A recommendation...

For those sports/exercise enthusiasts amongst you - I'd really recommend signing up to the SportPursuit website (link below). They have great deals on a huge range of sports and exercise equipment and clothing, with the guaranteed best price. The stock is the end of season stuff, so unless you're bothered about having this seasons specific style or colour then its the place to get great deals particularly on branded clothing that would otherwise cost a small fortune. Walking, climbing, running, cycling, swimming, skiing...you name it at some point, they'll sell it :) 

Recommend someone to the website and if they purchase something you'll get £10 off your next order too...can't be bad :) Genuinely haven't got an ulterior motive for posting this at all (although they definitely owe me for this!), I've just benefited from using it and thought others might find it useful too. 

Anyway have a nosy and see what you think - new offers and sales come up every few days so check it regularly for their newest stock and if you see something, get in there quick! It doesn't last long! 

Happy browsing (and maybe shopping!).

http://www.sportpursuit.com/sales

The joy of...chickpeas!!

Lately I am loving chickpeas for many reasons!

1) They are a great source of protein, containing a similar amount to meat which is great for vegetarians and can also be a cheaper option to buying meat. They also don't contain the saturated fats that meat does.

2) Protein keeps you fuller for longer so adding chickpeas into meals can help you avoid snacking on less healthy options later on.

3) Being full of fibre they are great anyway but especially for anyone with digestive problems.

4) They contain a high amount of iron - especially good for those at risk of anaemia and those who do a lot of exercise.

5) They have a low GI value - meaning they don't shoot your sugar levels up which stabilises your appetite.

6) They're really easy to use in lots of cooking! Either add them in to a meal or salad with meat or substitute them for meat.

7)...AND my husband GENUINELY said he prefers them to chicken and he LOVES his meat! That's a winner in my eyes!

Here's a really simple recipe I've used them for recently, as a supplement for chicken in Thai green curry.

Ingredients: (based on 2 people)
1 Onion
Mushrooms
Chickpeas (pre soaked in water)
Pepper
1 small tin Sweetcorn
Broccoli cut into small pieces (salad size)
1/2 tin Chickpeas
Thai green curry paste
Cream cheese
Milk
Rice

Put the rice on to boil. Chop all the vegetables and fry together in a pan. Drain the chickpeas and add to the mix. Add 3-5 teaspoons (depending on how strong you like it) of Thai green curry paste and stir in. Add 2tbsps cream cheese and about 200ml milk - or enough to make a sauce. Let the cream cheese melt and stir together. If the sauce doesn't thicken combine a tablespoon of cornflour with a few drops of water and whilst the curry is bubbling stir it in. Drain the rice and serve.

Almondy protein bar/dessert

This is a recipe I have slightly adapted from a blog I read recently. It definitely has a distinctive flavour but if you're wanting to cut down on refined sugar but still have a sweet craving I would recommend it - anyway you need to try things a few times before you decide you don't like it so don't give up straight away! ;)

I would recommend making it and then trying it the next day - I wasn't keen on it the day I made it but by the next day it had seemed to sweeten over night and I think it tastes like a less sweet banana cake. If it really is far too unsweetened for you maybe try adding 1tbsp of honey or 1tsp xylitol to it.

Ingredients: (obviously double/triple for a bigger batch, this will make about 8slices)
1-2 bananas
1 egg
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
Pinch salt
130g almond flour
60g frozen or fresh blueberries or cranberries.

In a bowl whisk the egg and oil together. Add in the mashed banana. Then add the dry ingredients and mix together. Spread into either a cake tin or a glass dish (as pictured below) and sprinkle the berries over the top. Bake at 180C for about 25 mins or until the top is browned.

Motivation

Sitting here at my dining table eating a large ramekin full of yogurt looking at the rain pouring outside, it's hard to remember how beautifully sunny it was this morning. For the first time in what feels like a long long time the sun was out and it actually felt warm! I couldn't wait to get outside and enjoy it, so off I went for a run. So glad I did - looking outside now I definitely made the most of it.

It made me think - some days motivation to exercise is much easier to find than others. This morning the sun did all the motivating for me! But other days when the rain's pouring and I'm feeling worn out from the day it takes all the energy I've got left just to get my kit on! But I always feel so much better and more alive for it and as soon I'm back I wonder what all the fuss was about!

We all need motivating or to motivate ourselves in different ways. I've definitely learned to identify when my motivational tools are not great - running because I've had a 'fat day' or because so and so looked thinner than me today or because I've got to be better at running/training than the next person is NOT healthy for me or a good reason to workout. These motivations just highlight insecurities in me. Over time I've become quicker at recognising these things in myself and making sure I'm doing it for the right reasons - far from perfect yet though!

Enjoying being outside, fresh air, building a strong healthy body, pushing myself out of my comfort zone, being with friends, knowing how much better I feel afterwards...these are some of my motivational tools these days :) These things keep me going on days when I'm tired or my body won't do what I want it to and keep it all in perspective. Sometimes a good song (namely 'Greyhound' - Swedish House Mafia - http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hBRKSIj2tMc) gets me through a good old spin class or a sunny day lures me outdoors when I'm tired and wakes me up again.

We've all got our own ways of motivating ourselves - what are yours?

A thought...

Been thinking about how much of my identity is tied up in my fitness. I feel I am definitely still on a journey of not just being healthy in my body but having a healthy mind too in the way I think about healthy lifestyle and fitness stuff. I'm on a journey of knowing my motives for doing things too - I feel like Gods definitely helped me to be motivated in this stuff for good and healthy reasons but know deep down there are other motives that still need weeding out.
Anyone else find this?!

Carrot cake...as requested :)

This is my favourite carrot cake recipe - and it's gluten free. The cake itself is dairy free too :) here's the recipe...

Ingredients:
3 eggs
150g brown sugar
175ml olive oil
175g gluten free flour (can use regular flour)
1tsp baking powder
2tsp cinnamon
60g raisins
140g finely grated carrot

With an electric whisk, whisk the 3 eggs together. Then add in the brown sugar and olive oil and whisk again.

Add in all the dry ingredients and stir together with a wooden spoon.

Finally add in the raisins and grated carrot.

Grease either 2 round cake tins and line with greaseproof paper or one medium sized baking tray lined with greaseproof paper for a tray bake style (this is how I usually do it, it's easier to freeze half if you don't need it all at once).

Bake for 30-35minutes on 180C. The cake will spring back when you touch it if it's ready.

Frosting:
Beat 1 large tablespoon of cream cheese, adding icing sugar slowly until it is thick enough to spread. Add to the top of the cooled cake.

Snacking...

Fancy a snack and want to fuel yourself with some good stuff? How about some of these (a few based around natural yogurt 'cos I love it!)...

1. Mix Greek/Natural yogurt with a couple of teaspoons of conserve instead of a shop bought yogurt...there's so much extra sugar added to supermarket yogurts plus a load of additives. Conserve has less added sugars etc than regular jam too.

2. Make your own mix of nuts for a protein boost keeping you fuller for longer

3. For on the go - how about making up a mix of sultanas, dried cranberries, dried blueberries and dried apricots to put in your bag for later? Delicious.

4. Make yourself a quick fruit salad a drizzle some natural yogurt over the top.

5. Hummus with whichever chopped up vegetable you like for dipping :)

6. Bananas are a great energy giving snack pre or post exercise.

7. Natural yogurt with granola and fruit

8. Buy corn seeds and make some plain homemade popcorn - add a little salt for a Pre work out snack.