What does healthy look like?

Below is an image that I always like to share when people tell me they thought they'd be a size 'X' or 'Y' when they lost weight... Healthy isn't a number... it's a feeling... I know I'll get some slack for that but I'm not a believer in the BMI scale... We are all different and we all feel different in our skin so it's a very personal thing to feel healthy... Sure, coming off medications is amazing and not feeling aches pains is a huge NSV... but you feeling happy in your skin is a huge step to being healthy, both physically and mentally... 

All of the women in this picture weigh the exact same... 150lbs yet their dress size (which honestly is a myth and mystery for all of the brands) ranges from a 10 - 18 ... but the number on the scales for each of them is the exact same... but all these women are healthy! So, when you're in despair at the scales and it's not moving... take the scales out of the equation and look at the other ways to measure your health... Can you go upstairs now without stopping? can you play with your kids and not get breathless? Is your skin clearer? Are you sleeping better? This week measure how your feeling about you and your journey... Remember the scales is an inanimate mechanical object that shouldn't make you feel like your failing at becoming a better happier version of you x 

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Cut yourself some slack...

Every looked at your steps on your fit bit thingy and thought 'F%$K it... I'm not even going to bother with this craic tomorrow... ' or you've missed a class at the gym because you had to work late or something else took too long? SO you throw the baby out with the bath water! I'm DONE!

Not every day is perfect, not every day will be 100% on plan, but as my leader once told me, you eat 21 meals a week, one bad meal won't mean you gain on the scales... So be a bit kinder to yourself... set up your breakfasts for the week, make sure you've got everything you need for lunch... if you don't have one perfect meal you're still OK... If you miss a walk, just do your walk tomorrow you'll still feel good and be away from your desk so win/win! Jumping the gun and quitting for the week means you lose out either way so roll with the change of plan and pick it up again tomorrow... x

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Light Bites!

For the crisp lovers, these are from SuperDrug and I tried the Shallot & Cider Vinegar ones and loved them! Small packs but tasty perfect for that crunchy fix! Anyone else given them a go?

x

Light Bites - Cheddar cheese and chutney

per 23g bag - 2SP

Light Bites - Sweet & smoky chipotle

per 23g bag - 2SP

Light Bites - Roasted shallot & cider vinegar

per 23g bag - 3SP

Light Bites - Pesto & sundries tomato

per 23g bag - 3SP

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The Comeback!

You know when life throws a curve ball at you and all your good intentions go out the window? How many of us just throw the towel in and think 'that's it, I'm never going to be happy in my body! I'm never going to feel comfortable being me... what's the point?!' So we let the voices in our head win... we don't trust ourselves enough to believe we really can do it! Because we can, we really can! We just need to work out what we REALLY need to do it... Like minded friends? A meeting where everyone feels the same but can give you tips about getting stronger... Do you need an online buddy to check in with? My thinking has always been, if I was able to do this on my own I would have done it by now but I can't! If I was able to stop binging and purging on my own I wouldn't have needed counsellors or mentors or a sponsor for all those years, I still need them... I need support, I need motivation, I need accountability. However you get these things, at a meeting, a club, a gym, in a FaceBook group if they make you happy you're half way there! 

We CAN feel better about ourselves, we CAN feel positive and happy... it's not about numbers on scales... it's not about a label on a dress... it's about how you feel about you and that's hard work! We don't give ourselves time to be a priority, there's too much going on with family, friends, work, life and we always seem to put ourselves on the bottom of the list... I get so fed up with myself but I don't quit. Although I've been off the radar for a while because of 'life' I know what it feels like to be happier than I am now, so I've got to get my mindset back into gear and get back there... 

C'mon people lets make the comeback stronger than ever... *puts on 'Eye of the Tiger' LOUDLY* 

x

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What if...

Asking yourself some tough questions can sometimes really make you see the bigger picture... 

'What if... '

Really think about these... If I don't start eating healthily now, how will I look and feel in 6 months? The NSV (non scale victories) are way more important here... how will you feel about yourself on your holidays? How will your skin feel? Will it be traumatic just looking in your wardrobe? Are you going to feel comfy on the plane? Will you feel more self conscious? You want to swim with the kids in the sea... they won't remember you belly, they'll remember how much fun they had with you...  and it's not about being at goal or being skinny... it's about being happy in your own skin... 

Asking yourself 'what if...' might be the trigger to write down an achievable goal that you can work towards...  when you notice your health improving you really do feel so much better about you and your self esteem soars... it can keep you motivated and on track... it's a bit of tough love when we're too scared to be honest with ourselves... What if you didn't nourish yourself well? How would you feel by Christmas? Feel the fear and ask yourself the question today... it might give you the boost you need... x 

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Use your noodle!

A new range of flavoured noodles from M&S out now...  

I've done the SPs per full and half pack.

Anyone given them a try?

x

Sweet Chilli Noodles with Edamame beans, broccoli & spinach

Per half pack 165g - 6SP

Per pack 330g - 11SP

Savoury Miso Noodles with carrots, red peppers & spring onions

Per half pack 165g - 6SP

Per pack 330g - 12SP

Singapore Noodles with carrots, butternut & park choi

Per half pack 165g - 6SP

Per pack 330g - 12SP

High Protein Pea noodles in edamame dressing 

(pack serves 2)

Per half pack 138g - 5SP

Per full pack 275g - 10SP

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Give yourself a break!

Ever get overwhelmed by it all... just remember healthy living is a skill to work on and improve at, not something you should expect to be great at from day one! Most of us have spent years working on emotional eating or a bad relationship with out bodies / food... Most of us haven't worked out or stepped inside a gym in years for lots of different reasons... Mine is shame, I know, I'm the positive one around her but the experiences I've had in gyms in the past have meant I won't darken the door of one! If you haven't exercised for a long time, it takes time to get going... no one ever just got up from the couch and ran a marathon without training or knowing just how far they could push their bodies... Take a little extra care to get your body moving and more active... Start slowly with everyday tasks, walk around the block for 10 minutes, get out in the garden and start tidying up... then gradually increase the amount of time you spend doing these things! What starts as a 10min walk on the first day can build into a half an hour in a matter of weeks but as they say, don't run before you can walk!  

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