This is probably old news for the Americans reading this. But to find a stevia sweetened drinking chocolate is pretty amazing here!

SUGAR FREE DRINKING CHOCOLATE Vitarium’s Naturally Sugar Free Drinking Chocolate is an innovative NEW product that combines a high quality, natural drinking chocolate with Natvia, the 100% natural, low calorie sweetener.
A TRULY GUILT FREE INDULGENCE

I had two teaspoons with some organic rice milk. AMAZE!

I was at the gym this morning and thinking back to when I first started trying to lose weight. I did EVERYTHING wrong.

I would eat a ridiculously low amount of calories per day and exercise way too much. Of course, I lost weight. But the side effects of my dangerous diet made it not worth it. And the worst part is, I didn’t even realise I was thin. I just wanted to lose more and more. Does this sound familiar?

I would sometimes have to curl up in a ball on the couch because of the pains in my stomach. I didn’t want to eat out at restaurants. I was constantly in a bad mood and always lethargic.

One of the worst things about starving yourself is becoming “Skinny Fat”. Sure, you’ll look good in clothes. But once you need to get into a bikini, it is obvious that you aren’t respecting your body.

Do YOU suffer from “Skinny Fat Syndrome”?

Skinny fat is a self induced syndrome where an individual is fairly close to their healthy weight, or even at their healthy weight, but they have little if any muscle definition. The sufferer generally doesn’t exercise regularly or is a habitual on and off again exerciser. The sufferer also generally doesn’t follow any type of healthy nutrition plan, rather they eat anything and everything they want. The skinny fat syndrome can and does lead to the sufferer becoming overweight and even obese if the condition is not dealt with. Also, even if the skinny fat sufferer never becomes overweight or obese they ARE at a high risk for obesity related diseases and illnesses.

How did I stop starving myself and start respecting my body?

By reading fitness magazines and seeing how the fitness models look WHILE having five – six small meals a day. It is possible to eat AND lose weight. I know it seems a little crazy. But if you eat the right things then you can do it!

OMG Melissa, I think I am skinny fat. What can I eat to lose weight and be HEALTHY?

Meal 1 (7 AM)
1/2 cup of dry oats mixed with water
1/2 cup of egg beaters

Meal 2 (9 AM)
Meal replacement or protein powder (around 20 grams of protein) mixed with water
1/2 Tablespoon of Flaxseed Oil

Meal 3 (12 Noon)
1/2 cup of brown rice, or medium sized baked potato, or 1 cup of oatmeal
2 cups of green beans, broccoli or any other desired vegetable
6 ounces of chicken, turkey, or lean fish

Meal 4 (3 PM)
Meal replacement or protein powder (around 20 grams of protein) mixed with water

Meal 5 (6 PM)
1/2 cup of brown rice, or medium sized baked potato, or 1 cup of oatmeal
2 cups of green beans, broccoli or any other desired vegetable
6 ounces of chicken, turkey, or lean fish

This diet will work. Or you can follow the Bikini Model Program (as I have done)

What does Skinny Fat Look like?

It isn’t pretty. I bet that in real life I would see this girl in a pair of tiny skinny jeans and be very envious. But on the beach, not so much.

What does Skinny FIT Look Like?

Here are some examples of skinny fit. Which would you prefer? I know what I’d pick!

What Exercises Can I do?

This is a BEGINNER workout program. A great place to start

Monday (chest and bis)
Chest
Dumbbell Bench Press 3×8-12
Incline Dumbbell Bench 3×8-12
Dumbbell Flyes 3×8-12

Biceps
Incline Curls 2×10-15
Alternating Dumbbell Curls 2×10-15
Barbell Curls 2×10-15

Abs
Crunches 3 sets of max reps
NB: Don’t add any side Ab exercises in if you are aiming for an hourglass figure

Wednesday (legs and delts)

Quads
Squats 3×12-15
Leg Press 2×10-15
Leg Extension 2×8-12

Hamstrings
Leg Curls 2×10-12

Calves
Standing Calf Raises 3×12-15

Delts
Dumbbell Press 3×8-12

Friday (back and tris)

Back
Lat Pulldowns 3×8-10
T Bar Row 3×8-12
Bent Over One Arm Dumbbell Row 3×10-12

Triceps
Pushdowns 2×8-12
Close Grip Bench Press 2×8-10
Lying Tricep Extensions 2×12-15

Abs
Leg raises 3x max reps

Are you serious? That is BEGINNERS? It sounds really hard!

It isn’t hard! I know all the different names are confusing. I suggest you look up the exercises on youtube before doing them. If not, you could ask somebody at the gym to help you (one of the personal trainers perhaps).

How Can I Get Motivated?

Start by looking at photos of bodies you admire. You could print them out and put them somewhere that you will see every day.

Motivational quotes can be very inspiring!

My personal favourite…”Be the best Melissa you can be!”. You’d obviously insert your own name where ‘Melissa’ is.

When should I start?

Right now! Stop being a “my diet starts tomorrow” person. Tomorrow never comes does it?
You need to lose weight for the right reasons. Do it for yourself! If you’re doing it to impress others or for your boyfriend, it isn’t going to work. If you decide to do it because you want to feel confident, pretty, strong and healthy. Then you are going to succeed!

NO MORE EXCUSES!

Excuses are the nails used to build a house of failure.

~Don Wilder and Bill Rechin

Want some more motivation? Watch this video!

1. First and foremost, follow a healthy regimen every day. Every now and then you can splurge on a treat, but don’t graze over the sweets regularly.

2. Eat breakfast. Breakfast is an essential meal at the beginning of the day to stoke your energy and get you motivated. Good suggestions include:
One egg on a slice of whole wheat toast
A piece of fruit if needed and a drink of water
Freshly squeezed juice or a herbal tea.

3. Eat a healthy morning snack at school. Nutritious items include an apple and a bottle of water, or some cut up vegetables such as carrots, baby tomatoes, and celery sticks with low-fat peanut butter.

4. Keep lunch simple and filling so that it keeps well until lunchtime in your schoolbag. Sandwiches are a good choice, with a salad filling, as well as some snack pieces of vegetables, fruit, raisins, etc. For dessert, you can pack a granola bar, trail mix, etc.

It's all fun and games while you're eating the junk food but if it's a common occurrence you will pay for it later. The calories DO still count even if your friends are eating them too.

5. If you’d like an afternoon snack, keep it simple. Have a bottle of water or juice, a light salad with fat-free crackers, etc.

6. Ask your parents to prepare light and healthy dinners to help your regimen. There should be at least three servings of vegetables, grains and beans, perhaps rice with chicken or tuna. A raw salad accompanying every evening meal is a good idea. Drink water with some lemon juice squeezed into it.

KILL ME NOW!

I know Olive Oil is considered a healthy fat but I had NO Idea how many calories were in it. I don’t really count calories but JEEZ, I’m going to lay off the oil a bit