Happy New Year!!

Yes folks, I'm back and I've got a new plan for the new year. I had a lovely holiday break -- we went to the beautiful Blue Mountains! It was my first time there and I was awestruck! We rode a steam train at the Zig Zag Railway and that was very cool, I felt like I'd stepped back into the 1800s. We rode the Skyway cable car suspended some 270 meters above ancient ravines and waterfalls, with an amazing close-up view of the three sisters rock formation. We explored the Jenolan Caves and saw some amazing views at Evans Lookout. There was so much to see and explore there, and I quickly learned just how out of shape I've become. I couldn't keep up! I had to stop and let others pass me in the caves. I could barely do the 20 minute relatively level walking trail the Skyway took us to, so there was no way in hell I could even think about the Grand Canyon Walk, which is a 3-4 hour hike. In fact, at the 20 minute trail, I had to stop and turn back when it started climbing too much for me -- I told hubby to go ahead and check it out and meet me back at the rest area.

I was hoping that $40 certificate from the fitness center would have arrived while I was away, but it didn't. I won't let that deter me, however, I'll go in next week and inquire. I've got to do something. I am determined to go back there one day with hubby and I WILL be able to keep up with him! I know I could just start walking again or doing some workouts at home -- but I really want to give this a try. I was reading up on reasons to use a Personal Trainer, and one of them was getting results much faster -- it makes sense, with someone pushing you, you'll do more than you would on your own. At least, I will. I don't push myself as hard as I should.

But I need an eating plan as well. I was definitely eating more veggies on the Lunch Box Diet, but it doesn't dictate what you can eat for breakfast and dinner -- you're kind of on your own there. So I sat down and thought about when was the last time I was losing weight steadily? When I was doing Jenny Craig in 2006. They have a vegetarian plan, but it's heavily dependent on dairy or eggs and I don't eat those. So I studied the menu plans -- still had copies from when I was on the plan. I've been coming up with substitutes for their foods that I can buy right in the store for the most part -- but healthy vegan convenience foods are hard to come by in Australia so I'll still have to do some cooking. I want to keep it to a minimum in the summer heat. But I've come up with a complete Week 1 menu and I plan to give it a try starting Monday. We've still got family here until then, and I don't start back to work until Tuesday. Since we shop on Sunday afternoon it seemed like the right time. I'll let you know how it goes. Today I weighed in at 116 kilos on the nose, which is 255.74 pounds. That's a BMI of 43.9.

There's one last part of this plan -- making time to relax, de-stress, meditate, focus on my vision for my future -- whatever you want to call it, I need some serious ME time as well. So I'll be finding time wherever I can to tune into myself, get in the right mind-set and focus on my goals. I want to be healthy in body, mind and spirit. Here's to a healthy new me in 2011!