The Dreaded 'E' Word!

So you want to lose weight, but are trying desperately to avoid exercising at all costs. It's bad enough adjusting to a new eating regime, let alone adding an exercise plan in as well! I mean really, what use is exercise anyway?!

You may not be altogether surprised to hear that regular exercise can play a vital part of effective weight loss.

Exercise assists in controlling your weight by using up the excess calories that otherwise would be stored as fat!

Physical activity can help to prevent many diseases as well as improve your overall health.

For example – daily physical activity can help to prevent heart disease and stroke, by strengthening your heart muscle, lowering blood pressure, improving blood flow and increasing your heart’s working capacity.

By reducing body fat through regular physical exercise you can help prevent and / or control type 2 diabetes.

Increasing your muscle strength, endurance, improving flexibility and posture all helps to prevent back pain.

Regular weight baring exercises will promote bone formation and can prevent osteoporosis.

By participating in regular physical activity, you can also improve mood and the way you feel about yourself, as exercise releases ‘happy’ endorphins into your system and therefore are likely to reduce depression, anxiety and can help you to better manage stress.

Your weight is determined by the number of calories you eat each day minus what your body uses.

Everything you eat contains calories, and everything you do uses calories, including sleeping, breathing, and digesting food. Therefore, any physical activity in addition to what you normally do will burn those extra calories.

Balancing the number of calories you expend through exercise and physical activity with the calories you eat will help you achieve your desired weight. The key to successful weight loss and improved overall health is making physical activity a part of your daily routine.

If you haven't exercised for a while, always try to start off slowly, and try and tune into what your body is telling you. Being out of breath and a little red in the face is one thing, but headaches, dizziness and gasping for breath is your body's unique way of saying 'ease up tiger!'.

Why not go out for a walk, if you have a dog (or a partner), why not take him too! Ok, you would but it's raining outside? Well then walk up and down the stairs, jog on the spot, play some games on the wii fit!

Literally ANYTHING that gets you moving, and a little out of breath will all help speed up your metabolism, and burn those little extra calories that are at the moment just 'hanging around' 

***FREE CASE STUDIES***

***URGENT! CASE STUDIES NEEDED!!***

For the next seven days, I am offering 10 lucky people the chance to have not one but TWO FREE life coaching sessions with me!

As a Life Coach I am dedicated in helping YOU to fulfil your own potential, to achieve success in your chosen area, and to ensure that you achieve your goals on your terms.

Some of the areas in which I can help you improve or change include: Career, Health, Weight, Self Esteem, Finances, Relationships, Work / Life balance.

If you are interested in receiving your TWO FREE SESSIONS:

Email me at helen@helen-barber.co.uk or pm me for more details.

***OFFER ENDS  29th JUNE 2012, HURRY AS SPACES ARE LIMITED!***

 

June Catch Up

Evening campers! Thought it was high time for a wee catch up.

I said that I wanted May to be Magnificent, and well, ok, it wasn't totally as super as I had originally planned, however there have been some significant developments.

As always I'll start with the weight loss success (drum roll please), to date I have lost over 2 1/2 stone! the full 3 stone is firmly in sight (as in about 2lbs away) so very happy with that!

As a consequence, I have had to recycle 2 full bin bags worth of clothes, have dropped about 2 sizes and am having a general feeling of all round smugness - hey I'm allowed! I'm right on target for wearing Bikini on holiday October! :D (oh come ON! it's not THAT scary a thought!.......oh......ok I see your point there, well, that's what skirts / sarongs were invented for ;p )

Ok, now on the Life Coaching front - well, yes I am now 'officially' in business! Have begun undertaking FREE case studies, with referral incentives (either a bottle of wine or my soul, I haven't decided yet); sooooooooooooo if you, or you know anyone who would be interested in a FREE life coaching session, then get them to drop me a line! (I have to do that, I'm trying to programme myself to A (always) B (be) C (closing!) (any Glen Garry Glen Ross fans (or indeed anyone who's been on a sales course) will understand that!!). Now, free case studies are only being offered to a limited number (as frankly I do need to pay my mortgage too you know!) so if you're interest hurry hurry hurry!!! lol

Anyway, still on topic, I have most of my 'marketing' materials, business cards, postcards and of course my own Steps to Success Workbooks (free to all my clients and more of that in a moment!).

The only thing left to finalise is the website, which has now been put on the back burner due to an unfortunate clash with a website designer. Bit sad, but the time and stress it was causing me personally was not worth the money I would have been paying, but hey ho, win some lose some.

Until I can face speaking to another designer, website will have to stay on the home made / basic side I'm afraid. That being said though, ok so it wont look glam, BUT I will still be able to put on there lots of useful FREE downloads etc. It may not be pretty, but it certainly will be functional!

Oh, and before I forget, still in plugging mode I'm afraid, don't forget to check out my new page on facebook https://www.facebook.com/#!/Helenblifecoach and whilst you're there if you could press the 'Like' button I'd really appreciate it. Apparently something happens when you get 30 likes, so that's a good first goal. Also on the page I will be posting things like motivational quotes, links to the blog and general hints tips and all round coaching stuff, so it will be worth checking out / joining / and what-not.

Final thoughts of the day then! I'm really eager to show you guys my workbook to action, so have been thinking I might use it and post jpegs of the pages or something on the blog.

The idea of the workbook is to give the client a tool to help them focus on their goal on a daily and weekly basis, in the hope that this will help them to achieve their goal quicker.

For those die heard readers of my blogs, you will know I'm all up for 30 day challenges, and guess what, the workbook is called 30 Day Kick Start Steps to Success! (genius or what! ok ok you don't have to say it! naughty!).

I do need to think a bit further on this, try to decide what goal I'd use it for that would be worth sharing, maybe a 30lbs in 30 days thing?

I don't know, let me sleep on it, and I'll try and come back tomorrow with goal & workbook in hand!

Well, that's all from me for now - be excellent to each other!

x-x-x

The Lesser Spotted Life Coach

You may have heard about the lesser spotted Life Coach - but have you ever wondered what one is and what it is they actually do?

A ‘Life Coach’ is essentially someone who is dedicated in supporting and empowering clients to fulfil their own potential, on their own terms.

Whether you want to improve upon or change your career, health, weight, confidence or self-belief, finances, relationships or even work / life balance, a Life Coach can help you make the changes needed, and achieve the results you are looking for.

My Life Coaching sessions can last approx. 45 – 60 minutes, and can be conducted over the phone, face to face, via Email, Skype or MSN.

During a typical session, we will discuss what it is you want to change and together, come up with your own plan of action.

Sometimes, it can be difficult for us to know whether or not what we are doing is actually working. This is where your Life Coach can come in very handy.

As an experienced Life Coach, I am able to pick up very quickly whether or not your actions are moving you towards your desired result, and more importantly, help you to make the necessary alterations when those inevitable obstacles pop up.

If you would like more information about Life Coaching, or are interested in having your own Life Coach, why not give me a call on 07712 185 629 or if you prefer, email helen@helen-barber.co.uk

Catch up

Hey, it's not quite been four weeks since last blog post........I'm improving!

Firstly bit of a catch up - weight, weight glorious weight! To date I have lost a total of 28lbs (can I get a whoop whoop!!) April has been a 'slow' weight loss month, but never-the-less is HAS been a weight loss not a weight gain month, so very happy chappy.

My position at Slimming Worlds weighing station is helping me tremendously! Lots of 'how has your week been', 'pop on when you're ready' 'yay that's fantastic well done!' (for the losses) and 'do you know what happened this week' and 'did you have fun though?' etc etc etc. I'm hoping I'm doing a good job for the members, haven't had any complaints so far ;) Really enjoying the small talk with the slimmers so (fingers crossed) it's all good.

Going back to weight loss April - have to say I have been 'coasting' quite a bit, head not really 'in the game', which is why I think it has been a slow month. At least head is 'in' the game though, but for next month, I'm sure I can do better!!!

On a work to be related topic, am in the throws of setting up the consulting room in the conservatory. The aim is to base myself completely in the conservatory, so desk has now been moved and set up to provide me with my own office space. Next to desk I have set up my gym equipment: treadmill, stepper, rower, strider, trampoline, skipping rope, big purple ball thing, ab cruncher (I think that's about it). Naturally I haven't used any of this equipment in months........many months......but like I said, May is going to be a more heads down month, so that could very soon change!!

Other than that, conservatory has a mega tidy & sort out, have only a couple of bits to remove / sort, then I'll be almost there ready to receive :)

Again, on a related topic, am also in the throws of getting a professional website built. Have spoken to two people so far, and hopefully seeing a third this coming week. I'm seeing intro videos, lots of free downloadable hints & tips, interactive quiz to name but a few shiny things I have in mind!! Really excited, but it's going to have to be a 'watch this space' for the moment.

LCD is now officially on maintenance mode. Am booking her once a month now, with next session due in a couple of weeks. When I look back at how far I've come with myself since November (such as tremendous weight loss, improved habits and personal 'barriers' being smashed to smithereens!), I can totally see the benefits of coaching!!

With that thought in mind, as I am making my own way to success, I am really looking forward to helping others to get on the path of their own personal excellence!!

Yeah baby!! let the good times roll (cue for a song me thinks!) :D

This is the week that was, or rather is....

Yes, you're quite right, it has been 2 months since my last confession, so thought it was time for a wee catch up.

Weight wise - oh yes, let's start with that. To date have lost about 23lbs, and have already started to have people look at me funny saying 'have you lost weight?' etc. Literally any day now I will be back into my jeans, which I haven't been able to fit into for about 3 years now, very happy bunny :)

On a related note, I can't remember if I mentioned in the last post, but I've moved Slimming World groups to one closer to ma as she is also wanting to join / support / lose a bit before for 'big day'. She's 7 weeks into her 'journey' and received her first stone award last week (happy claps!). As for myself, I have volunteered as a SW helper. At my request, I have been put on the weighing in station, I thought this would be a good idea as not only will I get used to dealing with people with their weight, but also I can practice quick NLP on them as they weight in......cunning ;)

Next favourite topic - LCD! Still going, and still going well I think, although I am starting to feel I need to phase this out slightly as am generally achieving everything I am setting out to achieve (which is nice!). It's getting back to the stage where I can't think of what else to bring up, as it stands (almost) everything I want to have in motion, is. Perhaps I should discuss this at next session ;)

Next favourite topic - wedding!!! I'll fill more blanks in on the wedding blog, but suffice to say that things are moving along much swifter than anticipated. We have most things sorted in principle, of course we still have deposits to pay and contracts to sign etc, but all in all we both are quite clear as to what we want, and who will provide.

Bit of a short post today, as chickens are about to cause a riot as I've not got them up yet!!

Final topic - LCH (Life Coach Hells for those not already in the know). Since last we spoke, I have almost completed my NLP course (sort of), and that's about it. I know I was doing back flips last time, but I'm afraid to report that I was so busy doing back flips, I didn't actually take any further action to move me forward.....DOH!!!

Never mind, today marks the start of a new week - 5am start (oh yes, that was a 5), and brain is now raring to go. I have decided to make this my very last week of (excuse the French) arsing about. My intention is no matter what, finish NLP course, write up business & marketing plan, and basically as from next Monday, literally be calling myself a life coach and hopefully start getting some clients on board would be nice too. What's stopping me? well frankly not much, asides from my own laziness that it. I have all the skills, tools, time and money I need in order to make this happen. The only thing I need to do is turn off the TV (check) get off my behind (um, in a minute that will be a check), and get moving!!!

Tell you what, I promise to come back next Monday and update on how I done :D

The Game is Afoot!

Hello, my name is Helen (hello Helen). It has been four weeks since my last confession, on my honour! Or may I be chopped up and made into soup.

In the words of Sam Beckett oh BOY!!! Yes my friends, these are indeed exciting time!

First a re cap since the last posts. Tomorrow marks my next blood test encounter , interested to find out the numbers as frankly I feel no different, but hey, let's see what the numbers say.

Slimming World is going ok - I would say great, but frankly I would have liked to have seen bigger numbers by now. I know what I am capable of, and I know where my weaknesses have come from on several occasions. That aside though, I am pleased to announce that in just four weeks I have lost a whopping 13lbs!! (whoop whoop!!). Very pleased as this means I am well on target.

On target for what? Um, well ok confession number two, other half and I have actually booked a holiday for the end of the year! If that wasn't enough, I have also brought myself a size 12 (yes, that is a 12) Bikini (yes I said the word Bikini!!). Am aiming to be able to slim down and wear said Bikini on said holiday! Have worked out if I can lose on average 3lbs per week, I will be well and truly at target by the time said holiday comes - which will be nice!

On a semi related topic (I'm saving the absolute zinger until last ya know), aforementioned fella and I have also been discussing potential dates for up and coming tied knot! I've said we will start looking seriously at venues around May / June time, gives me a chance to shift another couple of stone before a date is actually cast in one! Very excited, have already got shortlist of first dance songs, disco songs, pre ceremony classical tunes, style of dress, overall colour scheme, nominated maid of honour (ta Jen!) & bridesmaids, the beginnings of a guest list, various dance routines to attempt at aforementioned disco and roughly what we'll be doing day before, on the day, and where we'll be going on honeymoon! (Not that I've been thinking about this or anything!) Really excited, but again, it is all weight dependent, as I refuse to walk down the isle looking like a beached whale - pre wedding beauty health & fitness regime officially starts here guys & gals! I think that calls for another whoop whoop!

Aaaaaaaaaaand finally!! NLP course & Life Skills course remains ongoing, HOWEVER! have discovered that I have enough qualifications to apply for SHTC membership, which is like a governing body type thing for coaches, so today I have applied, and initial feedback looks good! Waiting for payment to clear naturally, but barring that, I could be a fully fledged (associate) member!

Once membership is approved, there is literally nothing (I don't think) stopping me from turning around and screaming to the world "Hello, my name is Helen, and I am a certified coach!!!!!!!!!"
 omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg and breeeeeeeeeeath!!

If I could do back flips then seriously right now I would be! Four years it has taken me to get to this point, and finally a dream today has begun to be realised, I am so so happy! Of course now the hard work (and the fun) really begins! Whilst I am polishing off my remaining courses, I can legitimately market myself and try and get some clients in!

I'm off now to run around the garden screaming yipppiiiiiiiieeeeeeee!!