Before I start telling you all about my week, I have to take a moment to celebrate the awesomeness of that salad. Pears caramelised in maple syrup, toasted hazelnuts, creamy goats cheese, peppery salad and balsamic dressing. I love my salads generally, but that one was lick-the-bowl-clean lush! I think I’ll have to share the exact recipe in the newsletter next week. It has been a pretty great week of eats, take a look at this bowl of pumpkin porridge:
This was 1/2 cup of oats cooked in water with some egg whites cooked in, 1/3 tin of pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, maple syrup and topped with almond butter and dried cranberries. A big fat bowl of breakfast heaven! Workouts have been ok, but I’ve had to really kick myself up the back side to do them:
- Saturday – REST
- Sunday – Spinning
- Monday – Gym – 30 mins cardio on the machines, 15 mins of weights, legs, chest and shoulders
- Tuesday – Yoga meltdown level 1
- Wednesday – Gym – 30 mins cardio on the machines, 15 mins of weights, legs, back and triceps
- Thursday – 30 day shred level 2
- Friday – Glorious fecking REST!
I have some lovely plans for today which I shall share in a mo, they most definitely include no workouts :-) I think it’s just because I’ve been adjusting to the dark mornings that my energy has been ‘off’ and workouts have been a little tougher. I know that I always feel better after doing them, and that is ultimately what get’s me to the gym on dark mornings! Post gym I have been back on green smoothies:
I’ve had some cottage cheese in the fridge that needed using up so instead of protein powder I used that, along with spinach, a pear, some cinnamon and ginger and a few drops of vanilla stevia plus ice and water to blend. I could definitely get right into cottage cheese smoothies, they are very creamy!
The weekend saw the return of brussel sprouts! I roasted them in the tin left after roasting the chicken, they were gorgeous, I love sprouts! I also had some swede, I wish I had roasted that too. As a treat for lunch at work, and also for taste testing purposes, I tried one of the My Goodness range of meals I mentioned in yesterday’s post:
I had the Chicken Laksa and it was really good! Maybe a little salty, but very tasty and the ingredients list was decent for a meal such as that. Definitely a good emergency option when you can’t be arsed / have time to cook! Last but not least, yesterday I ‘treated’ myself to a bowl of berry protein fluff topped with chocolate peanut butter sauce and chopped nuts:
Oh it was so good! I was craving a big bowl of creamy deliciousness and that did the trick! On the Love List this week…
I don’t usually make a habit of eating baby food, but I do make an exception for these gingerbread men! Can anyone remember when these made the rounds on blogs a couple of years ago? They are great as they are organic and don’t contain any refined sugar. I love these little mini bags as they make a great take to work snack, as well as being the perfect size for dipping in some nut butter! Also…
The Facebook group for the Super Conscious Living Programme has been fantastic, such a great group of women supporting each other and learning loads about themselves, I’m so over the moon with it all! // this utterly brilliant post from Stefani at Paleo for Women, I read this on Monday and was quite moved by it, her talk about us women and seeing ourselves as sexy makes for a great and inspiring read // wrapping up warm in my oversize hoody dress // slow cooked Moroccan stew, very excited to share the recipe for this one! // developing courses to deliver as a tutor in healthy living for adult community learning // having a good catch up with my work mates and being productive // listening to the new Haim album on Spotify // burning scented candles on my desk all day long // phone calls from my Mam and Dad
In case you missed it:
- My essential under wear picks from Debenhams
- Introducing Home Spun Holistics
- My October Pledge: Stress Less
- Lunch ideas for the cooler weather including recipes for Taco Turkey Chilli and Warm Harissa spiced Butternut and Chickpea salad
- Fairtrade coffee in action video
My exercise has been non-existent this week and I’m battling with the guilt of it, but with work and some family issues I just haven’t had the time/energy. I hope to cycle this weekend and then ease myself back into it. I’m trying to be kind to myself as I have a lot of work travel over the next three weeks, which always upsets my routine – so I’ll have to just try and plan a bit and fit in a workout where I can, even if it’s just a nice walk. The SCLP really is great – I would recommend to everyone! I’m learning so much, and it’s what is taking the edge off the ‘exercise guilt’ as I know I’m keeping a handle on what I’m eating, without depriving myself :) Have a lovely ‘me’ day!
I can so relate to that! The way I try and think of it is by reminding myself that my aims are for my health and wellbeing, so when exercise would just stress me out, that wouldn’t be helpful anyway. So glad that you are enjoying the SCLP!
I had a bit if a me day last Saturday that involved shopping and a cheeky delicious slice of carrot cake. I’m very up for making more time for myself this month as its been so hectic at work recently I’ve felt a bit run down. Enjoy your day of pampering bliss!
Hope you get plenty more pampering days in, I hate it when you start feeling run down!
Love the look of those gingerbread men Laura! What a fab week of eats and exercise :)
Thanks Claire, the little gingerbread men are so cute!
Yum! What great eats! I am getting myself some of those gingerbread men! I have totally felt the difference in my energy levels in the mornings with it being darker! But eating right does really help, I don’t feel as sluggish as I used to. BTW the SCLP is fab – so much more than just a food diary! Laura I love your smoothie cup, where is it from?? x
The smoothie cup is from firebox.com, I love it! You are right about eating well helping with energy, that’s a good reminder for me to have more green smoothies as I always find they help! So glad that you are enjoying the SCLP!
Hope you have a great “me” day! I definitely need one of those soon. That salad, minus the cheese, looks amazing!! Have a great weekend.
Thanks Lauren, I bet you do with all the moving and training! Hope your weekend is great!
Caramelised anything is a winner in my book. I need to get my exciting salads back on. I loved making the different combos with goat’s cheese, fruit and nuts. Yum.
I did my first workout today since getting back from my holiday…man it was TOUGH. Spinning is not a good one to start back with. Especially with how dark and cold the morning was today!
Goats cheese fruit and nuts just can’t be beaten! I bet it was so hard after your holiday, I always find it super tough when I’ve had a bit of a break!
You had me at caramelized pears <3
Me days are wonderful, and completely necessary when it comes to the maintenance of sanity ;) I took one on Tuesday after getting back from 5 days on the road. I had an at home spa night and completely pampered myself with a mani, pedi, facial, and loooots of down time. It was bliss :)
I could not agree more! That at home spa night sounds fab, I treated myself to some new nail polish so I think I’ll be doing a mani pedi tonight!
That salad…wowza <3 And those oats too! I'm all over bedtime oats at the moment haha :P
Awhh I totally remember those gingerbread men. I hate being gluten free now sometimes..ahhh well! I'll just have to go make my own hehe :)
Me days are soo nice! Mine tend to normally involve a lot of spending ooops..makes me feel good anyway :) And nice food, baking and a good gym session to go along with that and I'm a happy bunny. I hope you enjoyed your day today…sounds like you needed it!
I think if anyone can make gluten free gingerbread men its you! I had to try so hard not to spend too much yesterday, it was very hard!
Oh I thought it was just me struggling to get motivated to get up early and go to the gym, so glad I’m not the only one. Looks like you’re having a really good time lately, everything that you manage to fit into life is certainly very inspirational, I really look up to you!
You definitely not the only one! Thanks Emma, that is so kind of you to say so, made my day that!
That salad looks amazing. And I need to try the baby food gingerbread men – they look so cute and I love any snack that comes in portioned out packs. x
Me too, I need to go in search of the little bags of granola too!
Enjoy your me day :)
I had brussles today, they are so good roasted! I had forgotten. I like baby food on the odd occassion but haven’t for ages. I have a weird thing about eating things with faces (like malted milk biscuits and percy pigs!) as I am a freak. :D
Thanks Catherine, I had a lovely day! Hehe, food with faces are the best, did you ever have those potato thingies shaped like faces that were frozen and you cooked in the oven? I remember those when I was a kid, loved them!
That salad does sound yum! I used to love those gingerbread men but they a no go for me these days! Hope you enjoyed your day, I am loving getting back to exercise!
Hope you back is well on the mend! You’ll have to find some gluten free gingerbread men!
Andy was listening to Haim the other day but it made me feel the need for some 80’s style aerobics!
I tried those gingerbread men but I didn’t find them that gingery (I suppose babies don’t go for spicy things!) _ I think I ended up dipping them in chocolate.
Now the evenings are darker we are less inclined to go out on a walk in the evening, but I quite like running in the dark once I get used to it- it feels faster (no idea why) and it is generally cooler.
That salad. Consider FedExing to Australia? ;)
I cannot wait for exams to be over- I’ll be taking a me week and doing absolutely nothing! Strangely, now that the days are getting lighter earlier, I’m finding workout out harder compared to when it was cold and dark…so strange!
Hope you have a great weekend :)