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Taking Back Control – Update #2! #WayOfLife #WalkingToWellness #SlimPod

04 May 2025 17 Comments

by Ritu in Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Health, Life, mental-health, Slimpod, Taking back control, Weight Loss, writing

Hello my lovely Peeps!

It’s been around a month since my last update, and I am now beginning Week 10 of my Slimpod journey.

I listen to my Pods every day, and most days, I listen twice. I now have four in total: the original Slimpod, then Chilpod, Sugarpod and now Fitpod.

Fitpod does what it says on the box. Its job is to encourage movement.

Again, all four are not essential to listen to. You an pick and choose which ones you want to, but I listen to them all. Slimpod is the one recommended to listen to every day.

I’ve watched the weekly videos, too, with lots of advice on how to deal with how your mind is processing the changes to emotional eating.

I am eating much better. I cook more, even on school days, so I can use more proper foods. And I am experimenting more, too!

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I’m still walking, daily, and in the Easter holidays, I even walked twice a day! I’ve enjoyed observing the changes around me as Spring really kicks in. The leaves on the trees burst out in glorious greens, and the wildflowers are growing and changing. I love seeing the swathes of bluebells that carpet the floors of the various woodlands around us. Plus, I am enjoying seeing the animals. There are sheep, and one ram who is always in a paddock alone. He stops and stares at me every time I pass him. I have named him Sheep, and I say hello whenever I pass. Then there are the horses in their paddocks. I am lucky enough to see a beautiful white foal with his mother most days, and I’ve seen him grow, from a wobbly-legged baby, to a stronger one, practising how to gallop! It’s just glorious where I live, and the sunshine makes it such a positive place to live!

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And the changes in me?

Well, I hit a bit of a plateau with the weight loss initially, but I stayed positive, and now I have lost 12lb, as well as 2 inches off the waist! I feel more energetic, and the daily walks are so good for my mental health!

I appear to have fallen into a natural 14:10 fasting day, as I am eating when hungry, and I rarely feel hungry at breakfast time. My first meal of the day is lunch, and it is always healthy, nutritious and filling. I may snack but equally I don’t always feel the need to reach for sweet stuff. And I eat a good dinner and maybe a take away once in a while.

And I feel good!

So, yup right now, I am two weeks from finishing the initial programme, and I can say I 100% advocate it!

I’m sharing this link, only if you feel like having a go. It gives you 10% off if you wish to continue with Slimpod after your 10 day free trial, and you also get 30 days after, to get money back, if you don’t feel it is for you, so essentially, you have 40 days to try it out!

https://30116thinkingslimm.refr.cc/gold-referral/u/ritubhathal?s=sp&t=cp

I’ll leave you with a picture of a happy me on one of my walks, because I am feeling happier about many things in life, right now, and I also feel like I have the mental strength to deal with things that are not so easy, right now, too.

Now enjoy your day, everyone, and be happy!

Oh, and May the 4th be with us all!

Taking Back Control – Update #1! #WayOfLife #WalkingToWellness #SlimPod

06 Apr 2025 17 Comments

by Ritu in Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Changing Thinking, Diet, Food, Health, Life, mental-health, nutrition, Slimpod, Snoozebands, Weight Loss, writing

Hey Peeps, it’s me!

After my last post, I feel it’s only right to update you on my new journey!

Day 37 in the SlimPod House… (As I write that, I can hear it playing like the guy from Big Brother (UK) who used to narrate, Marcus Bentley, with his distinctive Geordie voice!)

Yes, I am still going with the SlimPod pods and listening to them at least once daily before bed. Sometimes I might even listen twice, if I feel like it.

Three have been released for me at this stage: the original SlimPod, the ChillPod, and the new SugarPod.

It’s only the first one that is essential to listen to daily. The second is suitable for relaxing or even being used as a stress buster, and the third, the SugarPod, is something to listen to, especially if you have feelings of addiction to certain things. It’s called SugarPod, but it’s not just about sugar; the mindset can relate to many things. If your mind is not quite ready for it, it can make a listener feel the urge to binge! So, it is additional, and up to you to judge when you may want to listen.

I was a bit scared, but in the end, I added it to my playlist and listen to it daily. I’m actually listening right now as I type because it is talking to my unconscious mind, so I don’t have to actively listen.

What are the changes I have noticed?

Well, let’s start with Fibro Frank (remember, I have given my Fibromyalgia a unique name!) I am feeling more energetic and finding the pains are not as constant. That may be because of meds I am on, but the positive feeling is attributed to my mindset.

I had settled into my three healthy meals a day, and then I began to listen to my body more and eat when hungry. I try my best, given that I am in school during term time! One big thing I noticed was that I am not really hungry first thing in the morning. I have a cup of green tea and then get going. I have my first meal at around 11.30 when we have lunchtime at school. If I snack, which is rarely, I will have fruit. After school, I used to have a cup of tea and some sweet/savoury snacks. I’m not doing that much now. I have a good, healthy dinner. If I want something sweet, I reach for fruit and Greek yoghurt.

The plan advocates the 80:20 rule: eat well 80% of the time and enjoy the other 20%!

So, I can forgive myself for the odd takeaway once a week or eating a chocolate bar or crisps occasionally. I’m just not craving them as much.

Another big thing is that I have started walking every day. I usually hit my step targets because of my job, but now, I go for a purposeful walk at the end of the workday, once I am home, or earlier on the weekend. I am blessed that we live in a village, so I get to walk through the lanes, chatting to the local sheep or horses as I go or singing along to my music while I walk! (Still wearing my SnoozeBand. In fact, I have two. One for inside and one for outdoors!)

I’m feeling more confident, genuinely, better about myself, and I have lost 10 lbs. Healthy weight loss is just brilliant. I feel good! That dress below is even a little loose for me.

I’m fully endorsing this programme, and below is an affiliate link if you are interested in the free trial or even signing up after!

https://30116thinkingslimm.refr.cc/gold-referral/u/ritubhathal?s=sp&t=cp

Right, I will keep you updated on the progress!

In the meantime, have a great rest of your Sunday!

Taking Back Control #WayOfLife

09 Mar 2025 31 Comments

by Ritu in Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Changing Thinking, Diet, Food, Health, nutrition, Slimpod, Snoozebands, Weight Loss

Hey, Peeps, it’s me!

Not a blog tour, not a review, no birthdays or anniversaries to celebrate, just me here to have a catch up.

Some of you have been here since the beginning of my blogging journey, which started nearly ten years ago. And over that time, aside from me discussing topical issues, sharing family and cat stories, poetry and my writing journey, I have also documented when I have tried, and often succeeded, then failed, to start a weight loss journey.

I was so good with Slimming World, losing around 2 stone before I stilled and it all piled back on, then I also had a go at Noom, on two separate occasions, reading articles, logging food intake and weighing in every day… which again worked for a while before we moved house, and life went a bit topsy turvy…

I started to think this was it for me. I’d be that slightly podgy, bellied, double-chinned Ritu forever, and I had to accept it. After all, I also now have fibromyalgia to deal with – who I have also named Frank.

Fibro Frank is like that annoying houseguest who turns up unannounced, causing a flare up, and can sometimes overstay his welcome. While he is here, he exhausts me, and can play havoc with my joints. I just try and deal with him and his stay as each day comes.

Then a friend of mine recommended something she had started, Slimpod. It’s not a diet. It’s not about controlling your food intake, it’s about talking to your subconscience. She is much younger than me and has had trouble with her own joints and needed something to help, so she tried a 10-day free trial, and felt there was some change in her approach to food. She was going to sign up for the full programme and recommended it.

Again, no specific diet. No calorie counting. Just a way of retraining your mind and how it things about food and eating.

What is it, then?

Basically I listen to a pod (a short audio clip around 10 mins long) every day, before bed or sometimes more often, and our friend Trevor speaks to our subconscience. There are two to start with, but the Slimpod you should listen to daily. After 5 weeks there will be another pod released. And there are videos to watch, which are not long, and you can either watch them in one go once a week, or watch them over the week, before the new ones are released.

It’s all about Neuroscience, and unpacking possibly decades of emotional eating triggers. (Stress is one of mine.)

Plus you are encouraged to write down three wins a day. And to not weigh yourself.

I know. That’s a bit mad. A weight loss thing but you don’t weigh? Well, I guess the long and short of it is that we get so reliant on the numbers that show up, sometimes we forget to remember the other plusses that have occured

And I won’t go into it because, let’s face it, I’m not the expert, but after my first ten days, I wanted to share what I am feeling.

So, within a couple of days I did notice that, aside from a really stressful day where I ate three chocolate bars, I have stopped automatically reaching for snacks in between meals, and if I fancy something, I’m bypassing most naughty treats, and going for fruit. Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t stopped eating all things that give me pleasure, it’s just I can finally eat and stop before I finish a whole pack of something.

I’m eating three good meals a day, drinking more water, and snacking less. I’ve refused the takeaway that Hubby Dearest wants to order on most occasions, trying to cook from scratch more.

We aren’t meant to weigh in, but I did this morning, and I have lost 4lb in the ten days!

I’m trying to hit my step goals most days.

And I am starting to sleep better.

I’ve invested in a Snoozeband so I can fall asleep wearing it while listening to the pods as it is flat on the ears and I am a side sleeper. I am wearing it right now, as I type while listening to a podcast. So comfortable!

And I have realised that I don’t have to wear tent-like tops. I have worn a couple of outfits that cinch in at the waist, and usually I am paranoid because I feel conscious of my tummy, however people have made a point of saying how lovely they look on me. The tent-tops of which I have many, are comfortable for work, but they do make me look bigger because they hang in a certain way…

So, tomorrow, my free trial ends, and I am 100% going to be continuing. There are 3 monthly payment of £39 then the pods and videos are mine to keep and continue to listen to.

This isn’t me being paid to advertise. This is a genuine recommendation, that so far I am loving this! You can click below if you want to read more… You get 10% off if you use it!

https://30116thinkingslimm.refr.cc/gold-referral/u/ritubhathal?s=rw&t=cp

And the Snoozebands are brilliant, too. Check them out, here!

https://www.snoozeband.co.uk/

Right, I will keep you updated on the progress!

In the meantime, have a great rest of your Sunday!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 247

24 Nov 2019 40 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Health, mahatma Gandhi, Serene, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.”
Mahatma Gandhi

Thanks for the reminder, Spidey.

This quote comes at a timely fashion, as the household is battling the coughs and sniffles that the onset of the cold weather tends to bring.

It’s not easy when your Lil Man grows up. Because that means that there are now TWO individuals liable to get MAN FLU!

Yes, yes, I’ve read the articles claiming that MAN FLU is real, but I am so not convinced.

You have a cold, plain and simple. It’s not nice, I get that, but still – MAN UP!

I’ve spent time finding Vicks Vaporub, locating cold medications to ease symptoms, and found a set of tablets, that my 14-year-old can take now as he feels he is too grown up for syrups now. And then furnished the Hubby Dearest with his tablets too.

He’s had it bad, I have to admit, needed a couple of days off work, and that in itself is unlike him.

But, as I said before… it’s a COLD!

I’ve been battling my own health issues as you all know, and still am none the wiser as to the reasons for my aches and pains. I think another trip to the doctor to get some more investigations, is in order.

And to top it off, I found a rash, small and pink ringed, on my leg. The consensus was ring worm, but it is one isolated case and I have been given cream, and was told that, yes, it is contagious, but as long as I keep my leg covered, use the cream twice daily, wash my hands a lot and make sure I don’t share towels, things should be okay. But it is now a little blister, sans ring… was it ever ringworm? I don’t know.

Then poor Lil Princess. She’s sniffling too, but has strained a muscle in her neck so she isn’t a happy bunny right now, either.

And at school it isn’t much better. On Monday, I had eight of my class off with a Norovirus style bug. And by the end of the week, one confirmed case of chicken pox… the lurgies are spreading!

I am booked for my Flu jab at school on Friday too. Here’s hoping I don’t succumb before then!

But it is true though, if you have your health, you are better off than a lot of the population out there. Wealth is great, yes, but what is it, without health?

I might not be working at 100% myself right now, but I am still capable of moving around, going to work, caring for my family. What more can I ask for?

So… tell me, are you grateful for your health?

Chai And A Chat #20 #ChaiAndAChat

18 Feb 2019 81 Comments

by Ritu in Chai and a Chat Tags: #ChaiAndAChat, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Catch Up, Chai and a Chat, Health, kids, Kindle, Parents

Well hello, again Peeps! Have you got that drink ready? My chai is waiting!

If we were sipping chai together I’d sigh and possibly be looking for something stronger than a chai!
If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you that it’s been another week of fun at school. A four day week for the kids meant that we had to squeeze in plenty, to make sure all was covered, and another bout of short staffing meant Wednesday in particular, was rather trying, but, again, we coped, and I am still here!
If we were sipping chai together I’d let you know that Thursday, aka Valentines Day, was memorable for several reasons. I got feedback from my writer friend for my manuscript, and though there was plenty there that I could work with, there were some items that I found a little hard to stomach… But, I got over it! Then I was informed that my Brother in Law feeling great, so he wasn’t able to go to the function we were meant to be attending at the weekend, which in turn impacted upon our plans to go to my parents as a family. Hubby Dearest doesn’t get to go often and I was so happy he was coming with me, as were Pops and Mum, but because of this turn of events, he would now have to drive his parents, meaning they would head back home, leaving me and the kids to go to Birmingham. Simple.
If we were sipping chai together I’d say I lied. Nothing is that simple, is it? On the same Valentines Day, Lil Man came home with a terrible headache and fever. This meant playing nurse to a teen who was even more grumpy than usual, and not agreeable to anything, trying to keep calm about our plans falling to pieces, and cooking a dinner to celebrate what should have been a romantic night… At least I got flowers!

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If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you that Friday was a training day for me with the Brilliant Doctor of Happiness, Andy Cope, and it was another inspirational session (yes, I bought another book…) And there was more computer-based training in the afternoon for all staff, which I had already done, but needed to assist the older members of my team with. Then we were done !

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If we were sipping chai together I’d let you know that Lil Man was still not well, so he’d been off school that day with his grandparents. I arrived home to find him on the sofa, not having eaten anything major all day, still burning up, and still suffering headaches. I was a little scared. He’d mentioned one of the lads hitting him on the back of the head a couple of days before (bants, they call it – I’m not sure if it was more being picked on…) And with his history of concussion, I was worried. At the course that day, another teacher had been talking about her son’s 14-year-old friend who got hit on the head, then lost the ability to walk for a while… We made the decision, with me getting rather emotional, that we wouldn’t go anywhere on the weekend, and if the headaches lasted until the next day, we would go to the hospital.
If we were sipping chai together I’d confess I was so upset on Friday night I cried. It really hit me this week, how far I am from my parents, and that they aren’t getting younger. Pops had an investigative procedure on Sunday, and it seems to have been okay, but still, I wanted to see him and had been hoping to, before ill health had struck the household again. As I rang Mum to tell her of the change in plans, she was so calm and kept saying “Don’t worry, God willing, we will see each other soon.” That made me feel even worse… what if God had other plans…? Pops and Mum are also addressing the issue of advancing years by seriously considering downsizing their property, meaning a whole load of #KonMarie type sorting out happening there, and them looking at flats and bungalows…
If we were sipping chai together I’d let you know I had to see Hubby Dearest off on Saturday morning, then checked up on the patient, whose fever seemed to have subsided, thank goodness. We spent a calm day watching films and when the kids were settled doing their own things, I started in earnest, to go through the wardrobes of the house, and I did really good! 15 bags of clothes cleansed from our cupboards! I spent around 3 hours doing that, and then got read of 14 of them on Sunday morning! There is one bag which was filled with Indian outfits that mum-in-law is taking to India, but the rest… gone! I need to get three large bags out from the attic to sort them out too, then it’ll all be done, clothes wise. There is still so much more to do though!

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If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you we had a chilled out Sunday too. After a leisurely lunch we popped into Bluewater Shopping Centre and had a wander around, picking up bits and pieces for Lil Princess’s birthday that is coming up, and my Father-in-Law’s too.

If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d breathe a sigh of relief and say “Thank Goodness it’s Half Term!” A week off. But it’ll still be busy! Today I’ll be carless, as my car goes in for service (hopefully it won’t cost a bomb!) and we have dentist appointments. There will be hair and nail appointments, as well as get-togethers this week, to celebrate when that Lil Princess of mine turns 11 too… I’ll be wrapping presents soon!
If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d tell you that I am also excited as I have spoiled myself with an All-New Kindle Paperwhite which should arrive later today, and I can start transferring my TBR list onto there, then wiping my old one clean to give to Lil Princess, so she can start her own collection!
If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d add that I’ll need to be on hand to help the in-laws back as the next time I speak to you over a cuppa, they will have flown to the Motherland for 6 weeks!

Have a wonderful week Peeps! Let me know how your week went!