The Many Faces Of Me

I am so many different people in my daily life, to so many different people - as you are.

I guess I've put myself on the backburner for a while, and as a result, I've added a few extra kilos to my frame. Which explains why I've thrown myself like a crazy lady into walking. Why I've been trying to glamify my salad days to myself. And why I've got an acute case of the Flat Stanleys.

Tiny doesn't help when she comes up and squeezes my stomach and says: "Ohhhhh squishy, squishy," then grappling for any - and all - other squishy parts of my body. She does however redeem this act by telling me repeatedly, emphatically that she really loves my squishies.

It is endearing.

But my squishies are not so endearing.
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When I was about 22 I joined a group with a personal trainer. Not for weight loss, but to get a toned, strong body. We met three mornings a week, and ran through the Botanical Gardens (my favourite), ran up and down the steps of the Opera House, it was a wonderful - if exhausting and exhilirating - start to my day. At the end of the program I had the strongest, healthiest body I had ever had. I felt amazing. Because my body was strong.
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I weighed myself today and for the rest of the day felt this immense disgust with myself. Inside I thought "I used to be lighter!" - and losing weight felt out of reach.

If you don't know me, I am tall-ish, and you may not notice my weight gain. Or if you do - you're too polite, too well-mannered to say anything. But I feel it. I see it in the mirror. Too many Haigh's chocolate frogs for me.
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So what I'm going to do: I'm going to make myself a priority again. I'm going to get that lean and strong body back. It might take me a while, I'm going to find some exercise that I dig on - there must be something - I want to feel like that strong, all-powerful woman again.



image of Kate Moss by Mario Testino - amazeballs

Day 19 of Frocktober: *GULP*

Holy guacamole girls. Today I dragged out from the archives one of my all-time favourite vintage dresses. One I snaffled from Bondi markets about 76 years ago. I LOVE this dress. Alas, if I want longevity in the dress I either need to:
a) lose weight
b) lose 2 ribs
c) put an elastic band in the dress

The last couple of days I've given Betty Draper a run for her money, honey. Yesterday's dress was a neon vintage number (which I will post, just don't have the photo right now), very 60s. Today is harking back to the 50s. I think?!

Frocktober has not only helped me raise a tidy sum of money for ovarian cancer research, but it's also made me think about how I dress.

I've become accustomed to wearing jeans. And jeans. And more jeans. All. The. Time. I haven't even touched those denim delights in 19 days. I looked at them a little forlornly on the weekend, but truth be told - I am loving having an excuse to frock up, every single day. Which is very nice if you can move in said frock. Today. Yeah, not so much movement going on. I've really filled that little sucker out, and not in a good way.

There's a lesson there: if you don't want indentations on your torso from where your dress is waaaay too tight, don't wear it. A good warning would be when you have to ask your husband to zip you into it.

Tomorrow = smock.

Please note, I had to climb through dirt, shrubs and cactus for these photos. And then I flipped out and thought there *might* be a snake in my midst. Vanity Fair - you reading this?

Where I Am At

I promised I'd talk about WW. So here it is. During my pregnancy with the Doctor I gained 20 kilos. Because I'm tall, most people wouldn't believe it, but trust me, after that initial weight loss post-birth, I was still towing around that extra weight (20 kilos is 80 sticks of butter - that's how I always think of it) and I knew all about it. So I went to WW and lost that weight and felt inherently better about the world, and myself. I even became a lifetime member (and have since had to use that card - which details my goal weight - as ID - how humiliating!).
Happy Mama, happy baby.

After Tiny, I had managed the same weight gain, and took a little longer to will myself to that place where I was ready to tackle the weight loss. I am not a huge exercise fan, and always struggle to get myself into a routine that includes exercising. Pre-babies I used to walk. And walk. And walk. I walked everywhere. We lived in the city, so it was perfect to just meander through all the back streets, most weekends I'd probably clock up about 3-4 hours of pure walking.

So pre-Christmas I went back to Weight Watchers. I have a real sweet tooth, in fact a whole mouth of sweet teeth, which is my downfall. I also comfort eat. Boredom. Loneliness. These are my triggers. This past month I have been eating and justifying it with 'but it's Christmas' (because as we all know food eaten on Christmas day is points free). Ahem. Given that Christmas is well and truly over, so is my sweet binge. I am back into walking and will resume my salad days with a vengeance.

For me it's about setting up those healthy habits for myself and our family, even if I need some reminders. I am setting an example for the way my children eat. And I always think about my poor body having to carry around weight that is the result of my sweet teeth. There. Now I've said it.

And of course, there's nothing like a piece of dust for lunch... Is there?

Hawt or Hot?

Today is the day we go to the wedding. Wipe that sweat from your brow. I found a babysitter. I said wipe that sweat from your brow. I bought my dress. Why haven't you wiped that sweat from your brow? Oh it's because it's too darn hot. Yep right. Roger that.

I found a babysitter via here. Pop in your post code and away you go. Giddy up. PHEW!

Here's a pic from Matt and I and our date night. We are really hitting the high notes on our dates this month. Probably not so good for the bank balance, but good for us, yes uh-huh. I may or may not have had a few sherbets under my belt at this stage.

Three dates in as many weeks is a terrific way to start the year.

I've also re-ignited my walking. Pre-Christmas I went back to Weight Watchers as my weight was ever so slowly creeping back up the scales after a lengthy go at comfort eating. I'll talk more about this over the weekend.

Anyway friends, have a tops weekend, I salute you.

Since you refuse to wipe your brow, how about these sweat bands?

PS - US and Canadian friends, last chance to enter le giveaway to win Le Creuset.

A Little Junk In Yer Trunk?

In the interests of getting a little less Fatty, and a little more Boombastic I am signed up sisters.

While I've been super busy contemplating my navel, hiding my chocolate stash from my husband, and looking out the window at the rain, my muffin tops they runneth over.

It's official gang. I'm hooking up with Move It Like Mike. I am getting un-muffin topped. I am going to recharge my batts and get out there and get walking.

And here's just the inspiration I've been looking for. Ready. Set.



Wiggle it. Move it. If you've got it, shake it.

PottyMouthMama On A Hot Tin Roof

Phew! When it's hot it's hot. The Doctor is wondering where all this 'sweating' is coming from. I'm sitting in our living room, which is currently doubling as a sauna. Hot in the city is damn right!

I could do one of those ads and say "I lost twenty-two kilos in one hour, just by sitting at the computer, just pay $20 and come sit in my living room and you too can do the same!" My living room = the ultimate sauna destination.

Right now we're into card games. Snap for the smalls. Uno for the biggies.

Phew! It's hot. Ice cold drinks all 'round.

If only I looked this saucy hanging about my house on such a stinker.