Weightloss and Fitness tips...

I will write a beauty post next but I wanted to do a post on my own weightloss and any tips I've picked up along the way that I can share :) and I thought with summer coming up this would be an ideal time!

A few years back I weighed about 3-3.5 stone more than I do now, I lost the weight in a healthy realistic way, I didn't go on a "diet" of any kind I just started making a few changes and gradually completely changed my lifestyle!

This picture is a before and after picture of me, the photo on the left is about 3 years old and the one on the right is a few weeks back (sorry i'm in my pants!). I don't think I really realised how much weight I'd lost until I put the two photos together!

How did I do it?

• Firstly, I started increasing exercise. I used to do a short run about 4 times a week up a country lane near my house as I didn't want to be seen as I was quite nervous about being seen. I gradually increased the distance and time and this really helped kickstart my weightloss, once I'd lost abit of weight and gained some confidence I signed up to the gym and I haven't looked back since :) The gyms a great way of destressing for me, and has helped me through some hard times. I also really enjoy the gym classes such as core and my favourite legs bums and tums class - its much more fun when you're with friends and the hour flys by! I gym about 5 days a week now if I can and mostly do a mixture of cardio and resistance. I tend to do about 30-50 minutes cardio (the cross trainer is my current favourite) and I usually always do leg weights and some core and ab exercises
• I also totally cut out fast food, chocolate, crisps etc to begin with, this was actually a lot easier than I thought it would be as I wanted to change and knew that this was what i needed to do! I realised I wasn't hungry and didn't need the bad food, as if I was hungry I could eat fruit or yoghurt instead
• I've also cut out white bread and pasta. I replace these with brown pasta and brown bread, pitta bread etc but I try not to eat too much of this as it makes me bloat for a few hours after I've eaten! Instead I eat bulgur wheat, quinoa, rice and sweet potato which are ideal substitutes!
• I also like to make as much food as I can from scratch as then you know exactly what you're eating! As some jars and premade sauces or meals are full of hidden sugars, salts and fats! and of course homemade food is much tastier mmmmmm
• I just want to point out that you don't need to deprive yourself of all your favourite naughty foods!!!! I try to eat well about 90% of the time and do allow myself to eat lots of nachos sometimes! It's all about moderation

It really is as simple as eating better and moving more :) and drinking lots of water and green tea!!

What do you do to stay in shape? what are your favourite healthy snacks and meals?
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