Keeping fit and keeping it fun!

Hi all!

Many of you know I have recently lost weight using Diet Chef (check out our online brand page for more info). I have also taken up some light exercise in the form of belly dancing! It's so much fun. It's women only, all ages, all shapes and sizes and it has a very interesting history.

Belly-dancing exercise

Many people think of belly dancing in an erotic or titillating way but its origins are a far cry from today's Westernised view of it. It was originally done in a long kaftan-like robe and only in front of same sex groups. It has evolved and branched out in different directions like all things do.

The classes I go to are based on original Egyptian belly dancing. They put on shows regularly and I have been invited to take part in a dance display in November at the Ashcroft Theatre in Croydon! I haven't yet decided if I am brave enough to bare my belly and shimmy my stuff but watch this space and I'll let you know.

Old photographs

I was looking through some old piccies and getting all soppy about my little babies who are not little babies anymore, being 15 and 17 now, when I came across this photo (right).

It really made me chuckle, not least because of the hideous decor - it was not my choice! Just one of the drawbacks of rental properties! Tom and Chrissie were pretty inseparable when they were small and they wanted to do everything I did.

You can see me using baked bean tins as weights and my creative son using his Thomas the Tank Engine trains. My girly Chrissie chose Barbie dolls as her weights. It just made me smile seeing it again. It also brought a little tear to my eye to think they're growing up so fast. Jeez, I love my bonkers kids so much. Just love 'em and wanted to share.

So what do you do to keep fit? Have you taken up some unusual form of fitness or dance? I 'd really love to hear from you.

See you soon!

Love,
Catherine x

Reunited!

Hi everyone!

In my life time I've always moved around and been to countless schools but the one I definitely have the most memories of is my dance school from back in the 80s.

I left home at fifteen to join the Melody Urquhart Master School where we lived-in and learned all sorts about variety performance. I was soon being sent out on assignments at holiday camps, cabarets and abroad dancing my little socks off (take a look at me in Pontins when I was 15, right).

Well, the last time I saw most of the people from MUMS was around twenty years ago. Thanks to our fab music teacher, Tony Young, we have been reunited at last. We spent a whole weekend reminiscing, having girly chats 'til the wee small hours and dancing 'til we dropped (see top left)!

The long-awaited Diet Chef programme

It's been seen on TV, talked about on the radio, featured in magazines and newspapers, and it's coming to QVC at the best price imaginable! We'll have a whopping saving as opposed to buying direct from Diet Chef, for a month's programme!

Does it work?

Saving money means nothing if it doesn't work though, so does it work? Well I have to say I've been massively impressed with not just my weight loss but the inch loss! Inches from my bust, hips, waist and thighs have melted away and the feedback from my colleagues who trialed it has been the same too!

Join us on Monday

You'll get to see several of our before and after piccies during the presentations on Monday 24th August when the diet is launched. Kathy Tayler's piccies are phenomenal!

I'll be with you for the midnight show on Monday morning and then 4pm and 7pm later in the day on Monday. I can't wait to show this system off.

How does it work?

It's so simple. It's like having a personal chef, like the celebs do! All your meals and snacks are delivered to you. All you have to add is a bit of fresh fruit and veg. I like that there's hardly any washing-up to do, too. Lazy me, eh?

Seriously though, I've had people asking me repeatedly how I've lost this weight and when the diet is coming so here you are.

The wait (and the weight) is almost over!

See you then! Lots of love,

Catherine xx

Find out more in our Diet Chef forum

Chilli fest!!

I am a lover of hot food. I adore chillies so what better way to spend a Sunday than attending a chilli festival with great friends?

It took place in the beautiful grounds of West Dean College, Chichester. There was salsa music and dancing, wonderful belly dancers, arts and crafts, chilli everything and some blooming marvellous bloody Mary's with generous helpings of chilli mixed in! We came home with bags of chilli yumminess. I even tried some chilli fudge. Mmmm! Even the weather was on our side - glorious sunshine all day long.

Mmmmm!

I had forgotten just how amazingly good lemon EasiYo is until today! It was made fresh last night and I put it in the fridge to chill for the day and just thought I fancied a tiny little bowl as a snack - well, that was the plan. This stuff is so unbelievably scrummy I have just eaten half a jar all to myself!

I think maybe it was a false economy to serve it in a tiny dish (like a ramekin) as it seemed such a small amount. One more teeny desert bowl more wouldn't hurt, would it? Well, several later I am sat here feeling quite naughty and indulgent but at least it's all good for me.

Come on, own up, what food can you just not get enough of and have you ever eaten a half a litre of EasiYo in one sitting like me?

Love Catherine x

My new cat's first appearance on QVC!

Dinky made his QVC debut yesterday and caused quite a stir in the QVC building with even the toughest of manly blokey types melting into smiles. He came in to do a little bit of filming as I have had lots of requests to see more of him.

He's very inquisitive and happy to go 'on tour' but his big sisters would have had none of it so they enjoyed having the house to themselves without their lively little bro for a day! Hope you liked seeing him.

Food, glorious food!

I love food so much that I'm having my own Christmas food and drink gift ideas show tomorrow (Friday 21st November) at 2pm.

It's going to be my kind of day! I'll be doing two hours of crafting with Dawn Bibby from 11am and then a whole hour of foodie gifts, including cakes and choccies. Mmmm.

Anyone who watches our craft shows knows my mantra of 'craft & chocolate'. They go so well together! After all, you need to keep your strength up when creating!