Be Your Own Healthy

26/08/2021

I haven't posted for a while - to be honest I’ve been too busy working!!! Creative Chefs (the children's cooking side of the business) has been taking up loads of my time recently and I’ve slipped into old habits, grabbing what's available and not putting the time into the weekly shop to really think what to eat.
Ive been grabbing convenience foods and although it gives me a short sharp boost of energy it doesn't last and I find myself in a never ending cycle of energy highs and lows and endless snacking.

When I get busy I forget about my self-care, what I eat really effects how I feel. For me sugar is the trigger, it upsets my hormones and completely unbalances me.

It's OK though, gone are the days when I fret about what to do and demonise food leaving me feeling even more tired not only from lack of nutritious food but exhausted mentally from beating myself up.

I have my plan, I know what to do and I’ll get back on track. Simple!
Everyone is different and knowing your body and how food works in it is so empowering.

Be Your Own version of Healthy. xx

17/03/2021

Ive been reevaluating my food intake. I shy away from saying "diet" as it has so many bad connotations. When someone mentions diet I turn off.

In the last month I've lost 10lbs of lock down weight.
How?
I've been calorie counting, keeping a food diary and eating a paleo diet.

Paleo - Eat like a caveman if you can't pick it, dig it or catch it then don't eat it.

Disclaimer...eating like a caveman doesn't mean you turn into looking like one although with the hairdressers closed....🍽️ 🤣

02/02/2021

Laughing is a great stress buster.

In these strange times we are all possibly loosing our sense of humour (coupled with the pressures of home schooling and or working).

I like to find pod casts and listen to them on my daily exercise. I usually choose ones that make me laugh and there are hundreds out there.

One of my favourites is Lock down parenting hell from Rob Becket and Josh Widdicombe. If you haven't heard it give it a try.

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/rob-beckett-and-josh-widdicombes-lockdown-parenting-hell/id1510251497

Remember stress causing weight gain or hinders your chances of loosing weight.

‎Comedy · 2021

29/01/2021

Research shows hat being happy is a good tool for weight loss.

During these very hard times we are all juggling whether that be home schooling, family, work, no work, there are many challenges.

Stress causes elevated levels of cortisol in the body which in turn effects the levels of insulin.
Our body can only hold a certain amount of insulin so will change it into fat.

Stress can also cause us to comfort eat.

Quick natural combats for stress:

Go outside.
Doesn't have to be a massive walk, sit on the front door step look at the sky, breath deeply. Take 5 mins to connect with the world.
Research shows that looking at the sky taps into our sense of "awe"
which is incredibly grounding.

Listen to music:
Pop on some music (only needs to be 1 track) something which reminds you of a time when things were a bit more "normal" go to
your happy place.

Drink water
Everyone should be drinking about 2 litres per day. An ice cold glass of water does wonders.

Reach for some fresh fruit:
Chew mindfully, take a moment to realise the taste and smell. Takes your mind off of the immediate stress.

Mindful Colouring
Have a book handy and a pen and either doodle for 5 mins or do some colouring.

Reading
Have a book handy which makes you laugh. This will need some research and needs some planning.
Actually immersing yourself in any book helps.

Digital Detox
Turn off the phone, walk away from the screen.

I hope that something works for you. Dealing with stress doesn't have to be a massive project, just some short, sharp, regular maintenance hacks.

(picture from freepik)

10/09/2020

New term of cooking sessions for the kids. Sit back ad let your little chefs and I take care of tea!

Please click the link to complete this form.

05/07/2020

Really interesting article from Tim Spector of Kings College London.

In the largest ongoing nutritional study of its kind, we found some people handle carbs better than fat, for example, while others have the opposite response

03/07/2020

Check out my 5 ways to lose that lock down weight safely:

1. Drink plenty of water. NHS recommends 1.2 litres a day (that's about 8 glasses)

2. Try and keep to a whole food diet. I use this rule of thumb:
If you cant dig the food up, pick it off the tree or hunt / catch it don't eat it!

3. Eat plenty of fruit and veg.
This food group should make up 40% of your plate.
Try to eat more veg than fruit because of the sugar content.

4. If you are going to drink alcohol then keep to white spirits. Gin and vodka have less calories than wine. Mix with fizzy water or slim line tonic.

5. Remember fad diets don't work.
In fact they can make you feel very unwell and unable to function properly and actually are mostly ineffective.
"People can lose weight very quickly initially, but soon get fed up and return to old eating habits, and end up putting the weight back on" NHS.

02/07/2020

I've over indulged during lock down so who wants to get back in shape with me?

To launch my new healthy eating plan I've created a new recipe.
Choc & Nut Cookies beautifully sweet and indulgent but free from refined sugar.

These cookies are super transportable too so great for

Enjoy!

Equipment
Nutribullet or any other mixer
Baking tray
Grease proof paper

Ingredients:
1 handful of dried fruit (I used cranberries)
1 handful of hazel nuts (any will be fine)
2 tablespoon maple syrup
2 tablespoons cacao powder
2 tablespoons buckwheat flour (plain wholemeal will be fine too)
2 tablespoons warm water (for loosening the mixture optional)

Method:
Heat the oven to 180
Pop all the ingredients in the Nutribullet
Blitz together
Form into small balls (golf ball size), pop on the grease proof paper
Flatten with the back of a spoon
Cook for 15 - 20 mins
Leave to cool for 10 mins
Enjoy!

01/07/2020

Maple syrup in celebration of is a great alternative to refined sugar.

Refined sugar (the white stuff) releases into the blood stream really quickly leaving you with those highs (and lows).

Using less refined sources of sweetener means you are releasing energy slower and therefore feeling fuller for longer.

Alternatives to sugar:
Maple Syrup
Coconut sugar
Xylitol (fromt he beech tree sap)
Pureed fruit

30/06/2020

Haven't posted for a while but I've been busy behind the scenes putting together some new, lovely, healthy recipes.

Lots of hints, tips and short cuts to loosing that lock down weight. (I know I need it!)

02/03/2020

Really thrilled to be part hosting this.
Follow the link to book your place.

THE MOMENT YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR....

I am so excited to be able to cook for you all - join me & the lovely Angie from Be Your Own Healthy!!

A huge thanks to Kim who will be on the hobs, Bamboo Turtle for allowing us to host in their brand new shop, Claytons Family Butchers & Caterers Jo's Loaves CookeryEatery & Zero Waste Party Supplies for their donations of food & equipment! Also a list of friends/family giving up their slow cookers for the night 😂

LIMITED SPACES - BOOK NOW USING CODE - TICKET
https://www.seasonsfruitandveg.co.uk/webshop/seasons-socials/

ALL PROFITS FROM THE EVENING WILL BE DONATED TO Feed Up Warm Up

24/02/2020

Great idea