My Weight Loss Journey Featuring XLS Medical* - An Update And Birthdays

A million apologies that this post is a few days later than planned but yet again life got in the way. For once though it wasn't for anything bad, I've uploaded a couple of You Tube videos this week, and I had a lovely day yesterday with Mummy Lou, we went to Chiquitos for lunch, did a bit of shopping and then I had an amazing Kiehls facial, hand and arm massage in the newly refurbished House Of Fraser Beauty Rooms, in their Intu Metrocentre store. Heaven, and the perfect start to my birthday celebrations!

Yes it's my birthday on Sunday and ahead of any potential naughtiness calorie wise, I though I better update you on how my weight loss journey is going.

Not too bad is the answer, although I've had a couple of wobbles here and there, and a couple of weeks where I didn't manage to lose any weight, since my last update  I've managed to lose 6lbs taking me to 12lbs in total.

I had a couple of really good weeks then I got sick again which contributed to a couple of wobbles, and then I had my godfathers 87th birthday party, which involved cake and lots of gluten free pizza :) so I'm taking the fact that I didn't gain anything over the 5 weeks or so as a bonus.

Maybe this is the XLS Medical Max Strength doing it's thing who knows? Even on my off days and days when I haven't been calorie counting I've still been taking the supplements so maybe they've helped stop the absorption of some of the excess fat and calories

Celebrations normally involve food, and I'm not intending to be too careful about what I eat over the next few days but I will be talking the supplements and trying to make some good choices. Yesterday in Chiquitos we didn't have starters or dessert, and I just had a salad (the Halloumi Citrus Salad in case you're interested) and me and Mummy Lou shared a side order of Sweet Potato Fries. I had a Costa Creamy Cooler too but I didn't eat very much else all day.

So one  birthday event down two to go, obviously there is my birthday itself and tomorrow night I'm going for a meal with my best friend to a local Greek restaurant so although there might be a few calories from the olive oil, maybe some chips and some cheese, I'll definitely be getting my five a day when it comes to vegetables,

I intend to enjoy my birthday and if that means eating a few bad (good) things then so be it - Everything in moderation and they say and I'll be back on it as soon as I can, and I'll be updating my Instagram from Monday with my weekly weigh in's regardless of the result..

I only have about a month's worth of the XLS Medical Max Strength supplements remaining so in about a months time I'll do another update, where I'll talk more about the supplements and talk about my experiences with them.

Thanks again for your support and if you have any questions please leave me a comment and let me know x Thanks for reading xx

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A Weight Loss Journey Update - Illness, A Big Fat Fail And A Small Positive

It's been over a month since I announced that I was restarting my weight loss journey and since then it's all gone a bit quiet, so I thought I owed you an explanation.

The reality is that yet again my healthy eating and weight loss plans went down the pan - I had a good couple of weeks without managing to lose any weight (probably down to star week) and then it all went belly up.

I had a few wobbles over Mothers Day weekend but then I was hit by an awful virus or should I say viruses! Over the next 3 weeks I had a UTI (sorry if that's a bit TMI), a sickness and diarrhoea bug, and finally a horrible cold / chest infection that I can't seem to shake off, and then of course came Easter!

How I haven't gained any weight I'll never know, maybe the various viral infections played their part and scared the calories and periods of over indulgence away, but whatever the reason I have to take it as a positive and put this wobble behind me.

So from yesterday I'm back on it and I've even more determined then ever - I took what I hope will become a before photograph, that almost made me cry and that I hope will give me the push and inspiration that I need.

I'm going to trying to eat more healthily, I'm aiming to eat less than 1500 calories a day and I'm going to be resuming my XLS Medical Max Strength* trial. I'm also going to try and up my activity levels, I'm going to start slowly and just do more around the house including tidying and decorating before hopefully moving on to a bit of Wii Fit, a bit of yoga, and hopefully once the weather gets better I'm going to pop my trainers on and start going for a daily walk just to get myself out of the house and to get myself moving.

So after yet another false start I'm back and raring to go, as per usual I will be weighing on Monday's and updating my progress be it good or bad on my Instagram (link in the sidebar x ) and in a month's time I'll do another blog post to let you know how I'm getting on. Wish me luck xx

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Restarting My Weight Loss Journey Featuring XLS Medical Max Strength*

It's hard to believe but it's been nearly 3 months since I put the breaks on my latest weight journey - doesn't time fly. A lot of water has gone under the bridge and I've eaten a lot of chocolate since then but after a few months worth of trials and tribulations I'm ready to start again.

Although I couldn't eat anything too hard, or too sticky or too crunchy I still managed to put on quite a bit of weight over Christmas. Salvation came though when the tooth said goodbye, 7 days of liquids and sloppy food meant that my weight loss journey started without me even trying. 

In the month that' followed I've had some good days and some bad days but since I first stepped on the scales on the Monday before my surgery I've managed to lose 6lbs by just making little tweaks here and then.

From today though I'm back on it good and proper and I'm going to be resuming my XLS Medical Max Strength trial. I started using this weight loss aid last June, and I really think it made a difference (Find out more about my previous experience by typing XLS Medical into the search box or have a read of some of my previous posts, here, here and here. Thanks to the tooth though and various unrelated health issues I had to put the trial on hold. From today though I'm back on it and for the next 3 months I'm going to be taking 4 tablets a day, whilst watching what I eat, drinking plenty of water and trying to increase my activity levels. 

What I was doing before seemed to be working so I'm going to try and do the same thing again - I'm a bit of a devotee of calorie counting so that's what I'm going to do. It makes sense really, eat less calories, and you'll lose weight - simples! Well I know it's not that simple. it's tough, it's hard and it needs serious willpower, but by making small changes, taking my XLS Medical supplements,eating 3 healthy meals a day, cutting down on the cheese and the chocolate, and by moving my body a bit more, hopefully I'll be able to shed those pounds and feel a bit more confident and a bit happier.

I still don't feel confident enough to reveal my full weight on the blog at the moment so all I'll say it at the moment I weigh:

1%st 8lbs

I have quite a bit  of weight to lose, and I know that it won't be a quick fix but I'm hoping that the XLS Medical tablets can do there thing, and at least help my kick start my weight loss over the next 3 months. I'm only going to be posting monthly updates on the blog, so if you want to keep tracks on my progress please follow me on either Instagram or Twitter where I'll be posting my weekly weigh in's every Monday. Thanks as per usual for your support, if you have any questions let me know and if you're interested in XLS Medical in general or the XLS Medical Max Strength supplements then don't forget to check out their website for more information x

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Happy New Year - Reflections And Looking Forward

I'm going to make no apologies for this statement but goodbye 2015 and good riddance. This year has a tough one for so many people that I know, and so many people that I love, and for a lot of people it's been a one to forget. It's been a hard one in particular health wise for both me, and some close family members but a new year is about to begin and we're all still here and we're all still fighting.

I'm not a one for making new years resolutions really but every year I always like to make a list of my hope, dreams and aims for the year, and this year I thought I'd share them with you.

1. Family

My most important aim of 2016 is to spend more time with, and to appreciate my family a lot more than I already do. I've had a few close shaves this year, and it's made me realise that life is short, and you need to appreciate and spend time with those you love whilst you have the chance. It's easy at times to yell at someone, or to make excuses not to see someone but next time, take a step back and think about it before you do it or before you speak, I know I will trying my hardest to do that in 2016.

2. Me - Health, Stress, Weight Loss, Love

I used to consider myself quite a selfish person but over the last 12 months I've realised that I spend an awful lot of time worrying and stressing about other people, If you care about someone that's a fact of life but I need to learn to take a step back and take care of myself for once. There is no point in worrying about other people to the detriment of your own health and that's what I need to remember. I went to CBT sessions and I was always told not to worry about things that might not happen and things that you can't control and that is something that I need to keep in mind in 2016.

I also need to listen to my body a little bit more - I need to take time outs from life occasionally and I need to realise that there is no need to feel guilty about doing it. I also need to learn to switch off the tv, put down the book, and go to bed, I've had a few early nights lately and I feel a lot better for it.

Something else that I plan to do in 2016 is learn to love myself just a little bit more - I probably say this every year, but on numerous occasions in 2015, I've experienced so much self loathing it's untrue. I need to accept myself for what I am - I'm not perfect but who is! It's so easy to compare yourself to other people especially online but where does it lead you - more self loathing and hatred - be you and love being you, is my new mantra. Other people have issues and problems too even if you can't always see them.

That said although I'm going to try and love myself no matter what my weight is getting me down a bit again so once the hellish tooth is removed (15th January at the moment) Healthy eating and weight loss will resume. I'm also going to try and do a bit of walking, and maybe a bit more yoga to try and untangle my achy muscles.

3. Blogging, You Tube And Social Media

Blogging has been a constant frustration to me in 2015 - I didn't post as often as I would have liked, my content waned at times, and I was left feeling mehhh on more than one occasion. I felt guilty at times about it, and I know I shouldn't have done but I did. In 2016 I'm going to try and develop a whole new attitude to blogging - first of all I want to regain the blogging love, I want to enjoy posting and writing again, and feel passionate about my blog. I want to get more organised, develop a regular positing schedule, mix things up a bit and provide you my loyal readers with quality, and individual content. Above all though I want to avoid comparing myself to others - it's hard not to but we're all individuals, we all write differently and about different things, and we really shouldn't judge ourselves by somebody elses achievements and standards. Again I want to thank you all for your support in 2015 and if there is anything specifically you would like to see on the blog in 2016, leave me a comment and let me know x

You Tube wise I've been pleased with my progression in 2015, I've been uploading more regularly and I've really enjoyed doing it so that's something that I'm aiming to do more of in 2016. I'm also going to mixing my content up a bit and trying some different types of videos, so again let me know what you'd like to see x

I've had a love hate relationship with Twitter and Facebook in 2015, and that's something that will no doubt continue in 2016. Social media has at times stressed me out a lot over the last year, so whilst I'll continue to use it and at times enjoy it, I'm not going to stress about taking some time out. I've taken a few days off social media this year and I think it's done my the world of good. Don't be afraid to step away from twitter every now and then for your own sanity if nothing else.


4. Organisation, Clutter And Spending Less

This is something else that usually ends up on my list every year - I need to be more organised, and I need to sort out my crap. I'm untidy, badly organised, and flaky and it needs to stop. I intend to attack every drawer, wardrobe and cupboard that I own and  clear out what I don't need and I don't use!and I need to put things where I can find them! I also need to write things down so I remember them and as I've already said I need to be more organised blogging wise, and I need to remember to reply to my comments more regularly.

In order to prevent some of this crazy clutter that I always seem to accumulate, I also really need to cut down on the shopping, so that's another aim of 2016 to try really hard and only buy what I need, and I definitely need to stop buying so many beauty products, but more on that tomorrow.

Basically no matter what happens in 2016 I fully intend to make the best of it and be the best person that I can, 2015 has been a learning curve but it's one I'm happy to say goodbye too x  I'd like to wish you and yours a very Happy New Year and I really hope that 2016 is everything that you want it to be x

Life Lately - Weight Loss, Chronic Fatigue, Illness And Family

When I first started my blog nearly 9 years ago now I talked a lot about myself, my family and my illness - I used to write regular goods and bads posts and I often used my blog as a bit of a place to whinge. Over the years though my blog has changed and maybe I've changed!  For various reasons I haven't felt comfortable sharing certain aspects of my life and my blog has become my happy place, a place where I can escape and take time out of my daily life. I always wanted my blog to be a part of me though, so every once and a while maybe it's good to share.

To say my posting has been flaky lately is probably an understatement, I seem to have a really consistent spell and then I seem to disappear for a few days or a week. There shouldn't be any pressure to blog but I do feel a bit guilty every now and then when I can't get as many posts up as I would like. Life over the last 3 or 4 months or so hasn't been kind to me in a lot of ways and that's reflected in my blog so event hough there probably isn't a need I thought I should at least give you some sort of an explanation. 

I don't want to go into too much detail but as you know I'm quite close to my family, and unfortunately my illness curse seems to have struck them too. I'm not going to go into too much detail to protect them and their privacy but two of my closest family members are having a very rough time of it at the moment. It's awful seeing people you love struggling on a day to day basis, and facing their own mortality and it's probably affected me more than I've realised, both physically and mentally, something that I could probably have done without.

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a funny thing, I don't mean funny haha, I mean strange, one minute you can feel relatively "normal" and the next minute you can feel as though your on deaths door, yet you'll still look okay. You can have good days and you can have bad days and this year for whatever reason I've definitely had more bad days than good days.Throw in a long awaited, and presumed Fibromyalgia diagnosis and it's now pretty clear why I've been in so much pain and felt so wiped out.

If that wasn't all after a routine dental check up I was told that one of my wisdom teeth needs to be removed! Fury didn't quite cover it, I brush, I floss, I use mouthwash, I visit the dentist every 6 months - why!!! and why wasn't this picked up sooner! I know some of my medications can affect my teeth and my saliva (yuck, sorry!) but still!

A visit to an oral surgeon confirmed that the tooth needed to come out, and I was put on the waiting list to get it removed. Oh and in the meantime I was told to eat a relatively soft diet as the damaged tooth would potentially start to break off - hmm I wondered what that small creamy, white hard thing was in my risotto!! 

Yeah - not good but unfortunately the worst was yet to come" before any form of surgery you have to undergo certain tests to rule out any complications and after some simple tests low and behold they found a couple of issues. I'm not going to bore you with the details but I have a pile of new medication to take and I have to see a health care professional every fortnight for monitoring!

So here I am, waiting and waiting for that appointment letter to get this godforsaken tooth removed, I swear it caused me no pain or irritation until that bloody dental check up. Thankfully avoiding anything to hard or chewy, painkillers, Corsodyl mouth wash, and Anbesol liquid are making it a bit more bearable but I'm still having the occasional swollen hamster cheek moment!

At the moment finding something to eat and eating without discomfort is hard enough, without watching what I'm eating so I've made to decision to at least postpone my weight loss journey, till I get both my teeth and my heart sorted. I'm annoyed, ashamed and more than a little disappointed to give in like this, but I need to focus on improving my short term health before I start thinking about more long term concerns. It's a shame because I really think I was starting to make progress with the XLS Medical Max Strength system* - I'd lost around 12lbs and I was feeling really positive about the whole thing but it can't be helped. I'd already bought some more capsules when they were on offer so I'm ready to get back on it hopefully in the new year when I get myself pulled together.

I really hope this hasn't come across as an oh woe is me post, although I suspect it probably has, but I just wanted to let you know what's been going on and why posting has been a bit erratic and why I haven't been posting as many recipes or weight loss updates.  Knowing that you guys are there on the interweb really keeps my going at times and it gives me something to focus on when real life is getting in the way. If you're a new reader I don't write posts like this that often so I hope I haven't scared you off! I'm making no promises as to the regularity of posts at the moment but all I'll say is I'll post when I can. I have quite a few post ideas floating around that will hopefully come to fruition before Christmas including some long overdue press sample reviews, some festive gift idea reviews, some hauls, a recipe that I might not be able to eat but I can assure you is amazing, and my usual big festive giveaway.so I hope that you'll stick around and be patient with me. Thanks for reading and of course thanks for being there x

*Samples

My Weight Loss Journey Featuring XLS Medical Max Strength* - Part 2

It's been a little while since I posted a weight loss update so I thought it was about I did a little post to let you know whats been going on.

I started my new weight loss programme with XLS Medical Max Strength, with a huge amount of enthusiasm and willpower and by the time I published my first post, which you can read here, I'd already lost 5lbs, fast forward over a month and a half later I'm only 8lbs down, so what happened?

Well the usual thing for me - illness. The chest and lung infection from hell, attacked my system for over 3 weeks, so dieting was pretty much out of the question, my immune system was shot and it needed all the help it could get. Throw in a family bereavement and another relative being in intensive care and to be honest I'm surprised that the scales are still showing an overall loss.

From this week though I'm back on it, I'm keeping an eye on my calorie intake, I'm keeping a food diary and or course I've started taking my XLS Max Strength supplements again.

I promised in my last post that I'd tell you a little bit more about the supplements and how they work, so here we go x I'm not going into too much detail but basically what XLS Medical Max Strength is, is weight loss aid that can help users reach their weight loss goals up to 4 times faster than diet and exercise alone.

How it does this is by the inclusion of a patented, gentle, organic plant based complex, Clavitanol, which reduces the break down and absorption of dietary carbohydrates, sugar and fat, which in turn leads to a reduced calorie intake. It also helps to stabilise blood glucose and insulin levels which helps to reduce food cravings.

This product has been rigorously tested, and the plant based ingredient is gentle on the system. Full instructions and contra indication information is supplied in every box and all you do is take two tablets, about half an hour before you eat your two main meals of the day, you even get a nifty little pillbox for when you're on the go. Unlike some weight loss supplements I've used in the past these don't seem to have any of the nasty side effects such as diarrhoea or nausea, in fact all I've noticed is a little bit of bloating.  

Although it sounds good these tablets aren't for everyone and for good reason. Supplements like this are for people that have a weight problem and really need to lose weight. For that reason you need to have a BMI of over 18.5 to take them. It's also only recommended for adults over the ages of 18 unless it's given under the supervision of a GP or a dietician, and it goes without saying that it isn't suitable for women who are pregnant or breast feeding. If you're diabetic its also recommended that you consult a health professional before use as the tablets can interfere with medication, but to be honest before you take any form of supplement or pill you should always consult with your GP even if you consider yourself fit and healthy.

So I'm back on it and with just over 2 months supply of tablets remaining, I'm going to give it my best shot x I I'm looking forward to receiving some support and encouragement from Jodie Reif who is a registered dietician and in house dietican for XLS Medical Max Strength, and of course from you guys x  I want to thank you all as per usual for your support. From next week, weekly weight losses (or gains!) will be appearing again every Monday on my Instagram and Twitter page so don't forget to follow me, and in a month I'll do another update post for you x You can find out more about XLS Medical Max Strength by visiting their website and if you have questions about my journey please let me know x 

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My New Weight Loss Journey Featuring XLS Medical Max Strength* - Part 1

I guess I'm beginning to sound a bit like a broken record with so many false dawns and false starts, but last week I restarted my weight loss journey.Over the last 12 months or so it's been a bit stop / start but on my birthday of all days I decided that I needed to make some changes in all areas of my life.

Why weight loss? well I'm officially classed as obese, bah humbug you should be happy what ever your size, people shouldn't be labelled and all that. Fine if you're happy and you have that self confidence but not so much if you're like me and looking the mirror at times makes you feel miserable.

Recently I attended a press event and I the night before I literally burst into tears as I tried to find something that looked decent and didn't highlight my wobbly tummy and my bum. Okay I was probably being a bit dramatic but if you don't feel comfortable in your own skin, all the reassurances and common sense in the world won't make one bit of difference. Believe me I've tried, I admire and love so many plus size / eff your beauty standards bloggers but when you're hating on yourself as much as I have been lately it's impossible to see anything positive about the way you look.

I've never had a lot of self confidence, or confidence in my appearance, even many moons ago when I was a size 8, so why do I think it will make a difference now? Well I'm older and maybe a little bit wiser, I know that being a bit slimmer isn't going to change my life dramatically but I need to at least give it a try for my health, if not for my self confidence.

I didn't want this to be an Oh Woe Is Me post, so I'm sorry if it's heading that way but losing weigh isn't the easy thing that some people make it out to be. It's a physical and emotional journey that effects every part of your life

I've been told on many occasions by my GP and my hospital specialist that it's will be hard for me to lose weight due to my illness, lack of exercise and my medication but I'm going to give it my best shot and I fully intend to prove them wrong.

So how am I going to be doing it? Well pretty much the same way that I've done it in the past, watching what I eat, making healthy choices, and less snacking. I did consider trying a slimming club but the expense put me off and I know that this method works for me - Many moons ago I lost 4 stone doing something similar so despite the obstacles now in my path I know it can be done.

This time round though I do have a little bit of a support. A month or so ago now I was invited down to London to meet Denise Van Outen, who is the brand ambassador for weight loss tablet XLS Medical Max Strength. Unfortunately because I'm a northerner travelling down to London the majority of times just isn't possible so the PR company gave me the opportunity to take part in the week XLS Medical Get Back To The Real You, 12 week challenge, and sent me three months supply of the XLS Medical Max Strength supplements*

Diet pills and supplements have always been controversial but for me I need a kick start. I'm going to talk more about what they do and who they are for in a future but be rest assured these aren't just some random pills I've got off the internet. XLS Medical are the biggest weight loss brand in Europe and their products are available in most major pharmacies. My BMI is high enough and I've checked with my GP so I'm good to go.

I'm not going it alone though, every person who buys XLS Medical Max Strength can either log onto their website or download the app, and register for their free support programme, to get support, meal tips and advice from their in house dietician Jodie Relf. I'm going to be speaking to the XLS team once a week via email and I think that their support will be invaluable.

I've been taking four tablets a day for the past week, and in my first week I've lost 5 pounds. Have the tablets helped? I'm not sure yet but I've experienced no side effects as yet so all's well. I'm not going to be doing a weekly update post or anything like that, instead I'm going to be updating my instagram every Monday with how much I've lost or gained, and I'm going to be doing a monthly post to keep you updated. My next post will be in around four week time and as well as updating you on my progress I'll also be explaining a bit more about XLS Max Strength how they work, the science behind them,and who can use them, but if you want to find out more please have a look at their website x

So although I'm going down a slightly controversial route to some, hopefully it's going to give me the kick start that I need x Thanks for your support as per usual and thanks for reading and I'll see you soon with either a beauty or fashion post depending on how I'm feeling xx

*Samples

Fruity Firmness Courtesy Of Lovea - A Review For My Pure*

I've reviewed quite a few products from French brand Lovea over the years but I haven't reviewed anything from them for quite a while, so for one of May's My Pure reviews I decided to revisit the brand.

Lovea produce a wide range of organically certified skincare, hair care, body care, and sun care products, that contain a high level of natural ingredients, and are suitable for vegetarians. The majority of their product contain either Tahitian Monoi, Shea Butter from Burkina Faso or Moroccan Argan Oil but the one I'm trying out this time round is a bit different.

Whether it's down to age, or weight loss and gain, I'm starting to see a bit of wobbliness and slackness on my body skin - woe is me :( I know that the best way to firm up the skin and body is through diet and exercise but keeping the skin moisturised and using the right product can also help.

Lovea Papaya Firming Body Gel is not only designed to hydrate and moisturise the skin but it's also designed to help firm and tighten problem areas. 95% of the ingredients are from a natural origin and the two key ingredients are papaya extract, which is good for moisturising and exfoliating, and caffeine which can help with fluid retention, and help to firm the skin

.

The product itself comes in a jar and has a thick gel like texture, and an amazing fruity scent, which reminds of tropical, summery cocktails. 

It's a really simple product to use, all you do is massage a small amount, in circular motions into your problem areas. I've predominantly been using it on my thighs, my bum and my tummy but I guess you could also massage it into your upper arms as well. 

It feels quite cool on the skin, but there is no hot / cold tingly feeling like what you get with some products. It takes a little while to soak in completely but when it does your skin is left feeling smooth and a little bit tighter.

I've only been using this for about 3 weeks so I'm yet to see a real difference, bar the initial feel on the skin, but it's a nice product to use so I'm going to keep using it, and enjoying the smell, and hopefully I'll start seeing some results when I combine it with new weight loss regime x  Lovea

Papaya Firming Body Gel retails at £7.99 at My Pure for a 200ml jar. If you have any questions let me know x Thanks for reading x 

*Sample

My Final Weight Loss Update - 11 Months In And Still 27lbs Down! - Honesty, Regret And Moving On

I'm going to apologise for the honesty within this post if that isn't your thing feel free to click the cross and come back tomorrow for some beauty cheeriness. Try as you might life isn't always a bed of roses though and sometimes you just need to share.

I started 2014 with the best intentions I wanted to deal with my excess weight once and for all. Up until April I did well by and large I ate healthily with the occasional treat, and as expected the weight came off. The problem I guess started with my birthday I got out of the healthy sensible eating pattern, it showed, and I gained a few pounds.

I did manage to lose most of  and I really tried to get back on track but for some reason it just never happened. I don't want to make excuses but medication changes, stresses, and periods of ill health all played their part, and over the last 4 months or so I've really struggled to lose any weight at all. I've become one of the yo yo dieters, gain a pound, lose a pound, and repeat, and repeat, so when I weighed in this morning I was exactly the same weight that I was at end of September.

I guess I shouldn't be too disappointed after all I haven't gained anything really for 2 whole months and I should be starting 2015 weighting less than I did in 2014, but I am. I started this year so well and it just all seems to have fizzled out. People who started their weight loss journeys at the same time as me have streaked ahead of me and whilst I know we shouldn't compare ourselves to others, to be honest I feel like a bit of a failure.

At the start of the year, the idea was to use my blog to inspire me on my weight loss journey but lately it's done the exact opposite. When the numbers stop changing, the pounds stopped coming off, and the posts started to become repetitive I almost felt as though I was letting you down. I know that's daft but losing weight for a lot of people is very much a mental thing and if your feelings about it change then it inevitable that the outcome will change too.

I'm not saying that documenting my journey on the blog is the reason why I haven't done as well as I'd hoped but I need to make a fresh start. I'm not the type of person that gives up easily so my weight loss journey will continue. Yes I'm going to allow myself treats over Christmas but from January operation weight loss will be back on.

I'm going to make a serious effort to develop a better relationship with food, and getting back into regular mealtime routines is a must. I'm also hoping that the Thinking Slimmer system will do it's thing and help me achieve a more positive mind set again when it comes to food and weight loss. It helped me so much at the start of this year and in the early days of my journey way back in 2013 and fingers crossed that it will make a difference this time round.

So nothings going to really change, well, apart from the fact that I'm no longer going to be documenting my journey on my blog. The monthly weight loss updates are no more and my update page will disappear from today. I hope you understand my reasoning but I will still be updating my instagram page as and when if you're still interested.

I want to thank you all for your support over the last 11 months, and despite what I've said I really appreciated every tweet, piece of advice and every encouraging comment. Onwards and upwards, as they say or downwards in my case x Thank you for reading and thank you for being there x

(Various Thinking Slimmer Slim Pods Have Been Provided For Review / Promotional Purposes)

Weight Loss Update - 10 Months In - Still 27lbs Down

If you been following my weight loss progress over the last month both on instagram, and via my weight loss page, you'll have noticed that I haven't updated either. I could make excuses as to why but to be honest what's the point. The truth is quite simple - I haven't weighed myself for a whole month.

I have had so many other things on my mind this month, and I've been so busy doing lots of new and exciting stuff, that thinking about what I've been putting in my mouth just hasn't been that important, to me. I've had one of those months where I've eaten exactly what I wanted, without a thought for the fat or calorie content. It hasn't all being bad as I'm sure Friday's Foodie Review Of The Month will prove but nothing was off limits.

Admitadly I've started the new month at the same weight that I ended the last, so it's not all bad, but I really feel as though I'm on runaway train at the moment when it comes to weight loss. I have a horrible feeling that if I don't start putting the brakes on, I'll undo all my good work from the beginning of this year, and end up back where I started.

Being so busy I guess has highlighted one of the reasons why I struggle with food and weight loss. Because of my varying illnesses and conditions I have really irregular sleep patterns, bad enough on it's own but it also has a knock on effect on meal times. I really struggle with the 3 meals a day thing - Because I have trouble sleeping at night I often don't get up till at least lunchtime meaning that I'm missing out on at least one meal a day. The sensible option would be to replace that meal properly but more often than not I just graze or pick at food instead.

It's easy to blame my illness for so much but I'm making a real effort not to let it define me anymore.
The sleep problem won't be solved overnight but I know I can make a real effort to get out of my rut and change how I eat. Not only watching what I put into my mouth but also by trying to eat regular meals rather than just the one a day and a pile of snacks. ,

It's not going to be easy but I think it's the only way. I did so well at the start of the year by eating two or three good meals a day and cutting down on my snacks so I know that I can do it. So from today I'm calorie counting, and I'm back listening to my Slim and Chill Pods and I'm really trying to get back on it.

I've been a crap role model with this one, I know, but I always said that this would be a hard and long journey for me, and so it proved. I promise I will keep my instagram and my blog page updated for you so you can see how I'm getting on x Thanks for reading and for your support and I'll see you tomorrow with a beauty review x

(Various Thinking Slimmer Slim Pods Have Been Provided For Review / Promotional Purposes)

Foodie Friday - Diet Coke Quorn

Happy Halloween hope your having a spooktastic evening, I've had a busy afternoon carving my pumpkin, and making my traditional Pumpkin And Toasted Sweetcorn Soup, and my Spicy Mexican Cornbread - Yummy! I thought about making something spooky themed but instead for today's Foodie Friday post I'm going to give you a recipe that's been requested quite a few times.

Way back in January when I started my weight loss journey, I went on the hunt for new low fat, and low calorie recipes to add to my repertoire. Although I don't follow either Slimming World or Weight Watchers I've really enjoyed cooking and trying out some of the recipes that people on the pans use. Obviously their own websites are worth a look but I also found a few gems via instagram and google.

One of the strangest recipes that I found was for Diet Coke Chicken! The idea isn't really that new though, Nigella has been doing here ham in Coca Cola for years and speaking to several people that have tried it, it's amazing. Odd sounding I know but Cola is quite a sweet, spicy drink, full of clove, nutmeg and cinnamon, which adds real flavour and depth to anything that it's cooked with. Obviously being vegetarian I couldn't use chicken but I saw a few people make it with Quorn pieces and fillets so I thought I'd give it a go. 

I wasn't really sure about putting this recipe up because it's not really mine. You just have to look around on the internet to find a zillion different versions of this recipe. Every time I've posted a picture on here or on my instagram though I've been asked for the recipe so here you go. This is my interpretation, it's still quite healthy though but I'll tell you later how you can make it less or alter it to suit your own tastes.

Diet Coke Quorn

10 Spray Of Fry Light (I'm Using Garlic)

4 x Cloves Garlic- Roughly Chopped

1 x Onion - Roughly Chopped

2 Sticks Celery - Finely Chopped

2 x Carrots

1 x Courgette

1 x Pepper - Red, Yellow, Or Orange

300g Quorn Pieces - Defrosted If Frozen

1 x Tin Chopped Tomatoes

200g Mushrooms - Roughly Chopped

330ml Diet Coke, Diet Pepsi, Or Any Other Diet Cola

1 Tsp Chinese 5 Spice Powder

1 Tbsp Soy Sauce

1 Tbsp Tomato Puree

1. Spray your Fry Light into a large pan, I'm using a large saute pan here but a casserole dish or pan would probably be better. Add your garlic, onion and celery to the pan and cook over a medium until the onions are soft and translucent

2. Roughly chop your courgette and carrots, You want everything to be roughly the same size so cut them both length ways, then slice. Add those to the pan and cook for a few minutes x

3. Then roughly chop your peppers, I have a combination of red orange and yellow here because I was using mini ones. Add those to the pan and cook your vegetables for about 5 minutes.

4. Then add your mushrooms, and cook for about 10 minutes, your pan will be quite full but don't panic the mushrooms and the vegetables will continue to cook down and soften.

5. Finally your Quorn Pieces, you could add them at the first stage but to be honest you don't really want to crisp the, you want them to absorb all the flavours, so adding them now works fine. Pop a lid on for about 10 minutes.

6. Add your tinned tomatoes

Then your Chinese 5 Spice powder. This is a fab herb and spice blend containing cinnamon, cloves, fennel seeds, star anise, ginger and black pepper. It's quite strong and quite aniseedy, so if your not sure add less that I do,you can always add a bit more later.

Then add your tomato puree, and your soy sauce.

7. Stir it all together and then add your Diet Coke. I'm using a bottle of Pepsi Max here which I've measured out but any diet coke type drink works. In fact I think the cheaper ones work better because they usually have a bit more of a cinnamon or clove flavour. 

You might not be able o fit it all in at once but just let it reduce a bit and then add so more.

8. The cook over a low / medium heat for at least an hour. The sauce, will have reduced, thickened and darkened. Have a taste and then you can add more 5 Spice or soy to taste.

Done - serve with either rice, pasta, or even fried rice. This recipe makes 4 very generous portions, and it will keep for a day or so in the fridge if you have left overs. Simply reheat in a pan or in the the microwave adding a little bit of diet coke or a bit or water.

Simple as it's very easy to adapt to suit your own needs and tastes. You can use whatever vegetables you like, this just happens to be what I usually have in the veg basket. You can also vary the flavouring although I do think that 5 Spice gives it a great flavour. You can also add a bit of chilli or some Worcester sauce to give it a bit more of a kick. The original recipe used tomato passata instead of tinned tomatoes but that gives a much more sauce based dish, but it's up to you. ou could also use Quorn Fillets or chopped up Quorn Roast and it goes without saying you could use chicken or gammon.I'm trying to be health conscious here but if you want to throw calories or caution to the wind you could use oil instead of Fry Light and of course you could use full fat and full sugar coke.

I was really sceptical about this dish when I first made it but it's become a really favourite and Me and Mummy Lou now have this at least once a month. If you haven't tried it yet I'd definitely recommend you give it a go, sometimes it pays to experiment x Happy Eating xx

Weight Loss Update - 9 Months In - 27lbs Down

I've had one of those months guys x The month started off with a maintain, fine I can deal with that, but then came the big test - Mummy Lou's birthday! For 4 days solid I ate nothing but bad things, cake cheese, chocolate, ice cream - lots of naughtiness. I was to scared to do an official weigh in but a sneaky look at the hospital scales showed at least a 3lb gain - ouch!

My body though had other ideas and almost as soon as the weight gain registered, my body said no, no, no, that ain't happening! and struck me down with a weeks worth of gastroenteritis! I could barely eat or drink and nothing stayed in my stomach for more than an hour! Sorry if that's a little to much information but there is no way I would wish that on anyone, I haven't felt so ill for a long, long time but when I did manage to step on the scales again, I'd officially lost 2lbs, on a star week but in reality I'd probably lost nearer 6. A great weight loss trick but not something I would recommend :( Losing weight that quickly isn't healthy believe me!

I've spent the last two weeks trying to get my appetite back, and just trying to get my strength back so I haven't really been too careful about counting the calories, hence two maintains but again I can live with that. I'm still 2lbs down for the month so I'm looking at the positives of a pretty bad month in every sense of the word.

So what are my plans for October? Well I'm going to try and get back on the healthy eating bandwagon. It's not going to be easy, the onset of winter and  the cold dark nights always makes me want to hole and eat comfort food, but moderation is key and hopefully I can find some healthy winter warmers to help me through. I've been referred back to physiotherapy starting from this week, so activity could either be increased or decreased depending on how my assessment appointment goes but whatever the outcome I'll make the best of it. I've been slacking a bit of my Slimpod too so in October I'm determined to get listening again and to get Thinking Slimmer.

Thanks again for all your support especially when I was poorly and don't forget you can keep updated with my weight loss journey via my weight tracker page, and on instagram, where I will be starting to update my weekly weight loss again from next week x Thanks for reading x

(Various Thinking Slimmer Slim Pods Have Been Provided For Review / Promotional Purposes)

Weight Loss Update - 8 Months In - 25lbs Down

Urgh! August was another frustrating month when it came to weight loss. Last months post was all about positivity but this months is all about mehhh. Try as I might I only managed to lose just 1 tiny little pound in the whole month and for two weeks I was feeling so negative that I just didn't bother weighing. I know why though so I'm just going to have to deal with it and do my best to overcome it. My doctor started me on some new tablets at the start of the month and to be honest they've made me want to eat for Britain. Maybe they're doing something to my body or maybe it's just in my head, and I've been looking for an excuse to eat, I don't know but either way I'm frustrated and disappointed.

So where to now? Well the tablets are going to be a part of my life for the foreseeable future so I'm going to have to deal with the effects be it good and bad, and try and be a lot stronger when it comes to food. I'm really hoping yet again that the Thinking Slimmer, Slim, Chill and Fit pods can do there thing, and help change my mindset, if not my body. I have a couple of major tests ahead this month, including Mummy Lou's birthday next Sunday but I'm really going to do my best to get back on track. I'm at hospital next week and having a proper weigh in is normally good inspiration so I'm hoping that it does the trick this time round.

I'm sorry for the somewhat miserable update but I'm telling it like it is. Losing weight isn't the easy thing that it's often portrayed as, it's a tough and long journey for some of us and we often need all the help we can get. I know weight loss updates have been thin in the ground this month both on my weight loss page, on twitter and on instagram, but I want to thank you all as per usual for your support - without you guys I would most definitely have given up x Thanks for reading and I'll see you tomorrow with my August empties post xx

(Various Thinking Slimmer Slim Pods Have Been Provided For Review / Promotional Purposes)

Weight Loss Update - 7 Months In - 24lbs Down - 3lbs Up

So after all the talk saying I was back on it and ready to get back on the diet and healthy eating bandwagon I ended up gaining 3 pounds in July.

I could give you lots of excuses as to why I think it happened but I'm not going to. I gained weight quite simply because I ate too much of the wrong stuff. Everything in moderation is my mantra, well in July I seemed to not only forget my mantra but crumple it in a little ball and throw it out of the window. What's done is done though and rather than give up which would be the easy option I'm starting again. I've come far too far to give up now.

So what am I going to do now ? Well I'm going to try and get myself back in the same frame of mind that I had from January to April. I'm going to try and cut down on my portions and I'm going to try and make healthier choices, when it comes to both meals and snacks.

I'm also got to get back on the Thinking Slimmer gravy train and start listening to my full play list of Slim, Chill and Fit Pods every night. I've got out of the habit of listening to them and I really think that it's made a difference to both my confidence and my motivation.

As you know I'm not big on goal setting, I beat myself up too much when I fail, but in August I would really just love to lose the 3 pounds that I gained in July. I know that doesn't sound like a huge amount but after a cycle of maintaining and gaining even a small loss would give me the boost that I need and the confidence to carry on x

As before I'll keep you posted once a month as to how I get on and in the meantime I'll be charting my progress on both my Instagram page and on my Weight Tracker page. Thanks for reading x Your support really does mean everything to me and I hope that you'll continue to stick with me through the next part of my journey xx

(Various Thinking Slimmer Slim Pods Have Been Provided For Review / Promotional Purposes)

Weight Loss Update - 6 Months In - 27lbs Down

Over the last 4 weeks I've only managed to lose a measly 2lbs. By rights I should be disappointed but really I'm not. I haven't been very well recently so anything that I have lost has been a real bonus.

I've had a few treats here and there but by and large I've managed to stick to a pretty healthy diet throughout June. I've started juicing again, and I've eaten plenty of salads and fruit. I've also made a few of the Slimming World inspired meals to try and mix it up a bit, and I've been trying out some new snack ideas. I'll stick my food review of the month post up on Friday so you can see some of the things that I've been eating and drinking. 

Unfortunately exercise hasn't really happened over the last month, I've had days when even walking has been too much, but every movement is exercise, and it surprising how many calories things like, hoovering, and even shopping can burn so I'm not feeling too despondent.

I'm back listening to my Slim and Fit Pods every night at the moment too, and again I think that it's making the difference with regards to relaxation and motivation, particularly when I haven't felt up to it. I'm particularly focusing on the Create That Summer Beach Body download which is great for motivation at this time of year. I don't think I'm going abroad this year but I still want to feel confident enough to wear strappy tops, shorts and skirts in the warmer weather.

I'm not really a one for setting targets but in July I would love to lose another 2 pounds to take me back into the next stone barrier and back to the weight I was before my birthday. The weight seems to be coming off much more slowly than what it was, but at least its coming off and I'm not gaining x 

Thanks again for all your support on my journey and if you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask. Oh and if you want to keep in touch with my weight loss journey every week please check out the weight loss tab above and of course my instagram  for weekly updates x 

(Various Thinking Slimmer Slim Pods Have Been Provided For Review / Promotional Purposes)

Weight Loss Update - 5 Months In - 25lbs Down - 4lbs Up

I'm not going to lie or make excuses, but over the last four or so weeks I've eaten to excess, and I've eaten what I've wanted  and lots of of it and I've paid the price. I knew it was going to be a hard month with events and birthday celebrations but on reflection I could have been a bit more restrained.

Over the course of the month I gained 5lbs taking me back into the previous stone barrier :( I've managed to lose a pound but a maintain this weeks means I'm still four pounds heavier than what I was at this time in May.

I'm disappointed but it was all my own doing, and whilst I've had fun on my "cheat" month, I'm back on it from today. The calories are being counted and the Slim Pod is loaded up and ready to go tonight. I'm feeling motivated again and ready to give it another shot x

Thanks for all your support on my all be it faltering journey, and don't forget you can keep in touch with my progress via my weight loss page and my instagram xx

(Various Thinking Slimmer Slim Pods Have Been Provided For Review / Promotional Purposes)

Weight Loss Update - 4 Months In - 29 lbs Down And A Clothing Epiphany

Okay the pictures would suggest that I haven't had the best of months diet wise and that may well be true but I'm going to try and look at it another way.

Although I've only managed to lose one pound in the whole of April, I'm going to concentrate on the fact that I haven't gained anything. There were times especially this week when I thought I would have put a pound or two on but I haven't.

The body is a strange thing and to be honest I have no idea why I haven't gained. I've pretty much been ill in some form or another for the whole of April,and quite I've probably only managed to stick to my eating plan for about 2 weeks out of the month. Throw in some pretty hefty Easter chocolate indulgence and you'll probably realise why I'm classing this month as a win rather than the disaster that it could have been.

Watching the number falling on the scales is a fabulous feeling and it always gives you a boost and the encouragement to carry on, but this month I've found something that is probably just as important. As I've told you before, Thinking Slimmer unlike a lot of plans and weight loss methods isn't really about the numbers on the scales, yes you can weigh yourself but they recognise the importance of non scale victories. These can be as simple as somebody noticing that you've lost weight, to change in how you clothes feel and how you feel.

Throughout April I've been raiding my wardrobe and I've been shocked at how many long forgotten old pieces I've been able to wear again. I'm not saying they all didn't fit but now some of them just seem to hang better. I've also noticed that a lot of my go to daily pieces are feeling and looking a lot looser particularly around my bum and my tummy. The jeans and jeggings that I wear regularly are looser around the waist and around the thighs, and even my knickers feel a little bit more roomy than they used to. I even went out and bought a pair of trousers 2 sizes smaller than what I've been wearing. Yes I know shop sizing is ridiculous but it definitely gives you a bit of confidence.

Way back in the early days I used to post a lot more fashion pictures, over the years though I've felt less and less confident in my body so they've usually being resigned to the odd holiday picture. I know some people exude confidence no matter what there size but that just isn't me :(. This month though I posted a couple of OOTD's on my instagram account. The response was amazing and I'm so so grateful and thankful for all of the sweet comments that I received, so in the interests of fairness to those of you that don't have instagram, here they are x

All About Asda 

What I Wore 

Blue Floral Textured Top - George At Asda

Indigo Blue Jeggings - Moda At Asda

I wore the same shoes in both of these posts - some black bow detail Mel by Melissa Jelly Pumps, and I carried the same handbag, this one from H&M, and I wore a black, pleather biker jacket from La Redoute :)

All About H&M

What I Wore

Ancient Blush Wool Mix, Stripe Jumper - H&M

Indigo Super Stretch Treggings - H&M

Long Line White Vest - H&M

Chunky Rose Gold Tone And Crystal Necklace - Next

I just shows you where I've been buying clothes from over the past two years or so:). Affordable fashion no matter what your size :) I'm hoping to be able to squeeze my butt into some bits from some shops I've been avoiding like Primark and Top Shop - eek! I'm not saying that OOTD's are going to be a regular thing I still need a bit more confidence for that but even losing a little bit of weight has really opened up my fashion horizons. Not only am I going to be able to raid my own wardrobe for forgotten pieces but I'm hopefully going to be more willing to try new things - I really want to get out of my clothing comfort zone and hopefully losing a bit of weight will help me do that.

There are a number of obvious weight loss challenges that I'm going to have to overcome in May but I'm feeling super confident and ready to resume the challenge. The most obvious challenge in May is my birthday, but it's only once a year so I'm going to take the meals out, and cake in my stride. You can still have treats and lose weight :) I also have another family birthday and a couple of blogger events (one on my birthday :) to negotiate but these things come to try us - you just try a bit harder the next day.

I want to thank you all for the support and the thank you for the whinging you've had to endure this month - I'm definitely going to go all out to find a happier place in May :) If you want to find out more about my weight loss journey so far, please check out my Weight Tracker page above or pop the search terms, diet, weight loss, or Thinking Slimmer into the search box xx Thanks for reading and thanks for listening xx

(Various Thinking Slimmer Slim Pods Have Been Provided For Review / Promotional Purposes)

Weight Loss Update - 3 Months In - 28 lbs Down

Another month down and I'm delighted to say that I've managed to lose 28 lbs aka 2 stone since I started in January.

My weight loss has definitely slowed down in March and I only managed to lose 6 lbs in total. I did have one week where I maintained but I've still managed to lose on average over a pound a week.

Thanks to Mothers Day, coffee and cake with a friend, and illness I have a few cheat days in March - I had my first proper chip shop chips since December, I've had a couple of very naughty chocolate treats and some of the most amazing homemade banoffee pie ever but I've managed to pull it round and get straight back on track the next day. It only goes to show you can have bad days, and bad meals but by staying sensible it shouldn't really affect your weight loss. As I've always said losing weight and "dieting" shouldn't be about denial.

I haven't really managed to do any proper exercise again because quite frankly my body hasn't been up to it but I've done a few things in the house, I've shopped and I've gone for a couple of small walks so I haven't been completely inactive.

I'm still listening to my Slim Pod every night and again I think it's making a real difference with regards to my motivation and to my overall bedtime and relaxation routine, even if I do usually fall asleep before the end :)

In April I'm hoping for a little bit more of the same - Any weight loss is always a bonus but another 6lbs would do me :) April's major challenge is Easter, despite being in my 30's I still get Easter Eggs from my friends and family (I actually already have one sitting there to tempt me!), and my mum always makes a huge chocolate cake. Having no chocolate at Easter just isn't an option so I'm just going to try to be a bit more sensible, and not eat a whole Easter Egg in one sitting - that should be easy enough to achieve. shouldn't it? ;)

If you want to keep track of my weight loss journey please check out the Weight Tracker tab above or here, or my instagram feed where I update my weekly weight loss.

Thanks for all your sweet comments and for your encouragement I really do appreciate it. If you have any questions on my journey so far, please leave me a comment or drop my an email xx

(Various Thinking Slimmer Slim Pods Have Been Provided For Review / Promotional Purposes)

Weight Loss Update - 2 Months In - 22lbs Down

February has been a tough month for me in a lot of ways but thankfully as the pictures show it hasn't affected my weight loss - Over the last month I've managed to lose 6lbs, taking me to 22lbs altogether which is a massive 1st 8lbs.

Normally when I'm stressed or sad I turn to food, and whilst I've had more than a few treats over the last four weeks - I've tried to find other outlets for my feelings including reading a good book, painting my nails and having a nice bath.

I'm not going to beat myself up for the odd bad day though, I've only had one day though where I went over my calorie and fat goal but I built a bridge and got over it and just tried extra hard for the rest of that week and in the end it didn't really make a difference and I still lost. As something I found on Instagram says - "one bad meal won't make you fat just like one good meal won't make you skinny". I think this is so important I've seen so many people bad mouth themselves and beat themselves up for eating something naughty don't do it - it's isn't worth it - you've done it you can't change it so accept it and start afresh.

Go me I've changed! lol ! Seriously though I really don't know where all of this willpower and positivity is coming from - this is one of the few things that I feel positive about at the minute and I think my Thinking Slimmer Slim Pods are at least partially responsible. I'm really starting to change the way I think and as a result I'm seeing changes in the numbers on the scales and I'm I'm starting to see some non scale victories too with some visible physical changes.

One of the things that's helped keep me motivated this month strangely enough has been food and experimenting with new snacks and new recipes. I'm going to do a What I Ate In February post on Friday where you can see some of the things that I've been eating and some of the things that I consider diet saviours.

So another month down and another 8lbs closer to my goal - I'm feeling happy and positive for the month ahead despite a couple of challenges coming my way namely Shrove Tuesday and Mothers Day - but I'm confident enough now to know that two days off won't halt my progress and that I have a bad day I can pull it back round and get back on track x 

I'd like to thank all of you for your support it really does make a difference x I'll do another update in a months time but in the meantime you can follow my weekly updates on both twitter, my weight loss page and on instagram x 

(Various Thinking Slimmer Slim Pods Have Been Provided For Review / Promotional Purposes)