Giving it my all!

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Like many of us January is a time to get ourselves back into healthy eating habits or maybe even starting afresh. Some of us will last the month maybe even longer and others just a matter of hours. What we sometimes forget is that healthy eating is a journey and some journeys can take longer than others and we need to take our time and enjoy the ride ;-)

Now that the festive season is over and all temptations have been disposed of (eaten!) I am now on my third and final month of using XLS-Medical Max Strength. I must say this month more than others I am even more determined to get my weight down. Like many we use Christmas and the New Year as an excuse to over indulge and while this season I was a lot better than I have been in the past I now want to get back to a healthier me. I want to make 2016 the year that I finally can say I am at a weight that I am happy with and that is healthy. Don't get me wrong, I am happy with myself but I know my weight and fitness are not healthy for me and I need to turn this around. 

"I'm dropping in the right direction"

In a recent post "I'm dropping in the right direction" I shared with you some figures to show you how my weight and measurements have changed since I began my journey in June 2014. As you can see above there have been quite a number of fluctuations and today After popping down this morning to check my current weight in Marrons Pharmacy, I'd like to update you on where I am now. 

While there is not a big difference with my weight you can see from my waist I have lost nearly 4 inches which to me is great. While it is important that my weight drops in the right direction I feel it is important that I look at the overall numbers. If I am exercising more and toning up it means that I am gaining muscle which in turn is heavier than fat. 

Prior to Christmas I had weighed myself in Marrons Pharmacy and I was 76.75kg so a 0.9kg gain over the Christmas isn't too bad (I think!)! Tracking your inch loss is a great way to show you how your body is changing in a positive way. 

On the slide robes in our bedroom I wrote down my weight, waist and also my stomach measurements on 1st June 2014! None were a pretty read but I'm glad to say that since then I have lost over 4.5inches off my stomach alone! My aim is that by the end of January I will add at least another inch off my stomach along with some more losses in the right places ;-)

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So, with this being my final month using XLS-Medical Max Strength I really want to give it my all and here is how I plan to do so! 

• Dry January - This year I am taking part in Dry January. I think this is great not only for cutting down on alcohol but for keeping me focused. Like many I enjoy a drinkie at the weekend but by cutting it out for the coming weeks I hope to see a significant difference. 
• Kettlebells! - I've increased the weight I use when I do my Squats with this 2.5kg kettlebell I purchased in Aldi yesterday for only €5.99. I'm not out to bulk myself up with muscle but I wold like to tone what I do have! 

• Squats - I will be increasing the number of squats I do from a minimum of 50 to 60 per day. Along with that I will be increasing the number of days I do them from 3 to a minimum of 4 but no more than 5 days per week. 
• Walking - It is time for me to up my pace! With my son being back to school tomorrow (YAY) and weather permitting I will be walking him to and from school each day. When the weather is not on my side I will be taking advantage of the kids early bedtime and getting out in the evenings to make sure I get the fresh air and exercise I need! 
• Diet - I will be concentrating all the more on having a healthier diet. I want to try and avoid sandwiches at least 5 days per week and come up for some alternatives that I know I will and can eat! 

Above are just simple changes that I am making but I believe that these changes will make a significant difference to me and that I am losing weight and inches plus also benefiting my health. 

Each week I will be dropping into Jonathan in Marrons Pharmacy to check on my weight loss and I will be updating you all via my Facebook, Twitter and Instagram so don't forget to follow to see how my journey is going ;-)

What are your top tips for weight loss? What areas do you struggle with?

I'm dropping in the right direction!

So, it's 3 weeks since I wrote "It's Full Steam Ahead"  and I'd like to give you an update as to how I'm getting on, on my journey to a healthier me! 

Overall the last few weeks has been quite good considering some obstacles that we're both put in my way and if I'm honest, that I allowed get in my way! There's no point me making up things, the fact of the matter is I ate chocolate, I enjoyed a few drinks and I ate some carb rich foods. Do I regret it? Well no! This journey is not about me denying myself, it is about me learning to make changes. I'm never going to eat salads on a daily basis but I can learn to make simple changes and that is what I am doing. 

Instead of my usual sandwich I now grab an omelette full of vegetables. For me its a great way to get the added goodness I need! 

This week, I had both a great chat with Jonathan from Marrons Pharmacy and also Jodie the dietitian from XLS-Medical. I'm so lucky having such great support on my journey. It can be tough to keep yourself motivated and on the right track but when you receive support and advice that you are on the right direction it gives you confidence. Also this week I weighed myself properly for the first time since my journey began and I'm glad to say I'm going in the right direction! 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/riva-greenberg/weight-loss-tips_b_3832622.html

Seeing how I was getting on and also after speaking with both Jonathan and Jodie it got me thinking of when I first began my journey 1st June 2014. During these 17 months I've gone from losing 23 pounds within 6 months to letting it slowing but surely creep back up, drop back again and yes, you've guessed it, letting it creep back up. As I've often said, I'm not going to beat myself up about undoing some of my hard work because there were lots of reasons why this happened plus its more important that I'm getting myself back on track. 

Those of us who have tried to lose weight will know when we hop on the scales we love to see that number getting lower and when we don't see what we hope to, we can get disheartened. Many of us forget though as we are eating healthier and exercising not only are we losing weight but we are gaining muscle which is heavier and healthier than fat! So with that in mind I'd not only like to update you on my current weight loss, but also on the changes in my measurements since I began my journey in 2014. 

So as you can see there is quite a fluctuation. I didn't include how in November 2014 I was at 73 kg which began to increase during the months that followed as it did from April 2015. Looking back on this, it really does show how weight loss really is a journey. There are so many factors that need to be taken into consideration just as we would when we get in the car to travel somewhere. 
When I look back on these figures I'm reminded of the obstacles I've met and also the positives that helped me on my journey. To date I'm proud of what I've achieved because I know I can do it and I will get back to the 73 kg mark again but not only that I plan to to go below, well below I hope the 70 kg mark! 

http://www.dumblittleman.com/2009/09/how-to-set-goals-when-you-have-no-idea.html

So with my weight loss to date being 2.1 kg (4.6 lb) there are some goals I have set with both Jonathan and Jodi.With taking into consideration the festive season nearly here I want to ensure that I do my best to keep myself on track before then so that I can enjoy (sensibly) some yummy treats over Christmas, so with that in mind here are my goals. 

My Goals

Continue to drink 3+ liters of water per day

Continue to reduce the number of sandwiches I eat by at least 3 days per week

Continue walking 5 days per week

Lose 2.7 kg (6 lbs) before Christmas 

To do 50 Squats 3 days per week minimum

I firmly believe that these are achievable goals and with meeting Jonathan on a weekly basis to weigh myself it will help keep me on track to achieving them. 

What are your tips to get eating more fruit and vegetables during the day?

Do you set any weight loss goals with the festive season in mind?

Remember to follow me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram where I will keep you updated on what I'm eating or how I'm getting on, on a daily basis. 

Updating the signage!

http://www.responsiblebusiness.eu/download/attachments/983091/rebwp2-240511-1400-743.pdf

It's been quite a while since I've written a post let alone one that wasn't a review. Over the last few months things have been quite overwhelming for a variety of reasons and it's led me in different directions. Over the last few days I've been thinking about some things and realised it's time for me to update the road I'm taking so that I'm going in the direction I want to go. 

So what got me thinking I needed to get on the right path again? Well, as we all know life has a great knack of getting in the way and throwing us off course. Lately I've allowed myself stay off track for a couple reasons. One was that in ways I wasn't sure what I needed to do to get back on coarse and the second reason was sometimes its just easier to stay off the beaten track and walk through the woods hidden from it all. 

http://karskorg.deviantart.com/art/Dark-woods-427553131

Over the last few days I've been trying to figure out what will help me to move forward and and feel like I'm on the right road again. The one thing which stood out was me! I needed to start focusing on myself again.  

Last year I made changes in my life to become a fitter and healthier me and over the last few months I've undone all of my hard work. While I could beat myself up about it I know that's not the right thing to do. I could "force" myself too to go on a strict diet and just get out there again but this wouldn't be the right thing either. For me, what I need is time to focus, time to plan and time to action. 

It's funny while I stayed hidden away in myself I'd forgotten how much better I'd felt for feeling healthier and even slimmer. The last few weeks, I've found it tough to look at myself in a positive light and I suppose deep down I was upset I let myself get this way. By now I'd hoped to have been celebrating being nearer to having lost 3 stone instead I'm going to have to now work on getting myself nearer to 1 stone again. 

Over the last few days I've been working on mentally getting myself in the right place and from next week I'm going to begin by using the skills I've gained from the #BeTheBestYou plan and along with the assistance of my local pharmacy Marron's to start pointing myself in the right direction and get my chirpy self back! I'm going to make changes within my lifestyle to lose the weight (again!) and maintain this in the future. 

I know that this time around my journey is going to be tougher but I know too that while I'm doing this for me first, I'm doing it too for my family and also for the future I want for us. With working on #secretproject it's given me faith that I can succeed. Its put the fear of god in me too as it means I'm taking risks but then I remind myself as to why I'm doing it and the same answers come up - For me, my family and our future! 

It's not going to be easy but I know that the future is bright and I for one really want to try and give it my all. While there are still some things in life that I'm sure will get in the way I'm going to do my best to navigate around them and keep myself on track as best as I can. 

When my journey begins with Marron's I will be keeping you up to date as to how I'm getting on. I'd love to hear how you keep yourself on track? What are your top tips?

Making time to breathe!

The last few weeks have brought a few changes to our coup and over the last few days I've been reminding myself of two recent posts "Being positive pays off" and "Being Honest to you".  While we've had some "crazy" going on, now that the dust is settling, I feel its time for me to reevaluate me!

http://talkingwithtanis.com/2014/04/18/and-breathe/

While summer may not be as we'd hoped for so far it is time for me to bring the sunshine back but this time for my body. Over the last few months I've let my emotions rule my eating habits and my waistline and body are suffering for it. I know the ideal would be to literally cut out all the bad things as I've done in the past but what I also know is, if I do that within a week I will be back to square one. 
It has to be a lifestyle change at a pace that suits me. I need to get back to the frame of mind I was in June 2014 when my weight loss journey began and add some #BeTheBestYou to enjoy it all the more! I know when I began to make small changes that it made a difference so I think this is the best way for me to go. I need to be clever in how I substitute things and in those things I really don't want to give up, how I can have them without suffering as much for it. 

While exercise too is key, I know for a fact I wont be able to give this the time I'd like to. While on dry days (which seem rare lately) I will be out for walks with the kids I know the evenings will be taken up in the office (aka our spare room!) and having family quality time! I don't believe they are bad excuses to have as they are both very important things. I have however spoken to the lovely Claire of Volta Fitness and got advice on an exercise or two to do that I can get done during the day so it's not all bad! I'm hoping if the weather picks up there will be a lot more running around with the kids so here's hoping! 


One of the most important things I seriously need to look at is the right TLC for me! As some of you know I was looking to find some products to finally get a proper skincare routine in place! I was delighted with myself when I picked up some Nivea the next day which was on special so thought "its meant to be"! Unfortunately while I thought the initial breakouts I was having was from my skin finally getting some love it was in fact a reaction! 

I stopped using all the products and began using Bioderma Micellar Water, Holos Toner and Ziaja Natural Olive anti-wrinkle Cream which I'd received in my fab #IrishBLBInspire goody bag which you can read about here. Hey presto within a few days, I was clearing up! 

Stupid me though got brave! I wanted to pick up a BB Cream as I like to wear less during the summer. All they had in the chemist I was in was Nivea ..... yes, silly me bought it and thought "sure maybe this will be different" After only 2 days, my skin was worse. 
I have to say it is something I'm not used to at all and it has knocked some of my confidence. I know this may sound silly as I've never had perfect skin but the sensation I've had on my face feels like I'm burnt. I've now scaring that I'm hoping I can clear but so afraid to try anything. For now I'm keeping it very basic and using Natural Face masks such as Honey and Cinnamon to help reduce the redness. 

www.pinterest.com

With these "setbacks" the most important thing I've learned I need to do is to relax more and breath! I've a lot of great things ahead of me at the moment and that's where my focus is going to lie! I'm going to keep the positive mind I have moving forward and remembering along the way to take time out every once in a while and breathe! 

#BeTheBestYou - The Results!

Wow, already the 6 weeks of the #BeTheBestYou Lifestyle change is complete and I cant believe how quickly it flew! 
So, lets not "beat around the bush" and get straight to it! The results, how did I get on?!

Date: 3rd March		Date: 16th March	Date:     30th March	Date: 13th April	Date: 20th April
Body Part	Inches	Inches	Inches	Inches	Inches
Bicep	11.8	12.2	11.61	11.81	11.81
Thigh	21.65	21.65	21.25	21.65	21.25
Calf	14.17	13.77	13.77	13.77	13.77
Waist	40.55	39.37	37.79	38.58	38.38
Hips	42.51	40.15	38.77	38.97	38.38
Chest	41.33	39.76	40.15	39.37	38.77
Weight lbs	166.5	165	162.4	161	161

So, as you can see from the results, overall I lost 5.5 pounds and about 9 inches all over which I must say I'm quite pleased with considering the last few weeks I've had which you can read about here and here

A little refresh!

Some of you may already know I'm not one for fad diets. While I've tried some in the past with no success due to restraints with foods and also collapsing on my last "Fad" attempt (That's another story!!) to me it's always been important to make changes that will help you achieve your goals but also maintain your goal weight.

http://move.tallahassee.com/blogs/547

After starting my weight loss journey in June 2014 I began by making changes in my life and I could see a difference quite quickly. As time progressed though and through different challenges along the way I could see myself falling back into traps and and wasn't sure where to turn to boost myself. When Claire from Volta Fitness was seeking some volunteers to take part in #BeTheBestYou, I knew that this was for me. I was already following Claire on her Blog Volta Fitness and also her Facebook page, so I was looking forward to the information I would receive from her and the journey that lay ahead. 

Over the last 6 weeks through Claire's plan and guidance and the support of the other fabulous ladies who took part, I can see how I can still have "my cake and eat it". When you actually see the plan and understand the "Do's" and "Dont's" better, it all makes sense. 

When I began my goal was to loose 10 pounds by the end of the 6 weeks. While I didn't reach this goal I achieved a lot more. I learned a better way to balance food and exercise in my life. As we all know life can throw some challenges our way which in turn can throw us off course when it comes to our healthier lifestyles. I'm now better equipped to try and make better choices for myself when these challenges arise and know too that even if I do go off course, its ok, I can get myself back on track. 

If I'm honest, I'm never going to be a salad eater on a daily basis, I'm not going to stop having a drink at the weekend and when I'm out (which is rare) I'm going to have what I want. As a stay at home mum of two, sometimes its these little indulgences that get me through the week so if I'd like a night off sometime, I will still treat myself to the odd takeaway!
In saying that, I do want to maintain following #BeTheBestYou. All along this was about a lifestyle change and that is what I've always believed in since my weight loss journey began. 

For me I still have goals I want to reach the first being to get myself under 11 stone / 154 pounds! I would like to do this 8th June 2015. That gives me 7 weeks to lose 8 pounds putting me under 11 stone! I know that this is very achievable and it allows too for life's little tumbles to get in the way such as my children throwing me off course with sleepless nights and the bank holiday weekends!!  

I would,like to thank Claire from Volta Fitness for this opportunity. It has opened me to a new way of thinking and taught me a better way to follow a healthy lifestyle to lose weight and maintain into the future. 

If your not already, please follow Claire on her blog Volta Fitness, Facebook, and Twitter to get some great tips and motivation to #BeTheBestYou

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram where I will keep you updated on how I'm going. 

#BeTheBestYou - The Final Week!

So, for those of you who have been following my journey on #BeTheBestYou (you can follow here) you will know that it's a 6 week program that I've been taking part in with Claire from Volta Fitness. So with the final week beginning, I've been reflecting on how my progress has been so far. 

Initially at the start of the program, I was 100% on top of things. My slips were few and I exercised as best I could. I could see the changes in myself and I could also see how salad really isn't all that bad with a little imagination! 

The last two weeks seemed to have changed all of that. For those of you that are parents you will know there is nothing like your child being thrown out of sorts to put you off course! With my husbands recent work trip, some sleepless nights and and anxious three year old, I feel I've been turned upside down. 

I've felt it difficult to remain motivated about salad etc and trying to get any exercise done. As you will have read in my update last week (you can read here) my focus has been on my children. Their needs have been my priority and I've left #BeTheBestYou at the back of my mind. I know if I tried to eat healthier and exercise more I would probably feel better in myself but it really has been tough. 

Today for me is a brand new day and while I'm not in tip top form, I'm going to do my best this week to get back on track. As Claire herself would say, sometimes life gets in the way and that this is about making lifestyle changes. For me I'm looking at the long term. 
For this week, I'm going to focus on getting myself back on track and planning my meals better so I can #BeTheBestMe not just for 6 weeks but for the future. 

I'm quite looking forward to this week and sharing with you my final results! Who know's, even with my 2 weeks of falling off the wagon I might even achieve my goal which I set with Claire! 

How do you get yourself back on track when you "fall off the wagon"?

Don't forget to follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to see how I'm getting on during the week. 

Also, if your not already, follow Volta Fitness for some great tips on her Facebook page and her blog.