The Carrick Spa, Loch Lomond

The 10th of June 2016 marked Ross and I's 5 year anniversary. We spent the whole week at a gorgeous lodge at Loch Lomond; the same one Ross had surprised me with for my 21st last year. The lodge itself is quite remote and so we decided to book a spa day for the day of our anniversary. I have only ever had treatments at beauticians but not an actual spa and Ross has never had a massage, ever (what is with that?!). We picked The Carrick Spa because we have had good experiences with The Cameron House which is the restaurant owned by the same people and we know the brand is professional and high quality. We had a look on the website and decided on the packages that we wanted. 

Note: As you can imagine I wasn't allowed to take any photos from in the actual spa so I've added in any that I managed to take but there aren't very many - sorry!

When arriving at the spa we were greeted by a lovely young girl who then showed us upstairs to another reception. We were given some flip flops and had a quick tour of the spa before being taken through to the changing rooms. The changing rooms were really clean and fancy; there was a section for hair/makeup which provided hairdryers and straighteners, separate toilets, showers, changing rooms and a section just for lockers. In each locker you were provided with the cosiest robe and towel - they were honestly the fluffiest things I've ever felt.

Once ready Ross and I went to explore! We decided to start on the bottom floor and work our way up the 'Thermal Journey'. The ground floor inhabits a standard swimming pool and a Jacuzzi. We didn't try out the Jacuzzi because there were people in it and we were lucky enough to have one back at the lodge so we didn't feel left out!

The middle floor was home to the Hydro Pool, Steam Room, Sauna, LED room and a couple of another style of hot rooms which I can't remember the name of. We both loved the Hydro Pool - it was a large round pool with different sections such as a section for bubbles, one for whirling and another which had a giant tap that gushed water out. The pool was roasting and I felt so relaxed being in there. We went into the steam room which Ross loves but I'm not a fan of them; I always feel like I can't breathe properly.

The top floor is probably my favourite part of the Thermal Journey, it was the Infinity Pool. The Infinity Pool is a medium-sized pool (you could fit about 10 people comfortably) which is heated. The pool is situated at the very edge of the roof, giving you incredible views of the golf course that surrounds you. At one point it was just Ross and me in the pool and it just felt surreal and I felt so lucky to be experiencing it.

Once we had finished in the Thermal Journey, we received a free lunch at the Spa Dining. The offer had described this as a 'light lunch' but it really was anything but. They had so much variety on the menu and you could pick two courses. I chose the Chicken Ceaser Salad and the high tea for dessert and Ross got the Mac N Cheese and the Salted Caramel Profiteroles. The food was delicious and it was such a massive portion!

After our lunch, we had our treatments which were possibly the most exciting part - a real treatment in a real spa! My therapist was a lovely girl called Laura who put my nerves at ease; being a larger person can make you a little nervous about stripping off. Laura was nothing but kind and helpful to me and I really valued that because without knowing she really eased my nerves and make me feel comfortable. I had chosen the 'Nature, Be A Part Of It' package and I'm so glad I did. Laura started off by asking me how I want to feel when I leave either energised, revitalised or relaxed; I chose relaxed and she made up a wee concoction of essential oils and had me smell them, it was lavender I think. She continued by giving me a salt and oil scrub on my back, before asking me to turn round and she did the front side of my body. I was then left to shower off before I received a hot stone massage. I'm not the most experienced in beauty treatments but I can honestly say that it was the best treatment I have ever had. I came out feeling over the moon and so relaxed.

Ross chose the 'Free Me De-Stress Spa Day For Men'; he received a full body deep tissue massage and an Indian head massage. Whilst I can't type for him, I can feedback that he whilst he found it strange to begin with (a stranger touching his body!), once he got into it he found it really soothing. He had a really lovely therapist too and he enjoyed his first treatment. So much that he's asked me to book us another spa day already!

When we were leaving the spa I bought a beautiful candle which had been created especially for The Carrick Spa and the scent was in citrus shores - oh my lord it smells so good. When we got back to the lodge I actually fell asleep for a couple of hours because of how relaxed I was. The plan was because it was our anniversary that we would dress up and have a lovely home-cooked meal but because we were so tired and relaxed we ended up having it in our pyjamas! It was lovely anyway. 

I would really recommend The Carrick Spa for a spa day if you're ever in the area or fancy a wee day trip away - the service and hospitality there was incredible and the treatments were so relaxing and professional. I will definitely be booking again - we're so luckily to have such an incredible place so close to where we live!

Thanks for reading!

Lorah x

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10 Steps to Deal with Period Pain

Every female has a different experience with period pain (dysmenorrhea) - I have lots of friends who have never experienced it and then I have others, including myself, who can be in agony whilst on their period. My experience is a little different; because I have PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) I can go months without having a period, but then when it finally makes an appearance it can last weeks (my record is 2 months). I feel this contributes to having extra pain when I do come on and I’m physically ill for the majority of it. Period pain is caused by contractions that are pushing the lining of the womb out when your eggs are unfertilised. It is really normal and there are so many things you can do to make yourself feel better! Here are the things I do to make star week easier:

1.Pain Relief

The best type of medicine to take for period pain are NSAIDs (non-steriordal anti-inflammatory drugs). Most of the branded NSAIDs contain ibuprofen in some form. I usually use Feminax which specially designed for menstrual cramps but i’ve more recently tried using Panadol (a lot cheaper) and it worked really well. Start off by trying regular ibuprofen (remember to buy supermarket owned brands as they're so much cheaper) and if they don't have an effect just keep trying different things to see what works best for you. 

2. Tampons VS Sanitary Towels

This is a hard one because for comfort I prefer tampons but tampons exacerbate my cramps. I’ve tried to do some research online to why this may be but there’s no scientific reason to say why they could make them worse - but a lot of woman feel the same as me. I usually wear tampons when out and about but then when i’m at home I wear towels, especially as it’s advised not to wear tampons over night anyway. 

3. Hydrate Yourself

Keeping hydrated is even more vital when it’s your time of the month. Our bodies need about 8 cups of water a day and that doesn’t change when you’re on. Some people avoid drinking water for fear of being bloated, but actually it’s been shown that the more you drink, the less water retention you have. Avoid salty snacks, drink plenty of water and you’ll lessen that horrible bloating feeling. 

4. Chocolate

I know, I know, do girls really need a reason to eat chocolate? No, but if you’re on a diet and have some period pains… go on then! Chocolate genuinely makes me feel better, I don’t know if it’s the sugar or the boosted serotonin levels but it really does give me a pick up so make sure you’ve got your favourite chocolate bar to hand - my favourite just now is the Cadbury Medley with dark chocolate, fudge and biscuit pieces.

5. Heat

This is one of my favourite remedies. There’s nothing more comforting than lying on the couch with a hot water bottle watching your favourite TV show on Netflix (anyone excited for the new PLL series?). Heat soothes the muscles that are cramping and also can help you sleep if you’re tired. You can also get specialist heat patches.

6. Tea

This ties in with staying hydrated but there can be medicinal benefits to drinking herbal tea. Ginger has so many health benefits and one is that it can ease pain from cramps. I’m not a fan of ginger tea, so I drink peppermint and I find it to have a good effect too. Plus the heat from the tea can help too! My favourite brand of peppermint tea is Tetley's and Marks and Spencers Moroccan Mint Tea.

7. Bananas

Eating healthily can help to minimise period pain but bananas are particularly good. This is because of the vitamin B6 and potassium which can help with bloating and a lack of potassium can cause increasing cramping which is the last thing we want.

8. Stay Occupied

There’s nothing worse than lying in bed feeling sorry for yourself - keep yourself occupied by reading magazines, watching Netflix or even planning a day out with friends. Even though you may be in pain or discomfort if you are able to go out and feel okay don’t let your period stop you!

9. Be Prepared

I always carry a small bag in my main hand bag just for items that I may need when out and about. Due to PCOS I have no idea when I’m going to start my period so I always carry sanitary pads, tampons and also Femfresh wipes with me. I really like the Femfresh wipes because they’re handy to carry around and are really gentle in that area. 

10. Be positive

When I get down about star week, I remember that this annoying thing that only causes grief will eventually be the reason I will have children in the future! 

I hope that my little remedies make you feel better. Period pain is completely natural - but if you are in pain than usual or have any unusual symptoms remember to go and see your GP. Don’t be afraid, doctors see and hear things every day so something that might be a little embarrassing is completely normal to doctors - it’s what they’re paid for! 

Thanks for reading!

Lorah x

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My Diet Choice

If you have been reading my blog for the past couple of months, you'll have read my post about my diet journey. I basically outline my yo-yo dieting and why i'm not doing that anymore. I made a decision that I wasn't going to start another diet until I had chosen one that suits my lifestyle and that will be the only diet I do again.

The diet I chose was the Cambridge Weight Plan. There's a few reasons for this:

1. I love the way I feel when I'm on the plan. I have energy that I don't usually have and I feel brighter and sharper. It's definitely because I'm getting all my vitamins and minerals that I didn't have before. The products from CWP all have enough minerals and vitamins that your body needs on a day-to-day basis. I have been on the plan for two weeks and I feel amazing - I still have food cravings don't get me wrong, but it's not for chocolate or crisps, it's for chicken, salad and other healthy foods.

2. I see results quickly. When I say this, I don't mean it's a 'quick fix'. Even though I see results fast, once I've lost the majority of my weight, they have sa 6 step programme which re-educates your knowledge about food. This means that by the time you are off the plan, you know your portion sizes and what is a good choice of food. It's not soups and shakes forever.

3. I'm an all or nothing kind of person. I feel that with diets I am so easily led off. With Slimming World, I couldn't just have 2 pieces of chocolate, I would need to eat the entire bar. That's why with CWP, I like that you are totally taking food out of the equation to begin with. Then you work up the steps adding in more food each time.

4. You can still socialise. Although this is quite tricky on the lower steps, it is possible to do once you're higher up. You can still go out for meals and socialise with your friends. CWP recommend that you are totally out of ketosis before you drink, but for me, that's not an issue as I don't drink very often.

5. Choice. The choice of products is really good. Although I did Slim and Save for a while and their variety is massive, the Cambridge products are varied and there is something suitable for everything. My favourite at the moment is the Macaroni Cheese.

6. My Consultant. One of the reasons I can't stick to diets is the end seems too far away. With over 10 stone to lose, I used to tell myself, well one more day off plan won't hurt. When you have 1-1 appointments with a consultant it sets a small target that you can decide. Whether you want to go every week or once a month, its up to you. My consultant is really supportive and I know that she will be there for me if I feel like i'm not doing great.

If you feel like giving Cambridge a try, I would highly recommend it. I will be giving updates now and again to let you all know how I'm doing. If you don't feel like you can live off 4 packets a day (which after the first couple of days, gets easier) you can start at any step you like. Go and have a read of their website and I promise you that you will want to give it a try.

I had my first weigh in a week ago, and in one week I lost 9lbs! Most of that is water weight and it will have slowed down this week but i'm still absolutely over the moon.

Starting Weight: 21 stone 10 lb

Current Weight: 21 stone 1 lb

Total Loss: -9lbs

Thanks for reading!

Lorah x

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My Weight Loss Journey

Me and a friend in May 2011. 

I started my weight loss journey roughly in June 2013. 

Slimming World

I loved Slimming World when I first joined. I was about 19 stone at the time and managed to lose a stone in a couple of months - not bad considering there is a lot of flexibility. You can eat as much lean meat, potatoes, pasta, rice etc and you used up to 15 'syns' a day for treats such as crisps, chocolate, takeaways etc. After a couple of months, I think I just got used to the fact that I could cheat and get away with it; but then the pounds started to creep up but I just didn't really feel motivated anymore. 

I would lose a pound, gain two pounds until eventually I just stopped going to the classes. I would then rejoin and do the exact same thing until I quit again. This kept going  until July 2015 by which time I had gained what I had lost on Slimming World and more, taking me up to 20 stone. The picture is of my brother and I at his wedding in April 2013.

Cambridge Weight Plan

My manager in work had been on the Cambridge Weight Plan for a couple of weeks and everyone in my work was amazed with how much weight she was losing. She looked fantastic. Eventually I was convinced to go and see her consultant. I was taken in straight away by the plan which consisted of 4 products a day (shakes, soups, bars etc), 2.2 litres of water and 2 pints of milk (only for those with a high enough BMI). My manager and consultant kept warning me of the 3 day period where I would feel like rubbish, but it never hit me. I felt great for the whole time. The photo to the left is Ross and I in June 2015 - just before I started CWP. 

In my first week I lost 8 lbs. I did CWP for just under 2 months and lost 2 stone. It was a really great plan but you need to be 100% committed. I feel like the main reason I didn't stick with this diet is the social aspect. The period of time that I was on the plan, I had family and friends visiting nearly every weekend and the easiest thing to do is to go out to eat. Eventually, the plan faded out because my social life was taking over too much. I get quite upset when I think about where I could be just now if I had stuck to the plan - but as they always say, shoulda' coulda' woulda'. The picture on the right is the last photo I have from when I was on plan - I had lost about a stone at this point. 

I recently went to join CWP again, but with a different consultant. I really did not like them, and I will definitely not be going back to her. She didn't explain the plan properly and didn't manage to answer any of the questions I asked her which raised red flags with me. I still bought a week's worth of products from her but this time round, the 'rough' feeling really hit and I couldn't even finish a day without feeling faint and nausea and I ended up having to have something proper to eat. 

Weight Watchers

After the first time on CWP, there was a gap where I did not diet whatsoever. I managed to, again, put on what I had lost and more, taking me to 21 stone. When I weighed myself, I felt sick. I always said I never wanted to be 20 stone, and eventually the milestone got pushed to 21 stone. It comes round so quickly when you're not monitoring it. So I rushed into joining Weight Watchers Online as I didn't feel like I could fit a meeting into my weekly schedule. It was just a general fail all round - the plan was far too confusing; it could be because i'm so used to Slimming World but I just gave up at the first hurdle. 

Where am I at now?

There's my background on my Yo-Yo dieting. I'm definitely not proud of it and I always go back to thinking, imagining if i'd have stuck to SW, i'd be at target now etc etc. but i'm not and I still have a long way to go. I'm currently 21 stone, size 22 and bursting out of most of my clothes. The picture to the right is from my 21st birthday about a month ago,

I'm not currently on any diet 'plan'. I've just started back up on My Fitness Pal which i've used various times to log my eating habits and I plan on doing this until I decide once and for all what (if any) plan i'm going to do. The next time I start a diet, it will be the last diet I ever do. That's a promise i'm making to myself. 

If you want to keep update with me, you can follow me on any of the links below. 

Thanks for reading!

Lorah x

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