Spring has sprung...

I've been spring cleaning for the last few weekends... *raises hand* YES I could be on 'HOARDERS' in a few years time if I didn't do this regularly! I'm emotionally attached to EVERYTHING... but life has been bit rough in the last few months and whilst trying to remain chirpy and smiley I realised I needed to just get rid of 'stuff' ... unnecessary things  that I don't need, nor do they serve any purpose in my life anymore and even things that just make me feel rubbish about being me... 

... Most of these were in the 'what were you thinking?!' pile ...

I took it logically... drawer by drawer... not to get overwhelmed by it all or else I'd throw in the Mr. Sheen and forget about it... and the make-up clear out has been AWESOME! Honestly I even had a pile called 'You're not 18 anymore honey... give it up!' 

So with the clear out, all half opened bottles that were 'gone off', don't ask, were dumped, I found myself needing some bright, pretty skincare stuff for spring! Hello Nivea! 

Now I'm a Nivea champion... I LOVE their suncream, and their skincare range is SO good... no fancy smelling, overly priced nonsense... just good products that are available everywhere and they work! It's the most popular skincare range in Ireland, so I'm not alone in championing this stuff... We all love a fancy pants bottle on the shelf but if it doesn't do the job you just want your money back! 

Their latest stuff looks bright and fresh too... 

First up ... the night cream... I'm in that age bracket now that NEEDS the words 'anti-wrinkle' on every product ... So their new Q10 plus anti-wrinkle night cream does the business... it's not thick and greasy.. and you don't wake up feeling like your face is stuck to the pillow... it's neutral scent means you're not awake wondering why the world smells of lavender after midnight whilst you watch the clock... a must have for €12.59 if you're a night cream fan!  

The day creme is brilliant too ... this does have a slight scent but it's not overpowering and it gives you a 'lift' if that makes sense... Here's the science bit... Q10 is a co enzyme that is already in your skin naturally, as you get older, your natural levels decrease, so this replenishes those enzymes keeping the wrinkles AWAY! Thank you very much Nivea! This retails at €11.80

Now... to my fav! 'Q10 Plus Anti-wrinkle serum pearls'... a gimmick?! not on your nelly! This serum is brilliant... little balls of high intensity serum suspended in an intense hydro gel moisturiser! I know! Q10 Plus = the highest dose of Q10 enzyme around, so it's fighting full on against the wrinkle monsters! It's very light, so don't think of it as a heavy 'syrupy' kinda serum... great as a base for make up... and DON'T forget your neck ladies... it's all well and good looking 'fresh' in the old folks home but wearing scarves to hide the turkey neck! I've been using this for two weeks now and my skin is feeling great... best thing... ALL of this range is suitable for sensitive skin... it retails for €14.99 which to be honest is a bargain for what it does... if you only get one thing of the range my advice would be pick this! 

Lastly the eye cream... yup, time to blitz those 'laughter lines!' ahem ... This may look small but it packs a punch... not only does it work on the 'alleged' wrinkles... but it also is great for toning down those the dark circles... a few pats under the eye morning and evening, you will see a difference... and for €11.79 you'll find it lasts AGES... so worth the investment...   

Spring has sprung, as they say and we all want to stay looking like spring chickens... I would highly recommend the serum pearls... just think how fab we'll all look in the old folks home!  

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Tomorrow... tomorrow... I love ya...

You totally sang that.... 

Tomorrow is a wonderful place isn't it... housework will be done... filing will be done... diets start.... junk food ends.. it's only a fabulous day... but if you put off starting to exercise until the time is right, you'll never reach your fitness goals... There is NEVER a right time... EVER!

Q. When is the best time to start exercising?

Monday morning?
New Year's Day?
The beginning of the month?
After your holidays?
When you can afford a gym membership?

All tried and tested excuses... you heard me...

A. The best time to start exercising is NOW.
If you keep waiting for the perfect time to start working out, or for the ideal time to change our eating habits, we risk procrastinating and waiting for a time that may never come.

We're all busy... and there's never be a perfect time to start...

If you want to achieve your goals... start now... 

because NOW is always the best time to make YOU a priority.

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Try walking in my shoes... Weigh In 4

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
in any direction you choose.

You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
You're the one who will
decide where you go.

Dr. Seuss

This week one of my favourite subjects... SHOES!!! Ahhh many nights have been spent drooling and perving online ... shopping baskets have been full only to cancel and delete because the Credit Union manager lives a few doors down and I can't risk him spotting the postman! 

Shoes make us feel good... cause our feet don't gain weight... or bloat... or get PMT'd... they remain consistent... like our earlobes! We can buy them KNOWING they will fit... and we'll feel good about ourselves... as the saying goes... Give a girl the right pair of shoes and she will conquer the world... 

The other saying.. never judge someone before you've walked a mile in their shoes... SO true... you don't know what's going on in peoples lives... the struggles they have... losing weight can be a real struggle for someone and a doddle for someone else... 

Instead of being all judgey... OH it's easy for him... She's down EVERY week... maybe ask what they did differently... 

A lady in my class got to goal this week... she's been losing the SAME 1lb since CHRISTMAS! This week she couldn't stay for the meeting but she was at the gate BEAMING when I arrived and I just knew she'd done it! I gave her the biggest hug! "we're celebrating next week 'cause I can't stay' he said .. and every single person who came in was thrilled for her... she was the hot topic in the queue for the scales...  we've been giving advice and wondering 'what if's' and 'maybe try that' for weeks and all she did this week was change her exercise routine... she's a walker... but instead of going the same route as usual... she got in the car and drove to a new spot and walked there... the hills were a little bit different... the pace was different ... it was a little bit longer but her body noticed the change and she lost that one feckin' pound! It can be as simple as trying something a little bit different... and out bodies get used to eating the same thing... and exercising the same way... try something a little different this week... if you live on porridge.. have weetabix for the week... drink green tea instead of normal tea at your tea break... have a bigger lunch and a smaller dinner... sometimes something very small can make the difference...  

It was like an ICA meeting outside in the car park... and everyone was delighted for her... because we all know the struggle... and it meant so much to her... 

So time to change your shoes ... be they fancy or practical... get em on ya! 

I'll start with the most common one.. your runners, trainers, sneakers... run, jog, walk, stroll... put em on... leave the house for 10mins, out the front door and you'll have to come back... 20 min walk DONE! Simples...

In case you dissolve in the rain or are a vampire... get your DANCING shoes on... now if you want to go all riverdance.. I'd recommend it... I went to a ceili last year and the sweat was dripping off me by the end of it and such great craic! 

But what about Salsa, Zumba, Bokwa, Hip Hop ... there's loads of classes out there to suit your tastes and have a boogie with like minded boppers!

By the way there's nothing stopping you from putting on these bad boys and turning up the volume and bopping around your kitchen for a few tunes! 

 No money till pay day... get yourself done to the bowling alley and burn off some calories... from laughing if nothing else! 

You might not have a boat but everyone lives near a park or by the seaside to stick on a pair of walking shoes and just enjoy the breeze... 

catch up with the gossip or just give the dog a treat!

Go for a HIKE! Be at one with nature... you can flake out on the couch when you get back but I guarantee you'll feel SO much better than if you never left the house ...

No laughing... I've seen these down in my local pool and it helps build muscles in your legs I'm told! But still they're 'shoes' and maybe snorkeling or diving is something you've wanted to get into... why not join a club over the summer? Or hire some gear when you go on your holidays... its all exercise... plus you get to see fishes AND maybe treasure!  

I only WISH I was cool enough to wear these... and have balance... and you don't need a Roller-rink... out on the footpath.. down the park... your abs will be killing you after one go just from trying not to fall!   

AND Roller Derby is becoming a big thing at the moment... its fun... fantastic exercise and plus you get all that aggression out!

OK so you will need a rink for ice skating but over the winter months you can get your skate on... if you're a bit wobbly go at the quiet times till you get some confidence and trust me you will not be the only person falling down! 

 Maybe a ski lesson or two... think Cadburys Milk tray man! 

For those who like to spin about... inside or out!

Soccer, tag rugby, rugby, GAA, football, basketball ... whatever you love doing... 

stick on your special shoes and do it! 

No one knows what struggles people are going through every day... Sometimes we just assume that everyone is doing much better than us, life is a breeze for them and we're the only ones struggling, that's not true... as Depeche Mode sang... "try walking in my shoes" ...  

Shoe logic... This also applies to gin! *coughs*

Nearly half way through the challenge and the loss to date is 5st 8.5lbs!!!! 

78.5lbs in total!!! Dear god you lot are only FAB!!!

Chart below... if I've missed you.. just shout you know where to find me! 

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Cravings - week 8!

ssshhhhhh can you hear it calling for you?

You know they're there… you can hear them calling your name.. screaming from that kitchen cupboard you 'hid' them in… and that conversation in your head starts… 

'NO.. I got them for visitors…' 

'but I could have just one… '

'but would you REALLY have just one?!'

'No I'm going to open them and take two to have as a snack...

I'll track them and close them up and that's that…

I mean two biscuits won't kill me…'

Thing is there will be more than two .. and its not really about the biscuits, its about WHY you wanted them! Angry? bored? happy? lonely? Emotions that we feel we can satisfy with a cookie… sadly it doesn't work like that.. you're going to be even angrier, sadder, lonelier afterwards... 'WHY did I have to eat those.. I wasn't even hungry?!?' Its hard to stop mid cookie and think 'why am I doing this?' and honestly.. how many of us are going to put half the cookie back and have a think?! exactly! 

Anyone ever craved an apple?! thought not!

What we need is a diversion! A plan to keep us out of the goodie jar! as well as keeping the goodie jar empty!

We all have an endless list of little jobs that need attention… if it diverts you from food .. DO IT! Nail polish stops me eating crisps! You can't paint greasy nails… and you can't stick your fingers into a bag with wet polish!  All the nice comments I get about my nails and the mad stuff I try to do to them has kept me from eating crisps... I'm not that person who has all the will power to just say no... they know my name and I brought them into my home... but I'm not ruining my lovely nails cause I'm feeling a bit low!

Anyone else have a little drawer that's full of 'stuff' that you're always going to 'sort out'? keys, concert tickets, wine corks we can't throw away… go sort it…

Wandering aimlessly about the kitchen is a recipe for disaster! You're not hungry… work out what you really are and sort THAT out! have a good cry… put on your favorite tune and dance about the kitchen…  the guilt, weight gain, sluggishness and sadness aren't worth that cookie! If after 15 mins you still want something then have a piece of fruit or a glass  of water and don't ruin all your hard work because there's nothing on telly and you're home alone… 

you all look like this doing your chores yeah?

Whats needed is a list… a list of chores and things that don't involve eating! 

Walk the dog… 
Wash the dishes… 
read a magazine… 
call a friend… 
paint your nails (you all know where I stand on that one!) 
clean the toilet - trust me the smell of bleach will put you right off eating!
sort out paperwork… 
check the battery in the smoke alarm… 
dust that top shelf… 
shave your legs… 
prep veggies for dinner…
make your lunch… 
walk around the block.. 
walk out the front door and walk for 5 mins… then you have to come home!
and the one that never fails... 

brush your teeth… 

So… write a list... stick it somewhere.. every time you get the urge, read the list and do something on it! If you're anything like me you LOVE crossing things off lists!

Have a great week... 6 weeks to go! 

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H to the O... yo… week 4!

a little one bed I'm thinking I should do up and live in... 

Firstly, Apologies I'm a day late and all kinds of 'jet lagged' ... ahem ... chart will be updated on this post tomorrow... I want to go through all the comments and make sure I don't miss any body out … 

This week, week 4 (HOW did that happen so fast!) its all about water... 

The recommended intake for a healthy adult is generally a minimum of 8 to 12 glasses of water per day. Here's a  Hydration Calculator ... it's good as a guide..... 

Tap Tips… 

1. Find your source. In most places in tap water is just as good as most bottled water, so don't feel like you have to buy your water. If you do live in an area with lime or hard water or the taste of chlorine is strong then invest in a  filter jug… they're in most shops and keep it topped up… 

2. Drink and Drive!
Leave a bottle everywhere… by your desk, at the sink, beside the kettle, in the car beside your bed… there's no excuse not to have a glass or mug for your water intake so whenever you see it.. you'll drink some… its a great habit to get into!

3. How do you take it?  Cold? Get a jug for the fridge... Room temp? Leave the jug on the counter... Or drink from the tap if you like... Iced? Be sure you have some ice trays full every night... Be prepared... Flavor? Don't like plain water? If you can't stand water, try putting a slice of fresh lemon, lime, or orange in your glass. Get juicing.... Add some sugar free cordial.. whatever helps you to drink more then do it… if all else fails, just drink it and quit moaning! You'll get used to it... and feel better for it!

Freeze slices of lemon... I sound like the boy scouts but ALWAYS be prepared!

4. Every morning, first thing in your mouth before anything else, drink a glass of water. Your body WANTS it, 74% of you is water and feels so much better... Then, have a glass with every meal, it does help fill you faster and you tend to eat a bit less. Even if you are just sitting down to have ONE biscuit, have a glass of water first…  you'll snack less! Drink a glass when you *think* you are hungry or want to eat… you're not hungry.. you're thirsty!

5. Go one-for-one at happy hour... When you're enjoying a cocktail or three at happy hour, try to drink at least one glass of water (or, even just half a glass) for every alcoholic drink you take down. It's a great way to heal the hangover and munchies that come with it the next day too...

6. Drink a glass of water 30 minutes before every meal. Its not always easy to remember.. But when I do it, I notice that I don't hoover my food as fast when I sit down to eat my meal normally...

7. AND.. remember that when you exercise you need to replenish those lost fluids… all common sense!

Water increases your metabolism, flushes out toxins, gives you clearer skin, relieves tiredness, helps digestion and so much more all for ZERO calories!

New chart up tomorrow and back posting in full swing on Monday! 

From the posts I see everyones doing great!

   

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