Keep Fit and Carry On

So here is my first post on my fitness workout update.  Started 3 weeks ago. results : dropped 2 inches of my waist line :) Not much, but I'm intended to stay focused and continue my workout even on my ''lazy''days. So here what I do at my local Gym complex. Firstly I start with my warm up - that's 10 min.walk from my house to the Gym, which is very helpful as by the time I arrive for my workout I'm fully ready to start. Then I do some Cardio for about 30 -40 min. and then some squats ( 2 sets of 25). I do some very light weights too and 30 min. on a bicycle. I also started pilates and planning to check on swimming classes :) Not BAD at all :)

But the main reason of my energy levels coming back is the transformation of my diet. I don't follow the exact count of calories and don't watch how many carbs I have eaten today. I just simply decided to take away some bad habits of mine......like eating cakes and desserts :) or having full fat cappuccino's every day .I actually stopped baking :( which I do miss badly, but there is no room in my diet plan for a naughty cake or doughnut anymore. I also started to drink my tea with out the sugar! And voila! I do love it! My morning coffee still have one spoon of brown sugar.( sorry but I just can't drink coffee with out the sugar ) I skipped potatoes completely and so far I don't really miss them. Instead I opted for sweet potato as they are high in vitamin 'A' -making it a super food for my skin.
My breakfast is almost the same everyday apart from  the weekends when I do have an omelet or scrambled egg. Every morning I do make myself a porridge with almond or soya milk, topped with blueberries or bananas. Oatmeal is my staple breakfast and it gives me the most energy, low in calories and keeps me full for longer.
If I feel I bit peckish before lunch time, I usually have a home baked No Sugar Granola Bar ( recipe to follow soon  ) or some fruits. Eating grapes, oranges and pears reduces my cravings to reach for something sweet as those fruits are pretty sweet anyway. In moderation is good to snack on almonds too. And my all time favourite is apples! I just love them! My house is rarely ever with out apples.
At lunch time I usually fix myself an easy salad. I use whatever I have in my fridge at the time: carrots, celery, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, parsley, red onions and avocado. I use avocado as a spread on sandwiches instead of butter. yummy.
Not always I do cook a dinner in our house. Depending on a day, we sometimes make separate meals, Jason would have something like a sandwich or just beans on toast, and I will make myself something very light : wholemeal cracker with smoked mackerel and dills. We do love fish. Especially salmon. It is so easy to prepare, it is uber fragrant and tastes delicious. Fish on our menu is at least once a week.

It takes a lot of motivation to encourage myself to keep this way and stay positive. And I do this not because I can't fit in any lovely wedding dress, I do this just because I feel better and my skin looks much more refine, but also it is important to remember that to start bad habits it is  easy, to skip them it is so much harder. I finally stopped drinking soda and all other fizzy drinks. Instead I choose  green tea - full of antioxidants and soooo good for you! Try green tea with peppermint !

And just to remind myself, that life is too short, and if you will have a piece of chocolate or will munch on the popcorn at the cinema, there is nothing wrong to that at all. Nothing at all. As long as you don't feel guilty :) Which I never do....well i usually say to myself : it's my last spoon...

Salmon cooked in foil with courgettes and bell peppers

Scrambled egg on toasted rye bread and avocado

Grilled Chicken salad with Mango and home made mustard dressing

Turkey breast ham on wholemeal cracker with avocado, tomatoes and dill

Dragonfly organic moroccan mint green tea

Just a few lovely healthy meals and snacks we have been eating lately.

have good and healthy week everyone !

xxxxxxx