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.

Is your body ready for a Barbecue Summer?

Yesterday we were given the encouraging news that in the UK we are set for a hot and mostly dry summer with temperatures anticipated to reach as high as 30 degrees. This is great for the travel industry at home and sales of patio sets and barbecues will take an upturn which will delight the Garden Centres and D.I.Y. stores alike.

Sunshine makes us feel better and we are likely to become more active if we are outdoors. So good news all round. But is your body ready to be exposed?

In the winter we can cover-up and hide under dark colours, jackets and coats but put on that cool, sleeveless summer dress and there's no hiding anything. The thin cotton fabrics will show every bulge, wobble and dimple. And that's before you try on your strappy top or even swimwear. Men can hide a multitude of sins under a suit, but wear just a pair of shorts and that beer-belly will be hanging over the top for everyone to admire.

Now is the time to take action. You have six to eight weeks to get yourself in shape and make a real difference to how you look and feel, not to mention the amazing differences losing weight and taking some exercise will make to your health.

Start today. Cut back your portions by 25% and increase your physical activity levels. Walk more, connect up your Wii Fit, dust off one of your own fitness DVD's and do it, go for a bike ride, play football with the children, mow the lawn - anything, but get moving.

If you are serious about losing your weight, and there's a Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Club near you, go along to our classes. It's not a gym where you have to pay a massive membership. At our clubs it costs just £10 to join and £5.50 a week, and when you go you'll not only by weighed in, given encouragement and support but you'll get a 45 minute workout taught by a professionally qualified instructor who's trained to cater for folk of all abilities and fitness levels. No-one is ever made to feel embarrassed and the emphasis is on fun. If you go, by the end of June you could have lost 1 1/2 to 2 stone, depending on how much you have to lose.

If there's no class near you, why not have a look at www.rosemaryconleonline.com which is our online slimming club.

This is my last blog until Tuesday now as I'm away for the weekend. Enjoy the Bank Holiday and get moving!

Losing weight and achieving a healthier, fitter, body.

Friday was a fantastic day for us at the Roadshow in Swansea. It was an action packed day filled with enthusiasm and excitement, and total optimism towards achieving a healthier, fitter, body.

At the end of the day more than thirty people stood on the stage having lost varying amounts of weight from 3 stone upwards with several losing as much as seven, eight or nine stone. (This wonderful group did not include our slimmers of the year who had lost 30 stone between them and had come on the stage earlier that day).

Losing weight and getting fitter is 25% knowledge, 25% action, and 50% attitude and motivation. What was generated on Friday was a massive wave of motivation that will stoke up the willpower stores of the wonderful women who attended. I guarantee that those people will lose weight this week and will feel fired up to lose weight for the summer. If you are able to join us, the next Roadshow will be held in Fife on Friday 15th May.

Losing weight for your holidays is not about sticking to a rigid diet for 2 weeks prior to your departure but much more a 3-4 months transition from unhealthy habits to a concerted change in lifestyle towards a healthier and more active regime.

Attending a class such as a Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness class is without doubt the most effective option available as we combine diet and fitness in the same class. Having said that, a lady stood on the stage on Friday who had lost 4 stone with our online club, http://www.rosemaryconleyonline.com/. She looked fantastic and will be appearing in our magazine at some point in the future.

So if you want to get in shape for your holiday this year start making some positive decisions to get you on the right track.

We really do have the winning formula and want to help you achieve your goals. You’ll be so glad that you did.

The joys of Spring weather

As we're sitting in the sunshine here in Portugal with some friends who have just flown in this morning, they have been saying how lovely and sunny it has been over the last week or so in England where they live in the south. I love the feeling of the sun on my back and realise how the animals who live outside throughout the cold winters in England must be feeling now that the spring grass is growing and the sun is shining on their backs.

Sunshine makes us feel better and it inspires us to stick to our diets and get active. Even washing the car or sweeping the patio becomes enjoyable rather than a chore. If you have some jobs to do today that involve physical activity, instead of thinking they are a pain, see it as a great way to burn some extra calories, tone yourself up and lose a few pounds ready for the summer when you will want to bare your flesh in strappy tops and shorts. It's April now so getting our act together in plenty of time for summer really is the answer.

The latest issue of my magazine is just out. Look out for it in the supermarket and find the diet and exercises that will really help you to get slim and fit for summer. There's also the sliding scale of Easter Eggs which will show you that the calories in them vary from 2,500 -450! If you're serious about healthy eating and weight loss, check it out before you get tempted! Click here to view further information about latest issue and subscribe to my diet and fitness magazine.