A goal achieved...or not yet?

My treadmill, my brand new gym ball, and my purple hula hoop and my knitting on the couch... in front of the T.V. (Just a pic to remind me of my active and not so active activities this winter.)

Blog readers might recall that losing weight (again) was one of my goals in the beginning of the year. I am very grateful that I have managed to lose 5 kg since then. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't shake off more than 1 kg a month. My portions have been minute (at least I think so), I drink gallons of water (hot and ice cold) and I gym at least 4 times a week and I exercise at home as well. And I have fallen in love with a meal replacement. USN Diet Fuel, Ultra-lean, low G.I meal replacement mixed with yoghurt makes a great....dessert! (Ha, ha)

Since school closed last week, I couldn't go to gym, but I average about 7 km per day on the old treadmill in my bedroom and I exercise a lot on the gym ball. And I hula again! For the first time in about 50 years! It is great fun. This morning I succeeded with 300 revolutions non stop. Thelwyn swears by a hula hoop and so I bought one. However, when I first started, I was absolutely exhausted after 3 or 4 attempts, but now I just take it in my stride. My muscles are getting harder, but the slim waistline I dreamed of is still eluding me.

Anyway I feel much healthier, and am glad to fit in (some of) my old clothes again. When I wake up, I can't wait to get onto the scale and to measure my waist and my hips. (The obsession with the tape measure has started because my (electronic) scale is very unreliable, but a measuring tape can't lie.) At the beginning of the year I felt, if only I could lose 3 kg... but 5 kg later I still feel if only I could lose 3 kg more... I look at my face and see the wrinkles and think... I shouldn't get any thinner, but then I look in the mirror and I think...if only I could lose 3 kg!! At the gym an (overweight) friend also said if only she could lose 3 kg. What is it with us and the magical 3 kg.?

And then I hear a voice: True beauty comes from within. Just be thankful you are healthy and have an able body!

Housework is waiting! I guess if I lift my but and get going with a vacuum cleaner, it would also burn more calories than blogging! Have a great day!

Different exercises for different people!

I fetched Franco at his school for time with his Ouma. Here he sits and waits for Ouma to unlock the door and security door...(this is South Africa!). Ouma is not too handy with strange keys, baby on the hip and nappy bag, but Franco did not seem to mind sitting on the grass.

Franco prefers lying and playing to sitting. He loves balls!

In a world of his own...

And then he sees me! "Daar's Ouma!"

Another activity: pointing toes and...

flexing them!

Trying to get both feet - and dummy - in his mouth at the same time! (Got very frustrated every time he pushed the dummy out with his feet!)

Pappa is hier! Franco had a short nap before his parents arrived, so he was in very good spirits when they came. Loved the pumpkin his Ouma Elna had made.

Tamerin (my homeschool learner) is also doing the leg thing - but with much more effort. Her muscle tone is weak, but we regularly go to gym and she enjoys the "Express abs classes". She has shown so much improvement this year. Praise the Lord with me for her! She is so much part of my life. Read more about her http://www.homeschoolingaspecialchild.blogspot.com

Martelize is now 3 months and a week. She has an affinity for fluffy toys and hold their hands!

Martelize doing situps on Thelwyn's laps. She is quite strong and loves this.... but she does not like tummy time!

My 2nd Thursday with Franco

Look Ouma I am doing push ups! One of these days I'll crawl to my car!

I bought Franco a little car and he enjoyed brandishing it through the air and chewing the wheels. When he had had enough of that I turned him onto his tummy and sometimes he did push ups and sometimes he swam. When I started doing my own tummy exercises next to him on the carpet, he was so amazed at Ouma with her leg in the air, that he promptly turned onto his back again.

Franco in swimming mode.