Nearly Four Months Down...

Well, as I haven't updated for ages, I have no idea what day I'm up to, and I guess it doesn't matter! I am still losing weight, albeit very slowly, but still, it's all good! I have now lost just over 10kg since I started back in February this year, and tomorrow is the first day of June. Yeah, it's taken awhile, but I don't think there has been a single week where I haven't lost at least a bit of weight. So, it's all good!

I thought it was probably time to update with what I've been doing. I've been working very hard in my IM business... no I'm not getting anywhere yet, but that's okay ;) it requires a lot of hard work and persistence for things to start paying off, and I have a plan to stick to! My goal is to be making $3000 a month by the end of the year, which IS doable if I continue to work hard and stick to my plan.

I also have just got myself a fairly good freelance writing job. Not great pay, but it's a reasonable amount, and over the next few weeks I SHOULD have a stable supply of work if all goes well. Yes, it cuts into my other working time, but things were getting VERY tough financially, and in order to pay over $1700 bills which all came due last week, I had to borrow money off my husband :( Today my car's finally getting serviced so there will be another few hundred $$$. So, yeah, I NEED the money very crucially!

So, over the next few weeks I'll be working my butt off doing this freelance work and my IM stuff. However, it WILL all be worth it eventually!

Oh, and I thought I would mention that I went on a looong walk this morning. I had to take my car in for a service, and they'll drop you off from the mechanic's into town, but not all the way to where I live, so I walked home from town which is a good few km away, and there are a few hills too! Great exercise, but it means my work for the day is BEHIND badly! I haven't been doing enough exercise lately because of my injured hand (it's getting better though, so I may be able to go riding this week). Still I hurt it on the 1st of May, so it's been almost a full month of an injured hand and thumb. Wow! I wonder when it will be better???

Day 98

Yeah, I know I'm not updating daily anymore! Well it's because I'm really working hard at the moment, building my sites, learning new stuff etc. etc. To be honest, that's probably a good thing as I'm not waffling on here all the time!

However, on the upside I'm still losing weight, and I've started to get a few websites up. Not earning yet though ;) I may also be getting a regular(??) writing gig that should pay a reasonable (but not fantastic) rate. However, if I get enough work through it, I'll be earning enough to live off and pay down my credit card debt, which is climbing at an alarmingly rapid rate!

I haven't taken any body measurements in ages, but I know jeans are fitting looser, and soon I'll be able to get into smaller ones (well I can't afford to buy any, so I'll have to wear smaller pants that I already have...most of which will fit me at somewhere below 60kg) which will be great WHEN I get into them. At the moment I'm 64.5kg, so I have a way to go before I can get into my below 60kg jeans.

However, the FANTASTIC thing is I have lost almost 10kg since the start of the year! It doesn't sound like much since I have over 20kg to lose, but it's the first time in a loooong time that I've regularly and consistently had weight loss. AND it's the first time in FOREVER that I've had regular, consistent weight loss WITHOUT diet pills. So YAY!

Now, it's back to the grind for me. I've been writing and submitting and spinning some articles. I now have to start putting together a couple more websites (domains I already own that don't have anything on them yet and haven't been built out). I decided I would do that FIRST before I set up another few domains. Although, eventually I want to start setting up one new domain each day. Lots of work involved in that, even with the method I've got for doing it! Well, I'll try and update semi regularly at least, although I MAY lose track of day number!

Day 93

Well...obviously I've missed a few days, haven't I?? I have been quite busy with my IM stuff, and VERY slack about exercise, but for a good reason... I sprained my thumb :( I did it the night of the High School Reunion on the 1st, and now 11 days later it's still bandaged and I still can't use it! This means no cycling (as I can't hold the handlebars or brake!!). I have also been VERY slack with the old eye exercises.

Quite honestly, my biggest stress right now is FINANCIAL. So, I have been putting more effort into making money than other stuff. I need to put in even EXTRA EXTRA effort, as at the end of this month I have over $1000 worth of bills due and I STILL need my car serviced. So, yeah...I need the $$ to start coming in. This means WORK WORK WORK. Anyway, the weight is still coming off slowly. For the last few weeks I've lost around 300 to 400g a week. I know this is probably a good, healthy speed, but I'd like it to be a bit zippier ;) I do want to weigh 50 by the time the year's out! At this rate it will take me over 40 weeks to get there! Still, even if I am a bit heavier come this summer, I'll still be happy because I'll have lost sooo much compared to last summer when I was 74kg!

Well, I am hoping to get back to cycling next week. I am afraid that with no exercise I'll go backwards. Can't do my BodySculpt either because I can't hold the bloody bands!! I really need to get my muscles working, because I don't want to lose muscles instead of fat.

My diet has been reasonable, but not perfect. I need to work on more raw food and less cooked. I do pretty well most days, but other times I splurge on bad stuff. I have a couple of pimples on my face too, and they're certainly not due to raw!! However, I must say I am still looking loads better than I used to. My skin is better, it's fairly unlined and stuff, and I definitely look young for someone about to turn 37. One thing I have noticed lately is a LOT of hair loss. It's quite annoying, actually. It started when I dyed my hair (maybe that's telling me something???) and hasn't really slowed down much. Next time I am definitely using henna. Now, there's no question of me NOT dying my hair cause that'll age me right there! For all that my face is young, I have grey hairs coming through, and nothing is more aging than greying hair! I am hoping that being more raw and having some wheatgrass powder will help my hair return to its natural colour. Some people say it's impossible, but I've heard enough evidence that it's definitely possible to reverse grey hair.

Anyway, it's time for me to WORK WORK WORK!!!

Day 81

Wow, in less than 20 days I'll have been keeping this blog for 100 days! Bit scary really! Not sure I've accomplished everything I intended in that time ;) Although, to be fair, the blog was supposed to be about my weight loss challenges, and as my weight is still coming off now, I don't think I've entirely not succeeded. If that makes sense!

Well, went for a long ride this morning, and I must admit to being somewhat tired. Of course, this isn't helped by the fact that I have 7,500 words to write today! I am feeling less than entirely motivated, especially as I have to go shopping today. ARGH. I wanted to go clothes shopping so I've got something to wear for tomorrow night, but don't think I have the time! I need to get a good chunk of this writing done today, so at least I can finish it tomorrow IF I have the time... which is the challenge as tomorrow will be busy too. First there's basketball, then I'll have to go clothes shopping if I don't today, and at 4:00 I am meeting old friends before we head to the school reunion (gulp). I also need time to GET READY. What this means is I need MOST done by tonight, if not all of it. Which is a lot of work! And, it's already 12pm, and I'll need to go shopping at about 2:00 to get it all done and be home by 3:30, which means 2 hours now and I won't get anything done until after swimming, and after I've picked my husband up at 7 most likely. So I'll have 2-3 hours this evening to work. All this means is I have to get on with it NOW!

I still need to edit the work I finished last  night (didn't do it then cause I like to give it a bit of space, and also because it was 11 and I was tired). So I have my work cut out for me!

Day 80

Still a LOOOT of work to do today, which is bad as I have to go to the photographer's to pick up the family portrait I bought ages ago (need to leave a bit after 2 to get there on time so I am also home on time for kids) and of course, it's basketball today so no time after school to work. I also still need a shower AND I need to get stuck into this ebook I'm writing. Need to get first one completed today and I have no idea how I'll get the other one finished by Saturday! EEP. I guess I will have to work some of Sat which is a PITA given that it's the day of my high school reunion so I'll be out of the house early, AND of course, I'll be home with the kids! At the very least I can finish it Sunday as it's still Saturday overseas hehe. But ideally the thing will be done by then.

Tomorrow I will also have limited time as I need to go shopping for some clothes to wear on Saturday night. Man, I have got to stop being distracted by IM stuff when I need to get this job finished!!

As far as my diet/exercise etc. is concerned, I went on a short but vigorous ride today (decent sized hill) so I broke a sweat etc. and got the heart pumping but didn't go far. The rain has been on and off and I find it hard to ride in the rain with glasses. Another reason to improve the old vision ;) Anyway, I need to go have a quick shower, it's currently 10:43... and I want to do a full hard 2 hours of the ebook today before I have to go driving. I need to get ebook one completed and at least 7500 words today. Of course, I still have 7500 words for the next ebook due by Saturday :( SOB. Ahh well... next time I'll get sooo busy that I'll have to turn down work ;)

Day 79

Wow, nearly 80 days! Hardly 80 days of perfection, but 80 days of at least relatively constant weight loss (if not a wee bit slow...averaging 1kg in 10 days, which if you think about it is not that bad). Well, it's now 10:41am and I have lots of work to do :( Still have this stupid ebook to finish (obviously won't get it done today, but need to have it at least 1/2 done today) and I have another annoying job which they are thinking of making weekly. I will have to time exactly how long it takes me to do it, because I get paid $25.30 for it... if it's taking me 2 hours or more then that's a very sucky hourly rate! Well, we shall see!

I am a little annoyed that suddenly when I have so many things I WANT to do, that I end up stuck with things I don't want to do but I am obliged to do. Yes, they will earn me money, but I won't get most of it until the end of next month (as it's due on the 1st of May and won't be approved until after that, and I can't bill until the 1st of the month, which means June...ho hum).

Now, I have a couple of options and I'm not sure what to do. I REALLY want to get stuck into IM. I believe it has the most potential for a long term income. Yes, I still want to write my book, but in order to really do that I need to have some $$ coming in from other sources. Now, I do know I can make money freelancing. Elance at the moment isn't proving to be very lucrative (maybe I haven't been searching enough, I don't know) but I believe I can get some good work on the WF as long as I set up a website and put some samples on it and offer my services at a relatively low price. This way, I know I can get some much needed money, and I should be paid relatively quickly for the work I do (no once a month billing or waiting for funds to be released). BUT I really don't want to do it. I want to spend my time writing for MY sites and not other people's. However, if I don't take that option, where do I get the money? It takes time to build an IM business.

That being said, there are a couple of good programs where I should theoretically start making some money relatively quickly. IF I do it right and put in the hard yards initially. I am thinking 2 - 4 weeks of hard work to see some payoff. Yes, it may mean I don't get paid much in that time frame, but the results could be worth it. Humm... so what do I do? Really, I think it's a matter of spending my time more effectively. I need to be able to block out 2 hours of solid freelance work, followed by 2 hours of solid website work and following the program. AND I need to stick to ONE thing at a time. Yes, I started doing something different a few days ago. LOL And now I want to switch to this! However, this one sort of makes more sense from a long term standpoint. The other was a bit iffy in terms of long term results.

Well, I'll go for my ride, then do my eye exercises and then I'll do my paid work for a couple of hours. I also want to spend an hour tidying the house (with the timer). I will probably end up doing the website work when the kids are home from school, so I will just have to deal with that distraction and not let it get me off course. It is vital I get the first 7500 words done of this job that I've been set, and I'm only at 2600 at the moment. GAK. So that's another almost 5000 today. I need to finish the final 7500 on Thursday and Friday as I assume Sat will be busy (day of high school reunion). Hmm, although I wanted to go shopping on Friday so I can find something to WEAR to said reunion. I also wanted to get my eyebrows waxed instead of doing it myself! But I may end up just doing it myself ;) I may see if I can go with Ro when she gets hers done next week. Or something! Clothes are the main thing as I have nothing to wear at the moment!

Anyway, time to go riding. I won't be back until around 11:30, so won't be able to start my work until 12, which leaves 2 hours for writing and one for tidying! OMG I really need to get my arse in gear!

Day 78

I was away on the long weekend so didn't post for a few days. However, I DID lose weight. OMG... I was not expecting anything good this week as I ate CRAP on the weekend. Not 100% crap as I brought my smoothie making equipment along, but crap as in packets of chips, fried chips, potato cakes, lollies... the sort of stuff that should prevent weight loss. So, this week I must commit 100% to 100% eating (Sat night is my High School Reunion, and even though I have lost weight since the start of the year and am no longer obese, I am still overweight... sad but true).

Well, I will not let my weight get me down, as I HAVE lost 8kg since the start of Feb. No, it's not an amazing weight loss. But it IS loss... and if I keep going the way I am, the weight will keep dropping off. I mean, it's not even 1kg a week, but if I continue to lose approximately 8kg every three months, by the start of August I'll be around 58kg and by the start of December I'll be 50kg, which is my initial goal. Beyond that, I can't say what I'll do ;) It depends on a couple of factors.

Okay, well for today due to the rain outside, I won't be going for a ride. This is fine as I am stuck doing this annoying work that I need to slog through! I have to do at least 5000 words today and send it in to get it approved. Blah. Boring! I don't like missing my exercise, but the weather isn't great for it, and as my eyes are still too poor to go anywhere without glasses, it's sort of difficult to function well in the rain!

Well, I am currently 1800 words down. When I hit the 2000 mark, I'll do my eye exercises, then it will be back to the grind! ARGH...not much fun!

I have read about the "loose skin" problem and ways of dealing with it without plastic surgery. Now, I've never been massively overweight, so I don't have a total body loose skin problem, BUT my belly skin has been loose and saggy since having kids. I have believed for a long time that even if I lost all my excess weight, I'd STILL have saggy skin. However, I have read something that suggests that as long as I lose ALL the excess fat, the skin will tighten up. Now, I don't know about this 100%, my belly has a LOT of stretchmarks which helps account for some of the issue, and I'm not sure that skin is as elastic as normal skin. Anyway, where am I going with this? I don't know if I will have to drop my fat loss further than what it is at 50kg in order to lose the fat I need to get rid of the saggy skin. I did read at one place that "people with less than 10% fat just don't have saggy skin", and I'm not sure I want to actually drop to 10% fat hehe. However, as a woman maybe I wouldn't have to. Still,  I imagine that my fat will be closer to 20% when I'm 50kg. I have also been in the low 50s before and still had the saggy skin. So, I may have to drop lower to get rid of it! I am hoping, however, that if I were to put on fat again after losing it, that the saggy skin wouldn't happen, as the fat would re-pad in the correct area. If that makes sense?! As in, if I lose the fat and the skin tightens, and regain a bit of fat, it shouldn't immediately sag. There is the assumption here that when I was pregnant it was the fat cells that distended and ended up in the "wrong" place causing the sagging, and the skin sagged as a consequence of that.

Anyway, the question is an interesting one and I am hoping that I will get first hand evidence of whether it is true or not that when your fat drops below a certain point, all saggy skin vanishes.  If not, I will just need to generate enough income for a tummy tuck lol.

Now, for the rest of the day... I have this stupid ebook thing to start writing :( I want to get at least 5000 words done, as the entire book will be 15,000 and it needs to be done by the end of the week. ARGH.  I have sooo many other things I want to accomplish this week, and writing this ebook will get in the way of them severely. However, it's $150... problem is, I won't get PAID for another month probably... so I still need to generate some shorter term income. There are a couple of IM things I want to get stuck straight into. One involves article marketing, and the other involves setting up a main site with a network of supporting sites for the main site. So, it is kinda annoying to have a big job this week that will pay peanuts! Ahh well...I just have to get some REAL income generation happening so I can dump the poorly paid freelance work! 2c a word I can handle, but 1c a word is beyond ridiculous as payment. I am not sure why I got this job in the first place, except I was looking for some work! I don't know how or why people would do it for even less. Unless they're doing it for extra pocket money. Maybe as a high school student or even a uni student without a job it would have seemed like great money for me. Now, it kinda sucks.

Anyway, gotta go sort myself out and get ready. It's 9:30 and I'm still in my PJs! I've got to do some riding, some housework, and this stupid 5000 words, plus try and get a bit more work done on my website, and actually start setting up this new article marketing thingy.