We’re increasingly seeing a lot of ‘Self Care’ advice floating around in all areas of our life, from social media and TV to advertisements for drinks and even furniture?! So, what is self care to you? Is it sat in front of the TV binging on your favourite Netflix series? Your nightly skin care routine? or is it taking yourself off for a long hike in the woods?

What is the definition of self care?

According to Wikipedia the definition of ‘Self Care’…

Self-care is any necessary human regulatory function which is under individual control, deliberate and self-initiated.

What does that mean?

Basically, selfcare is the practice of consciously doing things that preserves or improves your mental or physical health.

What are the benefits?

By improving your physical and mental health you are taking control of your life and overall health. This releases feel good hormones such as serotonin, giving you that feel good feeling and wave of feeling upbeat.

Can we have too much self care?

If your go to self care regime is sat in front of the TV eating a bar of galaxy, do you think if you did this for 3 days straight you would feel good about yourself? Or if you like to run but ran for 6 hours straight every day, how do you think that would affect your body and most importantly your metal health? Like most of the good stuff in life, you need a balance.

Our conclusion

Self care is a great way to check in with yourself, give yourself a break and take stock of what makes you feel good. So, if you fancy a pamper, or you need an extra hour in bed then go for it! But if you find yourself skipping work for the third day in a row and cancelling plans for the fifth time to stay in and watch Tiktok videos until 3am, have a think if your self  care habits could have turned toxic.

If you want to take control of your self care in the form of your nutrition, diet or skin care. visit our website  for services and advice we offer.

The post What is self care and are you doing it? appeared first on Bold Street Slimming & Cosmetics.

Concerns about the virus, our loved ones, jobs, finances and what the future holds are overwhelming and may take a toll on our health. While we don’t have all the answers, we offer some tips and guidance to help you care for your physical and mental health while trying to navigate through this extremely difficult time.

Tips

• Eat a balanced diet of whole foods, including protein, healthy fat and complex carbohydrates. Pile your plate high with vegetables and keep yourself well hydrated.
• Get active!! Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise each day if you are able to. Physical activity releases our happy hormones and gets our heart pumping. It is also a great stress buster.
• Stick to a daily routine. With many of us working from home and/or facing changes in our daily lives it is easy to let good habits slip. Try to add structure to your day. Get up and go to bed at the same time, eat at regular meal- times and add in times for focused productivity, to help you feel more in control.
• Talk about how you are feeling with a trusted family member or friend. This is so important to help us keep a check on our emotions. It is perfectly normal to have feelings of despair, worry and helplessness due to the current situation. Reach out to your loved ones by phone, email or video call on a regular basis.
• If watching the news and reading social media updates about Covid-19 are causing you stress and worry, try to limit your exposure. Perhaps just watch one news bulletin each day, to keep yourself informed but not overwhelmed.
• Find some enjoyment in each and, every day. Revisit your favourite hobby or try something new. There are lots of ideas online depending on your interests. It can be a great distraction from the news and a way to boost your mood.

And of course, continue to follow the government guidelines on social distancing and familiarise yourself with which lockdown tier you are in.

Stay positive and safe!

The post Support Your Physical & Mental Health through the new COVID Restrictions appeared first on Bold Street Slimming & Cosmetics.

We take both a medical and holistic approach to weight loss and your health is always our number one priority.

To help you on your journey with us, whether it be the very beginning or a long term plan, we have compiled some useful nutritional and weigh loss advice below.

12 Weight Loss Tips

1. Keep to a meal routine – try to eat at the same times each day.
2. Watch your portion control, take care with your portion sizes.
3. Eat more protein – include a protein source with each meal.
4. Drink plenty of water – don’t confuse hunger with thirst.
5. Start a diet journal – journaling can help to track your progress.
6. Swap refined carbs (white bread, pasta etc.) for complex carbs – wholegrain/wholemeal.
7. Increase fibre intake – it keeps you feeling fuller for longer.
8. Cut out on junk food – choose healthy snacks instead e.g. fruit, nuts, seeds, hummus and dips.
9. Mindful eating – slow down when eating, enjoy your food.
10. Get a good nights sleep – aim for 7 to 8 hours per night.
11. Don’t drink your calories – the average can of fizzy drink contains 150 cals. Choose your calories wisely.
12. Get active – exercise burns calories and aids weight loss. Walking for 30 minutes every day is a great start, if you have not done any exercise for a while.

Healthy Snack Ideas

For maximum weight loss try not to snack if possible, make your meal-time portions enough to satisfy your hunger. But if you do feel that you need a snack, choose from the healthy options below:

1. Hummus and vegetable crudites.
2. Greek yoghurt and mixed berries, drizzle of honey or maple syrup.
3. One piece of fruit and a bit of nut butter. – Merdian nut butters are a great choice, available in all major supermarkets – https://shop.meridianfoods.co.uk/
4. Raspberry Bliss Balls – So delicious!!  See recipe below.
5. Cut slices of red and green bell peppers with 3 oz of guacamole.
6. Small portion of cottage cheese with a sprinkle of flaxseeds and cinnamon. Linwoods flaxseeds available in major supermarkets – https://linwoodshealthfoods.com/uk/shop/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIh8293-306wIVw-ntCh1oowUDEAAYASAAEgJ5FfD_BwE
7. Kale Chips
8. Dark chocolate and almonds. Choose dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa solids. 1oz of dark chocolate and 1oz of almonds is 300 calories.

The post Your guide to long term weight loss & nutrition appeared first on Bold Street Slimming & Cosmetics.