Hi Andrea, no one is going to make the change but you, and you really need to make exercise and heathy eating a priority if you want to see change! You need to start by commiting to at least 60 minutes of cardio each week (even walking), and a minimum of two strength-training sessions. If you’re exercising at home, tricep dips, ladies’ pushups, squats, lunges, deadlifts and crunches are a great place to start. There is no substitute for exercise! If you need motivation and can’t get to a gym, fitness DVDs are a great investment. With regards to the sugar cravings, you need to really look at lowering your intake of added sugar and refined foods. here are a few yummy alternatives to help you start lowering your intake:
If you really don’t want to feel guilty about what passes your lips, strawberries make a delicious and sin-free snack. Eight strawberries provide more than 100 percent of your vitamin C for the day, and drizzling them with honey or dipping them in melted dark chocolate makes them even more decadent.
Tinned fruit like peaches or apricots are another cheap and delicious snack. Although they are still covered in syrup, they make a great alternative to over processed, artery-clogging sweets and chocolates.
I have mentioned this before, but it’s worth repeating: when it comes to chocolate – it CAN be good for you! Just make sure you are enjoying the dark type that is made from at least 70% cocoa, and you will reap the reward of heart healthy antioxidants.
On these wintery days and nights, another great option is replacing you’re your full-fat, sugary hot chocolate with natural cocoa. Cocoa is not only easy on the wallet, it’s also even higher in antioxidants than red wine. Mix yours with low-fat or fat-free milk and sweeten with honey. Pop in 2 chopped marshmallows for extra decadence, and enjoy a warm cup of genuine goodness to send you to sleep.
If ice creams and ice-lollies are your weakness, simply make them yourself! First, get yourself some cheap ice lolly moulds. Then choose your filling, from the low calorie option – fruit juice, to the more substantial choice of low-fat custard, to my personal favourite – chocolate soymilk. Once these icy treats have frozen, you will have an assortment of delicious lollies to choose from.
Similarly, if you have a passion for frozen yoghurt, you can skip the shops and literally freeze your yoghurt! This has been one of my all-time best discoveries so far. Simply pop any single portion yoghurt into the freezer over night, warm for 20 seconds to loosen the packaging, and serve! Using the healthier versions like Nutriday means you are getting your daily pre and pro-biotics, whilst saving on all the fancy packaging, branding and unhealthy ingredients you would usually be paying for.
Last, but far from least, impress your man with this easy and delicious French toast. Mix two eggs and a dash of milk in a shallow bowl, coat wholewheat bread thoroughly in the mixture, and fry on a hot pan until browned. Serve with cinnamon and honey and bask in the admiration of your guests. The wholewheat bread provides your precious whole-grains, honey provides a natural boost to your energy levels and immune system, and cinnamon contains manganese, fiber, iron, and calcium, whilst lowering your cholesterol.
