Terrific Triceps!!

Terrific Triceps?? Me?? Well, you'd be hoping so after the amount of dips that were completed by my sexy (??) arms! My aim was 1500, but I decided to challenge myself and attempt to smash out the 2000 limit for the advanced categories.

And I did it!

So, how is it possible to get that many tricep dips done in just 7 days?

Well, in between cardio machines at the gym, you do a few sets of 20. At the end of the cardio session on Monday I was up to 250.

Then, later that evening at home, the television became a friend to health not foe! I did sets of dips in the ad breaks - while being inspired by The Biggest Loser best makeovers!!!

So, Tuesday was a little less on the dip challenge! I only managed to do 50... But they'll all add up by the end of the week.

Wednesday saw me pump out a massive 300 at home! I discovered that the coffee table was a great height to do dips on. And while watching my favourite TV show ever - well, what's to complain about in that situation!

Thursday was another mix of gym and home - added another 250 to the tally.

 Friday night I found and collated all the evidence from my week of dips - this is how I managed to keep track of my dips - post it notes!

Saturday was the SSS - and my usual SSS is an RPM class followed by Body Pump at the gym. I did 200 extra dips at the gym before RPM.

Then before going to bed I realised I really needed to make up some dips. So I did. In my PJ's off the end of the bed! How did I keep going with these ones? Well, sudoku was the saviour. Each time I got a number in, I did another set of 10. In no time I'd racked up another 300 dips!

That left just 100 to do on Sunday night. That's possible. And so, in front of Masterchef, after dinner, I finished off my challenge.

And that folks is how I did my 2000 tricep dips this week. Anyone else got a tale of strength and pain from week 7???

Wrapping Up with Costs and Payoffs

Costs & Payoffs

This week's mindset video was a real challenge to look at the costs and payoffs associated with both achieving and not achieving my goal in 12wbt; to then figure out which one was where I wanted to head.

I was more challenged by this than I thought I would be. I was fine with the first few questions, but even just writing my answers to Q5 - The cost of NOT achieving my goal - I was starting to get a little freaked. It was like my pen was writing more honestly than my mind could think. The costs were:

Nothing will change,
Always feeling unhappy and disappointed with myself,
Feel like a failure,
Lack any self confidence.

As I was writing I was thinking "gee it must be awful to feel this way" when I realised that's how I used to feel. All the time! And then when Mish asked us to find the answers we were most fearful of, well it really wasn't hard. Nothing else on my pages were as fearful as those few statements.

Hence this little exercise cemented for me the fact that whatever it costs me in time, money, effort, pain, organisation, saying no to food/drink offers... was completely and utterly worth it. Because I don't want to go back to feeling the way I used to about myself. In just 7 weeks I have moved on to such a brighter place, and I just simply can't let myself go back.

So, what's been on the menu this week???

I loved the broccoli soup, simply fabulous! The first photo was taken half way through!! Sorry after carefully arranging the croutons just right for the photo, I promptly forgot to take it and dug in to my 'shrek' soup!! Mum thought it would be a bit green, but I text her the photo and she said it looked much better than she imagined!! And the other photo is my lunch the next day.

If you asked me what my favourite meat was I'd say lamb - and especially lamb shanks. So wasn't I a little overly excited to find shanks on the menu this week. They were simply irresistable! Full of flabour, tendy, juicy etc. Definitely a winning dinner party dish!

As promised a photo of the chicken zuchini and ricotta pita pocket. It wasn't as good as the first one I made, namely because it had no chicken!! A complete oversight on my part and I had no chicken in the freezer to cook. So I improvised and chucked in a bit of lite swiss cheese.

I haven't photographed many of my breakfasts, perhaps an indication of how much time I'm lacking at that point in my day! This weekend changed all that - check out the fantastic treat I got on Saturday & Sunday - Best cooked breakfast ever! Grilled haloumi and mushrooms.

And last but not least - Spinach and Ricotta Fil Triangles. Tasty, and quite filling. They would definitely make tasty little finger food options if you were entertaining guests.

The Weekly Challenge 
I set myself the task of stepping up to the next level and completing 2000 dips! Did I make it???
Monday = 250 at the gym & 250 at home
Tuesday = 50 (gym)
Wenesday = 300 (home)
Thursday = 150 (gym) 100 (home)
Friday = 300 (home)
Saturday = 100 (gym) 400 (home)
Sunday = 100 (home)

YES!! I did it!! That total comes to 2000. So very proud of myself for seeing it through to the end. And even nailing the higher amount than intermediate. And for some more fun, I'm going to be posting a special post dedicated to the tricep challenge!!
 

So what's coming up in week 8???

I'm dedicating week 8 to be freezer week!! Huh? Well I seem to have acquired a number of leftover meals, and I'm off on holidays on Thursday, so I figured it was the perfect week to use up those meals. And what a nice low key way to wind down before holidays.

 

I'll be heading up to see my parents, and then flying up to Noosa for a week. And I'm certainly looking forward to some sunshine!! And I'm determined to stay on top of my diet and exercise too while I'm away. However when I'm staying with my parents I thought I might cook up a few 12wbt faves for them - what would you suggest??

10.2kg GONE!!

Ok, so here's the post wednesday weigh in update... 

(drumroll please!)

I lost a whopping 700g!!!!

Yes, not the biggest number, but I'm ecstatic because that's a total loss of 10.2 kg in 7 weeks, and I've passed the 10kg milestone!!!!!!

As for another milestone... Here's a little story of my Wednesday at work which I posted in the forums this week:

Just have to let the 12wbt world know that it is possible to combat a crappy day without using food!!!

I had a tough day at work, 3 key staff members away, leaving me, 2 juniors and another senior staff member. As usual it all went a little pear shaped, I had to pull one of them into line when it took too long to get something done. We had a few curve balls thrown our way - you all know days like that!

But, in my previous life I would've just given in, eaten the favourites chocolates available, gone and visited the cookie jar in the tea room, missed my gym session after work, and eaten fatty greasy take away for dinner - all with the aim of making myself feel better (why did I never understand it made me feel worse??) so today, I resisted the chocs, biscuits etc, went to the gym and just made my rpm class, came home and cooked broccoli soup for dinner, and am now finishing up some tricep dips in between checking forum posts and blog posts.

I feel like I have achieved something really significant today, just in not eating crap! And I love the fact I made that decision. And I just wanted someone to know! Thanks for reading. 

As for some other highlights (in short)
- Loved the broccoli soup!!!
- Kicking butt in the tricep dip challenge...
- A couple of people commented on my weight loss at the gym (not to self: must get better at responding to compliments).
- I've been choosing my hard - not my original thought, credit to energy&Emily.
- And... On the spur of the moment I bought finale tickets!!!!!! Radelaide here I come (after a mighty road trip :-))

I'd love to know how your week 7 is going! And I'll be back with the final wrap over the weekend.

Week 7 Updates

Update:

Loved today's weights session at the gym! It was tough, but doable, and I smashed it. I love working legs, and in particular got to 115kg on the leg press without too much trouble. Looking forward to doing that pyramid set again and going higher still. That said, I still hate planks of any kind - normal, reverse, side... Give me legs any day.

 

It's weigh in tomorrow, and I snuck in an earlier peek at the scales this morning. It's sitting at 700g at this stage - which I really pleased with!! If not only because that's exactly 10kg from my beginning weight. So all I'm hoping is that tomorrow morning it can be just that bit more so I can break the 10kg barrier.

 

And for those who leave replies on my posts - firstly thank you! It's lovely to read your stories and words of encouragement. But secondly apologies if it seems as though I haven't replied - in fact I have been, but it's taken me 6 weeks to figure out that I need to use the reply button not the comment button - I've been leaving comments on my own blog!! I have already mentioned that I'm a little technologically challenged haven't I...

 

Food:

The Veal Involtini was Sunday nights dinner, and it was lovely!! I wasn't too keen on the polenta, the texture was not really my thing... But the veal itself was lovely, and I must say looked fairly impressive when sliced up. (And don't forget that we eat with our eyes first!!).

 

 

The Antipasto Pita Pocket - Yes I've had this for lunch before, but it was just as good the second time. I couldn't be bothered buying pita breads and found out that half a Lebanese bread was the same weight, so I made a little toasted sandwich! And it was really tasty. A great lunch for a cold and wet day.

 

 

Hmm, I had another pita pocket for lunch today - zucchini, ricotta & chicken, but I was too hungry to photograph it before I started chowing down! But never fear, it's on the menu again later this week - look out for it in future posts.

 

Dinner for tonight was Beef & Broccolini Stir Fry - I love a nice quick dinner that you can whip up in a flash after work & the gym, this was great. And I know I'll feel good tomorrow for all that red meat after the weights session I did tonight.

 

 

 

Weekly challenge - 1500 tricep dips

Here's where we stand at the moment...

 

Monday = 250 at the gym & 250 during TV ads at home

Tuesday = 50 at the gym (yep, getting sore already!)

 

So that's week 7 until Tuesday night. Hope everyone else is having a good week, and ready to jump on those scales in the morning. Happy dipping too everyone!!!