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.