Sambalina

It's ollllld. From way before the days of the Mr Bean movies, back when it was just an English TV show. I think it's on Youtube, though. It's two 15 minute episodes. Enjoy!

Man, your squat routine is punishing! Good on you for tackling that. Bugger about the weight gain, but good that you had a good trip and a fun time. At least you know exactly what you need to do to lose it - not just floundering around trying to do stuff that doesn't work. Get stuck into it Dom - Hawaii and surfing awaits!

Oooh, Christmas excitement is growing! I've been out all weekend, and places are starting to get really decorated. I'm going to do some Christmas shopping tomorrow - yay! And my fave movie - well, it's not really a movie, but still: Mr Bean's Christmas Dunno if you American folks have that, but it was always on TV when I was a kid. Now I show it to my Korean students to pass on the joy

Haha, so much mixer/blender love! What are you going to do with your blender rights, Mitch?

Aw, thanks Momo! Yeah, it is nice here - I love it. "lots of walking and food" just about sums it up Glod to hear you're doing good and are in such high spirits. Go, girl!

Woot! AT might get a promotion! Mascot - bet he never dreamed of glory like this when he was just a baby turtle. Also, thank you for the turtle lesson, I will be sure NEVER to turn one upside down should I ever hold a turtle.

Oh yeah, you DID mention that - sorry Thrillho! Nice looking cooking you've got there! Though, I'd totally.... add more bacon!

Great work Thrillho! Is it normal to bench and squat the same numbers, or have you run out of weights to squat with?

Oooh. nice Blaidd. Those relaxing date nights are some of my favourites. It's called Gold Class in NZ too. I don't know what they have here in SK. But, I'm going to the cinema on Monday to see Catching Fire

You are so close to those record numbers, it's not even funny. Like, really close to them. I'm sure you'll be dead-lifting more than 110kg within 6 months if you want to. Vix - you could hold a record!

That is a niiiice mobility exercise, PA - I am totally going to try that too! Thank you for linking. Excellent work staying W30 through your trouble spot. You could try making your own W30 approved snack bars too, right? Or does it involve stuff you can't get easily?

Thanks so much, PA! I'm an ESL teacher with academic leanings Originally an Anthropologist. The breakfast is really good - it tastes just like a muffin to me - the cinnamon is important to this, I found. Your salad sounds good - might try that next week - I'll certainly be getting some more persimmons if they have any. I'm totally converted! Me too! Ok, here it is - four whole pages: Now just finishing up day 8 of no sugar. This wasn't even a goal, but it sure is now. I'm sure I'll want to celebrate fully when KJ get's home, but I'm thinking - can I do this for a full 21 days? Today has been a little bit of a struggle. My meals didn't turn out quite as I was planning, and it's cold, and I'm tired. I had meat and veg for dinner, some pop-corn for a treat, and now I'm thinking about sweet things. I don't actually have anything, but anyone who's been through sugar addiction knows that you can really stoop to some low points to get a fix - mix sugar into peanut butter and eat it with a spoon, that kind of thing. I've simply breezed through 7 days, so a little craving now is not worth breaking it. Gym tomorrow! And I'm thinking of taking myself to the movies on Monday to see 'Catching Fire'. Fun

I'll sleep with one eye open, Mitch! And IKR, two seconds never felt so long! Thanks, HIra! I definitely sqee'd! I'm sort of carrying it around with me everywhere now Oh - and 7 days sugar free!

Bummer about the slip-up, KT. It can be really hard sometimes to break habits, and I know I've been guilty of the gluten free= a-ok trick as well. But good on you for week one - you had a really successful week there. Great to hear that AT is on the mend. .... I do believe I am still owed photos of him wearing the NF sticker (or at least blu-tacked to his back for, like, a minute). Eh? Eh?

Blaidd - you're looking amazing! Dude, you just knock my socks off with your persistence and awesome attitude. I know you struggle and get down, but you're like a 'weeble'. They wobble but they don't fall down And on that overly sweet note, I'll be on my way P.S. I like the bottom right flower the best, but they're all lovely. Good lighting, not over exposed for what looks like a pretty sunny day.

Aw no, Panczo! I hope you're ok. You had such a brilliant week 1, so sucky to get sick now But, I guess this is where your positive thinking practice comes in? Anyway, super big massive get well wishes, Turtle buddy.

Lol @ the persimmon love I used to think I didn't like them, but it's because I accidentally bought soft ones instead of hard. Now I've got the hard ones and they're a little bit like an apple crossed with an apricot. Firm and crunchy like an apple, but coloured and a little flavoured like an apricot. I am really enjoying just eating them raw. They are pretty high in sugar (which is totally fine, I believe sugar in fruit is negated by their fibre), but because of my current goals I'm using them as a treat food. I've just finished day six of no sugar! I actually had a nightmare last night that I ate sugar by accident I'm totally going to make it to seven days sugar free! The breakfast is sooooo good! I have a protein shake on workout days, and then the sweet potato blueberries on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It's delicious. So, I got to the gym this morning - upped my goblet squats to 7kg. Still doing just fine at that weight. HOWEVER - I tried squatting atg with just the broom handle and it was very hard to keep proper form. Which tells me there's something about the position of having a bar (or stick in this case) on my back that's messing me up. I'm going to try squatting with just the stick and sitting down in the bottom of the squat for as long as I can to stretch things out and get a feeling for what's going on. I PR'd on OHP this morning - I managed a couple of lifts at 25kg. I reckon in a couple of weeks I'll be 5x5@25 for OHP, which will be an awesome achievement. I deadlifted 5x2@52kg and have some lovely running bruises on my shins to show for it Luckily it's winter, so no one can see. Or unluckily?? I am OWNING my carb intake and starting to get a handle on fibre. I've gone six days with no sugar whatsoever and feel like a boss. I think I'd like to see if I can do 2 weeks sugar-free, just to show that I can. And in other news - my copy of the magazine I got published in arrived today! You know, the article I wrote as part of my second or third NF challenge ever? Well, it's finally be printed! It looks so cool and professional. Now to take it to work and see how they're going to weasel out of that pay bonus they promised us if we got published (I'm the first one...). So, halfway through week 2 and I am kicking some major butt!

Great job, Thrillho! Beast mode activated!!

The book sounds great, PA - such a cool thing to be doing! Sorry you had a stinky day, but sticking with the W30, as Loren says, is a big achievement, regardless of anything else

Do the girls comp! Who knows, you might make some awesome lady lifting friends? Also, great week one - as always I'm so glad you're feeling better. I know exactly what you mean about being worried when things feel like depression. Once you've dealt with it even once, you're on constant watch for it again. So, awesome that giggle time helped! Keep rocking it, Vix!

Excellent week one, Mitch. I've found the same as you - have easy access to pre-cooked proein REALLY cut down my junk eating. It really is all in the planning.

Was that at Auckland uni, Dom? I went to Massey, on the other side of the bridge and while our gym was pretty good, the free-weight section was kind of small. But, that was before I would have ever dreamed of setting foot in one, so i can't really judge it from the outside Awesome going getting your hardhat on and going to work out. Most people pis around at the gym, so they were probably just impressed at how hard you were working! Now, do your physio

How's it going, Momo? I live in Korea - constant access to foody-deliciousness

Add me to the list, pretty please!

Those are nice, simple goals, Hira - good job 200g of protein? Is that hard to do? I struggle to break 100g most days - do share your protein secrets!