Wednesday 25 February 2015

What I Ate Wednesday #6

Happy Wednesday! Hope you are having a great day. What did you eat today? 


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Throughout the day I consumed water and tea!

***Breakfast*** 

 5 medium oat pancakes drizzled with agave nectar.


***Snack*** 

Green smoothie. (recipe)

***Lunch***

Chicken and Veg soup. (store bought) 

***
Dinner***

Roast potatoes with stuffed turkey, brussel sprouts, parsnips drizzled with gravy.

"No man in the world has more courage than the man who can stop eating after one peanut." -Channing Pollock






Sunday 22 February 2015

Running 101

Running is a very popular exercise as it's not only beneficial to your entire body but your mind. It's also free and requires little to no skill. Meet Alex a 15 year old Irish Runner.




  • When and why did you take up running?

I started running in a club when I was 11 because my older brother trained there and I thought it would be fun.

  • What has your experience been like with running so far?
My experiences with running have been very good in the past, runners are far nicer and 
friendlier than cyclists, triathletes and swimmers from what I can see.

  • Is it as hard as everyone thinks it is?
It mostly isn't as hard as people think it is some people just say that as an excuse for being lazy, although it does require consistent training. the hardest part is actually going out to run..The running itself is fun, but to actually motivate yourself to go outside and do it especially in bad weather is the hardest part.

  • What would you recommend for those who want to start running?
I'd recommend people who want to start running to go to their nearest club with some friends, You'll enjoy going down to it if your friends are there too. Also enter races and competitions because you need to race to improve.

  • Alex's Achievements
7K All-Ireland Champion

7th in British and Irish Mountain running championships


I find having a good pair of earphones takes my mind off running. Click here for my review on the best pair for exercising.


"In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say, 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that." -Fred Lebow, NYC marathon co-founder.

Wednesday 18 February 2015

What I Ate Wednesday #5

Hey everyone! Hope your day has been going well. 

I drank fruit infused water and tea throughout the day! 

***Breakfast***

Porridge topped with sliced bananas, blueberries, dried fruit and linseeds.

***Pre-workout***

Rye crispbread with mashed banana and dried fruit and chia seeds.

***Workout***

Abs, arms and lower back. (Strength training)

***Post-workout***

Kale and quinoa stir fry with veg and sunny side up egg.

***Dinner***

Turkey burger on whole wheat english muffin and sweet potato chips served with side salad.

"To avoid criticism, say nothing do nothing be nothing" -Aristotle


Sunday 15 February 2015

When is the Best Time to Workout?

Honestly, it depends when your able to give it your all. After school/ work might be your best time, but it's not mine. I prefer to train in the morning because;
  1. It wakes me up better than any coffee. 
  2. It releases endorphins that make you happy, thus lifting your mood.
  3. Sets my day to aim to eat healthy because of the earlier workout. 
  4. It gives me a burst of energy that I can use to travel the world on a carpet, Aladdin style.


It's not to shame afternoon/evening workouts but it's proven that those who train in the morning are more likely to stick to that routine. One of my clients said "I love going to your bootcamp in the morning because when I come home I've got my workout done before 10am." 

How do I find time to workout in the morning? 

Go to sleep earlier, having sleeping problems? I reviewed an all natural night time tea. Sleep is where all the magic happens. It's when your muscles rebuild and restore itself. I recommend 8-9 hours daily. If you make time to train harder, your body will find time to feel and look great.

When do you workout best? 


"Just finished my morning workout, feels good to start the day off right" 


Thursday 12 February 2015

Healthy Valentine's Day Breakfast Recipes

These two recipes are inspired by Valentine's Day. Enjoy!



Ingredients:

1 banana.
2 small eggs.
1/3 cup of oats.
Blueberries and honey to garnish.

Recipe:

Blend ingredients and place onto lightly oiled saucepan (olive oil) at gas mark 4. Use heart shaped mould to create heart pancakes, remove mould and flip after a minute. Continue with remaining batter. 





Ingredients:

2 eggs.
Brown bread.
Hummus.

Recipe:

Crack open an egg in heart shaped mould on a lightly oiled saucepan at gas mark 7. Season with salt and pepper. After a minute remove mould and flip. Toast bread for 2 minutes and use hummus as your condiment. 

That's the end of my Valentine's Day 2015 series. Click here for my last post. I hope you all have a happy and healthy Valentine's Day! 


"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast. It is not proud" - 1st Corinthians 13:4

Sunday 8 February 2015

Smoothie Sunday #4 Valentine's Day Edition

Hey everyone! I hope you are all well and good. Unfortunately I was sick during the week. I feel better now, so I am really excited to be back blogging. 

So it's that time in February again. People either love or hate Valentine's day. Personally I think it's a fantastic holiday were people can place loved ones at forefront of their minds. It's also the day where chocolates are given and Ben and Jerry's are half price. If you are planning on stocking up on ice-cream and sitting in front of the TV Saturday night, you should try something different, and by that I mean something healthier. 

Today I am going to share a recipe with you that will naturally satisfy your sweet tooth cravings. The key ingredient in this recipe are raspberries, blackberries and strawberries. These are citrus fruits high in vitamin C. When you eat natural whole foods you will feel better from the inside out I promise you! 


Ingredients:

Small handful of mixed berries. (fresh or frozen)
1 chopped banana.
2 tablespoons of natural yoghurt.
5 tablespoons of coconut water.
1/2 a teaspoon of vanilla extract. 
Ice cubes.
Dessicated coconut and raspberries to garnish. (optional)

Method:

Blend all the ingredients together. All blenders are different so modify it to suit your desired consistency. 

"Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love" -1st John 4:8 



Wednesday 4 February 2015

What I Ate Wednesday #4

Hey everyone! Happy Wednesday, I really hope you enjoy these posts. What did you eat today?


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I drank water and tea throughout the day!

***Breakfast***

Oatmeal with banana, chia seeds and peanut butter.

***Lunch***

Strawberry Smoothie.

***Pre-workout snack***

Two slices of brown soda bread with peanut butter and raisins.

***Post workout (dinner)***

Mash potatoes with stuffed turkey and carrots and parsnips.

***Workout of the day***

Gym work (leg day)

"Shipping is a terrible thing to do to veg, they probably get jet-lagged just like people" -Elizabeth Berry



Sunday 1 February 2015

The Alchemy Juice Co.

Hey guys, I decided to do a lifestyle post today! Yesterday I attended a nut milk demo hosted by Susan Jane White in The Alchemy Juice Co. Susan is an Irish nutritional cook and the author of The Extra Virgin Kitchen, she's also a Sunday Independent food columnist. She demonstrated making your own nut milk by blending almonds and cashews. They both tasted amazing. She has such a lovely personality and is very knowledgeable about health. 


It was my first time visiting Alchemy. I met the owner Domini and she was so kind. The staff are all so approachable and friendly you'll feel right at home.The place is super clean and the environment is chilled. They have a great menu offering juices, smoothies, teas and coffees, baked goods, salads, soups and healthy snacks.

I tried their juices and they tasted amazing. My favourite was the carrot and ginger. It was sweet to taste yet super nutritious. I really like the fact that you can walk in and eat without having endless nutritious facts shoved down your throat. They cater for veggies, vegans, coeliacs, ketogenics, dairy free, sugar free and paleo individuals.

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Their products aren't cheap, but for the price you pay it is worth it. I'm a huge believer in investing in your health now to prevent paying medical costs when your older. If you are ever in the Dublin area, Alchemy is located on the 2nd floor of BT2 on Grafton Street. 

"It would be nice if the Food and Drug Administration stopped issuing warnings about toxic substances and just gave me the names of one or two things still safe to eat." -Robert Fuoss