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# Just Average Jen: Happy Healthy Lifestyle blog with tips and tricks to help you live happily and healthily every day.

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## Posts
- [Do Most Home Removals Companies Also Provide Packing?](https://www.justaveragejen.com/removals-packing-services.html): If the thought of packing an entire house fills you with dread, however, you don't necessarily have to do all of it yourself. Many home removals companies now offer packing as an additional service, although exactly what's available varies between companies.
- [Outdoor Exercise in Autumn: How to Stay Safe as the Days Get Darker](https://www.justaveragejen.com/safe-outdoor-exercise.html): Autumn is probably one of my favourite times of year for getting outside. It's cooler than summer, the scenery can be beautiful and going for a walk when the leaves are changing colour is considerably more appealing to me than exercising when it's ridiculously hot. Exercise in autumn isn't too hot or too cold.
- [How to Stay Healthy in Winter: Realistic Tips for the Colder Months](https://www.justaveragejen.com/winter-health.html): I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with winter. I love cosy evenings, slow cooker meals, fluffy socks and having a perfectly reasonable excuse not to leave the house when it's pouring with rain. What I'm less enthusiastic about are the dark mornings, dark afternoons, seemingly endless colds and that general feeling that everything takes a little more effort when it's cold outside.
- [Running for Beginners: Everything You Need to Start Running](https://www.justaveragejen.com/running.html): If you'd told teenage me that one day I'd voluntarily go running, I'd probably have wondered what on earth had happened to me. I hated running at school and was never one of those naturally sporty people who seemed to sail through cross-country while I wondered whether hiding behind a tree until PE was over was a viable option.
- [How to Improve a Negative Body Image When You Don’t Love Your Body](https://www.justaveragejen.com/negative-body-image.html): For a long time, losing weight seemed like the obvious answer to my negative body image and lack of confidence. After all, if being overweight was the thing making me unhappy with my body, surely becoming thinner would solve the problem?
- [How to Find a Lost Child Trust Fund for Free](https://www.justaveragejen.com/child-trust-fund.html): If you have a child who was born between September 2002 and January 2011, there's a chance they have money sitting in a Child Trust Fund that you've completely forgotten about.
- [What is vitamin B12 and why you should consider taking it](https://www.justaveragejen.com/vitamin-b12-guide.html): Vitamin B12 is one of those nutrients I think many of us have heard of without necessarily knowing what it actually does. It often gets mentioned alongside tiredness and energy, while supplement companies sometimes make it sound as though taking extra B12 will give everyone an instant boost. In reality, vitamin B12 has some very important jobs in the body, but that doesn't mean we all need to rush out and buy a supplement.
- [Can Food Cause Acne? What We Actually Know About Diet and Breakouts](https://www.justaveragejen.com/food-acne.html): I originally wrote this article much more confidently about foods that "cause acne", but having revisited the research, I don't think that's a particularly accurate way to describe the relationship between food and our skin.
- [Food Noise and Obesity: What It Is and Why Food Can Feel So Hard to Ignore](https://www.justaveragejen.com/food-noise-obesity.html): That experience was probably one of the most valuable things I took from Wegovy, despite eventually having to stop taking it because of the side effects I experienced. For the first time, I understood what people meant when they talked about food noise.
- [The Emotional Baggage We Carry Into Weight Loss](https://www.justaveragejen.com/emotional-baggage-weight.html): I don't mean "emotional baggage" in the sense that emotions somehow become physically trapped in particular parts of our bodies. I'm talking about the much more ordinary baggage many of us accumulate as we go through life.
- [Vitamin A: What It Does, How Much You Need and the Best Foods to Eat](https://www.justaveragejen.com/vitamin-a.html): Vitamin A probably isn't one of the vitamins you think about very often.
- [Why I am open about my mental health](https://www.justaveragejen.com/why-i-am-open-about-my-mental-health.html): I've shared quite a lot of my life on Just Average Jen over the years. I've talked about my weight, my physical health, difficult relationships, things I've struggled with and, perhaps most openly of all, my mental health.
- [My Identity Was Stolen: What Happened and What I Learned From It](https://www.justaveragejen.com/data-theft.html): The real me had been living several hundred miles away in Sunderland when it started, and now I was in Nottinghamshire and heavily pregnant. Identity theft was the last thing on my mind while I was shopping for baby essentials!
- [What I Wish I’d Known About Perimenopause Before It Started](https://www.justaveragejen.com/menopause-tips.html): Back when I was younger, I didn't know much about perimenopause or menopause. I knew the basics, of course. Periods eventually stop, hot flushes are apparently a thing, and at some point you're officially menopausal. I don't think I had any real appreciation of how long the transition could last, how many different parts of your health could be affected or how difficult it can sometimes be to work out whether something you're experiencing has anything to do with hormones at all.
- [How to Straighten Your Hair and Keep It Straight All Day](https://www.justaveragejen.com/straight-hair.html): I have naturally fairly straight hair, so for years I didn't really understand why people spent so much money on hair straighteners. I'd wash mine, brush it and generally consider the job done. It might not have looked as though I'd just left a salon, but it was straight enough for me!
- [The Mediterranean Diet: What It Is and How to Get Started](https://www.justaveragejen.com/mediterranean-diet.html): The Mediterranean diet is one of those diets I had heard about for years without really knowing what it involved. I knew there would probably be olive oil, tomatoes and fish involved somewhere, and I had a vague image of people eating enormous salads somewhere considerably sunnier than Nottinghamshire, but beyond that I hadn't given it much thought.
- [How to Prevent Exercise Injuries When You’re Starting or Getting Back Into Exercise](https://www.justaveragejen.com/prevent-injuries-during-exercise.html): Starting exercise when you haven't done much for a while can be a strange mixture of feeling really positive about finally doing something and suddenly discovering muscles you had completely forgotten existed. Here I want to share my tips to help you prevent exercise injuries if you are new to exercise or starting again after a break.
- [How to Get the Right Support When You’re Trying to Lose Weight](https://www.justaveragejen.com/support-weight-issues.html): If you have issues with your weight support is essential. Here are my top tips for getting the right support.
- [Toilet Roll Workout: An Easy No-Equipment Workout You Can Do at Home](https://www.justaveragejen.com/toilet-roll-workout.html): That's where the toilet roll workout comes in.
- [My Healthy Food Shopping List: The Essentials I Always Have In](https://www.justaveragejen.com/shopping-essentials.html): Over the years I've followed meal plans, written endless shopping lists and spent more time wandering around supermarkets than I'd probably like to calculate. When I was losing weight, my food shop was particularly important to me because I liked knowing that I had everything I needed for the week ahead.
- [Yoga vs Pilates vs Barre: What’s the Difference and Which Is Best for You?](https://www.justaveragejen.com/yoga-barre-pilates.html): Yoga, Pilates and barre are three of those forms of exercise I'd heard about for years before I really understood what the difference was between them.
- [Raising a Vegan Child: What Parents Need to Know About Nutrition](https://www.justaveragejen.com/vegan-diet-children.html): As with most things involving children's health, the reality deserves more thought than either position. A vegan diet for children is as important as a healthy diet for meat-eating children!
- [Horses and Mental Health: Why Spending Time With Horses Can Feel So Good](https://www.justaveragejen.com/horses-mental-health.html): There is something about spending time around animals that can make the rest of the world feel slightly less noisy, and horses seem to have a particular ability to demand your attention.
- [What to Eat Before and After Running: A Beginner’s Guide to Fuelling Your Runs](https://www.justaveragejen.com/fuelling-for-running.html): If you're also trying to lose weight, that can make fuelling feel even more confusing. How much should you eat before running? Should you eat afterwards if you've just burned calories? Do you need extra carbohydrates? What about protein?
- [Swan Dirtmaster Pro Spot Cleaner Review – Is It Any Good?](https://www.justaveragejen.com/swan-dirtmaster-pro-spot-cleaner-review.html): So, when I was sent the Swan Dirtmaster Pro Spot Cleaner to try, I was interested to see whether it would be the sort of thing I'd actually get out and use when I spotted a mark.
- [Wahl All In One Trimmer Review – Two Very Different Beards Put It to the Test](https://www.justaveragejen.com/wahl-all-in-one-trimmer-beards.html): When I was asked to try the Wahl All In One Trimmer, there was one fairly obvious problem. I don't have a beard. Fortunately, I do have two willing testers in the house, and actually they turned out to be ideal people to test it because their facial hair couldn't be much more different.
- [Ohuhu Kahuku Acrylic Paint Markers Review – I Tried Them for Adult Colouring](https://www.justaveragejen.com/ohuhu-kahuku-acrylic-paint-markers.html): Recently, I have been trying the Ohuhu Kahuku Series Direct-Ink Acrylic Paint Markers, and although they can actually be used for all sorts of crafts, my first proper test of them has been much simpler – adult colouring.
- [How Modular Lounges Provide Comfort, Style and Flexibility](https://www.justaveragejen.com/modular-lounge-ideas-and-tips.html): Choosing the right lounge can transform the way a living space looks and feels. A well-designed sofa should provide comfort, adapt to changing needs, and complement the overall style of a home. A modular lounge in Perth is a practical choice for many households because its flexible design allows for different seating arrangements compared with traditional fixed options. When exploring lounge options, a modular lounge can suit homes with different room sizes, layouts, and interior styles.
- [How Monster Bully Sticks Keep Aggressive Chewers Busy for Hours](https://www.justaveragejen.com/sticks-for-aggressive-chewers-dogs.html): What actually works comes down to physics rather than marketing claims and specifically to how a chew resists a jaw rather than what it's made of. Households across the USA with determined aggressive chewers usually arrive at this conclusion expensively.
- [Healthy Snacks for a Long Car Journey](https://www.justaveragejen.com/car-journey-slimming-world.html): Long car journeys and snacks seem to go together, don't they? Even if I've eaten before leaving home, there's something about sitting in a car for a few hours that suddenly makes snacks feel absolutely essential.
- [Top Cold Plunge Chiller Companies for Recovery and a Healthier Lifestyle in 2026](https://www.justaveragejen.com/cold-plunge-companies.html): A simple at-home cold plunge setup fits into a realistic, everyday recovery routine.
- [Easy Chocolate Chia Pudding Recipe](https://www.justaveragejen.com/chia-pudding.html): Chia pudding is one of those foods that doesn't look particularly promising when you first make it. You stir some tiny seeds into liquid, put the whole thing in the fridge and somehow you're supposed to believe that it'll turn into breakfast.
- [GLP-1s May Change Your Appetite, But What Happens to the Reasons You Eat?](https://www.justaveragejen.com/glp-1s-what-about-the-reasons-you-eat.html): GLP-1 weight-loss drugs have changed the conversation around weight. For many people, they have been extraordinarily effective at reducing their appetite and accelerating weight loss. What you eat matters, though, because unless you stay on GLP-1s forever, you will one day need to eat on your own.
- [How to Make the Best Choices for Supermarket Meal Deals](https://www.justaveragejen.com/healthy-supermarket-meal-deals.html): Supermarket meal deals are one of those things that can either be incredibly useful or leave you standing in front of a fridge for ten minutes wondering whether you're supposed to choose the sandwich you actually want or the tiny salad that looks like it will leave you hungry before you've even got back to your desk.
- [Body Positivity Quotes That Actually Make You Think Differently About Your Body](https://www.justaveragejen.com/body-positivity-quotes.html): I've collected some of my favourite body positivity quotes here, not because a sentence on the internet is going to magically undo years of insecurity, but because occasionally somebody puts something into words that makes you stop and think, oh... yes. Why have I never looked at it like that before?
- [Fun Ways to Lose Weight Without Making Your Life Miserable](https://www.justaveragejen.com/activities-lose-weight.html): So if you're looking for fun ways to lose weight, I'm not going to suggest that you spend every evening eating salad and running on a treadmill.
- [Lidl Slimming World Shopping Guide: What to Buy for Weight Loss](https://www.justaveragejen.com/lidl-slimming-world.html): Thankfully, it's also a really good place to shop if you're trying to lose weight. Read until the end of this post to find my essential Lidl Slimming World shopping list that is also useful for other plans or just healthier eating.
- [Aldi Slimming World Shopping Guide: What to Buy for Weight Loss](https://www.justaveragejen.com/aldi-slimming-world.html): If you're heading to Aldi and wondering what you can buy for Slimming World, what the lower-calorie choices are or which foods are useful if you're simply trying to build healthier meals, this guide should give you plenty of ideas and read to the end for my Aldi Slimming World shopping list
- [How to Sauté Mushrooms (Plus the Best Ways to Cook Mushrooms)](https://www.justaveragejen.com/how-to-saute-mushrooms.html): Mushrooms are one of those ingredients I seem to buy with good intentions and then suddenly realise I need to use. Perhaps I planned to make a stir-fry, perhaps they were going into a pasta dish, or perhaps I simply saw a reduced pack and thought I would definitely find something to do with them. Either way, they are incredibly handy to have around.
- [Best Recipe Boxes UK: Healthy, Budget and Family Options Compared](https://www.justaveragejen.com/recipe-boxes.html): Recipe boxes are one of those things I go backwards and forwards on. On the one hand, I'm perfectly capable of going to a supermarket, buying ingredients and following a recipe without paying somebody to put everything into individual little bags for me.
- [Periods and Weight Loss: Why the Scales Can Change During Your Cycle](https://www.justaveragejen.com/periods-weight-loss.html): Periods and weight loss can be a frustrating combination because your weight doesn't necessarily move neatly downwards just because you're eating differently or becoming more active. Hormonal changes during your menstrual cycle can affect things such as bloating, water retention, appetite and digestion, all of which can influence what you see on the scales.
- [Why Diets Fail (And What I’ve Learned About Losing Weight the Hard Way)](https://www.justaveragejen.com/succeed-at-your-diet.html): That experience has taught me far more about why diets fail than successfully losing the weight ever did.
- [Why Weight Fluctuates (And Why One Bad Weigh-In Doesn’t Mean You’ve Failed)](https://www.justaveragejen.com/why-weight-fluctuates.html): Daily changes of a few pounds can happen without representing meaningful changes in body fat. Cleveland Clinic notes that day-to-day fluctuations of a few pounds are common, with fluid retention being the most frequent cause of short-term changes. Cleveland Clinic – Why your weight fluctuates
- [How to Simplify Your Wardrobe Without Getting Rid of Everything](https://www.justaveragejen.com/4-steps-to-simplify-your-wardrobe.html): Have you ever stood in front of a wardrobe absolutely packed with clothes and thought, I have nothing to wear?
- [Buying Clothes While Losing Weight: What I Wish I’d Known](https://www.justaveragejen.com/buying-clothes-during-weight-loss.html): Buying clothes while losing weight can get expensive very quickly, particularly if you've still got a long way to go. You don't necessarily want to spend hundreds of pounds on a wardrobe that might not fit in three months, but I don't think the answer is to wear enormous clothes until you reach your goal weight either.
- [Exercise During Pregnancy: A Realistic Guide to Staying Active](https://www.justaveragejen.com/staying-active-during-pregnancy.html): Exercise during pregnancy is particularly confusing because you'll probably hear completely contradictory advice. Some people take the view that pregnancy isn't an illness and you should carry on doing everything you did before, while others seem to think pregnancy means wrapping yourself in cotton wool for nine months. Neither extreme is particularly helpful.
- [Why I Refuse To Wait Until I’m Thin To Enjoy Life](https://www.justaveragejen.com/why-i-refuse-to-wait-until-im-thin.html): I don't know how many times I've had some version of those thoughts over the years, but I know I've wasted far too much time believing there was a thinner version of me waiting somewhere in the future who was finally going to be allowed to properly enjoy her life. I thought I had to wait until I'm thin to do all these things. The strange thing is that I actually met her.
- [How to Improve Your Confidence When You Don’t Believe in Yourself](https://www.justaveragejen.com/improve-your-confidence.html): For a long time, I also thought losing weight would fix my confidence. I imagined there was a particular number on the scales where I'd finally become comfortable with myself. I'd wear the clothes I wanted, stop worrying about photographs and suddenly have this confidence I'd spent years waiting for.
- [Is Roller Skating Good Exercise? Fitness, Muscles and Calories Explained](https://www.justaveragejen.com/roller-skating-exercise.html): Roller skating might feel more like something you did for fun as a child than a serious form of exercise, but that doesn't mean it doesn't count. In fact, if you're looking for ways to become more active without automatically joining a gym, skating could be much more appealing than another hour on a treadmill.
- [How to Stick to Exercise When You Always Give Up – My Tips](https://www.justaveragejen.com/ways-to-help-you-stick-to-a-workout.html): Learning how to stick to exercise is much more about finding something that fits into your ordinary life, including the tired and can't-be-bothered days.
- [Should You See Your GP Before Trying to Lose Weight?](https://www.justaveragejen.com/health-issues-before-weight-loss.html): Do you need to see your GP before trying to lose weight?
- [Small Changes to Improve Your Health Daily That Really Add Up](https://www.justaveragejen.com/transform-your-health.html): Have you ever decided you're going to get healthier and somehow ended up with a plan that requires you to change practically every aspect of your life to improve your health?
- [How to Support Your Immune System: What Actually Helps?](https://www.justaveragejen.com/immune-system.html): Every winter, we're surrounded by products promising to "boost" our immune systems. There are immune-boosting drinks, supplements, powders, gummies and seemingly endless lists of superfoods we're told will stop us getting ill. It sounds appealing, particularly when everyone around you seems to be coughing and sneezing. The reality is rather less exciting.
- [Thigh Exercises for Women: Strengthen Your Legs at Home](https://www.justaveragejen.com/thigh-exercises-women.html): You can't choose where your body loses fat simply by exercising that particular area. Doing hundreds of inner thigh exercises won't specifically burn the fat sitting on your inner thighs any more than doing hundreds of sit-ups will selectively remove fat from your stomach.
- [Healthy Habits for Women That Will Actually Fit Into Real Life](https://www.justaveragejen.com/healthy-habits-women.html): Whenever I read an article about healthy habits, I come away wondering whether the person who wrote it has the same 24 hours in their day as the rest of us.
- [How to Exercise as a Busy Parent When You Have No Time To Spare](https://www.justaveragejen.com/parents-exercise.html): That's why I don't particularly like advice telling busy parents they simply need to make exercise a priority. Most parents already have plenty of priorities. What they often need is a way of fitting movement around the life they actually have, rather than being told to magically create five spare hours each week.
- [An Easy Exercise Routine for Beginners You Can Do at Home](https://www.justaveragejen.com/easy-exercise-routine.html): This easy exercise routine is designed to be adaptable. You can do the full routine if that feels comfortable, use the easier versions, shorten it or even do some of it sitting down.
- [How to Exercise With Lower Back Pain Without Making It Worse](https://www.justaveragejen.com/exercise-lower-back-pain.html): Lower back pain can make exercise feel like a bit of a dilemma. You know being active is generally good for you, but when simply standing up from the sofa makes your back complain, the last thing you necessarily feel like doing is a workout.
- [How to Exercise at Home When You Have Very Little Space](https://www.justaveragejen.com/exercise-small-home.html): Whenever you see someone demonstrating a home workout online, they seem to have an enormous empty room dedicated entirely to exercise. There's a perfectly positioned yoga mat, a rack of matching weights and somehow not a coffee table, laundry basket or pile of stuff waiting to be put away anywhere in sight.
- [Is Coffee Healthy? The Benefits and Downsides Explained](https://www.justaveragejen.com/coffee-healthy.html): Coffee is one of those things that seems to alternate between being incredibly good for us and apparently killing us, depending on which headline you've read that week.
- [Healthy Eating During Pregnancy: What Do You Actually Need to Eat?](https://www.justaveragejen.com/healthy-diet-pregnancy.html): Healthy eating during pregnancy isn't really about creating a special pregnancy diet, though. For most people, the foundations are remarkably similar to healthy eating at any other time: plenty of variety, fruit and vegetables, starchy carbohydrates, suitable sources of protein, dairy or fortified alternatives and some healthy fats.
- [Healthy Alternatives to Red Bull: What Can You Drink Instead?](https://www.justaveragejen.com/red-bull-alternatives.html): Red Bull and other energy drinks are popular for a reason. When you're tired and need to get through an afternoon at work, a long drive or a busy day, grabbing a cold can from the fridge is considerably easier than addressing the fact you stayed up until midnight watching something you weren't even enjoying.
- [Avoiding burnout: The importance of taking time for yourself](https://www.justaveragejen.com/avoiding-burnout.html): The funny thing is, none of it ever actually ended. The more I did, the more there seemed to be to do. Looking back now, I can see I wasn't being productive at all. I was heading straight towards burnout.
- [Why I Don’t Want to Be the Weight I Was Before](https://www.justaveragejen.com/dont-want-lowest-weight.html): I never thought I'd say those words. For years, getting back to my lowest weight felt like the obvious goal. It was the number I'd compare myself to whenever I gained weight. The version of me I thought I should be aiming for.
- [Does Slimming World Work? My Honest Opinions After Losing 10 Stone](https://www.justaveragejen.com/does-slimming-world-work-my-experience.html): This is probably one of the hardest articles I've ever written. Not because I don't know what I think, but because my answer isn't as simple as people often want it to be. Whenever someone asks, "Does Slimming World work?" they usually expect a yes or no answer.
- [35+ Easy Crimpit Recipes and Filling Ideas You’ll Want to Make Again and Again](https://www.justaveragejen.com/crimpit-recipes-and-ideas.html): The best thing is that you don't need expensive ingredients. Many of my favourite Crimpit recipes are made with whatever happens to be in the fridge.
- [Slimming World Mistakes That Stop Weight Loss (And How to Avoid Them)](https://www.justaveragejen.com/slimming-world-mistakes-weight-loss.html): I lost 10 stone with Slimming World, so I know the plan can work. But looking back now, I can also see there were plenty of mistakes I made along the way—some because I misunderstood the plan, and others because I became so focused on following the rules that I stopped listening to my own body.
- [Best Low Calorie Foods UK Shopping List (That Actually Keep You Full)](https://www.justaveragejen.com/low-calorie-foods-uk-shopping-list.html): The truth is, healthy eating doesn't have to mean filling your trolley with foods you don't actually enjoy. Some of the best low calorie foods are probably things you already buy, and they can make meals much more satisfying than living on lettuce leaves and diet yoghurt.
- [How to Make Healthy Meals for Fussy Families (Without Cooking Different Dinners)](https://www.justaveragejen.com/healthy-meals-for-fussy-families.html): If you've ever stood in the kitchen wondering whether to cook one meal or three, you're certainly not the only one. Fussy families make mealtimes hard work.
- [Quick 5 Minute Healthy Meals UK (Easy Ideas for Busy Days)](https://www.justaveragejen.com/quick-5-minute-healthy-meals-uk.html): We've all had those days. You get home from a busy day, you're absolutely starving, and the last thing you want to do is spend an hour cooking. That's often the moment when the takeaway apps start looking very tempting. I've been there more times than I can count. This is why you need 5-minute healthy meals. They are quicker than waiting for a takeaway and so much healthier.
- [Why Am I Always Hungry? The Question I Spent Years Asking Myself](https://www.justaveragejen.com/why-am-i-always-hungry.html): One of the things I found hardest when I was trying to lose weight wasn't giving up chocolate or saying no to takeaways. It was the hunger. I felt like I was always hungry!
- [Why Fibre Is So Important for Weight Loss (It’s About Much More Than Your Digestion)](https://www.justaveragejen.com/why-fibre-is-important-for-weight-loss.html): If you'd asked me years ago what fibre was, I'd probably have given the same answer as a lot of people. "It's the thing that helps you go to the toilet."
- [Why Do I Always Snack at Night? Understanding Evening Hunger Without Blaming Yourself](https://www.justaveragejen.com/why-do-i-always-snack-at-night.html): For years, I thought my weight loss efforts were being undone every evening because I liked a snack at night.
- [How to Create an Evening Routine That Doesn’t Revolve Around Food](https://www.justaveragejen.com/evening-routine-without-food.html): For a long time, I didn't realise how much of my evening routine was built around food. If you'd asked me, I'd probably have said I just liked a snack while watching television. It didn't seem like a big deal. Lots of people have a biscuit with a cup of tea or a bowl of crisps on a Friday night.
- [Air Fryer Recipes, Tips and Healthy Meal Ideas](https://www.justaveragejen.com/air-fryer-recipes-and-cooking-tips.html): When I first bought mine, I assumed it would be useful for chips and not much else. I couldn't have been more wrong; there are so many air fryer recipes you can use it like an oven.
- [Obesity: Understanding It, Managing It and Finding Support](https://www.justaveragejen.com/obesity-guide.html): If you've landed on this page because you've been told you have obesity, or you've spent years feeling judged because of your weight, I want you to know you're not alone.
- [Emotional Eating: Why We Eat Our Feelings (And How to Break the Cycle)](https://www.justaveragejen.com/emotional-eating.html): For years, I thought emotional eating was my biggest weakness. Every time I reached for chocolate after a difficult day or found comfort in a takeaway after feeling overwhelmed, I'd tell myself I'd failed again.
- [How to Stay Consistent With Weight Loss (Even When Motivation Disappears)](https://www.justaveragejen.com/consistent-losses-without-motivation.html): If I'd relied on motivation alone, I honestly don't think I'd have lost more than the first stone.
- [How to Work Out Your Maintenance Calories](https://www.justaveragejen.com/how-to-work-out-maintenance-calories.html): If you've ever tried to lose weight, you've probably heard people talking about "maintenance calories". You might even have been told to eat at maintenance for a while after dieting or to find your maintenance before deciding whether to lose, gain or maintain your weight.
- [What Causes Obesity? It’s About Much More Than Eating Too Much](https://www.justaveragejen.com/what-causes-obesity.html): Understanding what causes obesity isn't about making excuses. It's about helping you understand your body so you can find an approach that actually works for you.
- [What Is Obesity? Understanding the Condition Without the Judgement](https://www.justaveragejen.com/what-is-obesity.html): When someone says the word obesity, it often comes with a lot of emotions.
- [Food Noise vs Hunger: What’s the Difference?](https://www.justaveragejen.com/food-noise-vs-hunger.html): A lot of the time, I was experiencing what people now call food noise. The difference completely changed how I understood my relationship with food. So what are the differences: food noise vs hunger? Let's look at what you could feel for each.
- [Air Fried Chicken: Times and Tips for Every Cut](https://www.justaveragejen.com/air-fried-chicken-times.html): If you've got an air fryer, chances are you've cooked air fried chicken in it at least once. But with so many different cuts available, it can be difficult to remember how long each one needs or which temperature works best.
- [Air Fried Baked Potatoes (The Best Air Fried Jacket Potatoes)](https://www.justaveragejen.com/air-fried-baked-potatoes.html): If you've ever wondered whether you can make proper baked potatoes in an air fryer, the answer is a definite yes. In fact, once you've tried air fried baked potatoes, you may never want to switch your oven on again.
- [11 Creative Ways to Actually Relax After a Long Day](https://www.justaveragejen.com/relax-after-a-long-day.html): We’ve all been there. You finally get home, kick off your shoes, and settle in to relax after a long day. But instead of unwinding, your brain decides it’s a great time to replay that awkward moment from this morning—or dump a mental list of everything you have to deal with tomorrow.
- [How to Lose 1lb a Week Safely (UK Guide)](https://www.justaveragejen.com/how-to-lose-1lb-a-week-safely.html): If you've ever joined a weight loss group or started a new diet, you've probably dreamed of seeing big numbers on the scales every week. I know I did. If you were told you could lose 1lb a week you would think it was rubbish, wouldn't you.
- [No-Cook Slimming World Meals (Quick, Easy and Perfect for Busy Days)](https://www.justaveragejen.com/no-cook-slimming-world-meals.html): Some days, I love cooking. Other days, I open the fridge, stare into it for a few minutes and hope dinner somehow appears on its own. In an ideal world, you want no-cook Slimming World meals or a takeaway!
- [Slimming World Plateau: Why It Happens and How to Fix It](https://www.justaveragejen.com/slimming-world-plateau.html): Let's look at why a Slimming World plateau can happen and what you can do if your weight loss has slowed down.
- [Living With Complex PTSD After Domestic Abuse: What It Feels Like For Me](https://www.justaveragejen.com/living-with-complex-ptsd-after-abuse.html): It wasn't until years after leaving my abusive relationship that someone mentioned Complex PTSD, or CPTSD. I started reading about it and, for the first time in a very long time, I felt seen.
- [Stretching for Beginners: Simple Stretches Anyone Can Do](https://www.justaveragejen.com/stretching-for-beginners.html): I'll admit something that probably won't surprise anyone who knows me. When I first started trying to lose weight and become more active, stretching was the bit I skipped.
- [Best Trainers for Walking: How to Choose Comfortable Walking Shoes](https://www.justaveragejen.com/best-trainers-for-walking.html): Buying a pair of trainers for walking should be easy, shouldn't it? You walk into a shop, find a pair you like the look of, try them on and head home. Well... that's what I used to think.
- [Chair Exercise Ideas for Beginners: Gentle Ways to Get Moving at Home](https://www.justaveragejen.com/chair-exercise-ideas-for-beginners.html): If someone had suggested chair exercises to me years ago, I'll be honest, I probably would have laughed. In my mind, they were something designed for much older people or those recovering from an injury. I assumed they couldn't possibly be "proper" exercise and certainly wouldn't help someone trying to lose weight.
- [Everything You Need to Know About Orzo (And Is Orzo Healthy?)](https://www.justaveragejen.com/is-orzo-healthy.html): If you've spotted orzo in a recipe and wondered exactly what it is, you're definitely not alone. It looks a bit like rice, cooks quickly and seems to appear in everything from soups to Mediterranean salads. Yet despite becoming much more popular in recent years, many people still aren't quite sure what it is or whether it's actually a healthy choice.
- [The Things I Didn’t Realise Were Domestic Abuse Until Years Later](https://www.justaveragejen.com/domestic-abuse-realisations.html): When people hear the words domestic abuse, they often picture something obvious. They picture bruises, shouting, smashed plates or neighbours calling the police.
- [Best Time to Visit Saudi Arabia: A Month-by-Month Guide](https://www.justaveragejen.com/best-time-to-visit-saudi-arabia.html): The best time to visit Saudi Arabia is November to March, when daytime temperatures are comfortable across the country. Summer, from May to September, is extremely hot and best avoided for sightseeing. If you are travelling for Umrah, the calmest and cheapest months are usually October, November and January.
- [How to Support Your Child with Staying Informed](https://www.justaveragejen.com/support-your-child.html): Ask most parents whether their child is keeping up with the world around them, and you'll hear one of two things: either a shrug of resignation about screens, or a worry that the news is simply too much for young minds. Both responses are understandable. Neither is quite right.
- [Why Senses Matter in a Child’s Development](https://www.justaveragejen.com/senses-help-child-development.html): Ever watched a toddler squash a handful of wet sand, sniff a flower for the tenth time, or freeze at an unfamiliar sound? That is a young brain hard at work. The senses are how children first make sense of the world, and they shape far more than most parents realise. Here are the questions parents most often ask, with plain answers.
- [Best Food Flasks for Work, School & Travel (2026 UK Guide)](https://www.justaveragejen.com/best-food-flasks.html): The problem is that not all food flasks are the same. Some genuinely keep food piping hot until lunchtime, while others struggle after just a few hours. Size, insulation, leakproof lids and ease of cleaning all make a huge difference too.
- [Foods to Eat While Taking GLP-1 Medications to Get the Nutrients Your Body Needs](https://www.justaveragejen.com/foods-while-taking-glp-1-medications.html): But eating less also brings a new challenge. Which foods should you eat while taking GLP-1 medications?

## Pages
- [What Does My Weight Loss Compare To? (Free Calculator)](https://www.justaveragejen.com/weight-loss-comparison-calculator): If you've ever looked at the scales and thought, "I've lost 8lb... but what does that actually mean?", you're not alone. Numbers can sometimes feel surprisingly meaningless. Whether you've lost 3lb or 10 stone, it's difficult to picture what that amount of weight really looks like in everyday life. That's exactly why I created this free Weight Loss Comparison Calculator.
- [Health and Wellbeing](https://www.justaveragejen.com/health-and-wellbeing): If you are anything like me, you put yourself last and everyone else first. You forget to take your vitamins, don't relax enough and feel like you should do more for yourself, but struggle to make time. If this is the case, here are some articles I have written that may help, based on my experience and how I carve out time to look after my own wellbeing.
- [Feel More Confident](https://www.justaveragejen.com/feel-more-confident): Confidence isn't something you suddenly wake up with one day.
- [Completed – 12 Weeks to a Better Me Journal](https://www.justaveragejen.com/completed-12-weeks-to-a-better-me-journal): Well done! You have worked hard for 12 weeks and should now be able to see the differences in yourself. How do you feel?
- [Homepage](https://www.justaveragejen.com/): Hi, I’m Jen, and welcome to my little space on the internet. After losing 10 stone and learning that health is about much more than the number on the scales, I created Just Average Jen to share healthy recipes, honest advice and real-life experiences without judgment.
- [Healthy recipes for weight loss](https://www.justaveragejen.com/healthy-recipes): I believe that everything you cook should be relatively easy and fit around life. If you are trying to eat healthily, then these healthy recipes might be just what you are looking for. I promise they all use supermarket ingredients, are easy to make, and are perfect for helping you lose weight or maintain weight, so you can be whatever you want to be. Many of these recipes are suitable for Slimming World too, as I have followed the plan and share how well they fit.
- [Weight Loss Tips and Support](https://www.justaveragejen.com/weight-loss-guides): If you're new to Just Average Jen, welcome. Whether you're trying to lose weight for the first time, starting again after regaining weight or simply looking for honest advice, you're in the right place. I've lost 10 stone, regained some of it, tried medication, considered weight loss surgery and learned that healthy living is about so much more than the number on the scales.
- [Exercise and Movement](https://www.justaveragejen.com/exercise-guides): Exercise doesn't have to mean running marathons, joining an expensive gym or doing workouts you hate. After losing 10 stone, I've learned that the best exercise is the one you'll actually do. Whether you're just getting started, returning after a break or looking for something new to try, these guides will help you find ways to move that fit your life.
- [Work With Me](https://www.justaveragejen.com/working-with-me): If you would like to work with me please feel free to have a look around my website to see the kind of content I share.
- [My Weight Loss Story – The Honest Version](https://www.justaveragejen.com/my-weight-loss-story): For many years I shared my weight loss journey online and inspired thousands of people with the changes I made. If you have followed Just Average Jen for a while, you may know that I lost around 10 stone, going from a size 30 to a size 6-8.
- [About Me](https://www.justaveragejen.com/about-me): Welcome to Just Average Jen. I am the author Jen Mellor, based in Nottingham, UK. I’ve spent 10 years sharing my personal journey with Slimming World, weight loss, and confidence, creating easy recipes, realistic tips, and honest advice that works in everyday life. Using both my knowledge and lived experience, I aim to help you become your own cheerleader and build a happy, healthy lifestyle that feels sustainable and achievable.
- [Jen In The Media](https://www.justaveragejen.com/in-media): Being invited to contribute to national and local media has been an incredible privilege, but what matters most to me is knowing that sharing my experiences has helped someone else feel understood or inspired to make positive changes in their own life.
- [Contact Jen Mellor](https://www.justaveragejen.com/contact): The easiest way to contact me is by email. I check my emails regularly throughout the day. To ensure your email is not missed, please use a subject line appropriate to your reason for contact.

## Categories
- [Air Fryer Recipes](https://www.justaveragejen.com/recipes-index/air-fryer-recipes)
- [Amazing recipes](https://www.justaveragejen.com/amazing-recipes)
- [Breakfast Recipes](https://www.justaveragejen.com/recipes-index/breakfast-recipes)
- [Budget Recipes](https://www.justaveragejen.com/recipes-index/budget-recipes)
- [Chicken Recipes](https://www.justaveragejen.com/recipes-index/chicken-recipes)
- [Comfort Eating](https://www.justaveragejen.com/weight-loss-tips/comfort-eating)
- [Confidence and Self-Esteem](https://www.justaveragejen.com/time-for-yourself/confidence-self-esteem)
- [Cooking Tips & Ingredients](https://www.justaveragejen.com/recipes-index/cooking-tips)
- [Curry Recipes](https://www.justaveragejen.com/recipes-index/curry-recipes)
- [Cycling](https://www.justaveragejen.com/exercise/cycling)
- [Depression and weight loss](https://www.justaveragejen.com/weight-loss-tips/depression-and-weight-loss)
- [Dessert and Pudding Recipes](https://www.justaveragejen.com/recipes-index/dessert-recipes)
- [Drinks](https://www.justaveragejen.com/recipes-index/drink-recipes)
- [Exercise](https://www.justaveragejen.com/exercise)
- [Exercise plans](https://www.justaveragejen.com/exercise/exercise-plans)
- [Exercise Tips](https://www.justaveragejen.com/exercise/exercise-tips)
- [Fakeaway Recipes](https://www.justaveragejen.com/recipes-index/fakeaway-recipes)
- [Family](https://www.justaveragejen.com/family)
- [Family exercise](https://www.justaveragejen.com/exercise/family-exercise)
- [Family weight loss](https://www.justaveragejen.com/weight-loss-tips/family-weight-loss)
- [Featured](https://www.justaveragejen.com/featured)
- [Finances and Work](https://www.justaveragejen.com/finances)
- [Gifts and Shopping](https://www.justaveragejen.com/gifts)
- [Gluten-Free Recipes](https://www.justaveragejen.com/recipes-index/gluten-free-recipes)
- [Health and Wellbeing](https://www.justaveragejen.com/time-for-yourself)
- [Healthy Habits](https://www.justaveragejen.com/time-for-yourself/healthy-habits)
- [Home and Garden](https://www.justaveragejen.com/home-garden)
- [Lifestyle](https://www.justaveragejen.com/lifestyle)
- [Lunch Recipes](https://www.justaveragejen.com/recipes-index/lunch-recipes)
- [Make Time For Yourself](https://www.justaveragejen.com/time-for-yourself/make-time-for-yourself)
- [Meal plans](https://www.justaveragejen.com/recipes-index/meal-plans)
- [Mince Recipes](https://www.justaveragejen.com/recipes-index/mince-recipes)
- [Motoring](https://www.justaveragejen.com/motoring)
- [My Weight Loss Story](https://www.justaveragejen.com/my-weight-loss-story)
- [Nutrients](https://www.justaveragejen.com/recipes-index/nutrients)
- [Other roundups](https://www.justaveragejen.com/recipes-index/roundups)
- [Pasta Recipes](https://www.justaveragejen.com/recipes-index/pastarecipes)
- [Pets](https://www.justaveragejen.com/pets)
- [Picnic Recipes](https://www.justaveragejen.com/recipes-index/picnic-recipes)
- [Potato Recipes](https://www.justaveragejen.com/recipes-index/potato-recipes)
- [Quark Recipes](https://www.justaveragejen.com/recipes-index/quark-recipes)
- [Recipes](https://www.justaveragejen.com/recipes-index)
- [Relationships](https://www.justaveragejen.com/relationships)
- [Rice Recipes](https://www.justaveragejen.com/recipes-index/rice-recipes)
- [Risotto Recipes](https://www.justaveragejen.com/recipes-index/risotto-recipes)
- [Running](https://www.justaveragejen.com/exercise/running)
- [Shopping for exercise](https://www.justaveragejen.com/exercise/shopping-for-exercise)
- [Shopping for weight loss](https://www.justaveragejen.com/weight-loss-tips/shopping-for-weight-loss)
- [Sleep and Everyday Wellbeing](https://www.justaveragejen.com/time-for-yourself/sleep-wellbeing)
- [Slow Cooker Recipes](https://www.justaveragejen.com/recipes-index/slow-cooker-recipes)
- [Snacks and Side Dishes Recipes](https://www.justaveragejen.com/recipes-index/snack-sides-recipes)
- [Soup Recipes](https://www.justaveragejen.com/recipes-index/soup-recipes)
- [Summer Recipes](https://www.justaveragejen.com/recipes-index/summer-recipes)
- [Travel](https://www.justaveragejen.com/travel)
- [Treating yourself](https://www.justaveragejen.com/weight-loss-tips/treating-yourself)
- [Uncategorized](https://www.justaveragejen.com/uncategorized)
- [Unofficial Slimming World guides](https://www.justaveragejen.com/weight-loss-tips/slimming-world-guides)
- [Vegan diet](https://www.justaveragejen.com/weight-loss-tips/vegan-diet)
- [Vegetarian and Vegan Recipes](https://www.justaveragejen.com/recipes-index/vegetarian-vegan-recipes)
- [Walking](https://www.justaveragejen.com/exercise/walking)
- [Weight Loss](https://www.justaveragejen.com/weight-loss-tips)
- [Weight Loss humour](https://www.justaveragejen.com/weight-loss-tips/weight-loss-humour)
- [Weight Loss Plans](https://www.justaveragejen.com/weight-loss-tips/weight-loss-plans)
- [Weight Loss Success Stories](https://www.justaveragejen.com/weight-loss-tips/weight-loss-stories)
- [Weight Loss Tips](https://www.justaveragejen.com/weight-loss-tips/diet-tips)
- [Weight loss with health issues](https://www.justaveragejen.com/weight-loss-tips/weight-loss-with-health-issues)
- [Women's Health](https://www.justaveragejen.com/time-for-yourself/womens-health)
- [Yoga](https://www.justaveragejen.com/exercise/yoga)