I have had to deal with.  Constantly I get reminded I married the right person, and look forward to more adventures with him.  The longer I am married, the more I understand its importance.  Being married is cool! :)

Our dogs are also cool.  Honey nearly 4 and Layla 2.5 they are dogs now more than puppies, and are fabulous companions, each with their unique personalities.  Don't know life without them.

Social

Lots of things going on, including a Royal Wedding and NZ winning the Rugby world cup!  Good friends and family certainly never keep life dull!

So thats 2011.......bring on 2012!