Friday Dinner, Grilled chicken with wild rice & vegetables

Spinach, Asparagus, Wild Rice, Chicken breast, Baby Courgettes

Some of the ingredients for my dinner tonight, which I have to say was delicious but way too big, the dinner picture I have posted here, I didn't even manage to eat half of that and I was completely full to the brim.

Baby Courgettes (Yum!)

Wild Rice 

(Note: Wild rice needs to cook for up to an hour, so I decided to mix it with ordinary rice and it was done in 25 minutes)

The Finished Dinner

What I used:

2 chicken breast fillets (of which I could only eat one..) - I coated this lightly in soy sauce & teriyaki and grilled them for 4-5 minutes in my George Foreman grill.

1/4 cup of dry rice - boiled in 2 cups of water, boiled 25 mins.

A bowl of 1 handful spinach, broccoli stems, asparagus and baby courgettes, all steamed in the microwave for about 3-4 minutes in very little water.

4-5 plum tomatoes with pepper on.

And voila- healthy and extremely filling, no additives, just fresh loveliness :)

Like I said, I could only manage half of that plate full, all those vegetables filled me up a lot.

I might do a little post on what my boys had for dinner as that was really yummy too and both polished it off in no time.

Thanks for looking and if you have any questions - pop them below or find me on Twitter @chicbeauty_

Eat Clean- Get Lean- What's for dinner?

My Dinner Tonight

Hi all, I haven't been here for a very long time, ironically mostly because all my free time I spend at the gym, so not much time to update this and my other blog.

Having been toying with the idea for a while to change my blog up a bit, I thought what better way to start than to post a little bit about what I eat to stay healthy.

I have to admit that gone are my days of counting calories and worrying about that, instead I focus on eating good, non-processed foods and I try to practice a lot of positive thoughts, some of which are to do with being healthy, and my mindset has changed for the better.

If you are interested I shall keep a food diary here, as often as I can, it inspires myself, and in turn if it can inspire one or two other people, then that's a major bonus.

Tonights dinner consisted of:

Thai Green Spice Mix tossed with brown rice

King prawns

Pak Choi & chopped baby cabbage

Orange & Santini tomato salad

Steamed asparagus

It was totally delicious and I am full now..

If I fancy anything later I shall have an orange and a herbal tea.

See you again soon for the next food update :)

Until then, be well x

Gym update, measurements revisited 2 weeks on.

Morning 

I hope you're all keeping well?

 I thought I'd update you a bit since posting two weeks ago; I went full steam ahead at the gym and with my diet, I went to the gym every other day or in fact I had a pretty good week where I actually went 5 times and then last weekend -BAM- hit with the worst bout of illness I've had in years.

You know one of those where every muscle and every joint hurts, your skin hurts and light hurts- yes that! You feel as if you've done a round with Tyson and lost bitterly! Not great and I had to put gym on hold as I couldn't even physically drag myself off the sofa!

Went to the Doctor, got told I had a chest infection and am now on antibiotics.

Anyway my lovelies, I digress..

Today, trying on gym gear but actually there is no way I can go. 

No strength at all for it sadly so I shall sulk with daytime TV and wishing for the day I feel well enough again.

I decided to re-visit my measurements today as it's been two weeks since I did my first lot, and despite not having been able to go I am still dedicated to eating the right food and sticking to 1200 calories per day which I track on my fitness pal which is a fantastic online weight loss and exercise diary- check it out it really is most delightful to use.

This morning the old fashioned measuring tape came out and I have to say I was rather delighted with the results and I shall show you why below:

Measurements on the left are from 2/2/2012

Measurements on the right are taken today 17/2/2012

Right bicep: 27.5cm - Now 27cm = loss 0.5cm
Chest at nipple line: 90cm- Now 89cm = loss 1cm
Waist at belly button: 77cm- Now 74cm = loss 3cm
Hips at bone: 90cm - Now 88cm = loss 2cm
Right thigh: 58cm - Now 54cm = loss 4cm
Right calf: 37cm - now 35cm = loss 2cm

Total loss in cm 12.5 - or 5 inches

Weight: 148lb - Now 144lb = loss 4lb 

The gym appears to be paying off and I am loving it and can't wait to get back there and work up a sweat :)

I've joined a gym - here're my measurements & program.

Hey all,


Long time no see. Well that is because I have been a bit of a lazy one of late, but when it got to a point of me not liking to look at myself in the mirror naked, I had to take action and by pure fluke and chance I found a gym that has a creche- so I can put my smallest son in there whilst exercising. Lack of childcare had been my No 1 and only reason for not joining a gym in the last 2 years.
So here we are- I joined 9 days ago and so far have managed to go 5 times, today included.
It does take some organisation skill to organize and remember to book the creche in advance but I want this to work out so much that I have alarms in my phone to remind me to phone up and book slots for little man.


So really my aim is to lose 1 stone, but more importantly than that I just want to look and feel leaner and fitter.


My aim is to go every other day and mainly focus on all round body workouts each time, with the majority of the time and efforts spent on doing weights, with bursts of cadio.
Obviously I am only going to achieve my goal with a healthy diet so this is also changing.


I'll show you what I did today.


I  have got myself a notebook, a measuring tape and a good dose of willpower and have worked so hard in the last week I have really felt every muscle work.


To give you an idea - I have decided to post all my measurements here, and use this is a journal, and feel free to take ideas if you want.. Obviously just make sure you're fit to do so beforehand.

Me right now.

Height: 5"6

Weight: 10st 6

Right bicep: 10.5 inch
Chest at nipple line: 35 inch
Waist at belly button: 30 inch
Hips at bone: 35 inch
Right thigh: 22.8 inch
Right calf: 14.5 inch

My exercise routine for Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays is as follow: ( Rep = repetitions)


*Leg press 40kg - 12 repetitions X 3 times

*Shoulder press 7.5 kg 12 rep x 3 (This is very HARD)


*Leg curls 15kg 12 rep x 3


*Upper back 10kg 12 rep x 3


*Low row back 15kg 12 rep x 3


*Chest press 10kg 12 rep x 3 (very hard on last repetition)


*Tricep pull down on cable 20kg 12 rep x 2 (Can't physically do anymore as arms were BURNING)


*Lat pull down 20kg 12 x 3 (hard on 12th rep)


*Back extension 15 kg 12 rep x 3


*Pectoral press 10kg 12 rep x 3 (Very hard in last set could barely do the last 2 reps)


*Dumbbell 3kg lateral raises all done whilst lunging 12rep x 3


*Biceps 3kg dumbbell 12 rep x 3 all done whilst doing squats 


20 minutes on cross trainer -hard- out of breath / sweating. 


On floor ab crunches 12 x 2 


After that I stretch out and leave the gym.


I plan to go every Saturday or Sunday too and mainly on this day have a long stint of cardio, as I can't really do weights on the weekend as that will mean I am doing it straight after a day of weights or the day before weights- so weekend will be cardio, I like using a machine called The Wave, which really gets my heart pumping and sweat pouring.

I can't wait to feel and see the results and more than anything else I am LOVING being back in the gym again - I have missed it way more than I'd realized, it gives me such satisfaction and pleasure setting foot in a gym (saddo, I know)

So YAY- really exited for this new journey- anyone else joined  gym recently?

30 day ab challenge results.

Hello all,

I hope you all had a good November?

I had a challenging one, in more ways than one. 

My 30 day ab challenge on the whole went OK. There were days where there simply weren't enough hours in the day, and days where I was sore, so I didn't do any work. I was OK with doing my exercises - it was the food side I struggled with. Much as I keep telling myself I want to and need to eat GOOD, I do fall in with both feet now and again (too often).

But I am happy with my shape and weight now, so I need to live and be able to eat what I want in moderation (or at least that is what I have convinced myself).

I have plenty of new exercise DVDs that I shall continue doing and a new Swiss ball that I do my ab crunches on.

Swiss Ball Linkage

L: before- R: after

Not the biggest visual difference when standing like that, but when I lift my arms in a certain way (I know, so natural) I can see the six pack but there will always be a nice protective layer (of fat) over them -but my stomach has flattened down and my love handles at the back (jeans over spillage) has gone too.

I have in total gone down by 5lb from 1st November - 30th November.

It was a hard challenge and I am not sure I can commit myself to any other monthly challenges, as it felt so long and I wanted to have a break as I've been so busy with life.

 I am keen to see how all the other Team 30 Day Ab Challengers got on, so I am off to stalk their blogs now :)

I was wondering what kind of posts would be interesting on this part of the blog- perhaps some fitness DVD reviews?

Speak to you all soon xxx

Stina 

Day 10 of the 30 day ab challenge.. How am I doing?

Hi all,

I have been busy with the beauty part of my blog, so it's been so difficult to update here as well..

I have *mostly* stuck to my pledges to myself and I have done workouts every other day..

I could have been better with the food, but saying that, most days I do eat lots of raw vegetables and I do drink my water.. I think I need to have a little word with myself - and tighten up on the food side of things..

I have made a little video for you all, just telling you how I've been getting on and a general ramble :)

Enjoy ;)

Day two of the 30 day ab challenge & what I ate.

Evening :-)

Today we had a rest from the grueling ab workout of yesterday - I can assure you that the workout Melissa had filmed for us was NOT EASY. Half way through I screamed and cried (Well you get my drift).
It was a killer.. It shattered me and I went to sleep at 11pm and didn't wake again till 8am. 9 hours sleep for me is UNHEARD of.. I usually average 4-5 hours per night.

Today is a day of rest for those poor abs (even if it hadn't been a rest day I couldn't have done it again- abs are in agony today..)

So on Mel's advice I kept my posture in check today and walked tall and proud and went for a long walk with my very heavy toddler in his pushchair, up and down hills.

Day Two thrutheblue.me/2011/11/02/stay-woke

My food today has been as follows:

Breakfast- 30g of porridge oats mixed with hot water and topped with 1 sliced banana

Snack: small handful of almonds (No more than 10 or so)

Lunch: Humous and celery sticks + 1/2 a whole grain pitta containing lean ham slices & 1 boiled egg.

Snack: Raw radishes & a couple of chicken slices

Dinner as pictured

Spinach / Beetroot / Goats cheese salad

This salad consisted of:
fresh spinach
cherry tomatoes
cucumber
radishes
baby corn sliced
goats cheese
topped with seeds

Afterwards I had a 0% fat active danone yogurt. And I made sure I drank 2 liters of water today although today I had sparkly water as I prefer it to still.

This was a very yum food day and when I have felt the need to snack I have eaten raw veg!

So far so good and I am now "excited" to see what tomorrow brings x