Bounding back into action

I feel like a bit of a fraud.

I made such an effort to lose all that weight and get fit, and yet I'm only really just hanging on to it by the skin of my teeth.

Quick recap:
Turned 40 in 2005, weighing just over 132kg
Started WW in April 2005
Did a triathlon in February 2006
Lost 50kg by April 2006
Got down to 76kg (very briefly) in October 2006
Since then my weight has slowly crept up so I am now at 89kg

I just don't seem to be able to keep any momentum. Yes, I am still pretty fit, but my eating is all over the place.

Discipline is very clearly part of the answer - and given all the personal changes I've been through in the past few years (only child leaving home, my leaving my long-term partner, me falling head over heels in love with a new man...), I suspect there's some emotional stuff tied up in that.

I know that setting goals and making plans is something that makes a big difference to me. It's very easy for me to just drift along if I'm not aiming for something.

Discipline affects so much of what I do. My work, my home life, my health and my emotional well being. Going easy on myself should not be an option - it doesn't help me in the long run. I let myself off the hook when my weight wandered up over 80kg, then up and down and up again and again over 85kg. I cannot continue to do this, or next it will be over 90kg and who knows where that will stop (or not stop).

So, how am I bounding back into action?

First - I have signed up for another triathlon (6 February 2010). Yes, I know said last year I had retired from running, but I can change my mind about that one. This triathlon is about two things - one is to have a goal. The other thing is in my first triathlon the weather was so vile the swim was cancelled (we waded through the waves instead), so I've always kinda felt I didn't really do a triathlon.

Second - the return of regular posts. This is to keep me on track, not for the entertainment of others. Just weekly posts, but every week. Maybe more than once a week, but never less.

Third - eating. I still haven't got my head around how to cope with this. I know I can't go back to counting points or any other form of tracking; this doesn't work for me and is more likely to make me eat poorly after a few days. It is partly about setting limits and partly about doing some planning. I'll put more thought into this yet, but it starts with no alcohol during the week and planning at least my breakfasts and lunches. Dinner will be less formal but will certainly involve restrictions on the size of protein servings.

And the end goal? Same as always - 72kg.

More on Tahiti

It is an absolute must in any overseas country to get at least mildly drunk in a local bar, watch the locals and make up fantastic tales about their lives.


We managed to achieve this in Les 3 Brasseurs - a micro brewery/bar near the waterfront in Papeete. They make four types of beer and I can highly recommend the 'ambre'.

There were plenty of locals coming and going, including what looked like the guests from a wedding stopping for drinks on the way to the reception (presumably while the bridal party was off somewhere for the photos). They were all very stylish and cool, even the kids, although the French fashion flair seemed to have deserted one couple who had dressed themselves and their two children in colour co-ordinated clothes - watermelon pink isn't a colour that suits many men.



We managed not to get as drunk as this man, who was incoherent at 9am, spotted while we were having coffee at Le Retro. As a coffee snob, getting decent coffee is a real challenge when travelling - the best trick here seemed to be to drink espresso only. Any coffee with milk in it was vile.


For our last day on the main island, we did a half day tour of the coast. Tahiti Nui is only 120km around (Tahiti Iti is a smaller attached island), so it is quite an easy drive.

We had a lovely French driver/tour guide - and we were the only ones on the tour, so it was very chatty and personal. We saw all the usual sights - marae (temple), the Gaugin museum (very few original works but interesting all the same - I particularly liked his bronzes), a waterfall and a blow-hole (the weather was too calm for this to be exciting). The general sight-seeing was the best part of the tour - the coastline is very impressive. There were a large number of what looked like 'ghost suburbs'. Apparently the government is building subsidised housing to encourage people to move out of the city - but it doesn't look like anyone is very keen.






Next stop, Moorea. Oh, and check out this cruise ship. Craig is convinced they get their lifeboats off TradeMe (ebay to the non-Kiwis) - not one is the same!