Day 4. The big test

Today was the day that I had a big test in my healthy eating plan. I had to go out for lunch. This can be very daunting when you are used to ordering what ever you want & not putting in any thought to if it is healthy or not. I think I chose well. I ordered the seafood salad.




There was no creamy dressing, no full cream cheese, just simple salad with balsamic vinegar & olive oil dressing. It wasn’t a huge meal but I could not finish it all! I think that because I am eating more frequently, I am able to eat smaller meals as my tummy is never empty. I think this is the key.
I still didn’t eat as much as I should have today but I didn’t stray so that is a bonus!





Tomorrow is grocery shopping day so I will have to use extreme determination not to put junk in the trolley.

How are you going? Are you still on track?

Day 3. I am still here

It is day 3 & I am not going to lie, today is difficult. Ok, it sucks. I have a massive headache & I am certain that it is my body screaming for the bad stuff. Who knew that your body could become so reliant. I have been cranky & this headache is really knocking me. But it is my own fault. I did not try & feed the 3pm craving, instead I starved it. Now I am paying the price. That apple at 3pm could have stopped this from happening. I will not miss my 3pm apple again!

This morning, it all went well. At lunch I even felt so full I could barely move. Then I thought I was full & didn’t need the 3pm sweet thing. Oh boy, I was so wrong!
Tomorrow is going to be my first test. Lunch with the ladies & the last time I went to this cafe, I ordered a passionfruit cheesecake. I need to really learn to read the menu for more satisfying foods. It is a lunchtime date, not morning tea so this time I will look for a yummy salad or something substantial but healthy. I often think that because I am eating out that I can treat myself to something that I would not normally eat. That is ok if it is only once a month or so but lately I have been eating out a lot. Maybe it is my social life that is contributing to my excess weight. Maybe catch ups should not always be somewhere where there is food.

I have to say that I really did enjoy dinner tonight. It was simple, no butter was put on the potatoes, no gravy in sight, just yummy simple food.



What was the hardest part of today for you & was there a meal or snack that filled the spot just nicely?

I am really getting the hang of this!

I know, I am only at day 2 but I am getting the hang of this. I am talking about keeping a food journal. I have been writing down everything that I have been eating. I makes you stop & think before eating anything. How would that look like on my daily entry if I had to show it to someone. Well, I am! I am going to post a picture of the days entry before I go to bed every night, right here. I will not lie, I will not forget to write things down. It is just like when a financial planner tells you that you have to keep track of what you are spending to see where you are losing money. I suppose that keeping a food journal is a way of showing where you are eating the wrong things at the wrong times.

In just 2 days I have found that I am not hungry in the morning but if I eat when I get up, I have more energy to get through the morning rush. 3pm really sucks. The sugar craving hits & it hits hard. Today I was tempted while I was cooking a batch of soup. I found a packet of chocolate biscuits that Georgia had opened. She had left the container on the bench. For quite some time, I did well. I didn’t have one. Then some thing happened & I was eating one. I felt bad but then I remembered that this was not going to be easy. there are going to be temptations all around. I only had one though & that is important. Last week I would have had 4. I need to remember that getting healthy is not about starvation or denying myself. It is about eating the right foods & if having a treat, it is in moderation.

How did you go today? What is your “worst” time of the day?

One day down, the rest of my life to go

Day one is over. I have been full all day long. You would too when you ate as much as I did!

{Breakfast recipe here}

It was not as hard as I thought it would be although the 3pm sugar craving hit my hard & it was horrible. I though that I could just beat it with sheer will power alone but I couldn’t. I started the day with an apple & that is also what I used to satisfy the sweet 3pm craving. I can’t believe that it worked! I was so proud of myself! At one stage I had gone to the pantry & had a moment where my hand was on a block of chocolate. I couldn’t believe that I was going to give in. I didn’t give in. The apple did the trick.

When the girls had finished afternoon tea & had a bit of a relax, we headed off on a walk around the block. We loved it, the dog loved it & it will now be an everyday thing (as long as it doesn’t rain!).



I weighed myself today. I new that I had to have a starting weight. It was not nice. But looking at the numbers on the scales, I knew that it was going to be the last time that they would ever be that high. I am now more determined than ever that those numbers will decrease. I have a very realistic goal of losing 1kg a week for 4 weeks. If I lose more than that is a bonus. I don’t ever want to set unrealistic expectations that will not be achievable. I think that is the key. If you set unrealistic goals, you will constantly be disappointed. I want to be proud of myself, not upset with myself. I am only going to set monthly goals. It will not always be about weight. Next month I want to be able to go for a walk for 1 hour. That is double what I do now.
What are your goals?

A new start

It has been a long time since I have posted on this blog. Today is a new start & a new direction for this blog, for me & for my life. I am starting a new & healthy way of living.
Let me tell you a little bit more about myself & the reason why I need to restart my life in a healthier way.


I am a 30 something year old wife & Mother of 2. I am unfit & I am overweight. I am weighing almost the same as I did at the day before I gave birth to my second child. My health is suffering because of my weight & I need to do something to change that before it is too late. I look at photo’s of myself & I want to cry. I do not know who the person is that is looking back at me. It is not the same person as the one that I know on the inside. I want & need the outside to match the inside. I don’t want to hide when the camera comes out. I want to be in photo’s with my family. I don’t want to always make excuses as to why I don’t want to be in a photo.


A few weeks ago I had a full blood work done by my GP. The biggest thing that I found out was that I am borderline for most things. That is most things that can shorten my life & quality of it. My Dr is a fabulous lady who kept saying to me, “You need to just be healthy. You need to eat healthy, you need to act healthy & you need to do it NOW.” She repeated this several times during the consultation. It was the look in her eyes as she said it that spoke louder than any words. It was a look that was pleading, it was a look that said please do this now. That made me start thinking about what I should & need to do.


I recently read an EBook called The Stuff Your Face Diet. I was sceptical at first but once I started reading I realised that it was basic common-sense. I had one of those “light bulb” moments. I knew this was right for me. It is not a diet in the “starve yourself” sense but it is logical, easy & you do not need to starve or miss out on those fave foods that you love. There is no calorie counting, weighing of foods or anything that is time consuming. You don’t even need to join a gym or buy any pills. I am serious when I say that it is just common-sense eating. If you want to find out more about this way of eating, click HERE to find out more.


I am not the only one who is changing to a healthier life, my whole family is joining me on this journey. They are not overweight but they are doing it to support me. They can see that I am struggling. I think that to make changes in your life, the biggest thing is that you make sure you have support to keep on the right track. I am hoping that by also having this blog & it’s Facebook page that you can also have support if you want to make healthy life changes with me. I want to be able to go on hikes with my family, go on adventures & enjoy every moment with them. I don’t want to make excuses anymore. I want to live life & I want you to live life to the fullest with me.


I am not going to join a gym. I am going to go for walks everyday with my family like I used to. No longer will I tell them that I am too busy. I want to play basketball with my girls in the front yard, not just send them out to do it by themselves. I want to kick the soccer ball with them, not tell them to go & do it by themselves. I want to have fun. I don’t want to be sitting on the lounge. I am going to turn the music up & dance like I used to.


I WANT TO LIVE LIFE!


I have been preparing for this day. I have stocked my freezer with healthy soups, stir-fries & I have filled my fridge with fruit & veg. I have been to the butchers & brought lots of chicken & lean beef. I am ready. I am ready for my new life.


"Change is not a bolt of lightning that arrives with a zap. It is a bridge built brick by brick, every day, with sweat and humility and slips. It is hard work, and slow work, but it can be thrilling to watch it take shape."
—  Sarah Hepola


Are you ready to live a new healthier life with me?
 

Things I am loving this week

{this is not a sponsored blog, It is just my fave products I want to share with you all}

This week, I am in love with

{510 Euphoria, 832 Bonzai, 260 Funtime Fuschia, 053 Apricot Punch, 740 Clear}

There is something fantastic about having beautiful nails.

I am in love with

Rimmel London Nail Polish

I mean, they must have been making a nail polish just for me when they came up with the

60 Seconds Nail Polish

It is perfect for the woman who does not have time to go & get her nails done at a salon. It has an extra wide brush so it takes less time to paint & dries in 60 seconds.

Marvellous!!

It also means that I can change the colours of my nails every day!

It is also perfect for painting little girls nails as it dries so fast that they can't smudge it or get it on the furniture! I mean, what little girl {& big girls!} doesn't love to have their nails painted!

My Favourite nail polish in the

I Lasting Finish

is the 053 Apricot Punch

Not only does is it the most awesome colour but when it dries, it has a fabulous fruity scent!!

YES!!

It smells delicious!

One truly amazing thing about

Rimmel London

is that I can buy it from my local chemist, supermarket or even when I am clothes shopping at one of the major retail store (you know them!).

Did I mention that it is VERY reasonable priced? Well, it is!

What is your fave colour nail polish?

Make time to stop and smell the flowers (not just the roses!)

Make sure this week to stop & smell the flowers. I have been lucky enough to have all these flowers in & around my home over the last month or so. Looking at & smelling them is a great way to give you a moment of peace.

If your garden is a little too green, why not plant some flowering plants in a pot by your front door?

A free printable to remind you to be you

I found this fantastic free printable at

Happy go lucky

What a fantastic name for a blog!

It is perfect to print out & put on your bedside table so when you wake up, you are inspired to be the best you for the whole day.

You can head on over to the blog to print out the design that suits you best.

Take one dress, styling my market day find

Take one dress by joslene featuring a stacked heel


I brought a dress on the weekend nearly eactly the same as the dresses I have featured here. It is a long, dark grey t-shirt dress. I picked it up for the bargain price of $25. I have been playing around on Polyvore & I think I have found the perfect colour to go with the dress....
fire engine red!

I also love the look of the dress with a funky denim jacket.


What do you think?

Simple rules of the house, free printable

I found this fantastic free printable from

imom.com

It is fantastic!

I think they are sweet & simple rules for any house.

I think I need to print one out & hang one in every room & on every door!

Nivea 5 day trial, fingers crossed that it works!

{this is not a sponsored post & all thoughts are my own}

Ok, so I am 32. It is getting easier to say but a little harder to look in the mirror & see the wrinkles getting deeper & longer.

{funny face to stretch out the wrinkles!}

I have been using a particular brand of face products for many years but the are just not doing the job that I would like them to. I had been thinking about changing my brand of face creams for a while but I didn’t want to have to buy a full sized product if it wasn’t going to be the right one.

Hello Nivea!

As if on cue, in my goodie bag from the marie claire James Street Up Late, there was a 5 day trial pack of Nivea face products.

So that is why I took the funny photo this morning. I want to take a daily pic to see if this is right for me. I do have to say that I keep touching my face today because it feels so soft & smooth.

I am crossing my fingers {& toes} that it does the job it says as I know that Nivea is a fantastic priced skin care range.

Thought for the day

 

 

 

and that is what I am doing today, having coffee (I mean therapy!)

School holiday fun fashion for Mum's

School holiday fun fashion for Mum's by joslene featuring maxi dresses

Thought for today

Is the school holidays classed as a special occasion?

Thought for the day

Yes, I will be different today, tomorrow & forever more

Camilla, todays fashion eye candy

Camilla by joslene featuring a halter dress


I have fallen in love. With a fashion icon!
When I entered the Camilla boutique last night at James Street it was like stepping into a fantasy world. The colours, the clothes......magical. Such beautiful liquid silk fabrics used in such a simple design that is just perfect.

These kaftan's & dresses are not cheap but just the experience of feeling one, sent me into a frenzy. I have no idea where they manage to find such a perfect fabric but I think it was made in fabric heaven.

I am now putting "owning a Camilla kaftan" on the top of my bucket list.

marie claire James Street Up Late

Fashion heaven!

That is my new name for James Street, Fortitude Valley in Brisbane.

Seriously, all of the most fabulous designers in one street!

Here is some of my fave shops on James Street

Camilla is my number one.

Ok, Camilla….the most beautiful kaftans, dresses & tops that I have even seen! The fabric that are used for this clothing line are simply stunning. They feel like liquid silk between your fingers. I could image slipping on one of these stunning kaftans & feeling like a million dollars. The colours are a range of vibrant, beautiful, eye catching to the more peaceful, serene pastels that I have ever seen.

And of course, bubbly & sushi!

There was street entertainment & even a Caribbean band.

Who doesn’t love to have a little boogie while shopping?

There is the fabulous Mecca Cosmetica. You could not walk past this beautiful shop with the most amazing window painting.

Shoes, clutches & all that sparkle…..

it must be Nat-Sui.

(whose goodies bag was fabulous!)

Looking for beautiful & unique things for your home?

James Street has the shops for you!

sass & bide. Need I say anymore?

Check out this fabulous window display from Frock shop! It is a dress made from pages of marie claire!

It was amazing!

There was something fantastic in every shop!

My favourite part of the night was meeting the ever fabulous & always beautiful Jackie Frank, Editor of marie claire magazine Australia.

When I got home & jumped online (as you do), I found that as she had promised, Jackie posted a photo on twitter that she took of us out the front of the marie claire pop up shop

It was a fabulous event!

Thanks to marie claire & James Street for a fabulous night.