Good things come to those who work

Since moving home from university I've been on such a 'get healthy' mission. For as long as I can remember I seem to have been on a diet, I've lasted four days, expected to be the size I want and because I'm not, quit. I think a lot of girls out there can relate to that situation. My friend Debs and I joke that we've literally been on every diet available, but I honestly think we've made a good attempt at ticking them all off, to no avail. My other main problem is that I've had an unhealthy relationship with food for many years and so I either eat through feelings of anxiety/boredom, or do the complete opposite and not eat enough. This time I made a conscious decision that I needed to change my mindset first and foremost because I knew that, in turn, would alter my eating habits. So when Debs and I moved home from university we decided to give Weightwatchers a go; I'd never believed in it as it's what I look upon as a 'mummy's' diet' and quite a fad. So I must admit Debs was 100% my motivator in this and now I'm so happy she was because we have both *touches wood* been really successful.

My mindset has changed totally since starting this a few months ago. I've focused on weight training and building tone alongside cardio with the aim to be the perfect (word used very lightly), healthy size. I've followed some amazing fitspo's on Instagram, a few of which I've linked below, and find that the social media tide is definitely changing towards inspiring the healthy female shape instead of the all too common emaciated bodies we see in the media. One of my favourite bloggers Hannah has been updating her progress with fitness and healthy living advice and I have enjoyed every minute of reading her posts which lets be honest are an enormous positive influence on girls a like.

Miss Fit - follows two best friends on their fitness journey

I'll update on recipes/fitness plans but the one thing I won't update on is my weight. To be honest I'm not even sure why; on one hand I don't want my journey this time around to be based solely on the number that flashes up on the digital scales. On the other hand, I put a lot of my weight on during the final few months of university, months where I wasn't at the best stage of my life, and so I think by focusing on my weight I would bring myself back to dwelling on that period of negativity. After all, weight is a huge emotional subject and I feel that I have turned a big corner but am not quite ready to go back and revisit it just yet.

Fitspiration Fanpage - this is great for motivational quotes and fitspo follow pages/users

I now use weightwatchers online as they have an amazing offer where you save £32.90 and this week I reached my two stone (loss) milestone. I haven't restricted myself by cutting out food groups, or food in general which I used to do; all I've done is eaten everything in moderation, kept a food dairy and endeavored to work out even slightly, once a day. This may leave me really red in the face, but hey ho, it has to be done. I don't believe changing your overall shape can happen without exercise. This is something I've only properly realised this time around as well.

I'll try to post an online food dairy so you can see just how easy the Weightwatchers programme is. To me this is a lifestyle blog, I've tried not to segregate it to one specific area, so I think when I'm changing my lifestyle so dramatically it has to be shared! Still a long way to go but I've realised that this is a healthy journey, and a healthy journey takes time.

This is my most hated photo of me (left), but I love seeing the positive changes that are happening with my shape and the fact that I'm starting to look healthier 

In short, my main Weightwatchers tips are:

• Make the change from whole/semi-skimmed milk to skimmed milk
• Always measure your milk, especially if your an avid tea/coffee drinker like me. It can be so easy to over consume milk and therefore your points
• Buy the 'Food Doctor' branded food; its cheap and full of cereals, whole grains and seeds, so worth the extra point or two for the health benefits (I'm addicted to their cereal pittas)
• Eat all your points, don't starve yourself! This is the biggest mistake I've made in the past but the benefit of Weightwatchers is that you should eat all your points (healthily)
• Exercise. Simple. Don't think you can sit on the sofa all day and lose weight, it just won't happen
• Don't use up all your weekend and exercise points, they're there for special occasions, not to allow unhealthy/fast food every weekend!
• Fill up on no-point foods i.e. fruit and veg. Make a batch of soup (carrot and coriander is my personal fav) and have a bowl of that when you're feeling hungry
• Walk to the shop/walk your dog/park in the furthest parking space from the train station in the morning - this will incorporate even minimal exercise into your daily routine

It really is as simple as that, exercise and healthy eating i.e. everything in moderation will make big changes to your health and shape as long as you put time and effort into it! The one quote which struck a cord with me was "I treat my dog with food, why would I treat myself with it?" 

Have you any advice on exercise routines/recipes/what's worked for you? Have you successfully reached where you want to be (healthily of course), and how?


Laura xx