Team #FATTIESFORFURRIES

Exercise does not come naturally to me. I am not a natural athlete in the least. My body shape is not conducive to running at all. A close friend of mine once said that should she try and run, a natural disaster might occur somewhere. I'm afraid to say I fear the same would happen should I try and run.

However, with any healthy lifestyle, exercise is vital. You'll remember that when I started blogging, I used to walk with an amazing group of ladies every morning. It was my therapy and I felt amazing when the endorphins kicked in. When I stop working at the end of this month, we have decided to take up our morning walks again. The best way to stay active is by making it fun and doing it with friends!

Recently the Hamba Run page caught my attention on Facebook. It looks like amazing fun. It's a fun, fresh 5km fun run with 7 massive inflatable obstacles en route. The Hamba Run is hosting events all over South Africa, starting with their inaugural one at the Riversands Farmers Market in Jo'burg on the 27th of November. The Hamba run is for anyone from the age of 4 years and up! There is no mud, no water, no colour powders, no super human power required, no time restrictions. Just pure fun!

The girls and I have decided that instead of aimlessly doing out walks every morning, we have set ourselves the goal to take part in the Paarl event which will take place in March 2017. That gives us a good 6 months to get a bit fitter and into better shape.

Who doesn't love a challenge?

On top of getting our butts in gear over the next 6 months we have decided to do a bit of fund raising for a local cause - HART (Helderberg Animal Rescue Team). Over the next 6 months we will get people to pledge money for each member of our #teamfattiesforfurries that crosses the finish line of the Paarl Hamba Run. If you would like to join #teamfattiesforfurries, please leave a comment below or send me an inbox message on the Tights & Tekkies facebook page.

You can also help! If you are planning to take part in any of the Hamba Runs in South Africa, you can use my unique code 'LieshenSmit01' when purchasing your tickets. This will allow you a 5% discount on your entry and we will receive a small amount in aid of HART. Tickets are available on their website www.hambarun.co.za

Watch this space for updates on how our training and prep is going over the next few months!

Until next time

XX-L

Emotional Eating

For those of you who have followed my blog and facebook post from the beginning, you will know that I am a terrible emotional eater. I literally eat for every emotion that there is. When I'm sad, I eat (chocolate). When I'm stressed, I eat (niknaks). When I'm tired, I eat (junk food). When I'm happy, I eat (cake). When I've achieved something, I eat (cake).

Recently our family grew by one furchild - Zoë, the Rhodesian ridgeback. Over the passed few weeks, Zoë and I have been attending puppy school to gain a few basic puppy manners. The method that we use is positive reinforcement using treats. So, I tell Zoë to sit...she sits...she gets a treat and loads of praise and loves. This got me thinking about a quote I recently saw on Pinterest:

By using food as my therapy tool or reward over the passed year, I have not only done emence physical damage to my body through weight gain (we are what we eat, after all). But the additional emotional baggage that has come with the extra kilos has also been enormous. I don't like going out as much as I used to. I constantly feel like people are staring at me or talking about me because I am so large. My moods fluctuate with my sugar levels, which hasn't been an easy rollercoaster ride for my family. I'm impatient and irritable with my kiddos. Generally speaking, it's not a pretty picture.

So, one of my first steps that I need to take on this journey to becoming healthier, is to stop feeding my emotions. I need to learn to recognise the difference between physical or true hunger and emotional hunger. I found this table below which sums it up beautifully:

A few things that I can do instead of shoveling a piece of cake into my mouth or inhaling a slab of chocolate would be:
1. Go for a walk - ie. physically remove yourself from the temptation that is infront of you. When Zoë is a bit older, she will become one of the girls in our morning walking group.
2. Talk to a friend - I have started a whatsapp group with a few friends and Tights & Tekkies readers where we support and encourage each otherr on our journey to becoming healthier. This is also where we hold each other accountable.
3. Journal or write down what you are feeling or thinking. That it how Tights & Tekkies came about.
4. Drink some water.
5. Have a relaxing bubble bath / shower.
6. Paint your nails.
7. Listen to your favourite song. Why not dance to your favourite song while you're at it and burn off a few extra calories?
8. Organise something - that junk drawer in the kitchen, your clothes, your linen cupboard, the kids toys...
9. Clean the house or do some gardening.
10.Search pinterest for positive, motivating quotes.

It's OK to have the occassional treat. A small square of 90% cocoa chocolate is GOOD for you. We must just be mindful of WHY we are eating it.

My goal over the next week is to make a conserted effort to differentiate between physical and emotional hunger every time I consider putting something into my mouth to eat. I need ask myself if this food that I am about to consume is feul or is it therapy. If the anwer is therapy, then I need to put it down and find something else to do to occupy my mind and hands until the urge or craving passes.

Until next time,
XX-L