PFF: healthy

Showing posts with label healthy. Show all posts

You might remember that back in September I wrote my 'September Healthy Habits' post (if you don't, you might wanna go read it here!). I set myself a monthly challenge to help reduce some not-so-healthy habits and try to create some healthy(er) habits i.e. drink more green tea and less coffee :( It worked. It really helped. I really enjoyed it and it really gave me something to track on a weekly basis. Bullet journal lovers you will love this. In fact i'm doing mine on these free January bullet journal printables by Sandra at Wundertastisch using the 'habit tracker' page.

I'm not the 'new years resolution' type of gal. Instead I prefer to set myself monthly challenges to keep things new and work on things that really need working on. Setting yourself a yearly goal is far too broad. It doesn't help you to improve. Without further ado, let's get on to chatting about my health goals for January - what they are and how i'm going to achieve them...

Eat legumes 3 times a week

Legumes or beans are the perfect source of vegan protein and i'm guilty of not eating enough of them. I love myself a veggie curry but I often forget to add some kind of protein to it. This is something I shouldn't neglect since I strength train and workout on a regular basis. Protein is so important for your body and so this has to be a focus for me in January. It only involves opening a bloody tin for goodness sake.

Run a 10k

Eek this is a challenge an' half considering I don't really love to run that much (it's alright sometimes, in summer, or by the beach). But hopefully me and my flatmates will be taking part in the Wolf Run in April which is 10k + obstacles so, i'd like to be able to run a 10k quite comfortably by that point. So my aim for this month is simply to run a 10k. Send help!

Complete 5 unassisted chin ups once a week

This is something I can do, I just don't. I really want to add more pull ups into my weekly workout routine. They're such a good upper body exercise and a great addition to any workout routine. I want to practice as I used to be able to do a lot more and there's no better way to improve at them. This shouldn't be too difficult, just a nice reminder to add more compound, function moves into my workouts.

8,000 steps per DAY

This is going to be hard for me. Walking was also part of my 'September Healthy Habits' as it's something I definitely let slip. I can probably hit 6000 quite easily on a day of lectures and walking to the gym. It's the other days that will be more difficult. You know what it's like when it's cold outside and you're all warm and snuggly inside - you don't want to leave do you?!

Complete one day a week 'raw til 4' style

This is something I naturally did quite a lot on holiday. I would eat lots of fruit and smoothies for breakfast, a salad for lunch and then have a cooked dinner. I really liked how it made me feel so it's something i'd like to add into my daily life. But it's winter and I prefer warmer food like oats in winter, especially for breakfast, so once a week is enough for me (for now!).

Take some 'me' time to read 5 days a week

Yes once a day. I was guilty of not really giving myself any chill time in the latter half of 2016 and as much as the fitness/food goals above are good, mental health is also equally as important. You can't neglect your mental healthy habits. So i'm really going to try to read (a non academic book) every night before bed. It really helps me relax and switch off. That 'me time' is just so valuable. The reason I have put 5 days is because I probably won't read at weekends if my boyfriend stays over.

January goals come at meh. Let's do this *flex emoji*

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This post has been a long time coming. Begu teas come in a pack of 28 so they will last you around a month. I've been trying to make my way through all of the teas so I can get a good idea of how I feel about them. Anybody who know's me will know I'm a tea lover. I love a proper builders brew. I also used to drink a lot of herbal tea's but that went a bit downhill. In my September healthy challenge, I made a challenge of drinking just one green tea a day - which I did pretty well on to be honest. That's what I liked about Begu tea, there's one for every time of the day which really helped me to fit them into my daily life. Overall I've really enjoyed all of these teas and would definitely recommend them to people on a bit of a health kick, who want to fit more herbal teas into their diet. Carry on reading to see what i thought of the range.

Morning Buzz

This is essentially a 'posh' green tea. But it's SO better than drinking your average green tea and lemon from the supermarket. You can see the goodness in the tea bag! Not just that, the specially selected group of ingredients work brilliantly together to give you a bit of a boost in the morning without being too strong or harsh. It's the perfect mixture to get your metabolism going, stimulate cognitive function and boost oxidation. This tea really helps control my appetite, I have this first thing in the morning after a glass of water and I find myself putting off breakfast for a couple of hours. It's become such a part of morning routine now - I don't know what I'd do without it.

Rating out of 5*: *****

Would I buy again? Yes!

Nightea Night

The nicest night time tea I have ever tried and I have tried a few (most of them I have to force down). This I actually enjoy as a nice, evening wind-down cup of tea. I don' think this helps me fall to sleep, which is my main problem. But, I do think it helps me sleep deeper and although this could be psychological, it is probably due to the valerian root, a proven natural sleep aid. It is hard for me to fit this into my daily life as I don't like to drink too late at night and if I have it too early I don't see the benefit. So I have a bit of a dilemma. I also think this would be much nicer if the flavours were stronger.

Rating out of 5*: ***

Would I buy again? Probably not! I much prefer a Calm tea earlier on in the evening.

Calm

This one smells pretty fab! It's naturally caffeine free so, I like to sip this one as an evening drink after my dinner. I'm not a lover of chamomile tea so I like how they've mixed the ingredients to make it taste really nice. I'd probably be more inclined to purchase this again over the night tea, just because I can drink it earlier on in the evening to relax my body without having to pee several times when I'm trying to sleep (weak bladder problems, soz!).

Rating out of 5*: ****

Would i buy again? Yes!

Appetite

I really enjoy this in the afternoon when I'm off to lectures or meetings and need to distract my mind from food for a little while. I enjoy this the most earlier on in the day because it does contain some caffeine. This uses ingredients like green tea and psyllium to help control appetite and digestion. It isn't the nicest tasting of the bunch but it's still really nice.

Rating out of 5*: ****

Would i buy again? Yes!

Crave

Another one that smells absolutely delicious. This tea is to help kill those sweet-tooth cravings. It tastes so luxurious and 'naughty' even though it's really not. If you find yourself reaching for a chocolate fix, I would definitely recommend having a mug of this first and then see if you still want the chocolate. This reminds me of the 'Rooibos, vanilla and cocoa nibs' tea from M&S (can buy it here) although this one does contain caffeine (black tea). The blend of cinnamon, coconut and cinnamon give it a distinctive spicy taste, kind of like chai tea. It does contain stevia so you don't need to sweeten it but you could add some coconut sugar and coconut milk if you want to make it even more warming and fulfilling. One of my favourite kind of teas. Delicious. Especially in wintertime.

Rating out of 5*: *****

Would i buy again? Yes!

System Cleanse

I wasn't sure about this blend due to the inclusion of 'senna leaves', a natural kind of laxative. Begu recommend this for those with 'a poor, low fibre diet'. This does not apply to me, I don't really need this kind of tea. So I used it with caution. The first time I tried this it didn't go down too well on me; I definitely felt the effects the next day. But, after having this a few times, I've decided that I actually really like it. It does feel cleansing like it flushes everything out. I find this helps with bloating. This isn't recommended for long-term use, obviously, but it's nice as a short-term boost to help alongside a healthy eating plan.

Rating out of 5*: ***

Would i buy again? No - I wouldn't use this long-term.

I love how all these teas use natural, herbal ingredients to support a specific purpose. I can't fit all these teas into my daily life but, I do tend to have 2-3 a day. This is why the BeguThree bundle would be perfect. These teas have become such a part of my daily life now (as you would see on my Instagram story if you followed me;)). I've been enjoying drinking herbal tea more than ever, they taste so good. I really value the benefits of herbal teas, the health benefits are amazing and it's such a simple part of your day. Who doesn't love a cup of tea?

Have you tried Begu tea?

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*These products were sent by Begu in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Today i want to share my favourite vegan snacks. Some are healthier than others, some are great for on-the-go and some are for sharing. But there's lots for everyone! It just shows how being vegan isn't difficult, there's SO many options! So if you're thinking of being more vegan.. this is a good place to start, odds are you eat a lot of these things already. I hope you find some new snacks to enjoy, let me know your favourite treats in the comments below!

Aldi

Pea Snacks

These are not for everyone, they have quite a distinctive taste. They're made primarily of dried marrowfat peas. They're crunchy and filling for such a small portion. Marketed as a good source of protein (4g per pack). They make a perfect little snack that you can take out and about with you. I would recommend everyone try these at least once.

Chocolate Orange Rice Cake Bars

The perfect treat for chocolate orange lovers. Who needs Terry's? At just 90kcal per bar they make a great low-calorie snack to satisfy a sweet tooth. These bars also make a perfect on-the-go snack.

Biscuits

Oreos - Mint, Chocolate, Original..

Now who doesn't love Oreos? If you're looking for a not-so-healthy treat then look no further. Oreos are my go-to evening treat; the perfect treat at the end of a hard days work ;) Plus, the different flavours are always good to try. Never boring.

p.s. Just discovered the PB ones aren't vegan :( so just make sure to double check!

Bourbon Creams (usually own brands e.g. Asda, Sainsbury's)

Eek, childhood favourite here. Notice a chocolate theme occurring? Who knew Bourbon CREAMS

were vegan? This not-so-healthy snack is usually reserved for lazy weekends with a cuppa tea and a film. Probably best to leave the packet in the cupboard and just take a few with you.

Graze

Find them all here!

Dark Chocolate Cherry Tart

My all time favourite Graze snack. It is delicious and comes packed with loads of goodness (healthy fats, copper - 26%NRV and manganese -28%NRV). Although it can be a little addictive so eat with caution.

Cranberry & Hazelnut Toasts with Cocoa Dip

Another favourite of mine from graze Graze. Definitely one for you dippers. The chocolate dip is just like nutella, the portion size is fab as it stops you eating it by the spoonful. The perfect mix of sweet and savoury. Dip and crunch. At only 139 kcal per portion it's an ideal small snack for them chocolate cravings.

Misc

Banana Ice-cream/Chocolate Pops

I have to include a recipe of my own don't it. You can find the recipe post (here) or video (here). These are such a cute snack that will impress a lot of people AND they are relatively fast and easy to make. Make a batch of these and store in the freezer, take one out about 10minutes before you're ready to eat it. Experiment with flavours and you will never get bored of this healthy ice-cream pop. Who needs Mr Whippy?!

Chocolate banana ice-cream pops http://psychologyfoodandfitness.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/recipe-vegan-banana-chocolate-ice-cream-pops.html

Homemade Brownies/Blondies

I have the perfect gluten-free, vegan brownie recipe >> here <<.Try baking a batch of these at weekend and use them throughout the week as a little post-lunch or dinner dessert. They will cure that sweet tooth in a jiffy!

Carrot Sticks & Hummus

My favourite snack of ALL time. Pick your favourite hummus flavour and chop some carrots (or buy the ready shopped carrot batons if you are lazy like me!) and dip away until your heart is content. This is a perfect addition to your lunch box to keep you going through work or school.

So there you have it, my favourite healthy & not-so-healthy vegan snacks!

Who else enjoys any of these treats? Did i miss anything off?

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So i decided i need to make myself more accountable. I've decided to quit the gym for a month (well longer.. 6 weeks to be exact). Yes i exercise, it's part of my lifestyle, i just can't help myself. BUT, i do find myself putting off working out if don't have a gym workout to complete. I dunno. I just don't get the motivation when i'm at home. It's far too easy to lay around in my pyjamas and blog all day. To add on to that i've always been snacking WAY too much and eating a lot less plant based than i used to. By that, i mean, i've been eating waaaay too many Oreo's. Oops.

So here i am. Setting myself some goals for September. Some healthy goals. Goals which i will stick too.

1. Cycling three times a week = 3hrs in total.

I've been really enjoying cycling recently, it's so exhilarating and such a good way to get outdoors in the morning. So now i want to make sure i get in 3 hours worth of bike reading in the week. I usually do an hour a time so this shouldn't 't too hard, just gotta times it by three.

2. Three Zumba workouts a week (min. 30mins).

Oh how i have been loving Zumba. I have a full playlist on my Youtube here if you fancy giving it a go. I do this in my living room and it is SUCH GOOD FUN. Cardio is no longer hardio. It will have you sweating in no time. Now i want to make sure i hit 3 sessions a week! I might actually give a proper class a go too.

3. One hour of mindful walking a week.

I did this the other day.. walked with no headphones, no mobile phone, no distractions, nothing. It reminded me of how much i enjoyed it and missed doing it. I used to walk a lot more regularly, it's so nice to get outdoors and truly appreciate you're surroundings. So that's what i'm going to do for at least one hour a week.

4. At least one piece of fruit a day.

This sounds bad.. i do eat my veggies everyday but not fruit. Dunno what it is but i can go weeks without fruit. So i'm going to aim for just one portion a day. Just because vitaminzzzz. lolz.

5. Fluids: 2+ ltr of water per day, at least one green tea a day & only three coffees per week.

CAFFEINE. Addict. It needs to stop. I said i would stop in this vlog here and that was months ago. I have done it before. It is so much better for you're digestion. A simple switch to decaff is really easy. So that is what i shall be doing, as well as adding in the green tea. Now of course that contains caffeine but nowhere near as strong. The health benefits kind of outweigh any negatives.

So there you have it. My September health goals. I will be tracking them all weekly, starting from today (i like to start my week on a Monday!). I've already had my green tea and two glasses of water, so we're off to a good start!

Do you have a habit tracker? What are you're goals for September?
Are they health related?

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