New Year tips...Ditch the sugar!!

Unless you're mixing your sugar with some olive oil and scrubbing it on your body then you shouldn't be going anywhere near refined sugar if you're thinking of looking after your body in 2015.

Now I have a major sweet tooth so this isn't as easy as it sounds, I should know!  But once you've quit sugar you'll never want to go back.

First let me tell you why you should quit sugar:

• Added sugar is just empty calories, There are absolutely NO nutritional benefits to added sugar but a LOT of added calories, which will do nothing for your New Years resolutions and you will probably continue to put on weight.
• Sugar that cannot be metabolized effectively is stored and turned into FAT! Also while the liver is desperately trying to metabolize all the sugar you've just consumed in that can of coke, it's not metabolizing your breakfast, or your lunch, or anything else.  Sugar SLOWS down the Metabolism, slowing down the rate at which you breakdown the food you eat and the rate at which you will lose weight.
• Excessive sugar consumption can cause the body to become resistant to the insulin hormone and we know where that will eventually lead...DIABETES!
• Sugar has been highly linked to Obesity levels, High Cholesterol, Heart Disease and even Cancer.

Now these are just some of the harmful effects of excessive refined sugar consumption, I could probably go on and on about why sugar is bad for you.

Try substituting refined sugar for sweeter alternatives, Honey, Sweeteners, Agave Nectar.  Substitute full fat/full sugary drinks such as Coke with their 'zero' or diet alternatives and look for the sugar free options with squashes and fruit juices.

Add berries and fruit for a naturally sweet hit to breakfasts and cereals or smoothies and for a treacly hit chop up some dates or sultanas.

Does anybody have any other tips for quitting sugar?  Please leave me a comment and let me know... xxx

Beauty from the inside...

I felt like blogging today! Now that hasn't happened in a very long time... So I figured while the mood was right I should just run with it!
I haven't done a healthy eating post in a very long while so I figured why not start there! I've always believed that while a good skincare regime is important its equally as important if not more to feed yourself from within.  I know I bang on about it a lot in my health posts but if it feels good on the inside, it'll show on the outside.

Drink lots of water! Water helps aid digestion, helps keep your body well hydrated, works wonders for glowy skin and has 0 calories!  If you're like me and don't think water tastes as good as a can of diet coke try adding some fresh fruit to your bottle of water and popping it in the fridge to keep it nice and fresh.  My favourites are lemon slices, strawberry and kiwi chunks and blueberries for that extra antioxidant hit!  Drinking a glass of water half an hour before your meal will ensure you probably eat a bit less and having another glass half an hour after your meal will help aid digestion.

Don't skip breakfast! It sounds so simple but it really really helps!  Eating a well balanced healthy breakfast will keep you going until lunchtime, it'll stop you from craving sugar and fats mid morning and give you all the energy you need to achieve your full potential rather than feeling lethargic and grouchy like I often did.  My favourite breakfast choices have become porridge oats with 1% milk topped with blueberries and sometimes a cheeky banana if I'm feeling devilish or A slice of wheat free toast topped with rocket leaves, poached egg and sliced smoked salmon....mmmm delish!

Freeze your fruits! Buying larger fruits or fruits in bulk means you can freeze what you don't eat immediately, frozen fruits taste great in smoothies or just as they are as a refreshing hit and it means you don't waste what doesn't get eaten the day you buy them.

Switch to Coconut Oil! The apparent benefits to this new wonder product are endless so obviously I had to jump on the Coconut Oil bandwagon!  Now I've not been cooking with it long enough to sing its praises too much just yet but according to the numerous articles that have popped up recently the possibilities are endless with this product.  You can cook with it, cleanse your face with it, condition your hair with it, moisturize your body with it as well as it's endless digestive and medicinal properties.  I'll leave you to make your minds up about this one for now while I continue to test it out.

Until next time
Ciao  

Health blog part 2

Hello again beautiful world!

As promised this is the part 2 to my previous healthy eating post with just some tips and tricks on how to get more active to go alongside the healthy eating aspect of things.

• Everyday Housework - I know it's boring and I know nobody wants to do the housework but it has to be done so why not try and make it fun, stick on your favourite song and have it loud and proud, once you get started you wont even notice that you've given yourself a good workout and your house is in pretty good shape too!

• Just recently I've gone and bought Just Dance 3 for the Nintendo wii.  It's a little bit embaressing when you have an audience and you're fumbling about 'trying' to dance but after a few songs you get into the swing of it, begin to really enjoy it and before you know it, you've worked up a sweat and you're burning calories.  It's a great way to get fit and have a bit of fun with the girls!

• If you're like me and you enjoy watching beauty videos on youtube or blogging from your Iphone then you're probably on your phone 24 hours a day.  Instead of just sitting or lying around while watching videos why not get on the treadmill or my favourite, the exercise bike, and start working out.  Your mind will be occupied with what you're watching and you wont even realise that you're finished a whole workout routine or burnt 100 calories in just the space of one video.  I'm the sorta girl who constantly watches the timer on exercise equipment and as soon as the timer hits 10 minutes I'm up and off to lounge on the couch but this way if I watch 3 10 minute videos I've done my 30minutes without really feeling it.

• If you're in the UK like me then you'll know exactly just how cold it is so maybe leave these tips for when the country's thawed out a bit but when the weather's nicer try ditching the car and walking to the corner shop, or getting off the bus 1-2 stops earlier and walking the rest of the way.  It's an easy way of getting a little bit of extra exercise into your daily routine and you'll save money on petrol money and bus fare.

• I was sitting around with some friends a short while ago and asked if they'd be interested in taking up kick-boxing classes with me?  I'm quite interested in getting fitter but also learning a bit of self-defence and because I have such fun with my friends I wouldnt see it as a chore taking a regular class.  Find something that you'd really enjoy and maybe get some friends and family involved, that way you can also encourage eachother when you're feeling lazy and not motivated to get up off the sofa.

I hope this was helpful for you guys and I'm sorry it's taken a while, I recently had to go into hospital for a minor invasive surgical procedure and I'm still feeling a bit groggy and sore but all's well that ends well and better late than never I say.

What're your exercise tips and tricks? I'd love to know!  Please leave me comments and dont forget to follow my blog!

Ciao for now world

xoxox