Body Beautiful Update 3

So the last time I checked, I had lost another 4lbs!!! Whoo hoooooo!

Well it's not epic, but it's moving in the right direction right?

What I'm doing:

At least 5 workouts a week - at least 45 mins in length - high intensity cardio, with some resistance/strength work.  I have some weights at home, but have yet to put them to real use (squats, lunges, tricep dips I've been doing a-plenty).

And I'm lucky enough that the building I work in has a fantastic restaurant (canteen) where I can get everything from the most healthy to the most rich and fattening food every day for a very fair price.  Some days I fail, but some days, the salads look as delicious as the less healthful options.  On a good day, lunch is looking like this:

Mixed salad (containing artichoke, avocado, beans, broccoli,

cucumber, fennel, green pepper, red cabbage, red and yellow cherry tomatoes)

and

fresh sundried tomato bread 

Mmmmmmm.

Bringing [extra]sexy back ;0) one day at a time,

Pooks

Body Beautiful Update 2

Spring seems to have sprung!  It is actually warm at the moment! (Happy dance).  I sit on the 5th floor of my office building, where I am situated next to floor-to-ceiling windows, and as a self-diagnosed SAD sufferer, nothing gives me greater pleasure on days like this, than the blue sky and beaming sun outside.  Well, what've I been up to in the gorgeous weather?

Last week I:
- walked 13.2 miles
- did 1 group fitness class
- ate relatively well

According to the scales ya girl is 2 LBS down!

On one of my walks home, I actually bumped into UK fitness guru Joanna Hall (I have several of her workout DVDs at home) and was a little starstruck.  In other news, I've not been feeling well, but instead of taking it lying down, in true naturallovesong style (natural health and prevention over pharmaceutical intervention) I was making spinach garlicky guacamole, my homemade cold remedies, smoothie-ing, souping, and getting it all out of my system #yuckybutnecessary. 

I realised the other day I've not had a piece of chocolate for about 6 weeks now!  They say it takes 21 days to make or break a habit so I'm in the clear for now (*fine print: I'm not swearing off chocolate for life, just taking a break from it, lol). 

Enjoy today!




6th April - Bumped into Joanna Hall!



River Thames (Tower Bridge in the distance)



Body Beautiful Update

So... I've not been exercising like everyday, but I have been eating well and keeping sweets to a bare minimum  and no chocolate guys, I'm taking a break off that cocoacrack, that's my kryptonite!  How am I managing this?  Well, I'm starting my day off with my 'Waistlength Cocktail'** (so dubbed by the ladies of LongHairCareForum), snacking on this stuff:

... and eating as many green leafies and raw salads as possible.  At the same time I'm still a foodie, so I am in no wise gonna be eating only salads every day, that just isn't going to happen.  I've been really busy with church events, lots of rehearsals coming up in the next few weeks leading up to more events, but I also want to pick up my exercising.  For a few weeks last year, I was walking to work every morning (about an hour's walk), but the weather is still cold and miserable right now so I'm not feeling so inspired to pick back that up yet.

**Hair Cocktail Recipe from the book “How I Stopped Growing Bald and Started Growing Hair” by Dale Alexander

Ingredients:
¾ cup of whole milk (I sub this with rice/almond milk)
1 raw egg (I've stopped using the egg for the moment)
1 tbs. raw wheat germ oil
2 tbs. raw wheat germ (cannot be toasted)
For flavour you can add in a few strawberries / blueberries or some other fruit

Blend at low speed for thirty to sixty seconds.  Drink this blended mixture promptly.  This drink should serve as your complete breakfast.  Do not eat or drink anything else for two hours after drinking this mixture.  Keep all ingredients refrigerated until use.  Once you notice the changes in your hair you may cut down on the daily intake of the hair cocktail and take it only twice a week.  Of course, since it is a healthful drink, you may prefer to continue taking it indefinitely.

New Year, Old Me! (Weight loss Journey)

Something doesn’t look quite right does it?  Well, seeing as I have no interest in joining the ranks of new year resolution enthusiasts (read ‘people who make big and wowing claims for the new year, and undoubtedly failing by mid-Feb’), I am taking my own view on this.  So what’s the problem, and how’m I gonna fix it?  Well, the problem people is that I am turning into a fatty – or at least WAS.

Well, I wouldn't say I’m ‘big boneded’ (LOL, love that excuse-laden term), but rather 'blessed' with a generous helping of hips and derriere, small waist and a healthy appetite.  When I was about 21 I noticed a few extra pounds gathering in my midsection.  Instead of waiting til my waist totally disappeared, I started a rigorous cardio exercise regime and started eating more ‘healthy’ foods in the appropriate portions.  I’m only 5”1 and a bit, and at my lowest weight I arrived at 9 stone / 126 lbs (which according to the charts I was obsessed with at the time) put me at a healthy weight - to family and friends I was apparently too skinny.  Anywho, fastforward a few years, up to two weeks ago in fact, and the reaction to the weight I saw when I hopped onto the scales … ? Good Lord, absolute horror!  Anyway, seeing as I’ve done the weight loss thing before, and am a self-proclaimed health food nut, I am going back in search of MY perfect bod again.  My body inspiration is myself circa  6 years ago.

I’ll be posting updates about what I’m eating, what exercise I’ve done and hopefully how much weight I’ve lost!

Be well! 

Pooks