NoSugarVember that's right....nothing....

Summer is now less than a month away...eeeeek! I am going up and down on about 3kg and it is so annoying, I lose, I gain, yet I cannot get to the goal I want to be which is 68kg.
I am actually about 4kg off and I really want to hit it by December so I have taken Jade's lead and decided to try NoSugarVember. To find out more about what it involves check out this website.

It is going to be so hard ahhhh It's not that I eat a lot of sugar, actually I am pretty healthy, it's more portion sizes I struggle with but I really will try.

Here is the extract from her blog:

ALLOWED FOODS:

• Rolled oats, quinoa, millet, barley & brown rice

• Veggies (just not potatoes, corn, sweet potatoes) 

• 2 pieces of low-med sugar fruit (grapefruits, rockmelon, watermelon, berries, apple or rhubarb) per day

• Oils, butter and avocado

• Eggs, meat, chicken, fish & nuts

• Bocconcini, cheddar, ricotta & goats cheese

• 1 cup plain natural yoghurt or cottage cheese (just one cup of either per day)

• Coffee, tea, herbal tea sparkling mineral water.. All minus sugar (dont add it!)

• Ready for alcohol? Glass of red wine, low carb light beer, vodka, gin, rum & whiskey. Moderation is key (no more than 6/wk). Try not to consume alcohol during NoSugarVember, as avoiding alcohol is essential for fat loss. If you are happy with your weight and fat levels, then be my guest and consume alcohol in moderation.

Use your initiative & check foods if there is more than 3 grams of sugar (total serving) then it's a no go. For example some breads are within that range (Burgen rye bread) so you can have it.
BANNED FOODS:

• Sugar and all sugar containing products (milk, ice cream, pastries, chocolate, soft drinks,etc You catch my drift right?)

• Sauces and or condiments containing sugar 

Be aware and check your food labels (if you eat things from boxes,they will more than likely contain sugar. I'd love to write every food that contains sugar but quite frankly, I have a life! Ha. Just jump on goggle and have a search if you are unsure.

TIPS:

• Suck it up! It's 30 days, you can do it!

• Exercise to boost your results

• Add a dash (I said a DASH!) of cream or coconut cream to coffee/tea if needed

•  Flavour your water or sparkling mineral water with a squeeze of fresh lime or lemon! Drink truckloads of water throughout the day and after exercise.

• Get over milk and soy! So many people have allergies to milk and dairy products. You need 700- 1200 mg per day of calcium You can get calcium from other sources such as: Spinach  150mg per cup & wakame, parsley,  sesame seeds 88mg per tablespoon, Almonds 250mg per 10 nuts, Sardines have 450mg/100g, Oysters contain 190/120g, cottage cheese 240mg/100g and surprisingly even herbs are one of the highest sources of calcium, coming in at an average 85-40mg per tablespoon. Even more reason to add flavour to your meals. Also get some sun! Why? Calcium needs vitamin D to be absorbed. 

• Keep foods clean- protein, veg, nuts, natural yoghurt & wholegrain carbs. Watch tinned/canned items- check nutritional panel

 So I shall document my progress and let you all know how I go!

Wish me good luck!

Jaime xx

My First Fun Run- The 13km Pub2Pub Race!

So today I completed my first ever fun run and wasn't it a big one! The race I entered I have been talking about for a while, called the Pub2Pub Race, a 13km race around beautiful Sydneys Northern Beaches, I was so nervous and barely slept a wink last night, literally, I think I had maybe 2 hours sleep, whoops and I have had such an amazing day. 

The race started at 8am on the dot and I got down to the beach at 7:15am to get myself ready and to warm up. Over an hour before the race started I had a small protein shake with water and a mueslei bar and a strong black tea to power me through my run, it definitely helped!

The point that sucks the most about this fun run is you start on the sand, soft sand and the first part of the run is a 800m soft sand run, it really sorts out the boys from the men so to speak, after that I was already in pain and took my ages to recover to power through the pain was hard, my legs burned and I hadn't even hit 1km. When I run I use the Nike+ GPS app which tracks your run and lets you know when you hit each km, when it said I was at 2km I wanted to cry, how on earth was I going to keep running 11km more? The app also lets you select a playlist, which I have set up of my great running tracks and away I go. I highly recommend this as I like to know how I am going per km for time. When I run I normally run each km on average 7mins but today I run 6.45mins so I knew I was running really well. This means you can track whether you are running too fast or need to pick up the pace. 

Just your avg Sunday morning w 5,000 of my closest friends.

 One thing I love about the run was the scenery... The run literally takes you from beach to beach and with the sun shining it was just great, there were people lined the streets clapping and cheering and it really helped to push me on through the pain.

I read one of those motivational quote things recently which said enjoy every downhill you deserve it, and that was something I did, every time I climbed a monster hill and made it to the top I got such a rush running downhill. Unlike city2surf where the monster hill is in the middle this run has 2 monster hills, one in the middle then one right at the end, but once you get up that last hill it is one massive downhill to the finish line and let me tell you I pounded the pavement down that hill like you wouldn't believe. It is amazing the energy reserves you can find when you think you have nothing left, as we were running down the hill there were people everywhere, when the finish line was in sight I just belted towards it and the feeling of it being over was so amazing, so rewarding and something I will never forget... 

The picture to the right is me moment after I finished the race, my hands were a little shakey which is why it isn't focused. Those moments when you finish are cruical in your recovery, drink lots of water and stretch, for gods sake stretch and walk around, don't just stop and collapse, even though you may want to!

What I have realised post race is just how important it is to challenge yourself, to put yourself out of your comfort zone, not only is it good for your body but also for your soul, you need to have something to work towards or it just isn't the same.

My final results are as below:

 I ran 13km with 5,000 and my category is people aged 19-29 years, I cannot believe this achievement, considering I only started training a couple of months ago, it makes me excited to know what I am capable of if I put my mind to it. 

What have you done lately to push yourself?

I will do more posts about training and equipment all for running long distance in the coming weeks. 

I hope you found this helpful, I really wanted to share this with you.

Jaime 

xx

Article: 11 Weight Blocks And How To Solve Them

I borrowed this great interview I read from LifestyleYOU which you can view here which I thought I would share with you as I know this is something I struggle with in my journey to weight loss. 

Julie White, Weigh It Up's food consultant, is a pioneer of low-fat, low-GI, healthy high-flavour gourmet meals and snacks and she has these tips for avoiding the most common weight problems.

How do you combat afternoon bloating?

“Bloating” can refer to two different things.

The first is when you feel puffy with fluid retention caused by consuming too much salt, alcohol or carbohydrates. In this instance you simply reduce your intake of them and the bloating will go.

The second is when your body actually reacts to certain foods and causes bloating of the stomach and bowel. This occurs when certain sugars aren’t digested properly in the small intestine and travel to the large intestine where they ferment and give off gas causing wind, flatulence and general discomfort. Not pleasant at all.

In this instance you need to see a dietitian to determine which foods are the culprits.

What is your favourite low fat breakfast meal?

At the moment in this chilly weather it would be baked beans. In fact my daughter and I always seem to order them when we eat out for breakfast and we both agree that so far none have come anywhere near the ones we make with butter beans, smoked paprika and feta.

The recipe ‘Smoked Paprika Beans’ is in our Winter Warmers recipe book. It’s a great breakfast, low in fat and high in protein, fibre and the anti oxidant- lycopene (anti -cancer, particularly bowel) along with the good carbs for sustained energy to get you through the morning.

If you want to have an alcoholic drink, which is best?

Wine is good, particularly red wine with high anti oxidant levels said to have anti- aging properties and reduces the risk of coronary heart disease.

Many people find beer and champagne tend to be bloating.

Certainly stay away from mixed drinks with high sugar soft drinks or fruit juice.

At the end of the day, the issue is more with the amount consumed not the type.
You still need to take into account the calories you are consuming whilst drinking. It's very easy to ignore them and often they can be the difference between losing, maintaining and gaining weight.

Alcohol is nutritionally empty calories made up of carbohydrates and for every gram of carbohydrate you store, you store 3-4 grams of water which results in bloating.

I know for me personally, when a few kilos creep on, alcohol is the first thing to be eliminated to drop some weight.

The other issue with too much alcohol is after a couple of drinks we stop saying “NO” to the high fat snacks and add even more calories and kilos to our waistlines.
I’m not saying don’t drink, but take into consideration the amount you are having if you aren’t losing weight.

Sparkling mineral water added to wine makes a great drink and reduces the calories.

What are some good, healthy snacks for work?

Healthy snacks are really important between meals.

My favourite would be ½ cup of low fat Greek style yoghurt with ½ cup frozen mixed berries and topped with ALPS Blend (our mix of almonds, linseeds, flax seeds, pumpkin, poppy, sunflower, sesame and chi seeds - see recipe in the book) or toasted nuts.

Others:

• Low fat dip with a selection of raw vegetables eg cauliflower, mushrooms, cucumber, broccoli, zucchini, beans, carrots, celery
• Vegetable soup – see our quick cook Lazy Minestrone recipe or a ‘Cup of Soup’ on the website
• Wholegrain muffin with low fat cream cheese and avocado, ricotta with low sugar jam or a tablespoon of crunchy peanut butter
• Wholegrain fruit bread with low fat cream cheese
• Fresh fruit and small handful of nuts
• Better still make up some of our healthy snacks, Choc Cherry & Pear muffins, Date, Walnut & Dark Chocolate slice, Refuel Bar, Swisse Balls or Powerful Cookies on the weekend and freeze them to take to work


What should I eat before I go to the gym?

Something very light.

You don’t want a belly full of food that’s trying to be digested whilst you’re working out.
I like a piece of fruit half an hour before to give me some energy.
If it’s in the morning I usually have half an orange or a mandarin.
Latest research says you burn more fat as your fuel source when you have Vitamin C present, so orange it is.


Is it okay to eat carbs at night?

You can, just make sure they are the healthy low Human Interference (HI) ones with as little processing as possible and have them in moderation.
As for alcohol, you store water when you store excess carbohydrates so if you consume to many you will feel ‘puffy’.
Personally, when I want to drop weight I keep my carb intake to during the day when I need the energy to get me through the day and burn them off.


What foods are absolute no nos?

Deep fried foods, anything cooked with cream and lots of butter and processed, nutritionally-depleted junk food.
Its amazing once you get these foods out of your diet you find in no time at all you lose the taste for them and avoiding them is no longer an issue.
You actually look for healthier foods because of how they make you feel after you’ve eaten them.


Do you still believe in 8 glasses of water a day?

There is a lot of evidence now saying you don’t need that much.
I would recommend 6 and that can include some tea and coffee, and remember fruit and vegetables contain a lot of water too.

Are tea and coffee really that bad for us?

Not at all.

Many studies show that all teas; green, black and white with high anti oxidants have many nutritional benefits.

And new evidence supports caffeine in coffee, in moderation, as being particularly beneficial for heart health.

The problem lies with how we have them, with high fat milk and sugar and often with a high fat high sugar snack.

So keep to skim milk, get rid of the sugar, ditch the calorie laden snack and make one of our healthy ones.

Do you believe in superfoods?

All natural unprocessed foods are superfoods as far as I’m concerned.

The ‘list’ changes regularly, so I think we should just include all fresh natural foods in our diet to obtain the array of nutrients

I must admit, my favourites though are the often forgotten heroes - herbs and spices.
They are highly concentrated in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

What is your number one tip for staying healthy?

Moderation in everything and finding a balance between healthy eating and exercise.

Weigh it Up Australia’s first ever recipe book “Winter Warmers”, has an exciting array of new and classic seasonal dishes with a very healthy twist. For more info visit www.weighitup.com.au.

Pole Dancing- What it's really like!

So on Monday night girls, I tried my first ever class of pole dancing... I was so nervous going into the class, what I thought was going to be 5 girls in my class ended up being 14! You have to wear short shorts and a singlet, bare feet are preferred and let me tell you, I was glad I had some fake tan on, it was like my armour. Ever since losing some weight it has been a real long time (apart from Thailand) since anyone say that much of my bare legs. I noticed that most of the girls doing the class were a few years younger than me and all were quite skinny yet I was not going to let this get to me, when I looked in the big mirrors I realised I am actually probably not that much bigger than them! Yay!

Let me say that I am not the most coordinated person around and definitely not the strongest so doing this for me was always going to be a massive challenge, I thought "yeh right, like you will ever get me to fling myself around the pole, or hang upside down, good luck with that" but me, trying to be the new me, thought I would give it a go. 
We did a nice long warm up which I must admit we all struggled with even that. Then came the body rolls, jesus christ my legs! I am not really a fan of lunges so the non stop bending killed me and actually still hurts me now... oww.... Even though it hurt like hell, it was really fun, we all were really uncoordinated which was a big relief to know we all struggled. After the body rolls we then learnt how to move around the poll (on the ground) doing bends and twirls which took coordination and skill, but even though they were hard they were doable. At the end of the class we began to learn the dance which we will be performing at the end of our 8 week course. We learn a little bit more each week to the song Rhiannon Disturbia, so far I am loving the routine, it seems so fast and hard but I know it will get easier. 

Right now I am definetley not flinging myself around but I am feeling a lot more confident and keen to learn more. And let me tell you my instructor has the most amazing toned figure and if this will get me that, or even close I would be happy!



Have you ever tried pole dancing classes?



Jaime 


xx

Today I am going to try... Pole Dancing!

In my bid to make sure I continue to get fitter and not bored of exercise I have enrolled in a Pole Dancing course. This really sort of came out of the blue actually as I was talking to my beautician who has the most amazing figure and she was saying how she does it and LOVES it and there is a studio not far from where I live. I always thought the idea of learning how to fling myself upside down and all over the place was something that someone as uncoordinated like me is just not meant to do. You know what? I think that is why I want to try this, I know it will be hard, I know I will be covered head to toe in bruises, but it will use every muscle in my body, I know these days I am stronger then I probably have ever been and feel that I am ready to tackle this challenge. I have brough my best friend along with me to give it a go, to be honest I think we will spend the first few classes just laughing at each other trying to fling ourselves around this pole. 
The great thing about this class is that there will be only 5 of us, I expected there to be like 15 or 20 gorgeous girls in my class, which would be so intimidating, 5 I can handle. 

I will keep you posted how I go...

Jaime 

xx

Cheat days, friend or foe?

Lately I have been feeling like I live a double life, split personality, whatever you want to call it...Durign the week I am so healthy and fit and then come the weekend, something comes over me and I eat everything in sight, bad foods and all, then I weigh myself on the Monday morning and I have put on at least 1kg, then begins a cycle of being really good to lose that weight again.... so frustrating. One thing I tried last weekend was having a cheat day. I know, before you get all up at me for having a cheat day, for me, for right now, it works. A lot of people will tell you, that cheat days are terrible, that everything should be in moderation, I am doing that for sure and I am a huge fan of the moderation and not going without, but right now I need to break my cycle. 
I chose Saturday as my cheat day and when let me tell you, it was liberating. Now I just want to mention that this did not by any means meant that I gorged from sun up to sun down and I started my day with my usual healthy breakfast but in the afternoon when I felt like something sweet I got a packet of mashmellows, and if I wanted something I had it. It felt like it made all my hard work during the week worth it, made it easier to face the next week knowing I had that to look forward to. During the week if I felt like chocolate I would think, well if I still want it Saturday I will eat it Saturday and most times, I didn't. I went to the footy and had a saussage sizzle and really enjoyed it and when I went out that night I drank vodka lime and soda not wine. Then the next day it was back to the drawing board, and this time I had new strength to get through the week. 


I am not saying it is for everyone but it was something I needed and is working for me right now. 


Do you have cheat days?


Jaime 


xx

Review: Tiffiny Hall- The Weightloss Warrior!

Today I bring you a review of a really fantastic weight loss book. This book is by none other than the amazing trainer on The Biggest Loser-Tiffiny Hall titled "The weightloss warrior". I bought this book months ago but it wasn't until yesterday actually that I finished it. (I am a bit like that with books sometimes, I really just don't have that much time for reading, anyway)... I loved it. I have been as you all would know by now, on my own weightloss journey all this year and this book came at a time for me when I needed inspiration and guidance. I have actually read A LOT of weigthtloss books (is that weird?) and to me so much of them has just been, well either fluff of nothing helpful or a really regimented diet (the zone, I am pointing at you!). This rarely works for anyone and is not long term. One of the main reasons I love Weight Watchers is it is about long term health and well being, this is what Tiffiny is all about. 

I watched The Biggest Loser, every night and I found her style of training and discipline really inspiring and I wanted to learn more about her style and see if it was something I could apply to my life. As soon as I started reading the book I knew it was going to change the way I think about food forever. 

She opens with a really great statement I want to share with you: Health, like martial arts, is about the balance of four elements: earth (nutrition), wind (movement), fire (metabolism and muscle) and water (fluidity of the mind and body). I think this is such an important statement and one she follows throughout her book. She encourages people to try eating naked (not with no clothes on, gosh get your mind out of the gutter) but food which is unprocessed, natural and stripping meals back to the essential flavours. She believes in treats but to really treat them as that... (Something I am trying to work on)

She helps you get down to the bottom of why you are the way you are, unfit, unhealthy and to really evaulate your life, to become a healthier person you must train the mind first and then the body will follow, see it is all about listening to what your body is telling you and that bad food for example is actually harming your body. 

She teaches you not on what to eat and when but how to make healthier options which will be beneficial for your body. 

At the end of the book she does have a nice big section of yummy recipes which look fantastic and I can't wait to try! 

If you are like I was and needing some inspiration and direction and maybe even some education on your health and wellbeing then pop into your local book shop and pick this up, I know it has really helped me. Even though I have just finished it I know I will start again now as I know I will get a lot more out of it the second time and the third...

I hope you enjoy it just as much as I have. 

Have you read any good diet or health and fitness books lately?

Jaime 

xx

Peek inside my grocery trolley

I thought this Monday morning I would let you peep inside what my weekly food shop looks like. This is for myself and my boyfriend for a whole week. 

In my stash you can find...
-Free range chicken breasts
-Atlantic Salmon 
-Pork Fillets
-Organic produce when available so there was some cauliflower and some others
-Asian veggies 
-Apples and oranges for snacks
-Low Fat cottage cheese
-Free range eggs
-Limes 
-Avocado
-Frozen berries 
-Goats cheese (great to sprinkle on my healthy pizzas)
-Wholemeal pitta bread

And much more... I think the state of your shopping trolley really shows your diet, so next time you do your weekly shop, have a look and see just how much processed food and artificial ingredients you really have. 

 Jaime 

xx

Motivation of the day

Something to think about when you next make an excuse as to why you are not exercisng, I know this is something I have been known to do... you just need to look at what you do each day and think, rather than watch Home and Away on the couch, could I be at the gym instead?

Jaime 

xx

Eating and Drinking DO NOT go together!

When I was younger, everytime I would sit down to eat a meal I would down a huge drink, sometimes two to wash it down, it wasn't until a couple of years ago I learnt the truth about what is really happening inside of us...

When you start eating your body releases digestive enzymes which help your body break down this food. When you drink a lot when you are eating you are actually diluting those enzymes which means your body isn't adequately digesting those vital nutrients which means some of them will get flushed through and not absorbed like they should be. 

So next time you are eating a meal and you want to take a big gulp of water, just pause, wait a minute, if anything have a sip and keep eating. Ideally you should also wait for at least 15-30mins after you finish eating to start drinking again as it take a while for the food to pass through your digestion. 

Was this helpful, or did you already know this, miss smarty pants?

Jaime 

xx

Losing Weight Was Never Meant To Be Easy...

I love when I see people walking, just casually but they are in workout gear so you know that this is them working out... Me, I have always been a push myself to the limits, get all hot and sweaty kind of person, I love nothing more then getting my endorphins pumping and you can spot me running with a big smile on my face. I love that feeling of pushing myself harder and harder, even if it is just to the next telegraph pole and then the next, these small goals to me, really mean something.


I guess the moral of the story is to constant challenge yourself in your everyday life, it really puts things into perspective... 


How have you challenged yourself lately?

Jaime 

xx

This morning I....Went to the beach for a run!

So many people are in the mentality that it's Winter and oh it's too cold and the "I always put on a little extra padding in Winter", you know what I say to that, BULLSHIT! (Excuse my french) It is not that cold out there and you know what, these days are getting warmer, do you really want to be feeling like a fatty when Spring arrives? No, I didn't think so! Other people train and train and they run on those damn treadmills which can be ok, but if you take that person outside for a run they can't cope!

So my advice, is get out there! Enjoy the beautiful sunrises... I went down the beach this morning for a soft sand run as part of my training and it was amazing! When I got the end of the beach I sat down and took in the amazing view and it really calmed me down and put life into perspective! Why be on a treadmill watching a tv when you could have all of this?

I know it might seem a little daunting, but trust me, you might actualy like it!!

ok, I will get off my soapbox now...

Jaime 

xx

I'm back! Back in the Game!

Hey girls, 

I am back, I know I have really neglected this blog but now I am back. I wouldn't say I am better but I know that I am in a place where I am needing this blog again. You see I have been really struggling with my weight the last few weeks, have I plateaued? Maybe. I just know the old me that is hungry like a monster seems to be back and I can't seem to stop myself. My last 2 weigh ins I have put on weight, 1.5kg of weight to be exact, say what you will that it isn't a lot of weight but to me it is, to me seeing those figures on the scale was figures I was hoping to never to have to see again. I feel like I am seeing my hard work slip away from me. 


At my meeting last week I spoke with my leader and I admitted that I have not been tracking in a long time something which is so crucial to Weight Watchers and I have pledged to get back into it from today (which I have). 

I hope you all come back and start following me again, I really have a lot I am going through as I begin the dreaded "last 5 kilos" dance that so many people seem to do, so I hope you can join me on this journey and help find you some inspiration if you are in the same boat!


Jaime

xx

Wear a Pedometer and Walk Your Way to a Fit New You!

On Saturday when I weighed in to Weight Watchers after having a crazy Easter full of Chocolate for breakfast, lunch and dinner I had put on 0.9kg. I was disapointed yet I expected it. 
I need to get back on that horse yet again but by going to that meeting even though I really didn't want to I was not alone. When asked who had put on pretty much everyone put up their hand. Yes we are all alike. 
I decided to make a choice to not let it get to me and to continue back on my journey after all there will be many bumps on the road. 

I also decided to buy a Pedometer, a Weight Watchers Pedometer to be exact as not only does it record your steps but it tells you how many acticity points you have earnt. 
So now as I have in the past when I have worn one I am walking more and making myself more active. This "incidental" activity is so important and is what increases our heart rate and generally makes us less lazy. 

When I am waiting for water to boil or standing around I walk on the spot every "extra" step I take is extra calories I am burning off and helping me get closer and closer, literally step by step to my goal. 

It is only 6 weeks til I go to Thailand and til I am going to be spending 2 weeks in a bikini! I want to look good and feel confident. When I was last in Thailand it will be 2 years ago when I go and right now I am 13kg lighter then when I went last time. I know I didn't feel comfortable when I was last there and I want to really enjoy it. 

So the next 6 weeks will be intense and I hope you can stay with me on my journey.

Jaime xx

Easter temptation... yes I really enjoyed myself!

 

Ok I can say with a lot of authority that I most definitley indulged this Easter long weekend. I have been so good that I figured I could just enjoy myself and not feel guilty. I know some girls who diet and they eat one chocolate and they feel so terribly guilty but not me, I need to be strong and know that tomorrow is a new day. 

Tomorrow I will get back on my bandwagon and stick to moderation.

When I did eat the chocolate I made sure I really enjoyed it, I didn't just gorge for the sake of it but took this really as a treat. I know they say you shouldn't treat yourself with food but it is EASTER after all. 

Did you have a great Easter?

Where you able to withstand the chocolate temptation?

Jaime xx

I will lose weight if I want to!

So yes I am losing weight but by no means do I feel like I am done. My goal is to lose 15kg which is well within my healthy weight range and by no means at the bottom of the healthy weight range and yet as soon as I mentioned that I have lost 8kg I got many responses saying that "Gosh you certaintly don't need to lose more", or the "be careful you don't start to get too extreme" and I thought whoah people back off, I am no nearer anorexic then I am about to run a marathon. I feel so proud of what I have accomplished as I have been this way, this weight for a long time and I really want to lose it. No I don't want to be stick skinny or a size 8, I will never be that size but is it so wrong that I want to be a healthy comfortable 12 and god forbid sometimes fit into a 10?

I guess it is hard for some people to accept change, I know when I good girlfriend of mine who was like me and always a 14 lost a lot of weight (healthily) and dropped to a 10-12, I was envious, jealous and thought, why couldn't I be like that too?

I guess I need to develop mental touchness to fight any negativity. 

I am doing this weight loss slowly and healthily, but I am not restricting myself, I am indulging in my fave dark chocolate every day (pretty much) and I have taken on the philosphy that if I want a treat have the most amazing treat and really enjoy it but just only have a little bit!

Dark chocolate is my new best friend as it has such little sugar and I only need a small amount to be satisfied. 

I guess this is a bit of a rant, I am sure you have felt the same before either being on the weight loss end yourself or someone you knew lost weight, it is hard to acept people around you are battling demons you yourself have battled and not yet won., 

We just need to support each other and make sure we surround ourselves with fit, healthy, supportive friends who will love you no matter what you look like or what you weigh. 

Luckily my boyfriend is incredibly supportive and loves me and tonight he is taking me out to dinner to celebrate my achievement.

It doesn't hurt to treat yourself not to sweet foods but to shopping, lots and lots of shopping!


Jaime xx

Hitting my 5% GOAL!!!

At Weight Watchers there are 3 goals they like to celebrate and it is established when you first join. They work out what what your healthy weight range is and what you want your goal weight to be (which is within that range) and for you to reach that they work out what your 5% goal is when you have lost 5% of your body weight and then your 10% goal and then finaly GOAL!!

This last Saturday I finally hit my 5% goal and my god it was a great feeling. 

For me that had meant I had lost (well in total as I had already lost like 3 kg before starting Weight Watchers) 6.9kg. From my last weigh in which was 2 weeks ago I was supposed to lost 0.5kg to hit goal yet I SMASHED it with 1.5kg!! Go me!!

I am now only 2.9kg from my 10% goal and really feel like I am on track!

In total I have now last 8kg and couldn't be happier about it! I finally feel like I am getting somewhere and I will tell you I have been getting so many compliments which is such a boost of confidence!

 I am now so much more aware of what I put in my body and I think about everything, gone are the days of mindless eating (well a million times more than I used to). I have learnt there is absolutely zero point in spending money on beauty products when you are not healthy from the inside.


I have even had random Seafood guys telling me I have lost weight!


Loves it!


Jaime xx

The Biggest Loser

Like most of Australia we are all tuning in right now watching this latest season of The Biggest Loser, I think I have watched more of this season (when I mean more I mean EVERY episode) and I think it is because I am at a point in my life when I want to see massive changes in myself so I am looking to this show which provides me with great inspiration.
Thanks to Foxtel IQ I never miss a episode and feel like I have been with the contestents throughout all their blood, sweat and tears to get to their goals. 
I know I have heard many friends over the years The Biggest Loser has been going for say that they sit there eating junk food whilst watching it and look in the past that might have been me but not this season. 
When I am running on the treadmill I feel like I have the commando beside me yelling at me saying "Who are you doing this for?" "You don't want to be that fat person who was unhappy do you?" ummm yes this may make me seem like I am crazy but it actually helps. 

Personal Training sessions work really well for me and it is something I am going to reinvest in soon when I have a little more moolah but for now I have this to think about...

 Hoping for a BIG loss this week!

Jaime xx

What do you do with your skin post workout?

This post has been taken from miss chew, I thought it would be relevant for my fitness and health blog.

Whilst being a very big fan of Primped's Miss Zoe Foster I try and get as much advice off her as frequently as I can. On Twitter she often will answer a twuestion and here was mine:  

After a gym session in my lunch break what do you recommend for the best beauty skin care routine?

I often find this is an area I struggle with as I never have much time and I don't want to lug around everything I own, I'm no pack mule.... Anyway this was her response...

"Here’s what I reckon. And yes, I’m throwing in hair and makeup too. Don’t hate me because I’m generous.

I will assume you have showered after your rope climbing class, which indicates your face will have been cleansed. Take facial wipes instead of cleanser - faster! easier! - and avoid removing your eye makeup if you can: this will give you a ‘made up’ look when you race back into work and save you re-applying it all.

Skip the holy trinity of serum, face cream and sun screen and instead multitask your ass off with a hydrating tinted moisturiser with sunscreen.

Add some foundation if you want more coverage, or powder over the top if you get shine.

If your face gets VERY RED after exercise and stays that way for thousands of hours like mine does, pack a green-based primer or corrector in your gym bag - this will balance out the red and give you a much, much more neutral base than if you just use tinted moisturiser/foundation. Biotherm does a great corrective makeup base called White Detox Biotanic Lyzer Corrective Makeup Base SPF 25 Anti-Redness Effect, which as the name suggests is both anti-redness and has a high SPF. 

Next, conceal under the eyes and around the nose, both areas which are bound to be redder than usual from all those blood vessels just beaming with happy, oxygenated, exercisey blood.

Steer clear of blush, but maybe dust on a little bronzer so that when your hot little mug calms down you have some contouring and vitality still hanging around. Go very easy and just skim the hairline, cheekbones and jawline. I am besotted with Becca’s new mineral bronzer at the moment, which is very lightweight and sinks beautifully into the skin, but if you want a really light bronzer, try Clinique’s Almost Bronzer. 

If you read that bit up a few sentences about not removing your eye makeup as you wipe off your makeup post-workout, then your eyes should still be done. If you took it all off - or started off without any - put on two coats of mascara. As Plato once said: “When the face is red and the hair is grimy, make sure your lashes are coated and shiny.”

Nude gloss is best - wearing a brightly coloured lipstick with a flushed face ain’t great. (Wait til your skin has calmed down then pop the colour back on.)

Hair? Well, provided you bobby pinned back the front parts and lifted the bulk up into a high, looseish pony (too tight will create more dents and more sweat), your hair shouldn’t be too bad. Flip your mop upside down and spray a generous amount of dry shampoo (like Tigi’s Rockaholic Dirty Secret dry shampoo, $32.95) through and leave for 30 seconds to sink in and soak up all the sweat. If you have access to a blow dryer, awesome - blast that baby back into shape. If you don’t, and it’s all a bit hard, pull it up into a chic top knot or pony. 

Now spray on some perfume, grab your stinky gym bag and get back to work, you fit, beautiful son of a bitch."

Well that was a mouthful and totally and utterly helpful. You can see the full post here.
-I give full credit to Zoe Foster at Primped for this, I only asked the Twitter question and these images are courtesy of Primped. 


I know I really want to get my mits on everything, in particularly the Biotherm white detox to reduce my reddness as man, I go like red, red! 


What is your after Gym routine?


Jaime xx

Quotes

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting the same results"- Albert Einstein.

What are you going to change today?

Jaime xx

Making Drinking Water A Breeze!

I love my water, I really do. It was a challenge I must admit as even though I can't drink soft drink anymore as it makes me sick (boo) but of a night time I was downing orange juice (where I swear there was no actual oranges in it) like it was going out of style. I would go through a huge bottle in like a night and half. So, so bad for you as it is all sugar. You can eat salads all day and night but the amount of sugar in the juice will still make you pack on the weight (the story of my life). So when I am working at home and I need something to keep me going and when water can get boring I have been making this amazing flavoured water which tastes divine. 

To make this water I add fresh mint, lemon and lime with filtered water. Yummy!!

Having a big beautiful jug makes it that much more appealing. 

Do you ever add anything to your water to make it tastier?

Jaime xx

The music that gets me through a work out!

I honestly cannot get through a workout without listening to music, it pumps me up, pushes me through the pain and the exhaustion. I made it to the gym at lunch time today and to be honest I wouldn't have gotten there if it wasn't for my amazing boyfriend, he is getting hard on my arse this week to get me to the gym as I have been slacking off. 
Today I went on the treadmill and when I do interval trainng which is 2 minutes on (jogging) and 2 minutes off (slow walking). Normally when I do it I try just get over the 3km mark for 30 minutes but today I smashed through 4km. I know for many people that may not seem like a lot but for me that is massive and a personal best! Yay!!

Here are some of my fave workout tracks (some are really corny, dated and cheesy, please don't judge):


-Release me-Agnes
-Destination Unknown- Alex Gaudino
-For Everyone- Aston Shuffle
-Good Luck- Basement Jaxx
-Red Alert- Basement Jaxx
-Single Ladies- Beyonce
-Pump It-Black Eyed Peas
- Banquet- Bloc Party
-I like the way you move- Bodyrockers
-Gimme More- Britney Spears
-Fighter- Christina Aguilera
-Survivor- Destiny's Child
-Lose My Breath- Destiny's Child
-Bonkers- Dizzee Rascal
-Stronger- Kanye West
-Just Dance- Lady Gaga
-God is a DJ- Pink
-Invaders Must Die- Prodigy
-Voodoo People- Prodigy
-Omen-Prodigy
-I go Hard or go Home- The Presets
-When I grow up-Pussycat Dolls
-Elevation-U2


That is just a snashot, what do you think?

What are your favourite workout songs?

Jaime xx



 

So I fell off the bandwagon...

This past week I have a confession to make... I have been a bad, bad girl. I don't know how it all happened, actually I know how I just don't know why and why I let it get to this point. On Saturday after my weigh in last week I went to a house warming party and there we had chicken kebabs which ok not that great but there was a huge tub of smarties and chocolate freckles which unfortunately I have to say had my name on it and I had at least 2 handfulls, big ones too. God It is hard to even type this out to everyone, to admit it... but that isn't all! I also downed 2 bottles of wine... on Thursday night I hosted a dinner party for my girlfriends which included cheeses, another bottle of wine, strawberries dipped in chocolate plus my massaman curry (I did do a healthy version though) and THEN last night we had a big work function and I drank again... urgh... I am not a big drinker I don't know what has happened to me...

I didn't go to my weigh in this morning, I was hungover, feeling like shit and I was quite frankly ashamed... I know I probably should have gone, I will go back this week. It is time to get back on the horse. It is always hard, but by making this confession to you that it will help me back on my path to losing weight. 

Do you ever feel the same? It's not an easy road that's for sure...

Jaime xx

Drinking Aloe Vera Juice and Reaping the Benefits

So with all the problems I have been having with my digestion I was recommended by a naturopath to start drinking Aloe Vera Juice, yes that's right juice...

I have always known Aloe Vera for it's healing properties, I remember my nan always had a plant as a kid and if we got sunburnt or had a cut or graze she would break off a stem and squeeze some of the clear liquid and rub it in. 

I had no idea you could ingest it???

The bottle I got isn't for drinking like a apple juice but more a dessert spoon full one a day in the morning before you eat brekkie. 

I won't lie it isn't the tastiest thing I have ever had...but... I can handle it. It tastes kind of like having a mouthful of chlorine water when you have been swimming.

So what are the benefits, well I think you may be surprised...

Aloe Vera has been known to detoxify your bloodstream in your body and cleanse your colon (I am trying to not make this post about poo). It helps with digestive problems and improves circulation. It also acts as a antibacterial and antibacterial but for your insides to assist your body to fight off infections which I really need especially coming up to Winter when they are so many bugs floating around. Lastly it helps dilate capillaries and aid in cell growth, healthy cell growth, healthy bodies.

Since taking it I have been having less abdominal problems and my digestion has really improved. If you often get tummy pains or just feel like your digestion is not quite up to scratch maybe consider talking to a health care professional and see if this could be right for you.

Oh and it is stored in the fridge.

Jaime xx

Breakfast of Champions

Oh breakfast, why must you be a constant struggle, as I don't have a gallbladder there are so many things I can't eat. Finding something which is nutritional, will keep me full and I will enjoy it is hard. 

Welcome my omlette!! I have been making a omlette for brekkie which I know is something you can only do if you have the time but this is what I have been doing:

-2 egg white

-1 whole egg

(for the base of my omlette- the whole just egg white thing kinda puts me off)

-Baby spinach

-Pinch grated low fat cheese 

-Pinch Garlic Salt

This is so yummy, so simple and keeps me full for ages and resists my urge to snack away. 

As I have been going to the gym of a morning having a boost of protein will really help repair my muscles.

What have you found to be great for a healthy brekkie??

Jaime xx