Good For Body & Soul

I have done three days back at work, on reduced hours. Today has been my day off. Already I have three A4 pages of things I need to do/sort/organise. Feelings of being overwhelmed have started. I don't know why this is happening to me. It started before I finished for my hysterectomy. This is how I know things need to change and I am hopeful that 2016 is going to be the year!

So, this got me to thinking. What will help? What can I do for myself, for my body and soul? What helps my coping mechanism? What puts me in a positive frame of mind - gives me an I can attitude? A friend once said "You have to be the most positive person I have ever met!" I wonder would he say that now?

If I had to write a list of what helps me to deal with everyday stresses and work what would be on it? What would I like to fit into my precious free time?  I wrote it down, and here I share it with you, in no particular order! ;-)

Reading - I joined with Laura over at Circle of Pine Trees and her Year in Books - my reviews here. A no pressure reading group, choose a book, do a linky to her site (this sadly no longer is how it works), do a quick review and name your next book in the first few days of a new month. No pressure, but you still feel accountable, which helps to keep your reading mojo up. I read every night without fail, especially as I no longer allow screen time to interrupt my circadian rhythm.

Walking Olly - My pooch gets me out of bed each and every morning. Yes, sometimes I feel sluggish but by the time I am home after a half hour morning walk, currently in the pitch black, those endorphins have kicked in and I feel more energised.

Running - Slowly getting back into it after my hysterectomy. Running is fab in that you are out and back as quickly as you want! No 'I haven't got time' excuses. Have 10 minutes spare? That's 10 minutes of cardio more than if you were sat down!! Running also helps to rid me of any tightness in my neck and shoulders and sets up other good habits - eating clean, drinking more water. 

Exploring New Places - Especially if it involves a historic house and parkland aka National Trust Membership which is what my parents bought me for Christmas - looking forward to planning! A small tip, if you purchase National Trust Scotland membership, it is cheaper but you can get into all the English National Trust places ;-).  It's good to learn new things about how people lived, to visit somewhere you haven't been before; shown to improve our mental capacity. Also it gives you something interesting to chat about!

Meditation - I am really getting into meditating. Most people meditate in the morning, but I can't find the time with walking Olly, juicing and the need to leave for work by 7.50am. I have been using my Headspace App - free trial here but also am going to try Tara Brach Meditations  as recommended by Leo from Zen Habits. I tend to meditate when I get in from work and find that it re energises me for the evening ahead.

Blogging! Yay! - I really enjoy sitting down to write. A creative outlet - or not? I am continually amazed that people visit this little corner of my world and come back!! I don't get lots of comments but when I do I love it, the interaction is inspiring, here and on Instagram!

Juicing - I started juicing in October 2014 and swear by it for improved all round health. Bright eyes, clear skin, more energy, a kick start to the day, no aches and pains, no tummy ache as it helped me to realise I have a gluten intolerance. 

Pilates - Once a week, more if I could! This says it all!! My Pilates Studio is my sanctuary. I go in and for the few minutes before the lesson starts lie on my mat with my eyes closed; heavenly. Something I definitely want to do more of this year, hopefully study and share the love ;-)

Family Time, Friends,  Loving & Laughing - Goes without saying. My family has grown by one and there is nothing better than seeing this little tink become a toddler. I am very lucky that I have a husband who makes me laugh every day - yes, really, even after 28 years. It really is the best medicine. I don't have loads of friends but those who I do have are the dogs, a positive influence, always encouraging, themselves inspirational, special indeed. Family time, especially when we are all together, a gift!

No Facebook - Came off Facebook in November. I include it here as a positive thing. I was disappearing down a rabbit hole with it. The telling thing is I haven't missed it at all!!! It's free'd up time to do all the things above haha! It was useful when I was leading my Beginner's Running Group but currently I shan't be leading as I start College next week. So, not needed!!

Other Random's - 

• Using my Clarisonic regularly - sounds a funny one, but it's two minutes three times a week well spent which gives me beautifully smooth skin.
• Having my eyebrows threaded and dyed every 6 weeks - adds definition helping to frame my face. The only beauty treatment I have regularly.
• Haircuts every 3 months, only at the College, but who doesn't feel better after a haircut?
• Painted toenails especially when I am running :-)
• Eating clean as in lots of fruit and veg, protein, limited gluten free carbs.
• Drinking water - I aim for 8 glasses (4 pints) daily for clarity of mind, ability to run without needing to carry water, clear skin, more energy.
• Cycling; another challenge for 2016 coming up!

Gosh, this has to win the award for the longest blogpost I have ever written. It's been good to give me some clarity of what I would like to fit into my week, to care for and nurture myself, both body and mind, aiding sleep and coping ability at work which is a good thing right?

How do you take care of your body and soul? What would you like to fit into your week? Do you manage to fit in things that you know are good for you?

 Do share! XX

Fitter, Stronger, Leaner

Since October last year I have lost 2 and a half stones in weight.

This has been a slow loss, done sensibly, not a quick fix and definitely not a diet. More a lifestyle change. A combination of running and pilates, but also completely changing my diet due to a realisation I have a slight gluten intolerance, eating protein only meals for breakfast and lunch, juicing daily and cutting down my portion sizes.

Rewind to October and I felt tired, lethargic, bloated and had tummy ache most of the time. My BMI was sitting around 27 - I needed to do something and decided I wanted to do a detox - get everything out of my system and start again.

To kick start I read this book by Jason Vale, aka The Juice Master. It really made me think about the way I ate, what I ate and when. Written in a no nonsense, engaging down to earth way.

It also helped me to prepare for the next stage which was to complete a weeks juice detox, with the help of this book.

The detox went well, I didn't suffer any ill effects, headaches or feel like I wanted to chew my arm off!!! In fact by day 4, I didn't need as many juices as allowed, again normal as after all, Jason Vale's aim is to get you eating when you are hungry not because a book tells you or it is lunch time.

After the initial weeks detox, I then ate protein only for two weeks, using recipes from Turbo Charge.
My energy levels increased, I started running more, my skin was great, I felt motivated.

After the 2 weeks of protein only I slowly introduced my usual diet, but smaller portions, I then
realised the link between my bloating and belly ache and link to gluten/wheat products causing this.

Moving on I now have gluten free when it is the main ingredient, e.g. bread, biscuits, cake, pasta, pastry. Gluten free products tend to be expensive, so if I have biscuits I only have one, whereas before I could easily eat a full packet of Malted Milk!!

I start my day with a wholesome breakfast juice, eat protein only for lunch and a healthy dinner, usually a rice dish, pasta (gluten free), salad or sweet potato (in place of white potato). Dinner is a much smaller portion to what I used to eat, I also try to eat before 6pm although this isn't always possible. I feel so much 'better' - fitter, stronger, leaner.

So tell me....How do you stay healthy?
XX

Naughty Eats This Weekend.....

Ok, so this weekend my healthy eating went completely to pot. Chocolate, yup! Chocolate digestives, yup! Chinese, yup! Pancakes, double yup! Sat here writing with a double Amaretto on the rocks? Hell yeah!

So, what am I thinking. I've cocked up all my hard work? Might as well just carry on eating all the things I haven't had in an absolute age? In giant size? 

300 gram Cadbury's I ate last night with Mr.L!!!

At Christmas I ate so many things I hadn't had since doing my juice detox and to be honest hadn't missed either. The result.......spots & heartburn and actually felt like I was poisoning my body. Really.

This doesn't mean that I deny myself, but try to eat things that may be 'naughty' in moderation. I savour my food, eat more slowly, think whilst I am eating. Try not to eat whilst perusing the internet or doing work. You know, you suddenly think, wow, my lunch is gone and I didn't taste it!! 7 I'm absolutely stuffed - stopping eating when you are full is one of the best things for weight loss. As is eating when hungry - not because it is 12 o'clock ;-)

So, am I going to get depressed about what I've consumed this weekend. No! Of course not! Tomorrow is another day and I will start it the way I usually do. By finishing my pint of water on my bedside, sipping on lemon and ginger in hot water and making my green juice. After all, it's what you do most of the time that makes the difference!

Back soon to share some of the changes I've made to my diet and how I've upped my fitness.

Hope you've had a fab weekend!
XX

Day Seven Juicy Detox

I had hoped I'd be able to post here as I did my 7lb In 7 Days Detox, time just runs away. I've thoroughly enjoyed a week off work and have to say this has helped me complete the detox.

I won't deny there have been a few cheats - literally the odd piece of chicken from Mr.L's plate - but I am proud that I have the end in sight & achieved what I set out to do. 

For me a kick up the a***!!

I didn't have my full daily allocation of juices because I was FULL!! 

My energy levels remained the same initially but towards the end of this week I would say they have increased. I didn't have headache as I expected.

Going forward I will slowly introduce food back into my diet, but in smaller portions and healthier snacks as this is where I have taken to eating cake etc. 

I need to organise my lunch for work and shall be eating slow release energy foods. As it says in the book, my body is looking forward to some healthy FOOD, not craving biscuits and cake at all - which I usually would.

I shall still be juicing -  replacing my cereal breakfast and one day a week I will be having a juice day.

I won't lie - it has been hard - when all the family tucked in to an Indian, gggrrr, but my reserve was strong ;-) Today in particular I am sick of juice haha! I was so happy when I got up on Day 5 and it was a different juice to start the day. There are variations of recipes to choose though :-)

But, the result's are definitely worth it. At the start the book advises measuring your arms, legs, waist etc. and weighing yourself. I didn't. We don't have scales and I forgot to measure, but I really don't think you need to. I know I have lost weight, my tummy is flat, my face is slimmer and so are the tops of my legs. Just the kick start I needed as I am not one to waste the hard work I have done this week!!

Have a wonderful weekend.
Thanks for dropping by.
XX

Juice Bar

Hi there! I have decided I need an overhaul, read I need to drop a few pounds :-) We all know our optimum weight and I am currently carrying quite a few excess pounds. I have read lots about juicing, including this book by Jason Vale, aka The Juicemaster and am convinced that this for me is the right route. I have never dieted in my life, but have some bad eating habits, mainly the refined sugar kind. For me it isn't just about dieting but making changes and getting out of the bad habits......

I bought myself the Fusion Juicer by Jason Vale and so far so good. His book is full of really good tips such as preparing all fruit first, having a bowl of hot soapy water ready to encourage you to clear up straight away, great as juicing can be a really messy business!!

So, I have started to try out different recipes from this funky juicing book and up to now I have only found one that I do not like :-)

The next part for me is going to be the hardest - I am planning to do the 7lbs in 7 days detox! I have booked this week off work and intend to detox my home as well as my life!! I shall be walking my dog, taking short runs and practicing Pilates during the week. And juicing LOTS. 

Jason also recommends setting up a juicing bar - this was fun! You can see mine below!

I am the person who wakes up wanting to eat my own arm - so wish me luck!! 

I'll report back here daily as to how I'm doing ;-)

Does anyone reading juice? Would you do a detox?
Please call back and see how I'm doing! :-)
XX

Around Here Lately

Life captured over the last couple of weeks - probably longer as I have had an awful sickness bug this week, but have woken with a smidge of energy this morning, so hope to be back later to share photo's from my beautiful Daughter's Baby Shower!  

Edamame beans enjoyed at Wagamama Manchester, quick, clean, tasty food!

Pukka tea drinking - so hard to choose a favourite....

Cinema visit to see 'Riot Club' - not what I expected - disappointing end and really a teen flick!! Popcorn was good though!!

Enjoyed some much deserved time out with Mr.L at a favourite Indian restaurant, I just adore the copper pot's, particularly when they could tell a story like this one below ;-)

A favourite pastime - choosing gift's - this one is definitely for a magpie's Daughter, although this magpie has read 'The Joy of Less' and things are changing....

Family walks in St.Anne's and having a picnic by the iconic windmill :-)

Juicing.......

& still painting my front door - this is undercoat - 2 layers of topcoat to go - like they say, 

if a job's worth doing and all that ;-)

So, where has life taken you recently?
Thanks for dropping by!
XX

Juicy Lifestyle

Hi there! I've missed this place :-)

I have recently started to 'juice' having read this book by Jason Vale, 
also known as The Juicemeaster.

It's a great book that not only encourages a healthy lifestyle but looks at changing mindset too and I have read it from cover to cover. 

I am taking small steps and enjoying trying some funky recipes having bought a Fusion Juicer (again a Vale product) and have to say it is wonderful.

Some days I have forgone my yummy cereal for a juice and have to say I have felt satisfied for longer than I normally would - often I'm reaching for a sugar fix mid morning - but not when I have had a juice :-) 

The recipe I have been making instead of breakfast has apple, celery, cucumber, avocado and ginger in and claims you will see a difference to waistline in a week. Vale also advises having a slice of unwaxed lemon in hot water first thing (something I often do anyway) and then taking a short run, prior to having the juice. This fits in with me as I have the pup to walk :-)

I need to get organised and do this on consecutive days......below are some pics of my first juicing session with the lovely 'S'

I always prepare all my fruit or veg first :-)

Orange going in.....

Orange coming out!!

Cheers!

We had a bit of a juicing session - juice number 2!!

Anyone else juicing a the moment?
What are your favourite recipes?
XX