My new fitness toy

As I'm focusing on interval training to boost my metabolic rate, which will in return burn more body fat while I train and continue for a while after my workout, I bought this little contraption which will beep when my minute is up, instead of me doing the exercise and trying to peep at my watch :) ( you should see me doing this )

I've seen it being used by a few trainers online and by the trainer I follow for new kettlebell idea's.

I've not tried it as yet as it arrived this morning.....Hubby set it up for me, so I'm ready!!!

As you can see....its PINK ~ hot pink!

As most of you know I have an online group with a few ladies where we share our journey on a more personal level with entries and photo's that we would do on our blogs. I love this group as each is at a different stage of their journey and all are always ready to motivate each other. I love this....Its the one place where no nasty comments or hurtful words are spoken and on this I insist...we all fall off the wagon and we all need motivation and encouragement, even if the others do it over and over again...That's life and not one of us is perfect.

I shared my blogger friend Syl's journey with the girls a month ago....Everyone was totally blown away by Syl's weight loss journey and it gave hope to so many of the ladies who are trying to lose the weight. Syl like many others has been a wonderful example that one can lose the weight and maintain...but it takes daily work...

The ladies of group have all joined a website where we log in our daily training....Its wonderful as we a closed group of members only ( the only non member has since left ) and we can keep a check on what each other is doing, give praise to keep them motivated to do a little more.

Everyone thrives on praise ~ Everyone wants to be noticed ~ Everyone has a voice that wants to be heard

I'm working on next weeks menu....have got the plan all in my head, but now need to put it on paper.

I chatted to Hubby this morning ( picked him up after his business trip to South Africa ) told him what I'm thinking and he is very keen..

He wants to continue running, he has he's first 5km race coming up next month which I will do with him and a few of his colleagues from work, he also wants to start Kettlebell.

I need to work out a training program for us both...as we will do our runs together besides my Sunday run I do with the ladies from my street. He will go to gym to do his weigh training and I will do Kettlebell at home.

Am going to plan it weekly for now...

In 6 weeks time I have my sisters wedding in Italy....so we want to look as good as possible for that. My one sister has not seen me in person for over 2 years, so has not seen me since I lost 24kg's ( 50lbs ) I want to wow her....I want to be as toned and lean as possible. Not thinner, that's not what I'm looking for....lower body fat percentage.

Today is my rest day.....

Tomorrow if no rain I will run with the other ladies ~ finding my pace is so much faster than the others and struggling to keep myself back...Yesterday we all went for a run, 6,28km. I had to run ahead at my normal pace, then slow right down for them to catch up with me, and this is how I did my run....in the end on the final 1.5km home's I took off.

I have to tell you this.... while running I thought to myself...LOOK AT ME, 49, THE OLDEST and the fastest ...hahaha, it felt good...honestly this time will pass, the others will be faster than me as I get older, so right now for a girl who hated running and has been diagnosed with MS ~ I'm so impressed with ME!!!

The way I see it, isn't necessarily the way you see it.

Planning a new plan

I did complete the 17 days.....Ended on Wednesday

I didn't update my blog for a few days due to a few personal things going on in my life...

But, I'm back and here to update.

The whole purpose of my doing the 17 days for the 2nd time, was not to lose weight, if I did lose, it was an extra bonus, but my focus was to get my eating under control

I have explained in my other entries that I fell off the Good Eating wagon for most of June and part of July.

I didn't gain weight as I kept my training schedule going during this time

I needed to feel in control again, and having a plan gives me control.

I feel I am back on track...where I like to be.

And I lost weight over the 17 days.

I am back to tracking all meals

Every other day counting my calories to see if I am within

Weighing in 2x a week ONLY

Training daily for an hour

Eating protein with every meal and snack

Added protein powder to my kefir and probiotic yogurts

Drinking 8 glasses of water

3 Green tea's a day, but also 2 cups of coffee a day.

Yesterday was my first day off the 17 days

I stuck to the plan except added 30g of muesli to my breakfast

Today I had 30g of muesli again and a wholewheat sandwich with smoked salmon and avo

This evening will have Baked Salmon and salad for dinner....no carbs.

I'm going to spend this weekend working out a new plan for myself, based around cycle 2 where you add 2 good carbs to your plan every other day....

I want to revise my training program

one day weights, one day cardio....

And then I want to add one day of eating whatever I want to eat...

Thinking of making it a Saturday or Sunday.....

On this day I will have an ice cream,glass of wine, chocolate, bread...whatever...but one day where I can be free of being on a plan.

I have done lots of research and this seems to be the way to go when one is in maintenance ...

6 days you on plan and one day you not!!

The way I see it, isn't necessarily the way you see it.

Days Twelve and Thirteen ~ 17 Days

I took photo's on Friday, but not Saturday and today ( Sunday )

It was my weekend with my hubby before he heads off on another weeks business trip, so we did lots of things today!

My eating was as per usual over the weekend according to the 17 days plan, but I did break it last night when I drank a glass of red dry wine with my meal of Salmon and veggies.

On Friday I had a Rye Organic Fresh roll

Saturday a Banana with my breakfast

But really not too concerned as I am maintaining my weight with Clean Eating and using these 17 days to get me back in control of my eating after it went off a little in June and part of July.

I know I repeat this, but in case someone comes to this blog to see what they are able to eat on the program I want them to be aware that I am not following it 100% and my reasons why.

My Training for this week :- 10 hours

INDOOR CYCLING ~ 2x

KETTLEBELL ~ 5x

RUNNING ~ 2x

AEROBICS CLASS ~ 1x

POWER WALKING ~ 1x

ROPE SKIPPING ~ 2x

ELLIPTICAL ~ 1x

I have been trying to mix up my training daily, not to get stuck in a rut with doing the same thing day in and day out.

Next week I am going to work on my metabolism with my eating and training...I want to fire it up so that my body becomes a burning machine :)

Interval training and weights...thats the key to achieve this.

The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn....

The way I see it, isn't necessarily the way you see it.