Day 1

So from today i'm commiting to 365 days of healthy eating and exercise.  Yes, i'm allowed the occasional treat and the occasional day off from the gym...but they have to be that - occasional.

I've had enough. I'm too fat, clothes don't fit and I feel ugly. Something has to change.
No swinging back and forth with my weight. This is serious!

In fact, i'm going to set myself targets. Aim to achieve those and if i do, i get a beauty treatment. Let's see how that goes.

Target 1: September 1st - lost 1 stone.

Wish me luck!

Back on it!

So, it's been a good few months...more like half a year since I last posted on this blog. What happened? Well, to put it simply, I lost motivation...Holidays, birthdays and general fun got in the way. I forgot what my goal was, let go and here I am again. There are a million excuses to stop, but we shouldn't let them actually stop us.

Let me be a warning. After working hard, i'm back up to 226lbs again. So it's back on the horse for me.

My personal trainer was getting lame, cancelling on me all the time and generally just not being interested in how things were developing with me...which led me to just giving up going to the gym really.  But I shouldn't let someone else's lack of motivation remove mine.

So...it's go time.

This time i'm going to be following the pretty simple rules of the 'Eat Clean Diet' by Tosca Reno. If you've not heard of it, follow this link to find out more: http://www.eatcleandiet.com/

It's pretty obvious stuff - no sugar, no white stuff, healthy food 6 times a day, making sure all meals have both carbs and protein to keep you going.

This is not a diet. I've given up dieting - it doesn't work. This is a lifestyle choice. The first few days will be tough, but i'll get through it...stronger than ever.

I'm also going to be working out daily and attending classes such as legs,bums and tums and step classes. 

I'm determined this will be the last time. This will change the way I look at food and the way I respond to food.

Starting point:

 That's the last time you'll see this picture.  Bring on the weightloss.

Diet Chef

Now I've done plenty of these meal replacement type diets before but always open to trying something new, so having seen the ads I'd been wanting to try Diet Chef for a good while now! I was super excited to be offered the chance to review a Diet Chef day.

I was sent a breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack to try to see what I thought of the diet.  So diligently, I tried it...And all I can say is...What diet? I have never felt so satisfied or full on any other diet!

I began the day with Strawberry porridge which was perfect for a cold winter morning. No different to my ready brek of yesteryear really. Tasty with a hint of strawberry.

Lunch was a convenient, heat in the microwave pasta salad. Nice and hot, filling and the smell in the office of my lunch was enough to raise the curiosity of my colleagues and it looked fantastic.

Dinner was a tasty lasagne which i accompanied with a large green salad. The husband even looked at my plate with jealousy - which is a good sign!

Oh and I even got some biscuits to keep me going:

Diet Chef comes in either a 1,200 or 1,500 calorie pack based on your goals and needs which is handy.

I'd definitely recommend trying diet chef if you are short on time to prepare your meals, need help with portion control or are having a busy few weeks.

Visit www.dietchef.co.uk for further information.

The new Olive Oil...Rapeseed Oil

I've been hearing quite a bit about the new olive oil - rapeseed oil. Jamie Oliver and Gizzi Erskine are just a couple of tv chefs who've been trying to persuade us to give it a try, so I was excited to receive a bottle to review for this blog.

I was sent some Cotswold Gold Extra Virgin Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil. I've been replacing my olive oil for all cooking recently, so for roasties, stir fries, salad dressings, this is what i've been using.  It has a fantastic flavour which is a little 'cabbagy' but tastes fantastic.

Just some of the benefits of Rapeseed Oil are:

• Rich in Omega 3, 6 and 9 (which i've recently discovered can really help with weight loss)
• High in Vitamin E (might be good used as an oil on the skin for stretch marks etc - although yet to try it)
• 0.1% cholesterol
• Half the saturated fat of Olive Oil (yay!)
• High burning point (Olive Oil can become toxic at high temperatures, and rapeseed isn't!)

One of the best things about lovely Cotswold Gold Rapeseed Oil is also the knowledge that you are helping the British economy as it's 100% British grown and made.

It's also a previous Great Taste Award Winner

Take a look at: www.cotswoldgold.co.uk for more information or to buy online.

Here's a healthy courgette recipe which might inspire you:
http://www.cotswoldgold.co.uk/recipes/courgettes.pdf

COMPETITION TIME: KIM KARDASHIAN & QUICKTRIM

So as you'll have seen from previous posts, I've just returned from a visit to the USA where I indulged (among other things) my love for all things Walgreens. I just love the pharmacies out there - packed full of amazing products which we don't get a look at over here in the UK.

So I picked up quite a few bits and pieces.  One of the things I purchased was the Quicktrim Burn and Cleanse 14 day transformation with Kim Kardashian on the box...only problem was I got it home and read it properly to discover i'm allergic to one of the ingredients...which means i'm going to be giving it away!

And here's the blurb which can also be found here: http://www.quicktriminternational.com/products/burn-and-cleanse-thermogenic-diet-system/

QuickTrim® Burn and Cleanse™ is a complete all day, all night weight loss system. This all-in-one program was designed to help transform your body for that big event or to jump-start your diet. QuickTrim® provides the tools you need to help you get the body you desire!

Burn & Cleanse contains proven key ingredients that are designed to help promote healthy metabolism by ridding the body of excess toxins and water weight, while helping to increase your body’s ability to burn excess calories. This sensible formula helps to burn calories during the day, and then cleanses at night.

This simple, thermogenic 2-part system includes: a day and night supplement, plus a detailed manual with a full exercise routine and suggested meal plan.

.

Here’s what you get in each 14 day kit:

• Iso-Burn™  - Burn fat all day! Iso-Burn™ stimulates metabolism to burn more calories and fat throughout the day. This thermogenic powerhouse helps to release and burn stored fat while enhancing energy levels. Iso-Burn™ also helps to maintain blood sugar levels within a normal range. This formulas is loaded with antioxidants and helps promote a positive mood.+
  Directions: Take 1-2 caplets with your largest meals of the day. Do not exceed 4 caplets per day.

Iso-Cleanse™  – Detox all night! Iso-Cleanse™ helps remove toxins and impurities out of your system that many diets fail to even take into consideration. Detoxing has become one of the healthiest ways to rid your body of intestinal build-up while rejuvenating your entire body. With Iso-Cleanse™ you clean and detoxify your system, resulting in better healthy and energy levels. This herbal diuretic formula also helps remove excess water from under the skin.+
Directions: Take 2 caplets approximately one hour prior to bedtime. You may increase dosage to a maximum of 4 caplets to achieve desired results based on body tolerance. Do not exceed 4 caplets per day.

So I'm going to be picking one lucky winner out of a hat.  All you have to do is tweet a link to this competition on your twitter feed and then email me a copy of the tweet and your email address. The winner will be chosen at random. Closing date: January 31st

I'd just like it noted that this has nothing to do with Quicktrim as I purchased myself on holiday! Also note that the winner can only be from the UK. No entries will be counted outside of the UK. Multiple entries are not allowed (to make it fair!)

The anti-bac pen

Now, I don't know about you but i'm always taking notes, marking down weights lifted etc in my notebook at the gym and something that has always seemed a little gross is touching all the equipment, lockers, people borrowing the pen etc and then it just going back in your handbag...so i was really excited to receive an Anti-bac pen to test recently.

The pen actually kills 99.9% of harmful bacteria and viruses and has a unique active agent moulded into the pen. It looks and feels just like a regular pen but you know that it kills MRSA. In my opinion these would be a god send in a doctors surgery or in hospitals.

Find out more here: http://www.anti-bac.ltd.uk/

Omega fish oils and weightloss

I was lucky enough to be sent some Omega 3 vitamins from the Nordic Naturals company to try to assist with my goal for healthy living, diet and weightloss.  Now, i hadn't heard anything about the importance of including fish oil in your diet for weightloss before I received these, but since I've received them it seems to be all that nutritionists are spouting on about at the moment.

See here for a little background: http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/healthy_lifestyle/fish-oil-weight-loss.htm

I was sent some of the Complete Omega 3 purified fish oil to try for myself as it apparently can assist with weightloss as well as help you keep a healthy heart, get rid of stress and balance your mood.

I've been taking these daily for the last couple of months and have to say that as a daily vitamin, these really are great.

The fantastic thing about these and all the Nordic Natural fish oil capsules is there is absolutely no nasty fishy taste or smell (if you remember cod liver oil as a kid, then you'll know how bad it used to be).

So if you are looking for a vitamin which has proven benefits, is easy to take and could help with weightloss, then why not try these.  Find out more at: http://www.nordicnaturals.com/