Baking, Painting and Trail Running

Will it ever stop raining? Just when it looks like the weather is improving, it gets bad again! Last night was a welcome break from the rain. The sky was blue, the sun was blazing and I decided to explore some dog walking areas closer to home.

I set off with the dogs first, did a quick scout of the immediate area behind the houses and then came home, grabbed my trainers and headed off to explore more throughly.

I set off just after 7pm, Martha was in bed, Mr H was watching TV and the dogs were tired after their walk around the fields. It took me about 2 minutes to run from my house to this. Nature is good for the soul.

It was an absolutely glorious evening and there was loads to explore. Down one route I couldn't get passed a puddle that was the size of a bus, so I turned around and headed back towards a water tower. On my way I saw a couple walking through a field up and over a hill, so decided I'd turn back and head that way. The field felt never ending. The corn was really scratchy on my legs though. I will have to wear longer running tights next time as my legs were so itchy when I got back and were quite red where I had run alongside the corn. This bit of the run was probably my favourite,

there was lots of stuff that needed to be jumped over and the gap between the corn fields was quite small so it took a lot of concentration to avoid falling over.It was certainly not my quickest run, but it was certainly the most fun I've had running in a long time. I've mapped the distance out and it was only about 3.5 miles, so the time does reflect me stopping to take photos and generally poke around. There are a few buildings I'd like to go back and take a closer look out - one of them looks like an old bomb shelter and was full of teenagers last night. One to scope out on a school night or with Mr H I reckon.

At the end of my run I'd taken about 44 minutes and burnt 330 calories.





Other things I've been up to this weekend were painting the legs of our kitchen chairs to match our Branksome dinner plates. I'm so sad that the factory has decided to close, I'm still hopeful someone will buy them out and they will continue to make it. As it stands I'm not adding to our collection because if anything breaks I won't be able to replace it. We picked 4 colours and matched them as closely as possible at the Dulux Colour Centre in Homebase. I particularly like the pink as its called 'Candy Love'.

What do you think? Does that look ok or do I need to paint the entire base of the chair?

Please excuse the state of our floor, it doesn't matter how many times a day I hoover, there is ALWAYS pug fur everywhere!

Finally, I've done more baking. Mr H made one of these on Saturday and I made the recipe again on Sunday because we'd eaten it all *insert shocked face here*. It's called Icebox cake and is Mr H's most favourite childhood recipe. You'll be glad to know he took the one I made into work this morning.

However... I may have made some Black Bean and Avocado Brownies adapted to what I had in the cupboard from the recipe on Cara's Cravings (http://www.carascravings.com/2010/02/a-treat-for-your-sweet-black-bean-avocado-brownies.html) today. They came out of the oven about 30 minutes ago so will give them a go shortly. At about 90 cals each I'm quite excited about them. However my cake counter is currently at once per day since my next 30 days started.

Day 30 - a review

I've been more or less accountable for 30 days now. Points to note:

* I exercised 15/30 days.
* I ate far too much cake.

Measurements are as follows:
Weight: 9st 5.5lbs (-1lb since the start, 30 days ago)
Waist: 27"
Waist (over belly button): 30" (-1")
Hips (widest): 38"
Hips (over bone): 35.5" (-0.5")
Thighs (widest): 23"
Thighs (thumbs down): 21" (-0.5")
Calf: 13"
Wrist: 5.5"
Bust: 34"
Underbust: 28" (-0.5")
Bicep: 11"

Overall down 2.5" and 1lb.

Here are the pics....

I can't say there is a massively noticeable difference, but my middle section looks a little tighter.

I've decided to give calorie counting a go, just to open my eyes to what's going in I guess. I bought electronic scales on Tuesday and I've been religiously weighing my food. It's not fun, but it has shown where things can go a little wrong when heaping my plate up with food!

Things to work on for the next 30 days:
* increase exercise percentage above 50%
* start a weekly cake count
* continue with 2 litres of water a day
* continue with 5 F&V a day

Clean & Green Day 23

Ergh. You know that feeling I had yesterday that I was trying to ignore? It cannot be ignored any longer. Tonsillitis is in full effect. RUBBISH! It's been ages since I last had it, which I guess is a good thing but it still sucks.

Sports day got rained off, such a shame. Though I do feel pretty grotty, so glad I'm finishing at 2pm.

Breakfast: 2 x weetabix, milk, 1.5 tsp sugar, Berocca

Snack: protein shake (after exercise)

Lunch: 3 slices dominos pizza, cupcake

Snack: cupcake

Dinner: chicken sandwich, wotsits, cheese. All soft stuff that doesn't hurt to swallow! Cupcake

Water: 1.5 litres

Fruit & Veg: 0/5 - terrible!!

Exercise: 3/4 of insanity (322 Cals)

Clean & Green Day 22

I'm not feeling too great at the moment. Theres another outbreak of something or other at M's Nursery and I'm wondering if I'm coming down with it! I'm trying to ignore the razor blade feeling in my throat and hoping it will go away.

I'm back at home today after being at the office yesterday, so hopefully things will go almost to plan.

Breakfast: 2 x wholemeal toast with raspberry jam & berocca. I lost about 1/4 to M who has a new found love of toast & sandwiches. On that, I have to say that little bite marks out of mini sandwiches may just be the cutest thing I've ever seen.

Snack: 2 x rich tea fingers, Banana, 6 cashews, alpen bar.

Lunch: 3 x boiled eggs, 2 x wholemeal slices for dunking.

Snack: Homemade vanilla cupcake with lemon curd frosting.

Dinner: Tuna Steak with stir fry veg

Snack: Another cupcake to fuel care of nightmare baby

Water: 1.5 litres

Fruit & Veg: 3/5

Exercise: none, nightmare baby prevented it.

Clean & Green Day 21

You know your a mum when your in the garage 'gym' listening to 'Jake and the Neverland Pirates' on your iPhone because it's all you have on there. Actually it's quite catchy, but I think I need an update!

Home gym was used last night, there's not much to it. A variety of weights and a step/bench, a floor mat & a gym ball.

Breakfast: protein shake, Choco porridge, Berocca

Snack: pear, banana, 6 cashews

Lunch: ham & 2 egg salad (spinach, cucumber, tomato) with salad cream. Babybel

Snack: melon & strawberries with 6 almonds.

Dinner: leftover morrocan lamb with half a pitta, houmous & spinach/rocket.

Snack: square of Lindt sea salt

Water: 1.5 litres

Fruit & Veg: 8/5

Exercise: 0.

Happy Birthday to me!

I can't believe it's Tuesday, where have the last 4/5 days gone.

Who knows?!

Today is day 20, and I can pretty much write off at least 3 days of eats (and drinks) but you only turn 29 once right? Well actually I might be 29 again next year ;)

Today has been a better food day, and will hopefully get some exercise in too.

Breakfast: Choco porridge & Berocca

Lunch: giraffe brunch, shared with Martha minus the toast & a chocolate milkshake.

Snack: alpen bar

Dinner: Moroccan lamb with courgette, pepper, tomato, sultanas & a salad of rocket cucumber & avocado.

Snack: protein shake.

Water: 1.5 litres

Fruit & veg: 4/5

Exercise: 50 minutes of full body weights (230 Cals)

Clean & Green Day 15

Breakfast: leftovers of bran flakes, 1% milk, Berocca and a pear.

Snack: 10 almonds

Lunch: pizza crumpet with pesto, rocket, cucumber, tomato and a few wotsits.

Snack: chocolate brownie

Dinner: pea con carne (beef didnt look worth the risk) w/salad

Water: 2 litres

Fruit & Veg: pear, cucumber, tomato, avocado, lettuce 5/5

Exercise: full body weights.

Clean & Green Day 14

Breakfast: protein shake, Choco porridge

Snack: banana, 6 cashew nuts

Lunch: 3 mini homemade crustless quiche (w/spinach, ham, spring onion & mushroom), iceberg lettuce, tomato, cucumber, 4 slices of ham and a babybel light. Followed by a freddo caramel.

Snack: pear & 6 almonds

Dinner: ham & rocket sandwich thin with a scraping of light mayo & chilli jam. Served with half a bag of wotsits and a slice if Brie. I now remember why I cook large meals on a Tuesday to reheat on a Wednesday.

Water: 2 litres

Fruit & Veg: banana, lettuce, cucumber, tomato, pear. 5/5

Exercise: rest day.

Measurements Update

After trying on my dress this morning for pics, I thought I'd do some other pictures to hopefully spur me on.

This is what I look like today.

Measurements are as follows:
Weight: 9st 6lbs
Waist: 27"
Waist (over belly button): 31"
Hips (widest): 38"
Hips (over bone): 36"
Thighs (widest): 23"
Thighs (thumbs down): 21.5"
Calf: 13"
Wrist: 5.5"
Bust: 34"
Underbust: 28.5"
Bicep: 11"

I'm heavier than I have been for a while. I suspect this is down to eating habits I acquired whilst I was still breastfeeding and have failed to drop since I stopped 4 weeks ago.

To be honest, it could ALOT worse. I'm fairly happy with how my shoulders look from the front, even my stomach isn't that bad, but there is way more I'm unhappy with.

I'd like to reduce waist, hips, thigh, bicep. I'm not massively fussed with my weight to be honest, but I would like to reduce body fat. I can't find my old spreadsheet at the moment, but using an online calculator it reckons I'm 26% fat. Thats over a 1/4. I'd like to get this down and my lean body mass up.

House of Pox

An outbreak of Chicken Pox at our house has put blogging on hold for the last few days.

I've probably not made the best food choices, but I'm not going to dwell on it. Back on it today.

This week is going to be about damage limitation, potentially have a wedding reception on Friday night and it's my birthday on Saturday and I've asked hubs to take me out somewhere nice. All pox dependant of course!

I ordered a dress for a wedding In August last week. It arrived and it fits fine. But I could look better in it.

Anyhoo, onto today's food:

Breakfast: berocca, banana, 6 almonds & 100ml full fat milk.

Snack: After weights protein shake.

Lunch: homemade crustless quiche, chicken, spinach/rocket & a spoonful of baked beans, pear, babybel

Snack: scone w/cream & jam

Dinner: bolognese & salad, square of Lindt sea salt dark choc, alpen bar.

Water: 2 litres

Fruit & Veg: banana, spinach/rocket, pear, lettuce, cucumber, tomato 6/5

Exercise: 30 minutes weights AM, 3 mile run PM (547 Cals total)

Clean & Green Day 10

Yesterday was a bad day. But I'm not going to dwell on it. At least the major sweet cravings of the last few days have a reason (time of the month). I'm a bit later than usual (not that I have a usual really) and I was starting to freak!

Breakfast: protein shake

Snack: 5 macadamia nuts & alpen bar

Lunch: salmon with spinach, rocket and a poached egg.

Snack: 4 rich teas & a spoonful of chocolate spread. (damn you sweet tooth!), apple & 6 almonds.

Dinner: lamb steak with sweet potato, green beans.

Water: 2 litres

Fruit & veg: 3/5 must go food shopping!!

Exercise: nada.

Clean & Green Day 9

Today won't be a good day.

It's going to be hectic. I've been up since 6, got washed/fed/dressed, got Martha up/fed/dressed. Packed both our bags, dropped her at nursery, got myself to the train station. Now I'm somewhere between Winchester and London Waterloo. Got a meeting near Borough Market at 10.30pm, then I'm
Off to the office in Southwark. I've hit to leave around 3pm to walk back to Waterloo to get the train home in time so I can pick Martha up again. Then it's home, bath, bed, walk dogs, make dinner (which I failed to remove from the freezer), exercise & bed.

I'm tired just reading that.

Breakfast: bran flakes, 1% milk & Berocca.

Snack: k&c brownie

Lunch: smoked salmon & cream cheese bagel and another brownie.

Snack: 6 almonds, another brownie.

Dinner: ham salad.

Water: 1.5 litres.

Fruit & Veg: 3/5

Exercise: 3 mile walk across London with my laptop.


As an after though of my brownie indulgence today, do you know what? I'm not even sure I enjoyed them much. I think I enjoyed my almonds more.

Clean & Green Day 9

Back at work today, up since 5am, didn't sleep great. Ergh.

Breakfast: protein shake, Choco porridge.

Snack: rock sweet, apple, 4 macadamia nuts.

Lunch: Lunch date with the husband! We went bowling and i ate dirty bowling alley hot dog & fries

Snack: homemade cupcake (took them into work to get rid and share the cakey happiness)

Dinner: leftover morrocan lamb w/seeded wrap, 30g cheddar and salad.

Water: 2 litres

Fruit & Veg: apple, lettuce, cucumber, tomato, stew veg 5/5

Exercise: just a dog walk, thought about more but it's been a long day.

Tomorrow I've got a meeting in London, so lots of walking!

Clean & Green Day 8

Breakfast: protein shake, rice cake & peanut butter, banana, Berocca.

Snack: 4 macadamia nuts, cocoa orange nakd bar.

Lunch: 2 boiled eggs, 2 rashers bacon, 1 slice biona pumpkin rye bread.

Dinner: Moroccan lamb w/ falafel, salad (lettuce, cucumber, tomato) pitta & houmous.

Snack: homemade vanilla cupcake with chocolate frosting.

Water: 2 litres

Fruit & Veg: banana, courgette, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, peppers. 6/5

Exercise: dog walking (100 Cals), 3 mile run (394 Cals)

Clean & Green Day 7

One thing I have noticed this week is that food is an emotional crutch. I was in a funk about my friends at one point, then at Mr H leaving for the weekend and today because I'm mind boggling-ly shattered after having no downtime all weekend - all 3 occasions I've either thought about or acted upon a impulse to put food in my mouth. Today for example I shared Martha's lunch instead of making my own because I couldn't be bothered and then because I felt crappy I had a crap biscuit. This in turn made me feel crap so I had some almonds to compensate. Sure, it could have been worse, but fact is - it was unnecessary.

Today's food hasn't been great, but Martha has been running a temperature of 39, do I've had other priorities.

Breakfast: 100g smoked salmon, poached egg, asparagus spears. Berocca.

Snack: protein shake & banana

Lunch: half a puff pastry spinach/pesto/cheddar tart, 30g cheddar, boiled egg, half a bag of wotsits, grapes.

Snack: malted milk biscuit, 6 almonds.

Dinner: tuna pasta bake w/pea shoots, tomato & rocket. Square Lindt dark choc with sea salt.

Water: 2 litres.

Fruit & Veg: asparagus, banana, grapes, tomato, mixed leaves 5/5

Exercise: Dog walking (116 Cals), bike ride (180 Cals).

Clean & Green Day 6

Breakfast: protein shake

Snack: 4 macadamia nuts

Lunch: roast beef, yorkshire pud (just 1), broccoli, runner beans, carrots, roast potatoes (2) & a flat apple bake thing (like a tray bake version of an apple pie) with a dollop of double cream.

Dinner: chilli con carne with 1/4 avocado, spinach and pea shoots.

Water: 2 litres

Fruit & Veg: broccoli, runner beams, carrots, spinach, avocado. 5/5

Exercise: just dog walking/trike pushing today - 30 minutes.

Tomorrow I'll have my support crew (well hubs) back, so hope to get some exercise in.

Clean & Green Day 5

I think I'm starting to feel a difference. Not in my weight, but in how I feel. Last night I went to bed at 10.20pm. Usually I'd have fallen asleep on the sofa by that point but I felt pretty clear headed. Then this morning, I woke up at 6.05am and felt like I'd actually slept.

Breakfast: protein shake w/banana and Berocca.

Snack: 6 almonds

Lunch: turkey and egg salad (iceberg, cucumber, tomato) & a drizzle of walnut oil.

Snack: homemade dulce de leche cupcake.

Dinner: bolognese with baby spinach leaves.

Water: 2 litres.

Fruit & Veg: banana, lettuce, cucumber, tomato, bolognese veg, spinach. 6/5.

Exercise: 30 minutes dog walk/baby in trike push and a whopping 2.5 hours of housework - phew!

Clean & Green Day 4

I finished off yesterday with a square of Dark lindt chocolate with sea salt. It was right out of the fridge so lasted ages. I guess on reflection you could say that the last two days weren't great, but at least I've been accountable.

Today should be an ok day - except for lunch. Hubs bought a pizza & dough balls, and he's away all weekend so it has to be eaten today. I guess this is the downside to not having a freezer. But I'll be as good as I can either side!

Breakfast: Protein Shake, banana, Berocca.

Snack: alpen bar

Lunch: half a Pizza Express Sloppy Guiseppe, 4 dough balls with dip, rocket and a homemade garlic/herb mayo dip for the pizza.

Snack: 2 Choco buttermilk pancakes and a sliced banana.

Dinner: just me for dinner tonight, I had grand plans of chicken - but it looked & smelt a bit funky. So had a ham/cheese/chilli jam seeded wrap with tomato, cucumber & beetroot salad. And a cheeky slice of Brie too.

Fruit & Veg: Banana x 2, mixed leaves, rocket, cucumber, tomato. 5/5

Water: 2 litres.

Exercise: walked the dogs for an hour, I love how a 3 minute walk from my house takes me here.

Clean and Green Day 3...and a cupcake.

Yesterday evening I was provided with a cupcake. It was just what I needed after my day at work. But it did remind me that I should probably tell hubby to not buy me treats! He got me two, so I'll eat the second one today then they are gone.

Food for today...

Breakfast: Protein shake & Berocca

Snack: banana, 6 macadamia nuts & the other cupcake.

Lunch: beetroot salad w/rocket, cucumber and tomato with mackerel & hard boiled egg.

Snack: Cocoa Orange Nakd bar

Dinner: 100g fillet steak with ratatouille, sweet potato wedges and rocket.

Water: 2 litres

Fruit & Veg: banana, mixed salad leaves, cucumber, tomato, strawberries, ratatouille, sweet potato 7/5.

Exercise: 3 mile run followed by weights. Burnt a nice 575 calories. This is the actual colour my face was afterwards. You can tell its been a while since I went running!

Clean & Green Day 2

Have you ever made a protein shake and left it for about 20 minutes before drinking it? Thats what I did this morning and it set like cement. I was actually a little gutted on my drive to work after I discovered it solid in the bottle.

Anyways, here's what today's food looks like...

Breakfast: Choco porridge (same specification I used to eat) & berocca

Snack: banana & 6 macadamia nuts

Lunch: spinach & rocket salad with han & egg and a drizzle of walnut oil. And a raw chocolate 'lovebite ball' (~150 calories & yummy).

Snack: apple & 6 almonds

Dinner: tuna pasta bake (jar sauce) and iceberg lettuce.

Water: 2 litres.

Fruit & Veg: banana, spinach, rocket, apple, iceberg lettuce = 5/5

Exercise: none. A long day at the office has left me shattered.

Am working from home tomorrow so will hopefully get in some lunchtime exercise sessions!

Clean & Green Day 1

After 4 false starts on this (I did the food shop on Friday), today has been a good day.

Breakfast: 100g smoked salmon & a 3" piece of chopped cucumber. Berocca.

Snack: Protein Shake & 6 almonds

Lunch: Spinach & rocket salad with ham, Feta and walnut oil.

Snack: Banana

Dinner: Beef hoisin stirfry (done in coconut oil) followed by a Protein Shake post-exercise.

Water: 2 litres

Fruit & Veg: cucumber, spinach, rocket, banana, stirfry veg = 5/5

Exercise: 3 mile bike ride (first time out on my new bike!) followed by 30 minutes of squats, pushups, calf raises, situps, etc.

Where does the time go?

I can't believe it's been so long since I last blogged. Life really does get in the way sometimes!

I need a bit of focus in my life right now and blogging is a good way to go about that.

I need to clean up my food. No more half arsed lunches, last minute dinners from the shops, I can do better!

Exercise is going ok (ran 9 miles on Monday), but I need to log it better so I can see my achievements and plan new things.

I'm massively unhappy with the way I look, not helped by going away to Marrakech in 15 or so days. I tried on a skirt that fit at Christmas, I couldn't even get it on today - what's that about?!

I know I'm not going to be happy by the time I go on holiday this month, but if I start well I can hopefully make some progress each week.

***Measurements***

Weight - 9st 5lbs
Waist- 27"
Waist (over belly button) a 29"
Hips widest - 37"
Hips over bone - 35"
Thigh widest - 23"
Thigh thumbs down - 21"
Calf - 13.5"
Wrist - 5.5"
Bust - 34"
Under bust - 27"
Bicep - 10.5"

Things have spread a bit on my lower half, maybe losing the 2lbs I've gained will see that disappear?

***Plan of action***

* cut the crap - things I know I shouldn't be eating will not be eaten.
* drink more water - 2 litres a day.
* 5 fruit and veg a day - sharing with Martha doesn't count.
* 5 sessions of exercise a week - 2 x runs (short 3 miler and a 7-10 miler), 3 x insanity DVD/weights.
* dig out a pic from September 2010 for inspiration and motivation.

I go back to work next week, so will have 2 x lunch breaks to workout, it means I only need to find 1-2 evenings/early mornings to fit in the other sessions as at least my long run will be on a weekend.

***Goals for 30th June***

* lose at least 2lbs by 25th May (when we leave for Marrakech).
* lose 5lbs overall
* fit into the grey wiggle dress by 3rd June (for a jubilee party)
* lose 2" off my measurements.

Operation Bye-Bye Baby Belly is go!

Picture the scene...

Baby is napping, Holby City is on the Sky Planner, 1 pug is asleep, the other is hiding under the table and me?

I'm making the most of Martha's foam floor tiles and my hula hoop!

20 minutes of hooping, 10 minutes of situps. BOOM!

And yes, that is a bike in my living room. She's too nice to live in the shed or the garden.

5 mile report

I've been 'MIA' over the last few days as Martha has been ill. Thankfully she seems to be over the worst of it, but it was quite scary hearing her wheeze and gasp for air :(

Anyhoo, food hasn't been great because she's been difficult to get into bed without waking herself up everything she coughs. Lots of sandwiches/soup/pizzas!

However, despite all this I was determined to do a longer run this weekend and I finally did it at 16:15 on Sunday. It wasn't the greatest time to set off as my route is all country roads, ranging from 30-60mph and no street lights. I wore a white sports top borrowed from hubby and my head torch.

I set off knowing my time wouldn't be ground breaking, but I wanted to try and do it non stop. Pacing myself was essential. I made the halfway point around 29 minutes, stopped for precisely 4 deep breaths (and a look at the ducks) then turned around and headed back. At the 45 minute mark I guess I broke through 'the wall' as suddenly I really settled into quite a good rhythm and pace - just a shame I was less than 10 minutes from home and it was getting a bit too dark to continue.

Stats...

Distance: 5 miles
Time: 59:37
Max HR: 195 (102% of max)
Avg HR: 171 (89%)
Calories: 880

Looking forward to next weekend, I'm aiming to do it twice.

Cold = cake

I've been ill since my run on Saturday. I suspect running made it stop lingering and develop into a full blown cold.

As a result I've eaten quite badly. Hot chocolates, rocky road, brownies, burgers & chips, etc, etc.

But, I'm feeling better today so things are looking up.

Breakfast: bran flakes w/ teaspoon of light at heart, mix of full fat and slimmed milk (all we had left got used up!)

Lunch: huge salad bowl with mushrooms, tomato, cucumber, lettuce, cranberries, cheese, ham and a squeeze of salad cream. Half of M's yoghurt (I actually ate yoghurt *gasps* but still not sure I'm actually that keen on it)

Mid afternoon: protein shake & a banana

M's dinner: stick of cheese, half a field mushroom, 1 bubble & squeak patty.

Dinner: soup, bread roll with pâté.

Exercise: 35 minutes of various weights/squat based circuits.

Water: 2 litres.

Food Diary Número Uno

Thursday 20th January 2012

Breakfast: 3 porridge pancakes with a thin spreading of nutella

Mid Morning: Banana

Lunch: Cheese & Lentil Stodge in a wrap with 1/4 an avocado

Mid Afternoon: Protein Shake & a nutella rice cake

Dinner: Steak in a mustard sauce with rice, mushrooms, courgette and pepper

Water: 2 litres

Exercise: on hold, hopefully will have shifted this chest cold completely by tomorrow so I can run.