My new healthy lifestyle!! Blog thread

Hi all This is going to be the first day of my new healthy lifestyle! I am 31 mum of two preschoolers and am size 12 and 5ft8. I don't want to lose much weight (up to a stone would be nice but i'm not over bothered) but i do want to change to a healthier way of life. Since having my children I haven't worked and the lack of structure has made my routine for eating/exercise go out the window. I drink too much wine, I eat the kids leftovers and snack on biscuits instead of eating proper meals, I drink too much coffee and not enough water. I sporadically go running which I like but can't always find time to go (especially when eves are dark in winter). I am knackered, my skin is bad and I need to tone up. So there we go - time to overhaul before it's too late!! I am going shopping today for food and in general my plan is to eat: Breakfast - porridge or 'good' cereal (bran flakes/special K) and fruit or natural yoghurt with fruit and seeds Lunch - Soup and a slice of wholegrain bread or Salad with tuna/chicken/ham/prawns or (if out and about) healthy living type sandwich Dinner - This will be more varied as hubs will be eating with me but will try to up the veg/salad and have less fat/carbs on my plate. Exercise I am going to make time to run 3 x a week for half an hour and follow up with some situps etc (have an exercise sheet from when I used to gym that I can use) I am going to completely give up alcohol for at least 1 month and choose healthy snacks like fruit and nuts instead of choc and biscuits as much as i can! I am going to concentrate on doing things to make me feel/look better like exfoliating/facepacks/mani & pedicures etc and generally take better care of myself. To look at me I am by no means waynetta slob but I know these things will make me feel better with the summer coming etc. This thread will prob be a bit dull as I will prob list each day my food/exercise etc but if anyone is feeling similar and wants to join in please do!! I'm quite excited! Will post tonight with the results of day 1

Just wanted to wish you luck Creating a thread really helps you stay on track..I hope it works well for you With the cereals, just have a scan of the ingredients for added sugar etc. I think there's sugar in Special K..not sure though. Oats are a brilliant breakfast Make sure you have a few healthy snacks in the day too

Thanks Rachel Well, unsurprisingly today is going very well and I feel fab! I had peach yog with some mixed seeds on for brekkie, tomato fresh soup and one slice bread lunch, apple snack. I plan to eat some carrot sticks with cream cheese as another snack in a min and dinner is going to be grilled mussels and salad - yum! I went for a 30 min run in the sunshine did 50 sit ups and did exfoliate and moisturise from head to toe Life's good. I'll be back in the morning with tomorrows plan. xx

Hi Writing everything down on here will really help to keep you focussed. My thread has helped me immensely. Not only that, other people reading will feel inspired too. I do echo what Rach said, Special K I definitely wouldn't class as a "good" cereal - you will probably get more nutritional value eating the box it comes in I personally would stick with oats or eggs & toast. I look forward to following your progress

thanks jag - will look at the cereal boxes more closely! (to read them not eat them obv!) Had a rotten headache last night and still a bit this morn but i'm guessing that's lack of caffeine as i only had one cup of tea yest instead of 10 cups of coffee...i'm drinking loads of water though. I bought a 2L jug I can fill with water and put in the fridge to make sure i drink at least that per day I am also a bit achey from the run but in a good way...no exercise planned today unless i feel like running when hubs gets home at 7pm...will see how i feel. B - yoghurt/seeds/banana/honey/cinnamon L - picnic so lots of veg sticks and hummus, rice cakes, fruit etc D - salmon with leeks and possibly rice x

All good yest - no exercise (other than running about with the kids at the park) but i'm planning to go for a run this evening. Ate as planned with strawberries and veg sticks wth cream cheese snacks. Two cups of tea yest, slight headache still but not as bad (i love coffee but want to drink proper coffee occasionally and enjoy it rather than cups and cups of instant cr*p). So today: B - a pink grapefruit and a yog with seeds L - half a ham sandwich on brown with veg sticks and hummus D - Special Chow Mein (home made) Hubs opened a bottle of wine last night but I didn't have any - didn't fancy it even it's going to do me the world of good not drinking for a while...i was drinking half a bottle most nights and more at the weekend:o:o

Good day today - went running and ate as planned plus snacks which were some melon and a small homemade choc brownie. I made brownies and choc rice crispy cakes with my daughter out of some of the zillions of easter eggs the kids got and only ate one small brownie so that is really pretty good Busy day tomorrow so no time to exercise but food plan is: B - yoghurt seeds and banana L - ham salad sandwich on brown D - grilled chicken breast with salad and asparagus Snacks - fruit and veg sticks No headaches today - 3 cups of tea and more than 2L water. No wine - didn't even want any...suppose the real test for that will be the weekend.

sounds like you are doing great well done you and well done more so for avoiding the wine, i would say i would try this but i have a hen do at the weekend lol

well done for opting for a healthier fitter you! sounds like you're doing great; want to try my home made hummus recipe? it's not mine, i got it off the net but its very more-ish! 400g can chickpeas [drain and reserve the liquid for later, see below] couple cloves garlic 1 tablespoon olive oil sprinkle of salt; use it to crush the garlic 1 tablespoon tahini [sesame seed paste] 2 teaspoons ground cumin 1 teaspoon smoked paprika [my own addition, optional of course!] sprinkle dried chilli flakes black pepper dash of water from the chick peas - add to mixture as you're pulsing it in processor, until you get your own desired consistency* whizz all the above ingredients in food processor [add the water from chick peas last* see above] and then y ou can keep the hummus in fridge for a few days [my last batch only lasted 2-3 days!:cmeek: ] it's lovely for dipping celery and carrot and pepper pieces in! enjoy! i have been known to eat it straight from fridge with spoon!! it doesnt always make it to the plate! hope you're enjoying the new fitter and healthier you! have you tried sweet potatoes done in their jackets by the way? microwave for about 8-10 mins...mmmm:)

i was watching x weighted a while back; did you know there are apparently eight teaspoons of sugar in each average glass of wine? i dont drink but it's 'food for thought'isn't it? and certainly something i never thought about when i did drink; no wonder i put weight on! the great thing about running is that you can eat more or less what you like; although i do eat healthily, i still treat myself with chocolate but only green and blacks and it has to be 85%! it's very rich so i don't end up eating heaps!

Hi weezy and kate thanks for your posts Yes Kate i've made hummus a few times - very yummy...like you i could eat the lot LOL! Have you tried making baba ganoush? very easy recipe at waitrose.com but i always make half quantity http://www.waitrose.com/recipe/Baba_Ganoush_(Aubergine_Dip).aspx so so yummy with wholemeal pitta at the sugar in wine! i've not missed it this eve either - think it was just a habit...am planning to be alcohol free for a month then just drink for occasions/once a week at home. it's just such empty calories and i'm sure i don't sleep as well/poor skin etc due to overdoing the booze. I want to really enjoy it when i have a glass of wine not just feel it's the norm iyswim? (same as for coffee really...) Good day today - ate as planned with melon for snacks. Two teas, no coffee. Over 2L water. Tomorrow the plan is: B - Pink Grapefruit, yoghurt with seeds L - Tomato fresh soup with a slice of brown bread D - Falafel burgers but i'm going to make lots of small ones and serve in wraps with salsa and salad - not tried this before but looks yummy! http://www.waitrose.com/recipe/Tomato_and_Feta_Falafel_Burgers.aspx Probably no time for exercise tomorrow but a small chance hubs will be home in time for me to go running...we'll see! Otherwise i will def run on sat and sun. Happy healthiness all!

mmmmmmm thanks for recipes, definitely going to try them! you're really going for it; well done! i'm going for a run and swim later:) just be careful not to overdo it this early on or you will lose heart and/or get fed up; your body needs to build up gradually if you're a total beginner; talk to others that run and get their advice; unless you've run before in which case i won't say anymore you obviously know what you're doing! you seem to have cut back drastically on your carbs which you need for energy;are you following a specific low carb diet plan? be careful, there are so many dodgy diet plans out there, and you need carbs for energy, especially if you plan to run regularly - the trick is to choose wisely. Check out this website for advice; Food Standards Agency - Eat well, be well - eatwell http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/ and check out runners world website for tips on running and energy/food etc, they have lots of useful info; here's a link for you to try; Runner's World UK http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/default.asp?sp=&v=1 good luck and enjoy!

must dash, places to go and people to see etc! and then a run and swim, catch up with you later, have a good day!

If you like Special K you could try the supermarket own brand versions? I sometimes get Morrisons Trim Flakes because they lack that nasty sugar coating the Kellogs ones have. They have fewer calories per portion too. Not a perfect breakfast but tasty and not too bad for you. h xx

Hi l'rouge - I am not that keen on cereal generally but have got an unopened packet of Speckial K sustain in the cupboard which I will probably eat when there is nothing nicer in the fridge :cmdunno: but i will check labels for the next packet of cereal i choose. Hope you like the recipes Kate. I only run for 30mins at my own pace and have done so on and off for a couple of years (more off than on ) so i'm not overdoing it don't worry! I'm not actively avoiding carbs or following any particular diet just eating healthily generally (avoiding processed food etc) I have had sandwiches, rice and noodles already this week and wraps tonight...I thought that was about the normal amount of carbs? It's what i've generally had in the past i've just cut out all the bad carbs like biscuits and cake I used to eat...:confused: Hope you have a nice swim x