What my healthy day looks like

Category: Weight Watchers

03
May
2017

What my healthy day looks like

I’ve shared a lot of details about my eating habits when I’m off plan (chocolate, chocolate, chocolate) but maybe not enough about what I eat when on I’m track. So here is a typical healthy day for me, and all of this adds up to my Weight Watchers allowance of 30 SmartPoints.

Breakfast: Porridge made with a banana, water and a splash of skimmed milk. Plus a coffee with skimmed milk.

Lunch: Chicken salad with a brown sandwich thin toasted and torn up to become ‘croutons’. Finished with 150g of strawberry Skyr yogurt, some fruit and vegetable crudités.

Dinner: Two lean Heck pork sausages with potato mash, butternut squash waffles (finally got my hands on some of these), broccoli, gravy and baked beans. Plus a Weight Watchers chocolate bar.

Snacks: Fruit, Veg, tea/coffee, cereal bar

Workout: On this particular day I also managed a 20 minute buggy run with my little one (now I’m just showing off).

Voila, there you have it.

What do you think of my healthy day?
I would love to hear your thoughts on my healthy day and what does a healthy day look like to you? Leave a comment below or leave a message on my Facebook, Instagram or Twitter page.

Chloe x

19
Apr
2017

7 weight loss confessions after reaching goal

Categories: Baby & Me, Weight Watchers

Hello! It’s been a little while since I posted about my weight loss journey and I have a lot to fess up to…

1. I’ve been high and out of control on post-baby weight loss
At the end of March I reached my first major weight loss goal – my pre-baby weight. This meant I had finally lost the full 5st I had put on during pregnancy; and what’s more I had lost way more than I had anticipated in that same weigh-in – that meant I was actually under my goal. I was so delighted.

2. I bought a ton of new clothes in a smaller size
A while back I realised that I often celebrate occasions with food, so this time I made a small promise to myself to pick up some new clothes when I got to goal, instead of a piggy feast. Shopping for a smaller size was liberating (and expensive), but in the same week that I made it to goal, I was due to go out for my husband’s birthday. So I used that as an excuse to buy an outfit for the occasion.

3. I was probably at goal for a day
Only thing is, we managed to stretch out my husband’s birthDAY for a good week or so, with lots of booze and takeaways. And then it was my daughter’s second birthday, and although she’s not on the booze yet, we continued to drink and eat very, very merrily. Then it was Easter and well, because I was ‘at goal’ and now apparently invincible to weight gain, I might have got a little carried away (aka. definitely did get carried away) with Easter eggs, hot cross buns and anything edible with a bunny picture on it. I was so full of chocolate come Easter Sunday, that I had to go to bed early accompanied by a stomach ache and headache!

4. I missed my Weight Watchers meetings
While all of this was going on, I had to miss two of my Weight Watchers meetings – which is never, ever a good thing for me. The weekly meet up and weigh-in really does help me to stay on track and it gives me a much needed boost to keep going.

5. I’ve been making a ton of excuses for my piggy eating ways
I basically got to goal and fell off track hard, gorging on all the foods I know I should have just a little of. To start with it was fun, but I soon felt very sick and out of control – oh, and very spotty!

6. I really am a chocoholic
I had a feeling this may again after a month or so at being at goal, but I genuinely didn’t think I would be capable of such indulgent ways the minute I got to goal! It’s made me realised that I might have a little more work to do when it comes to my relationship with food!

7. I’m back on track
Thankfully I was able to my Weight Watchers meeting this week and I’m back to tracking what I eat, planning my meals in advance and moving more. Plus, I have a new, working Fibit after my previous one literally fell apart on me just days after getting to goal. I’m setting myself another challenge to stay at goal for at least 3 months (once I get back to goal that is). The ideal would of course be at my goal weight for the rest of my life, but the what would I blog about? Only joking, but this feels like a manageable, baby step goal to set myself as part of my maintenance journey. I’m currently 2lbs away from that pre-baby weight figure.

Until next time…

30
Mar
2017

I’ve reached my weight loss goal!

Categories: Baby & Me, Weight Watchers

On Tuesday I went to my Weight Watchers meeting as usual, however nothing about my weight loss was usual. I had lost 4.5lbs and finally got to my pre-baby weight! I’m so thrilled. I’ve been able to fit into more and more of my before-baby wardrobe and I feel happy and relieved to be slimmer and fitter.

That said, I’m terrified that I won’t stay at goal for long. It’s my husbands birthday this weekend and he’s been extremely busy at work, so the celebration will be booze and cake heavy. I know I can indulge a little and still lose weight, but I’m still learning how to enjoy special occasions without gaining half a stone – which has happened before!

I guess, maintaining my goal weight will be a whole new weight loss adventure. I definitely need a week to get my head around this. Perhaps my next post, if I’m not crying about gaining weight, will be a review of my major learnings when it comes to eating well and exercising, alongside what I think will be important to keep up if I wish to maintain a healthy weight… hmm lots to think about.

As always, tips and advice welcomed!

16
Mar
2017

How to lose a pathetic 2lbs in 10 long weeks…

Categories: Baby & Me, Weight Watchers

2017 started off very well. Over the festive period I managed to maintain my pre-Christmas weight and I was thrilled not to have gained. At this point I was just 4lbs away from my weight-loss goal. Being able to maintain my weight over such a busy and food-dominated time of year, gave me hope that I would reach my goal in no time. 10 weeks later and I’m still not there!

I’ve been feeling so frustrated with that fact lately, and as much as I have lost most of what I set out to lose, those last few pounds would make me so happy!

My 2017 weight loss so far
January should’ve been an easy month in theory, yet I had a bit of a binge flip towards the end of the month which meant I had lost and gained the same amount of weight. I ended Jan the same weight I was after Christmas.

February was going to prove challenging, as it’s my birthday and those closest to me know I like to celebrate the one day over a period of several weeks. It was also the birthday month of some very close friends of mine, and I thought it rude not to drink and eat my body weight in prosecco and cake. Despite all of that I did manage to lose a little bit in Feb, but that brings me to the grand total of 2.5lbs in 10 weeks.

Time to be realistic
I’m very familiar with stats that say a 1-2lb weight loss per week is healthy, so why aren’t I 10lbs pounds down? Ok, so with all the birthday fun and odd binge, it was never going to be 10lbs, but 5lbs would of been cool. Strangely, a lot of people have commented on my changing shape but i’ve not taken much notice. That was until this morning.

Changing shape and losing inches
Although my weight hasn’t changed much, I decided to try on a bridesmaid dress i’m set to wear later this year, that was too small for me in December. To my utter disbelief I could zip it up! I can’t believe it! I guess it goes to show that it’s not always about the number on the scales, dropping dress sizes can feel amazing and I do feel as though my fitness has really improved lately – which is probably due to the fact that I’m pushing a buggy when I go running these days!

So, despite staying the same weight this week and being a frustrating 2lbs aways from my goal, I will remain positive that i’m feeling strong and I have lost a few inches without truly noticing.

This little moment then lead me to raid the heap of pre-baby clothes I have stashed away – turns out I can fit into another three items that didn’t fit me last year. Wooo! (Those items are in the photo!)

Thank you
As always, if you’ve read this post – thanks very much for taking the time to do so and thank you for all the lovely comments and support you show me via my Facebook, Instagram and Twitter Pages. You’re keeping my going and giving me lots of inspiration too. Also, shout out to Weight Watchers, Phil & Teds and Strong Vibes, for helping me shed almost 5st of post-baby weight.

Chloe x

16
Feb
2017

15 weight loss mantras to boost your motivation

Categories: Weight Loss, Weight Watchers

The last few weeks have proved a little challenging for me when it comes to eating well and exercising regularly – if you follow me on Instagram you’ll have a good idea of what’s been going on! In an attempt to get back my mojo back, I’ve been seeking out a few weight loss mantras, and trying to remember sayings people have shared with me over the years to help me keep going. So, here are 15 healthy weight loss mantras that have stuck in my head.

Unfortunately I don’t know where I picked a lot of these up from, but I definitely can’t take credit for them! If you know you said these, or if it was you, use the comment box below to let me know! Either way, thank you to whoever came up with these and for inspiring others. If you have any mantras or positive words of wisdom not listed below, I’d love to hear those too.

Summer bodies are made in Winter
Strive for progress, not perfection
Delicious can mean nutritious
Trust the process and the results will follow*
A treat doesn’t have to be something that you eat
Motivation gets you started, habits keep you going
I’m not losing weight, I’m getting rid of it
It’s ok to feel frustrated, it’s not ok to quit
Three months from now you will thank yourself
Now matter how slow you’re going, you’re overlapping everyone on the couch
Mind over matter
If you start now, you’ll start seeing results one day earlier
Blips happen, it’s how we recover from them that makes the difference
You’re only human
If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you

*I’m pretty certain echo supplements shared this one with me after reading ‘Will it make the boat go faster’.

09
Feb
2017

Confused Weight Watcher asks for expert advice

Categories: Baby & Me, Weight Watchers

Help! Calling all nutritionists, personal trainers, weight loss experts and anyone who has a clue… I’m feeling confused again about what a healthy diet is and whether I’m consuming the right things for good health and healthy weight loss. These are my questions; can you help to answer them?

1. Skimmed milk of whole milk
Which should I be drinking and why?

2. Cow’s milk or alternatives such as almond milk
Which should I be drinking and why?

3. Plain full fat yogurt or plain fat free yogurt
(You might be seeing a pattern here) Which should I be eating and why?

4. Protein powders and bars
Are you for or against these?
Is there an ideal time to have these?
How often would you have these and why?

5. Sugar vs. Sweetener
What’s your view on these and is one better than the other, even though I’m sure you will say stay clear of both?

Thanks in advance!

26
Jan
2017

My top 11 weight loss tips

Categories: Weight Loss, Weight Watchers

There are a lot of weight loss tips out there and so I thought I’d revisit and share a few that have really helped me over the last year.

1. Plan your meals in advance
If I don’t do this, I’m prone to overeating or letting my sweet tooth decide what’s on the menu (during my Uni days I did have Nutella for lunch on several occasions – just Nutella and a lot of it). Plus, if you have an event coming up – I find this encourages you to really think about the healthy choices you could make.

2. Treat yourself
As much as there are certain foods that should be eaten in moderation, I find banning them completely from my menu are disastrous, and so I will still enjoy a small bar of chocolate, or hot chocolate most days.

3. Record what you’re going to eat before you’ve munched it
On several occasions I have eaten something I thought was healthy (or reasonable in terms of its Weight Watchers Smartpoints values), but only realised I was wrong once it was in my stomach and while I was in the middle of using my Weight Watchers app to record it. I’m embarrassed to say there have also been times when I’ve forgotten whole meals I’ve had… no wonder I put on weight if I can’t remember what I’ve actually eaten!

4. Weigh yourself just once a week
Your weight can really fluctuate throughout the week and if you’re constantly jumping on the scales it can really knock your confidence if it goes up a little mid-week. Pick the same day and time each week to weigh in or skip the scales once in a while and measure yourself. You’ll be surprised at how your body shrinks when the scales might not be showing a change.

5. Book into an exercise class or schedule a workout with friends
This makes you more accountable for your fitness regime and less likely to quit or cancel.

6. Batch cook when you can
If you’re in the kitchen already, make the most of it and make double portions; but put the extra in box to freeze straight away so you don’t pick at it. Now my daughter is a little older I find this helpful as it means I have quick meals for her too. It’s also great on days when you just can’t be bothered or something pops up and you run out of time to cook anything healthy.

7. Have a few healthy ready meals to hand
Again, this is great for when you’ve lost energy to prepare anything decent or your day hasn’t quite gone to plan. All supermarkets tend to sell some kind of healthy option and you may have guessed that I’m a fan of Weight Watchers ready meals.

8. Try a new recipe each week
Keep the spark for healthy food alive! I love a cookbook for inspiration but you can find loads of healthy recipes online – especially on Instagram (I also post a few of my favs on here too.)

9. Plan a tasty and substantial dinner with a little treat
I’m less likely to pick on naughty things during that mid-afternoon slump when I know I have something delicious to look forward to that night.

10. Surround yourself with snacking fruit and veg
I like to snack and so having this stuff around can’t be bad eh?

11. Stock up on frozen fruit and veg, too
They’re so handy to use in smoothies, overnight oats or to cook with. Plus, you can get loads of varieties already chopped or diced for you… Simples!

P.S I hope you find these tips helpful. I’ve compiled them while “i’m in the zone”. If I post about going off track any time soon, please can you resend me the link to this page!

03
Jan
2017

Hello 2017!

Categories: Baby & Me, Weight Watchers

Wow, what a Christmas and New Year! I drank far too much, ate far too much and had a brilliant time doing so! For the first time ever, I actually exercised over the festive period and really enjoyed it.

Today it’s back to normality which includes a return to my Weight Watchers meeting and time to face the scales. Although I felt like I made some healthy choices over Christmas, I also made a lot of unhealthy ones and have genuinely been scared of the first weigh-in. To my surprise and delight, I managed to maintain! Woohoo! I’m so pleased and now feel motivated to get to goal.

I’m not far away from my pre-baby weight and I must drop a dress size to fit into a bridesmaid dress already purchased. So, let’s do this!

I’ve just planned my meals and activity for the week ahead and I hope to focus on being healthy and enjoy a few new gym classes and recipes this week. As always, throw your weight loss tips and plans my way and whether it was a loss, maintain or gain – did you enjoy your Christmas and have you stepped on the scales?!

Here’s to a happy and healthy 2017 xx

09
Dec
2016

Great weightspectations

Categories: Weight Loss, Weight Watchers

With the big day just around the corner I’ve been having a rethink about my weight loss goals. All year I’ve wanted to be at my ‘goal weight’ for Christmas, but I forgot what December can be like when it comes to festive occasions dominated by copious amounts of food and drink. So should I keep aiming to reach my target by Christmas or cut myself some slack and postpone my ‘goal weight’ dreams until the New Year?

Option 1 – Lose weight and get to goal by Christmas

The positive side of me says forget about all the hoo-ha of Christmas piss ups and foodie feasts – enjoy the lot but keep aiming to lose what I can by Christmas – especially as I’m so close to my goal. However, I’m nervous that putting pressure on myself to reach my goal over such a busy foodie time of year will only leave me feeling disappointed if I don’t achieve it. Plus, when I set this goal originally it was on the basis of losing 1-2lbs a week. With a few unplanned blips, I would actually need to lose over 2lbs a week to reach my goal in time for Christmas. So, as much as I would love to reach my goal by December 25th, I feel as though I’m setting myself up to fail. Or am I being pessimistic?

Option 2 – Maintain my current weight until the New Year

I feel like maintaining my current weight is more of a realistic goal for this time of year. I would still aim to lose a few pounds, but having a ‘maintenance’ goal as my aim feels a lot more achievable and something that I would feel happy about once Christmas has passed. I could enjoy all the events I’ve got coming up but I’d try to not go overboard with food and drink like I have done in previous years.

Option 3 – Gain weight

I definitely don’t want to do this. I’ve been known to put on 7lbs+ just over Christmas week! So, I will continue to exercise, plan what I eat, fill up on healthy stuff and attempt to have treats in moderation… until Christmas Day itself that is!

P.S
The mince pies in the photo have been in my house for 3 days now, and I’ve not eaten them – winning!

01
Dec
2016

31 Christmas weight loss tips

Categories: Weight Loss, Weight Watchers

Losing weight over Christmas can be really tricky, and while Christmas shouldn’t be just about food and drink – it does seem to dominate December. With that in mind, here’s a little round up of healthy Christmas weight loss tips I’ve picked up, read or heard over the years and I hope these can help you (and me) stay on track over the festive season.

Christmas is just one day, don’t eat mince pies for the whole of December!
If you’re hosting Christmas parties, stock up as near to your event as possible, rather than bulk ordering weeks in advance. This will hopefully prevent pre-event eating and having to re-stock. Unless you have a second freezer that you can stay well away from!
Plan your meals and activity in advance – there are a lot of days over the festive period you can still be healthy on.
Practice safe/non-binge drinking. Alternative between alcoholic and soft drinks if you can on a night out and batch cook some healthy meals for the days/hungover that follow.
Often find yourself right next to the buffet? Move away after you’ve enjoyed your food and get involved with some festive games or dancing!
Keep your weight loss goals close to mind – write them down and carry them around as a little reminder when you feel like you may be over indulging.
Eat your greens and lean meat – roast dinner can be pretty healthy if you allow it to be.
Experiment with new Christmassy recipes to impress friends and family.
Plan a few active days over the holidays instead of planting yourself in a pub for hours on end – visit Christmas markets and enjoy some Winter walks.
Feel Christmassy with some lighter treats – mini mini pies, low calorie hot chocolate, roasted chestnuts…
Sign up to a charity run or event to keep yourself motivated during winter.
And with that in mind, why not embrace some Winter sports – try indoor skiing, head to a dry slope or go sledging!
Find yourself constantly grazing? Chew gum!
Are you a prosecco fiend? Stock up on low calorie options. Or perhaps a skinny lager is more your thing?
Bake your own, healthy mince pies! Here’s a healthy mince pie recipe to whet your appetite!
Love a Baileys? Buy the super tiny, bottles so you can enjoy the taste without the abundance of calories (or SmartPoints).
Replace festive snacking to an indulgence of another kind – enjoy Christmas themed scented candles, bubble bath and take a good soak!
Fancy a Christmas movie? Thankfully popcorn is quite fashionable these days and there are loads of options on the market to choose from – buy multi-packs of the skinny variety to stay in control of how much you munch during your favourite Santa flick.
Out and about and fancy a hot chocolate? Why not! Ask for a skinny hot chocolate or feel just as Christmassy with a Chai tea instead.
Paint your nails… that may keep you off the mince pies for a little bit! (Can you tell I’m craving a mince pie?)
Make more time for your spuds over Christmas, and put them in the oven for longer to roast, rather than depending on lots of cooking oil or goose fat to crisp them up.
Transform you everyday porridge, deserts or hot drinks into something festive with a sprinkle of cinnamon – plus, this little spice is really good for you.
Read my blog for inspiration or to at least feel you are not alone if you’re plans, don’t go to plan!
To help balance out any extra food or drink you might have, squeeze in a little more activity before or after any festive occasions you have booked.
Create your own healthy hamper to have around the house for when you fancy a snack. I’m a big fan of Bounce Balls, Naked bars, and protein shakes.
Buy yourself an early Christmas present – some new workout clothes, walking gear, or a pedometer so that you feel more motivated to keep moving while its cold outside.
Download a food diary app and track what you eat before munching, you can then make an informed decision as to whether its worth the calories or SmartPoints (if you follow Weight Watchers like I do).
Serve up some warming one pot meals. They can be super healthy and packed with loads of veggies.
Decide if you’re happy to lose weight, maintain weight or gain a little weight over Christmas – this may help you navigate certain situations with more control.
If you have a foodie event coming up it can sometimes be tempting to skip meals beforehand – unfortunately that can lead binge eating and reaching for high sugary and fat options. Eat as you would usually and enjoy a little indulgence if that happens. It’s Christmas after all!
Most importantly, relax! Whatever happens, enjoy your Christmas and if you’re weight goes in a direction you’re not too happy with, then there’s always January to get back on track!

I hope you found some of these tips useful and please share any advice you may have in the comments box below.

Happy holidays! xx

Photo: This is a pic from an Ocado magazine I received – it contains mouth-watering pages.