Bid Adieu to Dieting

Quinoa, edamame, mint and quinoa salad with activated cashews and sunflower seeds - simply dress it with a little lemon juice, rapeseed oil and tamari for a fresh, yummy lunch option - beats a boring BLT, if you ask me!

It's a common misconception that, in order to lose weight, you must deprive yourself of everything even remotely tasty. Though it makes sense in essence -"eat less, weigh less, duuh"-  if you take a dramatic approach to weight loss, you can actually do your body much more harm than good, and it is almost inevitable that any weight lost will reappear as soon as you revert to normal eating habits.

Every single day, particularly at the start of a new year, we have a million and one faddy diets forced down our throats, most of which do more harm than good. Your body is a hard working machine, and it needs the right fuel to function. If you starve yourself, your body will go into survival mode making you irritable, anxious, emotional and, above all, pretty ghastly to be around. Over a prolonged period of time it will slow your metabolism, break down muscle tissue and weaken your bones, particularly when combined with exercise. Plus, nobody likes a preachy foody bore; extreme dieting is a terribly lonely existence - just you and your quinoa, against the world.(Speaking from personal experience here...)

Post-party SOS

Happy New Year!

Technically yesterday was the first day of 2015, but following a rather indulgent NYE, yesterday was a total write-off. And if anyone saw a scarecrow-like creature sleeping/drooling on the train back from Brighton... No. That definitely was not me. 

I always like to think of a new year as a fresh start (original, right? At least I'm not posting an inspirational quote on Instagram), and this year I plan to get myself back on track in terms of health. Fit not thin, strong not skinny... You know the drill. It's my 21st birthday in a matter of days, and therefore I really ought to get myself together. I even bought new trainers - am I thin yet?

The ANTI-DETOX

A gorgeous burger at the delectable Hotel Condes de Barcelona - perhaps my proudest culinary moment of 2012!

This first week of January is always a bit of a blur... Discounted sofas, cheap Christmas decorations and more sales than you can shake a candy cane at, it's a pretty bizarre time.

In addition, early January is also the only time of year when we are urged to watch our waistlines more than usual. And this is really quite a feat for a woman living in Britain in this day and age.

Each year I never cease to be amazed by how many ridiculous diets we are fed: the cleanses, the detoxes and, even more worryingly, the fasts. 

As much as i'm a firm believer that a new year offers a new start, I am also a believer that you should actually enjoy yourself! Why deprive your body of lovely food, great nights out and pleasurable activities just because your weekly glossy says so?..

 Life is for living, after all.

In all honesty, I can think of far more reasons NOT to detox than I can to detox, and these are detailed below. As much as I will be trying to get fit this year (see here), this is purely for my own health rather than aesthetic reasons, so in addition to my ever-so-slightly depressing fit-spiration, this blog post shall act as my FUN-spiration. 

After all, I shall be damned if I spend another day of my life beating myself up for eating a box of choccies or crying over a bowl of pasta (yes, that did actually happen)

1. I don't know whether you can read this Paperchase card (£2.75) but it has two pictures of otters with the simple words "My Significant Otter"... Anyone who knows me will understand my appreciation of this.

2. Mm mm mm! These passionate La Maison du Chocolat chocolates, available just in time for Valentines Day 2013, are the perfect incentive to stay well away from the detox. Kate Moss once said "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels" but I implore her to try some of these divine new chocolates and stand by her word? With delights such as aromatic pepper vanilla and smoky woody caramel, these romantic chocolates could tempt even a saint.

3. All together now- aaaaw. This "You're So Sweet" card from Paperchase is just that- ridiculously sweet! (£2.50)

4. And what lady can be without her champagne, really? A diet or detox that deprives a woman of such is just terrible. This divine Brut Rose edition from Nicolas Feuilallatte is just the ticket! (£30 for 75cl from John Lewis) 

1. This Sakura Scrub from Rituals is perfect for boosting circulation and thus reducing cellulite. It also smells and feels absolutely delectable. With a delicate cherry blossom aroma, this soft scrub is a treat to use! (£14.50)

2. Supposedly this Sit Tight body-firming serum from Soap and Glory works a charm. I am extremely keen to try it, but if any of you guys have please do give me your thoughts! (£16.50)

3. I use this NIP+FAB Upper Arm Fix religiously and made my way through two bottles in 2012 - I genuinely do think that this caffeine rich gel firms up my arms a treat, without having to slave away on bicep curls or whatever those made gym bunnies call 'em. It is also a bit of snip at £12.95, and it also has a zesty citrus scent.

4. I am dying to try out the Bliss FatGirlSlim treatment regime- it must be iconic for a reason, surely! It is £30 for these minis- if you've tried FGS, please do comment or email me with your thoughts.
 

I feel like a big, fat AMEN is in order for this one! The DKNY S/S 2013 collection was full of relaxed denim (image from Catwalking) and you can shop Topshop's fabulous £42 slim boyfriend jeans here. 

1. The best detox? Drink plenty and plenty of water! My new years resolution (well, one of them) is to do so and I have already noticed my skin to be that little bit clearer. I also have a little tip for curing a hangover before it even begins... No matter how sleepy you may feel, drink a pint of water before bed and all those nasty toxins will be diluted. Quench your thirst in style with this rather lovely DVF Edition of Evian from Harvey Nichols (£3.95)

2. If you are really serious about cleansing your body, green tea is a good place to start. This Organic Matcha from Teapigs is an award winning "super tea" which is absolutely swimming in anti-oxidants that your body will certainly thank you for. It isn't the cheapest at £24.95, but i've head some great things about this pure, fine blend.

3. If you want to pack in plenty of protein and fibre, check out the Bodyism cleanses at Space NK. They aren't exactly cheap (this Ultimate Cleanse chap will set you back £45) but they promise all sorts of treats for  your body from anti-ageing through to weight loss.  

Proper Fit.

Crazy Fitspiration- all images are from my Pinterest board WELL FIT (here) where you can find the original source of each image.

New year is a funny time, isn't it? Following what can only be described as festive overindulgence, force-fed to us through advertising, BOGOF offers and irresistible editions of Terry's Chocolate Orange, everything suddenly changes and we are urged to detox, to get our act together with the dawn of the new year. "A New Year, A New You!" they all say, and all of a sudden that entire Heston's Christmas pudding feels extra naughty, shameful even, especially with that tub of brandy butter. 

It's widely known that Christmas is the time of year to store fat for the winter months, keep out the chills and such lark, and over the party season the average woman gains five pounds- just a couple off half a stone. That is certainly enough to have an impact on your body, and also your health, and while we may have enjoyed a month or two of cocktails, Quality Streets, champagne and roast potatoes, I feel that the time may have come to give myself a little kick up the backside when it comes to my fitness. I want to be well fit, me.

Now i'm not saying we need to go all holistic, macrobiotic, Paleo, Paltrow-esque, but it's always nice to welcome in the New Year in the best way possible, by feeling comfortable in yourself. Healthy, and happy.

My fitness kick isn't going to be high-intensity, or over strenuous, but it will be just enough to get me feeling in tip-top condition for a brand spanking new year! 

1. Jack Wills t-shirt now £19 
2. Adidas by Stella McCartney leggings £60
3. Sweaty Betty crop/sports bra in Hydrangea now £20
4. Jack Wills Amberstone leggings now £19
5. Sweaty Betty Dumbbells £25
6. H&M sports bra £12.99
7. Adidas by Stella McCartney Afzelia shoes now £77 
8. Bobble water bottle £8 at Harvey Nichols 
9. Jack Wills Lyngford yoga short now £19
10. Nike Free 5.0 trainers from Office now £50 
11. Wildfox t-shirt at Harvey Nichols now £84
12. Adidas by Stella McCartney running shorts now £25 at Net-A-Porter

A regime of pilates, gentle jogging, yoga and swimming will be filtered into my schedule, alongside daily ab and arm exercises to sculpt and tone. Diet coke is out, green tea is in and I will be flushing out all these wine-based toxins with muchas water.

If you find that motivation is your problem, then perhaps take a little look on Pinterest for some images that will make you long to reach your full potential- my board Well Fit is full of envy-enducing images of ridiculously beautiful women with the flattest tummies imaginable, alongside some great fitness tips and recipes for healthy post-gym meals and high energy snacks to fuel your regime.

I find it helpful to work out what you want to gain from your exercise, the pros that will make you get out of bed that extra half-hour early and keep you going when all you want is a packet of crisps and an episode of Miranda. Nothing drastic need be done, but make the necessary changes to your body and the consequences can be rather far-reaching. I find that most frustration, most anger and upset, can be solved by a good run. 

Always remember that exercise should never be a chore- it can be ridiculously fun, particularly with a cracking playlist. I have popped some of my favourite work-out songs below, most of which make a refreshing change from every gym's favourite Eric Prydz mix. 

Equally important is exciting work out gear, which is pretty abundant in the sales at the moment (see my picks above). Go for bright colours to put a smile on your face as well as high-tech fabrics and cool, comfortable shapes.

Most importantly, though, always remember that in order to exercise properly you need to be hydrated and completely nourished- snack on nuts, dry fruit and high-protein snacks such as Bounce Balls and NAKD bars. There is no point in cutting out carbs, but just stick to good ones, and make sure that you get plenty of protein.

Feel free to comment below guys, I really appreciate it !

Meanie Bikini

What do you do when you hear the word Bikini?

a) Squirm

b) Scream and curl up under your duvet

c) Grin and whip off your dress to reveal a flawless figure in a Melissa Odabash number

Aside from the enviably and unbearably body-confident among us, most would opt for a or b. 

Let's face it: bikini's are, excuse my French, bloody terrifying.

Effectively four little triangles to cover your modesty and that is it. Everything else is on display for intense scrutiny and undeniable bitchiness. For once I am left longing for slouchy knitwear and deceptively loose t-shirts. As much as we should love our bodies, it's not unusual to be slightly critical of the skin you're in. 

It is no real secret that I am recovering from an eating disorder. Any regular reader could probably pick up on my obsession with food/skinny women/body image, and as I move into my final term of first year, I am aiming, reluctantly, to get up to a size eight. I am told to gain roughly a stone, the prospect of which fills me with dread, but I hope I can do it and HOPEFULLY won't look too repulsive in a bikini on my holidays.

What could help me, though, is someone buying me a Mulberry bikini in a size eight? Purely for motivational purposes, of course.

While these pretty patterned babies won't exactly conceal any flaws or flatter a fuller figure, they are beyond gorgeous. All swirly florals and pastel perfection, they are simple but still pack a punch and are miles away from those horrendous push-up ones available in most stores at the moment.

Prior to a full bikini edit coming soon to SW Fashion, these offer up just a splash of poolside perfection to whet your appetite.

But if your appetite is the problem when it comes to bikini confidence I have a couple of tips for you (try HERE, HERE and HERE)... Thank me from the beach ladies.

And never forget the three golden rules of bikini shopping:

* Wear PLENTY of fake tan to trick the unflattering changing room lights

* Go before lunch- even skinny girls look hideous in a bikini with a bloated belly

* Try and forget that Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Gisele Bundchen ever existed... They are mere freaks of nature.

Daily Detox #4

Daily Detox #3

Daily Detox #2

Daily Detox #1

New feature alert! As part of the new SW Fashion for January 2012, I have opted for a daily post to ensure that the blog is nice and fresh this upcoming month- even if you feel far less than fresh.

One too many sausage rolls, a few too many slices of Christmas cake, several too many glasses of bubbly and *hic* I feel like a beached whale, crossed with a slug and a heavily pregnant sloth (I hope that I don't actually look like said creature, it probably ain't too pretty.)

So as I prepare to return to London and get back into the swing of university, I feel I need to detox- inside and out.

So that's what the Daily Detox is about! Each day I will post a little healthy detox tip, alongside a little fashion/beauty tip to lift your look and your spirits.

Enjoy!