Is Mother's Day later this year?  I'm sure last year it was much earlier in March.  Anyway I am very lucky to still have my lovely mum around and living quite close by so along with my two sisters we have a day out in London on the Friday, we are going to the theatre to see Stepping Out. (a dance musical starring Amanda Holden).  On Sunday I think it will be lunch at our local pub - always a joy not to cook.

So it is time to start thinking about some gifts (and give my own children some ideas (hints)!

First of all a spring scarf - what's not to love?  Using the code FIFTYANDFAB15 you can get 15% off scarves and other accessories at Sweet-Bea.

I'm totally in love with blush at the moment and this scarf is gorgeous!  I've just bought a new one from Marks & Spencer, I wonder if I can justify another one?!  Feathers and Pine Cones Pink Scarf £14.50.

And this is one my of recent purchases, looks great with navy and denim. Little Stars with Blue Print and Tassels £17.50.

And finally how gorgeous is this one?  Loving the pom poms!  Flowers in Coral and Ivory with Pom Poms £17.50.

​Next on my wish list is this lovely silver clutch bag from Mimi & Thomas.  I saw Donna at I Won't Wear Sludge Brown feature it on her Instagram during her recent holiday to Mexico. I can see this going perfectly with my summer dresses when we go to Kefalonia in July.

Photograph credit to Donna at I Won't Wear Sludge Brown - see her Instagram here.
Mimi & Thomas Luna Leather Pouch Wristlet - Silver £42.00.

Not on the High Street of course is a great website for gift ideas and my sister bought me a really pretty necklace from Jamie London with two charms, the initials of my two children.

But you can't beat a more personal gift and last year my daughter bought me a little book 'What I Love about Mum' and inside there were lots of prompts so you could personalise it, I love it!  Sadly it is out of stock on Not on the High Street but this is a similar idea.  Personalised Things I love about Mum print £18.00.
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I hope this has given you some ideas but most importantly go and make memories, spend time with your mum, as a mum myself there is nothing I love more than being with my children.

Love
Michelle xx
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This is an accountability announcement!  This is about post-Body Coach decisions!

After meeting with Alex, The Sports Nutritionist in January I thought I had my new plan sorted out.  See my post here.

But I continued to confuse myself with all the different options available, there are so many 'plans' online to help you 'get lean'.  I was still signed up to daily emails, Facebook pages and following Instagrammers.  Plus I log into my support group 'A big girls journey to lean' on Facebook every day and I follow all the different journeys on there.  I kept thinking that I was missing something, that maybe there was a better option for me - FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)!  My head was spinning with it all!

• Macro and calorie  track in MyFitnessPal or not?
• How many calories, every calculator told me something different?
• Plan vs no plan?
• Fat loss, weight loss, maintain, gain muscle?
• Join a gym, follow an exercise plan, go it alone?

I have so many recipe books, when I come to do my weekly meal plan, it takes ages as I need to find each recipe and remember where it is!

Clean Eating Alice (two books)
Joe Wicks (three books)
Kayla Itsines
Clean & Lean Diet
Davina's Sugar Free

When my Kayla book arrived I decided I really did have an addiction - it is so big and it was information overload.  I didn't need another recipe book!

Then there are the plans available ...

The Body Coach
Sustain Nutrition
Train Eat Gain
R H Fitness
Julia Buckley
Michael Matthews (via books)

These are only a few of the paid ones but there are so many free ones too.  I tried the Betty Rocker 30 day challenge.  It's great but did I really need to add in any more exercise and daily!?

Don't do as I do! Learn from my mistakes!

So a couple of weeks ago I met with Zac who has opened the new gym in Marlow that I enjoy going to. We had a long chat and he agreed with me - get rid of the information overload.  Simplify it! He has given me a 5-Point Simple Personal Plan and an Exercise Plan. I will continue to eat sensibly and track my weight and inches and adjust accordingly.

5-Point Simple Personal Plan

1. Drink the water
2. Eat regularly
3. Focus on intense exercise (heavy weights)
4. Good sleep and good routine
5. This is a long term plan not a quick fix

Exercise Plan

Monday - Full body weights workout with my PT/friend
Tuesday - Rest day
Wednesday - Full body weights workout at home as devised by Zac
Thursday - Rest day
Friday - Stamina class at Zac's Fitness
Saturday - Strength class at Zac's Fitness
Sunday - Rest day

​So that's it.  I will continue to get lean, to improve my fitness, to maintain my focus but I will not be tempted to confuse myself with all the other options.  I am lucky, I am naturally small, my weight gain was over a few years and was down to too much wine, peri-menopause and a lack of proper nutrition (like skipping lunch then filling up on biscuits). These habits are back under control.  Time to ramp up the exercise again!

On the 18th April I will celebrate 1 year since starting The Body Coach, 1 year on my learn journey.  That's less than two months.  I will reassess my progress then.

​Take a look at Zac's Fitness here.

Love
Michelle xx

I love a scarf, they finish off an outfit, add a bit of colour and keep me warm, even in the summer!

I rarely buy a new outfit without buying the scarf to go with it.  Consequently I have quite a huge collection and I am pretty bad at getting rid of them so I tend to recycle them - put some away and get some back out again.

I love Instagram and a few months ago I came across a great online scarf shop - Sweet Bea.  They have loads of choice in lots of different styles and fabrics.  And their prices are very sensible.  They offer free first class post and my orders always turn up the next day beautifully packaged.  I do occasionally splash out on a more expensive scarf but on the whole I tend to keep to about £20.

Their Instagram feed is full of stylish photos and ideas and their website is easy to use and the scarves are clearly displayed.

They also sell some really pretty jewellery.  

​Here is a small selection of some items that caught my eye on their website:
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So the exciting news is that I have managed to secure a fantastic 15% discount for my lovely Fifty & Fab readers.  Please go to the Sweet Bea website and use the code FIFTYANDFAB15 at checkout and this is valid until the end of March so don't delay.  And what great ideas for Mother's Day gifts.

​Prices range from about £12.50 through to £24.50 for a pashmina.

I have my eye on the rose gold bracelet ...

Love 
Michelle xx

Below I am wearing two new scarves from Sweet-Bea.  

This first one is navy and white stars with tassels, very 'spring' even if it has been wet all day today!  I am wearing it with a navy jumper from Marks & Spencer with frill details and my 7 for all Mankind jeans. 

Scarf from Sweet-Bea - £17.50 Little Stars with Blue Print and Tassels

This second outfit is a new charcoal grey scarf, again with stars on,.  I am wearing it with the same Marks & Spencer jumper but in a pale cream and my new grey jeans from Citizens of Humanity.  My animal print bag is from Brand Alley.

Scarf from Sweet-Bea - £14.50 Star Bright in Silver Print on Grey