littlegreenparrot1 Member

Do you prefer cold drinks? Because for me the answer is always tea. Earl grey or green tea if your asking, but of course there are many varities. A nice big thermal mug with a lid and your good to go.

I think language is important. I'm not going to try to do something, I am going to do it. Picked up from an article interviewing someone who ran ultra marathons about how they motivate themselves to do training 'Its not about whether I want to or not, the decision has been made' When the alarm goes off at 5:30am and I'm in…

Sorry, you'll need to clarify 'safe'. Safe for what, for who? Personally I think I do better if I don't have much dairy, that's to do with skin and doesn't apply to everyone. For a person who does not have any allergies and likes it why wouldn't it be safe? In weight loss terms as long as it fits into your calories for the…

We are what we repeatedly do. Make a change and stick to it, eventually it's just habit and no effort. I find how I talk to myself is important. To quote yoda, 'do or do not do, there is no try' I don't try, I make decisions and action them. Always realistic though, I'm not big on suffering. So, tomorrow I'll go for a swim…

Flat breads, pitta hasn't been mentioned yet. Cut the ovals in half and each half is a handy pocket for your sandwich filling. Easy option is oatcakes to have with hummus, or often I eat them with soup. A portion of potato salad with some cold meat, or I'll sometimes make a big frittata with potato in it and have slices of…

If you can find it try having some vegetarian haggis. It is delicious with all the usual roast dinner accompaniments, although it doesn't look pretty. It's easy to get here in the UK, might be tricky elsewhere.

I'd start by re-framing, self talk is important. I never got anywhere when I was beating myself up. Now I try to think in positive terms, I'm doing things because they're fun and I like them. I eat a certain way because it's tasty and it makes me feel good. It's not punishment for the size of my lazy backside. Give…

My top tip: find some kind of fitness event in a few months that looks fun. Convince some pals to do it with you and enter it. At this time of year I'd be looking at Christmas fun runs, community charity events that include children and dogs, so nice and relaxed. Then train for it, always find the hard work easier if…

Water. Because if you are drinking stuff with lots of calories, huge milky coffees, fizzy drinks, juice etc water will have less calories than that.

I make a lot of soups. Very easy to make, will happily sit in the fridge for several days. Mine are usually quite thick so they fill me up, and full of veg. I find its quite difficult to overeat them and endless variety. Even if one of my concoctions doesn't taste that great to start with if you chuck enough curry powder…

I find this interesting. I do similar to this regularly, try and eat dinner by 7pm and usually have breakfast about 9am. So a regular 14 hour break between meals. Its not suffering at all, if it was I wouldn't do it :D . Whatever I may have previously believed I do not need to eat every 2 hours, and I sleep better/have…

Might be worth trying a baked oats recipe, the texture is different and can be happily eaten over a few days. Sometimes I make fruit crumble, the crumble being mostly oats/rye/barley flakes. I have a chunk with some yoghurt. If not a slice of toast and peanut butter is always a winner.

Great stuff. Regarding getting going - I once read an interview with an Ultrarunner where they asked her how she motivated herself to do the training. The response really stayed with me, 'It's not about whether I want to or not, I just do, the decision has been made' So that's what I do, I make the decision. The me that…

Sounds like your making great progress. My tips for longer runs based on marathon training on trails in the Cotswolds. This is my personal list, feel free to try/ignore as applicable: Headphones and phone with podcasts/audio books ready to go. I like being able to drift off listening to something. Takes my mind of the…

It would be very bad for me. I would be very tired, unable to do the activities I normally do. Both general running about at work and the exercise. Difficulty concentrating. I would be very grumpy with everyone. Eventually I would crack and would eat everything I could get hold off, which would end up being far more than…

Tub of hummous, olives, some kind of tasty bread. I usually have a few rolls/flatbreads in the freezer. Pepper/cucumber/cherry tomatoes/ baby carrots. I will happily sit and eat this in various combinations at any time of day. Or the classic Some stuff on toast. Mushrooms, baked beans, scrambled eggs. Whatever is lurking/I…

Do you have access to a microwave? I just made a pot of ratatouille with lentils that'll be lunch for the next couple of days. Chilli, curry, stews, all work really well for this. Salad - quinoa with roast veg (courgette/aubergine/pepper/sweet potato) with boiled egg/chicken/smoked salmon. Spoonful of toasted seeds on top.

Regarding weight to run at, I have been a regular runner and am considerably heavier than would be ideal. Hasn't stopped me doing a couple of ultra marathons in the last couple of years. My top tip is cross training, am sure that has helped me stay happily injury free. Yoga/Pilates are great for your core and relieving any…

+1 to this. As a british person it is genuinely incomprehensible how people don't have a kettle :D To add to the stereotype - tea is the choice for me. Some lovely earl grey with a slice of lemon.

I didn't become overweight because I ate to much porridge, wholemeal bread and fruit. It was the pastries, whole packets of chocolate biscuits, doughnuts etc. All of which I'll eat far to much of, I just won't eat that many apples. It's the type of carbs and the volume that's the problem.

Do or do not do, there is no try. The alarm goes off at 5:30 and its cold and raining and I very much do not want to get up and run. But that is irrelevant, the decision has been made. This is what I do - so up I get and out I go. I also don't want to clean the bathroom, but I have to get on with it so the same rule…

I would encourage you to track some things apart from weight. Measurements, how well clothes fit, how quickly you can walk a mile, that kind of thing. Doesn't really matter what, but not weight related. That way you can still your progress even when the weight doesn't shift the way you want to. Find some interesting audio…

Olives, always a jar on the go in the fridge. I go for big jars of them in brine, can usually find them at a reasonable price.

I'm going to make some suggestions of things that have worked for me in the past. It might be worth trying some. Don't know where you are, but for me evenings are starting to get a little lighter. Any nice parks you can go for a walk in, someone who might come along? Trees, birdsong, fresh air, bit of a chat, all good…

I think that's quite dismissive of 'ordinary people ' to be honest. I'm an ordinary person with a full time job. I'm doing intentional exercise before and after work. Running about whilst at work. And doing at least a couple of hours Saturday and Sunday. That stuff needs fuelling properly or I would be very grumpy with…

I always have to start with the exercise. It helps manage the stress, I generally do better and feel better. Which is then reflected in the choices I make and how else I take care of myself. Then I am eating to fuel fun stuff that makes me feel good, so it's a positive choice. Rather than not eating the nice stuff my brain…

I swim, run, and hike regularly. Weekly Pilates classes, started spin classes a couple of months ago and like them better than I thought I would. The spin is because this year's goal is a triathlon, so when it warms up it'll be cycling outside. Have done SUP a few times and really enjoyed it so hoping to do more of that.…

When you say 'more fruits and veggies' how much? I had high blood pressure when in my 20s. Very much did not want to end up on meds. did a lot of research into it on the British Blood pressure association website at the time. Up shot was - cut out the salty snacks/don't add any salt. And 7-10 portions of fruit & veg a day.…

I generally go with a 'thank you, I've been working really hard' which makes it clear it's deliberate. I only talk more about it if people ask specific questions. With the best will in the world most people aren't interested in hearing about the various gym classes, distances run, getting up at the crack of dawn, the…

Do you have access to a fridge and microwave? Makes life easier if you do. Regulars for me are: dinner leftovers, soup, salad, a collection of bits - flat bread/hummous/olives/crudites/cherry tomatoes Salads are substantial, a grain as a base with variations on roast veg, tomatoes, spring onions, grated carrot. With a…