What my healthy day looks like

03
May
2017

What my healthy day looks like

Categories: Food, Weight Watchers

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

27
Apr
2017

4 simple weight loss tips to keep your diet on track

Categories: Weight Loss

Despite feeling really motivated last week, I managed to put on 1lb. However, I’m feeling strangely positive about it. That gain was a reminder that losing or maintaining weight does take a little effort and when I think about last week, I was pretty slack in everything I now know helps me to lose weight; and those things are…

1. Recording what I eat before I munch
Seeing what I’m about to eat written down in some shape or form makes it real and helps me to determine if its worth consuming. That may sound odd, but sometimes when i’m about to track ‘another bar of chocolate’, it makes me stop and reach for something healthier… or just stop. It’s also surprising how much I forget if I just track in my head.

2. Keeping an eye on my portion sizes
I can eat a lot, be it healthy or unhealthy stuff, so for me weighing out certain foods like pasta or having a sensible amount of bread is pretty key. I also find it helpful to look on the packets of foods to see what they recommend as a single portion.

3. Chocolate in moderation
I love chocolate and can eat far too much of it in one sitting. I’ll never want to cut it out completely, and I don’t think you need to for good health or weight loss, but I can certainly go over board with it.

4. Walking
Walking is such a great way to keep active but I definitely haven’t been reaching my step count, so I’ll make a bigger effort this week to chase my daughter around (she’s definitely been exceeding her step count) and keep my ass moving.

Once again, I’ve shared some ground-breaking tips that you’ve probably never heard before.

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…

18
Apr
2017

If my blog had an out of office…

Categories: Baby & Me

Sorry I’ve been a little quiet since getting to goal. A lot has happened in the last few weeks and I will update you all properly very soon! Visit my Instagram, Twitter or Facebook page for more updates on my weight loss journey x

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!

23
Mar
2017

A review of Slissie: the anti-snacking stick

Categories: Reviews

I have a new toy – a Slissie. Have you heard of it? You may mistake it for a vapour, but this lil’ gadget claims to curb your desire to snack. I’m not usually one for gadgets like this, but considering how often I binge on chocolate, cakes and crisps it’s promises caught my eye. So, I’ve got my hands on one and I’ve been pleasantly surprised.

How does the Slissie work
You hold the Slissie and suck on it like a straw. It’s filled with a natural appetite surpassing liquid that comes in a range of flavours; including mint choc, vanilla and gingerbread. The sweet taste is meant to reduce cravings and help put a stop to overindulging on foods that may lead to weight gain (if your goal is to lose weight).

First impressions of the Slissie
The Slissie is a nice looking piece of kit but, even though it definitely isn’t one, it does look like a vapour. When It arrive, there were more parts than I expected and I thought it would take a while to set up – I later discovered I was wrong and it’s all pretty simple to get going. The Starter Kit essentially includes the Slissie, replacement tanks filled with the natural appetite suppressing liquid and a charger.

Dieting just got Slissier
I love the ethos of this product and I really didn’t expect to read such a lovely introduction to the Slissie. In a nutshell, the inventor explains how she wanted to empower women to take control of how they eat; and what they feel when they eat, without constantly being on a ‘diet’. She encourages you to use the Slissie alongside a healthy eating plan, just to make it a bit easier (or Slissier, as it says on the box) when you’re trying to lose weight. She also talks about still being able to eat sweet treats, without feeling the urge to overindulge on them. It was a relief to read this, as I was worried it would suggest that this miracle liquid would mean I would never want to snack again – which we all know is not realistic.

The Slissie in practice
The Slissie definitely help to curb my cravings for sweet foods on occassions but, as it’s own literature says, it’s definitely not the one and final solution. I have still wanted, and enjoyed, chocolate while using the Slissie – I’ve not binged though like I might have done, so perhaps it is working. I feel like I need to give it more time and feed back again in a few weeks from now, to see if there is major difference with how I snack, and how I feel when I do snack. As much as I’ve found my Slissie experience very interesting, it does feel a little unnatural and I have to keep reminding myself I have it. That isn’t necessarily a crictism of the kit, it’s more that I have an awful memory and I’ve been turning to chocolate for years – so breaking the habit will take quite some time! I guess, if I start turning to the Slissie more than I do chocolate, than that would be ok, do you think? Is that the whole point?

Are you curious to use a Slissie or have you tried one with success? I’d love to hear more your Slissie experiences or if you’re not sure about this device. Use the comments box below, or post your view on my Facebook, Instagram or Twitter page.

slissie.co.uk
Starter Pack RRP £39.99

Since writing this review the lovely people at Slissie have given me a 20% off Slissie Starter Pack voucher code. Just use DIETMUM20 at the checkout xx

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

09
Mar
2017

The worst prosecco brunch Wowcher voucher ever! Do not go to Roxy Bar & Screen!

Categories: Reviews

I didn’t plan to write about this but as I did promise a few rants from time to time, here goes…

A few weekends ago I had a prosecco brunch booked for myself and 3 of my best mates. It was a treat we had been looking forward to since the start of the New Year and, from what we saw online, the venue looked pretty cool.

The day came for our brunch and first impressions were not good. The place looked run down and as though it was about to go out of business – maybe that’s why they had offered up a service on Wowcher.

At the door we were greeted by a very hostile women who was furious that we were about to walk in. She had apparently hired, and paid for, exclusive use of the venue. We had booked months ago and felt completely miffed as to how this could of happened. As much as this lady was a bit of a douche and I disagree with her shouting at us, we felt her frustrations – I’d be pretty pissed off too if I had hired a venue and 3 gorgeous chicks and their fat friend* rocked up for a brunch.

*That’s me by the way.

We go in and it looked disgusting, plus the tables on show had no chairs around them – they definitely weren’t ready to cater for us. The first guy we spoke to didn’t give us much, just said that the venue had been hired out and we couldn’t have our brunch there. After a bit of back and forth he then said we could go across the road and have our brunch. We couldn’t see what we thought the sister venue would look like and so we asked him to show us.

He takes us across the road to an even more gross pub. He offered us the first table by the door, underneath a TV playing footy – not really the glamourous location we had envisioned for our girls day out. The staff didn’t seem to care at all, or see why we were livid with this half-arsed solution. After a visit back to Roxy Bar & Screen the manager eventually appeared and offered us the table at the front of the original venue. Angry lady who had hired out the venue overheard and was about to kick off again. We politely declined his late offer and asked for a full refund, but because the brunch was booked through Wowcher, we had to go through them. He gave us his word that when he was contacted he would immediately agree to giving us our money back. We left and hoped he was telling the truth.

The next day would be refund request day, but for now we wanted to get some prosecco down us as soon as possible. As we talked about where to go next, we burst out laughing when we saw staff from Roxy taking brunch from the kitchen, across the road to their second venue – the vile pub. Is that sanitary? Surely not. Anyway, we were delighted to get out of there and so glad we didn’t end up eating anything made there.

Once we re-grouped in a lovely place round the corner, with glasses of prosecco, we had a look at the tripadvisor reviews of Roxy Bar & Screen. OMG, we so should of done this first, but lesson learnt. The reviews are hilarious and equally as disappointed with the venue, food and staff. Loads of reviews even included the spotting of mice!

The next day I went to log my complaint, and if you’ve never had to request a refund from Wowcher, I hope that you never have to. It was the most painful process ever, and eventually I had to go via a third party to get in contact with the company and request my money back. Thankfully Wowcher did respond, as did the manager of Roxy who tried to say that we had refused to eat there first – not because they first told us we couldn’t, or that the venue had been hired out for a private function. Sneaky Jay! (That was his name by the way.) Absolutely crazy, but I’m glad to end this review with good news…. we got suitably plastered on prosecco (ordered elsewhere) and Wowcher have given us a full refund.

Three things I’ve learnt
1. Never use Wowcher – I’ve had four awful experiences with them now
2. Always use tripadviser before booking anywhere – it’s so insightful
3. Never set foot anywhere near Roxy Bar & Screen near Long Bridge – awful awful awful place

02
Mar
2017

6 super easy buggy running tips for complete beginners

Categories: Baby & Me, Weight Loss

I’m very new to buggy running and so far it’s been such a wonderful experience. I love the freedom of it and with the weather getting a little brighter, it feels great to be outdoors again. Although I’m a complete novice to this world of running with your baby, I’d like to share what I’ve found useful in getting started.

1. Run when you’re little one is tired
I refer to my daughter as a baby, but she’s a proper toddler who loves to run as well. I’ve been a little afraid that she won’t want to stay in the buggy for long while I run, so I’ve been going out for a jog after she’s had an hour or so of her own exercise and a little tired. That said, I am going to experiment with going for a run when she’s full of energy – I’ll let you know how I get on.

2. Go for a test run
I would recommend going for a short test run when you’re getting started and maybe incorporating your outing with a visit to a park or something – just in case it doesn’t quite go to plan. I say that because running with a buggy does feel different to when you run on your own. You’ll want to get used to the extra workout for your arms, feel comfortable with your running buggy and make note of anything you could do on the next run to make your experience that much better.

For example, I went for a jog without music or headphones. I wanted to be fully alert and able to hear my daughter, but you can do that and still have a bit of music! On this particular occasion my daughter fell asleep and I was on a very long, straight road which was pedestrianised. It was so boring!

3. Pack baby bribes
Yes, I bribe my child quite frequently and for an easy run I have no shame in suggesting you do the same. My bribe kit includes snacks, toys and a new water bottle my daughter has never seen before. (She has a thing for bottles that aren’t hers.) I haven’t needed to dip into the kit too much yet, but she did get a little hangry on one of my runs, so I’m glad I had a Soreen bar to hand. (She really does love them.)

4. Pack extra layers
Although the weather has been a little warmer, running with your little one obviously creates a bit of a breeze for them (although not that much for mine as I’m slow), so layer them up as you would usually and maybe take an extra blanket and rain cover if the weather turns while you’re out and about. You may want to pack something for yourself too, just in case your baby or toddler doesn’t cooperate with your training schedule, and you need to make a stop.

5. Have a play with your buggy before venturing out
After setting off on my first fun, I realised the straps for my daughter were a little loose, so I ended up stopping to re-adjust them. This isn’t a big deal, but it put a stop to my awesome flow. I’d recommend letting your little play/sit in the buggy before you go on a run, and for you to test out straps, push the buggy about, practice braking and all that stuff.

6. Have fun!

Like to read more? Take a peak at my Phil & Teds Sport buggy review.

23
Feb
2017

Phil & Teds Sport buggy review

Categories: Fitness, Phil & Teds Sport Running Buggy, Reviews

I have a new running buddy – my almost 2-year-old daughter and it’s all thanks to the Phil & Teds Sport buggy. I didn’t think I could ever be so excited by a buggy, but it’s honestly been so exhilarating to use, and here’s why.

Before children, getting my arse in gear to exercise was just a case of motivation – these days it takes that, plus coordinating nap times, feed times and my husband’s schedule – because apparently you shouldn’t leave a child at home alone.* However, I feel that could change a little now that I’ve got my hands on a Phil & Teds Sport buggy and I can run during the day with my daughter in tow.

The Phil & Teds Sport Buggy in a nutshell
For such a sturdy buggy, the Sport is really lightweight and easy to manoeuvre. It’s a 3-wheel buggy and the front wheel can be locked for when for want to run – this makes it a lot easier to control when you’re jogging. You can then unlock it with ease for times when you may just be out and about on non-running business, which it is suitable for too. It has a lot of cool features that make jogging with a baby and buggy easy and safe, plus it looks very comfy for little ones.

Key features of the Phil & Teds Sport buggy

Easy to activate emergency stop
My favourite feature is brake functionality. This may sound odd when I’m talking about moving with my daughter, not stopping! Anyway, you’ll love this as any parent running with their child wants to feel safe and able to stop quickly if needed. You have two options here, the first is to hold a slim red handle tight to the main handle (both are parrael to one another) and once the red handle is released, the buggy comes to an immediate stop. The second option is to attach an emergency brake strap to your wrist. As soon as the strap is pulled, i.e. if the buggy came away from you for any reason, the strap would activate the brake and the buggy would come to a halt.

A generous basket
I love the basket of this buggy, as it’s surprisingly large. Friends of mine will know I’ve been through my fair share of buggies and I’m often disappointed with the basket size, as I carry a lot of stuff around and I may pick up a few treats on my travels that I like to stuff into the basket too. The large Sport basket is ideal for carrying baby or jogging bits and pieces, as you definitely wouldn’t want to hang a bag off the frame when you’re being active.

A comfy baby seat with a large canopy, sun shade and pockets
If I was a baby, I reckon I’d be pretty comfy in this sports buggy. My daughter can’t fully talk yet, but there were a lot of smiles when she first climbed into the seat and she’s had several naps in the buggy while I ran too.

It has a lovely padded seat, with various recline options (the strap at the back kind) and a 5-point harness – which makes it easy to clip in and clip out your little one. The large canopy has an extra sun shade that can be pulled down for particularly bright days or low lying sun. The hood also has fitted side pockets that are really handy for storing a phone, keys, headphones and water bottle! I did try attaching the Phil & Teds cup holder, but my running style must have been all too much for it, as it didn’t stay on once I got moving!

It’s bright green
There’s no hiding is this bright green buggy, which actually made me feel safer crossing roads as surely no one could miss me! Side note, I hadn’t noticed that my trainers and running jacket have the exact same green colour in them as the buggy, my neighbours must think I’m a little obsessed with neon.

Would I recommend the Phil & Sports buggy
Yes I would! It was really lovely to be out and about with it, and priceless* to be able to exercise without having to depend on anyone else for child care. That said, I’m quickly learning a few tricks to help make a jog with your baby or toddler a lot easier. Visit my blog again soon for my tips on running with a sports buggy.

P.S
I should also mention that this sports buggy folds down pretty flat too, which in my experience of other running buggies hasn’t been the case.

philandteds.com/uk
Available at johnlewis.com
Read more: 6 super easy buggy running tips for complete beginners

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Footnotes
*I’m trying to be funny here, please don’t think I would actually leave my daughter home alone.
*This piece of kit I not priceless, but if you’re keen to keep active with your baby or toddler by your side, then it is definitely worth the investment – especially as it makes for a lovely everyday buggy too and has lots of features ideal for very tiny ones. RRP £449.00