Stop Dieting and live a healthier Lifestyle!

Wouldn't it be the best if someone told you to stop dieting?????

The key answer is just eat right. Do your research and know what suits your body. Now a days with all the technology we have it is so easy to find out what foods are healthy and what foods are not.

Going on a silly diet will only make you more hungry and when that weight comes off I guarantee you it will come back on. The trick is to just eat healthy balanced meals. No big portions and exercise daily. Doing this will allow your body to lose the weight that it doesn't need and keep it off.

There are so many people who will try gluten free or very low carb diets, and lose the weight but the moment they start eating these foods again they will put the weight back on. The reason for this is because they think that they have lost the weight and can eat what ever they want again. Well that's not the case. If you want to keep the body you have and look good then you need to adapt a healthy lifestyle and stick with it.

Now for sure there will be days where you just need to eat that piece of chocolate cake or have that burger. It is absolutely fine but do not do it on a daily basis.

Previously I posted a flat belly guide. It is just a guide and if it is followed you will eventually get that flat belly, but keeping that flat belly is a struggle, especially when you decide to re-introduce those foods into your diet again. If you do wish to do that then re-introduce them slowly and gradually.

The Real Diet Story is that if you lose the weight and then go back to eating the rubbish you use to eat, you will end up back to square one or even worse. Thats the truth and the Real Diet Story.

Getting that body that you have always wanted is really not that difficult if you are mentally ready to make a lifestyle change and to keep it.

JUNK FOOD VS HEALTHY FOOD

I get asked so many times what do I feed my girls. So many people look at them and think I am starving my kids because they are slim and petite. The truth is I am a balanced mum. I feed my kids the same way my mother would feed us, a balanced diet.

This is a sample of what our desserts look like every night

The majority of candy we see in the grocery stores are full of artificial colours and flavours

So here are a few simple rules that I follow:

• I don't allow any artificial food colours or flavours 
• No candy, chocolate or crisps on week days
• No juice to school only water
• we always have dessert after dinner
• dessert is always fruit
• treats and sweets are for the weekends
• my kids don't eat chicken nuggets unless they are freshly made or chicken breast
• no Mcdonalds, KFC, Burger king, Hungry Jacks or anything that I think is made of rubbish
• and finally yes I do allow my kids some artificial junk but only on the weekends if we are at a party or event

These are a few of the foods that I limit for my kids

I am not one of those crazy mums, but I try to do the best for my kids. Now my best might not be the best but its what I know. So this might not suit everyone, but at least it is working for me.

I see so many kids eating so much rubbish and what surprises me is that its the parents giving it to them. I don't blame the parents at all, because the majority of them don't even know what the hidden dangers  are inside these foods. 

When it comes to nutrition, education and understanding whats in our foods is so important.

All different shapes and sizes

Yes we are all created equally and we all have different shapes and sizes but why is it that some of us women love to look after our bodies and others really don't care.

I walk around the mall and the schools and see so many women, who all I want to do is give a hug, and tell them that I know exactly how they are feeling. Because like it or not us mums and women pretty much all feel the same way at some point in time. 

• ANGRY
• HAPPY
• EXHAUSTED
• EMOTIONAL
• OVERTIRED
• OVERWORKED
• PMS
• BORED

                                                                  and the list goes on.

So what goes through my mind is why do some women let it get the better of them while others do something about it. Now when I say get the better of them I mean they eat to compensate for the way they are feeling. 

Just something to think about.

NO MORE DIETS

I DON'T DIET!!!

 I EAT HEALTHY AND IN MODERATION

I get asked so many times about my diet. The answer is always the same, I DON'T DIET

I just eat healthy and in moderation. If I feel like a chocolate I will eat it but knowing that the rest of the day its healthy eating. It has become a habit for me that I love.

I try hard to enforce this on my clients and help them understand the way to a healthier lifestyle. I don't give out diets because I don't think they work in the long run. Those that go on all these different diets are the ones that will lose the weight but will later put it all back on and a little extra.

So my advice to all those mums trying to lose weight is, learn to eat healthy and in moderation. It is the key to a healthy skinner you.

I have had a few requests of what my daily eating habit is, so I'll try and give you an example of what my day is like. I hope I don't bore you too much.

6am till 7:15am: wake up and make breakfast for my kids. Then I prepare their lunch for school. Giving I have 3 beautiful daughters, this takes me around 20mins. Then its dress my little one and do all 3 girls hair for school. I usually have my warm lemon water at this time of the day

7:15 till 8am: school drop off

8am till 9am: I try and have 2 dates before my workout or a piece of fruit. Then I do my home workouts and if my maid is not here its house clean up time.

9am till 12pm: training clients.

12 till 1:45: running around doing errands. I try and fit in lunch sometimes around here, and that will include something light, like a soup or salad.

2pm is school pick up. After my school pick up I'll have a small Mocha to help me go to the bathroom, otherwise I don't like coffee and can't stomach it.

Anything between 3pm and & 7pm is always homework with my girls or after school activities. I try and get some green tea in and drink plenty of water. This part of the day is the hardest for mums, because its the snacky time of the day. If I get hungry I'll have a piece of fruit, or 2 dates.

Dinner is usually at 6:30pm then its shower, dessert and bed time for my girls. My dinners are usually my heaviest meals. I know its not the answer you were hoping for but its the truth. Its our main meal, where we all sit on the dinner table and eat together as a family. I try and keep my meals small and low carbs. I cook all my meals with either coconut oil or olive oil. I never use butter or margarine unless its to butter my kids toast.

8:30 is my chill time with my husband until I fall asleep on the couch. lol


So after all that, I hope you can see that following a diet is not a long term solution. You need to sit down and really assess what your eating and try and find a happy balance in your eating plan. That can be to incorporate carbs and sweets, but just keep in mind that you should always balance it with healthier options and exercise.

INFO AND MOTIVATION

I love instagram for the reason that you can always find interesting facts and motivational quotes to help you get through the day.

Here are just a few that I enjoyed. 

Hope they motivate you.

HEALTHY BREAKFAST

What's more healthier than eggs for breakfast. I love eating healthy and more importantly I love feeding my girls healthy food. Part of living a healthy lifestyle is including those that you love as well.
I've met so many fit and healthy mums out there but their kids are over weight. Try and educate your kids and the ones you love about the importance of healthy eating and clean eating.

Just a quick pic of our typical friday breakfast.

I love mixing passionfruit with orange juice, it tastes so delicious

JUGGLING 3 THINGS AT ONCE

This weekend was a crazy one for us. But when I think about it every weekend is a crazy one. On Sunday was the Australian NRL grand final and the Grand Prix, so It was TV crazy.

I had to juggle my workouts, looking after my kids and entertaining my hubby. So while the kids were in the pool for a swim, I decided to do my workouts outside by the pool at the same time supervising them. All 3 of my girls are good swimmers but I always have that fear in the back of my mind. Better be safe then sorry. My man was inside watching the Grand Prix so I had everything covered.

Took a few pics to share with you.

I did a 30min quick leg and ab workout. I've posted the workout on my Instagram and in the pic below for anyone who wants to try.

Kind of hard to do outside in the Dubai heat.

Check out my posts on instagram for daily updates and posts

EATING HEALTHY WHEN YOU HAVE COMPANY

I love having my mum round. 

Being an exapt is really hard but it's times like these that I cherish and love. I'm grateful that my mum loves eating healthy and is all about a balanced lifestyle. So hanging out with her and having her put up with my morning workouts and gluten free diet was handy.

Now I'm not going to lie and say I worked out everyday that my mum was here, but I did get 3 sessions in the 7 days she was here, purely because I fell ill and couldn't manage any workouts let alone picking up my kids from school.

Thought I would post a few pics of mum and I.

A quick 40 minute circuit after dropping my kids off at school and before hanging out with mum

Morning smoothie for mum and I

 Shopping at Dubai Mall

 

 catching up with a special friend over coffee

DUBAI FRIDAY

Friday in Dubai means 3 things:

1.    Weekend
2.    Workout
3.    Family

A typical friday in the UAE is with family and friends over a brunch or lunch date. So this means over eating.

I always try and get a good workout early on friday morning so that I don't feel guilty for anything that I am about to eat lol.

Leaving you a few quotes that I love and that keep me motivated and grateful

                                   

JUST DO IT

How many times have you opened up a magazine and there is a section that is reminding you about the importance of working out and staying healthy.

I am sure by now it must be drilled into our heads how important it is to incorporate a healthy lifestyle. So why are most of the women I see out there still over weight and ignoring the signs.

It kills me when I go out for a quick catch up with a friend and see a group of over weight ladies ordering the heaviest meals or the fattiest meals on the menu.

STOP DOING IT TO YOURSELF

So this post is about getting up and making a change for yourself. Do something that will have a good impact on your self esteem and your life.

WAKE UP LADIES PLEASE

WHAT YOU DO 

TODAY 

CAN IMPROVE 

ALL YOUR TOMORROWS

LATE NIGHT WORKOUT

It's never too late to exercise

Research has shown that the best time to exercise is in the mornings, however not everybody is the same. We all have different priorities and schedules and need to fit a workout around our busy lives.

Remember don't make working out your life, make it a part of your life.

If you missed your morning workout, who is to say that you can't do it in the evenings when you have completed everything that needs to be done. How hard is it to put your gym gear on, cramp up your best workout  music and do a killer workout that shouldn't take more than an hour.

This is exactly what happened to me yesterday. After I fed my kids, showered them and put them to sleep, I did a quick circuit at home. Felt so good to have not missed a workout.

Find a place that you find comfortable and just do it

Killing my butt with lunges

I add leg weights as I can't lift any weights

After I finished this little munchkin came in for a quick selfie

SHOPPING FOR GYM GEAR

Two things that I love under the one roof..............SHOPPING & GYM GEAR 

I workout at home and this requires a few essential things to help out with me sculpting some muscle and definition. So of to Decathlon it was.

After spending over an hour at decathlon it was lunch time at Pauls

 Yes I know that a lemon mint is full of sugar so I went half with my daughter... No guilt here lol

BALANCED LIFESTYLE

Working out shouldn't consume your life, it should be a part of your life. I love working out, staying fit and healthy, but what I also love is dolling up and going out with my man and friends.

FIND YOUR BALANCE, STAY FIT, HAPPY AND ENJOY LIFE

Being a mum of 3 beautiful girls, I try to set an example and teach them that being healthy is not challenging or boring.

DATE NIGHTS ARE FUN AND KEEP THINGS EXCITING BETWEEN MY HUSBAND AND I

LIVING IN DUBAI DEFINITELY HAS ITS ADVANTAGES, IT HAS SO MANY BEAUTIFUL HOTELS. SO SNEAKING IN A LUNCH DATE WITH MY MAN IS ALWAYS FUN

         WEEKEND IS FAMILY TIME AND I NEVER COMPROMISE ON THAT

GET OUT AND EXPLORE WHAT IS AROUND YOUR AREA AND MAKE IT FUN FOR THE FAMILY

CHEER UP

Life is way to short to be miserable about the small things in life. We should all be grateful every morning for the opportunities we have and then get on with our day. 

I've put a list of things that help me stay positive if I am ever down. I hope they help.

1. Go for a walk or have a quick workout.
   
2. Have some chocolate and don't feel guilty for eating it. Just work it off the next day and eat healthy the rest of the day
   
3. Retail therapy. This doesn't mean you have to go crazy with the credit card. Sometimes just buying a small item can put a smile on my face. 
   
4. Talk to someone that makes you laugh / call a friend that isn't always negative
   
5. Buy some flowers
   
6. Avoid any negative social media that puts you down
   
7. Date night with your man or with friends. I love getting dressed up and going out with my man.
   
8. Get your hair done / spa day
   
9. Do some home baking
   
10. Oh!!! Did I mention retail therapy 
    

BALANCED LIFESTYLE

10 FACTS
 LIVING 

A HEALTHY AND BALANCED LIFESTYLE

1. BE MENTALLY READY
2. SET ACHIEVABLE GOALS
3. DREAM BIG BUT START SMALL
4. PLAN YOUR MEALS
5. DONT MISS A WORKOUT
6. THINK POSITIVE AND HAPPY THOUGHTS
7. DON'T DWELL ON THE PAST/ THINK OF THE END RESULTS
8. REWARD YOURSELF
9. ALWAYS MAKE UP FOR A MISSED WORKOUT OR A CHEAT MEAL
10. BE GRATEFUL

BACK HOME

We are officially back home. Back to Dubai and its sweltering heat, but still love it.

 My girls are over excited to be home and have not stopped playing with all their new stuff

Vacation was awesome and I will be posting about it soon, but for now just something small to say HI!!!

ARE YOU ORGANISED?

What's the first thing you hear a mum say in the morning?

OMG I have so much to do and don't have time to workout!!!!

The answer is GET YOURSELF ORGANISED!!!!!!

Think about how easy your morning  would be if you had everything organised the night before. I am a strong believer of being organised. I feel that everything runs smoothly and less stressful. Priorities your self and have a to do list on the fridge that will help you remember to tackle the things that need to get done. I follow a few blogs and love reading about how other mums tackle the normal day to day things. Two of my favourites are honeywerehome.blogspot.ae and iheartorganising.blogspot.ae. They both have great ideas on keeping your house organised and include some cute printables to help.

Here are a few pointers to help get on top of things:

• always try and wake up before everyone on a weekday and have that extra 30mins of quiet time for your self to get yourself together. 
• prepare the kids school bags the night before, that way your not a mess in the morning
• always have a spare bag of clothes, wipes, nappies, diaper bags etc in the car for those times where you forget to pack a bag.
• always have healthy snacks ready in the fridge for you to just pick up and go
• if your kids are old enough, allocate tasks for them and give them some responsibility. Please don't give me the excuse that they never listen, remember you are the parent not them
• try and organise your purse once a week, making sure that all your necessities are in there
• don't do house chores everyday, allocate days for your house work and the other days are for you to enjoy
• always make time for yourself, if it means waking up early or when the little one is having a nap

I'm sure there are a million other ideas that I have missed, and I would love to hear them. For now thats all I got, and I hope they help.