Exercise is no longer a dirty word...

This couldn't be more true!  The key to losing weight is about overpowering the mind games you play with yourself, more than what you actually put in your mouth.  It's your mind that makes the decisions and excuses...the body just shows the results.  I've spent many years having a cluttered mind, and my body has paid for it.  Suddenly, I feel like something inside of me has clicked. Now is the time to make this happen.

A trainer at a gym I used to pay money to each fortnight and never go be a member of, would ring and tell me that exercise is the best thing for depression and to hurry up and come back. I hated that trainer. I would try to explain to her that it wasn't the exercise I had a problem with, it was actually dragging myself out of my house and going there! Once I was there, I was fine. See...excuses.  I politely told her to stop calling me. I'd come back when I was ready. It never happened. My mind was too weak and cluttered.  I hate that trainer even more now that I know she was right.

I feel great with the sweat running down my face...
I'm really enjoying the exercise, and I'm taking great delight in seeing those calories burnt tick over on my heart rate monitor.  I honestly thought I would never be able to burn 500 calories in one session, but I've proved myself wrong! I can do it. I'm learning not to give up at the first sign of pain.  I'm learning that my body is capable of way more than I have given it credit for. Last night I was doing Michelle Bridges' Super Shredder Circuit dvd for the first time, and I found myself talking to her as I went along. lol. At the end, I looked down at my heart rate monitor, and it was sitting on 490 calories...that just wouldn't do! So, I ran on the spot until it was over the magic 500. The Lisa of old would have given up within the first 5 minutes of that dvd.

Exercise is not just a weightloss tool...it's a social experience...
Walking around the local oval, listening to music and chatting with my friends is so enjoyable, even though it feels like my calves will explode!   The kids love it too...they help me with my stretches (those hammies...ouch!), they kick a ball along as I walk, and they encourage me. Eme had a great time exercising along to that dvd with me...even though she was making up half of the exercises along the way.

Exercise makes me want to eat better...

I am eating so well, and never hungry. One small slice of lasagne (yes, there is a low cal lasagne recipe on the 12wbt plan!) is more than enough for me now.  I've grown accustomed to feeding the hunger, not trying to fill an emotional black hole.  I am no longer craving all of those comfort foods that I once desired. Why is it that we never crave carrot sticks and hummus? lol.

The test will be next week. I'll be away for work three days, and then away for a scrapbooking retreat over the weekend. I'll be utilising the hotel gym, and doing my best to be prepared with my meals, taking along some wraps and making sensible choices for dinner.  Thankfully the retreat is self-catered, so I'll be able to eat to my 12wbt plan...and some of my scrapbooking friends are keen to squeeze in some exercise as well. Gone are the days of sitting on my butt for three days solid scrapbooking! Lisa, you've changed.

The proof that it's working...
Yes, 2.5kg lost this week, bringing it to a total of 5kg gone...forever!

So, it looks like my mind is sorted, and my body is starting to follow. Good times are ahead.