This week was extremely busy – it literally flew by. As part of my role with Meath Local Sports Partnership I was out visiting community walking groups this week. I assisted group leaders in areas including Carnaross, Navan, Donore, Castletown and the Hill of Tara, Co Meath.
Each walk was approximately 5K which means I managed to walk 25K this week. That’s not including my two GAA football training sessions.
Planning ahead
I had a lot of people writing to me on social media last week following my first article. Some of the questions were how do I keep motivated and how do I manage to fit in my exercise and food prep when working full-time with a two-year-old child.
My answer is to plan ahead, be prepared and make sure you get enough sleep at night. For example, I do my full week’s food shopping on a Sunday so that I have everything I need for the week going forward. I plan my breakfast, snacks, lunch and dinner the night before. Then I am ready to go when I get up at 6.45am for work.
I find if I don’t do that in advance I get carried away with my morning duties, getting Molly ready, and would end up leaving the house empty handed, eating on the go.
I call myself the #Prepqueen
I don’t care if someone sees me driving to work with tubs of food for my breakfast, snack and lunch sitting on the passenger seat. That’s what works for me. I call myself the #Prepqueen.
Another thing I know gets in my way is that if I don’t get enough sleep at night I am a completely different person. I have no willpower and turn to food I shouldn’t throughout the day. My motivation comes from me, if I don’t look after myself – who will?
This week I got swollen glands and a chesty cough which ended up leaving me with a few sleepless nights. This set me back a little. My energy levels dropped and all I wanted to do was curl up in my bed or on the couch with a cup of tea, chocolate and watch the soaps. But no. I got on with my daily agenda as I was determined not to let it get in the way.
The weigh in
I weighed in on 15/01/2017 (Sunday) and I was down one pound which leaves me at 14st 5lbs. I am a little disheartened as it’s just one pound but I am going to accept it and look at the fact that it’s a pound in the right direction. It’s all about taking the positives and acknowledging your hard work.
Some people may think walking 25k and following a food plan will ensure you drop numerous pounds, but when your body is tired and you’re sick, it will rebel against it. Let’s hope my hard work will show on my weigh in next week.
This week’s OT menu was adventurous. Some of my favourite main meals this week include mango chicken with sweet potato wedges, creamy courgette and prawn pasta, sweet and sour vegetable and cashew nut stir fry and creamy mushroom pasta.
Creamy Mushroom Pasta Recipe
I usually have porridge every morning but I decided to mix it up during the week. I made the berry and chia smoothie which was delicious. I didn’t think it would fill me up until my mid morning snack but it sure did, and it was very refreshing.
Berry and Chia Smoothie Recipe
I will leave you all with a little motivation for this week: Take one step at a time, plan your exercise and food in advance, get enough sleep and smash this week.
Anyone with any questions or who wants to follow my plan and see my progress can check me out on Snapchat at lucydillon1 and Facebook at Love Lucy x.
That’s me for another week and I hope you all have a healthy one. Love Lucy x
Operation Transformation airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8.30pm on RTÉ One.
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