Glimmering on the horizon it lays;

my hopes,

my dreams,

untouchable, 

unreachable

yet plainly in sight.

It beckons me to it,

but the road I must take is long and unfair.

my hopes,

my dreams

remain untouchable.

For now.

Time standing still

Do you ever get that feeling that, because something incredibly awesome is on the horizon, time decides to stand still? Yeah me too.

In 3 days its my birthday party, in 4 my 1 year anniversary with my boyfriend, in one week its my actual birthday, in 1 week and 4 days its my last day at work for the year, in 12 days its christmas, in 18 days its next year, in 22 days im on a plane to sydney and in one month and 3 days im on a plane to china to live for just over a month. So basically all good things for me begin in 3 days BUT this week seems neverending! I swear its feels like thursday but in reality its only tuesday!

Not only do I think this is happening because ive been waiting for this weekend for over a month now but I also think its because I can see my holidays on the horizon and I am getting increasingly tired of my job. Now, dont get me wrong, I'm not one to complain about a job when so many people in the world who want jobs cant get jobs, BUT look at it this way...

My entire life I've been a student with 4 sets of holidays a year and this year ive been working full time for near 6 months and im exhausted!! Ive never done such a long stretch without a break and its really getting to me. That and the fact that I am a student my nature and considering my job relies of my physical capabilities rather than my mental abilities I've been feeling a little lost. I miss learning, I miss that feeling of finally figuring out the answer to something after ages of getting it wrong, I miss reading for purpose and I actually miss assignments. All this and I miss socialising. I feel like I dont really talk to anyone in a day, like REALLY talk to them about hopes/dreams etc. like students do on a daily basis. I also miss that feeling of going to a coffee shop to actually relax and drink a coffee rather than run around like a headless chook for 7 hours a day.

I should really stop dwelling on the fact that time seems to be slowing down and distract myself in some other way. Then maybe, just maybe it can finally be friday!

P.S. For my party I'm gonna make some jello shots like the ones here Ill make a post about it later :)

Beth xo

Back on track

Finally I have some motivation!

At the start of this year I was 60kg. I am currently 65kg. I need to get my summer body back! Now, some would say 5kg is the hardest to lose and keep off. The only way I got down to 60 last year is because I was sick with glandular fever over summer and the moment I got better my weight levelled out at around 62-63 which I was happy with. But I would really like to lose these last 5kg and this time, keep it off!


My main philosophy at the moment is to eat foods that are super duper packed with goodness. And nothing processed. This is harder than you would think. Literally everything is processed in someway or another and since I'm not exactly financially in a position to purely buy organic etc. I am having to make some compromises. But yes, the majority of my food consumed as of today will be fresh and real food that is bought in a form closest to that which it was harvested. 


I've also set myself a few rules (more like guidelines) to help me stay healthy and hopefully lose these 5kg before I go live in china in January (more to come on this topic ;D)


1. avoid gluten as much as possible (mostly in the form of processed breads). This philosophy sounds kind of 'carb related' but its not, I will still be eating potatoes and whole grains, the reason behind the avoidance of gluten is because ceoliac disease runs in my family and at times I cannot digest gluten properly. I don't know why it is only sometimes, must be the time of year cause generally around summer my body has a spazz. Instead I've been trying out quinoa and let me tell you I LOVE it! I made a batch to eat with my curry the other day because we ran out of rice and it tasted so good! 


2. Have a glass of warm water with lemon the moment I wake up before starting my morning routine. I've heard about the many benefits of doing this and thought I'd try it out for myself :) 


3. Exercise 3 times per week minimum! I just got my old bike fixed so hopefully within the next week I will get that back so I can start riding into work for a little bit of cardio but I will be doing my weights 3 times a week and my sit-ups are already a part of my daily routine.


4. Concerning sweets; All in moderation!!!! I've become a massive sweet tooth this year and have been finding it really hard to say no to cake etc. and since I work in a cafe the temptation is there staring me in the face all day. But I must be strong! One sweet this per week whether that be chocolate, cake, etc. Substitute fruit or greek yoghurt with honey for that sweet kick. 


5. DRINK WATER 2L per day and 3 cups of green tea. Avoid milk where possibly and limit coffee intake to 3 times per week (for now, I have heard that coffee boosts metabolism but atm I need a good detox which includes coffee) 


6. Small portions, healthy snacks and limit fats ie. butters, oils, cheese etc.


Today I was really good. I woke up and did a 1 hour workout before work. I dont think I'll have time to do this tomorrow in the morning but I plan to go for a swim in the afternoon cause it'll be nicer weather. I also ate really well.
BFAST: I had a tropical fruit breakfast smoothie topped with chia seeds and oats,a hard boiled egg and green tea
LUNCH: quinoa salad with carrot, celery, tomato, pepitas, sunflower seeds, cabbage, rocket, tabouli and balsamic vinegar and green tea
DINNER: curry with quinoa and home-made tatziki and green tea


Anyways Im off, untill next time :)


Beth xo

Healthy girl?

So I know I haven't made a post in a while and I'm really angry about that.
I keep losing the motivation to post and considering noone reads this blog I didn't think it would be a big deal. I wish I had more people interested in what I am saying, but the fact of the matter is that noone knows about this blog and its really hard to get started and get people reading what your'e writing.


Anyways, lately I haven't been much of a healthy girl. All the vices and indulgences this unhealthy world offers have become suddenly irresistible and I no longer have the motivation to exercise or say no to a piece of cake. Its really bad, i've gained 3 kg in 3 weeks and this time last year i was 5kg lighter! So I'm trying to get my motivation to eat well and exercise back.


I was doing really well today I had muesli and yoghurt for brekkie, salad with quinoa for lunch, an apple as a snack and then a chicken salad for tea. I also had a low fat hot choc (only 200kj) because i bought a packet of sachets for a xmas present and needed to test them out... no longer giving them as a gift. Not quite nice enough.  


I didn't have enough motivation to do an afternoon workout but tomorrow I am going to force myself! 


Anyways goodbye for now :)


Beth xo

Drastic Measures

Oh hey!
Long time no talk yeah? Sorry about that, not that I think I have any readers yet but I like to talk as if I do.
Anyways, 
My whole "lets get bikini ready the healthy way" hasn't been working and so I am doing what I did last year to kick start my weightloss - The Dukan Diet.
I know many people believe it to be 'unhealthy' etc. and yes it probably is. But the thing is, i only have around 5kgs to lose and this is really just to get things in motion and hopefully get some of my motivation back, something which was so strong last year.


I've decided to track my progress daily here, on my blog. This way I can evaluate each day and my feelings towards the diet because I remember last year I felt pretty shit on it, I'm hoping this isn't going to be the case this time.


DAY ONE (Sat 5th November)
Technically I didn't really start today as I started at lunch time... But I still stayed away from alcohol despite attending a 21st. 


BFAST: Cereal and banana (doesnt count as dukan diet... basically my 'last meal')
LUNCH: lean steak with garlic yoghurt
DINNER: Chicken curry and turkey meatball


SNACKS: Greek Yohgurt, boiled egg
DRINKS: Diet lemonade and diet coke (I had to drink something while I was out LOL), regular skim latte, 2 cups of tea, 2 Litres water

Today I felt like shit, I was so grumpy and my body was sore because I went out dancing friday night... Really not the best day to be starting a diet. I was hungry all day, constantly snacking and also felt really nauseas


DAY TWO: Sunday 6th November
So today was my first 'proper' day and it wasn't too bad, I still grazed the whole day but I didn't feel as nauseas or grumpy (I only yelled at my brother once). But oh my god, I swear I needed to go to the toilet at least 10 times today, I really hope it isn't like that tomorrow when I'm at work! But I did manage a little exercise today, a short swim with my brother at the local pool - how cute.


BFAST: Salmon and chicken omelet
LUNCH: Yoghurt with oat bran
DINNER: 2 Turkey meatball with soysauce


SNACKS: few slices of ham and turkey, yoghurt
DRINKS: small skim latte, 1 ginger tea, 1 earl grey tea, 2 english bfast teas, 1 diet lemonade, around 2.5 litres water


So tomorrow I am testing out how well I do with my diet when working. I work in a cafe too, so there will be no sitting down moaning about my hunger or my lack of energy, it will be bam! bam! bam! all day. Omg, I hope it'll be okay.

October Fitness Kick

Now that my cold is finally breaking (still have a cough and runny nose at times) I can finally get into my health kick for summer!

My mum and brother are also in on this little health kick so we've all vowed to exercise once a day (on weekdays) and replace dinner with a protein shake (mums idea). I was a little hesitant to deliberaltly 'skip' a proper meal and instead just drink something. but with good planning of breakfast, lunch and snacks throughout the day there needn't be a lack of good nutrition. 

For example, today for breakfast I had a fruit salad of 1 orange, 1 peach, 1/2 pear and 1/2 banana served with 2 Tbsp of museli and honey. (I wouldve had yoghurt as well if I didnt still have my cold) and then for lunch I had a massive salad with mushrooms, greens, celery, tomato, onion, tuna, sunflower seeds and balsamic vinegar served with 2 corn cruskits. Then for my snacks I had a museli bar after my workout and was naughty and had some of the new  Vegemite flavoured chip and a bit of a chocolate cookie.

As for my exercise, Ive been really motivated to get back on track but still I'm not overloading myself.

Monday: 30 mins Xtrainer, ab and thigh exercises, arm weights

Tuesday: 15mins treadmill, 15mins Xtrainer, ab and thigh exercises

Wednesday: 20 lap swim alternating between freestyle and breastroke, ab and thigh exercises.

Im feeling so energetic and healthy right now and Im really hoping ill be able to slip into that sexy bikini come summer, but by getting there in a healthy way!


Lets hope I keep motivated and reach my goal!


Beth xo

Harissa Covered Chicken Roast with Chargrilled Veggies

I'm Baaackkk!
I've been wanting to post this for a while but due to unforeseen circumstances (getting so sick I had to take 3 days off work!) I haven't yet posted it, but now I am! Woo


My friend Haly has this membership to this really good new gym the SA Aquatic and leisure centre and often gets me in to workout with her. 
Last week we went and had a mad workout consisting of the following:
-15 mins stair machine (hardest resistance)
-15 mins treadmill (my first time! woo)
- abdominal floor work
-additional 15 mins on treadmill 
- leisurely swim in the pool


Needless to say we came home pretty hungry so we decided to throw together this Harissa covered chicken roast with Char grilled Veggies!

Ingredients:
1 whole chicken opened up like a butterfly
1/2 jar harissa sauce (or can make own, personally i was too buggered from the gym)
olive oil


1 zucchini, sliced into strips
1 capsicum, sliced into strips
4 small potatoes, cut in half
2 carrots, cut in quarters
2 onions, cut in half


Method:
Preheat oven to 200 degrees
Cover chicken completely in harissa and a little olive oil, even getting under the skin against the breast and place in oven
Meanwhile, 
microwave potatoes until semi-cooked in centre then sprinkle with oil and place them in the oven in the same tray as the harissa chicken also place carrots and onions with potatoes and chicken.
While the chicken is cooking, char grill the capsicum and eggplant

Haly's a boss at char grilling!

When all the capsicum and zucchini are char grilled (took a while on my sized pan) add them to the tray in the oven.

In total the chicken should be in the oven anywhere between 1 - 1.5 hours depending on your oven. The best way to check if its done is to puncture the breast and if the juices run clear, then its time to eat! 


yummy!!


More posts to come this week guys!


Beth xo