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!

Feel fab loves...

....Fruity Ryvitas!

We all know Ryvitas are a great snack when slimming but they can taste a little like, erm, cardboard. Well... not any more! Ryvita Fruit Crunch crispbreads have a lovely top layer of seeds and currants making them actually rather tasty. You can eat them as they are or perhaps with sliced banana on top (a great energy snack) or even with a good old fashioned cup of tea. And what's more, they're only 57 calories each so go on... snack away.

Recipe for not-so-naughty Sticky Toffee Puds!

Here's something novel, a dessert that's actually not too bad for you! And it's secret?...easy, take out the fatty bits. In other words: butter! And in it's place- date puree. It may not sound as tempting but these little puds still taste delicious and come with a lot less guilt! But watch out, they're still quite high in sugar and so should be seen as a treat within a balanced diet (especially if trying to lose weight). Ok thats the prep talk out of the way; time to don your apron, grab that whisk and bake baby bake... enjoy!

What you'll need:
87g pitted dates (fresh or dried)
75ml maple syrup
42g self-raising flour
1/2 tbsp vanilla extract
1 large egg, seperated
Food processer or hand blender

based on 2 puddings, takes 1 1/2 hours- simply double up on ingredients if you want to bake 4!

1. Pre-heat your oven to 180 degrees c(fan assisted 160)/gas mark 4. Simmer the dates in 90ml water for 5 mins. Tip the remaing into a food processer (or use a hand blender), add 3 tablespoons of maple syrup along with the vanilla extract, and blend until smooth Transfer into a bowl and mix in the egg yolk then the flour.
2. In another bowl, whisk the egg whites until stiff and slowly fold in the date mixture as above. Spoon one tbsp of maple syrup into both of the pud moulds then add the mixture dividing equally. Cover each mould with foil (nice and tight) and place them in an ovenproof dish. Finally (nearly there!)...pour hot water up to half way up the side of the moulds and wa-la, into the oven it goes. Cook for an hour and/or until you can place a skewer through each pud and it comes out clean.
3. Once you're happy with your puds, take off the foil and run a knife around each one to loosen form the mould. Now place a plate over each mould, quickly flip over and there you have it. Drizzle a little maple syrup over to finish and you could add a very small amount of low-fat ice-cream as an optional extra treat!

Per serving (without ice-cream)- 339 calories, protein 7g, carbohydrates 73g, fat 4g, saturated fat 1g, fibre 2g, added sugar 25g, salt 0.33g.