Confessions of a Former BBG Girl

Check out my vlog: Confessions of a Former BBG Girl.

I have been documenting my fitness journey just short of 3 years now, when it all kicked off my goal was literally to loose weight and get skinny, as the weight was falling away my goal changed course, I wanted to tone up alongside this. 

So I carried on doing what I was doing, I didn't adjust the calories I was eating in order to compensate for the level of exercise I was doing...which resulted in me continuing to lose weight, and yes grow SOME muscle, but because I was still eating a low calorie diet (with a huge calorie deficit) I got smaller and smaller....

In this photo I was consuming 1,200 calories a day and weight a mere 7 Stone 12lbs.

For a long time this picture above was my ultimate goal. When I looked at this picture I saw hard work, I saw determination, dedication and I saw will power. I was proud of how I looked in this photo and I defiantly did not think that I was 'too skinny'. When I look at it now, I wonder how I ever actually got that 'small', how I managed to stick to such a strict eating regime and how I had the energy to get through the workouts. 

I have come a long way since this photo, I have been so many different weights on my fitness journey, but I am now actively gaining weight and at this precise moment in time I am 8 stone 12lbs. For a long time I held the perception that if I gained weight and ended up weight the same as I did before I started this journey, that I would look overweight and frumpy....again, and this filled me with dread. I did not want to look or feel like the old me ever again. I loved the confidence and the way exercise made me feel inside and out.

It's taken me a long time to get my head around the whole eating side of a 'healthy lifestyle', it's taken me equally as long to work out that the scale is meaningless, because it doesn't matter what digits it displays, it cannot measure how I feel, and even if I end up weighing exactly the same weight as before.... I could look entirely different. 

Weight is NOTHING.

I have upped my calories from 1,200 a day to a whopping 2,300+ (usually eating over 2,500+). For me I have learned the hard way that I need to feed my body in order to grow and achieve my goals. Food is fuel, Food is energy. Food helps our bodies recover and it's what we eat that opens the doors to reaching the next milestone.

I have recently turned my workout regime on it's head, many of you know that I used to follow Kayla Itsines Bikini Body Guide (BBG), but I am now focusing on weight lifting. I am still doing everything from home, over the years I have invested in a lot of the weights that I need in order to be able to do this from the comfort of my own living room. 

The food I am eating (no calorie deficit!) and the training I am pursuing is helping me grow muscle and with that, the scale is starting to go back up again. I no longer look like I could snap at the slightest touch and I am loving how I am starting to fill out. Once upon a time seeing this sort of weight gain on the scale would have shook my very core, but thankfully I have finally come to terms with the fact that what I weigh really does not mean anything. 

This before photo was once upon a time my AFTER photo.

I am head over heels with the way that I am now training. I never go hungry, I have 3 meals a day and snack whenever I want. If I am hungry I eat. It really is that simple. If you are going through my old mindset right now, please, please, please take a moment and think about your goals. You don't need to restrict food (we all know that I have learned this lesson first hand), you don't need to diet, you don't need to go to bed hungry. 

What you do need to do is eat nourishing food. Whatever your goals are, weight loss, strength, muscle...You need to eat good food. 

Eat Clean with Virgin Coconut Oil

I have always had a healthy appetite for food, I have never been fussy and will always give everything a try, even if it is just the once. If you don't try it, how will you know whether or not you like it? Although my love for food has been great, my education into why certain foods are better for our bodies than others was not so great. 

Of course until I noticed the lbs starting to creep on in recent years, I didn't care. Even the lbs catching up with me wasn't enough to put me off ordering that high calorie pizza, or chowing down on that cheeky mid week curry. Of course there is always something, or someone for that matter who can snap you out of that. For me it was being told 'Your getting fatter by the day'. It may have been said in the spur of the moment, it may have not been said in malice. But it was still said, and I knew it to be true. Those words didn't upset me, didn't make me angry. They lit a fire in the very pit of my stomach to make a change. And make a change I did.

That very next day I put myself on the track to the lifestyle I now lead. I eat clean and prepare all of my own meals. If you could have seen me this time last year, my diet in comparison doesn't share a resemblance. I cannot remember the last time I drank a can of Coke, or sat and indulged in a larger than life Cadbury's Chocolate Bar. A year ago that would have been on a daily basis, those luxury items were just part and parcel of my everyday life. I would get into work and pop open my first can of pop for that day. These days? Well I'm all about the Green Tea and my sugar fix is adding a drizzle of honey! My mid morning snack use to mean a stroll to the works vending machine and tucking into a morning chocolate bar. Now I am more than happy with a Clementine or a handful of Almonds. 

This year has been such a big learning curve for me, a really important one that has made me reassess everything I eat. I didn't use to care what I put in my body, but now I want it to benefit my body and my training as well as satisfy my taste buds. I have really surprised myself on so many levels of late, and although my weekly shopping bill seems to increase thanks to the additional ingredients I need for my cooking, I am loving what I am eating so much more, and for that matter so is my body. 

When it comes to cooking, I have cast aside the low calorie sprays that I was swearing by, and in it's place I added in Coconut Oil. You can use Coconut Oil as you would any other oil when it comes to cooking and baking, but I find it so much more resilient. I use it to fry my chicken breasts, I throw it into my Nutriblast Smoothies and I even stir it into my morning porridge. Of course at the moment Coconut Oil is really making the news with it's miracle weight loss prophecies. A study recently looked at how the inclusion of virgin coconut oil in the diet affects metabolism, it was discovered that the oil appears to have an ability to change the way fats are handled by the body. 

It was found that when the virgin coconut oil is consumed, fat levels in the body tissues decreased, as did the amount of of specific enzymes involved in the conversion of sugars to fat in comparison to when Olive Oil, Sunflower Oil, or even basic Coconut Oil was used. 

Now although I really enjoy using Coconut Oil (Coconoil) in my cooking and baking, it is not for the weightloss benefits. I just find it a such a versatile product, and it is something that comes up in many of the recipes that I enjoy to cook with. 

Just this evening I cooked these little beauties up: Coconut Macaroons. So simple yet incredibly tasty and you won't believe just how little ingredients go into them!

- 1 Tablespoon of Coconut Oil

- A few drizzles of Honey

- 1 Cup of Desiccated Coconut  

- Put the Coconut Oil and Honey into a pan. Melt them together and add in the Desiccated Coconut. 

- Take an egg cup and spoon the mixture into the egg cup. Empty the egg cup onto a prepared baking tray before cooking in the oven for 20 minutes at 160C.

Disclaimer: I was sent a pot of Coconoil in exchange for my honest views and opinions in this post.

The Upbeat Blogger Challenge

For the past 8 months I have been making a conscious decision to eat better and move more. I began the gym in July 2014 and I haven’t looked back, it has been a huge lifestyle change for me and one that I actually cannot believe I didn't make sooner. In the time that I have spent cooking more homemade nutritious meals I have noticed a number of changes, I have lost weight and made those first baby steps to toning up, I feel more confident in myself and how I look, and I know that the changes I have made (though I may accidentally demolish a chocolate bar every now and again) are permanent and now just my everyday lifestyle. 

I was recently invited to take part in the Upbeat Blogger Challenge, Upbeat is a tasty protein drink that is low in fat and only ranks in on the calorie scale at only 149 calories. It boasts half the sugar content that is found in the vast majority of your typical fruit smoothies and makes a great ‘snack’ after you finish working out, or to even kick start your morning. I could see straight away that taking part in this challenge would be a great way to kick start the year, I was supplied with vouchers to kit me out with a weeks’ worth of Upbeat drinks, and sent a very generous Tesco shop full of healthy food to go alongside and aid the challenge. The nature of the challenge was to see how I felt before I began, how I felt during the week I was drinking the Upbeat drinks and how I feel now that it is all over.

Getting Started

I was pleased to see that everything I had already been cooking and eating was included within the shop, Meats, Fish, Quinoa and lots of fruit and vegetables. This meant I was already off to a flying start. It meant that I haven’t had to drastically change my usual day to day lifestyle, because it’s something that I have eased myself into over the last few months and the food and recipe ideas are all items that I use on a daily basis.

Although recently I have been testing the water and eating outside my usual comfort zone. I have been eating fish such as Salmon and Haddock, and even discovered that I enjoy Dates, Almonds, Cashew Nuts, Celery and Banana’s (I am aware that Bananas are not too exotic, but I have always been put off for some reason..), It really is surprising what you find you like if you give yourself the chance to really experience it. This of course has made preparing meals a lot easier, and I am more than willing to give anything a whirl at least once.   

I stocked up on the Upbeat drinks for the week at our local Tesco, unfortunately they only stock two of the three flavours, Strawberry and Mango & Passion Fruit, the third flavour which I am yet to try is Blueberry and Raspberry, so I will have to hunt this out at some point in the not so distant future.

 Extra Protein

I enjoy a protein rich diet, but since starting this challenge I have made the conscious effort to include it more throughout the day. There are so many options, you could even have a small portion of peanuts for a mid-morning snack and  steak salad for lunch, finishing up with chicken enchiladas for dinner. You don’t have to limit what you eat, you just have to eat more of the right things. I have been by passing rice more and more recently after trying Quinoa for the first time a few weeks ago, Quinoa is a grain that has more protein and fiber than rice or oats, and can be deliciously flavoured with stock or even lemon juice. It’s easy to cook up and is tasty hot or cold, it can be mixed into a salad or enjoyed on the side, and is great to have in the cupboard.

I prepare my snacks and lunches at home, usually the evening before. I find this helps me stay on track and I don’t find myself nipping off to the vending machine at work. In fact since June last year, I haven’t ventured to the vending machine once! A typical work snack for me may be Celery and Peanut Butter one day, Low Fat Greek Yoghurt and rolled outs with berries the next, or even a simple piece of fruit such as a banana. When lunch time comes a knocking I often enjoy chicken, turkey, steak or tuna and a weighed helping of Quinoa with some salad. Another day I may have a Tuna and boiled Egg Wrap with Cucumber. I am really trying to jumble the menu up so I am getting a tasty selection of different foods to enjoy.

Now I am enjoying Upbeat drinks alongside my staple diet too, I have been incorporating them into my after work out snack. Sometimes when I get home from the gym I am peckish and really need a little something to perk me up again. This is where Upbeat has been a great help, it’s always good to enjoy some additional protein after working out, and this seems to hit the spot as an ideal ‘snack’. Both of the flavours that I have tried have been delicious and completely blown my expectations out of the water, having tried the other half’s Whey Protein mixes before I was a little worried as to what I was signing up to. However I needn’t have worried, the Strawberry tastes just like a Love Heart Sweet in my opinion and the Mango and Passion Fruit is equally as delicious.

A week ago I began following Kayla Itsines Bikini Body Guide, I am the kind of person who needs everything laid out in front of me, up until I began following this guide I was simply winging it. In all fairness to myself I haven’t lead myself to far off the beaten path and I am pleased with the results that I have achieved in this time, but I know that I can do more, so now when I finish my gym session I actually have a few more sequenced exercises to perform. After enjoying my Upbeat I am ready to get going again, I feel energised and don’t have to worry that I may do some un-necessary snacking.

I took the below picture on the left 3 weeks ago (3^rd February 2015), just before I started following the eBook and taking part in the Upbeat Challenge. The photo on the right was taken this morning (23^rd February 2015).

A week has passed…

I have now been enjoying Upbeat for a week, and I will continue to add these protein rich drinks to my shopping trolley from now on. I am so pleased I took part in this challenge, I may not have altered my eating plan to drastically to take part but that just pointed out to me that I was already heading in the right direction. I have learnt more about the right kind of foods to eat and discovered new foods that I actually enjoy (foods that I wouldn’t have touched before). I don’t feel to different but I do have noticeably more energy after drinking one, and I do find that they help keep me fuller longer, which of course is good if you are trying to watch what you are eating.

Going forward I will be continuing to use all that I have learnt from this challenge, and I am sure the results will speak for themselves. I have got to where I am now through eating better, working out and looking after myself. I look forward to seeing what the next 8 months may bring, because if you truly want something and are willing to put the work in, you will be surprised at just how quickly you will begin to see changes.

Disclaimer: I took part in the Upbeat Blogger Challenge and was provided with vouchers to purchase the drinks free of charge. I was sent a generous shop in order to cook up my meals for the challenge in exchange for this post. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest and my own.   

The Brabantia Body Analysis Scales Review & Giveaway

I posted over recent months about my new lifestyle plan, I have made changes that really have been for the better, for me anyway. I feel much more comfortable and happier in myself for making these changes, and this has been reflecting in all aspects of my life. When you feel good, everything is good.

I have been tracking my progress with a few means, I have been sharing them on this here blog, I have been taking photos so that I can see the visual changes that are so easily missed when you look yourself in the mirror each day, I have started taking measurements so I can have a more roundabout idea of how I am doing, and I have been using the Brabantia Body Analysis Scales.

The Brabantia Body Analysis Scales have been such a godsend for me, I can do much more than simply weigh myself. I have been able to create a personal profile based on all of my personal statistics, it takes into account how active I am, it knows that I am 5.5 in height and it even knows my age. The scales memory can hold up to 8 different users details and it is really easy to flick through each users profile using the entry keys. Using the information I have input it can tell me so much more than just how much I weigh, when I first select my profile and stand on the scales, it tells me my weight. When I continue to stand on the scales it will then present me with further statistics such as my water percentage, my fat percentage, my muscle percentage and my BMI. 

I have found all of this extra information so valuable and I have been keeping sporadic recordings of weigh in’s over the last couple of months just to see what changes have occurred. One of the reasons I find this extra information so helpful is that sometimes just seeing your weight alone is not incredibly helpful, now I am regularly attending the gym and using weights, I am slowly but surely building up muscle. So while I have been losing weight, I am potentially also putting weight on with additional muscle growth, so it has been handy to see the comparisons between my muscle and fat percentages in comparison with my weight.

A nice little touch with the Analysis Scales is that they come with a personal diary that you can use to write down your statistics and keep track of your progress. I have been doing exactly this, but I haven’t been as efficient as I possibly should have. I haven’t been writing them down with each weigh in, I have been doing so every now and again just to see if there has been any significant change.

I have found the scales to be accurate with their readings, but they do need to be placed on a solid even surface or else they can read in-correctly. I have mine placed on a wooden board that I store under my bed when not in use, that way it is always on hand in a morning.

In terms of how the data is presented to you, I find it really easy to read. Each measurement has a different icon, and the instructions give you a breakdown of what means what so that you know exactly what you are looking at. It took me a little while to work out the order in which it was all presented but now it seems to have stuck, and it is really easy to follow.

The Brabantia Body Analysis Scales come complete with a 5 year guarantee, and priced at just £46.00 they do not break the bank. For everything that these scales do, and the rather generous product guarantee that is included, I think these are a great addition to any household.

Giveaway Time!

Following on from our review of the Brabantia Body Analysis Scales, I am really excited to have a additional one to giveaway to one of my lucky readers. All you have to do, to be in with a chance of winning your very own, is follow the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck!

Disclaimer: I was sent the Brabantia Body Analysis Scales for the purpose of this review. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest and my own.

A Belated New Years Resolution!

January is the month that you make or break your New Years Resolutions, and honestly…I don’t think mine ever took flight. My resolution to myself was to eat more healthily (less of the chocolate gold!) and to somehow find time to exercise and maybe even go to the gym a couple of times a week.

Now don’t get me wrong I am not heading for a mass diet, I am in my pre-baby clothes and have been since I brought Leo home from the hospital (please don’t hate me!) but I really want to get toned again.

Now although I am yet to give up the chocolate, I am mentally preparing to do exactly that!

Maxitone have given me the final push and of course the motivation to give my New Years resolution a chance by sending me a very generous box of goodies.

Now before I can start and make the very most of everything that I have been sent, someone really needs to tell my tummy that Christmas is over and there is no more excuse for me to be munching on the naughty goodness, oh and let’s not forget the occasional tipple of Malibu and Coke!

Maxitone must have heard me pondering how I would fit in the time to head out to the gym, or the dilemma I have with finding the motivation to leave the house in an evening as they have included a Power Ball Kitl and a DVD to work out too. They have also included a Cardio To Go Kit and DVD and although I haven’t had chance to use it yet, it is going to make my chances to exercise so much easier as I can do it through Leo’s nap time in the comfort of my own lounge.

To help with the exercise that I WILL be doing, Maxitone have included their Definity Shake, a high protein drink that is ideal for drinking straight after your work out to help your body recover. They have even anticipated that I may like to snack, all be it a healthy alternative! Sculptress bars are a nutritious high protein snack replacement, so I can wave bye bye to anything that may want to distract me from the mission in hand. Getting toned!

*Empties Bin and throws all chocolate away!*

So yes I have opted to start a New Years resolution a little later than everyone else… I did in fact have a Mcdonalds for lunch…However from this moment I am going to be skipping and donning my weighted ball, choosing a healthier lunch option and hoping that by shear determination I will be able to get the tummy back that I was once rather proud of!

So here it goes….Wish me luck!

I have a feeling….I am going to need it!