Friday Free Day + a Fabulous Sister

Ok firstly I'd like to say THANK YOU so much for your kind words about my back, I know it has
been tedious the last couple of months, me going on but it looks like the worst is over so smiles all the way from now on! Secondly I have NO INTERNET! at home so I am currently at my sisters getting this post in before I start work so forgive me for the large amount of photos and the few words!

I am rewinding to yesterday first:

I started my day with the usual boiled egg, workout fuel! After I got on my way to the gym for a workout before work.

10 minutes cross trainer to warm up
50 minutes weight session
planks
stretch

I took breaky to work overnight oats with soya yogurt, cinnamon, apple and hazelnuts

Delish!

Ok so I'm going to be honest if you can recall my Makeover March post I said no chocolate or candy hmmmmmm I took a free day, its been nearly 2 weeks so I figured that would be ok as long as I got back to it today. I'm not going to beat myself up I think I'm doing pretty well! We got free chocolate sent to work because our company has won the best employer award so I thought it would be rude to not join in the chocolate fun!?

Lunch was steamed veggies with wafer thin turkey in a chili and tomato sauce

I ate this while reading company magazine I don't usually buy this mag but I had to yesterday as my sister was in it!!!!!!!!!

She is in the top 50 design blogs in the WORLD!

Jes and her fabulous home!

I was so excited when I picked it up from the shelf I let out a little squeal! Opps

I decided to go with the free day flow and honor Tina's cookie Friday

It was worth it! I love Nanas!!!!!!!!

After work I met my friend Wayne for a coffee and a gossip, he just went to see Lady Ga Ga, jealous! I had a soya coffee : )

I walked home and when I got there I was pleasantly surprised to have a fresh GF loaf waiting for me from my papa, I had a slice with hummus whlie I cooked dinner

Dinner was the last of my soup and toast with marmite and soya marg

I added some extra soya n=beans to my soup, gooooooooooood!

Pudding - chocolate orange protein ice cream yummy!

Continuing with the free day vibe I ate some minstrels they were worth every calorie!

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On to today:

I started the day with some porridge with fresh blueberries, almond and linseed butter and yogurt

I also had a boiled egg

The blueberries really made this fab!

All mixed up into a yogurt mess a la Janetha

Right I have to get ready to go to work I'm cutting it fine, I think I may even invest in a 30 day dongle I can't live without the internet! Saddo maybe do I care no!

Have a good Saturday! x x

Questions:

What do you think of my free Friday? Am I forgiven?

I'm thinking its Saturday a new day and anyway I think I earned my little binge!?

Could you live without the internet?

I honestly feel nervous about not having it! I love the net and I love to blog!
I want to read up on all the posts I've missed.........hmmmmmmm a dongle is sounding good!

No Pain and Everything to Gain

I have to start by saying I'm so HAPPY! I went to the gym today and my first pain free workout
since hurting my back!!!!!!!!!!! More on this later just had to say that!

On to my eats, I started the day with some carob and cherry custard porridge. This was tasty but
I think it will be my last batch of custard porridge........

I had a yolk left from my omelet yesterday and thought I'd throw it in my porridge. The flavor is just a little bit to strong for me. I added some cherry jam and it kinda disguised it as did the almond and linseed butter : )

After breakfast I had a driving lesson before work, it went pretty well I just need to work on my confidence big time!

I had a busy morning at work and the day just flew by, before I knew it 1.30pm came round and I was starving! I was glad to get my teeth into a tasty rice salad with some wafer thin turkey

I also made a dressing from walnut oil and balsamic vinegar it was perfect

I also had a protein bar, these are so good the buckwheat groats were a great addition.
I also had an apple before leaving to go to the gym

My pain free workout:

20 minutes cross trainer intervals - L8 fast 2min - L12 slow 1 min
10 minutes bike set on random L9
20 minutes stepper - L7 3 min - L8 2 min - L9 2 min - L10 2 min - L12 1 min x2
crunches stretch

A fab pain free workout with my body gaining strength it felt so good!

I walked home from the gym and when I got in I needed something pronto!
Marmite and almond/linseed butter sarni was just the ticket!

I got this giant jar of apple sauce today no added sugar : )
I'm looking forward to using this in some baked goods...................

Dinner was homemade soup, steamed veggies and rice cakes with soya marg. I also had
some hummus for dipping my veggies in yum!

For pud I made orange and chocolate ground rice pud topped with soya yogurt. I added more water for some extra volume. I love ground rice it makes the perfect pud!

Orange and Chocolate Ground Rice Pudding

1/4 c ground rice
LL milk + water
raisins + coconut
cocoa + agave
natural orange flavor
soya yogurt + cinnamon

I didn't measure I just throw in the ingredients it turned out great and I don't think you could get it wrong!

10 minutes till American Idol yay! I'm going to get up and get to the gym early for a weight workout so time to chill night x x

Questions:

Do you use ground rice?

I love it! I can make low fat and sugar puds that taste fab so its a winner for me!

Whats your favorite weight machine, or do you like free weights?

I prefer free weights with squats and lunges, I can't wait till I can get back to body pump.
I think I should be fit enough in the next couple of weeks!!!!!!

Throw It In and Hope For The Best

Hey hey hey how's it going?! I'm good, had the day off so it was always going to be a good day!
It seems there are some mixed reviews on maca, I love it but each to their own! I recommend all to give it a go and make your mind up for yourself.

Anyways lets get to the foods that past my lips today, I started my day with a creamy bowl of porridge I added a slice apple today and it was delish, I also had a boiled egg : )
I spent my morning washing, drying and straightening the locks then speed walked to the gym to get a quick 1/2 hr on the cross trainer before my dental appointment. The words root canal are not my friend right now, but whatever I need to stop the pain will have to be done! I walked home after the dentist and suddenly felt ravenous!

It was nearly lunch time so I just had a slice of GF toast with marmite and hummus, great combo!

I had a favorite for lunch, homemade soup, beets and rice cakes with soya spread and marmite.
I also had a protein bar but you guys know what those bad boys look like! After lunch I went out for my driving lesson we got out on the open road, I need to get used to speed but to tell you the truth it's bloody scary! I popped in to see my papa after and we bought my month insurance for my new car which means Saturday I get to take it for a spin! Crazy!

I had a little snack when I returned home rice cake marmite (its been a marmite kinda day!) and homemade almond and linseed butter. Yummy this was tasty I made this today I think I prefer plain almond butter but I'm not complaining this is nice

I felt like experimenting for dinner and while I chopped my veg I had a starter of broccoli stalk with a little seasoning on. I cut the sides off the broccoli stalk and eat the inside so good you must try the is snack its so refreshing!

My experiment was this lentil omelet, it turned out fabulously especially with a dollop of hummus and ketchup (not pictured!)

Lentil Omelet

1 egg + 1 egg white
1/3 c. red split lentils
1 crushed garlic clove
then I throw in some mixed herbs + turmeric

I will definitely be making this again it was so tasty

Whats this a new protein bar recipe?! Yep it is indeed:

Cherry Chocolate Protein Bars

1 c buckwheat groats (cooked and drained)
2 scoops vanilla hemp protein powder
2 scoops chocolate soya protein powder
1/2 cup cherry no added sugar jam
2tbsp almond + linseed butter
1/3 c raisins
2 tsp cocoa
1 tbsp maca chips
1/3 c coconut
2 tbsp ground hemp seeds
a little LL milk to bind

This made a HUGE amount of batter I literally throw everything in without measuring so I guessed the amounts for this post but I guess just go with what you feel is best. They turned
out great so good and the texture from the buckwheat groats is so good, I actually didn't realize how much 1 cup would be it makes loads so this could be lowered, but all in all a fab batch, and just what I needed for pud another one may have passed my lips ummmm..........

I'm now chillaxing in my bed, its really windy and cold outside, I have my electric blanket warming me and American Idol on the TV, good night : )

Questions:

Do you drive? What did you find scary when you were learning or did you just love it?

I actually never wanted to drive but if I want my dream job this is a stepping stone that needs to be conquered so I gotta get to it!

Do you have a favorite grain?

I love quinoa, buckwheat, brown rice and oats!

Photo Overload!

Yay! My photos have uploaded! That's lots of photos too, hope your ready for my uber photo post! It seems you can understand my sadness when the mac doesn't want to play ball.

So lets start with today shall we, and what a fab day I have had. I woke up early and discovered
an email from this lovely lady telling me I had won this fabulous giveaway! I can't believe it,
this is my first giveaway winning and what a great first it is! I made an egg to give me gym
energy then walked to the gym to get a workout in before work

20 minutes cross trainer
sets of squats, lunges and free weights
10 minutes stepper
crunches
stretch

I arrived at work to find my maca parcel had arrived! Yay I love the malty taste of maca

I bought some more powder and also decided to try these maca chips I'll let ya know how they go

I was pretty hungry after my workout so I popped to marks and sparks to get a fruit tray including grapes, mango and pineapple slices to accompany my first.........

Breakfast Cookie! I based my recipe on this one but changed it round a little. Yummy thus was so good I will definitely making this again, its perfect for breakfast on the go. Work ticked over during the morning and got busy over lunch, I hate it when that happens!

When I finally got lunch it was worth the wait. GF toasted hummus sarni with raw veggies

Followed by a protein bar. This is such a good lunch, fills me up till dinner.
I got a lift home after work as I had so much stuff to carry, I bought loads today, veggies, milk
my maca......

I made some soup when I got in and before whizzing it up I decided to have some with my beef mince in tomato and chili sauce it was a great dinner indeed

swede cabbage and celery curried yum

Pud - choco protein ground rice topped with milk and a spoon of almond butter, goooooooood!

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Yesterday

I'm just going to run through the eats

Started the day with a boil egg, loving my egg cup, its mine from when I was tiny

Chocolate protein smoothie

Topped with coconut and pumpkin seeds

Strawberry + apple smoothie

Stir fried veggies with organic chicken breast, hummus, toast and almond butter

and of course a protein bar!

Soya yogurt with chocolate hazelnut crumble

mashed swede with veggies in tom and garlic sauce and more hummus!

Milky pud topped with pear puree and chia seeds

Good eats don't ya think?!

10 minutes and the vampire diaries is on so gotta get snuggled in bed for it me thinks.
I have the day off tomorrow and have a driving test plus need to right up the last of my 6th assignment. My dad has also offered to give me his free weights so we're digging them out of storage : )

Questions:

Do you use maca?

I do and I love it! I'm also hoping it will help with my crazy hormones!

Favorite sandwich filling?

I hardly ever eat them but lately I've been getting down with hummus and its a winner!