Zotrim - diet aid

So, i've been sent some Zotrim to try in a bid to help me with my weightloss. I'm all for any natural help, so will be adding these into my daily plan.

You take 2 tablets before every meal, with the idea that they work in two ways - making you consume less calories and making you burn more calories at the same time.

I'll update you when i've tried them for a few weeks.

Visit http://www.zotrim.com for further information.

2 weeks in the fast lane

I've been sent this book by Fiona Kirk to review, called '2 Weeks in the Fast Lane'.  It's an interesting read as Fiona has asked successful dieters for their tips and tricks (mainly taken from faddy diets) and then pulled together a two week plan using the bits that worked from all these diets.

She also includes top fat burning nutrients in the diet, including calcium, Omega 3, fermentable carbs and astaxanthin (the pink colour in salmon etc)

Her plan is easy to follow and quite sensible. Go to bed earlier so you don't consume calories late at night and getting up earlier to add exercise and dry body brushing to your daily plan.

I won't give away the diet - as it's definitely worth buying this book and having a read for yourself.

I've started the diet today in a bid to have a 'really good 2 weeks' in the run up to Christmas, so i'll update you how I get along.

Read a review by the Daily Mail here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2018480/Holiday-diets-Left-late-slim-Melt-away-fat-2-WEEKS.html

and you can purchase the book here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Weeks-Fast-Lane-Fiona-Kirk/dp/0956611516/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320055147&sr=8-1

Fiona is also going to be giving a speech at Champneys in St Albans on November 7th. Tickets are only £15 and the theme is: Drop a dress size in time for the party season.

See Fiona's website here for more details: http://fatbustforever.com/events-past-present-and-future/

Weigh in - week 1

Sorry I didn't upload this on Saturday, but I wasn't able to access the internet. 


For some reason the picture is the wrong way round, but I think it's still easy to see the weight. 

I used the new Salter MiBody scales for the weigh in (i'll be doing a post on these later - they are fantastic!)

Diet review: # 1 - The Maple Syrup Diet

Over the past 15 years I've consistently been on diets, trying out the latest 'fad' only to lose a bit of weight and put it back on again plus more.  So i'm going to talk through my diet experiences, hoping to prevent you going through the same thing. There are no quick fixes (as i'm only just discovering at nearly 30) but some of these work better than others.

The maple syrup and cayenne pepper diet was one of the diets I tried when I first began working in London.  Looking for a quick fix and the promise of a stone loss in a week I religiously made up 2 litres of Hot water, maple syrup and cayenne pepper every morning and took it with me to work.

The taste was revolting - like drinking sugary water. My skin looked horrific, my breath smelt and it isn't particularly social. You can't go out for dinner, meet with friends etc.  However, it is a quick fix.

I lost 10lbs in the week - an astounding loss but put on 12 within the next 2 weeks.

So, although this was a disaster for me...It could work if you had to get into a dress for an event (and didn't mind putting weight on again).

Naturally Thin - Bethenny Frankel

Now, as mentioned in a previous post, i've been reading the Naturally Thin book by Bethenny Frankel to try and kick start my new way of healthy living.  What I love about this book and plan is that it isn't really a diet...it's a way of life.

You will want to try a bite of that donut or graze at a buffet, it's about including these things in your diet and altering your attitude to food to make sure you aren't over indulging.

Bethenny Frankel is pretty famous in the USA but a bit of an unknown here.  She's a regular on Real Housewives of NY and a natural food chef.  She's also Naturally Thin, so definitely worth taking advise from.

The principle of the book is based on 10 rules:

1. Your diet is a bank account (you need to balance your calories for the day).
2. You can have it all -- just not all at once.
3. Taste everything, eat nothing (share food, eat small bites).
4. Pay attention (say no to mindless eating.)
5. Downsize your portions now.
6. Cancel your membership in the Clean Plate Club.
7. Check yourself before you wreck yourself (stop emotional and binge eating).
8. Know thyself (know your trigger foods).
9. Get real (eat more whole foods and fewer processed ones).
10. Good for you (make peace with food).

It's all pretty basic stuff which we should have all been programmed with since birth - but i know I wasn't and i'm sure plenty of other people haven't been either.

We should all be able to enjoy our food without feeling fear as we are more conscious of what we are eating.

I've bought the CD to listen to in the car when travelling for work, have the book and also the cookbook (yet to try properly).  All can be bought on www.amazon.co.uk

If you want more information on Bethenny and her 10 rules visit: http://www.bethenny.com/

Personal training

So as mentioned in my first post, i've been having personal training sessions once a week for the past five weeks. Now, although obviously very overweight, I do go through fads of going to the gym. I'll go 3 times a week for a few months, then get bored of it and not go back for another few months and so the cycle continues.

I used to spend an hour on the cross trainer on level 8, get a bit sweaty and then head home, feeling i'd done enough. It made little, if no difference to my weight. It was during a phase of visiting the gym regularly that my other half suggested getting a personal trainer and for once I listened.

So every Saturday i've been getting up early to hit the gym with my personal trainer. AND it's been fantastic!

We've been doing weights, using the Vper bar (which I love), stepping and jogging and by the time i'm done i'm exhausted but happy.

It really has made a difference to how I exercise, especially as she's designed a workout for me to do by myself during the week.

I don't know how long I will be keeping this going for, and I know it's not for everyone due to the expense, but if you are a member of a gym, ask them to give you a free session so you really know how to work out.

I'll keep you all updated on my progress on the exercise front.

Welcome and me...

Hello everyone.

I thought i'd better start this blog off by introducing myself and telling you a little bit about what to expect on this blog.

My name is Mandy and i'm 29 years old.  I've started this blog to track my weightloss, look at gadgets, gizmos, diets etc that are going to help me reach my goal and generally hope to help people sift through all the rubbish surrounding diets and cut to the good stuff.

I'm currently 18 stone 13 (264lbs) and have been dieting seriously since August time when I was around 275lbs...so things are going down, but incredibly slowly.

I've been trying to change my way of life, aiming to incorporate healthy eating into my life, rather than thinking of this as a diet.

With this in mind i've been trying to practice the principles of 'Naturally Thin' - a book by Bethenny Frankel (i'll blog about the outline plan soon) which is based on 10 simple principles to guide you through life, along with 2 - 3 visits to the gym a week.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Naturally-Thin-Skinnygirl-Yourself-Lifetime/dp/1416597980/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319721999&sr=8-1

I have a personal trainer who I've now been to see 5 times (once a week) and not only is she really pushing me, but is making training more fun and more productive.

So, keep an eye out for my progress, down days, questions and reviews