'Get Trimmer...' WEEK FOUR

Hi Ladies :)

Hope you enjoyed your weekend. I spent mine in bed from 3pm on Saturday trying to fight being ill. I can't say I was 100% successful but my body definitely needed all that rest (and more).

Enough about me... how (and what) did you eat this weekend?

For those ladies who sent in their measurements at the start of the challenge, can you take your current measurements and post in the comments section or email to me?

We have 4 weeks to go and the plan is to take things up a notch... everyone *has* has to exercise at least 2ce a week. And also share your food diary everyday... pretty please ;)

--> This Week's Nutrition Post <--
--> This Week's Fitness Post <--
:)

'Get Trimmer...' Week Four: Nutrition Tips

So sorry for the delay this week, I'm trying to get as much rest as I can while working as usual.

This week we will focus on FRUIT...

Someone posted a comment asking, "Is there such a thing as 'too much fruit'? ", and the short and simple answer to that is Y.E.S

We've all seen the recommended daily intake of 5 portions of fruit and vegetables. This is a generalised statement and I, like many others, interpreted this as - I could have 5 portions of fruit a day. Well, I was wrong.

All kinds of fruit contain sugar ie Fructose. Yes it's fruit sugar so it's much better than refined sugar but too much sugar is just that... too much.

Sugar is a simple carbohydrate, and yes too much carbohydrate ingested => the body will store it as Fat.

So it's better to interprete that to "3-4 portions of vegetables and 1-2 portions of fruit". That has definitely worked for me and I think it'll be the same for you.
The sugar content in fruits vary and I will list a few:

TO BE CONTINUED....

Photo credit: http://www.wallpapers-free.co.uk

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I made plantain 'cakes' this weekend: Recipe

For now, check out all recipes on this blog so far: HERE.

Omozele sent me this weeks ago, click to enlarge...

See the couscous in the bottom left? 1/2 to 2/3rds of that is a recommended portion... also I think that's wwholemeal bread (good) and try to have one slice (instead of 2) loaded with 2 eggs and the veg (spinach, carrot) :)

'Get Trimmer...' Week Four: Fitness Tips

Better Late Than Never! I'm feeling a little better, thanks so much for your comments :)

Ok... we're halfway through this challenge and and I know some of you ladies aren't exercising.

Truth is - You definitely can see results by eating well and not exercising but exercise is important for many reasons:

• health of course
  but also 
• exercise, when done correctly (and not to the point of overtraining) can help accelerate weight loss which I know is a more attractive reason to many ;)

Try not to use the usual excuse of "I don't have the time". If something is important, we'll always make the time. A 30 minute intense workout 3 times a week is enough.

- If you're a stay-at-home Mum, I know I'm not one and haven't experienced what you have but you are allowed some time to yourself - to shower, to eat, to relax and to exercise :)

- If you work crazy hours, I understand. Between 2003 and 2005, I worked 2 hours away from home and always visited my Mummy in hospital after work. My days started at 5.45am and I got home at 10pm Monday to Friday! I was really tired during the weekends and exercising was the last thing on my mind BUT... I finally made the time after a year of absolutely no exercise. I drove straight to the gym before or after visiting my Mummy at least 2ce a week.

For the next four weeks, I am going to focus on home workouts and will upload videos on youtube. They will all be 30 minutes long (including warm up, cool down and stretch) and yes I promise 100% this time.

:)

Plantain 'Cakes'

I got this recipe idea on Friday while I was in the changing room at the gym :) The TV chef used potatoes and I thought, "This would definitely work with plantain".

And of course... it did :)

I've been ill, and in bed, all day. I finally got out of bed at 5.20 to watch Deal or No Deal and to cook for my usual Sunday Recipe post :)

Ingredients
2 eggs
2 plantains
1 red bell pepper
Quarter of an onion
2 small tins of mackerel (fresh fish is ideal but I had none at home)
I used no seasoning because plantains are naturally sweet.

Plantain 'Cakes'

1. Cut the plantains into three pieces each (leaving the skin on). Add to a pot and add enough to cover the plantain halfway (max). Boil on medium to high heat for 15-20 mins.
2. Chop the 1/4 onion into small pieces, same goes for the bell pepper.
3. Remove plantain from pot and peel. Add the pieces to a big mixing bowl.
4. Break an egg into the bowl, add the chopped onion and pepper. Mix contents with a wooden spoon, the result should be very thick.
5. Take a handful of the mix and roll into a ball, then into a square/cube shape. continue till done with the mix. (I made 3 large 'cakes')
6. Add a teaspoon of olive oil to a pan and fry the onions in the pan. When onions are brown, toss them out.
7. Add the cakes to the pan and pan fry on low to medium heat. the cube shape comes in handy because you are able to turn it on all six sides. It took a total of 10 minutes to cook.
8. Fry the egg and serve with a 'cake' (as seen in the pictures).

Serving suggestions: 

• I served mine with an egg (runny, which I like and which is how the potato cakes were served on TV)
• Serve with Quick Stew (Recipe: HERE)

Alternatives:

• I'm going to try baking it in the oven next time :)
• Use vegetables of your choice, I'm going to try spinach next.
• You can use sweet potato, butternut squash, yam, potatoes, etc.
• I also made a butternut squash version which I rolled into small balls and oven-baked on medium heat for 15 minutes. Again, I boiled the squash before mixing with other ingredients (including chopped onions):

Workout/Spin Track of The Week

WEEK #3

Bootylicious by Destiny's Child

Wow... I remember this video being played (on music channels & stations) multiple times a day during the summer of 2001 (10 years ago) and I still LOVE this!

I tried this during one of my very first spin classes and EVERYONE loved it!



I haven't played it in a few weeks, perfect excuse to play it next week ;)

Bounce Balls: Vickii's Review

Say hello to Vickii my 1st Guest blogger (there will be more reviews from her :) ).

Vickii is a writer and a baker, I've been lucky enough to read her work and taste her baking (Vickii... will you bake me a cake for my birthday please :)?). As amazing as her baked goodies are, I'd advise you to have them as treats in small quantities ;)

Check out her blog: http://vickii-ibakethereforeiam.blogspot.com/

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I have one claim to fame only. I am known for being a huge fan of food. Since I am always on look-out for healthy AND tasty foods, I jumped at the chance to review the Bounce Balls for Adura.

I’m not going to lie; they had me at ‘Bounce Balls’. Who wouldn’t want to eat anything with a name like that? And they’re round too! However, a visit to the website (while I awaited my delivery) left me slightly less enthused. They’re described as “delicious, healthy snacks made from 100% natural ingredients”. Okay, while that assured me that they would be good for me,  in my experience, words like ‘natural’ and ‘healthy’ sometimes need to be kept far, far away from the word ‘delicious’. I can’t say it helped my apprehension at all that Adura had told me one of the balls was the Spirulina Ginseng flavour. To me, that name conjures up a combination of spinach and yoga (I have no idea why!).
The balls arrived and the fun, playful packaging got me excited once again.

I decided to have the Peanut Protein ball as a late breakfast. And I was very pleasantly surprised. At just the right combination of chewy and dense, it had a clear nutty taste which wasn’t overwhelming and it was very tasty. I liked the chopped peanut bits it was rolled in and with 15g of protein, I loved the “natural high quality protein” hit which it gives me (I have been assured by Adura that protein is VERY good for me).

Later the same day, I decided to have the Spirulina Ginseng flavour as a snack and I have to say, I totally had to eat my words about the yoga and spinach. It does look a bit like green stuff coated in nuts but it tastes like marzipan. It was luverly. I absolutely loved the taste! I wonder how many more ways I can say how great the taste is before Adura edits me heavily! Quite honestly, the only thing that gives away how natural it is, is the way it looks. As it is less dense and lighter than the other two, I think it is pretty much the perfect snack. No surprise then that it is their bestselling ball.

The Almond Protein ball had a bit of a tough act to follow as the Spirulina Ginseng flavour and I had something pretty special going but it held its own very well. It also had that marzipan flavour although it was more subtle. Otherwise it was more similar to the first ball; denser and more filling. This also provides a high dose of protein making it “popular with gym members who require a healthy satiating snack on the run”.

All in all, I was very impressed by the Bounce Balls. I have tried a few other natural bars and these would definitely rank very near the top. I loved that the taste had none of the negative connotations a ‘natural-phobe’ like me would associate with the word ‘natural’.  My only qualm would be that the Peanut and Almond protein balls pack quite a few calories into a ball that is essentially a quick snack. But if you have a balanced and healthy diet, I’m sure you could squeeze one of these in to your day.

Enjoy! 

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Website: http://www.bouncefoods.com/uk/
Online shop

These bars will be available to purchase in Lagos from July/August.