If you want to maintain your weight and stay healthy, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. A healthy breakfast is beneficial in two ways: physically and psychologically.

On a physical level, breakfast supplies your body with much needed energy after a prolonged period without any nutrients. When you sleep, which for most of us is typically 6-8 hours a night, your body isn’t being fed. The gaps between our meals when we’re awake are smaller than this, so it’s so important to eat something when we wake up to replenish our bodies, providing it with energy.

Another consequence of not eating while we sleep is the slowing of our metabolism. Everything slows down while we sleep to give our bodies a rest, including your metabolism which slows down by around 15%. If you wake up and eat breakfast, this kick starts your metabolism, sending a message to your body that regular waking service has resumed.

But if you skip breakfast your body doesn’t get the memo that your metabolism should go back to normal levels and it stays slower, creeping upwards throughout the day. Over time this can cause your body to hang onto excess weight as it burns energy slower than it otherwise would. Just getting the simple habit of eating breakfast can causes you to lose weight and feel better, as your body become will become more effective at burning energy.

Eating breakfast has great psychological benefits too. Eating something nutritious goes some way to ensuring you get out of bed on the right side by giving you a burst of energy to start the day. Breakfast provides you with the physical energy and mental clarity you need to perform in the morning. And if you can have a good morning, then you will have created positive momentum for the rest of the day. Don’t you find it easier to have a good day when you’ve had a good morning? This is in contrast to not having enough energy and feeling distracted, leading to a sluggish morning that drags. These are symptoms of working on an empty stomach, easily rectified by a hearty breakfast.

A healthy breakfast also sets the tone for everything you eat for the rest of the day. If you’re making an effort to eat well, you’ll have created a benchmark of sorts that every other meal has to live up to; you’ll try your best to ‘keep a clean sheet’ to borrow a sporting phrase. But if you don’t eat a healthy breakfast or eat no breakfast at all, you start the day with no momentum. It can lead you to rationalise that the day hasn’t been a success in regards to eating well and that you’ll ‘start again tomorrow’. But this can play out everyday to the point where tomorrow never comes. The best way to break the chain is to start as you mean to go on, eat a healthy breakfast and set the rest of the day up in style!

Great stuff Tim and you’ll be back next month, can’t wait! After my disordered eating of the past I don’t miss a meal and love the energy that breakfast brings. Hopefully we’ve reached someone today and they’ll be reaching for breakfast instead of skipping it!

Tim has asked me to tell you that if you post a question on Twitter he’ll pick some of his favourites to answer on his blog. Just use #AskTim as the hashtag and get your questions answered! Here’s mine…Whats the best exercise for strengthening my core #AskTim

Jayne x

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As with all good habits it’s great to make change and practice it for ourselves and we feel it’s perfect timing for all of us to practice this without having to follow a hashtag each weekday, we’ve made friends and we share naturally. So from the week commencing Monday 21st of May the official #thebreakfastclub 6.45-8am will be running on a Monday – to beat the blues and a Friday – hey it’s the weekend.  You’ll still catch the 4 of us at some point, yes I will still be up at 6am enjoying my new habit and making tea. You can tweet me, Dinah, Liz, Lisa or whoever you love to spend time with, all that’s changed is there’s only 2  official BC days. No loss and so much to gain!

We’ll still support #CT of course with good causes and feature them here.

SO it’s your chance now to really see what a great habit you have and discover how much better the habit is and how positive it makes your day feel. Now you’ve learnt how important people and positivity are to you, we do hope you’ll keep on tweeting and meeting face to face and of course join us on a Monday and Friday and at LIVE events.

On that subject we’ll have 3 live events a year and the next on is going to be at a Starbucks TBC near Waterloo on Friday 28th Sept from 9.30-12.30 so that will be great fun and you are so welcome!

We all look forward to continuing with hugs in mugs and helping to keep all our mornings a great and positive place!

Hugs from us all,

Jayne x

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So before you say I should be so lucky…How about just doing it with an I CAN Attitude and here’s  a gentle tune to lose yourself in…

Click here to view the embedded video.

Jayne x

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Liz can you tell us a bit about yourself ?

I am a life-loving lady who really appreciates all I have, which is loads! I am married to a great chap who has allowed me to make my own choices in life, and supported me in everything we have been through together. I have a 21year old who is about to leave uni (EEEK! where did all those years go??) I love to act, paint, draw, laugh with friends old and new, try out new gadgets, I’m never far from my iPad and iPhone! I can occasionally be found on the golf course or on a ski slope, but more often than not in my home with my dog and cats. I think that’s me…oh yes, and I have trouble thinking of myself as a WOW woman! I still think Jayne’s got the wrong Liz!!

You spent years caring for your Mum Liz, tell us about that

Since I was about 2 and a half until her death I have been answering the phone and making calls for my mother; she became deaf at 8 after whooping cough, so knew how to speak and learned to lip read at her aunt’s school in Great Crosby, after all her normal school work. She didn’t have hearing aides until i was born when she was 38! As she was always very involved in groups for her church, embroidery circles and organised an art exhibition every year for 20 years and couldn’t drive, whenever I was home I was her ears and driver. As she grew older she relied more and more on me for help, especially when diagnosed with breast cancer, after my father’s death. Eventually we all moved to our present home where she lived in a cottage in our garden. I became her full time carer along with professionals to get her up and put her to bed. As you can imagine she was always frustrated, having been a very active woman, and used to getting her own way! We had a great relationship eventually, (it was not always easy as we were rather alike,) and I am grateful I was able to help her and keep her at home for as long as possible. She died in hospital at 89! I miss her words of wisdom, and wish I’d been able to learn more from her.

Life teaches us, what have you learnt about yourself ? 

The first thing I learned is that the old adage of what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger is true! You never know what you are capable of until you have to do it. I have always thought of myself as quite a selfish person, and I did make sure I had time for myself and others in the family, whatever was going on; but I discovered I work well in a crisis (after an initial headless chicken moment or two!). I like to know what I’m facing, the facts told bold and bald…then I know what I have to do, and can just get on with it. Perhaps the most important thing I learned was what wonderful friends I had and how important they were to me! Not to mention what a fab hubby I had chosen!!! The big thing I learned was that I am not afraid of death.

Your beautiful Daughter Ally died 8 years ago, can you tell us about her and how life is for you and your family now?

I can’t believe how fast the time has flown! Ally was a normal child, running everywhere, loved her friends, loved her little brother – in fact she used to always answer for him when they were together! She was good at winding me up, and knew which buttons to press! (I try very hard to remember exactly what she was like, and not put her on a pedestal.) She was at boarding school when she was diagnosed, and loving it there, and just beginning to play mum off against dad, as they do at that stage! She was very scared when diagnosed, but tried so hard not to let us know…she had brilliant friends who she shared her feelings with. She hated hospitals so we gave her her chemo at home from a little pump…panic would ensue at the smallest air bubble in the tube, and she would accuse me of loving hurting her when I gave her her interferon(?) Injection. Golly, I’ve forgotten what was in the injection! I was so lucky to be able to devote myself 24-7 to her care, and am grateful for the intense 7 months I had with her

Life without her is odd. I don’I know where we would have been now if she was alive, but I was an only child and never wanted to just have the one – to be alone, and to feel all the pressure on that one; but our son Jamie is not an only child in that sense – Ally is always there. I think it has changed more for him perhaps. We were always a strong family unit, and that hasn’t changed, although I wish Jamie would call home a bit more often! We don’t make a huge thing of her anniversaries, but we don’t avoid talking about her. I miss the youngsters who would hopefully have been coming to stay, the parties etc, and I am sad I will never see my beautiful daughter walk down the isle, or hold her child in my arms. But then, Jamie may get married and have kids, there’s always hope! Christmas feels very odd to me, and I miss her hugely on my birthday and Mothers’ Day as men are hopeless at remembering cards! ( how selfish is that!) The hardest question I get asked is ‘how many children do you have’!  Do we say one, and deny Ally, or say two and explain, putting the questioner on the spot? I try and gauge the person as to how they will react. 

But it is important that you know I am so grateful we had her and I would not have missed a single day of it!!!

What can you share that might help a family facing such a desperate loss?

Each loss is different, and each family faces loss in a different way. There are so many cliches of ‘it will get easier in time’ etc.

Ask people for help if you need it, but don’t be afraid to say when you need to be left alone! Scream out loud if you need to, cry when you feel like it…its all normal! Do what feels right for you! Don’t rush into things, take your time, and listen to your body and gut feelings. Stay in bed if you need to and can! I found talking about Ally to others helped me, but everyone is different. Don’t worry if you feel angry, but try not to physically hurt others! Counseling can help, but some people don’t want it. We didn’t at the time – I have now had counseling, and it has been a huge help, but that’s me! It sounds awful, but the bad feelings will pass, and memories fade. That is nature’s way. Eventually you will be able to look forward and plan, rather than back and grieve.

You support The Teenage Cancer Trust, can you tell us more?

This is a fantastic small charity which builds units just for teenagers: well, ages 11-24. You may have heard of the week long concerts they have at The Royal Albert Hall every year. Ally asked us to support them because she hated the wards she went into…the staff were wonderful, but they were either full of little ones crying through being scared etc, or older people in the last throws of life…all pretty horrible, and if you’ve got hormones raging as well… Well, you can imagine! (I was always having to stop her swearing!!!) In the TCT Units the aim is to treat the youngsters as humans first and patients second. There are all the gadgets that teenagers hate to be parted from, internet, entertainment areas, quiet areas for chilling, even ares for education! One of the best things about these wards and the trust is that they offer a place where teenagers with cancer can meet others in similar boast and can talk about their fears, feelings, treatments..and try to be as normal as possible; it is so important for them to know they are not alone! Ally had a fantastic group of friends who supported her to the end, but only one had any personal experience of cancer. 

The Trust also does a fab job going into schools and educating the youngsters about cancer…We had a brilliant chap, Nigel, come to Benenden School and explain cancer and its treatments in a way that didn’t scare the children: and he was able to give real comfort to the children and the teachers. 

All of this takes money, of course! £500,000 – £3.5 mil, So I have decided its time to get off my backside again and have joined with others to get the funds rolling in. TCT are trying to encourage local areas to set up their own fundraising committees and if you are interested please contact them, and they will put you in touch with your area rep!!! Our group is called TCTRAFs (Rye Area Fund Raisers).

What really matters to you Liz?

Oh, where to start? Love, family, friendship, laughter, learning new things. I think it is important to try to have balance in your life ( finding that tricky myself!) and to ensure that whilst living life to the fullest I do no deliberate harm to others! I am at my happiest when surrounded by friends and family and I see them laughing, and feeling good!

What inspires you?

Others people! I am blown away by the people I have met on Twitter and through The Breakfast Club! Also by those who give their time and energy to help other people. Listening to what other people have achieved always makes me want to do more!

 You are a natural performer, do you have some on stage stories to share?

Oh, you’ve noticed? Yes, right from the age of 2 I have apparently been performing. I spent some very happy years with my local Am Dram soc, and we had a ball…sometimes I preferred the rehearsals to the actual performances! My first roll for them was as the Marquise in Dangerous Liaison,(Glen Close in the film!) and had to kiss an 18yr old on stage in front of the whole village, family and friends! ( it did my street cred no end of good, but killed his!) He was at the boarding school opposite our house and occasionally came over to practice lines( but not the kissing scenes!); whenever he did my son, who was about 6 at the time, would stick by my side with a frown on his face. His said it was very bad of me to have another man in the house when Daddy wasn’t there, and would stomp around with his arms folded! Even then he had a strong sense of right and wrong, and I love him for it!. Any other stories cannot be put in print!

You’re very creative Liz, how has this developed?

I have always loved doing things with my hands, but hated being taught as a little girl! I taught myself to knit and crochet by watching my grandmother. I made Barbie’s clothes, then my own. My mother was always doing something so it rubbed off. When the children were at middle school I took up painting as my mother needed a lift to her art class. After a while the teacher persuaded me to do a foundation of Art course at the local college which I loved, and discovered printing! I am now learning to draw properly, rather than paint in a slapdash manner, and it can be very frustrating, but so far the finished results are not too bad. We have added a (clothed) life model too! 

What are your dreams for the future?

That’s the simplest of these questions to answer! To be healthy and happy! To see my son grow up and develop into the wonderful man and father I know him to be; to be able to grow old with my hubby, enjoy playing golf together and to continue to learn something new every day to enrich this wonderful life I have. 

I hope you’ll read this LIz and be very proud of what you’ve done in life so far and look forward to the exciting discoveries that lie ahead for you. Thank you being part of our lives and for sharing. Your blog will touch hearts.

Jayne x

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The subject is spirituality and what it means to me, huge yes it’s positively vast. I think I’m writing this today to let it out like a breath you’ve held for too long. It’s the ability to put it in a place that can be shared, just gently placed and then I can get on with other things.

I hold no religious beliefs and do not judge those who do, so this isn’t about organised religion. The spirituality that I am writing about is a moment of questioning and answers, realisation, acceptance and deeper understanding. The first time I had one of these moments of what I’d call clarity was 2005, a moment that didn’t need a name but was just so immensely powerful. I was 39, so approaching 40 seemed to be part of this awakening and for me, it was an overwhelming feeling that I was ok, I could trust life to deliver and perhaps trust myself? It feels right to write that, so I’ll leave it. I  realised I needed more purpose to my life and to give in a formalised way for no financial gain. I started to work as Consumer Co-ordinator for the BHWT, I had a wonderful time with the Charity and learnt so much from the founder Jane Howorth. I also started to really ‘get’ that I needed to think more about my needs and meet them. Uncomfortable yes, it’s so easy to give until empty…How many women do that?

So I look back and I’m so very grateful I stopped and made the choice to listen and act on this deep level of understanding. The decision to act has lead to amazing changes and opportunities in my life. Yes I am grateful. So these moments of what felt like questioning and clarity returned again in 2007 and in 2009. I had a sense that I understood there were too many questions and not enough answers but I’d keep asking and opening myself to the answers. My perfect place to explore and ask is outside by water in the sunshine.

In 2007  I wrote WOW Woman and Loving my Years on a scrap piece of paper. I started to think about a new website and how my life story would help women, not just women with eating disorders. I thought I was ready to act, then a month later my Dad was diagnosed with cancer so I chose to put it on the back burner.  It was the right choice and after his death in 2009 I had a deep sense that I needed to get on with my plans now. So I found that scrap of paper and @Loving_My_Years was my first Twitter name and it makes me smile as those WOW Women feature on my blog and The WOW Woman Programme is about to become a reality as I collaborate with a truly amazing woman, coach and mentor Dinah Liversidge. 

So spirituality for me is to ask and listen, it’s a deep sense of there’s more to life and a deeper purpose, it’s being aware that my life really is a voyage of discovery, the right people and it’s also about fulfilling and nurturing me so that I can be the best I can be, both for me and in turn for others. 

I’d love to hear what spirituality means to you…

Jayne x

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Today I’ve been sent a video that chilled me to the bone and involves imagery that once again potentially influences children in a negative way.

So today I am blogging to support “The answer is Plain” a new campaign by Cancer Research UK. It’s not about stopping anyone from smoking. I have no problem with smoking, I myself used to smoke. I do have a problem with children being enticed by pretty packaging to start.

It’s made me think today, so I am sharing it with you…So you also have an opportunity to think and support this, if you want to.

Click here to view the embedded video.

If you’d like to support this campaign just visit here

Thanks for taking the time to visit

Jayne x

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Women often tell me they feel guilty because they can’t meet all the demands they have put on them by other’s. Work, family, friends etc. I have another way of looking at it. What demands do you put on yourself?

Sit down for a few minutes and make a note of all the things you expect of yourself. Look at who is driving the expectations. Yes most of the the time it will be you. Others may now expect a lot of you, it’s just a habit. Think about it, they’ve got used to you delivering far too much in a very short time.

Next time you think about guilt, think about what you can do about it!

Love to hear your thoughts on guilt, please do comment.

Jayne x

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Here’s the Waterboys with ‘You Saw the Whole of the Moon!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Follow the hashtag #strictlywomen on Twitter!

Jayne x

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SO to Celebrate I am offering 2 tweeps, yes you’ll need to be on Twitter, a discovery mentoring session of an hour each. It’s an hour by phone or skype where we focus on you, your hopes and dreams and being a woman. I’ll talk you through a vision board too, so you have a memory to keep and drive your next steps.

All you have to do to enter is be a woman aged 20 or over and contact me from my contacts form on my website telling me, in no more than 140 characters (yes like a tweet) why you want to win. That’s it, as simple as that.

So I look forward to hearing from you and the closing date is Monday May 14^th 2012. I will email the 2 winners to confirm they’ve won by Friday the 18^th of May. You will need to be available to speak on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday daytime and the sessions are to be taken by the end of June 2012.

Good luck!

Jayne x 

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When I think of change I love to see it as steps, a process and if we simply allow ourselves  the time and permission to change and ‘do it’ we will discover so much about our true potential.

Here’s my vlog on a Recipe for Change

Click here to view the embedded video.

Love to hear what you are choosing to change…

Jayne x

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