pppppp.....Porridge, prawns, protein and pecs!!!!

You know, as much as I am really loving the exercise, there are still days when you just aren't feeling it, when you think about just giving the gym a skip for the day and go home and chill, after all, whose going to tell?

But you have to ask yourself if it's your body talking and asking for a rest, or your mind just not on it today.  And even if nobody does tell, you are doing it for yourself, and you will know!

I decided it was just my mind, and chose to ignore it, and went to the gym....and am really glad I did, and my body, and even my mind, thanked me for it.

Its amazing how much a good workout really does make you feel good, alive, and glowing.  Better than any prescribed medicine!  So even if you go home afterwards and just slob for a little while, you know you earned it!!

~BREAKFAST~
 

I woke up this morning and really wanted porridge ... so that's what I had.

 

I make mine just with water, about 3 tbsp of porridge oats, enough water to just cover, and a good tsp of cinnamon.

 

I cook in a pan on the hob and stir until water is absorbed and oats have gone creamy, then topped it with fresh raspberries and mango chunks and another sprinkle of cinnamon.

 

It was damn good! 

 

Cinnamon is brilliant, as well as tasting gorgeous it has so many benefits too, can help lower cholesterol and regulate blood sugars amongst so many others things.  I even have lipstick that has it in it, is supposed to make your lips fuller, don't think it does, but certainly makes them tingle!!!!

 

~MID MORNING SNACK~

  

Today's snack was just a handful of almonds (skin-on) and some dried apricots.  I say just, almonds are awesome little things with sooooo many benefits I wouldn't know where to start in listing them ... so just take my word for it ... they are good!!!

 

~LUNCH~

 

I have a real thing about beetroot at the moment, love the stuff.  Today's lunch was a salad of mixed leaves, beetroot, feta cheese and a few green olives.

I made a dressing of rapeseed oil, wholegrain and dijon mustard, squidge of honey and squeeze of fresh orange juice.

Awesome!

~AFTERNOON SNACK~
 

Today's snack was inspired by my lovely friend Jen Mayes.  Jen is a real inspiration to me, she has turned her life around following the same beliefs as me regarding food and exercise and has even become a PT trainer.  Amazing women....and she has 6 kids, total total respect!!

 

The shake is made from blending some almond milk, some frozen raspberries and some of my chocolate protein shake ... gorgeous, very filling and very refreshing.

 

Also had 2 slices of Nimble wholemeal topped with peanut butter and marmite, yummy!!

 

 

 

   

~DINNER~

 

Today was a real what can I make with what's in the fridge and freezer job!  I had some frozen raw king prawns, peas, a lemon and some spring onions ... and a half bottle of wine!  Looking in the cupboard I found some risotto rice and hey presto ... a lemon, pea and prawn risotto it was!

I decided to give it a go in the Actifry, after all a risotto needs constant stirring, and the actifry does it for you!

So, first of all I put about 120g of the arborio rice in the Actifry, with a half teaspoon of rapeseed oil and the onion, chopped, and let it cook for 10 minutes to toast the rice and soften the onion.  I then added a glug of the wine and cooked for another minute to cook the alcohol out, then made the chicken stock up to about 400ml and added 300ml of it to the pan, letting it cook again for another 10 minutes.  I then added the remainder of the stock and cooked for another 10 minutes.  I then added the prawns, peas and grated in the zest of the lemon and cooked again for another 5 minutes.  I then grated about 20g parmesan cheese and some frozen shredded basil and cooked again for another 2 minutes to let it melt in.

I served it with some smoked mackerel fillets on top and some brown shrimps which needed using up ... was very fishy ......... but god it was good.  Probably one of the nicest things I have eaten in a long while! 

Matt is not a lover of risotto, but he ate it all, so think that said enough!

~EXERCISE~

 

As already said, gym day again today.  Started off with 20 minutes on the bike and then the same routine, just mixed about a bit, as normal.

Will tell you about the Pectoral Fly / Rear Deltoid machine today .... I LOVE THIS MACHINE!!!

I start off facing towards the machine, straddled over the seat with my chest against the back rest with the arms adjusted to forward position, with your arms holding the grips in the middle almost in front of you, you then push them to the side, away from each other.  This works the rear deltoids as the primary muscle. Also works your biceps.

I do 3 sets of 20 lifting 28kg.

I then switch round so that my back is against the back rest and I am sat facing away from the machine.  I adjust the arms, so that I can now pull them together, not away from each other.

I again do 3 sets of 20 lifting 28kg

This works the pectoral muscles (chest muscles) and also again, the biceps in reverse.

Although I am very large chested, the difference in the support is amazing since I have been using this machine, it has really lifted them, which is fantastic. One of my biggest fears about growing older has been having my boobs sitting round my ankles!!!!


Tomorrow is double day, gym and swimming, so I am going to get myself an early night, ready to take it on!!!

So night night, and thanks again for reading
Jo
xx