Feel fab loves...

...Nando's!

Peri-Peri Chicken, freshly toasted pittas, flavoursome spicy rice and you can even have a starter and main course too. Oh, and it can all be low in fat.
Yep, you heard it right. Losing weight means keeping an eye on what you eat but it needn't mean sacrificing taste or your social life. It's fine to eat out... the trick is not to pig out!
Nando's is a personal favourite of mine as it tastes delicious but is easy to cut down on the calories too. The chicken is flame grilled not fried and the peri-peri marinade is very low in fat. But beware of mayonnaise! This is where most of the calories will be, so simply ask for your pitta, bun or salad without mayonnaise (a good tip when buying sandwiches too) and perhaps ask for chilli jam instead or go without. There's a low-fat spicy rice option instead of chips (maybe pinch 1 or 2 off a friend or your partner as a mini treat instead!), and starters such as red pepper dip with pittas which is perfect for sharing. Another great option as a side is a corn-on-the-cob which is naturally low in calories and, again, very tasty!

Nando's also do great little spices and sauces for home cooking, low in fat yet again, which can make things like salads and chicken pittas taste a little more interesting.

So now you can treat yourself to a meal out (or in) without the guilty feelings.... enjoy!

This Season's 'must'... Press-ups!

I know, I know... they're not everyones cup of tea and, if done properly, they blinkin' well hurt but good old fashioned press-ups are great for toning your upper body and for keeping everything nice and firm! That's a firm bust, nicely defined shoulders and it'll be time to say bye bye to those 'bingo wings'!
Autumn may be on it's way (and with it, plenty of layers) but it can still feel great to have lovely toned arms, whatever the weather. Think party dresses, think tight fitted jumpers, even sexy lingerie (?)... Autumn and Winter needn't have to mean covering up, instead it can be a great time to get into shape rather than waiting til the New Year.
Here's how to do them (go on, how many more reasons do you need?)...

1. Start with an exercise mat (or a bath towel if you don't have one) and get onto 'all fours', knees hip width apart and hands directly underneath shoulders or slightly wider, facing forward.
   
2. Choose the position best for you: Beginners= knees underneath hips in a 'table' position, Intermediate= take knees further back to increase resistance, Advanced= knees as far back as possible or off the ground into a full press-up (very advanced, do not attempt if you have any weakness in your lower back).
3. Bend the elbows and lower your chest towards the floor, slowly and controlled, until your nose is almost touching the ground, slowly push back up into start position without locking elbows.
4. Speed should keep steady throughout, roughly 2 seconds each way. Breathe in as you lower, breathe out as you push up.
5. Aim to perform 2 x 8 reps 3 times per week, increasing to 2 x 20 reps as and when possible.

They're great for whilst on holiday, or if you're away with work, as you don't need any equipment other than the mat or towel. So there's no excuses not to give them a go, which combined with a balanced diet and general exercise, will give you gorgeous toned arms all-year round. After-all, flabby arms are sooo last season!

Run Preston!

Ok... so running may not be your idea of fun (or at worst, it may be your idea of torture!), but when you think of the benefits- improves cardiovascular fitness, relieves stress, helps tone you up all-over, assists weight-loss- it's hard to say a bad word against it.
It can be tough when starting out but once you get going there's often no stopping! After a few weeks you'll feel fitter, start running further and wa-laa... you're ready for your first challenge! And what better challenge to set yourself than the annual 'Run Preston'! There's a 5k and 10k and it's on Sunday 26th September, giving just under 4 months to prepare. It needn't be too daunting; simply set little goals along the way, gradually increasing distance, and you'll be amazed at how quickly you progress (whilst losing weight and/or shaping up in the process). It really is a great day and though it can be tough in places, the support of the spectators helps get you through. Click here for more details/application form, or contact me for details of training packages... Go on, you never know until you try!

Feel fab loves...

...Cadbury's Highlights Hot Chocolate!
Love chocolate but hate the calories? Then these little gems are just for you. Imagine all the yummy-ness of Cadbury's chocolate but with a lot less guilt! You can buy it in tubs also but I find individual sachets are much handier and are perfect for popping in your desk drawer or bag (great for emergency chocolate cravings!). They contain just 40 calories and 1.4g fat per sachet, that's approx 200 calories and 10g less fat than an actual bar! They're still high in sugars though so once per day maximum is best, though an extra sachet fine if you need more.... afterall, they're still much better than giving into the real thing. They're also a great substitution for tea and coffee if you're trying to cut down on the caffeine, and can be a good distraction from eating biscuits if that's your downfall too!
So next time you're getting the groceries in (all healthy i'm sure!?), why not pop a few sachets into your trolley and see if they do the trick for you!

Recipe for Egg and Pepper Saute...

Wanting a nice light meal which is quick, healthy AND tasty? Look no further! This fresh, colourful little number does just the job and, even better, it's a great source of protein too (the perfect training partner for exercise). Enjoy!

What you'll need:
1/2 tbsp olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 yellow or orange pepper, de-seeded and finely sliced
1 clove of garlic, crushed
150g green beans, sliced into halves
4 tbsp white wine (or vinaigrette)
2 ripe tomatoes, diced
2 medium eggs
2tbsp chopped fresh parsley
crusty wholemeal bread, to serve

based on meal for two, takes 25 mins (prep and cook)

1. Heat the olive oil (or use spraylight spray to reduce calories further) in a large frying pan and fry the chopped onion and garlic until softened (for approx 2 minutes). Add the peppers, green beans and white wine or vinaigrette. Fry all together, stirring for another 2-3 minutes.
2. Add the diced tomatoes and fry for a further 1-2 minutes until tomatoes are warmed through. Make 2 medium sized hollows in the vegetables with the spatula or spoon.
3. Crack an egg into each hollow and cook over a medium heat for 3-4 minutes or until the egg is to your liking. Sprinkle the parsley and add seasoning to taste. Serve with crusty bread and wa-la, dinner is served! Who knew healthy could taste so good?
   

Per Serving (without bread) - 187 kcals, 10g protein, 11g carbohydrates, 10g fat (2g saturated fat), 4g fibre, 0.23g salt plus no added sugar.

Feel fab loves...

Anti-ageing Creams!
We often spend a fortune trying to make our bodies look good... gym memberships, organic food, spray tans etc etc. And for when we're not feeling so great about them (or when good intentions fall a little by the way side) we can simply hide our bodies away until another day. But there's one part of our body that, for the majority, is always on show...our face!

Some anti-aging creams may seem a bit of a splurge in comparison with cheaper ones available, but- from personal experience- you can definitly see and feel the difference. There are so many great ranges out there (you could speak to an assistant to determine which best for your skin type), but my own personal favourite is the No.7 Protect & Perfect. It leaves my skin feeling lovely and soft as well as looking fresher/younger too.

From smooth foundation to forgiving eye cream (perfect for hiding late nights and/or long days!), Protect and Perfect is a great mid-price anti-aging range which not only adds a touch of luxury to your skin care regime, but also gives free gifts and Boots Advantage Points too...pure indulgence at it's best.

Get fit, have fun and help raise millions...

We've all heard about this years Sport Relief but how many of us are actually taking part? It's easy, simply round up a couple of friends or family members and go to http://www.sportrelief.com/ to register. There's a 1 mile for the unfit (or for those who like to take it nice and easy), a 3 mile for intermediates and (deep breath) a 6 miler for those with stamina and/or who like a good challenge! Running is great for cardiovascular fitness and is a brilliant way to burn calories too. There's still places left for the 'Mile' at Avenham Park, Preston, Sunday 21st March... so why not log on, dust off those trainers and go run!