Even though it was bitterly cold this morning the sunshine certainly made it feel like spring is on its way!

I started my day with 5 minutes of yoga / meditation. I’ve been doing this for the last few days and it has been amazing. I just sit in child’s pose and go over the day ahead and try and focus my mind a bit. Then I do a few yoga poses, whatever feels right each morning. This morning I went into down dog, then low lunge, warrior 2, bound side angle pose, chaturanga, up ward facing dog and back into down dog to repeat on the other side. I finished off in child’s pose again and just said a few affirmations. Honestly it makes me feel so much better taking that 5 minutes to start my day.

Breakfast was some quinoa porridge (1/2 cup of quinoa flakes, 1 tsp chia seeds, 1 tbsp of oat bran, 1/2 cup of vanilla rice milk, 1 cup of water and brown rice syrup) with 1 chopped apple, fresh blueberries, pecans and maple syrup:

I also enjoyed a maple walnut coffee, so good!

I’m trying to drink more miso soup so I started lunch with a mug of barley miso then had my salad which contained lettuce, spinach, carrot, sugar snap peas, beets, alfalfa sprouts and a sliced wild garlic tofu fillet:

I also had an orange and more blueberries:

Mid afternoon I snacked on a couple of delicious cookie dough balls:

I then hit the gym and did 30 minutes of HIITs on the cross trainer and step machine followed by my abs and core – almost unbelievably I managed a 2 MINUTE PLANK HOLD! I was buzzing, I’ve met my goal of holding a 2 minute plank already! I then did my 30 minute spin class :-)

Dinner was 2 big mushrooms stuffed with some veggie loaf and baked in the oven. I also had some parsnip chips and steamed greens with braggs, mixed seeds and herbamare seasoning:

Dessert was 2 chopped apples and 3 strawberries topped with a Total strawberry spilt pot yoghurt and some grape nuts:

This was lush! I was worried the strawberry sauce would have been too sweet but it was perfect, especially with the fresh fruit.

Spring wardrobe review

Now that the weather should hopefully start to warm up I’ve been thinking about my wardrobe and what existing clothing and accessories I’ll be trying to get some wear out of as well as what wardrobe updates I’ll be on the look out for. As I’m on a budget I need to make the best use of what I have!

At the moment I’m living in leggings, boots, longer length tops, dresses and cardigans. I’m looking forward to breaking out of my style rut with a couple of new looks. Things that I love that I already own include my neutral colour blazer, my breton stripe tee (I adore breton stripe!), grey converse and my denim shirt dress. Matched up with a few new pieces and I should be set for spring!

 Loafers: Dorothy Perkins £32, Wide leg trousers: Topshop £42, Pointed pumps: ASOS £25, Red ballet t bars: urban outfitters £28, Floral skirt: New Look £21.99, Swallow bird earrings: Republic £4.99

I love wide leg pants as a change to all the skinny jeans and slim leg trousers I’ve been wearing. I also love the floral print skirt for wearing with the striped tee or plain vest tops, tights and cardigans until it gets warmer. I’m desperate for some new shoes and the pointed flats and red shoes have straps across the foot which is great as normal pumps just end up falling off my feet! I quite fancy a pair of cheap loafers too and I’m always looking out for animal themed jewellery like these swallow earrings!

What will you be wearing this spring?

Still buzzing from my 2 minute plank hold :-) Catch you later!

I kicked off Tuesday with a new strength routine! Last month I went from doing my strength training in the form of DVD workouts to using free weights and doing my own routine. I have really enjoyed it and have seen good results so I’ve decided to continue with my own routine but change up some of the exercises now that I have progressed (but are stuck with my set weight home dumbbells). Thanks again to the brilliant Alison for the advice and guidance!

Warm up – jumping jacks, bum kicks, running on the spot, skipping (5 minutes)

• Traveling Kneeling push ups (15 reps body weight)
• Single leg deadlift (10 reps each leg with 2 x 4.5kg db)
• Lateral raise with squat (15 reps with 2 x 2.3kg db)
• Bent over row (15 reps with 2 x 4.5kg db)
• Forward lunges with twist (10 x each leg with 1 x 4.5kg db)
• Backwards lunges with bicep curl (10 x each leg with 2 x 2.3kg db)
• Tricep dip (15 reps body weight)
• Upright row with sumo squat (15 reps with 2 x 4.5kg db)
• Woodchop (10 reps each side with 1 x 4.5kg db)
• Dumbbell pullover on stability ball (15 reps with 4.5kg db)
• Cardio interval – jumping jacks, bum kicks, running on the spot, skipping (2 minutes)

x 3 sets – no rest between exercises or sets

This was an excellent workout it really challenged me – I was sweating buckets by the end! Breakfast was a big smoothie in a bowl containing purple kale, 1/2 banana, frozen cherries and mixed berries, soy milk, tbsp of coconut flour, ground flax, spirulina, matcha green tea powder and maca powder:

I topped it with goji berries and granola and also enjoyed a delicious blueberry cosy tea (really loving these teas by the way).

Lunch was leftover tofu sausage and tomato rice with lots of spinach and a bowl of cherries:

Mid afternoon I snacked on a large portion of high protein hummus with a raw cracker and veggies for dipping:

Pre yoga snack was two cookie dough balls:

My yoga class was not held last week which handily coincided with my week off work but I was glad to get back to it tonight. The instructor said that we would be trying a forearm stand at the end, so throughout the session we did postures to really work our arms, shoulders and back. There was no way I was going to be able to manage the forearm stand but practicing some postures like Dolphin Pose left me knackered and has given me some serious DOMS today! 

When I got home I decided a bowl of porridge was in order. I used 1/2 cup of oats, tablespoon of oat bran, 2 cups of water and slow cooked on the stove. I then decided to add a tablespoon of my new vanilla hemp protein powder. On one hand I couldn’t taste it, however it did make the porridge go a very unappetising colour! I also added agave for sweetness and a big tablespoon of raw brazil cacao bliss. I had two chopped pink lady apples (went back for another after this one):

Despite the colour the porridge tasted great!

This morning I made up a big bowl of 10 grain hot cereal with soy milk and water then added agave, two chopped plums and a big tablespoon of hazelnut butter:

I also had a cup of black maple walnut coffee sweetened with agave. The hot cereal was gorgeous, the hazelnut butter went very melty, so good!

Lunch was an attempted recreation of my meal last week at the scrumpy willow and singing kettle:

Quinoa, grape and walnut salad (vegan, makes two large servings)

• 1 cup of quinoa, rinsed
• 2 cups of vegetable stock
• 1/2 small red cabbage finely sliced
• 6 spring onions finely chopped
• Large handful of parsley, finely chopped
• 1 cup of grapes, chopped in half
• 1/4 cup of walnuts, chopped

Dressing:

• 1 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil (I used my cool oil)
• 1 tsp of Dijon mustard
• 3 tbsp of apple cider vinegar

Cook the quinoa in the vegetable stock until all the stock has been absorbed. Allow to cool. Mix in the rest of the ingredients. Add the dressing ingredients to a bowl or screw top jar and whisk or shake to combine. Pour over the quinoa and mix well:

I had mine on top of a big pile of lettuce. Such a tasty and filling salad, all the ingredients worked together really well. I also had an orange and sliced kiwi:

Mid afternoon snack was a peanut butter Clif bar:

I hadn’t had this flavour Clif bar before and it tasted fab! Next time I have enough money for an iHerb or wiggle order I’ll be getting more of these!

I ended up getting stuck late back at work so made the decision to cut my planned gym workout short. I think I made the right decision as once I got to the gym I had some serious DOMS in my butt, shoulders, back and triceps. I did 30 minutes of HIITS on the step machine, cross trainer and bike followed by my abs and core exercises. I left out my usual 30 minute treadmill run and plank holds (my triceps would not have managed them at all!) My plan is to do my run and planks tomorrow instead. The DOMS have left my muscles feeling really weak so I know I made the right decision to take it a little easier and make it up tomorrow instead.

Dinner was stir fried leek, red cabbage, carrot, mushroom, red pepper and spring greens with adzuki beans, ginger, soy sauce and gomasio:

Sometimes a big plate of stir fried veggies is just spot on! Dessert was The Raw Chocolate Company Seriously Dark Loaded Raw Chocolate and 2 sliced pink lady apples:

This chocolate tasted immense! Definitely the most like regular chocolate out of all the raw chocolates I have tasted. It has a lovely crunchy texture and creamy intense taste, gorgeous!

So glad I decided to take it a bit easier tonight and not rush through my workout. Do you stick to your training plan no matter what or are you happy change things when your not feeling it? Its actually quite a big deal for me to change a workout, usually I stick to my training plan no matter what which probably isn’t the best attitude to have!

Well I am going to spend some time with my foam roller now me thinks! Hope your having a great week!

Firstly, thanks for all the comments to my last post. I’ve taken on board what some of you have said regarding my weight loss and I’m in the process of writing up a post with all my thoughts and feelings on the topic of weight maintenance and the problems I’ve been having, so hopefully it will make for an interesting read!

Today we popped over to Newcastle, but first I’ll update on yesterday.

Although I’m off I still wanted to get a workout in, and I don’t like to go to far from my usual routine anyway, so I was at the gym early. I did HIITs on the cross trainer and step machine for 20 minutes each separated by 15 minutes x 2 of HIITs on the bike for a really good cardio workout. I then did my usual abs and core exercises, my plank is now up to 1 minute 20 sec!

Breakfast was a bowl of porridge made with quinoa flakes, Rude Health Fruity Date oat mix, oat bran, kara coconut milk and water. I topped it with some blueberries and pomegranate seeds:

I also had another green juice, I am just loving these at the mo!

This one contained 2 apples, cos lettuce, cucumber, celery, kale, lemon, ginger.

I was a bit stuck for what to make for lunch so I consulted my ‘recipes to try’ list (I get inspired so often I keep a list of things that take my fancy!) For ages I have wanted to try making Socca. I’ve seen it come up again recently on a couple of blogs so I thought I’d give it ago:

Simple Socca – makes one large or two small socca

• 1/2 cup of chickpea / gram flour
• 1/2 cup of water
• Any spices, herbs etc (I added a little cumin)
• Oil for frying (I used coconut oil)

Mix the flour and water together and fry in the oil on a medium high heat like a pancake. Flip when bubbles begin to show and cook the other side.

I served my socca with stir fried kale, mushrooms, courgette and a tahini sauce made with tahini, lemon juice, soy sauce and water:

This was fab! I can see myself making these again and again – it would be great with hummus and roast veggies (although I think a non chickpea hummus would be nice to avoid chickpea overload, although personally I love my chickpeas!), nut butter and fruit or even made up like a pizza with a tomato sauce and veggies. Have you tried Socca before? For more info on socca see the Pure 2 Raw twins Socca 101 post.

I also had an orange with some pomegranate seeds:

Mid afternoon I tried out another tasty recipe: Mama Peas Cookie Dough Balls. I followed the recipe exactly but used cacao nibs instead of chocolate chips:

Oh my word these are wonderful! I had two with a cuppa for my mid afternoon snack and popped the rest in the freezer.

Dinner was a quick super salad with lettuce, cucumber, carrot, green pepper, sprouts, sprouted beans and a sweet miso dressing (sweet miso, apple cider vinegar, cool oil):

I love these big salads! Dessert was 2 fresh figs, blueberries and Conscious Goji and Coconut raw chocolate:

Today I started with my Tuesday resistance workout (with the reps up to 17). It actually felt reasonably easy today so I think its time to change it up to be a little more challenging. As I’m working with my fixed weight dumbbell sets I can’t do much with the weight, and the reps are already high, so I’m thinking of changing the exercises to a more challenging version, for example my half push up to a travelling half push up and lunge to a lunge with rotation.

Breakfast was a chocolate cherry green monster containing kale, frozen cherries, chocolate sun warrior, kara coconut milk, spirulina, matcha green tea powder, maca powder and xanthan and guar gums for a little added thickness. I topped it with some Bear Coco Cherry Pie granola and flaked almonds:

As soon as we got into town we made a bee line for Starbucks! I had a gorgeous Grande Soy Gingerbread Latte and it was divine:

My first coffee in a month and it was oh so good!

After coffee I headed to Newcastle’s independent health food store Almonds and Raisins. I haven’t been in for a while and it has really seemed to up its game, the stock range was fantastic, in fact a lot of the stuff I thought I would have to order via Goodness Direct they stock. I was over the moon and couldn’t resist a little splurge:

 Vegetable and brown rice pasta, tofu fillets, sheese cheddar style vegan cheese, organic barley miso paste, Dr Organic body lotion, black rice noodles, organic wild rice mix, clear spot plain organic tofu, gomasio (a Japanese condiment made from sesame seeds and salt)

For lunch we visited a wonderful little cafe called scrumpy willow and the singing kettle. They serve lots of organic and locally sourced food with plenty of well marked vegan and vegetarian options alongside dishes with meat. It has a really charming interior:

The food options were excellent and I had difficultly deciding what to get. I decided to go for one of the specials: quinoa and red grape salad with toasted nuts and beetroot:

This was gorgeous, it also contained plenty of parsley, red cabbage, spring onion and a lovely mustard dressing. I think I may try recreating this at home! I also had the karma kooler juice which contained apple, ginger and mint:

It was so sweet I actually asked the owner if he had added sugar which he hadn’t. So delicious! James was happy too as he had a cheese and ham omelette, but he said it wasn’t as good as the ones I make bless him! I was grateful that he was happy to eat here as I don’t often get the opportunity to eat out at more vegan friendly places, I need a vegan dining partner! I really loved this little place and can see that it will become a favourite of mine.

For a mid afternoon snack I had a Ryvita pumpkin and oat cracker with sunflower seed butter and a chopped apple:

Dinner was some buckwheat noodles that I had bought from an oriental store ages ago plus stir fried kale, courgette, carrot, green pepper, mushrooms and edamade with some shoyu, fresh ginger and a sprinkling of the gomasio I bought earlier:

I love a good stir fry and the noodles and gomasio made this extra tasty. Dessert was 2 chocolate avocado cups from the freezer with a nectarine and an apple:

I’ve had such a brilliant couple of days so far on my week off and I’m still feeling great – I just seem to have loads of energy and positivity (despite the issues I touched on yesterday) at the moment!

Tomorrow we are off down to York for a couple of days and I can’t wait for the little break! I love taking short breaks just to get away from it all for a while, do you take mini breaks? Where’s your favourite short break destination?