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This Is Life: D

Posted by carla Andrews on Monday, August 20, 2018, In : This is LIFE 
Ever had days whereby you just can't cope? It's all too much? What happens when your a 52 year old woman caring for your parents who have dementia and live in sheltered housing. Your children have moved out and got on with their lives, but you're stuck in a 3 bed house being charged bedroom tax. Letters come in demanding money, but because of that mental breakdown you had 20 years ago, you never really did recover. You feel inferior to the 'authorities' and just don't understand Job Centre Pl...

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2017 Already!?

Posted by carla Andrews on Monday, January 9, 2017, In : Carla's Sugar Free Transformation 

2017, life’s next chapter. Got to be honest 2016 was nothing to write home about. It was filled with re-lived past trauma, which scrabbled my brain. Unhappiness took a firm hold as I was lost in my own darkness. Nightmares re-emerged from a twenty-five year sleep, and I was trapped. However, I am very lucky to say I have the best friends, they supported me and said all the right things which all helped. But, what broke that helpless cycle though was a new person that entered my life, with b...
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Parkrun Pulse of Life

Posted by carla Andrews on Saturday, February 20, 2016, In : Wellbeing 
Now if you have read my previous 'Sugar Free Transformation', or 'Mind, Mouth, Muscle' blog series you would know that in Jan 2015 I embarked on transforming my life physically. The first thing I did for myself was join Parkrun - a international Saturday morning timed 5k event held in my local park. I had stumbled on it months before and had met the lovely organiser Tracey Bliss. She assured me that the lack of my ability to run (or even barely walk) was not a problem. That Parkrun was in loc...
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Tick, tock.

Posted by carla Andrews on Sunday, February 7, 2016, In : Mind, Mouth & Muscle 
Oh my, where does the time go? October, really was my last blog?! Life really does go at the blink of an eye. That's why we should make the most of every moment and cherish those happy memories. Work has taken over my life just recently, which is a double edged sword. Fantastic because Motivated Minds is growing, faster than I ever dreamed. Sour because there does not seem to be enough hours in the day, and that is my excuse for losing my focus on me, and my health journey. 

Sugar has crept in...
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Off with my head!

Posted by carla Andrews on Sunday, October 11, 2015, In : Carla's Sugar Free Transformation 
My journey into improved physical health has been amazing. Having being a size 24 at the start of the year to now being a size 14 all my dreams have come true. The result is a confident, sexy lady who can wear almost anything. Shopping is a breeze, no more 'fat' shops for me. The clothes I want to wear, I can. My body matches, for the first time in 20 years how I see myself. Better still my fitness / strength is amazing. My recent 'Good Morning Britian' #ToughMums challenge on the Tough Mudde...
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Autumn Wellbeing Cleanse

Posted by carla Andrews on Saturday, September 12, 2015, In : Wellbeing 

Many people hold on to the idea of ‘Spring Cleaning’ and take that opportunity to clean out there homes, sort through their wardrobes and give life a bit of an overhaul. New Years is another one of those days, new year – new start where many take on personal overhauls, giving up smoking / starting diets etc..

But, here is something in between, what about an Autumn cleanse? The kids are back at school, you know you need to sort your wardrobe out because already the summer wardrobe of t-...


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Interview Esstentials

Posted by carla Andrews on Saturday, August 8, 2015, In : Employment Support 
Having been on both sides of the interview, as an interviewee and as an interviewer, I know just how daunting it is. As an interviewee, it was paramount for me to get the job. As an interviewer it was paramount to find the right person for the team. I would have selected from a deluge of CVs the most impressive people to interview. Now it was up to them to impress, or destroy that image. The moment an interviewee walks through the door I start making informed decisions. Their shoes, their hai...

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Month 7: Flat Lined

Posted by carla Andrews on Tuesday, July 28, 2015, In : Carla's Sugar Free Transformation 
In the time since my last blog I have plateaued which has been tough. On the one hand I am being positive because I love the new me, and when people ask I comment on my plateau saying that I am in weight maintenance training. On the other hand I have had such a run that it is hard to think that my weight has now stopped falling off. Confessions though, have I been completely sugar free, the answer is no, several sweet treats a week have been popping into my diet. This I know is detrimental to...
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6 Month Milestone

Posted by carla Andrews on Friday, June 19, 2015, In : Carla's Sugar Free Transformation 
The last 6 months has just flown by, I don't know if it is because I am packing so much into my life but I feel like I have achieved so much. I'm not just talking weight, I am talking things I never imagined possible. From my previous blogs you know that I received my very first medal back in April for swimming 2.5k. Well, I am very proud to announce that my medal no longer sits alone on my shelf, I now have one for running London City Mile last weekend. Whats more, I ran the mile in 10.48, a...
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May Day, May Day!

Posted by carla Andrews on Friday, May 8, 2015, In : Carla's Sugar Free Transformation 
April saw many milestones for me, I achieved my first EVER medal for swiming 1.5 miles, I hit below the 200lb mark with a total loss of 55 pounds, so I was dead chuffed. During April I also took up badminton to my initial reluctance, but oh my, what a fab game and workout! The only trouble is I still wait for the shuttlecock to bounce, but I will get there, Rome wasn't built in a day. So, my exercising with friends has really helped, because it doesn't feel like exercise. So, below is what I ...
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100 Days of Sugar Free

Posted by carla Andrews on Friday, April 10, 2015, In : Carla's Sugar Free Transformation 
100 days, where did they go? In many senses it feels like a life time ago that I started this journey as my life has been so busy since January. However, in other ways I feel like it was just a few days ago that I started. Confusing huh? Maybe this is partly because I try and tackle my life in slots, to begin with it was one day at a time, then it became 30 day slots, now meeting my milestone of 100 days, my next has to be 150. In all reality I spent the most part of my life with weight and f...
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Food, glorious food.

Posted by carla Andrews on Tuesday, March 3, 2015, In : Carla's Sugar Free Transformation 
Winter has gone and spring is well and truly on it's way, which is reflective of how I feel. The hardest part is over - leaving my nice warm house to go and exercise, saying no to all those foods which I once ate in abundance. The sun has cracked through the clouds and all is good, and I have broke the back of the storm. My cupboards are now stocked with an array of healthy foods and my whole family is now following in tow.

Having dropped 2.5 stone, as of day one I have felt great, yet now I ...
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30 Days Sugar Free

Posted by Carla Andrews on Wednesday, February 11, 2015, In : Carla's Sugar Free Transformation 
Well what a month, January has flown by and with relative ease. My new sugar free life style has, dare I say been easy?! Well, I certainly didn't expect that!! I had stocked up with headache tablets, and reinforced the locks on the bathroom door so I could hide in the bath tub and die in peace. But, what do you know, not one negative symptom. In fact quite the opposite, a mental alertness from the moment I wake, to the moment I fall asleep. No lethargic afternoons here. It has been great for ...

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New Year's Eve, and the countdown begins.

Posted by Carla Andrews on Wednesday, December 31, 2014, In : Carla's Sugar Free Transformation 
Okay, so the ITV promo clip is out there, and I am 12 hours away from starting a life without sugar, well artificial and the processed stuff. How do I feel? Terrified, truth be told. I love all things naughty, that is what got me into this mess in the first place.

Something has changed in me over the past year. Brought on by dear friends who I have seen struggle with terminal illness without so much of a moan. It has broke my heart to watch their pain, and more so knowing how much they cherish...
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New Year, Healthier You.

Posted by Carla Andrews on Sunday, December 28, 2014, In : Personal Development 

Every January the car park to nearly all leisure centres are at bursting point, the pool, the gym and classes are all full of eager users. But come mid Feb, it is back to the same regulars who attend all year round. So, what happens to the droves of people that had set their New Year’s resolutions to lose weight, or become healthier?

Many had made a resolution... ‘I am going to lose weight’, and maybe they added a how, ‘by going to the gym 5 times a week’. Sound familiar? Resolutions...
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#Essex2LA

Posted by carla Andrews on Sunday, December 21, 2014, In : Carla's Sugar Free Transformation 


Well, I am back in the UK after a week that I will gladly never forget in Santa Monica, Los Angeles. What a journey. This is my second blog detailing my personal challenge of going sugar free. At this point in time I cannot give too much away as it is being aired on TV in 2015. However, what I can tell you is I have spent the past week with some of the most amazing people in my life. From the crew, the lovely ladies whom I am sharing this amazing journey, and the experts. All have had a profo...


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Opportunity of a lifetime.

Posted by Carla Andrews on Wednesday, December 3, 2014, In : Carla's Sugar Free Transformation 
Just over two weeks ago I was scrolling through Facebook when I saw a friend had liked an ITV post. The post was entitled 'Are you ready to go sugar free?'. Let's face it, as someone who had always battled with weight issue for the last 17 years, I think it is safe to say that, yes, I was ready. But for me it would not be solely about eating cleaner and healthier, it would mean kicking my bad habits to lose weight and improve my level of fitness. So guess what, I applied. 

By the end of the we...
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Basildon, Billericay & Wickford Wellbeing Hub Launch

Posted by Mark Holland on Saturday, October 25, 2014,

20th of October saw the launch of our very own Motivated Minds wellbeing hub in Basildon, Essex. The space which is kindly donated by local healthy sandwich and coffee shop, Char-Latte is situated right in town, near Toys 'R Us. On the day, Basildon Mind joined us as we enjoyed some lovely sunshine as passers-by we’re greeted with a friendly hello. The turn-out was also made even more fabulous with visits from Parkrun, S6 photography, Gateway Radio, NHS, Cllr Andrew Gorden, Cllr Mike Le Sur...


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Education 4 Employbility

Posted by carla Andrews on Friday, August 8, 2014, In : Youth 

Preparing young people for the world of work is an essential part of their education. Young people need to develop the personal qualities, skills, knowledge, understanding and attitudes which will give them a strong foundation for lifelong learning and work in a rapidly changing economic environment.

Therefore, Motivated-Minds has developed programmes that aim to inform young people about the world of work and teach them the skills they need to manage their careers independently. This foun...


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Things You Can Learn From Your Childhood

Posted by Annemarie Cleverley on Friday, August 8, 2014, In : Personal Development 

As adults we can learn so much from looking back at our childhood, and children around us now. Research has shown that children laugh more than adults. Many numbers are thrown around, some articles claim that children laugh more than 300 times a day, whereas adults laugh less than 20 times a day. The implication is that somehow people become too serious and lose the ability to laugh while growing up, and adults should try to regain the lost joy of childhood. I know being an adult brings respo...
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