Food Glorious Food!

So today I cooked - and I cooked to be better prepared for when those 'cravings' attack my nervous system and my sanity lol

I make these mostly for the hubby but my aim is to make them healthy enough that I can enjoy them too.

First was a lasagne - sadly yes it was made with white pasta sheets HOWEVER, no jars were used in the making at all! I made the tomato base using a carton of passata, a tin of chopped tomatoes, seasoning including oregano and then I added the extra lean mince beef along with many vegetables. As for the 'cheese sauce' I took a tub of low low spreadable cheese, used half (50g), added parsley and then boiling water and I melted the cheese!
Once layered up and before putting in the oven I poured the cheese-ish layer on top and let it cook away for roughly 20 mins. I then when cooled portioned it up in a small box with a dollop of mashed potato made with nothing more than almond milk.

Next was a turkey curry - I seasoned the diced extra lean turkey and then added a box of passata along with shredded cabbage, leek, mushroom, sweet corn, bell pepper, carrot and when cooked I remove from the heat and pour on top a container of fat free natural yogurt - season with turmeric before stirring and do not re heat as it will curdle!

I boxed up the curry with 2 table spoons of chickpea dahl for texture

These are now boxed up and in the freezer ..... Tomorrow I tackle the vegetable jungle that is 'soup' !!!!
Wish me luck lol

Out of curiosity what is your favourite health conscious comfort meal??? Xxx

Upper Body ...... OWW!

So my nutrition went to pot over the weekend. A stressful situation at work led to me becoming ill and falling onto food for comfort, when in fact it made me feel worse. No shock there really!

So essentially the hubby put his foot down and insisted on an upper body weights and resistance workout to give my legs a break and I have to say.......it ruddy hurt lol

I am doing a combination of low weights and high reps in order to achieve what I want for my body in the future. Don't get me wrong I would love to wake up tomorrow a toned and lean athlete but that is not going to happen, and even if it could I would miss out on the journey. The sweat and the years and of course the smiles too :-D

I worked a circuit of 4 moves repeated 3 times in succession with minimal breaks but enough to allow me to continue.

I am now feeling great but the arms a little shakey which I was expecting........weights are fun but now it is almost 1am here and it is time for bed.

Night peeps in the great Internet void lol
Xxx

Day 7 - So Sore and So Tired!

The second day of running and I can honestly say I was in agony! We are trying to do more morning runs as our first race together is in the morning (10am) so we know we need to get used to it.

The last couple of days I have been in agony with an extremely tender and sore stomach (I would say Abs but I don't have any lol), I was stopping constantly on Monday just through fear of being sick while running and today my stomach area especially at the bottom of the rib cage feels bruised and too sensitive to touch ..... I coughed earlier - I swear I thought my midriff had imploded pmsl

Alarm went off at 7:15am and we were out the door and warmed up by 7:45am from the start my legs felt like lead, almost as if they were too tight to move but I know we stretched well as I am prone to injuries when I do not..

The head wind today was punishing and although hand on heart I did not want to give up, I sure felt as though I was letting Aaron down by not being better than Monday!

Just to put it out there though - the rudeness of some runners, pedestrians and cars is unreal, atleast when running at night there is a calmness that flows but in the morning holy crap people are in a fowl mood! Half the runners who passed us looked at us in a passing glance but made no effort to smile, nod or even wave a hand, pedestrians seemed to go out of there way to actually get in the way lol and cars would continue to drive across the zebra crossing despite us being on it!!!!

Overall not a great run lol it was only 1 minute longer than our first run so all in all I can't be too disappointed but I think we may need to get up 30 mins earlier to avoid the hustle and bustle. When I am able to hold form and continue running then the busyness will not bother me but in these early stages I just want to trip people up lol

Time to throw myself onto the foam roller and then it is shower time and then off to work.

As I send this blog into the great void that is the Internet - I wonder which time of running you prefer or train too...... Morning or evening/night?

Have a great Wednesday everyone xxx

Day 5 - Run Ginger Run!

Holy crap! I am pretty sure my lungs have exploded....if you happen to be walking along the seafront at any point and find pieces of them please hand them back lol

Today was the start of mine and my hubby's half marathon training and it hurt lol After scouring the Internet and many of our running magazines we have decided to use the Runners World Half Marathon Training guide which has us running at 3 and 5 mile intervals for the next 4 weeks!

The most I have ever managed is 5k in 39 minutes and 4 seconds and that hurt so I am aware that I am mentally not quite ready for the strain this will cause HOWEVER I am excited about it.
New experiences, better strength and endurance and achieving that 'runners high'!

The scenery on our 3 mile jog tonight was GORGEOUS......it was dark, raining (quite gently), all the lights were on and the waves were crashing - it really was lovely - it's a shame I was weasing so much I could barely take it all in lol

We managed the 3 miles - sadly it took over 45 minutes BUT I can only hope it will improve with time, sheer guts and plenty of steam in my shoes hehe!

I may have made a small and very cheap impulse buy a couple of days ago and it arrived this morning ...... A foam roller and it came with a free skipping rope - it hurts soooo good lol I was laughing it was so painful but good gosh it worked.
My legs feel as though they have shrunk lol if anyone knows of any moves I can use on the foam roller please clue me in - I only know the basic four (quads, glutes, lats and IT bands)!!!

I will be downing a lot of water and then heading to bed - if I can walk in a straight line that is lol

GOOD NIGHT EVERYONE xxx the training has begun x

Day 4 - Rest Day! Who Rests!

Sunday is usually rest day! ......and by rest day I mean going to work until 10 tonight and before I leave for work I clean until my arms ache!

I find housework so calming! Just putting everything back in its rightful place seems to put everything back straight in my head lol!

I reached the final straw at my work yesterday - the unnecessary stress and anger is now too much and not helping ! I have a degree and I want to utilise it and achieve .... Already applied for 2 positions last night lol

I will when I get a chance today be trying to find some new music to run too when running alone as my playlist has become a little stale..... I may be some time lol

Tomorrow I will be out pounding the pavement and hopefully not hitting it face first......pavement face is sooo not attractive lol

What does everyone like to do on there rest days? Xx

Day 3 - One Nasty Comment and My Day Went Splat!

I went into work yesterday morning with a spring in my step and a smile on my face. I had that morning signed up to take part in my first 10k and I could not have been more excited.

When a customer (who claims to be an avid runner) asked me how my running was going and when I mentioned I had signed up for my first 10k he looked surprised and made a 'comment' regarding my weight an how if I were lighter my time would improve!

WHAT AN ARSE!

I came home on my break in a foul mood and feeling incredibly low - I didn't want to go on my planned run, I wanted to curl up in the foetal position and let him win. I guess it's fair to say he did win!

I felt utterly deflated in one sentence, he managed to make my goal of running the Inca marathon seem impossible. No his opinion should not matter and no it should not bother me but it did. Everyone has a 'soft spot' and he put a knife into mine!

I went back to work (I work split shifts) and ended up coming home at around midnight completely drained of all hope. Until I spoke with my husband who sat with me and reminded me of a few things. I should never let the comments of a supposed 'runner' harm me when he was probably forcing his own demons onto me! If that makes sense!

Sadly this morning I slept trough my alarm (I think the few years I shed took it out of me lol)........however I got straight up and went through my runners world mags to find a half marathon training plan whilst making a healthy breakfast!

Today's breakfast was an egg white omelette with cherry tomatoes and 1oz of goats cheese, with a cut up apple and pear. It was refreshing.

I will not let a nasty comment define me! In the words of confusious - fall down 7 times, get up 8!

Good Morning Everyone have a fantastic day xxx

Day 2

Day 2 - The Most Spontaneous I Have Ever Been Happened Last Night!

First of all let me start by thanking each and everyone of you for your support. When I logged on last night and saw the comments and motivation it literally took my breath away and I can't thank you all enough. 

I discovered yesterday that in March next year there is a half marathon on the Silverstone Race Track and as someone who enjoys her fair share of F1 I immediately invited a friend to join me (it will be her first half too I think) and before I knew it I had made a commitment (as in I told my husband and he will hold accountable until I pay for them). I, with the help and support from FB group Running The World (https://www.facebook.com/groups/runningtw/) 

will be taking part in a 10k in Dec/Jan THEN my first half marathon on February 17th - the Portsmouth Half AND THEN the Silverstone Half on March 3rd.

My hands are literally shaking with excitement as I type this. I have never been this spontaneous and the idea that I can AND WILL accomplish all this for the first time has lit a fire under me.

I am aware this will be hard and there will be tears and tantrums (mostly all at once I think lol) I want to experience all of that. I may not have been able to do this at size 24 and 18 stone but I will do this NOW hehe!

I am now on the hunt via the lovely WWW, to find a training plan that works and I am doing my research on injury prevention....figure it may help lol!

That being said I did sleep through my 6:30am alarm this morning and work up and gone 9am so no time to workout this morning BUT I will be going for a jog on my break this afternoon. I will be posting a 'mugshot' as accountability.

Again Thank You all xxx

Em x

p.s. if any of you know of, or have used a training programme, that worked for you please do pass it on to me. I would like to use a plan knowing that it worked x ty x

Day 1 - We All Need to Start Somewhere!

Good Morning :-)

Such pressure! With my first post :-P lol

My aim here is to be myself and to 'keep it real'.
Today (11/10/12) my alarm went off at 6:30am.... My leg popped out from under the covers at 7am and I dragged my ass out of bed by 7:15 :-P it has been a while since I got up to workout before the sun was even up. It was so incredibly dark BUT the workout has been done :-)
Today's workout was 35 minutes of Beachbody's Brazil Butt Lift 'Bum Bum' and my legs are jelly!
I strongly believe in changing things up to keep the muscles guessing ;-)

I cannot stand plateau's, I have struggled with so many of them. And I heard so many excuses such as 'maybe your body is just used to be bigger', 'your body doesn't want to change', 'you aren't meant to be smaller'.
Each time it has taken pure grit but I push through and prove the 'haters' wrong! It is just taking time lol

Before hitting the shower I am downing a shake made with banana, almond milk and natural whole earth peanut butter :-)

If you would like to keep up with me please feel free to add me on myfitnesspal ..... Can you guess the username :-P that's right it GingerNinja UK
Lol xxx

How do you all manage or cope with plateau's? Xxx
Have a fantastic day