Do tears count as Calorie leakage??

I wonder, because if so I lost a stack of calories in bucket loads tonight.  My mum has done it again, reduced me to tears.  Yep we've certainly had our ups and downs over recent years since my dad passed away, but we are most definitely making huge leaps forward on the way up and continuing on this path over the past year or so.

I got home tonight from work and there was an envelope on the table.  That's my mum for you.  She doesn't have the internet, can't work out how to send sms's on the phone for the life of her, but loves to sit down and write handwritten letters.  That and send every cut out and tidbit of news from the local paper down there to me.

So anyway I open the envelope and there's a card inside.  I started reading and cried like a baby.  How is it that I get to 48 and yet words from my mum can turn back the clock and I'm a young girl once again getting praise from a parent?

But it's all good and I'm still tearful and smiling just reading it again.

In case you can't read her little writing here in the pic, and I'm sure she won't mind sharing, here is what she wrote:

"Dear Carol

I am so very very proud of you.  From where you were to where you are now.  You have achieved so much.  To see you run was so emotional and to see you finish was so great.  You have made such great friends on the way and you look so fantastic.  Keep up the good work.

All my love, Mum. xxxxx

PS.  Dad would also be so proud of you xx"

I knew she had a great morning at the Mothers Day Classic, and I was excited that mum was going to see me run for the first time, but I didn't realise just how proud she was of me.  And I just know that my dad would have been looking down at me and whooping and hollaring with the best of them urging me on.

Okay off to go sob some more.  Photo here taken by the ME Bank (sponsor) photographer.

Now, go hug your mum, or say a prayer for your mum, or ring your mum.  She's probably feeling the same way about you as mine is about me right now.

(on second thoughts, don't ring her RIGHT now, it's late and she'll probably be pissed at you for getting her out of bed!!)

By the way, first weigh in today and I'm off to a cracking start.  800 grams gone.  Considering the last 12 weeks I lost a sum total of 3kg, I'm feeling pretty darn positive with my first week's weigh in of the round.

Weekly Challenge - Inspiration Board

I am going to make a concerted effort to join in more challenges this round, just to ensure I embrace everything.  I want this to be the round that I seriously kick butt with myself, ha!

So the Week 1 challenge was to create an inspiration board.  That is to collate images, words, phrases and objects to inspire me to reach my goals.  Well I've done that in previous rounds, but this round I wanted to take a different tact.  I have achieved a lot of goals over the last 12 months and I want to celebrate that.  I want to bottle the enthusiasm I feel when I am out there and achieving.  Wouldn't that be great.  Bottle it, take a swig any time you needed, for a pep me up and spring in your step.  But seriously, I've climbed mountains, I've lost a huge amount of weight (sure, there's still some to go),  I've run fun runs, I've taken part in exercise challenges,  I've changed my whole look, hair, colour, clothes, I've moved into a new position with my work, I'm more confident, I'm more accepting of compliments and nice comments that people are making, I've made huge inroads into a new me.

So I wanted to celebrate it, remember it, remember how I have gotten to this stage, and keep motivated to continue on this path.  So this is my inspiration board.

This would have to be my most favourite photograph ever that Mike has taken of me.  It was just as I had arrived in Noorat for the Noorat to Terang fun run.  I was chomping at the bit to get started.  Life really is just the best!

The Results are in !!

Found out my official race time for the Mothers Day Classic 8km run.

I was aiming to be under 60 minutes, so I'm thrilled to find out I did it in... (drum roll please) ...

• 56 minutes and 37.3 seconds.  Yahooooooo!

• Overall placing in the 8km run was 663 out of 735 runners.
• 108th place in the Female 40-49 age group.
• And 468th female over the line.

The last two out of how many I have no idea, and no inclination to count through the people under my name on the list.  :-)

This quote pretty much summed up how I felt on Sunday.  For sure.

And a new round starts...

Day 1 today, I'm feeling so positive this round.  I have two main goals for the next 12 weeks.   

Firstly my mini-goal is to get into the 70's.  I will be thrilled the moment the scales say 79.999999999kg.  It's kind of like a ledge to get over, if that makes sense.

My major goal for this round is for my weight to be lower than Mike's, for the first time in our relationship.  He's hovering around the 75-76kg mark.  I figure if I just keep buying him icecream for dessert and Turkish Delight chocolate (which I won't come within six feet of) I should have this in the bag!!  ha!  Only kidding about the icecream and chocky, I wouldn't do that to him ... although ... wistfully looking out into the distance.

OH AND A PS:   I did wear my MDC princess sash to work and I'd still be wearing it right now if I hadn't left it there! tee hee.  I'm getting mileage out of being a princess this week.

Mothers Day Classic

What a terrific day it was today.  I went down to Geelong to do the Mothers Day Classic, also so that mum could see me run for the first time.  It was quite a different feeling this fun run, not having any of the girls from our local crew or friends there also.  But mum sure made up for it.  Talk about proud, she decked herself out in pink too!  When they called to line up for the start of the race, mum gave me a hug and started crying, she was so happy.

Thought I might get a few tips from one of the lifesavers before the race!!  Hmmm, he was the strong silent type for sure.  Wasn't giving much away.

I was running today for three people.  Firstly my very special Grandma Ivy who passed away in 2006.  Secondly my wonderful mother-in-law Pat who passed away in 2008.  Both not having passed away from breast cancer, but both very special women in my life, so my run today was dedicated to them.  And thirdly I was running for my workmate and friend Trudy who is fighting the fight against breast cancer right now.  Having just finished chemo she is about to start radiotherapy, and it was such a motivating factor during the run that when I hit the rises in the park and breathing got labored and legs got heavy, I just thought of Trudes and how crap she feels with her chemo and it kept me going.

With Mike not down for this run, mum became chief paparrazzi, screaming madly as I ran past.  

Poor mum looked more than a little scared at my enthusiasm after I crossed the finish line!  8km under my belt, running the whole way, first fun run I've done that in (my last fun run being back in February).  I felt absolutely amazing.  Mike even commented that having just finished in this photo, I didn't even look as exhausted as I used to look, although my legs are certainly feeling it tonight!!

THE SPOILS OF VICTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!   My little medallion and a banana!!  Oh and a Princess sash which I just may wear to work tomorrow.

So after this, home to shower and change and then off to a special Mothers Day lunch at Empire Grill.  Being that one of my step-daughters now lives in Geelong she came with us and it was just lovely.  LADIES WHO LUNCH!  That's what I want to call us.  We had a terrific time.  And this is what it's all about, to be a good role model for my family, for my stepchildren, and to live a good, honest and healthy life with enthusiasm.

Shhhhh ... don't tell Mish!  But I thought 8km run meant I could partake in dessert.  Between us, okay?  Lemon cheesecake, orange shortbread and mango sorbet.  OMG . IT . WAS . GOOD !

Hope that your Mother's Day was as brilliant as mine!

Melbourne Finale Weekend (part 2)

So much fun, had to break it into two posts!

I love the video played on the big screen and there was a little thrill when I saw my photo on the film clip slipping across the screen. Yay!  My favourite photo ever that Mike has taken of me jumping.

Round 1 of 2013 Finale Video

So after the party the party goers of our crew went off to party some more.  But myself and a number of others just wanted a coffee!  So ended up at a coffee shop at Crowne and each of us partook in coffee and cake.  Yeah yeah, I know.  But it was a planned indulgence.  ;-)

Foot sore and very tired we then slowly made our way back to the hotel.   I think all of us had trouble sleeping that night.  All the dancing we'd done played havoc with our feet.  I remember trying to find a position in bed where my feet didn't hurt.  But ... no matter because I was down in the foyer bright and early at 7.30 waiting for my other crazy friends, even after all last night, we were going to run The Tan.

Err not my finest pose, no core strength happening there!  But what a great run it was, and I got up the Anderson Street Hill without stopping.  Not having run the whole week before, I was amazed at how quickly you lose form.  No matter though, I've certainly upped the ante this week and am firing on all cylinders.

Well our last group activity was breakfast on the Sunday morning and some of our crew had booked into The Langham for their very sumptuous and special buffet breakfast, this was to be the big treat of the weekend.  OH MY!  I can't even begin to explain.  Breakfast goodies of every persuasion - fruits, cereals, the most delicious bircher muesli I have EVER tasted, breads of every description, a whole display full of different juices, pastries (stayed away from those), all the hot foods, a chef that would cook an omelette to your specifications then and there on the spot, or an egg to exactly how you wanted it, an array of Chinese breakfast delicacies, and meats and cheeses and ... THE CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN!  (insert music of doom here).

Now we didn't go overboard, I had a very nice breakfast, but yes I had a play in the fountain, but I figure skewering fruit and dipping in the fountain - kind of cancelled each other out right?   Here are Casey and Sam enjoying the chocolate way too much.  We really all did turn into big kids ... look away now Mish!!

My fellow Tan runner, Debbie, really concentrating on the exact ratio of marshmallow to chocolate!

And quote of the weekend would have to go to Lisa

"Hey these Chinese dumplings are really sweet ... oh! woops! That's the M&M stuck to it!!"

In her defence Lisa got to brecky late and piled everything on her plate at once! 

And here we are, brecky over, one last pic at the top of the swish grand staircase.

You know one of the good things ... no ... the GREAT things about 12wbt is the friendships I've made.  Not just with our local crew, but from all over.  Blogging has been a great way to connect with people too.  So it was thrilling once again to meet up with people I have known online.

I was more than thrilled to meet Di of the UltraPrimed fame.  

I haunt her blog regularly, she is so inspiring and just soooo nice

and even though I do believe I gushed at times, she appeared to take it in her stride!!

So great to meet you Di.  Being photobombed by Jules here.

Being quite the photobomber myself, I'm impressed with Jules' style.

She just snuck in whenever she could.  

This is Jules from Julie's Journey from Fat to Fab

With the wonderful Dayna in the middle, who I nearly didn't recognise without blonde hair

Dayna writes You've got to move it, move it

And yep, here's Jules again!  ;-)

Bit bummed that this photo is blurry, but we are with the amazing

Kate from Coco Butter blog fame.

And here's Carolynne from Ararat.  I met her when I went to Emazon in Hamilton recently

so it was good to meet up again.  Carolynne is a pocket dynamo, I love following

her runs and walks on facebook to see what she's up to next

And then of course there's Leitchy (Jules' hubby)

Leitchy from 20 Years of Living in the Dark. 

He is inspiring and funny and supportive and well as you can see here

very VERY confident!!  

And then just as I was leaving the finale party I was approached by a stranger

and found out it was Karen Mathie who reads my blog

and wanted to meet me.  How extraordinary that we should both catch up

just as we were leaving.  Karen, so glad you came up to me, I'm looking a bit stunned

in this pic! ha.

And then it was time to go home, very lucky to hitch a ride with Michelle.

Mike was glad to see me, waiting to see what I had got him.

Yeah yeah, he was expecting a pressie.

Woops, way too busy to shop for boy things, so I gave him the

coffee I had pinched out of the motel room!!  

Hey, it will be good for when he goes camping right?

 So that's it, the end of another finale, the second one I've been to and by far the best.  I enjoyed the weekend, the team spirit, the enthusiasm, the frocking up, the excitement ready for the next round, immensely.  Roll on Round 2 of 2013, I'm waiting.   :-)

Melbourne Finale Weekend

Well finally I get to put pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard as the case may be.

MELBOURNE FINALE! What a weekend.  The Warrnambool & Surrounds 12WBT crew totally rocked it.  I love being part of this group, I call them my "health and fitness sisters".  They keep me honest, they keep me sane, they keep me motivated and inspired and continuing on this path.  I sometimes get lost in the forums, as inspiring as they are, but with our local group there is that connection.  And it was wonderful to spend the weekend with so many of them.

Here's a quick run down of the weekend.  Excuse so many photos, ahh heck, you do want to know what I got up to right??  :-)   This may extend over a few posts, we'll see.

Friday night meet and greet drinks courtesy of the Vic Crew.  Thanks Vic Crew!!!!  It was fun to have the time to talk and enjoy company, here's some of the Warrnie crew that attended.  We also got to meet up with old friends from around the state and beyond, and make some new ones.  I'll leave some of those pics to another post.

Saturday workout with Mish.  It was terrific.  Having our own Debbie from our group in the fitness challenge, we were so excited to cheer her on.  So excited that the compere came down to interview us.  Oh dear.  I felt a huge push in my back towards the man with the mike to be the spokes person.  You think I got a little bit excited???  I don't even remember this.

Now not sure what's going on here with Tania, other than to say we were either doing the hokey pokey, or working out which foot was which.  But then again Lynn in the background is doing a moonwalk, so anything really is up for grabs!

Our sensational group looking quite spiffy in our new workout t-shirts and hoodies and caps.  I tell you the hoodies came in very handy early in the morning, it was c-c-cold.  

The reason we were all there, the motivating factor behind all of us, the fantastic Mish.  Looks like she was a wee bit cold too!  

Thanks to Alison, one of our crew who wasn't able to exercise, she took hold of my camera and took photos of our team.  Lots and lots of photos, to which I'll be putting together a little surprise for the girls in the next few weeks.    It was a good workout.  The grass stains on our t-shirts became battle scars.  We jumped, we ran, we dropped, we lifted, we had a ball.

And here's the pic we were wanting.  Our crew with the fabulous Mish.

After a leisurely stroll back into the city and a bit of shopping and lunch, the afternoon flew by.  Soon enough my roomates and I were ready for the party!

We had gotten to Crowne and had made our way up the staircase with some of the crew and a man and his two young boys happened to go past and I asked if he'd take a pic.  "Sure" he said.  Then 10 cameras were thrust his way.  I saw a fleeting look cross over his face as to whether to take flight.  Lucky for us he patiently took a pic with all the cameras.

We had a ball, our Warrnie girls surely know how to party.  I didn't stop dancing all night, we celebrated our friendships, we celebrated our weight losses, and we celebrated the night.  Oh and I promise I did not pinch Charlie on the bottom!  Loved the Hollywood theme.  

Loved this fun pic of my friend Lynn too!   

We danced the night away.  And I just loved my dress.  I felt absolutely rockin'.  So . much . fun !

I'll leave this post here and come back to it tomorrow, the weekend was not over, not by a long shot.  Still fun to be had with our crew.  Melbourne surely did put on a show for us.   Don't go anywhere, more to come!  

Look who I met this week

Now don't go thinking I'm off cheating on Mish.  I'm not!  However Lisa Curry came to Camperdown and presented "A night with Lisa" and talking about health and fitness and her life and a bit of food science thrown in, and it was absolutely brilliant.  I wasn't sure what to expect, thinking it would be a hard sell for her program, but it wasn't at all.

She was thoroughly entertaining, completely down to earth, and absolutely stunningly beautiful.  Such a fun night, we had a number of 12wbt'ers there.  Hey, I'll take inspiration from wherever it comes from.

A very motivational night.  If you ever have a chance to hear her speak, it's well worth it.  What a fascinating life she has lead.

Now, as I sit here and look over in the corner over there, I'm seeing a big bag chock full of clothes ready for four seasons in a day in Melbourne.  Had a trial run of my finale outfit tonight, hubby gave it two thumbs up with a bit of a wicked glint in his eye.  I know what he was thinking !!!  I feel absolutely fabulous in my dress, so pretty, a bit of sparkle never hurt anyone right?  You'll just have to wait to see the pics.

And if you are reading this and at Melbourne for the finale and you happen to recognise this face ...my face, not Lisa's!!  Please please do come up and say hi.  And likewise, I know a few faces from blogs, I'll do the same.  Hey you've seen my form ... Commando, Shannon, Lisa here, looks like I stalk famous people!!  So I consider blog writers in the same line of thinking  ;-)

So that's it from me, over and out.  We have a number of things planned for the weekend, not to mention the exercise session at Albert Park with Mish and the finale party at the Crown Palladium.  Oh and on Friday night the Vic Crew are putting on a meet and greet which will be a lot of fun.  Also a few from our group, well lets just say, the few without hangovers after the finale party, will be up and at 'em early Sunday morning running the Tan.  Followed by a long awaited and luxurious breakfast at The Langham.  Our Warrnambool Crew also know how to party, I'm sure we'll be in fine form.  So I'll be back Sunday with stories (although you know the saying, what happens at finale stays at finale!!) and pics.