Give yourself a boost!

Feeling sick and down last week I continued with my usual morning pick me up, which I enjoy so much I now struggle to go without.

Thought I would share this quick, easy and delicious recipe of the green smoothie I usually (if not always) turn to;

Almond milk / coconut milk

Blueberries

Spinach

Kale

Banana

First I add the almond/coconut milk (whichever I have available - I generally prefer the almond, it tastes better and makes it much thicker and creamier) I pour in until it just reaches the top of the blades

And in go the blueberries (I use half or a full pack)

On top of that goes the spinach and the kale (use 2/3 handfuls of each)

Then a ripe banana...

This is optional but for a little extra boost I add wheatgrass powder, miracle matcha, baobab and/or some maca powder (I only use half or whole teaspoon of each and find it doesn't affect the taste)

et voila!

Not often do you get something that tastes this good and is also so good for you! :)

When in bed for a few days and completely lost my appetite, this was one of the very few things I wanted, and it keeps you full for a good few hours. 

Funny enough as sick as I felt during those few days one good thing that did come out of it is that I felt so much better body wise because I hadn't really been eating anything else. This was almost a juice cleanse for me. I am sure any weight I may have lost during that time I would have got back as I am back to normal now and eating as usual but it makes me more curious about a juice cleanse, not something I have ever done but I am sure your body thanks you for it. 

One thing A and I have been doing for the past week is avoiding bread. I have to say I really enjoy bread and I am not sure it has been worth it, I don't actually feel any difference with my body. I guess I expected to feel slightly lighter around the stomach and have more energy but really its not been noticeable.

I did aim to do a short juice cleanse for the weekend just to try it out and also we are going away next week so it seemed like a good idea but we ended up eating out yesterday and tonight Andrew fancies a good burger while we watch some UFC... maybe next time! ;) If I do I will definitely share results!

Super Sunday!

We managed to get a guest pass for my boyfriends gym and he was up for trying out a spinning class to see what all the fuss was about - I absolutely LOVE spinning!

Spinning can be an extremely intense work out depending on what you make of it. I love to push it as hard as I really can because you do sweat like crazy and feel super powered afterwards, you're truly knackered but somehow feel completely re-energised at the same time, its awesome!

We went to the Reebok gym at Canary Wharf which is far superior to my little one in Mayfair. I am actually tempted to sign up to the Reebok but because its not near where I work I know by the time I make my way home I have more of an excuse not to go.

Reebok entrance, sofas to sit and relax

The Reebok gym is massive and has so much equipment you couldn't even get round it all - if you were a proper gym goer I think it would be the version of a kid in a candy store - as well as a boxing ring, a basketball court and huge studios, it even has a rock-climbing wall!

Climbing wall behind the stairs

Our spin class lasted 45/50 minutes and was probably one of the most intense I have done all thanks to the instructor. If the instructor is good enough they won't put up with anyone slacking in the class - the guy next to me actually got told twice to basically do it properly or get out! Not all instructors are like that, infact I have only come across two. At my current gym, an instructor (and I am sure he was ex-army) literally shouted in someones face if you didn't push it hard enough. Sounds actually quite daunting but I love it, I think people need that motivation, they need that kick up the butt!
I seriously don't understand people that join a gym class and do their own thing, especially on a bike, you may as well go out on the gym floor and work out.

Unfortunately the ex-army guy doesn't take the spin classes anymore so today felt even better for me. (My boyfriend probably not so much, his legs were already in pain from his sessions that week!)  I joke with Andrew how I want the ex-army guy to do the classes again, not just because I really enjoy his class but he reminds me of Stonebridge, from the TV series Stike Back (hot!)

Reebok also has some really nice changing rooms, I was telling Andrew how I even liked the sandalwood body wash in the showers (apparently he didn't have anything like that so maybe they just look after the girls!) hair straighteners are even complimentary to use, as well as the usual towels and hairdryers.

After leaving the gym we decided to grab something to eat so Andrew got something from Leon and I got a chicken salad from Krugar. They actually had a good selection of food as well as a smoothie bar but we decided to make our own smoothie at home.

Strawberry, banana and mango sorbet smoothie, Yum!

I also managed to pick up some wheatgrass powder in holland and barrett for 'buy one get one for a penny!' :)

We are now officially exhausted and I think I am going off to have a hot bath with some Lush bath bombs!

Oooo, Andrew's just sent me over a delicious looking snack I may have to eat first!