Women, Food and God - where I'm at...

I've made it to Chapter 10 so far and I've loving this book. 

Back soon...

It's arrived and I cannot wait to get started....

Exclusive books called me this afternoon to say my book had arrived.  Woohooooo!!  Thankfully that did not take too long.

I cannot wait to get started....

We've been busy...

It's been busy these past 30 odd days in the Gebhardt household.  From socialising to being totally enthralled with the FIFA World Cup.  We even attended one of the games.  Will I ever really watch football / soccer (as I love to call it) ever again or as much as I have these past weeks - Nah - not likely....LOL

We spent a weekend in Dullstroom (a popular village to go to - especially for Fly fishing)  I'm hooked....

The view over the trout dams at the farm we stayed at

The guys enjoying an early morning stroll around the dams...we were there to celebrate Gareth's 40th birthday (he is in the denim jacket)

We had fun fly fishing...   (Stuart)

The boys and I then started getting ready for the game we were going to.  We made Makarapas (decorated hard hats)  I ended up doing most of the work.  LOL

I took a chance and got us tickets for one of the FIFA World cup games.  We went to watch USA vs. Algeria.  I am so glad that I did get us tickets.  This event has been amazing.  It will be sad when it comes to an end this Sunday but life must go on.  There is life after the FIFA World Cup....I hope.....LOL 

Besides supporting our local team, Bafana Bafana (South African Team), we as a family adopted Team USA as the other team we would be supporting.  Sadly, neither team made to the finals (pout) but it was fun watching them trying to get there. 

We were seated right at the top of the stands....

The infamous Vuvuzela.....and the boys wearing our Makarapas :-))

The sun setting over the stadium (Loftus)

We also attended the Fan Fest at Montecasino with some of our friends.  Football / Soccer has really being at the center of everything social here at the moment. 

Serious conversations about the game....

Hubby and me - yeah those hats were hillarious.....LOL

We will not talk about diets because apparently all plans of doing the right thing DID NOT HAPPEN!!  As much as I enjoyed this past month it has had its downfalls.  Time to pick myself up, dust myself off and get back to what I know.  My body has taken a beating and I feel blegh!!!  I am also currently fighting off a cold.  Don't you just hate those. 

Next week the kids are back at school.  Not only am I look forward to it but so are the boys. 

Time to get back into routine.....

Low Carb = NO GOOD!!

Being physically active and wanting an active lifestyle I have come to the conclusion that low carb diets are not the greatest, well, for me anyways. 

The shakes did offer a solution in that I didn't really have to think or plan around my meals too much.  Some water, shaker and whatever shake I wanted.  Easy peasy.  BUT - I felt like cr@p!!  They started getting sweeter and sweeter and eventually all I wanted to do was gag and run.  Not a way to enjoy ones lifestyle.  Another hard lesson learnt. 

The risk with this low-carb diet is that you will lose weight and FAST (but is it all fat or are you losing muscle mass along with it).  You risk slowing your metabolism, so while your weight loss is fast in the beginning it does slow down and in this vicious cycle you end up starving yourself more to lose even more weight.  So bye-bye low-carb diet for me.  I was trying one that has recently become available in South Africa and is made in Australia.  Sadly I found the consultants lacking in knowledge and only being keen to make a sale (to my horror I found out that they earn commission on product sales).  

Back to planning menus and working hard at losing this weight. 

I'll be back soon about stuff I have learnt...GI, GL and balanced eating plans and DOING this for life....

What I am busy with...

This book is fabulous. An answer to a long time prayer.

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Kettlebells

I just ordered this book. I cannot wait for it to arrive and luckily for me it is available locally so I should have it in a week or so.  Woot, woot....

I am convinced that this is one of the BEST workouts anyone could have.  Last week Thursday I had a session with April and we did some Kettlebells, well, today is the first time I can sit and stand up without yelping in pain.  Every muscle in my legs screamed - they had worked hard.  It was a good pain and here I am wanting MORE!!  Crazy - huh

We have had the worst - miserable weather ever.  It's been cold and the sun has disappeared for days on end.  It's been grey, wet and miserable.  When the sun does appear it seems to be for brief periods. 

The diet is going well.  I have had a few hiccups this past week and have maintained and not lost.  I am happy to report a 2.2 kg loss however in the first two weeks of being on the plan.  

With cold seemed to come the need to eat carbs.  The carb cravings won but I will have my revenge.  I was telling hubby yesterday that after a dose of 'refined' carbs I feel gross.  My body feels sluggish and yuck but when those carbs first touch those taste buds it tastes like heaven.  I need to keep reminding myself of the after effects which last much longer than the heavenly taste.  

I am enjoying making the winter stash of homemade veggie soup - I'm just hoping that I don't get tired of it too soon.  Winter has only just begun.

The cycling is slowly coming to a grinding halt for the moment.  The mornings are way too cold and it's dark as well.  Although we would not be cycling in the dark - the cold will most certainley still be there.  It's getting up when it is dark - that is the problem and especially on a weekend when sleeping-in sounds like a much better option under a warm snuggly duvet.   

There is a race I would like to do in July.  The huge stage race that I was aiming for in June has been put on hold for now.  Upon reflection I would rather the do the 1 day stage race when I am much fitter and in a better condition to know that I will finish it.  At first I was upset about this but I have to be real with myself.  These races do not come cheap.  We would have to pay for accomodation etc. etc. and to not really enjoy it because I am not in good enough shape would not be fun or justify the expense.  The one is July I believe is doable.  It is 108km's long.  I have already complete a 100km race so I know I can do this as long as I keep my training up.  It also gives me just over 2 months in which I can focus on losing some weight.

Have a super week everyone.  I am going to work on my training plan for the week coming.
  

My favourite photo right now

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