Mere days ago I told you all that I don't rely on medication for my injuries. Well, life has a funny way of calling you out, because last weekend I pushed a supermarket trolley that weighed more than me round a supermarket and up a sloping car park to the car, which wasn't clever because as someone with sciatica caused by an accident when I was 11, the flare-up was inevitable.

The point is, just because you can do without most of the time doesn't mean you shouldn't accept help when you need it. So I'll take the pain relief and the anti-inflammatories. But I'll also keep doing the exercises my physiotherapist taught me, because accepting help doesn't mean not also actively helping yourself. My goal is to make this flare-up as short as possible after all.

When I help someone with their health goals, whether that's with their weight, fitness, mindset, or all three, I'll give them all the support they feel they need. But I will hold them accountable to what they said their goals are. I have my own goals to work on which, at the moment, include getting my knickers on without needing to sit down to do it.

What are your health goals?

#goals #takehelpwhenyouneedit #beproactive #healthgoals #workingthroughinjury #healyourself #itsnotweakness #sciatica

How many times have you joined and re-joined the same weight loss club? It's not unusual to see someone rejoin, 4, 5, even 10 times. And they'll all say the same. I know it works because I lost weight before but I let it slide.

One of the most common things I'm told when someone wants to say no to how I can help them without saying no is, "We all have to find what works for us", usually before I've actually been able to tell them what I do. Let me tell you a secret. If you have to keep rejoining because you keep gaining the weight back, it's not working for you. Find something else.

I know how it is because I was in the same boat. I was a Weight Watchers coach, standing up in front on my members and telling them how great it was while still gaining weight myself. It's hard to break away when you know it works because you've done it before. And we beat ourselves up, telling ourselves it's us, not the plan. We eat fakeaways when we really want a takeaway, make fake Ferroro Rochers with ground up Ryvita instead of nuts, or Dorito substitutes with baked lasagne sheets, frantically scan our books for the points in the Wetherspoons dinner we had last night and panicking because we've used them all in one meal.

You know what that is? That's imperfection dependency. The diet industry has you believing there's something wrong with how you are, that there are bad foods and you're bad for wanting them. You're being naughty.

I can already hear the defensive replies to this post, and I understand. If you feel comfortable in your diet club, that's great. But ask yourself these three questions and be really honest with yourself.

How much weight have I lost?
How much money have I spent?
Do I go to lose weight or to meet up with the people there?

If you're happy with the answers, all power to you. If you're not, maybe it's time to have a think.

#weightloss #slimmingclubs #dietclubs #doesitreallywork #isitworkingforyou #comfortzone #trysomethingnew

Why do I exercise and eat the way I do?

My why is a simple one. To live a longer, healthier life free from medication and pain. Although I do now take medication for an autoimmune condition, what I don't need is medication to deal with those conditions and diseases associated with the way I was before I started this journey.

I've made changes. But they've not been the big changes some choose to make. I haven't given up alcohol, I haven't become vegan, haven't give up the sweet treats. Those things will definitely help you live a healthier life, but they're not essential. The trick is to put them in their place.

So here I am, 61 years old, with multiple fairly serious injuries (let's not forget I broke my neck in 1988 and there are more injuries than that). Yes I live with pain every day; anyone with the injuries I have does. What I don't live with is a dependence on pain medication. I don't need it because I keep moving and I try to keep my nutrition in balance which helps take the pressure off my joints.

That's all. It's not as hard as you'd think.

#healthover60 #fitnessover60 #realfoodconfidence #itsnotashardasyouthink #chooseyourhard #balanceddiet #eatandtrain #motionislotion #bodyconfidence #painisnotinevitable

How do you measure progress?

The short and simple answer is, track.

💰 Want to save money? Track what comes in and what you spend
👩‍💼 Want to build your business? Track your business buiding activities
🏃‍♂️ Want to improve your fitness? Track your weights, your times...
🥗 Want to lose weight? Track everything you eat and drink

When it comes to food, research has found that if we don't track what we eat and drink as we go along, we forget up to 60% by the end of the day.

So track, not just meals but every bite, every sip. Did you weigh that cheese for a recipe and then cut yourself a tiny bit? Track it. Did you pinch a chip from your partner's plate? Track it. Be specific.

If you think it's going to take too long or be too much of a chore, get your phone out and take a picture. You can use that to record it in whatever method works best for you at the end of the day. It will take you about 5 minutes, and you'll be amazed at the difference it makes.

#tracking #results #progress #realfoodconfidence