Weeks tick by, weight just falling off

Otago Daily Times Queenstown bureau chief Tracey Roxburgh has reached the halfway point of the 12-week Revive programme at Alpine Health & Fitness. With just under six weeks left, this week she documents her progress and that all-important meeting with the scales and measuring tape.

Dear Diary ...

• Saturday, October 27

Gained new respect for mothers today. How they do everything and still find time for themselves is beyond me.

Was in Invercargill and put in charge of adorable niece Greer ... and lunch and dinner.

Also had to play support crew to boyfriend who completed duathlon.

And fit in personal physical exertion.

Walk quickly turned into semi-yog and ended up yogging far more than walking - aided by encounters with other people on nice track at Sandy Point.

Did not want other people to see me go from yog to walk (wanted them to believe illusion I was fit person), so had to keep yogging until was sure they were behind me.

Because I was yogging slower than they were walking, I yogged for longer than originally intended.

While this was only technical exercise of day, running around after wee G, then trying to make lunch and dinner simultaneously, meant did not stop moving for six hours.

Respite came in form of car sitting while waiting for boyfriend to complete duathlon.

Then had to return to kitchen, finish dinner and eat it ... by that time didn't even want it.

Seriously, Diary, how do mothers do it all?

• Sunday, October 28

Left something out of last night's entry, Diary.

Left out part where I had small piece of cheesecake brownie for dessert.

To make up for it decided to haul myself up Tobin's Track.

iPod volume ensured music drowned out sound of gasping (find when you can hear yourself gasping automatically feel more knackered than you really are).

After walk, went to gym and did Pump class.

Put almost all weights up ... fear will regret that tomorrow.

Then boyfriend tried to teach me how to row "properly".

Turns out is not as simple as just pulling on bar thing and sliding backwards and forwards.

Safe to say my name will not be appearing under list of rowers for Rio 2016.

Boyfriend did tell me I did well "for a girl". High praise indeed!Monday, October 29I hurt, Diary.

Mostly, pain is restricted to entire lower half of body.

Is not comfortable to sit down and crossing leg over requires both arms to assist.

On way to gym this morning had chorus of Bon Jovi's Livin' on a Prayer on brain (specifically the bit about being halfway there).

Today achieved miracle - managed to yog for best part of 20 minutes.

Would even describe parts of yogging as actual running.

Paid for that tonight when entire body seized.

• Tuesday, October 30

Four days until I revisit the scales and measuring tape.

Hands already clammy.

Even though there is slim to non-existent chance of any Reviver not seeing a change in numbers, sense of panic is colossal.

• Wednesday, October 31

Today was bad day, Diary.

Awoke in middle of night with horror headache.

Took pills and hoped they would work before scheduled visit to the gym this morning.

Woke at 8.30am to find I had slept through training session and RPM and horror headache had not relented.

Despite not being able to move from couch (or change out of pyjamas) all day, felt very guilty for not having done any exercise.

Even had to miss group training session tonight ... stupid head and its stupid ache.

Thursday, November 1Achy head gone.

This pleased me so much decided to haul myself up Tobin's Track before work.

Enjoyed every minute of it (strangely, wrote that with no sarcasm whatsoever).

Muscles have forgiven me, which is just as well because is going to get a lot worse before it gets any better.

Have Saturday's Spartan training to look forward to (sarcasm laced all over those last three words, Diary) and next week we have the "indoor triathlon".

Before all of that though, have to survive weigh-in.

Have mixed feelings - nervous and a teeny tiny bit excited.

Both stem from unknown.

You see, Diary, past six weeks have revolved around trying to make my body work properly again and being cautious about everything that has passed lips ... and praying those two factors have combined to see numbers decrease.

By 11am tomorrow the numbers will no longer be unknown ... Regardless of outcome believe putting a glass of wine on stand-by for tomorrow evening would be appropriate.

• Friday, November 2

D-Day.

Thought I would start day with quiet word to God of Weight Loss.

Not sure if there is such a deity, so to cover bases made sure quiet word was more of open letter to anyone listening who could be of assistance.

Due to nasty headache on Wednesday, had to go to gym at 8am ... instead went early to ensure any fat cells hanging on for dear life got squeezed out before 10.45am.

Then did halfway fitness assessment.

Have made huge progress in past 40 days.

For example, on day one was only able to walk for five minutes - albeit quite quickly.

Today I yogged.

Also managed 20 press-ups on toes.

And as for that "one" sit-up on day one, am very proud to say I can now do sit-ups (plural) ... 20 in fact.

In no time at all was walking to little room where scales and measuring tape lie in wait.

Turns out living like a nun for past six weeks has paid remarkable dividends.

Missing from my body: 6.2kg.

Included in that is whopping 7.5kg of fat ... that's like 15 blocks of butter, Diary!Additionally, body has shrunk by 43.5cm.

Lovely Maria held up measuring tape at the end to show me how much that was ... is nothing short of astounding.

May have clapped hands like 2-year-old on Christmas morning.

Conclude glass of wine tonight is mandatory ... and the motivation of the past six weeks has now gone.

It's been replaced by dogged determination.