Forget about the tiers, just make sure you sparkle at Christmas https://t.co/UwfYUzXWhN

Forget about the tiers, just make sure you sparkle at Christmas https://t.co/UwfYUzXWhN

— sosnicaragua (@sosnicaragua) December 22, 2020

from Twitter https://twitter.com/sosnicaragua

Forget about the tiers, just make sure you sparkle at Christmas

 

LIKE so many people I was really affected by the news that much of country was being put in virtual lockdown.  Like a lot of people, I had special plans for Christmas which had to be cancelled because I’m now in Tier 4.

It was a real shock and as the news sank in,  I felt numb and in a mental place I don’t go into very often.  However since March I’ve found myself having to be far more mentally resilient than ever before and set myself a personal goal of reading a positive thinking/inspiring book every month.

I must admit I didn’t achieve my goal every single month but I’ve no doubt whatsoever this has helped me be stronger during the past nine months.

The latest book I read was Good Vibes, Good Life by Vex King and it’s SO good that my children are each getting one for Christmas!

On Sunday I decided I needed to read some bits again because I REALLY needed it.

This quote jumped off the page and I thought it would be useful to share it with you because it might help you too:

“If you can’t change the situation, change your perception of it.  That’s where personal power lies”.

This is SO true right now.

Many people will have heard me say this several times since March, but stress makes us stupid.  We get stuck and just can’t think.

I was mentally stuck in the negative situation we’re all finding ourselves in but what changed on Sunday was I decided I had the power to choose to think differently if I wanted to.

When the fog cleared a little I decided I wasn’t going to let this situation get the better of me.

I reframed my thinking and Christmas is back on but in a different way.

I’m going to enjoy my home, my family and my dogs.  I’m going to play games with my kids and I’m going to relax and watch some Christmas films (something I NEVER do because I’m always too busy entertaining).

Don’t get me wrong.  I’m very sad and even had some tears.

But this year has taught me what I need to do to keep going and that means loads of self-care is involved!  I need to stop and just be.

I love dressing up and won’t be letting my Christmas outfit go to waste so the sparkle will be well and truly on for a few days.

Hope you’ll be putting on your sparkle too (if that’s what makes you feel good – or PJs if they’re your thing!)

2020 has not unfolded in the way we would have liked.  There have been far ranging difficulties and sadly many many casualties. 

There have also been so many wonderful examples of individuals within our Slimpod community who have embraced the new normal and helped others remain positive.  

I’m so proud of my community and I’m equally proud of my lovely team who are always there to help others. Sometimes it’s the smallest thing that makes the biggest difference.

 COVID may have temporarily taken our freedom, but kindness has shone through and we’ve all been reminded of what’s really important. 

All that’s left is to send you so much love for Christmas and to wish you a happy, peaceful and healthy 2021.  Take care of yourselves and stay safe.

Xx

The post Forget about the tiers, just make sure you sparkle at Christmas appeared first on Slimpod.

Coconut fish curry is the winter warmer with a healthy difference https://t.co/vHsxRlULrP

Coconut fish curry is the winter warmer with a healthy difference https://t.co/vHsxRlULrP

— sosnicaragua (@sosnicaragua) December 14, 2020

from Twitter https://twitter.com/sosnicaragua

Coconut fish curry is the winter warmer with a healthy difference

 

WE’LL all be sick of the sight of turkey, chicken, beef, lamb and pork once Christmas is here – so in the run-up to the holiday why not try an ultra-healthy coconut fish curry?

Now that the cold, dark nights are well and truly here they can be a trigger for the bad habits of previous winters to try to slip their way back in again.

But you’ll find this coconut fish curry is really comforting and nourishing and isn’t packed with carbs.

You can cook this delicious curry in about 20 minutes and not only is it healthy, it leaves you feeling good, too.

Cooking in coconut milk adds a whole new dimension to a curry and brings out the full flavour of the fish.

By the way, you don’t have to have rice with a curry – there’s plenty of fresh veg in this dish and the protein in the fish will leave you feeling satisfied.

Try a coconut fish curry with a side salad like they do in Thailand! Or maybe add a helping of steamed broccoli and spinach.

Ingredients for coconut fish curry

2 tablespoons sesame seed oil

1 red onion, sliced

2 red peppers, sliced

50g mangetout

50g sugar snap peas

1 courgette, cut into batons

4 fillets of white fish

600 ml coconut milk (tinned)

3 teaspoons fish sauce

juice and rind of 2 limes

4 tbsp Massaman curry paste (found in most supermarkets)

Large handful coriander leaves

Basmati rice to serve four (small helpings!) or a salad

Easy cooking steps for coconut fish curry

Heat the oil in a large, deep frying pan.

Once hot, fry the onions for 2 minutes and then add the red pepper and cook until onions have gone slightly brown.

Add the curry paste and stir to coat the pepper and onions. Season to taste.

Add the coconut milk and stir. Add the lime juice, and fish sauce, stir well.

Place the fish fillets into the sauce flesh side down, and scatter the rest of the vegetables around the pan.

Poach the fish for 5 minutes and then turn over so that the skin is facing the pan.

Cook for a further 5 minutes or until the flesh is fully cooked – flesh becomes flaky and glistens.

Serve with fresh coriander leaves and small helpings of basmati rice – leave out the rice if you’re into no-carbs or low-carbs. Try a side salad instead or a helping of steamed broccoli and spinach.

Give it a whirl and please leave a comment below to let me know how you got on and how much your family loved coconut fish curry. Who knows, you might even be serving it up on Christmas Day!

If you’re a Slimpod Gold or Extra member, you’ll find this and more than 100 other recipes in our Healthy Recipes section.

The post Coconut fish curry is the winter warmer with a healthy difference appeared first on Slimpod.

Keep the weight off over Xmas with this unique free download https://t.co/hMvWOFdxWF

Keep the weight off over Xmas with this unique free download https://t.co/hMvWOFdxWF

— sosnicaragua (@sosnicaragua) December 7, 2020

from Twitter https://twitter.com/sosnicaragua

Keep the weight off over Xmas with this unique free download

 

CHRISTMAS can be a challenging time of the year for so many reasons.  People become anxious that they will undo the great work they’ve achieved over the year because traditionally the Xmas period is full of temptations and excesses.

I know from the comments in our private Facebook group that Christmas brings on huge food anxiety. It can take a different type of effort to keep going.

So how would it feel if you had a control boost?

How would it feel if you could stay within your limits and were able to simply look forward to the New Year, knowing you had nothing to worry about apart from simply continuing on your journey?

Well, now you can!

Here’s a special pre-Christmas gift from me.   It’s a download which will help to take the worry out of the seasonal anxieties and enable you to enjoy Christmas without going over the top!

It’s designed to play from the blog NOT via your app. So return to the blog and listen either before you go to bed or when you’re relaxing at some other time of the day.

I’d recommend you start now and listen until the end of December.  That’s it! Peace of mind for Christmas!

Below the download you’ll find some other useful tips on keeping the pounds off at this time of year.

Keep The Weight Off Over Xmas

 

What else can you do to keep the weight off over Xmas?

In several studies researchers intentionally overfed people and discovered that some people put on weight and some people didn’t. Weird, eh?

Further experiments were carried out to see what actually happens inside people’s bodies that determines whether they store excess food as fat or burned it off.

So what was happening?

Well, the people who burn it off naturally increased their movement and those who put on fat did not. We’re not talking about going to the gym or doing intensive workouts.

We’re talking about natural everyday movement that seems to stop during the holiday season!

This type of movement is called NEAT. And it stands for Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis.

This is the energy expended for everything we do that is not sleeping, eating or sports-like exercise.  It ranges from the energy expended by walking, typing, performing physical work around the house/garden to running around after kids and general day-to-day activity.

So how do we put this into practice right now?

Well, have a think about CONSCIOUSLY increasing your NEAT during this holiday season.  Make time for post-meal walks and stay ACTIVE during the day (even if it’s cold outside!)

The message is: Keep your bum off seats as much as possible!

If you’re on Instagram and you haven’t already followed me, please find me @sandraroycroftdavis

PLEASE feel free to share this blog and the download with all your friends who might find it helpful.

And do leave a comment below to let me know how you’re getting on as Xmas approaches.

The post Keep the weight off over Xmas with this unique free download appeared first on Slimpod.

I lost two stone in four months with Slimpod and I’m a new person https://t.co/5b8FPZ4dti

I lost two stone in four months with Slimpod and I’m a new person https://t.co/5b8FPZ4dti

— sosnicaragua (@sosnicaragua) November 30, 2020

from Twitter https://twitter.com/sosnicaragua

I lost two stone in four months with Slimpod and I’m a new person

ON a diet since she was 16. Obese for 20 years. Now she’s lost two stone on Slimpod in only four months.  Sally-Anne Griffiths’s story is just the inspiration we need at the moment!

I’ve got a wonderful video interview with her and she’s also written about her weight loss experience to show exactly what’s possible with Slimpod.

Whether you’ve just started Slimpod or been on it for months, I’m sure you’ll be motivated by her achievements.

Remember, Slimpod works on individual minds and everyone’s journey is different. So don’t compare yourself with Sally-Anne.

Just take inspiration. See what’s possible. Give yourself hope. Here’s the video, which you can watch on The Slimpod Channel:

Here’s Sally-Anne’s Slimpod success story:

“I was a slim child and started putting weight on in my teens. My mum always says it was when I started eating what I wanted, rather than what I was given.

“I’ve been on a diet since about the age of 16. I was a greedy eater and a couch potato. I’m not a huge drinker so food was my big issue.

“I’ve tried every type of diet WW, SW, Atkins, meal replacement, calorie controlled, low fat, 5:2, hypnotherapy, cabbage soup, modius, skinny jab and lots, lots more.

“I have never achieved my goal weight or got anywhere near it. I have been classed as obese for at least the last 20 years.

“I would be committed for the first few weeks/months of each programme that I tried. I would work hard to lose the  first stone but it would be a yo-yo journey with one step forward, two steps back.

“It was never enjoyable even given the freedom and choice of some plans. After about 5-6 weeks into a programme my willpower would cave and over the coming weeks and months my diet plan would fail.

“The most I’d ever lost was just over two stone. I didn’t even get to goal weight for my wedding.

“When I joined Slimpod I was as big as I’d ever been (a large size 18) and as desperate!

“From day one I found a difference, although at first I was a secret Podder.

“I’d failed so many times before I didn’t want to start shouting about Slimpod until I knew it was working for me and I’d got past the self-sabotage 5-6 weeks stage.

“One of the first habits to break was my daily weighing habit. The scales had held me hostage for years.

“With Slimpod I allowed myself to weigh weekly for the first month and then fortnightly after that. I now only weigh myself once a month and when I get to my goal I’d like to ditch them altogether but I’m proud of how far I’ve come.

Sally-Anne before Slimpod

“I also took my measurements as soon as I started (this is a definite must). Prior to Slimpod when I used to weigh myself, I would often emotionally eat afterwards if I hadn’t lost any/the weight I felt I deserved

“Equally I would emotionally eat if I had lost weight (was that reward or self-sabotage or both?).

“What I have loved about Slimpod is the fact I’m not on a diet and therefore there is no wagon to fall off.

“This has had a huge personal impact on me that I wasn’t consciously aware of before. I can now see that in diet failure mode I would have very negative self-talk.

“I knew that I felt happier in myself when I was losing weight but I didn’t realise that’s because I would be so brutal with myself when I wasn’t.

“Criticising myself as a constant failure is bound to have long-term effect son your self-worth.

“I am so much kinder to myself now. I love myself more, I am happier in my skin.

“I used to hate photos of myself and couldn’t bear looking in the mirror – now I like some of the photos taken and feel proud of what I’ve achieved so far.

“My daily affirmations are: I am worthy, I believe in myself and Today is going to be a Great Day. I use these to override the negative talk at times.

“I have listened to Slimpod every night since starting and religiously document my wins.

“I stopped snacking from day one and found my full signal within the first week. I also eat a lot less – no more the greedy eater.

“I also found my food choices changing. I eat more fish, fruit and vegetables than before and when I’m out socialising I naturally choose healthy meals. It’s like magic!

“This was an issue previously on diet plans as a lunch or dinner would generally take me off track (with my cravings for chips) and my week would be blown. Failed again. Slimpod has put paid to all of that.

“I’ve replaced my cravings for bread, crisps, chocolate and chips to craving food like sweetcorn, fish, fresh fruit, Greek yoghurt. I also eat more balanced meals.

“Having read more into the impact sugar has on your body I have significantly reduced  my intake of low fat (high sugar) and artificial sweeteners. I now enjoy butter, full fat milk and full fat Greek yoghurt.

“That isn’t to say that I don’t ever eat chocolate, crisps, cake etc. I do – after all I’m not on a diet. It’s just naturally now more seldom and in much smaller quantities than before.

“I have been on two holidays since joining Slimpod and not gained a pound (normally I’d be looking at 7-10 pounds gain). One of them was a week all-inclusive in beautiful Rhodes.

“I smiled at myself as I would sail past the huge variety of breakfast choices and head happily and wantonly to the fruit, yoghurt and nuts (that was when I fell in love with Greek yoghurt).

“On previous holidays breakfast was always my favourite meal. So much choice, so much variety to eat and I’d have two or three trips up to the buffet counters before leaving the dining room completely stuffed.

“Breakfast still was my favourite meal in Rhodes but for different reasons now. Don’t get me wrong, I had a fabulous indulgent holiday enjoying cocktail a many, the odd pudding here and there and whatever I fancied to eat.

“I just didn’t always revert to the crap food in the first instance.

“I have also found myself naturally falling into intermittent fasting. I do this 5-7 days a week but I’m not fanatical about it. I could never have done this before – I was too greedy to fast.

“The other piece of Slimpod magic for me is exercise. The love of exercise has grown over time.

“Initially I would find myself enjoying the morning dog walks more and walking further than normal. My daily steps went from an average of 6k to meeting my 10k goal each day.

“I also started tap dancing (for the first time in over 30 years) and loved it. However in month four I accepted a challenge from Lynn and it seems to have ignited a love for exercise in me.

“I might only do seven mins or 14 mins a day but my steps are now at least 12k a day and average over 90k a week.

“This does make my inner smile grow by the day. Who is this new person emerging? Or was she there all the time?

“I am so pleased that I followed the advice from the start of the programme and documented my measurements. This has really kept me going since losing the daily weigh habit.

“That and also the clothes that I can now get into, that I haven’t worn for at least three years – or ever.

“I call it ‘the taste of skinny’. It helps to keep me to motivated to reach my goal (and having ditched the daily scales, nothing can sabotage that). Bizarrely, I now fit into clothes that I wore when I was a stone lighter.

Sally-Anne today

“Slimpod doesn’t require willpower (yay) but it does require commitment. I completed the ribbon challenge, a goal map and watched the videos and read the emails that come with the programme.

“But don’t get me wrong, these aren’t onerous, they are all part of supporting your journey to success.

“The Facebook group is also amazing. I remember being in my first week and being inspired by the success stories from those just completing week 12.

“I began to believe this was the programme for me. At week 12 I posted my success on the programme so far and was overwhelmed by the amazing comments from group members.

“I had posted in the hope I might help another newbie believe in the Slimpod magic. I didn’t realise the positive impact the post would have on me.

“So in addition to being more confident, happier in my skin etc the number results for me so far are as follows (I joined on 2 August, 2020):

Weight loss 1.5 stone

BMI reduced from 34.2 to 30.8 (I only have 5 pounds to lose to go from obese to overweight category)

Measurements lost over 60cm

Dropped 2 dress sizes

“This failed dieter has achieved her first goal map. I’ve now reset my goal and I’m aiming to be a size 12 by March (I can’t ever remember being a size 12!)”

Please leave a comment below to let me know how well you’re doing. I love reading them all and other people find them really inspiring.

The post I lost two stone in four months with Slimpod and I’m a new person appeared first on Slimpod.

3 tips to beat Xmas stress and keep your weight loss on track

SORRY to remind you, but in barely four weeks it will be Christmas Eve. Can you believe that?!  I’m in a state of shock!  I’ve already been asked when the decorations and the tree are going up!

Then I need to get the cards written and posted, the shopping done, the food and drink in, the presents bought and wrapped PLUS a million other things I’ve not even thought about yet!

Sounding like a bit of a humbug, I could do without it this year to be honest!

Christmas is always stressful but it feels that this Christmas – after the eight months of mayhem we’ve been through – is the toughest ever.

The worst thing about stress is that good habits can go out of the window and bad ones can march in through the door! Bad habits not only prevent you from accomplishing your goals, they can also jeopardise your health – mentally and physically – and waste your time and energy.

You may not know this, but bad habits are generally caused by two things – stress and boredom. Most of the time, bad habits like snacking, over-eating or drinking too much become a way of coping.

I’ve noticed over the years that sweet stuff and alcohol become my major stress response and I know the one thing so many of us do when we’re bored is snack!

I can feel you agreeing with me right now!  If we’re watching TV we start by just having one packet of crisps, then we get the taste for them.

Those crisps often then develop into us looking for biscuits and maybe a glass of wine to go with them!  How many times do you sit down in the evening with a glass of wine or a G&T for example?

Then it develops into a regular habit.

But you CAN change this – habits don’t have to be what consumes your life. You can create new and healthy ways to deal with stress and boredom which will replace your bad habits.

Here’s three tips to keep you on track so you can beat Xmas stress (and I’m doing a deep dive into this on my FB live on Thursday with more tips – join me then!)

Beat Xmas stress – tip 1

Work out what triggers your bad habit. Ask yourself these questions:

When does my bad habit happen?

Is it the same time each day?

Where am I when I do it?

We’re being triggered every day of the week and it’s hugely important to work out what sets off the behaviour, because when you identify this you can stop it – or at the very least control it.

Beat Xmas stress – tip 2

Track your habit’s favourite time and place.

Being far more aware of your habit can give you dozens of ideas for stopping it.  So use your phone to note down when it happens and what you are doing.

This little exercise isn’t for you to judge yourself or feel guilty – the only thing you need to achieve is to be more aware of what’s going on.

Awareness is the first important step towards change.

Beat Xmas stress – tip 3

Replace the bad habit with a good habit.

If you eat sweet stuff when you’re stressed then it’s not a good idea to  suddenly stop. That way your needs will be unfulfilled and it’s going to be hard to stick to a new behaviour or routine for very long.

Suddenly depriving yourself of something is the mistake a lot of people make – and that’s why diets can’t be sustained for long.

Instead what you should work towards is being aware of what you’re putting your mouth and then consciously changing it to something similar but not as bad for you.

In the case of chocolate – choose one with less sugar, or possibly some sweetish fruit if that works – because this way you’ll start adopting new behaviour that fulfils the same need but is healthier.

Of course,  if you’re on the Slimpod programme your tastebuds and your need for sweet stuff will probably have changed already and you’ll be getting your pleasure and reward from healthier food and exercise.

But if there’s something that’s being stubborn, or there’s another habit you want to break to help you beat Xmas stress, then these three tips will be really effective.

Breaking bad habits takes time and effort but mostly perseverance.  It’s that good old consistency word again.

Most people who end up breaking their habits have tried multiple times before they made it work.  So you may not have success right away but that’s ok – because the rewards will be worth it in the end

To help motivate you to kick your bad habits, I’ll be doing a deep dive on all this on my Instagram page live at 7pm UK time on Thursday (November 26) and then the main public Facebook page at 7.30pm.

What habits do you want to change before Christmas? How are you planning to beat Xmas stress?

Please let me know in a comment below.

The post 3 tips to beat Xmas stress and keep your weight loss on track appeared first on Slimpod.

3 tips to beat Xmas stress and keep your weight loss on track https://t.co/sA6ojoBPsj

3 tips to beat Xmas stress and keep your weight loss on track https://t.co/sA6ojoBPsj

— sosnicaragua (@sosnicaragua) November 24, 2020

from Twitter https://twitter.com/sosnicaragua

Letting go of the scales will help you to conquer emotional eating https://t.co/Am83z9eBP7

Letting go of the scales will help you to conquer emotional eating https://t.co/Am83z9eBP7

— sosnicaragua (@sosnicaragua) November 17, 2020

from Twitter https://twitter.com/sosnicaragua

Letting go of the scales will help you to conquer emotional eating

LETTING go of the scales is one of the major things people struggle with on the Slimpod programme. For many, weighing is an obsession.  And for some, it’s an addiction.

The scales can be your friend or your foe.  They can help keep you accountable or they can do the opposite by throwing you completely off track and sending you into an emotional spin.

If they hold you accountable then that’s fabulous.  If there’s no emotion attached to them whatsoever, then happy days!

BUT in my many years of experience, I don’t see them as a hugely-helpful weight loss tool.  In fact, I would say they cause so many psychological issues that they’re the reason so many people self-sabotage.

Daily weighing can lead to increased emotional eating and can damage your self-esteem.

A study in 2015 which tracked participants over 10 years showed that self-weighing is associated with increased weight concerns and depression.

The study also showed a decrease in body satisfaction and self-esteem over the 10 years, especially for the women in the study.

If you’re an emotional eater, weighing yourself can be one of the most effective ways to feel really bad about yourself.

When that number is not the one you were hoping for it doesn’t help with anything.

In fact, it can have very serious emotional consequences.  That’s how much power we give to the scales.

If you’ve been a long-time emotional eater, the scales are not your friend!

In fact, there’s no real reason to weigh yourself at all.

Your weight can’t tell you anything about the nutrient density of the food you eat and its effect on your body.

Unless you have a body composition scale, it doesn’t tell you how much muscle you have versus how much fat.

 And it certainly doesn’t tell you anything positive about your relationship with yourself, especially when you’re an emotional eater.

We all know what it’s like!  If the number’s gone down, you feel great about yourself.

But when it’s up – and especially if it’s a big number – your mood plummets, your drive for self-care fades and self-compassion is nowhere in sight.

But here’s the thing!  If you break the terrible power the scales have over you,  you can become more engaged in your relationship with your body and work together – rather than seeing food as the enemy and the body as the battleground.

We all know the power of Slimpod is that it helps you to start trusting yourself to make the right decisions for your health and wellbeing so you don’t need external sources like diet companies to tell you how to eat.

If you want a better relationship with food and your body, turn away from the external validation the scales give you and turn toward trusting yourself.

This is the way out of negative body image, low self-esteem and all the emotional eating that brings.

What needs to happen is you develop an internal confidence that you are making the right choices every day which will lead to your goal. When you have this internal confidence, you never need the scales again!

But when you’ve become reliant on the external verification of daily weighing…

How do you break the habit/addiction?

How do you wean yourself off?

How easy is letting go of the scales?

Here’s five tips – and I’m doing a deep dive into this during my live this Thursday on the Slimpod public Facebook page:

ONE: Out of sight out of mind!  Put the scales somewhere you’re not seeing them every day.  This will really help. If they’re currently in your bedroom – put it them in another room or in a cupboard!

TWO: If you’re someone who weighs every day, wean yourself off in baby steps and consciously make a decision to weigh every second day.  Then once a week – then once a month.

THREE: Have it as one of your goals that you’ll trust yourself and chalk it up as a win every time you go a day or week without weighing.

FOUR: Use your clothes as your guide, or a measuring tape or a ribbon.

FIVE: If the scales keep you accountable and you have absolutely no emotional reaction, then that’s fine – keep using them to help you succeed.

One last thing…if you’re new to the Slimpod programme, then take it easy.  Weighing has been a habit for a long time and you may need it as a psychological safety net to start with before you can be free to trust yourself and go it alone!

Let me know below if the scales are your friend or foe. Are you letting go of the scales?

Join me on Thursday November 19 at 7.30pm UK time on our public Facebook page and I’ll do a deep dive into letting go of the scales and all of the above!

The post Letting go of the scales will help you to conquer emotional eating appeared first on Slimpod.

Think positively in the pandemic and you’ll feel in control https://t.co/XWVrcBz8Yg

Think positively in the pandemic and you’ll feel in control https://t.co/XWVrcBz8Yg

— sosnicaragua (@sosnicaragua) November 10, 2020

from Twitter https://twitter.com/sosnicaragua

Think positively in the pandemic and you’ll feel in control

THINK positively! That’s today’s message. With lockdown in full swing again, I felt it was time to really ramp up some positivity. So I asked my friend Brian Mayne, the author, international speaker and creator of Goalmapping.com, to join me on a Zoom to inspire and add some much-needed light to our lives right now.

We went live in Slimpod Club last Wednesday, and everyone loved it so much I thought I’d share the session so that the whole Slimpod community could benefit.

One of our lovely Podders has used Goalmappingcom with her Slimpod and has lost seven stone!  They really are the dream team!

Let me know below how you’re doing and whether you’ve created your own goal map.

Brian and I also have some very exciting news in the video for all Slimpod users – an exclusive new resource we’ll be launching shortly.

Here’s this week’s video:

While you’re on The Slimpod Channel watching the video, please hit the Like and Share buttons so more people can receive this totally-free help and advice. If you Subscribe to the channel, you’ll get priority notifications every time I post up a new video.

Think positively – 30-second summary

**  We’re all different and unique but we are all a combination of our thoughts, feelings and actions

**  Thoughts you repeat often enough become beliefs’ they can be negative or positive and empowering

**  Our thoughts influence our feelings and this shapes who we are as a person – our authentic true self

**  All we are starts with our thought; with our thoughts we are able to shape our world

**  If you think positively it releases the chemical serotonin into the brain – better known as “the happy chemical”

**  Feeling good about ourselves and about life has a powerful effect on our behaviour and our wellbeing.

Please leave a comment below to let me know if you’re going to think positive now. Have you created a goal map for your future? Do let me know what’s on yours and how it’s working.

You can create a free goal map at Goalmapping.com

The post Think positively in the pandemic and you’ll feel in control appeared first on Slimpod.

Lynn’s amazing story will lift you up and inspire you https://t.co/ulNIAJZ0Aq

Lynn’s amazing story will lift you up and inspire you https://t.co/ulNIAJZ0Aq

— sosnicaragua (@sosnicaragua) November 2, 2020

from Twitter https://twitter.com/sosnicaragua

Lynn’s amazing story will lift you up and inspire you

FEELING supported is the backbone of any weight loss journey, whether it’s by family, friends or a group of like-minded people.

I’m SO proud that people say the support they get on our programme is one of the best they’ve experienced.

Within Slimpod Club, our private Facebook group, we have amazing support from the community, a buddy system and mentoring.

We also have a constant programme of motivational challenges. In addition, of course, I do my weekly live chats, which are designed to motivate and inspire.

But we recognise that the group support up until now has only been available if you’re a Facebook user.

So our lovely community managers, Kate Morris and Lynn Haddrell, are going to be hosting weekly Zooms called Gold Gatherings to support the whole community whether you’re on Facebook or not.

Kate and Lynn recently joined Team Slimpod. They’re both Slimpodders and have great stories to tell.

I asked Lynn to introduce herself to you all and you’ll be amazed by her video:

This is the inspiring takeaway from Lynn:

“Slimpod has made me feel like a completely new person but in truth this me was always there, I just didn’t know how to find her.

“I am slimmer, fitter, healthier and I can look in the mirror and smile.  I am a positive, calm, resilient and happy person who loves life.

“I’ve always been kind to others but am finally kind to myself too.”

What a wonderful, uplifting, full-of-hope story – just when we needed something to make us all feel better about life.

The Gold Gatherings are kicking off tonight (Monday Nov 2) at with a test run at 8pm for Slimpod Club members.  It’s an informal gathering for Slimpod Club members who want to meet up for a chat and get support.

If you’re in Slimpod Club, we’ve already posted details on how to log in to the Zoom chat.

The community managers do not give weight loss advice but they can share their wisdom about Slimpod and point you in the direction of help if you’re struggling.

Next week’s Gold Gatherings will be a coffee morning on Wednesday Nov 11 at 10am. This will be held at GoldGatherings.com and will be open to all Slimpodders.

However, don’t go searching for GoldGatherings.com until next week as it won’t be open until shortly before each Zoom meeting takes place.

I’ll email you full details about next week’s Zoom chat, including a password, nearer the time.

Meanwhile, please leave a comment below to let Lynn and myself know how her story has resonated with you.

The post Lynn’s amazing story will lift you up and inspire you appeared first on Slimpod.

Let’s meet up and help support this wonderful cause for women

FANCY having coffee with me on Wednesday morning? It will obviously be a virtual coffee, rather than face to face and it’s in aid of a wonderful cause – the Prince’s Trust campaign Women Supporting Women.

Personal empowerment is hugely important to me because it’s what the Slimpod programme is all about – empowering you take control over food, sugar empowering you to live and love your life !

This week the Trust is encouraging women to support women by holding  virtual get-togethers called Brilliant Breakfast. But I’m renaming mine Brilliant Brunch because I know so many people don’t actually have breakfast (which is no big deal).

The aim is to raise money for young women in the UK who need our support, helping them to wake up to a more positive future.

Young people are among the hardest hit by COVID-19. Prince’s Trust research says over half of young women say their anxiety has increased because of the crisis and say finding a job feels impossible – this is why it’s more important than ever to support young women.

According to The Times, 80 per cent of those who have lost their jobs since the crisis began are women and two-thirds are aged 18-34. Women are a third more likely than men to work in a sector that is now shut down.

How you can help

One of the patrons of Women Supporting Women is Holly Tucker (pictured below), the founder of Not On The High Street. Holly’s one of the most inspiring women I’m fortunate enough to know and I’m delighted to be giving my support.

She has set up a JustGiving page and I’m going to be adding to that page with my donation.

There’s absolutely no pressure but I’d love Slimpodders to donate to this wonderful cause as well. Even a £5 donation will help give hope to a young woman somewhere.

Holly’s told me she’ll try to pop in to our Brilliant Brunch to say hello so fingers crossed!

Here’s her fund-raising page:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Holly-Tucker1

How you can join me

So I’d love you to join me on Wednesday (October 14) any time between 10 and 11. It’s really easy – just hit this link www.GoldGatherings.com on Wednesday and use the password Slimpod.

Important: Don’t search for GoldGatherings – it won’t work. The only way to join me is by clicking on the link in this email.

Put the kettle on, prepare yourself a nice healthy brunch and we’ll have a lovely chat.

If you don’t want brunch, just have a drink with us. Tea, coffee, water, whatever you fancy.

And you don’t have to stay for the whole hour – just pop in for a few minutes if you’ve got a busy morning ahead.

Would just be nice to see your face and meet you.

Here’s some extra special news

One of the things I’ll be sharing at the Brilliant Brunch is details of the launch of a new online support service for Slimpodders – whether you’re in Slimpod Club or not.

If you can’t make it tomorrow, I’ll be revealing all in a blog next week.

Please let me know in a comment below if you’ll be joining my Brilliant Brunch on Wednesday.

The post Let’s meet up and help support this wonderful cause for women appeared first on Slimpod.

Let’s meet up and help support this wonderful cause for women https://t.co/5IGMaRlGPC

Let’s meet up and help support this wonderful cause for women https://t.co/5IGMaRlGPC

— sosnicaragua (@sosnicaragua) October 12, 2020

from Twitter https://twitter.com/sosnicaragua

Stop eating sugar right now and feel the amazing benefits https://t.co/pWW63FSBmM

Stop eating sugar right now and feel the amazing benefits https://t.co/pWW63FSBmM

— sosnicaragua (@sosnicaragua) October 5, 2020

from Twitter https://twitter.com/sosnicaragua

Stop eating sugar right now and feel the amazing benefits

SUGAR:  Do you cut down or go cold turkey? The benefits of either are amazing!  Slimpodder Ava Brodie used her sugar pod, which comes as part of the Slimpod Gold programme, then decided she needed to take more drastic action.

I hope her video story will inspire you to realise that sugar doesn’t have to be the enemy that destroys your weight loss ambitions.

Like it did with Ava, your Slimpod will rewire your brain for peace and serenity around food.

Ava, who is 62 and lives in Lancashire, was a size 18 before she started listening to Slimpod in February 2020. She lost weight and felt good about herself – but she knew she could do better.

So she did hours of research into the harmful effects of sugar and what she found out was the trigger that made her decide three months ago to ban it from her life for ever.

Today, Ava is a size 8 and has lost three and a half inches from her waistline since stopping sugar in the summer.

“My BMI has dropped from 29.5 to 23.5 – which means that I’m no longer overweight, let alone being on the verge of obesity,” she says.

“The sugar pod just hit a nerve and made me realise I CAN stop eating sugar.”

Click on the image below to watch her video on The Slimpod Channel:

Ava’s advice on how to stop eating sugar

Ava admits: “Since I was a girl I can’t remember a day going by without eating sugar! I used to call myself a sugarholic…until now!

“I’ve gone just over three months without eating any form of sugar or sweeteners in food and drinks and here’s what happened!

“For the first 10 days or so I had these side effects: headaches, spots and rashes on my face, sleep disruptions, fatigue, irritability and cravings for carbohydrates – sugar!

“Then after that I started to feel so much better. I had more energy, better quality of sleep, a clearer complexion, a feeling of contentment – and no more sweet cravings!

“What helped me was drinking two litres water a day, eating protein with each meal, eating  more berries and citrus fruit and replacing coffee with hot water and a slice of lemon, or green tea.

Ava: I’m so happy and thrilled

“I still have one coffee daily with unsweetened almond milk and make it frothy in my blender – it’s lovely.

“I also found it important to distract myself when I got cravings.

“I can’t begin to tell you how happy and thrilled I am to have done this! I’d lost quite a bit of weight and a lot of inches with my Slimpod but then I got stuck and nothing was moving.

“After one week of going sugar free my weight started to come off again and I’ve lost 36lbs in total since starting Slimpod in February of this year.

“At 62 I feel more energised and happier than I have in a long time. To be finally free from sugar is such a relief.

“If anyone is thinking about it…just do it. Don’t be afraid to listen to your sugar pod.

“For me, going cold turkey was the option I took and I feel that was the only way that I could really and truly give up the sugar!”

Why you should stop eating sugar

The NHS recommends that adults should have no more than 30g of free sugars a day, (roughly equivalent to 7 sugar cubes).

Free sugars are those which are added to food or drinks, and sugars found naturally in honey, syrups, unsweetened fruit and vegetable juices, smoothies and purees.

They should not make up more than 5% of the energy (calories) you get from food and drink each day.

Free sugars are found in sweets, cakes, biscuits, chocolate and some fizzy drinks and juice drinks. For example, a can of cola can have as much as 9 cubes of sugar – more than the recommended daily limit for an adult.

Most people go way over their daily limit because processed food, takeaways and convenient ready meals are jam-packed with sugar.

Stop eating sugar and lose weight

When you pour excess sugar into your body it plays havoc with hormones like insulin and leptin.

Insulin converts sugar into energy but large doses of sugar hamper its work and wreak havoc with your body. This is called insulin resistance.

Leptin is a hormone which controls your appetite. When you become insulin resistant, leptin gets overwhelmed and you constantly crave food – especially sweet things.

Cakes, biscuits and fizzy drinks pile on the pounds around your middle and you become a fat storage machine.

This is because high blood sugar levels release a flood of insulin through your body and over time make fat build up around your belly.

This is especially dangerous because these abdominal fat cells release hormones that bring on the kind of inflammation that can cause heart disease and cancer.

Read more in this blog post:

Stop eating sugar and feel better, look younger

Watch my Lives so you can stop eating sugar

All this week I’ll be doing deep dives on how to stop eating sugar. Please join me tomorrow (Tuesday October 6) on the Slimpod public Facebook page at 7.30pm UK time, in our private Slimpod Club on Wednesday at 8pm and on our Instagram page on Thursday at 7pm.

Do leave a comment below!

Please let me know what sugar’s doing to your life! I read every comment and although I can’t promise to answer every one, they give me invaluable help in creating new content for you.

The post Stop eating sugar right now and feel the amazing benefits appeared first on Slimpod.

Don’t let negativity and self-sabotage hold you hostage https://t.co/Si3oBz70om

Don’t let negativity and self-sabotage hold you hostage https://t.co/Si3oBz70om

— sosnicaragua (@sosnicaragua) September 28, 2020

from Twitter https://twitter.com/sosnicaragua

Don’t let negativity and self-sabotage hold you hostage

THE thing I’ve noticed most during over a decade of helping people to lose weight is that after a few weeks of beginning the latest “new thing,” the excitement and buzz wear off and fear and panic set in.

The destructive little voice in your head starts up again: “You’ll never succeed” or “You always fail, what’s so different this time?” or “What if I don’t lose weight?” or “What will people think if I fail again?”

Well, if this happens to you, I can tell you that you’re not alone. This is such a common thing and it CAN be stopped. That’s what I’m helping you with today.

My new video below, Don’t Let Negativity Hold You Hostage, explains how negativity and self-sabotage can be such a problem.

We’re in week four of the Mindset Reset challenge and it’s around this time in any weight loss exercise that motivation can hit the brakes and our efforts come to a grinding halt.

I’ve seen this SO often over the past 10 years and it causes so many problems.

Of course, sometimes life just gets in the way and we struggle to continue with our new habits and healthy regimes.

But for so many people, self-sabotage is involved and the destructive little voice in your head takes over!

My aim in life is to help you succeed and to inject you with the motivation to overcome the obstacles in your life.

Self-sabotage comes in many forms and I’ll be discussing this on my FB and Instagram live chats in more detail this week – so join me then (scroll down for full details).

Many of the beliefs we have about our body image have started in childhood or during teenage years, and they create an idea that over time becomes an ingrained self-limiting belief.  This also sows the seeds of self-doubt.

Our thoughts really matter because our minds and bodies are linked.

We need to give ourselves kind messages and be nice to ourselves because otherwise we’ll find ourselves going round and round in circles and getting nowhere fast.

You must change the script of your life right now so that the soap opera in your mind isn’t on repeat all your life.

This is about believing in yourself.  Trusting yourself and having faith that you can bash through the self-doubt and knock down that negative voice in your head!

Have the courage and you will reap the reward.

Your final challenge!

Continue to listen to your Slimpod.

Continue to write your wins.

Be aware when your brain is being hijacked by negativity and reframe the thoughts.

Treat these negative moments as obstacles in life’s journey, keep calm and carry on!

Watch my Lives this week

Please join my Lives this week: tomorrow (Tuesday Sept 29) on the Slimpod public Facebook page at 7.30pm UK time, in our private Slimpod Club on Wednesday at 8pm, on our Instagram page on Thursday at 7pm and back on the Slimpod public page at 7.30.

Subscribe to my YouTube channel

On the Slimpod Channel on YouTube  I have 80 videos about weight loss and wellbeing. They’re a great FREE resource for you. Subscribe to the channel and you’ll get priority notification every time a new video goes up. And make sure you smash those Like and Share buttons for me!

How’s the challenge going?

Please let me know by leaving a comment below. I read all of them – although I can’t always answer many –  and they help me to create new and valuable content for you.

New to my Mindset Challenge?

If you’re one of the hundreds of people who’ve joined the Slimpod Community in the past few weeks, then a big welcome! There’s still time to join my Reset Your Mindset challenge – you can catch up here:

Week One: Improve your health from the inside out

Week Two: Supercharge your weight loss

Week Three: 5 tips to reduce your drinking

The post Don’t let negativity and self-sabotage hold you hostage appeared first on Slimpod.

5 tips to reduce your drinking and start feeling better about life https://t.co/Rw1bZkut89

5 tips to reduce your drinking and start feeling better about life https://t.co/Rw1bZkut89

— sosnicaragua (@sosnicaragua) September 21, 2020

from Twitter https://twitter.com/sosnicaragua

5 tips to reduce your drinking and start feeling better about life

MY Reset Your Mindset blog this week is very different – it’s got 5 tips to reduce your drinking and it’s been written by a lovely member of my social media team, Kirstin Chaplin. Her advice is all the more special because it comes from personal experience. Here’s her 5 tips to reduce your drinking…

Hi, my name is Kirstin and I haven’t had a drink for almost four years.

When I tell people that I usually get one of two reactions – ‘Wow! I wish I could do that.’ Or, ‘Wow! I could never do that!’

Now, I’m not here to tell anyone to stop drinking. What constitutes ‘problem drinking’ varies from person to person.

I wouldn’t say I had a ‘drinking problem.’ But I would say alcohol was a problem for me.

A couple of glasses of wine in the evening would make me feel jittery and tearful the next day. Any more and my anxiety would be through the roof.

Drinking’s on the rise

Worryingly, last week a report revealed the number of people drinking to dangerous levels had doubled during lockdown.

If you’re questioning your relationship with booze, ask yourself these questions:

Does alcohol disrupt your sleep?

Does it make you feel tired or lethargic the next day?

Do you often regret drinking and scold yourself in the morning?

Do you feel anxious, irritable, or weepy the next day?

Does alcohol make you crave unhealthy foods?

If yes then there’s no better time to take action and cut down.

5 tips to reduce your drinking

Here are my 5 tips to reduce your drinking:

1. Change your social media habits

‘What has social media to do which how much wine I drink?’ you’re thinking. Quite a lot.

You see, platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter show you more of what you engage with.

So every time you like or laugh at a ‘Wine O’Clock’ meme you’re telling the algorithm ‘Hey, I want to see more of this.’

This then creates is a drip-feed of information to your brain which says ‘it’s OK to crack open the vino every night. Why not? Everyone is doing it!’

Simply stop liking, sharing and commenting and you’ll soon stop seeing those posts.

2. Change your triggers

Have you noticed how a familiar TV theme tune can make you crave a certain food or drink?

This was something I struggled with until I recognised what was happening and took action 

Now, when a new season of a favourite show starts, I make sure I build new habits. For example, I’ll make a cup of tea as the Bake Off titles roll.

After a few episodes, when I hear the music, my first thought is ‘tea!’

3. Distraction tactics

I remember speaking to Sandra not long after quitting and explaining how flat life felt. Saturday nights were as exciting as a Tuesdays with nothing (and by that I mean booze) to look forward to.

Sandra explained that I was missing the ‘buzz’ that alcohol gave me and I needed to replace it with something else.

It’s worth bearing in mind that life might feel a little drab for a while and you’ll need to find a distraction. But, once you’re over this particular obstacle, it will be worth it.

4. Try low alcohol alternatives

When I first stopped drinking, I leaned on no-lo (no and low alcohol) drinks. There are so many fantastic alternatives out there you’ll never feel like a sober-saddo at a party.

5. Never say never

As you know, feeling deprived is not a great motivator for success. When I first gave up drinking, I couldn’t contemplate never drinking again.

Instead, I committed to giving up for a year. This had two advantages:

* I had a get out of jail free card at the end of 12 months

* My friends stopped hassling me to ‘just have one’

I believe committing to a longer period of abstinence is easier not least because the longer you go for, the better you’ll feel. And you never know, you might, like me, love it so much you decide to never go back. 

********************

If you need some extra help

Thanks, Kirstin. The 5 tips to reduce your drinking will really help a lot of people, I’m sure.

Lots of Slimpodders find they need a little bit more help with cutting down on alcohol and use our special alcohol pod as well as their other pods.

It normally sells for £39.99 but for my valued Podders I give a £25 discount – use the code GOLDTHANKS at the checkout and the pod is yours for £14.99.

Here’s a link where you can buy the pod: Cut Down On Alcohol

How’s the challenge going?

Have you been eating extra spinach, avocado and broccoli for the past week? What differences have you noticed so far in your energy levels and your weight management?

Please let me know by leaving a comment below. And do please let me know if alcohol is an issue for you.

I read all your comments and they help me to create new and valuable content for you.

Watch my Lives this week

Please join my Lives this week when I’ll diving deeper into all of this: tomorrow (Tuesday Sept 22) on the Slimpod public Facebook page at 7.30pm UK time, in our private Slimpod Club on Wednesday at 8pm, on our Instagram page on Thursday at 7pm and back on the Slimpod public page at 7.30.

New to my Mindset Challenge?

If you’re one of the hundreds of people who’ve joined the Slimpod Community in the past few weeks, then a big welcome! There’s still time to join my Reset Your Mindset challenge – you can catch up here:

Week One: Improve your health from the inside out

Week Two: Supercharge your weight loss

The post 5 tips to reduce your drinking and start feeling better about life appeared first on Slimpod.

These three superfoods will supercharge your weight loss https://t.co/pDcTXq12Mu

These three superfoods will supercharge your weight loss https://t.co/pDcTXq12Mu

— sosnicaragua (@sosnicaragua) September 14, 2020

from Twitter https://twitter.com/sosnicaragua

Three superfoods that will supercharge your Slimpod weight loss

YOU possibly see them every week when you do your supermarket shop and don’t give them a second thought.  But there are three amazing superfoods which can supercharge your weight loss and give your body a wonderful health boost.

In week two of my Reset Your Mindset Challenge I’m telling you all about these superfoods  and I’m also introducing you to a lovely Slimpodder who’s masterminded an exciting special project to investigate their effects.

The challenge I’m setting you for the next 21 days is to add these three things to your daily eating and cut right down on sugar! In that way we can supercharge your weight loss.

Let’s start with Michelle Budd, a blood specialist I met a year ago at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham. As well as being a scientist she was also a size 18 sugar addict, a pre-diabetic and was very close to being insulin resistant.

This is a really unhealthy combination because insulin resistance is by far the biggest reason weight loss is challenging.

In this video, which she shot a year ago, Michelle talks about how Slimpod helped tackle her sugar addiction.

VIDEO

Then, as Slimpod helped her take control of her sugar consumption,  Michelle was intrigued by how her blood was reacting to the changes in her eating.

She knew it was vital to stimulate her metabolism to help her body cells become more efficient at burning fat.

Were there specific foods which could help her do that? With the help of a small group of fellow Slimpod community members she set out to answer that big question.

She studied their eating and their weight loss over a six-week period and here’s what she found:

Three foods in particular helped give a major boost to people on the Slimpod programme – avocados, spinach and broccoli.

In Michelle’s case, she has lost 18lbs in the three months she’s been eating them while listening to her Slimpod and is down to a size 14!

Avocados

Avocados contain a wide variety of nutrients, including 20 vitamins and minerals. They don’t contain cholesterol or sodium and are low in saturated fat. Most importantly, they are rich in fibre, indigestible plant matter that reduces blood sugar spikes and makes you feel full quicker by raising levels of the hormone leptin, which controls your full signal. A quarter of an avocado a day is all you need to eat.

Broccoli

Probably the greatest superfood of all! Broccoli is a good source of fibre and protein, and contains sulphur, iron, potassium, calcium, selenium and magnesium as well as the vitamins A, C, E, K and a good array of B vitamins. Eating steamed broccoli regularly reduces cholesterol and lowers the risk of heart disease and the fibre in it needs more energy to digest it, raising your metabolism.

Spinach

Popeye knew what he was doing when he guzzled spinach! It contains a nutrient that helps your body turn food into energy and keeps you feeling active all day! The vitamin C in spinach is known to have the ability to prevent wrinkles (what’s not to like!) and it also contains lutient and nitrite that reduce the risk of heart attacks. Try sulphur-rich spinach uncooked in a salad because cooking reduces the nutrient value.

So there’s the three foods I want you to add to your shopping trolley. It’s as easy as A-B-S…avocado, broccoli, spinach.

Try to eat them every day because Michelle has shown that doing this makes your Slimpod even more effective.

Now for the one thing I want you to take out of your diet – sugar.

The full signal that tells you to stop eating comes from the hormone leptin, which is produced in the gut. Sadly, sugar and processed food destroy millions of goods bacteria colonies which help keep leptin levels healthy.

The latest research shows that more than half the food we eat in the UK is ultra-high processed (ready meals, takeaways, sauces, cakes etc) and contains fructose-based sweeteners, preservatives and colourings.

Ready meals from freezer to microwave make our lives easier and quicker – but they may also be making our lives shorter, scientists fear.

Because ultra-processed food tends to be rich in refined carbs, energy-dense, heavy in saturated fats and salt and is very low on dietary fibre.

By eating more avocado, broccoli and spinach you’ll automatically be moving towards preparing more of your meals from fresh ingredients.

Cook fresh fish and meat rather than frozen and you’ll be adding important protein as well.

Result: you’ll be giving your weight loss a supercharged boost and making life for you and your family a good deal healthier!

Please join my Lives this week when I’ll diving deeper into all of this: tomorrow (Tuesday Sept 15) on the Slimpod public Facebook page at 7.30pm UK time, in our private Slimpod Club on Wednesday at 8pm, on Instagram on Thursday at 7pm and back on the Slimpod public page at 7.30.

Please let me know below how you’re getting on with the Challenge so far. Your positive comments are always so helpful for others.

The post Three superfoods that will supercharge your Slimpod weight loss appeared first on Slimpod.

It’s time to focus on improving your health from the inside out https://t.co/JJpaCl9TLA

It’s time to focus on improving your health from the inside out https://t.co/JJpaCl9TLA

— sosnicaragua (@sosnicaragua) September 7, 2020

from Twitter https://twitter.com/sosnicaragua

It’s time to focus on improving your health from the inside out

IT feels like the last six months have been all over the place and the focus has been on everything and everybody else rather than our own health.  So let’s press the reset button in our minds and head for success right now!

Most of us have been out of our usual routine, with some bad habits creeping back in again. These habits are very sneaky and they find ways to get back into your life when you least expect them to!

This four-week Reset For Success Challenge is all about your health and wellbeing. It’s about your mindset, your food and your exercise working together. And it’s crucially important to achieve consistency over the next 28 days.

So make the focus of your goal about improving your health from the inside out. When you think about things differently it will bypass all the insecurities about what the scales say.

For so many people the obstacle to lasting weight loss IS the scales. So if this is you, for the next four weeks take the focus off the scales and put it on to your health and your daily routine.

Click below to watch the video (and while you’re on my YouTube channel please hit the Like, Share and Subscribe buttons so I can spread the word to others!):

The important points to remember:

*  This is all about motivation, intention and commitment for 28 days!  It’s about moving towards success not being paralysed by limiting beliefs and fear.

* Get rid of the voice that says “I Can’t” and replace it with the one that says “I Can.”

* If size goals fill you with fear,  reset for success by setting a health goal rather than a scales goal. Let’s kick the scales out of this challenge!

* However, if a size goal motivates you – happy days – use that.

* It’s all about working out what works best for you so you can achieve the healthiest outcome both mentally and physically.

* Let’s power up and smash our goals in September!

Make sure you join my Lives this week:  Tuesday 7,30 on our FB public page (Slimpod for weight loss);  Wednesday 8pm (Slimpod Club) Thursday 7pm Instagram and 7.30 FB public page.

And please let me know if you’re going to take up the challenge and why. I love reading all your comments.

The post It’s time to focus on improving your health from the inside out appeared first on Slimpod.

If summer’s put you in panic mode, just try my Mindset Reset https://t.co/Qxzcf8ocku

If summer’s put you in panic mode, just try my Mindset Reset https://t.co/Qxzcf8ocku

— sosnicaragua (@sosnicaragua) September 1, 2020

from Twitter https://twitter.com/sosnicaragua

If summer’s put you in panic mode, just try my Mindset Reset

IT’S been a summer like no other hasn’t it?  Staycations, social distancing, kids at home for months and of course, if you’re in the UK, we’ve had Eat Out to Help Out and we’ve all had money off our restaurant bills!  Now September is here and normality is returning.  So it’s time to get back on track.

Many of us have been eating and drinking far more than we do during the rest of the year (with the obvious exception of Christmas!).

I know from the emails you send me and the posts in Slimpod Club that quite a few of you have gone into panic mode, which is perfectly understandable – but totally unnecessary.

If you’re struggling to stay on track, it’s important to realise two things right away:

ONE: You’re not alone!

TWO: It’s normal behaviour.

I know exactly how you’re feeling because (as you’ll know if you follow me on Facebook) August is a crazy month for me. It’s always full of birthdays, anniversaries, cake and alcohol.

Every year when September arrives I breathe a sigh of relief that things are about to go back to normal. Within the next day or two my eating routine and exercise habits will reset themselves and with the right mindset my clothes will soon start to feel a little bit looser once again.

The secret is that I prepare for summer. I realise that there are going to be obstacles in my way (like husband’s birthday on August 13, our wedding anniversary on August 20 and my birthday on August 27) which will mean I’m not eating the same things I usually do and I’m having a few more glasses of fizz than normal.

By building this into my mindset, I don’t worry. I enjoy myself because that’s what life should be all about.

And when September rolls around, I take a few simple steps to get back on course.

I know that those extra pounds will disappear as quickly as they appeared. I’m totally confident that in 30 days’ time I’ll fit into everything in my wardrobe.

Now, because I KNOW you’ll probably be in a similar place to me (even if you’ve not had birthday celebrations etc) I thought I’d help get some motivation going and kick off a free September Mindset Reset Challenge next week!

I’ll be telling you more about this on my live chat in Slimpod Club tomorrow (Wednesday Sept 2) at 8pm UK time and I’ll post another blog next Monday kicking it off, so watch out for that too!

It will go on for the month of September and all it needs is your commitment – easy!

Let me know below how your Summer’s going and whether you’d like to get motivated to get back on track in September!

Would love you to join me so make sure you look out for my blog next Monday!

If you haven’t got yourself a Slimpod yet – now’s the BEST opportunity to grab yourself a free 10-day trial and take advantage of the extra motivation the challenge will give you!  What’s not to like!

This page tells you all about the 10-day trial

The post If summer’s put you in panic mode, just try my Mindset Reset appeared first on Slimpod.

With Slimpod, the art of staying on track has never been easier https://t.co/kcTUyqAGwd

With Slimpod, the art of staying on track has never been easier https://t.co/kcTUyqAGwd

— sosnicaragua (@sosnicaragua) August 10, 2020

from Twitter https://twitter.com/sosnicaragua

With Slimpod, the art of staying on track has never been easier

I JUST love these words: “Relax, keep listening, keep writing your wins however small, trust Slimpod, let it take you on the journey. You don’t need to do anything, just go with the flow. Slimpod will get you to where you need to go.”

It could have been me offering advice to all my lovely Slimpodders (especially those who’ve only recently joined us).

But in fact it’s a quote from a fab Zoom interview I did during lockdown with Slimpodder Stephanie Stewart.

She has tried everything – Keto, intermittent fasting, Noom – but is now totally in love with Slimpod because it’s so easy and so different to anything else.

Since February 2020, she has lost about 20lbs and says that thanks to Slimpod her weight is more stable than ever before.

Here’s the interview, which I’m sure you’ll find both motivating and inspiring:

It’s so good to get advice from someone who’s having such success with her Slimpod.

I think the most important takeaways for everyone are:

**  With Slimpod there’s no wagon to fall off.

** On days when you make a bad decision, just stop and reset yourself.

** Don’t feel as if you’ve undone all your good work by having one “bad” thing.

** One cake, biscuit or chocolate isn’t going to change your weight.

** Slimpod releases you from the feeling you have to constantly binge.

** Don’t deny yourself a treat and don’t worry about it

Please make a note that I’ll be doing a ‘Live’ in Slimpod Club tomorrow night instead of Wednesday because I’m away for a few days.

I’d love you to leave a comment below to let me know how Slimpod is changing the way you feel about food. And do be sure to tell Stephanie your views, too!

The post With Slimpod, the art of staying on track has never been easier appeared first on Slimpod.

Here’s how you can start listening to your pods again https://t.co/giwBlBHoN1

Here’s how you can start listening to your pods again https://t.co/giwBlBHoN1

— sosnicaragua (@sosnicaragua) July 31, 2020

from Twitter https://twitter.com/sosnicaragua

Here’s how you can start listening to your pods again https://t.co/giwBlBpNVt

Here’s how you can start listening to your pods again https://t.co/giwBlBpNVt

— sosnicaragua (@sosnicaragua) July 31, 2020

from Twitter https://twitter.com/sosnicaragua

Here’s how you can start listening to your pods again

We finally believe we’ve solved 99% of the technical problems which caused so many Slimpodders so much heartache over the past few days. Let me once again apologise. I hate letting people down because I feel that if it upsets me, it must be 10 times worse for my lovely Slimpodders.

The tech that’s needed to send pods, videos and emails to thousands of people every day and track their progress through the programme is highly complex and when something small goes wrong it inevitably has massive consequences.

But we think we’re there now.  We’re well aware we’re not quite out of the woods though. For a few people there may still be glitches we need to sort out and, of course, we’ll be working on that as soon as we hear anything’s wrong.

If you’re one of the few people who’ve discovered that your app is already working again and you’re able to listen to pods and see the programme, then ignore everything in this blog post!

However, the majority of people will need these important instructions so here’s what you need to do to get back into your Slimpod programme.

ONE: If you’re still logged in to the app (even if it’s not working) then before you do anything you must LOG OUT right away. There’s a line of text at the bottom of the home page you need to click on:

 

TWO: Next you need to set yourself a new password. We’ve given you a temporary password which is Slimpod67! (that exclamation mark at the end is important to include) so we’d like you to reset that to something of your choice. It can be the password you used previously.

Please DON’T try to reset it by going into the app again. You must only use this link:

https://www.thinkingslimmer.com/lostpassword

which takes you to this page. This is only a picture, not the real thing 🙂

Fill in your email address and hit the grey button. Please do NOT hit the red link which says “Log in if you already have an account”

Our system will send you an email containing a link for you to click. Please allow a short time for the email to arrive – as you can imagine, there will be quite a lot of people changing their emails at the same time!

THREE: When you’ve got your new password sorted out, it’s time to log in at the app (or website if that’s how you use the programme).

You should be able to log in without any problems. However, here’s a little tip if you can’t get your password to work:

Try powering down your phone by pressing the off switch for at least 10 seconds. Wait a moment or two, then power up again. This clears the app’s memory and allows the pods and the programme to stream in again.

Once you’re logged in, the first thing to do is hit the My Programme button. Then when you access your Gold programme, you’ll see a little pink panel which asks you to login again for security reasons.

If you’re on my Extra programme, it’s possible that Extra won’t appear on your app today.  If it isn’t there by tomorrow afternoon please email Support@ThinkingSlimmer.com and we’ll deal with it.

Please DO NOT email Customer Services with any problems specific to the Extra programme because only the tech team on the above email will be able to offer you help with this.

FOUR:  Once you’re in your Gold programme you’ll notice that all 12 Levels have a green dot to indicate they’re completed (even though you obviously haven’t completed them all). Because so many people are on so many different levels at any given moment, the only way we could restore the programme to everyone was to unlock all 12 levels at once.

I’m hoping you’ll be able to remember where you were when the system went down, so please go back to where you left off and finish the level you were in.

But if you don’t, the regular emails I send you will help you see where you should be.

As you’ll know, each level represents one week, so next week move on to the next level.

Your progress chart may give a strange reading, so best ignore it for now.

FIVE: Now hopefully your pods are there and play OK. If any of them are missing –  especially if you’ve bought additional ones such as the alcohol or menopause pods – then let us now right away.

This time please email CustomerServices@ThinkingSlimmer.com and put the words Missing Pods in the subject field. Don’t send emails about missing pods to the Technical Support team please.

My team will be working throughout the weekend to help you if you have a problem. Please don’t post any issues in Slimpod Club because you’ll get quicker attention by emailing Customer Services at the email address above.

SIX: This is the best bit. You should be ready to go now so sit back and relax. Tonight it will be pod time again and you’ll have that soothing voice to fall asleep to!

I’m sure you’ll appreciate how upset I am about this technical failure. I’m mortified whenever we don’t maintain the highest level of service for our customers but this time it was out of our control – although it was the Slimpod team which had to work round the clock to put things right.

Thanks for all your patience.   I’ve been deeply touched by all the kind messages of support I’ve received and they help keep me and the team going.

When we’re sure everyone is up and running again, I’ll be sending you a little token of my appreciation for your understanding.  I know it will be useful for you so look out for that email next week 😊

With my warmest wishes and grateful thanks,

Sandra x

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