THE SECRET TO HEALTH AND WEIGHT LOSS

This post is for you if you're simply struggling to get started on your journey to a healthier lifestyle.

Simple tips. Simple knowledge. Simple guidance.

The internet is bombarded with advice on weight loss, muscle building and general fitness posts.
Too much of anything is just that.... too much.

For years on end from the age of 17, I struggled trying to figure out "What is the best way for me?"
I used to read article upon article, buy every health magazine on the shelves and take advice from anyone who was willing to give it. I listened to everyone and watched multiple YouTube videos.

I love to learn and try new things but there was one problem, information overload.

I ended up in a pattern of "Starting on Monday" lasting 12 days and giving up.
To make myself feel less guilty about giving up, I'd simply tell myself
"That diet didn't work"
 "I need to do more cardio"
 "I'll go running instead" 
"Maybe I'm just naturally big boned.

I'm sure you can relate to a pattern as such, in this high paced world full of body transformations and miracles. We want results and we want those results NOW.
You may have spent hours on the internet reading about the newest fad, the ketones that help fat loss, the aloe vera that banishes the bloat, the juice that kills belly fat.
You probably spent a lot of money on those said things, to later feel defeated in yourself.

I'm here to tell you, it doesn't matter what type of pill, gym membership or plan you buy, your body and health will not change without real ACTION.

Number one before you even think about exercise or anything else is - YOUR FOOD.

Well, that kinda sucks, doesn't it? Hmmmmmmm..... Imagine if we could all eat buttery toast for breakfast, a bacon sandwich for lunch and a fish & chips for dinner as well as a bag of pick n mix and still feel amazing!

Those of you who argue you feel fine when  you eat crap like that all day every day are either:

1. In denial, the lies hurt less.

2. Love being able to say -  "I can eat what I want and stay slim" (Slim doesn't equal health FYI)

3. It hasn't hit you yet.

There's no shame in admitting you want to eat better to feel better!

What are you eating? When are you eating it? WHY are you eating it?

Answer those questions and then ask yourself....

Are you seeing results? How do you feel? Are you sleeping well? Has your skin cleared up?
Do you now long a lil' younger? Are you happier? Are you more confident?

Well?
I don't care if you're a size 6 or size 26, if you eat shit, you will feel like shit... at some point.

Eat wholesome foods. Anything that grows from the ground or from a tree, is GOOD for you.

Anything that has a TV ad is probably not so good for you.

When you wake up in the morning, are you hungry? No?
Did you know, a hungry body within the first hour of waking is a HEALTHY body?
If you can't eat for hours after waking, this is something you should think about.
Drink a pint of warm water with lemon for a week, I bet you'll feel different each morning :)

• Please stop looking for an easy way out, there is none.

The simple secret is to start making your food from scratch, if you don't know how, learn.

Instead of reading about the newest health craze to hit the market, read up on how to prepare tasty, wholesome food.

Stop looking at your macros, flexible dieting and the such. You can get into that later. 

Just start buying real food and learn how to cook it, that's how to start.

Pick up vegetables you've never tried before and TRY them.

If you don't like how it tastes, cook it a different way next time!

If you have a trainer and he/she gave you a food guide, use the meals and foods creatively, start making things look and taste a little more exciting so you don't feel deprived!

Remember, "feeling deprived" is just that... a feeling.

Gone are the days of eating chicken, plain broccolli and rice... Do people actually still do that?!
That doesn't make you hardcore, if you do still eat blandly, it makes you kinda boring. (I'm sorry)

For me, I like quick meals, I don't like quick unhealthy meals, I like quick and healthy meals.

Ruairí, on the other hand, would spend all day cooking up the storm if he had time.

If he had time... I would never ever cook, his healthy meals taste too unbelievable! 

Cooking from scratch releases the healing power of your food.

Every single vegetable, herb or piece of fruit you eat has it's own healing power, 

each has it's own magical way of working wonders inside your body. 

All little building blocks to build a powerful, health strong body! 

"You are what you eat" has been a little overused but yes, it's true!

I can tell when my girls are following my guide, I see their skin clear up, there eyes brighten up and I see a few years knocked off the face! Don't believe me? Look through the progress photos in my phone. It's truly amazing!
 To me, health will always show in a makeup free/tan free face, not in a set of abs or a jeans size!
 Don't fight me on that! When I haven't been keeping an eye on my meals or getting enough sleep, my eyes will always tell you first.

When someone says "You look tired" It's true, your face looks tired because YOUR BODY is tired. Tired of all the toxic crap and toxic sleeping patterns.

Here is a simple lunch I made earlier, the chicken was already cooked from yesterday, as always there's tonnes of veggies in my fridge.

 I added a dollop of this mustard and some chilli flavoured sea salt I got  HERE as I was craving something spicy. Way better than sugar laden ketchup.

This meal hit the spot and I made it in less than a minute.

 It took longer to take the photo than actually put this meal together :)

SIMPLE, TASTY AND NUTRITIOUS.

I don't post many photos of my meals, as I used to believe they all looked too boring! I guess I forgot the fact they all actually taste amazing, so, from now on I promise to share more.
If it helps you when preparing your own meals, then that's all I need to know.

All I want you to learn from this post is that there are no simple ways out, if you want to feel good, you will need to eat good food. One meal and one day at a time. 

I'm not asking you to be the angel of health, I'm asking you to try new meals, foods and fresh herbs. This doesn't mean you'll never eat pizza again, this simply means you'll be healthier than before while STILL eating the odd bit of pizza now and again.

Real health come in the form of real balance, body and mind. <3

In love and smiles and health galore ya beautiful thing,

Lisa Dee :) 

xxx

FOR MORE PHOTOS AND TIPS CLICK HERE or HERE


YOU COULD ALSO TRY MY
BIKINI BODY FROM HOME GUIDE

 

 

I CAN'T KEEP UP!

 

I am struggling to even breathe in through my nose, never mind breathe out again through my mouth, dammit I really cant breathe, now I'm overthinking my breathing and convinced I suddenly have asthma. This is so hard, everyone else makes it look so easy. Am I doing this wrong?

 OMG that Emma girl is looking at me, she must be laughing at the sweaty bumcheek marks I've left on the floor, ugh! I don't want to smile back at her, just incase.

 Damn burpees, I need to tuck this T-shirt into my bottoms, I don't want the group noticing my belly bouncing about next! Dear God my face is TOO warm, I think I'm gonna explode. Did she say sprints?! I can barely jiggle along never mind sprint! Look at the floor, look at the floor, don't make eye contact. I shouldn't have let myself get so unfit, I feel mortified. I can't keep up, I can't keep up,

I CAN'T KEEP UP!

 

Ring a bell? The thoughts that run through our heads when we first try out a new training regime.

For most of us, yes me included, the first day with a new personal trainer/coach or the first day at a bootcamp or gym class can be quite... unnerving.

 

You don't know what to expect, you've heard so many good things as well as so many scary things you really don't know what to listen to. You're cursing yourself for signing up because, well, now you're here and you think you "can't keep up".

Let me tell you something right now girl... YES, YOU CAN KEEP UP. You can keep up with yourself. You can keep up with your own personal limits and your own personal goals. You're not here to impress anyone, you're here for you and your growth towards a healthier life.

 

You promise yourself you won't come back, it's too hard, I'm too sore, I'm too slow.

You're wondering if this is the place for you, everyone else seems so at home, well, that's what you think. The next time you think that I want you to stop a minute and wonder what those other people in the room are really thinking. I can guarantee you they didn't notice your sweaty bum marks on the floor or your frizzy pineapple hair mess on top of your head. They are thinking along the same lines as you. They are ALSO a little on edge, they find it tough, they are sweating too!

Always remember, anytime you are out of your comfort zone, in all walks of life, not just a fitness scenario, you're gonna feel on edge!

It is natural to feel like you stick out like a sore thumb, you truly believe everyone is looking at you, they know you're new etc. I am here to tell you that's not true! Your mind can sometimes be your own worst enemy.

Most people in the room feel the exact same way you're feeling. Use this moment as an opportunity to talk to the girl standing beside you in the room, I'll put money on it she's currently feeling or has previously felt the same way you feel now.

 

Don't be embarrassed, you don't need to "keep up"!

You don't need to keep up with anybody at all, ever, not in my gym.

You signed up to this program to better yourself, to get healthier, fitter, leaner and happier. You didn't sign up to see if you were better at burpees than the person next to you.

 You signed up for YOU. Please remember that the next time you say "I can't keep up".

As a trainer I do not give a damn if you are the slowest sprinter in the pack, I don't judge, that's not my job. What I care about is watching you progress as the months go on, watching YOU get faster and fitter, healthier and more confident!

You may not notice a change like this, but I will.

Any trainer that makes you feel like you need to push harder to be better than another person in that room, well that's a sucky trainer in my own opinion and yes, I can have an opinion ;)

 

 I believe you should always push yourself and push your own limits and if you want to feel inspired by a fellow fit friend then that's ok but don't set out with the intention of "beating" them. YOU are your only competition and you should only feel the urge to beat your previous unhealthy self. You are here to better yourself, to be better both mentally and physically than you were yesterday. Don't give up on yourself because you think you aren't capable, you are very capable.

 

Next time you feel like quitting any fitness regime, for any reason, follow my steps.

 

Say out loud:

 

* I CAN FINISH THIS

 

Remind yourself:

 

* I HAVE BEEN THROUGH SCARIER LIFE PERIODS THAN THIS SINGLE HOUR OF EXERCISE (admit it, we all have)

 

* NOBODY IS JUDGING MY ABILITY (apart from yourself, so stop it)

 

* A VISIT TO THE DOCTOR IS €45, LET'S AVOID FUTURE VISITS (blend up that green veggie shake) :)

 

 

When you feel like giving up and you're genuinely having a really bad day, please don't go on instagram and scroll through photos of abs and peachy bums. You are setting yourself up to feel worse. Instead, pick up your favourite inspirational book and read a page or listen to a motivating video on youtube. If you have just started your fitness journey and are feeling a little off track or having an unmotivated day then scrolling through hundreds of photos of perfect abs will make you feel like you really don't fit in! Don't give in to that pressure.

This is YOUR journey, you follow it whatever way you want, as long as you feel good and feel healthy, then what else matters?

If you're currently not getting desired results and are just sticking with the same trainer out of loyalty, ask yourself again why you signed up in the first place... Yes, remember, you signed up for YOU to get results, whatever those results may be to you.

 Put yourself first, block everything else from your vision for a change, you deserve this hour of exercise. This hour hurts, it's hard, it's sweaty, it's still a bit scary but you know what, it can also be the best hour of your day.

Wanna know how to make it your best hour?  Step inside the gym and this is what you do:

Leave your work, your boss, your screaming (but beautiful) children, your needy brother, your insecurities, your failures, your heartbreaks, your daily struggles, leave them all outside the gym door. Step inside and focus on your body for an hour.

You CAN do it,  you may not be the fittest in the room but you can definitely do it to  match your own ability.

You are worth it, you deserve this hour, don't ever forget your reason for signing up.

Do it, because you can.

 

 

Love,

Lisa Dee

:) x

 

 

Stay happy, healthy and grateful.

lisadeefitness@gmail.com

Alcohol and fitness

IS THERE A BALANCE?

So you recently started your fitness journey and you're feeling on top of the world, radiant, healthy and pretty much invincible... And then it hits.... That one occasion/event/day where it's deemed acceptable drink alcohol. All day... St Patricks Day.

 

For many, it's not an issue but sadly for any more, it is!

 

So many girls have approached me over the last week asking my view on drinking alcohol when trying to lose weight and with questions such as;

 "Which drinks have the least calories?",

"One night won't harm my progress, will it?",

"What if I avoid the hangover food the next day?" etc.

There's no easy way for me to say this girls without sounding like a 78 year old master granny but you really don't need a drink to enjoy a special occasion! Yup I said it!

 

I enjoy a bottle of merlot as much as the next girl but I am going to be honest here, you have to decide what is important to you right now in this moment, if you are fighting with the idea of drinking tomorrow because you have made a promise to yourself to stick to a certain healthy eating and training plan then you need to stick with your promise to yourself, for yourself.

 

If you are only a few weeks into your new fitness journey, my advice is to avoid any alcohol for the first 8 weeks, preferably 12 weeks, you need that for some real changes to happen.

Once you have your health and body at a happier level, you can balance those little cheats here and there. There's no point me giving a huge lecture when all you want is some honesty.

When I first started my fitness journey a few years ago, I had already gotten over the whole alcohol thing. I had previously partied a lot in university and was quite happy to start a new, fresh journey towards a healthier body. Queue my healthy green veggie shakes I started making!

 

"Ok Lisa, get on with it, all I really wanna know is, WILL I still lose weight while I am drinking?!"Ok ok ok... Here's my answer and I'll let you make your own decision.

 

It's simply not about the calories in the alcohol, it's about the composition; the effect the alcohol has on the body and how hard it is to remove from the body to allow the body to go back to the previous healthier, happier "fat burning" mode!

Our bodies are extremely smart BUT to explain it simply, when shit hits the fan, our bodies have one goal and one goal only. That single and most important goal is to simply SURVIVE which means to BE healthy; fight poison/disease/invaders/toxins where needed. For this reason, our livers simply cannot do 2 completely different things at once, which in this case are, getting rid of fatty acids and getting rid of poison (alcohol).

 Our liver, no matter what, chooses what it feels is the most important for survival; clearing out the poisonous alcohol so it can get on with day to day functioning.

 

 So dealing with the excess body fat sits on the back burner, for longer than you would imagine, 5-6 days actually!

Yes, that one glass of Vodka and tonic will put your fat loss goals behind by a few days.

 

Not to mention how crappy you will feel the next day! Good intentions aside, we all know it's simply impossible to stick to a clean diet the day after an alcohol binge. All we want is greasy, fatty foods, or no food at all, which is just as bad!

 

Another issue is our family and friends, sad but true!

"Ah Mary why aren't ya having a wee drink?",

"Now now don't be silly, you will never have a set of abs, what's the point!",

"You're no craic when you're dieting!"

 

My advice when you come into contact with people like these is to simply ignore their efforts.

They feel bad for having a few drinks when you're not, that's their issue. Not yours.

Be responsible for your goals, this is your life. Live how you want to live, if that means making a conscious effort to be healthier each day then so be it. Don't give up on yourself just to please someone else. The worst thing you could be in this life is a sheep, stand your ground.

 Be proud of YOU and your efforts.

      You're worth it!

 

 

I hope you have a healthy, happy and fun St.Patricks Day, wherever you are in the world!

 

              Thanks for reading, see you here again soon!

 

       Love,

        Lisa Dee

      :) x