Health

My feature on Channel 4


Last summer I was approached by my friend to apply for this TV show called How to lose weight well. I had already watched the first series and was really excited to apply for it as managing my weight has always been a constant struggle. Me and my girl filled out the application not thinking that we would actually get a call back so quickly as I assumed thousand other applicants would be applying, so picking us would be slim to none. 
After a brief conversation me and girl had a joint Skype interview so that the producers can get a feel of the friendship and vibe we had together. Later on that week we were confirmed for the show and  was booked to start filming the following month!

Reality started to settle in and I started having major doubts. I was feeling super nervous with how I was going to come across on TV and knowing that the whole world will know my business! After being persuaded and reassured by my girl and the production company I decided to remain as one of the cast members. 

The first day of filming is when the presenter reveals what diet you will be on and how long for. As we were not classified as majorly over weight we was placed on a crash diet for “10 days” I say “10 days” but in reality we were only asked to be on the diet for 7 days. My diet was called the “low fat diet” where I basically had to avoid high fatty foods, takeaways, alcohol and sweet treats. I needed to have 3 square meals with fruit, veg and wholewheat foods such as brown rice, pasta and bread. 

When I read all of this information my first thought was “what weight can I lose eating all theses carbs!?” I was just so used to abusing my body doing the most ridiculous things trying to lose weight that I never really imagine just eating healthy and working out would actually work. 

Throughout my diet week I had to document my journey filming my personal Vlogs alongside filming with the production team. As we were only on the “10 day diet” filming was very demanding and at times felt really intrusive! We filmed everywhere including in the gym where I was filmed sweating it out in my boxercise class. I really made an effort with gym because I really wanted to see a difference within my diet week. 

On the 7th day of the diet it was time to reveal our weight lost just before our event. I was super nervous what the outcome would be but I knew I had stuck to the plan and killed it in the gym! 

I couldn’t not believe that what I saw on the scales! In 7 days eating healthy I lost over 1 stone! I was ecstatic that my hard work paid off. Throughout filming and after we had to keep quiet about featuring on the show so when it was aired on 17/01/17 you can imagine my anticipation with how my friends and family will react seeing me on their TV screens. 

All feedback was so positive for the little they did show of my story. I understand how production works but I was very shocked of the amount of footage that wasn’t not included. I must admit I felt a little cheated. I put so much effort with being truthful and exposed on camera so for It to not have been featured was a little disheartening. 

Following on from my experience I’ve learned to not be negative/ worried about myself and how I will come across to people. My experience has taught me to say yes to daring things and to not be scared of the outcome. I would not personally regard the diet I was placed on as a crash diet. I was not depriving myself from food, just simply eating healthy. Definitely something worth up keeping! Xo

10 Most Annoying Things At My Gym


As I am on my fitness/ weight loss journey cutting out junk is not the only thing I have to do in order to reach my goal… Exercise is also vital!

I must admit I hate exercising BUT I love the feeling of accomplishment afterwards and the pain I feel in my body the next day. Getting to the gym is more challenging than ever now that I’m not driving so when I do eventually drag my resentful ass to my gym the last thing I want to face is annoying ass people or things to disrupt my workout. Unfortunately annoying shit happens on every visit so heres a list of 10 things that grinds my gears!!!

1. Hogging Machines – Don’t you just hate it when you’re coming to an end of your workout and you’re waiting to use another machine but some inconsiderate twat is just sitting down NOT WORKING OUT! Many times this occurs at my gym where I’ve actually witness a man reading a newspaper STILL NOT WORKING OUT and a woman playing Candy Crush.

2. They steal machines/ equipment when they’re still being used – Now I’m all for sharing and not being a fellow hog but it’s so annoying when someone clearly sees that you have been using an equipment but feels the need to pick up it between sets. I’m having a 20 second rest sir I’m NOT finished!

3. Having full blown LOUD arguments/ conversations on the phone – I kid you not this actually happened one day. This meat head, Johnny Bravo shaped man actually had a massive argument on the phone whiles hogging a machine! I couldn’t believe what I was seeing! It was so distracting especially when I was pushing 180 kg on the Leg press trying to keep strong. Although I could not understand what he was saying ( Eastern European) this man managed to out sound the loud music that was blasting from the speakers. It got so bad that eventually me and my girl turned around and told him to Shut up! Lol

4. Sweaty Betty/ Bobs forgetting to wipe down the machines – I’m a firm believer in if you’re not sweating, you’re not working hard enough BUT the last thing I want to endure is having your bodily fluids gaining contact to my skin! Gross!

5. Staff persistently offering their personal training service – I understand that personal trainers have to hustle hard and build up a clientele but if you have approached me already about what you have to offer, please leave me be until I am ready to make contact. I don’t want to have to keep dodging and diving you! Lol

6. Equipment disappearing – So annoying especially when I have a workout planned in my head and I need specific equipment which has either been stolen or misplaced.

7. Space Invaders – you know the kind of people who have no awareness of personal space! People who get on the treadmill right next to you when there are loads of empty ones. Or when you’re trying to skip and they decide to stand right in front of you!

8. Smelly People – I understand that we all get a little sweat funky after a hard workout but what drives me mad is people who smell BEFORE a workout. This only enhances the disgusting fragrance throughout their workout which results to getting a burning sensation in my nose.

9. Unattended Fully Booked Classes – My gym is the worst to book a class. You can try book a class a week in advanced and it’s still fully booked! But what annoys me the most is when I do get a place to a spinning class and there are loads of empty bikes! The least people can do is cancel their booking so that someone else can have opportunity to attend!

10. Front desk gates & security – My gym is literally on the scale of an airport! Two front desk gates which requires a gym pass to access them both! There’s been times I’ve forgotten my pass and the passionate security guard wants me to report to front desk to show some form of identification. Like to say I wasn’t here yesterday and the day before! You know my face dude just let me in!

 

*Sigh* Im going to the gym later today and just thinking about all these annoying points is getting me down! Lol I think it’s time to move to a new gym!

I Am So Fat!

  
This is something I tell myself everyday. I have struggled with my weight my entire life! I was always known as the chubby/ fat one in my family and I was very aware and negative about my appearance from a very young age. I can remember being in primary school and feeling different to my friends. I knew I stood out not only was I chubby but I was also tall for my age. My dad used to tell me growing up “don’t worry about your body, it’s just baby fat, it will fall right off when you’re a teenager” I then hit my teens and my fat turned from baby to a grown ass adult. I was depressed about my weight which lead me to comfort eat and gain more weight. When I reached 20 years old I decided time for a change and I went on a strict diet plan of powdered shakes, soups and porridge. The taste of these packets were so disgusting that after a short while I couldn’t stomach them and resulted to just starving myself for 13 weeks. After I came to an end of my “starving programme”, I lost shit loads of weight – 4 stones to be exact and still I wasn’t happy with my body. Even though people and family told me I looked “too skinny” or “great” I still felt like I should lose more. 6 years later and I’m still struggling to lose weight and feel happy about my appearance. Although I’ve never gone back to my heaviest weight I still have been up and down on the scales between 1-2 stones. Today I was looking at all my body pics I have taken of myself on my phone ( I have a tonne) and realised that I actually didn’t look as bad as I felt at the time. I actually looked better than I do now ( see I’m still being negative) but within these pictures I hated my body, I felt fat and very negative towards myself. I’ve always known that I am my own worst enemy and I have a really bad negative attitude towards my body but today I got a wake up call. I realised that my body wasn’t that bad then and perhaps it isn’t that bad now. Calling myself FAT everyday is not the positive energy I’m trying to radiate in my life and I need to start placing myself in high regard. Yes my body isn’t the way I want it to be but you know what, I’m currently doing something about it. I’m eating healthy, i’m working my ass off in the gym so God willing I will see the results I want in due time. 

I read that speaking negative about yourself consequently leads to a snowball effect of failure leading to poor choices and regrets. I no longer want to make poor choices and have any regrets so from now on I will try really really hard not to use the word FAT. I’m going start showering myself with compliments and encouraging words. Maybe my negative attitude is my downfall, my reason for the lack of progression! Just to make sure I have my shit in order I have also told my friends they have full permission to slap me if the words happen to slip out my mouth. 🙂 

The Misconception of a Woman’s Body

This also applies to women too. It’s so easy to get caught up in the social world.  The misconception of what a “real” woman should look like has many women feeling inadequate, less than because it’s what’s idolised by the masses. Small waist and a big fat booty is what most are killing themselves to look like, even though every woman’s body is built differently. I am guilty of having this cloudy idea of how I should look. But I understand that no one is perfect, no such thing! I’m flawed and have many imperfections but I’m working on being a better healthier me. To love yourself for exactly who you are and all the qualities you possess is sexy. A man that can’t do the same is NOT for you. 😘😉

My Constant Fuck Up

I don’t know what it is about myself why I keep letting myself down. The term ‘getting in my own way’ 1000% applies to me. I am emotionally drained with the constant battle with my weight. There isn’t a single day I don’t mind fuck myself with guilt, anger and frustration over my appearance. My confidence level is an at all time low as I write this, trying to work out why I keep setting myself back from officially reaching my goal. Yh I have lost a lot of weight in the past and yes I have NOT put all my weight back on BUT there’s something wrong with my brain that once I start to see progress, I fuck it all up and become lazy again. My previous weight loss post where I talked about my on going battle was true to the core. I made great progress cutting out the carbs, hitting the gym 4-5 times a week. But once I came back from my vacation in the Dominican I fell off. I kept telling myself ‘start on Monday’ but Monday never came, I just became lazy only going gym 1-3 times a week. I can blame it on the few devastating events that have occurred since July but I will be lying to myself. There is no excuse as to why I look the way I do. Many people will look at me and say I am crazy for feeling the way I do about myself, (I hear it all the time) but its how I FEEL about MYSELF. There is not one person who can try and convince me that I am ‘Deluding’ myself about my weight. I could have Trey Songz or the rapper Game (Man crushes) standing in front of me, telling me I am perfect just the way I am and I will still feel the same damn way. On Friday I did the unthinkable and stood on the scales and what I saw was NOT pretty…kind of shocking. This is something I don’t normally do but I have reached the point where I am so unhappy with myself that if I continue to carry on, I am literally going to drive myself to the psychiatric ward at my local hospital (A little dramatic but so what, I am currently caught all in my feelings!) My weight is something that is growing heavier on my heart day by day and although I try to have the best poker face 🙂 and not express myself to those closest to me; this situation is affecting my morale.

This is a reality check to myself, things have to change and if I want change I have to make shit happen!

Only I can make myself happy and the only way to do that is to get my ass in gear, eat right, cut out the junk and hit the gym. Its either that or continue to be miserable and I am tired of this unfulfilled feeling I have with myself.

It is well over due but it is 1000000% time to make myself happy.

12 more days…

Till I have completed my 30 day Vegan Challenge and I am still feeling optimistic and just a tad but lighter 🙂
I am essentially sticking to 3 meals a day with the odd snack In between such as fruit or Ryvita. I am 100% back on my fitness, attending spinning, boxing and freestyle sessions… I am in agony as I type this lol

Cooking my meals has become a way of life for me now, I don’t have to think about what I’m going to cook in advance. I just raid my fridge, cupboards and create yummy dishes.

Here’s some meals I’ve devoured this week 🙂

Dish 1: Cauliflower & Butter Squash with Couscous and Avocado

Dish 2: Red Pea and Sweet Potato soup

Dish 3: Sweet Potato, Butternut Squash & Red Pea (Kidney Beans) curry with Couscous

Dish 4: Half a Sweet Potato topped with Cannellini Beans, Flageolet Beans, Adzuki Beans cooked with Mushrooms, Green Beans and Spinach

 

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Mid way through my challenge

I am now mid way through my second week of my 30 day Vegan challenge and I’m feeling great! I am really enjoying this way of eating and my body feels better for it, however I do now and then miss my smoked salmon and cheese.
When it comes to fitness I am in need of an effective workout plan to get my body right and tight so i am currently researching etc. But that is no excuse to skip the gym so this week I have managed to dragged my bum to spinning classes and freestyle sessions to jump start the burning of unwanted fat! Lol

Here’s a few dishes I made this week
Lentil vegetable soup and vegetable stir fry cooked with soy ginger teriyaki sauce 🙂

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Vegan food!!!

Day 4 of my vegan challenge and I’m finding it smooth sailing.
Great snack to have if you’re feeling peckish Ryvita crisp bread lightly coated in organic smooth peanut butter (no palm oil) and chopped banana. Very yummy!

Last night I had potato, peas and aubergine medley with couscous. I’ve had couscous 3 days in a row now so tonight I will be making pumpkin and leeks soup.

I’ve got to switch it up a little 🙂

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30 Day Vegan Challenge

I have not been feeling good about myself (physically) I have reached the point where I’m actually sick of meat and mostly sick of feeling down about my constant weight battle. I’m constantly trying new things regarding diet and healthy eating. After seeing the success stories on Instagram and through my friend personal journey, I decided to do the 30 day Vegan challenge. For those who are unaware what Veganism is, it’s essentially  a person who does not eat or use animal products. So from September 1st, for 30 days I am going to stay away from meat, fish and all things dairy from my diet and work my ass off in the gym. Coming from a family of 3 uncles who are strict vegans this should be a breeze as I have had countless Rastafarian dishes free from all animal products and as a foodie I’m pretty sure there is nothing I don’t like to eat.

I will try to keep posting updates of my 30 day challenge throughout the month!

Fingers cross I will see positive changes in the way I look and feel. 🙂

 

Chickpea vegetable curry with Couscous and Avocado

Chickpea vegetable curry with Couscous and Avocado 

Homemade Falafel, Vegetables & Avocado

Homemade Falafel, Vegetables & Avocado