Ditching the diets….The perils of being complacent!

I’m pretty sure that if any of you have been on a ‘diet’ or healthy lifestyle plan, you get to a point where you’re happy and then complacency starts setting in…

This has been partly true for me for the last couple of weeks particularly where exercise is concerned. I’ve lost the inches and overall I’m happy with how I look, so even though I’d promised myself to exercise this week, I made excuses not to.

What annoys me about this more than not being as toned as I could be, is the effect its had on my mind and body. I’ve had far less energy as ive not been using starch to aid recovery and my back is starting to ache again, something that was almost non existent when I was doing the body weight exercises so my core must’ve weakened again. What’s worse than that though, is wearing a fab dress and a beloved pair of killer heels to a wedding reception, then having to sit down because my back can’t cope with the heels, nothing comes between me and my heels, no amount of blisters, tottering, or walking like ive had an ‘accident’ can put me off wearing them but a painful back is another matter!

On top of this we had ‘cheat meal’ last night, we had our usual tandoori chicken with rice, but I also polished off some sort of spicy potato dish, now I don’t know for sure but I think there must’ve been wheat in there somewhere because Iiterally felt like id been punched in the gut this morning, not good 😦 there was me being a piglet thinking it would be ok..

So, the moral of the story is – don’t rest on your laurels or for me ‘Dont rest on your lazy arse and don’t eat something if you don’t know what’s in it!’

Happy Saturday everyone!

Ditching the diets…a word about exercise!

Ditching the diets…a word about exercise!.

Ditching the diets…a word about exercise!

An exercise ball allows a wide range of exercises to be performed. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Ok, so I think I am on day 19 now of the 28 day programme, this week has gone by in a blur!

I have to admit, I’ve not tried as hard as I did last month, my life has seemed to take off at a hectic pace these last few weeks and I’m just trying to catch up! I have mostly managed to stick to the eating plan and this being 7 weeks running is something I am extremely proud of so it’s not all bad news! Now, if only I could organise my time properly, I’d be able to exercise, socialise, run my business properly, spend quality time with my boyfriend and family, do the housework, go to work, and sleep! Phew! I’m exhausted just listing that lot, hmmm I’ve an idea for my next 28 days to……

……The problem with me is that instead of introducing new things to my life one at a time, I tend to try to do too many things at once and as you can imagine I end up dropping a ball, sometimes all of them lol, the ball that has been dropped this month is exercise….

I’ve only exercised twice in 2 weeks! (hangs head in shame) to be honest I could have probably fitted this in if i had tried hard enough to organise my time and had been motivated enough but alas I havent. The annoying thing is that It’s only a 20 minute workout that I can do in the comfort of my own home and when I’ve done it I feel great, you wouldnt think that a 20 minute body weight or dumbell  workout would make such a difference but it does!

So, next week I’ve got another busy week, I’m busy at least 2 evenings and I’m working the weekend, so instead of trying to exercise every day, I am going to exercise three times next week, if I can fit any more in then that’s a bonus!

That’s absolutely no point in feeling guilty doing the Ignite programme, it’s about what works for you, and if we never fail at things we never move forward, if I had achieved everything I wanted to on this programme, I’d have nothng to talk to you about! 🙂

If you’re interested in trying this for yourself go to http://www.hateitchangeit.co.uk/ and find out how to change your diet and lifestyle for the better and for good!

Happy bank holiday everyone!

Ditching the diets….setbacks – having a ‘Bridget Jones’ moment…..

Ditching the diets….setbacks – having a ‘Bridget Jones’ moment…...

Ditching the diets….setbacks – having a ‘Bridget Jones’ moment…..

I’m currently sat in my dressing down, watching a very sad episode of ‘Who do you think you are?’ eating dark chocolate drops…hang on…..shovelling dark chocolate drops into my mouth and feeling rather sorry for myself.

You see, I found out yesterday that our dear cat Bella was run over and killed, one day short of a month ago since our other cat Maizie was also run over and killed.

Normally the healthy lifestyle would go out of the window during these times and to some extent it has – I’ve been incredibly busy so I havent made enough effort to make time for exercise and last night I just wanted to shut the world out. BUT, I have kept to my eating habits – save for the chocolate drops which I have since put down as I’m just feeling sick now.

At least I can stick to good eating habits through the bad times, I know now that there’s no reason/excuse that will make me go off the rails now, so in spite of this temporary darkness at least there is some light…..

 RIP little ones xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

 

 

 

Ditching the diets – embedding good habits, ditching bad ones….

Ditching the diets – embedding good habits, ditching bad ones…..

Ditching the diets – embedding good habits, ditching bad ones….

I’ve mentioned habits in a previous post and how I’ve not eaten wheat or gluten for near on 6 weeks now, I’ve still got a long way to learn with the rest of the good habits but I’m really proud of myself with this.

I have had temptation under my nose all weekend long, it was made even worse by my severe lack of planning. Rushing around last minute like a ‘blue arsed fly’ like I always do, trying to get everything sorted before our trip home to a friends wedding reception (tazmanian devil springs to mind again!)

So, I all I had eaten by the time we got home at 3pm was a protein bar, we had a quick salad and headed to the reception. There were sweets there and being hungry we gave in – now I know they wont satisfy my hunger but I’m a big kid and so it had to be done! There was food brought out halfway through the night – I think it was a meat roast – pork, beef etc, Paul turned to the table with a massive roll of it, we both looked at each other and laughed then proceeded to take the meat out of the roll and eat that – god knows what anyone thought lol!

Then came the rounds of cake which we politely declined 😀

Sunday morning was challenging – bless my mum and dad, I love them but they are totally CLUELESS about food. Unless it comes out of a packet they look at it like it’s some sort of snail, horrified that they might have to ‘make’ something. My dad’s speciality’s are burgers, salad and chips which he thinks he ‘makes’ except its all shop bought, oh and a sunday roast. My Dad’s idea of a roast is cremating the beef until its black all the way through then covering it with black tar (shop bought gravy) then adding some over boiled veg and mash – mmmmmmm think I’ll pass lol. Anyway, all that was in the fridge was some cheese spread, beer, potatoes and tomatoes, and some hot cross buns and digesti

Some chicken, pork and corn in the barbeque (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

ves in the cupboard.  I was about to devour the biscuits when I spotted the bananas. I ATE THE BANANA! Wtf is all that about?! I dont even like them that much but I CHOSE THE BANANA – I’ve changed!!!

On the journey back down the M1 we stopped at the services, bought 2 chicken breasts and an edame and pea salad. We peeled the sugar coated skin off the chicken and ate with the salad.

Next stop – sister in laws BBQ. We stopped off and bought our own sausages – best we could find 80% pork – would have never done that before for fear of being awkward. I had sausages and chicken with salad and a tiny amount of lemon meringue pie which i scraped off the base. That would never have happened before!

I do need to plan my meals and snacks more evidently but this goes to show you can socialise and eat on the run without totally blowing everything. I’m proud of what I have achieved and definitely feel this is a permanent change for me – happy days 😀

 

Ditching the diets – Going against the grain….

Ditching the diets – Going against the grain…..

Ditching the diets – Going against the grain….

This post was inspired by a question that Jill Gardners Hate it Change it asked about people’s reactions to your ‘healthy lifestyle’, and it got me thinking….

I want to make a statement…..

I have not eaten wheat or gluten for nearly 6 weeks, I have not had a carbonated drink, and I have had not had any crisps…………

Peoples reactions to this are utterly fascinating to me. Those who I am close to think that this is great, they know I am happier and healthier and are pleased that I have made positive changes to my life. Other people are inspired by what they think is my ‘will power’. Some people say that it is no way to live and that you have to be able to go out and enjoy yourself, and others think it is wrong of me to eat healthy food because ‘I don’t need to lose weight’ Others don’t know how I can turn down a plate full of sandwiches and cakes when they have been under my nose for a couple of hours (I’ll come back to this in a bit)

These are just some of the reactions/opinions that I have been presented with.

I used to think these people’s opinions mattered, but since I am doing this for me, it is about me and MY body and MY health then surely MY opinion is the only one that matters. I told myself this when I knew I was going to be presented with a plate full of sandwiches and cakes today. I told a white lie – that I can’t eat wheat/gluten and that I would take my own lunch….that took courage.

Tuna salad (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Now ‘ll admit that getting a tuna salad out of a bag that contains another bag of frozen peas to keep it cool (no ice packs in the house) was a tad embarrassing, but, it did break the ice (pardon the pun) It also felt somewhat rude to turn down this food that had been laid on for us as if there was something wrong with it. I even apologised for bringing my own lunch! What I want to know is why do we feel bad for making choices that will benefit us? Yeah, sure I could have eaten the sandwiches to ‘fit in’ but I would have felt horrendous afterwards, I thought a bit of embarrassment was worth it.

Anyway, I sat in a room full of people I’d not met before, and I ate my salad, and do you know what? It wasnt the big deal I thought it would be, no one was bothered, in fact I think they admired my so-called ‘will power’

I have not spent 28 days learning how to make myself and my choices ‘matter’ it has been a lifelong battle and it continues to go on, but if you don’t take responsibility for your emotional needs, physical needs and your health, no one else will. So, to make better lifestyle choices, and to take responsibility for your well – being,  isn’t that worth rocking the ‘socially acceptable boat for’?

 

Ditching the diets, Day 3, failing to prepare….

….is preparing to fail according to Ben Franklin.

Well to a certain extent I guess that’s true, but some people are brilliantly skilled at ‘cobbling’ something together last-minute, be that a speech, a party, a birthday present etc. I like to think I am one of those people…

…The truth is that I have spent a lot of time planning and a lot of time ‘winging it’ as I like to call it, it seems I work best at whatever ‘it’ is under pressure, I get my best results when I am forced to think on my feet. Whilst this method has worked for me in a lot of areas of my life, there is one where it isn’t working too well and that’s with food prep.

English: Container of Kitchen Utensils (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Cooking for me is a chore, a bore and quite often a ‘tour’ of my own kitchen. You would think I would know where to find the salt by now! Being a mere 5″1 Paul often forgets – although I’m not sure how? that I can’t reach the top shelf of our kitchen cupboard where most ‘useful’ things are kept. Hmm, wonder what else he keeps up there?! I digress… anyway what I’m trying to say is that watching me in the kitchen would be like watching the angry Tasmanian devil (does anyone remember the cartoon? whizz around the kitchen covered in whatever it is I’m attempting to cook, f’ing and blinding at cooking instruments, and spending half a century fishing egg shell out of a bowl!

It’s not pretty, Paul says that he enjoys cooking but I think it’s just to keep the peace, he knows it’s not worth witnessing the woman he loves turn into a raging, egg hating, foot stomping psychopath in 0 – 2 seconds!

So when it comes to a healthy lifestyle, where food prep and planning is key, it’s not been an easy ride. If you want to eat well you really need to make your food from scratch even if it is pizza or a cake, at least you’ll know where it all came from. A cousin of mine was once asked in school where coffee came from – his answer ….’Kwik Save’ says it all really!

Where am I now with making my own food? Well I am still ‘cobbling’ my lunches and dinners together, but I do cook up snacks – it’s more like baking which I enjoy (shove it all in a bowl and it’s good to go) I do my own cooking when Paul is not around (less pressure) and I’ve been surprised by my results – it tastes pretty good!

We are complex creatures and it can take a long time to break bad habits and form new ones, so I’ll keep upping my game until one day I will enjoy cooking and then the real fun of ‘cobbling’ something together can begin.

I have just made some crustless quiches and I have some sweet smelling oaty muffins in the oven, but just for you, here’ some bits I made last month on the programme – Enjoy!…..