Friday feeling

Well the 7am swim didn't happen. Phil had tummy pains! But we did go at lunchtime so managed to get a 40 min swim in. I used to be a competition swimmer when I was younger. I'm still a strong swimmer but nowhere near what I used to be. Serves me right for letting myself go. But i'm determined to improve, especially as one of my goals is to complete in a triathlon.



Breakfast was a banana and slice of soya and linseed bread with almond butter. Had no milk this morning so couldn't have oatmeal!!! :-(





Thought i'd put a couple of pics up to show the room where I usually work out. This is our spare room. Got the cross trainer in there and some weights, swiss ball, resistance bands etc





On the door in front of the cross trainer I have my inspiration board/pictures. Keeps me going!






I was using some turkey mince for dinner this evening and needed to use the other half of the pack up. So I decided to make us turkey burgers in pitta pockets.

Just put the mince in a bowl, added some crushed cumin seeds and finely chopped onion and a handful of breadcrumbs. Shaped into patties and grilled about 5-8 mins each side. They were too fat for the pitta so had to cut them in half- just in case you thought I was being a piggy and having 2 burgers!







In the pitta I had lettuce, cucumber, chopped coriander, sprinkle of low fat cheese and splash of sweet chilli sauce. Was really yummy.






This afternoon I had a 2 hour thai massage that my mum treated me to. It was amaaaaaaaaazing! I feel like a new person. She did top to toe and I think i fell asleep for about 45 mins! Lol

My dad said for me to book another and he'll pay! Get in!!!!!!!!

Once I got back I got straight onto dinner which was turkey meatballs with tomato sauce and spaghetti.

First I did the same as with the burgers above but left out the cumin. Shaped into balls and placed on a baking tray and into the oven at 200 for 10 mins.

Mean while sauteed some chopped garlic, added a can of chopped tomatoes, 2 teaspoons of sugar, Italian herbs and couple of drops of tabasco sauce. Then add the meatballs into the sauce and cook for 5 mins.

Serve with spaghetti and sprinkle of low fat cheese. Yummyness








Then settled on the sofa for the evening and then was a bit naughty as we shared a bag of chilli heatwave doritos and salsa. They really are soooo yummy though! So not healthy at all but I did stay within my points and I don't claim to be healthy all the time. I'm just trying to be healthy most of the time!

Anyhow it's sooo late and I have a snoring Phil next to me so off to catch some Zzzz's.

Catch you tomorrow
xx

I love oatmeal

I love oatmeal. I just love it! Especially when it's gloomy outside like today. For these two reasons I had 2 lots of oatmeal! My first one was for breakie. Oatmeal with nutella, almond butter and chopped walnut. Glorious!




My mum popped round first thing before their trip to the horse racing so she was all glammed up :-) She dropped off the money for the massage she's treating me to tomorrow :-) Mucho love for mum.

Then my best friend Lydia came round to drop a book off she borrowed and for a cuppa and catch up.

Onto lunch I did a quorn burger with broccoli and roasted butternut squash and sweet potato.



Then did mucho cleaning of the house. Oh I almost forgot! Me and Phil were in the kitchen when all of a sudden we heard this hissing. It was coming from behind the washing machine. Phil moved it and water was spraying out everywhere! Phil was trying to stop it but couldn't. I was holding up the washing bucket to sheild me whilst shrieking and laughing! He finally managed to stop it and we both stood there drenched! Lol. This is what led me to the cleaning as the floor was soaked! So mop and bucket out and off I went.

Got a bit hungry in the afternoon and wanted a snack before I did a workout so opted for a slice of soya and linseed bread with peanut butter :-)




Did 45 minutes hardcore on the cross trainer, then 10 minutes of weights.

Then it was time to get dinner on the go. I decided to do the mango masala steaks from last week as they were yummy with salad and potatoes. The lamb steaks literally had a spice rub on them made with crushed cumin seeds and garam masala. Then grilled 5 mins each side.

I had a courgette that needed using up so decided to make some courgette fritters to go with it and they were so yummy. Here's what I did:

This made 4 fritters and I worked out 2 to be 2.5 weight watcher points.

65g wholewheat flour
1.5 tsp baking powder
pinch salt
1 courgette grated
1 onion grated
1 egg beaten
pinch cumin seeds

Mix all the above in a bowl







Spray a pan with low cal oil or any oil you want really. I use Fry Light as it's zero weight watcher points. The put 4 dollops into the pan and do each side for about 3 minutes until cooked. And that's it! These would be lush with some crumbled goats cheese or feta in but I didn't have any. Let me know if you try them!



So here is out feast below :-) Was soooo good.

Snugged down with Phil to watch Eastenders and The Leaders Debate. Then came the craving! OATMEAL!!!

Grabbed my almost empty peanut butter jar. Put in some cooked oatmeal, dollop of nutella and chopped walnuts and I was in heaven. The heat from the oatmeal melted what was left of the PB in the jar and well it was just fab!! Phil got jealous so then had to make him some!

I then decided I wanted to try and make some cereal bars. Going to try them tomorrow and will let you know my verdict and post the recipe if they are any good.

But now I really need to get some sleep as me and Phil are going for an early morning swim tomorrow :-)

Mucho Love

Jess xx

Date night

Evening campers. Hope everyone has had a fab day.

Started the day with 2 poached eggs on toast. Not had it for a while and I was really craving it! Yummy.

Then had a long chat with one of my best friends on the phone (Cat) for about an hour about random stuff!!! Then pretended to do some work for a bit and stopped for lunch about 12.30. We had a bowl of New Covent Garden Plum Tomato and Basil soup with a slice of granary. Really tasty.

Then had a catch up on the blogs I follow and had an espresso before doing a workout on the cross trainer. I did 30 mins of high intensity intervals.

I still cannot wait for the new Sex and the City movie. So so excited. It's my all time favourite series. I can watch the box set over and over.

Was looking through some old music today and found loads of old gems! Made myself a new playlist for workouts and when in the car (when Phil isn't with me as he won't stand for this!). Bit Girl Powerish!

Labels Or Love-Fergie
All Dressed In Love-Jennifer Hudson
Say It (Hott 22 Remix)-Booty Luv
The Spell-Alphabeat
U Wanna Little of This (Ali Payami Radio Edit)-Ricki-Lee
I'm Coming Out-Amerie
Gimme More-Britney Spears
When You Look At Me-Chritina Milian
Daylight (feat. Gym Class Heroes)-Kelly Rowland
Mjb Da Mvp-Mary J. Blige
Scandalous-Mis-Teeq
Dance Your Cares Away-Mis-Teeq

Me and Phil decided to go out for dinner tonight for a date as we haven't been on one for ages. Had a weightwatchers peanut bar for my afternoon snack and then got myself ready.

We decided to go to Voujon which is a Bangladeshi restaurant that has recently opened in Banbury. Popadoms to start :-)

Phil and me at the restaurant

For my starter I had Chicken Pakora which was soo good and so were the dips you get with it.

For main I had Shahi Jhinga bhuna which was king prawns cooked in garlic, tomatoes, onion and spices. And me and Phil shared a portion of rice and a Naan bread.

We decided to save our pennies and not get dessert and coffee at the restaurant and went to Tesco and got some Dulce Gusto Latte Macchiato and Carte Dor Coconut Ice Cream.

After all this i'm stuffed and yes I know it's not been a great day healthy wise but we hadn't been out for ages so felt a treat was ok!

Love my mum

Another sunny day in Oxfordshire today. Loving the sun!! Started the day with a bowl of oatmeal with a splash of coconut milk and blob of almond butter. Yummy.

First thing this morning I had my pre-op assessment which I had a few tests and they asked me millions of questions. My operation to have my gall bladder removed is scheduled for 28th May.

Lunch I made me and Phil wholewheat pitta pizza. So yummy and works out at 3.5 ww points. Also had a mango and Activia Cherry yogurt.

I then had a snooze! No idea it was so tired- maybe it's because I had a fair bit of blood taken at the pre-op assessment. So felt like I wasted part of the day! Especially as it's been so sunny!

Mum called me and said she's booked me a 2 hour massage for me this Friday. Cannot wait! What a lovely mum I have xxx

Dinner was ginger and chilli glazed cod on bed of pak choi and spicy quinoa. Very yummy.

Then workout was cross trainer for 30 mins whilst watching my sex and the city boxset. Nearly at the end. Hmm what to watch next? Never watched 24 so maybe I could watch that, or heroes?

Post workout snack and evening treat was granary toast with almond butter and nutella and a clipper sleep easy tea . Sooo good!

Weigh in Monday and treat night!

Today I started the day with oatmeal with a smidge of nutella and peanut butter. Lush!! I am such a fan of oatmeal.







Then I did 30 mins on the cross trainer as I had to go into the office today so wouldn't have time later. So not a big workout today.


For lunch was ham salad sandwich on granary bread, apple and carrots and cucumber.







Then it was weigh in at weight watchers and I lost 1.5lbs which I was really pleased with :-) Little by little. I really need to get some new clothes as mine are really starting to look like clown clothes now but I was trying to put it off for as long as poss before buying some more as it will only be a matter of time again before i'll need to get some more.


Weigh in night means me and Phil have treats when I get back. It's out "naughty night" :-)


So I made the Chicken Parmesan and it was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good. Please please go and make this!!!!! I served it with Tomato and Mozzarella ravioli. Here are some pics of it in the making but I forgot to take one of it finished! Too greedy!!!











We then snuggled down to watch eastenders where everyone found out Sayid was gay!! OMG this has been built up for a year!!!! Good episode. Then we had something really naughty. Haagen Dazs Dulce de Leche- amazing!!!! And watched Flashforward. And that has pretty much been today.







I'm really tired and have a hospital appointment in the morning. It's my pre-op assessment for when I have my gall bladder operation at the end of May so I really need to get some sleep! So Monday is over which means the treat evening is over until next week :-)



xx

The sun has gone :-(

The sun has gone and the rain has come in it's place. So today I have pretty much stayed inside.


When I 1st woke up I had the breakfast cookie I made last night- yuuuuummmy! Will def be a regular thing for me now. Weight watcher wise it is quite pointy (6) but it's filling and very nutritious.




As it's Sunday that means I need to order the weekly shopping- I do it online as it just saves so much time and I can keep tabs of what i'm ordering and keep costs down where I need.

So this weeks meal plan is:

M- Lightened up chicken Parmesan- recipe from Jessica @ How Sweet It Is. Monday is my weigh in night so we have a treat meal when I get back.


T- Chilli ginger glazed cod with pak choi on quinoa


W- Spiced lean lamb steaks with salad and potatoes- had this last week but so yum want it again!


T- Turkey spaghetti bolognese


F- Teriyaki chicken with brown rice and peas

S- Spiced Prawn Quinoa


S- Tuna Fishcakes with salad


The plan can change around for various reason but I pretty much stick to it where I can.

Lunch today I made a healthier version of pad thai as I had some bits I needed to use up. Had a ginger tea with it and apple for after.




To make the pad thai I scrambled 1 egg white and set aside.

Then in a wok and some spray oil I'll cooked some carrots slice thinly and spring onions.

Then added a teaspoon of pad thai sauce, 8 king prawns and a pinch of sugar. After 2 mins I put in some Sharwoods Straight to Wok rice noodles (usually use pad thai noodles but wanted to use these up).

Add 1 teaspoon of soy sauce and 1/2 teaspoon of fish sauce. Cook for 1 min then add the scrambled egg white and top with a few crushed peanuts. Yummy!



As the day went on and the weather looking a bit gloomy I needed something indulgent! So I decided to make a coconut hot chocolate. Yes not very good for points but a real treat.

120ml reduced fat coconut milk
120ml skim milk
6 small squares of dark chocolate

Put the milk and coconut milk into a pan and bring to boil. Then add the chocolate, turn off heat and continue to stir until the chocolate has melted. Then enjoy :-) Pure heaven.





For dinner another comfort food with a few tweaks. My version of cottage pie. I used quorn today as I had some in the freezer but to also keep the calories down. But you can obviously use beef mince.





200g quorn mince
1 onion finely chopped
1 carrot finely chopped
150ml hot beef stock
Few drops of worcestershire sauce
415g can baked beans
Freshley ground black pepper
400g potatoes
40g low fat mature cheese grated


Preheat the oven to gas mark 5/190c/fan oven 170c.

First I cook the peeled potatoes in water for 20 mins, mash with a little milk if needed and set aside.

Then in pan I put some spray oil and fry off the chopped onion, carrot for a few mins. Then add the quorn mince and cook for 3 mins.

Then add the beef stock, worcestershire sauce and season with pepper. Simmer for 10 mins.

Add the baked beans and cook for 5 mins.

Add quorn mix into a oven proof dish and top with the mash potato and sprinlke with the low fat cheese.

Bake for 25 mins and then enjoy!





The other day I bought a new book (yes I am a total book slut). It's The Food Doctor Ultimate Diet- Changing the way you eat for good by Ian Marber. Not yet read it but it looks fab and is apparently a good collection of a lot of his other books. There is nutrition info in there and recipes and meal plans. So thinking it will be useful. So a little bedtime reading for me.




Exercise wise today I did 30 mins on the cross trainer doing an interval program and then 30 minutes of circuits/weights.

I really need to start running soon as I have the 5k i've signed up for in July but why do I find running so hard? I can really give it some on the cross trainer for well over an hours but running i feel like my lungs are going to burst! Anyone know why? I can prob do 2 mins running at the mo :-( But i'm determined to run the full 5k in July.

"Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do" Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

A nice day but not gone to plan!

Today was a lovely sunny day. Started off with a bowl of oatbran. Delish! Loving it more than porridge at the mo. Think i'll add some sliced banana next time :-)



Then we went into town and met one of my best friends Lydia for a cup of tea and catch up. Then bought some fruit and flowers from the market then off to the supermarket for some bits for the BBQ later.

I've been craving seafood for the past few days so decided on a scallop salad for my lunch. Added a bit of soy sauce whilst they were in the pan. It was sooo yummy.




Phil did some bits in the garden and got the BBQ ready. I decided to make it a bit healthier and not have burgers but fish instead. So put some sea bass with sea salt and pepper on and also some chilli prawn skewers. I also did some minted lamb steaks as they are our absolute favourite! I also had 3 chicken wings though which i shouldn't have really had! Oops.




My sister, her other half Ryan and my nephew Connor popped round for a bit. Connor loves playing in the garden when he's here as at the moment they live in a flat and don't have a garden. Bless him.

I didn't do a workout today so i felt pretty bad so told Phil we'd walk to tesco so it wasn't a complete write off! Pic below of Phil on route!






On the way i got a bug stuck in my mouth! Yuk! And it wouldn't go!! I was freaking out so had to buy an apple to dislodge it! lol

Once back home i made a "breakfast cookie". These i found on a fab blog i follow The Fitnessista. They look so yummy i've made one ready for tomorrow and posted the recipe version i did with UK conversion.

45g oats
30 ml milk (i used rice milk)
1 heaped tbsp almond butter (or any nut butter)
1/2 scoop protein powder (i used choc maxitone sculptress or you could sub by putting some cocoa powder)

Mix all these into a bowl until a crumbley mix. Add the milk slowly until all mixed in.

Then you can add pretty much whatever you like. I added a pinch of cinnamon and half a mashed banana. But you could add seeds, nuts, raisins, choc chips etc

Put onto a plate and spread with back of spoon until even then put in fridge until morning. Then eat with a spoon. I know it says cookie but it's a bit softer than a cookie so spoon is needed!





So you'll prob thinking not a bad day food wise yet. Well after making the cookie i had a galaxy bubble (so good though) and then my downfall- Chilli Heatwave Doritos and Salsa! Phil wanted them and I couldn't not have them! Must try harder!


Couple of other pics. One is me and my best friend Cat (who i'm bridesmaid for in Sept) out last weekend (the sambuca night!) and the other is my nephew Connor with one of our cats Daisy.








Hope everyone is having a fab weekend.

Jess xoxo