Healthy Eating

As you can imagine, the boy and I thoroughly over indulged whilst in Greece so now it's time to get our bodies back on track before we head to the Caribbean (in just 27 days!!).

I have never been the kind of person to count calories or insist on eating low-fat products.  I don't think fat is particularly the problem when it comes to people putting on weight.  I think it is WHERE your fat comes from.  Does your fat come from a Big Mac, fries and milkshake?  Or does it come from freshly prepared and cooked meat?  I don't really think about saturated and non-saturated fat... instead I think of natural fats (ie. those from animals and oils and foods such as avocados) and processed fats (ie those that come from foods that have been artificially produced) - I know these aren't technical terms, obviously!

So the boy and I have embarked on a new lifestyle (note: not "diet").  We have cut out grains, dairy and sugar (except those found in fruit) for the next 30 days.  I suppose you could call this a low-carb diet but it really isn't as I eat a lot of fruit and still allow myself potatoes and other vegetables I just no longer eat processed carbohydrates.  Dairy has been the hardest thing for me to leave behind as I am a cheese fiend!  But, once I cut my body fat percentage down I will allow myself to have dairy in moderation!

Our first grain free, dairy free dinner!

To start:

 I made a small salad of honeydew, cantaloupe and watermelon with some parma ham (prosciutto) and then we had some asparagus spears with a fried egg on top.

Followed by:

A roasted rack of lamb, which I rubbed with garlic and rosemary, a roasted aubergine (or eggplant if you are American/Australian!) stuffed with garlic, chilli, red pepper (capsicum), salami, olives and tomatoes and a small salsa salad to go with the lamb of raw tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, avocado (of course) and basil which I dressed with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

All in all it was a pretty good feast, satisfied our cravings and did not contain any wheat or dairy - score!

Next week I am going to start the exercise and cut back on diet sodas and dark chocolate (which is the one processed, sweet thing I have allowed myself to eat this week [only 75% cocoa and above!]).

Wish me luck :)

Have any of you made decisions to cut things out of your diet?  How's it going?  Do you miss the food you used to eat or do you have new found energy from the lack of rubbish you are now eating?  Tell me all your "diet" stories!

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Four days to go....

Until I will be here:

Hopefully with one of these in hand:

Mmmmm.  I literally could not be more excited.  I have my bikinis, books and factor 50 at the ready (yes I seriously do wear SPF 50 wherever I go on holiday (in fact let's be honest, I even wear it on my face, chest and hands just for walking around London when it's sunny)... I'm scared of wrinkles!).

I have been incredibly well behaved this week in regards to eating, drinking and exercise.  A drop of alcohol has not passed my lips since Sunday (this is quite an achievement considering the boy and I drink almost every night together).  Diet wise I'm probably eating more than I did before but I'm eating differently - I've started eating breakfast which I hardly ever do; usually just a piece of fruit first thing and maybe some yoghurt and then having an extra meal at work of either porridge and honey or some grilled mushrooms and baked beans.  I don't eat lunch as my busiest hours at work are lunch time so I eat again around 4pm or just wait until I get home for dinner.  My meals have mainly just been salads with some form of protein: chicken, steak or tuna.  I haven't eaten bread, pasta or potatoes since Sunday but the starchy carbs I'm eating are things like wholemeal crackers as a snack, corn cakes, popcorn, etc.  I've also been snacking on carrots and hummous, celery, tzatziki (my fave!!) things like that.  So from the girl who usually eats a pizza a week and lives off ready meals I feel this is quite the accomplishment.

 

My biggest accomplishment this week though has definitely been my exercise regime.  I have never been someone who exercises regularly and to be honest, I don't enjoy exercise at all.  I do, however, enjoy the results and in my opinion the fastest way to shape up is by running.  I have run 5k every day since Monday... this morning I even got up before 6am to go for a run before work (I know! Who am I?!).  Running on a treadmill is fine but I think you see results faster if you run outside and let's be honest who wants to run whilst  staring at a reflection of themselves when they could be running through a park or past a lake etc?!   I am lucky enough to have Clapham Common at the end of my street and although I get lost every time I go there it definitely feels like a breeze running for half an hour around it as opposed to pounding away on a treadmill.

I honestly believe anyone can run.  I am so unfit and it doesn't take long to be able to build up to a full 30 minute run.  You don't even have to run, just jog or even walk briskly...pick a scenic route and go for it!  And most importantly have a playlist on your iPod that will help you stick to it.  There are so many times when I have hit ten minutes and I just want to give up and then suddenly before I know it bam, 30 minutes... today I actually did 45 because I got lost haha.

I feel very inspired!  I hope I can keep it up!  I shall leave you all with some motivational pictures

Does anybody else run?

Hope you're all having a great week.  It's Friday tomorrow :D