Step 1: Health

I am about to start a week off from work, while last week I finished up at one company, and next week I will begin my new job. As I sat having breakfast this morning - Michelle's "Breakfast Burrito" recipe which was delicious! - I then had a coffee. I now sit here with an uncomfortably full stomach. I only have instants, as they are extremely low in calories, but I just don't need the stimulants anymore. I used to drink coffee to get through the day. Now, with nutritious food, I can get through the day just fine. In fact, I feel great. So why do I continue to drink coffee? Out of habit and addiction I think. So I've decided in my week off at home, where I don't have any deadlines to make me feel a little panicked, I am going to give up coffee!! I have just chucked out all of the coffee I had in the house. And I poured it into the bin from the jar. So it is completely unusable! I'm fed up with thinking I need this stuff. I clearly don't. I just need a

Well I really haven't had a good start to the program this round. And I keep beating myself up about it. As well as using all of my old excuses "I just need this week to get through this rough patch, then I'll get back on track". "It's Friday, the bad week is over, I'll just make a fresh start on Monday when the next week starts." I know this is the wrong thought process. I've been through the analysis of my excuses before and know they are just wrong. I just need to cut the crap. So I listened to Michelle's self sabotage video. Making notes as it went on. I've listened to this video before, in the last round, and recognised that I do indulge in self saboteur activities, but I never sat down and analysed it in the way she sets out for us to do it. One of my promises to myself this round was to really focus on the mindset lessons. To work through the steps we are given, to try and get to the bottom of why I do some of the things I do, an

Argh!!!! I'm so embarrassed about the post I am about to make. But I have to put everything out there and be fully honest in this process, or I won't improve. So after Friday's post, I didn't go to the gym. Instead I wigged out crazy. I lost the plot. I got super stressed about this last week of my job and all the work I have to do. I discussed it with my partner and he suggested to give the exercise a break, and just get all of your work done. It's my last week so it's the only chance I have. Focus on the food and then get straight back into the exercise. I felt relieved. I felt like I had a weight off my shoulders. Ok, all I need to do is focus on getting all of my work done and I'll be right.  WRONG!!!!!! I gave in completely. To every single one of my addictions. Which now I believe is what I use to numb myself from my surroundings. I think I use them to zone out on all my troubles. I just have no idea where to go from here. I can recognise them

Tomorrow is the first Super Saturday Session (SSS) of this 12 week round. It is the day where you are meant to have your hardest workout of the week, and also burn about 1000 calories. I am pushing myself out of my comfort zone for this one. You see, my aim in this round is to follow the exercise program 100%. I didn't see an impressive improvement in my fitness last round, so I figure this is the area I should focus on. I need to follow all of Michelle's advice in this area, so I can hopefully shift my fitness level from a beginner to an intermediate by the end of the round. Michelle has recommended for this Saturday, either a large circuit session in the gym, or outdoors. I'm giving a go at in the gym. Yes that's right, in the gym for two hours, pushing my body to the limits, and using the gym machines!! Oh boy. I have not used the gym machines in the gym apart from with my personal trainer back in 2008. So I am quite nervous. But I need to do it. I want strength, sta

This afternoon I flew to Cairns for work. Whenever I've got a bit of downtime - ie. walking to work, or on a plane by myself, I listen to the 12wbt podcasts. The podcasts are recordings of the videos Michelle releases each week throughout the 12wbt program. There are two a week that are released, giving different messages each time, relative to what stage we are at in the program. On the plane today I reached the week 11 message (I've been listening to them in the order they were released). This podcast was all about the processes to follow and tips for when we have completed the 12wbt. Tips such as to keep weighing yourself weekly, and don't relax too much on the food or increase your calories. And if the weight creeps up, snap back into the program straight away, go hardcore on the exercise, etc etc. I got a little bit teary listening to the podcast to be honest. In between rounds I have done exactly the opposite of the advice Michelle gave in this podcast. I felt