Boo, guess who?

Hi everyone, I know I promised a while back that I would be back more often to post but as per usual I let life get in the way.

On July 24th (I think) I finally finished my Diploma in Photography and I have passed and earned the diploma. I cannot tell you how relieved I am because the final paper was incredibly tough and had me working so hard that I neglected quite a few things including this blog. My diet during this period was on a roller coaster ride yet again of lose, gain, lose, gain.... oh so annoying and as of today I am sitting at 108kg (around 237lb) which is extremely annoying! Since finishing the diploma I have now had to work my tail off to earn some cash and so I am starting my photography business and of course I'm feeling the strain a bit due to having to do everything myself such as facebook page, website design and publishing, creating legal forms, administration, gear purchasing and finding the money to purchase the gear, grant applications, marketing, oh boy, you name it, I am having to do it and it's madness!

On the 25th of October, I have my very first wedding photo shoot and I am NERVOUS, but I think it'll be fine. I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist and since photography is a never ending learning beast, I always feel that I don't know enough which of course is ridiculous!

So this means that in 9 weeks time, I will be shooting this wedding AND I want to weigh 10kg less than I am now. I have ordered two tops that I want to wear in a size 16 NZ (USA size 14) and in order to achieve this I have constructed a plan of attack!

The tops I have ordered, made of organza and gorgeous!

Every week I have set a walking target of no less than 50km (31 miles)

Mon/Wed/Fri     =  8km walk plus 30 mins weights session
Tues/Thurs/Sat   =  8km walk plus 30mins boot camp type exercises
Sun                    =  rest day - more than likely I will go for a walk but not a rocket up my butt speedy walk!

The Sunday stroll will make up the extra 2km per week plus incidental walking :)

As for diet I am going back to 80% raw, no sugar, no bread, no processed foods and only one cooked meal per day. Loads of eggwhites (ugh!), smoothies and protein shakes. I will also be making a lot of raw snacks not only for myself but also for my girls.

So there you go, that's me in a nutshell as of today!

As for posting on this blog, I will be blogging as much as I can at least a post a week and that's a PROMISE from the bottom of my heart! I also have a facebook page where I post daily if you are interested in seeing what I am up to day to day, Here is the link: New Bod in Progress

I will leave you all now with a current photo of me and how I looked when I first started this journey. Have a safe and happy weekend!

Barbs x

When I cannot be bothered moving, I think of the man with two walking sticks

Last Tuesday, I really really REALLY didn't want to go out on my walk, I was feeling very lazy and wanted to sit on my butt and do something completely meaningless like play Bejeweled, but I managed to force myself outside with a crap look on my face, a bad attitude and began to pound the pavement.

I was walking along Marine Parade which is a pathway right next to the beach that stretches for 2.37km from where I start at Ellison Street all the way to Browning Street in the city. As I got near the aquarium I spotted a man who looked like he was in his mid 50's, he had two walking sticks and was dragging his body along that pathway. I watched him for a little while and the look on his face just changed my whole mood, he was smiling, it was like he was smiling because he was able to move his disabled body down that path, and even though he was going at a snail's pace, he was out there and he was doing it. Well, I can tell you that changed my entire way of thinking right then because if that guy can get himself outside in the blazing sun on his two walking sticks with a smile on his face, sweat pouring everywhere then what right do I have to complain about having to do exercise? Simply I don't, I can move, I have no injuries, I have no worries what so ever, so why the hell do I think I can be a lazy slob and do nothing?

This is the kind of thing that I want to say to a lot of people who complain to me that they "can't" lose weight or they "can't" do exercise, really when you think about it, it's a total cop out. If people would just put as much attention and energy into doing the exercise and eating right than finding pathetic reasons not to do it, they wouldn't have weight issues, it's so simple, it's painful!

I don't know why this makes me mad, I think it's more than likely because I can see the potential in people and I hate to see them throw their lives away like I did for so many years, so many years I will never get back.

So if you are reading this and fall into that habit of reasoning yourself out of doing something good for yourself, think about it, just think about how easy it is to turn the tables and be more loving to yourself, get out there and move, it's not hard!