baby

Weigh In Day

by Chavah Kinloch on December 3, 2010

Welcome back to weigh in day! Proceed with caution on this post. Multiple squeemish mentions take place.

This week is good news all around. Both the scales and the measurements went down.

The scales didn’t give away too much but they did move down 700grams which is the right direction so I’m pleased. A loss is a loss!

So that makes it 6kg total weight loss (still trying to wrap my mind around the small number after all these weeks, last time I’d dropped about 15kg by now) but I’m down four dress sizes and seeing as I dropped another 11cm off my measurements this week; 204.5cm total loss of fat from my body. Yep, I passed the 2 metre mark…and I still have a long way to go, eeek! At least my body is changing so that it doesn’t feel like I’m doing all of this for nothing. I have faith the scales will move for me in the long run.

This weeks been a bit of a struggle. It’s my time of the month again and it’s a rough one this month. Really rough. I always consider not writing that into these types of posts but like I always say, it’s part of life and has a huge impact in this journey so it’s there to share what it’s really like for someone going through this. Well, a female someone anyway.

I didn’t get to the gym as much as I wanted, instead I’ve been dealing with my womanly issues. It bugs me because I haven’t had to take these few days off in about 3 months now but it’s better than the other options, all of which include an embarrassing public moment.

The good news is, that the time I did manage to stomp out at the gym, I pushed it gooood! This week I started doing sprints on the treadmill…after I found a treadmill that didn’t make you jolt back and forth when you used it. WTH! Sort it out gym…grrr. High speed sprint, stop – rinse and repeat. It was another “I’m gonna puke” moment but this time I managed not to.

Can I make a special shout out to a body part of mine that is doing awesome things? Of course I can, I’m the one writing :P But first off, a story.

As I dropped the weight after baby #3 some family came to visit us. They took videos of our family and showed my Mum. Not long afterward I was talking to my Mum and she said I was looking good but it was a pity about my arms. I had just lost 30kg at that time, no easy feat but all I heard was “pity about those massively fat jiggly arms you inherited from your grandmother.” So I set to work after that and worked my arms to the point that I didn’t even need to flex and you could see the muscle. For anyone that doesn’t have arm fat, it is HARD to move that fat!

I’ve always been sensitive about my arms because 1) yes, they are a weird build when I’m fat and 2) I was brought up super modest and even wearing a singlet was something that was an issue.

All that aside I’m my own woman and wear whatever the heck I want, thank you very much.

Which brings me to now. My arms are shrinking every week right now and I couldn’t be happier! I am extremely self conscious of them because basically, they’re one big stretch mark – and that’s no exaggeration. I wish it were. I gain the weight rapidly with each pregnancy and then it takes a lot more time to drop it. Dear life: Why couldn’t you make it the other way around!

Right now there is a lot of muscle that can be felt and somewhat seen. My shoulders are shaping up nicely and I can’t wait to see how good I can get them. It’s going to take time but my arms have already gone down 8cm so far and the simple fact that they’re shrinking makes me giddy. So even though my Mum totally pissed me off with that comment, thanks so much for giving me the ammunition I needed to propel myself into overdrive and get killer arms. Watch this space.

And on that note, my husband and I are starting a little pushup challenge today! Remember here, where I mentioned I learned that I can do push ups again? Well, I haven’t bothered to push myself any further than that, still, so what better than to make it into a bit of a challenge. For 1 minute each day, for one month we’ll do as many push ups as we can. Hopefully I get myself out of my lazy attitude toward them and shape my arms and shoulders some more while I’m at it.

So Andrew, if you’re reading, let’s do this!

Why not try the challenge yourself too? Let me know how you get on.

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Successful Sunday’s: Interview with Trina Parker of Lola and Ben

by Chavah Kinloch on May 30, 2010

Today we’re interviewing Trina Parker, co-founder of award winning New Zealand based company Lola and Ben. Lola and Ben offer exclusively  New Zealand made, high quality baby products. The lovely ladies, Trina and Sigi, also keep a blog over at New Zealand Made Style For Little Ones so head on over for some great tips on swimming with your baby as well as the latest updates from Lola and Ben. They’ve been kind enough to offer free shipping to anyone, anywhere, who places an order and uses the code LOB.

How would you describe yourself?

Very diverse, but mainly Small Business Owner (Lola & Ben® www.lolaben.co.nz ) & rural vege growing Mum. I enjoy the social interaction & the intellectual stimulation our business provides, and couldn’t imagine life or motherhood without having such a diverse range of tasks on a daily basis. It’s fun but challenging…keeps one’s mind busy. No two weeks are never the same for me, juggling the kids, business and all the other things a mum juggles daily.

What inspired you to do what you do?

I am passionate about natural products (fabric through to food) & choose those that are made in New Zealand when possible. From a business perspective, with the current trend to send products to China to manufacture, we wanted to prove that a quality product could be made successfully in New Zealand, and we are benefitting from this with export markets keen on the NZ ethos too. Together with friend and business partner, Sigi we worked to develop Lola & Ben® under which we sell our intelligent and innovative baby sleeping bag which brings out the best of our gorgeous New Zealand Merino & organic cotton, by having removable merino liners adapting to each season. The first prototypes were made at our kitchen tables, now we have a manufacturer here in Pukekohe who makes hundreds for us at a time, in 2 ½ short years.

What would be your best advice for someone wanting to go into business for themselves?

Don’t underestimate having the help & support of a business partner. I couldn’t imagine not having Sigi to bounce ideas off, help talk through issues, balance work load, support and encourage each other. Having this partnership will help to grow our business and be multi dimensional. We work side by side and have our own areas of responsibilities with over laps and extra help when needed.

Imagine how much work it will be and treble it twice…. hence a big dose of commitment is required day by day, week by week, month on month.

Also always deal with integrity and trustworthiness, these are important aspects to the longevity of business, New Zealand is a small place and with the internet the world is too.

How do you handle all your different responsibilities, what are your priorities?

For my family, having my children around us in home based rural environment is important, we are lucky to spend many an hour bonding in the vege patch and eating the goods. They are very much part of my day to day life and business (or rather, I am part of theirs and their activities). I am blessed with the support of family to support us with child care when work commitments arise etc. In saying that I often have to burn the midnight oil to get work completed. I enjoy my work, so doing these hours makes it worthwhile and very satisfying.

Don’t under estimate how efficient a ‘mother’ can be in her work. I live by my diary, and plan plan plan. Communicate to get things done. Believe in delegating for benefit of both parties. Help, offer opinions when asked. I also believe in the power of talk, so much more efficient than email.

Any goals for the future?

We are currently expanding the export markets for our Lola & Ben® Baby Sleeping Bags, which is exciting. As our children start school we will invest more time into Lola & Ben to grow ranges & markets, both here in NZ and internationally. With our feedback so far, the future is exciting. We have just this month launched our baby sleeping bags made from GOTS Certified Organic Cotton. We are exhibiting at Kids In Style in Melbourne in August which is a big even to work towards.

Tell us a little bit about your family and relationship, if you’re in one:

I have two children, my Master 5 & Miss 2.

They are active and outgoing kids who keep me busy, luckily they are fantastic sleepers too. I have an extremely supportive husband, it’s very much equal opportunity in our household and raising our family is very much a joint effort, he supports my work in any way he can and will capably take sole charge over a few days when I’m offshore at trade events and the like. The kids love time with their dad, building things, surfing, fishing and doing fun ‘dad’ type things.

Biggest life lesson?

Trust your instincts, they are generally right.

Always, stand up for what you believe is right.

Biggest lesson you’ve learned in business?

Things (& people) often aren’t as they seem and don’t believe everything you read (apart from this blog of course!)

What do you do on the hard days, we all encounter them:

Turn the stereo up load and dance with the kids, it defuses all situations, especially during those tough late afternoon hours with kids. If it is without kids, I try to talk to my husband or mum, about it or I have a great network of friends and fellow mumpreneurs from Mums on Top who are great listeners, and offer fresh and inspiring advice too.

How do you relax?

I love tennis, and play at any opportunity, it’s great to be part of such a supportive club where I play every week. I enjoy vege gardening and potter around out there with no real purpose often, it’s therapeutic…and enjoy the odd coffee too. I can be known to get sidetracked on FaceBook, hey I’m only human. I love our family time in the Coromandel too, but don’t get there nearly not enough. Master 5 is already standing on his boggy board, roll on summer again. Would like to try surfing one day too, maybe he’ll teach me?!

Share with us your favourite quote:

I have a few favourite quotes depending on the day, but I like this one in a sharing sense:

A candle can light other candles without going out itself.

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Feeling Bloated

by Chavah Kinloch on March 25, 2010

Blecccch!

That’s how I’m feeling.

I figure it’s time for an update on this topic.

We all know I’m dropping the baby weight this year and I was doing well. I had just hit the 10kg mark last Friday. Not bad for 2 1/2 months. It averages out to about 1kg a week. Totaling 25kg since July 19th, Boston’s birth date. You’ve seen my pregnant belly shots, that 25kg could have all been out the front of me! Here’s a refresher:

I gain weight the instant I’m pregnant. I still had 2 months of growing after that photo. My body just stops working completely. You don’t even need a test to find out I’m expecting. My boobs, face, stomach and thighs double in size and my jeans no longer fit over my butt by the time a line would show up on a test. Such is the curse of being me. It sucks! Never complain to me about how fat you are because I’ll want to punch you in the mouth. You don’t know fat till you’ve gained an entire person in 9 months.

Now that I’ve said that. I should focus on what I was trying to write about.

Like I said, I was doing well. UNTIL… well, until this post. I can’t help it, a girl’s got cravings. We literally eat island food once a year and my once a year was last weekend. I’m now paying for it. Can we say 3kg in 2 days? Ugh. I guess I just shouldn’t eat grease or starchy carbs.

My hips are being stupid again, the pain has been back for a few weeks. I’m thinking about putting ‘the belt’ back on so that things will stay in their place. It’s still hard to come to grips with the knowledge that my body won’t work the way it did, now after baby #4, like it did after baby #3. In my head I’m telling myself to suck it up and it’ll all be fine, that I’ve done it those other times and still felt great and to just work through the pain but it’s proving to be a little more difficult than that. I just want to feel normal again!!!

So I’m annoyed. Annoyed enough to keep pushing.  I went walking yesterday and by the end of the day the pain was pretty bad. Today though, jumped on the treadmill and I’m not hurting tonight. WIN! In real life we mainly eat natural unprocessed foods, so we’re back to the basics again after a lavish weekend.

I think the thing that is disappointing me the most though is that I’m losing flexibility. For some strange reason I’m really flexible but stretches that were easy for me last year are now a little hard to perform. Who knew having a child could do so much harm to your body.

Anyway, this has turned into a bit of a downer. Sorry about that!! I must be feeling sorry for myself. I don’t actually feel sad, just frustrated. It’s frustrating to know I worked so hard pre-pregnancy to get in good shape but because of a pregnancy and delivery from hell I’m now stuck, fighting tooth and nail, to get back into any sort of shape.

Things can only get better though right? I’m doing it, the right way too, so I better just keep plodding along.

Is anyone else out there fighting this battle with me?

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Oh My Life

by Chavah Kinloch on February 19, 2010

I’m dealing with a sick baby at the moment so come time to blog my brain is exhausted! It just wants to switch off and do mindless activities.  Alas! I love my blog and I don’t want to neglect it.

I got thrown up on today. It went right down the neck of my dress and through my bra and allllll over my bed, bedroom and hallway floor. Gotta love it! I cleaned it all up and got the baby changed. I even managed to get dressed with a squirmy, crying baby tucked up under one arm. He screamed if I carried him and he screamed louder when I put him down, so carry him it was! Now those are some skills I wish I could put on my C.V.

A couple of nights ago I was invited to be one of the artists in a local art walk, Art in the Park. So come find me at Queens Park, Saturday18th - Sunday 19th Feb, from 1-4pm if you’re in Invercargill. Cross your fingers this rain goes away! I still have no idea how I’ll have it all set up. My mind has been elsewhere. Thankfully I have most things stored and ready to go already and my husband has organised some tables for me. I love Invercargill and connections. Thanks to my helpers, you guys rock. I think I’ll be the only person with circle tables but hey, they’re easy to access and free so I can rock it! Different isn’t a bad thing. It’s just different :D

So reminder : Art in the Park, 1-4pm, Sat & Sun, Queens Park Invercargill. See you there!

Take a picnic and spend the day with your family. That’s what I’m doing. I’ve heard rumours there will be live statues scattered around the park too. Hopefully that’s true, I love those guys! I believe Shakespeare in the Park will also be on.

I also decided to take part in this thing called The One Million Masterpiece. If you pop on over you can watch a video of me making my picture. It’s a brush like flower from the NZ native Pohutukawa tree.  Take part too if you like.

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Watch Boston Move

by Chavah Kinloch on December 28, 2009

This is how The Boss makes his way around our house. For those on FB here’s the link.

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Proudly Announcing

Boston Piers Fitiaumua Kinloch. Born July 19th, 5:30am. Weighing in at 11lb 13oz. THE BIRTH STORY After a long 40weeks of pregnancy I was DONE. I had tried everything to get this baby out but none of it was working. Some of the old wives tales would bring on contractions but by the end of [...]

Where did this come from!

After not picking up a paintbrush for a week, I of course, felt compelled to paint as soon as possible. I really wanted to get back into painting women so I sketched a lady on canvas and set to work with my brush. Well… I soon found myself adding a big baby belly to her [...]