Foodie Fresh: How I've Changed Up My Diet

With so many of my friends changing up their eating habits and becoming Pescatarian, Vegetarian, and even Vegan, I took a step back and started to analyse my own diet. 

This started whilst I was on holiday with my family in February. My sister had previously tried out a Vegan diet around November time, but by this point had found her happy balance by becoming a Pescatarian. I decided to try it out and join in whilst I was on holiday, and traveling around Thailand and the Maldives actually made a Veggie diet fairly easy. I'd been playing with the idea for around a year as my best friend has been Vegetarian since she went traveling. I've always been aware of gross animal farming and the mass effect that it has on the earth, but let's be honest, for those of us that love the taste of meat taking that first step is bloody hard!

Now I'm nowhere near a saint for doing this, there is no way I could become vegan, I love cheese and milk too much (and wine and beer), but taking the time to observe my diet and make a few changes has for sure left me feeling fitter and more energised. 

After a few months of going full-out Veggie, I've found myself a middle ground. I realised that after a while my meals became a lot more carb-based as I was trying to fill myself up without having meat. So with a bit of trial and error, I have now decided to include fish in my diet to try and find that balance.  

I know that for sure I am a lot happier with cutting down on my beef intake and that by making these dietary changes I eat A LOT more fruit and veg a day, dare I say more than my allotted 5... and I'm feeling a lot better for it. So keep your eyes peeled for a good few recipes coming your way. I'm really into my veggie burrito bowls, baked cod, chili and prawn tagliatelle and aubergine curry!

How to Achieve a Good Gym/Work Balance

Having Started working full-time recently, I've found myself reevaluating a perspective that I believed was completely and entirely true - There's always time to exercise. Now, I have been lectured by a few friends about this before, and used to entirely agree with this statement, but now being in the world of work, rather than being a University student, has thrown a few more hurdles my way. My first issue is my commute, depending on where I'm commuting from, this can vary between 30-45 and 1hr 30 mins. I currently spend some nights at my house, and some at my boyfriends. So depending on what night it is I get home anytime between 6pm and 7pm. Now if I get home at 7, then eat at say 7.30, then I wont want to exercise until at least 8.30, and by that time I could be snuggled up on the sofa in my pjs, see my issue? 

Exercise is something that A LOT of people struggle with, and now I can see why. I used to go to the gym around 4 times a week, I am now struggling with 2, and wish I could fit in 3. So, what's changed? I am no longer within walking distance of my gym, I no longer finish my working day at 4, and I am VERY tired after a days work. So this is my plan, this doesn't have to be yours, but here are some tips and tricks for anyone stuck at a desk all day long, who also struggles to make it to the gym every week. 

1. Designate 2 gym sessions that you know you can make each week. You don't HAVE to go to both, but you MUST stick to at least 1.

2. Exercise once at home, whether it be an online Zumba Youtube video, pilates, or in the garden doing circuits.

3. If you're really struggling allocate 1 or 2 days a week where you eat your lunch at your desk, then use your 30-60 minute break to go for a walk or a run. This is a key tip as many people forget to break up their day, this is not only healthier for you, but also makes you more productive when you are at your desk as you have a fresh state of mind. 

So there is my short but sweet rant about how exercise has become a bit harder recently, and now I totally get you guys! Hope these tips and tricks help. 

K.