Healthy Habits

Since writing this post back in March about how I lost 8lbs I have actually managed to not only lose a further 4lbs and I have also managed to keep the weight off for the past 10 months!

My weight has fluxated 2-3lbs occassionally, but in general I have kept the weight off and I am so much happy with my current weight.

Today I wanted to write a post about a few healthy habits I have adapted over the past year in order to keep off the weight and lead a healthier* lifestyle. 

*I am not healthy by any standards, but in comparison to my previous lifestyle I am much healthier and these are a few changes I have made

- Weheartit - 

1) Be realistic
We all have tried or know people who have tried crazy diets, juice fasting and no carbs and then caved after the 4th day and ate everything in their entire fridge... I know I have.
Try not to set unrealistic goals, try to set lifestyle goals that you know you can stick to, if you know you can go your whole life living on no carbs then great for you, but instead try to maybe cut carbs once a week for example then after a few weeks maybe try it twice a week. If you are realistic you will more likely achieve your goals, failure always unmotivates people and you will more likely quit a lot sooner.

2) Dont drink your calories
This is something that I have been trying to do for years, in terms of soft drinks I only really ever drink water anyway, in the Summer I will indulge in a Frappicino here and there and in the Winter I am a sucker  for a peppermint hot chocolate but in general I only really drink water or herbal tea. I find that I only ever used to drink fizzy drinks if they were in my house, but since I have shopped for myself I never find myself buying them and therefore I never drink them..
Alcohol is a little bit more difficult. Obviously alcohol is not great for you for many reasons, but I do drink, I love wine, cocktails and tequila shots as much as any other 23 year old, but lately I have really tried to make better choices even with my bad choices, so instead of a large glass of wine I will opt for a flavoured vodka (vanilla or raspbberry are my favourite) with soda, or a glass of prosecco.

3) Eat a big breakfast
This one took me a long time to do, I'm never usually very hungry when I wake up and so I'll wait until lunch then I'll eat everything I see! So now I really try to make sure I eat within an hour of waking up, if I'm really not hungry then I'll just have a cereal bar or some fruit with cereal, but I generally try to get my calories in for breakfast, so I love bagels, eggs, beans, toast, yoghurt. I really try to fill myself up so I'm less likely to snack throughout the day. 

4) Sweat everyday
I use the term 'sweat' loosely, I know it's not realistic for everybody to do an hour of cardio everyday, but try to just do it as much as you can. For me I will do jumping jacks whilst the kettle boils, squats whilst the bread is in the toaster, a wall sit whilst brushing my teeth. Just these tiny things to get my heart rate up. Amongst those I have the app 'Seven' on my phone which is a quick 7 minute workout for when I have a bit of spare time. I try to do that twice a day. Just try to do exercise whenever you can and remember that even small bursts of exercise are better than nothing.

5) Find something you love
So not everybody loves a 5k to start the day the same way that not everybody loves swimming. There are so many different types of exercise that you can do, you just need to find what works for you. Do you love to work out alone or with a group? Indoors or outdoors? Try different things, tennis, spinning, Zumba, even pole dancing is a great exercise! Find something you love and stick at it!

6) Dont over do it
In January everybody will join the gym, they will go 7 days a week sometimes twice a day and then by February they are sick of it and wont go again for the rest of the year. It's so important to take breaks, don't over do anything. If you take up a class start with twice a week, then after a month maybe push it to 3. Listen to your body and make sure you're doing it for the right reasons. (Not just for that #GymSelfie)

7) Remember why you started
My ultimate goal has always been to be more comfortable within my body. I remind myself with scrolling through Fitspiration on Pintrest when I'm exhausted after a workout. This could be different for everybody, if you are doing it for more energy, to lose weight, to gain strength, always remind yourself why you are doing it and look forward. You will reach your goals if you are consistent.

I hope this helped some of you and I would love to know what you do to stay motivated!

Health and Fitness Ramble - 2016

Hi guys, it´s been a while since I´ve done a health and fitness post on here and what a better time to write one in January. If you´re anything like me you would have consumed way too much food, wine and Bailey´s throughout December and are probably feeling a little bit guilty right now. However, I decided at the beginning of winter that I would be quite vigilant with how much I do consume through the festive period. It can be so difficult to lose weight and so easy to put it all back on. 

Throughout 2015 I lost around a stone and managed to keep it off, it hasn´t been an easy process at all, but I feel so much better because of it. At the start of the year I was quite strict about my eating habits, being extra careful with portion sizes and only trying to put good things in my body, it took a lot of control and consistency. Towards the end of the year I have been a little bit more relaxed about my diet, I have however gained 1/2 pounds since the summer but I´m okay with that and will probably try to eat a little cleaner throughout 2016. 

My weight went from 9 stone 6 to now being a healthy 8 stone 8. I am 5"6 for those wondering. 

I was never overweight but I was unhealthy and very unhappy with my body. I am hoping for good things in the new year and will hopefully be doing one of these posts every month as well as sharing any recipes, apps, work outs etc. with you all. 

Image; Weheartit

Please let me know if there is anything you´d like to see, I´d also like to come up with a title for these kind of posts so any suggestions are welcome. 

Losing 8lbs!

Hello lovelies! 

Welcome back, I'm so sorry for my absence lately, I kind of explained a little about where I've been over on my other blog!

However, since I have been gone, I've lost 8 pounds!

Although my weight loss has been pretty quick, it has also been through consistency and some quite big lifestyle changes.

Firstly, back in November I started to make working out a regular thing, I was working a lot less than normal and my weight was creeping up, I had to do something about it, I started using the Nike Running App, and sometimes working out at home and others outdoors, aiming to do at least 10 miles a month, which I continued till January. On the days where I didn't run, I would do alternative work outs, some of my favorites being when I would drag my sister down to the river and we would do all kinds of work outs, from running up and down the steps, to star jumps to squats.

Although I noticed a change in the shape of my body, I wasn't really noticing any difference in my weight (which I know, muscle weighs more than fat but still...)

In February I realised in order to really notice a difference, my diet needed to change quite dramatically.

I was eating take out a lot and chocolate and wine amongst other things. I love unhealthy food and I don't think that will ever change, however, I tried to limit my intake of bad foods, if I was peckish I would choose to snack on fruit or yogurt. I made an effort to eat breakfast every day, even if I wasn't hungry I would force myself to eat something small, just so I wouldn't snack until lunch.

One huge difference in my diet has been swapping meat for fish, I'm probably eating fish 5 days a week now, as opposed to around 1 before. 

So although my diet has changed hugely, I have also taken on a job where I am basically running around for 90 hours a week, which I know has probably been a big contributor to my weight loss, and I had lost time for doing actual exercise anymore.

So this brings me to today, the weight has gone, so now I need to combine the two, what I was doing back in November and what I'm doing now if I want to get to a happy place with my body.

I've realised I went from a bad diet with lots of exercise to a good diet with not too much exercise (I'm active yes, but in terms of weight training and getting toned, I need some work).

I'm going to try my best to find time to work on my body as well as maintaining better eating habits and I will be sure to let you know how it goes!

Fitness Update | January

Oh January, here you are again, reminding us all of how another year has gone by and the fitness and health resolutions have to make another appearance. 

We all make them, and the majority of us will not stick to them.

I wanted to write a post today to tell you a few changes I've made lately and a few of my fitness goals for 2015. 

Exercise |

I try to do things that I enjoy when it comes to exercise, I've always been a fan of jogging and lately have been trying to do it as much as I can, even if I don't fancy going outside, I will put my Nike App on and jog on the spot. As long as I'm keeping my body moving I feel like it's better than nothing. It terms of jogging, I plan on doing at least 10 miles a month for the year, perfectly achievable. 

If I am at home I'm also trying to do fitness DVD's for half an hour of the day, just to keep myself moving.

This year I'm also trying to mix it up with classes, I want to maybe start playing badminton on a regular basis with my sister and maybe start doing boxing (I hear that's what the VS Models do!). I really want to keep as active as possible this year and make time for it, so hopefully by the summer I'm comfortable enough to get into a bikini!

Diet |

For me, diet is the hardest part. I love chocolate, crisps, cheesecake and wine far too much! As well as everything else bad for you, and I eat way too much of it on a daily basis.

I would never start a strict 'diet' just because I know I would never stick to it, but this year I definitely would like to try to cut down on the really bad snacks, and try to incorporate more fruit and vegetables into my diet. Also lately I am loving green tea more than ever, it has so many health benefits and I love trying all of the different flavors.

I'm good when it comes to water as I drink a hell of a lot of it, so mainly just need to work on portion control and cutting out a lot of sugar from my diet and we'll see how it goes from there.

I'm going to try to post these fitness updates monthly to share any progress and updates. I think it's a great way to track where I'm at.

I've always loved reading fitness blogs too, so if any of you are reading any at the moment feel free to tell me about them.

Thanks for reading!

Whats in store for 2014?

.2014.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

I hope you're all recovering well from last night's antics and embracing your first day of 2014. (I say this as I sit here still in my pyjamas eating a Terry's Chocolate Orange) 

A new year means a fresh slate, to life and to blogging.

That means lots of fresh and exciting material for you all.

So what can you expect from the me for the new year?

I have many ideas floating around for blog posts/ideas and features.

Fitness updates, of course. I know for the new year probably most of you will have some kind of health/fitness related kind of resolutions. So expect some updates about all things health.

Cooking, this year I would like to get into cooking and baking more so expect some exciting and yummy recipes.

More reviews, (any excuse for me to do more shopping!)

Features, my brain is constantly generating new ideas for features on here, but if you have any suggestions for a feature you would like to see then let me know.

Hopefully an exciting hear ahead, let Mr know if there's anything you'd like to see on my blog and I'll get working on it.

In the meantime, enjoy your day off and have a great new year :)

Fitness update #1

Hi guys, so a while ago on my blog I did a blog post all about my fitness/health story which you can go and have a look at if you would like - here!

So it's been a while since that post and lots has changed.

EXERCISE

The biggest step I have taken is finally getting myself back to the gym! (Gyms in London are way more expensive than the gyms in the Midlands!) My weight had gone right up and I was constantly feeling unhappy about it, not looking good on my clothes, feeling lazy and generally unhappy about it.

Whenever I've joined gyms in the past I've always joined with a girlfriend and always went with them, however here no one wanted to join and none of my friends are motivated enough to go a lot, I was talking to my boyfriend about this as I don't like to go to the gym alone and we decided to get a joint membership. I now try to go every evening and my boyfriend and his brother come with me. 

I've mostly been doing cardio and a little strength, mostly focusing on my abs and arms but I'm looking into starting to incorporate some classes now and again also and then swimming when in comfortable with my body again. As tired as I am I've really been enjoying it and I'm already noticing a difference in myself.

EATING HABITS

So if you did read my previous post you will know that I have really bad eating habits and always have had.  

I don't eat salad or vegetables at all. Not even a little bit.

I eat white meat only and mostly fried food and snack pretty much all day on crisps and chocolate. 

Obviously I can't adapt to eating completely clean, but I have been trying out healthier alternatives. I've been eating out much less, sticking to drinks that are diet and sugar free or water, been making a conscious effort to order vodka lime and soda if I go out and if I do snack I'll try to snack on things that are much lighter and healthier. 

I've been checking calories and sugar in everything I eat and its making a huge difference to how I feel and my energy levels.

OTHER 

So as well as eating slightly better and working out daily I've also been using My FitnessPal religiously. I've had this app on my phone for a couple of years now and when I have my 'phases' of wanting to be skinny I tend to always go to it.

It's really simple to use and it just makes me more aware of what I eat and how much I should and shouldn't be eating. Also if I go over my calorie goal for the day it encourages me to work out harder to get back on track. 

You can also record your weight as much as you like to see the progress being made.

I recommend this app to anyone who is looking to diet or get on track with their fitness! 

As well as all of this I've been taking a couple of pills every day.

Have no fear, they're not diet pills of any sort and they're completely natural and I've read great things about them. 

 They're called:

"LA Muscle Strong Fat Metaboliser"

(Full review coming soon)  

They basically just speed up your metabolism, you eat them before meals and it helps burn fat quicker.

OVERALL

So overall I've lost 4 and a half pounds in just over a week, and I feel great, I'm not starving myself or anything, I'm just working out as much as possible and eating A LOT less than I used to be. 

This may sound unhealthy but I used to never work out at all and was probably eating around 2500+ calories a day. 

I feel great and will hopefully be at my target in no time. 

Hope everyone is well, follow me for more fitness and health updates in the future. 

Health blog | Smoothie #1

Hey guys! So as I previously mentioned, not only is this a beauty blog but it's also going to be anything to do with beauty, fitness, health and just feeling the best you can in general.

I'm not the best eater, in fact I'm a terrible eater! I don't eat anything good and I don't think I've had my 5 a day in years. 

However, I've decided to start cramming in a bit of fruit here and there, I'll know its not the healthiest, but it's better than having no nutrients!

1 large spoon of strawberries

1 large spoon of raspberries

1 large spoon of blueberries

1 large spoon of blackberries

1/6 of a mango

3 chunks of pineapple

(Squeeze of a lime) 

Cranberry and mango juice

Lots of ice

BLEND!

*serves 2* 

My Fitness Story.

(This may quite long, so go and grab a cup of tea before having a read.)

Okay, so my whole life I've been tall and slim and a really rubbish eater. I could eat a whole tub of brownies and a multi-pack of crisps for breakfast each day and still be almost underweight. In school I was forever being the girl who was "always eating". In school though I was quite active as I took GCSE dance as well as P.E, which made 4 and a half hours exercise a week. I was really unhealthy but still very active.

Moving forward to being 17 and being in sixth form, I remained the same weight, occasionally gaining a few pounds, but nonetheless I was still slim for my height. (In sixth form we had a free gym membership which I never used because I didn't like the people who went to my sixth form). However a few of my friends and myself joined a local gym, which I started to really enjoy. However as all of my friends drove and I didn't and the gym was quite far from my house, I always had to rely on someone to go with me. So eventually everyone got bored and stopped going.

When I turned 18 as well as eating lots of crap I was also going out A LOT, and drinking A LOT. Which took my weight right up, I gained a stone in all the wrong places and became very unfit!

A few months after my 18th I then moved to London and moved in with my older sister and her boyfriend. I soon realised they rarely ever had home-cooked meals and go out to eat daily. Breakfast in a cafe and dinner in restaurants every day. Around the same time I got a job in a cocktail bar/club and started drinking even more regularly (socially, do worry, I was never a raging alcoholic or anything, just a teenager enjoying a free bar).
This of course was terrible for my body and I almost gained another 2 stone!

It was the biggest I'd ever been and I'd never been so unhappy with the way I looked.

After six months of living in London I had a big fall out with my sister and ended up moving back home with my mom. I went back to my old job and home-cooked meals. I then found out that my job were giving free gym memberships to all staff. So I asked my friend Roz if she wanted to start going with me. At this point I was still eating absolute crap and drinking on weekends, but I was swimming and going to the gym almost everyday.

I weighed myself after about 4 months and had lost about 5 pounds in total, which was a very happy moment for me because instead of reading the scales and seeing an increase, my weight had in fact gone down.

However, in October 2012 I got a chance to move back to London again, and of course I said yes.

So this brings me to right now, I have been living with my boyfriend for over six months now, I haven't joined a gym and he takes me out to eat 2-5 times a week. I sometimes snack instead of eating meals and I rarely exercise. I'm also working back at the cocktail bar and so I do drink often.

I'm not the biggest I've ever been right now, but I'm not far off it, I'm certainly the unhappiest I've been with my weight. I know what I need to do in order to lose the weight, I just need the motivation.

I've had the 'My Fitness Pal' app on my phone for about a year now which at some points I will use religiously and at others, not at all. I recently got the idea to do the 30 day shred, but due to laziness I only managed two days. The only thing I have found that really works for me is the gym. I feel like writing this post and admitting my bad habits and laziness that this could be where I start.
I want this blog to also be a platform where I can write regular fitness updates and progression (or lack of) and just try to admit to myself that I'm doing something wrong and something needs to change.

If you have (or have had) any similar issues we can encourage eachother to stay on track and regularly let eachother know how we're doing.

I'm not sure if this will work but it seems like a good place to start.

Let me know of any tips/tricks or just general advice you have in a comment or email, the feedback would really help!