Back to exercise and eating well ....

Back in January I wrote about taking a break from any formal exercise, I'd had a very busy time and been struggling to get my hormones balanced with perimenopause so I was feeling rather overwhelmed and decided I needed to be a bit kinder to myself.  It was just what I needed.  It gave me time to catch up with other projects, time to allow the new HRT regime to start working and time to just relax a bit.

About eight weeks ago the time felt right to get back to some sort of structure with exercise and eating.  We'd had a fun but full on alcohol and eating weekend away in Krakow.  I looked in the diary and knew I had early holidays coming up - South of France and Turkey in June.  I felt back to my normal self, I had more energy and more enthusiasm (see my HRT post here).

All workout gear from Sweaty Betty (previous seasons)

But one thing I really hate doing now is being 'on a plan' or 'on a diet' or having to refuse certain food groups etc etc.  It really frustrates me when I read those words or hear someone say them.  We can eat normally!  Just make sure you have a calorie deficit, move more and don't be silly with things like alcohol, sugar etc (make your calories count).  I tend to say now - is it worth it - is it worth using up my precious calories to eat a whole chocolate bar - usually the answer is no.  But sometimes the answer is yes - like a glass of wine or two with a friend in the sunshine in London!

I had all my measurements done and the break hadn't done too much damage and I am now back to doing a couple of workouts per week, one in the gym and another one in my home gym.  I mostly lift weights and then add in some walking.  

Food wise I log my food on some days just to monitor portion sizes but mostly I know what I can have.  For food logging I use the NutraCheck app (so much easier than My Fitness Pal).  I eat the same meals as my family but with small adjustments like less carbs or extra veg and I make sure my portion sizes are right and I don't over eat.  I make sure I keep my protein up and snack on protein balls if I need something.  I don't drink much alcohol these days, I like to save that for when it is really enjoyable, like socialising with friends in the sunshine.

And a big mention for the effect stress has on our weight - I removed as much stress from my life as I could during these weeks off exercise, I didn't watch too much what I was eating and I drank alcohol - I should have gained weight / fat - but I didn't I stayed about the same.  Too much stress is a big contributor to midlife weight gain and this was an interesting experiment for me.  I reduced the stress and I felt healthier and slimmer without doing any formal diet or exercise.

Doing The Body Coach then the fantastic education with the 80/20 Lifestyle Plan has really helped me understand what I need to do - and it is not obsess over it or change my life dramatically.  Okay I am small anyway but it does mean that when I gain a bit of weight I feel it straight away!

Finally, my other top tip!  Get a spray tan, either at home (I use St Moriz) or at a salon and keep it up over the summer months.  I feel so much more confident with a tan than I do if I am pasty white.

I'm excited about wearing my bikini's and my summer dresses on holiday in two weeks time - look out for my next post about my packing choices for two weeks in the sun!

Love 
Michelle xx

You can read my previous post about my health and fitness here - I go into more detail about stress and share some useful weight loss tips!

My shirt dress is from Sosdandar last year - tip with them, size down! My red espadrilles are from Cara.

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