Healthy & Fitness Update: January 2017

This is it, as promised, my first fitness/healthy/weight loss blog post. For me this whole ‘journey’ is going to help me become a healthy, more energised, more confident person. I know a lot of other people out there generally go through the same feelings I do. So for me, I want to share this part of my life in the hope it may help or inspire others who feel the same as me, and want to do something about it.

As I said in this post, I know I’m not fat, and I’m not a big person. But I’m fed up of feeling unhealthy, unfit and generally unhappy with how I look. So I decided to do something about it. As part of that, I’m going to share a post with you guys at the beginning of every month to let you know how I go on for the past month, and if I have any plans for the month coming. As this is the first post, this is generally just kicking it out, letting you know where I am have been. I've already started changing my diet so it's healthier, and I'm sorting out my fitness routine.

Also, any trolls who decide to come and mock me for my weight, size or anything else – just do everyone a favour and go somewhere else.

WEIGHT LOSE

How far off end goal? 2 stone

FITNESS

Previous exercise routines: Pretty much nothing

January’s exercise routines: 2 gym classes a week (Tues and Thurs) and gym on Sunday afternoons

HEALTHY EATING

Typical weekday breakfast: None

Typical weekend breakfast: Cereal

Typical weekday lunch: Mugshot sachet

Typical weekend lunch: Baguette with cheese, and crisps

Typical weekday dinner: Some form of pasta with meat and sauce

Typical weekend dinner: Takeaway eek!

Weekday snacks: Coffee and chocolate snacks!

Weekend snacks: Crisps and chocolate snacks

It’s quick personal to put my current weight online, and a bit scary. But for me this is a way to kick myself into gear and sort myself out. I’m petrified people will judge, so hopefully you’re all supportive!

Let me know if you have any hints of tips to help with my healthy/fitness goals, I’d love to hear anything from you guys! Or if you have any healthy meals I should try, put them in the comments below!

Thanks in advance for the support, and I hope you guys enjoy coming on this journey with me! 

Much love, Lisa May

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Charles Worthington Moisture Seal

You know if your hairdresser says you need to take a break from dying your hair that it’s probably not in the best of health. And this was a little dilemma I was faced with back in October, when I had a bit of a revamp. I mean I shouldn’t be too surprised. I have been adding bleach to it every 6-8 weeks since April, but I was using shampoo and conditioner specifically for coloured hair and using heat protection, so I figured I’d be okay.

But no. Apparently not. Stupid hair.

Anyway, long story short (well, not that short),  I went on a hunt for a really nice, affordable, shampoo and conditioner that was going to turn my hair from dry and straw like, to super soft and touchable. And I do touch it. A lot. My name is Lisa, and I’m a hair twirler.

I have a couple of Charles Worthington styling products that I really love, so I’m not sure why I never really tried their shampoos and conditioners before. But when I saw their Moisture Seal range I had to give it a go. I mean look at it – it’s so pretty and orange. Anyway, looks aside the product has a blend of Argan, Abyssinian, Coconut, Tsubaki and Macadamia oils (phew), which is supposed to give long lasting nourishment. It even goes as far as to say hair will be instantly 5x softer, 3x smoother and silkier than ever. I have to admit, it was this promise that sold it for me. The colour pulled me in, the slogan hooked me. It was also three for two in Boots, so I picked up the shampoo, conditioner and rescue masque (which hasn’t really been used but is in this month’s five new things).

So I pushed aside my half full shampoo and conditioner duo that was sat on the side of my bath, and replaced it with my orange beauties. I lathered up, rinsed out, applied the conditioner, combed through with my wet brush, left it while I shaved, and then rinsed. I noticed an instant difference in my hair. Even while it was wet it just felt smoother and looked shinier. Once dry, it feels so soft, I don’t think my hair has ever been so soft, and as I’ve used it more and more it’s feeling stronger and looks healthier. I don’t think I’ve ever been as impressed with something as simple as a shampoo and conditioner. There’s a few additional bonuses to this little duo as well. It doesn’t take as long to blow dry, and if I forget to use my anti-frizz products it doesn’t actually make that much difference. Also, it goes longer without feeling greasy, it’s breaking less, and holding its style for longer. I mean if a plain old conditioner can do this, what is the mask going to do?! Shove me in a bath, turn Netflix on and coat my hair in it. I think I just haven’t really gotten around to using the mask yet because the conditioner is so good by itself, but I’m looking forward to seeing the results.

I absolutely love this range, and I really want to try other pieces from it – especially the hair oil. I can’t get enough of my hair now, and for someone who was an obsessive hair twirler already, this has just made it so much worse. They should change the slogan to “5x softer, 3x smoother, 10x more twirling and silkier than ever”. Just a thought. All hail the hair twirlers. I generally feel more confident, with healthier, happier hair, and hopefully next time I go to the hairdresser she’ll notice a difference as well. Fingers crossed.

If not I’m just going to cut it all off and start again. Jokes.

Much love, Lisa May

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Pandora Stacking Rings

I was incredibly spoilt for Christmas this year, and I must admit, I had a very Pandora Christmas. Once I opened all my presents the table looked like it was covered in Pandora bags and boxes. I've had a bracelet for a long long time, but I was very kindly gifted some of their stacking rings this year as well, which I've fallen in love with.

A Change of Mentality in 2017

Every time a New Year comes around I’m always sat there thinking, yes, this is the year I’ll do X, Y and Z. But I don’t put a plan in place to do it, I don’t actually take any action. Therefore how will I ever achieve what I want? Well, it’s a New Year again, and I’m determined that this year I’m going to make a few changes. But to make these changes, I need a little shift in mentality. Gone are the years where my resolution centred around not biting my nails (still working on this) and getting a new hair style. These are some biggies.

Change One: Be more responsible with money

Oh yeah, this I’ve been promising myself and my husband for years. However, the last two months in 2016 were a bit of a wake up call for m in terms of finances. I get a good wage, so I can’t complain about that, and I don’t have a ridiculous amount of outgoings – I have money to play with after all bills have come out. But this seems to disappear very quickly. I blame Starbucks personally, and Dominoes. The hubby and I are looking to move house this year, which means our mortgage and bills will likely go up, so I really need to sort this out now and really understand where my money is going, what I can afford to spend each month and where I need to cut back. I don’t know about you, but I fear my bank balance like I fear a spider. I get this horrible pit in my stomach every time I know I need to look at it. However, when I do look I end up feeling calmer because I know what situation I’m in and what I have left. So for me, I need to get into the habit of budgeting myself every time I get paid – know exactly what I’ll be spending out on for that month, and then sticking to it. Check my balance every day and know where I am.

How I’ve already started: I sat down this week and wrote down all my monthly outgoings, and added this up. I then wrote down roughly what I spend on the food shop and petrol each month, and added this on. Taking this off my monthly salary really revealed how bad I’ve been. So I then went through all my spending and it was quite enlightening, and a little scary. I’ve also got a Single Cash book, which I’ve put in my handbag. What I’m planning to do with this is write my balance every morning into my book. This way I can really keep an eye on this.

Change Two: Actually get fitter and go back down to my comfortable weight

I’m going to start this section by saying I know I’m not fat. Just before I get comments saying “but you’re not fat, you don’t need to loose weight”. I know I’m not. However, I’m not currently comfortable or confident with how I look at the moment. I’ve really neglected myself in terms of health and fitness, and it really shows for me. Some of my favourite items of clothing no longer fit properly, my knees are shot to hell because they’re not strong enough, and I’m so unfit I get tired going up stairs. Oh yes, not so good. And here’s the bigger – my bridesmaid dress for my best friends wedding in May no longer zips up. Disaster.com. For me, I have a very lazy state of mind, and I’ll find any excuse – and that has definitely been my knees the past year. I need to get off my backside and go and do something. In terms of food, this will also help with my first change. I eat a lot of snacks, drink wine most evenings and I’m always the first to jump to the Dominoes App. I always feel guilty after, whereas when I go to a gym class I always feel so much better about myself. Surely this should tell me something?

How I’ve already started: Before Christmas I started going to a gym class a week with my best friend after work. By going with someone I feel a lot more motivated as if I don’t go, I’ll be letting someone down. However, I’ve also very recently joined the gym as I was spending more on classes a month than an actual membership. I’ve promised myself, and the hubby, I’ll go at least twice a week – and if I don’t do that, I’ll put £10 into our joint savings that week. I’m also doing dry January to try and show myself I really don’t need that glass of wine after a stressful day and kick start that weight lose. I’ve put new batteries in my scales at home, and have set up a sheet to fill in each week of my weight every Friday morning. I’m no longer buying lunches, or Starbucks, but instead bringing in sachets of Mugshots for lunch each day, and my dinner portions are now smaller. I’m cutting out carbs where appropriate in meals and adding in spinach or salad instead. I do have a load of Christmas chocolate left in the house, so that’s just going to be will power.

What I’m also going to do is do a monthly update on the blog on how I’m going in terms of weight loss, fitness and diet. This is so I can’t hide.

Change Three: Become more house proud

My husband will laugh his head off when he sees this one. Basically, I’m lazy, and I’m messy. I don’t tend to put things away and it gets on his nerves no end. And with our house going on the market soon, this definitely needs sorting out. Again, it’s one of those things where I think “oh I’ll do it later, or at the weekend”, and I need to stop doing this. I think for me I need to get into a routine, this is where I fall down. Once I get in a routine I’m okay, so I just need to do that.

How I’ve already started: The hubby and I have said that moving forward Saturday mornings will be housework mornings, so there will be hoovering, dusting, tidying and cleaning going on. Basically we just need to stick to this. I’ve sorted out my side of the room, kind of, so I just need to finish this and get rid of so many clothes and things I really don’t need. I’m also inviting people around more, as this will kick me into keeping it nice for visitors.

I’ve tried to keep my main changes this year down to three, and it covers a lot of things I need to adjust mentally, so it’ll take some time. I have other things I’d like to achieve this year, like making the blog more successful, moving house, throwing the best ever hen party for my best friend and have a few more days out or weekends away. But for me, these three will build a foundation for my life, that will hopefully, and ultimately, influence everything else.

I’d love to know what changes you’re making in the New Year, or if you have any tips that can help me with any of my changes! Throw them my way, I need all the help I can get!!

Much love, Lisa May

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Desktop beauty

If you’re not working from home and you’re out at the office you don’t always have immediate access to your favourite beauty products. That doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t need them though. I find working away at a desk and running around in meetings means I need products here and now, so I’ve put a few in my top desk drawer to make sure I’m always prepared.

For me one of the most important things to have at my desk is a bit of hand cream, especially in the colder months. My hands get very dry, I use them a lot for typing, writing and so forth, so they need looking after. At the moment I’m using the Sanctuary Velvety Hand Cream, and I do love it. It sinks in really quickly, which is a must at work, and the skin on my hands is so smooth since using this. They’re just very healthy and generally, happy. As happy as hands can be. Along the same vein I like to keep a little moisturiser here as well, ready to tackle any dry knees, elbows and so on. I’m using the Soap & Glory Righteous Butter, for a couple reasons. First – I need to keep my utter faves (Soap & Glory Sugar Crush and Jo Malone) at home for daily application, but I do also really like this. It’s good for a quick result and it’s easy to use from a tub, and easy to store. If I need a quick burst of moisture, or refreshment for my face, my Caudalie Beauty Elixir is my go to. It’s lived on my desk since the summer as I found it so refreshing when it was warmer, and it’s just stayed. It helps to keep my skin looking fresh, without removing my make-up.

Speaking of make-up, there are a couple bits I keep at work for touch ups. Whatever lipstick I’m wearing that day comes along with me in my handbag, but lip balm is also always a must. I love the Benefit Balms as they offer quick hydration, are really comfortable and add a little hint of colour. Benebalm is my go to right now as it’s much more of a winter colour that the coral beauty that is PosieBalm. I also have a little cream blush here with me, the Bourjois Cream Blush in Rose Tender is the perfect top up colour. It’s very natural if you need just an extra bit of colour, and this blush is so quick and easy to apply, you can’t really go wrong with it. My go to mascara also sits at my desk with me, ready for touch ups! The Maybelline Lashsensational Mascara is just everything in terms of lashes. I have one at home, one here, and one in my handbag. I’m slightly addicted. Sorry, not sorry.

Lastly I like to make sure I have a little body spritz with me as well, just in case! So I have the lovely Zoella Blissful Mistful tucked away in my drawer to come out at any given moment. It used to live in my handbag, but I realised I used it more at work than anywhere else so now it just lives in my drawer. Good times.

These are all really affordable pieces that you can easily pick up – expect maybe the Beauty Elixir. This is partly because I don’t want to take any high priced products and leave them at work (hello nightmares), and also because I do really just rate these products as being good, on the go, solutions.

I’d love to hear what you keep on your desk and what you think I may be missing! Just pop a comment below and let me know!

Much love, Lisa May

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