Day 1

I have made it through my first day of the detox.

Despite being woken up twice during the night by a resident of Richmond Hill's car alarm going off (it sounded like someone was blowing a horn in my ear, my whole room was shaking!), I was up at 05.45 to start the detox routine.

I started the day with some Glutamine in water followed by some more water with some Bicarbonate of Soda in water.  I packed up my bag with everything I needed and headed to the gym to do the heavier of the two daily workouts.  Then it was off to work for a long 12 hour day.

For breakfast I had 2 boiled eggs, smoked salmon, a bit of avocado, watercress rocket and spinach salad and some quinoa.  A strange concoction I know but I had to have the palm full of carbs after the weights workout and this is what I had prepared.

As caffeine is banned on the plan I had a liquorice tea at breaktime.  I'm hoping it is a grower as I was not overly keen but I was more than happy replacing my afternoon coffee fix with a peppermint tea.  For lunch I had trout fillet salad which was tasty and I did not feel hungry at any point in the day which was a bonus.

The hardest part of the day was between 16:00 - 19:00 where I was struggling to sit through a long winded CPD session (my attention span is like a gnat at the best of times) and to top it all I had a banging headache. It also did not help that everyone around me were scoffing home-made brownies the school chef had made to ease the pain of a three hour training session after a long day!

I headed home at 19:30 and got straight into the other workout of the day which involved 7 rounds of burpee intervals.  I pushed myself to not fall under 10 burpees in 30 seconds and felt pretty tired by the end!

For dinner I had salmon with broccoli and kale.  

I've actually found the food quite tasty and I had a handful of almonds during the training session which I think I really ate more as a psychological need than a physical one.  The thing I struggled most with was not having a coffee and a brownie during the meeting but I took out my 'thinspiration' photo on my phone and used it to stem off any temptation!

I am now absolutely shattered and I am just waiting for the dishwasher to finish so that I can repack up all my lunch boxes and have clean protein shakers ready for Day 2.

I'm hoping the headaches will subside in the couple of days once the caffeine and sugar have left my body and I am sure that my muscles will ache a little in the morning!!

The Night Before!

Tomorrow is Day 1 of my long anticipated 19 Day Detox.  I have taken my measurements and my 'before' photos and weighed myself (something which has reminded me as to why it is I am doing this!) and I have enjoyed my last weekend with friends up in Liverpool before locking myself away and becoming a social recluse for 3 weeks.  By coincidence, I am back up in Liverpool in 3 weeks time and so will be able to celebrate my sobriety and dedication to the cause whilst hopefully looking and feeling a lot healthier than I do at this present moment in time.

A lot of people fail to understand why I am doing this 19 detox and have brushed it off as silly, stupid and pointless but, having followed Mark Raynsford both on his blog and on Twitter for the past 2 years, I am confident in my choice at participating and don't feel that it will be a waste of my money.

I have eagerly devoured the reading Mark has sent in preparation of the 19 days and I am aware that it is not going to be a walk in the park.  As well as twice daily workouts, the programme cuts out sugar, wheat, pasta, glucose, dairy and processed foods.  It also involves periods of fasting, which some people have raised eyebrow at but, having read some of the science behind it and, because I am following it within a programme devised by a professional, I feel that that there is justification and sense behind it.

A bag of cooked quinoa ready to serve with my food on 'feeds' when I am allowed some carbohydrates.

The reason this 19 Day Body has appealed to me is not just because I want to lose some weight.  It is true that I am currently weighing 10lbs heavier than when I moved to London 5 months ago and I would like to get this off quickly so that I can pick up where I left off with my health and fitness regime before the upheaval of the last few months.  I am settled into my new job and lifestyle now and have found a routine which will allow me to maintain my weight once I have lost those extra pounds. 

There is another reason that I have been attracted to the 19 Day Body Programme though and that is to change my attitiude and views towards eating.  I am capable of eating healthy and I am quite educated when it comes to food and nutrition as I was bought up by a health obsessive who controls their diet strictly (my Mother) but I have always used food as a psychological dependency.  I do not smoke or take drugs but I am addicted to food.  I spend way too much time thinking about eating and use it to control my moods and feelings.  I eat when I am not hungry and I eat whatever is infront of me.  It is this which I am hoping to address by participating in this detox.  I am hoping to reprogramme my mind to have a more sensible approach to what and when I eat.  I am hoping that by doing this I can maybe drop a few extra pounds once the programme has finished. 

Trout and Salmon with garlic and chilli ready for the next couple of days.

I am not going to lie, I am quite nervous about what lies ahead.  The exercise is not a problem, I workout regularly in the same way that the workouts are focused in this programme (interval training and circuits, kettlebells, hand weights, squats, lunges etc. are all already incorporated into my workout routines).  I am nervous about trying to find the time to fit in the two daily workouts, especially as I have to be in work by 8.00 am and I have an INSET and Parents Evening this week which both go on until 7.30 so it is going to be a long week in that sense.  I am nervous about my willpower, I really don't want to fail this and I put a lot of pressure on myself with things like this which can often have a negative psychological effect on me.



Nuts to snack on


 

I am also a little nervous about being able to resist the alcohol.  I am not someone who needs a drink but I do enjoy it and, although I don't always drink on every social occasion (and I have cleared my diary of those for the next 19 days anyway), I think 19 days is probably the longest I will have gone without a drink since I was 15 (I don't know what that says about me)!!!

I cannot promise I will have the time to update everyday but I hope that you will follow me on this journey, I am interested to see where it will lead but I am confident I have some exciting (and probably horrific) times ahead!

La Duree

Unfortunately I had to have a little break from the diet yesterday as the husband and I headed into Covent Garden to see a friend.

We went to La Duree and shared a selection of their cakes. It was like having a little bit of Paris in London.

We sat under the heaters on the terrace upstairs and it was fabulous!

Definitely a once in a while treat but absolutely worth it!

Day 1: Wheatgrass

So day 1 of my healthy eating regime started this morning with a nice big glass of wheatgrass mixed with water.  Apparently I will see the benefits of adding this daily ritual to my routine within two weeks and, if the packet is anything to go by, I expect to see a boost in energy levels as well as the added benefits of it detoxing and cleansing my body, rejuvenating my body's cells and increasing my oxygen levels as well as reducing acid in my body.

According to research I've done online, wheatgrass can be responsible for an improved immune system, an improved digestive system, slowing down the ageing process, soothing aching muscles and much more! Let's hope it is the magic solution I have been waiting for with regards to some of my body problems!

 

For breakfast, I had a poached egg on a wholemeal muffin (no butter or margarine) with some smoked salmon and a grilled tomato.  It tasted delicious and I didn't even miss the hollandaise sauce or butter!  I am also elated with my efforts at making a poached egg, this simple task has defeated me for so long but I have finally mastered it!!

I had prepared the hummus and crudités as a snack but I wasn't really feeling that hungry so it ended up being my lunch when I got back from the gym.  I've cut up enough for a couple of days so that I can just nip in the fridge and transfer a few over to a smaller container to take to work with me.

Unfortunately, I ate the stir fry I prepared for dinner before I remembered to photograph it but I just used easy ginger, garlic, chilli and soy sauce instead of buying a packet to pour in and used rice noodles and a pack of stir-fry vegetables.

I have also taken my 'before' photos today in preparation for the 19 Day Body Detox I am starting on the 14th.  They upset me a little bit as I compared them to some I had taken when I finished with my Personal Trainer before leaving Liverpool and the difference is astounding but this is why I am doing this so I need to use it as motivation to keep my eye on the goal!

New Year, New Hair

My final post for this evening before I retire to bed!

I have been blonde for nearly three years now since I decided to start growing my hair at the beginning of 2010 in the hope that I would be get engaged that year (I did in the October). It has taken me nearly three years to grow my hair long and now I doubt I will ever go back short in the foreseeable future but it was time for a colour change to bring in the new year:

This is how short my hair was at the beginning of 2010!

This is me blonde on Christmas day

This is after step one of the treatment; putting a toner on to cover the blonde

Here is the finish product after three and a half hours in the salon! 

And here is my new hair when I am all made up and ready for a night on the town!

Christmas 2012

Christmas and New Year 2012 saw a fantastic end to a fantastic year and I thought I would share with you a few of the things on my list which were very kindly bought for me:


Ash Studded Biker Boots
I am going to be living in my Ash Studded Biker Boots for the next few months until summer. I have posted about them so many times and been lusting after them for 18 months now so I was over the moon to finally receive them...even better they were an 'after Christmas present' and we managed to get them 50% off from Think Bubbles in Cleethorpes which has made them an even better purchase!!

Beauty and Makeup Products

My dressing table is looking full again thanks to my generous parents and in-laws who have spoilt me with an array of products.  I was down to using testers before Christmas and was living in hope I would be restocked at Christmas but did not expect to be this spoilt!!

My favourites are:

L'Oreal Professional Vitamin Color Shampoo and Conditioner/L'Oreal Mythic Oil

Finally I have found a good shampoo and conditioner that not only smells salon fresh but also makes my hair feel and look healthy.  I've swapped onto this as I have just changed hair colour and I am hoping it will help make my colour last the 7 weeks I am going to have to go before I next get back up North to get my colour done again.

The mythic oil is really good for keeping your hair in a good condition, particularly if you dye it a lot like I do mine.








Clarins for all my facial washes/cleansers/moisturisers

I cannot get enough of Clarin's at the moment. I use their day and night creams, their facial washes, scrubs and masks as well as their body exfoliants. I've now got the Bath and Shower Concentrate to try too! Personally, I think it is definitely worth the expenditure on good beauty products to maintain healthy and glowing skin.  What's the point in spending lots of money on clothes if you are not looking after the body you are putting them in?

Sanctuary and Soap and Glory Body Scrubs

I am the easiest person in the world to buy Christmas presents for...if in doubt just get me Soap and Glory or Sanctuary products.  I swear by both of these body scrubs and recommend either for regular use, especially if like me you can't afford to splurge on Clarin's or Laura Mercier all the time.  Personally I prefer the Sanctuary one as it is just like rubbing pure salt all over your body and the result is silky. smooth skin.  However, I also know plenty of people that prefer the Soap and Glory scrub so go with whatever suits you best.








Mac Fluidline Eye liner and Laura Mercier Compact

I've used this eyeliner exclusively for about three years now and would be very reluctant to switch to anything else.  It gives a bold definition to the eyes and can be used both above and below the eyes for dramatic effect.  This is my first ever piece of Laura Mercier makeup and I love it, in fact my new years resolution is to buy and experiment with more of her range.

Alexander McQueen Scarf

Finally I finish with this Alexander McQueen scarf my husband bought me as a surprise gift on Christmas Day. I have wanted one for years and I was so surprised he remembered as I had not mentioned it for quite a while!! I love the colour he chose, it goes with everything!

January Detox

December has been a complete write off for me (as I'm sure many of you can sympathise with) in terms of health and fitness and I feel absolutely rubbish and annoyed at myself for going far too overboard with food and drink for the whole month. Coupled with the fact I have slipped into bad habits the previous three months since moving to London and starting my new job, I feel that now is the time to get back into my healthy living routines.

I struggle with my weight consistently, I always have. A quick look through my Facebook photos since 2006 (when I was 20) to now shows me at various weights ranging between 9.5 and 11 stone - up and down, up and down. What I really want to achieve as I enter my late 20s (I'll be 27 in June eek!) is to stabilise and maintain a consistent weight of about 10 stone. This means I need to lose a stone and stay there!

Therefore over the next month I will be blogging about my quest not only to lose the weight but also regain my fitness and try and discover a food routine that will give me energy and keep me revitalised. I hope to see an improvement in my skin tone and energy levels as well as toning up so that I am back to looking my best. Most importantly I hope to find a food plan that I can stick to and enjoy, this is not a diet, this is a lifestyle change.

Some of the supplements I have ordered ready for the 19 Day Body Detox I start on 14th January. Before and after this detox I will be following a strict healthy eating plan containing lots of protein and vegetables and no sugar/processed foods/complex carbs supplemented with a daily wheat grass shot.

To help me along the way I have created. an inspiration board featuring some motivational quotes and pictures to remind me to keep my eye on the prize. It contains a picture of me at my thinnest and a picture of me at my fittest as well as Abbey Clancy looking stunning in a bikini I own (and love) and of course the incredibly inspirational Jessica Ennis.

Day one begins tomorrow with an addition to my new daily routine; a wheatgrass shot. I will post about this tomorrow. I have been so good on the whole the past 2 years but November and December always catch me out and I end back at square one.  Let's hope 2013 is the year I break this pattern!

I shall leave you with this quote....