challenge week 6 / no matter the weather?

I was so looking forward to a week of walking, even if it was very cold... I would just bundle up and not let the icy wind get in my way. But I didn't count on ice-layered footpaths, which have me, and everybody else, slippin' and slidin' to wherever we need to go!
Forget those fastpaced walks, no way I'm going to risk a sprained ankle or worse.
So now I'm dancing around my house to the sounds of my favourite tracks.I'm calling it light cardiodancing. And it's fun, but still, it's indoors.
I'll just have to dance my way to another pound of weightloss, as the weather forecast doesn't get better any time soon.

challenge week 6 / more snow

Now there's some real snow, everything is covered in white, not yet a picture postcard, but nice.
I'm going to the movies later, but first a salad dinner at the cafe on the corner, probably with one glass of wine.
This is my deload week, so no Dax Moy workouts, just 2 short walks in the cold this morning and some light cardio this afternoon.
Of course this week will flash by, and I'll be back to grunting and sweating again, but in the meantime.... taking it easy! Yeah!

challenge week 5 / another week gone

Already 5 weeks into this challenge, only 2 pounds down (gained 1 pound again this weekend), but 1 1/2 cm off my waistline. Achieved a little, still a long way from my goal.
Today I tried to finish Reboot 2 with the 2 workouts left to do, but I decided to just stop. Maybe if I didn't have to leave to go to work I might have finished one, but I'm so looking forward to a deload week and that seems to block me from finishing. I'm not going to feel guilty over this.
I'll probably do a little something at work, around 8 pm when everybody's gone and it's quiet enough to do some squats and lunges without interruption.
I'm having a soup and some salad for lunch and then hurry to work..... I'm looking forward to getting back home already!!!

challenge week 5 / snow!

I got up late this morning, and it was snowing! But it's all gone now, just the cold hasn't vanished along with it.
I tried to do a workout, but couldn't get up the energy. Went to work on some images instead and am happy with what I got done.
And now it's time again to put on my coat, hat and gloves and walk to work.
Feels like a boring day!

challenge week 5 / alumni lunch

Getting up early is great for getting heaps done. Worked a bit, did an EDT workout, cleaned the house a bit (one of my least favourite things in life) and then dressed warmly for a bycicle ride. Because the cold front has now hit Amsterdam. Although with the sun shining it was actually a very nice ride, and took the longer scenic route along the zoo.
I was invited to an alumni lunch for former art academy students. I imagined a big room with tables and benches and  very non ED food, with wine. Instead it was a much smaller room with couches, food on a side table.
Bit of a let down, but it was nice meeting people I hadn't seen in a while (or even 20 years!). And could make sensible food choices, although I did have a nice piece of cake. But no coffee, no white sandwiches, no soda.
Then off to work - another working weekend - and without the sun it wasn't very nice any more. Cold!

challenge week 5 / a cold winter?

I went to some shops this afternoon, I have a long list of "to do" stuff , so I can strike a few things off.
(It seems that when you strike 1 thing off, 2 new things need to be added.) In one of the shops people were talking about the cold and someone said the prediction for this winter was: the coldest since 1000 years!!!!!
Not 10, not 100, but 1000 years!!
Where do people hear these things? And they believe it? It's a joke, right?
I'm still hoping the temperatures are rising and palm trees will grow along our beaches - been very disappointed thus far - but now obviously we are heading towards a new ice age? Brrrr, I hope it's not a repeat of last year .... or worse.
So, a quick trip to the shops and the rest of the day indoors. 2 Workouts done and mainly  ED food (tossed some noodles in the stir-fry). I'm feeling energetic en getting lots done, the last week especially. Although it was nice yesterday to just relax during a long train ride and read half a book.

For me, tomorrow is the start of another 3 days working 2 jobs and already longing for Monday.....

challenge week 5 / over the moon!

I'm totally surprised and VERY pleased! Just stepped on the scales - what would those 2 glasses of wine do to me? - and lost another pound. Wow, that's 3.3 lbs in 3 days! 3 workouts a day, thank you!
And also another 1/2 cm from my waistline, even better..... this means I reached my first goal, wanted to lose this much before meeting up with my sister.
I'm so over the moon with this result I could do another workout right this minute! Well no, need to jump under the shower and then catch a train.

challenge week 5 / tuesday

So pleased this morning that I lost those d...... 2 pounds again. A working day at home, no deadlines, no pressure, my favourite kind of day!
Also managed a workout, ED lunch and then went out to meet some colleagues, and had 2 glasses of wine. I really enjoyed that, but again dreading what the scales will say.
More days of temptation to come....

challenge week 5 (!) / went nuts

Monday was a perfect day.
Got all my work done ahead of time,  2 workouts before 3 pm, prepared a nice ED lunch, took a prepared ED dinner to work, no snacks and at the end of the day I felt very satisfied with myself.
But just before going to bed I felt the urge to eat something and finished off all the nuts I could find! Disaster!!
Felt very deflated, and was sure that the 1 pound loss would be gone.
Why do it? Rationally, it makes sense I guess. Having dinner at 6.30 pm and not eating anything else till 11.30 pm, is a long time to go without food.
So, either I should go to bed earlier, which means coming home from work and then immediately jumping into bed. Don't like that. Or I should eat a little snack around 9.30pm and hope that avoids the hunger pangs.

The good news: LOST another pound! Amazing, it must be all those workouts I did in the weekend, and an almost fast on Sunday. Now I have to try and keep that weight down.
First obstacle: I'm going for a celebration drink around 4 this afternoon and I already know what that means..... wine, nuts and snacks.

challenge week 4 / weekend!

3 long days working at home, got heaps done AND promised myself 3 workouts each day as I was lagging behind.
Got it all done, especially 5 alive, tortured myself with that one every day. Managed to improve the divebomber somewhat, so an accomplishment there.
I was planning a fast day today, but after the first workout this morning I started to feel nauseous, so had a little carb snack, and then later in the day 2 boiled eggs. Ate a low carb dinner with organic chicken, courgette & chickpeas, I wonder if I lost any weight? Will weigh in tomorrow morning, it would be sooooo nice to see just a little improvement.
I looked at my foodbook I kept during MAP and was amazed at how quickly I started losing weight then. Not happening now though.....
Just glad it's winter and I can wear thick sweaters.

challenge week 4 / day 25

Got lots done today! Working at home is so much nicer. No distractions, just me and the computer.
Happy with the amount of photowork done, also managed 3 workouts. I needed to catch up and managed everything before dinner. Probably because food was easy, not a lot to prepare
Breakfast was a yoghurt/banana/omega-3 seeds smoothie. And for lunch a pumpkin, apple and ginger soup from my favourite health store. All organic, nothing added. Love the hot spicy ginger taste. + 1/2 sandwich with houmous.
My workouts are easier with carbs, although not so good for weightloss.
I still have a whole evening to do as I please, so I'll probably do something boring like clean the house a bit, and watch a DVD, and might even take on some more work. Nothing exiciting for me tonight!

challenge week 4 / tuesday

Not always easy to come up with a catchy title. My mind is a bit foggy, I had a little nap, the photoshoot today  went on longer than planned, but it went great and I've got some good images to work with.
But... it interfered with my planned lunch, as it was already after 2pm when I got back home, and hungry, so instead of my lentil coconut cream soup I went to the shop and bought some bread and hummus and devoured that!
Then needed to do lots of work before 6pm, no break for a workout, got to the mailbox just in time - last weeks' assignment finished, and can start work on the next one.
Took a little break, didn't feel like cooking dinner, am I doing a fast? or just no dinner tonight? Or wake up hungry at 3am and eat some more bread?
This seems a lot like the days before ED, when food got in the way of work and I would just eat anything at any time of the day or night.
Felt exhausted just thinking about doing a workout, so went to bed instead. Now just energetic enough for 2 hours work behind the computer, and will call it a day.
Have to do better tomorrow.....

challenge week 3 / a rainy Friday

More windgusts and pelting rain today. It's really nice to stay inside! Which didn't happen, walking through the rain to work and back again.
I ate more carbs, don't think a long period of low-carbs agrees with me. So had a yoghurt-fruit smoothie, always add seeds and/or almond paste. Lunch was shrimps with spinach and green salad. Dinner: omelette filled with some vegetables, carrots and salad , added some rice and mixed it with the salad.
Managed to do the magic 100, but took me 25 minutes, I'm getting slower.
Drinking water has really become a habit, over 2 litres today. Just the getting to bed on time... just before midnight.

challenge week 3 / a stormy Thursday

Lots of wind and rain today and tomorrow, not great days for a run. I will have to do cardio inside again, don't really like that.
My workouts are hard to do, and it might be because I'm only eating vegetables and protein the last few days.
Also a bit constipated, not normal for me, so I'm having yoghurt and fruit for breakfast tomorrow and probably Saturday as well. Might eat some hard boiled eggs as a snack.
Woke up early this morning and got lots of work done, before going to my part-time job.
Breakfast was scrambled eggs with spinach and mushrooms, lunch vegetable soup and an advocado, and for dinner I made chicken and a vegetable stir-fry. Also had some soaked almonds as a snack.
No coffee, that's a miracle really, 6 days without. It helps not to buy ricemilk, so there's no temptation.
My workout for today was 5 alive, still terrible form and had to take breaks between the sets, but got it done.
At work I managed 50 lunges, 50 squats and 50 ... whatever... from the power circuit that's part of the magic 100.
So, another good day for me!

challenge week 3 / 2 pounds down!

Finally, the weight shifted downwards a bit! Doing level 3 seems to help.
+ I'm finally taking the supplements Dax recommends. Managed to find Ashwaganda liquid, although it has more ingredients. Might try something else next time. AND preparing my food with coconut oil.
So, I will see what these improvements bring.
Also managed my 2 workouts today. That won't happen the rest of the week as I have my part-time job as well.
Cooked my dinner for tomorrow, have some soup left for lunch, will make an omelette with spinach and mushrooms (same as today). A small snack: fruit with some yoghurt.
I also listened to the telebroadcast while photoshopping, very interesting, and I'm changing my water routine after hearing what Dax had to say about that. No more plastic bottles, will have to find a semi-glass one. More shopping!
Had a very productive day, got lots of photos done and still some time to relax and visit a friend for a while. Turned down the glass of wine I was offered. Give me water, please!

challenge week 3 / day 16

It's been another busy day and went to bed early! 10 pm, with a book, but only read about 5 pages and turned of the light.
Food was Level 3 again today. After reading how other people are losing so much weight, and mostly on level 3, I thought I ought to try that. Did eat some yoghurt in the morning with apple and omega-3 seeds. Lunch was vegetable soup and for dinner I had some beef and a vegetable stir-fry. Meat and vegetables with coconut oil instead of my usual olive oil. And ate smaller portions.
No snacks between meals, just not hungry.
No workouts, will have to consider this my restday and catch up on Sunday.
Working at home all day Wednesday, so no excuses ....

week 3 / a topnotch Monday

My Monday was perfect. All ED food and Reboot workouts. No cravings and was around  non ED-foods and drinks for a few hours in the evening - chips, apple pie, cake, sweets, and large bottles of coca cola, but nothing for me thanks. I had a glass of water!
I had an exciting photoshoot on location, portraits of 30 troubled youths in a very short time, all done in 2-3 hours (but in a very safe environment) and it went great, lots of fun. They enjoyed it, I enjoyed it and and I have some great shots. Lots of hours photoshopping ahead of me, but looking forward to it.
This afternoon another photoshoot in the studio, so that gives me time to do 1 workout in the morning and 1 workout before dinner. And have to remember to shop for food, because I tend to forget to eat when I'm working like this and then I get hungry and will grab anything. Although there's not a lot to grab at the moment....

Week 3/ new challenges

Sunday was a bit of a mixed day, did one workout - EDT - no problems there, walked a bit, had a dinner planned, but didn't feel like making it, ate out instead. A chicken and vegetable stirfry with some noodles.

Got on the scales this morning, no weightloss. No weight gain, either, which was a relief.

I need to be 100% ED this week if I want to reach my goal, so will try harder. Although it will be a challege as it is another week with lots of work. A photoshoot this evening, I won't be home until late and will probably be loaded with adrenaline! Might take a nap in the afternoon....

challenge day 13/ Saturday

A killing me workout! The 5 alive is just so frustrating... I'm getting nowhere with this one. Grrrrrr!
Apart from that, not a bad day. The weather is still nice and pleasant, it would have been a great day if I hadn't been stuck behind the computer all day. But ahead of schedule, so hopefully tomorrow I can have another long walk.
Haven't felt hungry at all today. Late breakfast was oats with raspberries, arond 11. Then 2-egg omelette with some rye bread, and for dinner I will have the second half of my ovenbaked fish with tomato sauce and aspargus.
Also still need to do my 2nd workout, will be around 9pm. And water, only 1 litre so far, will try to make that two.
No weight loss, in fact I'm feeling fatter and fatter these days!

Challenge day 12/ a very satisfying Friday

It's been a good day on all fronts, working at home today, got a lot done, have been eating all ED AND managed 2 workouts: isomatrix and magic 100, and especially pleased because I tried to do everything with correct form. So no holding onto chairs with lunges and pushups all the way on toes. It took me a little longer (also drinking water during workout), but made my day!
Tomorrow I'm going to tackle the 5 alive again, will make me weep I guess.
Saturday and Sunday working at home (all work and no play for me this weekend), have my meals half planned, and 2 workouts both days. So if I'm not 1 lbs lighter after the weekend, I will have to follow your example Sue!
Our challenge won't be over any time soon it seems...
Have a lovely time in London!

challenge/wednesday

Just a quick summery of yesterday....
Got up early, because still on a deadline to get some photowork done. Managed it all, and had some time to make lunch - a pumpkin soup and venison steak - and a large salad to take to work. My stomach is a bit upset, hope I didn't catch a bug, to much work to do to get sick.
Only one workout - the legs and abs exercise.
Then off to work and the walking to and back from has to be my cardio for the day.
Not much room in my head to be thinking about food for tomorrow, there should still be enough in the fridge to get me through the day. And... no matter what, 5 alive is waiting for me!

a day for walking Monday

Finished a photo-assignment early in the day, and instead of putting it in the mail, I decided to have a long walk and deliver it in person. So about 1 1/2 hours through the centre of Amsterdam, steady pace, no window shopping, only a stop at my favourite health store to buy groceries. Bought lamb and venison, all organic + vegetables, so I'm good for the next two days.
Have worked out as well, day 1 Reboot 2, a revisit, as I didn't manage well the first time. Magic 100 + isomatix (5 reps). Short and doable, except those holding lunges, auch! But got through it all.
So a good day!
Tomorrow another photoshoot, and the rest of the day working at home. Always easier cooking and working out on a day like that.

Food diary:
9am:1 cup of tea (herbal)
10am: a 2-egg omelette with smoked salmon
12.30pm: 1 apple with almond paste and cinnamon
3.13 pm: a small lentil salad
6pm: handfull of nuts
7.30 pm: chicken with green beans

Water: almost 2 litres, but with an hour before bed, should manage the whole 2, maby 2 1/2 litres.

challenge/ one whole week

No workouts today, I decided to have a rest day (apart from walking a lot). Busy with work. And I've decided to revisit reboot 2 this month. When I did it the first time I didn't like the workouts, and did less and less of them, but I will try harder this month.
It was a workday for me, and again the foodplanning didn't go well. That really needs improvement.
No sugar today though, no temptations, although I did have some cravings.....

Food diary:
8am: tea
9.30am: yoghurt smoothie with lots of fruit and omega-3 seeds
1pm: 1 apple with cinnamon
2.30pm: sushi
4pm: handful of nuts
6pm: omelette with salad, beans and some baked potatoes
8.30pm: small handful of nuts

Water: 1 1/2 litres