Additional workouts + my daily routine

As you may well know, I've been going to bootcamp and doing some classes at the gym to tone up.  But I thought to myself, am I being lazy and complacent with what I am doing? The answer was a big fat YES!! Shame on me lol.  My mornings are or rather were occupied with school runs, grocery shopping, housekeeping and a little bit of retail therapy. I did most of my workouts in the evening and that was my day done. 

I just decided to switch things up recently with regards to my mornings because I just felt I wasn't working hard enough and quite frankly was just settling for less with regards to my workouts. The evening classes lasted about 45mins-1hr each and there were some days where I would do 2 classes back to back.  Because they ended so late and I didn't plan out my meals, I would come home, eat a rather large meal and just wait to go to bed.  The morning would come and the cycle would start again.  I was doing the same things, getting the same results and expecting change, that's just madness!!!

So I figured cut out the late workouts and do earlier ones right? Well, that was the plan and it failed as none of the classes were the ones I wanted to do. To be honest, I was stuck for weeks on what I wanted to do!! I had enough and decided to do my own thing during the day and just increase my weights in the classes I was doing already.



So here is my workout plan and it's working well for me thus far. I'm focused on toning my body at the moment and not so focused on weight loss. I have lost a few pounds since I started this routine but I guess this cant be avoided completely. I do this every morning.

If you decide to take on any of these exercises just remember to stretch for about 15 mins when you're done working out as it's very important.

Monday: kettlercise evening class 45 mins using 6kg kettlebell but I've bought 7.5kg & 9kg kettlebells to slowly wean myself off the 6kg. When the class is done, I get on the step machine for 20 mins and try and do at least 2000 steps minimum. Then leg press currently at 50kg 5 sets of 15reps totalling 75 leg presses. After that I either work on my abs or do some squats. This routine lasts about 40mins.

Tuesday: step machine routine, leg press and abs or squats. Bootcamp 1 hr.

Wednesday: step machine routine, shoulder press 30kg same reps as leg press, abs or squats. Personal training 1hr.

Thursday: spin class 45mins, kettlercise 45mins, bootcamp 1hr.

Friday: step machine routine, leg press, abs or squats, shoulder press. Yoga 30 mins.

Saturday: bootcamp 1hr

Sunday: REST (well not really, I do yoga lol)

I will be posting some progress pics in about 2 weeks when bootcamp is done. Have a great week !!xxx

No "Horsing" around

If you've been watching the news, reading the papers lately, you'll know that horses have been making the headlines left, right and centre.  I have no problems trying out different meats/bushmeats but to be honest, I only ate it because I knew what I was eating.  The way the horse meat has been included in some of the food products is quite disgusting and distressing when you read or watch how inhumanely the creatures were treated.  There really should be some ethical guidelines on the food that is imported or exported otherwise how do we really know what we are eating.

Having said that, I've always cooked everything from scratch (I'm just annoying that way lol) so I hope the beef I've been buying to make the lasagne's, meatballs, burgers etc have genuinely been beef only. I find it quite therapeutic to be in the kitchen like a little mad scientist creating something great.  It's also a great way to teach your kids (if you have any) how to cook, Gordon Ramsey watch out, hahaha!!

So here is a quick and healthy recipe to help you have some peace of mind and some idea of exactly what it is you're eating when you chomp on a burger.  Enjoy xx

Proper Beef Burgers
2 packs stir-fry beef or frying steaks (approximately 800g)
4 cloves garlic
1 medium red or white onion
salt and pepper to taste


Place all ingredients in a food processor and make sure everything is blended together.  Get a medium sized cookie cutter, place the meat on a chopping board and cut out the burgers.  This should make about 8 or so.  You can either cook them all or wrap them in cling film and freeze for next time.  Serve with sweet potato chips and a salad.

Snack and meal ideas

It's now been just under two weeks since I started bootcamp and I'm defo getting better at it.  Still a challenge with some of the workouts but I'm more than willing to push myself more than ever. The healthy eating has been going well too and the family are loving it!!  It's so amazing what you can achieve with just a few small changes to your diet. 

I really thought I'd miss most of my previous ways of cooking but nothing! Not even a little bit.  I've become a little obsessed with avocado and yogurt to be honest, they seem to go with everything i.e. salads, spreads, desserts etc...I've been trying to get creative with absolutely everything I prepare and so far so good.  I'm also learning that PREPARATION IS EVERYTHING!!  Once I have my menu and meals set for the day, I prep everything and make sure it's ready for cooking either in the evening or for my post-workout meal.  I try to use things that are quick to cook like sweet potato, pak choi though the long grain brown rice takes foreeeeeevver to soften lol.  I also use foods that can be eaten raw like peppers, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, garlic etc. The meals are also incredibly quick to cook or put together if no cooking requires, anything from 10-20 mins.

It's all fun and I'm definitely interested in learning how to cook more healthy meals.  Protein shakes and fruit are fast becoming my favorites for breakfast and the Soya milk is working wonders too.

I've also started a few challenges on Instagram by @fitspobook and @fitspobod.  If anyone is willing to give them a try then let me know how it's going.  I'll post the pictures up and you can give them a go.  Follow me on Instagram @lilcherub3 as I have tons of pictures showcasing my new healthy chef skills >.<

I'll leave you with some snack and meal ideas I've been munching on over the past week.  Enjoy and remember : "THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM TO DO AND BE BETTER" xxxxx

Just munched on these little goodies as I was blogging

Brown rice with carrots and beans (englishman's jollof rice lol), skinless chicken thighs with mixed peppers and pak choi with garlic

Great snack or post workout meal.  Have only one slice it you're going to have it as a snack.  Spread1: Tuna with raisins and yogurt.  Spread2: Salmon, avocado and yogurt

Omlette with smoked salmon and peppers + watercress and yogurt

Great for breakfast/pre-workout meal with a glass of water or juice

Perfect pre-workout munch!!



My fajitas are the best!! chicken breast, red cabbage, lettuce, red peppers, onions and yogurt



This salad is just the best ever!!  Slowly becoming my fav.  Boiled sweet potato, avocado, mackerel, carrot and yogurt

Grilled seabass and sweet potato chips (grilled also) with pack choi and garlic

The vampires made me do it!!! lol...Blood oranges freshly squeezed with a dash of lime.  I only used the lime because it looked quite lonely sitting in the fridge all by itself, haha!!

Excuses!!!...yes, I'm guilty of those too, ehem

Excercise, fitness, healthy eating can all get a bit overwhelming at times. It's not easy to motivate yourself and get things going, especially if you've never done it before. But the benefits are all in the doing.

Even I'm guilty of making excuses. I can't stand winter to be honest and didn't like the thought of getting cold to get to the gym. I only ended up disappointing myself as I didn't reach my goals by the time summer hit and I'd give up all together. But I saw a quote on a social media site that changed my whole gym flow and Exercise mentality: "SUMMER BODIES ARE BUILT IN THE WINTER". I was like whaaaaaaaaat!!! I haven't looked back since and have no intentions to. So try and find some inspiration from somewhere. An old pic of yourself looking hot, a social media site, a friend or family member etc. Just give it a try, you never know what amazing things you could achieve when you sync your mind and body :)


Here are some excuses that need to be chucked out this month/year/week:

- I can't jog or run
- It's too cold
- I'm not fit enough to start as everyone's ahead of me
- I don't like sweating
- I don't have any workout clothes
- My partner likes me just the way I am
- Healthy food is disgusting
- Exercise doesn't work for my body type
- I'm naturally big boned so I can't lose weight
- I'll lose my curves, men like me "thick" (oh lawwwwd!!!)
- Gym memberships are for posh people (really?!?!???!?!)
- I don't like drinking water
- I can't cook
- It's too hot
- I'm too old
- I can't cycle
- I don't have time
- People will laugh at me
- I'll bulk up if I lift weights
- I'm not good enough

The list could go on really and some of them are actually some I've used lol.

What are some of the excuses you've heard or are guilty of using?

STOP with the excuses and START making positive changes to your life. You owe it to Yourself and You deserve it xxxxxx