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Fit food & Drinks

Foody- Friday is here and today and it means another weak is behind our backs and another weekend is ahead of us. Specially difficult for the ones who are on the tight diet, like I am. Resisting food temptations is not easy, but so rewarding. So swap those aperetivo fries for a salad or make your own  aperetivo/ social gathering at home and build your own, perfect and healthy salad and snack that would save up on your calories and pocket.

Here is how I build and shop for my week ahead for salads to make it colorful, interesting, nutritious and delicious.

 

I have already shared some of my recipes of salads and office lunch so can check them out for inspiration. But this time – how to make your own salad with a nice visual that speak for itself. Read More

Fit food & Drinks

It’s been 5 days in my no-cheating, no-excuse new workout and diet challenge of 84 days and I must say I feel great! Been following my training schedule and managed to stick to all of them as well as all meals and timings. 

Sure there is also a downside, that been hungry, like, hmmm, how to better put this – all the time?! And sore, oh gosh been feeling sore like crazy (and leg day is only tomorrow..). But determined to keep up with my schedule (which you can see  HERE and download also a template to start your own training). 

As for food – I am getting on the track with the meals as well and eating 5 times per day with moderation portion. 

Here is how my meals looks like: Read More

Inspiration, Me & My Beau, Workout
  • Your own New Year’s fitness workout tracker
  • Your own New Year’s fitness workout tracker
  • Your own New Year’s fitness workout tracker
  • Your own New Year’s fitness workout tracker

Your own New Year’s fitness workout tracker

New year, new you! This is my New year’s motto, resolution and objective! Been the craziest end of the year so far and not entirely in the fittest and healthiest way to be completely honest with you.. However 2016 has arrived and it gives you another chance to start over or take it where you last left off. For me it is with the fitness objectives, that I wish to take up where I left it more than a month ago. 

I could tell you everything that happened and add some excuse on the top but the truth is – there is not point of that, as it will not really change the situation. Did I work out last 3 weeks? Honestly ? No. But do I feel bad about it? Definitely yes! (Of course 1 week I was sick as a monkey and did not get out of the bed with a bad fever, but that’s gone as well), 2 weeks I am here in Calabria at my boyfriend’s family over holiday and no working out as well as A – everything is closed, B – it’s not really the right place and time to do it when you are visiting family and C – I lacked of motivation as where so tired, exhausted and just needed a rest to regain strengths,will and inspiration.. and you know what? It worked out splendidly!

I am inspired, motivated and fully recharged to get the shape of the life! 

So this is what I have been up to last couple of days – I designed my own workout calendar – tracking board to keep my progress.

 I know that I do better if I track my progress and put it in a visual place like on the wall or fridge doors together with some inspirational pictures.  Read More

Fit food & Drinks

As always the last week before winter holiday’s is the worst, especially when you are working and this week is one of the key to close the year. So it means: reports, overview, presentations, budget and of course meetings. hours and hours of meetings to close all the outstanding and plan the year ahead. 

As I work in a sales department it is definitely one of the most hectic time – the year-end. All the numbers and budgets to present and justify. Long story short – this week is just terrible. No gym, no social life, no nothing – just work to manage everything to close the year and leave for holiday happy. As today is already Friday than it means that : A – I survived this week, B- I survived also all the presentations and report presenting to my top management. 

I guess for me the hardest part is surviving 5-6 hour long meetings without pauses, especially because my lifestyle and diet requires to eat every 2-3 hours and my body has absolutely used to this rhythm. (You better do not mess with a hungry girl, because she is HANGRY – hungry+angry). But as going psycho or eat straight out of my meal box wouldn’t be appropriate during presentation to my bosses I came up with the best solution ever!

The most important part is preparation for not having meal by calculating your approximate time and meal you will skip. as in my case was 5 hours without eating than I mastered this way:

  •  I ate 5 min before the meeting my regular snack.
  • In a takeaway coffee cup (to avoid any questions and sneak-a-peaks in it) I prepared a protein shake  as meal substitute I could slowly sip at the second haslf of the meeting when the huger kicks in.
protein in a coffee takeway cup

25g of protein in a takeaway coffee cup to survive a long meeting

protein shake in a takeaway cup

Takeaway coffee mug works splendidly to hide what’s actually your drink – my case Vanilla Protein

(This is where protein samples comes handy. I always use MyProtein for emergencies, travels and occasions like this. )

 

 

As easy as that I substituted 1 meal with a right amount of the protein (25g) and spared “talking belly” during the meeting.

Works for me splendidly.

What about you? How are you surviving without eating long meetings?

Me & My Beau, Travel

Another manic Monday (everyone now listen to this song by The Bangles). BUT this week, unlike others, will end with a bag packing and preparing for a winter break!! YUPIII!!! can’t wait for the weekend to arrive and finish wrapping up the last Christmas gifts and writing last cards to my beloved ones with warm winter wishes and of course pack my bags to take off. 

The secret of a every well packed bag, especially in winter, is preparation. As a pro-packer (can wake me up in a middle of night and will be ready to catch the plane in 20 min.) and traveler than have already worked out my handbag essentials till the last detail and that’s why I wish to share such with you too guys. Read More

Fit food & Drinks

As here in Italy was a long bank holidays it was a perfect occasion not only to recreate and catch up with works but also experiment with some new recipes. This time I decided to try my hand in Sweet potato snack recipe and I must say it turned out even better than I hoped. 

Easy, fast delicious and perfect snack on-the-go. Fast to prepare and need just 4 main ingredients but still delicious and filling – so win-win situation to those who want something sweet but the same time fit and something that allows you to stick to the diet (especially helpful before Christmas holiday).

The main things you need is a peanut butter and Sweet potato, some cocoa powder and some flavors for taste+ oven and a little bit of your time. Printable recipe sheet below. (HERE is recipe how to make a peanut butter at home, like I always do. SO EASY!)   Read More

Inspiration

Believe it or not but tomorrow is already 1st day of December! The year has flew by already and there is left just 3 4 weeks to Christmas therefore it is time to bring out those last year’s resolutions and double check what’s still left uncrossed out since last year, and it is the last time to still catch up with some works and promises.

Of course some of them will not be able to full fill, like learning a handstand (was my resolution, but did not manage to learn it properly), therefore I am not going to kill myself by doing it and get upset with myself that I didn’t but instead will just look back and analyse/think what went wrong and how can I improve and if still it is in my wish-list. (Already saying – it is! So not giving up on that). But this is my suggestion for all things that haven’t been done and you wished you was – don’t stress about it instead think how to improve and adjust some goals to do it.

What’s more important than is to spend this month in peace, think of things you are grateful in this year, make plans to visit friends and family already before Christmas, not just Christmas day, call up some old friends ( call today, why not? ) or just send some nice, cheeky note from past memory that will make smiles and lift spirits! Will see how it will bost your own mood too.

Happiness is contagious! So spread it!

(Sending one right now – BRB).

Another my suggestion is to make some visual board – mood board of the month, just like I did . Even if it is cut out of magazines and put on the wall, or Pintrest collection or even We Heart it (can check out my Winter dreaming Mood Board there, to avoid magazine cutting (spent all night preparing my inspiration boards for next articles and collaborations).

winter time best spent at home

Winter is the time for home and beloved ones

And of course use the December to catch up with all the works you have been postponing and not pushing hard enough. Want to go to gym?

Call today and make an appointment- don’t wait when New Year comes!

(Tip – on January gyms are overcrowded by guilty people after Christmas holiday and it might cost you more than now).

 

Want to lose weight? Don’t wait tomorrow – set up a plan and set Christmas as your goal (or first step) and insist on it! No excuses and hot cocoa temptations. (I have set for myself and started when got back from Latvia and already down by 1,1 kg! however still 3 weeks to go! (Already know that holiday’s will not be able to ht gym and will not be able to cook much (going to Calabria – South of Italy to spend my holidays there with my boyfriend and his family and honestly – can’t wait!  

ditch the cocoa - use tea

ditch the cocoa – use tea or infusions instead

Prepare your own gifts! Make a minute and think of the gifts for each person! Invest some time and put a thought in it! After all Christmas time is not about gifts and not supposed to be stressful. it supposed to be being together, sharing joy and great moments! What’s for me – it love wrapping paper and just low ripping joy!

Ripping open wrapped gifts guarantees always giggles and chuckles when you start screaming: “RIP IT! RIP ITTTTTTT!!!” So think of that! 

Christmas gifts

Handmade Christmas gifts

If you are good at cooking or not, (Even better, it will be more appreciated) Think of baking some cookies/ granola bars/ ginger bread cookies/cakes/muffins/ jam! and wrap them nicely. Trust me- everyone will appreciate more than that regular scarf/ tie.

Lastly don’t forget to head out and do something you like, reset your mind, read a book or go for a nice walk in Christmas markets / mountains / park – better in a company!

 

WHAT’S YOUR DECEMBER TIPS? HOW DID YOU DO WITH YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS THIS YEAR?

 

Fit food & Drinks, Inspiration
  • The best herbal teas for the winter time
  • The best herbal teas for the winter time
  • The best herbal teas for the winter time

The best herbal teas for the winter time

When the weather is getting chilly and the days are getting shorter and darker it is the best time to warm up your bod and soul with a good cup of a herbal tea. A good tea has not only beneficial to your health and will boost your immune system but also can help to digest and even lose weight. Therefore just win-win for an afternoon energy booster, weight loss or a long conversation with your friends. No wonder there is saying “Tea with the Queen”. (Even Queen loves it! and let’s be honest – who doesn’t if the tea is right?

Every time I go back to Latvia I am always returning with bag full of herbal teas. Either they are from a farmers market or some biological shop, but always at least 4 of them to enlarge my collection. (Already have like 40 different teas at home and perfect substitution for morning take-away coffee on my way to work).  Read More

Fit food & Drinks, Travel

Every time I go back home to Latvia I am trying to get my hands on all the good and delicious local foods that you just cannot access to living in Italy like: sea buckthorn, wild cranberries, black bread, curd, power milk*, chanterelles, apples from my garden and so on and on.  I always try to incorporate them in my diet while I am there as well as try to bring back with me as much as possible. So needless to say that my getaway has a particular diet while I am here. 

BUT that doesn’t mean that I am not following what I am putting on my plate. I still stick to my diet, but just trying to freshen it up with a local super foods. Here are some of my recommendations to stay in shape (and even improve it), that you just MUST try, while you are in Latvia (or any other North European country for that matter). Read More

Fit food & Drinks

Have you ever popped in a grocery shop just to buy “essentials for dinner” and came out of it carrying 2 full bags 1 hour later staffed with cookies, chocolate bars, turkey on promotion and nice looking pineapple ? Well I have and if you are completely honest with yourself you will probably now be thinking last time you went to a shop to get 1 thing and came out with another 10 and a chocolate bar in your hand.

We are all guilty of impulse buys, but it is something you can change and improve on not only to save your pocket but also to skip on junk food that you will regret later on. Here are my rules on doing grocery shopping the clever way. Read More

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happy girl, dancer, photographer, gym-goer, Herc., traveler, dreamer, explorer, color and moment collector, healthy food and recipe discoverer and tester