Tuesday 29 December 2015

How To Get Back On Track After The Christmas Holidays


1. Prepare Mentally:




First step is definitely to prepare mentally. I think you need to really need to focus and think about how are you going to do it How are you going to organise yourself and most importantly WHY you want to do it.

When you start any fitness plan if you don't have a reason to do it you will never succeed! because every time temptation is in front of you you think of your reason and you won't fall for it.

It doesn't matter how silly your reason is. If it is to impress someone, to look good for a holiday, for a wedding or even to fit into a dress. But that reason is going to be your strong thought when it comes to eat unhealthy.

2. Drink water!



As we all know water keep us hydrated therefore will have energy. Water also help to flush toxins out and most importantly to not confuse thirst with hunger.

A hormone called leptin is the responsible to alert our brain to let us know when we are hungry. And it is the same hormone that alert us when we feel thirsty so it is very easy to confuse one with the other. If you are always hydrated you will never have this problem, therefore you will never over-eat.

Herbal teas also helps with our hydration and at the same time they provide us with many healthy benefits. For example: green tea speeds up our metabolism, Chamomile tea helps us relax and black tea is full of antioxidants, etc...

3. Plan your meals!




On this point it is important to do a shopping list and chose more or less the meals you are going to have.

For example for breakfast Monday to Friday I'm going to have over night oats with almond milk and berries and over the weekend I will be having toast avocado and eggs. So you do the same for lunch and dinner and you can shop accordingly.

Also planning your meals help your mind to set on what you are having rather than be thinning: "what could I have? I don't have anything prepared" and maybe end up having something unhealthy!

If you want to read my usual shopping list and what I keep on my presses click here: http://momfitnessdiary.blogspot.ie/2015/06/healthy-weekly-shopping-list.html

(Since I have become a vegetarian my shopping list have changed from the above so I will update you on that soon)

4. Stock up your fridge with healthy foods



The truth is if you have stock up your fridge with healthy foods eveytime it comes to preparing a meal or having a snack. Having fresh suit and veggies available will help you not to fall into temptation!

So make sure you have healthy options at reach at all times!

5. Meal Prep!



Meal preparation is a must! specially if you work! I mean who has time to be peeling vegetables EVERY day! it makes it so easy for me to have veggies washed and chopped and some type of protein cooked for 2 or 3 days in the fridge just ready to heat up!

My chickpea stew is a great healthy option to cook for 3 days, reheat and serve with some stemmed broccoli.

Click here for recipe: http://momfitnessdiary.blogspot.ie/search?q=chickpea+stew

6. Plan Healthy Snacks!



You might think this point is a bit silly. But there is no way to be successful in a healthy lifestyle if you don't snack! Snacking is essential when feeling hungry through the day! specially if you exercise it comes times that you feel you need a little bite with a cup of tea to keep you going!

So there is absolutely nothing wrong with snacking! just snack smartly! But don't let this hunger caught you off guard. Have little ideas planned for when the times come you know exactly what to reach for.

Snack ideas: fruit, yogurt, popcorn, roasted vegetables, peanut or almond butter, etc...

7. Exercise!



Exercise is essential on a healthy lifestyle either to lose fat or to maintain a low body fat. In order to keep yourself motivated and in shape you need to exercise at least 3 times a week.

If you are only starting don't over do it and listen to your body but do it!

And do something that you enjoy and like! exercise should be something you look forward to do it is not a punishment so find an activity that it is for you. I think that lifting weights is not for everyone, running is not for everyone so find something you like!

Try dancing classes, tennis, exercises from home, running, boxing zumba, etc... there is plenty of options!

8. Make veggies the main bulk of your diet!



Make sure you fill your plate with vegetables! vegetables do help you feel fuller with lesser calories. This way you won't feel hungry and you will be shredding the pounds in no time!


9. Dont compensate over eating by not eating!



This is one of the biggest mistake a lot of us have done at some point. Not eating can bring you a lot of metabolic problems that will stop you from losing fat!

To lose fat you have to eat! Eating healthy whole foods will not only help you shred the pounds aways it will keep your body, brain and digestive system healthy!

10. Sleep and Repeat!



It's true: Being short on sleep can really affect your weight. While you weren't sleeping, your body cooked up a perfect recipe for weight gain. 
When you’re short on sleep, it’s easy to lean on a large latte to get moving. You might be tempted to skip exercise (too tired), get takeout for dinner, and then turn in late because you’re uncomfortably full.

How To Get Back On Track After The Christmas Holidays


1. Prepare Mentally:




First step is definitely to prepare mentally. I think you need to really need to focus and think about how are you going to do it How are you going to organise yourself and most importantly WHY you want to do it.

When you start any fitness plan if you don't have a reason to do it you will never succeed! because every time temptation is in front of you you think of your reason and you won't fall for it.

It doesn't matter how silly your reason is. If it is to impress someone, to look good for a holiday, for a wedding or even to fit into a dress. But that reason is going to be your strong thought when it comes to eat unhealthy.

2. Drink water!



As we all know water keep us hydrated therefore will have energy. Water also help to flush toxins out and most importantly to not confuse thirst with hunger.

A hormone called leptin is the responsible to alert our brain to let us know when we are hungry. And it is the same hormone that alert us when we feel thirsty so it is very easy to confuse one with the other. If you are always hydrated you will never have this problem, therefore you will never over-eat.

Herbal teas also helps with our hydration and at the same time they provide us with many healthy benefits. For example: green tea speeds up our metabolism, Chamomile tea helps us relax and black tea is full of antioxidants, etc...

3. Plan your meals!




On this point it is important to do a shopping list and chose more or less the meals you are going to have.

For example for breakfast Monday to Friday I'm going to have over night oats with almond milk and berries and over the weekend I will be having toast avocado and eggs. So you do the same for lunch and dinner and you can shop accordingly.

Also planning your meals help your mind to set on what you are having rather than be thinning: "what could I have? I don't have anything prepared" and maybe end up having something unhealthy!

If you want to read my usual shopping list and what I keep on my presses click here: http://momfitnessdiary.blogspot.ie/2015/06/healthy-weekly-shopping-list.html

(Since I have become a vegetarian my shopping list have changed from the above so I will update you on that soon)

4. Stock up your fridge with healthy foods



The truth is if you have stock up your fridge with healthy foods eveytime it comes to preparing a meal or having a snack. Having fresh suit and veggies available will help you not to fall into temptation!

So make sure you have healthy options at reach at all times!

5. Meal Prep!



Meal preparation is a must! specially if you work! I mean who has time to be peeling vegetables EVERY day! it makes it so easy for me to have veggies washed and chopped and some type of protein cooked for 2 or 3 days in the fridge just ready to heat up!

My chickpea stew is a great healthy option to cook for 3 days, reheat and serve with some stemmed broccoli.

Click here for recipe: http://momfitnessdiary.blogspot.ie/search?q=chickpea+stew

6. Plan Healthy Snacks!



You might think this point is a bit silly. But there is no way to be successful in a healthy lifestyle if you don't snack! Snacking is essential when feeling hungry through the day! specially if you exercise it comes times that you feel you need a little bite with a cup of tea to keep you going!

So there is absolutely nothing wrong with snacking! just snack smartly! But don't let this hunger caught you off guard. Have little ideas planned for when the times come you know exactly what to reach for.

Snack ideas: fruit, yogurt, popcorn, roasted vegetables, peanut or almond butter, etc...

7. Exercise!



Exercise is essential on a healthy lifestyle either to lose fat or to maintain a low body fat. In order to keep yourself motivated and in shape you need to exercise at least 3 times a week.

If you are only starting don't over do it and listen to your body but do it!

And do something that you enjoy and like! exercise should be something you look forward to do it is not a punishment so find an activity that it is for you. I think that lifting weights is not for everyone, running is not for everyone so find something you like!

Try dancing classes, tennis, exercises from home, running, boxing zumba, etc... there is plenty of options!

8. Make veggies the main bulk of your diet!



Make sure you fill your plate with vegetables! vegetables do help you feel fuller with lesser calories. This way you won't feel hungry and you will be shredding the pounds in no time!


9. Dont compensate over eating by not eating!



This is one of the biggest mistake a lot of us have done at some point. Not eating can bring you a lot of metabolic problems that will stop you from losing fat!

To lose fat you have to eat! Eating healthy whole foods will not only help you shred the pounds aways it will keep your body, brain and digestive system healthy!

10. Sleep and Repeat!



It's true: Being short on sleep can really affect your weight. While you weren't sleeping, your body cooked up a perfect recipe for weight gain. 
When you’re short on sleep, it’s easy to lean on a large latte to get moving. You might be tempted to skip exercise (too tired), get takeout for dinner, and then turn in late because you’re uncomfortably full.

Saturday 12 December 2015

Christmas Eve Traditions That Makes Lovely Memories





After I posed the question on Snapchat asking about everyones Christmas Eve traditions, I decided to write a blog post with all the great ideas I got!

I think Christmas Eve traditions help make so many special Christmas memories! So let me know at the end which ones will you be adopting.

1. Leaving cookies and milk for Santa and some carrots for Rudolph


This is a lovely activity to do with the kids. And as we all know Santa needs some food to keep him going on such busy night!

2. Sending a letter to Santa on a ballon


This a tradition I have done since I was a little girl. So we would do it with all my cousins in my grannies house. So the idea is to write another letter to Santa, attach it to a helium balloon, and then let all the balloons go at the same time. It was so much fun and the pictures of that memory are amazing!

3. Light a pat for Santa


This is such a fun cute idea to do with kids to make sure Santa find his way to the house easier.

4. Leave Santas footprints with some glitter, to prove he was there!




This is such a cute idea! You can use glitter, or talc, or both, and use a wellington to make the footprints!

5. Make your kids fill up a sack of toys they no longer want and leave it for Santa to take to other children who aren't fortunate enough



I think some kids these days have way too much and is a nice way to make them appreciate what they are getting!

6. Fill up a box with new pyjamas and a few treats to give to everyone on Christmas Eve


It is a nice little thing to for everyone the night before Christmas. Everyone goes to bed with new pyjamas and a few treats to enjoy, in the wait for Santa! I got this idea from Sharon Leavys blog. If you don't follow her, you should. This is her blog: www.behindgreeneyes.com

7. The tradition of the pickle!


Someone sent me this idea and I loved it! I googled it and you can buy the pickle in Amazon or lots of difference websites!

8. Have something for dinner that every year is the same. We always have cannelloni's 



A lot of people were saying they have Sandwiches, others pizzas. I think whatever it is make it something special. I like cannelonis because I only make them once a year and have them for Christmas Eve. In previous years I re-filled them with minced beef but this year I will make them with cheese and spinach. (since I have 2 weeks being a vegetarian lol)

9. Watch a Christmas film



Every Christmas eve it's nice to sit with the fire on and watch a christmas family film with some popcorn and wine for the adults!

10. Take the same picture wearing something similar each year and make an album so you can look back trough the years!


What a beautiful memory would this be? An album filled with the same themed picture, taken every year and then when you look back you can see how much have you all changed.

Here is a few examples so you get my idea:




Christmas Eve Traditions That Makes Lovely Memories





After I posed the question on Snapchat asking about everyones Christmas Eve traditions, I decided to write a blog post with all the great ideas I got!

I think Christmas Eve traditions help make so many special Christmas memories! So let me know at the end which ones will you be adopting.

1. Leaving cookies and milk for Santa and some carrots for Rudolph


This is a lovely activity to do with the kids. And as we all know Santa needs some food to keep him going on such busy night!

2. Sending a letter to Santa on a ballon


This a tradition I have done since I was a little girl. So we would do it with all my cousins in my grannies house. So the idea is to write another letter to Santa, attach it to a helium balloon, and then let all the balloons go at the same time. It was so much fun and the pictures of that memory are amazing!

3. Light a pat for Santa


This is such a fun cute idea to do with kids to make sure Santa find his way to the house easier.

4. Leave Santas footprints with some glitter, to prove he was there!




This is such a cute idea! You can use glitter, or talc, or both, and use a wellington to make the footprints!

5. Make your kids fill up a sack of toys they no longer want and leave it for Santa to take to other children who aren't fortunate enough



I think some kids these days have way too much and is a nice way to make them appreciate what they are getting!

6. Fill up a box with new pyjamas and a few treats to give to everyone on Christmas Eve


It is a nice little thing to for everyone the night before Christmas. Everyone goes to bed with new pyjamas and a few treats to enjoy, in the wait for Santa! I got this idea from Sharon Leavys blog. If you don't follow her, you should. This is her blog: www.behindgreeneyes.com

7. The tradition of the pickle!


Someone sent me this idea and I loved it! I googled it and you can buy the pickle in Amazon or lots of difference websites!

8. Have something for dinner that every year is the same. We always have cannelloni's 



A lot of people were saying they have Sandwiches, others pizzas. I think whatever it is make it something special. I like cannelonis because I only make them once a year and have them for Christmas Eve. In previous years I re-filled them with minced beef but this year I will make them with cheese and spinach. (since I have 2 weeks being a vegetarian lol)

9. Watch a Christmas film



Every Christmas eve it's nice to sit with the fire on and watch a christmas family film with some popcorn and wine for the adults!

10. Take the same picture wearing something similar each year and make an album so you can look back trough the years!


What a beautiful memory would this be? An album filled with the same themed picture, taken every year and then when you look back you can see how much have you all changed.

Here is a few examples so you get my idea: