This week I've felt loads better I must admit. Yet again I've tried so much harder, tried new recipes (which always boosts my mood) and spent time properly talking to people I wouldn't normally talk to. All of this has really lifted my mood and made me feel more positive about the coming days and the future. Sure there are still moments where I hesitate and think 'what if...?' but I've managed to pass that and think more about the present moment.

It makes a difference being able to stay positive most of the time, it means more good days than bad days, which obviously means getting closer to my goal! 

I am doing this purely for myself, to get a better quality of life and for a better future for myself. The last thing I want is to not be able to live my life to the fullest because I'm overweight or I'm so self conscious of the way I look. It's not a good way to live, so why should I have to live like that? The answer is I won't compromise my life in that way.

I started a new job this week and I've already agreed to work all kinds of hours so coffee is officially my new best friend to get me up early for the gym. Wish me luck!

So here's another progress picture, the first was taken at the beginning of March and the second was taken this morning. I'm not going to lie I was quite disappointed as I couldn't see of much of a change as I thought I would have. However, I went to the gym after and did a HIIT workout. I cam out feeling better and more determined! Roll on tomorrow!

Cauliflower Pizza

After I tried cauliflower rice yesterday (and loved it!), the next thing to try was obviously as a pizza, it didn’t turn out quite how I expected but I did follow the method exactly so obviously I will next time! It was still good, what I was able to rescue…anyway, this was way tastier than the rice as there was a bit more to it so definitely try this one.

Ingredients:

½ Cauliflower

A handful of mozzarella

1 egg

1 garlic clove, crushed

Pizza sauce/tinned tomatoes

Any toppings you like

Mozzarella for topping

Method:

Preheat the oven to 220c and put the baking tray in to let it get hot. Grate the cauliflower, or blitz in a food processor, so it resembles ‘rice’.  

Put in a microwave proof bowl, top with a plate and put in the microwave for 4 minutes.

Tip it out onto a clean towel when it’s done and allow it to cool down.

Put it back into the bowl with the mozzarella and garlic, stir it all together and then add the egg and mix it in well. 

Lay it on some greaseproof paper in a round pizza shape.

Put this onto the baking tray and pop back in the oven for 10 minutes. Take it out after it has bronzed a bit.

Put on the sauce, toppings and cheese and put back into the oven for roughly 6 – 8 minutes, or until it looks how you prefer your pizza.

Take it out and enjoy!

If anyone wants to give me any new recipes to try, I would love you forever!

Egg Fried Cauliflower Rice with Vegetables

I've never been a big fan cauliflower but today I fell in love with this recipe, it's delicious. Honestly, if you're going to try something, try this recipe!! I was really hesitant to try this one, what if i didn't like it?, was it really all what it was made out to be? and yes, yes it was.

100% credit needs to be given to Caitlin and Susie for recommending this.

Recipe:

Ingredients:
½ a cauliflower
½ a chilli, finely chopped
1 tbsp olive oil
½ red pepper, diced
2 asparagus, chopped
1 egg
2 tbsp soy sauce

Method:
First either grate the cauliflower, or more easily, blitz it in a food processor.

Then put it all on some kitchen roll to absorb some of the moisture. With the chilli and olive oil, put the cauliflower in a wok and cook on a medium to high heat for roughly 4 minutes to allow for it all to cook through. 

Add the soy sauce, pepper and asparagus to the mixture and allow to cook for a couple more minutes. 

Make a well in the mixture and add the egg to the well, allowing it to cook through slightly. Mix in the egg through the rice and vegetables and cook for a couple of minutes. 

Serve and enjoy!

Tomorrow I'll be trying cauliflower pizza, which I'm looking forward to now!

A Quick Update

Last week I confessed that I had had a bad week, cheated on my diet and promised to try harder over the next coming days, and that I did. I haven't cheated on my diet and I've actually been to the gym, a much greater success than the week before. I've been told this week that I look skinnier as well which is a great compliment that I will never get tired of hearing! However I still feel like its not enough, obviously I know I could have gone to the gym more and stayed for longer when I did go and that will be my aim for this week. I never really know which equipment or machines to use in the gym though, to maximise weight loss (any advice would be greatly appreciated).

It's tough sometimes, I could have 1 or 2 great days that are really productive but after that I could end up having 2 or 3 really awful days that seem hard to get out of. I'm sure I'm not the only person that has this problem, and as these other people, you feel like you're the only person that this happens to, in that sense I guess we are not alone!

I'll keep this short and sweet and stop complaining now! I'm getting up extra early tomorrow to go food shopping and to the gym, starting the week the right way!!

Cheap Clean Eating

As far as I'm aware, a lot of my readers are students or now graduates and obviously we aren't the richest of people! therefore, this ones for you...some ways to reduce your food bill and still eat clean.

It has been found that it is definitely more expensive to eat healthily and junk food is considerately cheaper. If you don't mind going for products that isn't the highest quality then you should go for the everyday value or basic products. I've always bought these where i can but I have definitely seen an improvement in the quality of these products and they aren't as bad as you think.

Obviously you wouldn't go out and buy all organic products as this would instantly double your food bill, even if you go for own brands and not as low as value products then you will still be reducing your food bill to a more affordable price.

When you are planning your meals to ensure that you eat a clean diet you don't need to have meat with every meal which will bring down the cost of your meals. Some good alternatives that are just as appetising are vegetable stir fry (easy on the sauce!) and obviously salads.

If you can't live without meat then just find different cuts that are cheaper or go to a local butcher who will know which are the cheaper ones and can give you advice on how to cook them properly as well.

Also take a trip to your local market to pick up some bargains there, you can typically get large bowls of fruit and vegetables for only a pound or two. It may not last as long as those that you buy from the supermarkets but if you are going to eat it all or most of it then you are definitely getting your moneys worth.

Often if you buy in bulk you would get more for your money so if you cook in bulk as well then you have those clean meals already made in the freezer. If you have a family then obviously this would be a bit more difficult as you will need to make a lot more food to put some aside in the freezer so it would be much easier to just make it as and when you need the meals.

Finding a cheaper supermarket to the one you already shop in is also an option. If you use supermarket.com, select the supermarket you wish to order from and fill up your basket then you can see which supermarket is cheapest and you could end up saving loads of money. Also if you order from Tesco or Asda then you can get your food delivered for as cheap as £1. By ordering your shopping online you won't be tempted by the junk food you may normally go for and only get 'clean' food.

Buying food is undeniably a high expense but unfortunately we can't live without it so if you can do little things to reduce your food bill then hopefully in the long term you will see the difference both financially and in yourself.

Clean Eating

Clean eating has become a very popular thing now. It is for everyone as well, whether you are vegetarian, vegan, gluten free or anything else, it is still possible to eat clean. some bonuses to clean eating are clearer skin, having more energy and having deeper sleep. It also obviously helps to lose weight.

A couple of rules of clean eating are:

• Eat whole, natural foods so no white rice or white flour. Choose root vegetables roasted as an alternative.
• Avoid processed foods and refined sugar which basically means no junk food!
• Eat more regularly and cook it yourself then you know what's going into it. Have smaller meals more regularly so that you stay fuller for longer and pre-make meals and our them in the freezer.
• Always eat a balanced diet!

Here are some easy swaps to make that you won't even notice:

• Swap sandwiches for wraps
• White rice sushi for brown rice sushi
• Milk chocolate for dark chocolate
• Shop bought jars for homemade pasta sauce
• Granulated sugar for cinnamon
• Condiments for lemon juice and vinegar
• Dried fruit for bananas
• Salad dressings for olive oil
• Fruit smoothies for green juice

My Confession

I have a confession to make, this last week has been completely awful. The worst week I've had since March and that's saying something considering I've had exams in that time. I caved in and cheated badly, stress got the better of me after a series of bad moments and it all went downhill from there.

It's not the greatest feeling to admit to cheating on your diet to be honest with you. It happened though and I have to live with the guilt of that. It's in the past now and there's nothing I can do about it but get over it and know that a new week is starting. All I can really say is that I will try even harder this week and hope that I can find a different way to deal with my stress that doesn't involve eating all the time.

I need to dig deep down and find the motivation I need to get myself going. Today, my mum and her friend did a triathlon, their first one and my mum is now determined to do even more! I want that kind of determination and next year me and my dad are going to do it as well. You may laugh but it gives me something to aim for, even if it is a year away.

Isn't she great?

I also need to lose a significant amount of weight before I go to Athens at the end of next month. Not being someone who likes being in the sun that much as it is, I need to lose weight to not be uncomfortable when I'm walking around. So again, it is the start of a new week and I will be starting by hitting the gym.

Give up? Not a chance.

Salmon and Leek Parcels

I just can’t stop cooking! So it would be quite rude of me if I weren’t to share these great recipes with you all. I was a bit apprehensive about this recipe with the odd combination of spices and herbs but you’d be surprised at how well they work together. I’ve always been more of a savoury person than a sweet person even though I absolutely love baking; I never eat what I make! However, I’m all into trying new things right now so I’m going to look into finding some healthy alternatives to satisfy your sweet tooth, so stay tuned!!

Ingredients:

2 medium leeks, trimmed

4 salmon fillets, skinned

6 tbsp olive oil

3 tbsp chopped coriander

1 tsp medium hot curry powder

2 tbsp lemon juice

4 – 6 stems of vine cherry tomatoes

Method:

Thinly slice the leeks, place in a sieve and rinse under cold water. Drain well.

Grease foil lightly with a little oil, and divide the leeks, placing in the centre of the foil. Scatter half of the coriander over. Place a salmon fillet on top and season.

Mix together the remaining oil, curry powder and lemon juice and pour some over each fillet. Seal the packages.

Het the oven to 200c, place the parcels on a baking tray and cook for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, put the cherry tomatoes into a small roasting tin, drizzle with oil, season with salt and pepper and roast in the oven for 12 minutes.

Scatter the remaining chopped coriander over the fish and serve with tomatoes.

When I was roasting the tomatoes, I also seasoned them with garlic salt which tasted amazing and I also served it with a small portion of rice but its not necessary if you want a smaller meal!

Chicken with Tomato Herb Pan Sauce

I found this recipe by chance, it is absolutely delicious! I wish I’d had a few more tomatoes and added some more oregano but it’s a great small dinner. If you were more hungry then it would be best to add some sweet potato chips or some more vegetables as it isn’t that much on the plate otherwise.

Ingredients:

2 – 3 Chicken Breast

Salt and Pepper

180g Flour

2 tbsp Softened Butter

1 Crushed Garlic Clove

1 ½ tsp Oregano

½ tsp Paprika

2 tbsp Olive Oil

450g Cherry Tomatoes

80ml Chicken Stock

1 tbsp Parsley

Method:

Season both sides of the chicken breasts. Lightly dredge both sides of the chicken in the flour, shaking of the excess and set aside.

In a small bowl, combine the butter, garlic, oregano and paprika. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

In a large frying pan over medium-high heat, melt 1 tbsp of the oregano butter with the olive oil. Place the chicken breast in the pan and cook until golden brown on each side and cooked through, about 3 – 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.

Increase the heat to high and add tomatoes. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes begin to char and burst, about 5 minutes. Add the remaining butter mixture. Crush the tomatoes slightly to release the juices and continue stirring until the butter is melted. Add the stock to the pan, scraping the bottom to loosen the browned bits. Cook for a minute more until well blended. Slice the chicken and top with the pan sauce. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

An Active Weekend in Centerparcs

So last weekend my family and I took a trip to centerparcs in Longleat. It was definitely one of the most active weekends I’ve ever had. We just so happened to have a villa that was in the furthest corner the village meaning it was trek to get anywhere! On the first day we already had to walk the length of the village from the car park to the Indian restaurant! I’d already had a pt session first thing that morning so I was already exhausted. I did treat myself with a couple glasses of wine and managed to eat quite a bit for dinner but I did resist the naan bread and poppadoms. However I did feel a bit disappointed that I wasn’t able to keep up with everyone when we were walking back.

On the second day we went to collect our bikes and cycled the length of the village at least 3 times!! I have the nicest massage and a tuna sandwich for lunch. We had a very competitive game of badminton and I was completely exhausted after but felt so good. Then went for a swim to cool off, anyone whose been to centerparcs will know that there are rapids which are so much fun but I came out with loads of bruises after. I had a couple of drinks again and decided to have a healthy steak for dinner.

Exhausted!

Obviously after 2 days of non stop exercise I needed a bit of a lie in, so a late start on the Sunday that went very similar to Saturday except we also played table tennis and went on a pedalo around the lake which was so much fun. For dinner I had a prawn caesar salad but without the dressing which was absolutely amazing. We then play bowling, obviously not the most athletic game, but I won!!

Nailed it!

By the Monday when we were going home, I was aching like crazy (and for several days after!). I burnt way more calories than I ate or so it felt anyway. I ended up with a ridiculous amount of bruises and it took several days for me to recover however there was no stopping me and I carried on working out through the pain and it certainly paid off.

For anyone who wants a weekend away and loves being active then you should really consider centerparcs. I’m completely biased anyway as my family and I completely love it there but there’s so much to do and its so much fun!

Delicious!

Almost Stopping

I have never felt so disheartened after going for a run today. It took a while for me to get up the courage to go for a run that day but I did it. Unfortunately as I was coming to the end of my run, bright red and completely out of breath(!), a car of "lads" drove past and one shouted "run you fat c*nt", I was gutted. I would never wish for that to happen to my worst enemy. No one deserves to be treated in such a way, especially if they are trying their hardest to completely change their life around. It's a shame that someone needs to treat other people like that or to show off to their mates because it's not impressing anyone I know! I don't have anything to prove to them but lets hope karma gets them!!

I'm ready to get back out there tomorrow and work my ass off!