Pear Back

I cook to relax

Currently I am away from home 4 days a week working in Dublin

and when I come home at the weekends I bake

Baking, for me, is a form of meditation

I can concentrate on what I am doing and not worry about anything else 

It is also a great activity to do with my 4 yr old son, who is very happy to help

The problem with this is 

All this baking leads to a lot of baked goods

and a lot of baked goods in the house leads to a lot of snacking on baked goods 

This, in turn leads to me no longer fitting in to my jeans .........

So, I am at a turning point

The last week I have been on a Staycation

There has been a lot of baking......

So, if you follow me on Pinterest you may have noticed my pins in the last 24 hours

 have changed from this 

To this 

I have decided it's time for a change 

This is my plan 

1 Start Running 

2 Go back to Bikram Yoga

3 Cut out refined sugar

4 Eat a healthy breakfast

5 Cut down (way down) on Carbs

6 Add more fresh fruit, vegetables and seeds to my diet

It's not rocket science......

This is what I have achieved so far

1 Start running

Bought new sneakers, I actually went to a sports shop and did a fitting where they video you running and recommend the correct shoes for you. 

I have heard too many injury stories from cheap sneakers.

I downloaded the  "couch-5k" running APP

Yesterday did my first run EVER!

I did enjoy it

although it was tough at times and I wouldn't say I LOVED it

2 Go back to Bikram Yoga

I used to practice Bikram and I did love it but I haven't done it in 6 years

I did a little research online and found out 

there is a bikram studio literally 3 mins from my office

signing up when i return from Far East trip next week 

Bought a Yoga Mat 

3 Cut out refined Sugar

I had a little chocolate yesterday 

Hey it's progress

Bought Agave syrup 

4 Eat a Healthy breakfast 

This morning had a delicious smoothie

frozen raspberries, frozen banana, clementine juice (didn't have any oranges), natural yoghurt, oats and chia seeds (both were soaked for 30 mins) 1 tsp agave syrup

yum! and a good by product is everyone else in the family had some too

(i didn't tell them bout the oats or chia seeds)

I also made Granola 

I followed this recipe

but substituted flaked almonds for the nuts (only because this was what I had)

I added the flaked almonds 10 mins before end of cooking time 

I substituted Agave syrup for Maple

I also added apricots and raisins to final cooled granola

This is delicious 

I love ginger though 

If ginger isn't your thing simply leave it out 

This is a very simple and very delicious granola 

5 Cut down on carbs 

I am not cutting out carbs completely

but none after lunch 

I will eat bread but only brown and seeded

I will also eat Short grain brown rice

 

6 Add more fruit, vegetables and seeds

Doing well so far

(see 4) 

I also find that simply cutting out carbohydrates makes me make better choices 

that is, not a croissant for breakfast 

not a white bread sandwich for lunch 

not a cake for a snack

It takes a little more thought and planning though. 

Yesterday i bought Chia seeds and lots of fruit and veg

This is an easy one for me really as I actually love fruit and veg and all kinds of salads 

I just forget sometimesor I fall in to the trap of waiting

until I am absolutely RAVENOUS 

before I eat 

this almost always leads to a bad decision  

So, that is it 

Stay tuned for my progress

xH