Minimise Me - Weight Loss Weekly #3

I was left feeling a little disappointed after last Monday's weigh in, where my weight reduced a tiny bit but not enough to register as a pound, so I decided to try a lot harder. 

Lesson learnt; Popping to the pub needs to be avoided at all costs!!

I've been eating so much healthier and my Coca-Cola cravings seem to have stopped. I can't hear the fridge calling me to raid it like Pac-Man anymore which really helps too. Some days I've even gone to bed a few hundred calories under my daily allowance which for me, is incredible and I'm so pleased with my progress. 

Again this week I've been drinking more water, eating more fruit and veg and trying to get more sleep. My goal for the week ahead is to get three hour long sessions of exercise in, which is easily doable. I'm scheduling these in for Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and I will take some pics of my Polar monitor to share the calories burnt and time completed.

Week 3 =

Minimise Me - Weight Loss Weekly #2

I kick-started the year with a 3 pound loss last Monday which I was pleased about and now I'm onto week 2 of Minimise Me. I have to admit that I've found this week a bit harder and I've been so tempted to eat lots of naughty treats that are lurking in the cupboards leftover since Christmas. The fact I cooked a batch of warm, gooey brownies for the Mini Mes didn't help either. I could almost hear them calling me from the fridge to be consumed!

Minimise Me - Weight Loss Weekly #1

One of my goals for this year, probably the biggest and most important, is to lose weight and eat healthier. I'm increasing my exercise too and I want to get fit. Running a bath is hard enough work these days never mind a marathon, and far too many cheeseburgers and chocolates fall into my face which I really need to change.

So, I'm calorie counting each day, using My Fitness Pal to log my progress and I will be weighing myself each Monday. I've begun and given up so many times before but as the Mr and I have already booked three holidays for the year (woohoo) and I want to feel confident in summer fashion I feel as though I'm in right mindset to do this. I began 5th January.

Innocent Alphabet Champions - X is for...

I'm a big fan of innocent as a brand. Not only are their smoothies and veg pots really delicious and convenient when on the go, but they make sneaking in a couple of those well needed 5 a day a doddle, especially when it comes to the kids! They use plenty of fruit in their drinks so they are bursting with flavour and they even make tubes which are 100% puree and juice that are ideal for lunch boxes. I couldn't really ask for more, especially with them currently being half price in many supermarkets too. We certainly took advantage of the offer recently.

5 Dangers You Might Be Exposing Your Family To And Not Know It

Everyone wants to look after their families. There are many dangers though, that you might not even be aware of, and these may cause damage to your family’s long-term health. Here are five of these dangers to look out for:

1. Noise can damage your ears

Most people should be aware that exposure to loud noise at an early age can damage your ears. This is not an old wife’s tale. If your children enjoy loud music, or you constantly wander around the house with your iPod playing in your ears at full blast you could be setting a dangerous example to your family. Hearing deteriorates over time, and you may find that your family members will have to attend a Hidden Hearing clinic for a hearing aid at some stage in their future. It’s far better to explain how the ear can be damaged by excessive noise and let your kids appreciate the importance of their ears.

Discovering the Best Super Foods for Your Pet and You

Many people have favourite pet food brands and they will argue that their choice is the best. The discussion about which pet foods are healthiest can be as detailed as what the best fence for dogs is and whether the pet stop invisible fence is at the top of the list. It sounds silly to non-pet people, but those of us who believe our pets are family members are passionate about finding the safest, healthiest products for them.

While the proper containment for your pet is definitely important, even more so is what you feed them. Even buying pet food that is labelled organic or natural may not be the best choice, as government regulations are not that strict about what can be in pet foods that are labelled organic. The only way to be sure your pet is getting the safe, healthy food they deserve is to make it yourself. With the following list of super foods, it will be a snap for you!

Healthy Snacks and Treats for a Rapid After School Energy Boost - Guest Post

Oh No it’s nearly upon us “Dare I say it” the school summer holidays will be over and the kids have to go back to working hard all day long, while us parents think of unique and amazing ways to keep their energy levels up. I am going to miss my boys that is for sure, but I know they both have a common trait when they come barging back into the house after school. My Kids both instantly head towards the kitchen cupboards looking for a quick fix of treats and snacks to re-energise their weary heads after a long day at school.

Knowing that a lot of the treats and snacks that they both tend to enjoy are usually unhealthy and full of sugar, which has them bouncing of the walls and means they have to work a little harder to

Outdoor Family Fun - Win a Sat Nav

Although it may not currently feel like Spring is just around the corner, it won't be long until the daffodils are popping up, the sun is making the odd appearance and we are all heading outside on day trips with the family. One of my resolutions is to spend more time outside, come rain or shine, to explore, have fun and get fit for 2013 - and what better way to get from A to B than with a brand new Sat Nav!

The Tom Tom XL v4 Sat Nav features: 

FREE Deluxe Carry case

4.3 ins LCD touchscreen

Pre-installed maps of UK and ROI

Pre-loaded safety camera data

IQ routes and advanced lane guidance

Spoken Street names

Integrated mounting with flip screen

We have 1 to give away from the RAC to help get you and your family enjoying the great outdoors!

*** WIN ***

For your chance to win you can enter via the Rafflecopter entry form below before 26th January 2013.

Good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If it won't be long until you are spending more time visiting zoos, farms and theme parks too, don't forget the RAC who provide breakdown cover in the UK. You don't want to be left stranded on a motorway with upset kids in the back seats ruining your plans so make sure you are covered!

The RAC can cover you or your vehicle from as little as £29.99 so it's worth taking a peek: http://www.rac.co.uk/breakdown-cover/uk-breakdown/

They also have a great online shop which has a variety of products including winter safety kits to help you and your family travel safely.

Fitness - The Gallery

The leaves crackle beneath our wellies and the mud squelches then splashes up our trousers. We duck for branches and bushes, dodge thistles and nettles and plod on across fields with the puppy in tow. Being a pet owner takes dedication. When it's raining or snowing the little pooch still needs his daily exercise.... as do we!

At the same time as walking the dog we are improving our fitness whether that's through jogging along side him flicking his toy for him to fetch, walking and clambering through dirt and streams on our adventures or running to see who can get his ball first to throw next. Fitness can be fun and the whole family can join in.

You can try the new Coca-Cola Work It Out Calculator to find suggestions on how to burn off calories you have consumed to create a healthy lifestyle.

The Gallery Theme this week is Fitness

Flashback - Sport

 When I was dinky in both age and height, I loved sport. From as far back as I can remember, I can see myself sat on my dad's bike while he rode around the block, down a huge hill, over and over - I'm not sure if it was for his benefit or our amusement!

I can think back to lower school and always doing well in sports day and P.E. I played for the Netball team and I continued to do so during middle school, being team captain and then moving on to play for my county. I loved basketball, hockey and football, any sport really, and I often attended training with my brother and dad despite feeling a little pushed out for being female.

In upper school I used my height, 6ft, to my advantage and I attended various events for running, high jump and hurdles representing my school and earning awards.

Sport was a large part of my life.... that was until I discovered boys!

I met the children's dad when I was almost 14 (we stayed together until I was 21) and my life changed from there. Sports were soon replaced with cinema trips, theme parks and eating out. I would not show up to training or bother with events due to having alternative plans which at the time seemed far more important. I fell pregnant at 18 and then again at 20 and since then I've never really done any sport bar attempting to lose weight at home with the cross trainer and various workout DVDs. I've probably never been as unfit as I currently am!

I do however LOVE one sport. When I started dating the Mr back in March 2009, for his birthday I purchased a gift voucher for a sporting day out. Ever since then both the Mr and I have thoroughly enjoyed a hobby together. It's not something that I do often due to the cost and pain however, we do enjoy it and go around twice a year.

It's paintballing!

A great way to meet new people, burn calories, have fun and work as a team. I'm quite a kamikaze to be honest which surprises most but I will run for flags and forts to help my team win despite injury!

You should give it a go, it's far better than I ever expected it would be. Looking back it's never something I would see myself doing but I really look forward to the next time we go.

Bank Holiday Bike Riding

I would much rather stick on my wellies and get wet and muddy outside than be stuck indoors with a TV. Thankfully the sun did make an appearance this bank holiday weekend so we headed out on the bikes for some fresh air and exercise without the need for waterproofs.

Both of the Mini Mes learnt to ride quite a while ago now although Jamster is in desperate need of a new bike (that's on my endless 'to buy' list ready for the summer holidays). He will still happily use it though for now so we headed off to the fields with the poochie in tow too.

Here are some of our pics....

We are lucky to be in such a rural town with a lot of fields. These are literally only a few minutes away and are great for dog walking, kite flying and other sports too.

What did you get up to over the Jubilee bank holiday?
Can your children ride bikes and do they enjoy it too?