5 Healthy Tips | Lifestyle

So today I just wanted to discuss some really quick and easy things I have found to looking after my body and my overall health.

I travel a lot, like two different countries in the same month kind of a lot. In all honesty I find it quite hard to maintain a healthy regime for my body. This being said, I feel like if you get the basics down that's the most important thing. Let's start with probably the most important thing:-

Water - sounds like a silly one but whenever I go away I always seem to forget to drink. Now I make sure that when I get to the hotel I have a litre bottle of water with me. When I go to restaurants, even if I am drinking alcohol I make sure I have some ice water there as well. Your kidneys take a real beating if you are dehydrated so I definitely recommend having a bottle of water with you pretty much always

Supplements - I tend not to take too many supplements mainly because I'm a bit forgetful, however you guys will know in the past I have tried out collagen sachets that you add to water but recently I was gifted some Hellenia supplement powder* which is actually for your joints. I actually have quite loose hip joints, I can pop my leg out of it's socket but I have found that recently one of my hips hurts a little when kept in a certain position which scares the hell out of me in all honesty, so anything I can do to help my joints I'm willing to give it a go. The thing I like about this powder is that it's preservative free, GMO free and purine free.

Food - I'm gonna sound a bit like a broken record but I do genuinely believe that the cleaner you eat the more your body will that you! I mean have you looked at some of the ingredients in our food? Some of the preservatives are just too much. In yoghurt coated raisins there is actually shellac on them, to make them shiny, the shellac is a secretion from the butt of an insect found in Asia, I mean really? I'm not saying I don't eat junk food but I definitely try and make sure that the ratio of clean food to junk food is higher.

Walking - I know what you're thinking, Toni, you're stating the obvious but you'd be surprised just what walking can do. When I moved to Florence I didn't join a gym and the only way I could try and maintain some level of fitness was by walking up massive hills, it gets your heart rate up, clears your mind and works the ol' glutes so it really is a solid all rounder in terms of health.

Skin care - I'm gonna go into this one in a little more detail in a separate post in terms of products I use but I am definitely a believer in keeping things simple. I used to have very bad acne and I used possibly every spot treatment known to man which did absolutely nothing, in fact some of them were so abrasive that it probably made my skin a whole lot worse. I had to go on medication to get rid of it and since then I have been so paranoid about what I put on my face, it's only recently that I decided to start to use products again. Now I am using very simplistic things on my face I'm really starting to notice a difference.

Those are my tips for how I look after my body, what are yours?

*product gifted

Quitting the Gym | Lifestyle

I have to be honest, this wasn't really my choice, I never wanted to quit the gym in fact I had planned a whole new goal and meal plan for this year about half way through last year, but then I got a new job and everything was turned up side down, in a wonderful way might I add!!

I did however make an active decision to not join a gym when I moved out to Florence though and this was a shock to everyone because they knew I had such a strict regime they just assumed I would continue out here! It's a tough one for me because I thrive on routine, I genuinely do, I perform at my best when I know what's coming and how I can build my life around things! The only problem I have is that I do have an addictive personality, if I say I'm going to do something it's all or nothing! If I said I was going to the gym that evening I would, I would schedule plans around the gym and monitor what I eat while I was out etc! I knew that when I moved to Florence I wanted to embrace everything and that if I joined a gym, my addictive personality trait would hinder some of my experiences out here because I wouldn't be able to say no to the gym and the food so I would say no to the lifestyle!

I just wanted to talk more about how quitting the gym has effected my body and mentality because I have noticed the biggest difference in my well being! So if we just talk about the physicality first, so my body is softer and flabbier than what it used to be, I did a lot of weights and had very strong muscles underneath a layer of (healthy) fat especially in my thighs, butt, shoulders and back but now not so much, it actually a little depressing because I have lost some of my physique! Also, as I am eating more carbs my belly is bigger, the standard bloating you get from eating carbs!

One of the major things I have noticed is though that I am constantly tired, if I was back in England and feeling this tired I would put it down to needing a break from the gym! To put it into perspective for you guys:-

Lifestyle in England
2 hour journey into work
1 hour work out
8 hours of work
1 hour work out
2 hour journey back
5 - 6 hours sleep (max)
Food - Specific set meals I would follow

Lifestyle in Florence
20 minute walk to work
8 hours of work
20 minute walk home
7- 8 hours sleep
Food - random and whatever I want

And yet I am more exhausted then what I was when I was back in England, it doesn't make sense! 

The more I thought about it the more I started to consider that my body is really struggling to adapt to my new lifestyle so much so it almost feels like it's shutting down because I am tired frequently, I think my body has got so used to using energy in a different way in England that it's a bit of a shock to the system now and it doesn't like it! I'm trying to pin point exactly what it is that is causing the lethargy so I have also decided to keep a food journal to monitor what I'm eating and whether that could have an effect! I also make sure that at the weekend I go on long hilly walks to get my heart rate up again and I'm considering starting jogging whilst out here just to incorporate some exercise into my lifestyle to see the impact that has on my body!

I would say that I have always been very good at listening to my body, especially when I was back in England, I knew how far to push it and I knew the fuel I needed to feed it and now I'm in Florence and having such a wonderful time I feel like I may have stopped listening but it's clearly trying to tell me something!

Do you go to the gym or have you recently quit the gym, if so, what has the impact been on your overall health?

Clipper Tea | Lifestyle

Anyone who knows me knows I love green tea, of all kinds. There is nothing better than starting my day with a cup. In fact as I am blogging I have a cup with me, it a necessity  for a Saturday morning blog session. 

Personally, I prefer green teas that are also infused with other flavours, I do like plain green tea but the flavour combinations that are around right now are amazing so why not try them all? There are a few brands around and historically I have always been a fan of Twinings but I have found myself reaching for Clipper tea more and more but it's only recently I have discovered the fantastic range they actually do. 

The thing I love about Clipper is that they really care about nature and the environment, they believe in fairtrade and source the teas from all over the world such as Africa, India and Sri Lanka. Which I think is pretty amazing but not only this, they actually use unbleached tea bags. I hadn't even thought that tea bags were bleached until I started drinking Clipper teas. They really pride themselves on being natural which means it made sense for them to only produce their green teas in unbleached tea bags. The reason why historically other tea bags have been bleached is purely for aesthetic reasons but this means the bags have to go through a chemical process which doesn't sound that appealing at all. This is why I like Clipper, they are different and the do things a naturally as possible. 

As I mentioned, I like various different flavours of green tea and Clipper certain do offer a fantastic range. As you can see from the pictures above, they have combinations such as Pear and Honey, Lime and Ginger ad Cranberry, I know Cranberry isn't a unique flavour combination but still, I love it. I really like that each box has different qualities, like the Honey and Pear one helps to revive you or the Lime and Ginger one helps to give you a kick start because it is super zesty and yummy. I really like that the flavours and scents are subtle because they aren't artificial, they are natural. 

At the start of the year I really found that green teas helped to keep me on track with my health regime, it helped me to develop healthy habits because as soon as I felt liek i wanted to snack I would just have a cup of green tea first to see whether I was actually hungry or whether it was a boredom thing. 

Do you like green tea?

Going Wheat Free | Lifestyle

Bit of a random picture, I know but I wanted something that would make sense to this post because I am giving up wheat. 

Bold statement I know, but let me give you a bit of background. If you have been following my blog this year you'll know that I have really focused on my health which has meant I have changed my eating habits altogether and have a great fitness routine. For the first 6 months I was very strict and I've come to realise that my diet had the most minimal amount of wheat in it. Over time recently I have started eating more things that have had wheat in them and it seems that I have randomly developed an intolerance. I have heard that people can develop intolerance to things they have previous cut out of their diet but it's just weird isn't it? I've spent my entire life eating wheat, cut it out for a mere 6 months and now I can't eat it. I didn't intentionally give wheat up specifically but I did give up all white breads, pastas and treats.

At first I couldn't work out why I was getting these stomach cramps or felt sick after eating, when I first realised it could be an intolerance was when I had some cheesecake with a work pal and felt sick very shortly after. I had a look at the packet and wheatflour was highlighted in bold, it made sense. I was eating pizza bases, burger buns, white bread and each time I'd be in pain with my stomach. I monitored it over a couple of weeks and it became very apparent to me that it was wheat. 

It means that this month I am going to go entirely without any wheat to see what kinda of impact that's going to have on my body and just see how hard it actually is. Wheat is in everything, all my favourite naughty treats, but the fun thing is now I have to really have a look at each product and make my snack a considered snack. I already know that there are some fantastic brands out there that make whet free foods which I love but it'll be a great challenge to see how I actually get on. 

I'm going to write another post after I have done it for a month tp let you guys know how I got on. 

Do you have any tips for going wheat free?

Health - Fitness - Lifestyle Update | Lifestyle

Oh I know it has been a little while since I gave you all an update but now is a good time. I am now in month 6 of my healthy lifestyle change and I really am loving it. I didn't know what picture to use to I thought I'd use the cherry blossom from my tree, just because it's pretty.

I have lost a massive amount of weight which I'm not sure I want to share on here just yet because I know work colleagues could read this and I don't want everyone knowing. I have reached my goal but I have set myself another small goal of an extra 6lbs by the end of the year.

I thought I would share with you 5 things about me that I'm happy with or like now I am lighter and more confident:- 

• My Collar Bones - this sounds like an odd one but I like my frame and the way my body holds/distributes it's weight. I'm very slim at the top half of my body. 

• My Waist - I have an hour glass body shape, so now that I weigh less I can actually see this shape much clearer. 

• Muscles in my legs - whilst these aren't that visible, I still have a layer of fat over them, it's great to feel definition in them again. They are chunky but they are strong

• Fitness - my fitness levels has increased so dramatically, I love being able to go for a run and not feel as out of breath or as slow as I used to be just 6 months ago

• My relationship with food - I no longer binge on rubbish, I know that if I want something that might be high in saturated fat or whatever I can have it. I just have to not let it effect my overall routine

Most health and fitness posts include before and after pictures but in all honesty I hated the way looked so much that I didn't really have any before pictures but the people in my life can see how much weight I've lost and have been very nice with their comments. 

Now I'm focusing less on the numbers and more on how my body looks, feels and performs whilst making sure that I do carry on a live my life. I can go out for dinner and drinks with friends but I can't do that every night and I still go to the gym or eat lighter the next day. I'm really starting to understand how to balance everything out. 

What are your healthy living tips?

Fitbit Charge Review | Lifestyle

Today I'm going to be speaking about the FitBit Charge, if you don't know what what this is basically it's just something you wear on your wrist that tracks you activity. It'll keep a record of how many steps you've made, how many flights of stairs you've climbed, how many calories you've burned and how well you sleep. 

This was originally my Dad's as he got it for free when he upgraded his phone however he didn't really get along with it, he was kinda skeptical with how it recorded steps so he gave it to me because I really wanted to try it out. I have seen a lot of hype and a lot of people loving this little FitBit and because I'm incredibly active now I thought it'd be good to keep a record of what I'm doing. 

I will be honest with you, the pedometer isn't correct, I cant quite work out how it does the steps, whether it is just based on the movement of my arms or whatever it's not that accurate. For example, on a day where I went once to the gym and only did minimal cardio I walked 12,427 steps but the next day when I went twice to the gym and did way more cardio I managed 15,541 steps which is on an additional 3,114 steps. It doesn't really make sense to me. I also don't really trust the amount of calories burned either cross checked against these two days again I only burned an extra 200 calories. Something just isn't quite right. It doesn't track your steps/movement on the cross trainer correctly and it doesn't track when you are cycling either. To be fair, I know these activities aren't really considered steps but I think it that's where the biggest discrepancy lies. I think they do one that tracks your heart rate as well and I think that would be a great, it would be far more accurate

If I just take this equipment for face value and not look too granular into this it is a great tool, because it keeps a record of everything, it is interesting to see how main flights of stairs you climb or how you slept the previous night. If you aren't already active it's a great incentive to get active and increase your activity, which I'm all for. I just don't quite know whether this device adds any real value to me. On the other hand I love that it tracks my sleep, it'll highlight how "restless" you are or even when you wake up through the night, which is really interesting to me. Some nights I'll be restless over 17 different times and only get lie 5 hours sleep and this is what I really like about the FitBit. Also you do get a sense of accomplishment when you do reach your individual goals so it is great as a motivational tool. 

I like it, but I'm not in love with it but I'm definitely still wearing it. 

Have you tried out the Fitbit?

Top five quotes to keep me motivated | Lifestyle

Isn't it amazing, the power of words? Some have the power to fill you with joy and some make you feel completely numb. 

I wanted to share with you some quotes that I have stumbled across on my Pintrest. These quotes have genuinely helped me to keep myself motivated, as you know if you are a regular reader, I'm on a massive health/fitness change and I think sometimes you just need a little pick me up to keep focused. 

I have narrowed down my top 5 quotes that keep me motivated. 

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People always ask me how I can get up in the morning and go to the gym and this quote perfectly explains why I do it. I make sure I start my day right and feel so much better after I have had my morning workout because I know I'm actively trying to improve myself

Source

I think this is a massively important one, often we all compare ourselves to others when really we shouldn't. Don't focus on any one else other than you and your body, work towards making your body how you want it. You're never going to have another persons body so just work with what you've got and make it the best you can. 

Source

If you want to lose weight or become healthier then do it right, don't starve yourself you need to fuel your body with the right things to make a healthy change. Don't set yourself unhealthy goals and listen to your body. Even if it does take longer, it will be worth it. 

Source

This one I found to be a massive influence, sometimes you'll need the help of others but do not depend on them because they will let you down. It's your body, these are your changes, do it for you! Also a bit of body inspiration in this picture too!

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I live by this, it's that simple! I never miss a Monday, Mondays are my favourite day because over the weekend I don't go to the gym. My body thrives on routine and consistency and these simple rules help keep me motivated. 

There we have it, sorry the images are all different sizes, I just kinda had to work with what I had! 

Have you got any great motivational tips?

Fabletics Workout Clothes | Lifestyle

Ok, so first things first if you sign up to this website please be aware that VIP membership actually means they will charge you £44 every month  to use as credit towards a new outfit which I didn't read properly when I first joined so I had to cancel my VIP membership which was a bit of a hassle. You can buy items without being a VIP member. Nothing against the brand or website I just clearly didn't read properly what I was signing up to! 

Moving on, as you know I'm throwing myself into the gym and loving it though recently I have been meaning to buy some new gym gear, a lot of shops do affordable gym wear now which is great but they are pretty basic. I was watching the TV and this Fabletics advert kept popping up and I just thought yes I was some of those clothes. The have a pretty impressive range lots of bright colours and lots of dark colours. I pretty much live in black so you know I opted for the black versions. 

I didn't even look for reviews on this brand before I purchased which these days is incredibly rare I just went on what I wanted and what I liked. I went for the Rule Outfit, I kinda liked the black and grey with a bit of camouflage on the sides, I also liked that the top is a long sleeved top because it means I can wear it outside when I start going for runs again. 

Firstly, I love the material of these products two very different fabrics doing different things. For example the capris are "maximum compression" so they are quite tight and a little thick but so incredibly comfortable, they looked quite small when I first got them out of the bag but when I put them on I was really impressed they seemed to mold to my body. Also they don't go see-through at all when worn either which is the most important thing. I actually am in love with this capris! 

The top is a completely different material but just as nice, this is cut a little looser than the capris and much thinner you could probably wear a vest underneath it. Some people have mentioned that the shoulders of the top are a little big which I agree with but because my boobs are quite big it sits a little different on me and looks fine. The neckline is quite board but actually that shows my slimmest part of my body which is my collar bones so I'm not complaining. 

I was incredibly impressed with these workout clothes and I think paying £26 for this is an absolute bargain considering the quality. However I wouldn't pay full price which is £92!! I just wouldn't spend that much money on anything I'd just be wearing to the gym. 

Have you bought anything from Fablectics? 

Month Three Update | Lifestyle

That's right it's months 3 already and am I any better looking? Damn right I am! In all seriousness, everything is going incredibly well. I'm still absolutely loving my new lifestyle and my routine. So for this months update I thought I would share with you my workout routine. 

I must admit I'm definitely one of those people who does everything to the extreme, if I say I'm going to go to the gym and change my lifestyle, I throw myself into it. That's just how I am, it's a gift and a curse. Right so down to the nitty gritty... 

I go to the gym 8 times a week Monday - Friday, which even I admit sounds like a lot but it fits in well with my work schedule and my life in general. Three times a week I go in the morning and evening so I thought I would break down exactly what I am doing at the moment. I do change things up a little when I feel like I've stopped progressing which is an incredibly important thing to do. If my muscles no longer ache then I'm not working hard enough and it's time to change things up.

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 

Morning:- 

• Leg Press - 3 sets of 20
• Lat Pull down - 3 sets of 12
• Seated Row - 3 sets of 12
• Chest Press - 3 sets of 12
• 15 mins of cardio

Evening:- 

• 50 mins of cardio - most of the time it's on the cross trainer but other times I will split the 50 mins up by doing 10 minutes on the bike or jogging

Tuesday and Thursdays

Evenings:- 

• 50 mins of cardio 

OR

• 40 mins of cardio
• Russian Twists - 3 sets of 20 
• Sit ups - 3 sets of 20
• Kettle bell shoulder pull up - 3 sets of 15
• Kettle bell bicep curl - 3 sets of 15 

These are just my workouts and what actually works for me, I haven't mentioned what size weights I lift but if you'd like to know just let me know. I think it's great because I'm starting to feel some muscle definition coming through my flab, my body is changing and it's looking so much better than what it was even a month ago let alone 2 months ago. But this is coupled with my diet as well, I wouldn't be able to go to the gym as much or progress my workout if I wasn't fueling my body with the right foods. 

What are your favourite workouts?

What's in my gym bag | Lifestyle

Today I thought I would share with you what's inside my gym bag. I mean I have literally been living out of this bag for the last 3 months, I don't even take a handbag into work with me anymore. 

I have very fixed gym routine and 3 times a week I go to the gym twice in one day so morning and night this means I have to carry quite a lot with me. I would love to have like one of those small, cute, girly gym bags but I just can't fit half of what I need in it so I have to settle with my bulky Nike bag, but I love it anyway!  

I haven't included my trainers in this bag because they are always on my feet unless I'm in the office, then I change into shoes or boots. My gym bag must haves are:- 

• Gym clothes
• Bath sheet 
• Hand towel  
• Hair brush
• Deodorant
• Make up bag
• Rail card 
• Card holder
• Headphones  
• Umbrella

I must admit I have excluded some extra bits such as my work fob, apples, work clothes because that just a little boring but as you can see I actually carry quite a lot on me. I also forgot to take a picture of my shampoo and shower gel - dumb dumb!

I was recently told that my gym was closing down in my town which was a little heartbreaking I'm not gonna lie and the way Virgin Active handled it was pretty bad actually. This means however I'll be joining a Fitness First gym in London which will probably work out a little better for me in the sense that my workouts in the morning will be a little longer. 

What do you carry in your gym bag that you think I'm missing?

Month Two Update | Lifestyle

So, I thought each month it would be a slightly different update, this month is going to be what I generally what I have been eating lately, not all meals because I'm rubbish and forget to take pictures of my dinners. 

Everything is still going well, I'm loosing weight and toning up which is great, I'm on target, if not slightly ahead. Again, I'm not going to disclose how much I have lost, I will tell you when I reach that goal. 

Sorry the pictures are crap, I had such drama trying to put two pictures side by side it was just easier to do an insta collage.

Every week day I must eat:- 

Two apples

10 almonds

Two green teas, at least

1 bowl of cereal

My dinners change every night

Every weekend I must eat:-

4 turkey bacon rashers

Two slices of wholemeal bread

Two bowls of porridge 

Two apples

Treats:- 

Mini Milk Ice Lollies

Any one small item that I fancy, which you can see was a Reeces cup

Friday lunch - changes weekly at work, it's free!

Food Scales:- 

I have actually started weighing out my food, for example, when I'm having a roast dinner. I found that it's much easier to control my portion sizes if I allow myself a set amount of grams of potatoes/meat because then I can work out exactly how many calories I'm eating on the myfitnesspal app. 

What I have noticed is how much my body thrives on consistency, if I break that routine even slightly it really effects my body and my energy levels. 

So there we have it. How is your fitness and health regime going?

Month One - Fitness | Lifestyle

Ah so it's  that dreaded post where I explain how good or bad I've been since I started my new fitness regime. One thing I will say is that I am not going to disclose how much I have lost because I don't feel that would motive me any further, this is a long term fitness goal not a quick weight loss fad. However, I am thinking that once I reach my goal weight I will say how much I weigh or how much I have lost. 

So I am going to focus this post more around the challenges I've faced and how I have got around them. I'll be honest, I didn't really have any pictures to go with this post but the one below was actually taken on one of my runs last year, so it kinda fits in. 

An image to represent the journey - of course! 

Events
Working in Marketing there is always little event to attend and these always include wine and food. I'm trying to eat as clean as possible and to be honest it's going quite well however when these events come up, it's hard to turn all the food and alcohol down. I did let my hair down one evening though, our company has an annual event which had a lot of wine and a 3 course meal. However then next evening I made sure I got my butt down to the gym and worked hard. 

Sometimes you just have to accept that everyone once in a while it's OK to over indulge. 

Holidays/Working abroad
Oh now this was incredibly hard, I had literally just started my new gym routine I was doing really well but then I went to New York for 10 days. Don't get me wrong it was amazing and I'd definitely do it again but it slowed my progress down a little bit, obviously in that time I didn't exercise (apart from walking) and ate pretty bad, not over doing it but not healthy. 

The way I looked at it was that, I'm not going to be in New York for long so I am just going to enjoy myself and do/eat whatever I fancy.

Food
Actually I found food a lot easier to get into this time around (excluding my holiday) because I'm not doing a diet. I'm not following any books or fads I'm just eating clean and actually, I'm eating quite a lot. By  "clean" I mean eating little to no processed food, only having complex carbs, no white breads or pastas, making my own sauces using tomatoes and spices, lean protein and lots of fiber. 

Also, I've found that not talking about what I am eating is helping me stay focused. I've not snacked or anything but the thing is I've not even wanted to because I am so focused on where I want to be I'll only be letting myself down if I do snack. 

Establishing a routine
I have literally thrown myself into the gym again, I thought there's no point in starting off slow, if I want to see changes in myself then I have to work bloody hard. I am loving going to the gym again. It wakes me up, it makes me feel good and I have been going twice daily though of course I have days where I don't go or I only go once.  I always make sure I do my weight workout in the morning as it is quietest and then I follow up with classes and/or cardio in the evening, I find this works for me.  

Some people have said they are quite impressed with how I have thrown myself into the gym, but I have got to a stage where I am so unhappy that I have no other choice than to change.

So there we have my One Month update, I've feeling just and positive and as motivated as when I first started, if not more!

How's your new healthy lifestyle going?