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!

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!

Vegan Pledge Day 2

A little healthier today though there is still work to be done!

First off I must thank the friends at uni for being supportive with my vegan pledge, it makes it so much easier for me so thank you!

I haven't really had any cravings today, apart from wanting a coffee at uni and only having the money to get one out of a machine that does not offer a soy alternative. Boo to that, but tbh it could be worse!

I got the wonderful partner of mine to pick me up some Green and Blacks 70% Dark Chocolate. Yum. I am aware of the tiny bit of milk that may be on the dark chocolate used in the same production line but Green and Blacks do a good job with their cocoa trading so I am willing to bypass that for now.

Got back with my old gym today! There was an offer of a free month of training so how could I resist! Paid £10 instead of £30. Result!

So todays food stuffs.

Breakfast
Branflakes with banana and soy milk

Snack
Cashew Cookie Nakd bar

Lunch
Veggi salad: Baby leaves, carrot, celery, 1/2 green pepper, red chilli, drizzled with lemon juice. YUM...but maybe reduce amount of chilli next time.
Vegan carrot cake from my uni. Amazing!
Orange

Snack
Trail mix (coconut, Brazil nuts, apricot, banana chips etc)

Dinner
Courgette and mushroom Jalfrezi with boiled rice
Rose wine (made sure it was vegan!)
Row and 1/2 of Green and blacks

Sounds like a lot but only 1743 kcal. Enough room for a pear later if I get hungry :)

Going to concentrate on protein and veggi/fruit intake

Protein: Prob not that much
Veg: 5 portions
Fruit: 2 portions (maybe 3 if I have that pear)

Looking forward for tomorrow!

Vegan Pledge Day 1

Well day one is almost over for the vegan pledge and I must say I have rather enjoyed it! My food makes me fuller quicker and I know that I am consuming things with no animal content, just makes me feel good about myself! I do have an issue though things that 'may contain traces of egg/milk', I just don't know what to do about them. I have read about the tiny amounts left behind, even after cleaning and I am not sure what to think about it. 

Anyway here's what I have had today:

Breakfast:
Porridge with half water/soy milk and dried fruit topping with a little agave nectar.

Snack:
Wot No Dairy? yogurt, looks odd but tastes nice!
Carrot

Lunch:
Rye bread (may take a little getting used to) with vegan garlic and herd spread 'cheese' (also make take a while) with some chopped veg.
Apple
Square of vegan milk chocolate (was O.K.)

Snack:
Pecan pie Nakd bar

Dinner:
Portobello mushroom burger with vegan bacon and vegan cheese slice with BBQ sauce (AMAZINGGGGG)
Homemade chips
Alpro soya chocolate dessert (Yummmy)

There may be a snack before bed, not sure what it will be yet though. Looking forward to day 2!

In other news:
Left the big fancy gym, going back to the small one I used to go to. More friendly.
Lacking on the exercise a little, sticking with a few workout DVDs but I need to get up and running again!

Quick update

Got my lovely bursary today, so bought myself some Natural Hemp Protein Powder.

I have been thinking about buying some for a while but didn't know what brand to go for since many of them were really expensive. This one was much cheaper than the rest and it is dairy free unlike many of the others. Oh, and lower in calories. Win! I also treated myself to 2 different protein bars, some vegan mayo and Green Energy Tea. :)

I have really been thinking about going vegan lately, I use soya milk all the time now and vegan marg. The next steps are cheese and ridding the products that contain milk and eggs. I have no worries that I won't get enough nutrients, with flaxseeds, vitamins and fortified foods.

Food wise, well... kinda found out I had 888kcal just at lunch! Ooops. I had stopped calorie counting and started making healthy choices, though it seems that its not really working... Back to the calorie counting tomorrow but with lots of yummy healthy chocies.

Exersize has been good, I have managed something everyday since Monday. A mixture of running, gym and the 30 day shred (on level 2, it is still killing me!)

Hope everything is going well!

My new love.

Well I didn't get the 2lb I was hoping for, it's all down to eating a little much on Saturday/Sunday/Monday. For many reasons, Nick has handed in his final stuff for his degree so I bought a cake to celebrate. Not my best idea. Maybe next time it will be a steak, so I am not tempted to help him eat it!  We also went out for a meal on Monday evening, I had felafel burger. I was soo full. Uncomfortably full. Not good.

I did have a sneaky weigh in on Sunday Morning though after a 6.7 mile run, 9st 6 and 3/4lb!! I was AMAZED! However, I ate a little more than I should have and on Monday morning after breakfast I was back to 9st 10lb. 3lb in 1 day. How?! Id had a little something before my run, yeah it wasn't muesli and tea but really 3lb?!?! I think a closer eye on what I am eating is needed this week!

So my new love, dried fruit. I used to hate it but thanks to graze I have found a new love for them! Graze are amazing, you get healthy snack boxes that are usually £3.49 each but you can get your first one free, or leave a comment and I will email you a code for a free box (yes, that means 2 free boxes!) The boxes can contain this like flapjack, superfoods, seeds, dried fruit, olives (if you like them, I'm not a fan). You can chose different types of boxes too, nibble box - a range of everything, light box - everything is between 50-150kcal and a nutrition box - full of superfoods. I am currently munching on an 'Apple Crumble' box for the light range. Dried apple, sultanas and cinnamon honey almonds. YUM. Best thing? No commitment, you can cancel your boxes at any time (usually weekly deliveries). So give 'em a go :).

So from this, I think dried fruit will certainly be on the weekly shopping list :)

Considering the Vegan Pledge. Being vegan for 30 days. I like a challenge.

OUCH!..Quick update

Day 2 of Jillian Micheal's 30 day shred and I hurt. A lot. My bum and thighs mainly. But hey it must be working!

Went for a run this morning too, only 1 mile due to forgetting to take inhaler out and got wheezy due to the cold. Frick. Then once I got in to get my inhaler, I couldn't be bothered to go back out.

Made nut roast for the first time today :) Very nice indeed!

Ordered 2 vegan cookbooks last night, so hopefully more vegan cooking soon.

Went to a Chinese supermarket today, I was in awe! Such amazing stuff. I got myself some Lipton ice tea instant power YUM and some Milo, a chocolate drink powder that is full of B vitamins! :) I used to have it when I was younger, but tesco stopped selling it a long time ago. Tofu is sooo cheap in there! When I need more I am defiantly going there for my next lot!