Losing Weight and Fat Freezing Treatments*

So as many of you may know right now, I am officially getting married and need to shift some serious weight before I even start to try on some dresses let alone actually walk down that aisle. I thought I would do a monthly weigh in with a few of the things I have tried out throughout the month and how my weight is changing whether that be up or down! So I am going to aim to post these monthly if this one goes down well so please let me know what you think. Now that my holiday is out of the way, I have a clear run until Christmas so will be trying my best. My fiancé has also set up a training plan for me and kitted me out with some new gym equipment. He has also been taking my measurements bi-weekly so I can track those too.

For those who don’t want to read through the whole thing, I will do a quick summary at the top.

Month 1 Starting Weight – 12 Stone 11.5 lbs
Month 2 Starting Weight – 12 Stone 5.5lbs
Total Weight Loss for Month 1 – 6lbs

I recently heard about Fat Freezing treatments available at Pulse Light Clinic in London. It’s a non-surgical fat reduction treatment that treats that stubborn fat that exercise simply won’t touch! Once the fat has been removed, it is gone for good. 

CoolSculpting is suitable for fat all over the body including double chins, love handles, back fat, saggy bums and flabby thighs. Fat freezing is exactly how it sounds, your fat literally gets frozen away in a safe, effective and FDA approved way. The technology used is called Cryolipolysis and is done without needles or surgery. The CoolSculpting pack is placed onto the area that is going to be treated and is left for only one hour. During this time the fat cells are being frozen which then causes them to die. They are then flushed out of your body! The below video is fantastic if you want to know a little bit more.

If you are looking to get this treatment done then you can contact the clinic on the below addresses:

Tottenham Court Road Clinic

5 Percy Street, London, W1T IDG

Tel: 0207 205 4085

Fenchurch Street Clinic

1st Floor, 152 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3M 6BB

Tel: 0207 523 5158

I won’t post my exact measurements but can tell you that this month I lost about 2 inches from each leg, and 4 inches around my stomach and waist. I also lost an inch from each arm, not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing! Onto my weekly losses for this month, I have included some of the meals that I have been eating. Let me know if you have any questions – or what you think! And if you would like to see more of these posts please let me know and I can make sure I do that for you.

Week 1 – Weigh in (12 Stone 11.5 lbs)

This is my starting point after a week’s holiday in Wales eating to my heart’s content. , I knew that the scales weren’t going to like me today but it’s good to have a starting point. We started the week off with a Shepherd’s Pie, packed with veg and for the rest of the week our meals consisted of pasta bake with lean pork meatballs, vegetable chilli, salmon with stir fry vegetables and rice, slow cooked sausage casserole and lean turkey mince meatballs with pasta. For lunches I have been enjoying some vegetable soups and I have been snacking on fruit, yoghurt and lean meats.

Week 2 – Weigh in (12 Stone 7.5 lbs) -4lbs

This week I was pleased to see a loss after being back to healthy eating for a week. This week’s food consisted of a risotto, curry, sausage pasta bake, ostrich steaks, salmon and a Mediterranean chicken pilaf. I have also been snacking on grapes and lean meats as well as some low fat yoghurts. For lunches I made a spicy butternut squash soup with onion, carrot, garlic, ginger, celery and chilli which has been lovely and warming during the colder weather.

Week 3 – Weigh in (12 stone 7lbs) -0.5lbs

This week I had a reasonably good week food wise but the weekend knocked me well and truly off the wagon. I was lucky to scrape a loss this week I think! Pleased with my half a pound off, I sailed onto week 4.

Week 4 – Weigh in (12 stone 5.5lbs) – 1.5lbs

This week was what I called a ‘light’ week where I seem to get away with eating lots of food but still losing weight. It’s just one of those months I guess!

*Sponsored Post

Weight Watchers Spicy Summer Meals*

Diets don’t have to be boring and this has been proven by the Weight Watchers Spicy Summer meals. Weight Watchers is the worlds leading commercial provider of weight management services and has been going for more than 50 years. The company has helped millions of people across the world transform their lives through healthy weight loss. I was lucky enough to receive a couple of the limited edition meals to try out and review for you here on my blog. These meals are both limited edition and will only be on the shelves for 12 weeks until two different new and exciting meals are released to replace them. The current meals incorporate summer flavours inspired by Brazil and Mexico.

I love that this range encourages me to try new and exciting flavours whilst sticking to a diet plan. The first meal I received was The Brazilian Bahia Chicken which is exclusive to Asda and retails at just £2.59. This is such a great choice and ties in with the Rio Olympics. This meal contains just 300 calories or 8 smart points. The flavours are inspired by Brazil and uses a Bahia seasoning blend with paprika, ground pepper, oregano and garlic. I thought this was really tasty and one of the first microwave meals I have tried that actually looks like the photo on the packet!

The second meal I got to try was the Naked Enchilada and Mexican Style Rice which is available from Asda, Morrisons and Ocado, also retailing at £2.59. This limited edition meal has just 304 calories per pack and is made using only ingredients you will find in your kitchen. This meal was slightly spicier than the previous one but still very tasty. Looking at the ingredient list I can see no nasties, chemicals or foods I cannot pronounce. It is just simple food and delicious flavourings. Taking just 5 minutes to cook in my microwave is very convenient and means I can even take these to work on the days I want a hot fresh meal. If you are following a Weight Watchers diet this meal has just 8 smart points per packet.

The Weight Watchers range of chilled prepared meals promises that every dish is less than 400 calories, low in fat and sugar, contains no artificial colours or flavourings and a source of protein. Overall I thought both of these meals were really tasty and something I would definitely repurchase again. What do you think of these meals? Will you be giving them a go?

*I received these meals free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

Your Smoothie Your Way With Alpro*

I am a big lover of smoothies especially in the summer but I get bored quickly and often struggle to decide what to have in them. I was invited to get involved in a campaign from Alpro around around their new smoothie platform that’s launched online to help you create your perfect smoothie. I couldn’t wait to get on board and have fun with the recipe ideas. I’ve come up with 3 delicious smoothies (tried and tasted!) with the help of the Alpro Smoothie Platform which I have shared with you below so keep reading to find out more!

Using the Alpro Smoothie Platform is simple, simply click on the ‘create your smoothie’ button, choose your favourite Alpro product and click through the screens adding different ingredients as you go along. The website even suggests some great matches of things that go well. I had so much fun playing around with ingredients and came up with some delicious new smoothie recipes. Although the ingredients in these smoothies varies, the method remains the same. Simply put all of the ingredients into a blender, blitz and enjoy!

Passionate Coconut Smoothie
Ingredients:
200ml Alpro Coconut Original
50g Fresh Peach
40g Fresh Passion Fruit
Dried Mango

This smoothie is fruity and delicious. The Alpro Coconut Original is a delicious blend of refreshing coconut with the light taste of rice and mixed with the peach, passion fruit and dried mango makes this smoothie an absolute tropical treat. I kept back some of my dried mango and a few passion fruit seeds and just added these to the top of the drink to provide the perfect garnish. This smoothie was my favourite of the three but it was a hard decision, they were all delicious!

Creamy Berry Smoothie
Ingredients:
200ml Alpro Simply Plain
70g Raspberries
70g Strawberries
Raisins

This smoothie was a lot creamier than the last using the Alpro Simply Plain and is the soya alternative to yoghurt. The Alpro Simply Plan has a mild taste and a smooth texture but us the perfect blank canvas for you to add other ingredients to. Combined with the strawberries, raspberries and raisins this created the perfect thick and creamy berry smoothie. If this is too thick for you, feel free to add a bit of water to thin the consistency a little.

Nutnana Power Smoothie
Ingredients:
200ml Alpro Almond Unsweetened Drink
60g Banana
60g Spinach
Walnuts

This is the ultimate post workout smoothie and I drank this after the gym to give me an energy boost. The banana is a great source of potassium and spinach gives you a good iron hit. What I love most about this smoothie is that you can’t really taste the spinach but you know it’s in there doing some good. The Alpro Almond milk is something I drink often in coffee and this delicious nutty drink has a delicate roasted almond flavour. Not only does this drink go well with fruits, it pairs really nicely with chocolate. Why not change up the recipe by adding a spoonful of cocoa powder for a delicious chocolatey smoothie!

I really enjoyed making these Alpro based smoothies and will definitely be repurchasing the products in the future in order to make even more delicious recipes! These smoothies have gone down a storm in my house and I know I will be referring back to this post and the Alpro Smoothie Platform in the future.

Which is your favourite smoothie of the three recipes? If you’d like to create your own smoothie, head over to the Alpro Smoothie Platform and start mixing flavours! Send me your recipes, I’d love to try them!

*I received some Alpro goodies free of charge in exchange for creating some delicious recipes. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

'For Goodness Shakes' Protein Coconut Water*

Being on a diet, specifically Slimming World, means that when I want to refuel during or after a workout I have to waste a lot of calories (or syns) on a powdery protein shake. Often these protein drinks aren’t refreshing and I find myself trying to drink them as soon as possible. It seems such a waste! When I heard about the For Goodness Shakes Protein Coconut Water range I knew that I needed to try them as soon as possible and share them with you all. I have already had a great response on Instagram of fellow Slimmers wanting a similar product!

For Goodness Shakes Protein Coconut Water is a new range of deliciously-flavoured soft drinks which give you a protein boost, zero fat and no added sugar. The refreshing blend of coconut water and spring water, boosted with 10g Whey Protein Isolate is just what I crave when I’ve been in the gym. It comes in two refreshing flavours, Tropical and Orange & Mango. I received the Tropical and Mango & Orange flavours. These shakes are available exclusively in ASDA for just £1.99. My Gym just happens to be right next to an Asda which is an added bonus meaning I can pop in and pick up one of these before I start my workout.

I thought both flavours were fruity and refreshing but my favourite was the Mango & Orange flavour. Adding the extra protein into my workout pushes me to go for longer and I find myself doing more reps at a higher weight. The bonus is this is essentially water; you can drink this during your workout and it won’t sit heavy in your stomach. You can also drink this alongside a meal or keep it for on the go. Not only does it hydrate you, the protein will help you to grow and maintain your lean functional muscles when used as part of a balanced diet and exercise plan.

The fact that these are just 52 calories is mind blowing compared to some of the high calorie protein drinks I have had in the past especially as they taste so nice. There is no harm in adding in extra protein around your training and many people don’t wish to take this in the form of a supplement. This drink is refreshing and you’d never even know you were getting a 10g protein hit as an added extra. I love that this low calorie drink can be incorporated into my diet and I have been looking for a low calorie protein drink for what seems like forever!

Overall, I was really impressed with these drinks and they give my work outs that extra boost that I sometimes need and I don’t have to ‘waste’ 100’s of calories drinking a powdery bland protein shake. Find out more information about the For Goodness Shakes range over on their website. Have you seen these around? Will you be trying them out?

*I received these drinks free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way,

Detox Tea Ice Lollies - Feat. Indigo Herbs*

It’s officially summer to me now the sun is shining and I can finally dust off my sandals and bikini… well I could dust off my bikini if I felt confident wearing one! How many of us planned to get fit this summer and have fallen off the wagon. I personally put my hands up, but not all hope is lost. When I was contacted by Indigo Herbs to create a recipe using some of their products I knew I had to come up with something delicious and healthy but keep with the summer theme.

Indigo Herbs kindly sent me their Super Cleanse Detox Herbal Tea and Strawberry Tea Infuser. The herbal tea is a warm blend of fennel, liquorice, nettle, dandelion, red clover and ginger. I decided that with these ingredients and a few added extras that I would make some refreshing ice lollies that don’t break the calorie bank!

Ingredients (Makes 4):
Super Cleanse Detox Herbal Tea
Strawberry Tea Infuser
50g Fresh Strawberries
Ice Lolly Moulds
800ml Water

Method:
First, add some of the Super Cleanse Detox Herbal Tea into the Strawberry Tea Infuser and add to a mug of boiling water. Let this brew for about 5 minutes, then add the boiling water to a jug of approximately 800ml worth of cold water and set aside to cool.

Chop some strawberries into small pieces and place a small amount into each lolly mould. Pour your Detox Tea mix into the lolly moulds and set in the freezer to cool for around 4-6 hours.

These ice lollies were easy to make, taste great and super low on calories. They are the perfect treat for this summer if you are trying to look your best. You can also mix up the fruit if you prefer. Try adding mango and kiwi or pineapple chunks instead of the strawberries.

Of course you can also use the Super Cleanse Detox Herbal Tea as it is intended. It contains 100% pure ingredients which is clearly outlined on the packaging and is also vegan. I love that the packaging is simple but contains all the information you need to know. There are clear instructions on the back of the packet explaining how much you need to use and how long to brew the tea for.

Will you be making these refreshing lollies this summer? Let me know what you think. Check out my other Indigo Herbs recipes if you get a moment, I have made Gingerbread Men, Banana Loaf, Tandoori Chicken and Energy Balls.

*I was provided with the items from Indigo Herbs free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

Bioglan Skinny Greens* - Review and Results

I have mentioned in a previous blog post that I am a Holland and Barrett Good Life Insider which means I sometimes get the opportunity to sample products which is great. I received this selection of Bioglan Skinny Green’s, available at Holland and Barrett and I couldn’t wait to try and review them after seeing Lucy Watson from Made in Chelsea post a photo of them on her Instagram.

Week 1 began with the Bioglan Skinny Greens Superfood 7 Day Cleanse RRP:£17.99. This is the smallest pot and contains 70g of the powder and a scoop to measure your 10g daily portion. The Skinny Greens aim to help you achieve the shape you want in a natural way. I have tried shakes and things before and to me it’s just empty or wasted calories so it’s great to hear that these aren’t a replacement, they are an addition to your lifestyle and this one contains only 25 calories a serving. This is step one in the three step regime and has been formulated with milk thistle and dandelion to naturally detox and cleanse your system over 7 days and prepare yourself for step 2.

The instructions advise to mix one scoop of the powder with 200ml of water and mix until dissolved. For best results it is advised to consume once a day before breakfast for 7 days. I mixed my first portion and was surprised at the bright green colour. I’ll be honest I really didn’t like the taste of it. It was sickly sweet with an odd aftertaste but I held my nose and gulped this down.  As this was before breakfast I was rather hungry and drinking this on an empty stomach made me feel a bit sick. I genuinely wondered if this was going to be worth it! By day 3 I was used to the taste and could down this in one without holding my nose or gagging. By the end week one, I hadn’t actually lost any weight but I did notice I had less bloating.

Week 2 began with the Bioglan Skinny Greens 14 Day Superfood Thermo Burn RRP:£24.99. As this was a 14 day cleanse I really hoped it tasted nicer than the last one! The flavour is described as citrus and aims to raise your bodies temperature and stimulate metabolism. I definitely noticed I was warmer, it was a welcomed change – I normally freeze in the office. The taste on the other hand was not pleasant. At least with step 1 I was able to down this, but due to the cayenne in this one I couldn’t drink it fast as it was rather spicy. It had a distinct orange taste but I could also taste cocoa. Once again this was to be taken before breakfast or before exercise for 2 weeks. I had a couple of nasty side effects with very little time to get to the toilet. I was at work, my stomach made the loudest rumble ever and I had to rush to the toilet when I exploded. This happened twice, around 4 hours after taking the drink. After about 4 days it was a lot more manageable and I thankfully had no more bad side effects but it did keep me regular, that’s all I’ll say! After 2 weeks on this shake I lost 1.5lbs. I was very happy with that because I ate so much in these 2 weeks due to having a hectic and busy social life with meals out and birthdays. Normally I would have gained weight but to lose made me feel chuffed.

I was told by other people using this that during step 2 you can incorporate some of the skinny greens for step 3 but one was enough! I decided to save step 3 for when it was time. When I got to week 4, it was time to move onto step 3 of the cleanse which lasts another 2 weeks. This is where I drank the Bioglan Skinny Greens 14 Day Superfood Replenish Shake Vanilla RRP £24.99 or the Bioglan Skinny Greens 14 Day Superfood Replenish Shake Mixed Berry RRP:£24.99 instead of a snack each day. The Vanilla flavoured shake smelled and tasted like Playdough. It was far too sweet for me and made me gag drinking it. With all of the drinks after a few days I got used to them but it wasn’t something I looked forward to. I will be honest I couldn’t finish it, the taste was just too much.

Overall at the end of the 6 weeks I had lost weight (around 5lbs) and inches despite eating loads as I had a hectic social schedule. I did continue to exercise throughout the 6 weeks. Usually I would have gained or maintained my weight eating this way but I was impressed that I still managed to lose throughout taking the Skinny Greens.  I imagine if taken with a healthy diet then this would product fantastic results but for me I just couldn’t stomach the taste and would definitely look to other ways if I wanted to lose weight.

Would you ever try Skinny Greens?

*I received these items from Holland and Barrett free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

January's Weight Progress Feat. Nutribuddy*

January is the month where I always try and get back on the straight and narrow with my diet and exercise. After an indulgent month in December I couldn’t wait to try and shift some of those pesky Christmas pounds that I piled on.

When I was contacted by Nutribuddy to try out an exciting range of natural sports supplements which aims to aid weight loss in a healthy way, I jumped at the chance and knew it would be the perfect addition to my January routine. I was kindly sent the Nutribuddy's Weight Loss Starter Kit which costs £69.99 and contains Sculpting Whey, Hunger Fix, Multivitamins and a Shaker bottle. Everything you need to kick start that weight loss. I received the chocolate flavour but there was also the option of vanilla. The pack also came with a handy weight loss guide packed full of recipes and a meal plan that you can follow alongside the Nutribuddy products. I like to think I eat fairly healthily anyway but loved adding some of these recipes to my diet which I think really helped to contribute to the results I got.

The Sculpting Whey comes in a 908g pouch and works best as a snack replacement. This whey based protein drink is made from the milk of free-range, grass fed GM-free cows. It also includes natural ingredients such as green tea and guarana to boost metabolism. I drank this mid-morning to replace the chocolate bar or packet of crisps that I would have usually grabbed. I mixed 30g of the whey with 300ml of water but you can also mix this with milk. I put this in my Nutribuddy shaker bottle which was the perfect addition to the essential pack I received as I don’t own a shaker. The more you shake the mix, the smoother it gets. I half expected it to taste artificial but the drink was actually really tasty and a pleasure. I did notice that it took the edge of my hunger too and I would happily replace my unhealthy snacks with this. The Sculpting Whey is suitable for vegetarians and contains 30 servings so will last you a month if taken once daily. At first I realised the scoop in the whey pouch was slightly too big for the bottle but Nutribuddy have now introduced a smaller scoop and are offering a £3 discount code to anyone who has the larger one. I think that’s great customer service and shows the company are really thinking about our needs.

I then received some Hunger Fix capsules are there to help reduce hunger cravings. I took 1 capsule just before each meal. You can take 2 if you need extra help but no more than 6 a day. The capsules need to be taken with a full glass of water. I am not sure if it’s the water that reduced my hunger cravings or the tablets but I definitely noticed a difference and found myself snacking less frequently than usual. The tablets takes up space in your stomach to help naturally suppress appetite. These capsules are suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

I also received the Nutribuddy Multivitamins which you only need to take once a day at any time that you can fit into your schedule. These are good for general health and wellbeing and whilst I didn’t notice any specific improvements I felt better and healthier overall which could contribute to taking these. There is enough tablets for 2 months and these are also suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

I added the Nutribuddy products to my diet straight after Christmas and continued for a total of 3 weeks alongside a healthy lifestyle and exercise regime and I am really impressed with my results. To see the types of food I ate during these 3 weeks, head over to my Instagram. I tracked the 2 things that are most important to my progress which were my weight and my waist circumference. I am trying to lose weight and tone up so by tracking these 2 elements I could really see the progress and I think the photos and results speak for themselves. After just 3 weeks I lost 7lbs and 2.5 inches from my waist. I was so impressed and could definitely see the difference in my waist in that it curved in more and my stomach bloating decreased rapidly. All from introducing Nutribuddy to my lifestyle!

When I showed my boyfriend my before photos he thought I was pushing my stomach out but that is genuine Christmas bloat! I can see my waist is already more defined from the before photos!

Starting stats:
Weight: 12 stone 5
Waist Measurement: 34"

Ending Stats:
Weight: 11 stone 12
Waist Measurement: 31.5"

I am happy with the range I received from Nutribuddy and recommend it to anyone wanting to aid and improve their weight loss. I feel more energetic, my clothes fit better and I have even noticed improvements in my skin and my hair. I am a happier person and this is only after 3 weeks. To see results so quickly from only making small adjustments is simply fantastic. I can’t wait to continue on my Nutribuddy journey and see what the future holds! To try the range for yourself, head over to the Nutribuddy website and chose your products now.

*I received these items free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way. This post contains affiliate links.

Cooking With Whey - Feat. Bulk Powders*

A few weeks ago now I was given the opportunity to try some products from Bulk Powders and create a delicious recipe that’s pretty much guilt free. Bulk Powders is the UK leader in high quality protein supplements, powders and food products. Head over to their website to find a huge range of products to match any training goal or lifestyle you may have. They pride their selves on high grade protein products and are passionate about effective training and clean eating. I was challenged to create a recipe so I created these amazing lemon meringue protein muffins which taste so good you wouldn’t even realise they are relatively healthy.

In my pack I received a bag of Pure Whey Protein  which is low in fat and Carbohydrates and great value for money. A 500g bag is just £8.99 containing 16 servings at just 56p a serving. It provides a quality protein source and is essential for anyone trying to build muscle. It comes in 18 flavours and I also received some sample packs of the Lemon Meringue Whey which was absolutely delicious when mixed as a shake. What I love about Bulk Powders is that you can buy sample ‘one serving’ sizes of all of the flavours for just 99p a sachet so if you’re not 100% sure if you’ll like it this is a great way to try before you commit to buying a larger bag.

The lemon meringue samples inspired me to create this recipe incorporating the ingredients sent to me by Bulk Powders. I also received a bottle of Liquid Egg Whites  which I used to make healthy meringues with. I love that this saves so much time and effort separating the eggs and these can even be stored at room temperature saving valuable fridge space. The egg whites contain only 1% carbohydrates and 0.5% fat meaning they are virtually pure protein and great for you. These are great for people who want to increase their protein consumption and help to grow that muscle mass.

If you’d like to make your very own protein cupcakes then read on.

Ingredients (Makes 4)

1 scoop Bulk Powders Pure Whey Protein 

½ teaspoon Baking Powder

2 tablespoons Liquid Egg Whites 

2 tablespoons Fat Free Natural Yoghurt

1 teaspoon Coconut Oil

Method

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees celcius and grease a muffin tin with a little bit of coconut oil on a tissue. Alternatively you can use paper cases as I have below.

Mix the protein powder and baking powder then add the egg whites and yoghurt. Mix well until you get a smooth consistency.
 

Spoon the batter into your muffin tins and bake for around 15 minutes until golden.

Top with protein meringues (recipe below).

For the meringues I simply whisked a cup of the liquid egg whites  with an electric whisk until they formed stiff peaks. I then folded in half a packet of the lemon meringue protein powder sample.

The mixture smelt delicious, I then popped a dollop of this onto a baking tray and put in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius for around half an hour until the mixture hardened into a meringue texture. I noticed that the meringues were tinted yellow, I think this is due to the protein powder. These were not like your conventional sugary meringue but tasted like a great alternative and went really well topped with the muffin and gave it that little bit of sweetness. You could even crumble the muffin and the meringue into a bowl of fat free yoghurt for a really tasty healthy treat.

If you’re interested in cooking with whey  and trying some recipes out yourself, head over to Bulk Powders – The Core  for many more recipes incorporating whey.

*I received these items from Bulk Powders free of charge in exchange for an honest review and to create a recipe. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way. Please see my disclaimer for more information.