Category: Baby & Me


Jun
2019

Surviving the first trimester of pregnancy

Categories: Baby & Me

While some feel like they’re glowing during pregnancy, I feel as though I’m just about surviving life. I’m well into my second trimester and still receiving frequent visits from Mrs Morning Sickness and I must say I feel utterly s**t (but of course excited to welcome my second baby, too). 

I’ve been given the opportunity to document my second pregnancy though Emma’s Diary, and although I’m unable to post as much as I would have liked (thanks again morning sickness, which is never just in the morning!) I have been able and grateful to share my experience of pregnancy so far. 

Visit Emma’s Diary to read all about my first trimester when you’re a mum to a toddler already; and i’ve also written a little something about my experience of the contraception pill, Cerazette, before pregnancy and in-between both my pregnancies.

I hope you enjoy reading my blog posts,
Chloe x


May
2019

Pregnancy food cravings!

Categories: Baby & Me

I have failed miserably in my ‘attempt’ to stay fit and eat well during my first trimester pregnant and second time round, my craving for food (any food) has been sky high! 

My weight gain during pregnancy with my first child was a huge catalyst for this blog – previously named Diet Mum Feed. That said, my food intake didn’t really get going until my second trimester and once my morning sickness had faded (after a long 20 weeks). Although I’ve experienced morning sickness in my second pregnancy, it hasn’t been as bad as the first time round and that has also meant I’m able to shovel in a hell of a lot more food! 

I am (was) so conscious to keep my weight gain to a minimum but I really can not control the current cravings I am having. I should also highlight that my cravings aren’t for anything specific, just all food!

As I enter my second trimester I’m still experiencing ‘morning’ sickness but perhaps there is hope for a more balanced diet in the weeks to come. I’ll keep you posted! 


Apr
2019

Baby no. 2

Categories: Baby & Me

I’ve been wanting to share this news for the longest time… we’re expecting our second baby! 

We’re really over the moon – despite the horrendous morning sickness and crazy cravings. I’m not going to lie, there have been way more ‘treats’ than ‘treadmills’ lately; and while I’d love to say that will change once my sickness passes, I just don’t think it will! My appetite has gone through the roof and i’m out of breath just walking up the stairs.

That said, a healthy pregnancy is of course paramount so I’ll do my best to curb the chocolate intake. So, over the next few months you can expect to see what I’ve been craving and my attempt to stay a little fit while pregnant.


Mar
2019

10 things you didn’t know about me

Categories: Baby & Me

Hello to everyone who has stumbled across or regularly follows my blog. While I love writing all about food, fitness and mum stuff, I thought it might be nice to mix it up a little and share a few personal details about yours truly. So, let’s get started with 10 things you didn’t know about me…

  1. I love yogurt, more than chocolate, which I know is weird! To be specific I’m obsessed with plain greek yogurt.
  2. But I do also love chocolate.
  3. My favourite meal is spaghetti bolognese…
  4. Even though my favourite meat would be chicken!
  5. Most of these ’10 things you don’t know about me’ will be food related, because it’s my biggest hobby.
  6. For the last year I’ve dabbled with vegan recipes, mainly because my husband is trying to eat mainly vegan foods. I’ve enjoyed eating a lot of plant-based meals although as you can see from points 1 to 4, I may never be completely vegan.  
  7. I have one amazing daughter, who I love so much, but I did not enjoy being pregnant. I was sick for so long during pregnancy and never did I receive that ‘glow’ people talk about.
  8. I’ve been blogging for 4 years, alongside copywriting and editing for other publications and small businesses. 
  9. I would love for my blog to help others lead a healthier lifestyle while learning that you don’t need to feel guilty about enjoying food or obsess about that number on the scales.
  10. Other jobs? I was once the online editor for Weight Watchers now called WW and before that I wrote about dogs and sheds! Motherhood has hands down been the hardest job I’ve ever done. 

Jan
2019

The one question I dread as a mixed race mum

Categories: Baby & Me

I’ve had the honour to write regularly for familiesonline.co.uk over the last year and I would love to share these posts with you, and hear your thoughts on them.

To read my latest post ‘The one question I dread as a mixed raced mum’ visit www.familiesonline.co.uk/blog and to have a read of some of my other parenting related rants, loves and observations go to www.familiesonline.co.uk/blog/blogger-chloe-lovell.

Plus, if you’re looking for the latest parenting news, places to go and reviews, be sure to check in often with www.familiesonline.co.uk.

As always, thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you’ve enjoyed the trip!

Chloe x


Oct
2018

“Girls are pretty not strong”

Categories: Baby & Me

A few weeks back I was showing my new arm muscles (aka the guns) to my husband and daughter and boasting about how well my new gym routine is going. My husband was actually quite impressed for a change. He then turned to my daughter and said “look how strong mummy is”. Her reply was, “girls are pretty not strong”.

I was taken back by her response and asked her to repeat what she said in case I misheard. She went on to tell us how girls can’t be strong but they can be pretty. I was horrified, shocked and deeply upset to hear her say that. As you can imagine we were both quick to inform her that girls can most definitely be strong and being pretty wasn’t important. To which she asked “am I pretty?”. Then I blurted out, “of course you are” (what parent would ever think or say no), but this confused the whole issue and got me wondering ‘have I being putting too much emphasis on being pretty without realising it?’.

I’d like to think that this view of her’s had not be formulated in my house and she picked it up elsewhere, but on reflection I am always commenting on how ‘pretty’ her clothes are, and I know I do it to her friends too. Why this has left her thinking she can’t be strong is more puzzling; perhaps I don’t emphasise how impressed I am with her strength (inner and outer) and all the amazing skills she’s learned in just three years. Are we all guilty of this? How often do you see a girl and say “wow what a pretty dress”. Would you say the same to a boy?

I’m actively trying to comment less on how she (and her pals) look and focus on all the other amazing things all these little ones are capable of and ask them questions instead  – which sounds basic, but something I clearly to be aware.

I’m glad to share that she now says she is strong (and pretty too)!

Thanks for reading,
Chloe x


Sep
2018

Hello September!

Categories: Baby & Me, Weight Watchers

Although I’ve not been in school for quite some time, September for me still feels like the start of a new year and a chance to embrace new (or old) goals and to get stuff done! Holidays have come to an end, there are less and less social functions to attend and getting back into a routine actually feels good. This month has already started with a huge positive…

Post-holiday happiness
I write this post after a two week vacation in Italy, which was absolutely amazing and I was able to witness two of my best friends get married. I’m well and truly still in a happy holiday bubble, but instead of having post-holiday blues (which may still come), I feel rejuvenated and excited for the rest of the year. Towards the final days of my holiday I was delighted to see a little feature in Weight Watchers magazine of me and my daughter.

Weight Watchers
The article is all about how Weight Watchers encouraged me to get back into exercise after having my daughter. Seeing the feature made me feel so proud of the many healthy habits I’ve adopted since being a Weight Watchers member. The holiday I’ve just taken was a huge example of how different I am compared to trips away pre-Weight Watchers.

A healthier me
Over the course of two weeks I went for several jogs, walked lots, swam, went to the gym and enjoyed plenty of healthy food choices with a few treats thrown in (aka wine and ice cream). A younger me would of binged on unhealthy food just because I was away and would of left all gym clothes at home. That same person would of returned home a stone heavier and feeling terribly guilty about all the indulgences. Then I would of fall into a downward spiral of feeling horrible about my weight and myself.

For some this may sound crazy and a bit dramatic, but this has been a previous consequence of many holidays.  I know a lot of people who are able to go away, eat what they like, come home happy and not give a damn about any fluctuations in weight – so please don’t take this as me saying you’re doing anything wrong. It’s just for me that ‘letting go’ approach on holiday meant eating everything and anything and then feeling rubbish about myself after.

“Fruit salad mummy?”
I’m also incredibly proud of daughter who appears in the magazine article. She is such a confident little thing and was both hilarious and well behaved during the photoshoot. It’s for her that I also want to continue eating well and exercising regularly – I want to be a healthy mum that can play without getting out of breath within seconds and to set a good example of how to eat well. On holiday when we were talking about the day ahead she would often ask if I was going to eat a fruit salad again for breakfast. It may sound silly, but hearing her recognise me eating something healthy made me feel great.

Support
I’m so thankful for Weight Watchers for encouraging all of the healthy habits mentioned above. Joining the programme has deepened my interest in nutrition, has encouraged me to try new sports and in turn has led me to meet whole host of fantastic people who continue to support me as I work towards my health goals.

Never sporty
I was never a sporty kid at school and if you told me then that I would one day enjoy running, spinning, long walks and would even have one-on-one personal training sessions, I would of burst out laughing. Weight Watchers taught me the importance of exercise and gave me the confidence to try new things and discover activities that I could keep up long-term. I am also so thankful for the several PT’s I’ve been in recent contact with, who have helped me embrace lifting weights and have giving me extra guidance on what to eat for good health and effective weight loss.

A negative outlook
I have to admit, that until I saw the final Weight Watchers article mentioned and had a little September inspired overview of how far I’ve come, I was feeling less positive about myself and weight. Whilst I’ve lost a lot of post-baby weight and am proud of all the healthy decisions I made on holiday, I’ve been feeling frustrated that I’m not at my goal weight. I got there last March and somehow it’s crept up a bit. However, with this new month and feeling inspired I would like to announce that I will draw a line under that, and do my best to get to that goal, but ultimately to continue to work on leading a healthier life for the rest of my life.

Thank you for reading this mind dump,
Chloe xx


Aug
2018

When food became ‘bad’, a poem

Categories: Baby & Me

I’ve not written a post for a little while and I wanted to share a little something about how I sometimes feel about food and weight loss pressures. I couldn’t quite find the words to say, and I ended up writing ‘a poem’! I really hadn’t intended on sharing it, but after laughing my head off while writing it, I thought why not just post it. So here it is, along with a bit of background information for you.

My husband found it hilarious when I told him what I was up to. We laughed for ages and eventually I let him read my first ever poem. The chuckles stopped when he came across the word “ashamed” and he told me he felt sad and asked “is that really how you feel?”. The answer is mostly yes, but less and less in recent years as I begin to understand a lot more about nutrition, enjoying a balance diet and learning why and how food became so emotional to me.

In case you have a similar reaction, please know that I’m not sad and the below was written in a very light hearted way; and was me trying to find the words to describe how ridiculous it is to think of food as ‘bad’ or that it, or being overweight can somehow make you a ‘bad’ person. If you’re currently on a weight loss journey and, or have ever felt down, or confused about what to eat, maybe you can relate to the below. Without further delay, here’s a little rhyme for you to enjoy!

When food became ‘bad’

Once upon a time you were just some bread,
Now you’re the devil inside my head.

Once upon time you were just a sweet,
Now I must run 10 miles for that treat.

Once a upon a time you were just some chips,
Now you’ve added 6 inches to my hips.

Once upon a time I was praised to eat,
Then I got big and was told be slim, be sleek.

Once upon a time I was full of laughter,
Then someone brought out a platter and I had to scatter.

Once upon I was just a little girl,
Who liked a sandwich and a lolly pop twirl.

Once upon a time something changed,
And all I could feel was ashamed.

Once upon a time I realised,
There’s more to life than… weight loss and food!

Chloe

Social Share Buttons and Icons powered by Ultimatelysocial