I’m sorry I’ve been slacking about replying to comments recently – I’ve been so busy! But I do love reading them; you guys make me crack up so much sometimes!! So keep them coming 🙂
Good Sunday evening blog readers!
Sorry for being absent yesterday…I was having a day off from blogging 🙂 BUT I did still take photos of course – a quick re-cap:
Pre-breakfast/DVD workout – an apple, square of chocolate and 2 tsp wheatgerm.
Proper breakfast – totally time for an Epic Green Monster, seeing as I hadn’t had one in…ooohh, 2 or 3 days!?
If you want to make your own Epic Green Monster, here’s what you’ll need…
Epic Green Monster
- 1/2 cup yogurt
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 biiiiig handfuls of spinach
- 1tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 frozen banana
- or, if you didn’t use frozen and still want some chill factor, do as the master does and throw in a few chunks of other frozen fruit 🙂
- 1 cup of cereal – I used a mix of All-Bran and Crunchy Bran, or Quinoa O’s, cos they’re all neutral flavour – but there are so many varieties to choose from…
[I have so much cereal, it doesn’t fit in the cupboard anymore :p]
Add it all into the blender…..
….blend like made until it’s all smooth and delicious, and then serve! I think dates, granola and toasted coconut with a bit of jam makes the ultimate topping combination 😀
This beauty will keep you full for ages, will taste amazing, and is chokka with amazing vitamins. You’ll feel like a SuperWoman (or Man) after eating it! Make sure you savour every last bite…cos it’s well worth it 😛
After breakfast it was just a case of work, work, work. Lunch was a toasted sandwich: 2 pieces wholemeal bread, with rhubarb jam, apple sauce, and plum jam, goat’s cheese and aubergine:
Salad and grilled tofu:
All sandwiched up in the George Forman:
It’s really hard to take a photo of a sandwich…
On the side, I had a big pile of fruit – a pear, strawberries (YAY! Back in season!!), a tomato and some left over aubergine:
Lunch dessert was a Berry Cheeky Nakd bar:
Mid-afternoon I had a random apple, and then later on, I BAKED! Oh it’s been so long….I did Carrot Date Banana Muffins – they were SUPER! The best bit? I made up the recipe myself!! Totally mine 🙂
So tasty…but I won’t post it yet, cos there’s a few things I want to tweak. But when I do, it will be SO GOOD.
Dinner was a simple, carb-loading meal – stuffed tortellini, kale, parsnips and squash, with all the usual flavahs:
So wrong, yet so right.
Dessert was obviously my usual favourite combination 😀
————-
OK! Now onto today!
Today was the day I had designated as Day Two of my 50 (30) Mile Challenge training – but you know how England is meant to be grey and cold and rainy? It sure lived up to that stereotype today. I woke up and it was POURING with rain, as well as being windy and just darn cold!! I decided to wait a little while to see if it passed. So while I was waiting, I made some breakfast – 1/2 cup barley flakes (did you know in just one 1/2 cup serving, there’s about 40g of carbs? That’s better than 2 pieces of bread, a bagel, oatmeal or oatbran! I spent some precious minutes comparing this morning :)), with 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup milk, cinnamon and nutmeg. I topped it all off with a present from my Jessica (The Process of Healing) package the other week:
Squeezy almond butter!! I also added on a sprinkle of that stale-tasting-no-crunch-whatsoever-honey-granola:
It was a good bowl – but it was WEIRD having oats without the banana…quite different.
I then did an hour of revision and ate 2tsps of wheatgerm, three strawberries and a square of chocolate before I set out.
Alas, the rain had not stopped…but I went out and ran 9 miles to start with – I slowed my pace to about 8.40, and it was LOVELY! My legs and lungs felt so fresh and strong; I think I’ve officially found my marathon pace! I then planned to walk the last 4miles home, to get in ‘time on my feet’. I’d persuaded my mum last night to drive out and meet me, then we could walk back together, and she could bring with her not only her fabulous company, but some food + water for me! Sadly, one of us (me or her, I don’t know) mis-judged distances, and I was walking for about a mile before she found me!! When she did, I was quite upset 😦 I was SOAKED to the skin (it was still chucking it down with rain, made worse by the strong wind!) and very cold and thirsty and needing some fuel 😦 I actually had a little cry while I was walking cos I felt so low. So thank goodness she found me when she did!
I changed my clothes at the car (I was so wet I could hardly get my top off :s), and grabbed this beauty – a white chocolate macadamia Luna bar [another Jessica present!!]:
It had 25g of carb and 9g protein – pretty good post-run fuel 🙂 I munched that in the pouring rain, while my mum and I walked back together.
Overall, we [got very very very wet and] did 19.2km (about 12miles) in 2hrs 7 <- that includes the 9miles I’d already ran. Not too bad!
As soon as I got in, I ran my hands under the hot tap to get some feeling back, took a celebratory photo:
Then went straight into a hot shower – best one EVER!!
Then came lunch – an Epic Green Monster of course! Except I subbed in a small pear for the frozen fruit, and added some grated cacao on top:
It went down a treat, and was enjoyed whilst watching Badminton Horse Trials on TV, curled up in my Snuggie blanket thing :p:
(MARY KING TO WIN!) On the subject of horse trials and eventing….check out this fall by one of Britain’s best eventers last weekend, over in Kentucky in the USA:
He escaped with concussion and a few broken bones, and the horse was fine. Scary stuff huh!? I know, very random to show that…but it just shows how scary riding can be sometimes!!
ANYWAY:
I alternated revision with snippets of Badminton, as well as two hot chocolates, a Nana’s peanut butter cookie and some cereal with yogurt and date syrup:
I was going to do something new and exciting for dinner, but in the end, I just had the other half of my stuffed pasta (I think I probably need the carbs to :p):
I had planned to have it on Monday, but I’m going SHOPPING! ALL DAY! TO BLUEWATER (a massive huge shopping centre in England)!!! It’s my mum’s birthday outing 😀 So I’ve been persuaded to take the day off from revision and go with….exciting! It’s a long way to drive though, so I don’t know if I’ll have time to post….we shall see 🙂
Anyways – I’m going to continue revising and eat some dessert!! Have a good evening everyone 🙂
Quick question: I still have a can of pumpkin to use, and I’m undecided as to the best method! I could bake with it, put it in oatmeal, or mix it with yogurt…what should I do!?
Oh, and another one – has anyone seen Avatar? If you did, what did you think of it? It’s being released over here on DVD and I’ve never seen it….
LOL @ your cereal.
Good job on the run!! Isn’t a hot shower after a long run just THE BEST?!? 🙂
Poor you getting soaked- I was hoping for a run this am too but settled for the gym instead to stay dry. Congrats on the distance! So pleased the training’s going well.
Was wondering how you go about your fuelling with all the exercise you do- do you have to make sure you eat a certain amount of calories or do you just go with what your body tells you it wants? Bit of both?
Carrot cake is my fave so im looking forward to the muffin recipe.
Enjoy your day off tomorrow.
xxxxx
I don’t count calories so I can’t really aim for anything..I try and listen to what my body wants, but so often my appetite gets dulled with exercise, normally I just decide what I’m going to have and stick with it! I always make sure I get enough carbs though 🙂 xxx
Heyy, I haven’t posted here before but I’ve been reading your blog for some time as your food totally inspires me to start being creative! I do wish I had some of these american foods that you have been given though – they look absolutely gorgeous I’m so so jealous!
Yeah today was a horrible day – you are so brave to have put up with it whilst running – I would have just cried! Yeah I’d like to know how you manage your calorie intake when you go running too? I’m recovering from anorexia and my parents don’t let me do anything which I feel rubbish about – not that I was a keen exercise girl before – but it might help me feel better…I just wish I could go out for runs like you, it totally inspires me.
Can’t wait to see the recipe for the muffins – I bake muffins quite regularly when I see a good recipe coz I loveee them!
Ooh and I’ve seen Avatar and just got it on DVD too because I really liked it..Not sure whether the 3D effect added to it but I’ll soon find out when I watch it on DVD and it’s just in 2D!
Hope you have a great day at Bluewater tomorrow. That is one place on my list of places I have to go to in the UK still which is kinda surprising since I’m a shopaholic and have been practically EVERYWHERE in the UK shopping!
Keep up the great blogging, I really love it ❤
xxx
Haha, I did cry!! :p
Hmm…I think with exercise and recovery, it depends how far recovered you are. When I first started recovering I wasn’t allowed to exercise; partly cos I might have had a heart attack if I did (!!) but partly cos at that stage in my life, I would have got waaay too obsessive about it. If there’s a risk it might start to damage your health, or make you have a new obsession, it’s best to stick it out til you’re better. BUT, I believe they actually recommend things like yoga and pilates! So if you can do them, go for it!
I’d definetly recommend Bluewater – it’s fab!!
Thanks for reading 🙂 xxx
All of those falls at rolex at that combination were flat-out terrifying. I can’t believe everyone managed to escape without serious injury.
And congrats on your run, too! And the green monster tut is MUCH appreciated, btw 🙂
I say split the pumpkin!! With one can, even a smaller one – you should have enough leftover after making some muffins or bread or something to still have a bowl of pumpkin yogurt or oats 🙂 I love pumpkin yogurt – and oats I love the flavor of pumpkin in, but it takes me a little bit to warm up to the texture.
Oliver’s was the only one I saw…how he survived is beyond me (or it’s all down to those inflatable jackets). He couldn’t go to Badminton cos of that fall 😦
I think I’m leaning towards pumpki yogurt actually…I’m just so scared to open the tin cos it’s my ONLY ONE and one it’s gone, it’s gone!! How sad am I :p
Oh no I hope you are ok now, it must have been awful not knowing where your mum was. I’m glad she found you! Have fun tomorrow, I love Bluewater so much and spent a lot last time I went. You deserve a day off from your work!
aww poor you getting soaked, im from england too (midlands) and it has been pretty wet fo rmost of the day! I was just wondering where you managed to find your cacao? Im pretty useless at finding anything in the health food shops 😛
It was in Waitrose 😛 they seem to stock all the funky stuff!
Avatar is amazing! When it first came out in the cinema and I saw all the adverts, I was totally put off and thought it really wouldn’t be my kind of thing. But a friend convinced me to go (we saw the 2D version) and it was so so so good – one of the best films I’ve ever seen! If you like Pocahontas you’ll love it!
Firstly: I LOVE BLUEWATER. I’m uber jealous! You have to get a milkshake from the shake shack place that blends every chocolate bar you could ever imagine. It’s better than B&Js, I promise you!
Secondly: I LOVE BLUEWATER 😛
I’ve been making pumpkin breakfast cookies recently and they are yum, but I’ve split my can of pumpkin into servings and frozen them, so they’re lasting a while! Pretty good in granola too if you fancy making MORE cereal!!
Debs x
Oohh I didn’t see that place last time I went, but it sounds GOOD! I’ll look out for it 😀 Thanks for the heads up!
loved bluewater shoppping centre, havnt been for a couple years though!
avatar is one of my new fav films!! even my sister who wasnt sure before she saw it loved it…may have seen it in the cinema 4 times 😉 and got it for my birthday!! xxx
http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Pumpkin-Recipes/Detail.aspx
Have you seen this website yet? When I have something I want to use up, I search on here to get ideas. A lot of recipes aren’t too healthy so I try to “healthify” them a bit more, but so many of these are great starters. Some of the pumpkin cookie and muffin recipes look great! I always spend way too long looking at this site though… that’s the downside 😉 The upside? I’m going to have some chocolate chip pumpkin muffins after I get to the store this week!
You GMs always look so fabulous… I’m going to have to go make one now! 🙂
A day of shopping, sounds like some FUN girly!
Your workout today sounded pretty rough with all of the rain. I used to enjoy running in the rain but not drenching rain and COLD, no fun. You rock girl 🙂
Glad you liked the bar and the nut butter! Justin’s is the best! I’m actually not a huge fan of Luna bars but everyone else loves them so I though i’d let you judge for yourself 🙂
And thank you from the bottom of my heart for your lovely comment, you are the BEST girl!!!!!! I swear if you lived here we’d be bffs 😉
Have a fabulous day of fun!
Love you!
Oh, as for the pumpkin… that’s really hard!! I might suggest opening a can and using some in oats, some in yogurt.. but it also makes amazingly delicious pumpkin muffins… hard decision!
I like your overflow of cereal- I love Weetabix! My best friend (who is from Stafford) got me hooked on it back in the day.
I cannot wait for you to post your carrot muffin recipe! With your pumpkin you should definitely make muffins or pancakes. 🙂
And racing/eventing always scares me! I used to go out on cross country courses with my horse and it was so exhilarating yet terrifying at the same time. And my horse always spooked at the water jumps!
So sorry about getting totally soaked, sounds rough, but great job on the long workout.
I haven’t had tortellini in forever, an old favorite for sure and boy does yours look great!
Have a great day of shopping and enjoy your mommy time!!
LOL to the cereal! I hope that doesn’t fall onto your head one day.
Sorry about getting so soaked. 😦 You must’ve gotten really cold.
Are aubergines the same thing as zucchini?
I think you guys call aubergines eggplants. And we call zucchini courgettes. So much for speaking the same language!!
Dude. I just want to say I love your cereal. I have very limited kitchen space and my food is just exploding everywhere, but does not look anywhere near as cool as that does : )
OOOOH enjoy Bluewater!! Tell us what its like – have never been!
Julia
Awesome job on your run! Going out in the rain for 9 miles and then walking 3 more back while you’re soaked is definitely dedication!! Glad to hear the run itself went well! (even though the first part of your walk back was awful…)
I saw Avatar in 3D in theaters….and it was awesome!!! However, the reason I thought it was so cool was because of all the special effects. AND because when you watch it in 3D on a big screen, you really feel like you’re “there.” Sadly, some of that would be lost when you watch it on DVD. I think it’s still worth seeing though!
And as far as the can of pumpkin goes — bake with it! That’s the most fun way to use it…even if you just bake something simple like pumpkin pancakes. 🙂
Epic huh? So sorry if i offended you at all with my last post 😉 Your “Epic Green Monster” does look great even though the name may need a bit of work, hah. I hate seeing horses fall like that, hopefully he is okay!
Umm I officiailly love your blog
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