I thought I would give you a bit of an update on my progress with My 100 Healthy Days With Well I Am! As I have mentioned before, I have never been someone who likes dieting, mostly because I get bored very quickly and lose interest. I have found that a much better approach to losing weight and fitness is a lifestyle change but this can be easier said than done! Especially during the cold winter months and if I am on holiday because all I want to do is comfort eat.

The most important thing with any challenge is to set yourself goals! When setting yourself goals, they need to be realistic and attainable, otherwise you will give up very quickly. Make sure you have a clear idea of what you would like to achieve and the time you would like to do it in.

My biggest issue recently is unexplained weight-gain, although not a huge amount, it has been a steady climb, which has found me the heaviest I have ever been unless pregnant! I know that it does have quite a bit to do with age but I am determined to lose the weight! So my main goal in the Well I Am Challenge, is to lose 10kg and get back to what I weighed a year ago!

So what lifestyle changes have I made to help me achieve my goals? From a meal perspective I have cut down portion size and I try to avoid any processed food. I have also cut down my salt intake dramatically. What I am not prepared to do is eat bland steamed food – this is where I draw the line!

To be honest I love food not just eating it but the entire experience – I know for some people food is merely a necessity but that is not the case for me. I think this is why I find it hard to diet – food must be interesting and sexy for me to enjoy it and if I cannot enjoy it then what is the point! I guess this has been one of my challenges – to make healthy food not only tasty but appealing visually. You may remember the post I did featuring My Healthy Recipes and meal ideas.

I do find myself eating out quite a bit and this can pose a problem, if you are trying to lose weight but there are many healthy options available on menus, which are lower in calories and you can always substitute your starch, with salad or veg. If you have to eat desert, then if possible share it with someone – then at least you can share the guilt 😉

I am almost 3 weeks into the 100 day challenge and even though I spent a week on holiday in Knysna and have had a bad cold, I have managed to maintain both a healthy diet{with the odd cheats} and regular exercise! This has not been easy but I am motivated to stick to my plan and I have things like a trip to Italy in September, to really motivate me and keep me focused!

To date I have lost over 2,5kgs, which means that I have 7,5kg to go! I am also feeling much healthier and more energised, which I think is a combination of eating well and excising daily.

Are you doing the 100 Healthy Days with Well I Am or a similar challenge? If you are I would love to hear about your goals and how you keep yourself motivated!