The winter is a time when ailments tend to visit us, with colds and the flu often a frequent issue, as the weather changes and our body is more susceptible to bugs and viruses. We are still a long way off the winter here in Australia, but here are some great oral hygiene tips to help prevent the onset of colds and the flu when the temperatures drop.
- Stay Hydrated - We don’t always drink enough water in the cold season and this could have a negative impact on our health. If you do go down with a cold, or worse, the flu, then it is critical that you stay hydrated, so get into a routine that includes drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning, after lunch, in the afternoon, and during the evening.
- Reduce Your Sugar Intake - This is something you should try to do all year round, and especially in the colder months, as sugar is the major cause of tooth decay, and if you do ingest anything with high sugar content, always brush and floss directly after. You can also rinse your mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash, which will help to remove sugar from your teeth enamel.
- Professional Teeth Cleaning - This is always a good idea, and something the dentist would recommend prior to teeth whitening in Sydney, which is a popular cosmetic dental treatment. Having your teeth professionally cleaned is recommended prior to laser teeth whitening treatment, but the treatment can be carried out at any time. Some people have their teeth professionally cleaned every year, which reduces the risk of tooth decay, and with proper brushing and flossing every day, you are minimising the risk of cavities.
- Take Vitamin Supplements - This can really help your body deal with the climate change, and that could be enough to protect you against common winter bugs. Start at the end of the summer and if you feel the benefits, why not continue taking the supplements all year?
- Cold Sores - These can suddenly erupt at any time, but are more likely to occur in the colder months of the year. In the event you have a cold sore, resist the temptation to pick it, and apply some cold sore ointment, which will promote the natural healing process.
- Use Lip Balm - The cold wind can easily cause chapped lips and the best form of protection is to apply lip balm as the cold weather arrives. Chapped lips can be extremely painful and rather than wait for it to happen, start protecting your lips with balm before the cold weather arrives. There are articles available online that share tips on how best to treat chapped lips.
The cold winter months are a time when we can suffer from colds and flu, and by taking the above advice, you are reducing the risk of catching a common cold. It is important to have a good oral hygiene routine, not just in the winter, but all year round, and you should schedule an oral examination by your dentist at least once a year.
This article is published in partnership with Mediabuzzer
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Today I started an 8 week Shape Up challenge with my gym Creazione. The challenge basically pushes you to shape up your body in 8 weeks through guided training sessions set by a team leader, group training sessions and a nutrition plan. You are measured on your weight, body fat and inch loss.
You are placed into a team which is led by one of the fantastic trainers at the gym who is your guide and support for the 8 weeks.
At the end of the 8 weeks there is a big party where all the winners are announced. There are prizes for individuals who 'shape up' the most and also the teams that perform the best.
I have taken part in the challenge in previous years and I love it. I can't recommend it enough. Creazione is without a doubt the friendliest gym I've ever been a member of. The support that you get from the gym, your team and other members is incredible. It enables you to stay focused and determined.
This time around I am going into this challenge with a new mindset. I am placed in a team led by my amazing personal trainer, Elliot Williams and I couldn't be happier. I've had 15 personal training sessions with Elliot (one a week) since the summer and I have already achieved and progressed massively. My fitness levels and techniques have improved greatly since we started. Honestly, I was a shambles beforehand. How I hadn't injured myself on a weight machine I'll never know. He has taught me technique, tips, tricks and has given me his complete support. One of my first goals was to be able to do a press-up on my toes (I couldn't even do them on my knees). I thought this was going to take me ages to master but he managed to get me to do them within in 2 sessions.
Above all he has managed to change my attitude towards the gym. I no longer see it as a chore but it is something I enjoy and look forward to. Also the benefits it has had on my mental health have been incredible. I haven't had a relapse in my postnatal depression in a very long time which I know is down to my new lifestyle. Elliot is a great team leader and I know I will do well in this challenge under his watchful eye. He's also setting an example to our team by doing the whole challenge with us.
My goals for this challenge are to drop a bit of weight, increase my strength and build some muscle definition and hopefully a dress size which I know I can achieve. I am also hoping to be able to do pull-ups by the end of it (they are my ultimate weakness at the moment).
I'll be sharing the whole challenge with you over on my instagram (kerrylouisenorris) and through blog posts and youtube videos. This is to keep me focused and to also show you what a positive effect it will have on my lifestyle and my mind. I'll share my ups, my downs, my swearing (probably) and my wins. At the end of the challenge I'll reveal my before and after pictures and all of my stats.
You are placed into a team which is led by one of the fantastic trainers at the gym who is your guide and support for the 8 weeks.
At the end of the 8 weeks there is a big party where all the winners are announced. There are prizes for individuals who 'shape up' the most and also the teams that perform the best.
I have taken part in the challenge in previous years and I love it. I can't recommend it enough. Creazione is without a doubt the friendliest gym I've ever been a member of. The support that you get from the gym, your team and other members is incredible. It enables you to stay focused and determined.
This time around I am going into this challenge with a new mindset. I am placed in a team led by my amazing personal trainer, Elliot Williams and I couldn't be happier. I've had 15 personal training sessions with Elliot (one a week) since the summer and I have already achieved and progressed massively. My fitness levels and techniques have improved greatly since we started. Honestly, I was a shambles beforehand. How I hadn't injured myself on a weight machine I'll never know. He has taught me technique, tips, tricks and has given me his complete support. One of my first goals was to be able to do a press-up on my toes (I couldn't even do them on my knees). I thought this was going to take me ages to master but he managed to get me to do them within in 2 sessions.
Above all he has managed to change my attitude towards the gym. I no longer see it as a chore but it is something I enjoy and look forward to. Also the benefits it has had on my mental health have been incredible. I haven't had a relapse in my postnatal depression in a very long time which I know is down to my new lifestyle. Elliot is a great team leader and I know I will do well in this challenge under his watchful eye. He's also setting an example to our team by doing the whole challenge with us.
My goals for this challenge are to drop a bit of weight, increase my strength and build some muscle definition and hopefully a dress size which I know I can achieve. I am also hoping to be able to do pull-ups by the end of it (they are my ultimate weakness at the moment).
I'll be sharing the whole challenge with you over on my instagram (kerrylouisenorris) and through blog posts and youtube videos. This is to keep me focused and to also show you what a positive effect it will have on my lifestyle and my mind. I'll share my ups, my downs, my swearing (probably) and my wins. At the end of the challenge I'll reveal my before and after pictures and all of my stats.
Being a working mum can be pretty tiring and rather stressful. I constantly seem to be busy. If i'm not washing clothes or taking the kids somewhere then I am working a long 10 hour shift. Not only that I suffer with Post Natal Depression (PND). You can read one of my posts here, This is PND for me. I've openly discussed my PND journey across my social media so if you're a regular reader you will know that I am not very good at putting myself first and indulging in self care. I am getting better at it and I now able to recognise when I am becoming burnt out and overwhelmed before it is too late.
I was delighted when John Lewis Cardiff invited me to join them for a well-being Yoga morning. Knowing how busy i've been, this sounded exactly like the mummy me time I needed.
John Lewis is aiming to promote and improve the well-being of its customers by providing a one stop shop for everything you need to relax, destress and indulge in some TLC. Whether that's with a makeover, a hand and arm massage, a shopping trip with a personal stylist, some new gym equipment or simply a coffee and a cake, they aim to maximise your mood.
I was gifted with a fantastic new gym kit from John Lewis and Shock Absorber of a top and cropped trousers to wear to the Yoga Class. I've never tried their gym range before and I must admit I haven't taken them off since. The trousers are very comfortable and supportive.
The Yoga class was a small, intimate class led by local instructor Lorraine. The room was beautifully set and I immediately felt calm and relaxed. The session lasted around 45 minutes and I really enjoyed it. I'm not the most flexible person but it certainly cleared my mind. It was a great way to start the day.
I was then treated to a healthy breakfast in the John Lewis restaurant along with some refreshing fruit tea's whilst watching a demonstration of the Nutri Bullet.
My pampering didn't end there. I was then given a lovely hand and arm massage by the ladies from Liz Earle. I'm a big fan of their products, especially their cleansing hot cloth. The products they used smelt amazing.
I really enjoyed my morning of well being. It helped to remind me to look after myself and practice mindfulness too. I came away from the event feeling positive and ready to take on the day.
You can check your local store for a list of their events here, What's on.
*Thank you to John Lewis Cardiff for inviting me to the well-being event and gifting me a goody bag. All views and opinions are my own and as always are truthful*
I was delighted when John Lewis Cardiff invited me to join them for a well-being Yoga morning. Knowing how busy i've been, this sounded exactly like the mummy me time I needed.
John Lewis is aiming to promote and improve the well-being of its customers by providing a one stop shop for everything you need to relax, destress and indulge in some TLC. Whether that's with a makeover, a hand and arm massage, a shopping trip with a personal stylist, some new gym equipment or simply a coffee and a cake, they aim to maximise your mood.
I was gifted with a fantastic new gym kit from John Lewis and Shock Absorber of a top and cropped trousers to wear to the Yoga Class. I've never tried their gym range before and I must admit I haven't taken them off since. The trousers are very comfortable and supportive.
The Yoga class was a small, intimate class led by local instructor Lorraine. The room was beautifully set and I immediately felt calm and relaxed. The session lasted around 45 minutes and I really enjoyed it. I'm not the most flexible person but it certainly cleared my mind. It was a great way to start the day.
I was then treated to a healthy breakfast in the John Lewis restaurant along with some refreshing fruit tea's whilst watching a demonstration of the Nutri Bullet.
My pampering didn't end there. I was then given a lovely hand and arm massage by the ladies from Liz Earle. I'm a big fan of their products, especially their cleansing hot cloth. The products they used smelt amazing.
I really enjoyed my morning of well being. It helped to remind me to look after myself and practice mindfulness too. I came away from the event feeling positive and ready to take on the day.
You can check your local store for a list of their events here, What's on.
*Thank you to John Lewis Cardiff for inviting me to the well-being event and gifting me a goody bag. All views and opinions are my own and as always are truthful*
After the success of my Winnie the Pooh quotes for mindfulness post, I decided to start a series and use all of the Disney films. Disney is my happy place and there are always lots of strong messages hidden within each film.
If you didn't catch my last post you can read it here, 15 Winnie the Pooh Quotes for Mindfulness
This post focuses on Beauty and the Beast. There are many wise words said or sung during this film which are perfect for mindfulness.
1) You don't lose hope, love. If you do, you lose everything - Mrs Potts
2) You should learn to control your temper - Belle
3) If it's not Baroque, don't fix it! - Cogsworth
4) It'll turn out all right in the end, you'll see - Mrs Potts
5) Love doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to be true
6) People think i'm odd, so I know how it feels to be different, and I know how lonely that can be -Belle
7) Love doesn't conquer all, but without love, nothing can be conquered
8) You don't have to be timid. You must be bold, daring
9) Don't I deserve the best? - Gaston
10) We're together now, everything's going to be fine - Belle
11) If you're stressed, it's fine dining we suggest - Lumiere
12) Bittersweet and strange, finding you can change, learning you were wrong
13) We don't like what we don't understand, in fact it scares us
14) I want adventure in the great wide somewhere, I want it more than I can tell - Belle
15) That girl is strange but special
If you didn't catch my last post you can read it here, 15 Winnie the Pooh Quotes for Mindfulness
This post focuses on Beauty and the Beast. There are many wise words said or sung during this film which are perfect for mindfulness.
1) You don't lose hope, love. If you do, you lose everything - Mrs Potts
2) You should learn to control your temper - Belle
3) If it's not Baroque, don't fix it! - Cogsworth
4) It'll turn out all right in the end, you'll see - Mrs Potts
5) Love doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to be true
6) People think i'm odd, so I know how it feels to be different, and I know how lonely that can be -Belle
7) Love doesn't conquer all, but without love, nothing can be conquered
8) You don't have to be timid. You must be bold, daring
9) Don't I deserve the best? - Gaston
10) We're together now, everything's going to be fine - Belle
11) If you're stressed, it's fine dining we suggest - Lumiere
12) Bittersweet and strange, finding you can change, learning you were wrong
13) We don't like what we don't understand, in fact it scares us
14) I want adventure in the great wide somewhere, I want it more than I can tell - Belle
15) That girl is strange but special
It's taken me a while to decide to write this post as I wasn't sure whether people would understand. There are so many body positive people around and I hate to admit it but I still can't get on board with loving my post baby body. In fact I hate it. I am the least body positive person you will find and when I see people loving their post baby shape and embracing their bodies, i'm jealous. I want to feel like that. So why can't I?
This is a question i've been asking myself for a long time. I see images on instagram of amazing mums embracing their shape, going to the gym, the healthy eating images, mums eating boxes of chocolates etc and they are all confident and happy with the way they look. However, when I take a picture I can honestly tell you I scrutinise it for about an hour. Millions of silly questions and thoughts pop in to my self doubted mind. Do I look fat in it? Oh my god look at my chin! My legs look massive. I look huge in that coat. I am never, ever wearing that again. Why can't I just look at the picture and be happy? Why do I sit there and tear myself apart like some deranged, hormonal, high school chick. I thought the days of worrying over how other people view me were left at the school gates 15 years ago.
It doesn't just stop at photos. We have a long mirror in our bedroom. Every time I walk past it, I stand there and analyse myself, from the front, side and back. Why do I keep doing that? Nothing will have changed in the couple of hours since I last checked. I'll get dressed in the morning (which by the way takes ages as i'll have spent the best part of half an hour finding something that covers my mum tum and jumping up and down to squeeze into my jeans) and then I stand there and criticise myself from top to bottom. My husband constantly tells me off about this and has threatened to remove the mirror as he's sick of seeing me body shame myself on a daily basis.
Here's how I view other mummies and their take on their post baby bodies. You either get the chai eating, smoothie drinking, in the gym 24/7 mummies or the I am embracing my curves and scars and my body is beautiful mummies. Why can I not be in either of these categories? So as a nearly 32 year old mum of 2, one naturally and one through caesarean I am the mummy who hates my stretch marks and scars, hates my curves and hates my extra weight gain. There i've said it and I feel better for saying it.
I've written this post to hopefully show other mums who feel like me that it is actually ok to say it. It is ok to say you know what, I feel and look like shit. I bet there are other mums out there who put on a front but deep down they feel like shit. I'm saying it's ok to say it as I've honestly come to the point where now I've said it out loud i'm going to start making a change to help me learn to love myself.
But back to the original part. Why haven't I been able to accept my post baby body? When I sit down and really think about why i'm so unhappy it's pretty clear that I had very unrealistic expectations of what I'd be like after having kids.
I'm not gonna lie, I expected to look like an instant milf after giving birth. I imagined the photos of me holding my newborn with a bouncy blow dry and glowing skin with make up on. I imagine waltzing out of the hospital, holding on to the car seat and owning the corridor like it was a catwalk. In reality the glow on my face was sweat, I had a nighty on from Primark with was a size 16 and something that my great nan would have worn back in the day and my outfit for leaving hospital resembled the tracksuit trend from the 90's. Don't even get me started on the walk. The only thing I was owning was a John Wayne impression. Not to worry, i'll be in the gym in no time and sipping coffees with my friends in my skinny jeans wearing my sunnies. Wrong!!
I wasn't expecting to still be in maternity jeans for months down the line or hideous over sized nursing clothes. This is not what I imagined. I was expecting to have the sass and confidence that matched Kim Kardashian. When we went to a wedding I was expecting look as elegant and graceful as Kate Middleton, truth be told I looked more like Mrs Blobby.
And that is where the problem lies. The expectation and the pressure that is put on us by the media and every day life to bounce back into shape and look as good as you did 9 months previously. Our cultures obsession with weight is draining. It makes me so angry that I've spent the best part of four years obsessing over something that is insignificant. I should be focusing on motherhood and setting an example to my girls. Do I want them to scrutinise themselves over their weight the way I do? Hell No!!! It would break my heart if I saw either of them analysing themselves in the mirror. It's time to change.
Nobody tells you how hard motherhood is going to be. How tiring it's going to be. How somedays you won't even be able to leave the house, let alone get dressed and look and feel a million dollars.
It's difficult for women. Nobody tells you hard motherhood is going to be, just like no one ever tells you that tampons can kill you thanks to Toxic Shock Syndrome or that you'll find hairs everywhere one day.
This is a question i've been asking myself for a long time. I see images on instagram of amazing mums embracing their shape, going to the gym, the healthy eating images, mums eating boxes of chocolates etc and they are all confident and happy with the way they look. However, when I take a picture I can honestly tell you I scrutinise it for about an hour. Millions of silly questions and thoughts pop in to my self doubted mind. Do I look fat in it? Oh my god look at my chin! My legs look massive. I look huge in that coat. I am never, ever wearing that again. Why can't I just look at the picture and be happy? Why do I sit there and tear myself apart like some deranged, hormonal, high school chick. I thought the days of worrying over how other people view me were left at the school gates 15 years ago.
It doesn't just stop at photos. We have a long mirror in our bedroom. Every time I walk past it, I stand there and analyse myself, from the front, side and back. Why do I keep doing that? Nothing will have changed in the couple of hours since I last checked. I'll get dressed in the morning (which by the way takes ages as i'll have spent the best part of half an hour finding something that covers my mum tum and jumping up and down to squeeze into my jeans) and then I stand there and criticise myself from top to bottom. My husband constantly tells me off about this and has threatened to remove the mirror as he's sick of seeing me body shame myself on a daily basis.
Here's how I view other mummies and their take on their post baby bodies. You either get the chai eating, smoothie drinking, in the gym 24/7 mummies or the I am embracing my curves and scars and my body is beautiful mummies. Why can I not be in either of these categories? So as a nearly 32 year old mum of 2, one naturally and one through caesarean I am the mummy who hates my stretch marks and scars, hates my curves and hates my extra weight gain. There i've said it and I feel better for saying it.
I've written this post to hopefully show other mums who feel like me that it is actually ok to say it. It is ok to say you know what, I feel and look like shit. I bet there are other mums out there who put on a front but deep down they feel like shit. I'm saying it's ok to say it as I've honestly come to the point where now I've said it out loud i'm going to start making a change to help me learn to love myself.
But back to the original part. Why haven't I been able to accept my post baby body? When I sit down and really think about why i'm so unhappy it's pretty clear that I had very unrealistic expectations of what I'd be like after having kids.
I'm not gonna lie, I expected to look like an instant milf after giving birth. I imagined the photos of me holding my newborn with a bouncy blow dry and glowing skin with make up on. I imagine waltzing out of the hospital, holding on to the car seat and owning the corridor like it was a catwalk. In reality the glow on my face was sweat, I had a nighty on from Primark with was a size 16 and something that my great nan would have worn back in the day and my outfit for leaving hospital resembled the tracksuit trend from the 90's. Don't even get me started on the walk. The only thing I was owning was a John Wayne impression. Not to worry, i'll be in the gym in no time and sipping coffees with my friends in my skinny jeans wearing my sunnies. Wrong!!
I wasn't expecting to still be in maternity jeans for months down the line or hideous over sized nursing clothes. This is not what I imagined. I was expecting to have the sass and confidence that matched Kim Kardashian. When we went to a wedding I was expecting look as elegant and graceful as Kate Middleton, truth be told I looked more like Mrs Blobby.
And that is where the problem lies. The expectation and the pressure that is put on us by the media and every day life to bounce back into shape and look as good as you did 9 months previously. Our cultures obsession with weight is draining. It makes me so angry that I've spent the best part of four years obsessing over something that is insignificant. I should be focusing on motherhood and setting an example to my girls. Do I want them to scrutinise themselves over their weight the way I do? Hell No!!! It would break my heart if I saw either of them analysing themselves in the mirror. It's time to change.
Nobody tells you how hard motherhood is going to be. How tiring it's going to be. How somedays you won't even be able to leave the house, let alone get dressed and look and feel a million dollars.
It's difficult for women. Nobody tells you hard motherhood is going to be, just like no one ever tells you that tampons can kill you thanks to Toxic Shock Syndrome or that you'll find hairs everywhere one day.
Don't get me wrong I love exercise and healthy eating but I should be doing that because I want to do it not because i'm hoping it'll make me some sort of size 6 queen.
It's going to take a while but eventually I will be a body positive mum. I will embrace my curves and I will find myself sexy again. I've just got to remember that very point. It will take time!!
I've got to stop being so hard on myself and realise that my truly amazing body not only grew, developed and looked after 2 babies, it then managed to safely bring them into the world. It has also never failed me during my years of motherhood. Ok there have been some blips and a couple of minor operations but it managed to feed the girls, get me up in the middle of the night, carry them when my arms were exhausted and keep me going when I was sleep deprived. Having a mummy body is a miracle really when you think about it! Mum bodies are awesome!
So there you have it. Four years down the line my journey to accepting my post baby body has just begun.
It's going to take a while but eventually I will be a body positive mum. I will embrace my curves and I will find myself sexy again. I've just got to remember that very point. It will take time!!
I've got to stop being so hard on myself and realise that my truly amazing body not only grew, developed and looked after 2 babies, it then managed to safely bring them into the world. It has also never failed me during my years of motherhood. Ok there have been some blips and a couple of minor operations but it managed to feed the girls, get me up in the middle of the night, carry them when my arms were exhausted and keep me going when I was sleep deprived. Having a mummy body is a miracle really when you think about it! Mum bodies are awesome!
So there you have it. Four years down the line my journey to accepting my post baby body has just begun.
With hubby starting work again this week in a job that see's him away from the house early in the morning until late in the evening, I need to be more organised so I've now starting meal planning. I wish I had done this a lot sooner as it really makes things easier.
We are both back on a healthy eating mission after consuming way too much naughty food over the Christmas/new year period plus a few weeks after whilst my family were visiting from Australia. We're actually having different meals to the kids which is silly as it makes more work for me but i'm batch cooking lots of their meals and using the slow cooker. Their meal plan will be in a separate post.
I was browsing all of my cookbooks for healthy meal inspiration and I found it a bit too much so I decided to just use one cookbook per week and some recipes of my own. This week I've decided to use Kayla Itsines - 28 day healthy eating and lifestyle book. I've followed her on Facebook for a long time. I've completely fallen in love with this book. It's packed full of recipes with food we love to eat.
It's Chinese New Year this weekend so we're also planning to have something to mark the occasion but something that's as healthy as possible. You can't beat a fakeaway.
Our meal plan for the week beginning 23rd January 2017:
Monday - Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki (using a wholemeal wrap)
Tuesday - Fish Tacos (using a wholemeal wrap)
Wednesday - Chicken, Sweet Potato, Caramelised Onion and Rocket Pizza (using a wholemeal pitta bread as the base)
Thursday - Jerk Chicken with Rice and Beans, Mango Salsa and Lime Yoghurt
Friday - Halloumi Burgers (my own recipe)
Saturday - Sweet and Sour Chicken with Rice (homemade healthy fakeaway)
Sunday - Roast Dinner (at a family dinner)
There you have it. I'll update you at the end of the week with what we had for breakfast and lunch too.
What are your favourite healthy meals?
We are both back on a healthy eating mission after consuming way too much naughty food over the Christmas/new year period plus a few weeks after whilst my family were visiting from Australia. We're actually having different meals to the kids which is silly as it makes more work for me but i'm batch cooking lots of their meals and using the slow cooker. Their meal plan will be in a separate post.
I was browsing all of my cookbooks for healthy meal inspiration and I found it a bit too much so I decided to just use one cookbook per week and some recipes of my own. This week I've decided to use Kayla Itsines - 28 day healthy eating and lifestyle book. I've followed her on Facebook for a long time. I've completely fallen in love with this book. It's packed full of recipes with food we love to eat.
It's Chinese New Year this weekend so we're also planning to have something to mark the occasion but something that's as healthy as possible. You can't beat a fakeaway.
Our meal plan for the week beginning 23rd January 2017:
Monday - Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki (using a wholemeal wrap)
Tuesday - Fish Tacos (using a wholemeal wrap)
Wednesday - Chicken, Sweet Potato, Caramelised Onion and Rocket Pizza (using a wholemeal pitta bread as the base)
Thursday - Jerk Chicken with Rice and Beans, Mango Salsa and Lime Yoghurt
Friday - Halloumi Burgers (my own recipe)
Saturday - Sweet and Sour Chicken with Rice (homemade healthy fakeaway)
Sunday - Roast Dinner (at a family dinner)
There you have it. I'll update you at the end of the week with what we had for breakfast and lunch too.
What are your favourite healthy meals?
You may have remembered me talking about how unconfident I am with my post natal body. I know it's only been 4 months since I had Ophelia but with a caesarean and then going on a 3 month trip to Australia, exercise and a healthy diet seem to have taken a back burner.
To help me get motivated and back on track a little angel sent from above popped along and offered me a chance to review one of Lucy Mecklenburgh's fitness programmes from https://www.resultswithlucy.com. As you can imagine I jumped at the opportunity. This is exactly what I needed to kick start my healthy lifestyle again.
I have followed Lucy's fitness career closely since she left the tv show 'the only way is essex'. Like me she used to hate exercise and the thought of going to the gym was daunting. If you see her now she has transformed into a stunning, healthy, strong woman. She is definitely a fitness inspiration of mine. I've followed the Results With Lucy instagram and twitter pages for a while now and I love seeing the motivational quotes and results images shared by users.
The plan i'm reviewing is called Wobble To Model which lasts for 6 weeks and is all available online so you can do it from the comfort of your own home. This is ideal for a busy mum like myself. It usually costs £39.99 and they have a money back guarantee if you don't see any change. It's an intermediate plan which aims to strengthen and build muscle. This is exactly what I need as i've dropped weight since the birth but I have not toned up at all. The plan includes progressive workouts to follow and a daily meal plan. I love the fact that the plan is so supportive. Hopefully, the structured nature will keep me focused.
I've had to take some before photos and measurements of my body which I will share with you in a future blog post. I've already started the plan and I am enjoying it. Keep your eyes peeled for all of my update posts to see how I am progressing.
I am my own worst enemy as every time I walk past a mirror, I start over analysing myself. I want to feel body confident again and comfortable in my clothes. I want to be able to walk into a shop and know that I can pick any outfit I'd like without worrying about whether it will suit me.
I know lots of people will be reading this thinking give yourself a break but I was always a health and fitness enthusiast. Before I became pregnant I was exercising at least 4 times a week and eating a healthy diet. When I was pregnant I got into a habit of eating badly and not exercising at all. It's a vicious cycle really as here I am 4 months down the line since giving birth and I have cabin fever about exercising, especially in public.
This is a picture of me before I became pregnant. I was in the best shape I had ever been in. I was strong, healthy and confident. I loved the feeling that gave me.
To help me get motivated and back on track a little angel sent from above popped along and offered me a chance to review one of Lucy Mecklenburgh's fitness programmes from https://www.resultswithlucy.com. As you can imagine I jumped at the opportunity. This is exactly what I needed to kick start my healthy lifestyle again.
I have followed Lucy's fitness career closely since she left the tv show 'the only way is essex'. Like me she used to hate exercise and the thought of going to the gym was daunting. If you see her now she has transformed into a stunning, healthy, strong woman. She is definitely a fitness inspiration of mine. I've followed the Results With Lucy instagram and twitter pages for a while now and I love seeing the motivational quotes and results images shared by users.
The plan i'm reviewing is called Wobble To Model which lasts for 6 weeks and is all available online so you can do it from the comfort of your own home. This is ideal for a busy mum like myself. It usually costs £39.99 and they have a money back guarantee if you don't see any change. It's an intermediate plan which aims to strengthen and build muscle. This is exactly what I need as i've dropped weight since the birth but I have not toned up at all. The plan includes progressive workouts to follow and a daily meal plan. I love the fact that the plan is so supportive. Hopefully, the structured nature will keep me focused.
I've had to take some before photos and measurements of my body which I will share with you in a future blog post. I've already started the plan and I am enjoying it. Keep your eyes peeled for all of my update posts to see how I am progressing.
I was recently contacted by Babymoov to review their Lovenest pillow and to help raise awareness for World Plagiocephaly Awareness Day. If i'm being completely honest, I didn't have a clue what Plagiocephaly was. This is pretty shocking considering I have had 2 children.
Plagiocephaly is better known as flat head syndrome and is a condition that affects half of all babies under the age of 1. It's diagnosed when a babies head is flat at the back or sides. It's caused through too much pressure on the soft skull bones which haven't fused. Too much pressure can be caused from a baby spending an excessive amount of time lying in one position on their backs in things such as their cot, car seat, mats and bouncers and swings.
Preventative treatments include tummy time, feeding on both sides, changing the way you hold/carry your baby and by moving the position of toys in cots etc to change the focus of your baby. These are things that we are probably doing without even realising but when you hear about the condition, you can understand just how important these actions are.
As I mentioned earlier I am now on my 2nd child and I have never had this condition discussed with me at all by any healthcare individual I have encountered through my pregnancies, birth and post natal experiences.
Babymoov are committed to helping raise awareness and treatment of this condition and they have created a great product called the Lovenest which is a pillow that has been made in collaboration with a paediatrician. The ergonomic design features an incline which helps to ensure pressure is evenly distributed across babies head. This helps maintain the natural curvature of the skull. It also works to ensure good ventilation during sleep. It's designed to be used from birth up to 4 months and can be used in moses baskets, cots, pushchairs and bouncers.
We've got the white Lovenest pillow and we've been using it for quite a few weeks now. Ophelia sleeps on it every night and we use it during the day if she is ever on her play mat. I must admit I keep forgetting to take it out with me to use in the pram.
We love it. It's been a big hit in our household. Ophelia seems very comfortable when using it at night. It seems to prevent her from moving around which is also a bonus. She gets a good night sleep with it.
I love the heart shape and design of the pillow. It's simple but looks quite modern. It's got a pretty sparkle pattern on the top which I really like. I also really like the fact that the product is small. This makes a big change to every other baby product around. I don't know about you but I tend to find most baby gadgets to be huge considering they are for such tiny people.
The pillow can also be washed easily. This type of feature always earns brownie points with me.
Overall, I would recommend this to any parents. It's a great product which helps to prevent Plagiocephaly. It costs £14.99 which I think is very reasonable and it comes in 6 different colours. You can purchase it directly from Babymoov here, Lovenest.
Ophelia is now coming to an age where she has almost outgrown the pillow so we are definitely going to get the next stage which is the Cosydream which again has been designed to ensure optimal safety when baby is lying on its back.
Have you heard of Plagiocephaly? Are you well informed on the condition? Did your health visitor explain this to you?
Plagiocephaly is better known as flat head syndrome and is a condition that affects half of all babies under the age of 1. It's diagnosed when a babies head is flat at the back or sides. It's caused through too much pressure on the soft skull bones which haven't fused. Too much pressure can be caused from a baby spending an excessive amount of time lying in one position on their backs in things such as their cot, car seat, mats and bouncers and swings.
Preventative treatments include tummy time, feeding on both sides, changing the way you hold/carry your baby and by moving the position of toys in cots etc to change the focus of your baby. These are things that we are probably doing without even realising but when you hear about the condition, you can understand just how important these actions are.
As I mentioned earlier I am now on my 2nd child and I have never had this condition discussed with me at all by any healthcare individual I have encountered through my pregnancies, birth and post natal experiences.
Babymoov are committed to helping raise awareness and treatment of this condition and they have created a great product called the Lovenest which is a pillow that has been made in collaboration with a paediatrician. The ergonomic design features an incline which helps to ensure pressure is evenly distributed across babies head. This helps maintain the natural curvature of the skull. It also works to ensure good ventilation during sleep. It's designed to be used from birth up to 4 months and can be used in moses baskets, cots, pushchairs and bouncers.
We've got the white Lovenest pillow and we've been using it for quite a few weeks now. Ophelia sleeps on it every night and we use it during the day if she is ever on her play mat. I must admit I keep forgetting to take it out with me to use in the pram.
We love it. It's been a big hit in our household. Ophelia seems very comfortable when using it at night. It seems to prevent her from moving around which is also a bonus. She gets a good night sleep with it.
I love the heart shape and design of the pillow. It's simple but looks quite modern. It's got a pretty sparkle pattern on the top which I really like. I also really like the fact that the product is small. This makes a big change to every other baby product around. I don't know about you but I tend to find most baby gadgets to be huge considering they are for such tiny people.
The pillow can also be washed easily. This type of feature always earns brownie points with me.
Overall, I would recommend this to any parents. It's a great product which helps to prevent Plagiocephaly. It costs £14.99 which I think is very reasonable and it comes in 6 different colours. You can purchase it directly from Babymoov here, Lovenest.
Ophelia is now coming to an age where she has almost outgrown the pillow so we are definitely going to get the next stage which is the Cosydream which again has been designed to ensure optimal safety when baby is lying on its back.
Have you heard of Plagiocephaly? Are you well informed on the condition? Did your health visitor explain this to you?
As I mentioned before in my blog post I'm Bringing Sexy Back, I am trying to alter my lifestyle and become fit and healthy again. I'm trying to achieve this through a new attitude, exercising and eating a high protein, low carb diet.
There are various obstacles in my way which means I can't dive into this straight away. Firstly, I had a caesarean so I can't go crazy with exercise. I'm starting with lighter exercise and will increase the intensity every week. Secondly, I now have 2 children. Time is not readily available and thirdly i'm on a very long extended holiday. I'm in Australia until mid march so it's rather difficult to not treat myself at times.
There are various obstacles in my way which means I can't dive into this straight away. Firstly, I had a caesarean so I can't go crazy with exercise. I'm starting with lighter exercise and will increase the intensity every week. Secondly, I now have 2 children. Time is not readily available and thirdly i'm on a very long extended holiday. I'm in Australia until mid march so it's rather difficult to not treat myself at times.
I decided to join a gym here for a month to really get myself motivated. I also bought some light kettlebells to use at my mums house. I took photos in my bikini which I will share with you in a few weeks time to see if there has been any change in my body shape.
Week 1:
Monday:
Breakfast - Blueberry Greek Yogurt
Lunch - Slices of ham and cheese
Dinner - Chorizo and chicken recipe from the Lean in 15 book
Snack - Mango
Exercise - Gym using the cross trainer and some arms and legs machines
Breakfast - Blueberry Greek Yogurt
Lunch - Slices of ham and cheese
Dinner - Chorizo and chicken recipe from the Lean in 15 book
Snack - Mango
Exercise - Gym using the cross trainer and some arms and legs machines
Tuesday:
Breakfast - Plain Greek Yogurt with a banana
Lunch - Feta salad
Dinner - BBQ, Sausages, lamb kofta, salad and red peppers
Snack - Chocolate protein ball
Alcohol - 2 glasses of sparkling red shiraz (It was Australia Day so I had to celebrate lol)
Breakfast - Plain Greek Yogurt with a banana
Lunch - Feta salad
Dinner - BBQ, Sausages, lamb kofta, salad and red peppers
Snack - Chocolate protein ball
Alcohol - 2 glasses of sparkling red shiraz (It was Australia Day so I had to celebrate lol)
Wednesday:
Breakfast - Greek Yogurt
Lunch - Nandos Chicken thighs on their own
Dinner - Chilli from the Lean in 15 book which I loved. I was amazed I didn't miss the rice.
Exercise - Kettlebells circuit
Breakfast - Greek Yogurt
Lunch - Nandos Chicken thighs on their own
Dinner - Chilli from the Lean in 15 book which I loved. I was amazed I didn't miss the rice.
Exercise - Kettlebells circuit
Thursday:
Today I was rather ill with diarrhoea and vomitting. I only are 2 plain chicken wings in the evening as I felt so rough
Today I was rather ill with diarrhoea and vomitting. I only are 2 plain chicken wings in the evening as I felt so rough
Friday:
Breakfast - Blueberry Greek Yogurt
Lunch - 2 big rice cakes
Dinner - Chicken wings
Exercise - Gym, treadmill, arms and legs machines
Breakfast - Blueberry Greek Yogurt
Lunch - 2 big rice cakes
Dinner - Chicken wings
Exercise - Gym, treadmill, arms and legs machines
Saturday:
Breakfast - 2 boiled eggs
Lunch - Salad
Dinner - Salmon and salad
Exercise - Kettlebells circuit
Breakfast - 2 boiled eggs
Lunch - Salad
Dinner - Salmon and salad
Exercise - Kettlebells circuit
Sunday:
Breakfast - Scrambled egg with cheese
Lunch - Chicken salad
Dinner - Fajitas without the wraps
Snack - We went to the Guylian chocolate cafe so I obviously had to treat myself to one of their cakes.
As you can see i've had a rough start but as I said i'm not going into this fully for a few weeks, I'm easing myself in.
Have you got any good lunch time ideas for a high protein, low carb diet that I can eat out and about? I think this is where I have fallen down a lot. I haven't been meal planning for the week.
Breakfast - Scrambled egg with cheese
Lunch - Chicken salad
Dinner - Fajitas without the wraps
Snack - We went to the Guylian chocolate cafe so I obviously had to treat myself to one of their cakes.
As you can see i've had a rough start but as I said i'm not going into this fully for a few weeks, I'm easing myself in.
Have you got any good lunch time ideas for a high protein, low carb diet that I can eat out and about? I think this is where I have fallen down a lot. I haven't been meal planning for the week.
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