Sense and Sensibility-ness-ing-ly

It's always hollow, but my apologies for not blogging about this earlier. My life, as the french say, has been hell. BUT, I do have two weeks worth of results...

STATS TIME (Week 3)
Previous time's weight - 148.9kg
Weight - 149.6kg
Result for the week - 0.7kg GAIN

Total loss to date - 23.0kg | Original weight - 172.6kg

STATS TIME (Week 4)
Previous time's weight - 149.6kg
Weight - 147.6kg
Result for the week - 2.0kg loss

Total loss to date - 25.0kg | Original weight - 172.6kg

OK - that means that we're heading in the right direction again! Week 3 was tough due to some dodgy food decisions while in Sydney for work but to minimise it to only a 0.7kg gain is pretty good. The happiest part is the 2.0kg loss off the back of that. I'm working hard to keep that up. This is proving challenging... too much to do and somewhat too easily distracted by work stuff.

I know I can do it - I'm proving to myself I can do it (this is 7kg lost so far on this attempt) - and I will do it. Time to dig in and sort it all out.

Much loved family dog. Passed away last night with my parents at her side. 

Run free little one....

This'll have to be quick, as I'm "lea-ving... on a jet plane..." shortly...

STATS TIME
Previous time's weight - 150.9kg
Weight - 148.9kg
Result for the week - 2.0kg loss

Total loss to date - 23.7kg | Original weight - 172.6kg

A win when I didn't really expect it (due to the joyous frivolity of Luke's 4th Birthday party). Still, I stuck with it and managed to come out with a loss. I can't remember the stats on my measurements, but I think it's meant a loss of about 6cm around the waist already. This means I must continue.

This week will be more of a pain than anything else, as I'm away for business in Sydney. It'll mean finding/sourcing/negotiating a suitable evening meal will be a little harder, and it will also mean that if the hotel doesn't have a decent walking machine in their gym then I'll be off to walk the streets of Sydney - which are cold and wet from what I saw on the forecast last night. *SIGH*. The necessary evils of weight loss. Stay tuned.

I haven't been this excited about something on YouTube since I don't know when.

Just awesome. The artist scoured YouTube, so that all the music parts are originals from people who have submitted videos to YouTube. What a mash-up! So much work, but what an amazing result...

The first weigh in is complete. So, as promised, here are the results...

STATS TIME
Previous time's weight - 154.8kg
Weight - 150.9kg
Result for the week - 3.9kg loss

Total loss to date - 21.7kg | Original weight - 172.6kg

I think more than anything I've been feeling like a failure about having to start back on the program. It's partially true and partially silly, because this is the way I lost all my weight in the first place, so why not get back on the same deal and work hard again for more of the same result? The catch is, I shouldn't be having to.

But here I am anyway. The program is called 'Refresh' and it's simply a re-hash of everything I went through last time. the major benefit is that it gives me the opportunity to access the shakes/bars as before so I can use that to accelerate my weight loss (at least initially). I eat real food for dinner, but no carbs with that meal, and it's limited to 150g uncooked lean beef/chicken/pork or 200g uncooked fish (salmon is a winner in this instance!). I'm walking for an hour at least 6 out of 7 days, and as my loss progresses I'll increase the exercise with some resistance stuff or situps/pushups. The big success from this first week is that I was away for work for two days yet still managed to maintain the program. I need to be a little bit organised and regimented about it, however it pays off, ultimately.

At the start there are weekly weigh ins, but after a month or so it will cut back to fortnightly visits. The program is supposed to run for 9 months, so let's see where I end up come January 2010. My aim this time around is to get below 120kg - I perceive it to be possible with a lot of hard work, discipline and determination.

Your support, as always, is much appreciated. If you haven't already signed up, most of the battle this time will be played out via my Twitter feed (which feeds my FaceBook status, for those who are connected that way) - with updates, random thoughts, feelings and photos coming through there. Get involved, people!

http://www.gardencity.org.au/

The notice may not be there by the time you click on the link, however a lttle sidebar on the front page of Garden City Christian Church's website annouces the result:

"Extraordinary General Meeting - Sunday 26th April, 2009

It was decided at an Extraordinary General Meeting of the registered church members of Garden City Christian Church, today Sunday 26th April 2009, that Pastors Brian and Bobbie Houston be invited to accept the position of Senior Pastors of the church. The vote was carried with an overwhelming majority."

Oh no.

This looks to be the worst case of 'franchised church' that I've ever seen in my life. Some may suggest that this is simply an extension of the pentecostal ACC denomination - however if that were the case, why do they need senior pastors based in Sydney? If you've got the same leadership, then this is simply a branch of the same organisation. Ouch.

There's been a lot of gnashing of teeth over this, and lots of suggestion that the whole move was done quite subversively (see The Thinking Theologian and some of the comments on articles and the forum for details). I agree with one commenter who has asked how often are they gonna see the Senior Leadership (and I'll add who is going to pay for the flights so that you DO see them)??!! How long before coming to Church at Garden City has you sitting down to see the service streamed live from Hillsong in Sydney, with little or no local/live interaction for ministry?

Surely, this cannot be a good thing for anyone except those who stand to profit from it in the long run - the Hillsong Executive team. I'll offer in 6 months you won't recognise the Garden City compared to what it was last week. In 18 months on that, it'll just be a cookie cutter replica of Hillsong Sydney. Bleh.

Other ACC churches in Australia - BE WARNED! If Hillsong can do it to one of the largest churches in Brisbane, how long before they do it to you/yours?

"I'll have my faith to go, with a serve of pente-music, and... some low-cal-theology, thanks."
"Would you like some accountability with that?"
"No thanks, it'd spoil my meal..."

...and so it continues...

I decided that after struggling on my own for the last month or so and not shifting any of the extra weight I'd put on that I'd go back to the Wesley Weight Management Clinic and get involved in one of their follow up programs. So, I met with the Dietician (Hellene) last Thursday and had a blood test on Saturday past, to allow me to start back on the shakes/bars/1200 calories per day combo from Monday 20 April. Again.

It's only been two days, and while I've stuck with it fairly rigidly - I need to - it's still hard. Been a bit grumpy the past couple of days. Adding to this, work is being fairly demanding and I'll need to travel soon and that's gonna be tough but I *MUST* stick with the program. I must. I'll add the other stats as I get them to hand, but this time's starting weight is 154.8kg.

There's a long way to go to get back to where I ended the program last time (132.8kg), but I'm aiming even beyond that. I have to. I have to.

It's non-negotiable, I need your help and support, and here goes nothing...

This just in: I've accepted a job at Eagle Farm as Infrastructure Operations Manager starting Monday 16/03. More news to hand as the situation develops...

The Daylight Savings for South East Queensland party is starting to make waves in the 2009 Election. Their campaign launch was yesterday, and a pretty good one at that (report from GoldCoast.com.au here). The only problem I see – once you got over the gag, that’s all there is.

The DS4SEQ’s whole platform is to bring daylight savings to the southern-eastern region of Queensland (their solution and proposed “time boundary” here). That’s it. No electoral reform. No policy regarding infrastructure spending for Queensland as a whole. No fiscal policy. No mention of how they’ll solve the health debacle. If fact... [more here]

Sadly, it’s official. Warwick Capper failed to register with the ECQ as a nominee for the Qld seat of Beaudesert, invalidating is attempt at running for parliament in the 2009 election. The Courier Mail covers it here.

His campaign launch in the streets of Beaudesert was the expected media circus. Kissing shop dummies, letting ladies grope his “chassis”, etc. [more here]