Something nice on a Sunday afternoon!!!

OK here goes!!

After much hinting and begging ( insert tantrums here if you feel the necessity ). Zanyzana decided that she could indeed do something nice for me. Show me the love so to speak. So she announced with much fanfare that she was taking me to lunch at a lovely little restaurant called "The River" in the town near to us but.........

But only if we could ride the bicycles there (a 34km round trip mind you). That way we could have yummy food for lunch and she could work off a few weight watcher points as well. Win win situation.....apparently.

Well after getting over the shock of her doing something really nice for me I agreed to her terms quite quickly. I was thinking to make sure she didn't change her mind. Not for one second did I think of the fault in her plan.....the return trip after gorging ourselves on beautiful food and wine.

So off we went. The trip there was uneventful besides me doing my usual chant in my head - ' This is not a race, this is not a race, we are meant to be having fun not killing ourselves trying to get somewhere fast, this is not a race, it's a fun ride'.

Which by the way, was explained to me early on on one of our joint bike riding trips. To be fair I was noticing that her fitness level had increased dramatically lately and if I wasn't careful she is now going to leave me in her dust.

Upon arriving at our destination, congratulating ourselves on a new improved time we went to the restaurant. Seated in a lovely sunny spot enjoying the view and the food AND wine, for a few hours. Life was good, really good!!! So with a very merry smile (thank you Mr Alcohol) I do remember saying before we left the restaurant that maybe we should walk for a little while first. To which Zanyzana agreed was probably a good idea.

But with all best laid plans when we got ourselves organised and ready to go she jumped straight on the bike and with a drunken wobble pedalled away. So I followed suit not thinking. About 10 minutes into the trip I realised my mistake. Pulling over at a public toilet I was not in good shape to say the least. When she came back to check on me, asking if I was OK, I replied that I wasn't sure if I needed to wee or spew. She suggested both. I went to the toilet and managed to tough it out and only do the former. With quite an effort mind you. Checking that I was OK she told me that I probably should have done both. Leading to her managing to just walk off have a little chuck for herself.

So picture me if you would. Wobbly booted, feeling under the weather already, having only just managed to avoid being sick. I hear and unfortunately smell the vomit. My day was going to get worse much much worse.

She decides to be a bit of a Nazi and commands I get back on the bike. I lasted another 10 minutes before off to the side of the road I went. Fine food doesn't taste any better coming back up than dodgy pizza or kebabs on a youthful drunken adventure. I'm sweating, shaking and my stomach is doing flip flops but I somehow return to the bike and wobble off in search of Annette whom had decided that this exact moment was great for a step up in her fitness level. She was miles ahead and going great guns. By the time she realised I was a lost soldier she was way way ahead. Like a good partner she doubled back to check on me. At this stage I had managed to pull over yet again for another little chuck and was laying on the grass on the side of the road in a world of pain.

Unsure what to do now she looked on at my predicament. I told to keep going and that I would catch up and if I didn't make it home by dark to send help then. We got back on the bikes and pedalled off. With poor Annette looping back every 5 minutes or so to check on me and let me catch up. We finally made it home in time for me to lay on the lounge quietly dying for a few hours.

What I didn't say to her. What I thought about later was the difference I saw that day in her, in her attitude, her fitness and where her head is at now days. Thanks to weight watchers and the people on there who support each other. Her fitness has increased amazingly from someone who would blob on the lounge for her entire weekend (and give me a horrified look when I suggested there was more to life than television). Her attitude now is one of can do, not can't do. She is loving trying new adventures. Toddling off with great enthusiasm to try. Yep try. Gone is the woman who grizzled her way through life. Her confidence is amazing me. She is looking, and I think, feeling like a million dollars.

She didn't even seem to notice the ride home for her was doubled as she kept coming back to check on me.

So what did I learn on my Sunday bike ride this week?
- My partner is now fit and healthy - Woo Hoo!!!
- My partner is now fitter than me - I need to suck it up and get over that one
- My partner is now enjoying life a million times more than she used to - That's called living life to the fullest I believe!!!
- That she doesn't realise how far she has come with it all - fitness, weight loss and happiness.
- If your going to have dessert don't drink the wine or visa versa (that was my big mistake)

Do I mind these things? Heck no!! I'm so so happy to see her living life out from underneath the dark gloom that is the vortex of being overweight, unfit, unhappy and the depressive mental state that these things seem to put you into. It was worth the pain I felt that day just for me to realise just how far she has come.

I AM PROUD OF MY GIRL !!!
Love you big time Babycakes x x

Handing over of the torch

Well it was bound to happen really..
I have been drafted into the business of blogging. Zanyzana has become too busy to do the upkeep.
So having given her the warning that not all my updates are going to be complementary I otherwise noted as the OH now have taken over this blog.
Tall tales are bound to be discussed and dissected along the way.
More to come........

Woollies obsession!

I just glanced (quickly) through my blog, and my goodness, there are lots of references to Woollies. EVERYTHING seems to happen there! I'll have to expand my expeditions! Anyway, gotta go to Zumba, so this is a real quick entry.

Rollin' rollin' rollin'

My OH and I hit the road yesterday. On our awesome cruiser bicycles. We road 34 kilometres in just over 2 hours. We went to the town where I work, so now I know that I can get there, if my car was ever to break down! (Not something I would like to happen, I would like to add!)

The trip was pretty good. I don't usually like listening to music as I ride, I like to listen to the birds, the wind, the beach, whatever else is happening around me, but I'm so glad I plugged my ipod into my ears before we left on this trip. It was long, parts of the actual ride were quite boring and if I didn't have the music playing, I think I would have complained a LOT more from bum-soreness! And I usually get A++ in whinging!

Anyway, the road was flat (thankfully), quite narrow (scarily) and parts were very scenic as we rode along the river. I guess the trees were pretty too, but that part just went on and on! Fortunately there weren't too many cars out, and on the whole they gave us a wide berth as they passed by.

There is a Woollies in the town we went to, and I HAD to fill my basket with "fresh produce". Otherwise, what's the point of buying the basket? Anyway, it survived the return trip, and the asparagus made a yummy dinner/snack tonight. Next time we do this trip, though, we'll give ourselves enough time to do something other than wander around Woollies when we get there... like buy some lunch... drink a beer... something lovely like that!

And for those who think WW... I made up 12PP on this ride. Cool. Makes up for the reverse cheesecake the OH made the night before (and the normal way up cheesecake we had today!)

I'm turning into someone I've not met for a LONG time... the me who likes to move and burn up energy. I like that me!

(O, I've now lost 8.8kilos and weighed 84 kilos last Wednesday. Feeling good!)

Aaaaaaaaaaaaagggh I'm shrinking!

And I think I like it!!

Yep, I tried on a pair of normal (not plus sized) size 16 black pants that have never been worn (I was going to fit into them about 6 years ago!) and they so very nearly fit. Like, if they were the only pants left in the wardrobe, I could wear them. Really, I could. That is like awesome. I'm on the cusp on non-plus-sized clothing shopping.

Now, when should this shopping spree begin? We're going up to Canberra this weekend, so I guess some of it could happen there. But I'm not sure I can ask the OH to put up with too much shopping. We're up there to chillout and relax as the OH hasn't left the area for 3 months. She's got cabin fever.

Anyway, I'm going to be talked into buying some very expensive sports shoes at Athletes Foot when we're up there. I only have very dodgy joggers (that squish my poor tootsies) and some not very supportive other sneaker things for zumba. And you know Zumba Queen must have the best of footwear. Especially when there is a gizmo to stand on and show how my feet are coping with the weight they carry. Oh well, that's why we work - to buy stuff... Isn't it?

Oh yeah, my OH took a really hot photo of me on my iPhone the other day, wearing this groovy funky colourful top I bought at Crossroads. I have to make the most of it, because you know how long Crossroads clothes last for (well, they always seem to fall apart on me! They are cheap for a reason!!) When I finally sync my phone, I'll put it up on here, with some more up to date on the way photos.

Enough rambling now. Will try (cross my heart) to be a better blogger. Now I've worked out how to add the address to my WW commenting thingo, I might get more readers. And thanks to the 4 who are my fans... I love youse to death! xxx

Catch-up!

Blogging world, forgive me because I have been unreliable. I have been true to my nature, though, and avoiding blogging because it kinda feels like homework. But only before I start to type, and then it just kinda happens. I wonder what that is all about? Anyway, I'm sorry I've been awol and I will keep myself more reliable now.

What's been going on in the safari of Zanyzana?? Well, lots and yet not lots! I'll summarise now, then expand on things that feel like they need expanding...
1. I've put my house on the market
2. I've gone back to work
3. I've started fitting into clothes that were hiding in the wardrobe
4. One of my besties and her man dropped in and stayed for the weekend (last weekend)
5. The OH is still working crap hours (but is going back to normal next week - yay!)

Hmmm, so some explanations-
1. The OH sold her house a few months ago, with the intention of buying into my place. I was supposed to find the loan and get it organised during the Xmas break, but I couldn't motivate myself. It finally hit me that I didn't feel right about it because I knew she didn't really want to buy into the house, she was doing it to help me out. So.... I'm giving the market the opportunity to help us make the best decision. If I can get a price that is reasonable, I'll sell and we'll start afresh in a new-to-us place, that we can quirkify to make home. If not, she'll buy into this place, knowing that it is the best move for us BOTH to make. (For the time being, you can check out the house here: http://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-tomakin-107137369) I'd do a hidden hyperlink, but I don't know how. If you can tell me in non-techno language, I'd love to know!

2. Boring!! Students start next week, have just been enrolling them and getting organised and boring stuff like that. Work isn't interesting for blogging!

3. Yay!! 2 pairs of 3/4 pants have been resurrected for work (probably the best thing about returning to work! Although nobody has noticed I've dropped weight. Bastards!!)

4. Much fun was had by all... Lots of laughs, drinks, yummy food, bike rides and swims. Happy weekend!

5. I can't wait til OH returns to her normal hours. As a pastry chef, these are not exactly normal by anybody else's standards, but they work for us. And when she's back to normal hours, I don't have to cook my dinner all the time. And we can eat together. And we can have conversations when we are both awake!! It's gunna be lovely.

So, that's my quick catch-up! And now for the news you've all been waiting for...
I've lost 5 kilos since I started with WW. Yippee! There is now less of me than there was at Xmas. :)

Embarrassing Moment!

So, I'm wandering around Woollies, making very wise choices - using my iPhone to calculate PP for snacks when I go back to work, reading all the labels on packaged foods, choosing heaps of fruit and veg. God, I am so good! I'm bending over the dairy fridge, checking out some sort of cheese, when I feel a light tap on my shoulder. I turn to my left, "I don't know you" I think to myself. The lady says "I'm sorry, I have to tell you, you've split your pants." "How bad?" "Really really bad!" "What colour are my undies?" "Blue".

Shit it's true, I really have split my undies. OMG, and yet, how f'n hilarious! Reason #569 to work hard at WW!! Here's the damage:

So, when you're having a shit day, or feeling down on yourself, just think "At least I didn't split my pants in Woollies"!!!

Scaredy Cat is Back!

Hi all,
Well, as I suspected, I started this blogging thing, then ran away. It's a bit of a pattern I have for new things. In fact, I'm inclined to buy a new wizz-bang thing, then leave it in its box for a week or so while I size it up and dare it to ... hmmm, I'm not sure what I'm daring it to do, but it still sits there until my bravery increases and I'm ready to open the box.

I recently did it with our new RED wii. But I've braved it now after the other half's nephews helped me over the hump! We had an awesome time, killing multitudes of zombies. I have a thing about zombies, I think they are so cool, and the fact I can kill them in the privacy of my own home makes me happy as a pig in shit!!

Anyway, as usual I am rambling off topic. I think part of my problem is that I haven't determined what my topic is. And that's because this blogging thing has started after reading multitudes of weight-loss blogs, so I think it has to be about weight loss. But the reality of me is that if I focus too much on losing weight, I become an obsessed bore, I shit myself and all my friends, and then overdose and get fat again. So, this blog can't be ALL about losing weight. Just a little bit.

So... happy days, I lost 1.3 kilos this week!! I ROCK!! That's 4.5 kilos in 3 weeks. And I'm now 88.3 kilos, which is in the range I wanted to be by the time I got back to work (dunno why I have a thing with 88, I just do!).

So, how did I lose that weight? Well, the dog is one happy camper as we've walked and swum/waded (she swam, I waded) our arses off and I've been doing zumba twice a week. And I followed the WW plan, tracked my Propoints and ate heaps of vegies. It's great for the bowels too! (Hope you're not squeamish... I'm actually an 8 year old boy trapped in the body of a 45 year old woman) I just googled that, but funny enough I couldn't find an image for it!! BUT... I found this image, which is even better:

How hot are they? PS Photo: Matthias Vriens-McGrath for Glamour

Anyway, I have 4 more days of holidays. I've done bugger-all this holiday, and feel all the better for it! We've had a few gangs of family/friends come down to stay (it happens every summer, people love you when you live at the beach!) but other than that, I've blobbed around, lost some weight and just relaxed. I haven't even been bored, which is highly surprising for me. AND now all the washing from all the guests has been washed, dried (naturally, I don't like using the dryer) and put away (roughly!) God I'm good!!

Anyway, I'm going now. I've rambled enough and have to get outside since the sun has come out...

Getting down to business

Ok.  So now I've introduced myself, I guess I'd better get on with the work of blogging. It's something I've never done before, so I'll have a stab at it and hope I get better with time!

I'm currently on holidays from work.  I'm a teacher, so I get heaps of holidays and the longest ones are over summer, which is also the Christmas/New Year period in the Southern Hemisphere.  (Just in case I get anyone reading this from the Northern Hemisphere - can't be hemispherist!!)  I think I've had 4 weeks off work, and there's one more to go.  For a change, I'm not bored out of my mind, or depressed or anything.  And I think the reason for that is......

I've rejoined Weight Watchers for the millionth time.  It's been great so far - I've been focusing on the ProPoints program for the past 2 and a bit weeks and have lost 3.2 kilos in that time.  Go me!!  I'm loving it!  Summer is the best time to eat healthy food, with the yummy fruits in season, fresh vegies for salad, sunny days for exercising outside.  It's all good! 

Biscuit (remember, she's the crazy dog) is loving it too.  She's having a wonderful time, hanging out at the beach and river with me- fetching sticks from the water, chasing seagulls, playing with other dogs, swimming, barking and generally living a dog's life!  After asking a question on a WW message board, I've bought a sports crop top to keep the boobies in place when walking as I so often jump into the water with her (or regret wearing a "good" bra and not being able to jump in. The joys of big girls!!).  I try to beat her to the stick (looking like a right weirdo!) but can't do it.  For a little girl, she's a strong swimmer.

Go get the birdie, Biscuit!

My goals with WW are:

• To lose weight so I'm in a healthy BMI - so I'm going to track regularly using the online tools.
• To enjoy the process of losing weight - so I'm not going to be obsessed with "losing weight" but more focused on eating yummy healthy food, continuing to have fun with friends, continuing to drink alcohol socially
• To reach my goal weight - so I will choose a final goal weight when I'm closer to the healthy BMI.  I'm currently around 90 kilos and 160ish cm, so my current BMI is 35, so I need to lose about 30 kilos.
• To find forms of exercise that I enjoy - so I'm going to try different things that come up. (I've started with zumba - yay, fun!)
• Ummm, there'll be more, but I've been interrupted and I have to get off the 'puter now.

Seeya :)

By way of introduction...



Biscuit



Hi there.  I'm Zanyzana, a 45 year old Australian woman, living in coastal NSW with my gorgeous wife, crazy dog (Biscuit) and cantankerous bird (Murgatroyd).  We're one happy little family.  We've got lots of interesting and quirky friends living nearby and around and about the state.  I guess these folks will get mentioned from time to time in this blog, as they're all part of the safari that is my life.



Murgatroyd



My inspiration for writing this blog comes from joining Weight Watchers and reading through their numerous blogs on their site.  I've been majorly inspired by reading the blog of Bitchcakes who is awesomeness plus (just ask her, she's not shy!!).  I'm not entirely sure why I've started to write this blog.  It may come to me sometime later (that's kinda how I work - jump in the deep end, then catch up with the impact of my decisions!)

So, I guess that introduces me, my gang and my world a little bit.  More will come out as I ramble on in the future about my world safari.