SMOOTHIE 4 - MIXED BERRY AND GINGER

This smoothie was absolutely delicious! I'm loving the fruit smoothies with ginger.

Ingredients:

Cup of cold water

Juice of 1 lemon

Inch cube of fresh ginger

Vanilla protein powder

Frozen mixed berries

Frozen strawberries

Hand full of spinach

I added a banana to Jon's smoothie, but mine was filling enough without it.

This has been one of the quickest and easiest smoothies due to the minimal amount of chopping/peeling required. I did need to use quite a bit of water as the frozen fruits make the smoothie too thick for me. It’s a real quick way to make a berry sorbet for a quick and healthy desert! I'm going to try to remember that for the future!

One thing I have learnt is that no matter how much you try to get all of the seeds out of the lemon before squeezing into your smoothie mix, there will always be at least one or two extra’s that come out! Once they have fallen in, they are such a pain to fish out! I think I will juice the lemon in a small cup before adding to the smoothie from now on.

SMOOTHIE 3 - PINEAPPLE, KIWI & GINGER

Ingredients:

1 small tin of pineapple in juice (not syrup)

1 kiwi

Juice of 1 lemon

1 inch piece of fresh ginger

1 teaspoon of flaxseed

1 cup of water

YUUUUUUUUM!! This smoothie has been my favourite by far! I was so energized and refreshed after drinking it. I had so much to do on Sat, including house work, shopping, socials, makeup bookings, gym etc (normal Sat for me!), but having this smoothie in the morning gave me the energy to get going and I didn’t have any kind of horrible sugar come down. Usually, I’m on the coffee early and by 14:00 I’m ruined and struggle to keep going. I think this has been the most rewarding effect of having a smoothie in the morning. I’ve noticed that I have a sustainable amount of energy throughout the day and when I get home, I still feel pretty good. Obviously, there are other elements that are contributing like not eating bread, reducing coffee intake, avoiding sugary snacks etc, but I honestly think that the smoothies are playing a big part. My skin is looking better and I feel a lot less bloated. This is only my first week and I can’t really tell if it’s effecting my weight yet (I hate scales and I’m not prepared to let myself get obsessed by the number on that dial), but I’m feeling pretty good and I think that’s what matters most.

SMOOTHIE 2 – GREEN GOODNESS

Ingredients:

A few stems of broccoli (I only used about a third of what is shown in the image)

Hand full of baby spinach

Juice from 1 lime

Juice from half a lemon

1 peeled kiwi

Half a peeled apple

1 inch cube of fresh grated ginger

Chunk of peeled cucumber

Half a cup of cold water

I had this glowing glass of green goodness for breakfast and it was amazing! It was so fresh and really filling. I wanted to try using broccoli as I know how much goodness is in there but the thought of raw mushed broccoli for breakfast kinda made my stomach turn. However, the kiwi, lemon, lime and apple totally masked the taste of it. I didn't mind that it was a little on the thick side because it was so refreshing. The ginger wasn't as strong as I thought it would be either, you just get a nice warm after taste. 

I made a bit of a mess with this one! The amount of liquid combined with all the fruit/veg resulted in lots of spitting and splashing! The whole counter got covered! Next time I will build up gradually and use a lower speed. It was also quite a full glass and I still had a lot left in the jug! I couldn't finish it all as I was so full. I thought that I would be really hungry by 10:00, but I lasted until 12:00 without any need for a morning snack. Happy days.

I even managed to get the boyfriend in on some smoothie making action this morning! He didn't actually make the smoothie, but he was intrigued and I agreed to make one for him.

I pretty much used the same ingredients as The Breakfast Power Smoothie. Jon likes a good hearty breakfast and wasn't sure if the smoothie would be enough, so I replaced the protein powder with oats, used a whole banana, more peanut butter and a small amount of cocoa powder. He wasn't a fan of the green colour, but once he started drinking, he loved it! RESULT!

Making a smoothie on the morning isn't too much hassle and I love that you can put it in a bottle and go. However, I would love to find ways to make it easier and quicker. I guess I could wash, peel and chop my fruit and veg the night before? Or someone has even suggested chopping, then freezing the fruit and veg! If anyone has any handy tips, please share!

SMOOTHIE NO.1 – BREAKFAST ON THE GO!

Let the smoothie experimenting begin!

I purchased a lovely little hand blender for my smoothie making. It’s nothing fancy or expensive, but it does the job and is easy to clean.

This was my first attempt and I’m going to call it ‘The Breakfast Power Smoothie’!

Ingredients:

Half a cup of skimmed milk

1 scoop Vanilla Soy Protein Powder

Large handful of spinach

1 shot of espresso

Half a banana

1 small teaspoon of peanut butter

Small handful of ice

I forgot to take a picture, but it looked as disgusting as it sounds!

I have seen loads of recipes that include spinach and have been advised that it has a mild flavour. I was a bit unsure about adding it, but I can honestly say that the smoothie was really tasty and I didn’t even notice the spinach! Once you get over the fact that the smoothie you are about to drink is green, you’re all good!

As a breakfast smoothie, I was pretty impressed, very awake and quite full! I had it at about 8:00 am and wasn’t hungry until at least 12:30! That, my friends, is a long time to go without wanting a snack!  

Smoothie No.1 = SUCCESS!

ON THE ROAD TO A FIT, HAPPY AND HEALTHY LIFE!

Hey All,

Like many of you I decided that January would be my ‘clean’ month, which meant no fatty food, massive portions, chocolate, cheese, alcohol, coffee etc. Unfortunately, this didn’t go quite as planned. I was kidding myself if I thought I could get through one week without dipping into the massive bag of goodies left from Christmas! Also, with three big birthdays in Jan, including mine, how was I possibly going to avoid cake?! The truth is, I didn't  Hence, the month of January was probably just as bad as December, if not worse!

So, February has become my new January. Over the last couple of weeks I have felt so tired and lethargic. Not to mention my lack of motivation for any gym based activities. My hair, skin and nails have been looking pretty awful and I get depressed every time I try to squeeze into my skinny jeans, only to fail miserably. I know that every girl out there will complain about her weight/shape even when she is looking her best, but I know for a fact that I am not at my best and have every right to complain/cry/refuse to leave the house because I feel like a hippo! My wonderful boyfriend has been very patient and loving, but he is now at the point of saying “if you feel like a hippo, go do something about it because I can’t cope hearing you moan about it all the time!”. These were harsh, but fair words.

Operation ‘Nicole Shirt-Slinger Body’ is now in full effect!

I enjoy food way too much to do any crazy diets that involve fasting or eating only cabbage soup… I also can’t cope with calorie counting as it is way too much hassle and I’m far too busy and important for any of that.

So, this is my plan:

Eat clean. Lots of veggies, lean meat, fish and fruit

Eat only complex carbohydrates. I tried doing the whole ‘no carb’ thing before, but with all the exercise I was doing I just couldn't live without them!

Introduce smoothies and juices. This is totally new to me and I am excited to try some of the recipes I have found. I have a board on my Pinterest page with lots of inspiration. I will try to post up ones I've tried and how they tasted.   

Reduce portion sizes. I am quite aware that my portion sizes are a little out of control! I think this has a lot to do with the size of our dinner plates and bowls. Therefore, from now on I will use a smaller plate and bowl. I know I could weigh everything and count out my soy beans, but I honestly can't be bothered with all of that. Maybe that is something I could work towards?

Drink lots of water. I think the recommended intake of water per day is around 2 litres. I have a 500 ml bottle that I can carry around with me. So if I drink 4 of these, I should be getting enough water.

Reduce caffeine intake. What can I say? I enjoy coffee! I have read many studies about why caffeine is bad and why it is good. I think the killer with coffee is the amount people drink per day and how much sugar/milk they put in it. A guy I work with has 4 teaspoons of sugar!! I'm no nutritionist, but this can't be good! I have managed to get to the point where I don't need sugar in coffee or tea, but if I do fancy a bit of sweetness, I use honey.  

No alcohol. This isn't a massive issue for me as I'm not a big drinker. I am partial to a nice glass of red wine ... I'm sure I read somewhere that red wine is good for you on some level?!

Minimum 3 gym sessions per week. I love a good gym session and having an awesome gym buddy that encourages me is priceless! Check out www.bodyrock.tv for loads of fitness inspiration and workouts. I am totally addicted to this site and love their workouts!  

These are pretty basic things, but I know they work. I think if I can manage this for 4 weeks, I should be on the path to a fit, happy and healthy life! Losing weight and feeling good is obviously the main goal here, but I want to think about the bigger picture and how I can change my daily routine for a better life in general. Initially, I know this will be hard, but I'm willing to try. Goodbye sofa, cakes, bread, red wine and all other kinds of deliciousness! Hello treadmill, lean meats, fish, fruit, veggies and all things green and full of goodness!

Wish me luck!!

XXX

A HEALTHY CAFFEINE ALTERNATIVE? PUKKA!

A while back I decided that it was probably about time that I kicked my caffeine habit to the kerb and tried to live a bit healthier. Granted, it’s not too bad compared to many. I probably have about 3 cups a day. Sometimes more… Especially, if it’s one of those days… OK, so my coffee consumption is pretty bad!

Recently, I’ve taken to picking up a health & fitness magazine with my fashion magazine and all they write about is how bad caffeine is. Like most things, there are pro’s and con’s, but I’m guessing that if your regular café trip includes a large latte, with a double shot of caffeine, shot a syrup and of course a sweetener or two (because you are on a diet…), it’s not doing great things for your insides.  Or outsides for that matter!

Plus, don’t you ever feel massively sluggish after a coffee? Especially, if there is a large amount of milk involved. Of course, some of us go for the super skinny skimmed milk option – still a lot of milk people! Also, I find the effects never last long. If I’m beyond tired in the morning and have a coffee to wake things up a bit, sure I’m perky, but it only lasts about an hour before I need another one. Before you know it, you’re chasing the caffeine dragon around the office all day and feel really rubbish at the end of it.

Fear not, for I have found a SOLUTION! I say this as I stand atop a cliff in my tight lycra, hands on hips, my cape flying behind me in the wind…  Anyway, back to the solution. It’s a tea called ‘Morning Time’ from a brand called PUKKA. Translated from Hindi to mean ‘authentic’, genuine’ or ‘top quality’, Pukka Organic Herbs is a great company that believes in ‘ayurveda – the ancient art of living wisely’. They have a tea for everything; cleansing, de-toxing, energizing, morning wake up, calming, and so many more. The tea itself is a blend of organic rooibos, honeybush and red ginseng. The combination of these herbs resultS in a fresh, natural pick me up that doesn’t include a caffeine crash after. I genuinely feel a million times better after having a cup of this tea compared to my regular coffee. I don’t feel sluggish throughout the day and don’t feel guilty having another cup later on. You can drink this tea black or have it with milk. Personally, I go without milk as it has such a fresh taste, with the honeybush adding a mildly sweet edge. It’s even nice to have cold! Brew a pot, leave to cool, then put it in the fridge and serve with ice cubes. Instant, uplifting and refreshing iced tea!        

Their site is well worth a visit - PUKKA. Not only can you find out about all of their delicious teas, you can also discover the health benefits of each herb used in their ‘Pukkapedia’. They also have a health store with oils, herbs and organic botanicals, as well as tips on how to lead a healthy life.

The tea bags come in handy little pockets, it’s organic, their herbs are sustainably grown, they’re fair-trade and they are certified by the Soil Association and the United States Department of Agriculture… I don’t think I need to give you any more reasons to go buy this tea!

A box of 20 pockets costs between £1.50 -  £2.50 in Sainsbury’s, depending which type of tea you pick up.