I haven't done a healthy eating and exercise update for a while and with lockdown I think we have all been a bit tempted by homemade cakes, wine or a G&T or two.  So inevitably a few pounds might have been gained here and there.  I started off well with plans to exercise at least twice a week and daily walks.  Then the sun arrived, and my sun lounger was more tempting and the rose wine at 5 pm became an excellent idea.  But with lockdown easing and normality slowly returning I thought it was time for me to get back to some sort of healthy lifestyle!

Remember, it is important to live a life too.  To incorporate an 80/20 approach.  And to not beat yourself up about the occasional slip up or not doing enough exercise.  Stress is one of the biggest causes of weight gain!  So first of all relax (yeah I know, not easy).  Then the next thing to focus on is a CALORIE DEFICIT.  How ever you measure your food intake (logging calories, writing a diary, or just using common sense and portion control) you will not lose fat unless you are consuming less calories than you burn off.  So any of the fad diets work on this principle - keto, slimming world, low gluten, gluten free, healthy eating - they only work because they put you are in a calorie deficit.

For this post I am really highlighting the importance of small, sustainable changes and not a sudden effort to cut calories, stop eating carbs, give up alcohol and exercise five times a week.

Lockdown has meant we have all been coming up with new ways to socialise, to learn and to relax.  My friend last week was telling me about a wine tasting at home evening she had on zoom with her friends.  What a fabulous idea!  I was asked recently if I'd like to try out the service offered by The Wine List, of course I did, wine is my new friend during lockdown (don't judge me, a nice chilled glass of white in the garden with the sun shining reminds me of holidays)!

The Wine List is a new way to discover wine and learn new skills at the same time.  It is a monthly subscription service, and over 12 months you will learn all the principles for choosing and enjoying wine.  Every month you will be sent - two delicious and unusual bottles of wine, one wine principle and two tasting cards.  You do not need to commit to 12 months though - see later, the subscription can be cancelled at any time.

Have you ever been to Royal Ascot?  I went many many years ago, pre-children, I was working as a PA and had a last minute invitation to join the VIP guests the next day.  Queue panic to find a dress and hat.  I fortunately had a beautiful deep pink silk dress and a big hat ready to go ....!  It was really good fun but I have never been back and I really should put that right as Ascot isn't far from where we live.  Next week is Royal Ascot 2020, from Tuesday 16th June to Saturday 20th June.  But things are a bit different this year!

Hello, well what has it been, ten weeks?  I feel like my life now (the beginning of the end of the Covid19 lockdown) is so very different to my life at the start..  

We started with people panic buying loo roll and pasta (I didn't)!  Then realised there was absolutely no need to panic buy at all (I knew that).  We walked daily, spring cleaned the cupboards, reorganised rooms and planned decorating projects.  We rejoiced at having the family all together safe at home and felt excited about the money we'd save on not going out, not going shopping and not getting takeaways.

We started drinking at home again!  My tipple of choice during lockdown has been a nice chilled blush rose.  Then realised it isn't a good idea for the waist or sleep!

The weather has been surprisingly amazing, I am convinced the early heatwave was sent to us for a reason, was it down to less pollution or was it God's way of looking after us and encouraging us to stay at home?  It has felt like being on holiday, which hasn't been ideal for encouraging people to go back to work.