Charmed By Life | Other
Charmed By Life
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25.01.2022 I love clothes. For years I was the friend who my friends asked to shop with them, as Id encourage them to try something new, and generally theyd love it. Unfortunately the same didnt apply to me. Plus sized clothes were always hit and miss, and I generally bought what "fit and didnt look terrible" as opposed to what made me feel amazing. As I get closer to my healthy weight range, Ive started saving for a new wardrobe. Right now Kmart, Target and ancient outfits ...from my past are getting me through, but soon Im going to actually go and buy beautiful new outfits that I know will last me for years. Yesterday I got to catch up with my friend Ashley, who owns a fantastic online clothing store www.ichooseme.com.au. I adore her style, and apparently Ill reach my goal at about the same time next seasons fashions are coming out. Can anyone say EXCITED!!!! #notanadvertjustafan
24.01.2022 Hi guys, I know a lot of you messaged me about that beautiful pink knit top I was wearing in a recent post... looks like its back in stock and theres even a special code for 15% off using "IOW15". Youre welcome! #notanadjustafan https://ichooseme.com.au//knitwe/products/zoe-knit-in-rose
22.01.2022 Ive been making a real effort to get to 10K steps every day for my sanity sake, and thankfully have beautiful bush tracks right behind my house. Still cant quite believe that Im prepared to leave my house wearing lycra!
22.01.2022 Food prep done for the week...salad veggies all measured out, with blanched broccoli and cauliflower, sliced mushrooms and red onion, shredded carrot and cabbage, and finished with mixed greens. Cauliflower rice and shredded cabbage all ready for cooking through the week, and breakfast grains measured, ready to go. It takes a bit of effort, but is SO worth it!
22.01.2022 So this happened today! Every other time I got work clothing it was size L, XL or XXL. I never imagined Id fit a Small. Just give me a sec while I pick myself up off the floor!!! Seriously, the past 12 months of no sugar, no flour, three meals a day and weighed/measured portions have been transformational in so many ways. Most profoundly in that Ive transformed my relationship with food. That is priceless.
22.01.2022 Today I got to wear one of my favourite new tops, courtesy of my dear friend Ashley and her fantastic clothing store, I Choose Me (www.ichooseme.com.au). So soft and comfy, and it matches my favourite pink docs!!! Ive already given Ash a heads-up that when I get to my goal body, Im enlisting her help as a personal stylist. So much fun ahead!
21.01.2022 Ok, so I know I'm not the only crazy cat person here, but this is a WHOLE 'nother level!!!! (Yes, it's a real estate listing. You'll see why it's had over 3M views!)
21.01.2022 #foodprep And here is where food prepping comes in super handy... a delicious, healthy lunch in minutes! If you want the #recipe, check out yesterdays post .
21.01.2022 Hello my lovelies - Im getting lots of questions around Bright Line Eating, what and how, etc. Do I cheat? Why has this one been different? How do I stay on track? The best answer I can give is that I stay on track because I realise Im addicted to sugar and flour, and one bite is too much, and a thousand is never enough. So I just dont go there, and that gives me ENORMOUS peace. "None is easier than some". That is my mantra.... If you want to know more about this approach, theres an awesome vlog which really helped shape my thinking. Hugs and sparkles!
20.01.2022 Breakfast makes me so happy every day. Its the simple things!
20.01.2022 I almost never eat meat, so always carry a little container with 2oz nuts in my handbag as backup protein option. I was out for lunch today and ordered a salad with tofu, which came out (unexpectedly) crumbed with flour. No drama, just gave the tofu to my colleague and used my nuts instead. Such a simple thing to do and delicious!
20.01.2022 Oh I love this little face...
18.01.2022 Aww... Leo sleeps snuggled into me, and its the sweetest thing!
17.01.2022 He really is fascinated!!!
17.01.2022 Not sure who else loves brussel sprouts, but oh my goodness, these are delicious!!!
17.01.2022 So my legs are a little sore tonight, but it was such a beautiful walk that its worth it!
15.01.2022 Two different looks today, special for different reasons. I bought the green twinset on a girls shopping trip to New York over 15 years ago. Ive pretty much not fit in it since then, but loved it so I stored it away. And today it saw the light of day again! The second is another old top, which I wore out for a lovely long walk today, after some great encouragement from you guys this week.... Times they are achanging!
15.01.2022 I was doing my grocery shopping today, and reflecting on not only the different things I buy, but also that I don't throw food away anymore because of how I do my food planning and prep. Handy #tips post... here's a sample of what's often on my grocery list: Veggies: broccoli, cauliflower, red or green cabbage, mushrooms, red onions, salad greens, carrots, cucumber, asparagus, kale ... Fruit: apples, oranges, berries (occasionally bananas) Cold section: tofu, coconut yoghurt, frozen berries, hummus Various: rolled oats, chia seeds, flax seeds, quinoa, soy milk, coconut milk, chilli paste, Thai curry paste, olive oil, sesame oil, low sodium soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, chick peas, canned beans So you can see, there are lots of options!
14.01.2022 Life is so different these days. I have habits deeply ingrained around my food which help me stay on track, like Sunday food prep. I run Netflix on my laptop while I chop, measure and portion out my breakfast and lunches for the week. That means that each day I just need to add the soy milk and fruit to make overnight oats, and hummus, vinegar and oil for my lunch salads. The little bit of time every Sunday is well worth it for how easy it makes it through the week! My how times have changed. I can say without reservation that this is one of the most important things I do every week. #healthyhabits
13.01.2022 Who else is happily trapped tonight?
13.01.2022 Breakfast prepped for the week (quantities are per serving)... lightly steamed apple (6oz), topped with 1oz nuts and rolled oats (1oz dry cooked in 5oz water). Each morning I pop a serving into a microwave bowl, warm slightly and add 1.5oz coconut yoghurt. So yummy. note: 1oz = 30g
13.01.2022 Who said veggies had to be boring?!? Adding a dollop of hummus adds both protein AND flavour. I get a big tub from Aldi, makes it even easier!!!
12.01.2022 Size. 10. Jeans. Well blow me over with a feather!!! The last time I was this size, I was doing a 700cal per day liquid diet. This was my lunch today... a huge kale and hummus salad and a naschi pear. I like this lifestyle WAY more!!!... Not going any smaller sizewise, now its about body composition and swapping fat for muscle. After a year of minimal exercise, its time to start moving. Who is into yoga? Any favourite websites or YouTubers?
12.01.2022 This has to be one of my favourite meals ever. Oats, berries, nuts and coconut yoghurt. Delish AND healthy!
10.01.2022 So this happened... #leggings #areyoukiddingme
09.01.2022 Continuing the theme on #foodprep and #recipes, lets go to my weekday lunch staple, Hummus Salad. PREP Every Sunday, grab five containers (I use the ones below from Kmart) and into each one, add 10oz of whatever chopped salad veg you like. Put the wetter ones (eg. tomatoes, cucumbers) at the bottom, then add the dryer ones above that (eg. chopped mushrooms, cabbage and carrots) then top with greens.... My personal go-to mix is chopped red onion, red cabbage, green cabbage, mushrooms, massaged kale and baby spinach, but use whatever you like. Go easy on corn, its higher sugar, and I tend to run everything except the greens through my food processors slicing blade to speed the chopping up. Then close them up and refigerate ready for the week. DAILY At lunchtime, get a BIG salad bowl, and add: 4oz/120g hummus (you can make your own, or I use the big 1kg container from Aldi) 3 tbsp vinegar (any type, I use apple cider vinegar) A fat serving - either 1tbsp olive oil, or/ 0.5oz/15g nuts & Seeds, or/ 2oz/60g avocado or olives Mix these until runny, then add the salad veg, mix well (I use a big pair of tongs) and enjoy. Ive eaten this as my weekday lunch for over a year and still ADORE it. It tastes delicious, is full of nutrients, has a great balance of protein (hummus) and fat, and is super filling. CONTAINERS: I use these ones from Kmart https://www.kmart.com.au/prod/1.1l-dry-food-storage/1517804
08.01.2022 OK, lots of you have been asking about #foodprep and #recipes so here you go. Lets start with breakfast and my weekday staple, Overnight Oats. PREP Every Sunday, grab five containers (I use these little jars from IKEA) and into each one, add the following:... 1oz/30g traditional rolled oats (not the quick cook ones) 0.5oz/15g ground flax seeds 0.5oz/15g ground chia seeds pinch of cinnamon (to taste) Then close them up and store ready for the week. NIGHTLY Grab one of the jars each night, and prepare breakfast for the next day. Add to the jar the following then throw in the fridge overnight: 1/4cup (2oz) water 1/2 cup (4oz) milk of your choice - I use soy 6oz/180g fruit of your choice (I prefer frozen berries and/or chopped apples. Bananas are higher sugar so slow weight loss if thats your goal) Thats it. So easy to grab and enjoy every morning! JARS: I use these ones https://www.ikea.com//korken-jar-with-lid-clear-glass-002/
08.01.2022 My favourite way to start the weekend! (#recipe in last nights post!)
08.01.2022 Wanna know something crazy? These are size 10 jeans. Ten. When I started eating this way, I was about a size 24. I wore skirts most of the time because I hated how I looked in trousers of any kind. So being able to throw on a pair of jeans and feel great in them is such a lovely feeling. ... I've also slowly glided to around 72kgs, which means it's almost time to add some more food to my plan! How it works is that once you get at or close to your goal, you start increasing quantities etc, so that you slow your weight loss and gently "land the plane". That said, I've just been to the dentist again (thus the Mona Lisa smile) so it's still soft foods for a bit!
06.01.2022 Who else has ever seen something cute on sale, which doesnt actually fit, but its a cracking deal and so you buy it and stick it in the wardrobe and say "Ill get into that soon"... and then its ten years later and its still packed away? So, this is that dress! Today is the first time Ive worn it, and it feels fantastic! One of my colleagues told me I looked very put together (I believe the exact phrase was "you look like a TV news anchor!") but she didnt see the leggings and fluffy socks I paired it with to keep me warm. Happy dance time!
06.01.2022 Such a lovely flavour experiment... using some blanched broccoli and cauliflower in my usual hummus salad for lunch today. Super easy - while I was doing my food prep on Sunday, I boiled water then added the broccoli and cauliflower florets for about 3 mins. My attempt to dunk them in ice water didnt work too well, but running them under the cold tap for a minute did! Im a big fan... it tasted amazing today, and the texture was perfect... soft enough but still crunchy.... Plus its full of fibre, antioxidants, vitamin C and a good whack of protein. Definitely one to repeat! Ps. Dont try this with brussel sprouts I learned that the hard way!
06.01.2022 Who else has a habit of buying the same outfit in different patterns or colours? On a whim I bought this dress from Amazon, and loved the style so much I now own it in three variations! Bonus points, it looks amazing with ugg boots when I'm working from home...
05.01.2022 So this happened today.. I passed the 70kgs lost mark. . Thats another human being. Thats a two-seater IKEA sofa. Thats a shedload less risk of heart disease, cancer and a raft of other weight related issues.... Thats what no sugar or flour, three meals a day and weighed/measured quantities has done over the past 15 months. I cannot even begin to describe how Im feeling right now! Thank you for your love and support as Ive been searching for my path over the past years... EDIT: Thank you for all the support, and Im seeing lots of questions, so quick edit with more info. Q: What did I do? A: I read (and followed the food plan) in https://amzn.to/3gLcJ52. Then I did their online bootcamp (message me if you want more details or my discount code) Q: How many calories do you eat? A: I have no idea. I follow the food plan in the book, which gives you broad strokes (eg. breakfast is 1 grain, 1 fruit and 1 protein serving) and then you choose from the list of options (eg. 1 fruit serving could be 1 banana or 6oz berries, 1 protein could be 8oz milk or 2 oz nuts). Q: How much exercise did you do? A: For the first 50-60kgs,... none. Just the standard moving around of daily living, but the key here is not to deplete willpower by trying to focus on the idea of "I have to go to the gym, I have to move" etc. Instead youre focusing your (finite) willpower on the food. Food is the key. I have only been doing 10K steps per day for a couple of weeks now. Q: How do you feel? A: BLOODY INCREDIBLE!!!!
04.01.2022 Tonights dinner, veggies and nuts. Super easy and tasty. #recipe
04.01.2022 Leo decided to join me for yoga today, but he wants to know why its downward dog, not downward cat? Apparently he needs to improve his stretching...
04.01.2022 Happy FriYAY everyone!
04.01.2022 Weekend breakfast #foodprep done, with an extra one done for Monday! I cook up 1oz/30g traditional rolled oats with 5oz/150g water (per serving) plus a pinch of cinnamon. While thats cooking, portion 6oz/180g frozen berries into each jar. Top with the cooked oats, cool and pop in the fridge. In the morning, transfer to a microwave proof bowl and reheat for 40 seconds, stir, and heat a second 40 seconds. Top with 1oz/30g nuts and either 4oz/120g dairy yoghurt or 1.5oz.../45g coconut yoghurt (higher fat option). So ridiculously delicious! #recipe
03.01.2022 I make dinner fresh every night, so here is tonights Thai Tofu Curry. The only prep I do is to cook up a whole packet of tofu in one go (airfryer 180C for 12 mins), use a third for this meal and put the extra two servings in the fridge for the next time. This is one of my all-time favourites!!!
02.01.2022 Its fun when an experiment works! Lightly steamed brussel sprouts plus cauliflower, finished in the airfryer until crisp on the outside. Topped with hummus and nuts, and finished up with an apple. Absolutely delicious.
01.01.2022 Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together. - Vincent van Gogh These photos were day 1 of bright line eating, and yesterday. Clothes shopping used to be something I did very rarely, because it was so depressing. My choices were severely limited, and I never liked how anything looked on me. Thats why its such a delight to look in the mirror and actually like what I see!... Im often asked what I do, and it looks like this. To start with, I learned. I read the book (https://amzn.to/3bCFm3m) and decided to do the 8 week online bootcamp, to really embed the learning and habits (awesome course, message me your email address if you want my discount code). Then: 1. Every day I plan my food for the day ahead three meals, no snacks 2. Every day I eat what I planned with no sugar or flour, but lots of veggies, good fats and protein 3. Rinse and repeat Thats it. No magic formulas, just doing the same thing over and over and gently nursing my body back to health. Who knew it could be so simple?
