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I’m not going to mention too much more about the snow even though I could fill a whole post! Its still here, its still very thick and deep but luckily I have managed to get out and about so I don’t end up with cabin fever!

Yesterday I was super happy that my gym was open. So happy that I walked up there in the bitterly (and I mean bitterly) cold to get in a good workout. I did 30 minutes on the treadmill: first 5 minutes at 6mph, next 5 at 6.5mph then next 5 at 7mph, then repeated. I then did 20 minutes on the step machine, cross trainer and bike for a total 1hr 30 minute cardio workout. I felt great afterwards – more just for getting out of the flat! Today has been a rest day then tomorrow I’m heading back for a good HIIT workout followed by some weights and core work on the stability ball.

Thanks for the comments with links to at home workouts, even thought I didn’t have to use them I now have some great ideas for home workouts if I fancy a change from doing DVD’s. Here’s the links to the resources. Thanks to Alison, Laura and Jo for pointing me in the right direction!

Body Rock TV – great body inspiration!

Ross Training – ideas for home work outs and DIY equipment

Figure Athlete – Rachel Cosgrove Metabolic workout

Food has been really tasty these past few days. I think I’ve been a little more creative than usual with being at home.

Breakfasts:

  Mixed berry cinnamon oats in a jar followed by a vanilla chai coffee

Dorset Cereals Toasted Spelt Muesli with mixed frozen fruits and a chopped apple with soy milk

Yesterdays and today’s lunch has been this salad beast:

I wasn’t kidding when I said I have been craving raw veggies! Salad contained watercress, spinach, carrot, red cabbage, cucumber, green chilli, red onion, raw cauliflower topped with Jalapeño hummus. So good and amazingly filling – I was left with a serious food baby after eating these! I also enjoyed the heat from the chilli in the salad, great way of eating something fresh but still getting some of that cold weather comfort. I’ve followed lunch with plenty of fresh fruit like this orange and sliced apple:

I had a very tasty mid afternoon snack: Rachel’s Organic Greek Yoghurt with flaked almonds and honey:

Last nights dinner was some Lentil and Root Veg Stew with roast brussels and some steamed cavolo nero plus two plums:

Tonight I made some Kabocha and Adzuki bean stew and served it with some steamed broccoli and cavolo nero, toasted seeds and parsley.

I love this simple dish. Kabocha squash is so delicious, when I saw it in Waitrose last week I bought it even though I knew I would have to lug it around with me for two hours while I shopped! I have loads left over so I’m going to try making a simple soup and a twist on my Butternut Smoothie.

Tonight’s desert was some tofutti vanilla ice cream with one of Tam’s cherry chocolate chip cookies from the cookie exchange out of the freezer:

So yummy!

I have my lovely hubby off for the weekend so earlier we had a drive to my parents to help them put their Christmas tree up, that’s my Dad and little nephew:

I felt really festive! Next weekend is going to be a bit of a baking weekend. I’ve been asked to make some low carb / sugar baked treats for my Grandma who is diabetic. I’m also going to make some vegan almond and quinoa muffins for James as he loves anything almond flavoured, and some gingerbread cookies. I can’t wait!

I’ve also been looking at turkey alternatives for Christmas lunch. If your a vegetarian or vegan what is your favourite turkey replacement for Christmas lunch? I’m thinking either lentil loaf, seitan (I still have the vital wheat gluten I ordered from the states) or some kind of legume and grain cutlets.

Have you been enjoying the fireworks UK readers? The display in Durham has just finished:

Great view isn’t it? They were beautiful, I watched with my window open so I could smell the bonfire. I lay in bed while watching them and had this hot chocolate and cookie:

Bliss! I made the hot chocolate with hazelnut and almond rice milk warmed on the hob and whisked with a few dark chocolate chips and cocoa powder – no need for sweetener with this rice milk either. The cookie was one I received from Tam as part of the cookie exchange that I’d stashed in the freezer.

This morning I was up bright and early as I wanted to get my workout done and dusted before I started my day. I did 15 minutes of my new tougher intervals on the step machine, cross trainer and bike for a total of 45 minutes cardio followed by some core work on the stability ball and some chest and back exercises.

Breakfast was some 2% greek yoghurt mixed with frozen blueberries (I’d mixed this together and left in the fridge while at the gym) on top of a sliced pear and then topped with some Rude Health Granola and some ground flax and nut mix.

Super tasty and filling!

I got sorted and headed over to Newcastle. The little farmers market was great, I had to exercise a lot of restraint and not buy everything in site! I ended up getting a selection of organic veg including carrots, kale, cauliflower, calabrese broccoli and some colourful chard. I also picked up some vegetarian locally made spicy cheese – I’m going to try and keep this for Christmas if I can. I also got some other fruit and veggies from the Grainger Market and picked up some of my favourite flavoured tofu, tofu sausages and some tins of organic black beans from Waitrose.

I’m really ramping up the leafy greens this week :-)

While I was out I had a Toffee Nut Soy Latte from Starbucks.

This was ok but I wished I had got the Gingerbread flavour instead!

I also bought my first Christmas present and picked up a couple of purchases for me including this ‘leather’ hooded bomber jacket I had my eye on from Topshop that I blogged about a while ago.

Love this jacket so much! I also got a short coat from H&M, I like it but I’m still wondering if its right for me, I’ll probably post a pic tomorrow.

When I got home I made a delicious lunch – home made spelt and egg white wrap filled with peanut butter and a sliced organic apple then refried like a quesadilla to make it extra toasty. I had loads of organic carrot sticks on the side as they needed eating up, plus a little cucumber and left over apple. Organic carrots and apples just taste amazing.

Mid afternoon I had a mug of miso soup to keep me going before I made dinner. I roasted some squash – one was definitely a kabocha but I’m not sure what variety the other was. I then mixed the roast chopped squash with a can of adzuki beans and a little vegetable stock to make a stew like dish inspired by the Kabocha Squash and Adzuki Bean recipe from The Kind Diet. I served it with some diakon, cabbage, kale and leek stir fried in coconut oil and topped with soy sauce, ginger and ume vinegar plus a good sprinkling of toasted mixed seeds and fresh coriander and parsley.

Oh my word this tasted good, I can’t believe that something so simple could taste so amazing! Coconut oil where have you been all my life? I loved the slight coconut taste it added to the stir fried veggies. The simple combination of the squash and beans was just divine too, so glad I have left overs for tomorrow!

As well as my hot chocolate and cookie I think I’ll probably have a sliced russet apple with cinnamon later on as well.

Have your ever been to a farmers market? What kind of produce did you buy?