Showing posts with label Get Trimmer (2012). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Get Trimmer (2012). Show all posts

Thursday, 31 May 2012

Get Trimmer 2012 (Final Week)

SORRY!

I had a very busy couple of weeks but I'm settled again :)

How's everyone doing? How was the month of May for you? Yes, I know there was lack of support from my end and I can't apologise enough!

My month went very well - I didn't have any chocolate, ice-cream or chocolate covered brazil nuts. Unfortunately, my Aunt came over from Nigeria with my favourite Plantain Chips, I just HAD to have some! I was good until last week so I tried ;)

Please let me know if you have any questions or any good news to share :) I still have a prize to hand out!

Someone emailed me asking for some links to help with fat loss with exercise & nutrition, I replied with these links (Thanks to Fitter London!!):
The thing about the above links is: most of us have heard them before (especially the nutrition ones) but always find excuses NOT to make changes. When you're ready, you just know it!

Follow Fitter London on Twitter: https://twitter.com/fitterlondon and 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FitterLondon

PS Look out for my next challenge... it's a personal one but the more, the merrier. Details will be up soon.

Monday, 21 May 2012

Get Trimmer 2012 (WEEK FOUR)


Hello! How have you been this past week?

Very Quick "success-in-action" story to share:
I have a friend who asked me for advice on how to lose weight. This friend is male and had tried a few things but because he hadnt focussed on his diet, things weren't working out. He gained muscle mass but didn't lose any fat so he looked "hench" (He didn't use that word but I think that's a funny word!).
Anyway, I gave him a few pointers which you've heard (read, even) me go on and on about on this blog:

  • Eat more meat, fish, chicken, eggs, etc (protein) 
  • Less rice, pasta, yam, etc 
  • No pastries, pizza, burgers, etc
  • More vegetables, especially greens (spinach, kale, lettuce, etc)
    and
  • Incorporate interval training in his routine instead of spending an hour on the treadmill, bike or cross trainer.
Well... he's already gotten back to me on how things are working for him so early! I tried not to sound too smug ;) 

We all know this: when you set a goal and have the right tools to reach it, commitment is what brings it all together! Nothing should be holding you back :)

B shared a day's food diary in last week's (barely there, I'm so sorry!) post, thank you!

Monday:-
Breakie:  Coffee with fat free milk with truvia
snack dry sour cherries
Lunch: subway grilled chicken sandwich on wheat bread, spinach, cucumbers, lettuce, green peppers with lite mayo
a cup of unsweetened apple sauce
hot passionfruit tea with truvia
Dinner: grilled salmon with spinach
camomile tea with truvia
chocolate vitamuffin :-)

My feedback: Try to eat something for breakfast, a piece of chicken, a boiled egg + some nuts, something quick and easy that requires no preparation, if you don't have the time.
What's the apple sauce? Where did you get it?
Nice dinner :)
I've never tried the Vitamuffin or anything from Vitalicious, that's a nice low calorie snack. And it does contain some protein ;) Maybe have that earlier in the day next time?
Do you exercise?

Monday, 14 May 2012

Get Trimmer 2012 (WEEK THREE)

Hi!

I'm so sorry i never got back to updating this week;s post, i've had a very busy week so far1 Sorry!

Hope you're all well...

Could you please post your most recent food diary in the comments section?


See ya!

Monday, 7 May 2012

Get Trimmer (2012): WEEK TWO

Monday again! Hope you're all doing well :) My week (and weekend) flew by.

I cooked a big pot of Efo with Fish for the week. I hope to have time to cook Chicken Curry and I'll probably have omelettes (normal or scrambled) most evenings. When an omelette goes wrong and breaks apart, I just try to salvage it and call it a scrambled omelette ;) Looks something like this:

Scrambled Omelette: Might not look great but still tastes yummy!
'In the Midst Of Her' sent me a few pictures of her meals earlier this year. They are in line with the main focus this week and I also think they are great for inspiration on meal ideas: 

Beans, beef, spinach and 'ata'

Ila-asepo (okra) with chopped baked chicken

1/2 cup rice with mixed veggies, baked chicken, spinach and stew

Spinach Wrap: 3 slices of turkey, carrots, lettuce, etc

This week the emphasis will be on bulking up your meals with vegetables! Vegetables are full of vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants and they also contain carbohydrates (much less than our usual heavy carbohydrates).
  • It's easy to fall back on frozen vegetables but whenever you can, eat fresh greens eg spinach, lettuce, kale, etc.
  • Frozen vegetables don't have to be the usual Mixed Vegetables (corn, carrots, peas), try frozen broccoli or frozen cauliflower.
  • Mushrooms are great in stir fries
  • Like ITMOH did above, bulk up your usual carbs with vegetables: beans, rice, pasta, potatoes, yam, etc
This week's workout video will be posted tomorrow :)
Remember to: Post any updates or questions anytime!

Photo Credit: In The Midst of Her

Monday, 30 April 2012

Get Trimmer (2012): WEEK ONE

Happy Monday :)


Hopefully you've recorded your measurements, even if you haven't shared them here yet... *HINT*.

Could you please, also, take your waist and hip measurements? Also please take a look at the previous post to confirm your name's on the list.

-----------------------------
FEEDBACK ON FOOD DIARIES SHARED IN THE PREVIOUS POST
Thank you for being honest and posting both good and bad! That gives us more to work with :)


Breakfast:

  • Try to avoid the breakfast cereals along the lines of Crunchy Nut, Frosties, etc. As I told someone today, you might as well have a glass of water with a few spoons of sugar. And usually with these, you find that you have to eat more to get that full feeling.
    If you must have cereal in the morning, have half a cup of porridge oats with milk and a handful of nuts or berries. Other options include: 2 x Weetabix, 1 cup of Shreddies.
  • No pastries or bakery products eg brioche, doughnuts, cakes.
  • Don't have time to sit down and eat breakfast?
    - Eat something even if it's a piece of chicken or meat.
    - If you have access to health food stores, buy  protein snack bars eg 'Trek', '9', 'Bounce Balls', 'Nak'd', 'Cliff', 'Lara Bar'.
    -Boil eggs the night before and have one or 2.
Snacks:
  • Don't snack on pasteries or baked goods.
  • Fruit or Nut - great choice
  • Protein Bar (especially if you don't have much for breakfast)
  • Again, even a piece of fish, chicken or meat would do.
Lunch/Dinner:
  • Keep the takeaways (Chinese, etc) to a minimum. You'll save money and you'll know exactly what's going into your meals.
  • Order veggies with your Nandos chicken instead of the fries.
  • Cut down the rice and pasta portions
  • If you have salads, make sure they come with some protein (eggs, fish, chicken, etc) and always ask for dressing on the side. 
Don't starve yourself: Eating little to nothing doesn't necessarily mean you'll burn fat and lose weight. Fuel your body with the right foods and it will burn fat and calories, efficiently. Try to incorporate some protein in every meal. Breakfast: Eggs, Sausages, etc. Lunch/Dinner: Chicken, Fish, Meat. Snacks: Nuts as they'll keep you fuller for longer and help supress your appetite.

-----------------------------

The last 2-3 weeks have been a bit odd for me - I was ill, I travelled, I was ill and now I'm WELL :) So I've decided to take part in this challenge with you too.


And before anyone says anything, I know I'm not overweight, we all know our bodies and when we need to get back on track :)

What's my plan of action?
  1. I'm cutting out chocolate for the entire month of May. Although I only eat 70% (or more) chocolate, I usually finish a big bar over 2 days(weekend, when I do have it).
  2. I'll have 2 strength based sessions per week:
    - Fitter London's Kettlebells for Strength and Bodyweight Conditioning on Tuesdays @ 7am
    and
    - Fitter London's Kettlebells for Strength, Size and a Sixpack on Saturdays @ 11.30am.
    (All Fitter London classes can be found here: www.fitterlondon.co.uk/classes/)
    You should know how passionate I am about strength training so please read this post: I Love Strength Training.
  3. I teach 3 spin classes a week so those will be my cardio/endurance workouts.
  4. I'm cutting out plantain chips for the entire month of May. Trust me, they're a real weakness of mine. Especially when I'm in a hurry, I just grab a pack and inhale it in 2 minutes flat!
  5. As always, I'm going to eat a lot of protein (More of fish, seafood. And chicken, eggs too) and vegetables. I'm also limiting mhy carbohydrates to sweet potatoes, beans and plantain. I'm not a fan of brown rice, I'd have added that to the list.
  6. No ice-cream, absolutely NO ice-cream. This is a major weakness of mine. 
Okay enough about me ;)

Set your goals for May (tomorrow's the 1st).
  • Exercise: I'll post some workouts for home and gym workouts. Aim for at least 2 days per week.
  • Diet: My advice would be to cut out all pastries, cakes, pizzas, deep fried foods, high-sugar foods and drinks, etc. Also reduce your carbohydrate portions and replace with vegetables (they are carbs too) and protein. It's only one month in your long life and will fly by.
  • Frequency of meals: Eat at least three times a day and make sure you never get to a point where you're ravenous. If you don't like breakfast, no need to force yourself to eat an actual meal. Try something as little as a handful of nuts and a piece of fruit.
  • Snacking: Do this only when you feel peckish, sometimes I snack for the sake of it and it's unneccessary. Snack on fruit (1 portion eg 1 apple, a handful of berries, 1 slice of pineapple, etc).
Please post your goals, it helps to write things down and share on a forum (here) because you feel more motivated to stick to these goals. I'm in Starbucks and I just had a banana with my Green Tea. I ignored the dark chocolate by the checkout, GO ME!

Sidenote: After going on an on on Twitter yesterday, I shared a few pointers. Which I've decided to share here because I know you don't all have Twitter accounts:


Any questions, please ask and I will answer asap.

Good Luck and have a nice week!

Friday, 27 April 2012

Get Trimmer (2012): Official Sign Up POST

This 2012 challenge is over.

Sign up for the next one, which starts on April 22nd, HERE: http://www.adura-o.com/2013/03/get-trimmer-for-summer.html


-----
I know a few of you (listed below) commented on the YouTube video and under THIS post. I'll also add names as they're added to this post.

Deadline for sign up is 11pm (UK time) on Monday 30th April.
  1. Okeoghene 
  2. Lam Lam 
  3. Daddy's Girl 
  4. Iwalewa 
  5. Beautiful 
  6. Anon4Now 
  7. Gbemification 
  8. TheMsbeemo 
  9. Suliat
  10. Mayonne
  11. B
  12. BeeA
  13. BeePink
  14. Ceri
  15. FitDama
  16. NN
  17. Zioner
  18. And a couple of Anonymouses (please post a name)
Please comment under this post with your info:

- Weight AND/OR measurements (waist, hips, bust)
- Goal (realistic please, 15-20lbs is the highest you should aim for in 4-5 weeks. So that losing any more would be a pleasant surprise.
- And your entire food diary for a day.

Thank you!

As promised, I'll be posting workout videos during, and after, this challenge.

Wednesday, 18 April 2012

'Get Trimmer' (The 2012 Edition)

The challenge is back, sign up!


If you have no idea what this challenge is about, READ THIS.

To sign up, please leave a comment here or on YouTube.

Start date: Friday 27th April.

See ya.