Back from Holidays

Photo 1: Anthony & Phil - chocolate ice-cream - Australia Zoo
Photo 2: Kerry & Phil - Elephant feeding at Aussie Zoo
Photo 3: Petah Lynch & Kerry - coffee at 'Sister', Palmwoods
Photo 4: Family pic - near King's Beach, Caloundra
Photo 5: Beautiful flame trees - Montville town centre
Photo 6: Philomena & Kerry - just after my morning swim, King's Beach
Photo 7: Philomena's smiling for the camera, Montville
Photo 8: Scenic shot - King's beach looking North

Yes...it's just like I never left. Only one week (actually, only 5 days really. 1 day getting there and unpacking, and 1 day packing and going home)...oh how the time goes so quickly.


But...our holiday was great! The best one yet. And talk about getting the most out of the week and weather. We had 3 great days at the beach. The first day was spent at Bulcock Beach, and the other two days we had at Kings Beach. We loved it there, and Philomena had a ball!

We rose early and walked to King's Beach before breakfast, and while Anthony took Philomena to the playground, I went for a morning swim in the surf. It's the first time I've been game enough to do it. I'm a real cold frog, but braved the first morning, and then after that...I was hooked!

On our return to the unit, we had breakfast, and then headed off down to the beach again. We'd come back just before lunch...shower...have lunch...Phil would have a snooze...Anthony relaxed in front of the cricket, and I'd head off into town and scour the shops (lots of op shops!). Found some great bargains on labels and the best thing is, they have lots of surfwear at bargain prices! Little tops and boardies and casual wear. My best buy was a pair of boardies that fit and look pretty good and great for the beach. To my surprise and wonder, when I went to slip them on, found the size label...size 8!...woohoo...wasn't I excited!

We spent a day at Australia Zoo; a day in Montville and visited the Maleny Cheese factory, from which we brought home a variety of cheeses for our Christmas platter...Tuscan...Chevres Des Alpes (hard goat cheese)...Heidi Gruyere...Gorgonzola (blue vein)...Camembert...can't wait to try these delectable treats!

Tuesday night, I caught 'Quantum of Solace' at the local cinemas, and even took Meal 5 with me so I wouldn't snack on crap. I love going to the movies by myself. It's such a treat!

On the exercise front, I had planned to do 3 weights sessions. I ended up doing only two. Monday night was back/biceps and Thursday did legs/shoulders. I had planned to do them on Wednesday, but that was the day we went to Australia Zoo, and I was buggered walking around all day with a dawdling toddler who refused to get in her stroller, and wanted to walk!

Food...well...I had two not-so-good days. It started with Australia Zoo...greek salad and some hot chips (not many), a large (humungous actually) chicken and salad roll, and the day finished with yummy Tuscan pizza (half-a-pizza that is). Next day started with a Chai Latte (full cream milk); two sultana scones with jam and cream...then lots of cheese tastings...and lastly a two-scoop ice-cream made up with 'Violet Crumble' and 'Macadamia Nut' ice-cream in a waffle cone. And the next day finished off my treats with a large cup (called 'Big Bertha') of Chai Latte from Gourmet & More....
of course, I did eat my plan meals in-between. But let me tell ya...the gas....lol...my tummy finally settled this morning!

So this morning, I was very glad to get back onto my program nutrition plan, and look forward to getting back into some serious training come Monday! Week 6 is nearly here, and that means the half-way mark...which means measurements and photos at the end of the week.

Oh! A couple of disappointments...that shop in Bulcock Street that I said we bought chocolate brownies from...well it closed! Though Anthony did end up getting his brownie...we found one just like the one in Caloundra, up at 'Sisters' Organic coffee shop in Palmwoods, where we had a coffee and a great chat with Petah (one of the Sunshine Coast girls from the IBO forum). And the day we went into Montville, Montville Patisserie was closed too (wedding on apparently), and the cafe next door...well...the scones were okay, but disappointing to say the least! We will have to wait another year to taste their mouth-melting scones with jam and looooads of cream.

Anyway...that's about it. Had a fab time and for the first time in a very long time, I felt young again. It was such a great feeling to be able to go down to the beach and not feel conscious of being fat, and to be able to get out in the sea and surf and swim again and generally be active and energetic; feel exhilarated about being at the beach! Haven't felt like that for a long, long time...I am so looking forward to getting the most out of summer- like the days of old!

SUMMER HERE I COME!

Ciao for now...Kerry :)

P.S. Weigh-in tomorrow morning...I wonder what surprises there are in store for me!