My weight has really been getting me down lately. I am a size 14 clothes and most of my clothes are size 10-12. I really need to fit back into those. It's not only that though, I've noticed how unfit I am. Just walking up the stairs I was becoming out of breath, that can't be a good sign so I decided it was time to start working out again. I am currently on day 4 of Jillian Michael's 30 day shred. I've done it before so I knew what to expect but it doesn't make it any easier! Here are five things I learned about myself since I've started working out and eating healthier, again.

1. It doesn't matter how slow you go, just do not stop. - I can't work out everyday because I have a brain condition (The fluid builds up around my brain and causes headaches/visual problems and so on. The medication I have to slows down my metabolism, therefore I gain weight) but when I feel like I CAN workout, I try not to push myself too hard. As long as I stay eating healthy and try to aim for 10k steps a day, workout three times a week and think positive, I CAN do this and I WILL be skinny for next summer! Slow wins the race, right? 
2. Green Tea is actually pretty good. Especially the berry flavoured green tea's. I actually find myself craving it now! Although it makes me feel sick and dizzy if I drink it on an empty stomach.. I've also been drinking a lot more water! Always a plus. No more fizzy drinks!
3. Eating healthy is hard. Although I am into the swing of things now, it does take some getting use to, it is not easy. I've been eating healthier for almost three weeks now and I don't even think about eating junk. It's ok to have a treat now and again but in moderation and only once a week! 
4. Don't become obsessed with the scales - This is easier said than done let me tell you! I weigh myself once a week but it's so hard not to weigh myself every other day and become obsessed with those scales. (I'm speaking from experience now! I've learned by my mistakes). I'm going to weigh myself once a week for the first month and then I'll weigh myself every two weeks after that. If I don't see a loss, I'll feel so disheartened. However, this week I have lost 2.2lbs and I'm very, very happy with that! 
5. Rewards - When I reach my first goal of loosing that first 5lb I am going to reward myself. I may reward myself with a nice face mask/pamper evening or something similar.
6. Stay active - Anything is better than nothing! I just need to MOVE more and eat less. Even just doing the housework burns a good amount of calories and then add in a half hour walk. It all adds up.  I find step counters help me - There are plenty of apps. I am planning on investing in a Fitbug after Christmas, my old one sadly broke. 

Do you have any advice for me? Or fitness/weight loss/healthy tips? Let me know in the comments.

Sarah xXx

Last week I wrote about how I had started working out again and eating healthy. Not only have I been doing Jillian Michaels thirty day shred everyday and eating healthy but I have also been power walking/slow jog a few times, too. In nine days I lost a grand total of six pounds, which I am really, really chuffed about. I am going to weigh myself every 9-10 days I think. I am still going to do the 30 day shred every day and eat healthy as well as 10,000 steps. Although, my fitbug orb has sadly broken and will no longer sync with my phone, which totally sucks. Maybe I'll change the battery and see if that helps. I'll do a power walk/light jog a couple of times a week (at least), too. I am so lucky to live where I do as there are so many beautiful places to jog and not many people around. I especially like jogging through the woods, well around the edge of the woodland.

I've been eating a lot of salad and healthy food. I am getting a bit bored of salad now though if I'm honest. I've done low carbs a few times this week just gone, which was actually not as hard as I thought it would be. I have also not eaten any bread for a while (first time in ages yesterday), which is good, too. It's definitely bread that makes me bloated and causes stomach cramps, since cutting that out of my diet I haven't had any problems with my tummy. I had a wholemeal roll yesterday for lunch and sure enough, as soon as I'd eaten it, I had stomach ache and my tummy was ever so bloated.

Sarah xXx

This weeks weight loss is another small one but none the less, it's a loss and I am happy about that! I weigh myself every Friday by the way.
I've lost another 1.5lbs, which might be nearer 2lbs because I was fully dressed in jeans and a woolly jumper. I'm really pleased I've lost again this weight rather than maintain. I'm happy with it so all is good.

However, this weekend was my Birthday and Friday night I had no children (rare!), so I may have indulged in some treats - including alcohol and Birthday cake. I do think I deserved a treat and I actually don't feel guilty about it! I will however, workout extra hard this week and do some extra walking and what not. Didn't do the 30 day shred over the weekend but hey, it was my Birthday!! (Not that it's any excuse..) I still don't think I have gained though as I have done walking and small exercises. I actually burned a total of 2500 (odd) calories just walking over the weekend, so that's not too bad. 

I had a wonderful Birthday. I got a FitBug Orb and some new trainers, both very much appreciated. I absolutely love my orb and trainers. I am SO lucky. My old trainers had seen better days and I have had my eye on a fitbug orb for a while now. I may even review it on my blog in a few days or so :)


I'm quite shocked that my size 12 jeans are baggy around my thighs, waste and butt. I have to keep pulling them up! I can get away with a belt for now as they're not too baggy and I know I'm not a size 10 yet but I feel like I am getting there, even if it is a slow process.

I am still enjoying green tea, the odd smoothie and I actually now prefer brown rice rather than white! Brown rice takes a while longer to cook but I prefer it! When I first started swapping foods, I hated brown rice with a passion. It's amazing what you get use to and end up actually liking. 

I don't know if I wrote about this, but the meds I take for my IIH (brain disease) make me gain weight/slow metabolism down so that is most probably why it's a slow process for me, even though I am working out every night and walking a good distance most days. I HAVE to take those meds though.

How has your weight loss/healthy eating/fitness progress this week?

Sarah xXx

I weighed myself over the weekend, I know I said I wasn't going to but I noticed that my clothes were really quite baggy and a pair of my jeans are SO big on me now that they fall right down when I walk... like right down to my knees, haha. Even with a belt they're baggy. All my bras are too big as well. Size 12 leggings are very baggy around my knees but I don't think size 10 would fit me quite yet, I need a size 11 haha. They should totally do a size 11 lol!  I'm not gonna lie, I was SO disappointed when I jumped on the scales to see I hadn't lost anything (again), I've stayed the same. Which is obviously a lot better than gaining.
 I do however think, I am loosing inches rather than weight, does that make sense? I know that can happen when you tone. I'm not disheartened though, I am happy that what I am doing is working because my clothes are fitting so much better! This happened over the Christmas holidays and I had actually gained a pound and then a week later I'd lost FIVE founds so perhaps it'll happen like that again, who knows. It's also that time of the month so maybe that plays a part in it. Sorry if that was TMI!

I am still eating really healthy, no processed foods and no junk food. No fizzy drinks and no sugary foods. Although I did have a cookie today because guys, I am craving sugar (probably for the above reason). I've cut back a little on smoothies as I was paranoid about my sugar intake. I need to start having veggie smoothies, perhaps I'll pick some veggies up at some point. I'm still enjoying green tea, epsecially the green tea with peppermint! 'Tis lovely on a cold morning.

I am now on level three of the 30 day shred! And I am really, really enjoying it! I also did it twice yesterday - Level 1 in the morning and level 3 in the evening. I might do that three times a week if I feel like it. I've walked a total of 8 miles (at least!) today, my legs are aching like crazy but all is good. I went grocery shopping and walked around town, had a look in a few shops and what not, just to keep me walking! Also done the school run three times today (After school clubs). So that's really good! I have got a bit of a headache right now but not as bad as it was a couple of hours ago so I think I'll still be able to do the 30 day shred tonight. This brain disease (IIH) really sucks but loosing weight is suppose to help (it hasn't in the past!) so we'll see how that goes :)

Thank you SO much to everyone who left me supportive comments on my last post, it really means so much to me. You are all so inspiring and encouraging. As is my friend Laura who is really helping me do this!!! 

Sarah xXx

This week weigh in is.... non existent because I haven't weighed myself. I don't think I've gained anything but I doubt I've lost anything either because I've still been ill. I have been keeping up with the healthy eating though and still making smoothies. I got brave last week and added rocket and spinach to my smoothie, wasn't too keen on it but I think I could get use to it!

I am debating on whether to start power walking and/or jogging a couple of times a week, even just around the block. I really don't like going out on my own though as the area I currently live in is quite.... rough. I think just around the block wouldn't be so bad though. I already do a fair bit of walking everyday (or try to when I can!) so maybe I should just power walk and/or jog instead - when I haven't got the kids with me of course.

Possible TMI - I am still doing the thirty day shred and loving it! I did miss two days over the weekend as I had those dreaded monthly pains (ovulation), that's the worst that pain has ever been! It was horrible., Sorry if that was to much info.



I've been drinking green tea with lemon (at least one cup a day) and I am actually going to add some (cold) green tea to a smoothie later and see how it is! This is quite huge for me because I never drink hot drinks, I don't like tea or coffee usually. I find that one of the (green) tea brands makes me feel a bit dizzy (bizarre) but I recently purchased the clipper green tea with lemon and I'm fine with that! (Was on offer in Tesco) I also have a decaff one but I'm really not fussed on that either. Did you know, green tea is a natural source of antitoxins and can help with weight loss! I actually find it quite refreshing, too!

How is your weigh loss/healthy eating journey going? :)

Sarah xXx

For the last six days I have been quite ill (again) all my glands were swollen and I have had a really bad cold. Whether it is just a bad cold or flu I have no idea but I think I am starting to get over it now. Needless to say I have missed a couple of days of doing the 30 day shred because I have felt so rough. I wasn't surprised that when I weighed myself today (on my nice new scales, you can read my review here. I can't recommend these scale enough, they are seriously the best scale I have ever used & I'm not just saying that - I truly do mean it.) I hadn't lost weight, I also haven't gained either. I weigh the same as I did last week which is ok. At least I didn't gain. Not gonna lie, I was a little disappointed because I have still been eating really well. I've still been continuing with my smoothies and healthy eating which I am really proud of myself for doing. I did cheat a little though and have a small bottle of lucasade at the weekend as I just felt so rough, had zero energy and felt like I needed something to help me a bit. Not that I could taste it mind as my taste buds are messed up.

I am still carrying on with the 30 day shred (still on level 2) and eating healthy! I will also get back into walking at least 4 miles a day now I am getting better! I have missed walking a lot so I'm rather looking forward to that. The weather has actually been quite mild here so lets hope that continues :)

How has your fitness/healthy eating/weighloss gone this week?

Sarah xXx

I have still been doing the 30 day shred daily and I have already lost one pound (the pound I gained over Christmas). I am so pleased about that! I really did push myself hard last night and it felt great. I ached a little today but I seemed to have 'walked it off' by doing lots of walking today! My thighs still ache slightly now but honestly, I feel good! I am really, really determined to loose this weight and fit back into my slim size 10 clothes.

The hardest part about this healthy eating thing is, that I can't eat what the kids eat. The lasagne and spag bol, the sausage and homemade chips etc, all smell and look amazing and it is SO hard not to give into temptation but I guess it's all just part of being a mum and loosing weight (at the same time! haha). It isn't easy but I am getting use to it again.

I've been having a smoothie for breakfast and sometimes after I've done my workout for the day. I really, really love smoothie. I do want to add in some veggies though instead of just fruits so if anyone has any healthy smoothie recipes that include veggies, I would love to hear about them!
My favourite is strawberries, blueberries, banana and greek yoghurt 0% fat.(with a couple of ice cubes all blended up together).


If you have any other weight loss tips and/or healthy eating tips please do let me know in the comments :)

Sarah xXx

As many of you already know, I am trying to loose weight! On 2nd November I started Jillian Michaeal's 30 day shred along with an online friend. We are now on level three! I never, ever thought I would get this far, but I have! I'm not sure if I've lost weight because I haven't weighed myself and nor do I intend to until I have finished the 30 day shred. I do know this though, my clothes are fitting me a lot better. My leggins are too big around my knees, they sag!! I've also lost a bit of weight off my back I think. Whoa. So whether I'm loosing weight or inches I do not know (yet) but I'm going to keep going with this because it's working! Once I've finished the 30 day shred, I am going to start it all over again - yup, I'm crazy, haha.
It certainly helps having someone doing this with me, she's encouraging and supportive! I'm not sure if I would have even got this far if she wasn't doing this with me. 

I have alos been eating healthy, too. Allowing myself a treat once a week. I eat a lot of fruit and salads. Chicken, fish and the liking is also low in fat and calories so I eat a lot of that, too! I try not to over do it on the carbs though. Everything is ok in moderation.

I've cut out all fizzy drink and crisps (both my down falls) and I am really proud of myself! I feel a lot better in myself for sticking with healthy eating and working out. I feel physically fitter and stronger already if I'm honest.

Yes, it is hard but it's so much easier than it was when I first started. It's hard when the kids are eating chocolate and nicer food than what I'm eating but then I remind myself that I want to be skinny again. I will get there. 

I'm intrigued to see how much I weigh next week, when I've finished the 30 day shred. I don't feel like sharing my weight -before I started- with the world right now but I was close to fitting into a size 14 but I'm quite short so I guess I was considered over weight.


Sarah xXx

I thought it was about time to write an up to date update on how my weight loss & keeping fit challenge is going.

I wrote a blog post a few weeks ago about how I needed to loose weight, eat healthier and get fit! Well, I am not really sure how much weight I've lost but I know I have lost at least three pounds because one pair of my jeans is a little loose around my middle. Which is great! And so encouraging. I've also been using my pedometer, which I recently reviewed. I haven't been eating junk food or drinking fizzy drinks (with the exception of yesterday and one day last week, I had a small bottle of lucasade/can of coke - I feel like I totally let myself down but seriously, I was craving it SO bad).

I was a little bit disappointed last week as I treated myself to a new pair of boots. The thing is, they were almost knee high boots but I couldn't get the zip to do up around my leg. My leg was just too FAT! Ugh. So I had to send them back (they were such a bargain too. Boo). That has however, given me the incentive to keep on eating healthy, walking at least 15,000 steps a day (I did 21,545 steps yesterday!) and just generally being healthy! There have been days where I have a had a headache, making 15,000 steps is hard when you have a headache. Which sucks. But generally I am trying my very best. I'll treat myself to new boots when I've lost a few pounds. I do think I need to invest in some bathroom scales because I DO need to weigh myself and keep track of what weight I am loosing. The thing is though, I don't want to become obsessed with weighing myself. So I'll weigh myself once every two weeks.

I've had a banana for breakfast (I'm not a big lover of breakfast and could quite easily skip it tbh), for lunch I'll have toast (brown bread) with a little low fat butter and for a nack I'll have an apple or rivita. For dinner this evening, I'm going to have chicken, (brown) pasta with salad.  It's really hard to not eat the same as the kids but it'll all be so worth it.

Sarah xXx

Many of you might remember that a few weeks ago, I wrote about how I need to get fit and loose a little bit of weight. So, when I was asked if I would like to review the Ozeri 4x3sport Digital Pocket 3D Pedometer I of course said yes!

I seriously couldn't wait to try this little gadget! The Ozeri 4x3sport Digital Pocket 3D Pedometer not only calculates and displays how many steps you do in a day but it also records, calculates and displays the amount of daily steps, stairs climbed, calories burned and exercise time with the world's most advanced Tri-Axis technology. I really like the fact it tells me exactly how many minutes I've walked daily! Personally I think that is this little gadget is quite nifty and rather cool! 


It encourages me SO much to walk more, I always aim for 15,000 steps a day. I make sure I do those 15,000 steps a day and having the The Ozeri 4x3sport Digital Pocket 3D Pedometer, really does help. It not only encourages me to walk and exercise but it also encourages me to eat healthier, let me explain. For instance, if I burn 500 calories, it gives me incentive knowing, that I have burned those calories and NOT to eat junk food!

The The Ozeri 4x3sport Digital Pocket 3D Pedometer can record up to 1 million steps with it's built in memory for up to 30 days of activity. It also features a calender, a clock, as well as a sports timer. It's also used by professional athletes.

The The Ozeri 4x3sport Digital Pocket 3D Pedometer itself is 7.8 x 1.3 x 3.5 cm and is very slim (as you can see in the picture). It clips nicely to my jeans/leggins (etc) really nicely and stays clipped on. I actually even forget I'm wearing it most of the time, it's very comfortable! I usually have my T.shirt or sweater covering it, so it isn't even visible to other people. It looks stylish and it's really easy to read and use.


The pedometer comes nicely packaged, in a little plastic box, very easy to open. Inside it contains a tiny screw driver in case the battery needs changing. Speaking of the battery, it uses 1 CR2 batteries which is included along with a strap (which attaches easily to the pedometer). It also comes with a manual/instructions, too.

I seriously can not believe how accurate this little pedometer is. I really, really love it a lot. I don't go anywhere without it! I clip it onto my clothes in the morning, as soon as I wake up, wear it all day and then check in the evening how many steps I've done. I usually make 15,000 steps no problem (as long as I'm not poorly). I even wear it while doing the housework! It really is an unique and lovely little gadget to own. It's encouraging, too!

I would totally recommend this to anyone who is trying to get fit or even if your not trying to get fit, it's very encouraging and it's nice to know exactly how many steps you walk a day!

Sarah xXx

Disclosure: I was sent a sample of this product for the purpose of this review. I was not paid to review this product or write this post. All opinions are my own, honest, personal opinions.

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Tried & Tested.

It's no big secret that I have gained weight in the last year and a half, probably around a stone and a half. I am 5ft3 and weigh around 10-10.5 stone (around 140 off pounds). I don't know exactly how much I have gained and I don't know exactly how much I weigh, I am not going to be weighing myself regularly, I'm going to go by how my clothes fit. In the past I HAVE gone by how much I weigh and I end up just not eating and then binge eating on the wrong kind of foods - weighing myself is not the way to go for me at this time. I might weigh myself once every so often, when I KNOW I've lost weight. I know it might sound strange to some people but to me, it makes sense.

Now, while I know that I'm not by any means HUGE, I am certainly not -what I call- small. I've ALWAYS been a size 8-10 (waste) and 10-12 on top (thanks to my boobs), even when pregnant! I know as you get older, it's possible to gain weight and for metabolism to slow down and so on, it's time to start taking care of myself! This is the "biggest" I've ever been and I do not like it one bit. It's time to be honest, my size 10 jeans do no longer fit and I've noticed that size 12 are a little tight around my thighs (Although Tesco and peacocks size 12 are a little baggy in fact - depends where you buy from clothes from I guess, sizes vary). I have some really, really nice clothes in smaller sizes, which I would love to fit into. My first aim is though, for my size 12 from NEXT to fit me perfectly. And then I'll concentrate on the rest. THEY do fit but I feel uncomfortable around my thighs. They even look "ok" but I'm just not very confident wearing them. Do you know what I mean?

I am aiming to do 10,000 steps a day and eat healthy. I'm not going to count calories, just eat healthy. 10,000 steps should be easy for me as I walk EVERYWHERE and I do more housework and whatever else. I also have an exercise bike that I plan on using, I'll start off slowly and work my way up to a longer time/distance. I'll keep a weekly log of how much exercise I do and share it every Wednesday with the will will do it linky. 
I will say this - I really AM going to stick to this, I am SO determined to loose weight and fit into my winter clothes again. I NEED to do this.

Who else is trying to get fit or loose weight? Does anyone have any tips or advice they'd like to share with me? I'd love to hear your ideas. Or perhaps progress stories? Let me know in the comments :)

Sarah xXx