By Carol Groves

I have had the pleasure of working with young children for well over 15 years now.

Although I am edging towards 52 years old, I get so much pleasure from helping children learn how to do something new that gives them a sense of achievement and helps to build their self-esteem and self-confidence.

I also had the pleasure of helping my own two sons in their early school years as we lived in a location that required me to teach them at home.

Nowadays, working as a home tutor, I have discovered that children generally have lost the ability to be inquisitive and to seek answers f

Summer is the best season for healthy, fresh salad, packed full of yummy ingredients.

Adding ingredients like nuts to your meals is a great way to up the protein and healthy fat content, both essential when trying to lose weight and follow a healthy eating plan.

There is a common misconception when it comes to salads that you need to include meat based sources of protein to make a filling meal.

Thanks to Caitlyn Whitehead for sending in this DELISH smoothie recipe – great for the festive season and perfect on your Lose Baby Weight pregnancy weight loss plan!

A Little Bit of Christmas Smoothie

• 1 apple, peeled and cored
• 1 cup apple juice
• 1 cup low fat milk
• 1/4 tsp mixed spice (cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice, alternatively can use cinnamon or nutmeg by itself)

By Michele Lloyd

Practicing home yoga shifts that you to lose the pregnancy weight gain whilst calming the mind and is great to do in combination with the Lose Baby Weight plans.

When I first had my daughter 4 years ago,  I found it easy to make the time to go for a walk or a swim or even take a trip to the gym where they had a child minding facility.

I found the weight fell off easily then, maybe because I was younger and more energised or just found I had more time for me with one child.

When the second child came along, I couldn’t even manage a brisk walk, let alone time to go for a swim or visiting the gym.

The weight has taken twice as long to come off and getting back to my original post baby weight was harder but I’ve found being a bit creative with my time management in juggling my preschooler and newborn has really paid off.

When trying to lose weight or follow a healthy eating plan, advice is often thrown at your from every corner. Eat this, don’t eat that, the information and opinions can be ming boggling.

Things can get even more confusing when it comes to making healthy food choices.

Legumes like chickpea’s are an often forgotten source of protein.

Not only high in the stuff that gives us energy and builds muscle, chickpeas are also high in fibre, vitamin C while being low in calories and fat, making them a great option when you’re trying to lose weight.

I often find that when i’m putting together a salad, I reach for things like chicken or beef to ensure i’m getting a decent hit of filling protein in my meal.

A salad just doesn’t ‘feel’ filling enough without the bulk given it by meat.

Hi Lose Baby Weight, here is my Healthy Mummy Smoothie recipe – I hope you enjoy.

We love coconut oil in our house & it has SO many amazing health benefits that so many people aren’t even aware!

I have talked to people who shy away because they think it’s fattening but it actually helps boost your metabolism & is easy to digest!

It also prevents aging & is great for the skin if you use the right type and it is so easy to cook with!

I know it seems weird having ‘oil’ in a smoothie, but just try it, you won’t be disappointed! This smoothie is perfect for summer!

We may be well and truly on our way into summer in this part of the world, but there’s something about pumpkin that is still so very festive.

Perhaps it’s the conations with pumpkin pie and other, very American, festive treats or perhaps it’s just the colours and memories of plates of roast veggies at Christmas time when I was a little girl.

Whatever it is, pumpkin would have to be one of my fave veggies.

Not only is it a great, weight loss friendly food, it’s also incredibly versatile and tastes great when served in a whole bunch of different ways.

Having enough protein in your post pregnancy diet plan is important to encourage muscle recovery after the rigorous but rewarding experience of giving birth to your lovely baby.

Fish is great as a healthy and rich source of protein that also contains iron and omega 3 fatty acids that are so important for a new mum’srecovering body.You will need iron to help regain your zest and energy, and omega-3 fatty acids can help you lose weight and reduce the risk of heart disease.

The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish are also amazingly good for regulating and reducing total blood cholesterol and are known to help prevent cancer.

The festive season has well and truly sprung, and it’s not even December yet.

It seems the festivities kick off in November and are still going strong in January these days, putting your healthy eating and weight loss plans to the test.

Get togethers, parties, long lunches and BBQ’s are all plentiful during the holiday season. Spending time with loved ones is what the season is all about but that doesn’t mean you have to completely forget about your diet!