Life is a Journey not a Destination

I have to say I love being strong (for a girl anyway). And I feel proud of myself for nearly always being the only girl in the weights room - mind you it took me a nearly a year to work up the nerve. I decided to do a Body Pump class today as I won’t be back in the gym for nearly a week and this way I got to exercise all muscle groups plus I did cardio by walking to and from the gym. I had a new to me teacher (since I haven’t done a class in over 6 months) and I know she looked pretty suprised at the weight I was loading on my bar (I mean I’m still overweight and probably look fairly unfit). I was lifting nearly double everyone else in the class and at one point during biceps one of the other girls who was struggling through the track with a slightly lighter weight than I had looked over a me and yells out “Christ, Libby” when she saw I had even more weight than she did. Now I have to confess I pushed myself through the class and am already sore (even after having a spa) so I can only imagine how I’m going to feel tomorrow. BUT I have nearly a week to recover and I LOVE the feeling of SORE muscles - means I worked really hard.

I haven’t bought any books for a while but I have gathered this little collection over the last few weeks. There was a time when I couldn’t walk past a bookshop or newsagents without going in. These days I mostly buy romance books from my friend Lucy’s store Ever After, but every so-often I will buy books like the above - but I’m much more selective these days. The first book Changing Habits Changing Lives is all about eating wholesome nutritious foods and fits right in with my food philosophy. The next few are early planning for our UK trip next year and I couldn’t pass up Sustainable Living for Dummies as it has all Australian references.

As for magazines - I subscribe to nearly all my favourites so I might just go have a browse every few months - which I did today when I picked up Scrapbooks Etc (which I have been unable to subscribe to over the net) and the Healthy Food Guide. My mags are all packed ready for our Easter trip.

Amount  Measure       Ingredient — Preparation Method
——–  ————  ——————————–
480            grams  zucchini — grated
1                     carrot — grated
1                cup  low fat cheese — grated
3/4           cup  self-raising flour
1/2           cup  olive oil
4                     egg — lightly beaten

Oil a rectangle slice pan.

Combine all ingredients in a med. bowl and mix well.

spread mixture into prepared pan and bake in a moderate oven for about 35mins or until firm.

Quick note that the soy sausage pie from last week was a success.

MONDAY - Veggie Roast  with Mashed Potatoes, honeyed carrots and corn cob

TUESDAY - Zucchini Slice

WEDNESDAY - Corn Quiche

THURSDAY - AWAY - Something easy, possibly nachos

FRIDAY - AWAY - Filled pasta with sauce

SATURDAY - AWAY - BBQ

SUNDAY - AWAY - TVP Tacos

MONDAY - Just home - from freezer

Please visit Laura at the Organising Junkie for more great meal ideas.

WOW!!! Just back from seeing the musical Billy Elliot. It was absolutely fantastic and if you get a chance to see it you definitely should. The boy who played Billy was amazing - so talented!!!  We went with my Mum & Dad and took the girls. Amy’s ticket was for her birthday and she loved it - esp. the tap dancing. I didn’t plan to take Christy but Mum bought her a ticket so we took her along. She was okay but did get a little figetty. There is a lot of swearing - which we knew about - and Christy has been told if I hear her repeating any swear words she won’t be going to the Easter Show is a couple of weeks. I loved the show so much I’m planning to go and see it again before the season ends.

We had Korean for lunch before the show. It was a first time for all of us and we were very impressed. Here’s a photo of Amy eating her fried chicken.

And lastly, just wanted to share a photo taken this morning just before the sun came up.

Well, if you like your history hot and sexy look no further than The Tudors. It’s all about the life a young King Henry VIII. Kevin and I have just finished watching season 1 and can’t wait for season 2. One thing I loved the way possible things were included in the movie - like the myth that Henry wrote Green sleeves. I just love this kind of thing and it was really well done. Kevin had to look up a few things on his laptop so we could find out the truth. Very clever.

Came across a great idea on Little Jenny Wren to document ” a day in my life” on the 14th of every month. Being a scrapbooker and blogger I immediately signed up for the challenge.

5.20am Up early again today. I often wake up around this time and with the sore back I’ve been suffering from find it impossible to go back to sleep.

Cup of tea while reading blogs/e-mail

7am Shower and get dressed

7.30am Feed and water all animals

Unpack dishwasher, make French Toast for Christy, help kids do lunches

8.30am Drop girls at school

9am Beauticians to have my gel nails reapplied - I love this time with Fran (my Beautician)- we get along so well and she’s become a real friend.

10.30am Drive to Shellharbour - more clothes shopping at Target and pick up basket from Howard Storage world

12pm Drive home, unpack car, hang out washing

12.45 Enjoy a yummy salad for lunch (esp. good as it’s nearly 30 degrees today). Check blogs/websites while having lunch

1.15 Head to scrapbook room work on assignment for my Library of Memories class.

2.45 Pick up girls from school

3.15 Home, unpack school bags

3.45 Take Amy to dancing lessons - made a mistake and got there for 4pm, not 4.3opm!!!! Read through The Big Picture by Stacy Julian while waiting

5.15 Home again. Say hi to Kevin (who is home early for a change)

5.30 Water veggie garden / check blogs

6pm Watch the Tudors with Kevin (girls go to Nan’s for BBQ night)

Dinner watching TV - leftover Soy Sausage Casserole

8.45pm Go to bed - read until fall asleep

9.30pm Lights out….

More videos from Animals AustraliaThis is a short little video - showing what many of us know (but don’t want to acknowledge) about how animals such as chickens and pigs are raised for food. You all know how I love chickens but seeing the pigs is so sad - did you know that a pig is as smart as a 4 year old child - and we’d never treat a four year old the way these pigs are. So sad. Please if you eat these products, buy free range, where the animals get the lead a good life before being killed.And how cool is this? Luke Fox won ad space to run in 100 bus stops and this is what he designed.

Well, this week I’ve been managing to carve out an hour or two scrapbooking time each day. I’ve still not got my creative juices going so I’ve been doing pretty simple, straight-forward stuff - mainly trying to get the girls albums a little more current.

Is it truly just 4 months since I had weight loss surgery? It really seems such a long time ago. In the last month I have managed to lose another 3kg, for a total loss of 28.5kg or 62lbs. The weight loss has slowed a little the last few weeks but I know I’ve been having a few more treats than I should have (not to mention all the chocolate…).  We have decided to clean up the whole families eating and I’m not replacing any unhealthy foods as we use them up. I think it’s going to be a bit of a shock to the girls but I’m sure I can find plenty of yummy foods for us to enjoy - just need to be a bit more prepared and do more cooking at home. Exercise is still going well but I’m thinking of shaking things up a bit after Easter - not sure how yet - maybe some classes (which I haven’t done in ages).

Probably the most exciting thing is that I’m now wearing mostly size 16s. Here I am wearing my size 16 jeans last weekend. Can’t tell you how many times I reminded Kevin what size they were :-). It’s great feeling “normal”!!!!