Christmas Eve

Weigh in this morning and I've lost 800g.

I've decided to cook my ham today and am following a Nigella recipe. But my pot is too small!!!

Our friends from the UK arrive here today. We haven't seen them since June 2009. It'll be awesome to see them.

I've been loving my new gym. The program they've set me is great and the classes are fantastic. I'm loving being back at work too. Part time is great. Things are looking good in the land of Rach at last!!!!

1 week to Christmas :)

Weigh in today and despite sticking to my points, exercising lots and not drinking any booze I've lost 300g! I thought it would be more, I really did!! Oh well, 1 week to Christmas and I'm going to give it my all!!!

We've got a new addition to the family. Holly the kitten, she's 9 weeks old now.

Weigh in

No loss this week, but no gain either!!

I've joined a new gym and have been loving the classes there, that's really helping me get back to the "old" Rachel. But, I do feel that I have my mojo back. It disappeared for a while (I think it may have been drowing in wine!) but it's back. I'm going to stay off the wine and beer and try and blast these kilos off!!!

Blimey, it's so hot and stickey here I think I'll be sweating a few kilos off!!!

Off to wrap the Chrissie prezzies up this afternoon and then go to get my hair cut :)

Almost Chrissie!!!!!!

I'm getting so excited about Christmas!!! It always seems to come around too quickly!!!! We've got our special mates coming over from the UK on Christmas Eve, in fact, they're flying as we speak to Brisbane and then travelling down. I think they're spending about 1 month in Oz in all. It'll be so lovely to see them. They're spending almost a week with us.

We've been to Jacob's graduation from Pre School today. It was lovely. We also went to pick up his book pack and school bag from Primary School...very exciting!!

I'm also starting work next week part time. I'm doing Monday's and Friday's until Christmas and then Monday's Wednesday's and Friday's 9-2.30pm from January. I'm working back at Page 5, but in the accounts department. I'm so excited about it.

The new Weightwatchers program

Well, it's the start of the new ProPoints Weightwatchers program and I've been really looking forward to it as a new start. I really need to track everything!! I did a good job of tracking over the weekend, but did go over my points allowance quite a bit!!! BUT I'm racing down to 60!!!!!!!!

Weigh in

Whoops....gained 1kg, but it is that time, so I'm not too bothered!!!!

I've decided that I've been seriously kidding myself by not pointing properly, sneaking in biccies and finishing off the kids dinners! So from now on, everything is pointed!!! It's the only way!!! the new ProPoints program starts on Monday, so a new system should help me out too.

I'm on a race to 60kg now!!!

My New November

Well, I've had a few hiccups over the past few weeks, but am feeling great now!

Weightwatchers are changing their plan which I'm really looking forward to. I think I need something new to give me a kick up the butt and track!

We had an awesome weekend camping a few weeks ago and I went in to the ocean for the first time!!! I've always been so conscious of how I looked that I have never owned swimmers!! I can't believe what I've missed!!! It was sooooo much fun.

It's the countdown to Christmas soon!! Our friends Gill and Dave are coming over from the UK and spending Christmas with us, which will be awesome!

I'm determined to get these last 6kg off!!!!!! The last time Gill and Dave saw me, I weighed 95kg, so hopefully they'll be in for a shock!!

My new ventures!!!

I'm really excited!!! I've become an Avon rep today and have launched a website with my beaded jewellery designs.

www.razzledazzlejewellery.com

More Jewellery......

I'm loving it!!!!! I'm in the process of creating a website for my jewellery....so watch this space!!!!

Our first Aussie wedding

We were very honoured to be invited to Cathy and Scott's wedding. They're new friends who we met through our friends (and neighbours) Karen and Colin. And of course, Scott is now Nige's biking buddy.

It was a lovely afternoon and the bridal party looked gorgeous!!!

My new interest.........

I've decided to have a go at making beaded jewellery and here's what I've done so far...

Weigh in :)

I've decided to go back to weighing in on a Friday, so I've lsot 800g since Monday. I've been tracking all week and exercising and it's making me feel better !!!

Jessie has made us so proud...she's toilet trained!!!! Apart from night time where she still wears a nappy.

I went to Zumba at Buzza's Family Gym on Wednesday and will be going tomorrow morning too. It was fab! Ammorie Ormsby did a fantastic job as always!!!! I didn't realise how uncoordinated I was!! But it was really good fun.

I've started making some beaded jewelery as an interest with a possibility to sell!

We're going to our first Aussie wedding tomorrow. Our friends Scott and Cathy are getting married, so I'm off out later to get something to wear!!!

Another new start!!!

I've had a bad few weeks and have slipped back in to quite a bad depression, which I'm getting sorted!!!! I've had to give up my fab job, which I am gutted about, but I just couldn't cope with working full time. I've had the chance to work with a great group of people though, of which I hope to keep in touch. They are all extremely understanding.

I've managed to put on 1.4kg this week. So now it's track track track with lots of exercising to help me chill and get back to the way I was.

My new start!!

Had a few bad weeks especially with Jacob being poorly last week and ending up at the hospital with such a high temperature. I haven't been tracking and have been eating some very naughty things indeed!! So no more.......I'm determined to get these 6kg off

We went to power bar pump this morning and had a good workout. That's always a good start to the day. They're starting Zumba at the gym in a few weeks and I can't wait!!!

Oh My God!!

I have just found the most disgusting picture ever taken of me in October 2008!!!!!

Weigh in :)

700g off this week, so I'm really chuffed with that, especially after last weekend!! A little too much beer consumed me thinks!! We had a fab weekend though. We went to the Bago Bash at Bago Vineyards. It was a lovely family day out with music and really good company. I even won a $20 meat tray from Fredos in the raffle!

Weigh in :(

Up a bit this week!!! And that's all I'm going to say!!

Whoops.....a bit too much champers and wine on Thursday night for our Anniversary!!

We both had Friday off and went to step and tone at the gym and then later tootled in to town for lunch and shopping. It was fab! We even had an ice cream and sat in Town Green overlooking the marina. We sat on the beach and watched the surfers. It was awesome!!!!

My fluey weigh in!

I've been in bed for the last few days with a bad cold. I'm so achey and feel really rough! I'm gutted to be feeling like this when I've only been at work for such a short time. Weigh in this morning and I've lost 1kg. And that's not because I've been feeling bad, if anything I eat more when I'm not well!!!!!

As soon as I'm feeling better and my heels have healed I really need to throw myself back in to the gym.

Poorly weigh in :(

I lasted at work yesterday for 1 hour!! I felt bloody awful. Just so full of flu, so I spent the rest of the day in bed. Unfortunately,when I'm feeling bad, it doesn't affect my appetite, but I'm pleased to say that I'm down to 65.9kg, so I've lost 1kg this week :)

Sorry I've been missing!

Boy, I just can't find the time to do my blogs :( Things are going really well. Not sure about the weight loss at the moment. Will let you know after weigh in on Friday! But I'm really enjoying work. Aprt from my shoes!!!! I bought some new flat shoes for work and wore them for 10 mins and had to take them off because I could feel blisters. I went back to to the shop and they weren't interested and said that I would have to go through the pain! Nice for a pair of $100 shoes!!! So I plastered my heels with band aids and wore some thin socks under the shoes and this was the result on Thursday evening -

Boy do I need to use moisuriser!!!

So, I haven't been able to wear any shoes, I've had to wear thongs to work and haven't been able to go to the gym which I've really missed!

Weigh in

I'm really enjoying work, especially now that I understand my job a little bit more. The exercise has gone out of the window though :( I've managed to go once this week, which has got to change!!!! I'm off to do a fab power bar pump class at the gym today though and I think I might sneak in some cardio work after too. I've got to get to the gym more next week!!! I haven't been tracking either because I just haven't had chance, so from today that's it...track track track!!!

I managed to lose 600g though.

Almost the end of my first week at work...

Wow, what a week!! I've really enjoyed being back at work and the guys I'm working with are great...I just hope that I'm doing things right!! I worked for Nige from home for a good few years, but haven't actually been into an office since March 2005!!!!!!! I know I can do it though!

It's been a big change for Jacob and Jessie too , they've gone from doing 3 days a week at pre school/daycare to 5 days, but they're loving it!! I was really tearful when I first dropped them off on Monday, it just seemed different to when I was dropping them off before. I'm really looking forward to spending the weekend together. Nige has been amazing this week. He's helped out so much and been really supportive. He is one wonderful bloke.

Getting up at 6 (the plan was to get p at 5.30 to take Jasper for a walk, but that happened once!) and then getting everything ready for the day, then dropping the kids off at 8ish so I can get to work for 8.30 and then working til 5pm has been hard to get used to. We're juggling picking the kids up at the mo and trying to get classes in at the gym. I'm not tracking my weight watchers points at all, but I'm snacking less because I'm so busy and I'm still eating the amounts I was eating before at mealtimes when I was pointing, so I hope it's ok. I was doing 6-7 classes/gym workouts per week, but now I'm working it's gone to possibly 3-4 per week. I'll see how things even out!!!

My last week at home

I'm starting my new job at Office National on Monday, which I'm really looking forward to, but I'm also enjoying my last week at home and am trying to make the most of getting to the gym as much as possible. I did 2 spin and tone classes yesterday and boy did I sleep well last night!!!! It's a 30 minute step class tonight. Nige and I are both doing it, which is great and we've upped the steps to 3, which is a great workout.

Weigh in

Well, I've gained 500g :(

Back to it though, it just shows you how not tracking affects the journey!!!

Jessie's Birthday

It's Jessie's birthday today and she's had some lovely prezzies. I forgot to buy wrapping paper though, so ended up using Christmas paper!!!!

Party time!!!

We had Jessie's party last night and I'm feeling a little delicate today!!! The curries turned out well and I think everyone enjoyed it.

Jess had some lovely prezzies and loved playing with everyone.

Jessie's Birthday Party

We're having a little party for Jess today, it's her 2nd birthday on Tuesday. It's more of an excuse for a get together though! So I've been busy making curries and the best of it is, that they're all low fat! I've made; lamb rogan josh, chicken balti, railway chicken, potato and eggplant curry, potato and spiced spinach, mushroom bhaji and to start we're having poppadoms (or baked mountain bread for me) with a sweet yoghurt dip, coriander chutney, onion salad, spicy tomato salsa, cucumber raita dips. All proudly made by me!!! I'll put recipes on my recipe blog when I've got chance.

I can't believe our little girl is almost 2!!!! Blimey, 2 years ago I would have been bouncing around in England on one of those birthing balls in the conservatory!!!!!

Weigh in :)

Well, I'm really chuffed to say that I've lost 1.4kg and that I went for an interview at Country Energy and I've been offered a job :)

I've lost 26kg in a year, the majority of it being this year. I really do feel like it's my year!!!!

Goal change

I originally set my goal weight to 64 kg, but as I'm quite close to that I'm going to change it to 60kg.

Weigh in

Well, I've lost 700g this week.

I'm back at the gym and loving it. I'm doing a few classes with Nige which is great.

My first lemon on the tree that Mum bought me for Christmas....now, what to do with it?????? G n T maybe??????

Weigh in.....

today and I've lost a massive........wait for it..........100g!!!! So, I haven't been tracking my food, just estimating and there has been the choc treats and biscuits that I wouldn't normally have! It just shows you how important it is to track!!! Also the few glasses of wine this week (for medicinal puposes for my cold, of course!) I've made it back to the gym a few times this week. I haven't gone as much as normal, just to ease back in to it, but it's great to be back. I've really missed it! It's psychological for me too.....if I go to the gym, I'm good, if I don't, I'm not!!!!!!



So, it's track track track and back to my fab exercise routine at Buzza's gym. I'm taking part in "Dry July" with some mates from Weighwatchers, so hopefully it'll be comin off again!!!!

We've been in Oz 1 year today......

and what a beautiful place it is. We've all really settled and that's down to the people we've met and the great friends we have made. I can't believe we've been here 1 year already!!! Nige was the one pushing me to move from our lovely cottage in a gorgeous village in Worcestershire, but I'm so glad we did. I miss my Mum, family and friends so much, but I know it was the right thing for us to do. With Dry July on the cards from tomorrow, I'm raising a nice glass of vino and saying "cheers!"

Bring on a slim Rachel for Christmas!!! I AM going to get to my ultimate goal for Chrissie!

I've got a bad habit.......

......of weighing myself everyday and I'm back to what I was last week!!! I'll stick with my weigh in weight yesterday though.

Weigh in

Jessie had the biggest tantrum around Coles last Thursday, so I made the mistake of carrying her and pushing the trolley....needless to say Thursday night my back was really hurting! I went to step last Friday and just couldn't do it, so I haven't done any exercise this week, which I've really really missed, but I know that if I exercise while it's still hurting it's going to put me back again. So, with no exercise, a few glasses of wine, finishing the kids dinners off and not tracking it's not surprising that I've gained 800g!!!! But that's it now. Back to tracking everything I eat and will hopefully be back at the gym on Monday

!!!!!!!!!!!

Dancing stupidly in Jacob's room!!

My shopping trip

Losing weight has opened up sooooo many new and very exciting opportunities!! One of them being shopping!!!!!! Today I've bought a pair of size 13 jeans from Sportsgirl - a shop that I wouldn't have dreamt of going in!!!! And another pair of jeans which are a size 12 :0 I am so chuffed about it!!! It beats wearing size 20's!!!!!!!!!

Our Saturday

We've been out and about today after all the rain and took Jasper for his first walk out....he loved it!!! In fact he was totally pooped and has slept all afternoon!!!!!

Weigh in......

We've bought a puppy!!!! He's a silky maltese cross and is 12 weeks old. We've named him Jasper Gary (Jacob wanted to call him Gary (from Spongebob!!), but I refuse to stand in a park or on the beach and shout "Gary"!) He's really good and the kids love him.

I've lost 1.2kg this week WOOOHOOOO!!!

Our weekend

Weigh in and I hadn't lost anything! I'm really chuffed with what I've lost though, I've had some really good losses each week. I think it might be the odd glass of wine that I've had as well! So I'm definately more determined to have a loss next week.

We had some friends over for a barbeque yesterday afternoon and we had a lovely time.

I was very proud of my french stick that I made!!!!!

We had a lovely morning out on Sunday walking up the coastal path in town.

My little holiday......well kind of!

My Mother In Law arrived from the UK on Saturday and Nige has 2 weeks off work, so I feel like I'm on holiday!! We're showing her all the sights. We had a treat yesterday where we saw a whale down at Lighthouse Beach. It was an awesome sight. The piccie doesn't do it justice!

Jessie's been poorly with a cold and cough and she's cutting the last of her teeth, so I've had many a night in and out of her room!! I finally have stronger antibiotics to kick this sinus infection!

I'm still managing to stick to my Weightwatchers plan and exercising.

Weigh in....

With not feeling very well with this stupid sinus infection and having to go in to Jessie's bedroom most of Thursday night and Friday morning (she's had a stinking cold and cough) I totally forgot to weigh myself yesterday!!!! So I jumped on the scales this morning and....................I've lost 1.5kg!!!!! That takes me to 69.4kg!!! That's 10 stone 13 pounds!!!!!!!!!! OH MY GOD!!! I can't remember the last time I was in the 10's!!!!!!!!!!

When I first started this journey back in October 2008 I was 17 stone and dreamed of getting to 10 stone 7 pounds!!! I set my Weightwatchers goal to 64kg which was 10 stone 1 pound and I can finally see it in sight now!!!! WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nige has gone down to Sydney to pick his Mum up. She's flown over from the UK and staying for 3 weeks and we're all really excited. Nige is off work for 2 weeks, so we're going to be showing her around and going to lots of lovely places. I just hope I can stick to my WW plan! I won't be able to exercise as much as I was, but am going to aim to get to the gym 3 times. I might go for runs in the morning too.

I'm in the WeightWatchers magazine!!!

About a month ago I emailed the Weightwatchers magazine and briefly told them about my weight loss story and they've printed it in the June edition!!

Weigh in :)

Woo Hooooooooooooooooooooo I've lost 1.3kg. I'd kind of set myself a little goal to get to 70kg for when my Mother In Law comes over from the UK (which is next weekend) so I'll hopefully get there.

My new recipe blog

I absolutely love cooking and have decided to create a blog of all my favourite recipes.

It's in the early stages, so there's not much on there at the moment, but I will add more and more with pictures too.

Feel free to have a look. It's recipestheweightwatchersway.blogspot.com

Mother's Day

Well, I was truly spoilt on Sunday. I had breakfast made for me and we had a bbq for dinner, which was delish. And, the best of it was that I didn't have to wash up either!!!!!!! We do have a brand new dishwasher that we brought over from the UK sitting in the kitchen, but it doesn't work!!!! So my Mother In Law is bringing over a part for it when she comes on the 22nd May, I just hope it works.....that'll be another Mother's Day prezzie!!!!!

I had some lovely cards and prezzies too.



My chief gardener looking after my new veggie/herb bed