New Year Review and Resolutions

May the force be with you;)

New Year Review and Resolutions

Happy New Year!

I had a break from blogging over the festive season due to visitors and going out and about as you do.
We had a fun for the most part but there are always surprises and ups and downs as you know at this time of year.  Now the family visitors have gone I have more time for things like blogging.  At least you get to catch up with people and go places you don't normally in the holidays.

I did an end of year Review just before new year's eve as Marie Forleo suggested  -

1. What were you most proud of during the past year?
2. Which mistake/lesson can you learn most from?
3. What (story) can I let go of?

As far as Resolutions for the coming year, here are a few suggestions from Susan Jeffers -

1. Create specific resolutions and goals
2. Take personal responsibility and make a commitment to yourself
3. Create a timeline for achieving measurable goals
4. Follow through
5. Have faith in yourself and your objective

I'd like to add, besides the obvious commitment to a lifestyle of healthy eating and exercise, I find it can be the timeline I set for achieving my goals to be challenging.  I think you have to find a balance between making it happen and being realistic about what you can really expect to achieve in a year.

As I've said before I want it to last and become a life long habit so I didn't rush weight loss and made gradual improvements.

Cheers

BarbeJeffs@hotmail.com

WL4MBS

Enjoying Christmas without the guilt

Beach House on Sutton @ Redcliffe

Christmas can be a magical time of year.  It is also full of possible challenges and rewards.  Everyone is busy making plans and organising activities around Christmas Day and the holiday season.  Chances for catching up with family and friends as well as feeling stressed at times in the build up.

Just as it is best for us to endeavour to stick to a budget as far as gift giving and activities, we are better off not blowing out our food intake plan too much so we don't have to regret it later.

I myself think it's best to let myself enjoy Christmas dinner, whilst having small portions of the food and drink I like the most.  Everyone has their favourite types of food and there is no need to be too strict for one day.  As long as I don't do it for a full week or a month, everything in moderation.  Enjoy the spirit of Christmas as much as you can I say.

Merry Christmas!

BarbeJeffs@hotmail.com

WL4MBS

How to handle Christmas Party Food, Drink and Gifts

It's good to make the most of whatever type of Christmas parties or lunches you fit into your schedule in the lead up to Christmas Day, so here are a few tips -

• eat something healthy beforehand if you need to
• take something healthy (or not so tempting) with you if you are to "bring a plate"
• take a low calorie drink with you or alternate with water
• chat to people at the food table but don't live there - move away
• focus on talking to and meeting new people rather than food and alcohol
• ask others about themselves or compliment them to focus on others
• have a little of whatever you fancy food wise without going overboard
• if you know you can't stop with "trigger foods" don't go there
• enjoy some music, activities, dance or go for a stroll to get you moving
• be careful giving people food and alcohol gifts if they might have an allergy (or are on "a diet")
• if someone gives you a high calorie food or drink feel free to pass it on to another
• don't be afraid to say you've already eaten or have had enough for now
• you can even say you have to be careful of your health if necessary
• remember to put your own health and goals first

I have reached my weight loss goals.  I still like to eat healthy and improve but know I am free to have a bit of something I like without blowing it.  A little one day isn't a problem, but if you do it the whole festive season it will add up of course.

I've finished my Christmas shopping a bit early luckily within budget so don't have to keep rushing around.  Gradually catching up with friends.

I hope you enjoy the get-togethers in the lead up and choose the events and food choices that are worthwhile for you.  Let me know if you have any questions or comments to share.

Barbejeffs@hotmail.com

WL4MBS

Balancing body image and getting in shape

Balancing accepting your body how it is + getting healthy and in shape can be an issue for people in society these days.  Advertising like the above sign can be very effective getting people's attention as long as it doesn't just lead to shaming by others or more self-loathing and no change (or even more money down the drain).

I also noticed a documentary called Embrace about body image being talked about on a tv show this week.  They talked about how 91% of women aren't happy with their bodies and the documentary maker Taryn Brumfitt realised she wasn't really happy before she had kids either and was into body building.  She wants people to embrace their body as it is as they live their life.

I believe we are better off finding a balance between accepting ourselves where we are whilst also doing what we can to get healthier and in more in shape.  There is always room for improvement as long as we remember to be realistic and gentle with ourselves, so we don't give up altogether. 

Here are some of the areas I continue to work on even after losing weight -

• weight maintenance
• eating healthier
• getting fitter
• getting more toned
• having more energy
• better posture
• having fun

Be the best you can be.  You are worth the effort.  It's a life long lifestyle choice.

BarbeJeffs@hotmail.com

WL4MBS

Watching what you eat

Watching what you eat

The fact is you have to watch what you eat if you want to lose weight or maintain your weight.  The good news is though that it becomes a lot easier when you get into the habit of eating healthy most of the time.  Your choices become more automatic, what you are used to and actually prefer.

Here are some of the ideas I used to improve my eating habits and lose weight -

• reminding myself daily of my goals and why I wanted to change
• checking the labels on packets and drinks to reduce my fat and sugar intake
• choosing healthier snack alternatives like fruit, yoghurt or rice crackers
• making myself vegetable juices to fill up on in the evenings
• having lean meat and fish
• trying different vegetables for variety
• having a plan and taking alternative snacks with me
• making my own choice of an occasional 'treat' whilst I was out
• putting my health first above pleasing others
• avoiding dependence on pre-packaged diet foods and shakes
• not cutting up whole food groups like some fad diets
• having realistic long term weight loss goals
• using various ways to watch progress like scales, BMI, waist measurement, clothes

So there are some basic ideas for weight loss I used the last few years.

BarbeJeffs@hotmail.com

WL4MBS

You can see more weight loss tips in my first 10 posts this year.

How to Get into the Healthy Habits Mindset

I knew when I wanted to lose weight I had to get back to the Healthy Habits Mindset I had had when I'd lost weight before and kept it off for years.  The key is to not to procrastinate but take action until your new healthy habits become almost automatic.  You won't have to struggle anymore because it will be just a part of you and what you do.

Here are some of the habits I had to change -

• check the labels on the food I was eating more carefully and set limits
• plan basically what I was prepared to eat at home and whilst I'm out
• be prepared with healthy snack alternatives
• make myself vegetable juices at home to get healthier and fill me up
• plan when to exercise for how long and have alternatives
• make my own choices of what I would have, when and how much
• put my health first as much as possible whilst still having fun
• change the way I think and feel about food
• be prepared to make other changes in my life I'd avoided
• set myself reminders about my goals for continued motivation

That's it for now and once again any ideas of your own let me know.

"We are what we repeatedly do;  excellence, then, is not an act but a habit."  Aristotle

Cheers

BarbeJeffs@hotmail.com

WL4MBS

How will you play once you lose the weight?

Dancer at West End Festival playing around

I love dancing and fancy dress myself but I've never gone as far as this girl did.  Looks like she was having the 'time of her life' though flying up in the air with some help trying to recreate a move.

What would you like to be able to try once you lose some weight and get a bit fitter?
Have you been holding yourself back from doing something you once did or would like to try?

Here are a few things that come to mind you might wish you could do or plan to do one day without the weight -

dance

sing

dress up

perform

show off

have fun

fly

travel

play games

play with kids

sport

run

hike

yoga

experiment

change jobs

change roles

study

parachuting

hang gliding

parasailing

Well the possibilities are pretty endless, so see what it brings to mind for you that you may have been putting off.  Let me know if you have one to share.

BarbeJeffs@hotmail.com

WL4MBS