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My word my legs are aching today! I don't know what it's been as I don't really feel like I've done anything out of the ordinary exercise wise. I practically hobbled into the shower but I bit of warm water and stretching really helped them.
Breakfast was a pear yoghurt mess (and it really did look a mess today!) containing some of my new maca powder, ground flax, quinoa flakes, grape nuts, raisins, flaked almonds, greek yoghurt and one chopped pear. It doesn't look very attractive it but tasted lovely I promise!


I could really taste the maca in it, it has a slighly malty taste which was quite nice.

Mid morning I had some hummus with carrot and cucumber for dipping.

Lunch was a big salad containing mixed salad leaves, spinach, carrot, red onion, cucumber, turkey slices cut into ribbons and mixed with light mayo and in the spirit of trying new things in my salads some alfalfa sprouts that I picked up in the shops yesterday. I didn't know how much flavour these would add but I could taste them, they added a nice crunchy freshness as well as loads of nutrients.

I followed my giant salad with two oranges.


Before leaving work for the gym I snacked on half a large sized Berry Cheeky Nakd bar for some energy.


This was my first gym based fitness session in a week, and I wanted to start with my increased speeds and resistance levels as detailed in my April Training Plan. I managed to do all of the planned increases as well as my new abs exercises which included the plank. I managed to run for 1 minute at 7mph on the treadmill for the first time too, and considering that my legs had still been achey I was really chuffed with that!

For dinner I fried up one of my homemade veggie bean burgers and served it with loads of salad and a little ketchup.

For desert I mixed up some chocolate protein goo and added some natural peppermint flavour to make it chocy minty, yum!

I woke up with some serious DOMS in my arms this morning. I was a bit worried about doing my usual Davina 'Pump' DVD but I got on and did it, luckily most of the moves in the DVD didn't hurt the areas where I was sore. I don't mind a little bit of DOMS to make you feel like you've really worked your muscles!

Breakfast was a bowl of 'Bounty' porridge - banana, oats, chia seeds cooked with water with a scoop of chocolate whey and some dessicated coconut on the top.


Not quite like a Bounty bar but as close as I'll be getting any time soon!

I was famished by the time lunch came round and dug right into my salad which was the same as yesterday - mixed leaves, spinach, tuna, kidney beans, light mayo, spring onions, carrot, cucumber and cherry tomatoes.


Followed by a large portion of red grapes.


I was having to go to a late meeting so I made my afternoon snack a little bigger than usual with the addition of savory rice cakes to my usual babybel lights and apple.


By the time I got home I just wanted to make something quick and easy so I had a bowl of my favourite Courgette and Watercress Soup with another couple of savory rice cakes.


Followed by a large bowl of frozen raspberries in vanilla rice milk.


I think I'm going to have another nice apple later too.


Drinks - water, green tea, decaf tea

I got very excited today when my friend Charlie emailed me with the details of the EAT! NewcastleGateshead Food Festival. We have booked tickets for the launch event which includes loads of posh eats, local beers and cocktails! I can't wait, it sounds like so much fun and it will be lovely to have a posh night out with my best mate. Theres also loads of other little events going on that weekend including a fair trade market and a cupcake festival!

Have you been to any food festivals? I seem to be hearing about a few of them recently. I'm still counting down the days till Friday this week, I have a day full of meetings tomorrow and Thursday which means I'll get nothing done, but at least I have Friday free to catch up as best as possible!

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!