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Musings: Honest Advice About Weightloss

Honest Advice About Weightloss

Weight loss is tough, and anyone who says it isn't is most probably lying or an alien sent from another planet. It's tough, it takes time but at the end of the day it's worth it.

Musings: Hey It's Ok...Weight Loss Edition

Hey It's Ok...

I don't know about you but I've always loved the 'Hey it's ok...' section in Glamour magazine, and admit I often only buy it for that bit (and the end section, that always makes me lol too.) So today I thought I'd do my own 'Hey It's Ok... Weight Loss Edition.' Hope you enjoy.

- To have a day off every now and again, 'cause life.

- To maybe spread your week 60/40 instead of 80/20 sometimes.

- To take that extra rest day, sometimes your body just needs it.

- To admit that you struggled with a workout, even though you did it perfectly the week before.

- To eat dessert for breakfast, and breakfast for dinner, you do you!

- To know that all images in magazines/online have most likely been photoshopped and therefore present unobtainable body goals, but still use them as motivation.

- To buy an item of clothing because it's a size smaller than you expected you'd need.

Food: My Filling and Healthy Chili

I have quite a thing for Mexican, and one dish that I find myself eating on pretty much a daily basis is Chili. I love that there are so many different ways you can eat Chili so it just never becomes boring. I like to make a big batch and then portion it up and freeze for a handy lunchtime meal. Delicious.

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"Filling and Healthy Chili" servings="4" time="3hr 30mins" difficulty="easy"

Ingredients

1 pack of extra lean mince beef

1 onion, finely chopped

2 chilies, chopped with seeds

1-2 garlic cloves

Hot Chili Powder

Smoked Paprika

Cayenne Chili Powder

Cumin

Ginger

1 tbsp of Lea & Perins'

1 can chopped tomatoes

1 can of mixed beans in a tomato sauce

Mushrooms, chopped

3 peppers, chopped

Method

1) Fry off your onion, garlic and chili in some fry light until your onions start to colour.

2) Add you mince and cook until browned.

3) Sprinkle over your spices & Lea & Perin's, making sure it's all combined.

4) Pour over your chopped tomatoes, mixed beans and add the veg.

5) Cover with a lid and leave to simmer for around 2 hours.

Musings: What do when you feel a binge coming

How to

On the day I'm writing this I've had a rough couple of days. Not in the sense anything bad happened to me, just in the sense I got an undeserved gain at weigh in, and want to eat my body weight in chocolate. On the Tuesday of my weigh-in, I gave in to the temptation, I didn't eat hardly anything compared to what I used to eat, but for what I eat now, I went hard.

I told myself that I could have that day to wallow and then I had to get straight back to it, which I did, but man it's been hard. It's like all my cravings have come back and now all I can think about is the delicious milky chocolate sitting in the other room. So I thought that instead of eating it all, and feeling like poop, I'd put my thinking into better use and write a blog post on ways to avoid having a binge.

1) Get out of the house - leave the place where the food is and take yourself for a nice walk. It may also be helpful to leave all your money at home too so you don't go out and buy food instead. Getting some fresh air should clear your head, and you should be able to give yourself a stern talking to and think about what you really want. I also find that after I've exercised I rarely want to undo all the hardwork I've just done.

2) Remember why you started - I've done a whole blog post of reasons on why I started this weight loss journey, and when you think about throwing all your hardwork in for that binge, it's useful to remember those reasons and think about why it is you've stayed on track for so long.

3) Eat something - but make it healthy. I know for me that although I'm not really hungry, I just need to be eating/grazing. Whilst this isn't the best for weight loss, I know I'd rather be snacking on filling and healthy food like chicken or plain popcorn than eating all the chocolate 'cause then at least I'm still following the plan, and I'm still being relatively healthy.

4) Read a book - I can't eat and read, so if my hands are kept busy reading, not only am I leaving my own head, I'm also not able to reach for food. It's a good distraction technique.

5) Drink all the water - Water makes you feel full and if you're feeling full, hopefully you're less likely to want to eat. Plus, if you have had a few things already, it will help to flush them out.

6) Don't beat yourself up - everyone's been there and these things happen. Focus on the next steps you can take and on how you can stop yourself the next time. Sometimes you just need to move on.

Food: Filling and Healthy Sticky Toffee Pudding

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Oh yes ladies and gents, I've done it. I've figured out how to make a Filling and Healthy Sticky Toffee Pudding, and today I'm sharing with you the recipe so you can make it too.

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Sticky Toffee Pudding has always been a staple in my life growing up, it's something my nan always used to make for Sunday dinner's dessert, and since she's moved to New Zealand, my Uncle does it instead.

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For me, STP and custard is just the ultimate comfort food, so I just had to figure out a guilt free way I could get my fix.

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It works out to be 1pp per portion, which I think is pretty amazing, please let me know if you try it!

"Sticky Toffee Pudding" servings="6" time="30mins" difficulty="easy"

Ingredients 

175g of Oats, blended

12g of soft brown sugar

1 apple, grated

1/2 tsp of Bicarbonate of Soda

2 tsp of Ginger

1 egg

4 tsp of Sweet Freedom

1/2 tsp of vanilla extract

150ml of milk

3 tbsp of maple syrup

Method:

1) Spray a pudding bowl with fry light and place the maple syrup at the bottom.

2) In another bowl mix the rest of your ingredients until well combined.

3) Pour the mixture into the bowl with maple syrup, then place some baking paper over the top and secure with an elastic band.

4) Place in the microwave for around 10 minutes (it will vary depending on your microwaves strength.)

5) After the time is up, check it's cooked and then leave to stand for ten minutes. Then slice and serve.

Musings: Things that keep my motivated

A couple of times on my ol' Insta page a few people have said they admire my motivation and determination, which I'll admit is gosh darn lovely. I'm not going to lie, there are some days I want to nose dive into a packet of Oreo's and bathe myself in Ben and Jerry's, however something always stops me (thank God!) but today I thought I'd share some of the things that keep me motivated.

Things that keep me

1) Clothes shopping - Buying clothes is so much nicer now knowing that I'll actual be able to fit into clothes from highstreet shops, and I often leave changing rooms feeling pleased and proud rather than wanting to curl up in a ball and cry into a big pint of Ben and Jerry's.

2) Think about what I can achieve - Whilst I do have my main goals and ideas of what I'd like to achieve in the long term (mainly Jenifer Lawrence's body) I also like to set myself weekly goals and focus on what I can achieve each week, keeping goals small but attainable and giving myself something to work toward.

3) Look at how far I've come - As I'm actually getting closer to goal and things are slowing down a bit, I find it useful to remind myself of where I started and what I've actually achieved. I find it's good to celebrate the whole journey, not just reaching the destination. It's important to feel proud!

4) An item of clothing - I like to keep one item of clothing in my wardrobe at all times that is too small as this gives me something to aim at and keep working toward. Whenever I feel myself starting to stray I think of that item and how I want to wear it and feel in it.

5) Weigh day - I know the scales shouldn't control our emotions, but they do play a bit part in this weight loss journey, I find that focusing on how I want to feel come weigh day really helps me stay motivated and stay on plan. I always feel much better on the weeks I know I've given 100%.

6) An event - Having an event, even if it's just dinner with friends, scheduled in is a great motivator as you want to know you've done everything you can to feel your best for the occasion. A great reason to plan things with friends too.

7) Non Scale Victories - I always try to find as many NSV's as possible as I think they're so important. It's amazing how much being overweight prohibits us from doing, and it's so liberating and motivating doing and achieving things you never did before.

8) Remembering why I started - I did a whole blog post about this a couple of weeks ago, but I find remembering how down and rubbish I felt before I started is a great motivator for me to continue on, as I sure know I don't want to be back where I started.

9) Pictures - As they say, a picture speaks a thousand words. Try and find the pictures you hope others deleted and use it to motivate you to continue. Stick it on the fridge, in the biscuit tin, wherever you can see it to keep you going,

10) Seeing others succeed - I love reading and looking at others success stories. There's so much motivation to be found at seeing others achieve something you want to achieve.

11) Thinking things through - Planning what I'm going to eat, being in control wherever I can, that ensures I'm on track and knowing I'm on track keeps me motivated.

12) Sharing my journey - I honestly believe the reason I've been so successful this time round is mainly due to this blog and my Instagram/Twitter. The support I've found is just incredible, and holding myself accountable really ensures I stay on the straight and narrow. I don't want to let myself down, and knowing others are watching also means I don't want to let them down too. So thank you to those of you who read, comment and help me stay on track, I couldn't do it without you!

Food: Five things I like to have in my freezer

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Planning is such a huge part of successful weight loss, in my opinion. The weeks I have the best losses are the weeks I've planned my meals out and now exactly what I'm having.

Sometimes it's far too easy to think 'eff it when you've got no food in, or you're late home from work and can't be bothered to cook, but here is where the freezer comes in. The freezer is your weight loss friend. All you need it a few things in your freezer and a good hearty meal is on the way. Plus, if it's in your freezer, you can plan for it! Sorted, right?

Here are five of my favourite things to have in the freezer:

1) Frozen fruit/veg - not only is frozen fruit and great think to grab if you want to make a quick smoothie (or some peaches and cream ice cream) it's also great as a healthy snack, or as an accompaniment to bulk other foods out. The same with veg, it's a great way to bulk meals out and ensure you're eating healthy.

2) Bread - I love carbs, I really do, and I always try to make sure I have back-ups of the Weight Watchers, wraps, pittas and petit pains in so that I can always have a little side to my meals, or have back-up in case the super market runs out and I plan to have them with a meal.

3) Food bases- I was unsure what to call this, but what I'm talking about is things like Chili, bolognese sauce etc... as they work so well in so many different ways. That way you have a base, but you can put with it whatever you fancy that it day.

4) Leftovers - My brother is a fussy eater, which means making dinner is a pain as I have to make him something different, but a score for the freezer as it means I can place his portion in the freezer for another day, when I can't be bothered to cook.

5) Meat - Seems pretty basic, but always having meat in your freezer is a great way of ensuring you always have a back up of something to cook, just in case!

What do you like to keep in your freezer?