In 2014, over the course of 7 months, I lost around 10lbs of weight that had crept on and that I had been trying to shift for over a year. Even now, after Christmas pig outs, the weight loss remains because instead of losing weight through a fad diet, I simply made good eating a daily habit and religiously stuck to visiting the gym 3 times a week. I also cut out refined sugar and white food, sticking instead to slow release carbohydrates (basically, anything brown!). As a busy, working woman, I despair at the number of diets which advocate the use of pills or surviving on juice in order to lose weight. I find that whilst these diets seem to work initially, and indeed very quickly, the person eventually piles all of the weight back on as soon as they start eating normally again. I'm pleased to say though, I haven't tried these starvation diets and instead wanted to make a life long change with my eating rather than going for the quick fix- which quickly undoes itself as soon as you as much look at a piece of toast. Besides, as a busy woman with an appetite,there's no way a glass of juice or a pill would fill me. I NEED CARBS!!!!!
Luckily though, in the middle o 2014's onslaught of juice diets, fasting diets and other such nonsense, the likes of the Hemsley sisters, The Hairy bikers and Sarah Wilson saved hungry girls like me. They all advocated the art of eating well, providing us with nourishing recipes which led to weight loss because they cut out the refined crap: mainly refined ingredients including sugar. They taught us that eating well is a lifestyle choice and that when you eat the right foods,you simply won't get fat. Thank God I listened to them!
I'm not a nutritionist or a personal trainer, but I love to cook things from scratch, go on 5k runs, and I believe that this simple philosophy shifted my excess weight and allowed me to maintain that weight loss. Instead of feeling heavier than I like and bloated, I now feel energetic, trim and more confident. I can grab anything from my wardrobe knowing it will no longer be on the snug side, and the new found confidence that comes with eating well and being in shape works wonders in all areas of your life, whether that be your career, love life or family life. If you have confidence issues, depression or low self-esteem, healthy eating can begin your transformation from the inside, moving you onto better things in your life on the outside.
I'm also a big believer in real beauty and that beauty must radiate from the inside before it shows on the outside. I don't believe that women should change, but nobody wants to eat bad foods and feel frumpy either. A little exercise and eating the right foods will give you the best body you have ever had and allow you to stick maintain a healthyweight that is best and right for YOUR body. Yummy, real food + exercise = body confidence, beauty and wellness.
Anyway, the aim of this blog is to share recipes, thoughts and my love of food with you. Along with this weekly blog, I will update my Twitter each day with a photo of what I have eaten through the course of the day to prove that real food keeps you slim. Will there be carbs and naughty food days? Hell, yes, but these become few and far between as your body becomes more accustomed to healthy food choices. I want you to abandon any starvation, fad diets and try this instead!
Finally though, a few things we need to be clear on:
1. I shop at Aldi, no fancy things for me, just basic good food that I can cook. Healthy food being 'too expensive is not an excuse.
2. I'm a busy woman who works 14 hour days, 5 days a week. Not having time to cook or exercise is not an excuse either. I also have a partner and two step children, so I know my cooking fits into a busy family life.
3. I cook 95% of my meals from scratch, using an occasional shop bought sauce or packet mix.
4. I cook all of my meals in advance, usually on a weekend, and freeze them. Everything I eat is home cooked, but often reheated on the hob or in the microwave.
5. I still drink on the weekends. A girl's got to have some fun, right
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