Go Away Hunger

One of the problems that I have one it comes to eating right/better is that horrid hunger feeling. I'm sure you've all had the same issues one time or another. It's strange really because there are some days when I just don't seem to feel hungry at all yet other days it doesn't seem to matter how much I eat, I just can't get myself to feel full.

One of the main times that I tend to think I'm feeling hungry is when I'm bored. The worst times are of an evening when my husband is working and the kids are in bed, I find myself at a lose end and all I can think about is food, items in the fridge start calling to me, well metaphorically speaking that is.

I've been trying to make a conscious effort to stop giving in to these cravings and I now how a few methods that are starting to help when I feel the hunger pains kicking in.

Water

Drinking a glass of water before I jump for the chocolate. This does actually work sometimes as it turns out in some cases that I was actually thirsty not hungry, I am awful for getting enough fluids in my system as unlike hunger, I don't ever seem to get the feeling of thirst.

Switching Foods

I think every knows that to lose weight or maintain a certain weight you have to have a good mix of exercising and eating right. Obviously we all have our off days and treats are most definitely allowed, I'm not giving up cake for anyone!! But I've found switching certain foods definitely helps when it comes to not only my weight but my general well being too. So this week I thought I'd share with you just five of switches that I've made in my diet.

Oils

Cooking foods and baking can be made a lot healthier if you switch normal oils for coconut oil. I use coconut oil when making cakes, frying any foods etc. The difference is that this oil contains a lot of the good fats instead of those bad ones. This oil can also be great if you suffer with dry skin conditions too.

Bread

Bread is something that I have always loved, I eat a lot of toast and sandwiches and in recent weeks I've discovered that the best bread to eat isn't wholemeal/brown like most people tell you, it is infact rye bread. I find this to be a little bit more doughy in texture but it has definitely stopped the bloating affect I always got after eating bread and because the loaves tend to be smaller, you end up eating less of it too.

Milk

Another thing I 've switched up is milk. Now I've never been a huge fan of milk but since changing my diet at the start of the year I use it a lot in porridges and smoothies. However instead of using semi skimmed, these days I opt for almond or coconut milk. These provide great added flavours to foods and are brilliant if you have problems with things like lactose.

Sugar

I don't use a lot of sugar but I do like to put a couple of spoonfuls in my coffee. The best alternative I've found to this is sweetener. I now use only one tsp of this in my coffee compared to the two tsps I was using of sugar. Another good alternative to sugar is honey or maple syrup.

Spreads

I mentioned I like to have a lot of sandwiches and toast, I also like to have a lot of smoothies. Something that I use in these is spreads. Now instead of chocolate, jam etc, I opt for nut butters such as peanut butter or almond butter or cheese alternatives such as cottage cheese or quark. All of these are full of protein, great to eat pre or post workout to help build muscles and also help them recover.

So there are just a few ways I've tried to improve my diet, I'd love for you to comment with any other tips you have.

xxxx

Got My Bikini So I'm #BeachBodyReady Right?

I think when a lot of us try to lose weight, tone up etc, we have an ultimate goal in mind. Infact I didn't just have a singular goal, I kind of had a bit of a list but ultimately it all added up to wanting to feel comfortable in my own skin. One of my targets was to be confident enough to wear a bikini on holiday, to get rid of that feeling of wanting to cover up.

Now I'm sure it didn't escape your attention when there was a media frenzy over a particular image and slogan.

Weighing In and Changing My Mind

Last week I mentioned that I was going to be following the 3 week diet plan. Today is supposed to be day 8, I've managed a full week on this plan and as proud as I am of myself for sticking with it, I have to admit it's not been easy going.

For the past 7 days I've had no carbs, no fruit, no junk food, no alcohol and no caffeine. My will power has been really tested. Just vegetables and meat/fish and even then only certain ones of these were allowed and they could only be cooked in a certain way.

My meal times have been shifted around, a lot of fasting which has left me feeling hungry more often than not and there was quite a few moments where I considered stopping, as really why I am putting myself through this, to lose a couple of lbs?

Teatoxing With Skinny Love Tea

From some of my previous posts about weight loss you will know that I suffer quite a bit from bloating and generally yoyoing with my weight.

I was recently asked if I would like to try Skinny Love Tea.

Their purpose.

To aid weight loss, improve digestion, reduce bloating and to increase metabolism.

Now I'm not a huge tea drinker but I do drink green tea as it definitely helps maintain the weight I have managed to reach so far, so I was intrigued to see whether this tea would have any lasting changes on my body.

I received a 2 week classic combo (£18.99) which contained :

14am Teatox tea bags

7pm Cleanse tea bags

My Top Ten Tips For Losing Weight

Ok I admit, I am no fitness expert but I have managed over the years to slowly lose weight. I now weigh less than I did before my first pregnancy. I've tried my fair share of diets over the years and for a lot of the time I watched my weight yo-yo, going up and down, which brings me to my first tip :

1. You don't need to diet to lose weight.

Diets are only good for short term weight loss. Yes you lose weight when you are on them but as soon as you stop, the weight piles back on and sometimes more than what you weighed before you started the diet. The best thing to do is eat a balanced amount of food, no need to cut anything out.

2. Never skip breakfast.

I never used to eat breakfast, I could never face eating that early in the morning but I've since found out that breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. It helps kick start your metabolism and gets you burning calories from the get go. You don't need to eat a huge meal, smoothies are great for people on the go. One of my favourite breakfast is my banana and oat pancakes.

Move over Shredtober her comes Plankvember

Last month saw me joining in with Shredtober. This meant doing the 30 day shred by Jillian Michaels every day throughout the month of October.

I didn't really lose any weight but there were slight changes in my body shape and my clothes definitely fit better.

The best thing about doing the exercise was the energised feeling I was left with, I really did feel better for doing it!!!

So this month I have decided to join in with Plankvember. Simple enough to do and takes next to no time out of my day. Just have a look at my pin on Pinterest. The idea is that you get in the plank position and hold it for a certain amount of time. Day one sees you starting at just 20 seconds, it doesn't seem like a lot but if you find it easy then you are advised to do it 2 or 3 times in a day rather than just the once.

Here is my body at the beginning of November :

The last day of the November, you are expected to hold yourself in plank position for five long minutes, I am up for challenge, fingers crossed I see some more changes.!!

As well as joining in with Plankvember, I am also going to continue with other exercise. I have decided to have a go at another Jillian Michaels workout, Ripped in 30. I completed the first day of that yesterday, it was tough so I am hoping I see results this month.

Wish me luck :)

xxxx

The Shredding Results Are In

Yesterday was my final day of the 30 day shred. So was it worth, are there any siginificant changes from the beginning.

Well for me personally no not really, which is hugely disappointing considering all of the effort I put in.

Here are my starting and ending weights, measurements and pictures :

Start                                 End

Waist : 25 inches             Waist : 24.5 inches

Hips : 35 inches               Hips : 34.25 inches

Weight 7stone 6lbs          Weight : 7stone 5lbs

Before

After

I think the trouble is I didn't have a lot to lose weight wise, it was more about toning. I have gained muscle definition in both my arms and my legs however I failed to lose anything from my stomach which is one place on my body that I really did want to improve.

Although I didn't the results that I desired, I am going to carry on exercising, next on my list is Jillian Michaels ripped in 30 as I have to admit even if I haven't changed like I wished, I do feel better in myself, I seem to have more energy.

Did any of you get involved with Shredtober, what were your end results??

xxxx

Not shredded enough

I am now on day 22 out of 30 for my Shredtober challenge. Last week I was happy to see that although small, there was loss in measurements.

This week however I am left feeling a little disheartened. I've been doing a mixture of all of the levels to keep me from getting bored. However my meausurements are the same as last week, which ok is better than them increasing but my weight has gone back to my original starting weight which is more than a little disappointing. I have put a lot of effort into both exercising and eating a bit better this past week and expected atleast a smidgen of change.

I have to admit that I have been struggling to stay motivated and this has just made it even harder, making me feel like what's the point if it isn't really doing anything. At the same time though I think I have come this far, it would be a shame to quit so close to the end.

I've been trying to find some kind of positive to keep me going this week so I took another picture of my arm muscles, the newest photo is on the right, don't think there is even a difference there :(

Does anyone have any words of wisdom for me??

xxxx

Halfway There!!

Well I am half way through Shredtober. That's right I have stuck with it for fifteen days now, only fifteen more days to go!!

If you aren't familiar with what Shredtober is all about the please take a look at my previous posts, the beginning and one week on.

The past week I have stepped it up and I have been doing Level 2 of the 30 day shred. I have to say this is my least favourite level and I have been struggling some what to find the motivation to do it on a daily basis. When Jillian tells you she wants you to feel like your going to die, believe me I do!!!

However the lovely ladies in the Shredtober group have kept me going, seeing others managing to do it has made me more determined to do the same.

I admit, I didn't do the best eating wise over the weekend, a bit too many crisps and chocolate were consumed but I think you should be allowed a treat every so often and they were yummy so I don't regret it too much.

So it is that time again, measuring tape out and weighing scales at the ready, the results are in :

waist : half a cm lost so I am now 24.25 inches on my waist
hips : another half a cm so I am now 34.25 inches on my hips
Weight : gained a quarter of a pound so this week I am 7 stone 5 n a 1/4lbs

Overall again not a huge difference but I am still happy, I can see a difference, my stomach is getting flatter and there is more definition at the waist. I wasn't doing this to lost loads of weight, more for toning and I'm hoping gaining back a bit of weight is down to muscle growth.

It is hard to see the changes in the photo below but I thought I would post it anyway.

Hope everyone else who is participating in shredtober is doing well!!! Here's to the next 2 weeks.

xxxx

One Week of Shredtober Done!

Here I am day 8 of the Shredtober challenge. That is one week done and dusted and I have to say I am feeling better for it. I think exercising does tend to make me feel more awake and energised.

I have done the 30 day shred every day since the 1st of October and I have also been doing 50 squats and bicep curls a day too.

Diet wise I have mainly stuck to the same foods I normally eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner, keeps it simple and easier to stick to, the only change I've really made is less snacking on junk. I have a protein shake after working out and I drink green tea every day. I have been drinking the green tea for a couple of months now and I think it has helped with the weight loss so would recommend others trying it.

For me personally when I look in the mirror, I can't really see a significant change although when I tense my arms, there is definitely some muscle definition starting to appear.

I have had my tape measure out and I've stepped on the scales, the results :

Waist : 24.5 inches - half an inch lost
Hips : 34.75 inches - quarter of an inch lost
Weight : 7 stone 5lb - 1lb lost

Overall a small change from last weeks initial measurements. I'm actually surpsrised to see any loss after only a week so I am extremely impressed, this has given me a little boost to keep going. The ladies in the Shredtober group have also been a fantastic support!!

So have any of you taken up the challenge? How has it been going for you?

xxxx

Here's to Shredtober

Ok so for those of you that follow my blog, you will know that I have been trying to lose weight and tone up because I no longer have the excuse of having more babies.

I have done well and in the past year I have lost about a stone but I personally still feel I have a bit of a way to go.

The lovely Lisa at Hollybobb's set herself the challenge of doing the 30 day shred DVD by Gillian Michaels every day for the month of October, this has inspired a lot of others to get involved. So this month I am joining in with a group of over 40 ladies to take part in Shredtober.

Now I have completed this DVD once before but I haven't done it in a while and I admit to being a bit lazy this past month when it comes to exercise, hopefully I will see good results at the end.

So here we are at the beginning, day one, here is what I measure, weigh and what I look like eekk :

Waist : 25 inches

Hips : 35 inches

Weight : 7 stone 6 lbs

I know I'm not fat as such but I would really love to get rid of the horrible saggy skin on my tummy. My plan is to do the 30 day shred every evening when the kids are in bed, I'll check in once a week and let you all know how I'm doing.

So will you be joining in??

xxxx

Aspire Calorie Burning Drink Review

So if you read my blog regularly you will have seen that I have been trying to lose weight and get into shape, just take a look at this post here.

Just over two weeks ago I was sent two weeks worth of Aspire calorie burning drinks. This was surprising in itself because I was only expecting one or two cans!!

The idea of this drink is that it is meant to increase your metabolism, therefore helping you to burn those pesky calories.

The main ingredients of this carbonated drink are :

* guarana extract

* green tea extract

* ginger

* l - carnitine

Each of these ingredients combined together are supposed to raise your bodies metabolism, suppress appetite, accelerate weight loss and play a role in the oxidisation of fats (not sure what that means myself).

The drink is also made up with various vitamins and minerals which is always a good thing.

Aspire actually performed a study at the Carnegie Centre Laboratory in the Leeds Metropolitan University that showed these drinks will on average help you burn up to 209 calories without increasing your heart rate, these drinks actually have the same amount of caffeine in them as a standard cup of coffee.

I was instructed to drink two cans a day. One to be consumed before I ate my breakfast to kick start my metabolism for the day and one whilst I ate my lunch.

I weighed myself on day one and the scales said 7 stone and 9 pounds exactly. I was also instructed to measure my waist, this came out at 25.5 inches. And then the challenge began.

It all started well, I kept the cans chilling in the fridge, although I'm sure they would be just as nice poured over ice. The cranberry flavouring was quite nice and although carbonated, it wasn't too fizzy. This challenge was probably a good thing for me because I'm known to not drink a lot during the day and with each can being around 250ml, I was getting about half a litre of drink a day just from consuming these. 

I will say, I didn't change my diet or exercise routine whilst I was taking part in this challenge, I thought this way, I would be able to gauge better whether the drinks had any affect. 

There were no side affects from drinking Aspire, it was just like drinking any can of fizzy pop. I have to admit I forgot a couple of times to drink the lunch time ones and ended up drinking them with my dinner instead, not sure if this would have had any adverse affect at all?

At the end of the two weeks I hopped on the scales again and I had lost the grand total of one whole pound, so I now way 7 stone and 8 pounds and according to the tape measure, I had stayed the same size around my waist, atleast I hadn't gained any inches!!

Overall I would say these drinks definitely seemed to give me more energy but I don't think this drink will be a magical fix in helping someone lose weight but this may be different for someone who has more weight to lose than me. The taste, although not bad, after two weeks of drinking it, I can say I don't want to drink cranberry again for a while. I think it would have been better if there were different flavours available so that you could vary it from day to day. I would say they are worth trying at the very least just for that energy boost, much better than a can of red bull!!!

Aspire is available in Tesco for £1.45. For more information visit www.aspiredrinks.com or their Facebook page:www.facebook.com/aspiredrink.

xxxx

Disclaimer : I was sent this drink free of charge for reviewing purposes however all thoughts and opnions are my own.

Should I Really Be Thinking Slim?

You maybe remember about 3 months back I wrote a post about losing the baby weight. Well since then I have carried on trying to lose the weight and tone up. I think I am doing well at earning all these celebrities money with the amount of exercise dvds that I've been buying.

I can understand how people give up and lose hope. I have been trying to take a picture every 4 weeks just to give myself a bit of motivation to carry on, most times I look and come away feeling disheartened because I honestly can't see a difference.

Then I stumbled across a picture that had been taken in January, I didn't even realise that I started taking them that far back. So I decided to compare it with one taken last week and for once I wasn't left disappointed.

Feel free to hit me with the truth, maybe I'm being dellusional but I can really see a difference. 

Ok so the "bum tum" is still present (although smaller), realistically I don't think I am ever going to be rid of the dreaded thing, unless I happen to win the lottery and can afford a tummy tuck!! 

I am taking positives from this picture though. My waist is and hips are smaller, I know this for definite because I have been measuring and I am now a size 10 rather than a size 12. The one thing I wish hadn't got smaller is my poor breasts, why is it fat disappears from the places you don't want it to??

I'm not writing this post to brag or to get praise, Daddy Hazelden will tell you, I don't take a compliment well. I suppose I started writing it so it is there was permanent reminder for me, maybe I will believe in myself a bit more. I am never going to have the "perfect" body but I am hoping that eventually I will be comfortable and confident in my own skin. 

I've been thinking how to word this post for a few days now and the more I write, the more it has got me thinking about my daughter's and how I want them to see me and how I want them to feel about themselves. I don't want to be stick thin, really if I didn't have the saggy tummy I would probably be content to stop losing weight now and I don't want to ever start making my daughter's think that they have to lose weight. The scary thing is my 7 year old has already started telling me she doesn't feel pretty, I didn't expect things like this for a good few years!!!

I actually saw an article the other day that interested me. It showed a Barbie doll made to look like an actual woman, "normal" was how they described it. I wouldn't use the word normal because really what is normal, but wouldn't it be nice if they had a range of dolls of all different shapes and sizes rather than just the skinny image that is portrayed now? Much better to look at in my opinion, not sure if having dolls like this when I was younger would have affected my way of thinking about my body now but I would like to think that I wouldn't be so body conscious. 

So I guess this post has done a 180 degree turn. In the end I don't think there is anything wrong with wanting to lose a bit of weight and wanting to feel good about yourself but there has to be a limit as to how far we will go. I hope my girls don't see me exercising and think they must do it too, I want them to keep active but at their young age it should all be fun, not a way to lose weight shouldn't it? I think having kids changes the way you try to think about things because I know before I had kids I was definitely of the mind set that skinny is better, now I think I would change the word skinny to healthy!!

If you managed to read through all my ramblings, what do you think about weight loss, are you on a diet or an exercise plan, do you think about how affects your kids or do they ask questions about what you are doing? As always I appreciate your comments.

xxxx

9 Months To Gain 9 Months To Lose

That is what people say isn't it. It takes you 9 whole months to put on weight when you are pregnant so therefore the theory is that it will take you 9 months to lose the baby weight once you have given birth.

Well my baby girl was 9 months old yesterday, so the question is, have I lost the weight??

I am one of the lucky people that can answer this question with the word yes!! Infact I am lighter now than what I was at sixteen years old. However I still haven't got the body that many women like myself desire.

Now maybe I'm being brave, maybe a bit stupid but I have added a photo of myself here. (try no to laugh). The thing I am most unhappy with is the dreaded "bum tum". This photo doesn't show it very well but trust me it's there. I'm hoping by me having to look at it, it will give me a bit of a nudge to carry on.

I know in my head, that all the stretch marks and saggy skin are all signs of creating my four beautiful children but it doesn't stop me wanting the "perfect" body. I admit, I am one of those yo yo dieters, forever falling off the exercise wagon but I have been trying my hardest since January to really get into shape and I am still searching for the solution to finally getting rid of my jelly belly.

Currently food wise I am sticking to relatively healthy diet, only eating bread a couple of times a week because it really bloats me out and upping my water intake. Exercise wise I am trying to do different ab work outs every day and I really enjoy going out for runs at the weekend.

My will power and motivation have been starting to slip again recently because, for me I'm not seeing any significant improvement. So I was hoping by putting it out there in the blogosphere that some of you lovely people might be able to offer some words of wisdom to keep me going??


xxxx

Weight loss, what really works??

So 3 days on and I am still sticking to my resolution of losing weight, go me!!! :)

What I want to know is how does everyone else go about it?? There are so many fad diets out there, do they really work or are they all just quick fixes??

I personally don't stick to a diet as such, I just try to maintain a healthy balanced diet along with exercising when I can. I think a little bit of what you like is healthy as I find if I try to cut the junk food out completely I only want it more. My major downfall is eating of an evening time, so I am trying to have things like nuts, carrots sticks etc handy just incase I decide I am a bit peckish.

It is the exercise I struggle with most, with 4 kids to look after I struggle to fit it in, although I find wearing my youngest in a wrap/ sling seems to be a workout in itself.

So any tips for me?? Anything that definitely doesn't work?? Let me know.

xxxx