I’m sure many of you will understand the weight gain battle for busy women with busy lives. The constant grabbing food on the go and no time to cook a healthy meal from scratch. I put pressure on myself to get to the gym but then I neglect my business, housework, children, husband in the process all whilst trying to lose weight. I am fit, its not about getting fit for me. I feel I chase my tail constantly and it was making me miserable. Today I made a lifestyle change, I decided to stop putting so much pressure on myself to get to the gym and instead just go when I have some leisure time free and I already feel like a weight has been lifted. How many of you suffered that guilt feeling for not going daily? It would put me in a bad mood with myself if I could not get to the gym and it would always be the husbands fault even though it wasn’t, although I did envy his skill to always manage leisure time daily, sometimes twice per day. Some days I would squeeze in a session but still have so much to do after that I would end up not eating correctly hence chasing my tail and never losing weight!
My sister in law and brother inspired me to stop worrying about the gym and just eat healthy so I have joined my local Slimming World group because I need the discipline of getting weighed weekly and I have previously done slimmers world.
Tonight is the perfect example of how this change has worked. I came home from my day job as a dental practice manager at 2pm, picked up my kids, popped to the shops for groceries with my son, popped to royal mail office, came home and made myself a very late healthy scrummy lunch and cooked for the boys, house work got done and I have had time to sit and write two blog posts without no stress or guilt feeling for not attending the gym.
I will lose my stone through diet alone and will hit the gym as and when I have time but what I wont do is feel guilty about it.
We are not super women and cant do it all ladies and that’s OK! Lets stop putting so much pressure on ourselves .
On Monday I was invited along to the Garage Spa located near Barnard Castle, Co. Durham for a morning pamper session. As if I was going to refuse a morning of pure relaxation so of course I jumped at the chance. I have seen this spa mentioned many times on Tried and Tested with glowing reviews so I was very excited.
Firstly the area is stunning, lots of green surroundings and it was a red hot day. I noticed a large hotel ‘’The Morrit’’ beside the spa and did not realise that later this would be where I would dine for lunch.
‘’Adjoining the historic Morritt Country House Hotel, The Garage is a building with a fascinating past, transformed from an ancient stopping station into a first-class spa.
Here you’ll find everything you expect from a modern spa and more. Created with imagination and luxurious rural simplicity, sumptuous decor awash with warm natural stone and timber welcomes you like an old friend.
The Garage is no ordinary spa. Want your nails done? Step into the paint shop. Not firing on all cylinders? A full body MOT is just the ticket. Need to put on the brakes after exploring the stunning Teesdale countryside? Make The Garage your destination.
We’ve put a unique and luxurious spa on the map and look forward to welcoming you to our one-of-a-kind facilities and gorgeous treatments.’’
On arrival I was greeted by two lovely smiley therapists who gave me a medical form to fill in, asked if I would like to book any additional treatments as they had availability and gave me a menu to pick my two course lunch which was either a starter and a main or a main and a dessert. I was very impressed by the menu, true restaurant standard food and lots to choose from.
After I had filled in my forms and picked my lunch I was shown to the changing area and given a fluffy robe, towel and flip flops to wear. The changing areas have individual units which include a toilet, basin and shower which was a nice touch and they were fitted to a very high standard, I loved the tiles and huge shower head. It did feel like my own private bathroom. Shampoo and Conditioner was supplied, however there was no body wash and my hand wash had ran out on the basin so I had to wash with shampoo.
Once I was changed into my robe I was given a guided tour of the spa which consisted of
Steam Room
Salt Room
Jacuzzi with separate plunge pool and a separate warm pool
Outdoor Gardens, which if you get the weather like I did are just amazing to relax in. I loved the swing seats
Outdoor Sauna
Outdoor rustic Jacuzzi bath
Many different fancy showers around that all looked different so I assume do different things and cold bucket dunkers which would be great fun if with friends
Many treatments rooms including a mud treatment room (you can buy the mud to massage all over the body, chill in the room letting it work its magic and then wash it off) the floatation bed room (ill come to this treatment later) then upstairs they have a couples treatment room which has its own private balcony with a copper bath on the balcony and more treatment rooms.
I had a go of everything apart from the mud and didn’t have a treatment although I wish I had now.
I must admit I loved the outdoor space especially as the weather was so good and it was so peaceful.
I was treat to a 15 minute dry floatation treatment which is a like a water bed that you lie on and your submerged down into warm water. Imagine being on a lilo in a hot bath but actually being submerged without getting wet. The bed sort of hugs you tight and you just float on warm water. I did lie there thinking that it would be great it had settings that would create a slight wave so you felt you were at sea but it was very relaxing all the same.
After the floatation treatment I was peckish. I’d had no breakfast so went to the reception area which has a beautiful lounge and ordered tea and a teacake. I sat and enjoyed this in my robe catching up on emails. Once finished I went back to make the most of the facilities.
At 12.30pm I decided to go and get changed ready for lunch at 1pm. I sat in the sun outside the spa and a lovely girl from the hotel came and got me and escorted me to the restaurant in the hotel. My meal was fantastic, could not fault it. As was the service, I had corn fed chicken and a strawberry shortcake. It was divine and from what I saw of the hotel it too was beautiful.
After lunch it was time to head home. I really enjoyed my time at the Garage Spa, its quirky and different to the norm which I like. I will definitely return with friends in the future and make sure I have a treatment.
Don’t worry I did not leave without securing all my readers an exclusive discount and I have a cracking offer for you all subject to availability so don’t miss it!
After a really hectic week last week working, recording chatty lasses and winning my award, I just knew I was going to crash and burn this week!. During a heavy week I tend to run on adrenaline and I always come down from my high with a bang once i’m back to my usual lifestyle. I usually end up poorly and exhausted but this time I was ready !!! Nurse Gill had me armed with her secret weapon, the ”Vitamin Infusion” IV drip!!!
”YOUR BEST JUST GOT BETTER” Enhanced intravenous hydration for the nation ( hell yeah )
How does it work?
Vitamin infusion is a scientifically formulated intravenous rehydration solution for the effective treatment of moderate to severe dehydration.
Vitamin infusion works by replacing fluid, electrolytes and vitamins lost due to heavy sweating, heat illness, vomiting, diarrhea, excess alcohol consumption and more.
Vitamin infusion products are widely used in hospitals and by healthcare professionals worldwide.
I visited Central Healthcare in Newcastle which is very easy to get to and very close to the centre for life. I had the ”fitamin” drip, this is the most common drip for a ”pick me up”. There are other drips that help with different symptoms but nurse Gill can help you decide which is best. The drip is priced at £227.00 per infusion. Frequency of infusion varies per person, some have monthly or 3 monthly. Others just have now and then for a boost like me. This treatment is common for people with an illness or who are going through gastric bypass surgery.
The treatment took around an hour but it was very relaxing. I am fine with needles so I was not worried. Firstly nurse Gill went through all the consent forms with me and explained the procedure. Then I was made comfortable on the bed and the needle was inserted into the vein, very gently might I add. I was given fluids first to hydrate me and then the bag was changed to the actual vitamin drip. It had a strong smell, medicine like. It felt cold going in but was never once uncomfortable in any way. Nurse Gill and I chatted, she is a lovely lady who really puts you at ease. I took a few selfies as you do and caught up on my blog while the bright yellow vitamin filled cocktail went through my veins.
That afternoon/evening I felt tired but that was to be expected. The next day I had a hugely intense training session at work and all my ”cheeky” staff commented on how they were going to have a whip round every month and buy me a vitamin infusion because I was really ”happy” today . I’m sure I am happy everyday but apparently not ha ha. I did feel more energised, less sluggish and ready to take on the world but this was nothing compared to the following day. Wednesday, 2 days after my drip I was awake and up at 6am, which was not intentional and un heard of in my house. I did try to fight it and sleep in longer but my body had other ideas. I went to work and after work had two really important meetings back to back. I did not finish and get back home until 9.30pm that evening. Id been on the go for over 15 hrs but still felt full of fuel. I can only put this down to the drip as like I said earlier, I literally crash and burn. I would highly recommend this treatment if you too feel you need a boost, maybe you have a physical challenge coming up or maybe you have been poorly.
