Happy Monday everyone! As you all know, I went back to Weight Watchers the 2nd January and although the weight loss is quite slow at the minute, it is still going in the right direction! I would be lying if I said that this week was easy, because it wasn't. Getting up on those scales last week to find just a half a pound gone really upset me, so much so that I had a big cry in the middle of the class! If that had of happened to me the previous times that I was in Weight Watchers, I would have just walked out of the class, but this time I don't have time for that, I just have to take each loss and allow it to add up to a great end result! However, the leader on Wednesday really helped me to not quit. This lovely lady was filling in for my usual leader and she was so kind and I felt like she truly understood how disappointed and upset I was feeling! I didn't feel patronized or pushed to the side, she sat with me and gave me some tips and tricks, she even wrote out a typical day which she would have food wise and gave it to me so I could bring it home and try to follow it. Although I have been extremely good food wise since I rejoined, this leader really encouraged me to go back to basics and even to try new things out which may help my weight loss this week. Although my weigh in isn't until this Wednesday ( and I could be jinxing it), I have found these tips so simple yet so effective! So here are a few things which I have tried out this week for you to also try, whether you are in week1, 2 or 3 of your own journey! Water, water and more waterOK I know this isn't a new thing, of course water is good for you and it helps weight loss but I am and always have been an absolute disaster when it comes to drinking water. The thing is, I just don't drink enough of it! I always forget about it! Not only is it extremely dangerous to not keep hydrated ( we all know what happened to me in week two of healthy eating - I was dehydrated!) especially when you are exercising, it really helps your weight loss, massively! The leader on Wednesday said that she had a similar week during her journey like mine last week, where she felt like she had a great week but the scales only showed that she was half a pound down and she felt that did not show how hard she worked that week at all! She said the following week she made sure to drink 2 liters a day and then the following week, the scales showed that she was 3 pounds down! Don't get me wrong, I definitely have not drank 2 liters a day, baby steps people! But I have definitely upped my daily water intake this week. One tip that the leader ( I can't remember her name!!) gave us was to buy the small kids bottles of water around your house/ apartment, i.e one on the stairs, one in the hall, one by the cooker, one by your bed etc., and each time you pass a bottle you have to take a few sips out of it. Yes the bottles are small, but at least you are getting more than you would have done and if you are like me and simply forget to drink water, it reminds you! Another way to remind yourself would be to set a reminder on your phone or if you have a food diary or tracker, write it in your tracker so that when you go to look at it, you will remember to drink it! Baby steps! Plan a day beforeI think for me the hardest part about Weight Watchers and indeed any sort of weight loss plan is the planning and time that is required. You can't leave the house for the day without planning and bringing your lunch with you, otherwise you can forget about it! Of course there are times that you can't bring your own food, I am hardly going to bring a salad to a restaurant, but if there is a day you are meeting someone for lunch you can at least plan the rest of your day around it in advance, making sure you have a low enough day so that your lunch will not effect your day and you will still be on track. Even if you aren't heading out for food, planning is key! You need to make sure that whatever you are planning on eating that you have all of the ingredients, because if you go to make something and realise you don't have the correct ingredients, that can throw you off track! Planning also helps you when you are having an off day and all you want is to stuff your face with everything but if you have a plan, you are more than likely to stick to it! On Saturday, we had some friends up for drinks and games, so I decided to make myself some homemade hummus to go with carrots and peppers for a snack. I also made Chicken Kebabs so that when i was getting hungry and I had pizza on for everyone else, I wasn't tempted to eat the pizza! All I had to go was pop the kebabs in the oven and just like that I was satisfied and still on plan! Planning allows you to still have a life, but you are just prepared and able to still stay on track! take the stairs!Of course we know that exercise is great for mind, body and soul and of course we know that regular exercise also helps weight loss, however, sometimes things pop up and we can't make it to a class or we simply can't face the gym. Although I encourage people to workout even for 20 minutes as it improves your head, sometimes we can't no matter what we try to do, life can get in the way! Instead, why not just take the stairs to your apartment instead of getting the lift or if you have two bathrooms, why not walk upstairs instead of using the downstairs loo. These may seem like tiny little things, but each extra step you take will help you towards your weekly goal and soon it will all become a habit! By all means if you can, try to workout at least three times a week as taking the stairs is simply not enough however it is something extra that you can do that will definitely help you! For me I love walking and swimming. I find they both help clear the head and they each work a lot of muscles, however we live in Ireland and sometimes it is hard to motivate yourself to face the hail stones and winds that seems to surround our little island these days, so the leader suggested that if the weather is so bad, why not drive to your local big shopping center and do laps of it! I know it sounds a little crazy, but you are still walking and you can even treat yourself to an americano at the end of it! The bad weather is simply not an excuse to not move! If walking is your preferred form of exercise why not treat yourself to a fit bit or even download an app on your phone which can record the amount of steps you take where you can keep track of each day and this will motivate you to smash your own records! Swap and experiment!Healthy eating and weight loss programs can sometimes feel very repetitive and frankly boring. It can be so easy to be fed up and just want to eat a burger! However you have t remember you are doing this for YOU, no one else but for YOU and it is up to you to keep this weight loss journey interesting! Some people find it easy to eat the same things day in and day out but I am not one of those people! I like to try at least one new thing for dinner a week, whether it is the easiest thing on the planet that doesn't really matter, as long as you try something new that is all that matters. There are so many different recipes available out there, sometimes it is just knowing where to look! The weight Watchers books you get in class are very good with giving different ideas and the best part is is that they give you the points value so you don't have to calculate it yourself! Recently, my friend Fíona introduced me to a website called Slimming Eats: www.slimmingeats.com/blog/about. This a a blog page set up by a lady living in Canada, where she shares your recipes which, get this, have the Slimming World and Weight Watchers values for each recipe worked out! I have only tried a handful of recipes but I have looked through her plans and they are very unusual yet very filling and tasty. You can choose whether you want an easy or slightly more difficult recipe, so it is perfect for everyone! A lot of the meals feel like you are having a really bold and fat filled meal when in fact you are right in track! When you are counting points and tracking everything, sometimes there seems to be no way to have your favourite chocolate bar now and again, right? Well, on Wednesday, the leader informed me that in a pint of unsweetened almond milk there are 2 smart points where as in a pint of semi- skimmed milk are there 11 points!!! And if you are like me and like to have Weetabix and gallons of coffee, you are definitely using those 11 points a day easily! SO for me, it was a no brainer to switch milk this week, and yes there is a difference in the taste, however a week later and I have just gotten used to it! It means I can have a packet of chocolate buttons now and again! Another substitute which I have tried is cauliflower rice. Before you start thinking I have totally lost it, yes of course it isn't normal rice however with chicken and curry sauce, you would hardly know the difference! It is also fab in a stir fry and is very filling! I have also swapped mince for quorn so it means the normally high points dinners such as a lasagna is now relatively low and I can still have a treat during the day! buddy up!You know how it is, it is so hard to get up and go for a walk but if you have a friend, sister or a mam who is willing to go with you, it seems ten times easier to face the dark nights and workout right? It is the same for weight loss. I love having my mam doing the same plan because it means we can share recipes and different tricks that we find helpful along the way. It is also great to have the support. Don't get me wrong, Mark is a great support however there is no way he will ever swap rice for cauliflower!! So it is great to have the support from someone who is doing it too and who gets it! Unfortunately, we all don't have someone who is doing it with us, so another way to get your support system is through the classes provided by Slimming World and Weight Watchers. Any other time i went to Weight Watchers I would get weighed and make some excuse as to why I couldn't stay for the class. However this time, I am trying to stay for each class, even when I am not happy with the number on the scales that day. It is a great way to meet new people, hear how everyone is getting on and to know that you are not the only one who is growing through it because weight loss is bloody tough and emotionally draining!! So it is nice to have people around you that understand what you are going through! So guys, there you have it, there are the five tricks which I have tried to incorporate into my weight journey this week. Of course you don't have to do all five at once, even if you pick two to work on this week and then three next week, these little changes will help to motivate you, to keep you interested and most of all to help you towards your ultimate goal! Fingers crossed the hard work this week has paid off, I will let you all know on Wednesday and if you try any of these tricks let me know how you get on! I hope you all have a good week and remember to stay positive! Love as always, Em X
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Hi guys! I hope you are all good and that if you made any resolutions or pledges that they are all going well for you so far! As some of you may know, I rejoined Weight Watchers for the millionth time two weeks ago. As well as going back to Weight Watchers, I also decided to start back exercising too, and straight after my first weigh in I headed to the swimming pool. It was then when I realised just how unfit I was and how much work I have ahead of me. Many people were quite surprised that I started so soon after Christmas especially as our Christmas was kind of non existent this year as I lost a huge part of my life, my Nana. I think people probably thought I would turn to comfort eating to try to numb the pain, and trust me, the days in between her death and her funeral, I ate more than I ever have, but it didn't numb the pain. If anything, I felt worse after eating all of the junk food. I suppose, it would have been easy enough to put off going back to Weight Watchers at least until the end of January, but for my mam and I, we both decided that enough was enough, that we could no longer go on eating the way we were. In a way, for me personally, I have decided to channel my sadness and pain into something positive; working towards a healthier ( and skinnier) version of myself. Put the pain and hurt aside, the main reason I want to lose weight is the fact that my wedding is this September, so I can no longer put off the inevitable anymore. I have to do it now, for the wedding, for my health, for the pain I am in regarding my back due to being up two dress sizes, the list of reasons is endless, and at one point in time, the list of excuses was just as long. Not anymore. I am determined to work hard and see results. Last week, my original plan was to tell you all how my first week went and to explain a bit more about Weight Watchers, however, last week I felt really sick. I had a thumping headache, I had a sick stomach and I felt very weak. I thought at first it was my body reacting to the lack of sugar and chocolate, which to be honest it probably did contribute to how rotten I was feeling, however it turns out I was dehydrated! To be honest I never drink enough water, however when I started exercising I knew I had to drink more water, which I did, it turns out I just wasn't drinking enough. As a result, exercise went totally out the window and I spent most of last week in bed, which sounds a lot nicer than it actually was! I'm still not a 100% this week, but I am a good bit better than I was. Despite feeling unwell, I was still very good food wise. I still pointed everything, even the chocolate and bread that I ate, it was all still pointed! My weigh in day is usually on a Tuesday however, after having a bit of an up and down week I am going to a weigh in tomorrow instead. Although I pointed this week, I am afraid that the scales won't be in my favour as I wasn't able to exercise. Despite that, I have made a promise to myself that no matter what the scales says that I will take it on the chin and start a fresh new week. Unfortunately week 2 did not go to plan, however I am still determined to stick to it. So I will fill you in on what the scales says tomorrow! I am going to also put up a list of my top tools that help me throughout my weight watchers journey in the next few days, so if it is something you would be interested in, watch this space! Until then, I hope you all have a very good week and I will talk to you soon. Love as always, Em X HI Guys and happy New Year! Wow I cannot believe that 2018 is finally here!! We may be only a few days into the new year, but I already know in my heart that it is going to be an amazing year as it is the year where Iwill finally marry my best friend, the year I will become Mrs Stafford. It is almost 2 years ago since Mark proposed to me on Valentine's Day, but it only seems like yesterday! When we set the date all anyone could say was that although it seemed like ages away, that it was going to fly in and boy they were right. I can't believe the year is finally here, but to be honest I am so ready for the busy and exciting year ahead, especially after the terrible end I had to 2017, losing my Nana. I'm not going to go into too much detail about my Nana as it isn't fair on my family, however what I will say is that losing her was the hardest and most devastating thing I have ever had to do. Losing someone is never easy, however losing someone two days before Christmas is absolutely heart breaking, especially when the year of the wedding is finally here, and I know for a fact Nana would have loved to be apart of both the lead up to the wedding and the actual day itself. However, she was sick for a very long time and she is at peace now, although she is not physically here, I know she will always be with me in spirit especially for mine and Mark's big day. My Nana was the most courageous, kind, honest, funny and beautiful woman, both inside and out, that I have ever met. She taught me a lot, and although I would give anything to spend just one more day with her, I am so grateful for the amazing 24 years I had with her, and I know if she was here she would tell me to stop crying and to get on with it. Well Nana, I can't promise that I won't cry ever again over losing you, however I can promise that I am going to put my all into this year and make you so proud of me. No matter what life threw at you, you never stopped believing in yourself, so I am going to carry your work ethic, your love of life and your spirit with me throughout this year. As you can see, losing Nana has driven me to make 2018 the best year that it can possibly be. Don't get me wrong, I am still absolutely heart broken over her and I will never ever forget her, but the last thing I said to her was that I was going to take care of my family and make her proud, so I am ready to fulfill those promises, As this year is the the most important year of my life so far with the wedding, I don't want to set myself 100 resolutions that I am not going to be able to keep. However, I have set myself pledges, which in my eyes are attainable and I have already started working on them. My pledges for 2018 are: To Lose Weight:This is one that I always say but this year, I have to do it. It is the first thing on my list of pledges because it is the one that I 100% need and want to do. The thing that is pushing me to achieve this year more than other years is of course the wedding. I know no matter what weight or size I am on the day of the wedding that won't matter because I know no matter what, I will look and feel beautiful. However it isn't just about that one day, it's about the lead up to it, the Hen's Party with all of my beautiful friends and family, it's the honeymoon, etc., I just want to be able to look back at photos and think, I looked beautiful, instead of thinking ' wow Emma you really should have lost weight, you are the biggest one in the bridal party!' I don't want that. Put the wedding aside, I have put on 3 stone since I met Mark, and in 2017 alone I went up not one but TWO dress sizes, TWO!!! Not only am I seeing the difference in my clothes but I feel it everywhere! My chest hurts when I take the stairs and not the lift to the apartment, my back is constantly sore and my legs are the size of tree trunks. I know it sounds like I am self bashing but for once I am being honest with myself and realistic. A lot of my weight gain is connected to my mental health struggles, but if I keep going the way I am it will not just affect my physical health, but my mental health will suffer also. So I am finally in the zone and although I only went back to Weight Watchers this week I feel in control and excited about my weight loss journey. I am #shreddingforthewedding so watch this space! To spend more time with my loved ones:After losing my Nana, I have been spending a lot of time with my family and friends and to be honest they are the reason I have been getting through the really difficult days. My nana was very family orientated. She loved Christmas because not only was it an excuse to shower her loved ones with gifts but it was the only time throughout the year that the majority of the family could get together and be in the same room. Since losing Nana, everyone in the family is making a huge effort to spend time together, to be there for one another and to show each other how much we love each other. At the moment I can do that as I am not working like crazy, but when busy season in the tour guiding world comes back around soon, I will be forced to miss certain family occasions and outings with my friends. However, I am determined to put my loved ones first and to be with them as much as I possibly can. Our time on this planet is extremely short, and I want to spend it with the people that are there for me during my lows as well as my highs, I want to share my life with the people that love me no matter what, the people that would do anything for me and lastly the people that I love being around. Even if it's for 20 minutes to catch up or a quick phone call, I want to make as many memories as I can with the people who I love before it's too late. To work on a happier & Healthier me:Both inside and out! As you seen with the first pledge, my main thing this year is to lose weight but not only so that I can walk into a shop and fit anything I like on, it's to do with being a healthier and happier version of myself both inside and out, both physically and mentally. My mental health is an absolute roller coaster especially at the minute however, I know from personal experience that I am at my best when I am eating right and regularly exercising, so it seems silly to not to go back to that. By working towards a healthier me inside and out, I know it will require a lot more work than just eating right and going swimming three times a week. It requires going back to basics regarding the tools that help reduce my anxiety and depression i.e keeping a diary, regularly blogging, using the buddhify app and going to yoga every week. Although I only started going to yoga at the end of the year and to be honest I only got to 3 classes, from the first class I could already feel the benefits of it to my mental health, so I am really looking forward to get fully into it from this Thursday! Your health is your wealth and that definitely includes your mental health and this year I want to be able to enjoy every single minute leading up to and of the wedding, so I made the promise to myself to stay on top of my mental health and to get back on track. To throw myself into the blog:As I mentioned above, blogging more is something I have promised myself for 2018. Again, this is something I say every year but blogging helps me to express myself, to let out my anxiety and feelings in a way that I could never do talking to someone and last but not least, it helps so many people too. I say it every year but I truly mean it this time as I have this fire in my belly regarding the blog that I haven't felt in a very long time, I truly believe that the event sparked my love and passion for the blog again. I want to make a difference in our small island. I want to show people that life is worth living, I want to spread positivity and help defeat negativity and most of all I want to provide a platform where people can go to and find help and direction when they feel there is no way out for them. I want to share more of who I am and my life with you guys, the good but more importantly the bad because I want to show people that you can get through anything as long as you have hope because after all #holdonthepainends. To be true to myself:This pledge may be last on the list but it is certainly not the least important one. I am and always have been a people pleaser. I have always wanted people to like me, and I would go to extreme lengths in order to please them and to 'fit in', so much so I have tried to change who I am in order to please others. It is physically and mentally exhausting and it often ends up with me beings used, upset and lonely. Anyone who you feel you have to change for is not worth your time and effort, sadly I have discovered that the hard way but it is true. Why should you change who you are? In the words of Dr. Seuss " Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you." I have had enough of trying to make everyone happy and putting my own feelings and happiness aside, so this year is the year that I stick to my guns and be happy, proud and confident in my own skin. So guys there you have it, my first blog post of 2018 and certainly not my last. The year has started with deep sadness but I am going to try and challenge that emotion into these pledges above! It is not too late to set your own pledges, remember pick things that you want to achieve, that you are passionate about and that will be achievable for you. Happy New Year guys and talk soon! Love EM xx |
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This is where I share parts of lifestyle which I feel help or hinder my mental health. Archives
January 2018
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