On Saturday evening Mike and I were privileged to be guests at the Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics GB Leicester 2009. It is the second time that these very special Games have been hosted by our home town Leicester and we, as a city and county, feel very honoured to be staging this event again. The last time the games were hosted here was in 1989 and it is the first time the games have been hosted twice by the same city, so ‘well done Leicester’ for that.
But this event is not about where the games are held. It is about the 2,700 athletes with learning disabilities who have been encouraged, developed, trained, and motivated to participate in this experience of a lifetime. There are 21 sports from badminton and basketball to swimming and sailing, supported by 1500 volunteers. It is a phenomenal challenge for everyone involved.
For the rest of us we take being healthy and able-bodied so much for granted. We have our legs and arms, sight, hearing, speech and don’t even consider what life would be like without them. We don’t even think about how we put on our shoes or clean our teeth, talk to each other and move about. But for anyone with cerebral palsy or Down syndrome, or any of many types of learning difficulty, all of these simple tasks are difficult and for some, impossible.
So, when these very special athletes walked, or were wheeled, into the Walkers Stadium to be cheered and applauded by a 23,000-strong crowd, they indeed felt very special. For once in their lives these individuals felt very important. The experience must have been awesome. None of us can imagine the effort that will have gone into the training that they will all have undertaken on the journey to reach this point. The patience and encouragement given by their coaches will have been amazing. The families of the athletes will have supported and encouraged them. They will have made sacrifices but now, hopefully, they will feel that having arrived here, with their son or daughter to be participating in this amazing event, it was well worth every minute of effort.
As the athletes paraded around the arena they moved to their seats but that in itself presented another challenge. Endeavouring to seat 2,700 disabled people took time and needed patience from everyone. It was gladly given. Once seated they clapped and cheered all their fellow comrades with even greater energy than the rest of us, as each team from all over Great Britain arrived into the stadium. I have no doubt that they will have slept very well that night!
As I sat watching the evening unfold, I realised that this amazing event was extraordinary. Not only did it empower and reward the athletes for being talented in their particular sport, but they could be among newly-made friends who were just like them. During this seven days they wouldn’t be the ones who were a bit different. They won’t be the only one that perhaps was a little slower. Now they were among folk who understood them – their coaches, their friends. They will feel ‘normal’, not ‘different’ this week. And the icing on the cake will be the fact that they will be making their families very, very proud.
On Wednesday I have been given the enormous privilege of presenting the medals at the Gymnastics championships. I can’t wait to see the event and meet competitors and the medallists. The Special Olympic Oath reads: Let me win but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt. An oath that says it all.
For the rest of us, as we get up this morning and go about our usual daily tasks, perhaps we should pause for a moment and appreciate that our bodies allow us to rush around and not be dependent upon others. If you are starting your diet this morning, realise what an easy task that is compared to the efforts of others not so fortunate. We really should not make excuses for the way we live our lives but be thankful that we have choices and that we are able to make them ourselves.
Showing posts with label Rosemary Conley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rosemary Conley. Show all posts
Monday, 27 July 2009
Tuesday, 14 July 2009
What else can we do to help?
We are building a TV studio at our offices for a new project to be launched later in the year. The studio is almost complete and recording is about to get into full flow. We need to hang some special fabric on the walls to offer some extra sound absorption, so yesterday it was decided to buy some, to hang around the perimeter, just as I’ve seen in other TV recording studios.
There is a bit of an ‘Arthur Daly’ side of me that many folk wouldn’t know about. I love the challenge of finding the unusual and getting it at a good price. I think many things are over-priced and I have no scruples about buying second hand – after all, that’s how we furnished our beautiful Georgian offices when we bought Quorn House 16 years ago. In the offices themselves (in the old bedrooms of the house) almost every desk is second hand, bought at auction from companies who had closed down. You would never guess as they all look immaculate!
But buying eighty meters of black felt-like fabric is not your normal purchase so I rang a friend at the auction house we furnished Quorn House from all those years ago. The auctioneer, Nigel Dearman, knows everyone. He suggested I ring ‘Mrs M’ who sells all kinds of fabric, so I did. Mrs. M’s shop is only open at weekends but she would be ‘happy to open up to meet me there in an hour’. I popped in on my way to my fitness classes. Mrs M was serving two other customers while she was waiting for me. They were buying sari material and Mrs M explained that they were ‘lucky to find her open on a Monday’ but she was there to meet Mrs Rosemary – but if there was anything else they wanted, ‘here is my mobile number, I could open up for you anytime if that would be helpful!’
Mrs M didn’t have the right fabric for me but she was happy to offer to go to the wholesalers to get it. ‘I will give you a very good price and I will call you tomorrow afternoon when I have it’.
I came away imaging the response I might have received from another shop. ‘No, sorry we don’t sell that’ ‘No, we’re closed till Saturday’. Our customers are the life-blood of any business and we should do everything we can to look after them. I hear of the extra-mile that our franchisees go to in order to support their members. They are genuinely caring by nature and interested enough to do anything to make their business a success because it is in their interest to do so. That’s why they still have good classes, even in a recession. It is all about genuine customer care. It is something I have held so importantly in the way I have worked in the thirty eight years I have been in business. Every letter I get receives a reply, if we can answer a request we will, and if a product isn’t right, we’ll sort it. And our company is flourishing.
Perhaps the whole country could learn a lesson from Mrs M! It really was a case of ‘I will do anything I can to help you’.
For details of your nearest caring Rosemary Conley franchisee, visit www.rosemaryconley.com
There is a bit of an ‘Arthur Daly’ side of me that many folk wouldn’t know about. I love the challenge of finding the unusual and getting it at a good price. I think many things are over-priced and I have no scruples about buying second hand – after all, that’s how we furnished our beautiful Georgian offices when we bought Quorn House 16 years ago. In the offices themselves (in the old bedrooms of the house) almost every desk is second hand, bought at auction from companies who had closed down. You would never guess as they all look immaculate!
But buying eighty meters of black felt-like fabric is not your normal purchase so I rang a friend at the auction house we furnished Quorn House from all those years ago. The auctioneer, Nigel Dearman, knows everyone. He suggested I ring ‘Mrs M’ who sells all kinds of fabric, so I did. Mrs. M’s shop is only open at weekends but she would be ‘happy to open up to meet me there in an hour’. I popped in on my way to my fitness classes. Mrs M was serving two other customers while she was waiting for me. They were buying sari material and Mrs M explained that they were ‘lucky to find her open on a Monday’ but she was there to meet Mrs Rosemary – but if there was anything else they wanted, ‘here is my mobile number, I could open up for you anytime if that would be helpful!’
Mrs M didn’t have the right fabric for me but she was happy to offer to go to the wholesalers to get it. ‘I will give you a very good price and I will call you tomorrow afternoon when I have it’.
I came away imaging the response I might have received from another shop. ‘No, sorry we don’t sell that’ ‘No, we’re closed till Saturday’. Our customers are the life-blood of any business and we should do everything we can to look after them. I hear of the extra-mile that our franchisees go to in order to support their members. They are genuinely caring by nature and interested enough to do anything to make their business a success because it is in their interest to do so. That’s why they still have good classes, even in a recession. It is all about genuine customer care. It is something I have held so importantly in the way I have worked in the thirty eight years I have been in business. Every letter I get receives a reply, if we can answer a request we will, and if a product isn’t right, we’ll sort it. And our company is flourishing.
Perhaps the whole country could learn a lesson from Mrs M! It really was a case of ‘I will do anything I can to help you’.
For details of your nearest caring Rosemary Conley franchisee, visit www.rosemaryconley.com
Friday, 3 July 2009
Off to the Austrian Alps!
Tomorrow, almost 40 women will be travelling with me and my two colleagues to Zurich, Switzerland and then on to Lech in Austria for a House Party Activity Holiday. It is the 23rd time we have organised this trip which started back in 1983. We stay at the same hotel, Der Berghof, which is run by the third generation of the Burger family.
Each day will start with an early morning walk, then a daily weigh-in for those determined to lose weight this week, followed by a healthy breakfast, a talk, a hike, lunch in the mountains, a walk to the open air pool if folk wish, then it’s sauna or steam room time. On three days we do classes at the local school gym and in the evenings, after a specially prepared, low fat four course dinner, it’s entertainment time. Quiz nights, Tyrolean evening, even a Concert where volunteers from our group perform. It is always a fantastic week and many of the guests return year after year for this holiday of laughter and fitness. We all go back feeling energised and refreshed.
The only problem with a holiday like this is that you need so many different clothes as we change around four times a day into suitable attire for our various activities. The weather can be so unpredictable and we have known it to snow in the morning while we’ve walked up a mountain and then turn to 28 degrees in the afternoon for us to sunbathe and swim.
So, over the next nine days my blog will be recalling the fun and games we get up to.
Today my new diet Trialists come in to Quorn House for a celebration of their achievements. As a thank you, their names are going into a prize draw and one lucky slimmer will walk away with £250!
They have done brilliantly and I cannot wait to see what the final outcome will be of their average weight loss over the four week trial.
If you want to lose weight for your summer holidays, it’s not too late. Check out our website at www.rosemaryconley.com to find your nearest class or join our online club.
Each day will start with an early morning walk, then a daily weigh-in for those determined to lose weight this week, followed by a healthy breakfast, a talk, a hike, lunch in the mountains, a walk to the open air pool if folk wish, then it’s sauna or steam room time. On three days we do classes at the local school gym and in the evenings, after a specially prepared, low fat four course dinner, it’s entertainment time. Quiz nights, Tyrolean evening, even a Concert where volunteers from our group perform. It is always a fantastic week and many of the guests return year after year for this holiday of laughter and fitness. We all go back feeling energised and refreshed.
The only problem with a holiday like this is that you need so many different clothes as we change around four times a day into suitable attire for our various activities. The weather can be so unpredictable and we have known it to snow in the morning while we’ve walked up a mountain and then turn to 28 degrees in the afternoon for us to sunbathe and swim.
So, over the next nine days my blog will be recalling the fun and games we get up to.
Today my new diet Trialists come in to Quorn House for a celebration of their achievements. As a thank you, their names are going into a prize draw and one lucky slimmer will walk away with £250!
They have done brilliantly and I cannot wait to see what the final outcome will be of their average weight loss over the four week trial.
If you want to lose weight for your summer holidays, it’s not too late. Check out our website at www.rosemaryconley.com to find your nearest class or join our online club.
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
Losing weight is harder as we get older
Every Monday evening I teach a couple of classes at the Holiday Inn in Leicester. I have been teaching my classes there since 1986 and around 15 or so of my members have been coming to me since then and some of those women are now well into their seventies.
What I find so rewarding is that this special band of folk are fit and able, and their bodies are serving them well plus they have good figures. For many of them, this class is the only real exercise they do all week yet even that one class has made a significant difference to their health and wellbeing because along with the weekly exercise, they have lost weight and kept it at a healthy level. And that is crucial.
There is no doubt that if we want to live a long and healthy life, we need to keep our weight in check. Being slim makes a dramatic difference to our health at any age, but never more so than when we get older because our joints as well as our heart will suffer if we don’t. But losing weight when we are older is tough because our metabolic rate slows down with age.
The rate at which we burn calories (our metabolic rate) starts slowing down when we hit 30! Past the age of 60 it slows down significantly added to which we are usually less active in our daily lives so the risk of an increase in weight for many older folk is high. But we can do a lot to help ourselves.
As we get older our body tends to lose muscle strength (because we don’t use them as much as when we are younger, plus an older body isn’t as efficient at maintaining muscle tissue)and the body is more inclined to lay down fat. This is bad news all round! However, if we eat a low fat diet that is moderate in its portions we can lose weight or at least stop ourselves from gaining it. Then if we add physical activity, we can dramatically help ourselves by burning more calories as well as keeping out muscles strong and prevent muscle wastage. Strength workouts such as muscle toning exercises or using light weights will really help to maintain muscle and bone strength. Aerobic exercise (anything that makes you slightly out of breath and warm) will burn extra calories and also fat. By doing a combination of both, even if it is only once a week, will make a difference and if you cannot get to a class, working out to one of my DVDs will work wonders. I always include aerobics and toning in all my programmes so even one DVD will fulfil your needs.
So if you are young and reading this, try and get your weight to a healthy level while it is easier to do so and then maintain a healthy lifestyle into later life. If you are older, start taking action now so that you are investing into your old age. I love the saying ‘exercise is like a savings account. The more you invest the greater the dividends’.
Check out our website for details of my DVDs and our Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness classes. We are here to help you.
What I find so rewarding is that this special band of folk are fit and able, and their bodies are serving them well plus they have good figures. For many of them, this class is the only real exercise they do all week yet even that one class has made a significant difference to their health and wellbeing because along with the weekly exercise, they have lost weight and kept it at a healthy level. And that is crucial.
There is no doubt that if we want to live a long and healthy life, we need to keep our weight in check. Being slim makes a dramatic difference to our health at any age, but never more so than when we get older because our joints as well as our heart will suffer if we don’t. But losing weight when we are older is tough because our metabolic rate slows down with age.
The rate at which we burn calories (our metabolic rate) starts slowing down when we hit 30! Past the age of 60 it slows down significantly added to which we are usually less active in our daily lives so the risk of an increase in weight for many older folk is high. But we can do a lot to help ourselves.
As we get older our body tends to lose muscle strength (because we don’t use them as much as when we are younger, plus an older body isn’t as efficient at maintaining muscle tissue)and the body is more inclined to lay down fat. This is bad news all round! However, if we eat a low fat diet that is moderate in its portions we can lose weight or at least stop ourselves from gaining it. Then if we add physical activity, we can dramatically help ourselves by burning more calories as well as keeping out muscles strong and prevent muscle wastage. Strength workouts such as muscle toning exercises or using light weights will really help to maintain muscle and bone strength. Aerobic exercise (anything that makes you slightly out of breath and warm) will burn extra calories and also fat. By doing a combination of both, even if it is only once a week, will make a difference and if you cannot get to a class, working out to one of my DVDs will work wonders. I always include aerobics and toning in all my programmes so even one DVD will fulfil your needs.
So if you are young and reading this, try and get your weight to a healthy level while it is easier to do so and then maintain a healthy lifestyle into later life. If you are older, start taking action now so that you are investing into your old age. I love the saying ‘exercise is like a savings account. The more you invest the greater the dividends’.
Check out our website for details of my DVDs and our Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness classes. We are here to help you.
Monday, 8 June 2009
Why I love Marks & Spencer
I have always respected Marks & Spencer as a brand that represents quality and service. The staff are always pleasant and there is a no-quibble returns policy which makes shopping for clothes significantly easier. (I hate trying things on in shops and much prefer to do it in the peace and quiet of home when I can try on various shoes and jewellery to see if they look right and suitable for me as an individual.) But I always used to think their food was expensive. That is, until I worked for them.
In 1996 I was invited to become a consultant to M & S to help them brand their healthy food range. Up to this point, food that was considered ‘healthy’ as opposed to ‘indulgent’ was just labelled as low - or lower - fat, or low sugar or high fibre. Over the next four years we worked together in re-branding their healthier options, initially under the ‘Healthy Choice’ range and then later they created the cleverly named ‘Count On Us’ range. My main advice involved consistent and clear labelling on the front of the pack as to how many calories the pack contained and what percentage fat it was. Next, I emphasised that the quantity needed to be maxed up not cut back, after all, dieters like their food!
M & S were a dream to work with. They listened, they put the suggestions into practice and it worked. I worked with them for four years (ending in 2000) and it was a privilege to work with such a company. My time with them was fun. We made a superb fitness video together which also incorporated their healthy food range and it was while we were working on the video that I learned so much about the standards that they set for their food products. They just have to be the best. Nothing is compromised and whilst the healthier option food range may cut back on the calories and fat, cutting back on flavour and indulgent taste was never an option. The ‘healthy’ ready meals had to taste every bit as good as the parent product.
As a result of my experience of working alongside M & S I have, ever since, always shopped there for our food. It tastes superb, it lasts longer and whilst it is not cheap, I believe it is good value. I am a huge fan. And the readers of my magazine, Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness, seem to agree. Last year we launched our Fab Low Fat Food Awards and M & S won five awards. They are, in fact, the market leader in the healthy ready meals market and long may they continue. Why? Because they will not compromise on taste and quality and that is what we all want. If we are to be happy cutting back the calories while we try to lose weight, the quality and the taste of the food we eat is paramount. The key is to not to over-buy otherwise you will be over-tempted!
In 1996 I was invited to become a consultant to M & S to help them brand their healthy food range. Up to this point, food that was considered ‘healthy’ as opposed to ‘indulgent’ was just labelled as low - or lower - fat, or low sugar or high fibre. Over the next four years we worked together in re-branding their healthier options, initially under the ‘Healthy Choice’ range and then later they created the cleverly named ‘Count On Us’ range. My main advice involved consistent and clear labelling on the front of the pack as to how many calories the pack contained and what percentage fat it was. Next, I emphasised that the quantity needed to be maxed up not cut back, after all, dieters like their food!
M & S were a dream to work with. They listened, they put the suggestions into practice and it worked. I worked with them for four years (ending in 2000) and it was a privilege to work with such a company. My time with them was fun. We made a superb fitness video together which also incorporated their healthy food range and it was while we were working on the video that I learned so much about the standards that they set for their food products. They just have to be the best. Nothing is compromised and whilst the healthier option food range may cut back on the calories and fat, cutting back on flavour and indulgent taste was never an option. The ‘healthy’ ready meals had to taste every bit as good as the parent product.
As a result of my experience of working alongside M & S I have, ever since, always shopped there for our food. It tastes superb, it lasts longer and whilst it is not cheap, I believe it is good value. I am a huge fan. And the readers of my magazine, Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness, seem to agree. Last year we launched our Fab Low Fat Food Awards and M & S won five awards. They are, in fact, the market leader in the healthy ready meals market and long may they continue. Why? Because they will not compromise on taste and quality and that is what we all want. If we are to be happy cutting back the calories while we try to lose weight, the quality and the taste of the food we eat is paramount. The key is to not to over-buy otherwise you will be over-tempted!
Thursday, 4 June 2009
Making the effort on holiday!
We have been in Portugal for the last couple of weeks. The first week was holiday and the second was work-based as we have had our annual Think Tank. Our fellow directors fly out to join us for an enjoyable time together when we can mull over, discuss in detail and think outside the box for the future of the business, and decide where we are going to place our priorities over the next twelve months. It is extremely productive and over the last three years, since we started to do this in Portugal, the company has been transformed.
With guests comes the need to feed and entertain and inevitably more food and drink is on the menu than maybe it would be if Mike and I were just alone. But I have learned that weight can go on so quickly and yet it is so slow to go. I have worked hard this two weeks to lose a couple of pounds so that I can wear my summer-weight clothes and not feel there are too many bulges. I have cranked up my willpower and stayed focused. It has worked. I am going home today feeling slimmer than when I arrived and that feels good.
These are the five rules I have followed during these two weeks:
I’ve reduced my portion size by 20% at every meal
I have eaten low-fat foods and have substituted soy sauce instead of salad cream on salads
I have not eaten one Pringle or eaten any Haagen Dazs ice cream – (my usual holiday treats!)
I have done an aerobic workout three times and done some toning exercises on five occasions
Except for one evening when I overdid the Pimms, I have moderated my alcohol consumption
Just by making these small but important choices I have lost weight and I am very, very happy about it. It could so easily have been the opposite and I could have gained a couple of extra pounds or even more and then I would have been as miserable as sin.
If you are planning on going on holiday soon, try your very best to lose as much weight before you go and then when you are away, keep those good habits going and you too could go home even slimmer or, at least, weighing the same.
If you need help to lose weight between now and your holiday, check out our website. We can help you.
With guests comes the need to feed and entertain and inevitably more food and drink is on the menu than maybe it would be if Mike and I were just alone. But I have learned that weight can go on so quickly and yet it is so slow to go. I have worked hard this two weeks to lose a couple of pounds so that I can wear my summer-weight clothes and not feel there are too many bulges. I have cranked up my willpower and stayed focused. It has worked. I am going home today feeling slimmer than when I arrived and that feels good.
These are the five rules I have followed during these two weeks:
I’ve reduced my portion size by 20% at every meal
I have eaten low-fat foods and have substituted soy sauce instead of salad cream on salads
I have not eaten one Pringle or eaten any Haagen Dazs ice cream – (my usual holiday treats!)
I have done an aerobic workout three times and done some toning exercises on five occasions
Except for one evening when I overdid the Pimms, I have moderated my alcohol consumption
Just by making these small but important choices I have lost weight and I am very, very happy about it. It could so easily have been the opposite and I could have gained a couple of extra pounds or even more and then I would have been as miserable as sin.
If you are planning on going on holiday soon, try your very best to lose as much weight before you go and then when you are away, keep those good habits going and you too could go home even slimmer or, at least, weighing the same.
If you need help to lose weight between now and your holiday, check out our website. We can help you.
Monday, 1 June 2009
The key to success
I was sad to hear that Susan Boyle had been admitted to a private clinic in London as she is suffering from stress and exhaustion. And I’m not a bit surprised. How anybody could cope with the expectation, pressure and extraordinary events resulting from Britain’s Got Talent over the last week is beyond me but for someone who normally lives alone with just her cat for company, it is a miracle she actually made it on to the stage on Saturday. Whether she won or not is, in my view, pretty irrelevant. She has a magnificent voice and she will be signed up – hopefully by Simon Cowell - and she will be hugely successful. I just hope someone will be around her to look after her.
Success was once described to me as having three parts. Firstly, it is about having a goal. Next, it’s having someone to share it with and lastly, that what you do makes a difference. Susan Boyle had a goal and she is on her way to becoming an international super-star. What she does makes a big difference to a lot of people. Her singing brings us a feel good factor – whether it be making the hairs stand up on the back of our neck – or even making us cry in a positive way! So Susan scores two out of the three. Having someone to share it all with – the ups and the downs – is where it could go horribly wrong. I so, so hope that her agent will appoint someone who can get alongside, support and value Susan for who she is . She is a vulnerable human being and she needs someone to treasure her and make her feel good about herself, and who’s on her side.
We all need that and after this glorious weekend perhaps we should all ask ourselves the same three questions. And to help you make those first steps towards your success you need to be in a good place with yourself and that starts with self-image, self-confidence and self-belief. Getting fitter and losing a few pounds is a good first step and there’s nothing like a Monday to start a new diet resolution. If you need help, check out our website and you’ll find plenty of people to support you and share your success.
Success was once described to me as having three parts. Firstly, it is about having a goal. Next, it’s having someone to share it with and lastly, that what you do makes a difference. Susan Boyle had a goal and she is on her way to becoming an international super-star. What she does makes a big difference to a lot of people. Her singing brings us a feel good factor – whether it be making the hairs stand up on the back of our neck – or even making us cry in a positive way! So Susan scores two out of the three. Having someone to share it all with – the ups and the downs – is where it could go horribly wrong. I so, so hope that her agent will appoint someone who can get alongside, support and value Susan for who she is . She is a vulnerable human being and she needs someone to treasure her and make her feel good about herself, and who’s on her side.
We all need that and after this glorious weekend perhaps we should all ask ourselves the same three questions. And to help you make those first steps towards your success you need to be in a good place with yourself and that starts with self-image, self-confidence and self-belief. Getting fitter and losing a few pounds is a good first step and there’s nothing like a Monday to start a new diet resolution. If you need help, check out our website and you’ll find plenty of people to support you and share your success.
Friday, 29 May 2009
The Story of the Portuguese Duckling
It was two years ago that Mike and I were sitting in our villa here in Portugal, just looking out on to the garden when something scuttled in front of our patio doors, swiftly followed by a cat.
We leapt up to find, huddled in the corner of the patio door, the tiniest of ducklings looking very frightened and lonely. In fact, it was so tiny, even the cat had dived past it, not realising it was nestling in this tiny space.
I scooped up the frail little bird and stood, rather helplessly, wondering what to do next. But I could hear Portuguese gardeners next door and walked round to see if they could offer some inspiration. One of the guys spoke some English and, very excitedly explained that they had found the duckling on the main road outside of the resort – some mile or so away – and that they had put it in a box to take somewhere later. Meanwhile, next door’s cat had found it, picked it up and ran off with it and the gardeners had presumed the duckling had provided a pleasant supper for Felix the cat.
The resort is surrounded by golf courses and golf courses have lakes so I called a friend who lives permanently in Portugal, to ask where the nearest pond would be. So off we drove, with one very scared duckling huddled in the corner of a box. We parked up near the golf course and I walked across towards the lake only to find there were two very large lakes. I looked at the first one and, I don’t know why, but that just didn’t feel right so I walked on to the next one. There was a big drop down from the grass to the water’s edge but somehow inside me felt that this was a good pace for baby duckling to have a swim. And as I lay flat on my stomach on the grass, I carefully lowered the fragile feathered creature on to the water. He looked SO tiny as he paddled across what appeared to be a vast ocean.
Then something extraordinary happened. Out from the undergrowth swam, at the fastest speed I have ever seen a duck paddle, an elegant fully grown duck. She quacked so loudly as she glided across, and the duckling tweeped at the top of his voice in response. As the two met the adult duck danced on the water all around the duckling in an amazing display of joy and excitement, flapping her wings and quacking in absolute ecstasy. Her lost little duckling had come home!
It was one of the loveliest sights I have ever seen and it taught me that even when you think that all is lost, miracles really can happen.
Enjoy your weekend.
We leapt up to find, huddled in the corner of the patio door, the tiniest of ducklings looking very frightened and lonely. In fact, it was so tiny, even the cat had dived past it, not realising it was nestling in this tiny space.
I scooped up the frail little bird and stood, rather helplessly, wondering what to do next. But I could hear Portuguese gardeners next door and walked round to see if they could offer some inspiration. One of the guys spoke some English and, very excitedly explained that they had found the duckling on the main road outside of the resort – some mile or so away – and that they had put it in a box to take somewhere later. Meanwhile, next door’s cat had found it, picked it up and ran off with it and the gardeners had presumed the duckling had provided a pleasant supper for Felix the cat.
The resort is surrounded by golf courses and golf courses have lakes so I called a friend who lives permanently in Portugal, to ask where the nearest pond would be. So off we drove, with one very scared duckling huddled in the corner of a box. We parked up near the golf course and I walked across towards the lake only to find there were two very large lakes. I looked at the first one and, I don’t know why, but that just didn’t feel right so I walked on to the next one. There was a big drop down from the grass to the water’s edge but somehow inside me felt that this was a good pace for baby duckling to have a swim. And as I lay flat on my stomach on the grass, I carefully lowered the fragile feathered creature on to the water. He looked SO tiny as he paddled across what appeared to be a vast ocean.
Then something extraordinary happened. Out from the undergrowth swam, at the fastest speed I have ever seen a duck paddle, an elegant fully grown duck. She quacked so loudly as she glided across, and the duckling tweeped at the top of his voice in response. As the two met the adult duck danced on the water all around the duckling in an amazing display of joy and excitement, flapping her wings and quacking in absolute ecstasy. Her lost little duckling had come home!
It was one of the loveliest sights I have ever seen and it taught me that even when you think that all is lost, miracles really can happen.
Enjoy your weekend.
Thursday, 28 May 2009
Stroke - the silent killer
In recent weeks the Government has sponsored a major health campaign to help us recognise early symptoms of stroke. It has worked and many lives have been saved already, and we are all that bit more aware of those initial indications – facial signals, slurred speech, restricted mobility particularly from the arms. It has also given us the confidence to pick up the phone immediately if we see someone who could be affected. We can call for emergency first aid without our feeling guilty that we might be wasting someone’s time.
Having a stroke is serious and it can kill us. It can come with no warning. It is the third biggest killer disease in our country. The problem is that, unfortunately, we just don’t think it will happen to us.
But we can do a massive amount to reduce our risk of stroke and we need to take that responsibility ourselves, very seriously. Being overweight and unfit dramatically increases our risk of having a stroke as well as many other life-threatening diseases including heart disease, cancer and Type 2 Diabetes. And yet, if we just make some simple changes to our lifestyle we can reduce that risk enormously.
It doesn’t have to be dramatic – just small but significant changes could save your life:
Cut back on the fat in your diet, (particularly saturated fat) – and don’t add fat to anything that you cook.
Cut back your portion sizes by 25% to reduce your weight.
Get active. Just being more active in our everyday lives can dramatically increase our fitness levels and help us lose weight.
Losing 10% of our bodyweight when we are overweight can very effectively reduce our risk of developing a life threatening disease.
Drink alcohol in moderation and get your blood-pressure checked next time you visit your GP’s surgery. It can give you the first indication as to whether you are susceptible to stroke.
And don’t wait until tomorrow. Start today and check out the free website www.obesityawareness.co.uk to see where you lie at risk with your health.
Having a stroke is serious and it can kill us. It can come with no warning. It is the third biggest killer disease in our country. The problem is that, unfortunately, we just don’t think it will happen to us.
But we can do a massive amount to reduce our risk of stroke and we need to take that responsibility ourselves, very seriously. Being overweight and unfit dramatically increases our risk of having a stroke as well as many other life-threatening diseases including heart disease, cancer and Type 2 Diabetes. And yet, if we just make some simple changes to our lifestyle we can reduce that risk enormously.
It doesn’t have to be dramatic – just small but significant changes could save your life:
Cut back on the fat in your diet, (particularly saturated fat) – and don’t add fat to anything that you cook.
Cut back your portion sizes by 25% to reduce your weight.
Get active. Just being more active in our everyday lives can dramatically increase our fitness levels and help us lose weight.
Losing 10% of our bodyweight when we are overweight can very effectively reduce our risk of developing a life threatening disease.
Drink alcohol in moderation and get your blood-pressure checked next time you visit your GP’s surgery. It can give you the first indication as to whether you are susceptible to stroke.
And don’t wait until tomorrow. Start today and check out the free website www.obesityawareness.co.uk to see where you lie at risk with your health.
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
Bank Holidays and shaping up for summer...
I like Bank Holidays because they punctuate the year and give us a breather from the hussle and bussle of everyday life. But they do much more than that. They give us a point on the calender, a marker from which we can make new beginnings and start new habits.
With such beautiful weather for most people over the weekend it really does focus our minds on shaping up for summer. As we shed our warm clothes after a chilly couple of weeks, we become horribly aware of those extra pounds gained over the winter months which have been so ignored, and carefully camourflaged, under layers of garments for no-one to see – until now!
I am no different from the rest of you and I have seriously taken myself in hand over the last few weeks, as have lots of our staff.
Mike and I are holidaying in Portugal at the moment and when we were here in March my white trousers were unwearable. They now fit – snugly, admittedly - but they have been worn for a whole day and I was still breathing at the end of it. Deep joy! Drinking less wine, cutting back on portions, trying to be more active, have all helped. I still have some to lose (I don’t know how much because I don’t weigh myself – I just go by the fit of my clothes), but I’m ‘in the zone’. I have worked out this morning and feel better for it. I have made a decision, this bank holiday, to step up my exercise and keep on with the good resolve on the food and wine front.
Our usual holiday treats are Pringles and Haagen Dazs ice cream. There are no Pringles in the villa and the half-eaten tub of Haagen Dazs (left from last visit) is untouched.
I want to be slim more than I want these gorgeous indulgencies so let’s hope I can hold it together till we leave in 10 days’ time.
If you want to lose weight for your summer holidays, you need to get in the zone too. Think of five reasons why you want to be slimmer and write them down in your diary. Decide five things you can do regarding your eating habits to help you achieve weight loss. Then decide on five activities you will do each week to help burn extra calories and slim you down faster.
And if you are thinking that investing in some expensive bit of exercise machinery is going to be the answer, forget it. You will have a mad burst of enthusiasm for the first week then you’ll get bored. If you have a bit of kit already, why not dust it down, bring it in from the garage and give it a go. Even if you do use it for only a week, that’s better than nothing!
Losing weight takes effort and determination. Nobody said it was quick or easy, but we may be able to help you with some of the solutions that we offer via our website rosemaryconley.com. Check it out for yourself. Going to a class is definitely the most effective as you get the interaction of the other members as well as the supervision of a qualified professional, weighing you in and teaching you exercise safely and effectively. To find your local class simply put your postcode into our Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Club classfinder here. If you can’t get to a class, our online slimming club is great. You can communicate with other members via the chat room and coffee shop at any time of the day or night. And working out to one of my DVD’s will provide you with an easy-to-follow whole body workout that you can do anytime to suit your schedule.
I know how being overweight can rob you of your confidence – I once was two and a half stone overweight – and that’s why I want to help you achieve a body you can be proud of. We are so much happier when our weight is down and our fitness is up. Let’s go fot it – together.
With such beautiful weather for most people over the weekend it really does focus our minds on shaping up for summer. As we shed our warm clothes after a chilly couple of weeks, we become horribly aware of those extra pounds gained over the winter months which have been so ignored, and carefully camourflaged, under layers of garments for no-one to see – until now!
I am no different from the rest of you and I have seriously taken myself in hand over the last few weeks, as have lots of our staff.
Mike and I are holidaying in Portugal at the moment and when we were here in March my white trousers were unwearable. They now fit – snugly, admittedly - but they have been worn for a whole day and I was still breathing at the end of it. Deep joy! Drinking less wine, cutting back on portions, trying to be more active, have all helped. I still have some to lose (I don’t know how much because I don’t weigh myself – I just go by the fit of my clothes), but I’m ‘in the zone’. I have worked out this morning and feel better for it. I have made a decision, this bank holiday, to step up my exercise and keep on with the good resolve on the food and wine front.
Our usual holiday treats are Pringles and Haagen Dazs ice cream. There are no Pringles in the villa and the half-eaten tub of Haagen Dazs (left from last visit) is untouched.
I want to be slim more than I want these gorgeous indulgencies so let’s hope I can hold it together till we leave in 10 days’ time.
If you want to lose weight for your summer holidays, you need to get in the zone too. Think of five reasons why you want to be slimmer and write them down in your diary. Decide five things you can do regarding your eating habits to help you achieve weight loss. Then decide on five activities you will do each week to help burn extra calories and slim you down faster.
And if you are thinking that investing in some expensive bit of exercise machinery is going to be the answer, forget it. You will have a mad burst of enthusiasm for the first week then you’ll get bored. If you have a bit of kit already, why not dust it down, bring it in from the garage and give it a go. Even if you do use it for only a week, that’s better than nothing!
Losing weight takes effort and determination. Nobody said it was quick or easy, but we may be able to help you with some of the solutions that we offer via our website rosemaryconley.com. Check it out for yourself. Going to a class is definitely the most effective as you get the interaction of the other members as well as the supervision of a qualified professional, weighing you in and teaching you exercise safely and effectively. To find your local class simply put your postcode into our Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Club classfinder here. If you can’t get to a class, our online slimming club is great. You can communicate with other members via the chat room and coffee shop at any time of the day or night. And working out to one of my DVD’s will provide you with an easy-to-follow whole body workout that you can do anytime to suit your schedule.
I know how being overweight can rob you of your confidence – I once was two and a half stone overweight – and that’s why I want to help you achieve a body you can be proud of. We are so much happier when our weight is down and our fitness is up. Let’s go fot it – together.
Friday, 22 May 2009
Spring Bank Holiday Weekend
The Spring Bank holiday signifies the beginning of summer and it is also half-term so lots of parents will have taken the week off to stay at home with their children.
After watching TV last night there is no doubt that the DIY stores are hoping you will be flocking to scoop up their ‘50% off sale bargains, plus another 20% off everything’!
These days we cram so much into every day that when a few days’ holiday arrive we have such great plans to achieve so much. Whether it be laying the patio, redecorating the bedroom or fitting a new kitchen, it is, unfortunately, not going to be completed this weekend. But it may get started and that’s good. Taking the first steps is the most important to getting a task completed.
Planning a major DIY project is a bit like planning a DIY get-slim-and-fit programme to get you in shape for your summer holidays. On Day 1 you have such good intentions. You walk for an hour, achieve well over your 10.000 steps on your pedometer, weigh out your cereal for breakfast, eat a healthy sandwich for lunch and have tuna and salad for dinner and no pudding! And you drank Diet Coke instead of beer or wine. You feel like a saint and tell yourself how easy this is going to be. This is the DIY equivalent of having decided on your kitchen, bought it, ripped out the old one and opened the first flat-pack. What could possibly go wrong?
Whether you are trying to lose weight or install a new kitchen your success will be determined by appreciating your strengths and acknowledging your weaknesses. Some of us are better at attacking projects with others, whilst some prefer to go it alone. Just as you need a qualified plumber to install your kitchen, so you also need a qualified exercise teacher to help you get the most out of your exercises. Whether it is with the help of someone remotely, such as following a fitness DVD, or attending a class, exercising with a professional will enable you to achieve the maximum benefit in the minimum amount of time. And that is what we are all after - a quick but satisfactory result. Check out our website for details of professional help: www.rosemaryconley.com
If you want to lose a few pounds this weekend, do these five simple things. 1) Plan ahead what you are going to eat at mealtimes and then don’t over-shop. 2) Avoid snacking between meals - this is important – though you could eat a Satsuma or kiwi fruit just to keep you going if you feel really hungry. 3) Cut your portion size by 20% and buy foods with 5% or less fat and prepare and cook everything without adding fat such as oil or butter. 4) Drink plenty of low calorie fluids – water, diet drinks, tea, - as staying hydrated can stave off hunger pangs. 5) Be as active as you can, and try to sit down as little as possible!
Have a good weekend!
After watching TV last night there is no doubt that the DIY stores are hoping you will be flocking to scoop up their ‘50% off sale bargains, plus another 20% off everything’!
These days we cram so much into every day that when a few days’ holiday arrive we have such great plans to achieve so much. Whether it be laying the patio, redecorating the bedroom or fitting a new kitchen, it is, unfortunately, not going to be completed this weekend. But it may get started and that’s good. Taking the first steps is the most important to getting a task completed.
Planning a major DIY project is a bit like planning a DIY get-slim-and-fit programme to get you in shape for your summer holidays. On Day 1 you have such good intentions. You walk for an hour, achieve well over your 10.000 steps on your pedometer, weigh out your cereal for breakfast, eat a healthy sandwich for lunch and have tuna and salad for dinner and no pudding! And you drank Diet Coke instead of beer or wine. You feel like a saint and tell yourself how easy this is going to be. This is the DIY equivalent of having decided on your kitchen, bought it, ripped out the old one and opened the first flat-pack. What could possibly go wrong?
Whether you are trying to lose weight or install a new kitchen your success will be determined by appreciating your strengths and acknowledging your weaknesses. Some of us are better at attacking projects with others, whilst some prefer to go it alone. Just as you need a qualified plumber to install your kitchen, so you also need a qualified exercise teacher to help you get the most out of your exercises. Whether it is with the help of someone remotely, such as following a fitness DVD, or attending a class, exercising with a professional will enable you to achieve the maximum benefit in the minimum amount of time. And that is what we are all after - a quick but satisfactory result. Check out our website for details of professional help: www.rosemaryconley.com
If you want to lose a few pounds this weekend, do these five simple things. 1) Plan ahead what you are going to eat at mealtimes and then don’t over-shop. 2) Avoid snacking between meals - this is important – though you could eat a Satsuma or kiwi fruit just to keep you going if you feel really hungry. 3) Cut your portion size by 20% and buy foods with 5% or less fat and prepare and cook everything without adding fat such as oil or butter. 4) Drink plenty of low calorie fluids – water, diet drinks, tea, - as staying hydrated can stave off hunger pangs. 5) Be as active as you can, and try to sit down as little as possible!
Have a good weekend!
Thursday, 21 May 2009
Facial-Flex Ultra on TV
Apologies for the absence of Rosemary’s blog over the last couple of days. Unfortunately Rosemary is unwell at the moment but will be back writing her blog as soon as she is feeling better.
In the meantime, the team at Rosemary Conley thought you might be interested to know that Facial-Flex Ultra, which Rosemary has personally been using for many years, is due to be featured on Channel 4’s Extreme Male Beauty programme next Thursday, 28th May, at 10pm. Tim Shaw, the presenter, will be demonstrating this amazing product, which is available exclusively in the UK from http://www.rosemaryconley.com/
Just using Facial-Flex Ultra for two minutes, twice a day can help you look 10 years younger without the need for surgery, and the best thing is it’s 100 per cent natural!
Whilst exercise strengthens and tones the muscles in our body and helps us to look younger and feel healthier, this handy gadget can do the same for your face.
As we get older, our facial muscles can reduce in size, resulting in sagging and ageing, which is where Facial-Flex Ultra comes in. It works the support structure under your skin to increase muscle strength, skin tone and firmness, improve blood circulation and help reduce a sagging jaw line and double chin.
And, as Rosemary says: “It’s the easy, safe and natural way to make a real difference to your appearance. I use it and I know it works!”
In the meantime, the team at Rosemary Conley thought you might be interested to know that Facial-Flex Ultra, which Rosemary has personally been using for many years, is due to be featured on Channel 4’s Extreme Male Beauty programme next Thursday, 28th May, at 10pm. Tim Shaw, the presenter, will be demonstrating this amazing product, which is available exclusively in the UK from http://www.rosemaryconley.com/
Just using Facial-Flex Ultra for two minutes, twice a day can help you look 10 years younger without the need for surgery, and the best thing is it’s 100 per cent natural!
Whilst exercise strengthens and tones the muscles in our body and helps us to look younger and feel healthier, this handy gadget can do the same for your face.
As we get older, our facial muscles can reduce in size, resulting in sagging and ageing, which is where Facial-Flex Ultra comes in. It works the support structure under your skin to increase muscle strength, skin tone and firmness, improve blood circulation and help reduce a sagging jaw line and double chin.
And, as Rosemary says: “It’s the easy, safe and natural way to make a real difference to your appearance. I use it and I know it works!”
Monday, 30 March 2009
Health checks for the over 40s will save lives
Today’s announcement by the government for health checks for the over-40s is an excellent idea, which will, I am sure, save many lives. Every five years, those aged 40 to 74 will have their weight and cholesterol checked. Obesity and overweight leads to serious health problems. Anyone with high cholesterol is on the fast track to heart disease and strokes. There is also an increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes in men, women and shockingly even in children who are overweight or obese. Anyone who thinks they may be overweight or obese should visit www.obesityawareness.co.uk for a free BMI check.
Slimmers of the Year at the Vitality Show
We are all still recovering from our marathon Vitality Show Extravaganza but have had time to reflect on the event of the last four days and the high spots. We were so proud of our four national Slimmers of the Year who attended the show and met the public on our Stand. We had lifesize before and after photographs of all four of them and the expressions on the faces of the general public when they saw the winners in the flesh was a total joy. Between them the slimmers have lost 40 stone and they are living proof that diet AND exercise is the only answer to a healthy body and a good figure. They are all members of Rosemary Conley Clubs and are tremendous ambassadors for everything we stand for. Click here to see more photographs and read their stories.
Friday, 27 March 2009
Day two of the Vitality Show
Day one of the Vitality Show completed. We were all exhausted at the end of our very long day which finished at 9pm as we left Earl’s Court. Our stand is headed with the words lose 7lb in 14 days and lots of people came to ask how that could be done. I explained that on my Gi Hip and Thigh diet it is totally possible to lose 7lb in 14 days on the Fat Attack Fortnight but some people said they would prefer to take a pill!
Many dieters do not realise that the only way to lose weight is to make some effort to eat less and do more. For all that, we had lots of lovely people come onto the stand with inspiring stories to tell and a genuine interest in how to improve their weight and shape. As we wait to go to day two we are looking forward to meeting even more people today for an exciting Vitality Show extravaganza.
If you want to lose 7lb in 14 days, have a look on our website
Many dieters do not realise that the only way to lose weight is to make some effort to eat less and do more. For all that, we had lots of lovely people come onto the stand with inspiring stories to tell and a genuine interest in how to improve their weight and shape. As we wait to go to day two we are looking forward to meeting even more people today for an exciting Vitality Show extravaganza.
If you want to lose 7lb in 14 days, have a look on our website
Thursday, 26 March 2009
Rosemary Conley's first day at the Vitality Show in London
It’s an exciting day today as we travel down to the Vitality Show at Earl’s Court. This is the fourth year we have been there but it is the first time I will be there every day so I expect to be totally exhausted by Sunday night. Why do I want to do it? Because the people that come onto our stand and who listen to my talks are the loveliest folk around. I meet people who have lost weight on my diet, worked out to my DVDs, attended our classes or lost weight on Rosemary Conley online – or just passers-by who want to say Hi. There is a real buzz on the stand and the whole experience, whilst hard work, is a joy. My first talk is at 1pm today which is when the show opens so I don’t expect too many people to be at that one but who knows. If you are visiting the show please come and see me on our stand and let me know that you read my blog.
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Rosemary Conley interview with Rebecca Adlington on YouTube
Rosemary Conley interview with Rebecca Adlington on YouTube
I’m really excited about seeing my first broadcast on YouTube today ( part 1 and part 2). The footage is from an interview I carried out with the Olympic double Gold medal winning swimmer Rebecca Adlington, which can be found in print in the April issue of my magazine, Rosemary Conley Diet & Fitness. It was a privilege to interview Rebecca who was a delight and she reveals how she has become the most successful female swimmer of the last 100 years.
The interview was recorded for the forthcoming Rosemary Conley TV, which will be launched later this year.
You can also watch the footage on rosemaryconley.com here
I’m really excited about seeing my first broadcast on YouTube today ( part 1 and part 2). The footage is from an interview I carried out with the Olympic double Gold medal winning swimmer Rebecca Adlington, which can be found in print in the April issue of my magazine, Rosemary Conley Diet & Fitness. It was a privilege to interview Rebecca who was a delight and she reveals how she has become the most successful female swimmer of the last 100 years.
The interview was recorded for the forthcoming Rosemary Conley TV, which will be launched later this year.
You can also watch the footage on rosemaryconley.com here
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