Vegan Challenge Week 1

Total time vegan 2weeks! BOOM. *Proud*

This time round it has been considerably easier then when I last attempted the challenge. Why? I think this time my heart is fully in it and knowing that I am going to an animal sanctuary at the end of the month is added motivation. I even went out for a 3 course meal at Pizza Express last night - all vegan! I had:

Starter: Dough balls with garlic oil rather than garlic butter

Main: Superfood salad no cheese
Dessert: Raspberry sorbet

OMNOMNOM. :)

I have also made these beauties:

Vegan Cinnamon Rolls and leftover Vegan Banana Bread

The cinnamon roll recipe came from Chole's Kitchen cookbook full of amazing vegan recipes! (All views my own, not being sponsored by the book)

Looking forward to the coming week with other new foods to try like vegan pizza from VBites. Can't wait for that to arrive!

In other news next week I'm starting a pole fitness course! 6 week beginner class. So glad I have finally managed to pluck up the courage and go for it!

I also went back to Spinning after a lonnnng time of not doing it. OUCH. But a good ouch...

November Vegan Challenge and Pile on the Miles 2013

First of all, October:

I completed the marathon in 5hour 41mins and 39sec. Not a fast time but considering I only did up to 15miles in training I'll say that went pretty well :). Multiple times during the race I just felt like crying, not necessarily from pain but from exhaustion! Would I do it again? Probably!

All Finished!

The losing weight didn't happen.
I didn't do any Yoga.
But I did get back to bootcamp :)


November Challenges

30 day Vegan Challenge
Yep! That old chestnut! This time its official, done by Animal Aid, you can check out the challenge at govegan.org.uk.
From this I have been invited to an open day down in Kent for one of the animal sanctuary's that save animals from harm, I am really looking forward to this and it is taking place at the end of the month!
I have already started eating vegan and have been for about a week now. I am loving it, despite the fact that I am currently eating more than usual, probably due to my mind subconsciously thinking I wont eat much food but in reality of course I will. I am hoping it will calm down once I am more confident with knowing what I can and can't eat.

Pile on the Miles 2013
A challenge over at runeatrepeat.com, where you set a mileage goal and get there beat it. Since I am still trying on keeping runs easy I have set myself a target of 80miles over the month of November.

Other November Goals:
Attend Spin class, I have found one that is pay as you go, one problem, it is at 06:30am! Yikes! I will try and get there at least once before the month is over.
Go swimming! I have been wanting to do this for a while just never had the confidence!

Right! Lets get on it!

October goals

I thought I'd get this one in early. I have had some new found motivation to lose the regained pounds oer the past week. Me and my friend are going to Costa Del Sol in Spain. Its official, it has been booked!

She was saying that she would feel bad if one of us ended up going without our ideal bikini body and since she is doing really well in her weight loss I really need to step mine up a notch. However, I did lose 1.6kg this week (wooo!) but I need to remember that it doesn't mean I can go all out and eat everything in sight all over again.

So here are some goals to keep me motivated through October:
Complete the marathon - pooping myself over this. I really can't wait till its done!
Lose 3.5-4kg in total over the month - Prize some new Soap and Glory items. I love their stuff!
Add in Yoga once per week
Get back to bootcamp

I have now finished uni and now looking for a job as a nurse. I have an interview coming up so fingers crossed!

Holiday motivation!

First of all the Coast to Coast walk, all of 192mile was amazing! Getting Sherpa van to move our stuff around was soo helpful and really added to the enjoyment, I would have hated to carry all out stuff around but now we have done it once I would like to do it being totally self-reliant. Something for the future.

Marathon Training
Not going well. There are times when I wonder if I should give up running the marathon all together, but there is still hope and I may be able to still run it without feeling like death (HA...yeahhhh..). So far my longest training run has been 10miles. Given its further then I have ever ran during training but that's not even half a marathon. I have attempted to go out for longer runs only to be held back by a really sharp pain in my ankle. I have now (eventually) been to the doctors about this and they have put me on a weeks course of strong anti inflammatory. He also recommend new shoes which is a given. Anyway I'm going out tomorrow with the attitude to run as far as I can above 13miles without causing damage, followed by a lovely ice bath.

Nurse Training.
I qualify in 2 weeks. Holy poo.

Holidays.
My friend and I have decided to go on a holiday :D. Not one of those 'Oh yeah we should really go on holiday together' but a get booked at the end of the month holiday!
This is just the PERFECT motivation I need to lose the extra weight I have gained!!
My goal weight 8st 5lb, 117lb, 53kg.
I have 6months
That's an average of 1.5-2lb or 0.5-1kg each week. Seems like a lot but I am determined to do it and I am doing all I can to keep my eyes focused on that goal. We are going to look amazing in out bikinis!
Time for some new weight loss goals which will be changed over there ----->

Ups and downs

...we all have them.

Ups:

• I have finished all academic work for my nursing degree and came out with a good result, just placements to finish and I will be a REAL mental health nurse!
• I am continuing with bootcamp and it is making my runs faster and my body stronger.
• I am doing the Wainwright Coast to Coast walk in a week today! 
• I have two very cute chinchilla who never fail to make me giggle.

Downs:

• I am well aware that I have put on over a stone since my lowest weight of 9st 7lb. I got lazy and thought I could eat anything. I began saying that I will lose a stone in 'x' amount of time and it never happened, and I get disheartened.
• It's freakin HOT here atm. My poor chinnies. They don't do well in over 23c heat and in our flat its getting over 25c! We are doing out best to keep them cool, such as putting frozen bottles of water in a sweet tin in there cage to act as a cooling seat, keeping the window open during the night and not letting them out for play if it is over 23c as they will run around like crazy things and get too warm! Here in the UK we don't have this kinda weather that often so it wouldn't be worth the £250 on an air con unit, at the mo anyway...
• Plus I don't do well in the heat either. I'm much more of a Spring person!
• Not sticking completely to my marathon training plan. Just missing some mid-week runs.
• Eating too much. Simple.

Well over the past few days I have solved my weight loss problem. Well, sort of. I have decided that setting a goal time is not a good thing for me. If there is a deadline, I will not make an effort until the last min and try everything possible often with a bad result. This applies to everything from assignments to weight loss.

My final placement is almost over (no more 1.5 hours of travelling!) then after my 3 weeks off I'm back for my elective placement in York. Phew. This will allow for more time for training.

Eating wise, I am going to try and add more fruit and veggies back into my diet again, avoid dairy where possible and try and cook for myself and Nick as much as I can. At the mo with all the heat, I can't be doing with cooking!

I have refocused my goals which do not have a time scale.

cw: 150lb BMI: 26.6
lw: 133lb
gw: 118-124lb BMI: 21.1

I'm not a fan of BMI, I am only using it as a guide.




Arg. Its just too warm in our little flat atm! I feel sick with the heat, either that or all the water I'm consuming! Boooo!  :(

Frustration

during any weight loss journey, we have all felt it.

I felt it today.

Gained 1.5lb.

It may not seem like a lot but when you're only losing 1lb per week putting on extra really stings. I can see where it came from. Having pizza on Friday after a (ironically) frustrating day at placement was probably not the best idea in the world. The frustration mainly focused around how I had been 'clean eating' all week doing this 'toxin detox' thing they recommend at bootcamp. No bread, pasta, potatos, caffine, tofu etc. I was sick of quinoa and veg buy the end of the week. Part of me thinks that eating mainly fruit and veg actually slowed my metabolism, could that be possible? I was (still am) running 4-5 times per week and have bootcamp 3 times a week. I never got that 'energy boost' you with people who report eating meat, fruit and veg. Not for me!

I have decided that calorie counting is the best and only real way I will lose weight and keep it off. So back to myfittnesspal. I have 1,500 kcal on a rest day and extra when I do exercise. God I hope this works...

It will work.

On the up side, my speed is up. I ran my best 4 miles in 40:50 the other day and my first 5 mile of the training plan in 51:14. I love myself for that. :D

I am loving bootcamp too. I always leave feeling happy and strong. The people who go are really supportive, and it's getting easier!

An overweight (technically), pizza lover, health and fitness nut.

That's me.

I was thinking of that the other day during a run.
I'll never give up pizza, but I also LOVE trying new 'weird' health foods.
I don't want to only eat veg so I can maintain a super skinny body with abs showing, as much as I'd love to!
I can do more press ups then some males (they/he knows who they are!) :D

Bootcamp continues with 4-5 runs per week.
Complete clean eating isn't really giving me the results I was hoping for, I was struggling with protein since I wasn't able to have tofu and limited eggs and nuts. 'Clean eating' has a high emphasis on meat and I anit going there!


Further updates on Sunday after weigh in :)

Update, Inches, Weight Loss and Clean Eating

Its been two weeks now since I took a real focus in losing the weight I've regained. In that time I have also started Bootcamp and began a eating clean diet. Well not a 'diet' just a change in eating habits.

The clean eating is going well, once I was all up and going from Bootcamp with my free week (I am keeping it up now!) they sent me a nutrition plan  that stated all the things I could have and those that were banned. On that banned list was peanut butter (booo!), bread, pasta, caffeine, alcohol, sugar etc. The plan focuses around wholefoods and unfortunately a fair amount of meat so I have been having my protein powder and plenty of nuts and eggs to keep my protein up.

A typical day might go like this:
Breakfast: Porridge with berries and flaxseeds
Snack: Banana
Lunch: Quinoa and salad
Snack: Berries and nuts/seeds or veg sticks
Dinner: Vegi Biryani from the clean eating cookbook
Pud: Full fat natural yog and fruit

Caffeine was the hardest for me, one day I went without ANY caffeine including green tea and had the worst headache and I was super grouchy. So now I am just sticking to green tea as it has other health benefits such as fat metabolism.

Weight loss and inches
-1lb 1/4 this week making  total of 2lb 1/4 in total
Waist -0.5inch
Hips -1inch
Legs and arms stayed the same.
I think that's pretty good progress!

Running
I ran my best 4 mile time this morning 40:50. BOOM. So Proud!
I am trying to focus on taking my head out of my legs (which are now constantly aching after 2miles) and beginning to look at my surroundings. Today during my run I was focused on 'Run with your heart, not your head'. It really helped and gave me inspiration to run faster!

I am looking forward to next week with more bootcamp, running and eating clean!

June Mini Goals

June?! Summer soon perhaps? Ah, I forget I live in the UK. Summer does not exist! :P Lets hope for the best! Besides I have new running shorts to try out!

Continuing with the initial marathon training program which is based on getting the body used to running 12-15 miles per week before all the interval training, hill work and long runs begin in two weeks time!

My best 3 mile time so far is 30:54! 4 miles 42:34. Both good times for this plodder!

Goals for June:

• Stick to marathon training plan (this is sort of a given but I need to keep motivated on it)
• Try out bootcamp alongside marathon training, free week booked in starting Monday!
• Make healthy choices, no weight loss goal, just healthy eating and fitness!
• Increase water, I REALLY struggle with this, I have seen tips including writing times on a large bottle to remind you how much water to drink, I am hoping to try this out once a find my black marker pen!
• Cook a 'new' meal each week
• NO TAKEAWAY PIZZA. I'm a sucker for the grease. Tastes good but it DOES NOT make me feel good!!

Four meals I'm going to try making this month:

• Chinese Chow Mein from 'Chloe's Kitchen' (Vegan cookbook)
• Butternut Squash Risotto
• Really good stir fry!
• Roast veg mix and veggi sausages/burgers!

There is only one that I haven't made before but the rest are things I don't make on a regular basis.

I see you after bootcamp on Monday! Eeek!

Marathon update and Bootcamp

Hello again!

Marathon training is going well, tomorrow I begin week 4! So far I have only missed one run which is pretty good going for me! I have changed some shifts around at my nursing placement so I do more days but finish two hours early so I can get home get my workout in, have tea with the fiance and play with the two chinchillas Pika and Pig(let).

Today was supposed to be a 4 mile run but I swapped it with tomorrows x-train day. So I am looking forward to getting out in the morning for a nice bank holiday run! Also heading to Scarborough tomorrow! YEY Seaside! And the Sealife centre. Happy me.

This week I ended up gaining ANOTHER lb. I blamed this on finally getting in my dissertation on Monday so for a while food wasn't something I thought about. Now I'm thinking healthy... I have even bought a watermelon! I LOVE watermelon, just they are fairly expensive!

The running journal is working really well, being able to have all the extra detail really helps to create the perfect running situation and discover at what times and with what foods my body works best with. Turns out so far I am good with running after a good night sleep (so not up a 5am on placement days!) and before breakfast, everything seems to run smoother that way. I am also finding that I am getting faster! my 3mile runs are down to under 31 mins. Good for me! Mind you, I can't wait until they are down to below 30! Eeek!

Bootcamp!
I have been looking for CrossFit classes in my area for a while now but the closest ones are a train ride away and I don't have the money for that AND CrossFit which isn't exactly cheap!
Anyway, I found Bootcamp. It looks fairly similar maybe a little less intense from the online vids but some of the exercises look the same and they have a same variable workouts, which I like.
It is still pricey around £77-£100 for the upper membership levels but they also offer a range of classes such as kickboxing, Bootcamp elite and Yoga. Once you have joined they even supply you with a nutritional plan for best results.
You get a weeks  free trial which includes 3 classes so I have booked mine for a few weeks time, can't wait to try it out!
This one is in the York area so if you want to check it out click here

The Offical Marathon Training Has Begun!

Today was a x-train workout so I opted for the Ballet Conditioning DVD I bought last week. Low impact but it really makes you work!

The vegan challenge is going well, I am realising that I can eat well without dairy. I'll admit it is really hard at times, for example finding a vegan burger in the supermarket that wasn't bean and breadcrumb based was a challenge so I stuck with Linda McCartneys sausages. YUM.

Today I'm having a little break by having a takeaway (sssh..), beancurd and satay sauce. NOM. This will be the last some some time so I am going to make a meal out of it (see what I did there?!). After a heavy bank holiday worth for food and booze I'm ready to lose the stone I have gained over the past 6 months and hopefully when the marathon comes round on the 20th Oct I'll be 1st 7lb lighter!

Something new...
 Today I tried coconut water! Zico coconut water from Waitrose!

It was £1.99 which is quite good compared to some of the Vita Water coconut water I have seen in health shops.
The first taste is almost salty (but it does contain a fair amount of potassium, good for post run recovery!) but that doesn't last long and you cant a nice faint coconut taste which is nice and refreshing.

I bought 3 of another brand, though I can't remember the name I have 3 flavours, plain, cherry and pineapple. They are in the fridge waiting for me to do a long run!






Another newbie today was my new running journal!

 I'd upload pics of the inside but my laptop won't let me!
Anyway this one is from Watersotnes and is around £8.70 if bought online and £9.99 in store. Inside it has lots of useful info for beginners such as what shoes to wear etc. There are also two training plans one for more advanced and the other for those just starting out.

In each page of the journal there is space for two different runs and a speedwork run, asking you to fill in details such as nutrition before during and after your run, the weather and how you slept etc.

After each week there is a review page, and a separate one after every month so you can keep a close eye on your progress!

Overall very please with it and can't wait to get into using it!

Let the training begin!

May Goals!

So today started the 7 Day Vegan Challenge. It is going really well, or shall I say it was going well till the other half (bless) thought it would be a good idea to bring home 5 doughnuts from Sainsburys along with the hummus and peanut butter I asked him to get. So 2 and 1/2 yummy round diet destroying balls I am craving everything under the sun!

...its nice to know I can binge eat and still be vegan... ¬_¬ LEARN SOME SELF CONTROL WOMAN!

Anyway...

In other news I ordered some resistance bands and they arrived today YEY. They were really fun to have a play with and I am looking forward to doing a proper workout with them soon.

My Ballet Conditioning DVD arrived today too!

Only £5 from amazon, it is like a beginners guide to the basics of ballet training. On the surface it looks fairly simple but one I got into it my arms/legs/abs were in PAIN. I'm hoping I will be able to feel it tomorrow that way I know its done some good!

So May goals:

Lets start off with that it is going to be a pretty scary month as my dissertation is due in on the 20th. O_O.

• Finish and hand in dissertation
• Complete ballet conditioning DVD at least once per week
• Keep up with marathon training plan which begins on the 6th May (I am still planning on following the No Meat Athlete plan)
• Lose 5lb
• TRY and control my mad eating when home alone!

They will do I think!

7 Day Vegan

Inspired by running on healthy I have joined the #7dayvegan challenge!

I have been trying a vegan diet for a while with one dairy item each day, however, these are just making me feel bloated and icky and I would like to get used to a full vegan diet/lifestyle with one day every so often where I will have a diary item if I feel like I need it.

Lets do itt!
Hopefully I'll even lose a pound or two during the week!

Wow its been a while!

Literally so much has been going on in the past few months that I got out of the habit of blogging (not that I was ever in one..)

Anyway since feb I have:

• Ran the Brighton half marathon and got a PB of 2hrs 14mins
• Went on holiday to Tenerife!
• Ran the Edinburgh Half marathon with very little training (in the wind and rain) in 2hours 25mins.
• Getting into the final part of my degree, dissertation writing etc.
• Working as a support worker for some experience
• Plans in place for getting 2 lady Chinchillas from the RSPCA. Very exciting! :D
• Joined slimming world again in hope to rid of the extra weight I've gained over the past 6months. 

Well... How exciting is all that?! In a few weeks time I will be starting my training plan for the MARATHON on the 20th October.

We also have most of the plan in place to complete the coast to coast in july! omfgtoomuchtothinkabout!

Annnnnnnd..
I am once again thinking of leaving slimming world and trying out the vegan lifestyle again (with a day or 2 off at first)
I don't think it is as hard as my head is making it out to be, most of my meals are already vegan besides the quorn, and I already use soya milk.
I have ordered some new protein powder from Natures' Whey. A vegan powder which is soy free and has more protein content than the soya protein powder I use now. On top of all that its mint choc chip flavour!....Lets hope it actually tastes like mint choc chip!

Thats all for now folks!

Something new...

No food tracking today. A bad thing on my part. But although I have eaten more then I should have it has all been (mostly) healthy stuff.


Good news!
I bought the NoMeatAthele Marathon roadmap to help with my marathon training!

It is a PDF pack with tonnes of info about running on a meatless diet (I am thinking about removing fish again, but it needs more thought). I have run into a problem of paying for it and not being directed to the download page so I don't actually HAVE it yet. Though I have emailed the site and hopefully this will be sorted out soon!

Onto other exciting news...

I have never been nominated for anything before but Amie over at Running On Healthy has nominated for me for the Liebster Award.

Here's what needs to be done (taken from Running On Healthy):

• When you get the award, you post 11 random facts about yourself and answer 11 questions from the person who nominated you.
• Pass the award onto 11 other blogs (make sure you tell them you nominated them!) and ask them 11 questions.
• You are not allowed to nominate the blog who nominated you!
• Make sure the blogs you choose have 200 or less followers.
• Include a link to the person who nominated you & let them know about your post

Unfortunately, I don't have enough followers to send it out to 11 people, but I will send it to who I can.

So, 11 random facts about me:

• I have a weird obsession for pokemon and unicorns. Don't judge.
• I HATE lateness. I always try to be early by at least 10 minuets. Something I think is important in the nursing profession.
• I would love to be vegan but I need to have the motivation to cook more.
• I am REALLY shy/ a naturally quiet person. I am getting sick of people telling me this so I am working on it.
• I love 'weird health foods' as my other half calls them.
• I am not musical at all, I have tried guitar a few times and it has never worked out.
• I love sitting in with good food and a movie
• I love cooking and baking - i just wish I had more time!
• I am a final year student mental health nurse = lots of working and writing!
• I luuurve cupcakes! Mostly to look at, they are soo pretty (and yummy too!)
• I love neon colours

My 11 questions:

1. What are you reading currently?I could be a pain in the bum and say this...
   But no, I am currently reading The Hunger Games number 3.
   
2. Do you have any embarrassing old screen names from email or MSN?My old Myspace name was FingerLickin'Good. OH.DEAR.GOD.
   
3. What is your favourite summer time memory?I used to do Viking re-enactment and one time we went to Holy Island (or Lindisfarne) in Northumberland and we swam in the sea and saw the most amazing night sky. Because the area was so dark and the sky was so clear, we could see everything.
   
4. Blackberry, Android, or Iphone?None. I have a blackberry look alike from Samsung. If I had to choose I'd choose Android.
   
5. Favourite food to cook?Anything that looks good! I recently made a thia coconut curry which looked and tasted amazing. I would also love to get into more vegan cooking.
   
6. Favourite workout?Don't know if could pick one. The top ones are Running, Spinning and Yoga...Oh and maybe Zumba too!
   
7. If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go and why?I would really like to go to Iceland or Australia. They both look like beautiful places to go.
   
8. What is your biggest pet peeve?Lateness and loud eaters. *Shudders*
   
9. What is your favourite quote or mantra?The one I use during my running is 'Pain is temporary, Pride is forever'. My Sister saw it during the Great North Run and she said it kept her going, so since then I've kept it.
   
10. Have you ever climbed a mountain? Which one?I have done the Yorkshire 3 peaks. I have also been up others in the Lake District. I'd love to do more!
    
11. Favourite outdoor activity?Camping and walking! (of course running too!)

My Nominees

Sarah at ramblingmadhatter

You are the only one! Lucky you!
Other blogs I have, have been inactive for around a year. This is something that needs updating!

My Questions to you!

1.  What is your favourite colour?
2. If you were stuck on an Island what 3 items would you take?
3. What is your favourite exercise?
4. What is your favourite item of clothing?
5. Your current favourite song?
6. Best thing about you?
7. Most embarrassing memory?
8. Favourite pass time?
9. Favourite food?
10. What new activity would you like to try?
11. Best thing you have baked?

Day 4. Feel like a zombie.

This week of induction is REALLY taking it out of me. In fact its doing it to all of us on this weeks induction course, its just so full on, with tonnes of information (all useful though).

I have been feeling the pressure lately with all the stuff going on, I don't know how I am going to do it all!

To the fooooood!

Breakfast: Matcha and apple juice as always.
Banana and date muesli with coconut milk
Tea with almond milk.
Note the ultra cool mug that was a Christmas present to myself...

Mid morning: Banana
Lunch: Low fat peanut butter and jam sandwich
one falafel ball
orange and blueberries

And instead of a cheesecake pot I got a natural yog and mango puree with granola pot :) Felt better after that and it kept me going through till dinner!

Dinner: Simple and tasty spag bol. Never fails.

Pudding was a vanilla and chocolate sprinkles fat free yog.





...then off to ZUMBA!

Really enjoyed my zumba class. It was my second time at a 'proper' class (not on the wii) and first time at this particular class. Really good, enthusiastic instructor and a good workout! Made all newbies feel welcome and we all had a good time!

Anyway, I wanted something so I made a protein shake with...
Some natural yoghurt
Banana
3 frozen dates (this didn't really work since I only use a hand blender)
1 tbsp cocoa power
1 scoop of soya vanilla protein power
few drops of natural vanilla extract
1/2 can coconut milk
Best protein shake I have made so far!

...also had the last 'protein' bun.


Only a half day on induction tomorrow.
Oh and it will be weigh day in the morning. YIKES.

Day 3. Unwise decisions.

Today on training we were taught about using the Mental Capacity Act when on shift. One of the 5 main aspects of this was being able to allow someone to make unwise decisions, when they have capacity to make them, as we all do it and are entitled to it.

Today I made an unwise decision. Not a serious one. But an unwise one nonetheless.
I had another cheesecake pot.
Did I enjoy it? YES
Did it make me feel good after? Felt too full and a little sick and an odd taste has stayed in my mouth.
Will I have one tomorrow? NO
Will I ever have another? Quite possibly!

So today's eats...

Breakfast: (Started with matcha and aplle juice) Apple and cinnamon porridge pot with a tablespoon of cocoa and berries flax seeds. This added a nice chocolaty flavour without being too sweet.
Tea with Almond milk.

 Mid morning: Nutri-grain bar
Lunch: small avocado, feta cheese and quorn ham salad with peas and a pear.
Also this is where the cheesecake incident happened again...
Afternoon snack was a choc orange Nakd bar but was still full from the cheesecake!

Dinner: Mozzarella and pesto quorn escalope with sweet potato chips, peas and a tomato with a little BBQ sauce.
Very yummy and simple.

Pudding: Yeo Valley peach and apricot yoghurt. Very nice!








Unsure of tonight's snack...
Maybe a banana or some blueberries. Of course there will be teapigs tea :D

No exercise today, sat with a bandage on my wrist because we have no supports round the house and an ankle support on that I bought at the weekend, which will hopefully help the pains I have been getting during my runs.

Day 2...Keep me away from cheesecake

Today has also been a fairly good day! Another full day of training/induction, today involved an afternoon about basic life support and it was really good to get a detailed update to add not only to this job, but my nurse training too! :D

Oh and before I go on, last night I had a square of dark chocolate before bed to get rid of some cravings and hunger pangs followed by lemon and ginger tea. :)

Onto the food!

 Breakfast: Started off with some matcha and apple juice (not in photo)
Then 2 slices of wholemeal toast and reduced fat peanut butter. I'm new to the reduced fat PB, I'm not sure how I feel about it, its smooth for one and I usually get crunchy, but we will see where that goes.
Toast was followed by tea with almond milk.

Mid morning: Nutri-grain, strawberry. Very yum.
Lunch: Smoked salmon, falafel x2 and feta cheese salad. Odd mix but I was just using things I found the the fridge! Tuned out to be quite tasty! Followed this with an orange.
Then....
I bought a cheesecake pot....
It was a tub of  cheesecake 'filling' with a tub of biscuit crumbs. Sooo good! I was full in the afternoon so I didn't eat the banana.
But did have 2 small chocolates when I got home.

For dinner was Thia coconut curry with quorn chicken bits and veg. Very yum. The recipe is from the Hairy Dieters book. I have herd mixed reviews but its nice to have a cookbook from the UK since all my health ones have American ingredients in that can be a pain to get a hold of.
This was served with 1/2 cup boiled rice.

For pudding was a Shape chocolate dessert. Again, YUM.









I am feeling a little on the peckish side so there will be a snack tonight, but I am not sure what. I think maybe an options hot chocolate and an apple or banana. No workouts today, my wrist is suffering from all the press ups when doing the Xtrainfit dvds and the chest compressions on the dummy today, and I felt more pain in my ankle so I am letting things rest tonight.

Loose estimate of calories today is about 1750 so far before evening snack, after will be around 1890.

Night! :)

Day one of taking a closer look...

Well, knowing that what I ate today was going up on here defiantly made me re-think my food choices, helped with that 'second thought'.

So overall today has been a good one, I was a little worried this morning as it was my first day of training as a Bank Support Worker, (getting in some experience before I become a real life nurse! Ek!) it is a week long induction and I didn't know what there would be in terms of food/temptations. So I made my own lunch and stuck to it, even though they had cheesecake pots and that seems to be my current weakness.

So onto the fooood!

Breakfast: Matcha green tea (from teapigs ) with apple juice
Bowl of date, coconut and banana muesli with almond milk
Tea with almond milk

I usually struggle with cereal based breakfast as I am usually hungry within 2 hours, but this stuff seems to do the job fine and the natural slow energy release from Matcha tea really helps!

Morning snack: Apple - it was huge! (also a small coffee before training started)
Lunch: Quorn ham and Philadelphia sandwich on wholemeal bread, a pear and some blueberries (another small coffee - they were tiny)
Mid afternoon snack: Nakd Banana Bread Bar - These things are yummy!
Lunch seemed to keep me going till three (even had it before 12, I never do that but I was so hungry!)

 After I got in just before 5 I was hungry...again. I wanted something small but would leave me feeling O.K. until tea was ready so I had one of the protein bun things I made (they were really dry, this always happens when replace some flour with protein powder, do I need more moisture in the mixture?)

Dinner: we made chilli, veggie version for me and mince for Nick.
In the veggie one went onion, courgette, red pepper and Morrison's meat free mine, along with other typical chilli bits and 1/2 cup of boiled rice.

Pudding: Yeo vally yog. YUM. I tend to get low fat yoghurts but this time I got these...soooo yummy. It was only 127kcal for the pot which isn't really that bad for a creamy dessert. After washing up I let the food settle before going to do some core strength yoga.

Supper: After yoga I had planned to have a cookie and cream kitkat and a option hot chocolate, but, I felt nice and healthy after yoga and I didn't really want to spoil the feeling so I snooped in the fridge and got a large carrot and a serving size pot of hummus. Worth it. So Nice!




Followed by another teapigs tea (they are tasty!)
This tea was superfruits, as you can see they use whole bits of fruit and leaves so you get a full taste (thought I'd add in that teapigs has not had any involvement with me writing this, they just do genuinely good tea!)

 This was the result. YUM.








So, good day I think. I have felt good about my good all day and because I had planned it the night before I felt more in control!.
I totted up the calories for the day (I'm still not 'offically counting') but it came to around 1700 and that is including drinks. So well done me! Ha!

I will be back tomorrow! :)

Taking a closer look

Over the next week I plan to take a closer look at what I am eating, to give me that window where I can ask myself 'Do you really need that oreo?'.

Every day I will try and post what I have eaten (maybe pics too!), how I feel and what workouts I have done.

I am not aiming for that amazing six-pack bikini body. I am looking for MY body. The one I feel comfortable and good in.

So, I will see you all tomorrow <3>

I hurt...

Everywhere.

Well apart from my abs, the bit I wish DID hurt at least that means I might lose some of the stubbon belly fat!

Anyway...
I am still going with the X-trainFit at home workouts and have only missed 2 workouts out of around 2 n half weeks which is pretty good going for me! On Sunday I even managed a 8mile run (followed by a surprisingly tasty protopure 31g protein bar) and a chest and back workout.
The thing is though, my wrist hurting bad most of the time. My left one too, which I found surprising since I am left handed and it is supposed to be my stronger side...
My knees hurt a little and other muscles dotted around my body.

During the cardio burnout DVD today (1 hour 20mins of intense training) I felt like giving up half way through. I didn't want to finish, I felt like I didn't have the energy, not weak, just not up for it. After pushing through the last 30 mins I feel no better, just in more pain! This got me thinking...uh oh! You see I have a holiday at the end of March and I would love to be 'bikini ready' for it, however I just don't feel I am getting anywhere. 2 weeks into the program and running on 1800kcal most of the time (the rest is above...ooooops) and burning around 200-900kcal per day I lost just under 1lb in my first week and 0.5 inches of my hips and last week was up 0.5lb and down an inch on the waist.

Another issue I am having is that since these workouts are an hour long then my evening after placement consist of home. dinner. workout. sit. bed. No work in there, I mean its not like I have a dissertation and 3 essays in before May O_O.

An option I though was going to Jillian Michaels workouts and Yoga DVDs and dropping the calories to 1600? And, if I have a run then to leave this as my only workout rather than working on upper body later in the day?

I know I need to look at the foods I am eating, I know that working out is only 30% of the battle with weight loss and for me especially, eating well constantly is tough.

Sorry for the blab. This needs more thought! Hopefully things will even themselves out soon!

Broken Record...

Today was one of those days.

I say broken record becauce I always feel like I am repeating myself with what I'm about to write:

The ones where you can't stop eating, part of you is willing you to stop but you go back for more. This could just be me but JEEZ. There was toast, Christmas cake, apple, crisps, biscuits. All pure crap.  I kept telling myself it is okay because it is the hardest day in the XtrainFit at Home series and I expected to burn 600+ calories. But still, that's not the point, its bad food, it does not supply me with the goodness my body needs to function well.

Anyway its over and done with, tonight I am going to create a new meal plan to help with the control, at least it will be one less thing to worry about now placement has started and I have a dissertation and currently 2 essays to write, plus I now have a bank support worker job so that will take up some weekend time. Oh and add training for a half marathon in there too. O_O

I am now sat here with some lemongrass tea from teapigs, if you haven't heard from them you should really check them out their tea is AMAZING. So many different kinds and they do a sample box for just over £12 and you can pick 12 different samples of 2 tea bags and they send them in cute little boxes.

 They focus on whole leaf tea and even have a special range called matcha, a strong version of green tea that can help with raising energy and helping with weight loss, among many other benefits, I'll talk about that more once they have arrived but for now check 'em out here


So...

X-trainFit at Home http://www.xtrainfit.co.uk/
Well what can I say... It is really good! You get a lot for your money, 8 workout DVDs, so one for each day and 2 workouts (for the first 3 weeks) on one day (don't worry the extra one is a stretch DVD..very nice!)
It is a 12 week program and comes with a workout info booklet, where you can store you pre-program stats and a wallchart where you can check off workouts and add a before and after pic of yourself.
The first 3 weeks are mainly cardio based so the focus is on fat burn then weeks 4-9 the circuit training increases and the cardio reduces then the final 10-12 weeks are about toning the new body!
The instructor is great, it is a real life, down to earth workout with real sweat and pain. It is almost like working out with friends and there is great support from the X-train team and the instructor herself on facebook.
All workouts (besides stretch) are around an hour long and I am managing to fit it in with every else going one, just takes effort and motivation.
Best of all?
It is only £16.50! :D winwin!
First week done: down 0.5lb and 0.5inch off those hips!







And to the snow
Anyone have any tips for running in the snow/ice?
Or how to keep treadmill entertaining for longer runs?

A look at whats to come!

I have just started a program called X-TrainFit at home. It is a 12 week workout program that progresses every few weeks adding in different workouts and different levels. I am currently on day 2 and after a week I shall update you all and give a review on the program and how I am doing! :)

Went for a 10k run this morning, took... 1 hour. That's 10min miles! I am soo proud, eagerly getting back and shoving my Garmin in Nicks face to get him to confirm that I did actually run that distance in that time! It was a lovely run too, Sunday morning full of joggers and dog walkers with the sun rising on a chilly morning. Lovely. My first fasting run in a while too, I just didn't really want to bother having breakfast before hand and it worked out for the better! :)

Continuing with 1800kcal and so far going really well. Nice fresh weekly shop in today and I have treated myself to some smoked salmon (to those who don't know, I now eat fish), can't wait to get my hands on the stuff!

Planning is finally underway for the Coast to Coast! I know I said in a previous post that it was 220 (some website said that was the actual distance) but I'll go with the majority and say 190miles. Very early stages but I will keep updating on places we are staying and whether we are camping or getting a B&B!

So keep tuned for the review on X-TrainFit and possibly one on my Garmin 410 (i still haven't fully worked out all the ins and outs of it yet)

For now hope you are all well and your New Year resolutions are continuing!

Blergh..

Just a quick post. More of a reminder to myself really, that I DO want to lose more weight and it is NOT okay to have these regular bad eating days that make me feel awful inside.

Since my last post I tried Sainsburys diets, they put me on 1400kcal each day and I felt awful, really tired and grumpy. I was still burning calories, around 500 some days, bringing my net intake below 1000kcal. Something far from healthy.

So, I left that and thought I'd try again by calorie counting to 1800kcal and continuing with the regular workouts. However, this is not the case I have just eaten everything in sight for the last 2 days and I feel awful. Clothes feel tighter and I don't feel right.

I need to re-focus and not think that I must eat all my Christmas goodies in one go to make them go away, that is not the way it works, nor is it at all healthy.

I need to be in good form. I have 2 half marathons in Feb and April and a MARATHON in October. On top of that I have a degree to get and a nursing job to find. I MUST be healthy for these so I can focus and function well.

Must stay happy and healthy. From now till always. Everyone can have treat days, as long as they are TREAT days...not treateveryday!


:)

I did have a good title...

It was going to be; end the year as you mean to go on (to be done on new years eve but that didn't happen)

Anyhoo,
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Now I am not one for resolutions, so I am making goals :)

1. Find and maintain a weight I am happy with and that is healthy
2. Complete the Wainwright Coast to Coast
3.  Get a REAL nursing job!
4. Get my nursing degree
5. Run 2 half marathons in under 2hours 15mins (I have the two planned, now to train!)

Now my monthly goal for January, lose the Christmas pounds that I gained over December.
I also aim to meal plan to a. make shopping easier and b. help me feel a little bit more in control of what I am eating.
AND. POSSIBLY. Take a pic a day of either my food or something special and review them at the end of the week/month.


 In other news... I have a new toy!

Yupp For Christmas my lovely fiance got me a Garmin Forerunner 410. I have used it 3 times so far and it is brill!
For those who don't know this bad boy tracks your time, pace, distance, and place...and much much more!
I still haven't had a real good play but I have my account set up on Garmin Connect which is where all your runs are logged as the Garmin will transfer the data to the Internet and you can analyse your heart rate, pace, elevation, average pace, calories burned. I could go on!
I have had no issues with getting satellite signals and so far I have not lost them during a run so, so far, so good!
It really does help with the motivation to get out and beat your pace, you can even set it up so that you can race against yourself from a previous run!

One of my goals for last year was to do the coast to coast but unfortunately we both didn't have the time or the equipment to do it, but in the sale we got a new lightweight tent...

The Vango Banshee 300. We JUST managed to put it up in our living room and it looks good nice and light and should be a bit easier to put up and down with a bit of practice! The tent is for 3 people.. HA yeah erm... Me and Nick can get into it comfortably and our 2 70L backpacks can fit it making it...cosy. I am looking forward to more weekend walking in the lead up to the whole walk itself, a 220 mile trek from St. Bees to Robin Hoods bay.

I have a feeling 2013 is going to be an exciting and fitness filled year!

Oh and I have a holiday on the 23rd March. Need a bikini body by then! :)