Showing posts with label Weight Loss. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Weight Loss. Show all posts

Monday, 29 June 2015

Fitter, Stronger, Leaner

Since October last year I have lost 2 and a half stones in weight.

This has been a slow loss, done sensibly, not a quick fix and definitely not a diet. More a lifestyle change. A combination of running and pilates, but also completely changing my diet due to a realisation I have a slight gluten intolerance, eating protein only meals for breakfast and lunch, juicing daily and cutting down my portion sizes.

Rewind to October and I felt tired, lethargic, bloated and had tummy ache most of the time. My BMI was sitting around 27 - I needed to do something and decided I wanted to do a detox - get everything out of my system and start again.

To kick start I read this book by Jason Vale, aka The Juice Master. It really made me think about the way I ate, what I ate and when. Written in a no nonsense, engaging down to earth way.
It also helped me to prepare for the next stage which was to complete a weeks juice detox, with the help of this book.
The detox went well, I didn't suffer any ill effects, headaches or feel like I wanted to chew my arm off!!! In fact by day 4, I didn't need as many juices as allowed, again normal as after all, Jason Vale's aim is to get you eating when you are hungry not because a book tells you or it is lunch time.

After the initial weeks detox, I then ate protein only for two weeks, using recipes from Turbo Charge.
My energy levels increased, I started running more, my skin was great, I felt motivated.

After the 2 weeks of protein only I slowly introduced my usual diet, but smaller portions, I then
realised the link between my bloating and belly ache and link to gluten/wheat products causing this.

Moving on I now have gluten free when it is the main ingredient, e.g. bread, biscuits, cake, pasta, pastry. Gluten free products tend to be expensive, so if I have biscuits I only have one, whereas before I could easily eat a full packet of Malted Milk!!
I start my day with a wholesome breakfast juice, eat protein only for lunch and a healthy dinner, usually a rice dish, pasta (gluten free), salad or sweet potato (in place of white potato). Dinner is a much smaller portion to what I used to eat, I also try to eat before 6pm although this isn't always possible. I feel so much 'better' - fitter, stronger, leaner.


So tell me....How do you stay healthy?
XX




Saturday, 1 November 2014

Day Seven Juicy Detox

I had hoped I'd be able to post here as I did my 7lb In 7 Days Detox, time just runs away. I've thoroughly enjoyed a week off work and have to say this has helped me complete the detox.


I won't deny there have been a few cheats - literally the odd piece of chicken from Mr.L's plate - but I am proud that I have the end in sight & achieved what I set out to do. 
For me a kick up the a***!!

I didn't have my full daily allocation of juices because I was FULL!! 
My energy levels remained the same initially but towards the end of this week I would say they have increased. I didn't have headache as I expected.

Going forward I will slowly introduce food back into my diet, but in smaller portions and healthier snacks as this is where I have taken to eating cake etc. 

I need to organise my lunch for work and shall be eating slow release energy foods. As it says in the book, my body is looking forward to some healthy FOOD, not craving biscuits and cake at all - which I usually would.

I shall still be juicing -  replacing my cereal breakfast and one day a week I will be having a juice day.


I won't lie - it has been hard - when all the family tucked in to an Indian, gggrrr, but my reserve was strong ;-) Today in particular I am sick of juice haha! I was so happy when I got up on Day 5 and it was a different juice to start the day. There are variations of recipes to choose though :-)

But, the result's are definitely worth it. At the start the book advises measuring your arms, legs, waist etc. and weighing yourself. I didn't. We don't have scales and I forgot to measure, but I really don't think you need to. I know I have lost weight, my tummy is flat, my face is slimmer and so are the tops of my legs. Just the kick start I needed as I am not one to waste the hard work I have done this week!!


Have a wonderful weekend.
Thanks for dropping by.
XX