This started by me giving up caffeine in the form of Soda, Tea, and Coffee. In my job it's very easy to fall into the trap of that daily caffeine fix to keep me going, especially when there's a small shop, a Starbucks and a Costa Coffee on campus within 5 minutes of my office.
I also decided to tack on giving up alcohol 'for lent'.
There are certain times where I have had a soda(when i'm out for a meal, in lieu of an alcoholic drink), or I will have a cup of tea as a comfort thing, but neither of these are being used to 'keep me awake' or caffeinated.
With that going well, I decided to up my game and start packing healthy lunches and snacks for work so that the temptation to 'mindlessly snack on unhealthy things' (ie: the endless supply of office biscuits, or getting a full English breakfast from the student cafeteria as a 'mid morning snack') won't be as tempting.
So far I've been doing this for about 3 weeks. On the weekend I buy, wash, chop, and portion out all my fruit and veg & make up any sandwiches or salads I have during the week, then I put them into cute little travel size containers ready for the work week ahead.
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| Week 1: Meals-One Tuna & Cumber Sandwich, Two Ham, Swiss and Mustard Sandwiches, 2 'Super Salad' Boxes Sides and snacks- Blueberries, Strawberries, Raspberries, Carrots, Celery & Peanut Butter Quick Dinner Snacks(before going to my evening classes)-Veggie Fritatas/Egg Cups |
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| Week 2: Meals-Two Ham, Swiss and Mustard Sandwiches, 2 'Super Salad' Boxes, & One Tofu Ceasar Salad Sides and snacks- Blueberries w/ Vanilla Yogurt, Strawberries, Raspberries, Grapes, Carrots, Celery & Peanut Butter |
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| Week 3: Meals-Three Ham, Swiss and Mustard Sandwiches, 2 'Super Salad' Boxes Snacks- Bananas, Apples, Strawberries, Raspberries, Carrots, Celery & Peanut Butter Quick Dinner Snacks(not pictured): Hard Boiled Eggs |
I've been pretty consistent with what I like and will eat. But I try and change up my ratio of salads to sandwiches and always try and find a healthier and more transportable option for my meals and snacks.
Sandwiches: I prefer using seedy or protein bread, but it's usually the same ham, cheese, mustard--that's it.
Salads--I experimented with salads containing some sort of protein....tuna or tofu, but I seem to have fetish for thinly sliced Ham when it comes to my meals.
Usually I make a 'super salad' which contains a bed of Cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, with artichoke hearts and diced ham, topped with Avocado.
When I am home for dinner, which tends to be about half the week because I usually go straight from work to my evening classes, I try to squeeze in at least one healthy alternative recipe that I've discovered. This week it was trying out a Veggie Tofu Stirfry.
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| Asparagus, Carrots, mushrooms, tossed with Tofu, cashews and a nut butter sauce. |
As well as the healthy eating, I do realized that I looooove the junk food. So, a cookie here or there, a pasta with loads of 'the bad carbs' needs to have a counterbalance of exercise. I've been trying new classes as well as keeping my old standards and although it does take a lot out of me, I do love being able to do the things I do.
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| This is My Pole Dance T-Shirt courtesy of Mom&Dad. 💗😋 |
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| The university (my work) has a Yoga session for staff/students for only £3! |
This last week, I took a day off so hubby and I could spend some time together. Rob suggested we go to the Brecon Beacons, in Wales and go on the 'Four Waterfalls' Walk. It was challenging and absolutely amazing!
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| The Husband and I at the top of the 3-tiered waterfall on our hike. |
I love my classes. Currently I am on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday rotation of classes.
Monday: A 6 week Pole Dancing Improvers Routine (1 hour), followed by a Tricks, Spins and Combination Drop In Class (1 hour)
Wednesday: Yoga at work (1 Hour) --> Then in the evening Contortion(45 min), 6 week Burlesque Course (1 hour), topped off by a 6 week Chair Dancing Routine class (1 hour).
Friday: A 6 week Improves Hoop Routine (1 hour), then if I can last that long after a long week, a 30 minute Sexy Pole Dancing Drop in Class (complete with balancing on heels 😬).
This week in Chair, since we finished the routine ("Mein Herr" from Caberet), we decided to do a little fun character work with 'fosse' dance style....which I see as a combination of 60s dancing, Michael Jackson moves, and traditional catwalk/voguing. We ended up holding a fosse dance off and I got to the top two!
I think at the moment Chair is my favorite discipline, followed closely my Hoop but it does change from routine to routine.
Today I went to a 2 hour contortion workshop with Pro-Contortionist Hannah Finn, who is AMAZINGLY bendy and super nice. It was jaw-dropping to see her get into all these contorted positions, but I'm super excited to take what I've learned today and allow myself to get for flexible so that my Pole/Hoop/Silks/Yoga/Chair/etc etc...can look just as amazing!
