An update of my goals

May 30, 2024 / No Comments

Nearly 3 months ago I posted my goals and it seems to be time to revisit them and see what I’ve achieved (or not…)

1) Lose 10lbs by June Well I’ve lost 3lbs since then, now just another 7 to go…

2) Run 5km in 30 minutes by September Getting there! I ran 5km in 34 minutes this week which is my fastest time yet. I’m doing the Hackney 5k on June 21st which will be my first proper timed race so watch this space

3) Build my upper body strength This is definitely happening! I can now do proper push ups and my punches in boxing are getting waaaaaaay better

4) Try a new exercise class every other week Yeah, I’ve been a bit slack on this one. Put it down to lack of time and money. Still, on my list are: Aerial yoga, some sort of obstacle race (any suggestions?) and paddle boarding

5) Stick to the 80:20 rule (eat clean 80% of the time but have fun the other 20%!) I’m sticking to this pretty well! Although I might be stretching the 20% a little too far…

And here are my new goals to add to the list:

6) Work hard on my legs to lose some fat and build some lean muscle. Come at me baby giraffe legs….

7) Attempt a Whole30 challenge - again, watch this space

8) Get back into swimming at the London Fields Lido when the weather finally picks up

Sometimes it hurts

May 21, 2024 / No Comments

It’s taken me a few days of thinking to be able to write this blog, especially as it lays me pretty bare.

Last weekend, feeling pumped up from a week of eating really well, exercising hard and feeling good, I put on a pair of short denim shorts that I hadn’t worn in nearly a year. They were too baggy but with a belt, I thought they looked pretty cool. Anyway, it was a warm day and I was off to meet a friend for lunch.

Ignoring a few glances, I got on with my day and had a lovely afternoon of eating and catching up with my friend.

On the way back to the station some boys were spitting off the bridge that we were about to walk under. Catching sight of us, they shouted out ‘hey’, ‘hi’, ‘oi’ etc. And then one of them said ‘I like them chunky legs’.

I carried on talking, pretending to ignore them but on the bus home I couldn’t stop thinking about what he’d said. It’s not his place to be shouting about whether he likes them or not and why did he use the word chunky?

My legs have always been larger than I’d like them to be but with all of my hard work, they’re becoming more toned and muscular. They’re still a way off where I’d like them to be but that boy completely crumbled my self-confidence.

As a strong (and strong-minded) woman, it kills me that one stupid boy can cripple me like this. I wanted to engage him in conversation and explain that actually I’m on a fitness mission and why does he think that it’s his place to comment on what any woman looks like. But I couldn’t. I ignored him and now it’s eating me up inside.

There’s not much else I can do apart from stay committed, recognise my small victories and keep on trucking.

Does anyone have any tips on how you deal with blows to your self-confidence?

Quick and easy dinners

May 14, 2024 / No Comments

The last thing I want to do in the evenings during the week is spend hours chopping and then cooking food, especially if I’ve just worked out. My rule is, if it can’t be on the table within 25 minutes then it’s a weekend dish.

So here are my top 3 quick ‘n’ healthy dinner recipes..

1) Asian spiced salmon with vegetable stir fry

1 x fillet of organic salmon (approx 200g)

Spices (five spice, cumin, garlic)

Assortment of vegetables (aubergine, onion, pak choi, mushrooms etc.)

Gluten free soy sauce

1 x teaspoon Thai green curry paste

1 x tablespoon coconut oil

Melt the coconut oil in a wok and add in the curry paste. Fry the paste until it smells amazing. Chop all of the vegetables (you can be fancy and julienne them or just cut them into cubes all roughly the same size) and throw them into the pan. In the meantime, season your salmon fillet and roast in the oven at 180 celcius for 10-15 minutes. It should still be pink and flakey. Serve in a bowl with a splash of soy sauce.

2) Simple salad

1 x handful of lettuce leaves

4 x cherry tomatoes

8 x slices of cucumber

1 x spring onion

½ x sweet pepper

1 x cooked beetroot

150g of protein of your choice

Dressing (2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar, squeeze of lemon juice, 1 tsp wholegrain mustard, pinch each of salt/pepper/sugar - shake up in a jar and keep in fridge)

Chop and combine all ingredients. Dress with 1 x tablespoon of dressing

3) Quick Tuna Stew

1 x tbsp olive oil

Assortment of vegetables (onion, aubergine, courgette, peppers)

1 x tin of tomatoes

1 x tin of pole & line caught tuna

Spices (cumin, garlic, chilli flakes, paprika)

1 x handful of green beans

5 x brussel sprouts

Chop up the assorted vegetables and cook gently until soft. Add in tin of tomatoes and tin of tuna with spices. Allow to bubble for 15 minutes. Steam the beans and brussel sprouts (I use a bamboo steamer, it’s brilliant…) and serve everything in a big bowl. This is like a big tummy hug in a bowl!

It’s time to get over myself

May 11, 2024 / No Comments

Last week I was taught a very important lesson.

I haven’t been back to the army boot camp class since I was upset about coming last on every single running exercise and I felt I had to tell Dean, the instructor, why I hadn’t been in a few weeks. I didn’t want him to feel that I didn’t like him or his class!

His response was: ‘I completely understand but you need to get over yourself. No one else noticed you were last, no one else cares and that’s completely not the point’.

*verbal slap round the face*

This is something that I need to take on board. I need to stop comparing myself to other people; my progress is my progress, no one else’s.

I’m 14lbs lighter, a hell of a lot more toned and much stronger and fitter than I was 4 months ago. This is huge progress and I have to remind myself to be proud of what I’ve achieved so far.

Back to the grind

May 6, 2024 / No Comments

I’ve just spent the weekend in Brighton with some great friends and my lovely boyfriend and I completely relaxed my diet and exercise regime. I ate:

- Crisps

- Chocolate

- Biscuits

- Curry

- Bread

- Rice

- Ice cream

Oh and I drank rather a lot of prosecco in the sunshine…

But rather than feeling guilty about any of it as I would have done last year, I relished it and enjoyed every single mouthful. Sometimes you just need a blow out!

However, it’s back to the grind this morning with an intense 45 minutes circuit session at my favourite place in East London, London Fields Fitness Studio followed by some delicious chocolate protein oats with chia seeds and berries. It’s time to shift that last stubborn bit of weight and tone up for summer…

Rise and Shine Breakfast Recipes

May 1, 2024 / No Comments

One of the biggest things I’ve learnt over the last few months is the importance of having a good breakfast every day. It kickstarts your metabolism after 12 hours of not eating, it wakes your brain up and it gives you the energy to get through the morning. I can’t function without breakfast these days!

Here are 4 of my favourite recipes, all under 350 calories…

1) Bircher Muesli

- 50g gluten free oats

- 1 x grated apple

- Splash of apple juice

- ½ cup fat-free natural yogurt

- Fruit to serve

Mix the oats, grated apple, apple juice and yogurt together in a bowl, cover and place in the fridge overnight. In the morning add whatever fruit you prefer and serve.

2) Simple Fruity Oats

- 25g gluten free oats

- ½ cup fat-free natural yogurt

- ½ grapefruit (or 1 cup of the fruit of your choice)

Mix together all of the ingredients and devour.

3) Quick Berry Oatmeal

- 25g gluten free oats

- ½ cup frozen berries

- Teaspoon of cinnamon

- Teaspoon of agave syrup (to serve)

Mix the oats, berries and cinnamon together with enough water to make the mixture runny. Microwave for 1:30, squeeze on the agave syrup and enjoy.

4) 3 Ingredient Pancakes

- 1 x ripe banana

- 2 x medium eggs

- ¼ cup berries

- Teaspoon of cinnamon (to serve)

- Teaspoon of agave syrup (to serve)

- 2 x rashers turkey bacon

Mix the banana and eggs into a lumpy batter and stir in the berries. Cook like a normal pancake in a greased pan (I use 1 cal olive oil spray), flipping only when the top side starts to cook as well. At the same time grill the turkey bacon. Serve sprinkled with cinnamon and agave syrup.