A few of my favourite things
I am so excited for today's post, because it's all about my favourite things that have helped me along my WLS journey so far. I am hoping you might find something that becomes your new favourite thing, for whatever stage of your bariatric journey you may be on. From protein powders to bowls, I've got you covered with my budget friendly top 10 faves.*
Kenwood Multipro Compact 800W Food Processor
From pre-op to liquid and purée, this food processor has been my BFF, not only does it whisk and grate like a normal food processor, it also has a 1.2 litre glass blender jug (frozen margaritas anyone?) which attaches to the base. Living in a townhouse with a tiny kitchen, double duty appliances are a must for me to maximise bench space. I use the blender daily, whether it be to whip up my bulk protein water for the day, or to make a quick no nasties curry paste. The food processor, is your best friend when it comes to grating veggies for zucchini slice, or my Hidden Veggie Spaghetti, no more spending hours finely chopping or grating your veggies (and no more cutting fingers), in a minute all your veggies are grated, no mess, no fuss, which is what we love.
Head to the Good Guys, to pick up your new BFF, for just $149.
MB Active Diet Scale
We all know Michelle Bridges from Australia's version of the popular weight loss reality show The Biggest Loser, and I am a massive fan of her active range at Big W. But when I was on the hunt for a new kitchen scale, I came across the kitchen scale I have dreamed of all my life. Not only does it measure the weight (grams and ounces) of food like a regular scale, but this baby also measures the nutritional composition of over 950 foods based on Australian and New Zealand food standards, making figuring out your macros easy.
Why wait, make your meal prep that little bit easier today, and pop into Big W.
Eufy Smart Scale C1
If it seems like all you seem to do these days is track everything, from your food to your weight to how many centimetres you've lost or your body fat percentage, then this is the scale for you. The Eufy Smart Scale C1 tracks everything from weight, muscle mass and BMI to BMR, visceral fat and body fat percentage. The EufyLife is a great way to track your process, however the scales integrate with Google Fit, Apple Health and the Fitbit App, meaning whichever app you use, it's got you covered for hassle-free, easy tracking.
Clear Whey Isolate
I never snack, ok that's a lie, if you put a plate of blue cheese and pâté in front of me I will be tempted to pick, but that's beside the point. Packing a whopping 20g of protein in a 25g serve, and at only approx. 83 calories this has been my saviour since around week one post-op. It's recommended to mix 1 scoop with 300-400ml of cold water, however I find that too sweet. So I prefer to mix my 1 scoop in 2400ml of water to give me just a hint of sweetness while getting 2.4 litres of water in a day. I have also noticed that since having my water this way, I don't get lightheaded or dizzy ever, and I think it's purely down to the fact that every couple of minutes, with every sip, I am giving my body a little protein hit.
If you haven't tried this award-winning supplement, visit MyProtein today to get your hands on this baby.
Mini Bowls
I am not sure if Kmart had bariatric soldiers in mind when they created their line of cute mini bowls, but these bowls are the perfect size for your tiny tummy, ranging from 75c - $3, there's a bowl to suit every style and budget. I use these bowls for everything from my Easy, Creamy Scrambled Eggs to Mini Taco Bowls. They're even great for controlling the amount of chips or lollies the kids are eating.
Fitbit Versa 2
I love my Fitbit and only really take it off to charge it, from tracking my steps and exercise to my menstrual cycle and sleep, it does it all. Speaking of sleep, we all know how important it is to get good quality sleep, not just to function day to day, but also to assist with weight loss and muscle recovery. The Fitbit app, is great for tracking your sleep stages to ensure you are getting quality sleep, however my favourite feature by far is the reminder to get a minimum of 250 every hour, it definitely comes in handy if you're stuck in front of a computer all day, or having a lazy day on the couch.
Double Wall Insulated Bottle
I love me some Kmart, and this water bottle has been one of my best purchases, so much so that I now own 4 of them and use them 24/7, 365. Stainless steel, double-walled and insulated this gem keeps drinks hot or cold for up to 6 hours, perfect for my daily protein water prep. If you're looking to reach your water goals, grab one or two of these babies, and you'll be smashing those goals in no time.
MyFitnessPal App
I live by the motto, 'if you fail to plan, you plan to fail', and if it wasn't for this app, I would be completely lost. From tracking my macros, to creating recipes and meals, as well as tracking my weight, this app does it all. I love the macros function to visually see how far away from my protein goals I am daily, or what my average protein intake is for the week. One of my favourite little MyFitnessPal hacks, is to turn my phone landscape, which allows you to see at a glance how many total calories, carbs, fat, protein, sodium and sugar is in your breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacks.
Found a great recipe online and want to add it to your tracker? No worries, the app even has an add from web function, so just copy the hyperlink in and away you go.
Active Women's Ultra High Rise Full Length Studio Leggings
If you know me, you know that ya girl loves a bit of active wear, especially leggings, and once again Kmart delivers the goods. These ultra high rise leggings are a miracle worker, not only do they cinch you in and hide a multitude of sins, they also pass the squat test, and at $18 in sizes
6-20, they perfect of any size and budget.
Fun fact, I bought my first pair 4 days post-surgery because they were ultra high rise and made me feel secure (for some crazy reason, I felt like what was left of my stomach may fall out 😂).
Diet Protein Blend
Between working two jobs, freelance copywriting, postgrad study and being a wife and mum, life is hectic and crazy busy (I really do love it though, I swear), and since WLS, food is for the most part the furthest thing from my mind, especially breakfast. This protein blend is my go-to for breakfasts on the run, or days when I am just not feeling food. Formulated specifically for women, and weighing in at only 96 calories per serve (1.6g carbs, 21g protein, 0.6g fat), it contains essential vitamins and minerals such as B12, iron and folic acid to assist with hitting your nutritional goals, meaning you have one less thing to think about.
With flavours like strawberries & cream, chocolate fudge brownie (my fave), and natural vanilla it's the perfect addition to your meal plan.
* All products are not sponsored, and are not affiliated with me in anyway, they are simply products I have tried and love.