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It’s 2010, my year for a new me! I say this every single January and try and convince myself that this is the year I get thin, but I’m determined it will be! I wouldn’t say I am over weight, but I could do with toning up in the normal places. I have also booked a girly holiday this year, so the bikini body will need to be up to scratch and looking good!
I also finished with my boyfriend of 2 years (poor me!) just before Christmas, so sticking to my diet plan should be easier than ever, with no excuses to give up!
I’m planning on bringing in my own lunch to work too, the Subways and McDonald’s have really got to stop.
Wish me luck, I’ll update you on my progress!

I have decided that, despite the cold weather I am GOING to attempt to exercise before Christmas this year (granted I only have 1 week left). It would be really easy for me to say that ‘it is just too cold’ and ‘I’ll start afresh in the new year with new enthusiasm and a new keep fit regime’, but isn’t now a good a time as any. AND if I set the wheels in motion now, I’ll feel more inclined to tackle the subject again in 2010. But, which physical activity can I begin with that breaks me into the super healthy transformation gently?
I visited website Play.com and they were advertising a series of 10 minute work-out DVDs ranging from yoga to salsa, pilates and circuit training. It got me thinking that 10 minute bursts of exertion would be enough to get my heart rate going without too much suffering on my part.
I ordered 2 DVDs pilates and kick boxing, which arrived the very next day, leaving me no excuse but to start my journey to a healthier life-style. Will keep you posted on the results…

Having given up on trying to order ‘slim’ in restaurants and eat ‘small’ at other peoples’ homes, I have decided to try and cook low fat cuisine for myself, starting with a low fat version of the much loved roast potatoes.

The guilt-free version is made me 200ml of vegetable oil, 1 garlic clove and only 2 tbsp of olive oil rather than the usual glug that I typically spend on it.
They are said to contain 6g of fat instead of 14g like the usual roasties.

Then I thought about how I was going to get around making high fat content treats for my little boy who simply does not appreciate fruit for pudding each night and so I found a recipe for mince pie tree treats. They are little Danish pastry style bites, just enough to treat yourself and only 100 calories per tree.

Can’t wait to have to try these out!

My friends and I have organised a nice Christmas catch up before the mad dash to Christmas day really takes off and we have no time to relax in the living room with a glass of wine and a mince pie.

One of my friends suggested we order in Chinese take-out which at first sounded to me like a yummy idea but when we hung up the phone, I started to think about the extra calories that I wouldn’t really appreciate before my Christmas do. That and the fact that I have bought an elegant but slim fitting little black dress I must fit into.

I decided to look up low fat and low calorie options for my Chinese Christmas take-out and discovered that chow mein is probably one of the lowest in fat Chinese entries, which is good because it’s one of my favourites.

I will be sharing food with my companions anyway so it will be easy to control my portions and limit my intake of rice or noodles.

I feel all ready to enjoy my guilt-free Chinese banquet.

It seems like I am forever hungry and have a constant battle with my hands to prevent them from reaching into the fridge compartment or foraging through the snack drawer at work.

I can’t possibly imagine that I am actually hungry each and every one of the times that my mind returns to food. Is it likely that I am thirsty instead? According to many articles on the web, many of us fail to read our bodies’ internal signals and often when we think our body is craving food, we are just slightly dehydrated. The best advice they give in this instance, is to drink a glass of water first before determining whether or not you are actually in need of more foodstuff.

So in conclusion, when I thought my body was crying out for strawberry tarts, chocolate fingers and Krispy Kreme doughnuts, all it really needed was a nice glass of water. Hmmmm.

With Christmas parties and New Year celebrations looming, there are plenty of reasons to want to look your best for this time of year.
If you want to indulge in the Christmas festivities without the worry of gaining loads of extra weight, then eating 300- 500 calories less on the days that you are not eating out, entertaining friends or sitting down to roast dinner with the family, could help you to avoid piling on the pounds.

Here are a few suggestions that might help you save on calories:
1) Substitute fizzy drinks for water.
2) Restrict yourself to 100 calorie snacks
3) Reduce the size of your lunch – make your own low fat version sandwiches or choose soups to fill you up and keep you warm.
4) Minimise your intake of sugary snacks and crisps – eat fruit if you’re hungry.
5) Control your beer and alcohol consumption – or save drinking for parties and special occasions.

When exercising, there’s no need to stay stuck at home or in a hot, sweaty gym. To spice up your fitness regime, why not take it outdoors this winter? It’s fun, free, there’s no need for any equipment, and you can get some fresh air! Here’s my top four recommendations for outdoor activities to keep you fit this winter:

1.Walking – Whether it’s walking the dog, walking to work, or just taking a leisurely stroll; walking is a low-intensity cardiovascular activity which can help to burn calories, aid weight loss, lower stress levels and help reduce the risk of heart disease.

2.Running – Although a higher intensity activity, which can mean that it puts more stress on the joints, running gives you the same benefits as walking, but greatly intensified!

3.Cycling – This is a great calorie-burning cardiovascular activity, and you can use it as a form of transport as well as an activity on its own. You will need to own a bike though!

4.Ice skating – A great seasonal activity, you can go ice skating alone or with friends. But it’s not only fun, it can burn up to 300 calories an hour and its great for your leg muscles.

There’s a lot of talk about ‘superfoods’ these days, but what actually are they? A superfood is one that can be described as having particular health benefits because of a high phytonutrient content, containing high levels of vitamins, anti-oxidants and dietary fibre.

However, it’s best not to place too much importance on them, because all though some people claim that they reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease, this hasn’t been definitively scientifically proven. They won’t work wonders, but they are fantastically good for you.

Give some of these a try:

- Blueberries
- Garlic
- Apples
- Avocados
- Cranberries
- Ginger
- Olive Oil
- Salmon
- Tomatoes

Ok guys, you’re paying the best part of £50 a month in gym membership, but are you really getting your money’s worth? Just going to the gym is not enough; you need to make the most of your time whilst you’re there. To enable you to use your time effectively and progress in your fitness regime, here are a few things to avoid:

- Socialising: Just because you’re in the building, doesn’t mean you’re getting any slimmer or fitter. Talking on your phone or socialising between workouts wastes time and lowers your heart rate.

- No instruction: Most gyms offer a free introductory fitness assessment, so take advantage of it and don’t be afraid to ask for help!

- Not varying your exercise regime: Sticking to a tried-and-tested regime can mean that your body gets used to it after a while, which makes it much less effective. Mix things up every now and again to get the most out of your workout.

- Post-workout eating: It can be tempting to over-indulge after a good workout, but you could actually be undoing all your hard work. By all means replace the nutrients you’ve lost with a healthy meal or a shake, but don’t use a workout as an excuse to indulge in high calorie foods.

Many women feel pressured to lose their pregnancy weight as quickly as possible after having a baby, especially with all the celebrity mums whipping their clothes off almost immediately after giving birth, but it is important to not be too hard on yourself. Just make a plan and stick to it, take it easy (it can be a stressful enough time as it is), and you will lose that pregnancy weight steadily and healthily. Here are a few tips to start you off:

Do:

- Drink plenty of water (at least 10 glasses a day).
- Eat more lean meats and whole grain foods.

Don’t:

- Rush straight into strenuous exercise. Start light, gentle exercise only when you feel ready.
- Be tempted to snack on unhealthy foods. Even if you don’t have the time to prepare proper meals, keep healthy snacks such as raisins and nuts in the house.