LAUGH MORE, LOVE MORE, LIVE MORE

Happy Monday everyone 🙂
How was your weekend? We had stunning weather in the UK this weekend, perfect for getting outdoors and getting active. What did you get up to?

My mantra this week is this

Plans are a foot for my 40th year….yes, as of next month I am saying a fond farewell to my “thirties” as I speed my way through to “THE BIG 4 0”

So thinking about taking more chances, doing more ‘stuff’ and generally having a blast to see out, what has been, a great decade. I’m kind of combining it with the chance to do as much with the little L’s as possible before they embark on years of schooling too. So watch this space as I toy with ideas of crazy and fun things to achieve, places to visit, people to meet, events to attend and general fitness goals I’ve had for years and never achieved, maybe you can join me on some….one I’m working on at the moment is a clapping press up – never been able to do it, but I’m getting there! (ps – don’t try this if you just had your baby – I’m way past post natal…!)

So backing up a bit…how was your food and fitness last week? Try any new recipes? I’ve had a couple of recommendations from people that I’ll share with you at the end of this (I’ve not tried them yet)

I’m big into my oats right now as many of you know. Last week, I needed fast quick breakfasts so it was a bit ‘samey’ each day but delicious all the same.

Oats, Fresh Kiwi, Melon, Watermelon & Greek Yoghurt

Oats, Greek Yoghurt, Fresh Raspberries, Strawberries, Raisins, Ellas Kitchen Fruit pouch (kids leftovers!) & Flaked Almonds

Last weeks lunches were salad based as it was hot and I love them. A few top picks below:

Raid the Fridge Salad, includes Feta cheese, Rocket, Lettuce, Tomato, Avocado, Beetroot, Cucumber & Sliced Ham, mixed with a little Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar.

House Salad with Goats Cheese from my Local pub! The Inn at Maybury

2 Egg Omlette with Tomato, Cucumber, Red Onion, Spring Onion, Rocket, Cauliflower & Avocado

Dinners were barbecues and fish…yummy.

BBQ Chicken marinated in Paprika & Lemon with Jersey Royal Potatoes and Salad

Oven Roasted Salmon Steak with a Chorizo and new Potato Salad

Spiced Cod with Quinoa Salad & Mint Chutney BBC GOOD FOOD recipe, I loved it…husband not so keen!

Cod with Lemon Zest & Rosemary served with Proscuitto, Butternut Squash, Rocket, Parmesan & Chilli Salad & Roast Asparagus with Chorizo (Jamie Oliver Recipe)

We also made some “healthy snacks” this weekend that I pinned on Pinterest a while ago but actually got round to making this weekend. They were a huge success – so easy too and the little ‘L’s’ loved them, I’d highly recommend making these:

Slightly Frozen Fruit Skewers

Greek Yoghurt Berry Smoothie Pops – courtesy of Mom on Time Out Blog – thank you 🙂

Little L’s eating their Greek Yoghurt Berry Smoothie Pops

As well as experimenting with some new interval timings on my strength and cardio blast workouts which has been fun, I have been working on good posture, the key to looking good and feeling great.

I’ll add a couple of circuit workouts you can enjoy later this week, in the meantime, try this Hip Hinge move and make it a staple part of your daily posture exercises.

Remember posture is the arrangement of the body and its limbs, why is posture important?

Well good posture allows your muscles, joints and nerves to function efficiently. Standing posture, or how you hold yourself statically, is your starting point and deviations from this point can cause muscle endurance issues and imbalances in the joints which can lead to injury & suboptimal exercise performance & therefore results. Good postural alignment allows optimal muscle control around the joints, good body mechanics, movement efficiency & balance. In a nutshell, if your posture isn’t good your muscles won’t work as well…so work on your posture….Lengthen & then Strengthen 🙂

[youtube]http://youtu.be/lvLlX59p5Ng[/youtube]

When doing the Hip Hinge, ensure 3 points remain in contact with the pole (I’m using an old broom handle) – 1) your head 2) your ribcage / mid back 3) your sacrum / lower spine. Lean as far forward as you can with all three points in contact. repeat 10-15 times for a couple of sets.

Have a great day and don’t forget to share your yummy recipes of the week with me in the comments below 🙂

Other recipes of interest posted by some of our Run Fit mums 🙂

Kay’s Pad Krapow Neua