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Weight Loss
Mums

What’s wrong with Slimming World (and Weight Watchers)

The other day I was having a chat with someone at school.

“I’ve got to get back on track with my weight” she said…

“Excellent! What’s your plan?” I said…

Person: I’m gonna go back to Slimming World…

At this point I think I literally banged my head against the wall…

Person: Oh, you don’t like them then… but it always works for me.

Now, I’m not the type of person to slate people’s efforts to get healthy. Quite the opposite in fact, but I lose track of the number of times slimming world / weight watchers comes up in my world.

Me: “Oh it worked for you. Tell me what happened…”

Person: Well yes. It worked. I lost some weight. Then I stopped going, because (Choose one: I went on holiday / I got ill / it was my birthday, husband’s birthday, dog’s birthday) And, you know, the weight came back on again…

And this, my lovely readers is THE reason I don’t recommend slimming world or weight watchers.
General

Why Long Term Behavioural Change is HARD (Part 2)

Last week I wrote about some of the reasons it’s so hard to consistently do the things we KNOW are good for us.

And having spent more time thinking about it, I think Reason #4 is really the crux of the matter…

Chris planks
Mindset

Hard to do things we KNOW we should be doing?

Why is it so hard to do the things we KNOW we should be doing?

This morning, I was speaking to a mum…”My hamstrings are really tight…” she said.
Or checking in with a mum’s food diary “Not enough greens, I know…” she said.
Or me to myself after 120m sprints… “ I’m losing form after 80-90m…”

We know what we need: regular stretching, more greens, eat less rubbish, or do more ab work in my case.

And we know what the benefits would be: remain injury free, better health, stronger finish.

And it reality it doesn’t really cost us that much does it… 5-10 min every other day?

So why, oh why is it so damn hard to get it done, and done consistently?

Now confession… as I’m typing this right now, I’m not entirely sure I have the answer. In part, I’m writing this to make sense of my thoughts. So bear with me!

Let’s start with some reasons…

new year resolution
General

Resolution revolution

Resolution Revolution!

‘Tis the season, of course. Everyone is talking about Resolutions. I’m sure you’ve seen the blogs and the posts.

Should you make one or some? 
How best to make them stick?
Whether we shouldn’t be making resolutions anyway… 
Is it pointless? What % of resolutions will have been abandoned by when?
And on and on…
My view is that with any big “ending” like the end of a calendar year, the training year or the school year, it is helpful to take stock, think about how things went, where you were last year? Progress made or progress you had hoped for but not made…
Mums

The Ultimate Christmas Cheat Sheet

Christmas brings with it a complete change of routine. The kids are off school, social events are on the up, Christmas goodies are tempting you everywhere you turn and there’s a million things to buy, prepare and do!

With so much on, it’s no wonder that many of us put health and fitness on the back burner, promising to deal with it in the New Year. But it doesn’t have to be this way. I’m going to show you 7 little changes that will have you enjoying a fun, guilt-free Christmas.
Mindset

Of Headspace and Health

So I went to Amsterdam last weekend for a catch up and celebration with my girlfriends – we all turned 40 this year! It was a great experience, and let’s just say that we behaved in ways that wouldn’t normally fit in with the “mum life”. Like getting up at 11am, and having a 2 hour brunch. With waffles. So many waffles. But the biggest difference from being away was just the sheer amount of headspace.

The top 3 stupidest fitness gadgets…

I’ve a treat for you today… Facebook has obviously worked out that one of my ‘interests’ is Fitness. So I get treated to a whole bunch of really, reaaaallly, stupid fitness props. I think its even worse because I’m over 40 too. Advertisers target over 40, women, into fitness with a whole load of crap. I’ve never had an advert for a Kettlebell for example… Anyhow, so I’m sharing the joy today. Read on for a laugh…

My Favourite Exercise at the Moment

And one you should all be doing! If you’ve been training with me recently, you’ll have no doubt come across it in your sessions.  I’m talking of course about the…

personal trainer workouts
General

Your Willpower isn’t the Problem

I hear about will power and motivation all the time… Often in the form of: I haven’t got the will power to get to the gym 4 times a week. I need motivation to train for a 10km. I’ve joined a gym but I need motivation to get there after work. But what I’d like to be hearing, is more about habits.
General

How Often Do You Work Out?

Simple question. How often do you work out? Now, go back over your diary for the last 4-5 weeks and actually count the sessions you’ve completed. ? Bet ya the numbers are not the same.