12WBT Blog-A-Day Challenge #30 – Excuse Me While I Take a Moment andToot My Own Horn!!

Last day of the blog-a-day challenge!

Fitness test improvements after 4 weeks:

1km time trial - 4:56 compared to 5:41
Wall sit - 2:56 compared to 1:30
Reach: improved by 6cm

I can do 2 x group workouts (2.5 hours) in a morning.

Weight wise I lost 2.4 kg in preseason, since the program started I've lost another 2.8kg which is 4.3%! Assuming I measured correctly I've lost 6cm although I'm now disappointed at at how my jeans sit :(

So I now hope to maintain if not put a little weight back on. It'll be based on appearance rather than a magic number!

Other achievements - I've largely stuck to the program which as a foodie I'm impressed with :) I've also designed a group workout and ran 2 sessions.

I've also completed 1 of 3 fun runs improving from approx 7 min kms to 6:15ish. The next hurdle will be distance and then pace for the third.

In terms of my 12wbt goals I can tick off my 1 month goals "Run 4km without stopping. Participate in at least 1 group training session.". Done! :)

It's been fun doing this blog-a-day challenge and seeing others' posts.

Erin's post over here:
http://eatsmarttrainhardlivelife.com/2012/09/29/12wbt-blog-a-day-challenge-30-excuse-me-while-i-take-a-moment-and-toot-my-own-horn/

12WBT Blog-A-Day Challenge #29 – Highs and Lows

Highs:
- meeting fellow 12wbters in my area for a fun workout on Saturdays
- losing the weight I wanted to
- getting fitter! My running time and endurance is improving and if I can do 2.5 hours of group workouts now I must be getting fitter
- getting to run a couple of small group SSS

Lows:
- days of mega grumpiness
- I haven't done a week of exercise to the letter yet. Whilst that isn't necessarily a bad thing I do need to make sure I do enough strength training
- the amount of time I seem to be spending in the kitchen - meh! Too much
- my sleep not improving with more exercise

Erin's highs and lows over here:
http://eatsmarttrainhardlivelife.com/2012/09/28/12wbt-blog-a-day-challenge-29-highs-and-lows/

12WBT Blog-A-Day Challenge #28 - 3 new foods you have added to your diet since starting the 12WBT.

Pumpkin

Since starting the program I've found that I can enjoy more pumpkin.  Previously I only ate pumpkin if it was mashed with potato or I'd have a token piece with my roast.  Now I can have chunks of it in a curry and enjoy eating it.

(as a side note how awesome is that pumpkin carving?!!)

Wholegrain bread

I've always been a white bread girl - so I was pretty reluctant to try a grain bread.  I usually really hate wholemeal bread let alone grain bread.  However I found Helga's Wholemeal Grain bread.  Super tasty - so hopefully it's also good for me :)  It definately doesn't feel like a chore eating it!

Lindt 70% cocoa chocolate

I've always been a chocolate fan - often having a bar out of the work vending machine!  Week 2 of the program saw this chocolate introduced as a night time snack - and I learnt to make the most of 2 blocks of this chocolate.  They are bigger blocks than say Cadbury's family block.

Benefits of high cocoa chocolate are here:

http://www.aphrodite-chocolates.co.uk/chocolate_health_benefits.htm

I have tried 80% (different brand) which is a bit more bitter but I still enjoyed it. 

Erin's post:

http://eatsmarttrainhardlivelife.com/2012/09/27/12wbt-blog-a-day-challenge-28-3-new-foods/

12WBT Blog-A-Day Challenge #27 – Check Out This App!

It’s day 27 of Blog-A-Day Challenge and today’s question is: what is your favourite health/fitness app?

Currently I'm using My Fitness Pal a lot for tracking calories.  I'm not sure though if I'll keep using it once the 12 weeks is up.  It is awesome though that the app is free - and it allows you to add any missing food (though all the 12 wbt recipes are generally in there already so its super easy if you only eat what's in the program :)).  The iphone app also has barcode scanner functionality which is awesome!

However my favourite app is the Nike Running app.

It has a really bad rap in the app store - but I use it to track my runs. On completion you put where you ran (ie. what terrain), your mood, and it uses local weather information and time to store that against your run too.
http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/nike+-running/id387771637?mt=8

Where it really becomes awesome is if you remember to ever visit the website.  You'll see a replay of your run (showing your pace), and it tracks achievements and stuff.  Here's a sample:

http://nikeplus.nike.com/plus/running/home/

Another app of note is Jillian Michaels new ipad app "Slim Down".  Whilst it requires a full subscription to her site to get a training program.  It allows you to track food, look up calories and follow a workout plan in the one spot.  I'll keep it in mind after the 12 weeks is up :)

http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/jillian-michaels-slim-down/id399841706?mt=8

Erin's post is over here:
http://eatsmarttrainhardlivelife.com/2012/09/26/12wbt-blog-a-day-challenge-27-check-out-this-app/

12WBT Blog-A-Day Challenge #26 – My Favourite 12WBT Recipe

Today's post is about our favorite 12wbt meal.

Argh?!! I have to choose??

My favorite is one I modified slightly. Char-grilled Beef with Avocado & Corn Salsa. My modification was to wrap it in whole grain tortillas. As jase isn't an avocado fan I figured it would be a bit lacking otherwise. Just tasted super fresh and easy to make (despite making a bowl of filling for me and a separate bowl for jase!)

Honorable mentions go to:
- banana muesli shake which is great before a workout
- avocado toast with basil and tomato
- boiled egg with Vegemite soldiers

Erin's post over here :
http://eatsmarttrainhardlivelife.com/2012/09/25/12wbt-blog-a-day-challenge-26-my-favourite-12wbt-recipe/

Must go back and make it again - was yummy had forgotten about it!

12WBT Blog-A-Day Challenge #25 – My least favorite exercise

Without a doubt Burpees! I would do these with a personal trainer years ago and just want to throw up!! I've never been keen on them since.

For some reason the sprawls we do as part of boxing don't seem as bad although maybe I'm just distracted by someone yelling sprawl and then yelling at me to get back up!!

Erin's post includes an awesome video - wish I could do them like that :)
http://eatsmarttrainhardlivelife.com/2012/09/24/12wbt-blog-a-day-challenge-25-my-least-favourite-exercise/

12WBT Blog-A-Day Challenge #21 – My Favourite Hobby

Out of order but hey just spotted some funkiness in my numbering and yep I'd missed a day.

Ummm hobbies...

I don't think my puppy would count as a hobby rather than a lifestyle change :)  Having a puppy does take up a lot of time though!! Here's a nice close up of Yoshi.

My other biggest hobby is probably photography. I tend to do it a bit sporadically - the last time I was ok was when there were fireworks at the docklands.  My first attempt at fireworks not in auto mode and was happy with my results. Did have to contend with people shuffling into the side of my frame - grrr..

Go check out my google+ images if you want to see more photos :)

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108581600383744157473/albums/5645444382829259825

Hopefully that link works for everyone.

Erin's blog about scrapbooking is over here:
http://eatsmarttrainhardlivelife.com/2012/09/20/12wbt-blog-a-day-challenge-21-my-favourite-hobby/