Revisiting Weight Loss Goals for Adventurers

I was looking back at some of my previous entries and stumbled upon this entry regarding what were some of my weight loss goals. And now I get to say, whether I have achieved them or not! (see below) I am so pleased to see that I have!

This also goes to show how quickly we can forget our achievements or how much we undervalue them. I do feel that lately I have been going backwards in terms of progress yet others say I look smaller and that makes me feel good but I know I must do my best to maintain what I have lost. My clarinet teacher even said to me, "It would be a pity if you didn't maintain all the hard work you have put after all this time."

So it's back to, what are you out there to achieve? Massive weight loss in terms of numbers (which can make you miserable if you're obsessed) or will you choose to also look beyond the weighing scale taking note there are other measurements of success?

WEIGHT LOSS GOALS FOR ADVENTURERS -

Created by Rozana Yunos, Weight Loss Adventurer since September 2009

Every person has their reasons for embarking on a weight loss programme. Even though the ultimate goal suggest that weight loss is the most important aspect, there are other areas in which we know we have achieved our goal. Some are measurable and some are not. The most important thing is you accept the success and be proud of  yourself for the steps you are taking to create a healthier you!

 

I have achieved my goals when:

1. The clothes that I owned 10 years ago can now fit me! - CHECK!

2. I look in the mirror, I like and appreciate what I see. - CHECK!

3. My body measurements are reducing each week even though the weighing scale has not moved. - CHECK!

4. I enjoy simple food with fresh flavours and it doesn't have to be complicated in its preparation. - CHECK!

5. I can live without processed food. - CHECK!

6. I don't overeat and don't feel the need to eat more than what my body can take. - CHECK!

7. I can wear the dresses sold in shops and don't have to look for size XXL. - CHECK!

8. I can say NO to chocolate, ice cream and other sweet treats! - CHECK!

9. I look at food I used to eat and say "I can't believe I used to eat that!" - CHECK!

10. I feel light on my feet and dancing is so much easier! - CHECK!

11. I feel I have more energy, don't huff and puff when I go upstairs and can walk really fast. - CHECK!

12. I say, "I'm so glad I started this adventure!" - CHECK!

 

There's more...! How do you know when YOU have achieved your goals?

Run Kath Run!

"It does not matter how slowly you go so as long as you do not stop." These were the wise words of Confucious which caught Kath's eye while she was one day in the MRT station in Singapore mentally preparing herself for her first run in the Kota Kinabalu marathon.

[Photo Insert: Kel, Kath's sister holding the poster as motivation for the marathon]

Kath openly admitted she did not train as much as she could for her first upcoming marathon in which she decided to attempt 21km! And even with not as much training, Kath still completed her 21km in 3 hours 50+ minutes! Kath had said that she missed the qualifying time of 3 hours and 30 minutes but the point really is, she completed 21km! Would you be able to complete 21km right now?

There are several lessons to learn from Kath as she pursues her career as a marathon runner:

1. You do not need a slim body to run a marathon. All you need is the right mental attitude and the belief and the determination that you CAN!

2. This is not a race against others. This is a test to see your OWN CAPABILITY!

3. Even if you finish last or find difficulty in finishing, the point is you DID NOT GIVE UP and you still FINISHED what you started!

4. Now that you have had your first experience, you will take steps to make each opportunity an EVEN BETTER experience than the one before. For Kath, now that she has had her first taste of the half-marathon, she is out to do MORE! She has signed up for the Penang Bridge marathon and is anxiously waiting for the registration of the SCB marathon to open. And on top of that, Kath has embarked on a more serious training programme that the effect will be to help her pursue her goal of improving her time as she runs her next marathon.

I am really proud of Kath - her positive attitude and willingness is what makes her succeed in not just marathon running but in all aspects of her life. And I can so relate that to weight loss. It all starts from what's up there in our heads - if we believe that we CAN, we truly CAN DO IT!

Run Kath Run!

You are an inspiration to me and I know you will be an inspiration to others.

I love you my dear friend. You are the BEST!

 

 

My Date with Mio Ting

Mio Ting was in Brunei a few months ago in July to pay a visit and I took the opportunity to have a date with her. Apparently after 4 years of knowing each other, we never have had our personal time together where it's just the two of us! I really enjoyed our very long lunch together where it just so happened all my afternoon music classes got cancelled!

I shared with her how I would like to go on to phase 2 but at the same time I was feeling guilty that I was not doing so well on phase 1 of the programme. I think in some sense, now on hindsight, I was beating myself up for the fact that I was not as disciplined as before. I was judging myself because I was afraid other people would judge me that I was once their source of inspiration and because I have faltered, does that mean I would be more a disappointment than an inspiration?

Even though those thoughts during those few hours were not verbalised, I really appreciated Mio Ting's input on helping me understand the importance of following the food plan that has been set and how it is there to really help me provided I would want to help myself. I looked back at my notebook and these are some of the things she shared with me:

If I love myself, I would not feed myself with something that would hurt me. Very often we think that this is the way we love ourselves, by "indulging" in the things that hurt us. It will take 48 hours for the poison in our body to subside. This poison is how we react to the food and the reaction is a result of our body trying to protect our organs. For me, how it shows up is sudden sleepiness, feeling bloated and of course, no weight loss.

And this line, really got me the most...

It's not that you can't do it (i.e. not that I can't lose another 10, 15 or 20kg), it's whether I want to do it or not.

As Linda Chandler had said before, "If you can't, you won't and if you can, you will."

So I am grateful I had that time with her and how the message is coming back to me now this very day. I am making certain resolutions. And I know I've said it before, but the resolve is coming back and I'm really meaning it this time. I'm going to go that extra mile and I know I CAN do it because I CHOOSE to do it!

Here's a "before" and "after" photo of Mio Ting and I. Please take note in the "before" photo, Mio Ting had already started her adventure and at that point in time I had not yet. I recall that time in Cambodia where I signed the application form and now look at me in the "after" photo after we had our date! I am just so amazed with myself and how my life has changed thanks to me making the choice to embark on this adventure!

Mio Ting & Zana - Cambodia, July 2009

Mio Ting & Zana - Brunei, July 2010
(one year later!)

Creating Debate

Tazio shared with me a quote last night:

No food tastes as good as keeping slim

And so I shared this quote on my Facebook page and there are mixed responses. I think it just goes to show, people will always need a context to work with so I felt like I needed to explain myself. Although perhaps that might not have been necessary? I am the one accountable to myself. Not to anyone else.

So back to last night...

We were talking about keeping focused because I am honestly faltering slightly. I've been on this adventure for coming 5 months and that's even longer than being on any exercise or fitness programme! So I feel like, I can "reward" myself. This relates to one of my previous entries about eating when stressed. So I'm eating the things I can eat but the quantity has increased a little bit. No wonder then the weight loss may not be as fast as before. And this is coupled with people telling me all I have to do is just lose another 1-2kg more to go because I already look good which truthfully I still have 21.4kg left to go. I am fighting with myself and my urges because on the one hand I think, why should I now try so hard because I already look good when on the other side of it, I still have some way to go and this in the long run is good for me.

So all these voices in my head, it is affecting me. And it's a good thing I had a chat with Tazio yesterday to keep me focused. He reminded me that it's all going to be worth it and that I should not sabotage myself because I've done so well. But believe me, I was drooling over Cath's home baked banana cake with icing and her yummy looking chocolate cake and Brian was serving it with ice cream!  I actually just wanted to have a taste, so it took A LOT of willpower not to pick up even the crumbs!

In the words of Yoda, "Persist, you must."

It's Moving!

After a number of weeks (maybe it was 2 or 3 weeks) where the scale just didn't budge from 91.x, it has finally moved into the 90.x range! Yippee! Whatever it is, just keep it up! For a minute there, I was starting to feel a bit "BLAH" because after seeing the numbers on the scale drop so fast in the beginning, not seeing the same result was making me wonder what I was doing wrong. So I had to learn to focus and remember that it's the journey and not the destination that matters, as long as I feel good that's what counts the most and weight is not the only factor to see results, my measurements also count and they're going down down down... 

I hope I'm not jumping the gun with this post because it's still early in the week and the weight come Monday morning is what matters to me. There are a few events to attend this week involving food. See how I do!

New Year Resolutions

I am just amazed how this year I personally know people who have embarked on some sort of weight loss program. Whether they signed up for one or whether it's one they have created based on their own research, it doesn't matter which one they do, it's actually all about taking action! And I'm proud for each and everyone of them because I can safely say, I know how it feels like to finally coming to terms with it.

I now have 3 colleagues who are undergoing their own adventures in weight loss and it is so wonderful for me to know that we are all in it together! It's all about supporting one another and being one another's inspiration. They are already inspiring me with at least a 1kg to 2kg weight loss!

I commend them and my friends for their courage, their determination and their love for life and themselves by taking care of the physical being that houses their beautiful spirit! Don't be afraid of the light and the greatness within!

The Biggest Loser

I heard a lot about The Biggest Loser Asia and I managed to catch one episode the other week which was the first episode where they were choosing the 16 contestants out of 30. As the group of 30 went through the physical challenge which involved 3 minutes of a variety of exercises, I could feel the level of emotion that was surging through the TV screen. I could FEEL with them, the pain they were going through, how hard their hearts were beating, the sweat pouring down their faces, how they were aching from the sudden surge of physical activity... When I saw the contestants cry, I wanted to cry too. I KNOW what it is like. I've been there.

This thought has been going through my mind, about when people ask me HOW do I lose weight. Actually everyone has a pretty good awareness about what they need to do to lose weight. They understand it's a combination of watching what you eat plus exercise. In the hopes of asking this question though, I become aware that they could be looking for a MIRACLE. How can it be done painlessly and quickly? Of course the obvious answer is that there's no such thing and everything is a matter of perspective. If you think it's painful, then it's painful. How do you define the word "fast"? It's all relative.

I went to check The Biggest Loser website - http://biggestloserclub.asia and you sign up for a monthly membership. It's similar to the Adventures in Weight Loss (http://www.adventuresinweightloss.com) I'm on and requires a one time payment. The Biggest Loser looks at a combination of food and exercise together. Adventures in Weight Loss looks at a customized food plan based on your blood profile and encourages exercise too. The tools they use (food diary, menu plan, exercise plans) are almost the same except it's all online which I like because I am becoming an online girl.

However, the key to making anything work and perhaps I have stressed this before is really about commitment and discipline. With commitment and discipline, whatever you do can go a LONG way! It does not matter what weight loss program you sign up for so long as you have commitment and discipline. One reminder is, don't sign up for something that will hurt you in the long run. It is meant to help you, not deter you for living a great life. Figure out what will work best for you in terms of money, time and the level of effort based on the time that you have and the complexity of the program. So starving yourself is not going to help. Exercising until you hurt a body part is not going to help you. Be sensible about this. It took you so long to put on the weight, so shedding it is going to take some time too. Have patience. I tell myself that everyday... (right now fighting off many cravings!)

The miracle will be discovering that deep down inside, you have that commitment and discipline! You can do it! If the contestants on The Biggest Loser can do it and show their will and determination to millions of viewers and at the same time reminding us they are still human, so can YOU!