Starting over

Just in case it's not obvious, I'm completely new to blogging. So if I seem a bit nervous or unsure - I am. I'm hoping that I will soon get used to putting myself out there, I will develop the skills to make my blogs enticing. But at the moment I'm just trying to get my head together. Here goes.

Kosciuszko Dec 2003
I was exhausted and could
barely walk for several days after.

At forty I was overweight, flabby and unfit. I'd stopped looking after myself and was concentrating on everyone around me. 

I can't remember exactly when it happened, but I was finding it more and more difficult to find clothes I liked. Eventually I discovered that it wasn't the clothes, it was me. No matter what I wore, I couldn't find anything that would make that fat body underneath look good anymore. When I hit size 18 (and 92kg) - that was it - I had to do something.

So I went on the Atkins Diet. I didn't exercise, I just changed my eating radically. It wasn't healthy. It wasn't sustainable. But I did lose about 15kg and got back into "normal" size 14-16 clothing.

Then I stopped and edged back up to 80 something kg.

So I tried it again. But it wasn't quite as successful.
I tried other diets (with mixed success), then discovered Calorie King. 
Calorie King worked but I still wasn't exercising consistently. I did a few running programs (C25k is awesome) but would stop as soon as the days became shorter and weather colder. It didn't help that I didn't have the drive or commitment to use CK for more than a few months at a time.  I worked my way down to 72kg one year, then 67kg, then 69kg. But every winter I would stack those kilos back on.

Then I found 12WBT in 2011(R3). The program, recipes and support were incredible. I finally was getting my head around my problems. Setting myself goals. Exercising consistently. The support from all the other 12WBTers (especially those special Sydneysiders) was invaluable.

By the end of the program I had cracked 65kg (a major goal as I had not managed anything below my year 10 weight of 67kg previous to this), I had run 10km and participated in several triathlons, I was wearing size 10 clothing.

Kosciuszko Feb 2012
With the fab 12WBTers
I did a training run the morning after our walk!!

2012 I was going to follow 12WBT principles and keep that weight off. I "shadowed" 12WBT for R1 & R2. I ran two half marathons. I finished the 50km endurance walk with a fabulous team in the Blue Mountains. Everything was good.

But by late August the motivation and drive had petered out. It was winter, I was working away from home, not running (but still eating as though I was), not exercising and those kilos crept back on. I've hit 72kg and am so pissed that I am not practicing what I know to be right.

So now - it's time to GET BACK ON TRACK and be accountable. To put it all out there and stop keeping secrets. To join up again and revisit all Mich's preseason tasks and work out whatever it is that is causing me to sabotage myself.

Feel free to kick me if you don't think I'm being honest.
Feel free to support me and give me a hand.
Feel free to ask me for support whenever you need it.
Feel free to cry on my shoulder or celebrate an achievement.

Six months ago I was the fittest I've ever been. When I hit 50 I want to be even fitter.

FIT & FIFTY (and maintaining it) is my goal.