Good morning creatures! Can I tell you something very, very scary?
It’s November.
I for one have no idea where the year went. I felt like it was February and then all of a sudden I’m making plans with my friends to figure out who’s house we’re going to vomit in on New Year’s Eve. How time flies.
I really like to pre-plan things so I’ve decided to host a themed month on Smaggle this November. I’m going to start with health and fitness, simply because I quite idiotically and spontaneously signed up for The Michelle Bridges Twelve Week Body Transformation. I asked you guys on Facebook if you want to see weekly results and the answer was a resounding yes. Bloody sadists, the lot of you. So I thought it would be cool to round the whole thing out with extra posts about health and fitness and how to work positive changes into your busy lives with study, work, kids and all the other responsibilities that come with being an adult.
However, there is a catch.
It’s not going to be the same old boring crap that everyone writes about health and fitness. I love Gwyneth Paltrow but chicks who have cleaners, chefs, nannies and rock star husbands can’t tell me shit about getting fit and healthy. No one has the time to work out for three hours every morning in a human sized oxygen tank while their organic seaweed, grain-free porridge is being dehydrated. It’s just not for real people. Sorry Gwynnie.
So I’m launching 20 Days of No Bullshit Health and Fitness. It’s for people with real jobs who need real solutions.
I just need your help a little.
What are your biggest problems regarding your health and fitness?
Do you find it difficult to skip the pub and go to the gym? Do you struggle to make healthy meals that don’t cost as much as a new pair of shoes? Do you need to know where to get a decent bra to get your puppies tamed while slamming it on the treadmill? Do you need recipes for lunches that you can make the night before because you’re a train wreck in the morning? Do you need to know how to read food labels and make those little numbers in the white box haunt you forever?
Let me know in the comments below – what’s your biggest health problem that needs solving?
60 Comments
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My health and fitness problem is not getting completely bored with the whole thing. Also, if I don’t get at least a small sign that what I’m doing is working, I get completely discouraged. Discouraged working out is the worst.
I love that you’re doing this. I started making good, attainable changes about 2-3months ago when I began doing an arm workout three times a week and cardio five times a week. I’ve since upped the weight and, this week have added a leg workout on the weekdays I don’t do arms. Also, casually counting calories.
What’s great, and comforting, is that even though it’s nothing extreme, I’m noticing a difference. That little difference is giving me confidence and confidence helps me keep the ball rolling. I had to buy a belt for my jeans for the first time in 6 years, and I can feel the muscles firming in my arms.I’ve been reading your blog for YEARS and more than any other sentence before, one in this article made me realise, if I ever return to OZ, I would love to hang out. That sentence was this ” all of a sudden I’m making plans with my friends to figure out who’s house we’re going to vomit in on New Year’s Eve.”
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Author
Ha ha ha! It’s something only a fellow Aussie would truly understand! I’ve added all your suggestions to my list! 🙂
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This is going to sound really dumb. I’m pretty good at looking after myself in general. I cycle everywhere, do about half an hour of yoga every day, and eat vegetarian home-cooked meals most of the time.
However. I frequently teach night classes, meaning I get home late, exhausted, and ravenous. Because I’m self-employed my schedule is super-flexible, so I can cook stuff during the day and have it waiting for me at home.
The thing is, though — we don’t have a microwave! We’ll get one eventually, probably in January because we have to buy a fridge in January anyway and we’ll try to get a microwave thrown in for free. Until then, though… I need healthy veggie meals that can be heated up in a pot or in the oven, or can be slapped together in less than 10 minutes by a raving mad hungry person.
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I don’t have a microwave either! Mine exploded about a year ago and I never got around to replacing it. My advice would be making things that work well hot or cold (big salads with lentils/chickpeas or roast veggies etc) so you don’t always need to reheat them. Otherwise curries, soups & stir fries all reheat well in the pan, as does something like fried rice if you cook the rice in advance and chop the veggies – you can throw it all in the pan, add an egg and be done in under 10 minutes. Hope that helps (and sorry to just jump in!)
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Go for it! That’s what the comments are for!
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Oh cool idea! Great challenge!
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I lost 10kg over the last few months, then the last two months I hit plateau and I’m struggling to maintain that weight loss – some weeks I’m starting to creep back up, then I’ll lose a smidge, then it’s back up again …
I’ve lost some of the motivation, but what I’m really struggling with is sticking to 1500 calories. I signed up for the 12WBT after you mentioned it, and was mortified to see that she’s actually recommending I should be on 1200 calories. WHAAAAAT. I just don’t know how to eat that little – 1500 was a struggle! How do I eat three meals and a couple of inbetween snacks and stay under 1200 calories? My work out is fine (I’ve got a PT and I’m at the training studio 5 days a week under relative supervision so I know my exercise routine is all good) … it’s just this food business!
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Oh well done! Go you! Can we be friends on that?? Is that a thing?
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I gave up sugar and refined carbs at seventeen but I cannot seem to shake the salt and fat thing. I have PCOS so I have to work extra hard to keep at a “normal” weight, whatever the hell that is, but lately the whole “fourteen hour day” thing has led to a lack of discipline and a whole lot of frustration.
The thing is though Carly everything you can do I can do better, so I’m looking forward to seeing your progress <3-
Ha! Excellent! Nothing like instilling a bit of healthy competition!
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WINE. Wine is my problem. I can’t ditch the evening vino and it’s empty empty empty (soothing) calories that sit right on my gut. Help.
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Oh my lord. Wine. That is why I started with this.
http://smaggle.wpengine.com/2013/11/04/the-charlie-sheen-guide-to-cutting-back-on-alcohol/
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Ugh, I completely agree about the Gwenyth thing, I feel the same about those ‘you have the same hours in the day as Beyonce’ photos that have been circulating recently. Sure, technically I do, but I have a lot less flexibility in my day (and a lot more cooking/cleaning!) than she does
Anyway, love the idea of a month of health and fitness posts! I’m about to sign up to a twice-weekly boot camp for 6 weeks, so this is very timely for me! Motivation to exercise is my biggest problem – I need a schedule and someone to be accountable to!-
Oh excellent! Good on you!
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Go Smags! I’ve been doing my own little thing on the fitness front since August and loving it. I can’t do hard core training on account of my Hashimotos but I’ve found a great balance between walking, yoga and a home-based strength training routine. Can’t tell you how much I’ve lost as the batteries in the scales were broken and I decided it was a sign … to not live my life by a number but how I feel. And I feel good. x
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You look good too! x
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I’ve just started Lite N Easy. I have a family wedding in a month and I am not being the fattest one there!! I would love all of these options as well as how to introduce different foods into my life! I’m such a picky eater and hate some textures, i will not eat muesli… that thick gluggy mess turns my stomach.
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Oh good one!
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SUGAR! I LOVE TREATS ALL OF THEM. Last week I worked out flat out but lost no weight. I feel awesome but sometimes find it disappointing that I can be so frustrated when I see no ‘kg’ change. Ya know?
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Totally! On it.
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Haha I love that bear 🙂 Mine in order of importance are probably:
1. Meal/Lunch ideas
2. (1a?) – Lunches that can be made the night before or frozen
3. Workout ideas. I’m good on all the basic moves, weight machines etc, it’s just putting a sequence together that mixes things up.-
Excellent!
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I need to get over my obsession about bad food. Like I just think about junk food all the time. Especially when I watch TV and stuff, I just really want to gorge on bad food, not just one little thing it must be a GORGE FEST! Maybe you can give some suggestions for that (hopefully not just “eat carrot sticks instead!”) 😉
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Awesome! Ways To a Avoid a Junk Food Binge Fest. On it.
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I’m traveling abroad. How can I excersise while still fitting in sightseeing, tasting local delicacies and things like that?? They say that people get fat on holiday and I surely did when I spent a week in Osaka. The food is so goooooid.
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enter fun runs abroad! I did the british 10km, took a camera along and it was potentially the highlight of the trip!
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run around looking at everything in the morning. just go wherever you like. dont plan it. then use your phone to find your way back!
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I second the advice below! 🙂
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Yes, yes, yes, yes and yes please.
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XXX
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TIME! I know everyone says it but I don’t have a license or good public transport , go to high school, and work four weeknights and both weekend nights. When I get home from work I’m tired plus I have 2+ hours of homework. Tough love or what, I need help xx
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Sweet on it!
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The moment I get hungry I immediately crave unhealthy food – and I often eat way past I’m full. I love actually exercising but diet really holds me back.
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I’m pretty terribly like that too!
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Well I know that post is supposed to be serious but you made me laugh so much (love the bear). For me, I have a time & logistics problem. 3 kids in a crèche that only operates in restricted times. Which means $30 for the kids, then plus $10-15 per gym class itself-not going to happen. Hubby works long hours & commutes for work so my babysitter is not regularly available. I would ideally like to exercise 3-4 week. I currently walk the kids to school but it is hardly ground- breaking. I will be definitely taking note of your 20 days of no bullshit exercise regime. Need snack ideas as well for the 3 pm suger slump Best of luck xx
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Oh it wasn’t supposed to be THAT serious! 🙂
Noted!
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Here’s a few tips on how to avoid the office lolly jar! http://smaggle.wpengine.com/2013/11/06/5-tips-to-help-you-keep-your-hands-out-of-the-office-lolly-jar/
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I have started a new desk job 6 weeks ago and there is a lolly jar at work and I can’t leave it alone! I love lollies!
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Oh good one!
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Food addiction: I eat healthy but spoil it all with the huge amount of solid and liquid chocolate I ingest.
As for sports bras, I highly recommend Freya Active and Panache Sports: not only do they give amazing support, they come in a huge size range and won’t break the bank.
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Oh cool! Thanks for the rec!
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Yay! I’m so glad you’re doing this.
I’ve got the food thing down pat. I’ve been hardcore eating clean for a while now and it’s become fairly easy. However, I hate to work out. Like, HATE. I’m not lazy, I swear. I just get so bored working out. I’ll even switch it up with treadmill, elliptical, kickboxing, zumba, every Jillian Michael’s DVD in existence, and still I can’t stand it for more than a couple of days in a row. I’ll get myself all pumped up, put on my sexy sleek workout clothes, and then after about 15 minutes into my workout, I’ll find myself trying to find an excuse to stop then practice self loathing while pinteresting for the rest of the night. Ugh.-
Hear ya! Working on it!
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Last minute takeaway and restaurant food swaps!!!
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Done!
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Cakes, cream, cheese, mornay – love it. These things are growing around my middle and my back fat. I used to be able to eat anything but now into late forties this has now become a ‘growing’ problem. I find little joy in a salad or beans.
I also I hate exercise. I join gyms and find any excuse not to go, I hate classes with someone shouting at me while I’m wishing I was home on the couch watching TV. I do exercise but I know a hard hour long walk twice a week is not going to lose the weight if I go home and pig out on macaroni cheese. I need something fun and rewarding that can also strengthen my aging bones and get rid of my muffin top. Help!
(Love the bear, probably the only thing that would make me run!)-
Ha! I thought the non-exercisers of the group would appreciate that!
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Oooh, this is good. You’ve touched quite a lot of questions in the list up there (bras and lunches especially), but my current very pressing one is how to best balance your diet when what you can afford is mostly cheap carbs, ergo not balanced. Like a sack of potatoes and a gallon of veggie oil, and a few packs of ramen and maybe a few carrots, and just work from there. (I’m exaggerating, but only in terms of how much I can buy, not what.) Potato really isn’t a bad vegetable, but when it comes to fat burning and muscle building it can become a little tricky. So yes, Gwyneth’s advice flies by unnoticed.
And, I suppose to extrapolate on the above, cheap fitness. That would be body weight exercises, I figure, with props like chairs and a mop (yay fit bar).
Also, I would really love to start running, but, short of stumbling upon a bear for natural progress, I don’t quite know what to do. All beginners programmes I tried are too advanced for me (or maybe I’m a wuss). I know you’re a runner, so how did you upgrade from walking to walking really fast to running? I’m somewhere between walking and walking fast, and I can’t get to very fast to running phase.
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How’s Cheap, Easy and Heathy Meals?
How to exercise without spending a cent?
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Excellent. <3
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I do great during the week – but the weekends always kill me. We eat out, we are taking the kids to fun places (with bad food). My will power goes out the window on the weekends, and I can’t lose weight this way. ALSO – PMS!! PMS gets me off track for at least a week every month. No bueno. 🙁
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So How to Keep Up Your Motivation on The Weekends?
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Stress management and quick lunches for someone who’s not meant to have bread (CFS means limiting carbohydrates) and is allergic to seafood. The easy bit is I only go into the office one day a week, so I’ve got proper kitchen to work with.
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Oh cool! Easy low carb lunches. Gotcha!
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One of the staples at the moment – steamed asparagus, crumbled feta and balsamic glaze. Food of the gods!
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I think one of the hard things is cooking for two when the other person’s food taste isn’t as varied as yours or isn’t happy with the idea of a salad for dinner etc. So trying to eat healthy as a couple is always a tricky one. And I think just getting started and sticking with it. Once I’ve formed a habit, I’m okay, but it’s hard to get back on the horse and continue.
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oh gods, yes. Best Beloved doesn’t do fruit in main courses (no more tagines or a good half of the European cuisines) and he likes a more substantial and meaty meal.
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I snack. It wouldn’t be such a bad thing if I was eating smaller meals with it, but I’m not. So I’m eating regular, semi-healthy meals and snacking inbetween.
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I totally loved this post Carly. I laughed so hard for so long I nearly spat out my soy flat white. Not really, I don’t drink that stuff. Long black all the way. Anyways, hot drink debate aside – the biggest problems I faced until recently were: an unbridled addiction to all things bread + bakeries, finding the ‘motivation’ to exercise, working out what good nutrition is and lastly battling with my mind to stop comparing myself to other ‘fit’ looking people. I guess in a nutshell – learning to prioritise my own needs.
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