Weekly Challenge

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Last week I asked you to take a good look at yourself. This week I would like you to do the same again but with a different emphasis. You can look in a mirror or at a recent photograph of yourself:

•       Let’s start with what you like about what you see, e.g. ‘I have healthy looking skin’, ‘My waist isn’t bad!’, ‘People tell me I have great legs’. Acknowledging our positive areas boosts our confidence and we should try not to forget our ‘best bits’.

•       Then think about which parts you would like to change about yourself, e.g. ‘I’d love a flatter stomach and tighter underarms’ and then see what you can do about improving them.

Instead of thinking ‘nothing can be done’, taking a good, hard and honest look at ourselves can help stir up the motivation to take action – and what better time than right now!

Honestly, I cannot emphasise too strongly how good and effective Mary’s whole-body strength and toning programme is. Find it in the Immunity Plan Exercise section and choose the level (from Week 1 - 4) that suits you best and progress to the next level as soon as you feel able. Now, here is a key tip for you:  For your ‘problem’ areas that you want to really tone up, (eg tummy, under-arms), as you follow Mary’s workouts, do some extra ‘sets’ of those exercises specifically for the areas you want to focus on – Mary tells you which exercise does what. Alternatively, do more repetitions of those ‘focus’ exercises each time.  Commit to doing the workout 3 - 4 times each week and you will see great results.

Alternatively, follow the Seated Strength Workout which also covers all areas of the body.

Burn some extra calories by going for your 30-minute walk every day and remember, look at changing your route to include some inclines and you will seriously increase the calorie spend! This helps you become fitter and slimmer.

USEFUL TIP OF THE WEEK

When out walking think about how you are holding yourself. Holding your stomach in as you walk is a great exercise in itself toward a flatter tum.  Time yourself or measure the distance you walk so you challenge yourself to go further or walk quicker.  Both work wonders!

Recipe of the Week

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Another recipe from the archives! This recipe was created by my mother-in-law, Jeanne, and appeared in The Complete Hip & Thigh Diet from 1989! It is so simple to make and tastes delicious! This recipe works with white fish too.

Chicken Curry 

  (serves 2)

2 chicken breasts, with fat and skin removed
400g can chopped tomatoes
1 bay leaf
1 large eating apple, cored and chopped (with skin)
2 teaspoons Branston pickle
1 teaspoon tomato puree
1 medium onion finely chopped
1 tablespoon medium curry powder
 

Place the chicken breasts and all the ingredients in a saucepan and bring to the boil.

Cover with a lid and cook slowly for about one hour, stirring occasionally, turning the chicken breasts every 15 minutes or so. If the mixture is too thin remove the lid and cook on a slightly higher heat until the sauce reduces and thickens. Remove the bay leaf.

Serve with boiled basmati rice.

• Exercise burns fat through our muscles – so the stronger our muscles, the more of a fat-burner we will become!

• If you write down everything you eat and drink, you are twice as likely to lose weight!