My Top Ten Life Changing New Habits

Let me start by saying that I am a massive procrastinator. I leave everything to the last possible moment and I’m perpetually running around 5-10 minutes late. However, with my wedding looming closer in May, I’m having nightmares of waking up on the morning of the big day looking pasty, bloated and having gained 3 stone in weight. So I’m promising to start now and hoping these little lifestyle changes will transform me into a calm, glowing, toned, radiant goddess at which people will gasp in awe, on my Wedding Day (Yes, I am aware this is unlikely...). Anyway, here they are..

1.    Drink more Water!

It doesn't matter how many times I hear about the seemingly unlimited benefits of drinking more water, I never quite get round to doing so. I mean it must be some sort of miracle liquid with all these claims of glowing skin and weight loss.  Why on Earth haven’t I been drinking it straight from the hose? They say when you’re feeling hungry, you’re probably just thirsty, and a glass of water will definitely get rid of that craving for a chocolate chip cookie the size of your head. So from now on I shall be making an effort to consume more water. I've already made a start on this one, I’m only drinking water at work (no tea or coffee), so hopefully I’ll start seeing my transformation into Cheryl Cole shortly. (The constant trips to the toilet are, however, an annoying downside.)

2.  Drink Green Tea

So for all those occasions where I’m not drinking water, I shall only be consuming Green Tea (and definitely not wine..). Again with the alluring promises of infinite health and ageless skin. With the list of all the illnesses Green Tea supposedly helps fight, I’m surprised Doctors aren't trying to inject everyone with the stuff. So what’s not to love, other than the taste? I actually quite like the taste of Green Tea, so I don’t have any excuses at all.

 3. EXERCISE!!

Urgh, the dreaded E word. I despise physical activity. I like sitting down. But these pounds won’t shift themselves, and what more of an incentive do I need than my own Wedding than to inspire me to actually do something about it. Perhaps a financial reward if I manage to reach my target, if anyone would care to donate? I am easing myself slowly into this one, rather than hours in the gym or intense, vomit inducing Bootcamp work outs. So I’m aiming for 10- 20 minutes of exercise a day. Let’s not get too crazy. Youtube is an amazing thing, and even more amazing is how many short exercise videos can be found, made for lazy people just like me. (I just ignore the bit where they talk about doing the video twice through, or adding it onto another routine.) I will hopefully be stepping this up to some slightly more intensive exercise in the coming months, but baby steps for now.

4. Walking

From now on I shall walk everywhere, while my car lies a useless piece of metal on the drive. I won’t, that’s not true. I will however, and actually already have, use my dinner break at walk to go for a delightful stroll . Oh the glorious sights to behold on my wanders. My personal favourite is the medical centre plastered with posters advertising that no drugs are held on their premises. However, I work in a shoe box, so the fresh air and escape for half an hour is already doing me good, and if I walk at a fast pace then hopefully I’ll burn some calories too.

5.  Eating Healthy

This is going to be a difficult one. I like food. And I in particular like all the food you’re not supposed to have like bread, pasta, pizza, McDonalds..the list goes on. This one will be a bit of a work in progress but I am making only Weight Watchers recipes this weekend, which will completely wipe out the packet of Flame Grilled Steak McCoys I ate earlier. But I’m going to make a real effort to avoid all the naughty and delicious (but disgusting because it’s bad for you) junk food, and try and stick to healthier, low fat options. I already feel skinnier just thinking about it. Am I the only person who gets a smug feeling of satisfaction pinning healthy recipes on Pinterest, despite having no actual intention of cooking them? I must stop doing that.

 6. Smoothies

So this is actually one of my secret weapons towards my healthy diet! I got a Smoothie maker for my Birthday and while I am aware it is a fad and will be sitting in a cupboard gathering dust in approximately 3 weeks time, I am still currently in full on Smoothie Mode! I’m like a 5 year old when it comes to eating vegetables, so this is my new way of sneaking vegetables into my diet, much like you would with a toddler. You can’t even taste the spinach!! So I've been shoving spinach and cucumbers in all sorts of fruit concoctions to get my 5 a day. I’m also hoping to try this out with soups, so hopefully this will help too.

7.    Looking After My Skin

My skin is currently a mess. If my skin is still in this state at my Wedding than I might just have to call the whole thing off. I’ve actually always been really good for having a skin care routine and always taking my make up off at night. I have lately, however, let this slip and find myself using face wipes on a night instead of properly cleaning my skin, and rarely use a face mask. Oh the horror! I blame this on my annoying habit of falling asleep on the sofa after approximately ten minutes of attempting to watch even the most thrilling television programme or film. Which leads me on to...

8. Get more sleep

Once I've fallen asleep on the sofa and been nagged at to go to bed, I normally end up wide awake (isn't that the worst feeling in the world, having to wake up so that you can go to sleep properly? I’d happily sleep on the sofa most nights) I then proceed to sit in bed reading a magazine or spending literal hours browsing Pinterest, which should also be known as the vacuum that inhales all of my spare time.  Before you know it, it’s after midnight and I’m already in deep regret of how tired and whingey I’m going to be when the alarm goes off. So from now, more early nights.

9. Be more organised

I’m a fairly laid back person. Probably too much so. But with my procrastinating habits, the         organisation of a wedding is likely to quickly spiral into stress and sleepless nights and tears. I've read about brides who have are finalising details for their 2016 weddings. Mine is 7 months away and I've only just ordered my dress. (Much to the relief of all the bridal shop owners who looked horrified when I told them the date of my wedding) So I must, must, must start getting organised and actually writing in my wedding planner instead of being scared I’ll make a mistake and it will look messy. They’re not meant to have blank pages, I need to remind myself that.

10.  There is no ten. Let’s not get carried away here, 9 changes is enough for now..