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In Fashion, General, Health and Exercise, Healthy Eating, Weight Loss, Women's Interest

Slimming Down and Hitting the Sales

Author Nicki CawoodPosted on

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I’m back at Weight Watchers….

Yes, I know, you’ve heard it all before (although to be fair it is usually Slimming World), however this time I mean business and it certainly seems to be paying off. WW have a new Smartpoints plan which works brilliantly for me and so I’m hopeful I’ll see some significant weight losses over the next six months.

The problem with slimming down is the fact that you can’t take your clothes with you. I’ve already lost a few pounds and if I lose too many more my jeans will let me down and I’ll be shamed on the school run for flashing my M&S belly-grabber knickers.

In the past, I’ve refused to buy new clothes when losing weight because of course I knew I’d be (hopefully) shrinking out of them. I’ve made do with what I’ve got (despite it looking too baggy) or hit the charity shop for some “in-between” basics. This time around I’m doing things differently. I’m not waiting until I hit goal before buying new clothes, I want to enjoy clothes and feel good about myself now!

This is of course where the Yorkshire/Irish mix in me (frugal leaning towards being tight when it comes to spending on myself) is in conflict with my “I want to look nice and have nice things” self. The answer…. Sale shopping!

One thing I do not do, or do as rarely as possible is go physically clothes shopping. I hate it! The queue for the changing room, the VERY unflattering lighting and huge mirrors coupled with that unique changing room smell makes it a nightmare for me, and one to be avoided at all cost.

This time around I’ll be hitting the online Vivienne Westwood sale instead of the charity shops or even the online Joules sale (if I’m feeling brave enough!). I’m making another new clothing change too, this time around I’m not going to keep my “big” clothes. They encourage me to slip into them when I gain a few pounds rather than keep slimming to stay in the new size (slimmers will understand what I mean!) so they have to go!

I’m quite looking forward to this next leg in the Grand Nicki Weight-Loss Journey, including (for the first time) designer clothes shopping online.

To keep me going (I’m determined!) share with me your top Weight Watchers or slimming down hints, tips and tricks!

In Family Time, Women's Interest

Making Me Time

Author Nicki CawoodPosted on
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Does anyone ever look back at their pre-children, pre-grown-up selves and smirk at the memory of all those times when “I’m exhausted” was uttered? I do! I didn’t know what being truly knackered was until I had the boys. As they’ve grown I’ve assumed the next stage will be less busy; oh how wrong I have been. Each stage has been as busy as it has been gloriously enjoyable! When Taylor started school last year (yes, we’ve nearly completed his first year!) and I wasn’t doing the school run for one and a mix of drop-off and pick-ups at a nursery and a (fab) childminder with the other I figured I’d have loads of extra time.

Ho, ho, ho! While having both children in the same setting at the same time offers advantages I’d forgotten the time we as parents spend in school, particularly with the younger ones. Stay and Play sessions, sports day, escort duty for library trips, church trips, trip-trips… I don’t dislike going on these things, I like to help out and thankfully being my own boss makes working life more flexible schedule-wise.  It’s just… more time.

Onto work. School, home and general motherhood (and life, because there is life outside of work people) take up a fairly big chunk of my time. I have a lot of flexibility in my work schedule-wise because I am a freelancer copywriter and I’m my own boss. No apologising when children are at home throwing up or I have a school awards assembly to go to. I do however also have international clients and that can mean talking business at stupid o’clock in the morning (I routinely tell people my webcam is broken so Skype calls and Hangouts are strictly voice only). I work full-time hours at weird intervals throughout the week.

Time! Time! Time!

It was the long-suffering and really rather fabulous husband who took me in hand some time ago and told me I needed to make time for myself. What a strange concept. I suggested having a proper break for lunch. That was met with a raised eyebrow. He was talking about proper “me” time. An hour submerged in a great book (I’m a keen reader and am challenging myself to read more), a break sat in the garden, away from phones and computers with something delicious and luxurious from a cappuccino maker or a walk away from the house (no, not to the supermarket) to get some fresh air, or to visit a friend for a brew. I’m a keen advocate for promoting a work-life balance however sometimes forget to apply that to myself!

You know what? The man was right! I did need to make time for me and as a result, I’m more productive (yet at the PC less, work that out) and am considerably less “stress”. Don’t get me wrong here, I’m not complaining about my life, not at all. I love being a Mum, a wife, my home and my work however sometimes I need reminding to take some time out to love myself too.

Make sure you do the same x

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