Lose Weight and Gain Health

Thanks to a large yellow dog who had an upset stomach I was woken many times in the night to let said dog out in to the garden.  Consequently when I got up at my customarily early time I was exhausted.  I tried to do some gardening and the usual Saturday morning tasks which I usually enjoy but it was all too much effort today.  The sun was shining so I decided to enjoy it and relax.

I had lemon in hot water first thing and then took my mint in hot water outside with my kindle and enjoyed sitting in the early morning sunshine with a new book.

I am beginning to enjoy the ginger shots more although I do confess I don’t get quite so excited about them as Jason Vale does! I did however get very excited by the morning juice/smoothie – Berry Banana Crunch.  It was fabulous.

If you are following the 5 lbs in 5 days plan you have one type of juice in the morning and evening and another type of juice for lunch and in the afternoon.  I have been having the morning/evening juice but eating a healthy meal at lunch time as I have a long way to go and think that is more sustainable.  However, I am really enjoying the juices so I might go for a 5 day juice fast and then back to how I am eating now which is quite easy to live with.

I really like the app for 5lbs in 5 days too.  I have never seen the book so can not comment on that but what I like about the app is it is simple to use, not much on it but it does have everything you need  and it has several little videos from Jason to teach you how to juice and enthuse you about his programme.  I initially found that over enthusiastic style slightly grating but have got over that now and find the videos interesting.

I will share this recipe as it is fantastic.  I made it exactly as instructed except I do not like crunchy smoothies so I ground the seeds in a coffee grinder first.

Berry Banana Crunch – thank you to Jason Vale for this lovely recipe.  I am giving the quantities for the morning and evening smoothie as I always make the double batch and then put half in the fridge in a light proof container for later.

Juice 4 apples

Add 4 handfuls of mixed berries (fresh or frozen) to a blender.  I used half blackberries and quarter each of raspberries and blueberries. 4 tbsp seeds (optional).  I used 1 tbsp each of linseeds, sesame, hemp and chia seeds. 4 tbsp natural yogurt and 1 banana. Add ice and blitz until smooth or leave crunchy.  However you like it.  It was fantastic. For lunch I had a salmon, potato and salad (mixed leaves, tomato and half an avocado) with mayonnaise.  Followed by a very long and much needed snooze on the sofa.

I have just enjoyed the second half of the Berry Banana Crunch.  Sadly I think my good intentions and healthy eating so far are about to be unravelled.  I am about to totter over the road to Marion’s birthday party.  It will almost certainly be a diet and alcoholic disaster as not only are our hosts very generous and hospitable, it is only over the road so all I have to do at the end of the evening will be to totter back over the road.  It is also likely to be late.  My over the road neighbours are not early to bed people, ever, and today I had a long sleep so I am buzzing.  Let’s party!

Harvey and I bade farewell to our lovely friends in Warwickshire and headed off to visit lovely friends in Derbyshire.

We had an excellent lunch in this lovely pub, The George in Alstonefield which is in one of England’s areas of outstanding natural beauty, The Peak District. This is a small pub and dining room so visitors are advised to book.  We ate in the charming dining room which was packed when we arrived but empty when we left (we had a very late lunch) so I could take some photos. These peonies were stunning. Harvey had beer battered cod, chips and mushy peas. I had a Gloucester Old Spot pork chop which was served with sauteed cabbage, an apple ring and creamy mashed potato.  It was delicious and complimented by the very large and very decent glass of Merlot I had with it. I managed to squeeze in a dessert too which was an English Cream Tea Panna Cotta with a brown sugar and raspberry sponge and green tea ice cream.  Followed by a coffee. Everything about the meal was excellent and I am looking forward to going back in June when we celebrate someone special’s birthday! Thank you Gini for organising such a lovely lunch and for driving and to you all for such a fun lunch and day out. Derbyshire is such a pretty county and the typical building material here is this grey stone which is utterly charming.   We went on a bit of a recce to find our perfect place to stay in June.  This garden …. which belongs to this Manor House will do very nicely thank you. The weather was very overcast and drizzling but despite that, everywhere still looked delightful.  This is the graveyard of the little church in Alstonefield, the village we had lunch in. Our plans had included a walk in the Peak District but it was raining so we had a short drive instead so I could be reminded of how beautiful it is up here. This is near Dovedale, a particularly scenic spot we have walked in before and which I would love to visit again. Yes, all the vistas are quite delightful and I can’t wait to come back. Today was not much fun as we had a long and wet drive home which is exhausting on the motorway.  I had been so well fed at Gini’s I wasn’t hungry for breakfast and just had a latte and a Bounce peanut energy ball on the 5 hour drive home.

Back at home I wanted some good nutrients so I made a smoothie with almond milk, blueberries, blackberries, blackcurrants, a frozen banana, chia seeds and natural yogurt. Very tasty.

I took the dogs on a walk despite the drizzle and felt better for it.  I have been slack lately but am determined to be better now.  So every day I must manage at least a 30 minute walk.

Eating was much better than it has been recently.  Late afternoon I enjoyed a snack of some of the provisions Gini gave me to bring home.  I had 4 olive crackers with smoked salmon pate which we bought yesterday in Croots Farm Shop in Duffield on our way t the Peak District.

Supper was a very quick and easy wholewheat noodles with broccoli, red onion, red pepper and prawns.

I have had such a wonderful time visiting very dear friends in two gorgeous parts of England.  It is shame they live so far away but both Warwickshire and Derbyshire are beautiful and well worth a visit.

I am easing my way back in to healthy eating so I can crack on and lose weight and do more exercise so I feel better.  One more day of ‘holiday’ tomorrow and then back with a vengeance.